The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 10
All perſons to whom I can addreſs this Exhortation, are either Godly or ungodly; in the ſtate of ſin, or in the ſtate of Grace. And both of them have need to ſtudy themſelves.
I. And to begin with the unrenewed carnall ſort, it is they that have the greateſt need, to be better acquainted with themſelves. O that I knew how to make them ſenſible of it; If any thing will doe it, me thinkes it ſhould be done by acquainting them how much their endleſs ſtate is concerned in it. In order hereunto let me yet adde to all that is ſaid already, theſe few conſiderations;
1. If you know not yourſelves, you know not whether you are the children of God, or not: nor whether you muſt be for ever in Heaven or Hell; no nor whether you may not within this houre behold the angry face of God, which will frowne you into damnation. And is this a matter for a man of Reaſon to be quietly and contentedly ignorant of? It is a buſineſs of ſuch unſpeakable concernment, to know whether you muſt be everlaſtingly in Heaven or Hell, that no man can ſpare his coſt or paines about it, without betraying and diſgracing his underſtanding: you are ſure you ſhall be here but a little while: Thoſe Bodies you all know, will hold your ſouls but a little longer: As you know that you that are now together here attending, muſt preſently quit this roome and be gone; ſo you know that when you have ſtaid a little longer, you muſt quit this world, and be gone into another. And I think there is not the proudeſt of you but would be taken downe, nor the moſt ſluggiſh or dead-hearted but would be awakened, if you knew that you muſt goe to endleſs miſery, and that your dying houre would be your enterance into Hell. And if you know not your ſelves, you know not but it may be ſo. And to know nothing to the contray, would be terrible to you if you well conſidered it, eſpecialy when you have ſo much cauſe to feare it. O Sirs, for a man to ſit here ſenceleſly in theſe ſeats, that knows not but he may burne in Hell for ever, and knowes not becauſe he is blind and careleſs; how unſuitable is it to the principle of ſelf love and ſelf preſervation? and how much unbeſeemi… the Rational Nature, to have no … or care, when you looke before you, unto the unquenchable fire and the utter darkneſs where, as the Heathen Poet ſpeakes,
Nec mortis poenas mors altera finiet huju… ▪
Horaque erit tantis ultima nulla malis.
If any of you thinke that all theſe matters are to be put to the adventure, and cannot now be known, you are dangerouſly miſtaken. As you may certainly know by Scripture and the Light of Nature, that there is a future Life of joy to the Godly▪ and of miſery to the wicked, ſo may you know by a faithfull tryall of yourſelves, to which of theſe at preſent you belong, and whether you are under the promiſe or the threatening; know yourſelves, and you may know whether you are Juſtifyed o… Condemned allready, and whether you are the Heires of Heaven or Hell. Surely he that comforteth his ſervants with the Promiſe of Glory to all that Believe and are new creatures, and ſanctifyed by his ſpirit, did ſuppoſe that we may know whether we Believe and are renewed and ſanctifyed or not: Or els What comfort can it be to us? If blinded Infidels, have no meanes to quiet …hemſelves but their unbeliefe, and a con…eit that there is no ſuch Life of miſery, …hey have the moſt pittifull O piate to eaſe …hem in the world: and may as well think …o become immortall, by a confident con…eit that they ſhall never die. If they befoole …hemſelves with the ordinary Queſtions [where is Hell: and what kind of fire is it? &c] I anſwer them with Auguſtine [Melius …ſt dubitare de occultis, quam litigare de …certis: Illum quippe divitem in àrdore …oenarum, & illum pauperem in refrigerio gandiorum eſſe intelligendos non dubito: ſed quomodo intelligenda illa flamma in inferno, ille ſinus Abrahae, illa divitis lingua, ille digitus pauperis, illa ſitis tormenti, illa ſtilla refrigerii, vix fortaſſe à manſuetè quarentibus, contentioſe antem ſectantibus nunquam invenitur] that is, [It is better to be in doubt about things that are hidden from us, then to quarrell about things that are uncertaine to us. I am paſt doubt that we muſt underſtand that that Rich man was in the heat of Paine, and the Poore man in a refreſhing place of Joyes: But how to underſtand that flame in Hell, that boſome of Abraham, that tongue of the Rich man, that finger of the poore man, that thirſt of torment, that drop for cooling or refreſhment, perhaps will hardly be found by the moſt humble enquirers, but never by contentious ſtrivers.
So that I may conclude that the greatneſs and dreadfullneſs of the caſe, ſhould make every perſon that hath an eye to ſee, an eare to heare, and a Heart to underſtand, to Read and enquire and conſider, and never reſt till they know themſelves, and underſtand where it is that they are going to take up their abode to everlaſting.
2. Conſider, that All men muſt ſhortly know themſelves. Preſumption will be but of ſhort continuance. Be never ſo confident of being ſaved without Holynes, you will ſpeedily be undeceived. If the Spirits illumination do not convince and undeceive you, Death will undoubtedly do it at the furtheſt. Thouſands and Millions know their ſin and miſery now when it is too late, that would not know it when the remedy was at hand; ſinners, your ſoules are now in darkneſs: your Bodyes are your dungeon: But when Death brings you out into the open Light, you will ſee what we could never make you ſee. O how glad would a faithfull miniſter of Chriſt be, if by any information he could now give you halfe the Light that you ſhall then have, and now make you know at the Heart with the feeling of Repentance, that which you muſt elſe quickly know, even at the Heart with the feeling of deſpaire; ſirs, I hope you think not that I ſpeak meere fancies to you, or any think that is queſtionable and uncertaine: you can not ſay ſo without denying your ſelves to be Chriſtians; no nor without contradicting the light of Nature, and debaſing your ſoules below the Heathen who believe an immortality of ſoules in a different ſtate of Joy or mtſery in the Life to come: And if you are once below Heathens, what are you better then Bruit beaſts? Better in your naturall faculties and powers, as being not made Bruites by your Creatour: But worſe as to the uſe of them, and the conſequents to yourſelves, becauſe you are voluntary ſelf-abuſing Bruites. But to live here as a Bruit, will not make you die and be hereafter as a Bruit: To belive you ſhall die as a Beaſt, will not prevent the miſerable life of an impenitent ſinner. It will not make your ſoules to be Mortall, to believe they are mortall; no more then it will make a beaſt to be Immortall, if he could but think ſo. The coffin-maker and the grave-maker, if they never read a Book, can tell you that it is no controverſie whether you muſt goe hence. And Faith and Reaſon can both aſſure you, that your ſoules lie not downe with your Bodies in the duſt, nor are annihilated by the falling of your earthly tabernacle; no more then the ſpirits when the glaſs is broken that held them, or then your Bodies are annihilated when you put off your clothes, or riſe out of your beds: Or then the bird is annihilated that is got out of the ſhell: or the infant that is by nature caſt out of the wombe: nor no more then the Angels that appeared to the Apoſtles or others, were annihilated when they diſappeared: Or (if I muſt ſpeak more ſuitably to the ungodly) no more then the Devil that ſome time appeareth in a bodily ſhape is annihilated when that appearance vaniſheth. As I ſuppoſe there is never a perſon in all this populous city that was here but ſeven-ſcore years agoe; ſo I ſuppoſe there is none of you that are here to day, that expect to be here ſo long a time: They are gone before you into a world where there is no preſumption or ſecurity: and you are going after them and are almoſt there. As eaſily as you ſet here, I tell you all, you are going after them apace, and are almoſt there:
O Sirs, that world is a world of Light. To the damned ſoules it is called Outer darkneſs, becauſe they have none of the Light of Glory or of Comfort: But they ſhall have the Light of a ſelf-accuſing, ſelf-tormenting Conſcience that is gone out of the darknes of ſelf-ignorance and ſelf-deceit, and is fully cured of its ſlumber and inſenſibility.
