Sermons preach'd on several occasions by John March ..., the last of which was preach'd the twenty seventh of November, 1692, being the Sunday before he died ; with a preface by Dr. John Scot ; to which is added, A sermon preach'd at the assizes, in New-Castle upon Tine, in the reign of the late King James.

SERMON XII. (Book 12)

Preached November. 27. 1692. the Sunday before the Author died. (Book 12)

Heb. ii. 3.

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation?

SAint Paul in the former Chap. displays the excellent Glory and Majesty of our Saviour: He styles him, ver. 2. the Son of God; the Heir of all things, and Maker of the Worlds: He tells us us farther, ver. 3. that He is the brightness of his Fathers

Glory, the express Image of his Person, and the upholder of all things: In the follow∣ing part of the Chapter he shews, how far Christ transcends all the Holy Angels: These, he says, are but Servants and Ministring Spirits; but Christ, he is the Eternal and only begotten Son of God: These are all commanded to fall down and worship Christ; but He has á Throne, a Scepter, a Scepter of Righteousness, yea, the Scepter of his own Heavenly King∣dom. Thus great, thus glorious a Person is Christ, Heaven it self has nothing greater; and yet as great, as glorious as He is, his Father thought fit to employ him in the work of Mans Salvation. O the wonderful Condescentions of Hea∣ven! We may be sure God is most wil∣ling to save poor Sinners, seeing he sends to them, and that his own Son, to be∣seech and entreat them to accept of Sal∣vation. Hence is that of St. Paul, in the beginning of this Epistle, God, who, at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Pro∣phets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Had God spoken to us by the meanest of his Prophets, it had been strange and wonderful Conde∣scension,

but that he should send his own Son to preach the Gospel, and in∣treat Rebel sinners to be reconciled to Heaven, and accept of Eternal Hap∣piness; this is such an instance of stupen∣dious Love and Mercy, as does as much exceed our imaginations, as it does our Deserts!

St. Paul having thus dispiayed the Excellent Majesty of Christ, and the infinite Riches of Gods Free Grace and Mercy, in that he sent his Eternal Son to be the first Preacher of the Gospel, and tender Salvation to lost and undone sinners, he begins the 2d. Chapter with a serious and passionate Admonition; We therefore, saith he, ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. If God had conveyed the Gospel to Christians, as he did the Law unto the Jews, by the Ministry of An∣gels, we could not have slighted it with∣out gross ingratitude; and our Disobe∣dience, as we are told, ver. 2. would have received a just recompence of reward: Of how much sorer punishment shall we now he thought worthy, seeing the Eternal Son of God condescended to be of the

Order of Predicants, seeing Christ Jesus himself vouchsafed to be the first Preacher of the Gospel; how should we then honour and value this Gospel? What earnest heed should we give to the things contained in it, or preached from it? Whatever Admonitions, Ex∣hortations or Reproofs Ministers give us out of these Sacred Oracles, should not be look'd upon as the Words of frail Men, but as they are in truth the Words of God and Christ. Christians therefore will be most inexcusable: They of all men will deserve the severest Punish∣ments, if they shall neglect so great Sal∣vation. And because the danger is thus great, our Apostle is the more earnest and passionate in his Exhortation: He employs all his Divine Rhetorick, to make Christians sensible of their greater Priviledge, and consequently of their greater Obligations to obey the Gospel: How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation.

Having by this short Preface led you into the very Bowels of the Text, I shall fetch from thence these Three Observa∣tions.

First, That the Salvation which is published by the Gospel, is exceeding great.

Secondly, That those Christians which neglect this great Salvation, must expect the severest Punishments in Hell.

Thirdly, That Ministers may very well be allowed to be mighty earnest and passionate in their Exhortations of Obe∣dience to the Gospel.

First, I begin with the first of these, namely, to shew you, that the Salvation which is published by the Gospel, is exceeding great. It is called Great Sal∣vation in the Text, yea the Apostle puts an Emphasis upon it, and calls it, So great Salvation. Learned Men render it Eximiam ut mire magnam salutem, i. e. Most admirable and most excellent Sal∣vation: And it will appear at large to be so from these following Considera∣tions:

1st. The greatness of this Salvation will appear if we consider the greatness of the Price that was paid for it. The worth and excellency of a thing, is usually measur'd by the greatness of its price. Now how great was that price which was paid for this Salvation?

