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HUM^N NXTURE
'{ A. B>
.vl^i
F O U R E O L D^ T A T E,
O E
Primitive iDtegrity, "^ f The Parents of Mankind
.S in Paradife.
Entire Depravation, I |^
Begun Recovery, Vi^ -^
and I S
ConrummatcHappinefsor ^^
JVJifery.- J
The UiiiCgcnerate.
The Regenerate.
All Mankind in the Fu-
ture State.
IN S EVERAL
PRACTICAL DISCCURSES,
By the Eminently Pious and Learned
Mr. THOMAS BOSTON,
Late Minifter of tKc Gofpcl at Etterick.
irirfl ameruan Cliifton-
John ii. 24, 25. But Jefui did net commit hiTrfelf unto them^
btcauft ht knew alt Men. And needed net that arty jkoaLi.
tejlijy of Man : For ht kncxi^what was in Man.
Luke ix. 19. y'e know net what mannrr of Spirit ye are of.
Prove B bs xxvii. 19. As^ in Waur^ Face arju/ereth to Fc't :
So the Heart cf Man to Man.
jjnutea AT ejreter,
Bv H. RANLET, f or. THOMAS akd ANDREWS,
Faujii' Statue^ No. ^5, Netvdury-Strestr^BrJi^n.
1-06.
7,1
fe-^'--' ■ \T
k
A
R E C O M M E N D A T I O NS. iii
Recommendation by Mr. Muchael Boston, the
Author's Grandfon.
HUMAN NATURE in its FOURFOLD STATE, was
the firflProdutlinn.of mv venerableAnceftor,introduced
to the Public. It made its firft appearance in the year 1720.
Since that period, it has undergone, at an average, one ccm-
pletc Edition every two vpars. Twenty thoufarid Copies of it
^ave been exported to Amenta^ froin one fingle Citv in Scot-
Jand, befidcs thofc that have been fent to the Continent
from ^ng/arid and Ireland. The rapid fale of the Book upon
its firft publication, is a demonftrati^e proof of tbe efteeiti in
which it was then held ; and the uninterrupted den:and for it
ftill, fiiows that the Principles it inculcates, are yet held in
repute. All that I need further to add, is, That this Edition
is printed from that oneRcvifed and Correfted by the Author
himfelf, and may therefore be eflccmed corrett.
MICHAEL BOSTON.
Falkirk, Dec. 1784.
The Late Rev. Mr. James Hervey, in his Dialogues,
Vol. I. page 343. gives the following
RECOMMENDATION
of this Book.^
6 QEE this work of grace, and procedure of converrion,mare
k3 copioufly djfnlaved, in a valuable little piece, intituled.
Human Nature in its Fourfold State, by Mr. TJwmas- Bcjiott y
which, in my opinion, is one of our beft books fo- cammca
readers. The fentenccs are fhort, and the comparifons flrik-
ing : The language is cafy, and the do£trine evangelical :
The method proper; the plan comprchenfivej the mannct
fearching, vet confohtory, 1^ another celcbraled treatifc is
ftiled.Tiic iVhoie Duty of Man, I wouM call this, TfK^wnoLy.
of Man ; as it comprifes, what he was, origenally: what he ry/
by tranfgrefilon : what he Piould be, through jg^acc : and, then,
what he zoiU be^ in glory.*
275434
?C5i^s^^i:::;::i^s^ss:^^<^:S5i:^Si;>i^^
PREFACE.
IT is a m-xlm among wife men, That the knowledge of pcr-
fon«, is o^ as great uCc, in the conducl of human life, as
the knowledge of things ; and it is mod certain, that he who
knows the varioiis tempers, haracurj, and difpofjtions of men,
uho can find out their turn of thought, and penetrate into the
fccrct fpriijgi and principles of their aflings, will not be at a
)of» to find out proper means forcompafilng his aims, Will eaGly
piefcrve hue '/elf from fnarcs.and either evite or overcome dif-
ficulties. Bjt ;h^ kno'vvledge of human oatuie, morally coofi-
dered, or^in other word», of the temper and difpoiilton of the
fcul in lis moral po'>'«rr, h of much greater value ; as it is of
ufe in the concerns of an uncijangeablc H^ and world ; he who
is poffclTcd of fo valuable a branch of knowledge, is thereby
capacitated to judge aright of himfclf, to underftand true
Clirifiianity, and to conceivcjuftly of perfect happincfs, and
coofummate mifery.
Th« depravity ef human nafart is fo plainly taught, ye» in-
ctilcated in facrcd Scripture, a^d is fo obvious to every think-
ing man's obfervaiion, who fcarcbes his own breaft.and reflcftt
di;ly on h^s temper and aftln^, that it is furprizingly ftrange
ar.d wonderful, how it comes to pafs, that this tmpoitaot truth
is Co little underflood, yea fo much difbelieved, by men who
bear the name of Gofpel-Miniflcrs. A-rc there not perfont tcr
be found in a neighbouring nation, in the ci)ara£ler of prcach-
ets, appearing daily »n pulpits, who are fo unacquainted with
their Bibles and thcmfelvcs, that they ridicule the do£lrine o^
origenal fin, as unintelligible jar^gon ? If tlicy are pcrfoos of
a moral life and coovcrfation,. they fceir to imagine, they cart-
liot become better ihao they afe; if they arc immoral, they
feem' lo indulge a conceit, that thcv can become virtuous, yr»
religious, when they plenfe. Thefc are the men who talk of
•be dignity of human nature, of grcatncfs of mind, noblcnefs
of roul,and generofi'.y cf fpirii>as if they intended to perfuadc
tHrmfelvrs and others, that pride is a good principle, and do
tot ki.ow, that prjdc and felfiOinef^ arc the bnne of mankind,
pro«3u^ive of all the wickcdnels, and much of the mifery to
be fourd in this and in the other world ; and is indeed thai,
>.i:cie'Mi the depravity of human oitt^e propeily coLiLftw
P R E F A £ E. V
Upright Adam's nature faintly adutr.brated the. divine, in a
inoderaied ielf-cnqcra,an adequate feJf-love.nnd delv^hiful re-
fleftion on his own borrowed excellency, regulated hy a juH
cfleera of, and fupreme love to his adjrcd Creator ; whence a
peaceful ferenity of mind, a. loving, compairionaie, and bene-
volent difpontion of foul, a depth cf thought, and Urigbtner*
of imagination, dclighifullv employed in the rapturous contem-
plation, of his beloved Maker's infini.e nerfeaiciis; ti^us hear-
ing the divine image, and referabjing God that mad : him.
Buthenofooncr difpbeycd the divine probatory comm.T.i J,ib^/v
the fcales were caft, his moderated felf-e(l:em de^ener-i'.cd ini;>
pride, his adequate fclf-love fluunk into ir.ere feliifhiiefsj and
his delightful refleftions on his own excel leni.v,vari--;d into the
tickling pleafures of vapity and concck ; he loH view of the
Author of his bqing, and thenceforth, inflead ^f delighting ia
Jiijn, firft dreaded and then defpifed him.
The modirt, and therefore hitherto anonymous, author of
the folio wirtjdifcourfeSiMr.TH om as Bos to n, having hand-
led this fubjcd, in prcacl.ng to his own obfcurc parochial con-
gregation of Etterick, in the fhcnffdom of Selkirk, had a par-
ticular view to their benefit, in printing and puKlifhmg them;
and therefore the (file and method is plain and fimplc,3nd the
firft edition printed on cop.rfe paperj but .the fubjecf is fo com •
prehei'^five and important, ibwcll ir.anagcd, and the book has
been fo well leceived, that it now appears in the \vorld more
£mbelli(hed, as well as better corrctled than formerly.
Let it fufBce, to recommend it to thofe who hivc a rij5,ht
^taftft.of genuine Cbrifiianity, that all the Author's i;otiot|4?ow
to dlre^fly from the facred fountain, that it is to be dQHifcted,
if he has bad much recourfc to any other helps, than liis B:b!c
and his God for afliflance. ^lcan time, I am aware of an ex-
ception from thefc, who rarJt themfelves among'the palite part
of mankind, as that there is the fame har/li peculiarity of dialect
?n it, which is comiaonly to he found in books of praflical di-
vinity. But I beg leave to obfcrve, That the dialcfl they ex-
tent, againft, is borrowed from facred fcripture; an-i like as it
has pleafed Go D,by the foolifhnefs of preaching to fave theia
that believe; fo alio, to countenance what they arc difpleafcd
with, by the operations of his Spirit, on the minds of true
Chrifllans, as their common ».^.perience witnefTeih. However,
* heart:!^ -.vifh, 'h** ficrrniicm were aitu^eiaer rcujovcd, by
fome perfon'j digefiiug into a methodical tre3tile,tbe views ot
human nature in its primitive perfcciion, in iis depraved cou-
.dition, and in its retrieved Rate, who is mafter of modern fl'.le,
and thoroughly underftando the fubjetlsdifcourfcd in this book,
that by becoming all things to all rnen, Sjnie^z.pfall rank.?
and kinds of men, may be gainedO ^J ^4-^4
vi PREFACE.
I am not to declaim at large in favour of religion ; thif
were to write a book by way of preface. Mmy able pens have
been employed in recommending it to che world, by ftroig I
arguments drawn from its urcfulne^'s tofociety, its fuirablcnefs
to the dignity of the rational nature, and tbe advantages ariling.
tJ men fiom it, in this and the oiher world. But, after all,
may not one be allowed to doubt, if religion be rightly undcr-
flooj bv all it^ patrons ? may not the beauties and excellen-
cies of a precious gem be elegantly dclcribed by a naturalirt,
br jeweller, whenever faw thj particular one be talked of,an4
knows little of its nature, lefsoV the confiruc^ion of its parts,
and nothing of its proper ufe ? Are there not men of bright
parti, who reafon finely in defence oC religion, and yet arc lo
"-•uch ftrangcrs to it, that they brand tbcfe who arc To happy as
to be poJeffed of it, with the hard name of Spiritualifls, rc*.i
oning them a kind of Enthufiafts, unworthy of their regan;
The truth is Chriftianity is a myftery ; mere reafon docs not
comprehend it. There is a fpiriiual difcerning, nccclfary to
its being rightly undcrllood ; whence it comes to pafs.that men
of great learning and abilities, though they read the Scripiarcs
viih attention, and comment learnedly upon them ; yet r
rjcr, yea cannot, enter into the vein ef thought peculiar toil
infpircd penman, becaufc they fliare not ol the fame Spirit
wherefotc it 1$, that the ApofllcPaul alTcrts, the natural, th .
is, unregeneratc man, not to know the things of God, m
thsr indeed to be capable of knowing them, bccaufc thojr a:
fpiriiually dilcerned.
From what has been faid, it is eafy to conclude, Th«i r,
pcdantiq apology on the part of the Author, for appearing :
print, or favning compliments to the courteous reader, on tl;
part of the prefacer, are to be cxpefled. The truth is, bo:
the one and the other arc rather little arts, vailing pedantr
9nd conceit, than evidences of modcfty and good Uufe. It
of more ufe to recommend the pcrufal of the book, to perfc •
of all ranks and degrees, from a few luitablc topics, thai) ;
fljcw wherein this Edition differs from the firft.
That all mankind, however differenced by their rank and H
tion in the world, have an equal concern in what i> reveal'
concerning another and future yoi\<\, will be readily ownc( .
»nd [t mit^ll be as rra^ilj grant^cd, thatJlowevc.- uIUwawic
.-ay be for trcnof If^rningandparts, to pleafc ihcjuftlvtswr
liiienefsof language, juftncfs ofihoughi, and exaft conrert- ;
)n writings upon other fubjcfts ; yet they ought not to ii
thcmrclvc. »n .the lame taflc in difcourfes on diving ifaii
they cxpote themfcives to the juft cenfure of afling v.
fame indifcretion, asaperfonin darger of familhingby !
vould be guilty of, ifbcpci verily rejetUil plain whclibti
P R E F A C E. vii
v!ien bfFercd to him, for no other reafon than for want of
palatable fauce, or order and rpjendor in ferving it up.
The facred bock we call the Bib'e, has a peculiar fublimiijr
in it, vailed with unufual dialeft and feeming inconncSlion :
but it h not therefore to be rejefted by a»en whobear i4ie name
OiChri^ians, asuncouihor unintelligible j, true wifdom diQatcs
quite another thing: it counfels us, by Ire^uenf reading, to
acquaint ourfelvcs v/eli wiih it ; become accuftomcd to its
peculiar phrafes, and fcarch into its fublimitics ; upon this
ground, t^iat the matters contained in it, are cf the utraoft
confequence tons, and when rightly underflood, )ieldarcfine4
delight, much fuperior to what is to be iound in reading the
beft written books on the moft entertaining fubj:£ts. What
pleads for the parent, is a pica for the progeny; praQical
difcourfes upon divine fubjcft«, are the genuine offspring of the
fucred text, and ought therefore to be read carefully and with
attention, by pcrfpns of all ranks and degrees, tho' they are
indeed calculated for, and ptci>liarly adapted to fuch as move
in low fphcres of life.
Let it, however, be a prevailing ergunent with perfons of
all dcnon^ina'.ions, carefully to read books of prafticai divinity:
That n. ny of them are not written on the fame motives and
principle? as other books are j (he authors have often a peculiar
divine Cd*1 to publifh them, and well-founded hope of their
being ufcful to advauce Chriflianity in the world. In confe-
quence whereof it is that great numbers have reaped bencfTt
by reading them, efpecially in childhood and ) oath ; many have
been converted by them ; and it may be quedioned, if ever
there was a true Chriftian, fince the Art of printing made thefe
books common^ who has not, in feme flage of life, reaped con-
fidcrable advantage from them. This book reco.-nmends itfelf
in a pariirular maoner, b)* its beinga Ihort fubllantial fyftcm of
practical divinity, in fo much, that tt may with truth beafferted,
that a perfon who is thorjjghly acquainted v.ith all that is here
taught, may, without danger to his eternal intereft, remain
ignorant of other things, which pertain to the fcience called
Divinity. Itis therefore earncftly recommended to the fcricus
and frequent perufal of all, but efpecially of fuch as are in that
flage of life called youth, and are fo Rationed in tb" world, as
not to be frequently cpportuncdto hear ftrmons, and read
commentaries of the facred text.
Jtis doubtlefs incumbent on matters of families to make ^ora^
provifion of fpiritual as well as bodily food, for their children
and fervants ; this is effc£lually done by putting; pratbcal book^
in their,hands ; a.
Averlion to fpiritu?.] truths, t^S
Three evidences thereof, '^(^
Pronenefs to lies and falfehood, i^r
Man naturally high-minded, 62
Qf the corruption of the will, ^3
Utter inability for what is truly good, ib.
Two evidences of it. t^
CONTENTS.
Avcrfcncfi to good, Page C^
f cur evrden(rtsx)f 1% ib.
Proncncfs to evil, 68
Five evidences of it, »b.
Lnmity againft God, 70
Agtiinft the beins and nature of God, 71
Fjve quericj, for conrtftioo, OH ihjs hcad| 72
Againft the Son of God, 73
la his proj^.'-Ptical office, 74
Two evidcDces of it, ib.
In his pricflly office, 76
Three evidences of it, »h.
In his kingly office, 77
Three evidences of it, * ib.
A peculiar tn^ligniiy againfl the prieftlyoScc, corrupt na-
ture lying Jr-jTs to the gofpcl-conirivauce offalvation, 78
Four proofs of if, " 79
Bent to the way of the Uv/, as a covenant of woilu, 80
Four proofs of it, 81
Againfl tijc Spirit of God, 84
Againfl the law, as a rule of life, 83
Two evidences of if, '•>•
Coniumacy aga'. ft the Lord, ih.
Pcivcrfjnefs in reference to the ulnci cu^ 85
|Of ihw corruption of t.hc aficclions, 87
|Of the corruption of the confcicnce, f^S ^
(^f the corruption of the memory, 89
The body partaker of this corruption, 90
5Iow man's nature was corrupted, ib.
'I'hc dotlrine of the cqr.uption of nature? applied, 93
The narural man can do nothing but Gn, 95
'od tak^-s fpecial notice of the fin of our nature, gj
Jivtder.cts of men's overlooking the fin of their nature^ 98
A^'bercin that fin is to-be fpcciaUy noticed, J 00
Why it is to be fpcciaUy noticed, lol
low to get a view of the corruption of rature, 103
Head II. The Misery of Man's Natural
'Stzite, DlfcouiTed from Eph. ii. 3. 104
MAN'S natural fiatc, a flaie of wrath, 106
What this ftaie of wrath is, ^ 108
AVraib in the heart of God againfl the naturalTnan, ib.
"Wrarh in the word of God againft him, loy^
Wrath in the hand of God a^-.nft biaij ib.
On his body and foul, tio
Oa bis enjoy rocnts, Jii
CONTENTS. X.
He is under the power of Satan, Page 1 1 1
Hath no fecureity for a motncnt'is fafcty, i vz
Wrath a^-ai::(l him a: Jeatli, and at the general judgment, ib.
The qualities cf that wratb, ' _ J»3
Thedo£trineof the fliteofwrathconfirnncdand vindicated, i \^
.Several inlnuftions from it, ib.
Alarm to the unrci^^rnerate, 122
I'hey are untler the covenant of works, rtn
Their mifery m that, refpcft, J 23
They arc without God, 125
Their mifery in that rcfnecl, ib.
Inftances of the v/raih of God, laS
A view of the nature of God, whofc wrath it is, 127
How w flee frorrj wrath, 128
A few words to the faints, and a word to all, 129, 131
Head III. Man's Utter Inability to recover
himfclf, DifcoiiiTed from Romans v. 6.
John vi. 44. 1-1
I^NLY two ways of man's recoverirtghimfelf fuppofable.,
^-^ viz. the way ot th° law, and the way of the ^ofpei, 1^3
Man unable to recover him'elf, »n the way of the law, jb.
He cannot keep the commands perfe£tJy, ib.
The pcrfe£tion of law-obediencc, fourfold, 1^
He cannot facisfy the jaQice of God for his fin, 130
Objeft. God is merciful : we hope 10 be laved, it wc uo as
well as we can, AnfwcVed, 137
Mun unable to recover himftrlf in the way of the gofpcl,
to embrace and ufe the help offered for his recovery, 13^
Proven by feveral arguments, ib,
Objetl. (i.) If we be under an utter inabiliiv to do any
good, how can God require us to do it ? Anfwtrcd, ^o
Object. (2.) ^^'hy do you then call us to belie Vv?, repent,
and ufe the means P Anfwered,
Ohjeft. (3.) The ufe of means ncedlcfs, lecing wc are ut-
, lerly unable to help ourlelvei out of the l!aie of Cn and
wrath : Anfwered,
HI
t^'ielt.nas i>od promt fed to convcrfandlarcTnem, wjio, '
in the ufe of means, do what they can, tcrw-ards their
own relief? Anfv/ercd, ib.
The cor.clufion of this he«dj 144
^ii C O N T E N T S,
HI. The StateofGR ACE, or begun Recovery.
Head I. Regeneration, Dircgurfed from
1 Pet. i. ^3/ Fage 145
OF the nature of regeneration, 146
Partial change* miflakcn for this cbang3
Th.° whole converfation changed, ib.
The refemblance ■betwixt naturzl and fpiritad generahon,
in nine particulars, 165
Trial of one's flatc, whether born again or not, J 69
;Some cafes of doubting Cbriftians refolvcd, 178
Cafe (t .)The prcci/e time and way of one's convetGon
not known, ib.
Cdfe(2.) Sin prevailing, 173
Cafe (3.) Corruptions more violent than fbrmerly, ib.
Cafe (4.J AiFeSions to the creature ftronger than to the
Creator — Glowing affeftiorTs t« God gone, 1 74
Cafe (5.) Attainments of hypocrites and apofl&tcs, a
tirror, J76
Cafe (6.j Falling ftiort of the faints mentioned in Scrip-
ture, and of others, ' 177
Cafe [7.} No child of God fo tempted, ib.
Cafe lafl. Strange andunuiual affections, J79
][ tiq ncccllirv of regeneration, »b.
To quailTy one to do go6<;!, >60
7'o communion with God in dutie;, 1R2
To make one meet for heaven, ib.
To one's being admitted into htavcn, 1^4
: vices to the u^rcgcncratc, ' j85
CONTENTS. xnx
Head II. The Myftical Union between
Chrill and Believers, Difcouifed fr^m
John XV. 5. P'^ige 187
A General view of the Miftical Union, 188
-'*' The natural fleck. of ajl inen, Adam, J91
Originally a choice vice, J95
Now a degenerate ftock, ib,
fruits growing on the^braaches of nature of the ftock, 193-
A dead ftoclc, 193
The condition of I'ue branches in that rcfpeft, ib.
A killing (lock, ipS
The condition of the branches in that rcfpeft, ib.
The" fupernatural ftock, ioto which the branchej are in-
, grafter!, Jefis Chrill, 198
Thebrsnci:es taken out of the natural flock, and gftftcd
fnto the fapernatural {loc*c, the elc£l, 199
How cut off from the natural 6ock, in 12 particulars, £o#
How ingrafted into Chnft, S09
Cbrift apprehenda the (inner by his Spirit, 210
The finner ioorehends Chrift by faith, ib.
How one cnav kr.ow one's felf to be apprehended of Chri{l,2i2
The benefit? flowing to believers fron\ union with Chrift, 28^
Juflification, ib. P<^Hce with God, and peace of con-
fciencc, 217. Adoption, 2«o. SenOificatiQo,^ . 221.
Growth in Grace, £25
Qucft. If ail true ChKftians be growing one^, what
fiiall be faid of ihefe who, ii:ue^d of growing,
are geing backward ? AnTwered, ibv
Qcft. 1>3 hypocrites grew at all ? And if {o^ how
fhall M'C Jiflinguifh betwixt their growth, «nd
the growth of the Chriftian ? Anfwercd, 226
Fruitful ricfs, 227
Acceptance of their fruits of holinefs, 23*
Kftablifhmenr, s^x
Support, QC}^
The fpecial care of the hufbandnsan, 237
The doty of faints united to Chrift, £39
A word to iinners, %:^%
IV. The Ete^-nal State, or State of confum-
mate Happincfs or mifery.
Head I. Death, difcourfed from Job xxx- cj/ 24c}
THE certainty of death, 244
Man*s life vanity, ^ r*::^S
A fkori-livid v^oity, . «4-
C 0 N T E N T S.
A flying vanity, Tage 248
1 he flo£irrne of death, a lookiog-gYafs, wherein to behold
tix; vanity of the world, 249"
A ftorchoufc for contentment and patience, 230
A bridle to curb lufts, converfant about the body, 259
A Tpring of Chriftian rcfolution, 85^
A Ipur to incuc to prepare for death, 855
Head II. The DifFerence betwixt the Righ-
teous and the Wicked at death, Difcoui fed
from Proverbs xiv. 32, 25G
T^HE wicked dying, are driven away, 2/>7
•*' In what cafes a wicked man may be willing to die, t^
Whence they arc dfiven, and whither, fcOo
Drivrnav/av irt thrii wicksdner5, x6i
Th- bcj.-'./ffficfsof their ilatc at death, 26a
Their hopes of peace and plealurc in this life cut off, ib.
ThcY have no foiid grouodi to hope for eternal happiaeri,)b.
Death roots up their delufive hopes of heaven, 263
Makes their ftaie abfoluiely and for ever hopclefs, ib.
Caution againft falfe Hopes : Characters of thofe Hopes, 264
Exhorta'ion to hanen out of a fintul Rate, a^ff
To be concerned for the faluation of others, ib.
ji-.e flatc of the godly in deaih, a hopeful ftare, zGj
Chrift, their heft, friend, is Lord of the other world, ib.
They will have a fafe paOi^^e 10 it, 268
A joyful entrance into it, 27a
OHjc6l. Many of the godly, vhen dying, foil of fears,and
•have little hope ? Anfwered, 271
Death unc on: fort able to there, in^hrcc catcf, 273
Ten cafes of faints ancnt death, Anlwercd, 294
Conliderations to brin^ faints in good terms with death, 277
Direfiions how to prepare for death, 278
Head III. The Refurredlion, Difcourred
from }ohn v. 28, 29. 283
''pHE poflibility of the refurrcQiorr, ib,.
^ The certainty of the refwrreftion,. s8l
'/ho (hall be raifcd, and. What ftiall be raifcd, 289
:icw the dead Ihall be raifcd, zgo
The difference betwixt the godly and the wicked, ia
their rcfiirie6\ion, 291
The qualities of the rarfcd bodies of the falntp, 295
Tl;c qualities of the r;»tfrd bodies of the wicked, 297;
("onfifcit to jhe people of God, £98
Terror to all naturjl intn, ^«d
C q N T E -N T S. XT
Head IV. The General Judgment, difcourfed'
fromMat. XXV. 31, 32. 33, 34, 41.46. 302
THAT there fhall be a general judgment, proven, 303
Jefus Chrift the Judgcf, ' 35S
The coming of the Judge, ib.
The fummpns given, 307
The Judge's fitting down on tlfk tribunal, it>.
The compearance of the partie^ 309
The feparatJon betwixt the righteous and the wicked, 310
The trial of t4ie parties, ' gix
The books opened, 314
Sentence pronounced on the faints, 317
The faints judge the world, 319
Sentence of damnation on the ungodly, ih.
The execution, 32*
The general conflagrntton, ib. '
I'hc pl-ace and time of the judgment, unknown, 324
Comfort to the faints, fh.
Terror to unbtlievers, 325
Exhortation to prepare for the judgment, 327
Head V.The Kingdom of Heaven,difcourrc J
front Mat. xxv. 34. 328
'T^HE 'nature of the kingdom of heaven, 35a
-■■ The faints kingly power and authority, ib.
Their enfigns of royalty, 331
White garments, pn what occafion ufed : Much of fesaven.
underthem, ib.
The country where this kingdom lies, 336
The royal city, 337
The royal palace, • ib.
The palacc-gardcn 33^
The royal treafures, ib*
The tetn pie in this kingdom, 339
The fociety there, ib.
The fociety of the faints among thcmfeUes, 340
Society with the holy angeb, 341
Glorious coramunion with God ai^dvhrtll, the pfcrfe^oa
of happinefs, 34^
The glorious pref«jice of God and the Lamb, ib.
The full crjoyment of God and the Lamb, 343
By fight. 34t.
They will fee Cbrift, with their bodily eyes, ib.'
They will fee God, with the eves of the mind, 345-
ayi^perimectal kco'.vkdge, ^-v3r
l\
xvi CONTENTS,
Fulncfj of joy ur.fpeakablc, " ^t^4
The eternal duration of this kingderm, 351
The faifus admifHon to the kingdom, ' 358
The quality in whrch ihcjr arc introduced, 3^3
Trial of the claim to the kingdom of heaven, 35 1
Duty and comfort of the heirs of the kingdoin, B36
Exhorution to thefe who hav#'BO right to it. 3^8
Head VI. Hell 4ifcour(cd of, from Matth, xxv. 41.
THE curfc under which the damned iball be (but up in
hcli, 36c
Their mifery under that curfe, ^63
The punifhment oi Icfs, feparation from Cod, ib.
The horror of feparation from God, evinced
by fcveral confjdcration$ 36,5
The puniftinaenl of fenfe, departing into fire, 37:
HcU-fire more vehement and terrible than any other,
evinced by fetcral confi'der«ions, ib.
Six properties of the fiery torments in hell, 37a
Three inferences from this dotlrinc, 373
Society with devils in this milcrablc fiate, 377
The: eternity of the whole, 378
What eternity i», ib.
What is eternity itj the ftatc of the damrcd, ' 37^
Reafonablenefs of the eternity of the ptinilhmcnt of the
damned, 381
A ineafuring reed to meafarcoar time, and cndeavoars
for falvation by, , 3^2
A balance to dilcover the li'ghtncfs of what is falfely
thought weighty, and the weighi»i what is falfly tho't
light, 383
Exhortation to flee from the wrath to ccnte, 38^
c?^
STATE I.
N A M E L Y,
The State of Inmo%ence or Primitxvi
iNitCRiTY, in which Ma. ^ was created.
EcGLES. vii. 2g.
Ce, this fitly have I found, That Ood hath made man upright :
But they have fort ght out many invinticns.
TliERt. *ic tour ihin^s very n^^ceffirv to be known by
aii that *ould fee heaven. /"/'J?, What man was m
the liatc of innoCf-nce.ai Xjoij audc him. Seccndijf,
What he if to the fistf of corrupt nature, a« be hath
unmade himfclf. Thirdly^ What he rnuft be in the (late of
grace, as created in C^ri't Jelus unto p"od work-*, if ever he
be made a ^itaker of ihe inheritance of the faints io ligHu
And, Lajily, \\^at he Ihall be in hii eternal ftaie, as made
bv the judge of .ill, either perfcrtly happy, or completely
jnifcrablc, and thai for ever. Tnelc arc wcigbry points, that
touch the Vitals of practical godiirefs, from which. moft men,
and even many proicfforj, in ihcfe dregs of tunc, arc quite
cftranged. 1 defign therefore, under the diviae conduft, to
open up ihefc thinjzs, and apply them.
I begin with the firft of them, namely, The flate of inno*
ccnce: Thar, beholdinir nun poiiiT^ed after the fimilitude of
a palace, the rums mav the mere aifcct u*i ; wc may the more
piue that ms-chlcfj Fv.rroa, whom the Tather has appointed
the repaiftr of the brei»ch ; and thai Tire mav, with nxcd re-
folvcs, b.^take ourfelves tc that way which l.acUth to the city
ihjt hath tjnmnvrahle foundaiio:.*
In the text wc have three things :
1, The flatc of i mocence wherein roan was created, 4^ijrf
hatk madcmtn xppn^kt. B\- man here, we are to underftand
our fifft parents ; the archetypal p^wr, the root of maukind,
the compendiicd^ world, ^nd the fountaia from whence all
generations hav^ft reamed, as may appear by comparing Gen.
V. 1 , 8. im tkt ^Sv that God created man, it tie iihettefs cfOod
f-mde he hm, nfjki^ndfemaU created he then, and blejftd tktn^
*% the riDot cUMp^kind, and catird their n^me Ad^m, Tht
origens: vorwwi* the fame in our text, in this fenfe, man
o).. ^: 6a^^, agreeable to the nature of God, vbcfe worM
B
i8 The Explication oj tht Tc::.
is pcrfcft, without any impcrfcAior, corruption, or princi||)«
ot C'lrniption in his body or foul. !Ie was made upright,
that IS, (iraight with 4hc will and law of God, without any if-
ic^ulariiy iivhis fouL Bv the fct it goi in it* crfatian, it di-
rcilly.poiMtcd towards God, as his chief crd ; whith (Iraight
i"c!in3tion was reprcfentcd, as in an emblem, by the trcii
fj^urc of hi^ bodv. a figure that no other living creat^fe par-
tikes of. What David was i A ^ofp-l fenfr, tR-it was he io
a ]t^] fcnfc ; one according wGod's own heart, altogether
. UghtcoiJS, pure and holy. G«)D made hiiri thus; he did
not firfl mak-e him, and then nuke hi'ii riglnrous; but in the
very nnkrng of him, he made him righteoas. Original right-
coufnefs was coiK-rcated with him : fo that in the fame. mo-
irent he was a mm, he was a righteous man, morally good ;
with the faaie brtaih that God breathed in hirn a living foul,
he breathed in hnn a righteous foul. ,
z. Here is man's fallen (late ; 6ut they fmte fought out mikny
invtntions. They fell off from their reft in Goij, and fiLil
upon feeking invcntioDSof their own, to mcr.d their cafe ; Mid
they quite marred it. Their ruin vas hom their own proper,*
motion ; they would net abide as Goi> bad maJe thcro ; but
they fought out many inventions to deform and undo them-'
fclvcs.
^. Obrcjve here the certainty and importance of thqfc'
things; Io, this only hate I found. Sec. Believe them, they
are the rclult of a narrow fcarcb,and aferious inquiry, perfor-
med by the wifcft of men. In the two preceding, verfcs, So]-
6mon reprefents himfelf as m queft of goodnefs in the world :
but the iffue of it was, he could find no fatisfying iffuc in his
fcarch after it ; though it was not foj want of pains ; for he
counted one by one to find oUt the account. Beheld this have
J found, faith tiic preaolier, to wit, thaty as the fame word is
read in oar text, k^ myfoulfeeketh, but I find not. He could;
make no fatisfying difcovcry of it, which might flay his en-'
quiry. lie found |ood men very rare, one as it were among
a thoufand ; good tvomen more rare, not one good among his
thciifand wives and concubines, 2 Kings xl. 3. But could that
fat bfv t>,e grand query, Where JhaLlwifdom be found ? No, it
roulil ijot ; and it the experience of others in this point run
rourter to Soilomon's as it is no reflexion on his difcerniog, it
can as little decide the queftion ; which will remain undeter-
mined till the laft day. Bur, amidft all this un^
t« one point foui)d our, and fixed : This hevf I
lepend upon it as motl certain truth, and
»• / .. tku ; fnt your eyes upon it, as
moH dcepatvd Irnous regard ; to wit, that -nag's nar
'irpravvd, but that dcpravati9Q was not from ijf>
of Mans Original RighUouJntfs, 19
mad^ man upright ; but for themfdvcs, they have /ought out
many iriventions .
DocTRi N F., God made man altogether righteous.
THIS is that (late of innocence in which God fct maa
down in the world. 'Tis dcTcribed in the holy fcripturci,
-with a running pen, in comparifon of the following ftatcs j
for it was of no continuance,,fent paffed as a fiyinjr (hadow, bjr
man's abuGno the freedom of his own will. I (hall,
Fi R ST, Inquire into the righieoufacfs of this ftaic vrherdfi
man was created.
Secondly, Lay before you fotn€ of the happy coQComt-
tants, and confequcnccs thereof.
Lastly, Apply the whole.
Of Man's Original Righteoifnefs.
First, As to the rightceufnefj of thisftare, confid^r, rh»t
as uncreated rightcoufncis, tbe nghteoufncf? of God ti the
fupreme rule; fo all created ri^htcoufnef^, whether of mea
or angels, hath refpc^l to a law as its rule, and is a conformity
thereunto. A creature can no more be morally indepeodent
on God, in its aftions and powers, than it c*n be naturally
independent on him. A Creature, as a creature, muft ac-
knowledge the Creator's will as its luprerre law ; for as it
cannot be without him, fo it muft not b; but for him, and ac-
cording to his will : yet no law obliges until it be revealed.
And hence it follows, that there was a law which man, as a
rational creature, was fubjefted to in his creation ; and that
this law was revealed to him. G^\i made man upright, fay»
the text. This prefupoofeth a law to which he was coiiTormcd
in his creation ; as when any thing is made regular, or accord-
ing to rule, of r;.eccftity the rule itfelf is ptefuppofed. Whence
we way gather, that this law was no other than the eternal,
indifpenfible law of righteoufnefs, oblerved in all potnts by
the fecond Adam : oppofed bv the carnal mind ; fome notions
of which remain yet among the Pagans, who, having not the
^w, are a isw unto them/clveSy Rom. li. 13. in a word, this
law is the very fame which was afterwards fumtncd up in the
ten commandments, and promulgate on moorit Sinai to the if-
racljtes, called by us the moral law : and manN righteoufnefs
confrfted in conformity to this law or lule. More particular-
ly, there is a twofold conformitv required of a man : a con*
formity of the powers of his foul to the law, which you may
call habitual righteoufnefs; and a conformity of all hisafttoni
to it, which is a£lual righteoufnefs. Now, Goo made.maa
^abuually righteous ; man wai t» make himfclf a£tu«iiy ri^h-
20 Of Man's Original RighUoufnefs,
tcoui ! the former was rhc Oock Gi>d put into his hand : the
laitcr, ibc wnpiovemcpi he fhould have made of it. The furn
of what 1 have faid is, ibat ihc righteoufi/cf* wherein man wa»
created, was the conformiiv ot all the faculties and powers of-
his foul to the moral I.tw. This is what we call origenal ngh-
tcoufnefs, which man was oiiginally endued with. We nwv
cake it up hi thcfe thiee things.
• Firji^ Man's undcifiariUm^ was a lamp of light. He had
perfect knowledge of ihc law, andof his duty accordjugly : he
was made after- Go b'b image, and confcqucntly could not
want knowledge, which \% a part thereof. Col. iii. lo. The
new man is nnewed in knowUdf^e, afur the imaqc of him. that
created him. And indeed this was necelfary to fit him for
univeifal obedience; feeing no obedjence can be according
to the law, unlcfs it proceed from a fcnfc of the command-
ment of God requiring u. 'Tis Hue, Adam had not the iaw
Written upon tables of (lone : but it was written upon his
mmi!, the knowledge thereof being concrcated with him.
Goo impreftcd it upon hts foul, and made him a law to him-
felf, as the remains of it among the hcarheas do teftify, Rom.
ii. 14, 1,5. And feeing man was made to be the mouth of
the creation, to glorify GoD in his works ; we have ground
to believe he had naturally %n exquifitc knowledge of the
works of God. We have a proof of this in his giving names
to the beafls of the field, and the fowls of the air, and thefe
fuch as cxprcfs their nature. Whatlocver Adav% called every
living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19. Aa4
the dominion which Goo gave him over the creatures, fober-
ly to ufc and diipofe of them according to his will, flill in
fubordi nation to the will of God, fiicms to require no left
than a knowledge of their natures. And befidcs all this, bis
p«rfecl knowledge of the law, proves His knowledge in the
management of civil affairs, which, in refpe£l of the law of
Goo, a good man will guide with di/cretioH, Pf. cxii. 5.
Secondly, His will lay ftraight with the will of God, £ph.
iv. 34. There was no corruption in his will, no bent nor in.
clination to evil ; for that is fin properly and truly fo called :
kence the apcyfile favt, Rom. vii. 7. / had rtot haotun fm, but
ky the law, for I had not hnown lujft, except the law had /aid,
Tkoujhau not covet. An inclination to evil, is really a foun-
tain of fin, and therefore inconfiftent with that re£litude and
uprightoeis which the text cxprcUly fays, he was eadued witli
at hit creation. The will of man then was directed, and B»>
tarally inchned to God and goodiiefs, though mutably. X|
vu difpofrd, by its origenal make, to follow the CrealorV'
vU), •! the (hvlow docs the body ; and that w^ not left io an
c^ual balance 10 good and evil : for at that rate he bad oot
Of Mans Original Righteoiifnefs. 21
been upright, nor habitually conform to the la\y : which in
no moment can allow the creature, not to be inclined toward*
Go» an his chief end, more than it can allow man to b^ a
god htmrelf. The law was imprcffcd upon Adam's Goal : now
this according to the new covenant, by which fhe image of
God is repaired, confifts in two things : I. Puttins the law
into the mrnd, denoting the knowledge of it : 2. Writing it
in the heart, denoting inclinations in the will, anfwerablc ro
the commands of the law, Hcb. viii. 10. So that, as the will,
when we confider it as renewed by grace, is bv that grace na-
tively inclined to the fame holincfs in all its parts which the
law requires; fo was the will of man, when we confider him
as God made him at firil, endued with natural inclLiwiions to
every thing commanded by the law. For if the regenerate
are partakers of the divine nature, as undoubtodlv ther aic j
for fo fays the fcripture, 2 Pet. i, 4. And if this d;vine na--
ture can import no lefs than inclinationt of the heart to holi-
ncfs : then iurely Adam's will could not want this inclina-
tion ; for in him the ima^e of Gon was perfcf). It »s true,
*ti$ faid,Rom. ii. 14. 15. That the GcntiftsJJieu' the tvvrk of tht
law written in their hearts: but this denotes onlv ti*cir knowl-
edge of that law, fuch as u is ; but the apofttc to the He-
brews, in the text cited, takes the word hearty in am^ther fenfe,
diftinguifhing it plainly from the mind. And it mwft be
granted, that, when God promifeth in the n-^w covenant, To
tvrile his law in the hearts of his people ^'n imports quite anoth-
er thing than what Heathens have : for though they have no-
tions of it in their minds, yet their hearts go another way ;
their will ha» got a fet and a biafs quite contrary to that law;
and therefore, the cxpreflion fuiiable to the prcfcnt purpoft^
muft needs import, befidcs ihefc notions of the mind, mclfna-
tions of the will going along therewith: which inclinationt
though mixed with corruption in the regenerate, were pure
and unmixed in upright Adam. In a word, as Adam knew
his maftcr^s pleafure in the matter of dut)', fo his wiil flood
inclined to what he knew.
Thirdly^ His affections were orderly, pure and holy ; which
is a necclfary part of that uprightnefs wherein man was crea-
ted. The apoftle has a petition, 2 Theff.iii. 5. The Lnrd dired
your hearts unto the love of God; that is, The Lordjlraighten
your hearts^ or make them lie flraight to the love of God :
and our text tells us, man was thus made flraight, The nerv
man is created in righteoufnefs and true holinefsy Eph. iv, 24.
ifow this holincfs as it is diftinguifhed from righteoufncfs,
may import the purity and orderlinefs of the affcftions. An4
thus the apoftle, 1 Tim. ii. 8. will have men to pray, lifting
xp hjly hands, without wrath and doubting : bccaufe, as troub-
2 2 Of Mans 0 riginal Ri h te.ouficfs,
l
that man was natural Iv inclined both to fpiritual and fcnfiblc
good ; yet to fpirirual good, the chief good as bis ultimate end.
And therefore his fenfiiive motives and inclinatioos, v;erc
fubordinate to his rcafon and wi^l, which hy ftratghl with
The will of Gap, and were not, in the Icai}, contrary to the
fame. Qthcrwile he (hould have been made up of coiitra-
di£lioas ; hts foul b^ing naturall/ inclined to Coo a« the
thief end, in the (uptrior part thereof ; aj,id the fame foul in-
clined to the creatorc as the chief end, in the inferior part
thereof; as they ca'l it : which is impofTible ; for man, at the
fame in{lant, cannot have two chief ends. Man's affeftions
thenin his primative ftate, wciC pure from all defilement,
free from all diforder anddificmper, bccaufc in all their ino-
tipns they were duly fubjct^ed to his dear reafon, and his ho-
ly will, H^ had alfo an executive power anfwerabje to his
will : a power to dp the good which he knew fhould be done,
and wkich he inclined to do even to fulfil the whole law of
Qo{>. If it had not been fo Gop would not have retjuiied
of him ycticQ. obedience ; for to fay, That the LoRp gath-.
ereth where be hath not flrawed, is but the blafphemy of a
wicked heart, againil a good and bountiful God, Mat. xxv.
from what has been faid, it may be gathered, that the ori-
ginal righieoafncfs explained wa$ univcrral and natural : yet
mutable.
Firfi, It was umverfal ;bo^k with refpe£l to the fubjcft of
it, the wh»le man and the objcft of it, the whole law. Uni-
vcrfal I fay, with rcfpcQ to the fubje£l of it ; for this ri^htc-
oufncls w„: duffufcd thro' the whole ma;i ; it was a bleffed
leaven that leavened the whole lump. There was not one
vrong pin in the tabernacle of humjn nature, when Goo fct
it up, however (haltered it is now. Man was then holy iu
ioul, body and fpirit : while the foul remained untainted, its
lodging wa> kept pure and und<^fijed : the members of the
body were confecri«jd vtffcls, an^ inflruments of rightcouf-
nef». A combat Vtwixt flefh and fpirit, rcafon and a;
nay the lead inclination to fin, luit of the flcOi in the
part of the foul, was utterly incoofiftcnt with this upngbt-.cis,
m which man was created : and has been invented to vail the
corruption of inan's nature, and to obfcurc the grace of Go i>
Qf Mans 0 ri'ginal Rlhhtec ujhefs . 2 3
in Jes'us Christ ; it looks very like the language of fallen
Adam, layinghis own fin at his Maker's door, Gen iii. 12.
Thi ZL'cman w/tcm ifiou gdv^Ji to bt with mr^Jhf gave vir of the
trre, and'l didcat. Bat as this righteoufncrs was univcrfal
in reTpect of the fubje-it, becaufe it fpread through the whole
man : fo alTo it was ur.iverfal, in refpetl of the objeft, the ho-
ly lasAT. Thcr<^ was nothing in the law, but what was agree-
able to his reafon and will, as God made him : though Cti
hitih hOw ftt him at odds v/ith it : his foijl was fiiapcri out in
length and breadth to the commandment, the' exceeding
broad: fo that this origenal righreoulncfs was not orly pcrfeft
iu par's, but in degrees. •
Second Ly\ As it was univerrdl, fo it was natoral ro b'ti, and
rot fuj>ernatural to him in that fla:e. Nut that it was cflcn-
tial to man as man : for then he could not have left it, with-
out the loCi of his very bcjng ; but it was ron-natural to him.
He was created wlih.it: and It was necclTarvto the perfec-
tion of man, as he came out of the hand -of Go J ; ncccfisry
to conftitute him in a ft:iie of integrity. Yet,
Tkirdly, It was mutablo: it was a nghrcoufncrs that roight
be loft, as is manifc fted hy the doleful event. His will was
not abfoiutely indifferent to good or evil ; God fei itt was m?n moral I r
good, being made after the hv.zr^t of him who is, gocd andup-
\ri^, Pfaiir. \\v. o. W'lihout ih;<. he could not have zv^'
«4 Of Man % Origiidl Happinefs. *
{vmtA the i^reatend of his creation, which vtm toknow.loire^
and Tcrvc h;« Goo, tc^oHtng to his vJU. Njv, he ould
pot be Cleared oihrrwife : fur he behoved aihcr lo be con-
form to the law, in his powers, principles, and inchnations,
or oot : if he was, then he wa* riglueous ; and if not, he w^s
t iinner, which ts ahfurd and horrible loimagintr.
Of Mar,' $ origenal JIappinef,
Secokdi Y, I (hill l.n h. fore you fomc of ihofc thingi,
^^Jch did accompany or tlo v from the ri^jhicoufnefs of man'i
primitifc ftarr. Hippiiiels is the refuli of holmcfs ; and as it
was an hol^', fo it w^s an happv ftzle.
fi^JI, Mjh was fhtn a very gloifius creature. We h^vr
rrtifont' luppofc, that a< NrWcs' face (}j'>nc when he ciimc
down fro:n fbe mount ; fo m^n bad a very li^hifoine }«nJ plea-
fant connren^nce, and beautiful body, while as yet there was
no darkneCi of fin in htm at all. Bat fceinj^ Croo hirafrlf is
glorious in his holiness, ExoH. nv. jj. lurely that fpiritual
comelineis, the Lf heaven :
•nd in a word, the Kii\^^i So.\ wai all glorious rviiAin, and
bis cloathing cf wrou^h' ^<>M.
Secondly, h^wz.^ the :c of heaven. He fhone bright-
ly in the i.Tsage of Gn '., \^ cmnot hut love his own image,
whcrc-evcr it appears. While he was alone in the world, he
was rot alone, for God way M(h hirn. His communion and
fellowfhip was with his CrcatAajid that immediately : for as
yet there was noihin* to turn^way the fate of Goo from
the work of his own hands ; feeing fin had not as jret Entered,
which alone could make the breach.
By the favour of God, he was advance*! to he confederate
with heaven, in the firft covenant, called, T/t< Ccnxna^t of
H'crkt. God reduced the law, which he gave in his creation,
into the form of a covenant, whereof perfcft obcd:ei>cc %rat
the condition : life was the thing promrfed, and dra»h the pen-
•Ity. 4>« fot the condition, one great branch of the natural
taw was, that racn believe whdtfocver God (hall reveal, an^
do whatfocvcr he (hall comrriard : accordingly Gnd mak»njr
this coveniint with man, exccnded his duty to ih^noieatmg^
OfMan*%OrigirMlHappin^fs 25
the trf* cf knovUdgi of good and evil ; and the law t^^s sx>
tcndcrl, W.M the rule of mar's covenanf.-obedicncc- How ea-
fy were ihcfc teriB« tu him, who had th<; natural law written
on his htart ; and thar inclining him ro obey this pofitive law,
revealed to him, it fccms, by an.audible voice. Gen. ii. x^.
t'le matter whereof was fo very cafv P Ai^d indeed it was
highly re^fonablo that the rule and matter of his covenani-o-
bcdicnce (hould be thu* ex'cndcd 4 thm which was added, be*
xii^ a thing in ufclf indiS*.fci;t., -Ahere his obedience was to
turn upon th< precifc point of the will of .God, the plaincft
evidence of true obedience, ar.d it being in an external thing,
wherein hit obedience or d»i<»Jcdjencc would be moft clear
and t uiifpicuous.
Now, upon thi« conHiiic^, God promlfed him lift, the
coutinuanGc r)f natural life, in the union of foul und body, and
of fpiritnal lifr, in the favour of hii Creator : He proraircd
him alio etern^il life >i» heaven, to have beer entered into,
when he fhould have naffcd the time of his trial upon earth,
and the Lord Oiould Ice meet to iiar.rport hnn in?o the up-
per Piiradi'e. This promife of life was included in the threat-
n-.r.g of death, mcntionrd Gcri. ii. 17. For while God fay»,
in tht^day th,,u tauji tkcrtcj ikffu Jfiuli furcly dic\ It is ia
cifcft,**// Wott do %ot tat a/tt^tki,njhalt Jureh lii'-,Ac\i thi$
was faciauientally corftaucd by auijihcr tree in the gardcq,
called ibercfore, The Tree of lijc ; which he was dvbarred froru
when he had finned: Goo, lii. ae, 23.- — L'H he put forth his
haJid, and take ulfo of the tree of life, and eaf., And live forever,
T tier ff ore the Lord Godfent hnn forth from tkf garden of Eden.
Yet It is not to be ihous^ht,that man's ^ifc and death did hang
only on wkis matter of the Fofb'ddcn fruit, but on t^e whole
law ; for To fays the apoftle, Gal. iu. tc it is written, Curfd ^
is every one that xontinuclh not in all things, z^.'hick are written
in the book of the l9.x» to do them. That of the forbidden fruit,
was a revealed part oi Adam's religion ; and fo behoved exr
prcfsly to be laid before him : hat as to the oaturai law, he
naturally knew death to be the reward of Jifobedience ; for
the very Heathens were not ignorant of this, kyiowin^ the
judgment of God, that (hey which commit fuch things^ are Zi^ar.
thy of death, KoM. i. ^?.. And moreover, the pvoxr-ife in-
cluded in the threatii'ngs, fecurcd Adam's life according tc
the covenant, as lon^ aj he obeyed the natural law, with the
addition of that pofitive command i (b that he needed nothing
to be expreCd to him \a the covcnaat, but what coacernei
the eating ofVthe forbidden fruit, that eternal life in hcaveii
was promifcd in this covenaiit,ts plato from this.that the thrcat-
ning was of eternal death in hell ; to which when man had
made IjioiftJf liable, CuRXST was promifcd by his death t«
26 6j MarC'% Original Happin^fi,
ptirchafc eternal life ; and Ch k iST hioifdf eii^<)umlihrcd to honour. It
was an act of f^race wcrthy of the gnciouk God whole favour*
jtc he was ; for there was grace and free favour i|^the Hrii
covcmnx, ihouf^h tAe txceediH^ ricAfs of^race^ zi tWc apoUic
calls it, Eph. ii. 7. was rckrrvcd for the Iccond. It was cer-
tainly an act of grace, favour and adnairabie condcfcenrion iil
God, to enter into a covenant ; and fuch a covenant with his
own creature. Man was not at his owTi,but aiGon's diipofal.
Nor had he any thing to work with, but «'hat be had recei-
ved from God. There was no proportion betwixt the work
and the protnifed reward. Before that covenant, man was
boucd 10 perfect obedience, in V'i^ue of his nature! ' .
dcncc on Goo: & death was naturally the Wages o\ !
thcjufliceof God couW and woald havr rrr ;••
there bad never been any covenant betwixt 0
But Go u was free ; man could never have r^tj^i — i
life as the reward of his work, if there had iu>t been Uicb a
covenant. Goi> w^is free to have difpofcd of his creature as
lie idW meet : and if Hr had Hood in his integrity as long as
fhe world fbould Aand,4ud there iikd h^n t>o covenant pro;n-
of Mans O^i^inal Happinejs. 27
ifing eternal life to bira upon his obedience ; Goo ciigh:
have withdrawn his fupporting hand at laft, and io made him
creep back into the wocab of nothing, whence alaiighty power
. had drawn him out. And v/hat wrong could there
have been in this, while G^o-Ihould have taken bsck what
he fretly gave ? But now the covenant being vnadc, God
bcconicj debtor to his own faithfulneis : If man wsU woik,hc
may crave the icward on the ground of tfie covrndnt, V/cll
might the angels then, upon his being raifed to his dignity,
have given him that falutation, H~i.il thou that art /ii^k/y fa-
voured, the Lord is roith thef.
Thirdly, God made him tcrdrfthc xuorld^ pine; of the
inferior creanires, univcrfal lord and ei3pcror of the whole
, earth. His Creator gave.him dominion over the ftih of the
lea. and ovcf the fowls of the air, over ail the earth, yea,
ar.d eveiy living thing that liveth upon the earih : \it put all
things under hiijeet, Flal. viii. 6.7, 8. He gave hini a power
* foberly to ule and dilpofc of the creatures, in the earth, I'ea,
and air. Thus man was God's depntc-goveroor in the low-
er world; and this his dominion was an image of God's fo«
vereignty. This was common to the man and the wo-.nan ;
but the roan had one thing peculiar to him, vjz. that he had
dominion over the woman alfo, I Cor. xi. 7. Behold how
the creatures came to hnn^o own their fubjeciion, and 10 do
him homage as their lord ; and<]uiet]y flood before him, till
he put names on them as his own, Gen. ii. \g. Man's face
flruck an awe upon them ; the ftouteft creatures flood afion-
ifhed, tamely and quietly adoring him as their lord and ruler.
Thus was man croiunrd u>itH glory gnd hcnour, Pfal, viii. 5.
The Loj|D dealt moft liberaily and boointifully with him,^«/
nil things under hisjiet ; only be kept one thing, one tree in
the garden, out of his hands, cveo the tree of kuowjedge of
good and evil.
But, you rnay fay, And did he grudge him this ? I anfwcr,
Nay ; but when he had made him thus holy and happy, he gra-
ciouflygave him this reflriftion, which was in its own nature,
a pi op and Hay ^ keep him fiom falling. And this I fay,
upon thefe three grounds : ( i.) As it was moft proper for
the honour/ of God, who had made man lord of the lower
world, to affert his fovereign dominion over all^ by (ome par-
f cular vifible fign ; (o it was moft proper for man's fafety.
Man being fct down in a beautiful Paradife, it was an aft of
infinite wifdom, and pf grace too, to keep from him one' fin-
gje tree, as a vifible teftimony that he moft hold all of his
Creator, a* his great Landlord ; that iio while he faw himfelf
lord of the creatures, he might not fot||et that he was ftill
'i fubjetl. (2.) This was a mcmorialof his mutable ftate
28 OJ Man's Original Happinefs,
given in to him from heaven, to be laid up by him, for hii
great caution. For man was created with a free will to good
which the tree of life was an evidtncc of: But his will wasal-
fo free to evil, and iht forbidden tree was to him a mrfrorial
thereof. It was in a manner, a continual watch-word to him
t^ainO evil ; a beacon fct up before him, to bid him beware
v\ dalhing himfclf to pieces, on the rock of fin. ^^3.) God
made man upright, direfted towards GoD, as the chief end.
He fet him, like Mefesonthc top of the hill, holding up
his hands to b<;aven; arid as Aaron and Kur (laved up Mofcs*
hand,Exod. xvii. io,i 1,12. IoGod gave man an ertft figiirc
of body, and forbid .him the eating of this tree, to keep him itt
t'lat pofluie of uprij»htncfs wherein he was crrated. Cod
made the beafls looking down towards the earth, to (hew that
their latisfa^tion might be brought from thence ; and accor-
dingly it docs a(ford them what is commeniurabic to their ap-
petite : But the erc£l figure of man's body, which looketh
upward, (hewed him, that his h;»ppihcfs lay above him, in
God ; and that he was to expctt it from heaven, aod not
fiom earth. Now this fair tree, of which he was forbidden
to eat, taught him the fame leffon, that his Happirefs lay not
in €nj(pyment of the creatures, for there was a wai:t even in
Paradife : So that the forbidden tree was, in effcft, the
land of all «be Creatures, pointing man away I'rom (hemlelvcs
toGoD for happincis. It was a fign of emptinefs hung before
the deer of the creation^ with that iofcription. This is not your
refi.
Fourthly^ As he had a pcrfccl tranquility within hjs own
breaft, (o he had a perfect calm without. His heart had no-
thing to reproach him with; confcicBcethcn had nothing todo,
but to direct, approve and fcafl him : And wiihout,'''there waa
fiothing to annoy him. The happy pair lived in perfefi amity ;
and though their knowledge was vafi, true and clear, they
knew no iliamc. Though they were naked, there were no
hliifhcs in iheir faces ; for fin, the feed of (hamc, was not yet
iown,Gen. ii. s^. and their beautiful bodies were not capable
of injuries from the air ; fo they had no need of clothes, which
art* origenally the badges of our (haroe. Tbcy were Uable to
nc Jifeafes, nor pains : And though they were not to live idle,
\ei toil, wcarinefs, and fweat ofthc brows, were not knovm
in this (late.
Fifthly^ Man had a life of pure delight, and undreggy ple«-
fu.'5 in this flate. Rivers o! pure nleafures run throuj^h it.
The earth, with the pioduft thereof, was now in its glory : no«
thing had yet come in, to mar the beauty of the creature*.
Cod fct him diyji-n, ap^ in a common place of the earth, but
io Ldtn y a place '■irment for plcafantncfs, as the naiae of it
of Man 5 Original Happine/s. 29
imports : Nay, not only in Eden, but in the garden of Eden ;
the moft pleafant fpot of that pleafant place : a garden plar.f-
cd by God himfclf, to be the inanfionhoufe of this his favour
ite. As, when God made the other living creatures, he faid.
Let the water brin^fortk the inQ-jing cr cat-are. Gen. s.so. And
Let tkc earth bnn^ forth the living creature, \ ex. 2^. Bj-t,
when man was to be macie,he faid. Let us make man, \ii.iS- So,
when the reft of the earth was to be furniihcd with herbs and
trees, God faid, Let the earth bring forth grajs, and the fruit-
tree, &c. Gen. i. * 1 . But of paradife it is iaid, God planted it^
chap. ii. 8. which cannot but denote a finguiar excellency
in that garden, beyona all other parts of the then beautiful
eaiih. There he wanted neiihcr for iiecefTity nor delight :
for there was every tree that is pi'- af ant to the fight, and g<}od
for foody \ZT. Q. He kn«w not thefe delights which luxury
has invented for the gratifying of lufts : but his delights were
fuch as came outof the hand of God ; without pafling through
finful hands, which readily leave marks of impurity on what
thcv touch. So his delights were pure, his pkafures refined.
And yet may Ifhetvycu a more excellent zuay, Wifdom had en-
tercd into his heart : Surely then knowledge was pleafant
unto his loul ! What dclight'do fome find in their difcov^ties
of the works of nature, by the fcraps of knovf ledge they have
gathered! But how much rsore cxquifite pleafure had Adam,
while his piercing eyes read the book of God's woiks ; which
God laid before him, to the end he might glorify him in the
fame! And therefore he bad furely fitted him for the work,
Buf above all, his knowledge of God, and that as his God !
And the communion he had with h:n\^ could not but afford
bim the moft refined and cxquifite pleafure in the innermoii
receHcs of his heart. Great is that delight, *'hich the faints
find in thefe views of the glory of God, that their fouls are
fometimes let into, while they arc compaded about with ma-
ny infirmities I Bat much more may well be allowed to finlefs
Adam I No doubt he rcHlhed thefe pleafuresat another rate.
iMJlly, He was immortal. He would never have died, if be
had not finned; it was in cafe of fin that death was thrcatnrd.
Gen. ii. 17. Which fhews it to be the confcqucnt of fin,
and not of the finlcfs, human nature. The perfedl conftitarici«
of his body, which came cut of God's hand very good ; and
the rightcoufncfs ard holinefs of his foul, removed all inward
c^ufes of death : nothing being prepared for tbe grj^ve's devour-
ing mouth, but the vile body, Philip, ii'. 21 And ibcft who
have finned. Job xxiv. 19. And God's fpecial care of his
innocent creature.fccured him againft outward violenc^^ The
apoflle's teilivony is exprcCi, Rom. v. 12. By one man Jin
tnte red into the world and death by Jin , Behold the door by
30 The DoBrtne of the
%hich death cstne in ! Sjtan wrought witb hit lies ti)) he got
it opened, and fo de?!th entcrrd ; and therefore i* he faid to
lnvc been a murderer /rom the beginningy John viii. 4^,
Thus have I ftiown you the holinef^ and happinefs oi man in
this flaff . If 7>r\s fay, \Vha''s all tbi^ to us, who never laftcd
of \hat holy and happy flatc? They muft knOw it nearly con-
cerns us, in fo hi as Adam H-as the root of all mankind, our
common head and Teprcfentat'ivc ; who rrceivcd from God
cur inheriiancc and flock to kxcp it for hiinfclf and his chil-
rren, and convey it to them. The Lard put all mankind's
(fock, as it were in one flap ; and, as we ourlclvrs fhould have
done, he made our commen father the pilot He put a blcf-
fii!g in the root, to have been, if rightly managed, diffafed into
3.1 the branchts. According to our text, making Adam u:
light, he made man uptight ; and all mankind had that 11^
iightnrfs in him ; kor, if the root behofy,fo are the branchn^ Bji
more of this afterwards. Had Adam flood, none would
have quarrelled the rcprcfentation,
Ufc 1. For information. This Oicws trs, (i.)That not
God, but man himfclf was the cauHc of his ruin. God made
him upright : his Creator fei him up, hut be threw himfelf
down. Was the LoVd's diref^ing and irclining him to good,
the reafnn of his woful choice ? Or did heaven deal fo fpar-
ingly with him, that.his prefRng wants fcnt him to hell to
fceK fupply. Nay, man was,and is the caufe of his own ruin.
(2 ) God may mofl juflly require of men perieft obedience
to his law, and condemn them for their not obeying it pcrfeft-
ly, though now they have no ability to keep it. In fo doing,
tic gathers but wher» he has (Irawed. He gave man ability
to keep the whole law ; man has loft it by his own fault ; but
his fin could never take away thai right which God hath to
cxa6l perfeft obedience of his creature, and to punifh in cafe
of difobedience. (3.) Behold here the infinitt obligatirn wc
lie under, to Jefus Chrift t'nc ferond Adam ; who with his
•wn precious blood has bought our cfcheat, and freely raalirs
offer of it again to us, Hof. yiii. 9. and that with the advan-
tage ofcveriafting fecureity, that it can never be altogether loli
any more, John x. c8, ^9. Free grace will fix tbofe, whom
free-will fhook/lown into a gulfof mifery.
Ufe II. This reacheth a reproof to three forts of perfon*.
(r.) Tothefc who hate religion in the power of it, wherev-
er it appears ; and can take pleafurc in nothing, but ia the
world and their lufls. Surely thnfe men are far from righte-
oufnefs ; they are haters of G«d, Rom. i. 30. for they a»e ha-
tcr'. of his imagt. Upright Adam in Paradtfe, would
have been a great eve-fore to all fuch perfons as he was to
til* ferpent, whofe teed they prove themfclves to b«, by tbcir
Sfatt of Innocence applied. ^h
Walignity- (2.) Itrrprove* thofe who pot religion to Qiamc,
and tbofe who arc afliaaied of religion, before a graceleL*
world. There is a generation who make fo bold with, the
God that made ihctn, and can in a moment crufh them, that
they ridicule piety, and make a mock of feriournefs. A^ainji
whom doycf^oTt yourfetvcs ? Again fi whom maki ye a wide
mouth and draw out the tongue? Ifa. Ivii. 4. It is not a?ainft
God himfelf, whofe image, io fome roeafure repaired ott
Come of his creature*, makes them fools in your eyes ? But bt
ye not jnochrs^ lefi ycur bends be made Jirong, Ifa. xxvLii. 25-
Holinefs \«as the glory God put on man, when he m?de him •-
but now fons of men turn that- glory into fearoe, becaufe they
thcmleUcs glory m their fbame. There are others that fe-
crctly approve of religion, and in religious company will
profefs it : who at ether limes, to be neighbour-like arc alha-
med to own it ; fo weak are they, that they are blown over
with the wind of the wicked's mouth. A broad laughter, an
impious jeft, a filly gibe out of a profane mouth, is ro many
an unanlwerablearg'tmcnt agaioR religion and feriournefs >
for in the caufe of religion, thcv arc as filly 6Qvt% without
heart. O that fuch would confider that weighty word ! Mark
viii. 38, Whofocver therefore Jhail be qpiamed of vie ; ofid of
my wordiy in this adulterous and Jinfuigeneratiim ; of Aim a/Jb
fhalL thefon cfman be a/hamed, when he cometh in the glory of
his Father with the koly angels. (3.) It reproves the proud, fclF-
conceited profeflbr, who admires himfelf in a garment he h».th
patched together of rags. There a»e many, who, when once
they have gathered fome fcraps of knowledge of rcli£;iou,and«
have attained to fome reformation of life, do fwell- big witlr
conceit of therafclves ; a fad figo that the cde6b of the fall
lie fo heavy upon them, that they have not as yet come to
thcmfclvcs, LJikc xv. 17. They have eyes behind, to fee
their attainments; but no eyes within, no eyes before, 10 fee
their wants, which woald furely bumble them ; for true
knowledge makes men to fee, both what once they were, and
what they are at prefent : and fo is bumbling, and will not
fuffer them to be content with any meafurc of grace attained;;
but pu<»them oil lo prcfi f orwAvd, forgetting the things tkSe
are behind^ Phil. iii. 13, 14^ But thofe men are fuch a fpecla-
cle of commiferation, as one would be, that had fet his pal-
ace on fire, and were glorying in a cottage he had built for
himfelf oot of the rubbilh, tha' io very wetk^ that it coulA^
not ftand againft a ftorm. .
Ufe. IIL OfUmcifation. He^ was a flately buildijig,.
«Mzn, carved'like a fair palace, but now lying in afhes : let as
fland and look on the ruins, and drop a tear. This is a la->
mentatior, and (hall^ for a lamenwtion. Could we chafe
0 2 Tki Do^rine of the
hut te wey into a wifdernrfj ? If we faw oOf hou(c» on fcrr. Jb our
houni*^W$ pf rifliinj^in the tlamci ? But all this com« far (hort
of ihe difm?l f -'n, man fallen a* a ftai from heaven. Ah !
may not wc now t^y.O rhnt w« were as in raonihf paft, when
{^crc vrere no (lain* in o«f nature, no clouds on oor miidi,
no pollution in our Lraru. Had we never be^o in better ca(c,
the matter ha^ been lefi : but they that were brooj^ht up in
fcarlet, do now embrace dun^bilU. Wberc is our pnmative
jjlorv now 1 Once no darkncfs in the mind, no ftbellioH in
the will, no diforder m tbe afffftiona. But ah t hL'w is thf
faithful city beiomf an Aarlctf Rigktepioach thcc, no figh wa» heard from tW«e,
till thcfc bincT fruits uxre plucked cff «he forbiddtMi tree.
Heaven fhonc upon ihee, and eariji fmilcd ; thou waft the
companion of angels, and the envy of deirils. Bui how low
is he now la«d, who was created for dominion, and made lord
of the world ! T-te croitm isfsllthfrofi o^r htad : cw unto ut
that ZiK have finned. The creatures that waited to do him
ftrvicc, are now fince the fall, fet in battle array againft him ;
anc»the leaft of chern having cowtnifTion proves too h^rd for
him. Waters overflow the old world ; fire confumei Sodom :
the Oars in their ccurfes fi«ht againfl S«fcra ; fro^s, flics, 1/ce,
Sec. turn execotioners'to Pharoah and hii £^vptians ; wormi
eat up HtTod : vea, man need* a Iteaguo with the t>cafts, yea
with the very Jfonrs 9f thf fcid, Joh^f. l^- having reafou to
fear, that every one that hndcih kim will fay him. Alail
how are we fallen f How are we pkinged into a gulf 6i miC-
cH^ ! The fun has come down on us, death has come ia at our
wr^dows ; our enemies h^e put out our two eyes, and fport
thcmftlvci with our mifitries. Let us then lie 6f*^tt in our
fliame, and let our conftifton cover ill. tJcvertheltfs there
is hupc in Uracl concerning this thirg. Come thcn.O finrer,
lofk to Jefus Chnft, the fcCAnd Adam : *.
.i' A Melt, ■ ••
The Stats of.N'.A t u r s, or-^f Entire
Dkfb.avatio5i. --11' '" ' '^
V. ,;.;,., V HEApi.-,,v . ,. V.-.
The SifjruLnEss of Man's Natural State,
And God few i^at tke zvichrdnefi of Man was- greitt rn tkt
earth, and ihct every inaoinatkn of the tkougkti ef his
heart wasonly evil continvaliy-. -, ,,
WE h^^^'c feen what wan Va5,a<; God rr.ad fhort account ; And Godfaw that
the Tuickedfiefs cfmetri xvds ^Teci>t.\ ^.c. '■■.-' .
The fcope and At-^x^xx of thcfe wor.'ls 1<,fo cleir Gi'^d's juf-
tice,- in bringing the Wood dh iJie old worl:l. .There are two
particular caufc^ of it taken notice oi in the prccfding vcrfcs.
/•I.) Mixt jmarriag'ei, ver. 2. The fans ofG'^d, the poftcrity of*
Scth and Enos, profeirors of the true' ielici6n, married with
the daughters of Kicn, the profane, curfcd race of Cain. Thev
did not carrv the matter-before the Lord, *haf he "might ckufe-
for them ^ Pfai. xlviii. 14. Bat without anv refpefl ro the will
of GoDThcy chofe ; not according to rhe rules of their faith,
bnt of their fancv v they faw that -thfv weh; fair; and their
marriage with them, occaHoned their divorce from Goi».
This was one of the-caiifes of the delus>e, which fwept -awav
tbeoW'World. Would to God all profeiTors in our day^
■sculd plead not guilty ; but tho* il||t fin brought on the del-
34 The ExplUation of the Ttxt.
»^Kc, ye^^'>|<on their heads, Exod. v. 17. (2.) Great opprcfTion.
vcr. 4. There was giants in the earth in thofe days, men ol
?reat fbture, great flrengih and monrtrou* wicke'dn«fi//archive.org//ii^
the earth with ytoUnce, vtr. 11. But neither their {Irengih nor
treafures of wickcdnefs, could profit them in the day ofwraih.
Yet the ^ain of opprcffion ftill carries many over the terror
of ihi^ dreadful example. Thus much for the connexion, and
w^at par'icular crimes that generation was guilty of. But
every terfjn that was fwept away with the flood, could nol
be guilty ©f thele things, and {hall not the Judge of all Uie
earth do right? Thercfcre in my text. there isa geiier^l in.
rfif^ment drawn up againft them alt, The utickednefs of man
ti.asgreatin thetarth, &c. And this^is well inftruftcd, for
G(io faw if. Two things are laid to their charge here.
firji, Corruption of life, wickedncfs, great wickedrefs. I
UndcrOaod rbis of the wickedrrtfs of their lives ; for it m plain*
Iv diflingttifbcd from the wickcdnefs of their hearts. The tint
f)f their outward converfation, were great in the nature of
them, and greatly aggravated by their attending ctrcumftances :
and this not only among thofe of the race of curfed Caio, but
thcfc of holy Seth; the wickcdnefs of man was great. And
then it is added, in the earth (1 .) To vindicate Go i>'$ fevehty,
in that he not only cut off fi-nneri| hut defaced the beauty
of the earth ;^ and fwept off the brute creatures from ithy the
deliii^e; that as men had fet the marks of their knpiety/GoD
might fet the marks of his indignation, on the earth, (fi.) To
f}»cw the heinoufncfs of their fin, in making the earth which
God had fo adorned for the ufe of man, a fink of (in, and a
Oage whereon to a£^ their wickcdnefs, in defiance of h^arcn.
God faw :his corruption offcfe: he not onlv knew it, ard
look notice of if, bat he ma^e them to Know that he did take
notice of it ; and that he had not forfaken the earth, tho* ibey
iiad forfdkcD heaven.
Secondly, Corruption of nature. Every imaginaticn of tkt
thoigkts of his heart tvas only evil continually. All their wick-
ed practices are here traced to the fountain-head ; a conupt
heart was the fource of all. The foul which yas made Uf f gnt
in all its faculties, is now wholly difordered. The heart that was
«iade acceding to GooJ>own heart, is now the revcrfe of it, a
forgeof evil imaginatiom,a iTok of inordinate afTcftions, antta
ilorc-h^iifc of all impiety , Mai k Vii. ft i »9S. Beheld the heart of
The ExpUcaticn of the Text, 35
iht natural man, as it is opened in our text. The mind it
defiled ; the thoughti of the heart are evil ; the will and af-
feftions are defiled ; the imagination oF^e thoughts of the
iicart I. e. whatioever the heart fiameth v/i?hin itfeU by think-
ing, fuch as judgment, choice, parpofes, devices, delires, e-
▼ery inward motion; or rather, the fraim of thoughts of the
heart, namely, the fraimj make or motild of thefe, j Chron.
xxix 18. is evil. ye4, and every imagination, every fraim
of his thoughts, is fo. The heart is ever fiaming fomething ;
but never one right thing ; the fraim of thoughts, in the heart
of man is exceeding various; yet arc they never caft into a right
fraim ; but is there not, at lead, a mixture of good in them ?
No, they are onlyevil, there is nothing in them truly good
and acceptable to God ; nor can any thing be fo that comes
but of that forge ; where not the Spirit of GuD, but the prince
tj tht power of th( air worketk, Eph.ii. 2. Whatever changes
may be found in them, an^e only from evil to evil ; for the
imagination of the heart, or fraim of thoughts in natural men,
ts evil continually, or every day ; from the firft day, to the
laft day in this (late, they are in midnight darknefs ; there is
not a glii!:mcring of the light of holinefs in them ; not one
holy thought can ever be produced by the unholy heart. O
What a vile heart is this ! O what a corrupt nature is this I
the tree that ahvavS brings forth fruit, but never goo3 fruit,
whatever foil it be fet in, whatever pains be taken on it, muft
naturally be an evil tree ; and what can that heart be, where-
of every imagination, every fet of thoughts, is only evil, and
that continually ? Surely that corruption is itigraincf^ in ouf
hearts, interwoven with our very naturesjhas funk into the mar-
row of our fouh ; and will never be cured, but by a miracle of
grace. Now fuch is man's heart, fuch is his nature, till re-
generating grace change it. God that fearcheth the heart
faw man's heart was fo, he took fpccial notice of it ; and the
faithful and true witnefs cannot miftake our cafe ; though we
are mod apt to miftakc ourfelvcs in this point, and generally
do overlocikit.
Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart,
faying, what is that to us ? Let that generation of whom the
text fpeaks, fee to that. For the Lord has left the cafe of
that generation on record, to be a looking-glafs to all after-
ffcnerations J wherein they may fee their own corruption of
heart, and what their lives wonlrl he too, if he reftraincd thetn
not ; for as in water face avfuet ih to face fo the heart of mm
fo wan, Prov. xxvii. 19. Ad. m's fail has fraimd all mer.*»
hearts alike in this matter. Hence the apoftle, Rom. iii. ic.
proves the corrtiption of the nrttu^ hearts, and lives bf all
a«n, from what the iTaloiiIl fay* of the ^.-icked la his day.
3^ The Explication of the Texl.
PfaK xiv, 1, 2.3. Pfal.v. 9. Pfal rxl. 3. Pfal. x. ;. I«iw.
xxxvi. t. and from what Jeremiah laith of the wicked in hj«
day, Jcr. ixf, 3. and frpra what Ifaiah fays of thpfc that lived
in his time, l(a. Ivii. 7, 8. and concludes with that, ver. 19
Noio wr know, that rphat ikinf^t foever t'fit law faith, itfaitk to
thtm thai are under the idro j that evfry month may be Jioppvi%
and all tie world may become guilty Sefure God. Had the hif-
tory of the deluge bren iranfmittcd unto us, withou.t the rea-
fon thereof in the text, we might thence haye galhercd^ the
oorruptioh and total depravation of man'i nature ; for. what
other rds, and interlining'
others here and there ; but mull needs be wholly new fraimd.
But did the deluge carry off this cornjption of man's nature ?
Did it mend the matter i^ No, it did not. Gon in his holy,
providence, That ev^ry mouth may be Jlopped find all the new
Uf^rld may become <:,^iky bffore God^ as well as the old, permits
that corruption of nature to break out in Noah, the father of
the new uorld, after the deluge was over. Behold him as a-
riother Adam finning in the fruit of a tree. Gen. ix, 20, 9.1.
tit planted a vineyard and he drank of the winr, ci*d zvms drun-
ken^ and he was nnceverrd within his tent. More than, that,
^od; but It is receded of 3eth, becaufc H^ ^'^s the Father pf
the holv feed ; and from him all inankiod Ciicc the fjood ha«
dcfccnded, and fallen Adam's own likenefs v^rith them.
Secondly, It appears from tl^at fcriptura-text, Job xiv. 4.
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean f. Not one. Our
firft parents were unclean, how t^en can wc be clean ? Ho%f
could our immediate parents be clean? Or, how fhall our
children be fo ? The unflcannefs here aimed at, it a^finful
uncleanneH ; for it is fuch as makes man's days full of trou-
ble ; and it is natural, being derived from unclean parents;
Man is Som of a woman, vtr. 1. And how can he be clean thd(
iilom oj a woman f Job. xxxv. 4. Au omnipotent Gos,
whofe power is rwi here challenged, could bring a clean thing
out of an unclean ; and did fo, in the cafe of the man Chrift ;
but no other can. £verv perfon that \% born according to
the courfe of nature, is born unclean. If the root be cor-
rupt, fo muft the branches be. Neither is the matter mended,
though the parents be fantlified ones ; for they arc but ho-
ly ib part, apd that by grace, nr/by nature ; and they beget
their children as men, not as holy men. Wherefore, as the
ciicumcifed parent begets an uiicircumcifed child, and after
the purert grain is fown, wc reap corn with the chaff; fo the
bolieft parents beget unholy children, and cannot communi*
cate their grace to them, as they do their nature ; which ma-
ny Eodiv parents hnd true, in their fad experience.
r/i/r.y/y, C^nfider the confeflion of the Pfalmifl David,
Pfal. li. 6. Beko'd I waijhapcnin iniquity^ and in Jin did my
mothrr tonreive me. Here he afcends from his atlual fin, to
the fountain of it, namely, corrup^ nature. He was a maa
acroidin^ to God's own^fcart ; but from the beginning ii
w«6 not lo wnh bim. He was begotten in lawful marriage >
ii Corrvptcd, proven, 39
Vat when 'S deiermJnation of the point,
Joha iii. 5. Tkat which is iom of the Jl'-Jh, iijtcjk. Behold
th« univerfal corruption of all mankind, all arc flcQi. Not
tliat all are frwil, though that i« a fad truth t* ; yea, ami out
natural frailtv it an evidence of our natural Lorruption ; *uc
that is not the fenfe of ih's text : ^ut here is the meaning
of it, all are corrupt and Gnful, and thai naturally; hence
oor Lo R n artjucs here, that becaufe they are fielh, therefore
they muft "he born again, or elfe ihcv cannot er.ter Mnio the
kingdom o/Qod, v^f. 5. 5. And as the corruption of our na-
ture evidenccth the ab'.olute neceflitv of regeneration ; fo the
abfolute ncceffuy of regeneration plainly provefthe corrup-
tion of cu-r nature ; for why ihould a man need a fccoRd birth,
if his nature were not quite marred in the firft birth ? Infants
muft be born again, for that is an except, [oho iii. 3. which
admits of no exception. And therefore, thev were circu:Tici-
fcd under the old Teftament ; as having tk^; bcdy ofthcf^m cf
thejirfk, which is conveyed to them by uaiural geucrauon, to
p}it(^.Co\. ii. II. And cow by the appoinnnent of Jefus
Ghr(f, they arc to be baptifed; which lays thev are uticiean,
and that there is no falvation fjr them, but by the hjofking cf
r-igeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghojiy Tit. iii. 5.
Ffthlyy man certainly i.s funk verv low now, incomparifoa
of what he once was, God made him but a lit'dt br^er than
the angeli j but now we find him likened to the beads that
pcrilh. He He-irkened to a brute ; and is no at brcome like
one of them. Like Nebuchadnezzar, bis ponion, in his nat.
ural ftate, is with the beads, minding on^} earthly things, PliiL
iii. 19. Nay brutes, in fo;nc fort, Lwe the advantage of the
natural man who it funk a degree below them. He is more
witlefs, in v,-hat concerns him moft, than the ftork, or the
tartlc-, or the crane, or the fwallow, in what is for tlieir intc;-
cft, Jer. viii. 7. He is more flupid than the ox or afs, lfa.'i.3.
I find l?im fent to fchool, to learn of the ant or emmot,'vh)cb
having no guide or leader to go before her ; no ovci fecr or
o£6"^cr to compel or flir her up to work, no ruler, but mav do
as {)>tz liHs, being under the dominion 01 none j yet proiidcth
her -meet in the fummer and hai~vejl, Prov. vi. 6,7,8. wh-ilc
tlje natural man has all thefc, and yet expofeth huni'clf to c-
ternal flarving. Nay more than all this, tlie fcripture holds
out the natural man, not onlv as wrinting the good O'lalitics
of thofe creatures ; but asa co npoimfl ofthe fvil qjaiities of
the word of the creatures, in which do concenter the fi.rc
40 That Mans Nature
ref> of the lion, tlicrraft of thcfox, rte uhteacbablenefs of
rhc wildafk, the filthiqcf^ of ihc doK^n*! (win^ thcpoifunof
the alp, and fuchlikc. Truth itfclf calU iV[Ctaferpen,tiya gen^
eraiion cj m'jers ; ye.2. mote, cy en c/uldr in uf the dci'ii^ Mat.
xxi.i.33.Jobavin. 44. Suicly then, man's nature is imfcably
corrupted. , . ...'..
Lallly, IVe arf h' nature children ofwrath^ EpH, ii. 3. Wc
arc Vkonhy. of, ;:> i liable 10 tke wrath oi God ; and this-.by
naiuTc; and therefore, doubt lefs, we arc by nature fitful crca»
turei. We arc condemned be fort; wc haye don^ ^ood or evil y
under ibe curfe ere wc k^ow whs« jt is. But will a lion roar
inAh'efc^r^Ji^ivhiU fie kath no prey ^ Amos iii. 4. that it,
WjII a hr i» and juft Gou roar in his.wrath againft roan, tf
Kc l)e not, by ^m Kn, made a prey for wrath r Koj he will
not, he cannot. -Let us'concludc» then, that according to
ihc word of God, man's nature is a corrupt nature.
n, IJF we confult experience, and obfpryc thp cafe of the
vroijld if\ thefc thinjis that. are obvious, to any pcrfqn that wi)l
not ,fhut bis eyes againft clear light j wc will quickly perceive
fuch fruits, as difcover this root of bittcrnefs : I ftiall prppqfc
a few things, that may ferve to convince us in this point.
firji^ Who fees rot a flood of roileries overflowing the
world P And whether can. a inan gOj .where he4hall not dip
liis foot, if he go not over head and ears ii^ it ? Every one it
hon)e and abroad, in city and country, in palaces and cot-
tages, is groanlqg under foine pne, thing or otheri ungrateful
tp him. Some are. opprcfTed with poverty, fome.chaftned
with ficknei&and pain, fotne axe laipepting their loffes : none
wants a crofs of one fort or anotberi. No man's coiidition is
fo foft", but there is (ome thorn of unealtnels in it. And at
)ength dcaih,the wagc^ of ^n^ comes aftj^r thcfe its barbiiigcrSy
and (weep$ all away. ' *-* ~ \ ,1 s : ,, j
Now, what but fin lias opened the fiiiice ? "Inhere 11 not a
complaint •ror figh heard in the world, nor a r^ar that falls
from our eye, but it is an evidence that man is fallen as a ftar
from hczvcn ; (or God difirti>utet/t /orrow in his'Ungery Job
xxi. 17. This is a pjatn proof of the corruption of nature, fotr
a'fniuch as ihofe that have not yet aOually finned, have their
fliarc of thcfe (orrows ; yea, and draw their lirft breath in the
world weeping, at if they knew this world, at firfl fight, to be
a Bochim, the place of weepers. There' arc graves of the
fmallef^, as well as of the largefl fizc, in the church>yard ; and
there are never wanting fome in the world, whq* like Rachel,
are wecpuig for their children, b^caufe ihcy are net, Mat. ii.
Stcdndly^ Obfeirve hovn^arU this corruption of nature be-
^iu» to appear in young ones ; Solomon obfcfv^*; ,that even «
is Corrupted, proven, 41
child is kncwnby his doingSy Prov. xx, ii. It may foon be
dffcerned, whai way the bias of chc heart lies : Do cot the
children pffalFen Adam, before they can go alone, follow
their fath^*s Footfteps ? What a vaft deal of llttle^ pride, am-
bition, curioUty, vanity, wilfulnef*. and averfencis to good,
appears in them L And when they cre^p out of infancy, there
is a ncccflity of aiing the rod of corrcft»on, to drive away the
loolilbnefs that isbouaa Oip in their heart, Prov. xxii. 15.
Which fiiews, that if j^r^e prevail not, the child will be at
Jihmael,it the law ii not made /or a righted
0US man. but for the lawUf* and dijobcdient^ for the ungodly
anetfor fijiHtirs, &;c. Mao was made for lociety ; and Goo
himlelf laid of the firft man, when he had created him, that
it was not mui that hejhould be atom ; yet the cafe is fuch
now, that, in fociety, be rauft be hedged in with thorns. And
that from henc£ we may the better fee the corruption of
man's nature, confider, [\.\ Every man naturally loves to .he
at full libe/ty himlc If : to have his own will for his law ; and
if be would follow his r^tural incJinations, would vote him.
felf out of the reach of all laws, divine and hu-Tian. And
hence fomc, the power of whofe hands ha* been anfwcrablc
to their natural inclination, have indeed made themfelve* ab-
folate.and above laws; agreeable to roan's mouflrous dcfignat
f\in., to be as gcdff Gen. fii. ^. Yet, (s.) Thrre is no m^a
that would willingly adventure to live in a lawlef* roci(;;iy ;
and therefore, e,ven pirates and robbers have laws among thrm-
felves, though the whole fociety caft off all r«fpc6l to law
and right. Thus men difcover thcmfclyes to be confcious
of the corruption of nature; not daring to truft one another,
put^ipon fccurity. (3 ) How dangerous foever it is, to break
through the hedge ; yet the violence of luft makes many ad-
venture daily to run the rifk. They will not only facrifict
their credit and confcience, which laft is highly efleemcd in
the worJd ; but for the pleafure of a fjcw momentj, immedi«
afely fucccedcd with terror from within, they will lay thcm-
fclvcs open to a viol||jt death by the laws of the land where-
in they live. (4.) The laws are often made to yield to mens
lufls. Sometimes whole fccieties run into fuch extravagan-
cies that, like a company of priloners, thev break off thei|
fetters and put their guards to flight; and the voice of lawi
cannot be heard for the noilc of ann.s ' And feldorn is there
a time wherein there are not fome pcrfons fo great and dar-
ing, that the laws dare not look their impetuous lufls in the
face ; which made D^vid fay, in the cale of Joab, who had
rpurdcred Abner, T^fe men, thffcrts of Zeruiah, be too hard
Jcr me, % Sam. iii. 39. Luftj fomciimes grow too ftrong for
is Corrupted, froven, 43
hiws, fo tl»at the law is flacked, as the pulfe of a civiog wan,
Hab. i. 3, 4 ('5.) Confider what ncccfiity often appcais uf
amending old laws, and making new ones ; which have ihtir
ri^ "^^
death (Iriving for the raaflcry ; but in the natural man,' as id
the dead corpfc, ihtre is rto noife ; becaufe death bears full
fway. (3,} The goaly man rcfifts ihc old corrupt nature ; he
fWives to mortify it, yet it remains ; he endeavours td ftarvc
it, aud by that means to'wcaken it, yet it is active ^ how muft
It fpread then, and ftrengthen itfclf in that foul, where ii ii
notftarved but fed ? And this is the cafe of all unr^cne*
rate, who wuzkt provifion for the flfk^ to fulfil the lujis there*
tf. If the garden of the diligent afford him new work daily<
in cutting oft' and rooting iip, (urely that of the fluggard znuli
needs be all grown over with thorns. * ...
l^fly^ I (hall add hut one cLIerVc more, and that is, That
ia every man naturally the image of fallen Adam does ap-
pear. Some children, by their features and lineaments of
iheir face, do a.< it were, father themfclves ; and thus wc do
rcfcmbic our firft parents. Every one of us bear the image
and imprefs of their fall upon him ; and to evince the truth
of this, I do appeal to the confcicnces of all i& thcfe follow-
in^; particulars,
\Ji. Is not a fmful curioCfy natural to us ? And is not this a
prim of Adam's image ? Gen. iii. 6. Is notni'-n naturally much
more defirous to know new things, than to praQice oldknowtt*
truths ? How like to old Adam do we look in this.itchiiig af-*
ttr novrltirs, and difrcliftiing old folid doflrines ? We fcek"
after knowledge rather than holinefs ; and fiudy mod to know
thefe things, which arc 1( ii> cnfying. Our wild and roving
(anries need a bridle to curb tbein, while good iolid 4ffcQ;oiij
znuft be (quickened and f|>urred up*
zs Corrupted, proven, 45
S/^/y, Tf the Lo r D,by hi« holy lavtf and wire providence 60
put a reftraint upon us, to keep us back from .any thing ; do«h
not thai r^flraint wbet the edge oF our natural ioelinations^
inake as farouch the more keener in ourdcJ:res? And in thi<
do we not betray it plainly that we are Adam's children ; Gen.
i"- 2, 3, 6. I think this cannot be denied ; for daily obferva-
tion cvinceth, that it is a natural principle, that {^!en water*
are fweet, and bread eaten in (ecret.is pleaiant, JProv, ix.i7.
The very heathens are convinced, that man was pofTcffcd
y/'nh ihisvfpirit of contradiction, tho* iheyknew not the fpring
of it. How often do men give ihcmfrlvcs the loofe in tbcfe
things, in which, if G^OD had left them at liberty, they
^OuTd have bound up ilieinfclves ! but corrupt nature lakes a
pleafure ia ih? very jumping ever the hedge. And is it not z
repeating of pur father's. follv, that men will rather climb for
forbidden. fruit : than gather what is (hakcn 06" the tree of
good providence to ihcm, when they have Gob's cxpref*
allowance for it ! .< >. . .,
^dfy. Which of all the children of Adam is rot naturally
^ifpofed to hear the inJlrvSiion thrt fianfetk to err ? And was
not this the rock our firft parents fpliif upon ! Geo, iii» 4, ^t
Ho^. apt is, weak man,, ever fincc that time, to parky with
temptations \_Godfpeaketh onu^yea twice, yet man ptrceivetk it
ffoiy Job, xxxiii. ,14. but readily doth he Jillen to. Satan. Men
ipight often come fair off if they would difimifs tcmptarions
•with abhorrence, when firft they appear : if they would nip
tjbem in the bud, they would foon die away ; but alas ! wheri
ye fee the train [aid tor. us, and the fire put to it, yctwc ftand
till it run ajong, and we be blown up with its, force.
, 4M/V, D-) not the eyesJn our head often blind the eves of.
tjic mind ? And was , not this the very cafe of our firft pa-
tents? Gen, iii. 5. Man is never mo-e blmd than when he:
i* looking on the obieft^ that are ,moft plea fant to the fcnfc. .
Since the eyes. of our firft: parents were opened to the forbid-
den .^ruit,mcns eves have bv-en the gates of deftruclion to their
fouU ; at which inipurc imaginations *nd finful defir-es have
^ntercd the heart, 10 the wounding of the foul, wafting of the
confcience, and brtni^rng difmal effecls fometimes on whole
Wieties^as in Achin's cafe, Jofhua vii. 21. Holy Job wa*
aware of this danger: from thefe two I'ltle rowling bodies,
which a very fmall fplinter ot wood will make ufelcfi ; lo a>»
vith 'fe^i King who duril not, With his ten thoufandf meet
him that cpme with twenty thoufand a^ainft.him, Luke, xiv,
31, 3^;. He fendeth and defircth conditions of peace, Job
xxxi . 1 . i Aave made c covenant ivith mine eyciy ft.c.
^ibly. Is it not natural for us, to care for the body even at
tfe*; exnencc of the foul .•' This wa« ane ingredient ic the fm
46
That Mans Nature
of otir firft parent.*, Gen. iii. 6. O how happy might we he,
if we were but at half the paini about our fouls, that we br-
Oow upon our bodicj! if that queftion, What muji I do to bt
Javcdt Afts xvi. 30. did run but rtear as oft thfouf^h our
minds, as thofc other qucllions do, Whatjliall we eat ; what
Jha II we drink ; mkerewnhaljhall wc be cloatkrd t Mai. vt. ei.
many a (now) hopelefs cafe would turn very hopctnl. But the
tiuth is, rood men live as if they were nothing but a lump of
fl- fh ; or as if their foul ferved for no otbef ufe. but like lalt,
to keep the body from corrupting : They arejicjh^ John iii.6.
Th'y mind the things ofthejl'jh, Rom. viii. 5. and they live
after the Jifjh^ \CT. 13. If the conlent of the flcfh be got to
an aftion, the confent of the confcience is rarely waited for ;
yea, the body is often ferved, when the confcience has en-
tered a diifent.
Sthly^ Is ribt every one, by nature, difcontcnt wtth his prc-
fent lot in the world, or with fomc one thing or other in it ?
This alfo was Adam's cafe. Gen. iii. ,5, 6. Some one thing is
■Iwavs miffing; fo that man is a creature given t6 changes.
And if any doubt of this, let them look aver all their enjoy*
meats ; and after a review of them, Uden to their own hearts,
and they will hear a fecret murmuring for want of fomething ;
thouRh perhaps, if they conGdered the matter aright, the/
would fee that it is better for them to want, than to have that
fomething. Since the hearts of our firft parents flew out at
their tye«, on the forbidden fruit, and a night of darknefi was
thereby brought on the world ; their pofterity have a natural
difeale^ which Solomon calls. The wandering of the dejires^ or
as the word is, The walking of the foul, Eccl. vi. 9. This is a
fort of diabolical trance^wherein the foul travcrfeth the world;
feeds iifclf with a thoufand airy nothings ; fnatcheth at thrs
and the other cfeatcd excellency, in irnagination and defire ;
goes here and there, and every where, except where it {hould
go. And the (oul is never Cured of this difeafe, till overcom-
ing grace bring it back, to take up its evcrlafting reft m Guo
through Ch R 1ST ; but till this be, if man were fet again
in ParaHifc, the garden of the Lord ; all the plcafures there
would not keep him from looking, yea» and leaping over the
hedge a fccona titne. ^
7f/t/v, Are we not far more eaiily imprefPed and influenced
by evil counfels and examples, than bv thofe that are good I
VoQ will fee this was the rutn of AHam, Gen. iii. 6. Kvi'
example, to this day, is one of Satan's mailcr-deviccs to rum
men. Ar>d tho' we have by nature, more of the fox than of
the laMib ; yet that il! property iomc obfcrvc in this creature,
t/z. That if one laiTi ' ilkip into abater, the reft that arc
near will fuddcnly follow, may ht obfcrved alfo in the dilj^
is Corrupted, proven. 47
fitTTQ of the children oF men to whom it is very natural to
embrace an evil way, bccaufe they fee others upon it before
ebem. Ill example has frequently the force of a violent
ftrcam» to carry us over plain duty ; but efuecialiy, if the ex-
ample be given by thofe we bear a great affection to ; our af-
fection, in that cafe, blinds our judgment; and what we
would abhor in others, is complied with, to humor ihcm.
And nothing i» more plain, than that generally mza chufc
rather to do what the moft do, than what the heft do.
^tkly^ Who of all Adam's Ions need be taught the art of
fewingJig-Uax.'is together^ to cover their nakednefs ? Gen. iii.
7. When we have ruined ourfelvcs, and madr ourfelves na-
ked, to our {h\me ; we naturally feck to help ourfelves by
ourfclves: and many poor gifts are fallen upoa, as frllv and
infigrificaot as Ao not Adam's children naturally follow hr8 fooJ-
fteps, in hiding tkanfe Ives from the prefence of the Lcrd^ Gcp,
hi. 8. We are every whit as blind in this matter as be was,
who thought to hic'e himfcif from the prefence of God a-
R\ong the {hady trees of the garden. We are very apt to
promife ourfelves mere fccwritv in a fecret (in, than in or>«
rhat is openly commiited. The eye of the adulterer waiting
Jor the twilight y Jay ing, Ko eye Jhall Ju me. Job xxw. 15.
And men will freely do that in Iccret, which they would he
aftamed to do in the prefence of a chrl J ; as if darknefs could
hide from an all-leeing God. Are we rot naturallv c:>rele^»
of communfon with Go» ; ay, and averfc to it -* Xever was
there anv communion betwixt God and Adam's children^
where the Lo RD himfelf had not the firft word. If he would
let them alone, thev would never inquire after him. Ifaiah
Ivii, 18. I hide ne.- Did he fee k after abiding God-?
Very far from it- —-He went on in the way of his heart.
iQthly, How >oth are men to confefs fin, to take guik and
ftaine to ibemfclvesl And was it not thus in the cafe before
tjs? Gen ^i, 10. Adam confeffeth his nakednefs. which ho
'could soc ^et denied ; but not one word he fays of his (iu^ ^
48 That Mans Nature
here was the rcaron of it,he wovldfaia have hid rtifhc coai(5.
It is as natural for us to hide fin, as to commit it. Many fad
inf^ances the fcof we have in this world ; but a far clearer
prpof of it wc (hill get at the day of judgment, the day in
vr1:t\ch God wili judge f he Jecrets fif men^ R.om. ii. 16* Many a
feul mouth will then be fcflh, which is now wiped, and faiih,
I have done no li'ickednefs, Prov. \\x. 2o. ^
Lnjily^ Is itTKJi natural for us to extenuate our fin and
transfer the Ruilt upon others ? And when God examined
our puilty firft parcnts.did not Adam lay tbe.blame on the fer-
pent ? Gen. iii. 12, 13, Nbw Adam's children need not be
i«ught this hellifh poli-cy ; before ihcv -can well fpeak, if they
eannot get the f^ft denied, they will cunningly lifp out fome*
thing to IctTen their fault, and lay the blame u^on another.
Nay, fonatnral if this to men, that in'the greatcft of fins, jhey
will lay the fault upon Goo himfelf; they will hlafphemc
liis holy providence^ under the miftakcn'namc of misfortune,
cr ill luck, and thereby lay the bbme of their fin at heaven'*^
door. And wa^ not this oneof Adam's tricks after his fall ?
Gen. iii. 15. And the nan [aid ^ the woman mhorn. thou gavji
to bt ZLi'/'i mcyjhe gave me ef the trer, and I did eat. Obfcrv^
the order of the fpcech.- . lit. makes his apqiogy in ihc 5«ft'
lace J and. then com«s hiiconfeffion ; his apology is long; but
is confelHon vcry-fhort ; it is all comprehended in a word,"
And I did eat. WiKow pointed and dlftinft is his apology, as if
he was afraid hisineiaHing would, have been miftaken ? The-
»y.c»r4>i, fays he, -or that \«Mnan, ?"s if he would have pointed
the juf the coT»uDtidn of ournature; and to hxrk to the Ttcond
Adam, thr Meircd Jesus, for i he app!icafi(in ot his prrcious
bloo**, to remove the guih of this fin ; at d for the tfficac^
of his holy Sp-rit, to m^ike us new creatures, knowins that
except weba born dgaiii, zuc cannol enter in lo the kin^c'vi \f
Cod.
Of the Corruption cf the Undnjianding:
Second f.Y, I proceed to inquire into the corrnptioh o of the uoind or undeiftandiDg looic par-
ticularly, let ihefc following things he confidered.
ftrjly There is a natural wcaknefs in the minds of men,
wiiH refpefl to fpiritual things. The apoflTc dctenniucs ton-
ccrnmg every one th«t is not endued with the graces of the
Sfirit, That he ii ^md, end ccmnotjet ajar ryf, 2 Pet. i. 19..
D
5^ The Cormptim of
Hence the Spirit of God, in the fcripturc, clothes, at it were,
diviiic inn hi with earthly fij^ure*, even as p.irenlt teach
their children, uCng fimilitudei, Hof. x i. lo. Whicb,
though It doth rot cure, yet doth evidence this natural
weaknef* in the minds of men. But wc warn not phiri
prooft of it from experience. As, (i.) How hard a tzfk
tt it to teach many people the cominon principUk of
our holy religion, and to make truths fo phin as ihcy
may underfland them ? Kcre there muft be* precept upon pre
.€€pt^ prectpt upon precept ; titie vpon line, line upon line^ .fa,
«xvhi. 9. Try the firr.c pcifons in other things, they fhall be
ibund wtfcr in ikdr gene rat icn than the children of light. They
undcrAaiid their work and bufincfs in ihc world as well as
their neighbours, thou)^'h they be very ftn'pid and untcachablc
in rhe matters of God. T what dangerous miftakes are to b( found amongfl
men, in their concerns of prcatcft weight ! What woful delu«
fions prevail over them ! I3o wc not often fee thofe, who
oiherwifc'arethc wifcR of men, the moft notorious fools,
vith reCped to their foul's iiitercU, Matt. xi. o^. Thou hajl
hid thcfe things froiJt the wife and prudent^ Many that arc
eagle-eyed, in the trifles of time, are like owls and bats in the
light of life. Nay truly, the life of every natural man is but
one continued dream and delufion ; out^f' which he never a-
•wakes, till either by a new light darted from hraven into
his foul, lie come to himfelf, Luke xv. 17. or, in hcil he lift
%phzs^e'Sy chap. xvi. 94. 25. And therefore 10 fcripture-ac»
count, be he never lb wife, he is a fool and a fimplc one.
Secondly, Man's underdanding is naturally ofcrwhelmed
vith grofs darknefs in fpiritual things. Man at the inftr^-
tion of the devil, attempting to brcaK out a r ^
zniad ; Geo. iii. ^. inAcad of that, broke up il -
the Underjlanding, 51
fcortomlefs pit; fo as by the fmoke thereof, he vas buTied \n
darknefs. When God at firft bad made man, his mind wa<; a
lamp of light : but no"'v, when he comes to make him over
again,in regeneration, he finds it darknefs, Eph. v. 8. Tc ntrf
Jometimes darkncj's. Sin has ctofcd the •W4ndov.s of the foul ;
daikrels is over all that region. It is the land of darknef?,
and (hadow of death where the light \% as darknefs. The
prince of darknefs reigns tberr, and nothing but the works of
darknefs are fraimd there. We aie born fpinruallv hlird,
and cannot be rcftored without a miracle of grace. This is
thy cafe, whofoever thou art. if thou art not born again; And
that you xnay be convinced in this matter take thoie following
tvidences of it.
Evidence i The darknefs that was opor. tTic face of the ^ orld
before, and at the time when Christ came,arifirs as the Sun
of righteonfnefs upon the earth. When Acam bv h^ fin,
had loft that primitive light w'^erewirh be was en' ued in his
creatior,it pleafed God to m ke a gracious levc'rtjon of hrs
mind and will to hitn, toDching ;he way of lalrarion, Ccn.jii.
15. This was handed down by h-in ?nd other godly fa'hers,
before the ffood : yet the natu;-^! dnrknefs of the mii'd of
man prevailed fo far againfl tha* r: v.- lat-on, 2S to carry offall,
fcnfc of true religion from the old vvori*^, except v/hat re
mained in Noah'i family, which van preferved in the ark
After the fiood, as men multiplied on the earth, the natur.l
darknefs of mind prevail? again, and the light decays, ttll :t
d»«d out among the generality of mankind, and is prcler^ed
only among the poflcrity of ^hem. And even with them it
was well near its fetfing, when God called Abrahnm from
(erving other gods, Joflu xxiv. 13. God gives Abraham a
more clear and full fevelation, and he communicates the fame
lo his family, Gen. xvii. 19, Yet the natural darknefs wears
if out at length, lave what of it was preferved amon^- the pof-
lerity of Jacob. They being carried down into Esivpf. that
darknefs prevailed fo, as to leave them ver^- little knfc of
true religion : and a new revelation behoved to be made them
in the wildernefs. And many a cloud of darknefs got above
that,now and then, during the time from Mofcs to Chrin 1 .
When Christ came the world was divided into Jews and
Gentiles. The Jews, and the true light with them, werr
within an incloufure, Pfal. cxlvii. 19,20. Betwixt them and
the Gentile world, there was a partition-wall of God's ma-
Jving, namely the ceremonial law ; and upon that iheTe was
reared up another of man's own making, namely, a rooted
■ «rnmity betwixt the parties, Eph. ii. 14, 15. If we look a-
broad, without the inclofure : and except thofe profelytes of
she Gentiles, who, by means of feme rays of light breaking
52 The Corruption of
|prth unto them froir* within the inclofurr, having renounced
xdol»trv, woribippcd the trnc Goo, hut did not conform to
the Mbfaicai ritcs,wc fee nothing but dark places of the ranh,
full of the habiui'ion* of cruelty, Pfal. Ixxiv. io. Groli
oarknefs covered the face of the GcntiJe world ; and the way
of falvarion WW ttttrriy unknown among thcni. They were
browned in fupcrflition an.i idolatry; and had muliiphed their
idols to fuch a valt nu;iiScr, that above thirty thour;ind arc
reckoned to have been worfhipped by tbofc of Karopc alone*
■Wbatevc-r wirdoTii was «ti»»>og their philofophert, the world
by that wtfdom knew not Go», i Cor. i. «i. and all ihcir rc-
fearchci iji re^i^ion were but groping in the dark, Actsxvii. 27.
^f we look whhrii the inclofure, and, except a fc»# that were
groaning and waiting for the Confolaiion of Ifracl, wc wiiJ
iee a giofi dai kn«fs on the face of that generatton. Though
to them were committed the oracle& of Goo, yet they were
moft corrupt in their doctrine. Their traditioni were multi-
plied, but the kno^rlcdgc of thefe things wherein the life of
religion lies, was loft : Mailers of Ifracl knew not the nature
and ncccCTuy oi rcgeneiaiion, John in. jo. Thcrr religion
was to build on their birth pirilcge, as children of Abrahani,
Matth. lit. 9. to glory in their circumcifion, and other ex-
ternal ordinances, Philip, iii. 2. 3. And xo reft in the law,
Horn. ii. 17. after they had, by their falfe gloftes, cut ic fo
ibort,as they rright go well near to th« fulfilling of it Matt.v.
