HUM^N NXTURE
'{ A. B>
.vl^i
F O U R E O L D^ T A T E,
O E
Primitive iDtegrity, "^ f The Parents of Mankind
.S in Paradife.
Entire Depravation, I |^
Begun Recovery, Vi^ -^
and I S
ConrummatcHappinefsor ^^ JVJifery.- J
The UiiiCgcnerate. The Regenerate.
All Mankind in the Fu- ture State.
IN S EVERAL
PRACTICAL DISCCURSES,
By the Eminently Pious and Learned
Mr. THOMAS BOSTON,
Late Minifter of tKc Gofpcl at Etterick.
irirfl ameruan Cliifton-
John ii. 24, 25. But Jefui did net commit hiTrfelf unto them^ btcauft ht knew alt Men. And needed net that arty jkoaLi. tejlijy of Man : For ht kncxi^what was in Man.
Luke ix. 19. y'e know net what mannrr of Spirit ye are of.
Prove B bs xxvii. 19. As^ in Waur^ Face arju/ereth to Fc't : So the Heart cf Man to Man.
jjnutea AT ejreter,
Bv H. RANLET, f or. THOMAS akd ANDREWS, Faujii' Statue^ No. ^5, Netvdury-Strestr^BrJi^n.
1-06.
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A
R E C O M M E N D A T I O NS. iii
Recommendation by Mr. Muchael Boston, the Author's Grandfon.
HUMAN NATURE in its FOURFOLD STATE, was the firflProdutlinn.of mv venerableAnceftor,introduced to the Public. It made its firft appearance in the year 1720. Since that period, it has undergone, at an average, one ccm- pletc Edition every two vpars. Twenty thoufarid Copies of it ^ave been exported to Amenta^ froin one fingle Citv in Scot- Jand, befidcs thofc that have been fent to the Continent from ^ng/arid and Ireland. The rapid fale of the Book upon its firft publication, is a demonftrati^e proof of tbe efteeiti in which it was then held ; and the uninterrupted den:and for it ftill, fiiows that the Principles it inculcates, are yet held in repute. All that I need further to add, is, That this Edition is printed from that oneRcvifed and Correfted by the Author himfelf, and may therefore be eflccmed corrett.
MICHAEL BOSTON.
Falkirk, Dec. 1784.
The Late Rev. Mr. James Hervey, in his Dialogues,
Vol. I. page 343. gives the following
RECOMMENDATION
of this Book.^
6 QEE this work of grace, and procedure of converrion,mare k3 copioufly djfnlaved, in a valuable little piece, intituled. Human Nature in its Fourfold State, by Mr. TJwmas- Bcjiott y which, in my opinion, is one of our beft books fo- cammca readers. The fentenccs are fhort, and the comparifons flrik- ing : The language is cafy, and the do£trine evangelical : The method proper; the plan comprchenfivej the mannct fearching, vet confohtory, 1^ another celcbraled treatifc is ftiled.Tiic iVhoie Duty of Man, I wouM call this, TfK^wnoLy. of Man ; as it comprifes, what he was, originally: what he ry/ by tranfgrefilon : what he Piould be, through jg^acc : and, then, what he zoiU be^ in glory.*
275434
?C5i^s^^i:::;::i^s^ss:^^<^:S5i:^Si;>i^^
PREFACE.
IT is a m-xlm among wife men, That the knowledge of pcr- fon«, is o^ as great uCc, in the conducl of human life, as the knowledge of things ; and it is mod certain, that he who knows the varioiis tempers, haracurj, and difpofjtions of men, uho can find out their turn of thought, and penetrate into the fccrct fpriijgi and principles of their aflings, will not be at a )of» to find out proper means forcompafilng his aims, Will eaGly piefcrve hue '/elf from fnarcs.and either evite or overcome dif- ficulties. Bjt ;h^ kno'vvledge of human oatuie, morally coofi- dered, or^in other word», of the temper and difpoiilton of the fcul in lis moral po'>'«rr, h of much greater value ; as it is of ufe in the concerns of an uncijangeablc H^ and world ; he who is poffclTcd of fo valuable a branch of knowledge, is thereby capacitated to judge aright of himfclf, to underftand true Clirifiianity, and to conceivcjuftly of perfect happincfs, and coofummate mifery.
Th« depravity ef human nafart is fo plainly taught, ye» in- ctilcated in facrcd Scripture, a^d is fo obvious to every think- ing man's obfervaiion, who fcarcbes his own breaft.and reflcftt di;ly on h^s temper and aftln^, that it is furprizingly ftrange ar.d wonderful, how it comes to pafs, that this tmpoitaot truth is Co little underflood, yea fo much difbelieved, by men who bear the name of Gofpel-Miniflcrs. A-rc there not perfont tcr be found in a neighbouring nation, in the ci)ara£ler of prcach- ets, appearing daily »n pulpits, who are fo unacquainted with their Bibles and thcmfelvcs, that they ridicule the do£lrine o^ original fin, as unintelligible jar^gon ? If tlicy are pcrfoos of a moral life and coovcrfation,. they fceir to imagine, they cart- liot become better ihao they afe; if they arc immoral, they feem' lo indulge a conceit, that thcv can become virtuous, yr» religious, when they plenfe. Thefc are the men who talk of •be dignity of human nature, of grcatncfs of mind, noblcnefs of roul,and generofi'.y cf fpirii>as if they intended to perfuadc tHrmfelvrs and others, that pride is a good principle, and do tot ki.ow, that prjdc and felfiOinef^ arc the bnne of mankind, pro«3u^ive of all the wickcdnels, and much of the mifery to be fourd in this and in the other world ; and is indeed thai, >.i:cie'Mi the depravity of human oitt^e propeily coLiLftw
P R E F A £ E. V
Upright Adam's nature faintly adutr.brated the. divine, in a inoderaied ielf-cnqcra,an adequate feJf-love.nnd delv^hiful re- fleftion on his own borrowed excellency, regulated hy a juH cfleera of, and fupreme love to his adjrcd Creator ; whence a peaceful ferenity of mind, a. loving, compairionaie, and bene- volent difpontion of foul, a depth cf thought, and Urigbtner* of imagination, dclighifullv employed in the rapturous contem- plation, of his beloved Maker's infini.e nerfeaiciis; ti^us hear- ing the divine image, and referabjing God that mad : him. Buthenofooncr difpbeycd the divine probatory comm.T.i J,ib^/v the fcales were caft, his moderated felf-e(l:em de^ener-i'.cd ini;> pride, his adequate fclf-love fluunk into ir.ere feliifhiiefsj and his delightful refleftions on his own excel leni.v,vari--;d into the tickling pleafures of vapity and concck ; he loH view of the Author of his bqing, and thenceforth, inflead ^f delighting ia Jiijn, firft dreaded and then defpifed him.
The modirt, and therefore hitherto anonymous, author of the folio wirtjdifcourfeSiMr.TH om as Bos to n, having hand- led this fubjcd, in prcacl.ng to his own obfcurc parochial con- gregation of Etterick, in the fhcnffdom of Selkirk, had a par- ticular view to their benefit, in printing and puKlifhmg them; and therefore the (file and method is plain and fimplc,3nd the firft edition printed on cop.rfe paperj but .the fubjecf is fo com • prehei'^five and important, ibwcll ir.anagcd, and the book has been fo well leceived, that it now appears in the \vorld more £mbelli(hed, as well as better corrctled than formerly.
Let it fufBce, to recommend it to thofe who hivc a rij5,ht ^taftft.of genuine Cbrifiianity, that all the Author's i;otiot|4?ow to dlre^fly from the facred fountain, that it is to be dQHifcted, if he has bad much recourfc to any other helps, than liis B:b!c and his God for afliflance. ^lcan time, I am aware of an ex- ception from thefc, who rarJt themfelves among'the palite part of mankind, as that there is the fame har/li peculiarity of dialect ?n it, which is comiaonly to he found in books of praflical di- vinity. But I beg leave to obfcrve, That the dialcfl they ex- tent, againft, is borrowed from facred fcripture; an-i like as it has pleafed Go D,by the foolifhnefs of preaching to fave theia that believe; fo alio, to countenance what they arc difpleafcd with, by the operations of his Spirit, on the minds of true Chrifllans, as their common ».^.perience witnefTeih. However, * heart:!^ -.vifh, 'h** ficrrniicm were aitu^eiaer rcujovcd, by fome perfon'j digefiiug into a methodical tre3tile,tbe views ot human nature in its primitive perfcciion, in iis depraved cou- .dition, and in its retrieved Rate, who is mafter of modern fl'.le, and thoroughly underftando the fubjetlsdifcourfcd in this book, that by becoming all things to all rnen, Sjnie^z.pfall rank.? and kinds of men, may be gainedO ^J ^4-^4
vi PREFACE.
I am not to declaim at large in favour of religion ; thif were to write a book by way of preface. Mmy able pens have been employed in recommending it to che world, by ftroig I arguments drawn from its urcfulne^'s tofociety, its fuirablcnefs to the dignity of the rational nature, and tbe advantages ariling. tJ men fiom it, in this and the oiher world. But, after all, may not one be allowed to doubt, if religion be rightly undcr- flooj bv all it^ patrons ? may not the beauties and excellen- cies of a precious gem be elegantly dclcribed by a naturalirt, br jeweller, whenever faw thj particular one be talked of,an4 knows little of its nature, lefsoV the confiruc^ion of its parts, and nothing of its proper ufe ? Are there not men of bright parti, who reafon finely in defence oC religion, and yet arc lo "-•uch ftrangcrs to it, that they brand tbcfe who arc To happy as to be poJeffed of it, with the hard name of Spiritualifls, rc*.i oning them a kind of Enthufiafts, unworthy of their regan; The truth is Chriftianity is a myftery ; mere reafon docs not comprehend it. There is a fpiriiual difcerning, nccclfary to its being rightly undcrllood ; whence it comes to pafs.that men of great learning and abilities, though they read the Scripiarcs viih attention, and comment learnedly upon them ; yet r rjcr, yea cannot, enter into the vein ef thought peculiar toil infpircd penman, becaufc they fliare not ol the fame Spirit wherefotc it 1$, that the ApofllcPaul alTcrts, the natural, th . is, unregeneratc man, not to know the things of God, m thsr indeed to be capable of knowing them, bccaufc thojr a: fpiriiually dilcerned.
From what has been faid, it is eafy to conclude, Th«i r, pcdantiq apology on the part of the Author, for appearing : print, or favning compliments to the courteous reader, on tl; part of the prefacer, are to be cxpefled. The truth is, bo: the one and the other arc rather little arts, vailing pedantr 9nd conceit, than evidences of modcfty and good Uufe. It of more ufe to recommend the pcrufal of the book, to perfc • of all ranks and degrees, from a few luitablc topics, thai) ; fljcw wherein this Edition differs from the firft.
That all mankind, however differenced by their rank and H tion in the world, have an equal concern in what i> reveal' concerning another and future yoi\<\, will be readily ownc( . »nd [t mit^ll be as rra^ilj grant^cd, thatJlowevc.- uIUwawic .-ay be for trcnof If^rningandparts, to pleafc ihcjuftlvtswr liiienefsof language, juftncfs ofihoughi, and exaft conrert- ; )n writings upon other fubjcfts ; yet they ought not to ii thcmrclvc. »n .the lame taflc in difcourfes on diving ifaii they cxpote themfcives to the juft cenfure of afling v. fame indifcretion, asaperfonin darger of familhingby ! vould be guilty of, ifbcpci verily rejetUil plain whclibti
P R E F A C E. vii
v!ien bfFercd to him, for no other reafon than for want of palatable fauce, or order and rpjendor in ferving it up.
The facred bock we call the Bib'e, has a peculiar fublimiijr in it, vailed with unufual dialeft and feeming inconncSlion : but it h not therefore to be rejefted by a»en whobear i4ie name OiChri^ians, asuncouihor unintelligible j, true wifdom diQatcs quite another thing: it counfels us, by Ire^uenf reading, to acquaint ourfelvcs v/eli wiih it ; become accuftomcd to its peculiar phrafes, and fcarch into its fublimitics ; upon this ground, t^iat the matters contained in it, are cf the utraoft confequence tons, and when rightly underflood, )ieldarcfine4 delight, much fuperior to what is to be iound in reading the beft written books on the moft entertaining fubj:£ts. What pleads for the parent, is a pica for the progeny; praQical difcourfes upon divine fubjcft«, are the genuine offspring of the fucred text, and ought therefore to be read carefully and with attention, by pcrfpns of all ranks and degrees, tho' they are indeed calculated for, and ptci>liarly adapted to fuch as move in low fphcres of life.
Let it, however, be a prevailing ergunent with perfons of all dcnon^ina'.ions, carefully to read books of prafticai divinity: That n. ny of them are not written on the fame motives and principle? as other books are j (he authors have often a peculiar divine Cd*1 to publifh them, and well-founded hope of their being ufcful to advauce Chriflianity in the world. In confe- quence whereof it is that great numbers have reaped bencfTt by reading them, efpecially in childhood and ) oath ; many have been converted by them ; and it may be quedioned, if ever there was a true Chriftian, fince the Art of printing made thefe books common^ who has not, in feme flage of life, reaped con- fidcrable advantage from them. This book reco.-nmends itfelf in a pariirular maoner, b)* its beinga Ihort fubllantial fyftcm of practical divinity, in fo much, that tt may with truth beafferted, that a perfon who is thorjjghly acquainted v.ith all that is here taught, may, without danger to his eternal intereft, remain ignorant of other things, which pertain to the fcience called Divinity. Itis therefore earncftly recommended to the fcricus and frequent perufal of all, but efpecially of fuch as are in that flage of life called youth, and are fo Rationed in tb" world, as not to be frequently cpportuncdto hear ftrmons, and read commentaries of the facred text.
Jtis doubtlefs incumbent on matters of families to make ^ora^ provifion of fpiritual as well as bodily food, for their children and fervants ; this is effc£lually done by putting; pratbcal book^ in their,hands ; a<id therefore this book is humbly andearneftiv recommended as a famrly-book, v/hich all the members of it .arc'aot only allowed, but defired to perufc.
viii P R E F A C E.
As to th« diffcTf nee betwixt this and tVic former edition, ^hich gives it preference, it lies chiefly in the Authof'f rot only having rcvifed the (lile, but the thau^htin many p Wes ; and corre3ed both, fo as to fct (everal important truths in a clearer light, and make the ftilc of the hook now uniform, which formerly was not fo, becaufe of the explications of peculiar words and phrafes in ufe amongP pra^Hcal divines, ^ efpccially of the church of Scotland, which were inierfperfcd throughout the former edition, and intrcduccd by angthcr hand, for the iake of fuch perfons as arc not accuftomed to ihcm. It remains, that the prcfaccr not only fuhjoins Kis •r.ame, which was concealed in the firfl edition, as a icflimOny ihat he eflcems tbc Author, and values the book, but that he may thereby recommend it in a particular manner to the pc- rufal of pcrCprs of his own acquaintance. If in his afnUing towards Its bein|| publifhcd, and in prefacing both editions, he • has not run urfent, he has what will bear him up under all cenfures ; the charitable will think no c»il, aud othcrt will do as they pleafe.
ROBERT WIGHTV '^ ^^ rr. u. c. e.
EdtTihurgh, \^lh March ^ 17P9.
TH B
CONTENTS.
I. The flate of Innocence, or Primitive Integrity, Dircour fed from Ecc. \ii.20.
OF man's original righteoufnefs, I'agc '?
His underftanding a lamp oflight, cp
His ■will flraigbt with the v ill of God, . ib.
His affeflions orderly and pure, 2i
The qualities of this rightcourAefj, f<»
Of man's original happinefs, 24
Man a glorious crcaiure, i^.
The favouiite of heaven, ib.
The cotvenant of works, iL.
Lord of the M- or id, % 27 The forbiddrn tree, a (lay to keep hii?i from falling, ib.
His perfe£l tranquility,, sS
Life of pure delight, ib.
Man immortal, £5
i^iiftruftio;:* from this flat*, 3»
Three forts of pcrfons rr,-»rovc4, ib.
A lamentation over the ruins, . 31
II. The Sate of Nature, or ftate of Entire Depravation. JIead I. The Sinfulnefs of Man's Natural State, difcourfed from Gen, vi. c.
rpHAT man's nature is corrupted, proven, P. 3^
-*■ from God's word, ib.
From mens experience and cbfervation, 4*
F?'" n Adam's image natural to men, in eleven particulars, ,14
Of il.« corruption of the underftanding, 4;^
Weaknefs v/ith rcfpeft to fpiriiualtnings, ' ib.
Three cvideaces of h, «#
Grofs darknefs in fpintual things, ib.
Four evidences of it, 51
A bias in it to evil, 55
Six evidences of that bias, !?>.
Averlion to fpiritu?.] truths, t^S
Three evidences thereof, '^(^
Pronenefs to lies and falfehood, i^r
Man naturally high-minded, 62
Qf the corruption of the will, ^3
Utter inability for what is truly good, ib.
Two evidences of it. t^
CONTENTS.
Avcrfcncfi to good, Page C^
f cur evrden(rtsx)f 1% ib.
Proncncfs to evil, 68
Five evidences of it, »b.
Lnmity againft God, 70
Agtiinft the beins and nature of God, 71
Fjve quericj, for conrtftioo, OH ihjs hcad| 72
Againft the Son of God, 73
la his proj^.'-Ptical office, 74
Two evidcDces of it, ib.
In his pricflly office, 76
Three evidences of it, »h.
In his kingly office, 77
Three evidences of it, * ib. A peculiar tn^ligniiy againfl the prieftlyoScc, corrupt na- ture lying Jr-jTs to the gofpcl-conirivauce offalvation, 78 Four proofs of if, " 79 Bent to the way of the Uv/, as a covenant of woilu, 80
Four proofs of it, 81
Againfl tijc Spirit of God, 84
Againfl the law, as a rule of life, 83
Two evidences of if, '•>•
Coniumacy aga'. ft the Lord, ih.
Pcivcrfjnefs in reference to the ulnci cu^ 85
|Of ihw corruption of t.hc aficclions, 87
|Of the corruption of the confcicnce, f^S ^
(^f the corruption of the memory, 89
The body partaker of this corruption, 90
5Iow man's nature was corrupted, ib.
'I'hc dotlrine of the cqr.uption of nature? applied, 93
The narural man can do nothing but Gn, 95
'od tak^-s fpecial notice of the fin of our nature, gj Jivtder.cts of men's overlooking the fin of their nature^ 98
A^'bercin that fin is to-be fpcciaUy noticed, J 00
Why it is to be fpcciaUy noticed, lol
low to get a view of the corruption of rature, 103
Head II. The Misery of Man's Natural
'Stzite, DlfcouiTed from Eph. ii. 3. 104
MAN'S natural fiatc, a flaie of wrath, 106
What this ftaie of wrath is, ^ 108
AVraib in the heart of God againfl the naturalTnan, ib.
"Wrarh in the word of God againft him, loy^
Wrath in the hand of God a^-.nft biaij ib.
On his body and foul, tio
Oa bis enjoy rocnts, Jii
CONTENTS. X.
He is under the power of Satan, Page 1 1 1
Hath no fecurity for a motncnt'is fafcty, i vz
Wrath a^-ai::(l him a: Jeatli, and at the general judgment, ib.
The qualities cf that wratb, ' _ J»3
Thedo£trineof the fliteofwrathconfirnncdand vindicated, i \^ .Several inlnuftions from it, ib.
Alarm to the unrci^^rnerate, 122
I'hey are untler the covenant of works, rtn
Their mifery m that, refpcft, J 23
They arc without God, 125
Their mifery in that rcfnecl, ib.
Inftances of the v/raih of God, laS
A view of the nature of God, whofc wrath it is, 127
How w flee frorrj wrath, 128
A few words to the faints, and a word to all, 129, 131
Head III. Man's Utter Inability to recover himfclf, DifcoiiiTed from Romans v. 6. John vi. 44. 1-1
I^NLY two ways of man's recoverirtghimfelf fuppofable., ^-^ viz. the way ot th° law, and the way of the ^ofpei, 1^3 Man unable to recover him'elf, »n the way of the law, jb.
He cannot keep the commands perfe£tJy, ib.
The pcrfe£tion of law-obediencc, fourfold, 1^
He cannot facisfy the jaQice of God for his fin, 130
Objeft. God is merciful : we hope 10 be laved, it wc uo as
well as we can, AnfwcVed, 137
Mun unable to recover himftrlf in the way of the gofpcl,
to embrace and ufe the help offered for his recovery, 13^ Proven by feveral arguments, ib,
Objetl. (i.) If we be under an utter inabiliiv to do any
good, how can God require us to do it ? Anfwtrcd, ^o Object. (2.) ^^'hy do you then call us to belie Vv?, repent,
and ufe the means P Anfwered, Ohjeft. (3.) The ufe of means ncedlcfs, lecing wc are ut- , lerly unable to help ourlelvei out of the l!aie of Cn and
wrath : Anfwered,
HI
t^'ielt.nas i>od promt fed to convcrfandlarcTnem, wjio, ' in the ufe of means, do what they can, tcrw-ards their own relief? Anfv/ercd, ib.
The cor.clufion of this he«dj 144
^ii C O N T E N T S,
HI. The StateofGR ACE, or begun Recovery.
Head I. Regeneration, Dircgurfed from 1 Pet. i. ^3/ Fage 145
OF the nature of regeneration, 146
Partial change* miflakcn for this cbang<r, ib.
The chan,'5c made in regc^eratioa,-what it is, 149
In general and particular, ib. 1^1
The mind i'Uuminaixsd, an3 the will renewed, ib.
Cured of its utter inability to good, 154
Kndued vith a fixed avei^on to evil, ib.
Endiicd with a bent and propenfity to good, J<^
Reconciled to the covenant of peace, ja6
Difpofcd to receive Jefus Chrift, ib.
The afficftions are changed, 157
Th« afiPcftions Rettified and rcg\iiatcd J57, 15B
• The confciencc renewed, j.59
The memory bettered by regenerating grace, 160
The body changed, in rcfpcdl of ufe, i(>3
Th.° whole converfation changed, ib.
The refemblance ■betwixt naturzl and fpiritad generahon,
in nine particulars, 165
Trial of one's flatc, whether born again or not, J 69
;Some cafes of doubting Cbriftians refolvcd, 178
Cafe (t .)The prcci/e time and way of one's convetGon
not known, ib.
Cdfe(2.) Sin prevailing, 173
Cafe (3.) Corruptions more violent than fbrmerly, ib.
Cafe (4.J AiFeSions to the creature ftronger than to the
Creator — Glowing affeftiorTs t« God gone, 1 74
Cafe (5.) Attainments of hypocrites and apofl&tcs, a
tirror, J76
Cafe (6.j Falling ftiort of the faints mentioned in Scrip- ture, and of others, ' 177 Cafe [7.} No child of God fo tempted, ib. Cafe lafl. Strange andunuiual affections, J79 ][ tiq ncccllirv of regeneration, »b. To quailTy one to do go6<;!, >60 7'o communion with God in dutie;, 1R2 To make one meet for heaven, ib. To one's being admitted into htavcn, 1^4 : vices to the u^rcgcncratc, ' j85
CONTENTS. xnx
Head II. The Myftical Union between Chrill and Believers, Difcouifed fr^m John XV. 5. P'^ige 187
A General view of the Miftical Union, 188
-'*' The natural fleck. of ajl inen, Adam, J91
Originally a choice vice, J95
Now a degenerate ftock, ib,
fruits growing on the^braaches of nature of the ftock, 193- A dead ftoclc, 193
The condition of I'ue branches in that rcfpeft, ib. A killing (lock, ipS
The condition of the branches in that rcfpeft, ib. The" fupernatural ftock, ioto which the branchej are in- , grafter!, Jefis Chrill, 198
Thebrsnci:es taken out of the natural flock, and gftftcd
fnto the fapernatural {loc*c, the elc£l, 199
How cut off from the natural 6ock, in 12 particulars, £o# How ingrafted into Chnft, S09
Cbrift apprehenda the (inner by his Spirit, 210
The finner ioorehends Chrift by faith, ib.
How one cnav kr.ow one's felf to be apprehended of Chri{l,2i2 The benefit? flowing to believers fron\ union with Chrift, 28^ Juflification, ib. P<^Hce with God, and peace of con- fciencc, 217. Adoption, 2«o. SenOificatiQo,^ . 221. Growth in Grace, £25
Qucft. If ail true ChKftians be growing one^, what fiiall be faid of ihefe who, ii:ue^d of growing, are geing backward ? AnTwered, ibv
Qcft. 1>3 hypocrites grew at all ? And if {o^ how fhall M'C Jiflinguifh betwixt their growth, «nd the growth of the Chriftian ? Anfwercd, 226
Fruitful ricfs, 227
Acceptance of their fruits of holinefs, 23*
Kftablifhmenr, s^x
Support, QC}^
The fpecial care of the hufbandnsan, 237
The doty of faints united to Chrift, £39
A word to iinners, %:^%
IV. The Ete^-nal State, or State of confum-
mate Happincfs or mifery. Head I. Death, difcourfed from Job xxx- cj/ 24c}
THE certainty of death, 244
Man*s life vanity, ^ r*::^S
A fkori-livid v^oity, . «4-
C 0 N T E N T S.
A flying vanity, Tage 248
1 he flo£irrne of death, a lookiog-gYafs, wherein to behold tix; vanity of the world, 249"
A ftorchoufc for contentment and patience, 230
A bridle to curb lufts, converfant about the body, 259 A Tpring of Chriftian rcfolution, 85^
A Ipur to incuc to prepare for death, 855
Head II. The DifFerence betwixt the Righ- teous and the Wicked at death, Difcoui fed from Proverbs xiv. 32, 25G
T^HE wicked dying, are driven away, 2/>7
•*' In what cafes a wicked man may be willing to die, t^
Whence they arc dfiven, and whither, fcOo
Drivrnav/av irt thrii wicksdner5, x6i
Th- bcj.-'./ffficfsof their ilatc at death, 26a
Their hopes of peace and plealurc in this life cut off, ib.
ThcY have no foiid grouodi to hope for eternal happiaeri,)b.
Death roots up their delufive hopes of heaven, 263
Makes their ftaie abfoluiely and for ever hopclefs, ib.
Caution againft falfe Hopes : Characters of thofe Hopes, 264
Exhorta'ion to hanen out of a fintul Rate, a^ff
To be concerned for the faluation of others, ib.
ji-.e flatc of the godly in deaih, a hopeful ftare, zGj
Chrift, their heft, friend, is Lord of the other world, ib.
They will have a fafe paOi^^e 10 it, 268
A joyful entrance into it, 27a
OHjc6l. Many of the godly, vhen dying, foil of fears,and
•have little hope ? Anfwered, 271
Death unc on: fort able to there, in^hrcc catcf, 273
Ten cafes of faints ancnt death, Anlwercd, 294
Conliderations to brin^ faints in good terms with death, 277
Direfiions how to prepare for death, 278
Head III. The Refurredlion, Difcourred from }ohn v. 28, 29. 283
''pHE poflibility of the refurrcQiorr, ib,.
^ The certainty of the refwrreftion,. s8l
'/ho (hall be raifcd, and. What ftiall be raifcd, 289
:icw the dead Ihall be raifcd, zgo
The difference betwixt the godly and the wicked, ia
their rcfiirie6\ion, 291
The qualities of the rarfcd bodies of the falntp, 295
Tl;c qualities of the r;»tfrd bodies of the wicked, 297;
("onfifcit to jhe people of God, £98
Terror to all naturjl intn, ^«d
C q N T E -N T S. XT
Head IV. The General Judgment, difcourfed'
fromMat. XXV. 31, 32. 33, 34, 41.46. 302
THAT there fhall be a general judgment, proven, 303
Jefus Chrift the Judgcf, ' 35S
The coming of the Judge, ib.
The fummpns given, 307
The Judge's fitting down on tlfk tribunal, it>.
The compearance of the partie^ 309
The feparatJon betwixt the righteous and the wicked, 310
The trial of t4ie parties, ' gix
The books opened, 314
Sentence pronounced on the faints, 317
The faints judge the world, 319
Sentence of damnation on the ungodly, ih.
The execution, 32*
The general conflagrntton, ib. '
I'hc pl-ace and time of the judgment, unknown, 324
Comfort to the faints, fh.
Terror to unbtlievers, 325
Exhortation to prepare for the judgment, 327
Head V.The Kingdom of Heaven,difcourrc J
front Mat. xxv. 34. 328
'T^HE 'nature of the kingdom of heaven, 35a
-■■ The faints kingly power and authority, ib.
Their enfigns of royalty, 331
White garments, pn what occafion ufed : Much of fesaven.
underthem, ib.
The country where this kingdom lies, 336
The royal city, 337
The royal palace, • ib.
The palacc-gardcn 33^
The royal treafures, ib*
The tetn pie in this kingdom, 339
The fociety there, ib.
The fociety of the faints among thcmfeUes, 340
Society with the holy angeb, 341
Glorious coramunion with God ai^dvhrtll, the pfcrfe^oa
of happinefs, 34^
The glorious pref«jice of God and the Lamb, ib.
The full crjoyment of God and the Lamb, 343
By fight. 34t.
They will fee Cbrift, with their bodily eyes, ib.'
They will fee God, with the eves of the mind, 345-
ayi^perimectal kco'.vkdge, ^-v3r
l\
xvi CONTENTS,
Fulncfj of joy ur.fpeakablc, " ^t^4
The eternal duration of this kingderm, 351
The faifus admifHon to the kingdom, ' 358
The quality in whrch ihcjr arc introduced, 3^3
Trial of the claim to the kingdom of heaven, 35 1
Duty and comfort of the heirs of the kingdoin, B36
Exhorution to thefe who hav#'BO right to it. 3^8
Head VI. Hell 4ifcour(cd of, from Matth, xxv. 41.
THE curfc under which the damned iball be (but up in hcli, 36c
Their mifery under that curfe, ^63
The punifhment oi Icfs, feparation from Cod, ib.
The horror of feparation from God, evinced
by fcveral confjdcration$ 36,5
The puniftinaenl of fenfe, departing into fire, 37: HcU-fire more vehement and terrible than any other,
evinced by fetcral confi'der«ions, ib.
Six properties of the fiery torments in hell, 37a
Three inferences from this dotlrinc, 373
Society with devils in this milcrablc fiate, 377
The: eternity of the whole, 378
What eternity i», ib.
What is eternity itj the ftatc of the damrcd, ' 37^
Reafonablenefs of the eternity of the ptinilhmcnt of the damned, 381
A ineafuring reed to meafarcoar time, and cndeavoars for falvation by, , 3^2
A balance to dilcover the li'ghtncfs of what is falfely thought weighty, and the weighi»i what is falfly tho't light, 383
Exhortation to flee from the wrath to ccnte, 38^
c?^
STATE I.
N A M E L Y,
The State of Inmo%ence or Primitxvi iNitCRiTY, in which Ma. ^ was created.
EcGLES. vii. 2g.
Ce, this fitly have I found, That Ood hath made man upright : But they have fort ght out many invinticns.
TliERt. *ic tour ihin^s very n^^ceffirv to be known by aii that *ould fee heaven. /"/'J?, What man was m the liatc of innoCf-nce.ai Xjoij audc him. Seccndijf, What he if to the fistf of corrupt nature, a« be hath unmade himfclf. Thirdly^ What he rnuft be in the (late of grace, as created in C^ri't Jelus unto p"od work-*, if ever he be made a ^itaker of ihe inheritance of the faints io ligHu And, Lajily, \\^at he Ihall be in hii eternal ftaie, as made bv the judge of .ill, either perfcrtly happy, or completely jnifcrablc, and thai for ever. Tnelc arc wcigbry points, that touch the Vitals of practical godiirefs, from which. moft men, and even many proicfforj, in ihcfe dregs of tunc, arc quite cftranged. 1 defign therefore, under the diviae conduft, to open up ihefc thinjzs, and apply them.
I begin with the firft of them, namely, The flate of inno* ccnce: Thar, beholdinir nun poiiiT^ed after the fimilitude of a palace, the rums mav the mere aifcct u*i ; wc may the more piue that ms-chlcfj Fv.rroa, whom the Tather has appointed the repaiftr of the brei»ch ; and thai Tire mav, with nxcd re- folvcs, b.^take ourfelves tc that way which l.acUth to the city ihjt hath tjnmnvrahle foundaiio:.* In the text wc have three things :
1, The flatc of i mocence wherein roan was created, 4^ijrf hatk madcmtn xppn^kt. B\- man here, we are to underftand our fifft parents ; the archetypal p^wr, the root of maukind, the compendiicd^ world, ^nd the fountaia from whence all generations hav^ft reamed, as may appear by comparing Gen. V. 1 , 8. im tkt ^Sv that God created man, it tie iihettefs cfOod f-mde he hm, nfjki^ndfemaU created he then, and blejftd tktn^ *% the riDot cUMp^kind, and catird their n^me Ad^m, Tht origins: vorwwi* the fame in our text, in this fenfe, man o).. ^: 6a^^, agreeable to the nature of God, vbcfe worM B
i8 The Explication oj tht Tc::.
is pcrfcft, without any impcrfcAior, corruption, or princi||)« ot C'lrniption in his body or foul. !Ie was made upright, that IS, (iraight with 4hc will and law of God, without any if- ic^ulariiy iivhis fouL Bv the fct it goi in it* crfatian, it di- rcilly.poiMtcd towards God, as his chief crd ; whith (Iraight i"c!in3tion was reprcfentcd, as in an emblem, by the trcii fj^urc of hi^ bodv. a figure that no other living creat^fe par- tikes of. What David was i A ^ofp-l fenfr, tR-it was he io a ]t^] fcnfc ; one according wGod's own heart, altogether . UghtcoiJS, pure and holy. G«)D made hiiri thus; he did not firfl mak-e him, and then nuke hi'ii riglnrous; but in the very nnkrng of him, he made him righteoas. Original right- coufnefs was coiK-rcated with him : fo that in the fame. mo- irent he was a mm, he was a righteous man, morally good ; with the faaie brtaih that God breathed in hirn a living foul, he breathed in hnn a righteous foul. ,
z. Here is man's fallen (late ; 6ut they fmte fought out mikny invtntions. They fell off from their reft in Goij, and fiLil upon feeking invcntioDSof their own, to mcr.d their cafe ; Mid they quite marred it. Their ruin vas hom their own proper,* motion ; they would net abide as Goi> bad maJe thcro ; but they fought out many inventions to deform and undo them-' fclvcs.
^. Obrcjve here the certainty and importance of thqfc' things; Io, this only hate I found. Sec. Believe them, they are the rclult of a narrow fcarcb,and aferious inquiry, perfor- med by the wifcft of men. In the two preceding, verfcs, So]- 6mon reprefents himfelf as m queft of goodnefs in the world : but the iffue of it was, he could find no fatisfying iffuc in his fcarch after it ; though it was not foj want of pains ; for he counted one by one to find oUt the account. Beheld this have J found, faith tiic preaolier, to wit, thaty as the fame word is read in oar text, k^ myfoulfeeketh, but I find not. He could; make no fatisfying difcovcry of it, which might flay his en-' quiry. lie found |ood men very rare, one as it were among a thoufand ; good tvomen more rare, not one good among his thciifand wives and concubines, 2 Kings xl. 3. But could that fat bfv t>,e grand query, Where JhaLlwifdom be found ? No, it roulil ijot ; and it the experience of others in this point run rourter to Soilomon's as it is no reflexion on his difcerniog, it can as little decide the queftion ; which will remain undeter- mined till the laft day. Bur, amidft all this un^ t« one point foui)d our, and fixed : This hevf I lepend upon it as motl certain truth, and »• / .. tku ; fnt your eyes upon it, as moH dcepatvd Irnous regard ; to wit, that -nag's nar 'irpravvd, but that dcpravati9Q was not from ijf>
of Mans Original RighUouJntfs, 19
mad^ man upright ; but for themfdvcs, they have /ought out
many iriventions .
DocTRi N F., God made man altogether righteous.
THIS is that (late of innocence in which God fct maa down in the world. 'Tis dcTcribed in the holy fcripturci, -with a running pen, in comparifon of the following ftatcs j for it was of no continuance,,fent paffed as a fiyinjr (hadow, bjr man's abuGno the freedom of his own will. I (hall,
Fi R ST, Inquire into the righieoufacfs of this ftaic vrherdfi man was created.
Secondly, Lay before you fotn€ of the happy coQComt- tants, and confequcnccs thereof.
Lastly, Apply the whole.
Of Man's Original Righteoifnefs.
First, As to the rightceufnefj of thisftare, confid^r, rh»t as uncreated rightcoufncis, tbe nghteoufncf? of God ti the fupreme rule; fo all created ri^htcoufnef^, whether of mea or angels, hath refpc^l to a law as its rule, and is a conformity thereunto. A creature can no more be morally indepeodent on God, in its aftions and powers, than it c*n be naturally independent on him. A Creature, as a creature, muft ac- knowledge the Creator's will as its luprerre law ; for as it cannot be without him, fo it muft not b; but for him, and ac- cording to his will : yet no law obliges until it be revealed. And hence it follows, that there was a law which man, as a rational creature, was fubjefted to in his creation ; and that this law was revealed to him. G^\i made man upright, fay» the text. This prefupoofeth a law to which he was coiiTormcd in his creation ; as when any thing is made regular, or accord- ing to rule, of r;.eccftity the rule itfelf is ptefuppofed. Whence we way gather, that this law was no other than the eternal, indifpenfible law of righteoufnefs, oblerved in all potnts by the fecond Adam : oppofed bv the carnal mind ; fome notions of which remain yet among the Pagans, who, having not the ^w, are a isw unto them/clveSy Rom. li. 13. in a word, this law is the very fame which was afterwards fumtncd up in the ten commandments, and promulgate on moorit Sinai to the if- racljtes, called by us the moral law : and manN righteoufnefs confrfted in conformity to this law or lule. More particular- ly, there is a twofold conformitv required of a man : a con* formity of the powers of his foul to the law, which you may call habitual righteoufnefs; and a conformity of all hisafttoni to it, which is a£lual righteoufnefs. Now, Goo made.maa ^abuually righteous ; man wai t» make himfclf a£tu«iiy ri^h-
20 Of Man's Original RighUoufnefs,
tcoui ! the former was rhc Oock Gi>d put into his hand : the laitcr, ibc wnpiovemcpi he fhould have made of it. The furn of what 1 have faid is, ibat ihc righteoufi/cf* wherein man wa» created, was the conformiiv ot all the faculties and powers of- his foul to the moral I.tw. This is what we call original ngh- tcoufnefs, which man was oiiginally endued with. We nwv cake it up hi thcfe thiee things.
• Firji^ Man's undcifiariUm^ was a lamp of light. He had perfect knowledge of ihc law, andof his duty accordjugly : he was made after- Go b'b image, and confcqucntly could not want knowledge, which \% a part thereof. Col. iii. lo. The new man is nnewed in knowUdf^e, afur the imaqc of him. that created him. And indeed this was necelfary to fit him for univeifal obedience; feeing no obedjence can be according to the law, unlcfs it proceed from a fcnfc of the command- ment of God requiring u. 'Tis Hue, Adam had not the iaw Written upon tables of (lone : but it was written upon his mmi!, the knowledge thereof being concrcated with him. Goo impreftcd it upon hts foul, and made him a law to him- felf, as the remains of it among the hcarheas do teftify, Rom. ii. 14, 1,5. And feeing man was made to be the mouth of the creation, to glorify GoD in his works ; we have ground to believe he had naturally %n exquifitc knowledge of the works of God. We have a proof of this in his giving names to the beafls of the field, and the fowls of the air, and thefe fuch as cxprcfs their nature. Whatlocver Adav% called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19. Aa4 the dominion which Goo gave him over the creatures, fober- ly to ufc and diipofe of them according to his will, flill in fubordi nation to the will of God, fiicms to require no left than a knowledge of their natures. And befidcs all this, bis p«rfecl knowledge of the law, proves His knowledge in the management of civil affairs, which, in refpe£l of the law of Goo, a good man will guide with di/cretioH, Pf. cxii. 5.
Secondly, His will lay ftraight with the will of God, £ph. iv. 34. There was no corruption in his will, no bent nor in. clination to evil ; for that is fin properly and truly fo called : kence the apcyfile favt, Rom. vii. 7. / had rtot haotun fm, but ky the law, for I had not hnown lujft, except the law had /aid, Tkoujhau not covet. An inclination to evil, is really a foun- tain of fin, and therefore inconfiftent with that re£litude and uprightoeis which the text cxprcUly fays, he was eadued witli at hit creation. The will of man then was directed, and B»> tarally inchned to God and goodiiefs, though mutably. X| vu difpofrd, by its original make, to follow the CrealorV' vU), •! the (hvlow docs the body ; and that w^ not left io an c^ual balance 10 good and evil : for at that rate he bad oot
Of Mans Original Righteoiifnefs. 21
been upright, nor habitually conform to the la\y : which in no moment can allow the creature, not to be inclined toward* Go» an his chief end, more than it can allow man to b^ a god htmrelf. The law was imprcffcd upon Adam's Goal : now this according to the new covenant, by which fhe image of God is repaired, confifts in two things : I. Puttins the law into the mrnd, denoting the knowledge of it : 2. Writing it in the heart, denoting inclinations in the will, anfwerablc ro the commands of the law, Hcb. viii. 10. So that, as the will, when we confider it as renewed by grace, is bv that grace na- tively inclined to the fame holincfs in all its parts which the law requires; fo was the will of man, when we confider him as God made him at firil, endued with natural inclLiwiions to every thing commanded by the law. For if the regenerate are partakers of the divine nature, as undoubtodlv ther aic j for fo fays the fcripture, 2 Pet. i, 4. And if this d;vine na-- ture can import no lefs than inclinationt of the heart to holi- ncfs : then iurely Adam's will could not want this inclina- tion ; for in him the ima^e of Gon was perfcf). It »s true, *ti$ faid,Rom. ii. 14. 15. That the GcntiftsJJieu' the tvvrk of tht law written in their hearts: but this denotes onlv ti*cir knowl- edge of that law, fuch as u is ; but the apofttc to the He- brews, in the text cited, takes the word hearty in am^ther fenfe, diftinguifhing it plainly from the mind. And it mwft be granted, that, when God promifeth in the n-^w covenant, To tvrile his law in the hearts of his people ^'n imports quite anoth- er thing than what Heathens have : for though they have no- tions of it in their minds, yet their hearts go another way ; their will ha» got a fet and a biafs quite contrary to that law; and therefore, the cxpreflion fuiiable to the prcfcnt purpoft^ muft needs import, befidcs ihefc notions of the mind, mclfna- tions of the will going along therewith: which inclinationt though mixed with corruption in the regenerate, were pure and unmixed in upright Adam. In a word, as Adam knew his maftcr^s pleafure in the matter of dut)', fo his wiil flood inclined to what he knew.
Thirdly^ His affections were orderly, pure and holy ; which is a necclfary part of that uprightnefs wherein man was crea- ted. The apoftle has a petition, 2 Theff.iii. 5. The Lnrd dired your hearts unto the love of God; that is, The Lordjlraighten your hearts^ or make them lie flraight to the love of God : and our text tells us, man was thus made flraight, The nerv man is created in righteoufnefs and true holinefsy Eph. iv, 24. ifow this holincfs as it is diftinguifhed from righteoufncfs, may import the purity and orderlinefs of the affcftions. An4 thus the apoftle, 1 Tim. ii. 8. will have men to pray, lifting xp hjly hands, without wrath and doubting : bccaufe, as troub-
2 2 Of Mans 0 riginal Ri h te.ouficfs,
l<d water is unfit to receive iHe Imtgc of the Ton ; fo the hcait, fillfd with impure and difordcrly affcftions, it not ht for di- vine commanication*. Mail's (eiifnive appecitc wai indeed naturally Carried out tcwaidipbjcdh grateful to «hc fcnfci. For (eeing man was made gp of body and {qu!, and Go» made this man to glorify and enjoy him ; ^nd for this end to life bis good creatures in fubordmation to hii^fclf : it is plaif> that man was natural Iv inclined both to fpiritual and fcnfiblc good ; yet to fpirirual good, the chief good as bis ultimate end. And therefore his fenfiiive motives and inclinatioos, v;erc fubordinate to his rcafon and wi^l, which hy ftratghl with The will of Gap, and were not, in the Icai}, contrary to the fame. Qthcrwile he (hould have been made up of coiitra- di£lioas ; hts foul b^ing naturall/ inclined to Coo a« the thief end, in the (uptrior part thereof ; aj,id the fame foul in- clined to the creatorc as the chief end, in the inferior part thereof; as they ca'l it : which is impofTible ; for man, at the fame in{lant, cannot have two chief ends. Man's affeftions thenin his primative ftate, wciC pure from all defilement, free from all diforder anddificmper, bccaufc in all their ino- tipns they were duly fubjct^ed to his dear reafon, and his ho- ly will, H^ had alfo an executive power anfwerabje to his will : a power to dp the good which he knew fhould be done, and wkich he inclined to do even to fulfil the whole law of Qo{>. If it had not been fo Gop would not have retjuiied of him ycticQ. obedience ; for to fay, That the LoRp gath-. ereth where be hath not flrawed, is but the blafphemy of a wicked heart, againil a good and bountiful God, Mat. xxv.
from what has been faid, it may be gathered, that the ori- ginal righieoafncfs explained wa$ univcrral and natural : yet mutable.
Firfi, It was umverfal ;bo^k with refpe£l to the fubjcft of it, the wh»le man and the objcft of it, the whole law. Uni- vcrfal I fay, with rcfpcQ to the fubje£l of it ; for this ri^htc- oufncls w„: duffufcd thro' the whole ma;i ; it was a bleffed leaven that leavened the whole lump. There was not one vrong pin in the tabernacle of humjn nature, when Goo fct it up, however (haltered it is now. Man was then holy iu ioul, body and fpirit : while the foul remained untainted, its lodging wa> kept pure and und<^fijed : the members of the body were confecri«jd vtffcls, an^ inflruments of rightcouf- nef». A combat Vtwixt flefh and fpirit, rcafon and a; nay the lead inclination to fin, luit of the flcOi in the part of the foul, was utterly incoofiftcnt with this upngbt-.cis, m which man was created : and has been invented to vail the corruption of inan's nature, and to obfcurc the grace of Go i>
Qf Mans 0 ri'ginal Rlhhtec ujhefs . 2 3
in Jes'us Christ ; it looks very like the language of fallen Adam, layinghis own fin at his Maker's door, Gen iii. 12. Thi ZL'cman w/tcm ifiou gdv^Ji to bt with mr^Jhf gave vir of the trre, and'l didcat. Bat as this righteoufncrs was univcrfal in reTpect of the fubje-it, becaufe it fpread through the whole man : fo alTo it was ur.iverfal, in refpetl of the objeft, the ho- ly lasAT. Thcr<^ was nothing in the law, but what was agree- able to his reafon and will, as God made him : though Cti hitih hOw ftt him at odds v/ith it : his foijl was fiiapcri out in length and breadth to the commandment, the' exceeding broad: fo that this original righreoulncfs was not orly pcrfeft iu par's, but in degrees. •
Second Ly\ As it was univerrdl, fo it was natoral ro b'ti, and rot fuj>ernatural to him in that fla:e. Nut that it was cflcn- tial to man as man : for then he could not have left it, with- out the loCi of his very bcjng ; but it was ron-natural to him. He was created wlih.it: and It was necclTarvto the perfec- tion of man, as he came out of the hand -of Go J ; ncccfisry to conftitute him in a ft:iie of integrity. Yet,
Tkirdly, It was mutablo: it was a nghrcoufncrs that roight be loft, as is manifc fted hy the doleful event. His will was not abfoiutely indifferent to good or evil ; God fei itt<iward» good onlv : yet he did not fo fix and conftrm its inclinations, jhat it could not alrcr. No, it was moveable to evil- and that only by man himfelf, GoD having given him a fuifici- ent power to ftand in this integrity, If he had pleafcd. - Let no man quarrel God's wori:s in this : for if Adam had been unchangeably righteous, he behoved rorjiave been fo, cither by nature or by free gift : by nature he could not be fo, for that is proper to God, andincominunicablc .to any creaiuo« if by free gift, then no wrong was 4onc hiin, in with-h^lding of what he could not crave. .Ccnfirmation in a righteous ftatc, is a reward of grace, gi%-ea upon coniuming righteous through the ftate oi trial ; and would have been given to A- dam, if he had flood out tht time appoiiMed for probation by the Creator ; and accordingly is given to the fain;s, upon th* account of the merits of Chrifl, who^was obedieut even ro the death. And herein believers liavc the advantage of A- <Um, that they can never totally i^or finally fall away from
^ Thus was man made origiRallv riglueous, being crrattd^ii God's own image. Gen. i. 27. whicli confifts in «he pbfitive qualities oi knowUdge^ righiecvjucfs ami holinefs^ Col. iii. 10. £ph.iv. £4. All that God made a/aj ven good, accordlnij to their fevcral natures, Gen. i. 31. And i<> was m?n moral I r good, being made after the hv.zr^t of him who is, gocd andup- \ri^, Pfaiir. \\v. o. W'lihout ih;<. he could not have zv^'
«4 Of Man % Origiidl Happinefs. *
{vmtA the i^reatend of his creation, which vtm toknow.loire^ and Tcrvc h;« Goo, tc^oHtng to his vJU. Njv, he ould pot be Cleared oihrrwife : fur he behoved aihcr lo be con- form to the law, in his powers, principles, and inchnations, or oot : if he was, then he wa* riglueous ; and if not, he w^s t iinner, which ts ahfurd and horrible loimagintr.
Of Mar,' $ original JIappinef,
Secokdi Y, I (hill l.n h. fore you fomc of ihofc thingi, ^^Jch did accompany or tlo v from the ri^jhicoufnefs of man'i primitifc ftarr. Hippiiiels is the refuli of holmcfs ; and as it was an hol^', fo it w^s an happv ftzle.
fi^JI, Mjh was fhtn a very gloifius creature. We h^vr rrtifont' luppofc, that a< NrWcs' face (}j'>nc when he ciimc down fro:n fbe mount ; fo m^n bad a very li^hifoine }«nJ plea- fant connren^nce, and beautiful body, while as yet there was no darkneCi of fin in htm at all. Bat fceinj^ Croo hirafrlf is glorious in his holiness, ExoH. nv. jj. lurely that fpiritual comelineis, the L<JR D put upon man at hts creation, made him a very glorious crcaiuir. C) how did li^ht fhinc m his ho. \y converfatirn, to the olory of the Creator ! while every ac- tion was but the darting forth of a rav and hi am of that glori- ous,unmii^d light, whtch'GoD had fct up in hu foul j white that lamp of love, lighted from heaven, continued burning in yi% hcaii, » in the h«iv place ; and the law of the LORO, put in his inward parts hv the finj^er of Qod, nas kept by him there, as in the moH holy. There was no impurity to be fren wuhout ; i.o fqaint look in the eves, after any uncleafl" fhing ; the tongue ((4^ke rothing but the language c>f heaven : •nd in a word, the Kii\^^i So.\ wai all glorious rviiAin, and bis cloathing cf wrou^h' ^<>M.
Secondly, h^wz.^ the :c of heaven. He fhone bright-
ly in the i.Tsage of Gn '., \^ cmnot hut love his own image, whcrc-evcr it appears. While he was alone in the world, he was rot alone, for God way M(h hirn. His communion and fellowfhip was with his CrcatAajid that immediately : for as yet there was noihin* to turn^way the fate of Goo from the work of his own hands ; feeing fin had not as jret Entered, which alone could make the breach.
By the favour of God, he was advance*! to he confederate with heaven, in the firft covenant, called, T/t< Ccnxna^t of H'crkt. God reduced the law, which he gave in his creation, into the form of a covenant, whereof perfcft obcd:ei>cc %rat the condition : life was the thing promrfed, and dra»h the pen- •Ity. 4>« fot the condition, one great branch of the natural taw was, that racn believe whdtfocver God (hall reveal, an^ do whatfocvcr he (hall comrriard : accordingly Gnd mak»njr this coveniint with man, exccnded his duty to ih^noieatmg^
OfMan*%OrigirMlHappin^fs 25
the trf* cf knovUdgi of good and evil ; and the law t^^s sx> tcndcrl, W.M the rule of mar's covenanf.-obedicncc- How ea- fy were ihcfc teriB« tu him, who had th<; natural law written on his htart ; and thar inclining him ro obey this pofitive law, revealed to him, it fccms, by an.audible voice. Gen. ii. x^. t'le matter whereof was fo very cafv P Ai^d indeed it was highly re^fonablo that the rule and matter of his covenani-o- bcdicnce (hould be thu* ex'cndcd 4 thm which was added, be* xii^ a thing in ufclf indiS*.fci;t., -Ahere his obedience was to turn upon th< precifc point of the will of .God, the plaincft evidence of true obedience, ar.d it being in an external thing, wherein hit obedience or d»i<»Jcdjencc would be moft clear and t uiifpicuous.
Now, upon thi« conHiiic^, God promlfed him lift, the coutinuanGc r)f natural life, in the union of foul und body, and of fpiritnal lifr, in the favour of hii Creator : He proraircd him alio etern^il life >i» heaven, to have beer entered into, when he fhould have naffcd the time of his trial upon earth, and the Lord Oiould Ice meet to iiar.rport hnn in?o the up- per Piiradi'e. This promife of life was included in the threat- n-.r.g of death, mcntionrd Gcri. ii. 17. For while God fay», in tht^day th,,u tauji tkcrtcj ikffu Jfiuli furcly dic\ It is ia cifcft,**// Wott do %ot tat a/tt^tki,njhalt Jureh lii'-,Ac\i thi$ was faciauientally corftaucd by auijihcr tree in the gardcq, called ibercfore, The Tree of lijc ; which he was dvbarred froru when he had finned: Goo, lii. ae, 23.- — L'H he put forth his haJid, and take ulfo of the tree of life, and eaf., And live forever, T tier ff ore the Lord Godfent hnn forth from tkf garden of Eden. Yet It is not to be ihous^ht,that man's ^ifc and death did hang only on wkis matter of the Fofb'ddcn fruit, but on t^e whole law ; for To fays the apoftle, Gal. iu. tc it is written, Curfd ^ is every one that xontinuclh not in all things, z^.'hick are written in the book of the l9.x» to do them. That of the forbidden fruit, was a revealed part oi Adam's religion ; and fo behoved exr prcfsly to be laid before him : hat as to the oaturai law, he naturally knew death to be the reward of Jifobedience ; for the very Heathens were not ignorant of this, kyiowin^ the judgment of God, that (hey which commit fuch things^ are Zi^ar. thy of death, KoM. i. ^?.. And moreover, the pvoxr-ife in- cluded in the threatii'ngs, fecurcd Adam's life according tc the covenant, as lon^ aj he obeyed the natural law, with the addition of that pofitive command i (b that he needed nothing to be expreCd to him \a the covcnaat, but what coacernei the eating ofVthe forbidden fruit, that eternal life in hcaveii was promifcd in this covenaiit,ts plato from this.that the thrcat- ning was of eternal death in hell ; to which when man had made IjioiftJf liable, CuRXST was promifcd by his death t«
26 6j MarC'% Original Happin^fi,
ptirchafc eternal life ; and Ch k iST hioifdf eii^<)umli<thc- promtfe of the coven^ni of works of cteru^l life, while he pTO»ifcth the condition of that cov^nuir, to a proud youi^ naao, who, thou/^h he had noi Adam's ftock, v.t would nt-rcs enter into life in the way of working, as Adam was to have do c under tlu& covciani, Matih. kix, 17, ijtkov ttilt enter into Life^ viz. etcnxal life, by doing, vcr. 16.' ketp the < t* fOMndmcHts.
The penalty was death. Gen. ii. 17. In tJie day tkat thou eatejl thereof, thou JhaUJuTcly die. The death ihrcatncd vra? fach, 25 the iiie prouitCcd was ; and that moR juHty, viz. iempcral. Jjfttrilual, and cterttal dtath. The event is a com- inenury on this : For that very day he did eai thcrof, he was a-dead inan in law ; but the exccttion was flcppcd, bccaufc of his poflerity then in bis loins; and another covenant was prepared ; However, that day his body got i i death-wound, and became mortal. Death alto fcizcd hi« foul : He loTt his original righteoufnefs and the favoor of Gotr: wi'ncfs the gripes and throws of confciencc, which maae him hide hinifclf froffiCoD. And h4 became liable to eternal death, vhich would have a£lually followed of courfc, ti a Mediator had aot been provided, who found him bound with the cords of death, as a inalcfattor ready to be led to execution. Thus "you , have a ihort dcfcriptionof tiie covenant, into which the LoltD bro't man, in »he flate of innocence.
Ar.d feemcih it a fmail thing unto you, that earth was thus confederate with heaven ? This could have been done to none but him, whom i\ti King of heaven deli;>hrcd to honour. It was an act of f^race wcrthy of the gnciouk God whole favour* jtc he was ; for there was grace and free favour i|^the Hrii covcmnx, ihouf^h tAe txceediH^ ricAfs of^race^ zi tWc apoUic calls it, Eph. ii. 7. was rckrrvcd for the Iccond. It was cer- tainly an act of grace, favour and adnairabie condcfcenrion iil God, to enter into a covenant ; and fuch a covenant with his own creature. Man was not at his owTi,but aiGon's diipofal. Nor had he any thing to work with, but «'hat be had recei- ved from God. There was no proportion betwixt the work and the protnifed reward. Before that covenant, man was boucd 10 perfect obedience, in V'i^ue of his nature! ' . dcncc on Goo: & death was naturally the Wages o\ ! thcjufliceof God couW and woald havr rrr ;•• there bad never been any covenant betwixt 0
But Go u was free ; man could never have r^tj^i — i
life as the reward of his work, if there had iu>t been Uicb a covenant. Goi> w^is free to have difpofcd of his creature as lie idW meet : and if Hr had Hood in his integrity as long as fhe world fbould Aand,4ud there iikd h^n t>o covenant pro;n-
of Mans O^i^inal Happinejs. 27
ifing eternal life to bira upon his obedience ; Goo ciigh: have withdrawn his fupporting hand at laft, and io made him creep back into the wocab of nothing, whence alaiighty power
. had drawn him out. And v/hat wrong could there have been in this, while G^o-Ihould have taken bsck what he fretly gave ? But now the covenant being vnadc, God bcconicj debtor to his own faithfulneis : If man wsU woik,hc may crave the icward on the ground of tfie covrndnt, V/cll might the angels then, upon his being raifed to his dignity, have given him that falutation, H~i.il thou that art /ii^k/y fa- voured, the Lord is roith thef.
Thirdly, God made him tcrdrfthc xuorld^ pine; of the inferior creanires, univcrfal lord and ei3pcror of the whole
, earth. His Creator gave.him dominion over the ftih of the lea. and ovcf the fowls of the air, over ail the earth, yea, ar.d eveiy living thing that liveth upon the earih : \it put all things under hiijeet, Flal. viii. 6.7, 8. He gave hini a power
* foberly to ule and dilpofc of the creatures, in the earth, I'ea, and air. Thus man was God's depntc-goveroor in the low- er world; and this his dominion was an image of God's fo« vereignty. This was common to the man and the wo-.nan ; but the roan had one thing peculiar to him, vjz. that he had dominion over the woman alfo, I Cor. xi. 7. Behold how the creatures came to hnn^o own their fubjeciion, and 10 do him homage as their lord ; and<]uiet]y flood before him, till he put names on them as his own, Gen. ii. \g. Man's face flruck an awe upon them ; the ftouteft creatures flood afion- ifhed, tamely and quietly adoring him as their lord and ruler. Thus was man croiunrd u>itH glory gnd hcnour, Pfal, viii. 5. The Loj|D dealt moft liberaily and boointifully with him,^«/ nil things under hisjiet ; only be kept one thing, one tree in the garden, out of his hands, cveo the tree of kuowjedge of good and evil.
But, you rnay fay, And did he grudge him this ? I anfwcr, Nay ; but when he had made him thus holy and happy, he gra- ciouflygave him this reflriftion, which was in its own nature, a pi op and Hay ^ keep him fiom falling. And this I fay, upon thefe three grounds : ( i.) As it was moft proper for the honour/ of God, who had made man lord of the lower world, to affert his fovereign dominion over all^ by (ome par- f cular vifible fign ; (o it was moft proper for man's fafety. Man being fct down in a beautiful Paradife, it was an aft of infinite wifdom, and pf grace too, to keep from him one' fin- gje tree, as a vifible teftimony that he moft hold all of his Creator, a* his great Landlord ; that iio while he faw himfelf lord of the creatures, he might not fot||et that he was ftill 'i fubjetl. (2.) This was a mcmorialof his mutable ftate
28 OJ Man's Original Happinefs,
given in to him from heaven, to be laid up by him, for hii great caution. For man was created with a free will to good which the tree of life was an evidtncc of: But his will wasal- fo free to evil, and iht forbidden tree was to him a mrfrorial thereof. It was in a manner, a continual watch-word to him t^ainO evil ; a beacon fct up before him, to bid him beware v\ dalhing himfclf to pieces, on the rock of fin. ^^3.) God made man upright, direfted towards GoD, as the chief end. He fet him, like Mefesonthc top of the hill, holding up his hands to b<;aven; arid as Aaron and Kur (laved up Mofcs* hand,Exod. xvii. io,i 1,12. IoGod gave man an ertft figiirc of body, and forbid .him the eating of this tree, to keep him itt t'lat pofluie of uprij»htncfs wherein he was crrated. Cod made the beafls looking down towards the earth, to (hew that their latisfa^tion might be brought from thence ; and accor- dingly it docs a(ford them what is commeniurabic to their ap- petite : But the erc£l figure of man's body, which looketh upward, (hewed him, that his h;»ppihcfs lay above him, in God ; and that he was to expctt it from heaven, aod not fiom earth. Now this fair tree, of which he was forbidden to eat, taught him the fame leffon, that his Happirefs lay not in €nj(pyment of the creatures, for there was a wai:t even in Paradife : So that the forbidden tree was, in effcft, the land of all «be Creatures, pointing man away I'rom (hemlelvcs toGoD for happincis. It was a fign of emptinefs hung before the deer of the creation^ with that iofcription. This is not your refi.
Fourthly^ As he had a pcrfccl tranquility within hjs own breaft, (o he had a perfect calm without. His heart had no- thing to reproach him with; confcicBcethcn had nothing todo, but to direct, approve and fcafl him : And wiihout,'''there waa fiothing to annoy him. The happy pair lived in perfefi amity ; and though their knowledge was vafi, true and clear, they knew no iliamc. Though they were naked, there were no hliifhcs in iheir faces ; for fin, the feed of (hamc, was not yet iown,Gen. ii. s^. and their beautiful bodies were not capable of injuries from the air ; fo they had no need of clothes, which art* originally the badges of our (haroe. Tbcy were Uable to nc Jifeafes, nor pains : And though they were not to live idle, \ei toil, wcarinefs, and fweat ofthc brows, were not knovm in this (late.
Fifthly^ Man had a life of pure delight, and undreggy ple«- fu.'5 in this flate. Rivers o! pure nleafures run throuj^h it. The earth, with the pioduft thereof, was now in its glory : no« thing had yet come in, to mar the beauty of the creature*. Cod fct him diyji-n, ap^ in a common place of the earth, but io Ldtn y a place '■irment for plcafantncfs, as the naiae of it
of Man 5 Original Happine/s. 29
imports : Nay, not only in Eden, but in the garden of Eden ; the moft pleafant fpot of that pleafant place : a garden plar.f- cd by God himfclf, to be the inanfionhoufe of this his favour ite. As, when God made the other living creatures, he faid. Let the water brin^fortk the inQ-jing cr cat-are. Gen. s.so. And Let tkc earth bnn^ forth the living creature, \ ex. 2^. Bj-t, when man was to be macie,he faid. Let us make man, \ii.iS- So, when the reft of the earth was to be furniihcd with herbs and trees, God faid, Let the earth bring forth grajs, and the fruit- tree, &c. Gen. i. * 1 . But of paradife it is iaid, God planted it^ chap. ii. 8. which cannot but denote a finguiar excellency in that garden, beyona all other parts of the then beautiful eaiih. There he wanted neiihcr for iiecefTity nor delight : for there was every tree that is pi'- af ant to the fight, and g<}od for foody \ZT. Q. He kn«w not thefe delights which luxury has invented for the gratifying of lufts : but his delights were fuch as came outof the hand of God ; without pafling through finful hands, which readily leave marks of impurity on what thcv touch. So his delights were pure, his pkafures refined. And yet may Ifhetvycu a more excellent zuay, Wifdom had en- tercd into his heart : Surely then knowledge was pleafant unto his loul ! What dclight'do fome find in their difcov^ties of the works of nature, by the fcraps of knovf ledge they have gathered! But how much rsore cxquifite pleafure had Adam, while his piercing eyes read the book of God's woiks ; which God laid before him, to the end he might glorify him in the fame! And therefore he bad furely fitted him for the work, Buf above all, his knowledge of God, and that as his God ! And the communion he had with h:n\^ could not but afford bim the moft refined and cxquifite pleafure in the innermoii receHcs of his heart. Great is that delight, *'hich the faints find in thefe views of the glory of God, that their fouls are fometimes let into, while they arc compaded about with ma- ny infirmities I Bat much more may well be allowed to finlefs Adam I No doubt he rcHlhed thefe pleafuresat another rate. iMJlly, He was immortal. He would never have died, if be had not finned; it was in cafe of fin that death was thrcatnrd. Gen. ii. 17. Which fhews it to be the confcqucnt of fin, and not of the finlcfs, human nature. The perfedl conftitarici« of his body, which came cut of God's hand very good ; and the rightcoufncfs ard holinefs of his foul, removed all inward c^ufes of death : nothing being prepared for tbe grj^ve's devour- ing mouth, but the vile body, Philip, ii'. 21 And ibcft who have finned. Job xxiv. 19. And God's fpecial care of his innocent creature.fccured him againft outward violenc^^ The apoflle's teilivony is exprcCi, Rom. v. 12. By one man Jin tnte red into the world and death by Jin , Behold the door by
30 The DoBrtne of the
%hich death cstne in ! Sjtan wrought witb hit lies ti)) he got it opened, and fo de?!th entcrrd ; and therefore i* he faid to lnvc been a murderer /rom the beginningy John viii. 4^,
Thus have I ftiown you the holinef^ and happinefs oi man in this flaff . If 7>r\s fay, \Vha''s all tbi^ to us, who never laftcd of \hat holy and happy flatc? They muft knOw it nearly con- cerns us, in fo hi as Adam H-as the root of all mankind, our common head and Teprcfentat'ivc ; who rrceivcd from God cur inheriiancc and flock to kxcp it for hiinfclf and his chil- rren, and convey it to them. The Lard put all mankind's (fock, as it were in one flap ; and, as we ourlclvrs fhould have done, he made our commen father the pilot He put a blcf- fii!g in the root, to have been, if rightly managed, diffafed into 3.1 the branchts. According to our text, making Adam u: light, he made man uptight ; and all mankind had that 11^ iightnrfs in him ; kor, if the root behofy,fo are the branchn^ Bji more of this afterwards. Had Adam flood, none would have quarrelled the rcprcfentation,
Ufc 1. For information. This Oicws trs, (i.)That not God, but man himfclf was the cauHc of his ruin. God made him upright : his Creator fei him up, hut be threw himfelf down. Was the LoVd's diref^ing and irclining him to good, the reafnn of his woful choice ? Or did heaven deal fo fpar- ingly with him, that.his prefRng wants fcnt him to hell to fceK fupply. Nay, man was,and is the caufe of his own ruin. (2 ) God may mofl juflly require of men perieft obedience to his law, and condemn them for their not obeying it pcrfeft- ly, though now they have no ability to keep it. In fo doing, tic gathers but wher» he has (Irawed. He gave man ability to keep the whole law ; man has loft it by his own fault ; but his fin could never take away thai right which God hath to cxa6l perfeft obedience of his creature, and to punifh in cafe of difobedience. (3.) Behold here the infinitt obligatirn wc lie under, to Jefus Chrift t'nc ferond Adam ; who with his •wn precious blood has bought our cfcheat, and freely raalirs offer of it again to us, Hof. yiii. 9. and that with the advan- tage ofcveriafting fecurity, that it can never be altogether loli any more, John x. c8, ^9. Free grace will fix tbofe, whom free-will fhook/lown into a gulfof mifery.
Ufe II. This reacheth a reproof to three forts of perfon*. (r.) Tothefc who hate religion in the power of it, wherev- er it appears ; and can take pleafurc in nothing, but ia the world and their lufls. Surely thnfe men are far from righte- oufnefs ; they are haters of G«d, Rom. i. 30. for they a»e ha- tcr'. of his imagt. Upright Adam in Paradtfe, would have been a great eve-fore to all fuch perfons as he was to til* ferpent, whofe teed they prove themfclves to b«, by tbcir
Sfatt of Innocence applied. ^h
Walignity- (2.) Itrrprove* thofe who pot religion to Qiamc, and tbofe who arc afliaaied of religion, before a graceleL* world. There is a generation who make fo bold with, the God that made ihctn, and can in a moment crufh them, that they ridicule piety, and make a mock of feriournefs. A^ainji whom doycf^oTt yourfetvcs ? Again fi whom maki ye a wide mouth and draw out the tongue? Ifa. Ivii. 4. It is not a?ainft God himfelf, whofe image, io fome roeafure repaired ott Come of his creature*, makes them fools in your eyes ? But bt ye not jnochrs^ lefi ycur bends be made Jirong, Ifa. xxvLii. 25- Holinefs \«as the glory God put on man, when he m?de him •- but now fons of men turn that- glory into fearoe, becaufe they thcmleUcs glory m their fbame. There are others that fe- crctly approve of religion, and in religious company will profefs it : who at ether limes, to be neighbour-like arc alha- med to own it ; fo weak are they, that they are blown over with the wind of the wicked's mouth. A broad laughter, an impious jeft, a filly gibe out of a profane mouth, is ro many an unanlwerablearg'tmcnt agaioR religion and feriournefs > for in the caufe of religion, thcv arc as filly 6Qvt% without heart. O that fuch would confider that weighty word ! Mark viii. 38, Whofocver therefore Jhail be qpiamed of vie ; ofid of my wordiy in this adulterous and Jinfuigeneratiim ; of Aim a/Jb fhalL thefon cfman be a/hamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the koly angels. (3.) It reproves the proud, fclF- conceited profeflbr, who admires himfelf in a garment he h».th patched together of rags. There a»e many, who, when once they have gathered fome fcraps of knowledge of rcli£;iou,and« have attained to fome reformation of life, do fwell- big witlr conceit of therafclves ; a fad figo that the cde6b of the fall lie fo heavy upon them, that they have not as yet come to thcmfclvcs, LJikc xv. 17. They have eyes behind, to fee their attainments; but no eyes within, no eyes before, 10 fee their wants, which woald furely bumble them ; for true knowledge makes men to fee, both what once they were, and what they are at prefent : and fo is bumbling, and will not fuffer them to be content with any meafurc of grace attained;; but pu<»them oil lo prcfi f orwAvd, forgetting the things tkSe are behind^ Phil. iii. 13, 14^ But thofe men are fuch a fpecla- cle of commiferation, as one would be, that had fet his pal- ace on fire, and were glorying in a cottage he had built for himfelf oot of the rubbilh, tha' io very wetk^ that it coulA^ not ftand againft a ftorm. .
Ufe. IIL OfUmcifation. He^ was a flately buildijig,. «Mzn, carved'like a fair palace, but now lying in afhes : let as fland and look on the ruins, and drop a tear. This is a la-> mentatior, and (hall^ for a lamenwtion. Could we chafe
0 2 Tki Do^rine of the
hut te we<p, if wt frw oot country mined, und turnrdbv tlje ^i)«'»T>y into a wifdernrfj ? If we faw oOf hou(c» on fcrr. Jb our houni*^W$ pf rifliinj^in the tlamci ? But all this com« far (hort of ihe difm?l f -'n, man fallen a* a ftai from heaven. Ah ! may not wc now t^y.O rhnt w« were as in raonihf paft, when {^crc vrere no (lain* in o«f nature, no clouds on oor miidi, no pollution in our Lraru. Had we never be^o in better ca(c, the matter ha^ been lefi : but they that were brooj^ht up in fcarlet, do now embrace dun^bilU. Wberc is our pnmative jjlorv now 1 Once no darkncfs in the mind, no ftbellioH in the will, no diforder m tbe afffftiona. But ah t hL'w is thf faithful city beiomf an Aarlctf Rigkte<nifncf<i (edged tn if ; but nem murderers. OurJihcri\ b<ieonie droTs^ 0iir wint -"nxed with waret. That heart u-hich was once the tc«ple of God, is now turned into a den of fhicvet. l/Ct onr name be Icha- bod, for the ^lory ii departed. H-^ppv waft thou, O man, who was like arto thee ! No pain or fcckneft could aff<:<ith«e, no death could M>pioach thcc, no figh wa» heard from tW«e, till thcfc bincT fruits uxre plucked cff «he forbiddtMi tree. Heaven fhonc upon ihee, and eariji fmilcd ; thou waft the companion of angels, and the envy of deirils. Bui how low is he now la«d, who was created for dominion, and made lord of the world ! T-te croitm isfsllthfrofi o^r htad : cw unto ut that ZiK have finned. The creatures that waited to do him ftrvicc, are now fince the fall, fet in battle array againft him ; anc»the leaft of chern having cowtnifTion proves too h^rd for him. Waters overflow the old world ; fire confumei Sodom : the Oars in their ccurfes fi«ht againfl S«fcra ; fro^s, flics, 1/ce, Sec. turn execotioners'to Pharoah and hii £^vptians ; wormi eat up HtTod : vea, man need* a Iteaguo with the t>cafts, yea with the very Jfonrs 9f thf fcid, Joh^f. l^- having reafou to fear, that every one that hndcih kim will fay him. Alail how are we fallen f How are we pkinged into a gulf 6i miC- cH^ ! The fun has come down on us, death has come ia at our wr^dows ; our enemies h^e put out our two eyes, and fport thcmftlvci with our mifitries. Let us then lie 6f*^tt in our fliame, and let our conftifton cover ill. tJcvertheltfs there is hupc in Uracl concerning this thirg. Come thcn.O finrer, lofk to Jefus Chnft, the fcCAnd Adam : <juu the firit A'lam and his covenant : come over to the Mediator and Surety of the itew and better covea^it : and let cur heart* f-^y, Bx tkem OUT ruler, artd let this bri^cft ^e under (hy hand. A'vt k-i your eyr trie Ale dou^n, and cmie not tuithout arty inttrmfi^fn, ttU tki lord Itch dou/n andUhoid/rm Atsvm, Lam.4u. ^, >*.
.i' A Melt, ■ ••
The Stats of.N'.A t u r s, or-^f Entire Dkfb.avatio5i. --11' '" ' '^
V. ,;.;,., V HEApi.-,,v . ,. V.-. The SifjruLnEss of Man's Natural State,
And God few i^at tke zvichrdnefi of Man was- greitt rn tkt earth, and ihct every inaoinatkn of the tkougkti ef his
heart wasonly evil continvaliy-. -, ,,
WE h^^^'c feen what wan Va5,a<; God rr.ad<? hlm.a I'^veh'^ and happy creature : let us view him now ;is h- hith unmade himfelf*. and we fhaH fee him a Gnfwl and miferahlc creature.' Thfs is the Tad flat- we were brousrh't tnto bv rhe fall : a ftp.te as black ind doleful as the former was glorious : and this we commonlv call, The flatr of nanire, or mart's nar- ural ftate; iccptdjng to ihit of ihc aportic.Eph.ii. 2. fi? were by nature tht children of tcreth e-9e-^a.% oth^ri, And herein two thing* are to^ be confidertd ; \f. The finfjlntffs ; ^dly^ The miiery of thi^ ftate, in which all thc-unregenerste do live. I begin with the rmfulnefs of man's natural fliite, whereof the text gives irsa full, though > fhort account ; And Godfaw that the Tuickedfiefs cfmetri xvds ^Teci>t.\ ^.c. '■■.-' .
The fcope and At-^x^xx of thcfe wor.'ls 1<,fo cleir Gi'^d's juf- tice,- in bringing the Wood dh iJie old worl:l. .There are two particular caufc^ of it taken notice oi in the prccfding vcrfcs. /•I.) Mixt jmarriag'ei, ver. 2. The fans ofG'^d, the poftcrity of* Scth and Enos, profeirors of the true' ielici6n, married with the daughters of Kicn, the profane, curfcd race of Cain. Thev did not carrv the matter-before the Lord, *haf he "might ckufe- for them ^ Pfai. xlviii. 14. Bat without anv refpefl ro the will of GoDThcy chofe ; not according to rhe rules of their faith, bnt of their fancv v they faw that -thfv weh; fair; and their marriage with them, occaHoned their divorce from Goi». This was one of the-caiifes of the delus>e, which fwept -awav tbeoW'World. Would to God all profeiTors in our day^ ■sculd plead not guilty ; but tho* il||t fin brought on the del-
34 The ExplUation of the Ttxt.
»^Kc, ye^^'>|<<ltlagthatKnot fwepi awiy fbac fio; whftb si of old, " inourd*y,may juniy be looked upon, as one of the caufci of the decay of religion. It was an ordinary ihlng athong the Pai^an*. to change their gods, as they changed their cOiditTOTi tp^ a married lot ; and many fad inftanccs the Chrif- tan world aifords of the fame, ac if people were of Pharaoh's Opinion, That religion is only for thofc that have no oih<f fare n;>on their heads, Exod. v. 17. (2.) Great opprcfTion. vcr. 4. There was giants in the earth in thofe days, men ol ?reat fbture, great flrengih and monrtrou* wicke'dn«fi////ii^ the earth with ytoUnce, vtr. 11. But neither their {Irengih nor treafures of wickcdnefs, could profit them in the day ofwraih. Yet the ^ain of opprcffion ftill carries many over the terror of ihi^ dreadful example. Thus much for the connexion, and w^at par'icular crimes that generation was guilty of. But every terfjn that was fwept away with the flood, could nol be guilty ©f thele things, and {hall not the Judge of all Uie earth do right? Thercfcre in my text. there isa geiier^l in. rfif^ment drawn up againft them alt, The utickednefs of man ti.asgreatin thetarth, &c. And this^is well inftruftcd, for G(io faw if. Two things are laid to their charge here.
firji, Corruption of life, wickedncfs, great wickedrefs. I UndcrOaod rbis of the wickedrrtfs of their lives ; for it m plain* Iv diflingttifbcd from the wickcdnefs of their hearts. The tint f)f their outward converfation, were great in the nature of them, and greatly aggravated by their attending ctrcumftances : and this not only among thofe of the race of curfed Caio, but thcfc of holy Seth; the wickcdnefs of man was great. And then it is added, in the earth (1 .) To vindicate Go i>'$ fevehty, in that he not only cut off fi-nneri| hut defaced the beauty of the earth ;^ and fwept off the brute creatures from ithy the deliii^e; that as men had fet the marks of their knpiety/GoD might fet the marks of his indignation, on the earth, (fi.) To f}»cw the heinoufncfs of their fin, in making the earth which God had fo adorned for the ufe of man, a fink of (in, and a Oage whereon to a£^ their wickcdnefs, in defiance of h^arcn. God faw :his corruption offcfe: he not onlv knew it, ard look notice of if, bat he ma^e them to Know that he did take notice of it ; and that he had not forfaken the earth, tho* ibey iiad forfdkcD heaven.
Secondly, Corruption of nature. Every imaginaticn of tkt thoigkts of his heart tvas only evil continually. All their wick- ed practices are here traced to the fountain-head ; a conupt heart was the fource of all. The foul which yas made Uf f gnt in all its faculties, is now wholly difordered. The heart that was «iade acceding to GooJ>own heart, is now the revcrfe of it, a forgeof evil imaginatiom,a iTok of inordinate afTcftions, antta ilorc-h^iifc of all impiety , Mai k Vii. ft i »9S. Beheld the heart of
The ExpUcaticn of the Text, 35
iht natural man, as it is opened in our text. The mind it defiled ; the thoughti of the heart are evil ; the will and af- feftions are defiled ; the imagination oF^e thoughts of the iicart I. e. whatioever the heart fiameth v/i?hin itfeU by think- ing, fuch as judgment, choice, parpofes, devices, delires, e- ▼ery inward motion; or rather, the frame of thoughts of the heart, namely, the framej make or motild of thefe, j Chron. xxix 18. is evil. ye4, and every imagination, every frame of his thoughts, is fo. The heart is ever fiaming fomething ; but never one right thing ; the frame of thoughts, in the heart of man is exceeding various; yet arc they never caft into a right frame ; but is there not, at lead, a mixture of good in them ? No, they are onlyevil, there is nothing in them truly good and acceptable to God ; nor can any thing be fo that comes but of that forge ; where not the Spirit of GuD, but the prince tj tht power of th( air worketk, Eph.ii. 2. Whatever changes may be found in them, an^e only from evil to evil ; for the imagination of the heart, or frame of thoughts in natural men, ts evil continually, or every day ; from the firft day, to the laft day in this (late, they are in midnight darknefs ; there is not a glii!:mcring of the light of holinefs in them ; not one holy thought can ever be produced by the unholy heart. O What a vile heart is this ! O what a corrupt nature is this I the tree that ahvavS brings forth fruit, but never goo3 fruit, whatever foil it be fet in, whatever pains be taken on it, muft naturally be an evil tree ; and what can that heart be, where- of every imagination, every fet of thoughts, is only evil, and that continually ? Surely that corruption is itigraincf^ in ouf hearts, interwoven with our very naturesjhas funk into the mar- row of our fouh ; and will never be cured, but by a miracle of grace. Now fuch is man's heart, fuch is his nature, till re- generating grace change it. God that fearcheth the heart faw man's heart was fo, he took fpccial notice of it ; and the faithful and true witnefs cannot miftake our cafe ; though we are mod apt to miftakc ourfelvcs in this point, and generally do overlocikit.
Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, faying, what is that to us ? Let that generation of whom the text fpeaks, fee to that. For the Lord has left the cafe of that generation on record, to be a looking-glafs to all after- ffcnerations J wherein they may fee their own corruption of heart, and what their lives wonlrl he too, if he reftraincd thetn not ; for as in water face avfuet ih to face fo the heart of mm fo wan, Prov. xxvii. 19. Ad. m's fail has framed all mer.*» hearts alike in this matter. Hence the apoftle, Rom. iii. ic. proves the corrtiption of the nrttu^ hearts, and lives bf all a«n, from what the iTaloiiIl fay* of the ^.-icked la his day.
3^ The Explication of the Texl.
PfaK xiv, 1, 2.3. Pfal.v. 9. Pfal rxl. 3. Pfal. x. ;. I«iw. xxxvi. t. and from what Jeremiah laith of the wicked in hj« day, Jcr. ixf, 3. and frpra what Ifaiah fays of thpfc that lived in his time, l(a. Ivii. 7, 8. and concludes with that, ver. 19 Noio wr know, that rphat ikinf^t foever t'fit law faith, itfaitk to thtm thai are under the idro j that evfry month may be Jioppvi% and all tie world may become guilty Sefure God. Had the hif- tory of the deluge bren iranfmittcd unto us, withou.t the rea- fon thereof in the text, we might thence haye galhercd^ the oorruptioh and total depravation of man'i nature ; for. what other <Jaarrci could a holvandjuft God hav^ with the Infants t'hat wrre dcftroycd by the fVood, feeing they had no adual. fin ? If wd faw a wife man, who having made a curious piece of work", and hcaruly approved of it when he gave it out of his hand; as (it for the ufe it was defi'gned for,ri(c up in wrath and break it all in pieces, when he looked on it attcrwards ; would we not thence conclude the frame of it had been quite marred fince made, and that it docs not fcrve for that ufc it was defigned for ? Hov much more, \frhen we fee the holy arrtf wife God, dttftroving the work of ||is own hands, once Solemnly prorujunced by him very good, raay wtr' conclude that the original frame thereof i? utterly marred, that it can- not be mended, but it miift needs he new made, or loft alto- gether? Gen- ri. 6, 7. And it repented tite Lord that he had. ■made man on the earthy and it grieved him at his heart ; and the Lord/aid, I will dejiroyman or blot him out ; as a man doth a fcntence out of a book; that cannot be cprretlcd, by cutting off feme letters, fyllables, or wt>rds, and interlining' others here and there ; but mull needs be wholly new framed. But did the deluge carry off this cornjption of man's nature ? Did it mend the matter i^ No, it did not. Gon in his holy, providence, That ev^ry mouth may be Jlopped find all the new Uf^rld may become <:,^iky bffore God^ as well as the old, permits that corruption of nature to break out in Noah, the father of the new uorld, after the deluge was over. Behold him as a- riother Adam finning in the fruit of a tree. Gen. ix, 20, 9.1. tit planted a vineyard and he drank of the winr, ci*d zvms drun- ken^ and he was nnceverrd within his tent. More than, that, <ioD gives the fame rcafon againft a new deluge, which he gives in our text for bringing that on the world ; I will not^ ^ ia'ah he ^a<;ain curf: the ground any more /or man^s fake ^ for ffie imagination of man's heart is evil from hii yovth^Gcn. viii, «i. Whereby it is intimated, that there is no mending the njatter by this mean ; and that if he would always take the fame coiirf^ with men that he had done, he would be always' 'tir^ing^ltlugc^onthee^Pi, feeing the cori-uption of man's n4-
Thai Maris Nature is corrupted, ^j
tarcrcnrains ftill. 3utthq' the flood could not carry ofTthe cor- ruption of fiature, 'vet ii pointed at the way how it is to be done, viz. That men mull be born of water and of the Spirit raifedfronr Iprritual death in iln, by the grace of Jefus Chfifi, Avho came by water and blood ; out of which a new world of faints arife in ref;enerat)on^ even as tbe new world of (iftnerft but of the waters, where they had long lain buried, as it were, in the a^k.. This we learn f,om i Pci. iii. 2o, 21. where the tpoftle fpcaking of Noah's a'rk faith, iVhercin fctv^ that ts^ €igktJouU,Xijtrefavcd by ufatir. Tke likfjigure zjhereunto^ <venbaptifm doth al/'o now Javc us. " Now the waters of the deluge beinig^^ Ukejigkre to laptifm ; it plainly follows, that thcv fighified, as Hapt^Cm doth, the zi.a/hing of ngcmration^ 'and rcneiaing of the Holy Ckofi. To conclude then, thefe wa- ters, tho' now dried up, may ferve im for a looi;ing-glafs, in ■which to fee the total corruption of our nature, t^no. the ne- ccffity of rcgeheraiion. 'From the text thus explained, arii- cth this weighty point of Doflrine, which he that runs may read in it, viz. MurCs nciurcis r.oiv luhcUy corrupted. Now is *hertf a fad alteration, a wonderful overturn, in the nature of inan \ wber^, at firfl, there was nothing evil ; now there is no- thing good. In proiccutingof thij dotirinc, I fliall, Firji^ Confirm'lt. '
Secondly y Reprel'cnt this corruption of nature in its fcveral parts. '
'■■ Thirdly ^ Shew you how man's nature coxnci to be xhus cor- rupted. ' *^' Lajily^ Make apjplicaticn.
That Mans Ndture is corrupted.
First, I am to confirm the dofliincof tbe corruption of nature ; to held the glafs to your eyes, wherein you may fee your finful nature ? which, tho* God takes particular notice of it, many do quite overlook. And here we Ihal! confuU, 1. God's word. 2. Men's experience and obfervation,
1. For fcripture proof, let us conGder,
'Fir^, How the fcripiure takes particular notice of Adam'* communicating his image to his poilerity, Gen. v, 3. Adam b^gat afvn in his oam likenefs, after his linage^ and called hii name Stth. Compare with this Ver. 1. of that chapter, in the day that God created man, in the likenefs of God made he him. Behold here, how the image after which man was made, and the image after which he is begotten, arc oppofed. Man wa"* inadc in th^ likenefs of God ; that is, a holy and righteous God made a holy &. righteous cr<g||ire ; but fallen Adam be- gat a ioB noi in the likcjiefsof G OD,but in his own likenciJi
38
Thai Man I Nature
that if, corrupt finful Adam begat a corrupt finful fott. For as the image of God bore rightcoufncfs and immortality in it, as wat cleared before, fo this image «f fallen Adam bore corrup'ton and death in it, i Cor. xv. 49, 50. coinpare wiil| \cr. ^^. Mofcs, in that fifth phaptcr pf Gencfii, being to give us the firfl bill of mortality, that ever wai in the world, uih« crs it in with this, that dying Adam begat mprtals. H^viof finned, he became mortal, according to the threatening; and fo he begat a fon, in his own liir^cTs, Gnful, and therefore mortal ; thus fin and de^ih pafTcd on all. poubtlefs, be bc- fat both Cain and Abel in his own liknefs, as well as Seth, But it is not recorded of Abel ; bcciufc he lefj no ifliJc bc- hini him. and bis falling the firft facnfice to death iii the world, was a fijfficient docuin.nt of it; nor of Cain, to whom it might have been thought peculiar, b-Caufc oi his monArous Xk'ickcdncCs ; and btlj-iesall his poftenty was drowned in the f>^od; but It is receded of 3eth, becaufc H^ ^'^s the Father pf the holv feed ; and from him all inankiod Ciicc the fjood ha« dcfccnded, and fallen Adam's own likenefs v^rith them.
Secondly, It appears from tl^at fcriptura-text, Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean f. Not one. Our firft parents were unclean, how t^en can wc be clean ? Ho%f could our immediate parents be clean? Or, how fhall our children be fo ? The unflcannefs here aimed at, it a^finful uncleanneH ; for it is fuch as makes man's days full of trou- ble ; and it is natural, being derived from unclean parents; Man is Som of a woman, vtr. 1. And how can he be clean thd( iilom oj a woman f Job. xxxv. 4. Au omnipotent Gos, whofe power is rwi here challenged, could bring a clean thing out of an unclean ; and did fo, in the cafe of the man Chrift ; but no other can. £verv perfon that \% born according to the courfe of nature, is born unclean. If the root be cor- rupt, fo muft the branches be. Neither is the matter mended, though the parents be fantlified ones ; for they arc but ho- ly ib part, apd that by grace, nr/by nature ; and they beget their children as men, not as holy men. Wherefore, as the ciicumcifed parent begets an uiicircumcifed child, and after the purert grain is fown, wc reap corn with the chaff; fo the bolieft parents beget unholy children, and cannot communi* cate their grace to them, as they do their nature ; which ma- ny Eodiv parents hnd true, in their fad experience.
r/i/r.y/y, C^nfider the confeflion of the Pfalmifl David, Pfal. li. 6. Beko'd I waijhapcnin iniquity^ and in Jin did my mothrr tonreive me. Here he afcends from his atlual fin, to the fountain of it, namely, corrup^ nature. He was a maa acroidin^ to God's own^fcart ; but from the beginning ii w«6 not lo wnh bim. He was begotten in lawful marriage >
ii Corrvptcd, proven, 39
Vat when <ht Jump was fhapen io the womb, it wa» a Cnful lump. Hcnc€ xht corrupiion of nature is called the oW man ; being as old as ourfelves, older than grace, even in thofe that arc fanftified from the womb.
Fourthly, Hear onr LoRr>'S deiermJnation of the point, Joha iii. 5. Tkat which is iom of the Jl'-Jh, iijtcjk. Behold th« univerfal corruption of all mankind, all arc flcQi. Not tliat all are frwil, though that i« a fad truth t* ; yea, ami out natural frailtv it an evidence of our natural Lorruption ; *uc that is not the fenfe of ih's text : ^ut here is the meaning of it, all are corrupt and Gnful, and thai naturally; hence oor Lo R n artjucs here, that becaufe they are fielh, therefore they muft "he born again, or elfe ihcv cannot er.ter Mnio the kingdom o/Qod, v^f. 5. 5. And as the corruption of our na- ture evidenccth the ab'.olute neceflitv of regeneration ; fo the abfolute ncceffuy of regeneration plainly provefthe corrup- tion of cu-r nature ; for why ihould a man need a fccoRd birth, if his nature were not quite marred in the firft birth ? Infants muft be born again, for that is an except, [oho iii. 3. which admits of no exception. And therefore, thev were circu:Tici- fcd under the old Teftament ; as having tk^; bcdy ofthcf^m cf thejirfk, which is conveyed to them by uaiural geucrauon, to p}it(^.Co\. ii. II. And cow by the appoinnnent of Jefus Ghr(f, they arc to be baptifed; which lays thev are uticiean, and that there is no falvation fjr them, but by the hjofking cf r-igeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghojiy Tit. iii. 5.
Ffthlyy man certainly i.s funk verv low now, incomparifoa of what he once was, God made him but a lit'dt br^er than the angeli j but now we find him likened to the beads that pcrilh. He He-irkened to a brute ; and is no at brcome like one of them. Like Nebuchadnezzar, bis ponion, in his nat. ural ftate, is with the beads, minding on^} earthly things, PliiL iii. 19. Nay brutes, in fo;nc fort, Lwe the advantage of the natural man who it funk a degree below them. He is more witlefs, in v,-hat concerns him moft, than the ftork, or the tartlc-, or the crane, or the fwallow, in what is for tlieir intc;- cft, Jer. viii. 7. He is more flupid than the ox or afs, lfa.'i.3. I find l?im fent to fchool, to learn of the ant or emmot,'vh)cb having no guide or leader to go before her ; no ovci fecr or o£6"^cr to compel or flir her up to work, no ruler, but mav do as {)>tz liHs, being under the dominion 01 none j yet proiidcth her -meet in the fummer and hai~vejl, Prov. vi. 6,7,8. wh-ilc tlje natural man has all thefc, and yet expofeth huni'clf to c- ternal flarving. Nay more than all this, tlie fcripture holds out the natural man, not onlv as wrinting the good O'lalitics of thofe creatures ; but asa co npoimfl ofthe fvil qjaiities of the word of the creatures, in which do concenter the fi.rc
40 That Mans Nature
ref> of the lion, tlicrraft of thcfox, rte uhteacbablenefs of rhc wildafk, the filthiqcf^ of ihc doK^n*! (win^ thcpoifunof the alp, and fuchlikc. Truth itfclf calU iV[Ctaferpen,tiya gen^ eraiion cj m'jers ; ye.2. mote, cy en c/uldr in uf the dci'ii^ Mat. xxi.i.33.Jobavin. 44. Suicly then, man's nature is imfcably corrupted. , . ...'..
Lallly, IVe arf h' nature children ofwrath^ EpH, ii. 3. Wc arc Vkonhy. of, ;:> i liable 10 tke wrath oi God ; and this-.by naiuTc; and therefore, doubt lefs, we arc by nature fitful crca» turei. We arc condemned be fort; wc haye don^ ^ood or evil y under ibe curfe ere wc k^ow whs« jt is. But will a lion roar inAh'efc^r^Ji^ivhiU fie kath no prey ^ Amos iii. 4. that it, WjII a hr i» and juft Gou roar in his.wrath againft roan, tf Kc l)e not, by ^m Kn, made a prey for wrath r Koj he will not, he cannot. -Let us'concludc» then, that according to ihc word of God, man's nature is a corrupt nature.
n, IJF we confult experience, and obfpryc thp cafe of the vroijld if\ thefc thinjis that. are obvious, to any pcrfqn that wi)l not ,fhut bis eyes againft clear light j wc will quickly perceive fuch fruits, as difcover this root of bittcrnefs : I ftiall prppqfc a few things, that may ferve to convince us in this point.
firji^ Who fees rot a flood of roileries overflowing the world P And whether can. a inan gOj .where he4hall not dip liis foot, if he go not over head and ears ii^ it ? Every one it hon)e and abroad, in city and country, in palaces and cot- tages, is groanlqg under foine pne, thing or otheri ungrateful tp him. Some are. opprcfTed with poverty, fome.chaftned with ficknei&and pain, fotne axe laipepting their loffes : none wants a crofs of one fort or anotberi. No man's coiidition is fo foft", but there is (ome thorn of unealtnels in it. And at )ength dcaih,the wagc^ of ^n^ comes aftj^r thcfe its barbiiigcrSy and (weep$ all away. ' *-* ~ \ ,1 s : ,, j
Now, what but fin lias opened the fiiiice ? "Inhere 11 not a complaint •ror figh heard in the world, nor a r^ar that falls from our eye, but it is an evidence that man is fallen as a ftar from hczvcn ; (or God difirti>utet/t /orrow in his'Ungery Job xxi. 17. This is a pjatn proof of the corruption of nature, fotr a'fniuch as ihofe that have not yet aOually finned, have their fliarc of thcfe (orrows ; yea, and draw their lirft breath in the world weeping, at if they knew this world, at firfl fight, to be a Bochim, the place of weepers. There' arc graves of the fmallef^, as well as of the largefl fizc, in the church>yard ; and there are never wanting fome in the world, whq* like Rachel, are wecpuig for their children, b^caufe ihcy are net, Mat. ii.
Stcdndly^ Obfeirve hovn^arU this corruption of nature be- ^iu» to appear in young ones ; Solomon obfcfv^*; ,that even «
is Corrupted, proven, 41
child is kncwnby his doingSy Prov. xx, ii. It may foon be dffcerned, whai way the bias of chc heart lies : Do cot the children pffalFen Adam, before they can go alone, follow their fath^*s Footfteps ? What a vaft deal of llttle^ pride, am- bition, curioUty, vanity, wilfulnef*. and averfencis to good, appears in them L And when they cre^p out of infancy, there is a ncccflity of aiing the rod of corrcft»on, to drive away the loolilbnefs that isbouaa Oip in their heart, Prov. xxii. 15. Which fiiews, that if j^r^e prevail not, the child will be at Jihmael,<i wUd aji^maiiy adthe word is, Gen. xvi. 13.
ThirfHy^T^^Jt a view of the manifold grofs outbreaking! ot fin in the worW : The ukhedaefssj' man is yet great in the tarth. Behold the bitter fruits ^tlhecorTuption of our na- ture, Hoi. iv. 2. By fvj^aring, and .lying, and killings and JUaling, and ccmmitting adultery ^ they 'braak out^ like the breaking forth of waier.an^ blcodtquchethMoGd, The world is filled with filthinefs, and all manner of lewdnefs, wickcdncfs and profanity. Whence is this deluge of fin on the earth, but from thfe breaking up, of the -fountains of X/i^ grtat deep, the heart ef man; outpf which proceed evil thoughts, adauerics, fornications, murders, thefts, covctoufnefs, wickednefs, &c. jMark vii. 21, a2. Ye will, it. may be, thank God with a whole heartj that \t are not like thefc other men ; and indeed jfe have better reafon for it j than I fear, ye are aware of; for As in water^J'ace anfwtret^k tojace^fo the heart ofij^n to man, Prov. xxvii. 10. As in looking into clear water, ye fee your own face ; fo in looking into your own heart, yc may fee other .men's there; and looking into other men**, in them ye ^ay fee your owp. So that ^hc moft vile and profane wretch- es that, are in the world fiiould ferve you for a looking gUfs ; JD which you ought to difcern the corruption of your own na« Jure ! and if you do fo, yc would, with a heart truly touched, ^ank God, and not yourfelves, indeed, that ye are not as Other m,en,.in your lives; feeing the corruption of naiure is ^e fame in you at in. them.
Fourthly, Cad your eye upon thefe terrible convulfions the world. is thro\yn into hv the lufl of men. Lions make tiot a prey of Ijons, nor woJycs of wolves ; but men are iurae<i wolves to one anoiher,, biting and devouring one another. Wpon how flight occafions will men fiieath their fwords in one anothcr*s bowels ! The world is a wildeinefs, where the cleared fire men can carry about with them, will not fright away the wild beads that inhabit it, and that becaufe they are men, and POt brutcs,bui one way or other they will be wound- ed. Since Cain Ibcd the blood ol Abel, the earth has been tuined into a flaughter-boufe ; and the chace has been com ♦- ued fince Kimrod begaa hii hunting ; on the earth, a; In the
48 That Mans Nature
fr«, \\\t greattft ftill devouring the Icffcr. When we iet tHe v^orld in (uch a ferment, evcrv one ftabbiog another with vordt or fwordt, we may conclude there it an cvU fpirit a- inonijthcnn. Fhefe violent heats among Adam'* fon», Tpeark the whole body to be dirtcmpcred ; the whole head to b« Cck, and the whole heart faint. They furcly proceed from an inward caufe^ Ja;oes vi. i. Lujis that war in cur wtan- bets.
fifthly, CoftHder the necefCty of hutnan lawj, fenced wUh terrors and feveritics ! to which we may apply what the apof- tJe (ays, i Tina.i.g. TY>it the law ii not made /or a righted 0US man. but for the lawUf* and dijobcdient^ for the ungodly anetfor fijiHtirs, &;c. Mao was made for lociety ; and Goo himlelf laid of the firft man, when he had created him, that it was not mui that hejhould be atom ; yet the cafe is fuch now, that, in fociety, be rauft be hedged in with thorns. And that from henc£ we may the better fee the corruption of man's nature, confider, [\.\ Every man naturally loves to .he at full libe/ty himlc If : to have his own will for his law ; and if be would follow his r^tural incJinations, would vote him. felf out of the reach of all laws, divine and hu-Tian. And hence fomc, the power of whofe hands ha* been anfwcrablc to their natural inclination, have indeed made themfelve* ab- folate.and above laws; agreeable to roan's mouflrous dcfignat f\in., to be as gcdff Gen. fii. ^. Yet, (s.) Thrre is no m^a that would willingly adventure to live in a lawlef* roci(;;iy ; and therefore, e,ven pirates and robbers have laws among thrm- felves, though the whole fociety caft off all r«fpc6l to law and right. Thus men difcover thcmfclyes to be confcious of the corruption of nature; not daring to truft one another, put^ipon fccurity. (3 ) How dangerous foever it is, to break through the hedge ; yet the violence of luft makes many ad- venture daily to run the rifk. They will not only facrifict their credit and confcience, which laft is highly efleemcd in the worJd ; but for the pleafure of a fjcw momentj, immedi« afely fucccedcd with terror from within, they will lay thcm- fclvcs open to a viol||jt death by the laws of the land where- in they live. (4.) The laws are often made to yield to mens lufls. Sometimes whole fccieties run into fuch extravagan- cies that, like a company of priloners, thev break off thei| fetters and put their guards to flight; and the voice of lawi cannot be heard for the noilc of ann.s ' And feldorn is there a time wherein there are not fome pcrfons fo great and dar- ing, that the laws dare not look their impetuous lufls in the face ; which made D^vid fay, in the cale of Joab, who had rpurdcred Abner, T^fe men, thffcrts of Zeruiah, be too hard Jcr me, % Sam. iii. 39. Luftj fomciimes grow too ftrong for
is Corrupted, froven, 43
hiws, fo tl»at the law is flacked, as the pulfe of a civiog wan, Hab. i. 3, 4 ('5.) Confider what ncccfiity often appcais uf amending old laws, and making new ones ; which have ihtir ri<e from new crimes that man's nature is very fiuirfai of. There would be no need of niending the hedge, if irnen were not Jikc unruly beafti, fiill break'ng it down. It is ^i'trmlh* ing to fer, what fisiurc the ifraelites, who were feparated ur- to God, from among all the nations of the earth, do inke in their hiflory ; what horr-bie confuiiors were among tht m, when there was no king in Ifrael, as ycu may fee, juHpes xviii.xix,xx. xxi. How hard it was to reform them, when ih, / had the bcft of magjftrates ; and how quickly thev tarncd a« fide again, when they got wicked rulers. I cannot but think, that ooe grand dcGgn of that facred hiftoiy, was to difcovef the corruptJOD of man's nature, the abfolute need oi the Msf- Cah. and his grace ; and that we ought in the reading of ir, to improve it to thai end. How cutting is that word, the Li' k o has to Sam. concerning; Saal,i Sam.ix. i-.ThifayMjkaUrtiJTi ever, or, as the word \%,JhaU rejlrain my uopli. O fhc cor- ruptjon of man's nature 1 the awe and dreaa of the Goo of heaven rcftiains tl;em not ; but they rauft have rods on ihc cajrh to do it, toput th<m toJhamCy Judges xviii. 7.
Sixthly, Confider the remains of that natural coiruT'tioQ-ta ll^c faints. Though grace has entered, vet corruptnn is rot quite expelled ; though they have got the new creature. )et much of the old corrjrpt nature remains; and ihefe ftruci^le together within them, as the twins in Rcbrk^h's womb, Gal- V. 17. They find it prefent with them at all times, ^.nd in all places even in the rfjoft retired corners. If a mar Save an ill lieighbour, he may remove ; if he have an ill fervtnt, he may put him away at the term ; if a bad yoke-fcUow, he may fometimes leave the boufe, and be free of inoleftaiion that way. B^ut {hould the faint go into a wildernefs, or fet up i';s lent in fome remote rock in the fea, where never foot of nr. in, beaft, or fowl had touched, there will it be with him. Shou d he be, with Paul, caught up to the thiid heaven, it Ihali come back with him, 2 Cor. xii. 7. It follows him as the ihidov^ doth the body ; it makes a blot in the faireft line he can draw. It is like the fig tree in the wall, which, how nearlv focvtr it was cut, yet ftill grew till the wall was thrown down ; for tht roots of It are fixed in the heart, while the faint is in the woild, as wiih bands of iron dnd brafs. It is cfpecially ac- tive when he would do good, Rom. vii. 2I. then the fowlg come down upon the carcafes. Hence, often, in holy duties, the fpirii even of a faint, as it were, evaporates; and he is left, ere he is aware, like Michael, with an image in the bed, inflcad of an bufband. I need not {land to prove the remaius
44 That Mans Nuiure
oF fhc corruption of nature in the godly, to thcmfclves, for tbty groan under it ; and' ro prove it to them, were to hold out a candle to let men fee the fun; and as for the wicked, they are rcadv to account mole-hills in the faint, zi big as moun- tains; if not to reckon them all hvpoctitts. But tonfider thcfe few things on this hand ; (i ) If it be thus in the grecA tree, how muft it be in the drvi* The faints are not born iaitits^ but made (o by the power of rc|;encrating grace. Have they /^ot a new nature! and yet fo much of the old remains witk them r How grtat muft ^ thai conuptiou be in others, where it is altogether uomixcd with grace? (8.) The famti groaa under the remains of it, as ^ heavy burden f Hear the wtofi tie, Rom. vii, %^. C wntchtd man that I an !■ IVho Jhall de- liver hujrom. the body of this death ? "W^hat though the car- nal man -lives at cafe aad quicr, and the corruption of nature \i u«)t his hurden ; is he therefore fice from it ? iCo, no; on- ly he is dead, and feels not the nnlcing wcighf. Many m groaa i< heard from a fick-bcd» but never one from a grave, la the faint, as in the Tick man, (here is a mighty firugglc'i 1>^ "^^ death (Iriving for the raaflcry ; but in the natural man,' as id the dead corpfc, ihtre is rto noife ; becaufe death bears full fway. (3,} The goaly man rcfifts ihc old corrupt nature ; he fWives to mortify it, yet it remains ; he endeavours td ftarvc it, aud by that means to'wcaken it, yet it is active ^ how muft It fpread then, and ftrengthen itfclf in that foul, where ii ii notftarved but fed ? And this is the cafe of all unr^cne* rate, who wuzkt provifion for the flfk^ to fulfil the lujis there* tf. If the garden of the diligent afford him new work daily< in cutting oft' and rooting iip, (urely that of the fluggard znuli needs be all grown over with thorns. * ...
l^fly^ I (hall add hut one cLIerVc more, and that is, That ia every man naturally the image of fallen Adam does ap- pear. Some children, by their features and lineaments of iheir face, do a.< it were, father themfclves ; and thus wc do rcfcmbic our firft parents. Every one of us bear the image and imprefs of their fall upon him ; and to evince the truth of this, I do appeal to the confcicnces of all i& thcfe follow- in^; particulars,
\Ji. Is not a fmful curioCfy natural to us ? And is not this a prim of Adam's image ? Gen. iii. 6. Is notni'-n naturally much more defirous to know new things, than to praQice oldknowtt* truths ? How like to old Adam do we look in this.itchiiig af-* ttr novrltirs, and difrcliftiing old folid doflrines ? We fcek" after knowledge rather than holinefs ; and fiudy mod to know thefe things, which arc 1( ii> cnfying. Our wild and roving (anries need a bridle to curb tbein, while good iolid 4ffcQ;oiij znuft be (quickened and f|>urred up*
zs Corrupted, proven, 45
S/^/y, Tf the Lo r D,by hi« holy lavtf and wire providence 60 put a reftraint upon us, to keep us back from .any thing ; do«h not thai r^flraint wbet the edge oF our natural ioelinations^ inake as farouch the more keener in ourdcJ:res? And in thi< do we not betray it plainly that we are Adam's children ; Gen. i"- 2, 3, 6. I think this cannot be denied ; for daily obferva- tion cvinceth, that it is a natural principle, that {^!en water* are fweet, and bread eaten in (ecret.is pleaiant, JProv, ix.i7. The very heathens are convinced, that man was pofTcffcd y/'nh ihisvfpirit of contradiction, tho* iheyknew not the fpring of it. How often do men give ihcmfrlvcs the loofe in tbcfe things, in which, if G^OD had left them at liberty, they ^OuTd have bound up ilieinfclves ! but corrupt nature lakes a pleafure ia ih? very jumping ever the hedge. And is it not z repeating of pur father's. follv, that men will rather climb for forbidden. fruit : than gather what is (hakcn 06" the tree of good providence to ihcm, when they have Gob's cxpref* allowance for it ! .< >. . .,
^dfy. Which of all the children of Adam is rot naturally ^ifpofed to hear the inJlrvSiion thrt fianfetk to err ? And was not this the rock our firft parents fpliif upon ! Geo, iii» 4, ^t Ho^. apt is, weak man,, ever fincc that time, to parky with temptations \_Godfpeaketh onu^yea twice, yet man ptrceivetk it ffoiy Job, xxxiii. ,14. but readily doth he Jillen to. Satan. Men ipight often come fair off if they would difimifs tcmptarions •with abhorrence, when firft they appear : if they would nip tjbem in the bud, they would foon die away ; but alas ! wheri ye fee the train [aid tor. us, and the fire put to it, yctwc ftand till it run ajong, and we be blown up with its, force. , 4M/V, D-) not the eyesJn our head often blind the eves of. tjic mind ? And was , not this the very cafe of our firft pa- tents? Gen, iii. 5. Man is never mo-e blmd than when he: i* looking on the obieft^ that are ,moft plea fant to the fcnfc. . Since the eyes. of our firft: parents were opened to the forbid- den .^ruit,mcns eves have bv-en the gates of deftruclion to their fouU ; at which inipurc imaginations *nd finful defir-es have ^ntercd the heart, 10 the wounding of the foul, wafting of the confcience, and brtni^rng difmal effecls fometimes on whole Wieties^as in Achin's cafe, Jofhua vii. 21. Holy Job wa* aware of this danger: from thefe two I'ltle rowling bodies, which a very fmall fplinter ot wood will make ufelcfi ; lo a>» vith 'fe^i King who duril not, With his ten thoufandf meet him that cpme with twenty thoufand a^ainft.him, Luke, xiv, 31, 3^;. He fendeth and defircth conditions of peace, Job xxxi . 1 . i Aave made c covenant ivith mine eyciy ft.c.
^ibly. Is it not natural for us, to care for the body even at tfe*; exnencc of the foul .•' This wa« ane ingredient ic the fm
46
That Mans Nature
of otir firft parent.*, Gen. iii. 6. O how happy might we he, if we were but at half the paini about our fouls, that we br- Oow upon our bodicj! if that queftion, What muji I do to bt
Javcdt Afts xvi. 30. did run but rtear as oft thfouf^h our minds, as thofc other qucllions do, Whatjliall we eat ; what
Jha II we drink ; mkerewnhaljhall wc be cloatkrd t Mai. vt. ei. many a (now) hopelefs cafe would turn very hopctnl. But the tiuth is, rood men live as if they were nothing but a lump of fl- fh ; or as if their foul ferved for no otbef ufe. but like lalt, to keep the body from corrupting : They arejicjh^ John iii.6. Th'y mind the things ofthejl'jh, Rom. viii. 5. and they live after the Jifjh^ \CT. 13. If the conlent of the flcfh be got to an aftion, the confent of the confcience is rarely waited for ; yea, the body is often ferved, when the confcience has en- tered a diifent.
Sthly^ Is ribt every one, by nature, difcontcnt wtth his prc- fent lot in the world, or with fomc one thing or other in it ? This alfo was Adam's cafe. Gen. iii. ,5, 6. Some one thing is ■Iwavs miffing; fo that man is a creature given t6 changes. And if any doubt of this, let them look aver all their enjoy* meats ; and after a review of them, Uden to their own hearts, and they will hear a fecret murmuring for want of fomething ; thouRh perhaps, if they conGdered the matter aright, the/ would fee that it is better for them to want, than to have that fomething. Since the hearts of our firft parents flew out at their tye«, on the forbidden fruit, and a night of darknefi was thereby brought on the world ; their pofterity have a natural difeale^ which Solomon calls. The wandering of the dejires^ or as the word is, The walking of the foul, Eccl. vi. 9. This is a fort of diabolical trance^wherein the foul travcrfeth the world; feeds iifclf with a thoufand airy nothings ; fnatcheth at thrs and the other cfeatcd excellency, in irnagination and defire ; goes here and there, and every where, except where it {hould go. And the (oul is never Cured of this difeafe, till overcom- ing grace bring it back, to take up its evcrlafting reft m Guo through Ch R 1ST ; but till this be, if man were fet again in ParaHifc, the garden of the Lord ; all the plcafures there would not keep him from looking, yea» and leaping over the hedge a fccona titne. ^
7f/t/v, Are we not far more eaiily imprefPed and influenced by evil counfels and examples, than bv thofe that are good I VoQ will fee this was the rutn of AHam, Gen. iii. 6. Kvi' example, to this day, is one of Satan's mailcr-deviccs to rum men. Ar>d tho' we have by nature, more of the fox than of the laMib ; yet that il! property iomc obfcrvc in this creature, t/z. That if one laiTi ' ilkip into abater, the reft that arc near will fuddcnly follow, may ht obfcrved alfo in the dilj^
is Corrupted, proven. 47
fitTTQ of the children oF men to whom it is very natural to embrace an evil way, bccaufe they fee others upon it before ebem. Ill example has frequently the force of a violent ftrcam» to carry us over plain duty ; but efuecialiy, if the ex- ample be given by thofe we bear a great affection to ; our af- fection, in that cafe, blinds our judgment; and what we would abhor in others, is complied with, to humor ihcm. And nothing i» more plain, than that generally mza chufc rather to do what the moft do, than what the heft do.
^tkly^ Who of all Adam's Ions need be taught the art of fewingJig-Uax.'is together^ to cover their nakednefs ? Gen. iii. 7. When we have ruined ourfelvcs, and madr ourfelves na- ked, to our {h\me ; we naturally feck to help ourfelves by ourfclves: and many poor gifts are fallen upoa, as frllv and infigrificaot as A<lam's fie-leaves. What pains arc men at, to cover their fin from the:r own confci^nces, and draw all the fair colours upon it that thev can ? And when once cor- virions are faftened upon them, fo that they cannot but fee ihcmfclvcs naked ; it is as natural for them to atiempt to fpin a cover to it out of their own boweU, as for fifhes to fwim in the waters,or birds to flv in the air. Therefore the 6rft qucftion ©f the convinced is, Whatjhail wt do f A£h ii. 27. liow (hall we qualify ouffeh'^s ? What fliall we perform i* Nor mind- ing that the new creatur: is God's own workmanfhip, or <}eed, £ph. ii. lo. more than Adam thought of being clothed vith fkins of facrifices, Gen. iii. 21.
^thly^ r>o not Adam's children naturally follow hr8 fooJ- fteps, in hiding tkanfe Ives from the prefence of the Lcrd^ Gcp, hi. 8. We are every whit as blind in this matter as be was, who thought to hic'e himfcif from the prefence of God a- R\ong the {hady trees of the garden. We are very apt to promife ourfelves mere fccwritv in a fecret (in, than in or>« rhat is openly commiited. The eye of the adulterer waiting Jor the twilight y Jay ing, Ko eye Jhall Ju me. Job xxw. 15. And men will freely do that in Iccret, which they would he aftamed to do in the prefence of a chrl J ; as if darknefs could hide from an all-leeing God. Are we rot naturallv c:>rele^» of communfon with Go» ; ay, and averfc to it -* Xever was there anv communion betwixt God and Adam's children^ where the Lo RD himfelf had not the firft word. If he would let them alone, thev would never inquire after him. Ifaiah
Ivii, 18. I hide ne.- Did he fee k after abiding God-?
Very far from it- —-He went on in the way of his heart.
iQthly, How >oth are men to confefs fin, to take guik and ftaine to ibemfclvesl And was it not thus in the cafe before tjs? Gen ^i, 10. Adam confeffeth his nakednefs. which ho 'could soc ^et denied ; but not one word he fays of his (iu^ ^
48 That Mans Nature
here was the rcaron of it,he wovldfaia have hid rtifhc coai(5. It is as natural for us to hide fin, as to commit it. Many fad inf^ances the fcof we have in this world ; but a far clearer prpof of it wc (hill get at the day of judgment, the day in vr1:t\ch God wili judge f he Jecrets fif men^ R.om. ii. 16* Many a feul mouth will then be fcflh, which is now wiped, and faiih, I have done no li'ickednefs, Prov. \\x. 2o. ^
Lnjily^ Is itTKJi natural for us to extenuate our fin and transfer the Ruilt upon others ? And when God examined our puilty firft parcnts.did not Adam lay tbe.blame on the fer- pent ? Gen. iii. 12, 13, Nbw Adam's children need not be i«ught this hellifh policy ; before ihcv -can well fpeak, if they eannot get the f^ft denied, they will cunningly lifp out fome* thing to IctTen their fault, and lay the blame u^on another. Nay, fonatnral if this to men, that in'the greatcft of fins, jhey will lay the fault upon Goo himfelf; they will hlafphemc liis holy providence^ under the miftakcn'namc of misfortune, cr ill luck, and thereby lay the bbme of their fin at heaven'*^ door. And wa^ not this oneof Adam's tricks after his fall ? Gen. iii. 15. And the nan [aid ^ the woman mhorn. thou gavji to bt ZLi'/'i mcyjhe gave me ef the trer, and I did eat. Obfcrv^ the order of the fpcech.- . lit. makes his apqiogy in ihc 5«ft' lace J and. then com«s hiiconfeffion ; his apology is long; but is confelHon vcry-fhort ; it is all comprehended in a word," And I did eat. WiKow pointed and dlftinft is his apology, as if he was afraid hisineiaHing would, have been miftaken ? The- »y.c»r4>i, fays he, -or that \«Mnan, ?"s if he would have pointed the ju<lge to his oMrn wof k, of which wc read, Geo. ii. 22. There was but oncwoman then in the vrorld; To that one would think hr needed not-be fo nicC and exaft in pointing at her ; yet- fl:c is Zi carefully mnrked out in his defence, as if there had been ten 4hou fa nd. - The woman whom thou gavtfi- SB?; here he fpeaks as if he liad been ruirted with God's* gifts. -And to nrakc the fhift look the blacker, it is. added to- •II \\\\%^thou gaveji to be with m#, -a conftant companion, to (land bv mcas a helper. Thislooks as if Adam would have fathered an ill defign uprn thtLoR n, in giving bim this gift. And after all, there is a new demonftrativc here, before the fenlcnce is complete ; hcfays not, The wo<nan gavt me^ hut tht woman JKe gave m? ; emphaiicilhr, as if he had faid. She, ^ven She gzrc me of the tree. This much for his apology. But hisconfeflion is quickly cnrr, in one word, as he fpokc it, and J did rat. And there is nothing here to pwnt to him- felf, and as little to Oicw what he had eaten. How narural \i this black art to Adam's pofterify ? I le that runs mav read if. So univerfallv does Solomon's cbfcrve hold true, Prov xvii. 3. The /ooUjIinefi of man pervertctk hi$ wcntx^ a^d ku
I
Corruption of the Xlnde-rftanding, 49
hrart fnitetk Againji t-iie Lord. Let us theA call ftl.'en Adam, Jiather ; let us not deny the reiation, fecirg we bear his im- igc.
And n®w to fliut up tni« point, fiifficiemly confirmed by Concurring tvidcnce fiom the Lord's word, our own exper'- cncc and obfcrva ion ; Itt us be pcrluaded to Helieve t^e doc- trine *>f the coT»uDtidn of ournature; and to hxrk to the Ttcond Adam, thr Meircd Jesus, for i he app!icafi(in ot his prrcious bloo**, to remove the guih of this fin ; at d for the tfficac^ of his holy Sp-rit, to m^ike us new creatures, knowins that except weba born dgaiii, zuc cannol enter in lo the kin^c'vi \f Cod.
Of the Corruption cf the Undnjianding:
Second f.Y, I proceed to inquire into the corrnptioh o<f t)afurc» in ihe feveral pans thereof. But who can coitipre- hend it ? Who cari take thi exaft dime niton of it, in its ireadth. lenght, height, and dep-h ? The heart is deceitful iibove all thines, and delperatclv wicked j who can know it? Jer. xvit. <j. However, we may q'nckly ptrrccrve as much of itj as may be matrcr of deep eft hamilifltKiji, iind may dtfcuver to us the abfolutc neccfltty of regeneration. Mm in his na-to^al Ibte is' altogether corrupt. Both fob! and body arc polluted, •s the apoftle proves at large, Rom.iii. lo. — j8. As for the foul, this natural corruption has fpread itfclf tSro' all the fKultic^ thereof; and is to be found in the undcrfland«ng,tbtf wiit, the affections, the confcience, »^d the inemory.
I. The underftandiag, that leading faculty is delp^ited of it%^ primicive grory, and covered over with confufion. VV'c Itavc fallen into the hands of our grand adverfarv, as Simp- fon rnto the hands of the PlfiliHincs, arid are deprived of our two eyes. There is none thd:: undtrjandeth, Rom. lii. ii. Mind and confcitnce art dfjiled^ Tit. i. 15. The natural man** apprchcrfion of divine thini^s is corrupt, Pfal, 1. ffi . ThoU tkougktefi that I Z0as altogether fach an one as th\Jitf. His judgment is corrupt, and cannot be other wife, fcenig his eve is evil ; at)d therefore the fcMpfUfes, that (hew that mrn did all wrong, fay, tvery one did that rvhich ti'as right tn his own fyeSf judges Xv.i. 7. niiid xxi. 25. And his imaginations, or reafonings muft be ca;tt down, by the oower of the woid, be- ing of a piece with his judgment, « Cor. x. 5. But, to poinx <Kit this £orrttptidf> of the uoind or undeiftandiDg looic par- ticularly, let ihefc following things he confidered.
ftrjly There is a natural wcaknefs in the minds of men,
wiiH refpefl to fpiritual things. The apoflTc dctenniucs ton-
ccrnmg every one th«t is not endued with the graces of the
Sfirit, That he ii ^md, end ccmnotjet ajar ryf, 2 Pet. i. 19..
D
5^ The Cormptim of
Hence the Spirit of God, in the fcripturc, clothes, at it were, diviiic inn hi with earthly fij^ure*, even as p.irenlt teach their children, uCng fimilitudei, Hof. x i. lo. Whicb, though It doth rot cure, yet doth evidence this natural weaknef* in the minds of men. But wc warn not phiri prooft of it from experience. As, (i.) How hard a tzfk tt it to teach many people the cominon principUk of our holy religion, and to make truths fo phin as ihcy may underfland them ? Kcre there muft be* precept upon pre .€€pt^ prectpt upon precept ; titie vpon line, line upon line^ .fa, «xvhi. 9. Try the firr.c pcifons in other things, they fhall be ibund wtfcr in ikdr gene rat icn than the children of light. They undcrAaiid their work and bufincfs in ihc world as well as their neighbours, thou)^'h they be very ftn'pid and untcachablc in rhe matters of God. T<rllthrm how they may advance their Urorldly wealth, or how they iPay Rr?.tifv their lufli, and they %villquickly undctftandthcrc things ; thoStiivrrv haidio make them know how their fouls may be laved j or how their hcartf may findrellin Jesus Christ.-— -(«) Cor:(ider thefc wko have many advaataKes, beyond the common gang of man- kind ; vrho h-ve had the benefit of good education and in- ftruftion i vca, and are blcft with the light of grate '%\\ that incafure, w4ierein it is diftnbuted to the faints on earth; yet how fmall a portion have tbey of the knowledge of divine things! What ignorance and confuHoQ do ftill remain in their minds ! How often are they mired, even in the matter of pra8ica! truths, and fpeak as a child in thcfe things ! it it a pitiful wcaknefs, that we cannot perceive the things w'nich God has revealed to us ; and it muft needs he a fintiul weak- nefs, fincc the law of God r^cjuires us to know and believe them. (3.> what dangerous miftakes are to b( found amongfl men, in their concerns of prcatcft weight ! What woful delu« fions prevail over them ! I3o wc not often fee thofe, who oiherwifc'arethc wifcR of men, the moft notorious fools, vith reCped to their foul's iiitercU, Matt. xi. o^. Thou hajl hid thcfe things froiJt the wife and prudent^ Many that arc eagle-eyed, in the trifles of time, are like owls and bats in the light of life. Nay truly, the life of every natural man is but one continued dream and delufion ; out^f' which he never a- •wakes, till either by a new light darted from hraven into his foul, lie come to himfelf, Luke xv. 17. or, in hcil he lift %phzs^e'Sy chap. xvi. 94. 25. And therefore 10 fcripture-ac» count, be he never lb wife, he is a fool and a fimplc one.
Secondly, Man's underdanding is naturally ofcrwhelmed vith grofs darknefs in fpiritual things. Man at the inftr^- tion of the devil, attempting to brcaK out a r ^
zniad ; Geo. iii. ^. inAcad of that, broke up il -
the Underjlanding, 51
fcortomlefs pit; fo as by the fmoke thereof, he vas buTied \n darknefs. When God at firft bad made man, his mind wa<; a lamp of light : but no"'v, when he comes to make him over again,in regeneration, he finds it darknefs, Eph. v. 8. Tc ntrf
Jometimes darkncj's. Sin has ctofcd the •W4ndov.s of the foul ; daikrels is over all that region. It is the land of darknef?, and (hadow of death where the light \% as darknefs. The prince of darknefs reigns tberr, and nothing but the works of darknefs are framed there. We aie born fpinruallv hlird, and cannot be rcftored without a miracle of grace. This is thy cafe, whofoever thou art. if thou art not born again; And that you xnay be convinced in this matter take thoie following tvidences of it.
Evidence i The darknefs that was opor. tTic face of the ^ orld before, and at the time when Christ came,arifirs as the Sun of righteonfnefs upon the earth. When Acam bv h^ fin, had loft that primitive light w'^erewirh be was en' ued in his creatior,it pleafed God to m ke a gracious levc'rtjon of hrs mind and will to hitn, toDching ;he way of lalrarion, Ccn.jii. 15. This was handed down by h-in ?nd other godly fa'hers, before the ffood : yet the natu;-^! dnrknefs of the mii'd of man prevailed fo far againfl tha* r: v.- lat-on, 2S to carry offall, fcnfc of true religion from the old vvori*^, except v/hat re mained in Noah'i family, which van preferved in the ark After the fiood, as men multiplied on the earth, the natur.l darknefs of mind prevail? again, and the light decays, ttll :t d»«d out among the generality of mankind, and is prcler^ed only among the poflcrity of ^hem. And even with them it was well near its fetfing, when God called Abrahnm from (erving other gods, Joflu xxiv. 13. God gives Abraham a more clear and full fevelation, and he communicates the fame lo his family, Gen. xvii. 19, Yet the natural darknefs wears if out at length, lave what of it was preferved amon^- the pof- lerity of Jacob. They being carried down into Esivpf. that darknefs prevailed fo, as to leave them ver^- little knfc of true religion : and a new revelation behoved to be made them in the wildernefs. And many a cloud of darknefs got above that,now and then, during the time from Mofcs to Chrin 1 . When Christ came the world was divided into Jews and Gentiles. The Jews, and the true light with them, werr within an incloufure, Pfal. cxlvii. 19,20. Betwixt them and the Gentile world, there was a partition-wall of God's ma- Jving, namely the ceremonial law ; and upon that iheTe was reared up another of man's own making, namely, a rooted
■ «rnmity betwixt the parties, Eph. ii. 14, 15. If we look a- broad, without the inclofure : and except thofe profelytes of she Gentiles, who, by means of feme rays of light breaking
52 The Corruption of
|prth unto them froir* within the inclofurr, having renounced xdol»trv, woribippcd the trnc Goo, hut did not conform to the Mbfaicai ritcs,wc fee nothing but dark places of the ranh, full of the habiui'ion* of cruelty, Pfal. Ixxiv. io. Groli oarknefs covered the face of the GcntiJe world ; and the way of falvarion WW ttttrriy unknown among thcni. They were browned in fupcrflition an.i idolatry; and had muliiphed their idols to fuch a valt nu;iiScr, that above thirty thour;ind arc reckoned to have been worfhipped by tbofc of Karopc alone* ■Wbatevc-r wirdoTii was «ti»»>og their philofophert, the world by that wtfdom knew not Go», i Cor. i. «i. and all ihcir rc- fearchci iji re^i^ion were but groping in the dark, Actsxvii. 27. ^f we look whhrii the inclofure, and, except a fc»# that were groaning and waiting for the Confolaiion of Ifracl, wc wiiJ iee a giofi dai kn«fs on the face of that generatton. Though to them were committed the oracle& of Goo, yet they were moft corrupt in their doctrine. Their traditioni were multi- plied, but the kno^rlcdgc of thefe things wherein the life of religion lies, was loft : Mailers of Ifracl knew not the nature and ncccCTuy oi rcgeneiaiion, John in. jo. Thcrr religion was to build on their birth pirilcge, as children of Abrahani, Matth. lit. 9. to glory in their circumcifion, and other ex- ternal ordinances, Philip, iii. 2. 3. And xo reft in the law, Horn. ii. 17. after they had, by their falfe gloftes, cut ic fo ibort,as they rright go well near to th« fulfilling of it Matt.v. Thus was ciarkncfs over the faccof the world,when Christ, the true light, came into it ; and fo is darkncfs over eVery toul, till he, as the day-ftar, arife in the heart. The former isancvkdenoe oFiiie latter. What, but th« natikrat darkncfs of mens minds, couKi ftill thus wear out the hght of exterrMl revelation, in a matter upon which etcrrsal happinefs did de- pend ? Men did not forget the way of prcferving their lives,
^ut kow (j'lickly did tbey k-fe the knowledge of the way of lalvation of their fcals, which are of infinite more weight and •worth I When fiatnarohs and prophets teaching was rr>effcc- TtwA, men behoved to be isapht of Go& bimfelf, who alone can open the eyes ol the undci Handing. Bat, that it might appear that the corruption of man'k nund lav deeper than ro be cured by mere external revelation, there were but v«ry few converted by Chri*T*s preaching, who fpikc as never man {pake,. John xii. 37, 38. The great cure on the jct-nrntion remained to be performed, by the Spirit arcontpa ?
vrcaching of the xpoAUt ; who, according to th( Jvhn X'v. i«. were t« do great wurks. And if v ihit miracles wrought by our ble/Ied Lok u, wc wii
• V 'PP^y'"? ^^* itipcdy to the foul, for the cure of tc0»p«r«, asia iV cafc'ci a maafick of the pal fy, I
thf Under/! anding. 53
2. tc plainly dircovcred, that it was his main errand into the world, to cure the difearcs of the foul. I find a miracle Wrought upon ene that was born blind, performed in fuch x yray, as fccms to have been defigncd to )et the world (ee in it, as in a glafs, their cafe and cure. John ix. 6. h« madecUy, and anointed t fir. eyes of the blind man with the clay. Woac could more fitlv rcprefent the blindnefs of mens mind, than eyes clofed up with earth? Ifa. vi. i. Shyt tkeir tyei \ fhnt them up by anointing o\ <^fifiing them with mctrter^ as the word would bear. And, chap. xliv. i8. Hr k of h fkt/t their eyes', the. word properly fit^nifies, //< hcth pix^Jleved their neJ ; ss xht houfc in which the Icprolv had been, was to be plaiftered. Lev. xiv. 42. Thus the Lcub's word difcovcrs the defign of that ftrange work ; and by it feews us. that the eyc$ of our undcrflandinjj «re n?ttiraliv fhut. Ther) the blind man mnft go and w.iJhotf this clay in the pool ofSiloam ; no other water will fcrve ihis putpofe. If that po^lhad not reprefented Wim, whom the Father y^nJ into the world, to rpm the blbid eyes^ Ifa. xlii. 7. I jhJr.k the cvangciift had rot given us the inter* preta'ion of thr name, which, he fjvs, {ignifics/?«/, John ix. 7. And fo t\'« mav conclude, that the nim-^al darkners of our minds is Tuch, as there is no cure for, but from the blood and Spirit of J ESI! s Ch H 1 s r, whofe eye-'alve only cm* m^e ut. fee, Rev. iif. 1?.
■ Evrd. 2. Every ratur?! man's h^art and life is a mafs of darkncfk, diiorder and ronfufion ; how refio'^d focver he ap- pear in the fight of mm. For zve cvrJHves alfo^ faith the apoftlc Paul, Tverefofsrtivieifooitjh^ dif<<beditnt^ deceived ^fetv^ xng divers hji:\ end pUaJureSy Tit. lii. ^. and vet at that time, wh'ch this text looks to, he was hlam''lffs, touching the righic^ onfncjs whirA is intheljw, Phil. iii. 6. This is a plain en- dcnce that the rye is evil, the tvhoh body heitig full of darJtnrfs^ Mat. vi. 23. The unrenewed part ol nnankiod, is rambling through the world, like fo many hlind men ; who will neither take a guide, nor can guide thcmfclvcs ;and therefore are fal- ling over this and the other precip'cce, into dcflruction. Some are running after their covctoufncfs, till thev be pier- ced throDgli with many forrows ; lome Clicking in the mire of fenlaality ; others dafhiog themfelves on the rock of pride ?nd felf-conceit ; cverv one flumbliog on foine one Hone of tumbling or other : all of them are running themrdvcs upon the fword-point of juUice, while ihev eagerlv follow, whither their untrortriied paflions and alfsttions lead them; and while ■fome are lying alone in the way, others a'^e coming ud, and fdlling headlong over theiri. And therefore, Wo nnto the (blind) world becauje of offenies, Matth.xviii.-. Errors in judff- mcnt fwarm in the world; becaufc it is night rukerein &li tk*
54 ^^^ Corrupfion of
btajis of the foreji do cr up forth. All the unrcgcncrate arc urtcily miOakcn m the point of true happlnefs ; for the' Chrif- tiiMtty hath fixed thar mat'er in point of principle; yet no- thing lefs ibai ovt-rcomin grace c^o fix ii in the pradicai jud|i^incrit.' AH men agree jn the defire to be happy : but a- mongfl unrenewed men, touching the way to happincfs, there arc alHiofl as ro^nv cpimpns »s ihere arc men; they being /z/ns. edevery one to his own way, I^a. liii.6.THcy are like the blind Sodomites about L I's houfe.all were feeding to find the door, fomc grope one p^rt . f the wall for it, foine another ; but none of them coul ^ cerrainly fay, he had found it ; and fo the natural man may ftumble on any gooH bat the chief good. Look into thine own unregenerate heart, and there thou wilt ice all turned iip-fide ^own ; beavei> lying under, and earth atop ; look into thy lift^ : there thou mayell fee, how thou art playih the madman, fr.atching at {hadoyrs, and negleAtag the fur^ftancc, eagerly flying after that zohifk is not^ and (Iigbt« ing Th?t which is, and will be for ever,
Evid. 3. The natural man h always as a workman left witli. out light ; either trifling or doing mifchief. Try to catch thf heart at anv tinr»e thou wilt, and thou fhalt find it cither tutoj- ing thefpider*s zneb, or hatching cockatfice'tggi^ Ifa. liic. 5. Tovia? through the world, or digging into the pit ; fillcl with vanity, or eli'e with vilenefs, bufy doing rjothmg, or what u vo: Te than nothing. A fad fign of a dark mind.
