The Crown and Glory of Christianity, Uses · Application 1
Firſt, That the number of thoſe that ſhall be eternally happy, the number of thoſe that ſhall attain to a bleſſed viſion and glorious fruition of God in heaven are very few: for there are but a few that reach to this holineſſe without which there is no happineſſe, Rev. 3.4. Thou haſt a few names, A few names, that is, a few perſons, …cts 1.15. who are all known to Chriſt by name; as he ſaid to Moſes, I know thee by name, Ex. 33 12, 17. by theſe Scriptures it is evident that few ſhall be ſaved, Jer. 5.1. Ezek. 22.30. Ch. 9.4, 6, 7. Mich. 1.13. Luke 23. Rom. 9.21. Matth. 22.14. 1 Cor. 1.20.even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments, and they ſhall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. Among the many in Sardis there were but a few that had holy inſides and pure outſides: Among the multitude that made a holy profeſſion, there were but few that walkt anſwerable to their holy calling: and therefore but a few that ſhould walk with Chriſt in white. White in antient times was the Habit of Nobles: to walk with Chriſt in white, is to partake with Chriſt in his glory, they and only they at laſt ſhall be cloathed nobly, royally, gloriouſly, who maintain inward and outward purity. The holy ſeed is a little little flock, Luke 12.32. here are two Diminitives in the Greek foreign little little flock; to ſhew the exceeding littleneſs of it. They were little in their own eyes, and little in their enemies eyes, and little in regard of that world of Wolves among whom they were preſerved as a ſpark of fire in the midſt of the wide Ocean. When the Syrians came up againſt Iſrael in the time of Ahab, it is ſaid that the children of Iſrael pitched before them like two little flocks of Kids, but the Syrians filled the countrey, 1 Kings 20.27. holy ſouls are but like two little flocks of kids; but the unholy fill the world: Gracious ſouls are like the three hundred men of Gideon: but graceleſs ſouls are as the Midianites that were like Graſhoppers for multitude, Judges 7.7.12. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there be that find it, Matth. 7.14. The way of holineſs that leads to happineſs, is a narrow way; there is but juſt room enough for a holy God and a holy ſoul to walk together. And few there be that find it; And no wonder: for there are but few that minds it, that loves it, that likes it, or that enquires after it. The whole world lies in wickedneſs, 1 Joh. 5.19. and will die in their wickedneſs,Amongſt the millions in Rome, there are but a few Senators, and they too none of the beſt. John 8.21. Geographers ſay, that if all the known parts of the world were divided into one and thirty parts, there will be found but five parts that do ſo much as profeſs the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; For at this day nineteen parts of the world are poſſeſt by unholy Turks and Jews, which do not, nor will not ſo much as acknowledge Jeſus Chriſt to be the King and Head of his Church. And ſeven parts of the world is poſſeſt this day meerly by Heathens who worſhip ſtocks and ſtones. And of thoſe five parts that are poſſeſt by Chriſtians, how many are Papiſts, Atheiſts, Hypocrites, Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, Adulterers, Idolaters, Oppreſſors? How many are proud, covetous, carnal, formal, lukewarm, indifferent, &c! Now ſhould all theſe ſorts of ſinners be ſeparated (as they ſhall in the great day) from thoſe that are gracious and holy, would it not quickly appear, that the flock of Chriſt is a little little flock! Ah how few among the great ones are found to be gracious! How few among the rich are found to be rich in Chriſt, rich in grace, rich in good works!1 Cor. 1.16. 