The Saints Safety in Evil Times, Sermon 2

The Saints Safety in Evil Times · Sermon 2

p. 54THE VNGODLIES MISERY.

SERMON II.

And if it first beginne at us, what shall the end of those be that obey not the Gospell!

THESE words are p…opounded by way of admira…, as if the Apostle had beene at his wits end, & could not certainly set downe, how great the judgment should bee of those that obey not the Gospell; it was so p. 55terrible and unavoydable. The points considerable are these.

1.Three points consider…ble. That the seeming prosp…rity of the wicked shall have an end.

2. That it is wisedome to con…ider the end of gracelesse persons.

3. The description of them in these words, they are such as obey not the Gospell.

It is naturally in the hearts of carnall persons,The seeming prosperity of th… wicked shall have an end. to thinke it shall be alwaies well with thē, whereas the Prophet saith, the happinesse of a wicked man, is but as a candle, that ends in … snuffe, or like a Rose, the beauty whereof suddenly fades, and nothing remaines but the prickles. The favours of men, (for which theyso much offend God) shall have an end; their strength shall end, their pleasure shall end: alas, they are but pleasures of sinne for a season; their life it selfe (the foundation of all their p. 56comforts) that shall have an end; but their sinnes, by which they have offended God, shall never have an end: See what a feareful judgmēt followes every wicked wretch; that which he sinnes for, his honor, riches, delights, all shall vanish and come to nothing, they shall not be able to afford him one droppe or dramme of comfort at his dying day: but the sinne it self, the guilt of that, and the punishment due to the same, shall indure for ever to torment his soule, without serious repentance & turning to God in time.

But secondly,Obser. 2. if the happinesse of wicked men shall have an end,The happinesse of the wicked is moment…nic▪ …heir … end les…e. and their misery shall have no end; let us not bee dazeled with their present happinesse, so as to im…tate their evill waies: let us tremble at their courses, whose ends we tremble at; if we walke p. 57in the same path, shall wee not come to the same end? All wicked men that delight in the company one of another here, are brethren in …vill, and shall bee like a company of tares all cast into hell fire together hereafter: It is pitty they should be s…vered then that will not be severed now; Those mens courses therefore which wee follow here, of their judgmēt wee shall participate eternally afterwards

Let this admonish us to have nothing to do with sinfull persons,Vse nor to bee troubled with their seeming prosperity;Psal. 37.Ps 37 They stand in …lippery places; Luke 16.Luke 16God lets them alone for a while, but their pleasure will end in bitternesse at last; all their riches shall end in poverty & beggery, They shall not have a drop of …ater to coole their tongues; Luke 16.Luke 16All their honour and greatnesse shall end p. 58in con…usion and shame, and lie in the dust ere long. In deed we should rather pitty them if wee consider their latter ends. Alas, what shall become of them ere long? The fall of there wretches shall bee so terrible, that peter could not set it downe, but leaves it to the admiration of the Reader, What shall the end of such be! &c.

One difference betwixt a wise man and a foole, is, that a wise man considers his end, and frames his life sutable therunto; therefore if we would be truly wise, let us consider the end of those things in this world, which wicked men offend God for, and set so light by Heaven and everlasting happinesse for the procurement of; Alas, whatsoever is here, shall have an end. A Christian should frame his course answerable to eternity, p. 59that when his happinesse shall end in this world, it may beginne in the world to come; els wee may out-live our happinesse.Present happinesse aggra…vates futur… and et…rnall misery.

This is the misery of wicked men, that their soules are eternall, but their happinesse is determined in this life, here that ends; but their misery is infinite, and hath no end at all. Looke what degree of excellency any creature hath if it bee good, the same degree of misery it hath, if it be evill; What made the Angells worse then other creatures when they sinned? but only this, they were most excellent creatures, and therefore when they became evill, their excellencie did but help them to subsist & be more capable of punishmēt. A wise mā under ādeth his misstry; Now the Angells when they fell became more miserable,S…piens … plus miser. because they were more capac…ous, p. 60and sensible of it, being Spirits.