Lvid. 4. The natur^l man is void of the faving knowledge of fpiritual things. He knows not what a God he has to deal with ; he is unacquainted with Christ ; and knows not what fin is. The greatefl gracelefs wits arc blind as moles \i\ tWrfe things. Ay, but fomc fucb can fpeak of them to ^ood purpofe; and fo might thefe Ifraelite^ of the temptations, figns and miracles, iheir eyes had fecn, Deut. xxix. 3. to whom neverthelefs the Lord had rot given au heart to per- ceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear^ unto that day, vcr. 4. Many a man that bears the name of a ChriHian may make Pharaoh's confeflion of faith, Exod. v. 2. / know not the Lord, neitbcrwill tbcy let go when he commands them to part with. God is with them as a prince in difguife among his fubje^ts, who mccu with no better treatment from them, than if they were hit iellows, Ffal- I. 21. Do they know Christ ; or fee his glory, and aov beauty in him for which he is to bedefir- ed ? »f th^y did, they would not flight him as they do ; a view of his glory would fo darken all created excellency, that they would t:.ke fiim for, and inAeadof all, and gladly clofe with hitn, as he ofFercth hiunfelf in the gofpel, John iv. jo. PfiL ix. lo. Mafth xlii. 44, 45, 50. Do they know what (icx 11;, vrho bug the fcrpcni la their bofom, hold fall dtr: - '
the Undrrjl anting.- 55
rcrufe to Irt it go? I own indeed -they way have a natural kr.>Hl«df^c ol thote thiop* ?s toe unbtrlieving Jews had of Christ, whom they faw and convcrfed with : but there was Ipiiitua] glorv in hw,, ptrctiwed by believers only, John I,. 14^ and 111 rcfprA of 'hat glorv, the uni>elieving woild. knew him not, ver. ic. Bji tiie Ipiritaal knowledge of him ihey cannot have ; it is ahuve :he rarh of the carnal m>nd, I Cor. ii. 14. The natjiral man rfceivtth not tin things oj tic Spirit of Gd for thy ar^ J.i'Jhn^Js unto kiuit nnther can he knoiL'thon for tn-y arejpiritvah'y dijct^ved. He mav indeed difcourle ut the n ; hui no other way ihaii one cau talk of ho- ney or v»n''j'rfi, who never lifted the T/ectncf* of me onr^ nor t""e four- . f- ot the othe*-. He has fomc notion of ipii ritual truths, but fees not the things iht-mftlvfs, that irc> wrapt up Ml ^Tc wo'ds of iruih^, i Tirn. «. 7. U'i4f';^ii-ii<Uf>g neither what thty fay, nor H'h-rtof li.ey c^m. In a woic, natural men t.ai, Kek, confers l^^.y know i.otwhat.. Thus may you ice m 's und.rfta dinq natuialiy, is overwhelmed with gro<sjij!Kners in fpiTiftial thinj;«.
Third y There is in the mind rf ,1 mi^u a natural bi^s to evil, whcTcbv r com'-'; .0 p-iTs. that wh«t ever ( ifHc^ltict it find*, while ccciipiC'i about thin^« trulv good, it atU w)th a great deal of e<trc m evil^; as being in that cafe, m its own clement^ "^tt. IV, Q2. The carnal mind drive* heavily in ihe thoughts of e<"od ; hut furiouflv in the thouobts of evil. Whje holi- neG( io bi fore it, fetters are upon it ; but when it has got over th'. he.ige, it is as the bird got out of ihc Cage, and bccpmes a free-th:nker indeed. Let us reflt.£l a little on the apprehen- fi r and nna^ination of the carnal mind; and vrc fhall fend incont^f ibic evidence oi this woful bias to evil.
Lviue^ce, i. As when a man, bv a violent firokc on the head 1 leth his fi^jht, there arifeth to him a kind of falfc light, whtrrhy he perccveth a ihouf-iinl airy nothings, fj man being flrurk blind to all that is truly good, a.^d for his eternal inter* eft, has a light of another (ort bror^h|. into his mind ; his • eyes 3rc opered, knowing evil, and fo arc the words of the tempter venfitd, Gcii. lii. 5. The words of the Prophet art pla'n, Thij are uifc to do ciil^ but to do gocd thry havf nc Anoouledge, Jer. iv. 22. The miod of man has a natural dex- xenty to dcvifc mifchief ; none arc fo fiinjjle as 10 want fk;!'. to contrive w^ys to gratify their lufrs, and ruin their fouls; thou>;h the powercf every cpe's hand, cannot reach to pii: their devices in ex'-cution. None needs to be t2Uv;ht this bluU ?rt ; but as wcedi grow up, of their OAn accord la the re k„t;d ground, fo doth this wifdom, which \%yarth!y^ f'n< fual, c.tzrJifh, Ja'mes i:i. 15. grow up in the Riinds of men, by virtue of the corruption ot their nature. Why Ihould we b;
5^ T'he Carrription of
fuipifcd with tTie pro<iuft of corrupt wits; their cunoing 4e« vicri to affront hcavci), to oppolc and run down truth ;in<l Volincfb, and »o gratify their own and other mens lufl»? Thc-v row wjih he ftrram/^a^wondcr they make great pro- grcfs; ih^ir ftoek. is within thrm, and tncreafrfh by uling oC it ; and the works oF darknefi arc contrived with the grrater advantage, that the mind it wholly deftitme of Ipirituallight, . which, if Ji were in them, in any meafure, would fo far maf the v'ork, 1 John iJ . 5 fVAyotver i\ born of God doth ne€ rfimmt^Jin ; he ^re-^ it not by i»rt^ for Jiis/fed rrmaifieth in him. B t on ihe other hand, it is a/part for a foci tp do nnfrfti^f ; 6ut a man of undarjiatidirtg hatk wifdvm, f tov. 31. 93. To da itkt' ty wicktdmfsnucfy^ tiihc word imports i& as a fport, or a pl»\- to a fool ; It comes off with him eafily ; and wbv» but bc- ^aule he is a fool, and hath no wiTdom ; which would mar the Contrivances of darknefs ? The nioic natural a thing ii,- it i^ done the more cafilv.
' £xid. a. Let the corrupt mind have but the advantage of o«»e's being eviployed in, or prc(ent at fomc piece of Icrvice to God ; that fo the device, if not in itfrlf finful, yet may be* come finful, by its unfeafonablenefs ; it fhall <)uickly fall on fomc device or expedient, by Its nartin5 afide: which deUb* Cfatimi, in feafon, could not produpe. Thus Saul, who wifi; TK)t what lot do, before the pri»-ft began to conful* GoD, w quickly, drrcrmined when once the pricfl's hand was in ; hia own heart then gave him an anfwer,,and would ;iot allow him to wail an aofwer from the Loup, 1 Sam. xiv» iS, 19. Such a dcviliHi dexterity hath (he carnai mmd, in devifiiig what taav moft cffeflually aivcrt men ^tovo their duty to God.
Evid. 3. D'^'.h not the carnal miiW naturaily flrive to grafp fptritual things in imagination ; as if the foul were quite ani« merfcd in flrfli and b'ood, and would turn jevery thing into its own fhape ? Let men who are nfcd to the forraing of the rr\»{\. ab(lra£\ed notion, look jjito their own fouls, and thejr Ihall find this bias in their minds; whereof the idolatry, •which did of old and flill doih, fo much prevail in the world, is an incontc/lable evidence. For it plainly difcoven, that xnen naturally would have a vifible deity, and fee what they vorfh'o ; and therefore they icharigfdtht glory of ihe incormp- talU Gad into an image. Sec. Rom. i. %^. The reform?; ion of chcfe nations.bhUVd be the Load, for it, hath baoiihed >dk>l* atry and images too out of our churches ; but heart -re forma- tion only can break down mental idolatry, and bani(b the jTore fubtil aod refined image-worfhip, and reptefcntatioti O^ the dcitv, of the minds of men. The world, in the time of its dxrknefs,. was never more prone to the former, than tht unliuiAiHed xnindia to the latter. Aad hence are horTibIe,3nci>>
the 'Un^€rjlanding. 57
firfmi, and mil^apcn thoo^hts of OoD, Christ, the glorf ^H*)ve, and all fpintual things.
Evid ^. What a dtfScuh taC; is it to detain the carnal mind before the Lord ! how averie is u to the cniertainiog of good ihf>U!^ht», and dwell W^ in the meditation of fpiritual thinc:s ! if one he drive, at any tirce, lo think of the great concerns of his foul, rr is no harder work to hold in an uniul3r hungry bcaft, than <o hcdgein the caroaf m» -id, that it get not avray to the vatHties of the world again. When God is fpeah- ing f» mm hy his word, or they are fpeaking to him in pra>^- cr, doth not the mind often leave them hcfore the LoRn, like fo nxanv idofs that havt ryes, bvt/eenot, and ears iut ktar not? The carcafe is 'aid down htforc God, but the %'or!d gets away the heart : though the eves be clofed, t^^e man tecs a thoufand vanities : the mind, irv the mean tiire. is hkc a bird got loofe out of the cngc, (kipping' from buQi lo biiQi ; fo thai in effed, the man never comes xq^ himfelf, x\\\ he \i^ geniB J'rcm t/u p'tjence of the Lord. S^y nor, it is impoHiblc to get the mind fixed. It is hard indefd. hat not iinpolTiftle. Grace from the Lord can do it, Pfil. cviii. r. A^reeaMe ohjer- tiens will do it. A pleafant fpcculation wili arreft the minds ofibc inquiGtivc : the woildly m^fj'i mind is ia Htile haz- ZS'd of wandering, when he is contriving ol bufincfs, caRing up his accounts, or telling hi* money : if he anf-wer you not at firfl, he tells von, he <fid not hear you, he was hufy ; his mind vas fixed. Were we admiffcJ into the pretence cf a kmjj to petition for cur lives, we would be jn no hazzard ot gazing through the chamber of prcfcnce : But here lies the cafe, the carnal mind employed about any fpiritual good,is out of its el- ements, and therefore cannot fix.
Evid, ^. Biit however hard it is to krep rhc mind on gond tnnughts, it Hicks as ^ lue to what is evil »i>d corrupt like it- fclf, 2 Per. ii, 14. Having eyes full of a.du*.ttry and that canaot Cfq/e/romjin. Their eyes cannot ceafe from fin : fo the worris are conftrufted.tbat is, their hearts and n>inds vent- ing by the eyes, what is within, arc tike a furious bcaft, %vhtch cannot be held in, when once it has got out its head. Lat the- corrupt imagination once be let loofe ort its proper ohjeQ, it will be found hard woik to call it back again, though both rcafon and will be for its retre:»t. For then it is m its own clement; and to draw it off from its impurities, is as the drawing of a fiQj out of the water, or t We renting r>f a limb from a man It run* like fire fet to a train of powder, that rcflcth not till it can get no farther.
Evid. 6- Confider how the carnal imagination fupplies the wart of real objcfts to the corrupt heart; that it mav 53«ke finoen happy, at lc»ft, in the imaginary enjoyment of
58 The Corrufiion of
their lufls. T^u» the cornipt keart £crd& irfcif with imigin- ation-fins: »h< urc)can pcrion it filird wkh speculative im- xurires, having c\es fuH of adultery ; the covwout man fills Ins heart with the world,. though he cannot get his hands full .of it ; the fnalicioiu petfon, with,dt-light, »3s his revenge witbin his cwn bread; the cdvious mail, witbio hii own nariow foul, beholds, with fatisfa^lioo, his neighbour laid low etiodfih ; and every luft ^nds the corrupt imaginatJoB a fiir:r>d to It in time of need. And this it doth, not only whca people aie awake, but fometimcs even vhen they aiC afleep ; vhercbv u comrs 10 pa(s, that thefe fin« arc aHcd in dreams vhich their heart* were carried out after, while they were awake. 1 Jcnow Tome do ^ueAkm the finfuloefs of thrfe things: ^utcaD it be thought. they are cociifiiDt with that ho- ly naiute and irameof fpirit, which was in tnoncent Adam, and in Jesvs Chiiist, and fliould br in every nvan ? U is the corruption of nature then, that makes filthy dreamerf condemned, Jude B. ^Solomon had experience ol ihe txercifc ,cf grace in flee p : in a drc am he prayed; in a dream he xnade the bcfl choice : buth wcfc accepted of Go {>, 1 King^ iii- 5>*-«* 15- -^^'^ >' > °^^^>9!» ^^ b'' fl^P> do wha' is aood and acceptable 10 God ; why may he i»o» -tlfo, when aflccp, do that which is evil arid difpJcA&iig to Goo ? The (ame 5olop(>on would have men aw;tre of this; ^nd.prefcnbcs the bed remedy a^ainf) it, namelvt.thc law upon the heart -Piov, vi. aOi 2 1 . t/^JuH tJkun JUepefi .♦ fay* br, ircr. «». itjhall kefp tlue ; to>«rit, from the finmng.in thy deep : That is. f^om iinful dreairt.«. For one's being kept frpm fin : not his being l^ept from a;Slt£lipn is th^e immediate proper cfc(.l of ihe law of GoDimpred upon the heart, ?Ial. cxix. 11. And thus the whole vcr&c ts^o be undcrfiood, as appcar> .f* orn vcrfe 9.^. For the coTHmaadment is a Uimp^ and the Icav is li^bt ; and rc» froojsof inJkruQiim arelke way oj Ixfi, Now, the law is a lamp of light, as it guidminthc way of daiy^ ai^d ir>ftru£iing reproofs frcm Uie law, arc the way of hfr, as they keep from fin : neither do they guide into the way of peace, but as they lead into the way Qf duty ; nor do they keep a man out of trouble, but as they keep him from fin. Ard remarkfblc is the particular, in which $' lomoo icflaoce'b, namely, t^ fin cruncleannefs ; To k(tp ihcrjrfim the evil woman ^ yette 24. Which is to be joined wiih jrerfe 2«.incloiang "wcrfc »3. in a parenthcfis, as fome yeifions have ii. Tbcfc thing.$ may fiif- iicr to convirre us of the natural bias of the miivil to t vil.
Fourthly^ Tbircis in the carnal wind, an oppoBti.ou to fpiriiual truths,aQd an aveifionto ibe receiricg of them It is as liiile a friend to divine truths as it is to holinefs. X^^ tiuihsof natural fdi^ion^ which do» as it ^'cre, fofcc their
the Under/landing. 59
CAtry into the minds ci natural men, they hold prifoncrs in Tinrighfcoufnefs, Rom. i. 18. And as for the truths of re- vealed religion there is an evil heart of unbcU.ef\^ them, which opppfeth their entry ; and there is an armed force neceffary to captivate the mind to the belief of them, r Cor. x. 4,5. God has made a revelation of his mind and wi.l to Cnners, toucliing the way of falvatiou ; he has given us the do£tnne of his holy word ; But do natural men believe it indeed ? No, they do not ; For he thai bditveth net en the Son of God^ bt- iieveth not God', as is plain from 1 John v. jo. They be- lieve not the promifes of the word : they look on them, in ef- fcft, on!y a« fair words ; for tbefe that receive them, are there- by made partakers of the divine natuie, aPci. i. 4. The pro- oiifes are as filver cords, let down froir> heaven, to draw fio* ners unto GoD,and to waft them over into the promifed land; but they caft them from them. They believe not the threat- nings of the word. As men travelling in defarts, carry tire about with them, to fright away wild bealls; foGoD has made bis law a 6ery law : Deut. xxxiii. 2. hedging it about with threats of wrath : But men naturally are more brutifli thaa beafts themfelves ; and will nerds touch the fiery fmoking mountaij, though they (hould be thrufl through with a dart. I doubt not but moft, if not all of you, whu arc yet in the black ftate of nature, will here plead. Not guilty : But re- member, the carnal Jews in Christ's time, were as confi- dent as you are, that they believed Mofrs, John ix. 28, 89. — But he confutes their confidence, roundlv tc'l:rig thr;n, John V. 46. Had ye believed Msfes^ye would kr.z'e believed me. Dd ye believe the uutbs of God, ye durft not rcjc6l. as ye do him who is truth ilfclf. The v:rTy difficult v you find in aflcnting to this truth, bewrays that iinb:rlicf I am charging you with. Has it not proceeded fo far with fome at this day, that it has fleeled their foreheads with the impudince and im- piety, openly ro rejeft all revealed religion ? SureW it is out of the aburadance of the heart, their ihouth fpeaketh. Bat though ye fet not your mouths agaioA the heavens.as they do, tlic fame bitter root of unbelief is in all men by nature, and xeigns in you, and will reign, till overcotping grt?cc captivate your minds to the belief of the truth. To convince you xix this point, confider thefc three things.
Evidence 1 How few arc there w^oh-a-'e been Mefl with an inward illumination, by the fpecial oper^jriou of the Spirit of Chr 1ST, letting them into a view of divice truths, in their fpiritual and heavenly luftie 1 How have you learned the truths of religion, which vc pretend to believe 1 Ye have them merely by the hcnefit of external revelation, and ofyoar education ; fo that you trc Chriflians, jufi becaufs y-u were
fe The Corruption of
BOt Hornand brc<l in a Pagan, but in aChriAian cmintrv. Yc ar€ flranj^er* lo the inward v^ork of the holy Spirit, tearing witncfs by and with the vrord in vour hearts ; and To you can- »ot have the afTurarcc of faith, ^rith rcfpcft to that outward divine revelation made in the word i Cor. ii. lo, H, 12. Ard therefore vc a*^- {\iU unbelievers. Jt is written in the prophets And thtyJhaU be all taught of God. h-oerv nan, tker«fcrc^tkat hatk heard, and hath learned of the Father,, comeih unto me, Uya our Lord, John vi. 45. Now yc have not come to Christ, therefore y^ have rot been taught of Goo ; yc 1»avc rot been fo tau^hr, and therefore ye have not icohic; ye believe not. Behold the revelation from which tbc (ai«h even of the fundamtntal principle^ in religion doth fprinff, Matih. xvi. 17, iR. Thou art Chri^ the Sen of the ttrivg God. — Blrjrd an than, Srmon ^arj/ma ijor firji affli Uood haih not revealed it unto tkee^ hut my Fathtr which is hi_ heaven. If evcrthe Spirit of the Lord lake a dealing withr thee, to work in thee that faith, which is of the operation of God ; it way be, as much time will be li>cntin razing the ol^' foundation, as will make thee End a ntce^iy of the working of his rhiEhtypowcr.& to enable ihec to believe the very foun- dation-principles, which Ctow thou thiokeft thou makcft no doubt of Epb. i. 19.
Evid,, 9.. How wanyprofcflTors have made Cbipwreck of tbeir faith, fuch as it was, in rime of lewptation and trial? See how thev fall, like flarj from heaven, when Antichrift prevails, t Thef. ii. ii, \ i.G 3d JhaU fend them Jlrcngdelup:iS^ that tkeyfhould Ulieve a lie; that they all might be damned, tvhobeli'K'cd not the truth. They fell into damning delufions, becaufe they never really believed the truth, though they iherh- felvcs, and others too, thought they did believe it. That Jioufe is built upon the fand, and that fajth is but ill-founded, that cannot bear out, but is(^uite overthrown, when the fiorin <?omes. '
Evtd. 3. Confider the utter inconCnenry of moft Hicn*> lives, with the principles of religion which they profefs ; yc may as toon bring eafl ard weft together, as their prafticc. Men believe that fire wiH burn ihera and therefore they will ^ot throw thcmfelves into it : but the truth is, moil roert live as if- they thought the gc»fpel a reere fable; and the vrath of God revealed in hfs^ word againfl their unrighteouf- ncfs and unjodlinefs, a mere fcarecrow. If yc believe the doftrlnes of ibe word, hew is it tbat yc are fo unconcerned abontthe ftareoFyour fouls before the Lord ? Many live .4S ihcy were born, and are like to die as ihey live, and yet live in pcaee. Do fucb believe the Hnf^lncfs and milcry r/ \ i:atural ftatc ? Po they believe they arc Children oftorct
the Vnder ft abiding, 6i
Do they Sclievc there is no falvation without regeneration 7 and no regeneration but what makes man anew creature f If you believe the proraifcs of the word, why do you not em- brace then:, «nd labour to enter into the promifed reft ? What fluggarrf would not dig ^ot a hid ircafure, if he really believed be might fo obtain it ? Men \vi!l work, and fweat for a maintcnence ; btcaufe they believe that by fo doing they will get it i yet they wilTbe at no tolerable peans for the eternal weight of glory : why, but bccaufe they do not believe the word of pro:flrfe ? Heb. iv. i. 2. If you believe «he threat- cnings,how is it that n-ou live in your fins,liveout oi Ch r ist and yet hope for mercy. Do fuch believe Go D to h<; the holy a^d juH one, who will by no meam cUar the guilty f No. no, none believe, none : or next to none bdirve zokat aju^ Gtfd the LORD is^ and how ftvcrely he punijhcih.
Fifthly^ There is in the mind of man a natural prcnencfs t9 lies andfalfnoody which make for the Safety of lulls. T-^ey g9 sjlrcy asjcon as they b€ born /peaking lies, Pfal. Ivii. 3. Wc have this with the reft of the corruption of our nature frorrx our fix ft parents. God revealed the truth to them bat, through the folicitation of the tcmpte*", they fird doubteu or it ; they difbelieved it, and embraced a lie indcad of it. Aftd for an inConteflible evidence hereof, we miy fee that firft ar- ticle of the devil'* creed, Vify^a// «j//urf/y die^ Gen. iii. 4. which was ob truded by him on our firft parenrs, and by thetn .received ; natarally embraced by their pofteriry, and held faft, till a light from hea-vcn oblige them to quit ir. Iifpreads |lfelf ihroDgh the lives of natural men; who till (heir con- sciences he awakened, walk after their own lufls : Uill retjin* -ing the principle, That they Jkall notjurdy die. And this is ^©ften improved to that perfection, that the man can fay, over the beliy of the denounced zw^Kc J Jhall have peace tho" Iwaik \in thtima^inalicn of mine Iccart, to add drunkamtfs to tkir/i, Dcut. XXIX. 19. Whatever advantage the truths of Goo have over error by means of education, or othcrwife ; error has always with the natural man, this advantage againft truth, namely. That there is fomething within him, which fays, O, t';at it zjere true ; fo the mind lies fair for affcHting to it. And here is the reafon of it. The true doftrine is tie dcilrinc that ii according to gediin'fs^ 1 Tim. vi. 3. and tlie truth which is after god/ine/s^ Tit. i. i. Error is the doclrine which is ac* cording to ungodlinefs ; for there is never an error in the mind, nor an untruth vented in the world (in matters of rcli- -gion) but what has an affinity with one corruption of the heart or other : according to that of the apoftle, 2 Thcff. ii. ai. They believed not the truth, but had pleafure in unrightto-ufnefu So that truth Acd cnor being othcrwile altended with cc^ual
62 The Corruption of
advantagci for their reception, error, by this means, has ready accel'sto the mind* of men in their natural ftate. Whcrclb'C, it is r^oihini5 {lran.|c that men rejccl the (implicit/ of gofpcl- truihs and inflithtionj, and greedily embrace error and exter- nal pcmp in religion ; feeing they are fo agreeable to the lull* of the heart, aind the vanity of the mind of the natural man. And from bcncealfo.it i», that (6 many embrace atheiflical principles ; for none do it but in compliance with their irreg- ular pafiions ; none but thcfc, whofe advanUgc it woald be, that thcie was no God.
Lafify, Man is naturally bigh-tnitided ; for when thegofpel co.n::s in power to him, it is employed in cafiing diiwn imag- inations, aKd every high thing that exa/tcth itjdf againji tht knowledge cf God ^ 2 Cor. x. 5. Lowlinefs of mind is not a flower that ^rows in the field of nature : but is planted by the finger of God tn a renewed heart, and learned of the !ow- Iv Jesus. It is natural to man to think highly of himfcK, and whatls his own ; for the ftroke he has got bv h\i fall ia Adam, has produced a falfe light, whereby niolc-hills about him appear like mountains ; and a thoufand airy beauties prefcnt thcmfclves to his deluded fancy, i^ain mm xvauid be wift^ fo he accounts himfclf, and fo he would be accoiintedof by others though man be born like a wild a/i^s-coll, J oh. x\. 1 i. His way is ri^ht beeaufe it is his own : for every way of a man is right in his ozjn eyes, Prov. xxi. 2. Yi'xs ftare is good, be- cauic he knows no better : he is alive without the law, Rom. vii. 9. And therefore his hope is Arong, and his confidence firm. It is another tower ofBabel reared up againft heaven ; and {hall not fall while the power of darknefs can hold it up. The word batters it, yet it l^ands ; one while breaches are made in it, but they are quickly repaired ; at another time, it is all made to fhake ; but ftill it keeps up ; till either Gor> himfclf by his Spirit, raife an earthquake within the man, which tumbles it down ; and leaves not one (lone upon ano- ther, a Cor. X. 41. 45. or death batter it down and raze the foundations of it, Lukc.xvi.23. And a^ the natural man thinks highly of himfclf, To he thinks meanly of God, whatever he pretends, Pfalm 1. «i. Thou tkoughtejl that I was altogether fuch an one as thyfelf. The doftrine of the gofpcl and the myftcry of Christ are foolifhnefs to him ; and in hispraftice he treats them as fuch, 1 Corinth, i. 18. and ii. 14. He brings the word and the works of God in the government of the world, before the bar of his carnal rcafon, and there they are prcfumptuoufly ccnfured and condemned, Hof. xiv. 9. Some- times the ordinary reftraint of providence is taken off, and Satan is permitted to flir up the carnal mind ; and in that eafe it is like an ant'i neft, uncovered and diflurbed ; deubti.
the Will 63
dftiTalt, and heUi'h re a Tons crowd in it, and cattnnt be' l>id by all the arguments- brought ?^aiH(l them, ml a powcrr from on hi^Kcjpcivate the niiiMi,and ilill the matiuyof thecor* mot prrncipirs.
T'iu*much nfthr corruption of rt»e undcrflandinc : wTiich although the halfbr n.t told, mav difcover »o you tie abto- luic lecenity of rci^encriitinK i^iacc. Call tiie undfAanding now Ichabod, for the )>loiv i»" departed irom it. Oinfider this, ye that are y**t in the ft-itc of nature, and gro^n ye out your cafe before the L'> rd, that the Sun of rigbteoafncfs may arife upon you, before you hi fhut up in everlaftiog da/knt-f*, VVhat ava-h v^->ur worldly vrifdoni ? What da your attainments in religion avail, white your undeifianding lies yet wrapt up in its nararal darkrrfs, and confu^on, utter- ly void of the fijhi of !ii"e ? Wh.^fver b* the natural man's gifts or artiinments, we tnuft as m the Ciff of the leper, L v. xlii. 94 pronounc htm utterly untiron^ks blague is in his head. But that 's^ not all ; itiiinhishc^t too, ins wiUw corrupted, as I (ball (hew aiioa.
Of the Corruption of the Will.
IT. The will, tliat commard^nf faculty, which fomrtlmes was faithful and ruled with Gi>d.i» now turned traitor, and rules with, and for the d vil. G'^»D ulantrdit in man wh liv » rigfit feed ; bur now i» i» tvrned into the degrnera^e plant of ttjhrdrtge vine. It was 6rip,inallv place d in a dus iubordina^ tioii to the will of God as w •$ (hewn bcforr, but now it i$ cone wholly afide. However lome do maj^nifv the power of Ircc-will, a view of the fpiri^uality of »he law. to wh:ch ^cls of moT.l difcipline do in no ways ?nfwer ; and ■\ ^c^"^ infi<ht into tht* corruption of nature, given bv the inward operation of the Spiiit, convincing of fin, riihteou^rnefs a^d judoment, would make men find an abfolute need of the pow r f)f free- gr^ce, to remove the band* of w ckcdnefs fro-n off" the fc?- will. To open up this plague of tne hear-, 1 oifcr thcfc fol- lowing things to be confidered.
Firfl, There !<!, in the unrenewed wiJl, an utter in b I'y for what is truly good and acceptable in the fi^ht of Goo. The natural man's will is in Sjtan'^s fetters ; hemmed in witn- 'Sn the chcle of evil, and cannot move bevond it mf>re than a dead man can raife himfelf out of ^i< grave, Eph. ii. 1. We deiTf hisi not a power to chuTe, purfue and ac^, vhat on the matter, is good ; but though be can will •lat is good and right, be can will nothing arieht and wcl*. John. XV. 5. Without we, i. e. feparatc from me, as a branch from the flock, a& both the vrotd and context do carry it,^e
I
64 The Corrupiion of
can ^0 notliitLg ; to wit, nothing truly and rpirilutTl/ fOod. H's very cWo ca «nd dc^c of fpiritua! thingi i» carnal and fclfifh, John, V , 26. Ye/tck me bccaufe ye did ea* c/tkchavH dndiurr^ fi'Ud. rfe not only comes i»oi to ChriH,-»Jt he can- not come, John vi. ^^. Aaul whif can one do acceptable td God, who bclicvcih not on hino who:ci the father haih fent ? To evidence this inability for good in ihc uoregcoeratc, conDd- cr th<-fc two things. . •
Kvid. I. il.)>»r often doci the lipht fo (nine before men« cvts ; that they cannot but fee the f^ood they (Bould chufe, aind the evil they fiiouldrefufc ; and yet their hearts have no roore power to c^.rnply with that lieht thnn if tbcv were arrcC- trd by fotnc invifiblc hand ? They fee wHit is ri^ht ; yet they folio*', and cannot but follow, what is ^rcng. Their C6n- fci^DCe tells them the ''ighi way, and approve* of it 100 ; yet ennnot their will Uc brought up to it: their corruption Co chniiis the;n, that they cannot erabracc it ; fo they fi^h and go back- ward, over the bcliy of their light. And if ti be tiot thu», huw is it that the word, and wav of holinefs meets with fach enicrtaiamcnt in the world ? How is it that clear arj^uincni* and rcafon on the (lie of piety and a holy life, whicb bare »n thcmfclves even on thr carnal rain^, do rtot brtn|{ then over to that fide P Although thr bemg of a heaven atnd a hell, v?re but a may-he, it wcte fu^cicut to determine the will to the choice of holJucfs, Were it capable to be determined thereto by mere reafon i but men, knowing the judgment of ^00, that they which commit fuch things are worthy df death, not only do the fame, but have pleafurc i^ them that do them, Kom. i. 3e. And how \i it that ihefe who maj^nify the pow- er cf free-will do not confirm theirppinion before the world, by an rKular demanliratioa, in a pr»^ice as f^r above others in holmcfs. as the opiniuoof their natural abilities is above others ? Or is it maintained onl/ for the prolcftion of hifts, whicb men may hold falfl as long as they pleafc ; and wHca they have no itjorc Qfc for them, earn throw them offtn a moment, and leap out of Delilah's lap into Abraham's bofoin? Whatever ufe fomc make ol that principle, it does of itfclf and in its own liature, cafi a broad (hddow for a {belter to wickedncfs of heart and life. And it m^y be cbfer^^ed, th^l the generality of hearers of the Rofpel, of all dcnomin^tior.x arc pljugcd with it; for it i&a root of bittornefs, nature .- all men ; from whence do fpring fo much fearleflnefi ^\ 1. the fouljs eternal ftate ; f- many delays and off-pwts v.. 'weighty 'fKlBcr, whereby much weik is laid wp for a d._.r.- ici by fowie^ while ethers arc ruined by a legal walk, and uiiacquaiiiicdocfi with the life of faith, and the making ufe •f CiiKXSX fpr faa£l;£ca(ioo ^ all Uowin^ f roai tbeper . ,
the Will. 65
fion of fafEcient patural abiliiics. So agreeable u it to cor- rupt nnturc. . , Evid. 1. Let ihofe. who, by the power of fhc fpirit of bondage, having had the law laid oat before them, in its fpi- ritaaiitv, for their convitlion, fpeak ard tell, if they found tbemfelvcs able to iticline their hearts towards it, in that cafe : nav, if the more that light ftione into their fouls, they did rot find their hearts more and more unable to comply with it. There arc fome, who have been brought unto the place of the breaking forth, v/ho are yet in the devil's camp, that from their experience can tell, light let into the mind, can- not give life to the will, to enable it to comply therewitH ; and could give their teftimony here, if they would. But take Paul's teftimony concerning it, who, in b'$ unconverted ftatcwas far from believing his utter inability for good; but learned It by experience, Rom. vi>. g, 10, 1 1, \q. I o«m, the natural man ntay have ;i kind of love to the law ; but here lies the (Irefs of the matter, he looks on the holv law in a carnal drels ; and fo, while he hugs a creature of his own fancy, he thinks he has the law, but in very deed he is with- out the law ; for as yet he fees it not in its fpirituahty: if he did, he would find it the very revcrfe of his own nature, and what his wfll could oot fall iu with, till changed by the t>ow- cr of grace.
Secondly ^ There is in the unrenewed will an averfenefs to
good. Sm is the natural man's element ; he is loath to
I part with it, as the fiflies are to come out of the water into
dry land. He not only cannot come 10 Christ, but he
will not come, John v. 40. He is polluted, and ha*es to be
wafhen, Jcr. xiii.a-. Wilt thou not be made clean? Whrnjkall
\ k cnce be f He is fick, but utterly averfc to the remedy ; he
I loves his difeafe fo, that he loaths the Phyfician. He is a cap-
i rive, a prifoner, and a flavc ; but he loves his corqueror, hii
j jailor an J mafter; he is fond of his fetrers,pri Ton and drudgery;
) and has no liking to his liberty. For evidence of this aveife-
nefs to good, in the will of man, I (hall inftance in fome
. particulars.
j Evid. 1 . The nntowardnefs of children. Do «re not fee
:.j them naturally, lovers of finful hberty ? How unwilling arc
-I they to be hedged in ? How averfe to rcftraint ? The world
I can bear wjpfiefs, that they arc as bullocks unaccvj^omrd to
I /^f VtfA^ ; and more, that it is far eafier to bring vouug bul-
[locks tamely to bear the yoke ; than to bring voung -chiU
|dren under difcipline, and make them tamely fubmk to the
reflraiot ol Cnful liberty. Every body may fee in this, a$ \\\
« glafs. that man is narurallv wild and wiltul, according to
Zophar's obfcrve,Job xi. i2. thn man is born like a wild aji*i
TheCr
ioU. Whzx can l.c faid more r iic is like a colt, the coit of «n afs, the coli of a Wildals. Compare jer. if. 24. A wiia ah hjid to the wldenirfs, ihatjnoffnh up the wind at kcrpUa' JtiTC, in htroccoficn luho can turn her away f
£z'id, 2. What paio and difficulty do men often find in brinpirg their hearts to rcli^ioas duties? A.id what a tafk is it to the carnal heart to abide ai thein ? It is a p»in to ic, to leave the world but a little, to convcrfe with Goi>. It is not cafy to borrow time from the many things, to beflow it upon the ooe thing needfuL Men olten ^o to Goi> in du- ties, with their faces toward rhe world ; and when their bo- dies arc on the mount of ordinances, their hearts will be found at the foot of the hill, going after thtir coxjetoufn'-fi^ Ezek. xxxiii. 31. They are foon wearied of well-dojng ; tor holy duties arc not agreeable to their corrupt nature. Tak^ notice of them at their worldly bufinefs, fet thcrti down witb their carnal company, ot.let them be fucking the breaU!" of a luft ; tiir.e feems to ihem to fly, and drive fiiriouflv,fo that it is pone ere they are aware. But how heavily doey it drive, while a prayer, a fcimon, or a fabbath lails ? The Lord's day is the lonocfl day of all the week with many ; and there- fore they mufl fictu longer that morning, axid go fooncr ta bed that night, than ordrnarily they c!o ; that the day rrtay be made of a tolerable IenjE,th ; for their hearts fav within them, IVhen zf ill the fabbath be gone ? Amos viii. 5. The hours of worfhip are the k)nge(l hours of that day ; hence when duty is over, they arc like men cafed of a burden ; and when fermon is ended, many have neither the grace nor the good mannets to flay 'till the bleding be pronounced, but like the bieads,- tbeir head is away as foon as one puts his hand to K)ofc ihcm ; •whv, but becaufc while they are at ordinances, they are, as Docg, detained bejore the Lord, i ^ain. xxii. 7.
Evid. 3. Conlider how the will of the natoral man doth rebel againji the lights Job. xxiv. 13. Light fomctimes enter- eib in. btcaufe he is not able to hold it out ; but he lovrth Jiliknefs rather than light. Sometimes by the force oitruth, the o'lter cloor of undcrftanf^ing >s broken up ; but the inner door ol the will remains fad bolted. Then lufls rife againft hight ; C(rruptirn and confcience encounter, and fight as in the field of battle; till corruption getting the upper hattd, con- fciencc is forced to j^ive back ; eonvittions are murdered ; and truth k made aod hehl pnfoner, ^o that it cah create no wore difturb'.nce. While t^r hiotA is preached or read, or the rod, of God is upon the natural man, (o-metimes convic- tions arcidartcd in on him, and his fpirit is wounded, in ^i fer or IcfTcr meafurc : but thefe convictions not being abl «fakc him fall, he runs away with the airoMf* flickiog hi ; i»
the Will 6 J
caricxnce ; and at length, one way or other, gets them out, antl licks himlelf whole aoain. Thus \vhiie the light fnints, men, naturally averfe to it, wilfullv {hu: their eves; till Goi> is provoktd to blind them jndiciallv, and thev become proof a»»ainft the word and providences too : lb they may go where they will, they can fit -at eafc ; there is never a word from heaven to them, that ^oeth deeper ihan into their cars, Hof. iv. 1 7. Epkraim is joined to liis td<.>ls, let hirn ahn?. ■
Evid. 4, Let us obferve the refiftance made by elcfl fouls, iRrhen the Spirit of the Lo r d is at work, to bring them from the power of Satan unto God. Zion's Kmg gets no fubjccts but b^ (Iroke of fword, in the day of his power, Plai. ex. 2, 3. Xone come to him, hut (uch as are drawn by a dtvinc hand, John vi. 44. When the Lord comes to the foul, he finds the flrong man keeping the honfe, and a deep peace and fccurity there, while the loul is faft a iieep in the devil's arms. But the prey mufl be taken from ihe mighty, -and the eapfive delivered. Thciefore the Lord awakens the finner, opens his eves, and ftrikes him with terror, while the clouds are bhtk iibove his head, and ihe fwo-^d of vehgeancc is held lo his bre?ft. Now he is at no ImRJl pairs to put a fair face 6n a black heart, to (hake off his fears, to make head againll them, and to divert himfelf from thinking on the unpleafant and ungrateful fuhjefl of h's fouTs cafe. If he cail'not fotid himfclf from them, carnal reaTon is called in lo help, and Brpeth thrt there is no ground for fo gre^t fear ; all mnv be well enough yet ; and if it be ill with him, it will be ill with many. When the finrier is beat from this, and fees no ad\ ai- tage of going to hell with company, he refoUes to leave his fins, but car not think of breaking olf fo foon ; there is time enough, and he will do it aher^ik'ards. Conicience fnVs, To- day ify u ill hear his voice, harden not your htarts-; bw "ha cries, To-morro.w,LoR n, to-morrow, Lord ; and, juifnow^ Lo R D ; till that now is never like to come. And tfcus, ma- ny times, he comes frotn his prayers and confcffions, with no- thing but a breafl full of fharpcft convicliorc ; for the heart ■ doth not always caft up the fweet morfel, as foon as confeT- - £on is made with the month, Judges x. lo. — \G. And when • confcierce obli^eth them to part with feme lulls, others are kept ssrighi eyes and right hands ; and there arc ruefi.l looks after thole that arc put awav, as it was with the Ifr^v^lites.who* With bitter hearts, did reniet^ber the fifh thev did eat in Fiiv^n freely, Num. xi. 5. Nay, when he is fo prefJcd, thai he •ruilt neecj fey before the Lord, that he is content to part wuh all - bis idols ; the heart will be gi^'inff the tongue the lie. --In a , word, the foul, in this cafe, wHl ftrift from cnc thingto anoth- •rjike a filh with the book in his jaws, till n can do no more,
GQ The Corruption of
4od power come (o make it luccomb/ u the tuild a/s i« igf months Jcr. ii. J4.
Thirdly, There is in the will orman a nitdral proneneGr to evil, a woful bent towaTd fin. Men naturally arc bent to backfiidinn from Goo, Hof. il. 7. Tbey hang as the word ii towards blackflidin^; even as a hanging wall,who<c breakinj^ coineth nirMcuJy at an inH<int. Sej hoWucfj awici life upon the one fidf , fin and death upon »he other y. Iciive the unrenewed ivill to iifelf, it will chufc fin, and rejcd holinefs. Thi$ is ao more to Be doubted, than that waier, poured on the fide <^f a hill, wiM run downward, but not upward, or that a Same i^ill afcend and noi dcfccnd.
Evidence \. is not rhc way of nil, the firft way the chil- dren of men do go ? Do not thtir inclinations pl;)inly appear on the WTorg fide, while yet they have no cunning to hide thf m ? In the firf) opening of our eyes in the world, we look ^-fquint hell-Ward, not heaven-ward. As foon as it appears we arc rcafonablc creatures, it appears wc are finful crea- tures, Pfal. Iviii. 3. TKe nticktd are ejlravfrcd from she uomb : they go afiray as fuon as they be borit. I'rov. xxii. 15. Feciijhmjs is bound in the heart cf a child: bvt Me rod 9/ corrtclion Jhall drive it Jar from him. Fol- Iv is bound in the hta^^t,^ It is woven into our very nature. The knot ^^^tl! not loofc, they mud be broken afunder by flrokes. Words will not do ix^ the rod inuft be taken to drive it awav : and if it be not driven far away, the heart and it will meet and knit again. Not that the rod of itfelf will do ibis: the fad experience of irany parents tefiifes the.cbn- ttaiy t and Solomon himfclf tells you, Prov. xxvii. 22. Though ihoujhouidji tray aj'ocl in a mortar, amon^. wheat, with a fffiit^ yet will not hisfoolijhnrfs aeparLjrom hint : It is fo bound in his heart. But the rod is an ordinance of Go©, ap'- pointcd for that end j which, like the word, is made effcftual Dy the Spirit's accompanying his own ordinance. And this, bv the way, Ihews that parenf^, in adtniniflripg corrcQion to flieir cb'ldren, have need, firft of all, to correft their own ir- regular paflions ; and look upon it as a matter oi awful folem- aitV, ffttingaboutit with much depcnrlance on the Lokb, and following it with prayer for the blctfing, if ihcy would have itcffeftual.
Evid. 2. How eafily ar«inen led alidc to fin ? The children who are not pcrfjaded to jjood, are otherwifc fimple ones ; eafily wiou^ht upon : ihofc whom the word cannot draw to holincU, arc kd bv Satan at his plcafure. Profane £fau, thai cunnlfig man. Gen. xxv. %j. was 45 cafiiv cheated of the blcffing as if he badbeen a fool oran idcot. The snore nat- ural « thing i», il i» the uiorc cafy : fo Cii r 1 s . '< yoJ"-
the Will %
•o the faints, in {©fares thev are partakers of t'hc divine na- Uirc : andfiniseafy to ihe unrenewed mar: but 'o'eamtodo good, is as difficult as for the Ethiopian to c^nje his Ikin; Ck-^ oufc ihc wi'l naturally han^s-tow:ird$ evil ; but is avcrle to good. A child can ca\i(c a round thin^to run, while he can- rot move a rqiiarr thing of the fame \\-;ght ; for the round- ncfs makes It ht for motion, fo that it goes with* touch. £vcn fo, when men find the heart cafi!y carried towards fin, while it is as a dead weight in the way of_holintf$ ; we muft f.ring the rcalon of this from the natural f^l and d-'pyfition of the heart, wherehv it is prone and bent t^ev»l. \Vere man'i v.ill, naturally, bat in an equal b3lancc to good and evil, the one might be embraced wuh as little difiici:lt/ as the other ; but experience tellifics, it is t^ot fo. In the iacred hiftorv of the llraclites, cf|>ecfa!is- in the bock of Judge?, how ofren A> we find them forfak'.ng Jehovah, the inighry Cod, and doting upon the idols of the natiors about them ? Bat oid e- verone c f ihcfc nation« grow fond of Ifrael'i Goo, and for- fake their own idols ? No, fio : though raan is naturally giv- en to chaiiges.it is but from evil to evil, not frcn evil to good, Jer. ii. lo.ii. Hath s nation changed tkdr gods, which yet are no vcdi f But my people kax>e ckintred t'uir glonj^ir thai which doih not prcjit. Surely the will of man ftand« not in cqu.il balance, but has a caft to 'li* wrong fide,
Evid.^. Conffdcr how men go on (till in ike way of Cff, till they meet with a Ifop, and that frfrm .another hand than thcrr o'vn ; Ifa. Ivii. 17. 1 hid mc, acd he zufnt on J'lfffvardly i% the way cf his Mean. If God withdraw his rcHralning hand, and lay tiie reins on the finnci's neck, he is in no doubt what vay to choofe ; for, obferve it, the way of fin is the wav of his heart ; his heart naturally lies that wav ; it hath a tiatiir- al propeniity to fin. As long ;)s God fjfteTtK them, they walk in their own way, Arts xiv.' 16. The natural man is lo fixed in his^ Woful choice, that tJ^ere needs no more to fhew he is off from God's way, but to tell he is opoa his own.
Evid. 4. vVhatcver good imprefTons ^re mide upon him, they do not laft. Thouglj his heart he firm »s a (lone, yea, harder than the nether milUftone, io point of receiving of them; it is othcpwjfe unftable as water, and c«innot keep them. It works againd the receiving or them ; and, when they are made, it v/oiks them off, and returns to its natu'al bias ; Hof. vi. 4. Your good nefs ii as a morning cloudy end as the early dew, it goeth away. The morning cloud promifeth a lirarty (bower, but, when the fun arifcth, it evanifheth : the fun be us upon the early dew, and it evaporates ; fo the huf- bar.dmaa'i expcfitation i% dilappointcd. Such is tbcgoodneri
;o The Ccirruptien of
of the natural man. Some fharp affliction, or pierrJnf con- V5ction,ob1igcth him in f«)me fort, to turn from his t\il courfe; hut his will not hvcing renewed, religion is llill aeamil the grain with him, and therefore this goes off'again,P(al. Ixxviii. 34- 36' 37- 1 hoiigh a (lone, thrown up into the air, tnav a- bide there a little while ; yet its natural bcavincfs will biiu^ it down to the earth again; and fo do unrenewed inrii rctiirit to the wallowing in the mire ; bccaufe although they wcic walhed, yet thctr fwinilh nature was not changed. It it hard to caufe wet v.ood take Hre, bard to make it keep fire j but it is harder than either of thcfe, to make the unrcaewcd will retain attained goodnefs ; which is a plain evidence of the natural hrnt of the will to evil. >
Emd.u-Jl. Do the faints ferve the Lor n now, as thr^y were wont to Icrvc fin in their unconverted Hate ? Vcrv far from it. Rom. VI flo. When yc zuere thefrrvanls qffin,ye zoerejnt J'-om rightcovjnrfs. S-n got all, and admitted no partner j but now, when ihcy are fhc fcrvants of Christ, arc they f a c fiom fi:»? Xav, there are ftill with them feme deeds of the Old ma»j. faewing that he is but dying in them. And hence their hearts often mifgive them, and flip afide unto, e- \il, when they would do good, Rom. viii. a. Thev need to watch, and keep their hearts with all diligence : j^nd their fad experience teachcth them, t'nat Ik that trujleth in hts cum heart ,$ a fool ^ Prov. xxviii. 26. If it be thus in tbcg#fcca irer, h(.vf muil it be in the dry ?
Fourthiy,lhcTc is a natural contrariety, direft oppoIitioTi and enmity, in the will of man, tO Gon himfclf, and his holy will, R«m. viii. 2. The carnal mind is enmity again^ God ij'cf it is not fubjecl to the law o/God^ neither indeed can. he, Xbe will was cnce God's deputy in the foul, fet to command there for him, but now it it fet up agaiuft him. If vcu would have the picture of ir, in its natural flate, the vcrv reverfe of the will of G<jd nprefcnts it. If the fruit hang- ing before one's eves, be but forbid, that is fwHicient to draw the heart after it. Let me inftance in the fin of profane fwearing and cuifing, to which fomc are fo abaiidon<rd, that they take a pride in ihem ; belching out horrid oaths and curfes, as if hell opened with tie opeiiing of their mouths, or larding their fpecchcs witVi minced oaths, A^fait'h, katii^ fai'dye, i,aPdye and fucb like : and all this without any mau- ner of provocation, though even t'lat would not excufe them. Pray tell nie, (i.) What profit is there here ? A thief cct fomething in his hand for his pains; a drunkard gets a bcil / full ; but what do ye get ? 0:heis fcrvc the devil for pi , but yc are vx>luntcers, that expe£t no reward, hut % -^.ur v.- rL itfclf, io affronting of beavdn. And if ,
the Will. 71
will get vour reward in full lale when vou go to bell, your work will follow you. The drunkarfi ih-i'l rot have a drop of water to cool his tongue there. Nor \^iU the covetous man's we^^ltn follow hnn into lie other world : but ye fliall drive on your old tradj: there. And an eternitv fliall he lof>g «^noag,h 10 give vou your heart's fill of it. (9..) What pleafare is tber: hero htit what flows from your tiampling upon the holy law? Which <yf your fcnfcs doth fwearin«j; or •curfin^ gratify ? If it gratify your cars, it -can only be ty ihe noiie it makes arainil tire beavcns. Though you had a mind to give up vou'-fclvrs to all manner of profanicy and lenf'ialKy, there ,<( Co hUle plcnfurc ran be ftriined out of thcfe, that we jnuft needs conclude, your love to them, in this cafe, is <t love to ihem. for tliemfeiv^s ; a drvilifh unhired love, with- out any pjotpctt ol proht or plc.tiurc from ihera otherwift . If any fiull lay, thcfe are moniters J men, \^< it fo ; yet aU^ 1 the world is fruiif«l of fuch inotiOcrs ; ihey are to be foiiHd alnioll eve ry-whf re. And allow mc to fay, They muft be adtiKTed Hs thf- iroiith of the wholt! unreceneratc world*! ^amft heaven, Rom. iii. 14. IVhoJic mautA ti full of cu-rfiitx and biUernrfs. Ytr. 19. Stmf 7vt kt.ow, i/iat ivh&t lhin<:^i Jocver the (aw fail hy ii Jaith to ihun o>Jto are undfrtAe law, ti<jt mery woutk may b^Jlnpp<:d^ and all the uiorld may lecom: guiUy before God.
I have a charge aj;ainft every ttnregcncrzte man and wo- TTian, young or old, rd he veriiied by the ic-iiimonies of th* Scriptures of truth, and tlie tcfiimony of their own conrcience'-; namely, that wh'^ther they be profilTors or profane, what- ever they be, feeing they arc not born agam, they are hcari- cnemies to G<)i) ; to the Sjn of God, to the Spirit of God, and t6 the law of God. Hear tins, ye carclcfs fouls, that live at eale in your natural (latf. .a
'ifl, Ye arc enemies JO G(^ n in vour minds, Col. i. £i. \? are not as yet reroriciled to iiim, the natiirai enmstv do not as yet llain, thouv^h perhaps it lies hid, and ye do not perceive it. (i.) Ye are enctnies to the verv being of Goi., PIaI xIv. 1. The fool /talk ^faid in his hrart, There I's rtf Gcd, The proud man would that none were above himfclf ; trie- rebel, that there were no kin?^ ; and the unrenewed man. who is a mals of pride and rebellion, that there were iio Gf^ l». He faith it ill his heart, he wifheih it were fo, tlibugh he ae afhamed and afraid lo Ipca!: it out. And that all natural men are fuch tools," appears from the ApolHe's t^uotin^ a part of this Pfalsi, t'I(atex>cry nouth may be flopped, Rom. iii. 10, n, le. 19. Irownendecd, that while the' halursl man looks on "God as the Creator and f>refc»-'cr of the world ; becaufe he lovci h): ov.'nlclf, therefore his heart, rifetb not acainft 'r:
72 The Corruption of
being of his hcnefa^r : but this enmity will quickly appear, ■when he looks on Goo as the rc^or and judj^c of the world; kind. 0)5 him, under the pain of the curfc, lo exaH holincfs, and girding him vriih the cordi of death, becaufe of hw fio. Ltflenin this cafe to the voice of the heart, and you wrU iiud H to be. No God. (a.) Ye are enemies to the nature of God, Job xxi. 14, Tkryjay vnto God, Depart from us ;/ar w€ de~ firt not ike kmwledve 0/ tky ways. Men fei up to ihcrnieivta an idol of their own fancy jnltead of Goi>, and then fall down andworfhip it. Thev love him no other way, than Jacob loved Leah, while he tdok her for Racheh Every natural man is an enemy to God, as he is revealed in bis word. An infinitely holy, juft, powerful and true Ilcing, is not the Goo whom he loves, but the God whom he ioaths. In cfFeft men naturally are haters of Gop, ^om. i. 30. And if they couid, thev certainly would make him another than whailoevcr is in God, is God ; and therefore his Rtiri- hutes or perfections are not any thing really difiinft from bim- felf. If God's attributes be nor himfeH, he is a compouixi being, aad fo not the firft Bcii.g,^hich to fay is blalphcm- ous,for the parts compounding arc before the compound ii- Iclf ; but he is Alpha and Omega, the firji and the laji.
Now upon this I would, for your conviclion, propofc to W>ur confciences a few queries, (i.) How fland your hearts affcfted to the infinite purify and hohncfs of God ? Con- fcience will give ananfwcr to this, which the tongue wili not fpeak out. If ye be not partakers of his holinefs, ye cannot be reconciled to it. The Pagans finding they could not be like God in holinefs, made their gods like thcmfelves in fil- thincfs; and thereby difcovcrcd what fort of a god the natural man would have. God is holy; can an unholy crcattir© love his unfpotted holincfs? Nay, it is the righteous only that can give thanks at the remembrance of his holinej's. PfaJ* Ixxxvii. 12. God is light ; can creatures of darkocfs rejoice therein ? Nay, every one that dorh evil hattth the iight,joha\Vu 89. Tor JVhat communion hath light with darkneji ? 2 Cor.vi. 14. (2.) How flaod your hearts affc£led to the jufticc of Goo? There is not a man, who is wedded to his lulls, as all the un- regenerate are, but would be content with the blood of his body to blot that letter out of the name of God- Can the inalcfaclnr love his coDdcmning judge ? Or an unjuftified fin- rcr, ajuft GOD ? No, he cannot, Luke vii. 47. To whom little It forgiven, thefamt loveth little. Hence feeing men cannot get the do£trine of bis juilice blotted out of the Bible, it is fuch an eye-lore to them, that they Hrive to blot it out of their minds. And they ruin themfclves by prefuming onbi< mercy, while they are not caicfnl to get a rightcoufnefs, where-
the IVilL 73
in thfy may fland before his juftice ; buf J^iy in thiir hearty The Lord wiil not do goody neither toiU he do evit, Zepb . i . 12. ('3.) How Oand ye affcfted to the omnifcicncc and omniprc- icnct of G\ji:i ? Men naturally would raiher have a blind idol, than an all-feeing God ; and therefore do what ihcy can, as Adam did, to hide themfelves from the prcfence «>f the r.oR }>. They no more love an all-ieeing, cvery-wherc- prefcnt God, than the thief lovck to have the judge witncf* »o his evil-deeds. If it could be carried by votes, God MTould be voted out of the vvorld, and clofedup in heaven : J"or the hnguage of the carnal heart is, TheLcrdfedh usnoi; tkt Lord hath forfaken the cartn^ Ezck. v; • . 12. {4,.) Hov*r fland ye affcclcd 10 the truth and veracity cf GOD P There are bat fcv in the wtjrld, that can heartily fubfcribe to that fenience of the Apoftle, Rom. iii. 4. Ltt God be true and every man a liar. Nay truly, there are many, wbo in effect, do hope ihaeGoD will not be true to bis word. There arc thoiifands who hear the gofpel, that hope- to be faved, and tbirk all fafe with them for eternity, who never had any experience of the new-birth, nor do at all concern themfelvei in ihai queftion, Whether they are born again, or not ? A ijueftion chat is like to wear out from among us at this day. -Our Lord's words arc plain and percmpttKv,-£x«/>^ a man he corn agdin, he cannot fee the kingdom of God. \Vhat are Ifuch hopes then, but real hopcj that Go li, with proioundeft reverence ^e it fpoken.will recal his work, and that Christ will prove a falfe prophet ? What clfe means the finner,who, token he hear'th the xvordi of the curfe, bhfffth himjef in his heart, faying, I fhall have peace^ though I walk in the imagin- ation of mine heart, Dcut. xxix IQ. Lafliy, How ftand ye af- feftcd to the power of God ? None bjt nev»« circaturcs wi'll love him for it, on a fair view thereof ; though others may ilavifhly fear hira, upon the account of it. There is not a natural man, but would contribute, to the utmoft of his power, to the building of another tower of Babel, to hem it in. On thefe grounds, I declare every unrenewed man aa •enemy to God.
^d/y, Ye are enemies to the Son of God. That enmity to Christ is in your hearts, which would have made you join the hulbandmen, who killed the heir, and caft him out of the vineyard ; if ye had been befet with their temptations, and fK) more relirained than they were. Am / a dog, you •will fay, to have treated my fweet Saviour ? So faid Hazael in another cafe : hut when he had the temptation he was a dog to do it. Many call Christ their fweet Saviour, whofe confciences can bear witnefs, they never fucked fo much fweetncfs from him as from their fweet lufts, which are ten
74 The Corruption of
timts fwccter to thcra than their Saviour. He is no other ^vay fweet to ihem than ao they ahufc his xleath and lufftrings for the peaceable enjoyment of their lulls- ; that they may live a& they lift in the world ; arwl when they <lic, may be krpt out of hell. AUs ! it is but a miftHkcn Christ, thi« -is fweet to you, who(e fouls lorhe that Christ, who is tke briq/UncJs cf ihe Failier*iglor)\and theexprej's image of his per- Jjn. It i& wiih )cu as it wa* in the carnal Jews, who delighted •in him while they miOook hiserrand into the world, fancying that he would be a temporal deliverer to them, Mai. iii. |. Bur whcti he was con:;e, and Jet as a refiner and pitrfur of jdvtr, ver, 2. 3, and cailihcm as reprobate filvcr, who thought to have bad no {mail honour in the kingdom of the^Icfliah 1 his doctrine galled their confciences, and they rcfied not rill ihey imbrued their hands in his blood. To open vour eyes in this point, which ye are fo loh to believe, r will lay be- fore vou, the enmity of your hcans againft CHRiiT ^nd ell his cificea. '
' I. Every unrcgcncrate man is aa enemy to Ch R ist in hts prophetical office. Hr \% aj)pointed of the Father, the great Prophet and Teacher ; but not upon the world's call, who, in their natural (late, would have unanimouflv voted agaiiiU him : And therefore, when he came, he was condemned as a feducer and blafphemer. For evidence of this eiunity, I will inOaDce in two things.
Lvid. f. Cor.fider the entertainment he meets with, when be comes to teach fouU inwardly by his Spirit. Men do what they can to ftop their ears, like the deaf adder, that they may not hear his voice. They always rcfift the H«jJy Ghoft. Thty dffire net tict' knowledge of his ways ; and: therefore bid him depart iromfhero. I'he old caiuniny is often railed upon him on that occafion, John x. 20. He is mad^ why hear ye him? Soul-exercife, raifed by the fpirtt of bondage, is accounted by many, nothing elfe but dillra^tion, and melancholy fits ; men thus bKirpheming the Lo k d's work, becaufc they thcnifelvcs are b< fide thcmfelvcs, and cannot-judge ot thcfe matters.
Evid. 2. Confider the entertainment he meets with, when be comes to teach men outwardlv by his word.
(i.) His vi-ritten word, the Bible, is flighted ; Christ hath left it to us, as the book of our tn^liuclions, to Ihow us what way we mull fleer our courfe, if we vfould come to limmanuel's lasd. It is a lanp to lij^ht us through a datk world to eternal li^ht. And he hath left us, to fearch it with that diligence, wherewith men dig into inines lor filver and gold, John v. 39. But ah! how is this facred ircjfurc profaned by many ! They ridicule the holy word, by which thf •>-"'! -'j'jd'tdai the laft day ; and will lathcr lofc ^^..ir
the Will, 75
fouls than their jeft, dreiung up the conceit of their wanton Nfvits in fcripture-pbiafes ; in which they acl as mad a pan, as one who would dig iato a mine to procure metal to melt, and pcurdovn in his ow.i and his neighboi's throat. Many cxhaurt their Ipirits in reading romances, and their minds purfae them, as the tiame dnth the drv (iuhhle ;• while they have no heart for, nor rehlh of the holv word, and therefore f loom rake a B^ble in their hands. What is agreeable to the vanity of their minds, is pkafant and taking: but what rccoin-* mends holinefs to their unholy hearts makes their fpirits dull and flat. What picafure will they find in re?.ding of a pro4 fane hailed; or ftory book, to whom the Bible \r taftclcfs, as the white pf aa egg { Manv lay bv their Bibles with their Sabbath-djys clothes ; and whatever ufc thev hove for their clixhes, they have none for their Bibles, till the return of the Salibath. Alas ! the duft or finery about vour B bles is a witnefs now, and will, at the lail day, be awitnefs of the en- mity of yo'U hearts apainlt Christ asa prophet. Bcfidcs all this, among thefe who ordinarily read the fcriptures, how few are there that read i t as the word of the Lord to their Ibuls, and keep communion with him in it. They do not irake his ftatuit-s, their counfcllors, nor doth their particular cafe fend them to their Biblts. Thty are Arangcrs to the fol:d cottfort of the 'criptures. And if at any time they be di.jtc- ted. if is fomething clfe than the word that revives them ; as. A' aS was cured of his lulicn fir, by the fecuring of Ndboih's vineyard for him.
(2.) Chrift's word preached is defpifed. The eniertainment mod of the world, to whom it has come, have alwa/s given it is that which is mentioned, Mat. xxii. 5. They made light of It. And for its fake they arc dcfpifcd whom he has employed to preach it; whatever other face men put upon their con-: tempt of the miniftry, John xv. ao. The f:rvant is not grea- ter than his Lord \ if they have perfecvted me, they will alfo perfecute yen ; if they have kept my fay in gs, they xvill keep yours aljo. But all thefe things tc ill they do untoyoufor my name's, fake. That Levi was the fon of the hated, feems not to have been without a myllcry, which the world in all ages bath un- riddled. But tho' the earthen veflel, wherein God has put the treafure, be turned, with many, into vefTcls wherein there is nopleafure, yet why is the treafure itfelf flighted i* But flighted as it h, and that with a witnefs this day. Lo ro, who hath believed our report ? To whom fhall we fpeak t-^encaa without remorfe, make eothemfelves filent Sabbaths, one af- ter another. And ahs I when they come to ordinances, for the moft parr, it is but to appear, as the word is, to be fecn before the Lord, and to tread his courts, namely, as acorn-
7 6 The Corruption of
pany of beaflt would do, if they were driven into them, Ifa. I. l«. S<> >jtile reverence and awe of God appears on their f'piriti. M^ny ftand liTcc brazen walls before ibc woi'd, in whofc corrupt convcrfation the preaching of the word make* no brc;ich. Nay, not a few are growing wcrTe and woife, under precept upon precept ; and the relult of all i«, They go and/uil backward, and be Lroken, and fnared, end taken, lla. xxvni. 13. What tears of blood a>c iufficient to la.T.cnttbat the gofpcl the grac; of GoD is t^us received in vain 1 Wc are but «hc voice of one crying ; the fpcaker is in heaven and fpeaks to you from heaven bv men : whv do ye '^ff^f^ fiim. that Jpraketh ? Heb. xii. 25. God has made our Miftcr heir of ail things,- and wc are ient to court a fpotifc for him. There is none fo worthy as he ; none more unwc>rthy than tbev to whom this match is promifed ; but the Pnnce of darknefs is preferred before the prince of peace. A dil- mal darknefs overclouded the world by Adam's fall, more terrible than if the fun, moon and flars had been for ever wrapt up in blackncfs of darknefs ; and there wc fnould have eternally lain, had not this grace of the gofpcl w ^ a (hining fun appeared to difpcl it. Tit. ii;ii. But ytt we fly like night-owls from it ; and like ihe wild beads, lay oor- f elves down in <»ur deris ; when the fun arilcih, wc are ft ruck blind with the, light thereof; and, as creatures of darknefs, love darknefs rather than light. SjcW it the enmity of ihc hearts of men againftChrift, in his prophetical office.
2. The natural man is an enemy to Ch R I ST in his pncft- ly office. He is appointed of the Father a P ritfl for' tvtr \ that by his alcne facrifice and interkefrion, finners may have peace with, and accefs to Got) ; but Ch R iST crucilied is a f}umbling-block, and foolifhnefs to the unrenewed part oi mankind, to whom he is preached, 1 Cor. i. C3. Tbev arc not for him, as the new and living way. Nor is he by the voice of the world, an High-Prieft over the houfe of God. Conupt naturegoes quite another way to work.
Evidence 1. None of Adam's children naturally incline to receive the blcding in borrowed robes ; but would always ac- cording t© the Ipider's motto, owe all to thcmfclves ; and fo climb up to hcsven on a thread fpunout of thcirown bowels* For they dffne.tobt undtrthetaw, Gal. iv. 24. And go about to eftahiijh their own rightcoufnefi, Rom. x. 3. Man natural- ly looks on God as a great NTader ; and himf?lf, as his fer- vanr, that mull work and win heaven as his wages. Hence, when confcience is awakened, he thinks that, to the end he may be faved, he muft anfwcr the demands of the law ; fcrv« God as well af he can, and pray for mercy wherein become*
tht Will. 77
ftort. And thus many come to duties, thai never come out of them to J KS us Christ.
Lvid.^. As men naturally think highly of their duties, that fcera to them to be well done ; fo they lojk for acceptance ^ith God according as their work is done, not accoiding to the ftiirethey have i;i the blood of Christ. IVhetffort have it/e fajcd,/ay t&cy, and tAcu/ee/l not ? Tdey'll value ihcm- fclvci on ibcir pcrForn^ances, and attainments ; yea, their very- opinions in religion, Phil. i:. 4. 5, 6, 7. taking to them- fclves, what they rob from Christ the great High- Prieil.
- Evid. 3. The natural man going fo Gof» jn duties, will aiilways be found, either to go without a Mediator, or with more than the only Mediator Jesus Christ. Nature is blind, and therefore venturous : it fcts a man a-^oing imme- diately to God without Ch R 1ST ; to rufh into his prefence, «nd put their petitions in his hand, without being introduced by the fecretaiyof heaven, or putting their requefts into hi» hand, ^o hxed is this difpofition in the unrenewed heart, that when rrany hearers of the gofp^l are convcifed with up- on the point of" thcii hopes of falvaiion, the name of Chr 1st will fcarcely be heard from their mouths. Afk them how they think to obtain the pardon of fin ? rhey will tell you, they beg and look for mercy, becaufe God is a merciful God ; and that is all they have to confide in. Others look for mercy for Christ'^ fake ; but how do they know that Christ will take their plea in hand. Why, as the PapiUs have their mediators wiih the Mediator, fo have they. They know he cannot but do it ; for they pray, confefs, mouin, and have great defires, and the like ; and fo have lomcihing of fheir own to commend them unto him: they were never made poor in fpirif, and brought empty-handed to Cil&iST, to lay the flrels of all on his atoning blood.
3. The natural man is an enemy to Chr 1ST in his kingly office, 'i'he Father is appointed the Mediator King in Zion, Pfal. ii. 6. And all 10 whom the gofpel comes are comman- iled on their higheft peril to kifs the Son, and fubmit themfclves unto him, ver. 12. But <lhe nature! voice of mankind is, AuMy with kim, as you may Tee, ver. n, 3. ThrywiU not have him to reign over t/tcm, Luke xix. 14.
£vid. I . The workings of corriipt nature to wrcft the gov, Vnment out i;i his handy. No fooner was he horn, b<Ji being born a Kiu^, Herod perlccuted him, Matth. ii. And when he wa': crucified, they fet up over his head his accufation writ- ten, T/iis is ^/us the Kivj of the Jewa, Matih. xxvii. 37. Tho* his kingdom be a (piritual kingdom, and no( of this '^' 'icy cannot allow him a kingdom within a kingdom
jiy I Tie Corruption of
which acknowlfdgcth no other head or fupremc, bat ihe royal Mediator. Threy make bold with bin royal prerogatives, chan- ging hi* laws, inflitutions and ordinances, modclling^ his wor- ship according to the devices of their own hearts ; introducing new oflicci^and new officers into bit kingdom, sot to be found in the book of the manner of his kinordoro ; diipofir^ of ihc cxtcrnaJ government thereof, as may bcft fuit their carntfl dc- figns. Such is the enmity of the hearts of men againil Zion's King. •
Evid. 2. How iinwilling are men, naturally, tnfirbmitunfo and be hedged m by the laws and fifcipline of h'S k rgdom f As a King, he is a law-givtrr, Ifz. xxxiii. p.2. and hasappoint- ed an external government, difcipline and cenfors, to con- troul the unruly, and to keep his profcfled fubjcfts in rrrtcr, to be excrciCed by officers of his own appointment, Matth* xviii.. 17, 18. 1 Cor. xii. e8. 1 Tim. v. 17. Butrhefe are the great eye-fores of the carnal world, who love finful liberty, and therefore cry out, Lft vs break their bands afuti' der, and <ajl away their coi as from us, Pfal. ii. 3. Hence this workis found to be, in a fpecial manner, a Uriviag againil ♦he ftream of corrupt nalife^v.hich, for the moft part,' puts fuch a fac<i on the church, as if ihere were no King in Ifratl, every one doing that which is right in his own -eyes. . Evid. 3. However natural men may be brought to feign fubmiflion to the King of faints, yet lufls always retain the throne and dominion in their hearts, and they are ferving di- vers lujls and pleafures. Tit. iii. 3. None but thefc in whom Christ is formed, do really put the crown on his head, and receive the kingdom of Cm r isT within ihem. His crown is the crown wherewith his mothtr crowned him, in the day of kis efpovjals. Who are they whom the power of grace has Bot iubdued^ that will allow him to fet up, and to put down, in their fouls, as he will ? Nay, as for others, any lord (hall Cooner get the rule over ihcai, than the Lord of glory j they kindly entertain his enemies, ani will never abfolurely xefign themlclves to his government, till conqacred in a day of power. Thus yc «nay fee, that the natural man is an enemy to fESt;s Ch R isr in all his ofiiccs.
But O! how hard it is to convif.ce men io this point I They are very loth to take with it. And in a fpecial manner, the enmity of the heart againil Ckrist in his prieftly office, feems to be hid from thevifw of moft of the hearers of the gofpel. Yet there appears to be a peculiar malignity in cor- rupi nature againft that cfkcc of his. It may be obfcrvcd, that the Socinians, theie enemies ofnurblcffcd Lord, al- low him to be properly a Prophet and a King, but deny him to be properly a Pricfi. And this is agreeable enough to the
me Wtlu •"■ ■"""■ — J^
t.orruption of our nature ; for under the covenant of works, the Lord was knoAO as a Prophet or Teacher, and alfo a? a Kin.^ or Ruler; but not at all as a Prieft ; fo man knows no- thing ot the myftery of Cm R i sT, as the way to the Father, till It be revealed to hnn. And when it is revealed, the wiil rifeth up againft it ; for corrupt nature lies crofs the myflery of Ch R 1ST, as the great contriva-nce of falvation, through a cruciiicd Saviour, revealed in the gofpel. For clearing of "which weighty truths, let thefe four things be confidered.
Firjl^ The foul's falling in with the grand device of falva- tion bv Jesus Christ, and fetiing the matters of falva- tion on that footing before the LoRi>, is declared bv the Scriptures of truth, to be an undoubted mark of a real faint, who is happy here^ and fhall be happy hereafter. Matth, xi. 6. •* And blclfed is he whofoever ihall not be offended in me. 1 Cor. in\ 23. 24. But we preach Christ cruci- fied, linto tht: Jews a (lumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolifhnefs ; But unto them which are called, both Jews and. Greeks, Ch rist, the power of God, and the wiidom of God. Philip, iii. '^. For we are the circumcifion, which vorfhip God in tht Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no conhdtiicc in the fiefti." Now, how could this be, if nature could comply with that grand derice.
Sccond/y, Corrupt nature is the very reverfe of the gofpel- contrivance. In the gofpel,GoD promifeth Jesus Christ, as the great means of reuniting man to himfelf; he has named him as the Mediator, one in whom he is well pleafed ; and will have none "but him, Matth. xvii. 5. But nature will have- none of him, Pfal. Ixxxi, 11. GoD appointed the place of meeting for their rpconciliation, namely, the fleih of Chr ist j srccordinglv, God was in Christ, 2 Cor. v. 29. as the ta- hernacle of meeting, to make up the peace with finners ; bui natural men, though thev fhould die for ever, will not come fhither, John v. 40. And ye wUl not com'', unto me, that •v# might have life. In the way of the gofpel, the finncr muft iland before the Lord in an imputed righteoufnefs ; but corrupt nature is for an inherent rigbteoufnefs; and therefore,' fo far as natural men follow after nghteoufnefs, they follow' after the law of rigbteoufnefs. Rom. ix. 31, 32. and not af- ter the Lord our righteoufnefs. Nature is always for build- ing up itfelf, and to have fome grounds for boafting ; but the great defign of the gofpel, is to exalt grace, to deprefs nature, and exclude boafting, Rom. iii. 27. Th ft'um of our natural religion is, to do good from and for ourieWcs, John v. 44. The fum of the gofpel religion, is ta deny ouifelves, and to do good from and for Christ, Philip, i. zi«
2o The Corruption of
Thirdly ^ Every tbing in nature, is againft believing in Je- sus Christ. What bcauiy can the blind man diTcern id a crucified Saviour, for which he is to be dcGrcd? How can the will, naiura^lv itrpotcnt, yfa, and averfc to good, make choice. of him ? Wrll may tbe foul then fav to him in t]»e day of the fpiritual ficge, as the Jcbufues faid to David in a- uother cafr, Except thou take away tke bCini and the laiiu, thcujhalt not come in hilker^ c Sam. v. 6. Tbe way oi nature is to go into one's felf for all ; according to tbe fundamental maxim of unfanttificd morality, That a man Oiould truil in himfcif ; Which, according to the do£lrinc of f^«th, is mere foolifhnefs. For fo it is detcrminded, Prov. xviii. a6. he that trujlfth in hii ca/n heart, is a foci: Now faith is the foul's goin^ out of itfelf for all ; and this nature, on the oth- er hand determines to be foolifhnefs, i Cor.i.18.23. Where- fore there is need of the working of migbtv power, to iaufe fioners to btlicve, Eph. i. 19. Ifa. liii.i. We fee promifes of welcome to flnners, in the gofpcl covenant, arc ample, i*rgc and free, clogged with no conditions, Ifa. Iv. 1. Rtv. xxii. 17. If they canrot believe his bare word, he has given them hjs oath upon it, Ezck. xxxiii. xi. And for their greater af- furance, he has appended fcals to his fworn covenant, irame- Iv, the holy facraments. So that no i^orc could be demand- ed of the moft faiihlefs perfon in the world, to xakc us be- lieve him, than the Lord hath condefcendcd to give us, to make us believe himfelf. This plainly fpcaks nature 10 be againft believing, and thefe who flee to Christ for refuge, to have reed of flrong confolation, Hcb. vi. 18. to blame their ftrong doubts, and p<^openfity to unbelief. Farther, alfo it may be obfervcd, how, in the word fenito a fecure, grace- lefs generation, their obje£lions are anfwered aforehand : and words of grace are heaped one upon another, as ye may read, Ifa. Iv. 7, 8.9. Joel ii. 13. Why ? Becatjfcthc LoRl> knows, that when thefe fecure finners are throughly wakened, doubts, fears, and carnal reafonings againft believing, will be within their breads, as thick as duft in a houfe, raifed by fweeping a dry floor.
Lajily, Corrupt nature is bent towards the way of the law, or covenant of works: and every" natural man, fo far as be fcts himfelf to feck after falvation, is engage'! in that w»y ; and will not quit it, till beat froTU it by divine power. Now the way of falvation by works, and that of free grace in j£- sirs Christ, are inconfiflcnt, Rom. xi. 6. And if by grace, then it is no more of works ; otherwife grace is no more grace ^ But if ii be of works then it is no more grace ; otherwife work is no more tt/ork. Gal. iii. 13. And the law is not of FAITH ; but the Tnan that DOTH thcm.fhaU live in them. Wherefore ,
the Will. 81
if ihc Will of roan naturally incline to the way of falvaiion by che law; it lies crofs to the gorperM;ninvancc. And that fuch is the natuial beni of our heaits will appear, if ihefe fol- lowiiitj things be conlidered. -
1. The law was Adam's covenant, and he knew r,o other, as he was the head and rcprefentaiive of all rnankind, that were brought into it with him, and icfi under it by him, tho' without flrength 10 perform the conduion thereof. Kencc, this covenant IS ingrained in our nature : and tho' we have loft our father's ftien^th, yet we RiU incline to the way he was fet upon, as our head and repreientative in that cove- nant 5 that is. bv doinff to live. This is our natural religion, and the principle which men namrallv- ti'.ke for granted, Matth.xix.il. What good thing JkuiU Do, that I muy hays eternal life ?' . . .— — -- , '^- '
e. Confider the oppofin'cn that has always been made in the -woild agamft the do^.rtne 'o^ fftr-grace in Jksus Christ, by men fetting up for the way of works ; ihercoy difcovering the natuTtI tendency of the heart. It is manifcH, that the great dcfign of tkc gorpel-contiivance, is to exalt the free irracc of Gc»d in- jEiQs Christ, Rom. iv. j6. There- fore it is of faith ^ that it might be by grace. See Eph. i. 6. and chap. ii. 7, q. Ail golpcl-truihs:ccnter in Ch k ist ; fo that to learn the truth is, to learn Christ, £ph. iv. 20. And to be truly taught is, to be taught as the truth is in Jt- »US-^ ven 21. Ail djCpcnfations of grace and favour from bcaveni- whether ^ nations or particular perfons, have fliil had fomething about them, proclaifniag a freedom of grace ; as in the very firil leparaiion made by ^h" divine favour, Cain, the elder brother, is rejc£lcd ; and Abel, the youni>er. accept- ed. This fhines through the whole hiftory of the Bible-; but • as true as it is, this has Seen the point principally oppofed by corrupt nature! One may well fav, that of all errors in re- ligion, fince Christ, the heed of the woinan, was preach- cd„this of woiks, in cppofiiion to fiee-grare in him, was the ftrft that lived ; and it is hkclv to be the laft that dies. There have been vaft numbeisof errors, which fptung up, one after another, whereof at length, the voild bLcame a- fhamed and weary ; fo that thcv died cJ^* But this has con- tinued from Cain, the fiift author of this herofy, unto this day ; and never wanted fomc that clave to it, even in the times of greateft litfht. I do not without groun<^, call Caia the author of it ; For when Abel broujjht the facuHce ofa- toncrr.ent, a bloody cfftrring of the firfllings cf hisr'iock, like the Publican, yw;'/^;^^ on his hrtaji and iavin ', God be merci- ful to vie a ^nner, d\D ^d^inced y/iih his thaik offeiing of the tirH-fruit of the ground, Gen, iv. 3, 4. like the prou4
^^ The Corrupiion of
?harifcc, with his Gcd I thank thee. For vrhat wai the caufc cf Cain's wrath, and of his niurdtringjof Abel ? Was it not that he was accepted of God, for his work? G-rn. iv. 4,5. And whtf/oTfJlixt} he him ? Bfcaufe his own works were evilf and his brother's righteous, 1 John iii. ea. That is doac irt taitb, and accepted ; when his were done without faith, and therefore rejected, as the Apoflle tcachcth, Heb. xi. 4. And fo he wrote hi j indignation againft juflification and acceptance with God, through faith, in oppofiiion to woiks, in the bloodof his brother, to convey it down to poQerity. And fince that time, the unbloody facrifice has often fwimmcdin the blood of thofe that rcjcfled it. The promife Miadc to Abraham, of thc/ftf^ in which all nations ftould be blcffed, was fo ovcrcloiulcd among his poUerity in E^vpt, that the generality of tnm nv/ m nrrc orflrot way of obtaijiing the bleffing till God himfelf confuted their error, by a fiery law from mount Sinai, zvhich zuas added becavfe cf tranfrrej/ions^ till the Seed Jhcvld come, Oal. iii. 19. I need not iniift to tell you, how Mofes and the Prophets had ftill much ado, to lead the people off the conceit of their own righieoufnefs ; Deut. xi. is entirely fpent on that purpofe. They were very grofs in that point, in our Saviour's time. In the time of the A- poftles, when the doftrinc of free grace was mod clearly preached, that error lifted up its head, in face of cleareft light ; witncfs the Epiflle to the Romans and Galatians j And, lince that time, it has not been wanted ; Popery being ,thc common fink of former hercdes, and this th^ heart and life of that delufion. And, finally, it may be obferved, that al- ways as the church declined from Jjcr purity oihcrwife, the doftrire of free grace was obfcured proportionably.
3. Such is the natural propcnfity of man's heart, to the way of the Uw, in oppofiiion to Christ ; that, as the taint- ed vcflel turns the lafte of the purcft liquor put into it, fo the natural man turns the very golpel into law ; and tr?nf- forras the covenant of grace into a covenant of works. The ceremonial law was to the Jews a real gofpel ; which held blood, death, and tranflation of guilt hefoie their eyct con- tinually, as the only way of falvation : yet their very table t. e. their altar, with ihe fevcral ordinances pertaining there- to, Mai. i. 12. was ajnare unto them, Rom. ii. 9. While they ufeitto make up the defc^ls in their obedience to the moral law, and cleave to it fo, as to reject Him, whom the al- tar and facrifices pointed them to as the fubftance of all : e* vcn as Ilagar, whofe it was only to fcrve, was by their father brought into her mlftrefs's bed ; not without a myftcry inlhc purpofe of Govt, for ihefe are the tiuo covenants, Gal. »v. 24. Thus is the doclriuc of the gofpel corrupted by Papilh, atid
the Will, ' 83
Ctlier enemies to the dofclrine of free grace. And indeed, however natural mens heads may be fet right in this point, as Turelyas they are out of Chki^t, their faith, repeniance and obedience, fiich as thev ^re, are placed by them in the room of r ^ K I ST and hia righteoufnefs, and fo trailed to, as if by thefC'they fulftileda newlaw.
4. Great is the difficulty in Adam's Ton? their parting with the law, as a covenant. of works. None part with it in that refpefi, but thefe .whom the power of the Spirit of grace fe- parates from it. The law is our firft hufband, and gets every one's vixgin love. When Ch R 1ST comes to the foul, he finds it married to the law,; lo as it neither can, nor will be married to another, till it be obliged to part v/iih the firfl hufiiand as the apoftlc leachcth. Rom. vii. i, 2, 3, 4. Kow that ye may fee what fort of a parting this is, con- Sder, , , •.' ' : , . .
(1.) It is a death, Rom. vii. 4. Gal.iii.19. Intrcatics will not prevail with the foul here ; it faith to the firft huPuand, as Jfluth to Naomi, Th( Lord dofo tom^, and mere alfo^ if ought but death part thte and me. And here (Jnners are true to tiieir word ; they die to the law.ere they be married to Ch r 1 s T. Death is hard to every body : but what diffi,culty do ye imag- ine mud a loving wife, on her death-bed, find in parting with her hufband, the hun>and of her youth, and with the dear chil- dren (he has brought forth to him : the law is that hulLand ; all the duties performed by the natural men, are thefe chil- dren. What a flrugole as for life, will be in the heart ere they be got parted ? I may have occafion to touch upon this afterwards. In the mean lime, take the Apoftle's fhort, but pithy dcfcription of it, Rom. x. 3. F(jr they being ignorant cf God'' s righteoufnefs , and going about to (fiablijh their oivn. righteoufnefs, have not fulmitted theif elves lo the righf.ecujnds of God. They go about to eftablifli their own righteouruej^,. like an eagar difputant in fchools, ieeking to eflablifh the point ill q'ueUion : or like a -tormentor, extorting a confeifion from one upon the rack. They go about to ertablilh it to ipake it fiand ; their righteoufnefs is like a houfe built upon the fand ; it cannot ftand, but thev will have it to ftand : tc falls, they fet it up again, but ftill it tumbles down on them ; yet they ccafe not to go about to make it itand. But where- fore all this pains about a tottering rightcourrcfs ? Bccaufe, fuch as it is» it is their own. What ails them at Christ'j righteoufnefs ? Why, that would make them free grace's debtors for all ; and that is what, the proud heart by no means can fubmit to. Here lies the ftrefs of the .matter, Pfal. x, 4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance wiH Tsot fetk, to read it without the fupplemcar,thai is, ic oibec
<^ 1 The Corrupttcz c/
terms, He cannot dig, and to 6rg ht is ajhamed. Such li the flrugglrtrc the foul die to the hw. But what fpcaks yet more of this woful difpofition of the heart, nature oft-iimes gets rhc tr.adery of the dtfeale ; ; iHfomuch that the foul, which was like to have died to iIk* law, while conviftions weie (liarpand piercing, fstally recovers of the ^4ppy and proir.iGrg ficknt-fi ; and, what is very natural cleaves more cloltlv than ever t> the law, even as a wife brought hack from the gates of death would cleave to her hufb^nd. This is the ifTuc of «he cxcicifc of many about their foul's cafe : they are indeed brought to follow duties more dofcly ; but they ?re as far from Chr 1ST ss ever, it not farther.
(2.} Ii is a vifi!ent deaih, Rom. vii. 4. Ye are become diad /o //^e/^ry, being killed, fl.iin, or put to death, as the woid bean. The law itielf has a great hand in thisj ihc hufbauti givei the wou«'d, G.il. ii. 19. 1 throu,^k the law am dead to tfiT law. The foul that dies this dcatli, is like a loving wile tnaiched with a rigorous hufband : fhc does what (he can to pleafe him.ver he is never pleafcd ; but toffet'i^harrafTeth, and beat<: her till flie brake her hcait, ajid death fcis her free ; a* vill afterwards, mote fully appear. Thus it is made evident, that mrns hearts are naniralJy bent to the wav of the law, and lie cro^s ro the gofpcl-cnnfrivarce ; and fhc fecond article of the charge, agtinft you that are unregencraie, is verified, oam'»lv, that ye are enemies to the Son of GoD.
^dfy^ Ye are enemies to the Spiiii of God. He irthe Spi- rit of hohnefi,/, the natural man is unholy, and loves to be*fb, *cid fherfore rffifis the Hofy G'lcjf, A6ls vii. ,51 . The work of the Spirit is to convince the world o^ Jin, ri/^kieovfiuJSf and jvdfTjnent, John xvi. B, But O howdo men Itrive to ward otf thefc conviftions, as ever they would ward ofFa blow, thieat> fiin^ thrir lofs of a right-eye, or a right-hand! If iheSpirit of the Lord dart them in, fo as thev canr>ot evitc them : the heart fays, in cff 61, as Ahab to Elijah, whom he boih hated and feared, Haji thou found we, 0 mint entmy ? And indeed thev treat him as an cnemv, doing their utmoft to flrRc Con- vifiiops, and to murder thefe harbinger^, that come to pre- pare the Lord's wav into the foul. Some fill their hands vit'i bufinefs, to put ihcir conviclions out of tht.ir heads, as Cain, who ^ell a building of a city : fouie put thcin off with delays and fair promifcs, as Felix did : fomc will (pott thttn a'*av in company, and fome fieep them away. The holy Spirit is the Spiiit of fan6lihcation : whofe work is to lubduc lulls, and burn up corruption : how then can ihjc natural man "whffe lufts arc to him as his limbs, yea, as his Me, fwl ot being aa cneiry to him ?
the Will. Ss
Lajilw Yc are enemies to the law of God. Tho* the nai- ural man "deilres to be under the J^u', as a covenant of woiks, chufing that wav of falvatton in oppclitipn to tht jr.yfitry of (>HRisr ; yet as it is a rule of lite, requiring univeifal b)li- nt'fs, and HifcHargincr all manner of impurity, he js ?n enemy to it : Is t^oi fub]'r} tothf law vj God^ ndtherindecdcanbt, Rom vip.T. For, f'l.; 'i here is no unrenewed man, who is not wed- dc<l to (otiic oi.e luft or other, which his heart can by no means part wiih. Now, that he ca!>i»ot bring uo his inciin^iicns to thehoiV law, he woiild feign iwave the Ijw brought down to His ii»clinaiioiis : a piain evidence of the enmitv of the heart againll ir. /\nd tiierflore, ta dfhght in the Uw cfGod, aJUr the inward m-in, is propoTtd in t!ie word as a maik of a gra- cious foul, Rom. vii. 22. PI<<1. i. £:». Ii is from this nat- r>il en-niry of the heirt agamft the law. chat all tne Phanla- jc il glcfo upon it have anfcn : wherebv the rcmmandment, wliich is in it(::lf exceeding broad, h,is been made narrow to the intent it mighl h": tlie more .-r^recrible to tije natural dilpo- fitlon of the heart. [3. ) llic law laid home to the natural cot- icicnce, in it? fpiriludiiy, irritates corruption. 1 he nearer it «o«ics, nature nfeth the more aiiainft it. la iha^ cafe, tt ik as oil tothe fire, which infttad of quenching it, makes it tiamc the more ;■ IVken the coT.r'.andmeut cnme^Jin rnnvcd^ favs the Apottle, Rom. vii. y.' -What tealon can be iuli^ncdtci this, r?ut the natural enmity of the heart agaiull ir.e holy law i Unmortlfisd corruption, the more it is oppofcJ, the more it ragt'th. L°t us conclude then, th;n the i;;iregcnerare are hcart-encmics to Gou. his Sun, his Spirit, and his law; tiiat there is a natural (!onirariety,oppoiition and enmiry iu the wili of man, to Goi) him'clf, and his liolv will. '■"
Fifthly^ There is, in the will of msn, contumacv againft the Lord. \sl\\\\ will is naiuraU/ wilful in an evil courio^ He will have hrs will, though it ihould ruin hirn ; it is witii • him, as wirh the leviathan, Job xli. 29. Dirts are ceUKtcd as Jiuhble; hetau'^hctkcttiujliaking if ojpcar. 'liieLoRD call* to him by his \vord, fays to him, as P.lil to the jaylor, wheu he was about to kill himself, Do thyj'elf ro harm. Sinneis, Way will yc die ? E/ck. \vn\. 31. But thcv will not hearken, Every one turneth to h'S rj!'i'fi\as the korfc rup.ith into the iaitic Jer. viii. 6. We h^ve a piwrn^le of life '1:1 form ot a rom- niand, Prov iv. 4: 'Keep my co.7/mandmcnts and /izr : it f^tcaka impenueiit finners to be Icit-deftroveis, wilful fdi-mui- dercn. Tliey franrgrcr« the command of living ; as it one'* fervent fhould wilfully ll.irve himfelf to death. w,-'ettl'iv drink, up a cup of poifon, which hts mailer commands him to forbear: even fo do ihey : they will not live, they will die. Proverbs viii. 36. Ail ih^y ihxt hate me /owf dc&th, O what a h^artu
} 86 The Corruption of
this ! It is a flony heart, Ezck. xxxvi. og. hard and tnflexiplc, as a {lone : rhcrcics melt it not, judgments break it not ; yet it will break ere it bow. It is an infenfible heart ; tho* there be upon the finncr a wei|jfht of fin, which makes the earth to (larger ; ahhough there is a weight of wrath on him, AvhicK ijiakci the devil lo tremble: yet he goes lightly undcrihc bur- den ; hrfecis not the weight more than a ftonc : tiU-the fpiiit of the Lo R D cjuicken him, fo far as to feci it.
Lajily, The unrenewed will is wholly perverfc in reference to man's chief and higheft end. The natural man's chief end is not his God, but his felf. Man is a mere relative, depen- dent, borrowed being : he has no being nor goodncfs ongini ally from himfelf ; but all he hath is from God, as the firft caufe and fpring of all perfcflion, natural or moral : depen- dence is woven into his very nature ; fo that if God fhould totally withdraw from him, be would dwindle intaamere no- thing. Seeing then whatever man is, he is of hira ; fureiy in vhatBver he is, he (hould be to him ; as the waters whicH come from the fea, do of courfc return thither again. And thus man was created, direftly looking to God, as his chief end : but falling into fin, he fell off" from God, and turned into himfelf ; and like a traitor ufurping the throne, he gath- crs in the rents of the crown to himlelf : Now, this infers a total apoflafy, and univerfal corruption in the man ;for where the chref and laft end is changed, there can be no goodnefi there. This is the cafe of all men in their natural (late. Pfal. xiv. 2, 3. Tht Lord looked down t — to fee if there were any^ that dld—feekGod. They are all gone oJide^y/\z. from God; they (eek not God, but themfclves. And though many fair fhrewds of morality, are to be found amongft them, yet there is ncne that dceth good, no not one ; for though fomc of their, fun well, they are ftill off the way ; they never aim at the right mark. They arc \ovct& of their own/elves^ 2 Tim. iii. 2. more than God, vtxit \.. Wherefore Jksus Christ, hav- ing come into the world, to bang men back to God again, came to bring them out of thcmfi'lves,in tbefirft place, Matth. Kvi. 05. The godly groan under the remains of this woful difpofiiion of the heart ; they acknowledge it, and fet them' felvcs againftit.in itsfubiile and dangerous infinuations. The unrcgeneratc, though moft infenfible of it, arc under the pow, cr thereof ; and whitherfoever they turn themfclves,they can- not move, without the circle of felf; they feek themfclves, they aft for themfclves ; their natural civil and religious aftionr from whatever fpring ihcy come, do all run into, and lucci in the dead fea of felf. •
• Moft men are fo far from making God their chief end, in their natural and civil anions \ thai in thcfc mattcrs,Gop
The Confcicnce ^"j
is not ID all their thoughts. Their eating and drinking, ami fuch hkc natural achcns, are for thecifelvcs ; their owaplea- fure or necefhiy, without any higher end,Zech. vii. 6. Dni^ ye not t§.t for your ftlvei 2 They have no eve to the glory os God in tbcle things, as they ought to have, i Cor. x. 31, 1 hey do not eat and drink, to keep up their bodies for the Lokd's fervice ; they do ihenj not, becaufe .God has faid, Thoujhall net kill : neither do thefe drops of fweetnefs G o l. has put into the creature, raife up their fouls towards that o- cear. of delight that is in the Greater, tha' ihey are indeed a fi^n hung out at heaven's door, to tell mco of the fulnefs of gocdncfs that's in Goo himfelf, Aeis x-.v. 16. But it is fclf. and not God, that is fought in them by natural men. And what are the unrenewed man's civil atfions, fuch as buying, felling, woiking, &c. but fruit to himfelf i* Hof. x. 1. fo mar- rying and giving in marriage, are reckoned am ongfl the fins of the old world. Mat. xxiv. 38. for they had nocyctoGoD therein, to plcafe him ; but all they had in view, was lopleafe themfclves, Gen. vi. 3. Finally, S;lf is natural nlen's high- eft, end, in their religious aftions. They perform duties for a name, Matth. vi, 1,2. of fome other worldly intereft^ John vi. 26. Or if they be more refined ; it is their peace, and at mod their falvation from hell and wrath, or their own eter- nal happincfs, that is their chief and highe'.l end, Mat. xix. 16 — 22. Their eyes arc held, that they fee not the glory of Goo. They feck God indeed, but not for himfelf, but for themfelvcs. They feck him not at all, but for their own welfare : fo iheir whole lile is woven into one web ot prac- tical blafpbemy ; mahingGoD the means, and fclf their end, yea, their chief end.
And thus have I given you fome rude draughts of man's will, in his natural ftate, drawn by Scripture and men's own experience. Call Tt no niore Naonni, but Marah : for bitter it is, and a root of bitternefs. Call it no more free-will, but flavifli luft : free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating grace loofe t'no bands of wickednefs. Now, fince all mull be - -wrong, and nothing can be right, where the underfianding and will are fo corrupt; I (hall briefly difpatch what remains as fdllow ofcoarfe, on ihe corruption of thofc prime faculucs of the foul .
The Corruption qftheAfeBions,t/ie Ccnjcunc^ and th e. Memory . T/i e b ody fa rtak t r of th i.\ Corruption.
n I. The afFeftior.s are corrupted. The unrenewed mar > affetiions art wholly difordered and diftempcicd : ihev ^.'t
88 The CorrupL^ ^
as the iinrnly horre, ihat cither vri 11 no^ receive, or violcnfly runs awav with f!.c rtdcr. S jm;«n*s b?art. naturally is. a m'ty ihcT of abominations, Markvii. oj^ o-^ For from within, orA of th' hfart o/mm, pro.co devil tkoughts,aduUenes^'ornKatiOnSt ntjrders, thtJls,<uvcteouJneJi^ ike. The natural man's affec- tions ate wreicncdiy JTiilpl iCC(^ ; h? IS a (piritual monftcr. His heart is there, where his feet fliould be,fixerl on the earth ^ h»s heels art- Jifted up agnjrft heaven, which hi» heart (honl^t be let on, Afts ix. r,. H'* i*ct is towards hell, his back lo- vards heaven ; aod theretofc God caJIs him «o turn. He loves, what he Should hatr,and hates what he fhould lov« : joyj in what he ou ^ht to mourn lor, anf* mourns for what he fhould rrjoice in : glorieth in his (barne, and is alhamcd of his glory-: abhors what he Qiould defire, and dcfircs what he fhould ab- hor, Prov. ii. 13, 14, 1^. Tbcy fit the point indeed, as C%i- apbus did in another caie who cried out on the* AppHlcs as men thiit turofdlha xi^orld upfide-dotun^ Afls xvii. 6. Forlhat is the work the gulpcl has to do in the world, where fin has put all things foout of order, that heaven lies under, andearth a-top. If the unrenewed maa's alFcfctions be fct on lawful objc6l$, then ihey arc cither exce{r7ve, or defeOivc. LawfuJ «frjoyinen's of the world h^ve fometimes too little, but rrodly too much of them : either thev get not their due ; or, it thty do, ir is meafure /T'^e/ </<7cy;!^ a-t/ running oi<er. Spiritual things havH* always too Imle of, them- In a word, ihcy arp always in or ovft- ; never right, only evil. . ,
Now here is a thfe-fold cord againft heaven and holinJfs, rot eafily broken i a blind nnod, a.perverfe will, and difor- derlv, diflemperedafFtcfions. . The mind fwelled with Iclf conceit, fays the man fhould not ftobp ; the will, oppofite to the will of, God, fays he will not ; and the. corrupt alFec- tions, rJfing a^ainU the Lord, in a defence of the corrupt will, Us^ he Ihall not. Thus the poor creature ftands out a- gninft God apd^oodnefs, till a day of power conre, in which be 1^ m^dc a new creature. , ; ,1
JV. The conlciencc is corrupt and defiled. Tit. i. 15. ^^ ,J \. ,.^ ^. .j eyp^ |'p3t f^)]5 one's convt-rfaiion with much dark- w
coiifufion ; being naturally unahlr to do itk office ; t... : c Lord, by Utttngin a newliRht to the foul awaken the con<cienre ; it remains fleepy and una^ive. Ccnfcicrce cna never doits work, but according to the light it haih^towork by. Wherefore fc«ing the natural man cannot fpint.tally dif- ccrnfp'iitual things, iCor.ii. 14. the conlciencc naturally u quite uieltfs in that point ; being cafl into fuch a deep llcep. that pothing but a (aving illumination fiom the Lonn c«n fct it on work in that matter. . The light or the natural co'^- fcicncc in good and evil, Co, and duty, is vrxy dcfeaivca'icic-
the Confiicncc. 8^
fore tV.o*it mav check forgrolT^ir fins ; vftai to the more fub* til voriiings of fin, it cannot cheek for them, becaurc it dif- cerni \hexn no?. Thus conicieuce Avil! fly in ihe face of nianvt if at any time they be drunk, fwear, he^lccl prayer, or be guil- ty of any grofs fin : who otheryule have a profound peace « tho' ihty live in the fin of Qiibclief, are OraDgers to fptrvtual v.'orfliip, and the life of f*tith. And natural iighi heing biil f.nnt and larguvfhing in rranv things which it doih leacb, con» f-tirnce in that cafe Tnoois like a ftitch in one's fide; \vh>ch quickly goes elf; its incitements to duty, and checks for and itrugglcs againit iin, are very remifs, vhicb the natural man cafily gets over. -But hecaure there i$a ♦aife h^hr in the ■dark nvinri, the natural conicicnre followir^g the latre, will call fvil good, and good eril. Ih. v. so. - Aod fo it i$ nftea found like a blind and furious horfc, which doth ^viole«tly run down h'lrJelf.his rider, and all that dojh come in his way, John xvi. 2. . IVhoJoner kilUth yott, u-i'l think thit he di<ik God Jtr-jice. .Whe'n the HtVairal confcicfjce is awakened by i«he Spirit of convi^iion,. it uiil ir.'.eed raj^e and rcre, and put the wnole man in a drec«ifui cop'terrafion, awlui»y .lumiuon till the powers of ihc fmil lo help in a liratt ; make ihc llitf heart to tremble, and the knees to bow ; t'cithv." tyesa-wecp- ing.the tongue a-conffefTlng ; and oblige the man \o calf out the goods, into the fea, which i: apprehends are like to fink ihc Ihip 6f the foul, tho' the heart Hill goes after them. Biit yet it IS an evil coufcience, which rativcly leads to defpair, and will do it effectually, as in Judas's cafe ; nnlcfs either lufts prevail over it, toluil itafleep, as in thecafcof Telix, Acls xxiy.25.0r the blood of Cri r i^t prevail over it,fpritiklitig and purgini^ii from dead works, as liUiw c^fe of aii irac con\cris, Htb. IX, 14. and X. 53. ; ■ " • '
X<2/?/v, Even the memory bears evident maris of this Cor- ruption. ;What is good and- worthy to be minded, as it makes buL {lender imprtfjion. fo that imprtiTion e^fily wear* off ; the Hiemory, as a "leiiking vcflel, lets it flip, Hrb. p. j. As a fieve that is full, when in the witer, lets all go when it is ta- ken out ; fo is .the meniorv, with refpcd to lj>iriuial things. But how does it ret;iin v/hat ought to be forgotten ? Nau;^hty things fo bear in thcmrdves upon it, that though men would fain have them out of mind, yet thev liick there like glue. However for^eifol men he in other things, it is hard to forijet rir jnjury. So the memory often fornilhes new fuel to old l;>^ls ; tr.akes men in old a^e to rc-aft the fins of their youth, •"hile il prcfents them again to the mind with delight, which
crcupon licks up the formet vomit. And ihiis it is like the-
'cle, that letsihrough the pure grain, and keep the refufe.
liiii {ai of the corruption of the fyul.
^o Hov) Mans Nature
The body itfclfairo is partaker of this corruption and dc-> irlement, lo far a* it is capable thereof. Wherefore the Scrip, ture calls it fioful fiefli, Rom. viii. 3. We may take this up in two things. (1 .) The natural temper; or rather diftemper on the bodies ot Adam's children, as it is an affcft o\ original fin; fo it ba^th a native tendancy to (in, leads the foul into fnares, yea, is itfclf a fuarc to the foul. The body is a furious heafl, of fuch metal, that if it be not beat down, kept under, and brought into fuhjcdion, it will caftthe foul into much fin and mifery, 1 Cor. ix. 27. There's vile- iicfs in the body, Phil. iii. 21. which as to the faints, will ne- ver be removed, until it be melted down in a grave, and caft into a new moiyld, at the refurrcflion to come forth a fpiritu- al body : and will never be carried off from the bodies of thofe who are not partakers of the refurreclion to life. («.) It fcrvet the foul in many fins. Its members are inftruments of wea- pons of unrighteoufncfs. wherebv men fight againft Gdd, Rom. vi. 13. The eyes and ears are open doors, by which impure motions and finful dcGres enter the foul : Thetonguch a world of th'quky : An unruly evil, full of deadly poifon, James iii. 6. 8. By it the impure heart vents a great deal of its filthinefs. The throat is an open fepulchre, Kom. iii. 13. The feet runs the devil's errands, ver. 15. The belly is made a god, Philip, iii. 19. not only bv drunkards and rioutous liv- ers, but by every natural man, Zech. vii 6. So the body natu. rally is an agent for the devil ; and a magazine of armour a« gainfl the Lord.
To conclude, man by nature is wholly corrupted : From the fole of the foot even unto the head, there is no foundncfa in him. And as in a dunghill, every part contributes to the cor- ruption of the whole ; fo the naturaf man, while in that ftatc» grows ftill worfe and worfe. The foul is made worfe by the body, and the body by the foul : and every faculty of the foul fcrves to corrupt another more and more. Thus much for the fecond general head.
Hozv Mans Nature was corrupted.
Thirdly, I fhall fhew how man's nature comes to be thus corrupted. The heathens perceived that man's nature was •orrupted; but how Cn had entered, they could not tell. But the Scripture is very plain in that point, Rom. v. te. 19. By one man fn entered into the world. By one man's difobedi- ence, many were made Jinners Adam's fin corrupted man's nature and leavened the whole lump of mankind. We pu- irified in Adam, as our root was poifoned, and fo the branches were envenomed ; the vine turned thfvinc of Sodom, and fo the grapes became grapes of gall. Adam,h; his hn, b:rcanc n.'!
zvas Corrupted, 91
only guilty, but corrupt; &fo traofmits guilt and corruption to his pofterity,Geii.v. o. Job xiv 4. By his fiu he ftupi himfell of his original rightcoalnefs, and corrupted himfell: we were in him reprcfcntatively, being reprelcntcd by him, as our moral head, in the covenant of works ; we were in him fc- minally, as our natural head ; hence we fell in him, and by his diiobedience, were made finncrs, as Levi, in the loins of Abraham paid tithes, Heb. vii. 9. His Hrft fin is imputed to us ; therefore jullly are we left under the want of his ori- ginal righteoulnefs, which, being given to him as a common perfon, he call off, by his fin ; and this is neceffarily followed m him and us, by the corruption of the whole nature ; rigb- teoufncfs and corruption being two contraries, one of which xnuft needs always be in man as a lubje£l capable thereof. And Adai», our common father, being corrupt, wc are fo too ; for, fy/io can bring a clean tkiug out of an urt- cUah?
Although it is fufficient to evince the righreournefs of this difpcnfation, that it was from the Lord, who doth all things well ; yet to filencc the murmuiings of proud nature, let ihefe few things further be confidered. (i.) In the covenant whcr- in Adam rcprefented us, eternal happniefs was promifed to him and his pofterity, upon condition of thij, that is, Adam's perfcft obedience, as the rcprefentative for all mankind ; whereas, if there had been no covenant, they could not have pleaded eternal life, upon their moft perfecl obedience, bu^ might have been, after all, reduced to nothing, notwiihftan- ding, by the natural juftice, they would have been liable to God's eternal wrath, in cafe of fin. Whoin that cafe would rot have confented to that reprelentation ? (2.) Adam had a power to ftand given him, being made upright. He was as capable to ftand for himfelf, and all his pofterity, as any after him could be for themfelves. This trial of mankind, in their liead, would foon have been over, and the crown won to them all, had he flood ; whereas, had his pofterity be?n inie- pendent on him, and every one left to aft for himfelf, the tri- al would have been continually a-carrying on as men came into the world. (3.) He had natural affeftions the ftrongeft to engage him, being our common father. (4.) His one ftock was in the (hip, his all lay at ftake as well as ours. He had no feperate intereft from ours ; for if he forgot ours, he beho- ved to have forgot his own. (5.} If he had flood, wc ihould have bad the light of his mind, the righteoufnefs of his will, and holinefs of hisaffeftipns, with entire purity tranfmitied nnto us ; wc could not have fallen ; the crown of glory, by his obedience, would have been for ever fecured to him and his. This is evident from the nature of 3 federal reprcCinta-
92 Mans' Nature CornipkJ,
tion ; and no reafon can be given why, feeing wc are lofl by Adam*s fin, we fhould not have bren (aved by hi* obedience. On the other hand, it is reafonablc that, he falling, welbouid with him bear the lofs, ' Lj/liv^ Such as quarrel this drfpcri- iation, rruft rcnouncr their part in Ch B 1ST ; lor wc arc no otherwise made finncrs by Adan>, than we are made nj'.htcoii* by C>iRiST ; from uhom wc have both imputed ant) -.n her* rnt rtghtcoiirr.tfs. Wc no mere Hi»de cHo-ce of the (eiond Adam, for our Head ai'd ft pnrrcntaiive, in the fccond cove- nant than we did of thf jiift A(^am in the firft covenant.
Let ncfiC M'ondcr that luch an hc»rrib!c ' change would be brouaht on'by one Caofour firll parenrs, for thcitby" ihev furnrd away from Gob, nsThe»r chief end ; which n«;ce(rari- ly infers ah unt^'crfal d'*pr^vaiion. Their fin wis* compitca- tiorv of tvils, a total apoftjcy from God, a violjtlon of the uIjoIc l<»v^. By it they broke ali the ten commi»nd$ at once. ^ (j.) They chofe new gods. They' nude tl/eir btlly their god, by 'heir fenfualitv } fcif thblr god By their imbt- tion J yea, and the dcVil their Gon, believing him, arid tlil- hel-eving th€?r Maker. ♦9. ) Though ihcy rece'ivet*, yet IheV oolcrved nor that ordinance of G<>i), about the fof^biddcri fru!». They" contemned that or<*inaiicc (o plainly c.^joinc'd them, 2nd would needs carve out to thrmfrlvcs, how lo fervc thr Lon D.'(^.} They took the name of the Lukd their Goi> in VTin ; Qcrijifloff his attributes, his juflice, truth, pow- er, &c. They gro^^ly profaned that facram^nial tree j abuled his word.Dy notgivmg credit toil ; abuied that croaiuveot Pis, which they fhould not bftve touched, and violently mi!con- firucd his providence ; «is if God, by forbidding them that tree, had been flanging in the 'way *of their happmels; and therefore he fuffcred thctr not to cfcape his righteous judg- ment. (4.) They remembered not the Sdbb^th, to keep ic hoiv ; but put ihemlcl'.es out of a condition to ietvc Go o a- right on his own dav. ' Neither kept they that n2ic of holy reil, whereip God hjd put them. (3 } They c^O *>ir ihcir rela- tive duties ; Eve forgets herfelf, ^ind aC^s wiihout adv.te of her hufbiiid, to the ruin of both ; Adaminfiead of admonifh- ing her to repent, yields to ihe tcmpr^tion, &. conhnns her in- lier wickcdn'.ls. Thov forgot all duty 10 their pofferiiy. They ]>onour<d not their Father in heaven ; and therefo'c tUcir d;»ys were nor lonp in the land which the Lord their Goi) gave ihtin. (6 ; Thev ruinerl thciiifelves, .»nd ail ihc'r pof- tr-riTv. ^7.) Gjve up themlclves to luxury and Icnfu^liiy. (8) Took away what wr.s not th^ir own, atainll the exprefu will of ihc Rre!»r owner. (9.) They bore fallc wunel>, anJ lied againft the L'jro, before angels, devil., and one auorh- tr ; in effctt giving out that ibcy wcic Iiaiuly dealt
Corrup:::r, cj Katurc applied. 5-3
t>iiit heaven grudged their happiccfs. (lo) They were dif- conrcnt with their lor, and covered an evil covetotifnefs to their houTe j which ruined both iKe:n atid theirs. T'aj.% was the linage of GoU on man defaced ail at once.
The Dc^^rine of the Cor'ruptior. cf K^ititrc cp- plied. .
Ui", I. For inibrmation. Is man's nature wbo'i'y corrupt- ed i Thfn,
i. No wonder the grave open as devouring irourh for u^, a? focn as the vomb hath cafi us forth ; and that the cra- dle be turned into a coffii, ip rccieve ihe corrupt lurfip : tor we are all, in a fpirituai fenfe, dead-born; yea, and filthy, Pfal. x'lv. 3. noifo.ne, rack, anu iliaKiag as a corrupt thing, as the ward imports. Let us not complain of the mifrnes wc are expofed to at our entrance. nor of the continuance ofthein, while we arc in the world, Heie is the vrnom that has poi- foned all the Iprings of earthly erjoyments we have to drink of. It is the corruption of man's natuie, that brings forth all the miferies of hwman life iti charcbes, datei, fainilies; ia ihens fouls and bodies.
2. Beheld here, as in a glafs, the fprln^ of all the wifked-. ftefs, Drofdiiitv, and formality in the world ; the fource of all the diforders in thv o^vn heart and life. Every thing a6h like itfelf, agreeable to its own nature ; and fo corrupt man acts corruptly. You need not wonder at the fiofuLiefs ofvour own heart and life, nor at the finfuh^efs and perverfene's of others ; if a man be crocked, he cannot but halt ; and if the clock be fet wroiig, how can it point the hour righr. _ -
3. See here, why fin is fo pleafont, and religion fuch a bur, den to carnal fpirits : fin is aaiural, holincfs not lo. Oxen cannot feed in the fea, nor fi3ies in the fruitful fields. A fwinc brought info a palace, woijld get away again, tt> wallow in the mire. A corrupt nature tends even to impu- rity.
4. Learn from thisths nature and neceHIty of regeneration. Firjl^ This difcovers the nature of regeneration in thefe two thinj^s, (1.) It is rot a paitial but a total change, tho' iinper- fc£l ill this life. Thy whole nature is corrupted, and there- fore the cure muft go thro' every part. Regeneration makes not only a new head for knowledge, but a new hcair, and ntw atfe6iion$ for huiinefs. All things becorm n:xj^ ^ Cor. v. i*. a one having received many wounds ; (hould be cured of ehcm ail, (avc one only, he might bleed to death by that one as well as a iboafand. So if ihs change go cot through th-s
94 '^hc Doclrine of the
lArhole man it is nadght. (2.) Il i$ not a change made by homad indiifiry.bui by the migbty power of the Spirit of God. A maa liiuft be born of the Spirit^ John iii. 5. Accidental difeafe* may be cured by men, bat thefe which are natural, not with- out a miracle, John ix. 38. The change brought upon men by good education, or forced upon thenn by a natural coij- fcicnce.tho' it may pafs among men for a faving change, it is not fo ; for our nature is corrupt, and none but the God of nature can change it. Tho'a gzrdintr in grafting a pear-branch into an apple-tcce, may make the applc-trcc bear pears, yet the art of man cannot change the nature of the applc-trce ; fo one n>ay pin a new life to his old heart, but he can flever change tbc heart. Sicondly^ This alTo fhcws the neccincy of regeneration. It is abfolutcly nccefTary in order to falvation, John iii. 3. Except a man be bom again ^ he cannot Ji-e the hinj^dom ofGod, No unclean thing can enter the new Jerur falcm ; but thou art whollv unclean, while in thy natural flate. II every mcnhbcr of thy body Were disjointed, each joint behovcdto be loofcd, ere the members could be fet right again. This is the cafe of thy foul, as thou haft heard ; and therefore thou mOft be born again ; elfe thou fiialt never fee heaven, unlcfs it be far off, as the rich man in hell did. Becievc not thyfelf : nomercy ofGoD, nobloodofCH R isT will bring thee to heaven, in thy unregenerate ftate : for God will never open a fountain of mercy, to waOi away bi* own holinefs and truth : nor did Christ (hed his precious blood, to blot out the truths of Go n, or to overturn God's mcafures about the falvation of finners. Heaven! What would ye do there, that are not bqrn again i* Ye that are no wavs fitting for Christ the head. That would beaflraiigc fight, a holy head and men»bers wholly corrupt ! a head full of irea- fores of grace, members wherein are nothing but treaTures of wickedncfs ! a head obedient to death, and heels kicking a- gainft heaven ! Ye are no ways adapted to the fo- cicty above, more than beafts for converfc with men. Thou aft a hater of true holinefs : and at the firft {ight of a faint there, would cry out, Hafi thou found me^ 0 mine enemy f Nay, the unrenewed man, if it were pofFible he could go to heaven in that llate, he would no oihcrwilc go to it, than now he comes to the duties ofholinefsjihat is, leaving* his heart behind him.
Use II. For lamehtatioa. Well may we lament t"hy cafe, O natural man, for it is the faded cafe one can be in, out of hell. It is time to lament for thee ; for thou art dead already^ dead while thou liveft : thou carrieft about with ibec a dead foul in a living body ; andbecaufe thou art dead, thou canft not lancnt thy own cafe. Thou *art loathfomc ia the iight
Corruption of Natwe applied. 95
ct God ; for thou art altogether corrupt. Thou haft no good in thee; ihy foul is a mafs of darknefs, rebellion, and vilcncfs before the Lord. Thou rhinkeft, perhaps, that thou hafi a good heart lo God, good inclination, and good de- fires ; but God knows there is nothing p;ood in thee, but every ifnaginaiion of thine heart is only evil. Thou canft do no good, thou cand do nothing but fm. For, •»
/"/ry?. Thou art the frrvant cffriy Rn^. vi. 17. and th
ere-
^K)it free from ri^hlcc-.tjnrjs^ ver. eo. Whatever righiecufners be, poor fouls, thon art tree of it ; thou doft not, thou canft not meddle with it. 'Ihoii art under the dominion of fin, a dominion where fightcoufnels can have no place. Thou art a childand fervant of the devil, iho' thou be neither wizzard nor witch : feeing thou art yet in the ftate of nature. Johnviii, 44. Ytarc of your fat kfr the devil. And to prevent any miftake, conGder, that fin and fatan have two forts of lervants, {i.} There arc fome employed, as it were, in conrfsr work: thofe bear the devil's mark in their fore-heads, having no form of godlinefs ; but are profane, grofly if;norant, mere moralifls, not fo much as performing ilie external duties of religion, but living to the view of the world ; as fons of earth, only minding earthly //i:>/^5,Phil.iii. 19. (2.) There are fome employed in a more refined fort of fervicc to fin, who carry the devil's marPf in their right hand ; which they can, and do hide from the view of the world. Thcfe are clofe hypocrites, who facrific.e as much to the corrupt mind, as the other to the fleih, Eph. ii. 3. Thefe are ruined bv a more undifcernable trade of fin j pide, unbelief, felf-fccking, and the like fwarni in, and prey upon their Lorrupicd, wholly corrupted fouls. Both are fcrvantyof the fame houfe ; the latter as far as the former from rightcoufnefs.
Srcordly, How is it poffiblc tliou fhouldft be able to do any good, thou whofe nature is wholly corrupt ? Can fruit grow where there is no root ? Or can there be an cffeft without a caufe ? Can the fig-tree bear olive berries? cither a vine figs. If thy nature be wholly corrupt, as indeed it is, all thou doft is certainly fo too; for no erfeflcan exceed the virtue of its caufe. Can a corrupt tree briv.g forth good fruit ? Maith, vii. 18.
Ah ! what a miferable fpeftacle is he that can do nothing but fin ? Thou art the man, whofoever thou art, that art yet in thy natural uate. Hear, O finner, what is thy caufe.
Firjl^ Innumerable fins compafs thee about. Mountains of guilt are iying upon thee. Floods of impurities ovcrwhelni thee, Li^'ing lulls of all forts roll up and down in the dead fea of thy foul ; where no good can breathe, becaufc '^ the corruption the'c Thy lips are unclean ; the opening
£)C . . i.vc, ^.Hr.n; cj Cut
of ihy mouth is as the opening of an unripe j^rave, fuW of flench ai»d rotienncfs, Rom. iii, 13. : Their throat is an open fipulchie^ TKv natural s^^ions are^iin. for when ye did eat^ and when ve did drink, did not ve eat /or youtJelves,and driuk Ji)r yvurje'ves \t Zech-^ii: 6. Thv civil a£ti<2ps are fin, ?/ov, xxi. 4. The plowing oj ihfzuick'd is fin. . ' Thy religious ac- »i<Mis aic 6m, Prov. xw. H. Thejacrijice cf the wicked is an a- ia'jfnctioti tc the Ix}id.'i>!'TUc thoughts and, imaginations of ihv hearr, are only cv.l. A deed may he foon done, a word fnon Cpoiteii, a thought fwifiiy paffcrh thr&' ihe heaii ; but each, is an Item in ihy accounts. O fad reckoning ! as tnAiVf thoughts, words, aflio^s ; as mary fins. The longer thou liv- *fl, thy accounti fArcU the more, . Should a tear l>c dropt tor tvery fin, thine beai behoved to be waters, -and thine eyc# a fountain of tears ; for. nothing but fin comes from" thee. Thy heart frames nothing but evil iraa;jin3iiens ; there is no- thing in thy iifc, but what ii framed l«y thine hcait; and therefore there is nothing in thy heait or iifc but evil, ..
Secondly^ All thy religioji, if thou haft any, is loti labour; as to acceptance with God, or anv^ favmg cfFecl to thytclf. Art th&u yet in thy natural ftaft }• Truly then thy duties arc fins, as was jtift now hinted. Would not the bcftwlne be lothfome in a veffel wherein there iii no pieafurePSo is the. rrligicn of an uniegenerate man. Under the law, the gir- inent which the flefh of the facrificc was carried in, though it louchtd other things, did not make them holy j but he ihac was unclean touching any thiiig, whether comruon or facred, made it unclean. . Even fo thv duties cannot make thy. cor- rupt Coul holy,, tho' they in ihemlcivcs be good ; but thy cor- TUpt heart defiles them and make them unclean. Haggar ii. 12, 13, 14. Thou waft wont to divide thy works . into two fcrts ; feme good, fome evil ; but thou mud^ount again and put them allunder one head ; for God writes on them -all, cn/y evil. This is Umentable: It will be no wonder to fee thofe begin harveft, who fo?d their hands to flcep in feed- i-me ; but to be labouring with others in the fpiing, and yet have nothing to reap when the harveft comes, is a very fad cafe ; and will be the cafe of all profclfors living and dyiu^; in their natural ftate.
Lajily. Thou canft not help thyfclf. What canft thou do to take away thy fin, who art wholly corrupt ? Nothing trulv^ but fin. If a natural n>an begin to relent, drop a tear for hi» fm, and reform, prefenily the corrupt heart apprehends at leaft, a merit of congruity; he has done much himfelf, be thinks, and God cannot but do more for him on that ac- couat. I;i the mean time he toes nothing but fin; fo thai the congruous merit is the leper that lauft be put out of the
Corruption of Nature _ applied. 97
ramp: the dead foul burled out of fight: and the corrupt lump caft into the pif. How oanO rhou think to recover thvfelf by anv thing thou canft do ? Will raua and filth wjfh out filthinefs ? and wilt thou pur»e out fin by finning r Jqi^ took a potfherd to fcrape himfe'if, bccaufe his hands were a« full of boiis as his body. This is the cafe of.thv corrupt foul; not to be recovered but bv Jfcsus Christ, whofc jRrength was dried up like a potfbetd, Pfal. xxii. 15. Thou art poor indeed, extremely miferable and poor, Rev, iii. 17, Thou haft no fhelicr bat a refuge of lies ; no garment for thy foul, but filihv rags; nothing to nourifh ii but hafks that cannot latisfy. More ihao that, tho« haft got fuch a bruife in the loios of Adam, which is not yet cured, that thoa art without llrengih, Rom. v. 6. unable to dt) or work for x.\\\^ felf ; nav, more than all this, thou canft not lo much as feek aright, but liejl hdplip^ as an infant txpofcd in the openjicldl Ezek. xvi. 5. .
Use III. I exhort you to believe this fad troth. Alas, ;t is evident, it is very little believed in the world. Few arc concerned to get their corrupt converfatioa changed ; but few- er, by far, to get their nature changed. Mofl men know noc what they arc, nor what fpirit* they are of; tiwy are as the eye, which feeing many things, never fees iffclf. Bat until ye know, everyone the plague of his own heart, there is no hope of your recovery. Why will ye not believe it .'' Ye Jbave plain fcripturc-tcdiraony for it ; but you aie lolh to en- tertain fuch an ill opinion of yourfelves. Alas ! that is the nature of yourclifcafc,Rev,i»i.i7. Thuu kncweji notjfiat then art wretchid^ andmiferabU^ and P^or^ and blind, and nak^d. Lord open their eyes 10 fee it, before they die of it, and in hell lift up their eyes, and fee what ihey will not fee now.
I (hall Glut up this weighty point of the corruption of man's nature, with a few words to another do6\iine from the text.
DocT. Qod takes fptcial notice, of ow natural ccrri.pti.m^ or iKt fn oj cur nature. This he tcft4n{'4 two ways, 1. B^ his word, as in the text, God /aw that every imagination of the thoughts ofvtcn's heait, was only evil continuaU',\ fee Pfal. xiv. 2, 3. e. By his work* Go D. writes his particular notice of it, and difpleafure with it, as in many of his works, fo e- fpecially in thcfe tvo :. . •
').) In the death of the infant cl^ildrcn of men. Manv miferies they have been cxpofed to ; they were, drowned in the deluge, confumcd ia Sodom by fere and brimftone ; thev have been flain with the fword, daihed againUihe fTon"?, snd yp ftill dying ordinary deaths. What iwbe c G
o8 Mens overlooking tfie Sin of Nature;
this? On what ground doth a holy GoD thus purfuc themr Isit the fin of iheir parents r* That may be the occafion of the Lord's railing the proccfs againd ihcin ; but ir mud be fhcir own fm, thst is the ground of the lentence pafling on ihcm } for, the foul that finnetli, it /hail die, faith Go o.Eick. xviii. 4. Is it their own actual iin t* They have none. But as men do with toads and fcrpents, which ihev kill at firll fight, before they have done ^ny hurt, bccaufe of their vcnerobus nature ; fo is it in this cafe.
(2.) In the birth of the elc^ children of Goq. When fhc Lord is about to change their nature, he. makes the fTa of their nature lie heavy on their fpirits. When he minds to Ici out the corruption, the lance RCts full depth in ih'-ir fouls, reaching 1 7 the root of fin, Rom. vii. 7, 8, 9. The fieOi, of corruption of nature is uierccd, being crucified, as well as ill e affections and iufts, Gal. v. 2.\.
Use. hzi u^ then have a fpecial eye upon the: forruptioo" and fin of our nature. God fees it ; O that we faw it tod, and that Cn were ever be.'bre us ! What avails it to notice other fins, while this mother-fin is not noticed ? Turn your eves inward to the fin of your nature. It is to be feared, many have thiv work to be^in yet ; that they have fiiut the door, while the grand thcif is yet in the houfe undifcovcred. I'his is a weighty point } and in the handling of it,
I. I (hall, for convic\ion, point at fome evidence of menj overlooking the fin of their nalure.whichyet the Lo r d take* particular notice of. (i.) Mens looking on themfelvcs with fuch confidence, as if they were in no hazard of grSfs fins. Many would take it very heinouft)', to get fuch a caution, as Christ gave his Apoftlcs, Luke xxt. 34. Take heed cf fur/citing and dr-dnkenrfs . If any fliould fuppofe them to break out in grofs abominations they would be ready to fay. Am t a. dog? It would raife the pride of their hearts, but not their fear and trembling ; becaufethcy know not the corruption of their nature. (2.) Untendcrnefs towards thofc that fall. Manj^ in that cafe caft off all bowels of Chriftian compaflTion ; for they do not co^fider thenifclvcs, left thev alfo be tempted. Gal. vi. 1. Mens paffions are often highefl againft the faulty of others, when fia fleeps foundTy in their own breafis. Even good Davil, when he was at his worft, was moft violent a- gainft the faults of others. While his confcience was aflecp under his guilt, in the matter of Uriah ; the Spirit of the Lord takes notice, that his anger loas greatly kindled again ft the ma;?, in the parable, a Ssm. xii.5. And on good grounds •t is thought, it was at the fame time that he treated the Am- faonitet fociuclly, as is related, vcr. 31, Putting them under
God's noticing the Sin of Nature. 99
Jdtosofiron, and under harrows ofiron^ andundcr'axesofircnand making them pafs througK thi brick kiln. Grace makes men zealous againft (in in others, as well as in thtmlelves : buc eyes turned inward to the conupMon of natnrc, clothe ibent With pity and companion ; ar.d fill ibem with thankful ncR to the Lord, that they ihemfelves were not the per Tons left to be fuch fpc6tacle3 of human trailty.; (3.) There are not a few, who, if they be kept from affiiciioa in worldly things, and from grpfs out-hrtakin^s in their convcrfauon, know not what it is to' have a fad. heart. If they meet v;ich a crofs, which their proud hearts cannot (loop to bear, they will be idady to fay, O to be gone ; but the corruption of their na- ture never makes them log? for heaven. Lufls fcandtJouf- ly breaking out at a lirr.e, will mar ihcir peace ;hut the {x-^ of their nature never makes ihcm a heavy heart. (4.) iJ- Kvy- ingof repentancc^in hopes tofet about it afterwards. Many have iheirown appointed time for rcpcntanceand reformacion, as if they were fuch complete niaftcrs over their luflsth tthey can allow them to gather more ftren^th,& yetovercotne therr. They take up refolutions to amend without an eve to Jesus Christ, union with hiin,& flrrn^'h from him; a plain evidence they arc Urargers to themfelves : aod fo thiy are left to themfelves,and theirflouriihingrelolMtions wither ; for as theyfcc not the necclTity, fo they gei not the benefit oi dew from heaven to water them., (,5.) Mens venturing frank- ly on temptations, arid promifiog liberally on their own heads. They call themfelves fearlcily. into temptation, in conhdence of coming off fairly : but wnc thcyfenfiblc of the corruption of their nature, they would beware of entering on the devil'i ground : as one gut about with bags of gunpow<ler, wouh! be loth to walk where fparks of fire are flying, Ici'l he fhoulJ be blown up. Self-jealoufing . well becomes Chriftians : Lord is it J ? They that know the deceit of their bo'v, will not be very confident that thev fhall hit the mark. ,'6.^Un«c- quaintedncfs with heart pbgiies. The knowledge of the plagues of the heart, is a rare qialiHcation. There arc in- deed fome of them written in luch great' charaHer^, that he who runs may read them ;, but there are others moic fubtile, which few rio difcern. flow few arc there, xo whom the h:- as of the. heart to unbelief is a burden ? May, they perceive it not. Many have had fharp convi6llons of other fin-;, thac were never to this day convinced of their unbelief ; iho' that is the fm fpccially aimed at in a thorough convicfior, John xi. 8, 9. He will reprov. the ruorld of fin, — becdufe they belieZ'e not on me. A difpofition to eftablifh our own ri^htcoufnefs ;s a weed th^t naturally grows in every man's heart ; hut few fwcat at the plucking of it up : i: lurks undifcovereJ. '^h^
ICO Mtns hverlooking the Sin of Nature.
bias of the heart to the way of the covenant of works, is a hid- den plague of the heart to many. All the difficulty thev find IS, jn getting up their heart to duties : they find no difficulty ifi getting their hearts off them, and over them to Jesus Christ. How hard is it to Have men oiF from their owrr, Tighteoufnefs ? Yet it is very hard to convince tlrem of their leaning to it at all. Lnfily, Piide and fclf-conceir. A view of ihe corruption of nature would be very humbling ; and o- blige-him that has it, to reckon bimfelf the chief of Gnneri. Under greatefl attainments and enlargements, it would be ballad to his heart, rnd hide pride from, his eyes. The want of thorough humiliation, piercing to the fin of one's na- ture is the ruin of many profefTors ; for digging dee.p makes great difference betwixt wife and fooliffi builders, Luke vi. 48. \9' ... .
11. I v/ill lay before you a few thingf, in which ye {hould have 3 fpecial eye to the fin of your nature, (i.) Haveafpe- cial eye to it in your application to JestjsChrist. Do you find any need of Christ, which fends you to him as the Phyfician of foals \ O forget not your difeafc when you arc with the Phyfician. They never yet knew well their er- rand to Ch r i st, that went not to hini for the fin oJ their nature : for his blood to take away the guilt of it, and his Spirit to break the power of it. The* in the bitternefs of your fouls, you ihould lay before liim a catalogue of your fins of omiffion and commiffion, which might reach from eart^to heaven ; ycK if the fin of your nature were wanting in it, &f- fure yourfclves, you have forgot the heft pirt of the errand a poor finner has to the Phyfician of fouls. What would it have availed the people of JerichcS, tohavefet before lEhfha all the ved'els in thetr city full of the water that was naught, if they had net led him forth to the fpring,to call in the fait there ? 2lvirf[s ii. 19, 20, 21. The application is eafy. (2.) Have a fpecial eye towards it in your repentance whether initial or progreffive, in your firft repentance, and in the renewing of your repentance afterwards. Tho' a man he fick, there is no fear of death, if the ficknefs flrikenot his heart : and there is as little fear of the death of fin, as long as the fin of our nature is not touched. Bit if ye would repent indeed, let the flreams lead you up to the fountain ; and mourn over your corrupt nature, as the caufe of all fin, in heart, lip, anvi life, Pfalm li. 4, 5. Againjl thct^ thrt only have i Jinnd^ and donr this evil in thyjight. ■ . Btheld, I wasjhaptn in iniquity ^ end in fin did my mother ronaive rm-. (\.) Have a fpecial eye up- on it in vcur mortification. Gal. v, 24. And thty that arc Chrijl's have crudjitd the Jl'Jh, It is the root of b' '*
Mens overlooliiv.g the Sin of Nature, loi
ihat mud be liruck at, which the ax of mortification mull be laid to ; elfe we labour in vain. In vain do men go about to purge ihc ftreair.s, while they are at no pains about the muc- dy fountain ; It is vain religion to attempt to make the life truly good, while the corruption of nature retains i's ancient vigour, and the power of li. is not broken. Lajiiy, Ye aie to eye it in your daily walk. He that would waik aright, niuft havf one eve upv.aiJ to Jr. s us Cn R ist; and another inv.ard to the corruption of his own natute. It is rot enough that v/e look about us, we mujl alio look within us. I'here the wall is wtakcrt ; there our greatcft enemy lies ; and thcic arc grounds for daily watching and mourning.
III. 1 Ihali offer fome rcafons, why we fhouldcfpccial'.y no- tice the fin of our nat-are.
1. Bccaufc of all linsitis the mod cxtenfive and diSufivc. It goes through the whole man, and fpoils all. Oiher f.ns mar particular parts ofihe image of Gon ; bet this doth at once deface the whole. A difeafe affecting any particular member of the body is ill ; hut that wliicb affefts the whole is worfe. The corruption of nature is the poifon of the old fer- pcnt, cad into the fountain of aciion, and fjin!c£ls every tclicn, every bitaihing of the foul.
2. It is the caule oi all particular luds, and a^ual fins incur hearts and lives. It is the fpawn which the great Leviathan has left in the fouls of men ; from whence comes all the fiv of adiial fins and abomination's. Mark vii. 2i. Out cf the hr.art of men frorted evil tkouirhts^aduileries.^c.. It is the bitter fountain: particular l-jflsarc butrumiiig rivulets fromii, which bring forth into the life, a part onlv, and not tho wholt of what is within. Now the fountain is ftill above the flieanns : fo where the water is good, it is bcft in the fountain ; where it is ill, it is word there. The corruption of nature be- in^ that which dehlcs all, itfcif mud needs be the abominable thing.
