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HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?
I Shewed you the last Time, wherefore the Gospel is clothed with such fearful Threatnings against Sinners that neglect the great Salvation that is offered unto them therein. Also what sort of Sinners are like for ever to fall under the Wrath of God.
Moreover, you may remember I mentioned an Objection which possibly some may raise, viz.
Object. Is not this Doctrine a Legal Doctrine, or a legal way of preaching, to insist so much upon the Threatnings of Wrath and Divine Vengeance?
I answered, No, it is not. I therefore now shall endeavour, God assisting, to do two things.
1. To preach God a Just and Holy God, is no Legal Doctrine, though the Law, it is true, holds him forth so to be, that disco∣vers that God is Just; but his Mercy was vailed under dark Sha∣dows, Types and Legal Sacrifices. But now the Gospel sets forth the infinite Justice of God beyond the Law; for in a Ceremonial Way, the Blood of Beasts seemed to pacify God's Wrath. Though we deny not but the Blood of Jesus Christ, the great Sacrifice (which alone in a proper sense can satisfy for Sin) was held forth thereby. But in the Gospel, the Justice and Holiness of God so clearly shines forth in Jesus Christ, that it is with open Face mani∣fested unto all; all may behold therein the Just actually slain, and made a Sacrifice for the Vnjust. Never did God's Justice appear so fully, as it doth in the Suffering and Death of Christ for Sin. Therefore to preach the Severity and Justice of God against Sin and Sinners, can be no Legal Doctrine.
2. To preach Repentance, the Necessity of Repentance, Rege∣neration and Holiness, is no Legal Doctrine; but it is pure Gospel. The Law allowed of no Repentance: For those that sinned against Moses's Law, died without Mercy, under two or three Witnesses. Do not mistake me, I do not say that there was no Repentance for such who lived under the Dispensation of the Law; for tho the Law, or first Covenant, allowed of no Repentance, yet the Gospel was preached to Adam, to Abraham, to Moses, David, &c. But pray remember, and consider it well, that Repentance came in, not through the Law, but through the Gospel, upon the account of Christ's Satisfaction; and therefore it is only a Gospel-Blessing: which being duly considered, Men have little reason to think Re∣pentance a harsh Doctrine; no, no, it is sweet and blessed Tidings
to hear that there is Repentance vouchsafed to poor Sinners, yea, for the worst of Sinners. Besides, was not Repentance the very first Doctrine Jesus Christ preached when he entered upon his Mi∣nistry? He calls upon Men to repent, and believe the Gospel; he declares there is a Way found out for Pardon and Remission of Sin. And what can so kindly and sweetly excite, or stir up Sinners to Repentance, as the sight of the infinite Mercy and pardoning Grace of God through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ? His Mercy only melts and breaks the hard Heart of guilty Criminals.
3. To preach the Combinations and Threatnings of God's Wrath and Vengeance against all ungodly and impenitent Sinners, who slight and neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, can be no Le∣gal Doctrine.
(1.) Because the Gospel abounds with them, yea, and more fearful Threatnings than those were under the Law; for the one were Threats of Temporal Punishment, but the other are Eternal, even the Denunciation of God's Wrath in Hell for ever.
(2.) Because of the greatness of that Mercy and Divine Grace and Goodness, which such who sin under the Gospel do abuse and tread under their Feet.
(3.) To shew the Justice, Headship and Authority of Jesus Christ, who is God as well as Man, that so all Men may stand in awe of him, and dread and fear him, because of his great Love and Goodness extended through his suffering for Sin, and enduring the heavy Wrath of God for us; and for many other Reasons which you have heard.
(4.) Because the Threatnings of the Gospel do not only ren∣der God as a just Revenger, but also as a merciful Redeemer; not only as a Judg to pass Sentence, but as a gracious Soveraign, ready to give forth Pardon to all convicted, broken and self-condemned Rebels. The Law threatens Death, but affords no Offers of Life on any Terms that can be attained to, therefore no Encouragement given by it to Sinners to humble themselves: it commands perfect Obedience, but affords no Strength to perform it; pronounces the Sentence against us, but produces no Pardon for us; it commands us to trust in God, but reveals not a Mediator, who is the imme∣diate Object of Faith and Trust.
