The Best Treasure, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Shewing the Willingneſs of Chriſt, that Sinners ſhould be ſaved, the Sin and Miſery of ſuch as refuſe Chriſt, with Reproof to ſeveral ſorts of Perſons
WE have a little opened the Tranſcendent Glory of Chriſt as Mediator, wherein ſo much of his vaſt Treaſury lies: we come now to make ſome Application of this glorious point.
Firſt, By way of Information. Firſt, How wonderfully are poor Sinners indebted to the Lord for giving ſuch a Mediator as Jeſus Chriſt, God-Man; none elſe in Heaven or Earth could have procured the Salvation of loſt Sinners: had he been God only, he had had neither Right or Capacity to ſuffer: had he been only Man, he could never have born up under the dreadful weight of theſe Sufferings; Death would have had Dominion over him, his Sufferings unſatisfactory, his Interceſſion rejected, and all the hopes of Sinners periſhed; but now he is able to ſave all that come to God by him: O admire at, and rejoyce in this Love of God, in giving Chriſt, Jo. 3. 16. God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son. Life and Liberty Health and Strength, Peace and Plenty, are excellent Mercies; but the giving of Chriſt is tranſcendently ſuper-eminent: Can you bleſs the Lord for lower Springs? O adore theſe upper ones, this Grace that brings Salvation.
Secondly, See the Willingneſs of Chriſt, that Sinners ſhould be ſaved, he would never elſe have aſſum'd the work of a Mediatour, nor have given himſelf for this very end that Sinners might be brought to God, 1 Pet. 3. 18. He would never have undertaken the bloody way of Death, nor drunk off ſuch a bitter tremendous Cup, that Sin had brewed for him; he would not have interceded with God for Terms of Reconciliation, nor undergone ſuch direful, unconceivable Torments, had he not been willing Sinners ſhould live: hath Chriſt ſo carefully prepared the Miniſtration of Reconciliation, and abſolutely commanded the Promulgation of the Goſpel to every Creature? Mark. 16. 15. Hath he laid ſuch a Neceſſity on his Meſſengers and Ambaſſadors, and oblig'd them, by the Penalty of fearful Woes, to preach the Goſpel, and he is not willing that Sinners ſhould be ſaved? 1 Cor. 9. 16. See how he charges his Servants to be inſtant in Seaſon and out of Seaſon, to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all Long-ſuffering and Kindneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 1. To perſwade and beſeech men to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5. 11. 20. And will he reject them when they come? He would not have griev'd and mourn'd ſo much at Sinners Unbelief, and out-ſtanding the day of Grace, had he been unwilling they ſhould have liv'd, Joh. 5. 40. Luke 19. 41. 42. Behold how he waits till the laſt hour of the Day, and treats his Enemies with an affectionate Kindneſs, why will you dye, O Houſe of Iſrael? He heaps up Coals of Fire on their Heads, and draws them with Cords of Love, and with the bands of a man, Mat. 5. 45. Hoſ. 11. 4. he offers Violence by his Spirit, to unwilling Souls, and attempts the moſt charming Perſuaſions to allure them to him; he thunders and lightens, as on Mount Sinai, and threatens them terribly if they will not come, Joh. 3. 18. Ah troubled Souls, you that tremble, leaſt he will no more have Mercy on you; but reject your Selves and Duties, ſhut up his Bowels, and harden his Heart againſt your Cries. Ah! do but conſider and ſeriouſly reflect on what Chriſt hath already done and ſuffered for you, think on his Carriage whilſt on Earth, and his tender Reception of all that came to him; he debarred none, ſurely, then his Advancement in Heaven, produces no Alteration in him: it may enlarge his Capacity but cannot ſtraiten his Bowels to periſhing Sinners. Honour doth not puff him up, or make him unmindful of their Concernments; think upon his Promiſes, he will caſt out none that come to him, Joh. 6. 37. Let their Sins be as red as Scarlet, he will make them as white as Wool, Iſa. 1. 18. He knows the Heart of a Stranger, Exod. 23. 29. He remembers what 'tis to lye under the Pangs of a troubled Soul, when he trode the Wine-preſs of his Fathers Wrath alone; and therefore cannot but compaſſionate the Miſerable, and thoſe that are conſumed with the Terrors of the Almighty. Ceaſe Soul, to lay thy Charge on Chriſt, 'tis thy own Unwillingneſs and Unbelief that impedes thy way to Life, not his.
Thirdly, How fearful then is the Sin, and how dreadful will be the miſery of all thoſe that refuſe this Mediator, will not hearken to this Prophet, nor conſent to his Propoſals for Salvation: The Tongues of Men and Angels are not capable here to commit an Hyperbole, nor can ſuch themſelves ſufficiently conceive it, till they feel it. Ah, Sinners! Weigh a little theſe enſuing particulars, and you will find it true.