So man being sinfull and evill, his end will be more miserable then any inferiour creature, because he was more happie; his happinesse helps him to mo…e misery; How should this stirre up every one to looke about him, & not to prize himselfe by any outward excellency whatsoever? The more excellent thou art, the more miserable if thou sin against God; It is of all unhappinesses the most unhappie thing, for a man to live happyly here a while, & be eternally miserable afterwards; for our former happinesse tends to nothing els but to make us more sensible of future miseries; what is all the felicity of great persons when they die and leave this world? alas, it soone comes to nothing, and serves but to make them apprehensive p. 61of more misery then meaner persons are capable of; What shall the end of such be! &c.

From this, that the Apostle leaves the punishment of all sinfull wretches,Observ. 3. to admiration and wonderment,The e…dlesse miseries of the wicked should warne us from the love of their present pleasures and profits rather then to expression, (for indeed it is above expression) wee may learne; when wee are tempted to any sin or unalwfull course; to cōsider thus with our selves. Shall I for a pleasure that will end, have a judgement that shall never end? For the favour of men that will faile, shall I lose the perpetuall favour of God, whose wrath is a cōsuming fire & burnes to hell? shall I for a little profit, lose my soule eternally? Beloved, as the good things of a Christian (even in this life) are admirable beyōd expressiō, peace that passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and glorio…s, &c. p. 62So when God awakens our consciences, those gripes and pangs, & terrors o… foule which follow after sinne cōmitted, are unutterable, & unconceivable; I beseech you therefore when ever you are sollicited to sinne for profit or pleasure, &c. set before your eies the fading and perishing condition of these things, and the everlastingnesse of that judgment which attends upon them. Oh that we were wise this way.

I come now to the third particular: Those that obey not the Gospell; where in wee have

1. A description of the thing.

2. And then of the Persons.

The thing is the Gospell of God; the Persons are wicked men; God is the authour of the Gospell, it comes out his brest, sealed with authority; Whence learne this (by the way,)That in refusing p. 63the blessed Gospell, …ee have to deale with god himselfe; It is Gods word and Gospel, therefore when you reject it, you reject God; in receiving it, you receive God; you deale with God himselfe when you deale with the Ministers of his word; therfore when ever you partake of the Ordinaces, say with good Cornelius, We are now in the presēce of God to heare what hee will say.

But, what is it to obey the Gospell?

To obey the Gospell is to entertaine the offers of it; Quest.for indeed though the Gospell co…and us to beleeve in the Sonne of God, Answ.yet withall it offers the very command unto us;What it is to obey the Gospell. To beleeve in Christ, being in effect a commaund to receive him, which supposeth an act of giving and tendering somthing to us; Now when wee doe not receive and p. 64intertaine with our whole heart Christ and his benefits freely offered, wee disobey the Gospell, and so procure danger to our selves.

But more particularly, he obeies the Gospell that is sensible of his owne miserable and sinnefull condition, and from a sense thereof hungereth after the grace and favour offered in Jesus Christ to pardon sinne, which when hee hath once obteined, walkes answerable to that great mercy receved, Hee that receives whole Christ to justifie him, and sanctifie him too, that receives Christ as a king to rule him, as well as a Preist to save him, such a one receives the Gospell: but those that are not sensible of their misery, or if they be, will not goe to Christ, but as desperate persons fling a way the potion that p. 65should cure them, these are farre frō obeying the Gospel of God.

Such likewise as pretend, Oh, Christ is welcome with the pardon of sinne, but yet live in grosse wickednesse against …owledge and conscience, and suffer him not to beare sway in their hearts, as if Christ came by blo…d alone, & not by water, whereas indeed he came as well by water to sanctifie us, as by bloud to die for us.

Many there are that thinke they obey the Gospell, who are indeed very rebels and enenies unto it; they welcom… the Gospell & they hate popery, &c. but notwithstanding they will bee their own Rulers, & live as they list, they wil not denie thēselves in their beloved sinnes; they are full of Reveng… notwithstanding the Gospell saith, This is my Commandement that you love p. 66one another. That bidds them deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, and live soberly; Yet they will riot, and follow their base courses still. The Gospell teacheth a man to acknowledge God in all his waies, to deale with Go… in all thing… he goes about; now when a man lives without God in the world, saying, God is mercifull, and Christ is a Saviour, and yet persists in those waies which seeme good in his owne eies, never looking to God to guide him, or his law to rule him, How can such a one bee said to obey the Gospell?

