Heaven Opened, Treatise · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. An Exhortation to Sinners.
O Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord: Ye men of this world, ye ſpirits that are in Priſon, held captive to iniquity, under the Prince of this world; in a Covenant with Death, at an agreement with Hell; without Chriſt, Alians from the Commonwealth of Iſrael, ſtrangers from the Covenant of Promiſe, having no hope, without God in the world; who have ſaid, We will not have this man to rule over us; let us break his Bonds aſunder, and caſt his Cords from us; who are joyned to Idols, have choſen you other gods, are following after other Lovers: who walk after the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the Power of the Ayr, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of Diſobedience; having your converſation in the Luſts of the fleſh, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind, and being ſtill as you were by nature, the children of Wrath, in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of iniquity.
O ye ſons of death, ye children of the night, and of darkneſs, Hear and your ſouls ſhal live; to you alſo is the word of this ſalvation ſent; even the ſtrangers, and thoſe that are afar off, that will lay hold on the Covenant, and chuſe the thing that pleaſeth God, theſe alſo ſhal have a name in his houſe, even the glorious name of Sons and Daughters. The Lord hath ſent a word into Jacob, and it ſhal light upon Edom and Amaleck, and the uncircumciſed Philiſtines, even as many of them, as the Lord our God ſhal call, Act. 2.39.
Hearken O people, you that are polluted in your blood; written in the Earth,, free among the dead; come in, let your Covenant with death be made void, and your agreement with Hell be diſanulled, ſtrike a League with the Almighty, and your names alſo ſhal be written amongſt the living in Jeruſalem.
Stand ye before the Lord, come and let us reaſon together.
Where are you? What is your Portion and Inheritance? Ye are curſed with a Curſe. Fire and Brimſtone, and an horrible Tempeſt, this ſhall be the portion of your cup, Pſal. 11.6. What are you ſeeking? whither are you travelling? After a few years of your vanity are over, where muſt your dwelling be? Who can dwell with the devouring fire? Who can dwell with everlaſting burnings? Look before you, behold that ſmoaking Furnace, that burning Lake, that bottomleſs Pit that's gaping for you, and at your next ſtep may ſwallow you up. Eſcape for your lives, why will ye dye? Turn and live.
Do you believe the Reſurrection from the dead? the Judgment to come, and the inviſible World? Is it to the ſpirit of a man, as to the ſpirit of a beaſt? Doth it periſh with his carkaſe? Dieth a Man as a Dogg dieth? Dieth a wiſe man as a fool dieth? Fall all things alike to all? juſt, and unjuſt, good and bad, after this life, as well as in it?
Do you believe the Scriptures? Are they but a Fable? If you hope they are, are you ſure they are? Dare you venture your ſouls upon it? Whileſt the Saints venture on the Truth, dare you venture your ſouls on the Falſhood of it? Dare you ſtand forth and ſay, If this word be not a lye, let me be damned for ever? I am content that the everlaſting worm ſhal gnaw my heart, that the infernal fire ſhal burn my fleſh, and bones, and ſoul for ever and ever, if it prove not at laſt a meer Forgery and Impoſture.
Do you believe the Scriptures to be true indeed? If you do, what do they preach to you? Do they ſpeak any thing if not this, That there is another life and death, beſides that which is within the kenn of mortal eyes; that the other life, and the other death are Eternal; that upon your being found within, or without the Covenant of God, hangs your eternal judgment, either for life or death; that whilſt you are in a Covenant with death, and in a courſe of iniquity, you are without the Covenant of God, and can have no benefit by it; that under ſin, and out of Covenant, out of Covenant and out of Chriſt; out of Chriſt, and under Condemnation.
Are there any things which that word which you profeſs to believe to be as true, and to ſtand as ſure as Heaven and Earth; are there any things that this ſpeaks more plainly, then theſe things, and ſuch like? What and yet ſecure in a ſtate of ſin? Aliens from God, enemies of all Righteouſneſs, and yet in quiet? Are you reſolved to ſell Eternity for time, life for death, a ſoul for the pleaſures of ſin? Is this the choice you have made, and are you reſolved to ſtand to it? Let me have this world; my Portion here, my good things here, and then let me be damned in the other world: Let me ſin here, and ſuffer hereafter; let me laugh here, and lament hereafter; let me flouriſh, and proſper, and live at eaſe, and in honour, and in pleaſure and at liberty here, and let my Priſon, and my Pain, and my Anguiſh, and my Plagues be beneath; there let me be torn, let me burn, let me roar, let me die; ſo I may be rich, and be merry, and rejoyce a while here; let time be my Heaven, and eternity be my Hell; ſpeak in earneſt, is this your choice? or that you may not be put to it to make a new choice, will you take upon you to make a new Goſpel? And dividing what God hath joyned together, will you joyn what he hath divided? Will you write this for Goſpel? Holineſs and Hell, ſin and glory, Chriſt and the Curſe, the Devil and the Crown: Let the wicked hold on his way, and the unrighteous his thoughts, let him ſtill run away from the Lord, and be ſhall have mercy; and from his God, and he will abundantly pardon. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto death, and few there be that finde it; but broad is the gate, and wide is the way that leadeth unto life, and the whole world are going in thereat. Bleſſed are the proud in ſpirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Bleſſed are they that laugh now, bleſſed are the froward, the mercileſs, the impure in heart, the perſecutors for Righteouſneſs ſake, for great is their reward in Heaven. Within ſhal be the Doggs, and the Swine, the Whoremongers, the Sorcerers, the Drunkards, the Ruffians, the Blaſphemers, the Gallants, the Idolaters, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye: And without ſhall be the Lambs, and the Doves, the Holy, and the Humble, and the Meek, and the Merciful, and the Upight in heart, and the Poor in ſpirit, and Peace-makers, the perſecuted for Righteouſneſs ſake, and whoſoever loveth truth, and maketh God his truſt, theſe ſhal go into everlaſting fire, but the ungodly into life Eternal.
