A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.

The Great Salvation: OR, The Salvation of the Gospel Great and Glorious. Delivered in several SERMONS, By BENJ. KEACH.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him?

* 1.1IN the precedent Chapter, the Apostle sets forth the Excel∣lency, Glory and Dignity of the Person of Jesus Christ.

1. Above Moses and the Prophets, ver. 1, 2, 3. God who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets; Ver. 2. Hath in these last Days spoken to us by * 1.2 his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things. Ver. 3. Who be∣ing the Brightness of his Glory, and the express Image of his Person, and upholding all things by the Word of his Power, when he had by him∣self purged our Sins, sate down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High.

2. Above the Holy Angels: ver. 4. Being made so much better than the Angels, as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. Christ doth not only surpass Moses and the Pro∣phets, but also all the Angels of God.

• 1. In respect of his being God, of the Substance of the Father, and the express Image of his Person, the Essential Glory of God shining forth in him.
• 2. In that he as God created, and also doth uphold the World, and all things in it, by the Word of his Power.
• 3. In that he hath obtained a more excellent Name than they, verse 4.
• 4. In that Angels are required to worship him, ver. 5, 6.
• 5. In that Angels are but his Servants, ver. 7, 14.
• 6. In respect of his Scepter and Kingdom, ver. 8.
• 7. In respect of his glorious Exaltations at the Father's right Hand, ver. 13.

The Apostle having laid down these things so fully and clear∣ly, to illustrate and confirm the great Doctrine of the Gospel; he in the beginning of this second Chapter, proceeds to make the necessary Improvement of it: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest Heed to the Things which we have heard, lest at any Time we let them slip, ver. 1. For if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast, &c. (and from hence he brings the Words in our Text) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation? &c.

The Words contain an Interrogation, which doth imply a strong and most vehement Negation; How shall we escape if we, &c. That is, we cannot escape, or it is impossible we, or any Persons what∣soever, should escape, if we or they neglect so great Salvation. Escape what? That is implied here, which is not expressed, namely, the Wrath of God: How shall we escape the dreadful Judgment and Indignation of God, or Eternal Damnation in Hell, if we neglect or slight, despise or reject the Means of this Salvation?

He confirms what he asserts, or aggravates the Greatness of their Sin who do neglect this Salvation, and the impossibility of such ever to escape God's Wrath.

1. From the Power and Authority of Christ, who not only wrought this Salvation out, but only first declared it, or made it known; which first began to be spoken by the Lord. Which some think may refer to his first declaring of it from the beginning to Adam upon his Transgression, and to the Fathers under the Old Testa∣ment: But I conceive he means chiefly our Lord's preaching this Salvation in the Days of his Flesh, when he entred first on his Ministry, as verse 1. of the first Chapter; God hath in these last Days spoken unto us by his Son.

2. From the confirmation of it, by Signs and Wonders. I shall be very brief in speaking unto the Terms of our Text.

How shall we escape, avoid, get clear of, or deliver our selves from God's Wrath and Vengeance.

If we neglect, if we mind other things more than this Salvation, or seem to be indifferent in and about this great Business, like those that made light of the Invitation to the Marriage-Supper, Mat. 22. Luke 14. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

So great Salvation, namely, the Salvation of the Gospel. Great, as it refers to God, denotes the glorious Perfections of his Na∣ture, the Great God; it signifies the infinite Power, Wisdom, Ho∣liness, Mercy and Glory of his Majesty. Great, as it refers to things, may be considered as to the Nature and Quality of them, as Great Riches, Great Light; as the Sun is called a great Light, that is, a Glorious Light, excelling all other Natural or Created Lights, or Artificial Lights. Great Peace have they that love thy Law; that is, Glorious Peace. So, great Salvation denotes Glo∣rious Salvation, exceeding all Temporal Salvation. So Great, this [so] raises the Greatness and Glory of this Salvation. God so loved the World: So, how? Even so, that it cannot be conceived, much less expressed. So, this great Salvation is so wonderful, so amazing, so glorious, and so affecting, it calls for all to admire it, consider it, imbrace it, and by no means to slight or neglect it.

From hence I shall note three Points of Doctrine.

• Doct. 1. That the Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation.
• Doct. 2. That the Means of this Salvation may be neglected.
• Doct. 3. That all such who do neglect this Salvation, shall not, can∣not escape.

I purpose to speak to all these three Propositions, and shall be∣gin with the first, namely, That the Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious Salvation.

• First, I shall prove, and fully (God assisting) demonstrate the Truth of this Doctrine.
• Secondly, I shall improve it by way of Application.

First, It is a Great and Glorious Salvation comparatively: or when it is compared with all other Salvations.

1. That was a Great and Glorious Salvation which God wrought * 1.3 for Israel at the Red Sea. But what a Salvation was that? Who were they saved from? It was from Pharaoh, a bloody and cruel Persecutor: but this is from Satan and all cruel Enemies of our Souls.

2. That was from the Wrath of Men; this is from the fearful * 1.4 Wrath of God, which none are able to conceive of: according to thy Fear, so is thy Wrath.

3. That was a Salvation of the natural Lives of the Children of Israel; this a Salvation of our Immortal Souls and Bodies too for ever.

4. That was a Type of this Salvation, a Shadow of it: and as far as the Substance exceeds the Shadow of a Thing, so far doth this Salvation exceed that and all other Salvations.

5. That was a Temporal Salvation, this is an Eternal Salvati∣on. Now that Salvation at the Red Sea being one of the greatest Temporal Salvations that ever was wrought, I need not mention any other. Israel had many great Salvations wrought for them afterwards, and so have many of the Saints had great Salvations and Deliverances wrought for them in the Times of the Gospel.

Nay, we in these Nations have seen and heard of great and wonderful Things which God hath wrought for us, and for our Forefathers. It was a great Salvation that was wrought in 1588, at the Spanish Invasion, and from the Powder-Plot; and also that in 1688, when We, and the Protestant Interest, were brought very low, and we could not see which way Relief and Deliverance could come. But alas, what are all these Salvations to this in my Text? Pray remember that Gospel-Salvation is Great and Glo∣rious comparatively. But,

Secondly, The Salvation of the Gospel is not only great comparative∣ly, * 1.5 but also positively: not only in respect of all other Salvations, but also in regard of it self. And to demonstrate this, consider, that it is great and glorious in respect of the Time (or rather that Eternity) in which it was contrived and graciously promised.

This Salvation, Brethren, was contrived and found out by the Wisdom of God, before the World began. Hence Christ is said to be a Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World; that is, in the De∣cree, * 1.6 Counsel and Purpose of God: Christ was set up from Ever∣lasting as the great and glorious Mediator and Saviour of all that should believe in him, or that were given unto him by the Father.

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his Way, before his Works of * 1.7 old. I was set up from Everlasting, or ever the Earth was. When there were no Depths, I was brought forth. As these Scriptures prove the Deity and Eternal Generation of the Son of God; so also there was a Designation of him by the Father, as Mediator, to be our Saviour before all Worlds. Hence God saith of miserable Man, Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a Ran∣som. And as it was found out before the beginning of the World, * 1.8 or from Eternity, so it was also as early promised to us, as the Elect in Christ, in hope of Eternal Life, which God that cannot lie * 1.9 promised before the World began: Compared with that in Timothy, Who hath saved and called us with an holy Calling; not according to our * 1.10 Works, but according to his Purpose and Grace, which was given us in Jesus Christ before the World began.

God thought of us poor Sinners, and found out this way of Sal∣vation before we had a Being, yea even from Eternity, foresee∣ing us fallen in the First Adam, brought into a deplorable Conditi∣on of Wrath and Misery.

Thirdly, The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious, in re∣gard * 1.11 of that Counsel that was held before all Worlds about bringing of it in. Christ the great Saviour was delivered up according to the deter∣minate Counsel of God, Acts 2. 23. Should all the Wise Men and Great Potentates of the Earth be called together, and sit in Coun∣cil about the doing of some great and wonderful thing, which un∣less it was effected, all the Kingdoms and States of the Earth would sink and be dissolved, would not all say, that would be an amazing Thing, and an important Concernment?

Alas! what is a Counsel held by all the wisest Men and greatest Potentates on Earth, of the highest Concernment here, to that Council held by the Glorious Trinity in Eternity, about bringing in of this Salvation? O of what Moment is the Salvation of our Souls? None but the Great God could effect it, it was the Result of Infinite Wisdom and Counsel. God seemed, Brethren, to call a Council about the first Creation of Man; Let us make Man after our own Image, &c. But how much more of the Glory of God's Wisdom, according to his Eternal Purpose, shines forth, as the Result of that Counsel held about the Restauration of Fallen Man, than what shone forth in the first Creation of him? And the Coun∣sel of Peace was between them both; that is, between the Father and * 1.12 the Son.

Fourthly, The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious in re∣spect * 1.13 of God's Design therein: Which more generally and compre∣hensibly I may open in three respects.

• 1st. His own Glory in all his Attributes.
• 2dly. The confounding and baffling of Satan, and the utter Destruction of his Kingdom and Hellish Design.
• 3dly. The Eternal Salvation of Man; I mean, all that believe in Jesus Christ, or are given to him by the Father.

1st. God before all things hereby designed his own Glory, or to make all the Perfections of his Holy Nature manifest to the Crea∣ture which he had made, and to open a Way by which each of his Attributes might gloriously appear, and to vanquish that Cloud that seem'd to eclipse their shining.

1. For God's Mercy could not be extended in another Way to the Help and Relief of Mankind under Wrath and Misery, be∣cause Justice was injured, and called for the Sentence to be execu∣ted on us for our Sins.

2. And his Justice could not be executed, but his Mercy and Goodness would have been brought under Obscurity, and been vailed for ever. And had Mankind for ever been brought under the just Desert of Sin, God had, it is true, glorified his Justice; but Mercy is as well a Property of his Blessed Nature as Justice: and had that been done, how had any of his Creatures known any thing of his Mercy and Goodness? certainly Mercy had never been manifested at all, no more than is seen in the casting off the Fallen Angels. God to them appeared only Just, not Gracious; but in Christ to Mankind, he appears not only Just, but also Good and Gracious. Yet the Salvation of our Souls could not consist with the Holiness and Justice of God in a way of Mercy, without a Satisfaction be made to Divine Justice. Therefore Infinite Wis∣dom in substituting Jesus Christ to die in our Nature and Stead, makes God's Justice a full Compensation for the Wrong and Inju∣ry we had done by our Sins and Transgressions; and from hence it appears that Infinite Wisdom, Justice, Holiness, Power, Mercy and Goodness, &c. are discovered and magnified equally in God's bringing in this Great Salvation of the Gospel: and this was, I say, the grand Design of God herein, by which he removes and solves all those seeming Contradictions and great Difficulties that appeared in the way of our Eternal Recovery, and magnifies the entire Glory of God, that seemed to be lost by our Sin, or was before hid under Obscurity; it is hereby fully repaired, and to the Joy of

Saints and Angels is made known and magnified in Christ. And from hence it is that the Gospel is called the Wisdom of God; and Christ is also called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God, be∣cause * 1.14 in him all the Strength of God, I mean the Power and Glo∣ry of all his Attributes, are joined or united together, and shine in equal Glory in our Salvation.

But more of this hereafter.

2dly. Hereby also Satan is overthrown, and his grand Design marr'd and frustrated for ever, and his Kingdom spoiled; our Lord Jesus having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a shew of * 1.15 them openly, triumphing over them in it: and this was done by the Death of his Cross, and by his Resurrection; To this purpose was * 1.16 the Son of God manifest, that he might destroy the Works of the Devil.

3dly. Moreover hereby God designed to make Man, even all that believe in Christ and embrace this Salvation, happy again, and blessed for ever; nay (as I shall shew you, before I have done with this Text, God assisting me) even to raise him up into a higher and better State than that was in which he was at first created.

Fifthly, The Salvation of the Gospel is Great and Glorious, if we * 1.17 consider how low Man was fallen and sunk by his Transgression, and what kind of Wrath he was laid under; As also if we consider how helpless he was, having no Friend nor Brother that could give to God a Ransom for him; no nor could the Angels of Heaven do it, whose Power is very great: No, no, none but Christ alone, with his Almighty Arm, could save us from the threatned Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God. Besides, this Salvation must needs be great and glorious, if we consider the seasonableness of it; it was a timely Salvation, it was brought in just as the Hand of Justice was up, and ready to strike the fatal Stroke. Justice stood (as it were) with his Ax in his Hand to cut off all our Heads; and Christ to save us, stept in and laid down (as I may say) his own Neck, and took the Blow: Or we may conceive that Justice stood with his Spear in his Hand, ready, as it were, to run it into our Bowels; and Jesus Christ run in between Divine Wrath and our poor Souls, and cried out, Let thy Spear, O Justice, be thrust into my Heart, I will die for these condemned and guilty Wretches. See what Paul says, When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the Vngodly. So Vers. 8. While we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us. * 1.18 Though I deny not but that this Text may refer to the Fulness of

Time prefixed by the Almighty for Christ to come, and take our Nature upon him, and to die in our room; and that was the due Time, or Time God had appointed: Yet Christ was as a Lamb slain from the beginning of the World, nay, before the Founda∣tion thereof. And we may say, that as soon as our first Parents sinned, even then, and at that very Season, Jesus Christ step'd in, and yielded up himself to God as a Sacrifice for us: and had he not then been accepted, we had been lost for ever. O how re∣freshing, how sweet and how welcome is it to a poor condemned Criminal, when he is brought to the Place of Execution, to see the Sheriff pull out an Arrest of Execution, a Reprieve, nay, an ab∣solute Pardon, and tell him, You have met with a Friend, the King has accepted of one that he ordained and substituted to be your Surety, and to die for you, and satisfy the Law and Justice for you; Friend, you are acquitted. Brethren, thus it is here, Christ offered himself, and the Father accepted him in our stead to die for us, and to bear that Wrath that was due to us for our Sins; and this he did then, even when we first sinned in Adam. So that we may say, in due time Christ died for the Ungodly, just as the Stroke of Wrath and Divine Justice was falling on us, for it was all one as if he had then actually suffered: And also his Blood was as efficacious to save and absolve Adam, and all that did be∣lieve, and apply the Virtue thereof, before it was shed, as it is to us who believe in these latter Times of the World, after it has been shed more than sixteen hundred Years. Would not such a guilty Malefactor I mentioned, say, O this is a great Salvation indeed! nay, stand and admire at it, he expecting nothing but Death, and had none to help him, or afford any hope or relief to him in the least!

APPLICATION.

1. We may from hence infer, God's Love to Mankind is incon∣ceivable; nay, his Love to sinful Man, to lost Man, rebellious Man: What is Man that thou art mindful him? such a vile Creature, * 1.19 a Worm, a filthy and loathsom Worm, a cursed Rebel and Trai∣tor against God, that God should let out his Thoughts from Eter∣nity upon him, when the Sentence was past against him, and he ready to go down to the Pit of Everlasting Wrath and Misery; that he should say, Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have * 1.20 found a Ransom. 'Tis not he (that is, Man himself) hath found a

Ransom: No, no, I have, saith God, found a Ransom; the Just for the Vnjust, or in the room and place of the guilty Sinner. It is not, I have found Man's good Works, Man's reformed Life, his Repentance, his Faith, his Tears, his sincere Obedience; no, but it is the Obedience of Christ, the Blood of Christ, the Sacrifice of Christ, the Merits and Righteousness of Christ, this God hath found to be our Ransom. God hath found a full Ransom, a per∣fect Ransom. God accepted of Christ's Sacrifice for a Compleat Satisfaction; it is more satisfactory than if we had lain in Hell for ever, for we must always have been paying, but never could have made Satisfaction. O who could have thought of such a Ransom, of such a way of Salvation! in this lies the Depth of Divine Wis∣dom, and the Great Mystery of the Gospel: How should we adore and admire the Grace of God in Jesus Christ!

2. To you poor Sinners let me speak one word by way of Ex∣hortation: Did God so early contrive our Salvation? O then do you set your Hearts on work to seek this Salvation, I mean, an In∣terest in it; be early at it, do not defer it: You young Men, think upon it in the morning of your Days, this Salvation calls for your utmost diligence to understand and find out; the Gospel is a My∣stery, 'tis not easily understood. The Preaching of a Crucified Christ is to some Men Foolishness; but to them that are saved, it is the Power of God. Many stumble at the Stumbling-stone God hath laid in Sion. Christ is to some a Stumbling-stone, and a Rock of Offence, but take heed he is not so to you.

3. Was there a Council held in Eternity about our Salvation? O then consult with all Wisdom the grand Design of God herein: It is to exalt his own Glory, his own Name, his own Free Grace; and this being so, let it be all your care to advance the Riches of his Grace, and let God be wholly exalted, and do you lie low at his Feet. O close in with God's Counsel, accept of this way of Life, do not think there is any other way.

4. And lastly, Consider that the Greatness of God's Mercy and Divine Goodness to us, was also one grand End and Design in find∣ing out this Salvation: It doth display his unspeakable Love and Bowels towards his poor Creature Man. True, he had the like regard to his Justice; but his Justice had been magnified in our Destruction, if his Mercy had never appeared. But that his Mer∣cy might be manifested, what hath he done, his own Son hath born our Sins, he hath laid the Hand of his Justice, and let out that Wrath that must have lain upon us for ever upon his own

Son, that Mercy might flow forth to us. This should teach us to study Acts of Mercy, and contrive that way to be like unto the Holy and Merciful God: This is that which he requires of us, even to do justly, love Mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.21I AM upon the Proof and Demonstration of the first Point of Doctrine raised from our Text, viz. That Gospel-Salvation is a Great and Glorious Salvation.

I have spoken to this already under five Considerations.

Sixthly, The Salvation of the Gospel is Great and Glorious, if * 1.22 we consider the Glory and Greatness of those Persons who sat in Counsel about bringing of it in, and working of it out for sinful Man. We commonly judg of the Greatness of the Undertaking, and the Glory of the Work, by considering the Dignity, Glory, Wisdom, Power and Greatness of the Persons concerned in it.

Now if this Work, I mean the Salvation of sinful Man, had been put into the Hands of the mighty Angels, and they had cal∣led a Council about it, and shewed their uttermost Skill, Wisdom and Power, in order to the actual accomplishment thereof, would not all say, this must needs be some great and wonderful Work, or a great Salvation? But alas, they could neither have sound out a way of Salvation for us, much less have wrought it out: Could they any way have thought how the Glory of every Attribute of God might have been raised, and have shone forth in equal Lu∣stre? could they have secured the Glory of God's Justice and Ho∣liness, and have made up the Wrong we had done to God by our Sin, and so have opened a Way for Mercy and Goodness to run down like a mighty Stream, and secured the Sanction of the Law, and yet have delivered Man from the Curse thereof? God must not, will not lose the Glory of any one of his Attributes, let what will become of the Rebellious Sinner. Alas, they could never

have found out a way whereby the Attributes of Mercy and Justice might meet together, and Righteousness and Truth kiss each o∣ther: the Persons then who found and wrought out this Salvation, were not the Holy Angels of God; No, no, none but God him∣self could do it: The Salvation of Israel is of the Lord; He is our * 1.23 Saviour: How often is this expressed in the Psalms, and in other places of the Holy Scripture. Salvation is ascribed to the Lord, to him only; yea to his own Arm, to the greatness of his Power: Therefore my own Arm brought Salvation.

Brethren, each Person in the Trinity hath a part in it; the Fa∣ther * 1.24 hath his Part, the Son hath his Part, and the Holy Ghost hath * 1.25 his Part also. Remember, that these three are one; though three Persons or Subsistences, yet but one and the same God, one in Essence, though distinguished as to their distinct Personalities: the Person of the Father is not the Person of the Son; the Father took not upon him Flesh and died for our Sins, but the Son; the Son sent not the Father, but the Father sent the Son: The Father and the Son do not proceed from the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost doth proceed from them.

But a little to open and insist upon the distinct Parts which each Person hath, and how concerned in the accomplishing of this great Salvation.

1. The Father is held forth in the Scripture, as the Contriver or first Author of this Salvation: All Things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ. All Things in and about * 1.26 our Salvation are of God the Father, as he is the Fountain and Spring of it: He hath devised means, that his banished might not for ever be expelled from him. I have found a Ransom: Where did God find it? (saith Reverend Caryl) Certainly in his own Bosom, in his own Heart: Jesus Christ came out of the Bosom of the Father, there he was, and God found him in and with himself; he did not find the Ransom by chance, but he found it in his own Wisdom, Love and Goodness.

2. The Father was injured, his Glory seemed to be eclipsed by Sin, therefore must be righted, and his Honour repaired; and he sought out the proper way to do it: I know, as if God should say, how to do the poor Sinner good; I know how to save him, and do my own Honour, my Justice, Truth and Holiness, no wrong; my Honour is secured, my Justice is satisfied; and yet the Sinner whom my Heart is set upon, shall be saved.

3. The Father could only appoint the Terms and Way of our Salvation: Who but God could tell, or did know what would comport with his Truth and Justice, and with the Sanction of his Righteous Law and Infinite Holiness? And he saw it did not com∣port with his Truth, Justice, Holiness, and Blessed Law, to save Man meerly as an Act of Sovereign Mercy; but it did agree in his Infinite Wisdom to transfer the Punishment of the Sinner to ano∣ther, namely, to his own Son, he taking our Nature on him; who from the Union of the two Natures in one Person, procured an In∣finite Satisfaction, or made a Plenary Compensation for our Sins.

4. God the Father is therefore held forth as the Person who substituted his own Son as Mediator and Surety in our stead and room, to work out our Redemption, or this great and glorious Salvation; and to this end prepared him a Body: A Body hast thou prepared me. And the Father is said also to send his Son: How * 1.27 many times doth our Blessed Saviour ascribe this unto the Father, in the Gospel recorded by John? I am perswaded not less than forty times: The Father that sent me, is with me. God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World. This is the Will of him that * 1.28 sent me.

5. All the Blessings of our Salvation are ascribed to the free Bounty, Mercy, Love and Goodness of God the Father: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his People, and hath raised up an Horn of Salvation, &c. And therefore he is stiled, The Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort. Now this * 1.29 being so, what an abominable thing is it for the Socinians to say, That the Doctrine of Satisfaction renders the Son more merciful and kind than the Father; see Penn's Sandy Foundation shaken: No, this is very unjustly and unrighteously thrown upon this great Go∣spel-Truth. Certainly it exalts the Goodness and Mercy of God the Father, far more than their idle and absurd Notion of God's pardoning Sin in a way of meer Mercy, without a Satisfaction to his offended Justice; seeing God in a way of Mercy and Divine Goodness, is so set upon this Work of our Salvation, that though it cost him the Life of his own Son, yet it shall be done, he will not spare him: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up * 1.30 for us all. The Father did not spare him as an Act of his own Love and Goodness to us; God so loved the World, that he gave his on∣ly begotten Son. Certainly that Person shews greater Love and * 1.31 Pity to another, who to save him gives a Million, than he that

gives but a Pound. Must God by these Men be deemed to have no Mercy at all, because he seeks the Honour of his Justice equally with the Glory of his Mercy? Is he not Merciful, because he is Just as well as Gracious?

6. Brethren, it was the Father that loved us and chose us in Je∣sus Christ before the Foundation of the World, which is the Spring of all Spiritual Blessings, even of Redemption and Salvation it self.

7. Moreover, the Father is said to raise Jesus Christ from the Dead: Though the Son being God could raise himself, yet as Medi∣ator, the Power to quicken whomsoever he will, is said to be given to him by the Father. Besides, it is the meer Grace and good Plea∣sure of God the Father, to accept of Christ and his Obedience for us, and to accept of us in Jesus Christ: Also it is the Father that blesseth us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus. * 1.32 Nay, no Man, Christ says, can come unto him, unless it be given by the Father; that is, Power must be given to him to come. And again he saith, No Man can come unto me, except my Father that sent me draw him. We ought therefore to see we do not lessen the Glory of God the Father in our Salvation, who is the Efficient, the Ori∣ginal and moving Cause thereof: My Father (saith Christ) hi∣therto * 1.33 worketh, and I work.

Brethren, we are not to attribute the Works of Creation and Providence to God the Father only, for he hath a great and glo∣rious Hand in the Work of Redemption, I may say, to accom∣plish this Work, even the Salvation of his Elect; he worketh hither∣to, and Christ also worketh: which brings me to consider of the next Person in the Trinity concerned herein.

Secondly, As the Father hath, as you have heard, his part in * 1.34 bringing in the great Salvation of the Gospel, so Jesus Christ, the Son of God, hath his part in working of it out; the Father fix'd on him, as the great Agent, actually to perfect it: he is in such a pecu∣liar manner concerned in it, that his Name is Saviour, his Name shall be called Jesus; Jesus signifies a Saviour: certainly this must needs be a great Salvation, if we consider the Greatness, Dignity and Glo∣ry of his Person, whom God hath sent to save us. And because it is mainly from this Foot of account, that the Apostle in the Text draws his Inference, and calls Gospe-Salvation Great Salvation, I shall a little further enlarge upon this particular;

1. Jesus Christ hath a great Name given to him, yea, a Name * 1.35 above every Name; that is, he is so highly exalted, (as he is Me∣diator) that he is clothed with Power, Glory and Majesty, a∣bove all Creatures in Heaven and Earth; so that all in Heaven * 1.36 above, and in Earth beneath, must bow down before him, and adore and worship him, and be in subjection to him: For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his * 1.37 Shoulders; And his Name shall be called Wonderful, &c. This his Name is according to his Person, he is a wonderful or an admi∣rable Person; Wonderful in his Incarnation, God man; Wonder∣ful in his Birth, Wonderful in his Life, Wonderful in his Death; and in the Effects, End and Design of his Death; he is not only called Wonderful, but also Counsellor: Never such a Counsellor for * 1.38 Wisdom and Knowledg, for he is the Wisdom of God it self, and the only Wise God: He is called the Mighty God, the Everlasting Fa∣ther, or the Father of Eternity, and the Prince of Peace. Moreover, he is called Immanuel, God with us, God in our Nature; and also called the only begotten Son of God, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the only Potentate; he is called the Desire of all Nations, Elect, Precious: And he is made so much better than the Angels, as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they; for unto which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotten thee? He is * 1.39 called the one Mediator; time would fail me to speak of all his Names. And,

2. As is his Name, such is his Nature: He is God's Fellow; he is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; he thought it not rob∣bery to be equal with God. O what a kind of Salvation must this be, that such a Person is sent to work it out! One clothed with * 1.40 such a Name, with such a Nature, with such Glory: He is called a Saviour, a great One; He shall (that is, God shall) send them a Saviour, a great One, and he shall deliver them. He, as he is God-Man, * 1.41 is ordained Heir of all Things, and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him; nay, he is the Upholder, the Sustai∣ner or Preserver of the World: he is not only the Brightness of the Father's Glory, and express Image of his Person, but he upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power. He is one and the same God with the Father, the express Character of the Father's Pérson; so * 1.42 that they that see and know him, see and know the Father also. He supports, sustains, feeds, preserves, governs, throws * 1.43 down and raises up, kills and makes alive whom he will; he has

the Keys of Hell and Death. He is the Wonder of Angels, the Consternation and Dread of Devils, and the Joy and Delight of the Saints; there is not such another Person in Heaven nor Earth, perfect God, and perfect Man, and yet but one Christ, one Per∣son: certainly here's some great and wonderful Work to be done, when such a Person is substituted, ordained and so qualified, and sent into the World to work out the actual Accomplishment thereof. Nay, God himself, who delighteth in him, put the Pro∣phet to propound this Question concerning him; Who is this that cometh from Edom, with died Garments from Bozrah? this that is * 1.44 glorious in his Apparel, travelling in the greatness of his Strength? Christ himself (as I conceive) answers, I that speak in Righteous∣ness, mighty to save. O happy Mortals, that God hath sent us such a Saviour, he is mighty to save.

3. Consider also that none but he could save us, procure and work about this Salvation for us; There was none in Heaven nor Earth * 1.45 able nor worthy to open the Book, and loose the Seals thereof, but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, he hath prevailed.

4. Jesus Christ is such an Almighty Saviour, that he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him. He has the Perfecti∣on * 1.46 of Power with him, he can save to the full, let the State of the Soul that comes to God by him be whatsoever it will or can be.

• 1. Though a Man is sunk down to the very Gates of Hell, un∣der the pressure and sense of God's Wrath.
• 2. Though he hath the Guilt of Millions of Sins like Mountains of Lead lying upon him, yet Christ can save him.
• 3. Though Satan says there is no Hope, and the Heart of the Sinner joins in with him, and says, there is no Hope, no Pardon, no Help, no Salvation; hang thy self, drown thy self, saith Satan, thou art damn'd, there is no Mercy for thee: yet Christ can then save that poor Soul; and many such he hath saved, when but a little before all hope of Relief seemed to be gone.
• 4. Though the Devil should raise up all the Force and Powers of Hell and Darkness against a Person, to destroy him, yet Jesus Christ can save him; if he will work upon the Soul by stretching forth his Almighty Power, nothing can obstruct or hinder him.

5. Christ can save from the Sin, from the Guilt, the Filth and Power of it, and break into pieces all the Bonds, Chains and Fet∣ters of the Enemy; nay, let the Sins of a Person be never so ma∣ny, never so great, yet he can save to the uttermost, though they

are such Sinners as Manasseh and Mary Magdalen were; nay, such that put to death by wicked Hands the Lord of Life and Glory: 'tis as easy with him to save great Sinners, as the least, or less guilty Ones; he can save the stout-hearted, such who are far from Righteousness. * 1.47

6. He can save from the Curse of the Law and from the Wrath of God; he is every ways furnished, fitted and enabled to save.

7. He is a Mighty Saviour, and able to save to the uttermost, in that he can save by himself alone, by his own Power; it is not if we will begin the Work, if we will do what we can, he can and will save us; no, but he takes the whole Work of Salvation into his own Hand, he is the Author and Finisher of it, 'tis he alone.

7. Moreover, Christ is as willing to save poor lost and undone Sinners, as he is able; he had his Name given to this end, i. e. be∣cause of his Power, willingness and readiness to save Sinners.

Brethren, this doth not only bespeak this to be a great Salvati∣on, but also it discovers the greatness of God's Love even the greatest Pity, Power and Wisdom that ever was manifested.

Thirdly, The third Person that is concerned in this Salvation, is * 1.48 the Holy Ghost: The Father chuses, the Son purchases, and the Spirit applies the Blessings purchased. Salvation is called a Gar∣ment; He hath clothed me with the Garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness. The Father may be said * 1.49 to prepare the Matter which this Robe is made of; the Son wrought it, he made the Garment, and the Holy Spirit puts it on the Soul; the Garment of Salvation is Christ's Righteousness. Again, the Father sought out or chose the Bride, the Son espouses and marries her, but it is the Holy Ghost that inclines her Heart and stirs up, nay, that causes the Soul to like and to love this Blessed Lover, and brings it to yield and consent to accept hear∣tily and willingly of Jesus Christ. We were sick of a fearful and incurable Disease, and the Father found out the Medicine; the Blood of Christ is that Medicine, and the Holy Spirit applies it to the Soul. We were in Debt, in Prison, and bound in Fetters and cruel Chains, and the Father procured a Friend to pay all our Debts; The Son was this our Friend, who laid down the infinite Sum; and the Holy Spirit knocks off our Irons, our Fetters and Chains, and brings us out of the Prison-house. The Father loved us, and sent his Son to merit Grace for us; the Son loved us, and

died, and thereby purchased that Grace to be imparted to us; and the Holy Spirit works that Grace in us. O what is the Nature of this Salvation; how Great, how Glorious! That the whole Tri∣nity, both the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are thus imployed in and about it, that we might have it made fure to us for ever.

APPLICATION.

1. Reproof. Wo to such that esteem their own filthy Rags above this Garment of Salvation, or that seem to set light by it: Hath God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, held a Counsel before the World began, about the Salvation of our Souls; and hath each Person of the Blessed Trinity such a Part in order to the making of it to be effectual to us? And shall any dare to say there is no need of this Garment? We may work a Robe out of our own Bowels by the Operations of the Spirit, that will serve to hide our Nakedness, trouble not us with your old Divinity: We are for rational Religion. He that is Righteous, and obeys Christ, and leads a Goldly Life, need not doubt of his Salvation: For in * 1.50 every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousness, is ac∣cepted of him. O how ready are Men to abuse the Scripture! Can any Man think that his own personal inherent Righteousness, can either justify or save him; or that the Apostle Peter means any such thing? God may so far accept of a Man in his Obedience, in which he acts in all Sincerity and Faithfulness to him, as to hear his Prayers, so as to reveal himself to him in Christ as he did to Cornelius. But was Cornelius a Believer, and justfied before he heard of Jesus Christ, and had Faith wrought in his Soul? See how Peter preached Christ for Life and Salvation to this Man: Notwithstanding all his own Righteousness, Peter was commanded of God to tell him what he should do that he might be saved, plainly intimating he did not know the Way, or how to be saved before * 1.51 Peter preached Christ to him: He (saith the Lord) shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. * 1.52 And in verse 43. Peter said, To him (that is, to Jesus Christ) gave all the Prophets witness, that through his Name whosoever believeth in him, should receive remission of Sins. Will any say Cornelius had remission of Sins before he heard this Ser∣mon, and believed in Jesus Christ? Was not Peter sent to him (and to those other Gentiles with him) that they might be con∣verted? O take heed you stumble not at this Stone, lest it fall on you and grind you to Pouder.