St. Peter tells us, we were not redeemed with such corruptible things, as Silver and Gold; but with the precious Blood of the Son of God. Had we offer'd a thou∣sand Rams, and ten thousand Rivers of Oil: Had we given the fruit of our Bodies, for the sin of our Souls; yea, had it been possible for us to have sacrificed▪ whole Hecatombs of Angels to the Justice of Heaven, they would not all have been sufficient to atone for our Sins, and purchase this Salvation: Nothing could purchase it but the Blood of Iesus; and that not only as he was Man, but as he was God too. Hence we are said expresly to be purchas'd with the Blood of God, Act. 20. 28. We see an Infinite price was paid Heaven to pur∣chase this Salvation: And therefore we may well allow the Apostles Emphasis of so great Salvation.

2ly. The greatness of this Salvation will yet further appear, if we consider the greatness of those evils it delivers us from. It is an excellent saying of Seneca, Lenocinium est gaudii antecedens metus, the greatness of the danger uses to commend and inhance the greatness of the deliver∣ance. Now how great was the danger we

were in? how great those Evils we were exposed to? The Prophet Esay gives us a most Tragical Description of the In∣fernal Tophet, which was to be the Por∣tion of the Rebellious Sinner, Chap. 30. 31. Tophet, saith he, is prepared of old, the Pile thereof is Fire and much Wood, and the Breath of the Lord like a stream of Brimstone, doth kindle it continually. See how each word is arm'd with Terror: It seems there is an eternal Tophet prepared for all the Enemies of Heaven: It seems the Tor∣ments of this dreadful place is set forth by Fire, one of the cruellest of the Ele∣ments. Nay give me leave to observe farther to you, that this Fire of To∣phet can be no ordinary material Fire, seeing we are told it was originally prepared for the Devil and his Angels. For since they are Spiritual and Im∣material Beings, they cannot be Tor∣mented by any ordinary material Fire, The Fire therefore of Tophet must be of such a strange and dreadful Nature, that this Fire we use is only fit to be a cold and faint emblem of it; and well may we conclude so much, seeing it is said to be kindled by the Breath of the

Almighty. The fiery Furnace of Baby∣lon was dreadful enough, tho' it was kindled only by the breath of an Earth∣ly King; how dreadful then must the Furnace of Hell be, which has all the Ingredients of Torture Omnipotent Ven∣geance can furnish it with? This Fire of Tophet of Hell, is said yet farther, to be prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Now we know these Hellish Fiends are the most malicious Enemies of Heaven: These ambitious Spirits en∣deavoured at the very first to dethrone their Almighty Creator; and since they failed in that black design, they have ever since discovered their inveterate ha∣tred of God, by tempting Mankind into the same cursed Conspiracy against him. Sure then that Fire, which is pre∣pared for these malicious Enemies of Heaven, cannot possibly want any In∣gredients of Torture, Infinite Wisdom can invent, or Infinite Power inflict. Now such devouring Flames as these were prepared for obstinate sinners, as well as for these fallen Angels. There is one Consideration still behind, which will make these Torments appear more dreadful, and that is the Eternal Dura∣tion

of them. For here it is that the Worm never dies; here it is that the Fire is not quenched: When the sinner has lain in Hell as many millions of years, as there are Sands on the Sea∣shore, he will be no nearer an end of his Torments, than he was the first Moment of his entrance into them. Who can read without trembling, what St. Mark tells us, Chap. 9. 49. Namely, that the Damned shall be salted with Fire. Such it seems is the dreadful Na∣ture of the Infernal Flames, that they do Torment, but not Consume: Like Salt they preserve those wretched Per∣sons they seem to devour. O cruel Mercy of Hellish Flames! O Preserva∣tion, worse than the most dreadful De∣struction! Thus great are those Evils we are delivered from, and you will easily conclude how great that Salva∣tion is which delivers us from them. The Children of Israel did exceedingly rejoyce when they were delivered from the Tyranny of Pharaoh, and the Sla∣very of Egypt. But sure Hell is a more dreadful kind of Bondage than Egypts; and Satan a worse sort of Ty∣rant than Pharaoh, therefore the Salva∣tion

of the Text, which delivers us from these dreadful and infinite Evils, must needs be exceeding great.