Are theſe the Articles of your Creed? Is this your Goſpel? if it be, O what is your Heaven? If it be not, if the old Goſpel muſt ſtand, Oh where are your ſouls? Are your ſouls loſt, and are they not worth the recovery? Why will ye dye, turn and live; Oh when ſhal it once be?
As an Embaſſadour for Chriſt, to whom is committed the word of Reconciliation, having hinted to you what's Law, ſo in the name of the Eternal God, I publiſh to you the everlaſting Goſpel.
The Lord God having entred into a Covenant of life, with the firſt Adam, for himſelf and all mankinde in him; this Covenant being broken, whereby ſin hath entred, and death by ſin, and all the world is now becom guilty before God; bound over to the vengeance of eternal Fire, and under an utter impoſſibility of recovery, by ought that that Covenant can do; hath out of his abundant grace, made a new Covenant, on which whoſoever ſhal lay hold, ſhal be delivered out of the ſtate of Death and Wrath, into a ſtate of Life and Bleſſedneſs, Rom. 8.3. What the Law could not do, being weak through the fleſh, God ſent his Son in the likeneſs of ſinful fleſh; and with him this gracious grant, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhal not periſh, but have everlaſting life, Ioh. 3.16. And this is the Covenant that hath been declared unto you.
This new Covenant is a Marriage-Covenant, Hoſ. 2.10. I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee to me in righteouſneſs, and in loving-kindneſs, and in mercies. In it the Lord makes offer, and invites you to accept of an Huſband, and a Dower: The Husband is the Kings ſon, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and with him the loſt Kingdom, and all that belongs to the Kingdom of God. for a Dower. Liberty for the Captives, the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound; riches to the poor, eyes to the blinde, feet to the lame, healing to the diſeaſed, and life to the dead.
And whoever among you all, who are perſons under the Law, held by the cords of your ſins, whoſe ſouls are faſt bound in fetters of Iron, who are willing that your Covenant with death be made void, and your agreement with Hell be diſannulled; and will joyn your ſelves to the Lord, and be brought within the bonds of this Covenant, all the bleſſings of this Covenant are made over, and ſtand ſure unto you.
The Grant is made, the Deed is drawn, and ſealed; the Lord hath ſet to his Seal, come you in, and ſeal the Counter-part; ſet to your ſeal, and the Match is made up. Chriſt, and with him all things are yours, and you are his. Accept and live, refuſe and dye for ever.
Come on then, ſinner, what ſayeſt thou? Doſt thou conſent? Doſt thou accept? Or as Laban to Rebekah, Wilt thou go with this man? Let me eſpouſe thee to this one Husband; onelyonly let me firſt tell thee, The matter is ſolemn, and thou muſt be ſerious. 'Tis for life, 'tis for Eternity.
Conſider therefore, and let thine heart, lying proſtrate before the Almighty, come in and make anſwer to theſe demands, which from him, and in his great and dreadful Name I make unto thee.
1. Wilt thou have Jeſus for thine Husband? Underſtand before thou anſwer. The taking of Chriſt for thine Husband, implies,
Intimate Union.
Ingenuous Subjection.
Total Dependance.
1. Intimate Union; by chooſing and accepting of him for thine, and reſigning and giving up thy ſelf to him, for his own; to cohabit and live with him, in the deareſt conjugal affection for ever.
2. Ingenious Subjection; by a free and chearful putting thy ſelf under him, as thy Lord whom thou wilt obey, and be ſubject to, in all things. The Wife muſt be ſubject to her Husband; yet not as a ſlave by conſtraint, but freely, and by conſent.
3. Total Dependanse; holding of him as thy head, expecting nothing, owning nothing, but what deſcends upon thee from him. Depending on him for all things; the bearing of thy debts, thy diſcharge from thy Bonds, and thy whole proviſion for a livelihood and maintenance.