2. Dare any of you think that this Salvation is but a small Mat∣ter, and that you need not trouble your selves about it? O trem∣ble you who never had one serious Thought about it to this Day: You have other things to mind, are full of Business; but, O Sirs, what is of such Moment as this Salvation? Yet nevertheless some will not spare time to hear it, or to attend upon the Word of this Salvation: Others will not part with the Love of this World, to have a Part in it; they value their earthly Riches, Plea∣sures and Honours, above it; nay, too many esteem their filthy Lusts more than an Interest in this great Salvation. But what contempt do such Persons cast upon the great God, who hath ma∣nifested such Depths of Divine Wisdom, Grace and Goodness in bringing of it in, and working of it out for our precious Souls: Did they know what God is, Christ is, Salvation is, certainly they would change their Opinion, and not a little blame themselves for their great Folly. Brethren, a true and spiritual Knowledg of the Great Salvation of the Gospel, makes all the Things of the World seem little, nay nothing in comparison thereof: All things that Carnal Men have their Hearts set upon, are poor, thin and beg∣garly Things, when compared to Grace here, and Glory hereaf∣ter. No sooner had Paul a true sight of this Great Salvation, but immediately he consulted not with Flesh and Blood. When the sweet∣ness * 1.53 of Christ and Salvation is tasted, and a Soul knows how good and satisfying it is, every thing that hath a Tincture of Flesh and Blood, all carnal Interests, and fleshly Counsels expire. A full sight of this Salvation seems to make Life uneasy, and Death desi∣rable: Lord, now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace, for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation. Nothing in this World could be worth a Thought of his Heart, since his Eyes had seen God's Sal∣vation. Why what did he see? It was Jesus Christ the Author of Salvation, in whom he knew was Salvation, and in no other: He that lives so long as to see Christ by an Eye of Faith to be his Saviour, and his Salvation, will be willing to leave this World, be willing to die, because he then shall die in peace. None can die happily that have not a sight of this Great Salvation; nor can any have a true sight of this Salvation, but they only who have by Faith a true sight of the Blessed Saviour. Paul, when he came to the Knowledg of Christ, and of Salvation by Christ, esteems every thing in the World to be no better than Dung, and longs to be dissolv'd, and to be in Christ's Arms, and taste how good Salvati∣on is in the full possession of it in Heaven.

3. This reproves such who delay seeking after the Knowledg of this Salvation: If it be so great, it must and ought first of all be regarded: Seek first the Kingdom of God, and his Righteous∣ness. May be 'ere long you will wish you had sought after Christ * 1.54 and Salvation by him, before all things, when you come to lie upon a sick Bed. O Sirs, you will need it at last, and may be seek it when too late. Were a poor condemned Criminal sensible of a Way how to be saved from Death, or that a Pardon might be had, would he delay the Time, or would he not make it all his Business with his uttermost Care to seek for a Pardon, lest the Day of his Execution should come before he hath got it? And if so, he knows die he must: Alas Sirs, what is it to be delivered from Natural Death, to our being delivered from Eternal Death! The Time when you must die may be near; and if you have not an Interest in this Salvation when you die Naturally, your Souls must die Eter∣nally. Pray observe the Argument I am upon to excite and stir up your Souls to a Holy Diligence, in attending on the Means of this Salvation; it is the same the Apostle uses, it is called Great Salvation, considering the Dignity of Christ's Person, who laid down his own Life to purchase it for us; and also was the first great Minister and Preacher of it, which at first began to be spo∣ken by the Lord: It was preached by the Lord of Life and Glory, the great Mediator, Head of all Principalities and Powers; and it is again by one of his poor Servants this Day offered unto you, in the Name of my Great Master, therefore refuse it at your Peril: If you receive it, imbrace it, you shall be happy; but if you re∣fuse it, you will be miserable, and at last die in your Sins.

4. Here is Comfort and Encouragement for the worst of Sinners. Are you such who are and have been great Sinners? Well, let it be so, yet be not cast down into utter Despair, for here is a great Sa∣viour; you have heard of his mighty Power and Ability to save; and he saith, All that the Father hath given to me, shall come unto me. Ay but you perhaps may say, you know not who they be that the Father hath given to Christ. Well, what of that? Pray mind his next Words, And he that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. * 1.55 Whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life. * 1.56 Receive this Saviour, believe in him, and you shall be saved who∣soever you are: It is not the greatness of your Sins that can hinder or obstruct him from saving your Souls; though your Sins be as red as Scarlet, or as red as Crimson, he will wash them all away, and make you as white as Wool, as white as Snow.

5. Also here is good News for poor Sin-sick Sinners, to wound∣ed and lost Sinners, I mean, such who feel themselves sick, see and feel themselves wounded, who find they are lost and undone in themselves. O Souls, you are the Persons the Word of this Sal∣vation is sent to; The Whole need not a Physician, but such that are sick. I am not come to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. * 1.57 Such indeed who are conceited of their own Righteousness, or swelled with a good Opinion of their own good Works, good Deeds, and good Duties, will not come to Christ, such think they need no such Physician as Christ is: But you that see you have no Righteousness of your own, but that all your Righteousness is as Dung, O look to Christ, come to Christ, hear what he says to such that are lost, that are under the burden of their Sins, and wound∣ed ones; Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I * 1.58 will give you rest.

6. But here is sad News to such who slight this Salvation, and refuse Jesus Christ, great will their Condemnation be: The Men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this Generation, and con∣demn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold a greater than Jonas is here. The greatness of this Saviour who preaches the Gospel to you, and is come to save you, will aggra∣vate your Condemnation. What was Jonas to Jesus Christ? Also our Saviour saith, The Queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment with this Generation, and shall condemn it; for she came from the ut∣termost Parts of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here. Solomon was a mighty King, and for Wisdom exceeded all that went before him. But alas, what was Solomon to Jesus Christ, who is the Wisdom of God it self, and the express Image of the Father's Person, and the Brightness of his Glory? O know you, Sinners, this Day, that Jesus Christ, this glorious King, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth, this mighty Saviour is come to your Doors: Behold, I stand at the Door and knock: Will you not open the Door, nor cry to him to * 1.59 help you to open to him, to enable you to believe in him? What do you say, shall the Son of God stand at your Doors, and you not so much as ask, Who is there? Who is at my Door? Shall Christ be kept out of your Hearts, and stand at your Doors, whilst Sin commands the chiefest Room, and has absolute Power over you, and rules in you? How will you be able to look this Blessed Saviour in the Face another Day? Is he come through a Sea of Blood to offer his Love to you, and to espouse you unto

himself for ever, and will not you be perswaded to break your League with your old Lovers, who will at last stab you at the ve∣ry Heart, and betray your Souls into the Hands of Divine Wrath? Now, they have done it already: What are your Lovers but your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, your Pride, your Earthly-mindedness, your sinful Plea∣sures, Profits and Honours? O resolve to desert them, they other∣wise will damn your Souls for ever, and expose you to the Tor∣ments of Hell-Fire: And to deliver you from them, and from that ••rath which is due to you for them, (I mean, for your Sins) is Christ come, and this great Saviour is offered to you. The Lord help every one of you to consider of this, and to lay it to Heart.

7. And lastly, Here is Comfort for poor drooping Saints: This Saviour is yours, this mighty Saviour, who is able to save to the uttermost, and he will help you in all your Straits, and supply all your Wants; and he hath taken the Work into his own Hand, and hath also begun it, and will perform it, and finally finish it before * 1.60 that he hath done; rest therefore upon him.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.61BRETHREN, the last Day I shewed you that Gospel-Salvation is Great and Glorious Salvation, considering the Greatness, Dignity and Glory of the Persons that are con∣cerned in bringing of it in, and working of it out for us, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: But more particularly upon the Consideration of the Dignity of the Person of Christ, who is that great Saviour God hath sent, who is great in his Name, great in respect of his Person and Nature, great as to his Commission in his Call, and in respect of those great and glorious Anointings that were upon him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 small now proceed.

Seventhly, The Salvation of the Gospel is great, &c. if we con∣sider * 1.62 what poor Sinners hereby 〈…〉〈…〉 and delivered from: By this Salvation, those th•••• believe are delivered from every Evil in this World, and in that which is to come.

All Evil may be considered under two general Heads.

• First, That which corrupteth our Nature, both Soul and Body, as to their Being.
• Secondly, That which is destructive to our Nature, as to its well∣being, both Soul and Body.

The first is Sin, the second is Punishment. I purpose to speak briefly to both these, that so we may the better demonstrate the Greatness of this Salvation.

First, Of the Evil of Sin which all those are and shall be for ever saved and delivered from, who embrace this Salvation. This I shall speak unto more generally, and then more particularly.

* 1.63Brethren, the Evil of Sin comprehendeth many things, as it respecteth God, and is directly against him, his Holy Nature, hate∣ful and loathsom in his sight: and in respect had to Man, which takes in our first Apostacy from God, the loss of his Holy and Blessed Image, as also his Love and Favour; and so the Pravity of all the Powers of our Souls, and Faculties thereof, as the blind∣ness of our Minds, and Darkness of our Understandings; the Re∣bellion and Stubbornness of our Wills, and hardness of our Hearts; the Carnality and Vanity of our Affections; the horrid Guilt, Pol∣lution and Filthiness that cleaves to the Soul and Conscience; toge∣ther with Shame, Bondage, Nakedness, Poverty and Enmity a∣gainst God, Slavery to Satan and to this World, having contra∣cted a Likeness to the Devil, or an Impress of his Image, doing his Will, and serving our own Lusts: All these, and many other things, comprize the Evil of Sin, from which by this Salvation we are delivered.

But to speak a little more particularly; let us,

1. Consider the Evil of Sin: As it is contrary to God's most Holy and Pure Nature, it is that thing which his Soul is said to hate. Would not we be greatly concerned, if any should do that in our sight and presence, which they know we hate and abomi∣nate?

2. Sin is a Dishonour to God, and it is called a Despising of God: Them that honour me, I will honour; and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed.* 1.64 Certainly Sin must needs have a great Evil in it, if it be a despising of God: if a Man be despised, he thinks

himself greatly wronged; loss of Honour is no small loss.

3. Sin is a crossing of God's Will, acting directly contrary there∣unto; nay, and it is a doing the Will of the Devil: How are you troubled if your Servants cross your Will in that which is just and right, and wherein your Interest and Honour lies, and is nearly concerned. Sin is a crossing of the Will of God; not only when the Sinner doth not what God commands to be done, which is a Sin of Omission, but also in doing that which he hath positively forbid, which is a Sin of Commission.

4. Sin doth cast contempt upon God, as when Men sin presump∣tuously with a high Hand, as if it were in defiance of Heaven, as if they bid God do his worst, intimating that they will have their Way, their Wills, their cursed Lusts, or sinful Pleasures and Pro∣fit, let what will come of it.

5. Sin is a renouncing of God's just Authority and Govern∣ment over us; it is a breaking his Bonds, and casting his Cords from * 1.65 us. What is the Voice of Sin? God shall not reign over us, we will not be under his Government, but will live as we list, our Tongues are our own; and who is Lord over us? Nay, and as Sin doth cast off God, and disown him, contemn him, rebel against him, will not have him reign, but strive to pull him out of his Throne: So by Sin the Sinner sets up the Devil in God's Place, puts him into God's Throne. The Heart is the Throne of God, but there the Sinner will not allow God to rule, God to be, but gives way to Sin, and will sin; and in so doing he exalts Satan, and puts him into the Government, and subjects to him. O what is the Evil of Sin?

6. Sin in the Nature of it, is a manifestation of the Sinner's hatred of God: God declares against Sinners in his Word, as such that hate him; the lesser Love is accounted a Hatred in the Scrip∣ture. But alas, Sinners seem to have no Love to God at all, they proclaim War against him, even wish there was no God to con∣troul them, to judg them, to punish them, so that they might sin the more freely, and with the more impudence, if it be possible for them so to do: The Fool saith in his Heart, there is no God. He would have no God, he would be glad it there was no God; such is his hatred of God. Hence it is said, Visiting the Iniquity of the * 1.66 Fathers on the Children, unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me. And again it is said, Shouldst thou love them that hate * 1.67 the Lord? Sin even strikes at God's very Being. Can you think a∣ny Person can have more hatred to you, than to wish you had no

Being? nay, would, if he could, destroy you, and cause you not to be, or deprive you of a King any more for ever? This seems to be the Voice or Sin naturally in Mens Hearts; therefore it must needs be a great Evil, they would not have God to be, if they could bring it about or have their Will; for such as we despise, resist, war against, we would kill and destroy if we could: Sin would dethrone God, and thrust him out of the World, it fills the Mind so full of Enmity against him. * 1.68

2dly. But in the second place, Sin hath not only great Evil in it, as it against God, but also in respect of our selves: 'Tis not only 〈…〉〈…〉 our to God but hurtful to us. No Evil like the Evil of Sin in this 〈…〉〈…〉 also, as will appear, if we con∣side••••▪

1. It was Sin we lost God's Holy Image in which we were created in our first Parents. O what a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Creature was Man, as he came out of his great Creator's Hand; there was no Spot, Blemish, nor Stain in him: Man was created in Righteousness and true Holiness, in that did the Image of God consist. But this Likeness to God we lost by Sin; and by yielding unto it, and by being overcome by it, we became like unto the Devil. Naturally all Men bear his Image, even the Devil's Likeness: Judas was so much like the Devil, that Christ calls him a Devil; Have not I cho∣sen you twelve, and one of you is a Devil?

2. Sin poisoned our whole Nature, and corrupted all our Fa∣culties.

1. It is compared to the Plague of the Leprosy, it spreads it self over us, from the Crown of our Heads to the Soles of our Feet; it is more filthy than the filthiest thing in the World in God's sight: And as all the Faculties of our Souls were poisoned thereby, so all the Members of our Bodies are defiled and polluted with it also. Nay, and it is such a kind of Pollution, that renders the Sinner loathsom to God: God is said to be grieved with Sin, nay grieved that he made Man; grieved at his Heart, because every Imagination of the Thought of his Heart was evil continually. God is * 1.69 said upon this to repent that he made Man; not that God proper∣ly can repent, it signifies an alienation of God's Heart and Af∣fections from Man for his Sin and Wickedness, whereby he carries himself towards him as we do when we repent we have done a thing.

2. It was therefore hereby that we lost God's Love and Favour, and is not that a dismal and most bitter thing? Man's only Happi∣ness lies in his Likeness to God, and in the enjoyment of his Love, and the Light of his sweet Countenance: But this the whole Race of Mankind lost by Original Sin, and instead of his Love, we were brought under his Wrath. Sin incurr'd the Wrath and Anger of God: God is angry with the Wicked every Day. And as we by Sin be∣came * 1.70 Enemies to God, so also hereby God became an Enemy to us: And if we consider what it cost God, and cost Jesus Christ to make our Peace, or to make up this Breach, sure we must say, this is a great and wonderful Salvation.

3. Sin is the worst of Evils, it is the Plague of Plagues, it is worse than any Affliction: Afflictions oft-times bring us nearer unto God, but Sin drives us further from him. Sin is a departing from God, a leaving and forsaking of God, a casting of God off; the more we are afflicted, the more we are made conformable to Jesus Christ. He was afflicted, and a Man of Sorrows; but the more we sin, the more like we are unto the Devil. Nay, and by Afflictions we are purged, and are said to partake of the Holiness of God; therefore there is much Good in Affliction: but Sin hath nothing but Evil in it, hurtful Evil, Soul-defiling, and Soul∣damning Evil. Sin is the Spring and Cause of all other Evils, it is the Cause of all Sickness, and of all Sorrow and Misery, nay and 'tis the Cause of Death it self: The Wages of Sin is Death; * 1.71 nay, the Sting of Death is Sin, that which makes Death so terrible to a wicked Man.

4. Sin hath put Mankind into Satan's Hand, who hath laid him in cruel Chains: Consider what a thing it is to be taken Captive by a grand and merciless Tyrant: Satan took all Mankind Cap∣tive. and holds them still, who are under the Power of it in Capti∣vity; they are his Bondmen, his Slaves, he takes them Captive at his Will. Every vicious Habit is a strong Bond or Chain in which Sa∣tan binds his Vassals. All Men naturally are bound down under the Bond of Ignorance, Unbelief, and Hardness of Heart; such is the Nature of Sin. Christ came to set at liberty such that were * 1.72 bound. I perceive, saith Peter, that thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, * 1.73 and in the Bond of Iniquity. And O what is the Strength of these Bonds? Who can break them but the Arm of the Omnipotent God? Moreover, these Bonds bind the Soul unto, and under the Wrath of God. O what a kind of Salvation is it, that delivers us from Sin, and out of the Power of Satan!

5. Sin hath put out the Eyes of all Mankind, and stripp'd them naked, and wounded them unto Death: All Men are born blind, the Eyes of our Understanding naturally are darkened, the State of M••n by Nature is most miserable; it is set out by a wretched In∣fant * 1.74 cast out in the open Fi••la in its Blood, in the Day of its Nativity, having none to pity it, to wash it nor swade it at all. We are all na∣turally most loathsom, full of filthy S••abs and running Sores, and yet such i•• the Ignorance and Blindness of the Sinner's Eyes, and unsensibleness of his State, that he sees it not, feels it not, but thinks all is well with him, and is ready to fly into that Man's Face, that shall tell him such i•• his Condition.

6. Moreover Sin feeds Men poorly: How do they feed? What is their Table spread with? Are they served with the Best? They are fed, as it were with Mallows and Janiper-roots; That, saith Caryl, is the Chear Sin make •••• them: yea, Wickedness will be as Gravel in their Teeth, and as Poison in their Bowels. True, some of them feed their Bodies deliciously every Day; they are full fed, they have liberal, large and plentiful Tables: But, alas, what have their Souls to eat? What did the Soul of the Prodigal find? Did he not feed on the Husks which the Swine did eat? Their Food is and will be Gall and Wormwood; he feedeth on Ashes, saith the Prophet: all his Hopes will deceive him, and prove vain, like the Spider's Web; the Pleasures, Honours, Riches and Comforts of this Life, are the Food wicked Men live upon; they never tasted in a Spiritual manner of God, they know not how good he is, nor do they desire to eat that which is Good: but the Time is coming in which they will desire to taste of Christ's Supper, and shall not be admitted, because they refused to come to the Wedding. O what is Sin, and how miserable is the Condition of Sinners? And doth not this s••t forth and tend to demonstrate the greatness of this Salvation, which delivers us from so great an Evil? He shall save his People from their Sins. He that understands no Evil in Sin, as Man is fallen from God, hath lost God, the first Cause and chiefest Good, and last End; and being under the Power of a constant En∣mity against him, and in this deplorable Condition, as I have hinted, will have (as one observes) other apprehension of th••se things when at last he misses of a Part in this Great Salvation, and when the Means of it shall not be afforded any more to him for ever. And on the other Hand, he that comes to see this to be his State, and obtains an Interest in this Salvation, will say, it is a Great and Glorious Salvation.

Secondly, By this Salvation we are delivered from that which is destructive to our whole Souls and Bodies.

1. The Sinner by Sin is, as you heard, a Slave, a Captive * 1.75 and under Satan's Power, bound in strong Chains, &c. And now let me add, he is for his Sin cursed by the Lord, and condemned to die by his Righteous Law; nay the Law lets fly or denounces most bitter Curses against Sin, even against every Sin, and every Sinner that takes not hold of this Salvation: Cursed is he that continues not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law, to do them. * 1.76 From this Curse can no Soul be delivered, but by Jesus Christ alone: Is it not a fearful Thing to be under the Curse of an offended and angry God, whose Wrath is like Fire that seizes on dry Stubble? But he that believes, or accepteth of the Salvation of the Gospel, is delivered and saved for ever from the Curse of the Law: Christ * 1.77 hath delivered us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us.

2. Man by Sin is set against himself, his own Conscience wars and sights against him; and it is also sometimes let out upon him by the Lord to such a Degree, tormenting him so dreadful∣ly, that he is not able to bear it; hence some have destroyed themselves: What is more dreadful and amazing, than a guilty, an accusing and condemning Conscience? Poor Mr. Child found it intolerable, and many more besides him; it is that Worm that oft∣times begins to gnaw here, and will (if this Salvation be not took hold of) torment the Soul for ever: for as in Hell the Fire is not quenched, so the Worm dieth not. But he that receives Jesus Christ, believes in Jesus Christ, and so gets an Interest in this Salvation, is delivered from the Guilt and the Lashes, the Accusa∣tion and Condemnation of his own Conscience; nay, his own Conscience speaks Peace to him, and yields him a continual Feast: For our rejoicing is this, the Testimony of our Conscience, that in sim∣plicity * 1.78 and godly sincerity, not with fleshly Wisdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our Conversation in the World, &c. O how is the Case altered, Conscience before was a Tormentor, but now is a Comforter; before it spoke nothing but Terror, but now it speaks nothing but Peace; before it did accuse, but now it doth excuse; before it fed us with Gravel-stones, but now it feeds us with Joy and sweet Food.

3. The State of the Sinner is very sad, and the Nature of Sin very destructive, as it exposes the Soul to future Wrath: the Wrath of God remains upon him that believes not; The Wrath of * 1.79 God is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness, and Vnrighteous∣ness

of Men. But by this Salvation we are saved from present and from future Wrath also; this is done by Jesus Christ: Even Jesus who delivered us from Wrath to come. Wrath to come is far greater than any Wrath Mortal ever felt in this World: Who knows the Power of thine Anger? even according to thy Fear, so is thy Wrath. But not one Drop of it shall fall upon that Soul that hath * 1.80 a Part and Interest in this Salvation: Should God let out but a lit∣tle of his Wrath upon a Soul whilst he is in the Body, wo to him, whither shall he fly? how should he be able to bear it! O 'tis * 1.81 a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God. O what a great and glorious Salvation is this! Suppose a Man was condem∣ned to die for High-Treason, or for some other great Crime, nay to be burned alive, or to be flead alive, and just as the Sentence was going to be executed upon him, one should bring him the Ti∣dings, that the King had pardoned his Offence, and therefore he should not die; would he not look upon this to be a great Salva∣tion? But, alas, what can reach or be compared to the State of condemned Sinners? What is it to be thrown into a Fire, or to burn for half an Hour, nay, to be put into a lingering Fire, to be dying a whole Day, nay, a whole Year, or if it were pos∣sible to be dying forty or fifty Years, to lie burning in Hell to all Eternity? Every Sinner is condemned by the Law of God to be burned, to be burned alive in Hell for ever, where the Damned are always dying, but yet cannot die. If this were well and seriously considered, certainly every one must acknowledg the Gospel-Sal∣vation to be a Great and Glorious Salvation, that delivers all that imbrace it, from so great a Death as the second Death, or the Wrath of God in Hell. Brethren, this Salvation doth not only free and deliver the Souls of all that believe from Wrath, from all Wrath and Misery, but the Bodies also, as I shall shew you hereafter before I have done with this Text. The Body shall be delivered from Sickness, Lameness, Blindness, Poverty, Hunger, Nakedness, nay, and from Corruption it self, even from whatso∣ever it is, that is either grievous or destructive here or hereafter. If a Man be but delivered from Want, or from Hunger, being almost starved to Death, and ready to tear his own Flesh to feed himself; or from Nakedness, or from tormenting Pain, sup∣pose it be but the Extremity of the Tooth-ach, Gout, or torment∣ing Pain of the Stone, or from Slavery in Turkey, or from some grievous and cruel Imprisonment, being in Bonds and Irons, lying in a dark Dungeon among Toads and Serpents, would he not

think it a Great Salvation? Or if People who feel the bitterness of War, Famine, or Pestilence, were delivered and set at Liber∣ty, would they not account it a Great Salvation, a Great Deli∣verance? But what are all these Salvations to this Great Salvation I am speaking of! What is the Sickness of the Body, or Death of the Body here, to the Sickness and Death of Body and Soul for ever? What is an Imprisonment in the worst of Jails, and to lie in Chains and Irons put upon us by Men like our selves, and to bear their Wrath for a few Days, to the eternal Prison? What is a dark Dungeon here to the Blackness of Darkness for ever? What is the Wrath of Man to the Wrath of God, or Chains of Iron to everlasting Chains of Darkness? What is a little outward Want or Poverty, to the Want of God's Favour and Love to Eternity, being separated from his Presence for ever, and to lie in Fire, burning and broiling, and cannot have so much as one Drop of Wa∣ter to cool the Tongue; for one Drop is denied to the Damned in Hell. The rich Glutton when in Hell, begged that Lazarus might be sent to him and dip the Tip of his Finger in Water to cool his * 1.82 Tongue, but it was not granted. Alas, all Miseries here are nothing (as they pass away in a Moment) when compared unto Eternal Wrath and burning in Hell, which is the pourings forth of the unspeakable and righteous Vengeance of a provoked and angry God.

There is no Parallel, nothing to express the Nature of that destructive Evil that is in Sin; there is nothing left us to illustrate it withal: therefore to be delivered and saved for ever from the just Punishment and dismal Wrath of God, must needs be deemed Great Salvation; and the Excellency of it will at length be known to them who slight and despise it, when they come to fall and pe∣rish under the want of it. He that is delivered from lying in Pri∣son for a thousand Pound Debt, where he must have lain till Death, having nothing to pay it, and being fallen into the Hands of Justice it self, but meeting with a Friend who paid all he owed, he cannot but cry out, O great Love and Compassion, that would be a Deliverance indeed! But it is nothing to this, we in a spiritual Sense being delivered from Hell by Jesus Christ, who payed our Debts for us, each of us owing not less than ten thousand Talents, I mean, so many Sins, and every Sin a greater Debt than ten thou∣sand Pounds. And this brings me to the next Demonstration.

Eighthly, The Salvation of the Gospel is a Great and Glorious * 1.83 Salvation, if we consider the Way and Means by which this Sal∣vation is wrought out and accomplished for us. It could not be effected, except the Son of God became Man, or without the In∣carnation, Mediation, and bloody Passion of Jesus Christ. The precious Blood of Christ must be poured forth, or there was no Salvation, no Deliverance for our Souls; Gold nor Silver could not purchase it, nor the best of all earthly things: For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold, from a vain Conversation received by Tradition from your * 1.84 Fathers, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without sp••t. No such Price would be accepted of God, so precious is the Redemption of the Soul.

Quest. But may be some may say, Could not the Law effect it? Could not the keeping the Precepts, the Law of the Ten Com∣mandments do it, nor the Sacrifices of the Law procure Salvation for us?

Answ. No, it was impossible, the Law requires perfect Righ∣teousness, sinless Obedience; besides we have broke it, and there∣by the whole World is become guilty before God: And, could the Blood of Beasts, the Blood of Bulls and Goats take away Sin, or satisfy Divine Justice, and so make an Atonement for our Iniquities? No, no, For it is not possible that the Blood of Bulls and Goats should take away Sin. Sin cannot be done away without an in∣finite * 1.85 Price: What Influence could the Blood of Beasts have to take away Sin? being in their own Nature corporal things, they could not deliver us from the spiritual Evil of the Soul; nor were they ordained of God to that End and Purpose, but to point out the great Sacrifice: Besides, saith the Text, Sacrifice and Offerings for * 1.86 Sin thou wouldst not, but a Body hast thou prepared me. It must be the Blood of Christ, whose Sufferings had a satisfactory and incon∣ceivable Worth in them; For what the Law could not do, in that it was * 1.87 weak through the Flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sin∣ful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh: Compare this with that Passage of the Holy Ghost, in Heb. 1. 3. Who being the Bright∣ness of his Glory, and the express Image of his Person, and upholding all things by the Word of his Power; when he had by himself purged our Sins, sat down on the right Hand of the Majesty on High He being God as well as Man, or his Humanity being hypostatically united to his Divine Nature, offered up himself by the Eternal Spirit a Propitiatory Sacrifice unto God; by which Satisfaction and Merits

he purged, or took away the Guilt and Pollution of Sin, and de∣livered us from that just and deserved Wrath that was due unto it, by bearing of it himself in our Nature and stead; so that God (who was injured, and whose Holy Law was violated) might be just, or that his Justice might appear, (for he could as soon cease to be God, as cease to be just) and yet hereby he magnifies his Mercy also. What can we desire more, than to be delivered from Sin, and purged from Sin? This was the Way and no other, which the Wisdom of God found out in Christ; both those At∣tributes are united: so that Justice, as well as Mercy, says, Whoso∣ever believeth in Jesus Christ, or lays hold of his Righteousness by Faith, shall be justified, and eternally saved. The Apostle adds his being sat down on the right Hand of God, to intimate he hath made our Peace, obtained Redemption for us, and brought in by his Obedience, Everlasting Righteousness, and made an end of Sin; and as a mighty Conqueror, has triumphed, and is gone to Heaven, and there appears at the Father's right Hand, to plead the Merits of his own Blessed Sacrifice, and that Atonement he hath made for us by his own Blood on the Tree. O consider what our Salvation cost him, what did he do to work about this Salva∣tion! Why he,

1. Became Incarnate, or was made Flesh; And the Word was * 1.88 made Flesh, and dwelt among us, and we behold his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth: Though he was equal with God (as you lately heard) yet he took on him the form of a Servant.

2. He became poor. Sirs, Jesus Christ who was rich, that he might accomplish the Salvation of our Souls, became poor; May * 1.89 not this affect our Hearts? We must be miserable for ever, or Christ must become poor, and seem to be miserable for a Time: No Salvation for us, useless our Blessed Saviour doth abase himself and take our Nature upon him; For verily, he took not on him the Nature of Angels, but took on him the Seed of Abraham. All this * 1.90 was, Brethren, to bring this Blessed Salvation to his chosen Ones.

3. He in his humane Nature must be made under the Law, and so become obnoxious or liable to the Obedience the Law required; yea, he was obliged to keep it exactly in every part thereof. When the Fulness of time was come, God sent forth his own Son made of * 1.91 a Woman, made under the Law: The Apostle adds the Reason of this, to redeem them that were under the Law. He thus became, not only bound to do what the Law required, but to suffer what the Law

threatned and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on us, who had broke and violated it, and this in our Nature, or in the same Nature that had sinned, in which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Justice of God required a Satisfaction for the wrong Sin had do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto him: Which being impossible for sinful Man 〈…〉〈…〉 and that we might not be exposed for ever unto th•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Wrath and Punishment in Hell, which was due to 〈…〉〈…〉 for us, or in our place, that we through 〈…〉〈…〉 Obedience, and painful Death and Suffering both in 〈…〉〈…〉 Body, might obtain a gracious Discharge from Si••, or free Justification unto Life, and a full deliverance from Wrath and Etern•••• Death.

4. Nay, and as he must di•• if he procures Salvation for us, so by this means he also was made a Curse for us; for we having broken the Law, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 under the Curse of it; the Law lets fly its bitter Curses against very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thereof: For as many as are of the Works of the Law, are under the Curse; and therefore im∣possible * 1.92 for us to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and saved by it. Whosoever keepeth not the Law perfectly, is cursed; but no Man can keep the Law perfectly, therefore all Man naturally are cursed, and impossible then to be blessed, until delivered from that Curse: and this therefore Christ came to do, him hath God sent to bless us; which Blessing we could not have 〈…〉〈…〉 Christ puts himself in our place, and bears the Curse away from us: Christ hath redeemed us * 1.93 from the Curse of the Law by being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on a Tree. He that was hanged on a Tree under the Law, was hanged for transgressing of it, and was cursed of God; and when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is said, Christ was made a Curse for us, it signifies his bearing that Wrath and indignation of God, which was due to us for our Sin: and his he must do if ever we are justified and eternally ••••ved from that Eternal Wrath and Vengeance Sin had brought upon every Soul of us.

5. As our Lord Jesus, if he procure Salvation for us, must die, and become a Curse for us, so he must also raise up himself from the Dead, or be discharged of the Bonds of Death; he must de∣stroy Death, and be freed out of Prison: He therefore rose again from the Dead for our Justification. His Discharge was virtually a Discharge for us, or for all he died for; our Lord Jesus must sub∣due all our Enemies, and bring not Death only, but the Devil also, and all the Powers of Darkness under his Feet, or there could be no Salvation for our poor Souls: Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood; he also himself likewise took part of the

same, that through Death he might destroy him that had the Power of * 1.94 Death, that is, the Devil: And deliver them, who through fear of Death were all their Life-time subject to Bondage. Christ and Be∣lievers are of one and the same Nature; they are as it were but one Man, or are so united as to be considered as one Mystical Body. This was held forth in his Incarnation, in his assuming our Nature: He took not only an Humane Soul, but our Humane Flesh into Union with his Divine Nature, that both our Souls and Bodies might be brought into Union with him, and that our Bodies might also be raised from Death to a State of Life and Glory at the last Day, and be fashioned like unto his Glorious Body; Who hath a∣bolished * 1.95 Death, and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel. Had not Christ conquered Death, and the Devil who * 1.96 had the Power of Death, we had been lost for ever: He hath not only taken away Sin, the Sting of Death, but he hath and will be the Death of Death; The last Enemy that shall be destroyed, is Death. * 1.97 The Body as well as the Soul is brought into Union with Christ; he is the Head of the whole Believer, the Body as well as the Soul: Shall I then take the Members of Christ, and make them the Members of * 1.98 an Harlot? Both Body and Spirit are the Lord's, our Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost. * 1.99

Brethren, what a Conquest hath Christ made! how hath he sub∣dued all our Enemies, that so he might work out a full and per∣fect Victory for us in every respect: For this Corruptible must put on Incorruption, and this Mortal must put on Immortality, 1 Cor. 15. 53. So when this Corruptible shall have put on Incorruption, and this Mor∣tal shall have put on Immortality, then shall be brought to pass the say∣ing that is written, Death is swallowed up in Victory, Ver. 54. O Death, where is thy Sting? O Grave, where is thy Victory? Ver. 55.

6. And lastly, And as Christ must conquer the Devil, the World, Sin, Death and the Grave, for us, and in our Nature; so he must by his mighty Power destroy the Devil, and Sin's great Power in us, and vanquish that natural Enmity that is in our Hearts against God and his Ways, and thereby restore the Image of God in us which we had lost.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.100Ninthly, GOSPEL-Salvation is great, if we consider the Sub∣ject thereof, or what is delivered and saved for ever, namely, the Souls and Bodies of his People.

First, The Soul: that is it Jesus Christ came to save, which * 1.101 is very precious, as I shall shew you in a deduction of several Par∣ticulars. Certainly the Salvation of the Soul must needs be a great Salvation: What is it to save our Estates, our Liberties, our Healths, the Members of our Bodies, our Eyes, Arms, Legs, or our natural Lives, to the saving of our precious and immortal Souls? The Soul is more worth than all the World: What shall it profit * 1.102 a Man to gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul?

1st. To demonstrate the great Worth, Excellency and Preci∣ousness of the Soul, consider that it was first formed in the Image of God, in Righteousness and true Holiness. Our Souls had a glori∣ous Impression of God's Image stamp'd upon them in the first Crea∣tion, which we lost by Sin and Transgression: But this Blessed I∣mage is restored again, as you have heard, by the Grace of God in this Salvation.

1. Pray, Brethren, remember that the Soul of Man is capable of a Divine Impression, of God's glorious Image; it is made, I mean, of such a Nature, that it is capable of this great Blessing, therefore to be deemed a very precious thing; God will not stamp his Image upon low and base Metal, if I may so speak with reve∣rence.