(5.) The Threatnings of the Gospel are a Manifestation of God's Goodness: As a Father threatens his Child from that Love and Bowels he hath to it, that so it might not feel the Lashes of his Rod and Anger. And O how are Gospel-Threatnings mixt with
alluring Motives and endearing Arguments and Perswasions, inti∣mating how ready God is to pass by our Offences, if we submit our selves to him, and accept of the Offers of his Grace and Fa∣vour. If such preaching of Wrath therefore be Legal, I must ac∣knowledg my great Ignorance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Be∣sides, how long are the Threatnings of the Gospel deferred before executed? The Contemners of the Law died presently, as well as it discovered no Remedy: But so it is not here, God seems to be ready to forgive, and slow to Wrath; he waits long before he strikes, and brings Wrath and Judgment upon Offenders, as well as he di∣rects them to a way to escape.
Secondly, I shall shew you what is a Legal Doctrine, or Legal Preaching.
1. The Doctrine or Preaching of such Persons is legal that say, that all who will be eternally saved, must arrive to a perfect and sinless Righteousness in themselves, i. e. keep the Law perfectly and sin not in their own Persons, or they cannot be justified. William Penn, speaking of that Text, Rom. 2. 13. Not the Hearers of the Law are just before God, but the Doers of the Law shall be justified, saith, "From whence, how unanswerably may I observe, that unless we become Doers of that Law, which Christ came not to de∣stroy, but, as our Example, to fulfil, we can never be justified before God; nor let any fancy, that Christ hath so fulfilled it for them as to exclude their Obedience from being requisite to their Acceptance, but only as their Pattern." Now this is a Legal Doctrine with a witness, these Men would be look'd upon as true Preachers of the Gospel, but let all Men be aware of them. Is any Man able perfectly to keep the Law? if so, why doth the Apostle say, What the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the Flesh, God sending his Son? &c. Besides, if there had been a Law that could have given Life, verily, saith Paul, Righteousness should have been by the Law. And again, he saith, By the Works of the Law, no Man is justified: and if Righteousness come by the Law, then is Christ dead in vain. Christ it seems, by what this Man saith, came only to fulfil the Law, as our Example, that we might conform to him therein, and so be justified by it. But he forgot that we and all Mankind have broke the Law, and stand charged and condemned thereby unto eternal Condemnation; and who shall make Atonement for that Breach, and deliver us from the Curse thereby incurred? No Doctrine can cast higher Contempt upon Christ, and invalidate his
Suffering, and Justification by Faith alone in him, than this Doctrine doth.
2. Such preach a Legal Doctrine, who preach up Obedience by us to the Law or Gospel, either as the procuring or moving Cause and Condition of our Justification and Eternal Life.
3. Such also preach a Legal Doctrine, who preach up Wrath and Divine Vengeance, to scare or frighten Men out of their Sins; and as if by the bare leaving and forsaking of Sin, Men might escape Death and Wrath. Such a Doctrine, as Reverend Dr. Owen notes, may fill an unregenerate Man with Horror and servile Fear; whereby, as Bond-Servants, or Slaves, by the Whip of this Do∣ctrine, they may be forced to break off from some gross Acts of Sin, and perform some outward Duties of Religion, which otherwise they are unwilling to do: for, as it is not from Love to God, nor from Faith in Christ, so they find no Delight nor Sweetness in it; but being often remiss, and seeing cause to doubt of the Sincerity of their Obedience, they fall under Terror and slavish Fear, they only acting from an enlightned Conscience, and not from Faith, or re∣newing Grace. These Men neither love the Law nor Gospel, tho they are forced to keep up in some degree of Obedience to it.
4. Such preach a Legal Doctrine, that affirm Man's own Faith and inherent Righteousness for the sake of Christ's Merits, is part of our Righteousness to Justification in the sight of God; and that Christ hath procured or merited a mild Law of Grace, of Faith and sincere Obedience, in the room of the Law of perfect Obe∣dience: Which Law of sinless Obedience Christ having given to God a full Recompence for our Breach of, he hath taken that Law-away; and that so far as we faithfully live up to this new Law of Grace, we are justified in God's sight, and accepted for the sake of Christ's Merits: Not that Christ's Righteousness alone is the matter of our Justification exclusive of all our inherent Righteousness and Obedience; no, no, but rather it is our Righteousness which doth justify us. The Gospel, according to these Men, is propounded as a Law, and God as a Rector, or just Governour, commanding Obedience thereunto, as the procuring Cause of our Justification: So that our Faith and Obedience is a Cause and Condition of Life, as Unbelief and Disobedience is the Cause of Eternal Death. But having formerly detected this dangerous Error, I shall not further insist upon the Confutation of it here.