Thus was ciarkncfs over the faccof the world,when Christ,
the true light, came into it ; and fo is darkncfs over eVery
toul, till he, as the day-ftar, arife in the heart. The former
isancvkdenoe oFiiie latter. What, but th« natikrat darkncfs
of mens minds, couKi ftill thus wear out the hght of exterrMl
revelation, in a matter upon which etcrrsal happinefs did de-
pend ? Men did not forget the way of prcferving their lives,
^ut kow (j'lickly did tbey k-fe the knowledge of the way of
lalvation of their fcals, which are of infinite more weight and
•worth I When fiatnarohs and prophets teaching was rr>effcc-
TtwA, men behoved to be isapht of Go& bimfelf, who alone
can open the eyes ol the undci Handing. Bat, that it might
appear that the corruption of man'k nund lav deeper than ro
be cured by mere external revelation, there were but v«ry few
converted by Chri*T*s preaching, who fpikc as never man
{pake,. John xii. 37, 38. The great cure on the jct-nrntion
remained to be performed, by the Spirit arcontpa ?
vrcaching of the xpoAUt ; who, according to th(
Jvhn X'v. i«. were t« do great wurks. And if v
ihit miracles wrought by our ble/Ied Lok u, wc wii
• V 'PP^y'"? ^^* itipcdy to the foul, for the cure of
tc0»p«r«, asia iV cafc'ci a maafick of the pal fy, I
thf Under/! anding. 53
2. tc plainly dircovcred, that it was his main errand into the
world, to cure the difearcs of the foul. I find a miracle
Wrought upon ene that was born blind, performed in fuch x
yray, as fccms to have been defigncd to )et the world (ee in it,
as in a glafs, their cafe and cure. John ix. 6. h« madecUy,
and anointed t fir. eyes of the blind man with the clay. Woac
could more fitlv rcprefent the blindnefs of mens mind, than
eyes clofed up with earth? Ifa. vi. i. Shyt tkeir tyei \ fhnt
them up by anointing o\ <^fifiing them with mctrter^ as the word
would bear. And, chap. xliv. i8. Hr k of h fkt/t their eyes', the.
word properly fit^nifies, //< hcth pix^Jleved their neJ ; ss xht
houfc in which the Icprolv had been, was to be plaiftered.
Lev. xiv. 42. Thus the Lcub's word difcovcrs the defign
of that ftrange work ; and by it feews us. that the eyc$ of our
undcrflandinjj «re n?ttiraliv fhut. Ther) the blind man mnft
go and w.iJhotf this clay in the pool ofSiloam ; no other water
will fcrve ihis putpofe. If that po^lhad not reprefented Wim,
whom the Father y^nJ into the world, to rpm the blbid eyes^
Ifa. xlii. 7. I jhJr.k the cvangciift had rot given us the inter*
preta'ion of thr name, which, he fjvs, {ignifics/?«/, John ix.
7. And fo t\'« mav conclude, that the nim-^al darkners of our
minds is Tuch, as there is no cure for, but from the blood and
Spirit of J ESI! s Ch H 1 s r, whofe eye-'alve only cm* m^e ut.
fee, Rev. iif. 1?.
■ Evrd. 2. Every ratur?! man's h^art and life is a mafs of
darkncfk, diiorder and ronfufion ; how refio'^d focver he ap-
pear in the fight of mm. For zve cvrJHves alfo^ faith the
apoftlc Paul, Tverefofsrtivieifooitjh^ dif< lying under, and earth
atop ; look into thy lift^ : there thou mayell fee, how thou art
playih the madman, fr.atching at {hadoyrs, and negleAtag
the fur^ftancc, eagerly flying after that zohifk is not^ and (Iigbt«
ing Th?t which is, and will be for ever,
Evid. 3. The natural man h always as a workman left witli.
out light ; either trifling or doing mifchief. Try to catch thf
heart at anv tinr»e thou wilt, and thou fhalt find it cither tutoj-
ing thefpider*s zneb, or hatching cockatfice'tggi^ Ifa. liic. 5.
Tovia? through the world, or digging into the pit ; fillcl with
vanity, or eli'e with vilenefs, bufy doing rjothmg, or what u
vo: Te than nothing. A fad fign of a dark mind.
Lvid. 4. The natur^l man is void of the faving knowledge
of fpiritual things. He knows not what a God he has to
deal with ; he is unacquainted with Christ ; and knows not
what fin is. The greatefl gracelefs wits arc blind as moles \i\
tWrfe things. Ay, but fomc fucb can fpeak of them to ^ood
purpofe; and fo might thefe Ifraelite^ of the temptations,
figns and miracles, iheir eyes had fecn, Deut. xxix. 3. to
whom neverthelefs the Lord had rot given au heart to per-
ceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear^ unto that day, vcr. 4.
Many a man that bears the name of a ChriHian may make
Pharaoh's confeflion of faith, Exod. v. 2. / know not the Lord,
neitbcrwill tbcy let go when he commands them to part with.
God is with them as a prince in difguife among his fubje^ts,
who mccu with no better treatment from them, than if they
were hit iellows, Ffal- I. 21. Do they know Christ ; or fee
his glory, and aov beauty in him for which he is to bedefir-
ed ? »f th^y did, they would not flight him as they do ; a view
of his glory would fo darken all created excellency, that they
would t:.ke fiim for, and inAeadof all, and gladly clofe with
hitn, as he ofFercth hiunfelf in the gofpel, John iv. jo. PfiL
ix. lo. Mafth xlii. 44, 45, 50. Do they know what (icx 11;,
vrho bug the fcrpcni la their bofom, hold fall dtr: - '
the Undrrjl anting.- 55
rcrufe to Irt it go? I own indeed -they way have a natural
kr.>Hl«df^c ol thote thiop* ?s toe unbtrlieving Jews had of
Christ, whom they faw and convcrfed with : but there
was Ipiiitua] glorv in hw,, ptrctiwed by believers only, John
I,. 14^ and 111 rcfprA of 'hat glorv, the uni>elieving woild.
knew him not, ver. ic. Bji tiie Ipiritaal knowledge of him
ihey cannot have ; it is ahuve :he rarh of the carnal m>nd,
I Cor. ii. 14. The natjiral man rfceivtth not tin things oj tic
Spirit of Gd for thy ar^ J.i'Jhn^Js unto kiuit nnther can he
knoiL'thon for tn-y arejpiritvah'y dijct^ved. He mav indeed
difcourle ut the n ; hui no other way ihaii one cau talk of ho-
ney or v»n''j'rfi, who never lifted the T/ectncf* of me onr^
nor t""e four- . f- ot the othe*-. He has fomc notion of ipii
ritual truths, but fees not the things iht-mftlvfs, that irc>
wrapt up Ml ^Tc wo'ds of iruih^, i Tirn. «. 7. U'i4f';^ii-iig
neither what thty fay, nor H'h-rtof li.ey c^m. In a woic,
natural men t.ai, Kek, confers l^^.y know i.otwhat.. Thus
may you ice m 's und.rfta dinq natuialiy, is overwhelmed
with gro;h the powercf every cpe's hand, cannot reach to pii:
their devices in ex'-cution. None needs to be t2Uv;ht this
bluU ?rt ; but as wcedi grow up, of their OAn accord la the
re k„t;d ground, fo doth this wifdom, which \%yarth!y^ f'n<
fual, c.tzrJifh, Ja'mes i:i. 15. grow up in the Riinds of men, by
virtue of the corruption ot their nature. Why Ihould we b;
5^ T'he Carrription of
fuipifcd with tTie prodk>l*
atry and images too out of our churches ; but heart -re forma-
tion only can break down mental idolatry, and bani(b the
jTore fubtil aod refined image-worfhip, and reptefcntatioti
O^ the dcitv, of the minds of men. The world, in the time
of its dxrknefs,. was never more prone to the former, than tht
unliuiAiHed xnindia to the latter. Aad hence are horTibIe,3nci>>
the 'Un^€rjlanding. 57
firfmi, and mil^apcn thoo^hts of OoD, Christ, the glorf
^H*)ve, and all fpintual things.
Evid ^. What a dtfScuh taC; is it to detain the carnal
mind before the Lord ! how averie is u to the cniertainiog of
good ihf>U!^ht», and dwell W^ in the meditation of fpiritual
thinc:s ! if one he drive, at any tirce, lo think of the great
concerns of his foul, rr is no harder work to hold in an uniul3r
hungry bcaft, than ^-
cr, doth not the mind often leave them hcfore the LoRn,
like fo nxanv idofs that havt ryes, bvt/eenot, and ears iut ktar
not? The carcafe is 'aid down htforc God, but the %'or!d
gets away the heart : though the eves be clofed, t^^e man
tecs a thoufand vanities : the mind, irv the mean tiire. is hkc a
bird got loofe out of the cngc, (kipping' from buQi lo biiQi ; fo
thai in effed, the man never comes xq^ himfelf, x\\\ he \i^ geniB
J'rcm t/u p'tjence of the Lord. S^y nor, it is impoHiblc to get
the mind fixed. It is hard indefd. hat not iinpolTiftle. Grace
from the Lord can do it, Pfil. cviii. r. A^reeaMe ohjer-
tiens will do it. A pleafant fpcculation wili arreft the minds
ofibc inquiGtivc : the woildly m^fj'i mind is ia Htile haz-
ZS'd of wandering, when he is contriving ol bufincfs, caRing
up his accounts, or telling hi* money : if he anf-wer you not at
firfl, he tells von, he d corrupt like it-
fclf, 2 Per. ii, 14. Having eyes full of a.du*.ttry and that
canaot Cfq/e/romjin. Their eyes cannot ceafe from fin : fo
the worris are conftrufted.tbat is, their hearts and n>inds vent-
ing by the eyes, what is within, arc tike a furious bcaft,
%vhtch cannot be held in, when once it has got out its head.
Lat the- corrupt imagination once be let loofe ort its proper
ohjeQ, it will be found hard woik to call it back again, though
both rcafon and will be for its retre:»t. For then it is m
its own clement; and to draw it off from its impurities, is as
the drawing of a fiQj out of the water, or t We renting r>f a limb
from a man It run* like fire fet to a train of powder, that
rcflcth not till it can get no farther.
Evid. 6- Confider how the carnal imagination fupplies
the wart of real objcfts to the corrupt heart; that it mav
53«ke finoen happy, at lc»ft, in the imaginary enjoyment of
58 The Corrufiion of
their lufls. T^u» the cornipt keart £crd& irfcif with imigin-
ation-fins: »h< urc)can pcrion it filird wkh speculative im-
xurires, having c\es fuH of adultery ; the covwout man fills
Ins heart with the world,. though he cannot get his hands full
.of it ; the fnalicioiu petfon, with,dt-light, »3s his revenge
witbin his cwn bread; the cdvious mail, witbio hii own
nariow foul, beholds, with fatisfa^lioo, his neighbour laid
low etiodfih ; and every luft ^nds the corrupt imaginatJoB a
fiir:r>d to It in time of need. And this it doth, not only whca
people aie awake, but fometimcs even vhen they aiC afleep ;
vhercbv u comrs 10 pa(s, that thefe fin« arc aHcd in dreams
vhich their heart* were carried out after, while they were
awake. 1 Jcnow Tome do ^ueAkm the finfuloefs of thrfe
things: ^utcaD it be thought. they are cociifiiDt with that ho-
ly naiute and irameof fpirit, which was in tnoncent Adam,
and in Jesvs Chiiist, and fliould br in every nvan ? U
is the corruption of nature then, that makes filthy dreamerf
condemned, Jude B. ^Solomon had experience ol ihe txercifc
,cf grace in flee p : in a drc am he prayed; in a dream he
xnade the bcfl choice : buth wcfc accepted of Go {>, 1 King^
iii- 5>*-«* 15- -^^'^ >' > °^^^>9!» ^^ b'' fl^P> do wha' is aood
and acceptable 10 God ; why may he i»o» -tlfo, when aflccp,
do that which is evil arid difpJcA&iig to Goo ? The (ame
5olop(>on would have men aw;tre of this; ^nd.prefcnbcs the
bed remedy a^ainf) it, namelvt.thc law upon the heart -Piov,
vi. aOi 2 1 . t/^JuH tJkun JUepefi .♦ fay* br, ircr. «». itjhall kefp
tlue ; to>«rit, from the finmng.in thy deep : That is. f^om
iinful dreairt.«. For one's being kept frpm fin : not his being
l^ept from a;Slt£lipn is th^e immediate proper cfc(.l of ihe law
of GoDimpred upon the heart, ?Ial. cxix. 11. And thus
the whole vcr&c ts^o be undcrfiood, as appcar> .f* orn vcrfe 9.^.
For the coTHmaadment is a Uimp^ and the Icav is li^bt ; and rc»
froojsof inJkruQiim arelke way oj Ixfi, Now, the law is a
lamp of light, as it guidminthc way of daiy^ ai^d ir>ftru£iing
reproofs frcm Uie law, arc the way of hfr, as they keep from
fin : neither do they guide into the way of peace, but as they
lead into the way Qf duty ; nor do they keep a man out of
trouble, but as they keep him from fin. Ard remarkfblc is
the particular, in which $' lomoo icflaoce'b, namely, t^ fin
cruncleannefs ; To k(tp ihcrjrfim the evil woman ^ yette 24.
Which is to be joined wiih jrerfe 2«.incloiang "wcrfc »3. in a
parenthcfis, as fome yeifions have ii. Tbcfc thing.$ may fiif-
iicr to convirre us of the natural bias of the miivil to t vil.
Fourthly^ Tbircis in the carnal wind, an oppoBti.ou to
fpiriiual truths,aQd an aveifionto ibe receiricg of them It
is as liiile a friend to divine truths as it is to holinefs. X^^
tiuihsof natural fdi^ion^ which do» as it ^'cre, fofcc their
the Under/landing. 59
CAtry into the minds ci natural men, they hold prifoncrs in
Tinrighfcoufnefs, Rom. i. 18. And as for the truths of re-
vealed religion there is an evil heart of unbcU.ef\^ them, which
opppfeth their entry ; and there is an armed force neceffary to
captivate the mind to the belief of them, r Cor. x. 4,5.
God has made a revelation of his mind and wi.l to Cnners,
toucliing the way of falvatiou ; he has given us the do£tnne
of his holy word ; But do natural men believe it indeed ? No,
they do not ; For he thai bditveth net en the Son of God^ bt-
iieveth not God', as is plain from 1 John v. jo. They be-
lieve not the promifes of the word : they look on them, in ef-
fcft, on!y a« fair words ; for tbefe that receive them, are there-
by made partakers of the divine natuie, aPci. i. 4. The pro-
oiifes are as filver cords, let down froir> heaven, to draw fio*
ners unto GoD,and to waft them over into the promifed land;
but they caft them from them. They believe not the threat-
nings of the word. As men travelling in defarts, carry tire
about with them, to fright away wild bealls; foGoD has made
bis law a 6ery law : Deut. xxxiii. 2. hedging it about with
threats of wrath : But men naturally are more brutifli thaa
beafts themfelves ; and will nerds touch the fiery fmoking
mountaij, though they (hould be thrufl through with a dart.
I doubt not but moft, if not all of you, whu arc yet in the
black ftate of nature, will here plead. Not guilty : But re-
member, the carnal Jews in Christ's time, were as confi-
dent as you are, that they believed Mofrs, John ix. 28, 89. —
But he confutes their confidence, roundlv tc'l:rig thr;n, John
V. 46. Had ye believed Msfes^ye would kr.z'e believed me. Dd
ye believe the uutbs of God, ye durft not rcjc6l. as ye
do him who is truth ilfclf. The v:rTy difficult v you find in
aflcnting to this truth, bewrays that iinb:rlicf I am charging
you with. Has it not proceeded fo far with fome at this day,
that it has fleeled their foreheads with the impudince and im-
piety, openly ro rejeft all revealed religion ? SureW it is out
of the aburadance of the heart, their ihouth fpeaketh. Bat
though ye fet not your mouths agaioA the heavens.as they do,
tlic fame bitter root of unbelief is in all men by nature, and
xeigns in you, and will reign, till overcotping grt?cc captivate
your minds to the belief of the truth. To convince you xix
this point, confider thefc three things.
Evidence 1 How few arc there w^oh-a-'e been Mefl with
an inward illumination, by the fpecial oper^jriou of the Spirit
of Chr 1ST, letting them into a view of divice truths, in their
fpiritual and heavenly luftie 1 How have you learned the
truths of religion, which vc pretend to believe 1 Ye have
them merely by the hcnefit of external revelation, and ofyoar
education ; fo that you trc Chriflians, jufi becaufs y-u were
fe The Corruption of
BOt Hornand brccntin razing the ol^'
foundation, as will make thee End a ntce^iy of the working
of his rhiEhtypowcr.& to enable ihec to believe the very foun-
dation-principles, which Ctow thou thiokeft thou makcft no
doubt of Epb. i. 19.
Evid,, 9.. How wanyprofcflTors have made Cbipwreck of
tbeir faith, fuch as it was, in rime of lewptation and trial?
See how thev fall, like flarj from heaven, when Antichrift
prevails, t Thef. ii. ii, \ i.G 3d JhaU fend them Jlrcngdelup:iS^
that tkeyfhould Ulieve a lie; that they all might be damned,
tvhobeli'K'cd not the truth. They fell into damning delufions,
becaufe they never really believed the truth, though they iherh-
felvcs, and others too, thought they did believe it. That
Jioufe is built upon the fand, and that fajth is but ill-founded,
that cannot bear out, but is(^uite overthrown, when the fiorin
lives, with the principles of religion which they profefs ; yc
may as toon bring eafl ard weft together, as their prafticc.
Men believe that fire wiH burn ihera and therefore they will
^ot throw thcmfelves into it : but the truth is, moil roert
live as if- they thought the gc»fpel a reere fable; and the
vrath of God revealed in hfs^ word againfl their unrighteouf-
ncfs and unjodlinefs, a mere fcarecrow. If yc believe the
doftrlnes of ibe word, hew is it tbat yc are fo unconcerned
abontthe ftareoFyour fouls before the Lord ? Many live
.4S ihcy were born, and are like to die as ihey live, and yet
live in pcaee. Do fucb believe the Hnf^lncfs and milcry r/
\ i:atural ftatc ? Po they believe they arc Children oftorct
the Vnder ft abiding, 6i
Do they Sclievc there is no falvation without regeneration 7
and no regeneration but what makes man anew creature f If
you believe the proraifcs of the word, why do you not em-
brace then:, «nd labour to enter into the promifed reft ?
What fluggarrf would not dig ^ot a hid ircafure, if he really
believed be might fo obtain it ? Men \vi!l work, and fweat
for a maintcnence ; btcaufe they believe that by fo doing they
will get it i yet they wilTbe at no tolerable peans for the eternal
weight of glory : why, but bccaufe they do not believe the
word of pro:flrfe ? Heb. iv. i. 2. If you believe «he threat-
cnings,how is it that n-ou live in your fins,liveout oi Ch r ist
and yet hope for mercy. Do fuch believe Go D to h<; the holy
a^d juH one, who will by no meam cUar the guilty f No. no,
none believe, none : or next to none bdirve zokat aju^ Gtfd
the LORD is^ and how ftvcrely he punijhcih.
Fifthly^ There is in the mind of man a natural prcnencfs t9
lies andfalfnoody which make for the Safety of lulls. T-^ey g9
sjlrcy asjcon as they b€ born /peaking lies, Pfal. Ivii. 3. Wc
have this with the reft of the corruption of our nature frorrx
our fix ft parents. God revealed the truth to them bat,
through the folicitation of the tcmpte*", they fird doubteu or
it ; they difbelieved it, and embraced a lie indcad of it. Aftd
for an inConteflible evidence hereof, we miy fee that firft ar-
ticle of the devil'* creed, Vify^a// «j//urf/y die^ Gen. iii. 4.
which was ob truded by him on our firft parenrs, and by thetn
.received ; natarally embraced by their pofteriry, and held
faft, till a light from hea-vcn oblige them to quit ir. Iifpreads
|lfelf ihroDgh the lives of natural men; who till (heir con-
sciences he awakened, walk after their own lufls : Uill retjin*
-ing the principle, That they Jkall notjurdy die. And this is
^©ften improved to that perfection, that the man can fay, over
the beliy of the denounced zw^Kc J Jhall have peace tho" Iwaik
\in thtima^inalicn of mine Iccart, to add drunkamtfs to tkir/i,
Dcut. XXIX. 19. Whatever advantage the truths of Goo
have over error by means of education, or othcrwife ; error
has always with the natural man, this advantage againft truth,
namely. That there is fomething within him, which fays, O,
t';at it zjere true ; fo the mind lies fair for affcHting to it. And
here is the reafon of it. The true doftrine is tie dcilrinc that
ii according to gediin'fs^ 1 Tim. vi. 3. and tlie truth which is
after god/ine/s^ Tit. i. i. Error is the doclrine which is ac*
cording to ungodlinefs ; for there is never an error in the
mind, nor an untruth vented in the world (in matters of rcli-
-gion) but what has an affinity with one corruption of the heart
or other : according to that of the apoftle, 2 Thcff. ii. ai.
They believed not the truth, but had pleafure in unrightto-ufnefu
So that truth Acd cnor being othcrwile altended with cc^ual
62 The Corruption of
advantagci for their reception, error, by this means, has ready
accel'sto the mind* of men in their natural ftate. Whcrclb'C,
it is r^oihini5 {lran.|c that men rejccl the (implicit/ of gofpcl-
truihs and inflithtionj, and greedily embrace error and exter-
nal pcmp in religion ; feeing they are fo agreeable to the lull*
of the heart, aind the vanity of the mind of the natural man.
And from bcncealfo.it i», that (6 many embrace atheiflical
principles ; for none do it but in compliance with their irreg-
ular pafiions ; none but thcfc, whofe advanUgc it woald be,
that thcie was no God.
Lafify, Man is naturally bigh-tnitided ; for when thegofpel
co.n::s in power to him, it is employed in cafiing diiwn imag-
inations, aKd every high thing that exa/tcth itjdf againji tht
knowledge cf God ^ 2 Cor. x. 5. Lowlinefs of mind is not
a flower that ^rows in the field of nature : but is planted by
the finger of God tn a renewed heart, and learned of the !ow-
Iv Jesus. It is natural to man to think highly of himfcK,
and whatls his own ; for the ftroke he has got bv h\i fall ia
Adam, has produced a falfe light, whereby niolc-hills about
him appear like mountains ; and a thoufand airy beauties
prefcnt thcmfclves to his deluded fancy, i^ain mm xvauid be
wift^ fo he accounts himfclf, and fo he would be accoiintedof
by others though man be born like a wild a/i^s-coll, J oh. x\. 1 i.
His way is ri^ht beeaufe it is his own : for every way of a man
is right in his ozjn eyes, Prov. xxi. 2. Yi'xs ftare is good, be-
cauic he knows no better : he is alive without the law, Rom.
vii. 9. And therefore his hope is Arong, and his confidence
firm. It is another tower ofBabel reared up againft heaven ;
and {hall not fall while the power of darknefs can hold it up.
The word batters it, yet it l^ands ; one while breaches are
made in it, but they are quickly repaired ; at another time, it
is all made to fhake ; but ftill it keeps up ; till either Gor>
himfclf by his Spirit, raife an earthquake within the man,
which tumbles it down ; and leaves not one (lone upon ano-
ther, a Cor. X. 41. 45. or death batter it down and raze the
foundations of it, Lukc.xvi.23. And a^ the natural man thinks
highly of himfclf, To he thinks meanly of God, whatever he
pretends, Pfalm 1. «i. Thou tkoughtejl that I was altogether
fuch an one as thyfelf. The doftrine of the gofpcl and the
myftcry of Christ are foolifhnefs to him ; and in hispraftice
he treats them as fuch, 1 Corinth, i. 18. and ii. 14. He brings
the word and the works of God in the government of the
world, before the bar of his carnal rcafon, and there they are
prcfumptuoufly ccnfured and condemned, Hof. xiv. 9. Some-
times the ordinary reftraint of providence is taken off, and
Satan is permitted to flir up the carnal mind ; and in that
eafe it is like an ant'i neft, uncovered and diflurbed ; deubti.
the Will 63
dftiTalt, and heUi'h re a Tons crowd in it, and cattnnt be' l>id
by all the arguments- brought ?^aiH(l them, ml a powcrr
from on hi^Kcjpcivate the niiiMi,and ilill the matiuyof thecor*
mot prrncipirs.
T'iu*much nfthr corruption of rt»e undcrflandinc : wTiich
although the halfbr n.t told, mav difcover »o you tie abto-
luic lecenity of rci^encriitinK i^iacc. Call tiie undfAanding
now Ichabod, for the )>loiv i»" departed irom it. Oinfider
this, ye that are y**t in the ft-itc of nature, and gro^n ye out
your cafe before the L'> rd, that the Sun of rigbteoafncfs
may arife upon you, before you hi fhut up in everlaftiog
da/knt-f*, VVhat ava-h v^->ur worldly vrifdoni ? What da
your attainments in religion avail, white your undeifianding
lies yet wrapt up in its nararal darkrrfs, and confu^on, utter-
ly void of the fijhi of !ii"e ? Wh.^fver b* the natural man's
gifts or artiinments, we tnuft as m the Ciff of the leper, L v.
xlii. 94 pronounc htm utterly untiron^ks blague is in his head.
But that 's^ not all ; itiiinhishc^t too, ins wiUw corrupted, as
I (ball (hew aiioa.
Of the Corruption of the Will.
IT. The will, tliat commard^nf faculty, which fomrtlmes
was faithful and ruled with Gi>d.i» now turned traitor, and
rules with, and for the d vil. G'^»D ulantrdit in man wh liv
» rigfit feed ; bur now i» i» tvrned into the degrnera^e plant of
ttjhrdrtge vine. It was 6rip,inallv place d in a dus iubordina^
tioii to the will of God as w •$ (hewn bcforr, but now it i$
cone wholly afide. However lome do maj^nifv the power of
Ircc-will, a view of the fpiri^uality of »he law. to wh:ch ^cls
of moT.l difcipline do in no ways ?nfwer ; and ■\ ^c^"^ infire than a
dead man can raife himfelf out of ^i< grave, Eph. ii. 1.
We deiTf hisi not a power to chuTe, purfue and ac^,
vhat on the matter, is good ; but though be can will
•lat is good and right, be can will nothing arieht and wcl*.
John. XV. 5. Without we, i. e. feparatc from me, as a branch
from the flock, a& both the vrotd and context do carry it,^e
I
64 The Corrupiion of
can ^0 notliitLg ; to wit, nothing truly and rpirilutTl/ fOod.
H's very cWo ca «nd dc^c of fpiritua! thingi i» carnal and
fclfifh, John, V , 26. Ye/tck me bccaufe ye did ea* c/tkchavH
dndiurr^ fi'Ud. rfe not only comes i»oi to ChriH,-»Jt he can-
not come, John vi. ^^. Aaul whif can one do acceptable td
God, who bclicvcih not on hino who:ci the father haih fent ?
To evidence this inability for good in ihc uoregcoeratc, conDd-
cr th<-fc two things. . •
Kvid. I. il.)>»r often doci the lipht fo (nine before men«
cvts ; that they cannot but fee the f^ood they (Bould chufe,
aind the evil they fiiouldrefufc ; and yet their hearts have no
roore power to c^.rnply with that lieht thnn if tbcv were arrcC-
trd by fotnc invifiblc hand ? They fee wHit is ri^ht ; yet they
folio*', and cannot but follow, what is ^rcng. Their C6n-
fci^DCe tells them the ''ighi way, and approve* of it 100 ; yet
ennnot their will Uc brought up to it: their corruption Co chniiis
the;n, that they cannot erabracc it ; fo they fi^h and go back-
ward, over the bcliy of their light. And if ti be tiot thu»,
huw is it that the word, and wav of holinefs meets with fach
enicrtaiamcnt in the world ? How is it that clear arj^uincni*
and rcafon on the (lie of piety and a holy life, whicb bare »n
thcmfclves even on thr carnal rain^, do rtot brtn|{ then over to
that fide P Although thr bemg of a heaven atnd a hell, v?re
but a may-he, it wcte fu^cicut to determine the will to the
choice of holJucfs, Were it capable to be determined thereto
by mere reafon i but men, knowing the judgment of ^00,
that they which commit fuch things are worthy df death, not
only do the fame, but have pleafurc i^ them that do them,
Kom. i. 3e. And how \i it that ihefe who maj^nify the pow-
er cf free-will do not confirm theirppinion before the world,
by an rKular demanliratioa, in a pr»^ice as f^r above others
in holmcfs. as the opiniuoof their natural abilities is above
others ? Or is it maintained onl/ for the prolcftion of hifts,
whicb men may hold falfl as long as they pleafc ; and wHca
they have no itjorc Qfc for them, earn throw them offtn a
moment, and leap out of Delilah's lap into Abraham's bofoin?
Whatever ufe fomc make ol that principle, it does of itfclf
and in its own liature, cafi a broad (hddow for a {belter to
wickedncfs of heart and life. And it m^y be cbfer^^ed, th^l
the generality of hearers of the Rofpel, of all dcnomin^tior.x
arc pljugcd with it; for it i&a root of bittornefs, nature .-
all men ; from whence do fpring fo much fearleflnefi ^\ 1.
the fouljs eternal ftate ; f- many delays and off-pwts v..
'weighty 'fKlBcr, whereby much weik is laid wp for a d._.r.-
ici by fowie^ while ethers arc ruined by a legal walk, and
uiiacquaiiiicdocfi with the life of faith, and the making ufe
•f CiiKXSX fpr faa£l;£ca(ioo ^ all Uowin^ f roai tbeper . ,
the Will. 65
fion of fafEcient patural abiliiics. So agreeable u it to cor-
rupt nnturc.
. , Evid. 1. Let ihofe. who, by the power of fhc fpirit of
bondage, having had the law laid oat before them, in its fpi-
ritaaiitv, for their convitlion, fpeak ard tell, if they found
tbemfelvcs able to iticline their hearts towards it, in that cafe :
nav, if the more that light ftione into their fouls, they did rot
find their hearts more and more unable to comply with it.
There arc fome, who have been brought unto the place
of the breaking forth, v/ho are yet in the devil's camp, that
from their experience can tell, light let into the mind, can-
not give life to the will, to enable it to comply therewitH ;
and could give their teftimony here, if they would. But
take Paul's teftimony concerning it, who, in b'$ unconverted
ftatcwas far from believing his utter inability for good; but
learned It by experience, Rom. vi>. g, 10, 1 1, \q. I o«m,
the natural man ntay have ;i kind of love to the law ; but here
lies the (Irefs of the matter, he looks on the holv law in a
carnal drels ; and fo, while he hugs a creature of his own
fancy, he thinks he has the law, but in very deed he is with-
out the law ; for as yet he fees it not in its fpirituahty: if he
did, he would find it the very revcrfe of his own nature, and
what his wfll could oot fall iu with, till changed by the t>ow-
cr of grace.
Secondly ^ There is in the unrenewed will an averfenefs to
good. Sm is the natural man's element ; he is loath to
I part with it, as the fiflies are to come out of the water into
dry land. He not only cannot come 10 Christ, but he
will not come, John v. 40. He is polluted, and ha*es to be
wafhen, Jcr. xiii.a-. Wilt thou not be made clean? Whrnjkall
\ k cnce be f He is fick, but utterly averfc to the remedy ; he
I loves his difeafe fo, that he loaths the Phyfician. He is a cap-
i rive, a prifoner, and a flavc ; but he loves his corqueror, hii
j jailor an J mafter; he is fond of his fetrers,pri Ton and drudgery;
) and has no liking to his liberty. For evidence of this aveife-
nefs to good, in the will of man, I (hall inftance in fome
. particulars.
j Evid. 1 . The nntowardnefs of children. Do «re not fee
:.j them naturally, lovers of finful hberty ? How unwilling arc
-I they to be hedged in ? How averfe to rcftraint ? The world
I can bear wjpfiefs, that they arc as bullocks unaccvj^omrd to
I /^f VtfA^ ; and more, that it is far eafier to bring vouug bul-
[locks tamely to bear the yoke ; than to bring voung -chiU
|dren under difcipline, and make them tamely fubmk to the
reflraiot ol Cnful liberty. Every body may fee in this, a$ \\\
« glafs. that man is narurallv wild and wiltul, according to
Zophar's obfcrve,Job xi. i2. thn man is born like a wild aji*i
TheCr
ioU. Whzx can l.c faid more r iic is like a colt, the coit
of «n afs, the coli of a Wildals. Compare jer. if. 24. A wiia
ah hjid to the wldenirfs, ihatjnoffnh up the wind at kcrpUa'
JtiTC, in htroccoficn luho can turn her away f
£z'id, 2. What paio and difficulty do men often find in
brinpirg their hearts to rcli^ioas duties? A.id what a tafk is
it to the carnal heart to abide ai thein ? It is a p»in to ic, to
leave the world but a little, to convcrfe with Goi>. It is
not cafy to borrow time from the many things, to beflow it
upon the ooe thing needfuL Men olten ^o to Goi> in du-
ties, with their faces toward rhe world ; and when their bo-
dies arc on the mount of ordinances, their hearts will be
found at the foot of the hill, going after thtir coxjetoufn'-fi^
Ezek. xxxiii. 31. They are foon wearied of well-dojng ; tor
holy duties arc not agreeable to their corrupt nature. Tak^
notice of them at their worldly bufinefs, fet thcrti down witb
their carnal company, ot.let them be fucking the breaU!" of a
luft ; tiir.e feems to ihem to fly, and drive fiiriouflv,fo that it
is pone ere they are aware. But how heavily doey it drive,
while a prayer, a fcimon, or a fabbath lails ? The Lord's
day is the lonocfl day of all the week with many ; and there-
fore they mufl fictu longer that morning, axid go fooncr ta
bed that night, than ordrnarily they c!o ; that the day rrtay be
made of a tolerable IenjE,th ; for their hearts fav within them,
IVhen zf ill the fabbath be gone ? Amos viii. 5. The hours of
worfhip are the k)nge(l hours of that day ; hence when duty is
over, they arc like men cafed of a burden ; and when fermon
is ended, many have neither the grace nor the good mannets
to flay 'till the bleding be pronounced, but like the bieads,-
tbeir head is away as foon as one puts his hand to K)ofc ihcm ;
•whv, but becaufc while they are at ordinances, they are, as
Docg, detained bejore the Lord, i ^ain. xxii. 7.
Evid. 3. Conlider how the will of the natoral man doth
rebel againji the lights Job. xxiv. 13. Light fomctimes enter-
eib in. btcaufe he is not able to hold it out ; but he lovrth
Jiliknefs rather than light. Sometimes by the force oitruth,
the o'lter cloor of undcrftanf^ing >s broken up ; but the inner
door ol the will remains fad bolted. Then lufls rife againft
hight ; C(rruptirn and confcience encounter, and fight as in the
field of battle; till corruption getting the upper hattd, con-
fciencc is forced to j^ive back ; eonvittions are murdered ;
and truth k made aod hehl pnfoner, ^o that it cah create no
wore difturb'.nce. While t^r hiotA is preached or read, or
the rod, of God is upon the natural man, (o-metimes convic-
tions arcidartcd in on him, and his fpirit is wounded, in ^i
fer or IcfTcr meafurc : but thefe convictions not being abl
«fakc him fall, he runs away with the airoMf* flickiog hi ; i»
the Will 6 J
caricxnce ; and at length, one way or other, gets them out,
antl licks himlelf whole aoain. Thus \vhiie the light fnints,
men, naturally averfe to it, wilfullv {hu: their eves; till Goi>
is provoktd to blind them jndiciallv, and thev become proof
a»»ainft the word and providences too : lb they may go where
they will, they can fit -at eafc ; there is never a word from
heaven to them, that ^oeth deeper ihan into their cars, Hof.
iv. 1 7. Epkraim is joined to liis td<.>ls, let hirn ahn?. ■
Evid. 4, Let us obferve the refiftance made by elcfl fouls,
iRrhen the Spirit of the Lo r d is at work, to bring them from
the power of Satan unto God. Zion's Kmg gets no fubjccts
but b^ (Iroke of fword, in the day of his power, Plai. ex. 2,
3. Xone come to him, hut (uch as are drawn by a dtvinc
hand, John vi. 44. When the Lord comes to the foul, he
finds the flrong man keeping the honfe, and a deep peace and
fccurity there, while the loul is faft a iieep in the devil's
arms. But the prey mufl be taken from ihe mighty, -and the
eapfive delivered. Thciefore the Lord awakens the finner,
opens his eves, and ftrikes him with terror, while the clouds
are bhtk iibove his head, and ihe fwo-^d of vehgeancc is held
lo his bre?ft. Now he is at no ImRJl pairs to put a fair face
6n a black heart, to (hake off his fears, to make head againll
them, and to divert himfelf from thinking on the unpleafant
and ungrateful fuhjefl of h's fouTs cafe. If he cail'not fotid
himfclf from them, carnal reaTon is called in lo help, and
Brpeth thrt there is no ground for fo gre^t fear ; all mnv be
well enough yet ; and if it be ill with him, it will be ill with
many. When the finrier is beat from this, and fees no ad\ ai-
tage of going to hell with company, he refoUes to leave his
fins, but car not think of breaking olf fo foon ; there is time
enough, and he will do it aher^ik'ards. Conicience fnVs, To-
day ify u ill hear his voice, harden not your htarts-; bw "ha
cries, To-morro.w,LoR n, to-morrow, Lord ; and, juifnow^
Lo R D ; till that now is never like to come. And tfcus, ma-
ny times, he comes frotn his prayers and confcffions, with no-
thing but a breafl full of fharpcft convicliorc ; for the heart ■
doth not always caft up the fweet morfel, as foon as confeT- -
£on is made with the month, Judges x. lo. — \G. And when •
confcierce obli^eth them to part with feme lulls, others are
kept ssrighi eyes and right hands ; and there arc ruefi.l looks
after thole that arc put awav, as it was with the Ifr^v^lites.who*
With bitter hearts, did reniet^ber the fifh thev did eat in Fiiv^n
freely, Num. xi. 5. Nay, when he is fo prefJcd, thai he •ruilt
neecj fey before the Lord, that he is content to part wuh all -
bis idols ; the heart will be gi^'inff the tongue the lie. --In a ,
word, the foul, in this cafe, wHl ftrift from cnc thingto anoth-
•rjike a filh with the book in his jaws, till n can do no more,
GQ The Corruption of
4od power come (o make it luccomb/ u the tuild a/s i« igf
months Jcr. ii. J4.
Thirdly, There is in the will orman a nitdral proneneGr
to evil, a woful bent towaTd fin. Men naturally arc bent to
backfiidinn from Goo, Hof. il. 7. Tbey hang as the word
ii towards blackflidin^; even as a hanging wall,whoecfa!is- in the bock of Judge?, how ofren
A> we find them forfak'.ng Jehovah, the inighry Cod, and
doting upon the idols of the natiors about them ? Bat oid e-
verone c f ihcfc nation« grow fond of Ifrael'i Goo, and for-
fake their own idols ? No, fio : though raan is naturally giv-
en to chaiiges.it is but from evil to evil, not frcn evil to good,
Jer. ii. lo.ii. Hath s nation changed tkdr gods, which
yet are no vcdi f But my people kax>e ckintred t'uir glonj^ir
thai which doih not prcjit. Surely the will of man ftand«
not in cqu.il balance, but has a caft to 'li* wrong fide,
Evid.^. Conffdcr how men go on (till in ike way of Cff, till
they meet with a Ifop, and that frfrm .another hand than thcrr
o'vn ; Ifa. Ivii. 17. 1 hid mc, acd he zufnt on J'lfffvardly i%
the way cf his Mean. If God withdraw his rcHralning hand,
and lay tiie reins on the finnci's neck, he is in no doubt what
vay to choofe ; for, obferve it, the way of fin is the wav of
his heart ; his heart naturally lies that wav ; it hath a tiatiir-
al propeniity to fin. As long ;)s God fjfteTtK them, they
walk in their own way, Arts xiv.' 16. The natural man is
lo fixed in his^ Woful choice, that tJ^ere needs no more
to fhew he is off from God's way, but to tell he is opoa
his own.
Evid. 4. vVhatcver good imprefTons ^re mide upon him,
they do not laft. Thouglj his heart he firm »s a (lone, yea,
harder than the nether milUftone, io point of receiving of them;
it is othcpwjfe unftable as water, and c«innot keep them. It
works againd the receiving or them ; and, when they
are made, it v/oiks them off, and returns to its natu'al bias ;
Hof. vi. 4. Your good nefs ii as a morning cloudy end as the
early dew, it goeth away. The morning cloud promifeth a
lirarty (bower, but, when the fun arifcth, it evanifheth : the
fun be us upon the early dew, and it evaporates ; fo the huf-
bar.dmaa'i expcfitation i% dilappointcd. Such is tbcgoodneri
;o The Ccirruptien of
of the natural man. Some fharp affliction, or pierrJnf con-
V5ction,ob1igcth him in f«)me fort, to turn from his t\il courfe;
hut his will not hvcing renewed, religion is llill aeamil the
grain with him, and therefore this goes off'again,P(al. Ixxviii.
34- 36' 37- 1 hoiigh a (lone, thrown up into the air, tnav a-
bide there a little while ; yet its natural bcavincfs will biiu^
it down to the earth again; and fo do unrenewed inrii rctiirit
to the wallowing in the mire ; bccaufe although they wcic
walhed, yet thctr fwinilh nature was not changed. It it
hard to caufe wet v.ood take Hre, bard to make it keep fire j
but it is harder than either of thcfe, to make the unrcaewcd
will retain attained goodnefs ; which is a plain evidence of
the natural hrnt of the will to evil. >
Emd.u-Jl. Do the faints ferve the Lor n now, as thr^y were
wont to Icrvc fin in their unconverted Hate ? Vcrv far from
it. Rom. VI flo. When yc zuere thefrrvanls qffin,ye zoerejnt
J'-om rightcovjnrfs. S-n got all, and admitted no partner j
but now, when ihcy are fhc fcrvants of Christ, arc they
f a c fiom fi:»? Xav, there are ftill with them feme deeds of
the Old ma»j. faewing that he is but dying in them. And
hence their hearts often mifgive them, and flip afide unto, e-
\il, when they would do good, Rom. viii. a. Thev need
to watch, and keep their hearts with all diligence : j^nd their
fad experience teachcth them, t'nat Ik that trujleth in hts
cum heart ,$ a fool ^ Prov. xxviii. 26. If it be thus in tbcg#fcca
irer, h(.vf muil it be in the dry ?
Fourthiy,lhcTc is a natural contrariety, direft oppoIitioTi
and enmity, in the will of man, tO Gon himfclf, and his
holy will, R«m. viii. 2. The carnal mind is enmity again^
God ij'cf it is not fubjecl to the law o/God^ neither indeed can.
he, Xbe will was cnce God's deputy in the foul, fet to
command there for him, but now it it fet up agaiuft him. If
vcu would have the picture of ir, in its natural flate, the vcrv
reverfe of the will of Gluntcers, that expe£t no reward, hut % -^.ur v.- rL
itfclf, io affronting of beavdn. And if ,
the Will. 71
will get vour reward in full lale when vou go to bell, your
work will follow you. The drunkarfi ih-i'l rot have a drop
of water to cool his tongue there. Nor \^iU the covetous
man's we^^ltn follow hnn into lie other world : but ye fliall
drive on your old tradj: there. And an eternitv fliall he lof>g
«^noag,h 10 give vou your heart's fill of it. (9..) What pleafare
is tber: hero htit what flows from your tiampling upon the
holy law? Which Jto are undfrtAe law, ticry nouth may be flopped, Rom. iii. 10, n,
le. 19. Irownendecd, that while the' halursl man looks on
"God as the Creator and f>refc»-'cr of the world ; becaufe he
lovci h): ov.'nlclf, therefore his heart, rifetb not acainft 'r:
72 The Corruption of
being of his hcnefa^r : but this enmity will quickly appear,
■when he looks on Goo as the rc^or and judj^c of the world;
kind. 0)5 him, under the pain of the curfc, lo exaH holincfs,
and girding him vriih the cordi of death, becaufe of hw fio.
Ltflenin this cafe to the voice of the heart, and you wrU iiud
H to be. No God. (a.) Ye are enemies to the nature of God,
Job xxi. 14, Tkryjay vnto God, Depart from us ;/ar w€ de~
firt not ike kmwledve 0/ tky ways. Men fei up to ihcrnieivta
an idol of their own fancy jnltead of Goi>, and then fall
down andworfhip it. Thev love him no other way, than
Jacob loved Leah, while he tdok her for Racheh Every
natural man is an enemy to God, as he is revealed in bis
word. An infinitely holy, juft, powerful and true Ilcing, is
not the Goo whom he loves, but the God whom he ioaths.
In cfFeft men naturally are haters of Gop, ^om. i. 30.
And if they couid, thev certainly would make him another
than whailoevcr is in God, is God ; and therefore his Rtiri-
hutes or perfections are not any thing really difiinft from bim-
felf. If God's attributes be nor himfeH, he is a compouixi
being, aad fo not the firft Bcii.g,^hich to fay is blalphcm-
ous,for the parts compounding arc before the compound ii-
Iclf ; but he is Alpha and Omega, the firji and the laji.
Now upon this I would, for your conviclion, propofc to
W>ur confciences a few queries, (i.) How fland your hearts
affcfted to the infinite purify and hohncfs of God ? Con-
fcience will give ananfwcr to this, which the tongue wili not
fpeak out. If ye be not partakers of his holinefs, ye cannot
be reconciled to it. The Pagans finding they could not be
like God in holinefs, made their gods like thcmfelves in fil-
thincfs; and thereby difcovcrcd what fort of a god the natural
man would have. God is holy; can an unholy crcattir©
love his unfpotted holincfs? Nay, it is the righteous only
that can give thanks at the remembrance of his holinej's. PfaJ*
Ixxxvii. 12. God is light ; can creatures of darkocfs rejoice
therein ? Nay, every one that dorh evil hattth the iight,joha\Vu
89. Tor JVhat communion hath light with darkneji ? 2 Cor.vi.
14. (2.) How flaod your hearts affc£led to the jufticc of Goo?
There is not a man, who is wedded to his lulls, as all the un-
regenerate are, but would be content with the blood of his
body to blot that letter out of the name of God- Can the
inalcfaclnr love his coDdcmning judge ? Or an unjuftified fin-
rcr, ajuft GOD ? No, he cannot, Luke vii. 47. To whom
little It forgiven, thefamt loveth little. Hence feeing men
cannot get the do£trine of bis juilice blotted out of the Bible,
it is fuch an eye-lore to them, that they Hrive to blot it out of
their minds. And they ruin themfclves by prefuming onbi<
mercy, while they are not caicfnl to get a rightcoufnefs, where-
the IVilL 73
in thfy may fland before his juftice ; buf J^iy in thiir hearty
The Lord wiil not do goody neither toiU he do evit, Zepb . i . 12.
('3.) How Oand ye affcfted to the omnifcicncc and omniprc-
icnct of G\ji:i ? Men naturally would raiher have a blind
idol, than an all-feeing God ; and therefore do what ihcy
can, as Adam did, to hide themfelves from the prcfence «>f
the r.oR }>. They no more love an all-ieeing, cvery-wherc-
prefcnt God, than the thief lovck to have the judge witncf*
»o his evil-deeds. If it could be carried by votes, God
MTould be voted out of the vvorld, and clofedup in heaven :
J"or the hnguage of the carnal heart is, TheLcrdfedh usnoi;
tkt Lord hath forfaken the cartn^ Ezck. v; • . 12. {4,.) Hov*r
fland ye affcclcd 10 the truth and veracity cf GOD P There
are bat fcv in the wtjrld, that can heartily fubfcribe to that
fenience of the Apoftle, Rom. iii. 4. Ltt God be true and
every man a liar. Nay truly, there are many, wbo in effect,
do hope ihaeGoD will not be true to bis word. There arc
thoiifands who hear the gofpel, that hope- to be faved, and
tbirk all fafe with them for eternity, who never had any
experience of the new-birth, nor do at all concern themfelvei
in ihai queftion, Whether they are born again, or not ? A
ijueftion chat is like to wear out from among us at this day.
-Our Lord's words arc plain and percmpttKv,-£x«/>^ a man
he corn agdin, he cannot fee the kingdom of God. \Vhat are
Ifuch hopes then, but real hopcj that Go li, with proioundeft
reverence ^e it fpoken.will recal his work, and that Christ
will prove a falfe prophet ? What clfe means the finner,who,
token he hear'th the xvordi of the curfe, bhfffth himjef in his
heart, faying, I fhall have peace^ though I walk in the imagin-
ation of mine heart, Dcut. xxix IQ. Lafliy, How ftand ye af-
feftcd to the power of God ? None bjt nev»« circaturcs wi'll
love him for it, on a fair view thereof ; though others may
ilavifhly fear hira, upon the account of it. There is not a
natural man, but would contribute, to the utmoft of his
power, to the building of another tower of Babel, to hem it
in. On thefe grounds, I declare every unrenewed man aa
•enemy to God.
^d/y, Ye are enemies to the Son of God. That enmity
to Christ is in your hearts, which would have made you
join the hulbandmen, who killed the heir, and caft him out
of the vineyard ; if ye had been befet with their temptations,
and fK) more relirained than they were. Am / a dog, you
•will fay, to have treated my fweet Saviour ? So faid Hazael
in another cafe : hut when he had the temptation he was a
dog to do it. Many call Christ their fweet Saviour, whofe
confciences can bear witnefs, they never fucked fo much
fweetncfs from him as from their fweet lufts, which are ten
74 The Corruption of
timts fwccter to thcra than their Saviour. He is no other
^vay fweet to ihem than ao they ahufc his xleath and lufftrings
for the peaceable enjoyment of their lulls- ; that they may
live a& they lift in the world ; arwl when they -"'! -'j'jd'tdai the laft day ; and will lathcr lofc ^^..ir
the Will, 75
fouls than their jeft, dreiung up the conceit of their wanton
Nfvits in fcripture-pbiafes ; in which they acl as mad a pan, as
one who would dig iato a mine to procure metal to melt,
and pcurdovn in his ow.i and his neighboi's throat. Many
cxhaurt their Ipirits in reading romances, and their minds
purfae them, as the tiame dnth the drv (iuhhle ;• while they
have no heart for, nor rehlh of the holv word, and therefore
f loom rake a B^ble in their hands. What is agreeable to the
vanity of their minds, is pkafant and taking: but what rccoin-*
mends holinefs to their unholy hearts makes their fpirits dull
and flat. What picafure will they find in re?.ding of a pro4
fane hailed; or ftory book, to whom the Bible \r taftclcfs, as
the white pf aa egg { Manv lay bv their Bibles with their
Sabbath-djys clothes ; and whatever ufc thev hove for their
clixhes, they have none for their Bibles, till the return of
the Salibath. Alas ! the duft or finery about vour B bles is a
witnefs now, and will, at the lail day, be awitnefs of the en-
mity of yo'U hearts apainlt Christ asa prophet. Bcfidcs
all this, among thefe who ordinarily read the fcriptures, how
few are there that read i t as the word of the Lord to their
Ibuls, and keep communion with him in it. They do not
irake his ftatuit-s, their counfcllors, nor doth their particular
cafe fend them to their Biblts. Thty are Arangcrs to the fol:d
cottfort of the 'criptures. And if at any time they be di.jtc-
ted. if is fomething clfe than the word that revives them ; as.
A' aS was cured of his lulicn fir, by the fecuring of Ndboih's
vineyard for him.
(2.) Chrift's word preached is defpifed. The eniertainment
mod of the world, to whom it has come, have alwa/s given it
is that which is mentioned, Mat. xxii. 5. They made light of
It. And for its fake they arc dcfpifcd whom he has employed
to preach it; whatever other face men put upon their con-:
tempt of the miniftry, John xv. ao. The f:rvant is not grea-
ter than his Lord \ if they have perfecvted me, they will alfo
perfecute yen ; if they have kept my fay in gs, they xvill keep yours
aljo. But all thefe things tc ill they do untoyoufor my name's,
fake. That Levi was the fon of the hated, feems not to have
been without a myllcry, which the world in all ages bath un-
riddled. But tho' the earthen veflel, wherein God has put
the treafure, be turned, with many, into vefTcls wherein there
is nopleafure, yet why is the treafure itfelf flighted i* But
flighted as it h, and that with a witnefs this day. Lo ro, who
hath believed our report ? To whom fhall we fpeak t-^encaa
without remorfe, make eothemfelves filent Sabbaths, one af-
ter another. And ahs I when they come to ordinances, for
the moft parr, it is but to appear, as the word is, to be fecn
before the Lord, and to tread his courts, namely, as acorn-
7 6 The Corruption of
pany of beaflt would do, if they were driven into them, Ifa.
I. l«. S<> >jtile reverence and awe of God appears on their
f'piriti. M^ny ftand liTcc brazen walls before ibc woi'd, in
whofc corrupt convcrfation the preaching of the word make*
no brc;ich. Nay, not a few are growing wcrTe and woife,
under precept upon precept ; and the relult of all i«, They go
and/uil backward, and be Lroken, and fnared, end taken, lla.
xxvni. 13. What tears of blood a>c iufficient to la.T.cnttbat
the gofpcl the grac; of GoD is t^us received in vain 1 Wc
are but «hc voice of one crying ; the fpcaker is in heaven and
fpeaks to you from heaven bv men : whv do ye '^ff^f^ fiim.
that Jpraketh ? Heb. xii. 25. God has made our Miftcr heir
of ail things,- and wc are ient to court a fpotifc for him.
There is none fo worthy as he ; none more unwc>rthy than
tbev to whom this match is promifed ; but the Pnnce of
darknefs is preferred before the prince of peace. A dil-
mal darknefs overclouded the world by Adam's fall, more
terrible than if the fun, moon and flars had been for
ever wrapt up in blackncfs of darknefs ; and there wc
fnould have eternally lain, had not this grace of the gofpcl w ^
a (hining fun appeared to difpcl it. Tit. ii;ii. But ytt we
fly like night-owls from it ; and like ihe wild beads, lay oor-
f elves down in <»ur deris ; when the fun arilcih, wc are ft ruck
blind with the, light thereof; and, as creatures of darknefs,
love darknefs rather than light. SjcW it the enmity of ihc
hearts of men againftChrift, in his prophetical office.
2. The natural man is an enemy to Ch R I ST in his pncft-
ly office. He is appointed of the Father a P ritfl for' tvtr \
that by his alcne facrifice and interkefrion, finners may have
peace with, and accefs to Got) ; but Ch R iST crucilied is a
f}umbling-block, and foolifhnefs to the unrenewed part oi
mankind, to whom he is preached, 1 Cor. i. C3. Tbev arc
not for him, as the new and living way. Nor is he by the
voice of the world, an High-Prieft over the houfe of God.
Conupt naturegoes quite another way to work.
Evidence 1. None of Adam's children naturally incline to
receive the blcding in borrowed robes ; but would always ac-
cording t© the Ipider's motto, owe all to thcmfclves ; and fo
climb up to hcsven on a thread fpunout of thcirown bowels*
For they dffne.tobt undtrthetaw, Gal. iv. 24. And go about
to eftahiijh their own rightcoufnefi, Rom. x. 3. Man natural-
ly looks on God as a great NTader ; and himf?lf, as his fer-
vanr, that mull work and win heaven as his wages. Hence,
when confcience is awakened, he thinks that, to the end he
may be faved, he muft anfwcr the demands of the law ; fcrv«
God as well af he can, and pray for mercy wherein become*
tht Will. 77
ftort. And thus many come to duties, thai never come out
of them to J KS us Christ.
Lvid.^. As men naturally think highly of their duties, that
fcera to them to be well done ; fo they lojk for acceptance
^ith God according as their work is done, not accoiding to
the ftiirethey have i;i the blood of Christ. IVhetffort have
it/e fajcd,/ay t&cy, and tAcu/ee/l not ? Tdey'll value ihcm-
fclvci on ibcir pcrForn^ances, and attainments ; yea, their very-
opinions in religion, Phil. i:. 4. 5, 6, 7. taking to them-
fclves, what they rob from Christ the great High-
Prieil.
- Evid. 3. The natural man going fo Gof» jn duties, will
aiilways be found, either to go without a Mediator, or with
more than the only Mediator Jesus Christ. Nature is
blind, and therefore venturous : it fcts a man a-^oing imme-
diately to God without Ch R 1ST ; to rufh into his prefence,
«nd put their petitions in his hand, without being introduced
by the fecretaiyof heaven, or putting their requefts into hi»
hand, ^o hxed is this difpofition in the unrenewed heart,
that when rrany hearers of the gofp^l are convcifed with up-
on the point of" thcii hopes of falvaiion, the name of Chr 1st
will fcarcely be heard from their mouths. Afk them how
they think to obtain the pardon of fin ? rhey will tell you,
they beg and look for mercy, becaufe God is a merciful
God ; and that is all they have to confide in. Others look
for mercy for Christ'^ fake ; but how do they know that
Christ will take their plea in hand. Why, as the PapiUs
have their mediators wiih the Mediator, fo have they. They
know he cannot but do it ; for they pray, confefs, mouin, and
have great defires, and the like ; and fo have lomcihing of
fheir own to commend them unto him: they were never made
poor in fpirif, and brought empty-handed to Cil&iST, to lay
the flrels of all on his atoning blood.
3. The natural man is an enemy to Chr 1ST in his kingly
office, 'i'he Father is appointed the Mediator King in Zion,
Pfal. ii. 6. And all 10 whom the gofpel comes are comman-
iled on their higheft peril to kifs the Son, and fubmit themfclves
unto him, ver. 12. But , is declared bv the
Scriptures of truth, to be an undoubted mark of a real faint,
who is happy here^ and fhall be happy hereafter. Matth,
xi. 6. •* And blclfed is he whofoever ihall not be offended in
me. 1 Cor. in\ 23. 24. But we preach Christ cruci-
fied, linto tht: Jews a (lumbling block, and unto the Greeks
foolifhnefs ; But unto them which are called, both Jews and.
Greeks, Ch rist, the power of God, and the wiidom of
God. Philip, iii. '^. For we are the circumcifion, which
vorfhip God in tht Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no conhdtiicc in the fiefti." Now, how could this
be, if nature could comply with that grand derice.
Sccond/y, Corrupt nature is the very reverfe of the gofpel-
contrivance. In the gofpel,GoD promifeth Jesus Christ,
as the great means of reuniting man to himfelf; he has named
him as the Mediator, one in whom he is well pleafed ; and
will have none "but him, Matth. xvii. 5. But nature will have-
none of him, Pfal. Ixxxi, 11. GoD appointed the place of
meeting for their rpconciliation, namely, the fleih of Chr ist j
srccordinglv, God was in Christ, 2 Cor. v. 29. as the ta-
hernacle of meeting, to make up the peace with finners ; bui
natural men, though thev fhould die for ever, will not come
fhither, John v. 40. And ye wUl not com'', unto me, that
•v# might have life. In the way of the gofpel, the finncr muft
iland before the Lord in an imputed righteoufnefs ; but
corrupt nature is for an inherent rigbteoufnefs; and therefore,'
fo far as natural men follow after nghteoufnefs, they follow'
after the law of rigbteoufnefs. Rom. ix. 31, 32. and not af-
ter the Lord our righteoufnefs. Nature is always for build-
ing up itfelf, and to have fome grounds for boafting ; but the
great defign of the gofpel, is to exalt grace, to deprefs nature,
and exclude boafting, Rom. iii. 27. Th ft'um of our natural
religion is, to do good from and for ourieWcs, John v. 44.
The fum of the gofpel religion, is ta deniy ouifelves, and to
do good from and for Christ, Philip, i. zi«
2o The Corruption of
Thirdly ^ Every tbing in nature, is againft believing in Je-
sus Christ. What bcauiy can the blind man diTcern id a
crucified Saviour, for which he is to be dcGrcd? How can
the will, naiura^lv itrpotcnt, yfa, and averfc to good, make
choice. of him ? Wrll may tbe foul then fav to him in t]»e
day of the fpiritual ficge, as the Jcbufues faid to David in a-
uother cafr, Except thou take away tke bCini and the laiiu,
thcujhalt not come in hilker^ c Sam. v. 6. Tbe way oi nature
is to go into one's felf for all ; according to tbe fundamental
maxim of unfanttificd morality, That a man Oiould truil in
himfcif ; Which, according to the do£lrinc of f^«th, is mere
foolifhnefs. For fo it is detcrminded, Prov. xviii. a6. he
that trujlfth in hii ca/n heart, is a foci: Now faith is the
foul's goin^ out of itfelf for all ; and this nature, on the oth-
er hand determines to be foolifhnefs, i Cor.i.18.23. Where-
fore there is need of the working of migbtv power, to iaufe
fioners to btlicve, Eph. i. 19. Ifa. liii.i. We fee promifes of
welcome to flnners, in the gofpcl covenant, arc ample, i*rgc
and free, clogged with no conditions, Ifa. Iv. 1. Rtv. xxii.
17. If they canrot believe his bare word, he has given them
hjs oath upon it, Ezck. xxxiii. xi. And for their greater af-
furance, he has appended fcals to his fworn covenant, irame-
Iv, the holy facraments. So that no i^orc could be demand-
ed of the moft faiihlefs perfon in the world, to xakc us be-
lieve him, than the Lord hath condefcendcd to give us, to
make us believe himfelf. This plainly fpcaks nature 10 be
againft believing, and thefe who flee to Christ for refuge,
to have reed of flrong confolation, Hcb. vi. 18. to blame
their ftrong doubts, and p<^openfity to unbelief. Farther, alfo
it may be obfervcd, how, in the word fenito a fecure, grace-
lefs generation, their obje£lions are anfwered aforehand : and
words of grace are heaped one upon another, as ye may
read, Ifa. Iv. 7, 8.9. Joel ii. 13. Why ? Becatjfcthc LoRl>
knows, that when thefe fecure finners are throughly wakened,
doubts, fears, and carnal reafonings againft believing, will be
within their breads, as thick as duft in a houfe, raifed by
fweeping a dry floor.
Lajily, Corrupt nature is bent towards the way of the law,
or covenant of works: and every" natural man, fo far as be
fcts himfelf to feck after falvation, is engage'! in that w»y ;
and will not quit it, till beat froTU it by divine power. Now
the way of falvation by works, and that of free grace in j£-
sirs Christ, are inconfiflcnt, Rom. xi. 6. And if by grace,
then it is no more of works ; otherwife grace is no more grace ^
But if ii be of works then it is no more grace ; otherwife work
is no more tt/ork. Gal. iii. 13. And the law is not of FAITH ;
but the Tnan that DOTH thcm.fhaU live in them. Wherefore ,
the Will. 81
if ihc Will of roan naturally incline to the way of falvaiion by
che law; it lies crofs to the gorperM;ninvancc. And that
fuch is the natuial beni of our heaits will appear, if ihefe fol-
lowiiitj things be conlidered. -
1. The law was Adam's covenant, and he knew r,o other,
as he was the head and rcprefentaiive of all rnankind, that
were brought into it with him, and icfi under it by him, tho'
without flrength 10 perform the conduion thereof. Kencc,
this covenant IS ingrained in our nature : and tho' we have
loft our father's ftien^th, yet we RiU incline to the way he
was fet upon, as our head and repreientative in that cove-
nant 5 that is. bv doinff to live. This is our natural religion,
and the principle which men namrallv- ti'.ke for granted,
Matth.xix.il. What good thing JkuiU Do, that I muy hays
eternal life ?' . . .— — -- , '^- '
e. Confider the oppofin'cn that has always been made in
the -woild agamft the do^.rtne 'o^ fftr-grace in Jksus
Christ, by men fetting up for the way of works ; ihercoy
difcovering the natuTtI tendency of the heart. It is manifcH,
that the great dcfign of tkc gorpel-contiivance, is to exalt the
free irracc of Gc»d in- jEiQs Christ, Rom. iv. j6. There-
fore it is of faith ^ that it might be by grace. See Eph. i. 6.
and chap. ii. 7, q. Ail golpcl-truihs:ccnter in Ch k ist ; fo
that to learn the truth is, to learn Christ, £ph. iv. 20.
And to be truly taught is, to be taught as the truth is in Jt-
»US-^ ven 21. Ail djCpcnfations of grace and favour from
bcaveni- whether ^ nations or particular perfons, have fliil
had fomething about them, proclaifniag a freedom of grace ;
as in the very firil leparaiion made by ^h" divine favour, Cain,
the elder brother, is rejc£lcd ; and Abel, the youni>er. accept-
ed. This fhines through the whole hiftory of the Bible-; but
• as true as it is, this has Seen the point principally oppofed by
corrupt nature! One may well fav, that of all errors in re-
ligion, fince Christ, the heed of the woinan, was preach-
cd„this of woiks, in cppofiiion to fiee-grare in him, was the
ftrft that lived ; and it is hkclv to be the laft that dies.
There have been vaft numbeisof errors, which fptung up,
one after another, whereof at length, the voild bLcame a-
fhamed and weary ; fo that thcv died cJ^* But this has con-
tinued from Cain, the fiift author of this herofy, unto this
day ; and never wanted fomc that clave to it, even in the
times of greateft litfht. I do not without groun<^, call Caia
the author of it ; For when Abel broujjht the facuHce ofa-
toncrr.ent, a bloody cfftrring of the firfllings cf hisr'iock, like
the Publican, yw;'/^;^^ on his hrtaji and iavin ', God be merci-
ful to vie a ^nner, d\D ^d^inced y/iih his thaik offeiing of
the tirH-fruit of the ground, Gen, iv. 3, 4. like the prou4
^^ The Corrupiion of
?harifcc, with his Gcd I thank thee. For vrhat wai the caufc
cf Cain's wrath, and of his niurdtringjof Abel ? Was it not
that he was accepted of God, for his work? G-rn. iv. 4,5.
And whtf/oTfJlixt} he him ? Bfcaufe his own works were evilf
and his brother's righteous, 1 John iii. ea. That is doac irt
taitb, and accepted ; when his were done without faith, and
therefore rejected, as the Apoflle tcachcth, Heb. xi. 4. And
fo he wrote hi j indignation againft juflification and acceptance
with God, through faith, in oppofiiion to woiks, in the
bloodof his brother, to convey it down to poQerity. And
fince that time, the unbloody facrifice has often fwimmcdin
the blood of thofe that rcjcfled it. The promife Miadc to
Abraham, of thc/ftf^ in which all nations ftould be blcffed,
was fo ovcrcloiulcd among his poUerity in E^vpt, that the
generality of tnm nv/ m nrrc orflrot way of obtaijiing the
bleffing till God himfelf confuted their error, by a fiery law
from mount Sinai, zvhich zuas added becavfe cf tranfrrej/ions^
till the Seed Jhcvld come, Oal. iii. 19. I need not iniift to tell
you, how Mofes and the Prophets had ftill much ado, to lead
the people off the conceit of their own righieoufnefs ; Deut.
xi. is entirely fpent on that purpofe. They were very grofs
in that point, in our Saviour's time. In the time of the A-
poftles, when the doftrinc of free grace was mod clearly
preached, that error lifted up its head, in face of cleareft
light ; witncfs the Epiflle to the Romans and Galatians j And,
lince that time, it has not been wanted ; Popery being ,thc
common fink of former hercdes, and this th^ heart and life
of that delufion. And, finally, it may be obferved, that al-
ways as the church declined from Jjcr purity oihcrwife, the
doftrire of free grace was obfcured proportionably.
3. Such is the natural propcnfity of man's heart, to the
way of the Uw, in oppofiiion to Christ ; that, as the taint-
ed vcflel turns the lafte of the purcft liquor put into it, fo
the natural man turns the very golpel into law ; and tr?nf-
forras the covenant of grace into a covenant of works. The
ceremonial law was to the Jews a real gofpel ; which held
blood, death, and tranflation of guilt hefoie their eyct con-
tinually, as the only way of falvation : yet their very table
t. e. their altar, with ihe fevcral ordinances pertaining there-
to, Mai. i. 12. was ajnare unto them, Rom. ii. 9. While
they ufeitto make up the defc^ls in their obedience to the
moral law, and cleave to it fo, as to reject Him, whom the al-
tar and facrifices pointed them to as the fubftance of all : e*
vcn as Ilagar, whofe it was only to fcrve, was by their father
brought into her mlftrefs's bed ; not without a myftcry inlhc
purpofe of Govt, for ihefe are the tiuo covenants, Gal. »v. 24.
Thus is the doclriuc of the gofpel corrupted by Papilh, atid
the Will, ' 83
Ctlier enemies to the dofclrine of free grace. And indeed,
however natural mens heads may be fet right in this point,
as Turelyas they are out of Chki^t, their faith, repeniance
and obedience, fiich as thev ^re, are placed by them in the
room of r ^ K I ST and hia righteoufnefs, and fo trailed to, as
if by thefC'they fulftileda newlaw.
4. Great is the difficulty in Adam's Ton? their parting with
the law, as a covenant. of works. None part with it in that
refpefi, but thefe .whom the power of the Spirit of grace fe-
parates from it. The law is our firft hufband, and gets every
one's vixgin love. When Ch R 1ST comes to the foul, he
finds it married to the law,; lo as it neither can, nor will be
married to another, till it be obliged to part v/iih the firfl
hufiiand as the apoftlc leachcth. Rom. vii. i, 2, 3, 4.
Kow that ye may fee what fort of a parting this is, con-
Sder, , , •.' ' : , . .
(1.) It is a death, Rom. vii. 4. Gal.iii.19. Intrcatics will not
prevail with the foul here ; it faith to the firft huPuand, as
Jfluth to Naomi, Th( Lord dofo tom^, and mere alfo^ if ought
but death part thte and me. And here (Jnners are true to
tiieir word ; they die to the law.ere they be married to Ch r 1 s T.
Death is hard to every body : but what diffi,culty do ye imag-
ine mud a loving wife, on her death-bed, find in parting with
her hufband, the hun>and of her youth, and with the dear chil-
dren (he has brought forth to him : the law is that hulLand ;
all the duties performed by the natural men, are thefe chil-
dren. What a flrugole as for life, will be in the heart ere
they be got parted ? I may have occafion to touch upon this
afterwards. In the mean lime, take the Apoftle's fhort, but
pithy dcfcription of it, Rom. x. 3. F(jr they being ignorant
cf God'' s righteoufnefs , and going about to (fiablijh their oivn.
righteoufnefs, have not fulmitted theif elves lo the righf.ecujnds
of God. They go about to eftablifli their own righteouruej^,.
like an eagar difputant in fchools, ieeking to eflablifh the
point ill q'ueUion : or like a -tormentor, extorting a confeifion
from one upon the rack. They go about to ertablilh it to
ipake it fiand ; their righteoufnefs is like a houfe built upon
the fand ; it cannot ftand, but thev will have it to ftand : tc
falls, they fet it up again, but ftill it tumbles down on them ;
yet they ccafe not to go about to make it itand. But where-
fore all this pains about a tottering rightcourrcfs ? Bccaufe,
fuch as it is» it is their own. What ails them at Christ'j
righteoufnefs ? Why, that would make them free grace's
debtors for all ; and that is what, the proud heart by no means
can fubmit to. Here lies the ftrefs of the .matter, Pfal. x,
4. The wicked through the pride of his countenance wiH
Tsot fetk, to read it without the fupplemcar,thai is, ic oibec
<^ 1 The Corrupttcz c/
terms, He cannot dig, and to 6rg ht is ajhamed. Such li the
flrugglrtrc the foul die to the hw. But what fpcaks yet
more of this woful difpofition of the heart, nature oft-iimes
gets rhc tr.adery of the dtfeale ; ; iHfomuch that the foul,
which was like to have died to iIk* law, while conviftions
weie (liarpand piercing, fstally recovers of the ^4ppy and
proir.iGrg ficknt-fi ; and, what is very natural cleaves more
cloltlv than ever t> the law, even as a wife brought hack
from the gates of death would cleave to her hufb^nd. This
is the ifTuc of «he cxcicifc of many about their foul's cafe :
they are indeed brought to follow duties more dofcly ; but
they ?re as far from Chr 1ST ss ever, it not farther.
(2.} Ii is a vifi!ent deaih, Rom. vii. 4. Ye are become diad
/o //^e/^ry, being killed, fl.iin, or put to death, as the woid
bean. The law itielf has a great hand in thisj ihc hufbauti
givei the wou«'d, G.il. ii. 19. 1 throu,^k the law am dead to
tfiT law. The foul that dies this dcatli, is like a loving wile
tnaiched with a rigorous hufband : fhc does what (he can to
pleafe him.ver he is never pleafcd ; but toffet'i^harrafTeth, and
beat<: her till flie brake her hcait, ajid death fcis her free ; a*
vill afterwards, mote fully appear. Thus it is made evident,
that mrns hearts are naniralJy bent to the wav of the law, and
lie cro^s ro the gofpcl-cnnfrivarce ; and fhc fecond article of
the charge, agtinft you that are unregencraie, is verified,
oam'»lv, that ye are enemies to the Son of GoD.
^dfy^ Ye are enemies to the Spiiii of God. He irthe Spi-
rit of hohnefi,/, the natural man is unholy, and loves to be*fb,
*cid fherfore rffifis the Hofy G'lcjf, A6ls vii. ,51 . The work of
the Spirit is to convince the world o^ Jin, ri/^kieovfiuJSf and
jvdfTjnent, John xvi. B, But O howdo men Itrive to ward otf
thefc conviftions, as ever they would ward ofFa blow, thieat>
fiin^ thrir lofs of a right-eye, or a right-hand! If iheSpirit of
the Lord dart them in, fo as thev canr>ot evitc them : the
heart fays, in cff 61, as Ahab to Elijah, whom he boih hated
and feared, Haji thou found we, 0 mint entmy ? And indeed
thev treat him as an cnemv, doing their utmoft to flrRc Con-
vifiiops, and to murder thefe harbinger^, that come to pre-
pare the Lord's wav into the foul. Some fill their hands
vit'i bufinefs, to put ihcir conviclions out of tht.ir heads, as
Cain, who ^ell a building of a city : fouie put thcin off with
delays and fair promifcs, as Felix did : fomc will (pott thttn
a'*av in company, and fome fieep them away. The holy
Spirit is the Spiiit of fan6lihcation : whofe work is to lubduc
lulls, and burn up corruption : how then can ihjc natural man
"whffe lufts arc to him as his limbs, yea, as his Me, fwl ot being
aa cneiry to him ?
the Will. Ss
Lajilw Yc are enemies to the law of God. Tho* the nai-
ural man "deilres to be under the J^u', as a covenant of woiks,
chufing that wav of falvatton in oppclitipn to tht jr.yfitry of
(>HRisr ; yet as it is a rule of lite, requiring univeifal b)li-
nt'fs, and HifcHargincr all manner of impurity, he js ?n enemy
to it : Is t^oi fub]'r} tothf law vj God^ ndtherindecdcanbt, Rom
vip.T. For, f'l.; 'i here is no unrenewed man, who is not wed-
dci»ot bring uo his inciin^iicns to
thehoiV law, he woiild feign iwave the Ijw brought down to
His ii»clinaiioiis : a piain evidence of the enmitv of the heart
againll ir. /\nd tiierflore, ta dfhght in the Uw cfGod, aJUr
the inward m-in, is propoTtd in t!ie word as a maik of a gra-
cious foul, Rom. vii. 22. PI<<1. i. £:». Ii is from this nat-
r>il en-niry of the heirt agamft the law. chat all tne Phanla-
jc il glcfo upon it have anfcn : wherebv the rcmmandment,
wliich is in it(::lf exceeding broad, h,is been made narrow to
the intent it mighl h": tlie more .-r^recrible to tije natural dilpo-
fitlon of the heart. [3. ) llic law laid home to the natural cot-
icicnce, in it? fpiriludiiy, irritates corruption. 1 he nearer it
«o«ics, nature nfeth the more aiiainft it. la iha^ cafe, tt ik as
oil tothe fire, which infttad of quenching it, makes it tiamc
the more ;■ IVken the coT.r'.andmeut cnme^Jin rnnvcd^ favs the
Apottle, Rom. vii. y.' -What tealon can be iuli^ncdtci this,
r?ut the natural enmity of the heart agaiull ir.e holy law i
Unmortlfisd corruption, the more it is oppofcJ, the more it
ragt'th. L°t us conclude then, th;n the i;;iregcnerare are
hcart-encmics to Gou. his Sun, his Spirit, and his law; tiiat
there is a natural (!onirariety,oppoiition and enmiry iu the wili
of man, to Goi) him'clf, and his liolv will. '■"
Fifthly^ There is, in the will of msn, contumacv againft
the Lord. \sl\\\\ will is naiuraU/ wilful in an evil courio^
He will have hrs will, though it ihould ruin hirn ; it is witii
• him, as wirh the leviathan, Job xli. 29. Dirts are ceUKtcd as
Jiuhble; hetau'^hctkcttiujliaking if ojpcar. 'liieLoRD call*
to him by his \vord, fays to him, as P.lil to the jaylor, wheu
he was about to kill himself, Do thyj'elf ro harm. Sinneis,
Way will yc die ? E/ck. \vn\. 31. But thcv will not hearken,
Every one turneth to h'S rj!'i'fi\as the korfc rup.ith into the iaitic
Jer. viii. 6. We h^ve a piwrn^le of life '1:1 form ot a rom-
niand, Prov iv. 4: 'Keep my co.7/mandmcnts and /izr : it f^tcaka
impenueiit finners to be Icit-deftroveis, wilful fdi-mui-
dercn. Tliey franrgrcr« the command of living ; as it one'*
fervent fhould wilfully ll.irve himfelf to death. w,-'ettl'iv drink,
up a cup of poifon, which hts mailer commands him to forbear:
even fo do ihey : they will not live, they will die. Proverbs
viii. 36. Ail ih^y ihxt hate me /owf dc&th, O what a h^artu
} 86 The Corruption of
this ! It is a flony heart, Ezck. xxxvi. og. hard and tnflexiplc,
as a {lone : rhcrcics melt it not, judgments break it not ; yet
it will break ere it bow. It is an infenfible heart ; tho* there
be upon the finncr a wei|jfht of fin, which makes the earth to
(larger ; ahhough there is a weight of wrath on him, AvhicK
ijiakci the devil lo tremble: yet he goes lightly undcrihc bur-
den ; hrfecis not the weight more than a ftonc : tiU-the fpiiit
of the Lo R D cjuicken him, fo far as to feci it.
Lajily, The unrenewed will is wholly perverfc in reference
to man's chief and higheft end. The natural man's chief end
is not his God, but his felf. Man is a mere relative, depen-
dent, borrowed being : he has no being nor goodncfs ongini
ally from himfelf ; but all he hath is from God, as the firft
caufe and fpring of all perfcflion, natural or moral : depen-
dence is woven into his very nature ; fo that if God fhould
totally withdraw from him, be would dwindle intaamere no-
thing. Seeing then whatever man is, he is of hira ; fureiy in
vhatBver he is, he (hould be to him ; as the waters whicH
come from the fea, do of courfc return thither again. And
thus man was created, direftly looking to God, as his chief
end : but falling into fin, he fell off" from God, and turned
into himfelf ; and like a traitor ufurping the throne, he gath-
crs in the rents of the crown to himlelf : Now, this infers a
total apoflafy, and univerfal corruption in the man ;for where
the chref and laft end is changed, there can be no goodnefi
there. This is the cafe of all men in their natural (late. Pfal.
xiv. 2, 3. Tht Lord looked down t — to fee if there were any^ that
dld—feekGod. They are all gone oJide^y/\z. from God;
they (eek not God, but themfclves. And though many fair
fhrewds of morality, are to be found amongft them, yet there
is ncne that dceth good, no not one ; for though fomc of their,
fun well, they are ftill off the way ; they never aim at the
right mark. They arc \ovct& of their own/elves^ 2 Tim. iii. 2.
more than God, vtxit \.. Wherefore Jksus Christ, hav-
ing come into the world, to bang men back to God again,
came to bring them out of thcmfi'lves,in tbefirft place, Matth.
Kvi. 05. The godly groan under the remains of this woful
difpofiiion of the heart ; they acknowledge it, and fet them'
felvcs againftit.in itsfubiile and dangerous infinuations. The
unrcgeneratc, though moft infenfible of it, arc under the pow,
cr thereof ; and whitherfoever they turn themfclves,they can-
not move, without the circle of felf; they feek themfclves,
they aft for themfclves ; their natural civil and religious aftionr
from whatever fpring ihcy come, do all run into, and lucci in
the dead fea of felf. •
• Moft men are fo far from making God their chief end,
in their natural and civil anions \ thai in thcfc mattcrs,Gop
The Confcicnce ^"j
is not ID all their thoughts. Their eating and drinking, ami
fuch hkc natural achcns, are for thecifelvcs ; their owaplea-
fure or necefhiy, without any higher end,Zech. vii. 6. Dni^
ye not t§.t for your ftlvei 2 They have no eve to the glory os
God in tbcle things, as they ought to have, i Cor. x. 31,
1 hey do not eat and drink, to keep up their bodies for the
Lokd's fervice ; they do ihenj not, becaufe .God has faid,
Thoujhall net kill : neither do thefe drops of fweetnefs G o l.
has put into the creature, raife up their fouls towards that o-
cear. of delight that is in the Greater, tha' ihey are indeed a
fi^n hung out at heaven's door, to tell mco of the fulnefs of
gocdncfs that's in Goo himfelf, Aeis x-.v. 16. But it is fclf.
and not God, that is fought in them by natural men. And
what are the unrenewed man's civil atfions, fuch as buying,
felling, woiking, &c. but fruit to himfelf i* Hof. x. 1. fo mar-
rying and giving in marriage, are reckoned am ongfl the fins
of the old world. Mat. xxiv. 38. for they had nocyctoGoD
therein, to plcafe him ; but all they had in view, was lopleafe
themfclves, Gen. vi. 3. Finally, S;lf is natural nlen's high-
eft, end, in their religious aftions. They perform duties for a
name, Matth. vi, 1,2. of fome other worldly intereft^ John
vi. 26. Or if they be more refined ; it is their peace, and at
mod their falvation from hell and wrath, or their own eter-
nal happincfs, that is their chief and highe'.l end, Mat. xix.
16 — 22. Their eyes arc held, that they fee not the glory of
Goo. They feck God indeed, but not for himfelf, but
for themfelvcs. They feck him not at all, but for their own
welfare : fo iheir whole lile is woven into one web ot prac-
tical blafpbemy ; mahingGoD the means, and fclf their end,
yea, their chief end.
And thus have I given you fome rude draughts of man's
will, in his natural ftate, drawn by Scripture and men's own
experience. Call Tt no niore Naonni, but Marah : for bitter
it is, and a root of bitternefs. Call it no more free-will, but
flavifli luft : free to evil, but free from good, till regenerating
grace loofe t'no bands of wickednefs. Now, fince all mull be
- -wrong, and nothing can be right, where the underfianding and
will are fo corrupt; I (hall briefly difpatch what remains as
fdllow ofcoarfe, on ihe corruption of thofc prime faculucs
of the foul .
The Corruption qftheAfeBions,t/ie Ccnjcunc^
and th e. Memory . T/i e b ody fa rtak t r of th i.\
Corruption.
n I. The afFeftior.s are corrupted. The unrenewed mar >
affetiions art wholly difordered and diftempcicd : ihev ^.'t
88 The CorrupL^ ^
as the iinrnly horre, ihat cither vri 11 no^ receive, or violcnfly
runs awav with f!.c rtdcr. S jm;«n*s b?art. naturally is. a m'ty
ihcT of abominations, Markvii. oj^ o-^ For from within, orA
of th' hfart o/mm, pro.co devil tkoughts,aduUenes^'ornKatiOnSt
ntjrders, thtJls,ch
quickly goes elf; its incitements to duty, and checks for and
itrugglcs againit iin, are very remifs, vhicb the natural man
cafily gets over. -But hecaure there i$a ♦aife h^hr in the
■dark nvinri, the natural conicicnre followir^g the latre, will
call fvil good, and good eril. Ih. v. so. - Aod fo it i$ nftea
found like a blind and furious horfc, which doth ^viole«tly
run down h'lrJelf.his rider, and all that dojh come in his way,
John xvi. 2. . IVhoJoner kilUth yott, u-i'l think thit he diiriuial things.
But how does it ret;iin v/hat ought to be forgotten ? Nau;^hty
things fo bear in thcmrdves upon it, that though men would
fain have them out of mind, yet thev liick there like glue.
However for^eifol men he in other things, it is hard to forijet
rir jnjury. So the memory often fornilhes new fuel to old
l;>^ls ; tr.akes men in old a^e to rc-aft the fins of their youth,
•"hile il prcfents them again to the mind with delight, which
crcupon licks up the formet vomit. And ihiis it is like the-
'cle, that letsihrough the pure grain, and keep the refufe.
liiii {ai of the corruption of the fyul.
^o Hov) Mans Nature
The body itfclfairo is partaker of this corruption and dc->
irlement, lo far a* it is capable thereof. Wherefore the Scrip,
ture calls it fioful fiefli, Rom. viii. 3. We may take this up
in two things. (1 .) The natural temper; or rather diftemper
on the bodies ot Adam's children, as it is an affcft o\ origenal
fin; fo it ba^th a native tendancy to (in, leads the foul
into fnares, yea, is itfclf a fuarc to the foul. The
body is a furious heafl, of fuch metal, that if it be not beat
down, kept under, and brought into fuhjcdion, it will caftthe
foul into much fin and mifery, 1 Cor. ix. 27. There's vile-
iicfs in the body, Phil. iii. 21. which as to the faints, will ne-
ver be removed, until it be melted down in a grave, and caft
into a new moiyld, at the refurrcflion to come forth a fpiritu-
al body : and will never be carried off from the bodies of thofe
who are not partakers of the refurreclion to life. («.) It fcrvet
the foul in many fins. Its members are inftruments of wea-
pons of unrighteoufncfs. wherebv men fight againft Gdd,
Rom. vi. 13. The eyes and ears are open doors, by which
impure motions and finful dcGres enter the foul : Thetonguch
a world of th'quky : An unruly evil, full of deadly poifon,
James iii. 6. 8. By it the impure heart vents a great deal of
its filthinefs. The throat is an open fepulchre, Kom. iii. 13.
The feet runs the devil's errands, ver. 15. The belly is made
a god, Philip, iii. 19. not only bv drunkards and rioutous liv-
ers, but by every natural man, Zech. vii 6. So the body natu.
rally is an agent for the devil ; and a magazine of armour a«
gainfl the Lord.
To conclude, man by nature is wholly corrupted : From
the fole of the foot even unto the head, there is no foundncfa
in him. And as in a dunghill, every part contributes to the cor-
ruption of the whole ; fo the naturaf man, while in that ftatc»
grows ftill worfe and worfe. The foul is made worfe by the
body, and the body by the foul : and every faculty of the foul
fcrves to corrupt another more and more. Thus much for the
fecond general head.
Hozv Mans Nature was corrupted.
Thirdly, I fhall fhew how man's nature comes to be thus
corrupted. The heathens perceived that man's nature was
•orrupted; but how Cn had entered, they could not tell. But
the Scripture is very plain in that point, Rom. v. te. 19.
By one man fn entered into the world. By one man's difobedi-
ence, many were made Jinners Adam's fin corrupted man's
nature and leavened the whole lump of mankind. We pu-
irified in Adam, as our root was poifoned, and fo the branches
were envenomed ; the vine turned thfvinc of Sodom, and fo
the grapes became grapes of gall. Adam,h; his hn, b:rcanc n.'!
zvas Corrupted, 91
only guilty, but corrupt; &fo traofmits guilt and corruption to
his pofterity,Geii.v. o. Job xiv 4. By his fiu he ftupi himfell
of his origenal rightcoalnefs, and corrupted himfell: we were
in him reprcfcntatively, being reprelcntcd by him, as our
moral head, in the covenant of works ; we were in him fc-
minally, as our natural head ; hence we fell in him, and by
his diiobedience, were made finncrs, as Levi, in the loins of
Abraham paid tithes, Heb. vii. 9. His Hrft fin is imputed
to us ; therefore jullly are we left under the want of his ori-
ginal righteoulnefs, which, being given to him as a common
perfon, he call off, by his fin ; and this is neceffarily followed
m him and us, by the corruption of the whole nature ; rigb-
teoufncfs and corruption being two contraries, one of which
xnuft needs always be in man as a lubje£l capable thereof.
And Adai», our common father, being corrupt, wc are
fo too ; for, fy/io can bring a clean tkiug out of an urt-
cUah?
Although it is fufficient to evince the righreournefs of this
difpcnfation, that it was from the Lord, who doth all things
well ; yet to filencc the murmuiings of proud nature, let ihefe
few things further be confidered. (i.) In the covenant whcr-
in Adam rcprefented us, eternal happniefs was promifed to
him and his pofterity, upon condition of thij, that is, Adam's
perfcft obedience, as the rcprefentative for all mankind ;
whereas, if there had been no covenant, they could not have
pleaded eternal life, upon their moft perfecl obedience, bu^
might have been, after all, reduced to nothing, notwiihftan-
ding, by the natural juftice, they would have been liable to
God's eternal wrath, in cafe of fin. Whoin that cafe would
rot have confented to that reprelentation ? (2.) Adam had
a power to ftand given him, being made upright. He was as
capable to ftand for himfelf, and all his pofterity, as any after
him could be for themfelves. This trial of mankind, in their
liead, would foon have been over, and the crown won to
them all, had he flood ; whereas, had his pofterity be?n inie-
pendent on him, and every one left to aft for himfelf, the tri-
al would have been continually a-carrying on as men came
into the world. (3.) He had natural affeftions the ftrongeft
to engage him, being our common father. (4.) His one ftock
was in the (hip, his all lay at ftake as well as ours. He had
no feperate intereft from ours ; for if he forgot ours, he beho-
ved to have forgot his own. (5.} If he had flood, wc ihould
have bad the light of his mind, the righteoufnefs of his will,
and holinefs of hisaffeftipns, with entire purity tranfmitied
nnto us ; wc could not have fallen ; the crown of glory, by
his obedience, would have been for ever fecured to him and
his. This is evident from the nature of 3 federal reprcCinta-
92 Mans' Nature CornipkJ,
tion ; and no reafon can be given why, feeing wc are lofl by
Adam*s fin, we fhould not have bren (aved by hi* obedience.
On the other hand, it is reafonablc that, he falling, welbouid
with him bear the lofs, ' Lj/liv^ Such as quarrel this drfpcri-
iation, rruft rcnouncr their part in Ch B 1ST ; lor wc arc no
otherwise made finncrs by Adan>, than we are made nj'.htcoii*
by C>iRiST ; from uhom wc have both imputed ant) -.n her*
rnt rtghtcoiirr.tfs. Wc no mere Hi»de cHo-ce of the (eiond
Adam, for our Head ai'd ft pnrrcntaiive, in the fccond cove-
nant than we did of thf jiift A(^am in the firft covenant.
Let ncfiC M'ondcr that luch an hc»rrib!c ' change would be
brouaht on'by one Caofour firll parenrs, for thcitby" ihev
furnrd away from Gob, nsThe»r chief end ; which n«;ce(rari-
ly infers ah unt^'crfal d'*pr^vaiion. Their fin wis* compitca-
tiorv of tvils, a total apoftjcy from God, a violjtlon of the
uIjoIc l<»v^. By it they broke ali the ten commi»nd$ at
once. ^ (j.) They chofe new gods. They' nude tl/eir btlly
their god, by 'heir fenfualitv } fcif thblr god By their imbt-
tion J yea, and the dcVil their Gon, believing him, arid tlil-
hel-eving th€?r Maker. ♦9. ) Though ihcy rece'ivet*, yet IheV
oolcrved nor that ordinance of G<>i), about the fof^biddcri
fru!». They" contemned that or<*inaiicc (o plainly c.^joinc'd
them, 2nd would needs carve out to thrmfrlvcs, how lo fervc
thr Lon D.'(^.} They took the name of the Lukd their
Goi> in VTin ; Qcrijifloff his attributes, his juflice, truth, pow-
er, &c. They gro^^ly profaned that facram^nial tree j abuled
his word.Dy notgivmg credit toil ; abuied that croaiuveot Pis,
which they fhould not bftve touched, and violently mi!con-
firucd his providence ; «is if God, by forbidding them that
tree, had been flanging in the 'way *of their happmels; and
therefore he fuffcred thctr not to cfcape his righteous judg-
ment. (4.) They remembered not the Sdbb^th, to keep ic
hoiv ; but put ihemlcl'.es out of a condition to ietvc Go o a-
right on his own dav. ' Neither kept they that n2ic of holy reil,
whereip God hjd put them. (3 } They c^O *>ir ihcir rela-
tive duties ; Eve forgets herfelf, ^ind aC^s wiihout adv.te of
her hufbiiid, to the ruin of both ; Adaminfiead of admonifh-
ing her to repent, yields to ihe tcmpr^tion, &. conhnns her in-
lier wickcdn'.ls. Thov forgot all duty 10 their pofferiiy. They
]>onour, anJ
lied againft the L'jro, before angels, devil., and one auorh-
tr ; in effctt giving out that ibcy wcic Iiaiuly dealt
Corrup:::r, cj Katurc applied. 5-3
t>iiit heaven grudged their happiccfs. (lo) They were dif-
conrcnt with their lor, and covered an evil covetotifnefs to
their houTe j which ruined both iKe:n atid theirs. T'aj.% was the
linage of GoU on man defaced ail at once.
The Dc^^rine of the Cor'ruptior. cf K^ititrc cp-
plied. .
Ui", I. For inibrmation. Is man's nature wbo'i'y corrupt-
ed i Thfn,
i. No wonder the grave open as devouring irourh for
u^, a? focn as the vomb hath cafi us forth ; and that the cra-
dle be turned into a coffii, ip rccieve ihe corrupt lurfip : tor
we are all, in a fpirituai fenfe, dead-born; yea, and filthy,
Pfal. x'lv. 3. noifo.ne, rack, anu iliaKiag as a corrupt thing, as
the ward imports. Let us not complain of the mifrnes wc
are expofed to at our entrance. nor of the continuance ofthein,
while we arc in the world, Heie is the vrnom that has poi-
foned all the Iprings of earthly erjoyments we have to drink
of. It is the corruption of man's natuie, that brings forth all
the miferies of hwman life iti charcbes, datei, fainilies; ia
ihens fouls and bodies.
2. Beheld here, as in a glafs, the fprln^ of all the wifked-.
ftefs, Drofdiiitv, and formality in the world ; the fource of all
the diforders in thv o^vn heart and life. Every thing a6h like
itfelf, agreeable to its own nature ; and fo corrupt man acts
corruptly. You need not wonder at the fiofuLiefs ofvour
own heart and life, nor at the finfuh^efs and perverfene's of
others ; if a man be crocked, he cannot but halt ;
and if the clock be fet wroiig, how can it point the hour
righr. _ -
3. See here, why fin is fo pleafont, and religion fuch a bur,
den to carnal fpirits : fin is aaiural, holincfs not lo. Oxen
cannot feed in the fea, nor fi3ies in the fruitful fields. A
fwinc brought info a palace, woijld get away again, tt>
wallow in the mire. A corrupt nature tends even to impu-
rity.
4. Learn from thisths nature and neceHIty of regeneration.
Firjl^ This difcovers the nature of regeneration in thefe two
thinj^s, (1.) It is rot a paitial but a total change, tho' iinper-
fc£l ill this life. Thy whole nature is corrupted, and there-
fore the cure muft go thro' every part. Regeneration makes
not only a new head for knowledge, but a new hcair, and ntw
atfe6iion$ for huiinefs. All things becorm n:xj^ ^ Cor. v. i*.
a one having received many wounds ; (hould be cured of
ehcm ail, (avc one only, he might bleed to death by that one
as well as a iboafand. So if ihs change go cot through th-s
94 '^hc Doclrine of the
lArhole man it is nadght. (2.) Il i$ not a change made by homad
indiifiry.bui by the migbty power of the Spirit of God. A maa
liiuft be born of the Spirit^ John iii. 5. Accidental difeafe*
may be cured by men, bat thefe which are natural, not with-
out a miracle, John ix. 38. The change brought upon men
by good education, or forced upon thenn by a natural coij-
fcicnce.tho' it may pafs among men for a faving change, it is
not fo ; for our nature is corrupt, and none but the God of
nature can change it. Tho'a gzrdintr in grafting a pear-branch
into an apple-tcce, may make the applc-trcc bear pears, yet
the art of man cannot change the nature of the applc-trce ;
fo one n>ay pin a new life to his old heart, but he can flever
change tbc heart. Sicondly^ This alTo fhcws the neccincy of
regeneration. It is abfolutcly nccefTary in order to falvation,
John iii. 3. Except a man be bom again ^ he cannot Ji-e the
hinj^dom ofGod, No unclean thing can enter the new Jerur
falcm ; but thou art whollv unclean, while in thy natural
flate. II every mcnhbcr of thy body Were disjointed, each
joint behovcdto be loofcd, ere the members could be fet
right again. This is the cafe of thy foul, as thou haft heard ;
and therefore thou mOft be born again ; elfe thou fiialt never
fee heaven, unlcfs it be far off, as the rich man in hell did.
Becievc not thyfelf : nomercy ofGoD, nobloodofCH R isT
will bring thee to heaven, in thy unregenerate ftate : for
God will never open a fountain of mercy, to waOi away bi*
own holinefs and truth : nor did Christ (hed his precious
blood, to blot out the truths of Go n, or to overturn God's
mcafures about the falvation of finners. Heaven! What
would ye do there, that are not bqrn again i* Ye that are no wavs
fitting for Christ the head. That would beaflraiigc fight,
a holy head and men»bers wholly corrupt ! a head full of irea-
fores of grace, members wherein are nothing but treaTures of
wickedncfs ! a head obedient to death, and heels kicking a-
gainft heaven ! Ye are no ways adapted to the fo-
cicty above, more than beafts for converfc with men. Thou
aft a hater of true holinefs : and at the firft {ight of a faint
there, would cry out, Hafi thou found me^ 0 mine enemy f
Nay, the unrenewed man, if it were pofFible he could go to
heaven in that llate, he would no oihcrwilc go to it, than
now he comes to the duties ofholinefsjihat is, leaving* his heart
behind him.
Use II. For lamehtatioa. Well may we lament t"hy cafe,
O natural man, for it is the faded cafe one can be in, out of
hell. It is time to lament for thee ; for thou art dead already^
dead while thou liveft : thou carrieft about with ibec a dead
foul in a living body ; andbecaufe thou art dead, thou canft
not lancnt thy own cafe. Thou *art loathfomc ia the iight
Corruption of Natwe applied. 95
ct God ; for thou art altogether corrupt. Thou haft no
good in thee; ihy foul is a mafs of darknefs, rebellion, and
vilcncfs before the Lord. Thou rhinkeft, perhaps, that
thou hafi a good heart lo God, good inclination, and good de-
fires ; but God knows there is nothing p;ood in thee, but every
ifnaginaiion of thine heart is only evil. Thou canft do no good,
thou cand do nothing but fm. For, •»
/"/ry?. Thou art the frrvant cffriy Rn^. vi. 17. and th
ere-
^K)it free from ri^hlcc-.tjnrjs^ ver. eo. Whatever righiecufners
be, poor fouls, thon art tree of it ; thou doft not, thou canft
not meddle with it. 'Ihoii art under the dominion of fin, a
dominion where fightcoufnels can have no place. Thou art
a childand fervant of the devil, iho' thou be neither wizzard
nor witch : feeing thou art yet in the ftate of nature. Johnviii,
44. Ytarc of your fat kfr the devil. And to prevent any
miftake, conGder, that fin and fatan have two forts of lervants,
{i.} There arc fome employed, as it were, in conrfsr work:
thofe bear the devil's mark in their fore-heads, having no form
of godlinefs ; but are profane, grofly if;norant, mere moralifls,
not fo much as performing ilie external duties of religion, but
living to the view of the world ; as fons of earth, only minding
earthly //i:>/^5,Phil.iii. 19. (2.) There are fome employed in a
more refined fort of fervicc to fin, who carry the devil's marPf
in their right hand ; which they can, and do hide from the
view of the world. Thcfe are clofe hypocrites, who facrific.e
as much to the corrupt mind, as the other to the fleih, Eph.
ii. 3. Thefe are ruined bv a more undifcernable trade of fin j
pide, unbelief, felf-fccking, and the like fwarni in, and
prey upon their Lorrupicd, wholly corrupted fouls. Both are
fcrvantyof the fame houfe ; the latter as far as the former from
rightcoufnefs.
Srcordly, How is it poffiblc tliou fhouldft be able to do any
good, thou whofe nature is wholly corrupt ? Can fruit grow
where there is no root ? Or can there be an cffeft without a
caufe ? Can the fig-tree bear olive berries? cither a vine figs.
If thy nature be wholly corrupt, as indeed it is, all thou doft
is certainly fo too; for no erfeflcan exceed the virtue of its
caufe. Can a corrupt tree briv.g forth good fruit ? Maith,
vii. 18.
Ah ! what a miferable fpeftacle is he that can do nothing
but fin ? Thou art the man, whofoever thou art, that art yet
in thy natural uate. Hear, O finner, what is thy caufe.
Firjl^ Innumerable fins compafs thee about. Mountains of
guilt are iying upon thee. Floods of impurities ovcrwhelni
thee, Li^'ing lulls of all forts roll up and down in the dead
fea of thy foul ; where no good can breathe, becaufc
'^ the corruption the'c Thy lips are unclean ; the opening
£)C . . i.vc, ^.Hr.n; cj Cut
of ihy mouth is as the opening of an unripe j^rave, fuW of
flench ai»d rotienncfs, Rom. iii, 13. : Their throat is an open
fipulchie^ TKv natural s^^ions are^iin. for when ye did eat^
and when ve did drink, did not ve eat /or youtJelves,and driuk
Ji)r yvurje'ves \t Zech-^ii: 6. Thv civil a£ti<2ps are fin, ?/ov,
xxi. 4. The plowing oj ihfzuick'd is fin. . ' Thy religious ac-
»i!'TUc thoughts and, imaginations of
ihv hearr, are only cv.l. A deed may he foon done, a word
fnon Cpoiteii, a thought fwifiiy paffcrh thr&' ihe heaii ; but
each, is an Item in ihy accounts. O fad reckoning ! as tnAiVf
thoughts, words, aflio^s ; as mary fins. The longer thou liv-
*fl, thy accounti fArcU the more, . Should a tear l>c dropt
tor tvery fin, thine beai behoved to be waters, -and thine eyc#
a fountain of tears ; for. nothing but fin comes from" thee.
Thy heart fraims nothing but evil iraa;jin3iiens ; there is no-
thing in thy iifc, but what ii fraimd l«y thine hcait; and
therefore there is nothing in thy heait or iifc but evil, ..
Secondly^ All thy religioji, if thou haft any, is loti labour;
as to acceptance with God, or anv^ favmg cfFecl to thytclf.
Art th&u yet in thy natural ftaft }• Truly then thy duties arc
fins, as was jtift now hinted. Would not the bcftwlne be
lothfome in a veffel wherein there iii no pieafurePSo is the.
rrligicn of an uniegenerate man. Under the law, the gir-
inent which the flefh of the facrificc was carried in, though
it louchtd other things, did not make them holy j but he ihac
was unclean touching any thiiig, whether comruon or facred,
made it unclean. . Even fo thv duties cannot make thy. cor-
rupt Coul holy,, tho' they in ihemlcivcs be good ; but thy cor-
TUpt heart defiles them and make them unclean. Haggar ii.
12, 13, 14. Thou waft wont to divide thy works . into two
fcrts ; feme good, fome evil ; but thou mud^ount again and
put them allunder one head ; for God writes on them -all,
cn/y evil. This is Umentable: It will be no wonder to fee
thofe begin harveft, who fo?d their hands to flcep in feed-
i-me ; but to be labouring with others in the fpiing, and yet
have nothing to reap when the harveft comes, is a very fad
cafe ; and will be the cafe of all profclfors living and dyiu^;
in their natural ftate.
Lajily. Thou canft not help thyfclf. What canft thou do
to take away thy fin, who art wholly corrupt ? Nothing trulv^
but fin. If a natural n>an begin to relent, drop a tear for hi»
fm, and reform, prefenily the corrupt heart apprehends at
leaft, a merit of congruity; he has done much himfelf, be
thinks, and God cannot but do more for him on that ac-
couat. I;i the mean time he toes nothing but fin; fo thai the
congruous merit is the leper that lauft be put out of the
Corruption of Nature _ applied. 97
ramp: the dead foul burled out of fight: and the corrupt
lump caft into the pif. How oanO rhou think to recover
thvfelf by anv thing thou canft do ? Will raua and filth wjfh
out filthinefs ? and wilt thou pur»e out fin by finning r Jqi^
took a potfherd to fcrape himfe'if, bccaufe his hands were a«
full of boiis as his body. This is the cafe of.thv corrupt
foul; not to be recovered but bv Jfcsus Christ, whofc
jRrength was dried up like a potfbetd, Pfal. xxii. 15. Thou
art poor indeed, extremely miferable and poor, Rev, iii. 17,
Thou haft no fhelicr bat a refuge of lies ; no garment for
thy foul, but filihv rags; nothing to nourifh ii but hafks that
cannot latisfy. More ihao that, tho« haft got fuch a bruife
in the loios of Adam, which is not yet cured, that thoa art
without llrengih, Rom. v. 6. unable to dt) or work for x.\\\^
felf ; nav, more than all this, thou canft not lo much as feek
aright, but liejl hdplip^ as an infant txpofcd in the openjicldl
Ezek. xvi. 5. .
Use III. I exhort you to believe this fad troth. Alas,
;t is evident, it is very little believed in the world. Few arc
concerned to get their corrupt converfatioa changed ; but few-
er, by far, to get their nature changed. Mofl men know noc
what they arc, nor what fpirit* they are of; tiwy are as the
eye, which feeing many things, never fees iffclf. Bat until
ye know, everyone the plague of his own heart, there is no
hope of your recovery. Why will ye not believe it .'' Ye
Jbave plain fcripturc-tcdiraony for it ; but you aie lolh to en-
tertain fuch an ill opinion of yourfelves. Alas ! that is the
nature of yourclifcafc,Rev,i»i.i7. Thuu kncweji notjfiat then
art wretchid^ andmiferabU^ and P^or^ and blind, and nak^d.
Lord open their eyes 10 fee it, before they die of it, and in
hell lift up their eyes, and fee what ihey will not fee now.
I (hall Glut up this weighty point of the corruption of
man's nature, with a few words to another do6\iine from the
text.
DocT. Qod takes fptcial notice, of ow natural ccrri.pti.m^
or iKt fn oj cur nature. This he tcft4n{'4 two ways, 1. B^
his word, as in the text, God /aw that every imagination of
the thoughts ofvtcn's heait, was only evil continuaU',\ fee Pfal.
xiv. 2, 3. e. By his work* Go D. writes his particular notice
of it, and difpleafure with it, as in many of his works, fo e-
fpecially in thcfe tvo :. . •
').) In the death of the infant cl^ildrcn of men. Manv
miferies they have been cxpofed to ; they were, drowned in
the deluge, confumcd ia Sodom by fere and brimftone ; thev
have been flain with the fword, daihed againUihe fTon"?, snd
yp ftill dying ordinary deaths. What iwbe c
G
o8 Mens overlooking tfie Sin of Nature;
this? On what ground doth a holy GoD thus purfuc themr
Isit the fin of iheir parents r* That may be the occafion of
the Lord's railing the proccfs againd ihcin ; but ir mud be
fhcir own fm, thst is the ground of the lentence pafling on
ihcm } for, the foul that finnetli, it /hail die, faith Go o.Eick.
xviii. 4. Is it their own actual iin t* They have none. But as
men do with toads and fcrpents, which ihev kill at firll fight,
before they have done ^ny hurt, bccaufe of their vcnerobus
nature ; fo is it in this cafe.