But some others there are amongst us,That workes have no place in the act of just…fication. that regard not Christ and his satisfaction alone, but joyne faith and workes together in justification, they will have other Preists, and other intercessors then Christ. Alas beloved, how are these men p. 67falne from Christ to another Gospell, as if Christ were not an all-sufficient Saviour,Gal. 2▪Gal 2 and able to deliver to the uttermost? What is the Gospell but salvation and redemption by Christ alone?

Therefore Romes Church is an Apostate Church, and may well be stiled an Adulteresse and a Whore, because shee is fallen from her Husband Christ Jesus.

And what may wee thinke of those that would bring light & darknesse, Christ and Antichrist, the Arke and Dagon together, that would reconcile us, as if it were no such great matter? Beloved, they that joyne works with Christ in matter of j…stification, erre in the foundation, the very life and soule of Religion consists in this; What was the reason the Iewes stumbled at this st…bling block, and were p. 68never benefited by Christ? why; they set up a righteousnesse of their …wne which could not stand, but soone failed them. So when a man sets up a righteousnesse of his owne, neglecting the righteousnes of Christ, it is impossible he should ever be saved living and dying in that errour.Philip. 3. 10.Phil 3:10

Therefore I beseech you take heed of disobeying the Gospell of Jesus Christ in any kinde whatsoever,Why disobedience against the Gospell is so great a sin. for of all sinnes this is the greatest, as shall appeare by these reasons.

First,1. Reas. b…cause sins against the Gospel are sins against those Attrib…tes, B…cause sins against the Gospell, are against those attributes in which God is most glorified.wherin God wil glorifie himself most, as his grace, mercy, loving kindnes, &c. Therfore the Gospel is called grace, because it publisheth, offers, and applies grace; Now sinnes against …rcy are greater then sins against justice; for God hath made all p. 69things for the glory of his mercy. Even among men, are not sinnes against favours the greatest sinnes? To wrong a man whether hee deserves well or ill is an offence. But what man will have his courtesies rejected though never so meane? Love deserves love; Favour deserves respect againe: But now when we… obey not the Gospell, wee neglect and dispise the goodnesse and mercy of God; Oh what excellēt blessings doth the Gospell reveale, if wee had hearts to value them! Doth not the Gospell bring salvation? Is it not the word of grace, the word of life, the word of the Kingdome? Beloved, I beseech you lay these things to heart, for whensoever your refuse the Gospell of Christ, you refuse with it the word of grace, of the Kingdome of Heaven, and eternall p. 70life, and all; therefore the sinnes of the Gospell must needs bee the greatest sinnes.

Againe,2. Reas. sinnes against the greatest light are most sinnefull; B…c…u…e those sins are most sinfull which are against the greatest light.What makes sinne out of measure sinfull, but this, when it is committed against a great measure of light? What makes a man fall foule? It is not when he falls in a mist, or in a darke night (every one will pitty him then, alas he wanted light) but when hee falls at noone day. Beloved, had we lived in former times when the light was not powred forth so abundantly as now it is, our sinne had beene the lesse, but now in this cleare Sunshine of the Gospell for us to live in sinnes condemned by so great a light, either in our judgmēt or practice, it must needs make our sinne the greater.Iohn. 15. 22.John 15:22 If I had not come and spoke to them (saith our Saviour) p. 71they had had some pretence for their sinnes; but when Christ had once spokē, all excuse was takē away, they could not thē say they knew not the will of God; and this is the reason of that speech of the Apostle,Ep…. 5. 8. Now you are in the light, walke as children of light. And This is the condemnation that men hate light, (not that men for want of light stumble, but) that men love darknesse more then light. It is not the sinne it selfe, but the love & liking of sinne which aggravates mens wickednesse, when as the malice & poison of their hearts rebells against the discovery of Gods good pleasure in Christ.

No people o…t of the Church are capable of this sin;Negative infidelity is a lesser …in them disobedience to the Gospell. for how can they sinne by infidelity and unthankfulnesse for the Gospell, that never had it? And therfore Negative infidelity is as it were p. 72no sin in comparison;Iohn. 15. 22.John 15:22 If I had not come among them they had had no sin, saith Christ. Negative I call that, when as men beleeve not, having no meanes, as infidells and Heathens, &c. And therefore as they sinne without the Gospell, so they shal be damned without the Gospel; the rule of their dānation shal be the law of Nature writtē in their hearts; for this is an undoubted truth, No man ever lived answerable to his Rule; & therefore God hath just ground of dānation to any man, even from this that hee hath not lived answerable to the rule of his owne conscience; so that we need not flie to reprobation, &c.