Firſt, It is a moſt aggravated Sin, and hath all the circumſtances of Evil in it: There's no ſin of ſo deep a Dye, and foul a Guilt.
It is a ſin againſt the higheſt Mercy, and greateſt Deeps of Divine Favour. There were ſome Diſcoveries of Mercy that God expended on the Gentile World: In the times of their Ignorance God did wink at them, feed them, and cloath them; But the Treaſures of Grace were reſerved for the Fulneſs of Time, the Goſpel dayes. O wretched Caitiff! By refuſing Chriſt, thou kickeſt againſt the moſt ſounding Bowels, againſt rich Mercy, Eph. 2. 4. Againſt tender Mercy, Luke 1. 18. Againſt Free Mercy, Eph. 2. 8.
It is a Sin againſt, and a forſaking of thy own Mercy: Thou ſtabbeſt thy own Soul with the ſame Dagger thou flingeſt at Chriſt. O wretched Sinner! thou takeſt pains to ſhut thy ſelf out of the door of Mercy, and to argue thy ſelf into the depth of Miſery: O Iſrael, thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelf. Oh Sinner, thou ſheddeſt the blood of thy own Soul, Hoſ. 13. 9.
It is a ſin againſt the choiceſt and coſtlieſt Remedy that ever God prepared: The Garment God made to cloath thy Soul, is dip'd in Blood, and this thou throweſt from thee. How juſtly will thy Soul rot in chains of Darkneſs to all Eternity, that refuſeſt ſuch a chargeable Remedy laid out upon thee? The Law was but leading to it, Gal. 3. 24. Had you liv'd to ſee the Prieſts killing the Sheep and Lambs, and cutting the throats of theſe poor Creatures, to make an Atonement for Sin, you would have ſaid, ſurely the Antitype muſt needs be bloody: All thoſe charges men were at in their daily Sacrifices, could not take away one Sin; the Blood of Chriſt muſt do it. O expenſive Mercy! And this thy Soul deſpiſeth: O curſed Sin! All other Diſpenſations could not make thoſe that uſe them perfect, Heb. 9. 9. Nor all the World, if ſold, can pay the Debt of one Soul, or the price of one ſin.
It is a ſin againſt the moſt glorious Majeſty that ever was, Phil. 2. 9. Thou ſpitteſt in that Face that is infinitely above all Spots and Stains; that the Angels admire and adore; one Smile of which maintains all the Life and Conſolation of the Saints in Glory; this Jeſus thou deſpiſeſt. O unbelieving Sinner! where wilt thou go to hide thy ſelf from the wrath of the Lamb at the laſt day?
Laſtly, 'Tis a rejection of thy own Duty, a throwing Chriſt out of his own Vineyard, and how will God deal with ſuch? He will miſerably deſtroy theſe miſerable men, Matth. 21. 41. The Lord Jeſus Chrſt hath Right to rule thee, and thou rejecteſt the Homage thou oweſt to him, and deſpiſeſt his lawful Right and Authority which is a moſt grievous Sin indeed.
Secondly, 'Tis a moſt unreaſonable Sin, there's no Plea at all will bear in the Court of Reaſon for ſuch a Sin; thy own Reaſon will judge and condemn thy Soul. O! that ever thou ſhouldeſt chuſe Death rather than Life, and take the Iron Rod of Satan over thee, and deſpiſe the golden Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt; Ah! Sinner, there's cauſe why thou ſhouldſt leave thy Luſts and wicked Companions, and depart from the Chambers of Death, in which thy Soul hath dwelt ſo long, but none at all why thou ſhould'ſt not come over to Chriſt: what doth Chriſt propoſe to thee that thou can'ſt cavil at? Is it to leave thy Luſts? If not, theſe will ruine thy Soul; if thou had'ſt Fire in thy Boſom, thou would'ſt think it reaſon to caſt it out; if Fetters upon thy Feet, and Clogs about thy Body, to ſhake them off; if a Serpent in thy Boſom, to caſt him out: O Sinner, ſit down, and conſult with the Principles of Reaſon, never was a better Bargain offered thee. Think on it, What if the Gate ſeem ſtraight, it is not ſo to thy Soul, but to thy Luſts, thou can'ſt not ſhun Trouble, but muſt meet with it either here or to all Eternity.
Thirdly, 'Tis a moſt condemning Sin, Joh. 3. 19. This will juſtifie the ſevereſt Doom of God, that they might have Life, but would not: Salvation came home to them, but they turn'd it off. O Sinner, take heed how thou refuſeſt him that ſpeaks from Heaven, deſpiſe not Chriſt.
