The Drunkards Character, Section 147 – Section 148
§ 147.
SEcondly,All the promises in tailed to believers and limited with the condition of faith & repentance looke upon the promises single, 'and thou shalt finde, that they are not made indefinitely, to al; but with a restriction, to such only, as are qualified and made capeable thereof, by grace from above.
The Penmen of holy Writ, have set out Gods mercy in high and stately termes, Heb. 4. 17.. 18. Ion. 4. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 2. 3. Ephesians 3. 18. but withal, they declare that hee resembles Augustus Caesar, in his dispensing the riches thereof, of whom they which write his life, note, that in his military discipline, hee was exceeding liberall and lavish in his gifts, to such as were of any de…ert; but withall, as sparing and straite handed, to the undeserving.
What though Christ in the Gospell, hath made many large and precious promises? there are none so generall, which are not limited with the condition of faith and the fruit therof, unfained repentance; and each of them are so tyed and entailed, that none can lay claime to them, but true believers, which repent and turne from all their sinnes, to serve him in holinesse, without which no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12 14. Esay 59. 20. So that hee must for sake his sinne that will have God to forgive it, 1 Samuel 2. 30. As for instance, our Saviour hath made publike Proclamation, Mark. 16. 16. that whosoever shall believe and be baptized, shall be saved; but marke what withall is added, he that will not believe, shall be damned. Againe, Heb. 5. 9, he is said to be the author of eternall salvation, unto all that obey him; not unto them, which continue in their rebellious wickednes, and never submit themselves, be ruled by the scepter of his word. These and many the like promises, yeild joyful assurance to the sinner that repents; no comfort to him that remaines impenitent.
Or in case the condition of faith andrepentance is any where unexprest, yet every promise must be understood with such condition: yea, it was never heard, that any ascended into heaven, without going up the staires of obedience, and good works; that any have attained unto everlasting life, without faith, repentance, and sanctification: for, even the Thiefe upon the Crosse believed in Christ, and shewed the fruits of his faith, in acknowledging his owne sinne, reproving his fellow, in confessing our Saviour Christ, even then, when his Apostles denyed and forsooke him, in calling upon his Name, and desiring by his meanes everlasting life.
For know this, that whosoever Christ saveth with his blood, he sanctifieth with his Spirit; and where his death takes away the guilt and punishment of sinne, it is also effectuall for the mortifying of sinne, Romans 6. 5, 6. Christs blood, saith Zanchie, was shed, as well for abl…tion, as for absolution; as well to cleanse from the soyle and silth of sin, as to cleare and assoyle from the guilt of sin. God hath thosen us in Christ before the fou…dation of the world, that wee should be holy and without blame before him, in love, Eph. 1. 4. they therefore that never come to be holy, were never chosen.
Hee is said to have given himselfe for us, that hee might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purge us to bee a peculiar people unto himselfe, zealous of good workes, Titus 2. 14. and Luk. 1. 74, 75. Yea, the Lord binds it with an oath, that whomsoever hee redeemeth out of the hands of their spirituall enemies, they shall worship him in holinesse and righteousnesse, all the daies of their life, 1 Peter 2. 24. Other Scriptures, to this purpose are many; as Matth. 19. 17 hee that will enter into life, must keepe the Commandements, viz. so farre forth as hee can. And Titu… 2. 12. The grace of God which bringeth salvation, teachethus that we should …eny ungodlines, and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, and righteously, and godly, in this present world.
By all which it is plain, that as Christ's blood is a Charter of pardon, so withall, it is a covenant of direction; and hee that refuseth to live, as that covenant prescribes, may perish, as a malefactor that is hanged, with his pardon about his necke. And yet every drunken, dissolute, and deboyshed person, doubts not to fare well while they feare not to doe ill.
§ 148.
BUt secondly,One part of the covenan… of grace is, that we … wil for…ake the Divell and all his workes, constantly believe, &c. what else did thy vow in Baptisme (which is a seale of the covenant) import, but that there are Articles and conditions, viz. certaine duties, on thy part, to be performed, aswell as promises on Gods part to be fulfilled? A Sacrament is the sealing of a League, with Covenants betweene party and party, saith Pareus, Now as God hath covenanted, and bound himselfe by his Word and Seale, to remit thee thy sinnes, adopt thee his child by regeneration, and give thee the Kingdome of heaven, and everlasting life, by, and for his Sonnes sake: so thou didest for thy part, bind thy selfe by covenant, promise, and vow, that thou wouldest forsake the Divel, and all his workes, constantly believe Gods holy Word, Mark. 61. 16.and obediently keep his Commandements, the better thereby to expresse thy thankfulnesse towards him, for so great a benefit, 1 Pet. 3. 21: Ps. 116. 12. 13. 14. And we know, that in Covenants and Indentures, if the conditions be not kept, the Obligation is not in force; whereby many even (Magus-like) after the water of Baptisme, goe to the fire of Hell.
Yea, except wee repent and believe the Gospell, that holy Sacrament (together with the offer of grace) instead of sealing to us our salvation, will bee an obligation under our owne hand and seale against us, and so prove a seale of our greater condemnation.