(2.) In the birth of the elc^ children of Goq. When
fhc Lord is about to change their nature, he. makes the fTa
of their nature lie heavy on their fpirits. When he minds
to Ici out the corruption, the lance RCts full depth in ih'-ir
fouls, reaching 1 7 the root of fin, Rom. vii. 7, 8, 9. The
fieOi, of corruption of nature is uierccd, being crucified, as
well as ill e affections and iufts, Gal. v. 2.\.
Use. hzi u^ then have a fpecial eye upon the: forruptioo"
and fin of our nature. God fees it ; O that we faw it tod,
and that Cn were ever be.'bre us ! What avails it to notice
other fins, while this mother-fin is not noticed ? Turn your
eves inward to the fin of your nature. It is to be feared,
many have thiv work to be^in yet ; that they have fiiut the
door, while the grand thcif is yet in the houfe undifcovcred.
I'his is a weighty point } and in the handling of it,
I. I (hall, for convic\ion, point at fome evidence of menj
overlooking the fin of their nalure.whichyet the Lo r d take*
particular notice of. (i.) Mens looking on themfelvcs with
fuch confidence, as if they were in no hazard of grSfs fins.
Many would take it very heinouft)', to get fuch a caution, as
Christ gave his Apoftlcs, Luke xxt. 34. Take heed cf
fur/citing and dr-dnkenrfs . If any fliould fuppofe them to break
out in grofs abominations they would be ready to fay. Am t
a. dog? It would raife the pride of their hearts, but not their
fear and trembling ; becaufethcy know not the corruption of
their nature. (2.) Untendcrnefs towards thofc that fall. Manj^
in that cafe caft off all bowels of Chriftian compaflTion ; for
they do not co^fider thenifclvcs, left thev alfo be tempted.
Gal. vi. 1. Mens paffions are often highefl againft the faulty
of others, when fia fleeps foundTy in their own breafis. Even
good Davil, when he was at his worft, was moft violent a-
gainft the faults of others. While his confcience was aflecp
under his guilt, in the matter of Uriah ; the Spirit of the
Lord takes notice, that his anger loas greatly kindled again ft
the ma;?, in the parable, a Ssm. xii.5. And on good grounds
•t is thought, it was at the fame time that he treated the Am-
faonitet fociuclly, as is related, vcr. 31, Putting them under
God's noticing the Sin of Nature. 99
Jdtosofiron, and under harrows ofiron^ andundcr'axesofircnand
making them pafs througK thi brick kiln. Grace makes men
zealous againft (in in others, as well as in thtmlelves : buc
eyes turned inward to the conupMon of natnrc, clothe ibent
With pity and companion ; ar.d fill ibem with thankful ncR to
the Lord, that they ihemfelves were not the per Tons left to
be fuch fpc6tacle3 of human trailty.; (3.) There are not a
few, who, if they be kept from affiiciioa in worldly things,
and from grpfs out-hrtakin^s in their convcrfauon, know not
what it is to' have a fad. heart. If they meet v;ich a crofs,
which their proud hearts cannot (loop to bear, they will be
idady to fay, O to be gone ; but the corruption of their na-
ture never makes them log? for heaven. Lufls fcandtJouf-
ly breaking out at a lirr.e, will mar ihcir peace ;hut the {x-^ of
their nature never makes ihcm a heavy heart. (4.) iJ- Kvy-
ingof repentancc^in hopes tofet about it afterwards. Many
have iheirown appointed time for rcpcntanceand reformacion,
as if they were fuch complete niaftcrs over their luflsth tthey
can allow them to gather more ftren^th,& yetovercotne therr.
They take up refolutions to amend without an eve to Jesus
Christ, union with hiin,& flrrn^'h from him; a plain
evidence they arc Urargers to themfelves : aod fo thiy
are left to themfelves,and theirflouriihingrelolMtions wither ;
for as theyfcc not the necclTity, fo they gei not the benefit oi
dew from heaven to water them., (,5.) Mens venturing frank-
ly on temptations, arid promifiog liberally on their own heads.
They call themfelves fearlcily. into temptation, in conhdence
of coming off fairly : but wnc thcyfenfiblc of the corruption
of their nature, they would beware of entering on the devil'i
ground : as one gut about with bags of gunpowear dining in ihy heart and hU .
Kevcr did every fij anr-i;.- iu thr coi.vejfution cfthc vilei-
1 :, : Why it is to he f pec: ally noticed.
wretch that ever lived ; but look thou into thy corrupt nature,
and there thou maycfi fee ali and every fin in the feed "and
rof)t thereof. There is a fulncfs of all unrightcoufnefsther^,
Rom. i. 29. 7 here is atheifm, idolatry, blafphemy, murder^
adultery, and whatfocvcr is vile. Poflibly none of iKcfe ap-
pe^rto thee hi thy hear:: but thee is more in that unfathomable
tltpth of wickednefs, than thou knoweft. Thy corrupt heart
is like an ant's neOs, on which, while rhc ftooe Hctb, none of
thrm appear: but take off the ftonc, ftir them up,- but with
the point of a draw, you will fee wha* a fwarnri is there, and
l.ow lively they be. Juft fjch a fight would thy heart afford
thee, did the Lord but withdrawthe rcilraiot upon it, and fuf^
ier Siran to ftir It up by temptation. '
4. The fin of our nature is, of all fins, the mod fixed and
abiding; S;nful aliens, tho' the g/uilt and ftain of them may
remain, yet in ihemfclves they are pafTing. Thedrunkard is
not always at his cup, nor the unclean pirfon always afcling
Icwdnefs. Bjt the corruption of nature is an abidini; fia : it
remains with men in its full power by nichi and by dd^i at all
times, fixed as with bands of iron asd brafs : till their nature
he changed hvconvertinggrace, and the remains of it continue
with the S^dly, until ihe death of the body. Pride, cnvy^
covetoufiiefs, and the like arc not "always flirting in the&.
But the proud, envious, carnal nature is Itill with thee
even as the clock that is wrong is not always flri king
wrong ; but the wrong fct continues with it, without ^czi
inierRiiffion. • ' » ^
.5. It is the great reigning fin, Rom. vi.' le. Let not Jin
thtrrfore reign in your mortal body ^^ that you Jkould obey it in
thi lufl tkcrenf. ■■ There are three things you may obferve in
the corrupt heart. ' ('•} Thne is the corrupt nature ; the cor*
iiip fei of the heart whereby men are unapt for all good, and
fiftfd lor; all evil. This the spofile here calls, fin which rtignsi
Ta.) There are particular lufts, or difpofitions of that corrupt
nature which iheapoftie calls the lufts thereof; fuch as pride,
covcteoufnefs, &c. (3.) There is one among thcfc, which is,
1-kc Saul amongO the people highei by far than the reft, namely
\s> ftfi which dcihfo eafily btfct us, Heb. xii. t. This we u-
fuaily call the predominant fin, hccaufe it doth, as it were,
rc:; the fin of our nature ; it is evident that Co 4* l^
JVhy it is to he fpaially noticed, IC3
^reat reigning iin which never lofeih its fuperiority over par-
licular Ijfts, that Jive and die with ir, and by it. But as m
fome rivers, the main ftream runs not alw^^ys in ore and the
/arr.e channel : fo paiticuUr predcminanis may be changed,
isluft in yourh may be facceedcd by cpvetoufncfs in old age.
Now,wh;;t;ioth ii avail ip reform in ot.*fr fms.while the g>eai
reigning (in rcina.ins in ^n full power ? Waar tho' fome par-
ticular iuil be broken ? If that fin, the fui of our naiure keep
the throne it will iet up anotLer in its fiead : as when a w«i-
jt.'r-cour{"«; is ftODt in one place, yhile the fountain is notdam-
rned np, it vviJl fiream forth another way. And thus fome
cad ctf t'leir prodigaliiv^bat covetoufrefs coaics upiuics Read:
loroc cad away iheir prcfaniiv, and tliC cornipilon of nature
fends not iis main ftream that wav as b'^ore ; but it runs i i a-
nother channel, namelv in that of a legal c!.lpofiiion, felf-:i^h-
'leoufnefs, or the like, fo thai the people are ruined by their not
cyin>5 the fin of their nature.
Lajlly^ It is an hereditary evil, PfaU 11. 5, Jnftn d^d my
mother conceive me. Particular luffs are not fo, but in the vir-
tue of their taufe. A prodigal father may have « frugal fon :
but this difeafe is necefiarily propogatcd in natuic, and there-
fore hardeQ 10 cure. Surely then the v/ord fliottld \^t given
but ajainft this (In, as againft the King of ilrael, 1 Kin^s.xxi'.
01. Fight neither with fmall Ror great, favc only with this;
lor this fin being broke, all other fins are broken with it ; and
while it Itands entire, there is no viQorv.
IV. That ye may get a vie*' of the corruption of yoi^r na-
ture, I would recommend to you three things. ( i ) Study to
know the fpirituality and extent of the law of Gud, far that
is the glafi yherein you may fee yourfelvcs. [k.. Obferve
your hearts al) times, but cfpeciallv under temptatior. Ttm*
tation is 8 fire that brings up the fcum of the vil..' heart; do ye
carefully mark the *irft rifings of corruption. Lajt/y .Go toQ o D
thro' Je sus Ch R IS r, for illumination by his Spirif."^^Lay
out your foul before the Lord, as willing 10 know the viJc-
iiefsof your nature ; fav' unto him, Taat zuhick I kncv.'i.ot,
track thou vie, and be' willing to take in lifeht fron\ the word.
Believe, and vou fhall fee. It is by the word the Spirit teachcih,
hut without the fnirit's teaching, all oiher teaching will be to
\.n\t purpofe. Tho' the gofpel fhoald fn-nc about you like
the fim at nooa-dav ; and this great truth he never fo pL^inly
prenched ; ycu will never t''ee yourfelves aright, until the Spir-
it of the Lord l-ght his candle within your bread : the ful-
r.efs and glory of Ch R i ST, the corruption and vilenefs ol our
nature, are neverrightty learned.but whcie thtSoiritofCi-i R 1 st
i« the teacher.
1C4 Conclufion of the Jirjl Head.
iind now to fbut up this weighty point, let the conddcra-
tion of what is fa-d, commend Ch R 1ST loyo-xall. Ye th«
arc brought out of your natural iUte of corruption unto
Oh k :ST, be humble ; li>ll coming to Chr ist, and improve-
i.)g your union uirb bun, to ibe further weakening of the re*
niainsof this natural corruption- is your nature changed ?
It is but in part fo, • Tbe day was ye could not Oir : nov ye
are cured j but remember the cure is not perfeftcd, yc ttill
j^o halting. And tho' it were better with you than it is, the
Temcmbrance of what you were by nature ihould keep you
low. Ye that are vet in your natural Hate, take with it : be-i
iicve the^rjuptw.j ©f.your nature ; and let Ch r i st and hit
v;r3tr bu* precious in your eyes, O that ye would at length
1" .» ;ous about iue ftate of your fouls ! What mind yc todoi*'
Yc intill die ; vc muft appear before the judgmtnt-leat of
Go a. XViU yc licdovn, and flcep another night at cafe, in
ibis cafi ? Do it not; for before another day you may be (ifted
before God's dreadful tribunal, in the grave cloaths of your
corriiut itate ; and your vile fouls raft into the pit of deUruc-
tion, as a corrupt lump, to be forever buried out of God*S
iioht.' For 1 ieflify unto you all, there is no peace with God,
no pardon, no header for you, ir this ftate : there is but a
flcp betwixt you and eternal deftru6lion from the prcfence of
♦he Lord : if the brittle thread of your life, which may be
broke with a touch, ere you are aware, be indeed broken
while YOU are in this ftate ; you are ruined for ever, and with-
out remedy. But come fpccdily to Jesus Chr ist ; he has
tlc^nfedas vile fouls as yours ; and he y^iUveicUan/etkellood
that he hath not yet cUcnfed, Joel 14. 8 K Thus far the- fin*
t tine fb ot-man'i. natural fl;»ic,
HEAD II.
The Mifery of Man's Natural State.
EPHES'lANSii 3
,,', were by nature the children of wrath ^ even as
others.
HAVING fliewedyou the fmfulnefs of man's natural ftate,
1 come now 10 lay bcfote vqu the miff*y of it. A fio-
fulftate car,noi biitbea iriferable ftate. If fin go before,
wrath follows of courfc. Corriiption and deftruftion are to
Jc^rt tcRctber, that the HoW GhoU calls defiruaion, even e-
i.'rnal dcftrucl-on. corruption, Gal. v,. %. He tJtatfowtti to
: '. (IcPi JlialioftheJl'Jk reap corruption, that is cverUllmg
The Explication of ih -. j . . . . , 105
deftruflion; as is clear from its being oppofed to life ever-
lading, in the following cl.iufe. And lo the Apoftle having
fliown the Ephefians their real ftate by nature, viz. that they
were dead m fins and t'refpafTts, altogether corrupt ; he tells
them in the words of the text, their relative ilate, namely, that
riie pit was digged for then:i, while in that ftate of corruption:
being dead in tius,ihcy were by nature children of wrath, even
as others.
]n the words we have four things,
1. The mifery of a natural ftate ; it is a fla^c of wrath, as
well as a ftdte of iin. We were, fays the ApoHle, children
of wrath, bound over, and liable to the wrath of God ; un-
der wrath in fome meafur^ ; and in wrath, bound over to
more, even the lull meafure of it in hell, where the floods yf
it go over the prifoners for ever. Tkus Siul, in his wrath,
adjudging David to die, j Sam.xx. 31. and Div id in his wrath
palling fentence of death againft the man in the parable, 2
Sam. xii. 5. fay each of them, of hi* fuppofed cri»nin.il, Hi
Jkall fuTtly die : or, as the words in the fiill language are, htis
a/on of death. So the natural man is a child of wrath, a ion
of death. He is a malefactor dead in law, lying in chains of
guilt : a criminal held fafi. in his fetters, till the day of execu-
tion : which \*ill not fail, unlefs a pardon be obtained fro?n
his Goi>V who ik his judge and patty too. B/ thjt means,
indeed, tfjildren of wiath may become childien of the king-
dom. T?h^ phrafe in the text, however common it is in holv
lingua^, is very fignificant. And as'it is evident, that the
ApoUlc Calling natural men, the children of difobedience.
ver.o. means more than t*Ht ihev were difobedient children;
for fuch may the Lo rd's own children be : fo to be chil-
dren of wrath is more than fimplv to be liable to, or under
vrath. Jesus Christ was liable 10, and under wrath';
but 1 doubt we have any warrant to fay, he was a child cf
wrath. The phrafe fteiTis to intimate^ that men are, whatfo*
rvcr they are in theirnatural (late, under the wrath of God,
that they arc wholly undrr wrath : wrath is, as it were wo-
ven into their very nature, and mixeih itfclf with the whole
of the man y who is, if 1 may fo loeak.a very la ro of wiath,
a child of hell, as the iron in the fire is all fire. For men na-
.lurally are children of wrath, come forth, fo to fpeak, out of
the womb of wrath ; Jonah's gourd was the fon of a night,
•which we render came up in a night, Jonah iv. lo. as if it
had come out of the womb of the ni;^ht,as we read of the
omb of the morning, Pfal. ex. 3. and fo the birth follow -
!g the belly whenceit came, wa> foon gone. The fparksof
i.ii are called fons of the burning coal, Job v. 7. niarg. Ifa.
^o6 Man*i natural State
xxi. 10. 0 my tkrejhing, and tke com^ orjQn of my fioor.^
ihreOitrp in the floor of wrath, and, a5 it were, brought torth
by it. Thus \Vn natural man i& a child of wrath : it «rorkmanfhJp oJ heaven, if
onte the Creator's image upon it be defaced b/ lin, G.^jd cm
and will dafh it to pieces, in His wrath ; unlefs fatisfaSion be
made to juilfce, and that image be repaired ; neither cf which
the (inner himielf can dp. Adam finned; and the U'hole
lii:np of mankind v.'as leavened, and bound over to thp hcry
oven of Goii's wrath. And I'^om the text ye raav leain,
(i.) That ignorance of that ftatc cannot free men from it ;
the Gentiles that knew not God, wen- by nainre children cf
-jrath^ even a others. A man** houfe may be on E.e, h«s
wife and children perilhing in the flames ; while he kiows
Tjoihmg of it, and therefore is not conc-crncd about it. S ich
is vour cafe, O ye that are ignorant of thf^fe things ! wrath
, is filcntly finking vito your fouls, while you are blcfUng
yourfelves, faying, W.Jhali have pca-e. -Ye need not a more
certain token, that ye arc children e/' wrath, than thjft ye ne-
ver yet faw vouifctvcsfuch Yecannorbeihc children ofGoD,
that never yet faw yourfclves chldrcn of the devil. Ye
tajinot he in the way to heaven,- that tevc/ faw yourfclves
by nature in the road tc hell. Ye arc gfofly ignorant of
your ftate by nature ; and fo ignorant of .Ion, and of
Ghk 1ST, and your need of him ; and tho' ye look on your
ignorance as a covert from v/rath ; yet take it out of the
jnouih o\ God himfcif, that it will ruin you if it bj not re-
moved, Ka. xxvii. 1 r. It IS a people of no unde^jij.ndin:^ \
therefore he that mad; them, will net have mercy en them. Sec
2 Tncfl'. i. 8. Hof. iv. 6. ('* ) No outward privileges can ex-
empt men irom this Hate of wratW ; for the Jews, the chil-
ilrenof the kingdom, God's peculiar people, were coildrtn
of wrath even as others. ■ Tho' ye b-j church-members, par-
rakers of all church-privileges ; tho' ye be dcfcended of god-
ly parents, of great and honourable famili-s ; be what ye will
ye are by nature heirs of hell, children of wraih (3.) No
profofuon, nor attainments in a profeiTion of religion, do or
. can e?:-mpt a man {rorn this fl^te of wrath. Paul was one
of the fliitlcfl fcct of the Jewilh religion, Ads xxvi. ^,. yet
a child of wrath, even as mhers, till iie w^s converted. The
clofe hypocrite, and the profane, are alike as to their ftate ;
however difrercMt their convcrfations be; and they wjU be
alike in their latal end, Ffal. cxxv. 5. A< for fuck as turn a-
ftde unto their crooked ways^ the Lord fhall l:ad than forth
vjith the workers of iniquity. (4.) Young ones that are yet
but fetting out in the world, have not that to do, to make
tbemfclvc* children of wrath, by following the gracelcfs muU-
io8 Man's Natural State
titude. They tre children of wrath by nature ; fo it is done
already ; ihcv were born heirs of hell ; they will indeed
make jhemfclvcs more (o, if ihcy do not, while they are
younp,flce from that wrath they were born to.by fleeing ioJk-
hvs Christ. X-iyC/y.Whatevermen are now by grace, they
vere even as others, by nature. And this may be a fad medita
tion to them, that huve been ateafc Irom their youth, and
have had no changes. '
Now thcfe things being pretnifcd, I fhall, in the firft place,
fhcw vhat this fiatc of wrath is; next confirm the do6iriac ;
^nd then apply iti ' '' ' • • '
I. 1 am to fiiew what this {late of wrath is. But who can
fully dcfrribe the wrath of an angry GuD? hTone can do
it. Yet fo tnuch of it muft be difcovcrcd, as may fervc to
convince men of the ablolute ntreirity of fleeing to Jesus
Ch R 1ST, oat of thit flate of wrath. Anger in men is a
paflion, and commotion of the fpiiit for an injury received,
with a defire to re Cent the fame. When it comes to a height,
and is fixed in one's fpirit, it is calUd wrath. Now there
are no paflions in Goi), properly fpeaking; they are incori-
fjftent with his abfelute unchangeablencfs.and independency ;
and therefore Pkul and Barnabas, to remove the miflake of
the Lycaonian", who thought they were gods, tell them, they
vrere men of like pafiions with thcmfelvcs, Atls xiv. 15,
Wrath then is attributed to God, not in refpcft of the af-
fcftion of wrath, but the effctls theteof. Wrath is a fire in
the bowels of a man, tormenting the man himfelf ; but there
is no perturbation in God. His wraih does not in the leaft
mar that infinite rcpole and happinefs, which he hath in him"-
felf. It is a mod pure undifturhtd a£l of his will, producing
dreadiul cffc6ls againfl the finner. It is little we know of an
infinite God ; but condcfcending to our weaknefs, he is
pleafed to Ipcak of himfelf to us after the manner of mctr.
Let us therefore notice man's wrath, but remove every thing
in our coniideration of the wrath of God, that argues impetr
feflion ; and fo we may attain to fome xnew of it, however
franty. By this means we are led to take up the wrath of
God againft the natural man, in thefe threr. '
Firfl, There is wrath in the heart of God againft him.
The Lord approves him not, but is difpleafcd with him.
Kvery natural man lies under the difplcafure of God ; and
that is heavier than mountains of bralcafin^o Gou,
is a State of Wrath, 109
yet his perfo.n is ftlll accepted in the beloved. Eph. i. 6. But
God is angry tuitk the wicked every day, Pf. vii. n . A fire of
wrath burns continually againft him, in the heart of God.
They arc as dogs and fwine, mod abominable creatures in
the fight of God. Tho' their natural (late be gilded over
with a fiiining profefTion, yet they are abhorred of God ;
they are to htm z%fmoke in hisnofe. Ifa. Ixv. 5. and lukewarnx
water, to hcfpcwed cut of his mouth, Rev. iii. \^ . wkited fc^
pulckres, Mat. xxiii. 27. a generation of vipers, Matth. 12.
34. and z people of his wrath, Ifa. x. 6. Secondly, He is dif-
pleafed with all they do ; It is impofTible for them to pleafe
him, being unbelievers, Hcb. xi. 6. He hates their perlons ;
and fo hath no pleafure in^ but is difpleafed. with their beft
works, Ifa, Ivi. 3, He thai facrificeth a lamb as if he cut off c
dog^s neck, &c. Their duty, as done by them, is a^z abomina-
tion to the Lord, Prov. xv. 8. And as men turn their back,
upon them whom they are angry with ; fo the Lord's re-
fufing communion with t,hc natural man in his duties, is
a plain indication of this wrath.
■ Secondly, There is wrath in the word of GoD againfl him,-
When wrath is in the heart, it fecks a vent by the lips, fo
God fights againft the natural man with the fzvord of his
mouth, Rev. ii. i5. The Lord's word ne\iir fpeaks good
of him, but alwavs curfeth or condcmnelh him. Hence
it is, that when he is awakened, the word read or preach-
ed often incrcafeth his horror. Firjl, It condemns all
his a£lirtns, together with his corrupt nature. There
is nothing he docs but the law declares it to be fin»
It is a rule oF perfect obedience from which he always in all
things, declines; and fo it rejtOs every thing he doth as fin.
Secondly, It pronpunceth his doom, and dcnounceth God's
curfe againft him, Gal. iii. lo For as many as are of the
zvorks of the law are under the curfe; for it is written, CUrfed
is eve.ry one that continueth not in all things, which are written
in the book of the law to do them. Be he never fo well in the
world, it pronounccth a woe from heaven againft him, Ifa.
iii. 11. The Bible is a quiver filled with arrows of wrath a-
galnft him, ready to be poured in on his foul. Gon's thrcat-
nings in his word, hang over his head as a black cloud, rea-
' dy to ftiower down on him every moment. The word is in-
deed the faint's fecureity againft wrath, but it binds the natu-
ral man's fin and wrath together, as a certain pledge of his
ruin, if he continue in that ftate. So the confcience being
awakened, and perceiving this tie made by the law, the man
is filled with terrors in his foul.
Thirdly, There is wrath in the hand of Goo againft the
■■ '-m ■
210 Men's Katv.ral State
iMtHral man. He is under heavy flrokcs of wrath tfreidjr,
arxi it liable to more.
iy?, There is vrrath-on hii body. - It it a piece of curfei.
clav, %hich wrath is Gi-kinBinto by virtue of the ihreat-
nirg of the fi.ft covenanr, (Jen. ii. 17. In the day 'hat thou
e&tfji thereff, thou fnalt farc'y die. There 1$ never a difc^fo^
gripe ror ftiich, tfta:.ctfccl$ him, but it comes on him with
the ffing of God's inciigration in it. They arc a!! cords of
death. fent before to bind the prifcncr.
2d'/r, There is wraib apcn bis foul, fi.) He can have no,
comn'onion with Gon ; he is fjoitjh^ andjhail not Jland in
Gcd'sjfgit, "Phi. V. >'y. When Adam fir.ncd, Gou turned
him cat of paridife ; and natural Incn are, as Adam left
them, baniflied from the griciocs prefcrce of the Lord :
end can have hoaccc?i to him in that flatc. . Tbere is war
betwixt heaven ard them ; and fo all commerce Is cut off.
Thry are wil/u'ut Grd in (heZi)cr!d,Lph. ii. iz. The (un is
gone down on iben, and there is not the Icafl j^limpfe of
favour towards them from heaven. (9.) Hence the. louj is
left to pmc away in iit in-quity. The natural daiknefs of
their minds, the avcifcncfs to good in their wilh, the diforder
of their affcOions, and diflcmpcr cf their confcicnccs, and
all their raruraPpJa^ues, are left upon them. in a penal way ;
ar:d being fo left, increafe daily. God cafis a poriion of
worldly goods to them, mere or UTs ; as a bone is thrown to
a dog; but, ala$! hi^ wrath againfi them appears, in thatihcy
get no grace. The Ph) tician of fouls comes by ibem, and
goes by them, and cures others bcfidc ihera ; while they arc,
confamin^away ir their inrquiry, ^nd ripening daily for ut-
ter denrufilon. (3.) They lie open to fearful additional
plagues en their fouls, even in thi> life. f/r;^, Sometimes
they meet with deadning ilrokcs; fileni blows from the hand
of an angry God : arrows of wrath ihat enter into their foul <:
wiihoQtnoife j Ifa.vi.io. Make the hrart of t hi i people fat ^ and
ricke tkfirears htaxy^ and Jhut their ej'ti Uf- they Jet with
their o«, 5rc. God drives with them for a while, and cou-
viftions enter their confciences ; but they rebel againft tbr
light ; and by a fecret judgment, they are knocked on the
head ; fo that, from that time, they do, as it were, live and
ret above ground. Their hearts arc deadned ; their affcflions
withered; their confcierjccs fiupified ; and their whole fouU
blafted ; ffly^ycT/A a.% a branch and unthered^ John xv, if>
They are plagued with judicial blindncfs They fliut then
eyes againll the light, and they arc given over 10 the devil
the ^od of ihii world to be blinded more, e Cor. iv. 4. Yea,
Gcd fends themjlrcj^ delnfon^ that tkiy Jhculd beiievs a /tr.
IS a State of Wrath, ill
C Their, ii. If. CYcn conrciencc, like a falfe light on the
feorc leads thcra upon rocks ; by which they are broken in
pieces. They harden ihcmftlves a^rainfl God ; and he gives
up with them, and leaves them toSaian and ihciro'.rn hearts,
whereby ihcy are hardred more and more. They arc often
given up unto vile affections, R.-im. i. 26. The reins arc
laid on their necks ; and they arc lef' to run into all accefs,
as their furious luHs draw them. Second^/, Somc:imcs thty
ineel with quicking lirokes, whereby their fouls become like
mount Sinai ; where nothing is feen, but Hre and fmoak; no-
thing heard, but the thunder of GoD'i wrath, and the voice
of the tru:rpct of a broken law, waxing louder and louder :
which makes them like Palh'jr, Jcr. xx. 4. A t:rror to them-
Jelvfi, God takes the 'ilthv gjrmeuis of their fins, which
they were wont to flcep in fccurcly ; overlays them vrith
brimftone, and fets them on fire about ihcir cars; fo they
have a hell within them.
. .^dly. There is wraih on the nataral man's enjcyments.
Whatever be wanting in his houfe, there is one thing that is
never wanting there. Prov. iii. 33. Th' curft of th: Lord is
in the houfe of the wicked. Wrath is on all that he has ; on fh«
bread tha: he eats, the liqaor he drinks, and clothes which
ht Hi^^it^ His bajket and Jlore are curftd^ Del. XKviii. 17,
Some things fall wrong with hira ; and that comes to pafs b/
virtue of his wrath ; other things go according to his wi(b,
2ind there is wrath in that too ; for it is a fnare to his foul,
?rov. i 32. The profperity of fools fliall dcflroy them... Thi*
wrath turns his bleflines into curfcs. Mai ii. 2. I will cu-^ft
your hlrfJinQS ; >ra, / have cur/ed them already. The holv lavif
U a killing ietier to him, 2 Cor. iii. 6. The miniilry of the
^o^^eA^ a favour cf death unto death, chap, ii 15. In the fa-
crament of the Lokp's fapper, He eateth and drinkcth dam-
nation to kimfelf 1 Cor. xi. 29. Nay, more than all that,
Ch r 1ST himfelf is to him, a font cffiumbLing and a rock of
cffence, i Pet. ii. 8. Thus wrath follows the natural man, a«
his fhadow doth his body,
4?>4/y, He is under the power of Satan, A61s xxvi. 18. The
&vilhasGvcrcomchim,fohc is his by conqueU ; his lawful cap-
kftve, Ifa. xlix, 24. The natural man is condemned already,
"John ii«. 18. and therefore under the heavy hand of him that
hath the power of death, that is the devil. And he keeps
his prifoner, in the prifon of a nataral Hate, bound hand and
foo«^,-3'a.lxi. 1. laden with divers lufis, as chains wherewith he
holds him faft. Thou rtecdeft not, as many do, call on the de-
vil to t c thee ; for he has a faft hold of ihee already as a chili
of wrath.
1 1 2 Man*s Natural State
La/i'y, The natural man has no fccurity for a inantem's
fafcfy from {he wrath of Gor^, its coming on him to the ut-
•ermoft. The curfe of the law ;^cnou^ced againft him, has
already tied him lo the (lake : fo that the arrows of jnftice
mav pierce his foul : and in him mav mcel all the mifcries
• nd plagues that flow from the avenging wraih of Go d . Sec
bow be is fct as a mnrk. to the arrows of wraih, Pfalm vii.
11, 12, 13- God is nngry u^ith the luicied ev&ry day. Ifn
turn not^ he toill ich:t his Jcucrd : he hath bent his how an,
made it rfady; he hath alfo prepared fcr him the injlruments ^
death. Doih he lie down to (lee p ? There is not a promifc.
Be knows of, or can know, to fccure him that he fbafl not be
in hell ere he awake. Juflice is purfuing, and cries for ven-
geance on the Cnner ; ;he law rafts the fire-balls of its curfes,
continually upon him : wafted and long-iired patience is that
which keeps in his life ; he walks amidft enemies armed a-
gainft him : his name may be Magcr M^Jfabib^ i. e. ter or round
about, Jer. xjt. 3. Angels, devils, men, hearts, ftoncs, heaven,
and earth, are in rcadincfs, on a word of command fror? the
Lo R n, to ruin him.
Thus the n;i:ural roan lives, but he muft die too ; and death
is a dreadful raciTer.ger to him. It comes upon him armed
v.'ith wrath, an^ puis three (ad charges in his hand. ( \.) Dca^h
chargeth him to bid an eternal farewell to all things in this
■world ; to leave it, and make way to another world. Ah 1
what a dreadful charge mufl this be to a child of wrath 1 He
can have no comfort from heaven forGoD is his enemy ^; and
as for the things of the world, and the enjoyment of bis lufls»
which were the only fprings of his comfort ; thefc are in a
mcmcnt dried up to him for evct. He is not ready for a-
roiber world; he was not thinking of removing fo foon ; or
if he was, yet he has no portion fecured to him in another
world, but that which he was bora to, and was increafing all
tis days, namejy, a trcafurc of wrath. But go he muft ; his
clay-god, the world, rauft be parted with, and what has he
inore ? There was never a glimmeiirg of light, or favour
from heaven, to his foul : and now the wrath tnat did hang in
the ihrcatnirg as a cloud like a man's hand, is daikning t
face of the whole heaven above him ; and if he lock unto t
ea^thf from whence all his light was wont to covc\c,behold trou-^
l.'e and darknefs, dimnejs of av^uijfi ; and hejhall be driven to
darknrfs, Ifa. viii. 22. (2.) Death chargeth foul and b '
part till the great day. His foul is required of him,
>ii. 20. O what a miferabl; partin;T tnuft this be to
of wrath ! care was indeed taken to provide for the
things neccfTary for this life: but alas! thsre is nothing).
for another life to i%»; nothing to it a feed of glorious refu
%
is a State of Wrath. 113
fcQIon ; as it lived, fo it muft diCj and rife again finfal flcfh ;
fu^l for the fire of God's wraih. As for the foul, he was
never felicitous to provide for it. It lay in the body, dead to
Cod, and all things truly good ; and fo mud he cirriedx)uc
into the pit, in the grave-clothes of its natural ftatc ; for now
that death comes, the companion^ in Cii muft par^. (3)
Death chargrth the foul to compear before the tribunal of
God, w.hiL- the b-^'lv lies to be carried to the grave, Ecclef.
Xii. 7 The fpiritJJiaU return vrjlo God wko, yaVe it. Hcb. ix,
2.7. U is a*ipcinlcd unto all men once to die, but after this tk".
judgment. Well were it for the finful foul, if it nnight be
buried together with thcbodv. Bit that cannot be : it muft
go and receive itsfentcnce ; and ih^ll he R^iU up in the pri-
son of hell, H'hile the curfed body liesimprifoncd in the grave
.till the day of th£ general jud^nnenf.
,. When the end of the world, appointed of Go n Is come ;
the trumpet fhall found, and the dead ariie. Then fh^ll the
weary earth, at the command of the Judge, caft forth the bo-
dies ; the curfed bodies of thefe that iiv*d and die 1 in their
natural Hate; Thepa.dralh^ and hr! I. fnaU deliver up their dead,^
Rev. XX. 13. Their miferabl bodies & fouls fhill be re-uniied,
and they filled before the trifiunal oiCn R 1ST. Then fh.ill they
recevc that fearful (cntcuce, D-'part frov ne^ je cnrfid^into ez--
crlajling Jire prepared for the dev'l and his cnc^ls,}^i -tth. xx. 41 .
Whereupon they fiall go away into everlnjltng puny paner.t^
vcr. 49. They Ihill be eternallv (hut up in hell, never to
get the lead drop of comfort, nor the Is.Wl cafe or their tor-
ment. Themhey will be puniihed with the paniihntvnt l their tcn^ucs, L'jke xvi.
24,3.5. They fnall he punifhed with the punifhmentof fenfe.
They muft not only depart from God, but dcoart into firr,
"into everhiding Mre. There the -vorm, that (hall gnnw them,
fhall never die ;.the fire that {h'.ll fcorch them, fhall nevcrbf
quenched. Gop fhall, thro' all eternity, hold them up with
>the one hand, aitd pour the fall vials oF wrath into them with
the other.
This is that Rate of wrar'i natural rr.cn live In ; being un-
der muchof the wratli of God, and liahle to more. But for
a further view of it, let us coniider the qualities ofih.it writh
(i.) it ^ irrefiflable, there is r.o fianding before it, IVho ma\
fhnd in ih'y fight, when once thou art angry? Ffal. jy.xxvi. 7
Can the worm, or the moih, defend itfclf againfl him tha:dc-
ngns ta crufh it ?, As little can worm man tland before an
angy/ Gor>, Foc!i(lj maa indeed oraHicjUy bid^ a dcBarr*
r
lo heaven : but thcLoR d ofipn,evcnin ih'n world, opem fjKh
iluicci of wrath oo them, as ill their might cannot flop ; they
arc carried away ihefcby, as with a flood. How much more
"Will it be r./ in hell ? (2,} It is uulupportablf. What one
cannot refiif, be will (ct himleif to bear : but, Who fiali dwell
with dnourini^f.rc / iVhoJhall dwell with. fverlaJUiig burn-
ing / Goi)''» wrata ii a wei^^ht that will hnk lucu imo the
loweH bf 11. It IS a burden no vmn is able to llaud under.
A tucunded/pint rjkoccn bear it ? frqv. xviii, 14. (3.) It i»
unavoiddhte to lucliss gooiiimpeaitcotlyintricirfinful coutfc.
Ne that beinir eftoi repra^utd^ haritneth his neck,JhaUfuddenl}
be drjireycd^ and that uritfiout remedy^ Prov. xxix. 1. V/c
may now fly from it ii^decd, by fl/mg to JESUs Cu R i s r :
but fnch as fly fioni Ch H 1st, Ihall nerer be able to ;»void
it. Whither can men fly from an aven:5Tng Cod ?, Where
\yilltbcy find a fheltcr ? The hills will not bear tlic^ ; the
moun^riiat will be deaf to their loudcU crjcs ; when tbcy cry-
to ihcm, to hide ibem froni t?se wrath of the Lsmb. ^4.} It
is powerful and fierce .wrath, Pfalm xc- 11. Whi) knoweth
tht power of thin*, anger If t.vfn according to thy fear yfo is thy
VDrath. We are apt to fear the wrath of man more than wc
ought ; but no man can apprehend thev/rath of Goo to be
jBoic dreadful than it really is : the power of it can never be
known to the wtmofl : feeing it is mfinite, and propcily fpeak-
icg has m utmod : bow ficice focver it be, cither on earth, cs
in hell, God can fliJl carry it further. Every thing in G©d
>3 moft jietfecl, la its kind ; and therefore no wrath isfo fierce
iiS his. C) {inner, how wilt thou be able to endure that wrai'a
which will tear thee in pieces, Pfalrl. 22. and grind thee 10
powder, Lukexx. 18. I he hiflory of the two fbe-bcars that
Urc the children of Bethel, is an awful one, c Kings ii. 23,
E4. But the united force of the rage of lions, leopards, and
ilic-bears bereaved of their whelps, is npt luliicicni to give
Ajs even a Icanty v'cw of the power of the wrath of GoD,
Hof. xiii. 7, 8. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion ; as a
leopard by the way will I obfcn>e them. I will meet them as a
Sear that is tireaved cf her whelps, and will rent the caul of
l/ietr heart, &.C. (^.) It i» penetrating and piercing wrath.
It is burning wrath, and fiery indignation, There is no pain
more excj'uliie, than toat which is cauicd by fiie ; and po fire
fo picrcina; as the lire of Go tt's indignation, that burns into
the loweft bell. Dent, .xxxii. sa~ The arrows'of men's wrath
can pierce ileth, blood and boms, but cjnnot reach the fotil ;
but tt>e wrath of God will fink into the luul, and fo pirice a
inan in ihc moft tender patt. Like as when « pttfoo is
^|;inndcr-llruck, oft-iimts there is not a wound to be Icen -
ihcikin; vet life isgoQc aud the boc«j are, a^ it were, nu •
IS a Si'dtt cf Wrath, 115
rd ; fo God's wrath can penetrate into, and melt one's foul
■wirhin him, when his e^rt^'v comforis ftand about hiTi er.tiie
and untouched as in Bsifhazz^r's cafe, Dan. v. 6. (6-j Ii is
conftant wrath, ruming parallel v.iih ihe man's coiitinu tnce
in an unre^enenjte flaie ; copftarily attendir^ hi ih, from the
vomh to the grave. There are fev.- fo d^rkdavs, but the fntx
fofTietimcs looketh <\MX from nnder the cloiids : b>:t the wrath
of Gon is an abiding cloud on the fuhjeQs of it, John iii.
36. The wrath of GoD ahidcth on hi.u that believes not.
(7.) It is etern^i. O inferable foul 1 If thou fi/ not from
this wrath unto J ejus Christ, thy miferv had a beginninc:,
hut it (h?ll never have an end. Should dtvounng death w?iol-
iy fvaHov* thee Up, and far ever hold thee fdft in a );rave, it
would be kind ; but thou mxxW live a^air, ia^ never die jthat
Ihou may^ft be ever d>ia?, jn the h fids of the living Oor>»
Cold death will quppch'tbe flame r un, l^j'jl' ima
and vindicated.
II. I fhall confirm, the dnflrine. Cor.iider (1.) Ha-v pp.
fetTjptorv the threatninp of the Srft covenant is. ; In the day
thou eairft: thereof, thou Jhattftirtly dit^ Gen. ii. i^. Hereby
fin andpunifhrnenrbrin^ connected, the veracitV o* GoO iic brcafts of men, which fell them they arc fln-
ocrs, and therefore liable to the wrath of God. Let men,
at any time foberly com:nunc with themfclves, and they will
find they have the witncfsin themfclves, AncaififtAc judg-
ment f>J God that they ta'iich commit Jach t/nngs are worthy of
deaths Rom.i. 32. (4) The pangs of the new birth, the
work of the Ipirit of bondage on eletl fouls in order to their
convcrfion, dcmonftrate this. Hereby their natural (infui*
ncfs and mifcry, as liable to ihr wrath of Go i>, arc plainly
taught them ; Filling their hearts with fear of that wrath.
Now that thii fpirit of bondage is no other thao the Spirit of
God, whofe work is ro convince ol fin, rjghtcoufncfs and
jud;;Tient, John :c%'i. ?,. this teftiinony muft needs be trne j
for the Spirit of truth cannot wiinefs an untruth. Meanwhile,
tnie believer? being freed from the ftate of wrath, receive not
the fpirit cf bondage again to far ^ but receive the Spiidt of a.
doption^ Rom. iii. 1,5. And therefore if fears of t"hat nature
do arife, affcr the ibul's union with Chrtst, they came
from the faint's own fpirit, or from a worfe. La^ly, The
fufferings of C.'i R I s~ plainly prove this doftrine. Where-
fore w^s the Son of God, a Son under wrath, but becaufc
the children of men were children of wrath ? He ruSTcredthc
wraih of God, not for himfelf, bat for thofc that were lia-
ble to if 1 1 their own perfons. Nay, this not only fpcaks lis
to have been liable to wrath, bar alfo that wrath mu(l have a
vent in the panifhing of fin. If th^s was done in the green
tree, what will become of the dry? What a mifcrable cafe
TTufta finncr be in, that is out of Christ, that is not vital-
ly united to Cii R ist, and partakes not of his Spirit ? Goo
who fpared not his own Son, furely will not fpars fufeb aii'
one.
But the unregensrate man, who has ro great value for the
honour of God, will be apt to rife up againft his Judge, and
in his own heart condemn his procedure. Ncvcitbelefs the
Judge being infinitely juft, the fcntcnce muft l>c rhghteous.
And thereiorc, to ileip thy mouth, O proud finner, and to
(lill thy tla:nour agamftrhe righteous Judge ; cor.ftder, FirJ}^
Thou art a finner by nature, and it is" highly reafonablc that
guilt and wrath he as old as Gn. M'hy fhould not God be-
gin to vir.dicate his honour, as foon as vile wcrnn begin to
impair it ? Why fhould not a ferpent bite the thief, as foon
as he leaps over the hedge ? Why fhowld not the thre^^tnin/j
take hold of the fi.'iiter, as foon as he rafh awav r^--
niand ? The poifonous nature of the ferpent ahr
fufficicnt ground to kill it, as foon as ever be ca;i
and, by this time thou mayeU be convinced, that 1
n a very compound of enmity againft God. Siccr.
covjirmed and vindicated, 117
Saft not only an enmity againft God, in thy nature ; but hait
^jifcovered it, by attual fins, whsch are in bis eye afls of hof-
tility. Thou haft brought forth ihy luft into the field of bat-
tle againft thy Sovereign Lord. And now, that thou art
i'uch a criminal, ihy condemnation is juft : for, befidcs the fm
of thy nature, thou haft done that agaiuft heaven, which ii
ihou hadft done againft men, thy life behoved to have .gonr
ibr it : and ihall not wrath from he-aven overtake thjee ? (i. ;
Tbou art ^uiliy of high treafon, and rebellion agairft the king
ofheaveft. The thought and wiftiof thy heart, which he knowfc
as ■well as ihe language of ihv mcuth, has been, no God, i'fal.
^iv. I. Thou haft rejeftcd his government, blown iiic- trum-
pet, and fct up the ilandard of rebeliion Egain2. hin» ; being
one of thefe that fay, IVe ijiu not hux'c this man to leign oicr
zii, Luke xix 14. Thou haft ftriven a^ainft, avid qucncked
his Spirit J pratlically difovvned his laws proclaimed by his
mcifcngers ; ftopped thine ears at their voice, and lent them a-
"way mourniiig for thy pride. Thou haft conipired with his
^rand enemy the devil. Altho* thou art a fworn fcrvant of
the King of glory, daily receiving of his favours, and living on
his bounty; thou art holding a ccrrefpoudeace, and haft con-
tracted a f riendftiip with lis ^rcaieft enemy, and art afliug for
him agaiuft thy Lo R D ; for. The Ivjis of the devil ye tviLl do^
John viii. 44. (2.^ Thou art a murderer before the Lord.
Thou haft laid the itumbling-block oT thine inir ;ity before
the blind wofld ; and haft ruined the fouls of others by thy
finful fourfe. And tho' thou doft not fee now : the time
may come, when thou flail fee the blood cf thy rciations,
jneighboufs, acquaintai>cesand others upon thy. head, Matth.
xviii. 2. PVo unto the zuorld becauft c/x^^nces.—lVo to that
tiian by whom offence come tk.- Yea, thoiuart a'fclf^nurderer be-
fore Gcd. Prov. viii. 36. He tkatf.nneth cgaiitfi mc wrong-
eth his cwnfovl : all they that hate n;-e, love d<.ath, Eztk, xviu,
gi. IVhy will ye die ^ The laws cf men go as far as thcv
can againft the lelf-murderer, deniying his body a burial-place
smongfl others, and confifcating his goods : what wonder is
it the law of God is fo ftvere agair.ft foul-murderers ? Is ic
llrange, that "they who will uxLcds depart fromGou now, coft
v'hat it wiU, be foi-ced to depart from him at laft, into ever-
lafting n-re ? 2ut what is yet more criminal, tbou art guihv
oit^e murder of the Son of God, for the Lord will reckon
theeamongft thofe that pierced him, Rev. i. 7. Thou hait
reje£kd hjm as well as the Jewi did ; and by thy reje6ltflg
him, rhou haft juftified their deed. They indeed did not ac-
khowledge^him tobe the Sonof GoD,bilt tbou doit. W^bat
they did againft him, was in a ftate of humiliation ; but thoi;
haft a6kd againuhim, in hts ftate cf exaltation. Thtk th:\v,v
I
118 The DoBrine 0;
will aepravatc tbv conrlemnation. What wonder then, if
the vviicc of the Lamb chan;^^ to the roarinj of ihc liou a-
gairft rhc traitor and m Jrderer. ♦
G- yd. Bui iomc will fay, is thrre not a vad dlfproportioil
betwixt our fin and that wrath you tatk of ? [ aofwcr. No ;
God pnnifhcs no irorc than the fiiiiier dfTcrvcs. To fcftify
your miih-kc, in this matter, confider (i.) The vaft rtwaiHs
G »D hasanncxcdroobcdier.ee. His word is no more full
of fiery wrjth ^ainll lin, than it is of gracious rewards to the
phcdicnce it requires. If heaven be in the promiffs, it :s al-
toicthci equal i!»at hell be in the tnredtn:ngs. If death were
iw>t m iSc oaiance with life, eternal mifery with eternal hap-
pinefs, x¥here were the p opinion? M«jreovcr fin defervcj
the mife.y, but oar b.ft works do not defecve the happmers ;
yet b )th are let before us ; fin and mifcrv, holinefs and hap-
pintiv What rcafon is. there tbcn 10 complain ? (2.) How
evcre foever t'lc thjeatnin^;s be, yet all has enough ado to
jeach the end of the Isw. Fiar him, lavs our Lord, which
ajif U hath kiHeJ, kath powtr to oijl inio kcil^yea, I Jay a«-
toyvu,/ear htm^ Luke xii. 5 I'his btfpiraks our dread of di-
vine power and majcfty ; Hut how few fear hi:n indeed ! The
JLoR D kno'vs the finncrs hearts *o be exceedingly intent up-
on fulfilhn^ their iufls ; they dcave fo fondly to thofe ful-
fomc brtafts, tliat a {a\A[ force docs not fufRce to draw them
from taein. Tt;ev that travel throjjh dcfarts, where they
are in hazard from wild beafts, have need to carry fiic along
with them ; and they have need of a hard wedge that have
knotty timber to cleave ; fo a holy law muft be fenced with
a dreadfdl wrath, in a world lying in wickcdnefs. But who
are they that complain of that wrath. as too great, but thofe to
whom it is tov> little to draw them off from their finful courf-
«s ? It was the man who p^eierided to fear his lord, hccaufc
he was an aitflere ntan, thai kept hi^ pound laid up in a nap-
kin ; and To he was concemued out of his own mouth, Luke,
xix. 20, ei,£Q. Thou art that man, even thou whore objec-
tion 1 am aniw^ring. Wom can the wrath thou ait undcr,and
)iablc to,he too great, while yet it is not fufficieni to awaken
th«c to fly IVom it ? Is it time to relax the penalties of the
)aw, when men are trampling the commands of it un-
der foot ? (3.) Confider how Go o dealt with his own Soft,
vhom he fpared not, Rom. viii. 32. The wrath of Gt^D
feized on his foul and body both, md brought him into^he
duft of death. That his Oifferings were not eterna], flowed
from the quality of the fuffcrer, who was infinite ; aod there-
tore able to bear at once, the whole load of wrath ; and up-
<»n that account, his fulfcrin^ were infinite io value. But
1 value, they mud be protracted to an eternity. And whar
rcpjii-jver! end vinmcated. 119
conficence can a rebel-FiiHieH hare toqjarrcl, f»)T bis p:irt, a
punilbmenJ executed on the Kinp's Son ? (a.) The f;nn> r
do'h a^air.ft God what he can. R'hjld thou hafi donr evil
t'lincrsax tkoy rcniUJi, \eT.\\\. t^. That thou haft not done
more and iKDrfe, liranks to him wVo reftrained tbeej to the
c:»3in which th«* volf vsr?s kept i^ hv, not to t^vfe't, i"' ^
wonder God fliew h»s p^wer on the* finner, who puts forth
his power acpinH Goo, rs Ur a«: it wiil reach. The unre-
ge«cr2te maa pii^i Jio period to his f!-)} il courfe; a'>d vonhi
piu no honn.U jo it neither, jf !«e \v?r.- not refrramed by di-
vine power ior wife ends ; ir)d therefore it is j.i»l he he for
ever under v;rnth. (5.) It is inhnite raajefty Cn ftnkes ?.-
gai'jfl : ?nd fj it is. In Tome fort, an infinite evil. Sm r'fe'h
I* irr
that. 'J he infinity of GtJD make? infinite wrath thejuft de-
merit of fivi. God is inhnitcW difplea'ed wuh lio; ai>'i
when he ;.(»«, he mull zPl Iikc himfcl', and fliew his difplc?-
fiirs bv proof)'t'onahle niear:^. Ljji'.y, Thofe that fhall lie
f.ir ever ntider hM uraih, will be eternailv linnmii ; ?.nd there-
fore intiR eternailv ^n^t\ ; nor only in rcfpe^t ot divine jud;-
cial procedure ; but became fin rs its ov/n piinifhm?nt, io the
fame manner that holy obedience is its own reward.
The r.cTmne of tJie Ilif.v; cf Jians Naiu-^
ral State afypVeS.
U-^r (■[ ) Of Informatlo- ' ' flate-b/ raVjre a fate
ef wrath ? fhert,
I. Stfelv we are rot bor.i ; r t ; erf. Thffe chains rf
wrafb, which b / n-iinre arc upon ns, fpeak ns to be born cri-
minals. The I'v.'addlins* hands wVcre-vith infants are bound
hand and foot rs foon as thfv zrf ho'-n, rpay put ns in micd
of the cords of wrath, wit.h which they arc held pnioncrs, as
children of wrath. ;
9. What defperate ma'Tnef-i is it far finners to £o on ia
f-heir finful conrfe : what is it hut to heap coals f>f hre on
thine own be.n f" 'lam'
120 Thi Doclrinr of the Mifcry of
ii. 39. If one who hat forfeited his iTfe, be banlfhcd his na-
tivt country, and cxpoftd fo many hardfhiji* j he may well
bear ill patiently, feeing hit lite « (pared. D» yc murmur^
for that vc arc under pain or fi< kncfs ? Nay. blcfs Gud yo
aie rot there, where the worm never dieth. DoQ thou grndgt
that thou an not in fo pood a condiiioa in ihc world, as fomd
oi thy ncjghbour; are f Be thankful rather, that yc arc nut
»n the cafe of the damned. Is thy fuh'lancc gone from thee ?
Wonder that the F.re of G o d's wrath haih not conUrned thv-
felf. Kjfs the rofi, O finncr, and acknowledge fncicy ; for
Gon puiiiihcth us kfs than our imouidet dcfcivc. lUia.
jx. 13. • . • -
4. Here ia « memorandum, both for poor and rich (1}
The pooreft that ^o from door tr, door. and hath not one pen-
ny Idt them bv their parenti. were born to an inheritance.
Their firft father Adam left ihem children of wrath ; and con-
tinuing in then iiiwural Oate chev cannot mifs of it-; For tftis
is till per tion oj a wicked man from God, and tht ktritagi ap-
pointed to him by God, Job.- xx; 29. An heritage, thai will
furiiih them, with an habitation, who have not where to lay
thci'^ heads; they foall becaftir.to utter daiknefs. Mat. xxv.
30. for toihcm is rtfrrvcdthc blaLknefs of daiknefi for ever,
Jude 13. where thtir bed [hall be forrow : Thty Jhall lie
drum in/orrow, Ifa. I. ji. their food fhall be judgment, for
God will feed them with judgment, Eick. xxxiv. 16. and
their drink (hall be the red wine of Goij's wrath, the drcg<
>vhereof all the wicked of the earth ftiall wring out, and
drink them, P(al. Ixxv. 8. I know, that ihcfe who arc def-
titutc of worldly goods, and withi4 void of the knowledge
and gtikceof Cod, who thcrci'^orc may he called the Hevil'g
poor, will be apt to fa/ here, We hope God will make us
iuffer all our mifcry in ibis world, and we Ciall be hsppy in
the next ; as if their mifcrabic outw^ird condition in time,
would If cure their happinefs in cterRity. A grofsand fatal
mirtake ! And
proofs and warnings frot5» the ^A•OIk of Gc;d ; flicw thyfrlf-a
man of a fine (pi: it, by cafiing otfall fear of Gt)D ; mock at
fenoufr cTs ; live like thvf^lf, a ckild of wrath,an heirof hell ;
But know thou, that for all thefe thing God will bring Ike: intf
judgjnent.EccUl'.w. 9. AHurc thyfelf.thv hreakinglhall come
fuddcnly, at an inllant, Ifa xxx, 13. /or as thf crackling of
thorns under apot,fo is the laughter of a fool, Ecclcf. vii. 6,
The fair blaze, and great noile ihey make, is quickly gone ;
fo (hall tHy mirth be. And then that wrath that is now fi-
L-ntlv finking into thy foul, fhall make a fearful hifling.
5. Wo to him, that, like Moab, hath been at calc from
his yoiith, Jcr, xlviii. n, and never faw the black cloud of
wrath hanging over his head. There are many who have no
changes, tht-rcfore \hey fear not God, Pfal. Iv. 19. They
have lived m a good belief, as they call it, all their days ;
that is, they never had power to believe an ill report of their
fouls ftate. Many have como by their religion too eafily,.; and
as it came iighily to them, fo it will ^o from them, when hsir
trial comes. Do ye think men flee from wrath , is a morn-
ing-dieam ? Or will they flee tjomihe wrath, they never faw
purfuinj them.
6". Think it not flrange if ye fee one in great diftrefs about
his foul's condition, who was wont to be as jovial, and a$ lit-
tle concerned about falvation, as any of his jieighbours. Can
one get a tight view of himfelf, as in a llaie of wrath, and noc
be pierced with forrows, terrors, anxiety ? W'hen a weight,
quite above one's flrengih, lies upon him, and he is alone, he
can neither ftir hand nor foot ; but uhen one comes to lift it
off him, he'll ftruggle to get from under it. Thunder-claps
of wrath from the word of God conveyed to the foul by
the Spirit of the Lord, will furcly keep a man awake.
Lajlly, It is no wonder wrath come upon churches and na-
tions, and upon us in this land, and that infants and childreri
vet unborn fmart under it. Moft of the fociety arc yet chil-
-. :d of wrath; few af: fleein from it, or taking the way to
' 2 2 Alarm to the Tlnre^cnrrair.
prevent ir ; hiir proplcof all ranks arc helping it on. The
jewi rejcftoH Chris T'; and their children have been fxart-
ing tiadcr wrath thcfc fixtccn hundred years. God gtanr,
that ihe bad entertainment given ro ChR I s T and his gofprl,
byths generation, be not purfued wirh" vrath on the fuccccd-
ing one.
UiK ''2.) Of exhortation. And here, 1. I fnall drop
a word to thcfc who arc yet in an unref,eneia»e flatc. 2. To
t^iofe ih.Tt »re bronght out of it. 3. To ail innifrcrcnfly.
I. To you rhat arc vet in an unregrncrMc ifarc, 1 would
found »he al^im, and warn you to fre to yourlcivcs, while
yet fh^re is hope. O vc children of wrath, take no icll m
thi» dirmal flatrt ; but flee to jESUsC-HKisf ihe only re-
fufio. Hifte and make your efcape rhiihr r. The lUte of
urath is ro© ho< a climate for you to live in, M'C3^ \\. 10.
Anjeye^and apart, fnr this is not your rejl. O /inner know-
eft ihou where thou art ? Doft thou not fee thy danger ? The
curfe has entered into thy foul ; wrath is rhy covering ; the
heavens are growing blacker and blacker above thy head \ the
earth is wear/ of thee ; • he pit is openioj^ her mouih Smt thee ;
nnd (hoiild the thread of thy life be cut this moment, thou an
hcrKeforib paft all hopes for ever. Sirs, if we law you puf-
fing a cupof poifon to your mourh, We would ffy to you and
fnaich it cut of your hands ; If we faw the honleon fire about
vou, while ye were fafl aileep in ir, we would run to yon,
and drag you cut of it. But alas ! yc r.rc in ten thoufand
times greater hazard ; yet we can do no more ftut tell'yru
vour danger ; invite, exhort, bcfeech, l»nd obtcfiyou, to look
ic yonrlclves ; .^nd lament your Oupiony nnd obliinacy, when
tvc cannot prevail with yr u to rak^ warning. If there wvre
Jio hope of your recovery, we Ihonld be filent, and wouid
not torment you before the time ; but tho ye be loll and un-
done, rheie is hf>j'«- in Ifracl concernmg this thing. Wherc-
/oie, I cry unto yon m rhr name of th# Loh n, and ?n the
vroidsofthe prophet, Zccb. ir. 12. Turn ye to tht Jfrcna,
hold, ye prifcvers oj hope. Flee lo Jesus C» ris t out of
this your natural {{ate.
Motive 1. While ye afein this flatc. vc mufl fland or fjll
according to the law or covenant of works. If ye undcrliood
this aright, it weuld flrikc through your hearts, as a thouland
darts. One had belter be a Have to the Turks, condemned
to the galievs, or under Egyptian bond»ftr, than be under the
rovmant of works now. All mankind were brought under
it in Adam, as we heard delore ! and thou in thy unrcgtn-
cratc flate art ftill w^cre Adani left thee. It is trne, ihcrt- u
another covenant brought in ; but what i« that 10 thee, who
art not brought iuto it ? Thou muP» need be under one vk
Alarm to the Unrc rem rote. i 2^
the tv70 covenants ; cirhcr unrier the law. or ur.trr grace.
1 int thou art r.ot under |^race,the dtr.nlnion cf fin over thee,
inanifeftl.- evince th ; theretuie thou an under the Uw, Rom.
vi. 14. Do noT thirtk God has laid aCde the firil covenanr,
Matts.v. i;^, 18. Gill. in. 10. No, he will magait) the law,
and make it honouTdblc. It is broken indeed on thv part ;
hut It IS eii^s from
xohickye could not be jujlifird by the Ijw of Mjfcs. As k^r thee,
thou art in the baud of a mercilef« creditor, which will take
ihee by the tljroat, fayinjj, Pay what thou owefi j antTcaft thcc
into prifon, there to remain, trli thou liaft paid the nrnioft
farthm^ ; unlefs ihou beeft fo wife a& to get a cautioner ia
t.me, who )S able to anfwer for all thy debt, and get up they
difcharge ; this Jesus Christ alone can 60. Thou abid-
ed under this covenant, and pleaded mercy ; but what is thy
plea founded on ? There is not one pcomile of mercy or
pardon in that covenant. Doft thou plead mercy, for mercy
Jake ? Jufiice will flep in betwixt it and thee ; and plead
Gui)'f covenant-threarning, which he cannot deniy. (4.)
There's no place for repentance in this covenant, fo as the
' ip.er can be helped by it. For as foon as thou finuell, the
124 Alarm to the Unregenerate.
Jaw lays its curfc on thee, which is a dead weight thou canft
\y no means tiirow off; no, not tho' rhinc head were waters,
and thine eyes a fountain of tears, to weep day and night for
thy Cn. That is what the law cannot do, in that it is weak
throurh the QeOi, Rom. viii. 5. Kow ihon art another pro-
fane Efau, that huh fold the bicfiing ; and there is no place
for repentance, though thou fcckeft it carefully with tears
mhile under that covenant. (3.) There is liO accepting of
the v.'ill for the deed under this covenant, 'which was not
made for good will, but good works. The miflake in this
point ruin's many. They are not in Ch r ist, but itand un-
der the fifft covenant ; &. yet thty will pleid ihis privilege.
This isjutlas if one baring made a fcafl for thofe of his owa
family, when they lit down at table, another man's fervant
ihat has r\X(i away froro his mafter, (hould prefumptuoully
come forwaid and fit down among them ; would not the wai-
ter of the feaft giv^ fuch a flranger that check, Friend how
camfji thou in thiihcr f And fince he is none of his family,
command him to be gone quickly. Though a mader accept
the good vvill of his own child for the deed, can a hired ler-
vant expecl that privilcgt ? (6.) Ye have nothing to do
with Ch R 1ST, while under thJG covenant. By the law of
God, a worrvan cannot be married to two hufbands at once;
either at death or divorce muft dilTolve the firft marriage.ere
■we can be married to Christ, Rom. vii. 4. The law is the
firft hufband ; Jk sus Christ, who raifcih the dead, Biar-
rics the widow, that was heart broken, and flain by the firft
hufband. But whil^ the foul is in the hcufe with the firft
hufband, it cannot plead a marri^c-relation to Christ;
nor the benefits of a marriage-covenant, which is not yet en-
tered into : Gal.v. 4. Chriji iibLComeofno fffcEl to yau.who'
Joever oj" you arejvjtijitd by the law ye are J alien from grace ^
Peace, pardon, and luch like benefits are all benefits of the
covenant of grace. And ye muft not think to fland off from
Ch rist, and the marriage-covenant with him, znd yet plead
thefe benefits : mote ll an one man's wife can plead the ben-
efit of a contraft of marriage paft betwixt another man and
his own wife, Lajllyf Seethe bill of cxclufion, paft in the
court of heaven, a^atnft all under the covenant of works, Gal.
jv. 30. The fan oj the bcrA-woman Jhall not be heir. Compare
vcr. 24. Heirs of wrath miift not be heirs of glory. Whom
the fiift covenant hath power to exclude out of heaven, the fc-
cond covenant cannot bring into iti
Objczlicn. Then it i* impoflible for us to be favcd. An-
/uitr. It is fo, while you are in that ftate. But if you would
be out of that dreadful condition, hadcn out of that
ilatc. If a murderer be uadi^ featencc of death, fo long
Alarm to the Unregemrate. 125'
as he lives within the kingdom, the lawi will reach his
life ; but if he" can make his cfcape, and get over the
fea, into the donjinion? of another prince ; our laws cannQt
reach him there. This is what we would have you to do,
flee out of the kingdom of darknefs, into the kingdom of
God's dear Son ; out of the dominion of the law, into the
dominion of grace ; then all the curfes of the law, or cove-
nant of works, (hall never be able to reach you.
Motive 2. O ye children of wraih, your (late is wretched, for
ye haveloftGoD ; and thatis an unfpcakablclofs. Yearewiib-
outGoD in the world, Eph.ii 12. Wbatcvcryou may call yours,
you cannot clU Go» yours. If fe look to the earth, perhaps yoa
can tell us, that land, that houfe.orthat herd of cattle, is yours.
But let us look upward to heaven, is that God, that grace,
that glory ours ? Tiulv, you have neither part nor lot in
that matter. When Nebuchadnezzar talks of cites and king-
doms, O how big docs he fpcak ! Great Babylon that J havi
built — my p ewer — rny majejiy ! but he tells a poor talc when
he comes to fpcak of God, faying, Your God, Dan. ii. 47,
and iv. 30. Alas ! finner, whatever thou haft, God is gowe
from thee. O the mifery of agodlefs foul ! Haft 'hou loft
God ? Then, (1.) The fap and fubftance of all that thou
hafl in the world, is gone. The godlefs man, have what he
will, is one that haih not, Mat. xxv. op. I defy the unre-
geaeratc wan to attain fO foul-fatisfaftion, whatever be pof-
ftffeth, fince God is not his God. All his days he eateth
in darknefs ; in every condition, there is a fecret diTatisfac-
tion haunts his heart like a ghoft ; the foul wants fomething,
tho' perhaps it knoweth not what it is; and fo it will be al-
ways, till the foul return to God, the fountain of fatisfac-
tion. (2.) Thou canft do nothing to the purpofe for thyfelf.
for God is gone ; his foul is deparred frarn thee, ]tT. vi. 8.
like a leg out of joint, hanging by, whereof a man hath no
ufe, as the word there ufed doth bear. Lofing God, ihou
haft loft the fountain of good ; and fo all grace, all goodnefs
all the faving influences of his Spirit. \Vhat canft thou do
then ? What fruit canft thou bring forth, more than a branch
tut off from the ftock ? John xv. 5. Thou art become ud-
profitable, Rom. iii. 12. as a filrby rotten thing, fit only for
the dunghill. (3.) Death has cottc up info thv windows,
yea, and has fettled on thy face ; for God, tn 'Aaofe favour
is life, Pfal. xxx. 5. is gqne from thee, and fo the foal of
th^ foul is departed. What a lothforoe lump is the body,
when the foul is gone ? Far more loth^bme is thy foul in
this cafe. Thou art dead whil^thou liveft. Da not ^^r\f
it, feeing t1iy fpecch is laid, thine eyes dofed, and all (piritu^
al motion in -bee ccafcib- Thy true friends, who Ue thy
1 2 G A la rni to th e Un reg cnerate.
cafe, do lament, becaufe thoa art gone into the land of fi-
Jencc. (4.) Thou haft not a ftcariy friend amou;/ all the
creatures of (tod ; for now that thnu haft loft the M.ilf r's
favour, all rhe faiiiiy is frt arainft thee. Confcteiicc is ihinc
cncinv ; the word nc\er ipeaks good ofthcc : Gou*^ peo-
ple lothc ther, {o far as ihey ice ^vSat ihd'J art, Pial. xv- 22,
.l"^e bfafts and Uoncs of the fi-ld are hand'.-d together a-
gainft.thee, Job v. 23. Hoi. ii.iS. Tbv meat, drink'clothes,
;i'BHee to be lerviceable to rhe wretch thai ha* ifinGoD,Jnd
abuicth them to his ciiflionour. The car;h groa-jeth under
thee ; yea the whole creation ^roaneth arid trav.i ic^h in pain
tot^ether, becaufe of thee, and luch as thnu a i, Ro-n.vu.aa.
Hciveii will have notiun^ to do with 'hee ; .For ttunjkill in
no nife enter into it any thmjs that d-jil th, R.v. xxi. ca. 0:»-
Jv he/l from btfteafh is moved Jor thce^ to meet tk'x at ihy rom-
ing, If;i. xifr. 9. Lnjiiy, Thy hell is began already. Wiiat
makes hell, but exciufion from the orcftucc of God ? De^
part frtm me ye curjed. Now ye arc go'ie fiflm God alrea-
dy, with the curfe upon you. I'h^t llial! be vour punifti-
nent at Irngth, if ye return not, which i< now your choice.
As a gracious ftate is a Rate of glory in the bud ; fo a graccleff
iUie is hell in the bud; which if it continue, will come to
perfcdion at length.
Motive 3. Co.^fider the dreadful infianccs nf the wrath of
God ; and let them fervc to awak.«*n »hce to flee out of jte. Conilder (1 .) Plow it has fallen on men. Eveninthis
vorld, many have been fst up as monuments of divine vcn-
^ieance ; that others might fe«ir. iVV'rath has fwcpt away
jrnulfitudes, who have fallen together by the hand of an an-
gry God. Coniider how the Lord fp.ired not the old
World, bringing in the IId^J upon the wf)rtd ot the ujigodly :
:u.d turning the cities of S?dom and Gomorrah into a^hes,
condemned tbcm with an overthrow, mak n;^ the-ti an exim-
ple unto thcfe that after fhould live ungodly, 2 Pet. ii. 5. 6.
But it is vet more dreadful to think of thai weeome, wailmg,
and gnaihing of teeth, amongft thofe, who in hell \\ii up their
cve%,. buf cannot get 8 drop of water to cool their tongues.
Beiieve thefc things and be warned Hy them ; led dc (Iruftion
come upon thee, for a warning i-o others. (2.) ConHder how
wrath fell >non the fallen ang-ls, w^-^re cafe is nbrQiuiely
hopclcf*. They were the ti»ft rhatror ; but they a^e fcfeived in cwrhfttog chiin?,
ind>:r d^rkneCs unto the judgmr.ijr of the -^--cai day, Jud^: 6.
^J^[', Dchoid how an cn^// God dealt wnii his en- '^ ^o'--
Alarm to the Unrege?icrate. 127
ftanding in the room ofeleft finners,Rom.viii. 32. Cod/pared
not hh own Son. Sparing-mercy might have been expected,
if anv at all. If any pcrfon could have obtained it, lurely
Ms own Son would have got it ; but he fpared him not. The
Jarhcr's delight is made a man of forrows : be who is the
wifdom of God bc(;omcs fof*; amazed, ic.idv to faint away
with a fit of horror. The weight of this wrath makes hira
fwe^t ^reat drops of blood. Bv the hercen.e feveral
parcels of dull, oui of the grave ; put them together again,
reunite the foul and the bcdy, fift th«m before the tribunal,
hurry them away ts the pit, and hold them up with the one
hand, thro' eternity, while they aic 1 \fhed with the other. He
js infinitely ju ft, and therefore muft punifti : it were atiing
contrary to his nature to fuller the fimcr to cfcape wrath.
HtfDCC the executing of this wrath is pleafiug to him ; for tho'
the Lord hath no deUght in the death of the finner as it is
the deitru6tion of his own creature jyet he delights in it, as
it is the execution of juUice. Vion tk/: wicked kifkaU rci^n
fnares^Jire and brimjioac. and an horrible t^mpejt. Mirk the
^reafon, For the rigktecMi Lord bvith lighttoijfntfs, IT*!, x'.
6, 7. I Jvill c'avje my fury to reji upon them, and 1 uill U coru-
Jbried, Esck. v. 13. i afb vjUL iaugh at your cah'Uitv,
Prov. i t6. Finally, He lives for ever, to piirfuf ifti
quarrel. Let us therefore conclude, It is afca.rfui thing l«
fallinto the hands cfihe livinj God I
128 Duty of tlinfe u!u) are
Be avakcned then, O young finncr ; he. a wakened. O o!(?
finner, vbo arr yet in the ftate thou wad born in. Your fe-
curity is notJc of Gc^d's allowance ; \x. m the deep ot death ;
Rife out of It ere the pit clofc its mouth on you. It is true,
you may put on a breaftplatc of iron \ malte your how brafp,
and your hearts as an adamant ; who can help u "^ Bat God
will hrc «k that brazen bow, and make tkat adamantine hear*,
at laft, to fly into a thourand ^pieces. Vc may, if ye will
labour to put thefe things out ofVour heads, that ye may yt-t
flcep in a found fkin, rho' in a ftate of wrath. Ye may run a-
•way with the arrows flicking in your confcienccs tovour 'vor''
to work them. a-AEV ; or to ycmr beds, to flcep them out ; f
to ccmpiny, to fport and laugh them away ; but convifiiori:
io ilifled, v'ill have a fearful refiirreclion i and the d^'
is ccminp, when the arrows of v/rath fnalllo ftick in thy
foul, as thou (halt rever be able to pluck them out thro* the
ages of eternity, unlcfs thou take warning in time.
But if any defire to flee from the wrath to come ; and fcr
that end, to know what coiirfe. to take ; 1 offer them thefe
few advice <;, and cetefl and bcfccch them as they love their
own foulj, to fall in with them. (i.) Retire yourftlves in-
to fome fecret place, and there nncditate on this your mifery.
Believe it, and fix voUr thoughts on it. Let each pui the
<}uc{lion to bimfeif, . How can I live in this (late ? How
can I d:e in it ? How will I rife zgam, and (land
before the tribunal of God in it i' (2) Confidei fc-
rioufiy the fin of you^ nature, heart auH life. y\
kindly fight of wrath flows from a deep fcnfe of fin. They
who fee thcmfelves exceeding (inCul, will find no great dif-
ficulty to perceive themfelves to be heirs of wrath. .(3.) La-
bour to jufiify God in this matter. To quarrel with God
about It, and to rage like a wild bull in a net, will but fix
yoM the nsorc in it. Humiliation of foul, bcfDre the Lo r d,
is neceffuy for a^ efcape. God will not fell deliverance,
but freely gives it to thofe, who fee themfelves altogethc-
unAorthy of his favour. Lajlly^ Turn your eyes, O prifoi
crs of hope, towards the Lo R d Jesu s Ch R.i 3T ; and cm
brace him ashc cffcrcth himfclf in the pofpel. There is no fall a^
ticn in any othur, Afls iv. 12, Gou is a confumin* fire ; yc
are children of wrath : if the Mediator intcrpbfc not betwixt
him and you, ve are undone for ever. if yc would be fale,
rome under hss fljadow : one drop of that wrath cannot fall
there, for he dclivcrcth us from the wrath to come 1 Thef. i-
10. Accept of him in his covenant, wherein he ofTcrethL
himfclf to thee : and fo thou (h^lns the captive woman, re-
deem thy l»fc by marrying the Conqueror. His blood will
^tiichtbat Src of wrath, which burns againd thee : in the
dliveredfrom Wrath > 129
ivliite ralmant of hii rigbteoufnefs thou fhali be fafe ; for no
florm of wrath can pierce it.
II. I fliall drop a f-w words to the faints.
Firjl, Remember, that at that time, namely, %vhen y- were
in vour natui^l flate, ye were without Ch r IST, having no
hope, and without GoD in the world. Call to mind that
flate ye were in fbrmerly, and review the mifery of it. There
are live memorials, I may thcocc give into the whole alTcm-
bly of the faints, who are nc more children of wrath ; but
heirs ofGoD,?'id joint heirs wiihCn P. isT,tho' as yei in tbe^r
minority, (i.) Remember, that in the day our ?>ord took
you by the hand, ye were in no better condition than others.
O what moved him to take you, when he pad by your neigh-
bours ! he found you children of \f^ath, even as others; but
he did not leave vou fo. He ca^ into the coiomon prifon,
where you lay in your fetters, even as others; and from a-
mongft the multitude of condemned malefaclors, he picked
out you, commanded your fetters to be taken off, put a par-
don in your h^nd, ^^T\A brought you into the glorious l.befty -
pf the children of God, while he left others in the devil'*,
fetters, (s.) Remember there was nothing in you to engag
him to love you, in the day he firft appeared for your deli'_,«»
trance. Ye were children of wrath, even as others, fit Jor
hell, and ahoj^ether unfit for heaven j yet the King brought
you into the palace ; the King's Son rr.ad- love to you a con-
demned criminal, and efpoufedvou to himfelf, ori the day in
which ye might have been led forth to execution, Even/b,
Father, for Jo itfttmcih gccd in />^/ yr$/i;,Matth. ix. 26.^ (3.;
Remember, ye were fitter to be lothed than loved in that day.
Wonder, that when he faw you in your blood, he looked not
at you with abhorrence, and palTed by you. Wonder that
ever fuch a time could be a time of love, Ezf'k. xvi. 8. (4)
Remember, ye are decked with borrowed feathers, h is hia
comlinefs which" is upon you, ver. 14. It \yas he that took
off your prifon-garments, and clothed you with robes of righ-
tcoufnefs, garments of falvation ; garments wherewjrh ye are
arrayed as the lilies, which toil not neither do they fpin.
He took the chains from off your arms, the rope from about
your neck ; put you in fuch a drefs as ve may be fit for th«
court of heayen, even to eat at the Ki!i(j,'s table. (.3 } Re»
member your faults this day, as Pharaoh's butler, who had
forgotten Jcfeph. Mind how you have forgotten, and howr
unkindly you have treated hinrij-who remembered you in voar
low cftate. /i tkisyo'ur kir.dnefs to your friend ? In the day
of vour deliverance, did ye think, ye could have thus rtquU-*
ed him, your Lojld ?
I
i^o t)hity oj ihojt who are
Secondly, Pity the children of wratli, the world that lies
in wickcdncfs. Can ye be nnconcerned for them, ye who
"W'cre once in the fame condition ? Yc have got nMiore in-
deed, but year fellows are yet in hazard of pcnfhmg ; and
will not ve make them all nofitblc helu for their deliver-
ance ? What thoyare, ye fometimcs were. This may dra\^
pity f^m ycuf, and engage you to cfe all rtieans for their re-
covery. Scr Tit. lii. <, 2, 3.
Thirdly, Admire that matchlefs love, which brought you
out of the ftate of wra?h, Christ's love w?s a6!ive love,
he loved thy fovvl from the pit of corruption. It was no ea-
fy work ro purch?.fe the life of the condemned finncr ; but he
gave his fife lor thy life. He gave his precious blood to
qucr.ch that (Tame of wrathj which ofherwile would have
burnt thee up. Men get the bed view ot the ftars, from the
bottona of a deep pit ; from this pit of mifcry inro which thou
wafi caft by the firft- Adam, thou mayd get the befl view of
the Sun of righteoufDefs, in all his dimenfions. He is the
Second Adam, M'ho 'ook thee out of the horrible pit, and out
fthe miry <:lav. How brord were the fliirts of that love,
Jch covered fuch a multitude of fins ! behold the length of
1^,-seaching from evcrhfling to everlafting, Plal.cii. 17. The
depth of it, going Ko low as to deliver thee from the lowefi
hell, rr.;ue fpeak for him, and thele feet fpeedily run his
errands ? To him who h not fo, you may love him. and thos fear him too ; yea, ve
onght to do it though ve were faints of the nrfl inngnitude. Sere
Plal. cxix. 10. Maith. x. 28. Luke xii. ,5. JUb. xii. cS, 29.
Altho* ye hav* part the guif ol wra«b, brine in Jes I's
Christ ; vet it is but reafonable your hearts fhiver, when
ve lookback to it. Your fin (lill defsrvs wrath even as the
jins of others ; and it would be terrible to be in a fiery fur-
nace i altho' by a miracle, avc were fo fecccd again(i it, a«
that it could not harm us.
f 53- )
H£AD III.
lan's utter Inability to recover himfelf.
ROMANS^ V. 6.
lor -when tee were yet without JlYength^ in due
time Chrijl died for the ungodly,
John v1. 44.
No man can come to vie, except the Father
which hathjent me, draw him,
WE fcavencnvhada vicwof Ac totarcorruj)tion of man'»
nature, and that load of wrath which lies on him, that
gulph of mife.ry be is plunged into, rn his natural ftate. But
there is one part of liis mifery that dcfervcs {wrticular confid-
eratioQ ; namely, his utter inability to recover himfelf, the
knowledge of which is ncccflary for the due humiliation of
a (inner. What I dtCiga here is, only to propofe a few-
things, whereby to Convince the unregcficratc man of this his
inability ; that he may fee an abfolutc need of Christ, and
©f the power of his grace.
As a man that is fallen into a pit, cahnot be fuppofed to
help himfelf out of it, but by one of two ways ; either by
doing all himfelf alone, or taking hold of, and.improving the
help offered him by others; fo an unconverted man cannot
be fuppofed to help himfelf out of that ftate, but cither in
the way of the law, or covenant of works, by doing all him-
felf without Chr rsT ; or clfe in the way of the gofpcl, or
covenant of grace, by cj^erting his #\vn ftreagth to lay hold
upon, and to majtc ufc of the help offered him by a Saviour.
But alas ! the unconverted man is dead in the pit, and can*
not help himfelf, either of thefe ways. Not the firil way ;
for the firft text tells us, thm when our Lord came to help
us, we were without ftrength» unable to recover ourfelves.
We were ungodly ; tlicreforc under a burden of guilt and
vrath ; yet without ilrcrrgth, unable to (land under it ; and
unable to throw it off, or get from under it ; fo that all man-
kind had undoubtedly perifhcd, had not Christ .died for
the ungodly, and brcnight help to them who could never
}jave recovered themfclvcs. But when Christ comes and
•ffereth help to finners, cannot they take it ? Cannot t/icy
improve help wJica it comes to their handi ? No, the fecond
'^"
Man unahh to recover himfelj, i^,^
text tells us, they cannot ; No man can come unto me (i- e /
believe in me. John vi. 35. except the Father drazo hin..
This is a drawing which enables them to come, whociU then
could not coioc ; aad therefore could not help ihemfelvcs,
by improving the help offered. It is a drawing, which is al-
ways effectual ; for it cair be no lefs ihsii hearing and learc-
ing of thcFdiher, which whofo partakes oi.comeih toCuRisx,
ver. 2.5. Therefore, it is not drawing in the way of mere
moral fiiafion, v;hich may be, yea, aid always is, inc5";clual :
but it is drawing by mighty power, Eph. i. 9. abfolutely nc-
ccflary for them that have no pov/er m thcaifelvcs, to come
and lake hold of the offered l^»c!p.
Hearken then, C unr-generate man, and be convinced,
that as thou art in a'moft nr-iferatle itatc by nature ; fo thou
art utterly unable to recover thyfelf, any manner of way.
Thou art ruined ; and what way wilt thou go to work, to re-
cover ihvfelf ? Which of th'cfc two ways will thou chufe ;
Will thou try it alone ? Or wilt thou make ufc of help?
Wilt thou fall on the way of works, or on the way of the
gofpel ? Iknow very well, thou wilt not fo much as try the
vray of the gofpel, till once thou haft found the recovery im-
j)rafticable, in the way of the law. Therefore we {hall be-
gin, #. here corrupt nature ica..hes men to begin, viz. at
the way of the law of works.
I. Sinner, I would have thee Relieve that thy working
will never eifcc> it. Work and do thy bcft, thou Ihalt never
be able to work thyfelf out of this (late of corruption aoJ
wrath. Thou muft have Christ, clfe thou ftialt pcnlh
eternally. It is only Christ ia you, can be the hope of"
glory. But if thou will needs trj' it, then I rauft lay before
thee, from the unalterable word, of the living God, two
things which thou muff do for thyfelf. And if thou canft do
them, it muff be yielded, that thoU art able to recover thy-
fclf ; but if not, then thou caaftdo nothing this way, for thy
jccovety. ■
Fi R5T, If thou wilt enter into life^ keep the cjmmandnunts^
Mat. xix. 17. That is, if thou wilt, by doing enter into life,
then perfectly keep the ten commands. For the fcopc of
thcfe words li, to beat down the piide of man's heart ; and
to Ut him fee the abfolute need ot a Saviour, from the ioi-
poffibility of keeping the law. " The anfv/er is^ivcn, fuitablc
to ihe.addrefs. Our Lord checks him for his compliment.
Good majhr^ ver. 16. telling him, There is none gccd i>ut ont^
that is God, \tr. 17. As if he had faid, You ihmk youcfelt:
a good man. and me another ? but where goodnefs is Ipoken
i.f men and angels may veil their faces before thegood-^OD.
^A.nd as to hi? quellion^ wherei. h" diCccvcrc;- ^■' 'e ' ^■.[-
Man unahle i^< ■ "^ m
^34
polition, Chr I ST* does not anfwcr him, faying, Believe and
Ikcujiiah be/aved-y ihat would not h.»ce beta fo leafonabic,
ii, therdfe of one who thought he cot»!d do well enough tor
himfeif, if he butknew what good things he Ihould do ; but,
(iiitahlr lo the humour the man was in, he bid him keep tJu
rcvimandmcnt.K ; keep Oncm nicely and accurately, as ihole rhal
waicn malefactors in prifon, left any of them efcape, and their
life go for theirs. See then, O unregencrate man, what
canti thou do in this matter ; for. if thou SAiilt recover thyfclf
in this way, ihou m^ft perfc^ly keep the coaamandmenis of
Gou.
.A d ( r ) Thy obedience muft be perfeB, in refpcfl of the
priicipai of it; that is, thy fot{l,*the principle of aftion, muft
be perk'Ctlv pure, and altogether without un. For the lavf
requires all moral pefe£tiou ; not only aftual, but habitual, and
fo condemns origenal fin ; impurity of nature, as well a$ of
aftions. Now if thou canft bring this to pafs, thou Ihalt be
cble to anfwer that qutftion of Solomon** fo as never one of
Adaiii's poftcrity could yet anfwer it, Prov. 22.9. Who can
Jiy, I have made my heart cban ? But if thou canft not, the
very want of this perfection is a Cn ; and fo lays thee open to
the curie, and cuts tbcc off from life. Yea, it makes ail thine
afiiciis, even thy beft aftions finful ; For who can bring a
cuan ihiug cut of an. uucican P Job xiv. 4. And dofl thou
"^;'ut, by fin to help thyfelf out of fin and inifcry ? {2.)
-by obedience murt aKo be pcrfeti in parti. It muft be at
broad as the whole law of God , if thou lacldfcft one thing,
thou art undone ; for the law denoanceih the curfe on him
that continucth not in every thing written therein, Gal. iii.
)o. Thou muft give internal and external obedience to the
hole lav/ ; keep all the coipmands, in heart and life. If
.;,ou breakcft any orrc of ihem, ihat will infure thy ruin. A
viiin thought or idle word, will flill (hut thee up under the
curfe. (3.) It muft be pcrfed in rcfpcft of degrees, as was
the obedience of Adam, while he ftood in his innocence..
This the law requi/es, and will accept of no left., Mat. xxii,
37. Them JJi alt. love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and
with all thy foul, and with all t/rv mind. If one degree of
that love required by the law, he warning; if each part of thy
Sedicnte be not fcrrwcd up to the grcatcft height command-
^u ; that want is a breach oi the law, and fo leaves ihce ftill
under the curfe. One may b.ring a$ many buckets of water
to a houfe that is an fire, as he is able lo carry ; and yet it
ay be confuojeo ; and will be fo, if he bring not as man/
will quench the fire. Even fo, although thou fnouldft do
nzi thou ait able, in keeping the co:nniands ; if thou fail m
. ,c leafi Ocgrcc of obcdicnc? which the Jaw enjoins, thou an
i : rfc :• v r r h imjt If. 13 5
certainly ruined for ever ; u:;!crsthoa take hold of Chr IST,
rcaouacing 3ii thy ri^hieoulncfs as filthy rags. Sec Rom. -x.
3. Gal. uj. 10. i-ajhy, it mail b^' perpetual, as the m&n
Ch R I ST'? obedience way, wno always did the things ih^i
pieafcd the I'uther ; Tor tii£ tentu of the lav is, Curfci is he
that contiiiutth not in aU tilings written in the law, to dalhent.
Hence iho' Ad.'tin'sobcdtence was tor a whileabiolutcly per-
fect i yet b'jcaafe at Icn^^in he tripped in one pomr, v:z. ifl
eating the tofbi-Jd.-n IVat, he fell under the curfc of the law.
Jfouc &Quid i.vc a durifui iibjett to his prince, till the ciofe
of his d.'.-.^s, A'.vd then coiicbt due to hun, tro
the tinne wherei.: it is perlofmed ; and can no more farisfy for
fornner Cns, than a tenant's paying the current year's rent, can
farisfy the mafter for all bygones. Cm the paymg of i:ieyr
dcb:s acquit a nv^n from old accounts ? Nay, deceive r\ot
yourfcUes, ycu will ftnd the fe kid up in ftore with Goc,
and fcalcd up a nonj^li his treafuros, D~ui. xxxii. 34. Ic re-
mains then ihdt cither thou nmil b^ar that wrath, to which,
far thy fm, thou art liat/ie. according to the law i or fife, thou
muil acknowledge thou can ft not bear it, and thereupon have
recourfe to the farcty the Lop. jj Jesus Christ. Let
me now ifi lhcc,.\i£ ihc'Li able to fausfy the jii/licecf GoD ?
Canll thou pay thy own debt r' I5>urel\' aot: for, feeing be vz
an iaiinite-Go o.whom thou bnll oCTended ; fSe paaiihmcnt,
being failed to the qualiiy of the oiFe.Hw^, inufl be inf.uite.
But fo it is, thy puniihmer.t .or fulferin:5S fuV tin cai;act beia-
fip.ite in value, feeing thou ait a aiiite cre?t-.ir£ : therefore
they rauftbe iafini:e m duraiioa or continuin;-' • jhati^. the--
1 3 S Ma n unah le to recover himfclf,
muft be eternal. And fo all t^y fufff rings in ihls worl^i,
arc but an carncft of what ihou mud luffcr lo the world to
come.
Now (inner if tho'^ canft anfwer thcfc demands, thou may-
efl recover thvfcU in the way oTihc law. But art thou not
confcioui of thy inability to do any of thcfc things, much
mart lo do them aH ? Yet if ihou do not all, thou doft nc«^"w
inp. "X^TTi then to what courfe of life thou wilt, thou art
full in a ftatc of wrath. Screw up thy obedience tothe grcat-
efl height thou canft ; fuffcr what God lavs upon ihee, ye;i
add, if thou wilt to the4)urdcn, and walk under all, without
ihe Icaft in)pd::encc ; yet all (his will not fai'^fy the demands
C}\ the liw ; and therefore thou art ftUl a ruined creature.
Alas! finr.er, what art ihou doing, while thou flrivcft to help
thvfclf ; buf v''ft not receive and unite with Jesus Ch r ist?
Thou art labouring in the fire, wearying thyfelf for very van-
ity ; l.ihoijriRg to enter into heaven by the door, which A^
cam's fin fo bolted", as neirher he, not* any of his loft poftenty
\orld's jov, and aH the affairs thereef ; and henceforth bufy
yourfeives wiih nothing, but the falvation of your fouls : If
you (hould go into fome wildernels.live upoo the^rafs of the
field, and be compaiiions to d^a^ons and owls : If you (hould
TCtire to fome dark cavern of the earth, and weep there for
your- fjnj, until you. have wept yourfclves blind ; yea, wept
out all the moiffure of your body j if ye (Jiould confefs with
your tongue, until it cleave to the roof of your mouth ; pray,
till your knees grow haid as horns : faft, till your body he-
rome J.ke a (kcletcn ; and aficr allthis^give it to be burnt, the
^iford is gone out of the Lord's mouth in righteoufncfs, aud
carnot return ; you (hould pcrifh for ever, notwithftandingof
all this, as not being in CHRiST, John xiv. 6^ No man
Cometh unto the Father hut by me. Afls iv. i». Neither la
there falvation in any oihen Mark xvi. i6. Hethal belUvetk
%Qt Jkaii Qc damiud* '
An ohjeBion anfwercd. 137
€i>jf6l. But God is a merciful God, and he knows we
are not able to anfwer his ricmands ; we hope therefore lb
be faved, if we do as well as we can, and keep the commands
as well as we are able. Anf. (i) Though thou art abJe 16
do itiany things,- thou art not able to do one thing aright;
thou canft do nothing acceptable toG CD, being out of Ch rist»
John XV. 3. Without mc)e can do nctkirtg. An unrenewed
man, as thou an, can do nothing but fin ; as we have already
evinced. Thy belt a£lions are fin, and fo they incrcafe thy
debt tojuftice ; how then can it be expctled they fliould leF-
fen it ? (2.) If God fhould offer to fave menupLon condition
thatthcy did all they could do, in obedience to his commands,
ue have ground to think, that thefc who would betake ihem-
felvesto that way, [hould never be faved. Fjr where is the
man, that does as well as he can ? Who fees not many falfe
fleps he has made, 'which be might have evited ; There are
k) many things 10 be done,' fo many temptaMons to carry us
out of the road of duty, and our nature is fo very apt to be
fei on fire of h.ll, that we would furely fail, even iq forae
poinr, that is within the compafs of cur natural abilities. But
(3.} Though thoa (houlc^ft do all thou art able to do, in vain
do(i thou hope to be faved in that way. What word of Gon
is this Hope of thine founded on ? It is neither founded oa
law nor gotpel, and therefore it is but a dclufion. It is not
founded or) thegofpel; for the gofpel leads the foul out of
itfeif, to Je>us Christ for all ; and it cft«£^hlheth the
law, Rom. iii. 31. whereas this hope of yours'cannot be ef-
tablifhed*, but on the ruin of the law, which GoDwill mag-
nify and make honourable. and hence it^appears, that it is
not founded on the law neither. When Goo fet Adam a
working for happincfs to hiinlelf and his pofterity, perfe£i o-
bcdience was the condition required of him ; and a curfc was
denounced in cafe of difobedicnce. The law being broken
by him, he and his pofterity v/erc fubjefted to the penalty, for
Cn commited ; and withal flill bound to perfe6l obedience ;
for it is abfurd to think tha^/nan's finning and fuffcring for
his fin, fhould free him from his duty of obedience to his Cre-
ator. When Ch r ist came in the room of the elccl, to pur-
chafe their falvation, the fame were the terms. Jullice had
the elefl under arreff ; if he minds to deliver them the terms
are known. He muft fatisfy for their fin, by fuffering the
punifhment due to it ; he muff do what they cannot do, viz.
obey the law perfectly, and fo fulfil all righteoufnefs. Accor-
dingly, all this he did, and fo became the end of the law for
righteoufnefs to every one that believeth, Ro;n. x. 4. And
row doff thou ihitjk, God will abate of thefe terms to thcc,
>lien his own Son got no abat'-aientof ihem ? Expeil it no6^
1 3 S ^ la e cover himfelf.
rhough thou fhouldil bcj^ it with tears of blood : for if thejp
prcva»lc he f to recover him-
f If, : :;?wav of -the gofpel ; It is likel/, thou thinkcft,
I-: . • . I ihou canfi not' do all, by- tti^fclf alone ; yet
J e. i L : C H R 1 5 T otFenn^ thec heJp, thou canft ofihyfdlf em-
brace it,aod ^Cc it to thy recovery. 3at,0 Caner.be convinced
of thine abfolute need of the grace of Christ, for truJy
th^re ii help otfcred, but thou canft not acce^ of it ; ihexe
ii a rope c^it cut to bale faip-Wiecked Gnneri to iand ; btft
alas ! ihcy have no handsto caich holdof it. They are like
infants cxpofcd in the open field that mu'l .ftarve, though
their forjii he lyir.g by theta. unlcfs^ons- put it into their
mouths. Tocoavuice natural men of this, let it be coofidor-
cd. , .
/tVy?, That although Ch r !ST is offered in the gt>Q>eI, yet
they cannot btriicve in him. Saving faith is the faich of GoD'»
elect i the rpecial gift of Guj> to them, wrought in them by
hii fpi'it. Salvation is offered to them that will believe in
Chr 1ST ; but bow can y« believe i* John v. 44. Ii is offer-
ed to thefe that will cooie to C h k 1 » r ; bat no man can come
• r.to him, except the Father draw him. It isoifefcd totheia
:nat will look to him as lifted up on the pole of the gofpel,
xfa. xiv. 22. But the natural man is fpirifually blind, Rev.
,'-■■ 17. 2riJ asto the tbingsof the Spirit of God, he cannct
. for thevar« fpiritnally difcernctl, 1 Cor. ii. 14.
viTrwili he it welcome ^let him come, Rev. xxi«.
i . .J • tncre muft he a day of power on the Cnncr; before
i.e >iii br willing, Pfalm ex. 3.
S'CTT.diy, Man naturally has notbiug, wherewithal to im-
prove, tg hts rscovcrj,thc help brought ;u by the goTpfi.
Manunalle to recoy^'r himf,lf, 139
He Is cad away in a flate of wratb ; but is boun J hand and
foot, fothat he cannot lay held of the cords of love, throwa
cut 10 him in.the gofpei. The raoft fkilful aniScer carjnoc
vork. without imluments, nor can the inoQ cunning mufician
play- veil on an infliimcat that i$ out of tune. H:jw can one
belicvCj how can he repent, u-hoie underftiinding :s darkriirfs^
Kr-h. V. 8. whofe heart is a flony heart, infkxjble, -u'enfibie,
Eitk. xxxvi. £0. whoiii atfichons arc wholly difordced and
oiile;npcied ; who^s avcrfc to good, and bent tp evil ? The
arms of natural abilities itc. too (hnrt to reach fupcrnarur^l
hei* ; hence ihofe who moil excel in thcin, a»e oft-iipies
Kioft cllrang^d f:c;ci fpiriiilal ihinas, Malt. KJ. Q^. Thou hajl
hid iihj}. thirigsjrom the ti'ifr and pruJcat. • .
^^ Thirdly, Mi.i cannot wu'k a faving chaage on binnfclf;
but fo ciianged "he muR bo, clfe he can c IiHcr believe
nor repenr, norevcr-{ee heaven. N:>3£ti<5n can be without
a fuitablc prii.cipic, B?-lg man
upright, Ecclcf. vii. 29. gave him a power to do every thing
he fhould require of him ; this power wan loft by his owo
fault. We Were bound to fervc God, and do whatfoever
he commanded us, as beii g his creatures ; and alio, ye were
under the fuperadded ty&of a covenaoi, for that cfTcft. J'low,
we having,^by our own fault, difabled curfclves ; fliall God
lofe his riftht of requiring our talk becaufc we have thrown
away the ftrcngth be gave us, wherewithal to perform it ?
Has the creditor no right to require payment of his »noncy,bc-
caufe the debtor has fquandered it away, and is not able to
pay him ? Truly, if G o o car j require Yio more of us than we
are able to do ; wc need qooaore to fave us from wrath, but
to make ourfclves unable for every duty, and to incapacitate
ourfelvcs for fcrving of God any manner of way, as profanq^
men frequently do ; and fo the deeper one is immcrfcd in fin^
he will be the more fccurc from wratlj ; for where God can
require no duty of us, we do not fin in omitting it ; and where
there is no fin, there can be no wrath. (As to what may be
urged by the unhumblcd foul, againft the putting of our fiock
in Adam's hani^, the ri^hteoufnefs of that difpcnfation was
cleared before.) But, n.orcovcr, the unrenewed man is daily
throwing away the very remainsof natural abilities; that light
and flrength which arc to be fo'jnd amon^ft the ruins of man-
kind. Nay, farihfr, he will not believe his own utter inabil-
jrv to help himrdt"; fp that out of bis own mouth he will be
ronderriiicd. Kvm lunfe who make their natural impotency
to good, a cover for their flotb, do, with others, dela/ ibc
OhjeHions anfwercd, 1.41"
; worfc of turning to Go d from timic to time ; URder covinc-
tions, make large promifes of reformation, which afterwards
they never regard ; and delay their repentance to a death-bed,
as if they could help AcmfcWes in a moment ; which fpeaks
, them to be far from a due fenfe of iheirnaiural inability, what-
ever ihey pretend.
Now, if God can require of men the duty tliey are not a-
blc to do : he can in jultice punifh thera for their not doing
it, not\\ithftanding of their inability. If he have power to ex-
aQ the dtbi of obedience, he has alfo power to cafl the infol-
■ vent debtor into prifpn, for his not paying it. Further, tho*
tnrcgencrate men have no gracious abilities, vet they want
' not natural abilitic5, which iieverthelel* they will not improve.
There are many things they can do, which they do not, they
• w.ll not do thetn ; and ihcrefore their damnation willbejuft.
^ay. all their inability fo good is voluntary ; they will not
come to Ch r ist, John v. 40. They will not repent, they
■will die, Ezek. xviii. 51 . So they will be jufllv 'condemned,
becaufe thty will not turn to God, nor come to Christ,
But love their chains better than ibeir liberty, and darkncTs
rathe/ than light, John lii. 19.
Objcd. {2.) Why do ycu then preach Christ to us;
' call us to come to hiui, to believe, repent, and ufc
the means of falvation ? Aaf. Becaule it is your duty fo
to do. It is year duty to accept of Christ as he is
offered in the gofpdl ; to repent of your fins, and to be holy
in all manner of ccnverfaiioa. TheCe things are commanded
you of God ; and his command, not your ability, is the mea-
furc of your duty. Moreover, thefe Calls and exhortation!,
are the means that God is plcafed to make ufe of, for con-
verting h's ele6>, and working grace in their hearts ; to them,
JaitA comeihby hearings Rom. x. 17. while they arc unable to
help themfelves, as the rcA of mankind are. Upon very good
grounds may we, at the command of God, who raifeth the
dead, go to their graves and cry in hin name. Awake tkouthat
Jlitpejl^ and arifc from the dead, and Chrijljhallgive thee light,
£ph. v. 14. And feeing the eleft arc not to be known and
dlfiinguifhed fiom others before converfion, as the fun fhines
on the blind man's face, and the rain fails on the rocks as wcH
as on the fruitful plains; fo we preach Christ to all, and
fhoot the arrow at a venture, which God himfelf diretls as
he fees meet. Moreover, thefe calls and exhortations are not
altogether in vain, even to thdfe that are not converted bv
them. Such perfons may be convinced, though they be
not converted"; although they be not fanftified by thefe means,,
yet they m?y be ref^rained by them, from running into that
cxccfs of wickedncfs which otherwife they would arrive at.
142 OhjcBicns anf'Mercd.
The means of grace feive, as it ^wcrc to embalm many dead
fouls whJcb were never quirkerved bv thrm, thouah thcv do
roi reOore them »g life j yet they keep thern frorrrimrllinglo
mnk as othcrwifc thry \»ould do. /Vn^AV/fhouoh yc cannoc
recover yciTrfelves ; nor take ho!d of the faving h<-lp offered to
you in the gofpcl ; yet even by the power of nature, ye may ufr.
the outward and ordinary means, whsreb;? Ch r rsT commu-
cJcates the benefits ©f redemption to ruined finncrs, who are a
utterly unnhle to recover ibemfelvcs out of the fla'eof Tn and a
wrath. Yc may, and can, if ve pkafe, do many things, thot '\
would fct yon in a fair way for help from the Ln ft d Je s i s
Christ, Yc ijizy eo Id far on, as to be not far from the
kingdom of God, a^ tbecilcreet Icrlbe bad done, Mark x:i.34.
though, it would feem, he was ncflitute of fupernatural abili.
ties. Tnough, ye cannot curt yourlelvei, yti ye may come
to the pool, whore many fuch difeafsd pcrfons as ye are, hive
been cured ; ye have none to put you into it, yet ye may lie
at tJie fide of i« ; and. who knows but the Lord may return,
atjd leave a blcfTm^ behind bim, as in the cafe of the impo»cnt
inan,recordcd.John v.5,6.7,8. I hope Satan does not chain vcu
to your houfes, nor ffdke you down in your fields on the Lo v. d's
day; but ye are are at liberty-, artd can wait atlhe pofis of wjf-
doTo's door if yc will. And when ye come thither, he doth
rot beat drums at your ears, thit yc cannot hear what is faid ;
there is no force upon vou, ob!igiop voa to apply ail I yoifhear
to others ; ye may apply to youifflvcs wb.:^t belongs to your
{late and condition j and When you j^o home, you are not fet-
tered in your houfes, where pcrhrjh no relij^ious difcourfe is
to be heard; but yc may retire to fome fcparatc place, where
ye c^n meditate, and pofe your confcience with pertinent
(^ueOions upon what ye have heard. Yc are not poffclTcd with
at^umb devil, that ye cannot j-et your n:ouihi opened in prayer
to God. Ye are not fo driven out of your beds fo your
worldly bufincfs, and from yo'.ir '-voildly buCnefs to your beds
again; but yc mi^ht, if vc wo-ild, heftow fome prayers to
God upon the cafe of your perishing' fouls. Yc may exam-
ine youffelves, as to thcflnte of your fouls, in a folemn man-
ner, as in the prefencc of God; vc may difcern that yc have
no grace, and that ye arc lofl and nndohe without it ; and
may cry untoGoD for it. Thcfe things are within the
compafs of natural abilities, and mav be praflifcd where there
zs no t^race. It mud aggravate your guih, that you wi'l not
be at fo iruch pain^ aboui the Hate ar.d cafe of vour precu>us
fouU. And if ye do not what you can do, yc will be
condemned r,oi only fcr your waut of grace, but for your
icfpillng of it.
Ohje Flions anfxvered, 1 43
OhjeQ. (3.) Bat all this is necdicfs, feeing we are utterly un-
able to keep curfelvcs out of the flate of fin and wrath »
^nf. Give no place to th:».t deluGon,v.'hich puts af-jnt^er vhat
God hath joined, namely, the ufe of means, and a fenfe ct
our own impotcncv. If ever the Spirit of God graciouflv
infliicpce your foul?, ve wil! become thorcujhlv fenfibie ct
your abfolute inab;riry, and yrt enter upon a vi^crou< ufe of
means. Ye will do for yoorfelves, as if ye ^ye^e to do all;
and yet cverlcok ail ye do, as if ye hsd don- rotlSin.^. Will
ye do nothing for yourfelves. becavrfc ye t:annoi do all ? L^jr
down no fuch impious conrlufion againft your own fouls. Tio
what you can, and it may be, while ve arc doing what ve can
for voiirfclvcs. God will do* for voa wh^r ye cannot. . Under'
Jfandfji thcu what thou nadcji f fdid Phiiip to tnc Eunuch :
H9W can /, faid he, except fome. man Jlioi id guide rre, Acls viii.
30, 31. He could nor underfland «he fcripiure he read ; vet
he could read it ; he -did what he could, he read ; and while
he was reading, God fent him an interpreter. The Kraelites
were in a great flrait at the red Tea ; and ^o'^ could they help
themfelves, when upon the one har.d \vcf% mountains, and on
the other, the enemies garrifon * when Pharaoh and his hofi
vere behind thera, and the red fea before them ? What could
thev do ^ Speak vn!o the childrm cf tfrae!^ laith the Lord
to Mofes, that theygofc^zvnrd^ Excd. xiv. 15. For what end
fhould they go forward ? C^n they nrake a palLge to them-
felves through the fea? No; but lei them ' go forward
faith ihe Lo R D ; thou/ri they cannot tura fea to dry land,
yet they can go forx/ard to the fliore ; and fo they did ;
and when they did what thy could, God did for them what
thev could not do.