3. It is virtually all fin : for it is the feed of all fins, which want hut the occafion to fet up their heads : being in the cor- ruption of nature, as the elfecl in the virtue otits ccisfe. lleiicc it is called a body ofdeath^ Rom. vii. 24. as confifting of the leveral members, belonging to fuch a body off.iis^ Col. ii, i 1 , whofe life lies in fpiritual dcaih. It is the curftd ground, nc to bring forth all manner of noxious weeds. As the whole lied ot venomous creatures nuid needs be more drca^^ful, than any few of them that come c :eeping fortli ; fo the fin of thy liaturc, that mother of aborninaiion*, mud be woife than any jLariicuIar luds, that np)>ear dining in ihy heart and hU . Kevcr did every fij anr-i;.- iu thr coi.vejfution cfthc vilei-
1 :, : Why it is to he f pec: ally noticed.
wretch that ever lived ; but look thou into thy corrupt nature, and there thou maycfi fee ali and every fin in the feed "and rof)t thereof. There is a fulncfs of all unrightcoufnefsther^, Rom. i. 29. 7 here is atheifm, idolatry, blafphemy, murder^ adultery, and whatfocvcr is vile. Poflibly none of iKcfe ap- pe^rto thee hi thy hear:: but thee is more in that unfathomable tltpth of wickednefs, than thou knoweft. Thy corrupt heart is like an ant's neOs, on which, while rhc ftooe Hctb, none of thrm appear: but take off the ftonc, ftir them up,- but with the point of a draw, you will fee wha* a fwarnri is there, and l.ow lively they be. Juft fjch a fight would thy heart afford thee, did the Lord but withdrawthe rcilraiot upon it, and fuf^ ier Siran to ftir It up by temptation. '
4. The fin of our nature is, of all fins, the mod fixed and abiding; S;nful aliens, tho' the g/uilt and ftain of them may remain, yet in ihemfclves they are pafTing. Thedrunkard is not always at his cup, nor the unclean pirfon always afcling Icwdnefs. Bjt the corruption of nature is an abidini; fia : it remains with men in its full power by nichi and by dd^i at all times, fixed as with bands of iron asd brafs : till their nature he changed hvconvertinggrace, and the remains of it continue with the S^dly, until ihe death of the body. Pride, cnvy^ covetoufiiefs, and the like arc not "always flirting in the&. But the proud, envious, carnal nature is Itill with thee even as the clock that is wrong is not always flri king wrong ; but the wrong fct continues with it, without ^czi inierRiiffion. • ' » ^
.5. It is the great reigning fin, Rom. vi.' le. Let not Jin thtrrfore reign in your mortal body ^^ that you Jkould obey it in thi lufl tkcrenf. ■■ There are three things you may obferve in the corrupt heart. ' ('•} Thne is the corrupt nature ; the cor* iiip fei of the heart whereby men are unapt for all good, and fiftfd lor; all evil. This the spofile here calls, fin which rtignsi Ta.) There are particular lufts, or difpofitions of that corrupt nature which iheapoftie calls the lufts thereof; fuch as pride, covcteoufnefs, &c. (3.) There is one among thcfc, which is, 1-kc Saul amongO the people highei by far than the reft, namely \s> ftfi which dcihfo eafily btfct us, Heb. xii. t. This we u- fuaily call the predominant fin, hccaufe it doth, as it were, rc:;<ii over other particular lufts ; fo that other lufts muft yield to it. Thtfc three are like a nvcr which divides kfclf into ma- ny ftreamk, whereof one \% greater than the reft. The corrup- tion t f nature is the river-head, which has many particular lulls, in which it runs: but it mainly difburdens itfelf into what is coninionly called one's predominant fin. Now all of thefc being fed b> the fin of our nature ; it is evident that Co 4* l^
JVhy it is to he fpaially noticed, IC3
^reat reigning iin which never lofeih its fuperiority over par- licular Ijfts, that Jive and die with ir, and by it. But as m fome rivers, the main ftream runs not alw^^ys in ore and the /arr.e channel : fo paiticuUr predcminanis may be changed, isluft in yourh may be facceedcd by cpvetoufncfs in old age. Now,wh;;t;ioth ii avail ip reform in ot.*fr fms.while the g>eai reigning (in rcina.ins in ^n full power ? Waar tho' fome par- ticular iuil be broken ? If that fin, the fui of our naiure keep the throne it will iet up anotLer in its fiead : as when a w«i- jt.'r-cour{"«; is ftODt in one place, yhile the fountain is notdam- rned np, it vviJl fiream forth another way. And thus fome cad ctf t'leir prodigaliiv^bat covetoufrefs coaics upiuics Read: loroc cad away iheir prcfaniiv, and tliC cornipilon of nature fends not iis main ftream that wav as b'^ore ; but it runs i i a- nother channel, namelv in that of a legal c!.lpofiiion, felf-:i^h- 'leoufnefs, or the like, fo thai the people are ruined by their not cyin>5 the fin of their nature.
Lajlly^ It is an hereditary evil, PfaU 11. 5, Jnftn d^d my mother conceive me. Particular luffs are not fo, but in the vir- tue of their taufe. A prodigal father may have « frugal fon : but this difeafe is necefiarily propogatcd in natuic, and there- fore hardeQ 10 cure. Surely then the v/ord fliottld \^t given but ajainft this (In, as againft the King of ilrael, 1 Kin^s.xxi'. 01. Fight neither with fmall Ror great, favc only with this; lor this fin being broke, all other fins are broken with it ; and while it Itands entire, there is no viQorv.
IV. That ye may get a vie*' of the corruption of yoi^r na- ture, I would recommend to you three things. ( i ) Study to know the fpirituality and extent of the law of Gud, far that is the glafi yherein you may fee yourfelvcs. [k.. Obferve your hearts al) times, but cfpeciallv under temptatior. Ttm* tation is 8 fire that brings up the fcum of the vil..' heart; do ye carefully mark the *irft rifings of corruption. Lajt/y .Go toQ o D thro' Je sus Ch R IS r, for illumination by his Spirif."^^Lay out your foul before the Lord, as willing 10 know the viJc- iiefsof your nature ; fav' unto him, Taat zuhick I kncv.'i.ot, track thou vie, and be' willing to take in lifeht fron\ the word. Believe, and vou fhall fee. It is by the word the Spirit teachcih, hut without the fnirit's teaching, all oiher teaching will be to \.n\t purpofe. Tho' the gofpel fhoald fn-nc about you like the fim at nooa-dav ; and this great truth he never fo pL^inly prenched ; ycu will never t''ee yourfelves aright, until the Spir- it of the Lord l-ght his candle within your bread : the ful- r.efs and glory of Ch R i ST, the corruption and vilenefs ol our nature, are neverrightty learned.but whcie thtSoiritofCi-i R 1 st i« the teacher.
1C4 Conclufion of the Jirjl Head.
iind now to fbut up this weighty point, let the conddcra- tion of what is fa-d, commend Ch R 1ST loyo-xall. Ye th« arc brought out of your natural iUte of corruption unto Oh k :ST, be humble ; li>ll coming to Chr ist, and improve- i.)g your union uirb bun, to ibe further weakening of the re* niainsof this natural corruption- is your nature changed ? It is but in part fo, • Tbe day was ye could not Oir : nov ye are cured j but remember the cure is not perfeftcd, yc ttill j^o halting. And tho' it were better with you than it is, the Temcmbrance of what you were by nature ihould keep you low. Ye that are vet in your natural Hate, take with it : be-i iicve the^rjuptw.j ©f.your nature ; and let Ch r i st and hit v;r3tr bu* precious in your eyes, O that ye would at length 1" .» ;ous about iue ftate of your fouls ! What mind yc todoi*' Yc intill die ; vc muft appear before the judgmtnt-leat of Go a. XViU yc licdovn, and flcep another night at cafe, in ibis cafi ? Do it not; for before another day you may be (ifted before God's dreadful tribunal, in the grave cloaths of your corriiut itate ; and your vile fouls raft into the pit of deUruc- tion, as a corrupt lump, to be forever buried out of God*S iioht.' For 1 ieflify unto you all, there is no peace with God, no pardon, no header for you, ir this ftate : there is but a flcp betwixt you and eternal deftru6lion from the prcfence of ♦he Lord : if the brittle thread of your life, which may be broke with a touch, ere you are aware, be indeed broken while YOU are in this ftate ; you are ruined for ever, and with- out remedy. But come fpccdily to Jesus Chr ist ; he has tlc^nfedas vile fouls as yours ; and he y^iUveicUan/etkellood that he hath not yet cUcnfed, Joel 14. 8 K Thus far the- fin* t tine fb ot-man'i. natural fl;»ic,
HEAD II. The Mifery of Man's Natural State.
EPHES'lANSii 3
,,', were by nature the children of wrath ^ even as
others.
HAVING fliewedyou the fmfulnefs of man's natural ftate, 1 come now 10 lay bcfote vqu the miff*y of it. A fio- fulftate car,noi biitbea iriferable ftate. If fin go before, wrath follows of courfc. Corriiption and deftruftion are to Jc^rt tcRctber, that the HoW GhoU calls defiruaion, even e- i.'rnal dcftrucl-on. corruption, Gal. v,. %. He tJtatfowtti to : '. (IcPi JlialioftheJl'Jk reap corruption, that is cverUllmg
The Explication of ih -. j . . . . , 105
deftruflion; as is clear from its being oppofed to life ever- lading, in the following cl.iufe. And lo the Apoftle having fliown the Ephefians their real ftate by nature, viz. that they were dead m fins and t'refpafTts, altogether corrupt ; he tells them in the words of the text, their relative ilate, namely, that riie pit was digged for then:i, while in that ftate of corruption: being dead in tius,ihcy were by nature children of wrath, even as others.
]n the words we have four things,
1. The mifery of a natural ftate ; it is a fla^c of wrath, as well as a ftdte of iin. We were, fays the ApoHle, children of wrath, bound over, and liable to the wrath of God ; un- der wrath in fome meafur^ ; and in wrath, bound over to more, even the lull meafure of it in hell, where the floods yf it go over the prifoners for ever. Tkus Siul, in his wrath, adjudging David to die, j Sam.xx. 31. and Div id in his wrath palling fentence of death againft the man in the parable, 2 Sam. xii. 5. fay each of them, of hi* fuppofed cri»nin.il, Hi Jkall fuTtly die : or, as the words in the fiill language are, htis a/on of death. So the natural man is a child of wrath, a ion of death. He is a malefactor dead in law, lying in chains of guilt : a criminal held fafi. in his fetters, till the day of execu- tion : which \*ill not fail, unlefs a pardon be obtained fro?n his Goi>V who ik his judge and patty too. B/ thjt means, indeed, tfjildren of wiath may become childien of the king- dom. T?h^ phrafe in the text, however common it is in holv lingua^, is very fignificant. And as'it is evident, that the ApoUlc Calling natural men, the children of difobedience. ver.o. means more than t*Ht ihev were difobedient children; for fuch may the Lo rd's own children be : fo to be chil- dren of wrath is more than fimplv to be liable to, or under vrath. Jesus Christ was liable 10, and under wrath'; but 1 doubt we have any warrant to fay, he was a child cf wrath. The phrafe fteiTis to intimate^ that men are, whatfo* rvcr they are in theirnatural (late, under the wrath of God, that they arc wholly undrr wrath : wrath is, as it were wo- ven into their very nature, and mixeih itfclf with the whole of the man y who is, if 1 may fo loeak.a very la ro of wiath, a child of hell, as the iron in the fire is all fire. For men na- .lurally are children of wrath, come forth, fo to fpeak, out of the womb of wrath ; Jonah's gourd was the fon of a night, •which we render came up in a night, Jonah iv. lo. as if it had come out of the womb of the ni;^ht,as we read of the
omb of the morning, Pfal. ex. 3. and fo the birth follow -
!g the belly whenceit came, wa> foon gone. The fparksof
i.ii are called fons of the burning coal, Job v. 7. niarg. Ifa.
^o6 Man*i natural State
xxi. 10. 0 my tkrejhing, and tke com^ orjQn of my fioor.^ ihreOitrp in the floor of wrath, and, a5 it were, brought torth by it. Thus \Vn natural man i& a child of wrath : it <omci into h'i boiLxli li'it water, and li\e oil into A is Ijnts, Pfal. cix, 1 8. For though Jad<ts was the orily fon of p-rdition a- roonaft the Apoftics ; yet all men, by nature, arc o/ihc fame family.
2, There is tiie rife of this miferv ; men have ifhy nature. They owe it to theirnature, rxot to their fubftanccor ^ifcnce ; for that neither is nor was fin, and therefore cannot make them children of wraih, iho' for fin it may be under wr^fh ; not to their nature as qualified, at man's creation, bv his Ma- ker, but to their nature, as vitiated and corrupted by the fall. To the vicious quality, or corruption of their nature, where- of before which is their principle of action, and ccafioi^ froni aQion, the only principle is an unrcgcnerate flatc. Now by this nature, men are children of wrath ; as injitr.e oi pcflilcn- tial infection, one draws in death together with the difeaf? then raging. Wherefore feeing from our (irfl. being as chil- dren of Adam, wc be corrupt children, Qiapen in inqulty, con- ceived in Co ; wc arc alfo, from that moment, children o|f wrath.
g.The univerfity of this mifcry. AU are by nature children of wrath ; fi''c, faith the ^p(y{i\c,tTjenas others ; Jews as well as Gentiles. Thofc that are now by prace, the children of God, were by nature, in no better cafe, iKan thofc that,aie flill in their natural ftate.
Laftly^ There is a glorious and happy chanj^c iniitnatcd here ; wc were children of wrath ^ut arc not fo now ; grace has brouoht us oiu of that fcarlul date. This the apoftlc lays of himfclf and other believers. And thus, it well become^ the people of God to be often ftanding on the (hore, look- ing back to the red fea of the (late of wrath, they were fomtt limes weltering in. even as others.
I)ocT R I N K, Thcjlatc of nature is ajlate of wrath. Every on6 in a natural unrcgencratc ftate, iiin a (late of wrath. Wc arc born children of wiaih ; and continue fo, until we be bori* again. Ndv, as foon as wc were childrca of A^'*U**» Wf were childrrn of wrath.
I (hnil ufhrr in what I am to fay on this point, with a few obfervcs touching the univerfaliif of tl-yis fiatc of wrath ; vhich may fcrve to prepare the way of the word into your coA- fciencea.
Wrath has p;one as wide as ever fin went. When aogeU r-nned, the wroth of God brake in tmon them as a flood ; Ccd fparcd not the angels uhio'ijuincd, Lut caji thm down U
is a State of Wrath, 107
hell, £ Pet. ii. 4. And thereby it was demoDftra'.ed. that no natural exceHer.cy in the creature v?ill fhield it from the vr?th of GiiD ; if once i: becomes a fi.^ful creature. Tn? hneft and the r.iccfl piece of the >«rorkmanfhJp oJ heaven, if onte the Creator's image upon it be defaced b/ lin, G.^jd cm and will dafh it to pieces, in His wrath ; unlefs fatisfaSion be made to juilfce, and that image be repaired ; neither cf which the (inner himielf can dp. Adam finned; and the U'hole lii:np of mankind v.'as leavened, and bound over to thp hcry oven of Goii's wrath. And I'^om the text ye raav leain, (i.) That ignorance of that ftatc cannot free men from it ; the Gentiles that knew not God, wen- by nainre children cf -jrath^ even a others. A man** houfe may be on E.e, h«s wife and children perilhing in the flames ; while he kiows Tjoihmg of it, and therefore is not conc-crncd about it. S ich is vour cafe, O ye that are ignorant of thf^fe things ! wrath
, is filcntly finking vito your fouls, while you are blcfUng yourfelves, faying, W.Jhali have pca-e. -Ye need not a more certain token, that ye arc children e/' wrath, than thjft ye ne- ver yet faw vouifctvcsfuch Yecannorbeihc children ofGoD, that never yet faw yourfclves chldrcn of the devil. Ye tajinot he in the way to heaven,- that tevc/ faw yourfclves by nature in the road tc hell. Ye arc gfofly ignorant of your ftate by nature ; and fo ignorant of .Ion, and of Ghk 1ST, and your need of him ; and tho' ye look on your ignorance as a covert from v/rath ; yet take it out of the jnouih o\ God himfcif, that it will ruin you if it bj not re- moved, Ka. xxvii. 1 r. It IS a people of no unde^jij.ndin:^ \ therefore he that mad; them, will net have mercy en them. Sec 2 Tncfl'. i. 8. Hof. iv. 6. ('* ) No outward privileges can ex- empt men irom this Hate of wratW ; for the Jews, the chil- ilrenof the kingdom, God's peculiar people, were coildrtn of wrath even as others. ■ Tho' ye b-j church-members, par- rakers of all church-privileges ; tho' ye be dcfcended of god- ly parents, of great and honourable famili-s ; be what ye will ye are by nature heirs of hell, children of wraih (3.) No profofuon, nor attainments in a profeiTion of religion, do or
. can e?:-mpt a man {rorn this fl^te of wrath. Paul was one of the fliitlcfl fcct of the Jewilh religion, Ads xxvi. ^,. yet a child of wrath, even as mhers, till iie w^s converted. The clofe hypocrite, and the profane, are alike as to their ftate ; however difrercMt their convcrfations be; and they wjU be alike in their latal end, Ffal. cxxv. 5. A< for fuck as turn a-
ftde unto their crooked ways^ the Lord fhall l:ad than forth vjith the workers of iniquity. (4.) Young ones that are yet but fetting out in the world, have not that to do, to make tbemfclvc* children of wrath, by following the gracelcfs muU-
io8 Man's Natural State
titude. They tre children of wrath by nature ; fo it is done already ; ihcv were born heirs of hell ; they will indeed make jhemfclvcs more (o, if ihcy do not, while they are younp,flce from that wrath they were born to.by fleeing ioJk- hvs Christ. X-iyC/y.Whatevermen are now by grace, they vere even as others, by nature. And this may be a fad medita tion to them, that huve been ateafc Irom their youth, and have had no changes. '
Now thcfe things being pretnifcd, I fhall, in the firft place, fhcw vhat this fiatc of wrath is; next confirm the do6iriac ; ^nd then apply iti ' '' ' • • '
I. 1 am to fiiew what this {late of wrath is. But who can fully dcfrribe the wrath of an angry GuD? hTone can do it. Yet fo tnuch of it muft be difcovcrcd, as may fervc to convince men of the ablolute ntreirity of fleeing to Jesus Ch R 1ST, oat of thit flate of wrath. Anger in men is a paflion, and commotion of the fpiiit for an injury received, with a defire to re Cent the fame. When it comes to a height, and is fixed in one's fpirit, it is calUd wrath. Now there are no paflions in Goi), properly fpeaking; they are incori- fjftent with his abfelute unchangeablencfs.and independency ; and therefore Pkul and Barnabas, to remove the miflake of the Lycaonian", who thought they were gods, tell them, they vrere men of like pafiions with thcmfelvcs, Atls xiv. 15, Wrath then is attributed to God, not in refpcft of the af- fcftion of wrath, but the effctls theteof. Wrath is a fire in the bowels of a man, tormenting the man himfelf ; but there is no perturbation in God. His wraih does not in the leaft mar that infinite rcpole and happinefs, which he hath in him"- felf. It is a mod pure undifturhtd a£l of his will, producing dreadiul cffc6ls againfl the finner. It is little we know of an infinite God ; but condcfcending to our weaknefs, he is pleafed to Ipcak of himfelf to us after the manner of mctr. Let us therefore notice man's wrath, but remove every thing in our coniideration of the wrath of God, that argues impetr feflion ; and fo we may attain to fome xnew of it, however franty. By this means we are led to take up the wrath of God againft the natural man, in thefe threr. '
Firfl, There is wrath in the heart of God againft him. The Lord approves him not, but is difpleafcd with him. Kvery natural man lies under the difplcafure of God ; and that is heavier than mountains of bra<s. Although he be pleafed with hiiiiftlf, and others be plcafcd with him too j \ei God looks down on him, as difp.eafcd. Firji^ His pcr- ion is under Gon^ dilplealurc ; Thou haiejl all worhfrs of i\:nuity^ J'i \ ^odly ma..s fin i:; dilj>lcafin^o Gou,
is a State of Wrath, 109
yet his perfo.n is ftlll accepted in the beloved. Eph. i. 6. But God is angry tuitk the wicked every day, Pf. vii. n . A fire of wrath burns continually againft him, in the heart of God. They arc as dogs and fwine, mod abominable creatures in the fight of God. Tho' their natural (late be gilded over with a fiiining profefTion, yet they are abhorred of God ; they are to htm z%fmoke in hisnofe. Ifa. Ixv. 5. and lukewarnx water, to hcfpcwed cut of his mouth, Rev. iii. \^ . wkited fc^ pulckres, Mat. xxiii. 27. a generation of vipers, Matth. 12. 34. and z people of his wrath, Ifa. x. 6. Secondly, He is dif- pleafed with all they do ; It is impofTible for them to pleafe him, being unbelievers, Hcb. xi. 6. He hates their perlons ; and fo hath no pleafure in^ but is difpleafed. with their beft works, Ifa, Ivi. 3, He thai facrificeth a lamb as if he cut off c dog^s neck, &c. Their duty, as done by them, is a^z abomina- tion to the Lord, Prov. xv. 8. And as men turn their back, upon them whom they are angry with ; fo the Lord's re- fufing communion with t,hc natural man in his duties, is a plain indication of this wrath.
■ Secondly, There is wrath in the word of GoD againfl him,- When wrath is in the heart, it fecks a vent by the lips, fo God fights againft the natural man with the fzvord of his mouth, Rev. ii. i5. The Lord's word ne\iir fpeaks good of him, but alwavs curfeth or condcmnelh him. Hence it is, that when he is awakened, the word read or preach- ed often incrcafeth his horror. Firjl, It condemns all his a£lirtns, together with his corrupt nature. There
is nothing he docs but the law declares it to be fin» It is a rule oF perfect obedience from which he always in all things, declines; and fo it rejtOs every thing he doth as fin. Secondly, It pronpunceth his doom, and dcnounceth God's curfe againft him, Gal. iii. lo For as many as are of the zvorks of the law are under the curfe; for it is written, CUrfed is eve.ry one that continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them. Be he never fo well in the world, it pronounccth a woe from heaven againft him, Ifa. iii. 11. The Bible is a quiver filled with arrows of wrath a- galnft him, ready to be poured in on his foul. Gon's thrcat- nings in his word, hang over his head as a black cloud, rea- ' dy to ftiower down on him every moment. The word is in- deed the faint's fecurity againft wrath, but it binds the natu- ral man's fin and wrath together, as a certain pledge of his ruin, if he continue in that ftate. So the confcience being awakened, and perceiving this tie made by the law, the man is filled with terrors in his foul.
Thirdly, There is wrath in the hand of Goo againft the
■■ '-m ■
210 Men's Katv.ral State
iMtHral man. He is under heavy flrokcs of wrath tfreidjr, arxi it liable to more.
iy?, There is vrrath-on hii body. - It it a piece of curfei. clav, %hich wrath is Gi-kinBinto by virtue of the ihreat- nirg of the fi.ft covenanr, (Jen. ii. 17. In the day 'hat thou e&tfji thereff, thou fnalt farc'y die. There 1$ never a difc^fo^ gripe ror ftiich, tfta:.ctfccl$ him, but it comes on him with the ffing of God's inciigration in it. They arc a!! cords of death. fent before to bind the prifcncr.
2d'/r, There is wraib apcn bis foul, fi.) He can have no, comn'onion with Gon ; he is fjoitjh^ andjhail not Jland in Gcd'sjfgit, "Phi. V. >'y. When Adam fir.ncd, Gou turned him cat of paridife ; and natural Incn are, as Adam left them, baniflied from the griciocs prefcrce of the Lord : end can have hoaccc?i to him in that flatc. . Tbere is war betwixt heaven ard them ; and fo all commerce Is cut off. Thry are wil/u'ut Grd in (heZi)cr!d,Lph. ii. iz. The (un is gone down on iben, and there is not the Icafl j^limpfe of favour towards them from heaven. (9.) Hence the. louj is left to pmc away in iit in-quity. The natural daiknefs of their minds, the avcifcncfs to good in their wilh, the diforder of their affcOions, and diflcmpcr cf their confcicnccs, and all their raruraPpJa^ues, are left upon them. in a penal way ; ar:d being fo left, increafe daily. God cafis a poriion of worldly goods to them, mere or UTs ; as a bone is thrown to a dog; but, ala$! hi^ wrath againfi them appears, in thatihcy get no grace. The Ph) tician of fouls comes by ibem, and goes by them, and cures others bcfidc ihera ; while they arc, confamin^away ir their inrquiry, ^nd ripening daily for ut- ter denrufilon. (3.) They lie open to fearful additional plagues en their fouls, even in thi> life. f/r;^, Sometimes they meet with deadning ilrokcs; fileni blows from the hand of an angry God : arrows of wrath ihat enter into their foul <: wiihoQtnoife j Ifa.vi.io. Make the hrart of t hi i people fat ^ and ricke tkfirears htaxy^ and Jhut their ej'ti Uf- they Jet with their o«, 5rc. God drives with them for a while, and cou- viftions enter their confciences ; but they rebel againft tbr light ; and by a fecret judgment, they are knocked on the head ; fo that, from that time, they do, as it were, live and ret above ground. Their hearts arc deadned ; their affcflions withered; their confcierjccs fiupified ; and their whole fouU blafted ; ffly^ycT/A a.% a branch and unthered^ John xv, if> They are plagued with judicial blindncfs They fliut then eyes againll the light, and they arc given over 10 the devil the ^od of ihii world to be blinded more, e Cor. iv. 4. Yea, Gcd fends themjlrcj^ delnfon^ that tkiy Jhculd beiievs a /tr.
IS a State of Wrath, ill
C Their, ii. If. CYcn conrciencc, like a falfe light on the feorc leads thcra upon rocks ; by which they are broken in pieces. They harden ihcmftlves a^rainfl God ; and he gives up with them, and leaves them toSaian and ihciro'.rn hearts, whereby ihcy are hardred more and more. They arc often given up unto vile affections, R.-im. i. 26. The reins arc laid on their necks ; and they arc lef' to run into all accefs, as their furious luHs draw them. Second^/, Somc:imcs thty ineel with quicking lirokes, whereby their fouls become like mount Sinai ; where nothing is feen, but Hre and fmoak; no- thing heard, but the thunder of GoD'i wrath, and the voice of the tru:rpct of a broken law, waxing louder and louder : which makes them like Palh'jr, Jcr. xx. 4. A t:rror to them- Jelvfi, God takes the 'ilthv gjrmeuis of their fins, which they were wont to flcep in fccurcly ; overlays them vrith brimftone, and fets them on fire about ihcir cars; fo they have a hell within them.
. .^dly. There is wraih on the nataral man's enjcyments. Whatever be wanting in his houfe, there is one thing that is never wanting there. Prov. iii. 33. Th' curft of th: Lord is in the houfe of the wicked. Wrath is on all that he has ; on fh« bread tha: he eats, the liqaor he drinks, and clothes which ht Hi^^it^ His bajket and Jlore are curftd^ Del. XKviii. 17, Some things fall wrong with hira ; and that comes to pafs b/ virtue of his wrath ; other things go according to his wi(b, 2ind there is wrath in that too ; for it is a fnare to his foul, ?rov. i 32. The profperity of fools fliall dcflroy them... Thi* wrath turns his bleflines into curfcs. Mai ii. 2. I will cu-^ft your hlrfJinQS ; >ra, / have cur/ed them already. The holv lavif U a killing ietier to him, 2 Cor. iii. 6. The miniilry of the ^o^^eA^ a favour cf death unto death, chap, ii 15. In the fa- crament of the Lokp's fapper, He eateth and drinkcth dam- nation to kimfelf 1 Cor. xi. 29. Nay, more than all that, Ch r 1ST himfelf is to him, a font cffiumbLing and a rock of cffence, i Pet. ii. 8. Thus wrath follows the natural man, a« his fhadow doth his body,
4?>4/y, He is under the power of Satan, A61s xxvi. 18. The &vilhasGvcrcomchim,fohc is his by conqueU ; his lawful cap-
kftve, Ifa. xlix, 24. The natural man is condemned already, "John ii«. 18. and therefore under the heavy hand of him that hath the power of death, that is the devil. And he keeps his prifoner, in the prifon of a nataral Hate, bound hand and foo«^,-3'a.lxi. 1. laden with divers lufis, as chains wherewith he holds him faft. Thou rtecdeft not, as many do, call on the de- vil to t c thee ; for he has a faft hold of ihee already as a chili of wrath.
1 1 2 Man*s Natural State
La/i'y, The natural man has no fccurity for a inantem's fafcfy from {he wrath of Gor^, its coming on him to the ut- •ermoft. The curfe of the law ;^cnou^ced againft him, has already tied him lo the (lake : fo that the arrows of jnftice mav pierce his foul : and in him mav mcel all the mifcries • nd plagues that flow from the avenging wraih of Go d . Sec bow be is fct as a mnrk. to the arrows of wraih, Pfalm vii. 11, 12, 13- God is nngry u^ith the luicied ev&ry day. Ifn turn not^ he toill ich:t his Jcucrd : he hath bent his how an, made it rfady; he hath alfo prepared fcr him the injlruments ^ death. Doih he lie down to (lee p ? There is not a promifc. Be knows of, or can know, to fccure him that he fbafl not be in hell ere he awake. Juflice is purfuing, and cries for ven- geance on the Cnner ; ;he law rafts the fire-balls of its curfes, continually upon him : wafted and long-iired patience is that which keeps in his life ; he walks amidft enemies armed a- gainft him : his name may be Magcr M^Jfabib^ i. e. ter or round about, Jer. xjt. 3. Angels, devils, men, hearts, ftoncs, heaven, and earth, are in rcadincfs, on a word of command fror? the Lo R n, to ruin him.
Thus the n;i:ural roan lives, but he muft die too ; and death is a dreadful raciTer.ger to him. It comes upon him armed v.'ith wrath, an^ puis three (ad charges in his hand. ( \.) Dca^h chargeth him to bid an eternal farewell to all things in this ■world ; to leave it, and make way to another world. Ah 1 what a dreadful charge mufl this be to a child of wrath 1 He can have no comfort from heaven forGoD is his enemy ^; and as for the things of the world, and the enjoyment of bis lufls» which were the only fprings of his comfort ; thefc are in a mcmcnt dried up to him for evct. He is not ready for a- roiber world; he was not thinking of removing fo foon ; or if he was, yet he has no portion fecured to him in another world, but that which he was bora to, and was increafing all tis days, namejy, a trcafurc of wrath. But go he muft ; his clay-god, the world, rauft be parted with, and what has he inore ? There was never a glimmeiirg of light, or favour from heaven, to his foul : and now the wrath tnat did hang in the ihrcatnirg as a cloud like a man's hand, is daikning t face of the whole heaven above him ; and if he lock unto t ea^thf from whence all his light was wont to covc\c,behold trou-^ l.'e and darknefs, dimnejs of av^uijfi ; and hejhall be driven to
darknrfs, Ifa. viii. 22. (2.) Death chargeth foul and b '
part till the great day. His foul is required of him, >ii. 20. O what a miferabl; partin;T tnuft this be to of wrath ! care was indeed taken to provide for the things neccfTary for this life: but alas! thsre is nothing). for another life to i%»; nothing to it a feed of glorious refu
%
is a State of Wrath. 113
fcQIon ; as it lived, fo it muft diCj and rife again finfal flcfh ; fu^l for the fire of God's wraih. As for the foul, he was never felicitous to provide for it. It lay in the body, dead to Cod, and all things truly good ; and fo mud he cirriedx)uc into the pit, in the grave-clothes of its natural ftatc ; for now that death comes, the companion^ in Cii muft par^. (3) Death chargrth the foul to compear before the tribunal of God, w.hiL- the b-^'lv lies to be carried to the grave, Ecclef. Xii. 7 The fpiritJJiaU return vrjlo God wko, yaVe it. Hcb. ix, 2.7. U is a*ipcinlcd unto all men once to die, but after this tk". judgment. Well were it for the finful foul, if it nnight be buried together with thcbodv. Bit that cannot be : it muft go and receive itsfentcnce ; and ih^ll he R^iU up in the pri- son of hell, H'hile the curfed body liesimprifoncd in the grave .till the day of th£ general jud^nnenf. ,. When the end of the world, appointed of Go n Is come ; the trumpet fhall found, and the dead ariie. Then fh^ll the weary earth, at the command of the Judge, caft forth the bo- dies ; the curfed bodies of thefe that iiv*d and die 1 in their natural Hate; Thepa.dralh^ and hr! I. fnaU deliver up their dead,^ Rev. XX. 13. Their miferabl bodies & fouls fhill be re-uniied, and they filled before the trifiunal oiCn R 1ST. Then fh.ill they recevc that fearful (cntcuce, D-'part frov ne^ je cnrfid^into ez-- crlajling Jire prepared for the dev'l and his cnc^ls,}^i -tth. xx. 41 . Whereupon they fiall go away into everlnjltng puny paner.t^ vcr. 49. They Ihill be eternallv (hut up in hell, never to get the lead drop of comfort, nor the Is.Wl cafe or their tor- ment. Themhey will be puniihed with the paniihntvnt <iV lofs ; being excommunicated for ever from the prrfcwre ot God, hisangels and faints. All mjcans of grace, 4U hopes of a delivery, fhall be for ever cut off from their evrt; They fhdll not have a drop of rtater to cor>l their tcn^ucs, L'jke xvi. 24,3.5. They fnall he punifhed with the punifhmentof fenfe. They muft not only depart from God, but dcoart into firr, "into everhiding Mre. There the -vorm, that (hall gnnw them, fhall never die ;.the fire that {h'.ll fcorch them, fhall nevcrbf quenched. Gop fhall, thro' all eternity, hold them up with
>the one hand, aitd pour the fall vials oF wrath into them with the other. This is that Rate of wrar'i natural rr.cn live In ; being un- der muchof the wratli of God, and liahle to more. But for a further view of it, let us coniider the qualities ofih.it writh (i.) it ^ irrefiflable, there is r.o fianding before it, IVho ma\ fhnd in ih'y fight, when once thou art angry? Ffal. jy.xxvi. 7 Can the worm, or the moih, defend itfclf againfl him tha:dc- ngns ta crufh it ?, As little can worm man tland before an angy/ Gor>, Foc!i(lj maa indeed oraHicjUy bid^ a dcBarr*
r
lo heaven : but thcLoR d ofipn,evcnin ih'n world, opem fjKh iluicci of wrath oo them, as ill their might cannot flop ; they arc carried away ihefcby, as with a flood. How much more "Will it be r./ in hell ? (2,} It is uulupportablf. What one cannot refiif, be will (ct himleif to bear : but, Who fiali dwell with dnourini^f.rc / iVhoJhall dwell with. fverlaJUiig burn- ing / Goi)''» wrata ii a wei^^ht that will hnk lucu imo the loweH bf 11. It IS a burden no vmn is able to llaud under. A tucunded/pint rjkoccn bear it ? frqv. xviii, 14. (3.) It i» unavoiddhte to lucliss gooiiimpeaitcotlyintricirfinful coutfc. Ne that beinir eftoi repra^utd^ haritneth his neck,JhaUfuddenl} be drjireycd^ and that uritfiout remedy^ Prov. xxix. 1. V/c may now fly from it ii^decd, by fl/mg to JESUs Cu R i s r : but fnch as fly fioni Ch H 1st, Ihall nerer be able to ;»void it. Whither can men fly from an aven:5Tng Cod ?, Where \yilltbcy find a fheltcr ? The hills will not bear tlic^ ; the moun^riiat will be deaf to their loudcU crjcs ; when tbcy cry- to ihcm, to hide ibem froni t?se wrath of the Lsmb. ^4.} It is powerful and fierce .wrath, Pfalm xc- 11. Whi) knoweth tht power of thin*, anger If t.vfn according to thy fear yfo is thy VDrath. We are apt to fear the wrath of man more than wc ought ; but no man can apprehend thev/rath of Goo to be jBoic dreadful than it really is : the power of it can never be known to the wtmofl : feeing it is mfinite, and propcily fpeak- icg has m utmod : bow ficice focver it be, cither on earth, cs in hell, God can fliJl carry it further. Every thing in G©d >3 moft jietfecl, la its kind ; and therefore no wrath isfo fierce iiS his. C) {inner, how wilt thou be able to endure that wrai'a which will tear thee in pieces, Pfalrl. 22. and grind thee 10 powder, Lukexx. 18. I he hiflory of the two fbe-bcars that Urc the children of Bethel, is an awful one, c Kings ii. 23, E4. But the united force of the rage of lions, leopards, and ilic-bears bereaved of their whelps, is npt luliicicni to give Ajs even a Icanty v'cw of the power of the wrath of GoD, Hof. xiii. 7, 8. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion ; as a leopard by the way will I obfcn>e them. I will meet them as a Sear that is tireaved cf her whelps, and will rent the caul of l/ietr heart, &.C. (^.) It i» penetrating and piercing wrath. It is burning wrath, and fiery indignation, There is no pain more excj'uliie, than toat which is cauicd by fiie ; and po fire fo picrcina; as the lire of Go tt's indignation, that burns into the loweft bell. Dent, .xxxii. sa~ The arrows'of men's wrath can pierce ileth, blood and boms, but cjnnot reach the fotil ; but tt>e wrath of God will fink into the luul, and fo pirice a inan in ihc moft tender patt. Like as when « pttfoo is ^|;inndcr-llruck, oft-iimts there is not a wound to be Icen - ihcikin; vet life isgoQc aud the boc«j are, a^ it were, nu •
IS a Si'dtt cf Wrath, 115
rd ; fo God's wrath can penetrate into, and melt one's foul ■wirhin him, when his e^rt^'v comforis ftand about hiTi er.tiie and untouched as in Bsifhazz^r's cafe, Dan. v. 6. (6-j Ii is conftant wrath, ruming parallel v.iih ihe man's coiitinu tnce in an unre^enenjte flaie ; copftarily attendir^ hi ih, from the vomh to the grave. There are fev.- fo d^rkdavs, but the fntx fofTietimcs looketh <\MX from nnder the cloiids : b>:t the wrath of Gon is an abiding cloud on the fuhjeQs of it, John iii. 36. The wrath of GoD ahidcth on hi.u that believes not. (7.) It is etern^i. O inferable foul 1 If thou fi/ not from this wrath unto J ejus Christ, thy miferv had a beginninc:, hut it (h?ll never have an end. Should dtvounng death w?iol- iy fvaHov* thee Up, and far ever hold thee fdft in a );rave, it would be kind ; but thou mxxW live a^air, ia^ never die jthat Ihou may^ft be ever d>ia?, jn the h fids of the living Oor>» Cold death will quppch'tbe flame r<f mari's wrath agiinli us, if nothing elfe do it ; but Gon'a -vrath, when it has <o3r. 2 on t^e Cnncr, millions of agt$ will flill be the writh to rome, Mat. iii. 7. 1 ThrfT. i. 10. As the water of a i?ver is /lill coming, how much foe\Trof it has p^jlfed. WhtleGou is, he will purfuc the quarrel. Ldfly, Howfocver dreadful it is, and tho' a he eternal, yet it is mofl juft wrath ; it is a clear fire, without the lead fmoke of jnjuftice. The foa f. wr.Tth raging with greateft fury againft thefinner is clear as c'livftal. The Jiidje of all the earth can do no wrong. Ht- knows no tranfports of paffion, for tbev arc inconfiftcnt with the perfec- tion of his nature. Is Gcd unrrr/it^oui, who taketh zun^eance ? I fpeak as a man ^Qod forbid; fur ikcn^ howJiaU Godjud^e the m.'orld ? Rom. iii. 5, i5.
The Dotirinc cj the State of W > un, l^j'jl' ima and vindicated.
II. I fhall confirm, the dnflrine. Cor.iider (1.) Ha-v pp. fetTjptorv the threatninp of the Srft covenant is. ; In the day thou eairft: thereof, thou Jhattftirtly dit^ Gen. ii. i^. Hereby fin andpunifhrnenrbrin^ connected, the veracitV o* GoO i<fr» x- fains the execution of the thrcatning : ^^cw all ni^R bc'ng bv rar'jrpundcr this cove.^?nT, th: breach ^f it lav« tb'^n: li-det thecurfc. (?,.) Thejuftice of Go d requires that a child of Jin be a child of v.'rath j that the Iff'v being b-'oken, 'h' ^^^.t•= lionihcreof fcould t ikc place. God. '^ o^^^n's Ruler and' Judjje. cannot but do rieht. Gen", xviii. 05. ' Now it is a figH- teous thing with Go n to recrkinpenfre fin ivith vrat'- , ^ Thflf. i 6, He is of purer eves, than 'o bc'^'cldf evit, H-»h. i, 13. And h»iiotesiiUihi workers of ihifi/f'fv.^^th- y. 6. -'f^ )•Thc• ^orror« of a Natural coaicicute piovc this. There is a cor
\
ti6 The DoBrmc of tJu State ofWratfi
fcicnce in t>ic brcafts of men, which fell them they arc fln- ocrs, and therefore liable to the wrath of God. Let men, at any time foberly com:nunc with themfclves, and they will find they have the witncfsin themfclves, AncaififtAc judg- ment f>J God that they ta'iich commit Jach t/nngs are worthy of deaths Rom.i. 32. (4) The pangs of the new birth, the work of the Ipirit of bondage on eletl fouls in order to their convcrfion, dcmonftrate this. Hereby their natural (infui* ncfs and mifcry, as liable to ihr wrath of Go i>, arc plainly taught them ; Filling their hearts with fear of that wrath. Now that thii fpirit of bondage is no other thao the Spirit of God, whofe work is ro convince ol fin, rjghtcoufncfs and jud;;Tient, John :c%'i. ?,. this teftiinony muft needs be trne j for the Spirit of truth cannot wiinefs an untruth. Meanwhile, tnie believer? being freed from the ftate of wrath, receive not the fpirit cf bondage again to far ^ but receive the Spiidt of a. doption^ Rom. iii. 1,5. And therefore if fears of t"hat nature do arife, affcr the ibul's union with Chrtst, they came from the faint's own fpirit, or from a worfe. La^ly, The fufferings of C.'i R I s~ plainly prove this doftrine. Where- fore w^s the Son of God, a Son under wrath, but becaufc the children of men were children of wrath ? He ruSTcredthc wraih of God, not for himfelf, bat for thofc that were lia- ble to if 1 1 their own perfons. Nay, this not only fpcaks lis to have been liable to wrath, bar alfo that wrath mu(l have a vent in the panifhing of fin. If th^s was done in the green tree, what will become of the dry? What a mifcrable cafe TTufta finncr be in, that is out of Christ, that is not vital- ly united to Cii R ist, and partakes not of his Spirit ? Goo who fpared not his own Son, furely will not fpars fufeb aii' one.
But the unregensrate man, who has ro great value for the honour of God, will be apt to rife up againft his Judge, and in his own heart condemn his procedure. Ncvcitbelefs the Judge being infinitely juft, the fcntcnce muft l>c rhghteous. And thereiorc, to ileip thy mouth, O proud finner, and to (lill thy tla:nour agamftrhe righteous Judge ; cor.ftder, FirJ}^ Thou art a finner by nature, and it is" highly reafonablc that guilt and wrath he as old as Gn. M'hy fhould not God be- gin to vir.dicate his honour, as foon as vile wcrnn begin to impair it ? Why fhould not a ferpent bite the thief, as foon as he leaps over the hedge ? Why fhowld not the thre^^tnin/j
take hold of the fi.'iiter, as foon as he rafh awav r^--
niand ? The poifonous nature of the ferpent ahr fufficicnt ground to kill it, as foon as ever be ca;i and, by this time thou mayeU be convinced, that 1 n a very compound of enmity againft God. Siccr.
covjirmed and vindicated, 117
Saft not only an enmity againft God, in thy nature ; but hait ^jifcovered it, by attual fins, whsch are in bis eye afls of hof- tility. Thou haft brought forth ihy luft into the field of bat- tle againft thy Sovereign Lord. And now, that thou art i'uch a criminal, ihy condemnation is juft : for, befidcs the fm of thy nature, thou haft done that agaiuft heaven, which ii ihou hadft done againft men, thy life behoved to have .gonr ibr it : and ihall not wrath from he-aven overtake thjee ? (i. ; Tbou art ^uiliy of high treafon, and rebellion agairft the king ofheaveft. The thought and wiftiof thy heart, which he knowfc as ■well as ihe language of ihv mcuth, has been, no God, i'fal. ^iv. I. Thou haft rejeftcd his government, blown iiic- trum- pet, and fct up the ilandard of rebeliion Egain2. hin» ; being one of thefe that fay, IVe ijiu not hux'c this man to leign oicr zii, Luke xix 14. Thou haft ftriven a^ainft, avid qucncked his Spirit J pratlically difovvned his laws proclaimed by his mcifcngers ; ftopped thine ears at their voice, and lent them a- "way mourniiig for thy pride. Thou haft conipired with his ^rand enemy the devil. Altho* thou art a fworn fcrvant of the King of glory, daily receiving of his favours, and living on his bounty; thou art holding a ccrrefpoudeace, and haft con- tracted a f riendftiip with lis ^rcaieft enemy, and art afliug for him agaiuft thy Lo R D ; for. The Ivjis of the devil ye tviLl do^ John viii. 44. (2.^ Thou art a murderer before the Lord. Thou haft laid the itumbling-block oT thine inir ;ity before the blind wofld ; and haft ruined the fouls of others by thy finful fourfe. And tho' thou doft not fee now : the time may come, when thou flail fee the blood cf thy rciations, jneighboufs, acquaintai>cesand others upon thy. head, Matth. xviii. 2. PVo unto the zuorld becauft c/x^^nces.—lVo to that tiian by whom offence come tk.- Yea, thoiuart a'fclf^nurderer be- fore Gcd. Prov. viii. 36. He tkatf.nneth cgaiitfi mc wrong- eth his cwnfovl : all they that hate n;-e, love d<.ath, Eztk, xviu, gi. IVhy will ye die ^ The laws cf men go as far as thcv can againft the lelf-murderer, denying his body a burial-place smongfl others, and confifcating his goods : what wonder is it the law of God is fo ftvere agair.ft foul-murderers ? Is ic llrange, that "they who will uxLcds depart fromGou now, coft v'hat it wiU, be foi-ced to depart from him at laft, into ever- lafting n-re ? 2ut what is yet more criminal, tbou art guihv oit^e murder of the Son of God, for the Lord will reckon theeamongft thofe that pierced him, Rev. i. 7. Thou hait reje£kd hjm as well as the Jewi did ; and by thy reje6ltflg him, rhou haft juftified their deed. They indeed did not ac- khowledge^him tobe the Sonof GoD,bilt tbou doit. W^bat they did againft him, was in a ftate of humiliation ; but thoi; haft a6kd againuhim, in hts ftate cf exaltation. Thtk th:\v,v
I
118 The DoBrine 0;
will aepravatc tbv conrlemnation. What wonder then, if the vviicc of the Lamb chan;^^ to the roarinj of ihc liou a- gairft rhc traitor and m Jrderer. ♦
G- yd. Bui iomc will fay, is thrre not a vad dlfproportioil betwixt our fin and that wrath you tatk of ? [ aofwcr. No ; God pnnifhcs no irorc than the fiiiiier dfTcrvcs. To fcftify your miih-kc, in this matter, confider (i.) The vaft rtwaiHs G »D hasanncxcdroobcdier.ee. His word is no more full of fiery wrjth ^ainll lin, than it is of gracious rewards to the phcdicnce it requires. If heaven be in the promiffs, it :s al- toicthci equal i!»at hell be in the tnredtn:ngs. If death were iw>t m iSc oaiance with life, eternal mifery with eternal hap- pinefs, x¥here were the p opinion? M«jreovcr fin defervcj the mife.y, but oar b.ft works do not defecve the happmers ; yet b )th are let before us ; fin and mifcrv, holinefs and hap- pintiv What rcafon is. there tbcn 10 complain ? (2.) How evcre foever t'lc thjeatnin^;s be, yet all has enough ado to jeach the end of the Isw. Fiar him, lavs our Lord, which ajif U hath kiHeJ, kath powtr to oijl inio kcil^yea, I Jay a«- toyvu,/ear htm^ Luke xii. 5 I'his btfpiraks our dread of di- vine power and majcfty ; Hut how few fear hi:n indeed ! The JLoR D kno'vs the finncrs hearts *o be exceedingly intent up- on fulfilhn^ their iufls ; they dcave fo fondly to thofe ful- fomc brtafts, tliat a {a\A[ force docs not fufRce to draw them from taein. Tt;ev that travel throjjh dcfarts, where they are in hazard from wild beafts, have need to carry fiic along with them ; and they have need of a hard wedge that have knotty timber to cleave ; fo a holy law muft be fenced with a dreadfdl wrath, in a world lying in wickcdnefs. But who are they that complain of that wrath. as too great, but thofe to whom it is tov> little to draw them off from their finful courf- «s ? It was the man who p^eierided to fear his lord, hccaufc he was an aitflere ntan, thai kept hi^ pound laid up in a nap- kin ; and To he was concemued out of his own mouth, Luke, xix. 20, ei,£Q. Thou art that man, even thou whore objec- tion 1 am aniw^ring. Wom can the wrath thou ait undcr,and )iablc to,he too great, while yet it is not fufficieni to awaken th«c to fly IVom it ? Is it time to relax the penalties of the )aw, when men are trampling the commands of it un- der foot ? (3.) Confider how Go o dealt with his own Soft, vhom he fpared not, Rom. viii. 32. The wrath of Gt^D feized on his foul and body both, md brought him into^he duft of death. That his Oifferings were not eterna], flowed from the quality of the fuffcrer, who was infinite ; aod there- tore able to bear at once, the whole load of wrath ; and up- <»n that account, his fulfcrin^ were infinite io value. But 1 value, they mud be protracted to an eternity. And whar
rcpjii-jver! end vinmcated. 119
conficence can a rebel-FiiHieH hare toqjarrcl, f»)T bis p:irt, a punilbmenJ executed on the Kinp's Son ? (a.) The f;nn> r do'h a^air.ft God what he can. R'hjld thou hafi donr evil t'lincrsax tkoy rcniUJi, \eT.\\\. t^. That thou haft not done more and iKDrfe, liranks to him wVo reftrained tbeej to the c:»3in which th«* volf vsr?s kept i^ hv, not to t^vfe't, i"' ^ wonder God fliew h»s p^wer on the* finner, who puts forth his power acpinH Goo, rs Ur a«: it wiil reach. The unre- ge«cr2te maa pii^i Jio period to his f!-)} il courfe; a'>d vonhi piu no honn.U jo it neither, jf !«e \v?r.- not refrramed by di- vine power ior wife ends ; ir)d therefore it is j.i»l he he for ever under v;rnth. (5.) It is inhnite raajefty Cn ftnkes ?.- gai'jfl : ?nd fj it is. In Tome fort, an infinite evil. Sm r'fe'h I* ir<t fiemerir, accordi-i? to *he quaiifv of thepjrfv offerV.ed. If a man wound his neigJs'w?iir, his ^oods muft^o for it ; bur if he wound b«s prince, hi« iifc mnrt go 10 make amends f>r that. 'J he infinity of GtJD make? infinite wrath thejuft de- merit of fivi. God is inhnitcW difplea'ed wuh lio; ai>'i when he ;.(»«, he mull zPl Iikc himfcl', and fliew his difplc?- fiirs bv proof)'t'onahle niear:^. Ljji'.y, Thofe that fhall lie f.ir ever ntider hM uraih, will be eternailv linnmii ; ?.nd there- fore intiR eternailv ^n^t\ ; nor only in rcfpe^t ot divine jud;- cial procedure ; but became fin rs its ov/n piinifhm?nt, io the fame manner that holy obedience is its own reward.
The r.cTmne of tJie Ilif.v; cf Jians Naiu-^ ral State afypVeS.
U-^r (■[ ) Of Informatlo- ' ' flate-b/ raVjre a fate ef wrath ? fhert,
I. Stfelv we are rot bor.i ; r t ; erf. Thffe chains rf wrafb, which b / n-iinre arc upon ns, fpeak ns to be born cri- minals. The I'v.'addlins* hands wVcre-vith infants are bound hand and foot rs foon as thfv zrf ho'-n, rpay put ns in micd of the cords of wrath, wit.h which they arc held pnioncrs, as children of wrath. ;
9. What defperate ma'Tnef-i is it far finners to £o on ia f-heir finful conrfe : what is it hut to heap coals f>f hre on thine own be.<d. «nd lav more and more f.tel to th; hre (^' wrath, ro treafure dd unto thv«elf wrath a?ainft <he day of wrath, Roin. li. 5. Thou uiayrO perifh, when his wrath is kindbd but a little, Pfalm i». ip. Whv wilt thmi incre^f? it yet more ? Thou art alreadv I'ound with luch cords of diath, as will not fafiiv be loofrd : *» hat reed is there of more?' Stand, curelefs Hnner, nnri confidcr fhi*..
■3. 1 hew '^-lO rn rHgion to copipl-Jin, ?■; ?or!? ?' t!iciT n'-f c d tk a iivir-^ tijuv rompic.>n f" 'lam'
120 Thi Doclrinr of the Mifcry of
ii. 39. If one who hat forfeited his iTfe, be banlfhcd his na- tivt country, and cxpoftd fo many hardfhiji* j he may well bear ill patiently, feeing hit lite « (pared. D» yc murmur^ for that vc arc under pain or fi< kncfs ? Nay. blcfs Gud yo aie rot there, where the worm never dieth. DoQ thou grndgt that thou an not in fo pood a condiiioa in ihc world, as fomd oi thy ncjghbour; are f Be thankful rather, that yc arc nut »n the cafe of the damned. Is thy fuh'lancc gone from thee ? Wonder that the F.re of G o d's wrath haih not conUrned thv- felf. Kjfs the rofi, O finncr, and acknowledge fncicy ; for Gon puiiiihcth us kfs than our imouidet dcfcivc. lUia. jx. 13. • . • -
4. Here ia « memorandum, both for poor and rich (1} The pooreft that ^o from door tr, door. and hath not one pen- ny Idt them bv their parenti. were born to an inheritance. Their firft father Adam left ihem children of wrath ; and con- tinuing in then iiiwural Oate chev cannot mifs of it-; For tftis is till per tion oj a wicked man from God, and tht ktritagi ap- pointed to him by God, Job.- xx; 29. An heritage, thai will furiiih them, with an habitation, who have not where to lay thci'^ heads; they foall becaftir.to utter daiknefs. Mat. xxv. 30. for toihcm is rtfrrvcdthc blaLknefs of daiknefi for ever, Jude 13. where thtir bed [hall be forrow : Thty Jhall lie drum in/orrow, Ifa. I. ji. their food fhall be judgment, for God will feed them with judgment, Eick. xxxiv. 16. and their drink (hall be the red wine of Goij's wrath, the drcg< >vhereof all the wicked of the earth ftiall wring out, and drink them, P(al. Ixxv. 8. I know, that ihcfe who arc def- titutc of worldly goods, and withi4 void of the knowledge and gtikceof Cod, who thcrci'^orc may he called the Hevil'g poor, will be apt to fa/ here, We hope God will make us iuffer all our mifcry in ibis world, and we Ciall be hsppy in the next ; as if their mifcrabic outw^ird condition in time, would If cure their happinefs in cterRity. A grofsand fatal mirtake ! And <his is aoother inheritance they have, viz. lics^ vanity, and things wherein then is no yrcfit,]fT. xvi. 19. But, the hail jhaltfweep away the refuge of lies, Ifa. xxviii. 17. Doft thou think, O fjnntr, that God who commands i on earth, not to rcfpcd the pcrfon of the poor in^adgii.. Lev. xix 15. will pervert judgtnent for thee? Nay, know for certain, however miferablc thou art here, thou (halt be e- lernally mifcrable horeaficr, if thou livcft and dicft in thy natural flaic. (2.) Many that have enough in the woiH, have far more than they know of. Thou hadll, it may be, O unrc- generate ntan, an eftate, a good portion, or large flock left thee by thv father ; thqu hail improven it, and the fun of profpciity {bines upon thee j fo that ibtiu caoft fay with £
Mans Natural State, applied, i i? i
fau, Gen. xxxili. 9. / have enough. liui know, thou haQ wore than all that, an inheritance thou dofl. n«)t coiifider of; thou arr a child of wrath, an heir of hell. That is an heri- tage which will ubide with thee, amidll all the changes in the world ; as long as thou continueft in an unregenerate ftatc When thou fhalt leave thy fubftance to others, ihic (hall go along wiih thyfelf, into another world. it ii no wonder a Ibijohter-ox be fed to the full, and i& not toiled as otheri are, Job xxi. 30. The zoickcd is rejerved to the day of ccfiruc- tion ; they Jhall bt brought forth to the day oj wrath. Well thtn. Rejoice, let thine heart chear thcc, walk in the ways of thine heart, snd in the fight of thine e\ es ; live above re> proofs and warnings frot5» the ^A•OIk of Gc;d ; flicw thyfrlf-a man of a fine (pi: it, by cafiing otfall fear of Gt)D ; mock at fenoufr cTs ; live like thvf^lf, a ckild of wrath,an heirof hell ; But know thou, that for all thefe thing God will bring Ike: intf judgjnent.EccUl'.w. 9. AHurc thyfelf.thv hreakinglhall come fuddcnly, at an inllant, Ifa xxx, 13. /or as thf crackling of thorns under apot,fo is the laughter of a fool, Ecclcf. vii. 6, The fair blaze, and great noile ihey make, is quickly gone ; fo (hall tHy mirth be. And then that wrath that is now fi- L-ntlv finking into thy foul, fhall make a fearful hifling.
5. Wo to him, that, like Moab, hath been at calc from his yoiith, Jcr, xlviii. n, and never faw the black cloud of wrath hanging over his head. There are many who have no changes, tht-rcfore \hey fear not God, Pfal. Iv. 19. They have lived m a good belief, as they call it, all their days ; that is, they never had power to believe an ill report of their fouls ftate. Many have como by their religion too eafily,.; and as it came iighily to them, fo it will ^o from them, when hsir trial comes. Do ye think men flee from wrath , is a morn- ing-dieam ? Or will they flee tjomihe wrath, they never faw purfuinj them.
6". Think it not flrange if ye fee one in great diftrefs about his foul's condition, who was wont to be as jovial, and a$ lit- tle concerned about falvation, as any of his jieighbours. Can one get a tight view of himfelf, as in a llaie of wrath, and noc be pierced with forrows, terrors, anxiety ? W'hen a weight, quite above one's flrengih, lies upon him, and he is alone, he can neither ftir hand nor foot ; but uhen one comes to lift it off him, he'll ftruggle to get from under it. Thunder-claps of wrath from the word of God conveyed to the foul by the Spirit of the Lord, will furcly keep a man awake.
Lajlly, It is no wonder wrath come upon churches and na- tions, and upon us in this land, and that infants and childreri vet unborn fmart under it. Moft of the fociety arc yet chil- -. :d of wrath; few af: fleein from it, or taking the way to
' 2 2 Alarm to the Tlnre^cnrrair.
prevent ir ; hiir proplcof all ranks arc helping it on. The jewi rejcftoH Chris T'; and their children have been fxart- ing tiadcr wrath thcfc fixtccn hundred years. God gtanr, that ihe bad entertainment given ro ChR I s T and his gofprl, byths generation, be not purfued wirh" vrath on the fuccccd- ing one.
UiK ''2.) Of exhortation. And here, 1. I fnall drop a word to thcfc who arc yet in an unref,eneia»e flatc. 2. To t^iofe ih.Tt »re bronght out of it. 3. To ail innifrcrcnfly.
I. To you rhat arc vet in an unregrncrMc ifarc, 1 would found »he al^im, and warn you to fre to yourlcivcs, while yet fh^re is hope. O vc children of wrath, take no icll m thi» dirmal flatrt ; but flee to jESUsC-HKisf ihe only re- fufio. Hifte and make your efcape rhiihr r. The lUte of urath is ro© ho< a climate for you to live in, M'C3^ \\. 10. Anjeye^and apart, fnr this is not your rejl. O /inner know- eft ihou where thou art ? Doft thou not fee thy danger ? The curfe has entered into thy foul ; wrath is rhy covering ; the heavens are growing blacker and blacker above thy head \ the earth is wear/ of thee ; • he pit is openioj^ her mouih Smt thee ; nnd (hoiild the thread of thy life be cut this moment, thou an hcrKeforib paft all hopes for ever. Sirs, if we law you puf- fing a cupof poifon to your mourh, We would ffy to you and fnaich it cut of your hands ; If we faw the honleon fire about vou, while ye were fafl aileep in ir, we would run to yon, and drag you cut of it. But alas ! yc r.rc in ten thoufand times greater hazard ; yet we can do no more ftut tell'yru vour danger ; invite, exhort, bcfeech, l»nd obtcfiyou, to look ic yonrlclves ; .^nd lament your Oupiony nnd obliinacy, when tvc cannot prevail with yr u to rak^ warning. If there wvre Jio hope of your recovery, we Ihonld be filent, and wouid not torment you before the time ; but tho ye be loll and un- done, rheie is hf>j'«- in Ifracl concernmg this thing. Wherc- /oie, I cry unto yon m rhr name of th# Loh n, and ?n the vroidsofthe prophet, Zccb. ir. 12. Turn ye to tht Jfrcna, hold, ye prifcvers oj hope. Flee lo Jesus C» ris t out of this your natural {{ate.
Motive 1. While ye afein this flatc. vc mufl fland or fjll according to the law or covenant of works. If ye undcrliood this aright, it weuld flrikc through your hearts, as a thouland darts. One had belter be a Have to the Turks, condemned to the galievs, or under Egyptian bond»ftr, than be under the rovmant of works now. All mankind were brought under it in Adam, as we heard delore ! and thou in thy unrcgtn- cratc flate art ftill w^cre Adani left thee. It is trne, ihcrt- u another covenant brought in ; but what i« that 10 thee, who art not brought iuto it ? Thou muP» need be under one vk
Alarm to the Unrc rem rote. i 2^
the tv70 covenants ; cirhcr unrier the law. or ur.trr grace. 1 int thou art r.ot under |^race,the dtr.nlnion cf fin over thee, inanifeftl.- evince th ; theretuie thou an under the Uw, Rom. vi. 14. Do noT thirtk God has laid aCde the firil covenanr, Matts.v. i;^, 18. Gill. in. 10. No, he will magait) the law, and make it honouTdblc. It is broken indeed on thv part ; hut It IS e<h!urd tathiik, that therefore voiir obligation is dif- folved. N.V/, th<iJ nr^:\ fl«nd and fall bv is, nil i1icu Canft produce thy Jifcluirue from Gon hutifeH.who is thy paity lu that covenant ; and this thou canll not pretend :o,<ceing thou art not in Ch Ri JT.
Now, to give voa a viewcf your miferr, in this refpe^, coiih-ier thefe following things, «<*{!.) i^eicby ye are bound ovt r to death, in virtue of the threaicning of dcaih in that covenant, Gen. ii. 17, The cooduion being bfoiien, ye fall under the penalry : So it conclude* you under wrnth. (2.) There is no falvarion lor you under th-.s covtnant, hut on A condition impofTible to he performed by you. The juU tice of God mull be litisSed for the wrong you have done already. God hath written this truth in chara£lers of the blood of hi* Son. Yea, a.id you muft perfcfllv obey the lav for the time to come. So fiith the law. Gal. iii. 12. The mar that djth theiv^/hall livt in them. Come then, O fintier, fee if thou ranft nridke a ladder, whereby thou may 11 reach the throne of God ; (iretch forth thine arms, and try, if ihou canft fly ou the wings of the wind, c^tch tio!d of the clouds and pierce thro' the vifible heavens ; ?nd then either clinib over, or bzeak thro' the jafper walls of the city above. Thefe things ihah thou do, as foon a» thou fhali reach heaven in thy natural (late, or und« r this covenant. {^.) There ii no paraon utider this covenant, pjfdon is the btncnt of ano- ther covenant, with which thou haft nothing to do, Afts xin. And hy him ad ihal believe ar^. juftifed from alt tln>ii^s from xohickye could not be jujlifird by the Ijw of Mjfcs. As k^r thee, thou art in the baud of a mercilef« creditor, which will take ihee by the tljroat, fayinjj, Pay what thou owefi j antTcaft thcc into prifon, there to remain, trli thou liaft paid the nrnioft farthm^ ; unlefs ihou beeft fo wife a& to get a cautioner ia t.me, who )S able to anfwer for all thy debt, and get up they difcharge ; this Jesus Christ alone can 60. Thou abid- ed under this covenant, and pleaded mercy ; but what is thy plea founded on ? There is not one pcomile of mercy or pardon in that covenant. Doft thou plead mercy, for mercy Jake ? Jufiice will flep in betwixt it and thee ; and plead Gui)'f covenant-threarning, which he cannot deny. (4.) There's no place for repentance in this covenant, fo as the ' ip.er can be helped by it. For as foon as thou finuell, the
124 Alarm to the Unregenerate.
Jaw lays its curfc on thee, which is a dead weight thou canft \y no means tiirow off; no, not tho' rhinc head were waters, and thine eyes a fountain of tears, to weep day and night for thy Cn. That is what the law cannot do, in that it is weak throurh the QeOi, Rom. viii. 5. Kow ihon art another pro- fane Efau, that huh fold the bicfiing ; and there is no place for repentance, though thou fcckeft it carefully with tears mhile under that covenant. (3.) There is liO accepting of the v.'ill for the deed under this covenant, 'which was not made for good will, but good works. The miflake in this point ruin's many. They are not in Ch r ist, but itand un- der the fifft covenant ; &. yet thty will pleid ihis privilege. This isjutlas if one baring made a fcafl for thofe of his owa family, when they lit down at table, another man's fervant ihat has r\X(i away froro his mafter, (hould prefumptuoully come forwaid and fit down among them ; would not the wai- ter of the feaft giv^ fuch a flranger that check, Friend how camfji thou in thiihcr f And fince he is none of his family, command him to be gone quickly. Though a mader accept the good vvill of his own child for the deed, can a hired ler- vant expecl that privilcgt ? (6.) Ye have nothing to do with Ch R 1ST, while under thJG covenant. By the law of God, a worrvan cannot be married to two hufbands at once; either at death or divorce muft dilTolve the firft marriage.ere ■we can be married to Christ, Rom. vii. 4. The law is the firft hufband ; Jk sus Christ, who raifcih the dead, Biar- rics the widow, that was heart broken, and flain by the firft hufband. But whil^ the foul is in the hcufe with the firft hufband, it cannot plead a marri^c-relation to Christ; nor the benefits of a marriage-covenant, which is not yet en- tered into : Gal.v. 4. Chriji iibLComeofno fffcEl to yau.who' Joever oj" you arejvjtijitd by the law ye are J alien from grace ^ Peace, pardon, and luch like benefits are all benefits of the covenant of grace. And ye muft not think to fland off from Ch rist, and the marriage-covenant with him, znd yet plead thefe benefits : mote ll an one man's wife can plead the ben- efit of a contraft of marriage paft betwixt another man and his own wife, Lajllyf Seethe bill of cxclufion, paft in the court of heaven, a^atnft all under the covenant of works, Gal. jv. 30. The fan oj the bcrA-woman Jhall not be heir. Compare vcr. 24. Heirs of wrath miift not be heirs of glory. Whom the fiift covenant hath power to exclude out of heaven, the fc- cond covenant cannot bring into iti
Objczlicn. Then it i* impoflible for us to be favcd. An-
/uitr. It is fo, while you are in that ftate. But if you would
be out of that dreadful condition, hadcn out of that
ilatc. If a murderer be uadi^ featencc of death, fo long
Alarm to the Unregemrate. 125'
as he lives within the kingdom, the lawi will reach his life ; but if he" can make his cfcape, and get over the fea, into the donjinion? of another prince ; our laws cannQt reach him there. This is what we would have you to do, flee out of the kingdom of darknefs, into the kingdom of God's dear Son ; out of the dominion of the law, into the dominion of grace ; then all the curfes of the law, or cove- nant of works, (hall never be able to reach you.
Motive 2. O ye children of wraih, your (late is wretched, for ye haveloftGoD ; and thatis an unfpcakablclofs. Yearewiib- outGoD in the world, Eph.ii 12. Wbatcvcryou may call yours, you cannot clU Go» yours. If fe look to the earth, perhaps yoa can tell us, that land, that houfe.orthat herd of cattle, is yours. But let us look upward to heaven, is that God, that grace, that glory ours ? Tiulv, you have neither part nor lot in that matter. When Nebuchadnezzar talks of cites and king- doms, O how big docs he fpcak ! Great Babylon that J havi built — my p ewer — rny majejiy ! but he tells a poor talc when he comes to fpcak of God, faying, Your God, Dan. ii. 47, and iv. 30. Alas ! finner, whatever thou haft, God is gowe from thee. O the mifery of agodlefs foul ! Haft 'hou loft God ? Then, (1.) The fap and fubftance of all that thou hafl in the world, is gone. The godlefs man, have what he will, is one that haih not, Mat. xxv. op. I defy the unre- geaeratc wan to attain fO foul-fatisfaftion, whatever be pof- ftffeth, fince God is not his God. All his days he eateth in darknefs ; in every condition, there is a fecret diTatisfac- tion haunts his heart like a ghoft ; the foul wants fomething, tho' perhaps it knoweth not what it is; and fo it will be al- ways, till the foul return to God, the fountain of fatisfac- tion. (2.) Thou canft do nothing to the purpofe for thyfelf. for God is gone ; his foul is deparred frarn thee, ]tT. vi. 8. like a leg out of joint, hanging by, whereof a man hath no ufe, as the word there ufed doth bear. Lofing God, ihou haft loft the fountain of good ; and fo all grace, all goodnefs all the faving influences of his Spirit. \Vhat canft thou do then ? What fruit canft thou bring forth, more than a branch tut off from the ftock ? John xv. 5. Thou art become ud- profitable, Rom. iii. 12. as a filrby rotten thing, fit only for the dunghill. (3.) Death has cottc up info thv windows, yea, and has fettled on thy face ; for God, tn 'Aaofe favour is life, Pfal. xxx. 5. is gqne from thee, and fo the foal of th^ foul is departed. What a lothforoe lump is the body, when the foul is gone ? Far more loth^bme is thy foul in this cafe. Thou art dead whil^thou liveft. Da not ^^r\f it, feeing t1iy fpecch is laid, thine eyes dofed, and all (piritu^ al motion in -bee ccafcib- Thy true friends, who Ue thy
1 2 G A la rni to th e Un reg cnerate.
cafe, do lament, becaufe thoa art gone into the land of fi- Jencc. (4.) Thou haft not a ftcariy friend amou;/ all the creatures of (tod ; for now that thnu haft loft the M.ilf r's favour, all rhe faiiiiy is frt arainft thee. Confcteiicc is ihinc cncinv ; the word nc\er ipeaks good ofthcc : Gou*^ peo- ple lothc ther, {o far as ihey ice ^vSat ihd'J art, Pial. xv- 22, .l"^e bfafts and Uoncs of the fi-ld are hand'.-d together a- gainft.thee, Job v. 23. Hoi. ii.iS. Tbv meat, drink'clothes, ;i'BHee to be lerviceable to rhe wretch thai ha* ifinGoD,Jnd abuicth them to his ciiflionour. The car;h groa-jeth under thee ; yea the whole creation ^roaneth arid trav.i ic^h in pain tot^ether, becaufe of thee, and luch as thnu a i, Ro-n.vu.aa. Hciveii will have notiun^ to do with 'hee ; .For ttunjkill in no nife enter into it any thmjs that d-jil th, R.v. xxi. ca. 0:»- Jv he/l from btfteafh is moved Jor thce^ to meet tk'x at ihy rom- ing, If;i. xifr. 9. Lnjiiy, Thy hell is began already. Wiiat makes hell, but exciufion from the orcftucc of God ? De^ part frtm me ye curjed. Now ye arc go'ie fiflm God alrea- dy, with the curfe upon you. I'h^t llial! be vour punifti- nent at Irngth, if ye return not, which i< now your choice. As a gracious ftate is a Rate of glory in the bud ; fo a graccleff iUie is hell in the bud; which if it continue, will come to perfcdion at length.
Motive 3. Co.^fider the dreadful infianccs nf the wrath of God ; and let them fervc to awak.«*n »hce to flee out of <hi$ f>jte. Conilder (1 .) Plow it has fallen on men. Eveninthis vorld, many have been fst up as monuments of divine vcn- ^ieance ; that others might fe«ir. iVV'rath has fwcpt away jrnulfitudes, who have fallen together by the hand of an an- gry God. Coniider how the Lord fp.ired not the old World, bringing in the IId^J upon the wf)rtd ot the ujigodly : :u.d turning the cities of S?dom and Gomorrah into a^hes, condemned tbcm with an overthrow, mak n;^ the-ti an exim- ple unto thcfe that after fhould live ungodly, 2 Pet. ii. 5. 6. But it is vet more dreadful to think of thai weeome, wailmg, and gnaihing of teeth, amongft thofe, who in hell \\ii up their cve%,. buf cannot get 8 drop of water to cool their tongues. Beiieve thefc things and be warned Hy them ; led dc (Iruftion come upon thee, for a warning i-o others. (2.) ConHder how wrath fell >non the fallen ang-ls, w^-^re cafe is nbrQiuiely hopclcf*. They were the ti»ft rhatr<nrurcd to break the hedge of the divine law ; ard Goo fet them un for moru- meris of hia wrrth againU fin. Thfy onre left their own habitation, and were rever ?'hrwcd to look in a^am at the hoi* of the dr>or ; but they a^e fcfeived in cwrhfttog chiin?, ind>:r d^rkneCs unto the judgmr.ijr of the -^--cai day, Jud^: 6. ^J^[', Dchoid how an cn^// God dealt wnii his en- '^ ^o'--
Alarm to the Unrege?icrate. 127
ftanding in the room ofeleft finners,Rom.viii. 32. Cod/pared not hh own Son. Sparing-mercy might have been expected, if anv at all. If any pcrfon could have obtained it, lurely Ms own Son would have got it ; but he fpared him not. The Jarhcr's delight is made a man of forrows : be who is the wifdom of God bc(;omcs fof*; amazed, ic.idv to faint away with a fit of horror. The weight of this wrath makes hira fwe^t ^reat drops of blood. Bv the hercen<ffs of this fire, hi* heart was like wax .nelrcd in the midli of his bowels. Be- ho\A here how fcvere God js againft fin ; the lun was ftruck bliii^ with this icrribie hght ; rocks wore rent, grave* opened; death, as it were, in the excefs of aOonilhment, Iftung its prifoncrs flip away. What is a delate, aflicwcr of hrc aad "brimftonc on Sodomites, the terrible noileofa diffolving ■world, the whole fabric of heaven and eartii fjil:ng down at once, angels caft down from heaven into the boitomlefs pit ? What are all thufc, I fay, m comparifon with this ? God fufferirg ! groanin^j, dving upon a crofs ! infinite holinefs did it, to make fin look like iilcif, viz. infinitely odious. And vill men live at cafe, while cxpofc<l to this wrath.
LajH)\ Confidtr whaiaGob he is with whom ihou had to Ho, whole wrath thou art linlile unfo : He is a God of in- finite knowledge and wirdora ; fo that Bote of thy fins, how- ever Iccrct, can be hid from him. He mfailibty finds out all means whereby. wrath may be executed, towaid the latis- I'ying of jufiicc. Wz is of infinite po.ver, and lo can do what iie will againli the linner. How heavy mal t^-e ftrokrs of wrath be, which are laid on by an omnipotent hand ! infinite power can make the fioner priloner, even when he is in his greateft rage againft heaven. It can bring again t>.e feveral parcels of dull, oui of the grave ; put them together again, reunite the foul and the bcdy, fift th«m before the tribunal, hurry them away ts the pit, and hold them up with the one hand, thro' eternity, while they aic 1 \fhed with the other. He js infinitely ju ft, and therefore muft punifti : it were atiing contrary to his nature to fuller the fimcr to cfcape wrath. HtfDCC the executing of this wrath is pleafiug to him ; for tho' the Lord hath no deUght in the death of the finner as it is the deitru6tion of his own creature jyet he delights in it, as it is the execution of juUice. Vion tk/: wicked kifkaU rci^n fnares^Jire and brimjioac. and an horrible t^mpejt. Mirk the ^reafon, For the rigktecMi Lord bvith lighttoijfntfs, IT*!, x'. 6, 7. I Jvill c'avje my fury to reji upon them, and 1 uill U coru- Jbried, Esck. v. 13. i afb vjUL iaugh at your cah'Uitv, Prov. i t6. Finally, He lives for ever, to piirfuf ifti quarrel. Let us therefore conclude, It is afca.rfui thing l« fallinto the hands cfihe livinj God I
128 Duty of tlinfe u!u) are
Be avakcned then, O young finncr ; he. a wakened. O o!(? finner, vbo arr yet in the ftate thou wad born in. Your fe- curity is notJc of Gc^d's allowance ; \x. m the deep ot death ; Rife out of It ere the pit clofc its mouth on you. It is true, you may put on a breaftplatc of iron \ malte your how brafp, and your hearts as an adamant ; who can help u "^ Bat God will hrc «k that brazen bow, and make tkat adamantine hear*, at laft, to fly into a thourand ^pieces. Vc may, if ye will labour to put thefe things out ofVour heads, that ye may yt-t flcep in a found fkin, rho' in a ftate of wrath. Ye may run a- •way with the arrows flicking in your confcienccs tovour 'vor'' to work them. a-AEV ; or to ycmr beds, to flcep them out ; f to ccmpiny, to fport and laugh them away ; but convifiiori: io ilifled, v'ill have a fearful refiirreclion i and the d^' is ccminp, when the arrows of v/rath fnalllo ftick in thy foul, as thou (halt rever be able to pluck them out thro* the ages of eternity, unlcfs thou take warning in time.
But if any defire to flee from the wrath to come ; and fcr that end, to know what coiirfe. to take ; 1 offer them thefe few advice <;, and cetefl and bcfccch them as they love their own foulj, to fall in with them. (i.) Retire yourftlves in- to fome fecret place, and there nncditate on this your mifery. Believe it, and fix voUr thoughts on it. Let each pui the <}uc{lion to bimfeif, . How can I live in this (late ? How can I d:e in it ? How will I rife zgam, and (land before the tribunal of God in it i' (2) Confidei fc- rioufiy the fin of you^ nature, heart auH life. y\ kindly fight of wrath flows from a deep fcnfe of fin. They who fee thcmfelves exceeding (inCul, will find no great dif- ficulty to perceive themfelves to be heirs of wrath. .(3.) La- bour to jufiify God in this matter. To quarrel with God about It, and to rage like a wild bull in a net, will but fix yoM the nsorc in it. Humiliation of foul, bcfDre the Lo r d, is neceffuy for a^ efcape. God will not fell deliverance, but freely gives it to thofe, who fee themfelves altogethc- unAorthy of his favour. Lajlly^ Turn your eyes, O prifoi crs of hope, towards the Lo R d Jesu s Ch R.i 3T ; and cm brace him ashc cffcrcth himfclf in the pofpel. There is no fall a^ ticn in any othur, Afls iv. 12, Gou is a confumin* fire ; yc are children of wrath : if the Mediator intcrpbfc not betwixt him and you, ve are undone for ever. if yc would be fale, rome under hss fljadow : one drop of that wrath cannot fall there, for he dclivcrcth us from the wrath to come 1 Thef. i- 10. Accept of him in his covenant, wherein he ofTcrethL himfclf to thee : and fo thou (h^lns the captive woman, re- deem thy l»fc by marrying the Conqueror. His blood will ^tiichtbat Src of wrath, which burns againd thee : in the
dliveredfrom Wrath > 129
ivliite ralmant of hii rigbteoufnefs thou fhali be fafe ; for no florm of wrath can pierce it.
II. I fliall drop a f-w words to the faints. Firjl, Remember, that at that time, namely, %vhen y- were in vour natui^l flate, ye were without Ch r IST, having no hope, and without GoD in the world. Call to mind that flate ye were in fbrmerly, and review the mifery of it. There are live memorials, I may thcocc give into the whole alTcm- bly of the faints, who are nc more children of wrath ; but heirs ofGoD,?'id joint heirs wiihCn P. isT,tho' as yei in tbe^r minority, (i.) Remember, that in the day our ?>ord took you by the hand, ye were in no better condition than others. O what moved him to take you, when he pad by your neigh- bours ! he found you children of \f^ath, even as others; but he did not leave vou fo. He ca^ into the coiomon prifon, where you lay in your fetters, even as others; and from a- mongft the multitude of condemned malefaclors, he picked out you, commanded your fetters to be taken off, put a par- don in your h^nd, ^^T\A brought you into the glorious l.befty - pf the children of God, while he left others in the devil'*, fetters, (s.) Remember there was nothing in you to engag him to love you, in the day he firft appeared for your deli'_,«» trance. Ye were children of wrath, even as others, fit Jor hell, and ahoj^ether unfit for heaven j yet the King brought you into the palace ; the King's Son rr.ad- love to you a con- demned criminal, and efpoufedvou to himfelf, ori the day in which ye might have been led forth to execution, Even/b, Father, for Jo itfttmcih gccd in />^/ yr$/i;,Matth. ix. 26.^ (3.; Remember, ye were fitter to be lothed than loved in that day. Wonder, that when he faw you in your blood, he looked not at you with abhorrence, and palTed by you. Wonder that ever fuch a time could be a time of love, Ezf'k. xvi. 8. (4) Remember, ye are decked with borrowed feathers, h is hia comlinefs which" is upon you, ver. 14. It \yas he that took off your prifon-garments, and clothed you with robes of righ- tcoufnefs, garments of falvation ; garments wherewjrh ye are arrayed as the lilies, which toil not neither do they fpin. He took the chains from off your arms, the rope from about your neck ; put you in fuch a drefs as ve may be fit for th« court of heayen, even to eat at the Ki!i(j,'s table. (.3 } Re» member your faults this day, as Pharaoh's butler, who had forgotten Jcfeph. Mind how you have forgotten, and howr unkindly you have treated hinrij-who remembered you in voar low cftate. /i tkisyo'ur kir.dnefs to your friend ? In the day of vour deliverance, did ye think, ye could have thus rtquU-* ed him, your Lojld ?
I
i^o t)hity oj ihojt who are
Secondly, Pity the children of wratli, the world that lies in wickcdncfs. Can ye be nnconcerned for them, ye who "W'cre once in the fame condition ? Yc have got nMiore in- deed, but year fellows are yet in hazard of pcnfhmg ; and will not ve make them all nofitblc helu for their deliver- ance ? What thoyare, ye fometimcs were. This may dra\^ pity f^m ycuf, and engage you to cfe all rtieans for their re- covery. Scr Tit. lii. <, 2, 3.
Thirdly, Admire that matchlefs love, which brought you out of the ftate of wra?h, Christ's love w?s a6!ive love, he loved thy fovvl from the pit of corruption. It was no ea- fy work ro purch?.fe the life of the condemned finncr ; but he gave his fife lor thy life. He gave his precious blood to qucr.ch that (Tame of wrathj which ofherwile would have burnt thee up. Men get the bed view ot the ftars, from the bottona of a deep pit ; from this pit of mifcry inro which thou wafi caft by the firft- Adam, thou mayd get the befl view of the Sun of righteoufDefs, in all his dimenfions. He is the Second Adam, M'ho 'ook thee out of the horrible pit, and out fthe miry <:lav. How brord were the fliirts of that love,
Jch covered fuch a multitude of fins ! behold the length of 1^,-seaching from evcrhfling to everlafting, Plal.cii. 17. The depth of it, going Ko low as to deliver thee from the lowefi hell, rr.<l. Ixxxi. 13. The height of it, in railing thee up to fit in heavenlv places, Fph. ii 6.
Fourtkly, Be humble, carry low fails, walk foftly all yoOT yea'^s. Be not proud of yonr gifts, graces, privileges or at- tainments } but remember ye were chjldren of v/rath, even, as others. The peacock walks flowlv, hangs do.vn his fiarry feathers, w^hilc he looks to his black feet. Look ye to the hole of the pit, whence ye are digged, walk humbly as it be- comes free grace'? debtor s.
Lajlly^ Be v/holly for vour LoR d. Every wife is obliged to be dutiful to ber huHjand ; but double ties lie upon her ■who was taken from a prifon or a dunghill. H your Lo r d has deltvcred yen from wrath, ye ought, upon that very ac- count, to he wholly his : to aft far him, to fulfer for him,ard to do whatever he calls you to. The faints have no reafon to Complain of their lot in the world, v/hatever it be. Well Tnay they bear the crofs for him, by whom the cuife was-i ora jway Trom them. Well may they bear the wrath of wen in h^i caufe, who has freed them from the wrath of God ; and chearfu'ly go to a fire fi^r hi/n, hv whom hell-fire is quench- ed to them. Soul and body, and all thou hadQ in the world, -were fometimcs under wrath ; he has removed that wrath. 0)all not all thcfe be at his f<*rvice ? That thy foul is n't -overwhelmed with the wrmh of God, is owifg purely 10
delivered from Wrath. J31
Jesus Chr 1ST ; and (hall it not then be a tcmpel for his Spirit ? That thy heart is not filled \Oih horxor and dcfoair, »s owing to him only ; to whom then (honld it be devoted hut to him alone ? That thine eyes are mt blinded with the fmoak of the pit, thv hands are not fettered with chains of darkncfs, thy tongue isnot broiling in the fire of hell, and thy feet are noi Oandina in that lake which burns with Hre and bci«nflone,is owing piirciv to ] £ su<; Ch r is r ; and (hall not thefe eves L»e employrd for him, thclc hands ?.f\ for him, that ton>;ue fpeak for him, and thele feet fpeedily run his errands ? To him who h<?iieves ihat he w?s a child of wrath even-as others, but is now delivered by the bicTcd Jrsu; j nothing wiitappear too much, to do or fufier for his deliver- cr, when he has a fair coll to it, .
III. To conclude with a word to all ; let no man thinH lightly of iin, which lays the (inner open to the w^aih of God. Let not the fin of oir nature, which wreathe the yoke of God's wrath, fo f arly about our necks, fcem a fmall thing in our eves. Fear the L )rd, bec^ufe of his dread- ful wrath. Tremble at the thought of fin, a^ain^ which GuD has fuch fiery indignation. Look on his wrath, and ftand in awe, and lin not. Do you thtnk this is to prcfs voii to flivilh fear i* If it were fo, one had better be a fijive *o God with a trembling heart ; than a free man to the de- vil, with a feared confcicnce and a heart of adamant. But it i.> not fo, you may love him. and thos fear him too ; yea, ve onght to do it though ve were faints of the nrfl inngnitude. Sere Plal. cxix. 10. Maith. x. 28. Luke xii. ,5. JUb. xii. cS, 29. Altho* ye hav* part the guif ol wra«b, brine in Jes I's Christ ; vet it is but reafonable your hearts fhiver, when ve lookback to it. Your fin (lill defsrvs wrath even as the jins of others ; and it would be terrible to be in a fiery fur- nace i altho' by a miracle, avc were fo fecccd again(i it, a« that it could not harm us.
f 53- )
H£AD III. lan's utter Inability to recover himfelf.
ROMANS^ V. 6.
lor -when tee were yet without JlYength^ in due
time Chrijl died for the ungodly,
John v1. 44.
No man can come to vie, except the Father which hathjent me, draw him,
WE fcavencnvhada vicwof Ac totarcorruj)tion of man'» nature, and that load of wrath which lies on him, that gulph of mife.ry be is plunged into, rn his natural ftate. But there is one part of liis mifery that dcfervcs {wrticular confid- eratioQ ; namely, his utter inability to recover himfelf, the knowledge of which is ncccflary for the due humiliation of a (inner. What I dtCiga here is, only to propofe a few- things, whereby to Convince the unregcficratc man of this his inability ; that he may fee an abfolutc need of Christ, and ©f the power of his grace.
As a man that is fallen into a pit, cahnot be fuppofed to help himfelf out of it, but by one of two ways ; either by doing all himfelf alone, or taking hold of, and.improving the help offered him by others; fo an unconverted man cannot be fuppofed to help himfelf out of that ftate, but cither in the way of the law, or covenant of works, by doing all him- felf without Chr rsT ; or clfe in the way of the gofpcl, or covenant of grace, by cj^erting his #\vn ftreagth to lay hold upon, and to majtc ufc of the help offered him by a Saviour. But alas ! the unconverted man is dead in the pit, and can* not help himfelf, either of thefe ways. Not the firil way ; for the firft text tells us, thm when our Lord came to help us, we were without ftrength» unable to recover ourfelves. We were ungodly ; tlicreforc under a burden of guilt and vrath ; yet without ilrcrrgth, unable to (land under it ; and unable to throw it off, or get from under it ; fo that all man- kind had undoubtedly perifhcd, had not Christ .died for the ungodly, and brcnight help to them who could never }jave recovered themfclvcs. But when Christ comes and •ffereth help to finners, cannot they take it ? Cannot t/icy improve help wJica it comes to their handi ? No, the fecond
'^"
Man unahh to recover himfelj, i^,^
text tells us, they cannot ; No man can come unto me (i- e / believe in me. John vi. 35. except the Father drazo hin.. This is a drawing which enables them to come, whociU then could not coioc ; aad therefore could not help ihemfelvcs, by improving the help offered. It is a drawing, which is al- ways effectual ; for it cair be no lefs ihsii hearing and learc- ing of thcFdiher, which whofo partakes oi.comeih toCuRisx, ver. 2.5. Therefore, it is not drawing in the way of mere moral fiiafion, v;hich may be, yea, aid always is, inc5";clual : but it is drawing by mighty power, Eph. i. 9. abfolutely nc- ccflary for them that have no pov/er m thcaifelvcs, to come and lake hold of the offered l^»c!p.
Hearken then, C unr-generate man, and be convinced, that as thou art in a'moft nr-iferatle itatc by nature ; fo thou art utterly unable to recover thyfelf, any manner of way. Thou art ruined ; and what way wilt thou go to work, to re- cover ihvfelf ? Which of th'cfc two ways will thou chufe ; Will thou try it alone ? Or wilt thou make ufc of help? Wilt thou fall on the way of works, or on the way of the gofpel ? Iknow very well, thou wilt not fo much as try the vray of the gofpel, till once thou haft found the recovery im- j)rafticable, in the way of the law. Therefore we {hall be- gin, #. here corrupt nature ica..hes men to begin, viz. at the way of the law of works.
I. Sinner, I would have thee Relieve that thy working will never eifcc> it. Work and do thy bcft, thou Ihalt never be able to work thyfelf out of this (late of corruption aoJ wrath. Thou muft have Christ, clfe thou ftialt pcnlh eternally. It is only Christ ia you, can be the hope of" glory. But if thou will needs trj' it, then I rauft lay before thee, from the unalterable word, of the living God, two things which thou muff do for thyfelf. And if thou canft do them, it muff be yielded, that thoU art able to recover thy- fclf ; but if not, then thou caaftdo nothing this way, for thy jccovety. ■
Fi R5T, If thou wilt enter into life^ keep the cjmmandnunts^ Mat. xix. 17. That is, if thou wilt, by doing enter into life, then perfectly keep the ten commands. For the fcopc of thcfe words li, to beat down the piide of man's heart ; and to Ut him fee the abfolute need ot a Saviour, from the ioi- poffibility of keeping the law. " The anfv/er is^ivcn, fuitablc to ihe.addrefs. Our Lord checks him for his compliment. Good majhr^ ver. 16. telling him, There is none gccd i>ut ont^ that is God, \tr. 17. As if he had faid, You ihmk youcfelt: a good man. and me another ? but where goodnefs is Ipoken i.f men and angels may veil their faces before thegood-^OD. ^A.nd as to hi? quellion^ wherei. h" diCccvcrc;- ^■' 'e ' ^■.[-
Man unahle i^< ■ "^ m
^34
polition, Chr I ST* does not anfwcr him, faying, Believe and Ikcujiiah be/aved-y ihat would not h.»ce beta fo leafonabic, ii, therdfe of one who thought he cot»!d do well enough tor himfeif, if he butknew what good things he Ihould do ; but, (iiitahlr lo the humour the man was in, he bid him keep tJu rcvimandmcnt.K ; keep Oncm nicely and accurately, as ihole rhal waicn malefactors in prifon, left any of them efcape, and their life go for theirs. See then, O unregencrate man, what canti thou do in this matter ; for. if thou SAiilt recover thyfclf in this way, ihou m^ft perfc^ly keep the coaamandmenis of Gou.
.A d ( r ) Thy obedience muft be perfeB, in refpcfl of the priicipai of it; that is, thy fot{l,*the principle of aftion, muft be perk'Ctlv pure, and altogether without un. For the lavf requires all moral pefe£tiou ; not only aftual, but habitual, and fo condemns original fin ; impurity of nature, as well a$ of aftions. Now if thou canft bring this to pafs, thou Ihalt be cble to anfwer that qutftion of Solomon** fo as never one of Adaiii's poftcrity could yet anfwer it, Prov. 22.9. Who can Jiy, I have made my heart cban ? But if thou canft not, the very want of this perfection is a Cn ; and fo lays thee open to the curie, and cuts tbcc off from life. Yea, it makes ail thine afiiciis, even thy beft aftions finful ; For who can bring a cuan ihiug cut of an. uucican P Job xiv. 4. And dofl thou "^;'ut, by fin to help thyfelf out of fin and inifcry ? {2.) -by obedience murt aKo be pcrfeti in parti. It muft be at broad as the whole law of God , if thou lacldfcft one thing, thou art undone ; for the law denoanceih the curfe on him that continucth not in every thing written therein, Gal. iii. )o. Thou muft give internal and external obedience to the hole lav/ ; keep all the coipmands, in heart and life. If .;,ou breakcft any orrc of ihem, ihat will infure thy ruin. A viiin thought or idle word, will flill (hut thee up under the curfe. (3.) It muft be pcrfed in rcfpcft of degrees, as was the obedience of Adam, while he ftood in his innocence.. This the law requi/es, and will accept of no left., Mat. xxii, 37. Them JJi alt. love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy foul, and with all t/rv mind. If one degree of that love required by the law, he warning; if each part of thy Sedicnte be not fcrrwcd up to the grcatcft height command- ^u ; that want is a breach oi the law, and fo leaves ihce ftill under the curfe. One may b.ring a$ many buckets of water to a houfe that is an fire, as he is able lo carry ; and yet it ay be confuojeo ; and will be fo, if he bring not as man/ will quench the fire. Even fo, although thou fnouldft do nzi thou ait able, in keeping the co:nniands ; if thou fail m . ,c leafi Ocgrcc of obcdicnc? which the Jaw enjoins, thou an
i : rfc :• v r r h imjt If. 13 5
certainly ruined for ever ; u:;!crsthoa take hold of Chr IST, rcaouacing 3ii thy ri^hieoulncfs as filthy rags. Sec Rom. -x. 3. Gal. uj. 10. i-ajhy, it mail b^' perpetual, as the m&n Ch R I ST'? obedience way, wno always did the things ih^i pieafcd the I'uther ; Tor tii£ tentu of the lav is, Curfci is he that contiiiutth not in aU tilings written in the law, to dalhent. Hence iho' Ad.'tin'sobcdtence was tor a whileabiolutcly per- fect i yet b'jcaafe at Icn^^in he tripped in one pomr, v:z. ifl eating the tofbi-Jd.-n IVat, he fell under the curfc of the law. Jfouc &Quid i.vc a durifui iibjett to his prince, till the ciofe of his d.'.-.^s, A'.vd then coii<pire a^ainfi x..i\ ; he mail d;e for his treifj:!. Even fo, tho' thuu fhualJil, all the liice of thy hte live in perfe£i obedience to the law of God ; and only at the hour oi de«i;h ciiieitaia a . am thought, or pronounce an idle Kcrd ; that idle u'ord or vain thought, would bvr out all thy foroier ri;^h:eourneT55, and ruin thee ; niincly, ia chi$ wray, la which thou u; t ftckiug to recover thyfeit.
Now fuch is the obedience thofe mufl perrorm, if thoii wouldlt recover thyfelf in the way of the law. But tho* ihou Ikouldll thus obey, the la a- Hakes thee down ia the (lace of wraih, tiil auothir dediani of it be faijafied.r/z.
Skcondly, Thou m'jti pay wr'.at iriou owed. I' «« t»n- deniabic thou art a finncr ; and whatever thou mayeil be ia time to come, jull:cc ir.uft be I'aiiiUed for thy fi.i already com- mitted. The "li'jriour of the law muft be inaiutairied, b/ .tuy futfermg the der.ounccd wrath. It may be tbou haft changed thy courfe of life, or art nov refrtlvcd to do it, and fet about the keepiiij; of the coinir.ands of Gud : but what hail thou done, or what wiit thoa do, aith the old debt ? Year obedi- ence to God, tho' it were perfccl, is a .>cbt due to hun, tro the tinne wherei.: it is perlofmed ; and can no more farisfy for fornner Cns, than a tenant's paying the current year's rent, can farisfy the mafter for all bygones. Cm the paymg of i:ieyr dcb:s acquit a nv^n from old accounts ? Nay, deceive r\ot yourfcUes, ycu will ftnd the fe kid up in ftore with Goc, and fcalcd up a nonj^li his treafuros, D~ui. xxxii. 34. Ic re- mains then ihdt cither thou nmil b^ar that wrath, to which, far thy fm, thou art liat/ie. according to the law i or fife, thou muil acknowledge thou can ft not bear it, and thereupon have recourfe to the farcty the Lop. jj Jesus Christ. Let me now ifi lhcc,.\i£ ihc'Li able to fausfy the jii/licecf GoD ? Canll thou pay thy own debt r' I5>urel\' aot: for, feeing be vz an iaiinite-Go o.whom thou bnll oCTended ; fSe paaiihmcnt, being failed to the qualiiy of the oiFe.Hw^, inufl be inf.uite. But fo it is, thy puniihmer.t .or fulferin:5S fuV tin cai;act beia- fip.ite in value, feeing thou ait a aiiite cre?t-.ir£ : therefore they rauftbe iafini:e m duraiioa or continuin;-' • jhati^. the--
1 3 S Ma n unah le to recover himfclf,
muft be eternal. And fo all t^y fufff rings in ihls worl^i, arc but an carncft of what ihou mud luffcr lo the world to come.
Now (inner if tho'^ canft anfwer thcfc demands, thou may- efl recover thvfcU in the way oTihc law. But art thou not confcioui of thy inability to do any of thcfc things, much mart lo do them aH ? Yet if ihou do not all, thou doft nc«^"w inp. "X^TTi then to what courfe of life thou wilt, thou art full in a ftatc of wrath. Screw up thy obedience tothe grcat- efl height thou canft ; fuffcr what God lavs upon ihee, ye;i add, if thou wilt to the4)urdcn, and walk under all, without ihe Icaft in)pd::encc ; yet all (his will not fai'^fy the demands C}\ the liw ; and therefore thou art ftUl a ruined creature. Alas! finr.er, what art ihou doing, while thou flrivcft to help thvfclf ; buf v''ft not receive and unite with Jesus Ch r ist? Thou art labouring in the fire, wearying thyfelf for very van- ity ; l.ihoijriRg to enter into heaven by the door, which A^ cam's fin fo bolted", as neirher he, not* any of his loft poftenty <an ever enter by it. Doft thou not fee the flaming ("word of juftice keeping thee off from the tree of life ? Doft thou not hear the law denouncing a curte en thee for all thou art do- ine; ; even for thy obedience, thy pvaycrs,- thy tears, thy refor- mation of life, $cc. becaufe. bring under the law's dominion, ihy beft works are not fo good, «i it requires them to be un. der the pain of the curfe ? Believe it, firs, if yhn live and die out of Christ, without being aftudUy united to him as the fccond Adam, a lifcygiving Spirit, and without coming under the covert of his atoning blood ; though ye mould do the ut- xnoft that &ny man on earth can <lo, in keeping the commandi of God, yc "thall never fee the face ofGoD in peace. If you (hould from this moment, bid an eicrnarfarewcll to this •>\orld's jov, and aH the affairs thereef ; and henceforth bufy yourfeives wiih nothing, but the falvation of your fouls : If you (hould go into fome wildernels.live upoo the^rafs of the field, and be compaiiions to d^a^ons and owls : If you (hould TCtire to fome dark cavern of the earth, and weep there for your- fjnj, until you. have wept yourfclves blind ; yea, wept out all the moiffure of your body j if ye (Jiould confefs with your tongue, until it cleave to the roof of your mouth ; pray, till your knees grow haid as horns : faft, till your body he- rome J.ke a (kcletcn ; and aficr allthis^give it to be burnt, the ^iford is gone out of the Lord's mouth in righteoufncfs, aud carnot return ; you (hould pcrifh for ever, notwithftandingof all this, as not being in CHRiST, John xiv. 6^ No man Cometh unto the Father hut by me. Afls iv. i». Neither la there falvation in any oihen Mark xvi. i6. Hethal belUvetk %Qt Jkaii Qc damiud* '
An ohjeBion anfwercd. 137
€i>jf6l. But God is a merciful God, and he knows we are not able to anfwer his ricmands ; we hope therefore lb be faved, if we do as well as we can, and keep the commands as well as we are able. Anf. (i) Though thou art abJe 16 do itiany things,- thou art not able to do one thing aright; thou canft do nothing acceptable toG CD, being out of Ch rist» John XV. 3. Without mc)e can do nctkirtg. An unrenewed man, as thou an, can do nothing but fin ; as we have already evinced. Thy belt a£lions are fin, and fo they incrcafe thy debt tojuftice ; how then can it be expctled they fliould leF- fen it ? (2.) If God fhould offer to fave menupLon condition thatthcy did all they could do, in obedience to his commands, ue have ground to think, that thefc who would betake ihem- felvesto that way, [hould never be faved. Fjr where is the man, that does as well as he can ? Who fees not many falfe fleps he has made, 'which be might have evited ; There are k) many things 10 be done,' fo many temptaMons to carry us out of the road of duty, and our nature is fo very apt to be fei on fire of h.ll, that we would furely fail, even iq forae poinr, that is within the compafs of cur natural abilities. But (3.} Though thoa (houlc^ft do all thou art able to do, in vain do(i thou hope to be faved in that way. What word of Gon is this Hope of thine founded on ? It is neither founded oa law nor gotpel, and therefore it is but a dclufion. It is not founded or) thegofpel; for the gofpel leads the foul out of itfeif, to Je>us Christ for all ; and it cft«£^hlheth the law, Rom. iii. 31. whereas this hope of yours'cannot be ef- tablifhed*, but on the ruin of the law, which GoDwill mag- nify and make honourable. and hence it^appears, that it is not founded on the law neither. When Goo fet Adam a working for happincfs to hiinlelf and his pofterity, perfe£i o- bcdience was the condition required of him ; and a curfc was denounced in cafe of difobedicnce. The law being broken by him, he and his pofterity v/erc fubjefted to the penalty, for Cn commited ; and withal flill bound to perfe6l obedience ; for it is abfurd to think tha^/nan's finning and fuffcring for his fin, fhould free him from his duty of obedience to his Cre- ator. When Ch r ist came in the room of the elccl, to pur- chafe their falvation, the fame were the terms. Jullice had the elefl under arreff ; if he minds to deliver them the terms are known. He muft fatisfy for their fin, by fuffering the punifhment due to it ; he muff do what they cannot do, viz. obey the law perfectly, and fo fulfil all righteoufnefs. Accor- dingly, all this he did, and fo became the end of the law for righteoufnefs to every one that believeth, Ro;n. x. 4. And row doff thou ihitjk, God will abate of thefe terms to thcc, >lien his own Son got no abat'-aientof ihem ? Expeil it no6^
1 3 S ^ la e cover himfelf.
rhough thou fhouldil bcj^ it with tears of blood : for if thejp prcva»lc<i,thcy behoved lo prevail ^g^infl the truih, JuOice ajid boDcurof God, Gal in. lo. 22. Curfid is evfry one thit fOHtinuttk not in cU things, zohich are wriUen in the book of tke Law, to a J th<!;m—And the kiw is net of faith ^ but the man tk&t doih ih'im.^ftiuU iii,e in. ihtn. h »s true, ii\n Go;; is mer- ciful ; he cannot but he merciful, unlei> he f<rve ycni in a way rhai is neiihcr co.iGflcnt with b:$ lav nor gofpcl ? H»ih not h\% gocdncfs and mercy fufnncnilv appeared, in fending ibc Son of ins love, to do wh-i* =ne iav Coald nor do, in that it uai weak thiouch the flofu ? He has provid-dbclp for ihcm ihat carjnot i:\\^ thcDifelvcs : but tboa,infcnrit)lccf-luueown weakncis, wilt needs think to recover ihyfclf by • thine ov/a vorks ; while iboa art no mjre able to do it, tbaa torcmo- ir.ountams of brdfi out of their ptace. '
Whcrefoic i coiiclude ihua art utterly unaMe to recover thyfclf. Ly the v*ay of worls, or c-4i the law. Q that thou •jk'oujail conclude the fame concerning ihyfrH ! ' •
II. Let lis try next, what the finocr caa di> to recover him- f If, : :;?wav of -the gofpel ; It is likel/, thou thinkcft, I-: . • . I ihou canfi not' do all, by- tti^fclf alone ; yet J e. i L : C H R 1 5 T otFenn^ thec heJp, thou canft ofihyfdlf em- brace it,aod ^Cc it to thy recovery. 3at,0 Caner.be convinced of thine abfolute need of the grace of Christ, for truJy th^re ii help otfcred, but thou canft not acce^ of it ; ihexe ii a rope c^it cut to bale faip-Wiecked Gnneri to iand ; btft alas ! ihcy have no handsto caich holdof it. They are like infants cxpofcd in the open field that mu'l .ftarve, though their forjii he lyir.g by theta. unlcfs^ons- put it into their mouths. Tocoavuice natural men of this, let it be coofidor- cd. , .
/tVy?, That although Ch r !ST is offered in the gt>Q>eI, yet they cannot btriicve in him. Saving faith is the faich of GoD'» elect i the rpecial gift of Guj> to them, wrought in them by hii fpi'it. Salvation is offered to them that will believe in Chr 1ST ; but bow can y« believe i* John v. 44. Ii is offer- ed to thefe that will cooie to C h k 1 » r ; bat no man can come • r.to him, except the Father draw him. It isoifefcd totheia :nat will look to him as lifted up on the pole of the gofpel, xfa. xiv. 22. But the natural man is fpirifually blind, Rev. ,'-■■ 17. 2riJ asto the tbingsof the Spirit of God, he cannct . for thevar« fpiritnally difcernctl, 1 Cor. ii. 14. viTrwili he it welcome ^let him come, Rev. xxi«. i . .J • tncre muft he a day of power on the Cnncr; before i.e >iii br willing, Pfalm ex. 3.
S'CTT.diy, Man naturally has notbiug, wherewithal to im- prove, tg hts rscovcrj,thc help brought ;u by the goTpfi.
Manunalle to recoy^'r himf,lf, 139
He Is cad away in a flate of wratb ; but is boun J hand and foot, fothat he cannot lay held of the cords of love, throwa cut 10 him in.the gofpei. The raoft fkilful aniScer carjnoc vork. without imluments, nor can the inoQ cunning mufician play- veil on an infliimcat that i$ out of tune. H:jw can one belicvCj how can he repent, u-hoie underftiinding :s darkriirfs^ Kr-h. V. 8. whofe heart is a flony heart, infkxjble, -u'enfibie, Eitk. xxxvi. £0. whoiii atfichons arc wholly difordced and oiile;npcied ; who^s avcrfc to good, and bent tp evil ? The arms of natural abilities itc. too (hnrt to reach fupcrnarur^l hei* ; hence ihofe who moil excel in thcin, a»e oft-iipies Kioft cllrang^d f:c;ci fpiriiilal ihinas, Malt. KJ. Q^. Thou hajl hid iihj}. thirigsjrom the ti'ifr and pruJcat. • . ^^ Thirdly, Mi.i cannot wu'k a faving chaage on binnfclf; but fo ciianged "he muR bo, clfe he can c IiHcr believe nor repenr, norevcr-{ee heaven. N:>3£ti<5n can be without a fuitablc prii.cipic, B?-l<eving, repeniing, and the like, arc t':»- product of the new mature ; and can never be pjoduced by the old corrupt catMre. Now, v/hat cau the natural man do in this matter ? He muft be unregencrate, bei^ottcn agaia into a lively hope ; but as ih^ child canaot be aci;ve in his own generation, fo a noan canr.n be ahivc, but paflive only ic his own regeneration. The heart :s fhut againft Christ; aiaa cannot open ir;^onl\ God can do it by hu grace, Acts ivi. \s. He is dead iii fio ; he inuft be quickened, jaiTcd out of hi» grave; who can do this but G'Jii hinnfcif ? Eph. ii.-i, 3. Isjy, he muft be created in C:i R IST Jy.su s unto gocd uoiks, Eph. ii. 10. Thefs arc wgrks of omuipotciKy, and can be done by no lefs power.
Fourthly, Man, in his depraved Rate, is under an utter ina- bility to do any thing truly good, as was cleared before at large ; how then can he obey the gofpei ? His nature is the vety rcverfe of the gofpei ; hov can Uc^ of- hiinlelf, fall in vith that device of falvation, tvA accept the offered remedy ? The Corruption of man's nature infallibly concludes his utter inability, to recover hunitlf any inaancr of way ; and whoro is convinced ot the o.t, niuft needs adrnU the other ; for the/ fland and.fall together. Were aii the parchafe ol Christ offeied to the unregeneratc man, for one good thought; he cannot conimand it, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that zue arefujficient vf ourjchcsy to think ary thijiy as of cwjeivcs, V/erc it otfered on condition of a good word, yet how can ye, being evil, •*r^fck goodthings I. hln. xii. 35. Nay, were it left to your- fs, to chufe what is eslioft ; Chiul hinafcH tcJl* )ou, t \v. K, WithoiU vie, ye can do ttolhia^, '.'?/r, The natural man cannot but rcfift the Lord,- ofler- j .0 .'-e.p h:ra ; huwbctt that refttUucc is-iiiiallihiy ovc.;.o.iie
14P ObjeBions anfwered,
in the e'eft, by converting grace. Can the flony heart chufe but to rtfifi the flroke ? There is not only an inability, but an enmity and cbitinacy inman's will by natuit. God knows, natural man, whether thcu knoweft it or not, that thou art obflinate, and thy neck is an iron finew, and thy brow brafj^. Ifa. xlvili. 4. and cannot be overcome, but by him, who hath broken the gates of brafs, and cut the bars of iron in funder. Hence is there fuch hard work in converting a finncr. Some- times he (eems to be caught in the net cf the gofpel ; yet quirkly he flips av/ay again. The hook catchcih hold of him^ but he ftruggles, t:ll getting free of Jt, he makes away with a bleeding wound. When good ho(x:s are conceived of him, by thefc that travai! in birth, for the formingoi Ch R ist in bim ; there is oft-times nothing brought forth but wind. The de- ceitful heart makes many a (hift to avoid a Saviour, and to, cheat the man of his eternal happirurls. Thus the natural man lies funk in a flate pf fin afid wrath, utterly unable to re- cover himfelf. . ,
Objed. (i.) If we be under an utter inability to do any good, bow can God require us to do it ? An/. God makir>g man upright, Ecclcf. vii. 29. gave him a power to do every thing he fhould require of him ; this power wan loft by his owo fault. We Were bound to fervc God, and do whatfoever he commanded us, as beii g his creatures ; and alio, ye were under the fuperadded ty&of a covenaoi, for that cfTcft. J'low, we having,^by our own fault, difabled curfclves ; fliall God lofe his riftht of requiring our talk becaufc we have thrown
away the ftrcngth be gave us, wherewithal to perform it ?
Has the creditor no right to require payment of his »noncy,bc- caufe the debtor has fquandered it away, and is not able to pay him ? Truly, if G o o car j require Yio more of us than we are able to do ; wc need qooaore to fave us from wrath, but to make ourfclves unable for every duty, and to incapacitate ourfelvcs for fcrving of God any manner of way, as profanq^ men frequently do ; and fo the deeper one is immcrfcd in fin^ he will be the more fccurc from wratlj ; for where God can require no duty of us, we do not fin in omitting it ; and where there is no fin, there can be no wrath. (As to what may be urged by the unhumblcd foul, againft the putting of our fiock in Adam's hani^, the ri^hteoufnefs of that difpcnfation was cleared before.) But, n.orcovcr, the unrenewed man is daily throwing away the very remainsof natural abilities; that light and flrength which arc to be fo'jnd amon^ft the ruins of man- kind. Nay, farihfr, he will not believe his own utter inabil- jrv to help himrdt"; fp that out of bis own mouth he will be ronderriiicd. Kvm lunfe who make their natural impotency to good, a cover for their flotb, do, with others, dela/ ibc
OhjeHions anfwercd, 1.41"
; worfc of turning to Go d from timic to time ; URder covinc- tions, make large promifes of reformation, which afterwards they never regard ; and delay their repentance to a death-bed, as if they could help AcmfcWes in a moment ; which fpeaks
, them to be far from a due fenfe of iheirnaiural inability, what- ever ihey pretend.
Now, if God can require of men the duty tliey are not a- blc to do : he can in jultice punifh thera for their not doing it, not\\ithftanding of their inability. If he have power to ex- aQ the dtbi of obedience, he has alfo power to cafl the infol-
■ vent debtor into prifpn, for his not paying it. Further, tho* tnrcgencrate men have no gracious abilities, vet they want
' not natural abilitic5, which iieverthelel* they will not improve. There are many things they can do, which they do not, they
• w.ll not do thetn ; and ihcrefore their damnation willbejuft.
^ay. all their inability fo good is voluntary ; they will not come to Ch r ist, John v. 40. They will not repent, they ■will die, Ezek. xviii. 51 . So they will be jufllv 'condemned, becaufe thty will not turn to God, nor come to Christ, But love their chains better than ibeir liberty, and darkncTs rathe/ than light, John lii. 19.
Objcd. {2.) Why do ycu then preach Christ to us;
' call us to come to hiui, to believe, repent, and ufc the means of falvation ? Aaf. Becaule it is your duty fo to do. It is year duty to accept of Christ as he is offered in the gofpdl ; to repent of your fins, and to be holy in all manner of ccnverfaiioa. TheCe things are commanded you of God ; and his command, not your ability, is the mea- furc of your duty. Moreover, thefe Calls and exhortation!, are the means that God is plcafed to make ufe of, for con- verting h's ele6>, and working grace in their hearts ; to them,
JaitA comeihby hearings Rom. x. 17. while they arc unable to help themfelves, as the rcA of mankind are. Upon very good grounds may we, at the command of God, who raifeth the dead, go to their graves and cry in hin name. Awake tkouthat
Jlitpejl^ and arifc from the dead, and Chrijljhallgive thee light, £ph. v. 14. And feeing the eleft arc not to be known and dlfiinguifhed fiom others before converfion, as the fun fhines on the blind man's face, and the rain fails on the rocks as wcH as on the fruitful plains; fo we preach Christ to all, and fhoot the arrow at a venture, which God himfelf diretls as he fees meet. Moreover, thefe calls and exhortations are not altogether in vain, even to thdfe that are not converted bv them. Such perfons may be convinced, though they be not converted"; although they be not fanftified by thefe means,, yet they m?y be ref^rained by them, from running into that cxccfs of wickedncfs which otherwife they would arrive at.
142 OhjcBicns anf'Mercd.
The means of grace feive, as it ^wcrc to embalm many dead fouls whJcb were never quirkerved bv thrm, thouah thcv do roi reOore them »g life j yet they keep thern frorrrimrllinglo mnk as othcrwifc thry \»ould do. /Vn^AV/fhouoh yc cannoc recover yciTrfelves ; nor take ho!d of the faving h<-lp offered to you in the gofpcl ; yet even by the power of nature, ye may ufr. the outward and ordinary means, whsreb;? Ch r rsT commu- cJcates the benefits ©f redemption to ruined finncrs, who are a utterly unnhle to recover ibemfelvcs out of the fla'eof Tn and a wrath. Yc may, and can, if ve pkafe, do many things, thot '\ would fct yon in a fair way for help from the Ln ft d Je s i s Christ, Yc ijizy eo Id far on, as to be not far from the kingdom of God, a^ tbecilcreet Icrlbe bad done, Mark x:i.34. though, it would feem, he was ncflitute of fupernatural abili. ties. Tnough, ye cannot curt yourlelvei, yti ye may come to the pool, whore many fuch difeafsd pcrfons as ye are, hive been cured ; ye have none to put you into it, yet ye may lie at tJie fide of i« ; and. who knows but the Lord may return, atjd leave a blcfTm^ behind bim, as in the cafe of the impo»cnt inan,recordcd.John v.5,6.7,8. I hope Satan does not chain vcu to your houfes, nor ffdke you down in your fields on the Lo v. d's day; but ye are are at liberty-, artd can wait atlhe pofis of wjf- doTo's door if yc will. And when ye come thither, he doth rot beat drums at your ears, thit yc cannot hear what is faid ; there is no force upon vou, ob!igiop voa to apply ail I yoifhear to others ; ye may apply to youifflvcs wb.:^t belongs to your {late and condition j and When you j^o home, you are not fet- tered in your houfes, where pcrhrjh no relij^ious difcourfe is to be heard; but yc may retire to fome fcparatc place, where ye c^n meditate, and pofe your confcience with pertinent (^ueOions upon what ye have heard. Yc are not poffclTcd with at^umb devil, that ye cannot j-et your n:ouihi opened in prayer to God. Ye are not fo driven out of your beds fo your worldly bufincfs, and from yo'.ir '-voildly buCnefs to your beds again; but yc mi^ht, if vc wo-ild, heftow fome prayers to God upon the cafe of your perishing' fouls. Yc may exam- ine youffelves, as to thcflnte of your fouls, in a folemn man- ner, as in the prefencc of God; vc may difcern that yc have no grace, and that ye arc lofl and nndohe without it ; and may cry untoGoD for it. Thcfe things are within the compafs of natural abilities, and mav be praflifcd where there zs no t^race. It mud aggravate your guih, that you wi'l not be at fo iruch pain^ aboui the Hate ar.d cafe of vour precu>us fouU. And if ye do not what you can do, yc will be condemned r,oi only fcr your waut of grace, but for your icfpillng of it.
Ohje Flions anfxvered, 1 43
OhjeQ. (3.) Bat all this is necdicfs, feeing we are utterly un- able to keep curfelvcs out of the flate of fin and wrath » ^nf. Give no place to th:».t deluGon,v.'hich puts af-jnt^er vhat God hath joined, namely, the ufe of means, and a fenfe ct our own impotcncv. If ever the Spirit of God graciouflv infliicpce your foul?, ve wil! become thorcujhlv fenfibie ct your abfolute inab;riry, and yrt enter upon a vi^crou< ufe of means. Ye will do for yoorfelves, as if ye ^ye^e to do all; and yet cverlcok ail ye do, as if ye hsd don- rotlSin.^. Will ye do nothing for yourfelves. becavrfc ye t:annoi do all ? L^jr down no fuch impious conrlufion againft your own fouls. Tio what you can, and it may be, while ve arc doing what ve can for voiirfclvcs. God will do* for voa wh^r ye cannot. . Under' Jfandfji thcu what thou nadcji f fdid Phiiip to tnc Eunuch : H9W can /, faid he, except fome. man Jlioi id guide rre, Acls viii. 30, 31. He could nor underfland «he fcripiure he read ; vet he could read it ; he -did what he could, he read ; and while he was reading, God fent him an interpreter. The Kraelites were in a great flrait at the red Tea ; and ^o'^ could they help themfelves, when upon the one har.d \vcf% mountains, and on the other, the enemies garrifon * when Pharaoh and his hofi vere behind thera, and the red fea before them ? What could thev do ^ Speak vn!o the childrm cf tfrae!^ laith the Lord to Mofes, that theygofc^zvnrd^ Excd. xiv. 15. For what end fhould they go forward ? C^n they nrake a palLge to them- felves through the fea? No; but lei them ' go forward faith ihe Lo R D ; thou/ri they cannot tura fea to dry land, yet they can go forx/ard to the fliore ; and fo they did ; and when they did what thy could, God did for them what thev could not do.
Quejl. Has God promlfed to convert and fave them who in the ulc of weans, do wliat they can towards their own rei'ef ? j^n/I V/e may not fpeak wickedly for God ; natural meti J*ting firangers to the tovenanis of promifc, Eoh. ii. 12. have no fuch promife made to them : Neverthelels, they* do not aft rationally, unler<; they exert the powers they have, at:d do what they can. For, (i.) Jt is pofnblc this courfe may fuc- ceed with them. It ye do what \e can, it may be God wjII" do for you what you cannot do for vourfclves. This is fuf- ficicnt :o determine a man, in a matter of -the utmoft impor- tance, fuch as this is^ Atlsviii. 29. Pray God, :f per hubs, the thoughts oftny heart may be forgiven thee. Joel ii. 14. IV'w. kncweth if he will return ? if fuccefs may be, the trial ihould be. If. in a wreck at fea, all the failors and paffcr.gcrs had beiaken themfelves each to a broken board forfafetv, and one of them (hoiild fee alKthe reft perifc, notvithftanding of their vM^oft endeavours to favc th^mfel • ' -'z vcrv pj=^.b. '.:',>'
144 Ccuc.:^j...i of the TJiird Head.
of efcapjng by that means, would determine that one ftlll td A<i his beft with his board. Why then do e not rcafon with yourfelves as" the four lepcii did, who fat at the gates of Samaria, 2 Kings vii. 3, 4. Why do ye not fay. If wc fit flil), not doing what w< can, wc die ; let us put it to a trial, if wc l^c favcd, we {hall live ; if not, we (hall but die. (a.) It is probable this courfc may luccecd. Gou is good and mer- ciful ; he loves to furprile men with his grace, and is often found of them that fought him not, Ifa. Ixv. 1. If ye .ro thus, ye are fo far iq the road of your duty ; and yc arc ufing the means which the Lord is wont to blcfs, for men's fpintual recovery ; ye lay voTirfclvcs in the way of the great Phyfician and fo it is probatle ye mai^' be healed. Lydia went, witii others, to the phcc where prayer was wont to be made ; and the Lord opened her heart, Atlsxvi. 13, 14. Yc plow and fow, though rvobody can tell you for certain, that yc will get fo much as vout feed again ; yc ufe means for the recovery of your health, though yc arc not furc they will fuccecd. la thefc cafes, probability determines you ; and why not in thisalfo ? Importunity, we fee, does very much with men ; therefore pray, meditate, defire help of Goo ; be much at the throne of grace, fupplicating for grace, and do not faint. Though God regard not you, who, in your prcfent ftatc, arc but one mafs of Cn ; univerfa!ly depraved, and vitiated in all the powers of your foul : yet he m^y regard'his own ordinance. Though he regards not your prayers, your meditations, ^c. yet he may regard prayer, meditation, and the like means of his own appointment, and fo blefs them to you. Wherefore, if ye will Rot do what ye can j ye are not only dead, but you declare yourfelves unworthy of eternal life.
To conclude, let the faints admire the freedom and power cf grace, which came to^hem in their hclplcfg condition, made their chains fall off, the iron gate to open to ther'*, raif- cd the fallen creatures, and brought them out of the ftatc of fin and wrath, wherein they would have lain and perifhcd, had they not been mercifully vifned. Let the natutal man be fenfiblc of his utter inabilifv to recover hirafclf. Know thou art without flrength ; and canft not come toCn r tsT,!ill thou be drawn. Thou ?.rt loft, ard canfl not help thyfelf. This may ftiake the foundation of thy hopes, who never f^weft thy abfoivite need of Christ and his grace ; hut tbinkclt to fliift for thyfelf, by thy civility, morality, drowfy wifhea and duties; and by a faith and repentance, which have fprung up out of thy natural powers, without the power and efficacy of the nra<:c of Ch r ist. O he convinced of thy ablolu'e need of Christ, and his overcoming grace ; believe thy utte^in- abi I it^ to recover thyfelf ; and fo tbou mayU be humbled.
.^The Text Explained. i 45
fhakenoutofthy fclf-confi-^ence, and lie do\wn in daft and afbes, groaning out thy mifcrablc cale before the Lord. A kindly'fenfe of thy natural iir<poicncy. the irapoiency of de- praved human naiure, would be a ftep towards a delivery..-— I'hus far of m^u's natural U4te,the ftate of cmire clcpravatior..
STATE IIL
N A IvI E L Y, . The State of Grace ; or Begun Reccven ,,
H E A D I. REGENERATION,
I ?£T
Being born again^ not of corruptihlr. Seed, hut of incorruptible, by the Woi'f' ^f f^ -, i':hich livcth and ahiddhfor ever.
W£ proceed now to fheflate of grace, the ftatc of begun recovery of human naiiuc, into which, all that iu.il ©artake of eternal happinefs, are tFanflafed, fo.oaer or later, •while in this wor!l. It is the rcfuh of a grdcious change, made upon th«fe who Ihall inherit eternal life ; which chingc may be taken up in thf^fe two, (i.) h\ oppofifiogi to their dk- ural real ftatc, the ftate of corruption, there is a change made Bpon them in regeneration, whereby their natii'-e \?. cHnn^ed. (2.) In oppofition to their ralural relative ilat.e, the. ft^tc of vralh, there is a change made upon them, in their union wiiK
he Lord JcSUS CiiR 1->T; by \vhit:h they are f:t beyond
he reach of condemnation. Thefe therefore, n2^ie!7, re- igeneration, and union with CiiRtsr, 1 dcfign to handle, as the grea: and Compithcurtvc changes on a -inner, conftituting fcifii in the ftaie of grace. .
Tl'.e hrft of thefe we liave in the text, together with the out-
K'ard and ordinary means, by which itis^ biou-^ht about. The apo^lle hire, to excite the (ants to the fludy of holi-iefs, and particularly of brotherly love puts them in migd of thei'- fpi- rituaiCrtginal. He tells them they were borna^a n; and that of
K^X)^ incorru'^tlble f^cci, the word ofGoc. This fpeai^s ihcirx
14^ ^ '■- Kiiturc cj RrrcneraTion.
to be bjcihren, partakers of th^mc nev nature ; v^hich in \he TOOt from which holiners,an^particuiarly brotherly love.dotb fpnng. \Vc arc once both finncrs ; we mull be born again, that vc may be faints. The fimple word fignihcs to be begotten ; and fo it may br read, Mat.xi. ii. to be conceived, Mai. i.ao. and toi/e />cr/i,Matth. ii. i. Accordingly the compound word ufed in the text, may be taken in i^s full latitude, the lad no- tion prcfuppofing the two former, and fo regeneration is a lu- pernatural real change on the whole man, fitly compared to natural or corporal generation, as will afterwards appear. The ordinary means of regeneration, called the feed, where- of the new creature is formed, is not corruptible feed. Gf fuch, indeed, our bodies arc generated; but the fpiritual feed, of which the new creature is generated, is incorruptible ; namely, the word cf God, which livetk and abideth for ever. 1 he found of tlie word of God paffeth even as other founds- do ; but the word laftcth, livcth and abideth, in refpeft of its evcrlaftiug etfcfis, on all upon whom it operates. This word, which by the gofpel is preached unto you, ver. 25. impregna- tcrl by the Spirit of God, is the means of regeneration ; and by it arc dead finncrs raifed to life.
Doctrine, All men in thejlate of grace <ire horn again . All gracious perfons, namely, fuch as are in a flatc of favour with God, and endued with gracious qualities and difpofi- tions, are regenerate perfons. In difcourfing this fubjfft, I fliall fliew what regeneration is; Next, Why is it fo called, and then apply the do6irinc.
Of the Katiire of Regeneration.
I. For the better underilanding of the nature of regenera- tion, take this along with you in the firfl place. That as there are falfe conceptions in nature, fo there are alfo in grace; and bv thcfe, many are duluded, miftaking fome pariial changes uiade upon them, for this great and thorough changr.. To remove (uchmiflakes, letthclc few things be confidcred, \\.) Many call the church thar mother, whom God will noicv/n to be his children, Cant. i. 6. My mother's chi.' .'ri (i. e. falfc brethren) were angry with me. All that are bp, •i/cd are not horn again. Simeon was baptized, yet ftill in the gall of bitternef?, and in the bond of iniquity, AQsviii, 13. U3. Where Chriftianity is the religion of the country, many will be called by the name of Ch r ist, who have no more of him but the name ; and no wonder, feeing the devil had his goats among Christ's fliecp, in the fc places, Drhcre but few profelfed the Chriftian religion, 1 John ii. "^ 'ri,,y ^•ent cit from us^ bkt they were not of us. (2.) (' tionis not regeneration. Education may chain up n >,
TJt0 Nature of RcgrnrratioTi. 147
Ijut cannot change their hear|t$. A wolf is ftill a ravenous beaft, though it be in chains. ^'' Joafh was very devout dur.ng the life of his good tutor Jchoiadn ; bat afterwards be qmckly fhewed what fpirit he was o^ by his fudden apoftacy, 2 Chron. xxiv. 2. 17, li^. Good example is of mighty infltcnce to change the outward man; but that change often goes off, when one changes his companv ; of which the world affords many fad inRances. (3.) A turning from open profanity, to civility and fobricty, falls ftiort of this faving change. Some are, for a while, very loofe, efpecially in their younger years ; but at length they, reform, and leave their profane courles. Here is a change, yet but fuch an one, as mav be found in men, mterly void of the gtare of God, and wht ~t righteoufr.efs is fo far from exceedir-g.that it doth nor come up to therighteoiif- ncfsof the Scribes & Pharifees. (4.) One may en^ptge in all the outward duties of religion and )et net be born again. Tho* lead he caft into various fhapcs.is remains ftill but a bafe met- al. Men may cfcape the pollutions of the world, and vet be but dogs and fwine, 2 Pet. ii. 20. 22. All the external a£ls of religion are within the compafs of natural abilities. Yea, hypocrites may have the counterfeit of all the graces of thft Spirit ; for we read of true holinefs, Eph. iv. 23. and faith unfeigned, 1 Tim.i. 5 which (hews us, that there is a coun- terfeit holinefs, end a feigned faith ; (5.) Men may advance to a great deal of ftriftnels in their own way of religion ; and yet beflrangers to the new birth, Afls xxvi..5. After thcmojl JlriCleJlfeH of our religion,! lived aPharifee. Nature has its O'vri «nfan£tif!ed ftri£lnefs in religion. The Pharifees had fo much of it, that they looked on Christ, a-; little better than a mere libertine. A man whofe corifcience hath been awa- kened, and who lives under the feit influence of the cove- nant of works, what will V.e not do, that is within the compais of natural abilities ? It was a truth, tho' it came our of a hellifh mouth, that^vi for fkin, all that a man huih, zcili he gi'jefcr hii life^ Job Ii. 4. (6.) One may have fliarp Cpul- exercifes and p?ng$, and yet die m the birth. Many have been in pain, that have but, as it vere, brought forth wind. 'Ihere may be foie pan^s and throws of confcience, which turn to nothing at laft. Pharaoh and Snr.on Maous had fuch convittions, as maJe them def:re the prayers of others for them. Judas repented himfelf ; and under terio'^s of con- fcierre, gave back bis ill-pc?ten oisces of fiUer. All is not gold that gliflers. Trees may bloffom fairly in the fprin?. on which no fruit is to be found in the ^arveft \ and fotne h: ve fharo fo-jl-excrcifcs, v.hich arc nothing but fvr--:i?.£.<;
Thr T.Tw birth, however in appear^cncc hopefully rray he in;^trcd rwo irays. /"iV/i, Some likt Zarah. Gen. • xxviii, 28, no. arc bronp,ht to rhc birth, but go back again. Tbcy hive (harp convjflions for x H-hflc ; bat thcfc go off. and thcv tarn as ra^jclefs ;:bout their falvation. ai pro''anc as ever : and nfnnllv r/orfc than ever, their laff ft.»ie is woric than their firO, Mar. xii. 45. Ihey j^ct awskeoing grace^ hut rot converiinjj grac€ ; and that ^oe5i olF by degrees, as the jijjht oHhe d<:cHning tlnv, till it ifje ia JDidai^^ht daikncCs. S^cond/y, Some^ like Iflimacl, come forth too foon ; thev ar-i born hclorc the fJmeof (he promife, Gen. jfvi. 1, 2- compare Oal- iv. C!. and down Agrd. Thry take up with a mere law- ^ork, !»nd ftav not till the time of t!)e promife of the gofpe!. 'J'bcv fiiatch at confolation, n»)t waiting till it be ^ivcn them ; an,i focliflily draw ihcir coir.fori from the law that wounded rhcm. Tbey zpolv the healing plarfter to thcmfelves, bei'^ore their wound b- fuffirientiv fearched. The law, that rigorous hufband, fcverely beats them and throws in curfcs and ven- geance upon their fouls ; then they fall a re-forrr«ing, pray- ing, mouniins;, pxoinifing and fowing, till this ghoA^be laid ; ^vhichdonc thcv fall aCccp af»ain in the arms of the lav ; birt thcv are never (haken out of themrdves and their own" righ- teoufnefs, for brought forward to J t s U s Ch k i s t. ^<*flfy, There may be a wonderful moving\»f the affcftions, in fouls that arc not at aU touched with regenerating grace. Whfre there is no grace, ihfre may notwithftanding be a flood of tears, as in Efau. who found no place of repentance, though he fought it carefully with tears, J-I^b. xii. 17. There noay he great flalhss of joy ; as rn the hcarerj of the word rcprc- fcnted in the parable by the (♦any ground, who anon with j<l|f^' receive it, Mntth, xiii. 2c. There may he aWo great dell^|^' after good ihinc;^, and jrcat dclisr.t '.w ir.ein too ; as in thefe Iiynocries dr.fcribcd, Ifa. Iviii. r /■::k ate daily^ and
ddrcht tohnow my ways.-^-TiiAy . in cpprcacking un-
to OT»f/. See how high they may foir.eimcs fidiid, who ycl fall away, lleb. vi. 4, ,5, 6. They may be enlightened, taftc' of the heavenly gift, b** partakers of the holy Gho>l, latle the jiood woro of Cud, and the powers of the world to cxne. Common operations of the divine Spirit, like a land-Ilood, ijiake a itrange tuiningof things npCde down. And when they are over, all runs sgain in the ordinary channel. AM f*,r.. fhints may be, -v'lerc the fan^lifying Spirit of C TcHs upon the foulljhut the flony heart,Oin remsr cate, thcfe afh:£lions cannot . bat wither, bccaufL toot.
But req;cneration is a real thorough ch-vnire, wli- man is made a new creature, 2 Cor.'V. 17. The JLoR j
TIfe X:tu re of R -gc -i t ; -atijn . 149
makes the creature a rev creature, as thr goldfriith melts do#n the vtllel of difiionour, and raskcs it a vcflcl of hon- our. Man is, in refpeql of his natural {late, altogether dif- jointed by the fcll ; every faculty of the loul is, as 41 were, difiocated : in regenerat»on the Lo:<d looCcth ever)'- joir.t, and fctsit right again, Nov this change iniic in regen- eration is,
1. A change of qualities or difpofitions : it is not a change cF the fupihr.ce. but of thc^ quaiiii«s ol the fcul. Vicious quaiiiics are removed, and $iie conrrary d:fpoii:rcns arc fefought in their room. 'I ne ctdisan is put off^ Eph. >v. 22, t^^ ntu) mcLM j-vt on. vrr, ^4. IJLa^x Ic;l none o\ the ratior.i^l faculties of his foul^ bv fin; he had an underiiandinj llill, but \i \iii darkened ; ha had dill a wiil, but it was cunirary to the will of GoD. So \i\ regeneration there is not a new fubUancc created, but nfw qualities nre m- fiifcd ; iij^ht ir.ftead of darkncls, lighteoufneis inCcad ot" un- righteouriiefs.
2. It is a fupernatural change ; he that is born again, is born of the Spirit, John iii. 5. Grr.it changes niav be made t)' the power of nature, cfpcciallv when allifted by external Jevelarion. Ar*d nature may be fo elevaicd by the common influences of the Spirit, that one may thereby be* turn- ed into ai)Other nia::, as Saul wai, 1 Sam. x. 6. who yet \\t\- er becomes ? new man. But in regCDCtaoon nature ilfelf is changed, and we become partakers of the dlvme nature ; ar.d this muil needs he H Supernatural change. How can we that are dead in trefpafTes and Cns, renew ourfelves, more than a dead man can raile himfelf out of liis grave P Who but the fan6lifying Spirit of Christ, can form Christ in a foul, chaiTging it into the fame image ? Who, but the Spi- rit of fiuilification can £;ivc the ne-«v heart ? Well ma;/ v/e lay, when. we fee alr.anthus changed, T/as is the finzti rf Gcd. ' ' - ' ■" " 4
3. It is achange into the likenefs of God, 2 Cor. iii 18. lVc—b:kcldi}Lg as in agiafs the glory of thiI^rd^ar:chcliKPid in- to the fame i*nage. Every il;ing that gencraic4,gf nerates'its liK^j the child bears ibe image of the parent ; aud they that "are born of God, beat Goo'3 image. Man afpJiing to he as God, made himfeif like thedevii. In his natural' ftue he rcfem- i)iest'r»e dev;j,as a child doth rhe.f:uher, Johnviii. 44. -^Kc- wt of ycurjutkrr the drviL Bat when this happy chifr^ comes, the image of Satan is defaced, rod the im-i.t cf •^'•':; rcilored. Christ himfeli' who is th#brjghinefs'cf hi> IV- thei's ;5lory, is thapattcrri after which the new creatine is rnndc, Rom. vjii. gp. /^z i^hom he did fvrekw
jo cid uHdrJiinatc la bt conformed :o ths irragi oj
150 The Nature of Re, I 'ion.
Hence he is faid to be conformed in the regenerate, Gal» TV. 19.
4. It is an upix'rrfal cliange; ?\\ things become new, 2 Cor, VI. 17. It i^ a bicft leaven, that leavens the whole lump, the whole fpirit, and foul and body. Original fin infcQi ibc whole man j and le^ienerating grace, which is the falve, goes as tar as the fore. This frujt oi the Spirir is iq all goodaerj; jroodnefs of the mind, ^oodncfs of the will, goodncfs of the •ffettions, goodneis ot the whole man. One gets no« only a iew head to know religion, or a new tongue to talk of it j
but a new heart to love and embrace it, in ihc whole of hi» converfatioQ. When the Lord opens the fluice qf grace on the foul's new birth-day, the waters run through the whole B)an, to purify and make him fruitful. Inthefc natural chan^ gci fpoktn of before, they arc, as it were, pieces of ncwxloth ]pnt :nto an old garment ; a new life fewed to an old heart ; but the gracious change is a thorough change, a change both of heart and life.