Do you now take a civilized perſon for a Saint? you will not do ſo long.
Doth the Baptiſme of water only goe with you now for the Regeneration of the Spirit? It will not be ſo long: you will ſhortly be undeceived.
Doth a ceremonious Phariſee thank God for the ſincerity and Holynes which he never had? He will ſhortly be taught better to know the nature of Holyneſs and ſincerity, and that God Juſtifyeth not all that Juſtifie themſelves.
Doth a little formal heartleſs, Hypocriticall devotion, now cover a ſenſuall, worldly mind? The cover will be ſhortly taken off, and the nakednes and deformity of the Phariſee will appeare.
Doth the name of a chriſtian, and the heartleſs uſe of outward ordinances, and that good eſteeme of others, now goe for Godlyneſs and ſaving grace? The Autumne is at hand, when theſe leaves will all lie in the dirt, and will goe for fruit no longer.
Do you take it now for true Religion to be hot for luſt, and pride, and gain, and cold for God and you Salvation? and to obey God ſo far as will ſtand with your outward prosperity, and as the fleſh, or your other Maſters will give leave? This is an Opinion that never accompanied any man beyond the grave.
Do you think to be ſaved by all that devotion, which gives God but the leavings of the fleſh and world, and by a Religion that gives him but the outer rooms (when pleaſure and gain are next your hearts) and that makes him but an underling to your Covetouſneſs and Ambition? Think ſo if you can, when you are gone hence.
Cannot the Preacher now make the ungodly to know that they are ungodly, the unſanctified to know they are but carnal, and the Phariſee to know that his Religion is Vain? Death can convince the awakened ſoul of all this in a moment.
You can chooſe whether you will believe us: but Death will ſo ſpeak as to be believed. You muſt be Voluntary in knowing your miſery now: but then you ſhall know it againſt your wills. You muſt open the windows, or muſt open your eyes, if you will ſee your ſelves by the Light which we bring to you: But Death irreſiſtibly throws open all. To ſay in pride and obſtinacy, [I will not believe it] will now ſerve turn to quiet your conſciences, and make you ſeem as ſafe as any: But when God ſaith You ſhall feel it, your unbelief is uneffectual: It can then torment you, but it can no longer eaſe you. There's then no room for [I will not believe it.] God can without a word perſwade you of that which you were reſolved you would never be perſwaded of.
This day while you all ſit here in the body, you are every one affected according as you apprehend your ſtate to be, whether it be indeed as you apprehend it, or not: But when Death hath opened you the door into eternity, you will be all affected with your conditions as they are indeed.
To day, you are here quiet becauſe you think your ſouls are ſafe: and ſome are troubled that think they are in a ſtate of miſery: and its like that ſome on both ſides are miſtaken: and the quiet of one, and the diſquiet of another, may ariſe for want of the knowledge of your ſelves: But Death will rectifie both theſe errors: and then if you are unſanctified, no falſe opinions, no unbelief, no confident conceits of your integreity, will abate your deſperation, or give any eaſe to your tormented minds: Nor will there be any doubts, or fears or deſpairing ſelf-afflicting thoughts to diſquiet thoſe that Chriſt hath juſtified, or a bate their Joyes.
O how many thouſands will then think much otherwiſe of themſelves then they now do! Death turns you out of the company of flatterers; and calls you out of the world of error, where men laugh and cry in their ſleep: and bringeth you among awakened ſouls, where all things are called by their proper names, and all men are taken by themſelves to be as they are indeed. Serious Religion is not there a deriſion; nor Loving and ſeeking and ſerving God with all the heart and ſoul and might, is not there taken for unneceſſary preciſeneſs. Holineſs is not there called humour or Hypocriſie: Nor is the Phariſaical Ceremonious Hypocrite, taken for a man of the moſt prudent, ſafe and moderate Religion. God judgeth not as man, by outward appearances; but with righteous judgement: that which is highly eſteemed among men, is abomination in the ſight of God, Luke 16.15. And he will make you then to judge of your ſelves as he hath judged you. Though Wiſdom now be Juſtified but of her children, it ſhall then be Juſtified by all: Not by a ſanctifying, but a conſtrained involuntary tormenting light: And though now men can believe as well of themſelves, as ſelf-love and the quieting of their conſciences doth require; yet then they will have loſt this maſtery over their own conceits.
O therefore beloved Hearers, ſeeing you are all going into an unreſiſtibly convincing Light, and are almoſt in that world where all muſt fully know themſelves: Seeing nothing is covered that ſhall not be revealed, nor hid that ſhall not be made known (Mat. 10.26.) and no unſanctified Hypocrite doth flatter himſelf into ſuch high preſumption, but a dying hour will take him down, and turn it all into endleſs deſperation, if true Converſion prevent it not; I beſeech you be more converſant with Conſcience, then you have been: Be aſhamed that a wanton ſot, that knoweth nothing better then fleſh to adorn and to be carefull of, ſhould beſtow more hours in looking into the Glaſs, then you beſtow to look into Gods Word and your own Hearts; yea more in a year, then you have thus beſtowed in all your lives.