2. There are three things I find which the great God glories in, as being peculiar to himself, or his own glorious Prerogative a∣lone; The Burden of the Word of the Lord for Israel, saith the * 1.103 Lord, which stretcheth out the Heavens, and layeth the Foundations of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of Man within him. The first is his stretching out of the Heavens; O what a great and glorious Work was that! The second is his laying the Foundation of the Earth, the hanging it upon nothing; what a wonderful thing is that, considering its great Weight and wonderful Body! The third is, his forming of our Souls: Certainly the Spirit or Soul

of Man is a glorious thing, that God should account the Creation of it amongst those chiefest Parts of his admirable Handy-work. Why is not the forming the Blessed Angels, who are glorious Spi∣rits, rather mentioned? it is worthy of serious Contemplation: Our Bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, they are no small part of God's Wisdom and curious Workmanship, if the Nature and Order of every Part was considered, as some Artists who stu∣dy Man's Humane Body will shew you: But what is the Forma∣tion and Excellency of our Bodies to our Souls?

3. The Soul is capable of Divine Union with Jesus Christ, through a Communication of the Holy Spirit, and by Faith of the Operation of God, and thereby the whole Man partakes of the like Union also; therefore it is a very precious thing, it is princi∣pally the Soul that Jesus Christ doth espouse, it seems to be a pro∣per or fit Match for the Son of God: He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit.

4. And 'tis not only capable of Union, but also of Divine Spi∣ritual Communion, both with the Father and the Son: That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that you might have fel∣lowship * 1.104 with us; and truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. That Communion we have in our Spirits with the Father and the Son, is by the Holy Ghost, by which we come to have, through his gracious Influences, a Communication of that which is truly and spiritually Good, according to our Needs, and to delight, strengthen and rejoice our Hearts: our Souls being changed into the Life and Likeness of Christ, and walking in the Light of the Spirit, we have Fellowship one with another; that is, Christ with us, and we with Christ: for till the Soul is re∣generated, it cannot have Fellowship with the Holy God, for Light cannot have Fellowship with Darkness; it is not earthly or sensual, but a Divine, Heavenly and Spiritual Communion. O what a precious thing is the Soul of Man! there's no other Creature that is capable of these most excellent Privileges save Man; Mankind only of all that dwell on the Earth: Nor could we have had this Honour and Dignity conferred on us, (we should not, I mean, been capable Subjects of it) had it not been upon the Account of the excellent Nature of our Souls.

5. Our Souls are also capable, it appears from hence, of Di∣vine Inspiration: God in a gracious manner inspires our Spirits with glorious Light and Knowledg; there is a Light of Accepta∣tion, and a Light of Inspiration: Like as Astronomers tell us,

that the Moon i•• of such a Nature that she is capable, by the glorious shining and reflection of the Son, to receive Light; and so she shine, and gives Light to us in the Night: Thus the Moon is a Light of Acceptation, but it is the Sun that gives Light to her. So a Candle is made meet to receive Light, but shines not, gives not Light until it is lighted: And thus also our Spirits are made meet to receive Divine Light from God; The Spirit of a Man is * 1.105 the Candle of the Lord: but it never shines with any supernatural Light, until the Lord pleases to light it. There is a Spirit in Man, and the Inspiration of the Lord giveth him Vnderstanding: In Man, that is in every Man, every Man hath a rational Soul in him fit to receive Divine Light and Inspiration, if God please to inspire him therewith; he hath not that saving Knowledg and Light naturally, no not till he doth partake of the Inspiration of the Almighty: Though Man be endowed with natural Light, Knowledg and Reason, and may understand in some measure the Parts of Natural Religion, yet that Light is but Darkness compared to the super∣natural Light of Grace, or the saving Knowledg of God in Christ. All true and spiritual Knowledg and Understanding, is from the special Inspiration of the Almighty: For what Man knoweth the things of Man, save the Spirit of a Man that is in him? even so the * 1.106 things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God. But though it be thus, that Man's Spirit, without the Teachings and Inspiration of God's Spirit, cannot understand nor know the things of God, that is, the Mysteries of the Gospel, or have the saving Knowledg of Christ, yet there is a Spirit, a Soul in him that is capable to re∣ceive this Light and Revelation of God, when he pleases to en∣lighten him therein: therefore I say, the Soul of Man is a very precious thing, and so tends to greaten the Salvation of the Go∣spel, by which it is saved from Hell and Wrath.

6. The Soul is capable of Divine Contemplation, it can muse, * 1.107 meditate and contemplate upon God the highest and chiefest Being; no other Creatures on Earth are capable to do this, because they have no rational Souls: What have some Men found out of the Mysteries of Nature, by means of the Excellency of the Soul? Nay, and also what Knowledg have they attained of the God of Nature? as might be demonstrated should I speak of Natural and Moral Philosophy, &c. though it is true, and I deny it not, but that the knowledg of these things is acquired in a great measure, yet nevertheless all in the first place, next unto God, must be attribu∣ted to the Excellency of the Soul: I am fearfully and wonderfully

made; marvellous are thy Works: and that my Soul knoweth right well. * 1.108 David ascribes that wonderful Knowledg which he had of the Works of Creation, to his Soul: No doubt he was well skilled in Philosophy, and was a Man greatly given to Contemplation: My Sub••iance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret; and cu∣riously * 1.109 wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth. How curiously and exquisitely hast thou (as if he should say) composed my Bones, Muscles, Sinews, Veins and Arteries, in my Mother's Womb, and all the Parts and Members of my Body: And my Soul contemplates all these things, my Soul knows that thou art a wonderful work∣ing God. O what a precious thing is the Soul of Man! what pity is it that it should be lost and damned for ever, (and how doth this tend to demonstrate the Glory and Greatness of this Salva∣tion!) for it was under Wrath and the Curse of God by Sin. Sirs, the Nature of the Soul is such, that it leads a Man out to behold and magnify God in the Works of Creation and Providence, tho it want, supernatural Light and Knowledg: But O when it comes to be divinely inspired, what does it discover through the help of the same Spirit of God in Christ, and of the Work of Re∣demption? For all Knowledg to this Knowledg, is but of little worth: Paul therefore determined to know nothing but Christ and * 1.110 him crucified; nay, and accounted all natural Knowledg, Gifts, Wisdom and Improvements, or whatsoever he once esteemed of, to be but Dung in comparison of the Excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ his Lord.

7. The Soul is precious doth yet further appear, because with∣out * 1.111 an enjoyment of God, or a part and interest in him, it can never by happy, nothing short of God himself can fill its Desires. This some of the Heathens, by the dim Light of Nature, came to understand; it is restless until it comes to find God, Rest, Peace and Satisfaction in God, who is the best of Beings, and our chief Good. The Soul is much like unto Noah's Dove which he sent out of the Ark, that found no rest for the Sole of her Foot, until she returned unto him in the Ark: Therefore miserable will all those be that for ever shall one Day be separated from God, should they meet with no worse Torment than that. A Man accounts it no small Misery to be deprived of that which he esteems to be his only Happiness, though he knows he can enjoy it but a short time: Suppose it be his Riches, his Houses, his Lands, or his Gold and Silver, or his Pleasures, or his Honours, or his dear Relations, in whom his very Life seems to bound up; he is upon the loss of that

which he esteems so highly of as a dead Man. Now sure if the Soul is of such an excellent Nature, that no created Good can fill its Desires, nothing in this World, nothing but God himself, it must needs be a very precious thing: But so it is; for as Rachel said once to Jacob her Husband, Give me Children, or I die: So this is the Voice of the Soul of Man, Give me God, give me Christ, or I die. Nay, to be deprived of God, is the Death of the Soul; and it was that which brought Death on the Soul of Man original∣ly; by Sin we were deprived of God, and that was the Death of the Soul: God is the spiritual Life of the Soul, as in a moral sense the Soul is the natural Life of the Body; for as the Body is dead without the Soul naturally, so the Soul is dead without God spiritually. Therefore the Salvation of the Soul must needs be a great and glorious Salvation, that which brings God again to the Soul, that which restores God, a lost God to the Soul, that gives Life to a poor dead Soul and makes it live again, and so be happy again, yea and that for ever more.

8. The Soul is precious, and a most excellent thing it appears, * 1.112 because God's Thoughts are so let out upon it. What care hath he taken of the Soul of Man! How early did he concern himself for the redemption of it! and what a way did he seek out and contrive to restore it to a state of Peace, Joy and Happiness again, when he foresaw it brought under Death, Sin and Misery: it seems to be the Darling of Heaven; as it was formed (as it were) by the Breath of God, so nothing he thinks too good to impart for its Ransom to redeem it, nor nothing too precious to feed it, heal it, or comfort it: He gives the Bread of Heaven, the very Flesh and Blood of his own Son to feed it, the Righteousness of his own Son to clothe it, the Graces of his own Spirit to deck and adorn it; nay, and his own Spirit is sent to lead, to guide, protect and govern it. Certainly these things clearly shew and demonstrate its great Worth, or that it is a most excellent thing in God's sight.

9. The Soul is precious, if we consider what God gave for its * 1.113 Redemption. David saith, That the Redemption of the Soul is pre∣cious, and ceases for ever; hard to be obtained, though not impos∣sible; * 1.114 nothing but the Blood, the precious Blood of Christ Jesus could redeem it. Some take Soul there for our Life, but certainly David intends the Redemption of the Soul from Sin and Wrath. Silver and Gold could not do this, no it must not be redeemed, it could not be redeemed by corruptible things, not by a thousand

Rams, nor ten thousand Rivers of Oil, nor by our First-born; the * 1.115 Fruit of the Body could not make an Atonement for the Sin of the Soul: No, no, it must be the Father's First-born, it must be Jesus Christ, the Blood of the Son of God, or nothing; if Christ die not for the Soul, it must perish for ever. But rather than the Soul should be lost and undone for ever, God will not spare his own Son, but deliver him up for us all. * 1.116

10. The Soul is very precious doth appear, because from the * 1.117 unwearied Attempts, and restless Endeavours of the Devil to de∣stroy it, all Satan's grand Rage and Malice is let out against the Soul of Man; had it not been for our Souls, he would have con∣cerned himself no more to have work'd out our Ruin, than the Ruin of irrational Creatures: But he foresaw the precious Na∣ture of the Soul of Man, what excellent Faculties it was endow∣ed withal, and what a glorious Image of God was stamp'd upon it, and therefore he rages and foams out his hellish Spite and Malice against us, and all to destroy our Souls; and this Rage and Fury he continues still against our Souls. O what Ways, diverse and cunning Stratagems doth he use, that so he may spoil the Happi∣ness, or destroy the Comfort of our Souls: For as it is God's great Concern to save our Souls, so it is Satan's great Business to damn and destroy our Souls for ever; and as God contrives Ways and Means to make our Souls happy for ever, so the Devil con∣trives Ways and Means to make our Souls miserable for ever. The Soul is (as I may say) that sweet Morsel Satan hungers after, and fain would tear in pieces and devour if possible; it is not so much to destroy our Bodies by natural Death, as our Souls and Bodies by eternal Death. O how great is that Salvation, that is the Sal∣vation of our precious Souls! God's Care, Cost and Labour to preserve our Souls, to save our Souls, shews that it is of great Worth. And it is this that makes Man to differ so much from bru∣tish Creatures, and to excel all the Works of God in this nether Creation: Had it not been for our Souls, would God have been any more concerned for us, than for the Beasts that perish? And was not the Soul, I say, a very excellent and precious thing, Satan would not make it his greatest Work and Business to destroy it, as * 1.118 he hath always done, and still continues to do.

11. The Soul is very precious doth yet further appear, because if a Man could gain all the World, all the Riches, Honours and Pleasures of the World, with the loss of his Soul, his Loss would be more than his Gain, yea, infinitely more; there's nothing that

can make a Recompence for the loss of the Soul, as our Saviour clearly shews, Mat. 16. 26. All the World is nothing in Value when compared with the Soul; therefore it is precious.

12. The Soul is immortal, its Nature is Life, it is no corporal * 1.119 Thing, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thing, it is not composed of the four Elements as our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it cannot di••, nor be annihilated; it will either 〈…〉〈…〉, Joy and ••lehedness, or else of Eternal 〈…〉〈…〉: 'Tis strange to me that any Man should 〈…〉〈…〉 to be mortal.

(1.) 〈…〉〈…〉 and cast Contempt upon them∣selves? 〈…〉〈…〉 Mankind of their greatest Glory, and re••der Man in 〈…〉〈…〉 above the Beasts that perish; and also they darken and ••••••••ngely eclipse the Infinite Love and Grace of God in the Redemption and Restoration of Man.

(2.) And if the Soul be mo••t 〈…〉〈…〉 with the Body, then had we not been redeemed at all, we ••••d been no more if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than the Beasts are; we should but have 〈…〉〈…〉 been no more, we should have known no more Pain nor Sorrow af∣ter Death.

(3.) Besides, if the Soul was mortal then the same Food that feeds the Body, ••eeds, or might feed the Soul; and the same Bal∣sam that will heal the Sores of the Body 〈…〉〈…〉 Sores and Wounds of the Soul. I see•• reason who I should not from their foolish Notion affirm this: Therefore when the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sick, they should send to a Physcian to 〈…〉〈…〉 case of bo∣dily Sickness, and not s••nd 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to apply a spi∣ritual Cordial. What signifies a Spiritual Medicine to a Corporal Thing? Will preaching the Word seed and relieve a Man that is ready to perish with external Hunger?

Moreover, (4.) If the Soul be mortal, then that Sword that kills the Body, also kills the Soul, Man may as well still one as the other: But how contrary is this to that which our Saviour s••ith to his Disciples, And fear not them which kill the Body and are not able to kill the Soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both * 1.120 Soul and Body in Hell. 'Tis not a Sword, a Spear, nor a Furnace of boiling Oil that can kill the Soul; Man that way cannot hurt the Soul, 'tis Sin that destroys that. Note this well, if Man can∣not kill the Soul, it is immortal; but Man cannot kill the Soul, therefore it is immortal. Is there any Creature or Thing that is Mortal, which Man cannot kill, or deprive it of Life? Certainly these Men are strangely misled.

(5.) Besides, did not our Saviour say to the Penitent Thief on the Cross, I say to thee, this Day thou shalt be with me in Paradise? * 1.121 Was the Body of Christ, and the Body of that gracious Person that Day together in Paradise? Their base abuse of this Text, in reading it falsly, by misplacing the Stops, will not relieve them; I say to thee this Day; I make thee a Promise this Day, that thou shalt sometime or another be with me in Paradise: thus they to favour their grand Error misplace the common Point in reading; which should we allow of, what abominable Abuse might be put upon the Scripture in other places, even quite to destroy the true Sense, nay and make the Scripture speak untruly?

(6.) Moreover, doth not Paul say, For me to live is Christ, and * 1.122 to die is Gain. How could Death be Gain to him, if his Soul was mortal, and slept with his Body in the Grave? Is Communion with Christ on Earth worth nothing? Is it Gain to lose that? They know he would no sooner rise from the Dead if he died pre∣sently, than if he lived twenty or thirty Years longer in the Body: How then could Death be Gain to him? Certainly it would be great Loss to him, for he would lose all those Years of sweet Joy and Comfort in Communion with Christ, if he died presently, which he might have should he live twenty or thirty Years longer in this World.

(7.) To this let me add what Paul affirms in another place; For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle be dissolved, * 1.123 we have a Building of God, an House not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens. He doth not say, when this earthly House is raised up again, but when it is dissolved, that is, when the Body lies in its dusty Crumbs, the Soul hath a House in Heaven: Therefore (saith he) we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home * 1.124 in the Body, we are absent from the Lord. Pray what is that which is absent from the Lord whilst it is at home in the Body, is it not the Soul? And what is that which is present with the Lord, when it is absent from the Body? Doth not this Place as fully prove the Immortality of the Soul, as if the Apostle should in plain words say, at Death the Soul (which dwells now in our Body) goes to Heaven, to dwell in Heaven, it goes to Christ, Heaven is its Home? As soon as Lazarus died, his Soul was carried into Heaven, signified by Abraham's Bosom; and as soon as the rich Man died, * 1.125 his Soul was in Hell: though it is a Parable, yet it clearly teaches us thus much, (though Parables do not always go on all four, as we use to say).

(8.) To which let me add what Paul further says, For I am in * 1.126 a Strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Our Souls at Death depart, and they go to Christ: What is Joy and Peace in Christ, to Joy, Peace and Con∣solation with Christ? In the Resurrection-Day Christ comes to us, we shall meet him in the Air, but at Death we go to him; the Spirits of all Men go upward, to God that gave them, to be sent to the * 1.127 Place appointed for them, either to Heaven, or to the Prison of Hell, or Place of Darkness; in which Prison the Spirits of those Men are now who were once disobedient (and sinned against God) in the * 1.128 Days of Noah.

(9.) In the last place, to prove the Soul to be immortal, consi∣der well what Paul saith; I knew a Man in Christ above fourteen Years * 1.129 ago, (whether in the Body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the Body, I cannot tell, God knoweth) such an one caught up to the third Heaven—How he was in Paradise and heard unspeakable Words, which it is not lawful for a Man to utter. In the third Heaven, or in Paradise for certain he was; but whether caught up Body and Soul together, or in the Soul only out of the Body, he could not tell. From whence I argue, that Paul knew that the Soul was capable of being sepa∣rated from the Body, and in that separated state capable of the Divine Ravishments of Heaven, or of the Vision of God, if he had not been of this Judgment, since he was in the third Heaven, he might be sure he was taken up in the Body. Besides, do we not read of the Spirits of just Men that are already made perfect? * 1.130

Object. But is it not said that David is not yet ascended into Heaven?

Answ. I answer, Peter there only refers to the Body of David, that is not ascended, for his Sepulchre is with us to this Day, saith he; * 1.131 and therefore he argues David means Jesus Christ, whose Soul was not left in Hell, that is, his Body was not left in the Grave, for the Body is often in the Scripture called by the Name of the Soul. But when we read of the Soul as distinguished from the Body, and as that which Man cannot kill, it intends the superiour Part of Man, or that which in our common acceptation is called the Soul, or Spirit of Man; in which the Image of God was chiefly created, and which is fed with Spiritual Food, and capable of sweet Communion with Jesus Christ, as you have heard. Now then if the Soul be Immortal, and goes to Hell or Heaven at Death, I mean to Joy or Sorrow, or to a Prison of Pain and Darkness, or to a Palace of Joy and Pleasure; O what a great Salvation is Gospel-Salvation! How soon doth eternal Misery or Torment

seize upon the Ungodly; even no sooner do they die but their Souls are in Hell, and no sooner do Believers die but their Souls are in Paradise: and had not Christ came and wrought out our Salvation, our Souls must have lain under Wrath and Misery for ever in an eternal separation from God and all true Joy and Happiness.

O what a fearful and an amazing Loss is the loss of the Soul! Sirs, pray remember, this Salvation is the Salvation of your pre∣cious Souls; thy Soul, O Sinner, is dearly concerned in it: Our Soul is our All, what have we more? A Man is never utterly undone till his Soul is utterly lost: if the Soul is saved, all is saved; but if the Soul is lost, for ever lost, all is lost. But,

2dly. The loss or losing of the Soul, is the loss of the Body too; that must have perished for ever with the Body of Beasts, whilst our Souls must have lain in Torments, had not Christ came to redeem us. Moreover, The Salvation of the Soul is the Salvation of the Body; Christ came to save both the Soul and Bo∣dy too: And hence the Apostle saith, Even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of * 1.132 our Body; that is, for the farther Effects of our Adoption. Now are we the Sons of God, but it doth not appear what we shall be; that is, it * 1.133 doth not appear what we shall be when our Bodies shall be raised. He shall change our vile Body, that it may be fashioned like unto his own * 1.134 glorious Body. This Salvation saves not our Souls only from Wrath, but our Bodies also, they shall rise to Life and Immorta∣lity; the Bodies of the Wicked as well as their Souls shall be cast into Hell, but the Bodies and the Souls of the Godly shall be glori∣fied in Heaven for ever. O what a grievous thing it is to think of the loss of the Body, to have the Soul taken away from the Body! But how sweet is it to think of that Day, when those two old Friends shall meet together again, and when both shall be delivered from all Evil, from all Deformity and Pollution, and be glorified, and also shall never part more, or be separated from each other to the Days of Eternity.

APPLICATION.

1. Reproof to such who despise their own precious Souls: What Fools are they, who to save their Hutts, lose their Heads; or who to save their Goods in a fearful Fire, lose their dear Child in the Cradle? As I once told you of a Woman that did thus, her House was on Fire, and she bestirred her self to get out her best

Goods; and at last when she could go in no more, she rejoiced that she had saved her Goods; but said one to her, Woman, where is your Child? O my Child, my Child; then she cried her Child, when it was too late, for that was burned to Death in the Cradle. Just thus some, to get and save their Goods, to get the World, lose their Souls. We read of some, who to save their Lives or their Bodies from being burned to Ashes for Christ, denied Christ; they could not burn for him: What saith our Saviour? He that seeks to save his Life, shall lose it. What Fools are they then who think that way to save their Bodies; for as they lose their Souls, so they lose their Bodies also: And it is not worse to have the Bo∣dy to ••e in Hell-Fire for ever, than to be burned in Martyrdom, and be consumed to Ashes in Corporal Fire?

2. Consider, that all such who neglect this great Salvation, slight and neglect their own precious and immortal Souls: What is the * 1.135 Hope of the Hypocrite though he hath gained, when God taketh away his Soul? He makes a bad Market that puts off his Soul at any Price; What shall a Man give in exchange of his Soul? Jesus Christ, who knew the great worth of it, laid down a Price of infinite Value to redeem and purchase it. Witches they say sell their Souls to the Devil out of Malice, to be revenged on some that have offended them: What a dismal thing is that, how fearful is their State? But pray, Brethren, what do they lose who sell their Souls to the Devil, as it were, for the sake of their brutish Lusts, or out of love to Sin? Thus the Whoremongers and unclean Persons sell their Souls, and Drunkards who will have their merry Bouts, their Cups and Pots, and silthy Companions, and may be their Whores too, let what will become of their immortal Souls: others will have their Pride and haughty Hearts, gay Clothes, and their detestable Dresses, though their Souls are clothed with Rags, and a crawling Worm knaws on them, and to Hell must be thrown at last, where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched. Moreover, the carnal Worldling will be rich, he will lay up Gold and Silver, he will gain the World though he lose thereby his own Soul. But remember, Sinners, Christ died for the Soul, this Salvation is the Salvation of the Soul; and does any wretched Sinner despise his Soul, or is it think you not worth his Pains to part with his Cups, with his sinful Companions, with his or her Pride, unlawful Gain, or the love of this World, to save it for ever?

3. How does this tend to reprove such who do expose their precious Souls to eternal Wrath, for the unjust Gain of Six-pence or

a Shilling? Are there not too many such in the World, who will cheat, lie and defraud their Neighbours for a small matter of pro∣fit? O how dear will they one Day pay for that Gain!

4. How does this reprove likewise such Parents that think they can never do enough for to enrich their Children, or get them great Portions, and care not what they eat, drink, wear, or how richly their Bodies are deck'd and adorned, but take no care of their immortal Souls, but rather indulge them in their Sins and vain and wicked Practices, and set also Soul damning Examples con∣tinually before their Eyes?

5. We may also infer from hence, what a mighty Charge, an amazing Charge Parents have committed to them; as also the Mi∣nisters of the Gospel, who are to take care and watch over the Souls of such who are committed to them, as such that must one Day give an Account of them.

6. Moreover, wo be to such who deceive and blindly lead the Souls of Men to destruction, that are so exceeding precious: If the Blind lead the Blind, they will both fall into the Ditch.

7. Shall I exhort you, Sinners, to look to Christ for the Salva∣tion of your Souls.

1. He bids you look to him; Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye Ends of the Earth.

2. Consider, that there is no other way to save your Souls, there is but one Saviour, and one way of Salvation: There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved. He that re∣ceives * 1.136 Christ, believes in Christ, shall be saved; and he that believes not shall be damned. * 1.137

3. If Life be more worth than all the World, certainly the Soul is more worth than ten thousand Worlds. O do not part with it on any Terms, for it cost Christ dear, the Price of his own Blood; his Heart-Blood was let out to save our Souls. Alas, there are some nevertheless that are like the false Prophets of old, who sold the Souls of the People for a handful of Barley, and for a piece of Bread. * 1.138

4. How near may some of you be to Death; and if you have not got an Interest in Christ before then, what will become of your precious Souls?

5. Will you consider what Means of Grace God is pleased to af∣ford you for the good of your Souls, and know it is by the preach∣ing of the Gospel that God commonly saves the Souls of Men, I mean, that it is the Means he uses for the begetting of Faith: Shall

the Word have some good Effect upon your Souls this Day?

6. Consider, all your Prayers, Tears, Alms-deeds, all Reforma∣tion of Life, Services, Duties and inherent Holiness, cannot save your Souls; no, none but Christ, nothing but the Merits of Christ, it is his Blood alone that made your Peace, and must wash away all the Guilt and Filth of your Sins. Your Souls, your precious Souls, O Sinners, are wounded, polluted, naked; what will you do? Nothing but Christ's Blood I tell you can heal them; nothing but his Flesh, his Blood, can feed them; and nothing but his Righte∣ousness can clothe them; and nothing but the Graces of Christ's Spirit can inrich, can deck and adorn your Souls; and without Faith you cannot obtain any of those Blessings.

O what shall I say to you, if going down upon my Knees could move you to lay to Heart what a sad State you are in, who have not received by Faith this Salvation, and incline you now to be∣lieve, I would readily do it; but alas, it is God's Gift: O look up to him, do what you can, pray and attend on the Word: What do you say, do you believe that this is a Great Salvation? Will you esteem it, and look after it above all things in the World? It is, Sirs, that one thing needful; chuse with Mary that good Part that shall never be taken from you. Shall there be Joy in Heaven this Day? how can you slight such a precious Soul, and such a precious Saviour, who spilt his Blood to save the worst of Sinners? Will you tread his Blood under your Feet? If so, what will you do at the Day of Death, and in the Day of Judgment? Should your Souls be lost, there is no repairing that Loss, no redemption of the Soul out of Hell, no other Price, no other Saviour, no other way; if this be slighted, you must perish.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.139I AM upon the Proof and Demonstration of the greatness of the Salvation of the Gospel. I closed with the ninth Reason of the Point the last time.

Tenthly, Gospel-Salvation is a great and glorious Salvation, if * 1.140 we consider what such who have interest in it are raised up unto, or do and shall partake of; I mean, what great Blessings and won∣derful Privileges they are invested with by it.

First, Pardon of Sin: This Blessing have all they that receive it.

1. Consider the Blood of Christ is the way of Gospel-Remis∣sion, no Remission of Sin without the shedding of Blood; there is re∣mission * 1.141 of Sin, but no Blood could procure this Remission but the Blood of Christ: he paid our Debts, in whom we have redemption * 1.142 through his Blood, even the Forgiveness of Sins. It was by his offering himself an Expiatory Sacrifice to God; there's no Salvation with∣out Pardon of Sin, and no Pardon of Sin without a Compensation be made by Jesus Christ to the Law and Justice of God.

2. Consider who are pardoned, even all that believe, though they were never such great Rebels against God; such were Trai∣tors and Enemies once, who are now forgiven. Here is a Pardon for the vilest Sinner, that sees his horrid Evil and Rebellion, and takes hold of Jesus Christ, or looks up to him by Faith.

3. Consider the Nature of this Pardon and Gospel-Remission: Such are pardoned for ever; I will remember their Sins no more, they are blotted out for ever. God promises to all penitent and believing Sinners, to throw their Sins into the Depth of the Sea.

4. Consider the Terms of Pardon, it is a free Forgiveness, we having nothing to pay: God of his meer Grace and Goodness doth forgive us through the Atonement of Christ's Blood freely; Even * 1.143 I am he that blotteth out thy Transgression for my own sake, and will not remember thy Sins: This is spoke to a People that had wearied the Lord with their Iniquities. O what a glorious Salvation is this, that here is Remission and free Pardon for rebellious Sinners, such that deserve nothing but Wrath and Hell!

5. It is a Pardon of all Sins, great and small, Sins of Omission, and Sins of Commission, Sins of all sorts and sizes.

6. 'Tis God that blotteth out our Sins; he that can forgive, he whose right it is to pardon, he against whom we have sinned; and he who when he gives a Pardon, none can supersede it nor re∣voke it, let them do what they can.

Secondly, Reconciliation with God is another Blessing of this Salva∣tion: God doth not only forgive us, but he takes us into his Bosom, he is fully reconciled to us in Jesus Christ; he cries, Fury is not in * 1.144

me. Again he says, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. When we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son: And none can make God our Enemy again for ever, if we * 1.145 are Believers; none can separate us from his Love in Jesus Christ our Lord, as something ag•• I shewed you, no not Sin nor Satan.

Thirdly, By this Salvation we come to have Union with God, * 1.146 and to be made one Spirit with Jesus Christ: and how great and glorious is this sa••red Union! but having formerly spoken to it, I shall not say more to it n••w. Moreover, we are not only brought into a State of Union but are also admitted to have Communion with the Father, and the Son. Brethren, it is one thing for a Trai∣tor to be pardoned, and another thing for him to be admitted into the King's Presence, and to become one of his great Favourites: Truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. * 1.147

Fourthly, By this Salvation also we are justified: Justification is a high Privilege; By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Let me * 1.148 shew you what it is to be justfied, that so this Salvation may ap∣pear the more great and glorious to you.

1. To be justified, is more than to be pardoned. A Man may be forgiven, and yet not have the Guilt removed from him, nor * 1.149 be declared Righteous and Innocent. To be justified, is to be pronounced Just and Righteous in God's Sight, through the per∣fect Righteousness of Jesus Christ, or to be actually acquitted up∣on Trial, or discharged from the Guilt and Punishment of Sins; not that we are not Sinners in our selves but as Christ was made Sin for us who knew no Sin (in himself) so we are made the Righteousness of God in him, who knew no Righteousness in our selves. As our Sin was imputed unto Christ, so his Righteousness is imputed un∣to us: God in Justification deals not with us in a way of Mercy only, (as he doth in Pardon of Sin) but in a way of Justice and Righteousness also; we paid all that was due to vindictive Wrath and Justice in Jesus Christ, (I mean, Jesus Christ for us as our Surety hath done it).

2. Justification is so great a Blessing, that the Justice of God hath nothing to lay to the Believer's Charge, for Justice as well as Mercy does acquit him.

3. Nor hath the Law any thing to lay to the ••••arge of them that God justifies, Christ in our stead having answered all the

Demands thereof, and born the Penalty it denounces upon the Transgressors of it: Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the * 1.150 Law, being made a Curse for us.

4. And as the Law can lay nothing to our Charge if God justi∣fies us, so can none else: Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of * 1.151 God's Elect? It is God that justifieth, who shall condemn us? None can implead such, or put in an Accusation that shall be heard at God's Bar; if it is God that doth acquit us, that justifies us, what signifies any Charge that can be brought in against us? What though for want of clear Light our Hearts should condemn us, or wicked Men, or Satan; our Hearts may charge us unjustly and ignorantly, for want of Light, and wicked Men and Devils ma∣liciously.

5. Moreover, none can condemn such that God justifieth, be∣cause it is Christ that died: Hath not his Death Worth and Merit enough in it? It is Christ that died, he who was God as well as Man; our Debt is long ago paid; and when we believe, we receive an actual Discharge. The Apostle challenges all the Enemies of our Souls, to come in and see what they can do to condemn a ju∣stified Person; Come World, come Devil, come Law, come Sin, come Conscience, what can you lay to the Charge of those that Christ died for, and God hath actually acquitted? Bring forth your Plea, your Charge of Eternal Condemnation; Hath not Christ born the Punishment due to these for all their Sins they have, do, or may commit? Is not his Satisfaction more than enough? Hath he not purchased and merited superabundant Grace? Come saith a poor Believer, I will stand Trial with you now, though I have but one single Plea, It is Jesus Christ that died for me, and in my room: I appeal to the Great God and Judg of Heaven and Earth, whether my Plea is not good, and according to Law, and allowable. Sirs, by this Plea all are silenced and impleaded at once.

6. All that are justified, are compleat in Jesus Christ, they are without Spot before the Throne of God: And ye are compleat in * 1.152 him, which is the Head of Principalities and Powers. Christ's Com∣pleatness and Perfection, in respect of his Suretiship-Righte∣ousness, being accounted to us, we are compleat touching our Ju∣stification; we want nothing, our Garment is without Hem, and there is no Spot nor Stain in it: Thou art all fair, my Love, and * 1.153 there is no Spot in thee. Behold, thou art fair, my Love, behold thou art fair. Thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thy Renown went

forth among the Heathen for thy Beauty: for it was perfect, through * 1.154 my Comeliness which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord.

Quest. Whether is Justification all at once, or a continued Act in God?

Answ. 1. I do not believe it is a divided Act; as 'tis God's Act, so it is one Act only: but whether it be one entire Act, or as one transient Act, as if all were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out with a Pen at once, or a continued Act, I shall not determine; but this I will say, He that God accepteth and justifieth in Christ, ••one of his Sins shall ever be charged upon him, as to that 〈…〉〈…〉 Wrath and Vengeance that is due to them: for as the••e is an Imputation of Righteousness unto us, so it follows that there is a Non-Imputation of Sin.

2. Justification admits of no Degrees tho it should be thought to be a continued Act in God; and though in our sight and feel∣ing we may not thus apprehend it through want of Faith, and by reason of Satan's Temptations, yet as to the Act it self, we are never less nor more justified, because the Matter of our Justifica∣tion, viz. the Righteousness of Christ, is not less or more, but al∣ways the same, and it cannot be lost, as I have proved in this Treatise. As Christ, Brethren, was justified at his Resurrection from all Sin that was laid upon him, or which met in him on the Cross, so all Believers are cleansed and justified from all Guilt, and that for ever; and this Christ pleads in Heaven for them as often as they sin: By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are * 1.155 sanctified.

Object. Why doth David say, Enter not into Judgment with thy * 1.156 Servant O Lord; for in thy sight shall no Flesh living be justified?

Answ. That is in himself, no Man can be justified by his own Righteousness in God's sight; all must say with Bildad, How can Man be justified with God, because he hath sinned, and daily doth * 1.157 Sin? Who dare appear at God's Bar in his own Duties, in his own sincere Obedience, or in his inherent Holiness? No, every one must fly to God in Christ, and plead his Justification and Discharge through him alone: No Man hath any thing to recommend him to God in point of Justification in his sight, nor doth he need any other Righteousness to discharge him or to acquit him before God; yet we as in our selves must ••••y with Job, If I justify my self, my * 1.158 own Mouth shall condemn me.

