The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance, Part 11
ANd here I think it not unſeaſonable to inform you of the reaſon why the moſt able faithfull Miniſters of Chriſt do ſearch ſo deep, and ſpeak ſo hardly of the caſe of unrenewed ſouls, as much diſpleaſeth many of their hearers, and makes them ſay, they are too ſevere and terrible preachers: The zealous Antinomian ſaith, they are Legaliſts; and the prophane Antimonian ſaith, they rail, and preach not mercy, but judgement only, and would drive men to despair, and make them mad. But will they tell God he is a Legaliſt for making the Law, even the Goſpel Law as well as the Law of Nature, and commanding us to preach it to the world? Shall they eſcape the Sentence by reproaching the Law-maker? Will not God judge the world? and judge them by a Law? and will he not be juſt and beyond the reach of their reproach? O ſinner, this is not the ſmalleſt part of thy terror, that it is the Gospel that ſpeaks this terror to thee, and excludes thee from ſalvation unleſs thou be made new: It is mercy it ſelf that thus condemneth thee, and judgeth thee to endleſs miſery. You are miſtaken Sirs, when you ſay we preach not Mercy, and ſay we preach not the Goſpel, but the Law: It is the Goſpel that ſaith, Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven! and that if any man have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, the ſame is none of his, John 3.3, 5. Rom. 8.9. The ſame Goſpel that ſaith, He that believeth ſhall be ſaved, ſaith alſo, that He that believeth not ſhall be damned, Mark 16.16. Will you tell Chriſt, the Saviour of the world, that he is not mercifull, becauſe he talks to you of Damnation? Mercy it ſelf when it tells you that There is no condemnation, doth limit this pardon to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit,] Rom. 8.1. It is ſanctifying Mercy that muſt ſave you, if ever you be ſaved, as well as Juſtifying Mercy. And will you refuſe this Mercy, and by no entreaty yield to have it, and yet think to be ſaved by it? What ſaved by that Mercy which you will not have? And will you ſay, We preach not Mercy, becauſe we tell you, that Mercy will not ſave you, if you continue to reject it? To be ſaved by Mercy without Sanctification, is to be ſaved and not ſaved: to be ſaved by Mercy without Mercy: Your words have no better ſenſe then this: And are thoſe afraid leſt Preachers ſhould make them mad by ſhewing them their need of mercy, that are no Wiſer then to caſt away their ſouls upon ſuch ſenſeleſs ſelf-contradicting conceits as theſe?
I beſeech you tell us whoſe words are they think you that ſay, Without holineſs none ſhall ſee God! Heb. 12.14. and that He that is in Chriſt, is a new Creature, 2 Cor. 5.17. and ſuch like paſſages which offend you; Are they ours, or are they Gods? Did we indite the Holy Scriptures, or did the Holy Ghoſt? Is it long of us, if there be any words there that croſs your fleſh, and that you call bitter? Can we help it, if God will ſave none but ſanctified believers? If you have any thing to ſay againſt it, you muſt ſay it to him: We are ſure that this is in his word: and we are ſure he cannot lye: and therefore we are ſure its true: We are ſure that he may do with his own as he liſt, and that he oweth you nothing, and that he may give his pardon and ſalvation to whom, and upon what terms he pleaſe: And therefore we are ſure he doth you no wrong. But if you think otherwiſe, reproach not us that are but meſſengers: but prepare your charge, and make it good againſt your maker, if you dare and can: you ſhall ſhortly come before him, and be put to it to juſtifie your ſelves: If If you can do it by recrimination, and can prevent your condemnation, by condemning the Law and the Judge, try your ſtrength and do your worſt.
Ah poor worms! dare you lift up the head, and move a tongue, againſt the Lord! Did Infinite Wiſdom it ſelf want Wiſdom, to make a Law to rule the world? And did Infinite Goodneſs want Goodneſs to deal mercifully, and as was beſt, with man! And ſhall Juſtice it ſelf be judged to be unjuſt? And that by you! By ſuch ſilly, ignorant, naughty and unrighteous ones as you! As if you had the Wiſdom and Goodneſs, which you think God wanted when he made his Laws!