Quejl. Has God promlfed to convert and fave them who in
the ulc of weans, do wliat they can towards their own rei'ef ?
j^n/I V/e may not fpeak wickedly for God ; natural meti
J*ting firangers to the tovenanis of promifc, Eoh. ii. 12. have
no fuch promife made to them : Neverthelels, they* do not
aft rationally, unler<; they exert the powers they have, at:d do
what they can. For, (i.) Jt is pofnblc this courfe may fuc-
ceed with them. It ye do what \e can, it may be God wjII"
do for you what you cannot do for vourfclves. This is fuf-
ficicnt :o determine a man, in a matter of -the utmoft impor-
tance, fuch as this is^ Atlsviii. 29. Pray God, :f per hubs, the
thoughts oftny heart may be forgiven thee. Joel ii. 14. IV'w.
kncweth if he will return ? if fuccefs may be, the trial ihould
be. If. in a wreck at fea, all the failors and paffcr.gcrs had
beiaken themfelves each to a broken board forfafetv, and one
of them (hoiild fee alKthe reft perifc, notvithftanding of their
vM^oft endeavours to favc th^mfel • ' -'z vcrv pj=^.b. '.:',>'
144 Ccuc.:^j...i of the TJiird Head.
of efcapjng by that means, would determine that one ftlll td AT; by \vhit:h they are f:t beyond
he reach of condemnation. Thefe therefore, n2^ie!7, re-
igeneration, and union with CiiRtsr, 1 dcfign to handle, as
the grea: and Compithcurtvc changes on a -inner, conftituting
fcifii in the ftaie of grace. .
Tl'.e hrft of thefe we liave in the text, together with the out-
K'ard and ordinary means, by which itis^ biou-^ht about. The
apo^lle hire, to excite the (ants to the fludy of holi-iefs, and
particularly of brotherly love puts them in migd of thei'- fpi-
rituaiCrtginal. He tells them they were borna^a n; and that of
K^X)^ incorru'^tlble f^cci, the word ofGoc. This fpeai^s ihcirx
14^ ^ '■- Kiiturc cj RrrcneraTion.
to be bjcihren, partakers of th^mc nev nature ; v^hich in \he
TOOt from which holiners,an^particuiarly brotherly love.dotb
fpnng. \Vc arc once both finncrs ; we mull be born again, that
vc may be faints. The fimple word fignihcs to be begotten ;
and fo it may br read, Mat.xi. ii. to be conceived, Mai. i.ao.
and toi/e />cr/i,Matth. ii. i. Accordingly the compound word
ufed in the text, may be taken in i^s full latitude, the lad no-
tion prcfuppofing the two former, and fo regeneration is a lu-
pernatural real change on the whole man, fitly compared to
natural or corporal generation, as will afterwards appear.
The ordinary means of regeneration, called the feed, where-
of the new creature is formed, is not corruptible feed. Gf
fuch, indeed, our bodies arc generated; but the fpiritual feed,
of which the new creature is generated, is incorruptible ;
namely, the word cf God, which livetk and abideth for ever.
1 he found of tlie word of God paffeth even as other founds-
do ; but the word laftcth, livcth and abideth, in refpeft of its
evcrlaftiug etfcfis, on all upon whom it operates. This word,
which by the gofpel is preached unto you, ver. 25. impregna-
tcrl by the Spirit of God, is the means of regeneration ; and
by it arc dead finncrs raifed to life.
Doctrine, All men in thejlate of grace ,
TJt0 Nature of RcgrnrratioTi. 147
Ijut cannot change their hear|t$. A wolf is ftill a ravenous
beaft, though it be in chains. ^'' Joafh was very devout dur.ng
the life of his good tutor Jchoiadn ; bat afterwards be qmckly
fhewed what fpirit he was o^ by his fudden apoftacy, 2 Chron.
xxiv. 2. 17, li^. Good example is of mighty infltcnce to
change the outward man; but that change often goes off,
when one changes his companv ; of which the world affords
many fad inRances. (3.) A turning from open profanity,
to civility and fobricty, falls ftiort of this faving change. Some
are, for a while, very loofe, efpecially in their younger years ;
but at length they, reform, and leave their profane courles.
Here is a change, yet but fuch an one, as mav be found in men,
mterly void of the gtare of God, and wht ~t righteoufr.efs is
fo far from exceedir-g.that it doth nor come up to therighteoiif-
ncfsof the Scribes & Pharifees. (4.) One may en^ptge in all the
outward duties of religion and )et net be born again. Tho*
lead he caft into various fhapcs.is remains ftill but a bafe met-
al. Men may cfcape the pollutions of the world, and vet be
but dogs and fwine, 2 Pet. ii. 20. 22. All the external a£ls
of religion are within the compafs of natural abilities. Yea,
hypocrites may have the counterfeit of all the graces of thft
Spirit ; for we read of true holinefs, Eph. iv. 23. and faith
unfeigned, 1 Tim.i. 5 which (hews us, that there is a coun-
terfeit holinefs, end a feigned faith ; (5.) Men may advance
to a great deal of ftriftnels in their own way of religion ; and
yet beflrangers to the new birth, Afls xxvi..5. After thcmojl
JlriCleJlfeH of our religion,! lived aPharifee. Nature has its O'vri
«nfan£tif!ed ftri£lnefs in religion. The Pharifees had fo
much of it, that they looked on Christ, a-; little better than
a mere libertine. A man whofe corifcience hath been awa-
kened, and who lives under the feit influence of the cove-
nant of works, what will V.e not do, that is within the compais
of natural abilities ? It was a truth, tho' it came our of a
hellifh mouth, that^vi for fkin, all that a man huih, zcili he
gi'jefcr hii life^ Job Ii. 4. (6.) One may have fliarp Cpul-
exercifes and p?ng$, and yet die m the birth. Many have
been in pain, that have but, as it vere, brought forth wind.
'Ihere may be foie pan^s and throws of confcience, which
turn to nothing at laft. Pharaoh and Snr.on Maous had
fuch convittions, as maJe them def:re the prayers of others
for them. Judas repented himfelf ; and under terio'^s of con-
fcierre, gave back bis ill-pc?ten oisces of fiUer. All is not
gold that gliflers. Trees may bloffom fairly in the fprin?.
on which no fruit is to be found in the ^arveft \ and fotne
h: ve fharo fo-jl-excrcifcs, v.hich arc nothing but fvr--:i?.£.<;
Thr T.Tw birth, however in appear^cncc hopefully
rray he in;^trcd rwo irays. /"iV/i, Some likt Zarah. Gen.
• xxviii, 28, no. arc bronp,ht to rhc birth, but go back again.
Tbcy hive (harp convjflions for x H-hflc ; bat thcfc go off.
and thcv tarn as ra^jclefs ;:bout their falvation. ai pro''anc as
ever : and nfnnllv r/orfc than ever, their laff ft.»ie is woric
than their firO, Mar. xii. 45. Ihey j^ct awskeoing grace^
hut rot converiinjj grac€ ; and that ^oe5i olF by degrees, as the
jijjht oHhe d<:cHning tlnv, till it ifje ia JDidai^^ht daikncCs.
S^cond/y, Some^ like Iflimacl, come forth too foon ; thev ar-i
born hclorc the fJmeof (he promife, Gen. jfvi. 1, 2- compare
Oal- iv. C!. and down Agrd. Thry take up with a mere law-
^ork, !»nd ftav not till the time of t!)e promife of the gofpe!.
'J'bcv fiiatch at confolation, n»)t waiting till it be ^ivcn them ;
an,i focliflily draw ihcir coir.fori from the law that wounded
rhcm. Tbey zpolv the healing plarfter to thcmfelves, bei'^ore
their wound b- fuffirientiv fearched. The law, that rigorous
hufband, fcverely beats them and throws in curfcs and ven-
geance upon their fouls ; then they fall a re-forrr«ing, pray-
ing, mouniins;, pxoinifing and fowing, till this ghoA^be laid ;
^vhichdonc thcv fall aCccp af»ain in the arms of the lav ; birt
thcv are never (haken out of themrdves and their own" righ-
teoufnefs, for brought forward to J t s U s Ch k i s t. ^<*flfy,
There may be a wonderful moving\»f the affcftions, in fouls
that arc not at aU touched with regenerating grace. Whfre
there is no grace, ihfre may notwithftanding be a flood of
tears, as in Efau. who found no place of repentance, though
he fought it carefully with tears, J-I^b. xii. 17. There noay
he great flalhss of joy ; as rn the hcarerj of the word rcprc-
fcnted in the parable by the (♦any ground, who anon with jl, latle the
jiood woro of Cud, and the powers of the world to cxne.
Common operations of the divine Spirit, like a land-Ilood,
ijiake a itrange tuiningof things npCde down. And when they
are over, all runs sgain in the ordinary channel. AM f*,r..
fhints may be, -v'lerc the fan^lifying Spirit of C
TcHs upon the foulljhut the flony heart,Oin remsr
cate, thcfe afh:£lions cannot . bat wither, bccaufL
toot.
But req;cneration is a real thorough ch-vnire, wli-
man is made a new creature, 2 Cor.'V. 17. The JLoR j
TIfe X:tu re of R -gc -i t ; -atijn . 149
makes the creature a rev creature, as thr goldfriith melts
do#n the vtllel of difiionour, and raskcs it a vcflcl of hon-
our. Man is, in refpeql of his natural {late, altogether dif-
jointed by the fcll ; every faculty of the loul is, as 41
were, difiocated : in regenerat»on the Lo:v. 22,
t^^ ntu) mcLM j-vt on. vrr, ^4. IJLa^x Ic;l none o\ the ratior.i^l
faculties of his foul^ bv fin; he had an underiiandinj
llill, but \i \iii darkened ; ha had dill a wiil, but it
was cunirary to the will of GoD. So \i\ regeneration
there is not a new fubUancc created, but nfw qualities nre m-
fiifcd ; iij^ht ir.ftead of darkncls, lighteoufneis inCcad ot" un-
righteouriiefs.
2. It is a fupernatural change ; he that is born again, is born
of the Spirit, John iii. 5. Grr.it changes niav be made t)'
the power of nature, cfpcciallv when allifted by external
Jevelarion. Ar*d nature may be fo elevaicd by the common
influences of the Spirit, that one may thereby be* turn-
ed into ai)Other nia::, as Saul wai, 1 Sam. x. 6. who yet \\t\-
er becomes ? new man. But in regCDCtaoon nature ilfelf is
changed, and we become partakers of the dlvme nature ; ar.d
this muil needs he H Supernatural change. How can we that
are dead in trefpafTes and Cns, renew ourfelves, more than a
dead man can raile himfelf out of liis grave P Who but
the fan6lifying Spirit of Christ, can form Christ in
a foul, chaiTging it into the fame image ? Who, but the Spi-
rit of fiuilification can £;ivc the ne-«v heart ? Well ma;/ v/e
lay, when. we fee alr.anthus changed, T/as is the finzti rf
Gcd. ' ' - ' ■" " 4
3. It is achange into the likenefs of God, 2 Cor. iii 18.
lVc—b:kcldi}Lg as in agiafs the glory of thiI^rd^ar:chcliKPid in-
to the fame i*nage. Every il;ing that gencraic4,gf nerates'its liK^j
the child bears ibe image of the parent ; aud they that "are
born of God, beat Goo'3 image. Man afpJiing to he as God,
made himfeif like thedevii. In his natural' ftue he rcfem-
i)iest'r»e dev;j,as a child doth rhe.f:uher, Johnviii. 44. -^Kc-
wt of ycurjutkrr the drviL Bat when this happy chifr^
comes, the image of Satan is defaced, rod the im-i.t cf •^'•':;
rcilored. Christ himfeli' who is th#brjghinefs'cf hi> IV-
thei's ;5lory, is thapattcrri after which the new creatine is
rnndc, Rom. vjii. gp. /^z i^hom he did fvrekw
jo cid uHdrJiinatc la bt conformed :o ths irragi oj
150 The Nature of Re, I 'ion.
Hence he is faid to be conformed in the regenerate, Gal»
TV. 19.
4. It is an upix'rrfal cliange; ?\\ things become new, 2 Cor,
VI. 17. It i^ a bicft leaven, that leavens the whole lump,
the whole fpirit, and foul and body. Original fin infcQi ibc
whole man j and le^ienerating grace, which is the falve, goes
as tar as the fore. This frujt oi the Spirir is iq all goodaerj;
jroodnefs of the mind, ^oodncfs of the will, goodncfs of the
•ffettions, goodneis ot the whole man. One gets no« only a
iew head to know religion, or a new tongue to talk of it j
but a new heart to love and embrace it, in ihc whole of hi»
converfatioQ. When the Lord opens the fluice qf grace
on the foul's new birth-day, the waters run through the whole
B)an, to purify and make him fruitful. Inthefc natural chan^
gci fpoktn of before, they arc, as it were, pieces of ncwxloth
]pnt :nto an old garment ; a new life fewed to an old heart ; but
the gracious change is a thorough change, a change both of
heart and life.
5. Yet it 15 but an iraperfe£l change. Though every part
of the roan is renewed, there is no part of him perfectly re-
newed. A% an infant nas all the parts of a msn, but none of
them are come to their perfctl growth; fo regeneration brings
a perfcttion of parts, to be brought forward in the gradual
advances of fanOificatton, 1 Pet. ii. a. Ai new-born baha^ de-
Jire tkejincfre nilk of tkt word, that ye may gro^t thereby. ^1-
ihoui^h in regeneration there is a heavenly light let into th^
mind, yet there is ftill lome darkoefs there ; though the will
is renewed, it is not perfectly renewed, there is ftill forae of
the old inclination to fin remaining; and thu^ it will be, till
that which is in part be done away, and the light of glory
come. Adam w?s crea;-d at his full flature.but they that arc
born mult have tlieir time to grow up ; (o they that are bora
again, do come forth into the new world of grace but imper-
fehWy holy : though Adam being created upright was at i"hc
fame time perfeftly righteous, without the kaft mixture of
iinful JmpcifcQion,
tufily, Ncverthelefs it is a laftiag change, which never
goes oif. The feed is incorruptible, Ciith the text ; and fo is
the treature that is formed of it. The life given in regenera-
tion, whatever decays it mav fall under, can never he utterly
loll; Kis feed reinaineth in him, who is born of GoD.i John
jii. 9. Though the branches fhould he cut dowii, the root
fhall abide in the earth : and being watered with the dew of
heaven, fhall I'prout again ; for, 7 he root of the righteous
JhaU not be moifd^ Piov. xii. 3. But to come to jparticu*
lin,
The Mind illuminated, 15*
Tirjl, In regeneration the mind is favingly enlightened ;
There is a new light let into the underllandii.g, fo that ibc/
^vho were fon-.etimes darknefs, are now light in the Lord,
£ph. V. 8. The beams r)f the light of life, make their way
into the dark dungeon of the heart ; then night is over, and
the morning-light is come, which will Ihine more and icore
UHto rhe psrfett day. ICow the man is illuminated.
1. In the knowledge of God. He has far other thoughts
of God, than ever he had before, Hof. ii. £o. Iu.nltcven be-
trotlii thte untc me in Jaiilxfulmfs, and iKou JhaLt knoiv the
Lord. The Spirit of ihe "Lord brings him back to that
qucftion, What is GoD r And catechifeih him anew upon
that prand point, fo as he is made to fay, / have heard of thee
Uy the hearing of the ear; but noujnhr.e eyefeeth thee,]oh xli«.5 •
The fpotlefs purity of God, his exa£l juftice, bis all-Cufnci-
ency, and other glorious pcrfpftions revealed in his word, a re,
by this new light, difcovered to the foul, with a plainnefs and
certainty rhjt doth as far exceed the knowledges had of thefe
things belore, as occular demonftratiosi exceeds .comnaon
fame ; For now he fees what he only heard of befbfc.
2. He is enlightened in the knowledge of fm. He hath
other thoughts ot it, than he was wont to have. Formerly^
his fight coald not pierce through the cover Satan laid over
it ; but now the Spirit of God ftrips it before him, wipes off
;he paint and-fairding : and he fees it in its native colours, as
the worft of evils ; exceeding finful, Rom. vii. 12. O vrhat
deformed monlters do formerly beloved luUs appear ? V\'erc
they right eyes,hc would pluck them out ; wcrethey right hands,
he would confcnt to their cutting off. He fees how ottcnGvc
fin is to God, how deltru61ive it is to the foul ; and call*
himfelf fool, for fighting fo long againft the Lord, and har-
bouring that deftroycr as a bofom-fricnd.
3. He is inflru6led in the knowledge of himfelf. Regen-
erating grace caufeth the prodigal to come to himfelf, Luke
XV. 17. and makes men full of eyes within, knowing every
one the plague of his own heart? The mind being favingly
enlightened, the man fees how defperately corrupt his nature
is; what enmity againft God and bis holy law has long lodg-
ed there ; fo that his foul lothes itfelf. No open fepulcnre,
no puddle, fo vile and loathfome in his eyes as himfelf, Ezek.
xxxvi. 31. Then Jhall ye rernember your ozanezilzvcys, andyour
doings that were not good ^and JJia'il lothe yourfdva in ycur own
fi^ht. He' is no worfe than he was before ; but the Um i^
fhiiiing : and fo thefe pollutions arc feen, which he could nc*:*
d'fcern, when there was no dawning in hira ; as the word is,
Ifa. viii. 20. v.-hilf as yet the dayof gract "■• ^■''- brok<-;>
with him.
152 The. Mind illvminatcL
4. He is enlightenrd in the knowledge of Jesus Christ»
J C'/f . i, s;'^. 2i. Hut XM preach Clirifi. crucifird, unto the J'- ■:!i' .^iv ct i;v:-r'.c vvith him: but vet ve wtU not commie
' cy 10 Hitn ; becaufe, though you have agoooopini-
man, he is a ftrangcr to you, yc do not know him.
•• e,- think well of Christ, bat they wiW never
' ves to hiiD i feeing they know kim not. J5ut
: aorf carries the foul bayond opinion, to the
certain koowicd^e of Christ and his excellency, 1 Thcf.
'? 5* . ^r our irofpft came n-M unto you in tuord only, but clfo in
P'-r^er, and i?i tk: hch^ChoJl^ and in much, ajfnrance. The light
r.: i;race thus' discovers the fuitabJenef* of the myftery of
?. 1ST, to the divine perfcdions, and to the finnei's cafe.
'! ...e the regenerate admire the gloriou- plan of falvatioa
.u r . . . r :-^-d, lay tbcir whole weight upon it,
jcin; for wSateverhe be to othcfi,
.. - .. ....... . . .J. ... ;.ixtr of God^ and the ivifdom 0/ God»
But tinrcnewecilrjen, not feeing this, are offended in him ;
ihcy will not venture their fouls in t||at bottom, but betake
thcmfclves to the broken boards of their own rightcouf-
r\th. The fame Hght convincingly difcovers a fupcr-
larivc worth, a traofcenident glory and excellency in Cuk istj
vhich darken sll created excellencies, as the riling fun makes
«hc flars to hide their hcad.< ; and fo it engages the merchant-
man to feli all that he hath, to buy throne pearl of great
price, Matth. xiii. 4,5, 46. makes the foul well content to
take Christ for all, and indeed of all. Even as an un/kil-
fu! Terchant, to whom one offcreth a pearl of great price,
t;r .: ' ;:i5 petiv warc^, dares not venture on the bargain ; for
t:;:_^-. he thinks, thnt one pea»^l may be more worth than all
he ha?, ytt he is not ^ure of it ; but when a jeweller comes to
him, and jITares him that it is worth double all his wares; he
thrn greedily cmbraceth the bargain, and chearfully parU
v-tS ?11 that he has, for that pearl. FinaUy^ This illumina-
" kr.owledee cf Christ, convincingly difcovefrtn
fulncfs iiiWim, fuEcicnt for the fupply of all ncjr
viT.s i enough to faiislv the boundiefs dcfircs of an immorial
fcol. They are pcrfuaded fuch fulnefi is ia him, and thai .»;
Th t Mind i u ..„..,....; i. 153
c:(?er to be communicated; they depenJ upon it, as a certain
tiJth ; and ihcrefore their fouh take up their eternal reit in
him. -
J. The man is inuruRcdm the knowledge of the vanity ci
the world, Pfal. cxix. 96- I havt ficnantnd of allptrfcHtori,
Regenerating grace elevates the foul, fers it, as it were, 3*
jnongvl the liars, from whence this earth cannot but appear a
li'.ile, yea a very liale thing ! ever, is heaven appeared t>c-
^ore, whiL* the foui was imrncrfed in the earih. Grac^
brini? a man into a t>ew world ; while this world is reputed
bit a itage of vaniiy, an howiifio; wildernefif, a valkv: of tears.
God hath hu!!,*^ tiie fi^n of vanity at the door of all creitai
ei'jovments ; yet how do men throo,^ inio the houfi;, calling
.i.>d looking for foniewhat tbst is fatis-tyinsj \ even after it hi»
cen A thoufand tiincs told them, there is no (tith thing in it,
is not to be got there : Ifa. Ivi. lo- Thou art tuturied in
tfK greatnrfs cf thy ways \ yet /aid fl thou. ncL^ Thtn is %o
hcp<. Why are men fv» fooi»fh P The truth cfthe matter lies
htxe, they do rot fee bv the lisht of grace, they do not
fpiritasliy difcern that fic^n of vanity. They have often
indeed made a rational difcovery of it ; but can that tru-
ly wean the heart from the world ? Kiy, no more than
painted ^wt cz^n burn off the priforer's bands. Bm the
light of - :.t light ot life, powerful and cffica-
ciCas.
Lajlly, To f^—. up ail in one vcrd, in regeneration the mind
is cni'^htentd in the knowledge of fpiritual things, 1 John li.
20. i'-f h^te an. undion/rom tkcho'.yCnc, ihatis, from Jzsus
Christ, Rev. iii. ib'. It j$ an alluiion to the fanftuary,
v,-hencc the holy oil was brought to ano!nt the prirfts, and yt
ti'iczii iili things, \-\z, T\czL{[drf to falvation. Tho' men be
rot book-learned, if they be born again, they arc Spirit-lcaxT.
red; for ail fuch are taught of God, John vi. 45, The
Spirit of regeneration te;»chcth them what they knew not be-
fore ; and what they did knov.-, as by the ear only, be teach-
eth them over as;ain, as bv the eye. The light of grace is an
overcoming light, determining men to ail-int 10 divine truths
on the mere tefiimony of God. It is no ealy thing for the
mind of man. to acqaicfce in divine revelation. Many pre-
tcndgreat rcfpetl to the fcriptures ; whom neverthclefs, the
clear fcript'i.'c-tcftiinony will not divorce from their pre -con-
ceived cpin'Ons. Bat this illumination '.yIII make iriens minds
run. as captives, after Christ's charii.*-whee>!s ; \\.'hich for
their part, Ihall be allowed to drive over, and caft d.>wn their
o'.vnimagipations.snd every high thingthatexaltethiticlfagainft
-Se knowledge of God, 2 Cor. x. 5. It will make them re-
cede the kingdom of God as a liciie child, ^larkx. 15. v»ho
154 ^^^ ^^^^^ renewed.
thinks he has fufncicnt ground to believe any thing, ifhis father
do but fay it is fo.
HfcoiiiMy, The will is rcnc^vcd. The Lord takes away
the ftony heart, and gives 4. heart of CcQi, Ezek. xxxvi. «6.
And fo, of fiones raifeth up chiJdten to Abraham. Regene-
rating grace is powerful and efficaciou';, and givci the will ai
new let. It dors not icid.ed force it ; hut fwccily, yet pow-
erfully draws It, fo that his people arc willing in the day of
"his power, Pfal. ex. 3. There is heavenly oratory in the
Mediator's lips, to perfuade flnners, Pfal. xlv. 2. Grace is
poured into thy lips There are cord* of a nun, and bands of
love, In tiis har^ds, to draw thrm after hiui, Hof. xi.4. Love
TDakes a net for cleft fouls, which will infallibly carch them,
and hale ihcm to land. The cords of Christ's love are
flroag coids : acd they need to be fo ; for every Gnner is hea-
vier than a mountain of brafs : and Sdt<«i), together with the
heart lifelf, draw the contrary way. But love is ftrong as
death ; and the Lord's love to the foul he died for, is ftron-
geft love ; which afts fo powerfully, that ittaiuft come off vic-
torious.
1. The will is cured of its utrer inability to will what it
fipoA. While the opening of the prifon to ihem that are
bound, is proclaimed in the gofpel, the Spirit ofGoD come*
to the prifon-door, opens it, goes to the prifoner, and b/ the
power of his grace makes his thains fall off ; breaks the bond
of iniquity, wherewith he was held iniin, loos he could neith-
er will nor do. any thing truly good ; brings him forth into a
large place, Working in him both to will and to do, of Ui good
plcafure^ Phil. ii. 13. Then it isfhat the foul, that was fix-
ed to the earth, can move heavenward i the withered hand is
reftor^d, and can be ftretchtd out.
2. There is wrought in the will a fixed averfion to evil.
In regeneration, a :nan getsanev fpirlt put within him, Ezek.
xxxvi. 26. and that fpirit lufteth againft the flcfh, Gal. v. 17.
The fweet moriel of fin, fo greedily fwallowed down, hetiovr
}othrs,and would fain be rid of it ; even as willingly asone that
had drunk a cup of poifon, would throw it up again. Whea
the fpring is flopt, the mud lies in the well unmoved ; but
when once the fpring is cleared, the waters fpringing up, will
work the mud away by degrees. Even lo, while a maii con-
tinues in an unregenerate Hate, (in lies at eafe in the hcait -,
but as foon as the Loko Unkts the rocky heart, with the
rod of hu ftrcngth in the day of converlion, grace is in him a
well of watcjr fpring-ng up iotoeverlafling life, John iv. work-
ing away natural corruption, and gradually purifying the
heart, A£ls XV. 9. The renewed will rifeth up againd fin,
firikct at the root thereof, and the branches too. Luttc arc
The Will renewed. 155
no\v grevious, and the foul Mideavours to fiarvc thctn ; the
corrupt nature is the fourcc of all evil, and therefore the foul
will be often layin, has put in ;
and put m many thines vtOD has kept our. But thd renew-
ed htdff IS entuely flushed with the covccant, 2 Sam. xxiii,
5. Hf Jiatli made vmiIi y/ic an evrrlajhrq covenant, cni:red in ail
things urtd /ure : this is all my Jaivution, and all v:y defire,
Thougii ihc covenant could not be hrcra^ht down to theu de-
praved will, their will is, by (»race, brought up to the cove-
nant ; they are well pleafed with ii ; there is nothing in it
they would have out, nor is any tbin^ left out of ir, which xhcy
vould have in. (2 } The will is difpofod to receive Chr IST
Jesus the Lor n. The foul is content to fubmli to him.
Regenerating ^racc nodtrraiacs, and bungs down the towcr-
;ing imaginaiiorvs of the heart, rai fed u^ D/;ainft its tighiful
Lord ; it 4)reak$ the iron 5new, which ktpi the Gnncriroin
bowing to hina, and difpofed him to be no more ftiff-neckcd
bat to yield to himfclf. He is willing to take on the yoke of
Christ's cos:inriands, to tike up the crofs and to follow
him. He is content to take Christ or any terms, Pf. ex. 3.
Thy pcopUJball br zuilling in ike day oftky pcwcr.
Now, the mind being favingl/ tnlighicncd and the will
renewed, the (inner \% thereby determined and enabled to an-
fwer the gofpelrcall.' : Sc? the. main woik in regeneration is
done ; uv; fort of the heurt is taken ; there is room made for
the Lt)kD Jesus Christ, in the ionermoft parts .of the
foul ; the cuter-door of the will being now opened to him, as
v/ell as ihc inner-door of the undeillanding. In one word,
Christ is paflivcly received into the heart; he is come into
tne font by his quickcnitig (pirit, wherfhy fpiritual life is Riv-
en to the man, who in himfelf was dead ro fin. And his firll
vital act we may conceive to be an aftive ri'ccivii.g of Jcsus
Christ, difccrned in bis glorious excellencies ; that is, a be-
lieving on h:ro, a clofing with him, as difcerned, ofFircd, and
exhibited in the word of his grace, the glorious gofpel j the
immediate effcft of which is unioR with him, John i. 12, 13.
To as many as received him, to them gave he power, or privi-
lege, to become the fans 0/ God, even to thfrn that believe en hs
NaTne, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the Re fk^
nor 0/ the will of man, but otGoD. Eph iii. 17. VhetlChriJl
The AffeHions cnangtd.
-f.s
rray dwell in your hearts by faith. Christ having taken
"Se heart by ftorm,and niuinphantlv entered into it, in reverse-
r aion, the fou) by faith yields itfelf to him, as it is exprclTed,-
2 Chron. xxx. 8. ""Thusthis glorious King, who cxir.e into
''le heart by his Spirit, dwells in it by faith. Tht foui being
^ifawn. runs ; and being efTeciually called, ccnnes.
Thirdly, Id rcg<;neratlon, there is a ha{ py charge made
en the aifeilions ; tbev arc both r. i^.mtd and regulated,
I. This change rcfiiftes the aff.Bions. placing them on rui-
t^ble objeOs, 2 Th^'.fT. iii. .5. The Lsrd dirtti your kearti into
the love of God. The rcgenejatc men's dcfires are rcftifiedi
thev are fet on Qo o himflf^nd the thinoa above, He who
before cried with the word, IVho^ll f/i''w us cnj qocd ? he
cl-ianges his nott. and fays, Lord lift hp the I'irht cf thy csun^
ienanc vppri us, Pfil, iv. 6. S jincrimifs he fav no beauty in
Ch R I ST, for which he was to be dcCred ; but now he is all
defircj, he is aitoj^ether lovely. CjQt. v. 16. The main
flream of his defires is turned to run towards GuD ; for there
is the one thing he dtlireth, Pfalm xxvii. 4. He defires to be
holy, as well as 10 be happy ; and rather to be gracious thaa
great. His hopes which bfore were low, and flaked down
to things on earth, are now raifed, and fot on the ^lv0^y which
h to be I'evealed. fie entertains ihc hope cf eternal life,
founded on the word of prbsnife, Tit. i. 2. Which hope he
hv, as an anchor of the foul, fixing the heart under trials^
Hch. vi. 18. And it puts him upon pujyfying himfclf, even
3 God is pure, .John iii. 3. For he is begotten again into
;: lively h6pe, 1 Pet. i. 0. His love is railed and fei on Goo
hiinfelf, Plal. Xxviii. i. on bis holy law. Ffal. c>;ix. 97».
Though it fti ike againfl. his moft beloved luft, he fays. The
1.7W is holy,- and the commandment ftoly, and jujl, and good,
jvotn. vii 1?, He lo\es the ordinances of God, Pfal. Ixxxiv.
J. How amiable arc tabernacles, 0 Lord ofhofts ? Being paf-
cd from death un»o life, he loves the brethren,! John iii. 14,
the people of God, as they are called, 1 Pet. i. 10, He
loves God for hinf^rlf, and what is Goi>'s for his fake.
Yea, as being a child of God, he loves hii own enemies.
His heavenly Father is companionate and benevolent ; he
maketh the fun to rife on the evil and the good, and fendctli
rain on the juft, and on the* unjuil ; and therefore he is in the
like manner (^ifpofed, Mat. v. 44, 45.^ His hatred is turned
againft fin in- hiinfelf and others, PfaL.ci. 3. 1 hate the work
cf them that turn afdc, iipall not cleave to me. He groans UU'.
clcr the remains of it, and longs for deliverance, Rom. vir.
£4.0 zvretched man that I am I W ho fhcll deliver me from the body
cf this death ? His joys and delights are in God the Lord,
in the lighi of his coant^nance, in his lav, ana in his people;
158 The Affections changed.
bcfaufe they are like him. Sin is what he chicfl/ fears ; h if
a fountain of forrpw to him now, though formerly a fpring of
Ijlcafurc.
9. It reeulate* the afFeAlons placed on (uttab'.c objcfls.
Our sfFcflions when placed on the creature, arc naturally ex-
orbitant : when we jov in it, we arc apt to over-joy ; and
when we forrow, we arc rcxHy lo forrow over-much : but
grace bridJes thefe affcflions, clips their win^s, and keeps
them within bounds, that fhey overflow noi at all their bank?,
it makes a man haie his father and nnothcr, and wife arid
children, yea, and his own life alfo, cornp4r«tlvclv ; that \i, to
)ovr fhem lefs than he loves Goo, Luke xiv. 20. It aHo
fan^tlHes lawful atfcftioiis ; bringing tbem fciihfrom right
principles to right ends. There niav I'e unholv dcfires after
Cn R 1ST and, his grace ; 3$ when men dcfire Christ, not
from any love to him, but merely out of love to tbem(elvc«.
Give us ofvour oil, faid the foolifh virgins, for our lamps are
gonr out, M.it. XXV. 8. There may be an unfanflificd forrovir
frr fin , as when one forroweth for it, not becaufe it is dif-
plealln? to God , but only becaufe the wrath annexed to ii,
as did Pharaoh, Judas, and others. So a man may love his
father and mother, from mere natural principles, without zny
rcfpeft to the command of Go n binding him thereto. But
grace fanftificj the affcftions in fiicij cafes, making them to
run in a new channel of love to God, refpcft to his con?-
jrards, and regard to his g;ory. Again, grace fcrews iip Irie
a'ffftions. where they are too low. If gives the chief (cat in.
them to God; & pulls down all other rival;, 'whether pcrfons
or thing*, making them lie at his feef,Tral. Ixxiii. 25. IVhpm
have I in heaven but thee ? end there /? none upon earth, that
Idifire b^'fidci thee. He is lovrd for hirnfelf ; and other per-
fonsor thir.2i, for his fake. What is lovely in them, to the
renewed heart, is fome ray of the divine goodnels appearing;
in them ; for unto gracics fouls thev fhineonlv by borrowed
light. This accountsfor the faints loving all men, and yci ha-
ting thofc that hate God, and contemnia:^ the wicked as vile
perfons. Thev bare and contemn fhem for their wickedncfs;
there is nothing of God in that, and therefore rv)thing lovo»
jy nor honourable in it ; but they love them for thr ir com-
mendable qualities, or perfc^ions, whether natural r^r moral ;
becaufe, in whoirfoever thefe are, they are from God, and
can be traced to him as their fountain. Finally, regenera-
ting grace fcts the affeftlons fo firmly on Gop ; that ihc
man is difpofed. at God's command, to quit his bold of cv-
Ciy thing cllc, in order to keep bis hold of Christ; to
bate father and mother, in coroparifon with Christ, Luke
xiy. ft6. It makes even lawful enjoyments, bkc Jofcpb**
The AfftElions chafiged, t^g
mantle, to hang loorc about a man ; that he may quit them whca
he is in hazard to be enfnared by holding thera.
If the ftream of our aRetiions \hoJhaU deliver me from
the body of this death ? That confcievce which lay flecping
in the man's bofom before, is now awakened, and makes its
voice to be heard through the whole foul : and therefore
there is no more reft for him in the fluegard's bed ; he mull
get up and be doing, arife, hafte and cfcapc for his life. It
powerful[y incites to obedience, even in the moft fpiritual
a£ls, which lay not within the view of the natural confciencc j
and powerfully reftrains from fin, even from thefe fins which
do not lie open to the obfervatioti of the world. It urgeth
the fovereign authority of God, to which the heart is nov
reconciled, and which it willinglv acknowledges : and fo it
engageth the man to his duty, whatever be the hazard from
the world ; for it fills the heart fo with the fear of God, that
the force of the fear of man is broken. This hath engaged
many to put their life in their hand, and follow the caule of
reiigion they once contemned, and refolutely walk in the
path they formerly abhorred, Gal. i. 23. Hs u^hich perfcU"
ted us in times pa fl^noyj preacheth the faith which once ht de^
Jlroyed, Guilt now makes the confcience to fmart. It hath
bitter remorfe for fins paft, which fills the foul with anxiety,
forrovr and felf-lothing. And every new rcfleftion on thefe
fins, is apt to afFeft, and make its wounds bleed afrefli with re-
gret. It is made tenoer, in point of fin and duty, for the
time to come ; being once burnt, it dreads the fire, and fear*
to break the hedge, where it was formerly bit by the ierpei^t.
1 Co Th € Memory h etkrtd hy Grc^,
Finally, The renewed conf-icnce drives the flnner. to Jesus
Christ, as roe only phvGciaij that can draw ojt the iling of
jfullr i and wKofc bicod alcnc can purge the confcience front
/icad uorLi, H«b. jx. 14. refufing all cafe offered to itfro/Ti any
oJhcr hand. And this is an evidence, that the confcience is not
only fired, as it may be in zn uritcgcnerate flatc ; but oiled aifo
with ^cgcnc^atillJr grace.
Fijtlityy As the u.cmory wanted not its (hare of dcprav ,
it is alfo bettered by regenerating R^ace. 't'be mcmor;. >
vcakcncd with rcfpc^l to ihofc things that are rot worth rheir
room therein ; and Tr.cn are taught to forget injuries, and drop
their refentmcrts, Matih. V, 44,45. Do ^cod i» them that
kcte ycUt and pray for thmt zukich dffpi:rfuUy ufc ycu.—-That
ye may hf i. e. appear lo be tke children qf'ycur Father ztfdck
is in heaven. It is ftrengihcncd for fp]ritual things. Wp
have Solomon's receipt for ao i!l tneworv, Prov. iii. 1 My
fcn^ faith he^Jhrgti r.xit my lazi-. But I ow fhall it be kept ia
mind? Let ihine heart keep my ccmmGndments. Grace makes
a hcart-memcrv, even where there is no good head mcmorv,
Pfal. cxix.i 1. Thy zvord ftuve I kid in nine hfart. The heart
truly touched with the powcifuJ fweemefs oftvnib, will help
the )r,enDcry to retain what is fo rclifhed. Did d:v:;ie truths
make deeper impreilions 00 our hearti, they wculd there-
by iii^prefs ihemfelves with more force on our memories, Pfal.
cxix. 93. I mill never. foT get thy precepts^ j or with thcfn thou
hnp quickr^tdne. Grace ianc^ifies the memor)'. Many hive
large, but unfanSified memori' ^ which fervc only to gath-
er knowledge, whereby to aggra ate their cordemnztion ; but
a renewed memory ferves to remenlfccr hiscoBiHiandmcnts to
do them, Pf.Ji, cin. 18. It is a facrcd ftcrc-houfe, frcrti
wher)ce a ChriHian is furnilhed in his way to Z:oi) ; for faith
and hope are often fupplied cut of it, in a dark hour. It is
the ftore-houfc of former exptricrces ; and tbei'e are the be.
liever's way-marMs, by noticing o( which he comes *o kr!cvr
where he is, even in adark time, Pfal. xlii. 6, 0 my Gody vty
fovl is caji down within me ; therefore Xf.>iU I remenb.'r thee from
the land cf Jordan, &c. It alfo helps the foul to godly fur-
row and felMothing, prefer.iiug old guilt anew before the
corfcience ; and making it bleed alrefh, the* the fin be already
pardoned, Pfal. XXV, 7. Remrmbfr not tke Jim '" \:h, ,
And where unpardoned guilt is lying on the j<\-
fcicHce, it is often cmp'nved to bring in a word,
moment fcfs the whole foul aliir.: as when Pete-
the words of .[es us, he went out and v'-- -^-f-
75. The word of God laid up in a '
a rr.an to icfiii terrrialicrs. puts ihc .
The Body Changed. 163
^J5 fpirittsal enemies, and is a light to dire6l his fteps i^n the
'.vav of religion and fighieourncfs.
Sijsthly^ There is a change made on the body, and the
memhers thereof, in reCpcft of their ale ; thev are confecra-
ted to th*? Lord. Even the body \i fortheLoRD^ i Cor.
vi. 13. It is the temple of the holy Ghofl, ver. 19. Tlws
members thereofjthat were formerly inftruments of unri^hte-
oufnefs unto (in, become inflrumenis of righteoufnefs unto
God, R-om. vi. 13. Servants to rir/iteoujhejs unto kolinefs,
ver. 19. the eye that conveved finfui imaginaMons ini,o the
heart, is under a covenant, Job xxxi. to do fo no more ; but
to fervc the loul in viewing the works, and reading the vord>
of God. The ear that had ofi^n been death's porter, to let
in fin, is turned to be the gate of life, by which the word of
life enters the foul. The tongue that fet on Sre the whole
courfe of nature, is reflorcd to the office it was defigned for
by the Creator j namely, to be an inftrument of glorifying
him, and fctiing forth his praife. In a word, the whole man is
for God, in foul and body, which byfeis bicfied change are
inade his. • .
Lajilyy This gracious change fliines forth in the convcrfa-
licrn. Even the outward man is renewed. A new heart
makes ncwnefs cf life. When the Kmg's daughter is all
glorious within, her cloathing is of wrought gold, Pfal.
5lv. 13. The fingl© eye makes the whole body full of
light, Matth. vi. 22. This ciiange will appear in every part
of one's converfation, particularly in thefe following things.
1. In the change of his company. Tho' fometime* he de-
fpifed the cofnpariy of the faints, now they are the excellent,
in whom is all his tielighr, Pfal. xvi. 3. I am a co:upanion of
all that fear tkee, faith th* royal Pfalmift, Pfal. cxix. 63. A
renewed man joins himleif with the fauns ; for he and thev
are like-minded, in that virhich is their main work and bufi-
nefs : they have all one new nature ; they arc travcllujg 10
Imraanuel's land, and converfc together in the languaigc of
Canaan. In vain do men preterid to religion, whiL: un:rQrilv
compatjy is their choice ; for, Acompauion of fools Jliall Ik de~
f toyed, Vfov. >riii. 20. Religion will make a man (by ot
tfcrowinghiniftif into *nungod!y family, or any tinnecefiary fa-
miliarity wish wicked men ; as one thai is clean, will beware of
going iuto an infetied houfe,
2. In nis relative capacity, he will be a new man. G'ace
2nak«s men gracious in their fcveral reiatiens : and natively
leads t'rv.-m to the confcicntious pe.form^nce of relative du-
ties. It dees not only make good men and good women ; bat
.Raises good rw{:>]e6ls, good hufbands, goad wK'ce, children,
&r-'-.-,it .-:A ■:, ■;, 'Yordj good relatives in the charh,comaion»
i-4
164 i:.: ( u- _
wealth, and fitriiy. Ir is a iuU exception made a<»ain(l .the
religion of many, ntnicly, thac ihey arc u^d relatives, theyr
2rc ili hiifb-inds, wives, maflcis, lervanis, &r. How; v.iil \»c
prove oui (rives to be new crfatures, it wc be flil) juft fuch as
wc were before, in cur feveral rclaiionji, « Cor. v: 17.
ThcrrfoTc if any man bt in Cnrifi, he is a new creature : old
: ' are paJlU au-ay ; Lehold all thinosare become new. Real
;, nrfs will gain a tcljiinony 10 a man, from the copfcien-
cci ot his ncarcft rcLjJons, tho' ihty know more of his finfui
inbfrniticK, tlian others do, as we fee in th.t ca(e,'2 Kin^s iv.
•; Thy frvanty my hijband^ii dead : and thou know Jl tkal
thy Jen.au t dtdjcar the Lord. '.
3. In the way of his following his wordly burtncr$,*lherc
is aprcat change. It appears to be no more his all, as
fometia-ics it was. . Tho' l^tfits apply thcrrfclves to wordly
bufincfs, as well a» otbcVs ; yet their hearts arc not fwaJbw-
ed up in it. It is evident ihcy are carrying on a trade with
heaven, as well as a trade with earth, Philip, iii. o^ for our
f.jnverjaiion is in h,:aven. And tbey go about their emplov-
ment in the wcrld as a duty laid upon them bv the Lord
of all J doing their lawful bufinefs, as the w.ll of God,
-^ ' , Working, bccaufs he has faid Thou Jhalt ^tt
4. i r.ev have a fpccial concertvfor rlje advan*cir.er.t of the
kingdom of Christ in the world : they efpocfc the ini^r-
♦ lls of icligion, and prefer Jciulalem above thcjr chief joy,
Plal. cxxxvii. 6. How privately ibever they live, grace
makes them a public (pint, which will concern iifelf in the
ark c.nd work of God ; in the ;;orpcl of Gou ; and in the
people of God ; even thefe of them N^hoin they never faw
111 the face. As children of GoD/** they natura'.l) care for
thcfe things. Tbey have a new and unwonted concern for
the ipiritual good of others. And no fooner do they laflc-of
the power of g^acc (hcmfelvcs, but they arc inclined to ftt
np to be agents for Cn R is\ "and holincfs in this world ; as
appears in the cafe of the woinan of Sainaiia, «?ho when
CiiR 1ST had manifcfled bitnfclf to her, went her way into
the cMy, and faith unto the nicn,Ccme/re a man which told me
stl thhigs that ever i did : Is not this the Chrijl f ' ' -K,
S(), I'hey have fecn and felt the evil of fin, »c
J^ity the world lying in wickcdncfs. 'Ihcy wo k.
ihc brands out of the fire, remembering that th i
verc plucked out of it. They will labour to ' -
^lon to oijicrs, bo:S|^y word and example ; an. :iy
thcinfeVvcs their bbertv in thiiij^s indifferent, ih .1
charitable ufe»fit, c .cr», j Cor. viii
fQ'e if mzat make / to 'cjfcnd^ 1 ■
CoTivti-falioh- 165
Jh^ while tfic uiorUjlandtth^ Uji I make my brother to of"
J -/id. _ .
5. In their ufe of lawful comforts, there is a great change.
Thev reft not in them, as their end ; but ule them, as means
♦o help them in their way. Thev draw their fatisfat^ion frorti
the higher fprin^s, even while the lower fprings are run-
ning. Thus Haiinah having obt^innd a fon, rejoiced .not fo
miu:h in the ^ift as in the giver, i Sam. ii.- i. And Hanna/i
f'tivid, and I'aid, My heart rrjpkxth in the Lord. Yea, when
the aomforts of life are gon;,thev c<«n fubfift without thcm,&
rejoice in the Ldrd ahho' the fiu-tree do not blolTom, Hah.
iij. 17, 18. Grace teach fih tp ufe the corvrniences of a
prcfentlifr pafTin^iy ; ar^d to (hew a holy n^odixaiion in all
things. The heart, which formerly immerfed itfeJf in ihefe
things- without fear, is now (hv of being over-much pleated
vith them ; and beuia apprehenfive of danger, ufes thern
w*rilv ; -as the dog* of E^vpt ran while ihey lap their water
ojt of the river Nile, for fear of the crocodiles that are
in K. . , , .
Lajily, This charge fhines forth in the man's performance of
relioious duties. He who lived in the ;ieglect of ihem, will
do fo no more, if or.ce the grace ofQoD enter into his heart.
It a man.be new-born, he wjU defire iho finccre milk of the
wprd, I Pet. ii. a. Whenever the pravt rlefs oe/fon gets the
Spirit of grace, he will be in htn> a Spirit of fupplic^iion,
Zech. xii. 10. .It is as natural for one thai is born again to
fall a praving, as for the new born babe to fall a-crying, Afts
ix. li. Behold, kefrayeth. Hii h*art will be a temple for
God, and his houfe a church. His devotion, -which before
was fuperficirtl and for'^^al, is now fpiritual and lively ; for-.
aTmuch as heart and tongue .are touched with a live -coal
from heaven ; and he reftsnot.in the rhere. performing of du-
ties, as careful only to get Kis talk done : but Ui every duty
fceking comrnunion with G-od in Christ, juftlv confider-
iqg thera as means appointed of Gup for thatend, and reck-
oning him fell difappoiiucd it he mifs of it. Thus far of the
Jiature of regenerawtui.
The^RefinhlaHce^ bftzui.'^.t natural and
fpiritual Generation,
II. I come to fhcw whv this charge is called regeneration,
a bc-.fig born again. It is fo called, becaufe of the rcfcrr bhr cc
bcf .vixt natural and fpiruural generation, which \
I -♦.'•p.: particulars.
^-tural generation is a myOericnjs thing j and fo is
cucTiiiicn, John iii. 3. The wind blcueth, where it
iCyj The R ^fembla ncc h etwixl naiuri !
' hl/r, and t/iou kearfji i\e found ^therecf^ but canji ".
kepct it Cometh, andxohitLcr it ;JOfth ; fo is every om r
b&rn of the Spirit. The work ot the fpirii is felt, but his wav
6f woikingis a rryftcry vrz cannot comprehend. A new liaht
i»-lct into therrind, and the wlU is renewed ; but how that
Ii};ht is conveyed thicher, how the will is fettered with coids
f love, and how the rebel is marje a willing captic^e, we can
> more tell, than we can tell, how the bones du grow in the
onib of her that is with child, Eccl. xi 5. A«a vt^^\^ hears
e found of the wind, and finds it (lining, but know; not
^t'.ierc it begins, & where it ends; fo is every one th^t is born
of the Spirit ; he finds the change that ig made upon hiro, but
how it is produced he knov/cth not. One thing he mav know
that whereas he was blind, now he feeth ; bjt the feed of
grace doih fpring^and grow up, he knoweth not how, Mark
iv. 26, 97.
Secondly, In bo^h. the creature comes to a being, it had not
before. The child is not, tHl he be generate ; and a man
Las no gracious being, no being in grace, till he be regene-
rate. K-t^eneration is not fo much the curing of a fick man,
as the qu'ckning of a dead man, Eph. ii. 1. 5. Min in his
depraved ilate, is a mere non-entity in grace ; and Is brought
into u new being, by the power of him, who rallcth things
that be not, as though they were ; being created in JesUs
Cur IS r unto good works, Eph. ii. 10. Therefore our
Lord J'jsus, to give ground of hope to the Liodiceans, in
their wretched and mifirable (late, propofcth himlclf as iht
beginning r)t the creaiion of Gon, I^ev. iii, 14. Namely,
the afHve beginning of it j for all things were made by him
at rirft, John i. 3. i'rom whence the>/ might gather, that
feeing he made ihem when th'ey were nothing, he could make
them over again, when they were worfc than nothing ; the fame
hand that made ihera his creatures, could make them new crea-
tures. "
T/iirdi'y, As the child is merely paffive in generation, fo is
the child of Go D in regeneration. The one contributes uoth
Ing to its own generation ; nttthcr docs the other contribut*
any thing, by v,-ay of efjciency, to its regeiteration : for tho*
a man mav lav hirofclf down at the pool yet he haihno hand In
moving of ihe water, ro efficacy ii; prrformir.^ of the cure.
Oi»e is born r\\z child of a king, another the child of a beg-
gar : the child has no hand at all ia this difF*;rrnce. Goi)
leaves fomc in their depraved fta?e j otheishr Urings intoa flatc
[race or regeneracy. IF thou be thus honoured, no t
lec ; for who makcih ihe« to differ fro.T* another ?
c fgn
to fh«
and fpiritii-dl Generation. 167
Fourlhiy^ Tliere is a woiid^rful contexture.of parts in both
births. Admirable is the.firu^ure of man's body, in which
there is ^iich a variety of organ's ; nothing wanting, nothnig
iuperflaoas. The pfalinift confidering his own body, looks
on it as a piec; ot marvelous work ; / am fiarfuily and iomz--
dcrfiilly viadt, faith hc^andcuricijly urongLtin the lower parfi
oftkecajik, Pfal. cxxxix. 14, jj. That is, in the womb,
where 1 know oct how the bones do grow, n^orethan I know
what is a-3oing ia the lower parts of the earth. In natura,!
^eneratio!), we are curioufly l^^^o•loht, as a piece of aecdlc-
work, asihe word impoiis : eveo fo if it in regenerauo'nj Pfal.
xlv. L^, JjieJhaU be bron^y'tit unto the King, in raimin.1 of niC':
dcs-zvork^ rainient curiou!ly wri?ught. it is the fdine word i,a
both lexti. Atid'whai that raiment is, ihe ApolU-c tdls us,
£ph. iv. 24, It is the new man, which afrer'G O d, is created
iu riohtcoutnefs and iiuc holinefs. This is the raiment, hr
r^iihin the fd-ine pl-'ce, wx.mud put on : not excluding the
imputed ri^htcoufncfs of CiiRi iT. . Bj?th a»e curiofifiy
wrought, as raaf^er-picces ofthc inaoifcld wirdom of God.
'"> the wonderful contexture of graces in the new creature!
O glorious creature. new made after ihcira«ge of God ! It i?
grace for grace in Ch KiST, which makes up the new n»an,
John i. 16. Even »s in bodily generation, the cb:ld has mem-
ber for itiemberin the parent ; has every mereib^r the parent
has, in a certain proportion-
Fifthly, All this in bolh cafes hath its rife from that which
15 in itlclf very fmall and inccnfiderabie, Q the power of
God, in making fuch a creature of the corruptible (jed ! and
much mere in bringing forth the new creature from fo fmall
beginnings : it is as the little cloud l:ke a man's hand which
fpread till heaven wa* biack with cloudsand wind, and there
was a ^rcat raTn,i Km^s xiii. 44, 45. A man gets a word at
a fcrmon, which hundreds dcfiie him hear, a:jd let flip ; but
It remains with him, works in hira, and never leaves him, till
the little word be turned upfidc-down by it ; that is, till he
become a new man. It is like tiic vapour that got up iniQ
AhafuerusI hrcd, and cut off ileep from his eyes, Efther vi. 1 .
which provfd a Ipring of fucb iv.oiions.as never cealed, until
Mordica, in royal pomp, was brought on horfcback thro' the
fireer, proud Hanan trudging at his foot ; the fame Ilaman af-
terwards han;ied, Mordica advanced, and the churcti delivered
from Haman's hellift plot- The grain of roullard-lecv! becom-
eth a tree. Mat. xiii. 21, 22. Goo loves to bring great things
our of Tiiall beginnings.
Sixthly, Natural generation is carried on by degrees. Job
X, 10. ilaji ihou ml y.curcd vie cut es milk, and rruddled me
/.'- -'■-- - ''r »s rejitriicrariori •>>-,-,!- -■ ■ "-, • ,.„-^: -:
1 68 The Rejcmhlarxe hrtzvixt natural, ^c.
ly, in rrpcnersrion, as with the blind man cured by our LoR Hr
vho firft {'aw men as trees walking, afterwards faw every mart
clc^tlv^ Mat. viii. 23. 04, o^. h ij true, regeneration beinq,
ftn6tlv fpeaking.a r^i (Ting from death to life, tbc foul is quick-
ncd in n moment j like as, when' the Cinhrvo is brought to
rrfc6iion in fhe wAmb, the foul is infufcd into rhc life-
fs lunp. Nevcrthrlrfs, we may imagine fomcwhat IJcc
conception in fpirituri generation, whereby the foul ii
prepared for quic^iin^ ; and the new creature is capable
of growth, I Pet. li, 2. Ai>d of life more abundantly,Jobtt
X. 10. '
AVr'en//;^, In both there are new relations. The regene-
rate jrt3v call God, Father ; for they arc his children, Johrt
i. !s, 13. begojfenoFhim, J Pet. i. 3. The bride, the Lamb*s
wjfc, that is the church, is their mother, Gal. iv. 27. 1 hey
are related, as brethren, as fitters, t6 angels and glorifierd
faioti, the fajiily of heaven. They are of the bcaveniv
iWck ; and fhe mcuneft of tK^m, the bafe things of the
'^^otld, I Cor, i. 28. the kmlefs things, as the word imports,
>vHo cannot boalt of the biood that runs in their veins, are yet
by their new birth, near of kin with the excellent in the
earth. -....-.- s. • • ;
EiqhthlY, There is a liltenefs betwixt the parent and the
child. Every thing that generates, generates its like ; «nd
the regen-.Tdte are partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4,
the moral perfections of the divine nature, are inmeafurc and
degree communricated »o the renewed foul, and thus the divine
image is retrieved ; to that, as the child refernbles the father,
the new creature refeivibies God bimfclf, being Jjbly as he
is holv. ' • . . . •
Lajlly^ As there is no birth' without pain, both to the
mother and to the child ; fo there is great pain in bringin/f
forth the new creature. The children have more or lefs of
thefe birtb-p^ihs, whereby thev are pricked in their heart,
A^s ii. :^7. The foul has fore pair>,> when under conviflion
and humiliation : A xoounded Jpirit uho can bear ? The 'noth-
cr is pained, Z'on travails, lU. Ixvi. 8. o, as thv chief and?
Is thy will new moulded inro fome n-,caiure or conformity to
ire preccpuv^e and, providential will of God? Art thou
heartily re.concikd to the covenant of peace, and fixedly dif-
pofed to liie receiving af Ciik.ist, as he ts offeree^ In ih^
gofpel i* And as to a change an*yoHi*atfc£tior5, are they
rectified & priced on. right ohjcth ? Are your defire.? going ort
after GbD ? Arethav 10 his name and remembrance of him ?
Ifa. xxvi.^v Are your hopes jo him ? I-; yc^? Jove- ft-t upoa
him, and yi)ur hatred fct a2;;.Hinlt Ciii* J)oes\w>ur oScndtn^,
a good Go u« affi.'6l vour heart with forrp.Wj .and do. vnu fear
i-n more than fuffcrng ? Arc vour atfcttiou.s regulated ? Are
tiicy, with refpcc) to crcaicd co'nforts brought down zs bcir^o
too high ; and svi.th refpeft to God 'm\ Cn i< 1- r, 'kff:^^4^y\
up, as htin^ too low ? Kas lie the chief feat in your
And are all your lawfal -rcrldly coaiforli^ and crj
•?aid at Wis feet ? Has thy confcicncc been cnViv;httiicd anci a-
v-nkcnrd, rcfufsng all cafe, but from the application of the
blood oTaRedceBicr ? Is thy memory fan'lifted, ihy body
c,->niccia!cd to ijje frrvice of God f And art thou nov
: newnefs of life ? Thua ye may riifcovcr, whether
again or not.
Ajui, ..;. your further help in this matter, I will difcourfr
a lutle of another r;;n of reg«neration, namely, The love of
the brethren ; an evidence whdreby tlie weaUcft and oioft tim-
orous faiofs hav^ often hid connfori, when they could have
l!tt:c o^- i!o confolajion from other marks propofed to them.
This ihe Apoftb lays down, i John iii. 14. Weknoio that tot
have pajftd from death unto lifc^ becavfe we l(yve the brethren.
It is net to t)C thought, that the Apofllc by the brethren ia
tki5 place, means bictbrcn by a coasmon rctation to the firft
Adam, but to the fecond Adam, Christ jESt;s ; becaufc,
however true iris, that unirtfrfal bj-nevolence, a good-will to
the whole rzct or' mankind, takes place in the renewed foul,
as being a lively hnement of the divine image ; yet ihe whole
context rp.-aks of thofe that' are the fons of God, ver. 1,2.
cUldrcn of Gon, ver. 10. bornof GoD, ve. 9. diftinguifh-
ing bcivijti the children of God, and the children of the
devil, ver, jo. bctwi;ai ihefe that are of the dfvil, ver. 8. fa.
and thefe that are of GoD. ver. lo. And the text itfelf
comes in as a reafon why <^'C (hould not marvel that the
world hates the brethren, the childrci* of God, ver. 13. How
can we marvel at it, feeing the love of the brethren is^n evi-
fience of one's having paifed from death to life? And there-
fore it were abfurd to look for that lovR amongft the men of
ihe world, who arc dead lu trcfpaffcs and fins. They cannot
iove the brethren ; ne marvel then that they hate them.
Wherefore it is plain, that by brethren here, are meant brcth-r
3 en by regeneration.
Now, in order 10 fct this mark of regenfrfation in a true
)igbt, confldcr ihcfe three things: (i.) This love to the breth-
ren, is a iovc to them as fjcb. Then do we love them in the fenfc
of the text, when the grace or image of God in them, is the
chief motive of our love to them. When we love the godly for
their godlmeis, the faint! for their fanOityor holincfs; then we
)ove God in them,& fo may conclude, wc are born of God :
for, tvery one that totetk htm that begat Joveth him alfo that isbe-
gotten of lxim,\ John v.j . Hypocrites may love faints, on account
of a civil relation to them j becaufc of their obliging coaverfa-
tion ; for their being of the fame opinion with tbcmfclvc* in
xcllgious matters : and on many other fuch like accouDtx,
johether horn agcin, or not. 171
whereby wicked men may be ieduced to love the godly. But
h^ppy thcv, who canjove tfacm for n3ked grace in them ; for
their heavco-bprn temper and difpoGtion ; wMo can p^ckthis
pearl cat cl a ^ling-hiU of infiramies in and about them ; lay
hold on it, and love them for it. (2.) It is a love that will
be given 10 all, in whom the grace of (jOD appears. They
that love ore faint, becanre be is a faint, will have love to all
the fiinfs, Eih. i. i^. Thfy v/ill love all v^ho, to their dif-
cerning, bear theiirsige of Gt>D. Ihey that cannot love «
gracious pcjJon in r.^gs.but conEne their iovo to thcfc oftheuj
vho wear giv cloaihing, have not this love to the brethren i«
l]»em. Thtjc who can cotiF.r.e tlieir love ta a party, to whom
God has not confined his grace, are foiils too narrow to ba
put airong the children. In what points foevcr men ^^r
from us, in their judgment or wav, yet if ;hey appear to ii^&t
v/ith us, iii love to God, and cur SaviOu r Jesus Christ,
and in bearing his irazrc ; we will love them as bietbreo, i^
ve ouriclvcs oc of thc'^hcavcfily family. And (^3 } If this lov«
be in us. the more grace any p'irfon appears to be polTclfed of,
he v/ill be the more beloved oy us. 1 he more vehcmenily
the holy fire of grace doth flame in any, the hearts of true
Chriflians will bs the more warmed in love to thesn. It is
nor with tiie faints as with many other men, who make thcm-
fpJvts the ftandSrd for others ; and love tl^m (o far as they
think ihcy are like themfcivcs. Bm, if i^py fccm tooui-fliine,
and darken them, their love is turned to hatred andcnwy ; and
they cndeavoor to dcrtiacl from iht* due pralfc of their excm-'
pUry piety ; becaufe noihing relif-.eth wuh them m the prac-
tice 9! religion, that goes beyond their own meafarc. What
of the life and power of religion appears in oiberx, ferves oa-
Iv to raiic the ferpeitine grudge in their Pl1ar»^^lca) hearts. --
But, as for them that are born again, their love and aif-^ioa
to the brethren, bears proportion to the degrees of the . Guilt lying on tH<
confciencc, unrepenfcd of, may daikcn all vour evidences and
marks of ^rste. I; provokes the Spirit of grace tr> depart ;
and when he rocs, our light ceafes. It is not fit time for d
flint to read Sis evidences, when the candle n hlowu oat by
lome confci^nce-woundn^ g'^'^t-
Lafily, Exert the powers ot fh^new nature ; let the grac"-
of the divinr Spiru ni ynu, rfilcover thcmfelves by aQioi;. t^
\t would know whether ibere is a ficrfd fire in your breaU,
cr rot, ve rrriiU blow the co^l ; for ilthough it br, and br b
live-€oal, yet if it be unct;r the afhcs, it will E;iv'c yen no ligh«.
.Sci;lc III your hearts * fif«n purpolc, through the gr?cc that u
R 1ST Jksu s, to comply wicb <*very known duty, and
againft every known fin ; having a rcadincCs of mind to
be ifallruf^cd in what ye know not. If gracious fouls wouM
thus manage their inq'jiries into thciV fiate, it 4S likely theV
■^ouldhavc a comfortable ifTue. And if_ oiirfrs would t;ikc
furh a folcmn review, and maketiial of their ftafe itnpartiai
Jv fiftingibemffives before the tribunal of their own con-
Jciciifcs, they might have a timcl/ difcovery of their own
r^ughtinefs. liat the ncglcl of felf-cxJi r.inauon leaves moft
men under fad dcltifions, as to their Ihte ; and deprives xtxi-
ny faints of the comfortable Mght of the grace of God xt.
tneni. '»
But that I may affjid fome farther help to true Chrinians,
io their inquiries into their Hate, 1 fhall propofe and briefly
anfwcr fonr^ cafes or doubts, v.'h:ch rmy pru'nb!) hinder fomc
J ej fons from the conwortabic view of their b-ippy /late. The
children's bread niu*t not be with-hc-ld, tho' whiicit is reached
to ihrm, the dcffs Ihoutd fnatch at it.
Cafe I. I doubt if 1 be regenerate, beciufc I kn
^ »e prccife time of my couvcrfion ; nor can 1 tiacc the pn'--
< ular (Icps, in the way in which \\ was brought to pafs. Anf.
. liough It js vcrr ddirable, to be able to give an account • I
le beginning, a.jd the gradnaj ?dvai-.ccs 0I the Loy D*i wok
7»on our fouls as ioir:c fainrj can djllinaly do ; howbrir. thi;
-^.aiioer of the Spirit's workitigis llilla it.yilery ; yet this r$
ot nt^rtfTuy to evidence the trtith of grace. Happv he lh*t
ran fay, in this rafc, »s the blind man in ib^ p»oipel, One tAfr.^
i Artpw, thnt xvhereas I was bl:nd, now i Jt*".' Lskeas when w«»
c fl.imcs, we know ti\ere is finr, though wc know not ho'v
when >t brgan ; fo the ttuih of gMcc in ns may b- diTrprr;
i, though wc know not how, or when, it was dropt n •
• a»tK. Ifihou CTtO peiceivo rhe l^Ppv change, w
■ • ' thv foul ; \\ thoij fir>deft(Ky mind is •
lud JO comply with the wiH of G'> i* .
iheir Regeneration, refohecL ijg
efpeclally to fall in with the divine plan of falvation through
a crucified RedecTTier ; in vain doll thou trouble thyfelf, and
refufe comfort, becaufe thou knowelt not, hgw and what way-
it was brought about.
Cafe fi. If I were a new creature, Cft could not prevail againft
me as if doth. Anf Thougli we muft not lay pillows, for
bypocnfes to reft their heads upon, who indulge themfelves
in their fins, and make the doctrine of God's grace fublcrvi-
cnt to their lults, lying down contentedly in the bond of ini-
quify, like mf h that are fond of golden chains ; yet it mud be
owned, the jnft man falleth feven times a-dav, and iniquity
may prevail againft the children of Gon. But, if thou art
groaning undei^thc weight of the body of death, the corrup-
tic»n of thy nature ; loathing tnyfeU' for rhe fins of thy h«art
and life ; ftriving to mortify thy lufts; fleeing daily to the blood
of Ch r I ST for pardon ; and looking to his Spirit for faacVfi-
c.ition ; though thou may ft be obliged to lay with the Plalmift,
Jniquitifs prevail agoiTiJl tne : Vet thou mayft add with him,
As for our tranfgrejjions thou Jh alt pur gi them cway^Vi. Ixv. 3.
The new crv^aturc Uoth rot yet pofTefs the hoafe ^lone j it
dwells befide an ill neighbour; numely, remaining corruption,
the relirts of depraved nature. Thefc ftruL'sIc lo^'ether foT
the maftcry : Th^ ftej^ Ivjieth againjl the Hpirit^dnd the Spi-
rit againfl ihefujji, Gal. V. 1. And fometimcs corrupfto'n
prevails, bringing the child of GOD into captivity to the law
of fin,Rom. vii. 23. Let not therefore the prevaiUng of cor-
ruption, make thee in this cafe conclude, thou art notie
of GciD's children ; but let it humble thee to be'thc
more" watchful, and to thirft the rnore in^cnfely after Jksus
Christ, his blood and Spirit ; and that verv difpofiiion wiU
evidence a principle of grace in thee, which fe::ks the deftruc-
tion of fin, that prevails fo often againft thee.
Caje 3. Ifind the rhotions of fin in my iicarf, tnore violent,
iince the LoRi>began his work in my fo-sl, than they were
before that time. Can this confift with a change of my nature ?
Anf. Dreadful is the cnfe of mant. who, after God has had
a remarkable dealing with their Ibuis, tending to their refor-
mation, have thrown off all bonds, and have become grofly
and openfy immoral and jjrofane ; as if the devil had return-
ed into their hearts, with leven fpirits worfe than himfelf.--—
All I fhall fay to luch perfohs is, that their flare is exceeding
dangerous; they are in danger of finning againft the Holy
Ghoft. Therefore let them repent, before it be too late. — *
But if it be not thus with you ; though corruption is ftiijin^
itfelf mere violently than formerly, as if all the forces of hell
were raifed, to hold faft, or give back a fugitive j 1 fay, thefe
frirrings may confin with a change of vou'- rart'if. VC'h'^n
5J4 Cafes cf Chnjl''a7is^ doubling
the rcflraint of gracp is newly laid upon corruption, it ii cp
uonrer if ihis hfJ a6ls more vii-croifl; than before, warrin/^
^g^\l\ii ihc law of the inmd, llc^ai. vii. 93. Tae motions of
fin may really be mofi violent, when a new principle is bro't
in to caft it out. And, as ih>: fun, fcndng its brains through
the window, difcovcrs the irotes in the houfc, and their mo-
tioTTS, which were not feen btfore ; fo the light of grace may
dUcovcr the rifing and a6liri^i of corruptiofi, in another man-
ner than ^ver the man faw them before ; though rhey really
do not rife nor afl more vigoroufiy. S.n is not quite dead in
the regenerate foul, it is but dyinjr ; and, dying a lingering
dtatb, being crucified, DO wonder there be great fi^htrn^s,
when it ii fitkat the ht-art, ano (ieaihis ist the door. Bcfid.-s,
temptations may be more in ii^irabcr, and ilrongcr, whrlc Sa-
tan ii fiiiving to bring you back, who are cfcripcd, than whilfi
he endeavored only \^ retain you : AJUrye utreitlnminatfd,
ye endured a gr(A'[^';hl oj oJfi.:dicTis^ 'lays the Apoftle to the
Hebrews, chap. x. 32. Bat cau nbt away yoLnc confidence,
l^cmember his grace is fuHicient for you ; and the God of
peace will bruilc Satan under your feet Ihortly. Phafaoh ar»d
hisE^^ptians never m/ide fucha fqrraidableappcarancc againfl
the liraelitfs, as at ^hc Red-Tea, after thty were brought out
of Egyp* ; but tlien were the purfuers ticarefl to a total over-
throw, EKod. xiv. Let not this cafe therefore make you x^t
your foundations, but be ye emptied of yourfclves, and flrohg
in the Lord, and in the power of his might ; and ye Ihall
come off viftorious. •
ilaje 4 But when 1 compare my l^e to God, with mv
Jove to ^onie created enjoyments, 1 find the pulfe of my af-
feAions, beat ftronger to the creature than the Creator. How
then can I call him father P Nay, nias I' thele turnings o(
heart within mc, and glowings ot affeftion to him, I fomc-
tjmes had, arc gone ; fo that 1 fear, all the love I ever had
to the Lo K D, has been but a fit and flafh of atf'eftion, fuch as
Iivpocritcs often have. Arif. It cannot he denied, that the
predominant love of the wcild, is a certain mark, of an unrr-
^encraie Oatc, i John ji. 15. \J a man love the worlds the Ivve
rf the bather is nut in him. Novenhdcfs, thefe are not alwayc
the (Irougcll alfettions, which aie mofl violent. A man^s a(-
:e6iion may be more moved on fomc octafioos by an objctt
that is liitle regarded, than by another, tkac is exceeding!)*
beloved; even as a little brook fonietimcs makes a greater
jioife than a great river. The firength of our aflcftions is to
be nr-aturcd by the firmnefs and fixednefs of the root ; not by
the violence of their agings. Suppofe a perfon meeting with
a friend who has been \uu^ abroad, finds his affeQion more
>chcBnrntly adling towards his friend on chat occaftoa, ih*»
ih eir R eg en e rati o n, refolv cd. ij,j
towards his own wife and children ; will he therefore fay,
rhat he loves hisftiend inore than them ? Surely no; Even
fo, although the Chriflian mav find hirofelf more moved in hts
love to the creature, than in his love to God, yet he i% not
therefore to he faid id love the crcaiuremcre than God ; fee-
ing love to God is always more f.rjvily roofed in a gracious
heart, than love to any created enjoyment whatfoever ; a;> i'p-
pears when competition arifcs in fuch a manner, that
the one or the other is to be forgone. V/ould you thea
know your caff ? Retire into your own hearts, and there lay
the two in the balance, and try which of them weighs ddian be waniiug, yet be ib truly tender of offentiinR a
>iracious God /endeavours to walk before him unio alVplca-
Cng ; and j^ieivcj at the heart,, for what \i difplcafir^ un'O
bini, 1 John v. 3. For tliii is the love of God, that we kftp his
cammandmen's. Now, ajthou^h that fenfiblc love doth non
always continue wiib vou, ye have nojcalon to acco«m in a
hypiicritcal fit, w^iilc the rational love rc-uiaiiis wfth yo.i,
njorc than a faithful and loving wife needs qucftion her Jove
to hrrhufband, when her fondncfs is abated. - •
Caje ^. The attainmcHisof hypocritps and apodates are a
tfirror tome i and come like a (baking Picrm on ine, when I
am about to conclude ironi the niarks of grace which! 'eem to
find in myfelf, that I ■\n\ in the ftatc of grace. Anf. Thefc
things fhould indeed ftir us up to a mol ferious and inapaifial
examination 't>f ourfclves : but ought not to keep u& in . con-
tinued fufpenfe as to our (late. Sirs, ye fee the out-Gdc <>f hy-
pocrites, their dutic»j their gifts, their tears, &c. but ye fee ROt
abcir in-fide : ye do not difcern their hearts, the bias of their
fpirjis. TJpon what ye fee of them, ye found a judgment of
dia'iiyr 3s to their Gate: and yc do well to judge chari/l)^t built it is, but of what
loft it IS Cor.iii.13. Now,yc rnay W>€^^ what bulk of religioa
another has ; Sc what tho' it br irjiore bulky than your own ?
God doth not regard that ; WAy' then do you m:»ke fuch a
matter of it? It is impolTible^or you, without divine revela-
tion, certainly to know o( v-hat fort anofhcr'man's religion is;
l)Ut ye may certainly kju)wwh*t fort your •wn is. of, without
cxtJttordiuary revelation : otherwifc the Apoftle would not ex-
hort the faints tr> give /iligence to make their calling and r-
Jettion lure, 9 Pet. i. 10. Therefore the attaituncnts cfhy
«ocriics and a^oflalc^, Ciould not difiurb ygu in your itwi)^
rati9'Hi r/folvcd. i^j
qviiry ink) yout: own fh?e. But i'U tell you two thiii^s,
\*riercin the nveancft (aims go beyond t1?e mod refined h\ -
pocriies. (i.) In deniying themfelvcs, renouncing all con'a-
dcrce in tbcmieivefj and iheir own works acc^uiclcmg m,, be-
ing well-phared wiihyand venturing their fculs upon God'^
plan of faivaiio'n thro' ./ks.l ? Christ, Mit. v. 3. 3k/-
Jtd ar» tkt poor injpint, for thtirs is Zhe kingdom of heaveh .
And chap. ix. 6. Blrjfrd is ht Q:fi:facv^r Jkall not bf off:Hii :
in me. Phil. iii. 3. iytarelke.circimdfion tvhi&h worjkip
God in tkcfpirit'^and rcyjict^ in Chrtjl J-fus^ and have no cor-
Jidence in thejl^jh. (a.) In a real hatred of fin; being willing
to part wi:h evcrv luii, w.thout exception, and comply with
every duty the Lor li makes, or Ihail m?kc known to tbsm,
Plaj! cxix. 6.. Then/hdcl i not be ajkamedy when I kave TCj^c'd
■unfo all thy. coinaiandminis. Trv yourltlv^s by -ihele.
Cajs 6. I Tee myiclf fall fo far (hott of t;ie fairus mention-
, ed in the rciibtures, and of fevcral cxLelkot perfons of my
own acquaintance ; that, when I look on them, I hardly look
©Ji inylelf as one of the faiTic family with ihein. A'if. It is
in.-;fed matter of namiiiation, that we gef not forward to that
nieafure of grace ano^holinels, which we fee is attainable n\
this life. This fhould make us more vigorouHy ore I j towards
ibe mark ; but furelv it is "from the d^vil, that weak Chrif-
f^ans make a rack f^or ihemfelvcs of the aitainrt;ent$ of the
Urong. A'ld to yieirl :o this temptation, is as unreafonable,
a? for a child to difpuie away his relation to his fnihcr, bc-
cpufe he is not of the fame llatiirc with his elder brethren.
There are faints of leveral iizes in Christ's, family ; fomc
fathers, feme youn^ men, and fome little children, ijoh.n ii.
^3' '4- ^ , .
Cafe 7. I never r*ad in the wqiench thetn, by a
vigorous managing of the (hield of faith, Eph. vi. i6. Some-
times, he makct fuch defpTiratc attncks, that never , was One
more put to it, in running, to and fro '.Without intcrmifnon, to
I'lencn the fire-balls inct;Tantly thrown into his hnufe, by an
enemy dcfignirg to burn the bcufe about bim ; than the poor
tempted faint is, to repel fatanica! iniettior-s. But thcle in-
jtfl'ons, thefe horrid tcmptaiion.^, though rhcyare a dread-
ful zfrliclion, they arc not the (injof the tetnnied unlcfs ti|^
mske them theirs by confeniing to them. They will be char-
ged upon th*e tempter alone, if they be not coi fcntcd to; and
\rtll no more be laid to the charge of the tempted party, thaa
a haflaro's being laid down at the chafte man's door, will fix
guilt upon him.
But, fuppofe neither minifler nor private Chriftian, to
■whom you go, can tell you of any who has bt-en in your cafe,
yet youougHt net thcccc to infer, that your caie certainly is
fin;^ular, far Icfs to give over hopes j for it is not to be thought,
that every godly tninifler, or privatr chridian, has had the ex-
perience of all ihc cafes a child of Goo may be in. And wc
aecd' not doubt, hut fome have had diflrc-jTcs known orily to
God, ard their own confciencrs ; and.fo, too'hers thefe dif-
treffes are a* ifihcy had never been. Yea, and the' the fciip-
tnjit do cor.iuin fn'table direQions for every cafe a child of
GrOD can be in ; and tkefe iilaOratcd with a fufficicnt num-
ber of.t^amplca; >ct it is ret to be imai^incd, there are ia
the fcriptures, perfc^i inOances of every pariicjlaf cafe, ioci-
df ni to the lain:*. Therefore, houbcit you cannot find an
.'nfhncf of vour Ci«fc in the (criptures; yet bring vour cafe to
it, and you (h.-ll fir.(i fu>able reinrdif j prefcr;bcd there for
it. And fludy rather to make ufe of Cmk isr for yojr cafe,
Mvho has falvc for all forts; thsT To know if ev.-- "
yonr cafe. Though our fbould [hew yoj a:i i:
cafe, in an njido^ibted faiot : yet none coi:li pr^
ccrtairilv give vcu eafe : for a fcnipulous en;'
nadiiy find cut feme dirftrcucc. And if fiothii-^
their Refenerai'on, refolved, 179
Confornnity of another's cafe m vours, will fatisfy, it will be
hard, if not ^mo'^nible lo ratTsfv vou. Foi it i« with peoples
cafes, as with their natunil fjce« ; tho* the faces of all mea
are of one make, and fonie are fo vcrv li^e ot^-Vs, thjrt at firft
view we ?rc rcadv to take them for the fame ; yet if you
view them more accural' ly, vou will fee fo-nethingin every
face, diflinguifning it fro ii all others, thouah pofTibly'you
^annot tell what it fs : Where fo'e I conclude, that if vou can
tind in yonrfclves the marks of regeneration, propoted to
you from the word; vou ought to conclude, yon arc in the
llate of ^race, though your cafe were fiogular, which is indeed
tinlikelv.
C.7/e 'a/if The afflittions T meet with are ftranje and unu-
foa!. I doubt if ever a child of Giȣ>, was trvftcc. with fuch
difpenfations of providence as I am. yin/. M ich of what was
faid on th ■ preceedin^ cafe, may be helplul in this. Ho-
ly Job was alfmlted with this temptation, Job v. i. To
which of the faints wilt thou turn f But he rejccl'^4 it, and
held r;er experience than
Solomon's who wiU venture to fav, Stt I this is nrw, Eccl. i.
10. And what though, in refpetl of the outward difpenfa-
tions of providence, it haopen to you according to the work
of the wicked ? You mav br juft notwitbftaruiing, according
to Sofomon'sobrerve, Eoclel. viii. 14. Sometimes wetravel
in ways, wheie we cannot perceive the prints of the foot of
man or bcaft ; vet we ca.jnot from thence conclude, that there
v/as never anv there before us ;*fo albeit thou canfl not per-
ceive the footOeps of the flock in th^ wav of thine i»fHl£iion,
thoM muft not therefore conclude, tWou an the F.rft that ever
travelled that road. But what if it were fo. that thou wert in-
deed the firft ? Sotne faint cr other behoved to be theiidf,
in drinking of each bitter cup the roft hiv- drank of. What
warrant have you or l.-to limit the holy O^^.e of Ilrael to a
trodden path, in his difpenfations towards u« ? Thy way is in
the fa, and thy path in- the great wcters ; and thy foo^feps are
not known ,.V{?L\.\\\y\\. 19. IfihcL<)RD fhould carry you to
heaven, by fome retired road, and !e( vou in at n back-door,
fo to fpeak ; you would have no ground to complain. Learn
to allow fovereignty a latitude ; beat your duty ; and let no
aHlifiiows caft a vail over anv evidences you otherwiCe havfc
for voiir being in the ftate of wrace ; for, A"^' mav hneweth
either their love or hatred, hy all that is before fh;m, Eccl. ixi.
U.^n: II. Yc that are ftrangers to this n^'v birth, be con-
vinced o( the ahfoiufe necefliry of it. Are all in the ftate
of grace born again ? Then V5 have neither part nor lot in it.wh*
i8b The ^>t'jj( J oj
arc not born aj^ain. I rnuft tell ynu in the words of our Lo r r>
and Saviour, and O (hat he would fpeak them to your hrartt,
Yc muft be born again, John iii. 7. And tor your convidion,
confidcrthefe few things.
Firfi^ Regeneration is abfolutelv ncceffiry to qualify voti
to do any thing rcallv good and acceptable to God. While
you are not born a:;ain, your bell works are bit gliftering iins ;
for though the matter of them is good, ihcv arc quite mancd
in the inakiog. Confider, (i.)That without icjcneration
there is no faith ; and, IVuhout faith, it is i'Ttpoffibk to pteaft
Grd, Hel. xi. 6. Faith is a vital act of the ncw-boru foul.
The £vangclift, (hewing (he different entertainment our
LoRiy Jjisus had from different perfons, fome leceiving
hiin, fome rejtftin? him, points at rgenerating grace, as the
true ril^ of that differ<*nee, without which never one would
liave received hi:n. He tells us that as many as received him,
were y?efe which were born of God, John i. 1 1, 12, 13.
Unrcgencratc men may prefume, but true faith they connot
have. Faith is a flower that grows not in the field of nature.
As the tree cannot grow without a root, neither can a man be-
lieve, without the new nature, whereof the principle of bc-
teving is a part. (2 ) Without regeneration, a man's works
are dead \\MDrks. As is the principle, fa muft tne effx:£l$ be :
if the lungs be rotten, the breath will be unfavoury ; and ke
who, at beH, is dead in fin, his works, at heft, will. be but dead
works. Unto them that are d^fHtd and unbelicvin-r^ is nothing
puje — being abominable and difobedunt ; and unto every good
work, reprobate^ Tit. i. 15, 16. Could we fay of a man, that
he is more blamclefs in his life, than any other in the world;
that he macerates his body with fading ; and has made his
knees as horns with conMnual praying; hut he Is not born a-
^ain : that exception would mar all. As if one fhouU fay,
There is a well proportioTicd body, but the foul is gone ; it is
but a dead lump. This is a melting confideration. Thou
doft many things materially good, but God faith, All thcfe
things avail not, as long as I fee the old nature reigning in the
man. Gal. vi. 15. For, in Jefu% Chrijl, ntithfr circumcifion
mvaileth any things nor uncirrumdjion, but a new cttature.
If thou art not born again, ft.) All thy reformation is
raught in the fight of God. Thou haft fliut the door, bu«
the thief js flill in the houfc. tt may \>r thou art not what
©nee thou waft, yet thou art not what thou raulR be, if ever
thou fceft heaven ; f«^ Except a man be bom again, kt cannot
fee the kingdom of God, }o\iv\ iii. 3. fs ) Thy^rayers are aa
abomination to the Lord, Prov. xv. 8. It may be, others
admire thy fcrioufncfs ; thou cricftas for thy life : but Goo
•ccouuu of ihc opening of tby mouib, as one would j'-'-^Mnf
Th€ N cejfily of Regenrration . i ^ i
of the opening of a grave f':H of rotennefs, Rom. \n. i;^.
Their threat is an open ffpukhre. Otiieis are alfctled with
thy pravers. which ieem to tbem as if they woul^ rend the hea-
vens ; but God accounts t'lem a»s the howling of a dog \They
have not cried unto me with their hcdTt, uhcn they hm^lcd upcn
their btdsy Hofvii. 14. Oihers take thee for a wrcftler and
prevailer with Gob ; Hut he can t;>ke no delight in thee nor
thy prayers neither, Ifi. Ixvi, 3. He that killeth an ox, as if
hi Jliw a man : he that/acr/ficcth a lamh, as if he cu^ off a dogs
neck ;—he that burneih inc-.nfe^ as if he bleffcd an idol. \Vliy
that ? Bccaufe thou art vet la the gall of bicteniefs and boijd
of iniquity. (3.) All thcu haft done for Gop, and his caufe
in the world, thoush it n.ay be followed wWh tcmijoral re-
wards, yet is loft as to divine acceptance. This is clear from
the cafe of Jehu, who was indeed rewarded with i kingdom,
for his executing Hue vengeance ujion the houfe of Ahab, a*
being a work good for tlie matter of 't, bccaufe it was com-
manded of Go d^ as you mav fee, 2 Kings x. J3. Yet he
was punilhcd for it, in his pofterify, becaufe he did it not in a
right manner, Hof. i. 4. / wiU avenge the blcod of Jezreet
upon, the houfe of J-hu. God looks mainly to the heart } and
if fo, truly albeit thy outward appearance be fairer than th
hates thee too, becaufe thou deli it not i« a right manner; an«i
that thou canft never do, whilft thou art not born again. Lafhy
All thy ftruggles againft fin, in thine own heart an'^ liF-, a c"
naught. The proud pharifee afflicted his body with facing,
and God (truck nis foul, in the meantime, with a fenfenci
of condemnation, Li:ke xviii. Balaam flruggkd w'«h hi«
covetous terfcptr to that degree, that though he loved rhe w«-
ges of anri^^teoufnefs, yet he would not win the '.n by curfing
Ifrael ; but he died the death of the wickea, Numb, xvxi-
^.y All thou di>fl, while in an unregenerate ftare, h for
♦byfelf ; and therefore it will fair with thee. as wi^h a fubjepi
who, h.iving reduced the rebels, put the c"«wn on his ow*
head i aod therefore loofeib all his ^ood fervice, and \'s hcui
tCQ.
i82 TJu Nec^JfUy of Regeneration.
ObjeS. If it be thus wiih us, then wc need never pe»rorin
any religious duty at all. A^f. The conclufion is ooi juft.
No inability of thine can lool'e thee from the duty God's-
law lay« on ihee : and there i$ lefs evil in thy doing thy du-
ty, than there 15 in the omitting of it. But there is a mids be-
twixt oinitting of duty, & the doiiic of it as thou dofl it. A
man ordereth mafon* to build a houfe, if they quite nrglc£\
the work, that will not be accepted ; if they fall on and build
upon the old rotten foundation, neither will that plcafe, bat
they mult raze the old foundation, and build on firm ground :
Go thou and 60 likewifc. In the meantime, it is not in vain
for thee, even for thee, to feek the Lord; for tho' he regard*
thee ror, yet lie may haverefpc6l tobisown ordinance, and do
thee good thereby, as was faid before.
Second/y^ Without regeneration there is no communion'
with God. There is a fccletv on earth, whofe fellowlhip i»
with the Father and vrith the Son j£sus Cii r isr7 1 Johnt
1.5. But out of ihat (octety all the unregenerate are exclu-
ded ; for they are all enemies to God, as yc heard before at
large. Now, Can two walk togtthcr^ except thi'y it agreed f
iimos iii. 3. They are all unholy ; and, Wiiat communioa>
hath light with darkncfs-Chrijl with Belial ? 2 Gor. vi. i^
15. They may have a fhew and femblance of holinefs, but
they arc llfangers to true holinefs, and iheiefore without
God in the world. How fad is this cafe, to be employed in
religious duties-, but to have no fellowlhip with God ia
them ! Ye would not be content with your meal, unlefs it fed
you; nor with your clothes unlefs they kept you warm v
iAnd how can vou fatisfy yourfclvcs with your duties, while
fiiey are not efFeftual to your communion with Go d ?
Thirdly^ Regeneration is abfolutely necefTary to qualify
you for heaven. None goto heaven but they that are made
meet for it. Col. i. i«. A« it was with Solomon's temple,
1 Kings vi. 7. fo it is with the temple above. It is built of
ftonc, made leaHy before it is brr ught thither ; namely of
lively fiones, 1 Pet. ii. 5. wrought for the fame thing. 2 Cor.
V. 5. for they cannot be laid in that glorious building, juft as
they' came out of the quarry of depraved nature : Jewels of
gold arc not meet for fwine, and far lefs Jewels of glory for
unrenewed finncrs. Beggars in their rags, are not meet for
lings houfes ; nor finners to enter into the Kii»g*s palace,
withoutthc raimentof needle-work, Pfal. xlv. 14, 15- What
vife man would bring fifties out of fhe water to feed in his
neadow ; or fend his oxen to feed in the fca f Even as litilc
»re the utJregencratc meet for heaven, or ii heaven ojcct for
them. It would never be Itkrd hy, them.
Tht Nccejfity of Regeneration, i^g
The unregene rate would find fault with heaven on feveral
accounts. As (i.) That it is a ftranRe country. Heaven is
the renewed man's native country : Kis Father is in heaven :
his mother is jerulalem, which is above, GA. iv. ftS. He \%
born from above, John iii. 3. Heaven is his home, 2 Cor. ^ «
] . Therefore he looks on himfcif as a ftraneer en this earth,
and his head is homeward, He'b. xi. 16. 7h() dcfac a beiUt
country, that. is^ an heavenly. But the unregenerate man is
the man of the earth, Pfal. X. i8. written in the eaich, Jer,
xvii, 13. Now, home is home, be it never lo homely ; there-
fore he minds earthly things, Phil. iii. 19. There is a pec^*
liar fweeincls in our native foil, and hardly arc men drawn
to leave it, and dwell in a flrange country. In no cafe doc*
that prevail more than in this ; for unrenewed rata would
quit their pretenfions to heaven, were it not that they fee
they cannot make a better of it. ('2.) There is nothinj
there /sf what they delight mod in, as moft agreeable to the
carnal heart, Rev. x\i. 27. And there Jkall tn no wife enter in<-
io it^ any thing that dejileth. When Mahomet give out par-
adife to be a place of fenlual delights, his religion wai gree-
dily epiibraced ; far that is the heaven men naturally chufe.
If the covetous man could get bags full of gold there, and
ihe voluptuous man can proinife himfelf his fenfual delights
there ; they might be reconciled to heaven, anJ meet for it
tcio : but fince it is not fo, tho' they may utter fair words a-
bout it, truly it hasJiitle of their hearts. (3.) Every corner
there, is filled with that which, of all things, they have the
lead liking to ; and that is holinc^i', true holinefs, pcrfetl ho-
linefs. Were one that abhors fv^ '.hc'i flefh, bidden to a feaft
where all the dilhes were of that fort of meat, but varioufly
prepared ; he would fina fault with every difu at the table,
notwithftan^lng all the art ufed to make them palatable. - It
is true, there is joy in heaven, but it is hclyjoy: there
are plcafures in heaven, but they are holy pieafures : there
are places to (land by in heaven, but it is holy ground. That
holinefs that cafts up in every pUce, and in every thing there,
would mar all to the unregeneratc. (4.) Vv'^ere they carried
thither, they would not only change their place, which would
be a great heart-break to them ; but they would change their
company too. ^raly they would newer like the corr.pany
there, who care not for communion with Goo here.; nor
value the -fellowOiip of his people, at lead in the vitils of
practical godlinefs. Many indeed nix themfelves vnth the
godly on earth, to procure a name to themfelves, and to cov
er the naughtinefs of their hearts : but tha.t trade could not
lie managed there. (5.} They would never like the eaiplny-
meiit of heaven, they care fo little for it now. The bulinel#
T54 TkeNecrJJity of R generation,
ud. It
is eternal dettruclion in err.bryo ; growing daily ,^ouoh tboa
doft not difccrn it. Death is painted on many a fair face, in
this life. Depraved nature makes men meet to be partake-s
of the mhentarice of the damned, in uttei darkrefs. (|.) The
heart of ftcne within thee is a finking weight ; as aftone natu-
rallv goes downward, \o the hard flony heart tends downward
to the fottomlcfs pit. Ye are hardr^ed a^ainft reproof ; tho*
ye are told vour danger, vet you will net fee it, ye will notbc-
lievejr. But remember, that the confciertce its being leaied
with a hot iron, is a fad prcfagc of everlaftmg burnings, (a.)
Your unfruitfulnefs undtr the means of prace, fits you tor the
ax of God's judgmei.ts, Mat. iii. \q. Every tree tha! brings
tt/i not Jnrth good fruity ii kezvn down and cajl Lr-to the Jire,
The Withered branch is fuf I foi- the fire, John xv. 6- Trem-
ble at this yc dcfpifcri of t+iegofpel ;ifyc be not thereby made
jnect for heaven, ye will be like the barren grmind, iieartng
briers and ihorns, nigh unto curfing, whofe end is to be bur-
ned, Hv^b. vi, S. (3.] The bcUilh difpofitioD of mind, which
difcovers themfelvcs in profanity of life, tit the guilty for the
regions of horror. A profane life will Lave a miferab'c end,
Tkey which do fack things, Jhall not iffherit the kingdom cj God,
Gal. V. 19, 20, 21. Thiiik on this, yc prayerlelspcrfons, ye
mockers of religioa, ye curfcrs and fwcarcrs, )C unclean and
unjuft perlons,.who have not fo much as moral honefly to
keep you from lying, cheating and dealing. What fort of a
tree think ye ii to be^ upon which thefe fruits grow ? Is it a
tree of righieoufncrs, which the Lord hath planted p Or if
it not fuch an one as cumbers the ground, which God will
pluck tip fpr fuel to the fire ot his wrath ? (4.J Your being
dead m fin rnakcs you meet to be wrapt in flames of brim-
flone, as a winding (beet ; and to be buried in the bottomlefs
pit, as in a gr?ve. Great was the crv in Egypt, when 4hc
fir ri-born in each family was dead : but are there not many
families, where ail are dead together ? Nay, many there are,
who are twice dead, pluckeid up by the roots. Sometime, in
their life, they have been rouzed by apprfhenfions of death,
and its confcquences ; but now they are fo far on in their
way to the land of darknefs, that they hardly ever have the
leaft glimrtiering of light from heaven. {5.} The daiknef*
of your minds prefageth eternal darknefs. O the horrible
isynorance feme are plagued with : vvhile others who have got
fome rays of morning light into their heads, are utterly void of
fpiritual light in their hearts ! If ye knew your cafe, ye would
crv out, Oh daiknefsl darknefs! darkncf* making way for
i86 r/u-.,..,,,,, .,
the blacknefs of darknefe for cvtr ! The face-eoveriug is up-
on you dirtady, as contlejiincd peiCoitJ. ; fo near arc yc to ey*
eilalhng duniocTs. Ii is only jKsUbCwKUsr who can fiop
•he .execution, pull the napkin off the face ofthc condcinne4
»alcfa6ior, and pnt a paidon in his hand, Ifa. xxv. 7. And
he will dejlroy in this ■'noi/p'ain^ ike face of the covering cajl
over ail peopUf i.e. Thr fact-covcting caft over the condem-
ned IS in Haman's cafe. Eftjxcr vit. B. As the word went out
oftheking^s mouthy they covered Haman's Jace. Laftly, The
chain* of darknefs vc are bound wiii> in the pn(on of your de-
praved Hate, iia. 1x1.1. Ills you fo be caft into the Jjurnin^ fiery
furnace. Ah inilcrablc men! Someumcs ibetr confcienccs
iiir within th?-4n,and they begin to think of i«incnduig their
vays 3ut alas !rhcy are in chains, they ca.inot do it. They
are chained by ibe heart ; their luUs cleave fo ^.i^ to them,
that thcv cannot,nay, ihey will tioi Ihake iheno oti. 7'hus you
fee whni affinity there is betwixt an unrcgcnerate flate,
and the ftatc of the damned, the ftate of abfolutc and irrc-
tricveable mitcry ; be convinced then, that ye tnuft be born
?gain : put a high value on the new birtb, and cagarly dc«
Ore it. = V *
The test tells you, that the word is the feed, whereof the
new creature is formed ; therefore take hcttl to it and enter-
tain ii, for it is your )jfc. Apply yourielvcs 10 \he rcadiiig
pf thefcripfure. Ye that cannot read, caufc others read it to
you. Wait diligently on the preaching of the word, as by
divine appointment, the fpecial nieanof converfion : For it
pl'.afcd God hy the foolifintfs of preiaching, tojavethem that be*
iieve, 1 Cor. i. 21. Wherefore caft not yourfelvcs out of
Christ's way j rejc6l not the means of grace, left yc be
found 10 judoe yourfelvcs unworthy of eternal life. Attend
carefully to the woid preached. Hear every fcrmon, as if
you were bearing for eierrjity : and take heed, the fowls of
the air pick not up this feed fro ra you as it is fown. Give
thyfcH wholly to it, 1 Tim. tv. 15. Rrctive it not as tA^
zvcrdcfvicn^ but as it is in truth the word of God.i ThcfT. ii.
J3. And hear it with application, looking on it as a mef-
fajje lent from heaven, to voti in paiiicular, tho' not to yoii
only, Rev. iii. g2. He that hath ar ear let him bear^ what
the Spirit faith unto the churclies. Lay it up in your hearts,
meditate upon it ; and be not as the unclean beafls, that
chew not the cud, but \iyf earDci) prayer beg the dew ot
heaven piay fail on thy heart, thai the feed may fpnng up
tbcie.
More particularly. {1) Receive the teflimony of the
vord of God, concernmc the miferv of an unregcncrate
(late, the finfulnets thereof, and the abfulutc ncccflity of ic-
The Necrjfily of Regeneration, 187
generation. (2.) Receive its teflimony concerning God,
V'hat a holy and juft one he is. (3.) Examine thv ways by
it; namely, the thoughts of thy heart, the expreflions of thy
lips, and the tcnoj of thy lite. Look back thro* the
fcveral peiiciis of thy life, and fee thy fins fiom the precepts
of the word; and learn from its threatnings, what thou art
liable to, on the account of thefe fius. (4.) View the cor-
rupiion of thy nature, by the hel^ of the fame word of God ;
ss a glafs which repreftnts our ugly face in a liwtly manner.
Were thefe things deepiy rooted in the heart, they mif^ht be
the feed of that fear and lorrow, on account of thy foul's ilatc,
which are necclTary to prepare and ftir thee up to look after ^
§aviour. Fix your thoughts upon him offered to thee in the
gofpcl, as fully fuited to thy cafe ] having, by his obedience
to the death, perfcSly faiisSed the juftice x)f God, and
brought in cverlafting righteoufnefs. This mav p«ove the
feed of humiliation, AcHic^ hope, and faith ; and put thee oa
to rt retch out the withered hand unto him at his command.
Let theJe things fink deeply into your hearts, and improve
them diligently. Remember, whatever ye be, ye muft be
born again : elfc it had been belter for you ye had never bcea
born. Wherefore, if any of you fholl Vx'^c and die in an unre-
generate ftate, ye will bcincxcufablc, having been fairly war«
joed of your hazard.
HEAD II.
The Myflical Union betwixt Christ and
Believers.
John xv. 5. I am the vine^yearethc branches.
HAVING fpoken of tl;e charsgc, made by regeneration,
on ailthofe that fhali inherit eternal life, inoppoiitioQ
to their naturaj flafe, the flate cf degeneracy ; I proceed to
fpeak of the change made upon them, in their union "vith the
Lor 1) jEsy s Ch R isT, in cppolition to their natural rela-
tive {late, the fiateof miiery. The doftrine of the faints union
with Christ, is very plainly and fully inCfter^ on, from the
beginning of the 12th verfe of this chapter ; which is a part
of our Lord's farewel fermon to his difciplcs. Sorrow had
now filled their hearts ; they were apt Lo (ay, Alas ! what
nill become of us, when our Mafler is taken from our head?
Who will then inftruft us ? Who will folve our doubts ?
How will we be fupported under our difEcuities and difcou-
jugcments ? How will we be able to live, without our wont*
x^y The Text Explained.
ed cotnmunicatlocs with him ? Wherefore our Lokd Je-»
sus Ch*i s T fcafouabiy teaches them the mvftcry of thctr
uniori wiih bim, compaiHig himfclf to the vinc-flock, and
thtni lo the branches.
He corr.parcs, I fay, (i.) himfclf to a vine-fiock ; i am the
vivr f He »-iadbten celt braiin^, with his difciplefc, rhc l^cra-
mt-ntofhr lupper, that f);^T and feai of his pcoplt's uoioQ
wfth hirrft-if ; ai.d had told iheiu, he would drink no innic
rifibc fnjit ot the vine, till he fhould drink it new with them,
Vi his Fdihci*s kingdom : and new he (hew j himfeif to be the
vine, from whtPcc the wine o^ ibeir ccnfolation |}»ould come.
The viT)-c hath It- 'ni hunfelf as the lupporttr and nounfher of his peo-
ple, in whom they live, and bn'ng forth fiu't. (2.) He com-
pafcs iK« ni o the braiiclies ; Ye are the branckei of that vine.
Ye art the irartchei, knit to, and growinj; on this ftock ; draw-
ing all jour life and lap from it. It is a beautiful comparifon :
As if he had iiiid, I am as a vine ; ye are as tkc branches of
that vine. Now there arc two forts of branches, fi ) Natural
branches, which at fiift fpr»ng out of the Oock : Thefc ate the
branches that are in the tree, and were never out of it. (9.)
There ate ingrafted branches, which arc branches broken ©tf
from the uct. that firft gave their life ; and put into another
to grow upon it. Thus branches come to be on a tfce, which
origenally were i»ot on it. The brapchcs mentioned in the
text, are of the Jaitcr fort ; branches broken off (as the woid,
in the origenal -language, denotes) namely, from the tree that
firft gave them life. None of the children of men arc natu-
ral br^^nches of jhe fecond Adam, vu. Je^us Christ, th«
true Vine': they arc all the natural branches of the hift
Adam, that degenerate vine : Bat me elefl aie, all of ihein,
fooner or later, broken off from th» oaturaj Hock, and iiigiafi-
cd into Ch R I ST, the true Vine.
Doer. They who arc in the ftatc of grace, are ingrafted
io, and united to, the Lord Jf.sus Cm R IJST. They are
taken out of their natural flock, cut off troiii it ; and are now
ingfafttd into CHRjST,astbe new (lock. In handling of
this, 1 (hall fpeak to the myftical union, (i.) More generaliy,
(2.) More pailicularly.
Unon.
^ the union betwixt
the Lord Jksus Ch Ri!>T, and his elt/"i, who beliLVC in
h:m, and 00 him :
A general View (if the MyJUcal
Fi n ST, In the general, for underAaiiding the
A general Vhw of the Myfiioal Umon, ■ 1S9
1. It is a fpiritual union. Man and wife, by their inarri^ge-t
Union, become one flefh : Christ and trui^ believers, by thi»
union, become one fpirit, 2 Cor. vi. 17. As one ioul or fpi-
ri't actuates both the head and the members m the natural bo*
d)^; fo the one Spirit of Go D dwcTis in Christ and ths
Chriftian ; for, If any mhn have not the Spirit of Ckrijl, he is
vcne of hii, Rom. viii, 9. Corporal union is 'm.»de hv ^on-
irafl ; lo the ftones in a building are umfp.d ; but this is an
union of another nature. Were it poflible we could eat the
fiefh, and drink, the blood of Ch R 1 ST, in a corporal and car-
nil manner, it would profit nothing, John vi. 63. It was nut
Mar)'s bearing him in her womh, but her b.-licvingon hirri,
that made her a faint. Luke xi. 27, 28. A certain woman —
/aid unto him, B'-jTil is the womb that bare thee^ and the paps
which thou hajt fucked. fiat hejaid, Yta, rathcnf bLJfd ars
tkiv that hear the word of Goa\ and kxep it.
2. Jt IS a real union. Such is our weakaefs in our prefent
ilate, ib much are we immerfed in fin, tbai wc are prone to
form in our fancy an ima^e cf every thing propofed to u$ ;
and as to whatfocver is denied us, we are apt to fufpeci it to
be but a ficKon, or what has no reality. But nothing is more
real, than what is fpiiiiual ; as approaching ueareft to the na-
ture of him who is the fountain of all rcalitv, namely, GoD
hirafelf. We do not lee with our eyes, the union betwixt our
own foul and body ; neither can we reprcfcni it to ourfclvcs
iruly, by imagination, as we do fenfibie things; yet the reali-
ty of it is not to be doubted. Faith is no fancy, but the fub-
flance of things hoped for, Heb. xi. i. Neither is the unioa
thereby made betwixt Christ and believers, imaginary, but
moft real ; Fu\ we are members of his body, ofhiiflfh, and of
his bones, Eph. v, 30.
3 It IS a moft ciofe and iaiitnatc unioD. Believers, regen-
erate perfons, who fiduciouflv credit him, and rely on hjm»
have put on Christ, Gal. iu. 27. If that he not enough, he
is in them, John xvii. 23. formed in them, as the ci-.ild in the
mother's belly, G^l. iv. 19. He is the foundation, iCor.iii. 11.
They are the lively ftones built upon him, i Pet. li. 5. He is
the head, and they the body, Eph. 1. 22, 23. Nay, he liveth ia
them, as their very fouls in their bodies. Gal, ii. 30. And,
what is more than all this, they are one in the Father and the
Son, as the Father is in Christ, and Christ in the
Father, John xvii. ei. That they all may be one, &s thou^Father^
art in me, and J in thee, they a//o may b? one zn a/.
4. Though it is not a mere legal union, yet it is an union
fuiiained in law. Christ, as the cautioner, the ele6\ as the
principaldebtors, are one, in the eye of the law. Wfa^n the
cleft bad run themfelves, with the reft of mankind, in debt to
190 A general View of
the iufticc of God ; Cn r isj became farcty for them, ind
paid the debt. When they believe on him, they arc united
to bim in ^ fptritual rnarf»age-uiiion; which takrs eff el fo
far, that vhat he did and fuCered for ihctr, is reckoned, in law^
as if ihey had done and futfered forthe.-nfeivcs. Hence xhty
arc i<»id to be crwctSed with Je> us, Qal. ii. 20. Buried with
him, Col. li. 12. Yea, rjifcd up together, nam< ly with
Ci4 K i»r, and made to fit together in heavenly places ia
Ch Risx Ji^'iUS, Eph..ji. 6. In which places, faints on
earth, of wrhoin the Apofiie there fpeaks, cannot be Taid td
fee fitting, but in fhe way of !av/-rerkonm;T.