Againe,3. Reas. an other aggravation of sinnes against the Gospell is,Because they …in against a better cov… nant. that they are against the better covenant; The first covenant was, D…e this and live, …gainst which wee all sinned, and were u…der p. 73the curse; But now wee are under a more gracious covenant; (a covenant of mercy) Beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ and wee shall be saved; therefore sinnes now must needs bee more heinous; for if we sinne against the Gospell, either by presumption or despaire, or els by prophanenes, professing the Gospell but denying the power of it, &c. there is no remedy left for us; If a man sinne against the La…, against Morall honesty and Civill Righteousnesse, there is a remedy in the Gospell for him; but when a man sinnes against the sweet love and goodnesse of God, in rejecting the Gospel of his deare Sonne, Mercy it selfe shall not save such an one; That must needs bee a strange sinne that makes a man worse then a sodomite, yet wee reade it shall bee easier for Sodome and p. 74Go…rrha in that day, then for those that heare the Gospell, (the blessed allurements and invitations to beleeve, and to lead an holy life answerable to our faith and calling) and yet live in sins against conscience, despising the precious bloud of Christ.

Herod was a wretched man, yet notwithstanding it was said, hee added this to all, he put Iohn in prison a Preacher of the Gospell: Luk. 3. 20.Luke 3:20sinnes against the Gospell in a loose malignant Professor are many times worse then all the rest. Oh therefore take heed of sinning against the favour and goodnesse of God, for this will confound us a… the day of judgment, when we shal think, What, was so great mercy offered me & did I slight it in this manner? Have I lost the favour of God, eternall life, and the glorious company of the Saints in Heaven p. 75for a base pleasure of sinne for a seas…n, to gratifie a bruitish lust? Have I lost Christ and all the Good by him for ever, only to satisfie my sinfull disposition? to please a carnall friend? &c. Oh how will this lie heavy upon the soule another day! we shall not need accus…rs, our owne hearts shall justifie the sentence of God against us bee it never so sharpe, that we have resused mercy so often tendred to us in the bloud of Christ.2. Thess. 1. 7▪ 8.2 Thess 1:72 Thess 1:8 Marke what Saint Paul saith, The Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from heaven, in flaming fire taking vengeance upon those that know not God: and obey not his glorious Gospell; he saith not, only on those that are swearers, and prophane persons, but ignorant sots that care not to know God, though they bee not open sinners: H… saith not, those that p. 76persecute the Gospel or oppose it shall bee punished with eternall destruction frō the presence of God, (which is true) but those that sin in a lesse degree, s…ch as obey not the Gospell, that value not this inestimable jewell: that sell not all to buy this pearle, unto whom all the world is not drosse and doung in respect of the glorious Gospell of Christ Jesus; how shall they escape which neglect so great salvation?

Oh say some, this concernes not me, I thanke God there is mercy in Christ, and I hope for pardon, &c. Beloved, here is the bane of mens …oules, they will be their owne Carvers, and take of the Gospell what they list; Oh so much of Christ as concernes their owne good they will have, so much as concernes their pleasure and profit, p. 77so much as they may have and bee proud too, and be devilish, and evill in their life and conversation too, this they allowe of, and it is pitty he should live that regards not Christ in justification; but so much as concernes mortification & selfe-de…yall, as crosses them in their sinful course, this they are strangers to; But (wee must know) the Gospell doth not onelyonly bring salvation, but it teacheth a man to denie ungodlines & worldly l…sts, 2. Ti…. 12.to put off himselfe, his whole selfe, that hee might have no judgement, nor no affection contrary to God.

To make this more plainly appeare, take these few instāces.