7. Such is the blessed State of those who by the Father are justi∣fied through this Salvation, that to them the Apostle affirms there is no Condemnation: There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. * 1.159

• (1.) He doth not say there is nothing in them, which in its own Nature doth not deserve Condemnation.
• (2.) Nor doth he say, a true Believer shall never condemn him∣self, pass a Sentence unjustly against himself; for that he may do.
• (3.) Neither doth he say, Satan shall never condemn him: but let whoever will condemn such, God will not, Christ will not, and Sin cannot, the Law cannot; no more can the Devil, nor a Be∣liever's own Heart, I mean, so as to bring him under Eternal Con∣demnation.

8. And lastly, All such that are justified, shall be glorified; see Rom. 8. 30. O glorious Salvation, that brings in this blessed Pri∣vilege! how happy are all justified Persons!

Fifthly. Adoption appertains to this Salvation: Every Believer is raised also to this great Privilege, and hath this Prerogative, he is made a Son of God, a Child of God. Adoption is to take such to be Children, that naturally were not, as a special Act of Grace and Favour: So we who were the Children of Wrath by Nature, are made or adopted to be the Children of God by Grace through Jesus Christ. And Christ in working out this Salvation, procured this glorious Blessing: Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, that we might receive the Adoption of Sons. To be Kings * 1.160 Children is no small Dignity, yea, the Children of the King of Heaven and Earth: What manner of Love is this that the Father hath * 1.161 bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God? Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, &c. God is not ashamed to be called our God, nay, our Father.

• 1. Brethren, this is an honourable Title: What were we once, how low, base and ignoble, before Grace?
• 2. This Privilege it appears cost Christ dear.
• 3. And because we are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts, crying, Abba, Father. * 1.162
• 4. And if we be Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Christ.
• 5. Then, Beloved, we also as Children shall be cared for, as Children be fed, as Children be clothed, as Children also be cha∣stened; God in all Afflictions deals with us as his Children. * 1.163
• 6. And if Children, we shall be always Children, for we are not only the Children of God by Adoption, but we are also begot∣ten and born of God, and so partake of his Divine Nature, which we cannot lose.

Sixthly, By the Grace and Means of this Salvation, we are espoused to Jesus Christ. O what an Honour and Dignity is this, Believers are the Bride, the Lamb's Wife! And how is, and shall the Spouse of Christ be clothed? Even in Gold of Ophir: She shall be brought to the King in Raiment of Needle-work. She is all glori∣ous * 1.164 within, and she shall be all glorious outwardly in Body too e're long, as well as she is so now in her Soul and inward Parts. Jesus Christ puts Chains about the Necks of all that are his, or that he espouses, I mean, those precious Graces of his Spirit which he hath purchased for them; For they shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head, and Chains about thy Neck. The Father called for the best * 1.165 Robe to be put upon his Son, as soon as he returned home, and a Ring on his Finger. The inward Beauty of the Spouse does even * 1.166 ravish the very Heart of Christ: Thou hast ravished my Heart, my Sister, my Spouse; thou hast ravished my Heart with one of thine Eyes, with the Chain of thy Neck. With one of thine Eyes: some under∣stand by one of her Eyes, the Eye of Faith; no doubt that is a precious Grace in Christ's sight. Every Believer partakes of Grace, and all Spiritual Gifts; every Grace is a glorious Ornament, and of great Price in the sight of God. This Salvation makes Men and Women glorious Creatures, new Creatures, every one resem∣bles the Son of a King; they hereby come to partake of God's Ho∣ly Nature: And as the Grace of this Salvation makes glorious Christians, so it does also make glorious Churches, Candlesticks of pure Gold.

Seventhly, This Salvation brings Peace with it. Peace is a preci∣ous Blessing, we receive Grace first, and then Peace: My Peace I give unto you, my Peace I leave with you. The Peace of God is so * 1.167 excellent a thing, that it passes all Mens Vnderstanding. What would Spira or Child have given for true Peace and inward Sereni∣ty of Mind? O it is a great and glorious Salvation! Were these things considered, and could be fully opened, it would appear more abundantly; true Peace of Conscience is never known to the Worth of it, but to such who have known the want of it.

Eighthly, I might also speak of Sanctification, which Blessing all they also partake of that have an Interest in this Salvation: Holi∣ness is an Heaven on Earth, it is Heaven begun here, and it fits and makes every Believer meet for that blessed Inheritance of the Saints

in Light; the Spirit and Graces of the Spirit are given to this end, I mean, to make us holy in Heart and Life.

Ninthly, Free access unto the Throne of Grace, is another Bles∣sing and Privilege which all Believers receive who have a part in this Salvation. Christ hath made the Way easy for us to the Fa∣ther; it is by a new and living Way which he hath consecrated for us * 1.168 through the Vail, that is to say, his Flesh, or by his Death.

Tenthly, All the Promises of God belong to Believers, and are procured for them in and by this Salvation: They are great, ex∣ceeding great and precious; there is a Fulness in them: the Promises * 1.169 as they are sure in Christ, Yea and Amen in Christ, so they an∣swer every State and Condition any Believer can be in.

Eleventhly, All the Ordinances of the Gospel belong to this Sal∣vation, and are no small Privilege; they are as golden Pipes to con∣vey Heavenly Riches, or Sacred Treasure to our Souls.

Nay, and in the last place, there is a Crown of Glory that every Believer shall be raised unto, that hath a saving Interest in this Salvation; and not only a Crown, but a Kingdom also. Now is not this a great Salvation, which raises poor Creatures who were fallen as low as Hell, up to Heaven, and of being Slaves of Sin and Satan, to be Sons and Daughters of God? It was a great Salvation that Joseph had when he was brought out of Prison, where he lay in Irons, to be the chief Ruler under the King in Egypt: And it was a great Advancement of David from following the Sheep, to sit on a Throne; but nothing like this of Believers. What is an Earthly Throne to an Heavenly one? He that overcometh, shall * 1.170 sit down with Christ in his Throne, and reign for ever and ever.

APPLICATION.

1. Admire this Salvation, say it is no small thing to have a part in it. I cannot particularly apply what I have insisted upon: But,

2. Bless God for Jesus Christ. You cannot say that the Salva∣tion he hath wrought is a barren Salvation. O what is and will be the product of it!

3. Particularly, Consider what a Blessing Justification is, and take heed you are not drawn away nor corrupted about the nature thereof.

4. Be exhorted, you that are Saints, to strive to exercise Faith in respect of your Justification: Believe the Gospel-Testimony; He that believeth is justified from all things, &c. You have the Word of that God that cannot lie to assure you of it. Do not judg of your Justification according to the degree of your Sanctification, as if you were no further justified than you are sanctified, or that your Sanctification is any Cause of your Justification; nor do not think you are more justified when you are in a lively frame of Du∣ty, than at another time when deadness and dulness takes hold of you.

Object. I cannot believe so, as to rise to a full perswasion that I am justified, and shall be saved, though I can relie upon Christ as a poor Sinner for my Justification and Eternal Life.

Answ. 1. Well, bless God for that Faith: for a full Assurance doth not appertain to the Essence of true Faith, but it is the highest degree of it; and no doubt many are gone to Heaven that never attained to that degree of true Faith.

2. I knew a Godly Minister who told me in his Sickness, a little before he died, All his Hopes were gone, he could not come to Christ as a Saint, his Evidences were so clouded; this he uttered with Tears, as I remember, and with no small grief: He presently broke forth, and said, But, Brother, I can come to him as a poor, burdened, lost and heavy-laden Sinner, and I am sure he will not refuse me, or to that purpose. If thou canst do so, certainly great Peace will come in; it is from the weakness of our Faith that a strong and full Perswasion is wanting: a direct Act of Faith I am per∣swaded must needs bring in the greatest Joy and Comfort; a looking for all the signs of true Grace in us, oft-times confounds a poor Christian. If there is no Sin that thou dost allow thy self in, but dost hate Sin as Sin, and lovest Holiness, and art willing to fol∣low Christ in all things according to thy Light, and lovest all the Saints of God as such, no doubt but thy State is good and safe.

3. But remember, if thou canst not come to a satisfaction a∣bout what I speak, in respect of those Signs, yet know, if thou dost believe, i. e. rely upon the Merits and Righteousness of Christ, as a poor Sin-sick Sinner, all may be well.

4. Take heed you do not look for a Righteousness in your selves to recommend you to God, or to trust in for Justification: Also know that it is not for the sake of Christ's Merits, or for the sake of his Righteousness that we are justified, but that it is his Righ∣teousness that is the Matter of our Justification alone before God,

as it is ••puted unto us, and received by Faith. Christ's Merits ren∣der no our Faith and sincere Obedience to be any part of our Righ∣teous••ess to Justification in God's sight; 'tis his Righteousness on∣ly which was perfect, and no other Righteousness must thou be fo••nd in, in this respect, if thou art justified and eternally saved. Though 'tis true, that Man that has true Faith, shall find the Ef∣fects of it to be such, that it will cleans•• and purify his Heart and Life; and that Faith that hath not such Effects and good Fruits to accompany it, is a dead Faith, as the Apostle James shews.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.171I Closed the last Day with the tenth Demonstration, to prove the Salvation of the Gospel to be Great and Glorious.

Seventhly, Gospel-Salvation is Great and Glorious, because it is a full, a compleat, and a comprehensible Salvation. That which I in∣tend * 1.172 hereby is this, viz There are all things contained in this Sal∣vation which our 〈…〉〈…〉 in order to Grace, and whatsoever is necessary for us here, and eternal Glory hereafter; 'tis not a bar∣ren, or a partial Salvation, but a fruitful and compleat Salvation: it does not require us to make B••••k, and allow us no Straw; it doth not command us to believe, and give us no Power; it is not like the Law that commands perfect Righteousness, and condemns all that have it not, but gives no Strength to perform it. Some there be who seem to preach a strange Gospel, they tell you what Christ hath done, viz that he hath died, &c. and done his part in this Salvation, and lest Sinners to do their part; the Debt is paid, you may go out of Poison if you will, this they do tell you: But, alas, alas! the lest Sinner is bound, he is in Chains, under the Power of Sin and Satan; nay, he is dead, and what can he do? Is his Power greater than the Power of Satan? Can he translate himself out of the Power of Darkness, into the Kingdom of God's Son? Can he, * 1.173 by any Power God hath given him, quicken himself, or raise him∣self from the Dead? No, no, this is impossible.

But now, say I, Gospel-Salvation is a full and com•••••••• Salva∣tion, what is needful and absolutely necessary to be don•• for the Sinner, in order to his having a saving Interest in it: Jesus Christ will accomplish, nay, and he will do it himself, he will not ••dmit you to have a Share or a Part in the Salvation of your own Souls: for as he knows Sinners are not able to do that which must be done for them, and in them, if they are interested into the Bles∣sings of this Salvation; so he will have and must have all the Glory and Honour of this Salvation himself, from the first to the last; Christ hath no Partner, no Competitor in this great Work, I mean, in and about the Salvation of our Souls.

1. Sinners, are you dead, dead in Sins and Trespasses? Christ is come to quicken you; I am come that you might have Life: There * 1.174 is in this Salvation Life for dead Sinners; Christ hath a certain Water to give, that whosoever drinketh of it, though he be dead, yet he shall live; that Water is his Spirit, 'tis by that by infu∣sing of his Spirit into the dead Soul, that the Soul comes to be quick∣ned: the Spirit of Christ is his quickning Voice; The Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. Christ * 1.175 is our Life, not only as he purchased Life for us, but as he by his Spirit infuses it in us. The Spirit is that Vital Principle in us; You hath he quickned, that were dead in Trespasses and Sins. And he puts * 1.176 forth his Almighty Power to do this, as the Apostle had declared to the Saints at Ephesus, just in the Verses before in the first Chap∣ter, shewing to them that the same Power is put forth in raising us from a Death in Sin, (or in working Faith in our Souls) that was wrought in Christ when he was raised from he Dead; and there∣fore it is said to be the exceeding Greatness of his Power to us-ward, who believe according to the working of his mighty Power, as before. Can * 1.177 any Man do this, can he raise himself? Dead Lazarus might quicken and raise himself as soon out of the Grave, as a dead Sinner can quicken himself, or believe of himself: no, Faith is God's Gift, and it is the vital Principle of our Souls. I wonder what some Men mean, when they say, Sinners must come up to the Rule of the Promise, before they lay hold of the Promise. Can they quicken themselves? True, if they can, the Promise runs, Christ will give them Life. Get Life, create Life in your Souls, and lay hold of the Promise: strange Notion! I am sure Life must be first in the Soul, before the Soul can do any thing that is truly and spiri∣tually Good; before Life is infused, there is no motion towards God, let the Motives be what they will.

2. Sinners are blind, spiritually blind, and it is Jesus Christ must give them sight; nay, and he in the Work of this Salvation, is a∣nointed * 1.178 to open blind Eyes: he is given to be a Light unto the Gentiles, and so to be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth. Spiritual Life and Spiritual Light is in this Salvation, and both are created in the Soul; nay, when Christ gives us Life, he gives us Light also.

Object. But it is said, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the Dead, and Christ will give thee Light.* 1.179

Answ. (1.) I answer, That which God commands us to do in one place, he says he will do for us in another place.

(2.) It doth not imply that the Creature can of himself rise from the Dead, but shews that he must be raised and quickned before he can receive Light from Christ.

(3.) It shews a necessity of Faith, or that we must believe, and therefore ought to attend upon the Means of Faith, and look up to God to obtain it: Faith cometh by hearing, that is the way he takes to work it in our Souls.

3. Sinners, have you hard and rocky Hearts, Hearts of Stone, even as hard as the nether Milstone? Why now God bids you, he commands you to make you a new Heart. But can you do that? if Christ never gives you Salvation until you create in your selves a new Heart, and break your stony Hearts into pieces, you will ne∣ver have Salvation at all, but must perish for ever; and this Sal∣vation will be in vain to you, and to all Mortals were it so: But pray observe the Promise, this Salvation is so full, that it hath a new Heart in it; A new Heart also I will give you, and a new Spirit I will put within you, and I will take away the stony Heart out of your * 1.180 Flesh, and will give you an Heart of Flesh: A new Heart, a holy, a tender and broken Heart, this God will give: It is not naturally in us, but it is of God's free Grace given to us: Hence David cried, Create in me a clean Heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit * 1.181 within me. Thou didst, as if he should say, give me a new Heart, but I have apostatized from thee, and polluted my Soul; O create again a clean Heart in me, or renew thy Work. Not that he had lost his new Heart, but he would have God recover him from his Fall, and put him into a holy and spiritual Frame, which none but he that hath an almighty creating Power can do. And if we cannot quicken our selves from a State of spiritual Deadness, how should poor Sinners raise themselves from a State of spiritual Death? Sinner, here is Comfort for thee whose Heart is hard, and thou feelest it hard, and that makes thee go mourning all the Day: be∣hold,

in the Salvation of the Gospel, a new Heart, a Heart of Flesh is promised; it is not you that can make your Heart new: No, no, it is Jesus Christ that must do it, 'tis his Work; We are his Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good Works. * 1.182

4. Is there in the Hearts of Sinners naturally Enmity against God? Christ in this Salvation takes it away: The carnal Mind is Enmity against God, it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed * 1.183 can be. See in what a Pickle the Mind and Will of Man naturally is in: What can a Sinner not do, if the Doctrine of sore Men were true? they can repent, believe, be regenerated, and what not? But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 says Paul, their Mind, their Will is not subject to the Law of God, nor to the Gospel, nor Rule of the Promise neither, neither indeed can be. Where they put a can, Paul puts a cannot. So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another place he saith, But the natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; * 1.184 neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Here is a cannot again; 'tis impossible till the Spirit of God removes that Enmity and Darkness, and bows and bends the Will to the Will of God, which shall be done when the Salvation of the Gospel comes with Power to the Soul of a poor Sinner. 'Tis Christ that must slay this Enmity, as well as he did that which was between Jews and Gentiles: He is a Mediator, not only to reconcile God to us, but us also to God; My People shall be willing in the Day of * 1.185 my Power.

5. Sinners, are you polluted, defiled with Sin, and filthy in God's sight? How will you get rid of this abominable Filth, which renders you loathsom in God's sight? Can you wash away your Pollution, will Snow-water do it? No, no, For though thou wash thee with Nitre, and take thee much Sope, yet thine Iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord. Sin is not easily washed away, the Guilt of it, nor the Filth of it: This Job well knew, therefore saith, If I wash my self with Snow-water, and my Hands never so clean, yet shalt thou plunge me in the Ditch, and my own Clothes shall abhor me. 'Tis not Snow-water, nor much Sope, no nor a Sea of brinish Tears that can wash away the Defilement and Guilt of Sin that cleaves to the Soul. But, Sinner, in this Salvation there i•• a way found out to cleanse thy filthy Soul, nay, a Fountain opened for Sin and for Vncleanness. God, 'tis true, says, Wash thine Heart * 1.186 from Wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. So far I d••ny not, as Man is able, he ought to abstain from Sin, and cleanse himself: But says Christ, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me: 'Tis he, * 1.187

it is his Blood that cleanses us from all Sin. This Salvation, Bre∣thren, * 1.188 is a full and compleat Salvation, it brings every thing with it we need. Rather than the Stain, the Pollution and Guilt of Sin should abide upon us, Christ will pour forth his own Blood to wash it away; He hath loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his * 1.189 own Blood. He gave himself for his Church to this End, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word, * 1.190 that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it might be Holy and without Blemish.

6. Sinners, are you bound in strong Chains, and in the Prison∣house? Are you in the Bonds of Iniquity? How will you do to come out, for you are kept by the strong Man armed: if you can conquer this strong and cruel Enemy, you may get out; but are you a Match for Satan? No certainly, none can deliver himself, none can get out of Satan's Hands, it must be done by one mightier than he. Well, in this Salvation there is Liberty, Christ is clothed with Power, as you lately heard; he is anointed to preach the Gospel to the Poor: he is sent to heal the Broken-hearted, to deliver the Cap∣tives, * 1.191 and to set at liberty them that were bound. Jesus Christ is stronger than the strong Man armed; He hath taken captive Capti∣vity * 1.192 himself. O what a blessed, what a great and glorious Salva∣tion is this!

7. Are you poor, and naked, and have nothing to cover your Nakedness but filthy Rags? Well, be it so, yet this Salvation brings to you a rich and glorious Robe, viz. Christ's Righteousness, nay change of Raiment; Salvation it self is called a Garment, and it is by this Salvation also you have the Robe of Sanctification and Grace wherewith you are clothed: Humility is called a Garment; I counsel thee to buy of me white Raiment, that thou mayst * 1.193 be clothed, and that the Shame of thy Nakedness appear not.

8. Are you poor hungry Souls, and have no Bread, nothing to eat, but are forc'd to feed on Husks, as the poor Prodigal did? Soul, to thy joy, in this Salvation is Bread of Life for thee; Eat you * 1.194 that which is good, and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness. The Gospel, Sirs, provides a Feast of fat things. Have you not read of the Marriage-Supper, All things are now ready? O what a Banquet doth this Salvation make for hungry Sinners, and such who hunger and thirst after Righteousness shall be filled.

9. Are you Thirsty, and have no Water to drink; are all Wells empty, and all Springs dry? Yet know, O Sinner, here is the

Well of Salvation brim full; If any Man thirst, let him come to * 1.195 me and drink.

10. Are you guilty, Sinners, and condemned to die by a Holy and just Law? The Gospel-Salvation has a full Discharge for you, Christ hath died in your stead, and here is a Pardon, a free Pardon obtained upon his Satisfaction.

11. Or Sinner, dost thou want a broken Heart, dost thou want a penitent Heart? in this Salvation Christ has purchased Grace to melt and soften thy Heart; Him hath God exalted at his right Hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance to Israel, and Remission of Sins.* 1.196

12. Dost thou want Faith, or more Faith? It is to be had in this Salvation; To you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe, &c.* 1.197 To believe, Grace to believe is given to poor Sinners; Christ is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

13. Do you want Peace? the Gospel is the Gospel of Peace, Christ is the Prince of Peace; and as he had made Peace for us, so he hath promised to all that lay hold on this Salvation to give them Peace, yea great Peace, not such Peace that the World gives.

14. Do you want Strength? it is in this Salvation also; In the Lord (that is▪ in Christ) shall one say, have I Righteousness and Strength. Nay, you shall be strengthned according to his glorious Power; Christ is our Strength: as he is God's Arm of Power, so he is our Arm also; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; * 1.198 yea, I will uphold thee with the right Hand of my Righteousness.

15. Or do you want Comfort? this Salvation hath all Joy and spiritual Comfort in it: God is called the God of all Comfort and Consolation; but he is so only to us in Jesus Christ. Christ hath procured and sent the Comforter himself to us, and to abide with us for ever; I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you. * 1.199

16. Do you want Weapons and Armour to ingage your Ene∣mies? this Salvation provides these also, see Eph. 6. 10, 11, 12, 13. Christ's Souldiers are armed compleatly, yea, they have Armour of Proof put upon them.

17 Do you want a Guide? this Salvation provides you an in∣fallible and faithful Guide also. (1.) To guide us, we have God's Word, which is that sure Word of Prophecy, which if you fol∣low, you shall never go astray. (2.) To guide us we have also the Holy Spirit, and Spirit of Truth; when he is come, he will guide you * 1.200 into all Truth.

18. Or do you want a Shepherd to feed you, a King to rule you, a Priest to sacrifice and make an Atonement for you, a Prophet to teach you? this Salvation provides all these for you: Christ is your Shepherd, your Priest, your King, your Prophet, and excels all that ever bore those Names.

19. Do you want an Husband, would you change your Condi∣tion: What say you, Sinners, particularly you young People, do you desire a good Match, to be well disposed of in Marriage? O then receive this Salvation, here is a Prince, nay the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, that desires your Love; will you accept of this Offer? behold, he is now come and knocks at your Doors. O open to him, say not nay; For this Match being once made be∣tween Jesus Christ and your Souls, this Salvation and all that is contained in it, is yours for ever.

20. Would you be Rich, Great, Honourable, truly Rich and Honourable? here it is, receive this Salvation, and all these things (as you heard the last Day) are yours; none so Great, so Rich, nor so Honourable as Believers: The Righteous is more excellent than * 1.201 his Neighbour, the Saints are the excellent in all the Earth.

21. Do you want Health, and would you be freed of all your Diseases and Sickness for ever? Health is in this Salvation, Soul∣health, and that is the best Health; Christ hath born our Sicknesses to cure and heal our Souls.

22. Do you want a great Portion? this is more than all the other * 1.202 this Salvation is so comprehensible, that God himself is contained in it: This Salvation gives us Interest in God, God hereby gives himself to every Believer to be his Portion, Christ hath purcha∣sed this Portion for us, he restores to us a lost God; by this Sal∣vation we come to injoy God again.

(1.) God is a Portion that will supply all thy Wants.

(2.) A Portion that will content and fully satisfy every Soul that has an Interest in him.

(3.) A Portion that can never be spent nor wasted.

(4.) A Portion for thy Soul, and a Portion that will last as long as thy Soul shall last, and that is for ever. Sirs, many have great worldly Portions, but they are sometimes soon spent, and they be∣come poor and miserable. Some also have great earthly Portions, bodily Portions, but have no Portion for their poor Souls: O get God to be your Portion, i. e. believe in Christ, receive by Faith this Salvation, and God is thy Portion, Christ is thy Portion.

(5.) God is a present Portion, and also a future Portion; you may feed on this Portion: and the more you live on this Portion, the more you have.

(6.) God is an infinite Portion, an inconceivable Portion; what∣soever is in God so far as it is communicable, or God seeth good to impart of himself to us, so much of God we shall have: what God i••, and what God has, is a Believer's.

(7.) Sinner, a Portion thou must have, and God too to be thy Portion, or thou must perish for ever. The loss of God at first was the undoing of all Mankind, that was our ruin; nor can that Loss be ever repaired until we have God again: an eternall loss of God will be the Torment and Misery of the Damned.

(8.) The Reason why the Father sent Jesus Christ to work out this Salvation was, that we might have God to be our God: Bre∣thren, God saith to every one of you that are Believers, as he said to Abraham, Fear not, Abraham, I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding * 1.203 great Reward. Such may say with David, My Flesh and Heart fail∣eth * 1.204 but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever. And with the Church in the Lamentations, The Lord is my Portion, saith my Soul, therefore will I hope in him. * 1.205

(9.) Brethren, God in this Salvation breaks up (as I may say) the Fountain of the great Depths of his Divine Grace, Love and Goodness: The Passage was stop'd by our Sin, till Christ opened it by shedding his Blood; there was no other way whereby God might let out of himself in his Eternal Goodness to us, but this Way only, to the Glory of all his Divine Attributes.

(10.) Hereby we have not only God to be our God, our Por∣tion, but he is so restored to all that believe, that they shall never lose him again for ever.

(11.) Did we want a Surety, not only to pay our Debts, but also to secure us in a State of Grace, and to preserve all our Riches for us; this Salvation provides such a glorious Surety for us: Alas, we are like poor Orphans under Age whilst in this World, and are not able nor fit to be intrusted with what is our own, I mean, to have it in our own Hands; therefore we and all our Riches are put into the Hand of Christ, to keep and improve our Riches for us, and to give of it forth to us as he in his Wisdom sees best for us. They that slight this Salvation, slight this Portion, this God, and all true Happiness in him: in this Salvation, this Portion is offered to you Sinners, God is willing to be your God, your Friend, your Father and Portion for ever. Here is God in this

Salvation, Christ in this Salvation, the Holy Spirit in this Salva∣tion; God, and all the Fulness of God; Christ, and all the Riches of Christ; the Holy Spirit, and all the Graces and Blessings of the Spirit: the Pearl of great Price is thine, if thou hast a Part and Interest in this Salvation. Here is the Spirit to quicken thee, to re∣new thee, to sanctify thee, to strengthen thee, to comfort thee; here is Grace to deck and adorn thee, rich Robes to cover thee, the Promises to chear thee, feed and support thee, the Ordinances to feast thee, and Angels to guard, protect and preserve thee. O what a full, compleat and comprehensible Salvation, Brethren, is the Salvation of the Gospel!

23. And lastly, here is Heaven in this Salvation, Heaven, and all the Glory of it; here is a Kingdom in this Salvation, a King∣dom of Glory, of Light, of Joy and Pleasure; here is a Crown that fadeth not away, in this Salvation, a Crown and Kingdom for every Christian; therefore this Salvation is great and glorious.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.206BRETHREN, the last time I shewed you that Gospel-Salva∣tion is a great and glorious Salvation, because it is a full, a perfect and compleat Salvation; it is not a piece or part of our Salvation that Christ worked, and doth work out for us, but it is the whole of it in every part thereof.

Twelfthly, 'Tis a Great Salvation, in respect of the first and * 1.207 principal Minister, Preacher, and Publisher of it; this is one of the Apostle's Arguments and Demonstrations in our Text, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, &c. Jesus Christ was not only the Saviour that God sent, and the Author and Finisher of this Salvation, but the Revealer, the Minister or Preacher of it: God who in times past spake unto the Fathers by the Prophets, they * 1.208 were his Ministers, Hath in these last Days spoken to us by his Son, that is, his Son personally, as he was manifest in the Flesh.

1. His own Son, his only Son, his only begotten Son; he hath no other Son begotten by an eternal Generation but Christ alone.

2. The Father's Heir, The Heir of all things, by whom also he made the World, who is the express Image of the Father's Person, and the Brightness of his Glory.

3. He that hath the absolute Lordship and Dominion over all Creatures in Heaven and Earth.

4. Nay, and God the Father also speaks himself in him, in such a sort and manner as he never before spoke in any Instrument; He hath spoken unto us; that is, the Father in and by the Son, who is in personal Union with himself. O what a kind of Salvation is this, what a Gospel is this, that is thus revealed, made known, and published unto us! What Mortal can think to escape that neglects so great Salvation? What were the Holy Angels who delive∣red the Law, or what were the Prophets to this glorious Person, I mean, the Son of God? But at last of all he sent unto them his Son, saying, They will reverence my Son; sure they will attend upon his * 1.209 Word; Can they forbear honouring and reverencing such a Person? Now I will try them: as if God should say, they may know the Matter is of great Moment, and I am in good Earnest, and look for Fruit from them. Sirs, Jesus Christ, by Calling or Office, when he was upon the Earth, was a Minister, a Preacher: O what great Condescension was this in him, who is the true and eternal God! and what an honourable Employment is this! What a high and sublime Office is the Office of a Gospel-Minister! With what Trembling and Fear ought it to be undertaken! I come not to be * 1.210 ministered to, but to minister; that is, to preach the Gospel, to com∣municate heavenly Treasure to the Souls of Men and Women. The Priests under the Law were God's Ministers. Jesus Christ is God's High Priest, and therefore his chief Minister; we must re∣ceive the Law at his Mouth, at this Priest's Mouth: We have such * 1.211 an High Priest who is set down on the right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens; a Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, &c. or the true Church, the Church of the First-Born, which the Jewish Church was but a Shadow, a Type of: But now * 1.212 he hath obtained a more excellent Ministry, he excel•• all Ministers; all true Ministers are but his Substitutes, and must one Day be accoun∣table to him; he is the Great Shepherd, and chief Bishop of our Souls. This is he that speaketh from Heaven, who came from Heaven himself, and received his Doctrine from the Father, as Mediator, and as the great Minister of Righteousness: O how shall they

escape that refuse such a Preacher, one that speaketh from Heaven; * 1.213 nay, him that is God over all, blessed for evermore. Where the Word of a King is, there is Power. Who shall not then attend upon the Word of this King, this great and mighty Lord? Sinners, with what Awe and holy Trembling should you attend on the Word of this Salvation, that began first to be spoken by the Lord? Christ may be said to speak in and by the Prophets, nay, to speak to Adam: But this speaking doubtless refers to his personal speak∣ing when he was on Earth. There may be said to be a threefold beginning of the Gospel-Ministration.

1. In Predictions, by Promises, and by Types.

2. In the immediate Preparation of it, and so it begun in the Ministry of John the Baptist.

3. In the open, clear, and actual Ministration of it; and thus it begun to be first spoken by our Lord himself, (upon his Baptism, for then he entered upon his Ministry) and it was carried on after∣wards by his Apostles, and other Ministers that he appointed; and by his Church he daily still does appoint, and in an ordinary man∣ner authorize Men to preach it. But O how great is this Salvation, that God should please to send his own Son to preach and publish this Salvation! Brethren, should a King lay aside his Crown, and throw off his Princely Robes, and come into the Pulpit and preach the Gospel, would not all wonder at it, and flock to hear him? David was a King, and yet a Preacher; Solomon was a King, a mighty King, and yet a Preacher: but what poor and igneble, low-born Kings, nay, base-born Kings, were they to this King, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? Certainly this is Matter of highest Concernment, or of greatest Moment of all things in the World, and before all things to be regarded. Did Christ in Person speak from Heaven to Men on Earth, and make known to them this Salvation? Moreover, he speaks still, he it is that speaks to you now, Day by Day, by us his poor Ministers, who may be you are ready to slight and despise in your Hearts; yet know Christ's faithful Ministers personate him, they are his Ambassadors, they represent the very Person of Christ: Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, * 1.214 we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. He that hear∣eth you, saith Christ, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despis∣eth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. Little * 1.215 do Sinners think what they do when they sleep under the Word, disregard, slight and despise the Word of this Salvation in the

Mouths of Christ's Ministers, Christ's Ambassadors. See what Christ himself saith, And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your Words—shake off the Dust of your Feet. Verily I say unto * 1.216 you, It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the Day of Judgment, than for that City. All this is because it is Christ's Word, and Christ that speaks to you by his Servants; the same Contempt that is shewed to the Ambassadors of an earth∣ly King, is shewed to him; and he treats them as if it were done unto himself. Moreover, the Esteem and Honour that is shew∣ed to an Ambassador in receiving his Word, or in hearkening with awe and respect to what he says in his Master's Name, is shewn to the King. Ministers are not to be esteemed or had in Honour for their own sakes, but for Christ's sake: But if you love Christ, honour Christ, you will love and respect his faithful Servants, and hearken to what they speak unto you in his Name and by his Au∣thority.

Thirteenthly, The Salvation of the Gospel is great and glorious, * 1.217 if we consider the wonderful Confirmation and Ratification of it in the Days of the Gospel in the Primitive Time; Which first be∣gan to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own Will. The Apostle brings this in also as a farther Demonstration * 1.218 of the Greatness of the Salvation of the Gospel, namely, the consideration of the miraculous confirmation thereof.

God is said to bear witness to the Gospel, and to the Salva∣tion thereof; there was never such Witness born to any Truth, as is to the Truth of the Gospel. For,

• 1. All the Prophets bore witness to it.
• 2. John the Baptist was sent to bear witness to it.
• 3. The Apostles were also Witnesses chosen of God to this end; nay, and we have the Witness of God himself; And the Father himself that hath sent me, hath born witness of me. The Father bore * 1.219 witness at our Saviour's Baptism, and at the Transfiguration, by a Voice from Heaven.
• 4. We have the Witness and Confirmation of the wonderful Miracles that our Lord wrought: But I have a greater Witness than that of John; for the Works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same do bear witness to me that the Father hath sent me. That * 1.220 which was a Witness of Christ's being the true Messiah, was a Wit∣ness of the Salvation he hath wrought.

• 1. He raised the Dead, opened the Eyes of the Blind, even of him that was born blind; he cast out Devils, he caused the Lame to walk, the Dumb to speak; he cleansed the Lepers, and healed all manner of Diseases and Sicknesses among the People, and all to confirm the Truth of this Salvation; no Man ever did such Works.
• 2. Moreover, the Holy Ghost was given in a miraculous man∣ner unto the Apostles and others, they were filled, yea baptized with it, they spake many strange Languages; and all this was,
  • (1.) To confirm and fully to prove, that Christ was the Son of God, and Saviour of the World.
  • (2.) To confirm the Truth of his Doctrine, and every Precept, Ordinance, and Promise thereof.
  • (3.) To assure all that believe of the certainty of their Eternal Salvation, and that they should never perish. And also,
  • (4.) To assure all that believe not, that repent not, but live in Ways of Sin and Wickedness, that they shall all be damned: It confirms particularly that word, Except ye repent, ye shall all like∣wise * 1.221 perish; and that word, Except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God; and that, But he that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him; and this in my Text, touching the Impossibility there is for any Man to escape that neglects this so great Salvation, and whatsoever else is contained in the New-Testament.
• 3. It was also ratified and confirmed by the Blood of Christ, by his Death, and by his glorious Resurrection, and by the rending the Vail of the Temple, and by that great Darkness that was at the time when our Lord gave up the Ghost, over all the Earth; and by the rising of many of the dead Bodies of the Saints after his * 1.222 Resurrection. Look to it, Sirs, this Salvation must needs be very great that was thus confirmed.