Secondly, As 'tis the greateſt Sin ſo 'tis attended with the greateſt Miſery. For firſt, it opens the Windows of Vengeance, and lets down divine Wrath on thy Soul; it takes off all Poſſibility of Salvation; he that ſhuts up this door leavs none open to Life, Acts 4. 12. Chriſt is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life, no poſſibility of eſcaping Wrath to come, if thou refuſe the Lord Chriſt, Heh. 2. 3. Don't flatter thy ſelf with Hopes of after Mercy; if thou give Chriſt a final Denial, all hopes of Mercy is gone, when once Chriſt who is the Bleſſing, is gone from thy Soul.
Secondly, There's no Acceptance of any of thy duties, 'tis his Righteouſneſs and Interceſſion makes way for thy Acceptance, Eph. 1. 6. All Acceptableneſs of the beſt Services of any, is through him, 1 Pet. 2. 5. None of thy Complaints or doleful Cries, can ever enter into Gods Ears, if they be not mixt with the Odours of his Incenſe: Ah Sinner, thou flattereſt thy ſelf with this, that thou wilt pray, cry, and weep upon a Death-Bed; Ah! what are all thy Cries, when God hears not?
Thirdly, there's ſure Damnation waits for thy Soul, the Devil ſtands by, and expects the time when Chriſt will take his final leave of thee. O Sinner, if once thy time be gone, and precious Overtures of Grace do ceaſe, then certain Ruine follows: as ſure as the Work-man's wages is due to him, ſo will Damnation be to thy Soul, that doſt live and dye in thy Refuſal of Chriſt; every Soul that will not hear this Prophet ſhall be deſtroyed, Acts 3. 23. Pſal. 2. 12.
Fourthly, all the precious Interceſſions of Jeſus Chriſt will be turn'd againſt thee; and this is a moſt doleful Conſideration, enough to make the hardeſt heart to break: now while there's hope, the blood of Chriſt pleads, Father, wait a little longer for this Sinner; when divine Juſtice ſays, ceaſe interceding. that I may take Vengeance on this wretch; no ſays the blood of Chriſt, ſpare this Drunkard, a little longer, O wait one day longer, one year longer, for this Swearer: but upon thy final Refuſal of Chriſt, the blood of Chriſt pleads another w…y, Father, I will the Damnation of this Sinner, I will that Mercy be no more tendred to him, Luke 2. 34. This Child is ſet for the Fall and Riſing again of many in Iſrael. Chriſt is for the Fall as well as the riſing of many; and believe it, his blood hath as great a Vertue to heighen the Damnation of willful Unbelievers, as ever it hath to further the Salvation of Believers; and O what a dreadful thing is this, when the blood of Chriſt ſhall plead againſt thee. It may be upon thy Death-bed, thou wilt cry, Lord pardon me, Lord let me never go to the place of Torment: but the Blood of Chriſt will ſay, Father, damn him, he made me wait many Days and Years, and would not let me into his Heart, Father let him periſh; and whom do you think the Father will hear? This is one of the moſt trembling Conſiderations that I know, to heighten the Wrath of Sinners: that Soul muſt needs go deep into Hell, that the Blood of Chriſt ſends thither; the blood of Chriſt cries for Vengeance: Ah! Sinners think of it, what a fearful thing it is to refuſe this Mediator: the Lord open your Ears, and the Lord work upon your Hearts that you may turn and live while there is Hope.
Fourthly, Hence ſee whence 'tis that the Prayers of any are ſo prevailing with God: what is it that makes Faith and Prayer ſo omnipotent? 'Tis the Interceſſion of Chriſt in Heaven that wings our Prayers, and makes them ſo ſpeedily arrive at the Mercy-ſeat, and come off with an anſwer of Peace. 'Tis a Friend in the Court of Heaven that makes the Saints Sutes ſo prevailing with God, Rev. 8. 3, 4, 5. 'Tis his Incenſe makes way for the Prayers of the Saints, and then Fire comes out of the Cenſer, and burns up the Enemies of Chriſt: O there's wonderful Mightineſs in the prayers of the Saints whom Chriſt favours with his Mediation.
