A Saint or a Brute, Part 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Holineſs is the only way of Safety.
I Have proved to you that Holineſs is beſt for Common wealths, and given you many General undenyable evidences, to prove that it is Beſt for all men in particular: I ſhall now come to the particular evidences, and ſhew you wherein it is that it is Beſt for all men.
There are three ſorts of Good that men have to look after. The firſt is the ſecurity of their Life and Being; the ſecond is their moral well-being; and the third is, their Natural well-being. This laſt alſo is divided into three branches, and conſiſteth in our Profit, our Honour, and our Pleaſure.
So that here are five ſeveral ſorts of Goodneſs to be conſidered of; and you will find that Holineſs is Beſt, beyond all compariſon, in each reſpect. 1. In reſpect of Safety. 2. In point of Honeſty. 3. In point of Gain. 4. In point of Honour. And, 5. In point of Pleaſure or Delight. If I prove not every one of theſe, then tell me, I promiſed more then I could perform: But if I do prove them, I look that you that Read it, ſhould promiſe preſently to come in to God, and a Holy life, and faithfully perform it.
1. And that HOLINESS IS THE SAFEST WAY, I prove thus. 1. That man is in a ſafer ſtate that is delivered from the power of Satan, then he that is in his bondage, and taken captive by him at his will. But all the unſanctified are in this captivity, and all the ſanctified are delivered out of it; as the Scripture moſt expreſly tells us, Epheſ. 2. 1, 2. 3 [And you hath be quickened, who were dead in treſpaſſes and ſins; wherein in time paſt ye walked according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the Power of the air, the Spirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience: among whom we alſo bad our converſation in times paſt, in the luſts of our fleſh, fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind, &c.] So 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. [In meekneſs inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if God eradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the Devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.] And Acts 26. 17, 18. [I ſend thee to open their eyes, and turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.] And Col. 1. 13. [Who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſs, and hath tranſlated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.] Satan is the Ruler and the Jaylor of the ungodly, that leadeth them to ſin, and ſo to deſtruction, and keepeth them for torments at the day of wrath. And is he ſafe that is in the Devils power? If he ſhould appear to thee, and lay hold of thee, thou wouldſt not think that thou were ſafe. But his poſſeſſion of thy ſoul is far more dangerous. Thou doſt not believe that thou art in his power: But thy blindneſs ſheweth it; and thy enmity to the way of Holineſs ſheweth it; and thy ungodly life doth fully ſhew it; and the Scripture affirmeth it of all ſuch: and what need there any further proof? But the ſanctified are all dilivered from this ſlavery; and though the Devil may rage againſt them, he ſhall not prevail.
2. Moreover, thoſe that are United to Jeſus Chriſt, and are become the living Members of his Body, are certainly ſafer then thoſe that are yet ſtrangers to him, and have no ſpecial intereſt in him: But all that are ſanctified are thus united to Chriſt, and made his members: and all the unſanctified have no part in him. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life, 1 John 5. 12. [John 15. 6, 7, 9, 10. If a man abide not in me, he is caſt forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and caſt them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye ſhall ask what ye will, and it ſhall be done unto you. As the Father hath loved me, ſo have I loved you; continue in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye ſhall abide in my love:] Yee are my friends if ye do whatſoever I command you, v. 14.] Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27, 29, 30. [Chriſt loved the Church and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctifie and …a… it, with the waſhing of water, by the word: that be might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing, but that it ſhould be holy and without blemiſh. No man ever hated his own fleſh, but nouriſheth and cheri, …ath it, even as the Lord the Church. For we are Members of his Body, of his fleſh, and of his bones.]
Judge by theſe paſſages whether the ſanctified are not ſafe. If the Love of Chriſt, and his Merits, and his Power cannot keep them ſafe, then nothing can. If the Saviour cannot ſave them, none can. Is not the very fleſh of Chriſt ſafe? are not the members of his Body ſafe? are not his friends, his ſpouſe and beloved ſafe? If Chriſt can ſave us, we are ſafe. For who can conquer him? Or who can take us out of his hands? John 10. 28. If he be for us, who ſhall be againſt us? and if he juſtifie us, who ſhall condemn us? Rom. 8. 33, 34, 35.
But is it ſo with the ungodly? No: they have no part nor l…t in this matter, but are in the gall of bitterneſs and bond of iniquity, becauſe their heart is not right in the ſight of God, Act. 8. 21, 23.