5. Yet it 15 but an iraperfe£l change. Though every part of the roan is renewed, there is no part of him perfectly re- newed. A% an infant nas all the parts of a msn, but none of them are come to their perfctl growth; fo regeneration brings a perfcttion of parts, to be brought forward in the gradual advances of fanOificatton, 1 Pet. ii. a. Ai new-born baha^ de-
Jire tkejincfre nilk of tkt word, that ye may gro^t thereby. ^1- ihoui^h in regeneration there is a heavenly light let into th^ mind, yet there is ftill lome darkoefs there ; though the will is renewed, it is not perfectly renewed, there is ftill forae of the old inclination to fin remaining; and thu^ it will be, till that which is in part be done away, and the light of glory come. Adam w?s crea;-d at his full flature.but they that arc born mult have tlieir time to grow up ; (o they that are bora again, do come forth into the new world of grace but imper- fehWy holy : though Adam being created upright was at i"hc fame time perfeftly righteous, without the kaft mixture of iinful JmpcifcQion,
tufily, Ncverthelefs it is a laftiag change, which never goes oif. The feed is incorruptible, Ciith the text ; and fo is the treature that is formed of it. The life given in regenera- tion, whatever decays it mav fall under, can never he utterly loll; Kis feed reinaineth in him, who is born of GoD.i John jii. 9. Though the branches fhould he cut dowii, the root fhall abide in the earth : and being watered with the dew of heaven, fhall I'prout again ; for, 7 he root of the righteous JhaU not be moifd^ Piov. xii. 3. But to come to jparticu* lin,
The Mind illuminated, 15*
Tirjl, In regeneration the mind is favingly enlightened ; There is a new light let into the underllandii.g, fo that ibc/ ^vho were fon-.etimes darknefs, are now light in the Lord, £ph. V. 8. The beams r)f the light of life, make their way into the dark dungeon of the heart ; then night is over, and the morning-light is come, which will Ihine more and icore UHto rhe psrfett day. ICow the man is illuminated.
1. In the knowledge of God. He has far other thoughts of God, than ever he had before, Hof. ii. £o. Iu.nltcven be- trotlii thte untc me in Jaiilxfulmfs, and iKou JhaLt knoiv the Lord. The Spirit of ihe "Lord brings him back to that qucftion, What is GoD r And catechifeih him anew upon that prand point, fo as he is made to fay, / have heard of thee Uy the hearing of the ear; but noujnhr.e eyefeeth thee,]oh xli«.5 • The fpotlefs purity of God, his exa£l juftice, bis all-Cufnci- ency, and other glorious pcrfpftions revealed in his word, a re, by this new light, difcovered to the foul, with a plainnefs and certainty rhjt doth as far exceed the knowledges had of thefe things belore, as occular demonftratiosi exceeds .comnaon fame ; For now he fees what he only heard of befbfc.
2. He is enlightened in the knowledge of fm. He hath other thoughts ot it, than he was wont to have. Formerly^ his fight coald not pierce through the cover Satan laid over it ; but now the Spirit of God ftrips it before him, wipes off ;he paint and-fairding : and he fees it in its native colours, as the worft of evils ; exceeding finful, Rom. vii. 12. O vrhat deformed monlters do formerly beloved luUs appear ? V\'erc they right eyes,hc would pluck them out ; wcrethey right hands, he would confcnt to their cutting off. He fees how ottcnGvc fin is to God, how deltru61ive it is to the foul ; and call* himfelf fool, for fighting fo long againft the Lord, and har- bouring that deftroycr as a bofom-fricnd.
3. He is inflru6led in the knowledge of himfelf. Regen- erating grace caufeth the prodigal to come to himfelf, Luke XV. 17. and makes men full of eyes within, knowing every one the plague of his own heart? The mind being favingly enlightened, the man fees how defperately corrupt his nature is; what enmity againft God and bis holy law has long lodg- ed there ; fo that his foul lothes itfelf. No open fepulcnre, no puddle, fo vile and loathfome in his eyes as himfelf, Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then Jhall ye rernember your ozanezilzvcys, andyour doings that were not good ^and JJia'il lothe yourfdva in ycur own fi^ht. He' is no worfe than he was before ; but the Um i^ fhiiiing : and fo thefe pollutions arc feen, which he could nc*:* d'fcern, when there was no dawning in hira ; as the word is, Ifa. viii. 20. v.-hilf as yet the dayof gract "■• ^■''- brok<-;> with him.
152 The. Mind illvminatcL
4. He is enlightenrd in the knowledge of Jesus Christ»
J C'/f . i, s;'^. 2i. Hut XM preach Clirifi. crucifird, unto the J<ws ■i jmttr the Grteks fuohjkntjs ; but unto (Uh Jrws and Greeki^ Chrijl^ the powei of in.d, and ike Wijd.<vi cf God. The truth it, uurf generate men, thou^n capable of prcdchme Christ, have not» propperly If/taking, the knowledge of him, but only an opinion, a good opinion of him j a* one has of many controverted puinu of JociT-nc, whereinbc is far from'ccrtaiofy. As when yc nec' A' tr. 21 flrar.gcr upon the road, hc^behaving bimfclf dif- L^-^t'\\\ ve to .cciv. a {;ood opinion of him; and therefore •>'- ■:!i' .^iv ct i;v:-r'.c vvith him: but vet ve wtU not commie
' cy 10 Hitn ; becaufe, though you have agoooopini-
man, he is a ftrangcr to you, yc do not know him.
•• e,- think well of Christ, bat they wiW never
' ves to hiiD i feeing they know kim not. J5ut
: aorf carries the foul bayond opinion, to the
certain koowicd^e of Christ and his excellency, 1 Thcf.
'? 5* . ^<c>r our irofpft came n-M unto you in tuord only, but clfo in
P'-r^er, and i?i tk: hch^ChoJl^ and in much, ajfnrance. The light
r.: i;race thus' discovers the fuitabJenef* of the myftery of
?. 1ST, to the divine perfcdions, and to the finnei's cafe.
'! ...e the regenerate admire the gloriou- plan of falvatioa
.u r . . . r :-^-d, lay tbcir whole weight upon it,
jcin; for wSateverhe be to othcfi, .. - .. ....... . . .J. ... ;.ixtr of God^ and the ivifdom 0/ God»
But tinrcnewecilrjen, not feeing this, are offended in him ; ihcy will not venture their fouls in t||at bottom, but betake thcmfclves to the broken boards of their own rightcouf- r\th. The fame Hght convincingly difcovers a fupcr- larivc worth, a traofcenident glory and excellency in Cuk istj vhich darken sll created excellencies, as the riling fun makes «hc flars to hide their hcad.< ; and fo it engages the merchant- man to feli all that he hath, to buy throne pearl of great price, Matth. xiii. 4,5, 46. makes the foul well content to take Christ for all, and indeed of all. Even as an un/kil- fu! Terchant, to whom one offcreth a pearl of great price, t;r .: ' ;:i5 petiv warc^, dares not venture on the bargain ; for t:;:_^-. he thinks, thnt one pea»^l may be more worth than all he ha?, ytt he is not ^ure of it ; but when a jeweller comes to him, and jITares him that it is worth double all his wares; he thrn greedily cmbraceth the bargain, and chearfully parU v-tS ?11 that he has, for that pearl. FinaUy^ This illumina- " kr.owledee cf Christ, convincingly difcovefrtn fulncfs iiiWim, fuEcicnt for the fupply of all ncjr viT.s i enough to faiislv the boundiefs dcfircs of an immorial fcol. They are pcrfuaded fuch fulnefi is ia him, and thai .»;
Th t Mind i u ..„..,....; i. 153
c:(?er to be communicated; they depenJ upon it, as a certain tiJth ; and ihcrefore their fouh take up their eternal reit in him. -
J. The man is inuruRcdm the knowledge of the vanity ci the world, Pfal. cxix. 96- I havt ficnantnd of allptrfcHtori, Regenerating grace elevates the foul, fers it, as it were, 3* jnongvl the liars, from whence this earth cannot but appear a li'.ile, yea a very liale thing ! ever, is heaven appeared t>c- ^ore, whiL* the foui was imrncrfed in the earih. Grac^ brini? a man into a t>ew world ; while this world is reputed bit a itage of vaniiy, an howiifio; wildernefif, a valkv: of tears. God hath hu!!,*^ tiie fi^n of vanity at the door of all creitai ei'jovments ; yet how do men throo,^ inio the houfi;, calling .i.>d looking for foniewhat tbst is fatis-tyinsj \ even after it hi» cen A thoufand tiincs told them, there is no (tith thing in it,
is not to be got there : Ifa. Ivi. lo- Thou art tuturied in tfK greatnrfs cf thy ways \ yet /aid fl thou. ncL^ Thtn is %o hcp<. Why are men fv» fooi»fh P The truth cfthe matter lies htxe, they do rot fee bv the lisht of grace, they do not fpiritasliy difcern that fic^n of vanity. They have often indeed made a rational difcovery of it ; but can that tru- ly wean the heart from the world ? Kiy, no more than painted ^wt cz^n burn off the priforer's bands. Bm the light of - :.t light ot life, powerful and cffica-
ciCas.
Lajlly, To f^—. up ail in one vcrd, in regeneration the mind is cni'^htentd in the knowledge of fpiritual things, 1 John li. 20. i'-f h^te an. undion/rom tkcho'.yCnc, ihatis, from Jzsus Christ, Rev. iii. ib'. It j$ an alluiion to the fanftuary, v,-hencc the holy oil was brought to ano!nt the prirfts, and yt ti'iczii iili things, \-\z, T\czL{[drf to falvation. Tho' men be rot book-learned, if they be born again, they arc Spirit-lcaxT. red; for ail fuch are taught of God, John vi. 45, The Spirit of regeneration te;»chcth them what they knew not be- fore ; and what they did knov.-, as by the ear only, be teach- eth them over as;ain, as bv the eye. The light of grace is an overcoming light, determining men to ail-int 10 divine truths on the mere tefiimony of God. It is no ealy thing for the mind of man. to acqaicfce in divine revelation. Many pre- tcndgreat rcfpetl to the fcriptures ; whom neverthclefs, the clear fcript'i.'c-tcftiinony will not divorce from their pre -con- ceived cpin'Ons. Bat this illumination '.yIII make iriens minds run. as captives, after Christ's charii.*-whee>!s ; \\.'hich for their part, Ihall be allowed to drive over, and caft d.>wn their o'.vnimagipations.snd every high thingthatexaltethiticlfagainft -Se knowledge of God, 2 Cor. x. 5. It will make them re- cede the kingdom of God as a liciie child, ^larkx. 15. v»ho
154 ^^^ ^^^^^ renewed.
thinks he has fufncicnt ground to believe any thing, ifhis father do but fay it is fo.
HfcoiiiMy, The will is rcnc^vcd. The Lord takes away the ftony heart, and gives 4. heart of CcQi, Ezek. xxxvi. «6. And fo, of fiones raifeth up chiJdten to Abraham. Regene- rating grace is powerful and efficaciou';, and givci the will ai new let. It dors not icid.ed force it ; hut fwccily, yet pow- erfully draws It, fo that his people arc willing in the day of "his power, Pfal. ex. 3. There is heavenly oratory in the Mediator's lips, to perfuade flnners, Pfal. xlv. 2. Grace is poured into thy lips There are cord* of a nun, and bands of love, In tiis har^ds, to draw thrm after hiui, Hof. xi.4. Love TDakes a net for cleft fouls, which will infallibly carch them, and hale ihcm to land. The cords of Christ's love are flroag coids : acd they need to be fo ; for every Gnner is hea- vier than a mountain of brafs : and Sdt<«i), together with the heart lifelf, draw the contrary way. But love is ftrong as death ; and the Lord's love to the foul he died for, is ftron- geft love ; which afts fo powerfully, that ittaiuft come off vic- torious.
1. The will is cured of its utrer inability to will what it fipoA. While the opening of the prifon to ihem that are bound, is proclaimed in the gofpel, the Spirit ofGoD come* to the prifon-door, opens it, goes to the prifoner, and b/ the power of his grace makes his thains fall off ; breaks the bond of iniquity, wherewith he was held iniin, loos he could neith- er will nor do. any thing truly good ; brings him forth into a large place, Working in him both to will and to do, of Ui good plcafure^ Phil. ii. 13. Then it isfhat the foul, that was fix- ed to the earth, can move heavenward i the withered hand is reftor^d, and can be ftretchtd out.
2. There is wrought in the will a fixed averfion to evil. In regeneration, a :nan getsanev fpirlt put within him, Ezek. xxxvi. 26. and that fpirit lufteth againft the flcfh, Gal. v. 17. The fweet moriel of fin, fo greedily fwallowed down, hetiovr }othrs,and would fain be rid of it ; even as willingly asone that had drunk a cup of poifon, would throw it up again. Whea the fpring is flopt, the mud lies in the well unmoved ; but when once the fpring is cleared, the waters fpringing up, will work the mud away by degrees. Even lo, while a maii con- tinues in an unregenerate Hate, (in lies at eafe in the hcait -, but as foon as the Loko Unkts the rocky heart, with the rod of hu ftrcngth in the day of converlion, grace is in him a well of watcjr fpring-ng up iotoeverlafling life, John iv. work- ing away natural corruption, and gradually purifying the heart, A£ls XV. 9. The renewed will rifeth up againd fin, firikct at the root thereof, and the branches too. Luttc arc
The Will renewed. 155
no\v grevious, and the foul Mideavours to fiarvc thctn ; the corrupt nature is the fourcc of all evil, and therefore the foul will be often layin<J it before the great PhvTician. O wh<t forrow,f}iamcaud felf-lothingfill the hcarrj in the day thatgracs make^ its triumphant entrance into it ? Fur now the mad-man b cotjie (ohimfelf, and the rcmembranceof his follies cannot but cut him to the heart.
Lajily^ The will is endued with an inclination, bent, ar.d propeufify to good. In its depraved ftate, it lay quite anoth- er way, being prone and bent to evil only : but now, by a pull of theomnipotept,alI-conqiicr!ng Arm, it is drawn from c- vil to good, and gets another fet. And a» jhe former let was natural ; fo this is natural too, in refpe^l of the new nature given in regeneration, which has its own holy lufllnRS as-wcl! as the corrupt old nature hath its finful tuftings, Gal. v. i -. The will, as renewed, inclines and points towards God and godlincfs. When Go D made man. his will, in refpec^ of its intention, was dircfcicd towards God, as his chief end ; in refueot of its choice, it pointed towards that which God willed. When man unmade himfclf, his will was framed in- to the very reverfe hereof: he made himfclf his chief end, 2nd his own will his law. But when man is new made, in regeneration, yrace reftifies this olfordcr in fome mcafurc, tho' notperft6l!y indeed ; becaufe we are but renewed in part, while in this world. It brings back the linner, out of him- fclf, to God as his chief end, truly, though not perfeftly, Pfalm Ixxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there \ none upon earthy that I d^fire btfidfs thee, Phil. i. 21. for me to live is Chrijl^ It makes bun to deny himlelf, and whatever way he tarns, to point habitually towards GoD, who is the center of the gracious foul, its home, its dwelling- place \n all generations, Pfal. xc. i. By regenerating grace, the will is framed into conformity to the will of GoD. \i is conformed to his preceptive will, being endued with holy in- clinations ; agreeable to every one of his commands. The whole law is imprefTed on the gracious foul ; every part of it is written over on the renewed heart. And although remain- ing corruption makes fuch blots in the writing, that oft-times the man himfclf oantSot read it ; vet he that wrote it, can read it at all times ; it is never qjite blotted otit, nor caa be. What he has written, it (hall (land ; For this is the ccve- 7iant,.-l iciii put my laws into their mind, and rorite th^m in thnr hearts, Hch. viii. lo. And it is acovtnant of fault, a perpetual covenant. It is alfo conformed to his providential will ; fo that the man will no iriore be mailer of his owrj process, no^carve out his lot for himfelf. He learns to fay 11 om his heart, The will of the Lord U done,, heJJiall chufe ojur
ir.6 The Will renewed.
J
inheritance for -us ^ Pfaira xlvii.4. Thus the will as difpofedt* fall in wnh iholc thing:, which, in its depraved flate, it could never be recorciled to. .
Particuldlv. f !.} The Lord is reconciled to the covenant I of peace. The LokD Guo pro^ifctb a ccverant of peace . to finntrrs ; a ccve-n-nr which he himfclf h.itri framed, ^\iA re- giPraicd in the B)ble ; but they are not pJcaftid v/itb it ; nay an unrenewed heart cannot be alcafed vvith it. Were it put jnio »he r hands, to frarue it according to their mind, ibey vould b:ot mai^ thi^giout of it, which Gor>, has put in ; and put m many thines vtOD has kept our. But thd renew- ed htdff IS entuely flushed with the covccant, 2 Sam. xxiii, 5. Hf Jiatli made vmiIi y/ic an evrrlajhrq covenant, cni:red in ail things urtd /ure : this is all my Jaivution, and all v:y defire, Thougii ihc covenant could not be hrcra^ht down to theu de- praved will, their will is, by (»race, brought up to the cove- nant ; they are well pleafed with ii ; there is nothing in it they would have out, nor is any tbin^ left out of ir, which xhcy vould have in. (2 } The will is difpofod to receive Chr IST Jesus the Lor n. The foul is content to fubmli to him. Regenerating ^racc nodtrraiacs, and bungs down the towcr- ;ing imaginaiiorvs of the heart, rai fed u^ D/;ainft its tighiful Lord ; it 4)reak$ the iron 5new, which ktpi the Gnncriroin bowing to hina, and difpofed him to be no more ftiff-neckcd bat to yield to himfclf. He is willing to take on the yoke of Christ's cos:inriands, to tike up the crofs and to follow him. He is content to take Christ or any terms, Pf. ex. 3. Thy pcopUJball br zuilling in ike day oftky pcwcr.
Now, the mind being favingl/ tnlighicncd and the will renewed, the (inner \% thereby determined and enabled to an- fwer the gofpelrcall.' : Sc? the. main woik in regeneration is done ; uv; fort of the heurt is taken ; there is room made for the Lt)kD Jesus Christ, in the ionermoft parts .of the foul ; the cuter-door of the will being now opened to him, as v/ell as ihc inner-door of the undeillanding. In one word, Christ is paflivcly received into the heart; he is come into tne font by his quickcnitig (pirit, wherfhy fpiritual life is Riv- en to the man, who in himfelf was dead ro fin. And his firll vital act we may conceive to be an aftive ri'ccivii.g of Jcsus Christ, difccrned in bis glorious excellencies ; that is, a be- lieving on h:ro, a clofing with him, as difcerned, ofFircd, and exhibited in the word of his grace, the glorious gofpel j the immediate effcft of which is unioR with him, John i. 12, 13. To as many as received him, to them gave he power, or privi- lege, to become the fans 0/ God, even to thfrn that believe en hs NaTne, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the Re fk^ nor 0/ the will of man, but otGoD. Eph iii. 17. VhetlChriJl
The AffeHions cnangtd.
-f.s
rray dwell in your hearts by faith. Christ having taken "Se heart by ftorm,and niuinphantlv entered into it, in reverse- r aion, the fou) by faith yields itfelf to him, as it is exprclTed,- 2 Chron. xxx. 8. ""Thusthis glorious King, who cxir.e into ''le heart by his Spirit, dwells in it by faith. Tht foui being ^ifawn. runs ; and being efTeciually called, ccnnes.
Thirdly, Id rcg<;neratlon, there is a ha{ py charge made en the aifeilions ; tbev arc both r. i^.mtd and regulated,
I. This change rcfiiftes the aff.Bions. placing them on rui- t^ble objeOs, 2 Th^'.fT. iii. .5. The Lsrd dirtti your kearti into the love of God. The rcgenejatc men's dcfires are rcftifiedi thev are fet on Qo o himflf^nd the thinoa above, He who before cried with the word, IVho^ll f/i''w us cnj qocd ? he cl-ianges his nott. and fays, Lord lift hp the I'irht cf thy csun^ ienanc vppri us, Pfil, iv. 6. S jincrimifs he fav no beauty in Ch R I ST, for which he was to be dcCred ; but now he is all defircj, he is aitoj^ether lovely. CjQt. v. 16. The main flream of his defires is turned to run towards GuD ; for there is the one thing he dtlireth, Pfalm xxvii. 4. He defires to be holy, as well as 10 be happy ; and rather to be gracious thaa great. His hopes which bfore were low, and flaked down to things on earth, are now raifed, and fot on the ^lv0^y which h to be I'evealed. fie entertains ihc hope cf eternal life, founded on the word of prbsnife, Tit. i. 2. Which hope he hv, as an anchor of the foul, fixing the heart under trials^ Hch. vi. 18. And it puts him upon pujyfying himfclf, even 3 God is pure, .John iii. 3. For he is begotten again into ;: lively h6pe, 1 Pet. i. 0. His love is railed and fei on Goo hiinfelf, Plal. Xxviii. i. on bis holy law. Ffal. c>;ix. 97». Though it fti ike againfl. his moft beloved luft, he fays. The 1.7W is holy,- and the commandment ftoly, and jujl, and good, jvotn. vii 1?, He lo\es the ordinances of God, Pfal. Ixxxiv. J. How amiable arc tabernacles, 0 Lord ofhofts ? Being paf- cd from death un»o life, he loves the brethren,! John iii. 14, the people of God, as they are called, 1 Pet. i. 10, He loves God for hinf^rlf, and what is Goi>'s for his fake. Yea, as being a child of God, he loves hii own enemies. His heavenly Father is companionate and benevolent ; he maketh the fun to rife on the evil and the good, and fendctli rain on the juft, and on the* unjuil ; and therefore he is in the like manner (^ifpofed, Mat. v. 44, 45.^ His hatred is turned againft fin in- hiinfelf and others, PfaL.ci. 3. 1 hate the work cf them that turn afdc, iipall not cleave to me. He groans UU'. clcr the remains of it, and longs for deliverance, Rom. vir. £4.0 zvretched man that I am I W ho fhcll deliver me from the body cf this death ? His joys and delights are in God the Lord, in the lighi of his coant^nance, in his lav, ana in his people;
158 The Affections changed.
bcfaufe they are like him. Sin is what he chicfl/ fears ; h if a fountain of forrpw to him now, though formerly a fpring of Ijlcafurc.
9. It reeulate* the afFeAlons placed on (uttab'.c objcfls. Our sfFcflions when placed on the creature, arc naturally ex- orbitant : when we jov in it, we arc apt to over-joy ; and when we forrow, we arc rcxHy lo forrow over-much : but grace bridJes thefe affcflions, clips their win^s, and keeps them within bounds, that fhey overflow noi at all their bank?, it makes a man haie his father and nnothcr, and wife arid children, yea, and his own life alfo, cornp4r«tlvclv ; that \i, to )ovr fhem lefs than he loves Goo, Luke xiv. 20. It aHo fan^tlHes lawful atfcftioiis ; bringing tbem fciihfrom right principles to right ends. There niav I'e unholv dcfires after Cn R 1ST and, his grace ; 3$ when men dcfire Christ, not from any love to him, but merely out of love to tbem(elvc«. Give us ofvour oil, faid the foolifh virgins, for our lamps are gonr out, M.it. XXV. 8. There may be an unfanflificd forrovir frr fin , as when one forroweth for it, not becaufe it is dif- plealln? to God , but only becaufe the wrath annexed to ii, as did Pharaoh, Judas, and others. So a man may love his father and mother, from mere natural principles, without zny rcfpeft to the command of Go n binding him thereto. But grace fanftificj the affcftions in fiicij cafes, making them to run in a new channel of love to God, refpcft to his con?- jrards, and regard to his g;ory. Again, grace fcrews iip Irie a'ffftions. where they are too low. If gives the chief (cat in. them to God; & pulls down all other rival;, 'whether pcrfons or thing*, making them lie at his feef,Tral. Ixxiii. 25. IVhpm have I in heaven but thee ? end there /? none upon earth, that Idifire b^'fidci thee. He is lovrd for hirnfelf ; and other per- fonsor thir.2i, for his fake. What is lovely in them, to the renewed heart, is fome ray of the divine goodnels appearing; in them ; for unto gracics fouls thev fhineonlv by borrowed light. This accountsfor the faints loving all men, and yci ha- ting thofc that hate God, and contemnia:^ the wicked as vile perfons. Thev bare and contemn fhem for their wickedncfs; there is nothing of God in that, and therefore rv)thing lovo» jy nor honourable in it ; but they love them for thr ir com- mendable qualities, or perfc^ions, whether natural r^r moral ; becaufe, in whoirfoever thefe are, they are from God, and can be traced to him as their fountain. Finally, regenera- ting grace fcts the affeftlons fo firmly on Gop ; that ihc man is difpofed. at God's command, to quit his bold of cv- Ciy thing cllc, in order to keep bis hold of Christ; to bate father and mother, in coroparifon with Christ, Luke xiy. ft6. It makes even lawful enjoyments, bkc Jofcpb**
The AfftElions chafiged, t^g
mantle, to hang loorc about a man ; that he may quit them whca he is in hazard to be enfnared by holding thera.
If the ftream of our aRetiions \<ras never thus turned, we are doubtlefs goin^ down the ftream into the pit. * If the luft of the eye, the luft of the flefh, and the pride of life, have the throne in our hearts, which (Iiould be pofTelled by the Fath- er, Son, and Holy ghoft ; if we never bad fo much love to God, as to ourleives ; if fin has been lomewhat bitter to us, but never fo bitter as fuffering, never fobitteras the pain of be- ing Hcaned from it ; trulv weare firangerstothis faving change. For grace turns thcaffcftioBS up-fide down, whenever it comes into the heart.
Fourthly, The confciencc is renewed. Now, that a new- light is fet up in the foul in regeneiation ; confcience is en- lightened, inflrucled, and informed. That candle of th« Lord, Prov. xx. 27. is now fluffed and bri,^htcnid ; fo as it (hines, and fends forth its light into the moft retired corner* of the heart ; difcovcring fi^s which the foul was not aware of before ; and, in a fpecial manner, difcovering the corrup- tion or depravity of nature, that ftzd and fpawn whence all aftual fins proceed. This produces the new complaint, Rom. vii. 24. 0 zuretched man that l am I u>hoJhaU deliver me from the body of this death ? That confcievce which lay flecping in the man's bofom before, is now awakened, and makes its voice to be heard through the whole foul : and therefore there is no more reft for him in the fluegard's bed ; he mull get up and be doing, arife, hafte and cfcapc for his life. It powerful[y incites to obedience, even in the moft fpiritual a£ls, which lay not within the view of the natural confciencc j and powerfully reftrains from fin, even from thefe fins which do not lie open to the obfervatioti of the world. It urgeth the fovereign authority of God, to which the heart is nov reconciled, and which it willinglv acknowledges : and fo it engageth the man to his duty, whatever be the hazard from the world ; for it fills the heart fo with the fear of God, that the force of the fear of man is broken. This hath engaged many to put their life in their hand, and follow the caule of reiigion they once contemned, and refolutely walk in the path they formerly abhorred, Gal. i. 23. Hs u^hich perfcU" ted us in times pa fl^noyj preacheth the faith which once ht de^ Jlroyed, Guilt now makes the confcience to fmart. It hath bitter remorfe for fins paft, which fills the foul with anxiety, forrovr and felf-lothing. And every new rcfleftion on thefe fins, is apt to afFeft, and make its wounds bleed afrefli with re- gret. It is made tenoer, in point of fin and duty, for the time to come ; being once burnt, it dreads the fire, and fear* to break the hedge, where it was formerly bit by the ierpei^t.
1 Co Th € Memory h etkrtd hy Grc^,
Finally, The renewed conf-icnce drives the flnner. to Jesus Christ, as roe only phvGciaij that can draw ojt the iling of jfullr i and wKofc bicod alcnc can purge the confcience front /icad uorLi, H«b. jx. 14. refufing all cafe offered to itfro/Ti any oJhcr hand. And this is an evidence, that the confcience is not only fired, as it may be in zn uritcgcnerate flatc ; but oiled aifo with ^cgcnc^atillJr grace.
Fijtlityy As the u.cmory wanted not its (hare of dcprav , it is alfo bettered by regenerating R^ace. 't'be mcmor;. > vcakcncd with rcfpc^l to ihofc things that are rot worth rheir room therein ; and Tr.cn are taught to forget injuries, and drop their refentmcrts, Matih. V, 44,45. Do ^cod i» them that kcte ycUt and pray for thmt zukich dffpi:rfuUy ufc ycu.—-That ye may hf i. e. appear lo be tke children qf'ycur Father ztfdck is in heaven. It is ftrengihcncd for fp]ritual things. Wp have Solomon's receipt for ao i!l tneworv, Prov. iii. 1 My fcn^ faith he^Jhrgti r.xit my lazi-. But I ow fhall it be kept ia mind? Let ihine heart keep my ccmmGndments. Grace makes a hcart-memcrv, even where there is no good head mcmorv, Pfal. cxix.i 1. Thy zvord ftuve I kid in nine hfart. The heart truly touched with the powcifuJ fweemefs oftvnib, will help the )r,enDcry to retain what is fo rclifhed. Did d:v:;ie truths make deeper impreilions 00 our hearti, they wculd there- by iii^prefs ihemfelves with more force on our memories, Pfal. cxix. 93. I mill never. foT get thy precepts^ j or with thcfn thou hnp quickr^tdne. Grace ianc^ifies the memor)'. Many hive large, but unfanSified memori' ^ which fervc only to gath- er knowledge, whereby to aggra ate their cordemnztion ; but a renewed memory ferves to remenlfccr hiscoBiHiandmcnts to do them, Pf.Ji, cin. 18. It is a facrcd ftcrc-houfe, frcrti wher)ce a ChriHian is furnilhed in his way to Z:oi) ; for faith and hope are often fupplied cut of it, in a dark hour. It is the ftore-houfc of former exptricrces ; and tbei'e are the be. liever's way-marMs, by noticing o( which he comes *o kr!cvr where he is, even in adark time, Pfal. xlii. 6, 0 my Gody vty fovl is caji down within me ; therefore Xf.>iU I remenb.'r thee from the land cf Jordan, &c. It alfo helps the foul to godly fur- row and felMothing, prefer.iiug old guilt anew before the corfcience ; and making it bleed alrefh, the* the fin be already pardoned, Pfal. XXV, 7. Remrmbfr not tke Jim '" \:h, ,
And where unpardoned guilt is lying on the j<\-
fcicHce, it is often cmp'nved to bring in a word, moment fcfs the whole foul aliir.: as when Pete- the words of .[es us, he went out and v'-- -^-f- 75. The word of God laid up in a ' a rr.an to icfiii terrrialicrs. puts ihc .
The Body Changed. 163
^J5 fpirittsal enemies, and is a light to dire6l his fteps i^n the '.vav of religion and fighieourncfs.
Sijsthly^ There is a change made on the body, and the memhers thereof, in reCpcft of their ale ; thev are confecra- ted to th*? Lord. Even the body \i fortheLoRD^ i Cor. vi. 13. It is the temple of the holy Ghofl, ver. 19. Tlws members thereofjthat were formerly inftruments of unri^hte- oufnefs unto (in, become inflrumenis of righteoufnefs unto God, R-om. vi. 13. Servants to rir/iteoujhejs unto kolinefs, ver. 19. the eye that conveved finfui imaginaMons ini,o the heart, is under a covenant, Job xxxi. to do fo no more ; but to fervc the loul in viewing the works, and reading the vord> of God. The ear that had ofi^n been death's porter, to let in fin, is turned to be the gate of life, by which the word of life enters the foul. The tongue that fet on Sre the whole courfe of nature, is reflorcd to the office it was defigned for by the Creator j namely, to be an inftrument of glorifying him, and fctiing forth his praife. In a word, the whole man is for God, in foul and body, which byfeis bicfied change are inade his. • .
Lajilyy This gracious change fliines forth in the convcrfa- licrn. Even the outward man is renewed. A new heart makes ncwnefs cf life. When the Kmg's daughter is all glorious within, her cloathing is of wrought gold, Pfal. 5lv. 13. The fingl© eye makes the whole body full of light, Matth. vi. 22. This ciiange will appear in every part of one's converfation, particularly in thefe following things.
1. In the change of his company. Tho' fometime* he de- fpifed the cofnpariy of the faints, now they are the excellent, in whom is all his tielighr, Pfal. xvi. 3. I am a co:upanion of all that fear tkee, faith th* royal Pfalmift, Pfal. cxix. 63. A renewed man joins himleif with the fauns ; for he and thev are like-minded, in that virhich is their main work and bufi- nefs : they have all one new nature ; they arc travcllujg 10 Imraanuel's land, and converfc together in the languaigc of Canaan. In vain do men preterid to religion, whiL: un:rQrilv compatjy is their choice ; for, Acompauion of fools Jliall Ik de~
f toyed, Vfov. >riii. 20. Religion will make a man (by ot tfcrowinghiniftif into *nungod!y family, or any tinnecefiary fa- miliarity wish wicked men ; as one thai is clean, will beware of going iuto an infetied houfe,
2. In nis relative capacity, he will be a new man. G'ace 2nak«s men gracious in their fcveral reiatiens : and natively leads t'rv.-m to the confcicntious pe.form^nce of relative du- ties. It dees not only make good men and good women ; bat .Raises good rw{:>]e6ls, good hufbands, goad wK'ce, children, &r-'-.-,it .-:A ■:, ■;, 'Yordj good relatives in the charh,comaion»
i-4
164 i:.: ( u- _
wealth, and fitriiy. Ir is a iuU exception made a<»ain(l .the
religion of many, ntnicly, thac ihey arc u^d relatives, theyr 2rc ili hiifb-inds, wives, maflcis, lervanis, &r. How; v.iil \»c prove oui (rives to be new crfatures, it wc be flil) juft fuch as wc were before, in cur feveral rclaiionji, « Cor. v: 17. ThcrrfoTc if any man bt in Cnrifi, he is a new creature : old : ' are paJlU au-ay ; Lehold all thinosare become new. Real ;, nrfs will gain a tcljiinony 10 a man, from the copfcien- cci ot his ncarcft rcLjJons, tho' ihty know more of his finfui inbfrniticK, tlian others do, as we fee in th.t ca(e,'2 Kin^s iv. •; Thy frvanty my hijband^ii dead : and thou know Jl tkal thy Jen.au t dtdjcar the Lord. '.
3. In the way of his following his wordly burtncr$,*lherc is aprcat change. It appears to be no more his all, as fometia-ics it was. . Tho' l^tfits apply thcrrfclves to wordly bufincfs, as well a» otbcVs ; yet their hearts arc not fwaJbw- ed up in it. It is evident ihcy are carrying on a trade with heaven, as well as a trade with earth, Philip, iii. o^ for our f.jnverjaiion is in h,:aven. And tbey go about their emplov- ment in the wcrld as a duty laid upon them bv the Lord of all J doing their lawful bufinefs, as the w.ll of God,
-^ ' , Working, bccaufs he has faid Thou Jhalt ^tt
4. i r.ev have a fpccial concertvfor rlje advan*cir.er.t of the kingdom of Christ in the world : they efpocfc the ini^r- ♦ lls of icligion, and prefer Jciulalem above thcjr chief joy, Plal. cxxxvii. 6. How privately ibever they live, grace makes them a public (pint, which will concern iifelf in the ark c.nd work of God ; in the ;;orpcl of Gou ; and in the people of God ; even thefe of them N^hoin they never faw 111 the face. As children of GoD/** they natura'.l) care for thcfe things. Tbey have a new and unwonted concern for the ipiritual good of others. And no fooner do they laflc-of the power of g^acc (hcmfelvcs, but they arc inclined to ftt np to be agents for Cn R is\ "and holincfs in this world ; as appears in the cafe of the woinan of Sainaiia, «?ho when CiiR 1ST had manifcfled bitnfclf to her, went her way into the cMy, and faith unto the nicn,Ccme/re a man which told me stl thhigs that ever i did : Is not this the Chrijl f ' ' -K, S(), I'hey have fecn and felt the evil of fin, »c J^ity the world lying in wickcdncfs. 'Ihcy wo k. ihc brands out of the fire, remembering that th i verc plucked out of it. They will labour to ' - ^lon to oijicrs, bo:S|^y word and example ; an. :iy thcinfeVvcs their bbertv in thiiij^s indifferent, ih .1 charitable ufe»fit, c .cr», j Cor. viii
fQ'e if mzat make / to 'cjfcnd^ 1 ■
CoTivti-falioh- 165
Jh^ while tfic uiorUjlandtth^ Uji I make my brother to of" J -/id. _ .
5. In their ufe of lawful comforts, there is a great change. Thev reft not in them, as their end ; but ule them, as means ♦o help them in their way. Thev draw their fatisfat^ion frorti the higher fprin^s, even while the lower fprings are run- ning. Thus Haiinah having obt^innd a fon, rejoiced .not fo miu:h in the ^ift as in the giver, i Sam. ii.- i. And Hanna/i f'tivid, and I'aid, My heart rrjpkxth in the Lord. Yea, when the aomforts of life are gon;,thev c<«n fubfift without thcm,& rejoice in the Ldrd ahho' the fiu-tree do not blolTom, Hah. iij. 17, 18. Grace teach fih tp ufe the corvrniences of a prcfentlifr pafTin^iy ; ar^d to (hew a holy n^odixaiion in all things. The heart, which formerly immerfed itfeJf in ihefe things- without fear, is now (hv of being over-much pleated vith them ; and beuia apprehenfive of danger, ufes thern w*rilv ; -as the dog* of E^vpt ran while ihey lap their water ojt of the river Nile, for fear of the crocodiles that are in K. . , , .
Lajily, This charge fhines forth in the man's performance of relioious duties. He who lived in the ;ieglect of ihem, will do fo no more, if or.ce the grace ofQoD enter into his heart. It a man.be new-born, he wjU defire iho finccre milk of the wprd, I Pet. ii. a. Whenever the pravt rlefs oe/fon gets the Spirit of grace, he will be in htn> a Spirit of fupplic^iion, Zech. xii. 10. .It is as natural for one thai is born again to fall a praving, as for the new born babe to fall a-crying, Afts ix. li. Behold, kefrayeth. Hii h*art will be a temple for God, and his houfe a church. His devotion, -which before was fuperficirtl and for'^^al, is now fpiritual and lively ; for-. aTmuch as heart and tongue .are touched with a live -coal from heaven ; and he reftsnot.in the rhere. performing of du- ties, as careful only to get Kis talk done : but Ui every duty fceking comrnunion with G-od in Christ, juftlv confider- iqg thera as means appointed of Gup for thatend, and reck- oning him fell difappoiiucd it he mifs of it. Thus far of the Jiature of regenerawtui.
The^RefinhlaHce^ bftzui.'^.t natural and fpiritual Generation,
II. I come to fhcw whv this charge is called regeneration, a bc-.fig born again. It is fo called, becaufe of the rcfcrr bhr cc bcf .vixt natural and fpiruural generation, which \ I -♦.'•p.: particulars.
^-tural generation is a myOericnjs thing j and fo is cucTiiiicn, John iii. 3. The wind blcueth, where it
iCyj The R ^fembla ncc h etwixl naiuri !
' hl/r, and t/iou kearfji i\e found ^therecf^ but canji ".
kepct it Cometh, andxohitLcr it ;JOfth ; fo is every om r
b&rn of the Spirit. The work ot the fpirii is felt, but his wav
6f woikingis a rryftcry vrz cannot comprehend. A new liaht
i»-lct into therrind, and the wlU is renewed ; but how that
Ii};ht is conveyed thicher, how the will is fettered with coids
f love, and how the rebel is marje a willing captic^e, we can
> more tell, than we can tell, how the bones du grow in the
onib of her that is with child, Eccl. xi 5. A«a vt^^\^ hears
e found of the wind, and finds it (lining, but know; not
^t'.ierc it begins, & where it ends; fo is every one th^t is born
of the Spirit ; he finds the change that ig made upon hiro, but
how it is produced he knov/cth not. One thing he mav know
that whereas he was blind, now he feeth ; bjt the feed of
grace doih fpring^and grow up, he knoweth not how, Mark
iv. 26, 97.
Secondly, In bo^h. the creature comes to a being, it had not before. The child is not, tHl he be generate ; and a man Las no gracious being, no being in grace, till he be regene- rate. K-t^eneration is not fo much the curing of a fick man, as the qu'ckning of a dead man, Eph. ii. 1. 5. Min in his depraved ilate, is a mere non-entity in grace ; and Is brought into u new being, by the power of him, who rallcth things that be not, as though they were ; being created in JesUs Cur IS r unto good works, Eph. ii. 10. Therefore our Lord J'jsus, to give ground of hope to the Liodiceans, in their wretched and mifirable (late, propofcth himlclf as iht beginning r)t the creaiion of Gon, I^ev. iii, 14. Namely, the afHve beginning of it j for all things were made by him at rirft, John i. 3. i'rom whence the>/ might gather, that feeing he made ihem when th'ey were nothing, he could make them over again, when they were worfc than nothing ; the fame hand that made ihera his creatures, could make them new crea- tures. "
T/iirdi'y, As the child is merely paffive in generation, fo is the child of Go D in regeneration. The one contributes uoth Ing to its own generation ; nttthcr docs the other contribut* any thing, by v,-ay of efjciency, to its regeiteration : for tho* a man mav lav hirofclf down at the pool yet he haihno hand In moving of ihe water, ro efficacy ii; prrformir.^ of the cure. Oi»e is born r\\z child of a king, another the child of a beg- gar : the child has no hand at all ia this difF*;rrnce. Goi) leaves fomc in their depraved fta?e j otheishr Urings intoa flatc [race or regeneracy. IF thou be thus honoured, no t lec ; for who makcih ihe« to differ fro.T* another ?
c fgn to fh«
and fpiritii-dl Generation. 167
Fourlhiy^ Tliere is a woiid^rful contexture.of parts in both births. Admirable is the.firu^ure of man's body, in which there is ^iich a variety of organ's ; nothing wanting, nothnig iuperflaoas. The pfalinift confidering his own body, looks on it as a piec; ot marvelous work ; / am fiarfuily and iomz-- dcrfiilly viadt, faith hc^andcuricijly urongLtin the lower parfi oftkecajik, Pfal. cxxxix. 14, jj. That is, in the womb, where 1 know oct how the bones do grow, n^orethan I know what is a-3oing ia the lower parts of the earth. In natura,! ^eneratio!), we are curioufly l^^^o•loht, as a piece of aecdlc- work, asihe word impoiis : eveo fo if it in regenerauo'nj Pfal. xlv. L^, JjieJhaU be bron^y'tit unto the King, in raimin.1 of niC': dcs-zvork^ rainient curiou!ly wri?ught. it is the fdine word i,a both lexti. Atid'whai that raiment is, ihe ApolU-c tdls us, £ph. iv. 24, It is the new man, which afrer'G O d, is created iu riohtcoutnefs and iiuc holinefs. This is the raiment, hr r^iihin the fd-ine pl-'ce, wx.mud put on : not excluding the imputed ri^htcoufncfs of CiiRi iT. . Bj?th a»e curiofifiy wrought, as raaf^er-picces ofthc inaoifcld wirdom of God. '"> the wonderful contexture of graces in the new creature! O glorious creature. new made after ihcira«ge of God ! It i? grace for grace in Ch KiST, which makes up the new n»an, John i. 16. Even »s in bodily generation, the cb:ld has mem- ber for itiemberin the parent ; has every mereib^r the parent has, in a certain proportion-
Fifthly, All this in bolh cafes hath its rife from that which 15 in itlclf very fmall and inccnfiderabie, Q the power of God, in making fuch a creature of the corruptible (jed ! and much mere in bringing forth the new creature from fo fmall beginnings : it is as the little cloud l:ke a man's hand which fpread till heaven wa* biack with cloudsand wind, and there was a ^rcat raTn,i Km^s xiii. 44, 45. A man gets a word at a fcrmon, which hundreds dcfiie him hear, a:jd let flip ; but It remains with him, works in hira, and never leaves him, till the little word be turned upfidc-down by it ; that is, till he become a new man. It is like tiic vapour that got up iniQ AhafuerusI hrcd, and cut off ileep from his eyes, Efther vi. 1 . which provfd a Ipring of fucb iv.oiions.as never cealed, until Mordica, in royal pomp, was brought on horfcback thro' the fireer, proud Hanan trudging at his foot ; the fame Ilaman af- terwards han;ied, Mordica advanced, and the churcti delivered from Haman's hellift plot- The grain of roullard-lecv! becom- eth a tree. Mat. xiii. 21, 22. Goo loves to bring great things our of Tiiall beginnings.
Sixthly, Natural generation is carried on by degrees. Job X, 10. ilaji ihou ml y.curcd vie cut es milk, and rruddled me /.'- -'■-- - ''r »s rejitriicrariori •>>-,-,!- -■ ■ "-, • ,.„-^: -:
1 68 The Rejcmhlarxe hrtzvixt natural, ^c.
ly, in rrpcnersrion, as with the blind man cured by our LoR Hr vho firft {'aw men as trees walking, afterwards faw every mart clc^tlv^ Mat. viii. 23. 04, o^. h ij true, regeneration beinq, ftn6tlv fpeaking.a r^i (Ting from death to life, tbc foul is quick- ncd in n moment j like as, when' the Cinhrvo is brought to
rrfc6iion in fhe wAmb, the foul is infufcd into rhc life- fs lunp. Nevcrthrlrfs, we may imagine fomcwhat IJcc conception in fpirituri generation, whereby the foul ii prepared for quic^iin^ ; and the new creature is capable of growth, I Pet. li, 2. Ai>d of life more abundantly,Jobtt X. 10. '
AVr'en//;^, In both there are new relations. The regene- rate jrt3v call God, Father ; for they arc his children, Johrt i. !s, 13. begojfenoFhim, J Pet. i. 3. The bride, the Lamb*s wjfc, that is the church, is their mother, Gal. iv. 27. 1 hey are related, as brethren, as fitters, t6 angels and glorifierd faioti, the fajiily of heaven. They are of the bcaveniv iWck ; and fhe mcuneft of tK^m, the bafe things of the '^^otld, I Cor, i. 28. the kmlefs things, as the word imports, >vHo cannot boalt of the biood that runs in their veins, are yet by their new birth, near of kin with the excellent in the earth. -....-.- s. • • ;
EiqhthlY, There is a liltenefs betwixt the parent and the child. Every thing that generates, generates its like ; «nd the regen-.Tdte are partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4, the moral perfections of the divine nature, are inmeafurc and degree communricated »o the renewed foul, and thus the divine image is retrieved ; to that, as the child refernbles the father, the new creature refeivibies God bimfclf, being Jjbly as he is holv. ' • . . . •
Lajlly^ As there is no birth' without pain, both to the mother and to the child ; fo there is great pain in bringin/f forth the new creature. The children have more or lefs of thefe birtb-p^ihs, whereby thev are pricked in their heart, A^s ii. :^7. The foul has fore pair>,> when under conviflion and humiliation : A xoounded Jpirit uho can bear ? The 'noth- cr is pained, Z'on travails, lU. Ixvi. 8. <he fighs, groans, cri- eth and hath hard labour, i her min.fters and members, to hf'ng forth children to her Lord. Gal. iv. 19. My littlt rhildrfn.pf tvhrn I travail :v lirth ngoin, until Chrifi. be/or- nfd in sou. And never was a mother more fcelmKlv touch- rd with joy, that a man-child was born into the world, than ihe is upon the new birth of her children. But what it more remarkable than all this, we read nor onlv of our LoruJk- st;s Cu R I st's travail or toil of foul, Ifa, liii. 11. hut what lies more dircflly to our purpofc of his pains, or panes, as. of one travailing in child-birih ; fo rhc word
Th BoUthc of Re-encratlon applied. 169
prop? rW fif,nifi.°s. Well vnzy he c?\\ the new creature, as Rachel called her de^ir-bought fon B-noni, i. e. The fon of my forrow ; and as Ihe called another, Naphtali, i. e. my •v.-reftling ; for the prongs of that travail put him to ftrong cry- ing and tears, Heb.v.7. yea,in an agony atid bloody fweatjLnke xxii. 44. And, in the end, he died of thcfe pangs ; they be- came to hi'.n the pains of death, Afls ii. 24.
The dnclrine of Regeneration applied.
U^e I. By v/i;3t is faid, yea may try whether yon ar:^ ia the Ujte of grace or T»ot. If yc be brought out of the Uato fif wraihor ruin, into the ftate of grace o^ faivaiion ; yc arc new creatures, ye are born again. But ye will fay. How Ihal: v/e know whether v/e be born again or not ?
AnJ. ^id ycu apK. me, if the fun were iifen, and how yo;« {hould know, whether it were rifen of not ? I vould bid you look up 10 the heavens, and fee it wieh your. eyes. And would you knov»' ii the light be rif?n in vour heart ? Look in, and fee. Graqe is lighvaeddifcovei!? rtfelf : Look into thv mind, fee if it has. bccTi illuTiiiHtcd in the knowledge oi God. Hiii thou been inwardly tau,jhrwhat Gqd ic ? Were r!jine eyes ever turned inwa:d.to ijie tbyfeit; the linfu'^efs of thy depraved flate ; the corruption of thy eature ; the lins of thy teart ar4l life? WaR thou ever let.ifita a view of the exceeding finfuinefs of fin? Have rhlnceyejs fcien King Jr- srs, in his beauty ; the. manifold wifdom of God in him, his tranfcendeat excellency, and ahfolure fulnefs and Suffici- ency, with the vanity andempiinefs of a!! things el!e ? Next, "W^hat ch?noe is there on thy will ? Arc the fetters taken ofl, •whctewith it w^.^ fomeiimc-s hound up from raovinff heaven^ wards?. And has. thy wi.ll got a, nf.^ fet ? DoR thou ihvl an averfiou to fin, and a proucn<rs to good wrought, in th.v heart ? Is thy foul turned, towards G/>o, as thv chief and? Is thy will new moulded inro fome n-,caiure or conformity to ire preccpuv^e and, providential will of God? Art thou heartily re.concikd to the covenant of peace, and fixedly dif- pofed to liie receiving af Ciik.ist, as he ts offeree^ In ih^ gofpel i* And as to a change an*yoHi*atfc£tior5, are they rectified & priced on. right ohjcth ? Are your defire.? going ort after GbD ? Arethav 10 his name and remembrance of him ? Ifa. xxvi.^v Are your hopes jo him ? I-; yc^? Jove- ft-t upoa him, and yi)ur hatred fct a2;;.Hinlt Ciii* J)oes\w>ur oScndtn^, a good Go u« affi.'6l vour heart with forrp.Wj .and do. vnu fear i-n more than fuffcrng ? Arc vour atfcttiou.s regulated ? Are tiicy, with refpcc) to crcaicd co'nforts brought down zs bcir^o too high ; and svi.th refpeft to God 'm\ Cn i< 1- r, 'kff:^^4^y\
up, as htin^ too low ? Kas lie the chief feat in your And are all your lawfal -rcrldly coaiforli^ and crj •?aid at Wis feet ? Has thy confcicncc been cnViv;httiicd anci a- v-nkcnrd, rcfufsng all cafe, but from the application of the blood oTaRedceBicr ? Is thy memory fan'lifted, ihy body c,->niccia!cd to ijje frrvice of God f And art thou nov : newnefs of life ? Thua ye may riifcovcr, whether again or not.
Ajui, ..;. your further help in this matter, I will difcourfr a lutle of another r;;n of reg«neration, namely, The love of the brethren ; an evidence whdreby tlie weaUcft and oioft tim- orous faiofs hav^ often hid connfori, when they could have l!tt:c o^- i!o confolajion from other marks propofed to them. This ihe Apoftb lays down, i John iii. 14. Weknoio that tot have pajftd from death unto lifc^ becavfe we l(yve the brethren. It is net to t)C thought, that the Apofllc by the brethren ia tki5 place, means bictbrcn by a coasmon rctation to the firft Adam, but to the fecond Adam, Christ jESt;s ; becaufc, however true iris, that unirtfrfal bj-nevolence, a good-will to the whole rzct or' mankind, takes place in the renewed foul, as being a lively hnement of the divine image ; yet ihe whole context rp.-aks of thofe that' are the fons of God, ver. 1,2. cUldrcn of Gon, ver. 10. bornof GoD, ve. 9. diftinguifh- ing bcivijti the children of God, and the children of the devil, ver, jo. bctwi;ai ihefe that are of the dfvil, ver. 8. fa. and thefe that are of GoD. ver. lo. And the text itfelf comes in as a reafon why <^'C (hould not marvel that the world hates the brethren, the childrci* of God, ver. 13. How can we marvel at it, feeing the love of the brethren is^n evi- fience of one's having paifed from death to life? And there- fore it were abfurd to look for that lovR amongft the men of ihe world, who arc dead lu trcfpaffcs and fins. They cannot iove the brethren ; ne marvel then that they hate them. Wherefore it is plain, that by brethren here, are meant brcth-r 3 en by regeneration.
Now, in order 10 fct this mark of regenfrfation in a true )igbt, confldcr ihcfe three things: (i.) This love to the breth- ren, is a iovc to them as fjcb. Then do we love them in the fenfc of the text, when the grace or image of God in them, is the chief motive of our love to them. When we love the godly for their godlmeis, the faint! for their fanOityor holincfs; then we )ove God in them,& fo may conclude, wc are born of God : for, tvery one that totetk htm that begat Joveth him alfo that isbe- gotten of lxim,\ John v.j . Hypocrites may love faints, on account of a civil relation to them j becaufc of their obliging coaverfa- tion ; for their being of the fame opinion with tbcmfclvc* in xcllgious matters : and on many other fuch like accouDtx,
johether horn agcin, or not. 171
whereby wicked men may be ieduced to love the godly. But h^ppy thcv, who canjove tfacm for n3ked grace in them ; for their heavco-bprn temper and difpoGtion ; wMo can p^ckthis pearl cat cl a ^ling-hiU of infiramies in and about them ; lay hold on it, and love them for it. (2.) It is a love that will be given 10 all, in whom the grace of (jOD appears. They that love ore faint, becanre be is a faint, will have love to all the fiinfs, Eih. i. i^. Thfy v/ill love all v^ho, to their dif- cerning, bear theiirsige of Gt>D. Ihey that cannot love « gracious pcjJon in r.^gs.but conEne their iovo to thcfc oftheuj vho wear giv cloaihing, have not this love to the brethren i« l]»em. Thtjc who can cotiF.r.e tlieir love ta a party, to whom God has not confined his grace, are foiils too narrow to ba put airong the children. In what points foevcr men ^^r from us, in their judgment or wav, yet if ;hey appear to ii^&t v/ith us, iii love to God, and cur SaviOu r Jesus Christ, and in bearing his irazrc ; we will love them as bietbreo, i^ ve ouriclvcs oc of thc'^hcavcfily family. And (^3 } If this lov« be in us. the more grace any p'irfon appears to be polTclfed of, he v/ill be the more beloved oy us. 1 he more vehcmenily the holy fire of grace doth flame in any, the hearts of true Chriflians will bs the more warmed in love to thesn. It is nor with tiie faints as with many other men, who make thcm- fpJvts the ftandSrd for others ; and love tl^m (o far as they think ihcy are like themfcivcs. Bm, if i^py fccm tooui-fliine, and darken them, their love is turned to hatred andcnwy ; and they cndeavoor to dcrtiacl from iht* due pralfc of their excm-' pUry piety ; becaufe noihing relif-.eth wuh them m the prac- tice 9! religion, that goes beyond their own meafarc. What of the life and power of religion appears in oiberx, ferves oa- Iv to raiic the ferpeitine grudge in their Pl1ar»^^lca) hearts. -- But, as for them that are born again, their love and aif-^ioa to the brethren, bears proportion to the degrees of the <iivin« image they difcernin them.
Now, if ye would improve thefc things to the knowlcd^a ofvour ilaie, I would advife you, (t.) To fct apart fome lime, when /e are 3t home, for a review ofvour cale, and try your ilate, by what has been laid. Manv have comfort and clearnefs as to their fiate, at a fermon, who in a little time lofe It a^aic ; bccau'.e, while they hear the word preached, they make apphcation of It ; but do not confider of ibcfie th'ngs more deliberately and leifurely, when alone. The ac- tion IS too ludden and fhort, to give lafting comfort. And it IS oftfen fo indeliberate, that it has bid confcqueeces. — — Therefore, fet aboKt this woik at home, after f-arneft and fc- ricus prayer to God, for his help in ir. Complain not <^ jour.war.t of lime, while ihe night foUqwa the bu fy day ; or
372 Cafei of ChrtJlianSy dmhtin^.
of place, while ihe fi< It's and ontboufts arc robe got. (s.}Re* new your repentance before the Lor ;>. Guilt lying on tH< confciencc, unrepenfcd of, may daikcn all vour evidences and marks of ^rste. I; provokes the Spirit of grace tr> depart ; and when he rocs, our light ceafes. It is not fit time for d flint to read Sis evidences, when the candle n hlowu oat by lome confci^nce-woundn^ g'^'^t-
Lafily, Exert the powers ot fh^new nature ; let the grac"- of the divinr Spiru ni ynu, rfilcover thcmfelves by aQioi;. t^ \t would know whether ibere is a ficrfd fire in your breaU, cr rot, ve rrriiU blow the co^l ; for ilthough it br, and br b live-€oal, yet if it be unct;r the afhcs, it will E;iv'c yen no ligh«. .Sci;lc III your hearts * fif«n purpolc, through the gr?cc that u R 1ST Jksu s, to comply wicb <*very known duty, and againft every known fin ; having a rcadincCs of mind to be ifallruf^cd in what ye know not. If gracious fouls wouM thus manage their inq'jiries into thciV fiate, it 4S likely theV ■^ouldhavc a comfortable ifTue. And if_ oiirfrs would t;ikc furh a folcmn review, and maketiial of their ftafe itnpartiai Jv fiftingibemffives before the tribunal of their own con- Jciciifcs, they might have a timcl/ difcovery of their own r^ughtinefs. liat the ncglcl of felf-cxJi r.inauon leaves moft men under fad dcltifions, as to their Ihte ; and deprives xtxi- ny faints of the comfortable Mght of the grace of God xt. tneni. '»
But that I may affjid fome farther help to true Chrinians, io their inquiries into their Hate, 1 fhall propofe and briefly anfwcr fonr^ cafes or doubts, v.'h:ch rmy pru'nb!) hinder fomc J ej fons from the conwortabic view of their b-ippy /late. The children's bread niu*t not be with-hc-ld, tho' whiicit is reached to ihrm, the dcffs Ihoutd fnatch at it.
Cafe I. I doubt if 1 be regenerate, beciufc I kn ^ »e prccife time of my couvcrfion ; nor can 1 tiacc the pn'-- < ular (Icps, in the way in which \\ was brought to pafs. Anf. . liough It js vcrr ddirable, to be able to give an account • I le beginning, a.jd the gradnaj ?dvai-.ccs 0I the Loy D*i wok 7»on our fouls as ioir:c fainrj can djllinaly do ; howbrir. thi; -^.aiioer of the Spirit's workitigis llilla it.yilery ; yet this r$ ot nt^rtfTuy to evidence the trtith of grace. Happv he lh*t ran fay, in this rafc, »s the blind man in ib^ p»oipel, One tAfr.^ i Artpw, thnt xvhereas I was bl:nd, now i Jt*".' Lskeas when w«» c fl.imcs, we know ti\ere is finr, though wc know not ho'v when >t brgan ; fo the ttuih of gMcc in ns may b- diTrprr; i, though wc know not how, or when, it was dropt n • • a»tK. Ifihou CTtO peiceivo rhe l^Ppv change, w ■ • ' thv foul ; \\ thoij fir>deft(Ky mind is • lud JO comply with the wiH of G'> i* .
iheir Regeneration, refohecL ijg
efpeclally to fall in with the divine plan of falvation through a crucified RedecTTier ; in vain doll thou trouble thyfelf, and refufe comfort, becaufe thou knowelt not, hgw and what way- it was brought about.
Cafe fi. If I were a new creature, Cft could not prevail againft me as if doth. Anf Thougli we muft not lay pillows, for bypocnfes to reft their heads upon, who indulge themfelves in their fins, and make the doctrine of God's grace fublcrvi- cnt to their lults, lying down contentedly in the bond of ini- quify, like mf h that are fond of golden chains ; yet it mud be owned, the jnft man falleth feven times a-dav, and iniquity may prevail againft the children of Gon. But, if thou art groaning undei^thc weight of the body of death, the corrup- tic»n of thy nature ; loathing tnyfeU' for rhe fins of thy h«art and life ; ftriving to mortify thy lufts; fleeing daily to the blood of Ch r I ST for pardon ; and looking to his Spirit for faacVfi- c.ition ; though thou may ft be obliged to lay with the Plalmift, Jniquitifs prevail agoiTiJl tne : Vet thou mayft add with him, As for our tranfgrejjions thou Jh alt pur gi them cway^Vi. Ixv. 3. The new crv^aturc Uoth rot yet pofTefs the hoafe ^lone j it dwells befide an ill neighbour; numely, remaining corruption, the relirts of depraved nature. Thefc ftruL'sIc lo^'ether foT the maftcry : Th^ ftej^ Ivjieth againjl the Hpirit^dnd the Spi- rit againfl ihefujji, Gal. V. 1. And fometimcs corrupfto'n prevails, bringing the child of GOD into captivity to the law of fin,Rom. vii. 23. Let not therefore the prevaiUng of cor- ruption, make thee in this cafe conclude, thou art notie of GciD's children ; but let it humble thee to be'thc more" watchful, and to thirft the rnore in^cnfely after Jksus Christ, his blood and Spirit ; and that verv difpofiiion wiU evidence a principle of grace in thee, which fe::ks the deftruc- tion of fin, that prevails fo often againft thee.
Caje 3. Ifind the rhotions of fin in my iicarf, tnore violent, iince the LoRi>began his work in my fo-sl, than they were before that time. Can this confift with a change of my nature ? Anf. Dreadful is the cnfe of mant. who, after God has had a remarkable dealing with their Ibuis, tending to their refor- mation, have thrown off all bonds, and have become grofly and openfy immoral and jjrofane ; as if the devil had return- ed into their hearts, with leven fpirits worfe than himfelf.--— All I fhall fay to luch perfohs is, that their flare is exceeding dangerous; they are in danger of finning againft the Holy Ghoft. Therefore let them repent, before it be too late. — * But if it be not thus with you ; though corruption is ftiijin^ itfelf mere violently than formerly, as if all the forces of hell were raifed, to hold faft, or give back a fugitive j 1 fay, thefe frirrings may confin with a change of vou'- rart'if. VC'h'^n
5J4 Cafes cf Chnjl''a7is^ doubling
the rcflraint of gracp is newly laid upon corruption, it ii cp uonrer if ihis hfJ a6ls more vii-croifl; than before, warrin/^ ^g^\l\ii ihc law of the inmd, llc^ai. vii. 93. Tae motions of fin may really be mofi violent, when a new principle is bro't in to caft it out. And, as ih>: fun, fcndng its brains through the window, difcovcrs the irotes in the houfc, and their mo- tioTTS, which were not feen btfore ; fo the light of grace may dUcovcr the rifing and a6liri^i of corruptiofi, in another man- ner than ^ver the man faw them before ; though rhey really do not rife nor afl more vigoroufiy. S.n is not quite dead in the regenerate foul, it is but dyinjr ; and, dying a lingering dtatb, being crucified, DO wonder there be great fi^htrn^s, when it ii fitkat the ht-art, ano (ieaihis ist the door. Bcfid.-s, temptations may be more in ii^irabcr, and ilrongcr, whrlc Sa- tan ii fiiiving to bring you back, who are cfcripcd, than whilfi he endeavored only \^ retain you : AJUrye utreitlnminatfd, ye endured a gr(A'[^';hl oj oJfi.:dicTis^ 'lays the Apoftle to the Hebrews, chap. x. 32. Bat cau nbt away yoLnc confidence, l^cmember his grace is fuHicient for you ; and the God of peace will bruilc Satan under your feet Ihortly. Phafaoh ar»d hisE^^ptians never m/ide fucha fqrraidableappcarancc againfl the liraelitfs, as at ^hc Red-Tea, after thty were brought out of Egyp* ; but tlien were the purfuers ticarefl to a total over- throw, EKod. xiv. Let not this cafe therefore make you x^t your foundations, but be ye emptied of yourfclves, and flrohg in the Lord, and in the power of his might ; and ye Ihall come off viftorious. •
ilaje 4 But when 1 compare my l^e to God, with mv Jove to ^onie created enjoyments, 1 find the pulfe of my af- feAions, beat ftronger to the creature than the Creator. How then can I call him father P Nay, nias I' thele turnings o( heart within mc, and glowings ot affeftion to him, I fomc- tjmes had, arc gone ; fo that 1 fear, all the love I ever had to the Lo K D, has been but a fit and flafh of atf'eftion, fuch as Iivpocritcs often have. Arif. It cannot he denied, that the predominant love of the wcild, is a certain mark, of an unrr- ^encraie Oatc, i John ji. 15. \J a man love the worlds the Ivve rf the bather is nut in him. Novenhdcfs, thefe are not alwayc the (Irougcll alfettions, which aie mofl violent. A man^s a(- :e6iion may be more moved on fomc octafioos by an objctt that is liitle regarded, than by another, tkac is exceeding!)* beloved; even as a little brook fonietimcs makes a greater jioife than a great river. The firength of our aflcftions is to be nr-aturcd by the firmnefs and fixednefs of the root ; not by the violence of their agings. Suppofe a perfon meeting with a friend who has been \uu^ abroad, finds his affeQion more >chcBnrntly adling towards his friend on chat occaftoa, ih*»
ih eir R eg en e rati o n, refolv cd. ij,j
towards his own wife and children ; will he therefore fay, rhat he loves hisftiend inore than them ? Surely no; Even fo, although the Chriflian mav find hirofelf more moved in hts love to the creature, than in his love to God, yet he i% not therefore to he faid id love the crcaiuremcre than God ; fee- ing love to God is always more f.rjvily roofed in a gracious heart, than love to any created enjoyment whatfoever ; a;> i'p- pears when competition arifcs in fuch a manner, that the one or the other is to be forgone. V/ould you thea know your caff ? Retire into your own hearts, and there lay the two in the balance, and try which of them weighs d<y\va ihe other. Alkthvfelf, as in the fight of God, whctner thou ^ouldft part \»ith Christ for the creature, or part with the creature for Ch R 1ST, if thou wert left to thy choice in trie, matter ? If you find your heart difpofed to part vcith what is deareft to you in the world for Ghr ist, at his call, you have no reafon to conclude, you love the creature more than God ; hut on the contrary, ihat vou love God mo»-e than the crea- ■ture ; albeit you do not feel fuch violent motions in the love of Go 1), as in the love of fonoe created thin.:», Matih. x. 37.. He that lovtth father or mother more than ,ne, ii not rvortky cf me. Luke xiv. 26. {/any man come to rre^ and hate not Ais^ father end 'mother^.— he cannot Be iny difciple. From which texts compared, we may infer, that he who hates, a. e. is rea-, dy to part with father and mother for Christ, is, in our t.OR.D's account, oce that loves them lefs than him; and not one who love9 father afad mother more than bim. Moreover ye are to confider, there is a twofold love to Ch r 1ST. (i .) There is a fenfible love to him, Wtijch i» feic as a dart in the heart ; and makes a holy love-ficknefs in th^ ibul, ariCng eiihe/ from want of enjoymenr, as in the cafe o£ the fpoufe. Cant, v 8. / charge ycu, 0 daughter i of JcrufaUrriy if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am fck of love .'% or elfe from the fulneVs of ir, as in that cafe. Cant. ii. 5. Stay • me wiihfagons, comfort me with apples ; for I amfftoflcSe^ Thefe glowjngs ol i»lfec^ions, are ulnally wrought in young converts, who are ordinar»V maJe to fing in the days of their youth, Hof. ii. 14. W^hilc the hre-edgc is on the ycanj? con- vert, he looks on others TC[t.'-J to be godlv, and not finding them in fuch a temper and oifptfitioa as birnfelf, he is reati^/- to cenfure them ; and think there js far lefs religion in tha world, than indeed there is. Bui when his ovn cup comrs to fettle below the brim, and he fincft that in himfelf, whicu ' made him queftion the i^ate cf others, he is m.ore humbled, and feels tnore and more the KeccITity of daily recourfe to the blood cf Christ for pardon, and to the Spirit of Christ forfanc\ifi<:ation ; and thus glows dk)WEVfar<if, ivi
176 . Cafc% of Chrijliaru, doviting.
hamiliafion, felf-lcaihing, and felfdcnial. (2.) There i» « rafior.alJove icCh RisT. which, without there fenllbic! t- ir.oticns fell in vhe former cafe, evidences iifclf bv a dutiful fcgjrri to the divmc, authority aiMl comiljtml. When cn\t bears fuch a love to Cii r i : T, though the vchctr.eni ftirrin^i o^ afi>dian be waniiug, yet be ib truly tender of offentiinR a >iracious God /endeavours to walk before him unio alVplca- Cng ; and j^ieivcj at the heart,, for what \i difplcafir^ un'O bini, 1 John v. 3. For tliii is the love of God, that we kftp his cammandmen's. Now, ajthou^h that fenfiblc love doth non always continue wiib vou, ye have nojcalon to acco«m in a hypiicritcal fit, w^iilc the rational love rc-uiaiiis wfth yo.i, njorc than a faithful and loving wife needs qucftion her Jove to hrrhufband, when her fondncfs is abated. - •
Caje ^. The attainmcHisof hypocritps and apodates are a tfirror tome i and come like a (baking Picrm on ine, when I am about to conclude ironi the niarks of grace which! 'eem to find in myfelf, that I ■\n\ in the ftatc of grace. Anf. Thefc things fhould indeed ftir us up to a mol ferious and inapaifial examination 't>f ourfclves : but ought not to keep u& in . con- tinued fufpenfe as to our (late. Sirs, ye fee the out-Gdc <>f hy- pocrites, their dutic»j their gifts, their tears, &c. but ye fee ROt abcir in-fide : ye do not difcern their hearts, the bias of their fpirjis. TJpon what ye fee of them, ye found a judgment of dia'iiyr 3s to their Gate: and yc do well to judge chari<ab1\'i*R fiich a cafe, bccaufc ye cannot know the fecrctlpiiog* of ihcir agings : But yc are fpeaki rig, and ought to have a jadgrpent oF certainty, as to .your own (late ; anf therefore arc to, loo^.in to »hat part of religion, which none, in the wo^ld but yqui- felvt 5 can difcern in yoD ; and which yc can ai l:ttlc fee xtx others. An hypocrite's religion r.iay appear far greater than that of a fincere foul ; bur t^.at which rrakr,'^ the grcateft fig- lire in the eyes of men, is often lead wortV !?efrvrc Gon. I vould tathtr utter one of thofe groans thr Apoflle fpraks of, Rojn.viii.26. Than fhcd Efau's tears.h/vc b^,laHii.'s prophetic fpiut,or the joyof the fiony ground hco'ers. The fire that fhall try every man's work will try.not o^ >/l)^t built it is, but of what loft it IS Cor.iii.13. Now,yc rnay W>€^^ what bulk of religioa another has ; Sc what tho' it br irjiore bulky than your own ? God doth not regard that ; WAy' then do you m:»ke fuch a matter of it? It is impolTible^or you, without divine revela- tion, certainly to know o( v-hat fort anofhcr'man's religion is; l)Ut ye may certainly kju)wwh*t fort your •wn is. of, without cxtJttordiuary revelation : otherwifc the Apoftle would not ex- hort the faints tr> give /iligence to make their calling and r- Jettion lure, 9 Pet. i. 10. Therefore the attaituncnts cfhy «ocriics and a^oflalc^, Ciould not difiurb ygu in your itwi)^
rati9'Hi r/folvcd. i^j
qviiry ink) yout: own fh?e. But i'U tell you two thiii^s, \*riercin the nveancft (aims go beyond t1?e mod refined h\ - pocriies. (i.) In denying themfelvcs, renouncing all con'a- dcrce in tbcmieivefj and iheir own works acc^uiclcmg m,, be- ing well-phared wiihyand venturing their fculs upon God'^ plan of faivaiio'n thro' ./ks.l ? Christ, Mit. v. 3. 3k/-
Jtd ar» tkt poor injpint, for thtirs is Zhe kingdom of heaveh . And chap. ix. 6. Blrjfrd is ht Q:fi:facv^r Jkall not bf off:Hii : in me. Phil. iii. 3. iytarelke.circimdfion tvhi&h worjkip God in tkcfpirit'^and rcyjict^ in Chrtjl J-fus^ and have no cor-
Jidence in thejl^jh. (a.) In a real hatred of fin; being willing to part wi:h evcrv luii, w.thout exception, and comply with every duty the Lor li makes, or Ihail m?kc known to tbsm, Plaj! cxix. 6.. Then/hdcl i not be ajkamedy when I kave TCj^c'd ■unfo all thy. coinaiandminis. Trv yourltlv^s by -ihele.
Cajs 6. I Tee myiclf fall fo far (hott of t;ie fairus mention-
, ed in the rciibtures, and of fevcral cxLelkot perfons of my own acquaintance ; that, when I look on them, I hardly look ©Ji inylelf as one of the faiTic family with ihein. A'if. It is in.-;fed matter of namiiiation, that we gef not forward to that nieafure of grace ano^holinels, which we fee is attainable n\ this life. This fhould make us more vigorouHy ore I j towards ibe mark ; but furelv it is "from the d^vil, that weak Chrif- f^ans make a rack f^or ihemfelvcs of the aitainrt;ent$ of the Urong. A'ld to yieirl :o this temptation, is as unreafonable, a? for a child to difpuie away his relation to his fnihcr, bc- cpufe he is not of the fame llatiirc with his elder brethren. There are faints of leveral iizes in Christ's, family ; fomc fathers, feme youn^ men, and fome little children, ijoh.n ii.
^3' '4- ^ , .
Cafe 7. I never r*ad in the w<srd of God, nor did I ever know of a child of God Jo tempted, and fo left of God as I aiinand therefore no faint's cafe being like. mine, I cannot buc conclude I am none of their number. Aaf. This objecliofi arifes to fome, fjom their unacquaintednels wi;h the fcnptares and with experienced Chriitians. It is proHtable in this cafe, to impart the matter to fo.ne experienced Chriftiah friend ; or to fome godly niinifter'. This has been a bleffed :nean ot peace to fome perfoiis ; while their cafo, which appeared to be lingular, has been evinced to have been the cafe of other fatnts. The fc rip tares give infia.^cci of very* botridCtcmpta- lions, wherewith the faints have been BilHltcd. Jobwas temp- led to blafpheme j this was the great ifcing the dcvii aimed at in the cale of that faint. Job 1.11. He xuill cujfe tJiett.' thy fate. Chap. ii. 9. Curje God and die. Afaph was temptetl to thick it was in vain to be reli jious, which was in elfea to throw cif all rthgioa, Pfal. Ix.xiii. 13. Vtrily I have zUanf^
ed my heart in vain. Yea, 'Christ hlmlclf was tcmpjted to call hiniftf^f down from a pinoarclc of the ten pic, and to ii-'orfhlp «hc devil, Mat. iv. 6. p. And many of the children of Go D have not only been ai:ackcd Nfvith, but have a6^ually yielded to very profs temptations for a rime. Peter denied Ch RiST, and curfcd and fwoc that he knew him not, M<jrk iiv. ^. Paul, when a pcrfccutor, compelled cveii the faints to bUrphemc, A£ls xxvi. lo, i:. M-»Dy ot the faiois cao^ from their fad expericrce, hear witncff to very f/ofs tem|5»a- tions, which hate aftonifhcd rhcir fpirits, made their very flcfh to tremble, and ficVcnf d their hodies. Satan's' fiery <fsrt» make terrible jvorU, and will c^kR pains tf>qiench thetn, by a vigorous managing of the (hield of faith, Eph. vi. i6. Some- times, he makct fuch defpTiratc attncks, that never , was One more put to it, in running, to and fro '.Without intcrmifnon, to I'lencn the fire-balls inct;Tantly thrown into his hnufe, by an enemy dcfignirg to burn the bcufe about bim ; than the poor tempted faint is, to repel fatanica! iniettior-s. But thcle in- jtfl'ons, thefe horrid tcmptaiion.^, though rhcyare a dread- ful zfrliclion, they arc not the (injof the tetnnied unlcfs ti|^ mske them theirs by confeniing to them. They will be char- ged upon th*e tempter alone, if they be not coi fcntcd to; and \rtll no more be laid to the charge of the tempted party, thaa a haflaro's being laid down at the chafte man's door, will fix guilt upon him.
But, fuppofe neither minifler nor private Chriftian, to ■whom you go, can tell you of any who has bt-en in your cafe, yet youougHt net thcccc to infer, that your caie certainly is fin;^ular, far Icfs to give over hopes j for it is not to be thought, that every godly tninifler, or privatr chridian, has had the ex- perience of all ihc cafes a child of Goo may be in. And wc aecd' not doubt, hut fome have had diflrc-jTcs known orily to God, ard their own confciencrs ; and.fo, too'hers thefe dif- treffes are a* ifihcy had never been. Yea, and the' the fciip- tnjit do cor.iuin fn'table direQions for every cafe a child of GrOD can be in ; and tkefe iilaOratcd with a fufficicnt num- ber of.t^amplca; >ct it is ret to be imai^incd, there are ia the fcriptures, perfc^i inOances of every pariicjlaf cafe, ioci- df ni to the lain:*. Therefore, houbcit you cannot find an .'nfhncf of vour Ci«fc in the (criptures; yet bring vour cafe to it, and you (h.-ll fir.(i fu>able reinrdif j prefcr;bcd there for it. And fludy rather to make ufe of Cmk isr for yojr cafe,
Mvho has falvc for all forts; thsT To know if ev.-- "
yonr cafe. Though our fbould [hew yoj a:i i: cafe, in an njido^ibted faiot : yet none coi:li pr^ ccrtairilv give vcu eafe : for a fcnipulous en;' nadiiy find cut feme dirftrcucc. And if fiothii-^
their Refenerai'on, refolved, 179
Confornnity of another's cafe m vours, will fatisfy, it will be hard, if not ^mo'^nible lo ratTsfv vou. Foi it i« with peoples cafes, as with their natunil fjce« ; tho* the faces of all mea are of one make, and fonie are fo vcrv li^e ot^-Vs, thjrt at firft view we ?rc rcadv to take them for the fame ; yet if you view them more accural' ly, vou will fee fo-nethingin every face, diflinguifning it fro ii all others, thouah pofTibly'you ^annot tell what it fs : Where fo'e I conclude, that if vou can tind in yonrfclves the marks of regeneration, propoted to you from the word; vou ought to conclude, yon arc in the llate of ^race, though your cafe were fiogular, which is indeed tinlikelv.
C.7/e 'a/if The afflittions T meet with are ftranje and unu- foa!. I doubt if ever a child of Gi»£>, was trvftcc. with fuch difpenfations of providence as I am. yin/. M ich of what was faid on th ■ preceedin^ cafe, may be helplul in this. Ho- ly Job was alfmlted with this temptation, Job v. i. To which of the faints wilt thou turn f But he rejccl'^4 it, and held r<i<t his integrity. The Apollle fuppofeth Chriftians inav be tempted to think ftrange concerning the fiery trial, 1 Pet. \r. 12. But thev have n?<-d of lar>;er experience than Solomon's who wiU venture to fav, Stt I this is nrw, Eccl. i. 10. And what though, in refpetl of the outward difpenfa- tions of providence, it haopen to you according to the work of the wicked ? You mav br juft notwitbftaruiing, according to Sofomon'sobrerve, Eoclel. viii. 14. Sometimes wetravel in ways, wheie we cannot perceive the prints of the foot of man or bcaft ; vet we ca.jnot from thence conclude, that there v/as never anv there before us ;*fo albeit thou canfl not per- ceive the footOeps of the flock in th^ wav of thine i»fHl£iion, thoM muft not therefore conclude, tWou an the F.rft that ever travelled that road. But what if it were fo. that thou wert in- deed the firft ? Sotne faint cr other behoved to be theiidf, in drinking of each bitter cup the roft hiv- drank of. What warrant have you or l.-to limit the holy O^^.e of Ilrael to a trodden path, in his difpenfations towards u« ? Thy way is in the fa, and thy path in- the great wcters ; and thy foo^feps are not known ,.V{?L\.\\\y\\. 19. IfihcL<)RD fhould carry you to heaven, by fome retired road, and !e( vou in at n back-door, fo to fpeak ; you would have no ground to complain. Learn to allow fovereignty a latitude ; beat your duty ; and let no aHlifiiows caft a vail over anv evidences you otherwiCe havfc for voiir being in the ftate of wrace ; for, A"^' mav hneweth either their love or hatred, hy all that is before fh;m, Eccl. ixi. U.^n: II. Yc that are ftrangers to this n^'v birth, be con- vinced o( the ahfoiufe necefliry of it. Are all in the ftate of grace born again ? Then V5 have neither part nor lot in it.wh*
i8b The ^>t'jj( J oj
arc not born aj^ain. I rnuft tell ynu in the words of our Lo r r> and Saviour, and O (hat he would fpeak them to your hrartt, Yc muft be born again, John iii. 7. And tor your convidion, confidcrthefe few things.
Firfi^ Regeneration is abfolutelv ncceffiry to qualify voti to do any thing rcallv good and acceptable to God. While you are not born a:;ain, your bell works are bit gliftering iins ; for though the matter of them is good, ihcv arc quite mancd in the inakiog. Confider, (i.)That without icjcneration there is no faith ; and, IVuhout faith, it is i'Ttpoffibk to pteaft Grd, Hel. xi. 6. Faith is a vital act of the ncw-boru foul. The £vangclift, (hewing (he different entertainment our LoRiy Jjisus had from different perfons, fome leceiving hiin, fome rejtftin? him, points at rgenerating grace, as the true ril^ of that differ<*nee, without which never one would liave received hi:n. He tells us that as many as received him, were y?efe which were born of God, John i. 1 1, 12, 13. Unrcgencratc men may prefume, but true faith they connot have. Faith is a flower that grows not in the field of nature. As the tree cannot grow without a root, neither can a man be- lieve, without the new nature, whereof the principle of bc- teving is a part. (2 ) Without regeneration, a man's works are dead \\MDrks. As is the principle, fa muft tne effx:£l$ be : if the lungs be rotten, the breath will be unfavoury ; and ke who, at beH, is dead in fin, his works, at heft, will. be but dead works. Unto them that are d^fHtd and unbelicvin-r^ is nothing puje — being abominable and difobedunt ; and unto every good work, reprobate^ Tit. i. 15, 16. Could we fay of a man, that he is more blamclefs in his life, than any other in the world; that he macerates his body with fading ; and has made his knees as horns with conMnual praying; hut he Is not born a- ^ain : that exception would mar all. As if one fhouU fay, There is a well proportioTicd body, but the foul is gone ; it is but a dead lump. This is a melting confideration. Thou doft many things materially good, but God faith, All thcfe things avail not, as long as I fee the old nature reigning in the man. Gal. vi. 15. For, in Jefu% Chrijl, ntithfr circumcifion mvaileth any things nor uncirrumdjion, but a new cttature.
If thou art not born again, ft.) All thy reformation is raught in the fight of God. Thou haft fliut the door, bu« the thief js flill in the houfc. tt may \>r thou art not what ©nee thou waft, yet thou art not what thou raulR be, if ever thou fceft heaven ; f«^ Except a man be bom again, kt cannot fee the kingdom of God, }o\iv\ iii. 3. fs ) Thy^rayers are aa abomination to the Lord, Prov. xv. 8. It may be, others admire thy fcrioufncfs ; thou cricftas for thy life : but Goo •ccouuu of ihc opening of tby mouib, as one would j'-'-^Mnf
Th€ N cejfily of Regenrration . i ^ i
of the opening of a grave f':H of rotennefs, Rom. \n. i;^. Their threat is an open ffpukhre. Otiieis are alfctled with thy pravers. which ieem to tbem as if they woul^ rend the hea- vens ; but God accounts t'lem a»s the howling of a dog \They have not cried unto me with their hcdTt, uhcn they hm^lcd upcn their btdsy Hofvii. 14. Oihers take thee for a wrcftler and prevailer with Gob ; Hut he can t;>ke no delight in thee nor thy prayers neither, Ifi. Ixvi, 3. He that killeth an ox, as if hi Jliw a man : he that/acr/ficcth a lamh, as if he cu^ off a dogs neck ;—he that burneih inc-.nfe^ as if he bleffcd an idol. \Vliy that ? Bccaufe thou art vet la the gall of bicteniefs and boijd of iniquity. (3.) All thcu haft done for Gop, and his caufe in the world, thoush it n.ay be followed wWh tcmijoral re- wards, yet is loft as to divine acceptance. This is clear from the cafe of Jehu, who was indeed rewarded with i kingdom, for his executing Hue vengeance ujion the houfe of Ahab, a* being a work good for tlie matter of 't, bccaufe it was com- manded of Go d^ as you mav fee, 2 Kings x. J3. Yet he was punilhcd for it, in his pofterify, becaufe he did it not in a right manner, Hof. i. 4. / wiU avenge the blcod of Jezreet upon, the houfe of J-hu. God looks mainly to the heart } and if fo, truly albeit thy outward appearance be fairer than th<it of many others, yet the hidden man of thy heart is lo'hfoiTie 5 thou looked well before men, but art thou, as Mofes wa^, fair to Gtd, as the margin hath it, Afls vii. 20. O vvhat a difference is there betwixt the characters of Afa and Amazi- ah : The. high places rvrrt not removed : neverthelejs, Afa his heart was perfed with the Lord all his da\s.\ Kings xv. ^^, Amaziah did that rvhich zoas ri^t^ht in ihefght of the Lard,lnif. not with a per/eH heart, 2 Chron. xxv. 2 it mav be, ihrti art zealous againft fin in others, and doft admohifh them to their duty, and reprove them for their fin ; and they hate thee, bec^ufe thou doft thy duty : But I mufttcll thee, Goi> hates thee too, becaufe thou deli it not i« a right manner; an«i that thou canft never do, whilft thou art not born again. Lafhy All thy ftruggles againft fin, in thine own heart an'^ liF-, a c" naught. The proud pharifee afflicted his body with facing, and God (truck nis foul, in the meantime, with a fenfenci of condemnation, Li:ke xviii. Balaam flruggkd w'«h hi« covetous terfcptr to that degree, that though he loved rhe w«- ges of anri^^teoufnefs, yet he would not win the '.n by curfing Ifrael ; but he died the death of the wickea, Numb, xvxi- ^.y All thou di>fl, while in an unregenerate ftare, h for ♦byfelf ; and therefore it will fair with thee. as wi^h a fubjepi who, h.iving reduced the rebels, put the c"«wn on his ow* head i aod therefore loofeib all his ^ood fervice, and \'s hcui
tCQ.
i82 TJu Nec^JfUy of Regeneration.
ObjeS. If it be thus wiih us, then wc need never pe»rorin any religious duty at all. A^f. The conclufion is ooi juft. No inability of thine can lool'e thee from the duty God's- law lay« on ihee : and there i$ lefs evil in thy doing thy du- ty, than there 15 in the omitting of it. But there is a mids be- twixt oinitting of duty, & the doiiic of it as thou dofl it. A man ordereth mafon* to build a houfe, if they quite nrglc£\ the work, that will not be accepted ; if they fall on and build upon the old rotten foundation, neither will that plcafe, bat they mult raze the old foundation, and build on firm ground : Go thou and 60 likewifc. In the meantime, it is not in vain for thee, even for thee, to feek the Lord; for tho' he regard* thee ror, yet lie may haverefpc6l tobisown ordinance, and do thee good thereby, as was faid before.
Second/y^ Without regeneration there is no communion' with God. There is a fccletv on earth, whofe fellowlhip i» with the Father and vrith the Son j£sus Cii r isr7 1 Johnt 1.5. But out of ihat (octety all the unregenerate are exclu- ded ; for they are all enemies to God, as yc heard before at large. Now, Can two walk togtthcr^ except thi'y it agreed f iimos iii. 3. They are all unholy ; and, Wiiat communioa> hath light with darkncfs-Chrijl with Belial ? 2 Gor. vi. i^ 15. They may have a fhew and femblance of holinefs, but they arc llfangers to true holinefs, and iheiefore without God in the world. How fad is this cafe, to be employed in religious duties-, but to have no fellowlhip with God ia them ! Ye would not be content with your meal, unlefs it fed you; nor with your clothes unlefs they kept you warm v iAnd how can vou fatisfy yourfclvcs with your duties, while fiiey are not efFeftual to your communion with Go d ?
Thirdly^ Regeneration is abfolutely necefTary to qualify you for heaven. None goto heaven but they that are made meet for it. Col. i. i«. A« it was with Solomon's temple, 1 Kings vi. 7. fo it is with the temple above. It is built of ftonc, made leaHy before it is brr ught thither ; namely of lively fiones, 1 Pet. ii. 5. wrought for the fame thing. 2 Cor. V. 5. for they cannot be laid in that glorious building, juft as they' came out of the quarry of depraved nature : Jewels of gold arc not meet for fwine, and far lefs Jewels of glory for unrenewed finncrs. Beggars in their rags, are not meet for lings houfes ; nor finners to enter into the Kii»g*s palace, withoutthc raimentof needle-work, Pfal. xlv. 14, 15- What vife man would bring fifties out of fhe water to feed in his neadow ; or fend his oxen to feed in the fca f Even as litilc »re the utJregencratc meet for heaven, or ii heaven ojcct for them. It would never be Itkrd hy, them.
Tht Nccejfity of Regeneration, i^g
The unregene rate would find fault with heaven on feveral accounts. As (i.) That it is a ftranRe country. Heaven is the renewed man's native country : Kis Father is in heaven : his mother is jerulalem, which is above, GA. iv. ftS. He \% born from above, John iii. 3. Heaven is his home, 2 Cor. ^ « ] . Therefore he looks on himfcif as a ftraneer en this earth, and his head is homeward, He'b. xi. 16. 7h() dcfac a beiUt country, that. is^ an heavenly. But the unregenerate man is the man of the earth, Pfal. X. i8. written in the eaich, Jer, xvii, 13. Now, home is home, be it never lo homely ; there- fore he minds earthly things, Phil. iii. 19. There is a pec^* liar fweeincls in our native foil, and hardly arc men drawn to leave it, and dwell in a flrange country. In no cafe doc* that prevail more than in this ; for unrenewed rata would quit their pretenfions to heaven, were it not that they fee they cannot make a better of it. ('2.) There is nothinj there /sf what they delight mod in, as moft agreeable to the carnal heart, Rev. x\i. 27. And there Jkall tn no wife enter in<- io it^ any thing that dejileth. When Mahomet give out par- adife to be a place of fenlual delights, his religion wai gree- dily epiibraced ; far that is the heaven men naturally chufe. If the covetous man could get bags full of gold there, and ihe voluptuous man can proinife himfelf his fenfual delights there ; they might be reconciled to heaven, anJ meet for it tcio : but fince it is not fo, tho' they may utter fair words a- bout it, truly it hasJiitle of their hearts. (3.) Every corner there, is filled with that which, of all things, they have the lead liking to ; and that is holinc^i', true holinefs, pcrfetl ho- linefs. Were one that abhors fv^ '.hc'i flefh, bidden to a feaft where all the dilhes were of that fort of meat, but varioufly prepared ; he would fina fault with every difu at the table, notwithftan^lng all the art ufed to make them palatable. - It is true, there is joy in heaven, but it is hclyjoy: there are plcafures in heaven, but they are holy pieafures : there are places to (land by in heaven, but it is holy ground. That holinefs that cafts up in every pUce, and in every thing there, would mar all to the unregeneratc. (4.) Vv'^ere they carried thither, they would not only change their place, which would be a great heart-break to them ; but they would change their company too. ^raly they would newer like the corr.pany there, who care not for communion with Goo here.; nor value the -fellowOiip of his people, at lead in the vitils of practical godlinefs. Many indeed nix themfelves vnth the godly on earth, to procure a name to themfelves, and to cov er the naughtinefs of their hearts : but tha.t trade could not lie managed there. (5.} They would never like the eaiplny- meiit of heaven, they care fo little for it now. The bulinel#
T54 TkeNecrJJity of R generation,
<jf ilie faints iberc, would \}t au intolerable burden to them, Iceing it u not agreeable »o iheir nature. To be taken up in beholding, admiring, &. praifiug of hi»n that litteth upon the thrortc, a- "d o^ibc Lamb, would be work unfuiiable, and theicfofc utifavoury to an UY<^ncwed foul. LnJlLy^ They v'Ould find this tault with it, that the whole is of cyerlafti<iig continuance. This would" be a killing ingredient in it to them. How would fuc^ as now account the fabbaih-day a Vuiden. brook the celebrating of an cvcrlafling fabbath in the hc?ve!is"? .
Z3/?/y, Regeneration IS abfolutely nccefTary to your being aomitred into heaven, John iii. 3. No heaven without it. Though cat nal men could d-jeft all thcfe things, which make heaven fo unfuitable For them, yet God will .never fufFer th^m 10 comd thither. Therefore born'Sgain ye mud be ;elfc ye fha.l ucver fe/* heaven, ye (hall periih eternally. For (t.j r here IS a bjl! of wxtlufion J^ainft )Ouin the coiift of heaven, and againft all your fort ; Lxc^l a man he born agnin, he can- not Jce the kingdom of God, i John iii. 3. Here is a bar Xefore you, that men and angels canrot remove. And to Lope for heaven, over the belly pi tb.s pc:cmpiory fentence, )5 to hope God will recal his word', and fac/ifice his truth . and faithfulnefs to your fafcty; which is infinitely more thai' to hope' the earth fhal.l be for Taken for you, and the rock re- moved out of his place. (2) There is no holinefs without yegeneraiion. It is the new man, which is created in true ho- • lincfs, Eph. iv" 24. And no heaven without holinefs; for, JVilhout holimfs nd -manjhatljrelhe Lord^ Hcb. xii. 14. Will the gates of pearl be opened, fo let v\ tlbgs and fwine ? No ; their place is without, Rev. xxii. 15. Gou will not ad- mit fuch into the holy place of comniunion with him here ; i-nd will he admit them into the holieft of all hereafter ? ^Vill he take the children of the devil, and give them to fit vith him in his throne ? Or will he bring the unclean into the city, whofe ftreet is pure gold ? Be not deceived, grace and glory arc but two links of one chain, ';rhich God has join- ed, and no man (hall put afundcr. None zxt traufplanted in- to the paradife above, but out of the nurfery of grace below. If ye be unholy while in this world, ye will be forever inilerablc in the world to come. (3.) All the unregenerate are without Christ, and therefore having no hope while in that cafe, Eph. ii. 12. Will Ch Risr prepare manfions of clory for them, that refufe to receive him into their hearts ? Nay ; rather, will he not laugh at their calamity, who iiovr i -t ar nought all his counfel t* Prov. i. C5, 26. Laflly, Thetc js an infallible conncdion betwixt 2t finally unregenerate ftaie Sc dananationyrifing from the nature of the things themfeWcs ;
The Necejfliy of RegcnerahQii. 185
and from the decree of heaven, which is fixed and unmovea* ble as mountains. Johniii. 3. Rom. viii. 6. To be carnally minded is death. An unrcgenciate ftateishcll iW^^« t>ud. It is eternal dettruclion in err.bryo ; growing daily ,^ouoh tboa doft not difccrn it. Death is painted on many a fair face, in this life. Depraved nature makes men meet to be partake-s of the mhentarice of the damned, in uttei darkrefs. (|.) The heart of ftcne within thee is a finking weight ; as aftone natu- rallv goes downward, \o the hard flony heart tends downward to the fottomlcfs pit. Ye are hardr^ed a^ainft reproof ; tho* ye are told vour danger, vet you will net fee it, ye will notbc- lievejr. But remember, that the confciertce its being leaied with a hot iron, is a fad prcfagc of everlaftmg burnings, (a.) Your unfruitfulnefs undtr the means of prace, fits you tor the ax of God's judgmei.ts, Mat. iii. \q. Every tree tha! brings tt/i not Jnrth good fruity ii kezvn down and cajl Lr-to the Jire, The Withered branch is fuf I foi- the fire, John xv. 6- Trem- ble at this yc dcfpifcri of t+iegofpel ;ifyc be not thereby made jnect for heaven, ye will be like the barren grmind, iieartng briers and ihorns, nigh unto curfing, whofe end is to be bur- ned, Hv^b. vi, S. (3.] The bcUilh difpofitioD of mind, which difcovers themfelvcs in profanity of life, tit the guilty for the regions of horror. A profane life will Lave a miferab'c end, Tkey which do fack things, Jhall not iffherit the kingdom cj God, Gal. V. 19, 20, 21. Thiiik on this, yc prayerlelspcrfons, ye mockers of religioa, ye curfcrs and fwcarcrs, )C unclean and unjuft perlons,.who have not fo much as moral honefly to keep you from lying, cheating and dealing. What fort of a tree think ye ii to be^ upon which thefe fruits grow ? Is it a tree of righieoufncrs, which the Lord hath planted p Or if it not fuch an one as cumbers the ground, which God will pluck tip fpr fuel to the fire ot his wrath ? (4.J Your being dead m fin rnakcs you meet to be wrapt in flames of brim- flone, as a winding (beet ; and to be buried in the bottomlefs pit, as in a gr?ve. Great was the crv in Egypt, when 4hc fir ri-born in each family was dead : but are there not many families, where ail are dead together ? Nay, many there are, who are twice dead, pluckeid up by the roots. Sometime, in their life, they have been rouzed by apprfhenfions of death, and its confcquences ; but now they are fo far on in their way to the land of darknefs, that they hardly ever have the leaft glimrtiering of light from heaven. {5.} The daiknef* of your minds prefageth eternal darknefs. O the horrible isynorance feme are plagued with : vvhile others who have got fome rays of morning light into their heads, are utterly void of fpiritual light in their hearts ! If ye knew your cafe, ye would crv out, Oh daiknefsl darknefs! darkncf* making way for
i86 r/u-.,..,,,,, .,
the blacknefs of darknefe for cvtr ! The face-eoveriug is up- on you dirtady, as contlejiincd peiCoitJ. ; fo near arc yc to ey* eilalhng duniocTs. Ii is only jKsUbCwKUsr who can fiop •he .execution, pull the napkin off the face ofthc condcinne4 »alcfa6ior, and pnt a paidon in his hand, Ifa. xxv. 7. And he will dejlroy in this ■'noi/p'ain^ ike face of the covering cajl over ail peopUf i.e. Thr fact-covcting caft over the condem- ned IS in Haman's cafe. Eftjxcr vit. B. As the word went out oftheking^s mouthy they covered Haman's Jace. Laftly, The chain* of darknefs vc are bound wiii> in the pn(on of your de- praved Hate, iia. 1x1.1. Ills you fo be caft into the Jjurnin^ fiery furnace. Ah inilcrablc men! Someumcs ibetr confcienccs iiir within th?-4n,and they begin to think of i«incnduig their vays 3ut alas !rhcy are in chains, they ca.inot do it. They are chained by ibe heart ; their luUs cleave fo ^.i^ to them, that thcv cannot,nay, ihey will tioi Ihake iheno oti. 7'hus you fee whni affinity there is betwixt an unrcgcnerate flate, and the ftatc of the damned, the ftate of abfolutc and irrc- tricveable mitcry ; be convinced then, that ye tnuft be born ?gain : put a high value on the new birtb, and cagarly dc« Ore it. = V *
The test tells you, that the word is the feed, whereof the new creature is formed ; therefore take hcttl to it and enter- tain ii, for it is your )jfc. Apply yourielvcs 10 \he rcadiiig pf thefcripfure. Ye that cannot read, caufc others read it to you. Wait diligently on the preaching of the word, as by divine appointment, the fpecial nieanof converfion : For it pl'.afcd God hy the foolifintfs of preiaching, tojavethem that be* iieve, 1 Cor. i. 21. Wherefore caft not yourfelvcs out of Christ's way j rejc6l not the means of grace, left yc be found 10 judoe yourfelvcs unworthy of eternal life. Attend carefully to the woid preached. Hear every fcrmon, as if you were bearing for eierrjity : and take heed, the fowls of the air pick not up this feed fro ra you as it is fown. Give thyfcH wholly to it, 1 Tim. tv. 15. Rrctive it not as tA^ zvcrdcfvicn^ but as it is in truth the word of God.i ThcfT. ii. J3. And hear it with application, looking on it as a mef- fajje lent from heaven, to voti in paiiicular, tho' not to yoii only, Rev. iii. g2. He that hath ar ear let him bear^ what the Spirit faith unto the churclies. Lay it up in your hearts, meditate upon it ; and be not as the unclean beafls, that chew not the cud, but \iyf earDci) prayer beg the dew ot heaven piay fail on thy heart, thai the feed may fpnng up tbcie.
More particularly. {1) Receive the teflimony of the vord of God, concernmc the miferv of an unregcncrate (late, the finfulnets thereof, and the abfulutc ncccflity of ic-
The Necrjfily of Regeneration, 187
generation. (2.) Receive its teflimony concerning God, V'hat a holy and juft one he is. (3.) Examine thv ways by it; namely, the thoughts of thy heart, the expreflions of thy lips, and the tcnoj of thy lite. Look back thro* the fcveral peiiciis of thy life, and fee thy fins fiom the precepts of the word; and learn from its threatnings, what thou art liable to, on the account of thefe fius. (4.) View the cor- rupiion of thy nature, by the hel^ of the fame word of God ; ss a glafs which repreftnts our ugly face in a liwtly manner. Were thefe things deepiy rooted in the heart, they mif^ht be the feed of that fear and lorrow, on account of thy foul's ilatc, which are necclTary to prepare and ftir thee up to look after ^ §aviour. Fix your thoughts upon him offered to thee in the gofpcl, as fully fuited to thy cafe ] having, by his obedience to the death, perfcSly faiisSed the juftice x)f God, and brought in cverlafting righteoufnefs. This mav p«ove the feed of humiliation, AcHic^ hope, and faith ; and put thee oa to rt retch out the withered hand unto him at his command.
Let theJe things fink deeply into your hearts, and improve them diligently. Remember, whatever ye be, ye muft be born again : elfc it had been belter for you ye had never bcea born. Wherefore, if any of you fholl Vx'^c and die in an unre- generate ftate, ye will bcincxcufablc, having been fairly war« joed of your hazard.
HEAD II.
The Myflical Union betwixt Christ and Believers.
John xv. 5. I am the vine^yearethc branches.
HAVING fpoken of tl;e charsgc, made by regeneration, on ailthofe that fhali inherit eternal life, inoppoiitioQ to their naturaj flafe, the flate cf degeneracy ; I proceed to fpeak of the change made upon them, in their union "vith the Lor 1) jEsy s Ch R isT, in cppolition to their natural rela- tive {late, the fiateof miiery. The doftrine of the faints union with Christ, is very plainly and fully inCfter^ on, from the beginning of the 12th verfe of this chapter ; which is a part of our Lord's farewel fermon to his difciplcs. Sorrow had now filled their hearts ; they were apt Lo (ay, Alas ! what nill become of us, when our Mafler is taken from our head? Who will then inftruft us ? Who will folve our doubts ? How will we be fupported under our difEcuities and difcou- jugcments ? How will we be able to live, without our wont*
x^y The Text Explained.
ed cotnmunicatlocs with him ? Wherefore our Lokd Je-» sus Ch*i s T fcafouabiy teaches them the mvftcry of thctr uniori wiih bim, compaiHig himfclf to the vinc-flock, and thtni lo the branches.
He corr.parcs, I fay, (i.) himfclf to a vine-fiock ; i am the vivr f He »-iadbten celt braiin^, with his difciplefc, rhc l^cra- mt-ntofhr lupper, that f);^T and feai of his pcoplt's uoioQ wfth hirrft-if ; ai.d had told iheiu, he would drink no innic rifibc fnjit ot the vine, till he fhould drink it new with them, Vi his Fdihci*s kingdom : and new he (hew j himfeif to be the vine, from whtPcc the wine o^ ibeir ccnfolation |}»ould come. The viT)-c hath It- <s bean'y than many other trees, but is exceed- ing frjitful ; fitly rcp'elcntrng the low condition our Lord was then in, yet blinking many fons in glory. But that which is chiefly aimed at, in his comparing himfclf lo a vine, is to rcprel>'ni hunfelf as the lupporttr and nounfher of his peo- ple, in whom they live, and bn'ng forth fiu't. (2.) He com- pafcs iK« ni o the braiiclies ; Ye are the branckei of that vine. Ye art the irartchei, knit to, and growinj; on this ftock ; draw- ing all jour life and lap from it. It is a beautiful comparifon : As if he had iiiid, I am as a vine ; ye are as tkc branches of that vine. Now there arc two forts of branches, fi ) Natural branches, which at fiift fpr»ng out of the Oock : Thefc ate the branches that are in the tree, and were never out of it. (9.) There ate ingrafted branches, which arc branches broken ©tf from the uct. that firft gave their life ; and put into another to grow upon it. Thus branches come to be on a tfce, which originally were i»ot on it. The brapchcs mentioned in the text, are of the Jaitcr fort ; branches broken off (as the woid, in the original -language, denotes) namely, from the tree that firft gave them life. None of the children of men arc natu- ral br^^nches of jhe fecond Adam, vu. Je^us Christ, th« true Vine': they arc all the natural branches of the hift Adam, that degenerate vine : Bat me elefl aie, all of ihein, fooner or later, broken off from th» oaturaj Hock, and iiigiafi- cd into Ch R I ST, the true Vine.
Doer. They who arc in the ftatc of grace, are ingrafted io, and united to, the Lord Jf.sus Cm R IJST. They are taken out of their natural flock, cut off troiii it ; and are now ingfafttd into CHRjST,astbe new (lock. In handling of this, 1 (hall fpeak to the myftical union, (i.) More generaliy, (2.) More pailicularly.
Unon.
^ the union betwixt the Lord Jksus Ch Ri!>T, and his elt/"i, who beliLVC in h:m, and 00 him :
A general View (if the MyJUcal
Fi n ST, In the general, for underAaiiding the
A general Vhw of the Myfiioal Umon, ■ 1S9
1. It is a fpiritual union. Man and wife, by their inarri^ge-t Union, become one flefh : Christ and trui^ believers, by thi» union, become one fpirit, 2 Cor. vi. 17. As one ioul or fpi- ri't actuates both the head and the members m the natural bo* d)^; fo the one Spirit of Go D dwcTis in Christ and ths Chriftian ; for, If any mhn have not the Spirit of Ckrijl, he is vcne of hii, Rom. viii, 9. Corporal union is 'm.»de hv ^on- irafl ; lo the ftones in a building are umfp.d ; but this is an union of another nature. Were it poflible we could eat the fiefh, and drink, the blood of Ch R 1 ST, in a corporal and car- nil manner, it would profit nothing, John vi. 63. It was nut Mar)'s bearing him in her womh, but her b.-licvingon hirri, that made her a faint. Luke xi. 27, 28. A certain woman —
/aid unto him, B'-jTil is the womb that bare thee^ and the paps which thou hajt fucked. fiat hejaid, Yta, rathcnf bLJfd ars tkiv that hear the word of Goa\ and kxep it.
2. Jt IS a real union. Such is our weakaefs in our prefent ilate, ib much are we immerfed in fin, tbai wc are prone to form in our fancy an ima^e cf every thing propofed to u$ ; and as to whatfocver is denied us, we are apt to fufpeci it to be but a ficKon, or what has no reality. But nothing is more real, than what is fpiiiiual ; as approaching ueareft to the na- ture of him who is the fountain of all rcalitv, namely, GoD hirafelf. We do not lee with our eyes, the union betwixt our own foul and body ; neither can we reprcfcni it to ourfclvcs iruly, by imagination, as we do fenfibie things; yet the reali- ty of it is not to be doubted. Faith is no fancy, but the fub- flance of things hoped for, Heb. xi. i. Neither is the unioa thereby made betwixt Christ and believers, imaginary, but moft real ; Fu\ we are members of his body, ofhiiflfh, and of his bones, Eph. v, 30.
3 It IS a moft ciofe and iaiitnatc unioD. Believers, regen- erate perfons, who fiduciouflv credit him, and rely on hjm» have put on Christ, Gal. iu. 27. If that he not enough, he is in them, John xvii. 23. formed in them, as the ci-.ild in the mother's belly, G^l. iv. 19. He is the foundation, iCor.iii. 11. They are the lively ftones built upon him, i Pet. li. 5. He is the head, and they the body, Eph. 1. 22, 23. Nay, he liveth ia them, as their very fouls in their bodies. Gal, ii. 30. And, what is more than all this, they are one in the Father and the Son, as the Father is in Christ, and Christ in the Father, John xvii. ei. That they all may be one, &s thou^Father^ art in me, and J in thee, they a//o may b? one zn a/.
4. Though it is not a mere legal union, yet it is an union fuiiained in law. Christ, as the cautioner, the ele6\ as the principaldebtors, are one, in the eye of the law. Wfa^n the cleft bad run themfelves, with the reft of mankind, in debt to
190 A general View of
the iufticc of God ; Cn r isj became farcty for them, ind paid the debt. When they believe on him, they arc united to bim in ^ fptritual rnarf»age-uiiion; which takrs eff el fo far, that vhat he did and fuCered for ihctr, is reckoned, in law^ as if ihey had done and futfered forthe.-nfeivcs. Hence xhty arc i<»id to be crwctSed with Je> us, Qal. ii. 20. Buried with him, Col. li. 12. Yea, rjifcd up together, nam< ly with Ci4 K i»r, and made to fit together in heavenly places ia Ch Risx Ji^'iUS, Eph..ji. 6. In which places, faints on earth, of wrhoin the Apofiie there fpeaks, cannot be Taid td fee fitting, but in fhe way of !av/-rerkonm;T.
5. It f» an indifT'.lvabJc unio.i : Oiice in Christ, ever ia him. Havinjr tajccn up his habitation in the heart, he never lemovrs. None can untie this happy knot. Who will di{- fjive this union ? Will he himfelf do it? No, he wii| not ; we have his word for it ; / will not tum away f mm, them, Jer^ xxxii. 40. But perhaps the finncr will do this m'kiiie* for him't.f J no, he mali rtot ; Tkry fha'l not d:partJiom. me, faith thcu Gop. .Can devils do it ? No, unicCs they be ftronpcr than Chjijst, and hi* Father too : Neither Jhatt any mam pluck thtm out of my handy faith our L,'-^ a d, Jona x. 28 And none is able to pluck thf^m out of my Father's hand, verfe 39. B'i', what Jay you of death, which parts huft>ind and wit^ ;
yea, fcparutts thr foul from the body ? W 11 n >l d;*3fh da if ? TCo ; the Apoftle, Ron. viii. 38, ij. is perfuadrd. that ntei- thpr death, for as terrible as it is, nor life, for as dtfiablc as t XJ,
Bor devils, thofe evil angels, nor the devil's perfiicunQgagents, though tiiey be principalities or powers on earth; nor evil things jp reft nt, already lying on us, nor evil thtnjji to come on us ; nor the hdght ck worldly fclicitv, nor depth of worldly iniCcry j nor any other creature, good or ill, {hall be able to (cparate us from the love of God, which is 10 Chri;t Jesus our Lord. Ai death fcp- aratcd Christ's fbul from his body, but could not fep- arate either his foul or body from his divine r>anue ; fo though the faints ftiould be fcparated from their ncarefk relations in the world, and from all their earthly enjoyraenij j yea, thouj;h their fouls fhould be feparate from their bodies, and their bodies feparate in a thoufand pieces, their boiKS fcaltercd, as when one cutietb or cleavrih wood ; yet (oul and body, and every piece of the body, the fmallcft dull of it ' (hall remain united to thcLoB u Ch r ist ; for even in death, they fleep in Jesus, 1 Thcfl". iv. 14. And he kecpeth all their bones, Pfal. xxxiv. 20. Uaioji wiih Christ, is the grace wherein wc ftand, firm and fbble, as moant ZtOO,which cannot be removed.
ike Myjlical Union, 161
Lajily^ It is a mvflerious union. The gofpel is a doft'-Ine of nyiierKS. It difcovcrs to us ihe fubOantial union of the three perfons in one God-head, ijchnv 7. Thefc tkret ar^. cne : the hvpf^ftatiral union of the divine and hurian natures, in the perl'xi of the Lor D Jesus CrtK 1ST : 1 Tim. iii. 16. GiJ<i toas,mariifcJi in theJlc/\. And the mvflic.'l uniof!, betwixt Cjrist and believers, is a great mv(Tprv alfo. Eph. v, 3a. O what iTivfleries are here! the Head ir hvnvcn. rht members on earth, yet really united ! CmrisT in the bviicver, living in him, walking in him : and the btliever dwelling in God, putting on the LuRD Jksus ; eatin? hts fl fh, and dxiflking his blood ! This makes the taints a inyftery to the wjrld ; yea, a mvftery to theiryfelve'.
Secondly, I come novt- mo'-c particularly to fpcak of this union with, and irt^rafting intr> Jesus Cm r ist. An^, (1.) I fliall confidcr the natural (lock, wrhich the branches Are: taken out of. (2.} The fupernatural ftock, thev are ingra&ed into. (3.) What b'^flnches are cut off the oW flock, ^nd put into the ne\*'. (4.) How it is done. And, laftiy, The bene- fits flowing from this union and ingrafting.
Cf the natural and fupernatvral Stocks.and the Branches, taken out of the former, and in" grafted into the latter.
I. Let us take a view of the ftock, which the branches are talcen out of» The two Adams, that is. Adam andCH RIST, are the tvo flocks ; for the fcripture fpcaks of ihefc two, ^s if there had never been more men in the world than thev, 1' Cor. XV. 45. 47. Thefirjiman Adam was made a living foul^ the laji Adam teas made a quickning Spirit. — Th^JirJl man is vf tk: earth, earthy ; tkefecond man is the Lord from heaven. And the reafon is, there were never any, that were not branches or one of thefe two ; all men being either in the one ftock or in the other ; for in thefe two forts all mankind (lands divided, verfc 48. Ai is the earthy ^fuch are they alfo that are earthy : 4ind as is the heavenly ,'juch are they alfo that are heavenly. The firft Adam, then, is the natural flock ; on this flock are the b'a'.ichcs found growing at firft ; which arc afterwards cut off, and ingrafted into Christ. As for the fallen'angels, as they had no relation to the firft Adam, fo they have none to the fecond.
There are four things to be remembered here, (1.) That all mankind,the man Ch r ist excepted, are naturally branch- es of the firft Adam, R.)m. v ii. By one man Jin entered info tkt wortd^ and dcAih bvjia ; and fo diatkpajfed upon ailncjz.
192 Adam tk cnatura I Stock
(2.) The bond which knit u? unto the natural flock, was the covenant of works. Adam Keing our natural root, wa» madi the mor»! root alfo ;bc:"« 2 all his pcflerity, as reprrf.- r-t- ip^ them in the covenant of works. Tor, Bit one man's dij - ditnce many were wadejiiiners, Kom. v. 19. "Now, there t^ •- boved to bt a peculiar relation betwixt that one man and the maiiy, as a foundation for imputing his Gn to them. Thi» relifion did not ^nfe from the mere natural bond betwixt htm & us, as a father to his children ; for fo we are related 16 our immediate parents, whofc fins are nOt thefeopon iiriputed to us as Adam's fin is. It behoved then to arifc from a moi:- a1 bond betwixt Adam and us, the bond of a cox'enrant, which could be on o^cr than the covenant of v/ork« wherein \it vcre uoifed to him as branches to a ftock. Hence Jesus Christ, tho' a fon of Adam, Luke iii; 23. 38. wiTs none of thele branches ; for feeing he came not of Adam, ih virtue of the blcnine[ot marriage, which was ^iven before the fall. Gen. i. 28. Be fruitful and muUiply, &c. but in virtue ©fa fjiecial piomile made after the fail, Gen, iii. 15. The Jefd of the woman jliali brut ft theJerpcr.Cs head ; Adam could ' rot reprefcnt him in a covenant .nade before h«s fall. (3.) As it is impoffibic for a branch to be in two flocks at once ; fo no man can be, at one and the fame time, both in the ffrft ind fccond Adam. (4.) Hence it evidently follows, that ail who are not ingrafted jn Jk sus Christ, are yet branch- es of the old Hock ; nnd fo partak|f of the nature of the fame. Now, as lo the firft Adam, our natural flock ; Con- iider,
Firjl, What a ftock he was originally. He was a vine of the Lord's planting, a choice vine, a noble vine, wholly a right feed. There was a confultation of the Tiinity, at the planting of this vine, Gen. i. 26. Let us make man in our entm image, after cur oxun likmefs. There was no rottenncfs at the hearr of it. There was fap and juice enough in it, to hnve noiirifli-d all the branches, to bring forth fruit unto God. Mv meaning is, Adam was made able pcrfeQly to keep the commandrwents of God, which would have procur- ed eternal life to himfelf, and to all his podcrity ; for feeing ail die by Adam's difobcdier.ee ; all fliould have had life, by bis obedience, il he h«d flood. Confider,
Srcondly, What thai flock now is : Ah ; moft unlike to what it was, v-htn planted bv the author and fcuniain of all' Rood. A blafl from hell, and a bite with the venomous tcefh ofthrold ferperr, have made it a degenerate flock, a dead Rock, nav, a kiliirg flock.
ly?, it is a degenerate naughty flock. Therefore th Cod faid to Adam, in that difmai day, Where art th.
of all Men. 193
ill. 9. In what condfdon art thou now ? How art thou tur- neH into the degenerate plant of a ftrange vine, unto roe ? Or, V/ht-re waft ihoa ? Why not in the phcc of meeting witS me? Why fo long acoTiin^ ?^ What m^anfth ti»is fearful change, this hiding of thyfelf from me ? Alis ! the fl<^ck is degenerate, quite fprtMlcd, become ahog-^tber nausj^ir, ani brintii forth wild j^rapes. Converfe with the devil is prs- frrrcd to communion with Go^^, Satan isbi licved, and God, wh(J is truth itfelf, difbclicved. He who was the frit. jd of Go D, IS nowinconfpiracvagainft hi n. D rknefi is come i? to the room of Hght ; ignorance prevails in the mind, whcie 'di- vine knowledge (h^mc ; the will, fometimerightcousor re/ul^r is now turocd rebel againil its LoRO jand the whole man is in dreadful diforder. "
Before I £o further, \rx me flop and obfrrve, H re is a mirror both for faints and hniiers. Sinners, ftand here and confidcr wh^t vou are : and faints learn ve, what once ve were. Ye iinners arc branches of a degenerate ftock. FruiC vou may bear indeed ; bur now that your vine is th- vine of Sodom, your prapes mud of courfe be grapes of i^ll, Dcuf, xxxii. 32. The fcripture fpeaks of two forts of fruit, which grow on the branches upon the natural ftock ; and it is plain enough, they are of the nature of ?htir dcge-^rate ftock. (i .) The wild grnprs o^ wickednefs, If-i. v. 2. T'lefe ^to^ in a- bundance by influence from hell ; See Gal. v. 19, 20, 21. At their gatesare all manner of thcle fruits both new and old. Storms come from heaven to put them back ; bit they fiill grow. They are flruck at with the fword of the Spirit, the word of Gt)D ; confcienee gives them many a (ecret blow; vet they thrive. (2.) Fruit to thenfticlvcs, Hofea x. 1. Wbatclfe are all the unrenewed in.m's afts of obedience, his reformation, fober deportment, his p^avers, and good works ? They are all done, chieflv for himfcif, not for the glory of God. Thcfe fruits are like the apples of Sodom, fair to look at, but fall to aOies, when bandied and tried. Ye think ye have not only the leaves of a profeffion, hut the fruits of a holy praftice too ; but if ye be not broken olFfroia the old ftock, and ingiafied in CiiRiiT Jesus, Goo accepts not, nor regards your fruits. ,
Here I muft take'occaficn to tell yon, ther* are five faults will be found in heaven, with your heft fruits. (1.) Their bitternefs ; your clnfters are bitter, Deut, xxxii. 31. There is a fpirit of bittcrnefs, wherewich i'ome come before the Lord, in religious cuties, living in malace and cnvv ; ap.d which fome profeffors entertain aj2ainft others, becaufe they •utfliine them, by holinefs of life, or becaufe they are not of thsir optDJon or way, This» whsrcfocver it reigns, is a fear-
1 g 4 "the natural Stock,
ful fyrnfom cf an unrcgencrate ftatc. But I do not fomuch mean ihis, as that which is common to all iht bTJMiciics of the old Oock ; naiT7cly, the icavcn oF hypocrify. Luke xii.i. which fours and embitters every doty they perform. The wifdom, that is full of good fruits, is without hypocrify. J^mes iii, 17. (2.) Their iH favour. Tlaeir works are abomina- ble, for ihcmfflvcs are corrupt, Pfal. xiv. 1. They all fa- vour of the o^d ftork, not of the new : ii is the peculiar pn- vilige of the fainrs, that thev are unto God a fwect favour of Cur 1ST, 9 Cor. ii. 15. The unregcncrate man's fruits fa- vour not of lovr to Ch R ist, nor of the blood of Cn r rs r, BOr of the inceiife of bis inferccflfion ; and therefore will ne- Ter !e accepted of in heaven. (3.} Their unripcnefs. TheJrgrape is an unripe grap^. Job xv.33. There is no in- fluence on them from the Sun of lighteoufncfs, to bring them to pcrftftion ; they have the fhapc of fruit, but BO more. The matter of duty is in them; biit they want F'uht principles and ends; their works are not wrought ia God, John lii. 21. Their prayers drop from thtir iips^be- fore their hearts be impregnate with the vital fap of the Spi- rit of fuj. ^/lication ; their tears fall from their eyes, ere their hearts be truly foftenc d ; their feet firn (0 new paths and their way is altered ; while yet their nature is not cjiang- td. (4.) Their lightncfs. Being weiahcd in the bala^ixres, they are found wantin;?, Dan. v. 27. For evidence where- of, you may obferve; thty do not humble the foul, but lift it up in pride. The good fruits of holjncfsbcar doAm the branch- es they grow upon, making them to falutc the ground, 1 Cor. XV. to. / laboured viore abundantly than th^y all : yet not /, hut the grace of God which was with me. But the bUftcd fruits of unrenewed mens performance, hang lightly on branches •towering up to heaven, Judges xvil. 13. Now know /, that the Lord Tiiill do me good, feeing 1 have a Levite to my priejl. Thev look indeed fo high, that God cannot* behold ihitm^Wherefare have wefaJiedSi^ they and thoujeeji not! Ifa. lviii.3. The more duties they do, and the belter they fecm io perform them, the hfs are they hiiuiWled, the more they are lifted up. This difpcfiticn of the fmncr, is the cx7y£t rcverfc of u'bat is to be found in the faint. To men, who neither arc in Ch R 1ST, nor are folicitous to be found in him, their du- ties are like windy bladders, wherewith they think to fwim afhore to Immannel's land; but thcfe muftnecds bieak,& they confequeijilv fink ; becaufe thev take not Ch r ist for the lifter up cf their head, Pfalm iii. 3. Lajkly^ They are not all manner of pleafant fruits. Cant. vii. 13. Christ as a King mud be fcrvcd with variety. Where Goo makes the heart his garden, he plants it as Solomon did bis, with trees q^
a degenerate Stock. 195
ajl Ivindipr fruits, Ercl. ii. 5. And accorfilngly it brings Torth the fruit of the Spirit in all goodnefs, Eph. v. 9. But the ungodly are npt fo ; their obedience is never liniverlal ; there is alwavs foinc one thing or .other excepted. In one Vord, their fruits are fruits of an ill tiee, that Cannot be ;!c- ceptcd in heaven.
2.dTy, 0\ix natural ftock is a dead flock, ac'cordiflj* to tht threatnin^. Gen. ii. 17. In the day thou entejl , thereof, thcu Jhalt furcly dk. Our root now is. rottcnncfs, no mai'.el the Vloffom go up as dud. The ftrcke is gone to the heart ; the fap is let out, and the tree is 'A'ithefetf Thecuife of the fird covenant, like a hot thundcr-holi from heaven, hn<: lighted oa it, and ruined it. It is curfed bov as the fig-tree, Mat. xxi. 19. het no fruit grow oh ihcCy henctfcrth for ever. No.v it is good for nothing, but to cumber the ground, arid furnilH fuel for Tophct... .,,;,..._
Let me inlarge a little here alfo. Everv linrenfwcd man js a branch of a dead (lock. When ihoii feeft, O finner, a dead (lock of a tree, c."^hau(lcd of all its fap, having branches on it in the lame condition ; look on it as a lively reprefcnt^- tion of thy foi-.l'i (late, fi.) Where the (lock is dead, thfe branches muft. needs be barren. Alas ! the barrennefj of ma- ny profcfTors plainly difcovers on what flock ihey are growing. It is eiCv to pretend to faith, bit (hew me thv faith withput thy works, if thou canft, James ii. 1 7. (2 ) A dead ftock caa convey 00 fap to the branches, to iDake them bring forth fruit. The covenant of works was the bond of oiir union with th« natural ftock, but now it i$ become weak thi'ou.jh the fl?{h ; that is, through the degeneracy and depravuy of human na- ture, Rom. vii, 3. It is (Iron^ enough to command, arid to ^ind heavy burdens on the Oiouiders of thofe who are not fti Christ^ but it affords no (Irength to bear them. The. fzfS, once in the root, is now gone; and the iaw^ke a mercilefl
creditor* apprehends Adam's heirs, fayin^^ rfy what ihou ow- ed ; wh^n 8l,is ! his cfftfts are rintoufly fpeot. (3.) All painj and cod are lod on the tree, whofe life is ^one. In vain rfo men labour to get fruit on tlic branches, v/hen there is no fap in the root. F^rji, T he; gardener's pains are \o^{ : miniders lofe their labour on the branches of the old dock, Avhile thev continue on it, ^Tany fermonsare preached to no purpote : bdicaufe there i.<; no life to give fe^^fation. Sleeping men may be awakf ned, but the dead cannot be raifcd without a mimcle^ even {o, the dead If nner, niuft remain fo, if he be not rcftor- ed to life, by a mirp.cle of grace.
Secondly, The inHuenccb of heaven are lod on fucH a tree ; in vain doth the rain fall upon it ; in vain is it laid open to ?he winter-cold and frods. The I.o^d gf ^he vinevard ds^s
96
Tht natural Stoci,
about mary a dead foul, but it is not bettered, Erui/t tJie foolina morter^ hisfoUy will not depart. Tho* he meet* with many crofTes, yet he retains his lufls ; let him be laid oa a fick-bcd, he will there lie like a fitk bead, groaning under his pain, but not mourning for, nor turning from h.s fin. Let death itfclffta^e him in the face ; he will prefamptuoufly maintain his hope, as if he would look the grim mcffcngcf out of countenance. Sometimes there are common opera- tions of :hc divine Spirit performed on him ; he is feni home ■with a trembling heart, 6c with arrows of conviction ftickiog in Pis foul ; but at length he prevails againft thcfe things, and turns as fecure as ever. Thirdly, Summer and winter are a- likc to the branches of the dead fiock. When others about them are budding, bloflToming, and bringing forth fruit, there is no change on them ; the dead (lock has no growing time at all. Perhaps it may be difficult to kno-.v in the winter what trees are dead, and what are alive ; but the fpring plainly dif- covers it. There arc fome feafons, wherein there is little life to be perceived, even among faints ; yet tinaes of reviving come at length. But even when the vine fiouriflieth, and the pomegranates bud forth, when faving grace is difcovering itfelf, by its lively actings, wherefocver it is the branches on the old ftock are withered : when the dry bones are coming together, bone to bone, among faints ; the finners bones are ilill lying about the grave's mouth. They are trees that cum- ber the ground, near to be cut down, and will be cut down for the fire, if God in his mercy pievent it not, by cutting ♦hem off from that fiock, and ingrafting them into another.
Lajlly, Our natural ftock is a killing ftock. if the ftockdie, how can the branches live ? If the fap be gone from the root and heart, the branches muft need^ wither. In Arlam all die, i Cor. XV. 28. The root died in Paradife ; and all the branch- es in it, and W'»h it. The root is impoifoncd, thence the branches come to be iiifetied ; de^th is in the pot ; and all that tafle of the pulfe or pottage are killed.
Know then, that every natural man is a branch of a killing Bock. Our natural root not only gives us not life, hut it has a killine power reaching all the branches thereof. There arc four things, which the firft Adamtfonveys to all His branches: and they arc abiding in, and lying on fuch of them as are not ingrafted to Ch r 1ST. firji, A corrupt nature. He finned, and his nature was thereby corrupted or depraved; and thii corruption is conveyed to all his pofterity. He was info6led,- and the contagion fpread itfelf all over his feed. Secondly, Guilt ; that is an tbli nation to punifhment, Rom. v. 2 1 By <:ne t- an fin entered into the world, and death by Jin : (3 fo death ^ajfcd ujfcn. altruTr^/or that all have finned. The thicatnings
a dead Stocl, 197
of the law, as cor(!s of death, are twlftcd about tT>e branches of the oM flock }»i) draw \hemo^'er the hedge into the fire. And till thev be cue off from thisftockby the pruning knife, the f\yord of ven;iear ce hanjs over their heads, to cut thern down.— — Thirdly, This killing ilock tranfmits the curfe into the branch- es. The ilock as the Hock, for I fpeak not of Adam in his perroml and private capacity. being curfed. To are the branch- es,Gal. 3 10. For as many as.are of ihe works of the law ^avt nn^ der the curfe. This curfe afFe6is the whole man, and all that bt-longs to him, everv thing he poiTeflTes; and wprketh three ways. (1.) As poifon, infefling ; thus their bleffings are car- fed, Mai. ii. 2. Whatever the man enjoys, it can do him no good, but evil, being thus, irnpoifoned by the curfe. His prosperity in the world deftroys him, Frov, r. 32. The min- idrv of the go^'pel is a favour of death unto death to' him, 2 Cor. ii. 16. His feeroin^attain.nents in religion are curfed to him ; his knowledge fcrves but to puff him up, and his du- ties to keep him back from Ch RiST. (2.) It worketh as a moth, confuming and •A';<ning by little and little, Hof. v. 12. Therefore will 1 be^ unto Ephratm as-a moth. There is a worm at the root, confuming them by degrees. The curfe purfued Saul, till it wormed hi ^i out of all his enjoyments, & put of the very (hew he had of religion. Sometimes they decay as^ the fat of lambs, and melt away a? the fnow in a fun-fhinc.. (3,) It afteth as a lion rampant, Hof. v. 14. J will ke unto EpkrU' im as a lion. The Lord rains on them fn^s, fire and brimftone, and an horrible tcmpefl, in fuch a manner, that they are hurried away with the ftream. He tcareth their en- joyments from them in iiis wrath, purfueth them with terrors^ rents their fouls from their bodies, and throws the deadned branch into the fire. Thus the curfe devour^ like tire, which none can quench. Laflly^ This killing flock tranfmits death to the branches upon if. Adam took the poifonous cup and drank it off; this ocrafioned death to himfelf and us. We came into the world fpiritually dead, thereby obnoxious to eternal death, and abfolutaiv liableto temporal death. Tnis root is to us like the Scvthian river, which they fay, brings forth little l^-'^crs every day, out of which come certain fmall flies, which al',. bred in the morning, winged at noon, and dead at night; a very lively emblem of our rnortal ftate.
Now, Sirs, is it not abfolutelv necefTary to be broken off from ibis our natural Oock ? What will our fair leaves of a profeiTion, or our fruits of duties r<f*;l, if we be {lill branches of the degenerate, dead and killing ilock ? But, alas ! among the many queftions toffed among us, few are taken up about thefe : Whether am I broken off from theoldftock, or not? Whether am I ir^afted in Chkist, or not ? Ah ! white-
ia8 Natural Stock, a killing Stock,
fore all this waftc ? Why is there fo much noife abcmt Tdi-
fion amongQ many, who can give no good account of their avin;; laid a good rouiidation, being mere ftra.igers to expr- rimental religion ? I fccT, if God do not, in mercv, timcouITy undermine the rcHgion of many of us, and let us fee we havd none at all ; our root will be found roftcnous, and ourblofTom J50 up, as da'l in-a dyii>g Hour, Therefore het us look to our flare, that we be rrot found fools in our latter end.
II.. Let us now view ihc fupernatural Rock, in which the branches, cut oil from tlic natural fiotk, arc in^iafied. Je- sus C;i R i sr is fomctimes called /^(f z/ra^zc/i, Zcch.ii.8. So he is, in rcfpefl of bis human nature; being a branch, a-nd the top-branch of the bcufc of David. Sometimes he i* called a Root. Ifa. xi. ic. We have both together, Rev. xxil. i6, / C7n the rcot and the Offspring of David : Davhd's r<^t, as God ; and hi? offspring, as man. The text tells, that he is the Vine : that is, He, as a Mediator, 'is the vine-flock, where-* of believers are the branches. As the fap comes from the earth into the root & flock,.&. from thence is dilfufed into the branches ; fo by Christ, as Mediator, divine life is convey- ed from the fountain, unto thefe who are united to him by faith, John vi.57. --^i the livimr Father hath fczt vie, and 1 live by the Father ; fo he that eatet/i me, even hfjkall live by me. Now Christ is Mediator, not as Gon Qnly, as fomc hlive afTcrtcd ; ncr yet as rtian only, as the Papifts generally hold : But he is Mediator, as God-man, Afts xx. eH. The church nf God, which he hath purchafed xvithiJiis blood. PIcb. ix. 14. Chrijly zvlio thro' the eternal Spirit, offered h'mfdf, xvithoutjpot to God. The divine and human natures, have their diflin^i atVings; yet a joint operation in this, difcharging the ofiic* of a Mediator, This is illuflrated by the fvmilitude of a fiery fword, which at once cuts and burns ; cutting it burneth, and burning it cuttcth: the Ucel cuts anti the fire burns. "Where- fore Cur 1ST, God-man, is the flock, whereof believers are the branches: And they are united to whole Christ. They arc united to him in hiV human iijiture, as being ir.cmbcrs of his body, of his Hefh, and of his ^ones, Fph. v. qo. And they are united to him in his divine nature; for fo the Apoftle fpcaks of this union. Col. i. 27. Chriji in you, the hope of glory. And by him they are united to the Father, and to the Holy Ghoft, i Jo'nniv. t^i IVhnpxierJhall confejs that Jffui is the Son oj' God, God duielkth m him, and he in God. Faith, the bond of this u^ion, r#ceivcs whole Cii R i^^T, God- man ; and fo unites us to'him as fuch.
Behold here, O believers, your high privilcg once branches of a degenerate flock, even as others , but ye ©fi^yby grace, become brwches^ of tke true Vine, Joha xv.
Chrijl thefupernatiiral Stock. 190
t , Ye are cut cut of a dead and killing flock, and ingrafted in the laft Adam, who was made a quickning fpirit, i Cor.xv. 45. Your lo(s by the fiift Adam is made up, with great ad \'antage, by your union with the fecond. Adam at his bell cftate, was hut a fhrub, iii comparifon with Chr i ST the urz of life. He was but a fervant ; Cu R IST is the 5on, the Heir, and Lord of all things ; the Load from heaven. I. cannot he ccnic-d. that grace was flione in ine nrft covenant : L^ii it is as far exceeded, by ihe grace of the fccond cover.aa:* ?.s the twilight ic, by the light oi the mid- djy.
III, Vv^'hat branches are taken put of t'ne natural flock, ;d grafted into tbii Vine ? ArJ'. Thcfe are ih^ elctl, acd
rone other. They, and ihey only, are grafted into CiJ rist ; and conftqjcntly, none bat thcv are cut oiT from the killirg flock, for them alone he ir»ferceeds,!hat thcv may be or.c in him 8c his tather, John xvii.9.23. Faith^the bond of tlvs union, is given to none elfe ; it isihr fiidi of God*s clec". Tit. i. 1. The Lord pafftih bv manybranches'growing ol. the natural flock, 'and cuts oH'onlv here one, and there one, and y;rai\s ihe^n into the true Vine, according as free love hath determined. Oft docs he pitch upon the mofl unlikely branch, leaving the top boughs ; [KifTing by t!ie mighty, and the noble, and calling the weak, bafe, and dcfpifcd, 1 Cor. i. itOf^-/. Yea he often leaves the fair and ^^mooth, and takes ihe T'lgged and knotty : And fuck lucr.cfomc oj you ; but ye are zuojhed, S:c! i Cor. vi. ij. if ye iriquire why foP We find ro ether reafon but bccauf- they were chofen in him, Eph. i. 4. Predcjiinatcd to the adoption of children by J^fiis ChriJ}, ver. 5. Thus are they gathered together in Christ, whTlo the left are left grov.ing on their naiurai flock, to be alter wards bound up in bundles for the fire. Wherefore, to whomfoever the gofpel may come in vain, it will have a bled effect on God'o ele6^, A^ts :<\\i. 48. As viany as iLcn ordained to eternal life h'.l>tv:d. \\''!iere the Lord has mucli people, the gofpel will have much fucccfs, fooner or latter. Such a* are to be faved, will be added to ih^, mvflical body cf Christ.