3ly. The greatness of this Salvation will appear yet further, if we consider that Infinite and Eternal Happiness it brings along with it. This Salvation does not only deliver us from Hell, and Eternal Damnation; but it gives us also a Right and Title to the endless Joys of Heaven: Even those Joys which Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, nei∣ther hath it entred into the Heart of Man to conceive. If the sweet society of Saints and Angels, if the most ra∣vishing enjoyment of the Blessed Trinity, if an uninterrupted and eternal fruition of the most desirable Pleasures; if all this be sufficient to make the Salvation in the Text exceeding great, then we may pardon St. Paul's Emphasis, and allow him to call it so great Salvation; for this is that Salvation which Christ has purchast, and the Gospel publish'd to the World. Hence Christ is styl'd the Author of Eternal Salvation, Heb. 5. 9. and is said to have obtained Eter∣nal Redemption for us, Heb. 9. 12.. Io∣shua was deservedly accounted a mighty

Saviour, because having delivered Israel from their malicious Enemies, he gave them a quiet Possession of the Earthly Canaan. How great a Saviour is our Ioshua, or Jesus, who having vanquished our Spiritual Enemies, has purchased for us the possession of the Heavenly Ca∣naan?

4ly. The greatness of this Salvation will further appear, if we consider the Extent and Amplitude of it. This Sal∣vation is an universal Salvation, all Men have a Right and Title to it; tho' Sal∣vation of old was only of the Iews, yet now Christ is a Light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as the Glory of his Peo∣ple Israel. God is now no respecter of Persons, but in every Nation, he that feareth God and worketh Righteous∣ness, is accepted of him. They are highly injurious to the goodness of God, and to that Salvation which was wrought by Christ, who would have it restrain∣ed to a certain number of Persons. For it is most plain from Scripture, that God would have all Men to be saved. Hear what the Angels said unto the Shep∣herds. Luke 2. 10. Behold, I bring you good Tidings, of great Ioy, which shall

be unto all People. Hence Christ is said to give himself a Ransom for all, 1 Tim. 2. 6. as St. Iohn speaks, 1 Epist. 2. 2. He is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole World. If these places of Scripture be not full and clear enough, St Paul will tell you, that Christ tasted Death for every Man, Heb. 2. 9. I shall add but one Text more to convince you of this Truth, and it shall be that of St. Peter, 2 Epist. 2. 2. where he speaks of False Teachers, such as privi∣ly bring in Damnable Heresies, even de∣nying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift Destructi∣on. It seems Christ bought those that are Damned, as well as those that are Saved; and consequently the Salvation or Redemption which he wrought, must needs be Universal: None are excluded from it, but such as exclude themselves by their Obstinancy and Impenitency. Now if we lay these Four Cnsiderations together; namely, The greatness of the Price which was paid for this Salvation. The greatness of those Evils it delivers us from. The Infinite and Eternal Hap∣piness it brings along with it. And

Lastly, The Extent and Amplitude of it, which is so great, as to include both Iew and Gentile; we may safely conclude with St. Paul, that it is great Salvation. Thus I have dispatched the First General I proposed, and proceed now to the Se∣cond.

Secondly, Namely, To shew you that those Christians, who neglect this great Salvation, must expect the severest pu∣nishments in Hell. This may be gather∣ed from the words of the Text, where St. Paul delivers himself in these Em∣phatical Expressions, How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation? As much as if the Apostle should have said, Christians, who disobey the Gospel, must never hope to go unpunisht; nay, these, of all others, must expect the se∣verest punishments. He tells Christians in the foregoing Verse, that the Iews for transgressing the Law of Moses, were to receive a just recompence of reward; how then, saith he, shall we escape, if we neglect the much greater Salvation of the Gospel? fairly intimating, that Christians, as they have greater Priviledges and Advantages than others, so the abuse of them will bind them over to proportionably greater

Punishments. It is the observation of Menochus, that Ioshua, when he aggra∣vates the sin of Achan, plays the He∣rauld, and gives an account of his Pe∣digree; for we are told, Jos. 7. 1. that Achan was the Son of Carmi, the Son of Zabdi, the Son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah. Had Achan been a poor Ig∣norant Heathen, his sin, even in these lower circumstances, would have kindled the Wrath of Heaven, and have pulled down heavy Judgments upon him: But Achan that was a Iew, and that no mean Iew, but of the Royal Tribe of Iudah, and descended from such Noble Progenitors, as Carmi, Zabdi, and Ze∣rah, All Honourable Persons; for him to commit a Trespass of this Nature; his Priviledges and Advantages loaded his sin with the heavier Aggravations, and rendred him obnoxious to a double Punishment, to wit, that of Lapidation, and the other of Burning, which were both inflicted on him, as we read, Ios. 7. 25. It seems God proceeds with Sinners according to the Rules of Di∣stributive Justice: He proportions his Punishments according to their respe∣ctive Priviledges and Advantages. Such