3. Moreover, he that hath eſcaped the Curſe of the Law, and hath his ſins forgiven him, and is juſtified from all things that could by the Law be charged on him, is ſafer then he that is under the Curſe, and hath all his ſins yet lying on his ſoul; But the firſt of theſe is certainly the caſe of the ſanctified, and the other of the unſanctified, Gal. 3. 10, 13. As many as are of the works of the Law are under the Curſe: for it is written, Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them.——Chriſt hath redeemed us from the curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us] Rom. 3. 23. For all have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God] And Mark 4. 12. ſhews, that the unconverted have not their ſins forgiven them.] Joh. 3. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already] And Act. 26. 18. To open their eyes, and turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and an inheritance among them that are ſanctified by faith that is in me.] Rom. 8. 1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, that walk not after the fleſh but after the spirit] Abundance more ſuch paſſages of holy Scripture do aſſure us that all the unſanctified are unpardoned, and all the ſanctified are Juſtified, and delivered from the Curſe. And which of theſe are in the ſafer ſtate?
Did one of you owe ten thouſand pounds more then he were worth, or had you committed twenty known ſelonies or murders, would you think your ſelves ſafe, without a pardon? Would you not be looking behind you, and afraid of allmoſt every man you ſee, leſt he came to apprehend you? O what a caſe is that man in that hath ſo many thouſands ſins to anſwer for? and hath ſuch a load of guilt upon his ſoul? and ſo many terrible threatnings of the Law in force againſt him? Do you not fear every hour, leſt death arreſt you, and bring you to the priſon of the bottomleſs pit? But the ſanctified is delivered from this danger. A thouſand ſins indeed were againſt us; but we have a pardon of them all to ſhew. In Chriſt we have Redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſs of ſins, Col. 1. 14. The law hath nothing now againſt us: and therefore we are ſafe.
4. Thoſe are ſafer that are dearly beloved of the Lord, and reconciled to him, and taken for his Children, then thoſe that are his Enemies, and hated by him, and under his diſpleaſure. But moſt Certainly the former is the ſtate of all the ſanctified, and the later is the ſtate of the ungodly.
You ſhall ſee both in the words of God. Pſal. 5. 4, 5. Thou art not a God that hath pleaſure in wickedneſs; neither ſhall evil dwell with thee; The fooliſh ſhall not ſtand in thy ſight: thou hateſt all the workers of iniquity.] Pſal. 7. 10, 11. My Defence is of God which ſaveth the upright in heart: God judgeth the Righteous; and God is angry with the wicked every day.] Pſal. 45. 7. Thou loveſt righteouſneſs, and hateſt wickedneſs.] Luk. 19. 27. Thoſe mine enemies that would not I ſhould raign over them, bring them hither, and ſtay them before me.] Epheſ. 2. 3. We were by nature the children of wrath.] A hundred more ſuch places, ſhew you the ſtate of the unſanctified.
But how different is the caſe of the renewed upright ſoul? 2 Cor. 6. 16, 17, 18. [Yee are the Temple of the living God: as God hath ſaid I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my ſons and daughters ſaith the Lord Almighty. Job. 1. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the ſons of God.] Rom. 8. 16, 17. The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our ſpirit, that we are the children of God: And if Children then heirs, heirs of God, and joynt heirs with Chriſt] Mal. 3. 17. And they ſhall be mine ſaith the Lord of hoſts in that day when I make up my Jewels; and I will spare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon that ſerveth him.] Heb. 8. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteouſneſs, and their ſins and their iniquities will I remember no more.] Col. 1. 21, 22. [And you that were ſometime alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his fleſh through death, to preſent you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his ſight.] Pſal. 32. 1, 2. Bleſſed is he whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, whoſe ſin is covered; bleſſed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile.] Zech. 2. 8. He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye.]
Judge now by theſe plain expreſſions form the Lord, who it is that is in the ſafer ſtate, the godly or the ungodly. Is he the ſafer that is hated by the God of heaven, or he that is moſt dearly loved by him? He that is under his diſpleaſure, or he that is his delight? Why man! if God be againſt thee, thou art no where ſafe? not in the ſtrongeſt Caſtle! not in the greateſt Army! not in the higheſt dignity! not in the merryeſt company! Thou knoweſt not but a Commiſſion is gone out for death to ſtrike thee in thy next recreation, or fit of mirth? How knoweſt thou but death is ready to ſtrike, while thou art eating, or drinking, or talking, or ſleeping? Thou haſt no ſecurity from an angry God. Till he be reconciled, thou art nowhere ſafe! This may be thy fatal day or night for ought thou knoweſt. And if once the mortal blow be ſtruck, and thy ſoul be taken from thy body unrenewed, O man, where then wilt thou appear! O wonderful ſtupidity! that thou doſt not eat thy bread in fear, and do thy work in fear, and ſleep in fear, and live in fear, till thou be ſanctified!