HoTv tke Branches are taken oiU cf the Natu-
■ ral Stock and inp-ajud. into the Supcrna'
iuralStcck. ^ ^ •
IV. 1 am to {hew how the branches are cut off from the .♦natural ilock, the firft Adam, and grafted" irito the true Vine, the Lord Jksus Christ. Thinks to the Hafbandman,' not to the branch, that: it is cut elf froai its natural dork, an.-*
200 How the branches are taken out
ingrafted into a new one. The iinner, in his coming off frOTfi the hril flock, is pafTive ; and neiihcr can, nor will co:rcbff from It of his own atcord ; but clings to it, iiU almighty poviT- cr make him to fall off, John vi. 44. J^o man can come unto Vte, except the Father, which. hathj<.nt me^ draw kirn. And, chap. V. 40. Ye toi'/i not- co.ue unto me ^ that ye might have lifi» The ingrafted branches are God's huibandiy,! Cor, in. 9. The planting of the Lord ^ Ifa. Ixi. 3. The ordinary means he makes uic of in this work, is the miniiiry of the word, I Cur. iii. 9, H^e are labourers together with God. But the efficacy thereof is wholly from him, whatever the minif- ter's part or piety be, ver. 7. Ndither is h: that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth ; but God thutgiveth. the increaje. The Aponic preached to the Jews, yet the body of that p^ o- ple renijjined tn infidelity, Rom. x 16. Who hath batved our report 9 Yea, Ch Ri^T.himfelf who fpoke as nevtr uian fpnke, faith concerning the fucccfs of his own rainiftr;, I have Itibcured in vain ; I hajje fptnt my Jircngth for naught, lia. xlix. The branches may be hacked by the preaching of the vofd i but the ftrokeViil never go through, till 11 be carried ^oinc on them, by an omnipotent arm. However God's or- dinary way is, By the foclifhnefs ofpreorching^tofavethem that believe. \ Cor. 1. 21.
The cutting off of the branch From the natural flock, is pf r- formed by the pruning knife of the law, in the hand of the Spirit of Go D , Gal. ii. 19. For I thro' the law, am dead to the law. It is by the bond of the covenant of works, as I laid before, that we are knit to our natural flock : and therefore, as a wife, unwilling to be put away, pleads and hangs by thq marriage-tie ; fo do men by the covenant; of works. They hold by it, like the man who held the fhip with his hands j and vhen one hand was cut off, held ifVit h the other j and whea both were cut off, held it with his teeth. This will appear from a diftinft view of the Lord'* work oii men, in bringing them off from the old flock i which I now offer in thcfc follow- ing particulars.
Firji, When the Spirit of the Lord comes to deal with a pcrfon, to bring him to Christ ; he finds bin in Laodi- rca's cafe, in i. found flecp of fecurity, dreaming of heaven, and the favour of God, tho' full of fin againfl the holy One of Ifrael, Rev. iii. 17. Thou knowejl not that thou art wretch* edf and mifcrable, and poor, and blind, and naked. And there- fore he dans in iome beams of light into the dark foul, and lets the man fee he is lofl, if he turn not over a new leaf, aud betake himfclf to a new courfe of life. Thus by the Spirit of the Lo R D, acling as a fpirit of bondage, there is a crimi- nal court creeled iq the man's breaft j where he is arraiga-
of the natural Stock, 2 o i
•^ .1
ed, accufed, and condemned, for breaking the law of God, convinced of fin and judgment, John xvi. 8. And now he cari no longer fleep fecurtlv in his for»er courfe o£ l?fe. This is the hrftHroke ihc branch gets, in order to cut- ting off.
Secondly. Hereupon the man forfakcs his former profane courfes ; his lying, (wearing, S'lbbath-breaking, ilealiog, and fucb like pradiccs ; the' they be dear to him as right eyes, Le will rather quit them than ruin hi* foul. The ihip is like to fink, and therefore he ihioweih his goods overboard, that \\i. hi:nU:lf muv notpeiifh. And now he begins to blefs himtcU in his heart, and look joyfully on his evidences for heaven ;\ thinking hirateU" a betierTeivant to GoD than •razny others, Luke xviii. 1 1. God, J thank thee^ I cm not cs other nun art^ extortioners^ urjujl, a-duUcrers, &c. But be foon gets another flrokc with the ax ot the law/ fhewing him that it is only lis that doth wha; is written in the law, who can be fdved by it ; and that his negative holinefsis two fcanty a cover from the ftorm of God's wrath : And thus, akho'his fins of com million only were heavy onhitn before ; hi finsof omifiion now crowd into his thoughts, attended with a train of law-curfcs and vengeance : And each of the ten commands difcharges thuD- dcr-claps of wrath againU him, for bis omittiDg re(iuired du- ties.
Thirdly, Upon this, he turns to a poGtively holy courfe of life. He not only is not profane, but he performs religi- ous duties : he prays, feeks the knowledge of the principles of religion, ftri£llv obferves the Lord's day,' and like H-irocf, does many things, and hear fermons gladly. In one word, there is a great conformity in his outvvard converfation, ta the letter of both tables of the law. And now there is fo mighty a change upon the man, that his neighbours cannot mils to take notice of it. Htnce he is cheerfully admitted by the godly into their f.^ciety, ?s a praying perfon, and caii confer with them about religious matters, yea, and about (oul- excrcife, which lome are not acquainted with. And their good opinion of him confirms his good opinion of himfclf. This dtp in religion is fatal to many, who never get beyond it. But here the Lord reachetli the eltcl-branch a farther ftroke. Confcicnce flics in the man's face, for fome wrong fieps in his converfation ; the negleft of fom-' duty or com- milTion of fome fin, wh.ch is a blot in his converfation : and then the flaming fword of the law appears again over his head : and the curfe wrings in his ears, for hire that con- tinueth not in all things written in the lay, to do them, Gal, iii. lo.
202 How thf. u, u.-iL/:; :^ u, i LU'^Lii Out
Fourthly, On this account he is obliged to feek another fdlve for his fore. Hi goes to Go D, coLfcfleth his fins, feckS ».he pajdon of it, promifing to watch a;»ainft it for the time to conje i an^ lo tinds ealc, and thinks he -nay very well take H, feeing the Icripiurc faith. If tut confffs our fmSy fie isfaith- J.ui and jtji to fcrgizc 'usourf:as, i Jonn i. 9. not confider- 'i)g that he giafps at a privjlc^c, which is theirs only who arc ingraftcti into C'lRisr, and under the covenant of grace, and which, the branches yet growing on the old Hock, cannot pifad. And here foractimes there are formal and exprcfs vows made againH. fuch and (uch fins, and hindingto fuchaud (■i:h duties. Thas many go on all their days, knowing no other religion but to co duties, and to confefs, and pray for pardon of that wherein they -fail, prcmiring ihemfelvcs etcf- 'al happinefs, tho* thev are ufer fliangcrs loCh'KiST. Here vjany clctX ones have 5)ccn ca^l down, wounded, and many rc- piobjtes have been fliin; while the wounds of neither of them have been deep enough, to Cut them off from their na- tural flock. But the Spirit of the Lo KX) gives yet a deeper I'rrqkc to the branch whjch is to be cut otti (hewing him tha^ as yet, he is hut an outfide faint ; and diTcoveiing to him the fil'.hy iufis lodged in his heart, which he took no notice of before, Rom. vii.p. JV/ien the commandment came fin revived 4Jid Iditd. ■ Then he fees his heart a dunghill of hcllifH J'jfts ; filled with covetoufnefs, pride, malice, filihinefs, and the like. Now, as foon as the door^f the chambers of his imagery is thus opened to him, and he fees what they do therein the dark, his ouifide religion is blown up as infuffi- cicnt ; and he learns a ne\/ lefibn in religion ; namely, That he is nor a Jew which is one outwardly, Rom. ii. 28.
fifthly^ Upon this he goes further, even to jnffde religion : fets 10 work more vigoroufly than ever ; iriourns over the c» . ih of his heart, and drives to bear <Jown the weeds he finds growing in that negltfled garden. He labours to curb his pride and pafiion, and tobanifh fpeculative impurities ; prays wore fervently, hears attentively, and drives 10 get his heart affcfted in every religious duty be performs ; and thus he comes to think himlclf not only an cutfide, but an iofide Chriftian. Wonder not at this ; for there is nothing in it beyond the yo^cx of nature, or what one may attain to under a vigorous influence of the covenant of works. Therefore anothfr (Iroke vet deeper is reached : The law chargcth home on the mai.'b confciencc that he was a tranfgrcfljr from the womb; that became in«> the world a guilty crca- furc ; and that, in the time of his ignorance, and even fince his eyes were opened, he has been guilty of many aftual fins*,
of ihe natural Stock, 203
cither altogether overlooked by him, or not fufiiciemiy mourned oyer : For fpiViiual Tores, not healed by the blcod of Chr 1ST, but fkinned over fome oiher way, a;e ealily ruf- fl;:d, and as foon break out again. And therefore the law takes him by the throat, faying," Pay what thcu owep.
Sixthly ^ Then the finner {d';% in his heart, Have patUnce Tvitk me,and I tcill pay thee all : and To falls to woik to paci- fy an offended Qo d, ^nd to atone for thefe fins. He renews his reperixance, fuch as it is ; bear, patiently the aHlcl ions laid upon him ; yea, he affltis himfglf, denies hirrrelr toe ufc of his la-A-ful comforts, li;^hs deeply, njouihs bitterly, cries vith tears for a pardon, till he haih wrouj,ht up bis hc^rt lo a con- ceit of having obtained it : having ihus done penance for vhatispaft, and rcfolving to be a good fcryant to God, and to hold on in oarward and inward obedience, for the time to come. But the ilToke muft go nearer the heart yet, ere the branch fail off. The Lo k d dilcovcrs to him, in the glafsof the lav, how he Gnncth in all he does, even when he docs the beft he can ; and thoreforc the dreadful found returns to hi* tars, Gal. iii. lo.' (Surfed is every one that ccntinudk net in, iJi things, 8i.Q. Whenyifajled and mourned ^{&\\\\ the LOR D, did ye at aUfaJl unto we, even to meY Will muddy water make clean clothes ? Will you fatikfy for one fin with anoth- er ? Did not your thoughts wander in fuch a duty ? Were not vour affe61tions flat in another ? Did not your heart give a whorifh look to fuch an idol ? And did it not rife in a fit of impatience under fuch an affliftion ? Should i accept this of your hands f Curfsd ht the deceiver y which facrijtcetk to the Lord a corrupt thir/g, Mai. i. 13, 14. And thus he becomes fo far broke off, that he feeshe is not able to fatisfy the demands of the law, .
Seventhly, Hence, like a broken man, who finds he is not able to pay all his debts, he goes about \o ccmpound with his creditor. And being in purfuit of eafe and coniforr, he docs what he can to fulfil the law ; and wherein he fails, he looks that God will accept the will for the Cict6. Thus doing his duty, and having a will to do better, he cheats himfelf in'.o a perfuafion of the goodnefs of his (late ; and hereby thoufands are ruined. B.it the eleft get another flroke, which loofeth their hold in this cafe. The docfrine of the law is born in en their conlcicnces ! demonliratingto them, that cxa6l and perfect ohediencc is required by it, under pain of the curfe ; and that it is doing, and not wifliing to do, which will avvtil. Wifhirvg to do better will not aufwer the law's demands ; and therefore the curfe founds again, Curled isevery one that con- tinueth net to do them : that is, aftually todothcm. In vain i» wifhifig then, ' ^
204 How the Branches are taken out
£igktkly. Being broken off from hopes of compounding with the law, he talis a-borrowin^. Hi fees that all he caa do to obey «bc hw, and all his dt fires to bs, and to do bcucr, will not fnve his foul j ihertfore he goes to Ch R i s r, inireat- ing, that his n^htcouuiefs maii^make up what is wanting ia his own, and cover all the defcfls of his doings and fuSer- ings ; that fo God, for Ch a I si's fake, may accept them, and thereupon be reconciled. Thus doing what he can to fulfil the law, and looking to Cii r i^t to make up all his dc- feels, he cotnes at length again toflcep in a found fkm": Many perfons are ru>ned this way. This wa? the error of the GaU- tions, which Paul in his epiiTlc to them, dilputes againft. Bat the Spirit of God breaks off the Cnncr from this hold alfo, by bearing in on his coorcience that great truth, Gal. iii. 12. Jhttaw is notojfavk ; biii the man that dolh ikem Jkall live inthtm. Thertis no mixing of the law and fdiin «n thisbufi- nefs ; the fmner mufi hold by oqc of them, apd let the other go ; the way of the law and, the way ol faith, arc fo ftr dif- ferent, that it is not poffible for a fintier to walk in the one, but he jcuil come off from the other : and if he be for doing, he rauildo all alone ; Ch r IST will not do a part for htm, if he do not all. A garment pieced up of fundry forts of lighteoufnefs, is not a garment meet for the court of heaven. Thus the man, who was in a drearn, and thought he was eating, is awakened by the flroke, and behold his foul is faint ; his heart finks in him like a (lone, 'while he finds he can neither bear his burden himfclf^pne, nor can be get help under it.
Ninthly, What can one do, who mufl needs pay, and yet neither has as much of his own as will bringhim out of debt, nor can he get as much to borrow; and to beg he is afhamcd ? What can fuchanone do, I fay, but fell himfelfas the maa under the lav/ that was waxen poor? Lev. xxv. 47. There- fore thefioner,b<?ai otf from !o many holds, goes about to make a bargain with Christ, and to fell himiclf to the Son of God, if I may lo fpeak, folemnly promifing and vowing, that he will be a fcrvant to Ch RiST, as long as he livcf, if he will fave his foul. And here oft-times the finner makes a ))erfoDal covenant with Christ, rcfigning himfelf to him oa ihefc tcrins ; yea, and takes the facraraent to make the bir- gain fure. Hereupon the. man's great care is,to obcyCn rist, kctphis commands, and fo fulfil hi* bargain. In this the foul finds a falfe, unfound peace, for a while ; till the Spirit of the Lord fetch another llroke, to cut off the man from this refuge of lies likcwife. And that happens in this manner : When he fails of the duties he engaged to, and falls again ii!to the fin he c^oveuaAied ajiaiuQ ; it is powTfuUy carried home oa bis
of the natural Stock .
conftience, that his covcp.ant is broken j fo all his coaifori^y goes, ^nd lerrcs afreCi Tclie on his foul, as one that hds T>io- ktn covenant with Christ; and commonly the nun, to help himUix, rrne AS his covenant, but breaks agairi as before. And ho'.v 2s i' p;irible it fhould beotherwife, feeing be is llill upoa t ic old dock r' Thus rhe wcrk of many, all their days, astoiheir louls, is nothing but a making and breaking fuch covenants over and over agair^
OijrCl. Some perhaps will fay, Who liveth and finoeth not i Who is there that falleth not of the duties he is enga- ged to ? If you reject this way as unfounJ.who then can be fa- ved ? Anf. True believers will be faved ; namely, all who do by faith take hold of God's ccvenaiu. But this kind of covenant is men's own covenant, devifed of their own heart ; not Gt)D*s covenant revealed in the gofpel of his grace : and the making of it is nothing clfe, but the making of a covenant of works wnh Ch r ist, confoanding the law and the gof- pel ; a covenant he will never fabfcriba to, though welhould Cgn It wiih our heart's blood, Rom. iv. 14. 16. For if the) ichick art of the lazn be ktirsyjailh is made void, and the prO' mije made of no v. c ffftcl. — Therefore it is offaith^ that it might be ay grace, to tk'. tnd the promij'e might be Jure to all the feed. Chap. xi. 6. And if by grace^ihcn it is no more cf works ; ctherwije grace is no more grace. But if it be oficcrks, then it is no more grace : otherwife luork is uq more work. God's covenant IS everlading : once in, never out of it again : ani the mercies of it are fure mercies, Ifa. Iv. 3. But that cove- nant of yours is a tottering covenant, never furc, but broken everyday. Iiisan.erc fcivile covenant, giving CiiRlST fcrviccfor falvation : but Goo's covenant is a fiUal covenant, in which the finner takes Ch Ri ST, and his falvation freely Oifciedjand lo becomes a fon, John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the jons. of Gad ; and beui(i, become a Ian, he fcrves his Father, not thatthein- herirance may be his, but becaufe it is his through Jesus CiiRisr, fee, Gal.1v.24. and downward. To enter into that fpurious covenant, is to buy Christ with money ; but to taks hold of God's covenant, is to buy of hwn without money and without price, Ifa. iv. 1. that is to fay, to beg of him. " In that covenant men work for life; in God's covenant they come to Christ for life, and work from life. Whea a per Ton under that covenant fails in his duty, all is goae, the covenant muH be made over again ; but under God's cove- nant, although the man fail in his duty, and for his failure* fall under the difcipline of the covenant, and lies undir the vvei^ht of it, till fuch time as he has rccourfe to the blood of Cii&iST for pardon, and reucw hi» repenu&ce, yet all that
2o5 HoTv the Branches are taken out
he rruHcd to forllfe, and falvation, namely, the righteoufneff of Cii R 1ST flill flaiids entire, and the covenant remains trro, Ice Rom. vii. 24,25. and viii. 1.
2vow, though feme men fpcnd ihcir lives in ciaking and breaking fuch covenants of their own, the terror upon the breaking of them wearing weaker and weaker by degrees, till at lafl it creates them little or no uneafzncfj ; yet the man in whom the good woik is carried on, till it be accomplifh- cd in culling him olF from the old (iock, finds thefc tove- nanis to be as rotten cords, broke at every touch ; and the terior of God, being tVitrtupon redoubled on bis fpirir, and th« waters at every turn getting into his very foul, he is obli- ired to ccaCe from catching holj.ot fuch covenants and to fcclc help foire other way.
Ttntkl) , Therefore the man comes at length to bog at Ch R 15t's door for mc'cy; hut vet he is a protid beggar, {landing on his perfonal worfh. For, as the PapifU have mediators to glcad for iherr, with the one only Mediator ; fo the branches of the old ilock, have alw^/s fomething to pro- rfute, which they think may conimcr^d them IoChrist, and engage him to take their cau!c in hand. They cannot think, ofromir^to the fpiritural market, without money in their hand. 'I hry are like pcrfons,who have once had an cfl»tc of their own, but are reduced to extreme poverty, and forced lo beg. When they come to beg, they ftill remember their former chpra6\er; and though they have loft their fubftancc, yet they retain much of their formcrkfpirit ! therefore they cannot think ihey ought to be treated a? ordinary beggars,- but defrrve a particular regard ; and, iF^that be not given them, their fpirits rife apainft him to whom they addrcf* themfelves for fupply. Thus God gives thi unhu:nhled fin- ncr many common mercies, and fliu'.s hiru not up in the pit, according to his defcrving ; but all this is nothing in his eyes. l\>t mud be fet down at tVc children's fable, otberwifc he rcc>. kens himfclf hardly dealt wi^h, and wronged; for he is not yet biought, fo low, as to ihink. God ir.ay be jaftified when ht fpeaketb, againft him, and clear from all iniquity, when be ^udgetb him according to his real demcrii, PIjI. li. 4. He thinks perhaps, that evcti before he was eolightncd, he wa» better than many others ; h*- confMlers his refornution of life, his repentance, the grief and tears his fin has cofl hiro, hi«' carncfl dcfires after Ch R I ST, his prayers, and wrcfllings for mercy : and uTeth all thcfe now, as bribes for mercy, layjnfj ro fmall weight on them in hi? addreffes to the throne of grace. But here the Spirit of the Lo R D (boots a flicaf ol arrows into the man's heart, whereby his confidence in ibefe thing? is funk and dtftxcycd ; and inftcad of thinking hiaifcK
o/ the natural Stock, 207
icttcr than many, be is made to fee bimfclf worfe than any' The naughtinefs of his reformation of life is diH^overed. His repentance appears to. him no better than the lepcntance of Judas ; his teats like Efau's, and his dciircs after Christ to be feluiii and lothfomc, like theirs who ^ou^ht Christ he- caule ot the loaves, John vi. 26. H's anfwer f ro n God fectns now to be, Away proud beggar, Hozujkall I put thee a- inong the cAildren ? He Icems to look fternly on him, for his flighting of Jesus Chr ist by unbelief, which is a fin he fcarce diCcerned before, ^at now at length, he beholds it la its crimfgn colours ; and is pierced to the heart as with a tboufand darts,, while he fees how he has been going on blind- ly, finning againfl the remedy of fin, &. in the vhole coarfe of his life, trampling on the blood of the Son of GOD. And now he is, in his own eyes, the miferablc objc6\ of law-vengeance, yeaand gofpcl-vengeance too.
EUvaithl)^ The man being thus far hurnbled, will no more plead, he is worthy for whom Christ fhould do this thing ; but, on the contrary, looks on himfclf as unworthy of Chrift, & unworthy of the favour of Gqd. Wcm^iv compare him in this cafe, to the young man who followed Chr ist, having a linen cloth call about his naked body; on whom, when the young men laid holdj he left the linen cloib, and fled froni them naked, Mark xiv, 51, 52. Even fo the man h.id 'been fol- lowingChrift.iii the thiii&coldnfe garment bfhis own peifonal worihinefs; but by it, even by it, which he fo much truflcd to,. the law catcheih hold of him, to make him prifoncr ; and then he I's fain to leave it, and f!:cs away naked ; yet not to Oil R 1ST, but from him. If vou now tell h'ln, he is welcome to come to Chr ist, if he will come to him ; he is apt to fay, Can fuch a vile and unwoKhy wretch as I, be welcome to the holy Jssus ? If a plaifter be applied to his wounded foul, it will net (lick. He fays, DspaTtfron mejor J am ajinjul man^ 0 Lord, Luke v. 8. No man needs fpeak to him of his repentance, for his comfert ; he can quickly ef- py fuch faults in it, as makes it naught : nor of his tears, for he is affured, they have never come into the Lo r d's bottler He difputes himfclf away from Ch r ist, and concludes now that he has been fuch a flighter of Ch Ri ST, and is fuch an unholy and vile creature, he cannot, he will not, he oughc_ not to come to Christ ; and that he mud either be in bet- ter cafe, or elfc he will never believe. And hence he now makes his ftrongell efforts, to amend what wa* amifs in his vay before ; he pr.ivs more earneftly than-ever, mcnrns more bitterly, ftrivcs againft fin, in Ij^cart and life, nnorc vigoroufly, and watcheth more tiilipently J ifbyanv mean* he may, at . length, bt fit to conje to C'J[rist. 0.i« would think thtf
2 0 8 How the B ran ches are taken out
man is wtll humbled now : But ah ! devilifh pride Iurk« nn- Jer the veil of all this fecraing hurtiility. Like a kind'/ branch of the old ftock, he adheres ftill, and uill not fubrait to the righteoufnefs of Gob, Rom. x. 3. He will not come to the market of free grace, without money. He is Wddcn to the marriage of the King^s Son, where the bridegro^iari him- felf furnlfheth jll the gncfts with wedding-garments, ftrippiiip; them of their own t but he will not come, becaufe he wan':- a wedding-garment, howbeit he is very bufr mAing one rea- dy. This is fad work, and therefore he mud have a deeper flrokeyet, elfe he is ruined. This ftrokeis reached him with the ax of the law, in its irritating power, 't'hus the law gird- ing the foul with cords of death, Jtnd holding it in with the rigorous commands of obedience, under the pain of the curfe ; and God, in his holy and wife condutl, withdrawing his re- draining grace j corruption is irritated, lufls become violent, and the more they are driven againft, the more they rage, like a furious horfe checked with the bit: Then do corrup- tions fet up their heads, which he never faw in himfclf before. Kere oft-times atheifm,blafphcmy, and in one word, horrible things concerning God^ terrible thoughts concerning the faith, arifc in his bread; fo that his heart is a very hell within him. Thus while he is fwecping the houfe of his heart, not yet watered with gofpel-grace, thcfc corruptions which lay quiet before in negle^ed. corners, fly iip and d-jwn in it like rluft. H: js as one who is mending a darn, and while he is repairing breaches in it, and flrer>grhening every part of it, a mighty Hood comes down, overturns his work, and drives all away before it, as well what was newly laid, as v/hat was laid before ; read Rom. vii. 8, 9, lo. 13. This is a droke whi<fh goes to the heart; and by it^^ his hope t)f getting himfelfmore fit to come to Ch R 1ST, is cut off.
Lafily, Now (he time is come, whcnihe man, betwixt hope and dcfpair, refolves to go :o Cn r ist as he is : and, there- fore, like a dying man nretchinw himfclf,]aft bcforebis breath goes out, he rallies the broken forces of his foul ; tries to be- lieve, and, in fome fort, laysholdon JesusChrist. And now the branch hangs on the old dock, by one fingle tack of a natural faith, produced by the natural vigour of one's own f|)irit, under a mod prefling ncctfTity, P(al. Ixxviii. 34, 35. Winn ktjlcw them, then thry Jhughl him : and they returned and enquired early after God. And thry remembered that God rvas their rock, and the hi^h God their redeemer. Hof. viii .«. Ifraeljhail cry unto me^ My God, are kncxo thei, B'lt the Lo R n mindjngto perfefthis work, fetches yet 3'^"''"" -'^'^V.', vhertby the branch falls quite off. The Sp-r '■ Infin^ly difcovers to the finner, his uttering
bj the natural Stocl. 209
tiling that IS good ; and fo he dieth. Rom. vii. 9. That voice powerfully ftrikes thro' his ioxx\,How can ye believe .? John v. 44. Thou canft no more believe, than thou canft reach up thine hand to heaven, and bring Christ down from thence. And thus, at length, he fees he can neither help himfclf, by working nor believing : and having no more to hang bv, on the old flock, -he therefore fails off. And while he is thus diftrcffed, feeing himfeU like to be fwept away w'nh the flood of God's wrath ; and yet unable fo much as to rtreich forth a hand, to lay hold of a twig of the tree of life growing on th< banks of the river ; be is taken up, and ingrafted into the true Vine, the Lor. -> J iisus Christ giving him the fpuit of faith.
By what has been faid on this head, I defign not to rack or diftrefs tender cop^cicnces ; for though there are bu». few fuch, at this day, yet God foibid I fhould offend anyofCn r ist's liftlc ones. Bat, alas j a dead fieep is fallen upon (h»& gene- ration ; they will not be awakened, let us go ?s near the quick as we will : and therefore, I fear there is another fort of a- wakeniag ^biding^ihis fermon-proof generation, which fhall wake the ears oflhcm that hear it to tingle. However, I would not have this to be looked upon as the fovereign Go d's ftinted method ot breaking off finners from the old (lock; bat this 1 affert, as a certain truth, that all who are in Chr ist^ have been broken off from all thefe fevcral confidences ; and' that they who were never broken off from them, are yet in their natural (lock. Neverthelefs, if the ^oufc be pulled down, and the old loundjtion razed ; it is all one, whether it was taken down Hone by ftone, or undermined, and ail fell down together.
Now it is, that the branch is ingrafted in Jesus Ch!iist» -And, as the law, in the hand of the Spirit cl God. was the inftrument to cut off the branch from the naisrai itock, fo the gofpel, in the hand of the fame Spirit, is the inftrument ufed for ingrafting it into the fuperndtural llock, 1 John i. g. Thit tvhick ue have fcen and heard, declare ute unto von ; that .yt aifo may have Jeiiciufhip with us : And trjtly our'ftUoivJhip '"♦J wilk the Father^ and with his Son, J'ji^ Chrijl. S^e ITaiah Ixi. I, 2, 3. The go(p<l is a filvcr cord let down from hea- ven, to draw perilhi"g finners to land. And, though the preaching of the law prepares the way of the Lord, yet it IS m the word of the gofpel. that Christ and a finner meet. Now, .<s in the naiurul orafting, the branchbeing taken ud, is put into the ftock ; and being put into it, takes with it f and lo they are united : even fo in the fpiritual ingrafting, Chkkt apprehend* the finner; and the fiaaer, being appre-
ii 1 o How a Sinner Is ingrafted into Chri; '
hcndcd of Christ, spprebends him; and fo tbcy be- come one, Phi!, in. 12.
Firjl^ Christ apprehends the Hnner by hi« Spirit, an! draws him to himfeir, i Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit, v - are all baptized into oritbody. The fame Spirit wbicU is iri the Mediator himfelf, he communicates to hisclecit in due time ; never to depart from them, but to abide in them, as i principle of life. Thus he takes hold of them, by his own Spirit put into them ; and fo the withered branch gets l;fe. The foul is now in the hands of the Lord of life, &. pofTefTedl by the Spirit of life; how then can it but live ? The man gets a ravifhing fight of Christ's excellency, in the glafs of the gofpel ; He {tt% him afull^ -fuiiable, and willing Savi- our : and gets a heart to take him lor, and inftead of all. The Spirit of fdith furniflieth him with feet to come to Christ, and hands to receive him. What by nature he could notdo,- by grace he can j the holy Spirit working in him the work of faith with power.
Secondly^ The finnrr thus apprehendbd, apprehendi Christ by faith, and fo takes with the blcffed flock, Eph. iii. 17. That Chrijl may dxvdl iri your hfarts by faith. The foul that before tried many ways of efcape, but all in vain, doth now look again, with the eye of fatth, which proves the healing look. As Aaron'^ rod laid up in the tabernacle^ budr ded and brought forth buds, Num. xvii. X So the dead branch apprehended by the Lord of lif3,..put tnto,'and hound up with, the glorious quickning flock, by the Spirit di life, buds forth in actual htlievJVig on Jesus Christ, \vhcreby this union is completed : IVe liavintr the Jam.ifpirit ef faith, believe, 2 Cor. iv. 13. Thus the flock and the graft are united, Ch R I ST and the Chriflian are married: faith being thfe foul's conftnt to the fpiritual marriage-covenant, vhich as it is propofed in thfegofptl to mankind finners inde- finitely, fo it is demonftiated, attefled, and brought home,' to the man in particular, by the holy Spirit : ar>d fo he being joined to the Lo r n, is one fpirit with him. Hereby a be- liever lives in and for Ch R 1st, and Ch r i ST lives in an4 for the believer, Gal. ii. 20. / am crucified with Chrijl. Sr- tiertheUfi I live : yet not /, Sut Chrijl liveth iv me. Hof. iii.?. TiiDvJkdl: not be for another manj'c will I d-lfo be for thee. The bonds then of this bleffed union are, the Spirit on Christ's part, and faith on the believer's part.
^2|2»«ow, both the fouls and bodies of believers are United to ^ftRiST. He that is joined to the I^rd, IS (^.^ ' ' ' '"r •vi. 17. The very bodies of believers have t' upon them, that ihev aro the temples of the n^.j v^..^.^, .v. I9. And ibe members of Ch r jst, ver. 13, , y/hem ihe
Infer dices. 21 1
jeep in the dnft, they fleep in Jefus, i Thef. iv. 14. And it is in virtue of this union, ihev ihall be raifcd up out of the duft again, Rom. \\\\, 11., H: Jhall quicken your mortal bodies 1} Ais Spirit, that diuelUtk tn you. In tcken of this myftical union, the chu'-ch of believers is called by the name of her Head and Hufbmd, i Cor. xii. 12. For as the body is onCy and haik many mtmbcri^—fo alj'o is Chriji.
Use. Ffom what is laid, we nr>ay draw ihefe following /«• Jerences.
I. The preaching of the law js moft necefTary. He that would ingraft, muR needs ufe the fnedding knife. Smncrt have many Ihifts n, keep then) from CfiRisx ; nianv things by vbich they Keep their hold of the natural ftpck : therefore? they have need 10 te ciofcly purfucd, and huntedoiii of their {kuiking holes, and refuge otlics.
Yet, It is the gofpel that croMrnc the work ; (he law makes nothing perfect. The law lays open the wound, but it is the pofpeJ that heals. The Uw (trips a man, wounds him.and leaves him half deatl: The gofpel hrnds up his wounds, pouring la vine and oil, to heal them. /By ihc law we are broken off; but, it is by the gofpel we are taken up, and implanted ia Christ.. ^,
3. If any man have not the Spirit oj Ckriji, ht is ncr.c of hisi flom. viii. ^. We are told of a monfter in nature, having two bodies differently animated, as appeared from contrary affcftions at one and the fame time j but fo united, that they vere ferved wiih-tl^e fclf-fame legs. Jlven fo, however men tnay cleave to Ch R i.^. T, call themfelvcs of the holy city, and (lay themfelves upon the Gob of Ifracl. Ha. xlvii. s. And they may be bound up as branches in him, John xv. s l>y the outward ties of facraraents ; yet, if the Spirit that dwells in Christ, dwell not in them, thev are not on<t ^ith him. There is a great difference betwixt adhefion ani ingrafting. The ivy claps and twills itfeif about the oak, hut it is not one with it, for it ftill grows on its own root ; fo, to allude to, Ifa.iv. 1 . many profelTors take hold ofCn r i s r and eat their own bread, and wear their ov/n apparel, only they are called by his name. Tbeyft-:v themfelves upon him, but grow upon ihcir own root ;thcy take fcim to fup port their hopes, but their delights are ellewhere.
4. The union betwixt Ch R 1 st and hi$ rnvdicil memberJ, t.rm and ir.diffjlvable. Were it fo thai the hel':vcr onlv
apprehended Christ, but Christ apprehended not him; ^ we could promife little on the itabilitv of fuch an uinoa ; it might quirkiy be diffolved ;. but, is the believer apprehends Christ by faith, fo C;{RIST apprehends hi.m bv bis Spirit, aftd --"- *"-'' r-t--^ hm cut of 'his hand D J the cbi'i O
2rf2 Signs of Chrifi' s
only keep hold of the nurfc, it might at length weary vai let go Us hold, and fo fall away : but if (he hdv<: her arms a- bout the child, it is in'no hazard of fallit^g away, even thoagh it be not aflualiy holden by her : fo, Whatever finful iricr- miffions may happen in the cxercife of faith, yet the union remains furr, by reafon of ihcconftant indw:llin;i of the Spir- it. Elcffed Jt:us ! all his taints arc in thy hand, Dcut. icxxiii. 3. It i^obfcrved bv foinc, chat the word Abba is the fanj*c, whether yoa read it forward or backwarcM What- ever the bclicver*& cafe be, the Lord is ftiil to bim-, Abbm ^athtr.
Lajlly, They have an unfure hold of Cjitiist, whoM he lias not apprehended by bis Spirit. There arc many half- marriages here, where the foul apprehends Ghkist, but i& *ot apprehended of him. Hence many fall away, and n«vcr rife again : they let go their hold of Christ; and wbcrv that is gontf, a^lisgore. Thclc are the branches in Christ , that bear not fruit, which the hufbandman takethaway, Joha XV. «. Q,ucji. How can that be ? jinj. Thefe ^ranches are fet in the {lock, by a profefTiOn, or' an iinfound hypocritical faith ; they are bound up with it, in the external' ufc ot* the facraments : bjt the flock and'tHey are never knit ; there- fore they cannot hear iiuit. And thev need not be cut ol' riot broken off; they are by the hufbandman only taken iwax er, as the word primarily fignifits, lifted up ; and fo ta- ken away, becaufe there is nothing to hold them ; they are indeed bound up with the (lock ii^but they bare never utiited "with it,
(lueji. Howfballl knowif I ani appJrehendedof Ch r 1ST i* Anf. You may be fati&Sed in this inquiry, if you cofifidcr and apply thcfe two things.
/•Vr//, When Christ apprehrn«^s a man by his Spirit, h is fo drawn, that he comes away to Ch r isT with his whoL heart ; for trutf believing is believing with all the heart, A^ii viii. 37. Gur Lord's foVlowcrs are like thcfc who fol- lowed Saul at fifft, men whofe hearts God has tt^ucheJ, i Sam. X. 26. V/hcn the S"nirit pours in overcoming grace, thev pour out their hearts hkc water before him, Pfal. Ixii. 8. ' They flow untohiin like a river, Ifa.ii. «. AU nations Jhalt flow unto it, vaecnc\y,xo tht mountain of the Lord's houfe. It denotes not only the abundance of converts, but the difpofition of their fouls, in coming to CiiRisr: ihry fomc heartily ard frcclv, as drawn with loving-kindncls, Jt- xxxi. 3. Thy people Jhall be wilUnir in the day of thy power ^ ?fdl.tx.3. I. e. ticc. leady, opcn-heancd, R'Vln^ themfclve» to thee as free-will offerings. When the bridegroom has the Hridc'shcart, it is a right marriage ; but fome gi.\ i
apprehending a Sinner. 213
to Chr I ST» who give him not their heart. They that ar« <;nly dnven to CHRIST by terror, will lUrely leave him a- gain, when "that terror is gone. Terror may break a heart of ftonc, but the pieces into which His broken, ftill continue to be flonc ; the rcrrors carvnot foften it intft a heart of flelh. Yet tenor may begin, the work, which love crowns : the ^rong wiptj, the earthqu^ikt, and the fire f^oing before ; the iJill fmall voice, in which the Lord is, may<:o«ne after them. When the blcffed Jesus is lecking linneo to matirh wiih. him, thev are bfild and pcrvcrle, they will net fpeak with feim, till he hath wounded, them, made them capnves, and bound them v:ith tht cordi of death, vV'^ben this 13 done, dicn it is he rrftkes love to ihem, and wins their hearts. The Lord fays, Hof. ii; i6_ — ep. that his cbofen Itrael iliall be married ntito himfelfi But, how will the bride's confeat be won ? Whv, in the firft phce, he will bj-ing her into the wil- derneft, as he did rhe people when he brought them cut of Xgypt, ver. 14. , There ihtt will be hardly dealt with, fcorch- ed with thuift, and bitten with ierpenis ; and then he will fpeak comforttiblv to her, or, as the expreffion is, he will fpeak upon her heart. The fiuner is firft driven, and then drawn to Christ. It is with the foul as with Noah's dove ; (lie was -forced Jjack again to the ark, becaufe fhe could find nothing elfe to reft upon ; but when fhe did return, fhe would have-^ Tcfted on the outfide of it, if Noah: had not piu foI^h his hand and polled her in. Gen. viii. g. The Lo r d fends the aven-
■ -^er of blood in purfuit of the criminal, and he, v;ith a fad teart leaves his own city : and with tears in his eves, parrs Aviih his old acquaintance, becagfe he dare not flay with them; And he flees for his life to the city of refuge. This is not at all his choice, it is forced work ; ncccfhtv has no law. But when he comes to the gates, and fee^ the beauty of the place the excellency and lovclinels of it charms htm ; and then ht* -inters it with heart ai?d good-wIU, faying. This is my rejl^ ard here will ijiay ; and» as one faid in another cafe, 1 had penlh- ^d unlefs 1 had pcrifhed.
Secondly^ When Christ ppprehends a foul, the heart is ■^iifcngaged from, and turned agirinft (in. A% in cutting oft rhe
. 'branch from the old ftock, the great idol, felf is brought down, the tnan is oc'verfully taught to deny himfclf ; fo, in the ap- prehending of the finner by his Spirit, that unfon is dilTolved, ■which was b.-ftArixt the.man. and his.lufts, while he was in the fleih, as the Apoftic exprcfTes it, PvOm. vlii. 5. the heart is loof'-a from them^ though formerly as derr to him, as the memt'rr^of his body, as his eyes, legs and arms ; and, inftead x)f '.^icing pleafurc in them, as fometimts he did, hs longs to be lii of thc<n. When the Lo.hu Jesus cotiies to a
2 1 4 Ilenejitsjlowingfrom Chriji to Believer'..
foul, in the day of converting grace; he finds it lilce Jcrufa- 1cm in the day of her nativity, Ezek. xvi. 4, with its naval not cut, drawing its fulfomc nouriOimcnt and fatisfaftion from its lufts ; but, he cuts off this communication, that he may fct the foul on the breafts of his ov/n coafolations, and give it reil in hi .n '"elf. And thus the Lord wounds the head and heart of fin, an^tbe foul comes to him faying, Surely our/A- f fieri have inherited lies^ vanity and things tchercin there are nc profit, Jcr. x\'i. 19.
Of thft hencjitsjlozuing to true Bclicvcrs^Jrov: their union with ChriJl.
V. An^ laftty^ I come to fpcak of the bcticfits dowiog to true hc'.ievers froni their union with Christ. The chief of the particular benefits believers have by it, are juftificaiion, peace, adoption, fanctification,.grov^th in grace, fruitfulnefs in good works, acceptance of thcfe good works, ellablifhment in aftate of grace, fupport and a fpccial conduct of providence about them. As for communion with Cn rist, it is fuch a benefit, as being the immediate confcquent of union with him, comprehends all the reft as mediate ones. For look, as the branch, immediately upon its union with the flock, hatiKom^^ wunion with the flock, in all that is in it ; fo the brliever u- niting with Christ, hath communion with him ; in which he launcheth forth into an ocearut)f happirefs, is led iflto » paradife of pleafurt<, and has a faving inlcrefT in the trca-> lure hid in the field of the golpcl, the unfearchable riches of Christ. As foon as the believer is tinitcd to Christ, Christ himfelf, in whom all fulnefs dwells, is his, Cant, ii- j6. My beloved is mine, and I am his. And, Howjkall he nr. toi'k him freely give us ALL things ? R!om. vii. 32. Whether Paul, or Apcilosy or Cephas, or the world, of life, er death, cr things prejent, &r things to come, ALL are yours, 1 Cor. iii.22. Thus communion with Christ i$ the great comprehenfive, blelGng, nccrflarily flowing from our union with him. Let ta now confidcr the particular benefits flowing fiom if, before- mentioned.
The Firfl particuht benefit, that a firmer hath by his uni- on with Christ, is j^iflification ; for being imiied to Christ, he hath communion with him in h'<^ T,e Kfroufnrf., 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chriji Jf;. *s
made unto us wifdom and I'igkttoujnfs. He ' ^ re
condemned, but juftifird before Goo, as being in Chki:>t, Kom. vili.i. There is therefvre nou no condemnation to tfun '\m>hi(.h are in ChriJl J f us. The braflches hereof arc p*rdoa ^^^n, and peifoiyil acceptance.
Jiiflijkation. - ' 215
i>?, His fins arc pardoned, the guilt of them is removed. The bond obliging him to pay his debt, is cancelled, Goi> the Father rakes the pen, dips it into the blood of his Son, icrofTcth the finncr's accounts, and blottcth them out of his debt-book. The finner, out of Cm r ;st, is bound over to the wrath of Go d ; hf' is under an obligation in law, to go to the prifon of hell, and t'lerc to lie till he has paid the utmoft farthing. This arifeih from the terrible fanftlon wiih which the law is fenced, which is no lefs than death, Gen. ii. 17. So that the linner palTing the bounds a(T";gr,cd him, is as Shi- inci in another cafe, amanofdcaih, j ICings ii. 42. But now b'-ing viniitd to<xH R Ii r, God faith. Driver kirn from gnvg down to the pit : I kavjbund a ranjbm^ Job xxxiii. 14. T^c fentence of cor-dcnmation is reve;fed, the bcliveris abfolvcd, and frt bcvond the reach of the coademnui^ law. H;s fms, which fometimes were tei btfore the Lord, Plalm jtc. 8. fo that thev codd not he hid, God cow flk.cs afl^ cads them all behind Wis back, Ifa. xxxvii. 17, Yea, KcciH^ them into the dephs of the i^ea, Micah vii. 19. What 'falU into a brook, maybe got up again ; but what is caft into the fea. cannot be recovered. Ay, but there are fome fhallow places in the fea ; true. b:it their Cns are not caft in there, but into the depths ot the fea ; and the eepths of the fea are dcvourir;^ depths, from whence thev (hall never come forth, again. But what if thev do not fink ? He will cafl ihcm in with force ; fo that they Ihall go to the ground, and fink as lead iri the mightv waters of the R^deemci's blood. They are not only forgiven, but forgotten, Jer. xxxi. 34. / wtU for^ivr their iniquity, end 1 vill rannnbcr thtirjins nc more. And though thtir after-fins do in themrelvcs,deferve eternal wrath, and do a£lually make them liable to temporal flrckes, and fatherly chaflifcmcnts, according to the tenor of the cove- nant of grace, P<alm Ixxxix. 30. — 33. Vet they can never be actually liable to eterr:al wrath.or the^purfe of the law; fc" they are <lcad to the law in Christ, Rom. vii. 4. And they can never fall from their union with Christ, nor can they be in Cii r ist, and yet under condemnation, Rom. viii. j. There is therefore now no condemnation to thtm which are in Chr?Ji Jfus. This is an inference -drawn from that do6lrine of the bclisver's bcingdead to the law, delivered bv the Apof- tle,chap. vii. t — 6. asis clear from chap. viii. 2,3,4. And in this refp^efel, the juO.ified man is the blelfed man, unto whom jJl^l^oiiD imputeth not iniquity, Pfalm xxxif. 2. As one ^o has no defign to charge a debt on another, fets it not down in his count-kook.
idly. The believer is accepted as righteous in God's fight, 2 CoV. V. 21. Tor he is found ia Christ, not having hin
2i6 Peace with God,
own righteournerj, but that which is through the faith oT CrjRlST, th« rightcpiiiocd- which is of Go]> by fail h, Phil;, iit. 9. He could newer be accepted of God as righteoui,up* en the ar.couni cf his owo rigbtcoufncfs ; becaufe.at bcft. it i» but iinpcrfet}; and all rij/htcoufnefs, propetly fo calL^d. which vrill abide a tpal before the. tbrofic of Goo, is perfctk. The \rTy name o{ jt implies perfeftion ; for imlefs « work be |>er^ fcciiy c-onform to the law, it js not right but v/roDg ; and fo cannot make 8 man righteous before GuD, whofc jjid^mcaC is according to truth. Yet if juiljce demand a rightcoufncfe oi one. that is in Ghp. ist, upon which he mav be accounted righteous befoic the: Lop d ; Surdy Jhali fuck an one Jay ^ In ihc Lord have I rigkteovfncfs, Ifa. xiv. 1^4. The law is fuIfiU led, it* cammunds are obeyed, iis.fant\ioa is faiisfied. 1 he hclievcr'i Cautioner Las paid th&debt. ;.» It was ex*6led, and he i^nrwercd for it. 'r- , . : ' '. : : •
Thus the perfon united to Christ, »s juftified. You may conceive of the v/holc proceeding herein, in this man>- Tier. The avenger of b!ood purfuing the criminal, Chrift, at the Saviour of loftConrrs, doth by the Spirit apprehend him^ and draw him to -himfelf ; and he b/ faith lays hold oa Chr IS.T ; fo the Lord our righteoufnels, and the unrigh* teous.crpafurc unite • .'From this unon with CnRi»1r, rc- fults a communion with him, In his unfearehablc riches, and confequentlv, in- his righieoufncfs, that jvhite raiment which he has for clothing of the oakod| Rev. iii. 18. Thus the righteoulncfs of Ch R I sr becomes his ; and becaufe it is hit by unquefljonablc title, it is imputed to himj it is reckoned his, on the judgment of God, which is always, according to the truth of the thing, And Co the believing finner hav- ing a righteoufnefs which fully anCwcrS the demands of the law, he is pardoned and accepted as righteous. See Ifa. xlv. %X. 24, 25. P.om.iii. 24. and chap. v. 1. NoW he is a free man ; who (hall la?\^ thing to the charge of thefc whom God juflifieth,1 Can juftice lay any thing to their charge? No ; for it is fatisHcd. , t^an the law ? No, for it has got all its demands of them in Jesus Christ, Gal. ii. s6. 'lain rruajitdwitk Ckiiji. What can the law require more, after it has wounded their Head ; poured in wrath, in full ineafurc, into their foul ; and cut off their life, and brought it into the dull of death ? In fo far as irhas done all this to Jesus Christ, who ii their Head, Lph. i. 22. their Soul, AcU ji. 2,s- S7- a^d their Life ? Col. i:i. 4. What is become o£ the fmoer's own band-w.'iting, which would prove the -debt upon him ? Christ has blotted it out Col. ii. 14. Btit. \\, iBay be juftice mav get its eye upon it again ; no, he 4coi it cut ef tht way. But, O that it had been torn in pieces> may
and Peace of €o7ifcic7ict 2-17
file finncr fay : yea, fo it is ; the nails that pierced Ckrit's
lands and fret, ara driven through it, he nailed it. B.it wr>at i' the -torn pitjccs be let together a^ain f That cannot be, for lie railed u lo ins crofs, and his crois was buried with, him : hut will jicver rife more, feeing Christ dieth r.o more. \\'here is the f«tcc-covering that was upon the corcemned nan PtChr isr h?.s d^Rroyed It, Ifa. xxv. .7. Where is r^eath, that flcod Lcforc the iirner with a grim face, and an open mouth, ^rcady. to dc^j^our hi:n P.Ckkkst has fwallowed it up ii vtf*ory, ver, 8. Glory, g*ory, glory to him, that thii« l9v,ed. lis.and wafhed us from our fms in bis own blcotl ! The fccon_d benefit i'owing. from jbe fame fprlr.^ of union ^•■ith Christ, and coining bv the way of j.iftjfiCalion, in J'eace : peace with. Gou, and peace of conlcicncc,*:.accor- .<iing toihe meafurcof the fcnfe the juftificd 3iavc of their peace with God, Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being jjipifiid <»v *'iith, we haze pcaiciL'ith Gcd. Chap. xiv. e^. fc'rLnekmq ■'.■m 0/ God is net meat cn^ drink, but rinkitcufn'fs andpecje, cndjiy inlhe holy Ghojl. Whereas Gop was their encinv fcefore, now He is reconciled to l hern in ChPvIST : thery are in a covenaRt of peace with hitn :^ and as Abraham was, fo «hey are. t'lefr Lends pf OoB. JbU is well pleafcd with them in his beloved Son. His word, which fpoke icrrpr to them formerly, riow fpeaks peace, if ihey rightly take up its language.. Aid there is love in all his difpenfations to» wards them, wh^ch makes all work together for their good. Their confciences are pu'■g^'c: of that guilt and fiithincfs that fometime lay upon ihem : his cpnlcience-purifying blood flreams through their fouh, by virtue of their onion with him T^cb. IX. 14. How muck more Jhall the blood 0/' Chri/c—J>iir.^€ 'ur conj'cie/iccjrom dead z^'orks, tt ftrvc the living God t Tuc .'onds Ijid on their confciences, bv tbe.^pirii of God, afting as the fpirit of bondage, arc takjn off, ntrver mere to be laid on by that hand, Rom. vii. 15. far ye have not received the (pint of bondage again to fear. Hereby the conscience is ijuieied, as fooo as the fpul becomes confcious of the appli- cation ot that blood ; which falls I'ooner or later, according to the meafure of faith, and as theonlv wife GoD lees meet to time it. Unbelievers may havetroubled confciences which they may get quieted again : but, a^as I their confciences become peaceable, ere they become pure ! fo their peace is but the feed of greater horror and confulion. Carcleffnels may give eafe for a while, to a fick confcience ; men neglec- t«ig us wounds, they ciofe again of their own accord, before the filthy matter is purged out. Mary bury their guilt in &.- jzrave oi an ill memory : confcience fmarts a liale; at Icngii: ihe lAan forgets his fm, and thcic is an end of »r : -Bni thai u
2 1 8 Peacf with God,
only an cafe bcferc death. Bufintrs, or the affairs of life, of- ten give eafc in this cafe. When Cain ii banjfhed from the prefcnce of the LoRU, he falls a-building of cities. Whea the evil fpifit came upon vSaul, he calls not for his Bible, nor for the priefls toconveife vith him about his cafe ; but for mnfick, to play it away. So nianv, when their coiifcien- CCS hcj^jn to be uneafy, tbcy fill thnr heads and hands with bufincfs, to divnrt themfclvcs, and to regain eafe at any rate. Yea, fome will fin, over the hclly of their coDviftiont ; and fo fome get eafe to their conlciences, as Hdzacl gave to his maf- ter, by ftiftling hiTj. Agairi, the pcrlorming of dutifi may give fome eafe to a difquietcd conlcicrce ; and this is all that legal profefTors have recourreto, for quieting of their con- icicnces. .When confcience is wounded, they will pray,con- fzh^ mourn, and refoUe to do fo no more ; and io they be- come whore again, without any application of the blood o\ Ch r 1ST by faith. But they, whofe confcicnces are rights \y quieted, comcTor peace and purging to the blood of fpiink- ling. Sin is a fwect moffcl, that makes God's cle£l fick fouls, ere they get it vomited up. It leaves a (ling behind it, which, fome one time or other, will create them no little
Eliha {hews us both the cafe a-nd cure. Job xxxiit. ^Bc- Bold the cafe one may be in, whon GoD has thought* of love to ! He darteth convifttbns into his confciciy e and make* them ftick fo faft, that be cannot rid himfelfof them, vcr. i6 He opentththt ears of men^ and ftaftth their inJfruBion. Hi» very body fickens, ver. 19. He is chajiened alfo^ with pain, upon his bed ; and the muttiludfi 9f^i^ bones with Jlrong pain^ He lofifth his ftomacb, vcr 20. His life abhorreth bread^ and. his foul dainty meat. His body pines away , fo that there is nothing on him but (kin and bone, ver. 2i. His flfh is con- fumed away, that it cannot be feen ; and his bones, ihat were r.otjeen^jtick out. Though he is not prepared for death, he has no hopes of life, ver. 22. His foul draweth near unto the g->-ave, and, which is the height of his mifery, liisli/eto thede- jiroyers. He is looking every moment, when devils, thcfc dcftroycrs, Rom. ix. ti. thcfe murderers, or man-flayers, Johnviii.44. will come & carry away his foul to hell ! Odread- Jul cafe ! yet there is hope. God dcfigny to keep back bis foul from the pit, although he bring him forward to the brink of it, ver. 18. Now, fee how the fick man is cored : The phyfician's art cannot prevail here : the difeafe lies more in- ward, than that his medicines can reach it. It is foul-trou- ble that has brought the body into this diforder, and therefore the remedies muft be applied to the fick man's foul and ' - fcicncc. The phyfician for this cafe, muft be a fpirimal
and Peace of Confciencc. 219
fician ; the remedies mnll be fpirilnal ; a rightcoufnefs, a ran- fona, or atonement. Upon the application of thcfe, the fonl is cured, the confcience is quieted, and the bed/ recovers, ver, 23, 24, 25, 26. " li there be a mtffenger with him, an in- tcrpieter, one among a thoufand, to ihew urito man his up- rightnels ; then he is gracious unto him, and faith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ranfom. His flefli fnall be frefhcr than a child's, he (hall return to the days of hi^ youth. He {h;»ll pray unto God, and he (hall be favourable unto him, and he fiiall ice his face with joy.** The proper phyfician for this patient, is a m'/fai^cr, an inler- preter^ ver. 23. that is, as fome expofilors, not w.thout ground, anderftand it, the great phyfician Jesus Christ, whota Job had called his R.edermer, chap. xix. 23. He is a mrjftn- ger^ the mcfTenger of the covenant of peace, Mai. iii. 1. who comes feafonably to the fick man. He is an interpreter, the great iwterpreter of Gou's counfcis of love to finners, John i. 28. One among a tkonjand, even the chief among ten ihoufand. Cant, v. 10. One cholen out of the people, Pfal. Ixxxix. 29. One to whom the Lord hath givea the tongue of the learned, to fpeak a word in feafon to him that is wea- ry. Ifa. 1.4. 5, 6. It is he that is with him, by his Spirit, now, to convince him of righteoulnefs ; as iie was with him before, to convince him of fin and judgment, John xvi. 8. His .work now, is to fhew unto him hi^ uprightnefs, or his righte- oufnefs, i. e. the interpreter Christ his righteoufncfs ; which is the only righteoufnefs arifing from the p^yir^g of a ranfom, and upon which a finner is delivtrtd from going down to the pit, ver. 24. And thus Christ is faid to ce- clarcGoD's name,Pfalm xxii.22. and to preach righteournefs, Pfalm xl.g. The phrafe is remarkable ; it is not to fhcw unto the man, hnt unto man, his right^oufnefs; wh-ch not obfcurely intimates that .he is more than a man, who fhews, or declareth this righteoufiicfs : Compaie Amos iv. 13. He that Jhrmeth the monptains^ and created the wind^ and declareth nn^ to man what is his thought. There feems to be in it a Iwect allufion to the firft declaration of this righteoafncfs unto man,' or as the word is, unto Adam, after the fall ; while he lay un« der terror from apprehenfions of the wrath of GoD ; which declaration was made by the MelTcnger, the interpreter, namely, the eternalWord of the Sontjf God. caWtd, The voice of the Lard God, Gen. iii. 8. and by him appearing, probably, inhuman &ape. Now, while by his Spirit, he is the Preach- er or rightcoufnefs to the man, it is fuppofcd the man lay* hold on the offered righteoufnefs : whereupon the ranfom is applied to him, and he is delivered from going down to the pit : for God hath a ranfom for him. This is iniimatc te
2 2C Adoption.
him ; God faith, Delix^er Aim, ver. 24. Hereupon hi$jc<jr- fcicnce, being purged hv t\\t ^lood of »iorj''inrnt, i» pacific/d^ ar.d fwcctly qjieted : HeJhaU pray unto Gcd-^-cnd fee his /:" v''*^ '-y, vfhich before be beheld with Horror, ver. 26.
3 -^-Ttrtanneni language. Jiaving en fligh-Prirfi, /? ofQod^ he iiiill drczB near xiith a tri*f .^ecrt^ in
"^jrance cffaiik ; having his heart Jprinkirdfi an an evil
; . HcD. X. 21. 22. But then, v»^at becomes of the
-cak aoa vcarv fielh? VJhy,Hi:f.'fifiia:il>e
a child's ; *r /la// rfturn to tht days of hn youth,
\ -: ij. i^'iCiZ, at kis dones^ whTcli were c^^ftencdwith ftrong
paia. ver. i^:Jhaltfay^ Ljfd^ z^.ia is j.ikx ur,to ihre P Pfalm
:^xxv. 10. / •
A ihi'd benc6t, flowing from union vitb Christ, u, A doption. BelJrver$, being united toCHtiST, become chil- dren of God, and members of the family of heaven. Bv theif union with hijn, who is the Son of God ^i;- nature, they bccoTtic the fors of .God i>y grace, John i. 12. As when a brarscli is cut r.ff from one trec.'and grafted in the branch of another; the ingrafted oxarco. by means of its union with the adopting branch, as (bnriC oot uuntly have called it, is inadc a branch ofthc fatnc ftock. ^rith that into wb^ch itisin- grafted : fo finners being ingrafted into Jesus Chri«t, vhofe name is tbe 3''*^c^b> ^i' J^tber is their Pathcr ; his God their Gob, John xx. 12. And thus they, who arc ^v nature children of the d:.vil,bco#.'ne the childrcoof GoD- Tfcev Lave the Spirit of adoption, Rom. viji. i^. namely, the Spirit ofhis Son, w'hich bring them to God, as children to a father : to pour out their connpla'nts in hi«bofora, and tr, feck r.eccfiarv fupplv, GaJ.iv. 6. B^cau/e ye are/ens, G-s katkfent forth the Spirit of his San into ycur keai-ls, c -) ^ •: .-, AlfLa^ father'. '^Jnder all their »'caknf^es, they hayeTaihcr- Jv pity and compafEon fncwn them, Pfalm ciii. 13. Like as a faiker pitieth his children, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear .htm. Alihbugh they were but foundlings, found in a dcfart • land ; yet now that to them belongs the adoption, he keeps them a* tbe apple of his eye, Deut. xxxii. V0. Wbofor> - er purfue them, they have a refuge, Prov. xiv. «6. // rv" :' ' '^ -'.'. have a place of refuge. In a time of common f ^ t V have chajibers for proteflion, where they mav
he ;..-. -..;:i the indignation be overpaft, Ifa. xxvi. 20. And be \% not only their, refuge for proteQion, but their portion forpTOVifion, in that refuge, Pfalm. cxlii. 5. Tk<m ^rt my refuse and my portion, in the land of the living. Thev arc proTided for, for eternity, Heb, xi. !f>. He hath pref^ared fin- 1 htm * city. And what he fees thev have need <• dmc they fhaJl cot want. Mat. vi. 31, 32. Take no t ..
^anftificaticn. 221
facing, What JJ^all roe eat f Or^ What fiall roe drink f Or,
W hsrttirithal JkaU. let be clotkfd f Foryoui k'avmiy father knoTveth that ye have need of all thr/e things. S^eafcnablc cor- rection IS likcwife their privilege as fons : fo they arc not fuftcred to pafs with their fddlts, as happens to othcn v/ho arc noi children, but fervaoti of the family, and will be tam- ed out of doors for their mifcarriages at length, Heb. xri. 7. if*ye enduTt chajt-ming. God dtialeth witkyju as t ilk fans ; Jot xi/hatjen ii he xi>hom the fctker chajienetk not ? Thev arc heirs of, and {JxiW inherit the promifes, Hcb. vi. is. Nay, thejr are heirs of GOD, who hitnfcif is the portion of ♦heir iirher- itarwre, Pfal.xvi. 5. and joint heirs WkihCKR isT.Roai.'iii.ij. And because ihey are the children of the great King, and young heirs of glory, they have angcl.«for their attcciJar.rxwho arc fcnt foith to miiiiilci for them thai iaall U: Lcir* of falva- lion, Heb. i. 14. ' " ': ^ -. -
A Fourtp bejicEt is Sanflification, 1 Cor. i. 30. Eut ej him. are ye in Chriji Jejus, zcho of.Qodisma.ie unio us tL'i/dcm and righteou/ne/s, and J ana. ^cation. Being united to C h r 1 s r they partake of his Spirit, which is the S->irit of holiocfs. There is a fulnefs of the Spirit in Ch s i$t,& it is not liVc the fulnefi of a veflel, which only retains what i* poured into it; but it is the iulr^ts of a fountain for diffufion aad coonrauivica- lion, which is always fending forth its water, and yet is al- ways fall. The Spirit -o! Christ, that tpirltual fjp whick is m the ftock, and from thence is corcmun.icaie to the braach- es, is the Spirit ofgracc, Zcch. xii. ic^ And where the Spir- it of grace dwells, there will be found a coinp!tcauon of all graces. Holincfs is not oiic grace only, but aU the graces of the Spirit ; it is a conftcjlation of graces ; it is all the graces in their feed and root. And as the fap conreved trow the flock into the branch, goes through it, and through every part of it; io the Spirit of God fanQifies the whole man. The poifon of fin wascifFulfd through ihc whole fpint,foul and body of the whole roau ; and fandifying grace purfue* it into every corner, t Thefl'. v. 23. Every part of the man is fan£li!ied, though no part is perfcflly fo. The truth we arc fantlified by, is not held in the head, as in a prifon ; but runs, with its fanttjfy-ng inflrjcnces, through heart and life. There aie indeed liiaie graces in every believer, wMch appear as top- branches above the rcfi ; as meeknefs in Mofes, patietKC in Job ; but feeing there is in every child of God, a hoi/ prin- ciple going along with the Koly law, in ail the parrs thereof, Joving, licking, and approving of it ; as appears from their univerfal refpctl to the commands of God; it m evident ttiv-y arc caducd with all the graces of the Spiiit: bccaufe
2 2 2 San^:Jicatid)U
there can be no more in the efetl, than there wai lA tlie
caufc. , ' . • '
Now, this ranftifying Spirit, whereof believers partake, \% unto ihcm, fi.} A Spirit of rnortification. Through the Sfri~ rit th(\ -aoTtify tht dt<di of tht b^ydy, Rom. riii. 13. Sio is crucified in ihrm. Gal. v. 24. They are planted together, namelv» vrlih'CH rist, in the Iikeneis of-hts death, which was a lingering death, Rom. vi. 5. Sin in the faint, though ror quite dead, y^t is dying. If it were dead, it would be ta- ken down from the crols and buried out of his figh^; but it bangs there as yet, working and ftru2gling under it| mortal wounds. jLooR, as when a tree has get fuch a Oroke =>\ rea«bc$ thcbfj^t of )t, all the leaves and branches thcicof begin to fade and decay ; fo, where the fanclifvm^ Si :nt comes and break«^the p«wer o*^ (in, there is a gradual ceaflng from it, and dyrnw to ir, in the whole man, fo, that he no longer lives in the flefh to th* luOsof men. He does rot make fin his trade and bufinefs ; it is not bis grea* dcfign to feek himfelf, pnd to fatisFy his corrupt inclinations ; but he is for Immaouers land, and is walking in the high-way to it, the way which li called, The v t,- of holinefs ; though the wind ffom hell, that was on his back before, blows now full in hii face, makes his travelling uneafy, and often drives him off the high-way. («.) This Spirit is a fpirit of viv ficaiion to them ; for he is the Spirit of life, and makes them live unto righteouftefs, Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit with' in you, and caufc yau to walk in myjlatutcs. Thole that have been planted together, with Christ, in the likenefs of his death, thall be alfoin the Irkenefs of his refurreflion, Rom. VI. 3. At Ch F. ist's refurre^^ion, when his foul was re-unt- ted with his body, ^vcr/ member of that blefTcd body was enabled again to perform the aflions of life;-fo, the foul be- ing influenced by the fanclifving Spirit of Cn r i»t, isenablcd more and more, to perform all the aHions of fpiritual life. And as the whole of the law, and not fome fcraps of it only, is written on the holy heart; fo believers are crtablcd to tranfcribc that law in their converfation. And although they cannot write one line of it without blots, yet God, for Chr iST'i fake, accepts of the performances, in point of fanclification ; they beuig dilciplcs to his own Son, and led by his own Spirit,
This fanctifyirg Spirit communicated by the Lord Jesus to his members, is the fpiritual nourifhment thebranchei have from the Stock into which they are ingrafted, whereby the life of grace, given them in regeneration, is prefervcd, con- tinued and actuated. It is the nourifiiment whereby the new creature livctb, and is no'jriibed up towards perfe£Uda- Spir-
San flificctzdJi, * 223
tdcl life nfcds to be fcd,& muft have fupply of nodrifhrncnt ; and believers derive ihe farnc from Ch r i sT, whom ihe Fa- ther has conftituted the head of influences to all his members. Col. ii. iQ- And not holding the head, frorniu kick all the body by joints tB bands having nourjhment mintyfrfd or rupplied,&.c. ^ow, this fupply is ^ the fupply tf the Spirit cf J'fuiChnJi^ Phil. i. 19. The iaiiKs fe^d richly, eatin^^ Chkisi's flefll, and drinking his blo"od, for their fpirituai nouriOimcnt ; yet our Lord himfclf teacheth us, that it is the Spirit that quick- ncth, even that Spirit ^4rhp dwell* in that blefled body, John [i. 63. The ho.man nature is united to the divine natuie, in »e pcrfon of the Son, and fo, like th: bowl \a Zecha-^ah's indledlck, Zech. iv. lies at the fountain head, as the con- veyance of inflnenccs, from the fountain of the Deity ; and receives net the Spirit by meafure, but ever hath a fulnefs of ihe Spirit by reafon ot that perfonal union. Hence, believ- ers being united to the ulan Ch R 1ST, as the feven lamps to the bowl, by their feven pipes, Zcch. iv 2. Hi: fleih is lo them meat indeed, and his biix)d dri.:ik indeed ; for, feeding 00 that blcffed body, i. e. effectually applying Christ to their fouls by faith, they partake more and more of that Spir- it who dwelleth therein, to their fpiriiual nounfiiment. The holinefs of God cotild never adniii oi an immediate union vith the Gnful creature, nor, cofifequently, an immediate communion with it ; yet the creature could not live the life of grace, without communion with the fountain of life : Therefore, that the honour of God's holmefs and the falva- tion of finners, might jointly be provided for, the fecond Per- fon of the glorious Trinity, took into a perfonal union witli Limfelf, a finlcfs human nature : thst fo this holy, harmlefs and undcffled humanity, might immediately i-eceive a fulaefs of the Spirit, of which he might communicate to his mem- bers by his divine power and efficacy. And like as, if there was a tree, having its root in the earth, and its branches reaching to heaven, the vaft diftaoce betwixt the root and the branches, would 4)or. interrupt the communiCrtiion betwixt the root and the top-branch ; even lo, the diltance betwixt the man Christ, who is in heaven, and his members who are on earth, cannot binder the communication betwixt them. What though the parts of myflical Christ, viz. the head and the Hienjbers, arc not contiguous, as joined together into the way of a corporal union ? The union is not therefore the \&h real and fffcdual. Yea, our Lord himfclf ?:\t^i us, that ai heir we Ihould eat his H^fli in a corporal and carnal manner, yet it would profit nothing, John vi. 63. ve would not be one whit holier thereby. But the roembersof Ckr loP ♦a earth, are united to their head m heave?;, by the icvifiblc
C24 Sa^clijicaiLii.
tond of the felf-famc Spirft dwrelliog in both ; in liitn at (VjC head, and in them ^% the members; even as the wheels in Ezekiel's vifion, were not contiguoun ro the living cr«itures, yet were united to them, by an invifiblc bond of one fpirit in Doih; fo that when the living creatures went, the wheels wcm by that, and when the living creatures were lift up from tbc earth, the wheels were lift up, Ezci;. i, jp. For, fays the Prophet, theJpirU of the living creatures toas in the wheels^ ver. ao. v» - •
Hence wc may fee the difference, betwixt true fanflifica- tjon, and thatfhadow of it, which is to be found amongft (omc flri^l profcfTors of Chriftianity,who yet are not irueChrifiii" ^ are i»ot rcgene»ate by tke Spirit of Christ, and is of i e fame kind with what has appeared in many fobcr hcathc . TfUt fanftificatioivis the jefuitof the foul's union with • : : holy Jesus, the hnT and iqimediate receptacle of the fanct;- fying Spirit out of whofc fulnefs his members do, by virtue of their union with him,, receive fantlifying influences. The other isthe mere produft of the man's own fpirit, which what- €ver it has, or feeins to have of the; matter of true holinefs, yet does not a rife from the fupcrnaiural principles, not to high aims and ends thereof; for as it comes from fclf, fo it Funs out into the dead fea of felf again ; and lies as wide of true holinefs, as nature doih of grace. , They who: have i^\% baftard Holinefs, arc like common boaSmen, who ferve them- felves with their own oars ; whereas, the (hip bound for Im- manuel'sUnd, fails by the blowings ^f the divine Spirit. How iii it . pofTible there fhould be true, fandiBcation without Christ ? Can . there be true fanOlfication, without par- taking of the Spirit of holinefs ? Can we partake of that Spirit, but by Jesus Ch It 1ST V ihe way, the truth, and the life ? The falling dew {hall as fooa make its way through the flinty rock, as influences of grace fliall come from Goi> to Gnncrs, any other, b<u through him whom the Father has- cpnf^ituted the head of influences, Col. t. 19. - For it pltcjei the tathcTy that in himjhould allfulnrji dwell ; and cha. ii.9. • And not holding the head^from which all thebady hy joints and bands having nouri/hment inintftered aid knit together^ increaf- etk with the increaje of God, Hence fee how it comes to pafs, ihat many fall away, from their Cceming fanftification/ and nevtr recover; it is becaufe they are not branches tru'.y knit to the true vine. Meanwhile others recover from their de- cays, becaufe of their union with the life-giving (lock, bv the quickening Spirit, i Johnij. le. They went out from us, but %hey were not of us \ for if tkey had been ofus^ they would *t* dtubt have continued with us.
Growth in Graci. 225
A Fi/tk benefit is Gfowth in grace. Hnving nounjhment miniftered, they incnafe xvitk thrincreafe of God^ Col. ii. 19. Tke righteous Jhallf cur ijh like the palnttree, hijkall grow like iLcederin LekaTion^ Plalm xcii."ia. GrM:e »a of grooving na- ture; in the way to Zion they go from (Vrength to ftrength. fbough the holy man bi at firft a little child in grace, yet at Irn^th he becomes a youiig mail, a father, 1 John ii. 13. Though be does but creep \tx ihe way to heaven foniciimes, yet afterwards he walks, he run?, he mounts up with wing* as eagles, Ifa. xl. 31. If a branch ^afted into a flock nev- er grows, it is a plain evidence of ils not having knit with the flock. , . . ■ . . V,
- But fome may perhaps fay, Ifall trae Chitflians be growing 6nes, what fhall be faid of thcfe, who inflead of growing, are going back ? I anfwer, Firjl^ There if a great diiycrcnc'c be- tween the Chriftian's growing fimply, and his growing at all times. All true ChnUians do grow, but I do not fay, that they grow at all times. A tree that has life and nouriCi'. ment, grows to'ixs pirfctlion ; yet it is not a I ways' growing ; it grows not in the winter. Chriftians al(b have their winters, ■wherein the influences of grace, nccefff^ry for growth, are ceafed, Gant. b. v. I jteep. It is by faiib, the believer derives gracious influence from Christ ; like as each lamp in the <Jandle{lick, received oil from the bowl, bv 'iie pipe going be- twixt them, Zech. iv. 9. Nx>w if that pipe be ftopt, if the faint's faith lies dormant and unaftive,tben all the reft of the graces will become dim' and feem ready to be extinguifiied. In confeq'ience whereof, depraved nature will gather flrcngth, and become aftive. What then will become of the Joul ? Why, there is ftill one fure fround of hope. The faint's faith is not as the hvpocrites, like a pipe laid fbort of the fountain, whereby there can be no conveyance : it ftill re- mains a boiid of union betwixt Chris r and the foul : wA therefore, becaufc Christ lives, the believer (hall live alfo, John xiv. 19. The Lord Jesus puts in bis hand by the hole of the door, and clears the meaas of conveyance ; and tben influences for growth flow, and the believer's graces look frefli and green again, Hof. xiv. 7. They that dwell un- der hisjkadow.jhdll return: theyJhaU revive as the corn, an.{ ^ /(row as ike vine. In the worft of times, the faints have 1 principle of growth in them, i John iii. 9. His feed rm^in- ethitihim. And therefore after decavs they revive again: namely, when the winter is over, and the Sua of rigjhteouf- nefs returns to them, with his warm influences. Mud thrown Into a pool, may lie there at eaic ; but if it be caft into .t fountain, the fpring will at length work it out, and run cleir *» formerly. Secondly ^ ChriHiaas may aiitlake tbeirgro*,vTh,
226 Groxiih in Grace,
and that two waysi (|.) By judaing of their cafe accor£r\g to their prefcnt feeling. They oblerve thcmfdves and cannot percieve thcmfclves to be growing'; but there is no reafon ihencc to conclude they arc not growings, Mark iv. 2^. The Jerdfprings and grow<i lip, he knuiaUh not kow. Should one tix his eye ever lb ftedfailly, on the tun running his race, or on a growing tree, he would not perceive the fun mov- ing, or the tree growing ; but if he compare the tree as it fiuw is, with what it wa$ fome years ago, and confider the j)lacc in the heavens, where the fun was in the morning, he \i\\\ certainly percieve the tree has grown, and the fun has moved. In like manner may the Chriftian know, whether he be in a growing or declining (late, by.comparing^ his pre- fcnt with his former condition. (2.) Chriflians may milUkc their cafe, by mcafuring their growth by the advances of the top only, not of the root. Though a man be not growing taller, he way be growing ftrongcr. If a tree be taking with the ground fi:iing itftlf in the earth, and fprcadlng otit in roots, it is certainly growing, although it be nothing taller than formerly. . So, albeit a ChriUiaii may want the fwcet coafolation and flafhcs of atFeflion, which fometimes he has had, yet if he be growing in humility, felf-denial, and fen fc of needy dependence on Jesus Christ, he is a growing Chriftan, Hof. xiv. 5. / will be as the dew unto l/nul, hejhall cajl forth kh roots a Lebanon, ^ -
Quejl. But do hypocrites grow a^all ? And if fo, how fhall vrc diftinguifh betwixt their g^-owth, and true Chriftian growth ? At\J To ihc full part of thequefiion. Hypocrites do grow. The tares have their growth*, as well as the wheat : And the feed that fell among thorns did fpring up, Luke viii. 7. only it did bring no fruit to perfection, ver. 14. Yea, a true Chriftian may have a falTe growth. James and John fcemed to grow in the grace of holy real, when their fpirits grew fo hot in ihccaufe of Christ, that they would have had fired whole villages, for not receiving their Lord and Mafter, Luke ix. 54. They /aid, I^rd.^ili thou that we command Jire to come down from heaven^ to confume them, even as Elias didf But it was indeed no fuch thing ; And therefore he turned and rebuked them ver. 55. and faid, Yc know not what man- ner ofjpiritye are cf. To the fecond part of the queUion, it is anlwercd.That "there is a peculiar beauty in true Chriftian growth, diftingi'-iDiing it from all falle growth ,- it \\ univer- ial, regular, proportionable. It is a growing up to kim Jtr ail things, who is the head, Eph. »v. 15. The growing Chriftian grows proyjortionably in ail the parts of the new man. Under the kindly influcrKCs of the Son of righteoufnets, believers grow up a* calves in the flail, Mal/iv. 2. Ye would think
iFrultfulneJs, 22 f
-^a monftrous growth in thefccreaturcs, ^"fye faw their heads - grow, and not ibeir bodies ; or if ve ^^w one I'-'j? grow, and another not ; or if all the part? do not grow piopi'tionabiv. Av, but fuch is the growth of many in religion. They gro-v hkc rickety chUdren who have a big head, but a flend^r body : they get more knowledge into their heads, but no more hc>iv- nefs into their hearts and lives : They grow very hot out- wardly, hut very cold inwardly ; like men in a fit of the ague. They are more taken up about the externals of rcl»giorv,than formerly ; yet a\ great ftrangers to the power of godhnrfs as ever. If a garden is watered with the hand, f«.me of the plants will readily get much, feme liitle, and fome no water at all ] and therefore fome wither, while others arc corning forv/ard ; but after a (Ijower trom the clouds, all come for- ward toj^eiher. In like manner all the ^ruces of the Spuit prow proportionablv, bv the Ipecial iniluences of divine grace. The branches ingrafted in Chr-ist, growing aright, do grow in all the feveral ways of growth at once. They grow inward, growing into Cii ."i 1ST, growing aright, do ^rowin a'i the feveral ways of growth at once. They grow inwaid, growing intoCii R 1ST, Eph. iv. 15. uniting ipore clofely with him ; and cleaving more firmly to him, ss the head of influences, which is.the fpring of all other true CbriOian growth. They grow outward, in good works in their life and converfation. They not only, v/ith Naphiali, .^iW^o.^./Zy a)£>;7ij ; but. like Jofeph, thcv TiTdJ'ruitfu! boufrfis. Ihey grow upward; in hcav- cnly-mindedn.cfs,and contempt of the word ; for t!»eir roiiver- lation is in heaven, Ph-.llp. iii. 20. And, finally, thev grew downward in humility and felf-)cathing. The branches of t1-e largeft growth in Cu R 1 ST, are, in their owri eyes, lefs thrinthc leaft of all faints, Eph. i;i. 8. The chief of finrers,i Tim.i^. 15. More brutifh than anv man, Prov. xxx. e. They fee they c^n do nothing, no not fo much as to think anv ihing, y^% of themlelvcs, 2 Cor. iii. 5, that ihev deferve nothing, beiAg Hot worthy of the leafl of all the mcrcres (hewed unto thlm. Genefis xxx-i. 10. and that they are no-King, o Cor. xii. 2. - A fixth benefit is Fiuitfulnefs. The branch ingrafted ial') Christ, is not barren, but brings forth fruit, John xv. *;. f^' that abidcth in me, and lin k!m:,tlie .Innc brirgiih fortk muck it. For that very end are fouls married to Ckk'ist ; it they m:iy bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. vii. a! They may b^. branches in Ch R i vr by profellion, hut not hj real implai't^tion, that are barren branches. Whofoe-er arc united toGwR isT, bring forth the fruits of gofpel-ohodiencc and tr«e holinefs. Faith is always foUov.'ed with good work>. The believer is not only ronieout of the grave of his natural fiaie, but he ha? pui offlw* grave-clothes, na.nelr, re.*>mnt<-
p * o ni
8 Fruitful nrfs.
lufts, in ihc wh'ch he walked fomctimc like a t^hoR, being dead while he lived in th«m, Col. iii. 7, 8, For CiiRisi has faiii of him, as of Lazarus, L^o/'e hii:t, and Itt tiim go. And now that he ha» put oa Cn 11 isi^^ he pcrfonatcs hiui, fo to i)>eak, 2s a l>eogaf in borrowed lobes, repicfcnts a ki«g oa the (lage, walking as he alfo walkrd. Now ibc frait of the Spirit ii; hia is in all goodhers, Eph. v. 9. The fruits of jiolincfs will be found io the hearts, lips, and lives of thofe ■who are united to Christ. The hidden maa of the heart, is not only a temple built for God and coniccralcd to him 4' l»ut ufcd and employed for him ; where iovc, fear, trud, and all the olhcr pans of unfccn religion arc cxercifcd, Philip, •li. 3. For lue arc oftkccircumcijion which tuorjhip God in the y^ljirit. The heart is no more the devil's common, where • hoiiohts go frca ; for there even vain thoughts arc hated, Pfil. cxin. 123. l»ut it is God's inclofurc, hedged about as a garden for him, Cant. iv. 16. It u true, there arc weed* c{ cojruption there, bccaufe the ground xs not yet pcrfe£H)r healed : Bat the man, in the day of his new creation, is fet to drcfs and keep it. A live-coal from the alter has touched his lips, and thcv are purified, Pial. xv. 1, 9., 3. Lord^ wk», Jhall abide in tky tabernacU f Whojhall dwcUin th- -'- '■■'If He thatjpeaktik ihc truth in his heart. }l< that / ".at
with hii cjn,^uc, nor takcth up a reproach agavnjlu:^ ... , — u.r. There nnav be indeed a fuiooth tongue, wiicre there is a talfc heart. The voice may be JaioUfs, "while the hands arc Efiu's. But, If anyman among you Jion to be religious ^ and bridUlk not his toncu^y but dicrivith his own heart, that man's religiom, zsvain, ]^\n.K.i'\. 26. The power of godlincls will rule ovcr'v the longuc, though a world of iniquity. If one be' a Gahlcaa his fpcech will bewray hi in ; he will not fpcak the language of Aihdod, bat the language of Canaan. He will neither bfe dumb in religion, nor will his tongUc walk at random, feeing' to the double guard nature hath given the tongi^e, grace hath' added a third. The fiuits of holincfs will be found in his out- ward converfation, for he hath tlc.in hands, as well as a pure, heart, Pfal. xxiv. ^. He is a godly man, and rcligiouDy diC- charges the duties of the firft table of the law : h«:i*a righiec man, and honcftly pci forms th^ duiics of the fccond t«h; In bis converfation he is a (;ood Chillian.andagood ne ■ too. He carries it tovardsGoD,a$if mens eyes weic up > and towards men, believing Iron's eye to be upon hini. 1 h^ ihmijs which God hath joined in his law, he dare uot, ia i practice, put alunder.
.Thus the branches of Christ are full of good fiui' And thofe fruits are a duller of vital atlions, whereof J &4L - t^HRIST is ihc pxincipJc and cndjrihe principle} for he fives
FruitfulriEfs. 229
in them ; and the life whichthey li're, is by th« faith of the Son of God, Gal. i. £o. The end, for they live to him ; and to them to live, is Ch r ist, Philip, j. 21 . The du- ties of religion are, in the world, nke fatherlefs children, in rags ; fome will not take lhe4n in, becaufs they never loved them nor their Father } forne take them in, bccaufe they may be ferviceabfc to them ; but the faints take them in for thfir Father's fake : thaiis, for Christ'* fake ; and thev are love- Iv in their eyes, bccaufe they ar; like bim. O ! whence is the new life of the fainis ? Surely it could ne\'er have been hammered out of the natural powers of their fouls, by <hc ti- tiited force of all created power. In eternal barrenntf:. fhoiild their womb have been (hut up, but i}>at being married to Christ, they bring forth fruit unto Cod, Rom. vji. 4.
If you alk me, How your nourifbmen*, growth and fruit' fulnefs may be forv;ardcd ? I offer thefe few advices, f'l.} Make fure work, as to vour knitting with the flock, by fauh Unfeigned : and beware of hypocnfy ; a branch that is not found at the heart, will cerlaLnly wjther. The trees of the Lord's planting are trees of righreoufnefs. Ifa. ixi. 3. So vhen others fade, they bring forth fruit. Hypocrify is a dif- eafe in the- vitals of religion, which will confumc sU a' length. It is a leak in the fhip^ that wi^H certainly fink it. Sincerity of grace will make it laPting, be it never fo weak: as the fmalleft twig, thaiis found at the heart, will draw nouiilhment from the flock, and gro%f , while the greaieft bough that is gotten, can never recover, bccaufe it receives no nonrifhnient, (2.) Labour to be ftcdfaft in the truths and way of God. An unfettlcd and wavering judgment is a great enemy to Chris- tian growth and fruitfulnefs, as the Apoftlc teaches. Eph. iv. 14, 15.- That we henceforth be no more children, tcjfd 'j and
yVo, and carried about ziith every n>ind of dcclrine. But /"peak- ing the truth in love y may'growup unto him i^< alilkbi^*^"''"^':^ the head, even Ch rift. Aroliift^ Ttonc tSlaer-, no ifog, and a wavering judgment makes a fruitiefs life. Tiiough a tree be tiever fo found, yet how cat> it grow, or be fruitful, if vc be ftill removing it out of one foil into another f (3.^ Endea-
, vour to cut off the fuckers, as gardenerj do, that their Irce.'^ may thrive. Thefe are unmorlificd lufts; . Therefore nvr- tifyvovr membir^ that arc upo.'t t'te^arihy Col. iii. 5.,. Whep the ITraelites got meat to their bifts, they got leannefs to thetr fouls. She tjjat has many hungry children about her hinri. Sind muft be ftill puifing into their fl:ouths,v.':jl have much a- do to get a bit put mto h«r own. They muil refcre'he craving of inordiiiate affc6lions,who would have their fou'.s tjprofpe:. Lajily^ Improve for thefe ends, the ordinances of God. Tfjc co'ifts af our God ace the j^latt.*, where the trc-u qi u-^^tK-.
230 Frvjtfidnefs.
tcournefs {loJiri{h,Pral. xcii. 13. The waters of the Tancttrar/ are the tntaas appointed of God, to caiifc his people g#ovr as willows bv the waier-courfes. 'I'heret'ore drink in with dc- fire ihf fircere milk of the word, that ye may grow thcrcb>-, 1 Pet. ii. 2. Come to ihcfe well; of (alvaticn, not to look ^* them only, but to draw water out of them. I'hc facrament of the La a n's flipper is in a fpccia^ manner appointed for thcls ends. It is not only a lolcran public profelfion, and a feal of our union and communion with Christ, but it is a rican of motl intiinatc commonion'v/ith him, and flrengihcns our union with him ; our faith, lovr, repentance, and other graces, i Cor. x. »6. The cup vf klejfinjr which we hkfs^ ii it not the communion of the blood ofChri/l ? The bread which zve breaks is it not the ccmmunioi of the body cfChriJl ** And chap, xii. 13. IVe have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Givc yourfelvcs unte prayer; open your mouths, and he will fiH them. By thefc means the brdoches in Christ maybe fur- ther nourifhed, grow up and bring forth much fruit.
A Seventh beneHt is, The acceptance of their fruits of boli- ncfs before the Lord. Though they he verv imperfeft, they are accepted, bccaufe they favour oJ Christ the blelfed flock, whicW the branches grow upon ; whi^e the fruits of others are rejeftied of God, Gen, ii. 4. 5. And the Ijjrd had refije6l unto ^it'jcl, and to his offering: £ut unto Cain and ki^ ojferin;^ he had net refpeCl, Compare llrb. xi. 3. By faith Abel offend unto God a move excdknt facrijice than tain. O how defective arc the faints duties in the eye of the law ! The beli-tver himfclf efpits many faults in his beft performances, yet the I^ord gracioufly receives them. Theie is no grace planted in the heart, but there is a weed of corruption hard by its fide, while the faints are in this lower world. Their very lincerity is not without mixture of diflimu^aiion or hypocnfy, G?.L lu iX- Hence there are dcfe£h in the cxercifc of every grace, inihe pcifcrrTiii^-ee nf evcr^ duty ; depraved nature al- ways drops Tompihing to ftain their bcft works. There is dill a rnixTure of darkncfs with their clcarcfl ii;?ht. Yet this does not mar their acceptance, Cant. vi. 10. IVho is fie that Icoketk forth as the morninj / or at the dawning. iS.hold bow Ch R ist's fpoufe is cflecmed and accepted of her Lord, even when (he locks forth as the morning, whole beauty iS" mixed with the blacknefs of the night ! WHicn the tnorning W2S lookiiif^ out, as the word is, Judi'cs xix. c6. « e. in the dawning of the day, as we read it. Sj the verv dawning '
grace, and good-will to Cii R i st, grace prop'- - * *
dcr a mafs of darkncfs in believers, is pleal u
to him, as the break of day « to the weary tr. ...... * .. r>
♦.he remain* of unbelief make ifacir hand of t'auh to Ihakc^ and
A cccpta nee cftk e Frmts cfh c!:n cjs . 231
trfmble, vet the -Lo r d is fo well pleafed with ii, that he cm- plovs it to carry away pardons and fupplits of grace, froai the throne, of ^ race, and ihe.^cuntain of grace. H:s fauh was ef- fef^ual. vch , cried out, and faid with tears, Lord^ i Ulievc, kelp tJuu vine utTdeuef, Maik ix. 24. Thou;^h the remsins of fen- fual affeftionsfiaikethe, flame of their love weak and fmonky ; he turns bis eyes from the fmoak. and bcho'ds the fla.mc, how £a?r it is, Cant, iv. lo.iicu^ fairhthy lozf^viy Jijicr. myjpoufc ! The firell ot their unde'-garments ofinhcrent holincli, as.im- perfcift as it. is, is Irke the fmcll ct JL-hinon, ver. 11. and that l)v caaf« they are covered with tht^ir elder brclher's clothes, xvl.ich make The fors of God to ftncl! as a field which the X,OH D h£ih4»!efr<fd. Their pocd works are accepted ; their cups of co'd water given to a difciple, in the name of a difci- ^le fh.aJl not want a rewurd. I'hough they cannot offer for ihp tabernacle, goldjfilverjand brafs, and onyx.ftone, let thetn. tome forward with what thev have; if it were but goats hair, it fhji!l not be rejccled ; if ii be hi:t ram-fkins. they {h?H be kindly ecccp^ed, for they are dyed red, dipt hy f .ith in ihe l'.Iediator's blood, and fo prefcnied unto Gor, A very ordi- inry work done in fnitb, aiid from fiiih, if it were but the building of a wall about the holy citv, ii a grent work, Neh. vi. 3. If i: were but the beflcv.'ing of a box of ointment on C'iRiST, it ihill never be forgotten, Matth. xxvi. 13. Even a cup of cold Water only, given to one of Ch R ! sr's little ones, in the name of a diiciple, fiiall be rewarded, Mat. x.42. Nay, not a good word for Christ, fball crop ^rom thelr r^o^l*hs. bm it (hail be regiOred in God's book of remem- Jrrp.nce, M^il. iii. 16. Nor (hall a tear drop from rhe'r eves foi bin!, but he will piy it into his boule, iT;»!. Ivi. 8. Their will is ^CL.-pteu for the deed ; their forrow for the want of will, io." the will iifelf, 2 Cor. 12. tor if tktre beji'ji a nil- ling wiud, it is accepted according to that a man haih^ and not according to that he hath r,ot. Their groanings, when they cannot well word ihtir defirss, are he^rd in heaven ; the iDeaning of thefe g'oansis well known there, and thev will he returned like the dove with an olive branch of peace in her inouthyfee B.om. viii.aS,^?. Their inites nre beiterthsn other mens taiants. Their lifping and broken feniences, are tnore p.leafint to their Father in heaven, than the mofl. iJuent and Sourifhin^ fpecchesof thofe thatare notiri.CuR I^T. Their voice IS fweet, even when they are aCumed it fhould be heard ; their countenance is comely even when thev blulh, and drav a vail over it, Can. ii. 14. The irediator takes their pcti» t»ons, blois out fome parts, rettiSes others, and then prclents them to the Fithcr, ifi confc(^aince whereof thev pafs in the £o^'' . '"'•■'-:;:. • - • V
^^2 EJlahhfirncnl.
Every true Cbrinian i»a trmplc roGoD. If ye look for fjcnCccs, ihfy, ^re pot wanting there ; they offer the facrifioc of praifc, and they do good; with fuch facnfices Go d is wcU plcared. Hcb. xiii^ 15, 16. Christ himfelf isthc alter that lanftiBcs the gift, ver, 10. But wh»t cqkjcs of the flcins and dung of their facnfices i Thty arc carried away without th^c ramp. If y/c lock for ircenfe, it is there ioo. The graces .of the Spiri.tare fpundin their hearts ; and the Spirit of a cru- cified Ch ri<:t fires them apd puts then in cxcrcife, like a.s the 6rc was brought irom the altar of burnt-ofFering. to fet the inccnfe on flame ; then ihcy mount heaven-ward, like pil- lars of fraokc. Cant. «ii. 6- But the beft of inccnfe will leave «fhc$hebind it; yes indeed ; but as the pried, took awty the alhesof the iocenfc in a golden di{b, and threw them out ; fo our High-pricft takes away the afhes and refute of all the fainU fervices, by bis mediaiion in their behalf.
Aw Eighth benefit flowing from union with Christ, t« jLHahiilhincrt. The Chrlftian cannot fall away, but muft perfevere unto the end, John x. 48. TheyJhaU never perijlx^ ■%titherJ?iaU any man pluck them out 0/ my hand. Indeed if a branch 60 not knit with the Oock» it wjll fall a way when (hi- lling winds arife : but the branch knit to the Rock ftands faft, whatever winds blowi Sometimes a flormy wind of tcmp- t^r-on b'.owt from hell, and tolOth the branches in Chr IST the true vine, but their union wiiljhim.is their fecurity, mov- ed they mav be, but removed they never can be ; The Lo R d ■will, wirh the temptation, alfo trake away to cfcapc, i Cor. :x. 13. Calms are never of any contintiancc ; there is almoft always fome wind blowing ; and therefore branches arc rarely altogether at reft. But (ometimes violent winds arilc which threaten to rend them from off their (lock. Even fait is with faints ; they a^c daily pu_t to it, to keep their ground againft temptation : but fomcrimes the wind from hell rifeth fo high, and bloweth fo furioufly, that it makes even top-branches to fweep the ground; yet being knit to Christ their ftock, they grt up sgain in fpitc of the moft violent efforts of the prince of the power of the air,Pfal,"xciv.i8.i^/^«i J /aid my foot Jlip- pftk,' thy mercy, 0 Lord^ held me up. • But the Chrillian im- proves by this trial-; and is fo far from being damaged, that he IS benefited by it, in fo far as it difcovers what hold the ioul has of Cur 1ST, and what hold Ch ist has of the foul. And look, as the wind in the bellows, which would blow out the candle, blows up the fire ; even lo it often comes to pafs, that fuch temptation? do enliven the true Chriftian, awaken- ing the graces of the Spirit in him; and, by that mean, difcov- ers both the reality, and the ftrcngth of grace in him. And b<nce,as Luther, that great man of God, faith. One Chrit-
Ejlahlijlwunt, 233
tran v.'ho nath had experience of temptation, is worihathoa- fand others.
Somcti>ncs a (tormy wind of trouble and perfccution from the men of the world, ,blo<.vs upon the vine, i. f. myftical .Christ ; but union vtith the ftock is a fafncient fecuruv to the branches, ^n a time of the church's peace and outward profperity, while the angels hold the winds that they blow- not ; there are a e^eat many branches taken up. and put into the (lock, which never knit with ir, nor live bv it, iho'ij^h they be bound up with it, by the bonds of external or.^inap- ccs. Ncvv' theic mav (tand a while on the tlock, and ftand ^/ith i^TtAt eafe wlr.le the calm lafts : But when once the flormsarifc, and the winds biov.', tbev will begin to fall o&, one after another ; and the higher the. wind rifcth, the great- er will the number be that tails. Yea fome Uion^ boughs of that fart, when they fall, will by their weight, carry others of their o'//n kind, qu'.te down to the earth with them, nntl will biuife and prcfs down fome true brarchcs in foch a njac- ncr, that they would alfo fall off, were it not for their bein^ knit to the ilcck : in virtue whereof tbev get up their h'*adi again, and cannot fall cfF, becaufe of that tad hold the flock has of them. Then it is that manv branches, fometime high and exinent, are found lyin? on the earth withered, and tit to be gatheied up and caft into the Hrc, Maith. xiii. 6. And zvktn the fun was up, tliey zocrcjrcrched : and lecihtfe they had no root, ihey ttnthered away. John xv. 6. If a man abid^ not in me, kzU cajl forth as a branch, and m withtred^andmen gather tJiem, end ccjl thcvi into thefre^ and tkev are turned. But however violently the windsblow, none of the truly in- grafted branches that are knit with the ftock, are fotmd mii- itng, when the ftorm is changed into a calm, John xvii. 12. T/iffe th^tthou ga-jcf me, 1 have hept,and noneofthe.n is lof. The lead twig growing in Christ fliallfland it out, and fubfift ; when the talleft cedars growing on their own root, fl>aU be laid fiat on the ground, Rom. viii, 25, — 39. Who JhaUfeparatc us from the I \ f Chrijr ? Shell tributatior?, or dijirrfs^ cr pcrjccuticn, or Jarirne. or ncAectie/'s, cr peril, or fwo^d .^ However feverelv Ifrael be fifted, yei ihall net the ieaft grain, or as it is in the original language, a little ftonc lall upon the earth, Amos ix. 9, It is an alljljbn to the fife- ting of fine pebble Ocnesfrom. among heaps of Sufi and fand : though the land and duft fall to the ground, be blown away with thr wind, ana trampled wnder foot, yet there fliall not fall on the earth fomuch as a little ftone, fuch is the exatl- ncfs of the fig,'e, and care of the Cfter. There is nothing more 'ready to fall on the earth than a itone ; vet if profefTors of leligioa be lively flones built on Christ the chief corner-
-34 EfiauUJImcnt,
tionej-alihoMhey be Itttlc «one$, they (hall nol fall to th<S CMih, wha»?"cr dorm beat upon them, fee i Pet. if. 4, ^, 6. All the good grain iothc church oi CfinisT iiof thu kind; thev arc Ooncs m rclpcd of foliditv,;and lively ftoncs in rcf- petl of -Jttivlrv. If m^c he folid, rabflantial ChriUians, they y.\\i not be likcch3flr lofa'Vd to and fro with cvtry wind ; hav- ing fo much of the livcHntfs. that thcr hare nothmg of the ftoQC ; andifihcvbe liwelv^Chriftians, vhofc Ipim will flirin thern, aj Paul's did when he faw the citv wholly given to i- dciairy, Acls xvii. 16. they will nrrt lie like (loots to be turn- ed over hitbcrand thither, cut andcarved, accordingtothe lu(U oi men; having io inuchofthcfionc, as leave* nothing of live- linfifs in them. ■,■•■.
Our God's houfe is a gT?'»t houfe, wherein arc not onljr veiTcls of gold, hut alfo of earth, s Tim. ii. Co. Both thefe art afvt focontratl finbinefs jand therefore when God brings troublr upon th; church, he hath an eye to both. As for the vtifels of gold thc7 are not dcftroved, but purged by a iiery trial in the furnace of aRlitljon, as goldCmiths purge their ^old, Ifa. i. 45. And I tviU turn my hand upon tfiee^ end purely pursy^ nway thy drofs. Bui dcllrutiion is to the vdJ-ils of e4»th ; ^hey (hall be broken in Ihivcrs, as a potter's ve/T-l, ver. c 8. And the dfJlru6lion, or breaking of thetranJ)rrtJf:rs^cridcftkefnneri,jJiaUbe together. It fccms to be.an allJfion to that law, for breaking the vellclsof carib, when nnclean ; while vcffelsof wo©d, and confequently vcf- fels of goM, were on! V to bs rinled. Lev. xv. la.
A Ninth benefit it Support. If thou be a branch ingraft- ed in Chk 1ST, the root bearcth thee. The believer leans on Christ ; as a weak woman in a journey, leaning upoa her beloved ruHiind, Cant. viii. 5. He (lays hia^fclf upon him, ?B a feeble old man (lays himfelf on his ftaff, Ifa. 1. lo* He rolls himfelf on him, as one rolls a burden he is not able to walk under, off his own hack, upotj another who is able to bear ir, Pfalm. xxii. 8. Martr. There arc many weights to hang upon, and prcfsdo'vn thcl > nchcsin Ch R 1ST the true Vine. Bjt ye know, whatever weights hang on branches, the flock bears all ; it bears the branch, and the weight that IS upon h too.
iji. Ch.i IIT fupports believers in him, under a weight of outward ttowbles. That is a large promifr, Ifa. xliii. «♦ IVhen thou pa/fjl through the watery I will be with thee : and thrnuah the rivers, theyjhall not oterflout thee. See how Da- vjd was fupportcd under a heavy load, i Sam. xxx. 6. His city Ziklag wa<; burnt, his wives were taken cap^vcs.his men fpokeof ftoning him ; nothing was left him but his Gop »od his faith : bat, by his failb, he encouraged himfelf in his
Support, 235
(JoD. The Lord comes and lays his crofs en his people's flioulders ; it prtfleih them dcAn : they are hke to fink un- der it. and t^icrefoie cry, Mafur.fave us ; wtr ptrijh ! But he fupports them under their buraen ; he beafs them up. and they bear their croTs. Thus the ChriRian having a weight of oufA'aid troubles upon him, goes lightly und>^r his bdrden, havin^y withal the evcrlaUing arms underneath him. The Chiiftian has a fpring of comfort, which he cannot, lofe ; and therefore nwer wants fon.ething to fuppct him. If one have all his riches in money, robbers may take thcfe awav j and then what has he more ? But though the landed man b: robbed of his money, yet bii lands remain for his fupport. They that build their comfort on worldly good^;, may qu.ck- ly be comfortlefs ; but they that are united to Ch rist, ilull find comfort, when all the flrcoms of worldlv enjoyments are dried up, job, vi. 13. Is not my hflf) in mr ^ And is ziij- dom driven quite from mt? As if he had laid, Though my iub^ance is gone ; though my fervants,' my children, my health, and loundnefs of body, are all gone ; yci my grace is not gone \.oo. Though the Sabeans have drr.-cn away mv ox- en and aiTcs, and the Chalieans have driven away my cam- isls; they have not driven away my faith and my hope tocg ; thefe are yet in ine, they are not diiven from me ; fo that by them lean fetch comiortfrom heaven, when I can have none from earth.
i2/j', Christ fupports his people under a weight of in- ward troubles and difcouragements. M.^ny times heart and flefh fail them, but then God is the firength of their heart, Pfal. Ixxiii. 26. They may have a weight of guilt prefling them. This is a load that will make their back to Uoop, and their fpirits to fink ; but he takes it off, and puis a p;ir- don in their hand, while they caft their burden on him. Ch R 1ST takes the foul, as one marries a widow, under a barden of debt : And fo, when the creditors come to Christ's fpoufe, fbe carries them to her Hufbnnd, confcf- feth the debt, declares flie is not able to pav, and lays all over upon him. The Chrifiian fometimes, through carclefTncfs, lofeth his difcharge : he cannot find it, however he fearch for it. The law takes that opportunity, and bends up a proccfs againft him for a debt paid already. God hides bis face, and the foul is diftrefled. Many arrows go through the heart now; many long accounts are laid before tb^manv which he reads and acknowledges. Often does he fee the officers con^ff to apprehend him, and the pnfon-dcor open to receive ha^HkWhat clfe keeps him from finking utterly tin- der difcoi^UPifieDts in this cafe, but that the everl^fting arms <jf a Mediator are UDderncath him, and that he lelies Mpora
236 Support.
the great Cautioner ? Further, they may have a wcIgW Q^ flrong lulls prcfTirg them. They have a body of death upoa them. Death is a weight, that prcHcth the foul out of the body. A leg or an arm ol dcah, if I may fo fpeak, would be a terrible load ! One lively luft will fometimes lie fo heavy on a child of Go D, th?»t he can no more remove it, than a child could throw a giant from off him, Kow ibcn zjt they fup- ported ur.der a whole body of death? Vv''hy, their fupport IS from the root that bears them, from the cveviafiing arm that is upderneath them ; His grace is fufBcient for them, 2 Cor.Xsii.9. The great (lay o\ the believer is not the grace of God H'lrhin him, that is a well, whofe Hieams fometimes run dry ; but y* i< the grice of Go d without him, the grace that is in Jtsus Christ ; which is an ever-flowing foun- tain,to which the believer can never come a mifs. For the Apoille fells us in the fame verfe, it is the powej qfChriJi .•— Mojl gladly, therefore faith he, zvill I rather glory in my tnfir- TKiiiiSy that iht pozvsr cfChriJl may rejl upon me, or tabtrmick above me i as the cloud of glory did on the Ifraelites, whicK God fpread for a covering, or Iheltcr to them in the wilder- nefs, Pial. cv. 39. compare Ifa. iv. 5. 6. So that the believ- er, in this combat, like the eagle, Hrft flics aloft, by faitb, and then comes down on the pray, Pfal. xwiv. 5. They hok- td on kim, & were lightened. And, finally, tbcv have a weight of weaknefs and wants upon ihcm, but they call over that bur- den on the Lord, their ftrength, and he fuilains them, Pfal. Iv. 22. With all their wants and wcaknefics, they arc call upon him : a$ the poor, weak, and naked babe, coming out of the womb, i« caft into the lap of one appointed to take care of it, Plal. xxii. 10. Though they be deditute, as a flirnbia the wildcrncfs, which the foot of every heaft may tread down, the Lord will regard them, Pfal. cii. 17. It is no marvel, the weakeft plant nwy be (afe in a garden ; but our Lor d Jesus Christ is a hedge for piote^lion, to his weak aot! deflitute ones, even in a wilderncls. . >
OLj?ci. But if the faints be fupported, bow is it that they fall lo olten under temptation and difcouragemenls ? An/. (1.) However long they fall, they never fall off ; and that is a great matter. They are kept by the power oi God, through faith unto falvation, 1 Pet. i. 5. ilypocriles THay fo fall, fo as to fall off, and fall into the pit, as a bucket falls into a ■well, when the chain breaks. But though the child of Go D xnav fall, and that fo low as the water goes over his head ; yet there is Hill a bond of union betwixt Chr ij^^MtJ hiin ; the chain is not broken ; he will not go to the ^^^K be will be drawn up again, Luke xxii. 31, 32. AndmHf^rd f&id^ Simcfit iiim>nt Satan kath defired to have you^ thatMe mayji/t
^hefpecial Care of the Hvjhandman. 237
^'' as wheat ; but I have prayed far thee, that thy faith fait :iot. r^.) The falls of the faints flow from their not improv- ing their union wit'n Christ their not wakii^g u!c ot him by faith, for (laying or bearing them up, Pfal. xxvi. 13. I had fainted, uniefs I had believed. While the narfc holds the child in her arms, it cannot fall to the ground ; yet, if the un- wary child hold not by her, it may fall backwards in her arms, to its great hurt. Thus David's fall broke his bones, Pfalm li. 8. but it did not break the bond of union betwixiCiiRisr and him ; The holy Spirit, the bond of that union, w*s not taken from him, ver. ii.
The lad benefit I (hall name, is. The fpetial care of the hufbandman, John xv. 1.2. I am the true vine, and my Father is the hvfoandman . — Evc^- branch that beare'h frvit, he purg^ eth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Believers, by virtne of their union with "Christ, are the objctl of God's fpe- cial care and providence. Mvftical Cn r isT is God's vine ; other focieiies in the w^orld, arc but wild oliv--tree6. The ihen of the world, are but God's out-field ; the iainta arc his vineyard, which he has a fpccial propriety in, and a fpccial con- cern foJ, Ca. viii.i2. My vineyard, which is mine is before me. He that {lumbers not, nor fl^eps, is the keeper of it ; he doth keep it, left any hurt, he will keep it ni^hi and day ; he in whofe hand is the dew of heaven, will water it every mo- ment, Ifa. xxvii. 3 He dreffeth and purgeth it, in order to further fruitfulncis, John xv, 2. ' He cuts off the luxuriant twigs, that mar the fiuitfulnefs oF the branch. This is done, efpecially, by the word, and by thecrols of affiifttons. The faints need the miniftry of the word, as much as the vineyard needcth one to drefsand prune the vines, i Cor. iii. 9. IVe are laknirers toge* her with God. — Ye are G^'s knfbandry^ ye areGod*s bni'dtng. And they need the crofs too> i Pet. i.6.
And therefore, if we fhould reckon the crofs amongft the benefits llowing to believers from their union with Christ, I judge, we fliould not reckon it a mifs. Sure I am, in their fufferings, they fufFer with him, Rom. viii. 17. And the af- furanccs they have of the crofs, have rather, the nature of a promife, asof a tbreatning, Pfal. Ixxxix. 30, 31, 39, 33. If his children forfake my Icrv — then will 1 vfit their tra-nfgref fion with the rod, and their iniquity withfripes. Neverthelejs^ my loving-kindnefs will I not utterly take from him : nor fajfer my faithfulnefs to fait. This looks like a tutor's engaging to a dying father, to take care of the children left upon him; And to give-^hem both nurture and admonition, for their good. The coven^ of grace does truly beat the fpcars of affliftioa into pruning hooks, to thera that are in Christ, Ifa. xxvii. 9. By this therefore fk alt the iniquity of Jacob befurged^ and
1
23S The fptcxal Cart of
this is allthefrmt, to take av>oy his Jin. Whv then 'fhouW vfc be angrv with the crols ? Why fhould \vf be frii^hicd ^t it ? The believer muft take up his.crofs, and follow his lead- er, the Lor D Jesus.Ch H 1ST. He muO take uphis ilk- dav's crofs, Luke ix. 23. If any man v>iU come after me, Ut iiim deny him/elf , and take up his cro/s daily. Ye 3, he muft take up his holv-day's crofs too, Lam. ii. aZ. TAou hajl cat- i'd, as in a fclemn day, my terrors round alu'irt. The church of the Jews had, of a lon^ lime, many a pi; afiog ii\eeting at the temple, on folemn days, for the worfh p of God"; hu^t they got a folcmniiy ofano»ht-r nature, vhcn God called together, about ihe temple and city, the Chaldean army 'hat burnt the temple and laid Jerufalern on heaps. And now, ttat the church of God is yer militant in this lower region, how can it be but the clouds will trtjtn after the lain ? But the crofs of Ch r 1 st, which name liic fainis troubles do bear, is 3 k» '.-.Iv name to the believer. Ills a crofs indeed, but not to the believer's graces, bur to his corruptions. The hy- pC'Ciite's fceminj crac s may indeed breathe out their lad on a crofs, as «hele of the ftony-grcund hearers did, Mat. xiii, 6. And zvhen ih^ fun, of peifecution. ver. 26. ri^»s up, they were frc^cked : And becavje they had not root, th'y withered away. But never o-.A one of the real graces in a h- licver die upon the crofs yet. Nay, as the candle (hines brij;ntt^fl in the ni^hr, and the fire burns fierceil in intcnfefroft ; fo the believer** graces are, ordinarily, moft vigorouf in a time of trouble.
There is a certain pleafurc and fweetncfs in the crofs, to them w^o have their fenfcs exercifcd to difcern, and to find it out. There is a certain fwcetnrfs in one's feemg himfelf upon his trials for heaven, and (landing candidate for glory. Therr is a pleafure in travelling over thefe mountains, where the C^iriniaii c;?n fee the prints of Cur J si's own feet, anj the footftepsof theilock, w}»o have been there before him. How plcafant is it to a Oint, in the exercife of grace, to fee how a good Go D crofTcfh his corrupt inclinations, and pre- vents his folly ) How fwcet it is to behold thefc thieves up- on ihe crofs ! How refined a pleafure is there in obferving how Gon draws away provifion from unruly lufls, and fo pincheth them, that fhe Chmlian may get them governed ? Of a truth, there i^ a Paradifc within hi» thorn-hedge. Ma- >iv a lime the people of God are in bonds, which arc never loofed, till they be bound with coids of afRi^iioti. GoD takes them, and throws them into a fiery furnace, that burns off their bonds ; and thm, like the three children, Dan. iii. C.5. they are loofr. walking in the cnidrt of the Ifr. Goo gives his childrcfr a portitm, with ore b'ttcr ingredient ; If that will not work upon them, be will put in a fecond, a
the Hujbandman, 23^
third, and fo on, as there is need. tb:*f rhey may work togeth- er, for their goud, Rom. vi;i. 28. Witn crofs-winds he haf- lens them to the harbour. They ar-- often found in fuch ways, as that the crofs is the happieft * JOt thty can meet with : and well may thsv fcilute it, as David did Ab.gail, fny'in^yBleJ^ed be the Lord God of If^arl, wiio kath fcnl thtc this day to meet me^ 1 Sam. xxv. 32. Worldly things aie often fuch a load to the Chriflian, that he moves but ver* ilowly heaven-ward. God lends a wind of trouble that blows the burden off the man's back : and then he walks rrore fpeedily on his way J after God hath dra^nfome guildcd eanh from him, that was drawing f is heart awav frori) G(»D, Z-ph. lii, 12. i will alfo leave in the midjl ojtkee^ an affl.clcd and poor people^ and tkey Jhall trvjl in the name of the Lird. It was an obferve of an heathen moralift, ♦* That ro hiP.ory makes mention of any man, who hath been made better by riches." I doubt if cur modern hiftories can fupply the dcfrcl of an- cient hiftories in this point. Bat furc 1 am, manv b ne been the worfeof riches ; thoufands have been hugged to death, in the embraces ot a fmiling world : and many good men have got wounds from outward profperity, that behoved to be cured by the crofs. 1 remember to have read of one, who having an impofthume in his breafl, had in v^in ulcd the help of phvficians ; but being wounv'ed with a fwQrd, the impofthume broke ; and his life was faved by that accident, which threatened immediate death. Often have fpiiiiiial jmpofthumes gathered in the breafts of God's people, in time of olitward profperity, and been thus broken and difcul- fed by the crofs. It is kindly for believers to he healed b<r flripes ; although tbcv are ufualiy fo weak, as to cry out for fear, at the fight of the pruning-hook, a^ if it were the de- flroying ax ; and to think the Lord is coming tokili them, when he is indeed coming to cure them.
I {hall now conclude, addrelTingmylelf in a few words, nrfl to faints, and next to finners.
I. To you that are faints, I fay,
Firjl^ Strive to obtain and keep up actual comnumion and feilowfhip with Jesus Christ ; that is", to be ftill deny- ing frefh fupplies of grace, from the fountain thereof in him by faith ; and making fuitable returns of thtrm in the exercife of grace and holy obedience. Beware of eftran^ement be- twixt Ch r 1ST and your fouls, IP it has got in already which feems to be the cafeot many in thr$ day, end.ivour to get ir removed. There are multitudes in the world that flight Christ, though ye (hould not flight him : manv have turn- ed thcii backs on him, that fometimeslook??^f<»ir for heaven. The warm fun of outward peace and profperity, has caufed
2 40 The Duties of Saints
fometocafl their cloak of rcligirn from them,U'hoheldit faft, ^hen the wind of trouble was blowing upon them ; and will yc alfo go away ? John vi. 67. The ^reatcQ ingratitude is (lampt on your flighiing of communion with Christ, Jer. ii. 31. Have I hen a xoildernefi unio Ifioel ; a land of dark- nefs ; Wherefore fay yny people. We arc Lords : we will come no more untv tkee F Oh I beloved, it this your kindacfs to your friend? It is unbecoming any wife, to flight converfe with her hufband ; but her eipccialiy, who was taken ftom a pri- fon or a dung'hil), as ye were, b^- our Lord* But remem- ber, I pray you, this is a very ill-chofen time to live ai a dif- taace from Go]) :^ it is a time in wliich divine providence frowns upon the land we live in ; the clouds of wrath are gathering, and arc thick above our heads ! It is not a time for you to be out of your charr.bers, Ifn, xxvi. co. They that uow are walking moflclofcly with God, may have enough ado to fland, when the trial comes ; how hard will it be for oth- crsjthan who are like to be furprifed with troubles, when guilt, its lying on their confciences unreinovcd. To be awakened cut of a lound ilcep and cafl into a raging fea, as Jonah was, wKl be a feaiful trial. To feel trouble before wc fee it coming, to be pafl hope, before v/e have any fear» is a very fad cafe. Wherefore breakdown your idols of jealouff, mottify thefclufts, thefe irreguhr appetites aad defires, that havcfto- Icn away your hearts, and left you.likeSamfon without his hair, and fay, J will ge and return to myfirjl hvjhand \ for then it zi/as Utter with ne 'Jian now, Mof. ii. 7. , ^ Secondly, Walk as becomes thofe that are united to Christ. Evidence ycur union wiih him, by walking as he alfo walked, i John ii. 6.. If ye be brought from under the power of darkncfs, let your light fluinc before men. Shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life, as the lanhorn holds the candle, which being in it, fhiaes through it, Philip, ii. 15, 16. Now that ye profcfs Ca R 1ST to be in you. let his image fliine forlhinyour converfaiion, andremem- l>cr the bufinefs of your lives is, to prove by practical argu- ments what yc profcfs. ...
1* You know the chara8er of a wife ; SAe tkat is married^ taretk ho^j-^fhe may plrafe h^r hvfband : 6'«? you and do like- wife : Walk worthy pf the Lord, unto all pleojing. Col. 1. 10. This is the great bufinefs ol life ; you mufl pleafe him, tho* it (hould difpleafe all the world. What he hates, muft he hattful to you, bccaufe be hates it. V/hatcver lafls come in fuitof your hearts, deny them, feeing the grace of God hat appeared, teaching fo to do, and you ate joined to theLoRD. Let him be a covering to your eyes ; for you have not vour choice 10 make, it is made already : and you mull not di£boo^
as united to Chrifi, 241
CUT your Head. A man takes care of his feet, for that, if he catch cold there, it flies up to his head: Shall I then take the nemUrscfCkriJi.andjnake them the members of an harlot ? Crcd Jorbid, fays the Apoftlc, 2 Cor. vi. 13. Wilt thou t»kc that jheart of thine, which is fjHRisT*S dHclliRg.place, and lodge his enemies there ? Wilfthou take that body, which is his temple, and deHieit, by uGog the members therccf, as thciu- firuments of fin ?
2. Be careful to bringforth fruit, and rauchffuit. The branch v/el! laden with fruit, is the glory of the Vine, and of the Hufbandman too, John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorifud^that ye br.ar mtich fruit ; fofkallye be my difciples. A barren tree ilands fafer in a wood, than an oichaid ': And branches in Ch r 1 s t, that bring not forth fruit, will be taken avray and caft into the lire.
3. Be heavenly minded, and maintain a holy contempt cf the world. Ye arc united to Christ ; he is your Head and Hufband, and is in heaven ; Wherefore your heatts roouldbc there alfo, Col iii. t. If ye thenbe rifn with Chrijl^feek thafe things which are above^ where Chrifl ftleih at ihe right hand of God. Let the ferprni's feed go on iht;ir belly, and eat theduft of this earth : but let the members of Chrift be alhimed Co bow down zvA feed with them.
4. Live and a61 dependently, depending by faith on Je- sus Christ. That v.'hich grows on its own root, is a tree not a brancli. It is of the naiitre of a branch, to depend on the flock for all, and to derive all its fap from thence. De- pend on him for life, light, ftrcngth, and all fpiritual benehiS, Gal. 1!. so. I live \ yet not 1^ but Chrijl liveth in me. And the If e which I now live in thejlefh, I live by the faith cf the Sen of God. For this caufe, in the myllical union, rircngthis united to weaknefs, life to death, and heaven to earth ; that vreaknefs,death and earth, may mount up on borrow<;d win^s. Depend on him for temporal benefits alfo, Mat. vi. 2. Give ns this day, cur daily bread. If we have trufled hira with our eternal concerns, let us be aihamediodiftruft himin the mat ter of our provihon in the worlds
Lajily, Be of a meek difpofition, and an uniting temper with the fellou-metnbers of Christ's body, as being uni- ted to the meek Jesus, the blefled centre of union. There is a prophecy to this purpofc, concerning the kingdom of Christ, Ifa. ii. 6. The wclffhall dwell with the lamb ; and the leopard fhail He down with the kid. It is an aiiufion to the beafts in Noah's ark. The beafts of prey, that were wont to kill and devour others, when once they came into the ark, lay down in peace with them ; the lamb was is no hjzard by .he wolf there j nor the kid by the leopard, There was &
t42 Th^ Duty cf Sainh, &c.
beautifttl accomplifhmeni of it in the primitive church, A9« iv. 32. And the multitude of th'tn that heluved^ v. ere of ottt hearty and of one Jo ul. And this p;evails ia all the inemb:rs of Ch R ;si , accoidiiig to the njcafure of ihcgracc of Goo in tlicm. M^n is born naked ; he co:nes naked into this ^'oild, as if Go u dcfit^ned hitr. for the pi£lurc of peace ; and. furely when he u born again, he comes not iuro the nc\f vorld of grace, with claus to tear, a fword to wound, and a fire in his hand, to burn up his fellow-members in Christ, bfcaulc they cannot (ec with his light.. O ! It is fad to fee Christ's lillies as thorns in one another's Gdes; Chr ist's lambs devouring onc-anpilier like lions ; and God's dia monds cutiiag oiiC-anoiher ; yet it mud be reme.nbcred, that fin is DO proper ccirent f^r »hc members ofCn r fST, though Hirod and Pontius Filate may be made friends that wav The Apoflltr's ru'e is plain, Hcb. xii. 14. Follov) peace n.-itk allimn^ and holinfi. 'J'o follow peace no funhcr than cur huiiiour, credit, and foch-hkc things will allow us, is too fhort : to punluc it further than holincfi, that is, confor- mity to the divine will, allows us, is too far. Peace is pre- cious, yttit may be bought too dear : wherefore we iriaH ra- ther want it, tlizn purchafe it, at the expcncc of truth or ho!i« nefs : But oiherwifc it cannot be over-dear bought ; aod it will always be precious in the eysof the fons of peace.
II. And now, finners, what fhall I {,iv to you ? I have given you fome view of the prrvilci^es of thefc in the flate oi grace : ye have feen them afar cif. But, alas! they aic not yours, bccaufe ye are not Ch r i st*». Thcfiofulnefs cf an un- regcncratc ftatc is yours ; and the mifcr)' of it is yours alfo x bur, ye have neither part nor lot in this matter. The guilt of all ycur fin* lies upon vou : ye have no part in the right- eoufncfsof Ch rut. 1 here is no peace to you ! no peace with God, no true peace r fconfcience ; for ye have no fav- ing interell in the great Peace-maker. Yc are noncof God'$ family : the adoption wc fpoke of, belongs not to you. Yc bav^no part in the Spirit of fanflification j and, in one word, ye have r:o inheritance among ihem thit arc fanfllficd. All I can ( ir. this matter, is, that the cafe is not dcfpcrate,
thf \ vours. Rev. iii. 20. Behuld I Iftand at the
dooi ■. if ^^y "'^'^ ^^<2r my zo'ce^ and open the door,
J iviUcome in to him^ and icidfup with him, and he with me. Heaven is propofing an union with earth ftill, the potter is making fuit ^o his own clay, and the gates of the city of icfu£:c arc not yet clofcd. O ! that wc could compel yo» to CO" • •
( 243 )
STATE IV.
N A M E L Y,
The Eternal State ; on State of cohfum- mate Happinefs. or Mifery.
HEAD I. Of death.
JOB^XXX. 23.
T^-
r I knozi', that thou wilt bring me to d'ath^ and to the hcuj appointed for all living,
I COME now to difcourfe of man's eternal State, into which he enters by death. Of this entrance Job takes a folemn, ferious view, in the words of the text, which contaia a general truth, and a particular application of it. The gcn- f.ral truth is fuppofed ; namely, that ail men mufl, by tleaih, remove out of this world; they muft die. But whither mu't thev go ? They muft go to the boulc appointed for all living ; to the grave, that dark-tome, gloomy, lol/rdry houfe, in the land <5f forgetful nefs. Vv'here(oevcr the body is 1 "d up till the refurreftion, thither, as to a dwelling-houfe, death brines us home. While we are in the body, we are but in a Icdging- houfe : in an inn, on our way homeward. When we come to our grave, we come to our home, our long home, Ecc^ xii.5. All living muft be inhabitants of this houfe, good and bad, old and young. Man's life is a flrearo ruiining into death's devouring deeps. They, who now li^o in palace*. muft quit them, and go home to this houfe ; and thev, who have not where to lay their headi?, (hall thus have a houfe at length. It is appointee for all, by him, whoff counfel IhaH ftand. This appointment cannot be fhifted i it is a law which mortals cannot tranfgrefs. fob's applicat?on of this general truth to himfelf, is expreff-d in thefc words ; / knozi.' tiat thou^ v)ih bring rae to dtoth^ Sec. He knew, that he behoved to r'leet with death ; that his foul and oodv behoved to part ; that God, who had fet the tryft, would ccriaJnlv fee it k*pi. Sometimes Job was frnviup-^ deat'i to come 10 l.ur. ^pu v. ••rf O
14 The CcttalrUy of Death.
him hometoltshounr; y;a, he was inhizird orrannlng to it before the timf , Job vii. 15. Mv/oul chocfzth firarfrlin<T and • 'ath, rath'.r tPanny l:J'f. Fut here hcco.iridcrs CtkIo wouW ring him to it; vci», brin{;'him haclc to it, as the word im- ports. Vv''herebv he feems to intimate, thot we have no life in this WDrld, but a* runawaVs froui d^aih', which flieichcfh out Its c*)ld ams, to receive cs from the worab ; but though M'cdo then rnrrov/ly ercape its clutches, we cannot cfcaoe" \csr\% ; we will be brought b»ck' aj^iin to it. jjab knew this he had laid h;s account with if, and was looking for it.
i } J c T ?: I X .-■ , All in lift die.
' ough this Do6lrine be confirmed hv the experience ol^ ji.-ncr ^cneraiions, ever fiocc Abel mtred into the houfe
ppointed for all living ; and thoue'i the living know that ihcy Oiall dii::, yet it is needful to difcourfe of the certainty of de?rh, that it may be imprcficd on the mind, and duly confid- crcci. V -
Wherefore. confidcr Fir^, There is an unalterable flarute .f death, under which men are concluded. // is appointed^ 'urfcmfti nnre to d't, Heb. ix. 27. l\ is laid ujp for thena.^t parents lav up for their children ; they mav look for i% and cannot mifs it, feeing Go n has defi;^ned and refervcd it for ihem. There is no peradventure in it ;" we n»'»ft needs die, c Sam. xiv. 14. Thoiiph fomc menlvill not hear of death, vet every man muft fee death. Pfalmlxxxix. 48. D^athisa champion all muft grapple with ; we muft enter the lids with 1% and it w»ll have the mafterv, Ecclef. viii. 8, Thers i^ no man that hath power or-^r thffpirit, to rftain t^r/pfrit ; milker
atk he pome r in the day of zoratk. Thev indeed who are ^ound alive at Ch r 1 s r's coming, fliall all be changed, 1 Cor. XV. .51. But that change will be eqjivalcr.t 10 dcaih, will an? l^r the purpofci of it. All othtr prrlohs muft go the rommon road, the way of all flcfh. Second ly.'hn u-; confult daily obfcrvation. ?>ery man Iceth that wi!e men di^, likc- \vifc the fool and brutilh peffon, Pfal. xlix.15: There is room tnough oti this earth for us.notwithflanding of the multitudes that were upon it before us ; they are pone to make room for us, as we mul dcpjrt to leave room for others/ It is long ftncf dea«h began to tranfport mcainrd another world, and vaft fhoals and multitudes arc gone thither already ; yet the /•radc is going on Oil', j death is carrying off new inhabitants <iai!v, to the houfe appointed for all living. Who could ever •icar Ihegravc f<v, It is cnou)?h i* T'Jng it has been petiin<r, • (hll it aikelh. This wo'ld is like a great fair or r e lo-Tic ar? coming in, others going out ; while
Tiu Ceii&ihiy of BcatJu 245
fewblv tnat'*? in if,;js confiiTed ; ard the more part l<now not. V before thev are cOrhe together < cr, like a town cituare on fhcfoad, toil ^re^» cj'.y,. through which fonie travellers arc baft, To -re are p.^ifirrg, '.vhi!ecth«rc aie only coming in. Keel, r.^. (yne '^^cTiCratum pfffi^th owdy^ and (ivothi-T generaticn coin- eth ; but the fflrth alndtlhfor ever., D?:Jth is an inrxcrabl?, irrenilihlcnienenger, v^ht; car^r^ot be rlivcrrcd from e>ccuiin§ hisor('uM5, by the force of the Kiiohty, the bribes of the rich, iior the intreaties of th- "jjoor. It doth rot rrvererce the hoary hc3d, "nor pity the hartn!c:Ts babe. The bo'd and darir j; cisnnot out brave it ; nor rafn the laint-bearted obrain a dif- ch,ir,f];e in th^s; war. - •Thii'd/'y, The bum^n body confifls cA penlhin^ principles, Gen. iii. to. Diift tkcu a:'t, and vutc duji ^a't thcu rrfijrv, Tht RrengHl are but bciulc cariben vcl-. fcis, cafilv biokenin (hivers. The f'al is but rTicat:l\r brHiT* cd, while in I'.iis morral hod'-, wh-ch is not a houle of flone, but a botife of clay ; the iriiul-walls cannot Hut moulder a\vay, efpecially feeing th*; foundation is not on a rock, but in the dull ; they are cruHicd before the n-oih, though this infefl be ff) tender;, that the penile touch, of a linger will difpaich it. Job iv. 19. •' Thcfe pnr.cipirs are .hke gun-pcv.'der y a very fniall fpark, lighnn^^r on them, w:ll fet rhcm on tire, and blow up the houte. The ftonc of a raifin, or a hair in milk, have ch^aked men.nnd laid the hcnfc of clr.y in the duft* if we conlidcr the iramc and {Irucln/e of bur bodies, how fearfully ahd wondti fully we are mnde ; anc on how regular and exnfi a motion of the fluids, and balance of humors, our life depends: and that death-has as manv doors to enJer in by, as the body hatU porf? ; and if we compare ihe foul and bo- dy together, we ir.sy juiUy reckon, <hrrs is fonncwhat more sfionifliing in our life, then in our c!<raih>«!nd, that it is more firange, to fee duPi walking up and dov.-n on the dull, than Iving down in it. . , Though the lamp of our life be rot vio- lently blown out, vpt the fmne mud go out at kngth, for '«vant of oil. And what are thofe cidem.pers and difcafes, we are liaWe to, but death's harbingers, that come to prepare if> vay ? They meet us,r:S fcon as we fct our foot on ea<th,ro tell us at our entrvv that we do but ^come into the v/orld to co out again, •. Howbeit, fome are fnactbed away in a moment, with- out being warned by ficknefs or difeafr.- fourthly. We have finfiil foulSj ar.d iherclore hnve dying bodies ; dc-^.th follows fin as the ihadcw follows ihr hodv. • The widadmiiO ^\ti ^ by virtue of the tlireafning of the ccvrn;»rt cf works. Gen. ii. 17. In the day t/wf. thou eatcji iherecf,. t/'.tiu Jt.ait Jvrriy die. And the godly mufi die too ; that, as death tntred bv fin, {\:\ may go out by death. Christ has taken away ih<* fnng of -^cvb as to them, albeit he has not as ^ct removed death itlclf.
-? |''> Mans life Vanity, ■
W'hcrtrore I'loug'i It faften on thpm,a<; the viper cid on Faol'3 jhand, it null do therh no harm ; hut becaufc the Icprofy of fin is in the walls of the houfe, it muft be broken down, and all the materials thereof carried forth. Lafdy, Man's hfc in this wo-IH, according to the fcripturt^ account of it, is but « few decrees removed from death. The fcripturc reprelentt ' as a vdin and empty thing, (hort in its Continuance, and vift in its pafTip.g awdv. yir/i, Man's life is a vain and emotv thin?, wnjle it is : it inillicth away, and lo ! it is not, Job. viii. 6. Mv days art injty. If ye fufptcl afQitled Job of partiality in this matter, hear the wile and profpcrous Solomon's characfer of the days of his life, llccl. v»ii. 13. All thinga 'lavc IJccn^ in the d.iys cfiny vanity^ \. r. my vain days. MoTcs, who was a very adive »>?»<«, compares <-«ir days toa llcep, Ffalm ?rc. 5. lAey nrc a% a fcet^ which is not noticed, till it be ended. The re- semblance is pat : few men have right apprchcn'ibn* of life, until death awaken them ; then wc begin to know wc were living. IV^ff^rnd our y^an as a tale that is told^ Tcr. 7. When an idle tale is a telling, iti*iav affeft a little, but when it is ended, it is forgot ; and fo is msn forgotten, vhen the fa- ble of his life is ended. It is as a c'ream, or vifion of the night, in which there is nothing folid ; when one awakes, all evan- ifheth, Job xx. 8. Hf Jhalljlv away as a drcaniy and piallnoi he found j yea hejhall be chafed flway as a vr/ion of the nit^At. It is but a vain tliow or image, Plal, i^Kix, 6. Sure/y every man walheth in a vainjhcxo. Man in this world, is but, as it x^erc, a walking hatue ; bis life is but an image of life : there - fo much of death \n it.
if wc look on our life, ifi the fcveral periods of it, we will find it af heap of v;v»itiies. Childhood and youth art vanity, Xcclcf. xi. 10. We come into the world, the moft hclplefs of all animals j young birds and beads ran do fomethin^ for themfelves, but infant man is ahogethtr unable to help him- felf. Our childhood is fpent in prtiful trifling plcalures, -^'hich become the fcom of oar own aftcr-ihoughts. Youth is a flower that foon withercth, a blcffom that quickly fall* off ; it is a fpace of time in which wc are ralh, foolifh, and in- confidcratc, pleafmg ourfelves with a variety of vanities, and fwimmlng. as it were, through a flood of thrm. But ere wc are aware, it is pall, and we arc in middle age, encompnfTcd ^ith a thick cloud of cares, through which wc muft Rro|»e ; «nd fioding ouifftlvcsbcrct with prickin;: thorns of difhculiir*, hrough them we muft force onr way, to accomplifb the pro- pels and contrivances of oar riper thoughts. And the mor^ M'e rddce ouff« Ues in anv earthly eniovmcnt we fltttfuMo, the wore bittcrncfs do wc find in parting with ir. Then romr*
M::'n''s L^ft Vanitv. 247
old age, attended witb.its own trair^of iafuaiiiicj, laboiir and lorTow, PCl. xc. 10. and Jt.j us down next door lo the giavs. In a woj«i, AiijUJIi ii,^rajs, Haiab xl. 6- Every flage, oj pciiod in iile, is vanity. Man at Lii bcj} Jiati^ his middle age, when ihe heat of youth is fpenf, and the forrows o\ old age h«ve not vet overtaken him, is uiic^eihtr vainly^ FJalni XXXIX. 5. Djath carries olf ioire in the bud ot childhood, pjheri* 111 the biciTom olyouih, and others when they arecooic lo their fruit ; few are icit ftaiidin^, liil like ripe torn, thry forhkc the ground : ail die one time or other.
SicmdJy, Stan's life is a (hori thin;» ; ii is not only a van- ity, but a fhort-iived vanity. CoiWidcr, /"ir^. How ihelitc of man is recKoncd in the Scrif-iarc. .It was indeed foaic tin-.es reckoned by hundreds of years ; but no man ever arri- ved at a thoufand : which yet hears no juoportion to eterni- ty. Now, hundreds arc hrou^ht down lofcores ; three fcore and ten, or four icore, ii its utmoll len^'tb, Ptal. ic. 10. BuX few men arrive at that length ollife. Death doci but ratciy waif, till men be bowing down, by rcafon ofagc, to nieet ihu fjrave. -Yet, as if year* were too big a word, \<st fnch a fmail thiijjjf as the life of man 0:1 earth; wc finJ it cuuiited hy months. Job xiv. 5. ihe number of ins viohiLi arczjiik tkct, Durcouile, Jikc that of fbe moon, is run in a l.uie tune; we arc always wuxingor waning, till wc diidpoear. But tieovjent- ly It is reckoned by djys : and thcfc but }'.w',Joh xiv.i. M.at% that is born oj a woman, tscfjeu' days. I^«ay, 11 it but one day in fcripturc account ! and that a hireling's day, who will piccifcly o^lerve when his day ends uud give over his work, ver. 6. Till hcjhall accompUJh as an hireling his day. Yea; the fcripiuirc bungs it down to the ihoricll fpjce of tune, and calls it a mom.ent, g Cor. iv. 17. Our It t^ hi a/jliCi.'cn,i):io\.\,i^a it la(t all our life long, is but jor a vmmcat. But clfcwhcf.; it is brought down to vet a lower pitch, farther than which, one cannot carry it, P.iilm xxxix. 5. Mini age is as notkn:^ hi^ fore thee. At;rceablc to this, Solomon tells a», Eccie.iii. 3. Thtre is a ume-Lo-bc born, and a time /o die; but ui-ikei no mention of a time to Uvc ; as if our life were but a Ikip fioaa the womb to ihc g,rave. S-^cona/y, Conndcr the various jili!- iitudcs by which the Scripture rcprelcuts the brevity, or {h<»rt- iicls, of man's life. Hear Hczckiah, Ifa. xxxviil. 12. Al.nt age. IS departed, and is rauovedfroni me as aJLcphtrd's fnt , / have cut cjf^ Like a w.aver, myife. The Ihcpherd'ateni isfooii removed, for the tlocks mull not feed long inone place; fuch is a man's life on this earth, tjuickly gone. It is a web he >:» Inceflj-ntjy working; he is liot idle fo much as one jno;!Krui ; in a ihort time it is wrought, and then it is cut off. Every breathing is -a thread in this wtb; and when the !ait brgidi.L.