And whereas you tell us of preaching terribly to you, we cannot help it, if the true and righteous Threatnings of God be terrible to the guilty: It is becauſe we know the Terrors of the Lord, that we preach them, to warn you to prevent them. And ſo did the Apoſtles before us, 2 Cor. 5.11. Either its true that the unquenchable fire will be the portion of impenitent, unbelieving, fleſhly, worldly, unſanctified men, or it is not true: If it were not true, the word of God were not true: and then what ſhould you do with any preaching at all, or any religion! But if you confeſs it to be true, do you think in reaſon, it ſhould be ſilenced? or can we tell men of ſo terrible a thing as Hell, and tell them that it will certainly be their lot, unleſs they be new creatures, and not ſpeak terribly to them! O Sirs, it is the wonder of my ſoul that it ſeemeth no more terrible, to all the ungodly that think they do believe it. Yea, and I would it did ſeem more terrible to the moſt, that it might affright you from your ſin to God, and you might be ſaved. If you were running ignorantly into a Cole-pit, would you revile him that told you of it, and bid you ſtop if you love your life? Would you tell him that he ſpeaks bitterly or terribly to you? It is not the Preacher that is the cauſe of your danger: he doth but tell you of it, that you may ſcape. If you are ſaved, you may thank him: but if you are loſt, you may thank your ſelves. Its you that deal bitterly and terribly with your ſelves. Telling you of Hell, doth not make Hell: Warning you of it, is not cauſing it: Nor is it God that is unmercifull, but you are fooliſhly cruel and unmercifull to your ſelves. Do not think to deſpiſe the patience and mercy of the Lord, and then think to eſcape by accuſing him of being unmercifull, and by ſaying, Its terrible doctrine that we preach to you impenitent ſinners; I confeſs to thee it is terrible, and more terrible then thy ſenſleſs heart imagineth, or is yet aware of: One day, if grace prevent it not, thou ſhalt find it ten thouſand times more terrible then thou canſt apprehend it now. When thou ſeeſt thy Judge with millions of his Angels coming to condemn thee, thou wilt then ſay his Laws are terrible indeed. Thou haſt to do with a holy, jealous God, who is a conſuming fire, Heb. 12.29. and can ſuch a God be deſpiſed and not be terrible to thee? He is called, The Great, the Mighty and the Terrible God, Neh. 9.32. Deut. 7.21. With God is terrible Majeſty, Job 37.22. He is terrible out of his holy place, Pſal. 68.35. He is terrible to the greateſt, even to the Kings of the earth, Pſal. 76.12. Its time for you therefore to tremble and ſubmit, and think how unable you are to contend with him: and not revile his word or works becauſe they are terrible, but fear him for them, and ſtudy them on purpoſe that you may fear and glorifie him: And as David, Pſal. 66.3.5. [Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatneſs of thy power ſhall thy enemies ſubmit themſelves unto thee — Come and ſee the works of the Lord! He is terrible in his doings toward the children of men:] Pſal. 99.3. [Let them praiſe thy Great and terrible name, for it is Holy.] And will you reproach God or his word or works, or Miniſters, with that which is the matter of his Praiſe? If it be terrible to hear of the wrath of God, how terrible will it be to feel it? Chooſe not a ſtate of terror to your ſelves, and preaching will be leſs terrible to you. Yield to the ſanctifying work of Chriſt, and receive his ſpirit: and then that which is terrible to others, will be comfortable to you. What terror is it to the Regenerate (that knoweth himſelf to be ſuch) to hear that none but the Regenerate ſhall be ſaved? What terror is it to them that mind the things of the ſpirit, to hear of the miſery of a fleſhly mind, and that they that live after the fleſh ſhall die? Rom. 8.8.13. The word of God is full of terror to the ungodly: But return with all your hearts to God, and then what word of God ſpeaks terror to you? Truly Sirs, it is more in your power then ours, to make our preaching eaſie and leſs terrible to you! We cannot change our doctrine, but you may change your ſtate and duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page lives: We cannot preach another Goſpel: but you may obey the Goſpel which we preach. Obey it and it will be the moſt comfortable word to you in the world. We cannot make void the word of God: but you may avoid the ſtroke by penitent ſubmiſſion. Do you think it is fitter for us to change our Maſters word, and falſifie the Laws of God Almighty; or for you to change your crooked courſes, which are condemned by this word, and to let go the ſin which the Law forbiddeth? Its you that muſt change, and not the Law. Its you that muſt be conformed to it, and not the Rule that muſt be crookened to conform to you.