Conſider then, what ſayeſt thou? Doth thine heart chooſe, and accept, and reſign up it ſelf unto Chriſt? Doſt thou chooſe him as an Husband? Thou canſt chooſe him as a Refuge, to hide thee from danger; thou canſt chooſe him as a Friend, to help thee in thy need; but doſt thou chooſe him for thine Husband? Wilt thou cleave to him? love, honour, and obey him? Doſt thou underſtand his manner? the Law of his houſe, his Family order, and diſcipline? Doſt thou know his Commands and Expectations? how holy, how ſpiritual, how ſtrict, and ſelf-denying, how humble and ſubmiſſive he looks thy whole carriage ſhould be? Wilt thou be at his finding? Wilt thou look unto him, and lean upon him for all thou needeſt? Shal all thy deſire be to him, and thy dependance on him? Thou art a Bondman, who ſhal be thy Redemption? Thou art a Malefactor, who ſhal be thy Satisfaction? Thou art a Leper, whence doſt look for cleanſing? Thou art a Beggar, whence doſt expect an Inheritance? Wilt lean upon thy Beloved for all! Shal he be thy Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, Redemption, and Inheritance? Wilt do him this honour, to truſt him for all this? to caſt all thy Burthens, thy care, thy fears, thy ſins, thy guilt, thy hopes upon him? Canſt ſay, O my God, I have ſinned, I have ſinned, thy Law have I broken, thy love have I ſlighted, I have fallen from thee, and run over to thine Enemies; I have fallen under thy diſpleaſure, wrath is provoked, juſtice hath taken hold of me, my ſoul is undone, how dreadful is thy controverſie with me, and I have nothing to anſwer but this, my Jeſus ſhal anſwer for me.
O my Jeſus, thou haſt wooed and invited ſinners unto thee, thou haſt ſent forth thy Meſſengers, and thy Word, into the high wayes and hedges, into the Goales and Hoſpitals of the world; among the poor, the blinde, and the bound, and the diſeaſed, and thoſe that are in debt, and diſtreſs; to take from among them a Wife for thy boſome. Behold thy word hath found among the Captives, this wretched Adultereſs, my poor Harlot ſoul; which hath dealt treacherouſly with thee, and hath followed after other Lovers, hath fallen among Theeves and Robbers, is bruiſed, wounded, and undone; having Prodigally ſpent and waſted all that I had.
But behold I come at thy word, if thou ſayeſt, I have no pleaſure in thee, if thou ſpit in my face, and ſpurn me with thy foot, and trample me in the dirt, or ſend me back to my Priſon, and leave me to bear the ſhame of my Whoredoms, I muſt be ſilent and ſpeechleſs.
But wilt thou receive me? Wilt thou take me into thine houſe? Wilt thou ſpread thy skirt over me? ſhal I be called by thy Name? Wilt thou love me, and be joyned unto me? Wilt thou be Surety for thy ſervant? Wilt thou that my debts be upon thee? my bonds be upon thee? My wants, my ſins, my ſorrowes, my fears, my plagues, my help, my ſoul be upon thee? Wilt thou Lord? and can I ſay thee nay? wilt thou take them, and can I refuſe to lay them upon thee? I conſent Lord, I conſent to thee; be thou mine Husband, and mine helper; love me, diſcharge me of this guilt, looſe me from theſe fetters, cleanſe me from this filthineſs, and then ask what thou wilt; impoſe upon me whatever thou pleaſeſt. Love thee? honour thee? obey thee? Oh what is my love, what is my obedience, that thou ſhouldeſt accept, or I ſhould deny it to thee? 'Tis but little that I can do, this heart is ſo falſe and ſo feeble, that I am afraid how I undertake for it, but ſuch as it is, take it to thee. I beſtow it wholly upon thee, with this promiſe, that if thou wilt help me I will love thee, if thou wilt help me I will be ſubject to thee, and lay up all my hopes and expectations with thee. Now Soul, now that thou knoweſt what it means, now ſay, wilt thou have Chriſt for thine husband?