5. Such preach a Legal Doctrine, that render Man a Co-worker with Christ in the Salvation of their own Souls, by which means
there is room left for him to boast and glory. Such a Doctrine they preach, who magnify the Will of Man, or the Power of the Creature; which I hope I have, by the Assistance of God, sufficient∣ly detected and refuted in this Treatise: All boasting being ex∣cluded by the Grace of God in the Gospel, Man being abased, and God alone exalted.
APPLICATION.
I shall now come to make the general Application of what I have said unto you from this great Text, and so conclude with all I shall say from it.
First Inform. First by way of Information; the Doctrine which hath in these Sermons been insisted on may inform us, That Gospel-Sins are the greatest Sins, and that the blind Heathens are not, can∣not be so guilty and culpable before God, nor in such a dangerous Condition as those are who live under the preaching of the Gospel, and yet slight, and neglect the Salvation of it. O what will they do in the Day of Judgment, that live in England, in London, in a Land and City of so great Light, and perish through their Sin, and Contempt or Neglect of Gospel-Grace!
Secondly, This may also inform us, how strangely Mankind are blinded and deceived by the God of this World; in that small things are accounted great, and that which is of the greatest Con∣cernment, is little, or not at all regarded, but esteemed as a trivial matter. O, says some, we must mind the main Chance! they mean the main Business in respect of their Earthly Subsistence, which is to get Bread, and to provide for the Body, for their Wives and Children. Now the Doctrine which you have heard, shews you how you are deluded, that look upon Earthly Things to be the main Business you should look after. What is of such Importance as the Salvation of your precious and immortal Souls, and to be providing for an endless Eternity?
Thirdly, I may infer from hence, That the greatest part of Man∣kind are Unbelievers; for all that neglect this Salvation, and look not upon this matter as their chief Business, are doubtless in a State of Unbelief: They do not credit this holy Doctrine, they believe not God's Word. If one should tell you that are going a Journy, that if you go such a Way, you will certainly be destroyed by Thieves, or wild Beasts, yet you will go on; Would it not follow clearly that you believe not what was told you? Why thus it is
here, Sinners are told and assured from the Word of God, as cer∣tain as God is true, and his Word true, that if they leave not their Swearing, their Pride, their Drunkenness, their Lying, their Lusts and Uncleanness, their Worldly-mindedness, and their preferring Earth, and the things of the World above the things of God; or if they do not believe, repent, and be born again, they shall cer∣tainly perish for ever; yet they go on and live in those ways of Sin, and believe not, repent not: this is an evident sign that they do not give Credit to what is told them, and so are Unbelievers; and if they still persist in their way, they will be certainly damned.
1. Our Saviour saith, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish; ye shall not escape eternal Wrath, be ye great Sinners, or not Sin∣ners of the first Rank. The Wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God.
2. Christ saith, He that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him: and they that do not believe, are told there is no other way to escape this Wrath, and that this Wrath will be poured forth upon them like Fire, unless they believe in Christ, receive Christ, obtain an Interest in Jesus Christ; nay, that they are con∣demned already; but they believe not.
3. Moreover, such who live a sober moral Life, are told, that notwithstanding that, yet unless they are born again, unless they get Faith in Jesus Christ, and their Righteousness exceed the Righte∣ousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and they obtain the Righteous∣ness of Christ, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Now they will not believe this, but conclude their State is good, and that Morality is sufficient to save their Souls: which shews that these are Unbelievers also.