Say not as Ahab of Michaiah, of the Miniſter: [I hate him, for he propheſieth not Good of me, but Evil,] 1 Kings 22.8. For a Balaam could profeſs that if the King [would give him his houſefull of ſilver and gold, he could not go beyond the word of the Lord his God, to do leſs or more] Numb. 22.19. or [to do either good or bad of his own mind] as he after ſpeaks, Chap. 24.13. What good would it do you for a Preacher to tell you a lye and ſay that you may be pardoned and ſaved in an impenitent, unſanctified ſtate? Do you think our ſaying ſo, would make it ſo? Will God falſifie his word to make good ours? Or would he not deal with us as perfidious meſſengers that had betrayed our truſt, and belyed him, and deceived yout ſouls? And would it ſave or eaſe an unregenerate man to have Chriſt condemn the Miniſter for deceiving him, and telling him that he may be ſaved in ſuch a ſtate?
Do but let go the odious ſin that the word of God doth ſpeak ſo ill of, and then it will ſpeak no ill of you.
Alas Sirs, what would you have a poor Miniſter do, when Gods command doth croſs your pleaſure? and when he is ſure to offend either God or you? Which ſhould he venture to offend? If he help not the ungodly to know their miſery, he offendeth God: If he do it, he offendeth them. If he tell you, that [All they ſhall be damned that believe not the truth, but have pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs.] Your hearts riſe againſt him for talking of Damnation to you: And yet it is but the words of the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Theſ. 2.12. which we are bound to preach! [If he tell you that If ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die.] you will be angry, (eſpecially if he cloſely apply it to your ſelves.) And if he do not tell you ſo, God will be angry: For it is his expreſs determination, Rom. 8.13. And whoſe anger think you ſhould a wiſe man chooſe? or whoſe ſhould he moſt reſolutely avoid? The anger of the dreadfull God of Heaven, or yours? Your anger we can bear, if there be no remedy; but his anger is intolerable. When you have fretted, and fumed, and railed, and ſlandered us and ou… doctrine, we can Live yet; or if you ki… the Body, you can do no more: You do but ſend us before, to be witneſſes againſt you, when you come to judgement. But who can Live, when God will pour out wrath upon him? Numb. 24.23. We may keep your ſlanders and indignation from our Hearts: but it is the Heart that the Heart-ſearching God contendeth with: And who can heal the Heart which he will break? You may reach the fleſh; but he that is a Spirit, can afflict and wound the Spirit: And a wounded spirit (and wounded by him) who can bear? Prov. 18.14. Would you not your ſelves ſay he were worſe then mad, that would rather abuſe the Eternal God, then croſs the miſguided deſires of ſuch worms as you? that would displeaſe God to pleaſe you, and ſell his Love to purchaſe yours? Will you be inſtead of God to us when we have loſt his favour? Will you ſave us from him, when he ſendeth for our ſouls by death, or ſentenceth us to Hell by judgement? Silly ſouls! how happy were you, could you ſave your ſelves! Will you be our Gods if we forſake our God? What you that are but skinfuls of corruption? that will ſhortly be choaked with your own filth and flegme, and by your friends be laid to rot in ſilent undiſcerned darkneſs, leſt the loathſome ſight or ſmell of you ſhould annoy them. Blame not God to uſe them as Enemies and Rebels, that will change him for ſuch earthen Gods as you. We have One God, and but One, and he muſt be obeyed, whether you like or diſlike it: There is one Law giver that is able to ſave and to deſtroy, Jam. 4.12. and he muſt be pleaſed, whether it pleaſe your carnal minds or not: If your wiſdom now will take the chair, and judge the preaching of the Gospel to be fooliſhneſs, or the ſearching application of it to be too much harſhneſs and ſeverity, I am ſure you ſhall come down ere long, and hear his ſentence that will convince you, that the wiſdom of the world is fooliſhneſs with God, and the fooliſhneſs of God (as Blaſphemy dare call it) is wiſer then men, 1 Cor. 3.19. & 1.25. And God will be the final Judge, and his word ſhall ſtand when you have done your worſt. The worſt that the Serpent can do, is but to hiſs a while and put forth the ſting, and bruiſe our heel: but Gods day will be the bruſing of his head, and Satan ſhall be bruiſed under feet, Rom. 16.20.