2. Wilt thou take him for better for worſe, for richer for poorer?
Though thy Lord be a King, yet his Kingdome is not of this world. He came not to be miniſtred unto, but miniſter; he came to ſerve, and to ſuffer, and all thoſe that will follow him, muſt ſuffer with him. He came not to divide lands, and ſpoils, and crowns, and temporal dignities, and honours amongſt his Diſciples; but croſſes, and priſons, and ſcourges, and wants. Thou wilt joyn thy ſelf to the Lord, but wilt thou take up thy lot with him? Thou wilt live with him, and abide with him, but doſt know where he dwells, and what his entertainment is? Sometimes he hath bread, and ſometimes he is hungry; ſometimes he hath clothes, and ſometimes is naked; ſometimes he hath an houſe, and ſometimes he hath none, ſometimes he hath friends, and ſometimes he hath none; he is ſometimes uſed kindly, and ſometimes as courſly; ſometimes 'tis Hoſanna, and ſometimes Crucifige; ſometimes he is cried up as a King, ſometimes cried out againſt as a Devil; and as it is with the Maſter, ſo will it be with the Scholar; as with the Lord, ſo with the Diſciple; where he is, thou muſt be alſo. Canſt thou ſay, Whither thou goeſt, I will go with the; where thou feedeſt, I will feed with thee; where my Lord dwelleth, if in a tent, if in a cave, if in a dungeon, if in a wilderneſs, where ever my Lord dwelleth, let me dwell with him? Conſider what thou ſayeſt, and be not over-haſty. May be thou doſt not yet know, what hunger and thirſt, and nakedneſs mean; what the wrath of man, what their reproachings, and ſpittings, and ſtripes, and bonds mean; may be thou haſt thought, this may be far enough off, and may never come upon me; or haſt taken up a reſolution through incogitancy, not weighing how ſharp, and how pinching they may be to thee. But ſuppoſe thou wert now juſt come to it; and that thou ſaweſt, that thy firſt foot Chriſt-ward, would be the parting point betwixt thee and all that is dear unto thee in the world; that thy firſt ſtep heaven-ward would be into the fire, or the water, or into the camp of the Philiſtines, whoſe faces were all fill'd with fury againſt thee. Haſt thou yet ſuch a far deeper ſence of the eternal ſufferings, thou art in danger of; ſuch a ſetled belief, of thy abſolute neceſſity of Chriſt to thy eſcaping theſe; ſuch an high value of the love of Chriſt, and the everlaſting ſalvation thou expecteſt by him, as does over-ballance and ſwallow up the ſharpeſt and the quickeſt ſenſe thou haſt or canſt have, of the greateſt things thou ſhalt ſuffer by him? haſt thou caſt up all afflictions imaginable, and then put thy ſoul to it? now reſolve what to do; either this or no Chriſt, either this or no Crown, either this Croſs or the Curſe, either the wrath of man or the wrath of God, Scorpions, and Dragons, and Devils; ſhriecking and howling, and gnaſhing of teeth for ever and ever. Confeſs Chriſt and be confeſſed of him, ſuffer with Chriſt and reign with him, weep with Chriſt and rejoyce with him, die with Chriſt and live for ever, deny Chriſt, forſake Chriſt and periſh for ever? haſt thou thus put thy ſelf to it? and after the moſt ſolemn debate thou haſt had, what is the reſult? Now tell me, Chriſt or no Chriſt? wilt thou have Chriſt for better for worſe? how dear ſoever he coſt thee?
3. Wilt thou forſake all others?
Thou haſt three Husbands that lay claim to thee; Sin, the World, and the Devil. Wilt thou renounce, and be divorc'd from all theſe? There's no compounding betwixt Chriſt and them; he or they muſt go.
The renouncing of ſin ſtands,
In the diſengaging of the heart from it.
In the engaging of the heart againſt it.
1. In the diſengaging or looſening of the heart from ſin. 'Tis an hearty willingneſs to let it go; a willingneſs to part, is our parting with ſin. A breaking the Peace, the cutting off the League betwixt ſin and the ſoul, when a ſinner ſtands ſo clearly convinc'd of the worth of Chriſt, of the value of a ſoul, of the enmity of ſin againſt Chriſt and and the ſoul, of the unworthineſs of ſin, with all its pleaſures and ſo advantages, to be laid in the ballance with Chriſt, is willing to be rid of it. What is there in it? What can it do for me? How long will it laſt me? Where will it lead me? O the after births of ſin: O the tail of theſe Locuſts, the ſting, the ſting that I ſee there! Can I want a Chriſt? or can I hope that he'll dwell with ſuch Neighbours? Can I bear the loſs of my ſoul? or can it eſcape if theſe eſcape? I ſee its vain to think of keeping both Chriſt and Luſts; its vain to think of ſaving both my ſins, and my ſoul: tis all one, as to be ſaved and to be damn'd, I may as well bring Heaven and Hell together. Well, let them go: henceforth hold thy peace ſin, plead no more with me for entertainment; be a ſtranger for ever to me; henceforth I know thee no more.
2. In the engaging the heart againſt ſin. When the heart is not onelyonly content to let it depart, but gives it a Bill of divorce, and ſends it away. When it can want it, and cannot bear it; when it deals with it, as the Egyptians with Iſrael; at firſt they have onelyonly leave given them to be gone, but at length they thruſt them out, Exod. 12.33. They were urgent upon them, that they might ſend them out of the Land in haſt; for they ſaid, we be all but dead men.
Be gone ſin, I am but a dead man if thou abideſt with me; and ſo it will no longer court it as a friend, but curſe it as an enemy; fears it, hates it, and is reſolved to be its mortal enemy; and to this end is determined to uſe all Gods means,
To diſcover,
To deſtroy it.
1. To uſe all Gods meanes to diſcover it; to bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs. Sin goes under a diſguiſe, tis hard to know friends from enemies; they had need have their ſenſes about them, and well exerciſed too, that can diſcern betwixt good and evil. Heb. 5.14. Who can underſtand his Errours? Pſal. 19.12. Sinne lies in the dark. The heart of man is deſperately wicked, who can know it? There's too much wickedneſs, and it lies too deep to be diſcerned by every eye; he that means in earneſt to caſt out, muſt firſt ſearch out his iniquities. Let us ſearch and try our wayes, Lam. 3.40. He muſt ſearch the Scriptures which deſcribe theſe Enemies, and mark them out what they are, and how many, and how they may be known; where ever you finde them, and under what diſguiſe ſoever they appear; muſt ſearch the heart, where if they walk no more openly, they will hide themſelves, that they be not diſcovered or ſuſpected.