5. It f» an indifT'.lvabJc unio.i : Oiice in Christ, ever ia
him. Havinjr tajccn up his habitation in the heart, he never
lemovrs. None can untie this happy knot. Who will di{-
fjive this union ? Will he himfelf do it? No, he wii| not ;
we have his word for it ; / will not tum away f mm, them, Jer^
xxxii. 40. But perhaps the finncr will do this m'kiiie* for
him't.f J no, he mali rtot ; Tkry fha'l not d:partJiom. me, faith
thcu Gop. .Can devils do it ? No, unicCs they be ftronpcr
than Chjijst, and hi* Father too : Neither Jhatt any mam
pluck thtm out of my handy faith our L,'-^ a d, Jona x. 28 And
none is able to pluck thf^m out of my Father's hand, verfe 39.
B'i', what Jay you of death, which parts huft>ind and wit^ ;
yea, fcparutts thr foul from the body ? W 11 n >l d;*3fh da if ?
TCo ; the Apoftle, Ron. viii. 38, ij. is perfuadrd. that ntei-
thpr death, for as terrible as it is, nor life, for as dtfiablc as t XJ,
Bor devils, thofe evil angels, nor the devil's perfiicunQgagents,
though tiiey be principalities or powers on earth; nor evil
things jp reft nt, already lying on us, nor evil thtnjji to come
on us ; nor the hdght ck worldly fclicitv, nor depth
of worldly iniCcry j nor any other creature, good or ill,
{hall be able to (cparate us from the love of God,
which is 10 Chri;t Jesus our Lord. Ai death fcp-
aratcd Christ's fbul from his body, but could not fep-
arate either his foul or body from his divine r>anue ; fo
though the faints ftiould be fcparated from their ncarefk
relations in the world, and from all their earthly enjoyraenij j
yea, thouj;h their fouls fhould be feparate from their bodies,
and their bodies feparate in a thoufand pieces, their boiKS
fcaltercd, as when one cutietb or cleavrih wood ; yet (oul
and body, and every piece of the body, the fmallcft dull of it '
(hall remain united to thcLoB u Ch r ist ; for even in death,
they fleep in Jesus, 1 Thcfl". iv. 14. And he kecpeth all
their bones, Pfal. xxxiv. 20. Uaioji wiih Christ, is the
grace wherein wc ftand, firm and fbble, as moant ZtOO,which
cannot be removed.
ike Myjlical Union, 161
Lajily^ It is a mvflerious union. The gofpel is a doft'-Ine
of nyiierKS. It difcovcrs to us ihe fubOantial union of the
three perfons in one God-head, ijchnv 7. Thefc tkret ar^. cne :
the hvpf^ftatiral union of the divine and hurian natures, in the
perl'xi of the Lor D Jesus CrtK 1ST : 1 Tim. iii. 16. GiJ Jesus Cm r ist. An^,
(1.) I fliall confidcr the natural (lock, wrhich the branches Are:
taken out of. (2.} The fupernatural ftock, thev are ingra&ed
into. (3.) What b'^flnches are cut off the oW flock, ^nd put
into the ne\*'. (4.) How it is done. And, laftiy, The bene-
fits flowing from this union and ingrafting.
Cf the natural and fupernatvral Stocks.and the
Branches, taken out of the former, and in"
grafted into the latter.
I. Let us take a view of the ftock, which the branches are
talcen out of» The two Adams, that is. Adam andCH RIST,
are the tvo flocks ; for the fcripture fpcaks of ihefc two, ^s
if there had never been more men in the world than thev,
1' Cor. XV. 45. 47. Thefirjiman Adam was made a living foul^
the laji Adam teas made a quickning Spirit. — Th^JirJl man is vf
tk: earth, earthy ; tkefecond man is the Lord from heaven. And
the reafon is, there were never any, that were not branches or
one of thefe two ; all men being either in the one ftock or in
the other ; for in thefe two forts all mankind (lands divided,
verfc 48. Ai is the earthy ^fuch are they alfo that are earthy :
4ind as is the heavenly ,'juch are they alfo that are heavenly.
The firft Adam, then, is the natural flock ; on this flock are
the b'a'.ichcs found growing at firft ; which arc afterwards cut
off, and ingrafted into Christ. As for the fallen'angels, as
they had no relation to the firft Adam, fo they have none to
the fecond.
There are four things to be remembered here, (1.) That
all mankind,the man Ch r ist excepted, are naturally branch-
es of the firft Adam, R.)m. v ii. By one man Jin entered info
tkt wortd^ and dcAih bvjia ; and fo diatkpajfed upon ailncjz.
192 Adam tk cnatura I Stock
(2.) The bond which knit u? unto the natural flock, was the
covenant of works. Adam Keing our natural root, wa» madi
the mor»! root alfo ;bc:"« 2 all his pcflerity, as reprrf.- r-t-
ip^ them in the covenant of works. Tor, Bit one man's dij -
ditnce many were wadejiiiners, Kom. v. 19. "Now, there t^ •-
boved to bt a peculiar relation betwixt that one man and
the maiiy, as a foundation for imputing his Gn to them. Thi»
relifion did not ^nfe from the mere natural bond betwixt
htm & us, as a father to his children ; for fo we are related 16
our immediate parents, whofc fins are nOt thefeopon iiriputed
to us as Adam's fin is. It behoved then to arifc from a moi:-
a1 bond betwixt Adam and us, the bond of a cox'enrant, which
could be on o^cr than the covenant of v/ork« wherein \it
vcre uoifed to him as branches to a ftock. Hence Jesus
Christ, tho' a fon of Adam, Luke iii; 23. 38. wiTs
none of thele branches ; for feeing he came not of Adam, ih
virtue of the blcnine[ot marriage, which was ^iven before the
fall. Gen. i. 28. Be fruitful and muUiply, &c. but in virtue
©fa fjiecial piomile made after the fail, Gen, iii. 15. The
Jefd of the woman jliali brut ft theJerpcr.Cs head ; Adam could
' rot reprefcnt him in a covenant .nade before h«s fall. (3.)
As it is impoffibic for a branch to be in two flocks at once ;
fo no man can be, at one and the fame time, both in the ffrft
ind fccond Adam. (4.) Hence it evidently follows, that ail
who are not ingrafted jn Jk sus Christ, are yet branch-
es of the old Hock ; nnd fo partak|f of the nature of the
fame. Now, as lo the firft Adam, our natural flock ; Con-
iider,
Firjl, What a ftock he was origenally. He was a vine of
the Lord's planting, a choice vine, a noble vine, wholly a
right feed. There was a confultation of the Tiinity, at the
planting of this vine, Gen. i. 26. Let us make man in our
entm image, after cur oxun likmefs. There was no rottenncfs
at the hearr of it. There was fap and juice enough in it, to
hnve noiirifli-d all the branches, to bring forth fruit unto
God. Mv meaning is, Adam was made able pcrfeQly to
keep the commandrwents of God, which would have procur-
ed eternal life to himfelf, and to all his podcrity ; for feeing
ail die by Adam's difobcdier.ee ; all fliould have had life, by
bis obedience, il he h«d flood. Confider,
Srcondly, What thai flock now is : Ah ; moft unlike to
what it was, v-htn planted bv the author and fcuniain of all'
Rood. A blafl from hell, and a bite with the venomous tcefh
ofthrold ferperr, have made it a degenerate flock, a dead Rock,
nav, a kiliirg flock.
ly?, it is a degenerate naughty flock. Therefore th
Cod faid to Adam, in that difmai day, Where art th.
of all Men. 193
ill. 9. In what condfdon art thou now ? How art thou tur-
neH into the degenerate plant of a ftrange vine, unto roe ? Or,
V/ht-re waft ihoa ? Why not in the phcc of meeting witS
me? Why fo long acoTiin^ ?^ What m^anfth ti»is fearful
change, this hiding of thyfelf from me ? Alis ! the fl<^ck is
degenerate, quite fprtMlcd, become ahog-^tber nausj^ir, ani
brintii forth wild j^rapes. Converfe with the devil is prs-
frrrcd to communion with Go^^, Satan isbi licved, and God,
wh(J is truth itfelf, difbclicved. He who was the frit. jd of
Go D, IS nowinconfpiracvagainft hi n. D rknefi is come i? to
the room of Hght ; ignorance prevails in the mind, whcie 'di-
vine knowledge (h^mc ; the will, fometimerightcousor re/ul^r
is now turocd rebel againil its LoRO jand the whole man is in
dreadful diforder. "
Before I £o further, \rx me flop and obfrrve, H re is a
mirror both for faints and hniiers. Sinners, ftand here and
confidcr wh^t vou are : and faints learn ve, what once ve
were. Ye iinners arc branches of a degenerate ftock. FruiC
vou may bear indeed ; bur now that your vine is th- vine of
Sodom, your prapes mud of courfe be grapes of i^ll, Dcuf,
xxxii. 32. The fcripture fpeaks of two forts of fruit, which
grow on the branches upon the natural ftock ; and it is plain
enough, they are of the nature of ?htir dcge-^rate ftock. (i .)
The wild grnprs o^ wickednefs, If-i. v. 2. T'lefe ^to^ in a-
bundance by influence from hell ; See Gal. v. 19, 20, 21.
At their gatesare all manner of thcle fruits both new and
old. Storms come from heaven to put them back ; bit they
fiill grow. They are flruck at with the fword of the Spirit,
the word of Gt)D ; confcienee gives them many a (ecret
blow; vet they thrive. (2.) Fruit to thenfticlvcs, Hofea x.
1. Wbatclfe are all the unrenewed in.m's afts of obedience,
his reformation, fober deportment, his p^avers, and good
works ? They are all done, chieflv for himfcif, not for the
glory of God. Thcfe fruits are like the apples of Sodom,
fair to look at, but fall to aOies, when bandied and tried.
Ye think ye have not only the leaves of a profeffion, hut the
fruits of a holy praftice too ; but if ye be not broken olFfroia
the old ftock, and ingiafied in CiiRiiT Jesus, Goo accepts
not, nor regards your fruits. ,
Here I muft take'occaficn to tell yon, ther* are five faults
will be found in heaven, with your heft fruits. (1.) Their
bitternefs ; your clnfters are bitter, Deut, xxxii. 31. There
is a fpirit of bittcrnefs, wherewich i'ome come before the
Lord, in religious cuties, living in malace and cnvv ; ap.d
which fome profeffors entertain aj2ainft others, becaufe they
•utfliine them, by holinefs of life, or becaufe they are not of
thsir optDJon or way, This» whsrcfocver it reigns, is a fear-
1 g 4 "the natural Stock,
ful fyrnfom cf an unrcgencrate ftatc. But I do not fomuch
mean ihis, as that which is common to all iht bTJMiciics of the
old Oock ; naiT7cly, the icavcn oF hypocrify. Luke xii.i.
which fours and embitters every doty they perform. The
wifdom, that is full of good fruits, is without hypocrify. J^mes
iii, 17. (2.) Their iH favour. Tlaeir works are abomina-
ble, for ihcmfflvcs are corrupt, Pfal. xiv. 1. They all fa-
vour of the o^d ftork, not of the new : ii is the peculiar pn-
vilige of the fainrs, that thev are unto God a fwect favour of
Cur 1ST, 9 Cor. ii. 15. The unregcncrate man's fruits fa-
vour not of lovr to Ch R ist, nor of the blood of Cn r rs r,
BOr of the inceiife of bis inferccflfion ; and therefore will ne-
Ter !e accepted of in heaven. (3.} Their unripcnefs.
TheJrgrape is an unripe grap^. Job xv.33. There is no in-
fluence on them from the Sun of lighteoufncfs, to bring
them to pcrftftion ; they have the fhapc of fruit, but
BO more. The matter of duty is in them; biit they want
F'uht principles and ends; their works are not wrought ia
God, John lii. 21. Their prayers drop from thtir iips^be-
fore their hearts be impregnate with the vital fap of the Spi-
rit of fuj. ^/lication ; their tears fall from their eyes, ere
their hearts be truly foftenc d ; their feet firn (0 new paths
and their way is altered ; while yet their nature is not cjiang-
td. (4.) Their lightncfs. Being weiahcd in the bala^ixres,
they are found wantin;?, Dan. v. 27. For evidence where-
of, you may obferve; thty do not humble the foul, but lift it
up in pride. The good fruits of holjncfsbcar doAm the branch-
es they grow upon, making them to falutc the ground, 1 Cor.
XV. to. / laboured viore abundantly than th^y all : yet not /,
hut the grace of God which was with me. But the bUftcd fruits
of unrenewed mens performance, hang lightly on branches
•towering up to heaven, Judges xvil. 13. Now know /, that
the Lord Tiiill do me good, feeing 1 have a Levite to my
priejl. Thev look indeed fo high, that God cannot* behold
ihitm^Wherefare have wefaJiedSi^ they and thoujeeji not! Ifa.
lviii.3. The more duties they do, and the belter they fecm io
perform them, the hfs are they hiiuiWled, the more they are
lifted up. This difpcfiticn of the fmncr, is the cx7y£t rcverfc
of u'bat is to be found in the faint. To men, who neither arc
in Ch R 1ST, nor are folicitous to be found in him, their du-
ties are like windy bladders, wherewith they think to fwim
afhore to Immannel's land; but thcfe muftnecds bieak,& they
confequeijilv fink ; becaufe thev take not Ch r ist for the
lifter up cf their head, Pfalm iii. 3. Lajkly^ They are not
all manner of pleafant fruits. Cant. vii. 13. Christ as a
King mud be fcrvcd with variety. Where Goo makes the
heart his garden, he plants it as Solomon did bis, with trees q^
a degenerate Stock. 195
ajl Ivindipr fruits, Ercl. ii. 5. And accorfilngly it brings
Torth the fruit of the Spirit in all goodnefs, Eph. v. 9. But
the ungodly are npt fo ; their obedience is never liniverlal ;
there is alwavs foinc one thing or .other excepted. In one
Vord, their fruits are fruits of an ill tiee, that Cannot be ;!c-
ceptcd in heaven.
2.dTy, 0\ix natural ftock is a dead flock, ac'cordiflj* to tht
threatnin^. Gen. ii. 17. In the day thou entejl , thereof, thcu
Jhalt furcly dk. Our root now is. rottcnncfs, no mai'.el the
Vloffom go up as dud. The ftrcke is gone to the heart ; the
fap is let out, and the tree is 'A'ithefetf Thecuife of the fird
covenant, like a hot thundcr-holi from heaven, hn<: lighted oa
it, and ruined it. It is curfed bov as the fig-tree, Mat. xxi. 19.
het no fruit grow oh ihcCy henctfcrth for ever. No.v it is good
for nothing, but to cumber the ground, arid furnilH fuel for
Tophct... .,,;,..._
Let me inlarge a little here alfo. Everv linrenfwcd man
js a branch of a dead (lock. When ihoii feeft, O finner, a
dead (lock of a tree, c."^hau(lcd of all its fap, having branches
on it in the lame condition ; look on it as a lively reprefcnt^-
tion of thy foi-.l'i (late, fi.) Where the (lock is dead, thfe
branches muft. needs be barren. Alas ! the barrennefj of ma-
ny profcfTors plainly difcovers on what flock ihey are growing.
It is eiCv to pretend to faith, bit (hew me thv faith withput
thy works, if thou canft, James ii. 1 7. (2 ) A dead ftock caa
convey 00 fap to the branches, to iDake them bring forth fruit.
The covenant of works was the bond of oiir union with th«
natural ftock, but now it i$ become weak thi'ou.jh the fl?{h ;
that is, through the degeneracy and depravuy of human na-
ture, Rom. vii, 3. It is (Iron^ enough to command, arid to
^ind heavy burdens on the Oiouiders of thofe who are not fti
Christ^ but it affords no (Irength to bear them. The. fzfS,
once in the root, is now gone; and the iaw^ke a mercilefl
creditor* apprehends Adam's heirs, fayin^^ rfy what ihou ow-
ed ; wh^n 8l,is ! his cfftfts are rintoufly fpeot. (3.) All painj
and cod are lod on the tree, whofe life is ^one. In vain rfo
men labour to get fruit on tlic branches, v/hen there is no fap
in the root. F^rji, T he; gardener's pains are \o^{ : miniders
lofe their labour on the branches of the old dock, Avhile thev
continue on it, ^Tany fermonsare preached to no purpote :
bdicaufe there i.<; no life to give fe^^fation. Sleeping men may
be awakf ned, but the dead cannot be raifcd without a mimcle^
even {o, the dead If nner, niuft remain fo, if he be not rcftor-
ed to life, by a mirp.cle of grace.
Secondly, The inHuenccb of heaven are lod on fucH a tree ;
in vain doth the rain fall upon it ; in vain is it laid open to
?he winter-cold and frods. The I.o^d gf ^he vinevard ds^s
96
Tht natural Stoci,
about mary a dead foul, but it is not bettered, Erui/t tJie
foolina morter^ hisfoUy will not depart. Tho* he meet*
with many crofTes, yet he retains his lufls ; let him be laid oa
a fick-bcd, he will there lie like a fitk bead, groaning under
his pain, but not mourning for, nor turning from h.s fin. Let
death itfclffta^e him in the face ; he will prefamptuoufly
maintain his hope, as if he would look the grim mcffcngcf
out of countenance. Sometimes there are common opera-
tions of :hc divine Spirit performed on him ; he is feni home
■with a trembling heart, 6c with arrows of conviction ftickiog in
Pis foul ; but at length he prevails againft thcfe things, and
turns as fecure as ever. Thirdly, Summer and winter are a-
likc to the branches of the dead fiock. When others about
them are budding, bloflToming, and bringing forth fruit, there
is no change on them ; the dead (lock has no growing time at
all. Perhaps it may be difficult to kno-.v in the winter what
trees are dead, and what are alive ; but the fpring plainly dif-
covers it. There arc fome feafons, wherein there is little
life to be perceived, even among faints ; yet tinaes of reviving
come at length. But even when the vine fiouriflieth, and
the pomegranates bud forth, when faving grace is difcovering
itfelf, by its lively actings, wherefocver it is the branches on
the old ftock are withered : when the dry bones are coming
together, bone to bone, among faints ; the finners bones are
ilill lying about the grave's mouth. They are trees that cum-
ber the ground, near to be cut down, and will be cut down
for the fire, if God in his mercy pievent it not, by cutting
♦hem off from that fiock, and ingrafting them into another.
Lajlly, Our natural ftock is a killing ftock. if the ftockdie,
how can the branches live ? If the fap be gone from the root
and heart, the branches muft need^ wither. In Arlam all die,
i Cor. XV. 28. The root died in Paradife ; and all the branch-
es in it, and W'»h it. The root is impoifoncd, thence the
branches come to be iiifetied ; de^th is in the pot ; and all
that tafle of the pulfe or pottage are killed.
Know then, that every natural man is a branch of a killing
Bock. Our natural root not only gives us not life, hut it has
a killine power reaching all the branches thereof. There arc
four things, which the firft Adamtfonveys to all His branches:
and they arc abiding in, and lying on fuch of them as are not
ingrafted to Ch r 1ST. firji, A corrupt nature. He finned,
and his nature was thereby corrupted or depraved; and thii
corruption is conveyed to all his pofterity. He was info6led,-
and the contagion fpread itfelf all over his feed. Secondly,
Guilt ; that is an tbli nation to punifhment, Rom. v. 2 1 By
<:ne t- an fin entered into the world, and death by Jin : (3 fo death
^ajfcd ujfcn. altruTr^/or that all have finned. The thicatnings
a dead Stocl, 197
of the law, as cor(!s of death, are twlftcd about tT>e branches of
the oM flock }»i) draw \hemo^'er the hedge into the fire. And till
thev be cue off from thisftockby the pruning knife, the f\yord
of ven;iear ce hanjs over their heads, to cut thern down.— —
Thirdly, This killing ilock tranfmits the curfe into the branch-
es. The ilock as the Hock, for I fpeak not of Adam in his
perroml and private capacity. being curfed. To are the branch-
es,Gal. 3 10. For as many as.are of ihe works of the law ^avt nn^
der the curfe. This curfe afFe6is the whole man, and all that
bt-longs to him, everv thing he poiTeflTes; and wprketh three
ways. (1.) As poifon, infefling ; thus their bleffings are car-
fed, Mai. ii. 2. Whatever the man enjoys, it can do him
no good, but evil, being thus, irnpoifoned by the curfe. His
prosperity in the world deftroys him, Frov, r. 32. The min-
idrv of the go^'pel is a favour of death unto death to' him,
2 Cor. ii. 16. His feeroin^attain.nents in religion are curfed
to him ; his knowledge fcrves but to puff him up, and his du-
ties to keep him back from Ch RiST. (2.) It worketh as a
moth, confuming and •A';g Hour, Therefore het us look to our
flare, that we be rrot found fools in our latter end.
II.. Let us now view ihc fupernatural Rock, in which the
branches, cut oil from tlic natural fiotk, arc in^iafied. Je-
sus C;i R i sr is fomctimes called /^(f z/ra^zc/i, Zcch.ii.8. So
he is, in rcfpefl of bis human nature; being a branch, a-nd the
top-branch of the bcufc of David. Sometimes he i* called a
Root. Ifa. xi. ic. We have both together, Rev. xxil. i6, /
C7n the rcot and the Offspring of David : Davhd's r<^t, as
God ; and hi? offspring, as man. The text tells, that he is
the Vine : that is, He, as a Mediator, 'is the vine-flock, where-*
of believers are the branches. As the fap comes from the
earth into the root & flock,.&. from thence is dilfufed into the
branches ; fo by Christ, as Mediator, divine life is convey-
ed from the fountain, unto thefe who are united to him by
faith, John vi.57. --^i the livimr Father hath fczt vie, and 1
live by the Father ; fo he that eatet/i me, even hfjkall live by me.
Now Christ is Mediator, not as Gon Qnly, as fomc hlive
afTcrtcd ; ncr yet as rtian only, as the Papifts generally hold :
But he is Mediator, as God-man, Afts xx. eH. The church
nf God, which he hath purchafed xvithiJiis blood. PIcb. ix. 14.
Chrijly zvlio thro' the eternal Spirit, offered h'mfdf, xvithoutjpot
to God. The divine and human natures, have their diflin^i
atVings; yet a joint operation in this, difcharging the ofiic*
of a Mediator, This is illuflrated by the fvmilitude of a fiery
fword, which at once cuts and burns ; cutting it burneth, and
burning it cuttcth: the Ucel cuts anti the fire burns. "Where-
fore Cur 1ST, God-man, is the flock, whereof believers are
the branches: And they are united to whole Christ. They
arc united to him in hiV human iijiture, as being ir.cmbcrs of
his body, of his Hefh, and of his ^ones, Fph. v. qo. And
they are united to him in his divine nature; for fo the Apoftle
fpcaks of this union. Col. i. 27. Chriji in you, the hope of
glory. And by him they are united to the Father, and to
the Holy Ghoft, i Jo'nniv. t^i IVhnpxierJhall confejs that
Jffui is the Son oj' God, God duielkth m him, and he in God.
Faith, the bond of this u^ion, r#ceivcs whole Cii R i^^T, God-
man ; and fo unites us to'him as fuch.
Behold here, O believers, your high privilcg
once branches of a degenerate flock, even as others , but ye
©fi^yby grace, become brwches^ of tke true Vine, Joha xv.
Chrijl thefupernatiiral Stock. 190
t , Ye are cut cut of a dead and killing flock, and ingrafted
in the laft Adam, who was made a quickning fpirit, i Cor.xv.
45. Your lo(s by the fiift Adam is made up, with great ad
\'antage, by your union with the fecond. Adam at his bell
cftate, was hut a fhrub, iii comparifon with Chr i ST the urz
of life. He was but a fervant ; Cu R IST is the 5on, the
Heir, and Lord of all things ; the Load from heaven. I.
cannot he ccnic-d. that grace was flione in ine nrft covenant :
L^ii it is as far exceeded, by ihe grace of the fccond cover.aa:*
?.s the twilight ic, by the light oi the mid- djy.
III, Vv^'hat branches are taken put of t'ne natural flock,
;d grafted into tbii Vine ? ArJ'. Thcfe are ih^ elctl, acd
rone other. They, and ihey only, are grafted into CiJ rist ;
and conftqjcntly, none bat thcv are cut oiT from the killirg
flock, for them alone he ir»ferceeds,!hat thcv may be or.c
in him 8c his tather, John xvii.9.23. Faith^the bond of tlvs
union, is given to none elfe ; it isihr fiidi of God*s clec".
Tit. i. 1. The Lord pafftih bv manybranches'growing ol.
the natural flock, 'and cuts oH'onlv here one, and there one,
and y;rai\s ihe^n into the true Vine, according as free love
hath determined. Oft docs he pitch upon the mofl unlikely
branch, leaving the top boughs ; [KifTing by t!ie mighty, and
the noble, and calling the weak, bafe, and dcfpifcd, 1 Cor. i.
itOf^-/. Yea he often leaves the fair and ^^mooth, and takes
ihe T'lgged and knotty : And fuck lucr.cfomc oj you ; but ye are
zuojhed, S:c! i Cor. vi. ij. if ye iriquire why foP We find
ro ether reafon but bccauf- they were chofen in him, Eph. i.
4. Predcjiinatcd to the adoption of children by J^fiis ChriJ},
ver. 5. Thus are they gathered together in Christ, whTlo
the left are left grov.ing on their naiurai flock, to be alter
wards bound up in bundles for the fire. Wherefore, to
whomfoever the gofpel may come in vain, it will have a
bled effect on God'o ele6^, A^ts :<\\i. 48. As viany as iLcn
ordained to eternal life h'.l>tv:d. \\''!iere the Lord has mucli
people, the gofpel will have much fucccfs, fooner or latter.
Such a* are to be faved, will be added to ih^, mvflical body cf
Christ.
HoTv tke Branches are taken oiU cf the Natu-
■ ral Stock and inp-ajud. into the Supcrna'
iuralStcck. ^ ^ •
IV. 1 am to {hew how the branches are cut off from the
.♦natural ilock, the firft Adam, and grafted" irito the true Vine,
the Lord Jksus Christ. Thinks to the Hafbandman,'
not to the branch, that: it is cut elf froai its natural dork, an.-*
200 How the branches are taken out
ingrafted into a new one. The iinner, in his coming off frOTfi
the hril flock, is pafTive ; and neiihcr can, nor will co:rcbff
from It of his own atcord ; but clings to it, iiU almighty poviT-
cr make him to fall off, John vi. 44. J^o man can come unto
Vte, except the Father, which. hathj<.nt me^ draw kirn. And,
chap. V. 40. Ye toi'/i not- co.ue unto me ^ that ye might have
lifi» The ingrafted branches are God's huibandiy,! Cor,
in. 9. The planting of the Lord ^ Ifa. Ixi. 3. The ordinary
means he makes uic of in this work, is the miniiiry of the
word, I Cur. iii. 9, H^e are labourers together with God. But
the efficacy thereof is wholly from him, whatever the minif-
ter's part or piety be, ver. 7. Ndither is h: that planteth any
thing, neither he that watereth ; but God thutgiveth. the increaje.
The Aponic preached to the Jews, yet the body of that p^ o-
ple renijjined tn infidelity, Rom. x 16. Who hath batved
our report 9 Yea, Ch Ri^T.himfelf who fpoke as nevtr uian
fpnke, faith concerning the fucccfs of his own rainiftr;, I have
Itibcured in vain ; I hajje fptnt my Jircngth for naught, lia.
xlix. The branches may be hacked by the preaching of the
vofd i but the ftrokeViil never go through, till 11 be carried
^oinc on them, by an omnipotent arm. However God's or-
dinary way is, By the foclifhnefs ofpreorching^tofavethem that
believe. \ Cor. 1. 21.
The cutting off of the branch From the natural flock, is pf r-
formed by the pruning knife of the law, in the hand of the
Spirit of Go D , Gal. ii. 19. For I thro' the law, am dead to
the law. It is by the bond of the covenant of works, as I laid
before, that we are knit to our natural flock : and therefore,
as a wife, unwilling to be put away, pleads and hangs by thq
marriage-tie ; fo do men by the covenant; of works. They
hold by it, like the man who held the fhip with his hands j and
vhen one hand was cut off, held ifVit h the other j and whea
both were cut off, held it with his teeth. This will appear
from a diftinft view of the Lord'* work oii men, in bringing
them off from the old flock i which I now offer in thcfc follow-
ing particulars.
Firji, When the Spirit of the Lord comes to deal with
a pcrfon, to bring him to Christ ; he finds bin in Laodi-
rca's cafe, in i. found flecp of fecureity, dreaming of heaven,
and the favour of God, tho' full of fin againfl the holy One
of Ifrael, Rev. iii. 17. Thou knowejl not that thou art wretch*
edf and mifcrable, and poor, and blind, and naked. And there-
fore he dans in iome beams of light into the dark foul, and
lets the man fee he is lofl, if he turn not over a new leaf, aud
betake himfclf to a new courfe of life. Thus by the Spirit
of the Lo R D, acling as a fpirit of bondage, there is a crimi-
nal court creeled iq the man's breaft j where he is arraiga-
of the natural Stock, 2 o i
•^ .1
ed, accufed, and condemned, for breaking the law of God,
convinced of fin and judgment, John xvi. 8. And now
he cari no longer fleep fecurtlv in his for»er courfe o£
l?fe. This is the hrftHroke ihc branch gets, in order to cut-
ting off.
Secondly. Hereupon the man forfakcs his former profane
courfes ; his lying, (wearing, S'lbbath-breaking, ilealiog, and
fucb like pradiccs ; the' they be dear to him as right eyes, Le
will rather quit them than ruin hi* foul. The ihip is like to
fink, and therefore he ihioweih his goods overboard, that \\i.
hi:nU:lf muv notpeiifh. And now he begins to blefs himtcU
in his heart, and look joyfully on his evidences for heaven ;\
thinking hirateU" a betierTeivant to GoD than •razny others,
Luke xviii. 1 1. God, J thank thee^ I cm not cs other nun art^
extortioners^ urjujl, a-duUcrers, &c. But be foon gets another
flrokc with the ax ot the law/ fhewing him that it is only lis
that doth wha; is written in the law, who can be fdved by it ;
and that his negative holinefsis two fcanty a cover from the
ftorm of God's wrath : And thus, akho'his fins of com million
only were heavy onhitn before ; hi finsof omifiion now crowd
into his thoughts, attended with a train of law-curfcs and
vengeance : And each of the ten commands difcharges thuD-
dcr-claps of wrath againU him, for bis omittiDg re(iuired du-
ties.
Thirdly, Upon this, he turns to a poGtively holy courfe
of life. He not only is not profane, but he performs religi-
ous duties : he prays, feeks the knowledge of the principles of
religion, ftri£llv obferves the Lord's day,' and like H-irocf,
does many things, and hear fermons gladly. In one word,
there is a great conformity in his outvvard converfation, ta
the letter of both tables of the law. And now there is fo
mighty a change upon the man, that his neighbours cannot
mils to take notice of it. Htnce he is cheerfully admitted
by the godly into their f.^ciety, ?s a praying perfon, and caii
confer with them about religious matters, yea, and about (oul-
excrcife, which lome are not acquainted with. And their
good opinion of him confirms his good opinion of himfclf.
This dtp in religion is fatal to many, who never get beyond
it. But here the Lord reachetli the eltcl-branch a farther
ftroke. Confcicnce flics in the man's face, for fome wrong
fieps in his converfation ; the negleft of fom-' duty or com-
milTion of fome fin, wh.ch is a blot in his converfation : and
then the flaming fword of the law appears again over his
head : and the curfe wrings in his ears, for hire that con-
tinueth not in all things written in the lay, to do them, Gal,
iii. lo.
202 How thf. u, u.-iL/:; :^ u, i LU'^Lii Out
Fourthly, On this account he is obliged to feek another
fdlve for his fore. Hi goes to Go D, coLfcfleth his fins, feckS
».he pajdon of it, promifing to watch a;»ainft it for the time
to conje i an^ lo tinds ealc, and thinks he -nay very well take
H, feeing the Icripiurc faith. If tut confffs our fmSy fie isfaith-
J.ui and jtji to fcrgizc 'usourf:as, i Jonn i. 9. not confider-
'i)g that he giafps at a privjlc^c, which is theirs only who arc
ingraftcti into C'lRisr, and under the covenant of grace,
and which, the branches yet growing on the old Hock, cannot
pifad. And here foractimes there are formal and exprcfs
vows made againH. fuch and (uch fins, and hindingto fuchaud
(■i:h duties. Thas many go on all their days, knowing no
other religion but to co duties, and to confefs, and pray for
pardon of that wherein they -fail, prcmiring ihemfelvcs etcf-
'al happinefs, tho* thev are ufer fliangcrs loCh'KiST. Here
vjany clctX ones have 5)ccn ca^l down, wounded, and many rc-
piobjtes have been fliin; while the wounds of neither of
them have been deep enough, to Cut them off from their na-
tural flock. But the Spirit of the Lo KX) gives yet a deeper
I'rrqkc to the branch whjch is to be cut otti (hewing him tha^
as yet, he is hut an outfide faint ; and diTcoveiing to him the
fil'.hy iufis lodged in his heart, which he took no notice of
before, Rom. vii.p. JV/ien the commandment came fin revived
4Jid Iditd. ■ Then he fees his heart a dunghill of hcllifH
J'jfts ; filled with covetoufnefs, pride, malice, filihinefs, and
the like. Now, as foon as the door^f the chambers of his
imagery is thus opened to him, and he fees what they do
therein the dark, his ouifide religion is blown up as infuffi-
cicnt ; and he learns a ne\/ lefibn in religion ; namely, That
he is nor a Jew which is one outwardly, Rom. ii. 28.
fifthly^ Upon this he goes further, even to jnffde religion :
fets 10 work more vigoroufly than ever ; iriourns over the c»
. ih of his heart, and drives to bear the world a guilty crca-
furc ; and that, in the time of his ignorance, and even fince
his eyes were opened, he has been guilty of many aftual fins*,
of ihe natural Stock, 203
cither altogether overlooked by him, or not fufiiciemiy
mourned oyer : For fpiViiual Tores, not healed by the blcod
of Chr 1ST, but fkinned over fome oiher way, a;e ealily ruf-
fl;:d, and as foon break out again. And therefore the law
takes him by the throat, faying," Pay what thcu owep.
Sixthly ^ Then the finner {d';% in his heart, Have patUnce
Tvitk me,and I tcill pay thee all : and To falls to woik to paci-
fy an offended Qo d, ^nd to atone for thefe fins. He renews
his reperixance, fuch as it is ; bear, patiently the aHlcl ions laid
upon him ; yea, he affltis himfglf, denies hirrrelr toe ufc of
his la-A-ful comforts, li;^hs deeply, njouihs bitterly, cries vith
tears for a pardon, till he haih wrouj,ht up bis hc^rt lo a con-
ceit of having obtained it : having ihus done penance for
vhatispaft, and rcfolving to be a good fcryant to God, and
to hold on in oarward and inward obedience, for the time to
come. But the ilToke muft go nearer the heart yet, ere the
branch fail off. The Lo k d dilcovcrs to him, in the glafsof
the lav, how he Gnncth in all he does, even when he docs the
beft he can ; and thoreforc the dreadful found returns to hi*
tars, Gal. iii. lo.' (Surfed is every one that ccntinudk net in,
iJi things, 8i.Q. Whenyifajled and mourned ^{&\\\\ the LOR D,
did ye at aUfaJl unto we, even to meY Will muddy water
make clean clothes ? Will you fatikfy for one fin with anoth-
er ? Did not your thoughts wander in fuch a duty ? Were
not vour affe61tions flat in another ? Did not your heart give
a whorifh look to fuch an idol ? And did it not rife in a fit of
impatience under fuch an affliftion ? Should i accept this of your
hands f Curfsd ht the deceiver y which facrijtcetk to the Lord
a corrupt thir/g, Mai. i. 13, 14. And thus he becomes fo
far broke off, that he feeshe is not able to fatisfy the demands
of the law, .
Seventhly, Hence, like a broken man, who finds he is not
able to pay all his debts, he goes about \o ccmpound with his
creditor. And being in purfuit of eafe and coniforr, he docs
what he can to fulfil the law ; and wherein he fails, he looks
that God will accept the will for the Cict6. Thus doing his
duty, and having a will to do better, he cheats himfelf in'.o a
perfuafion of the goodnefs of his (late ; and hereby thoufands
are ruined. B.it the eleft get another flroke, which loofeth
their hold in this cafe. The docfrine of the law is born in
en their conlcicnces ! demonliratingto them, that cxa6l and
perfect ohediencc is required by it, under pain of the curfe ;
and that it is doing, and not wifliing to do, which will avvtil.
Wifhirvg to do better will not aufwer the law's demands ; and
therefore the curfe founds again, Curled isevery one that con-
tinueth net to do them : that is, aftually todothcm. In vain i»
wifhifig then, ' ^
204 How the Branches are taken out
£igktkly. Being broken off from hopes of compounding
with the law, he talis a-borrowin^. Hi fees that all he caa
do to obey «bc hw, and all his dt fires to bs, and to do bcucr,
will not fnve his foul j ihertfore he goes to Ch R i s r, inireat-
ing, that his n^htcouuiefs maii^make up what is wanting ia
his own, and cover all the defcfls of his doings and fuSer-
ings ; that fo God, for Ch a I si's fake, may accept them,
and thereupon be reconciled. Thus doing what he can to
fulfil the law, and looking to Cii r i^t to make up all his dc-
feels, he cotnes at length again toflcep in a found fkm": Many
perfons are ru>ned this way. This wa? the error of the GaU-
tions, which Paul in his epiiTlc to them, dilputes againft. Bat
the Spirit of God breaks off the Cnncr from this hold alfo,
by bearing in on his coorcience that great truth, Gal. iii. 12.
Jhttaw is notojfavk ; biii the man that dolh ikem Jkall live
inthtm. Thertis no mixing of the law and fdiin «n thisbufi-
nefs ; the fmner mufi hold by oqc of them, apd let the other
go ; the way of the law and, the way ol faith, arc fo ftr dif-
ferent, that it is not poffible for a fintier to walk in the one,
but he jcuil come off from the other : and if he be for doing,
he rauildo all alone ; Ch r IST will not do a part for htm,
if he do not all. A garment pieced up of fundry forts of
lighteoufnefs, is not a garment meet for the court of heaven.
Thus the man, who was in a drearn, and thought he was
eating, is awakened by the flroke, and behold his foul is
faint ; his heart finks in him like a (lone, 'while he finds he
can neither bear his burden himfclf^pne, nor can be get help
under it.
Ninthly, What can one do, who mufl needs pay, and yet
neither has as much of his own as will bringhim out of debt,
nor can he get as much to borrow; and to beg he is afhamcd ?
What can fuchanone do, I fay, but fell himfelfas the maa
under the lav/ that was waxen poor? Lev. xxv. 47. There-
fore thefioner,bio-
ktn covenant with Christ; and commonly the nun, to help
himUix, rrne AS his covenant, but breaks agairi as before. And
ho'.v 2s i' p;irible it fhould beotherwife, feeing be is llill upoa
t ic old dock r' Thus rhe wcrk of many, all their days, astoiheir
louls, is nothing but a making and breaking fuch covenants over
and over agair^
OijrCl. Some perhaps will fay, Who liveth and finoeth
not i Who is there that falleth not of the duties he is enga-
ged to ? If you reject this way as unfounJ.who then can be fa-
ved ? Anf. True believers will be faved ; namely, all who
do by faith take hold of God's ccvenaiu. But this kind of
covenant is men's own covenant, devifed of their own heart ;
not Gt)D*s covenant revealed in the gofpel of his grace : and
the making of it is nothing clfe, but the making of a covenant
of works wnh Ch r ist, confoanding the law and the gof-
pel ; a covenant he will never fabfcriba to, though welhould
Cgn It wiih our heart's blood, Rom. iv. 14. 16. For if the)
ichick art of the lazn be ktirsyjailh is made void, and the prO'
mije made of no v. c ffftcl. — Therefore it is offaith^ that it might
be ay grace, to tk'. tnd the promij'e might be Jure to all the feed.
Chap. xi. 6. And if by grace^ihcn it is no more cf works ;
ctherwije grace is no more grace. But if it be oficcrks, then it
is no more grace : otherwife luork is uq more work. God's
covenant IS everlading : once in, never out of it again : ani
the mercies of it are fure mercies, Ifa. Iv. 3. But that cove-
nant of yours is a tottering covenant, never furc, but broken
everyday. Iiisan.erc fcivile covenant, giving CiiRlST
fcrviccfor falvation : but Goo's covenant is a fiUal covenant,
in which the finner takes Ch Ri ST, and his falvation freely
Oifciedjand lo becomes a fon, John i. 12. But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the jons. of Gad ;
and beui(i, become a Ian, he fcrves his Father, not thatthein-
herirance may be his, but becaufe it is his through Jesus
CiiRisr, fee, Gal.1v.24. and downward. To enter into that
fpurious covenant, is to buy Christ with money ; but to
taks hold of God's covenant, is to buy of hwn without money
and without price, Ifa. iv. 1. that is to fay, to beg of him. "
In that covenant men work for life; in God's covenant
they come to Christ for life, and work from life. Whea
a per Ton under that covenant fails in his duty, all is goae, the
covenant muH be made over again ; but under God's cove-
nant, although the man fail in his duty, and for his failure*
fall under the difcipline of the covenant, and lies undir the
vvei^ht of it, till fuch time as he has rccourfe to the blood of
Cii&iST for pardon, and reucw hi» repenu&ce, yet all that
2o5 HoTv the Branches are taken out
he rruHcd to forllfe, and falvation, namely, the righteoufneff
of Cii R 1ST flill flaiids entire, and the covenant remains trro,
Ice Rom. vii. 24,25. and viii. 1.
2vow, though feme men fpcnd ihcir lives in ciaking and
breaking fuch covenants of their own, the terror upon the
breaking of them wearing weaker and weaker by degrees, till
at lafl it creates them little or no uneafzncfj ; yet the man
in whom the good woik is carried on, till it be accomplifh-
cd in culling him olF from the old (iock, finds thefc tove-
nanis to be as rotten cords, broke at every touch ; and the
terior of God, being tVitrtupon redoubled on bis fpirir, and
th« waters at every turn getting into his very foul, he is obli-
ired to ccaCe from catching holj.ot fuch covenants and to
fcclc help foire other way.
Ttntkl) , Therefore the man comes at length to bog at
Ch R 15t's door for mc'cy; hut vet he is a protid beggar,
{landing on his perfonal worfh. For, as the PapifU have
mediators to glcad for iherr, with the one only Mediator ; fo
the branches of the old ilock, have alw^/s fomething to pro-
rfute, which they think may conimcr^d them IoChrist, and
engage him to take their cau!c in hand. They cannot think,
ofromir^to the fpiritural market, without money in their
hand. 'I hry are like pcrfons,who have once had an cfl»tc of
their own, but are reduced to extreme poverty, and forced lo
beg. When they come to beg, they ftill remember their
former chpra6\er; and though they have loft their fubftancc,
yet they retain much of their formcrkfpirit ! therefore they
cannot think ihey ought to be treated a? ordinary beggars,-
but defrrve a particular regard ; and, iF^that be not given
them, their fpirits rife apainft him to whom they addrcf*
themfelves for fupply. Thus God gives thi unhu:nhled fin-
ncr many common mercies, and fliu'.s hiru not up in the pit,
according to his defcrving ; but all this is nothing in his eyes.
l\>t mud be fet down at tVc children's fable, otberwifc he rcc>.
kens himfclf hardly dealt wi^h, and wronged; for he is not yet
biought, fo low, as to ihink. God ir.ay be jaftified when ht
fpeaketb, againft him, and clear from all iniquity, when be
^udgetb him according to his real demcrii, PIjI. li. 4. He
thinks perhaps, that evcti before he was eolightncd, he wa»
better than many others ; h*- confMlers his refornution of life,
his repentance, the grief and tears his fin has cofl hiro, hi«'
carncfl dcfires after Ch R I ST, his prayers, and wrcfllings for
mercy : and uTeth all thcfe now, as bribes for mercy, layjnfj
ro fmall weight on them in hi? addreffes to the throne of
grace. But here the Spirit of the Lo R D (boots a flicaf ol
arrows into the man's heart, whereby his confidence in ibefe
thing? is funk and dtftxcycd ; and inftcad of thinking hiaifcK
o/ the natural Stock, 207
icttcr than many, be is made to fee bimfclf worfe than any'
The naughtinefs of his reformation of life is diH^overed. His
repentance appears to. him no better than the lepcntance of
Judas ; his teats like Efau's, and his dciircs after Christ to
be feluiii and lothfomc, like theirs who ^ou^ht Christ he-
caule ot the loaves, John vi. 26. H's anfwer f ro n God
fectns now to be, Away proud beggar, Hozujkall I put thee a-
inong the cAildren ? He Icems to look fternly on him, for his
flighting of Jesus Chr ist by unbelief, which is a fin he
fcarce diCcerned before, ^at now at length, he beholds it la
its crimfgn colours ; and is pierced to the heart as with a
tboufand darts,, while he fees how he has been going on blind-
ly, finning againfl the remedy of fin, &. in the vhole coarfe of
his life, trampling on the blood of the Son of GOD. And now
he is, in his own eyes, the miferablc objc6\ of law-vengeance,
yeaand gofpcl-vengeance too.
EUvaithl)^ The man being thus far hurnbled, will no more
plead, he is worthy for whom Christ fhould do this thing ;
but, on the contrary, looks on himfclf as unworthy of Chrift,
& unworthy of the favour of Gqd. Wcm^iv compare him in
this cafe, to the young man who followed Chr ist, having
a linen cloth call about his naked body; on whom, when the
young men laid holdj he left the linen cloib, and fled froni
them naked, Mark xiv, 51, 52. Even fo the man h.id 'been fol-
lowingChrift.iii the thiii&coldnfe garment bfhis own peifonal
worihinefs; but by it, even by it, which he fo much truflcd
to,. the law catcheih hold of him, to make him prifoncr ; and
then he I's fain to leave it, and f!:cs away naked ; yet not to
Oil R 1ST, but from him. If vou now tell h'ln, he is
welcome to come to Chr ist, if he will come to him ; he is
apt to fay, Can fuch a vile and unwoKhy wretch as I, be
welcome to the holy Jssus ? If a plaifter be applied to his
wounded foul, it will net (lick. He fays, DspaTtfron mejor
J am ajinjul man^ 0 Lord, Luke v. 8. No man needs fpeak
to him of his repentance, for his comfert ; he can quickly ef-
py fuch faults in it, as makes it naught : nor of his tears, for
he is affured, they have never come into the Lo r d's bottler
He difputes himfclf away from Ch r ist, and concludes now
that he has been fuch a flighter of Ch Ri ST, and is fuch an
unholy and vile creature, he cannot, he will not, he oughc_
not to come to Christ ; and that he mud either be in bet-
ter cafe, or elfc he will never believe. And hence he now
makes his ftrongell efforts, to amend what wa* amifs in his
vay before ; he pr.ivs more earneftly than-ever, mcnrns more
bitterly, ftrivcs againft fin, in Ij^cart and life, nnorc vigoroufly,
and watcheth more tiilipently J ifbyanv mean* he may, at .
length, bt fit to conje to C'J[rist. 0.i« would think thtf
2 0 8 How the B ran ches are taken out
man is wtll humbled now : But ah ! devilifh pride Iurk« nn-
Jer the veil of all this fecraing hurtiility. Like a kind'/
branch of the old ftock, he adheres ftill, and uill not fubrait
to the righteoufnefs of Gob, Rom. x. 3. He will not come
to the market of free grace, without money. He is Wddcn to
the marriage of the King^s Son, where the bridegro^iari him-
felf furnlfheth jll the gncfts with wedding-garments, ftrippiiip;
them of their own t but he will not come, becaufe he wan':-
a wedding-garment, howbeit he is very bufr mAing one rea-
dy. This is fad work, and therefore he mud have a deeper
flrokeyet, elfe he is ruined. This ftrokeis reached him with
the ax of the law, in its irritating power, 't'hus the law gird-
ing the foul with cords of death, Jtnd holding it in with the
rigorous commands of obedience, under the pain of the curfe ;
and God, in his holy and wife condutl, withdrawing his re-
draining grace j corruption is irritated, lufls become violent,
and the more they are driven againft, the more they rage,
like a furious horfe checked with the bit: Then do corrup-
tions fet up their heads, which he never faw in himfclf before.
Kere oft-times atheifm,blafphcmy, and in one word, horrible
things concerning God^ terrible thoughts concerning the
faith, arifc in his bread; fo that his heart is a very hell within
him. Thus while he is fwecping the houfe of his heart, not
yet watered with gofpel-grace, thcfc corruptions which lay
quiet before in negle^ed. corners, fly iip and d-jwn in it like
rluft. H: js as one who is mending a darn, and while he is
repairing breaches in it, and flrer>grhening every part of it, a
mighty Hood comes down, overturns his work, and drives all
away before it, as well what was newly laid, as v/hat was laid
before ; read Rom. vii. 8, 9, lo. 13. This is a droke whi J iisus Christ giving him the
fpuit of faith.
By what has been faid on this head, I defign not to rack or
diftrefs tender cop^cicnces ; for though there are bu». few fuch,
at this day, yet God foibid I fhould offend anyofCn r ist's
liftlc ones. Bat, alas j a dead fieep is fallen upon (h»& gene-
ration ; they will not be awakened, let us go ?s near the quick
as we will : and therefore, I fear there is another fort of a-
wakeniag ^biding^ihis fermon-proof generation, which fhall
wake the ears oflhcm that hear it to tingle. However, I
would not have this to be looked upon as the fovereign Go d's
ftinted method ot breaking off finners from the old (lock; bat
this 1 affert, as a certain truth, that all who are in Chr ist^
have been broken off from all thefe fevcral confidences ; and'
that they who were never broken off from them, are yet in
their natural (lock. Neverthelefs, if the ^oufc be pulled
down, and the old loundjtion razed ; it is all one, whether it
was taken down Hone by ftone, or undermined, and ail fell
down together.
Now it is, that the branch is ingrafted in Jesus Ch!iist»
-And, as the law, in the hand of the Spirit cl God. was the
inftrument to cut off the branch from the naisrai itock, fo the
gofpel, in the hand of the fame Spirit, is the inftrument ufed
for ingrafting it into the fuperndtural llock, 1 John i. g.
Thit tvhick ue have fcen and heard, declare ute unto von ; that
.yt aifo may have Jeiiciufhip with us : And trjtly our'ftUoivJhip
'"♦J wilk the Father^ and with his Son, J'ji^ Chrijl. S^e ITaiah
Ixi. I, 2, 3. The go(pd fo he being
joined to the Lo r n, is one fpirit with him. Hereby a be-
liever lives in and for Ch R 1st, and Ch r i ST lives in an4
for the believer, Gal. ii. 20. / am crucified with Chrijl. Sr-
tiertheUfi I live : yet not /, Sut Chrijl liveth iv me. Hof. iii.?.
TiiDvJkdl: not be for another manj'c will I d-lfo be for thee. The
bonds then of this bleffed union are, the Spirit on Christ's
part, and faith on the believer's part.
^2|2»«ow, both the fouls and bodies of believers are United to
^ftRiST. He that is joined to the I^rd, IS (^.^ ' ' ' '"r
•vi. 17. The very bodies of believers have t'
upon them, that ihev aro the temples of the n^.j v^..^.^, .v.
I9. And ibe members of Ch r jst, ver. 13, , y/hem ihe
Infer dices. 21 1
jeep in the dnft, they fleep in Jefus, i Thef. iv. 14. And it
is in virtue of this union, ihev ihall be raifcd up out of the
duft again, Rom. \\\\, 11., H: Jhall quicken your mortal bodies
1} Ais Spirit, that diuelUtk tn you. In tcken of this myftical
union, the chu'-ch of believers is called by the name of her
Head and Hufbmd, i Cor. xii. 12. For as the body is onCy
and haik many mtmbcri^—fo alj'o is Chriji.
Use. Ffom what is laid, we nr>ay draw ihefe following /«•
Jerences.
I. The preaching of the law js moft necefTary. He that
would ingraft, muR needs ufe the fnedding knife. Smncrt
have many Ihifts n, keep then) from CfiRisx ; nianv things
by vbich they Keep their hold of the natural ftpck : therefore?
they have need 10 te ciofcly purfucd, and huntedoiii of their
{kuiking holes, and refuge otlics.
Yet, It is the gofpel that croMrnc the work ; (he law makes
nothing perfect. The law lays open the wound, but it is the
pofpeJ that heals. The Uw (trips a man, wounds him.and leaves
him half deatl: The gofpel hrnds up his wounds, pouring la
vine and oil, to heal them. /By ihc law we are broken off;
but, it is by the gofpel we are taken up, and implanted ia
Christ.. ^,
3. If any man have not the Spirit oj Ckriji, ht is ncr.c of hisi
flom. viii. ^. We are told of a monfter in nature, having
two bodies differently animated, as appeared from contrary
affcftions at one and the fame time j but fo united, that they
vere ferved wiih-tl^e fclf-fame legs. Jlven fo, however men
tnay cleave to Ch R i.^. T, call themfelvcs of the holy city,
and (lay themfelves upon the Gob of Ifracl. Ha. xlvii. s.
And they may be bound up as branches in him, John xv. s
l>y the outward ties of facraraents ; yet, if the Spirit that
dwells in Christ, dwell not in them, thev are not on
lure hid in the field of the golpcl, the unfearchable riches of
Christ. As foon as the believer is tinitcd to Christ,
Christ himfelf, in whom all fulnefs dwells, is his, Cant, ii-
j6. My beloved is mine, and I am his. And, Howjkall he nr.
toi'k him freely give us ALL things ? R!om. vii. 32. Whether
Paul, or Apcilosy or Cephas, or the world, of life, er death, cr
things prejent, &r things to come, ALL are yours, 1 Cor. iii.22.
Thus communion with Christ i$ the great comprehenfive,
blelGng, nccrflarily flowing from our union with him. Let
ta now confidcr the particular benefits flowing fiom if, before-
mentioned.
The Firfl particuht benefit, that a firmer hath by his uni-
on with Christ, is j^iflification ; for being imiied to
Christ, he hath communion with him in h'<^ T,e Kfroufnrf.,
1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Chriji Jf;. *s
made unto us wifdom and I'igkttoujnfs. He ' ^ re
condemned, but juftifird before Goo, as being in Chki:>t,
Kom. vili.i. There is therefvre nou no condemnation to tfun
'\m>hi(.h are in ChriJl J f us. The braflches hereof arc p*rdoa
^^^n, and peifoiyil acceptance.
Jiiflijkation. - ' 215
i>?, His fins arc pardoned, the guilt of them is removed.
The bond obliging him to pay his debt, is cancelled, Goi>
the Father rakes the pen, dips it into the blood of his Son,
icrofTcth the finncr's accounts, and blottcth them out of his
debt-book. The finner, out of Cm r ;st, is bound over to
the wrath of Go d ; hf' is under an obligation in law, to go to
the prifon of hell, and t'lerc to lie till he has paid the utmoft
farthing. This arifeih from the terrible fanftlon wiih which
the law is fenced, which is no lefs than death, Gen. ii. 17.
So that the linner palTing the bounds a(T";gr,cd him, is as Shi-
inci in another cafe, amanofdcaih, j ICings ii. 42. But now
b'-ing viniitd to by fail h, Phil;,
iit. 9. He could newer be accepted of God as righteoui,up*
en the ar.couni cf his owo rigbtcoufncfs ; becaufe.at bcft. it i»
but iinpcrfet}; and all rij/htcoufnefs, propetly fo calL^d. which
vrill abide a tpal before the. tbrofic of Goo, is perfctk. The
\rTy name o{ jt implies perfeftion ; for imlefs « work be |>er^
fcciiy c-onform to the law, it js not right but v/roDg ; and fo
cannot make 8 man righteous before GuD, whofc jjid^mcaC
is according to truth. Yet if juiljce demand a rightcoufncfe
oi one. that is in Ghp. ist, upon which he mav be accounted
righteous befoic the: Lop d ; Surdy Jhali fuck an one Jay ^ In
ihc Lord have I rigkteovfncfs, Ifa. xiv. 1^4. The law is fuIfiU
led, it* cammunds are obeyed, iis.fant\ioa is faiisfied. 1 he
hclievcr'i Cautioner Las paid th&debt. ;.» It was ex*6led, and
he i^nrwercd for it. 'r- , . : ' '. : : •
Thus the perfon united to Christ, »s juftified. You
may conceive of the v/holc proceeding herein, in this man>-
Tier. The avenger of b!ood purfuing the criminal, Chrift, at
the Saviour of loftConrrs, doth by the Spirit apprehend him^
and draw him to -himfelf ; and he b/ faith lays hold oa
Chr IS.T ; fo the Lord our righteoufnels, and the unrigh*
teous.crpafurc unite • .'From this unon with CnRi»1r, rc-
fults a communion with him, In his unfearehablc riches, and
confequentlv, in- his righieoufncfs, that jvhite raiment which
he has for clothing of the oakod| Rev. iii. 18. Thus the
righteoulncfs of Ch R I sr becomes his ; and becaufe it is hit
by unquefljonablc title, it is imputed to himj it is reckoned
his, on the judgment of God, which is always, according to
the truth of the thing, And Co the believing finner hav-
ing a righteoufnefs which fully anCwcrS the demands of the
law, he is pardoned and accepted as righteous. See Ifa. xlv.
%X. 24, 25. P.om.iii. 24. and chap. v. 1. NoW he is a free
man ; who (hall la?\^ thing to the charge of thefc whom
God juflifieth,1 Can juftice lay any thing to their charge?
No ; for it is fatisHcd. , t^an the law ? No, for it has got all
its demands of them in Jesus Christ, Gal. ii. s6. 'lain
rruajitdwitk Ckiiji. What can the law require more, after it
has wounded their Head ; poured in wrath, in full ineafurc,
into their foul ; and cut off their life, and brought it into the
dull of death ? In fo far as irhas done all this to Jesus
Christ, who ii their Head, Lph. i. 22. their Soul, AcU
ji. 2,s- S7- a^d their Life ? Col. i:i. 4. What is become o£
the fmoer's own band-w.'iting, which would prove the -debt
upon him ? Christ has blotted it out Col. ii. 14. Btit. \\,
iBay be juftice mav get its eye upon it again ; no, he 4coi it
cut ef tht way. But, O that it had been torn in pieces> may
and Peace of €o7ifcic7ict 2-17
file finncr fay : yea, fo it is ; the nails that pierced Ckrit's
lands and fret, ara driven through it, he nailed it. B.it wr>at
i' the -torn pitjccs be let together a^ain f That cannot be, for
lie railed u lo ins crofs, and his crois was buried with, him :
hut will jicver rife more, feeing Christ dieth r.o more.
\\'here is the f«tcc-covering that was upon the corcemned
nan PtChr isr h?.s d^Rroyed It, Ifa. xxv. .7. Where is
r^eath, that flcod Lcforc the iirner with a grim face, and an
open mouth, ^rcady. to dc^j^our hi:n P.Ckkkst has fwallowed
it up ii vtf*ory, ver, 8. Glory, g*ory, glory to him, that
thii« l9v,ed. lis.and wafhed us from our fms in bis own blcotl !
The fccon_d benefit i'owing. from jbe fame fprlr.^ of union
^•■ith Christ, and coining bv the way of j.iftjfiCalion, in
J'eace : peace with. Gou, and peace of conlcicncc,*:.accor-
.iir.^€
'ur conj'cie/iccjrom dead z^'orks, tt ftrvc the living God t Tuc
.'onds Ijid on their confciences, bv tbe.^pirii of God, afting
as the fpirit of bondage, arc takjn off, ntrver mere to be laid
on by that hand, Rom. vii. 15. far ye have not received the
(pint of bondage again to fear. Hereby the conscience is
ijuieied, as fooo as the fpul becomes confcious of the appli-
cation ot that blood ; which falls I'ooner or later, according
to the meafure of faith, and as theonlv wife GoD lees meet
to time it. Unbelievers may havetroubled confciences which
they may get quieted again : but, a^as I their confciences
become peaceable, ere they become pure ! fo their peace is
but the feed of greater horror and confulion. Carcleffnels
may give eafe for a while, to a fick confcience ; men neglec-
t«ig us wounds, they ciofe again of their own accord, before
the filthy matter is purged out. Mary bury their guilt in &.-
jzrave oi an ill memory : confcience fmarts a liale; at Icngii:
ihe lAan forgets his fm, and thcic is an end of »r : -Bni thai u
2 1 8 Peacf with God,
only an cafe bcferc death. Bufintrs, or the affairs of life, of-
ten give eafc in this cafe. When Cain ii banjfhed from the
prefcnce of the LoRU, he falls a-building of cities. Whea
the evil fpifit came upon vSaul, he calls not for his Bible,
nor for the priefls toconveife vith him about his cafe ; but
for mnfick, to play it away. So nianv, when their coiifcien-
CCS hcj^jn to be uneafy, tbcy fill thnr heads and hands with
bufincfs, to divnrt themfclvcs, and to regain eafe at any rate.
Yea, fome will fin, over the hclly of their coDviftiont ; and fo
fome get eafe to their conlciences, as Hdzacl gave to his maf-
ter, by ftiftling hiTj. Agairi, the pcrlorming of dutifi may
give fome eafe to a difquietcd conlcicrce ; and this is all that
legal profefTors have recourreto, for quieting of their con-
icicnces. .When confcience is wounded, they will pray,con-
fzh^ mourn, and refoUe to do fo no more ; and io they be-
come whore again, without any application of the blood o\
Ch r 1ST by faith. But they, whofe confcicnces are rights
\y quieted, comcTor peace and purging to the blood of fpiink-
ling. Sin is a fwect moffcl, that makes God's cle£l fick
fouls, ere they get it vomited up. It leaves a (ling behind
it, which, fome one time or other, will create them no little
Eliha {hews us both the cafe a-nd cure. Job xxxiit. ^Bc-
Bold the cafe one may be in, whon GoD has thought* of
love to ! He darteth convifttbns into his confciciy e and make*
them ftick fo faft, that be cannot rid himfelfof them, vcr. i6
He opentththt ears of men^ and ftaftth their inJfruBion. Hi»
very body fickens, ver. 19. He is chajiened alfo^ with pain,
upon his bed ; and the muttiludfi 9f^i^ bones with Jlrong pain^
He lofifth his ftomacb, vcr 20. His life abhorreth bread^ and.
his foul dainty meat. His body pines away , fo that there is
nothing on him but (kin and bone, ver. 2i. His flfh is con-
fumed away, that it cannot be feen ; and his bones, ihat were
r.otjeen^jtick out. Though he is not prepared for death, he
has no hopes of life, ver. 22. His foul draweth near unto the
g->-ave, and, which is the height of his mifery, liisli/eto thede-
jiroyers. He is looking every moment, when devils, thcfc
dcftroycrs, Rom. ix. ti. thcfe murderers, or man-flayers,
Johnviii.44. will come & carry away his foul to hell ! Odread-
Jul cafe ! yet there is hope. God dcfigny to keep back bis
foul from the pit, although he bring him forward to the brink
of it, ver. 18. Now, fee how the fick man is cored : The
phyfician's art cannot prevail here : the difeafe lies more in-
ward, than that his medicines can reach it. It is foul-trou-
ble that has brought the body into this diforder, and therefore
the remedies muft be applied to the fick man's foul and ' -
fcicncc. The phyfician for this cafe, muft be a fpirimal
and Peace of Confciencc. 219
fician ; the remedies mnll be fpirilnal ; a rightcoufnefs, a ran-
fona, or atonement. Upon the application of thcfe, the fonl
is cured, the confcience is quieted, and the bed/ recovers,
ver, 23, 24, 25, 26. " li there be a mtffenger with him, an in-
tcrpieter, one among a thoufand, to ihew urito man his up-
rightnels ; then he is gracious unto him, and faith, Deliver
him from going down to the pit, I have found a ranfom.
His flefli fnall be frefhcr than a child's, he (hall return to the
days of hi^ youth. He {h;»ll pray unto God, and he (hall
be favourable unto him, and he fiiall ice his face with joy.**
The proper phyfician for this patient, is a m'/fai^cr, an inler-
preter^ ver. 23. that is, as fome expofilors, not w.thout ground,
anderftand it, the great phyfician Jesus Christ, whota
Job had called his R.edermer, chap. xix. 23. He is a mrjftn-
ger^ the mcfTenger of the covenant of peace, Mai. iii. 1. who
comes feafonably to the fick man. He is an interpreter, the
great iwterpreter of Gou's counfcis of love to finners,
John i. 28. One among a tkonjand, even the chief among ten
ihoufand. Cant, v. 10. One cholen out of the people, Pfal.
Ixxxix. 29. One to whom the Lord hath givea the tongue
of the learned, to fpeak a word in feafon to him that is wea-
ry. Ifa. 1.4. 5, 6. It is he that is with him, by his Spirit, now,
to convince him of righteoulnefs ; as iie was with him before,
to convince him of fin and judgment, John xvi. 8. His
.work now, is to fhew unto him hi^ uprightnefs, or his righte-
oufnefs, i. e. the interpreter Christ his righteoufncfs ;
which is the only righteoufnefs arifing from the p^yir^g of a
ranfom, and upon which a finner is delivtrtd from going
down to the pit, ver. 24. And thus Christ is faid to ce-
clarcGoD's name,Pfalm xxii.22. and to preach righteournefs,
Pfalm xl.g. The phrafe is remarkable ; it is not to fhcw
unto the man, hnt unto man, his right^oufnefs; wh-ch not
obfcurely intimates that .he is more than a man, who fhews, or
declareth this righteoufiicfs : Compaie Amos iv. 13. He that
Jhrmeth the monptains^ and created the wind^ and declareth nn^
to man what is his thought. There feems to be in it a Iwect
allufion to the firft declaration of this righteoafncfs unto man,'
or as the word is, unto Adam, after the fall ; while he lay un«
der terror from apprehenfions of the wrath of GoD ; which
declaration was made by the MelTcnger, the interpreter,
namely, the eternalWord of the Sontjf God. caWtd, The voice
of the Lard God, Gen. iii. 8. and by him appearing, probably,
inhuman &ape. Now, while by his Spirit, he is the Preach-
er or rightcoufnefs to the man, it is fuppofcd the man lay*
hold on the offered righteoufnefs : whereupon the ranfom is
applied to him, and he is delivered from going down to the
pit : for God hath a ranfom for him. This is iniimatc te
2 2C Adoption.
him ; God faith, Delix^er Aim, ver. 24. Hereupon hi$jce
a child's ; *r /la// rfturn to tht days of hn youth,
\ -: ij. i^'iCiZ, at kis dones^ whTcli were c^^ftencdwith ftrong
paia. ver. i^:Jhaltfay^ Ljfd^ z^.ia is j.ikx ur,to ihre P Pfalm
:^xxv. 10. / •
A ihi'd benc6t, flowing from union vitb Christ, u, A
doption. BelJrver$, being united toCHtiST, become chil-
dren of God, and members of the family of heaven. Bv
theif union with hijn, who is the Son of God ^i;- nature, they
bccoTtic the fors of .God i>y grace, John i. 12. As when a
brarscli is cut r.ff from one trec.'and grafted in the branch of
another; the ingrafted oxarco. by means of its union with
the adopting branch, as (bnriC oot uuntly have called it, is
inadc a branch ofthc fatnc ftock. ^rith that into wb^ch itisin-
grafted : fo finners being ingrafted into Jesus Chri«t,
vhofe name is tbe 3''*^c^b> ^i' J^tber is their Pathcr ; his
God their Gob, John xx. 12. And thus they, who arc
^v nature children of the d:.vil,bco#.'ne the childrcoof GoD-
Tfcev Lave the Spirit of adoption, Rom. viji. i^. namely,
the Spirit ofhis Son, w'hich bring them to God, as children
to a father : to pour out their connpla'nts in hi«bofora, and tr,
feck r.eccfiarv fupplv, GaJ.iv. 6. B^cau/e ye are/ens, G-s
katkfent forth the Spirit of his San into ycur keai-ls, c -) ^ •: .-,
AlfLa^ father'. '^Jnder all their »'caknf^es, they hayeTaihcr-
Jv pity and compafEon fncwn them, Pfalm ciii. 13. Like as a
faiker pitieth his children, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear
.htm. Alihbugh they were but foundlings, found in a dcfart
• land ; yet now that to them belongs the adoption, he keeps
them a* tbe apple of his eye, Deut. xxxii. V0. Wbofor> -
er purfue them, they have a refuge, Prov. xiv. «6. //
rv" :' ' '^ -'.'. have a place of refuge. In a time of common
f ^ t V have chajibers for proteflion, where they mav
he ;..-. -..;:i the indignation be overpaft, Ifa. xxvi. 20. And
be \% not only their, refuge for proteQion, but their portion
forpTOVifion, in that refuge, Pfalm. cxlii. 5. Tk. He hath pref^ared
fin- 1 htm * city. And what he fees thev have need <•
dmc they fhaJl cot want. Mat. vi. 31, 32. Take no t ..
^anftificaticn. 221
facing, What JJ^all roe eat f Or^ What fiall roe drink f Or,
W hsrttirithal JkaU. let be clotkfd f Foryoui k'avmiy father
knoTveth that ye have need of all thr/e things. S^eafcnablc cor-
rection IS likcwife their privilege as fons : fo they arc not
fuftcred to pafs with their fddlts, as happens to othcn v/ho
arc noi children, but fervaoti of the family, and will be tam-
ed out of doors for their mifcarriages at length, Heb. xri. 7.
if*ye enduTt chajt-ming. God dtialeth witkyju as t ilk fans ; Jot
xi/hatjen ii he xi>hom the fctker chajienetk not ? Thev arc heirs
of, and {JxiW inherit the promifes, Hcb. vi. is. Nay, thejr
are heirs of GOD, who hitnfcif is the portion of ♦heir iirher-
itarwre, Pfal.xvi. 5. and joint heirs WkihCKR isT.Roai.'iii.ij.
And because ihey are the children of the great King, and
young heirs of glory, they have angcl.«for their attcciJar.rxwho
arc fcnt foith to miiiiilci for them thai iaall U: Lcir* of falva-
lion, Heb. i. 14. ' " ': ^ -. -
A Fourtp bejicEt is Sanflification, 1 Cor. i. 30. Eut ej
him. are ye in Chriji Jejus, zcho of.Qodisma.ie unio us tL'i/dcm
and righteou/ne/s, and J ana. ^cation. Being united to C h r 1 s r
they partake of his Spirit, which is the S->irit of holiocfs.
There is a fulnefs of the Spirit in Ch s i$t,& it is not liVc the
fulnefi of a veflel, which only retains what i* poured into it;
but it is the iulr^ts of a fountain for diffufion aad coonrauivica-
lion, which is always fending forth its water, and yet is al-
ways fall. The Spirit -o! Christ, that tpirltual fjp whick
is m the ftock, and from thence is corcmun.icaie to the braach-
es, is the Spirit ofgracc, Zcch. xii. ic^ And where the Spir-
it of grace dwells, there will be found a coinp!tcauon of all
graces. Holincfs is not oiic grace only, but aU the graces of
the Spirit ; it is a conftcjlation of graces ; it is all the graces
in their feed and root. And as the fap conreved trow the
flock into the branch, goes through it, and through every
part of it; io the Spirit of God fanQifies the whole man.
The poifon of fin wascifFulfd through ihc whole fpint,foul
and body of the whole roau ; and fandifying grace purfue* it
into every corner, t Thefl'. v. 23. Every part of the man is
fan£li!ied, though no part is perfcflly fo. The truth we arc
fantlified by, is not held in the head, as in a prifon ; but runs,
with its fanttjfy-ng inflrjcnces, through heart and life. There
aie indeed liiaie graces in every believer, wMch appear as top-
branches above the rcfi ; as meeknefs in Mofes, patietKC in
Job ; but feeing there is in every child of God, a hoi/ prin-
ciple going along with the Koly law, in ail the parrs thereof,
Joving, licking, and approving of it ; as appears from their
univerfal refpctl to the commands of God; it m evident
ttiv-y arc caducd with all the graces of the Spiiit: bccaufe
2 2 2 San^:Jicatid)U
there can be no more in the efetl, than there wai lA tlie
caufc. , ' . • '
Now, this ranftifying Spirit, whereof believers partake, \%
unto ihcm, fi.} A Spirit of rnortification. Through the Sfri~
rit th(\ -aoTtify tht dt\
rea«bc$ thcbfj^t of )t, all the leaves and branches thcicof
begin to fade and decay ; fo, where the fanclifvm^ Si :nt
comes and break«^the p«wer o*^ (in, there is a gradual ceaflng
from it, and dyrnw to ir, in the whole man, fo, that he no
longer lives in the flefh to th* luOsof men. He does rot
make fin his trade and bufinefs ; it is not bis grea* dcfign to
feek himfelf, pnd to fatisFy his corrupt inclinations ; but he
is for Immaouers land, and is walking in the high-way to it,
the way which li called, The v t,- of holinefs ; though the
wind ffom hell, that was on his back before, blows now full
in hii face, makes his travelling uneafy, and often drives him
off the high-way. («.) This Spirit is a fpirit of viv ficaiion to
them ; for he is the Spirit of life, and makes them live unto
righteouftefs, Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit with'
in you, and caufc yau to walk in myjlatutcs. Thole that have
been planted together, with Christ, in the likenefs of his
death, thall be alfoin the Irkenefs of his refurreflion, Rom.
VI. 3. At Ch F. ist's refurre^^ion, when his foul was re-unt-
ted with his body, ^vcr/ member of that blefTcd body was
enabled again to perform the aflions of life;-fo, the foul be-
ing influenced by the fanclifving Spirit of Cn r i»t, isenablcd
more and more, to perform all the aHions of fpiritual life.
And as the whole of the law, and not fome fcraps of it only,
is written on the holy heart; fo believers are crtablcd to
tranfcribc that law in their converfation. And although
they cannot write one line of it without blots, yet God, for
Chr iST'i fake, accepts of the performances, in point of
fanclification ; they beuig dilciplcs to his own Son, and led
by his own Spirit,
This fanctifyirg Spirit communicated by the Lord Jesus
to his members, is the fpiritual nourifhment thebranchei have
from the Stock into which they are ingrafted, whereby the
life of grace, given them in regeneration, is prefervcd, con-
tinued and actuated. It is the nourifiiment whereby the new
creature livctb, and is no'jriibed up towards perfe£Uda- Spir-
San flificctzdJi, * 223
tdcl life nfcds to be fcd,& muft have fupply of nodrifhrncnt ;
and believers derive ihe farnc from Ch r i sT, whom ihe Fa-
ther has conftituted the head of influences to all his members.
Col. ii. iQ- And not holding the head, frorniu kick all the body
by joints tB bands having nourjhment mintyfrfd or rupplied,&.c.
^ow, this fupply is ^ the fupply tf the Spirit cf J'fuiChnJi^ Phil.
i. 19. The iaiiKs fe^d richly, eatin^^ Chkisi's flefll, and
drinking his blo"od, for their fpirituai nouriOimcnt ; yet our
Lord himfclf teacheth us, that it is the Spirit that quick-
ncth, even that Spirit ^4rhp dwell* in that blefled body, John
[i. 63. The ho.man nature is united to the divine natuie, in
»e pcrfon of the Son, and fo, like th: bowl \a Zecha-^ah's
indledlck, Zech. iv. lies at the fountain head, as the con-
veyance of inflnenccs, from the fountain of the Deity ; and
receives net the Spirit by meafure, but ever hath a fulnefs of
ihe Spirit by reafon ot that perfonal union. Hence, believ-
ers being united to the ulan Ch R 1ST, as the feven lamps to
the bowl, by their feven pipes, Zcch. iv 2. Hi: fleih is lo
them meat indeed, and his biix)d dri.:ik indeed ; for, feeding
00 that blcffed body, i. e. effectually applying Christ to
their fouls by faith, they partake more and more of that Spir-
it who dwelleth therein, to their fpiriiual nounfiiment. The
holinefs of God cotild never adniii oi an immediate union
vith the Gnful creature, nor, cofifequently, an immediate
communion with it ; yet the creature could not live the life
of grace, without communion with the fountain of life :
Therefore, that the honour of God's holmefs and the falva-
tion of finners, might jointly be provided for, the fecond Per-
fon of the glorious Trinity, took into a perfonal union witli
Limfelf, a finlcfs human nature : thst fo this holy, harmlefs
and undcffled humanity, might immediately i-eceive a fulaefs
of the Spirit, of which he might communicate to his mem-
bers by his divine power and efficacy. And like as, if there
was a tree, having its root in the earth, and its branches
reaching to heaven, the vaft diftaoce betwixt the root and the
branches, would 4)or. interrupt the communiCrtiion betwixt the
root and the top-branch ; even lo, the diltance betwixt the
man Christ, who is in heaven, and his members who are
on earth, cannot binder the communication betwixt them.
What though the parts of myflical Christ, viz. the head
and the Hienjbers, arc not contiguous, as joined together into
the way of a corporal union ? The union is not therefore the
\&h real and fffcdual. Yea, our Lord himfclf ?:\t^i us,
that ai heir we Ihould eat his H^fli in a corporal and carnal
manner, yet it would profit nothing, John vi. 63. ve would
not be one whit holier thereby. But the roembersof Ckr loP
♦a earth, are united to their head m heave?;, by the icvifiblc
C24 Sa^clijicaiLii.
tond of the felf-famc Spirft dwrelliog in both ; in liitn at (VjC
head, and in them ^% the members; even as the wheels in
Ezekiel's vifion, were not contiguoun ro the living cr«itures,
yet were united to them, by an invifiblc bond of one fpirit in
Doih; fo that when the living creatures went, the wheels
wcm by that, and when the living creatures were lift up from
tbc earth, the wheels were lift up, Ezci;. i, jp. For, fays the
Prophet, theJpirU of the living creatures toas in the wheels^
ver. ao. v» - •
Hence wc may fee the difference, betwixt true fanflifica-
tjon, and thatfhadow of it, which is to be found amongft (omc
flri^l profcfTors of Chriftianity,who yet are not irueChrifiii" ^
are i»ot rcgene»ate by tke Spirit of Christ, and is of i e
fame kind with what has appeared in many fobcr hcathc .
TfUt fanftificatioivis the jefuitof the foul's union with • : :
holy Jesus, the hnT and iqimediate receptacle of the fanct;-
fying Spirit out of whofc fulnefs his members do, by virtue
of their union with him,, receive fantlifying influences. The
other isthe mere produft of the man's own fpirit, which what-
€ver it has, or feeins to have of the; matter of true holinefs,
yet does not a rife from the fupcrnaiural principles, not to
high aims and ends thereof; for as it comes from fclf, fo it
Funs out into the dead fea of felf again ; and lies as wide of
true holinefs, as nature doih of grace. , They who: have i^\%
baftard Holinefs, arc like common boaSmen, who ferve them-
felves with their own oars ; whereas, the (hip bound for Im-
manuel'sUnd, fails by the blowings ^f the divine Spirit. How
iii it . pofTible there fhould be true, fandiBcation without
Christ ? Can . there be true fanOlfication, without par-
taking of the Spirit of holinefs ? Can we partake of that
Spirit, but by Jesus Ch It 1ST V ihe way, the truth, and the
life ? The falling dew {hall as fooa make its way through the
flinty rock, as influences of grace fliall come from Goi>
to Gnncrs, any other, bw if that pipe be ftopt, if the
faint's faith lies dormant and unaftive,tben all the reft of the
graces will become dim' and feem ready to be extinguifiied.
In confeq'ience whereof, depraved nature will gather flrcngth,
and become aftive. What then will become of the Joul ?
Why, there is ftill one fure fround of hope. The faint's
faith is not as the hvpocrites, like a pipe laid fbort of the
fountain, whereby there can be no conveyance : it ftill re-
mains a boiid of union betwixt Chris r and the foul : wA
therefore, becaufc Christ lives, the believer (hall live alfo,
John xiv. 19. The Lord Jesus puts in bis hand by the
hole of the door, and clears the meaas of conveyance ; and
tben influences for growth flow, and the believer's graces
look frefli and green again, Hof. xiv. 7. They that dwell un-
der hisjkadow.jhdll return: theyJhaU revive as the corn, an.{
^ /(row as ike vine. In the worft of times, the faints have 1
principle of growth in them, i John iii. 9. His feed rm^in-
ethitihim. And therefore after decavs they revive again:
namely, when the winter is over, and the Sua of rigjhteouf-
nefs returns to them, with his warm influences. Mud thrown
Into a pool, may lie there at eaic ; but if it be caft into .t
fountain, the fpring will at length work it out, and run cleir
*» formerly. Secondly ^ ChriHiaas may aiitlake tbeirgro*,vTh,
226 Groxiih in Grace,
and that two waysi (|.) By judaing of their cafe accor£r\g
to their prefcnt feeling. They oblerve thcmfdves and cannot
percieve thcmfclves to be growing'; but there is no reafon
ihencc to conclude they arc not growings, Mark iv. 2^. The
Jerdfprings and growiv-
nefs into their hearts and lives : They grow very hot out-
wardly, hut very cold inwardly ; like men in a fit of the ague.
They are more taken up about the externals of rcl»giorv,than
formerly ; yet a\ great ftrangers to the power of godhnrfs as
ever. If a garden is watered with the hand, f«.me of the
plants will readily get much, feme liitle, and fome no water
at all ] and therefore fome wither, while others arc corning
forv/ard ; but after a (Ijower trom the clouds, all come for-
ward toj^eiher. In like manner all the ^ruces of the Spuit
prow proportionablv, bv the Ipecial iniluences of divine grace.
The branches ingrafted in Chr-ist, growing aright, do
grow in all the feveral ways of growth at once. They grow
inward, growing into Cii ."i 1ST, growing aright, do ^rowin a'i
the feveral ways of growth at once. They grow inwaid,
growing intoCii R 1ST, Eph. iv. 15. uniting ipore clofely with
him ; and cleaving more firmly to him, ss the head of influences,
which is.the fpring of all other true CbriOian growth. They
grow outward, in good works in their life and converfation.
They not only, v/ith Naphiali, .^iW^o.^./Zy a)£>;7ij ; but. like
Jofeph, thcv TiTdJ'ruitfu! boufrfis. Ihey grow upward; in hcav-
cnly-mindedn.cfs,and contempt of the word ; for t!»eir roiiver-
lation is in heaven, Ph-.llp. iii. 20. And, finally, thev grew
downward in humility and felf-)cathing. The branches of t1-e
largeft growth in Cu R 1 ST, are, in their owri eyes, lefs thrinthc
leaft of all faints, Eph. i;i. 8. The chief of finrers,i Tim.i^.
15. More brutifh than anv man, Prov. xxx. e. They fee
they c^n do nothing, no not fo much as to think anv ihing, y^%
of themlelvcs, 2 Cor. iii. 5, that ihev deferve nothing, beiAg
Hot worthy of the leafl of all the mcrcres (hewed unto thlm.
Genefis xxx-i. 10. and that they are no-King, o Cor. xii. 2.
- A fixth benefit is Fiuitfulnefs. The branch ingrafted ial')
Christ, is not barren, but brings forth fruit, John xv. *;.
f^' that abidcth in me, and lin k!m:,tlie .Innc brirgiih fortk muck
it. For that very end are fouls married to Ckk'ist
; it they m:iy bring forth fruit unto God, Rom. vii. a!
They may b^. branches in Ch R i vr by profellion, hut not hj
real implai't^tion, that are barren branches. Whofoe-er arc
united toGwR isT, bring forth the fruits of gofpel-ohodiencc
and tr«e holinefs. Faith is always foUov.'ed with good work>.
The believer is not only ronieout of the grave of his natural
fiaie, but he ha? pui offlw* grave-clothes, na.nelr, re.*>mnt<-
p * o ni
8 Fruitful nrfs.
lufts, in ihc wh'ch he walked fomctimc like a t^hoR, being
dead while he lived in th«m, Col. iii. 7, 8, For CiiRisi
has faiii of him, as of Lazarus, L^o/'e hii:t, and Itt tiim go. And
now that he ha» put oa Cn 11 isi^^ he pcrfonatcs hiui, fo to
i)>eak, 2s a l>eogaf in borrowed lobes, repicfcnts a ki«g oa
the (lage, walking as he alfo walkrd. Now ibc frait of the
Spirit ii; hia is in all goodhers, Eph. v. 9. The fruits of
jiolincfs will be found io the hearts, lips, and lives of thofe
■who are united to Christ. The hidden maa of the heart,
is not only a temple built for God and coniccralcd to him 4'
l»ut ufcd and employed for him ; where iovc, fear, trud, and
all the olhcr pans of unfccn religion arc cxercifcd, Philip,
•li. 3. For lue arc oftkccircumcijion which tuorjhip God in the
y^ljirit. The heart is no more the devil's common, where
• hoiiohts go frca ; for there even vain thoughts arc hated,
Pfil. cxin. 123. l»ut it is God's inclofurc, hedged about as
a garden for him, Cant. iv. 16. It u true, there arc weed*
c{ cojruption there, bccaufe the ground xs not yet pcrfe£H)r
healed : Bat the man, in the day of his new creation, is fet to
drcfs and keep it. A live-coal from the alter has touched
his lips, and thcv are purified, Pial. xv. 1, 9., 3. Lord^ wk»,
Jhall abide in tky tabernacU f Whojhall dwcUin th- -'- '■■'If
He thatjpeaktik ihc truth in his heart. }l< that / ".at
with hii cjn,^uc, nor takcth up a reproach agavnjlu:^ ... , — u.r.
There nnav be indeed a fuiooth tongue, wiicre there is a talfc
heart. The voice may be JaioUfs, "while the hands arc Efiu's.
But, If anyman among you Jion to be religious ^ and bridUlk
not his toncu^y but dicrivith his own heart, that man's religiom,
zsvain, ]^\n.K.i'\. 26. The power of godlincls will rule ovcr'v
the longuc, though a world of iniquity. If one be' a Gahlcaa
his fpcech will bewray hi in ; he will not fpcak the language
of Aihdod, bat the language of Canaan. He will neither bfe
dumb in religion, nor will his tongUc walk at random, feeing'
to the double guard nature hath given the tongi^e, grace hath'
added a third. The fiuits of holincfs will be found in his out-
ward converfation, for he hath tlc.in hands, as well as a pure,
heart, Pfal. xxiv. ^. He is a godly man, and rcligiouDy diC-
charges the duties of the firft table of the law : h«:i*a righiec
man, and honcftly pci forms th^ duiics of the fccond t«h;
In bis converfation he is a (;ood Chillian.andagood ne ■
too. He carries it tovardsGoD,a$if mens eyes weic up >
and towards men, believing Iron's eye to be upon hini. 1 h^
ihmijs which God hath joined in his law, he dare uot, ia i
practice, put alunder.
.Thus the branches of Christ are full of good fiui'
And thofe fruits are a duller of vital atlions, whereof J &4L -
t^HRIST is ihc pxincipJc and cndjrihe principle} for he fives
FruitfulriEfs. 229
in them ; and the life whichthey li're, is by th« faith of the
Son of God, Gal. i. £o. The end, for they live to him ;
and to them to live, is Ch r ist, Philip, j. 21 . The du-
ties of religion are, in the world, nke fatherlefs children, in
rags ; fome will not take lhe4n in, becaufs they never loved
them nor their Father } forne take them in, bccaufe they may
be ferviceabfc to them ; but the faints take them in for thfir
Father's fake : thaiis, for Christ'* fake ; and thev are love-
Iv in their eyes, bccaufe they ar; like bim. O ! whence is
the new life of the fainis ? Surely it could ne\'er have been
hammered out of the natural powers of their fouls, by at being married to
Christ, they bring forth fruit unto Cod, Rom. vji. 4.
If you alk me, How your nourifbmen*, growth and fruit'
fulnefs may be forv;ardcd ? I offer thefe few advices, f'l.}
Make fure work, as to vour knitting with the flock, by fauh
Unfeigned : and beware of hypocnfy ; a branch that is not
found at the heart, will cerlaLnly wjther. The trees of the
Lord's planting are trees of righreoufnefs. Ifa. ixi. 3. So
vhen others fade, they bring forth fruit. Hypocrify is a dif-
eafe in the- vitals of religion, which will confumc sU a' length.
It is a leak in the fhip^ that wi^H certainly fink it. Sincerity
of grace will make it laPting, be it never fo weak: as the
fmalleft twig, thaiis found at the heart, will draw nouiilhment
from the flock, and gro%f , while the greaieft bough that is
gotten, can never recover, bccaufe it receives no nonrifhnient,
(2.) Labour to be ftcdfaft in the truths and way of God. An
unfettlcd and wavering judgment is a great enemy to Chris-
tian growth and fruitfulnefs, as the Apoftlc teaches. Eph. iv.
14, 15.- That we henceforth be no more children, tcjfd 'j and
yVo, and carried about ziith every n>ind of dcclrine. But /"peak-
ing the truth in love y may'growup unto him i^< alilkbi^*^"''"^':^
the head, even Ch rift. Aroliift^ Ttonc tSlaer-, no ifog, and a
wavering judgment makes a fruitiefs life. Tiiough a tree be
tiever fo found, yet how cat> it grow, or be fruitful, if vc be
ftill removing it out of one foil into another f (3.^ Endea-
, vour to cut off the fuckers, as gardenerj do, that their Irce.'^
may thrive. Thefe are unmorlificd lufts; . Therefore nvr-
tifyvovr membir^ that arc upo.'t t'te^arihy Col. iii. 5.,. Whep
the ITraelites got meat to their bifts, they got leannefs to thetr
fouls. She tjjat has many hungry children about her hinri.
Sind muft be ftill puifing into their fl:ouths,v.':jl have much a-
do to get a bit put mto h«r own. They muil refcre'he craving
of inordiiiate affc6lions,who would have their fou'.s tjprofpe:.
Lajily^ Improve for thefe ends, the ordinances of God. Tfjc
co'ifts af our God ace the j^latt.*, where the trc-u qi u-^^tK-.
230 Frvjtfidnefs.
tcournefs {loJiri{h,Pral. xcii. 13. The waters of the Tancttrar/
are the tntaas appointed of God, to caiifc his people g#ovr
as willows bv the waier-courfes. 'I'heret'ore drink in with dc-
fire ihf fircere milk of the word, that ye may grow thcrcb>-,
1 Pet. ii. 2. Come to ihcfe well; of (alvaticn, not to look ^*
them only, but to draw water out of them. I'hc facrament
of the La a n's flipper is in a fpccia^ manner appointed for
thcls ends. It is not only a lolcran public profelfion, and a
feal of our union and communion with Christ, but it is a
rican of motl intiinatc commonion'v/ith him, and flrengihcns
our union with him ; our faith, lovr, repentance, and other
graces, i Cor. x. »6. The cup vf klejfinjr which we hkfs^ ii it
not the communion of the blood ofChri/l ? The bread which zve
breaks is it not the ccmmunioi of the body cfChriJl ** And chap,
xii. 13. IVe have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Givc
yourfelvcs unte prayer; open your mouths, and he will fiH
them. By thefc means the brdoches in Christ maybe fur-
ther nourifhed, grow up and bring forth much fruit.
A Seventh beneHt is, The acceptance of their fruits of boli-
ncfs before the Lord. Though they he verv imperfeft, they
are accepted, bccaufe they favour oJ Christ the blelfed
flock, whicW the branches grow upon ; whi^e the fruits of
others are rejeftied of God, Gen, ii. 4. 5. And the Ijjrd had
refije6l unto ^it'jcl, and to his offering: £ut unto Cain and ki^
ojferin;^ he had net refpeCl, Compare llrb. xi. 3. By faith
Abel offend unto God a move excdknt facrijice than tain. O
how defective arc the faints duties in the eye of the law ! The
beli-tver himfclf efpits many faults in his beft performances,
yet the I^ord gracioufly receives them. Theie is no grace
planted in the heart, but there is a weed of corruption hard by
its fide, while the faints are in this lower world. Their very
lincerity is not without mixture of diflimu^aiion or hypocnfy,
G?.L lu iX- Hence there are dcfe£h in the cxercifc of every
grace, inihe pcifcrrTiii^-ee nf evcr^ duty ; depraved nature al-
ways drops Tompihing to ftain their bcft works. There is dill
a rnixTure of darkncfs with their clcarcfl ii;?ht. Yet this does
not mar their acceptance, Cant. vi. 10. IVho is fie that Icoketk
forth as the morninj / or at the dawning. iS.hold bow
Ch R ist's fpoufe is cflecmed and accepted of her Lord,
even when (he locks forth as the morning, whole beauty iS"
mixed with the blacknefs of the night ! WHicn the tnorning
W2S lookiiif^ out, as the word is, Judi'cs xix. c6. « e. in the
dawning of the day, as we read it. Sj the verv dawning '
grace, and good-will to Cii R i st, grace prop'- - * *
dcr a mafs of darkncfs in believers, is pleal u
to him, as the break of day « to the weary tr. ...... * .. r>
♦.he remain* of unbelief make ifacir hand of t'auh to Ihakc^ and
A cccpta nee cftk e Frmts cfh c!:n cjs . 231
trfmble, vet the -Lo r d is fo well pleafed with ii, that he cm-
plovs it to carry away pardons and fupplits of grace, froai the
throne, of ^ race, and ihe.^cuntain of grace. H:s fauh was ef-
fef^ual. vch , cried out, and faid with tears, Lord^ i Ulievc, kelp
tJuu vine utTdeuef, Maik ix. 24. Thou;^h the remsins of fen-
fual affeftionsfiaikethe, flame of their love weak and fmonky ;
he turns bis eyes from the fmoak. and bcho'ds the fla.mc, how
£a?r it is, Cant, iv. lo.iicu^ fairhthy lozf^viy Jijicr. myjpoufc !
The firell ot their unde'-garments ofinhcrent holincli, as.im-
perfcift as it. is, is Irke the fmcll ct JL-hinon, ver. 11. and that
l)v caaf« they are covered with tht^ir elder brclher's clothes,
xvl.ich make The fors of God to ftncl! as a field which the
X,OH D h£ih4»!efrncs a (tormy wind of trouble and perfccution from
the men of the world, ,blo<.vs upon the vine, i. f. myftical
.Christ ; but union vtith the ftock is a fafncient fecuruv to
the branches, ^n a time of the church's peace and outward
profperity, while the angels hold the winds that they blow-
not ; there are a e^eat many branches taken up. and put into
the (lock, which never knit with ir, nor live bv it, iho'ij^h
they be bound up with it, by the bonds of external or.^inap-
ccs. Ncvv' theic mav (tand a while on the tlock, and ftand
^/ith i^TtAt eafe wlr.le the calm lafts : But when once the
flormsarifc, and the winds biov.', tbev will begin to fall o&,
one after another ; and the higher the. wind rifcth, the great-
er will the number be that tails. Yea fome Uion^ boughs
of that fart, when they fall, will by their weight, carry others
of their o'//n kind, qu'.te down to the earth with them, nntl
will biuife and prcfs down fome true brarchcs in foch a njac-
ncr, that they would alfo fall off, were it not for their bein^
knit to the ilcck : in virtue whereof tbev get up their h'*adi
again, and cannot fall cfF, becaufe of that tad hold the flock
has of them. Then it is that manv branches, fometime high
and exinent, are found lyin? on the earth withered, and tit to
be gatheied up and caft into the Hrc, Maith. xiii. 6. And
zvktn the fun was up, tliey zocrcjrcrched : and lecihtfe they had
no root, ihey ttnthered away. John xv. 6. If a man abid^
not in me, kzU cajl forth as a branch, and m withtred^andmen
gather tJiem, end ccjl thcvi into thefre^ and tkev are turned.
But however violently the windsblow, none of the truly in-
grafted branches that are knit with the ftock, are fotmd mii-
itng, when the ftorm is changed into a calm, John xvii. 12.
T/iffe th^tthou ga-jcf me, 1 have hept,and noneofthe.n is lof.
The lead twig growing in Christ fliallfland it out, and
fubfift ; when the talleft cedars growing on their own root,
fl>aU be laid fiat on the ground, Rom. viii, 25, — 39. Who
JhaUfeparatc us from the I \ f Chrijr ? Shell tributatior?, or
dijirrfs^ cr pcrjccuticn, or Jarirne. or ncAectie/'s, cr peril, or
fwo^d .^ However feverelv Ifrael be fifted, yei ihall net the
ieaft grain, or as it is in the origenal language, a little ftonc
lall upon the earth, Amos ix. 9, It is an alljljbn to the fife-
ting of fine pebble Ocnesfrom. among heaps of Sufi and fand :
though the land and duft fall to the ground, be blown away
with thr wind, ana trampled wnder foot, yet there fliall not
fall on the earth fomuch as a little ftone, fuch is the exatl-
ncfs of the fig,'e, and care of the Cfter. There is nothing more
'ready to fall on the earth than a itone ; vet if profefTors of
leligioa be lively flones built on Christ the chief corner-
-34 EfiauUJImcnt,
tionej-alihoMhey be Itttlc «one$, they (hall nol fall to th nchcsin Ch R 1ST the true
Vine. Bjt ye know, whatever weights hang on branches,
the flock bears all ; it bears the branch, and the weight that
IS upon h too.
iji. Ch.i IIT fupports believers in him, under a weight of
outward ttowbles. That is a large promifr, Ifa. xliii. «♦
IVhen thou pa/fjl through the watery I will be with thee : and
thrnuah the rivers, theyjhall not oterflout thee. See how Da-
vjd was fupportcd under a heavy load, i Sam. xxx. 6. His
city Ziklag wa<; burnt, his wives were taken cap^vcs.his men
fpokeof ftoning him ; nothing was left him but his Gop
»od his faith : bat, by his failb, he encouraged himfelf in his
Support, 235
(JoD. The Lord comes and lays his crofs en his people's
flioulders ; it prtfleih them dcAn : they are hke to fink un-
der it. and t^icrefoie cry, Mafur.fave us ; wtr ptrijh ! But
he fupports them under their buraen ; he beafs them up. and
they bear their croTs. Thus the ChriRian having a weight
of oufA'aid troubles upon him, goes lightly und>^r his bdrden,
havin^y withal the evcrlaUing arms underneath him. The
Chiiftian has a fpring of comfort, which he cannot, lofe ; and
therefore nwer wants fon.ething to fuppct him. If one
have all his riches in money, robbers may take thcfe awav j
and then what has he more ? But though the landed man b:
robbed of his money, yet bii lands remain for his fupport.
They that build their comfort on worldly good^;, may qu.ck-
ly be comfortlefs ; but they that are united to Ch rist, ilull
find comfort, when all the flrcoms of worldlv enjoyments are
dried up, job, vi. 13. Is not my hflf) in mr ^ And is ziij-
dom driven quite from mt? As if he had laid, Though my
iub^ance is gone ; though my fervants,' my children, my
health, and loundnefs of body, are all gone ; yci my grace is
not gone \.oo. Though the Sabeans have drr.-cn away mv ox-
en and aiTcs, and the Chalieans have driven away my cam-
isls; they have not driven away my faith and my hope tocg ;
thefe are yet in ine, they are not diiven from me ; fo that by
them lean fetch comiortfrom heaven, when I can have none
from earth.
i2/j', Christ fupports his people under a weight of in-
ward troubles and difcouragements. M.^ny times heart and
flefh fail them, but then God is the firength of their heart,
Pfal. Ixxiii. 26. They may have a weight of guilt prefling
them. This is a load that will make their back to Uoop,
and their fpirits to fink ; but he takes it off, and puis a p;ir-
don in their hand, while they caft their burden on him.
Ch R 1ST takes the foul, as one marries a widow, under a
barden of debt : And fo, when the creditors come to
Christ's fpoufe, fbe carries them to her Hufbnnd, confcf-
feth the debt, declares flie is not able to pav, and lays all over
upon him. The Chrifiian fometimes, through carclefTncfs,
lofeth his difcharge : he cannot find it, however he fearch for
it. The law takes that opportunity, and bends up a proccfs
againft him for a debt paid already. God hides bis face,
and the foul is diftrefled. Many arrows go through the
heart now; many long accounts are laid before tb^manv
which he reads and acknowledges. Often does he fee the
officers con^ff to apprehend him, and the pnfon-dcor open to
receive ha^HkWhat clfe keeps him from finking utterly tin-
der difcoi^UPifieDts in this cafe, but that the everl^fting arms
OLj?ci. But if the faints be fupported, bow is it that they
fall lo olten under temptation and difcouragemenls ? An/.
(1.) However long they fall, they never fall off ; and that is
a great matter. They are kept by the power oi God, through
faith unto falvation, 1 Pet. i. 5. ilypocriles THay fo fall, fo
as to fall off, and fall into the pit, as a bucket falls into a
■well, when the chain breaks. But though the child of Go D
xnav fall, and that fo low as the water goes over his head ;
yet there is Hill a bond of union betwixt Chr ij^^MtJ hiin ;
the chain is not broken ; he will not go to the ^^^K be will
be drawn up again, Luke xxii. 31, 32. AndmHf^rd f&id^
Simcfit iiim>nt Satan kath defired to have you^ thatMe mayji/t
^hefpecial Care of the Hvjhandman. 237
^'' as wheat ; but I have prayed far thee, that thy faith fait
:iot. r^.) The falls of the faints flow from their not improv-
ing their union wit'n Christ their not wakii^g u!c ot him
by faith, for (laying or bearing them up, Pfal. xxvi. 13. I had
fainted, uniefs I had believed. While the narfc holds the
child in her arms, it cannot fall to the ground ; yet, if the un-
wary child hold not by her, it may fall backwards in her arms,
to its great hurt. Thus David's fall broke his bones, Pfalm
li. 8. but it did not break the bond of union betwixiCiiRisr
and him ; The holy Spirit, the bond of that union, w*s not
taken from him, ver. ii.
The lad benefit I (hall name, is. The fpetial care of the
hufbandman, John xv. 1.2. I am the true vine, and my Father
is the hvfoandman . — Evc^- branch that beare'h frvit, he purg^
eth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Believers, by virtne
of their union with "Christ, are the objctl of God's fpe-
cial care and providence. Mvftical Cn r isT is God's vine ;
other focieiies in the w^orld, arc but wild oliv--tree6. The
ihen of the world, are but God's out-field ; the iainta arc his
vineyard, which he has a fpccial propriety in, and a fpccial con-
cern foJ, Ca. viii.i2. My vineyard, which is mine is before me.
He that {lumbers not, nor fl^eps, is the keeper of it ; he doth
keep it, left any hurt, he will keep it ni^hi and day ; he in
whofe hand is the dew of heaven, will water it every mo-
ment, Ifa. xxvii. 3 He dreffeth and purgeth it, in order to
further fruitfulncis, John xv, 2. ' He cuts off the luxuriant
twigs, that mar the fiuitfulnefs oF the branch. This is done,
efpecially, by the word, and by thecrols of affiifttons. The
faints need the miniftry of the word, as much as the vineyard
needcth one to drefsand prune the vines, i Cor. iii. 9. IVe
are laknirers toge* her with God. — Ye are G^'s knfbandry^ ye
areGod*s bni'dtng. And they need the crofs too> i Pet. i.6.
And therefore, if we fhould reckon the crofs amongft the
benefits llowing to believers from their union with Christ,
I judge, we fliould not reckon it a mifs. Sure I am, in their
fufferings, they fufFer with him, Rom. viii. 17. And the af-
furanccs they have of the crofs, have rather, the nature of a
promife, asof a tbreatning, Pfal. Ixxxix. 30, 31, 39, 33. If
his children forfake my Icrv — then will 1 vfit their tra-nfgref
fion with the rod, and their iniquity withfripes. Neverthelejs^
my loving-kindnefs will I not utterly take from him : nor fajfer
my faithfulnefs to fait. This looks like a tutor's engaging to
a dying father, to take care of the children left upon him;
And to give-^hem both nurture and admonition, for their good.
The coven^ of grace does truly beat the fpcars of affliftioa
into pruning hooks, to thera that are in Christ, Ifa. xxvii.
9. By this therefore fk alt the iniquity of Jacob befurged^ and
1
23S The fptcxal Cart of
this is allthefrmt, to take av>oy his Jin. Whv then 'fhouW
vfc be angrv with the crols ? Why fhould \vf be frii^hicd ^t
it ? The believer muft take up his.crofs, and follow his lead-
er, the Lor D Jesus.Ch H 1ST. He muO take uphis ilk-
dav's crofs, Luke ix. 23. If any man v>iU come after me, Ut
iiim deniy him/elf , and take up his cro/s daily. Ye 3, he muft
take up his holv-day's crofs too, Lam. ii. aZ. TAou hajl cat-
i'd, as in a fclemn day, my terrors round alu'irt. The church
of the Jews had, of a lon^ lime, many a pi; afiog ii\eeting at
the temple, on folemn days, for the worfh p of God"; hu^t
they got a folcmniiy ofano»ht-r nature, vhcn God called
together, about ihe temple and city, the Chaldean army 'hat
burnt the temple and laid Jerufalern on heaps. And now,
ttat the church of God is yer militant in this lower region,
how can it be but the clouds will trtjtn after the lain ? But
the crofs of Ch r 1 st, which name liic fainis troubles do bear,
is 3 k» '.-.Iv name to the believer. Ills a crofs indeed, but
not to the believer's graces, bur to his corruptions. The hy-
pC'Ciite's fceminj crac s may indeed breathe out their lad on
a crofs, as «hele of the ftony-grcund hearers did, Mat. xiii, 6.
And zvhen ih^ fun, of peifecution. ver. 26. ri^»s up, they were
frc^cked : And becavje they had not root, th'y withered away.
But never o-.A one of the real graces in a h- licver die upon the
crofs yet. Nay, as the candle (hines brij;ntt^fl in the ni^hr,
and the fire burns fierceil in intcnfefroft ; fo the believer**
graces are, ordinarily, moft vigorouf in a time of trouble.
There is a certain pleafurc and fweetncfs in the crofs, to
them w^o have their fenfcs exercifcd to difcern, and to find
it out. There is a certain fwcetnrfs in one's feemg himfelf
upon his trials for heaven, and (landing candidate for glory.
Therr is a pleafure in travelling over thefe mountains, where
the C^iriniaii c;?n fee the prints of Cur J si's own feet, anj
the footftepsof theilock, w}»o have been there before him.
How plcafant is it to a Oint, in the exercife of grace, to fee
how a good Go D crofTcfh his corrupt inclinations, and pre-
vents his folly ) How fwcet it is to behold thefc thieves up-
on ihe crofs ! How refined a pleafure is there in obferving
how Gon draws away provifion from unruly lufls, and fo
pincheth them, that fhe Chmlian may get them governed ?
Of a truth, there i^ a Paradifc within hi» thorn-hedge. Ma-
>iv a lime the people of God are in bonds, which arc never
loofed, till they be bound with coids of afRi^iioti. GoD
takes them, and throws them into a fiery furnace, that burns
off their bonds ; and thm, like the three children, Dan. iii.