But to the ſoul that hath God for his ſecurity, what can be dangerous? or what condition (while he keeps cloſe to God) can be unſafe? The Father that gave us unto Chriſt, is greater then all, and no man can take us out of his hands, Joh. 10. 28, 29. Conquer Heaven, and conquer the Saints! There is their City, their garriſon, their converſation, Phil. 1. 20. Heb. 11. 10, 16. what enemy, what policie, what power can endanger him, that God will ſave and hath undertaken for? We were never ſafe one day or hour, till we were friends with God. [Deut. 33. 27. The Eternel God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlaſting arms.] Pſal. 46. 1, 2, 5, 7. God is our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent hel… in trouble: therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carryed into the midſt of the ſea—God is in the midſt of her, ſhe ſhall not be moved: God ſhall help her, and that right early—The Lord of hoſts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge] Pſal. 91. 1, 2, He that dwelleth in the ſecret place of the moſt high, ſhall abide under the ſhaddow of the Almighty. I will ſay of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortreſs; my God, in him will I truſt.] This is the confidence, and joy and glory of the Saints, Pſal. 59. 16, 17. I will ſing of thy Power, yea I will ſing aloud of thy mercies in the morning, for thou haſt been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble: Unto thee O my ſtrength will I ſing: for my God is my defence, and the God of my merciemercy.] Pſal. 89. 26. Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my Salvation.] See Pſal. 27. 5. & 61. 2. & 62. 2, 6, 7. & 94 22. Prov. 18. 10. The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong tower: the righteous run into it and are ſafe.] Prov. 21. 31. ſafety is of the Lord] Pſal. 4. 8. Quietly may we repoſe our ſelves to reſt, for it is the Lord only that maketh us dwell in ſafety.] But is it thus with the ungodly man! O no: when they ſay Peace and ſafety to themſelves, ſuddenly deſtruction cometh upon them as travel upon a woman with child, and they ſhall not eſcape, 1 Theſ. 5. 3. [For their Rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themſelves being judges] Deut. 32. 31. Why elſe do they deſire in times of danger that they were in the caſe of the Servants of the Lord? If they thought themſelves as ſafe as the Regenerate, why do they wiſh at the hour of death, that they might but die the death of the Righteous, and their later end might be as his? Numb. 23. 10.
5. Moreover, he is certainly more ſafe, that is an heir of the promiſes, and hath the word of God engaged for his ſafety, then he that hath no promiſe from God at all. nor any ſuch ſecurity to ſhew: But all the faithful have intereſt in the promiſes; in which the ungodly have no ſhare. Surely he is ſafe to whom the Lord hath promiſed ſafety. O what a precious treaſure might I here open, to ſhew you the ſafety of true believers? I will cull out but a few of the Promiſes for a taſt. Prov. 1. 32, 33. [The turning away of the ſimple ſhall ſlay them, and the proſperity of fo…s ſhall deſtroy them. But who ſo hearkenneth unto me, ſhall awell ſafely, and ſhall be quiet from fear of evil.] Prov. 29. 25. Who ſo putteth his truſt in the Lord ſhall be ſafe.] Prov. 3. 21, 22, 23. My Son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep ſound wiſdom and diſcretion; ſo ſhall they be life unto thy ſoul and grace unto thy neck: then ſhalt thou walk in thy way ſafely, and thy foot ſhall not ſtumble. When thou lyeſt down, thou ſhalt not be afraid: yea, thou ſhalt lie down, and thy ſleep ſhall be ſweet: Be not afraid of ſudden fear, neither of the deſolation of the wicked when it cometh. For the Lord ſhall be thy confidence, and ſhall keep thy foot from being taken.] Deut. 33. 12. [The beloved of the Lord ſhall dwell in ſafety by him, the Lord ſhall cover him all the day long, and he ſhall dwell between his ſhoulders.] Pſalm 55. 22. Caſt thy burden on the Lord, and he ſhall ſuſtain thee: he ſhall never ſuffer the righteous to be moved.] Pſalm 14. 5. God is in the generation of the righteous.] Pſalm 34. 15, 17, 19, 20. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their trouble. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of all. He keepeth all his bones—Evil ſhall ſlay the wicked, and they that hate the righteous ſhall be deſolate,] Pſal. 37. 28. For the Lord loveth judgement, and forſaketh not his Saints, they are preſerved for ever: but the ſeed of the wicked ſhall be cut off.] Ver. 37, 39, 40. [Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace: But the tranſgreſſors ſhall be deſtroyed together: the End of the wicked ſhall be cut off: But the ſalvation of the Righteous is of the Lord, he is their ſtrength in the time of trouble: And the Lord ſhall help them and deliver them from the wicked, and ſave them, becauſe they truſt in him.] Pſalm 73. 26. [My fleſh and my heart faileth: but God is the ſtrength of my heart, and my portion for ever.] Iſa. 49. 