1 Tim. 6.16, 17. Flavus Vopiſcus. Lipſ. de Conſtantia, lib. 2. cap. 25. how few among thoſe that are high born, can you find that are new born? It was the ſaying of One, that all the names of good Emperours might be engraven in a little Ring. And ſo ſaith Lipſius, that the names of all good Princes may eaſily be written in a ſmall Ring. I have read of godly Mr. Buchanan that was King James his Tutor, who lying upon his dying bed, deſired a Noble man then with him to tell the King, that his old Maſter Buchanan was going to a place where few Kings come. (Kings are as rare meat in heaven, as veniſon is in poor mens kitchins, ſaith the Dutch Proverb.) And how few among the wiſe can you find that are wiſe for heaven, that are wiſe for their ſouls, that are wiſe for eternity. And how few among the learned, can you find that have learned Chriſt, and learned their own hearts, and learned to deny themſelves, and learned to ſave their own ſouls and others! By all which it is moſt evident that few are holy, and that few ſhall be happy. But,
Secondly, and more particularly, Is it ſo that real holineſs is the only way to happineſs: and that without holineſs here no man ſhall ever come to a bleſſed viſion or fruition of God hereafter? Then this may ſerve to convince ſeveral ſorts of perſons of their wofull and miſerable conditions. As,
Firſt, All prophane perſons who give up themſelves to wickedneſs,Job 21.14. 2 Pet. 2.20. ult. Iſa. 66.3. Epheſ. 4.19. Iſaiah 5.19. Ierem. 9.5. who wallow in all ungodlineſs, and delight themſelves in all manner of filthineſs, who commit wickedneſs with greedineſs; who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and ſin as it were with a cart-rope; who weary themſelves to commit iniquity; who are ſo deſperately ſet upon wickedneſs, that neither the rod of God, the laſhes and checks of their own conſciences, nor the flaſhes of hell upon their ſouls can reduce them, who are reſolved that they will gratifie their luſts, though they damn their ſouls; and who will live wickedly, though they periſh eternally: Who by cuſtom in ſin, have deſtroyed all conſcience of ſin, and contracted ſuch deſperate hardneſs upon their own hearts, as neither ſmiles nor frowns, promiſes, nor threatnings, life nor death, heaven nor hell, miniſtery nor miſery, miracle nor mercy can poſſibly mollifie them; theſe are grown from naught, to be very naught; from very naught, to be ſtark naught; theſe ſouls are ſadly left of God, and wofully blinded by Satan, and fully ripened for ruine. Now if without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord, what will become of all prophane wretches, who are ſo far from being holy, that they fall ſhort of common honeſty? Certainly God will ſhut the gates of glory upon ſuch workers of iniquity. Such prophane Eſaus ſhall never be bleſt with a ſight of God in glory.Matth. 7.22. A wicked man is a ſin lover; he is a ſin maker, he lives in ſin upon choice;Pſalm 11.5. 1 John 3.8. the Hebrew word that is commonly uſed for a wicked man foreign properly ſignifies a laborious ſinner, a practitioner in ſin; now ſuch as theſe are, God will have nothing to do with, Job 8.20. Behold God will not caſt away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers, or rather as the Hebrew carries it, he will not take the ungodly by the hand: that is, he will not have any fellowſhip, any ſociety, any familiarity with the ungodly: the holy God will not ſo much as take an ununholy ſoul by the hand; he will not in the leaſt countenance him nor reſpect him; he will not welcome him nor entertain him, nor ſhew the leaſt favour to him. Now certainly if God will not take the wicked by the hand, he will never take them into heaven, he will never take them into his boſome. God will have no commerce nor communion with thoſe to whom he will not ſo much as lend a hand. God will waſh his hands of them for ever, to whom he will not give a hand. Which made Auſtin ſay, that he would not be a wicked man one half hour for all the world, becauſe he might die in that half hour. God will waſh his hands of every man that lives and dies a wicked man, Mat 25.11.12. The hearts and ways of wicked menare full of hells: and therefore to fill heaven with ſuch, would be to fill heaven with hells.