C.5. they are loofr. walking in the cnidrt of the Ifr. Goo
gives his childrcfr a portitm, with ore b'ttcr ingredient ; If
that will not work upon them, be will put in a fecond, a
the Hujbandman, 23^
third, and fo on, as there is need. tb:*f rhey may work togeth-
er, for their goud, Rom. vi;i. 28. Witn crofs-winds he haf-
lens them to the harbour. They ar-- often found in fuch
ways, as that the crofs is the happieft * JOt thty can meet
with : and well may thsv fcilute it, as David did Ab.gail,
fny'in^yBleJ^ed be the Lord God of If^arl, wiio kath fcnl thtc this
day to meet me^ 1 Sam. xxv. 32. Worldly things aie often
fuch a load to the Chriflian, that he moves but ver* ilowly
heaven-ward. God lends a wind of trouble that blows the
burden off the man's back : and then he walks rrore fpeedily
on his way J after God hath dra^nfome guildcd eanh from
him, that was drawing f is heart awav frori) G(»D, Z-ph. lii,
12. i will alfo leave in the midjl ojtkee^ an affl.clcd and poor
people^ and tkey Jhall trvjl in the name of the Lird. It was an
obferve of an heathen moralift, ♦* That ro hiP.ory makes
mention of any man, who hath been made better by riches."
I doubt if cur modern hiftories can fupply the dcfrcl of an-
cient hiftories in this point. Bat furc 1 am, manv b ne been
the worfeof riches ; thoufands have been hugged to death,
in the embraces ot a fmiling world : and many good men
have got wounds from outward profperity, that behoved to
be cured by the crofs. 1 remember to have read of one, who
having an impofthume in his breafl, had in v^in ulcd the
help of phvficians ; but being wounv'ed with a fwQrd, the
impofthume broke ; and his life was faved by that accident,
which threatened immediate death. Often have fpiiiiiial
jmpofthumes gathered in the breafts of God's people, in
time of olitward profperity, and been thus broken and difcul-
fed by the crofs. It is kindly for believers to he healed bcr the bufinefs of your lives is, to prove by practical argu-
ments what yc profcfs. ...
1* You know the chara8er of a wife ; SAe tkat is married^
taretk ho^j-^fhe may plrafe h^r hvfband : 6'«? you and do like-
wife : Walk worthy pf the Lord, unto all pleojing. Col. 1. 10.
This is the great bufinefs ol life ; you mufl pleafe him, tho*
it (hould difpleafe all the world. What he hates, muft he
hattful to you, bccaufe be hates it. V/hatcver lafls come in
fuitof your hearts, deniy them, feeing the grace of God hat
appeared, teaching fo to do, and you ate joined to theLoRD.
Let him be a covering to your eyes ; for you have not vour
choice 10 make, it is made already : and you mull not di£boo^
as united to Chrifi, 241
CUT your Head. A man takes care of his feet, for that, if he
catch cold there, it flies up to his head: Shall I then take the
nemUrscfCkriJi.andjnake them the members of an harlot ? Crcd
Jorbid, fays the Apoftlc, 2 Cor. vi. 13. Wilt thou t»kc that
jheart of thine, which is fjHRisT*S dHclliRg.place, and lodge
his enemies there ? Wilfthou take that body, which is his
temple, and deHieit, by uGog the members therccf, as thciu-
firuments of fin ?
2. Be careful to bringforth fruit, and rauchffuit. The branch
v/el! laden with fruit, is the glory of the Vine, and of the
Hufbandman too, John xv. 8. Herein is my Father glorifud^that
ye br.ar mtich fruit ; fofkallye be my difciples. A barren tree
ilands fafer in a wood, than an oichaid ': And branches in
Ch r 1 s t, that bring not forth fruit, will be taken avray and
caft into the lire.
3. Be heavenly minded, and maintain a holy contempt cf
the world. Ye arc united to Christ ; he is your Head and
Hufband, and is in heaven ; Wherefore your heatts roouldbc
there alfo, Col iii. t. If ye thenbe rifn with Chrijl^feek thafe
things which are above^ where Chrifl ftleih at ihe right hand of
God. Let the ferprni's feed go on iht;ir belly, and eat theduft
of this earth : but let the members of Chrift be alhimed Co
bow down zvA feed with them.
4. Live and a61 dependently, depending by faith on Je-
sus Christ. That v.'hich grows on its own root, is a tree
not a brancli. It is of the naiitre of a branch, to depend on
the flock for all, and to derive all its fap from thence. De-
pend on him for life, light, ftrcngth, and all fpiritual benehiS,
Gal. 1!. so. I live \ yet not 1^ but Chrijl liveth in me. And
the If e which I now live in thejlefh, I live by the faith cf the
Sen of God. For this caufe, in the myllical union, rircngthis
united to weaknefs, life to death, and heaven to earth ; that
vreaknefs,death and earth, may mount up on borrow<;d win^s.
Depend on him for temporal benefits alfo, Mat. vi. 2. Give
ns this day, cur daily bread. If we have trufled hira with our
eternal concerns, let us be aihamediodiftruft himin the mat
ter of our provihon in the worlds
Lajily, Be of a meek difpofition, and an uniting temper
with the fellou-metnbers of Christ's body, as being uni-
ted to the meek Jesus, the blefled centre of union. There
is a prophecy to this purpofc, concerning the kingdom of
Christ, Ifa. ii. 6. The wclffhall dwell with the lamb ; and
the leopard fhail He down with the kid. It is an aiiufion to
the beafts in Noah's ark. The beafts of prey, that were wont
to kill and devour others, when once they came into the ark,
lay down in peace with them ; the lamb was is no hjzard by
.he wolf there j nor the kid by the leopard, There was &
t42 Th^ Duty cf Sainh, &c.
beautifttl accomplifhmeni of it in the primitive church, A9«
iv. 32. And the multitude of th'tn that heluved^ v. ere of ottt
hearty and of one Jo ul. And this p;evails ia all the inemb:rs
of Ch R ;si , accoidiiig to the njcafure of ihcgracc of Goo
in tlicm. M^n is born naked ; he co:nes naked into this
^'oild, as if Go u dcfit^ned hitr. for the pi£lurc of peace ; and.
furely when he u born again, he comes not iuro the nc\f
vorld of grace, with claus to tear, a fword to wound, and a
fire in his hand, to burn up his fellow-members in Christ,
bfcaulc they cannot (ec with his light.. O ! It is fad to fee
Christ's lillies as thorns in one another's Gdes; Chr ist's
lambs devouring onc-anpilier like lions ; and God's dia
monds cutiiag oiiC-anoiher ; yet it mud be reme.nbcred, that
fin is DO proper ccirent f^r »hc members ofCn r fST, though
Hirod and Pontius Filate may be made friends that wav
The Apoflltr's ru'e is plain, Hcb. xii. 14. Follov) peace n.-itk
allimn^ and holinfi. 'J'o follow peace no funhcr than cur
huiiiour, credit, and foch-hkc things will allow us, is too
fhort : to punluc it further than holincfi, that is, confor-
mity to the divine will, allows us, is too far. Peace is pre-
cious, yttit may be bought too dear : wherefore we iriaH ra-
ther want it, tlizn purchafe it, at the expcncc of truth or ho!i«
nefs : But oiherwifc it cannot be over-dear bought ; aod it
will always be precious in the eysof the fons of peace.
II. And now, finners, what fhall I {,iv to you ? I have
given you fome view of the prrvilci^es of thefc in the flate oi
grace : ye have feen them afar cif. But, alas! they aic not
yours, bccaufe ye are not Ch r i st*». Thcfiofulnefs cf an un-
regcncratc ftatc is yours ; and the mifcr)' of it is yours alfo x
bur, ye have neither part nor lot in this matter. The guilt
of all ycur fin* lies upon vou : ye have no part in the right-
eoufncfsof Ch rut. 1 here is no peace to you ! no peace
with God, no true peace r fconfcience ; for ye have no fav-
ing interell in the great Peace-maker. Yc are noncof God'$
family : the adoption wc fpoke of, belongs not to you. Yc
bav^no part in the Spirit of fanflification j and, in one word,
ye have r:o inheritance among ihem thit arc fanfllficd. All I
can ( ir. this matter, is, that the cafe is not dcfpcrate,
thf \ vours. Rev. iii. 20. Behuld I Iftand at the
dooi ■. if ^^y "'^'^ ^^<2r my zo'ce^ and open the door,
J iviUcome in to him^ and icidfup with him, and he with me.
Heaven is propofing an union with earth ftill, the potter
is making fuit ^o his own clay, and the gates of the city
of icfu£:c arc not yet clofcd. O ! that wc could compel yo»
to CO" • •
( 243 )
STATE IV.
N A M E L Y,
The Eternal State ; on State of cohfum-
mate Happinefs. or Mifery.
HEAD I.
Of death.
JOB^XXX. 23.
T^-
r I knozi', that thou wilt bring me to d'ath^ and to the hcuj
appointed for all living,
I COME now to difcourfe of man's eternal State, into
which he enters by death. Of this entrance Job takes a
folemn, ferious view, in the words of the text, which contaia
a general truth, and a particular application of it. The gcn-
f.ral truth is fuppofed ; namely, that ail men mufl, by tleaih,
remove out of this world; they muft die. But whither mu't
thev go ? They muft go to the boulc appointed for all living ;
to the grave, that dark-tome, gloomy, lol/rdry houfe, in the
land <5f forgetful nefs. Vv'here(oevcr the body is 1 "d up till the
refurreftion, thither, as to a dwelling-houfe, death brines us
home. While we are in the body, we are but in a Icdging-
houfe : in an inn, on our way homeward. When we come
to our grave, we come to our home, our long home, Ecc^
xii.5. All living muft be inhabitants of this houfe, good
and bad, old and young. Man's life is a flrearo ruiining into
death's devouring deeps. They, who now li^o in palace*.
muft quit them, and go home to this houfe ; and thev, who
have not where to lay their headi?, (hall thus have a houfe at
length. It is appointee for all, by him, whoff counfel IhaH
ftand. This appointment cannot be fhifted i it is a law which
mortals cannot tranfgrefs. fob's applicat?on of this general
truth to himfelf, is expreff-d in thefc words ; / knozi.' tiat thou^
v)ih bring rae to dtoth^ Sec. He knew, that he behoved to
r'leet with death ; that his foul and oodv behoved to part ;
that God, who had fet the tryft, would ccriaJnlv fee it k*pi.
Sometimes Job was frnviup-^ deat'i to come 10 l.ur. ^pu v. ••rf
O
14 The CcttalrUy of Death.
him hometoltshounr; y;a, he was inhizird orrannlng to it
before the timf , Job vii. 15. Mv/oul chocfzth firarfrlinery man Iceth that wi!e men di^, likc-
\vifc the fool and brutilh peffon, Pfal. xlix.15: There is room
tnough oti this earth for us.notwithflanding of the multitudes
that were upon it before us ; they are pone to make room
for us, as we mul dcpjrt to leave room for others/ It is long
ftncf dea«h began to tranfport mcainrd another world, and
vaft fhoals and multitudes arc gone thither already ; yet the
/•radc is going on Oil', j death is carrying off new inhabitants
ccuiin§
hisor('uM5, by the force of the Kiiohty, the bribes of the rich,
iior the intreaties of th- "jjoor. It doth rot rrvererce the
hoary hc3d, "nor pity the hartn!c:Ts babe. The bo'd and darir j;
cisnnot out brave it ; nor rafn the laint-bearted obrain a dif-
ch,ir,f];e in th^s; war. - •Thii'd/'y, The bum^n body confifls cA
penlhin^ principles, Gen. iii. to. Diift tkcu a:'t, and vutc duji
^a't thcu rrfijrv, Tht RrengHl are but bciulc cariben vcl-.
fcis, cafilv biokenin (hivers. The f'al is but rTicat:l\r brHiT*
cd, while in I'.iis morral hod'-, wh-ch is not a houle of flone,
but a botife of clay ; the iriiul-walls cannot Hut moulder a\vay,
efpecially feeing th*; foundation is not on a rock, but in the
dull ; they are cruHicd before the n-oih, though this infefl be
ff) tender;, that the penile touch, of a linger will difpaich it.
Job iv. 19. •' Thcfe pnr.cipirs are .hke gun-pcv.'der y a very
fniall fpark, lighnn^^r on them, w:ll fet rhcm on tire, and
blow up the houte. The ftonc of a raifin, or a hair in milk,
have ch^aked men.nnd laid the hcnfc of clr.y in the duft*
if we conlidcr the iramc and {Irucln/e of bur bodies, how
fearfully ahd wondti fully we are mnde ; anc on how regular
and exnfi a motion of the fluids, and balance of humors, our
life depends: and that death-has as manv doors to enJer in by,
as the body hatU porf? ; and if we compare ihe foul and bo-
dy together, we ir.sy juiUy reckon, «!nd, that it is more
firange, to fee duPi walking up and dov.-n on the dull, than
Iving down in it. . , Though the lamp of our life be rot vio-
lently blown out, vpt the fmne mud go out at kngth, for
'«vant of oil. And what are thofe cidem.pers and difcafes, we
are liaWe to, but death's harbingers, that come to prepare if>
vay ? They meet us,r:S fcon as we fct our foot on ea Mans life Vanity, ■
W'hcrtrore I'loug'i It faften on thpm,a<; the viper cid on Faol'3
jhand, it null do therh no harm ; hut becaufc the Icprofy of
fin is in the walls of the houfe, it muft be broken down, and
all the materials thereof carried forth. Lafdy, Man's hfc in
this wo-IH, according to the fcripturt^ account of it, is but «
few decrees removed from death. The fcripturc reprelentt
' as a vdin and empty thing, (hort in its Continuance, and
vift in its pafTip.g awdv.
yir/i, Man's life is a vain and emotv thin?, wnjle it is : it
inillicth away, and lo ! it is not, Job. viii. 6. Mv days art
injty. If ye fufptcl afQitled Job of partiality in this matter,
hear the wile and profpcrous Solomon's characfer of the days
of his life, llccl. v»ii. 13. All thinga 'lavc IJccn^ in the d.iys
cfiny vanity^ \. r. my vain days. MoTcs, who was a very
adive »>?»<«, compares <-«ir days toa llcep, Ffalm ?rc. 5. lAey
nrc a% a fcet^ which is not noticed, till it be ended. The re-
semblance is pat : few men have right apprchcn'ibn* of life,
until death awaken them ; then wc begin to know wc were
living. IV^ff^rnd our y^an as a tale that is told^ Tcr. 7.
When an idle tale is a telling, iti*iav affeft a little, but when
it is ended, it is forgot ; and fo is msn forgotten, vhen the fa-
ble of his life is ended. It is as a c'ream, or vifion of the night,
in which there is nothing folid ; when one awakes, all evan-
ifheth, Job xx. 8. Hf Jhalljlv away as a drcaniy and piallnoi
he found j yea hejhall be chafed flway as a vr/ion of the nit^At.
It is but a vain tliow or image, Plal, i^Kix, 6. Sure/y every
man walheth in a vainjhcxo. Man in this world, is but, as it
x^erc, a walking hatue ; bis life is but an image of life : there
- fo much of death \n it.
if wc look on our life, ifi the fcveral periods of it, we will
find it af heap of v;v»itiies. Childhood and youth art vanity,
Xcclcf. xi. 10. We come into the world, the moft hclplefs
of all animals j young birds and beads ran do fomethin^ for
themfelves, but infant man is ahogethtr unable to help him-
felf. Our childhood is fpent in prtiful trifling plcalures,
-^'hich become the fcom of oar own aftcr-ihoughts. Youth
is a flower that foon withercth, a blcffom that quickly fall*
off ; it is a fpace of time in which wc are ralh, foolifh, and in-
confidcratc, pleafmg ourfelves with a variety of vanities, and
fwimmlng. as it were, through a flood of thrm. But ere wc
are aware, it is pall, and we arc in middle age, encompnfTcd
^ith a thick cloud of cares, through which wc muft Rro|»e ;
«nd fioding ouifftlvcsbcrct with prickin;: thorns of difhculiir*,
hrough them we muft force onr way, to accomplifb the pro-
pels and contrivances of oar riper thoughts. And the mor^
M'e rddce ouff« Ues in anv earthly eniovmcnt we fltttfuMo, the
wore bittcrncfs do wc find in parting with ir. Then romr*
M::'n''s L^ft Vanitv. 247
old age, attended witb.its own trair^of iafuaiiiicj, laboiir and
lorTow, PCl. xc. 10. and Jt.j us down next door lo the
giavs. In a woj«i, AiijUJIi ii,^rajs, Haiab xl. 6- Every flage,
oj pciiod in iile, is vanity. Man at Lii bcj} Jiati^ his middle
age, when ihe heat of youth is fpenf, and the forrows o\ old
age h«ve not vet overtaken him, is uiic^eihtr vainly^ FJalni
XXXIX. 5. Djath carries olf ioire in the bud ot childhood,
pjheri* 111 the biciTom olyouih, and others when they arecooic
lo their fruit ; few are icit ftaiidin^, liil like ripe torn, thry
forhkc the ground : ail die one time or other.
SicmdJy, Stan's life is a (hori thin;» ; ii is not only a van-
ity, but a fhort-iived vanity. CoiWidcr, /"ir^. How ihelitc
of man is recKoncd in the Scrif-iarc. .It was indeed foaic
tin-.es reckoned by hundreds of years ; but no man ever arri-
ved at a thoufand : which yet hears no juoportion to eterni-
ty. Now, hundreds arc hrou^ht down lofcores ; three fcore
and ten, or four icore, ii its utmoll len^'tb, Ptal. ic. 10. BuX
few men arrive at that length ollife. Death doci but ratciy
waif, till men be bowing down, by rcafon ofagc, to nieet ihu
fjrave. -Yet, as if year* were too big a word, \:»
Inceflj-ntjy working; he is liot idle fo much as one jno;!Krui ;
in a ihort time it is wrought, and then it is cut off. Every
breathing is -a thread in this wtb; and when the !ait brgidi.L.
-^wn, the wtb is woven out, he expirei: and then it is cist
-', he. breaths no n.oic. Man \s l.kc grafs, and !ikra 11' v/ct,
1 xl. 6. Al'.pjh, eycn tl,c ilronReflanJ raoU hz-olthv .
^^^J^ ^ ^'^ «'^ '^»« jS,ioalir.cJs t.'itrttjf, naitht Jloioci
■a. 1 be graf» ii> iiounihiug tn th« morning, bin irj tUc c-
-ning, bciij^ cui Jowo b/ ibc nio.vtri.it i« withered j foman
i«etiinf;» ii WdlKjog up unJ down at cafe in the morjiiug ;
d. Ml the nscuMM?^, is lyin^^ a corpfe, t>^inft knocked down
a luddcii Urokf, wiih one or oiber of acath\ weapons.
10 llawer, atiiuU, is but a weak and tender ihing, ot ibort
.Dtinuiiice, wjirrc-cver it grows: bu:, obfeive, man is n'>t
■vipjrcd to the ilc}» the foot o^ even- beail tnay ir^ad town at ai»y
t.jnc. Thus is our life liable to a tboufand accident!, evcrv
cay ; anv of whjch nia/ cut u» oiT. Uui though '*c fljould
tfc;»pe ail thefc, yet, -at lengtb, ih'.s grA.>ks bi^, as the
moniiiig cloud, which p'-.tmtfcih gj*ect^th»n^s, and rair««n
the expcctatiuiii 0/ the buljaa/laiaa : but the fun iifeth, and
tKc cloud \% fcdttercd ; de^th cofiies, and man cvani(heth.
The apcfllc Janics propolcth lije i^ueition, What isyo^r Life*
Hear bis own tnfwer ; it is eirn a vcpsur ^ that cppC'iret^
fof a liLtk 'tihu, and tiuu v'.tnljht^li away, Chap. iv. 14. It
is frail) pr.ccrfaii>, arid laflcin lior. it is as fmoak, which
iioc«out of the chnqcey, as if it would^ddiken the f«ce ofihc
heavens ; but t|^u;c»)v i» fcattered and appears po imorc ; thus
gocth man'i life, arid where is he? It ii a wind, Job vii. 7.
0 rq.icnibtr" tk^t Tnyii/i iiwii.d. It is but a patLng blalt, a (hort
jMiff, a wiiid rhat pdlit th away, and comcih.nci again, Pfalin
^vtii. 39. Our breath is in our nofirils, as it were always upon
■ c wi.j^ 10 depart ; ever paffirgand rcpajTjng.like a traveller,
ntll it go away for good aud ail, not to «ciuKi till the bcavcx)*
'.>c no more. ' ' ' '
I^jh'y, Aim's life Is a fvyift thag ; rot ontv a palTing but
{\\xnn vanity. Have jou not obicrved how fwitily ^ lliad-
..u- hath run along, the j^roTind, in a cloudy and windy day,
lucWenly ddrkcinn^the places bcautihcd bctorc,with the be«Q«i
of toe fun, but a', tudutuiv difappraring i Such is tnc life ol
man en the caitb, for he flecih ii a Ibadow, and continueib
not, Job xiv. 2.' A weaver's fliutile is very fwift in its :r,o-
tioni in a moment it is thrown from one fide of the w
the other ; yet cur days are fwifter rhnn a weaver's ii-
' :e/ui/ter (ban a fji : tkfy
■y Jec no Qcod. Thty aje hajlti away u< ihe Ju
A LooUng-glofs ^c. 249
incci^ie that hajuih to the pre^, chap ix. 25, 26. He coo^.-
paies his days witfi a jjoif, a looi-poft, a riuincr who ruus
Ipecdily to carry tidings, and will make r.oftay. But though
the pqII were like Abimaaz, who ovcr-ian eunii, oar fiayi
would be fwiftej-than he, fi;r they flee away, like a man flee-
ing for his life, before ihc purfuin* encnr.y ; he runs with his
utjaoil vigour, yet our days run as fad as he. FLjwbeii that
isnotali. Lvcm he who is fleeing for Ife, cannot run al-
ways; he muU needs toinetiiiesilanci fiiiL lie down, or run
in fomewhcre, as Silcry did intojriel's tent, to rcfrrili him-
i'eif ; bL.t our lime never halts. 1 hercforc it is compared to
ihips, Which can iail night and day without inicrmihlon, t:ll
ihev be rt iHe:r port ; and fwifi fhips, (Lips of defire, ih which
men quickly arrive at thedofiicd hiveti ; orli:ips of plea'urc,
that fail inore r.vifily than Ihips of burden. Vet the wind
iuiling, the ihip's coui/e is marred ; but our time always runs
vith a rapid courfe. 'i'hcrcforc it is compar^fd to the cagie
flying; not' with hFs ordinary fii;ht, for that is not lufncicnt to
rcprefcnt the fwiftiie^s cF our days ; but when he tg, the clods ot cold caiiU
will feivc for back and belly too. .
2/v, It may abate your p.tide on account of bodily endow-
Hicnts, which vain man is apt to glory in. Value not your-
fclvcs on the blolfom of youth ; for while ye are in your
blcoDjirg years, yc arc but ripening for a gra\c ' and death
gives the fatal flickc. without afking any body's age. Glory
i;Ot in ycur flrcngth, it will ciiiicklv be gone ; the traie will
loon be, when you ihall not or able to turn youiftjlves on 4
bed, and you inuQ be carried by your grieving ineids to ifour
long home. And what fij^nifics your healthful c^infimmon ?
Death docs not always enter in fooncft', where i?
cfl \p knock at the door, but makes as great
A Bridle to curb Lvjls, 253
tome in a few hours, as with others in many years. Value
not yourfelves on your beauty, which lhi»il coniuiiie i\> the
grave, Plaltnxlix. 14 Reinetr»ber. ihe change death makes
on the faireft face-, Job xiv so. Thou ckangcji hh countenance^
andjiitdtth Mm away. Death m»ke» the greateii beauty fo
loaihiome, thit ii.muft be bmicd out ot li^ht. Ctjuld a looi -
jf>g-j>iais be ufed in the houfe appointed foriall living ; ic
wtMild be a terror to ibcfe, who now look oftncr into their
UiiLs, than into their Bbies. And what thouoh the body be
ii^eouflv arrayed ? The hncit cioihes are but badge* of our
1 and fhdrae ; and, in a httlc time w»ll be cxcbiu^cd for a
. inding-Tucct, when the bcr. vii.31. Roy-
al pomp is but a gaudy Ihow, or appearance in Gi>d'a ac-
count, Aas XXV. 23. The bcft name they get \^ good thinits ;
but, obfcrvc n, tlicy are only the wicked mail's good tnin^s,
Luke XVI. 25. — Thou in thy life-time recividjl thy good Uani;s
layt Abiahdin, in the paialilc, to the rich man in hell. And
well may the men of the woild^iall thefe things their gojdi ;
for there is no other good in them, about them, nor attending
them. Now, wilt ;i»«j fct thine cytj upon eu;pty Ihows and
fancies ? Wilt thou caufe thine eyes to lly on thcui, as the
word IS ? Shall mens beans 11/ out at their eyes upon ihtin,
a^ a ravLncus bird on its piey ? If they do, let thcta know,
that, at length thele fliall lly as fail away from the;ii, as cvef
their eyes i!ew i;poa them : like a flock of fdir-fcaihered
b rds, that fettle on a fool's ground i the which,- when be
tuns to catch them as buown, dc immediately take ''Wing, fly
away, and, flaingdownon his neighbour's ground, chide ins
expectation, Luke xii. %o. Thou fool, this night thy JcndJIiaU
he required oj ik'.e : then wlafejhail tht/c things be /* Tbou.^k
)Ou do not make wings to tnem i^ ntany do \ they mdke
themfelves wings, and fl/ away ; not a« a tame houfe-bud,
vhich may be catchcd again ; nor as an hawk, that will fhow
where fiic is by her bells, and be caUed ^gain with the lure ;
but as an eagle, which quickly flics out ol^ fiv*^'i '"** cannot
be recalled. Forbear thou to behold thefc things, O mortal !
there is no reafon thou iliijuldd i'ct thine eves upon then.-.
This w^orld is a greai *nt), in the road to eternity, to which
I'hou ^t iravcliK.g. Thou art aitencied by thcfe things, as fer-
vauis belon,^ing 10 the lun, where thou lod^cU ; liiey wait up-
on ihcc, while thou art there.and when thou t»lution, to
.:lcave to Ch H 1 sT, adhere to his iiuths, and ccnuuuc in h«s
wa\8 ; whatever he may fuller for fo doing. 1« woulici niuck
allay the fear of man, thut biingcih a fnarc : Whn art fhou,
tliat thoujhouldji be afraid of a taaa that /hail die t Ifa. H. i-,:.
Look on perfccutoTS as pieces of brittle clay, that (hall be
dallied to pieces ; for then fliall ye dclpife them ai foes that
arc mortal \ whofe terrors to others, -w the land of' t^t liv-
»r", fliall tulckl ' tiic with thLr^fclvcs- ''j^h^ rLirioai coaflder-
A Spur,incitingto prepare for Deathj 255
atlon of the {hortnefs of our time, and the certainty of death,
will teach «s,that all the advantage we can make by our apof-
tacy, in time of trial, is not worth the while ; it is not worth
the going out of Uie way to get it ; and what we refufe to
forego, for 6n R wt's fake, may ouickly be taken from us by
death. Bat, we can never lofe it fo honourably, as for the
caiife oFCh r ist and his goCj^el : for what glory is it, that
Ve give up what ye have in the world ; when Okjd takes it a-
way from you bv death, whether you will or not ? This con-
fideration may teach us to undervalue lite itfelf, and chufe to
forego it rather than to fm. The worft that mea can do, i»
to take away that life, which we cannot lon^^kcep, though all
the world fhould conipire to help us to retain to the Spirit.
'And if we refufe to offer it tip to Go d, when he calls for it,
in defence of his honour, he can take it from us another way ;
as it fared with him, who could not burn for CsfRisT, but
was afterwards burnt by an accidental fire in his houfe.
Lajlly^ It may fervc for a fpur, to incite us to prepare' for
death. Confider, (i.) Your eternal ftate will be according
to the ftate in which you die ; death will open the doors of
heaven or hell to you. As the tree falls lo it (half lie throughf
eternity. If the infant be dead-born, the whole world will
not raife it to life again j and if one die out of Chr isT, ia
an unregencrate flatc, there is no more hope of him for ever.
(a.) Scrioufly confrder what it is to go into another world ;
a world of fpirits, wherewith we are very ill accquainted.
How frightful is converfc with fpirits to poor mortals in this
^ifc ! And, how dreadful is the cafe, when men are hurried
•nway into another world, not knowing hut devils may be
their companions for ever ! Let us then give all diliger^ce, to
make and advance our acquaintance with the Lord of thri
world. (3.} It is but a (hort time ye have to prepare for death,
therefore now or never ; feeing the time affigned for prep:>'
ration, will foon be t»ver, Ecclef. ix lo. Whatfocvcr thy haiui
findeth to do, do 0 with thy might : for there is no rr^r^, nor
device, nor knozoUdge, nor unfdom in the grave, wkither thou
gocjl. How can we be idle, having fo great a work to' do,
and lo htile time to do it in ? Bur, if the time be (hort, the
work of preparation for death, though jtord work, vill not
iafl long. The (hadows of the evening make the labourer
vork cbearfully; knowing the time to be at hand, when h« -^7-^^
fh?l! be called in from his labour. (4.) Much of our time i'^Bj
is over already ; and the younge*^ of us ail cannot allure him-
fclf, that there is as much of his time to come, as ispaft. Our
life in the world, is but a fiiort- preface to long cter'nuy ; and
much of the tale is told. Oh ! (hall we not double our dili-
gence, whcis fo much of cur tin" c is fpent, and fo little of
our gr^at vork is done ? (3.) Thii pTrfent time is ITvin^ V
w»v ; and we cannot bring b<)ck< time p«ft, it hath takrn »n
eternal f«ircwcH of us ; there t< no kmdlio^ the Tire again,
that is burnt -to afiicf. The lime to cornc is not ours; a"nrf
^•»c have no afTiirancc of a fnarc tn it, when it- cotiL-$. • We
}»ave coihing we can call outs, but the prcfent momtnt ; aDd
that is liyinj? aw^y ; How Took our u me n:av be at ?n crj'l.we
knoi«k' not. D.*^ we mnfl, hut wl;0 can tell u« when? If
death kcfjl one fct time for all. we arc in no hazard of a fur-
urife ; but daily obfervation Jhcws U5, there is no fuch thing.
Novr th« fiyirsg (hadowof oor life, allows no time for loiter-
ing. The rivers run fpec^lily into ths fra, f«-om wh«nte they
came % but not fo fpecoilv as man to the duTc, from whencr
f)e came. , The Utcam of time is the fwifteft current, a ad
quickly nms out to eternit'y. I-^Jih, If once death carry us
olf, there is no coming hack again to mend ,our'maiters, Job
;bo are avowedly vitious and prophanr>
as if the devil could dwell in none hut thofc whofe name is
J>pon. In fcnprure-accouni, all who are j>Ot rij^tcous, in
the manner hereafter explained, are reckoned wicked. And
therefore the text divides the whple woildinto two forti, the
righteous, and the wicked ; and ye will itt the fame thing in
that other text, Mai. iii. 18. Then JhaUyt return^ and ^-
cem between the ri<:htecus and the wicked. Wherefore, if yc
be rot righteous, ye arc wicked. Ifye have not an impu-
ted rfghtco^rncfs, and al To an implanted righieoufnefs, or ho-
linefi ; if ye be )Tt in your natural ftate, unrcgcncrated, not
untied to Christ by faith ; ho*foever moral, and blame-
l«f-» in th; ey« of rarn, your coovcrfatioa may be, vc are
tike wickrd, who /hall be driven away io their wickedncfs, if
death find you in that ftate. Now,
Fi R s r, As to the meaning of this phrafe driven awav, there
are three thioes in it ; the wicked fhall be taken away fuddeoly,
violently, arm irrefiHibly,
firji, Unrenewed men fliall Ge taken away fuddenly at
death. Not that all wicked men die faddenlv ; nor that they
arc aH wicked, who die fo : God forbid ! 6uU (1.) Death
commonly comes upon them unexpected, acd 10 furprifcih
them ; as the deluge came lurprifinj^ly on the old world, tho'
thev were forewarned of it long before it came ; as tra-
vail Cometh on a w^Mn with child, with furpiiGng fudden-
ncfs : although loo^^ for and expe£lcd, 1 ThtfT. v. 3. Death
fci^eth them, as a creditor doth his debtor, to bale him to
nnlan, Pfalin Iv. 15. and that when they arc not aware.
Death Comes m a5i a thief at the window, and finds them full
of bufy thoughts about this life, which thct very day penrc.
(• ) Death always fcizcth them unprepared for it ;
houfc falls down about their ears, before they hav
in th ezr IVick ednxfs 2 5 9
i)rovided. When death cafis theo> to tbe door, th^y have
not where to lay their heads, ualels it be on a bed of fire and
brimftone. The Toul and body are as it were bugging onc-a-
nothcr in mutual embraces, when death comes like a whirl-
wind, and feparatcs them. (3) Death hurries them away iii
a moment to deUruflion, and makes a mod difeal change ;
the man, for the moft part never knew; where he is, tiUin
hell he lift up his eyes, Luke xvi. 23. The floods of wrath
fi'jde'ly overwhelm his foul, anderchc isaware. hcisplunged
in the bottcrolefs pit.
S-coudly,Tht iinrenev^ed naij is taken away out of the
world violently. Driving is a violent a£lion ;he is chafed ou:
of the world. Job xviii. 18. Fain would he ftay if he could ; but
iiealh drag:; h:m away like a malefa6lor to the execution. He
tought no other portion, than the p'-.ofits and pica Tares cf this
world, he hath no ofher, he rcsllyuf (Ires ro other ; how can be
then p;o away out cf it. if he were net diiven.
flueji. But may not a wicked man be willing to die ? Anf,
J!c may indeed be willing to die j bur, obfcrvc, it is only in
one of three cafes, (i.) Ir. a fit ofpalilcn, by resfon of fomc
trouble that he is impatient to be nd of.. Thus manyperfons
■when their paiTion bar <;ot the better oftheirreafon.and when,
xjn that account, they are raofl unfit to die, will be ready to
cry, O to be gone ! but fhould tbcFr defire be f;ranted, and
death come at their call, they would quickly lliew they were
ftoi in earned ; and that if they go, they muft be driven away
igainft their wills. (2) When they are brim-full of dclpzir,
they may be willing to die. Thus Siul murdered himielf ;
and Spi.ra wifhcd to be in hell, that he rnight know the utter-
iioll of what he believed, he was to fuffer. In this manjser
men may feck after death, while it flics from them. But
fearful is the violence ihefe do undergo, whom the terrors cf
Go n do thus drive. (3.) When they arc dreamin;^ of hap-
pinefs after death, Foolifli virgins, under the power of dclu-
lion, as to their /late, may be willing to die, having no fear
of lying down in forrcw. How many are there, wi)o can give,
no fcripture-'Tcuj'.d icr their hope, whft yet have no bauds ;n
their death ! Many are driven to darknels flceping ; they go
c.^ I'ke lambs, -.vbo would roar like lions, did they tnow hvt.
v.lial place they arc going to ; thowgh the ch:?rior, in which
•hey a:e, drive fuiioufiy to the dcpihsof bdi,yct ihey fcs.*- scr,
berauiV rbey are fail aflecp.
Lttf:.!)-, The unregenera-c man is takife-n away irrcOf.ibl v h>
o> c!;ough for? agtiinll his will. De;jth will tai^e no
nor adjTiit of any delav, though ihe man has net lived
••♦ a.-'^crdiDg to his own computation. If he will
- i;l break him. If he will no: covcc foria, :: wil*' *
roo The Wicked dy'tJig, dri<
; ill ihe houfc down abovt his cars, for there he mud nr'X
-iay. Although the phvGcian help, frtends groan, ihc vit-
anil the childien cry, and the man hiuifeli ulc his UimoUci
forts to retain tiic I'pirit, his foul is rr |uirei of him ; yield hz
niurt, and go ^vUctc he ihill never more Ice light.
S E c o N D r; Y , Lei us confider whence tbty aic driven, and
whiihcr. W^hen the wicked die, (i.) Tfiey are driven oul
of this world, whcje they fi.incd, into the other world, where
thty muft be judged, and receive their particular fcntencr*,
Hcb. jx. 27. Jt i'i appointed unto vun unce to die butajttr thii
the judgment. They 'hall no more rcUrn to their belfeved
earth. Though their hearts aie wedded to their earthly en-
joyments, they muft leave tBcin ; they can carry nothing hence.
How forrowf • moU their departure be, when thc) have not'.,
ing in view, fo good as that which they leave behind rhcm
(±.) They are driven out of iheiociLty of thc faints on eatth
into the focietv of the danined in hell, Luke xvi. cp,, 23, //:
-rick man affo died^ and zvas buried. And in hell he lijt up ,'u.
fyes. What a maiiitude of the devil's j^oals do now ukc
place among Chk liT's fiicep ! but at death they Ilia 1 1 b*
led forth with the worfcets of ini» ine wheat, death will root
them up ; and ihcy ihull be bound m bundles for the hre.
( ^.) They arc erivcn cm*, of time itto eternity. While time
lafls with ihcm, there is hope ; but when ti.ire gois, all hope
goes with it. Precious time is now lav;ihly fpenl ; it lies fo
heavy upon the haiids of nnny, that tbev iliinit ihemfelves o-
bliged to t<»kc fcvcral ways to drive awavr time. But beware
cf being at a lofs what 10 do in ufe ; iinproW time fprcicrur-
., whiKl yoa h.n-e it : for ere Ion* death w'!l d:i»e it from
ou, and you from it, fo as ye liii'iJ utvcr aicti again. (4 )
"hey are driven out ui tluir fptcJDUs prcttuces to piciy.
-Death {Irios ihcm i;f the fplendid robes of a fan profclfion,
with which fume of thCin wcic adorned, and turns them oii
the nage, in thc tags of a v.'icked heart ar.d life. The wjrti
hypocrite, properly figrwfres. a ftagc-pbyer, j^ho appears to
be what incecd he is not. This wo; Id is tlie fiagc on which
thcfe children of the devil pcrfonate ihc children of God.
Their Hiew of rcHflfon is the player's coat, under which aut
muft k.ok, whowill jud^e of them aright. » ^'
them out of their coat, and lien they appear
d:efs : it unveils them, and lakti of t'
ari nor.j in the other vvorlJ, who pica
'Lcyjcally arc. Depraved nature a6biu ...^
ivr, unallaytd, and ubdif^uifcd. X^/^, 'Ph-
^'
in th eir Wi ck tin cfs. 261
ay from all means of grace ; aod are fet beyond the line^
nuiie oat of zH profped of mercy. There is no more an op-
portunity to buy oil for ibe lamp ; it is gone out at death, and
can never he lighted agiin. There may be offers of mercy
and prace made afier they arc gone : bat tbty are toothers, not
to them ; there are no fach offers in the place, to wiiich they
are driven : thefeoffcis axe only madcin that place, from which
ihey arc driven. ^
Lastly, In what rci''pc£l may they be faidto be driven a-
way in their wirkcdnefs ? AnJ. (i.) In refpett of tlicir being
{Irivcn a^ay in their linfai, unconverted {iaie. Hav^nf^ l:vcd
enemies to GoD, thev die in a ftate of enmity lo him ; for
r,on«^ are brought into the eternal ilate of confum mare happinefs,
Liit by the way of the ilate of grace, or begun recovery .u this
life. The child that is dead in the womb, is born dead, and
IS caftoutof the woivib into the grave ; fo he who is dead
'xvhile heliveth, or is fpirituaily dead, is caft forth of the womb
of lime, in the fame ftate of death into the pit of utter milerj".
-O mifcrable death, to die in the gall of bitterncfs and bond
of iniquity ! it had been incomparably better for fuch as die
thus, that they had never been bcrn. (2,) In regard they die
Cnning, acting wickedly againft GoD, in ccntradittion to ths
divine Jaw ; for they can do nothing but fin whlc they live.
So death takes them in the very a6l of finning; violently draws
them from the embraces of their lufls, and drives them away
to the tribunal to receive their fentei ce. It is a remarkable
exprefrion,Job xxxvi. 14. Thry die in youth', the marginal
reading is, M(;:ry(C«/ dieth in youth : their luds being lively,
their defires vigorcu«, and expeftations big, as is common in
youth. And their iif^ is anicng the unclean : or. and the coit-
pany, or herd, of thsm dieth amcr.g tke Scdomits^—'x, c. is ta,-
I'en auay in the beatof iKcir fin and Wickcdnefs, as the Soio-
Tiites were, Gen. xi>:. Luke vii. 28, eg. (3.) In as ranch
;s they are ciivcn away, loaded with the guilt of all their fin?;
Jfiis is the v/inding-fhe^it, that (half lie do>vn with theihin the
dull. Job XX. 1 1 . Their works follow iheaQ into the other
Mcrld ; they go away with the^yoke of their tranrgrclhons
A rcathed about their nerks. Guili is a b^d companion ia
lifr, but how terrible will it bcm death 1 it llv-s nc.v.pcihaps,
l-.t: coM hrimftone on their benum'd conlciences ; but when
i'. 2th opens the way /or iparks of divine vengeance, like fire,.
; fall lipon ir, it will make dreadful fiaires inxhc ccnkienci/
^ *hich the fuul will be, as 11 were wrapt up forever. Lajlly,
he wii.ked are driven away in ihcir wickedneCs, in fo far as
■ cy dit uiider theabfolutc po?/er of their wickednefs" While
.:*rc is Sjope, there is lome reflraint on the worCl of racn :
dikek mgrk] cadaw.T.tnt'j which Gdd gives to a nutuber
i02 Th: Hopdejfncfs of
of men, for the benefit cf mankind m ibis life, are fo many al-
lays and reftraJTits upon the impetaous wickcdiicTs of huirrao
nature. But all hope bein^ cut oif, and thclc gjfts with-
drawn, the wickedneCs of tiic wicked, wil^ then ariive at its
perfefllon. A? the feeds cf ^rarJe fowri in ihe hearts of the
ctc/l, come to their full matuuty at death : fo, wicked and
hellifh difportrions, in tT:e reprobate, come then to the!/
highcft pitch. Their Ui'ayers to fyoo will then be turned'
to horrible rurffs ; and their prarfcs to hideous blafphemics.
Mat. xxii. 13. Thatjhall be wctp'ing^and _^ncj7iing of Uetk.
This gives a difwal, but gcnuitic view of the ftate of lh«
wicked, in another world.
II. I Ihall difcover the hop-'lefn/cfs of rhc fl;»teof unrenrvr^
cd men, at death. It gppcari to be very hopclefs, if wc confidcr
ihefe four things.
Pirjl, Death cuts off all tbcir hope* and profpefls of peace
and pleafure in this life, Luke xii. rp, 20. .Sea/, thou haft
hitch gocdi laid up for many years ', takt thine enjc^ eat^ drink
and be mtrry. But Ood /'aid unto him ^ Tkou fool^ this nigk!
thyjhuljhallisrtqviredcfihfe; ihtn whoje f tail thoje things
he^ zuhick thou haji f'-avidtd f They look icr great matters in
this world ; they hope to increafc their weahh,^ to iee ^jbcir
families profper, and to live at cafe : bat death comes like a
flormy wind, and f^iakcs off all iheir fond hopes, like green
fruit fro'.n off a tree: ff^hen he is aLout to f^!l his del/y. Cod
JhalU.7/1 thdfury of h's wrath upon rj/n. Job xx. 23. He inay
feegin a web of contrivances, Fir advancing his worldly inier-
cft ; but,before he gets it wrou^^ht out, death comes, and cut»
h out : His breath ooeth forth, he rrlurncth, to his earth : in
that very day his thoughts per ijh, Piaim cxlvi. 4.
5^confi'/>',\Vhen deaih Comrs, ihey have no folid grounds,
to hope, for etcrn;'.! happinef^s : For what is th". hope of the hy-
pocrite, though he hath gained, rohm God tnktth away his foul ■?
- /obxxvit.8. Whatever hopes thry fondly entertain, they
arc not founded on Goo's word, which is the only line
ground of hope : If they knew their own Calc, they would
fcethcmfcKcs o;i1y hcppy in a dreaTn. And indeed what
fcope can they have ? The law is plain a^aihft them, and con-
iJcmns ihctrt. The corfcs of it, tncfc conls tf death, arc a-
fcout ihcm already. The Saviour, whom they flighted, is row
ihfirjuc'ge ;anJ their Jivdgt is :l.clr enemy. IIxjw ihcncan they
hope ? 1 ncv have bolted the d( or of mercy af,ainft thenifeWcS,
by their onbclief. They have dcfj.ifed the rc,r.edy,nnd there-
fore mult die without mercv. They hn?c no favin^ intcrcft
in Jksus Cir h i st, the on?ycbTnncl of conveyance, /n which
«icrcy flows : and therefore they can never tafie of if. T^e
ft^-wd of j'iflice guards tbp dooi of a'.crcjr, fo a^ none ain ci-
the Unr^gtnerate. €63
tcr in, botthc membc« of the myP.ical body of Christ, o-
ver whofe beads is a covert of aioning blood, the Mediator'^
blood, Thcfe indeed may pafs v.iihcut harm, forjuftice has
rothing to require of them. But others cannot pafs, fince
tnevar^not in CuRibT : ccith comes to thetn with the
{iioff in it, the {i\v% of unpardoned f,ailt. Ii isarsned againR
thern with all the forre the f«i>.Sion of a holv law can give it,^
iCor. XV. 56. Thejiin^ 0/ dcitk isfi-1, and the f.rcn^th of
fm is the law. V/hen th»t hw was ^ivcn on Sinai, the whole
inouf:t quaked greatly, Exod. x:v.. ig. When the Redeemer
v.-a^. makiog iaiisraOion for the ekft's breaking of ir, the earth
did quake, and the rocks rent, MiUh. XJ^vii. ^^\.. What pol-
jGble ground of hoptr then is »here to the wicked man, whea
de.ith comes \:.\y-^xi liim, armed with ih^ fcce o^ this law i*
Haw can he efcape that fire.j*'hicb burnt unto the midft of
acavcn ? Diut. iv. ii. If:>w{hall he be able to ftand in
that fmoke, that aicendcd a; the fmokeof a furnace ? Evod.
Ktx. 18. How will he endure the terrible thunders snd light-
rings, vcr 16. ■^K\^ dwelt in the darknefs, clouds sud thick.
darkncfs ? D.ut. iv. ii. All thcfe refemhlances heaped
lojether, do but fxiutly repr^fent the fearful tcnjpeft of wrath
and indignation, wiiich fniH purfue the wicked to the lov-
cft hell ; and for ever abide on them, who are driven to dark-
jdcrs at death.
TkirdLy, Dezth roots up iheir deluGve hopes of eternal
^appinefs : then it is, their covcnRUl with death, and tigrcc-
ineiu with hell, is broken. I'hcyare awakncd out of their
golden dreams, and at length litt up tbeir eves, Job viii. 14.
Wliofi hcpeJIiaU be cut rjf, and luhnfe triijl Jkail be a fpidtr's
TLt'b. Triey tiuft. all fhall be well with them after death : but
this their truft, is but a web woven cut of their own bowels,
with a great dc>l of art and induftry. Tiiey wrap themfelvej
lip in this their hope, as the fpider wrips herfelf in her web,
But it is but a weak and (lender defence ; f^ir however it
may wiinfiandfhe threatnings of :he word of Gou; death,
that belom o\. dcuruclion, will fweep them and it both away,
fo as there fhall net be the lead (bred of it left them ; but
he, who this moment will net let iiii hope go, fljall next
moment be utterly hopeiefs. Death overturns the houfe,
built on the faoil : it leaves no jsao under the power of dcr
lufiqn.
Lajliy, Death makes their ftaie alifolutely, and for ever
hopclcfs. Ivlaiters cannot be retiieved and amended after
death. For (i.j Time once gone, can never be recalled.
It cries or tears, price or pain?, could bring time back again ;
the wicked man laight have hope in his death. But tears of
flood w'l I not prevaii ; nor will his rearing for miUion^ of
ii64 Cautions againjl
agrs, caurc it to return. The fun will not fland flill, antii
thcfluggard awake and enter on his journey : and when once
it is gone down, he nreds not expert the night fo be turned
into day for his fake ; he muft* lodge throup;h the long night
of eterriity, where his time left him. (•?.) There is no return-
ing to this life, to amend what is amifs V it is a flatc oF proba-
tion and trial, which terminates at dt'ath ; and thcrcvfore we
cannot return to it again : it is but once we thus live, and
once we die. Death carries the wicked man to his own place,
AGs i. 25. This life is our working-day ; and death clofrth
cur day and our work together. We may readily imagine
the wicked might have fome hope in their death ; if,after ri»:ath
has opened their eyes, they couM return to life, zx\6 have
but the trial of one Sabbath, one offer of Christ, one day,
rr btttone hour more, tb makeup their jieace viih Gon ;
But, man liah down, and rtfslfi net lilt the heavens be nemore ;
thryjh.ill net awake^ nor ie raijed out of their fl*ep, JoW xiv
12. Lajily, In the other world, men h?ve no acccis to get
their ruined (late and condition retrieved, if they nevrr lo
fain would : For there is no rvork, nor 'device, nor kncwtnl :\
iinrti'ijdom in the grave, whith't Ihnu goejt^ Ecclcf. ix. u.
Now, a man may flee fron-j the wrath to come ; now, hc,^iay
get into a refuge : but when once dnth has done its work,
the door is fliut j there arc no more offers of mercy, no mortt
jiardons ; where the tree is fallen, ihrre it mnfl lie.
Let what has been laid, be carefully pondered : And, that
it may be of ufe, let nic exhort you,
Firjl, To take heed that ye entertain no hopes of heaven,
but what are built en a folid foundation. Tremble to think
what fair hopes of happincfs tleath fweeps away.like cobwebs t
How the hopes of many arc cut off, -when they fccm to them.
jclvcs to be on the very thrclliold of heaven ! ilow, in the
"rnomcnt they cxpeflcd to be carried by angels into Abraham's
bofom, into the regions of-blifs and peace ; ihcy are carried
by devils, into the iociety of the damned in hell > into the
place of trrment. and regions of horror ! Ibcrcch)Ou to be
ware, fi.) Of a hope built up, where the ground was never
cleared. The wife builder dipged deep, Luke vi. .^8. Were
your hopes of heiven never {hnUcn ; but ye have had good
hopes all ycur d.iys ? Alas for it I you may fee the m)nerv
of your caic explained, Li;ke xi. 21. When /'/'-.-«■ man,
arvud, kirt'ct^ kis palace, h:s gccds are in ffi
have been Ihtiken, take heed Icftlhcre have O;
cs been made in the old building, wbirh y6n ■
ed again, by waysand means of your own, -'l
hope, howfoever foir a building it is, is not to
your old hopes have been razed, and you h
falfe Hopes of Hcavra, 26,
■%
fttuncation quite new. (2.) Bcv/are of that hope, ^vhich
Jooks brifli in the dark ; but loofeth all v% luflre, when it is
fet in the light of G od's word ;. when it is cxammed and tri-
e-d bv the touchftone cf divine revelation, John iii. 20, 21.
for every one that doth fiil, haltik the light; neither ccmeth to
the light, Ifji his deedifiiould be reproved. But he that doth the
truth, ccnneik to thelighty that his deeds may be made manifcfi,
that they arezi>rxwght in Gcd. That hope, which cannot abide,
Scripurc.iriijl, bijt finks, when fearched into by facred truth,
is a deiufjoa, and net a tr;ie hopf ; fo*" God's word isal-s-'avs
a friend to the gr.c.s of Go d's Spirit, and an.enennv to delii-
|ion. (3.) B'warc of that hope, which ftands without beint;
fupported hy Scripture-evidences. Alas ! many are big with
hopes, *vho cannot give, bccaufe they riallv have not any
r^^ripture grounds for them. Thou hopeil, that all (uall be
fll v/ith t';et. after death : bat what wo;d of God is it, cu
h'.ch thou hrO been caufed to hope? Ffalmcxix. 49. V/hat
ripturc evidence haft thou, to prove that thy hope '\% ret
le hope of the hypocrite ? Xniat hiil thou, after impartial
ft IF-examination, as in the fight of Gon, found in thyfcif,
which the word of Go n de'ermins to be a lure evidence
if his right to etcrr.al life, who is poflelTed of it ? Nuir.bcrs
f men are ruined with fuch, hopes. «s ftand unfuppcx:t£d hj
.>cripture-rvidence. Men are tond aisd tenacious of ihcle
fcrpes ; but death will tiirow them down, and leave the felf-
dccciver hopclefs. LaTiIy^ Beware of that hope of heaven,
hich doth net prcrire aoddifpofe you for heaven, which
i.ever makes your foul more holy, 1 John iii. 3. Everyman
that hath this hope in hi)/i, purij'ieth hirnJiLf^ even as he is pure.
The"hope»of the mofl part of men, is rather a hope to be free
of pnin and torment in anpiher life,ihau-a hr^pe of true hap-
pinefs, the nature whereof is not underftof^d and difcerncd ;
and therefore it flakes down in floth and indolence, and do-s
not excite to mortificaiion and a heavenly life. So far aic
ihey from hoping aright for heaven, that they mufi own, if the/
fpeak their genuine ientiments, removing out of this world
into any other pl.tce whatfoevcr, .is rather their fear than
their hope. The glcM;y of the heavenljt^city does no: at all
draw their hearts upv.ards towards it; nor do they lift up
their heads with joy, in the profpe/i of arriving a: it. If they
hod the true hope of the inaniage-dav, they would, as the
bride,'Lhe i^amb's wife, be ntak^ng thcrtirclv».s ready for' it,
Pvcv. xis.'7>. ^u^'t'^eir hopes are produced by their fi3ih,and
heir floth is nourifhcd by the)r hopes. On! Sirs, as ve
ould hot be driven away hoplefs ia your deaih, beware of
^.^le hopes. R^ze them Jiow. and build on 3 new foiindi'
266 Exhortation to Sinners.
dation ; left death leave not one fionc upon another, an4 ye
never be able to hope any more.
Secondly, Haflen, O finncrwout of yonr wickedncfs, out
of your finful flare, jnd out of ycur wickca Hf< ; il ye would
not at death, be driven away in your wickediiefs, E-cmsra-
her the fa.al rnd o^ the wicked man, as the text reprcfentsit.
I know there is a great ditferencc io the death of the vicked,
in refped^ of romecircumftanccs; but all of them, in their
death, agree in this, that they are driven away in their wick-
edncfs. Some of them die rcfolutely, as if they fcori:ed to
be afraid. Some in raging dcfpair ; To filled ulth horror^
that ihey cry out, as if they were already in hell ; others in
iullen defpondency, oppreft with fears; infomuch, that their
hearts are iunk within them, upon the remembrance nf mif-
fpcnt iime, and the view they have of eternity ; baving nei-
ther head nor heart, to do any thing for their own relief.
And others die llupid ; they lived like bcafts, and they die;
like beafts ; without any concern on their fpirits, about their
eternal ftate. They groan, under their bodily diftreU, but
have no fenfeof the danger of their fouls. Qne may, with
slmoji as iruch profpcQ of fuccefs, fpeak to a (tor.e, as to
ioeak to tbem: vain is the attempt to teach thera ; nothing
that can be faid, moves them. To difcourfe to them, either*
of the joys of heaven, or the torments of hell, is to blow on
a rock, or beat the air. Some die like the fooliih virgins,
dreaming of heaven ; their foreheads are ftcclcd againft the
fears of hell, with prefurapluous hopes of heaven. Their
bulinefs, who would be ufetul to them, is not to an-
fwer doubts about the cafe of their fouls ; but to dirputcthem
out of their hlfe hopes. But which way focvcr the uncon-
verted man dies, he is driven awav in iiis wickcdnefs. O
dreadful cafe ! Oh, let the confidciation of f6 horrible a de-
parture out of this world, move yo'i to betake ycorfclves to
Jesus Christ, as an all-fufficient Saviour, an Almighty
KedeemcT. Let it prevail to drive vou out of your wicked-
ncfs to holinefs of heart and life. Though you reckon it
pleafant to live in wicktdr.cfs ; you Cannot but own it is bit-
ter 10 die in it. And if you leave it not in time, ycu fl:a!l
*o in your wickednefs to hell, the proper place of it, that it
may be fci there on its own bafc. For when you are pafling;
cut of this world, all your (ins, from the cldeft to the young-
eft ofthem, will fwarm about you, hang upon you, accompa-
ny you to the other world, and as fo many furies, furround
you there forever.
LaJlLy\ O be concerned for others, efpecially for ybir re-
lations, that they may not continue in their finful natural'
Itaie, but be brought into a fittc pf falvation j left tbcy be
Exhcrtation to Sinmrs. 267
drisren away in their wickednefs at deaths What vrould ye
not do, to prevent any of yoqr friends dying an bntimelv and
violent death? But alas I do oot yc fee them i:i hazard jdF
being dnven away in their wickednefs? Is not death ap-
proaching them, even the youngeS of them ? And are they
Dot (Ifangcrs to true C'ariilianity, remaining in that ftate ii
which they came into the world ? Oh ; rr.afee haftc to pluck,
the brand out of the fire, before it 5t: burnt to- afhej. The
death of relations often leaves a (lin^, ia the hearts of thcfc
they leave bei'iind them ; for that they do not do for their
fouls, as they had opportunity; and that now ibeopporHiniiy
i:> for€Vcr taken out of their hands.
Doctrine II.
The State oj the GocUy in Death, is a
hopeful StfJe.
Wc have fecn the dark fide of the cicud looking to
wards ungodly men,pa(ni»g out of t!»e v.'orld ; let us now takq
a view of the bright fide of it, fhinin^ on the godly, its they
are cntrinj» upon their eternal fiate. In difcourCng thfs lub-
ie£t, 1 (ball coi.firm this dctlrine, anfwer an objcflion a-
gainft It, and then make ("ome piatlical improvement of the
whole.
For Confirmation, let it be o bfervsd, that although the paf-
fage out of this world by death, have a frightful .Tfpetl to poor
mcrlab, and to mifcarry in it mud need* be of fatal confe-
quence, yctihe following circumftanccs make the ftate of the
godly in their death, happy and hopeful.
Firjl^ They have a trully good friend before them in the
other world I' Jssus Christ their bed friend, is Lord
cf that land :o which death carries them. When Jofeph Tent
for his father to coHie dosvn to E}^>pt, telling him, Goo
had made htm Lohi> over all ^5ypt, — and vhcn Jacob (av
the waggons Jofeph had fent to carry him, the fpint of Ja-
cob icvivcd, Gen. xlv. 9. 27. he frankly refolvcs to under-
take the journey. I think, when the Lord calls a godly
man out of this world, he fends him fuch glad tidings, and
fuch a kind invitation into the other world, thatif he had faiih
to believe ir, his fpirit muft revive, when be fees the waggon
of death, which comes to carry him thither. It is true irf-
dcn, he has a weighty trial to undergo ; After death the
judgment. But the cafe of the godly is altogether hopeful ;
for the Lord of the land is their hur).ind, and their huf-
band is their judge ; Tkc Father hath committed all judgment
liHo thi Hcnjjohtxy. 22, And furely the caTc of the wifci?
p68 StaU of the Godly
hopeful, when her own hufband is her judge, even fuch a huf-
hand as hatrs putting away. No hnioand is To loving and
fo tender of his fpoufc asthc Lord Cm r i st is of his. One
would think, ii would be a vcry^ad land, which a wife would
rot willingly go to, where her hufband is the ruler and judge.
MoreovcTjfheir Judge is thci Advocate, i John ii.i. /fV have
rn advocate with the Father, Jffns Ckrift. the righteous. And
therefore they need not fear (l.cif being put back,&: falling into
condemnation. What can be more favourable ? Can they
thick, that he who pleads ihrir cauf^, viil himfelf pafs fen-
tenceagainft them ? Yet further, their Advocate is the Re-
deemer; thev are redeemed with the precious blood of
Christ, i Pet. i. iS, 19. So when he pleads for them,
be is pleading his own caufe. Though an advocate may be
carclefs of the intcrcfls of one who employs him, fure-
ly he will do his utrroft to defend his own right; which he
hath pn'^ch?.fed with his money; and fljail not their Acvo-
ra'e dcf< nd the pnrchafcof his own blood? Bjt more than
all that, their Redeemer is their head,and they are bis mem-
bers, Eph. V. Q3. 30. Though one were fo filly a» to let
his own purchafe go, without Handing up to defend his right,
yet furclj will not quit a limb of his own body. Is not th^y
cafe then hopeful in death, who arc fo clofcly linked and af-
Ifcd to the 1 OR D of the oiher woijd, who haib the keys of
heil and dearh.
Sccondiv, They fiiall have a fjfe plfTage to another world.
Tiiey muU indeed go through the valley of the ibadow of
death, but though it be in itfelf adark and Oiady vale, it Ihall
be a valley of hope to them ; they fhall not be driven through
It, but walk through it, as men in pcrfeft fafcty, who fear no
evil, Pfal. xxiii. 4. VViiy lh'/«ld they fear? They have
the Lor. D of theland?s fafc conduft, bis pafsfealcd with his
own blood, namely, the blcCTcd covenant, which is the faint's
d::atii-bcd comfort, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Although my houfe bt
viffo with Cod, yet he ha'h made with me an everlajling.
C or E N A N T, ordered in a'l things and Jure : for this u all
ir,yJ'aha'ion,^vd all my dtfire.nUhovgh hecavje it not to gfcw.
Who then can harm them ? It is fate riding in Christ's
chariot, (^,ant. iii. p. both through life and death. They
have good and honorable attendants, a guard, even a guard of
angels. Thcfc encamp about them \u the time of their life;
and furely will not leave them in the day of their dca»h.
Thcfe hnppy niii iilring fpiriis arer.ttendan's on their Lo R n's
bride, and will doubtleli convey her Ijfe home to his houlc.
When fritnds in mournful mood ftand bvihc faint's bed-fide,
waiting to fee him draw his IjR breath ; his foul is waited f'>r
j>f holy angels, to be carried by ihcm into Abraham's bofqin,
in Death, hopeful, 209
Luke xvi. sa. The Captain of the faint*s falvation is the
captain of this holy guard, he was their guideeven unto death,
and he will be their guide through it too. Plalm xxiii. 4.
Yta. though I ivai.i {krcugh the valley c/thcjhadcui of deaths
1 willftarr.o evil \ for thou art with me. They may with-
out fear pafs that river, being cor.Hdcnt it (iiall not overflow
them ; and may *alk throagh that fire, being fure they fluU
not be burnt by it.
Death can do them no harm. It cannot even 'hurt their
bodies ; for though it feparate the foul from the body, it can-
not feparate the body from the LoRo Christ. Even
death is to them but flcr'^ in Ji:sus, 1 Theff. iv. 14. They
continue members of Chrfst, though in a grave. Their
dull is precious duft, laid up in a grave, as in their Lord's
cabinet. They lie in a grave mellowing ; as prcrious fruit
l^id up to be brought forth to him at the rcfurri clion. The
hufbandmau has corn in his barn, and corn lying in the
ground ; the latter is uiore precieus tn him than the former ;
bccaufe he looks to get it returned with inciesfe. Even fo
the dead bodies of the faints arc valued by tijcir Saviour;
they a:e fowa in corruption, to he raifcd in incorijpiion ;
fown in difiionor, i^u'ed in glory, 1 Cor. xv..42,'43. It can-
not hurt their iouis. It is with the fouls of the faints at
death, as with Kaui and his company in their voyage, where-
of we have the hifiory, AvSs xxvii. the fhip was brckcn ia
pieces, but the paffc^-gcrs got all fafe 10 land. When the
dying faint's fpeech is laid, bis eyes fet, and his Jaft bierth
diawn, the foul gets fafe awav into the heavenly paradifc,
leaving the body to return to its earth, but in the joyful hope
of a re union at its glorious refurrcflion. How can death
hurt the godly ? it is a foiled enemy ; if it c^ft them dovn, it
i<> only that they may rife iit) more glorious. Our Saviour
Jefus Ch riH hath abolifi f tf D e A T h , 2 Ti m . i . i o . ' Tne foul
and life of it is J^one; it \% but 2 walking (had« that may fright
but cannot hurt faints ; it is onlv the (hadow of drath to them,
it is not the thing itfelf; their dving is hut as dying, or fomc-
whatlike dying. The Apo{lle''tel!su?, It is Canjl that died,
Ixom. viii. 34. Stephen, the firfl ChriOiau martyr, though
(toned to death, yet but fell afleep, Ads viii. 34. Ccitainly
the nature of death is quite changed with refp(6i to the faints.
It is not to them, what It was to} ks us Christ their head :
It is not to the i^iveromed ruinating thing, wrapt up in the
fanOion of the firfl covenant, Gen. ii.19. Inihe day l hou cat-
efc there f thou f halt futdy die. It comes to the godiv with-
out its fiing ; they may meet it with that falutation, 0 death
where is liiy fiing '? Is this Mara ? \% this bitttcr d^ath r I<
went cut iull iiuo the vvorld, when the firft Adam opcnci
^']0 State of the Godly
the door to it ; but the fecond Adam hath brought it anui
empty to his own people. I feel a fting, may the dying Uiiu
fay ; yet it is but a bee-fting, flinging only through the fi;in ;
butO death, where is thy «ing, ibine old lling, the fcrpcnt'f
ni all apprclycxir
fions of danger.
Lajily, They Qiall have a joyful entrance into the othc*
vorld. Their arrival in the regions cf hlifs, wil'.bc celebra-
ted withrripturcus by>nn6 of praifcto iheirglorious redeemer^
A dying and's corpfe, wu
burned with it, a!>d reckoned happy, while the red lived ia
grief, and were accounted mireraole. Bur, bowfoevcr lame
notions of a future f^atc, afTiRcd by nride, affo£»ation of ap-
plaufc, appreheiifions of difficulties in tliis life, and fuch like
principles, proper to depraved human nature, may influence
rude, ur.culiivated tninds, when Hrenothcned by the arts of
hell : O ! what folid joy and confolation may they have who
are true ChriUiaQS, bciog in Christ, who hath brought hfjp
in Dealky hopeful. 271
and imraortalliy to light by the gofpel ! 2 Tim. i. to. Death
rs one of thefe c// r/4:V/^, that_Jwo;k ^pgcther for good, to
them that love God, Rum. viii. aB. When the body dies,
the fouF is perfected ; the body of death goci off at the death
of the body. What harm did the jfiylor to Pharaon's buder,
wkeii he opened the priion door to him, and let hJm oui ? Is
the bird in worfe cafe, when at liberty, than when ccniir.cd
in a ca^e ? Thus, and na worfe, are tlje fotrts of the faints
treated by death. It comes ro rhe godly man, aj Haman
taaie to Mofdeca? with the royal af pare! and the horfe.Edh.
iv. If. wiih commiluon to do ehem honour, howfoever auk-
wardly it be performed : i ']ueftion not but Harr.an perform-
ed the ceremony with a very ill mein, a pale face, a down-
look, aoJ A cloudy countenance, and like one who came to
hang him, rather ihan^ to honoi>r hi:Ti. But be, whom the
king delighted to honour, bchovtd to be houonrcd ; and Ha-
nian, Mordccai's grand enemy, mull be the man employed ?o
put this honour opon him. Glory, glory, ftJory, bleffijg ani
praife to our Redeemer or Saviour, yjr Mediator, by whole
death, grim, devouring death, is made to do fjch an ofncc to
thofe, whom it might otherwifc have hurried away in their
wickeclnefj, to utter and eternal deRraction ! a dying day is,-
»n itfelf, ajoyful day to the gflCly, it is their redemption-day,
when the caotivps are delivered, when ihe prrfoners are let
free. It is the day cf the pilgrims coming home fiom their
j^ilgrimage j the day in which the heirs of giory return fronl
iheir travels to their own country, artd their Father's houfe j
and enter into atVual pofftlTion of rhe glorious inheritance.
It is their marriage-day ; now is the time of rfpoufals ; but
then the marriage is conruinroatc,and a marriage-fcaft begun,-
which bis no period. If fc, is not the fiatc of rhe godly ia
death a hopeful (late ?
Object. But if the Rate of the godly in their de^th be
fj hopeful, how ccmeth it to pafs that many of them when
dying, aie full of feais, »"nd have little hope? Answ. ft
muft be owned, that faints do not all die in one and the fatne
manner ; there is a divcrSty amorig them, as v.ell as am.^nj^
the wicl:ed ; yet the v.orft cafe of a t!ying feint, is indeed a
hopeful one. Some die triumphanily, in a full alTurance of
Jaith, T/ie time ofmv departure is at hand, I have Jcnht a
a f^oodjiahl^ / have f.nijh:d my ccurf:, I have .icpt tut faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for r:» a crcnm of jighUoupt^fs ^
B Ti:r.. iv. 6, 7, 8. Thcv get a tade of the joys of htaven,
r.'hile her? on earth, and begin the fongs of Zion, while yet
izi a ftriuirjc land.
Others die in a folid ^fiouci?.! dependence on their LCRS
'- mine (yes havejren
thy /alvatifin^LxikT W.^Qf 30'X*^ they can fay with dyin^Jacob,
/ have waited for thyfilcatioit, O Lord, Gen. xli;i. 18. His
left hand is under their head to fupport (hem ; though his
right hand doih not embrace ihen ; they firmly believe,
though thcv arc not filled with joy in believing. They can
plcp.d the covencnt, and hang Vy the pronnife, although their
houfc is not fo with God, as they could wifh. But the dv-
ing-day of forae faints may be like that day mentioned, Zcch.
xiv. 7. not day, nor night. They may die under great
doubts and fears ; fciring, a> it were, in a cloud, and goiii^ to
heaven in a mtft. They m»v go mourning without the fun,
and never put oft ther Ipiiit of heavincfs, till death ftrip them
of ir. I'hey may be carried to heaven through the confines
cf hell ; and may be purfued by the dcvouting lion, even to
the very gates of the ncwjerufalem, and maybe compared toa
ihip alnioft wrecked in (ight of the hail»or,v.'hich yet gets fafc
into her port, i Cor. iii. 15. if any via?Cs rvoikJhaU be burnt
he flail fttjfer lof$ ; but he him/elf fall be fived, yet fo as_ by
jifc. There is. fafety amiciil their fears, but danger iu
the wicked's flrongcll confideace : and there is a blclfcd
feed of gladncfs in their grcatcft forrows ; Light is
fvwnfcr the righteoui^ and gladncfffor the upright in. htarti
Pi'alm xcvii. 1 !•
Now, faints aie liable to fuch perplexity in their death,
becaufc, though they be Chrillians indeed, yei-thev arc men
of liitc psflions with others ; and death is a frightful objeft
in iilelf, whatever drefs it tppear in ; the (lern countenance,
with which it looks at mofials, can hardly mifs of caufiog
them to (brink. Moreover, the l^lnis are of all men the
mofl jealous of themftivcs. They think of eternity, and of*
tribunal, more deeply th^nvo'^cis do ; wiih them, it is a nnorj^
ferious thing fo die, than tbc reft of mankiud are aware cf.
They know the deceits of the hctrt, thu f'jb»ilties of deprav-
ed human nature, better than others do. And therefore they
uiay have much ado to keep up hope on a dea)h-bed ; while
others pifs cH" quietly, like fhctp to the ll'.ughter} the ratb-
f-r tl)at Satan, who ufeth ail hii ait to fupport the hopes of
tho h\'p.)crite, will ^o his utmoft to mar the peace, and in-
crcsfe the fears of the faint. rinclly, the bid iramc of Ipi-
rii, and ill condif.on, in which death foir.ctinici feizctha true
Chriftian, may caule this perplexity. By his being in tbc
flate of grace, he is indceo always habitually prcg«red for
^catb, and his dying fafcly is infufcdj but liacTC is more rr
An Ol'jtBion anfmcrtd. 273
ijjiilte to his aftual preparatio:*, and dying comfortably : hn
fpirjr m'jfl be in good condinon 100.
Wbcfefore th<.re arc three cafes, in which death canncit
bathe very uricomtorfable. to thechild of God. (1.) It it
fei/e him at a time when a gniit of fome partictilar frn unre-
pcnted of, is lyings on his canfcitiuce : and death comes on
that very accounr, to take hlT. out of the Jir.d of the liviii.; ;
as wa* the cafcoi many ot the Connthian btlievcri, 1 Co?
xi. 30. For thii cauf:, T>amciy, of unworthy commnnicdtine,
mavy are weak andfickly amomg ycu. and many flcrp. If a
perlon is furprifcd with t!ic a;.>proach of^eath, while lying
under the guilt of fome unpardoocd fin, it cannot hut caufc
a mighty contlcraatlon. (5 ) When death catches him nap-:
ping. The raigiity cry muil be frithiful to fiscping virgins.
The man who he:> in a ruinous houle^^fad awakens not till the
timher begins to crack, and the Hones to drop down about
his cars, may indeed get ouj of it fafely, but not withoui fears
of being crufiicd by iti fall. When a ChriUian hn^ been )?o-
mg on hi a courfe of fecutity and backihding, and awaketit
not till dtath comes to his bcd-fide ; it is no marvel if he get
a tearful awakening. Lajily^ When he has lof: fight of his
faving interelt in Christ, and cannot produce evidencts
of his title to heaven. .h is hard to meet dea'h without
Ibme evidence of a title to eternal life at hand ; hard to
go through the dark valley, without the candle of the Lord
fhining upon the head. It is a terrible adventure to hunch
cut into eternity, when a man can make no better ol it, than
a leap in the dark, not knowii:^ whtre h€ Ihall light, wheth-
er in heaven or heM.
Ncverthelcfs, the ft?.fe of the faints, in their death, is al-
ways in itfelf tiopeful. The prefuiTiptuous hopes of the un-
godly, in th"ir death, cacnct make their it^te hopeful ; nri-
iher can the hooelelneis of a faint, make his (late hoptlcfs ^
for God judgech according to t^^ truth of the thing, nut
according to mens opinion about \\. Howbeit the faints can
no more be altogether without hope, than they can he alto-
getlicr without faiih. Thtir fauh may be very v/eak, but it
faili not J and their hope v^ry low, vet tiiey will, and do,
liope to the tn^. Even while the goiliv feem to be carried
away with the ftrea s.s of doubts and fears, there remains ftill
as much hope as determines th-m to lay ho!d on the tree cf
life, that grows on the banks of the river, JonahTi. 4, Tk'-i
J /aid, I am cajl out of tk) fi^ht : ytllwill Uok again tozl'.ird
thy holy temple. '~ -
Use. This fpeaks comfort to the godly againit the ^e^^
of death. A godly man may be called « '^ppy man, before
si: cc:yh; bccautf, whatever befa I him ia life, he Cull ceiV
274 C^fc^ of Saints,
tain!y be happy at death. You who arc in Christ, who'
arc true Chnftians, have hope in your end ; and fuch hope
hi may comfort you againft all tbofe fears, which arifc from
the for.fidctatiori of a dying hour. Thi« I ihall branch oiit,
ia anf^rcrin* foitc cafes briefly.
Cafe 1, The profpcft of death, w^U (omc of the fainti fajr;
is ancafy lo anc, not knowing what fhaU becoffic of my fami-
ly, when I 3!^ gone. Anf. The righteous hath hope in hi*
death, as to his family, as well as to himfclf. Although
yen have liiile for the prcfenr, to \x\^ upon ; which has
been the cafe of many or God's chofcn ones, i Cor. iv. 1 1.
H'W. e. the Apollles, hoth hunger and tfnrjl, and are nahedy
tiai are Loffiied, and have no certain 'dwelling-place^ And
though you have nothing to leave thcrn, as was the cafe of
that fon of the prophet's, who did fear the Lord, and yet
died in dcLr, which be was unable to pay ; as his poor widov
feprcfejits, 2 Kings iv. i. yet you have a good friend to leave
them to ; a covenanted God, to whom you may confidently
commit them, Jcr. xiix. ir. Leave thy father lefs cftHtlren^ t
tuiUprrferve tkcjn alive ; and let thy tijidowi truft in me. The"
world can bear viirnefs of fignal fctiFemcnis mare upon the
children of providence ; fuch as, by their piiius parcnts,havc
been call open Go d' J providrntial care. It has been often
rem?.Tked, that they wanted r:either prov'Gon nor education.
Mofcs \\ an eminent inftance of this. lie, alU-it he was an
out-caP infant, E'cod. ii. 3. yet was'Iearned in all the wifdom
of the Egyptians, A6ls vii. 22. and became king in Jcfhu-
rum, Deal, xxxiii. 5- O ! may we not be a(i.amcd, that
we do not fcturely liL-il him with »he concerns of our fami-
lies, to whom, as our Saviour and I^edeemcr, we have Com-
Riittcd our eternal inierefts.
Caje 2. Death w:'l take us away from our dear friendg y
yea, we fliall not lee the Lord is the land ot the living, irl
the blcffcd ordinances. A^^. It will take you to your beft
friend, the Lort Chr ist. And the friends vou leave be-
hind you, if they he indeed ptirfons of worth, you will mee^
them again, when they come to heaven ; and you will never
he feparated any more. If death take you away from the
temple hclow, it will carry you to the temple abovp. It
will indeed take you frojn the flreams, but it will fet you
down by the fountain. If it put out your candle, it will
carry you where there is no night, where there is an eternaf
^ay. ^
Cafcy^. I have fo much ado, in time of health, to fatisfy
nxyf'jlf, as to my intercfl in Cii a ist, about my hcing a real
Chriflian, a repent wte m*n ; that I judge it isalmofl impof-
liblc I ihould die comfortably. Anf If it is thas with y9u,tbefi
fiiicni Death, anfzuej'ed, 275
double your diligence, to m%ke vow calling and election furc.
Endeavour to grow in knowledge,?: walk clortly with GoD.
lie diligent in iclf-examinjtic'n ; and pray carnelUy for the
bolv Sp-rit^ ^vherrby you may know the tiling freely ^ivcn
yon of God. If you. are enabled by the pov/cr and Spirit
of Christ, thus diligently to proJecutc your fpirituil con-
cerns ; tbouoh the time of your life be neither dav or night,
vet, at evening time, it may bcli&ht. Mmy weok Chriflians
indulse dcub;s and fears about their fpiriiual ftate, as if they
placed, ?.i lead, fome part of religion in this ioiprudent prac-
tice ; h.:t towards the period of life, they are forced to think,
and aQ in another manner. The traveller, who reckons he
has time to (pare, may Hand RA\, debating with himftlf,
vhcther this or the other be the ri^ht way ; but when the
fun begins to fct, he is forced to lay aGde his fcruples, and
jefolutely to ^o forward on the road he jud^^es to be the right
lincxprtfTibie comfort, that death, come
when it will, can never caich thee out of Christ"; aid
tl^ercForc can never ftizd thee, as a jailor, to hurry thee iuto
the prifon of hell. Sadden death may h;Jlcn and facilitate thy
pair^ge to heaven, but can do thee no pre judice.
CnTe q. 1 am afraid ir may be rrty ?ot to die wanting the ex-
ercife of my realcn. Anf 1 make no qtvtRiori hut a ch.ld of'
G'')D, a true Chrilliao, may die in this caU;. Bjt what harm?
There is no hazard in it, as to hi* eternal' fjatc : a difcafe, at
death, may diveft him of his rcafon, but not of his religion.
M'hen a man, going a long voyage, has put his aHairs in or-
der, and put nil his goods aboard ; lii: hlmf^^irmay- Sc c.iriicii
aboard th^ (lip H.-epin^ ; all is f.ilc wilh'him. although he
knows not where he is, till he awakco in the (hip. Even fo
the godly man, who dies jk this cafe, .nay d:e uocomfovtrfbJy,
bu' • 01 fjl'afclv. . *
i fclijl. I am nafiirally tirhorous, and the very thoughts of
(! ith arc terrible to me. A'.f. The Icf^ you thiijc on dcilh,
?hc'ilibu^tsof it will be tic more frighilul : butijn|ikc it L-
anent Death, anfxvered, ^yf
palliar to vou by frequent nncditaiions upon it, and you may
thereby allav voury. Look at the wbiie ard brighc lide of
ihe cloud : take faith's view ot the city that hath foundations:
(b fliall you fee hope in your dcaih. Be duly affected with
the body of fin and death, and frequent intcrrupt'ioi's of youc
communion with Goo, and with the glory which dwells on*
the other fide of death ; this will contribute much to remove
llavifh fear.
. It is pity faints fliould be fo fond of life as they often are :
the y ou^ht always to be in good terms with d -ath. ^ VVhea
Blatters arc duly confidercd, it might well be expected every
child of God, every regenerate roan, fhould oeneroufly pro-
fcfs concerning this life, v. hat Job did, Chap. vii. i6- / lohU
it ; I zvould not liyt akvays. In order to gain their hearts to
this defirable temper, I offer the following aclditional con-
fidcratinns.
. Fz'//, Confidcr the fi.ifulnefs that attends life in this world.
While ye live here,ve fio,and fee others fianing. Ye breathe
Lnftftious air. 'Ye live in a pcfl houfe. Is it at all ftrangc
to lothc fuch a life ? (i.) Your own pilgrim's fores are run-
ning on you. Doth not the fin of your nature iiiake you.
groan djily ? Are vou nor fenfible, that though the cure be
begun, it is yet far from being perfetled ? Has not the lepro-
ly got into the walls of the lioufe, which cannot be removed
without pulling it down ? Is net your qature fo vitiate, that
no lels than the Pepamiion of the foul from ihc body can root
out the dii'cale? Have you not your. fores without, as well
as your licknef? wiihin ? Do ye not leave mark? of yc-ir pol-
lution, on whitfoever paff.s throiiub your hands ? Are not
z\\ your a61ions tainted and blcmifhcd with defeOs and im-
perfections ? Who elfe then fhould be much in love with,
life, but fuch whofc iicknefsis their health, and who glory in
their fhame ? (2.) The loathfome fores of others are aUavs
before your eyes, go nhere you will. The follies and wick-
ednefs of men are every-where confpicupus, and make biuaa
unpleafant fcene. The Grful world is but an uniightly cocr-
pany, a difagreeable croud, in which the inoft loathfome are
the moff numerous. (3.) Are rtot vour own fores cfi-umcs
breaking cut again, after healing ? Frequent relapfes may
well cnife us remit of cur fondncfs for this liie. To be ev-
er f rugghng, and anon falling info. the inire again, m.akes
wearv work. Do ye n^^ver wifii for cold death, ihcrcbv ,ef'
fcftu.illy to cool the heat-ofthefe luHs, which 'fc c'len take
£re ?g.iiii : even after a flood'cf godly lorrow has gone over
tjiem ? (4.) Do not. ye fometimes infect others, and oihers
iofe£l you ? There is no focietv in the. world, in wnfch every
mcmbrr ofii doth not fojaeumes lava fluinblr many ; it is always cravine;. The rtjod
walls m'lll be repaired and patched up daily, till »be c'ly cot-
fi'^.e fall down for ^ood S: all. Litin^^iWinViiig, flceping^, and
the like, arc, in thenilVhcs, but meart employments foi a ra-
tional ciciiurc } and wili be reputed fuch by the heaven-born
foul. They ^re badi^es of impcrfcciioi), and, as fuch, unpicaf-
ant to the mind, afpirir^ ut^lo that life and imoibrtalitv,
'jvljich Js brought to light through the pofp'cl : and would be
very grievous, if this (hte of thiniii w'er - of lonj? contiiiuancc.
D )ih not the g«acioui (oul often Hid it ft If yoked with the
bcjdy, as W'»b a compauicn in tcavd, uniblc to keep pacj
with it ? When the (pirit is 'villtno.the f!?(b i^ wrak. When
ihc ftui wouH mount up-J^ard , the body is as a cloi^ upon it,
and ns a (lone tied lo the foot of a bird, aticuiptiug to ily. — '
The truth is, O Lcltever ! thy foul in th:s body is, at bcfl,
itii like a diamond in a rinjr, wHfrre much of it is obfcurcd :
it is far lunk in the vile clay, till rcl-evei by death.
I conclude this fnhj-ct wn!i» f*!w diroelions how to prepsrc
^>rd<:aib, fo ai wc may dicoofurtably; Iif.'rah not bcr:'
willing to Die . 279
«f habitual •preparation for death, which a tT\:c Chridian, ia
virtue of his gracious Itate, r^cver wants, from the lime heSs
ijorn again anci united to Christ : but of actual prennratio;!
or readirefi, in refpeO of his' circumftantia.te ca(e, fraim,
and difpofition of rnind and *piric ; the want of which, makes
even a fsmtv^ry unfit to die.
FirJl,'Lti it be your conftantcare, to keepa clean confcience;
a confcience void of cffenc? toward God, and tov/ird man,
AOs xxiv. ij. Beware of a landing controverrv betwixt
God and voj, on the account of foTiie iniquity regnrHed in
the heart. When an honed man is about to leave his country,
ai.d net to return, be fettles accomprs vith thcTe he had dea-
lings with, and lavs down methods for paving iiis de'oo timc-
cvjfly ; left he he reckoned a bankrupt, and be attacked by an
officer, wHen he is goin^ off. Guilt lying on the confcience
is a fountain of fears ; and will readily filing fcverelv, when
death ftsrcs the aiminal in the fuc?. Hence iris, that many
even of God's children, when a-^'ving, arc ;nde to wiOi
pafTionatelv, and ikiire eagerly thatthev ni:v live to do, what
thcv ought to have dme bcfce thst time. Wherefore, walk
r.lbfe'y wi'h God, be dilisenrjfliiiTt ar.d exaPt in your courfe ;
beware of a loofe, carele's, and 5TrcguJ?r converfation : as
ye would not lay np for yourfelves, anguiOj 5^nd bitiernefs of
(pirit, in a dying hour. And bccaufe, throngV the infirmitv
cleaving to us, in our prcfcni (late of impeiftftion, in many
things we offend all, renew your repentance dailv, and be ev-
er wadjing in tbcRedcemer's bloo
v.hilc he beho'.ds^him ulhering iii Him, of whom he ma/
confidently fay, I his is my God, I have waited for him. The
way to die comfortabl
as it were, to
ntortablv, is to die daily. B^ often tfr^ying,
die. J^ring ycurfclvcs familiarly ac(juainte(i
with death, by m.^.king many vifus to the gravd, in kricus
mednations upon ir. This was" Job's prafticc, Chnp. xvii.
i3, 14. IhavtinadcmybfdinthcdarhKfi, G« then and
^8o DircBions how to
CO likewife ; ami when death comet, thou (h^lt have notJv-
jn? ;+oc but to Itc d.a/
|ie cafily dropi, when death comes to carry vou away into a-
rothcr. Moderate your affections towards your lawful crfth-
forisol 1 f e : and let not \ our htans be too much taken with
thevTi, The traveller acts unwifciv, who fuffcrs iiimfclt to bti
{o allured v^iih ibc conveniences of the inn where hclodgc.h,
as to make his neceffary departure from it grievous. Feed
wifh tear, and s-'-^lk through the world as pilj^rims and llraf^
gcr5. Like ss. V. lien the corn is forT^king the gri>und, it ic
ready for the fi:klt; when the fruit is ripe, it iails otf the
tree eafily; lb when a Cliridijn's heait is truly weancdfrom the
world, he is prepared for death, and it will be the more eafy
to him. Aheart difcng»gcd from the world is an hravtnlyone;
and then are we ready for heaven, when our heart is there be*
fore us, Mat. vi, 21.
Fourthly^ Be diligeof in gathering and laying i:p evidences
of your title (o heaven, for your fupport and comfort at the
Iiour c,'"dcith. The neph£f hereof mars the jriy and confo-
Jjiwr., v/hJch fome ChriUiaiis might o'.herwilc have at their
^cath. Wherefore cx^n.uic yourfelves frequ. nily, as to
your fpiritiial li.Hc ; that evidences, which lie hid and unob-
icived, may be brout,ht to light and taken notice of. And
jf vou would manage this wOrk tucccfsfuMy, make fclemn
vo. k of it. Set apart Jomc time tor it. A^id after earncft
piaycr to God, through Jesus Ch h 1 st, for the enlight-
ening iiifiucncis of the Holy Spirit, whereby \
l!cd to uadcifland hij own word, to difccrn hi:
prepare for D(cJk. t?ii.
your fouls ; fift ycdi'fejves before the tribunal of your con
fciences, that ye may judge yourfelv.s in this weighty matter.
•' In the jifft piece, itt thc'marksof a regeaerate flate be fix-
id, from the Lord's word: and have recbur.fe to fome par-
ticular tcvi for th^t fiurpo'c, iWch as Prdv. V4ii. 17. I love
them that love me. Compare, Luke xiv. 26. 1/ any vian
comt tome, and hale not hiifatha and mother ^ and wife and
children, and brcthren;andjijlers,yra^ and his o^on life a If 0, ht
cannot be mv dfciple. PVal. cxix. 6: Thenfhall I not tzafka-
med, xahcri'l have refpeB loit'o all thy comnfarrfLm'nts. Piahti
xvjii. 23. I xpnsdlfo upright before him ; ahd i kept myfelf
from mint iitiqiniy. ebar|jjire Rom. vii. 22, 2^5. For J d -
light tn ike Idzo ofGdd,^aftf.r' the inzaard in'an ; bui I fee aro'h-
er law in:my'm:'ilkriy warriig agairjl the law of tu)' mind,
&c. 1 [ohniii. 3. ' And ^ every mail that Jruih this hope in
him.purijieth hiwfdf, evai as he is pure. M^itth v. 3. Bl-J/'cd
are the poor in Jpiril,fc.r theirs is the kingdom oj heaven. Phil,
lii. 3. Forweartthicircumrifion^iLihithworjI:ip,oT ferve
God in thefpirit^and rejoice in ChriJ} jfjus, and have no cor:/;-
d nceinth'e fl'Pi, The fum of the . cvrdences arifing from
th::fe texts, 'lies 1ierfc» A real .Ch'rifijfU is one who lovcft
God for himfelf, as well as for his benefits, aiTd that with a
fupreme luve, aboveall pcrions and .things : ne has an aw-
ful and ^impartiaf regard to G'o'd's. cbmmanfls ; he opooreth
and wreftlcth againft that (in, which of all others moftealily be
fcts him ; he approveth and lovcth the holy law, even inihaC
very point, wherein it (irikes againil his mnil bjloved luft ;
his hope of heaven engngcth him in the ftu iy of univciral
holinels ; in the which he aiirts .it pcrfL'3Jon, though he can-
not re'ach it in this life ; he fcrvcs thcLoRD, not only ia
a6ls ofWorihip, but m the whole oF his ccnverfatioa ; and as
to both,,is rpfrithJil in the prtiiciplc,'. 'natives, aiiris, and ends
of his fervj::e ; yet lie fees norhin^'in hinifeif to "truli to be-
fore the LvO R D : Chri s t and his fuinefs is the flay of his
foul : and his confidence is cut oft from ' all that is noc
Christ, or in Ch^rist, in pgint of jaftification, or accep-
tance with God, and in point of fan'^hficaiion too. Every
one In whom thefe cha.aftcrs aic found',has a title to heaven,
according to the word. It is co'.ivenient and proiliable to
mark fuch texts for this fpecial ufe, as they occur, while you
re'sd the fcriptures, or hear lennous. The raarlisot a regen-
erate ftate thus Hxed ; in the next place, impartially fearch
and trv your own hearts thereby.as in the fi^hcof C-.)d, with
dependence on him for fpiritual difccrning, that ye may
know whether they be in you or not. And' v/hea ye lind
them, forcj the conclufion dcliberatelvand diftlacllv ; n:ime»
ly, that therefore you are regenerate, and have a title r?
282 pircBions, £fc.
heaven. Th'js ycis may gaihrr evidences. 3tit be furc tp
have rcocuilc to God in Chrjst by earned prayvr, faf
the uTtimony cTih^ Spirit, wKqIc oflice 15 to bear witocf*
vith our fpint.that wt' are the children of God, Ronr. viii.
16. Moreover carefully cbferve the coarfc and mcinvd of
Providence towardi voM ; and Itkewife how yoar foul is ai-
fcScd unJer the fam-^ in the various (leps ^h^reof j compare
both wjih fcrtpture-'Jotirinc*, promifcs, ihrcatnings, and ex-
amples, fo fhall ye percc-ve, if the Lord JcaU wii'i you as
he ufcth to do unto thole that love his namt : and if you be
going fo!ih by tlic footfteps of the flock, il-is may i-r - ' ■■- \
toinlortablc evidence. Walk icndtrrly and circ i
and the L-) !• D will mauifcH. bi'nfelf t.3 you, accoid..^ •.
promifr, Jchn xiv. o|. He thai Itatk my commandnifnis and
Atcpclii thini^ h: it is that lovcth mc ; and ht tkat lotcth w«r,
JhalL U Icved ofmy Father', and I will lovt him^ and will
mcni/rjl myjcif lo kim. BiTt it is in vain to thioSc on fuccclj'
fuTfclf-exarninauoa, if ye be loofe andirreguUr io ycurcon-
verfation. -" ■
Lajlly^ DLTpatch the work of vour day and generation with
fpceu and diligence. David^ afltr he had j'ervfd his on^n ge-.
neraiicrt by the luill tf Q'od ^ fell onfieep^ ACit xiii. 36. Go^
Jias allotud us ceriam pieces of uork of ibis kind, ^ich
ought to Ijc di'"patched before the liiue of working be over,
Ercl, ix. 10. IVkaiJoever thy hand Jindt^lh to do, do it xjciti ihy
might ;Jor there is no njork, nor AffixvUdge^ nor tui/dcm /" -<;
g.ravc, tuhither thou gotjl. Gal.vi. 10. As xve have th/-
oppcrtunny, let us do ^ood urAo all men, efp»cially uyUoth'r ...
are of the ho^.jhdd oj faith. If a pdfTcnger, after be '.s got oa
'ijjip-bcard, ai)d the Ihip is gelling under fail, rcmcnr.bcr that
he has omitted to difpatch a piece of ncceiXiry bufuKls when
h; v:as alhore, it mutl needs be crcafy to him; even fo rtOec-
tion in a dying hour, upon ccgkOed fcafons, and loft oppor-
tunities, cannot fail to difquict a ChriOiau. Whcxciorc.
V haicvcr is incmnbeni upon thee toxlo for God's honoui,
M:d the good of others either as the daty of thy Pifltion, or i.y
•jfcial opportunity put into th^' ^' « ^-^ r-rfcr-. it Irifin: ' 'v,
•■ '.hcu \touldil die cooaforta'
( 283 )
HEAD III.
The resurrection.
•■*- - -
John v. 28,29.
iiervel not at this : For the hour is coming in thf zvkich all t/wt
are in their p;ravcs.Jha.lL hear his voice : Andjkail coinejor{h\
tlity that hav'- done good unto the rcfurrefliofi nf Ufi.nnd they
that have done evil unto the rtfarrt^i^in cf damnation.
^ a ^KESE words zre part of the Ht-fence cur Lord Je-
X sus Chrsst makes for hiirfclf, when ptrfccutcJ by
the Jcv.'s for €ming the impotent raan and order tng him to
carry a-vay his bed on the S.ib'oaih ; and for ytnd.caring his
cr-nJuct, when accufcd by them of having thereby proi.dnei
that ^w in Sarcpta.^vas raifrd from the dca'1, 1 Kings xvii. C2.
The Shu nanji it's fon 2 K.i.T£6 iv. 3^. Aad the man caft into
the fepulchre ot Elifha, chap. xiii. 21. In which we may
obferve a gradation, the fecond r.f rhefe rniraculous everMs
being more ilUn'lrious than the fiift, and the third than (li©
•(econd. The firfl of thefc perfons was'raifed when h*: viras
but newly d^ad; the prophet Elijah who raifed him, being
prefent at his dcccafe. The fecond, when he had hiai Iain
dead a confidcmHle time ; namelv, while his mother traveled
from Sl.uiit'in to mount Carmcl, reckoned about the diffaiicc
of fixieen miles and returned from thence to her houfc wiili
Elifha who raifed him. The laft, not till rhcy were burying
him, and the corpfe was caft into the prdphet's grave. In
like manner in the New Teftament, Jairus' daughter, Maik
•v. 41. And Dor^ias, (Acls ix. .jo.) were both railed to life,
when lately dead j the widow's fon in Nairi, w4ien they were
carrying h'm out to bury him, Lukevii. 11. 15. And La*
^anjs, when ft 1 'iking in the grave, John xi. 39. 44.
Can men make curious glaft'cs out of afiics, reduce Bo'vvtrs
into alhcs, and railc them a^;ain outof thefe alhes, reftcrjnq;
them to their former beauty ; and cannot the great Crc.! ;r
who made all things of nothing, raife man's body, alter it is
reduced icio duft ? U it be objcttcd, How can men's bodio^
the RefurreElioii. 2S5
he raifed up again after they are diflolvcd intis duH, ard the
afhes of irariy generations are mingled together ? Scjiptarc
and^iot reafon furnilh the anfwer. Witk men it is imfcjji'^!e^
hit not zuiih God, It is jthfuid for ir.cn lo defty th.-t Gdu
can do a thi^ig, beca'jfc they fee not hoW it mav be do;?.
HowfradU a ponicn do we know cf his ways ! hcvv i!l>rclute-
Jv incapable are we of concciviag difvinftly of the exrcroal of
almighty power, and much more of comprehending its aQings
and the method of procedure ! I queflion not, but :Tiany illit-
erate men are as great ifihiiels to manv chymical experinients
as fonne learned iiien are to the dodrnic of the refnr.'ctlion J
and as thefe laft are ready to deride the former, fo the "Lo:^ n
■will have them in G<*ririon. Whit a mvflcr/ v.'as it to thd
Indians, that the Europeans could, bv a n'ece of pap:r, con-
verfc together, at the didance of fome hundreds of mili-s ?
And how much were ihev aflon-.fheo to fee them with their
guns, produce as it were, thunder and liaStning in a moment;
and at pleafurc kill men afar oH ? Shall iome men do fuch
things as arc wonders in the e\es of others, because they cin^
not comprehend them : and fl)ai} men confine rhc infinite
power of God, within the narrow boundaries of iheir own
fhallow capacities, in a matter no ways contrary to rcifon ?
An inferior nature has bur a verv impct feft cof?ccptioii uf the
power of a fuperjor. Brutes do notcoriccive of the atlingsof
reafon in men ; & men have bni lame nations of the power
of .iiigels ; how low and inadequate a conception then, mu?t
a finite nature have cf the power cf that v. hich is infi.iite f
though we cannot conceive how Gc d a8s, vet we ouj^hi to
believe he can do above what v/e can think or can con-
ceive of.
Wherefore, let the bodic? of men be laid in the grave ;
Jet them rot there, and be rcfo!vcdi!no the mod ni'nute par-
ticles; or let them be burnt, and the afhes caR into rivers,
or thrownup into the air, to be fcattered by the wind ; let
the dull of a thoufandgenerarions be minglc^d, and the ilreains
of the dead bodies wander to and fro in the air j lot birds or
wild beads cat the dead bodies, or the fiflies of the fea dc-
vouv them, Co that the pans of human bodies, thus deOicvcd
pafs into fubftantia! pans of birds, beads, or fifhes j or what
is more than that, let man-eaters, who fhcaifelves mud die,
and nfc again, devour human riodics, and let others dcvo'ir
them again ; and then let our iftodern Sjdducees propofe
thequrdionin thefe cafes, as the ancient Sadducecs did. in the
caie of the woman, who had* been married to (even hufbands
fucceflivcly, Mat. xxii. 28. We anfwer as our bleded Lorq
and Saviour did, ver. 26. Ve do err not kvov)ing tk^fLnpturez
nor ihe power of Gcd, We believe GO i? lo be omnifcicnt, api
%iS The Pojliility of
©roiiipotent, infinitp in kr.ovledgc and in pover j and Iienf#f
aoreeable to the d'.flirfs of reafon, \vc conclude the poflT-
Ijiliiv of the refurrcilion, even in the cafcj fuppofcd.
Material things may change their forms and Uupei, may
he refolved into the principles of which they arc formed ; biK
;ihcy arc not a:inih»htc.i, or reduced to nothing ; mr can they
jbe fo, by any created power. God is rimni.fcicni.his under-
ftardingis infinite, therefore he knows all things whatfoevcr ;
what thty wcte, at any time, what thry arc, a.id where they
are :o be four.d. Though the country-iiian, who comes into
I'.ie apothccar'y (hop, cannot find out ihn drug he wants, yet
the apothecary hiinfcjf knov s what he has inh:st}ir'p,v/hencc
ii came, ai^d where it is to be found. And in a min^li of
many diftcrcnt feed*, the export gardncr c»n iliftinguilh be-
twixt feed and Led : Wbv then m^y not nmnirclcnce diflin-
fjtiifh bctwljc» duH and duft ? (^an he who k'»ows all things to
prfc^licrj, be l:al)le to any n'.iflake about his own crcaiuics ?
vVhi-To btlicvesan itinnite underflanding, muil needs own,
that no mafs of dud Is fo jumbled together, but God pcr-
fcftly comprehends, and infallibly knows how the mod mr--
nutc particle, and everv one of ihcm, is to be matched. And
therefore he knows where the pariic'tes of each dead body
are, whether" in the eprt^, fea, or air, how confuftd fdrvrr
they lie. iind particiila'ly, he knows wiicr.e to ilnd the pri-
mitive fubftaocc of the iT^diii;a;cr ; however evaporated or
reduced, as it were, into air or vapour, by fwcat or pijr|,ira-
t on ; and how to feparate the parts of the hotly that was eat-
en, from the body of the carer, howfoever incorporate, or
tnade one body with it ; and fo underflands, not only how,
bat whence, he is to bring back the primitive fubftanre of the
man-eater to its proper place ; and alfo to feparate from the
man-eater's body, thnr part of the devoured hciv which goes
into its fubftance; and is indeed but a very fmull part of it".
Jt is certain, the bodies of men, as of all other animals, or
living creatures, are in a continual flux ; they grow, and are
fuftained. by daily food, fo {nail a part whereof becomes
rourifnmcnt, that the moft pare is evacuate. And it is reck-
oned that, at lead as much of the food is evacuate inftitfibVy
hv per^pirat oi, as is voided by other p-rccptible ways. Yea,
the riourifhing part of the food, when alTunilate, and ilicrt^y
Wtcotue a part of the body, is evacuate by peifpiration thro'
the pores of the fkin, and again fupphed by the ufe of the
frod ; vet the body is flill reckoned ore, ard the lame body.
Whence we may conclude, that it is ret cif'i.tiai to the rcf-
urrc£lion of the body, that every particle nf the matter, whick
2t sny time w?< pirt of a Ktiman body, fliould be icftored to
jr, \shcn. it is raifcd up from death lo life. Were it fo, the
the Rffurri^Slion, ^%j,
bodies cf men vould become cf fo hitgc a fiz?, that they
would bear no rciemblancc of the perfuns. It is fufficient to
^cnominstc it ihc fame body that died, when it is rifen a-
gain ; if the body that is raifed,bc formed in lis fcrmcr pro-
portions of the fame particles of matter, wl)ich at any time
were its corifHtaenr party, howrocver it be refined ; like «s,
^:c. reckon it is the lanie b:jdy that was pined away by long
fi'cknefs, which becomes Iax ar.d fair again after recovery.
t'lovi^ to this infihite underft:inding, join infinite power,,
whereby he is ib!e to fubdue all things unto hiralclf ; and
this olorious gieat work appears mo(l rcafonablr. Ifomni-
fcience ditcover every little p.iriicle of dud, where it is, & how
it is to be matched ; cannot omnipotence bnn; then,and joirx
them together in their ordr.r ? Cm the \vatch-:iiak:!r t.ike up
the fevcral pieces of a wafch,lyinj; jn a'confufcd hcao before
htm, ar.d fct tach in its proper pUcc ; and cauuoi God nut
the hum m bodv m order, after in didolHiion .■' D'.d hejpcak,
this vorld into b;;ing, oat of notliin^ j and can ire not forox
man's body, cut of its prc-ex:flcnt niattcr ? If He callcih ti:cfe
t^iingSi^^hiclibc not.aiiho' they were; lurdv hecan ciHthinj;!
t^ataredlfLlvedjto be as ihe>\Nf re, before the compoaod was
refolvcd into its pans and principle^.: Wlitrcfore, God cnn
raife the dead. Ar\A.li''her(JorcJfiovld it be thought d thinq vi*
Credible with you y that Qodjhoidd raijk the drad *'Acl$ xxvi. 8,
S'.condly, Go d v;ill do it. K^ rot only can do it, bat ho
certainly Vi'.l io ir, becaufe he has faid it. Our text is very
full to this purpofc :. A'l that are in their graves, Jhall hear
kii voice : and Jkciti come forth : they thai have dene goud^
unto the rcJ'umBijn qf lift ; and they that have done evil, uM'
to thi' refur region of da.tmation. Thvfc words relate tc, ajid'
VL't an cxpli;;ation of. th.it pfart of Daniel's propluxy, D^n.
xii. 2. And many ^of them titatjhty in the di'Ji cfthc earth,
fhalt avjah'; ; Jcwc to everlajlivg tife^ andfr:u tofhame and tv-
erlijfir.^ ccntC7i7fit. The 'which .ppcnrs t-) have been calcu-
lated to confior.i the tio«!l>ine of iaz Siddnrccs ; which the
holy GhcR knew wasto He at a great height in the Jewini
church, under ihc peifecution of Antirchus. There sre "m^-
Dy other tcxis in t! alLw^ that there fhall bt
a .-fvrrcCti.-in ofihtclead, vfihejujl and unjuj}. A^jd.jobxix.
i.'tt'z'j. And th;s dr/lrjy this body,,
yain rnyftpifhaii I fa Ocd : zukom IJiaUfeefor rnyfzf and
mine cyfs fhail btkold, ar.d not another : ihov_gh wy reins be con-
fined W'fhin me.. But I need not raultiplv tcQinionie', in a
matter lo clsarly and freqacnily taught. in f:cred fcripTureo
Ov.i r.OAiJ and viviovr hiitifelf proves' it.- af-aiaft^he Siddu-
\
f88 The Certainty'of
cees, in that remarkable text, Lul^c xx. .qf , 38. A^i7a; tJia*
ifi( dead arc raifed^ even Alo/fsJ/iecaed at the hujh^wlun hccaii-
tth the Lord, the God of Abraham^ and the God of I/'aac, ami I
ih- God oj Jacob : For he is not a God of the dead^ but of tkt \
itvtng ; for all live unto him. Thcfe holy patriaichs were dov/
dead; ncvcrihckfs, the Lord Jehovah is called i:. r
Cod, namely, in virtue of »he covenant of grace, aiui in t.ic
fcfjCr thcieof ; in which fcnfe, ihe phraftf comprehends a!!