The Sun will ſhine, and the light thereof diſcover your deformities, whether you will or not. And if adulterers or thieves, that love the works of darkneſs, will do theit worſt by force or flattery, they cannot make it ceaſe its ſhining, though they may ſhut their eyes, or hide themſelves in darkneſs from it light: Faithfull …eachers are the Lights of the world, Mat. 5.14. They are not lighted by the Holy Ghoſt, to be put under a buſhell, but on a candleſtick, that they may give light to all that are in the houſe, ver. 15. What would you do with Teachers but to Teach you? And what ſhould they make known to you, if not your ſelves? Shall not the Phyſicion have leave to tell you of your diſeaſes?
Verily Sirs, a ſinner under the curſe of the Law, unſanctified and unpardoned, is not in a ſtate to be jeaſted and dallied with, unleſs you can play in the flames of Hell? Its plain dealing that he needs. A quibbling …oyiſh, flaſhy Sermon is not the proper medicine for a lethargick miſerable ſoul, nor fit to Break a ſtony Heart, nor to bind up a Heart thats kindly broken. Heaven and Hell ſhould not be talkt of in a canting, juggling, or pedanick ſtrain. A Seneca can tell you that its a Phyſicion that is skilfull, and not one thats eloquent, that we need. If he have alſo fine and neat expreſſions, we will not deſpiſe them; nor overmuch value them: urendum, ſecandum; Its a cure that we need; and the means are beſt, be they never ſo ſharp, that will accompliſh it. Serious reverent Gravity beſt ſuiteth with matters of ſuch incomprehenſible concernment. You ſet not a School-b…y to make an Oration, to give an aſſaulted City an allarm, or to call men out to quench a common fire. You may play with words when the caſe will bear it: But as dropping of beads is too ludicrous for one that is praying to be ſaved from the flames of Hell; ſo a ſleepy, or a hiſtrionical ſtarched ſpeech, is too light and unlikely a means to call back a ſinner that is poſting to perdition; and muſt be humbled and renewed by the spirit, or be for ever damned. This is your caſe, Sirs: And do you think the playing of a part upon a ſtage doth fit your caſe. O no! ſo great a buſineſs requireth all the ſerious earneſtneſs in the ſpeaker that he can uſe. I am ſure you will think ſo ere long your ſelves; And you will then think well of the Preachers that faithfully acquainted you with your caſe: and (if they ſucceed to your perdition) you will curſe thoſe that ſmoothed you up in your preſumption, and hid your danger, by falſe doctrine, or miſapplication, or ſeeming to diſcover it, indeed did hide it, by an hypocritical light, not ſerious mention of it. God can make uſe of clay and ſpittle to open the eyes of men born blind; and of Ramshorns to bring down the walls of Jericho: But uſually he fitteth the means unto the end, and works on man agreeably to his Nature: And therefore if a blind underſtanding muſt be enlightned, you cannot expect that it ſhould be done by Squibs and Glowworms, but by bringing into your ſouls the powerfull celeſtial truth, which ſhall ſhew you the hidden corners of your hearts, and the hidden myſteries of the Goſpel, and the unſeen things of the other world. If a hardened heart be to be broken, it is not ſtroaking, but ſtriking that muſt do it. It is not the ſounding Braſs, the tinkling Cymbal, the carnal mind puft up with ſuperficial knowledge, that is the inſtrument fitted to the renewing of mens ſouls: But it is he that can acquaint you with what he himſelf hath been ſavingly acquainted: The heart is not melted into Godly ſorrow, nor raiſed to the life of Faith and Love, by the bubbles of a frothy wit, or by a game at words, or uſeleſs notions; but by the illuminating beams of Sacred Truth, and the attraction of Divine diſplayed Goodneſs communicated from a mind that by faith hath ſeen the Glory of God, and by experience found that he is Good, and that liveth in the Love of God: ſuch a one is fitted to aſſiſt you firſt in the knowledge of your ſelves, and then in the knowledge of God in Chriſt.