Secondly, This truth may ſerve to convince thoſe that are ſcoffers and mockers at holineſs of their wofull and miſerable eſtate. Holineſs is ſo high, and ſo noble a thing,2 Pet. 3.3. Jude 18. that men ſhould rather honour it, then deride it; reverence it, then reproach it: they ſhould rather ſet a crown of glory, then a crown of thorns upon the head of it. Holineſs is the glorious Image of God fairly ſtampt upon the foul; and to deride holineſs, is to deride God himſelf: God takes all the affronts that are done to his Image: as done to himſelf: and this ſcoffers ſhall know at laſt to their eternal wo.As Suetonius reports it was. If it was ſuch a hainous crime in Tiberius his dayes to carry the Image of Auguſtus upon a Ring or Coin into any ſordid place; Ah how hainous a crime is it then to caſt dirt and filth, ſcorn and reproach upun holineſs, which is the Image of the inviſible God! The deſpite and contempt that is done to the Image or coin of a Prince is done to the Prince himſelf; and accordingly he will revenge it. In old Rome there were near as many Statues as there were living people; and ſome were made of Gold, ſome of Silver, ſome of Braſs, ſome of Ivory, and ſome of poliſhed Marble: And there was an Earl appointed whoſe office it was continually to walk up and down in the night attended with many ſouldiers to ſee that none did wrong the Statues of thoſe that were ſet up in the City,Lipſius de Mag. Rom. Imperii. and if any ſuch were found that had done wrong to any of the Statues, they were put to death. Holineſs is the Statue of God, and ſuch as ſhall dare to deface it and wrong it, God will deſtroy:Gen. 9 22.25. Ch 21.9.15. The Apoſtle interprets Iſmaels mocking to be perſecution. Gal. 4, 27. 2 Kings 2.23, 24. 2 Chr. 30.10. Ch. 36.15.21. 2 Kings 19.20. ult. The old world ſcofft and ſcornd at righteouſneſs, and God ſweeps them away with a flood. Cham mock't and ſcoff't at Righteous Noah; and what did he get by it, but a curſe? Iſmael ſcoff't at holy Iſaac; and what did he get by his ſcoffing and mocking but ejection out of Abrahams family? And what became of thoſe two and forty young ſcoffers that ſcoffed and mocked at holy Eliſha? were they not curſed in the name of the Lord, and torn in pieces by two She bears, which were more fierce and cruel then others? The Jews were much given up to ſcoffing and mocking of the meſſengers of the Lord, till there was no remedy: till old and young were deſtroyed by the ſword of the Caldees: till their Temple and City were fired and ſacked, and thirty of them ſold for a penny: &c. and thoſe that eſcaped the ſword, were captivated and enſlaved. Senacherib ſcoffed and mocked at the Virgin d…ughter of Sion, but his ſcoffs iſſued in the deſtruction of his Army by the hand of an Angel; and in his own, by the hands of his two Sons. Julian the Emperour was a great mocker and ſcoffer at the Chriſtians, but God ſtruck him with an Arrow from heaven, which made him cry out Viciſti Galilee, thou Galilean (meaning our Lord Jeſus) haſt overcome me. Felix for one malicious ſcoff did nothing day and night but vomit blood till his unhappy ſoul was ſeparated from his wretched body. Lucian for barking againſt religion as a dog, was by the juſt judgements of God devoured of dogs. Hiſtory tells us of ſome ſcoffers that God hath ſtricken with madneſs: Others with blindneſs: others with loathſome diſeaſes: and ſome God hath ſtricken dead: and others he hath left to be their own Executioners. Scoffing at holineſs is a Metropolitan ſin; and therefore no wonder if God executes upon ſcoffers Metropolitan judgements. Mockers and ſcoffers are the worſt of ſinners. Among the three ſorts of ſinners that David mentions, Scorners have the chair. The chair of Peſtilence, as the Septuagint tranſlateth it. Scorners are the peſts of mankind.Pſalm 1.1. In Cathedra peſt lentiae. The eye of the Scorner is blinded; the heart of the ſcorner is hardned; the judgement of the ſcorner is perverted: the will of the ſcorner is enthralled: and the conſcience of the ſcorner is ſeared, and this makes the ſcorner fall mad upon ſcoffing at holy men and holy things. Look as they are the worſt of ſervants that will ſcoff and mock a child in the family, becauſe he is his