O that you knew what a profitable companion Conſcience is for you to converſe with. You would not then think your ſelves ſo ſolitary as to be deſtitute of company and employment, while you have ſo much to do at home, and one in your boſome that you have ſo much buſineſs with.
And it is a neceſſary and inſeparable companion: If the wiſe of your boſome ſhould be a ſhrew, you muſt not therefore be a ſtranger to her, becauſe of nearneſs, neceſſity and buſineſs. If Conſcience ſhould give you ſome foul words, and chide you when you had rather be flattered; yet there is no running from it for more pleaſant company: Home is homely: Its there that you muſt dwell: Conſcience is married to you: Pleaſe it on ſafe terms as well as you can: but do not think to overrun it: For it will follow you; or you muſt return to it home again, when you have gone yout furtheſt, and done you worſt. You have taken Conſcience for better and for worſe. There is no expectation of a divorce: no not by Death: It will follow you to Eternity. And therefore O be not ſtrange to Conſcience, that will be your Comforter or Tormenter at the hour of death; that can do ſo much to make ſickneſs and all ſuffering light or grievous; and to make death welcome or terrible to you: Fly not from conſcience that muſt dwell with you for ever.
O fooliſh ſinners! do you want company and buſineſs to paſs away your time? Are you fain to go to Cards or Dice to waſte this treaſure, which is more precious then your money? Do you go to an Ale-houſe, a Play-houſe, or other ſuch Peſt houſe to ſeek for company and paſtime: (I ſay not, to Bedlam; for thats as much more honourable then your ſinfull ſociety, as the place that cureth or reſtraineth the mad, is better then that which makes them mad.) Do you forget what company and buſineſs you have at home. As you love your peace and happineſs, inſtead of converſing with vain, laſcivious, or ungodly perſons, O ſpend that time in converſe with your Conſciences. You may there have a thouſand times more profitable diſcourſe. Be not offended to give Conſcience a ſober faithfull anſwer, if it ask you, What you have done with all your Time? and how you have lived in the world? and how you have obeyed the calls of grace? and how you have entertained Chriſt into your hearts? and whether you have obeyed him or his enemy? and whether you have been led by the ſpirit or the fleſh? and what forwardneſs the work of your ſalvation is in, for which you came into the world? and what aſſurance you have of your Juſtification and Salvation? and what readineſs to die? Think it not preſumption in Conſcience thus to examine you: Though you have perhaps unthankfully diſdained to be thus examined by your Paſtors, your external Guides, whoſe office it is to help you, and watch for your ſouls; yet do not diſdain to be accountable to your ſelves. Accountable you muſt be ere long to God: And that friend that would help you to make ready ſuch accounts, on which ſo great a weight dependeth, me thinks ſhould be welcomed with a thouſand thanks. Miniſters and Conſcience ſhould be acceptable to you, that come on ſo neceſſary a work.
The chidings of Conſcience are more friendly language then the flattery of your ignorant or proud aſſociates: and ſhould be more gratefull to you then the laughter of fools, which is like the crackling of thorns in the fire, (Eccleſ. 7.6.) Thy own home though it be a houſe of mourning, is better for thee then ſuch a ſinfull houſe of mirth. Hear but what Conſcience hath to ſay to you. No one will ſpeak with you, that hath words to ſpeak, which nearlyer concern you. I beſeech you, Sirs, be more frequent and familiar with Conſcience then moſt men are. Think not the time loſt, when you walk and talk with it alone. Confer with it about your endleſs ſtate, and where you are like to be for ever; and what way you are in; and what thoughts you will have of your ſins and duties, of the world and God, of yielding or overcoming at the laſt. Is there no ſenſe in this diſcourſe? Thou art dead and ſenſeleſs if thou think ſo. Is idle talk and prating better? I hope you are not ſo diſtracted as to ſay ſo. If you have not blinded, deceived or bribed it, I tell you, Conſcience hath other kind of diſcourſe for you; more excellent and neceſſary things to talk of, then wantons, or worldlings, or pot-companions have. Its better be giving Conſcience an account, what buſineſs thou haſt had ſo often in ſuch company; and how thou wouldſt have lookt, if death had found thee there? then without leave from from God or Conſcience, to go thither again.
The thriving way is neither to be ſtill at home, nor ſtill abroad; but to be at home when homework is to be done; and to be abroad only for doing and for getting good, in a way of diligent Chriſtian trading; and to bring that home that is got abroad: but never to go abroad upon loytering, vain, expenſive occaſions. When you have done with Conſcience, converſe with others that your buſineſs lieth with, and go abroad when its for your Maſters work: but go not upon idle errands: converſe not with prodigal Waſters of your time, and enemies to your ſouls.
One time or other Conſcience will speak, and have a hearing: the ſooner the better: Put it not off to a time ſo unſeaſonable as Death; I ſay not unſeaſonable for Conſcience to speak in; but unſeaſonable for it to begin to ſpeak in; and unſeaſonable for thoſe terrible words that need a calmer time for anſwer; and unſeaſonable for ſo many things and ſo great, as ſelf-betrayers uſe to put off untill then, which need a longer time for due conſideration and diſpatch.
3. And I beſeech you conſider, with what amazing horror it muſt needs ſurpriſe you, to find ox a ſudden and unexpe…edly when you die, that all is worſe with …ou then you imagined or would believe? After a whole life of confident preſumpti…n, to be ſuddenly convinced by ſo dread…ull an experience, of your ſo long and wilfull a miſtake! To find in a moment, that you have flattered your ſouls, into ſo deſperate a ſtate of woe! To ſee and feel all the ſelfiſh cavils and reaſonings confuted, in one hour, which the wiſeſt and holieſt men on earth, could never beat you from before! O Sirs, you know not now, what a day, what a conviction, that will be! You know not what it is for a guilty ſoul to to paſs out of the Body, and find it ſelf in the plague of an unſanctified ſtate, and hated of the Holy God, that never would know it till it was too late. You know not what it is to be turned by Death into that world of ſpirits, where all ſelf-deceit is detected by experience: and all muſt undergo a righteous judgement; where blindneſs and ſelf-love can no more perſwade the miſerable that they are happy; the unholy that they are ſanctified; the fleſhly minded men that they are spiritual; the lovers of the world, that they are the Lovers of God: Men cannot there believe what they liſt: nor take that for a truth which makes for their ſecurity, be it never ſo falſe▪ Men cannot there believe that they are accepted of God, while they are in the bonds of their iniquity; or that their hearts are as good as the beſt, while their tongues and lives are oppoſite to goodneſs; or that they ſhall be ſaved as ſoon as the godly, though they be ungodly.