Thou art a fool, a ſelf-deceiver, Sinner, who takeſt thy ſelf to be an adverſary to ſin, and takeſt no care to find it out; much more who willingly hideſt it out of ſight. He takes part with ſin, which will not take pains to know it. I hate the Devil, and all his works; I repent, I forſake all my ſins, and though I have done iniquity, by the Grace of God I will do ſo no more: Thus vain men talk, but doſt know what thou ſayeſt? What is ſin? Doſt know a friend from an enemy, good from evil? What are [thy] ſins? What haſt thou done? Wherein haſt thou tranſgreſſed? What are they that have done thee miſchief? What are their names? May be thou wilt ſay their name is Legion, for they are many.
In many things I have tranſgreſſed, in many things I have offendied; but in what things? Doſt know thine enemy when thou ſeeſt him? or wouldſt thou know him if thou couldſt? Doſt thou make any ſearch or enquiry after him? when thou readeſt of a proud heart in the Scriptures, art able to ſay there's one of them, that have done me miſchief? or of a covetous heart, there's another of them; or of an envious, malitous, froward heart, there are more of them; or of an hard, and hypocritical, ignorant, unbelieving heart; this is he: This is my great Enemy; or if thou canſt not tell doſt ask? Is not this he? Are not theſe they? O that I could underſtand mine errours, Lord make me to know my tranſgreſſions.
Sinners, never make your ſelves believe you are enemies to ſin, till you make narrow and particular enquiry after it; after all ſin, the ſeveral kindes of it whether of Omiſſion, or Commiſſion; whether Outward or Spiritual, Open or Secret, Greater or Smaller, ſins of Ignorance, or Knowledge, of Infirmities or Preſumption; your beloved, your moſt pleaſing ſins, your moſt gainful ſins, whatever they be, you never renounce, till you reſolve to make a diligent ſearch after them.
2. To uſe all Gods means to deſtroy and overcome them. He that hides his enemy, and he that will ſpare him when he hath found him, is not an enemy, but a friend. He that ſayes I will deſtroy, and will not uſe his weapons, either knows not what he ſayes, or ſayes what he never means. Thou ſayeſt thou wilt renounce and reſiſt all thy ſins, but art thou in earneſt? What courſe doſt mean to take? Wilt thou take Gods way? He bids thee hear, believe, pray, faſt, mourn, ſtrive, fight, watch, &c. Wilt thou hearken to his Counſels? wilt thou be healed of thy diſeaſes? But wilt thou take the counſel of the Phyſition? Wilt thou uſe his Medicines? Thou wilt overcome thine enemy, but wilt thou take heed of him? Wilt thou fight againſt him? Wilt thou take in all the help that's offered thee? Wilt thou not onelyonly believe, and lean upon God for his help, but wilt thou pray, and lift up thy heart for his help? Wilt thou not onelyonly pray againſt thy ſins, but watch againſt them? againſt the occaſions temptations, and beginnings of ſin? Wilt thou uſe (all) Gods means, and againſt (all) thy ſins? ſhall not thine eyes ſpare any of them? wilt thou make thorough work with them root and branch, old and young? Shall there be neither the lowing of the Oxen, nor the bleating of the ſheep heard with thee? Wilt thou deſtroy the greater, and daſh the little ones alſo againſt the ſtones?
Wilt thou avenge thy ſelf of thine Advetſaries, and wilt thou never again agree with thine Adverſaries? Wilt thou never again ſay, Is it peace, Jehu,? is it peace, Jezabel? So if thy ſins ſay to thee, Is it peace ſoul, wilt thou anſwer, What have you to do with peace? get you behind me. Wilt thou neither make a truce with ſin, nor embrace a parley, nor entertain a Treaty for peace with it? Wilt thou not draw back thine hand, nor put up thy Weapons, nor give over thy watch, nor go off thy Guard, till all thine enemies become thy footſtool; all this is included in the renouncing of ſin.
Beware you be not miſtaken here, this is the damnation of the world, their miſtakes about repentance. They eaſily ſay I repent of my ſins, I forſake the Devil and all his works; and they as eaſily perſwade themſelves, that they do as they ſay: But did they underſtand what there is in this repentance, a ſearching out their ſins, dividing their ſouls from them; a painful and watchfull ſhunning and reſiſting them in their whole courſe: did they know what their particular ſins are, how near they are to their hearts, how they have been nurſed in their boſomes, and how hard twill be now to part; even this Covetouſneſſe muſt go, even this ſenſuallity muſt go, theſe dear pleaſures, theſe beloved gains, theſe pleaſant companions, muſt all be ſent away; not one to be ſpared nor ſo much as once more; did they underſtand this, they would then ſee what wind all their good words be. They as much mean to pluck their eyes out of their heads, to tear their fleſh off their bones, as to repent, if this be repentance. Well now ſay, wilt thou repent? Wilt thou now renounce ſin?