Fathers picture (though they take wages of his Father, and live by his Father) ſo they are the worſt of ſinners who ſcoff at holineſs which is the very picture of God, though they live by him, and cannot live without him: Yet this world is full of ſuch monſters who count it a grace to diſgrace holineſs, and to lade holy ones with all the names of ſcorn and contempt that they can invent, or that Satan can help them to: Theſe are your holy brethren, theſe are Phanaticks, theſe are your holy Sect, theſe are your pure ſouls, theſe are your ſtrict Precifians, theſe are the Saints forſooth, theſe are the brotherhood! Eraſmus ſaith, that that Proverb, A young Saint, and an old devil, was deviſed by the Devil himſelf to ſcoff and mock men out of their holineſs. It hath been the common portion of men moſt eminent in grace and holineſs, to be moſt ſcofft and ſcorned in all Ages:Iob 17.2. Nehem. 4.1. Iſaiah 28.22. Luke 18.32. witneſs Noah, Iſaac and Eliſha but now cited: and witneſs Job, Chap. 21.3. Suffer me that I may ſpeak, and after that I have ſpoken mock on. Chap. 12.4. I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he anſwereth him: the juſt upright man is laughed to ſcorn. So David, Pſalm 35.16. With hypocritical mockers in feaſts, they gnaſhed upon me with their teeth, Pſalm 44.14. Thou makeſt us a by-word among the Heathen. Pſalm 79.4. We are become a reproach, and deriſion to them who are round about us. Pſalm 109.25. I am become a reproach to them; when they looked upon me, they ſhaked their heads. So Iſa. 8.18. Behold I and the children that the Lord hath given me, are for ſigns, and for wonders in Iſrael. So Jeremiah, Chap. 20.7. I am in deriſion daily, every one mocketh me. So Paul, Acts 17.18. What will this babler ſay? So the Apoſtles, Acts 2.13. Others mocking, ſaid, Theſe men are full of new wine. So thoſe Worthies of whom this world was not worthy, Heb. 11.36.Mat. 26.68. Ch. 27 29, 31. Luke 22 63. Chap. 23.11. Mark 15 31. Yea, the Philoſophers called Chriſt a Magician, and affirmed that he did all by Necromancy. Calv. Jnſt. Adverſ. Libert. c. 9. Others had tryal of cruel mockings. But above all, how ſadly, how frequently, yea, how fearfully was our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſcoffed and ſcorned by Herod and Pilate, and flouted by the raſcally ſouldiers? but the vengeance of his Father overtook them all. And in the Primitive times as Tertullian obſerves, the Saints were called, heards of Aſſes, vile fellows, the Diſciples of a man crucified: Galileans, Nazarites; Eaters of mens fleſh, and drinkers of mens blood. The Heathens (as the ſame Author obſerves) painted the God of the Chriſtians with an Aſſes head, and a book in his hand; to ſignifie that though the Chriſtians pretended to knowledge, yet they were a company of ſilly ignorant Aſſes. The Libertines of old have caſt much ſcorn and contempt upon all the Apoſtles: they call Matthew an Uſurer,Lam 3.45. 1 Cor. 4 45. Lam 2.15, 16. Ch. 4 2. vide. Peter an Apoſtate, Luke a pelting Phyſitian, Paul a broken veſſel, and John a fooliſh young man, &c. by way of ſcorn and contempt: Athanaſius was called Sathanaſius, and Cyprian was called Coprian, one that gathers up dung: and ſo Luther, Calvin, and almoſt every one that hath attained to any eminency in holineſs, they have been commonly accounted as the off-ſcouring and refuſe among the people. Now certainly, if holineſs be the only way to happineſs, &c. then ſuch as are ſcorners and ſcoffers at holineſs; are out of the very way to happineſs: and how ſuch are like to come to heaven, that ſcorn the very path that leads to heaven, I ſhall leave you to judge. If the Ravens of the valley ſhall pick out his eyes that mocketh his Father, and the young Eagles eat out his eyes that deſpiſeth the inſtruction of his Mother,Prov. 30.17. The firſt thing that Eagles do when they have found a carkaſs, is to pick out its eyes. (as Solomon ſpeaks) then of how much ſorer puniſhment are they guilty off, who mock and ſcoff at holineſs which is the very Image, picture and glory of God himſelf! holineſs is ſo near akin to God, that no man can deride holineſs, but he derides God himſelf. As he that mocks the poor, derides him that made him, Prov. 