Fourteenthly, The Gospel-Salvation is great, if we consider with * 1.223 what amazement the Holy Angels behold it, they are said to look into it: 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12. Of which Salvation the Prophets have en∣quired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before-hand the Sufferings of Christ, and the Glory that should follow. Vnto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven: which

things the Angels desire to look into. They look into it with the greatest diligence, do, as it were, bow down to pry into it; they stand, as it were, astonished to see the Son of God in Flesh, or having taken Man's Nature upon him; he that is their mighty Lord and Soveraign, to abase himself to such a degree, and to die the shameful Death of the Cross, to work out Salvation for such vile and rebellious Creatures as Mankind are: 'Tis said, He was seen of Angels. The Angels knew of Christ's coming, no doubt, * 1.224 long before he was manifest in the Flesh. The Angel told Daniel of the seventy Weeks, and of the cutting off of the Messiah; and the Angels also brought the first News of his Incarnation and Na∣tivity: but nevertheless with what Wonderment was he seen of the Angels! The natural Knowledg of the Angels which we un∣derstand not, no doubt is great; but they have also an experimen∣tal Knowledg, they learn of the Church the manifold Wisdom of God. They were likewise Witnesses of our Saviour's Resurrection, * 1.225 and ministred to him in his bloody Agony: Lo the Salvation of our Souls doth not a little affect the Holy Angels; they see God's Love is more to Mankind, than it was to those Creatures of their own Nature that fell, I mean, the Evil Angels. O, my Brethren, shall the Angels look into this Salvation, whom it concerned not as it doth us, (they did not need a Saviour to redeem them) and shall not we look into it, pry into it, and be affected therewithal? Shall all in Heaven contemplate it, and not we? Is it so great, so glorious, and shall we not mind it above all things?

Fifteenthly, It is great Salvation, because it is a free Salvation, it * 1.226 is all of Grace; You may have it, Sinners, without Money, and without Price, Isa. 55. 1. True, some things you must part with, who∣ever you are, that will have a part in this Salvation: But what is that? Nothing of any Worth, nothing that will do you any good: You must part with your Sins, with your filthy Lusts, with the Love of this World. Christ came to save his People from their Sins; not in their Sins, no, no. They that will not part with their Iniquities, with their carnal and sinful Pleasures, Profits and Ho∣nours, are never like to have any Part or Lot in this Matter: Nay, and they must part with all their own Righteousness too, I mean, in point of Trust and Dependance, and must see that they have nothing which can recommend them to God, nothing that can justify them in the sight of God; unless a Man denies himself in all these Respects, he cannot be Christ's Disciple. But notwith∣standing

this, yet the Salvation of the Gospel is free; the worst of Sinners have an Offer of it, they whose Sins are as red as Scarlet, or as red as Crimson; here is Wine and Milk without Money, or any * 1.227 thing the Creature hath to purchase it, or to give for it: it is not to be had for the sake of any thing done by us, or can be done by us, or wrought in us. Sinners, the Water of Life is freely tendred to * 1.228 every one that thirsteth, nay to every one that will, that has a Will inclined to accept it; if it could not be had unless we first cleansed our selves from our Sins, or made us a new Heart, it would not be free or alone of Grace, nor to be had on easy Terms, nay not at all: But you have heard that a new Heart is one part of this Sal∣vation, 'tis contained in it; and those that would be washed, must come to the Fountain of Salvation, they must come to Christ, be∣lieve in Christ, or by Faith apply his Blood to wash and cleanse their polluted Souls.

Brethren, if there was a Salvation for rich Men only, what would become of the Poor? But this Salvation is offered unto the Poor as well as unto the Rich; nay, and they chiefly indeed do receive it, as our Saviour testifies. And if it was a Salvation for Righteous Men only, what would become of ungodly Sin∣ners? But remember, this Salvation is only for Sinners, I mean, such that see their Sin, and know the want of a Saviour; Christ came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance.

Sixteenthly, In the last place, Gospel-Salvation is a great Salvation, * 1.229 because it is an eternal Salvation: And being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. As Christ brought in an Everlasting Righteousness, so he wrought out an Everlasting Salvation: Israel shall be saved in the Lord, * 1.230 with an Everlasting Salvation; once saved, and for ever saved: For as the Damnation of all that refuse or neglect this Salvation shall be Eternal, so the Salvation of all that receive it shall be also Eter∣nal: The Earth shall wax old like a Garment, and they that dwell * 1.231 therein shall die; but my Salvation shall be for ever, and my Righteous∣ness shall not be abolished.

Thus I have done with the Demonstration of the first Doctrine, which I shall improve in applying the next Proposition.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.232Doct. II. THE great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected. This is implied in my Text.

How shall we that preached it escape if we neglect it? Or how shall you that hear it preached escape if you neglect it?

• First, I shall shew you what is intended by neglecting this Sal∣vation.
• Secondly, Shew you who they are that may be said to neglect it.
• Thirdly, Shew you from whence it is that some do neglect it.
• Fourthly, Shew you what a great Sin it is to neglect the Salvation of the Gospel.

First, To neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, is to neglect the Means of it, the Way which God hath appointed in order to our obtaining an Interest in it.

2. It imports a slighting of it, to omit seeking after the Know∣ledg of it, or to take no pains in order to the obtaining the Grace and saving Blessings thereof.

3. Or to seek Salvation some other ways. But,

* 1.233Secondly, Who may be said to neglect it?

Answ. 1. Such who do not think upon this Salvation, they do neglect it: Some do not regard it at all, it is not in their Minds; they do not trouble their Thoughts about it, though it be so great. That which a Person thinks not of, let it be Matter of never so great Moment, be sure he doth neglect. Have you, saith a Man to his Friend, done that Business I desired of you? No truly, saith he, I never thought of it; this discovers he hath neglected it: So it is here in respect of this great Salvation.

2. Such neglect the Gospel Salvation, who do not study it, pry into it, and labour to find out the great Mysteries that lie hid in it. As he that is put out an Apprentice, to learn some curious Art or Trade, that never studies the Matter, or pries not into the Mysteries thereof, neglects his Trade: So they who do not study

the Gospel, and the Mysteries of Christ crucified, do neglect the great Salvation thereof. Paul determined to know nothing a∣mongst the Learned Corinthians, but Jesus Christ and him cruci∣fied; this shews he did not neglect the Salvation of his own and * 1.234 other Mens Souls. Without controversy, great is the Mystery of God∣liness: * 1.235 'Tis not easy to understand the Gospel, it is so great a My∣stery; if it were only a Law, with Promises annexed to those who lived up in Obedience to the Precepts of it, and Threats to such who were disobedient to its Precepts, it would not be a Mystery; nor would the Learned Greeks have counted the preach∣ing of such a Gospel to be Foolishness; for such a Gospel com∣ports with Man's Carnal Reason and with Natural Religion: But to preach Salvation by a Man that was hanged on a Tree, or by a cru∣cified Saviour, that is a Mystery. And hence it was contemned by the Greeks, they could not understand how they could be justified by another's Righteousness, or that Christ could satisfy for their Sins; or how our Sins could be made his, that his Righteousness should be made ours; this is a Mystery, and this Mystery some People do not, will not study, and so neglect this Salvation.

3. Such neglect it, that will not hear the Gospel preached, but either lie at Home, or walk in the Fields, or content themselves to hear Morality or good Manners only preached, which is all the Sal∣vation too many preach in some Places: they think they need not trouble themselves about any other Matters of Religion, but only to do to others as they would be done unto; or to live sober Lives, and to do justly: This is good, and it is in a right manner held forth in the Gospel, and preach'd by such that preach this Salvation: But if this were all, in vain was it that God sent his Son into the World; nay, if Morality could save Mens Souls, or any Righte∣ousness of the Creature, or inherent Holiness, Christ is dead in vain. These Men know not what the Gospel is; and those who preach no other Gospel than Morality do but go about to make the People good Heathens; for what is this, but the Religion of the Heathen Philosophers?

4. Such also neglect this Salvation, who though they come to hear Christ preach'd, yet only come out of Formality, Custom or Curiosity, or to divert themselves; having little else to do, they will go and hear what such or such a Man will say, it is not to be instructed in the Mysteries of Salvation: nay, may be some of them may come with a Design to catch up things to improve to the Reproach of the Minister. Now be sure these Persons

are such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel.

5. Such likewise who are careless Hearers, who hear as if the things preached did not concern them, or that sleep under the Word, these also neglect this Salvation. I have heard of one that would go to the Place of Worship, because she could sleep sooner and better there than at Home; and no wonder, since the Devil rocks the Cradle, (as I may say) or hath such Influence upon them, and makes them comply with his Temptations: and you shall have help, no doubt, as some who have hanged themselves; it has been observed to be strange how they could do it after such a manner: alas, Satan helped them, he knows how to tie the Rope, and to choak them too, when they enter upon this Work. Perhaps some shall have their Thoughts in a wanton manner, run out after this or the other Object they have before their Eyes, when with Holy Diligence they should attend upon the Word of this Salvation to the profit of their Souls; or else have their Hearts and Thoughts run out upon their worldly Affairs; some on their Riches, Trades, and how to order their Business the Week following, and others upon their Poverty. All these I must set down as Neglecters of this Great Salvation.

6. Such who slight or neglect the Convictions of their own Con∣sciences, or that strive to stifle their Convictions, whilst under the Word, or when gone from hearing it, like as Felix did when he sent Paul away; the Fire the Word had kindled in his Conscience, being too hot for him to bear.

7. Such who comply not with the Call of the Word, and Offers of this great Salvation, but resist and quench the Motions of the Spirit, out of love to their Lusts, and so reject the Word, like them of old; Lo they reject the Word of the Lord, and what Wisdom * 1.236 is in them? These seem to say in their Hearts, As for the Word spoken in the Name of the Lord, we will not do it: But we will certainly do * 1.237 whatsoever goeth out of our Mouths, &c. These also with a witness neglect this great Salvation.

8. Such who regard not the Time, the Day and proper Season of this Salvation, do neglect it: Behold, now is the accepted Time; behold, now is the Day of Salvation. But this is not their Time, they * 1.238 delay the great Matters of their Souls, God's Time is not their Time: Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near, saith the Prophet. But they will not do this, they * 1.239 think it is too soon, they resolve to take more of the sweet of Sin, and feed on the Vanities of the World a little longer. God calls

now, whilst it is to Day, To Day if you will hear his Voice; but they will not regard it: Because I have called, (saith the Lord) and * 1.240 you refused, I have stretched out my Hand, and no Man regarded.—But ye have set at nought all my Counsel, and would have none of my Reproof;—I also will laugh at your Calamity, and mock when your Fear cometh.

9. Such who prefer their sinful and earthly Pleasures, Profits and Honours, above this Salvation, do also neglect it: 'Tis said of some of the Pharisees, that they believed on him, but did not pro∣fess him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue; for they loved * 1.241 the Praise of Men more than the Praise of God. I once told you of a Man who living a loose and ungodly Life, and was by that means in danger of losing his Eye-sight, insomuch that his Physi∣cian told him, He must leave that excess of Prophaneness, or he would be blind; Ah, said he, is it so? Then farewel my sweet Eye-sight, or to that Effect. Just thus do many poor Sinners, they will not part with their Sins, their sinful Ways, and sinful Com∣panions; for when they hear what they must do if ever they are saved, namely, believe in Jesus Christ, repent and turn from all their sinful Courses, they say in their Hearts, Farewel then Great Salvation; if these things must be done, they will have none of it. I remember I heard in our Countrey, when I was young, of a prophane Person, that said in plain words, That he would have his Lusts, his Pleasures, his merry Bouts, or to that purpose, for it was all the Heaven he look'd for. O how just will it be in God to sen∣tence such to eternal Flames!

10. Such neglect this Salvation, who say in their Hearts to God, Depart from us, we desire not the Knowledg of thy Ways: They like * 1.242 not, approve not of God, nor of the Ways of God, therefore de∣sire him to depart; they would not have God come so near them, as to disturb their Thoughts, nor disquiet their Spirits about their eternal State, therefore they strive to divert themselves. The Wicked (saith the Psalmist) through the Pride of his Countenance will not seek after God; God is not in all his thoughts: he will not trouble * 1.243 himself with God, and the things of God, and so neglects this Salvation.

11. Moreover, all such who believe not, give not credit to the Revelation of the Gospel, they do not believe the Report of it; Lord, saith the Prophet, Who hath believed our Report? Though the Report of the Gospel is given out upon the highest Evidence * 1.244 imaginable, yet, Brethren, there is an humane Faith that a Man may

attain to and exercise without Divine and Supernatural Grace, which Men do not exert; which if they did, it would (were it impro∣ved) deter them, and put a stop to many of their abominable Practices: but as some in other cases say, I will not believe such or such a thing, though it is confirmed sufficiently; so it is here, Men will not believe, they will not give Credit to the Report of the Gospel, it is not agreeable to their carnal Reason: What! be∣lieve there is no Salvation but by the Righteousness of another? How can this be? Can his Righteousness justify me, be made mine? I believe that if I do live an Honest Life, and do good to my Neighbours, I shall be saved. Says another, I can't believe that all shall be damned unless they are born again, and experience such a Change as some Ministers talk of; for if it be so, Lord have Mercy upon us, what will become of the greatest part of the World? Says a third sort, God is above the Devil, and I cannot believe he will ever suffer Satan to get away the greatest Number of Mankind. Ay says a fourth sort, we can't believe that Sin is so great an Evil, or so great a Matter, or that God will be so severe as to cast us into Hell for it: What's Drunkenness? 'Tis for our Health to be drunk now and then: and what is simple Fornication? Tush, will God think you ever cast us into Hell for such small things as these, or throw us into a Furnace of Fire? It cannot consist with his Mercy and infinite Goodness. Now, Brethren, as all these Persons neglect this Salvation, so they make God a Liar: God hath said, There is no other Name given under Heaven whereby * 1.245 we must be saved; no other way but through Christ's Blood, by his Merits and Righteousness: but they say there is. He also hath said, That the Wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the Na∣tions * 1.246 that forget God; even whole Nations if they do so: and that no Drunkard, Fornicator, Proud Person, Unbeliever or Covetous * 1.247 Man or Woman, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven; but contrariwise, shall have their Portion in the Lake that burns with * 1.248 Fire and Brimstone: but they will not believe it. And God says, Except a Man be born again, he shall not enter into the Kingdom of * 1.249 Heaven; but they will not believe it. O what is the Condition of these Men, Unbelief is the damning Sin in this respect, as well as it is in respect that it leads Men out to refuse and contemn the Remedy God hath appointed, I mean, the Application of the Blood of Jesus Christ. These perish as the Man did, who was told of his Danger, but would not believe it till it fell upon him to his Ruin.

12. Such neglect this great Salvation, who delay the look∣ing after it until old Age, or till Sickness, or Death comes up∣on them; How many are there of this sort? They mind not their Souls, nor Soul-concernments, but think it is time enough, when they have spent their best Days in the Service of the World, nay, in the Devil's Service, to look after Religion, or an Interest in Jesus Christ: these, I say, also are neglecters of this Salvation.

13. All such who make not Religion, or the Salvation of their precious Souls their chief Business, or Matter of the highest Im∣portance in the World, these must be set down as neglecters of Gospel-Salvation. Brethren, this is that one Thing needful, namely, to provide for the Soul in reference to Eternity. This was that good part Mary chose, that should not be taken from her; she took more care about the good of her Soul, in attending on Christ's Word, than on any thing else whatsoever. This should be our general Calling, to which Work we ought to give up our selves continually, in improving all Seasons and Opportunities, and in the discharge of all spiritual Duties. O how busy are some Men, and how wise; nay to get this World, no Time, no Care, no Op∣portunity shall be omitted. But they have no regard of this great Concernment, it is not weighed, nor thought upon by them: yet what can be of like Importance; and what Fools are they, whose chiefest Care is to live well for one Day, and regard not what will become of them afterwards? Alas, what do the greatest part of Mankind more than provide for one Day! Nay, should the whole Time of our natural Lives be seventy Years, it is not as one Hour to Eternity. Now that the Salvation of our Souls is matter of the highest Moment, will appear many ways. And first by giving you a summary Account of what I have said.

• 1. Must not that be of highest Moment, or ought not the Mat∣ters * 1.250 of that Salvation be our chiefest Business, when all Salvations compared to it are nothing, or not worth regard?
• 2. Must not that be Business of the highest Concernment for us to look after, which God so early, even in Eternity, thought of and contrived the Way of bringing it in, or for the 〈…〉〈…〉 of, in his infinite Wisdom?
• 3. Must not that be minded before all things, that God in Eter∣nity (as I may so say) held a Council about the actual accomplish∣ment of?
• 4. Ought not we to look upon that Salvation as matter of the highest Concernment, which God designed for such great and

• glorious Ends: As (1.) To manifest his own Glory; (2.) The utter ruin of Satan's Kingdom; And (3.) to make us everlastingly happy in the injoyment of himself?
• 5. Ought not that Salvation to be our greatest Business, that raises us up to such a Blessed State, who were fallen so low, and delivered us from eternal Wrath, just as the Hand of Justice was up and ready to strike the fatal Blow?
• 6. That which was so seasonable, and when all hopes of Relief and Help was gone?
• 7. Must not we needs think that Salvation of the highest Mo∣ment, that the Son of God himself came to work out for us, which he and none but he could accomplish; nay, both the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, the whole Trinity join together, and take each of them a part to effect and perfect for our Souls?
• 8. Must not that needs be our only Business to look after, that Christ shed his most precious Blood to procure?
• 9. Ought we not to prefer that Salvation before all things, that delivers us from the greatest Evil, the Plague of all Plagues?
• 10. Must not that Salvation be of the greatest Moment, and preferred above all things in the World, that is the Salvation of our precious and immortal Souls, nay, of Soul and Body too, from everlasting Burning and Damnation in Hell?
• 11. Ought we not to make that Salvation our chiefest Work, whilst in this World, that raises us up so high, and makes us so great, honourable and happy for ever, as you have heard?
• 12. Must not that Salvation needs be our great and chiefest Busi∣ness to mind and seek after, that is so full, so comprehensive, per∣fect and compleat?
• 13. Must not that Salvation be of highest Moment, that the Son of God in his own Person, came from Heaven to preach and make known to Men on Earth?
• 14. Is not that Salvation of the greatest Concernment for us to give up our selves to look after, and to be chiefly affected with, which the Holy Angels desire to pry into, and stand astonished at the thoughts of, it is so great and sublime?
• 15. Is not that Salvation business of the greatest Moment of all, that is so great, so sweet, so rich, so admirable, and so free and easy to be obtained? 'Tis but looking to Christ, to come to Christ, to rest on Christ; 'tis but to take and eat, 'tis but to drink when we are thirsty, 'tis without Money and without Price.
• ...

• 16. And lastly, Ought not that Salvation to be our chiefest Con∣cernment, that is an eternal and everlasting Salvation; i. e. that such that obtain it, shall have a Crown of Glory for ever, or be everlastingly saved; and they that neglect it, shall be everlast∣ingly damned?

Now, Brethren, he that makes this Salvation the least of his Business, does neglect it, yea, utterly neglect it, let him think what he will. And all that make not Religion their chiefest Busi∣ness, who prefer not the Honour of God, and their own Salva∣tion, before all things, will at one time or another, expose God's Name to Reproach, and their own Souls at last to eternal Wrath and Misery. Brethren, doth not he neglect his Trade, his Family, &c. that makes it the least of his worldly Concernments?

Lastly, They neglect this Salvation, that do not look up to God, to give them the Knowledg of their State, the true sense of Sin, and to reveal Christ to them, and work Faith in them.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.251THE last time I entred upon the second Doctrine, viz. That the Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected.

I shewed you who they are that may be said to neglect this great Salvation, that was the second general Head I propound∣ed to do. I shall now proceed,

Thirdly, In the third place I shall shew you from whence it is, * 1.252 or comes to pass, some Persons, nay, so many People in the World do neglect the Salvation of their own precious Souls.

1. Some are ignorant of the Way of Salvation, and from hence neglect this Gospel-Salvation: Thus it was with the Jews; For they being ignorant of God's Righteousness, went about to establish their own Righteousness, Rom. 10. 3. Suppose a Man that is sick were re∣solved to make use of such or such a Medicine to cure him of his Disease, which he is told the Nature of, and that it is an infallible Potion; yet if he knows not how to apply it, he understands not

that: why now from thence he utterly neglects to make use of it at all, but seeks some other way of Cure. Even so it is here, many hear of Christ, and Salvation by him, but understand not how to apply his Blood, how to fly to his Merits and Righteousness, and therefore seek to be saved some other way, and so neglect the Sal∣vation by Jesus Christ. Or suppose that a Man who is going a long Journey, yet he knows not the Way, but thinks he is right, and so rides on boldly, but goes the quite contrary Way, now he neglects the right Way through Ignorance: even so it is with many blind and deceived Mortals, they think they have the right and proper Medicine, or are in the right Way to Heaven; and they go confidently on, take their own Courses, apply their own Antidote, when alas it is a Counterfeit.

1st. May be think that is Christ and the true Saviour, which is nothing but the Dictates of natural Conscience. Some suppose the Light of Nature, or a sober and moral Life, will bring them to Heaven, and eternally save their Souls.

2dly. Others conclude, their being Protestants, and born of Chri∣stian Parents, and owning the Christian Religion, is sufficient, and that they need not trouble themselves any further about their Sal∣vation.

3dly. Mankind generally see not, know not that they are born in Sin, and by Nature are Children of Wrath; they know not that they are under the Curse of the Law, and under the Sentence of Eternal Death, being Enemies to God, and having Enmity in their Carnal Mind against God, and great Mountains of Guilt lying up∣on them: I say, thus it is with them, but they know it not. It is with them as it was with the Church of the Laodiceans; Because thou sayest I am Rich, and increased in Goods, and have need of no∣thing, * 1.253 and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. See what a sad State this professing People were in, and yet ignorant of it; thought they were perfect, as that Man must needs suppose that thinks he wants nothing; they no more knew their great Danger, than did the old World of the Flood, and Sodom of those Flames which suddenly consumed them all.

4thly. Some conclude they believe, and have true Grace; they make a profession of the Gospel, and have been baptized, having great Gifts and Parts; and yet for all this never were effectually changed, never obtained the Faith of God's Elect, but through Ignorance they are perswaded all is well with them, and so they

come not to look out to Christ, but do neglect the Means of Con∣••••rsion, by being perswaded they are converted already. Now this Ignorance may be occasioned several ways.

* 1.254(1.) Chiefly it arises from that natural Darkness that is in them, and which naturally cleaves to all Mankind; Sin has put out the Eyes of our Understanding. But,

(2.) It may also arise partly from the Ignorance of those blind Guides, whose Teachings and Doctrine they may (I mean, some of them) sit under; My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledg:* 1.255 and the Cause was, those that taught them caused them to err. If the Blind lead the Blind, they will both fall into the Ditch. O take heed under what Ministry you venture your Souls: The Pharisees and Scribes were learned Men, and some of them great Preachers, but wholly ignorant of the Doctrine of the Gospel, and of Salva∣tion by Jesus Christ: Many, like the false Teachers of old, Cry, Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace.

(3.) Moreover, this Ignorance arises partly from Satan, he hath too great an Influence on the Hearts and dark Minds of Men; But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God * 1.256 of this World hath blinded the Eyes of those that believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine unto them. Satan hath a mighty Power over sinful Men, by his cunning Devices, to keep them in Ignorance, and to hinder them from studying, knowing, and believing the Gospel, and by this Means they neglect this Salvation: Such are blinded by Satan that believe not; he may perswade them that a general Faith, or a common Faith, is true Faith, and sufficient, and so he cheats them with a Counterfeit instead of saving Faith: or Satan blinds Mens Eyes by moving them to seek Salvation in some other way, than by Christ alone, and by believing in him, resting, relying and de∣pending on him; like an evil Person who puts a poor Traveller out of his way, or directs him the direct contrary way, that so he may be robbed and murdered by him, and by other Thieves that may way-lay him.

2. Some neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, from that inordi∣nate Love they have to the things of this World: Thus the young Man that came running to Christ neglected it, he had his Heart so set upon his great Possessions, that he went away from our Saviour sorrowful, and refused the Salvation of his own Soul; he could not part with the World for a Part in Christ and Eternal Life. So they that were invited to the Marriage-Supper, out of an in∣ordinate

Love to the things of the World, refused to come: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain King, which made a Marriage * 1.257 for his Son, and sent forth his Servants to call them that were bidden; and they would not come. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his Farm, another to his Merchandise. This Marriage-Supper * 1.258 is this great Salvation; but the things of the World are more valued by most People than the Salvation of their Souls: Luke saith, And he sent forth his Servants at Supper-time, to say to * 1.259 them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. Many Persons refuse to feed on Christ,, they believe not, will not eat of this Supper, will not feed on a crucified Christ, or eat his Flesh, and drink his Blood by Faith, through Love to their carnal Plea∣sures, Honours, and worldly Profits. And they all began with one consent to make excuse: The first said unto him, I have bought a Piece of Ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me ex∣cused. * 1.260 And another said, I have bought five Yoke of Oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. Another said, I have married a Wife, and therefore I cannot come. Lawful things may be abused, and the Heart so set upon them, that they drown Men in Perdition and Destruction: Mens Hearts naturally are earthly and sensual; and as they know not, so they desire not the Knowledg of God and Jesus Christ, they are satisfied with that Portion they have, this World is for them; they care not, regard not the things of another Life.

3. Some neglect this Salvation, out of Love to unlawful things: They will feed on forbidden Fruit, I mean, on their filthy Lusts; they will swear, steal, whore, be drunk, grind the Face of the Poor, deal unjustly, give way to Pride, &c. and from hence neglect the Salvation of their Souls. I was lately told of a gracious Woman living near this City, whose Daughter wore a very high Head-dress, or that shameful Mode now in fashion, which so grieved the Mo∣ther, that she gave her a rich Ring, upon condition she would leave off that Dress, or Top-knots: Her Daughter took the Ring, and conformed for a while to her Mother's just Desire; but it was not long before she gave her the Ring again, and repented of her Re∣formation, and got on her old Dresses again. Alas, some will not leave off and forsake their Lusts for Chains of Gold; they will live in their Sins, persist on in their ungodly Courses; let what will come, they matter not who they grieve: they prefer their cur∣sed Lusts and Pleasures above this Salvation, though it be so great, as you have heard.

4. Moreover, some neglect Salvation, because there is a Cross joined to the Crown; they must take Christ's Yoke upon them, and be exposed to Reproach for his sake, and this they cannot en∣dure, the Yoke is uneasy to the Flesh, the Flesh cannot bear it. No, it is only easy to such whose Hearts are renewed, who have got a new Nature. The Cross makes many lose the Crown; but, Bre∣thren, had Jesus Christ refused the Cross, where had we been?

5. Some Persons neglect Salvation, through the treachery and deceitfulness of their own Hearts: 'Tis slighted out of an Opinion or Perswasion, that all is well with them; They believe in Christ, hope in God's Mercy: Christ, say they, died for Sinners. And thus the Devil, and their own deceived Hearts, cause them to neglect seeking out after the saving Knowledg of Christ and Salvation by him on Gospel-Terms; for Sin predominates in them, reigns in them, notwithstanding all their Hopes and Confidence. What sig∣nifies such Faith that does not purify the Heart and Life, or such Hope? Alas, it will be but like the Spider's Web, vain Thoughts rest in those, and destroy them; vain in their Rise, vain as to the Ground they build their Hopes upon; a vain Bottom, vain as to the Motive: and vain as to the Fruit or Product thereof; they think they have hold of Salvation, yet are dropping into Hell.

6. Some neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, partly out of ser∣vile and slavish Fear, and partly out of pretended Modesty; they dare not be so bold to take hold of Christ, or venture their Souls on Christ, because they are so vile, filthy, and abominable, unless they had something to bring, something to present to Christ, to render them acceptable or welcome to him; they will not come, they pretend they dare not come, they can't think so great Salva∣tion should be bestow'd freely on such as they are: if they could be rid of their Sins, or wash themselves from their Sins, then they would come; or could they get themselves some new Clothes, make themselves a new Heart, or get some inherent Righteous∣ness of their own, then they would come. Sad Case! but it is no wonder some are carried away with this Delusion, considering what a kind of Doctrine is preached in these perilous Times. But, Sinner, know thou must come to Christ to be washed, come as one that sees what need thou hast to be put into the Fountain, which is set open for Sin and Uncleanness; and come as one naked, that Christ may clothe thee. Christ calls Sinners to him; may be you will say, What is it to come to Christ? Why, to believe in him, to lay hold by Faith upon him: And if thou dost thus, though

thou art never so great a Sinner, thou shalt be saved.

7. Others neglect Gospel-Salvation out of Idleness and cursed Sloth: 'Tis a hard thing to enter in at the strait Gate, Self-denial * 1.261 is of absolute necessity. O but this is too difficult for this sort, they can't pray, read, meditate; they don't love to hear Ser∣mons, they do not care to put themselves upon Spiritual Duties, as to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, nay, and to take it by Violence; they can take pains to damn their own Souls, but cannot, will not take that pains they are enabled to do to save their Souls. Sirs, Men will not be condemned for not doing that which they had not Power to do, but for neglecting that which they might have done; their Destruction is of themselves, though their Salvation is whol∣ly of God, and of the free Grace of God in Jesus Christ: Have not Men Power to leave all gross Acts of Wickedness, and to at∣tend upon the Means of Salvation? They who say we put the Crea∣ture to do nothing, falsly charge us; we press Men to leave their wicked Practices upon a right foot of Account, and to wait upon God in his Blessed Ordinances, which he has appointed for the be∣getting of Faith. True, we say a Man can't change his own Heart, yet he may leave the gross Acts of Sin; 'tis one thing to have the Life reformed, and another to have the Heart renewed: 'Tis the changing the vicious Habits, or the Work of Regenera∣tion, which we say must be done by God's Almighty Power; Grace must be infused into the Soul, which works physically.

8. Moreover, it is through Pride in some that they neglect this great Salvation; they have such a good Opinion of their own Righteousness, they cannot see they have any need of the Righ∣teousness of Christ: they are such that our Saviour speaks of; And he spoke a Parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that * 1.262 they were Righteous, and despised others. These are so conceited of themselves, that through pride of what they have got of their own they regard not an imputed Righteousness to justify them; Man naturally affecteth to stand by a Righteousness of his own. Adam was a rich Man, a noble Man, he had enough of his own to live upon; and his Sons retain a proud Spirit, like some Sons of a decayed Gentleman: their Father was a Knight, a Lord, and they are great in their own Conceit, (though their Cloak perhaps is nothing but Patches) they scorn to beg, or to dig, no they will sooner steal, and stand on the High-way. Proud Man doth thus in a spiritual Sense, he will not beg, he will not go to Christ's Door for Bread, he will rather steal and rob Christ of his Honour

in their Salvation, by seeking it some other Way, even in an un∣lawful Way; this is no better than a spiritual robbing Jesus Christ of having the whole Glory and Honour of the Salvation of the Soul: and yet they do not enrich themselves hereby neither, it is but only in conceit; they fancy themselves rich, and trust in their own Righteousness, as if it were choice Treasure, when it is no∣thing but filthy Rags which they pride themselves in and boast of.

11. It is through Unbelief this Salvation is neglected, Men be∣lieve not: The grand Neglect centers here, this is the killing Evil, the Sin of all Sins, the Plague of all Plagues.

I consider Unbelief in general, not only as it is a non-reception * 1.263 of Christ, not believing in Christ, not accepting of Christ, but as it is a denying to give Credit to the Revelation of God, and of what he declares in his Word.

1. They do not believe Salvation ought to be the main Business of their Lives, which they should regard and seek after above all things, it being the one thing needful, yea, more than Meat, Drink, Clothes, Wives, Children, Health, Credit, Riches, Honours, Pleasures, or Life it self.

2. They do not believe that Sin is the greatest Evil, nor that God is Man's supreme and chiefest Good, wherein his only Happi∣ness lies.

3. They do not believe that such is the Holiness, Justice, Wrath and Severity of God, that he will throw Sinners into Hell, al∣though he positively declares in his ••ord that he will do it, except they believe, repent, and forsake their abominable Ways; yet they doubt not of their Salvation, though they are perhaps Swear∣ers, Drunkards, unclean Persons, proud Persons, covetous or perverse Wretches.

4. They will not believe what the woful End of all Unbelievers and Unregenerate Persons will be.

5. They will not believe that they are in a spiritual Sense brought to utter Beggary, being Sons of a Beggar that spent all he had.

6. They will not believe, though it is told them again and a∣gain, that they are blind, miserable, wretched and naked, and for Rebellion condemned to die, nay, to be burned for ever: Unbe∣lief was the Cause of Man's Fall at first, he would not believe God who told him, In the Day he eat of the forbidden Fruit, he should surely die; No, he rather adhered to the Devil, and gave

credit to the Father of Lies. This also was the grand Cause of the Israelites falling in the Wilderness; And to whom sware he that * 1.264 they should not enter into his Rest, but to them that believed not? So we see they could not enter in, because of Vnbelief. Let us therefore fear, saith the Apostle. Brethren, there is a notional and practical Un∣belief: Some believe there is a God, but they deny him by their Works; and deny Christ the only Saviour, by cleaving to and trusting in other things for Salvation: They perhaps think that their good Deeds, their Prayers, their just Dealings, and sober and moral Lives, will save them. Some are like a poor ignorant Wretch that I heard of, who being lately sick, and a Christian Neighbour being sent for to come to him, he asked him some Questions about his Soul, who replied, that he had been a Sinner; but if God spared him, he hop'd to make God amends for all. Some sin, and commit horrid Evils in the Day, and then pray at Night, and confess their Sins; and may be drop a few Tears, and that they think cures all, and makes them as sound again as a Fish, and so go on the next Day in their old trade of sinning as briskly as before. Some have a humane Faith, an historical Faith, and from thence do many things, though they do not live up to that Faith neither, nor improve what Knowledg and Light they have received to that degree they ought, and so shall be condemned, like as was the Man that improved not his one Talent. I call it a humane Faith, because it is the Act of the Creature, by virtue of his natural Powers and Capacity: the Spring and Motive of their Faith is Humane, therefore their Faith cannot be Divine.

I shall sum up the whole of this Head, and come to the Appli∣cation.