The very first lesson which the Gospell injoy…eth,1. …. is to cut off our right hand, and pull out our right eye, (that is,) to deny our selves in those sinnes which are p. 78most useful & gainful to us; now whē this is pressed in particular to some that live in their secret beloved sins, presently they beginne to hate this blessed truth, and the Ministry thereof; they know so much as will damne them, but so much as without the which they cannot be saved that they oppose; Contenting themselves with a bare forme and outside of Religion; they come to Church, and take their Bookes and reade and heare and receive the Sacrament, &c. and in these outward performances they▪ rest: Alas Beloved what are these? I tell you, all the priviledges of the Gospell doe but aggravate thy damnation, if thou art not bettered by them; for as they are in themselves invaluable priviledges and even ravish the heart of a true child of God; so when p. 79they are not entertained to purpose, they make our sinne the more heinous; Every man is willing to accept of Christ, but it must be upō their owne termes, & what are those? So they may enjoy their worldly delights, so they may increase their estates by such unlawfull meanes, and not bee crossed; so long they are content that Christ and the Gospell shall bee theirs; but otherwise if they cannot enjoy Christ upon their owne termes, (that is) if they cannot goe to Heaven and to Hell too, they will rather regard their owne profits and pleasures, then regard Christ. Oh, how do these poore wretches delude their own soules; beloved the imbracing and obeying the Gospell is a spirituall marriage betwixt Christ and the beleever. Now you know in Marriage the p. 80will is given up to the Husband; the wife is no more her owne, but at his disposing: So when once wee are truly united unto Christ, wee take him for better for worse, wee must suffer with him, yea live and die with him, & esteeme him above all; wee must take Christ upon his owne termes, or els hee will not bee had; if wee love not him above Father and Mother (yea & life it selfe) wee are not worthy of him; 10. Matth 37.And therefore all that doe not thus obey the Gospell are rebells, and shall have the reward of rebells if they repent not in time. Were it not a comely thing (thinke you) for a company of Traitors that had this condition propounded to them, if you will come in and live as good subjects you shall have a pardo…, for them to go on presumptuously in their rebellion p. 81still, and thinke to have …avour when they please? would not … sharpe execution be the just desert of such persons?

Againe,2. Instance. Christ propounds pardon and forgivenesse of sins upon this condition, that wee will come in, & live as wives& as obedient subjects to his blessed Spirit, and not in swearing▪ filthinesse, and other abominable courses of which the Scripture saith,1 Cor. 6. 9.1 Cor 6:9 such shall … inherite the kingdome of heaven; yet notwithstanding Sathan hath so bewitched many poore wretches, that they thinke their case is good, and al shall goe well with them bee their lives never so loose and opposite to the wayes of God; they blesse themselves when God doth not blesse them, but rather curse them to their faces; the Devill himselfe is likely to bee saved as soone as p. 82such gracelesse persons as these, without repentance: No, no, if ever they expect a pardon, they must live as subjects: If they frame not themselves to bee guided by Christ, and come under his government, to be ruled according to his will; they have nothing to doe with mercy and salvation, Those mine enemies that will not have mee rule over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me, Luke 19. 27.Luke 19:27&c. we mocke Christ if wee will not suffer him to rule us.

But I cannot obey the Gospell of my selfe.Object.

It is true,Answ. we cannot no more than we can obey the Law; nay, it is harder to obey the Gospell then to obey the Law in a mans owne strength; for there are the seeds of the law in our nature, but there are none of the Gospell; that is …eerly supernaturall; p. 83the prom…ses are above nature to apprehend them, therefore a supernaturall strength is required to plant the excellent grace of faith in our hearts. But though we be as unable to beleeve and obey the Gospell as the Law, yet here is the difference; together with the unfolding of our miseries by the Gospell, the Spirit of God goes along to sustaine us. The Law finds us dead, and gives us no strength, but leaves a mā cursed stil; the Gospell likewise findes us dead, but it leaves us not so, and therefore it is called the Ministry of the Spirit; Gal. 3. 5.Gal 3:5Received you the Spirit by the Law, or by the Gospell? Gods blessed Spirit goes together with the sweet message of salvation and eternall life; and this Spirit doth not onelyonly open our understandings, but incline and bend our wills and aff…ctions to p. 84imbrace the truth that is offered. Seing therefore the Spirit which accompanieth the Gospell, is mighty and powerfull in operation, let none pretend impossibility; for though they finde not the sweet blaze of the Spirit at the first or second hearing; yet let them still attend upon Grace, Pro. 8. 34.Prov 8:34waiting at wisdomes gate, and the Angell will come at lenght and stirre the waters; God will make the m…anes effectuall first or last to those that in truth of heart seeke unto him; for the Gospell is the Chariot of the Spirit, and the golden Conduit through which the Spirit runnes, and is convayed to us; therefore if thou wouldest not disobey the Gospell, withstand not the Spirit of God working by the same.How the Spirit workes with the Gosp…ll.