-^wn, the wtb is woven out, he expirei: and then it is cist -', he. breaths no n.oic. Man \s l.kc grafs, and !ikra 11' v/ct, 1 xl. 6. Al'.pjh, eycn tl,c ilronReflanJ raoU hz-olthv . ^^^J^ ^ ^'^ «'^ '^»« jS,ioalir.cJs t.'itrttjf, naitht Jloioci ■a. 1 be graf» ii> iiounihiug tn th« morning, bin irj tUc c- -ning, bciij^ cui Jowo b/ ibc nio.vtri.it i« withered j foman i«etiinf;» ii WdlKjog up unJ down at cafe in the morjiiug ; d. Ml the nscuMM?^, is lyin^^ a corpfe, t>^inft knocked down a luddcii Urokf, wiih one or oiber of acath\ weapons. 10 llawer, atiiuU, is but a weak and tender ihing, ot ibort .Dtinuiiice, wjirrc-cver it grows: bu:, obfeive, man is n'>t ■vipjrcd to the il<iwcr ot the tja'dL-ii, but to flic {lower of ib ..iJ,'\vh>c}» the foot o^ even- beail tnay ir^ad town at ai»y t.jnc. Thus is our life liable to a tboufand accident!, evcrv cay ; anv of whjch nia/ cut u» oiT. Uui though '*c fljould tfc;»pe ail thefc, yet, -at lengtb, ih'.s grA.<s wi;hereib, this flow- tr f^drih of itfclf. it is carried ui", as ihc cloud is con- famed, and vjnifbeth away, Job vii. 9. Ir lo>>ks bi^, as the moniiiig cloud, which p'-.tmtfcih gj*ect^th»n^s, and rair««n the expcctatiuiii 0/ the buljaa/laiaa : but the fun iifeth, and tKc cloud \% fcdttercd ; de^th cofiies, and man cvani(heth. The apcfllc Janics propolcth lije i^ueition, What isyo^r Life* Hear bis own tnfwer ; it is eirn a vcpsur ^ that cppC'iret^ fof a liLtk 'tihu, and tiuu v'.tnljht^li away, Chap. iv. 14. It is frail) pr.ccrfaii>, arid laflcin lior. it is as fmoak, which iioc«out of the chnqcey, as if it would^ddiken the f«ce ofihc heavens ; but t|^u;c»)v i» fcattered and appears po imorc ; thus gocth man'i life, arid where is he? It ii a wind, Job vii. 7. 0 rq.icnibtr" tk^t Tnyii/i iiwii.d. It is but a patLng blalt, a (hort jMiff, a wiiid rhat pdlit th away, and comcih.nci again, Pfalin ^vtii. 39. Our breath is in our nofirils, as it were always upon ■ c wi.j^ 10 depart ; ever paffirgand rcpajTjng.like a traveller, ntll it go away for good aud ail, not to «ciuKi till the bcavcx)* '.>c no more. ' ' ' '
I^jh'y, Aim's life Is a fvyift thag ; rot ontv a palTing but {\\xnn vanity. Have jou not obicrved how fwitily ^ lliad- ..u- hath run along, the j^roTind, in a cloudy and windy day, lucWenly ddrkcinn^the places bcautihcd bctorc,with the be«Q«i of toe fun, but a', tudutuiv difappraring i Such is tnc life ol man en the caitb, for he flecih ii a Ibadow, and continueib not, Job xiv. 2.' A weaver's fliutile is very fwift in its :r,o- tioni in a moment it is thrown from one fide of the w the other ; yet cur days are fwifter rhnn a weaver's ii- ' :<p. vii. 6. How quickly is mo'' ougl^ tinu
mity ! See ho^ job dcfcnbcs Is of the ti
t : No(o my {!ajfia>e/ui/ter (ban a fji : tkfy ■y Jec no Qcod. Thty aje hajlti away u< ihe Ju
A LooUng-glofs ^c. 249
incci^ie that hajuih to the pre^, chap ix. 25, 26. He coo^.- paies his days witfi a jjoif, a looi-poft, a riuincr who ruus Ipecdily to carry tidings, and will make r.oftay. But though the pqII were like Abimaaz, who ovcr-ian eunii, oar fiayi would be fwiftej-than he, fi;r they flee away, like a man flee- ing for his life, before ihc purfuin* encnr.y ; he runs with his utjaoil vigour, yet our days run as fad as he. FLjwbeii that isnotali. Lvcm he who is fleeing for Ife, cannot run al- ways; he muU needs toinetiiiesilanci fiiiL lie down, or run in fomewhcre, as Silcry did intojriel's tent, to rcfrrili him- i'eif ; bL.t our lime never halts. 1 hercforc it is compared to ihips, Which can iail night and day without inicrmihlon, t:ll ihev be rt iHe:r port ; and fwifi fhips, (Lips of defire, ih which men quickly arrive at thedofiicd hiveti ; orli:ips of plea'urc, that fail inore r.vifily than Ihips of burden. Vet the wind iuiling, the ihip's coui/e is marred ; but our time always runs vith a rapid courfe. 'i'hcrcforc it is compar^fd to the cagie flying; not' with hFs ordinary fii;ht, for that is not lufncicnt to rcprefcnt the fwiftiie^s cF our days ; but when he t<ic5 upon his prey, wriich is with an extraordinary' Iv/ififtcls. And thus, e- ven thus, our d^vs £y away. ^
Having thus difcowrfed of death, let us improve it, ir^ difcerniag the vanity of the world ; in bearing up, with Chiiilian conicntmcnt, and paliesicc, under hlTtroublcs and OifHcuities in it ; ifi mortifying our luih ; in cleaving unto the Iv«.)RD with purpofe of heart on all hazards j and in prepar- ing for dea'h's approach.
And ^ii'ff-y Let us hence, as in a looking-glafs, behold the vanity of the world, and of ail thefe things in it, which ineri fo much value and efteem.andihcrefore fet their hearts upon. The rich and poor are equally intent upon this world; ihcy bow the knee to it, yet it is but a clay-god ; they court the bulky vanity, a-.nd run keenly to catch the fii.idow; the rich man is h'ug.jjed to death in itscmbrares ; and the poor 13 m wearies himlelf in xhefruitlofs;' purluit. V\'"iiat wonder i?*ic world's f.-niles overcome us, when we purfue it fo eagtriv, even v.'hile ir frowns upou us r But look into the grave, O man, coiiiider and be wife; liilcn to the dotinne of death, a^nd learn; (i .) That hold u's futi as thou canft, thou (hall be forced to let go thy hold of the world at length. TUougit thou load thyfelf with tiie fruits of ihisearth, yet all {hall fall oH when ihou comeit to creep into thy hole, the houfe under grotmd, appointed for all living. When death comes, thcu Kiufl bid aft eternal fa/e*vell to/hy ehjoyrnents in this world ; thou mulUeavitihy-goods to another ; avid whofe Ihall thoU- things be which thou haft provided ? Luke xii. 2o. [%.\ Tiiy jiCiiioa of liicfe things Luil be vtiy hulocrc Ijng. U thod
«5^ ^^ Storehoiijfjor
lie down on the grafs, ard flrcich thyfclf at full length, and obfervc the print of ihy body when thou rife (I, thou inay- cH fee, how much of this earth will fall to ihy Iharc at laft. It may be thou fhalt get acoHin, and a win'Jmg.rnect ; but thou art not furcofih.n : Many who have had ahundarce of wealth \et have not had fo ujucH-vhen (hcy took up their new houfe in the land offjicnce. But however that be, more yc cannot txpctt. It was a mortiiying kflon, Saladine, when dying, gave to hisfoldiers : lie called for his ftandard-bcarer, and crdcrcd hiro to take hii winding- (heet upcjn his p'ke, and go out to the camp with it, and tell ihem,Thatot all his con- <}ucfts, viclorjcs and triujjiphs, he had nothing now left him, but that piece of linen to wrap his body in for bunal. LaJiL)\ This world is a falTc friend, who leaves a man in time of preateil nred, and flees from him when he has rood ado. When ihou art lying on a death-bed, all thy friends and re- lations cannot rcfcue thee ; all -thy fubflance cannot ranfotn thee; nor procure thee a reprieve for one day, nay, not for one hour. Yca.ihc more thou poflefFeft of this world's goods, thy forrow at death »* J»^c to be the greater ; for though one may live more cortiinodiouny in a palace.thar. .na cottage, yet he may die irorecafilv in the cottage, where he has very liiUc to make him fond of life.
Hecondly^ It may fervc as a florehoufe for Chriftian-con- tentmcnt and patience under worldly loiTes and crolfes. A clofe application of the doQrinc of ditih, is an CTccellent re- medy -againft fretting ; and gives fomc ealeto a rankled heart. When Job had fuUanied very great loffes, he fat down con. tented, with this meditation, Job i. 21. leaked came I out of tny mother' i luowb, and naked JhalL i return thither \ The Lord /vzcr, and the Lord hath takei awayy blrffedhe the name of the lord. "A'hen providence brings a mortality or murrain a- I'long your cattle, how ready are you to fret and complain* liut the ferious confideration of your own death, to which Nou^havea not<<ble help from fuch providential occurrences, iTiavhcofufe to filcnce your complaints, and uuiet your rankled fpiriis. Look to the houfc appointed tor all liv- ing, and learn, Ci.) That ye muft abide a forer ihrufl, than the lofs of worldly goods, lio not Cry out for a thruft in the leg or arm, for ere long there will be a home-thruQ at the heart. You may lofe your deareft relations ; the yHxit, may lofe herbufband, and the huiband his wife ; the parents may lofe their dear children, and the children their parents. But if any of thcfe trials happen to you, remcinber you rauft lofe vour own life at laft ; and wherefore doth a living man cooi- y\i\x\ ? Lam. iii. 39. It is always profitable-to conlider, un- «t.r afUiwtion, haw our c&ic uii;;htbavc beeu woric thau it is.
Contentment and Patience. 251
Whatever be confumed.or taken ft om us, it is of ihc Lord's iiKrciesthat we ourfelves arc noi coniuined, ver. 22. »(2) It- is but for a fhort fpKce of lime we are 10 be in this worl.i. Ic M but little our neceffities require in this (hort IpaCc ot nme ; ■when death comes, uc will Hand irt need of none of thcfc things. Why fhould men lacic their heads with cares, how to provide for to-nr.onow : while thry know not if they (hall need any thing to-mcrrow ? Though a maf.'a' provifion, for his journey be near fpent, he is not difquictrdjt he think he is near home : are you working v/ith cdndle-Iight, and is there little of your candle left ? it may be there is as lutic fand in yourgiafs : and if fo, yc have Imie iffe fur it. (3.) Ye have matters of greater weight that challenge your cai'e. J)cath is at the door, beware vou lofe not your fouls. Jf blood break out at one part of the hodv, they ufe to open a vein in another part of it, to turn the Aream of blood and f6 to flop it. Thu« the Spirit of God fometimcs cures men of forrow for earthly thini^s, by opening the heart-vein to bleed lor (in. Did we purfus heavenly things the more vigorouf- ly that our i^ffaiis in this life profper net; we fhould thereby j^^ain a double advantag^e ; ourworloly (orrow wbiild be divert- ed, and our beft trcalure increaled. [{.] Cruifes of this na- ture will not laU long. The world'* tiuiles and frowns will be quickly buried together in cverlafting forge ifulnefs. its fcDilcs go away as the fonm oh the water, and us fiowris are as a pafTuig ftitch in a man's iide. Time flies awav with fwift wings, and carries onrearthlv comforts, and crolfcs too along with it ; neither of them will accompAny usinto the houfe ap- pointed for all living; There the wicked ccafe f rem trouhling^ and there the weary are at rejl, Thrr^ the prifuners rrjl togctu- er^thcy hear 'not the voice qftk'e oppreJf)r. I he /'mail and great are there, and thejcrvant is freejrom his majler^ Job in. 17, i 8, 19. Caft your eyes on etcrnifv, and ye will fee, affl-c- lion here is but for a moment. The truth is, our time is fo very Ihort, that it will not allow either our joys or griefs, to come to perfetlion. Wherelore, let them ihat weep, be as though they weeped not ; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiceii not j &c. 1 Cor. vii. 7g, 36, jji. (^.) Diaih will put all men on a levc!^ The knig and the bcj^gar mnft dwell in one houfe, when ihey co'ne to their journey's end : though their entertainment bv the w;ky be verv different. T he f mall and the great are there y Job lii. 19. We are iri this world as on a itage; it iyno great matter whether a wian acl the part o*^a prince or a peafant; for when they have acted their part^, they muft both get behind the curtaia, and appear no raorc. ^ojtly^ If thou be not in Chkist, whaicrcr thy
252 A Bridle to curb Lvfts.
20i8ions nov; br, (roubles a tuourdud timei worfe, are ab . log thee in another world.
Death will turn iby crojics into pure, unmixed curfcs ; and theo how gladly wouldA thou return 10 tby former aSiictrd iiatc, arid purchalc it at any raic, were there any poiTibiliiy of fuch a return. If thou be 10 C:»RiST, thou mayO well bear (hy crofs. Death will put an end to all thy tioubics, if a man on a journey be not well accommodated where he loag- cth only for a night, he will not trouble 'liimfrrlf about the matter brcaufc he i$ not to flay thcie; it is not bis home. Ye arc on the road 10 eternity ; let it not difquiet you, rhai yoa meet with {)mc hardllnps in the inn of ihisVorid. Fret not, bccaufe n is rrot fo well wiih'you as with feme others. One man travels with a cane in his band ; his fellow-trr.vcl- Icr, perhaps, has but a common (lick, or ftafi ; cither of tbcni y*\\\ Icrve the fuin. It is no great matter which of ihctn be youis ; ^oth Will be l&id aiidc^ when you coOiC to your jour- fiey's en(i. - *"
Thirdly^ It may fervc for a Bridle, to curb all manner of LuAs, particularly (hofe convcrlant about the body. A Icriou* viiit made to cold death, and that foltta:y uanlion, the grave, might be of good u(e to rc-prcfs them.
\Jl. It may be of uie to caulc men remit of their inorll- natc care for the body : which i* to mar.v the banc of their fouls. Often do thefe que (lions, /f^/tar^'?;^// Ti/? eulf What Jhall u)c drink / And lohcreiuithai piAL uie be clothed f lea»e*- Tioroom for aoo'bcr o{ more importance, viz. IV iicre fere Jhall Iccvie before the Lord ? The foul is put to the ra&k, to an- fwer ihefe mean qucUions, in lavouf'tjf ibc body, while its own eternel inierefts are ncglc£icd. But ah ! why are men fo bufy ttt repair the ruinous cottage, leaving the luhabitanc to bleed to death of bis woutids, unheeded, unregarded 1 Why (o jsiuch caie for the bcdv,to the neglctlmg of the concerns of the immojtal foul ? O I be not fo anxious for w hat can only Tcive your bodies ; fjticc, ere lor>g, the clods ot cold caiiU will feivc for back and belly too. .
2/v, It may abate your p.tide on account of bodily endow- Hicnts, which vain man is apt to glory in. Value not your- fclvcs on the blolfom of youth ; for while ye are in your blcoDjirg years, yc arc but ripening for a gra\c ' and death gives the fatal flickc. without afking any body's age. Glory i;Ot in ycur flrcngth, it will ciiiicklv be gone ; the traie will loon be, when you ihall not or able to turn youiftjlves on 4 bed, and you inuQ be carried by your grieving ineids to ifour long home. And what fij^nifics your healthful c^infimmon ? Death docs not always enter in fooncft', where i? cfl \p knock at the door, but makes as great
A Bridle to curb Lvjls, 253
tome in a few hours, as with others in many years. Value
not yourfelves on your beauty, which lhi»il coniuiiie i\> the
grave, Plaltnxlix. 14 Reinetr»ber. ihe change death makes
on the faireft face-, Job xiv so. Thou ckangcji hh countenance^
andjiitdtth Mm away. Death m»ke» the greateii beauty fo
loaihiome, thit ii.muft be bmicd out ot li^ht. Ctjuld a looi -
jf>g-j>iais be ufed in the houfe appointed foriall living ; ic
wtMild be a terror to ibcfe, who now look oftncr into their
UiiLs, than into their Bbies. And what thouoh the body be
ii^eouflv arrayed ? The hncit cioihes are but badge* of our
1 and fhdrae ; and, in a httlc time w»ll be cxcbiu^cd for a
. inding-Tucct, when the bc<jy wiii become a ieail to ihs
3^7), It may be a mighty check upon^pfenfualitv and flciiily lis, I Pet. n. 11. • y btjetich you, asjlrangcrs and pi/giims^ /^ainj'romjl'j/t/y lujls, wKich war a^ainji the foul. Ic is rdrocauic wet wood take, fire ; and, when the fiie doth ke hold ot it, it \% loon extinguilncd. S'-nlualuy mukesiiicn fit for divine cprnrnunicaiions, and is an cli'ctlual uieans to leiich the Sptnt, Intemperance in eating and drkiking, artics oft the rum of foul and body at jonce :.and haftciiS death, wbilc it jnakes rhe n)an moU unfit forit. . Therefore, take heed to yourfclves, letl at any time ypur hearts be over- charged v/.th lurfeit.nj and diunknels, and fo that day come upoti you unawares, . Luke xvi. 34. But O ! how o-fien is the (oul iiruck (hfou^u *iih a oart, ip gratjying the fenfcs ! At thefe doors, dcftrudion enters in. Tiicicfore Job made a covenant with hU .eyes. Chap. xxxi. i. The mjulh cf a Jirangt woman is a asep pit j he thai ts abhorred of the Lord^ Jhall fall thereiuy Prov. xxii. 14. Let him thatjiandahy take j.-tdhjl he fail. Beware of U^civioufnels ; ftuxly modclly i.a ycur apparel, words and aftions. The ravens of the valley of death will, at length, pick out the wanton eve; The obftrene, filthy tongue will, at hngih, be quiet, in the land offilcnce! And grim death, embracing the body in its cold arms, wilicf- faciually allay the heat of all fleihly lufts.
Lajlly, In a word, it ir.ay check our carlhlv mindednefs ; and at ouce knock down the luit of the lielh, the lutt of the eyes, and the pride of .life. Ah ! if we mult die, why are we thus P Why io fond of temporal things j to anxious to get them, fo eager in the embraces of theni, fo mightily touched withthe lo!s of them ? Let me, upon a view of the houlq appointed for ail living, bcfpeak the worldling in the words of Solomon, Prov xxiii. 5. Wilt thou ft thint eyes- v.pca that zohick IS not ? Tor riches certainly make tkemfelvcs wiri^;s, they jice au/ay as an eagle towards heaven. Riches, and alT wo. Id- l-v tbiji?«, are bm it fiur .nothing : they anc that which is not,
lj4 -'^ ^J''^'^-:S of Chrijliu.i .:^...u......
They arc not what ihcy fccm to be : ihey arc all but guild- ciivaniiics, that deceive the cvc. Comparatively, ihcy ar«t not ; there is infiiiilciy more of nothingiiciV and not btini^, than of beir^g and reality in tbo beft of ibrm. What is the %orld, and all that is ia ir, but afafhion, or fair (how, fuch ai men make on a Oagc, a pjil-n^ fliow? i (J>r. vii.31. Roy- al pomp is but a gaudy Ihow, or appearance in Gi>d'a ac- count, Aas XXV. 23. The bcft name they get \^ good thinits ; but, obfcrvc n, tlicy are only the wicked mail's good tnin^s, Luke XVI. 25. — Thou in thy life-time recividjl thy good Uani;s layt Abiahdin, in the paialilc, to the rich man in hell. And well may the men of the woild^iall thefe things their gojdi ; for there is no other good in them, about them, nor attending them. Now, wilt ;i»«j fct thine cytj upon eu;pty Ihows and fancies ? Wilt thou caufe thine eyes to lly on thcui, as the word IS ? Shall mens beans 11/ out at their eyes upon ihtin, a^ a ravLncus bird on its piey ? If they do, let thcta know, that, at length thele fliall lly as fail away from the;ii, as cvef their eyes i!ew i;poa them : like a flock of fdir-fcaihered b rds, that fettle on a fool's ground i the which,- when be tuns to catch them as buown, dc immediately take ''Wing, fly away, and, flaingdownon his neighbour's ground, chide ins expectation, Luke xii. %o. Thou fool, this night thy JcndJIiaU he required oj ik'.e : then wlafejhail tht/c things be /* Tbou.^k )Ou do not make wings to tnem i^ ntany do \ they mdke themfelves wings, and fl/ away ; not a« a tame houfe-bud, vhich may be catchcd again ; nor as an hawk, that will fhow where fiic is by her bells, and be caUed ^gain with the lure ; but as an eagle, which quickly flics out ol^ fiv*^'i '"** cannot be recalled. Forbear thou to behold thefc things, O mortal ! there is no reafon thou iliijuldd i'ct thine eves upon then.-. This w^orld is a greai *nt), in the road to eternity, to which I'hou ^t iravcliK.g. Thou art aitencied by thcfe things, as fer- vauis belon,^ing 10 the lun, where thou lod^cU ; liiey wait up- on ihcc, while thou art there.and when thou t»<x(l away, ihey will convoy thee 10 the door. But they are not u.ine, liwy wiil Tiot go away wnh theCj but reluia to wait on other flran^cfs, as they did on tncc.
Fijthl)\ It may fcrve as » fpring ofCunftiaii iefv>lution, to .:lcave to Ch H 1 sT, adhere to his iiuths, and ccnuuuc in h«s wa\8 ; whatever he may fuller for fo doing. 1« woulici niuck allay the fear of man, thut biingcih a fnarc : Whn art fhou, tliat thoujhouldji be afraid of a taaa that /hail die t Ifa. H. i-,:. Look on perfccutoTS as pieces of brittle clay, that (hall be dallied to pieces ; for then fliall ye dclpife them ai foes that arc mortal \ whofe terrors to others, -w the land of' t^t liv- »r", fliall tulckl ' tiic with thLr^fclvcs- ''j^h^ rLirioai coaflder-
A Spur,incitingto prepare for Deathj 255
atlon of the {hortnefs of our time, and the certainty of death, will teach «s,that all the advantage we can make by our apof- tacy, in time of trial, is not worth the while ; it is not worth the going out of Uie way to get it ; and what we refufe to forego, for 6n R wt's fake, may ouickly be taken from us by death. Bat, we can never lofe it fo honourably, as for the caiife oFCh r ist and his goCj^el : for what glory is it, that Ve give up what ye have in the world ; when Okjd takes it a- way from you bv death, whether you will or not ? This con- fideration may teach us to undervalue lite itfelf, and chufe to forego it rather than to fm. The worft that mea can do, i» to take away that life, which we cannot lon^^kcep, though all the world fhould conipire to help us to retain to the Spirit. 'And if we refufe to offer it tip to Go d, when he calls for it, in defence of his honour, he can take it from us another way ; as it fared with him, who could not burn for CsfRisT, but was afterwards burnt by an accidental fire in his houfe.
Lajlly^ It may fervc for a fpur, to incite us to prepare' for death. Confider, (i.) Your eternal ftate will be according to the ftate in which you die ; death will open the doors of heaven or hell to you. As the tree falls lo it (half lie throughf eternity. If the infant be dead-born, the whole world will not raife it to life again j and if one die out of Chr isT, ia an unregencrate flatc, there is no more hope of him for ever. (a.) Scrioufly confrder what it is to go into another world ; a world of fpirits, wherewith we are very ill accquainted. How frightful is converfc with fpirits to poor mortals in this ^ifc ! And, how dreadful is the cafe, when men are hurried •nway into another world, not knowing hut devils may be their companions for ever ! Let us then give all diliger^ce, to make and advance our acquaintance with the Lord of thri world. (3.} It is but a (hort time ye have to prepare for death, therefore now or never ; feeing the time affigned for prep:>' ration, will foon be t»ver, Ecclef. ix lo. Whatfocvcr thy haiui findeth to do, do 0 with thy might : for there is no rr^r^, nor device, nor knozoUdge, nor unfdom in the grave, wkither thou gocjl. How can we be idle, having fo great a work to' do, and lo htile time to do it in ? Bur, if the time be (hort, the work of preparation for death, though jtord work, vill not iafl long. The (hadows of the evening make the labourer vork cbearfully; knowing the time to be at hand, when h« -^7-^^ fh?l! be called in from his labour. (4.) Much of our time i'^Bj is over already ; and the younge*^ of us ail cannot allure him- fclf, that there is as much of his time to come, as ispaft. Our life in the world, is but a fiiort- preface to long cter'nuy ; and much of the tale is told. Oh ! (hall we not double our dili- gence, whcis fo much of cur tin" c is fpent, and fo little of
our gr^at vork is done ? (3.) Thii pTrfent time is ITvin^ V w»v ; and we cannot bring b<)ck< time p«ft, it hath takrn »n eternal f«ircwcH of us ; there t< no kmdlio^ the Tire again, that is burnt -to afiicf. The lime to cornc is not ours; a"nrf ^•»c have no afTiirancc of a fnarc tn it, when it- cotiL-$. • We }»ave coihing we can call outs, but the prcfent momtnt ; aDd that is liyinj? aw^y ; How Took our u me n:av be at ?n crj'l.we knoi«k' not. D.*^ we mnfl, hut wl;0 can tell u« when? If death kcfjl one fct time for all. we arc in no hazard of a fur- urife ; but daily obfervation Jhcws U5, there is no fuch thing. Novr th« fiyirsg (hadowof oor life, allows no time for loiter- ing. The rivers run fpec^lily into ths fra, f«-om wh«nte they came % but not fo fpecoilv as man to the duTc, from whencr f)e came. , The Utcam of time is the fwifteft current, a ad quickly nms out to eternit'y. I-^Jih, If once death carry us olf, there is no coming hack again to mend ,our'maiters, Job ;<iv. 14. //"a men clie^J/iai/Ae /ive a^^ain F Dy'wf^ is ^ thiv.ti^ %t cannot get a trial of ; it is what we can do onlyo ncr ,Heh. ix. 27. Jt ii appcinUd unto mrK once lo.di'.. And that f.'bif B can he but once done, and yet is of fo much impor- tance, tha? our all depends on having it dpne right,' we have irced to, ulc the utmoft diligence, that we may i^o it ymW* T^icrcforc prepare for death, and xlo it timeoufly.
If ye wboarc-unrcgcncrate, afk me. What vc Piall do, to prepare for death, that yc.mav die i^afcly ? I anfwcr, 1 have told you already, what muft be done. -And that is, your na- ture and date mu<l he changed ; vr tr •,! be born again : ve tnuft be united to Jtsus Cri r ist by faith. And til! thi^, is dornr, ye a.'e not capable of other direftions, which bc!o«?g t/» one's dying comfortably, whereof we may difcourfc Ef':r- wards in due place.
H E A D 1 1.
The Difference behvi.-^t the Riahfeoirs and' ihe Widked in their Dea
Thf. \Vi'.'.:i Ii driven aarw in hii ll\rLrdr.cfs; But t,. ous haik hope in his Death.
THIS text looks like tJie cloufl betwixt the Kracrttts and " IS having a dark fide towaro^i the ' " ' "
Trri: ^rds the fr.rmer, Itrrprefrnt^
ringing tl.c ■ ^""'^ '..■•:-' -.-^ .
. in their V/ickednefi 25V
cut oFonc prifon ; the one t© be reflored- to his ofEce, and the other to be led to execmion. It fnows the dliTe/ence be- twixt the godJv and ungodiy in thejr death ; who as they a6t a very different part in life, lo, in death, have a vaftly difler- ent exit.
Firjly A» tothe death of a wicked man ; here is, (i.) The jTjanner of his pafling out of the world, He is driven awav ; namely, in his death, as is clear from the oppofite claufe. He is forcibly tiuuft out of his place in thi« world, driven a- "way as chaff before the wind. (2.) The ilate be paffeih a- ■\vay in. He dies in a finfal and hopelefs flate. Firji^ In a fioful ftate ; he is driven awav in his wickcdoefs*. He lived jir. it, and he dies in it : his filthy garments of Hn,. in which he wrapt no himielf in his life, are his priron-gartnents ia which he fn^ll lie rapt up fjr ever. Secondly, In a hopelefs ftate ;' Bvt rk; Righteous hath hope in his death : which plain- ly imports the hopeleiTners of the wicked in their death. "Whereby it is not meant, that no wicked man iTjall have any hope atari, when he is a-dying, but fhall die in defpair. No ; fometinses it is fo indeed, but frequently it is otherwiie j foolifli virgins mav, and often do hope to the laft breath. But the wicked man has no folid hope; and as for the delu- Cve hopes he entertains himfelf with, death will root them up, and he fhail be forever irretrievably miferable.
Scccndhf As to the death of a righteoits roan ; he hath hope in his death. This is ufhercd in with a but, importing a removal of fhefc dreadful ci'-cunft .nces, with which the wicked man is airended, who is driven awav in his wicked- nefs ; but »he godlv are rot fo. Not fo, (1.) In the manner of their paHlng out of the wotld. The righicoui is net driven away as chaff before the wind, but Iti away a* a bride to the ijnarriage-chamber, carried aw^y bv the artels intji. Abraham's bofom, Luke xvi. 22. (2.) Not fo a» to their uate, when pafiing out of this life. . The riehteous'man dies, (1.) Not in afinful, but in a holy ftate. He gaes not away in htsfin, but oat of it'. In his life he was putting ofT the old man, chang- ing his priroT) garments ; and now the remaining rags of them are removed, and he is adorned with robes of glory. (2.) Not iTrj a hopelefs, but a hopeful Hate. Heb^khopein bis death; he has fhe grace of hope, and the weTwBunded expeflation of be'ter things^ than ever be had in this wotld ; ?nd though the fiream of his hope at death may run (hallow ; vet he h?-. flill as much of it, a« makes him venture his eternal interef - ipon ihc Lord Jesus Christ.'
258 Thf Wicl eddying, driven arvay
DOCRINE I.
Tkfli'ickta a jm J y are driven o way in their Wickednefs^ and in a hopei'fi State.
In fpcaklnK to this doPurine, (i.) I (hall (Ticw ho'v, and In ^hat fcnfe, the wicked »rc cjrivcn away in tbcir wickednefs, at death. (2} I ftiall difcovcr the hopclcffucfs of their ftatc a| death. And Lajlly, Apply the vvhole.
I. How, and tn wh*t fenre the w'cked are driven away ia t'ncir wickcr^ncfs. In difcourCna of this matter, I fnall W^cU 1/ inquire, (1.) What ij meant by their being driven away. {%.) Whence they (hall be driven, andf whither. (3.) la what refpeHs ihty may be faid.to be driven away inthcir wicr kedncCs. Bat, bcforel proceea, let nne adveriiCe you, that you are millakcn if vou think, that no pcrfons are to be call- ed wicked, but thty >bo are avowedly vitious and prophanr> as if the devil could dwell in none hut thofc whofe name is J>pon. In fcnprure-accouni, all who are j>Ot rij^tcous, in the manner hereafter explained, are reckoned wicked. And therefore the text divides the whple woildinto two forti, the righteous, and the wicked ; and ye will itt the fame thing in that other text, Mai. iii. 18. Then JhaUyt return^ and ^- cem between the ri<:htecus and the wicked. Wherefore, if yc be rot righteous, ye arc wicked. Ifye have not an impu- ted rfghtco^rncfs, and al To an implanted righieoufnefs, or ho- linefi ; if ye be )Tt in your natural ftate, unrcgcncrated, not untied to Christ by faith ; ho*foever moral, and blame- l«f-» in th; ey« of rarn, your coovcrfatioa may be, vc are tike wickrd, who /hall be driven away io their wickedncfs, if death find you in that ftate. Now,
Fi R s r, As to the meaning of this phrafe driven awav, there are three thioes in it ; the wicked fhall be taken away fuddeoly, violently, arm irrefiHibly,
firji, Unrenewed men fliall Ge taken away fuddenly at death. Not that all wicked men die faddenlv ; nor that they arc aH wicked, who die fo : God forbid ! 6uU (1.) Death commonly comes upon them unexpected, acd 10 furprifcih them ; as the deluge came lurprifinj^ly on the old world, tho' thev were forewarned of it long before it came ; as tra- vail Cometh on a w^Mn with child, with furpiiGng fudden- ncfs : although loo^^ for and expe£lcd, 1 ThtfT. v. 3. Death fci^eth them, as a creditor doth his debtor, to bale him to nnlan, Pfalin Iv. 15. and that when they arc not aware. Death Comes m a5i a thief at the window, and finds them full of bufy thoughts about this life, which thct very day penrc. (• ) Death always fcizcth them unprepared for it ; houfc falls down about their ears, before they hav
in th ezr IVick ednxfs 2 5 9
i)rovided. When death cafis theo> to tbe door, th^y have not where to lay their heads, ualels it be on a bed of fire and brimftone. The Toul and body are as it were bugging onc-a- nothcr in mutual embraces, when death comes like a whirl- wind, and feparatcs them. (3) Death hurries them away iii a moment to deUruflion, and makes a mod difeal change ; the man, for the moft part never knew; where he is, tiUin hell he lift up his eyes, Luke xvi. 23. The floods of wrath fi'jde'ly overwhelm his foul, anderchc isaware. hcisplunged in the bottcrolefs pit.
S-coudly,Tht iinrenev^ed naij is taken away out of the world violently. Driving is a violent a£lion ;he is chafed ou: of the world. Job xviii. 18. Fain would he ftay if he could ; but iiealh drag:; h:m away like a malefa6lor to the execution. He tought no other portion, than the p'-.ofits and pica Tares cf this world, he hath no ofher, he rcsllyuf (Ires ro other ; how can be then p;o away out cf it. if he were net diiven.
flueji. But may not a wicked man be willing to die ? Anf, J!c may indeed be willing to die j bur, obfcrvc, it is only in one of three cafes, (i.) Ir. a fit ofpalilcn, by resfon of fomc trouble that he is impatient to be nd of.. Thus manyperfons ■when their paiTion bar <;ot the better oftheirreafon.and when, xjn that account, they are raofl unfit to die, will be ready to cry, O to be gone ! but fhould tbcFr defire be f;ranted, and death come at their call, they would quickly lliew they were ftoi in earned ; and that if they go, they muft be driven away igainft their wills. (2) When they are brim-full of dclpzir, they may be willing to die. Thus Siul murdered himielf ; and Spi.ra wifhcd to be in hell, that he rnight know the utter- iioll of what he believed, he was to fuffer. In this manjser men may feck after death, while it flics from them. But fearful is the violence ihefe do undergo, whom the terrors cf Go n do thus drive. (3.) When they arc dreamin;^ of hap- pinefs after death, Foolifli virgins, under the power of dclu- lion, as to their /late, may be willing to die, having no fear of lying down in forrcw. How many are there, wi)o can give, no fcripture-'Tcuj'.d icr their hope, whft yet have no bauds ;n their death ! Many are driven to darknels flceping ; they go c.^ I'ke lambs, -.vbo would roar like lions, did they tnow hvt. v.lial place they arc going to ; thowgh the ch:?rior, in which •hey a:e, drive fuiioufiy to the dcpihsof bdi,yct ihey fcs.*- scr, berauiV rbey are fail aflecp.
Lttf:.!)-, The unregenera-c man is takife-n away irrcOf.ibl v h>
o> c!;ough for? agtiinll his will. De;jth will tai^e no
nor adjTiit of any delav, though ihe man has net lived
••♦ a.-'^crdiDg to his own computation. If he will
- i;l break him. If he will no: covcc foria, :: wil*' *
roo The Wicked dy'tJig, dri<
; ill ihe houfc down abovt his cars, for there he mud nr'X -iay. Although the phvGcian help, frtends groan, ihc vit- anil the childien cry, and the man hiuifeli ulc his UimoUci forts to retain tiic I'pirit, his foul is rr |uirei of him ; yield hz niurt, and go ^vUctc he ihill never more Ice light.
S E c o N D r; Y , Lei us confider whence tbty aic driven, and whiihcr. W^hen the wicked die, (i.) Tfiey are driven oul of this world, whcje they fi.incd, into the other world, where thty muft be judged, and receive their particular fcntencr*, Hcb. jx. 27. Jt i'i appointed unto vun unce to die butajttr thii the judgment. They 'hall no more rcUrn to their belfeved earth. Though their hearts aie wedded to their earthly en- joyments, they muft leave tBcin ; they can carry nothing hence. How forrowf • moU their departure be, when thc) have not'., ing in view, fo good as that which they leave behind rhcm (±.) They are driven out of iheiociLty of thc faints on eatth into the focietv of the danined in hell, Luke xvi. cp,, 23, //: -rick man affo died^ and zvas buried. And in hell he lijt up ,'u. fyes. What a maiiitude of the devil's j^oals do now ukc place among Chk liT's fiicep ! but at death they Ilia 1 1 b* led forth with the worfcets of ini<uu»y, Pfalm cj^xv. 5. Then is a mixed muhitude in .his world, but no mixture in the orh- «r ; ejch party is there fei by thcmf^Ivcs. Though hype- critcs grow here as tares ainon>» ine wheat, death will root them up ; and ihcy ihull be bound m bundles for the hre. ( ^.) They arc erivcn cm*, of time itto eternity. While time lafls with ihcm, there is hope ; but when ti.ire gois, all hope goes with it. Precious time is now lav;ihly fpenl ; it lies fo heavy upon the haiids of nnny, that tbev iliinit ihemfelves o- bliged to t<»kc fcvcral ways to drive awavr time. But beware cf being at a lofs what 10 do in ufe ; iinproW time fprcicrur- ., whiKl yoa h.n-e it : for ere Ion* death w'!l d:i»e it from ou, and you from it, fo as ye liii'iJ utvcr aicti again. (4 ) "hey are driven out ui tluir fptcJDUs prcttuces to piciy. -Death {Irios ihcm i;f the fplendid robes of a fan profclfion, with which fume of thCin wcic adorned, and turns them oii the nage, in thc tags of a v.'icked heart ar.d life. The wjrti hypocrite, properly figrwfres. a ftagc-pbyer, j^ho appears to be what incecd he is not. This wo; Id is tlie fiagc on which thcfe children of the devil pcrfonate ihc children of God. Their Hiew of rcHflfon is the player's coat, under which aut muft k.ok, whowill jud^e of them aright. » ^' them out of their coat, and lien they appear d:efs : it unveils them, and lakti of t' ari nor.j in the other vvorlJ, who pica 'Lcyjcally arc. Depraved nature a6biu ...^ ivr, unallaytd, and ubdif^uifcd. X^/^, 'Ph-
^'
in th eir Wi ck tin cfs. 261
ay from all means of grace ; aod are fet beyond the line^ nuiie oat of zH profped of mercy. There is no more an op- portunity to buy oil for ibe lamp ; it is gone out at death, and can never he lighted agiin. There may be offers of mercy and prace made afier they arc gone : bat tbty are toothers, not to them ; there are no fach offers in the place, to wiiich they are driven : thefeoffcis axe only madcin that place, from which ihey arc driven. ^
Lastly, In what rci''pc£l may they be faidto be driven a- way in their wirkcdnefs ? AnJ. (i.) In refpett of tlicir being {Irivcn a^ay in their linfai, unconverted {iaie. Hav^nf^ l:vcd enemies to GoD, thev die in a ftate of enmity lo him ; for r,on«^ are brought into the eternal ilate of confum mare happinefs, Liit by the way of the ilate of grace, or begun recovery .u this life. The child that is dead in the womb, is born dead, and IS caftoutof the woivib into the grave ; fo he who is dead 'xvhile heliveth, or is fpirituaily dead, is caft forth of the womb of lime, in the fame ftate of death into the pit of utter milerj". -O mifcrable death, to die in the gall of bitterncfs and bond of iniquity ! it had been incomparably better for fuch as die thus, that they had never been bcrn. (2,) In regard they die Cnning, acting wickedly againft GoD, in ccntradittion to ths divine Jaw ; for they can do nothing but fin whlc they live. So death takes them in the very a6l of finning; violently draws them from the embraces of their lufls, and drives them away to the tribunal to receive their fentei ce. It is a remarkable exprefrion,Job xxxvi. 14. Thry die in youth', the marginal reading is, M(;:ry(C«/ dieth in youth : their luds being lively, their defires vigorcu«, and expeftations big, as is common in youth. And their iif^ is anicng the unclean : or. and the coit- pany, or herd, of thsm dieth amcr.g tke Scdomits^—'x, c. is ta,- I'en auay in the beatof iKcir fin and Wickcdnefs, as the Soio- Tiites were, Gen. xi>:. Luke vii. 28, eg. (3.) In as ranch
;s they are ciivcn away, loaded with the guilt of all their fin?; Jfiis is the v/inding-fhe^it, that (half lie do>vn with theihin the dull. Job XX. 1 1 . Their works follow iheaQ into the other
Mcrld ; they go away with the^yoke of their tranrgrclhons
A rcathed about their nerks. Guili is a b^d companion ia lifr, but how terrible will it bcm death 1 it llv-s nc.v.pcihaps, l-.t: coM hrimftone on their benum'd conlciences ; but when i'. 2th opens the way /or iparks of divine vengeance, like fire,. ; fall lipon ir, it will make dreadful fiaires inxhc ccnkienci/
^ *hich the fuul will be, as 11 were wrapt up forever. Lajlly, he wii.ked are driven away in ihcir wickedneCs, in fo far as ■ cy dit uiider theabfolutc po?/er of their wickednefs" While .:*rc is Sjope, there is lome reflraint on the worCl of racn : dikek mgrk] cadaw.T.tnt'j which Gdd gives to a nutuber
i02 Th: Hopdejfncfs of
of men, for the benefit cf mankind m ibis life, are fo many al- lays and reftraJTits upon the impetaous wickcdiicTs of huirrao nature. But all hope bein^ cut oif, and thclc gjfts with- drawn, the wickedneCs of tiic wicked, wil^ then ariive at its perfefllon. A? the feeds cf ^rarJe fowri in ihe hearts of the ctc/l, come to their full matuuty at death : fo, wicked and hellifh difportrions, in tT:e reprobate, come then to the!/ highcft pitch. Their Ui'ayers to fyoo will then be turned' to horrible rurffs ; and their prarfcs to hideous blafphemics. Mat. xxii. 13. Thatjhall be wctp'ing^and _^ncj7iing of Uetk. This gives a difwal, but gcnuitic view of the ftate of lh« wicked, in another world.
II. I Ihall difcover the hop-'lefn/cfs of rhc fl;»teof unrenrvr^ cd men, at death. It gppcari to be very hopclefs, if wc confidcr ihefe four things.
Pirjl, Death cuts off all tbcir hope* and profpefls of peace and pleafure in this life, Luke xii. rp, 20. .Sea/, thou haft hitch gocdi laid up for many years ', takt thine enjc^ eat^ drink and be mtrry. But Ood /'aid unto him ^ Tkou fool^ this nigk! thyjhuljhallisrtqviredcfihfe; ihtn whoje f tail thoje things he^ zuhick thou haji f'-avidtd f They look icr great matters in this world ; they hope to increafc their weahh,^ to iee ^jbcir families profper, and to live at cafe : bat death comes like a flormy wind, and f^iakcs off all iheir fond hopes, like green fruit fro'.n off a tree: ff^hen he is aLout to f^!l his del/y. Cod JhalU.7/1 thdfury of h's wrath upon rj/n. Job xx. 23. He inay feegin a web of contrivances, Fir advancing his worldly inier- cft ; but,before he gets it wrou^^ht out, death comes, and cut» h out : His breath ooeth forth, he rrlurncth, to his earth : in that very day his thoughts per ijh, Piaim cxlvi. 4.
5^confi'/>',\Vhen deaih Comrs, ihey have no folid grounds, to hope, for etcrn;'.! happinef^s : For what is th". hope of the hy- pocrite, though he hath gained, rohm God tnktth away his foul ■? - /obxxvit.8. Whatever hopes thry fondly entertain, they arc not founded on Goo's word, which is the only line ground of hope : If they knew their own Calc, they would fcethcmfcKcs o;i1y hcppy in a dreaTn. And indeed what fcope can they have ? The law is plain a^aihft them, and con- iJcmns ihctrt. The corfcs of it, tncfc conls tf death, arc a- fcout ihcm already. The Saviour, whom they flighted, is row ihfirjuc'ge ;anJ their Jivdgt is :l.clr enemy. IIxjw ihcncan they hope ? 1 ncv have bolted the d( or of mercy af,ainft thenifeWcS, by their onbclief. They have dcfj.ifed the rc,r.edy,nnd there- fore mult die without mercv. They hn?c no favin^ intcrcft in Jksus Cir h i st, the on?ycbTnncl of conveyance, /n which «icrcy flows : and therefore they can never tafie of if. T^e ft^-wd of j'iflice guards tbp dooi of a'.crcjr, fo a^ none ain ci-
the Unr^gtnerate. €63
tcr in, botthc membc« of the myP.ical body of Christ, o- ver whofe beads is a covert of aioning blood, the Mediator'^ blood, Thcfe indeed may pafs v.iihcut harm, forjuftice has rothing to require of them. But others cannot pafs, fince tnevar^not in CuRibT : ccith comes to thetn with the {iioff in it, the {i\v% of unpardoned f,ailt. Ii isarsned againR thern with all the forre the f«i>.Sion of a holv law can give it,^ iCor. XV. 56. Thejiin^ 0/ dcitk isfi-1, and the f.rcn^th of fm is the law. V/hen th»t hw was ^ivcn on Sinai, the whole inouf:t quaked greatly, Exod. x:v.. ig. When the Redeemer v.-a^. makiog iaiisraOion for the ekft's breaking of ir, the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, MiUh. XJ^vii. ^^\.. What pol- jGble ground of hoptr then is »here to the wicked man, whea de.ith comes \:.\y-^xi liim, armed with ih^ fcce o^ this law i* Haw can he efcape that fire.j*'hicb burnt unto the midft of acavcn ? Diut. iv. ii. If:>w{hall he be able to ftand in that fmoke, that aicendcd a; the fmokeof a furnace ? Evod. Ktx. 18. How will he endure the terrible thunders snd light- rings, vcr 16. ■^K\^ dwelt in the darknefs, clouds sud thick. darkncfs ? D.ut. iv. ii. All thcfe refemhlances heaped lojether, do but fxiutly repr^fent the fearful tcnjpeft of wrath and indignation, wiiich fniH purfue the wicked to the lov- cft hell ; and for ever abide on them, who are driven to dark- jdcrs at death.
TkirdLy, Dezth roots up iheir deluGve hopes of eternal ^appinefs : then it is, their covcnRUl with death, and tigrcc- ineiu with hell, is broken. I'hcyare awakncd out of their golden dreams, and at length litt up tbeir eves, Job viii. 14. Wliofi hcpeJIiaU be cut rjf, and luhnfe triijl Jkail be a fpidtr's TLt'b. Triey tiuft. all fhall be well with them after death : but this their truft, is but a web woven cut of their own bowels, with a great dc>l of art and induftry. Tiiey wrap themfelvej lip in this their hope, as the fpider wrips herfelf in her web, But it is but a weak and (lender defence ; f^ir however it may wiinfiandfhe threatnings of :he word of Gou; death, that belom o\. dcuruclion, will fweep them and it both away, fo as there fhall net be the lead (bred of it left them ; but he, who this moment will net let iiii hope go, fljall next moment be utterly hopeiefs. Death overturns the houfe, built on the faoil : it leaves no jsao under the power of dcr lufiqn.
Lajliy, Death makes their ftaie alifolutely, and for ever hopclcfs. Ivlaiters cannot be retiieved and amended after death. For (i.j Time once gone, can never be recalled. It cries or tears, price or pain?, could bring time back again ; the wicked man laight have hope in his death. But tears of flood w'l I not prevaii ; nor will his rearing for miUion^ of
ii64 Cautions againjl
agrs, caurc it to return. The fun will not fland flill, antii thcfluggard awake and enter on his journey : and when once it is gone down, he nreds not expert the night fo be turned into day for his fake ; he muft* lodge throup;h the long night of eterriity, where his time left him. (•?.) There is no return- ing to this life, to amend what is amifs V it is a flatc oF proba- tion and trial, which terminates at dt'ath ; and thcrcvfore we cannot return to it again : it is but once we thus live, and once we die. Death carries the wicked man to his own place, AGs i. 25. This life is our working-day ; and death clofrth cur day and our work together. We may readily imagine the wicked might have fome hope in their death ; if,after ri»:ath has opened their eyes, they couM return to life, zx\6 have but the trial of one Sabbath, one offer of Christ, one day, rr btttone hour more, tb makeup their jieace viih Gon ; But, man liah down, and rtfslfi net lilt the heavens be nemore ; thryjh.ill net awake^ nor ie raijed out of their fl*ep, JoW xiv 12. Lajily, In the other world, men h?ve no acccis to get their ruined (late and condition retrieved, if they nevrr lo fain would : For there is no rvork, nor 'device, nor kncwtnl :\ iinrti'ijdom in the grave, whith't Ihnu goejt^ Ecclcf. ix. u. Now, a man may flee fron-j the wrath to come ; now, hc,^iay get into a refuge : but when once dnth has done its work, the door is fliut j there arc no more offers of mercy, no mortt jiardons ; where the tree is fallen, ihrre it mnfl lie.
Let what has been laid, be carefully pondered : And, that it may be of ufe, let nic exhort you,
Firjl, To take heed that ye entertain no hopes of heaven, but what are built en a folid foundation. Tremble to think what fair hopes of happincfs tleath fweeps away.like cobwebs t How the hopes of many arc cut off, -when they fccm to them. jclvcs to be on the very thrclliold of heaven ! ilow, in the "rnomcnt they cxpeflcd to be carried by angels into Abraham's bofom, into the regions of-blifs and peace ; ihcy are carried by devils, into the iociety of the damned in hell > into the place of trrment. and regions of horror ! Ibcrcch)Ou to be ware, fi.) Of a hope built up, where the ground was never cleared. The wife builder dipged deep, Luke vi. .^8. Were your hopes of heiven never {hnUcn ; but ye have had good hopes all ycur d.iys ? Alas for it I you may fee the m)nerv of your caic explained, Li;ke xi. 21. When /'/'-.-«■ man, arvud, kirt'ct^ kis palace, h:s gccds are in ffi have been Ihtiken, take heed Icftlhcre have O; cs been made in the old building, wbirh y6n ■ ed again, by waysand means of your own, -'l hope, howfoever foir a building it is, is not to your old hopes have been razed, and you h
falfe Hopes of Hcavra, 26,
■%
fttuncation quite new. (2.) Bcv/are of that hope, ^vhich
Jooks brifli in the dark ; but loofeth all v% luflre, when it is
fet in the light of G od's word ;. when it is cxammed and tri-
e-d bv the touchftone cf divine revelation, John iii. 20, 21.
for every one that doth fiil, haltik the light; neither ccmeth to
the light, Ifji his deedifiiould be reproved. But he that doth the
truth, ccnneik to thelighty that his deeds may be made manifcfi,
that they arezi>rxwght in Gcd. That hope, which cannot abide,
Scripurc.iriijl, bijt finks, when fearched into by facred truth,
is a deiufjoa, and net a tr;ie hopf ; fo*" God's word isal-s-'avs
a friend to the gr.c.s of Go d's Spirit, and an.enennv to delii-
|ion. (3.) B'warc of that hope, which ftands without beint;
fupported hy Scripture-evidences. Alas ! many are big with
hopes, *vho cannot give, bccaufe they riallv have not any
r^^ripture grounds for them. Thou hopeil, that all (uall be
fll v/ith t';et. after death : bat what wo;d of God is it, cu
h'.ch thou hrO been caufed to hope? Ffalmcxix. 49. V/hat
ripturc evidence haft thou, to prove that thy hope '\% ret
le hope of the hypocrite ? Xniat hiil thou, after impartial
ft IF-examination, as in the fight of Gon, found in thyfcif,
which the word of Go n de'ermins to be a lure evidence
if his right to etcrr.al life, who is poflelTed of it ? Nuir.bcrs
f men are ruined with fuch, hopes. «s ftand unfuppcx:t£d hj
.>cripture-rvidence. Men are tond aisd tenacious of ihcle
fcrpes ; but death will tiirow them down, and leave the felf-
dccciver hopclefs. LaTiIy^ Beware of that hope of heaven,
hich doth net prcrire aoddifpofe you for heaven, which
i.ever makes your foul more holy, 1 John iii. 3. Everyman
that hath this hope in hi)/i, purij'ieth hirnJiLf^ even as he is pure.
The"hope»of the mofl part of men, is rather a hope to be free
of pnin and torment in anpiher life,ihau-a hr^pe of true hap-
pinefs, the nature whereof is not underftof^d and difcerncd ;
and therefore it flakes down in floth and indolence, and do-s
not excite to mortificaiion and a heavenly life. So far aic
ihey from hoping aright for heaven, that they mufi own, if the/
fpeak their genuine ientiments, removing out of this world
into any other pl.tce whatfoevcr, .is rather their fear than
their hope. The glcM;y of the heavenljt^city does no: at all
draw their hearts upv.ards towards it; nor do they lift up
their heads with joy, in the profpe/i of arriving a: it. If they
hod the true hope of the inaniage-dav, they would, as the
bride,'Lhe i^amb's wife, be ntak^ng thcrtirclv».s ready for' it,
Pvcv. xis.'7>. ^u^'t'^eir hopes are produced by their fi3ih,and
heir floth is nourifhcd by the)r hopes. On! Sirs, as ve
ould hot be driven away hoplefs ia your deaih, beware of
^.^le hopes. R^ze them Jiow. and build on 3 new foiindi'
266 Exhortation to Sinners.
dation ; left death leave not one fionc upon another, an4 ye never be able to hope any more.
Secondly, Haflen, O finncrwout of yonr wickedncfs, out of your finful flare, jnd out of ycur wickca Hf< ; il ye would not at death, be driven away in your wickediiefs, E-cmsra- her the fa.al rnd o^ the wicked man, as the text reprcfentsit. I know there is a great ditferencc io the death of the vicked, in refped^ of romecircumftanccs; but all of them, in their death, agree in this, that they are driven away in their wick- edncfs. Some of them die rcfolutely, as if they fcori:ed to be afraid. Some in raging dcfpair ; To filled ulth horror^ that ihey cry out, as if they were already in hell ; others in iullen defpondency, oppreft with fears; infomuch, that their hearts are iunk within them, upon the remembrance nf mif- fpcnt iime, and the view they have of eternity ; baving nei- ther head nor heart, to do any thing for their own relief. And others die llupid ; they lived like bcafts, and they die; like beafts ; without any concern on their fpirits, about their eternal ftate. They groan, under their bodily diftreU, but have no fenfeof the danger of their fouls. Qne may, with slmoji as iruch profpcQ of fuccefs, fpeak to a (tor.e, as to ioeak to tbem: vain is the attempt to teach thera ; nothing that can be faid, moves them. To difcourfe to them, either* of the joys of heaven, or the torments of hell, is to blow on a rock, or beat the air. Some die like the fooliih virgins, dreaming of heaven ; their foreheads are ftcclcd againft the fears of hell, with prefurapluous hopes of heaven. Their bulinefs, who would be ufetul to them, is not to an- fwer doubts about the cafe of their fouls ; but to dirputcthem out of their hlfe hopes. But which way focvcr the uncon- verted man dies, he is driven awav in iiis wickcdnefs. O dreadful cafe ! Oh, let the confidciation of f6 horrible a de- parture out of this world, move yo'i to betake ycorfclves to Jesus Christ, as an all-fufficient Saviour, an Almighty KedeemcT. Let it prevail to drive vou out of your wicked- ncfs to holinefs of heart and life. Though you reckon it pleafant to live in wicktdr.cfs ; you Cannot but own it is bit- ter 10 die in it. And if you leave it not in time, ycu fl:a!l *o in your wickednefs to hell, the proper place of it, that it may be fci there on its own bafc. For when you are pafling; cut of this world, all your (ins, from the cldeft to the young- eft ofthem, will fwarm about you, hang upon you, accompa- ny you to the other world, and as fo many furies, furround you there forever.
LaJlLy\ O be concerned for others, efpecially for ybir re- lations, that they may not continue in their finful natural' Itaie, but be brought into a fittc pf falvation j left tbcy be
Exhcrtation to Sinmrs. 267
drisren away in their wickednefs at deaths What vrould ye not do, to prevent any of yoqr friends dying an bntimelv and violent death? But alas I do oot yc fee them i:i hazard jdF being dnven away in their wickednefs? Is not death ap- proaching them, even the youngeS of them ? And are they Dot (Ifangcrs to true C'ariilianity, remaining in that ftate ii which they came into the world ? Oh ; rr.afee haftc to pluck, the brand out of the fire, before it 5t: burnt to- afhej. The death of relations often leaves a (lin^, ia the hearts of thcfc they leave bei'iind them ; for that they do not do for their fouls, as they had opportunity; and that now ibeopporHiniiy i:> for€Vcr taken out of their hands.
Doctrine II.
The State oj the GocUy in Death, is a
hopeful StfJe.
Wc have fecn the dark fide of the cicud looking to wards ungodly men,pa(ni»g out of t!»e v.'orld ; let us now takq a view of the bright fide of it, fhinin^ on the godly, its they are cntrinj» upon their eternal fiate. In difcourCng thfs lub- ie£t, 1 (ball coi.firm this dctlrine, anfwer an objcflion a- gainft It, and then make ("ome piatlical improvement of the whole.
For Confirmation, let it be o bfervsd, that although the paf- fage out of this world by death, have a frightful .Tfpetl to poor mcrlab, and to mifcarry in it mud need* be of fatal confe- quence, yctihe following circumftanccs make the ftate of the godly in their death, happy and hopeful.
Firjl^ They have a trully good friend before them in the other world I' Jssus Christ their bed friend, is Lord cf that land :o which death carries them. When Jofeph Tent for his father to coHie dosvn to E}^>pt, telling him, Goo had made htm Lohi> over all ^5ypt, — and vhcn Jacob (av the waggons Jofeph had fent to carry him, the fpint of Ja- cob icvivcd, Gen. xlv. 9. 27. he frankly refolvcs to under- take the journey. I think, when the Lord calls a godly man out of this world, he fends him fuch glad tidings, and fuch a kind invitation into the other world, thatif he had faiih to believe ir, his fpirit muft revive, when be fees the waggon of death, which comes to carry him thither. It is true irf- dcn, he has a weighty trial to undergo ; After death the judgment. But the cafe of the godly is altogether hopeful ; for the Lord of the land is their hur).ind, and their huf- band is their judge ; Tkc Father hath committed all judgment liHo thi Hcnjjohtxy. 22, And furely the caTc of the wifci?
p68 StaU of the Godly
hopeful, when her own hufband is her judge, even fuch a huf- hand as hatrs putting away. No hnioand is To loving and fo tender of his fpoufc asthc Lord Cm r i st is of his. One would think, ii would be a vcry^ad land, which a wife would rot willingly go to, where her hufband is the ruler and judge. MoreovcTjfheir Judge is thci Advocate, i John ii.i. /fV have rn advocate with the Father, Jffns Ckrift. the righteous. And therefore they need not fear (l.cif being put back,&: falling into condemnation. What can be more favourable ? Can they thick, that he who pleads ihrir cauf^, viil himfelf pafs fen- tenceagainft them ? Yet further, their Advocate is the Re- deemer; thev are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, i Pet. i. iS, 19. So when he pleads for them, be is pleading his own caufe. Though an advocate may be carclefs of the intcrcfls of one who employs him, fure- ly he will do his utrroft to defend his own right; which he hath pn'^ch?.fed with his money; and fljail not their Acvo- ra'e dcf< nd the pnrchafcof his own blood? Bjt more than all that, their Redeemer is their head,and they are bis mem- bers, Eph. V. Q3. 30. Though one were fo filly a» to let his own purchafe go, without Handing up to defend his right, yet furclj will not quit a limb of his own body. Is not th^y cafe then hopeful in death, who arc fo clofcly linked and af- Ifcd to the 1 OR D of the oiher woijd, who haib the keys of heil and dearh.
Sccondiv, They fiiall have a fjfe plfTage to another world. Tiiey muU indeed go through the valley of the ibadow of death, but though it be in itfelf adark and Oiady vale, it Ihall be a valley of hope to them ; they fhall not be driven through It, but walk through it, as men in pcrfeft fafcty, who fear no evil, Pfal. xxiii. 4. VViiy lh'/«ld they fear? They have the Lor. D of theland?s fafc conduft, bis pafsfealcd with his own blood, namely, the blcCTcd covenant, which is the faint's d::atii-bcd comfort, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Although my houfe bt viffo with Cod, yet he ha'h made with me an everlajling. C or E N A N T, ordered in a'l things and Jure : for this u all ir,yJ'aha'ion,^vd all my dtfire.nUhovgh hecavje it not to gfcw. Who then can harm them ? It is fate riding in Christ's chariot, (^,ant. iii. p. both through life and death. They have good and honorable attendants, a guard, even a guard of angels. Thcfc encamp about them \u the time of their life; and furely will not leave them in the day of their dca»h. Thcfe hnppy niii iilring fpiriis arer.ttendan's on their Lo R n's bride, and will doubtleli convey her Ijfe home to his houlc. When fritnds in mournful mood ftand bvihc faint's bed-fide, waiting to fee him draw his IjR breath ; his foul is waited f'>r j>f holy angels, to be carried by ihcm into Abraham's bofqin,
in Death, hopeful, 209
Luke xvi. sa. The Captain of the faint*s falvation is the captain of this holy guard, he was their guideeven unto death, and he will be their guide through it too. Plalm xxiii. 4. Yta. though I ivai.i {krcugh the valley c/thcjhadcui of deaths 1 willftarr.o evil \ for thou art with me. They may with- out fear pafs that river, being cor.Hdcnt it (iiall not overflow them ; and may *alk throagh that fire, being fure they fluU not be burnt by it.
Death can do them no harm. It cannot even 'hurt their bodies ; for though it feparate the foul from the body, it can- not feparate the body from the LoRo Christ. Even death is to them but flcr'^ in Ji:sus, 1 Theff. iv. 14. They continue members of Chrfst, though in a grave. Their dull is precious duft, laid up in a grave, as in their Lord's cabinet. They lie in a grave mellowing ; as prcrious fruit l^id up to be brought forth to him at the rcfurri clion. The hufbandmau has corn in his barn, and corn lying in the ground ; the latter is uiore precieus tn him than the former ; bccaufe he looks to get it returned with inciesfe. Even fo the dead bodies of the faints arc valued by tijcir Saviour; they a:e fowa in corruption, to he raifcd in incorijpiion ; fown in difiionor, i^u'ed in glory, 1 Cor. xv..42,'43. It can- not hurt their iouis. It is with the fouls of the faints at death, as with Kaui and his company in their voyage, where- of we have the hifiory, AvSs xxvii. the fhip was brckcn ia pieces, but the paffc^-gcrs got all fafe 10 land. When the dying faint's fpeech is laid, bis eyes fet, and his Jaft bierth diawn, the foul gets fafe awav into the heavenly paradifc, leaving the body to return to its earth, but in the joyful hope of a re union at its glorious refurrcflion. How can death hurt the godly ? it is a foiled enemy ; if it c^ft them dovn, it i<> only that they may rife iit) more glorious. Our Saviour Jefus Ch riH hath abolifi f tf D e A T h , 2 Ti m . i . i o . ' Tne foul and life of it is J^one; it \% but 2 walking (had« that may fright but cannot hurt faints ; it is onlv the (hadow of drath to them, it is not the thing itfelf; their dving is hut as dying, or fomc- whatlike dying. The Apo{lle''tel!su?, It is Canjl that died, Ixom. viii. 34. Stephen, the firfl ChriOiau martyr, though (toned to death, yet but fell afleep, Ads viii. 34. Ccitainly the nature of death is quite changed with refp(6i to the faints. It is not to them, what It was to} ks us Christ their head : It is not to the i^iveromed ruinating thing, wrapt up in the fanOion of the firfl covenant, Gen. ii.19. Inihe day l hou cat- efc there f thou f halt futdy die. It comes to the godiv with- out its fiing ; they may meet it with that falutation, 0 death where is liiy fiing '? Is this Mara ? \% this bitttcr d^ath r I< went cut iull iiuo the vvorld, when the firft Adam opcnci
^']0 State of the Godly
the door to it ; but the fecond Adam hath brought it anui empty to his own people. I feel a fting, may the dying Uiiu fay ; yet it is but a bee-fting, flinging only through the fi;in ; butO death, where is thy «ing, ibine old lling, the fcrpcnt'f <Hn^, that Rings lo the heart »pd fou! ? Tbe fling of death it Sin ; but that is taken away. If dr a ih arreii the faint, and carr/ him before the Jud^c, to anfxcr for the debt he con- trafclcd, the d{:bt will be found paid by the glorious Caution« cr ; ?nd lie lias the difcharge to ftiow. The thpin of guiit is pulled out of the man's confcicnce, and hi? name is blotted out of the black roll, i.iid writtea among the living in Jeiufa- 1cm. It is true, it is a great journey to go through the valley of the fhadow of death ; liut the faint's burden i« taken away from off his back, hu iniquitv is pardoned, he mayl-valk at rafe, Ko lionjkal! be thtre^ nor any ^aijfn<n(sheajli l\\t^ redeemed m?y wajk at Icif^re there free fr<>ni all apprclycxir fions of danger.
Lajily, They Qiall have a joyful entrance into the othc* vorld. Their arrival in the regions cf hlifs, wil'.bc celebra- ted withrripturcus by>nn6 of praifcto iheirglorious redeemer^ A dying <iay is a good day to a eodly man. Vca, it is his bell day ; it i* bertcr to him than his birth-day, or than the moft joyous day he ever had on earth. A rr.cd name, faystbc vrifc rmKi^ ii better tksLn f'rf.r.icvs ointment '. and the day of death^ than the day of one^s birth, "EccX. vii. i. The notion of the immoria.'ity of the foul, and of ftmire happinefs, which ob- tained among fome Pagan nations, had wonderful efrcc^s on thc»n. Some of :hcm when they mourned for the dead, did it in women's apparel ; that being moved with the indecency of ihe parb, they might the fooner lay afidc their mourning. Others buried them without any lamentation or mourrj^g, but bad 3 ficrifice, and a feaft for friends upon that occafion. Some were went to mourn at births, and rejoice at buiials. But the pra6Iiceof fome IiKlian nations it yet mare (Irange, of whom it is reported, That upon the burj»«nd'» dtceafe, nil fevcral wives were in ufc tocoritcud, before thcjudgcs, which of them was the beft beloved wife ; and fhe, in whofe favouf it was dcferirined, with a cheerful countenance, threw hcr- felf into the ilames prepared for her .hun>and's corpfe, wu burned with it, a!>d reckoned happy, while the red lived ia grief, and were accounted mireraole. Bur, bowfoevcr lame notions of a future f^atc, afTiRcd by nride, affo£»ation of ap- plaufc, appreheiifions of difficulties in tliis life, and fuch like principles, proper to depraved human nature, may influence rude, ur.culiivated tninds, when Hrenothcned by the arts of hell : O ! what folid joy and confolation may they have who are true ChriUiaQS, bciog in Christ, who hath brought hfjp
in Dealky hopeful. 271
and imraortalliy to light by the gofpel ! 2 Tim. i. to. Death rs one of thefe c// r/4:V/^, that_Jwo;k ^pgcther for good, to them that love God, Rum. viii. aB. When the body dies, the fouF is perfected ; the body of death goci off at the death of the body. What harm did the jfiylor to Pharaon's buder, wkeii he opened the priion door to him, and let hJm oui ? Is the bird in worfe cafe, when at liberty, than when ccniir.cd in a ca^e ? Thus, and na worfe, are tlje fotrts of the faints treated by death. It comes ro rhe godly man, aj Haman taaie to Mofdeca? with the royal af pare! and the horfe.Edh. iv. If. wiih commiluon to do ehem honour, howfoever auk- wardly it be performed : i ']ueftion not but Harr.an perform- ed the ceremony with a very ill mein, a pale face, a down- look, aoJ A cloudy countenance, and like one who came to hang him, rather ihan^ to honoi>r hi:Ti. But be, whom the king delighted to honour, bchovtd to be houonrcd ; and Ha- nian, Mordccai's grand enemy, mull be the man employed ?o put this honour opon him. Glory, glory, ftJory, bleffijg ani praife to our Redeemer or Saviour, yjr Mediator, by whole death, grim, devouring death, is made to do fjch an ofncc to thofe, whom it might otherwifc have hurried away in their wickeclnefj, to utter and eternal deRraction ! a dying day is,- »n itfelf, ajoyful day to the gflCly, it is their redemption-day, when the caotivps are delivered, when ihe prrfoners are let free. It is the day cf the pilgrims coming home fiom their j^ilgrimage j the day in which the heirs of giory return fronl iheir travels to their own country, artd their Father's houfe j and enter into atVual pofftlTion of rhe glorious inheritance. It is their marriage-day ; now is the time of rfpoufals ; but then the marriage is conruinroatc,and a marriage-fcaft begun,- which bis no period. If fc, is not the fiatc of rhe godly ia death a hopeful (late ?
Object. But if the Rate of the godly in their de^th be fj hopeful, how ccmeth it to pafs that many of them when dying, aie full of feais, »"nd have little hope? Answ. ft muft be owned, that faints do not all die in one and the fatne manner ; there is a divcrSty amorig them, as v.ell as am.^nj^ the wicl:ed ; yet the v.orft cafe of a t!ying feint, is indeed a hopeful one. Some die triumphanily, in a full alTurance of Jaith, T/ie time ofmv departure is at hand, I have Jcnht a a f^oodjiahl^ / have f.nijh:d my ccurf:, I have .icpt tut faith. Henceforth there is laid up for r:» a crcnm of jighUoupt^fs ^ B Ti:r.. iv. 6, 7, 8. Thcv get a tade of the joys of htaven, r.'hile her? on earth, and begin the fongs of Zion, while yet izi a ftriuirjc land.
Others die in a folid ^fiouci?.! dependence on their LCRS '<vA SavicuT f ihcugh they cannot nag triumnhastly, yet they
1' - 2 yln Objt[!lon anfzvered.
can and wil! fay the Lord is their God. Though th'cy cannot triumph over.dczch, with old oiircon, having Christ in his arms, and faying, iyorj, now Uttefi tucu thy /era ant de- part in peace, according to thy wor,d ; fo>- mine (yes havejren thy /alvatifin^LxikT W.^Qf 30'X*^ they can fay with dyin^Jacob, / have waited for thyfilcatioit, O Lord, Gen. xli;i. 18. His left hand is under their head to fupport (hem ; though his right hand doih not embrace ihen ; they firmly believe, though thcv arc not filled with joy in believing. They can plcp.d the covencnt, and hang Vy the pronnife, although their houfc is not fo with God, as they could wifh. But the dv- ing-day of forae faints may be like that day mentioned, Zcch. xiv. 7. not day, nor night. They may die under great doubts and fears ; fciring, a> it were, in a cloud, and goiii^ to heaven in a mtft. They m»v go mourning without the fun, and never put oft ther Ipiiit of heavincfs, till death ftrip them of ir. I'hey may be carried to heaven through the confines cf hell ; and may be purfued by the dcvouting lion, even to the very gates of the ncwjerufalem, and maybe compared toa ihip alnioft wrecked in (ight of the hail»or,v.'hich yet gets fafc into her port, i Cor. iii. 15. if any via?Cs rvoikJhaU be burnt he flail fttjfer lof$ ; but he him/elf fall be fived, yet fo as_ by jifc. There is. fafety amiciil their fears, but danger iu the wicked's flrongcll confideace : and there is a blclfcd feed of gladncfs in their grcatcft forrows ; Light is fvwnfcr the righteoui^ and gladncfffor the upright in. htarti Pi'alm xcvii. 1 !•
Now, faints aie liable to fuch perplexity in their death, becaufc, though they be Chrillians indeed, yei-thev arc men of liitc psflions with others ; and death is a frightful objeft in iilelf, whatever drefs it tppear in ; the (lern countenance, with which it looks at mofials, can hardly mifs of caufiog them to (brink. Moreover, the l^lnis are of all men the mofl jealous of themftivcs. They think of eternity, and of* tribunal, more deeply th^nvo'^cis do ; wiih them, it is a nnorj^ ferious thing fo die, than tbc reft of mankiud are aware cf. They know the deceits of the hctrt, thu f'jb»ilties of deprav- ed human nature, better than others do. And therefore they uiay have much ado to keep up hope on a dea)h-bed ; while others pifs cH" quietly, like fhctp to the ll'.ughter} the ratb- f-r tl)at Satan, who ufeth ail hii ait to fupport the hopes of tho h\'p.)crite, will ^o his utmoft to mar the peace, and in- crcsfe the fears of the faint. rinclly, the bid iramc of Ipi- rii, and ill condif.on, in which death foir.ctinici feizctha true Chriftian, may caule this perplexity. By his being in tbc flate of grace, he is indceo always habitually prcg«red for ^catb, and his dying fafcly is infufcdj but liacTC is more rr
An Ol'jtBion anfmcrtd. 273
ijjiilte to his aftual preparatio:*, and dying comfortably : hn fpirjr m'jfl be in good condinon 100.
Wbcfefore th<.re arc three cafes, in which death canncit bathe very uricomtorfable. to thechild of God. (1.) It it fei/e him at a time when a gniit of fome partictilar frn unre- pcnted of, is lyings on his canfcitiuce : and death comes on that very accounr, to take hlT. out of the Jir.d of the liviii.; ; as wa* the cafcoi many ot the Connthian btlievcri, 1 Co? xi. 30. For thii cauf:, T>amciy, of unworthy commnnicdtine, mavy are weak andfickly amomg ycu. and many flcrp. If a perlon is furprifcd with t!ic a;.>proach of^eath, while lying under the guilt of fome unpardoocd fin, it cannot hut caufc a mighty contlcraatlon. (5 ) When death catches him nap-: ping. The raigiity cry muil be frithiful to fiscping virgins. The man who he:> in a ruinous houle^^fad awakens not till the timher begins to crack, and the Hones to drop down about his cars, may indeed get ouj of it fafely, but not withoui fears of being crufiicd by iti fall. When a ChriUian hn^ been )?o- mg on hi a courfe of fecutity and backihding, and awaketit not till dtath comes to his bcd-fide ; it is no marvel if he get a tearful awakening. Lajily^ When he has lof: fight of his faving interelt in Christ, and cannot produce evidencts of his title to heaven. .h is hard to meet dea'h without Ibme evidence of a title to eternal life at hand ; hard to go through the dark valley, without the candle of the Lord fhining upon the head. It is a terrible adventure to hunch cut into eternity, when a man can make no better ol it, than a leap in the dark, not knowii:^ whtre h€ Ihall light, wheth- er in heaven or heM.
Ncverthelcfs, the ft?.fe of the faints, in their death, is al- ways in itfelf tiopeful. The prefuiTiptuous hopes of the un- godly, in th"ir death, cacnct make their it^te hopeful ; nri- iher can the hooelelneis of a faint, make his (late hoptlcfs ^ for God judgech according to t^^ truth of the thing, nut according to mens opinion about \\. Howbeit the faints can no more be altogether without hope, than they can he alto- getlicr without faiih. Thtir fauh may be very v/eak, but it faili not J and their hope v^ry low, vet tiiey will, and do, liope to the tn^. Even while the goiliv feem to be carried away with the ftrea s.s of doubts and fears, there remains ftill as much hope as determines th-m to lay ho!d on the tree cf life, that grows on the banks of the river, JonahTi. 4, Tk'-i J /aid, I am cajl out of tk) fi^ht : ytllwill Uok again tozl'.ird thy holy temple. '~ -
Use. This fpeaks comfort to the godly againit the ^e^^ of death. A godly man may be called « '^ppy man, before si: cc:yh; bccautf, whatever befa I him ia life, he Cull ceiV
274 C^fc^ of Saints,
tain!y be happy at death. You who arc in Christ, who' arc true Chnftians, have hope in your end ; and fuch hope hi may comfort you againft all tbofe fears, which arifc from the for.fidctatiori of a dying hour. Thi« I ihall branch oiit, ia anf^rcrin* foitc cafes briefly.
Cafe 1, The profpcft of death, w^U (omc of the fainti fajr; is ancafy lo anc, not knowing what fhaU becoffic of my fami- ly, when I 3!^ gone. Anf. The righteous hath hope in hi* death, as to his family, as well as to himfclf. Although yen have liiile for the prcfenr, to \x\^ upon ; which has been the cafe of many or God's chofcn ones, i Cor. iv. 1 1. H'W. e. the Apollles, hoth hunger and tfnrjl, and are nahedy tiai are Loffiied, and have no certain 'dwelling-place^ And though you have nothing to leave thcrn, as was the cafe of that fon of the prophet's, who did fear the Lord, and yet died in dcLr, which be was unable to pay ; as his poor widov feprcfejits, 2 Kings iv. i. yet you have a good friend to leave them to ; a covenanted God, to whom you may confidently commit them, Jcr. xiix. ir. Leave thy father lefs cftHtlren^ t tuiUprrferve tkcjn alive ; and let thy tijidowi truft in me. The" world can bear viirnefs of fignal fctiFemcnis mare upon the children of providence ; fuch as, by their piiius parcnts,havc been call open Go d' J providrntial care. It has been often rem?.Tked, that they wanted r:either prov'Gon nor education. Mofcs \\ an eminent inftance of this. lie, alU-it he was an out-caP infant, E'cod. ii. 3. yet was'Iearned in all the wifdom of the Egyptians, A6ls vii. 22. and became king in Jcfhu- rum, Deal, xxxiii. 5- O ! may we not be a(i.amcd, that we do not fcturely liL-il him with »he concerns of our fami- lies, to whom, as our Saviour and I^edeemcr, we have Com- Riittcd our eternal inierefts.
Caje 2. Death w:'l take us away from our dear friendg y yea, we fliall not lee the Lord is the land ot the living, irl the blcffcd ordinances. A^^. It will take you to your beft friend, the Lort Chr ist. And the friends vou leave be- hind you, if they he indeed ptirfons of worth, you will mee^ them again, when they come to heaven ; and you will never he feparated any more. If death take you away from the temple hclow, it will carry you to the temple abovp. It will indeed take you frojn the flreams, but it will fet you down by the fountain. If it put out your candle, it will carry you where there is no night, where there is an eternaf ^ay. ^
Cafcy^. I have fo much ado, in time of health, to fatisfy nxyf'jlf, as to my intercfl in Cii a ist, about my hcing a real Chriflian, a repent wte m*n ; that I judge it isalmofl impof- liblc I ihould die comfortably. Anf If it is thas with y9u,tbefi
fiiicni Death, anfzuej'ed, 275
double your diligence, to m%ke vow calling and election furc. Endeavour to grow in knowledge,?: walk clortly with GoD. lie diligent in iclf-examinjtic'n ; and pray carnelUy for the bolv Sp-rit^ ^vherrby you may know the tiling freely ^ivcn yon of God. If you. are enabled by the pov/cr and Spirit of Christ, thus diligently to proJecutc your fpirituil con- cerns ; tbouoh the time of your life be neither dav or night, vet, at evening time, it may bcli&ht. Mmy weok Chriflians indulse dcub;s and fears about their fpiriiual ftate, as if they placed, ?.i lead, fome part of religion in this ioiprudent prac- tice ; h.:t towards the period of life, they are forced to think, and aQ in another manner. The traveller, who reckons he has time to (pare, may Hand RA\, debating with himftlf, vhcther this or the other be the ri^ht way ; but when the fun begins to fct, he is forced to lay aGde his fcruples, and jefolutely to ^o forward on the road he jud^^es to be the right <snc, U(i be lie all night in ihe open Hv.*lds. Thus fome Chridiano, who perplex thcmfelvcs much, throughout the ccuife of their lives, with jealous doubts and fears, content thcmfelves, when they come to die, v/itb fuch clvdcnces o£ ^hc fafcty of their (late, as they could not be fatisfied with be- fore ; and, by d^.fputing lefs againd themfelves, and believing iRore, court the peace they formcrlv rejected, ?nd gain it too-
Ca/c j^. 1 aip under a fad decay, in rcfpefi of my fpiritual condition. ArJ. Bodily confumptions may make dcaih cafy, but it is not fo in fpirituiil decays. I will cot lay, that a R^^d- ly man cannot be in fuch a cafe, 1^■hcn he dies.; bat I belisvs it is rarely fo. Ordinirily, I fuppofe, a cry comes to awak- en (leepv virgins, before death come. Simfon is lit to grind in the prifon, uiitil his locks grow again. David and SoLo- rnpii fell lender great fpritual decays ; hut, be'ore thev died, tbcv recovered their Ipiritual P.rcogth cr.d vigour. Howevei. brfiir ye ycurftlves withcut delay, to flrtngihen the things ihat remain ; your fright will be the lefs, that ye awake from Ipiritual fleyo, ere death come ,io your bsJTide : and voa ouglit to Icfc no liine, feeing ycu know not how fooh' deatii may fcizc you.
Caff. [). it is terrible to.thir.k of the crhcr wor!d,!hit v/crM of fp'.riis, ^^hich I hayc (o litiie acquaintance, with. AnfT\\j -bcO friend is Lord of that ether world. Abiaham's bofon is kinclv, even to theie who never fi^w his face. After d-=a:i; thy foul becomes capable of converfe v/ith the bl. (T-.d in-iah. irant3 of that other world. The ipiritsof jim men made pcr- fc£t, were once fuch as thy fpirit now ji. Vmd as for ihc'an- g,cls, hoAfoever they be of a fuperior nature, in tne nnk of feei.)gs, ye; ^-jr witufe is digniSed above i.hc-i.'s, \-\ th-- mia
C -
76 Cajts of Saint!;,
Ch TiiT : nnd they are, al) of them, thy Lord'* fervant?^ and fo thy fellow-fcrvants.
Caf: 6. The par.ts of death arc terrible. Anf. Yet not fo terrible as pangs of confriciicc, caufcd by a picrcnig fcnfc of guilt, and appreheiifions of divine wrath, with which I fup- pofe thee to be rot altogether unacqii.iinted. Biit who woul^ not endure bodily fickncTs, that the foul may become found, and every whit whole ? itach pang of death will fci fm a flep rearer the door ; and with the lafl breath, the body of 6a will breath out, its 'aft. The pains of death will not laft long ; and thf Lo KD thy God will not kavc, But fupporC? iIrc, u.ndei them.
Cajk 7. But I am like to he cut off in the midft of my days. Alt/. Do not complain, you will be the fobner at home : — You have thereby the ad'.*ar.ta;5e of your Idiow-ldbourers, who were z\. work before vou in tfie vines aid. Goo.in ibc courfc of hi* providence, hides fome C'ulv in the grave, that they may be tikcn away from the evil tocouic.' Aocatly rc- iiioval out of this world, prevents much fin and mifery ; and they have po ground of complaint, who get the refidue 01 their years iii Imiranucl's land. Surely thou fhalt live as long a« thou had work cut out for thee, by the great \Ufter, to be done for him in this world ; and when that is at an endj^jt is high time to be R,one.
C(]fr.^. lam afraid of fivdden deatli. An/. Thou may io-^ deecidie fo. Good Kli d.ed luddenly, 1 Sain. iv. 18. Yet death Tou^d him watching, ver. .ft. IVatck therefore y/or ye Hnczu not what hour the Lord doth come. Mat. xxv. 44. But bs not afraid, it is ar> lincxprtfTibie comfort, that death, come when it will, can never caich thee out of Christ"; aid tl^ercForc can never ftizd thee, as a jailor, to hurry thee iuto the prifon of hell. Sadden death may h;Jlcn and facilitate thy pair^ge to heaven, but can do thee no pre judice.
CnTe q. 1 am afraid ir may be rrty ?ot to die wanting the ex- ercife of my realcn. Anf 1 make no qtvtRiori hut a ch.ld of' G'')D, a true Chrilliao, may die in this caU;. Bjt what harm? There is no hazard in it, as to hi* eternal' fjatc : a difcafe, at death, may diveft him of his rcafon, but not of his religion. M'hen a man, going a long voyage, has put his aHairs in or- der, and put nil his goods aboard ; lii: hlmf^^irmay- Sc c.iriicii aboard th^ (lip H.-epin^ ; all is f.ilc wilh'him. although he knows not where he is, till he awakco in the (hip. Even fo the godly man, who dies jk this cafe, .nay d:e uocomfovtrfbJy, bu' • 01 fjl'afclv. . *
i fclijl. I am nafiirally tirhorous, and the very thoughts of (! ith arc terrible to me. A'.f. The Icf^ you thiijc on dcilh, ?hc'ilibu^tsof it will be tic more frighilul : butijn|ikc it L-
anent Death, anfxvered, ^yf
palliar to vou by frequent nncditaiions upon it, and you may thereby allav voury. Look at the wbiie ard brighc lide of ihe cloud : take faith's view ot the city that hath foundations: (b fliall you fee hope in your dcaih. Be duly affected with the body of fin and death, and frequent intcrrupt'ioi's of youc communion with Goo, and with the glory which dwells on* the other fide of death ; this will contribute much to remove llavifh fear.
. It is pity faints fliould be fo fond of life as they often are : the y ou^ht always to be in good terms with d -ath. ^ VVhea Blatters arc duly confidercd, it might well be expected every child of God, every regenerate roan, fhould oeneroufly pro- fcfs concerning this life, v. hat Job did, Chap. vii. i6- / lohU it ; I zvould not liyt akvays. In order to gain their hearts to this defirable temper, I offer the following aclditional con- fidcratinns.
. Fz'//, Confidcr the fi.ifulnefs that attends life in this world. While ye live here,ve fio,and fee others fianing. Ye breathe Lnftftious air. 'Ye live in a pcfl houfe. Is it at all ftrangc to lothc fuch a life ? (i.) Your own pilgrim's fores are run- ning on you. Doth not the fin of your nature iiiake you. groan djily ? Are vou nor fenfible, that though the cure be begun, it is yet far from being perfetled ? Has not the lepro- ly got into the walls of the lioufe, which cannot be removed without pulling it down ? Is net your qature fo vitiate, that no lels than the Pepamiion of the foul from ihc body can root out the dii'cale? Have you not your. fores without, as well as your licknef? wiihin ? Do ye not leave mark? of yc-ir pol- lution, on whitfoever paff.s throiiub your hands ? Are not z\\ your a61ions tainted and blcmifhcd with defeOs and im- perfections ? Who elfe then fhould be much in love with, life, but fuch whofc iicknefsis their health, and who glory in their fhame ? (2.) The loathfome fores of others are aUavs before your eyes, go nhere you will. The follies and wick- ednefs of men are every-where confpicupus, and make biuaa unpleafant fcene. The Grful world is but an uniightly cocr- pany, a difagreeable croud, in which the inoft loathfome are the moff numerous. (3.) Are rtot vour own fores cfi-umcs breaking cut again, after healing ? Frequent relapfes may well cnife us remit of cur fondncfs for this liie. To be ev- er f rugghng, and anon falling info. the inire again, m.akes wearv work. Do ye n^^ver wifii for cold death, ihcrcbv ,ef' fcftu.illy to cool the heat-ofthefe luHs, which 'fc c'len take £re ?g.iiii : even after a flood'cf godly lorrow has gone over tjiem ? (4.) Do not. ye fometimes infect others, and oihers iofe£l you ? There is no focietv in the. world, in wnfch every mcmbrr ofii doth not fojaeumes lava fluinbl<ng-block before
^ 7 8 ConfideraHons to mak e Saints
the reft. The bed carry about with ihcm the tinder of d cor- rupt naij.c, which ihey cannot be riHI of, whle tbcv live ; and which is liable to be k-ndlcd at M) time?, ?.nd in all plac- es ; yea, fhey arc apt to in(J.ime o'hcrs, and become the oc-« caGons of (inning. Certainly theic things -are apt to imbittir this lile lo ihc faints.
..Sccond/yj Confidcr the mifcry and trouble, that attend it.' Rcll is dcfirable, but it is no: to be found on this fide of the grave. Worldly tronhlci zttend ail m^n in this Tife. This" t^orld is a ffa ot trouble, where one wave rolh upon another. Thty who fancy tbtml'tlvcs beyond the reach of trouble, art
mitlaken ; no Uare, xio iuge of life, is exempted from it. ^'
The cro'Aiicd I ead is futrouhdcd wiih thorny carts. Honour many times paves the v,av to deep difgrace : Riches (for the' niott part) arc kept lo tkc hurt of the owners. The faired rofc vants not prickles j and ific heavicfl crofs is foTiefimcs found' vrapt up in the greatcil eafihly comfort. Spiritual troubles ;^t»cnd the faints in this lifd. Thi y are like fr^vcUers travel- )jnc^ in a cloudy right, in which the moon fomctimes breaks cut frovn under one clcJixl, b:it quickly hidts her head again Under another : no wonder they lon^ to be at tbcir journey V end. The fudden alterations the bell frame of fpirit is liable to, the perplexing doubr?, conf«junding fears, nion-Jivcdjuvs,- and lon^ running forrow*, which have a certain affinity with the prefcut life, muft needs Create in the faints a dcfirt to be w.'th Cm R 1 ST, which is bed of ali.
Lajliy, Corfidcr the p;re:»t impcrfccVions attending thislifr.' While xr\t foul is lod^ied in this cott^ue of clay, the neccffi- t'ten of the WA'^ i.r>r many ; it is always cravine;. The rtjod walls m'lll be repaired and patched up daily, till »be c'ly cot- fi'^.e fall down for ^ood S: all. Litin^^iWinViiig, flceping^, and the like, arc, in thenilVhcs, but meart employments foi a ra- tional ciciiurc } and wili be reputed fuch by the heaven-born foul. They ^re badi^es of impcrfcciioi), and, as fuch, unpicaf- ant to the mind, afpirir^ ut^lo that life and imoibrtalitv, 'jvljich Js brought to light through the pofp'cl : and would be very grievous, if this (hte of thiniii w'er - of lonj? contiiiuancc. D )ih not the g«acioui (oul often Hid it ft If yoked with the bcjdy, as W'»b a compauicn in tcavd, uniblc to keep pacj with it ? When the (pirit is 'villtno.the f!?(b i^ wrak. When ihc ftui wouH mount up-J^ard , the body is as a cloi^ upon it, and ns a (lone tied lo the foot of a bird, aticuiptiug to ily. — ' The truth is, O Lcltever ! thy foul in th:s body is, at bcfl, itii like a diamond in a rinjr, wHfrre much of it is obfcurcd : it is far lunk in the vile clay, till rcl-evei by death.
I conclude this fnhj-ct wn!i» f*!w diroelions how to prepsrc ^>rd<:aib, fo ai wc may dicoofurtably; Iif.'rah not bcr:'
willing to Die . 279
«f habitual •preparation for death, which a tT\:c Chridian, ia virtue of his gracious Itate, r^cver wants, from the lime heSs ijorn again anci united to Christ : but of actual prennratio;! or readirefi, in refpeO of his' circumftantia.te ca(e, frame, and difpofition of rnind and *piric ; the want of which, makes even a fsmtv^ry unfit to die.
FirJl,'Lti it be your conftantcare, to keepa clean confcience; a confcience void of cffenc? toward God, and tov/ird man, AOs xxiv. ij. Beware of a landing controverrv betwixt God and voj, on the account of foTiie iniquity regnrHed in the heart. When an honed man is about to leave his country, ai.d net to return, be fettles accomprs vith thcTe he had dea- lings with, and lavs down methods for paving iiis de'oo timc- cvjfly ; left he he reckoned a bankrupt, and be attacked by an officer, wHen he is goin^ off. Guilt lying on the confcience is a fountain of fears ; and will readily filing fcverelv, when death ftsrcs the aiminal in the fuc?. Hence iris, that many even of God's children, when a-^'ving, arc ;nde to wiOi pafTionatelv, and ikiire eagerly thatthev ni:v live to do, what thcv ought to have dme bcfce thst time. Wherefore, walk r.lbfe'y wi'h God, be dilisenrjfliiiTt ar.d exaPt in your courfe ; beware of a loofe, carele's, and 5TrcguJ?r converfation : as ye would not lay np for yourfelves, anguiOj 5^nd bitiernefs of (pirit, in a dying hour. And bccaufe, throngV the infirmitv cleaving to us, in our prcfcni (late of impeiftftion, in many things we offend all, renew your repentance dailv, and be ev- er wadjing in tbcRedcemer's bloo<i. As '"^'^^ as ye are in the v.'orld, ve will need to viz^ your feet, Joi»r/:ciii. lo. that iy, to make appl:ca:ion to the bleed of Christ, anew, for purging yourcor.fciences frcm the guilt of daily mifcarriages. Let death find you at the fountain ; and if fo,it will find ycu rcv- dy to anfv/er its call.
Secondly, Be alv/ays wafrhfuj, waiting for your change ; like unto men that wait for their Lo.^D, that when he Com- eth and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately, Luke xxi. 36. Beware of fli:iT.bering and fireping, while the bridegroom tarries. To be awakned out of Ipvitusl flum.- ker, by a (urprifing call to pafs ii-io another wcrtd, t* a vztv frightful thing : hut he who is daily waiting for the cording cf his Lor d, fhall comfortably receive the grim mciT--nac!> v.hilc he beho'.ds^him ulhering iii Him, of whom he ma/ confidently fay, I his is my God, I have waited for him. The
way to die comfortabl as it were, to
ntortablv, is to die daily. B^ often tfr^ying, die. J^ring ycurfclvcs familiarly ac(juainte(i with death, by m.^.king many vifus to the gravd, in kricus mednations upon ir. This was" Job's prafticc, Chnp. xvii. i3, 14. IhavtinadcmybfdinthcdarhKfi, G« then and
^8o DircBions how to
CO likewife ; ami when death comet, thou (h^lt have notJv-
jn? ;+oc but to Itc d<jwn. / kuvejaid to currupium, thou art r ; to the uvi-piy thou art rny mother and my fijlcr. Do :hoj lay fo loo ; anJ ihou wilt be the Htier to f;o home to .hc!r hou'c. Be frcqucntlv rff ♦ tine upon your condutl, and confidcring what courfc of life you wifhiob. fwund m, whep ceaih arrcfis you ; and acl accoidin^ly. When you do ihe duties of your Ration in life, or are employed tn afcl$ of wor- fhip, think, with yourfclves, that, it may bo, this is the lift opportunity; and therefore atl a&. ifyou wis never to do more of that kind. When you lie down at night, ccmpofiC your fpifits a& if you was not to awike, till the heavens be no more. And when you awak;- in the morning, confidcr rb»t new day as your laft ! and li\ c accordingly. Siuely rh:»l nigh^ comcih, of which you will never fee the morning,orthat mor- ning of which you will never fee the ni^ht. But which of your rocfninps or nights will be fuch, vou know POt.
Thirdly^ F.niplov yourfelves much \\\ weair.ng your heart* from the world. The man who is making ready to go abroad, bufies himfclfin tnking leave of his friends. Let the man- tle ofcarililv enjovmcnts hang loofc about vou, that it >.a/ |ie cafily dropi, when death comes to carry vou away into a- rothcr. Moderate your affections towards your lawful crfth- forisol 1 f e : and let not \ our htans be too much taken with thevTi, The traveller acts unwifciv, who fuffcrs iiimfclt to bti {o allured v^iih ibc conveniences of the inn where hclodgc.h, as to make his neceffary departure from it grievous. Feed wifh tear, and s-'-^lk through the world as pilj^rims and llraf^ gcr5. Like ss. V. lien the corn is forT^king the gri>und, it ic ready for the fi:klt; when the fruit is ripe, it iails otf the tree eafily; lb when a Cliridijn's heait is truly weancdfrom the world, he is prepared for death, and it will be the more eafy to him. Aheart difcng»gcd from the world is an hravtnlyone; and then are we ready for heaven, when our heart is there be* fore us, Mat. vi, 21.
Fourthly^ Be diligeof in gathering and laying i:p evidences of your title (o heaven, for your fupport and comfort at the Iiour c,'"dcith. The neph£f hereof mars the jriy and confo- Jjiwr., v/hJch fome ChriUiaiis might o'.herwilc have at their ^cath. Wherefore cx^n.uic yourfelves frequ. nily, as to your fpiritiial li.Hc ; that evidences, which lie hid and unob- icived, may be brout,ht to light and taken notice of. And jf vou would manage this wOrk tucccfsfuMy, make fclemn vo. k of it. Set apart Jomc time tor it. A^id after earncft piaycr to God, through Jesus Ch h 1 st, for the enlight- ening iiifiucncis of the Holy Spirit, whereby \ l!cd to uadcifland hij own word, to difccrn hi:
prepare for D(cJk. t?ii.
your fouls ; fift ycdi'fejves before the tribunal of your con fciences, that ye may judge yourfelv.s in this weighty matter. •' In the jifft piece, itt thc'marksof a regeaerate flate be fix- id, from the Lord's word: and have recbur.fe to fome par- ticular tcvi for th^t fiurpo'c, iWch as Prdv. V4ii. 17. I love them that love me. Compare, Luke xiv. 26. 1/ any vian comt tome, and hale not hiifatha and mother ^ and wife and children, and brcthren;andjijlers,yra^ and his o^on life a If 0, ht cannot be mv dfciple. PVal. cxix. 6: Thenfhall I not tzafka- med, xahcri'l have refpeB loit'o all thy comnfarrfLm'nts. Piahti xvjii. 23. I xpnsdlfo upright before him ; ahd i kept myfelf from mint iitiqiniy. ebar|jjire Rom. vii. 22, 2^5. For J d - light tn ike Idzo ofGdd,^aftf.r' the inzaard in'an ; bui I fee aro'h- er law in:my'm:'ilkriy warriig agairjl the law of tu)' mind, &c. 1 [ohniii. 3. ' And ^ every mail that Jruih this hope in him.purijieth hiwfdf, evai as he is pure. M^itth v. 3. Bl-J/'cd are the poor in Jpiril,fc.r theirs is the kingdom oj heaven. Phil, lii. 3. Forweartthicircumrifion^iLihithworjI:ip,oT ferve
God in thefpirit^and rejoice in ChriJ} jfjus, and have no cor:/;- d nceinth'e fl'Pi, The fum of the . cvrdences arifing from th::fe texts, 'lies 1ierfc» A real .Ch'rifijfU is one who lovcft God for himfelf, as well as for his benefits, aiTd that with a fupreme luve, aboveall pcrions and .things : ne has an aw- ful and ^impartiaf regard to G'o'd's. cbmmanfls ; he opooreth and wreftlcth againft that (in, which of all others moftealily be fcts him ; he approveth and lovcth the holy law, even inihaC very point, wherein it (irikes againil his mnil bjloved luft ; his hope of heaven engngcth him in the ftu iy of univciral holinels ; in the which he aiirts .it pcrfL'3Jon, though he can- not re'ach it in this life ; he fcrvcs thcLoRD, not only ia a6ls ofWorihip, but m the whole oF his ccnverfatioa ; and as to both,,is rpfrithJil in the prtiiciplc,'. 'natives, aiiris, and ends of his fervj::e ; yet lie fees norhin^'in hinifeif to "truli to be- fore the LvO R D : Chri s t and his fuinefs is the flay of his foul : and his confidence is cut oft from ' all that is noc Christ, or in Ch^rist, in pgint of jaftification, or accep- tance with God, and in point of fan'^hficaiion too. Every one In whom thefe cha.aftcrs aic found',has a title to heaven, according to the word. It is co'.ivenient and proiliable to mark fuch texts for this fpecial ufe, as they occur, while you re'sd the fcriptures, or hear lennous. The raarlisot a regen- erate ftate thus Hxed ; in the next place, impartially fearch and trv your own hearts thereby.as in the fi^hcof C-.)d, with dependence on him for fpiritual difccrning, that ye may know whether they be in you or not. And' v/hea ye lind them, forcj the conclufion dcliberatelvand diftlacllv ; n:ime» ly, that therefore you are regenerate, and have a title r?
282 pircBions, £fc.
heaven. Th'js ycis may gaihrr evidences. 3tit be furc tp have rcocuilc to God in Chrjst by earned prayvr, faf the uTtimony cTih^ Spirit, wKqIc oflice 15 to bear witocf* vith our fpint.that wt' are the children of God, Ronr. viii. 16. Moreover carefully cbferve the coarfc and mcinvd of Providence towardi voM ; and Itkewife how yoar foul is ai- fcScd unJer the fam-^ in the various (leps ^h^reof j compare both wjih fcrtpture-'Jotirinc*, promifcs, ihrcatnings, and ex- amples, fo fhall ye percc-ve, if the Lord JcaU wii'i you as he ufcth to do unto thole that love his namt : and if you be going fo!ih by tlic footfteps of the flock, il-is may i-r - ' ■■- \ toinlortablc evidence. Walk icndtrrly and circ i
and the L-) !• D will mauifcH. bi'nfelf t.3 you, accoid..^ •.
promifr, Jchn xiv. o|. He thai Itatk my commandnifnis and Atcpclii thini^ h: it is that lovcth mc ; and ht tkat lotcth w«r, JhalL U Icved ofmy Father', and I will lovt him^ and will mcni/rjl myjcif lo kim. BiTt it is in vain to thioSc on fuccclj' fuTfclf-exarninauoa, if ye be loofe andirreguUr io ycurcon- verfation. -" ■
Lajlly^ DLTpatch the work of vour day and generation with fpceu and diligence. David^ afltr he had j'ervfd his on^n ge-. neraiicrt by the luill tf Q'od ^ fell onfieep^ ACit xiii. 36. Go^ Jias allotud us ceriam pieces of uork of ibis kind, ^ich ought to Ijc di'"patched before the liiue of working be over, Ercl, ix. 10. IVkaiJoever thy hand Jindt^lh to do, do it xjciti ihy might ;Jor there is no njork, nor AffixvUdge^ nor tui/dcm /" -<; g.ravc, tuhither thou gotjl. Gal.vi. 10. As xve have th/- oppcrtunny, let us do ^ood urAo all men, efp»cially uyUoth'r ... are of the ho^.jhdd oj faith. If a pdfTcnger, after be '.s got oa 'ijjip-bcard, ai)d the Ihip is gelling under fail, rcmcnr.bcr that he has omitted to difpatch a piece of ncceiXiry bufuKls when h; v:as alhore, it mutl needs be crcafy to him; even fo rtOec- tion in a dying hour, upon ccgkOed fcafons, and loft oppor- tunities, cannot fail to difquict a ChriOiau. Whcxciorc. V haicvcr is incmnbeni upon thee toxlo for God's honoui, M:d the good of others either as the daty of thy Pifltion, or i.y •jfcial opportunity put into th^' ^' « ^-^ r-rfcr-. it Irifin: ' 'v, •■ '.hcu \touldil die cooaforta'
( 283 ) HEAD III.
The resurrection.
•■*- - -
John v. 28,29.
iiervel not at this : For the hour is coming in thf zvkich all t/wt are in their p;ravcs.Jha.lL hear his voice : Andjkail coinejor{h\ tlity that hav'- done good unto the rcfurrefliofi nf Ufi.nnd they that have done evil unto the rtfarrt^i^in cf damnation.
^ a ^KESE words zre part of the Ht-fence cur Lord Je- X sus Chrsst makes for hiirfclf, when ptrfccutcJ by the Jcv.'s for €ming the impotent raan and order tng him to carry a-vay his bed on the S.ib'oaih ; and for ytnd.caring his cr-nJuct, when accufcd by them of having thereby proi.dnei that ^<jy. On this cccafion be prcftircih himfclf not oaly Lord cf the Sabbath, bnt alfo Lord of life and dcsih ;de- cl2rin;T Jn thg words of (he text, the rcfurreclion of th^i dcn.H to be brought to pafs bv bis power. This he iutrM-Juceth vi'ith thefe word:, 2s with a folemn n\tUi:^^Mar'j':lvctatthls, z. c. at this r.an^e di'co'jrfe of mii:c : do not wonder to hear n-.e,, whole appearance is fo vtry rr.can in yoyr eyes, talk at this rate : for the day is coining, in wbich-thc dead Iha'l be raifcd by my power.
ObTcrve in this text, (1.) The doflrinc of the rcfurreclion alTcrteJ, A/lthataTeinthcgravcs^JIiaU h'.ar his voice, and Jhellcom.:jorth. The dead bodies which arc reduced to dml, fnall t^vive, and evidence life by hearing and moving. (2 ) The author of it, jesus ChriST, tee Son of man^ vcr. 27. The dead fiiall bear his voice and be raifcd tb.crcby. (3.) Ti;c rumber that fhall be raifcd, All that ere in the graves, :, c. n!l the dead bodies of men, howfocvcr differently difpo- fcJ of, as it were, in different kinds of graves ; or all the dca^l, good or bad. Thcv are not all buried in graves, properly fo called ; feme are burnt to aflics, fome drowned, and bur- ried in tne bellies of fiflics; yea fo:r.£ devoured bv man-raters CdiJcd Cannibals; but whercfoevcr the Hnatt^r or fuhftancc, rf which the body wascompofed, is to be found, thence ther fr.all come fonb. (4.} The g-eat diUin61ion thnt fhnll be n^ade betv/ixi the godly and the wicked. Tbey (baU inderd both life again in the refurieclion. None of the goc'ly will be n-iiirng ; though perhaps they cither had no bu'^ial,-««r a very obfcure one : and all the wicked fhall cotpe forth ; their vaulted tombs (hall hold them no longer than the voice is ut- tered, JBut the fcriTicr fhall h?.vt a iovful riro.rrc£lica to
184 '^he PnffihiUty of
life, while the latter have a dreadful refurreftion to damna- tion. Lajllv, The fct time of this great event ; There is an ^ti/r, or ccitain hxcd period of timr, a^jr»ointcd of God for it. We are not toid when that hrjur will he, -but that it js coming ; for this, among other rcafons, that we may always ke ready.
Doctrjn::. There Jhall be a Rrfurrtcllon of the Dead.
In difcouifing of this fiibjcff I fhall, fZ/j/?, Shew the ccr- t:^'.n!y of the refurrcftion. Sicohdly, I !hall enqijire into tha nature of it : And Lajily^ Make foaie praClical improvement of the whole.
I. Id (hewing the certainty of the r^furreQiop, 1 flull evince fi.)That God can raWc the dead. And, (2) That he will do it ; which are the two grounds or topics latd down by Christ himfelf, when diCputing with the Sidducees, M<f. '■x.\\\.'3.c).Ji'fusanJij''Ttdandfaid unto them^ Ye do err, not incwin^ iJirJcr/pturfs, nor t/ie power cj God.
FhJI., Seeing God is AlrtJij^^hjy, furcly he can raif*^ the dead. We h^ve inflnnces of this ppwciful work, of Oil 6, hoth in the Old and New Tefl.ncnt. The fon of the wi- d'^>w in Sarcpta.^vas raifrd from the dca'1, 1 Kings xvii. C2. The Shu nanji it's fon 2 K.i.T£6 iv. 3^. Aad the man caft into the fepulchre ot Elifha, chap. xiii. 21. In which we may obferve a gradation, the fecond r.f rhefe rniraculous everMs being more ilUn'lrious than the fiift, and the third than (li© •(econd. The firfl of thefc perfons was'raifed when h*: viras but newly d^ad; the prophet Elijah who raifed him, being prefent at his dcccafe. The fecond, when he had hiai Iain dead a confidcmHle time ; namelv, while his mother traveled from Sl.uiit'in to mount Carmcl, reckoned about the diffaiicc of fixieen miles and returned from thence to her houfc wiili Elifha who raifed him. The laft, not till rhcy were burying him, and the corpfe was caft into the prdphet's grave. In like manner in the New Teftament, Jairus' daughter, Maik •v. 41. And Dor^ias, (Acls ix. .jo.) were both railed to life, when lately dead j the widow's fon in Nairi, w4ien they were carrying h'm out to bury him, Lukevii. 11. 15. And La* ^anjs, when ft 1 'iking in the grave, John xi. 39. 44.
Can men make curious glaft'cs out of afiics, reduce Bo'vvtrs into alhcs, and railc them a^;ain outof thefe alhes, reftcrjnq; them to their former beauty ; and cannot the great Crc.! ;r who made all things of nothing, raife man's body, alter it is reduced icio duft ? U it be objcttcd, How can men's bodio^
the RefurreElioii. 2S5
he raifed up again after they are diflolvcd intis duH, ard the afhes of irariy generations are mingled together ? Scjiptarc and^iot reafon furnilh the anfwer. Witk men it is imfcjji'^!e^ hit not zuiih God, It is jthfuid for ir.cn lo defty th.-t Gdu can do a thi^ig, beca'jfc they fee not hoW it mav be do;?. HowfradU a ponicn do we know cf his ways ! hcvv i!l>rclute- Jv incapable are we of concciviag difvinftly of the exrcroal of almighty power, and much more of comprehending its aQings and the method of procedure ! I queflion not, but :Tiany illit- erate men are as great ifihiiels to manv chymical experinients as fonne learned iiien are to the dodrnic of the refnr.'ctlion J and as thefe laft are ready to deride the former, fo the "Lo:^ n ■will have them in G<*ririon. Whit a mvflcr/ v.'as it to thd Indians, that the Europeans could, bv a n'ece of pap:r, con- verfc together, at the didance of fome hundreds of mili-s ? And how much were ihev aflon-.fheo to fee them with their guns, produce as it were, thunder and liaStning in a moment; and at pleafurc kill men afar oH ? Shall iome men do fuch things as arc wonders in the e\es of others, because they cin^ not comprehend them : and fl)ai} men confine rhc infinite power of God, within the narrow boundaries of iheir own fhallow capacities, in a matter no ways contrary to rcifon ? An inferior nature has bur a verv impct feft cof?ccptioii uf the power of a fuperjor. Brutes do notcoriccive of the atlingsof reafon in men ; & men have bni lame nations of the power of .iiigels ; how low and inadequate a conception then, mu?t a finite nature have cf the power cf that v. hich is infi.iite f though we cannot conceive how Gc d a8s, vet we ouj^hi to believe he can do above what v/e can think or can con- ceive of.
Wherefore, let the bodic? of men be laid in the grave ; Jet them rot there, and be rcfo!vcdi!no the mod ni'nute par- ticles; or let them be burnt, and the afhes caR into rivers, or thrownup into the air, to be fcattered by the wind ; let the dull of a thoufandgenerarions be minglc^d, and the ilreains of the dead bodies wander to and fro in the air j lot birds or wild beads cat the dead bodies, or the fiflies of the fea dc- vouv them, Co that the pans of human bodies, thus deOicvcd pafs into fubftantia! pans of birds, beads, or fifhes j or what is more than that, let man-eaters, who fhcaifelves mud die, and nfc again, devour human riodics, and let others dcvo'ir them again ; and then let our iftodern Sjdducees propofe thequrdionin thefe cafes, as the ancient Sadducecs did. in the caie of the woman, who had* been married to (even hufbands fucceflivcly, Mat. xxii. 28. We anfwer as our bleded Lorq and Saviour did, ver. 26. Ve do err not kvov)ing tk^fLnpturez nor ihe power of Gcd, We believe GO i? lo be omnifcicnt, api
%iS The Pojliility of
©roiiipotent, infinitp in kr.ovledgc and in pover j and Iienf#f aoreeable to the d'.flirfs of reafon, \vc conclude the poflT- Ijiliiv of the refurrcilion, even in the cafcj fuppofcd.
Material things may change their forms and Uupei, may he refolved into the principles of which they arc formed ; biK ;ihcy arc not a:inih»htc.i, or reduced to nothing ; mr can they jbe fo, by any created power. God is rimni.fcicni.his under- ftardingis infinite, therefore he knows all things whatfoevcr ; what thty wcte, at any time, what thry arc, a.id where they are :o be four.d. Though the country-iiian, who comes into I'.ie apothccar'y (hop, cannot find out ihn drug he wants, yet the apothecary hiinfcjf knov s what he has inh:st}ir'p,v/hencc ii came, ai^d where it is to be found. And in a min^li of many diftcrcnt feed*, the export gardncr c»n iliftinguilh be- twixt feed and Led : Wbv then m^y not nmnirclcnce diflin- fjtiifh bctwljc» duH and duft ? (^an he who k'»ows all things to prfc^licrj, be l:al)le to any n'.iflake about his own crcaiuics ? vVhi-To btlicvesan itinnite underflanding, muil needs own, that no mafs of dud Is fo jumbled together, but God pcr- fcftly comprehends, and infallibly knows how the mod mr-- nutc particle, and everv one of ihcm, is to be matched. And therefore he knows where the pariic'tes of each dead body are, whether" in the eprt^, fea, or air, how confuftd fdrvrr they lie. iind particiila'ly, he knows wiicr.e to ilnd the pri- mitive fubftaocc of the iT^diii;a;cr ; however evaporated or reduced, as it were, into air or vapour, by fwcat or pijr|,ira- t on ; and how to feparate the parts of the hotly that was eat- en, from the body of the carer, howfoever incorporate, or tnade one body with it ; and fo underflands, not only how, bat whence, he is to bring back the primitive fubftanre of the man-eater to its proper place ; and alfo to feparate from the man-eater's body, thnr part of the devoured hciv which goes into its fubftance; and is indeed but a very fmull part of it". Jt is certain, the bodies of men, as of all other animals, or living creatures, are in a continual flux ; they grow, and are fuftained. by daily food, fo {nail a part whereof becomes rourifnmcnt, that the moft pare is evacuate. And it is reck- oned that, at lead as much of the food is evacuate inftitfibVy hv per^pirat oi, as is voided by other p-rccptible ways. Yea, the riourifhing part of the food, when alTunilate, and ilicrt^y Wtcotue a part of the body, is evacuate by peifpiration thro' the pores of the fkin, and again fupphed by the ufe of the frod ; vet the body is flill reckoned ore, ard the lame body. Whence we may conclude, that it is ret cif'i.tiai to the rcf- urrc£lion of the body, that every particle nf the matter, whick 2t sny time w?< pirt of a Ktiman body, fliould be icftored to jr, \shcn. it is raifcd up from death lo life. Were it fo, the
the Rffurri^Slion, ^%j,
bodies cf men vould become cf fo hitgc a fiz?, that they would bear no rciemblancc of the perfuns. It is fufficient to ^cnominstc it ihc fame body that died, when it is rifen a- gain ; if the body that is raifed,bc formed in lis fcrmcr pro- portions of the fame particles of matter, wl)ich at any time were its corifHtaenr party, howrocver it be refined ; like «s, ^:c. reckon it is the lanie b:jdy that was pined away by long fi'cknefs, which becomes Iax ar.d fair again after recovery.
t'lovi^ to this infihite underft:inding, join infinite power,, whereby he is ib!e to fubdue all things unto hiralclf ; and this olorious gieat work appears mo(l rcafonablr. Ifomni- fcience ditcover every little p.iriicle of dud, where it is, & how it is to be matched ; cannot omnipotence bnn; then,and joirx them together in their ordr.r ? Cm the \vatch-:iiak:!r t.ike up the fevcral pieces of a wafch,lyinj; jn a'confufcd hcao before htm, ar.d fct tach in its proper pUcc ; and cauuoi God nut the hum m bodv m order, after in didolHiion .■' D'.d hejpcak, this vorld into b;;ing, oat of notliin^ j and can ire not forox man's body, cut of its prc-ex:flcnt niattcr ? If He callcih ti:cfe t^iingSi^^hiclibc not.aiiho' they were; lurdv hecan ciHthinj;! t^ataredlfLlvedjto be as ihe>\Nf re, before the compoaod was refolvcd into its pans and principle^.: Wlitrcfore, God cnn raife the dead. Ar\A.li''her(JorcJfiovld it be thought d thinq vi* Credible with you y that Qodjhoidd raijk the drad *'Acl$ xxvi. 8,
S'.condly, Go d v;ill do it. K^ rot only can do it, bat ho certainly Vi'.l io ir, becaufe he has faid it. Our text is very full to this purpofc :. A'l that are in their graves, Jhall hear kii voice : and Jkciti come forth : they thai have dene goud^ unto the rcJ'umBijn qf lift ; and they that have done evil, uM' to thi' refur region of da.tmation. Thvfc words relate tc, ajid' VL't an cxpli;;ation of. th.it pfart of Daniel's propluxy, D^n. xii. 2. And many ^of them titatjhty in the di'Ji cfthc earth, fhalt avjah'; ; Jcwc to everlajlivg tife^ andfr:u tofhame and tv- erlijfir.^ ccntC7i7fit. The 'which .ppcnrs t-) have been calcu- lated to confior.i the tio«!l>ine of iaz Siddnrccs ; which the holy GhcR knew wasto He at a great height in the Jewini church, under ihc peifecution of Antirchus. There sre "m^- Dy other tcxis in t!<e Old zn-J, Ne.v Tcilaments, ihit mi-ht here be adduced ; f^.ch as Atls xxiv. 15. And have hof<' to- ivoYds God, zvfcich thty ihtmjclvzs cl[i> alLw^ that there fhall bt a .-fvrrcCti.-in ofihtclead, vfihejujl and unjuj}. A^jd.jobxix. i.'tt'z'j. And th<i:gk, after -my Jkin. Zi;oy'>;s dr/lrjy this body,, yain rnyftpifhaii I fa Ocd : zukom IJiaUfeefor rnyfzf and mine cyfs fhail btkold, ar.d not another : ihov_gh wy reins be con- fined W'fhin me.. But I need not raultiplv tcQinionie', in a matter lo clsarly and freqacnily taught. in f:cred fcripTureo Ov.i r.OAiJ and viviovr hiitifelf proves' it.- af-aiaft^he Siddu-
\
f88 The Certainty'of
cees, in that remarkable text, Lul^c xx. .qf , 38. A^i7a; tJia* ifi( dead arc raifed^ even Alo/fsJ/iecaed at the hujh^wlun hccaii- tth the Lord, the God of Abraham^ and the God of I/'aac, ami I ih- God oj Jacob : For he is not a God of the dead^ but of tkt \ itvtng ; for all live unto him. Thcfe holy patriaichs were dov/ dead; ncvcrihckfs, the Lord Jehovah is called i:. r Cod, namely, in virtue of »he covenant of grace, aiui in t.ic fcfjCr thcieof ; in which fcnfe, ihe phraftf comprehends a!! , blcflednels, as thai which, bv ibe covenant, is fccured to them vboare in it,Heb.xi. 16.GW/J nA ofhuned to be called their Go4 for he hath prepared for them a city. He is not called the God of tl^eir fouls. <»rily ; but their God, the God of their pcrfon»f • iouls aii'i bodies; the which, by virtue of his truth and fa>(h- fulnefs, iP'jft have its full cPcft : Now it cannot have its full elfctloii th» dead, who, in as far as they are dead, are far £fom a^l bU {ftdnefs ; bot on the living, who alone arc capa-. ble of it ; Jhcrcforc, finre G<^D is dill called thcirGod, they are living in refpetl of Go u, aiihoui^h their bodies arc yet in the u'ravc ;* for in refpcft of him, who by his power can re- florc tl»cm to '.jfe, and in hiscovcnant has declared his will and purpofe fo to do, and whofe promife cannot fail, they all arc to be reckoned 10 live ; and, confillcnt with the covenant, their death is but a flecp, out of which, in virtue of the ^mc covenant, ftruring all bkffcdnefs to their per Tons, their whole man, they mu.l and fhall certainly he awaltncd. The apoOlc Paul proves the rcrurrc^ion at larze, i Cor. xv. an.d fhcws it to he a fundamental article, the d^iial whereof is fobvcrfive of Chrini.initv, ver. 13, 14. If there be no refurrection cf the d'^fl '''7z is Chrijl not rijrn. And ifChriJl be not rifen, then eachivg vain, and your faith is alfo vain. - _ „ l^ft us tn conceiving of it, the fcripture gives us types ' 6( the rcfurrc£l"onof the dead ; as the dry bones living, Ezelu xxxvii. Jonah's cnn:i!n^ out of the whale's* b;:lly, Mat. xii. 40. And nature affords us emblems and rcfemblanccs of it j as the fun's fcuing ani riGng again ; ni^ht and day, wrnter and fummer, Hceping and aw;iking ; fwaliows in winter, ly- in;Txoid of all jppcaianct- of life, in ruinous buildings, and rubrcrrancous caverns, and reviving again in the fpring fcafon ; the feeds dying under the clod, and thereafter fpringing tip a- gain : all wliich, and ^he lik*, may juftiy be'^adiriitted, as de- ficned by the God of nau.rc, though nyt for proofs, yei for itjcinoiials, cf the rcfurrcclion ; whereof we have aflurance from the fciiptiire, 1 C«» xv. 36. Thoufcol, that tuhich tkau ' . ,'? is not ijuickned except it die.
\\\a\\ enq'iirc into the nature rf the refurrei^ion," ^Jl, Who r;all be raifcd. 2^/y.Whai ttiall be raifcd. V. dead ihall be raifcd.
the Refurreciion, 289'
/■z'r/?,Who fiiaU be raifed ? Our text tells us Mrho they are j fiaincly, All that are in the graves ; i. e. all inankind, who are dead. As for thofe perfons who fiidU be found ahve at the fecond coming of Ch R 1ST ; they fnjll not die, and foon theieafter be raifed aoain : but fuch a, change (l^ali fuddenlr pafs upon them, as fii ill bj to them inftead of dyin^and nfin^. again ; fo that tlicir bodies ftiall become like to thafe bodies which arc raifed oat of the graves, i Cor, xv. 5;, 52. li^e Jhall not alLjiup, iut zc'tj/iall all be changed i in a moment^ in ikt twinkling of an eye, Kencc theic who are to be judged a: the great day, are diftingTiifhcd into quick and Apd^^ AQu x. 42. All the dead fliall aiife, whether godly or v/rcked, jjfi or unjud, Acts xxiv. 15. old or young ; the vholc race of mankind, even t!ief« who never faw the fun, but died in their mother's belly, Rev, xx. 12. And I faro the dead^ J')Uill and great, Jland before God. The fea and earth Ihail give up their dead, w ihoui referve, none (iioll be kept back-
^eCiJWif/y,- What faal I be railed ? Tiic bodies of mankind. A man is laid to die, when the foul is fcoeratcd from ihe body, and returns unto God who gave it, Eccl. xii. 7. But it i& the bodv only which is laid in the grave, and c;n bs properly faid to be rarfcd ; wherefore the rcfurreftion is, Uridly fpeak'ng, competent to the body onl) . Moreover, it is the fame body that dies, which Ciall rife again. At the refurreftion, men fliall not appear with other bodies for (uh- ilauce, than ihefe which ihey now have, and which are Uid cfown in the grave : but with the {eir-fa.r.e bodies cndov/cd with other qualities. The vcr\ noiijn of a refurreclion im- plies, this : fince nothing can be faid to rife ajain, but that which fails. But to iilui'lraie it a little, fi'l/i^ it is nlaia from Scripturc-tcRirnonv : The Apoftle tells, it is this mor- tal which miift put on invfnoitjUi, , i Cor. xv. 53. and that Christ fhall change our vile bo;!^', that u may be fafni^n- cd like unto his glorious body, I^ailip. iii. 21. Death, ia Scripture-language, is a ilecp, and the refurrccVoa an awak- ing out of that flcep, Job xiv. 12. which, (hews the body ri- ling up, to be the Itif-Tame tlTi>t <li$d. Stcondly, The eqtuty of the divine procedure, both with refpedl to tf^e godly and the wicked, evinces this. . It is net reckooed equal ainon^ n^.en, iliai one do ttie work, and anotner get the reward. Thcujih the glorifying of the bodies of fa-.nis, is nor, propei- 1, fpcaking, and in*' flrifl fcnfe, the reward cf their fcrvicts r fuffcrings on earth ; yet this is evident, that it ii not at all '^ree.»hle to the mar pct of the divine difpenf'.iion, that oi e- idy fcrve him, atid another be gloriF.ed ; th.n one H^lr, iid anolhcT rccfHtve the crown. How can it be imagined, »h?-t ihe^teoiplcs efthc holy Qiioft, asihcfe bodies of bciiev-^
10') Thd Nrd'dve of
ffs are trrmcd, i Cor. vi. itj. fhoald always lie in rubbirti j z^<\ others be reared pp in their ftcad : That ihcfe mtmbert efCfiRisT, vcr. 15. (hali perifli utterly, and other bodies conrie'in ihtir room ? Nay, furely as thcfc bodies of ths faints nov/ hear a part in glo'-ifyin^ God, and fonnc of ihcm {dtfer in his ciufe ; fo they fhall partake of the glory that is to be rt-vealcci. And thcfe bodies of the wicked, which arc laid in the dull, fhall be ra-fctT aji2in ; that the fame body, vhich finobd, may fuifcr. Sliall one bo.ly 'in here, and a- r.olher fi:ffer in hell for tbat (in ? S;iall that body, which was the foul's companion in fin, lie for ever hid in the dud ; and ;jnci'.icr body, which did not a6l any pirt in liimin;», be. its companion in torincni ? No, no ; it is thai body, which novr takes tjp all tlitif ihoughis to provide frjir '(y% back and "beffy, ^hat fhall be raifcd up, fo fufftr in hell. It is that tOT):»t3t that is now fwta!in)f, lying tongiic, which will need wattr to cool it, in eternal flatncs. 'i'hefc funic feet, that now fianJ in the way of finners, and carry mctj in their ungodly courfts, fhall (land in the burning lake. A.i lh^fei>ow cove- tous ai)d lafcivious tya^ fliall take part in the tiic aad (moke ©f the pit.
Thirdly, HoW Cii2 dead (hall be raifeJ. Th* firre Jhsus,' who wus cruciiitd withcut the j^aic of Jcnifalem, (haii a^the lift day, to the conviQicn of all, be ditlarcd both Lord and Christ : appearing as judge of the world, aiiendcd. v.'iih his iPighty an3cls,ft Thclf. i. 7. 11- (hall dcfccnd frofti heaven with a llioju, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the tri'.mp of God, ; 1 hclf. iv. 16. The trumpet Ihall found, and ilic dead fhall be raifcd, and thcfe who arc ali.vc, changed, 1 Ccr. xv.^a. "Whether this fliout, v:^icc, alid iriiinpti, do dcnoie fciJie audible voice, orpnly the work- Ibes of divine pov;er, for the railing of the dead, and other awful purpolcs cf that day, though the ioT\x\zT fcems proba- ble, I «vill not pofnivcly determine. There is. no (jucllicn hit ihii coiling oF »7jc Judge ol the %'orld will be in greater: jiiij.ily and tefror, than we can coRtc ve ; yet thai awful ^.nifur, »t>;«jeOv and fUte, which was difplaycd at the giv- ih/ tif il'.e law, viz. thunders hcaid, ligntnin>;s and a thrck d<nni tipoB ihc mount fecn ; the Ljkd dcfccnding i»ffire,' 1« fMount qjakin:^ grcaflv, and the voice of thcttuoi- inf^ louder, and louder, Exod. >;ix. 16, 18, Mj. may ^j bccomiu;; thought of it. Ilo^^evcr, the founrf ijt fl)all be heard all the world over ; jl fliall
,.u .. .V (.Icp'Jis of ihc fiJ, and ir.to the bjv/els of the
earth. Alibis loud al.uu), bonr? flull coihe together, b r^c to his boi;e ; the Icatfcrcd dull of all the dead flull be p •'> c.-jd lo^ethsr, dull lo hU dufl; neilhci fhuU one ihmlta;
the Refurre^ion. 2gt
fer, i)iey fliill ts^lk. every one in his path ; and meeting to- fecther again, fliall make up that veiy fame body, which crum- bled into dud in ihe grave. And at the fame alarming voice, {hall ever/ foul come again into its own body, never more to be feparated. . The dead can ftay.no longer ia their graves, but mud bid an eternal farewcl to their long homes : Thcv l)cac his voice, tnd mtifl come forth, and receive their liual fentence.
Now, as there is a great difference betwixt the godly and the wicked in ihcir life, and in llicir death ', fo wirll there be aifo in their refurrc6tIon.
The ^odly flial! be raifcd up out of their graves, by virtue of the Spirit of Ch R J ST, (he blcflcd bond of meir union with hi«i, Rom. viii. 1 1. He that ra.ifcd up Chrifi from tki ^edd,JkaU alfo qukkeii your mertdl bodres, t)' his Spirit that ka'ciUlk in you. jiisus Christ arofe froni the dead, as the £rft-fruits of thcrn that flept, I Cor. xv. 20. So they that ^re Christ', fhall follow at his coming, ver. 23. Themyf- tical Head having got above the waters of deaih, he cannot Bur bring foith the members after bim, in due time, . They {hall come forth wiih inexprcffiblc joy ; for then fhill that pafiJ?e of fcripturc, which, ift its immediate fcope rcfpeSed the 13-ibylonifii captivity, be fully accpmplifhcd in Its extenfive fpiritual view, Ifa. xxvi. (9. Azvate and png^ye that dwell in the duf.. As a bride, adorned for her huiband, goes forth of her b-d-chambcr unto the marriage ; fo {hall tpe faints go forth of their graves, unto the marriage of the Lamb. Jofcph had a joyful out-going from the prifon, Dan- iel from the lion's den, and Jonah fro n the whale's belly "; yet thofe arc but faint reprefcntations of the faints out-:^o;ag from the grave at the refurreftioc. Then {lull they fing the fpng of Mofes and of the Lamb, in higheft Urains ; death' be- ing quite fwalloved up in viftory. They bad, while in this life, fometimes fung, by faiih, the triumpjiant fong over death and ihc grave, 0 deaths tuhcrc is thy Ji'ng f 0 gran^ Zffkere is thy vi6lory ? 1 Cor. xv. 55. But when they fing the i^voit^ from (ight and feofe ; the black band of doubts and fears, which freqaenily diOurbed tbem, and difquicted their Hiinds,-is forever cafHiercd.
>.tay vre not firppofe the foul and body of every faint, as in ^utual embraces, to rejoice in each other, z.nd, triuraph in t'aeir happy meeting again ? Aad may roc one imagine the »uJy to add re fs the foul thas ? '* O my foul, havi we got t'jgcther again, after fo long a foparaiion i jirt thou corrc. t>3ck into thine old habitation, never more to ren'ovc ! O joyful meeting ! how unlike is our prefent (late to what our cafs was, whcQ a fcpariition was ncade bUwiKt us at d^ath I T
-^•j^ ' The Nature of
row is our mourning turned into joy ; the light and gladoels fomctimcs fovn, arc now fprung up, and there is perpetual fprir:g in Iinmanuil's land. 15lefled be thd day. in which I was united to thee, whprc chief care was to get On rist in us the hope of ftlory, and to make mi a temple for his Holy Spirit. O blcilcd foui, which, in the time of out pilgrrraagc, kept thine eye on the Jand afar off, but now near at hand ! liiou tookeft inc up into fecrrt places, and there madll ra* bo\*' thcle knees before the Lord, that 1' might'b-ar a part in our humiliations before him ; and now i$ the due time, and I am lifted up. Thou ^idll employ this tongue, in coiifcf- fions, ptiitioiis and rh<!nkfgivings, \/hich henceforth (hall be employed in piaifing for evermore. Thou madil thcfe(force- tlmci) weeping eyes fo^v that feed of tears, whfch is now fprung up in joy that Ihall ne"«r endl t W2S happily beat down by thee, and kept iii fubj^tlion ; while others pamper- ed their flefli, and made their bVllics their gods, to their own deftrudion : and, now I gloiiouUy arife, to take my place in the manfions of glory, whiifl they arc dragged out ♦jf their graves, to be caft into fiery !L»;nes; Now, my foul, tho.» ilialt complain no more of a llcJc and pained body, thou (halt be no more clogged with weak- and wrarv Hefli ; I Iliall now hold pace wirh thee in the praifcsof our God forever more. "^ And may not the foul fav ? " O happy day in which I re- turn to dwell in that blcffed body, which was, and is, and will' be forever a fticmber of Christ^ a tcmpVc of the Holy Spirit ! now iliall I he eternally knit to thee j the filver cord' fliall never be loofed more ; death (hall never make another reparation betwixt us.- Arife then, my body, and come a- way J and let thefe eyes, which fervcd to weep over my U-ns, behold now rith joy, tl>c face of our glorious Redeemer ; JLo ! this is our Go i>, and we have waited for him» Let ihcfc ears» which fervcd to hear the word of l:fe, in the tcm' pi? below, come now and hear thfc hallelujahs in the temple above. Lettbcfe feet, that carried me to the congregation of faints ot> earth, take ihcir place now among thcfc who iland by. And let that tongue, <^hich confclfed Christ before men, and ufed to b£ (lill dropping fomcthing to hit commen'dation,join the choir of the upper liouic in his praifes lor evermore. Thou 11: tit faft no more, but keep an ever* Idfting feafl ; thou ftalt weep no mor?, neither Tnall thy countenance be overclcadcd ; but thou (halt fhinc forever, as a ftar in the Hrmaitient. Wc took part loi^ether in the fight, come now, let us go together to receive and wear the crown." But, on the other hand, the wicked Oull be raifcd by the bower of Christ, as a jiiil Judged who is to render veo- ^aucc to his eacmies. The faioe divine powc; which (huC
tk^ Rcjurrtciion, 293
ijp their fou!s in fell, and kept their bodies la a grave, as ia ■a prifon, fhall bring them fonh, that foul and body to.jtihcr :.iay receive the dreadful fentence of eternal (limRaUori, aod te (hut up toRelher in the prifon of hell ! . ,
They Ihall come forth of their graves, wiiH unfpcdkable horror and conPiCrnation. They (hdl! bs dragged forth a» To many malcfadors out of a dungeon, to be ted to execution ; crying to the mountains and to the rocks, to fall on iheai, and hide them from the face of the Lamb. Fearful was ihc cry in E^ypr, that night the deftroving angel wert thrcugn, and flew their fird'-born. Dreadful wcre'thc fMna's, at ihe earth openin;? her mouth, and r*allowiaj up Difhan and A- blram, and all that appert'ciined to then.' What hideous crying then muR there be, when at the fouad of the laft trum- pet, the earth and fea {hall open their roouihs, and call fortK Bil I he wicked world, delivering them up to the dreadful Judge ? How will thev cry, roar, artd tear themfe!ves ! how will the jovial companions weep and bowl, and curfe onc-ar.- oiher ! how will the earth be filled with their doleful fllrieks and lamentations, while they are pulled out like fhecp for the flaughier ? They who, while they lived in the w^orld, were profane dcbiuchces, covetous, worldlings, or formal hypocrites, (hJl then, in anguifh" of mind, wriog their hands, beat their breads, and bitterly lament their cafe ; rearing forth their complaints, andcallingthemfelvcs beads, fools and mad-men, for havin;i afted fo mad a part in ibi* fife, and not hiving believed what they then fee !
They were driven av>av in their vrickednefs at death ; and now all their fins rife with them, and like fo many fcrpents^ twid themfelvcs about their wretched fouls, and bodies too, which have now a frightful meeting after a long reparation.