• 1. It appears that the Salvation of the Gospel is neglected by many; through Ignorance and natural Blindness their Under∣standings are darkned: And Light shines in the Darkness, but the Darkness comprehendeth it not. Men love Darkness rather than Light, * 1.265 Error rather than Truth. If another come in his own Name, him you will receive.
• 2. There is a Perverseness and Rebellion in the Will, and hard∣ness in the Heart: Ye will not come to me, that ye might have Life. * 1.266 The carnal Mind is Enmity against God; it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be.
• 3. Men are ignorant and unsensible of their States and Condi∣tions: Are we blind also? We are Abraham's Seed, was the Plea of old. We are Christians, the Off-spring of Christian People, and

• good Protestants, is the Plea now. They are,
• 4. Ignorant of God's Holiness and Justice, and so trust in his Mercy, not regarding of his Law and Justice. They are igno∣rant and unsensible of that insufficiency there is in themselves, or in any thing they can do to save their own Souls.
• 5. 'Tis through the Ignorance of some of their Teachers, who preach not the Gospel truly to them.
• 6. 'Tis through an inordinate Love to the things of this World, their Affections are corrupted and set upon the Creature, upon their Riches, Honours and Pleasures.
• 7. 'Tis through that Love many have to their Sins, and sinful Practices, and sinful Companions.
• 8. 'Tis through the deceitfulness and treachery of their own evil Hearts.
• 9. Through slavish Fear, or pretended Modesty, they dare not be so bold to venture themselves on Christ, being such great Sin∣ners, and having nothing to present unto him for acceptance.
• 10. It is from Idleness and spiritual Sloth.
• 11. From Unbelief, not giving Credit to the Revelation of God's Word in many respects, but think to be saved some other ways than by Jesus Christ alone, or not by him, and nothing else; and conclude something is to be joined to Christ's Merits and Righ∣teousness, or they cannot be justified nor saved: and thus this Sal∣vation is neglected; it is upon these, or such-like Considerations as these are.

APPLICATION.

1. Tremble you that slight or neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel: Will you say that Jesus Christ cannot save you, or is not willing to save you? Certainly those who give way to such Thoughts and Temptations, are sharply to be reproved.

2. Your Sins and Unbelief is the Cause of your Misery, and if you perish, it will be the Cause of your Damnation for ever.

3. And to you that are Believers let me speak one Word; Have a care of Unbelief, beware of unbelieving and desponding Thoughts: Why do you hang down your Heads?

Object. O the deadness of my Heart! This I know is the Voice and Complaint of your Souls.

Answ. How came you to know that you are dead? Certainly this is a sign that there is Life in you. Did ever any Person that

was naturally dead, say he was dead, cold, or unsensible? that is impossible, 'tis only such who are alive that thus complain.

Object. O the abundance of Sin that is in me, that afflicts and di∣stresses my Soul!

Answ. Say you so, is Sin your Sickness, is Sin your Sorrow? Is Sin that which afflicts, wounds and grieves your Spirit? Then re∣joice, this is a good sign. Would you live and sin not? Do you see a loveliness in Holiness? this is, no doubt, an Evidence of the Goodness of your Condition, provided you hate it, and allow not of Sin in you.

Object. But, alas, how little do I mind, and am affected with this great Salvation!

Answ. Canst thou be contented without it, or give over mind∣ing it, and trouble thy self no more about it? Nay, art thou wil∣ling to part with that Interest thou hast in Christ, and in this Sal∣vation? I am perswaded you will say No, not for ten thousand Worlds.

4. Moreover, from hence we may see the Madness and Folly of the generality of Men who live under the preaching of the Gospel, and yet neglect, Day by Day, the Means of this so great Salvation; they regard not their chief and main Business: What Blindness is naturally in Mankind!

But because I shall have occasion to open more particularly the great Evil of neglecting the Salvation of the Gospel the next time, I shall say no more to it now.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.267I AM upon the Prosecution of the second Proposition I raised from this Text, viz.

Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected. This is implied in the Words.

• 1. I shewed you the last Day, what the neglecting of Gospel-Salvation doth import.
• ...

• 2. I also shewed you who they are that may be said to neglect it.
• 3. And likewise from whence it cometh to pass that so many Persons neglect their own Salvation.

I shall now proceed to the last thing proposed to be spoken unto in the Prosecution of this Proposition. Which is,

• Fourthly, To shew you the great Sin and Evil of such who do neglect the Means of the Salvation of the Gospel.

• First, I shall shew you the Greatness of this Sin, in respect of God, or shew what a Dishonour it is to him.
• Secondly, Demonstrate the Greatness of the Evil thereof, in re∣spect of the Sinner himself that doth neglect it.
• Thirdly, Considering by whose Influences and Instigations they do it.
• Fourthly, Considering the Vanity of those things for the sake of which this Salvation is neglected.

First, Such that neglect this Salvation, do cast great Contempt upon God.

1. They cast Contempt upon the Wisdom of God that found it out, and on that glorious Counsel that was held in Eternity about it. What is it but a breathing forth of the highest Disdain on the Wisdom of God? What is the Voice of some Sinners Hearts? We shall be saved tho we go on in our own Ways, God is good, merciful, &c. This is, as it were, an undervaluing of the glori∣ous and no less gracious Contrivance of Infinite Wisdom, to seek to be saved some other Way, or to neglect this Way. Suppose a Prince should hold a Council in order to make a Company of Re∣bels happy for ever; not only to pardon them, but to make them Rich, Noble and Honourable; and he should send them the Of∣fers of this rich Bounty and Goodness, and they should contemn it, slight it, and wholly neglect the free acceptation thereof, would not this cast a Slight and Reproach upon that Prince? And would not all Men say, sure they were mad? Brethren, all ungodly Men who neglect this Salvation, consult with the Devil, take Coun∣sel of the Devil, and of their own wicked Hearts, to frustrate, if it were possible, the Counsel of God. He hath ordained the Preach∣ing of the Gospel as the Way to work Faith in them, and so to give them an Interest in Salvation; but they slight and neglect

attending upon the Word, nay, believe it not, but conspire against God, and set themselves against the Lord, and against his Christ, say∣ing, * 1.268 Let us break their Bonds asunder, and cast their Cords from us. Let us cast away the Offers and Promises of this God, and of this Christ, about Salvation and an Eternal Kingdom, and those Threatnings of Wrath and Hell, whereby they would one while allure us to forsake our Sins and beloved Lusts, and at another time frighten us into Faith and Obedience, and to submit our Necks to his Yoke. Come, let us slight all those Arguments he uses to win us over to him, yea, spurn at them, and disregard all the Hopes and Fears these Cords would put us into, could they get us under their Power. What are all these things but Fancies, vain Dreams? Tush, our State is good enough, we can repent hereafter: What is the Gospel but to do as we would be done unto? Let us not trouble our Heads with any other Notions of Religion. And thus they slight and cast contempt upon the infinite Wisdom of God, who found out and contrived this way of Salvation, and by which * 1.269 his manifold Wisdom is revealed.

2. They also who neglect and slight the Salvation of the Gospel, do cast Contempt upon the highest Goodness, Love and Mercy that was ever shewed to Man: God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have Everlasting Life. Love, to the wonderment of Men * 1.270 and Angels! Shall such a Marriage be offered by the great King, such a Banquet be prepared that cost so much, and shall any make light of it, and despise Infinite Goodness for the sake of their own filthy Lusts, and think they may be saved some other Way? They thereby render the Holy God cruel to his own Son, in his giving him up to die, and to become a Sacrifice for Sin.

Brethren, if Salvation be neglected, it is either out of Presump∣tion or Despair.

(1.) Now such that presumptuously neglect it, seem to magnify God's Mercy in their own Conceit, being wholly ignorant of his Justice and Holiness, and so slight the constituted Method of his declared Goodness in Jesus Christ; and so whilst they seem to magnify God's Mercy, they impair, nay contemn his Soveraignty, by chusing and prescribing other Ways of God's communicating of himself to his Creatures, than what he in his Eternal Counsel fixed upon, and found out.

(2.) If it be neglected through Despair, they cast Contempt up∣on Christ's Blood, as if there was not a Sufficiency in it to cleanse and save them from their Sins; and not only so, but also render God not to be believed, who hath said, There is Life in his Son, and whosoever believes in him shall not perish. Therefore Despair makes God a Liar, as it is a high degree of Unbelief: Moreover, it ren∣ders God to be cruel to his Creatures; for though they fall down at his Feet, and humble themselves, yet the Voice of Despair is, God is only an angry Judg, and clothed with nothing but Wrath and Fury. Nay, and it casteth a disparagement upon the Power and Sufficiency of God to save when he appears in his full united Strength, for so he does manifest himself in Jesus Christ. And hereby such seem to intimate, as if a multitude of Sins could throw God's Mercy into the Depths of the Sea, instead of Mercy's casting our Sins therein, notwithstanding Justice hath received a full Satisfaction for them by the Hands of our Blessed Saviour and Surety.

3. From hence it appears that they who neglect this Salvation through Unbelief, do cast also Contempt upon God's Power to save, rendering him unable to do it by his right Hand, even by Jesus Christ: Man is very apt to question God's Power, like them of old; Can God spread a Table in the Wilderness? All Distrusts arise from Fears and Jealousy, either of the Strength, or else of the Faithfulness and Justice of the Object addressed unto in a Time of Distress; that either the Person is weak and unable to help, or else dishonest and unjust; and though he hath promised to save, to help, yet he will not. Even so it is here, all they that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, from Unbelief and despond∣ing Thoughts, either seem to strip God and Jesus Christ of his Power to save, or else of his Truth and Faithfulness, who hath said, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye Ends of the Earth. And again, He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. A convin∣ced * 1.271 Sinner, before he comes to Christ (nay and sometimes after∣wards too when under Temptation) is apt to say, Can God par∣don my Sins? Can God remit my Sins that are so great? Pray take notice of two Texts of Scripture, the one respects such Sin∣ners that are not awakened, and so seem to presume; the other refers to convinced and awakened Sinners who seem to despair, and yet go on in their Sins.

(1.) Isa. 57. 10. Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy Way; yet sayest thou not, There is no Hope? Thou goest on in thy unjust and

sinful Ways, till thou hast even wearied thy self, as if the Lord should say, and yet thinkest thy State good, wilt not say there is no Hope; but contrariwise thou hast Hope, and dost conclude all is well: these are bold presumptuous Sinners.

Compare this Text with that in Jer. 2. 25. But thou sayest, There is no Hope; No, for I have loved Strangers, and after them I will go. We are very vile, our Consciences reprove us, convince us of our abominable Evils, but there is no Hope, God will not pardon us, nor take us into his Favour; therefore we will go on in our own Ways, and take our swing: These were ashamed of their doings, as the next Verse shews, and yet not so ashamed as to leave their Sins and Doings, and to return to the Lord, but doubted of his par∣doning Grace. We see, say some, there's no ground of Hope, there is no help for such as we, our Hearts are so hard, Corrupti∣ons are so strong in us, there is no Salvation for us; we will there∣fore take our Course, cleave to our Sins and Lovers, and to our old Companions; we will even follow our Trades, and pursue the World, and satisfy our Lusts with Pleasures. Despair sometimes makes Persons desperate; others of this sort grow melancholy, and ready, through Satan's Temptations, to lay violent Hands on themselves, when it prevails far upon them. Now these I say do cast great Reproach upon the Power of God, and his pardoning Grace in Jesus Christ.

4. Such who believe not but neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, cast contempt and dishonour on the Truth of God, they do not give credit to what God says in his Word about Salvation by Jesus Christ, and of that necessity there is of Faith in him, and Union with him, and of being born again, if ever they are saved. If ye believe not * 1.272 that I am he, ye shall die in your Sins. But the Jews would not be∣lieve this. Hence it is said, He that believeth not, maketh God a Liar, * 1.273 because he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son: As such do, who do not believe the Testimony of any Person, though ne∣ver so true. And is it not a horrid Evil to render God a Liar? He saith, Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish; and except a Man * 1.274 be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. But this is not be∣lieved by many Persons, they hope to be saved, though not rege∣nerated.

5. Such who believe not, but neglect the Salvation of the Go∣spel, yet think to be saved, go about to cross and contradict the settled Will and Purpose of God; it is in effect to shew a dislike of God's way of Salvation: The Jews are said not to submit

themselves to the Righteousness of God: they magnified their Wills * 1.275 above the Will of God, liked not of that way of Salvation that he in his Eternal Counsel fixed upon; they will be saved by their own Righteousness; that which God accounts but as filthy Rags, they esteem as a choice Robe. Suppose, Brethren, there was some other Way to be saved than by Christ, yet is it not meet that the Crea∣ture comply with the Will of his Creator? Shall he rebel against his Soveraign? Were there two ways to such or such a City, one by Sea, and the other by Land, and a Prince commands his Ser∣vant to go by Sea, and not by Land, shall he attempt to go by Land, and so cross his Master's Will, and violate his express Com∣mand? But it is not so here, there is but one Way of Salvation; There is no other Name given under Heaven: therefore such must * 1.276 needs be more inexcusable, who neglect this Way, and their Con∣dition dangerous; for let them think what they will, damned they will be at last, whoever they are that neglect this Salvation. But more of that hereafter.

2dly. Those that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, do slight and cast Contempt on Jesus Christ; they seem to undervalue all that he has done: certainly that was not worth his coming from Hea∣ven to Earth to effect, that you do not think worth your while to go a Mile or two to attend upon the Means of, nor worth setting your Thoughts seriously upon. Was our Salvation so great, that he parted with his Life to procure it, and is it not worth your parting with your Sins to have an Interest in it? What is the Voice of the Hearts and Ways of such Sinners? Do not they reproach the Son of God after this manner, Why wast thou so unwise to shed thy Blood to purchase Salvation for us? We do not value it above the Pleasures of the World, we esteem our carnal Delights and earthly Profits more than that Salvation which thou hast wrought.

2. Nay they slight the Person of Christ, who says, Behold me, behold me, look unto me; Can you see me stand knocking at the Door of your Hearts, and refuse to let me in? Should one cry out Pity me, pity me, you will break my Heart, if you do this thing; suppose it be a dear Father or Mother that thus speaks to a Child that takes evil Courses, and the Child regards not the Cry nor Tears of its Parent; would not all say, that such a Child contemn'd his Father? Thus, Sinners, you will be found contemners and slighters of Jesus Christ one Day, if you neglect this so great Salvation;

he stands ready to imbrace you in his Arms, to espouse your Souls, but you slight and despise him and his precious Love in your Hearts.

3. Nay such who neglect this Great Salvation, slight the Voice of Christ's Blood. Sirs, the Blood of Christ cries, his Death has a Voice in it: Hath Christ's Blood been shed to redeem you, to cleanse you from Sin, to save and sanctify your Souls, and will you not hear the loud Cry thereof? Nay, doth not Christ himself cry to you after this manner, Wilt thou continue in thy Sin, and neglect the Salvation I have purchased? What greater Ingratitude, what worse Indignity canst thou cast upon me, and upon that Sacrifice which I have offered up to make thy Peace, and reconcile thee un∣to God? After this manner Christ seems to speak.

4. To neglect this Salvation, is to cross or contradict the grand Design of God in sending his Son into the World; was it not to exalt Jesus Christ, to magnify him? Last of all he sent unto them his * 1.277 Son, saying, They will reverence my Son. God requires and commands all to honour his Son, believe in his Son, receive and imbrace his Son, subject to his Authority; to this End he sent him into the World: But how do such seek to cross the Design of God herein, who prefer their earthly Profits and Pleasures, nay their sinful Ways and wicked Practices, above Jesus Christ and that Salvation he hath purchased? O how great is the Sin of such who neglect this Salvation!

5. Hereby also they abuse the matchless Love, the unspeakable Love and Favour of Jesus Christ; they do not only slight his Per∣son, contemn his Blood, and cross the Design of the Father, but they also abuse and disdain his precious Love, which caused him to take upon him the Form of a Servant, and to yield himself up to the cursed Death of the Cross. Greater Love hath no Man than this, that a Man lay down his Life for his Friend: But Jesus Christ laid * 1.278 down his Life for his Enemies; Whilst we were yet Enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son. And shall Sinners, after the manifestation of such Love, slight him, and the Salvation wrought by him at such a dear Rate? Nay, shall Christ's repeated Calls, Wooings, and Intreaties, be not regarded, who spreadeth * 1.279 forth his Hands all the Day long? Shall any be so ungrateful, so blind, so rebellious, as to let Christ stand all Night at the Door of their Hearts, even till his Head is wet with Dew, and his Locks with the Drops of the Night? This shews the great Evil and Wickedness of * 1.280 those who neglect this great Salvation: Doth not this tend to ex∣pose

the Son of God to shame, to be thus slighted, as if not worth the least regard? Should a Prince come a thousand Miles to court, or offer his Love to a low, a contemptible and base-born Damsel, and she should nevertheless slight him, and give him no entertain∣ment, would not this be deemed an abominable Abuse of his Love, as well as great Contempt cast upon his Person? Sinners are ready to say, there is no comeliness in him that we should desire him: but * 1.281 alas, 'tis because they do not know him; they are blind and see him not, 'tis the carnal Eye that can see no Beauty in Christ; were the Eyes of their Understandings opened, they would be of another Opinion concerning him.

6. The Evil in neglecting of this is so great, that it is (as it were) a piercing of Christ again; nay, and when a poor Sinner is con∣vinced of this great Iniquity, he cries out, What have I done? Have I not grieved, nay, wounded afresh my dear Saviour, by not believing in him, and not receiving the great Salvation offered by him? Though I never saw the Person of Christ, yet I have of∣fered Violence to him in resisting his Authority, despising his Love, and slighting his Salvation. As a Man is guilty of Treason, by a∣basing the Statue or Image of a King, so are Men guilty of the Blood of Christ, and of trampling upon it, when they count it as a Trifle, or unprofitable to their Salvation, seeking Life and Sal∣vation some other ways, or are wholly regardless about it; it is as a Stab at his very Heart, a tearing out (as it were) his Bowels: he suffered willingly all those great Torments which were inflicted up∣on him, to remove from us a necessity of Suffering; had he not stept in to bear our Sins, we had been lost for ever. O why then is not he imbraced by Faith that works by Love! It implies a Sinner has no Love to him, no not so much as to his Sins and Folly; it is a denying the Excellences of Christ, the Preciousness of Christ: for as Faith accounts all things but Dung in comparison of Christ, so (as one observes) Unbelief counts Christ but Dung, Union and * 1.282 Communion with him but Dung, in comparison of this World and the Pleasures of Sin.

7. Those that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, thinking to be saved some other way, do seem to reflect upon, if not despise the Wisdom of Jesus Christ: Do they not charge him with Folly and Inconsiderateness, in undertaking such a Task, such a Work, on such hard Terms, when it might be had some other way? What, suffer such Pain, Sweat, great Drops of Blood, and be nailed to the Cross to procure Salvation for us, which might be

obtained by a sober Life, or by doing to all as they would be done unto, or by following the Dictates of the Light of natural Con∣science, or by our own Inherent Holiness? What did Jesus Christ aim at by shedding of his Blood, but the appeasing of God's Wrath, and the bringing in of an Everlasting Righteousness, and to purchase Grace to sanctify Mens Souls, and to open the Gates of Heaven, which Divine Justice had shut and barr'd up against us? Now certainly those who neglect this Salvation, do either fancy these Blessings are not worth regard or looking after, or else they may be procured by some other Way, and on easier Terms, than by Faith in the Blood of Christ: And is not this to charge our Lord Jesus with Folly; and with the Greeks of old, to account the Preach∣ing of the Cross Foolishness?

8. They render, it is evident, the shedding of Christ's Blood to be in vain, who neglect the Means of this Salvation, and so thereby slight the Blessings which he hath purchased: it must be an undervaluing of the price of Redemption; for that which a Per∣son regards not, though procured at never so dear a rate, he de∣clares was in vain purchased: this is, with a Witness, therefore, lightly to esteem of the Rock of their Salvation: it is to stop their * 1.283 Ears to the Cry of Christ's Blood. His Blood (as you heard) cries to Sinners to apply it to their perishing Souls, and to leave their sinful Ways; but they regard it not, though it seems afresh to stream forth from his Heart in the Virtue of it, and flows through the Pipes of the Gospel in the Offers of it. Did not they who refused to come to the Marriage-Supper, declare, that the King had in vain prepared all those costly Dainties, for let who will come and eat thereof, they will not? And thus many render the bloody Sacrifice to be offered up in vain, by neglecting the Salvation offered in the Gospel.

9. Such also who believe not, but reject and turn their Backs upon the Gospel-Salvation, put Jesus Christ to Grief again: It is * 1.284 said, He was grieved because of the hardness of their Hearts. So God said, he was grieved forty Years with those who believed not in the Wilderness. O how many Years have some of you grieved both the Father and the Son, (to speak after the manner of Men) and is not this a great Evil? Will you grieve and weary out the Heart of God, and the Heart of Jesus Christ?

10. It also gives occasion to Satan, to vaunt, boast and triumph over the Son of God: See, says he, how little these Men and Wo∣men, for whom thou gavest thy self to die the Death of the Cross,

do mind the Salvation thou hast purchased for them; they like and approve of my Ways and Motions, my Offers, better than any thing thou hast procured for them, and dost offer to them. May not Satan insult after this manner over the Lord of Life and Glo∣ry, whilst Sinners close in with his Temptations, and cleave to their Lusts, earthly Profits and Pleasures, and neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel?

3dly. Such who neglect this so great Salvation, offer Violence to the Holy Ghost.

1. They do resist the Holy Spirit, whom God hath sent as his great Messenger, to influence, enlighten and convince their Hearts and Consciences about the Worth and Weightiness of this Con∣cern: He will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of * 1.285 Judgment. Of Sin, because they believe not on me. Because they neglect attending upon the Means of this Salvation, believe not the Necessity there is of this Saviour, nor of Faith in him, and seek it not above all things: Is it a small Matter to resist the Holy Ghost? O lay it to Heart.

2. They grieve the Holy Spirit also, yea, and hereby tire him out so, that he at last withdraws his Influences from the Sinner, and will strive with him no more, like as he did by the World; and if so, the ruin of the Soul will be unavoidable: for without the Holy Spirit no Man can repent, believe, or be renewed, be regenerated, and so come to have Interest in this so great Salva∣tion.

3. Such quench the Spirit who neglect this Salvation, and do not believe; it is to cast Water on that Divine Spark which the Holy Ghost strives to kindle in the Soul of a poor Sinner, or to blow out the Candle of the Lord, (so far as the Sinner is able to do it) whereby Spiritual Light and Knowledg comes to be let into the Heart.

4. Nay, to neglect this Salvation in the Means of it, is as much as may be to hinder the Work and Office of the Holy Spirit in and about this Salvation. The Holy Spirit hath more immediately to do with Sinners; his special Work is to enlighten, to convince of Sin, to work Faith in the Soul, and to renew and sanctify the polluted Heart; and all that neglect this Salvation, or that slight those Convictions they have of the Evil of Sin, or Sense of their woful Condition, do seek to obstruct the King's great Officer and Messenger in the discharge of his Office. Look to it, Sinners, for

if it be deemed a dangerous thing to resist a Constable in the exer∣cise of his Office, because he is the King's Servant, what Danger do you expose your selves to, that oppose, withstand, and strive to hinder the Spirit in the discharge of his great Work and Of∣fice? It is to contemn the King's Ambassador; the Holy Spirit is sent to treat with Sinners in Christ's Name, it is hereby Christ him∣self speaks to them from Heaven: and they that adhere to the Mo∣tions of the Spirit, do adhere to Jesus Christ; and they that op∣pose or resist his Motions, do oppose and resist Christ also. The Holy Spirit is the great Gospel-Blessing promised, to infuse Grace in the Soul: all Grace is from the Spirit; Sinners cannot believe without the Holy Spirit, nor love God: The Love of God is shed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghost. There is no Re∣generation without the Spirit: Those that are born again are born * 1.286 of the Spirit; no Union with Christ without the Spirit, no broken Heart, no Cries, no Tears that will prevail with God without the help of the Spirit: Such that will not adhere to his Motions and Influences, say in their Hearts, that they will not be changed, will not believe nor repent, nor have Christ to be their Prince and Sa∣viour. The Spirit awakens the Conscience, and stirs up Fears in the Soul, and sets before the Sinner's Eyes, his great Evil, Guilt and horrid Pollution; therefore if they refuse the Wooings, In∣treaties and Influences of the Spirit, they must perish for ever.

APPLICATION.

1. O let us lament and mourn over all that neglect this so great Salvation: All Unbelievers and Neglecters of the Means of Sal∣vation, are horridly guilty before the Lord; 'tis hereby all their Sins are bound upon their Consciences, and cleave to them, and are charged upon them, not only Original, but all actual Sin what∣soever.

2. O infinite Love and Patience! May we not stand amazed, and wonder at the long-suffering and forbearance of God? O House of David, (saith the Prophet) is it a small thing for you to * 1.287 weary Men, but will you weary my God also? What greater Wicked∣ness and Ingratitude can there be than this? Will you contemn and resist your Saviour and the Holy Ghost? How long shall God wait upon you? Will he always wait to be gracious? O know that his Mercy will at last be turned into Fury.

3. Unworthy are such to live, to be fed, to be clothed, to be protected and preserved, that thus despise God's Mercy and sove∣reign Goodness: Would a Man feed, clothe, and bestow great Fa∣vours on such that despise, slight and contemn him?

4. What do you think of your selves, Sinners? to you I speak that neglect this so great Salvation. O this is your Sin, you re∣fuse the only Remedy God hath found out to heal and save your Souls, therefore your Damnation will be just and deserved with a witness: You love Darkness rather than Light; you contemn the highest Good, the best of Beings, and the highest Expressions of his Love and Favour; that God that made you, that Christ that spilt his Blood to redeem the worst of Sinners, those Bowels that pitied you, you refuse, and resist that Spirit that would renew you, sanctify you, and make you meet for Heaven, and all this out of love to your base Lusts, your cruel Enemies that seek to destroy and murder your precious Souls. Abhor your selves: Alas, Men do not see what Monsters of Wickedness they are, whilst they neglect this so great Salvation. You sin, I say, against the Remedy, the costly Remedy, the only Remedy, against the Remedy that Infi∣nite Wisdom hath found out, and Infinite Goodness hath vouch∣safed: Yet if you return to God, there is Mercy for you; say, O Lord, now we see our Sin: O that you could but say so in truth, and fall down at the feet of God, and say, Thou hast overcome us with thy Love.

5. Lastly, Here is Comfort for Believers who have received this so great Salvation. O bless God for Faith, cherish the Motions of the Holy Spirit that hath broken your Bonds; you prefer Christ, and the Salvation by Christ, before all things: live worthy of a Part and Interest in this Salvation; you have Salvation, and shall not lose it. O walk so that you may never lose the Joy of it; for that you may do, God may hide his Face, Christ may withdraw himself: if he hath done it, enquire when you had him, and consider what you have done that he hides his Face from you; let the Cause, if it be Sin, be bewailed, and let the loss of him be more grievous to you, than the loss of Comfort from him, and be willing to do any thing to enjoy Christ again.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.288I AM upon the second Proposition that is implied in the Text, viz.

Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected.

The last Time I shewed the great Evil that attended the neglect of Gospel-Salvation, in respect of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Secondly, The second thing proposed was to shew you, what a great Evil this is in respect of the Sinner himself that doth neglect it. But before I proceed to speak to this, let me premise one thing, namely, That we ought first to be sensible of that Evil which is in this and in all Sin, as it is against God; for if our Con∣victions arise not from hence, our Trouble is not right, it flows not from a true Spring or right Principles: It is not sufficient to see our Sin and Evil, as it is against our selves, as it hurts and wounds our own Souls, but chiefly as it is against that God that made us, and sent his Son to redeem us; or as Sin is loathsom and abominable in his sight, tending to eclipse his Glory, nay, to de∣throne him, and frustrate his gracious Design in our Redemption, and bring his Honour under contempt. This, I say, should first of all and chiefly be lamented: Such sin against the Remedy, and highest Goodness, that neglect this Salvation, and the gracious Operations of the Holy Spirit, and so rather adhere to Satan than to God. Suppose a Child under the Rod of his tender Father should cry out, O the Smart, but signify nothing of Sorrow or Grief in offending his Father, would not that rather aggravate his Guilt, or could it tend to please his Father, and to cease laying on of more Stripes? But to come to shew you what a great Evil it is to neglect this Salvation in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Sinner himself.

1. This Sin, this Unbelief, 〈…〉〈…〉, is the Cause why all Sin remains upon the Conscience 〈…〉〈…〉 Sinner. True, God hath transmitted the Guilt of our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ, so that he hath satis∣fied for them; but the Sinner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••eceive this Atonement, but refuses it, and so his Sin, his Guilt and Pollution remains upon

him, Faith being appointed as the Way of the Application of the Remedy.

2. Nay, Sin doth not only remain on such that neglect this Sal∣vation, and refuse Christ, but this Refusal keeps Sin in its full Strength, and binds all Sins fast to the Soul: Sin reigns in them and condemns them; and so doth the Law also, which is the Strength of Sin, because they receive not Jesus Christ, who is the End of the Law, as to its condemning Power, to every one that be∣lieveth, but not to them that reject Christ and believe not.

3. Faith unites to a Holy God, and to a Spotless Saviour, whereby we come to have a Righteousness which discharges us from all Sin, and Wrath due to it; and such are made Holy: But Unbe∣lief continues the Soul in its old Stae, as being united to the old Adam, condemned Adam; all Men are in the first or second Adam, in the dead or living Adam: And as is the dead Adam, so are they that are in him; they are dead, and by the Law condemned, therefore not justified: And as is the living, so are they that are made alive; they live and are acquitted, and can die spiritually no more.

4. This Sin, this Neglect is against a Man's own Life and Hap∣piness: Life is offered to him, but he rejects it, he will not have Life; he has no love to himself, seeks not the preservation of him∣self. Mankind naturally have a special care to preserve themselves, but these chuse Death rather than Life, Sickness rather than Health, Slavery rather than Liberty, Cursing rather than Blessing.

5. Hereby they deprive themselves of all the saving Benefits of Christ's Death, for no adult Person hath or can have any Interest in the Merits of Christ without Faith: He that believeth not, the Wrath of God remains upon him. He that believeth and is baptized, * 1.289 shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Here is in this Salvation, Pardon, Peace, Christ and Everlasting Life; but the Sinner contemns all: My People will have none of me, saith the Lord. And this is the Voice of all that neglect this Salvation, they will not have God, will not have Christ, will not have Life, such is their Ignorance, and the Enmity that is in their Hearts a∣gainst God: These account themselves unworthy of Everlasting Life; and the Death of Christ will be in vain as to them. * 1.290

6. Hereby also they shew they have no Love nor Pity for their Immortal Souls: If they loved their Souls, would they not seek the Salvation of them? Nay, they are cruel to their own Souls: Would not that Man be cruel to his poor Child, that saw it fall

into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and would not endeavour to pluck it ou••; or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it in the Water almost drowned crying out for help, but would not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to save it, nor c•••• for help? O mercil••ss Mortals! What no pit, on your precious Souls that are so dear and near to you? Will you nor cry to God, to Jesus Christ, to pull your Souls out of the Fire, or rescue them out of the Teeth of the devouring Lion? Can there be greater Folly, Madnes or Cruelty than this? O think upon it, you Sinners, that neglect this Salvation.

7. Moreover, their Folly appears further who neglect this Sal∣vation, in that they refuse a Crown, a Kingdom, and to be Heirs, Heirs of God: They may be rich, eternally ri••h, yea, great and honourable for ever, but utterly refuse it. Riches and Honour are * 1.291 with me (saith Christ) yea durable Riches and Righteousness. If any Man (saith our Saviour) serve me, him will my Father honour.

8. Such that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, it doth vet further appear, are very cruel to themselves, and therefore guilty of the greatest Folly imaginable. (Had the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, when they were stung with fiery Serpents, refused to have looked up to the brazen Serpent that was lifted up upon the Pole, when they were in tormenting Pain and Anguish, would it not have shewed great Cruelty to themselves, as well as Mad∣ness?) Sinners are wounded, mortally wounded, they are stung with a worse Serpent than those fiery Serpents: And to look unto Christ by Faith, is the only Cure and Remedy, or the only way to be healed: and as there is no other way, so this is a certain and infallible Cure. But Sinners who neglect this Salvation, refuse to apply this sovereign Balsam to their wounded Souls.

9. Is it not an evil and hurtful thing for a Man to yield himself up to the Counsel and Conduct of a sworn, cruel, and mortal Enemy, who seeks his Blood, and will rip up his Bowels, and tear out hi•• very Heart? But thus they do that neglect this Salvation, they hereby follow the Advice and Counsel of the Devil, who will devour them as a hunger∣starv'd Lion; nay, it is just as if a Man should throw his dear Child into the Lion's Den to be torn in pieces. Suppose a Man in Slavery in Turkey, should be told that his Ransom was paid, and he hath the greatest demonstrations given of it imaginable yet he will not believe it, but says, I will continue here a Slave, and wear these Chains, and be under Bon∣dage to this cruel Tyrant, though I am told that he will murder me at last; would not all say, he deserved not to be pitied, espe∣cially should he behold that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is redeemed by the Blood of his own gracious Sovereign?

10. Is it not an evil thing, and the greatest madness, at the In∣stigation of a bloody and cruel Enemy, for a Man to suffer him to thrust a Sword into his own Bowels; or when wounded at his Inticements, to refuse to apply such a Plaister that would certainly cure his Wounds and save his Life? but thus do all they who ne∣glect this Salvation. Or suppose a Man was almost starved to Death, and Bread is set before him, nay all choice Varieitie, and he is bid to eat; but being perswaded by an Enemy (that hates him, and longs to see him dead) not to eat, but to feed with his Swine on Husks and Grains, would it not be folly with a witness, should he do so? But thus do all those Persons that neglect this Salvation, they refuse to eat of the Bread of Life, or to feed on that costly Supper God hath graciously provided for them in the Gospel, and at the Devil's Inticements feed, as the poor Prodigal did, on Husks which the Swine do eat.

11. Such who neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, do great∣en and aggravate their Sin and Guilt, as our Saviour speaks con∣cerning the Jews; If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had Sin; but now they have no cloak for their Sin: that is, they had * 1.292 not been guilty of Sin to such a degree, their Sin had not been with such Aggravations. Therefore those that have the Salvation of the Gospel offered to them, and they neglect it, or refuse to receive it, shall have the greater Condemnation; it shall indeed be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, nay with Pagans and Insi∣dels, than with them in the Day of Judgment.