Now the Spirit workes with 1the Gospell by degrees. 1. It p. 85bringeth some to be willing to heare the Gospell, who yet presently neglect and dis-regard the the same. 2. Others are more 2obedient for a time (as the stony ground) but because they opened not their hearts to the working of the Spirit onelyonly,Math. 13. 20.Matt 13:20 but will bee ruled partly by carnall wisedome, and partly by the Spirit, it leaves them at last altogether. 3. But 3some there are who give up themselves wholly to the government of Christ, to be ruled in all things by his blessd Spirit; highly esteeming the treasures of heaven, and comforts of a better life, above all the fading outward felicities which this world can afford▪ who would not to gaine any earthly thing, hurt their consciences, or once defile themselves with unfruitfull workes of darknesse; fearing lest they should in p. 86any thing dishonour Christ, or grive his good Spirit, and to such only hath the Gospell come in power.If we would not d…sobey the Gospell, disobey not the Spirit. Therefore I beseech you seriously cōnsider of this truth if you would not disobey the Gospell, disobey not the Spirit accompanying the same; deale faithfully with your owne soules. Which of you al hath not some time or other had his heart warmed with the sweet motions of Gods Spirit? Oh doe not resist these holy stirrings within you, give way to the motions of the blessed Spirit of God, second them with holy resolutions to practise the same; let them sinke deepe into your hearts, roote them there, and never give over the holy meditation of them, till you make them your owne, till you come to see Grace and the state of Christianity to be the most amiable and excellent thing in the p. 87world, & sin & carnall courses to bee the most accursed thing in the world, worse than any misery, than any beggery, tormēt, or disgrace whatsoever. Beloved til we have our spirits wrought upon to this high esteeme of good things, & to a base undervaluing of all things else, we shal rebell against Christ first or last: for untill such time as the heart of mā is overpowred with Grace, hee cannot but disobey the Gospel, either by shutting it out altogether, or by making an evill use of what he knoweth (thereby turning the grace of God into wantonnesse) or else by revolting from the truth received altogether: When times of temptation come, unfound Christians wil do one of these three, either despise, refuse or revolt from the truth. Therefore I beseech you let your hearts be cast p. 88into the mould and fashion of the Gospell of Christ, let it bee soundly bottomed and ingrasted in you, that so you may grow more and more obedient to the truth revealed, and so your end shal not be theirs here, which obey not the Gospell of Iesus Christ.

But,Qu…st. how may I come to obey the Gospell?

Begge earnestly of God in the use of the meanes (else prayer is but a tempting of God) that thy soule may bee convinced,Answ. of what evill is in thee, and what evill is towards thee unlesse thou repent;How we may c… to obey the Gospell. Labour for sound conviction; for you shall not need to stirre up a man that is condemned to seeke out for a pardon, or a man that seeles the smart of his wound to get balme to cure it; oh no, when our hearts are once truly humb'…d p. 89and pearced with a sight of our sinnes, then Christ will bee Christ indeed unto us; mercy is sweet at such a time, any thing for a Saviour then, and not before. Therefore labour every day to see more and more into the venemous & filthy nature of sin, make it as odious to thy soule as possibly thou canst, hearken to the voyce of conscience, give it full scope to speake what it can, that so thou maist fly to Christ. Consider how God plagueth us in this world for sinne, how it fils us with feares and horrors, causing our consciences to torment us, and fly in our faces; consider what threatnings are denounced against sinne and sinners, for the time to come. Consider the fearfull judgements of God upon others for sinne, how it cast Adam out of Paradise, the Angels p. 90out of heaven, being so offensive to God, that it could no otherwise bee expiated then by the death and blood shedding of the Lord Jesus. I beseech you let your hearts dwel upon these things, and consider with your selves how bitter you have found it to offend God, though now it be a time of mercy.