Wilt thou renounce the world alſo? By the world underſtand, all the ſubſtance of the world; Houſes, Lands, Money, and whatſoever worldly Poſſeſſions; all the ſhadowes of the world; its Honours, Pleaſures, Pomps, with all its glory. The men of this world, the friendſhip of the world; all fleſhly Relations: Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Siſters, Children, all ſinful Companions, and ſocieties whatſoever is in, and of the world.
Theſe are then renounced, when we are reſolved that they ſhall neither be
Our gods or Idols:
Our devils or Tempters.
1. Not our gods. Then we make the world a god to us, when we make it out happineſs, or end. When we bleſs our ſelves in it, and count that our very life conſiſts in the abundance of the things which we poſſeſs. When we devote our ſelves to it, making it as the bleſſedneſs, ſo the great buſineſs of our life. He that can want the world, and yet be bleſſed; he that can want, or have the world, and yet not ſerve it; he hath renounced it, even whileſt he hath it; though tis his ſtill, yet tis not his God.
2. Not our devils or Tempters. The world tempts in a double way:
1. Per modum Objecti; as Objects, which by ſomthing that is apprehended deſireable in them, entices and invites out the heart after them; or by ſomthing apprehended as formidable, affrights us out of our way. Thus pleaſant meats tempts the Glutton, and wine the Drunkard, and a Lyon in the ſtreets the Coward.
2. Per modum cauſae Inſtrumentalis; as under devils, or the devils Inſtruments, or Agitators by which he betrayes and beguiles unſtable ſouls: In the former ſence the things of the world, in the latter, the men of the world are temptations and Tempters to us. He renounces the world, that will not be tempted by the world; that takes up with Chriſt, and will not be brib'd off by worldly advantages, nor proſlyted by worldly companions.
He that is reſolved for Chriſt, though with the loſs of all, and with the diſpleaſure of all the world. He that can be poor for Chriſt, that can be vile for Chriſt, that can go hungry and naked with Chriſt, that can go alone with Chriſt, and that even then, when 'tis but turning away from Chriſt; and he may be rich, and honourable, and be clothed, and be filled, and have company enough, as much as he deſires, he forſakes the world.
He that (can) renounce the world, whenever it comes to be a caſe either Chriſt muſt be forſaken, or all things for Chriſt; he that [can] whoſe heart is brought to it, he [hath] renounced the world What ſayeſt thou now Soul?
Thou wilt have Chriſt, but what if thou muſt leave all behinde thee? VVhat if he ſay to thee ſ…l all that thou h…ſt and follow me? Canſt thou be poor? Canſt … be naked? Canſt thou be hungry for Chriſt? Thou wilt have Chriſt, but how wilt thou leave thy Companions? What will all thy carnal friends ſay of thee? He's a fool, he's mad, he's beſides himſelf. How wilt look thy Father, or thy Mother, or thy Wife in the face, who are all againſt it? who will be perſwading, beſeeching thee, weeping over thee, hanging upon thy neck; or it may be, ſcoffing, and reviling, and ſpitting in thy face, to diſcourage and hold thee back: What ſayeſt thou now? Art thou yet for Chriſt? VVilt thou forſake them all, caſt off all that ſtands in thy way?
VVilt thou forſake the devil alſo? But I need not now ask thee that; that's done already, farewell Devil, when once ſin and the world are caſt out. If thou wilt not be tempted to ſin, if the world ceaſes to be a temptation, the Devil were as good ceaſe to be a Tempter. There be many that ſay, I defie the Devil, and yet defie not ſin and the world; wiſe men! They like not the Devil, but yet will lick up his Excrements; they hate the Devil, and yet are never well longer then they are dancing in his chains. Defie the Devil, and yet love ſin? ſuch defiance is his delight. Let ſin be defied, let the world be deſpiſed, and the Devil is conquered.
4. And laſtly, Wilt thou cleave unto Chriſt, from henceforth, unto death?
Thou wilt have Chriſt, but when? Shall this be the Marriage-day? VVilt thou from henceforth be the Lords? or when ſhall it be? Muſt it be to morrow firſt, or next monethmonth, or next year, or ſome time or other thou knoweſt not when? May we not take thy promiſe as they did the Prophecy, Ezek. 12. Is it not for many dayes to come? is it not of the times that are afar off? To morrow thou wilt, hereafter thou wilt, as good as thou haſt ſaid nothing. As good thou hadſt ſaid [never] as [not yet] Speak Soul, wilt give thy ſelf to the Lord? wilt preſently? if thou wilt, how long wilt thou abide with him? wilt thou not endorſe on thy Deed of Gift, a power of revocation? wilt thou not repent, not return again from Heaven to Earth? wilt be chaſte and play the Harlot no more? wilt be faithful to the death? obedient to the death? Is this thy voice, I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot go back? As the Lord liveth, nothing but death, no not death it ſelf ſhall part thee and me. I am perſwaded I am reſolved, that neither life nor death, Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature ſhall ſeparate me from the love of God, or withdraw me from Jeſus Chriſt my Lord.