12. Moreover, since the way of God's glorifying of all his Bles∣sed Attributes is despised and utterly rejected, by those who ne∣glect this Salvation, all the Attributes will rise up and plead against such Sinners to condemn them.

1. Divine Wisdom may plead against them, and call for Judgment with the greatest severity to be executed upon them, because that * 1.293 way of Salvation which Infinite Wisdom contrived and determined in the Eternal Council, is rejected, slighted and contemned.

2. The Veracity, or Truth of God, may plead against all Sinners that neglect this Salvation, because the Sacred Precepts of the Go∣spel are not obeyed, nor the Threats feared, nor the faithful Pro∣mises thereof believed.

3. Divine Power may rise up and plead against such Sinners, be∣cause that Almighty Arm which is stretched forth in working out this Salvation, is not took hold of to save them, and therefore it shall be stretched out to destroy them: Who shall be punished with

Everlasting Destruction from the Presence of God, and from the Glory * 1.294 of his Power. That will be the Time when God will make the Power of his Wrath and Anger known: Who (saith the Psalmist) knows the Power of thine Anger? as is thy Fear, so is thy Wrath. * 1.295

4. Divine justice may rise up against all those who neglect this Salvation, and exact the p••iment of all the Debts the Sinner owes and stands charged with, because the Satisfaction made by Jesus Christ, our blessed Surety, is contemned, utterly neglected, or not accepted of, they not believing; Faith being the only way ap∣pointed for Interest therein, and for the Benefit thereof.

5. Moreover, Divine Mercy and Goodness will come forth and plead against the Sinner, and be turned into Fury, since such Infi∣nite Grace and Favour, and Sovereign Bowels, are not regarded, but utterly slighted and neglected: And wo be to those that Mer∣cy it self appears against, and calls for execution of Wrath upon.

6. And the Law also will rise up and condemn all those that ne∣glect this Salvation, because the only way by which its Glory shines forth, and by which its Breach is repaired, and its Honour is raised, is slighted: the Law will break forth with its bitter Curses, and throw the Souls of such into Hell in sury, who neglect this Sal∣vation.

7. Nay, Jesus Christ himself will also rise up and condemn all neglecters of this Salvation, because all his Infinite Love and Grace which he hath shewed, and Pain and Anguish which he hath endured to work it out, is slighted and trod under-foot; he will change his Lamb like Nature, and appear like a Lion, to tear all such into pieces. In a word, it puts a Sword, as it were, into the Hands of all the Attribute, of God, and a Sword into the Hand of the Law of God, nay into the Hand of Jesus Christ, to cut down and utterly to destroy their Souls; which Divine Wrath will speedily execute with Vengeance, if they proceed on in their evil way, and do not embrace this so great Salvation.

8. This is not a Sin against the killing Letter, but against the healing Spirit; and it is a casting Dirt upon all God's blessed At∣tributes, as they display their highest Glory, or are dressed in their richest R••bes, or appear in their most sublime Perfections. Sup∣pose a Traitor should cast Dirt upon a Prince, or spit in his Face when he is but in his common Dress, would not that be deemed an abominable thing? but much more odious, should he do it as he fits on his Throne, when his Crown is on his Head, and hath all

his Royal Robes upon him, and his Scepter in his Hand, and all his Nobles about the Throne. God in this Salvation appears in his high and sublime Glory, as displaying his highest Beauty, Splen∣dor, and Honour of all the Perfections of his unwordable and in∣conceivable Being, even the Depths of Infinite Wisdom, Justice, Power, Holiness and Goodness: Therefore wo to those Sinners who slight and neglect this Salvation.

Thirdly, The third thing that I proposed to speak unto, was to * 1.296 shew you the greatness of their Sin who neglect this Salvation, with respect had to him by whose Influences, and at whose In∣stigations they neglect it, and that is the Devil. Satan stirs up Men to slight and neglect this so great Salvation: Is it not sad that Men should adhere to the grand Enemy of their Souls? If our Go∣spel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of those that believe not.

Satan acts out of Malice to Mankind, in seeking Ways and Means to blind their Eyes: He hath many Devices whereby he strives to do this, which I shall not now insist upon; he shews them the Glory of this World, thereby to allure them into his hungry Jaws, to devour them and destroy their Souls for ever: He has many Nets spread, and Multitudes are caught by him, either one way or another.

1. Some he deprives of this Salvation, through love of sinful Profits or worldly Gain: This way he destroyed the young Man mentioned in the Gospel that came running to Christ; and also Demas who forsook the Gospel, and fell away for love to the sinful Profit of this evil World. And how many daily, by Earthly∣mindedness, and abominable Covetousness, lose this Salvation, through the Craftiness of the Devil, and the Evil of their own Hearts.

2. Some by sinful Honours: O how many love worldly Gran∣dure, and a Name among Men, above the Salvation of their Souls! These are like those jews who are said to believe on Christ, * 1.297 but did not confess him, for fear of being put out of the Synagogue; for they loved the praise of Men, more than the praise of God.

3. Others by earthly Pleasures and sinful Delights, he catches in his Net and makes a Prey of.

4. Also Multitudes he destroys, by cursed Errors and damnable Heresies: That way he deceives them, and robs them of this Sal∣vation, concluding, that those Principles they have sucked in, are

the undoubted Truths of Jesus Christ, and do not doubt of the Goodness of their Condition.

Fourthly, And lastly, Consider the Vanity of all those things, for the take of which Men neglect this so great Salvation. What is Sin, the Pleasures of Sin, or all the R••••hes and Glory of this World, when compared to the Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ? Sin is the Soul's Sickness, the Scabs and Sores, the Plague and Poi∣son of the Soul; 'tis the Sp••wn of the old Serpent, and yet Sin∣ners lick it up, and esteem it above all that Good that is in God and in Jesus Christ, and value it more than the Crown of Glory in Heaven. Sin is the Leprosy and Plague of the Soul; 'tis compa∣red to the rottenness and stinking Putre action of a filthy Sepul∣chre, nay, to the superfluity of Naughtiness: O that Men should * 1.298 neglect so great Salvation, and expose themselves to eternal Flames and Wrath in Hell, for love to that which the Holy Ghost thus paints out, and discovers the detestable Nature of!

Besides, how soon are Men deprived of all those things which their deceived Hearts are set upon; they are not sure of enjoying them one Day, no not for one Hour! O how soon will all the * 1.299 seeming Sweet of Sin, and of this World, be turned into Bitter, and all earthly Joy into Sorrow, all their Pleasures into eternal Pain and Misery! And O how will they cry out against themselves for slighting the Salvation of their Souls, for the sake of, and love to these things, when it will be too late!

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.300I Closed the last Day with the second Point of Doctrine, name∣ly, That the great Salvation of the Gospel may be neglected. I shall now proceed to the third and last Proposition.

Doct. 3. There is no possibility for such, or any one Soul of them, to escape, that neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel.

• First, I shall shew you what it is they cannot escape.
• Secondly, Why they cannot escape.
• Thirdly, When or at what time they shall not escape.
• Fourthly, Shew why the Gospel hath such fearful Comminations and Threatnings contained in it.

First, They shall not escape the Curse of the Law, (which all un∣godly and unbelieving Sinners lie under); for no Man is, nor can be delivered from the Curse thereof, but only those who believe in Jesus Christ, and embrace the Salvation of the Gospel; For Christ is the End of the Law for Righteousness, to every one that * 1.301 believeth: to them that believe, and to every one of them, but not to those that believe not. Christ hath born the Curse of the Law, he by his actual Obedience fulfilled the Righteousness thereof; and by bearing the Penalty of it (which our Sins incurr'd) by his Death, he hath delivered all that believe from the Curse thereof: but the Curse of it remains on all them who receive not Jesus Christ, it hath its full blow and stroke on all Gospel neglecters, because it is by him and no other ways we can be delivered from the Curse thereof.

2. Therefore it follows in the second place, that they cannot be delivered from the Guilt and Punishment of their Sins, their Sins lie upon them, they are charged upon all that neglect or refuse the Salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ: It is the Decree of the Eternal God, that all such that believe not shall bear their own Sins, because they reject Jesus Christ who hath born the Punishment that was due to Sin. Some conceit that they need not this Salvation, need not the Righteousness of Christ, or Faith in Christ, and this through Ignorance, concluding their State is good. Jesus said un∣to them, If ye were blind, ye should have no Sin: but now ye say, We * 1.302 see; therefore your Sin remaineth. They thought their own Righ∣teousness was sufficient, and were ignorant of God's Righteous∣ness, and hence the Guilt of their Sin remaineth upon them.

3. All those that neglect this so great Salvation, shall not escape the Wrath of God: This follows as the natural Consequence of the former; Divine Wrath parsues them, and every Soul of them that believe not, but refuse the Grace of God offered by Jesus Christ in the Gospel, like as the avenger of Blood pursued the Man slayer under the Law: The Cities of Refuse were a type of Christ; 'tis to him all guilty Sinners must fly, if they escape the Wrath and Vengeance of God: Divine Justice is only satisfied in

Christ; and Sinners for not accepting and receiving by Faith that Atonement, and pleading that Satisfaction he hath made, Wrath follows them even at their Heels, and will strike them down: He * 1.303 that believeth not, shall not see Life; but the Wrath of God abideth on him. Wrath is upon all naturally, we are all by Nature the Chil∣dren of Wrath, but it remains no longer upon them that believe, but it abideth on such that believe not.

4. They shall not escape the Damnation of Hell, or everlasting Burning: Our Saviour (speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees) saith, How can ye escap•• the Damnation of Hell? Yet they were a * 1.304 People that appeared outwardly righteous to Men, and boasted that they were not Extortioners, Vnjust, Adulterers, or such as Publi∣cans were. But alas, no Righteousness will carry a Man to Heaven, * 1.305 but a perfect, compleat, sinless Righteousness. Paul was not an Hypocrite, as some of the Pharisees were, before he believed; yet his Righteousness, tho according to the Letter of the Law, was such, that few attained unto; As touching the Righteousness which is of the * 1.306 Law, saith he, I was blameless: yet he esteemed it but Dung in comparison of God's Righteousness, and renounced it all in point of Justification, that he might be found in Christ. And as it is Christ's Righteousness that is our Title for Heaven, so it is his Death, his bearing the Punishment of Sin, that delivers us from eternal Damnation in Hell. Hell is a fearful Place, it is made deep and large; The Fire is not quenched, and the Worm dieth not: * 1.307 and that Place is prepared for all Unbelievers, for all who conti∣nue in their Sins, and under the Power of Unbelief, and neglect this so great Salvation, the Damnation of which they cannot e∣scape.

Secondly, I shall shew you the Reasons why such cannot, shall not escape God's eternal Wrath, that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel. * 1.308

1. It is because this is the way, yea, the only way which Infi∣nite Wisdom hath found out for the Salvation of our Souls: If there is but one way to cure a Mortal Disease that may seize upon a Person, then if he neglect that one Remedy, he must die. Sirs, as there is but one way to escape starving, and that is, to eat; so there is but one way to escape perishing, and that is by believing, or by feeding on Jesus Christ, or by eating of his Flesh, and drink∣ing of his Blood. There are many ways to be damned, but there is but one way to be saved. Verily verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life * 1.309

in you. If you neglect this way of Salvation, there is no other way whereby you can be saved; Neither is there Salvation in any other * 1.310, for there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we must be saved.

2. Such that neglect this Salvation, cannot, shall not escape the Wrath of God, because it is just and equal that all such Persons who slight and neglect this Salvation, should be destroyed, and that for ever. (1.) By reason they neglect an Offer of Pardon and Peace, contrived by the Infinite Wisdom of God, and it is the highest Demonstration of admirable Mercy and Goodness; therefore there cannot be a higher Indignity and Contempt cast upon God's Sovereign Grace and Favour. Many of those Sinners that neglect this Salvation, are so vile and ungrateful, as not to enquire what this Grace means, nor on what Terms this Salvation may be had: And is not this in plainness to tell the Holy God, that they scorn his Love and Goodness, and despise the Offers of Peace and Reconciliation by Jesus Christ, and fear not what he can do unto them; and so no less than a trampling the Blood of Christ under their Feet? Let Men deal thus with their provoked Rulers, or with an earthly Prince, when guilty of High-Treason, and see how unpitied they will die, yea, be drawn, hang'd and quartered. What, guilty of the worst of Treason, and have an Offer of Pardon, and slight or neglect the suing of it out? How equal and just a thing would it be that such should die? So it will be here, Brethren, God will not be mocked: Sinners shall one Day see what it is to neglect the Salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ, I mean, the Way and Means of the Application thereof; they will be forced to subscribe to the Righteousness, Justice and Equity of their own Damnation, in loving and cleaving to their Lusts, and counting their earthly Riches, Pleasures and Honours, better than Jesus Christ, and a part in this Salvation. Remember it is the Sinner's own Salvation that he neglecteth, it is his own Good, his own Cure, his own Relief, his own Happiness: Can any perish more justly and deservedly, than such who refuse to be saved, who choose Death rather than Life, and Darkness rather than Light?

3. They cannot, shall not escape, because it is Salvation in such a way, a way that cost so dear, even the Blood of the Son of God: Should the King yield up his own Son as a Sacrifice to answer the Law for a cursed Traitor, and yet he should despise and slight his Goodness, how would that aggravate his Guilt? O with what a

Price is this Salvation procured, by what a Sacrifice! What Tears did Christ shed! O what drops of Blood did he sweat! and what Wrath did he bear! What a Curse did he undergo, to save us from Hell and Death! How can any think to escape that neglect the Means of this Salvation?

4. Because it is Salvation on such easy Terms as to us; had God offered Sinners Salvation on hard and difficult Terms, their Sin might not seem to be attended with such Aggravations. Had God required a thousand Rams, or ten thousand Rivers of Oil of eve∣ry * 1.311 one that would be saved; or to sacrifice their Sons and Daugh∣ters, or their First-born, the Fruit of their Bodies for the Sin of their Souls, this would seem hard: but none of this God requires of us, it shall not be, must not be our Son, our Child, our First-born, but his Son, the holy Child Jesus, his First-born, that must die or be a Sacrifice for our Sins: it must be my Son, as if God should say; and all that I require of you, is to apply his Blood, and to sacri∣fice your Sins in love to me.

5. That which the Apostle builds the Righteousness of God's proceeding against such that neglect this Salvation upon, and shews the unavoidableness of their perishing from, is the greatness of the Salvation it self. Shall God's Justice be eclipsed, shall his Honour be marr'd, his Goodness be despised, his Law be violated, his Holiness stained? it would be thus, should such be saved who neglect and slight this Salvation: Therefore all such cannot escape his Wrath.

6. The Apostle further argues the impossibility of their escap∣ing who neglect this great Salvation, from that impossibility there was of their escaping who refused to hear Moses: For if the Word spoken by Angels was stedfast, and every Transgression and Disobedience * 1.312 received a just Reward; How shall we escape? &c. It was a just Re∣ward they received for their Sins and Disobedience: And if so, how shall these escape? God will render a just Retribution, a righ∣teous and proportionable Punishment, it will be far worse, or much greater; howbeit, it is against greater Light, greater Grace, and despising a Person of far greater Honour and Dignity: He that despised Moses Law, died without Mercy, under two or three Wit∣nesses. Of how much sorer Punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought * 1.313 worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Blood of the Son of God? &c. Sirs, to love Sin, to love this World, or any Person or Thing a∣bove Jesus Christ, is in effect to tread the Son of God under your Feet, 'tis such an undervaluing and vilifying of him. God doth,

as it were, propound the Case to us, he would have Sinners them∣selves to be Judges how just their Condemnation will be if they ne∣glect this Salvation; and also the Nature and Quality, or Degree of it; Of how much sorer Punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy? &c. God at the last Day will so justly and righteously proceed against wicked Men, that their Reward shall be judged reasonable in their own Judgment, and by their own Consciences.

7. They shall not escape, because Mercy and Grace is sinned a∣gainst, principally, by all that neglect this Salvation: Mercy will, as you have heard, plead against them. And if Mercy be their Enemy, if Goodness it self rise up against them, where will they find a Friend to appear for them?

8. They shall not escape, because God hath absolutely and una∣voidably decreed the Destruction and eternal Damnation of all those that believe not, but neglect this Salvation: His Decree, his Counsel and Purpose shall stand; He that believeth not, shall be * 1.314 damned.

9. It is because the Sinner is not able to deliver himself out of God's Hand: If he escape, it must be from one of these two Con∣siderations.

• 1. That either God must change his Purpose, his absolute De∣cree and Counsel.
• 2. Or else the Sinner must get out of God's Hand, and so deli∣ver himself.

Now it is impossible God's Mind should change, or his absolute Decree be made void; his Decree shall stand, and he will do all his Pleasure: God will be true, and not make himself a Liar to save the guilty Sinner. And that it is impossible for the Sinner to get out of God's Hands, is evident, because God is Omnipotency it self: whither can he fly from his Presence? Who can stand before (or escape) his Indignation? Therefore there is no way for such * 1.315 to escape God's Wrath, who neglect this Salvation.

APPLICATION.

1. O bless God for this Salvation, and value it according to the Nature, Worth, and Greatness of it.

2. Bewail all ungodly Persons, who are found slighters and neglecters of it, and mourn over them. O how sad is their Conditi∣on! May be you have some in your Families that are Neglecters of it, may be a Wife, a Husband, or Children, that do not regard

it, but are ungodly, and neglect the Means of Grace; how should what you have heard move you to pity them, to weep over them, to pray for them, and strive with them.

3. Examine your selves, whether you have not, or do not ne∣glect this Salvation? Do you make it your chief Business to get an Interest in Christ? Do you prefer the Means of Salvation above all things in the World? What time do you take to seek God, to pray to him, to hear his Word? And with what Zeal, Love, Faith and Diligence do you do all these things? Do you not defer Soul-Concernments to another time? O see to it, and examine your selves; Do you not rest upon something or another short of Christ? Doth the Power of Grace appear in your Hearts and Lives?

4. This may teach Believers to bear up under all Trials and Fears: Let what will come, they are safe who have an Interest in this great Salvation; other Salvations are nothing to this, and if we should not be saved from the Wrath of Man, but must lose our Liberty, and be exposed to Death and Dangers here in this World, yet it will go well with us if this Salvation is ours. Let what Judg∣ments can come upon the Land, thou hast got a sure Sanctuary, God is thy Help and thy Salvation. Brethren, there are many sad Effects that do attend those that neglect, continually neglect this Salvation, whilst they are in this World, as Manifestations of God's Displeasure, As,

1. God withdraws the Influences of his Spirit from them, after they have for a long time resisted it, in the common Motions there∣of, even to such a Degree, that it shall strive with them no more: thus God dealt with the old World.

2. God gives such up at last to blindness of Mind, so that they in seeing, see not; and in hearing, hear not, neither do they understand. * 1.316 And in them is fulfilled the Prophecy of Esaias, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not per∣ceive. The Word of God, if neglected, and not received, that it may become a Savour of Life unto Life, will become a Savour of Death unto Death, it either softens or hardens Mens Hearts.

3. God gives them up to their own Hearts Lusts, as God by the Psalmist says, My People would not hearken to my Voice: and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Lusts; * 1.317 and they walked in their own Counsels.

4. Nay sometimes God takes away the Gospel from them, as he did from the Jews that rejected Christ, refused the chief corner-Stone:

Therefore I say unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken * 1.318 from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof. What can be a worse Judgment? this befel that People, and it hath not been restored to them ever since. When God removes the Go∣spel, it may be long before he lets a People have it again, nay per∣haps never.

5. Moreover, for neglecting the great Salvation, God some∣times brings upon a People or Nation fearful temporal Judgments, and puts them, it may be, into the Hands of cruel Enemies: For thus he dealt with the unbelieving Jews, he brought the Romans in upon them, that burned their City and Temple; so that it is said, Wrath came upon them to the uttermost. * 1.319

6. God sometimes will not save Persons with Temporal Salvati∣on, because they neglect Spiritual Salvation, so that they may read their Sin (if the Lord opens their Eyes) in their Punishment. But it is not God's usual way under this Dispensation, to inflict Temporal Punishment on such that neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, but he reserves his Wrath to another World; and there∣fore let none think, though they escape his Judgments here, that they shall escape his Judgments and Wrath hereafter; that they shall not be able to do, as you heard. But no more at this Time.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.320I AM upon the third and last Point of Doctrine, which I ob∣served from our Text, viz. That there is no possibility for such, or any one Soul of them, to escape, that neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel.

The last Day I shewed you,

• First, What those things are which they shall not escape.
• Secondly, Why they cannot, shall not escape, who are guilty of this Neglect.

• Thirdly, I am now to shew you, When or at what Times they that neglect Gospel-Salvation shall not escape.

1. In the Day of common Calamities, and desolating Judg∣ments * 1.321 that will come upon the Earth; there is, Beloved, a dismal Hour spoken of in God's Word, that is not yet come, yet no doubt it is very near, in which but a few shall escape: I am afraid many good Men, who have been remiss and negligent in and about the great Concerns of Christ, and of their own Souls, shall not escape; I mean, they may fall in that Hour by Temporal Judg∣ments. God in the last Days will pour out the Fierceness of his Wrath; For my Determination is to gather the Nations, that I may assemble the Kingdoms, to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce Anger; for all the Earth shall be devoured with the Fire of my * 1.322 Jealousy: compared with Nahum 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It will be with the Ungodly then, as it befel the People of Old, according to the Prophecy of the Prophet Jeremiah Therefore thus saith the Lord, * 1.323 Behold, I will bring Evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Our Saviour alludes to that Time of which I speak, Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these * 1.324 things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. O who shall stand when God appears in the latter-Day-Judgments which are now just at the Door? There are a few which he hath set his Mark upon, that shall be hid; and they are such that sigh and mourn for all the Abominations that are committed in the Land. * 1.325 They of them that escape, shall escape, and they shall be on the Moun∣tains like Doves of the Valley, every one mourning for his own Iniquities. O what an amazing Hour will that be, when the seven Vials of God's Wrath shall be poured out upon the Kingdom of the Beast! the Earthquake is near, look for it, and the Midnight Cry not far off. Be sure there is such a distressing Hour approaching upon the World, that those that have, and shall still neglect this Salvation, when it comes shall not escape.

2. They that neglect this Salvation, shall not escape in the Day of Conscience; I mean, escape the Torments of an enraged, ac∣cusing and condemned Conscience: and sometimes the Conscience is awakened, and is let out upon the Sinner here in this World, before the Soul is separated from the Body. How many through the Guilt of their horrid Sins have been this way tormented: Some Mens Sins are open before-hand, going before to Judgment; and some * 1.326 Men follow after. Some Mens Sins are discovered by themselves, through that great Guilt that lies upon them; or others discover them, or God himself brings their Sins to light; and by this

means they sometimes pass Judgment upon themselves, and may be a severe Judgment; or Men pass Judgment upon them; or perhaps more directly to the Purport of the Holy Ghost in the Text, the Church passeth Judgment, or a righteous and just Church-Censure upon them for their great Sins. But what a severe Judgment in the day of Conscience did poor Spira and Child pass upon themselves for their Iniquities? However those cannot escape who trifle in the matters of Religion, or neglect the great Salvation in such a time; when God lets Conscience out upon them, their Sorrow and Misery is very great: and if it be so bitter a thing to fall into our own Hands, I mean to fall into the Hands of our own Conscience, what a fearful thing is it to fall into the Hands of the living God? God giveth to some Men the Name he gave to Pashur, even Magor-Missa∣bib, that is, Fear and Terror on all sides; he makes them a Terror to * 1.327 themselves, and to all their Friends, so that they are all afrightned, reflecting on their sad and miserable Condition, partly by Terror within, and partly by Judgments without.

3. Those that neglect this Salvation shall not escape at the Hour of Death; may be some of them may go on quietly in their Sins, and not fall under the Accusations and Terror of their guilty Con∣sciences: Conscience may be asleep, or seared with a hot Iron; but at Death, I mean as soon as the Soul departs, they will be with a witness awakened, and then they shall see they cannot escape; nay, all hope and possibility of escaping is then gone for ever. True, many as soon as struck with Death roar out and find no escaping; others may be God then in his Infinite Mercy may shew the way of an escape; but when dead, if ungodly, if they have neglected this Salvation, they lift up their Eyes in Hell with the rich Glutton, being in Torment. Remember if Death comes upon you * 1.328 before you have got an Interest in Christ, or a part in this Salva∣tion, you cannot then and at that time escape.

4. They shall not escape in the Day of Judgment, in the Day when Christ shall come. For when they shall cry, Peace and Safety, then sudden Destruction cometh upon them, as Travail upon a Woman with * 1.329 Child, and they shall not escape: Tho Sinners escape here in this World, yet they shall not escape in that day, they shall not be able to deliver themselves out of God's Hands; nor shall any be able to deliver them. The Wicked shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath; * 1.330 they shall not come willingly to Christ's Bar, but they shall be brought forth, dragged as it were to hear their Sentence, which will be, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Mat. * 1.331

Devil and his Angels. If the Righteous scarcely are saved, where shall * 1.332 the Vngodly and Sinner appear! they will not be able to stand in the Judgment: O what Dread and Horror will then seize upon them! they that give the greatest Diligence, take the greatest Care about the Salvation of their So 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are saved with much difficulty: 'tis a narrow Way and a strait Ga••e that leads to Life: Through much Tribulation and Temptations we enter into the Kingdom of God; and if this ••e so, what will become of them in the great Day that have wholly neglected this great Salvation? If the Righteous be scarcel•• saved, the Wicked shall certainly perish and be damned.

Quest. What is the Nature of that Wrath which none of them that neg∣lect this Salvation shall escape?

Answ. I answer, it is great Wrath, Wrath proportioned accor∣ding * 1.333 to the Greatness of their Sin: as the Salvation ••••ighted is great Salvation, so the Wrath that such shall bear will be great Wrath.

1. It is incensed Wrath, therefore great Wrath, such Wrath that hath been long a kindling in the Heart of God for the Abuse of his Mercy and Infinite Goodness:

2. It is intolerable Wrath, therefore great Wrath; the Torment of the Heathen that never heard of this Salvation shall be more to∣lerable, more easy to bear, than the Wrath which is poured out in Hell upon such that neglect the Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ: Nay, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for them.

3. It is infinite Wrath. Who knows the Power of thine Anger? even * 1.334 according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath: it bears full Proportion to the Fear of it; nay, who is able to arrive to the full Sense, Fear and Apprehension of God's Infinite Wrath? it is inconceivable Wrath: as God's Love and Goodness is inconceivable, infinite, incompre∣hensible, which all that love him shall partake of to Eternity; so on the other hand, his Wrath and vindictive Vengeance is un∣expressible, nay inconceivable, which will be let out upon the Un∣godly. Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Pre∣sence * 1.335 of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. Mark it, from the Glory of his Power, from the Greatness of God's Power, ex∣alted Power; O it appears to be amazing Wrath, were this conside∣red well and laid to Heart!

4. It will be unmixt Wrath, or Wrath without Mixture: the Wrath of God that is let out here in this World is full of Mixture; nay, that which hath been let out upon the Spirits and Consciences

of Men hath had some mixture in it, some Ease mixt with Anguish, some mitigation of Pain and Horror, some Mercy mixt with Mi∣sery; but in Hell the Wrath of God is unmixed Wrath, it is all pure Wrath, nothing but Wrath. The same shall drink of the Wine of God's Wrath, which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his * 1.336 Indignation, and he shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone, &c.

5. It is fierce Wrath; it is called the fierce Wrath of the Lord, a Metaphor taken from a fierce and amazing devouring Fire. Sin∣ners are commanded to seek the Lord before the Decree bring forth, * 1.337 before the Day pass as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon them. I he Heat of Anger, inraged Anger and Fury: Behold, the Day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with Wrath and fierce Anger. * 1.338

6. It is irresistable Wrath, no withstanding it, no making Head against it; Wrath breaks forth against the Sinner like a Giant or mighty Army, that none can resist nor stand before: Who can stand * 1.339 before his Indignation? and who can abide the fierceness of his Anger? his Fury is poured out like Fire, &c.

7. It is just and deserved VVrath, Wrath that is due to such who slight and neglect so great Salvation; it is the Wages of Sin, of such Sin, it is their just Due and Desert, as Wages are due to a Servant. Every one says, With-hold not from the Hireling his Wages. A Servant when he hath done his Work must be paid his Wages, it is right and just that he should have it; so it is Right and Justice in God thus to reward all those who abuse his Mercy, and neglect his Salvation, so great Salvation. God will propor∣tionate every Man's Reward according to the nature and degree of his Sin.

8. It is heavy Wrath, David complained of the Heaviness of his Sin: Alas! it was no doubt, as Mr. Caryl notes, from the Appre∣hension of the Anger and Wrath of God: Mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as a heavy Burden, they are too heavy for me. I have * 1.340 offended thee, I fear thy Displeasure, my Sin deserves thy Wrath; but tho there are Mountains of Iniquity upon unconverted Sinners, they feel no Weight, they make light of it, they sport at it: but when Wrath comes once to be laid upon them, they will feel how heavy that is; who can bear this Burden, or stand under this Weight? When Wrath was laid upon our Blessed Saviour, how heavy did he find it? it made him sweat great drops of Blood, it almost crushed him down unto the Earth: one Sin is heavy, and if God lay the Weight, I mean the Guilt of it, upon the Soul, it will crush it down to Hell. O then what a Weight will that be which

will lie upon Sinners, when the Burden or Weight of all their Sins are laid upon them! and none to take that Weight off of them for ever, how low will it sink them!

9. It is eternal Wrath, everlasting Wrath, Wrath that will ne∣ver cease; They shall be punished with everlasting Destruction. He shall * 1.341 be tormented with Fire and Brimstone in the presence of his holy Angels; and in the presence of the Lamb; and the Sincke of their Torment ascen∣deth up for ever and ever. O what a wosul Condition will all those be in, that God lets out such Wrath upon! How lamentable is and will be their State, who neglect this so great Salvation! Can you think of these things you that slight the Offers of God's Grace in Jesus Christ, and not tremble!

APPLICATION.

1. O what a Mercy have they obtained that are delivered from such Wrath, such heavy Wrath! As no Man is able to bear the Wrath of God, so no Man is able to get away from it when it hath took hold of him; he cannot escape from that which he cannot endure. Alas! the Devils themselves shall be tormented with all Unbelievers, and they cannot escape with all their Powers of Darkness; and in∣deed this will add to the Torment of the Wicked, I mean to be yoked in Hell-Torments with such Companions, to be forced to abide for ever with Devils, who perhaps will add then to their Mi∣sery, and aggravate their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by upbraiding them with their Folly in believing him who was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Father of Lies, and to contemn so great Salvation for the sake o•• very Vanity, for the love to Sin, or love to the transitory Pleasures and Riches of this evil World.

2. We may also from hence see cause to admire the Love of Jesus Christ, who bore the Wrath of God for us: Certainly had not he had the Power of the Deity to uphold him, he could not have born that Wrath that was so heavy upon him. O love and honour this blessed Saviour, who hath saved you that believe from such Wrath! His Blood hath quenched this flaming Fire, so that you shall never feel what the Wrath of God is. Brethren, remember we could not be delivered from the Wrath of God, unless Jesus Christ did bear it in our stead, even Jesus who delivered us from Wrath to come: * 1.342 our Jonas was thrown into the Sea of Wrath to save us from sink∣ing down to the bottom of eternal Wrath.

3. And may not this stir you up that are ungodly Persons to flee from Wrath to come? Why do you stand making a Pause as it were?

O haste to Jesus Christ, come to him, for that is the way, and the only way, as you have heard, to be delivered from Wrath. You know not how near you are to fall under the Wrath of God, and then it will be too late: God gives you space to repent, and to take hold of his Salvation; you will, Sinners, have no Excuse, no Plea in the great Day if you neglect the Day of your Visi••ation, and slight the Offers of God's Infinite Grace and Favour! Can you bear the Wrath of God? Are you willing to try how heavy it is? We read of an eternal Weight of Glory, that will be a good Weight, not * 1.343 a burdensome Weight, not an oppressing Weight, it is called a Weight of Glory because of the Greatness of it, the Excellency of it: But know, as there is a blessed Weight, or a Weight of Blessedness, so there is a Weight of Misery, or a miserable Weight; yea, it is such a Weight as will crush the strongest Giant like a M••th, and break the Bones of the Mighty.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.344Fourthly, THE last thing I proposed to do, was, To shew you why the Gospel is attended with dreadful Threatnings as well as gracious Promises: And this I shall, God assisting, speak unto at this time.

1. It may be in regard of him whose Word it is; Where the Word of a King is (saith Solomon) there is Power.* 1.345 Shall not the Majesty of God the great Law-giver be feared? If I am a Master, where is my Fear?* 1.346 Brethren, awful Threatnings become the Quality and Dignity of Christ's Person. True, in the Days of his Humiliation, as touching those Personal Injuries and Wrongs done unto him, he suffered, and threatned not;* 1.347 yet nevertheless for the Contempt of his Grace, Salvation, and infinite Goodness in the Gospel, it is other∣wise, he doth now pronounce dreadful Threats: Bring out those mine Enemies that would not have me to reign over them, and slay them be∣fore me.* 1.348

2. Too great Lenity and Mercy we see among Men, causes Con∣tempt of the Person of a Prince, it makes impudent Rebels ready

to insult over him. And now, Brethren, because it seems not to please the Wisdom of God, or not to be good in his sight, who is the great Soveraign of Heaven and Earth, commonly to inflict Temporal Punishment on Gospel-Slighters and Gospel-Neglecters, but to reserve their Punishment to another World; shall not he therefore tell them what they must expect to meet with and un∣dergo hereafter, if they rebel against him, contemn his Goodness, Clemency and Mercy? Is it meet that the Holy God should strike before he threatens, or not shoot off his Warning-Piece before he lets fly his Murdering-Piece? Can that stand consistent with his In∣finite Goodness and Wisdom? Shall he come secretly on his Enemies before he tells them of their danger? Shall he condemn that in his Creatures which he allows in himself? Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet * 1.349 thy God, O Israel. It is God's good Pleasure, as well as it is the Property of his merciful Nature, to discover the future Misery of Rebellious Sinners to them before he brings that Misery and Ruin upon them.

3. Shall the Laws of the Servant be clothed with fearful Com∣binations and Threatnings against the Transgressors thereof; and shall the Law of the great Soveraign (or Gospel of) Jesus Christ himself, have none at all? that might seem strange indeed, especially considering those that disobey or believe not the Gospel, shall meet with far greater Punishment. If the Word spoken by An∣gels were stedfast, and every Transgression and Disobedience received a just Recompence of Reward; How shall we escape? &c. This being so, there is reason that the Gospel should be accompanied with awful Threats.