17.5. ſo he that mocks holy ones, derides that God that made them holy. And will God take this at the ſcorners hands? no, he will retaliate: he loves to retaliate ſcorn upon the ſcorner, Proverbs 3.34. Surely he ſcorneth the ſcorners: God will pay home ſcorners in their own coyn, ſcorners ſhall be ſure to have ſcorning enough.Prov. 1.24. ult. Pſalm 2.4. Iſa. 37.36. God ſo ſcorns the perſons and prayers of ſcorners, that he will have nothing to do with them. The Angels ſo ſcorn ſcorners, that inſtead of being a life-guard to them; they ſtand ready preſt to execute the vengeance of heaven upon them. And Saints are ſo far to ſcorn them (by a divine precept) as not to reprove them, Prov. 9.8. Reprove not a ſcorner leſt he hate thee. Yea, God in his juſt judgements will make ſcorners to be an abomination to all ſorts of men, Prov. 24.9. The ſcorner is an abomination to men; that is, to all ſorts of men: the ſcorner is an abomination not only to holy men, but alſo to all ingenious men, and to all civil and moral honeſt men. As the ſcorners tongue and hand is againſt every man, ſo every mans tongue and hand ſhall be againſt him. Now if the ſcorners of men be abominable to men, then much more are the ſcorners of holineſs abominable to God: and therefore certainly, ſuch ſhall be ſhut out from a glorious fruition of God.
Thirdly, If real holineſs be the only way to happineſs, and that if men be not holy on earth, they ſhall never come to a bleſſed viſion or fruition of God in heaven: Then by way of conviction, this looks ſowerly and ſadly upon all Formaliſts who have only a form, a ſhew, a profeſſion of holineſs, but have nothing of the reality, ſpirit, life, or power of holineſs in them. 2 Tim. 3.5.Iſa. 58.1.2, 3. Zach. 7.4.5, 6. Having a form of godlineſs, but denying the power thereof, from ſuch turn away. They have (foreign) a face, a vizard, a mask, a ſhew of godlineſs, but they have nothing of the pith, ſap, life, or marrow of godlineſs: their devotion, their godlineſs lies in good words, and in fair ſhews, and in religious geſtures; if you hearken to their voice, if you look upon their eyes, if you obſerve the motion of their hands, and the bowing of their knees, and the ſhaking of their heads, &c. you would think that they were men of much religion, of much godlineſs. But if you look into their hearts and lives, you will find them to be the greateſt renouncers and denyers of Religion and godlilineſs in the world. They have the ſemblance of golineſs, but not the ſubſtance; they have the lineaments of godlineſs, but not the life: they have the face of godlineſs, but not the heart: they have the form, the ſhadow of godlineſs, but not the power. They are like a well drawn picture which hath all the lineaments of a man, but wants life, wants a principle of motion and operation. Mark 1.A form of godlineſs is Englands Epidemical diſeaſe. The form of godlineſs is common, but the power of godlineſs is rare. 2. The form of godlineſs is cheap, but the power of godlineſs is dear. 3. The form of godlineſs is eaſie, but the power of godlineſs is difficult. 4. The form of godlineſs is a credit, but the power of godlineſs is a reproach. 5. The form of godlineſs is pleaſurable and delightfull, but the power of godlineſs is diſpleaſing and undelightful (to the ignoble part of a Chriſtian.) 6. The form of godlineſs will ſtand with ſecret and with open wickedneſſe (as you ſee in Saul, 1 Peter 1.17. Jer. 44.17.Jehu, Judas, Simon Magus, Demas, and the Scribes and Phariſees) but the power of godlineſs will not; the power of godlineſs layes the Ax to the very root of all ſin, both ſecret and open. Rachel was very fair and beautifull to the eye, but ſhe was barren, and that marred all. So the Formaliſt, he is a very fair and beautifull Chriſtian to the eye, but he is barren God-wards, and Chriſt-wards, and Heaven-wards: he is fruitleſs, ſapleſs, and lifeleſs, and that marrs all. The Formaliſt takes up a form of godlineſs, 1. To quiet his conſcience: 2. To get himſelf a name. 3. To cloak over his ſins. 4. To advance his worldly intereſt: and 5. To avoid oppoſition and perſecution from the world, the fleſh, and the Devil. 