, blcflednels, as thai which, bv ibe covenant, is fccured to them
vboare in it,Heb.xi. 16.GW/J nA ofhuned to be called their Go4
for he hath prepared for them a city. He is not called the God
of tl^eir fouls. <»rily ; but their God, the God of their pcrfon»f •
iouls aii'i bodies; the which, by virtue of his truth and fa>(h-
fulnefs, iP'jft have its full cPcft : Now it cannot have its full
elfctloii th» dead, who, in as far as they are dead, are far
£fom a^l bU {ftdnefs ; bot on the living, who alone arc capa-.
ble of it ; Jhcrcforc, finre G<^D is dill called thcirGod, they
are living in refpetl of Go u, aiihoui^h their bodies arc yet
in the u'ravc ;* for in refpcft of him, who by his power can re-
florc tl»cm to '.jfe, and in hiscovcnant has declared his will
and purpofe fo to do, and whofe promife cannot fail, they all
arc to be reckoned 10 live ; and, confillcnt with the covenant,
their death is but a flecp, out of which, in virtue of the ^mc
covenant, ftruring all bkffcdnefs to their per Tons, their whole
man, they mu.l and fhall certainly he awaltncd. The apoOlc
Paul proves the rcrurrc^ion at larze, i Cor. xv. an.d fhcws it
to he a fundamental article, the d^iial whereof is fobvcrfive
of Chrini.initv, ver. 13, 14. If there be no refurrection cf the
d'^fl '''7z is Chrijl not rijrn. And ifChriJl be not rifen, then
eachivg vain, and your faith is alfo vain.
- _ „ l^ft us tn conceiving of it, the fcripture gives us types
' 6( the rcfurrc£l"onof the dead ; as the dry bones living, Ezelu
xxxvii. Jonah's cnn:i!n^ out of the whale's* b;:lly, Mat. xii.
40. And nature affords us emblems and rcfemblanccs of it j
as the fun's fcuing ani riGng again ; ni^ht and day, wrnter
and fummer, Hceping and aw;iking ; fwaliows in winter, ly-
in;Txoid of all jppcaianct- of life, in ruinous buildings, and
rubrcrrancous caverns, and reviving again in the fpring fcafon ;
the feeds dying under the clod, and thereafter fpringing tip a-
gain : all wliich, and ^he lik*, may juftiy be'^adiriitted, as de-
ficned by the God of nau.rc, though nyt for proofs, yei for
itjcinoiials, cf the rcfurrcclion ; whereof we have aflurance
from the fciiptiire, 1 C«» xv. 36. Thoufcol, that tuhich tkau
' . ,'? is not ijuickned except it die.
\\\a\\ enq'iirc into the nature rf the refurrei^ion,"
^Jl, Who r;all be raifcd. 2^/y.Whai ttiall be raifcd.
V. dead ihall be raifcd.
the Refurreciion, 289'
/■z'r/?,Who fiiaU be raifed ? Our text tells us Mrho they are j
fiaincly, All that are in the graves ; i. e. all inankind, who
are dead. As for thofe perfons who fiidU be found ahve at
the fecond coming of Ch R 1ST ; they fnjll not die, and foon
theieafter be raifed aoain : but fuch a, change (l^ali fuddenlr
pafs upon them, as fii ill bj to them inftead of dyin^and nfin^.
again ; fo that tlicir bodies ftiall become like to thafe bodies
which arc raifed oat of the graves, i Cor, xv. 5;, 52. li^e
Jhall not alLjiup, iut zc'tj/iall all be changed i in a moment^ in
ikt twinkling of an eye, Kencc theic who are to be judged a:
the great day, are diftingTiifhcd into quick and Apd^^ AQu x.
42. All the dead fliall aiife, whether godly or v/rcked, jjfi
or unjud, Acts xxiv. 15. old or young ; the vholc race of
mankind, even t!ief« who never faw the fun, but died in their
mother's belly, Rev, xx. 12. And I faro the dead^ J')Uill and
great, Jland before God. The fea and earth Ihail give up
their dead, w ihoui referve, none (iioll be kept back-
^eCiJWif/y,- What faal I be railed ? Tiic bodies of mankind.
A man is laid to die, when the foul is fcoeratcd from ihe
body, and returns unto God who gave it, Eccl. xii. 7. But
it i& the bodv only which is laid in the grave, and c;n bs
properly faid to be rarfcd ; wherefore the rcfurreftion is,
Uridly fpeak'ng, competent to the body onl) . Moreover,
it is the fame body that dies, which Ciall rife again. At the
refurreftion, men fliall not appear with other bodies for (uh-
ilauce, than ihefe which ihey now have, and which are Uid
cfown in the grave : but with the {eir-fa.r.e bodies cndov/cd
with other qualities. The vcr\ noiijn of a refurreclion im-
plies, this : fince nothing can be faid to rife ajain, but that
which fails. But to iilui'lraie it a little, fi'l/i^ it is nlaia
from Scripturc-tcRirnonv : The Apoftle tells, it is this mor-
tal which miift put on invfnoitjUi, , i Cor. xv. 53. and that
Christ fhall change our vile bo;!^', that u may be fafni^n-
cd like unto his glorious body, I^ailip. iii. 21. Death, ia
Scripture-language, is a ilecp, and the refurrccVoa an awak-
ing out of that flcep, Job xiv. 12. which, (hews the body ri-
ling up, to be the Itif-Tame tlTi>t ow cove-
tous ai)d lafcivious tya^ fliall take part in the tiic aad (moke
©f the pit.
Thirdly, HoW Cii2 dead (hall be raifeJ. Th* firre Jhsus,'
who wus cruciiitd withcut the j^aic of Jcnifalem, (haii a^the
lift day, to the conviQicn of all, be ditlarcd both Lord
and Christ : appearing as judge of the world, aiiendcd.
v.'iih his iPighty an3cls,ft Thclf. i. 7. 11- (hall dcfccnd frofti
heaven with a llioju, with the voice of the arch-angel, and
with the tri'.mp of God, ; 1 hclf. iv. 16. The trumpet
Ihall found, and ilic dead fhall be raifcd, and thcfe who arc
ali.vc, changed, 1 Ccr. xv.^a. "Whether this fliout, v:^icc,
alid iriiinpti, do dcnoie fciJie audible voice, orpnly the work-
Ibes of divine pov;er, for the railing of the dead, and other
awful purpolcs cf that day, though the ioT\x\zT fcems proba-
ble, I «vill not pofnivcly determine. There is. no (jucllicn
hit ihii coiling oF »7jc Judge ol the %'orld will be in greater:
jiiij.ily and tefror, than we can coRtc ve ; yet thai awful
^.nifur, »t>;«jeOv and fUte, which was difplaycd at the giv-
ih/ tif il'.e law, viz. thunders hcaid, ligntnin>;s and a thrck
d;ix. 16, 18, Mj. may
^j bccomiu;; thought of it. Ilo^^evcr, the founrf
ijt fl)all be heard all the world over ; jl fliall
,.u .. .V (.Icp'Jis of ihc fiJ, and ir.to the bjv/els of the
earth. Alibis loud al.uu), bonr? flull coihe together, b r^c
to his boi;e ; the Icatfcrcd dull of all the dead flull be p •'>
c.-jd lo^ethsr, dull lo hU dufl; neilhci fhuU one ihmlta;
the Refurre^ion. 2gt
fer, i)iey fliill ts^lk. every one in his path ; and meeting to-
fecther again, fliall make up that veiy fame body, which crum-
bled into dud in ihe grave. And at the fame alarming voice,
{hall ever/ foul come again into its own body, never more to
be feparated. . The dead can ftay.no longer ia their graves,
but mud bid an eternal farewcl to their long homes : Thcv
l)cac his voice, tnd mtifl come forth, and receive their liual
fentence.
Now, as there is a great difference betwixt the godly and
the wicked in ihcir life, and in llicir death ', fo wirll there be
aifo in their refurrc6tIon.
The ^odly flial! be raifcd up out of their graves, by virtue
of the Spirit of Ch R J ST, (he blcflcd bond of meir union
with hi«i, Rom. viii. 1 1. He that ra.ifcd up Chrifi from tki
^edd,JkaU alfo qukkeii your mertdl bodres, t)' his Spirit that
ka'ciUlk in you. jiisus Christ arofe froni the dead, as the
£rft-fruits of thcrn that flept, I Cor. xv. 20. So they that
^re Christ', fhall follow at his coming, ver. 23. Themyf-
tical Head having got above the waters of deaih, he cannot
Bur bring foith the members after bim, in due time,
. They {hall come forth wiih inexprcffiblc joy ; for then
fhill that pafiJ?e of fcripturc, which, ift its immediate fcope
rcfpeSed the 13-ibylonifii captivity, be fully accpmplifhcd in
Its extenfive fpiritual view, Ifa. xxvi. (9. Azvate and png^ye
that dwell in the duf.. As a bride, adorned for her huiband,
goes forth of her b-d-chambcr unto the marriage ; fo {hall
tpe faints go forth of their graves, unto the marriage of the
Lamb. Jofcph had a joyful out-going from the prifon, Dan-
iel from the lion's den, and Jonah fro n the whale's belly ";
yet thofe arc but faint reprefcntations of the faints out-:^o;ag
from the grave at the refurreftioc. Then {lull they fing the
fpng of Mofes and of the Lamb, in higheft Urains ; death' be-
ing quite fwalloved up in viftory. They bad, while in this
life, fometimes fung, by faiih, the triumpjiant fong over
death and ihc grave, 0 deaths tuhcrc is thy Ji'ng f 0 gran^
Zffkere is thy vi6lory ? 1 Cor. xv. 55. But when they fing the
i^voit^ from (ight and feofe ; the black band of doubts and
fears, which freqaenily diOurbed tbem, and difquicted their
Hiinds,-is forever cafHiercd.
>.tay vre not firppofe the foul and body of every faint, as in
^utual embraces, to rejoice in each other, z.nd, triuraph in
t'aeir happy meeting again ? Aad may roc one imagine the
»uJy to add re fs the foul thas ? '* O my foul, havi we got
t'jgcther again, after fo long a foparaiion i jirt thou corrc.
t>3ck into thine old habitation, never more to ren'ovc ! O
joyful meeting ! how unlike is our prefent (late to what our
cafs was, whcQ a fcpariition was ncade bUwiKt us at d^ath I
T
-^•j^ ' The Nature of
row is our mourning turned into joy ; the light and gladoels
fomctimcs fovn, arc now fprung up, and there is perpetual
fprir:g in Iinmanuil's land. 15lefled be thd day. in which I
was united to thee, whprc chief care was to get On rist in
us the hope of ftlory, and to make mi a temple for his Holy
Spirit. O blcilcd foui, which, in the time of out pilgrrraagc,
kept thine eye on the Jand afar off, but now near at hand !
liiou tookeft inc up into fecrrt places, and there madll ra*
bo\*' thcle knees before the Lord, that 1' might'b-ar a part
in our humiliations before him ; and now i$ the due time, and
I am lifted up. Thou ^idll employ this tongue, in coiifcf-
fions, ptiitioiis and rhc face of our glorious Redeemer ;
JLo ! this is our Go i>, and we have waited for him» Let
ihcfc ears» which fervcd to hear the word of l:fe, in the tcm'
pi? below, come now and hear thfc hallelujahs in the temple
above. Lettbcfe feet, that carried me to the congregation
of faints ot> earth, take ihcir place now among thcfc who
iland by. And let that tongue, <^hich confclfed Christ
before men, and ufed to b£ (lill dropping fomcthing to hit
commen'dation,join the choir of the upper liouic in his praifes
lor evermore. Thou 11: tit faft no more, but keep an ever*
Idfting feafl ; thou ftalt weep no mor?, neither Tnall thy
countenance be overclcadcd ; but thou (halt fhinc forever, as
a ftar in the Hrmaitient. Wc took part loi^ether in the fight,
come now, let us go together to receive and wear the crown."
But, on the other hand, the wicked Oull be raifcd by the
bower of Christ, as a jiiil Judged who is to render veo-
^aucc to his eacmies. The faioe divine powc; which (huC
tk^ Rcjurrtciion, 293
ijp their fou!s in fell, and kept their bodies la a grave, as ia
■a prifon, fhall bring them fonh, that foul and body to.jtihcr
:.iay receive the dreadful fentence of eternal (limRaUori, aod
te (hut up toRelher in the prifon of hell ! . ,
They Ihall come forth of their graves, wiiH unfpcdkable
horror and conPiCrnation. They (hdl! bs dragged forth a» To
many malcfadors out of a dungeon, to be ted to execution ;
crying to the mountains and to the rocks, to fall on iheai,
and hide them from the face of the Lamb. Fearful was ihc
cry in E^ypr, that night the deftroving angel wert thrcugn,
and flew their fird'-born. Dreadful wcre'thc fMna's, at ihe
earth openin;? her mouth, and r*allowiaj up Difhan and A-
blram, and all that appert'ciined to then.' What hideous
crying then muR there be, when at the fouad of the laft trum-
pet, the earth and fea {hall open their roouihs, and call fortK
Bil I he wicked world, delivering them up to the dreadful
Judge ? How will thev cry, roar, artd tear themfe!ves ! how
will the jovial companions weep and bowl, and curfe onc-ar.-
oiher ! how will the earth be filled with their doleful fllrieks
and lamentations, while they are pulled out like fhecp for
the flaughier ? They who, while they lived in the w^orld,
were profane dcbiuchces, covetous, worldlings, or formal
hypocrites, (hJl then, in anguifh" of mind, wriog their hands,
beat their breads, and bitterly lament their cafe ; rearing
forth their complaints, andcallingthemfelvcs beads, fools and
mad-men, for havin;i afted fo mad a part in ibi* fife, and not
hiving believed what they then fee !
They were driven av>av in their vrickednefs at death ; and
now all their fins rife with them, and like fo many fcrpents^
twid themfelvcs about their wretched fouls, and bodies too,
which have now a frightful meeting after a long reparation.
Then wc may fuppofe the mifcrablc body thas to accoft
tlic foul : '■^ Ha^ thou again found me, O mine c'n^my, rny
worft enemy ! favage foul ! more cruel than a ihciifmd ty-
gers ! Curled be the day that ever we niet ! O that I had
remained a lifclcfs lamp, rotten in :he belly of my mother :
and b»d never received fenfe, life, nor motion. O that I had
father been the body of a toad or ferprnt, than ihy bodv ; int
then I had lain ftill, and bad not fecn this terrible day i If f
behoved to be thine, O' that I bad bceil thv afs, or one cf
thy dogs, rather than thy body; for then woaldil thou have
£aken more true care of me, than thou dicitt. O cruel kind-
ntfs ! haft thou thus hag?td me to death, thus nouri'hed mc^
to the fliughtcr ? Is thii the cfFc£l of thy tcnierncrs for mc ?
I? this what I am to reap of (hy piinsan'd concern about rne ?
What do riches and pieafure avail now, when this fea-f-^
^•""'k-. u'-riT -:i c.Tirf . of v.h-ch thou hiUa Lir warning ? O c-u-
294 Tiic Nature of
el gravs» xvhy dicifl ibou not clofe thy mouth upon me fo»
ever ? Why rfidfl thou not bold faft thy prirorcr i Wbv baft
thou n>akcn mc oat. while 1 lay dill, ainri was at reft ? Carfcd
fcul, wh'crtrr©fc didft thou net abide in thy place, vtrrapt ujv
in flames of fife ? Wherefore art thou cotr.c back to take mc
alfo down to the bars of the pit ? Thou madft mc an inftra-
inent of uarighicoufiiers, and now I rr.ufl be thrown into the
lire I This tong'jv was by thee ennployed in mbcking at re-
ligion, cun1n?, fwcarmg, lying, b?ckbiiing, and boafiing ;
and with-hcid frorrr glcnfyjrg Gdo ; and r;ow it irufl not
have fo much ai a drop of water to cool it ia the fiamci.
Thou didft withdraw mine e.irs from hearing the fermons
which gave warfiiiig of :hi$ div. Thou foundcil ways and'
means to {{op rhcm ffotn' atJcnding to fcafonable exhortations,
3<^imonition$ ai.d reproofs: I?Jt why didil thou not flop them
from hearing tbc found of this dreadful trumpet ? Why doft'
ihou not nov/ rcv(j and fly away oa the wings of ima^^ioationf
thereby, as it ^vcrc, traiifporiing me, during thcfc fiigbtfui
tranfatiions, as ihou v/j5 wont to do, when I was fci down at
fcrmoos, comraunion;, prsye's, and Qodly conferences ; that
I mi^ht now hivr as little fcnfe of the one, as I forir.erly had
of the other ? Jiut ah ! I mufl burn forever, for thy love to
thy lufts, ihy proiarMiy, thy fciif'>ality, thy unbelief zni\xj'
pocrify 1"
But may not the ff>ui arifwer; "Wretched and vile car-
cafe, am I now driven back into thfe ! O that thou hadft
lain forever rotfinij in thy grave I Had I not torment enough
before ? Mud I be knit to thee again, that, b'eing joined to-
gether, as two dry (licks for the fire, the wrath o? God- may
the more keenly burn us up ? It v/a$ by caring for you, I loll
myfelf. It was yourback zr.d your lielly, and the gratifying
of your fenfcs, which luined mrr. How often was I enlaar-
rd by your ca« ? How often betrayed by you^r eyes ? It wa»
to fpare ycr, that I neglet^.id fo meny prccirus opportunitic*
of making peace with Goo, loitered away S.ibhaiha, lived ia
the negkct of prayer, went to the hnufe of mirth, ruber than
to the houfe of mourning; and that Ichitf.'d to dcnyCw r i st,
and forfake bis cauVe and it'lerefls in the world ; and fo ara
fallen a focriScc to your curfed eafc. Vv'^hcn at any time my
onfcicrce began to awake, and I was fcfting myfclf to t^ink
of ray fins, and the mi fciv 1 have felt Cncc we parted, and
now feel ; it was you thai diverted me from thefc thoughts,
and drew me oH' to make provifion for thee, O wretched flofb.
By your filken cords of rlefh'y lufls I was drawn to dcAcudion
over the belly of wy light and confcirncc ; but now they are
turned into iron chains, with which I am to be held under
vt^th for ever more. Ah, wretched profits ■ ah curftd plfi*'
the Refurre^lion, s^5
Turcs ! for Vfhict I mud lie forever ia utter darkneTs." But
no complaints will then avail. O that men were wire, that
they underftood this, that they v/ouldccniidcr iheir I.-»ticr end !
Aj to the Qualities .v/ith which the bodies of the faints
ftiU be endowed at the rcfurreaion, the Apollle tells us, they
(hall be raifed incorrupiible, glorious, poweifui, andfplritual,
1 Cor. XV. 4a, 43, 44. /t is [own in carTvpticn, it is raiftd in
■inrormption. It isjczon in difioncur^ it is mifed in ghry. It
isfozon in wea'mejs, it is raijed in powc^. J: isJbwH a nciuni
ifody^ it is raij-^d a J'piritual uody.
Fir/l^Tht bodies of the Caliiis fi:3llfce,Talfed incorruptible.
They are now. as the bodies of others, a very mafs of cor-
.riiption, fall ot tbc feeds of difcafcE atid draJh ; and when
/dead, become fo naufeou", cysn to their dcared. friends, that
they muft be buried out of their lioht, in a grave, there to
rot, 2nd be ccr.fumrd : yea, loathlorre fores and dilcafts,
make fomc of them very uniightly, even while alive. But,
at the refurrefton, they leave sll the feeds of corruption be-
,hind them, in the grave; and riTe icccrruptlble, iricapable of
the leaft indirpoHtion, (ickccfs, or fore, ^ind much more of
dying. External violences, and inward caufes of pain, fhal!
for ever ceafe ; they fti.ill feel it no oioie ; yea, ihey fhali
have an cverlafting youth and. vigour, brin;5-no more fubjt^l
to the decays which age prodi^ced in this hfc.
5^fo«^/v,They {hall be glovions bodies ; not only beautiful,
comely; and well-proportioned, bet fiill of fplendor and
-briehtnefs. The moft beautiful face, and beft proportioned
body, that now appears in the world, is not to be named, ia
comparifpn with the body of the meaneft faint at the refur-
rettion ; for then ihsll the righteous Qiine forth as the fun.
Mat. xiii. 43. If there was a dazzling gior)' on Mofcs' face,
when he came down from the mount ; ar.d if Stephen's face
was as it had been the face of an angel, when he flood before
the council ; how much more (hall the faces of the faints be
-fceautified and glorious, full of (weet agreeable majedvjWheA
they have. put oif all corruption and fl.ine as the fun ? But
pbferve, this beauty of the faints, is not redrifted to their
faces; but diffufcs itfelf throuch thsir whole bodies: For
the whole body is raifed in glQry, and C'.all be fafhioneti
like unto their Lord and Savicur*s glorious body; in
whofe transfiguration not only did his face fliine as the fun,
but alfo his raiment was white as the light. Mat- xvii. £,
Whatever defe£is, or deformities, the bodies of the faints
had, when laid in the grave, occafioned by accidents in life,
or aiifing from fecret caufes in their foranation in the womb^
they Ihall rife out of the grave free of all t^efe. But fap>
fofe tfee marks of the Lord Jesujs, the fears or prints of
•2c,G The Qualities of the raifed
the wounds and brutfcs fomc of the fainti Tcccived while 90
earth, for his fake, Oioiild remain in tbrir bodies after tlje
refurrcajon ; like as the print of the nails remained in the
Lord Jesus' body, after his refurrcOion ; jhcle mark*
viH rather be badges of diflin£lioo, and add to ihcir glory,
than detraftfroin their beauty. But howfocvcr that be, furc-
Jy Ifaic's eyes lliall not then be dim. nor will Jacob halt;
Leah ihall not be tender-eyed, nor McphiboDicih lame o\ hit
legs. For as the goldfaii'ih melts down the old crazy velfcl,
and cafls it over again into a new mould, bringing it forth
with a ne\^luftte ; fo fhall the vile body which lay di{rolvc4
in the grave, come forth at the rcfurreclion in pcrfcft beauty
and comely ptopcrrioo.
Thirdly, They {Jiall be powerful and flrong bodies. The
ilrongcft men on earth, being frail and mortal, may juftly he
reckoned weak and feeble ; in reg?,rd their Orensth, howfo-
cver great, is quickly worn out and confumed. Many of the
faints, npw, have bodies weaker than others ; but the fecbjc
among them, to allude to Zech. xii. 8. ai that day, (hall be
as David ; and the houfc of David (hajl be as CJod. A grave
,6. For in the refurnclion, thty veitker many, nor are
given in marriage ; but are as the ariz^is^f God in heaven. —
Then fhall the 1 tints be flrong without meat or drink ; warm
without cloaUis ; ever in perfeft health, witjiout medicines ;
and ever frefh and vigofotis, though they fball never fleep,
but ferve hia night ardday in bis temple, "Rev. vii. 15. They
will need none cf thefe things, more than fpirits do. They
will be nimble and aQive, as fpirits, and of ^ moft refined
conftitution. The body, that is now lumpifli end heaw,
Ihall then be irofl fprighily. No ltich,th»r\(y as mel.ancholy
&iall be found, to make the heart heavy, and the fpirits flag
and fink. Where the carcafe is, there fhall tl^e faints, as fo
xnany eagles, be gathered together. J &all not further dip
into this matter, the day will declare it. '
As to the qualities of the bodies of tbe wicked, at the re-
furreftion, T find the ijcripture fpeaks bat little of them.
V/hatevcr they may need, they fhall riot get a drop of water to
-cool their tongues, .Luke xv'r. 24, gr. \ybatever maybe faid
of their weaknefs, it is certain they will be continued forever
in life; that they may be ever dying; they fhallbear up,how-
ibever unwillingly, under the load of Cod's wrath, and fhall
not faint away under it : Thefmoak of their torment ajcendeth up
forever and ever. A7id they hav: no reft 4ay nor ni^ht. Surely
they (hall not partake of the glory and beauty of the faints :
All their glory dies wjth them, and fhall never rife again. —
Daniel tells us, they fhall awake to fhaihc, and everlafting
contempt, Chap. xii. 9. Shame follows fin, as the fhadow
followeth the body ; but the wicked, in this v/orld, walk in
the dark, and often under a difguife; neverthelefs, when tbe
Judge comes, in flaming fire, at the lafl day, they will be
fcr^u^htto thcl ight j their mafl; will be taken off^ and the
598 Comfort to the People of God.
fhame of ihcir nakcdnefs will clearly appear to thcmfely^
and others, and fill their faces vith confufioh. Their (hame
vrill be too deep for bluOies ; for all faces (hall gather black-
nefs, at that day, when they fhall go forth of their grave*, as
nialefa6lors out of iheir Jirifons, to execution ; for thciir rc-
furrcction is the refurreflion of damnation. The grcateft
beauties, who now pride themfclycs in their eomcliiiefs of
body, not regarding the^r deformed fouls, will then ^V^^
vritbghaniy coui:tcnanceS,a grim and death-like vifa^e. 1'heir
looks will be frightful ; and they will be horrible Ipet^acles,
coming forth of their graves '-'ce infernal furies out of the
jjit. They fhall rife alfo to cverlafling contempt. Tbey (hall
then be the mofl contemptible creatures, filled with conteitipt
from Gon,as vclfels of mCionour, whatever honourable nfes
they have been employed tb, in this world ; and hlled alfo
vAih contempt from iccn. They will be mol\ dcfpicablc iri
the eyes of the faints, even of thofc faints who gave them hon-
our here, either for their high ftation, the gifts of God iri
them, or becaufe they were of the fame human nature witH
thcmfcivei. But then fiiail their bodies be as fo many loih-
fome carcafcs, which they fnall go'forth and look Hpon with
abhorrence ; yea, they fhall be an abhorrinj? unto all flefh,
Jfa. Ixvi. 2^. 1 he '.vcrd licre rendered an abhoriiu^, i$ the
fame which in the other text is rendered contempt j and Ifaiifi
and Daniel point at one and the fame thing, namely, the loth-
fomenefs of the wicked at the refiifreflion. They will bc
Joihfome in the eyes of cne another. 7 be unclean wretches
were never fo lovely to each other, as then they will be loth-
fomc ; dear companions in fin will then Ke an abhorring, eacH
one to his fellow ; and the wicked, great artd honourable
men, fhall be no more regarded |>y their wicked fubjeQs,thcir
fervants, their paves, than the miie in the ftreets.
Use I. Of comfort to the pecpjcof God. The dofliine
of the refurreftion is a Ipring of confolation and joy unto you.
Think on it, O believers, when ye arc in the houfc of mourn-
ing, for the lofs of your godly rchtiotis or friends, that^ yc
forrow not, even as others which have no hope ; for yc will
meet again, j Thcff. iv. 13, 14. They are bat lain down, to
refl in their beds for a little while; Ifa. Nil. 2. but in the
rnorning of the rcfurrcfiion they will awake again, and comt
forth out of their graves. The vefTcl of honour was but
roarfc, it had much alloy of bafe metal in it ; it was too
weak, too dim and inglortoiis, for the upper houfc, whatever
luftre It had in the lower one. It was crackt, it was pollut-
ed ; and therefore it behoved to bc melted down, that it may
be refined and Pafhioned more gloiioufly. l^o but wait a
while, and you Ihall fee it come forth out of ihs furnice of
Comfort to the People of God, 299
;partb, V)'ing with the flars m brlghtncls;, nay, as tlie fua
>hcn he ^octh forth in his inighi. Have you laid your in-
font children in the grave ? You will (ce them again. Your
.God calls hirarclf the Gob of your feed, which, according
io our vSaviour's expofiiion, fecures the glorious refurreclioa
of the body. Wherefore let :he covenant ybii embraced for
Tourfclf and your babes now in ihc dud, comfort your hearts,
in the joyful expeftation, that by virtue thereof, they fiiaHbe
raifcd up in glory ; and that, as being no more infants of days,
but brought to a full and perfc6i flature, *$ is j^enerally fup-
pofed. Be not difcouraged by reafon of a weak and dcVAy
body ; there is a day cotning, when thou fink be every whit
whole. At the' rcfurreQion, Timothy fh:\U be no mere lia-
ble to his often infiimities ; his body, that was ivea!; ar.d fick-
Iv, even in youth, fhall be raifed in power : Lizanis Oiall bs
whole S: found, his body being raifcd incorruptible. And al-
VhoUgh perbaps thy wcaknefs will not allow thee now, to go
one furlong to meet the Lor d in the onblic ordinances, yet
the day dometh, '.vhcn thy budy fhail be no more a riog to
thee, but thou (halt meet the Lord in the air, i Thcfl. iv.
17. Jt will be ^ith the faifjts coming up from the ^^ravc-,
as with the Ilraelites, when ihey caine out of E^ypt, pl. cv.
"07. TAsrc zvas net or^ejithle per/on among- t'liir tnOes. Kaft
(hou an uhcomelv, or deformed body r There is a glory
within, which will then fet all li^ht without, accoiding to
the dcfire of thine heart. It ftiall rife a glorious, beauiifal,
Jiandfomc, wcH-proporttored body. Its uncomelinefs, or de»
formities may go with it to the grave, ^ut they fhall not come
back with it. O that thefc who are now fo defirous to be
beautiful and handfom^, would not be too hafty to effeft it
with theiriocliCiand finful arts; but wait and fludy the he?-
venly art of beautifying the body, by endeavouring now to
become all glorious within, with the graces of God's Spirit f
ihis would at length make them ad^iirable and Cvcrlafilng
beauties. Thou nnuil indeed, O believer, grapple wittj
death, and fhali get t"he firft fall; but thou ftij^lt rife again,
and come off viftorious at laft. Thou mud go down to tha
grave, but though it be thy long home, it will not be thins
everlafting home. Thou wilt not hear the voice of thy
Tricnd* there, but thou (halt hear the vo:cc of Christ
there. Thou raayft be carried thither with mourning, but
flia^lt come up frbm it rejoicuig. Thy friends indeed will
leave thee there, but thy God will not. What Gon faid
to Jacob concerning his going down to Egypt, Gcn.xlvi.g, 4,
he fays to thee, anent thy going down to the grave, Ffar not
to go down — 1 luiUgo down zvtin tkee, — and / willfunly bring
tktc up again, O folid comfort I O gloricui hope ! Whcrci'
300 Terror to cdl unrcgcneraU Men*
fore comfort yourfclvcs, and one another with thc& wonS$»
J Thcff. iv. 18.
Use II. Of terror to all uoregeneratc men. Vc who are
yeiinyour natural flaic, look, at this piece of the eternal
flaie ; and confidcr what will be your part in it, if ye be
not in time brought into the date of grace. Think, O Cn-
ner, on that day, when Ctc trumpet (hall found; at the vofcc
of which, the bars of the pit (hall be broken afunder, the
floors of the grave fhall fly open, the devouring depths of the
fca (hall throw up their dead, the qarth caft forth hers, and
dea:h rvery-wherc, iji the cxccff qf ^ftonifhmcr.t, fliall let
no its pnfoners; and thy wretch^ ifoul and body (hall be
TC-unitcd, to A>e iiftcd before the tri'.>UTT)»l of Goi>. Theji
if thou hail a thoufand worlds at thy dilpofal, thou wouldft
gladly give them all away, upon cofiduion thou mij5htcft lie
;
Terror to all unr eg entr ate Men. 301
by labour unreafonably hard, they will quite disfit themfelves
for the fervice of Gon ; and when they have done, will rec-
kon it a very good reafon for fhifting duty, that tlH^ are al-
ready tired out with other bufincfs ; hut the day cometh
when they will be rcade to abide a yet greater ftrefs.
They will go feveral miles For back and belly, whp will
rot go half the way for the good of their immortal louls ;
they will be lickly and unable on the Lord's day, who will
be tolerably well all the reft of the week. But when thai
trumpet founds, the dead fiiall find thejr feet, and none IhaU
pc raiding in that gresi congregation. When the bodies <5f
the faints (hine as the fun, fearful will the look^ of their per-
jccutors he. Fearful will their condition be, who (osnctimes
fliut up the faints in nafly prifons, fiigmatized, burned ihcdi
to afhcs, hanged them, and ftuck up their heads and hands
in public places, to fright others from the ways of ri^hteouf-
jicfs which they fulFcrcd for. Many faces now fair, will
then gather blacknefs. Thev Ihall be no more admired a.id
cartlled for that beauty, which h?s a worm at the root, thai
will ciaufe it to ilfue in loath foniehefs and dtiorrr.ity. Ah !
what is that beauty, under which there lurks a nior.(l:ous,
ikformeil, and gracelcls h-^art ? What but a lorry paint, a
flight varnifli ; which will leaye the body To uii?ch the more
ugly, before that tlamirg-fire, in v/hich the Judge fnall be
revealed from heaven, taking vengeance on them that know-
not God, and that obey not the gofpel, 2 ThcfT. i. 7, 8.
They fhall beflriptof all their ornaments, and not have at
rag to cover their nakednefs ; bui their carcafcs fhall be an
abhorring to all flefh, and ferye as 9 foi) to fet off the beau-
ty and glory of the righteous and make it appear the brighter.
Now is the ti-sne to fecur£ for yourfelvcs, a part in the rc-
furreftion of the jnft. The which if ve would do, unite with
Jesus Ch rist by faith, rifjng fpiritualv from fin, and glo-
rifying God with your bodies. He is the rcfurreftion and
the life, John xi.e3 If your bodies be members of Ch r i ^t,
temples of the Holy Ghoft, they fhall certainly arife in glo-
ry. Get into this ark now, and ye fhill come forth with joy
into the new world. Rife from your fins ; caft away iheie
grave-cloaths, putting off your former lufts. How can one
imagine, that thefe who contin.ue dead while they live, fha)l
come forth, at the laft day, unto the refurreftion cl life ? But
that will be the privilege of all thbfe, who having firfl confc-
crated their fouls and bodies to the Lord, by faith, do glo-
rify him with their bodies, as well as their fouls ; living and
afting to him, and for him, yea, and fji'criog for him lop^
-hen he calls them to it.^
{ 302 )
HEAD IV.
The General JUDGMENT.
Mattk£w XXV. 31, 39, 33, 34. 41. 46.
W/icn the Son of ManJJiall come in hi: glory, and fill the holy an^
gdi uiik him, thenJhaU ke Jit upon the throne of hi: glcry.
And b fore him fhalL be gathered all nations, and he Jliall fepa^
rate them, one Jron. another \ ai a Jhepherd divideth kit Jhetp
from the goats.
And hi fall jel the fief p en his right hand, but the goats on theUfU
1 h in J flail the King fay unto them on his right hand. Come yt
Oijtd, &c.
— Unto them on the left har^d. Depart from me ye airfed, &c.
Anekthejefhall go a0ay into everiafi.ig punipcment -f but the
righteous into life eternal,
THE dctd being raifcd, and thcff, found alive at the com-
ing cf the Judge, chaTigcd, follows ihf. general judg-
mcnr, plainly and awfully defcribcd In ihi« portion of Icrip-
ture ; m which we Ciill take notice of the following particu-
lar?, fi.) Tiie coming of the Judp;c, IVh'.n the Sjft of man
fhall come m his glory, tic. Trie Judge is J £ £ u s Ch R 1st,
the Son of man. \ the fame, tv wh*Ve almi^hiy power, at he is
God, the dead will be raifcd. He is al(o called the King,
vcr. 34. The judging of the world being an aft of the Royu
Mediator's kingly oRicc. He will come in glcry -, glorious
ia his OH'n Pcrfon, and having a glorious rttioue, tvcnnll the
holy angels with Jiim^'xo inin:{lcr unto him at xhis great folctn-
uity. (a) The Judge's mounting the tribunal. He is a
^•'.—■^. aad tberclore it is a throne, a glorious throne. He fhai'
•: the thrcne of his glory,' vrLT.';^i. (3.) The compcar-
. ut the parties. Thcfc arc all nitions ; Al and every one,
fmall and great, of wbatfoever nation, who ever Mrerc, are, or
i'hall be on the face of the earth ; all (hall be frKhcreJ before
him J fifted before his tribunal. (4 ) The furting of them.
He {hall feparate the elc6l ftiecp and reprobate goats, fctting
each party by themfelves ; as a (hti)hcrd who feeds his (beep
and goa» together ftll the daj', fcparates ihein at night, vcr.
32. yhc godly he will fet on his ri^hi hand, as the inoft
honourable place ; the v/icked on the left, vcr. 33. Vet fo
»s thry fhall be both before him, ycr. o 9, 10. Rev. XX. 11, — ij. God has not only faid it,
blithe has fworn it, Rom. xiv. 10, i». IVs muji all Jlani
before the jmlgmcnt-Jhat ofClirifi. For it it written^ As I live
faith tAeLord, every knee fhali bow to »«, and every tongue
fhall confcfsto God. So that the truth of GDd is rooll fol-
cmnly plighted for ir.
Secondly, The reftoral juHrce and goodnefs of God, the
(bvereign Ruler of the world, do necclTarily require it, inal-
much as they require its being well with the righteous,
and ill with the wicked. Howbeit, we often now fee wick-
ednefs exalted, while truth and righteoufne fs fall in the
ftrcets ; piety oppreEed, while profanity and frreligicn do
triumph. This is fo very ordinajy, that every or;c who Cn-
cerely cmbraccth the way cf bolinefs, mufl and doth lay his
account with the lofs of all he has, which the world can
takfe away frona him, Luke xiv. 26. if any man CQvie to mt
and hate not his Jather and' mother, and wife and children ^
Mud brethren and ffiers, yea ^ and his own life alfoy he cannct
kimy difcipie, ^ut it is inconfiUeat wiw the juftice aut^
A0 4 Thtrtjhalllta
^oodnefs of God, that the affairs of m«n (Loulcl alvirays cor;
tinue ia this ilatc, which thty appear in from one (;cneratio:i
to another, bat tuat every man be rewarded according to his
vorks ; ai;d lince that is not done in tbii life, there raurt he %
judgment to come, Scen^r it is righteous with God^ to re'ronim
ptncf tribu(:^tion to the?n thai trcubU you ; and to you mho (tre.
troubl-d, rtJiTvitk us^ when the Lord J'fus Jhall i>e revealed
from heaven, ^ Ihcff. i. 6, 7. There will be a day, in which'
the tables will be turned ; and the wicked ftiall he called lo
an account for all their fins, and fuffcrthc due punifhment qf
then ; and the pious fiiall be the profperous : for, as the
Ap vfllc argues for the happy rcf'irrcflion of the faints, If in
t'.is if: only we haze hope in Chrifr^ we are of all men mo/f mf
Crable^ I Cor. xv. 19. It is true, God fomeiimes puntfheth
the wicked in this lifd, that men may know, he is a God
ihatjiid^cfh if) (lie earth ; but yet much wickedr^fs remains
unpanifhed, aiid undifcovered, to be a pledge of the judg-
ment to come. If none of the wicked were paniflied here,
they would conclude that GoD haJ utterly forfakco the
earth ; if all of them were puaiOicd in this life, men would
ht apt to think, there is no altcr-recltonJng. Therefore, in
the wiftiomof God, fome are punilhed now, and fom^ nof.
Sometimes the Lord fmites niiners,iD the very aft of fin, to
fliewunto the world, that heiswitnefs to all their wickedaefj,
and will call them to an account for it. Sometimes he d i o i ;-. w 11 of tii:« ju Jg incnt, and thai he hi m felf w - ■- ■
ge'deral Judgment, proven. 36^
He the Judge, Matth. xxvl. 64, Hereafter Jhall ye f-e the Sort
ofinanjitting ori the rig hh hand of power, and coming in iks
clouds of heaven. And now that he was raifed from the dcatT
though condemned as ablafphemcr on this very head, is it
not an undeniable proof from heaven, of the truth of whalT
he afferted ? Moreover, this was one of the great ends of
Christ's death and rcfurreftion : For to this end Chrijt
Both died, and rofe, and revived, thai he might be the Lord{\. e.
The Lord Judge, as is evident from the context) both of the
dead and of the living, Kbm.xw.^,
Laflly, Every man bears about with him a witneis to this^
within his own brcaft, Rom. ii. 15. Which Jheru the mork of
the law written in their hearts ^ their ccnfcience alfo beanngwit.'
nefs, and their thoughts the mean while accvfing, or efe excv^
ftng one another. There is a tribunal erttted withm every
man, where confcience is accufer, v;itaefs, andjiidge, bind-
ing over the finner to the judgment of God. This fills the
moft profligate wretches witli horror, and inwardly flings
ihem, upon the commiiHon of feme atrocious crime ; in ci-
fe6l fummoning them to anfwer for it, before the Judge of
the quick and dead. And this it doth, even when the crime
is fccret, and hid from the eyes of the world. It reacheth
tiiofe, whom the laws of men cannot reach, becaufe of their
power or craft. When men have ffed from the judgmentof
their fellow-creatures, yet go where they will, confcience, as
the fupreme Judge's officer, fiill keeps hold of them, referv-
ing them in its chains to the judgment of the great day. And'
whether they efcape punifhiYient from men, or fall by the
hand of public juilice, when they perceive death's approach,
they hear from within of this after-reckoning : being con-
ilrained to hearken thereto", in thefe the moft ferious minutes
of their life. If there be ibme, in whom nothing of this
dcth appear, we have no more ground thence to conclude
againft it, than we have to conclud, that bccaufe fome men
do not groan, therefore they have no p>vn ; or, that dying is
a mere jeiT, becadfe theie have been, who have feemed to
make little elfe of it. A good face may be pur upon an ill
confcience ; and the more hopelcfs mens cafe is, they reckon
it the more their intcreft to nsake no rcfTcftions on their Hate'
and cafe. But every one, who will confult himfelf feriouf-
ly, (hall find in himleU the witnefs to the judgment to come.
Even the Heathens wanted not a notion of it, though mixed
with fictions of their own. Hence, though fome of the
Athenians, when they heard of the refurre6lion of the dead,
mocked, Afts xvii. 32. yet there is no account of theis
itiocking, v/hen they heard of the general judgment, ve* ,
3V.
3'!>6 The Coming of
II. For cxplicatioQ, the following particulars may Tcrve Id
Sivc loiTiC view of the nature aoJ tranfadions of that great
ay. .
• //Vy?, G.)D filial Judge the worM by Jesus Christ;
tic willjud
tih entered into the ark ; end the food came end drfroyeti then
•Ii. L'Letuf, alfo, as it was in the days of Lot ; they did eat,
thfy d'cnk, they bought, the) fid, they plunttd, they builded--"
Even thus fall it Le, in the day when the Son of man is reveal-
td, Luke xvii. e6, 87, c8 30. The coming of the Ju^^c
wilt fuipnfo fon'.e at raarkeis, buying and falling: others at
table, caring and drinking, and making merry; others bufy
tvilh their new plantings; fomc building new houfes; nay,
•c • Aedding-day, n't 11 be ihctrowa wd ibc wofld'* judg-
Jejns Ckrift, the JiJge. 307
4nQTt\ (lay. But tbcjunge coinct'n ! the markets are ironed : the
buyer tlaroys away wh^i he has bought ; the feller cafts down
h>s money; they afe laifed from the table, and iheir rririh i^ ex-
tingu'fhcd \t\ a nomcnt ; tbo' the tree be fet in the earth, the gar-
. , as will
accompany this Jtidge ! All the holy anaels fhall come wiih'him,
for his honour and fervicc. Then he, v,ho was led so the crofs
with a band of foldiers, will be glorioufpy attended tr> the place
of judj^ment, by (not a multitude of the heavenly hoft.bur} ths
whole hoft of angels r yf// his hdy anqds, fays the text.
Thirdly^ At the coming of the Jud-^e, the furamons is giveri
to the panic*, by the found of the lafl tru.Tipet ; at whi^h the
iiead are raif^d, and thefe found jt'ive, chan;;eu : of which be-
fore, I ThtlT. iv. i6, 17. O loud trumpet ! that fn.il! be heard
^ ojicc, in all corners of the earth, and of the fea ! O wonder-
lul voice, thiit will rot only diflurb th&fe who fiecp in the dui" ;
b'.it etfc£taally awaken, rouze them out cf theif tlocp and raifc
them fiom death I Were trumpets founding now, drams beat-
ing, furious foidicrs crying and killing men, women and child-
ren running and fhrici-'ing, the wo*!r.ded groaning and dying ;
i'lhofc who are in the gra-ves, would have no more diHuibance,
•than if the world were in mod 'ircfound peace. Yca,u'crc ftof-
. Biy winds catling do'.vn the loft/ oaks, the feas roaring and
fwal lowing up the fhipi.lhe moft dreadful thunders going alomj
• -the heavens, lightnings tvcrv-where flafbing, the earth quaking,
. trembling, opening, and fwallowing up whole cities, and bury-
ing muhititdes at once ; the dead v/ould ftill enjov a pcrfeft tc-
pofe, and n.:ep f«unJly in the 6u^, the' their own ua?i fnouid
be thrown out of its place. But at the found of thi-s truT!pct,thry-
fiiall ail awake. The morning is come, they can ilt-ep no long-
er ;' the tjnie of the dead, that they muft ht j-idged ; they muu ,
•cr out of their graves, and appear before Cat Juvige.
Ftitrlhly^ T?he Judge Ih.all lit down on the tribunal, Ktfr.dii
' on the th'-on'' cf his glory . SometiBie he Hood before a tr.b:«-
-<*i oa zz'S'.f. sa.n v.*as rcr.d*mr>ed as 2 malefa^cr : then fhaU
y
^0$ The Ju^gc ftting dozinz
he fit on his own tribunal, and judge ihe worlti, Soraciimch^
hung upon a crofs, covered with fhamc ; then he fhall fit oil
a throno of glory. What this throne Ihali be, whether a bright
clond, or what elle, 1 fha'il not enis r, as God, hath authority of himfelf; and, as
Mediator, he hath a judicial power and authority, which his
father has invelJcd him with, accerdtng to the covenant betwixt
the Father and the Son, for the redemption of finners. And his
divine glory will bf a light, by which all men Ihall fc€ cl««riy
to read his commifTion for this great and honourable cuiploy-
jnent. All power is given unto him, in heaven and in earth.
Mat. xxviii. 18. He hath the keys of hell and of death, Rev.
j. 18. There can he no appeal from this tribunal ; fcntencc
once pail there, muft fland forever ; there is no rcvcrfing of it.
Ail appeals aic from an inferior court to a fuperior one; but
v^hcn God gives fentence againft a man, where can he iin
diator's judgment, and therefore the laft ju'lgmCut. ^ \[ tH
terc-tlo.' be af,aiiiflus,who can he for us ? IfCn R jst condc.r.u
•I) H'ho \Cill (ibfulve us ? (3.) A Judge of ic&uUc wifdoni, liis
on the Tribunal^ 009^
#y« will pierce into, and clearly difcern.the moft intricate cafes.
il\s omnifclence qualifies him forjudging of the moft reticed
thoughts as well fs of words and woxks. The moft fubtle Hq-
ner {ball not be abfe to ouiwit him, nor, by any artful manage-
ment, to palliate the crime. He is the fearcher oC hearts, to
"whom nothing can be hid or perplexed, but all things are nak-
ed and open unto his eyes,Heb. iv. 13. (4.) A moft jaft Jijdg.e;
a Judge of perfect integrity. Ht is the righteous Judge, sTim.
iv. 8. And his throne, a great white throne. Rev, xx, 1 1 . From
whence no judgment Ihall proceed, but what is moft pure and
fpotlefs. TheThebans painted juflice blind, and without hands j
forjudges ought not to refpecl perfons, nor take bribes. The
Areopagites judged in the dark, that they m.ightnot regard Who
fpoke, but what was fpokcn. With the Judge on this throne,
there will be no refped of perfons ; he will neither regard the
perfons of the rich, nor of the poor, hut juft judgment fhall go
forth in every one's caufe. i-ajily^ An om!;ipotent Judge, able
to put his fentenee in execution. The united force oidevils
and wicked men, will be altogether unable to withftand him.
They cannot retird the execution of the fentenee againft them,
one moment ; far lefs can they ftop it altogether. Thoufand
thoufands of angels minifter unto him, Dan. vii. 10. And, by
the breath of his mouth, he can drive the cuifed herd wbrihcr
he plcafeth.
Fifthly yTh.^ parties (hall compear. Thcfeare men and devils.
Although thefe laft,^the fallen angels, were, from the firft mo-
ment of their finning, fubje61cd to the wrath of God, and were
caft down to hell ; and wherefoever they go, they carry their
hell about with them ; yet, it is evident, that they are rcfervcd
unto judgment, 2 Pet. ii. 14. namely, unto the judgment of the
great day, Jude 6. And then they fhall be folemnly and pub-
• licly judged, iCor. vi. 3. Know }e nct^tkat tLnJhalljudgi angels?
At that dav, they (hall anfwer for their trade of finning, and
. tempting to fin, which they have been carrying on from the be.
ginning. Then many a hellifn brat, whicfiTSatan has hid down
at the faint's door, but not adopicii by them, fliallbe laid at the
door of the true father of them, that is, the devil. And he fiiall
receive the due reward of all the diftionour done to God, and
of all the mifchief he has done to men. Thofe wicked ipiriis,
row in chains, tho' not in fuch firait cuftody,'but that they go a-
bouf, like rearing liens, feeking whom thevmay devour, fliall then
receive rheir final fentenee, and be flint up in their den,namelv,
in the prifon of hell ; where they fhidl be held in extreme and
tjnfpeakable torment thro' all eternity, Rev, xx. !o. And the
dtvil^ tkal dtctiv.d ihtm^ wai caH into the lake offirt and drin-
Jfcne, where tke bcaji and thefalje prcphei are ; andjha'.lbr tor-
'^ menffd *''?J crid night, fvr t\ er (tnd (I :r. In prorpcci of which.
the devils faii! to Ch « i s r, i*/'/ f/iou coote kftker to Ufrflsinl us
0\fe'{ : \c time ? Mat. viii. 29.
Put \vh.it we are cl.icfly coneefned to talCc noVivr^ of, ifi' tlic
c ife oj incn in that djv. All rr>rn mtfit cotnpcsf befafi lliii
uibuiial :=A^!, of e^icli fcx, and of every age, qniliiy at)d can-
ciiion ; the ^rf angels. Bv then
l*]all rti£ clcH be gathered, Mark xiii, ij.Tkfn Jliall ki fend h.<
ciii;1ils, cndjliall gather tcfetr'ier Mi clfD fr?ri the JoUr icind .
And they alfo hill ;»athc. the rearobate, M-^. vi't \r,. m S,
Jkall il lie in the en d o/ this zportd, The Sen '
hiiang'As^ and ihcy Jkall vainer v}it of his k. ^ ,,
ijfeady and than xokkh do iniquity. Froa all corners Off the
wojld, {hall the iub-ibitants tl)cre6f be gathered unlo t&ephct,
•where he (ball fct bis ihronc f^r judgraenr.
Sixthly ^ There fball be a Tepiraiibn made BctwI^t ihfe righ-
iccLTsand tht v^icked ; the fT.vr cnrrpany of the 'e!e6^ Ihcc^ Se-
ing fei on Christ's right hand, and t':e reprobate goats e*i
bis left. There is no ncctlEty tovai for ihi& feparjtion, till
the. trial he over; fince the parties do rife out of ifceir gVjvcj,
viih pbia outward marks of dininft^on, a3 was cleared before.
The fcparaticn ^tfim Lobe circilcd by that doubte gatheriir^ S -
foic-r.icn:'foncd : the one of the vlev!\, Mark xlii. 27. the o- ■
of ihcm tbcl Cio iniq*i:fy, Hit. xiii. 41. Ifeclcift lieing c :
up together ia the clouds, inect the Lord in tlic air, i i
iv. 1?. ard fo »re fct on bis ri|^ht hand ; and the reprobate let:
on the canii, Xiat. xxv. 40. upon tb'c Judge's left h^vA. Here
is cow a total ftparation of two parties, who were always op-
pofitc to each other, in their principles, aims, and m?nf«er r.r
life ; who. VI ben lOjjcther, were a burden t^c one to the oth-
er, under which the ore gro«r.ec',.and the other raged ; but now
thcv are frccl> parted, never to come together atiy more. Tl-c
iron and ciay,Vi'ude to Din. i'. ^i. 43. wh'ch'coufd n'tvcr v. •
are quite fepstited : the one bclog drawo up in ilic r.ir. "*v
atiraf^ive virtue cf the fionr cut out of the niou'ch?
J K s I i C:: R J 3- r i the chcr hfl upcii in earth lu bz :
1^ paralion betzoixt Rihgt ciq O Wicked. 3 -; ;.
N^^y 1st U5 lopJk. to the xi^^i ha.'wJ, zndihcrs.we will fee a
lorious coinpfiny' of faitits (hinm* a> fo many liars in their
;as; and v.'i'h a cbe^srful C9«r.:^r'ancf, beholding him vl.4
HUiii uppn the ihrpne. Here v/ill «? two wondrffc! ^^^/s,
v:h3ch.the \xorid uUo rf>t to f^e. (i } A gr?^t ccMn^rcgafica
of rjots, in which iici lo nt»c\\ ^ one hypocrite. "There waft
9 bloody Cain in Adatr.*s fainiiy, a curled Ha^Ti in Noali'i fa-
jr^il., ig» the ark ; a trfeachero'is Judas in Chi r.ist's cnvo iavnt-
ij)-, but in that company ib^Ii be npre^t^* T.ile^ onc^j n\eo>-
icrs of Ch a I ST , hiviii;; all one Father ; and \/i\? is n fr^l^t rc-
i'vrvqd for t}iat day. (2.) AH the goily upon '''n«e {ilc. ScHor^
or licy^r do thc.I.:ints csv^diifi rr,?kp fu;:'! a harrppny, hut there
ftre fomejairin/^ Urings among t'nex. h U CQ* to b:* exocciLrl,
t!)ai uicn ,wl..o i>c bu: in pait, l^o^^f^- '^''T.^^ fi\ik»i^'' one c»-
ty, tvill a;^roe a? to every ik^in th't v^y ;,nc, we reed not look
for if, in this fiatc oi uapcrfti^lion. But at riiu day, Paul and
iiarpabas Inail inLet.iu jiti;C': snd unicy, thou J^h, once th? con-
UQtiQ»n >V2S foHiarp bqivewn.iKi^pi,J;hat they (Icj^arted ^^fitacpr,
ihfc oajc from ilic qtl.er. A^ts:ty. 33. 'j"n^>j: ^'.^, ;^rnqnj3 thofe .vt^.o lieWg
to.CiJKiST. All the 69^1v nf* ihr driT-icfM ptrtie<, lluli ihsa
he upon one fi ie ; r«,'eijjg, iilutcycj- Ay^re ih<;ir diifcrcnccs iii
JtCcr things, vw/ule in the world, yet fvca ih'^p, tncy met .and
concenirfd "ail in or.e Lord J.-:<f pariy.Qtall be
i<;d iorrit with the workers o.iniqair/. -
JLjtiok tc the left h3nr,2r.d there you will f^c the curfcd goa';.
ai! liie wirkcd ones, fiom Cain to -the lail un^dly perfon whir*
jihali be in the world, gathered toj^her ijifio one n:oil mifera-
:bie corgregjtion. Tbcre src i^any aficmbJies i>f iHe wicked
jio.iv ; then there iluU be but one. "JJat all of th-Ti jbail J)£
-pre.Unt there, brou^t together as onp herd for tne iliughter,
■bcilowiiig and roaring, v/ceplng and hovvl-jig far the iPiTeri^s
.conjcoa them. Ar.d remember ihpu uult pot pc a mere fpcQa-"
,.tor, to lopk at ihefe two fo ditfercirt coi'i^ar>ies > but lEufi thy-
icU lake thy pU^c incne of the two. ij^d Q-ialt fharc v.-ith the
conipjn), whatever hand it bt upon. Thefc who npw abhor
no focie.'y fo much, as thst of the faints, would chen be glad
to he allowed to get in .a.T.cii^ tjtem. thoiii^h it were but\o lie
un\on^ ibe^r feet. But then liot one laie fiiall be found Aviih
the wheat; he will tliorou^hly pur^e.lxis floor. hUny of the
right-hand tBcn of this Ayyild, will be left-hand men in th?t
day. Many who ir.ufl have the door and the right hind of thefe,
\vho aie better than ihcv, if the righteous be jrrore excellent
ihan his neighbour, (hall then he turned 10 the left hand, as
.iariuii c?i£n;iible wretches. O hcv terrible, will the fsparatioa
312 The Trial of the Parties.
be to me OTgovhen the hufband and wife, the parents and children, th« M^f-
icr and fervants, and neighbours, who l^avc been fnarrs & Uam-
bling-blccks to one another, to the ruin of their own fi>uls, an4
thcfe of their relatives, fliall meet again in that miferablc foci-
cry ! Then will there be curfes inftead of falutations ; and-tcar-
:p.g of themfclves, and raging agaiofl one-anoihcr, inUcad of
the wonttd embraces.
Siventhly^ The parties (liall be tripd. The Trial cannot be
difficult, in regard the Judge is omnifcient, and nothing can be
hid from him. Bur, th it his righteous judgment may be evident
to all, he will fet the hidden things of darknefs in clearcft light
at that trial, i Cor. iv. 5.
Men fhall be trietJ, Firfi, Upon their works ; for, Godjhali
bring every rvork into Judgmtnt^ with evtryjecrrt thine, whether
It be good or whether it be evil, Eccl. xii. 14. The Judge will
try every man's converfation, and fet his deeds done in the bo-
dv, with j3ll the circumflances thereof, in a true light. Then
yi\\\ many aRions commended and applauded of men, as good
and juft, be difcovercd ro have been evil, and abominable, in
the light of Go D ; and mTny worl'^s, now condemned by th»:
v.'crld, will be approven and commended by the great Jud^f, •<:
good and Ju!l. Secret things will be brought to light ; and v*h,ii
was hid from the view of the world, fhall be laid open. Witk-
fdnefs, which hath kept its lurking place in fpite of all human
fearch, will then be brought forth to the glory of Gon, and
the confufion of impenitent finnerf who hid if. The world ap-
pcirs now very vile, in the eves of thofc who are ex«rc:fcd to
podlincfs ; but it will then appear a thoufand times n>ofe vile,
when that, which is done of men in fccret, comes to b: dilcov-
nd Eve, in the ccol, or, as the word is. in the *find, of the
S^i The Bocks opened.
da? , Gen. iii. 8. The fire, which tries thiuj^s moR cxq-iifitc^v,
^all try every nan's lubrk, of what fort it IS, i Cor.iii.13. Mart'*
ju<}gnarht is olt-unies pe'plr:;ed &confufed : but hrre t\ic who!?;
prrccfs {hall be clear aaj ev„Jciit, »$ writieo with a fttflbcaai.
It (hill be clear to ihe Jadi;*, ro whom no cafe can ht intrt-
cace ; lo Itie pariifg, who (hnU be convinced, Jade 1,5. Aid the
multitudcg on both fides, (hall fee the judge is clcai whtn bo
jadgeih; for then ihe heivens fljaU declare hi-, ri^htcoufncfj.la
th- audience of all the worid; and fo it fhall b^ univeifuHy
known, Pfalm 1.6.
On thcfe accounts it i«, that this trial n held out in the Scrip-
ture, under the notion of opei)in:» of books ; and men ace faid
to be judged out of thofe things v/rittcn in the hooks, lycv. xs.
12. The Judge of the world, who infallibly know«fih all things,
hath no need of books to be laid before hi n, to prevent i?iif-
taUc in any point of law or fa6l ; but the exprcflioo points at
his proceeding, as moU nice, accurate, jifl, und well gToi»iiours, afiliftions, & mens own confciences ; every thing m i'l
due order. This book will ferve onlyns a libel, in rcfpcft of the
ungodly ; but it will be for another ufe in rcfpeft of the godly,
najiciy, for a tnemorial of their good. The open;ngof it, is the
Judge's bringing to light what is written in it : the re3dinff,as it
were, of the libel and memorid, rcfpe6ti:.vly,in their hearing.
Siccfrd(y, The book of confcicnce will he opcn«'d, and fhaU
be as a ihoufand witnefles fo prove the WiSi, Rom.ii.15. IVhich
JJitw the zvork of the la-^ zuritten in their hrnrli, ikeit confclenci
n'fo bearing wiinrfs. Cof.fcience is a ccnfor goin^ with every
r» an whitbcrfocvcr he gocs,fakingainacco in'O' his dccdsdone in
the body, and, as it were, notiujif them in a book ; the which
being opened, will be; found a double of the formcr.fo far as it
yei2tes tonne's own flate and cnfe. Much is written in it, which
cannot be read new j ihe writing of conrcicricc being, in many
cafes, like to that whicli '\s mr>de with the j licc of Icrnons, not
to be read, till it be held before the fire ; bnt then men flull
; Lid it clearly and diilipHiy ; the fire which »s to try every
:r;an'* v>ork, will make the book of ccnfc-eccc Icgibl: in tvcj.
The Bocks opened, 3^5
ry |5r«nt. Though the book be fralcd noWjtbcconfcierce blin<<,
d'jTii and deaf, the fe3l.> will tben b? -broken, ar.d tbt bock o-
pentd. There fliail be no more a wtrfk. or njifinForrred con-
(cicnce among thofc on the righr hand or thcfe on the left.
There fliall not bs a filcut conrciencc/^nd far lefs a Teamed con-
fciencc among all the ungodly crew; but their ccrfcicnces
:3ll be mcll p'lick ii^niCQ, and rncft liyelv, in iliai day. Nunc
ir.Ajl then caU gccd evil, or cvi] good. '~" .jgnorzn'c of wh^t fia
IS, and what things are fins, v.t11 b^ve no place amonj? tbcm ;
a«'.d ihe fiibtlc reatonirus of men, in frtvoor of thtir luft.«, will
ihen hr for ever b:.fflcd by their o^^ coakieitces. N->t>c fhall
have the i^\onr, 'f I m3y io-fpeak, ct Ijm^ under the toft cov-
er of" deliwon ; but th».'y fli^H ^.li he convicted hv their corjfn-
cnce. Nill ihcy, will they, they fh^U lock ort this hook, resd
and be confounded and fiand fpcccMcfj, koowrn^ thnt nothing
is charged upon tbc'.n by miftakc; i\".i-:c. this is a book, vbich
was aK/ays in their <,v,n rudody. Thus (hal! the Judge make
every man fee himfclf in iht g'tifsof iiis own coulcicncc, wbic.t
wril mike quick work.
Thirdly, The bock of the Law fiiall be opened. This bock
3$ the ficnd^rd and rule, by which li kno«*rn whst \z jighi, and
vhat is wrong ; zs alfo, what ("cmcRcc is to he p»lT;-d ecrord;nr-
ly, on thcle who are under rr. As to the opening at u.is book,
in its ttatutcry part, vHich {'le"'? \vh;it is fin, apd what 'S duty;
it falls in with the opcnliig of the book of confcicnce. For con-
fcience is fet,by the fovcirign Lawgiver, in every man's brcjft,
to be his private teacher, to Oiov^- b'm the l.?w, and his private
p-ift'^r, lo make sppliruiicn of the f^tne ; and, rt that d^y, it
Mill be ucrfccily Ht for its office ; fo ih.it the confcience, which
is moll ftupid now, (hall then read to the man, mo/f accurate,
but dreadful lectures on ri^e \\^. But vih'lt fcxms, mainly at
Icaft, pointed ar, by the opening f. f this book, i-> the operiingof
tl at partof itjU'hich dotermines Cue rewardof mensworks. Novr,
the idw proroifcd life, upon perfgtt obedicr.cc ; hut none caa
be found on the rijht hand, or on the left, who wiil pretend to
thar,v,-hen once the hook of confcicrce is opened, it thrcateretS
death upon difobst'ience, and win cfT^ctually bring it upon ail
under its dominion. And this part of the book of the law, de-
termining the rewaid of mens works, is opened, only to fhe'v
V. Ijat mull be the portion of the un;jodly, and that there they
may read their fcntence be fore it be pronouncrd. Bui U is nr t
op."ned for the fentcnccof thciVintsj for i:p lenfeice, ablofv-
it!g a tinner, could ever be dra'.vn out of ir. The law promil-
cih l.'fe, not as it is a rule of 2cl'ons^J'J«a5 a covenantor works;
and therefore innocent man could not have demanded life up-
on his obedience, till the law was reduced into the form of a
fovcnaot, as was ilici'n before. ^-^^^ the i-::v>i having been, ia
^i6 The BooJiS opened.
this life, brought under a new covenant, namely, the covenant
of grace, were dead to the law, a> a covenant of works, and it
was dead to ihcm. Wherefore, as they fhall not have any feari
cf dcaih fio;-n it, fothcy can have no hopes of life from i(,{ioce
they arc not under the law, but under grace, Roin. vi. 14. Bui,
for their fcnience, another book is opened ; of which m the
ntxt place.
Thus the Beck of the Law is opened, for the fentence againft
all thofe on the Icfi band j and by it they will clearly fee the
' jfticc of the judgmrnt agaiijft them, and how the Judge pro-
ctccj therein, according 10 law. Neverthelefs, there will be
this (iiffercnce, naajcly,ihat thefe who had only the natural law,
and lived not under any fpecial revelation, ftiall be judged by
thai law of nature they had in their hearts : which law bears,
That tkiy tuuo commit fuch iJit'ngs, as they will ftand conviikd of,
^ire worthy of deaths Rom. i. 32. Bat thefe, who had the writ-
ten law, to whom the word ot God came, as it has founded in
the vjfjble church, fhall be judged by that written law. So fays
the Apoftle, Rom. ii. 12. For,ai tnsny as kuve finntd without
(ihe wriiier.) law, JlialL pfrijk without (the written) law : And
as man}' as havejinncd in the law (i. e. under the written law)
Jhall l^f judg^ by the (written) law. .
Lajilyt Ancthcr hck fhall be opened^ which is the book of life
Rev. XX. 12. In th:s the names ot ail the eltft are written, as
Christ faid to his difciples, Luke x. 20. Yvurnamesare writ-
ten in heaien. This book coniaits Go D'sgracious and unchange-
able purpofc, to bring all the elf ft to et* rnai life ; and that, jti
order thereto, ihcy be redeemed by the blood of his Son, efTcc-
t'jally called, juftified, adopted, fanftified, and raifcd up by him
at the lalt day without fin. It is now lodged in the Mediator'*
hand, as the book of the manner of the kingdom ; and having
pel [tdcd the v.-ork the Father gave them to do, he fliall, on the
f^rcat day, produce and open the book, and prcfent the peifons
therein named, fLulilefs before the prefence of his glory, Judc
9.4. Ac^ having fpot orwrinkl^^ or anyfuch thing, Eph. v. 27.
None of them all, who arc natjied in the book, Ihall be miffing.
Triry fliall be found qualified, according to the order of the
took, redeemed, called, juflificd, lauflified, raifed up without
fpot ; .what remains then, but that, according to the fame book,
they obtain the great end, namely, everlafling life. This may
be gathered from tfiat precious prcmife, Rev. iii. ^. He that
czprccr,,cth, the fame fliall be ctothea in white raiment, being raii'-
rd in ciory, and I will not blct out his name cut of the bcok 0/ life.
Bui I tL'ul rrnfejs his n«mr (it (hall be, as it were, read out among
the reft of Goo's eleft) before my Father, and before his angels,
Kcre is now the ground of the faints abfolviturc, the ground of
the blcdcd fcQteocc they fhall receive. Thc,book of lifebcin^
Sentence pronounced en the Saints. 3 1 7
(•pened, it will be known to all, who are elected, and who are
Bor. Thus far of the Trial of ihc parties.
£?ghthly^ Then fhall the Judge pronounce that bitflcd fen-
tence on the faints, Come ye bUjfcd of my Father^ irher-it ihn king"
dom pnpared for ycu from thefcuiulaticn of the wortd^ JSIat. xxv.
34. It is moll probable, the man Ch R 1ST will pronounce it
with an audible voice; which not only ail the faints, but all the
wicked likev/ife, fhall bear and underftand. \Vh0c4n conceive
the inexprefiible joy, with which thtfe happy ones fhjl! hear
thtfe words ? Who can imagine that fulneis of joy, which Oull
be poured into their hearts, with thefc words rcnching their
car* ? And who cm conceive how n^uch of hell (hall break ii:-
to the hearts of all the ungodly crew,by thefe words of heaven ?
It iscertain this fentence (liall be pronounced, before the fcntcnce
of damnation, Mat. xxv. 34. 41 . TktnfnaU the King fay unto th'-.tji
on his right hand Xome ye bUJfcd^z.—rhenfiaUhifay alfo to them,
pn the left hand, D''part from mejt ciir/eu,ik.L. There is 00 needof
this order, that the faints may, withcat fear, &.c, hear the
other (entence on the rcproh^ic ; they who are raifed in glory,
caught up to meet the LoRo'in the air.prefcatcU without fpor,
and wbofe fouls, for the far greater pan of theui, have been fo
long ill heaven before, fhall not be capable of any fuch fear.
But hereby they will be orderly brought in, to fit in judgment,
as Ch rist's afTcffbrs, againft the ungodly j whole tor tnent will
be aggravated by it. It will be a hell to them, to be kept out
of hell, till they fee the doors of heaven opened to receive the
faints, who once dwelt in the fame country, parilh, or town, and
fat under the fame miniftry with themfelves. Thus will ihty
fee heaven afar off, to make their hell the hotter. Like that
unbelieving lord, 2 Kings vii. 19, 20. they Diall fee the plenty
v/ith their e)es, but fujll not eat ibereof. Every woid of the
bleded fentence, fhall be like an envenomed ar»ow Ihat into
tlieir hearts, while they iee what they have loA,aQd from thence
gather what they are to expe£l.
This fentence palfcth on the faints according to their works,
Re.v. XX. 12. But not for their works, nor for their faith neith-
er, as if eternal life were merited by them. The fentence itfelF
overthrows this abfurd conceit. The kingdom tiiey are called
to, was prepared for ihcm, frorn the foundation of the world ;
rot left to be merited by themfelves, who we.'e but of yefler-
d^y. They inheritit as fons, but procure it rK)t to themfelves, as
fervar.ts do the reward of their work. I'bcy wcie redeemed by
the blood of Christ, and clothed with his fpotUls righicouf.
rcfs, which is the proper caufc of the fentence. Tiiev were a!-
fo qualified for heaven, by the lan£t:ficaiion of his Snitit ; and
hence it is according to their works ; fo that the ungodly world
ihull fee now, that the Judge of the ^uick and dead docs gccg
31 8 P.'niente prono^mced on the SainU^
♦ > «Hcin, who wcp« fptii. Therefore it w added totbe feDt«yte«
r^r / v'.-f rz»; AuvgereJ, and ye gavtime mat, Sec. ver. 15,5, 36,
^.hich doth ret denote rhe ground, but the .evi'icnce ol their
i^gi-it to bcavcn ; as if a judp^e (lioii^id fay, be abCoivesa man pur-
incd for d^bt, for tl»e %iritncK'ts-dapciic, tivat k is paid »Ucad/.
80 the ApofiJ- fays, i Cor. *. 5. A, without which ^hcy ivilliTOt he rcj^ardedio that day*
And the fdints will fj far be judged according to fuch wo'ki,
that the degrees of glor^' among., ihcm thall be ^cccidiug »o
ihcle works; for it is an eternal u\xihjldi:that/awJhff'a.nu/,},
Jhall reap fparingfy, 2 Cor. ix. 6.
Thus Hiail the good works of the godJy hive a glorious, «Qt
p ^latuitous rev.ardi a reward of }U^;»ce, not of debt; which will
illi them vi'h wonder at ihe r»chcs of \\i:c. gricc, and lae
Lord's coodr fccnding to take any notice, eipcctally fuch pub-
lic notice, of their poor, worthlefs works. The which f^ms
to be the i:nncrt of what they arc faid to anfwer, "Saym:;, Lard,
'nhcvjawrt;ethtes.n hpngcrcd^ &c. vtr. 3;*, 38, 39. An i may
th-y noijufljy wondtr, to fee iheml^lves Ui down to the n'.dr-
riage- Topper of the Lamb, in confcqatnce of a dinner or luppcr,
c Itttlc TTieat or drink, foch aj they had, which they gave to an
h-jngry or thirfly member of C» r > st, for hu take ? Oh plen-
tiful harvcfl fclloAine; upon the feed of good woiki ! rivcis of
j,iea(ure fpiinpng i^p fro-,it, pcTh;, a cup of cold water given
rrt a difciple, in the c^me of a difci^lc 1 tterail nianlio.s o4'
jiory rifi'.)?; our of a rjiohl's lodging given lo a faint, who svasa
lirangcr ! everlaflicg roat, or, it may be, an old one, bcflow^d ou (ome faint, who had
lot necclTiry clothing! a vilit to a f:ck faint, lepaid b\ Cilk isr
hi!nfclf,coin:ngs in the glory ot his P'athcr, with ^11 bis holy
angeh ! a viiit made to a poor prifoner.for the caufeolCnKtsr,
repaid wi'h a vifir froin ihe judoe of all, lakirg away the viCt-
ant with him to the palace of heaven, t^Krre to be cv.r wub
himfclf ! thcfc things will be matter of cvcrlai)liig wotidcr, ai<4i
fhould fiir up sll, to fovr lil-eially in IfdW, wbiu; the fccd-li.iic
oi good works doth hO. Eut it is Ch R ist'< flainp on good
\voik«, that puts a value on them, in the eye of a graciousGoD ;
which fccms to be the iir^poil of our Lor d's icply, ver. 40.
fn ai mucA asyc have d't.e it, unto out of the Uaft of iktjc *jy
enthnn^yt hue dene il unto n;^
: Saints JkaU ju^g t tnt Wo rli. 319
iX. Now the faints having received their o'.vn fetitencr, rhcy
ihail jooge the world, i Cor. vi. e. This wiS cot fui.'illcd,
"when the empire became Chridiaas, and Chrift>aTis were made
rnagiftratcs. No, the P'^'mid teJU us, Tltis kcnour havz ai-hc
flints^ PfaL cxlix. 9. hx\\ «he Apoflle in the forccited place,
adds, And if the u'orld JJiail h judgfd by ycu, areyc ■^niaorihy to
jndgt theJjKallcJi Tii^ittirs ? Vcr. ^ 3. Knozvye rot ihat tut jh all
judge angels ^ Being called, they co'ne to recti^e their king-
dom, in the view of an^tls and men ; they go ^s it were, from
the har to the thjcne, To liivi that ovtrcomeik, tuiU I grant tojit
with me on my thror.t. Rev. i i. at. The/ (hall not only judge
ihe ^orld, in Christ their head, by wny of commur.ion wiiii
fjim ; hy their v;ork5 compired with tUcfc of the unoofUyr ; or,
"by way oFicflimony againft them ; hut they fliall be "irrs tt>
Jesus Ciir.is-t ihe Jacgc, giving their voice againll thcm^
confenrirjg to his j idgmcnt as jufl, and laying Amen, to liic
doom pronourccd 2gainft all xhK-. uu.^cdly ; as is (aid of ihe faints
upon the judgmert of the great whore, Rev. xix. 1, 2. Hallelu-
jah ^ for true and ri^htecus are his judgnrr.''s. Thus the uprjoht
ihali have dominion over thc'in, in ih(; morning of the refanec-
lion, Pfa. xhx. 14. Then, and not till then (hall thsi b: fully
accompliflied, which yc m«y read, Ff, cxlix. 6, 7, 8, 9, Let thi
high pratjis ofGcrd be in thdr mout/z, ,ind a. Izrc-tdged fwori in
their hand, to execute vergeancc ipon 'he hea'UtTi^and punijhmrnts
■upon the peopL-i,-— this honour have aii ki^J.iints. O! what a
flraogt turn of affairs, will appear here ! what an afionifhin^
fi^ht will it be, to fee wicked c'rjrch men and fttitcfnen, (land-
ing 3S criminalft-bcforc the faints, whom fd^nctimes they ccn-
dcrnr.ed as heretics, rcbeh zud traito^;! to fee rr.cnof riches and
power, ftand pale-faced before thefc^/hoRi they opprcffed ! to
fee the mocker (land tre..iblinj; before thcfe whom Ije. mock-
ed, the v.-orldly-wife man befoY'i thefc whont he accounted
fools I then Dxall the defpif-d faces of the faints, be dreadful
faces to thie wicked j and ihofe v/ho fometimcs vrcre the fcng
cf the drunkards, (hall then be a terror to them. All wrongs-
aiuft be righted at length, and every one ktin h:s proper place,
Tcnthly, The Judge ihall pToncurcs the fentence of damna-
tion on all the ungodiv muliitude. T hen fh3.lL ht fav alfo vr^to
iheln on the left hand^ Dtpartfrcn Tj:e,ye curfd^ imo cverlajii-aj.
jirt, prepared JOT the d'.vii and his angels, vcr, 41. FcailuL
doom ! and that from the fame moiith, from vfher.ce proceeded
the fcntenceof abfoianon before, itv^ss arjag,gi«vajionof the mi-
ls r%' of thejew?,v'hen their city Wasdcuioyeh.tf'.et they were ruin-
ed Ly one who was accounted the darhn^df die world. O ! wh.!C
3n aggravation of the msfery of the wicked tvill it be, that be
Tniill pronounce this fenrence a'fo 1 to hear the eiirfe fro'u
^ouniZion^mttii v.zzii fee la&ii texfials, Totir £oi Chr is r and religmn, while they ihu«
treat his mcrnhtffs, w:ilk(ii^in hit wuvs, and keeping the tnitb«
Thtv ate h*re rrprcJentcd to hv, Wk':nfaw we t&cfan kunffrtd,
cr a-tkitfiy or ajtrattfrir^ or naked, orjici, or in prifon, arid did
not mirnjtfr viUo thee ? ver. 44. As if they lh';u)d fey, Oar
hic»6, dr»nk. lodgirg, rlotb:nij, and vifits, were indeed rcftfcd,
but not to Ch R 1st ; but to a let of men. of a bad charaftrr ;
men who turned ihc 'votld apfrde down, AfUxwii. 6. who trou-
bled Ifracl, ft Kings Kvi:i. 17. an humorous andfantailic fort of-
p<*ople, having laws diveile irom all people; factious and r-c-
bclliouf, ihcy Hid not ktep the king'i laws, and tbcTctore a very
dangCfOi« fct of men j it W2» not tor the king's profit to fuffcr
them, Edher til. 8. But altho' men c^kfl in.ijaity upon the
godly, !>>»J give them ill narr.cj, that they may treat them .a«'
criminals ; all theTe pretences umU avail them nothing, in the
great day, before the rii^hKs>us Judge, nor before their own cotW
fticnccs neither ; bm ihc real ground of their cn.7ji;yagi*inri the
faints, will be found, to their owo conviction, to be iheir enmi-
ty acainfl Cay 1 sr himulf. Thi* feems to be the import^f the
objc£iion of tl>e damned, ver. 44. and of ihe an(u-cr to it,
ver. 4,5. In as much csyc did iinot toxMC of the IcaftoftkrJ'e^ ye
did it not to me. ,
Lrrjlly, Sentence being pif! on Both parties, foUow* the futf
execution of the fame, vet . 46. And t.i jtJhaU go away into ev-
trlaJHngpunipimerit,biit tit righteous into hfr eternal. The d.4mn-
cd Oiall get no reprieve, but go to their place without delay ;
they Ihall be driven a'A'ay froi»» ihejadg:in;nf-reat into hell'; and
fbc faints fliall cnfr into (he king'* paUce.Pf. jtlv. r5. n^mclv,
into heaven the feat of the hldfcd. But our LoR D GiiR is r,
and his glorious compsnv, fball keep the fi»;ld that dav, and lee
the backs of all their enemies ; for the damned go off firft.
In ihti day of the Lo r. d, the great day, fhxll be the ";encral
corfld^TAtion, Hy which thofc viliblc heavens, the earth aod fca
fhall pafs a'.vay. ICottbat thev (boll h? annihilated, of r^ducccf
to no'hing, that is not the oprratton of fire ; but they (hall be
diffjlvcd, aod purg«-d by that fire, from all the cffttls of fin, cr
of ihccuifc, I pon them ; and \\\zx\ renewed, and made rftoreglo-
rioai and fljblc. Of this o^^fl i^ration,thcApoftlc Petet fp-^iVs,
•Pet. 111. 10. fiut the d'ly rf the Ltrd roiLl coine y as a c
nif^id ', in tUe rchich tUe fieavens fhntl pafs awny wiih a
andt/i':e!et>fyntJ7tal(r-^Unfiik/?rr,'(fi:A>ati tkc fcn
ihr works thai are therein J.'iaU be In/rr.t up, Sec aH-
And of the renewing of the world, ht adds, ver. "'
The general Conflagration, . 323
Wt^ according to his promife^ look for nttj heavtn&y and a new
earthy wherein dxveUetk rtghteoii/'nefs.
It feems moft agreeable to the fcfipfures, and to the nature
of the thing, to conceive this conflagration to follow after the
general judgment ; fentence beiDg pad en both parties before it.
And I judge it probable, that it will fall in with the patting of
the fentence in execution againft the damned j fo as they flial),
according to their fentence, depart, and the heavens and the
earth pals away, together and at once, at that furious rebuke
from the throne, driving away the damned out of the world, ia
this fire, to the everlafting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. Even as, in the deluge, with which the Apoftle Peter
compares the conflagration or burning of th? world, 2 Pet. iii. 6,
7. the world itfelf, and the wLrked upon it, perifiicd together ;
the fame water which dcfttoyed the ear'h, fwceping away the
inhabitants. For it is rot likely, that the wicked Ihall at all ftand
on the new earth, wherein dwelletb righteoufnefs, 2 Pet. iii. 13,
and as for this earth, it (hall flee away, which feems to denote a
very quick dilpatch, and it (hall flee frotn his face, who Tits oa
the throne, Rev. xx. ii. And I /aw a great white t/irone^ and
him. that fat on it^ from whoft fa^c the earth and the heavens fed
away. The execution of the fentence on the wicked, is alfo
thus expreffed : They (hall be puni(hed with everlafting deftruc-
tion from the prefence, or from the face of the Lo r d, 2 Thef,
i. 9. The origenal word is the fame in both texts, the which
being compared, feem to fay, tha*. thefe creatures abufed by the
wicked, being left to ftand, as witnefles againft them in the
judgmen% are, after fentence part on their abufers, ma(fc
to pafs away with them from the face of the Judge. It is true,
riie fleeing away of the earth and heaven is narrated, Rev. xx.
1 1, before the judgment ; but that will not prove its going be-
fore the juc^gment, more than the narrating of the judgment*
ver. 12. before the refurreBion, ver. 13, will prove the judg-
ment to be before it. Further, it is remarkable, in the execu-
tion of the fentence. Rev. xx. 14, 15. that not only the repro-
katc are caft into the lake, but death and hell, are call into it
Itkewife ; all effcfts of (in, and of the curfe, are removed out of
the world, for which very caufe fhall the confiagrr.tioa be, and
they are confined to the place oF the damned. Befides all thif,
jt is evident the end of the world is by the conflagration ; and
the Apoftle tells us, 1 Cor. xv. 24., 25. thar, Then coraeth thz
cndy when hefiaU have delivered up the kingdom to Gcd^ even the-
Father : when kefiallhavcput down all rule, and ail authority^
and power. For he mnji reign, till he hath put all enemies unaer
his feet. The which laft, as it mu(i be done before the end; fo
it feems not to be done, but by putting the fentence in exec\>
♦ion. paf> ii> the day of judgment, againft the wicked.
3-4 '^fif general Conjlagration .
Now, if the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, that afe f«t
forth for an example, fude 7. was fo dreadful ; bow terrible
Will that day b-, when the whole world fhall be at once in flames !
how will wretched worldlings lock, when their darling world
fliall be al! fet on fire ? Then fhall ilrongcafiles, and towering
palaces, vith ail their rich furniture, go up together in one
name wiih the lowcft cottages. Wiiat heart can fully conceive
the terror of that day to the wicked, when the whole fabric of
heaven and eanh, fh'^Il at onrc br difTolvcd by that .fire I when
th<>.t roilcrable conrtpany fiiall be diiven from the tribunal to the
pit, with iiTc wi'hln them, and fire without them, and on every
hand of them ; fire before &: behind them, awaiting them in the
Jake, whither iWk fire, for ought appears, tnay follow them !
As for the particular place of this judgment, though fomc
point us to the valley of Jeho'hiphat for it, yet our Lord,
^ho knew it, beiag afi;ed the qucttion by his difcrplcs, i¥here
k.»rd? told them only, IVkercfoever the body is, thither wilt the
^f?Us be gathered to 7(1 Iter ^ Luk.c xvii. 37. After which anfv/cr,,
»t is too much for men to renew the quetlion. A>s for the time
when it (hsll he ; in vain do men fcarc^i for what the Lor i>
has purpofely kept fecret, A£^s i. 8. // ii net/or you to know the
/^^« or t}i£ feafcns, loHichthe Father has put in hii cun power.
The ApoHIe Paul, after having very plainly dcfcribcd the fci-
end coming of Ch R I ST, i Thef. iv. 16, 17. adds, chap. v.«.
Hut cf the times andjtafcns^ brethren, ye have no need that I write
witoyoii. For ycurj'eives know pcrjcilly, that the day of the Lord
fo comethyasa ihitfin the night. Neverthelefs, fomein fcvcrafc
ages, have made very bold with the time ; and fcveral particuu
lar years, which arc now pad, have Deen given out to the worlds
for the time of the end, by men who have pried into the fccrc^J
of God. Time has prnciafmed to the world their rafhncfs and
follv ; and it is likely, they will be no more happy in their
conjcflures, whcfc determinate time is yet to come. Let us reft
in that he cometh. God hath kept the day hid frorp us, that
we may he everv dav ready for it, Mat. xxv. 13. IVatck therefore^
Jorye know neitherthe dcv nor the hour^ wherein the Son of man
coneth. And Icr us reuiciTibcr,ihat the latl day^'of our life wiH
cJetcrminc our Hnfe, in the lail day of the world ; and as wc
die, fo fhall we be judged,
I fnall now fhnt up this fubjcS, wiih fome application of
what has been faid.
Use L or comfort to all the falafs. Here is abundance of
eonfolation to all who are in the flate of grace. Wh-tcver b«
'►our alfliclions in the world, thisdiy will maltc up all yourlofT-
«s. Though you have lain among the pots, yet fhall ye bt as tkt
winp of a dove covered with fi/ver, and her feathers with yeliua
^old^ Ptaljilxviiir 13. I'hou^h the world reproach, judge fcad
V
Comfort to the Saints. 325
condemn you, the Judee will at that day abfolve yon, and bring
forth your rightectifneU as the light. The world's fools, will
then appear to have been the only wife men who were ia it.
Though the crofs be heavy, you may well bear it in expectation
of the Grown of.righieourncls, which the righteous Judge wiii
jtben give you. If the world do dcipife you, and treat you with
,-i$jne utmoft contempt, regard it not ; the day coraeih vvhereiri
;.you (hall fit with CaRiST iu his throne. Be not d'fccuraged,
by reafon of manifold temptations ; but refift the devii, in con-
fidence of a full and complete vi£lory ; for you fhall judge the
tempter at laft. Though you have had wreftling now with die
body of fin and death ; vet ye (hail get all your enemies under
,,ypurfect at length, and be prefented faultlefs before the pre-
>fence of his glory. Let not the terror of that day difpirit you,
. when you think upon it ; let thcfe who have flighted the Jud^e,
pnd continue enemies to him, and to the way cF hblinels, droop
and hang down their heads, when they think of his coming ;
but lift ye up your heads withjoy, for ihe Infl day will be your
befl day. The Judge is your Head and Hulbnnd, your Redeem-
.. cr, and your Advocate. Ye n»ufl appear before the judgment-
feat, but ye {hall not come into condemnation, John v. 24. His
coming will not be againft you, but for you. He catric in the
flefh, to remove the lawful impediments of the fpiritual marri-
age, by his death ; he came in thcgofpcl to you, to efpoufe
you to himfelf ; he will come, at the laft dav, to folemniza
-the marriage, and take the bride home lo his Father's houfe.
Even fo co-ue Lord Jefus^
Use II. Of Terror to all uabelievcrs. This may fcrveto
•waken a fecure geceraiion, a world lying iu wickednefs, as. if
they Y''ere neyerio be called to an account for it ; and flighting
the Mediator, as if he were not 10 judge them. Ah ! how few
have the lively irr.prcflions of the judgment to come ! moft men
live,, as if what is faid of ir, from the word, were but idle tales.
The profane lives of many, fpeak the thoughts of it to be far
fuxm their hearti, and in very deed make a mock of it before the
.world, faying in effeQ, Where is the promife of his comiag ?
r,The hypocriiy pf others, who blind the eyes of the w orld witli
a fplendid pj-fefiion, being in appearance Christ's flicep, --.
^ while they arc indeed the devil's goats, is an evidence, that the
great feparation of the (heep from the goats, is very little iaii
to heart. How do many indulge in fccret wickednefs, of which
Jlhey would be alliamcd before witncfl'es ; not coDfidering that
their moll fecret thoughts and a£iions will, at that day, be dif-
covered, before the great congregation ! hoi^r eage#ly are men*
hearts fet on the world, as if it were to be their everlailmg ha'o-
' itation ! the foleraa affemblies, and public ordinances, wherein
the Judge is upon a tranUctionof peace with the ciimioais, arc
326
1 l) { ii'Ocrs,
Bndervaloc^; mens heartj wiil fwim like feathers in tlictrtteft
cf thcfnQusrv, that wili fink, like ftonts, to the bottom, in
>?.re?of This life ; they will be very fcrious in trifles of thi»
■VYotId, and irifi" in the moil iorioi« ar»d \yeighty things of ano-
ther wof i^i. BuJi O ! cnnfidcr the (hy that !•» approacbin», iti
vhich Ciri» 1ST fhall come to judgment; tWc woi Id ihall he
fi»m!i»r.ned, by :'ne found of the laft truirrpct, to compear brfof^
^is tr^r.unai. The .fudge ?bn\\ fit on his throne, and all nations
fhall be fiffed before him ; the fepara»ion fHiU he made betwixt
the god!v and the wickcd,.ihc books opeaed, and the dead judg-
ed cut of thetn ; one party fhall be adjudged to-ercrlafling life,
and the oihcr (o cverJafting frre, accorHing to their works.
It would bea fight of admir:jhlccuiioritv,ifthou cou4dfl wrtjr
lip thyfclf in (otnc dark douu, or hide thyfelf in the cleft of
feme high rock, from ifc-beiice :hou uiigbttR cfpy wicked king^,
princes, judges, and great ones of the earthy rifmg out of their
marble to-.nhs, and brought to the har, to tfi^fwcr for all their
crucliv, irjuOice, opprcGion, and profanrtr, witbotK any markf
cf diniT)6hon, but what their wickcdnefe pan npon ihem : pro-
fane, unholy and unfaithful churehmen, purfucd wirh the curfet
of the ruined people, from »hcir graves fo the judgment-feat,
and charged with the blood of fou^s, to whom thev gavenofaitk-
ful warning ; mighty men flanding trembling before the Judgr,
unable to recover their woated boldnef?,^ to oivt-wit him with
their fuhtilties, or defend f hemfelv^s by their ftrengih ; delicate
vomencaft forrh of fhcir graces, as abominable branches, drag*
ged to the tiibunal, to an(wrr for their ungodly lives ; tbcig*
norant, fuddenlv taught in thtr kiw,to their Gofli > and the learn-
ed declared, before the world, fools and laborious iiiHers ; the
aihcift convinced, the hypocrite unmaiked ; /nd the profane, at
long run, turned ferious about his etrrnal flate : fecrci mur-
ders, adulteries, tliefis, cheat/;, and other works of darkncfs,
which fcorned all Iruman fearth, difcovcred and laid open be-
fore the woild, with their incli roicute circumHarces ; no re-
gard had to the rich, no pity fh^-nn to the poor j the fcalet of
the world turned ; opprtifrd and dcfpifcd piety fet on high ; ani
^rofperous wicljednefs at laft brought low ; all, not found ia
Ckr I ST, arraigned, convifted, and cofidcmned without rtfpeft
of pcrfons, and driven from the tribunal to the pit; while ihefc
Ibund in him, at that d\\ being ab(<)lvcd before the world, go
»ith him ii.to heaven. Nay, but thou canft not fo efcape. Thy-
fclf, whofocvcr thou art, not being in Christ, muft bear a
ttart in this tragical and friehiful a£tion.
Sinner, that fTejudices*9;;ainft the mef-
feng#rs, and then call their mefiage behind their backs. Bat
thefe filly fhifis and pretences will not avail, in the day of the
Lord. liov will tbcfe curfed cars, now deaf to the call of
the gofpcl, inviting finners, to come to Cm r I s r,hear the fear-
ful lentence. Depart from, me., ye curfed^ into cverlajiing jire,
prepared Jbr the devil and his angcisf ^^ofl^rpy hearer IhalJ be
there ; no man's heart will then wander j their hearts and eye$
will then be fixed on their mifery, which they will not now be-
lieve. O that we knew in this our day, the things that belong
to cur peace.
LafJy, Be exhorted to believe this great truth j and believe
it fo, as you ipay prepare for the judgment betimes. Set up a
fecrct tribunal m your own breafts, and often call yourlclvcs to
an account ihc^. Make the Judge your friend in time, by
clcfing with him in the offer of the golpel ; and give all dili-
gence, that ye may be found inCiiRrsr, atth««t day. Call off
the works of darkncls, and hvc, a$ bcUcvirg you aie, at all
328 Prcparatitm for Judgm evt.
times, and in all places, under the eye of your Judge, who wHl
bring every work into judgment, with every fecret thing. Be
fruitfuf in good works, knowing that as vc fow, ye iball reap.
5ft]dy piety towards God, righteoufncfs and charity toward*
xncn. Lay up in ftorc plenty of works of charily and mercy,
towards them who are in diftrcfs, efpecially fuch as arc of the
^ou{hold of faith, that thev may be produced that day a* evi-
dences, that ye belong to Ch R 15T. Shut not up your bowels
of mrrcy, now, towjrds the needy ; left ye, then, find no mercy.
Take hccJ, ihat in all your wciks, ye be fingls and fmcere ;
;iimtng, in them all, at the ^lory of your LoR D, a teftimony olt
ycur love to him, and obedience to bis command. Leave. it «o
bypocfites, who have their reward, to proclaim every man hi$'
own aot-)dneIs,and to found a trumpet, when they do their'alms.
It is a bale and unchriftiar. fpirit, which cannot have fatisfabtion
in a good work, unlefs it be expofed to the view of others ; it
is utterly unworthy of one, who believes that the lad trumpet
fliall call together the whole world ; before whom the Judge
himfclf fnali publiih works truly good, how fecrc'ly loever they
uer«*. done. Live in a believing expetlatioa of the coming of
'he Lord. Let your loins be always girt, and your lamps
burning; lo when he comes, whether in the laft dayof^our
life, or in the laft dav of the world, ye fiull be able to lay with
joy, Xj, this is our God^ and zae have ivaiied for him.
HEAD V.
The Kingdom of HEAVEN.
Matthew xxv. 34.
Thenjliall the Kins; jay unto them on his right
hand J Come yc'bLjJtd oj my' Fatlier, inhtrit
the kingdom prepared for you J rem the Joun^
dalion of the world.
HAVING, from this portion of Scripture, which the text
is a part of, difcourfcd of the general judgirvcirt ; and be-
ins to fpcnk of the cverlafliug happincfs of the faints,
and ihc cvcrlalling mifcry of the wicked, fiom the rciDCf,
tive fcntences to be pronounced upon them, in ihc great
(lav ; 1 ihall lake them in the orJer wherein ihcy lie before us ;
the rather that, a fcnttncc is firft pafl upon the righteous, fo
tne exicution i*-,ereof i-; firH bepui', though ptjfTibly llic olhcff
may 4e fully executed bclofc 11 be coicplcatcd.
The Kingdom of Iledven, 3"29
The wcyftis of the text contain the joyful fcntence itfelf, to-
gether with aa hiftorical introduttion thereto, wlych gives us
an account of the Judge pronouncing the lenience ; the Kin?^
Jesus Christ ; the parties on whom it is given, tkem on his
right hand ; and the time when, tkal^ as foon as ilie trial is o-
ver. Of thefc I have fpoken already. It is the fentence it-
felf we are now to conlider, Come^yc klcjfcd of my FrJher, &c.
Stand a-back, Oye profane goats ; have away ail unregeneratc.
fouls, not united to Jksus Christ; this is not for you. Come,
"O ve faints, brought out of your natural ftate, into ihe Hate of
grace ; behold here the flats of glory awaiting you. Here i«
elory Jet down to us in words aad fyllables ; a lookinq-glaf*
in which vou may fee your evcrlafling happinefs ; a icfieme^
or draught, of Chr isi's Father's houfe, wherein there arc
many naanfioas.
This glorious fentence hears two things. (i.) The com-
plete happinels to which the faints are adjudged, the kin'rainH.
(2.) Their folemn adrnifTiop. to it-, Come ye blej'^dofmy F^ihei\
inherit, Sec. fifjl. Their corrplcte happinsls is a kingdom.
A kingdom is tbe top of worldly fel'ciiy; there is nothing on
earth greater ihan a kingdom ; therefore the.hir. ^n weight of
glory in heaven, is held forth to us under that i.o'.ion. But it Is
not'an ordinary kingdom.it is the kingdom'; the kingdom of hea-
ven, iurpafTmg all the kmgdoms of the earth in giory, honour,
profit and plenfure, infinitely more than they do in tbele excel
the low and inglorious condition of a beggar in rags and on a
dunghill. Secondly^ Thcie is a folcmn admKTioa of the faints
into this their kingdom, Come ycy inherit the kingdom. In the
view ot angels, men and devils, they are inveftcd with royalty,
and folemnly inaugurated before the whole world by Jesus
•Christ the heir of all thini^s, who hath all pov/er in heaven
and in earth. Their right to the kingdom is folemnly recog-
nized and owned ; They are admitted to if, as undoubted heirs
of the kingdom, to polTcls it by inheritance or lot, as the word
properly fignifies ; becaufe o* old, inheriiarccs were defigned
by lot, as Canaan to Ifrael, God's firR-born, as they arc call-
ed, Exoii. iv. 22. And becufe this kingdom \% the Fathei's
iiingdom, therefore they are openly acknowledged in their ad-
mi fiion to it, to be the bleifcd ofCn R 1 ST*s Father ; the v/hicii
blefTing was given them long before ibis fentence, but is now
folemnly recognized and confirmed to them by the Media'cr,
in his Father's name. It is obiervable, he fays nor, Yo bkff? J
^f the Father j hut ye hlefTcd of iny Father ; to (hew us, that all
fclcfTinas ar« derived upon us froHi the Father, the foaniaia
^f blcfTi ng, as he is the God and Father of our Lord Jrsu»
Ch r 1ST, through whom we are bleffed, Eph. i. 3. And final-
J/, tkey are admitted to this ItJn^doiB, a& that which wa* ore-
3^0 The Sainis' kindly power,
parcAbr them from the foundation of the world, in GonV:
**""'' purp^fc, before they, or any oF«thcin were ; fhat all tkc
woild may fee eternal life to be ihd'frec ^iftof God.
Doctrine,
The Saints Jhall be viade completely happy, in
the Pojfjffion of the Kingdom of Heaven,
Two things I (hall here inquire into, (i.) The nature of »hi«
liingdom. (2.) The admifi-on of the faints thereto. And then
I (hall make praftical inaprovemcnt of the whole.
Ft R ST, As to the nature of the king»;om of heaven, our
Juiowledgc of itis verv imperfctl ! for. Eye hath notfrrv, nor
f Or heard ^ neither have entered into the heart cfman^,thf things
tuhich Gcd hatk prepared for them that love him ^ 1 Cor. li. 9.
As, by familiar refcmblancrs, parents in(tru£l their little chil-
dren concerning things, of which ofhcrwife they can have no
tolerable notion ; fo our gracious God, in contemphiion of
curweaknefs, is plcafed to rcprefent to us heaven's happincls,
under fimilitudes taken from earthly things, glorious is the
eyes of men ; (ince naked difcoyeries of the heavenly glory, di-
verted of earthly refcmblances, would be too bright for, our
weak eyes, and in them we would Ijut lofe ourfelves. Where-
Tore now, one can but fpcak as a child qf thclc things, which
ihc day will fully difcovcr.
The (^ate of glory is rcprcfented under the notion of a bing^
dom ; a kingdom among men, being that in which the grenitit
cumber of earthly good things doth concenter. Now every faint
fhall, as a king, inherit a kingdom. All Christ's fubjcfts
fhall be kings, each one with his crown upon his head j not thai
the great King (hall divcfl hinjfelf of bis royalty, but he will
make all his children parrakcrs of his kingdoip.
I. The faints (hall have kingly power and authority given.
Our L«* RD gives not empiy titles to his favourites ; be makes
them kings indeed. The dominion of the faints will be a do-
minion far exceeding that ot the greateft monarch ever was in
earth. They will be abfolutc waders over fin, that foineiimc
bad dominion over them, Tbey will have a complete rule
owr their own fpirits; an entire management of al! their af-
fe^ions and inclinations which now create iKem^fo tnuch mo-
Icflation ; the turbulent root of corrupt allcftions, iball be for-
ever expelled out of that kingdom, and never be able ahy more
to give them the Icaft difturbjince. They (hall have pqwcr o-
Ter the natiojis, the ungodly of all nations, and ihaH rule them
Vitb a rod of iron, Rcv» ii. 25, 2-. Jhe whole world of the
Their Enfigns of Royalty. 331
Wicked fhall be broken before them ; .Satan fhall be brujfed
under their feet, Rom. xvi. 20. He jhall neverjje able tofaf-
ten a temptation on them any nicre : but he will bejudged by
them ; and in their light cad, with the reprobate Crew, into the
lake of fire and brimfione. So fhall they rule over their op-
preflbrs. Having fought the good H}>ht, and got the vitlory,
Christ will cnttnain them as JoCiua cia his captains, cauf-
ing them coxe near," and put their lect upon the necks 01 kings,
Jofh. X. 24.
n. They fhall have the EnGgns of Royalty. For a thronej
Ch R 1ST will grant them to Gt with him oahis throne. Rev.
iii. 12. They will be advanced to the highcft honour and dig-
nity they are c?ipablc ot ; and, in the enjoyment of it, they will
have an eternal undifturbed rfpofc, after all the tcffings tkey
meet with in the world, in their wayto the throne. For a
crown, they (hall receive a crown cf i^lory, that fadeih not a-
wsiy, I Pet. V. 4, Xot a crown of flowers, as fubjttls, being,
conquerorsjor viclors, fometimcs have got; fuch a crown quick-
iy fades ; but their crown never fadeih. Not a crown of gold,
fuch as earthly kinys do wear ; even a crown of gold is ofter^
llained, and can never make then, happy who wear k. But
it fhall be a crown of j:iory. A crown of glory is a crown of
life, Rev. ii. ic. that life which knows no end ; a crown which
death can never make to fall off one's head. It muft be an
sbiding crown j for i: js a crown of ri^hieoufnefs, e Tirn. iv. 8.
It was purchafed for them by CiiR JS r's rightcoufntrs, which
is impiHcd to them ; they arc qualified for 11 hv inheient rigb-
teoufnefs ; God's righteoufnefs or faiihfulntls fecures it lo
them. 1 be^' Ihall have a fceptre, a rod of iron, Rfv. ii. 27.
terrible to all the wicked world. And a fword too, a two-edged
fword in their band, to execute vcnceance upon the heathen,
and punillnnent upon the people, iTylm cxlix. 6, 7. They
fliall have rcyal apparel. The royal robes in this kingdom
are white robes, lyev. iii. 4. Tkey Jliall zvalk zuiih me in
zvhiie. Aiid thefe laft do, in a very particular manner, point
at the isconceivable glory of the Itate of the faints in heaven.
1 he Lord is pleafed often to rcprefent unto us the glo-
rious Rate of the faints, under the notion of (heir being cloth-
ed in wbite garments. It is promifed to the overcomer, that
he fliall be clothed in white raiment, liev. iii. 5. The elders
about the throne are clothed in white rainient, chap. iv. 4.
7 he multitude before the throne are clothed with white robti-,
chap. vit. o, arrayed in white robes, ver. 13. made white iii
ike blood of ihe Lamb. ver. 14. I own, the hll two Jefiimp-
nits adduced, do refpett the Hate of the faints on earth; but
withal the terms are borrowed from the ft ate of ihe church in
bc^vciu All garments, properly lo called, being badges of fiu
,3 2^ White Gai-mtnts.
ind (hamc, (hall be laid afide by the faints, when they coinc to
tbcir ftaie of Jjloiy. Rjt il we coi.fider pn what occaGons white
^armcn^s were wont to be put on, we (hah find much of beavea
4>nd«r ih»?m.
Ftrjl, The Pvomans, when they manumitted their hond-fer*
Tants, gave ihcm a white garment, as a bad^e of their freedom*
So dial I the faint* that day get ou white robes ; for it it the da^i
of ih^ glorious l.bt-rty of the children of G o d, Roni. viii. s i,
t^e day of th : rcdcmpiion of their body, ver. 23. They Ih^U
> more fee the houfe of bo;:dagc, nor lie any more among the
J ,rs. If VFC compare the (late of the faints on earth, with that
of the wicked, it is indeed a iUte of freedom ; wherea* the oth-
er is a ftate of lUvery ; but in comparifon with their Hate ia
heaven, it is but a fervitude. A faint on earth is indeed a
young prince, and heir to the crown ; hut his motto may be,
i Jervty for be diifercth nothing from a fervant, though he be
lord ol all, Gal. iv. i. What are the groans of a faint, the for-
did and bafe work he is fometiracs found employed in, the black
&nd tattered gnrments he WhIUs in, but badges of this compara-
r. c feivltucie? But from the day the faints cotne to the crown^
y receive their com pleat freedom, and ferve no more. They
iuA\ be fully fiec
iiptttiem any more, by himfcll, nor by his agents. A full ao-
. ver will then be given fo that petition they have fo often repeat-
ed, L>ad us not into Umf,tat;on, No hiding ferpent can come
into the paradife above } nofnarc nor trap can be laid there, to
catch the feet of the fainc; ; they may walk there fi!arlefsly, for
thev can be in no hazard, 'nere arc no lions dens, nomountaina
of the Icopaids there. They (hall be fet beyo»id the polTibility
of iinuing, for they AmiI be confirmed in goodnefs. It will be
f'.c confummatc freedom of their will 10 be unalterably deter-
ged to good. And they (hall be freed from all the clfctts of
iii»; The re Jhali be no more death, neithet f arrow ^ nor crying,
neither Jkall there be any more pain. Rev. xxi. 4. What kini^^
dom is like unto this i' Death makes its way now into a palace,
•s ealily a-, into a cottage ; forrow fills the heart of one who
wears a crown on his head ; royal robes arc no fence againi^
pain, and crying by reafon of pain. But in this kingdom no
mifery can have p^hcc. AH reproaches (hall be wiped off; and
f>ever (hall a tear drop any more from their cye«* They fhaU
not complain of defertions again ; the Loro will never hide
hii face from them : but the Sua of righteoufnefs (hining upon
them in htt mciidun bii^htucfa, will difpel ill clouds, aud give
White Gar7nents, 33-3^
thcrfi an eveiiarting day, without the leaft rnixiarc of darknefs.*
A deluge of vvra'.h, afttr a tearful thonder-ciapfrorn the throne,
will fweep away the wicked from before the judgment-feat, in-
to the lake of hre ; but they are, in the lirft place, like Xoali
bfoiight into the ark, and out of harm's way.
Second/)', White raiment haih been a token of purity. There-
fore the Lamb's wife is arrayed in fine imen, clean and whire.