Its eaſie for a man to hear of waves, and gulfs and ſhipwrack that never ſaw the Sea; and without any fear to hear of battels, that never ſaw the face of an enemy: and without any trouble to hear of ſickneſs and tormenting pains, and burning, and cutting off of limbs, that never felt or ſaw ſuch things. Its eaſie for you here in theſe ſeats, in the midſt of health and peace and quietneſs, to hear of a departing ſoul, and where it ſhall appear, and what it ſhall there ſee, and how great a diſcovery Death will make: But O Sirs, when this muſt be your caſe (as you know it muſt be, alas, how ſpeedily!) theſe matters then will ſeem conſiderable: They will be new and ſtrange to thoſe that have heard of them an hundred times, becauſe they never heard of them ſenſibly till now. One of thoſe ſouls that have been here before you, and have paſt that way into eternity, have other thoughts of theſe things than you have! O how do …ey think now, of the fearleſs ſlumber …nd ſtupidity of thoſe that they have …eft behind? What think they now of thoſe …hat wilfully fly the light, and flatter them…elves in guilt and miſery, and make light of all the Joyes and torments of the other world? Even as the damned Rich man in Luke 16. thought of his poor Brethren, …hat remained in proſperity and preſum…ion upon earth, and little thought what …ompany he was in, what a ſight he ſaw, and what he did endure!
Poor careleſs ſouls, you know not now what it is, for the ungodly to ſee that they are ungodly, by the unreſiſtible light of another world: and for the unholy to feel in Hell that they are unholy, and to be …aught by flames and the wrath of the Almighty, what is the difference between the ſanctified and the carnal, betwen an obedient and a rebellious life: While you ſit here, you little know theſe things: You ſee them not: you feel them not: and the Lord grant you may never ſo know them by wofull experience: that you may ſcape ſuch a knowledge, is the end of all that I am ſaying to you: But that will not be, but by another kind of knowledge, even the knowledge of Belief and ſerious Conſideration.
For your ſouls ſake therefore come into the Light, and try your ſelves, and huddle not over a work of ſuch unſpeakable conſequence, as the ſearching of your hearts and judging of your ſpiritual ſtate? O be glad to know what you are indeed! Put home the queſtion, Am I ſanctified or not? A… I in the Spirit or in the fleſh? Be glad of any htlp for the ſure reſolution of ſuch doubts. Take not up with ſleight and venturous preſumptions. It is your own caſe: your neareſt and your greateſt caſe: All lies upon it: Who ſhould be ſo willing of the plaineſt dealing, the speedieſt and the cloſeſt ſearch as you? O be not ſurprized by an unexpected ſight of an unrenewed miſerable ſoul at death. It it be ſo, ſee it now, while ſeeing it may do good: If it be not ſo, a faithfull ſearch can do you no harm, but comfort you by the diſcovery of your ſincerity. Say not too late, I thought I had been born again of the Spirit, and had been in a ſtate of grace? I thought I had been a child of God, and reconciled to him and Juſtified by faith! O what a heart-tearing word would it be …o you, when time is paſt, to ſay, I thought …t had been better with me!
4. Conſider alſo, that It is one of Satans …rincipal deſigns for your damnation, to keep …ou ignorant of your ſelves. He knows if he can but make you believe, that you …ere Regenerate when you are not, you will never ſeek to be regenerate: And that if he can make you think that you are Godly, when you are ungodly, and have the ſpirit of Chriſt while you are ſervants to the fleſh, he may defeat all the labours of your Teachers, and let them call on you to be Converted till their hearts ake, to no purpoſe, but leave you as you are: He knows how light you'l ſet by the Phyſicion, if he can but make you believe that you are well! and how little care you'l take for a pardon, if you think that you need it not, or have one already. In vain may we call on you till we are hoarſe to Turn, and become New creatures, and give up your ſelves to Chriſt, if you think that you are good Chriſtians, and are in the way to Heaven already.
And when you know before hand, that here lieth the principal game of the Deceiver, and that it will be his chief contrivance, to keep you unacquainted wi… your ſin and danger, till you are … recovery, one would think there ſhould … no need to bid you be diligent to know your ſelves.
5. And I beſeech you conſider alſo, th… Without this deſign there is no likelyhood th… Satan could undo you: If he keep you not Ignorant of your ſelves, he is never like to keep you in his power: You come out of his Kingdom when you come out of darkneſs. He knoweth that if once you did but ſee how near you ſtand to the brink of Hell, you would think it time to change your ſtanding.
There is a double principle in Nature, that would do ſomething towards your Repentance and recovery, if your eyes were opened to ſee where you are.
1. There is ſince the ſeduction and ruine of man, by Satans temptations, an Enmity put into the whole Nature of man againſt the Whole Satanical Serpentine Nature: ſo that this Natural enmity would ſo much conduce to your deliverance, as that you would not be contented with your Relation, if you knew that you are the drudges of the Devil; nor would you be charmed …nto ſin ſo eaſily, if you knew that it is he …deed that doth invite you; nor would …ou dance after his pipe; or take his bait, … you perceived indeed that it is his: no …nguage would be ſo taking with you, which you knew were uttered by his voice. … would do much to affright you from …is ſervice, if you knew that it is he indeed …hat ſetteth you on work, and is gratify…d by it. He keepeth men in his bondage …y making them believe that they are free: …e perſwadeth men to obey him, by per…wading them that it is God that they …bey: And he draweth them to Hell, by making them believe that they are follow…ng Chriſt to Heaven; or at leaſt, that they …re following the inclination of their na…ure in a pardonable infirmity.