Now Soul, gather up all this together; ſtand thou before the Lord, the God of all the Earth, and this once more ſay, Wilt thou have Jeſus Chriſt for thy Husband? doſt thou chooſe him for thy Lord? wilt thou cleave to him in love? wilt thou lean upon him for righteouſneſs and ſtrength? for righteouſneſs to pay thy debts, and for ſtrength to pay thy vows? wilt thou be ſubject to him? thou knoweſt the commandments, how holy, how ſtrict they be. Wilt thou obey them in all things? wilt exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſs in the ſtrictneſs of it? wilt be a thorow-pac'd Diſciple? wilt not content thy ſelf with ſuch a cold or lukewarm indifferency in Religion as thy lazy fleſh will bear, as thy credit, thy ſafety, or the temper of the times will bear? wilt follow thy Lord fully? Wilt thou take up thy lot with Chriſt, be it better or worſe? ſhall his Father be thy Father, his Inheritance be thy Inheritance? yea and his Sufferings thy Sufferings? his ſtripes, his bonds, his poverty be thine? wilt thou eſpouſe not his Crown onelyonly, but his Croſs too? whither ever he goes wilt thou go? where he dwells wilt thou dwell? wilt ſay, where ever my Lord is, there let his Servant be? Wilt thou forſake all others? all thy ſins? wilt thou be made clean? wilt give up thy ſores, and thy ulcers, thy filthy and fleſhly luſts to be purged out? does thine heart ſtand diſengaged from every ſin? is there not any one iniquity, concerning which thine heart ſayes, Let this ſtay with me? wilt ſearch out thy ſins? wilt accompliſh a diligent ſearch, ſweep every corner, ſearch every chamber of thine heart & life? wilt go down to the bottome of thy great deep, to find out what lodges there? wilt faithfully endeavour, no more to allow thy ſelf in any known iniquity? wilt uſe all Gods means for the conquering and caſting them out? Wilt forſake the world? wilt caſt away thine Idols? ſhall thy Mammon be no more a god nor a demy-god to thee? ſhall it neither carry away thine heart from him, nor ſo much as ſhare with him in it? wilt thou not bow down to this golden Image nor ſerve it? wilt thou no longer ſerve thy greedy appetite? ſhall thine heart no longer go after thy covetouſneſs? wilt thou abandon thine eſtate, thy pleaſures, thine honours, thy friends and companions, ſo far forth as any of theſe divide or entice, or ſteal away thine heart from thy Lord? When ever they ſay, Come away, wilt thou ſay, Get you hence? VVilt forſake the Devil? wilt fear, and flie from, and no longer hearken to his temptations? wilt no longer regard his promiſes nor his threatnings? his flatteries nor his frowns? Coming off from the tents of all theſe, wilt cleave unto thy Lord from henceforth, from this day forward, and not depart from him for ever? Wilt hold on thy courſe, wilt run out thy race, wilt be faithful to the death, wilt hope to the end for the grace that ſhall be brought unto thee at the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt?
What ſayeſt thou? If thou ſayeſt [no] as the Lord liveth, thou ſpeakeſt this word againſt thine own life. If thou refuſeſt to enter into this Covenant, thou ſayeſt, I will not be the Lords, I will none of him, I will not live; let death, and wrath, and chains, and plagues be my portion for ever. I will not be the Lords; I will not leave my ſins, and my pleaſures, and my companions for his love: that is, I will be a Fool, and a beaſt, and a Devil; I will die and will not ſee life. Miſtake not thy ſelf, be not deceived, 'tis a matter of life and death that is before thee. 'Tis whether Heaven or Hell, a God or no God, a Chriſt or no Chriſt, a Soul or a loſt Soul, everlaſting life or everlaſting Fire, ſhall be thy portion, that ſtands now to be determined, by thy conſent or refuſal, look to it, be wiſe; this once for eternity. Conſent and thou art bleſſed, conſent and he is thine, and with him the Kingdome. Thy Lord hath given his conſent already; view the hand-writing, the whole New Teſtament, which is written in blood, and ſealed as 'tis written; there thou haſt his [I will] in every line almoſt, viſible before thee: put to thine and 'tis done. What ſayeſt thou? doſt thou conſent? ſhall thine heart come in, and put to thine hand, and ſubſcribe for thee?
I will.
Let that be done and then ſay after me.
A form of words expreſſing mans covenanting with God.
O Moſt Dreadful God, for the Paſſion of thy Son, I beſeech Thee accept of thy poor Prodigal now proſtrating himſelf at thy Door: I have fallen from thee by mine iniquity, and am by Nature a Son of Death, and a thouſand-fold more the Child of Hell by my Wicked practice: The Terms of our converſion, are either from which, or to which.But of thine infinite Grace thou haſt promiſed Mercy to me in Chriſt, if I will but turn to thee with all my heart: Therefore upon the Call of thy Goſpel, I am now come in, and throwing down my Weapons, ſubmit my ſelf to thy Mercy.