15. [Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the Son of her womb? Yea, they may forget: yet will not I forget thee] He hath ſaid, I will not fail thee nor forſake thee, Heb. 13. 5. Matth. 6. 25. Take no thought for your life, what ye ſhall eat, or what ye ſhall drink. &c.] Matth. 10. 28, 30, 31. Fear not them which kill the Body, and are not able to kill the ſoul—The very hairs of your head are all numbred] Iſa. 41. 10. [Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not diſmayed, for I am thy God: I will ſtrengthen thee: Yea, I will help thee: yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteouſneſs] See ver. 13, 14. Iſa. 43. 1, 2. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee: I have called thee by thy name: thou art mine. When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt through the fire thou ſhalt not be burnt, &c.] The Lord preſerveth the way of his Saints, Prov. 2. 8.] Pſalm 31. 23. [O Love the Lord all ye his Saints: for the Lord preſerveth the faithfull] Pſal. 97. 10. he preſerveth the ſouls of his Saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked] Pſalm 145. 18, 19, 20. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth: He will fulfill the deſires of them that fear him: he alſo will hear their cry, and will ſave them. The Lord preſerveth all them that Love him: but all the wicked will he deſtroy.] Prov. 20. 22. [Say not, I will recompence evil: but wait on the Lord, and he will ſave thee.] Heb. 10. 23. He is faithfull that hath promiſed.]
I hope the believer will not be weary to read over all theſe precious promiſes, which are his ſecurity from God, for ſoul and body. I ſumm up all in that one, 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godlineſs is profitable to all things, having promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.] Judge whether Godlineſs be the ſafeſt ſtate. Can a man of ſo many promiſes be unſafe? But inſtead of theſe the ungodly are threatned with everlaſting vengeance.
6. He is ſafer that hath continually a guard of Angels, as certainly all the faithful have, then he that hath none, but is a priſoner of the devil, as the ungodly are.
Hear the Scriptures, Pſalm 34. 7. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.] Pſalm 91. 11, 12. He ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy wayes: They ſhall bear thee up in their hands leſt thou daſh thy foot againſt a ſtone.] Matth. 18, 10. [Take heed that ye deſpiſe not one of theſe little ones: for I ſay unto you duplicate page duplicate page that in heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.] Heb. 1. 14. [Are they not all miniſtring ſpirits ſent forth to Miniſter for them who ſhall be heirs of ſalvation? And have the wicked any ſuch attendance for their ſecurity? No: but a fearful captivity to the Devil.
7 Laſtly, that is the ſafeſt ſtate where a man is ſafe from the Greateſt Evil. Everlaſting miſery is the great evil, which the Godly are initially ſaved from: They are lyable to afflictions as well as others; but not to Damnation, and therefore they are ſafe. They muſt be ſick and die as well as others: but they ſhall eſcape Eternal death. Yea, they are already paſſed from death to life, 1 John 3. 14. and have Eternal life begun within them, John 17. 3. He that hath the Son hath life: 1 John 5. 12. [John 5. 22. Verily, verily I ſay unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath everlaſting life, and ſhall not come into condemnation, but is paſſed from death unto life.] ver. 28, 29. Marvail not at this: for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves ſhall hear his voice, and ſhall come forth; they that have done good to the Reſurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the Reſurrection of damnation.] Pſalm 1. 4, 5, 6. The ungodly are not ſo; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away: therefore the ungodly ſhall not ſtand in the Judgement, nor ſinners in the Congregation of the righteous: For the Lord knoweth the way of the Righteous; but the way of the ungodly ſhall periſh.]
If yet you are unreſolved whether Godlineſs be the only way of ſafety, I dare ſay it is becauſe you believe not the holy Scriptures. For there the doubt is as fully decided as any one in all the world. O how bleſſed is the ſtate of the pooreſt moſt afflicted Saint, that may alway ſay, My ſoul is ſafe! If my health, or wealth, or friends be gone; yet am I ſafe from everlaſting miſery. Other things I ſhall have as God ſeeth beſt for his honour and my ſpiritual good: but ſalvation I may be ſure of, if I abide in Chriſt.] What needs he fear, that hath eſcaped Hell! But O the dreadful caſe of the ungodly! that are paſſing to damnation when they never think of it! Their Bodies may be ſtrong, their riches great, and they may fare ſumptuouſly every day, Luke 16. 19. But O what a caſe are their poor ſouls in! and where will they be when this mirth is ended! Luke 16. 25. They are not ſafe from Hell one hour.