2. And the Natural principle of ſelf-love …ould in order to ſelf-preſervation do much …o drive you from your ſinfull ſtate, if …ou did but know what a ſtate it is. There … no man ſo far hateth himſelf as to be willing to be damned. You cannot chooſe …nhabitation in Hell: Such a place can never be deſired. Sure he that cannot chooſe …ut fly from an enemy, or a bear that did purſue him, or fly from fire or water or peſtilence when he perceives his danger, would fly from Hell, if he perceived his danger.
I beſeech you all that are ſecure in an unſanctified ſtate, do but look inwards, and help me in preaching this doctrine to you… hearts, and tell your ſelves, whether you do not think; that your ſtate is good, and that you are the children of God as well as others; and that though you are ſinners, yet your ſins are pardoned by the blood of Chriſt, and that you ſhall be ſaved if you die in the ſtate that you are in? And are not theſe thoughts the Reaſon why you venture to continue in your preſen… ſtate, and look not after ſo great a change as Scripture ſpeaketh of as neceſſary?
And I pray you deal plainly with your hearts, and tell me, you careleſs ſinners, young or old, that ſit here as quietly as i… all were well with you; If you did but know that you are at this hour unregenerate, and that without Regeneration there i… is no Salvation; If you did but know that you are yet carnal and unholy, and tha… without Holineſs none ſhall ſee God; If yo… did but know that you are yet in a ſtat… of Enmity to God while you call him Father, and of Enmity to Chriſt while you call him your Saviour, and of Enmity to the Holy Spirit while you call him your ſanctifyer; If you did but know that your ſins are unpardoned, and your ſouls unjuſtified, and that you are condemned already, and ſhall certainly be damned if you die as you are, could you live quietly in ſuch a ſtate? Could you ſleep, and eat and drink quietly, and follow your trades, and let time run on, without repenting and returing unto God, if you knew that you are paſt hope, if death ſurprize you in this condition? For the Lords ſake Sirs, rouze up your ſelves a little, and be ſerious in a buſineſs that concerneth you more then ten thouſand natural lives, and tell me, or rather tell your ſelves, If you did but know that while you ſit here, you are unrenewed, and therefore under the curſe of God, and in the bondage of the Devil, and are haſting towards perdition, and are gone for ever, if you be not ſanctified and made new creatures before you die; could you then put off this Sermon with a ſleepy careleſs hearing, and go home and talk of common matters, and no more mind it, as you have done by Sermons untill now? Could you forbear going alone and there bethinking your ſelves, O what a ſinful, dreadfull condition are we in! What will become of us if we be not regenerate before we die! Had we no Ʋnderſtandings? no Hearts? no life or ſenſe? that we have lingered ſo long, and lived ſo careleſly in ſuch a ſtate? O where had we been now if we had died unregenerate! How near have we been oft to Death? how many ſickneſſes might have put an end to life and hope? Had any of them cut off the ſlender thread that our lives have hanged on ſo long, and had we died before this day, we had been new in Hell without remedy. Could any of you that knew this to be your caſe, forbear to betake your ſelves to God, and cry to him in the bitterneſs of your ſouls, [O Lord, what Rebells, what wretches have we been? We have ſinned againſt Heaven and before thee, and are … more worthy to be called thy children! O how ſin hath captivated our underſtandings, and conquered our very ſenſe, and made us live like men that were dead as to the Love and ſervice of God, and the work of our ſalvation, which we were created and redemned for! O Lord have mercy upon theſe blinded ſenſeleſs miſerable ſouls! Have mercy upon theſe despiſers and abuſers of thy mercy! O ſave us or we periſh! Save us from our ſins, from Satan, from thy curſe and wrath! Save, us or we are undone and loſt for ever! Save us from the unquenchable fire, from the worm that never dieth! from the bottomleſs pit, the outer darkneſs, the horrid gulf of endleſs miſery! O let the bowels of thy compaſſion yearn over us; O ſave us for thy Mercy ſake; Shut not out the cries of miſerable ſinners. Regenerate, renew and ſanctifie our hearts; O make us new creatures! O plant thine Image on our ſouls, and incline them towards thee, that they may be wholly thine; O make us ſuch as thou commandeſt us to be; Away with our ſins, and ſinfull pleaſures, and ſinfull company! We have had too much, too much of them already! Let us now be thine, aſſociated with them that Love and fear thee; imployed in the works of Holineſs and obedience all our dayes! Lord, we are willing to let go our ſins, and to be thy ſervants: or if we be not make us willing.]
What ſay you Sirs, if you knew that you were this hour in a ſtate of condemnation, could you forbear making haſte with ſuch confeſſions▪ complaints and earneſt ſupplications to God?
And could you forbear going preſently to ſome faithfull Miniſter or godly friend, and telling him your caſe and danger, and begging his advice, and prayers, and asking him, what a poor ſinner muſt do to be recovered, pardoned and ſaved, that is ſo deep in ſin and miſery, and hath deſpiſed Chriſt and grace ſo long? Could you tell how to ſleep quietly many nights more, before you had earneſtly ſought out for help, and made this change? How could you chooſe but preſently betake your ſelves to the company, and converſe, and examples of the godly that are within your reach! (For when ever a man is truly changed, his friendſhip, and company is changed, if he have opportunity.) And how could you chooſe but go and take your leave of your old companions, and with tears and ſorrow tell them how fooliſhly and ſinfully you have done, and what wrong you have done each others ſouls, and intreat them to repent and do ſo no more, or elſe you will renounce them, and fly from their company as from a Peſthouſe?
Can a man forbear thus to fly from Hell, if he ſaw that he is as near it as a condemned Traytor to the Gallows? He that will beg for bread, if he be hungry, and rather … by ſhame, then famiſh, would beg for grace, if he ſaw and felt how much he needeth it: (And ſeeing it, is the way to feel it) He that will ſeek for medicines when he is ſick, and would do almoſt any thing to eſcape a temporal death, would he not ſeek out to Chriſt the remedy of his ſoul, if he knew and felt, that otherwiſe there is no recovery; and would he not do much againſt eternal death? Skin for skin, and all that a man hath, he will give for this life;] was a truth that the Devil knew and maketh uſe of in his temptations. And will a man then be regardleſs of his ſoul, that knows he hath an immortal ſoul? and of life eternal, that knows his danger of eternal death?