Did you conſider what is the office of the Miniſtry, you would ſoon know what Miniſters do moſt faithfully perform their office, and what kind of Teaching and overſight you ſhould deſire: And then you would be reconciled to the Light: and would chooſe the Teacher (could you have your choice) that would do moſt to help you to know your ſelves, and know the Lord.
I beſeech you judge of our work by our Commiſſion, and judge of it by your own Neceſſities. Have you more need to be acquainted with your ſin and danger? or to be pleaſed wich a ſet of hanſome words, which when they are ſaid, do leave you as they found you; and leave no Light and Life and heavenly Love upon your hearts: that have no ſubſtance that you can feed upon in the review?
And what our Commiſſion is you may find, in many places of the Scripture, Ezek. 3.18, 19, 20, 21. [When I ſay unto the Wicked, Thou ſhalt ſurely die; and thou giveſt him not warning, nor ſpeakeſt to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to ſave his life; the ſame wicked man ſhall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand: Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedneſs, nor from his wicked way, he ſhall die in his iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy ſoul: — And [If thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous ſin not, and he doth not ſin, he ſhall ſurely live, becauſe he is warned, alſo thou haſt delivered thy ſoul.]
And what if they diſtaſte our doctrine? muſt we forbear? Verſe 11. [Tell them, thus ſaith the Lord God, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.] So Ezek. 33.1. to 10.
You know what came of Jonah for refuſing to deliver Gods threatenings againſt Nineve.
Chriſts ſtewards muſt give to each his portion. He himſelf threatneth damnation to the impenitent, the Hypocrites, and unbelievers, Luke 13.3.5. Mark 16.16. Mat. 24.51. Paul ſaith of himſelf [If I yet pleaſed men, I ſhould not be the ſervant of Chriſt, Gal. 1.10. Patience and meekneſs is commanded to the Miniſters of Chriſt, even in the inſtructing of oppoſers; But to what end? but [that they may eſcape out of the ſnare of Devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.] So that with all our meekneſs we muſt be ſo plain with you, as to make you know that you are Satans captives, taken alive by him in his ſnares, till God by giving you Repentance ſhall recover you, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26.
The very effice of the Preachers ſent by Chriſt was [to open mens eyes, and turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remiſſion of ſins, and inheritance with the ſanctified by faith in Chriſt,] Acts 26.18. which telleth you, that we muſt let men underſtand, that till they are converted and ſanctified, they are blind, and in the dark, and in the power of Satan, far from God, unpardoned, and having no part in the inheritance of Saints.
Chriſt tells the Phariſees, that they were of their Father the Devil, when they boaſted that God was their Father, John 8.44. And how plainly he tels them of their hypocriſie, and asketh them how they can eſcape the damnation af Hell, you may ſee in Mat. 23.
Paul thought it his duty to tell Elymas, Acts 13.10. that he was full of all ſubtilty and miſchief, the child of the devil, and the enemy of all righteouſneſs, a perverter of the right wayes of the Lord. And Peter thought meet to tell Simon Magus, that he had neither part, nor lot in that matter; that his heart was not right in the ſight of God; that he was in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of iniquity, Acts 8.21.23.
The charge of Paul to Timothy is plain and urgent, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom, Preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort.] And to Titus chap. 1.13. Rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the faith.
Judge now whether Minſters muſt deal plainly or deceitfully with you: and whether it be the ſearching healing truth that they muſt bring you, or a ſmooth tale that hath no ſalt or ſavour in it: And would you have us break theſe Laws of God, for nothing but to deceive you, and tell you a …ie, and make the ungodly believe that he is godly: or to hide the truth that is neceſſary to your ſalvation? Is the Knowledge of your ſelves ſo intolerable a thing to you?