2Secondly,1 John 3. 23.1 John 3:23 cōsider how the Gospell layes open Christ unto us; this is his cōmandement, that we beleeve in the Lord Iesus; he that cō mands us to doe no murther, not to …teale, &c. commands us likewise to beleeve in Christ; Hee commands us to love our owne soules so much, as to take the remedy which may cure them; so that now it is our duty to be good to our poore soules, and wee offend God if wee bee not mercifull to our owne soules. Oh what a favour is this, that p. 91God should lay a charge upon me no… …o reject my owne mercy, as it is in Ionah, They who follow lying vanities forsake their owne mercies; Jonah 2. 8.Jonah 2:8If I doe not love my owne soule, and accept of mercy offered, I make God a lyar, and offend his Majesty.

Againe, consider how God 3allures those that might except against mercy; Alas, I am laden with sinne, (will some poore soule say) why,Matth 11. 28.Matt 11:28 Come unto mee all you that are heavy …aden, and I will case you. But I have offended God, I have broken my peace, &c.2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20 yet I beseech you be reconciled to God, though you have offended, yet there is hope; do but consider how ready God is to helpe you, how continuall his mercies are, and how he stretcheth out his hands to receive us.

Consider further, what a 4sweet regiment it is to be under p. 92Christ as a King, and as an Husband; will hee not provide for his owne family, for his owne Subjects? Beloved, it is not meere dominion that Christ stands upon, he aymes at a Fatherly and Husband - like soveraignty for the good of his children and Spouse, it is their welfare he lookes after; therefore I beseech you be in love with the government of Jesus Christ and his blessed Spirit, oh it is a sweet regiment; the Spirit of God leades us quietly, inlightning our understandings upon judicious grounds what to doe, by strength of reason altering our natures, and bettering us every way, both in our inward and outward man; it never leaves teaching and guiding of us till it hath brought us to heaven and happinesse.

To conclude, marke what the p. 93Apostle saith here, What shall bee the end of those that obey not the Gospell? (he cares not what they know) Many say, we have heard the Word, and wee have received the Sacrament, &c. it is no matter for that, how stands the bent of your soules? what hath your obedience beene, this is that God lookes after; every man can talke of religion, but where is the practice? a little obedience is worth all the discourse and contemplation in the world, for that serves but to justifie Gods damning of us, if we live not answerably: value not your selves therefore by your outward profess ō, neither judge of your estate in grace, by the knowledge of good things; nothing but the power of godlinesse expressed in our lives, will yeeld reall comfort in the day of tryall.

p. 94And wee should labour that our obedience bee free and cheerfull,Our obedience must be free. alwayes upon the wing, Psal. 1103.Ps 110:3(as we say) for that is Euangelicall obedience; Gods people under the Gospell are a voluntary ready people,Tir. 2▪ 14. zealo…s of good workes. Oh beloved, did we but consider what GOD hath done for us here, and what hee meanes to doe for us in another world, how would our hearts be inlarged in duty to his Majesty? did wee but consider of his inestimable love in the Lord Christ, pardoning such wretches as wee are, and not onelyonly so, but accepting our service, and us to life everlasting, taking us from the lowest misery to the highest happinesse; from the lowest hell to the highest heaven, of traytors to be Sonnes, of slave… to bee heires of the Kingdome, &c? Oh did wee but seriously p. 95consider and beleeve these things, how would they warme our hearts, and make us plyable and constant to every good worke and way?

The Apostle having tasted the sweet favour of GOD in Christ, might well use it as a motive to quicken others, (I beseech you by the tender mercies of Christ, Rom. 12. 1.Rom 12:1&c.) He knew this was a powerfull argument, and if that wrought not upon mens hearts, nothing would.

Let our obedience therefore be cheerefull, for now wee are not in the oldnesse of the letter, we have not a Legall Covenant since Christs comming, but wee serve God in the newnesse of the Spirit, Rom. 7. 6.Rom 7:6(that is) cōsidering that the Spirit is given in more plenty since his ascention, wee should bee more spirituall and heavenly in our service of God; considering p. 96that our Head is already entred into that high and holy place, and wee ere long shall bee present with him, having but a spot of time to passe here below, how ready and zealous should wee bee in obedience to Gods will, and not suffer a heavy lumpishnesse and deadnesse of spirit to cease upon us in holy performances: but I hasten to the second Amplification.