O Sirs, it is not poſſible, but the true knowledge of your ſtate of ſin and danger would do very much to ſave you from it. For … a wilfull-choſen ſtate. All the Devi… … Hell cannot bring you to it, and … you in it againſt your will. You … willing of the ſin, though unwilling of … puniſhment: And if you truly knew … …uniſhment and your danger of it, you …uld be the more unwilling of the ſin: for God hath affixed puniſhment to ſin for this end, that they that elſe would love the Serpent, may hate it for the ſting: W…ll you not ſay, He is a beaſt and not a man that will avoid no danger but what he ſeeth? Foreſeeing is to a man, what ſeeing is to a beaſt: If he ſee it before his eyes, a beaſt will not eaſily be driven into a Cole-pit or a gulf: he will draw back and ſtrive if you go about to kill him. And is he a man, or ſome monſter that wants a name, that will go on to Hell, when he ſeeth it as it were before him? and that will continue in a ſtate of ſin, when he knows he muſt be damned in Hell for ever, if he ſo continue to the end? Indeed ſin is the deformity and monſtroſity of the ſoul. He is a monſter of Blindneſs that ſeeth not the folly and peril of ſuch a ſtate, and that a ſtate of Holineſs is better ▪ He is a monſter of ſtupidity that finds himſelf in ſuch a ſtate, and doth not feel it, but m…th light of it; And he is monſter … fulneſs that will not ſtir when he … himſelf in ſuch a caſe, and ſeek for … and value the remedy, and uſe the … and forſake his ſinfull courſe and …, till further mercy take him up and … him home, and make him welcome … one that was loſt but now is found, was … but is alive.
I do not doubt for all theſe expoſtulations, but ſome men may be ſuch monſters, as thus to ſee that they are in a ſtate of wrath and miſery, and yet continue in it.
As 1. Such as have but a glimmering inſufficient ſight of it, and a half-belief, while a greater belief and hope of the contrary, (that is, Preſumption) is predominant at the heart: But theſe are rather to be called men ignorant of their miſery then men that know it; and men that believe it not, then men that do believe it, as long as the Ignorance and Preſumption is the prevailing part.
2. Such as by the rage of appetite and paſſion are hurried into deadly ſin, and ſo continue, when ever the tempter offereth them the …, againſt their Conſcience, and ſome ap…ehenſion of their miſery. But … commonly a prevalent ſelf-… within encouraging and … them in their ſin, and telling … the reluctancies of their conſci… … the ſpirits ſtrivings againſt the … their fits of remorſe are true …; and though they are ſinners, they … they are pardoned, and ſhall be … ſo that theſe do not know themſelves …
3. Such as by their deep engagements to the world, and love of its proſperity, and a cuſtom in ſinning, are ſo hardened, and caſt into a ſlumber, that though they have a ſecret knowledge or ſuſpicion that their caſe is miſerable, yet they are not wakened to the due conſideration and feeling of it: and therefore they go on as if they knew it not: But theſe have not their knowledge in exerciſe: It is but a candle in a dark lanthorn, that now and then give… them a convincing flaſh, when the right ſide happens to be towards them, or like lightning that rather frightens and amazeth them then directeth them. And (as I ſaid of the former) as to the act, their ſelf-ignorance is the predominant part, and therefore they cannot be ſaid inde… to know themſelves. Now and then a …vinced apprehenſion, or a fear, is not … of their minds.
4. Such as being in youth or … do promiſe themſelves long life, … others that fooliſhly put away … day … death, and think they have yet … before them; and therefore though… … convinced of their miſery, and kn… …hey muſt be Converted or Condemned, … yet delay, and quiet themſelves with purpoſes to Repent hereafter, when Death …ra…es neer and there is no other remedie, but they muſt leave their ſins, or give up all their hopes of Heaven. Though theſe know ſomewhat of their preſent miſery, it is but by ſuch a flaſhy uneffectuall knowledge, as is afore deſcribed: and they know little of the wickedneſs of their hearts while they confeſs them wicked. Otherwiſe they could not imagine that Repentance is ſo eaſie a work to ſuch as they, as that they can performe it when their hearts are further hardened, and that ſo eaſily and certainly as that their ſalvation may be ventured on it by delayes. Did they know themſelves, they would know the backwardneſs of their hearts, and manifold difficulties ſhould make them ſee the madneſs of delayes and of longer reſiſting and abuſing the grace of the ſpirit that muſt convert them if ever they be ſaved.
5. Such as have light to ſhew them their miſery, but live where they heare not the diſcovery of the Remedie, and are left without any knowledge of a Saviour. I deny not but ſuch may go on in a ſtate of miſery though they know it, when they know no way out of it.
6. Such as Believe not the Remedie though they heare of it, but think that Chriſt is not to be believed in as the Saviour of the world.
7. Such as Believe that Chriſt is the Redeemer, but believe not that he will have mercy upon them, as ſuppoſing their hearts are not qualifyed for his ſalvation, no… ever will be, becauſe the day of grace i… paſt, and he hath concluded them under a ſentence of reprobation; and therefore thinking that there is no hope and that their endeavours would be all in vaine, they caſt off all endeavours, and give up themſelves to the pleaſurs of the fleſh, and ſay, It is as good be damned for ſome thing or for a greater mattter, as for a leſſe.
So that there are three ſorts of Deſpaire that are not equally dangerous 1. A Deſpaire of pardon and ſalvation ariſing from Infidelity, as if the Goſpell were not true, nor Chriſt a Saviour to be truſted, with our ſoules, if predominant, is damnable. 2. A Deſpaire of pardon and ſalvation▪ ariſing from a miſ-underſtanding of the Promiſe, as if it pardoned not ſuch ſins as ours, and denyed mercy to thoſe that have ſinned ſo long as we; this is not damnable neceſſarily of it ſelfe, becauſe it implyeth faith in Chriſt; and not Infidelity but miſunderſtanding hindereth the apply…g comforting act: And therefore this …ctuall perſonal deſpaire, is accompanyed …ith a General actual Hope and with a parti…ular perſonal, vertual Hope. 3. A Deſpaire … pardon and ſalvation, upon the miſun…erſtanding of ourſelves, as thinking both …at we are gracleſs, and alwaies ſhall be ſo, …ecauſe of the blindneſs and hardneſs of our …earts: of this Deſpaire I ſay as of the for…er, it is joyned with faith and with General …nd Ʋirtual Hope: and therefore is not the Deſpaire that of its ſelf condemneth. Many may … ſaved that are too much guitly of it.