4. Others are told, that their good Deeds, their good Duties, their Prayers, their hearing of Sermons, or their being Baptized, and having Communion with God's People, will not do, unless they are savingly renewed and sanctified, having the true Grace of God in their Hearts, and lead a Godly, Holy and Spiritual Life, find∣ing the powerful Operations of the Spirit changing them into the Likeness of Jesus Christ: but they believe it not, but rest upon their Duties and outward Privileges, tho they are told the Kingdom of God is not in Meat and Drink, but in Righteousness, and Truth, and Joy in the Holy Ghost; or that the Kingdom of God is not in∣ward only, but in Power also, and that Lamps of Profession will not save them, except they have Oil in their Vessels: many of these are like the foolish Virgins, and believe it not, but rest on a bare Name
of Christians, on a Form of Godliness, and may be fall short too as to an outward Profession of Godliness; for so do they who pray not in the Closet, nor in their Families, neither read God's Word, nor make it their Business to hear the Word preached, in Season and out of Season, but every small Matter takes them off of those Duties. Be sure, all prayerless Souls are graceless Souls; it is to be feared many of this sort make Religion but little of their Bu∣siness, who neither read, pray nor meditate, nor perhaps call upon their Children and Servants so to do, but let their Children have their Carnal Lusts, their Pride, ambitious and wanton Incli∣nations indulged and nourished in them. O how little is the out∣ward Part of God's Worship kept up in the Families of some Pro∣fessors!
Fourthly, This may serve also for a Use of Terror to secure Sinners.
1. May not Cry out, Fire, Fire? Such a Cry hath often startled and amazed many of you that live in and about this City. Sirs, a Fire is just a breaking out, which you cannot escape, unless you look about you the sooner. When People hear the Cry of Fire in the Night, how do they cry out, Where, Where? Alas, this Fire seizes not on your Houses, nor Goods, no nor on your Bodies only, but on your Souls; it has already kindled even the Wrath of God, which no Sinner can escape that neglects this Salvation. God's Wrath is compared to Fire, and it has perhaps already taken hold of some of your Consciences; but if it be not kindled there, yet it is kindled in God's Anger: For a Fire is kindled in my Anger, and shall burn unto the lowest Hell. O that they were wise, that they under∣stood this, that they would consider their latter End.
2. Is the Wrath of God so terrible, and can no Unbeliever or impenitent Sinner escape it; what cause is here for them all to tremble? Suppose you should be told, that this Night you shall certainly not escape Death, neither you, nor your Wife, nor Children, but that your House shall be burned down, your Goods, Self, Wife and Children shall all be burned to Ashes, and that this Judgment you shall not escape; would it not be startling and terri∣fying Tidings if you should believe it? But alas, what would that be to this doleful Tidings, viz. that your precious Soul and Body, as well as your Wife and Children, and all belonging to you, if you and they do neglect the Means of this Salvation, and not be∣lieve in Christ, and become new Creatures, shall in a short time be in everlasting Flames, and undergo intolerable Pain and Punish∣ment from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his
Power, which you shall not escape, for the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it? Nay, and it shall be more tolerable for So∣dom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment, than for you, or for that Soul who refuses the Offers of Christ, Pardon of Sin, and Salvation through him.
Fifthly, It may be for a Lamentation, to see how few understand the Nature of this Salvation, and study the Mysteries of it, or de∣sire an Interest in it; and also to see how many make light of it, whilst others by dangerous Errors seek ways to eclipse the Glory of God's Free Grace therein. Remember those Demonstrations you have heard, to open the Greatness of the Salvation the Gospel.
Sixthly, This reprehends such who are more affected with Tem∣poral Salvation, than with the Spiritual and Eternal Salvation of the Soul; and also all such that defer looking after, and striving to get an Interest in it.
Seventhly, By way of Exhortation.
1. Let me exhort you to praise God for Jesus Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of this Salvation: Christ is all, and in all, in our Salvation: God hath sent us an Almighty Saviour. O how miserable should we have been for ever, had not God sent us Jesus Christ.
2. Let me exhort you to admire the Love of Christ in coming to work out this Salvation: What hath he born and undergon to save our Souls? O love and exalt this Saviour, and eclipse none of his Glory.
3. Be exhorted to praise God for affording you the Knowledg of Gospel-Salvation. O how few are they who have heard of this joyful Tidings! But few Nations of the World have this News sounding in their Ears, viz. the Gospel preached to them, they have no declaration of it. God shews his Soveraignty here∣in; he reveals himself, and the Knowledg of Salvation to whom he pleases. And indeed many dark Parts of this Nation have but little of the Mysteries of the Gospel made known to them. What People in the World have greater cause to admire God's distinguishing Grace and Favour, than we that live in and about this City. London is exalted to Heaven in respect of the Means of Grace: O that it may never be brought down to Hell, as our Sa∣viour threatned Capernaum.