Then wc may fuppofe the mifcrablc body thas to accoft tlic foul : '■^ Ha^ thou again found me, O mine c'n^my, rny worft enemy ! favage foul ! more cruel than a ihciifmd ty- gers ! Curled be the day that ever we niet ! O that I had remained a lifclcfs lamp, rotten in :he belly of my mother : and b»d never received fenfe, life, nor motion. O that I had father been the body of a toad or ferprnt, than ihy bodv ; int then I had lain ftill, and bad not fecn this terrible day i If f behoved to be thine, O' that I bad bceil thv afs, or one cf thy dogs, rather than thy body; for then woaldil thou have £aken more true care of me, than thou dicitt. O cruel kind- ntfs ! haft thou thus hag?td me to death, thus nouri'hed mc^ to the fliughtcr ? Is thii the cfFc£l of thy tcnierncrs for mc ? I? this what I am to reap of (hy piinsan'd concern about rne ? What do riches and pieafure avail now, when this fea-f-^ ^•""'k-. u'-riT -:i c.Tirf . of v.h-ch thou hiUa Lir warning ? O c-u-
294 Tiic Nature of
el gravs» xvhy dicifl ibou not clofe thy mouth upon me fo» ever ? Why rfidfl thou not bold faft thy prirorcr i Wbv baft thou n>akcn mc oat. while 1 lay dill, ainri was at reft ? Carfcd fcul, wh'crtrr©fc didft thou net abide in thy place, vtrrapt ujv in flames of fife ? Wherefore art thou cotr.c back to take mc alfo down to the bars of the pit ? Thou madft mc an inftra- inent of uarighicoufiiers, and now I rr.ufl be thrown into the lire I This tong'jv was by thee ennployed in mbcking at re- ligion, cun1n?, fwcarmg, lying, b?ckbiiing, and boafiing ; and with-hcid frorrr glcnfyjrg Gdo ; and r;ow it irufl not have fo much ai a drop of water to cool it ia the fiamci. Thou didft withdraw mine e.irs from hearing the fermons which gave warfiiiig of :hi$ div. Thou foundcil ways and' means to {{op rhcm ffotn' atJcnding to fcafonable exhortations, 3<^imonition$ ai.d reproofs: I?Jt why didil thou not flop them from hearing tbc found of this dreadful trumpet ? Why doft' ihou not nov/ rcv(j and fly away oa the wings of ima^^ioationf thereby, as it ^vcrc, traiifporiing me, during thcfc fiigbtfui tranfatiions, as ihou v/j5 wont to do, when I was fci down at fcrmoos, comraunion;, prsye's, and Qodly conferences ; that I mi^ht now hivr as little fcnfe of the one, as I forir.erly had of the other ? Jiut ah ! I mufl burn forever, for thy love to thy lufts, ihy proiarMiy, thy fciif'>ality, thy unbelief zni\xj' pocrify 1"
But may not the ff>ui arifwer; "Wretched and vile car- cafe, am I now driven back into thfe ! O that thou hadft lain forever rotfinij in thy grave I Had I not torment enough before ? Mud I be knit to thee again, that, b'eing joined to- gether, as two dry (licks for the fire, the wrath o? God- may the more keenly burn us up ? It v/a$ by caring for you, I loll myfelf. It was yourback zr.d your lielly, and the gratifying of your fenfcs, which luined mrr. How often was I enlaar- rd by your ca« ? How often betrayed by you^r eyes ? It wa» to fpare ycr, that I neglet^.id fo meny prccirus opportunitic* of making peace with Goo, loitered away S.ibhaiha, lived ia the negkct of prayer, went to the hnufe of mirth, ruber than to the houfe of mourning; and that Ichitf.'d to dcnyCw r i st, and forfake bis cauVe and it'lerefls in the world ; and fo ara fallen a focriScc to your curfed eafc. Vv'^hcn at any time my onfcicrce began to awake, and I was fcfting myfclf to t^ink of ray fins, and the mi fciv 1 have felt Cncc we parted, and now feel ; it was you thai diverted me from thefc thoughts, and drew me oH' to make provifion for thee, O wretched flofb. By your filken cords of rlefh'y lufls I was drawn to dcAcudion over the belly of wy light and confcirncc ; but now they are turned into iron chains, with which I am to be held under vt^th for ever more. Ah, wretched profits ■ ah curftd plfi*'
the Refurre^lion, s^5
Turcs ! for Vfhict I mud lie forever ia utter darkneTs." But no complaints will then avail. O that men were wire, that they underftood this, that they v/ouldccniidcr iheir I.-»ticr end ! Aj to the Qualities .v/ith which the bodies of the faints ftiU be endowed at the rcfurreaion, the Apollle tells us, they (hall be raifed incorrupiible, glorious, poweifui, andfplritual, 1 Cor. XV. 4a, 43, 44. /t is [own in carTvpticn, it is raiftd in
■inrormption. It isjczon in difioncur^ it is mifed in ghry. It isfozon in wea'mejs, it is raijed in powc^. J: isJbwH a nciuni
ifody^ it is raij-^d a J'piritual uody.
Fir/l^Tht bodies of the Caliiis fi:3llfce,Talfed incorruptible. They are now. as the bodies of others, a very mafs of cor-
.riiption, fall ot tbc feeds of difcafcE atid draJh ; and when
/dead, become fo naufeou", cysn to their dcared. friends, that they muft be buried out of their lioht, in a grave, there to rot, 2nd be ccr.fumrd : yea, loathlorre fores and dilcafts, make fomc of them very uniightly, even while alive. But, at the refurrefton, they leave sll the feeds of corruption be-
,hind them, in the grave; and riTe icccrruptlble, iricapable of the leaft indirpoHtion, (ickccfs, or fore, ^ind much more of dying. External violences, and inward caufes of pain, fhal! for ever ceafe ; they fti.ill feel it no oioie ; yea, ihey fhali have an cverlafting youth and. vigour, brin;5-no more fubjt^l to the decays which age prodi^ced in this hfc.
5^fo«^/v,They {hall be glovions bodies ; not only beautiful, comely; and well-proportioned, bet fiill of fplendor and
-briehtnefs. The moft beautiful face, and beft proportioned body, that now appears in the world, is not to be named, ia comparifpn with the body of the meaneft faint at the refur- rettion ; for then ihsll the righteous Qiine forth as the fun. Mat. xiii. 43. If there was a dazzling gior)' on Mofcs' face, when he came down from the mount ; ar.d if Stephen's face was as it had been the face of an angel, when he flood before the council ; how much more (hall the faces of the faints be -fceautified and glorious, full of (weet agreeable majedvjWheA they have. put oif all corruption and fl.ine as the fun ? But pbferve, this beauty of the faints, is not redrifted to their faces; but diffufcs itfelf throuch thsir whole bodies: For the whole body is raifed in glQry, and C'.all be fafhioneti like unto their Lord and Savicur*s glorious body; in whofe transfiguration not only did his face fliine as the fun,
but alfo his raiment was white as the light. Mat- xvii. £,
Whatever defe£is, or deformities, the bodies of the faints had, when laid in the grave, occafioned by accidents in life, or aiifing from fecret caufes in their foranation in the womb^ they Ihall rife out of the grave free of all t^efe. But fap> fofe tfee marks of the Lord Jesujs, the fears or prints of
•2c,G The Qualities of the raifed
the wounds and brutfcs fomc of the fainti Tcccived while 90 earth, for his fake, Oioiild remain in tbrir bodies after tlje refurrcajon ; like as the print of the nails remained in the Lord Jesus' body, after his refurrcOion ; jhcle mark* viH rather be badges of diflin£lioo, and add to ihcir glory, than detraftfroin their beauty. But howfocvcr that be, furc- Jy Ifaic's eyes lliall not then be dim. nor will Jacob halt; Leah ihall not be tender-eyed, nor McphiboDicih lame o\ hit legs. For as the goldfaii'ih melts down the old crazy velfcl, and cafls it over again into a new mould, bringing it forth with a ne\^luftte ; fo fhall the vile body which lay di{rolvc4 in the grave, come forth at the rcfurreclion in pcrfcft beauty and comely ptopcrrioo.
Thirdly, They {Jiall be powerful and flrong bodies. The ilrongcft men on earth, being frail and mortal, may juftly he reckoned weak and feeble ; in reg?,rd their Orensth, howfo- cver great, is quickly worn out and confumed. Many of the faints, npw, have bodies weaker than others ; but the fecbjc among them, to allude to Zech. xii. 8. ai that day, (hall be as David ; and the houfc of David (hajl be as CJod. A grave <livine fays, That one fhall be (Irongcr at the refur region, than aa hundred, yea, thnn thoufaods are now. Ccitainly great, and vafily gTeat,mu(l the ftrcngth of glorihcd bodies*bc, feeing they (hall bear up under an exceeding and clcrnal weight of glorv. The rnoria' body is not at all adapted to fuch a (^ate. Do tranfportspf joyoccafion death, as well ^s excclT.ve grief does ? And can it bear up under & weight of glory ? Can it fubri(l in union wi;h a foul filled with heaven's raptures ? Surely no. The mortal body would (ink lujdcr that load, and fuch a fill would ma}<.e the earthen pitcher to fly all in pieces. The Scripture has plainly told us, That llcfh and blood fnaniely, in their prefent frail Rate, though it were the flc(h and blood of a giant) cannot inherit the king- dom of Go p, 1 Cor. XV. 50. How Orong mnft the bodiiy eyes be, which, to the foul's eternal comfort, (hill behold the dazzling glory and fplendor of the new Jcrufalem ; and ftcd- fadly look at the tranfcendcni glory and brightncfs of the man Christ; the Lamb, who is the light of that city, the inhabitants whereof (hall Ihinc as the fun ? I'he Lord of heaven doth now, in mercy, hold bsck the face of bis throne, and 'pieaceth his tlowd upon it, that mortals may n«t be con- founded with the rays of glory, which (bine forth from it, Job xxvi. 9. But then the vail (hall'be removed, and ihey made able to behold it, to their unfpeakable joy. How flrong muft their bodies be, who (hall not reft night nor day ; but |jc, without intermifHon, for ever employed in the heavenly temple, in fingipg and pioflaiming the praifcs of God, wirh-
Bcdies of the Saints. 297
ouVweanBefs, which is a weaknefs incident to tbc (rail mor- tal, but incompetent to the glorified body !
LafJy, Thsy ftiall be ipiriinal bodies. Not that tbcy fliall be changed into fpirits ; but they Piall be fpirit.ual.in Tefpeft of their fpirit-like cjuallties and endowments. The body {hall be abrolutely.fubfervieni to the fo'il, fubjeft to it, and influ- enced by it ; and therefore, no mere a .clog tc its a61ivity, nor the animal appetites 2 fnare to it. There will b? no need to beat it down, nor to drag it to the fcrvice cf God. The foul, in this life, is fo much influenced by the body, that, ia Scripture-f}yle, it is faid to be carnal : but then, the body ,&all be fpiritual, readily ferving the foul in the bufinefs of bcaven ; and in that only, as ifat had no more relation to' earth than a fpirit. It will have no further need of the now neccfTary fupporis of life, namely, food ard raiment, and the l^ke : They fiiail Lunger lix) morc^iicilKn- thirj} cny more, Rey* vii, >,6. For in the refurnclion, thty veitker many, nor are given in marriage ; but are as the ariz^is^f God in heaven. — Then fhall the 1 tints be flrong without meat or drink ; warm without cloaUis ; ever in perfeft health, witjiout medicines ; and ever frefh and vigofotis, though they fball never fleep, but ferve hia night ardday in bis temple, "Rev. vii. 15. They will need none cf thefe things, more than fpirits do. They will be nimble and aQive, as fpirits, and of ^ moft refined conftitution. The body, that is now lumpifli end heaw, Ihall then be irofl fprighily. No ltich,th»r\(y as mel.ancholy &iall be found, to make the heart heavy, and the fpirits flag and fink. Where the carcafe is, there fhall tl^e faints, as fo xnany eagles, be gathered together. J &all not further dip into this matter, the day will declare it. '
As to the qualities of the bodies of tbe wicked, at the re- furreftion, T find the ijcripture fpeaks bat little of them. V/hatevcr they may need, they fhall riot get a drop of water to -cool their tongues, .Luke xv'r. 24, gr. \ybatever maybe faid of their weaknefs, it is certain they will be continued forever in life; that they may be ever dying; they fhallbear up,how- ibever unwillingly, under the load of Cod's wrath, and fhall not faint away under it : Thefmoak of their torment ajcendeth up forever and ever. A7id they hav: no reft 4ay nor ni^ht. Surely they (hall not partake of the glory and beauty of the faints : All their glory dies wjth them, and fhall never rife again. — Daniel tells us, they fhall awake to fhaihc, and everlafting contempt, Chap. xii. 9. Shame follows fin, as the fhadow followeth the body ; but the wicked, in this v/orld, walk in the dark, and often under a difguife; neverthelefs, when tbe Judge comes, in flaming fire, at the lafl day, they will be fcr^u^htto thcl ight j their mafl; will be taken off^ and the
598 Comfort to the People of God.
fhame of ihcir nakcdnefs will clearly appear to thcmfely^ and others, and fill their faces vith confufioh. Their (hame vrill be too deep for bluOies ; for all faces (hall gather black- nefs, at that day, when they fhall go forth of their grave*, as nialefa6lors out of iheir Jirifons, to execution ; for thciir rc- furrcction is the refurreflion of damnation. The grcateft beauties, who now pride themfclycs in their eomcliiiefs of body, not regarding the^r deformed fouls, will then ^V^^ vritbghaniy coui:tcnanceS,a grim and death-like vifa^e. 1'heir looks will be frightful ; and they will be horrible Ipet^acles, coming forth of their graves '-'ce infernal furies out of the jjit. They fhall rife alfo to cverlafling contempt. Tbey (hall then be the mofl contemptible creatures, filled with conteitipt from Gon,as vclfels of mCionour, whatever honourable nfes they have been employed tb, in this world ; and hlled alfo vAih contempt from iccn. They will be mol\ dcfpicablc iri the eyes of the faints, even of thofc faints who gave them hon- our here, either for their high ftation, the gifts of God iri them, or becaufe they were of the fame human nature witH thcmfcivei. But then fiiail their bodies be as fo many loih- fome carcafcs, which they fnall go'forth and look Hpon with abhorrence ; yea, they fhall be an abhorrinj? unto all flefh, Jfa. Ixvi. 2^. 1 he '.vcrd licre rendered an abhoriiu^, i$ the fame which in the other text is rendered contempt j and Ifaiifi and Daniel point at one and the fame thing, namely, the loth- fomenefs of the wicked at the refiifreflion. They will bc Joihfome in the eyes of cne another. 7 be unclean wretches were never fo lovely to each other, as then they will be loth- fomc ; dear companions in fin will then Ke an abhorring, eacH one to his fellow ; and the wicked, great artd honourable men, fhall be no more regarded |>y their wicked fubjeQs,thcir fervants, their paves, than the miie in the ftreets.
Use I. Of comfort to the pecpjcof God. The dofliine of the refurreftion is a Ipring of confolation and joy unto you. Think on it, O believers, when ye arc in the houfc of mourn- ing, for the lofs of your godly rchtiotis or friends, that^ yc forrow not, even as others which have no hope ; for yc will meet again, j Thcff. iv. 13, 14. They are bat lain down, to refl in their beds for a little while; Ifa. Nil. 2. but in the rnorning of the rcfurrcfiion they will awake again, and comt forth out of their graves. The vefTcl of honour was but roarfc, it had much alloy of bafe metal in it ; it was too weak, too dim and inglortoiis, for the upper houfc, whatever luftre It had in the lower one. It was crackt, it was pollut- ed ; and therefore it behoved to bc melted down, that it may be refined and Pafhioned more gloiioufly. l^o but wait a while, and you Ihall fee it come forth out of ihs furnice of
Comfort to the People of God, 299
;partb, V)'ing with the flars m brlghtncls;, nay, as tlie fua >hcn he ^octh forth in his inighi. Have you laid your in- font children in the grave ? You will (ce them again. Your .God calls hirarclf the Gob of your feed, which, according io our vSaviour's expofiiion, fecures the glorious refurreclioa of the body. Wherefore let :he covenant ybii embraced for Tourfclf and your babes now in ihc dud, comfort your hearts, in the joyful expeftation, that by virtue thereof, they fiiaHbe raifcd up in glory ; and that, as being no more infants of days, but brought to a full and perfc6i flature, *$ is j^enerally fup- pofed. Be not difcouraged by reafon of a weak and dcVAy body ; there is a day cotning, when thou fink be every whit whole. At the' rcfurreQion, Timothy fh:\U be no mere lia- ble to his often infiimities ; his body, that was ivea!; ar.d fick- Iv, even in youth, fhall be raifed in power : Lizanis Oiall bs whole S: found, his body being raifcd incorruptible. And al- VhoUgh perbaps thy wcaknefs will not allow thee now, to go one furlong to meet the Lor d in the onblic ordinances, yet the day dometh, '.vhcn thy budy fhail be no more a riog to thee, but thou (halt meet the Lord in the air, i Thcfl. iv. 17. Jt will be ^ith the faifjts coming up from the ^^ravc-, as with the Ilraelites, when ihey caine out of E^ypt, pl. cv. "07. TAsrc zvas net or^ejithle per/on among- t'liir tnOes. Kaft (hou an uhcomelv, or deformed body r There is a glory within, which will then fet all li^ht without, accoiding to the dcfire of thine heart. It ftiall rife a glorious, beauiifal, Jiandfomc, wcH-proporttored body. Its uncomelinefs, or de» formities may go with it to the grave, ^ut they fhall not come back with it. O that thefc who are now fo defirous to be beautiful and handfom^, would not be too hafty to effeft it with theiriocliCiand finful arts; but wait and fludy the he?- venly art of beautifying the body, by endeavouring now to become all glorious within, with the graces of God's Spirit f ihis would at length make them ad^iirable and Cvcrlafilng beauties. Thou nnuil indeed, O believer, grapple wittj death, and fhali get t"he firft fall; but thou ftij^lt rife again, and come off viftorious at laft. Thou mud go down to tha grave, but though it be thy long home, it will not be thins everlafting home. Thou wilt not hear the voice of thy Tricnd* there, but thou (halt hear the vo:cc of Christ there. Thou raayft be carried thither with mourning, but flia^lt come up frbm it rejoicuig. Thy friends indeed will leave thee there, but thy God will not. What Gon faid to Jacob concerning his going down to Egypt, Gcn.xlvi.g, 4, he fays to thee, anent thy going down to the grave, Ffar not to go down — 1 luiUgo down zvtin tkee, — and / willfunly bring tktc up again, O folid comfort I O gloricui hope ! Whcrci'
300 Terror to cdl unrcgcneraU Men*
fore comfort yourfclvcs, and one another with thc& wonS$» J Thcff. iv. 18.
Use II. Of terror to all uoregeneratc men. Vc who are yeiinyour natural flaic, look, at this piece of the eternal flaie ; and confidcr what will be your part in it, if ye be not in time brought into the date of grace. Think, O Cn- ner, on that day, when Ctc trumpet (hall found; at the vofcc of which, the bars of the pit (hall be broken afunder, the floors of the grave fhall fly open, the devouring depths of the fca (hall throw up their dead, the qarth caft forth hers, and dea:h rvery-wherc, iji the cxccff qf ^ftonifhmcr.t, fliall let no its pnfoners; and thy wretch^ ifoul and body (hall be TC-unitcd, to A>e iiftcd before the tri'.>UTT)»l of Goi>. Theji if thou hail a thoufand worlds at thy dilpofal, thou wouldft gladly give them all away, upon cofiduion thou mij5htcft lie <iill in thy grave, with the hundrcth part of that calr^ where- with thou ha{l loHFictitres lain at home, on the Lord's day; or, if that cannot be obtained, ihat thou mighteft tc but a Xppftator of the tranfaGions of that day, as thou haft been at fome folema occafiont, end rich gofpel-fcafts; or, if even <hat is not to be purchaied, that a mou retain or a rock might tnW on thee, and cover thee from the face of the Lamb. i\h ! how are men bewitched, thus to trifle away the pitci- ous tinit of lifc» in, almoft, as little concern about death, as if they were like the beaUi that perifh ; fome will be telling where their cor pfe mu(l belaid, w^jilc yet they have not fc- jioufly confided v/hether their graves (hall be their beds, where they fhall awake with joy in the morning of the rc- furreftion ; or their prifoo^ out of which they fhall be brought to receive the fearful fentence. Remember now is your feed-lime, and as ye fow, ye fhall reap. God's feed- time betins at death : and at the refurrc£\ion, the bodies of the wicked, that were full of fins, that lie down with them in the duil, Job xx.ii^fhall fpring up again, finful, wretch- ed, and vile. Your Wtdics, which are now inftruments of fin, the Lord will lay afidc for the fire, at death, and bring them forth for the fire, at the refurrcdlon. That body, which is not now employed in God's fervicJ:, but is abufed by un- eleannefs and lafcivioufncfs.will then be brought forth in all its vilcnefs, thenceforth to lodge with uncjean fpirits. The body of the drunkard fhall then dagger by reafcTi of the wine of the wrath of God, poured out to him, and poured into him, without mixture. Thefe who now pleafe themfelves in their revellings, will reel toaod fro at another rate; when, inftead of their fongs and muGc, they fhall hear the (ouiid of the laft trumpet. Many toil their bodies for worldly gain, *A'ho will be loih to diflrcfi them for the bcoefit of their fou]l>;
Terror to all unr eg entr ate Men. 301
by labour unreafonably hard, they will quite disfit themfelves for the fervice of Gon ; and when they have done, will rec- kon it a very good reafon for fhifting duty, that tlH^ are al- ready tired out with other bufincfs ; hut the day cometh when they will be rcade to abide a yet greater ftrefs. They will go feveral miles For back and belly, whp will rot go half the way for the good of their immortal louls ; they will be lickly and unable on the Lord's day, who will be tolerably well all the reft of the week. But when thai trumpet founds, the dead fiiall find thejr feet, and none IhaU pc raiding in that gresi congregation. When the bodies <5f the faints (hine as the fun, fearful will the look^ of their per- jccutors he. Fearful will their condition be, who (osnctimes fliut up the faints in nafly prifons, fiigmatized, burned ihcdi to afhcs, hanged them, and ftuck up their heads and hands in public places, to fright others from the ways of ri^hteouf- jicfs which they fulFcrcd for. Many faces now fair, will then gather blacknefs. Thev Ihall be no more admired a.id cartlled for that beauty, which h?s a worm at the root, thai will ciaufe it to ilfue in loath foniehefs and dtiorrr.ity. Ah ! what is that beauty, under which there lurks a nior.(l:ous, ikformeil, and gracelcls h-^art ? What but a lorry paint, a flight varnifli ; which will leaye the body To uii?ch the more ugly, before that tlamirg-fire, in v/hich the Judge fnall be revealed from heaven, taking vengeance on them that know- not God, and that obey not the gofpel, 2 ThcfT. i. 7, 8. They fhall beflriptof all their ornaments, and not have at rag to cover their nakednefs ; bui their carcafcs fhall be an abhorring to all flefh, and ferye as 9 foi) to fet off the beau- ty and glory of the righteous and make it appear the brighter. Now is the ti-sne to fecur£ for yourfelvcs, a part in the rc- furreftion of the jnft. The which if ve would do, unite with Jesus Ch rist by faith, rifjng fpiritualv from fin, and glo- rifying God with your bodies. He is the rcfurreftion and the life, John xi.e3 If your bodies be members of Ch r i ^t, temples of the Holy Ghoft, they fhall certainly arife in glo- ry. Get into this ark now, and ye fhill come forth with joy into the new world. Rife from your fins ; caft away iheie grave-cloaths, putting off your former lufts. How can one imagine, that thefe who contin.ue dead while they live, fha)l come forth, at the laft day, unto the refurreftion cl life ? But that will be the privilege of all thbfe, who having firfl confc- crated their fouls and bodies to the Lord, by faith, do glo- rify him with their bodies, as well as their fouls ; living and afting to him, and for him, yea, and fji'criog for him lop^ -hen he calls them to it.^
{ 302 )
HEAD IV. The General JUDGMENT.
Mattk£w XXV. 31, 39, 33, 34. 41. 46.
W/icn the Son of ManJJiall come in hi: glory, and fill the holy an^
gdi uiik him, thenJhaU ke Jit upon the throne of hi: glcry. And b fore him fhalL be gathered all nations, and he Jliall fepa^
rate them, one Jron. another \ ai a Jhepherd divideth kit Jhetp
from the goats.
And hi fall jel the fief p en his right hand, but the goats on theUfU 1 h in J flail the King fay unto them on his right hand. Come yt
Oijtd, &c. — Unto them on the left har^d. Depart from me ye airfed, &c. Anekthejefhall go a0ay into everiafi.ig punipcment -f but the
righteous into life eternal,
THE dctd being raifcd, and thcff, found alive at the com- ing cf the Judge, chaTigcd, follows ihf. general judg- mcnr, plainly and awfully defcribcd In ihi« portion of Icrip- ture ; m which we Ciill take notice of the following particu- lar?, fi.) Tiie coming of the Judp;c, IVh'.n the Sjft of man fhall come m his glory, tic. Trie Judge is J £ £ u s Ch R 1st, the Son of man. \ the fame, tv wh*Ve almi^hiy power, at he is God, the dead will be raifcd. He is al(o called the King, vcr. 34. The judging of the world being an aft of the Royu Mediator's kingly oRicc. He will come in glcry -, glorious ia his OH'n Pcrfon, and having a glorious rttioue, tvcnnll the holy angels with Jiim^'xo inin:{lcr unto him at xhis great folctn- uity. (a) The Judge's mounting the tribunal. He is a ^•'.—■^. aad tberclore it is a throne, a glorious throne. He fhai' •: the thrcne of his glory,' vrLT.';^i. (3.) The compcar-
. ut the parties. Thcfc arc all nitions ; Al and every one,
fmall and great, of wbatfoever nation, who ever Mrerc, are, or i'hall be on the face of the earth ; all (hall be frKhcreJ before him J fifted before his tribunal. (4 ) The furting of them. He {hall feparate the elc6l ftiecp and reprobate goats, fctting each party by themfelves ; as a (hti)hcrd who feeds his (beep and goa» together ftll the daj', fcparates ihein at night, vcr. 32. yhc godly he will fet on his ri^hi hand, as the inoft honourable place ; the v/icked on the left, vcr. 33. Vet fo »s thry fhall be both before him, ycr. o<i. It fccms to be an allufjcnto a cuftoin in the Jcwi'lijj^ouris, in which, one la* at the right hand of the Judge, who wrote the fcnience of ab f elation ; another at their left, who wrote the feotence oi
There Jhall he a general Judgment , 36 j'
eonde!B nation. (5.) The fentenctng cf the parties, and thai according to iheir woiks ; the righteous being abfolvcd, and the wicked cosidennned, ver. 34. 41. L^Jily, The cxecutio;: of both fentences, in the driving away of the wicked into hell* and carrying the godly into heaven, ver. 46.
DoCTRIXE.
There Jhall be a genej'al Ju'dgriient.
Thisdoftjfin6 1 (hall, (1 ) confirm, (2.) explain, Scrg ) applf, I. For conhrtnation of this great truili, ihzt there Uiail be a general judgment.
Firjif Itis evident from plain fcripture-fenimonies. The world has in all its ages been told of it. Enoch before the fiood taught it in his prophecy, related, Jade 14, 13. ♦• Be- hold the Lord cometh with ten tboufand of his ^int|^ to execute judgment upon all," &c. Daniel defcribcs if, chap, vii. 9, 10. " I b'eheld till ibiT ihroaes were cafi down, and the Ancient of davs, did (if, whofe garmenis w:s white as fnow, and xhe hair of his head like pure wool j bis throne was like the fiery fiame, and his wheel? as burning fire. A fiery ftrcam iffued and came forth' from before him ; thou- (and thoufands flood before him ; the jadgmtnt was fct, and the books were opened."' Ths apoftle is ver)' cxprcfs, A^ xvii.31. •' He hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteoufncfs, by that man whom he hath ordained." See Mat.xvi. 27. 2 Cor. v. id. GThefT. i. 7, 8> 9, 10. Rev. XX. 11, — ij. God has not only faid it, blithe has fworn it, Rom. xiv. 10, i». IVs muji all Jlani before the jmlgmcnt-Jhat ofClirifi. For it it written^ As I live faith tAeLord, every knee fhali bow to »«, and every tongue fhall confcfsto God. So that the truth of GDd is rooll fol- cmnly plighted for ir.
Secondly, The reftoral juHrce and goodnefs of God, the (bvereign Ruler of the world, do necclTarily require it, inal- much as they require its being well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked. Howbeit, we often now fee wick- ednefs exalted, while truth and righteoufne fs fall in the ftrcets ; piety oppreEed, while profanity and frreligicn do triumph. This is fo very ordinajy, that every or;c who Cn- cerely cmbraccth the way cf bolinefs, mufl and doth lay his account with the lofs of all he has, which the world can takfe away frona him, Luke xiv. 26. if any man CQvie to mt and hate not his Jather and' mother, and wife and children ^ Mud brethren and ffiers, yea ^ and his own life alfoy he cannct kimy difcipie, ^ut it is inconfiUeat wiw the juftice aut^
A0 4 Thtrtjhalllta
^oodnefs of God, that the affairs of m«n (Loulcl alvirays cor; tinue ia this ilatc, which thty appear in from one (;cneratio:i to another, bat tuat every man be rewarded according to his vorks ; ai;d lince that is not done in tbii life, there raurt he % judgment to come, Scen^r it is righteous with God^ to re'ronim ptncf tribu(:^tion to the?n thai trcubU you ; and to you mho (tre. troubl-d, rtJiTvitk us^ when the Lord J'fus Jhall i>e revealed from heaven, ^ Ihcff. i. 6, 7. There will be a day, in which' the tables will be turned ; and the wicked ftiall he called lo an account for all their fins, and fuffcrthc due punifhment qf then ; and the pious fiiall be the profperous : for, as the Ap vfllc argues for the happy rcf'irrcflion of the faints, If in t'.is if: only we haze hope in Chrifr^ we are of all men mo/f mf Crable^ I Cor. xv. 19. It is true, God fomeiimes puntfheth the wicked in this lifd, that men may know, he is a God ihatjiid^cfh if) (lie earth ; but yet much wickedr^fs remains unpanifhed, aiid undifcovered, to be a pledge of the judg- ment to come. If none of the wicked were paniflied here, they would conclude that GoD haJ utterly forfakco the earth ; if all of them were puaiOicd in this life, men would ht apt to think, there is no altcr-recltonJng. Therefore, in the wiftiomof God, fome are punilhed now, and fom^ nof. Sometimes the Lord fmites niiners,iD the very aft of fin, to fliewunto the world, that heiswitnefs to all their wickedaefj, and will call them to an account for it. Sometimes he d<r. lays long, ere he flrike ; that he Inay d'jfdover to the world, that he forget' nor mens ill deeds, though he does not pre fcnt- ly punifli them. Bc^des all this, the fins of many do out- live them ; and the impure fountain, by them opened, runs Jong after they ate dead and gone. As in the cafe of Jero- boam the firft king of the ten tribes ; whofe fin did run on all aloftfj unto the end of that unbappy kingdom, 2 Kings xvii. SM, 23, The children oflfrael walked in all the fins of Jercham^ which he did ; tliry departed not from them } Until the Lord rc' y^cved Iff acl cut f his fight.
Thirdly, The rcfuneaion of Christ is a certain proof, that rheie Ihail be a day of judgment. This argument Paul ulcth. fo convince the Athenians ; fays he, tie hath given af fxraiue to all men, in that he hath rafrd him J rem the deau\ Acts xvii. 31. The Judge is already named, his patent writ- ten and fealed, yea and read before all men, in his nfing a- p^aio from the dead. Hereby God hath given alTaranc c cF »t, or ojferedfaitk, Marg. He hath by raifiDg On Ri sr fr vi the dead, rxhtbitcd his credentials as Judge of the %v r When, in the days of his humiliation, he was filled beT nibiK.iI, .iriaiR,ncd, accufcd, and condemned of men ; re s ■• u • : . : _, 1 > i o i ;-. w 11 of tii:« ju Jg incnt, and thai he hi m felf w - ■- ■
ge'deral Judgment, proven. 36^
He the Judge, Matth. xxvl. 64, Hereafter Jhall ye f-e the Sort ofinanjitting ori the rig hh hand of power, and coming in iks clouds of heaven. And now that he was raifed from the dcatT though condemned as ablafphemcr on this very head, is it not an undeniable proof from heaven, of the truth of whalT he afferted ? Moreover, this was one of the great ends of Christ's death and rcfurreftion : For to this end Chrijt Both died, and rofe, and revived, thai he might be the Lord{\. e. The Lord Judge, as is evident from the context) both of the dead and of the living, Kbm.xw.^,
Laflly, Every man bears about with him a witneis to this^ within his own brcaft, Rom. ii. 15. Which Jheru the mork of the law written in their hearts ^ their ccnfcience alfo beanngwit.' nefs, and their thoughts the mean while accvfing, or efe excv^ ftng one another. There is a tribunal erttted withm every man, where confcience is accufer, v;itaefs, andjiidge, bind- ing over the finner to the judgment of God. This fills the moft profligate wretches witli horror, and inwardly flings ihem, upon the commiiHon of feme atrocious crime ; in ci- fe6l fummoning them to anfwer for it, before the Judge of the quick and dead. And this it doth, even when the crime is fccret, and hid from the eyes of the world. It reacheth tiiofe, whom the laws of men cannot reach, becaufe of their power or craft. When men have ffed from the judgmentof their fellow-creatures, yet go where they will, confcience, as the fupreme Judge's officer, fiill keeps hold of them, referv- ing them in its chains to the judgment of the great day. And' whether they efcape punifhiYient from men, or fall by the hand of public juilice, when they perceive death's approach, they hear from within of this after-reckoning : being con- ilrained to hearken thereto", in thefe the moft ferious minutes of their life. If there be ibme, in whom nothing of this dcth appear, we have no more ground thence to conclude againft it, than we have to conclud, that bccaufe fome men do not groan, therefore they have no p>vn ; or, that dying is a mere jeiT, becadfe theie have been, who have feemed to make little elfe of it. A good face may be pur upon an ill confcience ; and the more hopelcfs mens cafe is, they reckon it the more their intcreft to nsake no rcfTcftions on their Hate' and cafe. But every one, who will confult himfelf feriouf- ly, (hall find in himleU the witnefs to the judgment to come. Even the Heathens wanted not a notion of it, though mixed with fictions of their own. Hence, though fome of the Athenians, when they heard of the refurre6lion of the dead, mocked, Afts xvii. 32. yet there is no account of theis itiocking, v/hen they heard of the general judgment, ve* , 3V.
3'!>6 The Coming of
II. For cxplicatioQ, the following particulars may Tcrve Id
Sivc loiTiC view of the nature aoJ tranfadions of that great ay. .
• //Vy?, G.)D filial Judge the worM by Jesus Christ; tic willjud<ff the wcrU in righUoufntfs. by that Man whom he. katk ordained, Afts xvii. 31. The Pf^lmiil i«'ll» us, that t)od u Jttdge himjflf, Pfalm 1. 6. The holy blcflVd Trinity, l-^jthrr, i'cn, and holy Ghofl, is Judge in rcfpcft orjud.ciel aathority, dominion, and powrcr ; but llie ^o<\ incarnate is fne Judge, in rcTpc£l of difpenfation, ?.nd fpecial cxcrcifc of thii power. The judsmeot fliall be cxcrcifcd or pcrforfucd bv liim, as the royal Mediator ; for he has a delegated power of jadgment from the Father,. as his. Servant, his Km^}, whom He haih fet upon hi* holy hill of Zion, Pfalm ii. 6. and to whoin he hath committed all judgment, John v. £2. This it a part of the Mediator's exaltation, given him, in confeqacnce of his voluntary humiliation, Philip, ii. 8, 9, 10. H:huPib](d kimftlf\- and .heccunc obedient unto deaths even the death of the crofs. t'^'kcr'Jcre God hath highly *xalt'.d him^ and given him a name^ which is above every name, i. e. power and author* ity over all, to wit, That at, or in, the mane of Jrfus, not the ramc of Jksus, that u net th^e tiaini? atjove cvcy natnr, be- ing common toothers, as to Julius, Col. iv. 11. and Jufca.), Hcb. iv. ?'. every knetjhallbow. The which is explained by the Apijflle hiinltlf, cf Handing before the judg^ncnt ftai oF Chhist, Rom. xiv. 10, 11. So he who was judged and cotidemned of men, fnall be the Judge of men and angels.
S'xvndly , ]'L^\i % Ch r isT, tUc Judge, defending from heaven into the ear, j The{. tv. 16. fhall cviie ir the clouds cf heaven, zvith power and great glory^ ^^atth. xxiv. 30. This J:is coming, v/ili be a' mighty furprifc to the world, which vill be found in deep fccurity; foolifb virgins (leeping, and the wife {lumbering. There will then be m\)cb luxury and debauchery in the world, little fobriciy and watchful ncCa ; a great throng of hufincfs, but a great fcarci?v of faith and holirefs ; Ai it was in the days of Noah, Jo ujfojfiall it t': :r fhe days if the Son of man: Tiiry did cat, they drank, they n.u; ■■ ried wives, thty tocre given in marriage, vntilthe day that N> tih entered into the ark ; end the food came end drfroyeti then •Ii. L'Letuf, alfo, as it was in the days of Lot ; they did eat, thfy d'cnk, they bought, the) fid, they plunttd, they builded--" Even thus fall it Le, in the day when the Son of man is reveal- td, Luke xvii. e6, 87, c8 30. The coming of the Ju^^c wilt fuipnfo fon'.e at raarkeis, buying and falling: others at table, caring and drinking, and making merry; others bufy tvilh their new plantings; fomc building new houfes; nay, •c • Aedding-day, n't 11 be ihctrowa wd ibc wofld'* judg-
Jejns Ckrift, the JiJge. 307
4nQTt\ (lay. But tbcjunge coinct'n ! the markets are ironed : the buyer tlaroys away wh^i he has bought ; the feller cafts down h>s money; they afe laifed from the table, and iheir rririh i^ ex- tingu'fhcd \t\ a nomcnt ; tbo' the tree be fet in the earth, the gar- . <!cfier may not flay to cadthe earch abont it ; the wcrkm<rn throw away thcjr tools, when the houle is but^half built, and the own- er rewards it no more ; ;iie bridegroom, bride, and giicils, mud Jrave the wedding-fcaft, and appear before the t.ibunal ; fo'-, Btkold he comcih with z lends ^andiv fry eyejhallfce /nm,Ktv. i. 7. He (hi.! I coinc :noft glorjoullv ; for he will ccme ti iht glcry of kis Father zuith the holy angels, Mirk viii. 3?^. When he came in the flofli, to die for frnn-r?, he l.rd ailde th-; robes of his glo- ry, and was dcipifcd anf^ rcit!tlcd of men ; L**' when h^icomes Bi^din, to jiHigcthe world, fuch (hall be liis vifiblc plory and majeflv, thu it fliall cil- an eternal val over all earthly glory, and fill his j^re^Jtcft ereTnici-with fe^r and dread. Never had . prince, or potentate in the world, fuch a plcicus trair>, as will accompany this Jtidge ! All the holy anaels fhall come wiih'him, for his honour and fervicc. Then he, v,ho was led so the crofs with a band of foldiers, will be glorioufpy attended tr> the place of judj^ment, by (not a multitude of the heavenly hoft.bur} ths whole hoft of angels r yf// his hdy anqds, fays the text.
Thirdly^ At the coming of the Jud-^e, the furamons is giveri to the panic*, by the found of the lafl tru.Tipet ; at whi^h the iiead are raif^d, and thefe found jt'ive, chan;;eu : of which be- fore, I ThtlT. iv. i6, 17. O loud trumpet ! that fn.il! be heard ^ ojicc, in all corners of the earth, and of the fea ! O wonder- lul voice, thiit will rot only diflurb th&fe who fiecp in the dui" ; b'.it etfc£taally awaken, rouze them out cf theif tlocp and raifc them fiom death I Were trumpets founding now, drams beat- ing, furious foidicrs crying and killing men, women and child- ren running and fhrici-'ing, the wo*!r.ded groaning and dying ; i'lhofc who are in the gra-ves, would have no more diHuibance, •than if the world were in mod 'ircfound peace. Yca,u'crc ftof- . Biy winds catling do'.vn the loft/ oaks, the feas roaring and fwal lowing up the fhipi.lhe moft dreadful thunders going alomj • -the heavens, lightnings tvcrv-where flafbing, the earth quaking, . trembling, opening, and fwallowing up whole cities, and bury- ing muhititdes at once ; the dead v/ould ftill enjov a pcrfeft tc- pofe, and n.:ep f«unJly in the 6u^, the' their own ua?i fnouid be thrown out of its place. But at the found of thi-s truT!pct,thry- fiiall ail awake. The morning is come, they can ilt-ep no long- er ;' the tjnie of the dead, that they muft ht j-idged ; they muu , •cr out of their graves, and appear before Cat Juvige.
Ftitrlhly^ T?he Judge Ih.all lit down on the tribunal, Ktfr.dii
' on the th'-on'' cf his glory . SometiBie he Hood before a tr.b:«-
-<*i oa zz'S'.f. sa.n v.*as rcr.d*mr>ed as 2 malefa^cr : then fhaU
y
^0$ The Ju^gc ftting dozinz
he fit on his own tribunal, and judge ihe worlti, Soraciimch^ hung upon a crofs, covered with fhamc ; then he fhall fit oil a throno of glory. What this throne Ihali be, whether a bright clond, or what elle, 1 fha'il not en<fuirc : Our eyes will give an anfwerfo that q;icilion at length. John faw a great white throne, Rev. XX. ir. H/s throne, fays Daniel, mas like ihtftery flame ^ and his wheels cs l^urningfire^ chap. vii. cj. Whatever it be, doubtlefs it Ihal) be a throne, glorioni beyond expreffion ; and, in cumparifon with which, the mod glorious throne on the earth, is but a feat on a dung-bill ; and the fight of it will equally fur- prife kings, who lit on thrones in this life, and beggars, yi\\o fat in dung-hills. Jt will he a throne, for flatelinefs and glory, foitcd to the qj'aiity of him who fhall fit on it. Never had a judge fuch a throne, and never bad a throne fuch a judge on it. Leaving the difcovery of the irature cf the throne, until that t'ny, it concerns- us more nearly to confrder what a Judge will fit upon it ; a point in which we arajipt left to uncertain con- jectures. The Judge on the throne will be (i.) A vifiblc JiMge, vifiblc to our bodily eyes, Kcv. i. 7. Every eye Jhallfu Hun. When God gave the law on mount Smai, the people faw no fimilitude, only they heard a voice ; hut when he calls the world to an acconn*^, how they have obferved his law j the man Christ being judge^ we fiijll fee our Ju<lgc with our eyes, either to our eternal comfort or confufionf; according to the entertainment we give him now. That very body which "was crucifcd without the gates "of Jerufalcm, betwixt two thieves, fhill then be fecn on the throne, fhining in glory. Wc BOW fee him fymbclically in the facrameni of his fupper ; the faints lee him by the eye of faiih : then, all (hall fee him with thefe eyes now in their heads. (2.) A judge, having full ai»- thority and power, to render unto every one according to his works. C.MP>is r, as God, hath authority of himfelf; and, as Mediator, he hath a judicial power and authority, which his father has invelJcd him with, accerdtng to the covenant betwixt the Father and the Son, for the redemption of finners. And his divine glory will bf a light, by which all men Ihall fc€ cl««riy to read his commifTion for this great and honourable cuiploy- jnent. All power is given unto him, in heaven and in earth. Mat. xxviii. 18. He hath the keys of hell and of death, Rev. j. 18. There can he no appeal from this tribunal ; fcntencc once pail there, muft fland forever ; there is no rcvcrfing of it. Ail appeals aic from an inferior court to a fuperior one; but v^hcn God gives fentence againft a man, where can he iin<! a kighcr court, to bring his proccis to f This judgmeni is the * T> diator's judgment, and therefore the laft ju'lgmCut. ^ \[ tH terc-tlo.' be af,aiiiflus,who can he for us ? IfCn R jst condc.r.u •I) H'ho \Cill (ibfulve us ? (3.) A Judge of ic&uUc wifdoni, liis
on the Tribunal^ 009^
#y« will pierce into, and clearly difcern.the moft intricate cafes. il\s omnifclence qualifies him forjudging of the moft reticed thoughts as well fs of words and woxks. The moft fubtle Hq- ner {ball not be abfe to ouiwit him, nor, by any artful manage- ment, to palliate the crime. He is the fearcher oC hearts, to "whom nothing can be hid or perplexed, but all things are nak- ed and open unto his eyes,Heb. iv. 13. (4.) A moft jaft Jijdg.e; a Judge of perfect integrity. Ht is the righteous Judge, sTim. iv. 8. And his throne, a great white throne. Rev, xx, 1 1 . From whence no judgment Ihall proceed, but what is moft pure and fpotlefs. TheThebans painted juflice blind, and without hands j forjudges ought not to refpecl perfons, nor take bribes. The Areopagites judged in the dark, that they m.ightnot regard Who fpoke, but what was fpokcn. With the Judge on this throne, there will be no refped of perfons ; he will neither regard the perfons of the rich, nor of the poor, hut juft judgment fhall go forth in every one's caufe. i-ajily^ An om!;ipotent Judge, able to put his fentenee in execution. The united force oidevils and wicked men, will be altogether unable to withftand him. They cannot retird the execution of the fentenee againft them, one moment ; far lefs can they ftop it altogether. Thoufand thoufands of angels minifter unto him, Dan. vii. 10. And, by the breath of his mouth, he can drive the cuifed herd wbrihcr he plcafeth.
Fifthly yTh.^ parties (hall compear. Thcfeare men and devils. Although thefe laft,^the fallen angels, were, from the firft mo- ment of their finning, fubje61cd to the wrath of God, and were caft down to hell ; and wherefoever they go, they carry their hell about with them ; yet, it is evident, that they are rcfervcd unto judgment, 2 Pet. ii. 14. namely, unto the judgment of the great day, Jude 6. And then they fhall be folemnly and pub-
• licly judged, iCor. vi. 3. Know }e nct^tkat tLnJhalljudgi angels? At that dav, they (hall anfwer for their trade of finning, and
. tempting to fin, which they have been carrying on from the be. ginning. Then many a hellifn brat, whicfiTSatan has hid down at the faint's door, but not adopicii by them, fliallbe laid at the door of the true father of them, that is, the devil. And he fiiall receive the due reward of all the diftionour done to God, and of all the mifchief he has done to men. Thofe wicked ipiriis, row in chains, tho' not in fuch firait cuftody,'but that they go a- bouf, like rearing liens, feeking whom thevmay devour, fliall then receive rheir final fentenee, and be flint up in their den,namelv, in the prifon of hell ; where they fhidl be held in extreme and tjnfpeakable torment thro' all eternity, Rev, xx. !o. And the dtvil^ tkal dtctiv.d ihtm^ wai caH into the lake offirt and drin- Jfcne, where tke bcaji and thefalje prcphei are ; andjha'.lbr tor-
'^ menffd *''?J crid night, fvr t\ er (tnd (I :r. In prorpcci of which.
the devils faii! to Ch « i s r, i*/'/ f/iou coote kftker to Ufrflsinl us 0\fe'{ : \c time ? Mat. viii. 29.
Put \vh.it we are cl.icfly coneefned to talCc noVivr^ of, ifi' tlic c ife oj incn in that djv. All rr>rn mtfit cotnpcsf befafi lliii uibuiial :=A^!, of e^icli fcx, and of every age, qniliiy at)d can- ciiion ; the ^r<fat anJ i.nall, noble and ignoble ; none are ex- cepted. Adjin ard Eve, with all jhclr Tons and daogh'.ers ; e- ycrv ore who has bad, or, to the end of toe woild, Tioll have, a 'living fri;l un«ieff to a bcdv^ will friak^ up this greSt congre^ jiation, f^vcn there who relufodto come to the ihrcrc of grace, fhali be forced to the bar of juJlice ; fu»- thtre cati be no hidl ing from the ajl«reeiiig f.id^e, no nyfng from him who 'i% pre- ftnl every where, no iciiRmg him who is arrned with alun-*-- ty power. H'c muji afl^Trdc-ffhre l^'e j-ddj^mcnt-fcat afChi :\ t ('or. V. 10, Erfore hi'nJh-.U It gathrrfd all kdUoni, ^ys rfie trxt. This is to be done by the niiiiiflry f>f angels. Bv then l*]all rti£ clcH be gathered, Mark xiii, ij.Tkfn Jliall ki fend h.< ciii;1ils, cndjliall gather tcfetr'ier Mi clfD fr?ri the JoUr icind . And they alfo hill ;»athc. the rearobate, M-^. vi't \r,. m S, Jkall il lie in the en d o/ this zportd, The Sen ' hiiang'As^ and ihcy Jkall vainer v}it of his k. ^ ,,
ijfeady and than xokkh do iniquity. Froa all corners Off the wojld, {hall the iub-ibitants tl)cre6f be gathered unlo t&ephct, •where he (ball fct bis ihronc f^r judgraenr.
Sixthly ^ There fball be a Tepiraiibn made BctwI^t ihfe righ- iccLTsand tht v^icked ; the fT.vr cnrrpany of the 'e!e6^ Ihcc^ Se- ing fei on Christ's right hand, and t':e reprobate goats e*i bis left. There is no ncctlEty tovai for ihi& feparjtion, till the. trial he over; fince the parties do rife out of ifceir gVjvcj, viih pbia outward marks of dininft^on, a3 was cleared before. The fcparaticn ^tfim Lobe circilcd by that doubte gatheriir^ S - foic-r.icn:'foncd : the one of the vlev!\, Mark xlii. 27. the o- ■ of ihcm tbcl Cio iniq*i:fy, Hit. xiii. 41. Ifeclcift lieing c : up together ia the clouds, inect the Lord in tlic air, i i iv. 1?. ard fo »re fct on bis ri|^ht hand ; and the reprobate let: on the canii, Xiat. xxv. 40. upon tb'c Judge's left h^vA. Here is cow a total ftparation of two parties, who were always op- pofitc to each other, in their principles, aims, and m?nf«er r.r life ; who. VI ben lOjjcther, were a burden t^c one to the oth- er, under which the ore gro«r.ec',.and the other raged ; but now thcv are frccl> parted, never to come together atiy more. Tl-c iron and ciay,Vi'ude to Din. i'. ^i. 43. wh'ch'coufd n'tvcr v. • are quite fepstited : the one bclog drawo up in ilic r.ir. "*v atiraf^ive virtue cf the fionr cut out of the niou'ch? J K s I i C:: R J 3- r i the chcr hfl upcii in earth lu bz :
1^ paralion betzoixt Rihgt ciq O Wicked. 3 -; ;.
N^^y 1st U5 lopJk. to the xi^^i ha.'wJ, zndihcrs.we will fee a lorious coinpfiny' of faitits (hinm* a> fo many liars in their ;as; and v.'i'h a cbe^srful C9«r.:^r'ancf, beholding him vl.4 HUiii uppn the ihrpne. Here v/ill «? two wondrffc! ^^^/s, v:h3ch.the \xorid uUo rf>t to f^e. (i } A gr?^t ccMn^rcgafica of rjots, in which iici lo nt»c\\ ^ one hypocrite. "There waft 9 bloody Cain in Adatr.*s fainiiy, a curled Ha^Ti in Noali'i fa- jr^il., ig» the ark ; a trfeachero'is Judas in Chi r.ist's cnvo iavnt- ij)-, but in that company ib^Ii be npre^t^* T.ile^ onc^j n\eo>- icrs of Ch a I ST , hiviii;; all one Father ; and \/i\? is n fr^l^t rc- i'vrvqd for t}iat day. (2.) AH the goily upon '''n«e {ilc. ScHor^ or licy^r do thc.I.:ints csv^diifi rr,?kp fu;:'! a harrppny, hut there ftre fomejairin/^ Urings among t'nex. h U CQ* to b:* exocciLrl, t!)ai uicn ,wl..o i>c bu: in pait, l^o^^f^- '^''T.^^ fi\ik»i^'' one c»- ty, tvill a;^roe a? to every ik^in th't v^y ;,nc, we reed not look for if, in this fiatc oi uapcrfti^lion. But at riiu day, Paul and iiarpabas Inail inLet.iu jiti;C': snd unicy, thou J^h, once th? con- UQtiQ»n >V2S foHiarp bqivewn.iKi^pi,J;hat they (Icj^arted ^^fitacpr, ihfc oajc from ilic qtl.er. A^ts:ty. 33. 'j"n^>j: ^'.<J| be.;:;? P9^p ^Jlvilioas, ijp otore fcparate {iand.ii>^, ;^rnqnj3 thofe .vt^.o lieWg to.CiJKiST. All the 69^1v nf* ihr driT-icfM ptrtie<, lluli ihsa he upon one fi ie ; r«,'eijjg, iilutcycj- Ay^re ih<;ir diifcrcnccs iii JtCcr things, vw/ule in the world, yet fvca ih'^p, tncy met .and concenirfd "ail in or.e Lord J.-:<<us Christ, by a true and .lively fjitb, and iji the oneway of i/oliijf-ls pr praBical podli- •flcfs. An'tlie r'"U;;h;y hTgpc\-Ite%jof,Vkhjiro.cy>f pariy.Qtall be i<;d iorrit with the workers o.iniqair/. -
JLjtiok tc the left h3nr,2r.d there you will f^c the curfcd goa';. ai! liie wirkcd ones, fiom Cain to -the lail un^dly perfon whir* jihali be in the world, gathered toj^her ijifio one n:oil mifera- :bie corgregjtion. Tbcre src i^any aficmbJies i>f iHe wicked jio.iv ; then there iluU be but one. "JJat all of th-Ti jbail J)£ -pre.Unt there, brou^t together as onp herd for tne iliughter, ■bcilowiiig and roaring, v/ceplng and hovvl-jig far the iPiTeri^s .conjcoa them. Ar.d remember ihpu uult pot pc a mere fpcQa-" ,.tor, to lopk at ihefe two fo ditfercirt coi'i^ar>ies > but lEufi thy- icU lake thy pU^c incne of the two. ij^d Q-ialt fharc v.-ith the conipjn), whatever hand it bt upon. Thefc who npw abhor no focie.'y fo much, as thst of the faints, would chen be glad to he allowed to get in .a.T.cii^ tjtem. thoiii^h it were but\o lie un\on^ ibe^r feet. But then liot one laie fiiall be found Aviih the wheat; he will tliorou^hly pur^e.lxis floor. hUny of the right-hand tBcn of this Ayyild, will be left-hand men in th?t day. Many who ir.ufl have the door and the right hind of thefe, \vho aie better than ihcv, if the righteous be jrrore excellent ihan his neighbour, (hall then he turned 10 the left hand, as .iariuii c?i£n;iible wretches. O hcv terrible, will the fsparatioa
312 The Trial of the Parties.
be to me OTgo<Jly ! how dreadful will this gathering them to- gciherinto ooc company be ; what they will not believe, thry vill then fee, na^nely, that but few arc favcd. They think it enough now, to be neighbour-like, and can fccurcly follow ih^ multitude; but iJie multitude on the left hand. will yield them T.Q comfort. How will ij {Jing the ungodly Chriflian, to fee himfclf fct on the fame hand with Turks atid Pagans! how will It gall men to find themfelvcs (landing, profane PiotcflantS v-iih idolatrous Papifts ; praying people with their profane reighbcurs, who mocked at religious excrcifes ; formal profcf- fors, ftrancers to the new birth and the powrr of godlincfi, wiih perfecutors ! now there arc many oppofitc focicties in the v/orld, but thin all the ungodly fhall be in one focrcty. And hiv dreadful will the fr»res of companions in fin be ro one atc- they there; what doleful fhricks, when ike whore-raun^cr ani his whore (hall meet ; when the drunkards, who have had many a jovial day together, fhall fee owe another in the face : >vhen the hufband and wife, the parents and children, th« M^f- icr and fervants, and neighbours, who l^avc been fnarrs & Uam- bling-blccks to one another, to the ruin of their own fi>uls, an4 thcfe of their relatives, fliall meet again in that miferablc foci- cry ! Then will there be curfes inftead of falutations ; and-tcar- :p.g of themfclves, and raging agaiofl one-anoihcr, inUcad of the wonttd embraces.
Siventhly^ The parties (liall be tripd. The Trial cannot be difficult, in regard the Judge is omnifcient, and nothing can be hid from him. Bur, th it his righteous judgment may be evident to all, he will fet the hidden things of darknefs in clearcft light at that trial, i Cor. iv. 5.
Men fhall be trietJ, Firfi, Upon their works ; for, Godjhali bring every rvork into Judgmtnt^ with evtryjecrrt thine, whether It be good or whether it be evil, Eccl. xii. 14. The Judge will try every man's converfation, and fet his deeds done in the bo- dv, with j3ll the circumflances thereof, in a true light. Then yi\\\ many aRions commended and applauded of men, as good and juft, be difcovercd ro have been evil, and abominable, in the light of Go D ; and mTny worl'^s, now condemned by th»: v.'crld, will be approven and commended by the great Jud^f, •<: good and Ju!l. Secret things will be brought to light ; and v*h,ii was hid from the view of the world, fhall be laid open. Witk- fdnefs, which hath kept its lurking place in fpite of all human fearch, will then be brought forth to the glory of Gon, and the confufion of impenitent finnerf who hid if. The world ap- pcirs now very vile, in the eves of thofc who are ex«rc:fcd to podlincfs ; but it will then appear a thoufand times n>ofe vile, when that, which is done of men in fccret, comes to b: dilcov- <rcd. Every good action fhall then be rcir.ciubcTcd ; and iLr
The Trial of the Parties. 313
bidtlen religion and go«d works, moft induftiiotifly conccalt<i by the faiaco, from the eyes of iner., Ihall no more lie bid ; for
though the Lord wili not allow men to proclaim every man his o-yn goodnefs, yet he him felf will doit in due tiipe, Sic6tidi^\ Their words /hall be judj^ed, Mat. xii.37. for hy thy words then Jhatt bcj'Jiificd, and oy thy n-ords thaujiialt //e condemned. Not a word fpoken for God, and his caufc in the world, from Jove to bimfelf, (liall be forgotten. They are al) kept in reaicmT l)/ance, and fiiall be brought forth as evidences ol faith, and of an intcreft in Ch R I ST, ^IAt. iii. 16, 17. Tkcn thty that feared the Lord, Jpake often one to a another ^ cad the Lord hearknid and heard it ; and a hook cf remembrance ujs zorhten bijore him. And theyjkall be mine^Jaith the Lord of hnj}s, in that day when J make vp my jezvtls. And the tongu;:, which did run a.t random , fnall then coiifcfs to God j^ and the fpcaker fljall find it to have been followed, and every wo^d noted that dropped from his un- lan^tified lips. Liery idle word that mat JlialLf peak, thry fial^ give auoiint thereof in the day of judgment^ }\Iat. xii. 36. And if they fball give account of lale words, that is, words fpoken to no good purpofe, neither to God's glory, one's owOjOr one's neighbour's good : how much mare fliall ltchs wicked words, their {inful oaths, curfes, lies, filthy communications, ai;d bitter words be called over again that day ? Tbe tongues of many Ciall then fall upon themfclvss and ruin them. Thirdly, Mens thoughts fha'il be brought into judginent ; tbe Judge will B^ake mauifeU the connfel of the hearts, 1 Cor. iv. 5. Tho'is go free from man's judg ncnt, but not from the judgment of the heart-fearching Gud, who knows mens thoughts, without the helpof flgns to dii'cern them by. The fccrct fprings of mens anions, will then be brought to light ; and the Cns, that n^ver came further than the heart, wril then be laid open. O what a figure will marrs corrupt nature make, when his ir.fide is turn-, cdout, and all his fpecu^tive impurities are expofed ! the rof- tennciS that is v/iihin many a whited fepulchre, the fpecubtive filihioefs and waritonnefs, murder and malignity, now lurking in the hearts of men, as in the chamber of imagery, will then 'pe difcovered ; and what good was in the hearts of any, {hall no more life concealed. If it was vn their hearts to build a houic to the Lord, they fliali hear, that they did well that it was*ia their heart.
^ This trial will be righteous and impartial, accurate and fearch- ing, clear and evident. The Judge is the ri^hteoys Judge, and tc will do right to every one. Ke has a jufi balance for good and evil atlions, and for bonefl and falfe hearts. The fig-leaf pover cf hypocrify will then be blown afide and the hypocrite's r.akedncfs Will appear; as when theLoRD came to jndje Adanr\ >nd Eve, in the ccol, or, as the word is. in the *find, of the
S^i The Bocks opened.
da? , Gen. iii. 8. The fire, which tries thiuj^s moR cxq-iifitc^v,
^all try every nan's lubrk, of what fort it IS, i Cor.iii.13. Mart'* ju<}gnarht is olt-unies pe'plr:;ed &confufed : but hrre t\ic who!?; prrccfs {hall be clear aaj ev„Jciit, »$ writieo with a fttflbcaai. It (hill be clear to ihe Jadi;*, ro whom no cafe can ht intrt- cace ; lo Itie pariifg, who (hnU be convinced, Jade 1,5. Aid the multitudcg on both fides, (hall fee the judge is clcai whtn bo jadgeih; for then ihe heivens fljaU declare hi-, ri^htcoufncfj.la th- audience of all the worid; and fo it fhall b^ univeifuHy known, Pfalm 1.6.
On thcfe accounts it i«, that this trial n held out in the Scrip- ture, under the notion of opei)in:» of books ; and men ace faid to be judged out of thofe things v/rittcn in the hooks, lycv. xs. 12. The Judge of the world, who infallibly know«fih all things, hath no need of books to be laid before hi n, to prevent i?iif- taUc in any point of law or fa6l ; but the exprcflioo points at his proceeding, as moU nice, accurate, jifl, und well gToi»ii<hd, in every ftcpof it. Now, there arc four books that Ihall be u- peii^d in that day.
/■/^y?, The book of God's remembrance or omnifciencc, Mril. iii. 19. This is an exaft record of every man's ftate.tbo'is, '.vcrds, and deeds, good or evil ; it is, as it werf a day-booJ?,it^ wuich thcLoRO puts dov/n all that paffjih in mensheaxis,1:ps, aiid lives ; and it is a-filling up every da\' that one lives. In if sre rctordcJ men's (ins and good works, fccret and open, with ;«II their circumfhnces. Here arc reg'flrcd all ibcir privih-ges, mercies temporal and fpiritual, (omcinre laid to iheir hatid ; the checks, admonitions, Zc rebukes, given by teachers, nei^h- i>ours, afiliftions, & mens own confciences ; every thing m i'l due order. This book will ferve onlyns a libel, in rcfpcft of the ungodly ; but it will be for another ufe in rcfpeft of the godly, najiciy, for a tnemorial of their good. The open;ngof it, is the Judge's bringing to light what is written in it : the re3dinff,as it were, of the libel and memorid, rcfpe6ti:.vly,in their hearing.
Siccfrd(y, The book of confcicnce will he opcn«'d, and fhaU be as a ihoufand witnefles fo prove the WiSi, Rom.ii.15. IVhich JJitw the zvork of the la-^ zuritten in their hrnrli, ikeit confclenci n'fo bearing wiinrfs. Cof.fcience is a ccnfor goin^ with every r» an whitbcrfocvcr he gocs,fakingainacco in'O' his dccdsdone in the body, and, as it were, notiujif them in a book ; the which being opened, will be; found a double of the formcr.fo far as it yei2tes tonne's own flate and cnfe. Much is written in it, which cannot be read new j ihe writing of conrcicricc being, in many cafes, like to that whicli '\s mr>de with the j licc of Icrnons, not to be read, till it be held before the fire ; bnt then men flull ; Lid it clearly and diilipHiy ; the fire which »s to try every :r;an'* v>ork, will make the book of ccnfc-eccc Icgibl: in tvcj.
The Bocks opened, 3^5
ry |5r«nt. Though the book be fralcd noWjtbcconfcierce blin<<, d'jTii and deaf, the fe3l.> will tben b? -broken, ar.d tbt bock o- pentd. There fliail be no more a wtrfk. or njifinForrred con- (cicnce among thofc on the righr hand or thcfe on the left. There fliall not bs a filcut conrciencc/^nd far lefs a Teamed con- fciencc among all the ungodly crew; but their ccrfcicnces :3ll be mcll p'lick ii^niCQ, and rncft liyelv, in iliai day. Nunc ir.Ajl then caU gccd evil, or cvi] good. '~" .jgnorzn'c of wh^t fia IS, and what things are fins, v.t11 b^ve no place amonj? tbcm ; a«'.d ihe fiibtlc reatonirus of men, in frtvoor of thtir luft.«, will ihen hr for ever b:.fflcd by their o^^ coakieitces. N->t>c fhall have the i^\onr, 'f I m3y io-fpeak, ct Ijm^ under the toft cov- er of" deliwon ; but th».'y fli^H ^.li he convicted hv their corjfn- cnce. Nill ihcy, will they, they fh^U lock ort this hook, resd and be confounded and fiand fpcccMcfj, koowrn^ thnt nothing is charged upon tbc'.n by miftakc; i\".i-:c. this is a book, vbich was aK/ays in their <,v,n rudody. Thus (hal! the Judge make every man fee himfclf in iht g'tifsof iiis own coulcicncc, wbic.t wril mike quick work.
Thirdly, The bock of the Law fiiall be opened. This bock 3$ the ficnd^rd and rule, by which li kno«*rn whst \z jighi, and vhat is wrong ; zs alfo, what ("cmcRcc is to he p»lT;-d ecrord;nr- ly, on thcle who are under rr. As to the opening at u.is book, in its ttatutcry part, vHich {'le"'? \vh;it is fin, apd what 'S duty; it falls in with the opcnliig of the book of confcicnce. For con- fcience is fet,by the fovcirign Lawgiver, in every man's brcjft, to be his private teacher, to Oiov^- b'm the l.?w, and his private p-ift'^r, lo make sppliruiicn of the f^tne ; and, rt that d^y, it Mill be ucrfccily Ht for its office ; fo ih.it the confcience, which is moll ftupid now, (hall then read to the man, mo/f accurate, but dreadful lectures on ri^e \\^. But vih'lt fcxms, mainly at Icaft, pointed ar, by the opening f. f this book, i-> the operiingof tl at partof itjU'hich dotermines Cue rewardof mensworks. Novr, the idw proroifcd life, upon perfgtt obedicr.cc ; hut none caa be found on the rijht hand, or on the left, who wiil pretend to thar,v,-hen once the hook of confcicrce is opened, it thrcateretS death upon difobst'ience, and win cfT^ctually bring it upon ail under its dominion. And this part of the book of the law, de- termining the rewaid of mens works, is opened, only to fhe'v V. Ijat mull be the portion of the un;jodly, and that there they may read their fcntence be fore it be pronouncrd. Bui U is nr t op."ned for the fentcnccof thciVintsj for i:p lenfeice, ablofv- it!g a tinner, could ever be dra'.vn out of ir. The law promil- cih l.'fe, not as it is a rule of 2cl'ons^J'J«a5 a covenantor works; and therefore innocent man could not have demanded life up- on his obedience, till the law was reduced into the form of a fovcnaot, as was ilici'n before. ^-^^^ the i-::v>i having been, ia
^i6 The BooJiS opened.
this life, brought under a new covenant, namely, the covenant of grace, were dead to the law, a> a covenant of works, and it was dead to ihcm. Wherefore, as they fhall not have any feari cf dcaih fio;-n it, fothcy can have no hopes of life from i(,{ioce they arc not under the law, but under grace, Roin. vi. 14. Bui, for their fcnience, another book is opened ; of which m the ntxt place.
Thus the Beck of the Law is opened, for the fentence againft all thofe on the Icfi band j and by it they will clearly fee the ' jfticc of the judgmrnt agaiijft them, and how the Judge pro- ctccj therein, according 10 law. Neverthelefs, there will be this (iiffercnce, naajcly,ihat thefe who had only the natural law, and lived not under any fpecial revelation, ftiall be judged by thai law of nature they had in their hearts : which law bears, That tkiy tuuo commit fuch iJit'ngs, as they will ftand conviikd of, ^ire worthy of deaths Rom. i. 32. Bat thefe, who had the writ- ten law, to whom the word ot God came, as it has founded in the vjfjble church, fhall be judged by that written law. So fays the Apoftle, Rom. ii. 12. For,ai tnsny as kuve finntd without (ihe wriiier.) law, JlialL pfrijk without (the written) law : And as man}' as havejinncd in the law (i. e. under the written law) Jhall l^f judg^ by the (written) law. .
Lajilyt Ancthcr hck fhall be opened^ which is the book of life Rev. XX. 12. In th:s the names ot ail the eltft are written, as Christ faid to his difciples, Luke x. 20. Yvurnamesare writ- ten in heaien. This book coniaits Go D'sgracious and unchange- able purpofc, to bring all the elf ft to et* rnai life ; and that, jti order thereto, ihcy be redeemed by the blood of his Son, efTcc- t'jally called, juftified, adopted, fanftified, and raifcd up by him at the lalt day without fin. It is now lodged in the Mediator'* hand, as the book of the manner of the kingdom ; and having pel [tdcd the v.-ork the Father gave them to do, he fliall, on the f^rcat day, produce and open the book, and prcfent the peifons therein named, fLulilefs before the prefence of his glory, Judc 9.4. Ac^ having fpot orwrinkl^^ or anyfuch thing, Eph. v. 27. None of them all, who arc natjied in the book, Ihall be miffing. Triry fliall be found qualified, according to the order of the took, redeemed, called, juflificd, lauflified, raifed up without fpot ; .what remains then, but that, according to the fame book, they obtain the great end, namely, everlafling life. This may be gathered from tfiat precious prcmife, Rev. iii. ^. He that czprccr,,cth, the fame fliall be ctothea in white raiment, being raii'- rd in ciory, and I will not blct out his name cut of the bcok 0/ life. Bui I tL'ul rrnfejs his n«mr (it (hall be, as it were, read out among the reft of Goo's eleft) before my Father, and before his angels, Kcre is now the ground of the faints abfolviturc, the ground of the blcdcd fcQteocc they fhall receive. Thc,book of lifebcin^
Sentence pronounced en the Saints. 3 1 7
(•pened, it will be known to all, who are elected, and who are Bor. Thus far of the Trial of ihc parties.
£?ghthly^ Then fhall the Judge pronounce that bitflcd fen- tence on the faints, Come ye bUjfcd of my Father^ irher-it ihn king" dom pnpared for ycu from thefcuiulaticn of the wortd^ JSIat. xxv. 34. It is moll probable, the man Ch R 1ST will pronounce it with an audible voice; which not only ail the faints, but all the wicked likev/ife, fhall bear and underftand. \Vh0c4n conceive the inexprefiible joy, with which thtfe happy ones fhjl! hear thtfe words ? Who can imagine that fulneis of joy, which Oull be poured into their hearts, with thefc words rcnching their car* ? And who cm conceive how n^uch of hell (hall break ii:- to the hearts of all the ungodly crew,by thefe words of heaven ? It iscertain this fentence (liall be pronounced, before the fcntcnce of damnation, Mat. xxv. 34. 41 . TktnfnaU the King fay unto th'-.tji on his right hand Xome ye bUJfcd^z.—rhenfiaUhifay alfo to them, pn the left hand, D''part from mejt ciir/eu,ik.L. There is 00 needof this order, that the faints may, withcat fear, &.c, hear the other (entence on the rcproh^ic ; they who are raifed in glory, caught up to meet the LoRo'in the air.prefcatcU without fpor, and wbofe fouls, for the far greater pan of theui, have been fo long ill heaven before, fhall not be capable of any fuch fear. But hereby they will be orderly brought in, to fit in judgment, as Ch rist's afTcffbrs, againft the ungodly j whole tor tnent will be aggravated by it. It will be a hell to them, to be kept out of hell, till they fee the doors of heaven opened to receive the faints, who once dwelt in the fame country, parilh, or town, and fat under the fame miniftry with themfelves. Thus will ihty fee heaven afar off, to make their hell the hotter. Like that unbelieving lord, 2 Kings vii. 19, 20. they Diall fee the plenty v/ith their e)es, but fujll not eat ibereof. Every woid of the bleded fentence, fhall be like an envenomed ar»ow Ihat into tlieir hearts, while they iee what they have loA,aQd from thence gather what they are to expe£l.
This fentence palfcth on the faints according to their works, Re.v. XX. 12. But not for their works, nor for their faith neith- er, as if eternal life were merited by them. The fentence itfelF overthrows this abfurd conceit. The kingdom tiiey are called to, was prepared for ihcm, frorn the foundation of the world ; rot left to be merited by themfelves, who we.'e but of yefler- d^y. They inheritit as fons, but procure it rK)t to themfelves, as fervar.ts do the reward of their work. I'bcy wcie redeemed by the blood of Christ, and clothed with his fpotUls righicouf. rcfs, which is the proper caufc of the fentence. Tiiev were a!- fo qualified for heaven, by the lan£t:ficaiion of his Snitit ; and hence it is according to their works ; fo that the ungodly world ihull fee now, that the Judge of the ^uick and dead docs gccg
31 8 P.'niente prono^mced on the SainU^
♦ > «Hcin, who wcp« fptii. Therefore it w added totbe feDt«yte« r^r / v'.-f rz»; AuvgereJ, and ye gavtime mat, Sec. ver. 15,5, 36, ^.hich doth ret denote rhe ground, but the .evi'icnce ol their i^gi-it to bcavcn ; as if a judp^e (lioii^id fay, be abCoivesa man pur- incd for d^bt, for tl»e %iritncK'ts-dapciic, tivat k is paid »Ucad/. 80 the ApofiJ- fays, i Cor. *. 5. A<f tf/zVi6 mtr/ o/'thcii: God T'jizi not wtLL j^leafed^ for ihty ever; cvcrUircion in ike wildcrn'/s^ Their ovcr/hrov in tiie wildernefs was rvot the ground of Goo's <»irpleafurc with th*nn, bat an cvidcco; of it. And thu» our Lord tcachcto us the jntcfffary CGnnexioii betwixt \\U\ty and jiood works, namely, works evangelically good ; works havitig a rcfpeii to Je s u s Ch r i st, and done out of faith in hi-n, auu iove to hi»r>, without which ^hcy ivilliTOt he rcj^ardedio that day* And the fdints will fj far be judged according to fuch wo'ki, that the degrees of glor^' among., ihcm thall be ^cccidiug »o ihcle works; for it is an eternal u\xihjldi:that/awJhff'a.nu/,}, Jhall reap fparingfy, 2 Cor. ix. 6.
Thus Hiail the good works of the godJy hive a glorious, «Qt p ^latuitous rev.ardi a reward of }U^;»ce, not of debt; which will illi them vi'h wonder at ihe r»chcs of \\i:c. gricc, and lae Lord's coodr fccnding to take any notice, eipcctally fuch pub- lic notice, of their poor, worthlefs works. The which f^ms to be the i:nncrt of what they arc faid to anfwer, "Saym:;, Lard, 'nhcvjawrt;ethtes.n hpngcrcd^ &c. vtr. 3;*, 38, 39. An i may th-y noijufljy wondtr, to fee iheml^lves Ui down to the n'.dr- riage- Topper of the Lamb, in confcqatnce of a dinner or luppcr, c Itttlc TTieat or drink, foch aj they had, which they gave to an h-jngry or thirfly member of C» r > st, for hu take ? Oh plen- tiful harvcfl fclloAine; upon the feed of good woiki ! rivcis of j,iea(ure fpiinpng i^p fro-,it, pcTh;<p;>, a cup of cold water given rrt a difciple, in the c^me of a difci^lc 1 tterail nianlio.s o4' jiory rifi'.)?; our of a rjiohl's lodging given lo a faint, who svasa lirangcr ! everlaflicg ro<T*8 of \i}oi\ given in exchange ot a new c >at, or, it may be, an old one, bcflow^d ou (ome faint, who had lot necclTiry clothing! a vilit to a f:ck faint, lepaid b\ Cilk isr hi!nfclf,coin:ngs in the glory ot his P'athcr, with ^11 bis holy angeh ! a viiit made to a poor prifoner.for the caufeolCnKtsr, repaid wi'h a vifir froin ihe judoe of all, lakirg away the viCt- ant with him to the palace of heaven, t^Krre to be cv.r wub himfclf ! thcfc things will be matter of cvcrlai)liig wotidcr, ai<4i fhould fiir up sll, to fovr lil-eially in IfdW, wbiu; the fccd-li.iic oi good works doth hO. Eut it is Ch R ist'< flainp on good \voik«, that puts a value on them, in the eye of a graciousGoD ; which fccms to be the iir^poil of our Lor d's icply, ver. 40. fn ai mucA asyc have d't.e it, unto out of the Uaft of iktjc *jy enthnn^yt hue dene il unto n;^
: Saints JkaU ju^g t tnt Wo rli. 319
iX. Now the faints having received their o'.vn fetitencr, rhcy ihail jooge the world, i Cor. vi. e. This wiS cot fui.'illcd, "when the empire became Chridiaas, and Chrift>aTis were made rnagiftratcs. No, the P'^'mid teJU us, Tltis kcnour havz ai-hc flints^ PfaL cxlix. 9. hx\\ «he Apoflle in the forccited place, adds, And if the u'orld JJiail h judgfd by ycu, areyc ■^niaorihy to jndgt theJjKallcJi Tii^ittirs ? Vcr. ^ 3. Knozvye rot ihat tut jh all judge angels ^ Being called, they co'ne to recti^e their king- dom, in the view of an^tls and men ; they go ^s it were, from the har to the thjcne, To liivi that ovtrcomeik, tuiU I grant tojit with me on my thror.t. Rev. i i. at. The/ (hall not only judge ihe ^orld, in Christ their head, by wny of commur.ion wiiii fjim ; hy their v;ork5 compired with tUcfc of the unoofUyr ; or, "by way oFicflimony againft them ; hut they fliall be "ir<rfr<>rs tt> Jesus Ciir.is-t ihe Jacgc, giving their voice againll thcm^ confenrirjg to his j idgmcnt as jufl, and laying Amen, to liic doom pronourccd 2gainft all xhK-. uu.^cdly ; as is (aid of ihe faints upon the judgmert of the great whore, Rev. xix. 1, 2. Hallelu- jah ^ for true and ri^htecus are his judgnrr.''s. Thus the uprjoht ihali have dominion over thc'in, in ih(; morning of the refanec- lion, Pfa. xhx. 14. Then, and not till then (hall thsi b: fully accompliflied, which yc m«y read, Ff, cxlix. 6, 7, 8, 9, Let thi high pratjis ofGcrd be in thdr mout/z, ,ind a. Izrc-tdged fwori in their hand, to execute vergeancc ipon 'he hea'UtTi^and punijhmrnts ■upon the peopL-i,-— this honour have aii ki^J.iints. O! what a flraogt turn of affairs, will appear here ! what an afionifhin^ fi^ht will it be, to fee wicked c'rjrch men and fttitcfnen, (land- ing 3S criminalft-bcforc the faints, whom fd^nctimes they ccn- dcrnr.ed as heretics, rcbeh zud traito^;! to fee rr.cnof riches and power, ftand pale-faced before thefc^/hoRi they opprcffed ! to fee the mocker (land tre..iblinj; before thcfe whom Ije. mock- ed, the v.-orldly-wife man befoY'i thefc whont he accounted fools I then Dxall the defpif-d faces of the faints, be dreadful faces to thie wicked j and ihofe v/ho fometimcs vrcre the fcng cf the drunkards, (hall then be a terror to them. All wrongs- aiuft be righted at length, and every one ktin h:s proper place,
Tcnthly, The Judge ihall pToncurcs the fentence of damna- tion on all the ungodiv muliitude. T hen fh3.lL ht fav alfo vr^to iheln on the left hand^ Dtpartfrcn Tj:e,ye curfd^ imo cverlajii-aj. jirt, prepared JOT the d'.vii and his angels, vcr, 41. FcailuL doom ! and that from the fame moiith, from vfher.ce proceeded the fcntenceof abfoianon before, itv^ss arjag,gi«vajionof the mi- ls r%' of thejew?,v'hen their city Wasdcuioyeh.tf'.et they were ruin- ed Ly one who was accounted the darhn^df die world. O ! wh.!C 3n aggravation of the msfery of the wicked tvill it be, that be Tniill pronounce this fenrence a'fo 1 to hear the eiirfe fro'u ^ouniZion^mttii v.zzii fee la&ii texfials, T<j tc dia:ic:eti by
J26 Sentence of Da7nnaii on
him, who came to fave finners, muft be double damnation. Buf thui it fhall be. The Lamb ofGoD (fcall roar, as a lion,agaJQ4 ihein ! he fh«l! excommunicate, and caft them out of his pre* fence for ever, by a fcntence from the throne, laying, Depart^ from mc, yc cuijcd. He {hall adjudge them »o cverlafting fire, and the fnciety of devils for evermore. And this fcntence alfo, we fuppofe, fliailbe pronounced with an audible voice, by the man Christ. And all the {^\x\\%^^\\ {zy, lialUlKJak^ true and riqkteoui are his jud<rmcnts. None were fo compaflionate as the laints, when on carih, during the time of God's patience. B'Ji now that time is at an cud, their compaflion on the ungod- ly is pA-allowcd up in joy, in the Mediator's glory, and his ex- tciiting oF jiift juiliTment, by which his enemies are msde hii iootfloo!. Tho* fometimes the righteous man did weep in fc- cret places for their pride, and becaufe they would not hear; yet, then, He Jkall rejoice , when hej'ectk the vengeance he Jhatl ZL^aJh his fret in the bleed of the wicked, Pfa. Iviii. lo. No pity Ihall then be (hewn to them, from their neareft relations. The godly wife fhall applaud the i'j<lice of the Judge, in the con- dcm»iation of her ungodly hufband ; the godly hulband fhall fay Amen to the damnation ot her who lay in his bofom : the godly parents fliall fay, Hallelujah, at the pafTing of the fentcnoc a- ^aintt their ungodly child ; and the godly child fhall, from his heart, approve the damnation of his wicked parents, the father who begat him, and the mother vho bore him. The fcntence isjufl : they are judged according to their zocrhs, Rev. xx. i«.
There is no wrong done them ; for I was hungry, faith our Lord, and ye gave me no meat ; J was thi*Jfy, and ye gave me 719 drink ; / was ajlranger, and ye took iw. net in ; nak'd, and ye clothed rue not ; [fick, ahdin prifon, and ye vijited me not, vcr. ij 2, 43. Thcfe are not only evidences of their ungodly and curf-* ed ftatc, but mofl proper caufes and grounds of their condemna- tion; for tho* good works do not merit falvation.yet evil works mciit ddHination. Sins of one kind only, namely, of omiflion, are here mentioned; not that ihclc alone fhall then be difcov- cred, for the opening of the books lay all open, but bccaufc thcfe, tho' there wevc no more, are lufficicnt to damn unpar- doned finnets. And if men fhall be condemned for fins of o- inifnon, much more for fins of commiHioa. The omidion of works of chjrity and merry, is condcfctnded on particularlv, to Hop the mouths of tHe wicked; for it is mofl juft, ihjt he havft j jdgmcnt without mercy, that bath fiiewcd no mercy, Jam. ii. 13. rhe metnioring of the omitlion of «ds of charity and mercy towards the diflreflcd members of Cii rest, intimafes, thit it is the jiidgmcntof thole who have heard of Ch u J n r tnthcgof- pcl, that it principally intended here, in this portioa of ftpp^ (urc ; and that the flighting of Cuk 1ST, will be lite grcjuca«l9
en tke^UngoJly, 321
<)f the n*ro of tfjofe who hear ihe gofpel ; but the enmity of ihc hearts of the wicked againft himfelf, is difcovercd by the entertainment they now give to his members.
In vain vwill they iz.y,V/h'tnfaw xvc ihce an hungred^ or a-tkirfi f &c. ver. 44. For the Lobd reckons, and will reckon, the world's unkindnefs to bis people, uakindnefs to himfelf : In as muck as ye did it not to one of ihe Itafc ofthcfe^ ye did it not to witf, ver. 45. O meat and drink unliaopily fparcd, when a member of Christ was in need of it ! O wretched negleft, that the ftranf^er faint was not taken in ! it had been better for them, they had quitted their own room, and their own bed, than he had wanted lodging, O curfcd clothing, may the wicked fay, that was in my houfc, locked up in my cheft, or hanging in my wardrobe, and was not brought out to clothe luch a-one ! O that I had dripped myfelf, rather than he had gone away without cloathing f Curfed hufincfs, that diverted me from vifiting a fick faint ! O that I had rather v.'atchcd whole nights with him ! V/retch that I was \ why did I fit at eafe \n my houfe, when he was in prifon, and not viiit htm ? J5«it now the tables are turn- ed ; Christ's fervanis fiiall eat, but I fhall be hungry ; his fervaots Iha)l drink, but I (halhbe thirfly j'^ibey rejoice but I am afhamed, Ifa. Ixv. 13. They are taken in, but I am call our, and bid depart j they are clothed with robes of glory, but I walk naked and they fee my fliame. Rev. xvi. 1^5. They are now raifed up on high, beyond the reach of ficknefs or pain; but t muft now lie down in for row, Ifa. 1. i r. Now fhall they go to the palace of heaven, but I mull go lo the prifon of hell.
But if our Lord thus refents mens' negicUing to help his people under tbefe, and the l:ke diftrefTes; what may they ex- pefi, who are the authors and inilruments of them ? If they fliall be fed with wrath, who ^td them not when they wer^ hun- gry; what (hail become of thofe,who robbed aud fpoiled them, and took their own bread away from them ? What a full cup of wrath fhall be the portion of thofe who wers fo far from giv- ing them meat or drink, when hungry or thirRy, that they made it a crime for others to entertain them, and made thcrafelves drunk with their blood ! they mud lodge with dcvili for ever- more, who took not in the Lor d's people, when (Irangers ; then, what a lodging fr»all thofe have, who drave them out' of their own houfcs,out of their native landjand made theiiillrang- crs? Men will be condemned for not clothing them, when nak- ed ; then, how heavy mud the Icnte.ice of thofe be, who have ftript them, and made them go without cloathir.g ? Sorely, it not vifiting of them in ficknelj.or 'n\ a prifon, (hail he fo fevere- ly punifhed ; they fliEll not efcape a mod heavy doom, who iiave «aft them into pfifoftSjand have put thcoi aiadei fu-h hard^'
g S 2 Sc ni'mce^ of Damnatic:
ftfp!i, a« hrvt impaiccd tNcir health. brooj;hi fickoe-fs on thcni, anJ cut their dsy» in prifon, cr out of priloii.
To put a face vfion fuch wicked prattkcf, men will prrtcnd to retain an hor>otir £oi Chr is r and religmn, while they ihu« treat his mcrnhtffs, w:ilk(ii^in hit wuvs, and keeping the tnitb« Thtv ate h*re rrprcJentcd to hv, Wk':nfaw we t&cfan kunffrtd, cr a-tkitfiy or ajtrattfrir^ or naked, orjici, or in prifon, arid did not mirnjtfr viUo thee ? ver. 44. As if they lh';u)d fey, Oar hic»6, dr»nk. lodgirg, rlotb:nij, and vifits, were indeed rcftfcd, but not to Ch R 1st ; but to a let of men. of a bad charaftrr ; men who turned ihc 'votld apfrde down, AfUxwii. 6. who trou- bled Ifracl, ft Kings Kvi:i. 17. an humorous andfantailic fort of- p<*ople, having laws diveile irom all people; factious and r-c- bclliouf, ihcy Hid not ktep the king'i laws, and tbcTctore a very dangCfOi« fct of men j it W2» not tor the king's profit to fuffcr them, Edher til. 8. But altho' men c^kfl in.ijaity upon the godly, !>>»J give them ill narr.cj, that they may treat them .a«' criminals ; all theTe pretences umU avail them nothing, in the great day, before the rii^hKs>us Judge, nor before their own cotW fticnccs neither ; bm ihc real ground of their cn.7ji;yagi*inri the faints, will be found, to their owo conviction, to be iheir enmi- ty acainfl Cay 1 sr himulf. Thi* feems to be the import^f the objc£iion of tl>e damned, ver. 44. and of ihe an(u-cr to it, ver. 4,5. In as much csyc did iinot toxMC of the IcaftoftkrJ'e^ ye did it not to me. ,
Lrrjlly, Sentence being pif! on Both parties, foUow* the futf execution of the fame, vet . 46. And t.i jtJhaU go away into ev- trlaJHngpunipimerit,biit tit righteous into hfr eternal. The d.4mn- cd Oiall get no reprieve, but go to their place without delay ; they Ihall be driven a'A'ay froi»» ihejadg:in;nf-reat into hell'; and fbc faints fliall cnfr into (he king'* paUce.Pf. jtlv. r5. n^mclv, into heaven the feat of the hldfcd. But our LoR D GiiR is r, and his glorious compsnv, fball keep the fi»;ld that dav, and lee the backs of all their enemies ; for the damned go off firft.
In ihti day of the Lo r. d, the great day, fhxll be the ";encral corfld^TAtion, Hy which thofc viliblc heavens, the earth aod fca fhall pafs a'.vay. ICottbat thev (boll h? annihilated, of r^ducccf to no'hing, that is not the oprratton of fire ; but they (hall be diffjlvcd, aod purg«-d by that fire, from all the cffttls of fin, cr of ihccuifc, I pon them ; and \\\zx\ renewed, and made rftoreglo- rioai and fljblc. Of this o^^fl i^ration,thcApoftlc Petet fp-^iVs, •Pet. 111. 10. fiut the d'ly rf the Ltrd roiLl coine y as a c
nif^id ', in tUe rchich tUe fieavens fhntl pafs awny wiih a andt/i':e!et>fyntJ7tal(r-^Unfiik/?rr,'(fi:A>ati tkc fcn ihr works thai are therein J.'iaU be In/rr.t up, Sec aH- And of the renewing of the world, ht adds, ver. "'
The general Conflagration, . 323
Wt^ according to his promife^ look for nttj heavtn&y and a new earthy wherein dxveUetk rtghteoii/'nefs.
It feems moft agreeable to the fcfipfures, and to the nature of the thing, to conceive this conflagration to follow after the general judgment ; fentence beiDg pad en both parties before it. And I judge it probable, that it will fall in with the patting of the fentence in execution againft the damned j fo as they flial), according to their fentence, depart, and the heavens and the earth pals away, together and at once, at that furious rebuke from the throne, driving away the damned out of the world, ia this fire, to the everlafting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Even as, in the deluge, with which the Apoftle Peter compares the conflagration or burning of th? world, 2 Pet. iii. 6, 7. the world itfelf, and the wLrked upon it, perifiicd together ; the fame water which dcfttoyed the ear'h, fwceping away the inhabitants. For it is rot likely, that the wicked Ihall at all ftand on the new earth, wherein dwelletb righteoufnefs, 2 Pet. iii. 13, and as for this earth, it (hall flee away, which feems to denote a very quick dilpatch, and it (hall flee frotn his face, who Tits oa the throne, Rev. xx. ii. And I /aw a great white t/irone^ and him. that fat on it^ from whoft fa^c the earth and the heavens fed away. The execution of the fentence on the wicked, is alfo thus expreffed : They (hall be puni(hed with everlafting deftruc- tion from the prefence, or from the face of the Lo r d, 2 Thef, i. 9. The original word is the fame in both texts, the which being compared, feem to fay, tha*. thefe creatures abufed by the wicked, being left to ftand, as witnefles againft them in the judgmen% are, after fentence part on their abufers, ma(fc to pafs away with them from the face of the Judge. It is true, riie fleeing away of the earth and heaven is narrated, Rev. xx. 1 1, before the judgment ; but that will not prove its going be- fore the juc^gment, more than the narrating of the judgment* ver. 12. before the refurreBion, ver. 13, will prove the judg- ment to be before it. Further, it is remarkable, in the execu- tion of the fentence. Rev. xx. 14, 15. that not only the repro- katc are caft into the lake, but death and hell, are call into it Itkewife ; all effcfts of (in, and of the curfe, are removed out of the world, for which very caufe fhall the confiagrr.tioa be, and they are confined to the place oF the damned. Befides all thif, jt is evident the end of the world is by the conflagration ; and the Apoftle tells us, 1 Cor. xv. 24., 25. thar, Then coraeth thz cndy when hefiaU have delivered up the kingdom to Gcd^ even the- Father : when kefiallhavcput down all rule, and ail authority^ and power. For he mnji reign, till he hath put all enemies unaer his feet. The which laft, as it mu(i be done before the end; fo it feems not to be done, but by putting the fentence in exec\> ♦ion. paf> ii> the day of judgment, againft the wicked.
3-4 '^fif general Conjlagration .
Now, if the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, that afe f«t forth for an example, fude 7. was fo dreadful ; bow terrible Will that day b-, when the whole world fhall be at once in flames ! how will wretched worldlings lock, when their darling world fliall be al! fet on fire ? Then fhall ilrongcafiles, and towering palaces, vith ail their rich furniture, go up together in one name wiih the lowcft cottages. Wiiat heart can fully conceive the terror of that day to the wicked, when the whole fabric of heaven and eanh, fh'^Il at onrc br difTolvcd by that .fire I when th<>.t roilcrable conrtpany fiiall be diiven from the tribunal to the pit, with iiTc wi'hln them, and fire without them, and on every hand of them ; fire before &: behind them, awaiting them in the Jake, whither iWk fire, for ought appears, tnay follow them !
As for the particular place of this judgment, though fomc point us to the valley of Jeho'hiphat for it, yet our Lord, ^ho knew it, beiag afi;ed the qucttion by his difcrplcs, i¥here k.»rd? told them only, IVkercfoever the body is, thither wilt the ^f?Us be gathered to 7(1 Iter ^ Luk.c xvii. 37. After which anfv/cr,, »t is too much for men to renew the quetlion. A>s for the time when it (hsll he ; in vain do men fcarc^i for what the Lor i> has purpofely kept fecret, A£^s i. 8. // ii net/or you to know the /^^« or t}i£ feafcns, loHichthe Father has put in hii cun power. The ApoHIe Paul, after having very plainly dcfcribcd the fci- end coming of Ch R I ST, i Thef. iv. 16, 17. adds, chap. v.«. Hut cf the times andjtafcns^ brethren, ye have no need that I write witoyoii. For ycurj'eives know pcrjcilly, that the day of the Lord fo comethyasa ihitfin the night. Neverthelefs, fomein fcvcrafc ages, have made very bold with the time ; and fcveral particuu lar years, which arc now pad, have Deen given out to the worlds for the time of the end, by men who have pried into the fccrc^J of God. Time has prnciafmed to the world their rafhncfs and follv ; and it is likely, they will be no more happy in their conjcflures, whcfc determinate time is yet to come. Let us reft in that he cometh. God hath kept the day hid frorp us, that we may he everv dav ready for it, Mat. xxv. 13. IVatck therefore^ Jorye know neitherthe dcv nor the hour^ wherein the Son of man coneth. And Icr us reuiciTibcr,ihat the latl day^'of our life wiH cJetcrminc our Hnfe, in the lail day of the world ; and as wc die, fo fhall we be judged,
I fnall now fhnt up this fubjcS, wiih fome application of what has been faid.
Use L or comfort to all the falafs. Here is abundance of eonfolation to all who are in the flate of grace. Wh-tcver b« '►our alfliclions in the world, thisdiy will maltc up all yourlofT- «s. Though you have lain among the pots, yet fhall ye bt as tkt winp of a dove covered with fi/ver, and her feathers with yeliua ^old^ Ptaljilxviiir 13. I'hou^h the world reproach, judge fcad
V
Comfort to the Saints. 325
condemn you, the Judee will at that day abfolve yon, and bring forth your rightectifneU as the light. The world's fools, will then appear to have been the only wife men who were ia it. Though the crofs be heavy, you may well bear it in expectation of the Grown of.righieourncls, which the righteous Judge wiii jtben give you. If the world do dcipife you, and treat you with ,-i$jne utmoft contempt, regard it not ; the day coraeih vvhereiri ;.you (hall fit with CaRiST iu his throne. Be not d'fccuraged, by reafon of manifold temptations ; but refift the devii, in con- fidence of a full and complete vi£lory ; for you fhall judge the tempter at laft. Though you have had wreftling now with die body of fin and death ; vet ye (hail get all your enemies under ,,ypurfect at length, and be prefented faultlefs before the pre- >fence of his glory. Let not the terror of that day difpirit you, . when you think upon it ; let thcfe who have flighted the Jud^e, pnd continue enemies to him, and to the way cF hblinels, droop and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming ; but lift ye up your heads withjoy, for ihe Infl day will be your befl day. The Judge is your Head and Hulbnnd, your Redeem- .. cr, and your Advocate. Ye n»ufl appear before the judgment- feat, but ye {hall not come into condemnation, John v. 24. His coming will not be againft you, but for you. He catric in the flefh, to remove the lawful impediments of the fpiritual marri- age, by his death ; he came in thcgofpcl to you, to efpoufe you to himfelf ; he will come, at the laft dav, to folemniza -the marriage, and take the bride home lo his Father's houfe. Even fo co-ue Lord Jefus^
Use II. Of Terror to all uabelievcrs. This may fcrveto •waken a fecure geceraiion, a world lying iu wickednefs, as. if they Y''ere neyerio be called to an account for it ; and flighting the Mediator, as if he were not 10 judge them. Ah ! how few have the lively irr.prcflions of the judgment to come ! moft men live,, as if what is faid of ir, from the word, were but idle tales. The profane lives of many, fpeak the thoughts of it to be far fuxm their hearti, and in very deed make a mock of it before the .world, faying in effeQ, Where is the promife of his comiag ? r,The hypocriiy pf others, who blind the eyes of the w orld witli
a fplendid pj-fefiion, being in appearance Christ's flicep, --. ^ while they arc indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the great feparation of the (heep from the goats, is very little iaii to heart. How do many indulge in fccret wickednefs, of which Jlhey would be alliamcd before witncfl'es ; not coDfidering that their moll fecret thoughts and a£iions will, at that day, be dif- covered, before the great congregation ! hoi^r eage#ly are men* hearts fet on the world, as if it were to be their everlailmg ha'o- ' itation ! the foleraa affemblies, and public ordinances, wherein the Judge is upon a tranUctionof peace with the ciimioais, arc
326
1 l) {<jy bv L' u'j' > ii'Ocrs,
Bndervaloc^; mens heartj wiil fwim like feathers in tlictrtteft cf thcfnQusrv, that wili fink, like ftonts, to the bottom, in >?.re?of This life ; they will be very fcrious in trifles of thi» ■VYotId, and irifi" in the moil iorioi« ar»d \yeighty things of ano- ther wof i^i. BuJi O ! cnnfidcr the (hy that !•» approacbin», iti vhich Ciri» 1ST fhall come to judgment; tWc woi Id ihall he fi»m!i»r.ned, by :'ne found of the laft truirrpct, to compear brfof^ ^is tr^r.unai. The .fudge ?bn\\ fit on his throne, and all nations fhall be fiffed before him ; the fepara»ion fHiU he made betwixt the god!v and the wickcd,.ihc books opeaed, and the dead judg- ed cut of thetn ; one party fhall be adjudged to-ercrlafling life, and the oihcr (o cverJafting frre, accorHing to their works.
It would bea fight of admir:jhlccuiioritv,ifthou cou4dfl wrtjr lip thyfclf in (otnc dark douu, or hide thyfelf in the cleft of feme high rock, from ifc-beiice :hou uiigbttR cfpy wicked king^, princes, judges, and great ones of the earthy rifmg out of their marble to-.nhs, and brought to the har, to tfi^fwcr for all their crucliv, irjuOice, opprcGion, and profanrtr, witbotK any markf cf diniT)6hon, but what their wickcdnefe pan npon ihem : pro- fane, unholy and unfaithful churehmen, purfucd wirh the curfet of the ruined people, from »hcir graves fo the judgment-feat, and charged with the blood of fou^s, to whom thev gavenofaitk- ful warning ; mighty men flanding trembling before the Judgr, unable to recover their woated boldnef?,^ to oivt-wit him with their fuhtilties, or defend f hemfelv^s by their ftrengih ; delicate vomencaft forrh of fhcir graces, as abominable branches, drag* ged to the tiibunal, to an(wrr for their ungodly lives ; tbcig* norant, fuddenlv taught in thtr kiw,to their Gofli > and the learn- ed declared, before the world, fools and laborious iiiHers ; the aihcift convinced, the hypocrite unmaiked ; /nd the profane, at long run, turned ferious about his etrrnal flate : fecrci mur- ders, adulteries, tliefis, cheat/;, and other works of darkncfs, which fcorned all Iruman fearth, difcovcred and laid open be- fore the woild, with their incli roicute circumHarces ; no re- gard had to the rich, no pity fh^-nn to the poor j the fcalet of the world turned ; opprtifrd and dcfpifcd piety fet on high ; ani ^rofperous wicljednefs at laft brought low ; all, not found ia Ckr I ST, arraigned, convifted, and cofidcmned without rtfpeft of pcrfons, and driven from the tribunal to the pit; while ihefc Ibund in him, at that d\\ being ab(<)lvcd before the world, go »ith him ii.to heaven. Nay, but thou canft not fo efcape. Thy- fclf, whofocvcr thou art, not being in Christ, muft bear a ttart in this tragical and friehiful a£tion.
Sinner, that f<ime Lo u dCiik I5 r. whom thou now defpifcfi, *#hom thou wounded through the fides of his melfcngers, and before whom thou doH prefer thy luW«, will be th) Judge. And ^ cc^k^lcd Saviour will be a fcvt.'-c Jud^c, O ! what Bioun*
Terror to Unhelievers. 327
tain, what rxjck wilt thou get to fall on thee, and Mde thee froni the face of him that fitteth on the throne ? 'i'hou haft now ai rock within thee, a heart of adamant, fo that thou canft count the darts of the world as Aubble, and laugh at the fhaking of the fpcar ; but that rock will rent, at the iif;hi of the Judge ! that hard heart will then break, and thou f'^alt wee;) and wail, when weeping and wafiing wtiJ be to no purpofe- Death's banids will fall off ; the grave will vomit thee out , and the mountains (ball fkip from thee ; and <be rocks refufe to grind thee to powder. How will ihefe curfed eyes abide the light of the Judge ! Behold he cometh i where is the profane fwcarcis, who tore his wounds ? the wretched wor'.riiing, now abandoned of his god ? the formal bypQCiite, who kiijcd him, and bctra)etl him ? the dclpifer of the golpel, w!io lent hi'ii away in his 1;k f- fengers groaning, profaiicd liis Qjd/naivces, and trampled under foot his precious biood ? O, murderer, the flain Man is thy Judge I There is he whom thou didft. fo rr-ahreat ! Hc-hcld the negletlcd Lamb of Go;), appearing as a lion agaiiifi thee ! How will thine heart endute the darts of liis fiery looks ! That rocky heart now kepi out againfl him, Ihail then be blown up ! that fare, which rcfufeth to blufh now, fljdli^hcn gather hisck- nefs I arrows of wra<h ihall pierce, where arrovN.'s of coiivjciioix cannot eruer now. What wilt tho^i anlwer him, when herif- eth up, and cbargeth thee with thy unbelief and impenitency ? Wilt thou fay, thou waft not warned P Confcience within thee, will give thee the lie; the fecrct groans and wearinefs of thofe, who warned thee, will witrjefs the contrarv. Ifachildora fool did tell you, that your houfe were on fire, you would im- rudiafely run to quench it; bui, in mattcis of eternal concern, men will liril fill their hearts with |>Tejudices*9;;ainft the mef- feng#rs, and then call their mefiage behind their backs. Bat thefe filly fhifis and pretences will not avail, in the day of the Lord. liov will tbcfe curfed cars, now deaf to the call of the gofpcl, inviting finners, to come to Cm r I s r,hear the fear- ful lentence. Depart from, me., ye curfed^ into cverlajiing jire, prepared Jbr the devil and his angcisf ^^ofl^rpy hearer IhalJ be there ; no man's heart will then wander j their hearts and eye$ will then be fixed on their mifery, which they will not now be- lieve. O that we knew in this our day, the things that belong to cur peace.
LafJy, Be exhorted to believe this great truth j and believe it fo, as you ipay prepare for the judgment betimes. Set up a fecrct tribunal m your own breafts, and often call yourlclvcs to an account ihc^. Make the Judge your friend in time, by clcfing with him in the offer of the golpel ; and give all dili- gence, that ye may be found inCiiRrsr, atth««t day. Call off the works of darkncls, and hvc, a$ bcUcvirg you aie, at all
328 Prcparatitm for Judgm evt.
times, and in all places, under the eye of your Judge, who wHl bring every work into judgment, with every fecret thing. Be fruitfuf in good works, knowing that as vc fow, ye iball reap. 5ft]dy piety towards God, righteoufncfs and charity toward* xncn. Lay up in ftorc plenty of works of charily and mercy, towards them who are in diftrcfs, efpecially fuch as arc of the ^ou{hold of faith, that thev may be produced that day a* evi- dences, that ye belong to Ch R 15T. Shut not up your bowels of mrrcy, now, towjrds the needy ; left ye, then, find no mercy. Take hccJ, ihat in all your wciks, ye be fingls and fmcere ; ;iimtng, in them all, at the ^lory of your LoR D, a teftimony olt ycur love to him, and obedience to bis command. Leave. it «o bypocfites, who have their reward, to proclaim every man hi$' own aot-)dneIs,and to found a trumpet, when they do their'alms. It is a bale and unchriftiar. fpirit, which cannot have fatisfabtion in a good work, unlefs it be expofed to the view of others ; it is utterly unworthy of one, who believes that the lad trumpet fliall call together the whole world ; before whom the Judge himfclf fnali publiih works truly good, how fecrc'ly loever they uer«*. done. Live in a believing expetlatioa of the coming of 'he Lord. Let your loins be always girt, and your lamps burning; lo when he comes, whether in the laft dayof^our life, or in the laft dav of the world, ye fiull be able to lay with joy, Xj, this is our God^ and zae have ivaiied for him.
HEAD V. The Kingdom of HEAVEN.
Matthew xxv. 34.
Thenjliall the Kins; jay unto them on his right hand J Come yc'bLjJtd oj my' Fatlier, inhtrit the kingdom prepared for you J rem the Joun^ dalion of the world.
HAVING, from this portion of Scripture, which the text is a part of, difcourfcd of the general judgirvcirt ; and be- ins to fpcnk of the cverlafliug happincfs of the faints, and ihc cvcrlalling mifcry of the wicked, fiom the rciDCf, tive fcntences to be pronounced upon them, in ihc great (lav ; 1 ihall lake them in the orJer wherein ihcy lie before us ; the rather that, a fcnttncc is firft pafl upon the righteous, fo tne exicution i*-,ereof i-; firH bepui', though ptjfTibly llic olhcff may 4e fully executed bclofc 11 be coicplcatcd.
The Kingdom of Iledven, 3"29
The wcyftis of the text contain the joyful fcntence itfelf, to- gether with aa hiftorical introduttion thereto, wlych gives us an account of the Judge pronouncing the lenience ; the Kin?^ Jesus Christ ; the parties on whom it is given, tkem on his right hand ; and the time when, tkal^ as foon as ilie trial is o- ver. Of thefc I have fpoken already. It is the fentence it- felf we are now to conlider, Come^yc klcjfcd of my FrJher, &c. Stand a-back, Oye profane goats ; have away ail unregeneratc. fouls, not united to Jksus Christ; this is not for you. Come, "O ve faints, brought out of your natural ftate, into ihe Hate of grace ; behold here the flats of glory awaiting you. Here i« elory Jet down to us in words aad fyllables ; a lookinq-glaf* in which vou may fee your evcrlafling happinefs ; a icfieme^ or draught, of Chr isi's Father's houfe, wherein there arc many naanfioas.
This glorious fentence hears two things. (i.) The com- plete happinels to which the faints are adjudged, the kin'rainH. (2.) Their folemn adrnifTiop. to it-, Come ye blej'^dofmy F^ihei\ inherit, Sec. fifjl. Their corrplcte happinsls is a kingdom. A kingdom is tbe top of worldly fel'ciiy; there is nothing on earth greater ihan a kingdom ; therefore the.hir. ^n weight of glory in heaven, is held forth to us under that i.o'.ion. But it Is not'an ordinary kingdom.it is the kingdom'; the kingdom of hea- ven, iurpafTmg all the kmgdoms of the earth in giory, honour, profit and plenfure, infinitely more than they do in tbele excel the low and inglorious condition of a beggar in rags and on a dunghill. Secondly^ Thcie is a folcmn admKTioa of the faints into this their kingdom, Come ycy inherit the kingdom. In the view ot angels, men and devils, they are inveftcd with royalty, and folemnly inaugurated before the whole world by Jesus •Christ the heir of all thini^s, who hath all pov/er in heaven and in earth. Their right to the kingdom is folemnly recog- nized and owned ; They are admitted to if, as undoubted heirs of the kingdom, to polTcls it by inheritance or lot, as the word properly fignifies ; becaufe o* old, inheriiarccs were defigned by lot, as Canaan to Ifrael, God's firR-born, as they arc call- ed, Exoii. iv. 22. And becufe this kingdom \% the Fathei's iiingdom, therefore they are openly acknowledged in their ad- mi fiion to it, to be the bleifcd ofCn R 1 ST*s Father ; the v/hicii blefTing was given them long before ibis fentence, but is now folemnly recognized and confirmed to them by the Media'cr, in his Father's name. It is obiervable, he fays nor, Yo bkff? J ^f the Father j hut ye hlefTcd of iny Father ; to (hew us, that all fclcfTinas ar« derived upon us froHi the Father, the foaniaia ^f blcfTi ng, as he is the God and Father of our Lord Jrsu» Ch r 1ST, through whom we are bleffed, Eph. i. 3. And final- J/, tkey are admitted to this ItJn^doiB, a& that which wa* ore-
3^0 The Sainis' kindly power,
parcAbr them from the foundation of the world, in GonV: **""'' purp^fc, before they, or any oF«thcin were ; fhat all tkc woild may fee eternal life to be ihd'frec ^iftof God.
Doctrine,
The Saints Jhall be viade completely happy, in the Pojfjffion of the Kingdom of Heaven,
Two things I (hall here inquire into, (i.) The nature of »hi« liingdom. (2.) The admifi-on of the faints thereto. And then I (hall make praftical inaprovemcnt of the whole.
Ft R ST, As to the nature of the king»;om of heaven, our Juiowledgc of itis verv imperfctl ! for. Eye hath notfrrv, nor f Or heard ^ neither have entered into the heart cfman^,thf things tuhich Gcd hatk prepared for them that love him ^ 1 Cor. li. 9. As, by familiar refcmblancrs, parents in(tru£l their little chil- dren concerning things, of which ofhcrwife they can have no tolerable notion ; fo our gracious God, in contemphiion of curweaknefs, is plcafed to rcprefent to us heaven's happincls, under fimilitudes taken from earthly things, glorious is the eyes of men ; (ince naked difcoyeries of the heavenly glory, di- verted of earthly refcmblances, would be too bright for, our weak eyes, and in them we would Ijut lofe ourfelves. Where- Tore now, one can but fpcak as a child qf thclc things, which ihc day will fully difcovcr.
The (^ate of glory is rcprcfented under the notion of a bing^ dom ; a kingdom among men, being that in which the grenitit cumber of earthly good things doth concenter. Now every faint fhall, as a king, inherit a kingdom. All Christ's fubjcfts fhall be kings, each one with his crown upon his head j not thai the great King (hall divcfl hinjfelf of bis royalty, but he will make all his children parrakcrs of his kingdoip.
I. The faints (hall have kingly power and authority given. Our L«* RD gives not empiy titles to his favourites ; be makes them kings indeed. The dominion of the faints will be a do- minion far exceeding that ot the greateft monarch ever was in earth. They will be abfolutc waders over fin, that foineiimc bad dominion over them, Tbey will have a complete rule owr their own fpirits; an entire management of al! their af- fe^ions and inclinations which now create iKem^fo tnuch mo- Icflation ; the turbulent root of corrupt allcftions, iball be for- ever expelled out of that kingdom, and never be able ahy more to give them the Icaft difturbjince. They (hall have pqwcr o- Ter the natiojis, the ungodly of all nations, and ihaH rule them Vitb a rod of iron, Rcv» ii. 25, 2-. Jhe whole world of the
Their Enfigns of Royalty. 331
Wicked fhall be broken before them ; .Satan fhall be brujfed under their feet, Rom. xvi. 20. He jhall neverjje able tofaf- ten a temptation on them any nicre : but he will bejudged by them ; and in their light cad, with the reprobate Crew, into the lake of fire and brimfione. So fhall they rule over their op- preflbrs. Having fought the good H}>ht, and got the vitlory, Christ will cnttnain them as JoCiua cia his captains, cauf- ing them coxe near," and put their lect upon the necks 01 kings, Jofh. X. 24.
n. They fhall have the EnGgns of Royalty. For a thronej Ch R 1ST will grant them to Gt with him oahis throne. Rev. iii. 12. They will be advanced to the highcft honour and dig- nity they are c?ipablc ot ; and, in the enjoyment of it, they will have an eternal undifturbed rfpofc, after all the tcffings tkey meet with in the world, in their wayto the throne. For a crown, they (hall receive a crown cf i^lory, that fadeih not a- wsiy, I Pet. V. 4, Xot a crown of flowers, as fubjttls, being, conquerorsjor viclors, fometimcs have got; fuch a crown quick- iy fades ; but their crown never fadeih. Not a crown of gold, fuch as earthly kinys do wear ; even a crown of gold is ofter^ llained, and can never make then, happy who wear k. But it fhall be a crown of j:iory. A crown of glory is a crown of life, Rev. ii. ic. that life which knows no end ; a crown which death can never make to fall off one's head. It muft be an sbiding crown j for i: js a crown of ri^hieoufnefs, e Tirn. iv. 8. It was purchafed for them by CiiR JS r's rightcoufntrs, which is impiHcd to them ; they arc qualified for 11 hv inheient rigb- teoufnefs ; God's righteoufnefs or faiihfulntls fecures it lo them. 1 be^' Ihall have a fceptre, a rod of iron, Rfv. ii. 27. terrible to all the wicked world. And a fword too, a two-edged fword in their band, to execute vcnceance upon the heathen, and punillnnent upon the people, iTylm cxlix. 6, 7. They fliall have rcyal apparel. The royal robes in this kingdom are white robes, lyev. iii. 4. Tkey Jliall zvalk zuiih me in zvhiie. Aiid thefe laft do, in a very particular manner, point at the isconceivable glory of the Itate of the faints in heaven.
1 he Lord is pleafed often to rcprefent unto us the glo- rious Rate of the faints, under the notion of (heir being cloth- ed in wbite garments. It is promifed to the overcomer, that he fliall be clothed in white raiment, liev. iii. 5. The elders about the throne are clothed in white rainient, chap. iv. 4. 7 he multitude before the throne are clothed with white robti-, chap. vit. o, arrayed in white robes, ver. 13. made white iii ike blood of ihe Lamb. ver. 14. I own, the hll two Jefiimp- nits adduced, do refpett the Hate of the faints on earth; but withal the terms are borrowed from the ft ate of ihe church in bc^vciu All garments, properly lo called, being badges of fiu
,3 2^ White Gai-mtnts.
ind (hamc, (hall be laid afide by the faints, when they coinc to tbcir ftaie of Jjloiy. Rjt il we coi.fider pn what occaGons white ^armcn^s were wont to be put on, we (hah find much of beavea 4>nd«r ih»?m.
Ftrjl, The Pvomans, when they manumitted their hond-fer* Tants, gave ihcm a white garment, as a bad^e of their freedom* So dial I the faint* that day get ou white robes ; for it it the da^i of ih^ glorious l.bt-rty of the children of G o d, Roni. viii. s i, t^e day of th : rcdcmpiion of their body, ver. 23. They Ih^U > more fee the houfe of bo;:dagc, nor lie any more among the J ,rs. If VFC compare the (late of the faints on earth, with that of the wicked, it is indeed a iUte of freedom ; wherea* the oth- er is a ftate of lUvery ; but in comparifon with their Hate ia heaven, it is but a fervitude. A faint on earth is indeed a young prince, and heir to the crown ; hut his motto may be, i Jervty for be diifercth nothing from a fervant, though he be lord ol all, Gal. iv. i. What are the groans of a faint, the for- did and bafe work he is fometiracs found employed in, the black &nd tattered gnrments he WhIUs in, but badges of this compara- r. c feivltucie? But from the day the faints cotne to the crown^ y receive their com pleat freedom, and ferve no more. They iuA\ be fully fiec<i from fin, which of ail evils is the worft, both in itlelf, and in their apprcheniior.j too ; How great then muft that freedom be, whca thcfc E,?yptians whom they fee ro- 4«ty, they (hall fee them no more again forever ? 'I'hcy (hall be ffie from all temptation to fin ; Satarf can have no acccfs U> iiptttiem any more, by himfcll, nor by his agents. A full ao- . ver will then be given fo that petition they have fo often repeat- ed, L>ad us not into Umf,tat;on, No hiding ferpent can come into the paradife above } nofnarc nor trap can be laid there, to catch the feet of the fainc; ; they may walk there fi!arlefsly, for thev can be in no hazard, 'nere arc no lions dens, nomountaina of the Icopaids there. They (hall be fet beyo»id the polTibility of iinuing, for they AmiI be confirmed in goodnefs. It will be f'.c confummatc freedom of their will 10 be unalterably deter- ged to good. And they (hall be freed from all the clfctts of iii»; The re Jhali be no more death, neithet f arrow ^ nor crying, neither Jkall there be any more pain. Rev. xxi. 4. What kini^^ dom is like unto this i' Death makes its way now into a palace, •s ealily a-, into a cottage ; forrow fills the heart of one who wears a crown on his head ; royal robes arc no fence againi^ pain, and crying by reafon of pain. But in this kingdom no mifery can have p^hcc. AH reproaches (hall be wiped off; and f>ever (hall a tear drop any more from their cye«* They fhaU not complain of defertions again ; the Loro will never hide hii face from them : but the Sua of righteoufnefs (hining upon them in htt mciidun bii^htucfa, will difpel ill clouds, aud give
White Gar7nents, 33-3^
thcrfi an eveiiarting day, without the leaft rnixiarc of darknefs.* A deluge of vvra'.h, afttr a tearful thonder-ciapfrorn the throne, will fweep away the wicked from before the judgment-feat, in- to the lake of hre ; but they are, in the lirft place, like Xoali bfoiight into the ark, and out of harm's way.
Second/)', White raiment haih been a token of purity. There- fore the Lamb's wife is arrayed in fine imen, clean and whire. Rev, xix. 8. And thofe who Hood before the throne, v.'a(hed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Ltjmb, chap. vji. 14. The faints fliall then put on the robes of perked purity, and Diinein fpotlefs holiuels, like the fun in hh> lucngth, without the leaft cioud to intercept his hght. Abroluic inno- cence fhall then be rcftored, and every appearance oflinbanilh- cd far from his kiu^dora. The guilr of fin, and the reigning power of it, are now t^ken away in the faints; ncvenhclcls {\:\ dwelleth in them, Rom. vii. 20. But then it fhall be no more in them ; the corrupt nature w;U be qwite removed; that root of bitternefs will be plucked up, and no veftijcs of it left in their fouls ; their nature ihall be altogether pare and finlcfs. There fhall be no more darkiiefs in their minds ; hut the under- flanding oFcvery faint, when he is come to ins km>»dom, will be as a ^lobe of pure and unmixed li^hi. There fnall not be the leaft aveifion to good, or inclination to^evil, in their wills ; but they will be brought to a pcrfcft coniormi'v to the will of God, blcft with anselical puiity, and hxcd~rhereiri. Their af.. ftttions fhall not be liable w tht leaft dilorder or irregularity ; it will coft them no trouble ro keep them right ; they will get fuch a fet of purity, as they can never lofe. Tiicy will be fo refined from ail earthly drols, as never to lavcur more of anv thing but heaven. Were it poffiblethey fh juld be fet again amidft theenrnaring objeflsof an evil world, the/ flifr.Jid walk among them without the leaft defilement ; as the (un (hmcs ori the dunghill, yet uniainted, and as the angels pielerved their purity in the midft of Sodom. Their graces fhali then be per- fected, and all the imperfeftions now cleaving to them, done av/ay. There will be no mcHC gro*md for comniaints of wcak- ncfs of grace i none in that kingdom fhsU complain of an ill heait, or a corrupt nature. // dotk not yet appear rt'hnt, w-'fruUL b*y but — token hejhall appear^ zuc fnad be likt kim^ 1 John iii. 2.
Tfiirdy, Among the Jews, thcfe who defired to be admitted into the pneftly office, being tried, and found to be ot tlife prieli'i line, -and •iiihuut blemiih, were clothed in white, anci enrolled among the priefts. This fcems to be aUudcd to, Rev, iii. 5. He that ovcrcortiHh-'theJaintsjhatl be clothed in wiiu rai- vittit, and i will net blot out his name out of the book of l(fe. Tii« faims ate not kiri^s only, but piicfls alio ; foi they aic 9
334 ^^'^^ 2*^^ ^^ ?' w C7its.
Royal Pficflbood, i Pet. ii. 9. They will be priefls upo« their thrones. Tbcy arc judicially found dcfccnded from the great Migh-Pricft of their profelEon, begotten of him by hi< Spirit, of the incorruptible feed of the word, and without blc- mi(h ; fo the trial being over, they arc admitted to be prieQsin the temple above, that they may dwell in the houle of the Lord for ever. There ij nothing upon earth more glorious than a kingdom, nothing more venerable than the priefihood j and L th meet together in the glorified Hate of the faints. The general aCfernbly of the firfl-born, Hcb. xii. 93. .wliofc is the |>rie(lbood and tlie double portion, appearing in their white fobes of glory, will be a jevertmd and glorious company. That day will (hew them to be the pcrfon«, whom the Lord has chofen out of all the tribes of the earth, to be near unto him, and to enter iHto h's temple, even into his holy place. Their priefthood, begun on earth, (hall be brought to its pcrftclion, while they fball be employed in oflciina the facr^.fice of pratfe to God ai:d tht Lamb, for ever and ever. They go' not their portion, in the earth. with the reft of the tribes ; but the Lord nTrnfclf was their p/jrr-.on, and will be :hcir double por» tion, thro* the agee oi eternity.
fourthly. They were wont to wear white raiment, in a time of triumph ; 'O'tbe whicli alio there feems to be an allufion, Rev. iii.'5. He ikat ov^rconeth , tkefimejhall be cloihtd in wliiU raiment. And what is heaven but an everlafting triumph! None get thith?r,hut fu:h as fi^ht, andt>vcrron\e too. Though Canaan was ^iven to the Ifraclitcs, as an inheritance, they be- hoved to conquer it, ere they could be poiftiTors of it. The faints, in this woild, arc in the field of battle often in red gar- menif, rolled in blood ; but the day approacheth, in which they fhall flarid before the thro»\e, and before the Lamb, cloth- ed wi:h white robes, and palms in their hands, Rev. vii. 9, having obtained a complete viclory over all their enemies. Tiic palm was ufcd as a fign of viftory ! becaufe that tree, op- pTcfTed with weights, yiel^ied not, but rather fhooteth upwards. And palm-trees wcic carved on t^t doors of the moll holy place, i-King$ vi. 32, which was a fpecial type of heaven ; for heaven is the place, which the faini&are received inuj, as con- querors.
Behold the joy and peace of the faints, in their white robes! The joy arifiig from the view of pall dangers, and of riches #nd honours gained at the very door of death, do mofl fcfnfibly touch one's heart ; and this will be an ingredient in the ever- lafting happinefs of the fairxs, which could have had no place, in the heaven of innocent Adam, and his finlcfs offspring, fup- pofing him to have ftood. Surely the glorified lairits will not forget the entertainment they met wiib in the world; it will
White Gafmcnis, 535
ic /or tl»e glory of God ro remember it, and alfo for ihe heightening of their jcv. The Sn:l an king, by birth a fon of a potter, afted a wife part, in that he would be fcrved at hia table, with earthern vefkls ; the which could not but put an additional fweetnefs in his meals, not to be rclifhed by one born air to the cro"'n. Can ever meat be fo fweet to any as to the hungry man ? Or can any have futrh a rclift of plenty, as he who has been under pinching ftrails ? The more difficul- ties the faints have pafTed t'l rough, rn their way to heaven, the place will be the fweeter to ihcm, when they come at it. E- very happy fticke, ftruck in the fpiriiual warfare, will be a jewel in their crown of glor>'. Each viclory obtained againft fin, Satan, nnd the world, will raife their triumphant joy ther higher. The remembrance of the crofs will fvectcn the crown j «nd the memory of their travel through the wildernefs. will ptu an additional verdare en the fields of glory, while ^hey walk through them, mindiDg the day, when they wciA inourniDg without the fun.
And now that they appear triumphing in white robes, it is a lign they have obtained an honourable peace ; f«|ch a peace as their enemies can diflurb no more. So every thing peculi- arly adapted to their militant condition is laid afide. The fword is laid down : and they betake themfclves to the^pen of a ready writer, to commemorate the praifes of hrm, by whom ihey overcame. Public ordinances, preaching, facramenls, fliall be honourably laid afide; there is no tcnnpk there, Rev. xix. 32. Sometimes ihefe were fweet to them j but the trar- cliers being all got home, the inns, appointed for their enter- tainment by the way, ate fhut up ; the candcU are put out, when the fan is rifen and the tabernacle, ufed in ihe wildernefs, is folded up, when the temple of glory is come in its room. Many of the faints duties will then be laid a&de j as one gives his flzffout of his hand, when he is come to the end of his journey. Praying Qiall then be turntd to prailing ; and, ther«. being no (in to confefs, no wants to feek the fwpply of ;. con- feflion and petition (hall be Iwallowed in everlafling ibanklgiv- rng. There will be no mournmgin heaven ; they have fowrr ID tears, the reaping time of joy is come, and Goo (hall wipe away all tears from their eyes, Rev. xxi. 4. No need of mor- tification there ; and fclfcxamination is then at an end. They will not need to watch any more, the danger is over. Patience has had its perfeft w#rk, and there is no ufe for it there. Viuvt h turned into fiaht, and hope is fwallowcd up in the ocean ri fenfibie and full cnjoyinent. All the •^•I'tlsarc fubdued, the faints quietly fet on their throne ; and u» <lie forces, needful \vk the time of the fpiritual waifare, are iiCuiu !«d ^ and they cm- ly on th«r;ii4nnph in profoundeft peact.
33<5
White Garments*
LafllYt White garments were worn on fefliv^l dayj, in to* >cn of joy. And fo fliall the faints be clothed io white rai- ment; for thev fhall keep an everbOing Sahbath to the Lord, ilcb. iv. 9. Thfrf rcmaineth iktrefcre a rej}^ or keeping cf a Sahbathy to the people of God. The Sabbath, in the cUccm of -.liiinrs, is the queen ot days ; ard they ftull have an cndleft ^abbatijm in the kingdom of heaven ; fo fii^il their garirieats be .always white. They will have an eternal yejl^ witn an unin- terrupted joy ; for heaven is not a refling place where men may iieep out an eternity, there they refl not day nor night ; hti( their work is their refl and continual recreation, and loil and wcarincfs have no place thfje. They reft there in GoD, »^ho is the centre ot their fouls. Here they fiod the com- plement, or faiisfadion of all their dcfires ; having the ftiH en- jovinent of God, and uninterrupted communioo with bi»n. Th« »s th^ poMii, unto the which till ilic foul come, it will ai- vays be rcfiicls : biit, that point reached, it rcRs ; for he is the laft end, and the foul can go no farther. It cannot undcrftand, will, nor defirc more; but in him it has what is commeolura- blc to its boundlefs defircs- This is the happy end of all the labours of the faints; their foil and forrowsiffue in a joyful i^ft. The Chaldeans meafann^ the natural day, put the day firft.ind the night laft : but the Jews counted the night fiift, and the >iay laft. Even fo, the wicked begin with a day of reft a fid plcdhire, but end with a ni^ht of evcthfting toil and forrow ; but God's people have their gloomy night fiift, and then comes their day of eternal rtfl. The which, Abraham, in the -parable, obftrrved to the rich man in hell, Luke xvi.25. <I?J/i, rememker that thou in thy life-time reccivedfl thy good t kin gs^ and liktwife Lazarus evil tinngs ; but now he is camforLedf and thdH art tormented.
If I. If one enquires where the kingdonr> of the faints He* ? It is not in this world ; it lies in a better country, that is, an heavenly, Htb. xi. 16. a country better than the bcft of .this woild, namely, the heavenly Cana:\n, ImHianucl's land, vhere roth»r>g,is wanting to complete the happinefs of the inhabitants. Thfs is the happv countiy, blcft with a perpetual fpring, and wh ch yicldcth ,11 things, for ncccfTity.conveniency and delight. There men fhall ejt ^.n^cl's food ; they fhall be entertained with the hidden manna, Rev. ii, \-7. without bein<^ fet to the pain- ful gathering of it. Tney will be fed to the fill, with rhc pro- tluf^ of the hfid falling into tbeii mouiiis vvi.houtthc leaf! toil t>> Oiefii. That land enjoys an everlflfling da/, for there is no riight there, Rev. xxi. 2^5. An eternal fun-fhiac beautifies thig better courury.but there is no fcorchiog heat therv.. Np clouds fhall be fccn there fur ever; yet tc is noia landof drouglit | ttit trees of ii*c L<i RDS pljnliijgj are fet by the jivtriofwaicr.
Tfic Country .and Royai-Ckv. ^37
3Tf6 (hall ncTier want moiRure j for they vrill have an eternai Ibpply of the Spirit, bv Js-sus Christ, from his Father. cThis IS the cour.in/ from whence our Lor d came, and whither "he is gone again ; the country- which all the holy patriarchs^ :and prophets had their eye upon, while on earch ; and which ail the faix«*, who have gone before us, have foi>^ht their way to ; and unt® which, the marryrs have joyiallv TwiAnved, through a fea.of blood. This cuih is the place of the faims \pilj5ri1nage : that is theix coumrj^, «bcrc.thcy find thctr evef- ^-fafiing reft.
' IV. The Royal Ci<y.is that great city, the holv Jerafalem, ■ defer ibid at larp^e, .Rev. xxi. lo, &c. It is true, lorv.c Learned divines place this city in the earth, but the particulars of tbede- fcription feem to me to iavour ibofe moll, who point us to the ether world for it. The famts fhiii reign in loit city, whofc. wall is of jafper, ver. 16. and the foundations of the waii g-»r- rifted with aH manner ti prcchous ficnes, ver. 19. and the iircet of pure geld, ver. 2 1. fo ih^t their feet {hall be fct oi» that, which the men of this world fst their hearts upon. Tbi* is the city Go»> has prepared for thera, Hcb. xi. 16- A city that hath foundations, ver. lo. A continuing city, chap. xiii. 14. which fhall Hand and flouriih, whco all the cities of the world are laid in *fhcs ; and which fball not be moved^when the foun- dations of the world arc overturned. It is a city that never changeth its inhabitants ; none of thera (hall ever be removed out of it ; for life and immortality rtign there, and no death can enter into it. It is blcfTcd with a peife^ and perpetual peace, and can never be io the Icaft difturbed. Nothing frooa without can annoy it ; the gates therefore arc not Ihut at all by day, and there is no night there, Rev. xxi. 2.3. There can no- thing from within trouble it. Ko want of proYtii.on there ; no fcarcity ; no difcord among the inhabitants. Whatever con- tentions are among the faints now, ao veftige of their former jarrings fhall remain there. Love to God, and to cne-another, fliall be pcrfeftcd : and thefe of them who ftodd at great diftaacc here, will joyfully embrace and delight in oae-aaother there.
V. The Royal Palace is Ch rist's Father's houfe j in whicrt arc many roanfions, John xiv. 2. There (hail the faints dwell for ever. Tlris is the houfe prepared for all the heirs of gkirv^ cventhefe of -them whod»-ell in the meaacft cottage ^low, £>r have not where to -lay their heads. As our LoRn calls his faints to a kingdom, he will provide them a houfe fuitcbl; to the dignity he purs upon them. Heaven will be a ccnvenierst^ fpacious, and.^iorious hoafc, for thafe whooi the Kingdclight- clh to honour. Never was a ho^'fe parchaied at fo dear a rats: as. this, being the purchsfc of the Mediator's blood i And no leli>. ^oiildk be* afforded, for to Ihem, Ncvci was there to laucs
33^ Palcce-GdricTi dnd R-yal Treafuref,
ado, to fit inhabitant* for a houfe. The faints were, by nature* utterly unfit for ihirhoufe ; and human art and induftry cotild #nt make thctn meet for it. But the Father gives the dcfignei rohabitarts to his Son, to be by him redeemed; the Son payt the price of their redemption, even his own precious blood j that, with the aMowar.ce of jufiic?, ihcy may have accCU to the houfe ;and the holy Spirit fanftifirs them by his grace j that they may be meet to coi?;c in thither, where no unclean thing can enter. And no marvel, for ii is the King's palace, they enter into, Pfalm xlv. 15. The houfr of the k:nxdom, where the ^reat Ktn^ keeps his court ; where he has bis thrcne, and fhcws forth his glory, in a finguiar manner, beyond what raof- tals can conceive.
VI. ParaHife is their Palnce-garden. This day Jkatt thoU iewitA me inParad//f,(nid oiitSdv'ioxiT 10 the penitent thief on the crofs# Luke xxiii. 4,^. Heaven iia Paradifc for pleafure and delight > where there ts both wood and water : A furf titer, of water ef lifcy cUar as cryftat, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb ; and 0/ either Jide of the river, the tree of life, which hears ttoelve manner cf fruits, and yields her J rail ct^ry month. Rev. xxii. 1, 2. How happy might innocent Adam have bcc« in the earthly Paradifo, where there wa> nothing wanting for neccflity nor delight ! Eden was the moft pleafant fpol of the uncorrupied earth, and Paradife the moft pleafant fpot of E- den ; but what is earth in coni-pariftvi of heaven ? The glori- fied faints are advanced to the hcavcnlv Paradife. There th«y fhall Rot onlv fee, but cm of the tree of life, which is in the Eiidftof the Paradife of God, Rev. ii. 7. They (hall tchold tUe Mcdtatoi'j glory, and be fatisfied with his gocdncfs. No ^amir.g fword will be there, to keep the way of that tree cf life ; hut they fhall freely eat of it, and live for ever. And they fliall f^rink of the river of pleafures.Praim xxxvi 8. thefe fwectcl ar.d purcfl pleafurcs, the which Immanuel's land doth afford ; and {Jtall fwini in an ocean of unmixed delight forever- more. '■
Vil. They null have Royal Trcafures, fufficient to fupport the dignity tncy are advanced unto. Since the flreet of the royal city IS pure gold, and the twelve gates thereof arc twelve pearls ; theif treafurf, niuft be of ih.it whick is better than ^c!d or pearl. Ii is an eternnl weight of glo'y, 2 Cor. iv. 17. O precious ireaTurc ! a trcafurc not liable to infeuQble corrup- tion, hv moths or nifl ; a ticafuro which none can ileal from them, Maiih. vi. 20. Never did any knigJom alford furh a precious trcalure, nor a trcalure of fuch variety ; for. Hi that 9vercomet/i,Jltall inherit all things, Rev. xxi. 7. No trcafures on earth are florcd with all things ; if thcv were all put togeth- er in one, there wouU be far MDore valuable thing* wanting id
The Tan fie* 339
*ne, there would be far more valuable things wanting in that one, than found in it. This then is the peculiar trsafure of thefe kings, who inherit the kingdom of heaver. They (hall want nothing, that may contribute to their fuU fatisfa£iion. Now thev are rich in hope ; but then they will have their rich- es in hand. No'v all things are theirs in refpe^ of right ; then al) (hall be theirs in pofTeflion. They may go forver through ImmanuePs land, and behold the glory and riches thereof, with the fatisfying thought, that all thev fee is their own. It is pity thefe fliou Id ever be uneafy under the want-of earthly good things, wha may be furc, they fliail inherit all things ac length.
VIII. Albeit there is no material Temple therein, no medi- ate ferving of God, in the ufe of ordinances, as here on earth; yet, as for this kingdom, The Lord God Almighty, and tk^ Lanth^ eretheTempieofit,'R.itv.'!ix\.2^. As the Temple was the glory of Canaan, fo will the celcfiial temple be the glory oE heaven. The faints (hall be brought in thither as a royal PricR- hood, to dwell in the houfe of theLoRD for ever ; for Jesus Christ will then make every faint a pillar in the temple o£ God, and he fhall go no more out, Rev.iii. 12. as the Priefls and Levites did, in their courfes, go out of the material tem- ple. There the faints fliall have the cloud of glory, the divine prefence, with mod intimate, uninterrupted communion with God ; there they {hall have Jesus Christ as the true ark, wherein the fiery law ihall be forever hid from their eyes j and the mercy-feat, from w)i:ch nothing (hall be breathed, but ev- crlafting peace and good-will towards the.m : the cherubims, the (ocieiy of holy angels, who (hall join with them in eternal . admiration of the myftery of Ch rist : the goJden candleflick, yi'n\\ its feven lamps ; for the glory of God doth lighten ir> and the Lamb is the light thereof. Rev. xxi* 23. The incenfe* altar, in the interceiTion of Ch rist, who ever liveiJi to make* interceffion for them, Heb. vii, 25. eternally exhibiting the merits of his death and tutferings, and eihcacioufly willing for ever,'th3t thefe, whom the Father hath given him, be with him j and the (he\fr-bread table, in the perpetual feaft, they (hall hav« together, in the enjoyment ot God. Thisleadsme more par- ticularly to confider,
IX. The Society in this kingdom, Wliat would royal pow- er and auihoruyjenfigns of royahy,r'»heft treafores, and all other advantages of a kingdom, av^il without comfortable foclety ? S.^.me crowned heads have had but a forry life through the want ©fit; their palaces have been hut unto them as pnTons, ar^d their bridges of honour, as chains on a prlfoner ; wl:ile hared of 2)1, t.hey bad none rhey could truflin, or whom they could«have ^•!-.nfar«ibIe feUowfbip with. But the chief part of heaven's
24.0 Thf Soclay of Satnts,
happincfs, lies in the bkfTcd fociety the faints fhill have there. For clearing of which, confiilcr tl>cfc fc\f things :
^tijt, Tiic- focicry of the Saints, atnonj; ihennfelvcs, will be no rmaj] pirr #f heaven's h.^ppincl^. The coiB:minio;i of faints on cartel, IS hi^^biv prized bv ahthefe who arc fravcllinff through the woild unto Zion ; arxi compa.nions in fin can never ha^e ^^ich trtic plcafurc and delight krt^ic another at (ometimc the I'Oud's people have :n praving together, and conveifin? about •t^efe thinj^s, whicn the woiU is a (Uanger to. Here the faloro are but fcvr in conlpnnv, af i>cfl ; and fontc of thenr«4 arc fo poll- ed, as thev fcem to thcmfclves to d'vell alone ;' having ny ac- ccfs to fuch, as ih&y cou 1*1 freely unbofom thcinfclvcjfo, in the matter of their fp,iMtaal cafe. They fi^ and fav, IVu is me^ fct i am as when they have galhtred the fknmir-fruits — thTe is n> diijer to eat--lhc good man is fmrijiitd out of the earthy Mic. vii. >, 1 But in the ger.rjl aniembly of the firft-born in heaven^ Ronr of ail the faints, who ever vwctc, or wiH be on the earth, fli3U be miffing. THcy 'vill be all of them together in one phcr. all policfsone kingdom, afi<l ali fit down together to the marriat^e-fijoper of iht Ea.nb^ Itfcrc, rho bed of the faints wact not thtir finfbl imp-rrfcttrojis, oiakinj* their fociciy Isfs com- fbrrablc ; but there thev fhall be perft6\, without fpct or Wrin- kle, or anv fuch thing, iiph. v. 27. And all natural, a& well a« (inful imperfeflions arc then dono away j Tkeyjhalljkirt as i^c brig''etnef% of [hffirmain:nt, DanT:*!!. 3.