But if either of theſe two later ſorts …hall ſo far prevaile as to turne men off …om a Holy to a fleſhly worldly intereſt and …fe, and make them ſay, [Wee will take …ur pleaſure while we may, and will have …thing for our ſoules before we loſe them] …nd do accordingly; this kind of Deſperati… is damnable by the effects, becauſe it …akes men off the meanes of life, and gi…eth them up to damning ſinnes.
Thus I have ſhewed you of ſeven ſorts of perſons, that may know themſelves, …heir ſin and danger, with ſuch an uneffectuall partiall knowledge a I have deſcribed, and yet continue in that ſin and miſery.
And in two caſes even ſound Believer many poſſibly go on to ſin, when they … the ſin: and not only ſee the danger of … but deſpairingly thinke it greater then it i… As 1. in caſe of common unavoidable fa…ings, infirmites, and low degrees of grace we are all imperfect: and yet we all kno… that it is our duty to be perfect (as perfect…on is oppoſed to ſinfull, and not to inn…cent imperfection) And yet this knowled… maketh us not perfect. We know we … be more humbled, and more believing, an… more watchfull, and Love God more, an… feare and truſt him more, and be mo… fruitfull, and diligent, and obedient an… zealous: and yet we are not What we … we ſhould be in any of theſe. In theſe … all live in ſin againſt knowledge: els … ſhould be all as good as we know we oug… to be, which no man is. And if thro… temptation any of us ſhould be ready … deſpaire becauſe of any of theſe infirmity … becauſe we cannot Repent, or Love God watch, or Pray, or Obey more perfectly or as we ſhould, yet Grace ceaſeth not … be Grace, though in the leaſt degree, beca… we are ready to deſpair for want of … Nor will the ſincerity of this ſpark, … graine of Muſtard ſeed, be unſucces… … to our ſalvation, becauſe we think ſo, and …ake ourſelves to be unſincere, and our ſancti…cation to be none; Nor yet becauſe we …annot be as obedient and good as we …now we ſhould be. For the Goſpell ſaith …ot [He that knoweth he hath faith or ſin…rity, ſhall be ſaved: and he that knoweth … not, ſhall be damned: or he that is leſſe …ly or obedient then his conſcence tells him he …hould be, ſhall be damned] But he that Be…ieveth and Repenteth, ſhall be ſaved, whether …e know it to be done in ſincerity or no: …nd he that doth not, ſhall be damned, though …e never ſo confidently think he doth. So that in the Degrees of Holynes and obedience, all Chriſtians ordinarly ſin againſt knowledge.
2. And beſides what is ordinary, ſome extraordinarily in the time of a Powerfull temptation go further then ordinarily they do. And ſome under dull Flegmatick melancholy, or cholerick diſeaſes or diſtempers of body, or under a diſeaſed violent appetite, may tranſgreſs more againſt their knowledge, then otherwiſe they would do: when the ſpirits are flatted, the thoughts confuſed, the reaſon weakened, the paſſion ſtrengthned, and the executive faculties undiſpoſed, ſo that their actions are but imperfectly Humane or Morall (imperfectly capable of vertue or vice good or evill) it is no wonder here if poo… ſoules not only perceive their ſin, but thin… it and the danger to be tenfold great… then they are, and yet go on again… their knowledge, and yet have … grace.
This much I have ſaid both to ſtay yo… from miſunderſtanding what I ſaid before concerning the Power of conviction … converſion (for few Auditoryes wa… hearers that will be ſtill excepting, if Ca…tion ſtop not every hole) and alſo to … you to the fuller underſtanding of the …ter its ſelf of which I treat. But excepti… …mat regulam in non exceptis, Exceptio… ſtrengthen and not weaken any Rule … propoſition, in the points not except… Still I ſay that out of theſe caſes the … knowledge of a ſinfull miſerable ſtate, … ſo great a helpe to bring us out of it, … its hardly imaginable how rationall me… can willfully continue in a ſtate of ſu… exceeding danger, if they be but well ac…quainted that they are in it. I know a Har…ned heart hath an unreaſonable obſtin… oppoſition againſt the meanes of its … recovery: But yet men have ſome uſe … Reaſon and ſelf preſerving Love and care, …r they are not men (and if they be not …, they cannot be ſinfull men) And …hough little tranſient lightnings oft come …o nothing, but leave ſome men in grea…er darkneſs; yet could we but ſet up a …anding Light in all your conſciences, could we fully convince and reſolve the unrege…ate that they cannot be ſaved in the carnall ſtate and way that they are in, but muſt be ſanctifyed or never ſaved, what hopes ſhould we have that all the ſubtiltyes …nd ſnares of Satan, and all the pleaſures and gaine of ſin, and all the allurements of ungodly company could no longer hinder you from falling down at the feet of mercy, and begging forgiveneſs through the blood of Chriſt, and giving up yourſelves in Covenant to the Lord, and ſpeedily and reſolutely betaking yourſelves to an holy life! Could I but make you throughly known unto your ſelves, I ſhould hope that all the unſanctified that hear me, would date their Converſion from this very day; and that you would not delay till the next morning, to bewail your ſin and miſery, and fly to Chriſt, leſt you ſhould die and be paſt hope this night.