Ʋſe 2. Of Confutation. If the Lord Jeſus Chriſt be the Great and onelyonly Mediator between God and Man; then this will ſtrike down that dangerous, damnable Errour of the Papiſts, Of Praying to Saints, and ſetting up other Interceders beſides Chriſt, making Addreſſes to the Virgin Mary, placing her in the Throne with Chriſt. If there be but one Mediator, 1 Tim. 2. 5. and one that liveth to make Interceſſion, and that the Aſſurance of Salvation depends on this Interceſſion of Chriſt, Heb. 7. 25. Then 'tis a damnable Errour of the Papiſts to pray to the Virgin Mary, as they do in their Miſſal: one of which is thus; O Virgin, the onelyonly chaſte Mother, looſing our Sins, give us the Kingdom, for thou art Queen of the World, art able to do all things, and, with thy Son, diſpoſeſt all things. Another is, That God, by the Prayers and Merits of the ever bleſſed Virgin, and of all Saints, would bring us to the Kingdom of Heaven, Amen. Nay, they ſay, That Prayers made to, and delivered by the Saints, are better than thoſe by Chriſt; So Sal. Now, if Chriſt be the only way to the Father, and Acceptance is through him alone, then this is a falſe Way, and never of Gods appointing, but blaſphemous Sacrilege, and horrible Robbery of the very Flower of Chriſt's Crown: Nothing plucks the Scepter out of Chriſt's Hand, his Crown from his Head, as theſe irreligious Opinions of the Papiſts. If Prayer be an act of Worſhip, Matth. 4. 10. then 'tis onelyonly due to God: Indeed there's a civil Worſhip due to Superiours, but Religious Adoration is God's Prerogative. If we muſt truſt on him to whom we pray, Rom. 10. 13, 14. then we muſt pray to none but God, in Chriſt; for, curſed is the man that truſteth in man, Jer. 17. 5. He to whom we pray muſt be able to know our wants, and our Hearts; to ſee our Miſeries, and hear our Prayers. Now this the Saints in Heaven cannot do: Abraham is ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledgeth us not, Iſa. 63. 16. 'Tis Omniſciency alone can hear our Prayers, and Omnipotency that can Anſwer them, Pſal. 65. 2. Matth. 6. 6. 8. 32. Eccleſ. 9. 5. Thus we may ſee the Heterodox Aſſertions of the Papiſts, in making many Mediators.
Ʋſe 3. For Reprehenſion to the profeſſing People of God.
Firſt, To ſuch as are no more affected with this great and glorious Privilege of having an Advocate with the Father. Ah! Did Souls but know what an Ocean of Privileges, and Fountain of Mercies is compriſed in this one Mediator, Jeſus Chriſt, it would fill their Hearts with Joy, tip their Tongues with Praiſes, and make them more glad in the Salvation of God. But, it may be, you are more affected with your Frames, fine Expreſſions, and your own Duties, than with the Pleadings of Jeſus Chriſt. This deſerves a ſharp Reproof.
2dly, Such as make little Uſe of the Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt. Alas! how few employ Chriſt about their Matters in Heaven, and engage him in the momentous and weighty Matters of their Souls? May not Chriſt complain ſtill, as once, on Earth, Joh. 5. 40. You will not come to me that you may have Life. 'Tis ſad indeed, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould enter upon ſo coſtly an Office, and pay ſo dear for a Right to do thy Soul good, and thou neglect to uſe him after all: This is the condemnation to Unbelieving Sinners, That they turn their Backs upon the Interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt. Alas, Soul! Are not thy wants great, and thy Sins many? thy Provocations and abuſes of Mercy daily, and yet wilt thou not engage Chriſt for thy help, to procure thy Pardon, and Paſſage from Death to Life? O, how juſtly miſerable will thy caſe be, who might'ſt be happy, but would'ſt not! He is worthily miſerable (ſaith one) that will not be happy for the asking. Who knows but that thy hard heart might have been ſoftened; thy filthy heart cleanſed; thy covetous heart ſpiritualized, and thy captivated Soul ſet free from the damning Power of Sin and Satan, had'ſt thou but improv'd a Mediator in Heaven? Know, Soul, if ever Life and Salvation be obtained, it muſt be by a Mediator.
Thirdly, Here's a Reproof to ſuch as make Mediators of their Duties; that truſt their Prayers more than Chriſt, and lay all their hopes of obtaining on the act of ſeeking. Indeed the Promiſe of having is made to asking, Matth. 7. 7. but not for asking. Thy Matters (ſaith Luther) do not depend on the worth of thy Self, or Prayer, but ſolely on the account of Chriſt, Joh. 14. 13. It is Prayer in his Name: And therefore (ſaith Luther) Nulla Oratio extra Chriſtum. There is no Prayer at all out of Chriſt. 'Tis the Altar that ſanctifies the Gift, Matt. 23. 19. Our very Righteouſneſſes are as filthy Rags, Iſa. 64. 6. When you have done all, you are unprofitable Servants, Luke 17. 10. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy Name give Glory, Pſal. 115. 1. All acceptance with God is through Chriſt. To truſt to thy Prayers, is to trample on the Blood of Chriſt, accounting it an unholy thing, and the moſt effectual courſe to provoke the Lord to a real abhorrency of thy Duties, and to throw them back as Dung on thy Face.