6. And to conform to old cuſtoms. And what ſhould ſuch Formaliſts do in heaven? A formal Chriſtian is but a figure, a flaunt, a flouriſh, a flaſh; and all he doth, is but the ſhadow of what he ſhould do. A formaliſt is more light then life, more notion then motion, more head then heart, more outſide then inſide, more leaves then fruit, more ſhadow then ſubſtance. A formaliſt is a blazing Comet, a painted Tomb, a Stage-player, a white devil, or a devil in an Angels habit, and what ſhould ſuch devils do in heaven? Certainly, if without real holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord; then the formaliſt (that hath only the ſhape, the ſhew, the form of godlineſs, but nothing of the reality and power of it) ſhall never be bleſt with ſuch a ſight: A formaliſt is neither hot nor cold; of all ſorts of ſinners he is the worſt, and God ſo loaths him, that he is reſolved he will rid his ſtomack of him, Rev. 3.16. I will ſpue thee out of my mouth: and certainly, heaven is too holy a place to lick up that gorge God hath caſt up. Lukewarm water cannot be ſo loathſome to our ſtomacks, as a formaliſt is to Gods. God is never at ſuch eaſe, as when he hath caſt up, and caſt out the formal Chriſtian.Magdenburge Cent. 5. I have read of Anaſtaſius the Emperour, how God ſhot him to death with a thunder-bolt becauſe of his lukewarmneſs and formality. God hath a thunder-boult for every formaliſt, by which he will at laſt certainly ſtrike them down to the loweſt hell: A formaliſt is too loathſome a thing, too heavy a burden for heaven to bear.
Fourthly, If real holineſs be the only way to happineſs: if men muſt be holy on earth, or elſe they ſhall never ſee the face of God in heaven: Then this truth by way of conviction looks ſowerly and ſadly upon all thoſe who pleaſe and ſatisfie themſelves with civility and common honeſty: who are good negative Chriſtians, who bleſs themſelves that they are no ſwearers, nor drunkards,Luke 18.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Mat. 5.21. Chap. 19.20, 21, 22. nor extortioners, nor adulterers, &c. they pay every man his own, they are juſt and righteous in their dealings; no man can ſay black is their eye; their carriage is civil, comely, harmleſs and blameleſſe. They make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, Gal. 6.12. or as the Greek hath it, they ſet a good face on it. But as good a face as they do ſet on it, I muſt crave leave to tell them that civility is not ſanctity; civility reſted in, is but a beautifull abomination, a ſmooth way to hell and deſtruction. I may truly ſay of all civil men (who are diſſtitute of that real holineſs that leads to happineſs) what Eraſmus ſaid of Seneca, If you look upon him as a heathen, then he ſeemeth to write as if he were a Chriſtian; but if you look upon him as a Chriſtian, then he ſeemeth to write as a heathen. So if you look upon many civil moral mens lives, you will find them ſo full of ingenuity, equity, righteouſneſs, ſweetneſs and juſtice, that you will be ready to ſay, Sure theſe are holy men. But then do but obſerve how unacquainted they are with God, with Chriſt, with the Scripture, with the way and working of the ſpirit, with the filthineſs of ſin, with the depths and devices of Satan, with their own hearts, with the newbirth, and with the great concernments of eternity, and you will judge them to be meer heathens, to be men void of all principles of grace and holineſs; and to be meer ſtrangers to union and communion with Chriſt, and to the more ſecret and inward operations and workings of the ſpirit of Chriſt, and to the moſt ſpiritual duties and ſervices that are commanded by Chriſt. Civility is very often the nurſe of impiety,Mat. 5.19, 20, Acts 7.54. Chap. 13.50. Ch. 17.17, 18. Romans 8.7. the mother of flattery, and an enemy to real ſanctity: a high conceit of civility keeps many a man from looking after inward and outward purity: moral honeſty proves to many men a bond of iniquity. There are thoſe who are ſo blinded with the fair ſhews of civility, that they can neither ſee the neceſſity, nor beauty of ſanctity: there are thoſe that now bleſs themſelves in their common honeſty, whom at laſt God will ſcorn and caſt off for want of real holineſs and purity.Matth. 