4. Because of the greatness of the Sins of such who do refuse, reject, or neglect the Grace and Mercy of God offered by Jesus Christ: Certainly the Abuse of the greatest Goodness calls for the severest Denunciation of Divine Wrath and Vengeance, Man himself being Judg: Of how much sorer Punishment suppose you shall he be thought worthy? Do you judg, to whom I appeal, what sore, what bitter, what grievous and unexpressable Wrath and Judgments they deserve, who conten••n Jesus Christ, or prove Apostates, Re∣volters, and Backsliders from the Gospel, and slight his precious Blood, ••••ead under 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Son of God? Sure such deserve worse Punishment than those who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against Moses's Law. Now the greatness of their Sin, who s••i••ht and neglect the Salvation of the Gospel, I have already opened. O call to mind what you have

heard; and you that are secure Sinners, tremble! What Wisdom do such despise, what Goodness do they disregard, what infinite Love and Patience do they abuse that neglect this Salvation? Shall the Sinner cast Di••t in the Face of God, and not be told of it? Shall he slight an Interest in Christ, and not know it will be his ruin in another World?

5. Threatnings are contained in the Gospel, to shew that God is Just as well as Gracious. Nay, Brethren, the Justice of God ne∣ver appeared to that degree to the Sons of Men, by Moses's Law, or any other way, as it doth in the Gospel, in that Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God is not spared, when he stands as our Surety in our Law-place to bear our Iniquities: God spared not his own Son, &c. He did not spare him, as an Act of Love and Mercy, but substituted and appointed him to be a Sacrifice for us; and he did not spare him, as an Act of his Justice, when he was so substitu∣ted, but he put him to Grief, and made his Soul an Offering for Sin, the Just for the Vnjust: He was made Sin for us, i. e. a Sacrifice for our Sin: It pleased the Lord to bruise him. This shews that God is * 1.350 just with a witness: there was no other way found out to put away Sin, to pacify Divine Wrath; and shall the Sinner slight and tram∣ple upon the Mercy and Justice of God, and not be told he shall not escape Divine Vengeance? O, Sinner, think of it, if God spared not his own Son, who had Sin upon him only by Imputati∣on, our Sins laid upon him, and none of his own; Canst thou think to escape his dreadful Wrath, who for not accepting of this Atonement, this Salvation, hast all they Sins charged upon thy own Head, and must bear that vindictive Wrath that was due to thee for them? You that think God is only a God of Mercy, and Christ only a Lamb, will find your selves at last greatly deceived, for you will find that God is a just, a severe and Sin-revengeful Majesty; and especially he will appear so, when he pleads with Sinners for the abuse of his Mercy; and they will find Jesus Christ like a Lion, who will at length tear in pieces his Enemies: I have trodden the Wine-press alone, and of the People there was none with me; * 1.351 for I will tread them in mine Anger and trample them in my Fury, and their Blood shall be sprinkled upon my Garments and I will stain all my Raiment. O remember, that the great Day of the Lamb's Wrath will come; he is a King, and has a Sword as well as a Scepter, a Rod as well as a Crown; he is Just as well as Good, and therefore it is that the Gospel is clothed with such Threatnings of Wrath and Divine Vengeance. All the Perfections of the Deity appear,

and shall appear in our Lord Jesus Christ, he being the express Image of the Father's Person.

2dly. The Gospel hath its Threats as well as its Promises, I might shew you, in regard of Sinners.

1. To awe their rebellious Hearts, that their abominable Sins, Pride and Arrogancy might be curb'd, and they not so boldly and impudently go on in their Disobedience and Contempt of Jesus Christ. Christ to this End, as Dr. Owen observes, hath his Ar∣rows which he lets fly upon his Enemies; some may ••••ick in their Hearts, and they fall down dead before him, he this way may kill them to give them Life.

2. That all ungodly Sinners may be left without Excuse, and Jesus Christ be justified in his righteous Proceedings against them at the last Day. He tells them before-hand what they must expect and look for; If they repent not, they shall all likewise perish; * 1.352 if they believe not, they shall be damned; if they are not born again, they shall not see the Kingdom of God; if they continue in any course of Sin, as Adultery, Fornication, Drunkenness, Theft, Pride, Covetousness, Lying, &c. they shall have their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone: And if they neglect this so great Salvation, they shall not escape Divine Wrath.

3dly and lastly, The Threatnings that are in the Gospel, may be of great use to Believers, even as a Whip or Lash to quicken them when grown slothful and negligent in their Duties, or fall into a sleepy and secure State; and to shew them that the Gospel tolerates no looseness, allows of no Sin, but that the whole De∣sign of it is, to promote Holiness, God will be sanctified by all * 1.353 that draw near to him. They may serve also to prevent the Power and Prevalency of indwelling Sin, or tend to nip off the Buds as they put forth, or kill those Weeds that might otherwise grow the more in their Hearts; and also to stir them up to stand upon their Watch, and make a stout Resistance of all Enemies; for that God tells us, we must either kill or be killed: If ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of * 1.354 the Body, ye shall live. Christ's Souldiers are sure of the Victory, but not without sighting; if they turn their Backs, they are gone; though to their great Joy and Comfort, if they are true Belie∣vers, they know they are not of that sort that draw back unto Perdition. Also by these Threats, the Saints may be the better enabled to suffer Persecution, and endure any Trials here for

Christ's sake; they hereby knowing how much easier it is to bear and undergo the Wrath of Man, than it is to endure the Wrath of God.

* 1.355Quest. On whom is the Wrath of God denounced, or what kind of Sinners shall undergo it?

Answ. 1. I answer, All prophane and ungodly Sinners, of what sort soever, as Aduiterers, Fornicators, covetous Persons, malicious * 1.356 Persons, Whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful and proud Per∣sons, Covenant-breakers, Implacable, Vnmerciful, Thieves, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners, Murderers, Witches, Sorcerers, and all Liars. These and all other prophane Persons whatsoever, who live and die in any of these, or other Sins, having neglected this Salvation, shall not escape the Wrath of God; For the Wrath of God is reveal∣ed from Heaven againstall Vngodliness, and Vnrighteousness of Men. The Wages of every Sin, yea the very Lusts of the Heart, is E∣ternal Death; Sin is their Sickness, and the neglecting the Salva∣tion of the Gospel, is their refusing that Remedy and only Cure of their Sickness which God doth afford.

2. All civilized Persons, such who depend upon Principles of Morality, or living a sober Life, and never look after Faith in Je∣sus Christ and Regeneration: I say unto you, Except your Righte∣ousness * 1.357 exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet Paul when a Pha∣risee, saith, That as touching the Righteousness which is of the Law, * 1.358 I was blameless. Except a Man be born again, he cannot see the King∣dom of God. These as much neglect this great Salvation, as scan∣dalous and prophane Sinners, and therefore shall not escape God's Wrath.

3. All Idolaters, Persecutors, and heretical Persons, such who are corrupted with damnable Heresy, who deny the Person of Christ, or our Lord Jesus the only Saviour, or Salvation and Righteousness by him; these also are neglecters of this Salvation, and living and dying in those Sins, cannot escape the Wrath of God.

4. All Unbelievers, or such who are without saving Faith in Je∣sus Christ: He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he * 1.359 that believeth not, shall be damned.—He that believeth not, shall not see Life; but the Wrath of God abideth on him. No Unbeliever can * 1.360 escape the Wrath of God.

5. All Hypocrites, or such who make a Profession of the Go∣spel, without the saving Grace of God in their Hearts. Of these there are two sorts.

(1.) Such who are self-condemned Hypocrites, who know they are not what they profess themselves to be, but have carnal and sinister Ends and Aims in their professing the Gospel, Religion be∣ing but a Cloak to cover their Deceit and Hypocrisy.

(2.) Such as the foolish Virgins were, whose Hearts deceive them, thinking their State was good; 1. But never passed through the Pangs of the new Birth, but trusted to a Form of Godliness without the Power of it. This sort it seems, 2. are very blind and ignorant, in that they thought to receive Advantage by the Graces or good Works of wise and gracious Christians; Give us of your Oil, for our Lamps are gone out: 3. They never sought for Grace * 1.361 any way, until it was too late, even not till the Bridegroom was come. 4. It appears that this sort also were very consident of the Good∣ness of their Condition; (that is a bad sign) for they rose up to meet the Bridegroom. Gracious Christians are attended with Godly Jealousies of their own Hearts: yet these Mens outward Conver∣sation might be clean to outward appearance, in that they were not known to the Wise to be foolish Ones. 5. Their Folly appears in that they please themselves with a Name of being Christians, Saints, and Church-Members, without the Nature, Faith and Ho∣liness of such, prizing a Lamp of Profession above the Grace of God, or a Form of Religion more than the Power of it; valuing the Approbation of Men more than the Approbation and Accep∣tation of God; esteeming the empty Cabinet, or pleasing them∣selves with the Shell of Religion without the Kernel of it; and in their thinking it was time enough to sow, when others were just going to reap, and by laying Claim to Heaven, without any Title to it. None of these, living and dying under this Deceit, Igno∣rance and Hypocrisy, can escape the Wrath of God.

6. All such cannot escape, who utterly apostatize or backslide from God and the Truths of the Gospel; who after they have made a Profession of Religion, turn with the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire, and with the Dog lick up their old Vomit again; I mean, * 1.362 cleave again to their former evil and ungodly Ways and Practices, and become utter Enemies to God and his People.

7. Lastly, All Atheists, or such who deny the Being of God, or the Eternal Godhead and Deity of the Majesty of Heaven, and ridicule and contemn all supernatural Knowledg or Reve∣lation of God; these shall receive and undergo the Wrath of God, from which they cannot escape.

APPLICATION.

This may serve to awaken all secure Sinners who have false No∣tions of God's Mercy. What will you do if you persist still in your evil Ways? I am afraid here may be some of one sort or a∣nother of them which I have named, that shall not escape the Wrath of God. O that we could but hear that Cry which we read of, Acts 2. 36. What shall we do? Were Sinners pricked in their Hearts, they would break forth into Tears in the sight and sense of the Evil of Sin. Hath Sin put the Lord of Life and Glo∣ry to death? Was the Wrath of God due to us let out upon him, that we might never feel the weight thereof? O how should this fill our Hearts with Revenge and Indignation against Sin! Cer∣tainly the Sufferings of Christ for our Sins, shew forth the Evil of it, beyond all the Torments the Damned endure in Hell: and if God did not spare him, who as our Surety stood in our Place and Room, what will become of thee, O Sinner, that goest on pre∣sumptuously in thy evil Way, and dost not regard or lay to Heart the great Salvation of the Gospel? Shall not the Love of God o∣vercome thee? then fear his Wrath, which is so dreadful, and will be let out in Fury.

Quest. What is the Reason Men do no more fear and dread the Wrath of God?

Answ. 1. It is because they do not know the direful Nature thereof: We knowing the Terror of the Lord, saith the Apostle, per∣swade * 1.363 Men. The faithful Servants of God know it, but Sinners know it not, therefore fear it no more.

2. It is because God doth not execute the Sentence against their evil Works presently: This is the Reason, Solomon tells us why; * 1.364 The Hearts of the Children of Men are fully set in them to do wickedly.

3. Sinners are blinded by the Devil, and think God takes no notice of their Ways and evil Doings, and so go on boldly; may be think no Eye seeth them: And because God is so gracious, pa∣tient, and slow to Anger, and long before he strikes, they think the Blow will never come at all. O it is sad that the Goodness, * 1.365 Mercy, and Long-suffering of God, which should lead Men to Re∣pentance, should tend to harden them in their evil Ways: but though they now despise his Goodness and Forbearance, &c. yet they shall not escape the Judgment of God.

Quest. What should Sinners do to escape the Wrath of God?

Answ. 1. Sinner, if thou wouldst escape God's Wrath, find out the Original Cause thereof; ponder well thy State by Nature, and the Pollution of thy Heart, from whence all actual Sins flow.

2. Find out the immediate Cause of his Displeasure and Wrath that is ready to break forth against thee, and cry out, What have I done? O see, what Guilt lies upon you, and the Nature of it.

3. Labour to know what it is that hath appeased God's Wrath: nothing but a Sacrifice, an Atonement could do it; thy Tears, thy Prayers, thy Repentance could not do it: the Storm was great, and our beloved Jonas was thrown into the Sea of God's Wrath to allay it, and to cause a Calm.

4. Get a thorow Sense of the great Evil of Sin.

5. And then loath your selves. Nothing but Grace poured forth from the Lord can do this. O when once you can mourn for your Iniquities, as a Man mourns for his First-born, by beholding him whom you have pierced, there will be hope.

6. Pray and cry mightily to the Lord, cease not Day nor Night, until you find out the Plague of your own Hearts.

7. Above all things fly to Jesus Christ, look up to him, and neglect not this Salvation one Hour, but throw down your Arms, sight against God no more, nor fence against the two∣edged Sword of his Mouth; but as a poor, lost, and burdened Sinner, come to him, and thou shalt find rest unto thy Soul. * 1.366

Object. But perhaps some may object, Is not this Doctrine a Le∣gal Doctrine?

Answ. I say no, but I shall answer this Objection the next time, and so close with this Text.

HEB. II. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation?

* 1.367I 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.

• First, Shew you what is not a Legal Doctrine, or a Legal Way of Preaching.
• Secondly, Shew you what is a Legal Doctrine, or not Evangeli∣cal Preaching.

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 * 1.368 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,* 1.369 "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,* 1.370 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 * 1.371 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; * 1.372 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 * 1.373 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. * 1.374

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 * 1.375 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 * 1.376 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.

* 1.377Fifthly, 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 * 1.378 the Soul; and also all such that defer looking after, and striving to get an Interest in it.

Seventhly, By way of Exhortation.

1. * 1.379Let 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!* 1.380 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.) God has ordained Preaching as the ordinary Way and Means to work Faith; Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God: And to increase and strengthen Faith also. * 1.381
• (2.) God is gradiously pleased to assord Men a Day, or a Time of Visitation, in which he offers Terms of Peace unto them: Take heed you do not like Jerusalem, lose your Day, and neglect the Means God affords you
• (3.) You know not how short your Day may be; and if you lose your Day, you will lose your Souls also: The Harvest will end with some, and they not saved. And that you may not lose the Day of your Visitation, take a few Directions.

1. Seriously think on the sad and woful Condition which natural∣ly you are in, being dead in Sin, and Children of Wrath; and * 1.382 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, * 1.383 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 * 1.384 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 * 1.385 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 * 1.386 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 * 1.387 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.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sermon 1.
• * 1.2

  Reader, This Trea∣tise is swol∣len so big already, that I can give thee little more than the Heads of the Sermons on this Texts.
• * 1.3

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great Salvation compara∣tively.
• * 1.4

  Psa. 91. 11.
• * 1.5

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great in it self.
• * 1.6

  Rev. 13. 8.
• * 1.7

  Prov. 8. 22, 23, 24
• * 1.8

  Job 33 24.
• * 1.9

  Tit. 1. 2.
• * 1.10

  2 Tim. 1. 9.
• * 1.11

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great in respect of that Counsel held in E∣ternity a∣bout it.
• * 1.12

  Zech. 6. 11.
• * 1.13

  'Tis a great Salvation in respect of the Design of it.
• * 1.14

  1 Cor. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 24.
• * 1.15

  Col. 2. 15.
• * 1.16

  1 Joh. 3. 8.
• * 1.17

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great considering how low Man was fallen, and the seasona∣bleness of it.
• * 1.18

  Rom. 5. 6.
• * 1.19

  Job 7. 17.
• * 1.20

  Job 33. 24.
• * 1.21

  Serm. II.
• * 1.22

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great, consi∣dering the Persons that brought it about.
• * 1.23

  Psal. 25. 5.
• * 1.24

  Isa. 63. 5.
• * 1.25

  What part of this Sal∣vation is attributed to God the Father.
• * 1.26

  2 Cor. 5. 18.
• * 1.27

  Heb. 10. 5.
• * 1.28

  Joh. 3. 17.
• * 1.29

  2 Cor. 1. 3.
• * 1.30

  Rom. 8. 32.
• * 1.31

  Joh. 3. 16.
• * 1.32

  Eph. 1. 3.
• * 1.33

  Joh. 5. 17.
• * 1.34

  What a Part Christ hath in working out this Salva∣tion.
• * 1.35

  Christ is a great Savi∣our.
• * 1.36

  Phil. 2. 9.
• * 1.37

  Isa. 9. 6.
• * 1.38

  Isa. 6. 9.
• * 1.39

  Heb. 1. 4, 5.
• * 1.40

  Phil. 2. 6.
• * 1.41

  Isa. 19. 20.
• * 1.42

  Heb. 1. 3.
• * 1.43

  Joh. 14. 9.
• * 1.44

  Isa. 63. 1.
• * 1.45

  Rev. 5. 5.
• * 1.46

  Heb. 7. 25.
• * 1.47

  Isa. 42. 12.
• * 1.48

  The H. Ghost hath his part in working a∣bout our Salvation.
• * 1.49

  Isa. 61. 10.
• * 1.50

  Acts 10.
• * 1.51

  Verse 6.
• * 1.52

  God calls the Gentiles, or whom he pleases a∣mong them, as well as the Jews; which Peter might not understand before now.
• * 1.53

  Gal. 1. 16.
• * 1.54

  Mat. 6. 33.
• * 1.55

  Joh. 6. 37.
• * 1.56

  Joh. 3. 15.
• * 1.57

  Mat. 9. 12, 13.
• * 1.58

  Mat. 11. 28.
• * 1.59

  Rev. 3. 20.
• * 1.60

  Phil. 1. 6.
• * 1.61

  Serm. III.
• * 1.62

  Great Sal∣vation in respect of what we are delivered from.
• * 1.63

  The Evil of Sin opened.
• * 1.64

  1 Sam. 2. 30.
• * 1.65

  Psal. 2. 3.
• * 1.66

  Exod. 20. 5.
• * 1.67

  2 Chron. 19. 2.
• * 1.68

  Rom. 8. 7.
• * 1.69

  Gen. 6. 5, 6.
• * 1.70

  Psal. 7. 11.
• * 1.71

  Rom. 6. 23. 1 Cor. 15. 56.
• * 1.72

  Isa. 61. 1.
• * 1.73

  Acts 8. 23.
• * 1.74

  Ezek. 16. 3, 4, 5, 6.
• * 1.75

  Sinners are under God's Curse.
• * 1.76

  Gal. 3. 10.
• * 1.77

  Gal. 3. 16.
• * 1.78

  2 Cor. 1. 12.
• * 1.79

  Rom. 1. 18.
• * 1.80

  Psa. 90. 11.
• * 1.81

  Heb. 12. ult.
• * 1.82

  Luke 16. 24.
• * 1.83

  Gospel-Sal∣vation is great, in re∣spect of what Christ doth and must do, in order to ef∣fect it.
• * 1.84

  1 Pet. 1. 28, 1••.
• * 1.85

  Heb. 10. 4.
• * 1.86

  Verse 5.
• * 1.87

  Rom. 8. 3.
• * 1.88

  Joh. 1. 14.
• * 1.89

  2 Cor. 2. 8, 9.
• * 1.90

  Heb. 2. 16.
• * 1.91

  Gal. 4. 4.
• * 1.92

  Gal. 3. 13.
• * 1.93

  Gal. 3. 13.
• * 1.94

  Heb. 2. 14, 15.
• * 1.95

  Phil. 3. ult.
• * 1.96

  2 Tim. 1. 10.
• * 1.97

  1 Cor. 15. 26.
• * 1.98

  1 Cor. 6. 15.
• * 1.99

  Ver. 19, 20.
• * 1.100

  Serin. IV.
• * 1.101

  Salvation great in re∣spect of the Subjects of it.
• * 1.102

  Mat. 16. 26.
• * 1.103

  Zech. 12. 1.
• * 1.104

  1 Joh. 1. 3.
• * 1.105

  Job 32. 8.
• * 1.106

  1 Cor. 2. 11.
• * 1.107

  The Soul is capable of Divine Con∣templation.
• * 1.108

  Ps. 139. 1
• * 1.109

  Ver. 15.
• * 1.110

  1 Cor. 2. 1, 2.
• * 1.111

  Nothing but God himself can satisfy the Soul.
• * 1.112

  God's Thoughts greatly let out about the Soul of Man.
• * 1.113

  Psal. 49. 8.
• * 1.114

  Nothing but Christ's Blood could redeem the Soul.
• * 1.115

  Mich. 6. 7.
• * 1.116

  Rom. 8. 32.
• * 1.117

  The Rage of Satan to destroy the Soul, shews it is a preci∣ous thing.
• * 1.118

  Could a Man gain all the World with the loss of his Soul, his Loss would be great.
• * 1.119

  The Soul is immortal.
• * 1.120

  Mar. 10. 28.
• * 1.121

  Luk. 23. 43.
• * 1.122

  Phil. 1. 25.
• * 1.123

  2 Cor. 5. 1.
• * 1.124

  Verse 6.
• * 1.125

  Luke 16.
• * 1.126

  Phil. 1. 23.
• * 1.127

  Eccles. 12. 7.
• * 1.128

  1 Pet. 3. 19, 20.
• * 1.129

  2 Cor. 12. 2, 4.
• * 1.130

  Heb. 12. 23.
• * 1.131

  Acts 2. 29.
• * 1.132

  Rom. 8. 23.
• * 1.133

  1 John 3. 12.
• * 1.134

  Phil. 3. 21.
• * 1.135

  Job 27. 8.
• * 1.136

  Acts 4. 12.
• * 1.137

  Mark 16. 16.
• * 1.138

  Ezek. 13. 19.
• * 1.139

  Serm. V.
• * 1.140

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great considering what we are raised unto by it.
• * 1.141

  Heb. 9. 22.
• * 1.142

  Col. 1. 14. Pardon of Sin contain∣ed in Gospel-Salvation.
• * 1.143

  Isa. 43. 25:
• * 1.144

  Isa. 27. 4.
• * 1.145

  Rom. 5. 10. Rom. 8. 39, 40.
• * 1.146

  Union with God a Bles∣sing of Go∣spel-Salva∣tion.
• * 1.147

  1 Joh. 1. 3.
• * 1.148

  Acts 13. 39.
• * 1.149

  The Nature of Justifi∣cation open∣ed.
• * 1.150

  Gal. 3. 13.
• * 1.151

  Rom. 8. 32, 33, 34.
• * 1.152

  Col. 2. 10.
• * 1.153

  Cant. 4. 7.
• * 1.154

  Ezek. 16. 13, 14.
• * 1.155

  Heb. 10. 14.
• * 1.156

  Psa. 143. 2.
• * 1.157

  Job 25. 4.
• * 1.158

  Job 9. 20.
• * 1.159

  Rom. 8. 1.
• * 1.160

  Gal. 4. 5.
• * 1.161

  1 Joh. 3. 1.
• * 1.162

  Gal. 4. 6.
• * 1.163

  Heb. 12. 5, 6, 7, 8.
• * 1.164

  Psal. 45. 9, 10.
• * 1.165

  Prov. 1. 9.
• * 1.166

  Luke 15. 22.
• * 1.167

  John 16.
• * 1.168

  Heb. 10. 20.
• * 1.169

  2 Pet. 1. 4.
• * 1.170

  Rev. 3. 21.
• * 1.171

  Serm. VI.
• * 1.172

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great because 'tis a full and compleat Salvation.
• * 1.173

  Col. 1. 13. 5.
• * 1.174

  John 10. 10.
• * 1.175

  Joh. 5. 25.
• * 1.176

  Eph. 2. 1.
• * 1.177

  Eph. 1. 18, 19, 20.
• * 1.178

  Isa. 61. 1.
• * 1.179

  Eph. 5. 14.
• * 1.180

  Ezek. 36. 26.
• * 1.181

  Psal. 51.
• * 1.182

  Eph. 2. 10.
• * 1.183

  Rom. 8. 7.
• * 1.184

  1 Cor. 2. 14.
• * 1.185

  Ps. 110. 3.
• * 1.186

  Zech. 13. 1. Jer. 4. 14.
• * 1.187

  Joh. 13.
• * 1.188

  1 Joh. 1. 7.
• * 1.189

  Rev. 1. 5.
• * 1.190

  Eph. 5. 25, 26.
• * 1.191

  Isa. 61. 1.
• * 1.192

  Luk. 4. 18.
• * 1.193

  Rev. 3. 18.
• * 1.194

  Isa. 55. 2.
• * 1.195

  John 7. 37, 38.
• * 1.196

  Act. 5. 31.
• * 1.197

  Heb. 12. 2.
• * 1.198

  Isa. 41. 10.
• * 1.199

  John 14. 18.
• * 1.200

  John 16. 13.
• * 1.201

  Prov. 12. 12. Psal. 16. 3.
• * 1.202

  God in the Salvation of the Go∣spel, is the Portion of Believers.
• * 1.203

  Gen. 15. 1.
• * 1.204

  Psal. 73. 26.
• * 1.205

  Lam. 3. 24.
• * 1.206

  Serm. VII.
• * 1.207

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great in respect of Christ, who was the great Mini∣ster of it.
• * 1.208

  Heb. 1. 1.
• * 1.209

  Mat. 21. 37.
• * 1.210

  Mat. 20. 28.
• * 1.211

  Heb. 7. 1, 2.
• * 1.212

  Verse 6.
• * 1.213

  Heb. 12. 25.
• * 1.214

  2 Cor. 5: 20.
• * 1.215

  Luke 10. 16.
• * 1.216

  Mat. 10. 14, 15.
• * 1.217

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great considering its wonder∣ful Confir∣mation.
• * 1.218

  Heb. 2. 3, 4.
• * 1.219

  Joh. 5. 37.
• * 1.220

  Ver. 39.
• * 1.221

  Luke 13. 3, 5. Joh. 3. 3. Joh. 3. 36.
• * 1.222

  Mat. 27. 51, 52.
• * 1.223

  The Salva∣tion of the Gospel great in that the Angels be∣hold it with admiration.
• * 1.224

  1 Tim. 3. 16.
• * 1.225

  Eph. 3. 10.
• * 1.226

  Gospel-Sal∣vation great and glori∣ous, because it is a free Salvation.
• * 1.227

  Isa. 55. 1, 2.
• * 1.228

  Rev. 22. 17.
• * 1.229

  Salvation Eternal, therefore great.
• * 1.230

  Isa. 45. 17.
• * 1.231

  Isa. 51. 6.
• * 1.232

  Sermon VIII.
• * 1.233

  Who may be said to ne∣glect this Salvation.
• * 1.234

  1 Cor. 2. 1.
• * 1.235

  1 Tim. 3. 16.
• * 1.236

  Jer. 8. 9.
• * 1.237

  Jer. 44. 16.
• * 1.238

  2 Cor. 6. 1, 2.
• * 1.239

  Isa. 55. 5, 6.
• * 1.240

  Prov. 1. 24, 25.
• * 1.241

  John 12. 42, 43.
• * 1.242

  Job 21. 24.
• * 1.243

  Psal. 10. 4.
• * 1.244

  Isa. 53. 1.
• * 1.245

  Acts 4. 12.
• * 1.246

  Psal. 9. 17.
• * 1.247

  1 Cor. 6. 9, 10.
• * 1.248

  Rev. 21. 8.
• * 1.249

  John 3. 3, 5.
• * 1.250

  A summary Account of the precedent Arguments to prove Salvation great.
• * 1.251

  Sermon IX.
• * 1.252

  From whence it is many Peo∣ple neglect their own Salvation.
• * 1.253

  Rev. 3. 17.
• * 1.254

  From whence Ig∣norance and Blindness of Men pro∣ceeds.
• * 1.255

  Hos. 4. 6.
• * 1.256

  2 Cor. 4. 3, 4.
• * 1.257

  Mat. 22. 2, 3.
• * 1.258

  Ver. 5.
• * 1.259

  Luke 14. 17.
• * 1.260

  Ver. 18, 19, 20.
• * 1.261

  Mat. 7. 13, 14.
• * 1.262

  Luk. 18. 9.
• * 1.263

  Unbelief the greatest Sin.
• * 1.264

  Heb. 3. 18, 19. Heb. 4. 1.
• * 1.265

  Joh. 1. 5.
• * 1.266

  Joh. 5. 40. Rom. 8. 7.
• * 1.267

  Sermon X.
• * 1.268

  Psal. 2. 2, 3.
• * 1.269

  Eph. 3. 10.
• * 1.270

  John 3. 16.
• * 1.271

  Isa. 45. 22. Joh. 6. 37.
• * 1.272

  Joh. 8. 24.
• * 1.273

  1 John 5. 10.
• * 1.274

  Luke 13. 35. John 3. 3, 5.
• * 1.275

  Rom. 10. 3.
• * 1.276

  Acts 4. 12.
• * 1.277

  Mat. 22. 37.
• * 1.278

  John 15. 13. Rom. 5. 10.
• * 1.279

  Isa. 65. 2.
• * 1.280

  Cant. 5. 5.
• * 1.281

  Isa. 53. 2, 3.
• * 1.282

  Charnock.
• * 1.283

  Deut. 32. 15.
• * 1.284

  Mark 3. 5.
• * 1.285

  John 16. 8, 9.
• * 1.286

  Rom. 5. 5. John 3. 5.
• * 1.287

  Isa. 7. 13.
• * 1.288

  Sermon XI.
• * 1.289

  Joh. 3. 36. Mark 16. 16.
• * 1.290

  Acts 13. 46.
• * 1.291

  Prov. 8. 18. John 12. 26.
• * 1.292

  John 15. 22.
• * 1.293

  All the Di∣vine Attri∣butes plead against such who neglect the Salva∣tion of the Gospel.
• * 1.294

  2 Thess. 1. 9.
• * 1.295

  Psal. 90. 1.
• * 1.296

  Satan's Work it is to hinaer Mens Sal∣vation.
• * 1.297

  Joh. 12. 43.
• * 1.298

  ••am. 1. 21.
• * 1.299

  Reader, 〈…〉〈…〉 these Sermons 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.300

  Sermon XII.
• * 1.301

  Rom. 10. 4.
• * 1.302

  Joh. 9. 41.
• * 1.303

  Joh 3. 35.
• * 1.304

  Mat. 23. 33.
• * 1.305

  Luke 18. 11.
• * 1.306

  Phil. 3. 8, 9.
• * 1.307

  Mark 3.
• * 1.308

  The Causes and Reasons why they cannot escape that neglect Gospel-Sal∣vation.
• * 1.309

  John 6. 53.
• * 1.310

  Acts 4. 12.
• * 1.311

  Mich. 6.
• * 1.312

  Heb. 2. 2, 3.
• * 1.313

  Heb. 10. 28, 29.
• * 1.314

  Mark 16. 16.
• * 1.315

  Nah. 1. 6.
• * 1.316

  Mat. 13. 13, 14.
• * 1.317

  Psal. 81. 11, 12.
• * 1.318

  Mat. 21. 43.
• * 1.319

  1 Thess. 2. 16.
• * 1.320

  Sermon XIII.
• * 1.321

  The Time when Sin∣ners shall not escape.
• * 1.322

  Zeph. 3. 8.
• * 1.323

  Jer. 11. 11.
• * 1.324

  Luke 21. 36.
• * 1.325

  Ezck. 9. 4.
• * 1.326

  1 Tim. 5. 24.
• * 1.327

  Jer. 20. 3, 4.
• * 1.328

  Luke 10. 23.
• * 1.329

  1 Thess. 5. 3.
• * 1.330

  Job 21. 30.
• * 1.331

  25.
• * 1.332

  1 Pet. 4. 18.
• * 1.333

  What the Nature of that Wrath is the Wic∣ked shall not escape.
• * 1.334

  Psa. 80. 11.
• * 1.335

  2 Thess. 1. ••.
• * 1.336

  Rev. 14. 10.
• * 1.337

  Zeph. 2. 1, 2.
• * 1.338

  Isa. 13. 9.
• * 1.339

  Nah. 1. 6.
• * 1.340

  Psal. 38. 4.
• * 1.341

  2 Thess. 1. 9. Rev. 14. 10, 11.
• * 1.342

  1 Thess. 1.
• * 1.343

  2 Cor. 4. ult.
• * 1.344

  Sermon XIV.
• * 1.345

  Eccl. 8. 4.
• * 1.346

  Mal. 1. 6.
• * 1.347

  1 Pet. 2. 23.
• * 1.348

  Luke 19. 27.
• * 1.349

  Amos 4. 12.
• * 1.350

  Isa. 53.
• * 1.351

  Isa. 63.
• * 1.352

  Luke 13. 3, 5. Mark 16. 16. John 3. 3, 5. 1 Cor. 6. 10, 11. Rev. 21. 8.
• * 1.353

  Levit. 10. 2, 3.
• * 1.354

  Rom. 8. 13.
• * 1.355

  What kind of Sinners Wrath shall fall upon.
• * 1.356

  Rom. 2. 29, 30. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. Rev. 21. 8. Rom. 1. 18.
• * 1.357

  Mat. 5. 20
• * 1.358

  Phil 3. 8, 9 Joh. 3. 3.
• * 1.359

  Mark 16. 16.
• * 1.360

  Joh. 3. 3.
• * 1.361

  Mat. 25. 8.
• * 1.362

  2 Pet. 2. 20, 21, 22.
• * 1.363

  2 Cor. 5. 11.
• * 1.364

  Eccles. 8. 11.
• * 1.365

  Rom. 2. 3, 4.
• * 1.366

  Mat. 11. 28.
• * 1.367

  Sermon XV.
• * 1.368

  Heb. 19. 28.
• * 1.369

  Pen's San∣dy Founda∣tion shaken, p. 26.
• * 1.370

  Rom. 8. 2, 3.
• * 1.371

  Gal. 2. 16, 21.
• * 1.372

  Luk. 13. 3.
• * 1.373

  Joh. 3. 36.
• * 1.374

  Terror.
• * 1.375

  Deut. 32. 22, 29.
• * 1.376

  Mat. 10. 15. Mat. 11. 22, 23. Mar. 6. 11.
• * 1.377

  Lamentat.
• * 1.378

  Reproof.
• * 1.379

  Exhortat.
• * 1.380

  Isa. 52. 7.
• * 1.381

  Rom. 10. 17.
• * 1.382

  Eph. 2. 1.
• * 1.383

  Joh. 3. 8.
• * 1.384

  How Per∣sons may know they have an In∣terest in Christ.
• * 1.385

  1 Pet. 2. 7. Ps. 73. 25.
• * 1.386

  Cant. 5. 10 Phil. 3. 9, 10.
• * 1.387

  2 Cor. 5. 17.