The Terms from which we muſt turn, are Sin, Satan, the World, and our own Righteouſneſs, which muſt be thus renounced.And becauſe thou requireſt, as the Condition of my Peace with thee, that I ſhould put away mine Idols, and be at defiance with all thine Enemies, which I acknowledge I have wickedly ſided with againſt thee, I here from the bottome of my heart renounce them all, firmly Covenanting with thee, not to allow my ſelf in any known Sin, but Conſcientiouſly to uſe all means that I know thou haſt preſcribed, for the Death and utter Deſtruction of all my Corruptions. And whereas I have formerly inordinately and idolatrouſly let out my affections upon the World, I do here reſign my Heart to thee that madeſt it, humbly proteſting before thy Glorious Majeſty, that it is the firm reſolution of my heart, and that I do unfeignedly deſire Grace from thee, that when thou ſhalt call me hereunto, I may practice this my reſolution, through thy Aſſiſtance, to forſake all that is dear unto me in this World, rather then to turn from thee to the wayes of ſin, and that I will watch againſt all its Temptations, whether of Proſperity or Adverſity, leaſt they ſhould withdraw my Heart from thee, beſeeching thee alſo to help me againſt the Temptations of Satan, to whoſe wicked Suggeſtions, I reſolve, by thy Grace, never to yield my ſelf a Servant. And becauſe my own righteouſneſs is but menſtruous Rags, I renounce all confidence therein, and acknowledge that I am of my ſelf a hopeleſs, helpleſs, undone creature, without righteouſneſs or ſtrength.
The Terms to which we muſt turn, are either ultimate or mediate.And foraſmuch as thou haſt of thy bottomleſs Mercy offered moſt Graciouſly to me wretched ſinner, to be again my God through Chriſt, if I would accept of thee: I call Heaven and Earth to record this day, that The ultimate is God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, who muſt be thus accepted.I do here ſolemnly avouch thee for the Lord my God, and with all poſſible veneration, bowing the neck or my Soul under the feet of thy moſt ſacred Majeſty, I do here take thee the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, for my portion and chief good, and do give up my ſelf, body and ſoul for thy ſervant, promiſing and vowing to ſerve thee in holineſs and righteouſneſs all the dayes of my life.
The mediate terms, are either principal, or leſs principal.The Principal is Chriſt the Mediator, who muſt thus be embraced.And ſince thou haſt appointed the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the onelyonly means of coming unto thee, I do here upon the bended knees of my Soul accept of him as the onelyonly New and Living Way, by which Sinners may have acceſs to thee, and do here ſolemnly joyn my ſelf in a marriage covenant to him.
O bleſſed Jeſus, I come to thee hungry and hardly beſtead, poor and wretched, and miſerable, and blinde, and naked, a moſt loathſome polluted wretch, a guilty condemned Malefactor, unworthy for ever to waſh the feet of the ſervants of my Lord, much more to be ſolemnly married to the King of Glory: But ſith ſuch is thine unparallel'd love, I do here with all my power accept thee, and do take thee for my Head and Husband, for better for worſe, for richer for poorer, for all times and conditions, to love, honour, and obey thee before all others, and this to the death. I embrace thee in all thine Offices: I renounce mine own unworthineſs, and do here avow thee to be the Lord my Righteouſneſs: I renounce mine own wiſdome, and do here take thee for mine onelyonly Guide: I renounce mine own will, and take thy Will for my Law.
And ſince thou haſt told me that I muſt ſuffer if I will reign, I do here covenant with thee to take my lot, as it falls, with thee, and by thy grace aſſiſting to run all hazards with thee, verily ſuppoſing, that neither life nor death ſhall part between thee and me.
The leſs Principles, are the Laws of Chriſt, which muſt be thus accepted.And becauſe thou haſt been pleaſed to give me thy holy Laws, as the Rule of my life, and the way in which I ſhould walk to thy Kingdome; I do here willingly put my Neck under thy Yoke, and ſet my Shoulder to thy Burden, and ſubſcribing to all thy Laws, as holy, juſt, and good; I ſolemnly take them, as the rule of my words, thoughts, and actions; promiſing, that though my fleſh contradict and rebel, yet I will endeavour to order and govern my whole life according to thy direction, and will not allow my ſelf in the neglect of any thing that I know to be my duty.
OnelyOnly becauſe through the frailty of my fleſh, I am ſubject to many failings; I am bold humbly to proteſt, That unallowed miſcarriages, contrary to the ſetled bent and reſolution of my heart, ſhall not make void this Covenant; for ſo thou haſt ſaid.
Now Almighty God, ſearcher of hearts, thou knoweſt that I make this Covenant with thee this day, without any known guile or reſervation, bebeſeeching thee, that if thou eſpieſt any flaw or falſhood therein, thou wouldeſt diſcover it to me, and help me to do it aright.
And now glory be to thee, O God, the Father, whom I ſhall be bold from this day forward, to look upon as my God and Father; That ever thou ſhouldeſt find out ſuch a way for the recovery of undone ſinners; Glory be to thee, O God the Son, who haſt loved me, and waſhed me from my ſins in thine own blood, and art now become my Saviour and Redeemer: Glory be to thee, O God the holy Ghoſt, who by the finger of thine Almighty Power, haſt turned about my heart from ſin to God.
O dreadful Jehovah, the Lord God Omnipotent, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt; thou art now become my Covenant-friend, and I through thine infinite Grace, am become thy Covenant-ſervant, Amen, So be it. And the Covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in Heaven.