There we will fee Adam and Eve in the h«»i'enly paradife^. freely eaiinsf of thic tree of life ; Abraham, Ifaac and Jacob,- and all the holv patriarchs, no more wandering from land to land, btn come to their evcrhfltng reft ; all the prophets feed- ing their eyes on the glory of hrm, of whofe coming they pro- phtficd ; the twelve Apoftlcs of the Larr.b, fitting on ihcir twelve thrones ; all th; boJy martyrs in their long white robvS vith their crowns oJi their heads j the godly kings advanced to- a kingdom which cannot he movrd ; and ibcm that turn many to righreoufncfs, fhining as the frars for ever and ever, f hero will we fee our godly fricndsy reljtions and acqaa.-f tancc«, pil- hrs in the temple of Go d, to go an more out from us. And it is mere than probable, that the fHini* will know one-another in heaven ; that, at leaO, they will know their friends, rclanvcs, and thtfe they wc:e acquai I'rd with on eaith, ami fuch ai h3v« been mol! eminent in the church ; howhcit that knowledge Vkill be purged from all earthly tboirghis and affchions. 'fhis fccms to be included nr that perfection of happinef*^ to which the faints r.iall be ndv.mccd there. If Ad.im knew whq nnd what Kve was at firll fi^hf, when the Lor d Goo br -•-• '■■' to him. Gen. ii. 23, tf4. why Ih-^uld one qviellion, b ai:d witcs, parcr?ts ?nd chilircn, will kuow cuch v'--
. Society with ike Angels. 341
If the Th'rfLIoniaiis, converted by Paul's miniftry, fhall be his crown of rejoicing, in the prefencc of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming, i Thef. ii, 19. Wliy ,m.iy not one conclude, that miniUers (hall knovir their people, and people tfcieir miniftersin heaver. ? And if the difciples, en the amount of transfigursiion, knew M<}(cs and Elias, whom tht/ had never fccn before, Mat. xvii. 19. we have ground to thir'k, we [hall know them too, and fuch as they, when we come to heaven*' The communion of flints fliali be mod intimate there ; tbev fliall fit down with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. Mat. viii. j i. La^arus was carried by the angels in- to Abraham's bofom, Luke :ivi. 23. which denotes moft inti- mate and familiar fociety. And though diverfiry of tongues (hall ccafe, i Crjr. xiii.8. I make no queflion, but there will be an ufe of fpeech in heaven ; and that the faints will glorify God in their bo,dieG ther?^ as well as in their fpirits, fpeakin;* forth his praifes with aa audible vo:ce. (As for the langu:«ge, w^ {hall underftand what it is, when we come thither.) When Paul was caught up To the third heaven, the feat of the bIclTcd, be heard there unfpeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter, 2 Cor. xii. 4. Moles and Elias, on the moiiitt v»ith Christ, talked with him, Mat, xvii. 3. and Ipake of his dceeafe whjch h^e Ihould accomplifh at Jerufalcm, Lukeix. 31. S-icondly,T\\t faints will have the fociety of all the holy angels there. An innumerable company of angels Ihall be companions tothcin in their gloriiied ftate. Happy were the (hepherds, who heard the (ong of the heavenly hoft, when Christ waa born; but thrice happv they, who (hall join their voices with theirs, iji the choir of faints and angels in heaven^ when he iliall be glorified in all, who fhall be about him there. Then Ihall we be brought acquainted with the biclFed fpirits, -who never finned. How bright will thcfe morning-ftars (hine in the holy place! they were niinide ring fpirits to the heirs of falvation, jrjved them for their Lo R o and Miftei's Okc j encannped round about them, tosfpreferve them from danger ; how joyfully will they '.vtlcome them to their cverlafting habitations; and rejoice to fee them come at length 10 their kingdom, as the tutor doth the prefperity of his pupils ? The fnints ihall be no more afraid of them, as fometime they were woiU to be ; they (hall then have })Ui off mortality, and infirmities oi the flelh, and be ihemfclvcs, a^ the a.r^eU of God, fit to entertSij^ communion and fcllow- ili^p wftb ihele finning ones. And both being brought under f>ne head, the Lo rd Jesus Ch ri st ;^ they fliall join in the ptaifes oi God, anil of the Lnmb, Saying, wi'iA c Icud voice^ W.'riky is rue Lamb thai uias /lain, &c. Rev. v 11,12. Wheth- er the angels^ihall, as fomc think, aflame airy b9die?, that they ma^\ \i: {ecu bv the bodily eyes of the faiiits, and be in nearer
342 Society^ with the Lori,
capacity to converfe with them, I know not; bat as tli^y ^ar.t not \vays of converfe amon^ft themfelves, we have rcafon lo think, that converfaiion bcuvjxt ihenti and the laints, fliall not
^e for ever blocked up.
/'7^'7/>', They (ball have focicty vrth the LORQ himfelf in heaven, glortcus cojTimunion with God and Ch r isT, v ii ihc pcffcftion of happinels. 1 chufe to fpcak of commii:
'with God, and the man Chr 1ST, together ; becaufc as wc dcrive our grace from the Lamb, fo wc will derive our glory from him too ; the man Christ being, if I may be allowe 1 vhe cxprtfliop, the centre of the divine glory in heaven, from v/ hence it is fliffufed unto all the faints. This fcemstobe tauj;ht- us by theft fcripturcs, which exprefs heaven's happincfs by bc- %'.)% wii.h Cii Ris T. Luke xxiii.43, T'Aa dcyjhait thou be wiik me in paradifr. Jt)hn xxvii. 24. Father^ I will thai tkefe alfi\ tohom thou hajl given me^ be tviih mt. And rcmarkiblc to thii pu'rpofe is what follows, that they viay behold wv glory. iTbe'. IV. 17. So Jhatlwe ever be with t he Lord ,\>\z. the Lord Ch r i st, ^*hom we (hall meet in the air. This nlfo feems to be the im- port of thefe fcfipturts, wherein God aod the Ljmb, the fldin Savicnr, arc joiiuly fpoken of, in the point of the happin^s ot the faints in heaven, Rev. vii. 17. For the Lamb which is in tht m^djl of the throne^ fiali feed them^ and Pi sll lead than unto living
fountains of zodters : and God fkall wipe away all tean from their eyes. Chap. xxi. 3. Bt hold the tabernacle of God is u^ith men^ and he will duidl with them^ viz. as in a tabernacle, fo the word fignifics, that Is, in the flelh of Ch rist, compare Johb i. 14. and 22. The Lord God Almi:;hty, and the Lamb arc'thc temple of it. Here lies the chief happincfs of the faints in beaten, that with- out which they could never be happy, though lo Igcd in that piorious place, and hlcffcd with the fociety of angels there. What I will venture to fay of it,, (hall be comprifed in three things.
ly?, The faints in heaven fi)all have the glorious prefence of God, and of the Lamb ; Gcd himfelf fh all be uitk thcm^ Rev, xxi. 3. and they Ihill b: ever with the Lord^ God is every- where prefcnt, in refpc^l ofh-s effencc ; tic faints militant havs his fpecial gracious prefence ; but in heaven they have his glo- rious prefence. There they arc brcuoht near 10 the throne of the gr?at King, and ftand before him,v/here he fhcws bis incon- ceivable glory. There the» have the tabernacle of G J d, on which the cloud of glory re Us, the all glorioi:s human nature cf Christ, wherein the fulncfs of the GorJhead dTrclis, not vaihd as \n the days of his humili'ationjbnt lhinin{» through that Ultfled (ic!h, that all the faint* may behoU hia glory,-anJ mak- ing that body more glorious than a thouJ'jn:! fun.*! ; lo thit the »ty has no n-^cd of IHC fun, nor of the tii
The Pre ft nee of God and the Lamh. ^A^
■God doth lighten it, and the Laa^b is thr lij^ht thz^e^of^ proper- ly, the candle therccf, Rev. xxi. 23. i. e. The Lamb is the la- roinary, or luminous body, which ;jsves light to the city ; as the fun and moon now give lijRht to the world, or as a cacdlc •lightens a dark room ; and the lisht proceedinR iroin thatglo- uous luminatv, for tiie city -is the ^ioiy cf Goi). Suoaeiiine that candle burnt very dim, it was Cid under a bu(hcl, in ibc time of his humiliation ; but that, i»ow and then, ir darted out fomc rays of this light, which d:^zzicQ the eyes of the IpeQa- tors ; but now it is fet on hi^-h. in the city of G«>i>, where u Ihines, and fball Ihine forever, in perfection oi glory. It w££ fomefimes laid afide, as a ftonc difaiiowcd of th- builders ; hue now it is, and forever will be, the lij^ht or luminary of that city ; and that, l.ke untoa ficae mo&prccipus, «vcnlik.e a j^f- per flone clear as cryilari, ver. if. - ■ '\ ^ -
Who can conceive tHc happincrs of rhe faints, -in the prcfence- .chamber of the great Kin^, whcie he firs in his chair of fiate, making his glory emincnilv to appear in the man_CKiiiST? His gracious prei'ence makes a mighty change upon ihe fiiinU in this world ; his gloricus prefence in heaven rhen laufl needs fcrew up their graces to their perfciiion, ond elevate their ca- pacities. The faints Ao experience, that the prefence of God row with them in his grace, can make a i.ttle heaven of a fort of hell ; how great then mufl the giorn of heaven be, by his prefence there in his glory 1 If a cindle, in fome fort, beautifies a cottage or prifon, how will the (hinin:; fua beauiify a palace or paradiic ! The gracicns prefence ol Gi.)D made a wildeinefs lijihtfomc toMofes, the vallev of the Ihadow of death to David, a hery furnate to the three children.: What a raviih-iig beautv fhall then arife from the f«n of righteoufncfs, iliining la h^s meridian brightnefs, OB the ftrect of the city laid with puis gold ? The glorious prefence of God in heaven, will put a glory on the faints themfelvcs. The pleahint garden hath no beauty, when the Q4>rknels cf the i>ight fits do^vn on it ; but the iliining lun puts a glory on the blackeft mountains ; fo thefe who are now as bottled in the fmo2l<, %}»cn fet in the glorious prefence of God, will be glorious both in I'bul and body.
zdly. The faints in heaven Ciall have the full enjoyment of God and of the Lamb. This is it that pcrfcclly iatiihes «be rational creature j and here Is the faints cveriaO-ing reft. This will make up all their wants, and hll the dcnres of their fouls, which, after all here obtained, flill cry, Gr^e, givey *\qX. with- out foine anxiety j becaufe, though they do enjoy God, Set they do not enjoy him fully. As to the way and manner of thi^ crjoyment, our Lord tells us, John xvii. 3. This is life, mr- ^al, that thfy may know thee, the only iji^c God, arid J^'us Chrif:^ vihom thou hajrjent, Now, there arc iwo ways, ho>v a dcUra-
344 ^ Full Enjoyment of God,
bic ohjctl is known niofl perfectly and fatUfyingly ; the oo« is by figlii, the othir by rxp'^riencc : fi-'ht ratisfir's the uuderfland- iiig, and cxpciituce faiiiiics the will. Accordingly one may < ly, that the faints c/jjoy God, and the Lamb, io heaven, i.)B/-in incuiijve kuowledge. (2.) ^^ an cxpcrllhcnt4l l-n(nvlcdge, boih of liicin ocrfeft, I luean, in rcfpedt of the ca- pacitv of the creature ; ^or, otherwifr*, a creature's pcrfeft kaowled;»c of an inhrjtc Bcin^isicnpofTibic. The r»i:iis below, e ijoy God, in that knowlediie they have of him by report, ffum hi* holy word, which thry believe: they fee hinn Likewfilc, darkly, in the ^lafs of ordinances, which do, as it were, icpre* ftnt the bridecroonj's piQurc, or rnadow, while he is abfeui ; they have alfo fotnc cxperi'ncntal knowledge of him, ihcy laQrf that God :s c^ood, and that the Lord is gracious. I^iu ib^ flints above (hall nOt need a good report of the K.ing,ihev (hiJJ fee himfelf } therefore faith ccafeth ; they will behold his own iicc ; iherclore ordinances arc no more ; there is no need of .. glafs ; they (hzll drink, and drink abundantly of that where- of they have tafled ; and fo bope ccafctb, for they arc at the urmofi bo^rnds of their dcfires. •
1, The faints in heaven (h-ill enjoy GoD and the La tub, by fi.»ht; and that in a mod perfect manner, 1 Cor. xtii. }». /V*- iriij zurjf.e^ through a glafs^ darkly ; but then fact tofuce, Qere cur fight is but mediaitr, as by a glafs ; in which we fee r.(^t things themfelves, but the images of things ; but there \vc (hall iiave an immediate view of God and the L<unb. fjcre c^ir knowledge :$ but obfcurc ; there it fb<jU be clear, without ihc Jeaft mixture of darkjwfs. Tne Lord doth now couver<c with his fain'.s, through the lartcflVsof ordinance* ; but then fn.^1} thev be ii> the prefence-chaoib^r with him. There is a viil now on the glorious face, as 10 us ; but when we come io the upper houfc, that vail, through which feme rays of beauty ere now darted, will be fecund entirely lakm olf y and then (ball glorious cxccUciicies and pcrfcftion*, not fccu in bici by mwr- lals, be cl- arly dtfcover<'d, for wc (hali fee his face, Rev. xxu, 4. The pbfafe fcctris to be borrowed from ihe honour put pn Ionic in the cour'.s of monarch*, to be attendants oa the Ring's pcrfon. "^'c read, (cr. iiii. 1.5. of fcven men of ihcra that ycre (fleb. Serrsnf tkf kiK^'iface, i. c. as we read it) near the jcjng's pcrfon. O nnfpjakibic glory I the great king keep* bis <ourt in heaven ; and the faints (hall all be his rouriiers, ever near the King's perfon, feeing his face : Tkc throne qfdod, and iff the Lamh fhiLL hf in it ; and bn fervantifiallftroc him^ aiid thryfiailfcrhts face. Rev. xxii. 3, 4.
?l.)They Ihill fee Jhsns Christ with, their bodily cyfi, (ir.cc he will never lay ^i^e the human nature. Thev will »1- wayi behold that ^lonou* blvffed bydy, which is pjcifoBiUjj'U-
and of the LamtK 345
nitcd to tne divine nature, «nd exalted faj above principalities and powers, ai>d every name that is named. There we will fee, vith our eyes, that very body which was born of Mary F.t Bfth- lehcm, and Cfucified at Jcruiilem brt'.vixt iv.-o thieves; tb?»t blelfcd head that was crov;ned with t^K>rns ; the face that u rs fpit upT>n ; the hands and feet thai wcic .ai'Jcd to the crofs ; hll fiiioing with unconceivjble glory. The glory of the M^a ;CnRisT, will attraft the eyes of all tl>e faints ; and he witt be for ever adrtiired in all them that behcvc, 2 Thef. i. to- Were each Oar in the heavens, fhtnin« hs the fun in irt meridt- an hrT^htnefs, artd ttie light of the fun fo ir.creafcd, as the ftar?, in that cafe, fhould bear the fanric proportion 'o the fui> \a point of lioht, that they do now ; it might pofllbly be fome faint refemblance of the glory of the J'.ian-Cii J< 1 ST, in com- parifon wiih that of the faints ; fpr thou^ the ^"aintsfhall Ihine forth as the fun ; yet rot they, but the Lamb, AmU be the lit;hi ' oftheciR,. The wi'.e mm fell do\rn, and wordiipped htuv, when they faw %im a young rhjid, with Ma» v his mother, in the houfc. But O ! what a r^viOiingiight will it tc, to fee him ia his kingdoin, on his throne, at the Xalh?r*s right h-^-id ! Tke JVord was made fir/k, John i. 14- and <he gh>t^y of Go o iT.all fi)in« through that tlefii. and thcjavs of heaven fpr ing out fron^ ir, unto the- faints, who fh.ill fee and tnjoy God, in CiiRiST- Foi fince the union betwixt Ch r.;st and the f/jtnts, is never dilFolved, but they contiune his members for e^f-r ; zn^ the ir-smbcrs cannot dra^ their life, but from their Head j feeing that which is dependent qt the heitd, as to vi<al ii^Huence, is no sneinher : therefore Jk"*ls Christ will remain liie everlaft- :ng bond of union betv/ixt Got) and the faints; irotti whence their eternal life ftiall fprinj, John xrii. 2, 3. 32, 43. Thou h.iji j;ivcn him power over aUJlJh, ikct htfuouLd »ivc cUma! lift -to as many as then kajl gixmn lam. jinS this is lift cttroal^ that thfy might know tkcc, iht only trniCod, €Sc. Anti ihtglcy'y zohizh then gav'Jl «<r. / have given then, thnt they may be cnZy even as wc are one ; / in ihtm, and tk.m in me, ikxt they may l*e made. ptrj\d in one. Wherefore, the immediate enjoyment of Go i> in heaven, is to be undcrftood in refpe^t of the laving alide ot word artd facramcnts, and fuch external means as ^ve eniov (tOd by, in this world ; but net as if the faints lho<ild then call off their de- pendence on their Head, for vital inllaen-es ; nav, The Lanb, which is in the midjlofikc throne, fial I feed them ; and Ji all lead them vnto living fountains of watfrs, P,ev. vii. 17.
Now, v'hen we fhall behold him, who died for us, that we might live for evermore, whofe matchlefs love made him fwioi through the retid ka of God*s wrath, to m^ke a path in the midd of it for us, by which wc might pafs fafciy to Cinaaii's • ind ; then wc wiij.^^e what a glorious oM he- was, who ftrifer-
3 1^ Full Enjoyment of God,
«d al! this for us ; what cntertainmcDt he had in the upper houfc; whaf hallcJujshs of angels could not hinder hina lo bear Tbc groans of a pciilhing niuhiiude on earth, and to come down ior their help ; and what a gloiy he laid afiae for us. Tbcn will we be more able to comprehend, with all faints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and heighth : and to know the love of Chris r, which palfeth knowledge, Eph, ii*. 19. When the taints ihall remember, that the waters of' wralh he was plunged into, are the wells of falvaiion, froai whence they draw all their joy ; that they have got the cap of faivaiion> in exchange of the cup of wrath his Father gave him lo diiaJt, which bis finlel's human nature fiiivered at ; how will their hearts leap within them, burn with feraphic love, like coals oi juniper, and the arch of heaven ring with their fongs of falva- L:on ? The jews, celebrating the feaft of tabernaclej, which v,'2S the mod joyful of all their fcafts, and lafted fcv«?n days, ■went once every day about the ahar, finginghofanna, with their myrtle, palm, and willow branches in their hand, the two for- mer figns of victory, the laft of chaftity, in the meantime bend- ing ihcir boughs towards the altar. When the faint* are pre- fented as a chafle virgin to Ch r ist, and, as cooqucicws, have j?,oi their palms in their hands, how joyfully will they coinpafs the altar evermore ; and fing their bofannas, or rather their hallelujahs, about it, bending their palms towards it, acknow- ledging themfclves to ov/e all unto tijc Lamb that was flain, and redeemed them with his blood ! And to this agrees what John faw, Rev. vii. 9, lo- A gnat rnuUiLudc-'-Jlood b:foTe tht iftrcne^ and brfore the Lamb, dollud ivith xvkitt robes, and palms in their kands ; and cried with a bud voicej'aying, Hulvation U cur Gtd, z::hiclifjtftk upon, the throne, and unto the l.amb,
(2.) They fhall fee Qo o, Matt. v. 8. They will be happy in feeing the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.not with their bjd- ily eyes, in rcfpcct of wiiich God is invifible, 1 Tim. i. 17. but, with the eyes of their undeiftanding ; being blcPi with the tnort perfc6^, full, and clear knowledge of God and divine things, which the creature is capable of. This is <;allcd ike be- atijic tifujUy^ and is the perfe61ion of the Underllandiog, the uimoft term thereof. It is hut an ohfcure delincition of the glory of God, that mortal* can have on earth ; a fight, as it were, of his back-part, Exod. xxxiii. 23. But there they will fee his face, Rev. xxii. 4. They fhall fee hiui in the fulncfs of his glory, and behold him fixedly ; whereas it is but a pafling \ lew they can have of him here, Exod. xxxiv. 6. There is a vaft dillttcncc b'f.vixt the fight of a king in his night-clothes, quickly paffing by as; and a fixed Icifurc view of him fitting on ]»is throne, in his royal robes, his crown on his head, and his Ici'ptrc in his hand : fu;h a diffcrccce will there he, bi:t'.vccii
and of thr, Lamh. 347
the grcaicR raanlfeftationof God that etera faint had on carch» lad the difpiay of his glory,thai th=.i! be ft en in acaven. There the faints mall eternaily, without interruptiprtj feed their cy'cs ' upon him, and be ever viewing his glorioui pyrfe^lrons. And as their bodily eyes fjiali b: ftren^'thcned and inied, to behold the glorious majeHy of the Man Cii k ist ; ts cables ^aze oa the fun, without being blinced thereby; fo their minds lUall have (uch an elevation, as will fit ihcm to ft£ Gup in his glo- ry. Their capacities fball be cnlaigcd, accoruing to the mea- fure in which he fhall be plcafca to coramnnicutc hiruTelf unto tiitm, for their compleat happinefs.
This blifsful fight of God, being quite above our pre Pent ca- pacities, we mull r.ceda be much in the dark about it. But a fcems 10 be fomething elfc, than the fight of that glory, vhicU we will fee with our boriily eyes, ia the faints aad in the inaii (Jh R I ST, or any ether fplcndor or refulgence ti-om the Gad- head whatfocver \ for no crcaicd thing cuu be our chief good and Fappinef?, or fully fatisfy cur feu Is j anj it is plain, that thcfe things are fo:nevkhat Jiu-'rent ffOiuGoo nimfclf. There- fore. I conceive, that the fouls ot rbc h\v.\.% [ball (cc Goo
. hinifcif ; for the fcripiurcs teach us, that wc Ihall fee face . to face, and know even as we are known, i Cor. xiii. 12. And that wc IhaiJ fee him as he is, i John iii. 2. Howbeit, the faint! can never have an adequate conception of Gqd ; they cannot comprehend that which is infinite. They icay touch the mounta:.), but cannoi ^rc-fp it in ilieir arms. They cannot with one glance of their ^ye behold whit grows on every fide ; but the divine perft£\ions will oe an unbounded fi:lu, in which the glorified (hall walk eternally, feeing more and more of God ; C.nce ihoy can never come to t'ue end of iliat which is iuiiaue. They may bring their vcficls to this ocean ever)' mo- xnenr, and fiii them with new waters. ^V'hat a ravilhing fight would it be, to fee all the pcrfeciions, and lovely qualities, that are fcattered here and there among the creatures, gathered to« gether into one ! bat even fuch a fight would be infiniiejy be- low this blifst'"ul fi^ht the faints fhall have in -iieavsQ. For they (hall fee God, in whom all thefe perfertioas CiaJI emi- nently appear, with infinitely more; v/hereof there is no vcAigc to be found in the creature. In him Qiall they fee ever)- Lhing defir^ble, and nothing but what i* dcfirabie.
Then fhall they be perfectly faiisficd, as to the love of God towards them, which they are now ready to qutilion on every turn. They will be no more fet to perfuade '.hemfelvcs of it, by marks, figns and teftimonies : they wiii have an intuitivs knowledge of it. They fhai!, with the profoundeft reverence be it fpoken, look into the heart of God, and there fee tha
^ love he bore to them from all eternity, and the love ocd-^ood-
34^ Full Enjoyrnent of God^
viH be will bcir to Uiem for evermore. The j^lorifjcd fhall hsrve a mod clear and diftinft underftandmg of divine truths, for, /t Ais iight wf.Jiiali fu l*okl, Pfalm xxxvi. 9. The light of '^lo. v iwill be a compleat commentary on the Bible, arid loofe all tic ha»d and knotty queftion* in divinity. There is no joy on rcr'i, ^ compaiabic to tnat which ari(eih from the difcovcry of trirh ; no difcovery cf truth comparab^ie to the difcovcry of fcriptaf^- truth, made by the Spinf of ihc-Lop. d utito the foul. / rt- jcice tU thy vjcrd, fays rhe Pfdlmrft, as one that Jindetk great Jpcil^ Pfa!. cxix. 162..* Yet it is but an iinpcrfc^ difcovcry v\: have of K while here. How ravifiung then will it be, to fee the Xicnia^ of the whole trcafare, hid in that field ! they Ihsil :illO be let into ihe underflar.ding of the works of Goo. The t>eauiy in the works of creation ;»nd prov:der.ce, will then be Iccn in a due lii^hr. Natural knowlcd^ will be bfovight to perftc\ion by. the ligHt cf glor/. The web of providence con- xrcfniog the church, and ail men whatfocver, will then be cut out, and laid b«;^fc the eyes of the faints, and it will appcir f moil beautiful mi'xturc; lo as they (hall fay together, on the view of it, Me baih done all things well. But, in a fpecial rianner, the work of redemption, ihall be the eternal wonder of the faints, and they will adaiire ano praifc the f^oricu? con- trivance forever. Then {htli tbry get a full view of its^uit- ablcnefs to the divine perfections, nnri to the cafe of finncrs : and clCfTiy read the covenant, that pall betwixt the Father and the ;San, fron:i all eternity, touching ,th§«r falvation. '^.ey dial' <"or'*;veT wonder and praifc, and praifc and wonder at the myf *^^\ci of wifdom and love, goodncfs and holincfs, mercy and jortice, appearing in the glorious device. Their fouls (hail be eternally larijficd v/ith the fight of God himfclf, and of their tkction by the Father, their redemption by the Sen, and ap- plication thereof to them by »hc holy Spirit.
2. The faints in heaven Ihallrrjoy God in Christ by ex- perimental knowledge, which is, w^cn the objcft itlclf is given and poflclFed. This is the participation of, the divine goodncfs in full ineaiurc, which is the prrfeflion of the will, ard utmoll term thereof. ThtLambJhaU lead ihtm unto living fountains 0/ waters^ Kcv. vii. tj. 1 hcfe arc no other but God hi>nfclf, the fountain of living N<!:aiers, who will fully and freely commu- ricate hinift'U unto them. lie will pour out of his goodnc'.s eternally into tl?eir fouls ; and then fhall they^have a mod live- ly fcnfation, in the inncrmoft part of their fouls, of all that goodncfs they heard of, and believed to be in him ; and of what they fee in him by the light of glory. This will be an everlaf- ting praQical cxpofuiou 01 ihat word, which men and angel* c<nnot fufficicntly unfold, viz. God (hall — de tAeirOod, Rev, xi. 3. Gou wiii comiaunicoic himfclf u&ta them fally ; they
aud of iJit Lamb* 349
yt'tW be no more Ut to taflc of the Qreaios of divine goodncfs 'm ordinances, as rhey were wont, but fliuU drink at the foaniaio- head. They will be no more entertained with fine fips and drops, but fiilkd with ail the fulncCs o1" God. And this will be
^he entertain mftnt of every faint; for, though in created things what is given to one, is with-Jield from another^ yet an infiuit* good can fully comrr.unjcate itielf to all, ^ad fiU j»H. Thefc who mc heirs of Go D, the great heritage, (hsll then enltr into a full poiicHion of their iiiheritatices ; and the Lord will opzn his
-^realures of goodnefs unto iJjeui, that their enj lynaeoi may be fihU, They Ihall not be ftiuifd to any meafure ; but the enjoy- ment fhall go, as far as their enlarged capacities can reach. 'As a narrow v^flcl canr.vi contain the occao. (o neither can the fia- j^P crcatujc comprehend an ujHnUc good ; but no mtalurc fhall .^e fet to the enjoyment, but what arifeih from the capacity of thp creature. So iha.t, although ilverc be degrees of glory, yet all ihall be ^Ued, and have what they can hold; though Tome would be capable tp ho^ld more than others, there will be no want to any oi them, all fhall be iylly laiiskficd, and pcrftQly hlflu-xl in thr full cnjoy-cient of divine gcodnefj, accoidmj to their enlarged capacities. As when bortlej of djfljrepi (izes ar« filled, fome coiu.iin moie, others Icfs ; yet all of them have what they can co.ntain. The glori&cd fhall have all, in GoD.frjr the f»iiisfa£lion of all t'leir dc fires, ^^o created thing can aff^id fat- islaftion to all our dclircs ; clothes may warm ui, b^t v^ey can- not feed us ; the light Is comfortable, hut cannci ncntifli ns.— put in God we fitall h.4w.c ail our dfcfircs, and wc fi}*!! dcGrc nothing without him. "^'JifY 'hsll be the happy /-nes, that de- fire nothing b^it what iiiruly dvfirabie ; a.nd wiibal have all they defire. God will he all in all tp the Idiots; he will be their life, health, nchcs, honour, peare, and all j^or.d things. lie Will communicate hi mfelf freely to them.; the <!jor of accds to him fhall never be f}iut again, for one mon;ent. They may, when they will, take cf the ffutis of the tree of life, for they will hnd it on each tide of tiie river, Rev. x\\i. a. There will be no vail betwixt God and them, to he dra'.vn afide ; but lysfulncfs fhall ever fland open to them, l^o dt»or to knock at, in heaven ; no aflting to go before receiving ; the Lord will allow his people an unreftraincd familiarity v/'uh hMnfelf there.
Now they are in part m^de part;ikers of the divine nature ; then they fhall perftftly ^Hrt-nke of it ! that is to fay, Goiy V/ill communicate to tfym his own image, make all his good- jiefs not only pafs bcf/^re them, but pafs into th.cm, and fiaasp the image of all his pcrfeclions on them, fo far as the creature is capable to receive the Tune ; from whence fin!! refult a per. tc£t likenefs to bim, in all things in or about ihem, whipJi completes lac happincfs of ihe cieaiarc. And this is what the
350 Fulnefs of Joy,
Pfalmift fcems to have had in viev, Pfalm xvii. 15^ IJhall be Jatiijied, tuhcn t azvakc^ with thy bk^ntji ; the pcrfcttion t\ God's image, following upon the beatific viljon. And fo fays John, 1 John tii. 2. W* jJiail be Ixhe hin ; Jor wtjkalljc: kim as he is. Hence there fiijll be a nnoft clofe and intiraate tinion betwixt Goji and the faints ; God fliall he in them, and they in God, in the way of a moft glorious and perFcft uni- on ; for then (hall they dwdl in love made pcrfc^l. God is love^ and he that dwtlUtk in lore, dwdleik in Cod, and Cod in him^ 1 J'jhn iv. 16. Hew will the fimits knit with God, and he with thctn ; wi)en he fees nothing in them, but his own im- age ; when their love fiiall airivc at its perfcftion, no nature bat the divfne nature, being left in them ; and all imperfec- tion fwallowed up in that glorious trMisformaiion inro the like- Dcfs of Go D ! their love to the Lord being parked from the drofs of felf-iove, fhall be moft pure : fo as they wiH love no- thing but God, and in Cod. i It (hall be no more faint anel languifhjng but burn like coals of juniper. It will be a lij^ht without darknrfs, a flaming fire without fmoak. As the hve- ccal, when all the moillurc is gone out of it, is all fire ; fo wiU the iaiiits be all love, v/hcn they come to the full enjoyment of OcD in heaven, by intu:ti\'^e and experimental know.lcd/;c of Him, by' fight and fuH panicipaiioti of the divine good- ncfs.
/.y\, From this glorious prefcnce and enjoyment fliall arifc ai: u;i!pc\kibic jny, wh'ch the fainU fhall be frlled with. in tky pujenct i% fiilncfs oj joy, Pfalm xvi. 11. The faints fome- timcs enjoy God in the world, when their eyes being held, that they can;>ot perceive it, thry have not the comfort of the enjoyment ; but then, all mifi^kes tcing removed, they fha;' not only enjoy GtjD, but r':i1 in the enjoymenr, with inexpref- lible joy and fatrsfa^on. The deisre of earthly things breeds ** torment, and the enjov»nent of them often ends in loathing- But though the glofihc^ faints (hall ever dcfire more and raor- of God, their dehrcs (liaU not be mixt with the lealt anxiety, lincc the fulucfs of the G''^n-hcad flands always open to them ihercfoie they (lull hunger to Ti»orc, they fhall not have the lead uncaGntfy, in their etern\3 appetite after the hidden man- jiii ; neither fuall rontinocd enjoyment breed loathing ; thry flia-ll never think they have too u^isch ; therefore it is added, Keiiherjhail ih' Jnn h)^ht on Ihem, n(*r any hrat^ Rev. yii. 16. I'he enjoyment of Gi)D and the Lam^ will be ever frcfh ard new to them, tHrcui;h the ages of etcrr.'ny ; for toev (hall drink •f living fountains of wr.tei*, where new vatcrs are contin ' - fpiinging up in abundaflce, ver. ty. Tr»cy fiall eat ■ tree of life, which tor variety, r.Hoids twelve ^nanncf o( ;■-;; kiii. ihcfc alwa\!» new and frcflj, for itjiclJi twry in(>tiib»K^
Fuhiefs df Jo)\ 3.5- 1
>x:I'. 2. Their joy (ball be pure and uninix<(J, without any dregs of for row ; not flight and momentary, but Tolid and ever- lafting, without interruption. They will enter into joy. Mat, XXV. 21. Enttr thou into the joy of thy Lord. The cxpredion- is fomewhat unufual, and brings me in mind of that word of our fuifering Redeemer^ Mark xiv. 24. My foul is exceeding for* TOwf«l, tmto death. His foul wa« befet zuilk farrows ^ as the woid, there ut'ed, will bear ; the Soods of forrov went round about him, cniompafTing him on every hand ; wbitherfoever be turned his eye*, forrow was before him ; it fprang in upon, him, from heaven, earth, and hell, all at once ; thus was he en« tered into forrow, and therefore laith, Pfal. ixix. 2, i am. coim in deep watersy where the floods ovcrfiouj mt. Now, wherefore ail this, but that his own might enter tnto joy ? Joy fome- times enters into us now, with much ado to get acccfs, while we are compafFcd with forrows ; but then joy (h;ill not on!/ enter into us, but v, e (hall enter into it, and fwim for ever ii» »n ocean of ^oy j where wc will fee nothing but joy, whitherfo- cver ^ve turn our ey^s. The prcfence and enjoyment of Go r> aod iheXa:nb, will failsfy us with pleafures for evermore ; and the glory of our fouls and bodies, arifing from thence, will afford us everlafting delight. The fpirit of hcavincfs, ho\v rlofely foevcr it cleaves to any of the faints now, Hiall drop off then J their weeping (hall be turned into fongs of joy, and bot- tles of tears (hall ilTae in rivers of pleafure. Happy they who now fow in tears, which fliall fp*ingup in joy in heaven, and bow their heads there, ^.iih a weight of glory upon them.
Thus far of the Society in this kingdom of the faints.
X. In die /«7^ place. The kin^jdom (Iiall endure for ever.
As every thing :n it is eternal, fo the faints ihall have an un- doubted certainty and full affurance of the eternal duration of the fame. This is a ncceflary ingredient in perfect happinefs ;. for the lead uncertainty, as to the continuance of any good vith one, is not without feme £car, anxiety ar»d torment ; and, therefore, is utterly inconQftent with perfect hEppincfs. Bjt the glorified (hall never have fear, nor caule of tear,of any lofs ; they fhall be ever with the Lord, 1 Thef. iv. i?. They fhall all attain the full perfuafion, that nothing fhall be able to fepa- nte them from the love of God, nor from the full enjoyment of him, for ever. The inheritance, referved in heaven, is in- corruptible ; it hath no principle of corruption, in iifclF, tc» trake it liable to decay, but endures for evermore : It is unde- fiied ; nothing from without, can mar its beauiy, nor is there any thing in itfelf, to oifend thole m^.o Cijoy it : And therefora it fadeth not away, but ever remains in its native luflre, and primitive beauty, 1 Pet. i. 4. liit^Serta of the aaime of the W.na;doni pf hcarun.
3,^.'2 The Scints Arhiijj^on.
Secokdi.v, Proceed we f;ov, ib fppak of tK6 AdnftftioiT of the faints itiTo this their kirtgdom ; where HhaW briefly touch upon rwo ihings : (h) The formal adtniffi jn, in tKc call onto tncm from the J'lH^e, to come to their kingdom. (2.) Thd Quality ill which they are admitted and introduced to it.
I. Their Afimiffion, the text fhcvvs to he bv a voice fro^ the throne : the King rdlling to them From the throne, before aii- «:!$ and men, to cofne to their kingdoir. Come and c-* are but fnort words, but they will be fiich a^ will afford matter of iho't tOaTl mankind, through the »;;es of eternity ; fince upon the one depends evcrl^(lf:;g hapr>incfs, and upon the other, ever- ladine mifery. Now oOr Loki) bins the worft of finncrSjwho hear fnc j^ofpcl, Come: but the moft part will not come vtn'ry him. Some few, whofe hearts arc tonchcd by his Spirit, do embrace the rail, and their Uuls within them fay. Behold! we come auto iAee ; they give thcmfelvcs to the Lord, forfakc the world and their Infts for him ; they bear his yoke, and" caft it'not Off, no not in the hejt of the dav, when the weight of it, |*rrhaps, mnkc5 ihcm fweat the blood out of their bodi?*. Bj- kold the fools ! fakh the carnnl vorld ; whither arc fhey go- ing ? But flay a litile, O foolith world ! Front the faioc mouth, whence they had the call they are now foMo^ting, ano- th<>r call fhall come which will make amends fdr all ; Cjme, ye bleffed of my Falhery inherit the kifgdr.n^ Bcc.
The faints (hall find an inexnrefBbl^ fweetnefs in this caM, to romc: (1.) Hereby Jesus Cii r 1 st [h','ws bis dcfi;e of their ffjciety in the upper houfe, that they may b- ever with him there. Thus he will open his hcjtrt unto them, as fomefimes he did to his Father concerning them, faying. Father yJ rvtU th<it they — be with me^ t^hcrr / am, ike. John xvii. 9.4. Now «hc travail of Kis foul ftands before the throne, not only the foul.i, but the bodies he has redeemed ; ard they mu(l come, foj' he mofl be completely fatlsficd.— Te.) Hereby they arc folcmnly invited to the marriagc-fupper of the Lamb. They were inri* ted to the lower table, by the voice of the fervants, and the fe- tret workings of the Spirit within them ; and they came, and did partake of the fcart of divine commtintcations in the Tower houfc ; but Jksus Christ, in perfon, fhall invite tliettt, be- fore all the woild, to the h»ghcr tabic. {■:].) By ibis he ad- mits them into the nmnfions of J^'ory. The keys of heaven hang at the p,irdle of our royal M<*diaior : All power in heaven M ^tven to hin», Mat. xxviji. iR. and none get m thither, but whom he admits. When tht-v were living rn earth, with the rcfl of the world, he opencd>he evrrlafting dcorj of their hearts- entered into them himfclf, and fhut them again, fo ai fin could never re-erter, to reign there .15 formcrlv : and now he opcjis heaven's doors to them, draws his oovts into th: ark, «nd Inuts
into the Kingdo^n. 353
them i» there ; fo as the law, death and bell, cat* never get rbem out again. The faints, in this life, vrere ftill.labouring to- enter into that reft ; but Satan was always pulling them back^ their corruption always drawing them down ; in ib much, that tjjcy have lonneiimcs been left to haiig by a hair of a promife, if Ira ay be allowed the expreS^on, not without fears of falling JBito the lake of fire : bur ru>iy Ch p. » st gives the word for their adrn'lfion ; vhey ar<: brought in, and put beyond all hazaid, hajllyy Thus he fpraks to tl.cm, as the perfun introducing them into the kingdom, into the prefer'ce-chainbcr of the great King, ;5nd unto the throne. Jesus Christ is the great Secretary ef heaven^ whofe it is lo bring the faints into the gracious pre- fence of God ; and to whom alone it belongs, to biing thetn into the glorious prefcnce of God in h£aven. Truly heaven would be a, flrange place to them, if J lis us was not there: but ♦b'j Sen will introduce his brethren into his Father's kiogdoin ', they {hall go in with him to the marriage, Mat. xxv. lo.
li. Let us conGder in what Quality they are introduced by h>Bi .
Firjl^ He brings them in as- the blefiedof his Father ; ib runs- the call from the throne : Come, ye bitj[?d of my Fut/eer,8cc.. It is Chkist's Father's houle, they arc to come into ; therefore he pu's theili in mind, that they arc blefTcd of his Father; dear to the Father, as well as to himfclf. This is it, that makes beave,n home to them; namcly^that it is Christ's Fiuhcr's houfe, where wc may be aflured of welcome, being" married to ihe Son, and being his F^'her's choice for lliat very end. He brings them in for bis Faih^er's fake, as wcH as for his own ;, they >irc the blelTed of his Father, 'tfho, as he is tie fountain ait the Deity,, is alfo the fountain of all bleTings coaferred on ther children of. men. They are thefe to whom God defigned well jfrom eternity. They were bleiTcd in the eteriui purpofe of GuD, being elefted to cverlafting life } at the opening of the book of life, their names were found written therein. So that, bringing them to the kingdom,, he doth but bring them towha.t the Father, from all eternity, deugaed for.ihera : beinj^ faved by the Sop, they arc favcd according to his {i. €^ the Fathc's) pjrpole, 2 Tiffir i, 9, They are thefe, to whom the Father has ipoken well. He (pake well to them in his woid, which muii now receive its full accompliihmenf. They had his proiciTcof the kingdom, lived acd died in the faith of it : aud now they rome to receive the thing promifed- Unto them be h,--* done well: A gift is often, in Sci ipture, called a bleffiog; and Go !.>'•* blcflin.'; is ever real, like If-iac's blcQing, hv which Jacob be- came his heir : they v/erc all by grace jullilied, Canclified, au<i aiade tp perfcvere uuto the end i ncv they are raifed up i«- jlory, and, being tusJ, fu^.i in xhs juJgulent : v»hit icrcatris-
354 AppiicatiDi:,
then, but that God crown Iiis own work ofgracc in them, iil j^iving them their kingdom, in the full enjoyment of himfclf for ever ? Finally, They arc thcfc, whom God has confecrat- cd ; the wh'ch, alfo, is a Scripiure-notion of blcffing, I Cor. x. 16. God fci them apart for himfclf, to be kings and pricAi unto him ; and the Mediator introduceth them, as fuch, to their kingdom and prieHhood. ^
Secondly, Ch r ist introduceth (hem as heirtof the kingdom to the a^lual pufrdfion of it : Ccmr, ye bUJf^.d^ inherit the king- dom, &c. Tb;')' are the children of God, by regeneration and adoption : And if children^ then knn \ heirs of isod^ and joint hfin with Cnnji, Rom. viii. 17. Now is the general af- fembly of the firfl-horn before the throne : their minority is ov- erpaft, and the lime appointed oF the Father, for ihcir receiv- ing of their inheritance i^ come. The Mediator pUrchafed the inheritance for them, with his own blood ; their rights and evi- dences were drawn long ago, and regiflcred in the Bible ; nay", they had infeftment of their inheritance, in the perfon of Je- sus Christ, as their proxy, when he afcended into heaven, whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, Hcb. vi. 20. Noth- ing remaineth, but that tbey enter intoperlonal polfcdioft there- of ; which, begun at death, is perlcPi-d at the laft day ; yrjien the faints, in their bodies as well as their fouls, go into their kingdom.
LoJ}ly, Th-y ^tt rntrodijccd to it, as thcfe it was prepared for from the foundation of »he world. The kingdom was prepared for them i:i the etemnl purpofe of GoD, l>eforc they or any of them had a being; which (hews it to he a gift of free grace to thrm. It wa?, from eternity, the divine purpofe, that there ihould be fuch a kingdom for the cle6i ; and 'Jiat all impedi- ments, which might mar their ?ccefs to it, fhculd be removed out of the vfzv ; and withal, by the fame clsrnal decree, every one's phce in it, was determined and fet apart, to be refcrvcd for him, thgt each of the children coming home at length into their Father's hcufc, might find h?? ov-'n phce awaiting him, and ready for him ; as, at Saul's table, David's place was empty, v.hen he was not there, to occupy it himfelf, i ?^?m. xx. 2 j — And nov/ th:\r the appointed to."! is come, they are brought m to take their {-.vera! pLccs in glory, fet apart and refcrvcd for thciTi, till tbey fhoiild come at them.
U^E. I fhall Out np my difrcurfe on this fubjefl, with a Vord of Appiicaiion : (i ) To all who claim a right to 'in« kingdom. (2.) To thelc who have indeed a right to it. {3} To thefe who hcve not a r»f^ht thereto.
Firf, Since it !<; evident, there is no promifcuous admii^on ii^to the kuiadom ot hravrn, a-^d none do obtain it, -feut tbefc whcT: claim if ioit-mtily ffjed hj the great Jur*g^, and zfter tri-
Applicadcn. 355
al; ftiRatned as geod and valrd ; it is necefTary that all of us impartiaJlv try and examine, v.'hefher, according tc the laws of the kincrdojn, contained in the holy Scriptures, we can verify and malce^ood our-clnim to this kingdom ? The hope? ol hea- ven, which mcft men have, are built on itjch fai^tH' ioundd- tions, as can never ahide the trial ;-h3vicg no ground' in the vordj but in their own deluded fancy': fdcW hopes will leave thf^e who entertain them, miferably tJifippointtd nt laft — Wherefore, it is not only our duty, but our inieiefl, to put the matter to a fair trial . in time. If we find, we have nd right to hea-v'cn, indeed we ?re yet in the way ; and what wc have not, wc.may obtain ; but if we find we have a right to it, we will then have the 'comfort ofa happy profpeft into etcrt i- ty, which is the greateft comfort one is capable of in the woihl. If ye enquire, how ve tnav kn'»'.v whether ye have a right to heavrn, or not ? I anf^^er, ye mull know that by the ftzte ye ate now in. If ye are vet in your natural flate, ye arc children of W(aih,an<i net children of this kingdom ; for that flate, to them who live and die in it^ iffaes an eternal mifery. If you be brought i^to the ilate of grace, you have ajuftclaim to the flate of glory ; for grace will ^certainly illite in j;lcr}' at length.
Thjs kingdom is an inheritance, which none but the children of Goo can juftly.chim 5 now v/e become the child I en q\ God, by regeneration and union with Ch^. iST his Son : And if childrm^ then heirs, htiTs of Gcd, aiid joiht heirs zuith Ckrift, Rom. viii. 17. Thefc then are t'oe great points, upon 'Ahich ones evidences for the flate of glory do de- pend. And therefore I refer you to what is faid On the (liite of grace, for clearing of you as to your n|ht to glory.
If you be heirs of glory, the kingdom of G an is within you, by virtue of your regeneration and union with Christ, (1.) The kingdom of heaven has the throne in thy heart, ifthou ha^l a right to that kingdom : CnRiST-is in thee, & God isrntbcc; and having chofen him for tby portion, thy foul has taken up its everlafling reflin him, and gets no kindlr reflbtjt in him ; as the dove, until fhe came into the ark. To him the foul hab- itually inclines, by virtue of the new nature,' tbs divide nature, which the heirs of glo<-y are partakers of, Pfal.lxxiii. 25. Wh.'^r: havr I in heavenbtti ihxe.- And iherc-is itottf upcn rcrt.'i, ikai I dfjire hrjides thee, (g.j The laws of heaven are in thv heart, if ' thou art an heir of heaven, Hfb. viii. 10. / will put rrv lau v into their mind, and zunte thcfnin their kcarly. Thy mind is enlightened in the knowledge of the laws of the kingdom, by the Spirit of the Lord, the infirutlorof all the btirs oJ glory ; for whoever may w^nt mftruction, fure an heir to a cr^'.v.n n- vl not want it. Il is w^iucn in the jtroph'.ts^A'id they jiic':
35^ JppUcafio'ii,
taught oJGcd, John vi, 45. Therefore, thoujjh Lther and n»other l.avcthcm early, or be in no concern about their Chrif- nan education, and they be foon put to work for their daily bread ; ycnhcy Q\aM not Uck teaching. Withal thy heart is changed, and thou bcarctl Go n's image which confifts in right- coiifncfsand truc-hoiincfs, Eph. 1^. 24. Thy foul is reconcil- ed to the whole \\'ii of God, and at war with all known fin. — In yaio do they pretend to the holy kingdom, who are not ko> Jv in he^rtandhfc ; iot. Without kolinejs no manjhatl fee {he Lord^lleh.xVx. 14, Jf heaven is a reft, it is for fpi ritual la- bourers, and not for loJteicrs. If it is an eternal triumph, they *ic not in the w;:y to it, who avoid the fpiritual warfare, and are in no care to fubdue corruption, rcfifl temptation, and to cuf their wayfo it, thro* the oppofiiion made by the devil, th« world, and the fleUi. (3.) The treafure in heaven is the chief in thy eftcera and dcfirc, for it is your treafure; and, Ti'he re your treafure is, there tuilL your heart be aifo^ Matih. vi. fii. If it is not the things that ar^ fccn, but the ihingi that are not fcen, which thv heart is irtgreateft care and concern io obtain ; if thou art driving a trade with heaven, and thy chief bufiaert lies there ; it is^ a Cgn thy treafure is there, for thy heart is there. But if thou art of thefe who wonder why fo rrtuch ado, about: heaven andetcrnal life, as if lefs niight fcrvc fhc turn ; thou art like to- ha'Tc nothing to do with it at ail. Carnal men valu€ themfelves oaofl on their trCaruiet up- on earth ; with them, the things ih«c are not feen, are weigh- ed down by the things that arc (<>eQ ; and- no lofrcs do fo much a5-£l them as earthly lofles ; but the heirs of the crown of glory, will value ihemftlves mod on their treafure* in keaven, and will not put their private c(Vate in the balance with their kingdom : nor will the lofs of the former go fo near their hearts, as the thoughu of the lofs of rlic latter. Where thefe firft-fruirs oi heaven arc to be found, the eternal weight of j;Iory will farely follovir after ; while the want of them muft- be admitted, according to the woid^ to be an iacontcdible ev- idence of an heir of wrath.
Secondly^ Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themfeU'ct fuitable to ihcir charaftcr and dignity. Live as having the faith and hope of this glorious kingdom : let your convetfa- tion be in heaven, Phil. iii. eo. Let your fouls delight in communion with God, while ye are on earth, fince ye look for your happincfs in communion with him in heaven. I^t vour fpeech &a£lions favour of heaven : and in your manner of life, lock like the country to which ye are going ; that it mav be faid of you, as of Gideon's brethreo, Judges viii. fi8. eacli 4fiC rcf«rabltd the children of a king. Maintain a holy c«a-
AppUcdtzbn, 357
i«nT]>t of the world, & of ihe things of the world. Altho' other* whofe earthly thrngsare their beft things, do fet their hearts up- on them ; vet it bcconics you to fet your feet on them dice your beft things arc above. This world is but the country, thro' which lies your road to Immanuel's land ; therefore pafs tiirough it is pilgrims and Grangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of it, fo as to retard yoa in your journey. It is unworihv of one born to a pa!ace, to fet his heart on a cottage, to dwell there ; and of one running for a prize of gold, to go olF his way, to gather the ftones of the brook ; but much more is it unworthy of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the flutF of this world, when he fiiould be going on to receive his crown. The prize let before you, challengeih your uimoft zeal, atiiv- ity and diligence; and holy courage, rcfolution, and magna- nimity,become thofe who are lo inherit the crown. Yc can- not tome at it, without Hghiing your way to ir, through diffi- culties from without, and from \tiihin ; but the kingdom before you is fufficient to balance them all, tbo' ye fhouJd be called to re^ft even unto blood. Prefer Cn rist's cfofs before tb« world's crown : and wants in the way of dutv before eafe and wealth in the way of fin ; Ckocfe ratker to fuffir affliciion tcith ike people of God, than to enjoy the pUafures of fin for a feafon^ Hcb. x.i. 25. In a common Inn, ftrangers (pe-haps) fare better than the children ; but here lies the difference, the children arc to pay nothing for what they hnvc got, but the ftrangert get their bill, and rduft pay compleatly for all they have had, Did we confider the wicked's after reckoning, fcrail the frailes of common providifice thev meet with in the world, we would not grudge them their good things here ; nor take it amii? thit God keeps our beft things laft. Heaven will makeup all the faints' lofles, and all tears fhall be wiped away from their cyc» there.
It is worth obferving, that there is fuch a vaiiety of fcrip- ture notions of heaven's h^pp-nefs, as n^^ fuit every afHitlcd cafe of the (ainrs. Are t^y oppreffed i^ The day cometh, ia which they fliall have the dominion. Is'their honour laid la. the duft ? A throne to fit upor, a crown on their head, 2nd a fceptTc in their hand, will raife it ifp again. Are they reduc- ed to poverty ? Heaven is a treafure. If they be forced to quit their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's houfc is ready for them. Are they driven to the wildernefs ? There is a ci- ty prep.^red for them. Are they banifhed from their native country ? They fhall inherit a better country. If they are deprived of public ordinances, the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the temple there, whither they are poing; a temple, the daojsof v^hich noac caa flnit. If their Jjfe be
;',^ ApfSlicallon,
fu!i ofbirfrncfi, Lcaycais a pHradife for pkafurc. If iliey ^loan under thf remains p^^ fpiriiual bondage, ihcie is a glori- ous liberty ilicifl;;. them, I>3 iHcir d.'Hied gtrmcnri make them :.(}ui:icd ? The dav cointtS in which their robe* fli^iil be v-hite, pure an4 Ipollcfs. The battle a^ainU flcfh and blood, principahiifs and powers, is jndccd fore ; but a glprtous tri- umph K awaiting thctn.- If ihc, toil acdhbours ol the Chrif- tian life be grc;it,ther? isiin evcrlaftuTij reft for them in heav- en. Arc they judocd unworth'/of fqcitty in the woild ? Tbcr fhall be adir,incd ioto the focicty of angels in heaven. Dj thcv Complain of frequent interruptions of ihcir comrriunioa vifh God ? There tbty (hall go no ^nore out, but fhall fee his fice forever" naore. If they are iti darknef* here, eternal Ji;:ht is there. If they grapple with death, there th^y {h*U have cvcris'h'riT life. And to funa up all in one. word, /jV i'(at czxnomf th,J» all zntrrit ail things, Rev. xxi. 7. lle'di-sH havp pracc and plenty, proht ?.n'i plcafure, cvrry -thing d-rfir- ablc ; full fatisfjclion to bij moH. enlarged dcfires. Lti 4htt €xpc6iajits of hravcn, then, lift up their headi with joy, gijd up their loin?, and fo run as they may obt^iu ; iramphog on every tbigg that may hinder thctp,ia the way to ibc kingdom. Let them never accoual any duty too hard, nof.arvy crofj lao heavy,. nor any pains too much, fo as they may obtauinlUiC Cfown of R^ory. ; '
Loji/y, Ltt laorc wHft-havc no right to U'.e kiagdpm of jjea- ven^ be ftirred up to fcrk it with aM diligence. Now is th« time, wl.c.ci,! the children of wrath may become hcirsof glo- ry ; and v/hen the way to cvcrlafting happinefs is opened, it is no time to fit liiil and louer. Raife up your hearts towards the f,lory th^t ij to be revealed ; and do not always i»e alon^ eiii this pcriOiing earth. VV^t can ;»U your world!/ cnjo/» TT.cnts avail yo<i, while you havr. no folid groun'j to cxpcft Ficavcn, -afitr ihij life is gone ? Tbefcv riches and hdaaars, pro- mts and pleafureSy that mull be buried wuh us, and cannot.sc- corrpaMy us into another world, arc but.a wretched portion, and will leave men co'r.fortlcfi a: lon;;-::uni Ah ! why aic men fo fond, in their life-iim« to receive ibcir good thirt.^ ? n'hy are thcv not rather in care, to fecurc an intcrcft'in ihc kingdom of heaven, which would never be taken from them, but afr->rd the.n a portion, to make them happy through the a^cs of cicrniiy ! If you dclire honour, there you may have the highcll honour, and which will lafl, when the world's hnm- ours arc la-d in the duft ; il riches, heaven will yield you a trjafiite ; and, there are pleafures for evermore, O ! bz i.ot dclpifers of the pleasant land, neither judge yourfclvei unwor- thy of eternal life ; but many the heir, and heaven Oiail bt
Introduclion, 3-59
"ydfar*flowry ; clofe with Christ, as he is ^ffcrred to you in • tKe gofpel, and ye'fli ill inherit all' things. \Valk in the way ol bolincrs, and it'^^'ill lead vqu i6 the kiagdom. Fight againfl ■firl in'd^atan, ami Vf-lhali' receive the crovvn. Forrukc ths '^"wor'.tl, aild the ddors of heaven' will be bptn to receive you.
H E A..D \l, H E L L.
'Mattii L\v jc.xv. 41;
Tfienjlkall he /ay alfo ifjifoM t^^^ %^^
handj JDepari fror/i vie yz curf^d, inio cv^rlajt- in;; fire, prepared for tfie devil and his anvils.
WERE there no othsr place of eternal I'od^Irig tut team- en, I fliouM here havecloTed my difcourle cf m?.u's eternal Rate ; bat feting in the other world, there is a prlfoa for the wicked, as well as a pal'ace for the (div,i3,''fre mMt'l ailo enquire into that (late of evcrlading inifery ; the which the wojft of men may well bear with, without crying, Ari tho.a ,comc to tonnent us Ixifore tht.thneV Sxwac liiere'iv yer'ac- ccfs to. fly from the wraih to come j and all that can be hid of it, comes fiici-t of what the damned will feel ; for ^who sknoweih the power of Gob's an^er i^
Thejafl.tjiing our Lor p did.^bcfa're he left the earth wa-?. He lift up his hands, ^and biciled his tiifciplcs, Luke xxiv. 50, 51. B;it the la{l t^hing he will do, before he leave the .throne, is to curfe arid conderpa hb enemies j as we karii from the tpxr, wljich co/iiai«s the dreadful fenfence, wherein the everlaPiiojj mifery of the wicked^;* wrapt f p. In whicli three thirds may be.wken notice of. firjl, The quality 0? the Qondtmutd, yaurfed. The }\^^e>t finds the cuife of the law uppn them as trapfgreiFors, and lends them away with i?, ■fro:n his p>-efence into hdj, ihef<: to be fully executed upoji them, Sccondh, The;pyqi<hiJKn't which ihej- arc: adjuogpfi fo, and to which they were always bound over, by virtue of ths rui fe. A"d it is two-fold, the puniGimentcf Lofs, in (epnra- *ic I from God and Chri^^ ^ DcparLfro^n mc ; and (he pun- ifhmcnl of Stnk^ in moft exquifitc and extreme torment, B'pirtfroni ?r.e intojife. Thirdly^ The aggravat'.on of their
360 The Curfe undir which
tonncntj, (i.) They aif ready for theip, tbey arc not toexr peft a morncnt's refpite. The fire is prepared, and ready to i catch hoid of thofc who are thrown into it, (2.) They vifiil I have the fociety of dcvijs in their tormcnis, being {hot up with j them in hell. They muQ depart into the fame fire prepared for B?c1iebub, the priucc of devils, and his angels ; nameb other rcprobare angels who fell with him, and became devil It is faid to be prepared for them, bccaufe they finned, and were condemned to hell, before man finned. This fpeak^ further terror to the datnned, that they muft po in»o the fame ,. torments and place of tormenr, with the devil and his angels. They hearkened 10 hi5 fcmpiafions, and they muft partake m I \\'\% torments ; hit work* they would do,and they rouft receive the wages, which is death. In this life ihcy joined with dev- ils, in enmity againlf God and Ca r ist, and the way of ho- linefs ; an^ in the other tbey muft lodge with them. Thu» all the goafs fhall be (hut up together ; for that i^amc is com- inon to devils and wicked men, in fcripture. Lev. xvii. 7. "Where the word rendered devils, properly fignifies hairy pnct or gcats, in the fbapc of which creatures, dcviU delighted i much to appear to thetr worfhippers. (3.) The lafl af '^^ i- tion of their tormtrt, is the eternal duration therc ynuft depart into everlafting fire. This is it that pu cape-ftone^pon their mifcry, namely, thiat illhall «|cyer Jba an end.'
DOCTRIN E.
The Wicked Jhall hejhut up under the cu? ' <- f
God, in tvrrlafting Mifery, with
the Devils in Hell.
After having evinced that there (hall he a refurrcftion of the body, and a general judgment, I ttmk it not needful to in- fift to plovc the truth ol future punifliments. The fame con- icience there ii in men of a future judgment, bears witrefs al- fo ct the truth of future punifhmcnt. And that the putiifh- ment of the damned ftrall not be annihilation, or a reducing them to nothing, will be clear in the progrefs of our difcourfe. In treating of this awful fubjeft, 1 (ball enquire into thcfc four things ; ft) The curfe under which the damned (hall be fhnt up. («•) Their mifery under that curfe. (3.) Their (ocicty ynh devils, in thi« miferublc ftatc. (4 ) The eternity of the whole.
(he Damned arejhut %f, 361
I, As to the curfe under which the damned fhali be fhut up in hell ; it is the terrible ftntcnce of ihf! law, by which they arc bound over to the wrath of God, as tranlgrefTors. This curfe docs not firft feizethem, when, (landing before the tri- bunal, they receive their fcntence ; but they were born under It, they led their fife under it, in this world ; they died under it J rofe with it, out of their graves ; and the Judge finding it upon them, fenils them away with it, into the pit ; where it fhall lie on them through the ages of eternity. By nature nil iTicn are under the curie ; but it \% removed from the cleft, hy virtue of their union with Chr ist. It abides on the reii of/inf«l mankind ; and by it they arc devoted to deliruclion, Irp^rated to evil, as one may defcribe the curfe, from Dcut. ->:xix. 21. And the Lcrd Jiiall ftparate him uvto iviL Thus IbsU the damned, for ever, he perfoni dcvoied to deilniBion j Ic- parate and fet apart, from among the reft of mankind, unto evil, as vefTcls of wrath, fet up for marks to the arrows of di- vine wrath; and made Wie coin mpn recepuclc and fiioic o^ vengeance.
This curfe hath itslirft fruits on tarfh, '."rhich area pledge \ of the whole lump that is to follow. And hence it is, that as I -temporal and eternal benefits are bound up together, under the fame cxpreflions in the promifc; to the Lo ii n's people, as Ifa. XXXV. 10. And (he ranfomi-d of the Lord Jhal I return^ and xome io Zion,&.c. relating bosh to the return from Bob) Ion, and 10 the faints going to their eternal reft in heaven ; even to temporal and eternal mi^enes, on the enemies of God, arc foTPctimcs wrapt up under one and the lame cxprcflion in the threatnine, as Ifa. xxx. 33. ForTopha is ordaintdef old -, yta, for the king it is prepared ; he hath mad.e it deep and large; the pile thereof is Jire and muck wood ; tiie breath cj tht Lvrd, like ajlrcam of brimjiorie, difth kindle it. VVh'ch relates both to the temporal ai^l eternal deftru^lion of the A'fyrians, who fell by the hand of the angel before Jerufalem. See alio, Ha. Ixv:. .u\. What is that judicial blindncfs, to which many are giv- en up, In zohom the G§d of this zvorldiiath blindcd'their eyes, sCor. iv. 4. but the tirft fruits of hell, and of the curfe? Their fun is going down at roon-day.; their darknefs increaf- ing, as if it would not ftop, till it iifue la-utter darkr.efs. Ma- ny a lafh in the dark, doth confcicnce give the wicked, which the world doth not hear cJf; and what is that, but that the never-dying worm is already begun to gnaw them ? And there is not one of ihefe, bat they may call it Jcfep!:, for the lord fhall add another \ or rather, Gad, ior a trc.yp comnk. Thefe drops of wrath, are terrible forebodings of the full fhcwer which 15 tQ follow. Someiinies they are given up u-
3^2 The Curfc undir wliich
their yjlc aFc£\Ion^ that they have no more command over them, Rom. 1. 26'. So their lufls groV up mort and nTorc towards pcrfcaion, IF I niayfo fpcak. As w heaven grate comrsio its pcrfcaioi;, fo in Iiell fin arrives at its hij^hcll Jiiich ; and as fin is thus advjincing upon the man, he is the nearer and the likcr tq hell. There ax- three things ihat have a fearful afpca her-. Firji^ When every thing that m!8;ht do good to mens fouls, is hUHed to them ; fo that thrir blrffngs are curfcd, Mai. ii. 2. fcrmons, prayers, aJinor.ition*, and »c- proofs, which arc powerful towards others, are quite irjcfrica- c:ous to them. Secondh, When men goon (inning fti!i, in the fac; of pJain rcbulcrs (rom the Lord, in oidinancc« *od providences; God :r.cets them with rods.inihe way of their /;n, as it were flrikip;* thcni b^ck ; yet they rulh fornfard. What can be more like hc!I, where th? Lord is a! •. ■ - •'^•" - ing.arjd the damned always finning ngainll hiin ? Li every thing in or.c'i lot is turned into fuel to ore's lu adverOty and proJpcr!t^•, poverty anJ wealth, the want or or» dinance?, and the enjoyment ox them, do all but nounlh the orruptions of many. Their vicious {lorrjichs corrupt what^ i. ever they receive, and all docs hutincreafe noxious humbr';. Bi't ih.: full harvcfl Follows, in that- wiiferr which ithry (hill forever lir under in h:ll ; that wrath, .which by virti^ t f the curfe, (hall come upon them ta the uttcrmoil ; tiie which, is the curfc fully executed** This black cloud opens upon them, and the teniblc thunocr-bolt ftnkcS thc.Tl, hy that dreadful voice from ihe throne. Depart J rom me^ ye (urfed^&c^ Which will give the whole wicked world a dtfmal V!cw ct v.hat is in the bofom of the curfc. (1.) It is a voice of ex- treme indignation and wrath, a furious rebulte from ihc Lron of the tribe of Jjdah. H:s look> will be mofl terrvblc to them j^ his eyes will cad tlTinesal fire on them ; and his wt)rds ^•ill pierce their hearts, like envenomed arrows. When he -will thus fpcak ihcm out of bis picfence forever, and, by bis vord, chaft; them away from bciorc the throiie ; «hey -wiil fee how keenly wrath burns in his heart againft them for their fins. (2.) It is a voice of extreme difdaiii ani conreinpt from the LoR.a. Tune was, when they were pitied, bcfr-u^lu to pity Jhcmfelvcs, and to be the Loixd's ; but they delpik-l him, they would norc of him : but now ftiail they be bu it:l out of his fight, ucdcr ev.-rlaOing contempt. (;.) It is a voict of extreme hatred. Hereby the Lord fhuts them oat of hii iowels of love a ^d mercy : Depart, yc cur/ d, as if he fiiould fay, I cannot crdurc to look at you ; there is not one purpolc ©f good to you in mine heart ; nor (hall yc ever h-ar ofie '.v'ord jnoic cf hope Iroai ine. ^''Ji'ji It is a voice
the Damned ar^Jhui- up. 363
rejcAlon from the Lord. Pie cciniuands tkem to i)c.gone, ai.d Ib'caOs'iHem off for ever. Tluis the rdoprs of heaven are 'ftiut agaiiill thetn ; the gulf is iix«-.u bctveen . ihera and ir, and they are driven to the pit. Now ihoulq they cry with ajt poffiblc carnefti^^efx, Lord^ .Lord, open tj us ; they will hear nothing but, Depart ^ depart, y'f^curfcd. Thus Ihajl the daaia- cd be fiiut up m;der tlie curie. .
Use FirJi,Ltiz\\ thefe who, being yet in ihcir qaluraKOate, arc under tne curfc, ccnfider iLis.and (lee loj .-: s u 5 Chris r betimes, that they mav be delivered from .it. How can yjc fleep in that ftate, being wrapt up in the curfe ! Jtsus Christ is now faying unlo yoj, Comr, yc cuf fed ; I w^l lake the curfc froin oil' you, aiid give )ou the bieflinj. Thje xvaters of the fanflazry are now running, to'beal the cujfcil ground; like heed to improve thsm for {hat end tp your own Touls, and fear it as kell, to get no fpirihial advantage tliere- by. Remember that //itf wi"r)'/'/j:c<r?, which are neither fca, nor dry land, a &t emblem oi hyppcriics ; at/d the vf.zrjh':s, that neither breed Hfhci, nor bear trees; but -the W4'trs of the fanc^isary leave them as they F.nd them, in ihe.ir barreancfs; jrtallHct be k:cLt:d; {czxngxhc^- fpuro. t^c only remedy; thf/ Jhail be given to fait', left under eternal barrennef?, fee up fc»r the monuments of the ^'rath of Gop, and concluded for ev- er under the curfc, E^ck, xlvii. 1 1. Stcond'j, Letali curfers confider this, wno'e mouths arc filled wiihcurilng themfe!vc3 and others. He that clothes himfelf with cuiiiiv* ^^''11 iit^d the curfe come into his bowels l:ke water, and like ojI into his bones, Pfalm cix. 18. if repcntarce prevent it not. Hj fhal! get all his im.prtcations ^^ainft him f.il'y acfwercd, i;i thatd<iy wherein he {lands before the wibunal 0I Goa ; , d fhali find the killing weight of the curfe of Gjd, wbicr. r. • makes light ol now.
11. I proceed ?o fpeak of the ^I!fe«y of the thmncj, under that curfe : a mifery whxh the tor.cues of men and angels ca.i- not fuEciently exp;cfs. God always a£ls like himielf; no favours can be tquil to his, and bis wrath and terror, arc without a parallel. Ai the faints in heaven are adv^mced to the higheft pitch of happiatfs, fo the d-.nncd in hell arrive ac the height cf mifery. Two things here, 1 fliall foberly en- quire into ; the punilhment of Lofs, and the punidi ncnt of Sonfe, in hell. But hnce thefe alfoareiuch things ns eye has not feen, nor ear heard, we muft, as Gepg'-apbers do, leave; a large void for the unknown la::d, which the day will dtf- cover.
fir^. The puniflirhcnt of Lofs, which the damned Tnall uo- dcr^o, is ftrparaiion fiom the Lord ; as v/e iearn from thu
fj64 The Punijhment of
text : D:part/rom me, ye curjtd. Thii will be a fione upon tbrir grsvf's mou'h, as the talent of lead, Zech. v 7, %. th<*t "will hold them down for ever. They (hall be eternally fep»- ratfd from Goo and Cii r ist. Ch r ist i« the wav to the F4ther: but the way.as to thcTti.Chall be cvcrlaflingly blocked lip'; the biidgc Ihall be drawn, and the greatgulf fixed ; fo ihall they be fhut up in a Hate qf cierniil lcp;»ratiori from. -God the Father, Son, and holy Ghoft. They will be local- ly fcparatcd from ihc Man Christ, and fhall never corpe into the feat of the blefled, where he appears in hi* glory but be cad out into otter daiknefs, Matth. xxii. 13. They can- not indeed be locally fcparated from Goj> : they cannot be in a^lace where he is not, fince be is, and will be prefent ev- erywhere : If I make my bed tn. hell, lays the Plalmifi, bthotd thou art there, Pfalm cxxxix. 8. Bjt ibcy (ball be milerablc beyond exprtflion, in a ralaiive fcparation from God. Tbo* he will be prefent in the very centre of their fouls, if I may -fo exprefs it, while they are wMpt up in fiery flames, in ut- ter darkrcfs, it fhall not only be to leed ihem with the vine- Y/iT of his wrath, to et;tertain them vriih the emanations of his revenging juflice ; but they fhali never tifte more pf bis grvod- nefs and bounty, nor have the le-iftglimpfe ef hopefiom him. Thcv will fee his heart to be abfolutely abenatcd from them; znd that it cannot be towards them ; but that they arc the par- ty againft whom the Lord will hafe an indignation for e- ver. They fhall be deprived of the glorious prefcncc and en- joyment of God : they fhall have no part in the beatific vi- iron, nor fee any thing in God towards them, but one wave of wrath rolling at the backof another. This will bnngupon \\ ♦ n, overwhelming floods of foriow for evermore. Ihcy ih.;ll never taOc of the rivers of pleafurcs the faints in heaven enjoy : but fhall have an cvcrlafling winter, and a perpetual night bccaufc ihe Sun of lighteoufnefshas departed from them, ;ind fothcy are left in utter darknefs. So great as heaven's iappint-fs is, fo great will tljeir lots be: fpr tbcy can have i.oiic: of it for ever.
This fcparaiion of the wirked from God, will be, (1.) An involuntary frporztion. Now they depart from him, they \n\\ not come to him, though they are called, intreated, and rbufted to come ; but then they fiiall be driven away from* him when they would gladly abide with him. Although the fjucflioM, What is thy Beloved, more than another br.loved f i» ♦rcquent now amongii the dffpHerj of thegofpel, there wiO he DO luch queflion among all the damned crew : for then rliey will fee, that man's happir.efs i^ only to be foimd in the *.AJoyHic*»t of^oD ^ ai^d that the Jofs ol him, 15 « lofs rhal
Lofs, in Hell. 365
<an never be balanced, (a.) It will alfo be a total and inter i'eparation. Albeit the wicked are in this life feparatcd from God, yet there is a kind of intercourfe betwixt them ; he gives them many good gifts, and they give bun, at leaft, insne good words ; fo that the peace i» not ahcgeiher hopelcfs. But then there fliall be a tci^l feparatioo, the dainned being caft into utter dajkncfs, where there wili not be the leall gleam of light or favour Irom the Lokd ; the which w-il put an end unto ail their fair words to him. ^V'<'''» ^^ ^^*'' ^* a final fcparation : they will part with htm, never more to jncei : being (but up under everlafliftg horror ai)d dcfpair. The nnaich betwixt Jfsus Ch R IS r and unbelievers, which has fo often been carried forward, and put back, a^ain, Ihiill then be broken for ever ; and never fhiU one tuclfige of fa- vour or good-will, go betwixt the parties any iTi#rc.
This punifhment of Lofs, in a total and ftnsl feparation from G(JD, is a mifery beyond what mortals can conceive, and which the dreadful experience of the damned can on- ly fufficiently unfold. But that we may have tome con- ception of the horror of it, Igi the following things be con- iidcrcd.
iy?, God is the chief good, and therefore to he feparate^ from him, muft Ije the chief evil. Our native country, our gelations, and our life, are good ; and, therefore, to be oc» prived of them, we reckon a great evil ; and the better any thing is, fo much the greater evd is the lofs of it ; wherefure, God being the chief good, and no good comparable tp hirn, there can be no lofs fo great, as the lofs of Gon. The full enjoyment of him, js the bighcU pinnacle of happinefs, the creature is capable of arijving at ; to be fully and hnali/ iep- arated from him, mult then be the loweit lltp of inilerv, which the rational creature c.-'.n he reduced lo. To be caft off by men, by good men, by the heft of men, is hea- vy : what muft it then be, to be rejected of God, of good- nefs iifelf I
zdlj, God is the fountain of all goodr.efs, from which all goodnefs flows unto the creatures, and bv v;hich it iscontinq. ed in them, and fo them. Whatever goodncU or pcrieriioa, natural as. well as moral, is in any creature, it is tioin God, iand depends upon him, as the light is from, and depends rn the fun ; for every created beirig, as fuch, js a dcpeuderit one. Wherefore a total feparation from God, wiiciein aii com- fortable communication, betwixt God znd a rational crea- ture, is abfolutely blocked up, muft of necefTity bring along, with it a total cclipfeof all light of comfort and cafe wha»4i>; f yer. If there is but one windov/, or open placc^ iu a hou£i?»
366 The ^Punijlivunt of
audt'pal be quite' (but up jit* Is evident iherc cjrnbe nodhing butdaik.nc'sin that hf)u{c. Our Lord icUs us, MdHh. xix. I •j,Tuire is none good tut one^ that ^s God. H*A\\\n^. good or cotnt'oriabic is, owginaJly,: from the cfCBture : 'whoicver good or comfortable tbinj:, one linds in one'« f«rlf, a» hc*4th of bo- dy, or peace of n\\iA ; wlutevcr fwectncr», reO, plcafu^e, or delight, one findi in other 'creatures, as in meat, drink, arts aiid fcicnccs ; all thefc arc but fomc faint rays of ibe divine perfeflioDS, communicated from Gou unto fhe creature, and ^epcndfTig CD a corllant iriiaence frorn hifn, for tbeir convcr- fatiori ; whicli filling, they would immeciitcly be gone : for it i& unpoflible thar any created thing can be to us morcor t^citer, than what Odd m^ikcsit to be. All thciivtilcts of coipfort we drink of, within or without ourfelvcs, come frona God, as llveir fpiine-head ; the courfe of which, towards as, bsing flopt, of necefTuy they muft all dry up. So that, when Goo goes, all that is ^ood and comfortable goe« with hitn } ^il eafc and quiet of body or mind. Hof. ix. 12. JVo alj'o unto ihvTt^ liken J depart from ikem. When the wicked are to- tail/ and finally icparatcd from hitn,' all that is conformable in them, or abciu them, returns to its fountcin, as the IJg^t r C . away with the fun, ami darkncfs laccccds in the room. _\,f. Thus, in. their fcparAtion from God, all peace, \% ;;.:. uvcdfiir away frcta them ; and pf»in in body, ai>d aaguilh of loul, fucrccd to it ; all joy ^cs, aUd I'.nmixcd forrow fet- tles ill them : all quiet and reft fcparate fr^m them, and they arc filled with horror and r.fge ; hope fltcs away, and dcfnair ^eiztih iheni ; common operations of the Spirit, which nO*r Tcilriin ihcm, are wlihdiawn forever, and fin comes to its utinoft height. And tlius wc have a difmal view,of the horri- icic rptfiacle of fin and niifcry, which a creature proves, when totally feparatcd from Gon, and left to itfelf ; and gnc may {zz this reparation to be the very hell of hell.
Being feparaied from Qqd, they are deprived of all good. The f^ood thircs which ihey Tet their heart upon, in this world, src ; cyond ihcir reach there. The covetous man cannot cn- io; hj< wcalih there ; Bor the ambitious min his honours; nor the fcofual man his plcafures ; no not a drop of water to cool his tongue, Lukcxvi. 34, 35. No rtieai nor drink, there, to iireij>;then the faint ; no iicep to refrefh the weary ; aaJ na inufic no« pjcafant company, to comfort and chear up the Cp/r jowful. Aird as for thefe gr/fid things, they defpifcd in the world, they fhall never 'mote heir of them, nor fee them. NO Offers of Cm k 1 s r there, ao pardon^, no peace ; no wells' < r ilv^iLon, in the pit of defliu61ion. In one word, they ii*^** be dcpiivcd ct v/iraifucvcr iright comfort ihem, bcin*
Lbfs, in Hell, qIJ/
totally and finally- feparatcd from God, the fountain of all goodnefs.
odly, Man naturally dcfircs' to ht happy, being withal con- fcious to hinifelf, that be is not fclf-rufficient ; anj therefore has ever a def!re of fomrthing without hienfclf, to make him inppy; and ihe foul hein^, by its natiirr.!- make and confytu- ticfl, capa'>le of cnjoving God, and nothing eHe btir.g com- Tnen^inahle to its d'cfircs ; it can never have true and fohd rei*, till it reft in the cnjoyitient of Gor>. This defrre of liappi- i;efs, the rational creature can never lay atide, nanot \\) hell. Now, while the wicked are on earth, they feek their fatisfac- rion in the creatiirc ; and when one fails they go to another; thus they put oIF their time in the wor-id, deceiving their own \ fouls, and luring them on with vain hcpts. But, in theo<hcr . world, sll comfort in*thc cr<J^lures !)avinrr failed to;^e:her at once ; and fhe fhanows they arc now puifuiii?;, having all of ' them, evanilhed in a moment; they (hall be totally aid finally feparatcd from Gon, and fee they have thus left him. Si> the doors of earth and bcavcn boih, are^fnut agaiuft them at once. This will create them tinlpeakable angaifh, while they fhall live under an eternal gnavving hanocr after happincfs, which, they certainly know, fiiall never be in the lead mea- fure fatisHcd, all doors hein^ clofed on theni. Who, then, can imagine, how this fiparation from' God finl! cut the damned t^ the heart ! How they will roar and rj;;e under it ! and how it wiiritiog them aud gns^w thorn, through the agc& of eternity !
^thly. The damned {hall know, tTiat fome arc pcrfeftly hrp- py in the enjoyment of that Goi>, from whom they thcFT- felvcs are fcparatc : And this will aggravate t.'^c fcnle of their lofs, that they can never have any '(hare with tjiefe hap- py ones. Beir.g fcparatcd from GoiJ), they are' feparated from the fociety ct the glorified faints and an;;els. They TT.av fee Abraham afar ofi", a-;d Lazarns -in his boibm, Luke xvi. 23. but cm never come into their company ; be:ng, as unclean lepers, thruft out v/ithout the camp, and excommu- nicated from the prefcnce of ihe-LoRD, and of all his holy one*. It is the opinion of To.me, that every perfon in heaven or hell, flnll \\CAi and fee all that pafTefh in cither ftate. Whatever is to be faid of this, we have ground i'rora the word to conclude, that ih^dafiiscd (hjil have a very cxquifue knowlcilge of the happintTs of tus f:v:'.ts in. heaven ; for what elfe can ht meant by the lich roan in heil, his feeing Lizsru* in Abraham's l)ofoni ? Oue tiring i-i plain in thir. cafe, ihac iheir own torments vill give tliem fuch -notions of the hnppi- ncfs cf the faints, as a lick man h«-5 of health, or a ptjfo.-ier
368 The Punijlimffit t)f
has of liberfy. And as they cannot fall of Tcfttftlng on th'e happii)er> of thole in heaven, more than they can attain to conitinuicnt with their own lot ; fo every tho't of ibat happi-' ticTi, will aftftravatc ilicir lofs. It would be a mighty torment to a Hu.i^:ry mio, to fee others liberallf feafting, while he it fj ;1^;. .d up, as he ciuuot have orie crumb to ftav his gna s - ing djjptitie. To bring mufic Bud daocmg before a man Jabouiing under cxiremc pains, would but encreafc his an- gu:(h ; how th:n will the fonfs of the blcfTed, in their enjoy- mcniof God, make the dathncd roar, uudcr thdf fcparaiion from him !
St.'ity^ They will remember, that 'time vras, when they mijht hdve been made partakcis of the blclfed Rate of the faims, in thiir cnjoymciit of God : And this will aggravate ihcir fenfe of the lolTs. All may rx^ierabcr, there was once a pofbbility of it ; that fometinie they were io ihc world, in foiDC corners of which, the way of (alvation was laid open to Tiieii'i v!ew ; and may wifh they had gone round the world, till they had found it out. Dcfpifers of the gofpel will rcmcm-' her with'bitterncfs, thatjEbUS Cn rist, with all his bene-" fits, was cl^cred to them ; that they wtrc exhorted, intreated, and prcffed to accept, but would not ; and that they were >*aincd of the niifery they feel, aiid obtcftcd to flee from the wrath to come, but they wodld not hcaikcn. The gofpel-of- fcr flighted, will malcc a hot hcU ; and the lofs of an offered heaven, \t\\\ be a finking weight on'the fpirirs of unbelievers, in the pit. Some wtlh remcmbcf, that there was a probabili- ty of their being eternally happy ; that fometiwie ihcy fecm- ed to (land fair for it, and weoc not faf from the kingdom of God ; that they had once aTmofI confentcd to the blelTed bargain ; the pen in their band, as it were, to fign the marri- agc-cor.iratl betwixt Christ and their fouls; but, unhappi- ly, they dropped i», and lurned bacic from the LoRi> lo their lufls again. Andcihtrs will remember, that they thought ihem'.elves fare of heaven, but, being blind'ed with piidc and fcil-conccit, they were above ordinances, and beyond inflruc- tion, and would not examine their {late, which was their ru- in : B'lt then they (hall in vain wifh, they had reputed thcm- fclvesihcworft of the congregation in which they lived; and curfc the fond conceit they had of themfclves, and that others had of them too. I'husit will iling ih'edainned,that they mi^ht have efcjped this lofs.
Lajlly^ They will fee the lofs to be irrecoverable \ that ihev muil eternally lie under it, never, never to be repaired. Might tbc damned, after millions of ages in hell, refrain what they bavc left, it would be foine ground of hope ; but ih€
Lofs, in HelL 369
^rize is gone, and can nevtr be recovered. And there are two things here, which will pierce ihem ro che heart, (i!) That t.H«y nevcT'lcnew the wotth of it, till it was irrecoverably loft. Should a man give away an earthen pot full of gold lor a .tii- fle, never knowing what was in it, till irwere quite gone/roni him, and pad recovery ; how would ihis fooliili attion gail- hira, upon the difcovery of the riches in it j fuch an one's cafe way be a faint relemblance of the eale of defpii'crs ofthegof« pel, when in hell they lift up thcTr eycj, and behold that, to their torment, which they will not fee now, to their ialva-' tion. (2 ) That they have loft it for lofs and dung ! fold their part of heaven, and not enriched ihemfelves with the prize. They loft heaven for earthly profits and pleafures,and now both ate gone together from them. The drunkard's cupjare gone, the covetous man's gain, the voluptuous man's carnal d<i- li^his, and the fluj^gard's cafe ; nothing is left them to com- fort them now. I'he happinefs they loft remains indeed, but tbcv can have no part in ii for ever.
Use. Sinners, be perfuaded to coiine to God through Je- sus CiiRi st, uniting wirh him through a Mediator ; that ye irtiy be prefervcd from this fearful feparation from him. O be afraid to live in a ftate of feparation from God, left that which ye now make your choice, become your eternal pun- iftimcnt hereafter ! Da not reject communion with Gud, caft not off ihc communion of faints ; tor it will be the mifery of the damned,- to be driven ojt from that commnrrion. Ceafc to build up the wall of feparatiorv betwixt Goi> 2r.d you, bv <ioritinuing in your finful coujfes ; repoDt rather in time, and fo pull it down, left the cape-ftone be laid upon it, and ic fiand for ever betwixt you and happinefs. Tremble at the thoughts of rejefl-ion and feparation from God, By whom- foever men are rejeded en the earth, they ordinaiily find forae pity to them ; but if ye be thus feparated from GoD,ve wiil find all doors fhut agairrft you. Ye will find no pitv from any in heaven '.neither faints nor angels will pity them who:m God has utterly caft eft"; none will pity you in hell, v^cia there is no love but lothing; all being loathed of God, loath- ing him, and loathing one-another. This is a day of '^>\{c% and fears. I fhew you a lofs, ye would do well to fear in time : be afraid left you lofe God ; if ye do, a long eternity wilt be fpent in roaring odt lamentations for this lofs. O horrid Rupidity! men are in a mighty care and concern to prevent vcrt-ldly lofles : but thev are in hazard of lofing heaven, the communion of the bleifcd, and all good things for foul and body in another woild ; yet as carelefs in that matter, as if *h^y ware incapable of thought. O ! compare this day witk
Th t Pu TV Jim. tni of
oiir text aiirift it. This day isbea^'.en opened to lhc?ii, V t; aithcrio have rcjertcd Christ, yet there is rooin, »F jhcy will come j but that day the doors (hall be fhnt. a :. / C^HRl&T js 'avJ:ig unio yo:i, Ccm:, then he will fay, Dcpari; ^.cTii^ yc wou!l nol cosiie when ye were hidden. Now ptty'. lb Ihown ; t!ic Lord, pities you, his fervaQis pity you, anr!^ Iclf you, that the du is before. you, and cry to ycu,. that yc do yourfclvj s no harm ; bat then yc ftiall have no pity from Gn D nor man.
iVrew/Zy, The damned fiiall be punvfhcd in. hell ^iih ihe punifhcnt of Scrnfc ; they muQ depart fromGoo into eve flail- ing fl>c. Iain not in a mind to diTpate, what kind of hre it is which ihcy (hall depart iato, and be tormented by forever, whether a material fire, or not ? Exprricncc will more than Taltsfy liie cuziofity of ihofo, who are dilpofed rather to d.f- pufc about it, than to feck ho'-v to cfcape it. Neither will I meddle with that qucflion. Where is it ? It is enough, that the worm whic'i never die th, and the fire that is never quench- rd, will |?e found fo:Bewhcre by impenitent finncrs. But f I .) I fhafl evince that, whatev:r kind of fire it is ; it is more \(:hement and terrible than any fire, we, on earth, are 2 r- cjuainred with. (2) I fhall condcfcciid on lome pro^rlies of thefc firry tor;nents.
As to the ^jl of thcfe ; burning is the moft terrible punini- ment, and brings the rrotl e.xquifftc pa'n and tormrnt with it. Yiy v.ha: reward could a man be induced. to hold but his h^nd, in the flrnc of a candle lor an hour ? All imaginar, pleafurc on earth, would never prevail with the volupmoui man, to vcntnre to lodge but one half hour in a burning fierv furnace ; nor v.'ould all the wealth in the world, prevail with the Tuoft covetous to do it. Vrt, on much lower terms, do jnofl-meii in ctF<fct, cxpofc thcmfclvcs to cveilailing fire in hell, which is more veUement and terrible, than any fire wc f>n earth aie acquainted with ; as will appear by the follow- J\2 er)nfiderations.
t . As irrhcavcn, grace bein^ brought to its perfcftion, pro- f f and plea'^iirc do alfo arrive at their height there ;-fo fin bc- i..^ come to iib height in ]i*ll, the evil of punifiinicni doth p'iio arrive at its pcrfeftion there. Wherefore, as the joy* in LtavcT) are f-ir {^rearer, than any joys which the faints obtain on c»iih, io the piinilliinents of hell mud be greater, ihan a- i;v CI I ly tormcnis whatfoever ; wo\ only io icf^pefl oF the CO "-nuance of tl;-:rn, but alfo '\\\ rcfpctl of vchcmciicy and cx- <i;iin;ctiefs.
1. Whv ?T
Senfe. in Hell, o^ l
6ui capacities in fuch matters, which the Lord is pleafea to con-^efcend to, does require it; it being alwavs fuppofed, that thefe things of the other wojld, are ia their kind more perfeS, than *hat by which they are reprefented ? When heaven is re- prefented to us under the notion of a city, with gates of pearl, and che flreet of gold ; we look not to find gold and pearls there, which are fo mightily prized on earth, but fomeihing more ex- cellent, than thefe fineft and moft precious things in the world; vhen therefore we hear of hell-fire, it is neceffary we underiland by it fomethiog more vehement, piercing, and tormenting, than any fire ever fcen bv our eyes. And here it is worth confidering, that the tormenss of hell are held forth, under fcveral ether no- tions than that of Pre fimplv ; and the reafon of it is plain; namely, that hereby, what of horror is wanting in one notion of hell, is fuppiied by another. Why is heaven's happincfs rcpre- fented under the various notions of a trcafure,a paradif^,a feaft, a reft, &c. but that there is not one of thefe things fufficient to fexprcfs it ? Even fo, hell-torments are reprefentcd under the no- tion of fire; which the damned are caft into. A dreadful repre- fentation indeed ! yet not fufficient toexprefs the roifery of the fiate of finners in them. Wherefore we bear alfo of the fecoad death. Rev. xx. 6. for the damned in bell fhall be ever dying j of the wine-pfefs cf the wrath of God, ch. xiv. 19. wherein they will be trodden in anger, tfam^^led in the Lo r d's fury,ira. Ixiii. 3. preffed, broken, & bruifed, without end; the worm that dielh not, Markix. 44. which (hall eternally gnaw them ; a bottom- lefs pit, where they will be ever finking. Rev. xx. 3. It is not Cmply called a fire, but the lake of fire andtirimftone, vcr. 19, a lake of fire burning with brimfione, ch. xix. 20. than which, one can Imagine nothing m«re dreadful. Yet.becaufe fire gives light, and light, as Solomon obferves, Ec. xi. 7. is fweet, there is no light there, but darknefs, utter darknefs, Mat. xxv. 30. For they mufl have an evcrlailing night, fince nothing can be there, which is in any meafurc comfortable or refrefhing,
3. Our fire cannot affed a fpirit, but by way of fympathy with the body, to which it is united ; but hell-fire will not only pierce into the bodies, but direftly into thg fouls of the damned ; for it is prepared for the devil &. his angels, thefe wicked fpirits, whom no fire on earth can hurt. • Job complains heavily, under the chaftifement of God's fatherly hand, faying, TAe arrows oftht Almighty ar? within me^thepoifon zuhereqf drinketh up myfpirity Jobvi. 4. But how will the fpirfts of the damned be pierced with the arrows of revenging juflice ! how will they be drunk up with the poifon of the curfe of thefe arrows ! how vehement maft that fire be, that pierceth diretlly into the foul, and makes sn everlafling burning in the fpirit, the moft lively and tender part of a man, wherein wounds or pain are moft intolerable ! ♦ Z<2^/y, The preparation of this fire, evinceih the inexpreftible ▼chcmcncy Zs. dread fulnefs of it. The text calls it prepared fijg, Z
The Puvjjhmrnt of
. , ,.. : 'red fire, by way ot eminency. As the three drcn were not caft into an ordinary fire, but a fire prepan, d on a particular dcfif^n, which therefore was exceeding hot, the fur- Dace hcinghcatcd feven times more than ordinary, Dan. ii. 19. 22* So the damned (ball find in hell, a prepared fire,lhe like to whiclt I was never prepared by hun-.an art ; it is a fire of Goo's own pre- paring, the product of infinite wifdonn on a parrricular defign, to demonftrate the mofl drift and fevere divrne juUice agamlt fin ; which may fufficicntly evider>ce to us, the inconceivable exqui- fitencfs thereof. G«)u always afts in a peculiar way, becomtng : his own infinite greatnefs, whether for or againd the creature | | and, therefore, as the things he hath prcfrared for them that love him, are great and good, beyond exprcHion or conception ; fo, one may concluide, that the things he hath prepared againft thofe , who hate hi. t), are great and terrible, beyond what men can either fay, or think of them. The pile of Tophet, is fire and much ■wood, (the coals of that fire are coals of juniper,a kind of wood, which fct on fire, burns molt Hercely,Pr. cxx. 4.; and the breath of the Lo RD,likc a (trcam of briiuftone, doth kindle it, Ifa. xxy 33. Fire is more or lefs violent, according to the matter of ir, and the breath by which it is blown ; what heart, then, can fully conceive the honor of coals of juniper, blown up with the breath of the Lord ? Nay, God himfelf will be a con fum- ing fire, Dcut. iv. 24. to the dam&ed ; intimately prefcnt, as a <lcvouring fire, in their foals and bodies. It is a tearful thing to fall into a fire, or fo be (hutupjn a fiery furnace, on earth } but the terror of thcle evanifhefh, when one conndcrs,how fear- ful it is to fall into the hands of the living God, which is the lot of the damned ; for, JVkoJhalt dwell toil h thtdevouiingjirtf IVhoJhaU dwell with everlafiing burnings ? Ifa. xxxiii. 14.
As to the fecond point propofcd, namely, the properties of the fiery torments in hell.
1. They will be univerfal torments, every part of the crea- ture being tormenicd io that flame. When one is caft into* burning fiery furnace, the fire makes its way into the very bow- els, and leaves no member untouched ; what part, than, can have eafe, when the damned fwim in a lake of fire burning with brimftone ? There will their bodies be toimented, and fcorch- ed for ever. And as they finned, lo (hall they be tormented, in all the parts ^hereof; that they (hall have no found lidc to turrt them to ; for vrhat foundnefs or rafc can be to any part of that body, which bcinj^ fcparated from Goo, and all refrrfhme nt from him, is flill in the pangs of the frcond death, ever dyin/f, but u( vcr dcJid ? Tkit as the foul was chief in finning, it will b« chief in fufTcring too, bcirg filled brimful of the wrath of a fin- rcven:;ing God. The damned fhall ever be under dee pert ira- prefTi^ns of Go d's vindictive juftke againft them ; and this fire
will melt their fouls within them, like wax. Who knows the power of that wrath, which had fuch aa eife6l oa the Mediator,
ftanding in the room of Tinners? Pfal. xxii. 4. My heart is like ft»<zjc, it is melted in the midjl of my bowels. Their minds fhall be filled with the terrible apprehenfions of God's implacable wrath; and whatever they can think upon, paft, prefent, or to come, will aggravate' their toraient andanguifh. Their will (hall be croffed in all things for evermore ; as their will was ever con- trary to the will of God's precepts, fo God, in his dealings with them, in the other wotld, fhall have war with their will for ever. What they would have, they (hall not in the Icaft obtain ; but what they would not, fhall be bound upon them, without remedy. Hence no pleafant affe£licn fhall ever fpring up in their hearts any more j their love of complacency, joy, and delight, in any obje6l whatfoever,.lhall be plucktup by the root J and they will be filled with hatred, fury end rage, againft God, themfelves, and their fellow-creatures, whether happy in heaven, or miferable in hell, as they themfelves are. They will be funk in forrow, racked with anxiety, filled with horror, galled to the heart with fretting, and continually darted with ocfpair; which will make them weep, goalh their teeth, and blafpbeme for ever, Mat. xxii. 13. Bind him hand andfoot.and take him away, and cajl him into utter darknefs\ there Jhall be weeping andgnajhing of teeth. Rev. xvi.21. And there fell upon men, a great hail, out of heaven, every Jlone about the weight efa talent', and men blafphemed God, becaufe of the hail ; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Conlciencc will be a worm to gnaw and prey upon them ; remorfe for their fins, fhall fcize them and torment them for ever ; and they fhall not be able to {hake it off, as fometimes they did ; for in hell, their worm di- cth not, Mark ix. 45, 46. Their memory will ferve but to ag- gravate their torment, and every new rcfleftion will bring ano- ther pang of anguifh, Luke xvi. 25. But Abraham faid, viz. to the rich man in hell, S(7«, remember that thou in thy life-tiin£ re^ teivedji thy good things, V
2. The torments in belt are manifold. Put the cafe, that a man were, at one and the fame time, under the violence of the gout, gravel, and whaifoever difeafcs and pairs have ever met together in one body ; the torment of fach a one would be but light in companfon with the torments of the damned. For, as in hell, there is an abfence of all that is good and defirable, fo there is the confluence of all evi's there ; fince all the efFe6lsof fin and of the curfe, take their place in it, after the laft judg- ment. Rev. 20. 14. And death and hell were cajl into the lahtcf fre. There th«y will find a prifon, they can never cfcape out of ; a lake of fire, whereiri they will be ever fwimming ard burning; a pit, where they will never find a bottom. The worm that dicrh not, Ihall feed on them, as on bodies which are interred ; the fire that is not quenched, fhall devour them, as dead bodies which are btirncd. Their eyes fhall be kept in fela<kiicfs of darknefs, without the lead comfcrjable §leam of
The Punifhmrnt of
^..v , w.v.if ears filled wicb the filghtful veilings oF the infer- -ial crew. They fhall tafte nothing but the vinegar ftf Goi/» ^rath, the dregs ofthecupof his fury. The (Icnch of the burning lake of brimftone, will be the (mcll there ; and they fhall feel cxtnprae pains for evermore.
3. They will be moft exquifitc and vehement ♦orments, cauf- ing wecpinp, wailing, and gnaHiing of teeth, Mat.xiii. 4». and xxii. 13. They are rrprcfeniedto us, under the notion of pangi in travail, which are very (harp and cxquifite. So fays the rich TTian in hcll,l.ul6c xvi. 2\.t am t9rmented,v\z,z%fii\t in the pangi of child-bearing, in I'hisjlame. Ah ! dreadful pangs ! horrible travail ! in vhich both foul and body arc in pangs together I h^lplefs travail I hopilcfs andendlcfs ! The word ufcd forAr//, Mat. v. c«. and in diver? other places of the N<w Teftamcnt, properly denotes the vall'.y of Hinnom ; the name being taken from the valley of tlic children of FHnnom, in which was To- phet, 2 Kings xxiii. ic5. wTiere idolaters offered their children- to Moloch. This is faid to have been a great brazen idol, with: arms like a mans; the which being heated by fire within it, the child was fct in the btirning arms of the idol ; and, that the pa- rents might not hear the (hricks of the chiW burning to deaths, they beat drums in the time oi the horrible facrifice ; whence the place had the rime of Tophet. Thus the exquifiten^fs of the torments in hell, are pointed out to us. Stjmc have eodur- <?d grievous tortures on earth, with a furpriring obftinacy and un- daunted couragi? ; but mens couragc*will fatl them there, when they find themfelves faMen into the hand* of the living Goo, and no out-gate to be exp«£red for ever. It is true, there wilt be degrees of torn.ent in hell. Itjhallbe more tolerable, for Tyre and SidoTiytAanfor thoraiin and Eithfaida, Mat. xi. ei , 62. But the leafl load cf wrath there, will be infupportable ; for hovr fan the heart of rhe creature endure,or his hands be {lrong,when Gon himfclf isa confuming fire to him ? When the tares arc bound in bundles for the fire, there will be bundles of covctou* perfons.of drunkards, profane fwcarers* unclean pcrfons, formal hypocrites, unbelievers, and dcfpifers of the gofpeljand the like ; the feveral handles being caft into hell -fire, fomc will burn more iecnly than others, according as their fitis have been more hsi- »0U8 than thcle of others ; a fiercer fkrae will feizc the btJndle •f the profane, than the bundle of the unfanftified raoralifts ; the furnace will be hotter to thofe who finned againft light^ than to thcfe who hvcd in darkneft,Ltiie xii. 37, 8^- That jtr. vant tL'hick knew his Lord's zvid, and prepared not hmfelf neu ther did according to his rviif, fhall be beaten with many fir ipes. But.kethat knrw net ^ and did commit things xoorthy offiripesfha^ ke beaten with fetvfiripes. But the fenrcnce common to ihem all. Bind them in bundles to bum the^^ Mat. xiii. 30. fpeaks the greateft vebemency and cxquifiienefs of the lowcfl degree of torment in hell.
f^nfu ^n HdL ^ 375
4. They will be uimitcrrupted; there is no intermiflion there ; ro cafe, no not for a moment. They piall bs tgpnenud day and night, /or ever and ever^ Rev. xx. lo. Few are fo^olTid I41 ibsi world, but fomctimes they get reft ; but the damned ihall get none^ they took their reft, in the time appointed of God for labour. No ftormsare readily feen, but there is fome fpacc be- tween fhowers \ but no intermifljon in the ftorm that falls on .the wicked in hell. There deep wiU be calling unto deep, ard the waves of wrath continually roJiiog over them. There the heavens will be always black to them, and they fliall have a per- petual night, but no reft, Rev. s:iv. is. Thtyjhall have no rcjl^ day nor night.
5. They will be Qnpitted. The puniCiinents inflifted on the greateft malcUtiors on earth, do draw for^h fome compaffioft from them, who behold them in their torments ; but the damn- ed fhall have rxnetopity them. Cod will not pity them, but laugh at their calamities, Prov. i. 26. The blelfed company in heaven, fliall rejoice in the execution of God's righteous judgment, and fmg while thefmoakrifeth up forever,Rev.xix.3^ And again tkeyfaid^ AUdujah % and her f moke reft vp^/cr eve^ und ever. No compaflion can be expected from the devil and his angels, who delight in the ruin of the children of men, and are, and will be, for ever void of pity. Neither will one pity another there,wbere every ^one is weeping andgnalhtng his teeth, under his own infupportable anguifti and pain. There natural afFcftions will be extinguiihed i the parents will not love their children, nor children their parenjs ; the mother will not pity the daughter in thefe {iames,iior will the daughter pity the mother ; the ion will fliew no regard lo his father there, nor the fervant to his mafter, where every pne will be roaring un- der his ©wn torment.
LafJy, To complete their tnifery thtir tortEents fhall be eter- nal. Rev. xiv. 11 . And the f moke of thir torment^ afcendeth up for ever and ever. Ah ! what a frightful cafe is this, to be tor- mented in the whole body and loyl,and that not with one kind of torment, but raaay ; ali of tbefe moft exc.uifite, and all this without any intermiifioii, and without pity from any \ what heart can conceive ihofe things without horror? Neverthelefs, if this raoft miferable cafe were at length to have an end, that would be fome comfart ; hut the torments of the damned will have no end j of the which more afterwards.
Use. Learn from this, {i,)The evil of fin. It is a flream that will carry down the finner, till he be fwallowed up in an ocean of wrath. The plcafures of fin are bought top dear, at the ratq of everlafting burnings. What availed ihe rich maa's purple clothing and fumptuous fare, when, in hell, he was wrapt up in purple flames, and could not have a drop of water to cool hiiJ tongue i* Alas ! that men fiiould indulge themfelves in fin, which m\\ be tuch bitternefs in the end -, that tkey fho.uld drink fo £ree=
37^ The Pidvjhmeni of Scnfe.^n Hell.
dily of the poifonous cup, and hug that (crptnt in their bofom, that will Hwg them to the heart, and gnaw out their howeh at length ! (2) What a Gf>D he is, with whom we have to do ; \A*hat a hatred be bears to fin, and how fcverely he punilhei^ it. Know thi: Lo R D to be moft juO, as well as mod merciful, and tnink not that he is fuch an one as you are; away with that fa- tal miftakc before it be tod iate, Pf. 1. 21, 8 2. T^ou thoughtefl that 1 was altogether Juch an one as thyjdj -, but I will reprove ikeey andfet'tksm in order before thine eyes. Now conjider tkis^yt that forget God^ leji i tear you in pieces^ and th;re be none td </e* liver. The fire prepared for the devil and his angels, a& dark as it is, will ferve to difco^er God 10 be a fcverc revenger of Go. Lajily, The abfolute necefrity of flecin*. to the Lo r d Jesus Christ by faith ; the fame nccefHty of repentance, and hotir nefs of heart and life. The avenger of blood is purfuing thee, Q (inner ! hallc and efcape to the city of refuge. Wafh n6w iq the fountain pf the Mediator's blood, that you may not perifh in the lake of fire. Open thy heart to him, left the pit ciofe its mouth on thee. Lrave thy fins, clfc they ^ill luiu ;hee ; kill them, elfe they will be thy death for ever. •
Let not the terror of hell-f;re, put thee lipon hardening »hy heart more, as it may do, if thou entertain that wicked thought, viz. There is nohope^ Jer. ii. 25. whicfc, perhaps, is more rife a- inong the hearers of the r.ofpel, than iflany are aware pf. But there is hope for the wortt of finners, who will come unto J k- 5 1; 5 Ch R 1 h T. If there are no good qualifications in thee, (ai certainly there can be none in a natural man, none in any man, but what are received from Ch rjst in him) know, that he has not fufpended thy welcome on any good qualifications ; do thou take himfcif and bis falvation, freely oflcred unto all, to whom the gofpcl comes. IVhcfon'cr wi'l, kt him take of the water of ltf:fjeely,RcM. xxii. 16. Him that come;h to me, I i^illin no ways ca/? <JK^John vi. 37. It is true, thou art a finful creature, and canft not repent ; thou art unholy, and canft not make thyfelt holy ; nay, thou haft cfiayed to repent, to forfakc Co, and to be holy, but ftill midcd of repentance, reformation, and holincis ; and therefore, Thoufaidji^ there is no hope. No, for I have loved fravgers, and after them will I go. Truly, uo marvel, that the fuctcls has notanfwered thy expcfclation, fmcc thou haft al- ways begun thy work amifs. But do thou, fiift of all, honour God, by believing the tcftimony he has given of his Son, namelv, that eternal life is in him ; and honour the SonofG(^i>, by belicviijg on him, that is, embracing and falling in with thie free cfTcr of Christ, and of his falvation, from fin 4nd front wratb, made to thee in the gofpel, trufting in him cor.fidenily i^T Mghiecurncfs to thy jufiification, and alio for fanctification ; fpcing of Go D he ;$ made unto us both righteouujcfs end fanc- .■!" arion.iCor.l.oo. Thcn.ifthou hadftas much cf >^... word, ... thnawQuidU r.M0W IQ ihc XYCrdof ai '
Society zuifh Devils. 377
offering thee a gift, and faying, take it, and it is thine ; thom mayft believe that God is thy God, Ch Ri ST is thine, his fal- vation is thine, thy fins are pardoned, thou had ftrength in hiiu for repentance and for holinefs ; for al! thefe are made over tt? thee in the free offer of the gofpci. B^Iievirg on the Soa o£ God, thou art juftified,the curfe is removed. And while it lies upon thee, how is it poCTible.thou fhouldll bring forth the fruits of holinefs ? But, the curfe is removed, that death, which feized on thee with tiie firftAdam, according to tbreatninv;, Gen. ii. 17. is taken away. In confequtnce of which, thou fhalt find tlvs bands qf wickednefs, now holding thee fall in impenitency, brd- kir. afunder, as the bands of death ; lb is thou wilt be able to repent indeed from the heart; thou fUaU i'lad the iipirit of life, on whofe departure, that death enl'ued, returned to thy foul, fo as thenceforth thou fhalt be enabled to live unio righteoufnefs. No man's cafe is (o bad, but it may be mended this way,in time, to be perfeQily right in eternity; &, nonc's fo good, bat anjther way being taken, it will be marred for time and eernitv too.
ill. The damned (hall have the fociety of devils in their iniferable (late in helJ ; for they muft depart into fire prepared lor the devil and his angels. O horrible company I O frighifuj. affociation ; who would chufe to.dwcll in a palace haunted by de- vils ? To be conlined to the mod pleafant fpot of earth, with the devil and his infernal furies, would be a mod terrible con- finement. How would mens hearts fail them, and their hair ftand up, finding thcmfelvcs environed with the hellifh crew, in that cafe ! but ah ! hov/ much more terrible muft it be, to be caft with the devils into one fire, locked up with them in one dungeon, fhut up with ihena in one pit ! to be clofed up in a den of liDaring lions, girded about with lerpents, furrounded with venomous afps, and to have the bowels eaten out by vipers, all together and at once, is a comparifon too low, to fhcw the mifery of the damned, fhut up in hell with the devil and his an- gels. They go about now as roaring lions, feeking whom thev may devour ; but then fhall they be conlined in their dens witii their prey, they fnall be filled to the brim with the wrath o£ God, and receive the full torment, Mat. viii. 29. which they tremble in expecfation of, Jam. ii, ig. being call into the fire prepared for them. How will thefe lions rcir and tear I how will thele ferpents htfs '. thefe dragons vomit out fire ? what hor- rible-inguifli will feize the damned, finding themfelvcs in tlie lake bf fire, with the devil who deceived them ; drawn hither" with the filken cords of temptation, by thefe wicked fnirits,and bound with them in everlafling chains under darknefs! Rev.xx. JO. And the devil that deceived thdn^ was cajl into the lake of fire and brimjlone, zuhere the beajl^ and t he fa If e prophet aj^, andjhall be tormented day and night for ever. V
O ! that men would confider this in tioie, renounce 'the de^ vil and hi^ luil^j and join tbemfelves to the Lo kc ia faith au4
378 The Eternity of the Mi ftrahlc
holincfs. Why fhould men chufc that company in this world, and delight in that focicty, they would not dcfire to alTociate viih in tiie other world ? Thofc who like not the company of the fa:i)ts on earth, will get none of it in eternity ; but as god- lefs company is their delight now, they will afterwards gel c- nough of it ; whcnthc) have an eternity to pals, in the roaring and hl^fpheming fociety of devils and reprobates in hell. Let thofc who ufe to invocate the devil to take them, fobcrly confi-^ dcr, that the company fo often invited will be terrible at laft, when come.
IV. And Lafily^ Let ns confider the eternity of the whole, the everlafiing contmuance of the miferablc ftatc of the damn- ed in hell. \ -
Firjl^ If I could, I ihould fliew what eternity is, I mean, the creature'i eternity. Bur who can mcafurc the waters of the O- cean, or who can tell you the daysj years, and ages of eternity^ vhich afe infinitely more than the <irops of the ocean ? None can comprehend eternity, but the eternal God. Eternity isan ocear, whtrcof we will never fee the fliore : it is a deep, where we ca.T find no bottom ; a Lbyrintb, from whence we cannot cjftiicatc oijjfelves, and where we fhall ever lofe the door. There arc two things one m.ay fay of it, (i.) It his a bcgironfrg. God's eurnity has no beginning, but the creature'* eternity has. Sometimes there was no lake of fire ; and thofc who have been there, for lome ihoufands of yeats, were once, in time, at we now are. {^.) It {ball never have an end. The firfl who en- tered into the eternity of woe, is as far from the end of it, as the lafl, who fliaii go thither, will be at his entry. They Vho' have launched out fartheft into that ocean, are a!> far from land, as they were the firft moment they went into it ; and thoufand» of ages after this, they will be as far from it as ever. Where- fore, eternity, whi^h is before us, is a duration that hath a be- ginning, but no end. It is a beginning without a middle, a be- ginning without an end. After millions of years, flill it it a be- ginning. God's wrath, in hell, will ever be the wrath to come. J5ut there is no middle in eJcrnity. When millions of ages are pafl in eternity, what is pafl bears no propoition to what is to come i no not fo much as one drop of^ water, falling from the tip of one's finger, br^rs to all the waters of the ocean. There is no end of it, while God is, it (hall be. It is an entry with- out an out-gate, a continual fuccelTion of ages, a glafs alwayirun- uinp;, which (hall never runout.
Obfcrve the continual fucceifion of hours, days, monlbs and years, how one flill follows upon another ; and think of etcr- nity,wherein there is a continual fuccciCon without end. When you go out in the night, and behold the flars of he:ven, bow thev cannot be numbered for multitude, think of the ages of eternity j confiderirg withal, there is a certain definite number <(f the flars, but no nuBttbcr of the ages of eieinity. Whco yoi
State of the Damned, 379
fee a water running, think how vain a thing it would be, to fit down by it, and wait till ii fhould run out, that you may paf« over ; look how hew water flill fucceeds to that which paCeih by you j and therein you will have an image of eternity, which is a river that never dries up. They who wear riiigs, have an ima^'e of eternity on their finger? ; and they who handle the wheel, have an emblem of eternity before them ; for to which part foever of the ring or wheel one looks, one will ftiU fee a- rother part beytind it ; and on whatfoever moment of eternity you condefcend, there is ftill another beyond it. When you are abroad in the fields, and behold the piles of grafs upon the earth, which no man can reckon : think v/ith yourlelves, that, ■yveie as many thoufands or years to come, as there are piles of grafs on the ground, even thoie vbOuIu iiivc: ^n end at length, but eternity will have none. When you look to a mountain, imagine in your hearts, how long would it be, ere that moun- tain fhould be removed, by a little bird coming once every thou- fand years, and carrying away but one grain of the dufi at once : the mountain would at length be removed that way, and bro*t to an end, but eternity will never end. Suppofc this with rc- Ipeft to all the mountains of the earth j nay.with refpc^l to the whole globe of the earth] the grains of duft, whereof the whole (barth is made up, are not infinite, and therefore the laft grain would at long run come to be carried away, in the way fuppo- fed ; but when thst flowed wor"k would be brought to an end, eternity wouldbe, in cft'eEl but beginning.
Thefc are fome rude draughts of eternity ; an<? now addmif- ery and woe to this eternity, what tongue can exprcfs it ? "VVhat heart can conceive ? lu what balance can that mifery and that woe be Weighed ?
Secondly, Let us take a view of what is ctejrnal, in the ftate of the damned in hell. Whatfoever is ir^Iuded in the fearful fentence, determining their eternal {li.te, is' everlafting ; there- fore all tbe doleful ingredients ot their mifcrable ftate, will be cverlalling : they will never end. The teyt erpref?ly declares the fire, into which they muft dcpcrt, to be everlafting fire. AndourLoRD elfewhere tells us,thjit in hell.the fire fhairnev- cr be quenched, Mark. ix. 43, with an eye to the valley ofHinnom, in which befides the already^ mentioned fire, for bu.ning of the children of Moloch, there was alfo another fire, turning con- tinually, to cbpfi^mc the dead carcafes, and filth of jerufalem i fo tbe Scripture rcprefenting hell-fire by the fire of that valley, fpeaks it not only to be raoft exquilite, but alfo everlafting. Seeing then the damned rouft depart^ r.s cuifed ones, into ever- lafting fire, it is evident that, <
17?, The damned thcmfelves Ihall be eternal : they will have a being for ever, and will never be fubft^ntially deftroyed, or annihiiared. To what end is the fire eternal, if thefc who arc cail into it, be not eternally in it ! It is plain, the eveiiafting
;^ ^o Th" FAernity of the Miferah h
r.tinuancc of the fire, is an aggravation of the mifery of th« :iinned ; but furely, if they be annihilated, or fubflanti ally de- ployed, it is all a cafe to ihem, whether the fire be cverlafting or not. Nay, but they depart into cvcrlaftin^ fire, to be cver- iaCingly punilhed in it, Mat. xxv.46. ThfyJhalL ^0 away into everlajiing puT}i/hment.T[i\ji% the execution of the Icntencc, u a certain difcovcry of the meaning of it. The worm that dicth not, muft have a fubjccl to live in ; thcv who (hall have
no reft, day nor nicht.Rev.xiv. 1 1 . but ihall be tormented day & night, for ever and ever, chap. XX. 10. will certainlyhave a being for ever and ever, ajjd not be brought into a ftate of eternal
reft in annihilation. Deflrojed indeed they fhall be, but their deftrutlion will be an pvcrlgftjng jidlrudion, & Thcf. i. g.ade- flrudionof «fir«r well being, but not of their being. What is dcftroyedjis not therefore annihilated : An thou come to dtjiroy us f faid the devil unto Jefus Chrift, Luke iv. 34. Howbeit.the devils are afraid of torment, not of annihilation, Mat. viii. ep. Art thcu come- hitker to torment us ? The ftate of the damned, \\ indeed a ftate of death j but luch a death it is, as i^ oppohtc on- ly to a happv life; as is clear from other notions of their ftate. which necefTarily include an eternal exiftence,of which befor«C As they, who are jde?d in fin, are dead to God and holinefs, yet live to Cn j fo dying in hell, thev live, but feparated from Go<i« and his favour.in which life lies.Pf. xxx* 5. They fliall ever be under the pangs of death : ever dyiRgjbut acver dead, or abfo- lutely void of life. How deljrabie would fuch a death be to them ! but it will fiy from them for ever. Could each one kill another, or could they, with their own hands, -rent themfelve* into lifelefs pieces, their mifery would quickly be at an end j but there they mull Jive, who chuled death, and refufed life ; for their death lives, and the end ever begins.
^dly. The curfc (hall fiy upon them eternally, as the ever- lafting chain, to hold them in the everlafling fire \ a chain that fliall never be loofed, being fixed for ever about them, by the dreadful fentence of the eternal judgment. This chain, which fpurns the united force of devrls held faft by it, iS too ftrong tQ be broken by men, who being folcmnly anathematized, and de- voted to dcftruftion, can never be recovered to any other ufe.
3rf/>',Their punilhmcnt ftiall he eternal, Mat. xxv. 46. They Jkall go away into everlajling punijhment. They will be, for ever, feparatc from God and Chrill, and from the fociety of the ho- ly »ngcls and faints ; between whom and them, an impafTiblc gulf will he fixed, Luke xvi, p.6. Between us andyou^ fays Abra- ham,in the parable, to the rich man in hell,/A^r^ is a grtUt gulf Jixcd ', fo that they which would pafs from hence to yoUy cannot i neither can they pafs to us, that mould come from thence. X^^y fliall, for ever, have the horrible fociety of the devil aiid hw an» gels. There will be nc change of company for cvcrmorc,iB ths^ region of darknelis, Their torment in the fife, will be cverla(^'
State of tin Damned, gSi
iag ; they mufl live for ever in it. Several authors, both anci- ent and modern, tell of carihen-Sax, of Salamander's hair ; that doth made of it, being caft into the fire, is fo far from being burnt or confumed.that it is only made clean thereby, as other things are bv wafliing. 3ut, however that is, it is certain, the damned (hall be tormented for ever and ever in hell-fire^ and not fubftantially deftroyed, Rev.xx. lo. And inoeed nothing is annihilated bv fire, but only difTulved. Of what nature foever hell-fire is, no quellion but the fame God who kept the bodies of the three children from burning in Nebuchadnezzer's fiery- furnace, can alfo keep the bodies of the damned from any fac^ diffolution by hell-fire, as may irfer privation of life.
lajily, Their knowledge and fenfe of their mifery, fhali b«
eternal j and they Ihall af-urcdlv know, that it will be eternal.
How defirable would it be to them. to have their fenfes forever
locked up, and lofe the conrcloufntrs of tr.«?r own mifer)t ; as
one may rationally fuppofe it to tare at length with fome,,in
the punifhraent of death inflicted on ihem on earth, and as it is
with fomc mad people, in their mifcrable cafe ! But that agree*
not with the notion of torment for ever arid ever, nor the worm
that dieth not. Nay, tliey will ever have a lively feeling of their
mifery, and ilrcngeft iroprefTfOns of the wrath of God againft
them. And that dreadful intimation; of the eternity of their
punifhment, made to them by the Judge, in their fentence,w^ill
fix fuch impreil-nns of the eternity of their miferable ftate upon
their minds, as they will never b^; able to lay afide, but will
continue with them evermore, to complete their miferv. This
will fill them with everlafting dcfpair, a mofl. tormenting pai-
Con, which will continually rent their hearts, ^s it were, in a
thoufand pieces. To fee floods of wrath eycr coming,
and never to ccafe ; to be ever in toriitenr, and withal.
to know there fhall never, never be a releafe.will be the cape-
ftone put ou the mifery of the damned. If hope defered, mak-
cth the heart fjck,Prov xiii.12. how killing will be, hope rooted
up.flainoutright-and buried for ever out of the creature's fight I
This will fill them with hatred S: raj^e againftGod, their known,
irreconcilable eneiny ; and under it, they will roar for ever, like
wild bulls in anet,and fill the pit with blafphemies evermore.
Lajlly^ I might here (hew the reafonableuefs of the eternity
of the punifliment of the damned ; but having already fpoke of
it, in vindicating the juftice of G-od, in his fubjetimg men, in
their natural ilate, to eiernal wrath, I only remind you
of three ihipgs j (1. ) The infinite dignity of the party offended
by fin, requires an infinite punilbment to be inflicted, for ih«
vindication of his honour : fmce the demerit of fin rifeth ac^
cording to dignity and excellency of ^Ke pcrfcn againft whom
k is committed. The party offended, in the greaiGod,the chiet
>d ; the ofiender, a vile worm : in re^pcc^ cf perfection, in-
tsly diftant from God, to whom he is indebted for ail th%i
£{82 The Eternity of the State of the Damned^
ever he had, irrply-ns; any good, or pcrfcaion whaifocver. Thi« then requires ;^n infirvie punifhmcnt to be infliacd on the Cn- ncr; the which,fi.;cc it cannot, in hirn.bc infinite in valuc,muft needs be infinite in duration.that is to fav, eternal. Siu is a kind of infinite evil, as ii wrongs an infinite God : and the guilt atid defilement thertcf is never taken away, but endures for ever, unlefi the Lord hiinfelf in mercy do remove it. God who is offcnde^l, is ctemaJ iki\z being never comes to an cud ; the fin- ful loul IS immortai, and the man {hall live for ever; the finncr being without arength.Rom.v. 6. to expiate hu guilt, can never put awav the ctfcncc ; therefore it ever remains, onlefs theLord riopiUKaway himfelf, as in the clctl, by kis Son's blood. Wherefore the party offended, the offc'.dcr, aod the offence, ever rennaining, the 4)uruftment cannot but be eternal. (2.) The finncrwould have continued the courfe of his provocations againax^od* lof ever, without end, ifGod^had notput acheck to it by death. As long aslh^V were capabfc to aft againft him, in this world, they did it ; and therefore, juRly, he will ack a- gainft them, while he is ; thai i*, for cver.^ God, who judgcth of the v/iil^ intents, and inclinations of the heart, may Juftly do againrt finncrs, in pumihing, as they would haj^e done ^ gainfl him, in finning.
Laf.'y, Tho* I put not the fircfs of the matter here, ret, it is juft and rcafonabic, the damned fuifer eternally, fince they ^vill fill etemslly in hell, gnafling their teeth, Mat. viii. i«. un- der their pain, in rage, envy and gruc!gc, compare A£U vii. 54. Pf. cxii. lo. Luke«*iii.28. and hUfpheming God there, Rev. 3tvi.2i . whither they arc driven ji'vay in their wickedncfs, Pro. xiv. 42, Thd. the wicked be puniGicd for their wickcdnefs, is juft ; and It is nothing inconriitcnt with juftice, that the being of the creature be continued for ever"; wherefore, it is juft, that the damned, continuing wicictd eternally, do fuffer eternally for their wicLedncfs. The milery, under which they fin, can neither Itzz them from the debt ot obediencc,nor excufe their finning, and make it blaroclers. The creature, as a creature, is bound unto obedi-^nce to his Creator ; and ro punifhmcnt, in- ili^led on him, can free him from it, more than the malcfaftor't prifons, irons, whipping, and the liUc, do fct him at liberty, to commit anew the crimes for which heis irnpriloncd, or whipt. Neither can the torments of xVt ddmaeU.eifcuiie or make blamc- lefs their horrible finning under them, ipom' than cxquifite pains, infli6lcd upon '.ncn on earth, can excufe their rpurmuring, frct- ting,and blafpbeminz againf^God under then : for it is not the "Wrath ot God, hut their own wicked uatuic, that is the true caufe of their finning under it; and fo the holy Jcfiis bore the wrath of God, without io much as one unbecoming taou^ht of God, and far Icfs any ynbecoming word.
UiE I. Here is a mcafaring Reed ; O ! that men would ap. "^ly iu £irfii ApP^Z M ^o your lime in t^s world, aixd yoa wili
A Meafuring Reed. 38^
End yonr time to be very fliort. A profpe£l of much time to come, proves the ruic of many fouls. Men will be reckoning their time by years, like that rich man, Luke xii. 19.20. when it may be, there are not many hours of it to run. But reckon as you will, laying your time to the meafuring reed of eternity, you will fee your age is as nothing. What a fmall and Incon- Cde'rable point is fixty, eighty, or a hundred years, ia relpetl of eternity ? Compared with eternity, there is a great- er difproporticn, than bct'veen a hair's breadth, and the cir- cumference of the whole earth. Why do we Qcep then in fuch a fhort day,_ 'vliile we sre in ha«ard of lofiog reft, through the long night of eternity ? Secondly, Ap^\y it to yout endeavours for falvation, and they will be found very fcanty. When men are prelfed to diligence- in their Iilvation-work, they arc ready to fay, To zohat pu^poft is this Hfofic? Alas ! if it were to be judged by our diligence, what is it that we have in view ; as to the moll part of us, no maa could thereby con- jefture, that we have eternity in view. If we duly confidercd eternity, we could not but conclude, that, to leave no nieans appointed ofGod unt{i'ayed,till we get our falvation fecured; to rcfufe reft or comfort in any thing, till we are fheltered under the wings of thcMediator ; to purfje our great intereft with the utmoft vigour, to cut off lufts dear as right hands & right eyes, to fet our faces refolutely againft all difficultici, and fight our way through all the oppofition made by the devil, th« world, & the flefh, are.aH of them together, little enough for eternity.
Use II. Here is a balance of the fantluary, by which one may undcrftand the Iigbtne<s, of what is f^lfly tho't weighty ; and the weight of feme things, by mar^y reckoned to be very light* Firji^ Some things feem very weighty, which s^^ighcd in this balance, will be found very light* (i.) Weigh the world, and all that is in it, the luft of the flefli, the luft of the eyes, and the pride of life, and the whole will be found light, in the balance of eternity. Weigh herein all wordly proSjs, gains and advan- tages; and you will quickly fee, that a thouland wo; Ids will not quit the coft of an eternity of woe. For what is a man profited^ if kcjiiall gain the whole wqrld^and loft his Qzon Joul f iAu.wi^ 26. Weigh the pleafures of fm, which are but for a feafoHjwith the fire that iseverlafting,and you inuft accon nty our fclves fools and madden, to run the hazard of the one for the other. (2.) Weigh your affli6lions in this balance, and you will find the heavieft of them very light, in rcfpe^i of the weight of eternal anguifh. Impatience under affliflion, efpecially when worldly troubles do fo imbitter mens fpirits, that they cannot relifh the glad tidings of the gofpel^ fpeaks great regardleffnefs of eternity. As a fmall and inconfiderablc lofs wiil be very lit- tle at heart with him, vho fees himfelf in hazard of lofing his whole eftate ; fo troubles in this world,wiil appear but light to ikini, who ba^ a lively view of eterfiity, Such a one will (loop,
>" i A BoJnnce oflhe SanUuary.
i t„kc up his crofs.whatcvcrit bc.thinlong it enough tpcfcapd eternal wrath. (3.) Weigh the moa difficult and uneafy duties of religion here, and you will 00 more reckon the yoke of Ch r I ST iofupportablc. Repentance and buicr mourn.ng for fin onearth.very light in companfon of eiernal weeping, wail- ing and gnafhing of teeth in hell. To wreftle w.thGo o m pray- crTwccpin?, and making fupplication for the bledlng m time, is far cafier than to lie under the curfe thro' all etermty, Mor- tification of the moll beloved lull is a light ihing.io companfoa with the fccond death in hell. /.^//>, Weigh your conv.a.onc in this balance. O i how heavy do thefe he upon many, till they get them (haken off ! They are not d.fpofed to fall m with themrbutftrivc to get clear of tkem.as of a mighty burden. But the worm of an ill confcience,wiU neither die nor fleep la hell, the' one may now lull .t adceo for a lime. And cy^'"^/' " 'J fjafier to entertain the fharpe(i conv.a.ons in thrshte fo as they niay lead one to Christ, than ^o>ave them fixed for ever m the confcience, while in hell one is totally and finally feparat-
"'s?cM.i 6n the other hand.f, .)Wetgh fin in this balance ; and, tho'now it feems but a light thing to you, ye will find it twiight fufficienttoturnup an eternal weight of wraih upon ^ou. Even Idle words, vain thoughts, and -?-f^^^]>^;,;^--; Weighed in this balance, and confidercd as f°Jl°^>"« '^^^^ °^"J^ into eternity, will each of them he heavier than the fand of tnc iZ time Jw fpent will make a w^ary eternity. Now « yc>a. feed-tinc : tho' s, words and aftions arc the feed fown , eternity s the h^rvcft : thi' the feed now lies ander the clod unregarded by moa men/even the leaa grain (hall fprmg "P - ^^^g]^/ -<*_ the fruit will be according to the fecd.Gal ,v. ^'^^^^ ''^f ^/^^ ^tA to his Pr/h./hal/o/tne/ujh reap corrx,ptton,y. ^. deft uttion ,
laflinM- (2 ) Weigh in this balance vour ttme, and opportunmrs „a»b1=.fc3na.houTand world:, W 'hofe «ko no« have he
Exhortation to Jlee from Wrath, 3^^ ^
ready fled to Christ, up, and be doing 7 ye have begun the good work, go on, loiter not, but work out your falvation with fear and trembling.Ph. ii. 12. Fear hi?n,which is able to dejlroy both body and foul in htll^ Mat. x. 28. Remember, ye are not yet af- ccnded into heaven ; ye are but in your middle ftate : The ever* lafting arms have drav.n you out of the gulf of wrath ye were plunged into, in your natural ftate; they are fiill underneath you, that ye can never fall down ijito it again ; neverthclefs, ye have not yet got up to the top of the rock ; the deep below you is frightful ; look at it, and hailcn your afcont. Ye who are yet fn your natural ftate, lift up your eyes, and take a view of the eternal ftate. Arife, ye profane pcjfons, ye ignorant ones, ye formal hypocrites, ftrasgers to the power of godlinefs, fiee from the wrath to come. Let not the young adventure to delay a moment longer, nor the old put cfF this work anv more. To day if ye will hear his voice^ harden not your hearts^ left he fwear in his wrath, thai ve fliall never enter into his reft. It is no time to linger in a ftate of Cn, as in Sodom, when fire and brimftone are coming down on it from the Lo r d. Take warning in time; they who are in hell, are not troubled with fuch warnings, but are enraged againfl themfclves, fcHr that they flighted the warn- ing, when they had it.
Confiderjlpray you,(i.)Howuneafyit istolie one whole night on a foft bed, in perfect health, when one very fain would have fieep, but cannot get it; flecp being departed from him. How of- ten will one in that cafe wiih for reft! How full of toflings to an,d fro ! But ah ! how dreadful muft it then be, to lie in for- Tow, wrapt up in fcorching flames thro* a long eternity, in that plnce, where they have no reft day nor night! {2.) How terrible would it be, to live under violent pains of the cholic or gravel, for 40 or 60 years together, without any interraifllon ? Yet that is but a very fmall thing, in comparifoa of eternal feparation from God, the worm that never dieth, arnl the fire that it nev- er quenched. (^.) Eternity is an awful tho't; O long, long, end- lefs eternity ! But will not every moTnent, in eternity of woe, feem a month, and every hour a year, in that moft wretched and defpcrate condition ? Hence ever and ever, as if were a double eternity. The fick man in the night, toifing to and fro on his bed, lays, it will never be day; complains that his pain evercon= tinues,never,never abates. Are ih^-fe petty time-eternities which men form to themtelves, in their own imaginations, fo very grievous ? Alas! then how grievous, how utterly infupportable muft real eternity of woe, and all manner of miferies be ! Lafi- iy, There will be fpace enough there, to rt flcci on all the ili^ ot one's heart and life, which one cannot gtt time to think of cow; and to fee that all that was faid of the impenitent finne>;« hazard, was true, and that the half was not told. There will ho fpace enough in eternity to think on delaved repentance, to rue ••s'ji fol*;^ wh>a it is too Ute y and ta a ft^tepail remedy, t«
q86 txhortatiofi tojleef'rom Wrath.
l"peak forth their fruitlefs wifljcs ; O that I had never been born ? That the womb had been my grave, and I had never fcen the fun! O that I had taken warning in time, and fled from his wrath, while the door of merry was flanding open to me ! O that I had never h?!ard the gofpcl, that I had lived in fomc corner of the world, where a Saviour and the great falvation were not once named ! But all in vain. What is done cannot be undone; the opportunity is loft, rnd can never be retrieved ; time is gone, and cannot be retailed. Vv'^herefore improve time, while you have it, and do not wilfully ruin yourfclves, by flopping your car to the gofpel call.
And rK)w if ye would be faved from the wrath to come, and never go into this place of torment, take no reft in your natural Hate ; believe the finfulnefs and miferyof it, and labour to get out of It qtii^kiy,, fleeing unto Jefus Chrift by faith. Sin in you is the feed of heil ; and if the guilt and reigning power of it, be not removed in time, they will bring yc<u to the fccond death in eternity. There is no way to get them removed, bud by receiving of Chr 1ST, as he is offered in the gofpel, for juftification and fanftification ; and he is now offered to you with all his falvation. Rev. xxii. I2. 17. And behold, J come quickly ^ and my rczuard is wit A me, to give every man according tis his taorhjhall be^ And the Spirit and the brid^ Jay, Coifie. Andltt hint that hecirelhjny^ Come, And let him that is athirji^ Come. Arid zohofoever nil:, let Aim tq^e the zvattr of life freely. JesusChrist is the Mediator of peace, and Che Fountain of hofinefs ; he it is who dclivereth us from the wrath to come.— Tkcre is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in. Chrijl Jefuu ^ifAo walk not after theffh, but after the Spirit^ Rom. viii. i. And the terrors of hell, as well as the joys of heaven, are (et before you, to ftir you up to a cordial receiving ef him, with all his falvation; and to determine you into the way of faith and holinefs, in which alone you can efcapc the <verlafting Sre. May the Lord himfclf, make them effe6lu« al to thzt end.
Thus far of man's Eternal State ; the which, bccaufc it if eternal, admits of no fucccedin^ one for ever.
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