as have enjoyed lesser Priviledges, shall be beaten with fewer Stripes. The poor Gentiles still find a cooler place in Hell than the Iews, and the Iews than the Christians. Hear what St. Paul saith, Rom. 2. 12. As many as have sinned without the Law, shall perish without the Law, and as many as have sinned in the Law, shall be judged by the Law. As St. Austin speaks, the Law of God which Moses delivered to the Jews, as it did more clearly dis∣cover and forbid all manner of Sin, so it did ingeminate, or double their guilt. The poor Gentile, who wants the ad∣vantages of the Mosaick Law, will have the Law of Nature only to an∣swer for. But the Iew at the day of Judgment will find himself condemned both by the Law of Nature, and the Law of Moses; and consequently, his Guilt will be double, and his Punishment so much the greater. Hence St. Paul tells us, in that same, Rom. 2. 9. That God will render Tribulation and Anguish up∣on every Soul of Man, that doth Evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. It seems the Iew shall have the prece∣dence of the Gentile in Hell; a cursed

kind of precedence, and such, as I fancy, few will be very ambitious of.

Thus you see the Iew shall, in Hell, be beaten with more stripes than the Gentile: And the Condition of the dis∣obedient Christian will be worse than the Iews. He has enjoyed greater Ad∣vantages than the Iew, and must expect greater Punishments: He has the Law of Nature, the Law of Moses, and the Law of the Gospel to answer for; and therefore if the Guilt of the Iew be double in respect of the Gentile, the Christians Guilt will be treble, and ren∣der him worthy of much sorer Punish∣ment. Hence it is that our Apostle, Chap. 10. of this Epistle Vers. 28, 29. If he that despised Moses's Law, died without mercy, of how much sorer Punishment shall he be thought worthy, who has trampled under Foot the Son of God? It's plain the Christians Punishment will be greater than the Iews; even as great as the Salvation which was offered him; in a word, so great, that St. Paul, who had the gift of Tongues, was not able to express it otherwise, than in these most Astonishing Expressions, of how much sorer Punishment shall he be thought worthy?

Thus you see, that as there are di∣versity of Torments in Hell, so the greatest of them will be the Portion of such sinners as do neglect the Salva∣tion of the Gospel; and you will more easily believe this Dreadful Doctrin, when I have given you the true Reason, of it. And,

1. The Gospel which bringeth this great Salvation, was first Preacht and Publisht by Christ, the Eternal Son of God; and this does mightily aggravate the disobedience of Christians. God he sent his Messengers, his Prophets, yea sometimes his Angels to publish and de∣liver the Law unto the Iews. But he has sent his own Eternal Son to Preach and Publish the Gospel to the Christian World; and sure such a wonderful In∣stance of astonishing Mercy and Con∣descention, cannot but load the sins of Christians with the most dreadful ag∣gravations. Hear what our Saviour himself saith, John 15. 22. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no Cloak for their sin. The same Argument is here urged by St. Paul, in the Text, How shall we escape, saith he, if we neg∣lect

so great Salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord? As much as if the Apostle should have said, the Gospel which we, the Ministers of Christ, Preach unto you, it is Christs Gospel, the very same that he, in his own Person, first Preacht and Publisht to the World. Sure then you will reverence this Eternal Son of God. Sure ye can∣not but think it your Duty to obey his Gospel. As he is the Lord, he may command your Obedience; and as he is your Saviour, who died for you, he does most deserve it. Ye cannot there∣fore offend against this Gospel, but you must affront the highest instance and demonstration of God's Love. And what Punishments can be great enough to punish such Ingratitude? The Hea∣thens, the Jews and Devils themselves, who are now howling amidst everlast∣ing Burnings, they never sinned against such stupendious Mercy as Christians do; Of how much sorer Punishment shall they be thought worthy, who trample un∣der Foot the Son of God?

2. Another Reason, why Christians must expect the severest Punishments if they neglect this great Salvation, is be∣cause

the Light of the Gospel is greater and clearer than that of the Law. Esay Prophecying of the times of the Gospel, Chap. 11. 9. Says, That the Earth shall then be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. St. Peter 2 Epist. 1. 19. Compares the Light of the Law, to a dim Light shining in a dark place; alluding, as 'tis thought, to those Candles which were always shi∣ning in the Temple, because it was a dark place, as having but very small Windows to let in the light of the Sun. But the Light of the Gospel he com∣pares to the Day, intimating that the Light of the Gospel does as far exceed the Light of the Law, as the Light of the Sun does that of a Candle. We know the Vail was upon the Face of Moses, and the weighty concerns of Re∣ligion were then wrapt up in obscure Types and Shadows. But the Shadows being now vanisht, the Sun of Righteous∣ness is risen, and Christ has brought Life and Immortality to Light, through the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Thus great is the Light of the Gospel, and therefore those sins which are committed against it, are the more hein∣ous and damnable sins against Knowledg,