4. From hence also I might exhort you to bless God for faith∣ful Ministers, who publish the Salvation of the Gospel to you. How beautiful upon the Mountains are the Feet of him that bringeth good
Tidings, that publisheth Peace, that bringeth good Tidings of Good, that publisheth Salvation! Let it appear you highly value and ho∣nour your faithful Ministers, by your diligent attention on the Word and Doctrine they preach. For Motives, consider,
1. Seriously think on the sad and woful Condition which natural∣ly you are in, being dead in Sin, and Children of Wrath; and if you die in that Estate, you are lost for ever.
2. Let your Thoughts now be let out on your latter End; for when the Night comes, no Man can work. This is great Wisdom, and every Man's Duty; we none of us know how soon our great Change may come: And what will you do, if you live in the neglect of the Means of Salvatio even until God cuts you off?
3. Pray that the Wind of the Spirit would blow upon your Souls: The Wind bloweth where it listeth; it bloweth at God's Command, when, on whom, and how he pleaseth. The Spirit is that great and only Agent that must work Faith in you, quicken you, and re∣generate your Souls.
4. Therefore see that you do not quench the Spirit, but improve all the Convictions thereof.
5. If you would have an Interest in this great Salvation, you must have an Interest in Jesus Christ the great Saviour: If you do not receive Christ by Faith, but refuse him, sad will your Condi∣tion be; for no Christ, no Salvation.
Quest. How may I know that I have Christ, or an Interest in him?
Answ. 1. If thou hast Christ, thou hast Life, thou art spiritually quickned: And as thou hast Spiritual Life, so also thou hast Light; thy Eyes are opened, I mean, the Eyes of thy Understanding.
2. Thou canst remember the time when thou hadst no God, no Christ, or wast without Christ; and it is much if thou art not able to tell how, when, or after what manner thou didst meet with him,
whether it was by the Word preached, or by reading, or by some Affliction, &c.
3. If Christ be thine, he is very precious to thee: Canst thou say with David, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? neither is there any on Earth that I desire beside thee? And with the Spouse, My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand? Paul ac∣counted all things as loss, or as nothing, for the Excellency of Jesus Christ his Lord.
4. Doth Jesus Christ rule and reign in thee by his Spirit? He that hath Christ in him, may feel his ruling Power, and that he by his Spirit hath spoiled the ruling and predominating Power of Sin, every evil Habit in the Heart and Life of such being broke.
5. Moreover, if Christ is in thee, and thou by Faith art in him, then thou art a new Creature: This the Apostle positively doth as∣sert; Therefore if any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Such have new Understandings, or are renewed in their Understandings, Wills and Affections: they have also new Thoughts, new Love, new Fears, new Joy, new Desires, new Companions, and new Conversations; all things with such are become new.
Lastly, And to conclude with all I shall say from this Text, here is also Matter and Cause of Comfort and great Consolation to all Believers, to all who have a part in this Salvation. I need not shew you which way this appears, for every one that hath heard what a kind of Salvation it is, may easily infer from thence, that all that have a part in it are happy for ever; 'tis a great and glo∣rious Salvation: Remember what you are delivered from by it, and what you are raised up unto by it, and also that it is a sure and certain Salvation; no Enemy, no Sin, no Devil can dispossess you of it if you are Believers, and have received the Earnest thereof, which is the Holy Spirit, by which also you are sealed to the Day of Redemption. Therefore it remains, that you endeavour to shew forth the Praises of him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light, and hath given you a true sight of, and interest in this great Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ; To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be Glory, Honour and Praise, now and for ever. Amen.
Sermon XV.
Heb. 19. 28.
Pen's San∣dy Founda∣tion shaken, p. 26.
Rom. 8. 2, 3.
Gal. 2. 16, 21.
Luk. 13. 3.
Joh. 3. 36.
Terror.
Deut. 32. 22, 29.
Mat. 10. 15. Mat. 11. 22, 23. Mar. 6. 11.
Lamentat.
Reproof.
Exhortat.
Isa. 52. 7.
Rom. 10. 17.
Eph. 2. 1.
Joh. 3. 8.
How Per∣sons may know they have an In∣terest in Christ.
1 Pet. 2. 7. Ps. 73. 25.
Cant. 5. 10 Phil. 3. 9, 10.
2 Cor. 5. 17.