And doth ſo much of our work and of your recovery lie upon this point and yet ſhall we not be able to ac… compliſh it? Might you be brough… into the way to Heaven, if we could b… perſwade you that you are yet out of t… way, and will you be undone, becauſe yo… will not ſuffer ſo ſmall and reaſonable part of the cure as this is? O God forbid O that we knew how to illuminate yo… minds ſo far as to make you find that yo… are loſt! How ready would Chriſt be the… to find you, and to receive and welcome you upon your return! Here is the firſt difficulty, which if we could but overcome, … ſhould hope to conquer all the reſt. H… we but a wedge to cleave this knot, the reſt would the more eaſily be done. Coul… we draw but this one pin of ſelf-deceit ▪ the frame of Satans building were like to tumble down. O that any of you that know the nature of ſelf-deceit, and know the acceſſes to the inwards of a ſinner, and know the fallacious reaſonings of the heart, could tell us but how we might undeceive them! O that any of you that know the nature of humane underſtanding, with its ſeveral maladies and their cure, and know the power of ſaving truth, could tell us what key will undo this lock! what medicine will cure this diſeaſe, of wilfull, obſtinate, ſelf-deceiving? Think but on the caſe of our poor people, and of ours, and ſure you cannot chooſe but pitty both them and us. We are all profeſſors of the Chriſtian faith, and all ſay we believe the word of God: This word aſſureth us that all men are fallen in Adam, and are by nature children of wrath, and increaſe in ſin and miſery, till ſupernatural grace recover them. It tells us that the Redeemer is become by office, the Phyſition or Saviour of ſouls, waſhing away their guilt by his blood, and renewing and cleanſing their corrupted natures by his Spirit: It tell us that he will freely work the cure, for all that will take him for their Phyſicion, and will forgive and ſave them, that penitently fly to him, and value, and accept, and truſt upon his grace: And that, except they be thus made new creatures, all the world cannot ſave them from everlaſting wrath. This is the Doctrine that we all believe, or ſay we do believe: Thus doth it open the caſe of ſinners. We come now, according to our office. and the truſt repoſed in us, and we tell our Hearers what the Scripture ſaith of man, and what it commandeth us to tell them: We tell them of their fall, their ſin and miſery; of the Redeemer, and the ſure and free ſalvation, which they may have if they will but come to him. But, alas, we cannot make them believe that they are ſo ſick as to have ſo much need of the Phyſicion: and that they are dead, and have need of a new creation, as to the inclinations of their hearts, and the end and bent and buſineſs of their lives. We are ſent to tender them the mercy of Chriſt, but we cannot make them believe that they are miſerable. We are ſent to offer them the riches, and eye ſelve, and white rayment of the Goſpel: but we cannot make them know that they are poor, and blind, and naked: We are ſent to call them to Repent and Turn that they may be ſaved; and we cannot make them know that they are ſo far out of the way as to need a change of heart and life. Here they ſit before us, and we look on them with pitty, and know not how to help them. We look on them and think, alas, poor ſouls, you little ſee what death will quickly make you ſee. You will then ſee that there is no ſalvation, by all the blood and merits of Chriſt for any but the ſanctified; but O that we could now but make you underſtand it. We look on them with compaſſion, and think, Alas, poor ſouls, as eaſily and quietly as you ſit here, a change is neer. It will be thus with you but a little while, and where will you be next? We know as ſure as the word of God is true, that they muſt be converted and ſanctified, or be loſt for ever: and we cannot make them believe, but that the work is done already. The Lord knoweth, and our conſciences witneſs to our ſhame, that we be not half ſo ſenſible of their miſery, nor ſo compaſſionate towards them as we ought to be: but yet ſometimes our hearts melt over them, and fain we would ſave them from the wrath to come; and we ſhould have great hopes of the ſucceſs, if we could but make them know their danger: It melts our hearts to look on them and think that they are ſo near damnation, and never like to ſcape it, till they know it, till they know that their corruption is ſo great, that nothing but the quickning ſpirit can recover them, and nothing leſs then to become new creatures will ſerve the turn: But if we would never ſo fain we cannot make them know it: O that we knew how to acquaint them with their caſe? O that we knew how to get within them, and to open the windows, that the light of Chriſt might ſhew them their condition! But when we have done all, we find it paſt our power. We know they will be paſt help in Hell, if they die before they are regenerate: And could we but get themſelves to know it, we could not but hope that they would better look about them, and be ſaved: but we are not able: its more then we can do: We cannot get the groſſeſt worldling, the baſeſt ſenſualiſt, the filthieſt letcher, the proudeſt child of the Spirit of pride, to know that he is in a ſtate of condemnation, and muſt be ſanctified or be damned: much leſs can we procure the formal Phariſee, thus to know himſelf. We can eaſily get them to confeſs that they are ſinners, and deſerve damnation, and cannot be ſaved without Chriſt: But this will not ſerve: The beſt Saint on earth muſt ſay as much as this comes to. There are converted and uncoverted ſinners: ſanctifyed and unſanctified ſinners: Pardoned and unpardoned ſinners: Sinners that are members of Chriſt, and the children of God, and heirs of Heaven; and ſinners that are not ſo, but contrary. They muſt know not only that they are ſinners, but that they are yet unconverted, unſanctified, unpardoned ſinners: not only that they cannot be ſaved without Chriſt; but that yet they have no special intereſt in Chriſt: They will not Turn, while they think they are turned already: They will not ſo value and ſeek for Converſion, and Remiſſion, and Adoption, as to obtain them, while they think they have them all already. They will not come to Chriſt that they may have life, while they think they have part in Chriſt already. Paul after his Converſion was a ſinner, and had need of Chriſt: but Paul before his Converſion was an unſanctified, unjuſtified ſinner, and had no part in Chriſt: This is the ſtate of ſin and miſery that you muſt come out of, or you are loſt: And how can you be brought out of it, till you know that you are in it?
O therefore that we knew how to make you know it! How ſhould we make poor ſinners ſee that they are within a few ſteps of everlaſting fire, that we might procure them to run away from it, and be ſaved! we cry ſo oft, and loſe our labour, and leave ſo many in their ſecurity and ſelf-deceits, that we are too diſcouraged, and remit our deſires, and loſe our compaſſion, and our ſelves alas grow dull and too inſenſible of their caſe, and preach too oft as coldly as if we could be content to let them periſh. We are too apt to grow weary of holding the light to men aſleep, or that ſhut their eyes and will not ſee by it. When al… that we have ſaid is not regarded, and we know not what more to ſay then hath been ſaid ſo long in vain, this flats our ſpirits; this makes ſo many of us preach almoſt as careleſly as we are heard. Regardleſs ſleepy hearers, make regardleſs ſleepy Preachers. Frequent fruſtration abateth hope: And the fervour and diligence of proſecution ceaſeth, as hope abateth. This is our fault: Your inſenſibility is no good excuſe for ours: But its a fault not eaſily avoided.
And when we are ſtopt at the firſt door, and cannot conquer Satans out works, what hopes have we of going further? If all that we can ſay, will not convince you that you are yet unſanctified and unjuſtified, how ſhall we get you to the duties that belong to ſuch, in order to the attainment of this deſireable ſtate?