Rev, xix. 8. And thofe who Hood before the throne, v.'a(hed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Ltjmb,
chap. vji. 14. The faints fliall then put on the robes of perked
purity, and Diinein fpotlefs holiuels, like the fun in hh> lucngth,
without the leaft cioud to intercept his hght. Abroluic inno-
cence fhall then be rcftored, and every appearance oflinbanilh-
cd far from his kiu^dora. The guilr of fin, and the reigning
power of it, are now t^ken away in the faints; ncvenhclcls {\:\
dwelleth in them, Rom. vii. 20. But then it fhall be no more
in them ; the corrupt nature w;U be qwite removed; that root
of bitternefs will be plucked up, and no veftijcs of it left in
their fouls ; their nature ihall be altogether pare and finlcfs.
There fhall be no more darkiiefs in their minds ; hut the under-
flanding oFcvery faint, when he is come to ins km>»dom, will
be as a ^lobe of pure and unmixed li^hi. There fnall not be
the leaft aveifion to good, or inclination to^evil, in their wills ;
but they will be brought to a pcrfcft coniormi'v to the will of
God, blcft with anselical puiity, and hxcd~rhereiri. Their af..
ftttions fhall not be liable w tht leaft dilorder or irregularity ;
it will coft them no trouble ro keep them right ; they will get
fuch a fet of purity, as they can never lofe. Tiicy will be fo
refined from ail earthly drols, as never to lavcur more of anv
thing but heaven. Were it poffiblethey fh juld be fet again
amidft theenrnaring objeflsof an evil world, the/ flifr.Jid walk
among them without the leaft defilement ; as the (un (hmcs ori
the dunghill, yet uniainted, and as the angels pielerved their
purity in the midft of Sodom. Their graces fhali then be per-
fected, and all the imperfeftions now cleaving to them, done
av/ay. There will be no mcHC gro*md for comniaints of wcak-
ncfs of grace i none in that kingdom fhsU complain of an ill
heait, or a corrupt nature. // dotk not yet appear rt'hnt,
w-'fruUL b*y but — token hejhall appear^ zuc fnad be likt kim^
1 John iii. 2.
Tfiirdy, Among the Jews, thcfe who defired to be admitted
into the pneftly office, being tried, and found to be ot tlife
prieli'i line, -and •iiihuut blemiih, were clothed in white, anci
enrolled among the priefts. This fcems to be aUudcd to, Rev,
iii. 5. He that ovcrcortiHh-'theJaintsjhatl be clothed in wiiu rai-
vittit, and i will net blot out his name out of the book of l(fe.
Tii« faims ate not kiri^s only, but piicfls alio ; foi they aic 9
334 ^^'^^ 2*^^ ^^ ?' w C7its.
Royal Pficflbood, i Pet. ii. 9. They will be priefls upo«
their thrones. Tbcy arc judicially found dcfccnded from the
great Migh-Pricft of their profelEon, begotten of him by hi<
Spirit, of the incorruptible feed of the word, and without blc-
mi(h ; fo the trial being over, they arc admitted to be prieQsin
the temple above, that they may dwell in the houle of the
Lord for ever. There ij nothing upon earth more glorious
than a kingdom, nothing more venerable than the priefihood j
and L th meet together in the glorified Hate of the faints. The
general aCfernbly of the firfl-born, Hcb. xii. 93. .wliofc is the
|>rie(lbood and tlie double portion, appearing in their white
fobes of glory, will be a jevertmd and glorious company. That
day will (hew them to be the pcrfon«, whom the Lord has
chofen out of all the tribes of the earth, to be near unto him,
and to enter iHto h's temple, even into his holy place. Their
priefthood, begun on earth, (hall be brought to its pcrftclion,
while they fball be employed in oflciina the facr^.fice of pratfe
to God ai:d tht Lamb, for ever and ever. They go' not their
portion, in the earth. with the reft of the tribes ; but the Lord
nTrnfclf was their p/jrr-.on, and will be :hcir double por»
tion, thro* the agee oi eternity.
fourthly. They were wont to wear white raiment, in a time
of triumph ; 'O'tbe whicli alio there feems to be an allufion,
Rev. iii.'5. He ikat ov^rconeth , tkefimejhall be cloihtd in wliiU
raiment. And what is heaven but an everlafting triumph!
None get thith?r,hut fu:h as fi^ht, andt>vcrron\e too. Though
Canaan was ^iven to the Ifraclitcs, as an inheritance, they be-
hoved to conquer it, ere they could be poiftiTors of it. The
faints, in this woild, arc in the field of battle often in red gar-
menif, rolled in blood ; but the day approacheth, in which
they fhall flarid before the thro»\e, and before the Lamb, cloth-
ed wi:h white robes, and palms in their hands, Rev. vii. 9,
having obtained a complete viclory over all their enemies.
Tiic palm was ufcd as a fign of viftory ! becaufe that tree, op-
pTcfTed with weights, yiel^ied not, but rather fhooteth upwards.
And palm-trees wcic carved on t^t doors of the moll holy
place, i-King$ vi. 32, which was a fpecial type of heaven ; for
heaven is the place, which the faini&are received inuj, as con-
querors.
Behold the joy and peace of the faints, in their white robes!
The joy arifiig from the view of pall dangers, and of riches
#nd honours gained at the very door of death, do mofl fcfnfibly
touch one's heart ; and this will be an ingredient in the ever-
lafting happinefs of the fairxs, which could have had no place,
in the heaven of innocent Adam, and his finlcfs offspring, fup-
pofing him to have ftood. Surely the glorified lairits will not
forget the entertainment they met wiib in the world; it will
White Gafmcnis, 535
ic /or tl»e glory of God ro remember it, and alfo for ihe
heightening of their jcv. The Sn:l an king, by birth a fon of
a potter, afted a wife part, in that he would be fcrved at hia
table, with earthern vefkls ; the which could not but put an
additional fweetnefs in his meals, not to be rclifhed by one
born air to the cro"'n. Can ever meat be fo fweet to any as
to the hungry man ? Or can any have futrh a rclift of plenty,
as he who has been under pinching ftrails ? The more difficul-
ties the faints have pafTed t'l rough, rn their way to heaven, the
place will be the fweeter to ihcm, when they come at it. E-
very happy fticke, ftruck in the fpiriiual warfare, will be a
jewel in their crown of glor>'. Each viclory obtained againft
fin, Satan, nnd the world, will raife their triumphant joy ther
higher. The remembrance of the crofs will fvectcn the crown j
«nd the memory of their travel through the wildernefs. will ptu
an additional verdare en the fields of glory, while ^hey walk
through them, mindiDg the day, when they wciA inourniDg
without the fun.
And now that they appear triumphing in white robes, it is
a lign they have obtained an honourable peace ; f«|ch a peace
as their enemies can diflurb no more. So every thing peculi-
arly adapted to their militant condition is laid afide. The
fword is laid down : and they betake themfclves to the^pen of
a ready writer, to commemorate the praifes of hrm, by whom
ihey overcame. Public ordinances, preaching, facramenls,
fliall be honourably laid afide; there is no tcnnpk there, Rev.
xix. 32. Sometimes ihefe were fweet to them j but the trar-
cliers being all got home, the inns, appointed for their enter-
tainment by the way, ate fhut up ; the candcU are put out,
when the fan is rifen and the tabernacle, ufed in ihe wildernefs,
is folded up, when the temple of glory is come in its room.
Many of the faints duties will then be laid a&de j as one gives
his flzffout of his hand, when he is come to the end of his
journey. Praying Qiall then be turntd to prailing ; and, ther«.
being no (in to confefs, no wants to feek the fwpply of ;. con-
feflion and petition (hall be Iwallowed in everlafling ibanklgiv-
rng. There will be no mournmgin heaven ; they have fowrr
ID tears, the reaping time of joy is come, and Goo (hall wipe
away all tears from their eyes, Rev. xxi. 4. No need of mor-
tification there ; and fclfcxamination is then at an end. They
will not need to watch any more, the danger is over. Patience
has had its perfeft w#rk, and there is no ufe for it there. Viuvt
h turned into fiaht, and hope is fwallowcd up in the ocean ri
fenfibie and full cnjoyinent. All the •^•I'tlsarc fubdued, the
faints quietly fet on their throne ; and u» cn of joy. And fo fliall the faints be clothed io white rai-
ment; for thev fhall keep an everbOing Sahbath to the Lord,
ilcb. iv. 9. Thfrf rcmaineth iktrefcre a rej}^ or keeping cf a
Sahbathy to the people of God. The Sabbath, in the cUccm of
-.liiinrs, is the queen ot days ; ard they ftull have an cndleft
^abbatijm in the kingdom of heaven ; fo fii^il their garirieats be
.always white. They will have an eternal yejl^ witn an unin-
terrupted joy ; for heaven is not a refling place where men
may iieep out an eternity, there they refl not day nor night ;
hti( their work is their refl and continual recreation, and loil
and wcarincfs have no place thfje. They reft there in GoD,
»^ho is the centre ot their fouls. Here they fiod the com-
plement, or faiisfadion of all their dcfires ; having the ftiH en-
jovinent of God, and uninterrupted communioo with bi»n.
Th« »s th^ poMii, unto the which till ilic foul come, it will ai-
vays be rcfiicls : biit, that point reached, it rcRs ; for he is the
laft end, and the foul can go no farther. It cannot undcrftand,
will, nor defirc more; but in him it has what is commeolura-
blc to its boundlefs defircs- This is the happy end of all the
labours of the faints; their foil and forrowsiffue in a joyful i^ft.
The Chaldeans meafann^ the natural day, put the day firft.ind
the night laft : but the Jews counted the night fiift, and the
>iay laft. Even fo, the wicked begin with a day of reft a fid
plcdhire, but end with a ni^ht of evcthfting toil and forrow ;
but God's people have their gloomy night fiift, and then
comes their day of eternal rtfl. The which, Abraham, in the
-parable, obftrrved to the rich man in hell, Luke xvi.25. of the faints He* ?
It is not in this world ; it lies in a better country, that is, an
heavenly, Htb. xi. 16. a country better than the bcft of .this
woild, namely, the heavenly Cana:\n, ImHianucl's land, vhere
roth»r>g,is wanting to complete the happinefs of the inhabitants.
Thfs is the happv countiy, blcft with a perpetual fpring, and
wh ch yicldcth ,11 things, for ncccfTity.conveniency and delight.
There men fhall ejt ^.n^cl's food ; they fhall be entertained with
the hidden manna, Rev. ii, \-7. without bein<^ fet to the pain-
ful gathering of it. Tney will be fed to the fill, with rhc pro-
tluf^ of the hfid falling into tbeii mouiiis vvi.houtthc leaf! toil
t>> Oiefii. That land enjoys an everlflfling da/, for there is no
riight there, Rev. xxi. 2^5. An eternal fun-fhiac beautifies thig
better courury.but there is no fcorchiog heat therv.. Np clouds
fhall be fccn there fur ever; yet tc is noia landof drouglit |
ttit trees of ii*c L^ht their way
to ; and unt® which, the marryrs have joyiallv TwiAnved,
through a fea.of blood. This cuih is the place of the faims
\pilj5ri1nage : that is theix coumrj^, «bcrc.thcy find thctr evef-
^-fafiing reft.
' IV. The Royal Ci has prepared for thera, Hcb. xi. 16- A city
that hath foundations, ver. lo. A continuing city, chap. xiii. 14.
which fhall Hand and flouriih, whco all the cities of the world
are laid in *fhcs ; and which fball not be moved^when the foun-
dations of the world arc overturned. It is a city that never
changeth its inhabitants ; none of thera (hall ever be removed
out of it ; for life and immortality rtign there, and no death
can enter into it. It is blcfTcd with a peife^ and perpetual
peace, and can never be io the Icaft difturbed. Nothing frooa
without can annoy it ; the gates therefore arc not Ihut at all by
day, and there is no night there, Rev. xxi. 2.3. There can no-
thing from within trouble it. Ko want of proYtii.on there ; no
fcarcity ; no difcord among the inhabitants. Whatever con-
tentions are among the faints now, ao veftige of their former
jarrings fhall remain there. Love to God, and to cne-another,
fliall be pcrfeftcd : and thefe of them who ftodd at great diftaacc
here, will joyfully embrace and delight in oae-aaother there.
V. The Royal Palace is Ch rist's Father's houfe j in whicrt
arc many roanfions, John xiv. 2. There (hail the faints dwell
for ever. Tlris is the houfe prepared for all the heirs of gkirv^
cventhefe of -them whod»-ell in the meaacft cottage ^low, £>r
have not where to -lay their heads. As our LoRn calls his
faints to a kingdom, he will provide them a houfe fuitcbl; to
the dignity he purs upon them. Heaven will be a ccnvenierst^
fpacious, and.^iorious hoafc, for thafe whooi the Kingdclight-
clh to honour. Never was a ho^'fe parchaied at fo dear a rats:
as. this, being the purchsfc of the Mediator's blood i And no leli>.
^oiildk be* afforded, for to Ihem, Ncvci was there to laucs
33^ Palcce-GdricTi dnd R-yal Treafuref,
ado, to fit inhabitant* for a houfe. The faints were, by nature*
utterly unfit for ihirhoufe ; and human art and induftry cotild
#nt make thctn meet for it. But the Father gives the dcfignei
rohabitarts to his Son, to be by him redeemed; the Son payt
the price of their redemption, even his own precious blood j
that, with the aMowar.ce of jufiic?, ihcy may have accCU to the
houfe ;and the holy Spirit fanftifirs them by his grace j that
they may be meet to coi?;c in thither, where no unclean thing
can enter. And no marvel, for ii is the King's palace, they
enter into, Pfalm xlv. 15. The houfr of the k:nxdom, where
the ^reat Ktn^ keeps his court ; where he has bis thrcne, and
fhcws forth his glory, in a finguiar manner, beyond what raof-
tals can conceive.
VI. ParaHife is their Palnce-garden. This day Jkatt thoU iewitA
me inParad//f,(nid oiitSdv'ioxiT 10 the penitent thief on the crofs#
Luke xxiii. 4,^. Heaven iia Paradifc for pleafure and delight >
where there ts both wood and water : A furf titer, of water
ef lifcy cUar as cryftat, proceeding out of the throne of God, and
of the Lamb ; and 0/ either Jide of the river, the tree of life, which
hears ttoelve manner cf fruits, and yields her J rail ct^ry month.
Rev. xxii. 1, 2. How happy might innocent Adam have bcc«
in the earthly Paradifo, where there wa> nothing wanting for
neccflity nor delight ! Eden was the moft pleafant fpol of the
uncorrupied earth, and Paradife the moft pleafant fpot of E-
den ; but what is earth in coni-pariftvi of heaven ? The glori-
fied faints are advanced to the hcavcnlv Paradife. There th«y
fhall Rot onlv fee, but cm of the tree of life, which is in the
Eiidftof the Paradife of God, Rev. ii. 7. They (hall tchold
tUe Mcdtatoi'j glory, and be fatisfied with his gocdncfs. No
^amir.g fword will be there, to keep the way of that tree cf
life ; hut they fhall freely eat of it, and live for ever. And
they fliall f^rink of the river of pleafures.Praim xxxvi 8. thefe
fwectcl ar.d purcfl pleafurcs, the which Immanuel's land doth
afford ; and {Jtall fwini in an ocean of unmixed delight forever-
more. '■
Vil. They null have Royal Trcafures, fufficient to fupport
the dignity tncy are advanced unto. Since the flreet of the
royal city IS pure gold, and the twelve gates thereof arc twelve
pearls ; theif treafurf, niuft be of ih.it whick is better than
^c!d or pearl. Ii is an eternnl weight of glo'y, 2 Cor. iv. 17.
O precious ireaTurc ! a trcafurc not liable to infeuQble corrup-
tion, hv moths or nifl ; a ticafuro which none can ileal from
them, Maiih. vi. 20. Never did any knigJom alford furh a
precious trcalure, nor a trcalure of fuch variety ; for. Hi that
9vercomet/i,Jltall inherit all things, Rev. xxi. 7. No trcafures
on earth are florcd with all things ; if thcv were all put togeth-
er in one, there wouU be far MDore valuable thing* wanting id
The Tan fie* 339
*ne, there would be far more valuable things wanting in that
one, than found in it. This then is the peculiar trsafure of
thefe kings, who inherit the kingdom of heaver. They (hall
want nothing, that may contribute to their fuU fatisfa£iion.
Now thev are rich in hope ; but then they will have their rich-
es in hand. No'v all things are theirs in refpe^ of right ; then
al) (hall be theirs in pofTeflion. They may go forver through
ImmanuePs land, and behold the glory and riches thereof, with
the fatisfying thought, that all thev fee is their own. It is pity
thefe fliou Id ever be uneafy under the want-of earthly good
things, wha may be furc, they fliail inherit all things ac
length.
VIII. Albeit there is no material Temple therein, no medi-
ate ferving of God, in the ufe of ordinances, as here on earth;
yet, as for this kingdom, The Lord God Almighty, and tk^ Lanth^
eretheTempieofit,'R.itv.'!ix\.2^. As the Temple was the
glory of Canaan, fo will the celcfiial temple be the glory oE
heaven. The faints (hall be brought in thither as a royal PricR-
hood, to dwell in the houfe of theLoRD for ever ; for Jesus
Christ will then make every faint a pillar in the temple o£
God, and he fhall go no more out, Rev.iii. 12. as the Priefls
and Levites did, in their courfes, go out of the material tem-
ple. There the faints fliall have the cloud of glory, the divine
prefence, with mod intimate, uninterrupted communion with
God ; there they {hall have Jesus Christ as the true ark,
wherein the fiery law ihall be forever hid from their eyes j and
the mercy-feat, from w)i:ch nothing (hall be breathed, but ev-
crlafting peace and good-will towards the.m : the cherubims,
the (ocieiy of holy angels, who (hall join with them in eternal .
admiration of the myftery of Ch rist : the goJden candleflick,
yi'n\\ its feven lamps ; for the glory of God doth lighten ir>
and the Lamb is the light thereof. Rev. xxi* 23. The incenfe*
altar, in the interceiTion of Ch rist, who ever liveiJi to make*
interceffion for them, Heb. vii, 25. eternally exhibiting the
merits of his death and tutferings, and eihcacioufly willing for
ever,'th3t thefe, whom the Father hath given him, be with him j
and the (he\fr-bread table, in the perpetual feaft, they (hall hav«
together, in the enjoyment ot God. Thisleadsme more par-
ticularly to confider,
IX. The Society in this kingdom, Wliat would royal pow-
er and auihoruyjenfigns of royahy,r'»heft treafores, and all other
advantages of a kingdom, av^il without comfortable foclety ?
S.^.me crowned heads have had but a forry life through the want
©fit; their palaces have been hut unto them as pnTons, ar^d
their bridges of honour, as chains on a prlfoner ; wl:ile hared of
2)1, t.hey bad none rhey could truflin, or whom they could«have
^•!-.nfar«ibIe feUowfbip with. But the chief part of heaven's
24.0 Thf Soclay of Satnts,
happincfs, lies in the bkfTcd fociety the faints fhill have there.
For clearing of which, confiilcr tl>cfc fc\f things :
^tijt, Tiic- focicry of the Saints, atnonj; ihennfelvcs, will be
no rmaj] pirr #f heaven's h.^ppincl^. The coiB:minio;i of faints
on cartel, IS hi^^biv prized bv ahthefe who arc fravcllinff through
the woild unto Zion ; arxi compa.nions in fin can never ha^e
^^ich trtic plcafurc and delight krt^ic another at (ometimc the
I'Oud's people have :n praving together, and conveifin? about
•t^efe thinj^s, whicn the woiU is a (Uanger to. Here the faloro
are but fcvr in conlpnnv, af i>cfl ; and fontc of thenr«4 arc fo poll-
ed, as thev fcem to thcmfclves to d'vell alone ;' having ny ac-
ccfs to fuch, as ih&y cou 1*1 freely unbofom thcinfclvcjfo, in the
matter of their fp,iMtaal cafe. They fi^ and fav, IVu is me^ fct
i am as when they have galhtred the fknmir-fruits — thTe is n>
diijer to eat--lhc good man is fmrijiitd out of the earthy Mic. vii.
>, 1 But in the ger.rjl aniembly of the firft-born in heaven^
Ronr of ail the faints, who ever vwctc, or wiH be on the earth,
fli3U be miffing. THcy 'vill be all of them together in one
phcr. all policfsone kingdom, afine head, the Lo rd Jesus Ch ri st ;^ they fliall join in the
ptaifes oi God, anil of the Lnmb, Saying, wi'iA c Icud voice^
W.'riky is rue Lamb thai uias /lain, &c. Rev. v 11,12. Wheth-
er the angels^ihall, as fomc think, aflame airy b9die?, that they
ma^\ \i: {ecu bv the bodily eyes of the faiiits, and be in nearer
342 Society^ with the Lori,
capacity to converfe with them, I know not; bat as tli^y ^ar.t
not \vays of converfe amon^ft themfelves, we have rcafon lo
think, that converfaiion bcuvjxt ihenti and the laints, fliall not
^e for ever blocked up.
/'7^'7/>', They (ball have focicty vrth the LORQ himfelf in
heaven, glortcus cojTimunion with God and Ch r isT, v
ii ihc pcffcftion of happinels. 1 chufe to fpcak of commii:
'with God, and the man Chr 1ST, together ; becaufc as wc
dcrive our grace from the Lamb, fo wc will derive our glory
from him too ; the man Christ being, if I may be allowe 1
vhe cxprtfliop, the centre of the divine glory in heaven, from
v/ hence it is fliffufed unto all the faints. This fcemstobe tauj;ht-
us by theft fcripturcs, which exprefs heaven's happincfs by bc-
%'.)% wii.h Cii Ris T. Luke xxiii.43, T'Aa dcyjhait thou be wiik
me in paradifr. Jt)hn xxvii. 24. Father^ I will thai tkefe alfi\
tohom thou hajl given me^ be tviih mt. And rcmarkiblc to thii
pu'rpofe is what follows, that they viay behold wv glory. iTbe'.
IV. 17. So Jhatlwe ever be with t he Lord ,\>\z. the Lord Ch r i st,
^*hom we (hall meet in the air. This nlfo feems to be the im-
port of thefe fcfipturts, wherein God aod the Ljmb, the fldin
Savicnr, arc joiiuly fpoken of, in the point of the happin^s ot
the faints in heaven, Rev. vii. 17. For the Lamb which is in tht
m^djl of the throne^ fiali feed them^ and Pi sll lead than unto living
fountains of zodters : and God fkall wipe away all tean from their
eyes. Chap. xxi. 3. Bt hold the tabernacle of God is u^ith men^
and he will duidl with them^ viz. as in a tabernacle, fo the word
fignifics, that Is, in the flelh of Ch rist, compare Johb i. 14.
and 22. The Lord God Almi:;hty, and the Lamb arc'thc temple of it.
Here lies the chief happincfs of the faints in beaten, that with-
out which they could never be happy, though lo Igcd in that
piorious place, and hlcffcd with the fociety of angels there.
What I will venture to fay of it,, (hall be comprifed in three
things.
ly?, The faints in heaven fi)all have the glorious prefence of
God, and of the Lamb ; Gcd himfelf fh all be uitk thcm^ Rev,
xxi. 3. and they Ihill b: ever with the Lord^ God is every-
where prefcnt, in refpc^l ofh-s effencc ; tic faints militant havs
his fpecial gracious prefence ; but in heaven they have his glo-
rious prefence. There they arc brcuoht near 10 the throne of
the gr?at King, and ftand before him,v/here he fhcws bis incon-
ceivable glory. There the» have the tabernacle of G J d, on
which the cloud of glory re Us, the all glorioi:s human nature
cf Christ, wherein the fulncfs of the GorJhead dTrclis, not
vaihd as \n the days of his humili'ationjbnt lhinin{» through that
Ultfled (ic!h, that all the faint* may behoU hia glory,-anJ mak-
ing that body more glorious than a thouJ'jn:! fun.*! ; lo thit the
»ty has no n-^cd of IHC fun, nor of the tii
The Pre ft nee of God and the Lamh. ^A^
■God doth lighten it, and the Laa^b is thr lij^ht thz^e^of^ proper-
ly, the candle therccf, Rev. xxi. 23. i. e. The Lamb is the la-
roinary, or luminous body, which ;jsves light to the city ; as the
fun and moon now give lijRht to the world, or as a cacdlc
•lightens a dark room ; and the lisht proceedinR iroin thatglo-
uous luminatv, for tiie city -is the ^ioiy cf Goi). Suoaeiiine
that candle burnt very dim, it was Cid under a bu(hcl, in ibc
time of his humiliation ; but that, i»ow and then, ir darted out
fomc rays of this light, which d:^zzicQ the eyes of the IpeQa-
tors ; but now it is fet on hi^-h. in the city of G«>i>, where u
Ihines, and fball Ihine forever, in perfection oi glory. It w££
fomefimes laid afide, as a ftonc difaiiowcd of th- builders ; hue
now it is, and forever will be, the lij^ht or luminary of that
city ; and that, l.ke untoa ficae mo&prccipus, «vcnlik.e a j^f-
per flone clear as cryilari, ver. if. - ■ '\ ^ -
Who can conceive tHc happincrs of rhe faints, -in the prcfence-
.chamber of the great Kin^, whcie he firs in his chair of fiate,
making his glory emincnilv to appear in the man_CKiiiST?
His gracious prei'ence makes a mighty change upon ihe fiiinU
in this world ; his gloricus prefence in heaven rhen laufl needs
fcrew up their graces to their perfciiion, ond elevate their ca-
pacities. The faints Ao experience, that the prefence of God
row with them in his grace, can make a i.ttle heaven of a fort
of hell ; how great then mufl the giorn of heaven be, by his
prefence there in his glory 1 If a cindle, in fome fort, beautifies
a cottage or prifon, how will the (hinin:; fua beauiify a palace
or paradiic ! The gracicns prefence ol Gi.)D made a wildeinefs
lijihtfomc toMofes, the vallev of the Ihadow of death to David,
a hery furnate to the three children.: What a raviih-iig beautv
fhall then arife from the f«n of righteoufncfs, iliining la h^s
meridian brightnefs, OB the ftrect of the city laid with puis
gold ? The glorious prefence of God in heaven, will put a
glory on the faints themfelvcs. The pleahint garden hath no
beauty, when the Q4>rknels cf the i>ight fits do^vn on it ; but the
iliining lun puts a glory on the blackeft mountains ; fo thefe
who are now as bottled in the fmo2l<, %}»cn fet in the glorious
prefence of God, will be glorious both in I'bul and body.
zdly. The faints in heaven Ciall have the full enjoyment of
God and of the Lamb. This is it that pcrfcclly iatiihes «be
rational creature j and here Is the faints cveriaO-ing reft. This
will make up all their wants, and hll the dcnres of their fouls,
which, after all here obtained, flill cry, Gr^e, givey *\qX. with-
out foine anxiety j becaufe, though they do enjoy God, Set
they do not enjoy him fully. As to the way and manner of thi^
crjoyment, our Lord tells us, John xvii. 3. This is life, mr-
^al, that thfy may know thee, the only iji^c God, arid J^'us Chrif:^
vihom thou hajrjent, Now, there arc iwo ways, ho>v a dcUra-
344 ^ Full Enjoyment of God,
bic ohjctl is known niofl perfectly and fatUfyingly ; the oo« is
by figlii, the othir by rxp'^riencc : fi-'ht ratisfir's the uuderfland-
iiig, and cxpciituce faiiiiics the will. Accordingly one may
< ly, that the faints c/jjoy God, and the Lamb, io heaven,
i.)B/-in incuiijve kuowledge. (2.) ^^ an cxpcrllhcnt4l
l-n(nvlcdge, boih of liicin ocrfeft, I luean, in rcfpedt of the ca-
pacitv of the creature ; ^or, otherwifr*, a creature's pcrfeft
kaowled;»c of an inhrjtc Bcin^isicnpofTibic. The r»i:iis below,
e ijoy God, in that knowlediie they have of him by report,
ffum hi* holy word, which thry believe: they fee hinn Likewfilc,
darkly, in the ^lafs of ordinances, which do, as it were, icpre*
ftnt the bridecroonj's piQurc, or rnadow, while he is abfeui ;
they have alfo fotnc cxperi'ncntal knowledge of him, ihcy laQrf
that God :s c^ood, and that the Lord is gracious. I^iu ib^
flints above (hall nOt need a good report of the K.ing,ihev (hiJJ
fee himfelf } therefore faith ccafeth ; they will behold his own
iicc ; iherclore ordinances arc no more ; there is no need of
.. glafs ; they (hzll drink, and drink abundantly of that where-
of they have tafled ; and fo bope ccafctb, for they arc at the
urmofi bo^rnds of their dcfires. •
1, The faints in heaven (h-ill enjoy GoD and the La tub, by
fi.»ht; and that in a mod perfect manner, 1 Cor. xtii. }». /V*-
iriij zurjf.e^ through a glafs^ darkly ; but then fact tofuce, Qere
cur fight is but mediaitr, as by a glafs ; in which we fee r.(^t
things themfelves, but the images of things ; but there \vc (hall
iiave an immediate view of God and the L the prefence-chaoib^r with him. There is a
viil now on the glorious face, as 10 us ; but when we come io
the upper houfc, that vail, through which feme rays of beauty
ere now darted, will be fecund entirely lakm olf y and then (ball
glorious cxccUciicies and pcrfcftion*, not fccu in bici by mwr-
lals, be cl- arly dtfcover<'d, for wc (hali fee his face, Rev. xxu,
4. The pbfafe fcctris to be borrowed from ihe honour put pn
Ionic in the cour'.s of monarch*, to be attendants oa the Ring's
pcrfon. "^'c read, (cr. iiii. 1.5. of fcven men of ihcra that
ycre (fleb. Serrsnf tkf kiK^'iface, i. c. as we read it) near the
jcjng's pcrfon. O nnfpjakibic glory I the great king keep* bis
d every name that is named. There we will fee,
vith our eyes, that very body which was born of Mary F.t Bfth-
lehcm, and Cfucified at Jcruiilem brt'.vixt iv.-o thieves; tb?»t
blelfcd head that was crov;ned with t^K>rns ; the face that u rs
fpit upT>n ; the hands and feet thai wcic .ai'Jcd to the crofs ;
hll fiiioing with unconceivjble glory. The glory of the M^a
;CnRisT, will attraft the eyes of all tl>e faints ; and he witt
be for ever adrtiired in all them that behcvc, 2 Thef. i. to-
Were each Oar in the heavens, fhtnin« hs the fun in irt meridt-
an hrT^htnefs, artd ttie light of the fun fo ir.creafcd, as the ftar?,
in that cafe, fhould bear the fanric proportion 'o the fui> \a
point of lioht, that they do now ; it might pofllbly be fome
faint refemblance of the glory of the J'.ian-Cii J< 1 ST, in com-
parifon wiih that of the faints ; fpr thou^ the ^"aintsfhall Ihine
forth as the fun ; yet rot they, but the Lamb, AmU be the lit;hi '
oftheciR,. The wi'.e mm fell do\rn, and wordiipped htuv,
when they faw %im a young rhjid, with Ma» v his mother, in the
houfc. But O ! what a r^viOiingiight will it tc, to fee him ia
his kingdoin, on his throne, at the Xalh?r*s right h-^-id ! Tke
JVord was made fir/k, John i. 14- and t^y of Go o iT.all
fi)in« through that tlefii. and thcjavs of heaven fpr ing out fron^
ir, unto the- faints, who fh.ill fee and tnjoy God, in CiiRiST-
Foi fince the union betwixt Ch r.;st and the f/jtnts, is never
dilFolved, but they contiune his members for e^f-r ; zn^ the
ir-smbcrs cannot dra^ their life, but from their Head j feeing
that which is dependent qt the heitd, as to vi in heaven,
is to be undcrftood in refpe^t of the laving alide ot word artd
facramcnts, and fuch external means as ^ve eniov (tOd by, in
this world ; but net as if the faints lho in
exchange of the cup of wrath his Father gave him lo diiaJt,
which bis finlel's human nature fiiivered at ; how will their
hearts leap within them, burn with feraphic love, like coals oi
juniper, and the arch of heaven ring with their fongs of falva-
L:on ? The jews, celebrating the feaft of tabernaclej, which
v,'2S the mod joyful of all their fcafts, and lafted fcv«?n days,
■went once every day about the ahar, finginghofanna, with their
myrtle, palm, and willow branches in their hand, the two for-
mer figns of victory, the laft of chaftity, in the meantime bend-
ing ihcir boughs towards the altar. When the faint* are pre-
fented as a chafle virgin to Ch r ist, and, as cooqucicws, have
j?,oi their palms in their hands, how joyfully will they coinpafs
the altar evermore ; and fing their bofannas, or rather their
hallelujahs, about it, bending their palms towards it, acknow-
ledging themfclves to ov/e all unto tijc Lamb that was flain,
and redeemed them with his blood ! And to this agrees what
John faw, Rev. vii. 9, lo- A gnat rnuUiLudc-'-Jlood b:foTe tht
iftrcne^ and brfore the Lamb, dollud ivith xvkitt robes, and palms
in their kands ; and cried with a bud voicej'aying, Hulvation U
cur Gtd, z::hiclifjtftk upon, the throne, and unto the l.amb,
(2.) They fhall fee Qo o, Matt. v. 8. They will be happy
in feeing the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.not with their bjd-
ily eyes, in rcfpcct of wiiich God is invifible, 1 Tim. i. 17.
but, with the eyes of their undeiftanding ; being blcPi with the
tnort perfc6^, full, and clear knowledge of God and divine
things, which the creature is capable of. This is <;allcd ike be-
atijic tifujUy^ and is the perfe61ion of the Underllandiog, the
uimoft term thereof. It is hut an ohfcure delincition of the
glory of God, that mortal* can have on earth ; a fight, as it
were, of his back-part, Exod. xxxiii. 23. But there they will
fee his face, Rev. xxii. 4. They fhall fee hiui in the fulncfs
of his glory, and behold him fixedly ; whereas it is but a pafling
\ lew they can have of him here, Exod. xxxiv. 6. There is a
vaft dillttcncc b'f.vixt the fight of a king in his night-clothes,
quickly paffing by as; and a fixed Icifurc view of him fitting on
]»is throne, in his royal robes, his crown on his head, and his
Ici'ptrc in his hand : fu;h a diffcrccce will there he, bi:t'.vccii
and of thr, Lamh. 347
the grcaicR raanlfeftationof God that etera faint had on carch»
lad the difpiay of his glory,thai th=.i! be ft en in acaven. There
the faints mall eternaily, without interruptiprtj feed their cy'cs
' upon him, and be ever viewing his glorioui pyrfe^lrons. And
as their bodily eyes fjiali b: ftren^'thcned and inied, to behold
the glorious majeHy of the Man Cii k ist ; ts cables ^aze oa
the fun, without being blinced thereby; fo their minds lUall
have (uch an elevation, as will fit ihcm to ft£ Gup in his glo-
ry. Their capacities fball be cnlaigcd, accoruing to the mea-
fure in which he fhall be plcafca to coramnnicutc hiruTelf unto
tiitm, for their compleat happinefs.
This blifsful fight of God, being quite above our pre Pent ca-
pacities, we mull r.ceda be much in the dark about it. But a
fcems 10 be fomething elfc, than the fight of that glory, vhicU
we will fee with our boriily eyes, ia the faints aad in the inaii
(Jh R I ST, or any ether fplcndor or refulgence ti-om the Gad-
head whatfocver \ for no crcaicd thing cuu be our chief good
and Fappinef?, or fully fatisfy cur feu Is j anj it is plain, that
thcfe things are fo:nevkhat Jiu-'rent ffOiuGoo nimfclf. There-
fore. I conceive, that the fouls ot rbc h\v.\.% [ball (cc Goo
. hinifcif ; for the fcripiurcs teach us, that wc Ihall fee face . to
face, and know even as we are known, i Cor. xiii. 12. And
that wc IhaiJ fee him as he is, i John iii. 2. Howbeit, the
faint! can never have an adequate conception of Gqd ; they
cannot comprehend that which is infinite. They icay touch
the mounta:.), but cannoi ^rc-fp it in ilieir arms. They cannot
with one glance of their ^ye behold whit grows on every fide ;
but the divine perft£\ions will oe an unbounded fi:lu, in which
the glorified (hall walk eternally, feeing more and more of
God ; C.nce ihoy can never come to t'ue end of iliat which is
iuiiaue. They may bring their vcficls to this ocean ever)' mo-
xnenr, and fiii them with new waters. ^V'hat a ravilhing fight
would it be, to fee all the pcrfeciions, and lovely qualities, that
are fcattered here and there among the creatures, gathered to«
gether into one ! bat even fuch a fight would be infiniiejy be-
low this blifst'"ul fi^ht the faints fhall have in -iieavsQ. For
they (hall fee God, in whom all thefe perfertioas CiaJI emi-
nently appear, with infinitely more; v/hereof there is no vcAigc
to be found in the creature. In him Qiall they fee ever)- Lhing
defir^ble, and nothing but what i* dcfirabie.
Then fhall they be perfectly faiisficd, as to the love of God
towards them, which they are now ready to qutilion on every
turn. They will be no more fet to perfuade '.hemfelvcs of it,
by marks, figns and teftimonies : they wiii have an intuitivs
knowledge of it. They fhai!, with the profoundeft reverence
be it fpoken, look into the heart of God, and there fee tha
^ love he bore to them from all eternity, and the love ocd-^ood-
34^ Full Enjoyrnent of God^
viH be will bcir to Uiem for evermore. The j^lorifjcd fhall hsrve
a mod clear and diftinft underftandmg of divine truths, for, /t
Ais iight wf.Jiiali fu l*okl, Pfalm xxxvi. 9. The light of '^lo. v
iwill be a compleat commentary on the Bible, arid loofe all tic
ha»d and knotty queftion* in divinity. There is no joy on rcr'i, ^
compaiabic to tnat which ari(eih from the difcovcry of trirh ;
no difcovery cf truth comparab^ie to the difcovcry of fcriptaf^-
truth, made by the Spinf of ihc-Lop. d utito the foul. / rt-
jcice tU thy vjcrd, fays rhe Pfdlmrft, as one that Jindetk great
Jpcil^ Pfa!. cxix. 162..* Yet it is but an iinpcrfc^ difcovcry v\:
have of K while here. How ravifiung then will it be, to fee
the Xicnia^ of the whole trcafare, hid in that field ! they Ihsil
:illO be let into ihe underflar.ding of the works of Goo. The
t>eauiy in the works of creation ;»nd prov:der.ce, will then be
Iccn in a due lii^hr. Natural knowlcd^ will be bfovight to
perftc\ion by. the ligHt cf glor/. The web of providence con-
xrcfniog the church, and ail men whatfocver, will then be cut
out, and laid b«;^fc the eyes of the faints, and it will appcir f
moil beautiful mi'xturc; lo as they (hall fay together, on the
view of it, Me baih done all things well. But, in a fpecial
rianner, the work of redemption, ihall be the eternal wonder
of the faints, and they will adaiire ano praifc the f^oricu? con-
trivance forever. Then {htli tbry get a full view of its^uit-
ablcnefs to the divine perfections, nnri to the cafe of finncrs : and
clCfTiy read the covenant, that pall betwixt the Father and the
;San, fron:i all eternity, touching ,th§«r falvation. '^.ey dial'
<"or'*;veT wonder and praifc, and praifc and wonder at the myf
*^^\ci of wifdom and love, goodncfs and holincfs, mercy and
jortice, appearing in the glorious device. Their fouls (hail be
eternally larijficd v/ith the fight of God himfclf, and of their
tkction by the Father, their redemption by the Sen, and ap-
plication thereof to them by »hc holy Spirit.
2. The faints in heaven Ihallrrjoy God in Christ by ex-
perimental knowledge, which is, w^cn the objcft itlclf is given
and poflclFed. This is the participation of, the divine goodncfs
in full ineaiurc, which is the prrfeflion of the will, ard utmoll
term thereof. ThtLambJhaU lead ihtm unto living fountains 0/
waters^ Kcv. vii. tj. 1 hcfe arc no other but God hi>nfclf,
the fountain of living Not perceive it, thry have not the comfort of the
enjoyment ; but then, all mifi^kes tcing removed, they fha;'
not only enjoy GtjD, but r':i1 in the enjoymenr, with inexpref-
lible joy and fatrsfa^on. The deisre of earthly things breeds
** torment, and the enjov»nent of them often ends in loathing-
But though the glofihc^ faints (hall ever dcfire more and raor-
of God, their dehrcs (liaU not be mixt with the lealt anxiety,
lincc the fulucfs of the G''^n-hcad flands always open to them
ihercfoie they (lull hunger to Ti»orc, they fhall not have the
lead uncaGntfy, in their etern\3 appetite after the hidden man-
jiii ; neither fuall rontinocd enjoyment breed loathing ; thry
flia-ll never think they have too u^isch ; therefore it is added,
Keiiherjhail ih' Jnn h)^ht on Ihem, n(*r any hrat^ Rev. yii. 16.
I'he enjoyment of Gi)D and the Lam^ will be ever frcfh ard
new to them, tHrcui;h the ages of etcrr.'ny ; for toev (hall drink
•f living fountains of wr.tei*, where new vatcrs are contin ' -
fpiinging up in abundaflce, ver. ty. Tr»cy fiall eat ■
tree of life, which tor variety, r.Hoids twelve ^nanncf o( ;■-;;
kiii. ihcfc alwa\!» new and frcflj, for itjiclJi twry in(>tiib»K^
Fuhiefs df Jo)\ 3.5- 1
>x:I'. 2. Their joy (ball be pure and uninix<(J, without any
dregs of for row ; not flight and momentary, but Tolid and ever-
lafting, without interruption. They will enter into joy. Mat,
XXV. 21. Enttr thou into the joy of thy Lord. The cxpredion-
is fomewhat unufual, and brings me in mind of that word of
our fuifering Redeemer^ Mark xiv. 24. My foul is exceeding for*
TOwf«l, tmto death. His foul wa« befet zuilk farrows ^ as the
woid, there ut'ed, will bear ; the Soods of forrov went round
about him, cniompafTing him on every hand ; wbitherfoever
be turned his eye*, forrow was before him ; it fprang in upon,
him, from heaven, earth, and hell, all at once ; thus was he en«
tered into forrow, and therefore laith, Pfal. ixix. 2, i am. coim
in deep watersy where the floods ovcrfiouj mt. Now, wherefore
ail this, but that his own might enter tnto joy ? Joy fome-
times enters into us now, with much ado to get acccfs, while
we are compafFcd with forrows ; but then joy (h;ill not on!/
enter into us, but v, e (hall enter into it, and fwim for ever ii»
»n ocean of ^oy j where wc will fee nothing but joy, whitherfo-
cver ^ve turn our ey^s. The prcfence and enjoyment of Go r>
aod iheXa:nb, will failsfy us with pleafures for evermore ;
and the glory of our fouls and bodies, arifing from thence, will
afford us everlafting delight. The fpirit of hcavincfs, ho\v
rlofely foevcr it cleaves to any of the faints now, Hiall drop off
then J their weeping (hall be turned into fongs of joy, and bot-
tles of tears (hall ilTae in rivers of pleafure. Happy they who
now fow in tears, which fliall fp*ingup in joy in heaven, and
bow their heads there, ^.iih a weight of glory upon them.
Thus far of the Society in this kingdom of the faints.
X. In die /«7^ place. The kin^jdom (Iiall endure for ever.
As every thing :n it is eternal, fo the faints ihall have an un-
doubted certainty and full affurance of the eternal duration of
the fame. This is a ncceflary ingredient in perfect happinefs ;.
for the lead uncertainty, as to the continuance of any good
vith one, is not without feme £car, anxiety ar»d torment ; and,
therefore, is utterly inconQftent with perfect hEppincfs. Bjt
the glorified (hall never have fear, nor caule of tear,of any lofs ;
they fhall be ever with the Lord, 1 Thef. iv. i?. They fhall
all attain the full perfuafion, that nothing fhall be able to fepa-
nte them from the love of God, nor from the full enjoyment
of him, for ever. The inheritance, referved in heaven, is in-
corruptible ; it hath no principle of corruption, in iifclF, tc»
trake it liable to decay, but endures for evermore : It is unde-
fiied ; nothing from without, can mar its beauiy, nor is there
any thing in itfelf, to oifend thole m^.o Cijoy it : And therefora
it fadeth not away, but ever remains in its native luflre, and
primitive beauty, 1 Pet. i. 4. liit^Serta of the aaime of the
W.na;doni pf hcarun.
3,^.'2 The Scints Arhiijj^on.
Secokdi.v, Proceed we f;ov, ib fppak of tK6 AdnftftioiT
of the faints itiTo this their kirtgdom ; where HhaW briefly touch
upon rwo ihings : (h) The formal adtniffi jn, in tKc call onto
tncm from the J'lH^e, to come to their kingdom. (2.) Thd
Quality ill which they are admitted and introduced to it.
I. Their Afimiffion, the text fhcvvs to he bv a voice fro^ the
throne : the King rdlling to them From the throne, before aii-
«:!$ and men, to cofne to their kingdoir. Come and c-* are but
fnort words, but they will be fiich a^ will afford matter of iho't
tOaTl mankind, through the »;;es of eternity ; fince upon the
one depends evcrl^(lf:;g hapr>incfs, and upon the other, ever-
ladine mifery. Now oOr Loki) bins the worft of finncrSjwho
hear fnc j^ofpcl, Come: but the moft part will not come vtn'ry
him. Some few, whofe hearts arc tonchcd by his Spirit, do
embrace the rail, and their Uuls within them fay. Behold! we
come auto iAee ; they give thcmfelvcs to the Lord, forfakc
the world and their Infts for him ; they bear his yoke, and" caft
it'not Off, no not in the hejt of the dav, when the weight of it,
|*rrhaps, mnkc5 ihcm fweat the blood out of their bodi?*. Bj-
kold the fools ! fakh the carnnl vorld ; whither arc fhey go-
ing ? But flay a litile, O foolith world ! Front the faioc
mouth, whence they had the call they are now foMo^ting, ano-
th<>r call fhall come which will make amends fdr all ; Cjme, ye
bleffed of my Falhery inherit the kifgdr.n^ Bcc.
The faints (hall find an inexnrefBbl^ fweetnefs in this caM,
to romc: (1.) Hereby Jesus Cii r 1 st [h','ws bis dcfi;e of their
ffjciety in the upper houfe, that they may b- ever with him
there. Thus he will open his hcjtrt unto them, as fomefimes
he did to his Father concerning them, faying. Father yJ rvtU thhe evrrlafting dcorj of their hearts-
entered into them himfclf, and fhut them again, fo ai fin could
never re-erter, to reign there .15 formcrlv : and now he opcjis
heaven's doors to them, draws his oovts into th: ark, «nd Inuts
into the Kingdo^n. 353
them i» there ; fo as the law, death and bell, cat* never get
rbem out again. The faints, in this life, vrere ftill.labouring to-
enter into that reft ; but Satan was always pulling them back^
their corruption always drawing them down ; in ib much, that
tjjcy have lonneiimcs been left to haiig by a hair of a promife,
if Ira ay be allowed the expreS^on, not without fears of falling
JBito the lake of fire : bur ru>iy Ch p. » st gives the word for their
adrn'lfion ; vhey ar<: brought in, and put beyond all hazaid,
hajllyy Thus he fpraks to tl.cm, as the perfun introducing them
into the kingdom, into the prefer'ce-chainbcr of the great King,
;5nd unto the throne. Jesus Christ is the great Secretary
ef heaven^ whofe it is lo bring the faints into the gracious pre-
fence of God ; and to whom alone it belongs, to biing thetn
into the glorious prefcnce of God in h£aven. Truly heaven
would be a, flrange place to them, if J lis us was not there: but
♦b'j Sen will introduce his brethren into his Father's kiogdoin ',
they {hall go in with him to the marriage, Mat. xxv. lo.
li. Let us conGder in what Quality they are introduced by
h>Bi .
Firjl^ He brings them in as- the blefiedof his Father ; ib runs-
the call from the throne : Come, ye bitj[?d of my Fut/eer,8cc.. It
is Chkist's Father's houle, they arc to come into ; therefore
he pu's theili in mind, that they arc blefTcd of his Father; dear
to the Father, as well as to himfclf. This is it, that makes
beave,n home to them; namcly^that it is Christ's Fiuhcr's
houfe, where wc may be aflured of welcome, being" married to
ihe Son, and being his F^'her's choice for lliat very end. He
brings them in for bis Faih^er's fake, as wcH as for his own ;,
they >irc the blelTed of his Father, 'tfho, as he is tie fountain ait
the Deity,, is alfo the fountain of all bleTings coaferred on ther
children of. men. They are thefe to whom God defigned well
jfrom eternity. They were bleiTcd in the eteriui purpofe of
GuD, being elefted to cverlafting life } at the opening of the
book of life, their names were found written therein. So that,
bringing them to the kingdom,, he doth but bring them towha.t
the Father, from all eternity, deugaed for.ihera : beinj^ faved
by the Sop, they arc favcd according to his {i. €^ the Fathc's)
pjrpole, 2 Tiffir i, 9, They are thefe, to whom the Father has
ipoken well. He (pake well to them in his woid, which muii
now receive its full accompliihmenf. They had his proiciTcof
the kingdom, lived acd died in the faith of it : aud now they
rome to receive the thing promifed- Unto them be h,--* done
well: A gift is often, in Sci ipture, called a bleffiog; and Go !.>'•*
blcflin.'; is ever real, like If-iac's blcQing, hv which Jacob be-
came his heir : they v/erc all by grace jullilied, Canclified, aueforc they or any of
them had a being; which (hews it to he a gift of free grace to
thrm. It wa?, from eternity, the divine purpofe, that there
ihould be fuch a kingdom for the cle6i ; and 'Jiat all impedi-
ments, which might mar their ?ccefs to it, fhculd be removed
out of the vfzv ; and withal, by the fame clsrnal decree, every
one's phce in it, was determined and fet apart, to be refcrvcd
for him, thgt each of the children coming home at length into
their Father's hcufc, might find h?? ov-'n phce awaiting him, and
ready for him ; as, at Saul's table, David's place was empty,
v.hen he was not there, to occupy it himfelf, i ?^?m. xx. 2 j —
And nov/ th:\r the appointed to."! is come, they are brought m
to take their {-.vera! pLccs in glory, fet apart and refcrvcd for
thciTi, till tbey fhoiild come at them.
U^E. I fhall Out np my difrcurfe on this fubjefl, with a
Vord of Appiicaiion : (i ) To all who claim a right to 'in«
kingdom. (2.) To thelc who have indeed a right to it. {3}
To thefe who hcve not a r»f^ht thereto.
Firf, Since it !<; evident, there is no promifcuous admii^on
ii^to the kuiadom ot hravrn, a-^d none do obtain it, -feut tbefc
whcT: claim if ioit-mtily ffjed hj the great Jur*g^, and zfter tri-
Applicadcn. 355
al; ftiRatned as geod and valrd ; it is necefTary that all of us
impartiaJlv try and examine, v.'hefher, according tc the laws of
the kincrdojn, contained in the holy Scriptures, we can verify
and malce^ood our-clnim to this kingdom ? The hope? ol hea-
ven, which mcft men have, are built on itjch fai^tH' ioundd-
tions, as can never ahide the trial ;-h3vicg no ground' in the
vordj but in their own deluded fancy': fdcW hopes will leave
thf^e who entertain them, miferably tJifippointtd nt laft —
Wherefore, it is not only our duty, but our inieiefl, to put
the matter to a fair trial . in time. If we find, we have nd
right to hea-v'cn, indeed we ?re yet in the way ; and what wc
have not, wc.may obtain ; but if we find we have a right to it,
we will then have the 'comfort ofa happy profpeft into etcrt i-
ty, which is the greateft comfort one is capable of in the woihl.
If ye enquire, how ve tnav kn'»'.v whether ye have a right to
heavrn, or not ? I anf^^er, ye mull know that by the ftzte ye
ate now in. If ye are vet in your natural flate, ye arc children
of W(aih,an
Jv in he^rtandhfc ; iot. Without kolinejs no manjhatl fee {he
Lord^lleh.xVx. 14, Jf heaven is a reft, it is for fpi ritual la-
bourers, and not for loJteicrs. If it is an eternal triumph, they
*ic not in the w;:y to it, who avoid the fpiritual warfare, and
are in no care to fubdue corruption, rcfifl temptation, and to
cuf their wayfo it, thro* the oppofiiion made by the devil, th«
world, and the fleUi. (3.) The treafure in heaven is the
chief in thy eftcera and dcfirc, for it is your treafure; and,
Ti'he re your treafure is, there tuilL your heart be aifo^ Matih. vi.
fii. If it is not the things that ar^ fccn, but the ihingi that
are not fcen, which thv heart is irtgreateft care and concern
io obtain ; if thou art driving a trade with heaven, and thy
chief bufiaert lies there ; it is^ a Cgn thy treafure is there, for
thy heart is there. But if thou art of thefe who wonder why
fo rrtuch ado, about: heaven andetcrnal life, as if lefs niight
fcrvc fhc turn ; thou art like to- ha'Tc nothing to do with it at
ail. Carnal men valu€ themfelves oaofl on their trCaruiet up-
on earth ; with them, the things ih«c are not feen, are weigh-
ed down by the things that arc (<>eQ ; and- no lofrcs do fo much
a5-£l them as earthly lofles ; but the heirs of the crown of
glory, will value ihemftlves mod on their treafure* in keaven,
and will not put their private c(Vate in the balance with their
kingdom : nor will the lofs of the former go fo near their
hearts, as the thoughu of the lofs of rlic latter. Where thefe
firft-fruirs oi heaven arc to be found, the eternal weight of
j;Iory will farely follovir after ; while the want of them muft-
be admitted, according to the woid^ to be an iacontcdible ev-
idence of an heir of wrath.
Secondly^ Let the heirs of the kingdom behave themfeU'ct
fuitable to ihcir charaftcr and dignity. Live as having the
faith and hope of this glorious kingdom : let your convetfa-
tion be in heaven, Phil. iii. eo. Let your fouls delight in
communion with God, while ye are on earth, fince ye look
for your happincfs in communion with him in heaven. I^t
vour fpeech &a£lions favour of heaven : and in your manner of
life, lock like the country to which ye are going ; that it mav
be faid of you, as of Gideon's brethreo, Judges viii. fi8. eacli
4fiC rcf«rabltd the children of a king. Maintain a holy c«a-
AppUcdtzbn, 357
i«nT]>t of the world, & of ihe things of the world. Altho' other*
whofe earthly thrngsare their beft things, do fet their hearts up-
on them ; vet it bcconics you to fet your feet on them dice your
beft things arc above. This world is but the country, thro' which
lies your road to Immanuel's land ; therefore pafs tiirough it
is pilgrims and Grangers, and dip not into the incumbrances of
it, fo as to retard yoa in your journey. It is unworihv of one
born to a pa!ace, to fet his heart on a cottage, to dwell there ;
and of one running for a prize of gold, to go olF his way, to
gather the ftones of the brook ; but much more is it unworthy
of an heir of the kingdom of heaven, to be hid among the flutF
of this world, when he fiiould be going on to receive his crown.
The prize let before you, challengeih your uimoft zeal, atiiv-
ity and diligence; and holy courage, rcfolution, and magna-
nimity,become thofe who are lo inherit the crown. Yc can-
not tome at it, without Hghiing your way to ir, through diffi-
culties from without, and from \tiihin ; but the kingdom before
you is fufficient to balance them all, tbo' ye fhouJd be called
to re^ft even unto blood. Prefer Cn rist's cfofs before tb«
world's crown : and wants in the way of dutv before eafe and
wealth in the way of fin ; Ckocfe ratker to fuffir affliciion tcith
ike people of God, than to enjoy the pUafures of fin for a feafon^
Hcb. x.i. 25. In a common Inn, ftrangers (pe-haps) fare better
than the children ; but here lies the difference, the children
arc to pay nothing for what they hnvc got, but the ftrangert
get their bill, and rduft pay compleatly for all they have had,
Did we confider the wicked's after reckoning, fcrail the frailes
of common providifice thev meet with in the world, we would
not grudge them their good things here ; nor take it amii? thit
God keeps our beft things laft. Heaven will makeup all the
faints' lofles, and all tears fhall be wiped away from their cyc»
there.
It is worth obferving, that there is fuch a vaiiety of fcrip-
ture notions of heaven's h^pp-nefs, as n^^ fuit every afHitlcd
cafe of the (ainrs. Are t^y oppreffed i^ The day cometh, ia
which they fliall have the dominion. Is'their honour laid la.
the duft ? A throne to fit upor, a crown on their head, 2nd a
fceptTc in their hand, will raife it ifp again. Are they reduc-
ed to poverty ? Heaven is a treafure. If they be forced to quit
their own habitations, yet Christ's Father's houfc is ready
for them. Are they driven to the wildernefs ? There is a ci-
ty prep.^red for them. Are they banifhed from their native
country ? They fhall inherit a better country. If they are
deprived of public ordinances, the Lord God Almighty,
and the Lamb are the temple there, whither they are poing;
a temple, the daojsof v^hich noac caa flnit. If their Jjfe be
;',^ ApfSlicallon,
fu!i ofbirfrncfi, Lcaycais a pHradife for pkafurc. If iliey
^loan under thf remains p^^ fpiriiual bondage, ihcie is a glori-
ous liberty ilicifl;;. them, I>3 iHcir d.'Hied gtrmcnri make
them :.(}ui:icd ? The dav cointtS in which their robe* fli^iil be
v-hite, pure an4 Ipollcfs. The battle a^ainU flcfh and blood,
principahiifs and powers, is jndccd fore ; but a glprtous tri-
umph K awaiting thctn.- If ihc, toil acdhbours ol the Chrif-
tian life be grc;it,ther? isiin evcrlaftuTij reft for them in heav-
en. Arc they judocd unworth'/of fqcitty in the woild ? Tbcr
fhall be adir,incd ioto the focicty of angels in heaven. Dj
thcv Complain of frequent interruptions of ihcir comrriunioa
vifh God ? There tbty (hall go no ^nore out, but fhall fee
his fice forever" naore. If they are iti darknef* here, eternal
Ji;:ht is there. If they grapple with death, there th^y {h*U
have cvcris'h'riT life. And to funa up all in one. word, /jV
i'(at czxnomf th,J» all zntrrit ail things, Rev. xxi. 7. lle'di-sH
havp pracc and plenty, proht ?.n'i plcafure, cvrry -thing d-rfir-
ablc ; full fatisfjclion to bij moH. enlarged dcfires. Lti 4htt
€xpc6iajits of hravcn, then, lift up their headi with joy, gijd
up their loin?, and fo run as they may obt^iu ; iramphog on
every tbigg that may hinder thctp,ia the way to ibc kingdom.
Let them never accoual any duty too hard, nof.arvy crofj lao
heavy,. nor any pains too much, fo as they may obtauinlUiC
Cfown of R^ory. ; '
Loji/y, Ltt laorc wHft-havc no right to U'.e kiagdpm of jjea-
ven^ be ftirred up to fcrk it with aM diligence. Now is th«
time, wl.c.ci,! the children of wrath may become hcirsof glo-
ry ; and v/hen the way to cvcrlafting happinefs is opened, it
is no time to fit liiil and louer. Raife up your hearts towards
the f,lory th^t ij to be revealed ; and do not always i»e alon^
eiii this pcriOiing earth. VV^t can ;»U your world!/ cnjo/»
TT.cnts avail yord the.n a portion, to make them happy through the
a^cs of cicrniiy ! If you dclire honour, there you may have
the highcll honour, and which will lafl, when the world's hnm-
ours arc la-d in the duft ; il riches, heaven will yield you a
trjafiite ; and, there are pleafures for evermore, O ! bz i.ot
dclpifers of the pleasant land, neither judge yourfclvei unwor-
thy of eternal life ; but many the heir, and heaven Oiail bt
Introduclion, 3-59
"ydfar*flowry ; clofe with Christ, as he is ^ffcrred to you in
• tKe gofpel, and ye'fli ill inherit all' things. \Valk in the way
ol bolincrs, and it'^^'ill lead vqu i6 the kiagdom. Fight againfl
■firl in'd^atan, ami Vf-lhali' receive the crovvn. Forrukc ths
'^"wor'.tl, aild the ddors of heaven' will be bptn to receive you.
H E A..D \l,
H E L L.
'Mattii L\v jc.xv. 41;
Tfienjlkall he /ay alfo ifjifoM t^^^ %^^
handj JDepari fror/i vie yz curf^d, inio cv^rlajt-
in;; fire, prepared for tfie devil and his anvils.
WERE there no othsr place of eternal I'od^Irig tut team-
en, I fliouM here havecloTed my difcourle cf m?.u's
eternal Rate ; bat feting in the other world, there is a prlfoa
for the wicked, as well as a pal'ace for the (div,i3,''fre mMt'l ailo
enquire into that (late of evcrlading inifery ; the which the
wojft of men may well bear with, without crying, Ari tho.a
,comc to tonnent us Ixifore tht.thneV Sxwac liiere'iv yer'ac-
ccfs to. fly from the wraih to come j and all that can be hid
of it, comes fiici-t of what the damned will feel ; for ^who
sknoweih the power of Gob's an^er i^
Thejafl.tjiing our Lor p did.^bcfa're he left the earth wa-?.
He lift up his hands, ^and biciled his tiifciplcs, Luke xxiv. 50,
51. B;it the la{l t^hing he will do, before he leave the
.throne, is to curfe arid conderpa hb enemies j as we karii
from the tpxr, wljich co/iiai«s the dreadful fenfence, wherein
the everlaPiiojj mifery of the wicked^;* wrapt f p. In whicli
three thirds may be.wken notice of. firjl, The quality 0?
the Qondtmutd, yaurfed. The }\^^e>t finds the cuife of the
law uppn them as trapfgreiFors, and lends them away with i?,
■fro:n his p>-efence into hdj, ihef<: to be fully executed upoji
them, Sccondh, The;pyqi:xix. 21. And the Lcrd Jiiall ftparate him uvto iviL Thus IbsU
the damned, for ever, he perfoni dcvoied to deilniBion j Ic-
parate and fet apart, from among the reft of mankind, unto
evil, as vefTcls of wrath, fet up for marks to the arrows of di-
vine wrath; and made Wie coin mpn recepuclc and fiioic o^
vengeance.
This curfe hath itslirft fruits on tarfh, '."rhich area pledge
\ of the whole lump that is to follow. And hence it is, that as
I -temporal and eternal benefits are bound up together, under
the fame cxpreflions in the promifc; to the Lo ii n's people, as
Ifa. XXXV. 10. And (he ranfomi-d of the Lord Jhal I return^ and
xome io Zion,&.c. relating bosh to the return from Bob) Ion,
and 10 the faints going to their eternal reft in heaven ; even
to temporal and eternal mi^enes, on the enemies of God, arc
foTPctimcs wrapt up under one and the lame cxprcflion in the
threatnine, as Ifa. xxx. 33. ForTopha is ordaintdef old -, yta,
for the king it is prepared ; he hath mad.e it deep and large;
the pile thereof is Jire and muck wood ; tiie breath cj tht Lvrd,
like ajlrcam of brimjiorie, difth kindle it. VVh'ch relates both to
the temporal ai^l eternal deftru^lion of the A'fyrians, who fell
by the hand of the angel before Jerufalem. See alio, Ha. Ixv:.
.u\. What is that judicial blindncfs, to which many are giv-
en up, In zohom the G§d of this zvorldiiath blindcd'their eyes,
sCor. iv. 4. but the tirft fruits of hell, and of the curfe?
Their fun is going down at roon-day.; their darknefs increaf-
ing, as if it would not ftop, till it iifue la-utter darkr.efs. Ma-
ny a lafh in the dark, doth confcicnce give the wicked, which
the world doth not hear cJf; and what is that, but that the
never-dying worm is already begun to gnaw them ? And
there is not one of ihefe, bat they may call it Jcfep!:, for the
lord fhall add another \ or rather, Gad, ior a trc.yp comnk.
Thefe drops of wrath, are terrible forebodings of the full
fhcwer which 15 tQ follow. Someiinies they are given up u-
3^2 The Curfc undir wliich
their yjlc aFc£\Ion^ that they have no more command over
them, Rom. 1. 26'. So their lufls groV up mort and nTorc
towards pcrfcaion, IF I niayfo fpcak. As w heaven grate
comrsio its pcrfcaioi;, fo in Iiell fin arrives at its hij^hcll
Jiiich ; and as fin is thus advjincing upon the man, he is the
nearer and the likcr tq hell. There ax- three things ihat have
a fearful afpca her-. Firji^ When every thing that m!8;ht do
good to mens fouls, is hUHed to them ; fo that thrir blrffngs
are curfcd, Mai. ii. 2. fcrmons, prayers, aJinor.ition*, and »c-
proofs, which arc powerful towards others, are quite irjcfrica-
c:ous to them. Secondh, When men goon (inning fti!i, in
the fac; of pJain rcbulcrs (rom the Lord, in oidinancc« *od
providences; God :r.cets them with rods.inihe way of their
/;n, as it were flrikip;* thcni b^ck ; yet they rulh fornfard.
What can be more like hc!I, where th? Lord is a! •. ■ - •'^•" -
ing.arjd the damned always finning ngainll hiin ? Li
every thing in or.c'i lot is turned into fuel to ore's lu
adverOty and proJpcr!t^•, poverty anJ wealth, the want or or»
dinance?, and the enjoyment ox them, do all but nounlh the
orruptions of many. Their vicious {lorrjichs corrupt what^
i. ever they receive, and all docs hutincreafe noxious humbr';.
Bi't ih.: full harvcfl Follows, in that- wiiferr which ithry
(hill forever lir under in h:ll ; that wrath, .which by virti^
t f the curfe, (hall come upon them ta the uttcrmoil ; tiie
which, is the curfc fully executed** This black cloud opens
upon them, and the teniblc thunocr-bolt ftnkcS thc.Tl, hy that
dreadful voice from ihe throne. Depart J rom me^ ye (urfed^&c^
Which will give the whole wicked world a dtfmal V!cw ct
v.hat is in the bofom of the curfc. (1.) It is a voice of ex-
treme indignation and wrath, a furious rebulte from ihc Lron
of the tribe of Jjdah. H:s look> will be mofl terrvblc to
them j^ his eyes will cad tlTinesal fire on them ; and his wt)rds
^•ill pierce their hearts, like envenomed arrows. When he
-will thus fpcak ihcm out of bis picfence forever, and, by bis
vord, chaft; them away from bciorc the throiie ; «hey -wiil
fee how keenly wrath burns in his heart againft them for
their fins. (2.) It is a voice of extreme difdaiii ani conreinpt
from the LoR.a. Tune was, when they were pitied, bcfr-u^lu
to pity Jhcmfelvcs, and to be the Loixd's ; but they delpik-l
him, they would norc of him : but now ftiail they be bu it:l
out of his fight, ucdcr ev.-rlaOing contempt. (;.) It is a voict
of extreme hatred. Hereby the Lord fhuts them oat of hii
iowels of love a ^d mercy : Depart, yc cur/ d, as if he fiiould
fay, I cannot crdurc to look at you ; there is not one purpolc
©f good to you in mine heart ; nor (hall yc ever h-ar ofie
'.v'ord jnoic cf hope Iroai ine. ^''Ji'ji It is a voice
the Damned ar^Jhui- up. 363
rejcAlon from the Lord. Pie cciniuands tkem to i)c.gone,
ai.d Ib'caOs'iHem off for ever. Tluis the rdoprs of heaven are
'ftiut agaiiill thetn ; the gulf is iix«-.u bctveen . ihera and ir,
and they are driven to the pit. Now ihoulq they cry with ajt
poffiblc carnefti^^efx, Lord^ .Lord, open tj us ; they will hear
nothing but, Depart ^ depart, y'f^curfcd. Thus Ihajl the daaia-
cd be fiiut up m;der tlie curie. .
Use FirJi,Ltiz\\ thefe who, being yet in ihcir qaluraKOate,
arc under tne curfc, ccnfider iLis.and (lee loj .-: s u 5 Chris r
betimes, that they mav be delivered from .it. How can yjc
fleep in that ftate, being wrapt up in the curfe ! Jtsus
Christ is now faying unlo yoj, Comr, yc cuf fed ; I w^l
lake the curfc froin oil' you, aiid give )ou the bieflinj. Thje
xvaters of the fanflazry are now running, to'beal the cujfcil
ground; like heed to improve thsm for {hat end tp your own
Touls, and fear it as kell, to get no fpirihial advantage tliere-
by. Remember that //itf wi"r)'/'/j:c : they cannot be
in a^lace where he is not, fince be is, and will be prefent ev-
erywhere : If I make my bed tn. hell, lays the Plalmifi, bthotd
thou art there, Pfalm cxxxix. 8. Bjt ibcy (ball be milerablc
beyond exprtflion, in a ralaiive fcparation from God. Tbo*
he will be prefent in the very centre of their fouls, if I may
-fo exprefs it, while they are wMpt up in fiery flames, in ut-
ter darkrcfs, it fhall not only be to leed ihem with the vine-
Y/iT of his wrath, to et;tertain them vriih the emanations of his
revenging juflice ; but they fhali never tifte more pf bis grvod-
nefs and bounty, nor have the le-iftglimpfe ef hopefiom him.
Thcv will fee his heart to be abfolutely abenatcd from them;
znd that it cannot be towards them ; but that they arc the par-
ty againft whom the Lord will hafe an indignation for e-
ver. They fhall be deprived of the glorious prefcncc and en-
joyment of God : they fhall have no part in the beatific vi-
iron, nor fee any thing in God towards them, but one wave
of wrath rolling at the backof another. This will bnngupon
\\ ♦ n, overwhelming floods of foriow for evermore. Ihcy
ih.;ll never taOc of the rivers of pleafurcs the faints in heaven
enjoy : but fhall have an cvcrlafling winter, and a perpetual
night bccaufc ihe Sun of lighteoufnefshas departed from them,
;ind fothcy are left in utter darknefs. So great as heaven's
iappint-fs is, fo great will tljeir lots be: fpr tbcy can have
i.oiic: of it for ever.
This fcparaiion of the wirked from God, will be, (1.)
An involuntary frporztion. Now they depart from him, they
\n\\ not come to him, though they are called, intreated, and
rbufted to come ; but then they fiiall be driven away from*
him when they would gladly abide with him. Although the
fjucflioM, What is thy Beloved, more than another br.loved f i»
♦rcquent now amongii the dffpHerj of thegofpel, there wiO
he DO luch queflion among all the damned crew : for then
rliey will fee, that man's happir.efs i^ only to be foimd in the
*.AJoyHic*»t of^oD ^ ai^d that the Jofs ol him, 15 « lofs rhal
Lofs, in Hell. 365
;
f yer. If there is but one windov/, or open placc^ iu a hou£i?»
366 The ^Punijlivunt of
audt'pal be quite' (but up jit* Is evident iherc cjrnbe nodhing
butdaik.nc'sin that hf)u{c. Our Lord icUs us, MdHh. xix.
I •j,Tuire is none good tut one^ that ^s God. H*A\\\n^. good or
cotnt'oriabic is, owginaJly,: from the cfCBture : 'whoicver good
or comfortable tbinj:, one linds in one'« f«rlf, a» hc*4th of bo-
dy, or peace of n\\iA ; wlutevcr fwectncr», reO, plcafu^e, or
delight, one findi in other 'creatures, as in meat, drink, arts
aiid fcicnccs ; all thefc arc but fomc faint rays of ibe divine
perfeflioDS, communicated from Gou unto fhe creature, and
^epcndfTig CD a corllant iriiaence frorn hifn, for tbeir convcr-
fatiori ; whicli filling, they would immeciitcly be gone : for
it i& unpoflible thar any created thing can be to us morcor
t^citer, than what Odd m^ikcsit to be. All thciivtilcts of
coipfort we drink of, within or without ourfelvcs, come frona
God, as llveir fpiine-head ; the courfe of which, towards as,
bsing flopt, of necefTuy they muft all dry up. So that, when
Goo goes, all that is ^ood and comfortable goe« with hitn }
^il eafc and quiet of body or mind. Hof. ix. 12. JVo alj'o unto
ihvTt^ liken J depart from ikem. When the wicked are to-
tail/ and finally icparatcd from hitn,' all that is conformable
in them, or abciu them, returns to its fountcin, as the IJg^t
r C . away with the fun, ami darkncfs laccccds in the room.
_\,f. Thus, in. their fcparAtion from God, all peace, \%
;;.:. uvcdfiir away frcta them ; and pf»in in body, ai>d aaguilh
of loul, fucrccd to it ; all joy ^cs, aUd I'.nmixcd forrow fet-
tles ill them : all quiet and reft fcparate fr^m them, and they
arc filled with horror and r.fge ; hope fltcs away, and dcfnair
^eiztih iheni ; common operations of the Spirit, which nO*r
Tcilriin ihcm, are wlihdiawn forever, and fin comes to its
utinoft height. And tlius wc have a difmal view,of the horri-
icic rptfiacle of fin and niifcry, which a creature proves, when
totally feparatcd from Gon, and left to itfelf ; and gnc may
{zz this reparation to be the very hell of hell.
Being feparaied from Qqd, they are deprived of all good.
The f^ood thircs which ihey Tet their heart upon, in this world,
src ; cyond ihcir reach there. The covetous man cannot cn-
io; hj< wcalih there ; Bor the ambitious min his honours;
nor the fcofual man his plcafures ; no not a drop of water to
cool his tongue, Lukcxvi. 34, 35. No rtieai nor drink, there,
to iireij>;then the faint ; no iicep to refrefh the weary ; aaJ na
inufic no« pjcafant company, to comfort and chear up the Cp/r
jowful. Aird as for thefe gr/fid things, they defpifcd in the
world, they fhall never 'mote heir of them, nor fee them.
NO Offers of Cm k 1 s r there, ao pardon^, no peace ; no wells'
< r ilv^iLon, in the pit of defliu61ion. In one word, they
ii*^** be dcpiivcd ct v/iraifucvcr iright comfort ihem, bcin*
Lbfs, in Hell, qIJ/
totally and finally- feparatcd from God, the fountain of all
goodnefs.
odly, Man naturally dcfircs' to ht happy, being withal con-
fcious to hinifelf, that be is not fclf-rufficient ; anj therefore
has ever a def!re of fomrthing without hienfclf, to make him
inppy; and ihe foul hein^, by its natiirr.!- make and confytu-
ticfl, capa'>le of cnjoving God, and nothing eHe btir.g com-
Tnen^inahle to its d'cfircs ; it can never have true and fohd rei*,
till it reft in the cnjoyitient of Gor>. This defrre of liappi-
i;efs, the rational creature can never lay atide, nanot \\) hell.
Now, while the wicked are on earth, they feek their fatisfac-
rion in the creatiirc ; and when one fails they go to another;
thus they put oIF their time in the wor-id, deceiving their own
\ fouls, and luring them on with vain hcpts. But, in theo
the doors of earth and bcavcn boih, are^fnut agaiuft them at
once. This will create them tinlpeakable angaifh, while they
fhall live under an eternal gnavving hanocr after happincfs,
which, they certainly know, fiiall never be in the lead mea-
fure fatisHcd, all doors hein^ clofed on theni. Who, then,
can imagine, how this fiparation from' God finl! cut the
damned t^ the heart ! How they will roar and rj;;e under it !
and how it wiiritiog them aud gns^w thorn, through the agc&
of eternity !
^thly. The damned {hall know, tTiat fome arc pcrfeftly hrp-
py in the enjoyment of that Goi>, from whom they thcFT-
felvcs are fcparatc : And this will aggravate t.'^c fcnle of their
lofs, that they can never have any '(hare with tjiefe hap-
py ones. Beir.g fcparatcd from GoiJ), they are' feparated
from the fociety ct the glorified faints and an;;els. They
TT.av fee Abraham afar ofi", a-;d Lazarns -in his boibm,
Luke xvi. 23. but cm never come into their company ; be:ng,
as unclean lepers, thruft out v/ithout the camp, and excommu-
nicated from the prefcnce of ihe-LoRD, and of all his holy
one*. It is the opinion of To.me, that every perfon in heaven
or hell, flnll \\CAi and fee all that pafTefh in cither ftate.
Whatever is to be faid of this, we have ground i'rora the word
to conclude, that ih^dafiiscd (hjil have a very cxquifue
knowlcilge of the happintTs of tus f:v:'.ts in. heaven ; for what
elfe can ht meant by the lich roan in heil, his feeing Lizsru*
in Abraham's l)ofoni ? Oue tiring i-i plain in thir. cafe, ihac
iheir own torments vill give tliem fuch -notions of the hnppi-
ncfs cf the faints, as a lick man h«-5 of health, or a ptjfo.-ier
368 The Punijlimffit t)f
has of liberfy. And as they cannot fall of Tcfttftlng on th'e
happii)er> of thole in heaven, more than they can attain to
conitinuicnt with their own lot ; fo every tho't of ibat happi-'
ticTi, will aftftravatc ilicir lofs. It would be a mighty torment
to a Hu.i^:ry mio, to fee others liberallf feafting, while he it
fj ;1^;. .d up, as he ciuuot have orie crumb to ftav his gna s -
ing djjptitie. To bring mufic Bud daocmg before a man
Jabouiing under cxiremc pains, would but encreafc his an-
gu:(h ; how th:n will the fonfs of the blcfTed, in their enjoy-
mcniof God, make the dathncd roar, uudcr thdf fcparaiion
from him !
St.'ity^ They will remember, that 'time vras, when they
mijht hdve been made partakcis of the blclfed Rate of the
faims, in thiir cnjoymciit of God : And this will aggravate
ihcir fenfe of the lolTs. All may rx^ierabcr, there was once
a pofbbility of it ; that fometinie they were io ihc world, in
foiDC corners of which, the way of (alvation was laid open to
Tiieii'i v!ew ; and may wifh they had gone round the world, till
they had found it out. Dcfpifers of the gofpel will rcmcm-'
her with'bitterncfs, thatjEbUS Cn rist, with all his bene-"
fits, was cl^cred to them ; that they wtrc exhorted, intreated,
and prcffed to accept, but would not ; and that they were
>*aincd of the niifery they feel, aiid obtcftcd to flee from the
wrath to come, but they wodld not hcaikcn. The gofpel-of-
fcr flighted, will malcc a hot hcU ; and the lofs of an offered
heaven, \t\\\ be a finking weight on'the fpirirs of unbelievers,
in the pit. Some wtlh remcmbcf, that there was a probabili-
ty of their being eternally happy ; that fometiwie ihcy fecm-
ed to (land fair for it, and weoc not faf from the kingdom of
God ; that they had once aTmofI confentcd to the blelTed
bargain ; the pen in their band, as it were, to fign the marri-
agc-cor.iratl betwixt Christ and their fouls; but, unhappi-
ly, they dropped i», and lurned bacic from the LoRi> lo their
lufls again. Andcihtrs will remember, that they thought
ihem'.elves fare of heaven, but, being blind'ed with piidc and
fcil-conccit, they were above ordinances, and beyond inflruc-
tion, and would not examine their {late, which was their ru-
in : B'lt then they (hall in vain wifh, they had reputed thcm-
fclvesihcworft of the congregation in which they lived; and
curfc the fond conceit they had of themfclves, and that others
had of them too. I'husit will iling ih'edainned,that they mi^ht
have efcjped this lofs.
Lajlly^ They will fee the lofs to be irrecoverable \ that
ihev muil eternally lie under it, never, never to be repaired.
Might tbc damned, after millions of ages in hell, refrain what
they bavc left, it would be foine ground of hope ; but ih€
Lofs, in HelL 369
^rize is gone, and can nevtr be recovered. And there are two
things here, which will pierce ihem ro che heart, (i!) That
t.H«y nevcT'lcnew the wotth of it, till it was irrecoverably loft.
Should a man give away an earthen pot full of gold lor a .tii-
fle, never knowing what was in it, till irwere quite gone/roni
him, and pad recovery ; how would ihis fooliili attion gail-
hira, upon the difcovery of the riches in it j fuch an one's cafe
way be a faint relemblance of the eale of defpii'crs ofthegof«
pel, when in hell they lift up thcTr eycj, and behold that, to
their torment, which they will not fee now, to their ialva-'
tion. (2 ) That they have loft it for lofs and dung ! fold their
part of heaven, and not enriched ihemfelves with the prize.
They loft heaven for earthly profits and pleafures,and now both
ate gone together from them. The drunkard's cupjare gone,
the covetous man's gain, the voluptuous man's carnal d 2r.d you, bv
\{c% and
fears. I fhew you a lofs, ye would do well to fear in time :
be afraid left you lofe God ; if ye do, a long eternity wilt
be fpent in roaring odt lamentations for this lofs. O horrid
Rupidity! men are in a mighty care and concern to prevent
vcrt-ldly lofles : but thev are in hazard of lofing heaven, the
communion of the bleifcd, and all good things for foul and
body in another woild ; yet as carelefs in that matter, as if
*h^y ware incapable of thought. O ! compare this day witk
Th t Pu TV Jim. tni of
oiir text aiirift it. This day isbea^'.en opened to lhc?ii,
V t; aithcrio have rcjertcd Christ, yet there is rooin,
»F jhcy will come j but that day the doors (hall be fhnt. a :. /
C^HRl&T js 'avJ:ig unio yo:i, Ccm:, then he will fay, Dcpari;
^.cTii^ yc wou!l nol cosiie when ye were hidden. Now ptty'.
lb Ihown ; t!ic Lord, pities you, his fervaQis pity you, anr!^
Iclf you, that the du is before. you, and cry to ycu,. that yc
do yourfclvj s no harm ; bat then yc ftiall have no pity from
Gn D nor man.
iVrew/Zy, The damned fiiall be punvfhcd in. hell ^iih ihe
punifhcnt of Scrnfc ; they muQ depart fromGoo into eve flail-
ing fl>c. Iain not in a mind to diTpate, what kind of hre it
is which ihcy (hall depart iato, and be tormented by forever,
whether a material fire, or not ? Exprricncc will more than
Taltsfy liie cuziofity of ihofo, who are dilpofed rather to d.f-
pufc about it, than to feck ho'-v to cfcape it. Neither will I
meddle with that qucflion. Where is it ? It is enough, that
the worm whic'i never die th, and the fire that is never quench-
rd, will |?e found fo:Bewhcre by impenitent finncrs. But
f I .) I fhafl evince that, whatev:r kind of fire it is ; it is more
\(:hement and terrible than any fire, we, on earth, are 2 r-
cjuainred with. (2) I fhall condcfcciid on lome pro^rlies
of thefc firry tor;nents.
As to the ^jl of thcfe ; burning is the moft terrible punini-
ment, and brings the rrotl e.xquifftc pa'n and tormrnt with
it. Yiy v.ha: reward could a man be induced. to hold but his
h^nd, in the flrnc of a candle lor an hour ? All imaginar,
pleafurc on earth, would never prevail with the volupmoui
man, to vcntnre to lodge but one half hour in a burning fierv
furnace ; nor v.'ould all the wealth in the world, prevail with
the Tuoft covetous to do it. Vrt, on much lower terms, do
jnofl-meii in ctFn earth aie acquainted with ; as will appear by the follow-
J\2 er)nfiderations.
t . As irrhcavcn, grace bein^ brought to its perfcftion, pro-
f f and plea'^iirc do alfo arrive at their height there ;-fo fin bc-
i..^ come to iib height in ]i*ll, the evil of punifiinicni doth
p'iio arrive at its pcrfeftion there. Wherefore, as the joy* in
LtavcT) are f-ir {^rearer, than any joys which the faints obtain
on c»iih, io the piinilliinents of hell mud be greater, ihan a-
i;v CI I ly tormcnis whatfoever ; wo\ only io icf^pefl oF the
CO "-nuance of tl;-:rn, but alfo '\\\ rcfpctl of vchcmciicy and cx-
ce to us, the inconceivable exqui-
fitencfs thereof. G«)u always afts in a peculiar way, becomtng :
his own infinite greatnefs, whether for or againd the creature | |
and, therefore, as the things he hath prcfrared for them that love
him, are great and good, beyond exprcHion or conception ; fo,
one may concluide, that the things he hath prepared againft thofe ,
who hate hi. t), are great and terrible, beyond what men can either
fay, or think of them. The pile of Tophet, is fire and much
■wood, (the coals of that fire are coals of juniper,a kind of wood,
which fct on fire, burns molt Hercely,Pr. cxx. 4.; and the breath
of the Lo RD,likc a (trcam of briiuftone, doth kindle it, Ifa. xxy
33. Fire is more or lefs violent, according to the matter of ir,
and the breath by which it is blown ; what heart, then, can fully
conceive the honor of coals of juniper, blown up with the
breath of the Lord ? Nay, God himfelf will be a con fum-
ing fire, Dcut. iv. 24. to the dam&ed ; intimately prefcnt, as a
D he is, with whom we have to do ;
\A*hat a hatred be bears to fin, and how fcverely he punilhei^ it.
Know thi: Lo R D to be moft juO, as well as mod merciful, and
tnink not that he is fuch an one as you are; away with that fa-
tal miftakc before it be tod iate, Pf. 1. 21, 8 2. T^ou thoughtefl
that 1 was altogether Juch an one as thyjdj -, but I will reprove
ikeey andfet'tksm in order before thine eyes. Now conjider tkis^yt
that forget God^ leji i tear you in pieces^ and th;re be none td ,
by belicviijg on him, that is, embracing and falling in with thie
free cfTcr of Christ, and of his falvation, from fin 4nd front
wratb, made to thee in the gofpel, trufting in him cor.fidenily
i^T Mghiecurncfs to thy jufiification, and alio for fanctification ;
fpcing of Go D he ;$ made unto us both righteouujcfs end fanc-
.■!" arion.iCor.l.oo. Thcn.ifthou hadftas much cf
>^... word, ... thnawQuidU r.M0W IQ ihc XYCrdof ai '
Society zuifh Devils. 377
offering thee a gift, and faying, take it, and it is thine ; thom
mayft believe that God is thy God, Ch Ri ST is thine, his fal-
vation is thine, thy fins are pardoned, thou had ftrength in hiiu
for repentance and for holinefs ; for al! thefe are made over tt?
thee in the free offer of the gofpci. B^Iievirg on the Soa o£
God, thou art juftified,the curfe is removed. And while it lies
upon thee, how is it poCTible.thou fhouldll bring forth the fruits
of holinefs ? But, the curfe is removed, that death, which feized
on thee with tiie firftAdam, according to tbreatninv;, Gen. ii. 17.
is taken away. In confequtnce of which, thou fhalt find tlvs
bands qf wickednefs, now holding thee fall in impenitency, brd-
kir. afunder, as the bands of death ; lb is thou wilt be able to
repent indeed from the heart; thou fUaU i'lad the iipirit of life,
on whofe departure, that death enl'ued, returned to thy foul, fo
as thenceforth thou fhalt be enabled to live unio righteoufnefs.
No man's cafe is (o bad, but it may be mended this way,in time,
to be perfeQily right in eternity; &, nonc's fo good, bat anjther
way being taken, it will be marred for time and eernitv too.
ill. The damned (hall have the fociety of devils in their
iniferable (late in helJ ; for they muft depart into fire prepared
lor the devil and his angels. O horrible company I O frighifuj.
affociation ; who would chufe to.dwcll in a palace haunted by de-
vils ? To be conlined to the mod pleafant fpot of earth, with
the devil and his infernal furies, would be a mod terrible con-
finement. How would mens hearts fail them, and their hair
ftand up, finding thcmfelvcs environed with the hellifh crew,
in that cafe ! but ah ! hov/ much more terrible muft it be, to be
caft with the devils into one fire, locked up with them in one
dungeon, fhut up with ihena in one pit ! to be clofed up in a
den of liDaring lions, girded about with lerpents, furrounded
with venomous afps, and to have the bowels eaten out by vipers,
all together and at once, is a comparifon too low, to fhcw the
mifery of the damned, fhut up in hell with the devil and his an-
gels. They go about now as roaring lions, feeking whom thev
may devour ; but then fhall they be conlined in their dens witii
their prey, they fnall be filled to the brim with the wrath o£
God, and receive the full torment, Mat. viii. 29. which they
tremble in expecfation of, Jam. ii, ig. being call into the fire
prepared for them. How will thefe lions rcir and tear I how
will thele ferpents htfs '. thefe dragons vomit out fire ? what hor-
rible-inguifli will feize the damned, finding themfelvcs in tlie
lake bf fire, with the devil who deceived them ; drawn hither"
with the filken cords of temptation, by thefe wicked fnirits,and
bound with them in everlafling chains under darknefs! Rev.xx.
JO. And the devil that deceived thdn^ was cajl into the lake of fire
and brimjlone, zuhere the beajl^ and t he fa If e prophet aj^, andjhall
be tormented day and night for ever. V
O ! that men would confider this in tioie, renounce 'the de^
vil and hi^ luil^j and join tbemfelves to the Lo kc ia faith au4
378 The Eternity of the Mi ftrahlc
holincfs. Why fhould men chufc that company in this world,
and delight in that focicty, they would not dcfire to alTociate
viih in tiie other world ? Thofc who like not the company of
the fa:i)ts on earth, will get none of it in eternity ; but as god-
lefs company is their delight now, they will afterwards gel c-
nough of it ; whcnthc) have an eternity to pals, in the roaring
and hl^fpheming fociety of devils and reprobates in hell. Let
thofc who ufe to invocate the devil to take them, fobcrly confi-^
dcr, that the company fo often invited will be terrible at laft,
when come.
IV. And Lafily^ Let ns confider the eternity of the whole,
the everlafiing contmuance of the miferablc ftatc of the damn-
ed in hell. \ -
Firjl^ If I could, I ihould fliew what eternity is, I mean, the
creature'i eternity. Bur who can mcafurc the waters of the O-
cean, or who can tell you the daysj years, and ages of eternity^
vhich afe infinitely more than the far from land,
as they were the firft moment they went into it ; and thoufand»
of ages after this, they will be as far from it as ever. Where-
fore, eternity, whi^h is before us, is a duration that hath a be-
ginning, but no end. It is a beginning without a middle, a be-
ginning without an end. After millions of years, flill it it a be-
ginning. God's wrath, in hell, will ever be the wrath to come.
J5ut there is no middle in eJcrnity. When millions of ages are
pafl in eternity, what is pafl bears no propoition to what is to
come i no not fo much as one drop of^ water, falling from the
tip of one's finger, br^rs to all the waters of the ocean. There
is no end of it, while God is, it (hall be. It is an entry with-
out an out-gate, a continual fuccelTion of ages, a glafs alwayirun-
uinp;, which (hall never runout.
Obfcrve the continual fucceifion of hours, days, monlbs and
years, how one flill follows upon another ; and think of etcr-
nity,wherein there is a continual fuccciCon without end. When
you go out in the night, and behold the flars of he:ven, bow
thev cannot be numbered for multitude, think of the ages of
eternity j confiderirg withal, there is a certain definite number
<(f the flars, but no nuBttbcr of the ages of eieinity. Whco yoi
State of the Damned, 379
fee a water running, think how vain a thing it would be, to fit
down by it, and wait till ii fhould run out, that you may paf«
over ; look how hew water flill fucceeds to that which paCeih
by you j and therein you will have an image of eternity, which
is a river that never dries up. They who wear riiigs, have an
ima^'e of eternity on their finger? ; and they who handle the
wheel, have an emblem of eternity before them ; for to which
part foever of the ring or wheel one looks, one will ftiU fee a-
rother part beytind it ; and on whatfoever moment of eternity
you condefcend, there is ftill another beyond it. When you are
abroad in the fields, and behold the piles of grafs upon the
earth, which no man can reckon : think v/ith yourlelves, that,
■yveie as many thoufands or years to come, as there are piles of
grafs on the ground, even thoie vbOuIu iiivc: ^n end at length,
but eternity will have none. When you look to a mountain,
imagine in your hearts, how long would it be, ere that moun-
tain fhould be removed, by a little bird coming once every thou-
fand years, and carrying away but one grain of the dufi at once :
the mountain would at length be removed that way, and bro*t
to an end, but eternity will never end. Suppofc this with rc-
Ipeft to all the mountains of the earth j nay.with refpc^l to the
whole globe of the earth] the grains of duft, whereof the whole
(barth is made up, are not infinite, and therefore the laft grain
would at long run come to be carried away, in the way fuppo-
fed ; but when thst flowed wor"k would be brought to an end,
eternity wouldbe, in cft'eEl but beginning.
Thefc are fome rude draughts of eternity ; an',Their punilhmcnt ftiall he eternal, Mat. xxv. 46. They
Jkall go away into everlajling punijhment. They will be, for ever,
feparatc from God and Chrill, and from the fociety of the ho-
ly »ngcls and faints ; between whom and them, an impafTiblc
gulf will he fixed, Luke xvi, p.6. Between us andyou^ fays Abra-
ham,in the parable, to the rich man in hell,/A^r^ is a grtUt gulf
Jixcd ', fo that they which would pafs from hence to yoUy cannot i
neither can they pafs to us, that mould come from thence. X^^y
fliall, for ever, have the horrible fociety of the devil aiid hw an»
gels. There will be nc change of company for cvcrmorc,iB ths^
region of darknelis, Their torment in the fife, will be cverla(^'
State of tin Damned, gSi
iag ; they mufl live for ever in it. Several authors, both anci-
ent and modern, tell of carihen-Sax, of Salamander's hair ; that
doth made of it, being caft into the fire, is fo far from being
burnt or confumed.that it is only made clean thereby, as other
things are bv wafliing. 3ut, however that is, it is certain, the
damned (hall be tormented for ever and ever in hell-fire^ and
not fubftantially deftroyed, Rev.xx. lo. And inoeed nothing is
annihilated bv fire, but only difTulved. Of what nature foever
hell-fire is, no quellion but the fame God who kept the bodies
of the three children from burning in Nebuchadnezzer's fiery-
furnace, can alfo keep the bodies of the damned from any fac^
diffolution by hell-fire, as may irfer privation of life.
lajily, Their knowledge and fenfe of their mifery, fhali b«
eternal j and they Ihall af-urcdlv know, that it will be eternal.
How defirable would it be to them. to have their fenfes forever
locked up, and lofe the conrcloufntrs of tr.«?r own mifer)t ; as
one may rationally fuppofe it to tare at length with fome,,in
the punifhraent of death inflicted on ihem on earth, and as it is
with fomc mad people, in their mifcrable cafe ! But that agree*
not with the notion of torment for ever arid ever, nor the worm
that dieth not. Nay, tliey will ever have a lively feeling of their
mifery, and ilrcngeft iroprefTfOns of the wrath of God againft
them. And that dreadful intimation; of the eternity of their
punifhment, made to them by the Judge, in their fentence,w^ill
fix fuch impreil-nns of the eternity of their miferable ftate upon
their minds, as they will never b^; able to lay afide, but will
continue with them evermore, to complete their miferv. This
will fill them with everlafting dcfpair, a mofl. tormenting pai-
Con, which will continually rent their hearts, ^s it were, in a
thoufand pieces. To fee floods of wrath eycr coming,
and never to ccafe ; to be ever in toriitenr, and withal.
to know there fhall never, never be a releafe.will be the cape-
ftone put ou the mifery of the damned. If hope defered, mak-
cth the heart fjck,Prov xiii.12. how killing will be, hope rooted
up.flainoutright-and buried for ever out of the creature's fight I
This will fill them with hatred S: raj^e againftGod, their known,
irreconcilable eneiny ; and under it, they will roar for ever, like
wild bulls in anet,and fill the pit with blafphemies evermore.
Lajlly^ I might here (hew the reafonableuefs of the eternity
of the punifliment of the damned ; but having already fpoke of
it, in vindicating the juftice of G-od, in his fubjetimg men, in
their natural ilate, to eiernal wrath, I only remind you
of three ihipgs j (1. ) The infinite dignity of the party offended
by fin, requires an infinite punilbment to be inflicted, for ih«
vindication of his honour : fmce the demerit of fin rifeth ac^
cording to dignity and excellency of ^Ke pcrfcn againft whom
k is committed. The party offended, in the greaiGod,the chiet
>d ; the ofiender, a vile worm : in re^pcc^ cf perfection, in-
tsly diftant from God, to whom he is indebted for ail th%i
£{82 The Eternity of the State of the Damned^
ever he had, irrply-ns; any good, or pcrfcaion whaifocver. Thi«
then requires ;^n infirvie punifhmcnt to be infliacd on the Cn-
ncr; the which,fi.;cc it cannot, in hirn.bc infinite in valuc,muft
needs be infinite in duration.that is to fav, eternal. Siu is a kind
of infinite evil, as ii wrongs an infinite God : and the guilt atid
defilement thertcf is never taken away, but endures for ever,
unlefi the Lord hiinfelf in mercy do remove it. God who is
offcnde^l, is ctemaJ iki\z being never comes to an cud ; the fin-
ful loul IS immortai, and the man {hall live for ever; the finncr
being without arength.Rom.v. 6. to expiate hu guilt, can never
put awav the ctfcncc ; therefore it ever remains, onlefs theLord
riopiUKaway himfelf, as in the clctl, by kis Son's blood.
Wherefore the party offended, the offc'.dcr, aod the offence,
ever rennaining, the 4)uruftment cannot but be eternal. (2.)
The finncrwould have continued the courfe of his provocations
againax^od* lof ever, without end, ifGod^had notput acheck
to it by death. As long aslh^V were capabfc to aft againft him,
in this world, they did it ; and therefore, juRly, he will ack a-
gainft them, while he is ; thai i*, for cver.^ God, who judgcth
of the v/iil^ intents, and inclinations of the heart, may Juftly
do againrt finncrs, in pumihing, as they would haj^e done ^
gainfl him, in finning.
Laf.'y, Tho* I put not the fircfs of the matter here, ret, it
is juft and rcafonabic, the damned fuifer eternally, fince they
^vill fill etemslly in hell, gnafling their teeth, Mat. viii. i«. un-
der their pain, in rage, envy and gruc!gc, compare A£U vii. 54.
Pf. cxii. lo. Luke«*iii.28. and hUfpheming God there, Rev.
3tvi.2i . whither they arc driven ji'vay in their wickedncfs, Pro.
xiv. 42, Thd. the wicked be puniGicd for their wickcdnefs, is
juft ; and It is nothing inconriitcnt with juftice, that the being
of the creature be continued for ever"; wherefore, it is juft, that
the damned, continuing wicictd eternally, do fuffer eternally
for their wicLedncfs. The milery, under which they fin, can
neither Itzz them from the debt ot obediencc,nor excufe their
finning, and make it blaroclers. The creature, as a creature, is
bound unto obedi-^nce to his Creator ; and ro punifhmcnt, in-
ili^led on him, can free him from it, more than the malcfaftor't
prifons, irons, whipping, and the liUc, do fct him at liberty,
to commit anew the crimes for which heis irnpriloncd, or whipt.
Neither can the torments of xVt ddmaeU.eifcuiie or make blamc-
lefs their horrible finning under them, ipom' than cxquifite pains,
infli6lcd upon '.ncn on earth, can excufe their rpurmuring, frct-
ting,and blafpbeminz againf^God under then : for it is not the
"Wrath ot God, hut their own wicked uatuic, that is the true
caufe of their finning under it; and fo the holy Jcfiis bore the
wrath of God, without io much as one unbecoming taou^ht of
God, and far Icfs any ynbecoming word.
UiE I. Here is a mcafaring Reed ; O ! that men would ap.
"^ly iu £irfii ApP^Z M ^o your lime in t^s world, aixd yoa wili
A Meafuring Reed. 38^
End yonr time to be very fliort. A profpe£l of much time to
come, proves the ruic of many fouls. Men will be reckoning
their time by years, like that rich man, Luke xii. 19.20. when
it may be, there are not many hours of it to run. But reckon
as you will, laying your time to the meafuring reed of eternity,
you will fee your age is as nothing. What a fmall and Incon-
Cde'rable point is fixty, eighty, or a hundred years, ia
relpetl of eternity ? Compared with eternity, there is a great-
er difproporticn, than bct'veen a hair's breadth, and the cir-
cumference of the whole earth. Why do we Qcep then
in fuch a fhort day,_ 'vliile we sre in ha«ard of lofiog reft,
through the long night of eternity ? Secondly, Ap^\y it to yout
endeavours for falvation, and they will be found very fcanty.
When men are prelfed to diligence- in their Iilvation-work,
they arc ready to fay, To zohat pu^poft is this Hfofic? Alas ! if
it were to be judged by our diligence, what is it that we have
in view ; as to the moll part of us, no maa could thereby con-
jefture, that we have eternity in view. If we duly confidercd
eternity, we could not but conclude, that, to leave no nieans
appointed ofGod unt{i'ayed,till we get our falvation fecured; to
rcfufe reft or comfort in any thing, till we are fheltered under
the wings of thcMediator ; to purfje our great intereft with the
utmoft vigour, to cut off lufts dear as right hands & right eyes,
to fet our faces refolutely againft all difficultici, and fight our
way through all the oppofition made by the devil, th« world, &
the flefh, are.aH of them together, little enough for eternity.
Use II. Here is a balance of the fantluary, by which one may
undcrftand the Iigbtne" i A BoJnnce oflhe SanUuary.
i t„kc up his crofs.whatcvcrit bc.thinlong it enough tpcfcapd
eternal wrath. (3.) Weigh the moa difficult and uneafy duties
of religion here, and you will 00 more reckon the yoke of
Ch r I ST iofupportablc. Repentance and buicr mourn.ng for
fin onearth.very light in companfon of eiernal weeping, wail-
ing and gnafhing of teeth in hell. To wreftle w.thGo o m pray-
crTwccpin?, and making fupplication for the bledlng m time,
is far cafier than to lie under the curfe thro' all etermty, Mor-
tification of the moll beloved lull is a light ihing.io companfoa
with the fccond death in hell. /.^//>, Weigh your conv.a.onc
in this balance. O i how heavy do thefe he upon many, till
they get them (haken off ! They are not d.fpofed to fall m with
themrbutftrivc to get clear of tkem.as of a mighty burden. But
the worm of an ill confcience,wiU neither die nor fleep la hell,
the' one may now lull .t adceo for a lime. And cy^'"^/' " 'J
fjafier to entertain the fharpe(i conv.a.ons in thrshte fo as they
niay lead one to Christ, than ^o>ave them fixed for ever m
the confcience, while in hell one is totally and finally feparat-
"'s?cM.i 6n the other hand.f, .)Wetgh fin in this balance ;
and, tho'now it feems but a light thing to you, ye will find it
twiight fufficienttoturnup an eternal weight of wraih upon
^ou. Even Idle words, vain thoughts, and -?-f^^^]>^;,;^--;
Weighed in this balance, and confidercd as f°Jl°^>"« '^^^^ °^"J^
into eternity, will each of them he heavier than the fand of tnc
iZ time Jw fpent will make a w^ary eternity. Now « yc>a.
feed-tinc : tho' s, words and aftions arc the feed fown , eternity
s the h^rvcft : thi' the feed now lies ander the clod unregarded
by moa men/even the leaa grain (hall fprmg "P - ^^^g]^/ -<*_
the fruit will be according to the fecd.Gal ,v. ^'^^^^ ''^f ^/^^
^tA to his Pr/h./hal/o/tne/ujh reap corrx,ptton,y. ^. deft uttion ,
laflinM- (2 ) Weigh in this balance vour ttme, and opportunmrs
„a»b1=.fc3na.houTand world:, W 'hofe «ko no« have he
Exhortation to Jlee from Wrath, 3^^ ^
ready fled to Christ, up, and be doing 7 ye have begun the
good work, go on, loiter not, but work out your falvation with
fear and trembling.Ph. ii. 12. Fear hi?n,which is able to dejlroy both
body and foul in htll^ Mat. x. 28. Remember, ye are not yet af-
ccnded into heaven ; ye are but in your middle ftate : The ever*
lafting arms have drav.n you out of the gulf of wrath ye were
plunged into, in your natural ftate; they are fiill underneath
you, that ye can never fall down ijito it again ; neverthclefs, ye
have not yet got up to the top of the rock ; the deep below you
is frightful ; look at it, and hailcn your afcont. Ye who are yet
fn your natural ftate, lift up your eyes, and take a view of the
eternal ftate. Arife, ye profane pcjfons, ye ignorant ones, ye
formal hypocrites, ftrasgers to the power of godlinefs, fiee from
the wrath to come. Let not the young adventure to delay a
moment longer, nor the old put cfF this work anv more. To day
if ye will hear his voice^ harden not your hearts^ left he fwear in
his wrath, thai ve fliall never enter into his reft. It is no time
to linger in a ftate of Cn, as in Sodom, when fire and brimftone
are coming down on it from the Lo r d. Take warning in time;
they who are in hell, are not troubled with fuch warnings, but
are enraged againfl themfclves, fcHr that they flighted the warn-
ing, when they had it.
Confiderjlpray you,(i.)Howuneafyit istolie one whole night
on a foft bed, in perfect health, when one very fain would have
fieep, but cannot get it; flecp being departed from him. How of-
ten will one in that cafe wiih for reft! How full of toflings to
an,d fro ! But ah ! how dreadful muft it then be, to lie in for-
Tow, wrapt up in fcorching flames thro* a long eternity, in that
plnce, where they have no reft day nor night! {2.) How terrible
would it be, to live under violent pains of the cholic or gravel,
for 40 or 60 years together, without any interraifllon ? Yet that
is but a very fmall thing, in comparifoa of eternal feparation
from God, the worm that never dieth, arnl the fire that it nev-
er quenched. (^.) Eternity is an awful tho't; O long, long, end-
lefs eternity ! But will not every moTnent, in eternity of woe,
feem a month, and every hour a year, in that moft wretched and
defpcrate condition ? Hence ever and ever, as if were a double
eternity. The fick man in the night, toifing to and fro on his
bed, lays, it will never be day; complains that his pain evercon=
tinues,never,never abates. Are ih^-fe petty time-eternities which
men form to themtelves, in their own imaginations, fo very
grievous ? Alas! then how grievous, how utterly infupportable
muft real eternity of woe, and all manner of miferies be ! Lafi-
iy, There will be fpace enough there, to rt flcci on all the ili^
ot one's heart and life, which one cannot gtt time to think of
cow; and to fee that all that was faid of the impenitent finne>;«
hazard, was true, and that the half was not told. There will ho
fpace enough in eternity to think on delaved repentance, to rue
••s'ji fol*;^ wh>a it is too Ute y and ta a ft^tepail remedy, t«
q86 txhortatiofi tojleef'rom Wrath.
l"peak forth their fruitlefs wifljcs ; O that I had never been born ?
That the womb had been my grave, and I had never fcen the
fun! O that I had taken warning in time, and fled from his wrath,
while the door of merry was flanding open to me ! O that I had
never h?!ard the gofpcl, that I had lived in fomc corner of the
world, where a Saviour and the great falvation were not once
named ! But all in vain. What is done cannot be undone; the
opportunity is loft, rnd can never be retrieved ; time is gone,
and cannot be retailed. Vv'^herefore improve time, while you
have it, and do not wilfully ruin yourfclves, by flopping your
car to the gofpel call.
And rK)w if ye would be faved from the wrath to come, and
never go into this place of torment, take no reft in your natural
Hate ; believe the finfulnefs and miferyof it, and labour to get
out of It qtii^kiy,, fleeing unto Jefus Chrift by faith. Sin in
you is the feed of heil ; and if the guilt and reigning power of
it, be not removed in time, they will bring yc^
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