have more of wilfulness in them, and argue greater contempt of God. Hence such sinners are said in Scripture to re∣proach the Lord, Numb. 15. 30. Yea, to rebel against the Light, Job 24. 13. Since therefore Christians sin against greater Light, they must expect severer Punish∣ments; Fer he that knoweth his Masters will, and doth it not shall be beaten with more stripes.

3. Another reason why Christians must expect the severest Punishments, if they neglect this great Salvation, is because the means of Grace, which the Gospel affords for the obtaining of this Salvation, are now more plentiful than they were before. St. Iohn tells us, Chap. 1. 17. That the Law was given by Mo∣ses, but Grace and Truth came by Iesus Christ; of whose fulness, saith he, Verse 16. we all have received, and Grace for Grace, or Grace upon Grace, to denote the great plenty and abundance of it. The Law could do no more than shew Man his Duty, but the Gospel af∣fords him Grace to perform it. Hence the Preachers of the Gospel are styled Able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; for

the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life, 2 Cor. 3. 6. The Law is here call∣ed the Letter, and is said to Kill, be∣cause it shews our Duty, and the Dan∣ger of neglecting it, but gives no Grace to help us in the performing of it. But the Gospel is called the Spirit, because the Spirit of Grace does by his inter∣nal Operations, accompany the outward Ministration of the Gospel, and so gives us Life.

Thus you see what plentiful Means of Grace, the Gospel affords us for the obtaining of this great Salvation: And therefore if we do neglect these Means of Grace, our Condemnation, as it will be more just, so it will be more heavy too. This is plain from our Saviours threatning Chorazin and Bethsaida, Mat. 11. 21, 22. Wo unto thee Chorazin, wo unto thee Bethsaida, for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in Sackcloath and Ashes: But I say unto you, it shall be more tol∣lerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of Iudgment, than for you. Thus Chri∣stians, as they enjoy more plentiful Means of Grace than others; so if all

these be lost upon them, they must ex∣pect the severer Punishments.

Thirdly, I come now in the Third and Last Place to shew you, that Mi∣nisters may very well be allowed to be mighty earnest and passionate in their Exhortations and Admonitions. See how earnest and passionate St. Paul is in the Text; with what Vehemency and Fervency of Spirit does he cry out, How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation? St. Paul was one of the greatest Orators in the World: And he never thought his Oratory better employed, than in the winning Souls to Christ. Hence we find him in the Acts, Preaching with such Zeal and Eloquence that the Men of Lycaonia fancied Mer∣cury, their God of Eloquence, was come down from Heaven. And as St. Paul was thus Fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord, and promoting the Salvation of Souls, so 2 Tim. 4. 2. He charges Mi∣nisters to be Instant in Season, and out of Season, Reproving, Rebuking, and Ex∣horting with all long Suffering. And in truth what Zeal, what Vehemency can be thought too much for the Pulpit? Indeed the Heathen of old said well,

Stultus labor ineptiarum, It is a ridicu∣lous thing, said he, to make a noise about Trifles. But sure Life and Death, Hea∣ven and Hell, these are no Trifles. Men do not well consider the worth of Souls, and the greatness of that Salvation Christ has purchast for them, when they are offended at the Zeal and Earnest∣ness of Ministers; when they are angry at the seriousness of their Exhortations, or the severity of their Reproofs. But what pity is it, that Hell should be hung with such rich Furniture as the precious Souls of Men? And who would not employ their utmost Zeal to save such wicked sinners, as are ready every moment to drop into Hell Fire? Let me therefore with all seriousness intreat you to work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling. As you love your own Im∣mortal Souls, and value that Infinite Price which Christ has paid for them; as you dread the everlasting Burnings of the infernal Tophet, and earnestly de∣sire the endless Joys of Heaven, be per∣swaded to break off your League with Sin, and make your Peace with Almigh∣ty God, that when ye come to die, your Blessed Saviour may see the travel of his

Soul, and be satisfied; that he may then be as ready to Bestow on you, as he was to Purchase for you; that you may at last obtain this great Salvation. Which God grant unto us all, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to whom, &c.

The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ▪ and the Love of God, &c.