Beloved Hearers, either it is true that you are yet unſanctified, or it is not: If it be not, it is none of our deſire you ſhould think ſo: We do all that we can to cure the miſtakes of troubled Chriſtians, that think themſelves worſe then indeed they are. But if it be true, tell me, Why would you not know it? I hope it is not becauſe you would not be remembred of your wo, and ſo tormented before the time. I hope you think not that we delight to vex mens conſciences with fear; or to ſee men live in grief and trouble, rather then in well grounded peace and joy. And if indeed you are yet unregenerate, that is not long of us that tell you of it, but of your ſelves that wilfully continue it: Do we make you ungodly by telling you of your ungodlineſs? Is it we that hinder the forgiveneſs of your ſins, by letting you know that they are not forgiven? O no! We ſtrive for you… converſion to this end that your ſins may … forgiven you; and you hinder the forgi…neſs of them by refuſing to be be convette… When God forſaketh ſtubborn ſouls … reſiſting his grace, note how he expre…ſeth his ſeverity againſt them, Mark 4.1… ▪ That ſeeing they may ſee and not percei… and hearing they may hear and not under…ſtand, leſt at any time they ſhould be converted, and their ſins ſhould be forgiven them. You ſee here, that till they are converted mens ſins are not forgiven them. And tha… whoever procureth the forgiveneſs of the… ſins, muſt do it by procuring their Converſion: And that the hindring of their Converſion is the hindering of their forgiveneſs ▪ And that blindneſs of mind is the great hinderance of converſion: when men do no… perceive the very things which they ſee (not knowing the reaſon and the ſenſe and end of them, but the out-ſide only:) No… underſtand the things which they hear: And therefore undoubtedly the Teacher that brings you a Light into your minds, and firſt ſheweth you your ſelves, and your unconverted and your unpardoned ſtate, i… he that takes the way to your Converſion and forgiveneſs: As the fore-cited Text ſheweth you, Acts 18.26. [I ſend thee to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light (that they may firſt know themſelves, and then know God in Jeſus Chriſt) and from the power of Satan, (who ruled them as their Prince, and captivated them as their Jaylor) unto God (whom they had forſaken as a Guide and Governour, and were deprived of as their Protector, Portion and felicity;) that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins (which none receive but the converted) and an inheritance among them that are ſanctified (for Glory is the inheritance of the Saints alone, Col. 1.12.) (and all this) through faith that is in me (by believing in me, and giving up themſelves unto me, that by my Satisfaction, Merits, Teaching, Spirit, Interceſſion and Judgement, it may be accompliſhed.)
Truly Sirs, if we knew how to procure your converſion and forgiveneſs, without making you know that you are uncoverted & unpardoned, we would do it, & not trouble you needleſly with ſo ſad a diſcovery. Let that man be accounted a butcher of ſouls, & not a Phyſicion for them, that delighteth to torment them. Let him be accounted unworthy to be a Preacher of the Goſpel, that envieth you your peace and comfort. We would not have you think one jot worſe of your condition then it is. Know but the very truth ▪ what caſe you are in; and we deſire no more▪
And ſo far are we by this from drivin… you to Deſperation, that it is your Deſperation that we would prevent by it; which can no other way be prevented. When you are paſt Remedy, Deſperation cannot be avoided: And this is neceſſary to your Remedy: There is a conditional Deſpair, and an Abſolute Deſpair: The former is neceſſary to prevent the latter, and to bring you to a ſtate of Hope. A man that hath the toothache, may perhaps deſpair of being eaſed without drawing the tooth; or a man that hath a gangrened foot may deſpair of life, unleſs it be cut off: that ſo by the cure, he may not be left to an Abſolute deſpair of life. So you muſt deſpair of being pardoned or ſaved without converſion, that you may be converted, and ſo have hope of your ſalvation, and be ſaved from final abſolute deſpair. I hope you will not be offended with him, that would perſwade you to Deſpair of living unleſs you will eat and drink. You have no more reaſon to be offended with him that would have you deſpair of being pardoned or ſaved without Chriſt, or without his ſanctifying Spirit.