25.3.11, 12. As Ariſtides, ſo Socrates, Plato, Titus Veſpatian, Tully, with multitudes of others amongſt the Lacedemonians, Grecians, Romans, &c. Many of the Heathens were ſo famous for juſtice and righteouſneſs, for equity, fidelity and ſobriety, for civility and moral honeſty, that it would put many profeſſors to the bluſh to read what is written of them: and yet there was ſuch a tincture of popular applauſe, of pride and vain glory, of hypocriſie and ſelf-flattery, upon their civility and moral honeſty, that for any thing we can find in Scripture to the contrary, there is cauſe to fear that they ſhall be miſerable to all eternity: for all their civility and moral honeſty, they were left in a damnable, I will not ſay in a damned condition: he that riſes to no higher pitch then civility and moral honeſty, ſhall never have communion with God in glory. Naaman was a great man but a Leper,2 Kings 5.1: Naaman was an honourable man, but a Leper; Naaman was a mighty man, but a Leper; Naaman was a victorious man but a Leper; Naaman was in high favour and eſteem with his Prince, but a Leper. This but he was a Leper, ſtained all his honour, and was a blot upon all his greatneſs and glory, both at Court, and in the field; both in the City, and in the Countrey. So it is a ſtain, a blot upon the moſt moral honeſt man in the world to ſay, he is a very civil honeſt man, but Chriſtleſs: he is a very juſt man, but graceleſs; he is a man of much moral righteouſneſs, but he hath not a dram of real holineſs, &c. This but is a fly in the box of ointment that ſpoils all. Well Sirs, remember this, though the moral honeſt man be good for many things, yet he is not good enough to go to heaven, he is not good enough to be made glorious, Mat. 5.20. Certainly, there is nothing in all the world below real ſanctity, that will ever bring a man to the poſſeſſion of glory. And though it may grieve us (to ſpeak after the manner of men) to ſee ſweet natures, to ſee many moral honeſt men take many a weary ſtep towards heaven, and to come near to heaven, and to bid fair for heaven, and yet after all to fall ſhort of heaven: yet it will be no way grievous to a holy God to turn ſuch ſweet natures into hell, Pſal. 9.17. moral honeſty is not ſufficient to keep a man out of eternal miſery; all it can do is to help a man to one of the beſt rooms and eaſieſt beds that hell affords. For look as the moral mans ſins are not ſo great as others, ſo his puniſhments ſhall not be ſo great as others. This is all the comfort that can be afforded to a moral man, that he ſhall have a cooler hell then others have: but this is but cold comfort. Moral honeſty without piety is as a body without a ſoul, and will ever God accept of ſuch a ſtinking ſacrifice. Surely no.
Fifthly, If real holineſs be the only way to happineſs; if men muſt be holy on earth, or elſe they ſhall never come to a fruition of God in heaven; then this truth by way of conviction looks ſowerly and ſadly upon all Neuters, who divide their hearts between God and Mammon,Matth 6.29. who halt between God and Baal, 1 Kings 18.21. Zeph. 1.5. 2 Kings 17.32, 33. Chap. 18.11. James 1.8. A double-ſoul'd man. Matth. 19.16.26.who divide their ſouls between heaven and earth, between Religion and their luſts. Like the Samaritans, who both worſhipped the Lord, and the Aſſyrians Idols too. A Neuter is a monſter; he hath two tongues, two minds, and two ſouls: he hath a tongue for God, and a tongue for the world too; he looks up to God and ſaith Certainly thou art mine; he looks down upon the world, and ſaith Surely I am thine; He hath a mind to be religious, and a mind to ſave his own ſtake in the world too. He hath a ſoul reaching after the happineſs of another world,Numb. 23.10. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my laſt end be like his, ſaith Balaam: and he hath a ſoul ſtrongly reaching after this evil world too,1 Pet. 2.15. Jude 11. Callenuceus tells us of a Noble man of Naples, that was wont prophanely to ſay that he had two ſouls in his body, one for God, and another for whoſoever would buy it. as if heaven and happineſs were wrapt up in it. As you may ſee in the ſame perſon, he loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs: he loved it as his portion, he loved it as his life, he loved it as his happineſs, he loved it as his all; he loved it as his ſoul, yea, he loved it above his own ſoul, for he damned his ſoul to gain it. It is true, when he was under a divine reſtraint, he profeſſed that he would not curſe the people of God for a houſe full of Gold; but when he was from under that reſtraint, his heart was ſo ſet upon the unrighteous reward, that he would have curſt them for a handfull of gold. The Neuter (as the Romans paint Eraſmus) hangs between heaven and earth; He is neither fit to go to heaven, nor yet worthy to live on earth. If Meroz was to be certainly curſt, to be bitterly curſt, to be univerſally curſt (as the Hebrew phraſe, curſing curſe ye Meroz imports, in Judges 5.23.) for ſtanding Neuter, when they ſhould have come forth to the help of the Lord: Do you think that Neuters in religion ſhall be bleſt? Do you think that ever ſuch ſhall go to heaven, who are indifferent whether they go to heaven, or no? or that ever ſuch ſhall be happy, who are indifferent whether they be holy or no? or that ever ſuch ſhall ſee the face of Chriſt with joy, who are indifferent whether they have an intereſt in Chriſt or no? or that ever ſuch ſhall be admitted into the kingdom of glory, who are indifferent where ever they have any entrance into the kingdom of grace or no. Certainly heaven is too holy to hold any ſuch indifferent, irreſolute Neutral ſouls. In the Univerſity not long ſince there were three Doctors heads of houſes; one of them was accounted an Innovator; the ſecond a Puritan; the third a Neuter. A witty Scholler preſented them thus to the world; the firſt in a Coach driving to Rome: the ſecond driving to Genev…h: the third running on foot, begging ſometimes the one, ſometimes the other to receive him, but both refuſed him. Neuters ſhall be refuſed on all hands at laſt.Newters are Traytors; they betray Chriſt for the worlds ſake, and the world for Chriſts ſake; and themſelves for ſin and Satans ſake; And who will not refuſe and ſcorn traytors? God will refuſe them becauſe he loaths halting: Angels will refuſe them becauſe they loath halving: Good men will refuſe them, becauſe they loath lukewarmneſs; and bad men will refuſe them becauſe they pretend to goodneſs, though they live in wickedneſs. Ambo-dexters in Religion are ignominious diſgracers both of the name and profeſſion of Chriſtians, they are prodigious traytors to the crown of heaven: they are the greateſt enemies to the power of godlineſs, they are the very offſpring of Judas, and in the day of account it will be found that it had been good for them that they had never been born. Neutrality is the ſpiritual adultery of the heart:Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omitte. Greg. Nazien. Neuters are ſpiritual Harlots, they have their hearts divided between God and Mammon, betwixt Chriſt and other Lovers. Now Harlots in Ancient time were to be burnt, Gen. 38.24. Certainly hell is for the Neuter, and the neuter for hell: God will be as ſevere, yea, more ſevere in puniſhing ſpiritual whoredom, then ever men have been in puniſhing corporal whoredom. God looks upon every neuter as a man in arms againſt him, Matth. 12.30. He that is not with me, is againſt me. And therefore Martial Law ſhall be executed upon them. God will blot out their names, and hang them up as monuments of his juſtice and vengeance. Sirs, do not deceive your own ſouls, no man was ever yet carried to glory in the chariot of neutrality or mediocrity: he that is not throughout holy, is not really holy, and he that is not really holy, can never be truly happy: it is only throughout holineſs that entitles a man to everlaſting happineſs.1 Pet. 1.15. 2 Pet. 3.11. Matth. 24.51. The true mother would not have the child divided; ſhe would have all or none; you muſt be for all holineſs, or for none. Neuters now devide and cut thoſe things aſunder, that God hath cloſely joyned together: but at laſt God will ſuite their puniſhment to their ſin, and cut them aſunder, Luke 12.46. Now the neuter chuſes here a piece, and there a piece: and at laſt God will cut him in pieces,1 Sam. 15.23. as Samuel did Agag. Well, Neuters, now you divide one command from another, one duty from another, one promiſe from another, one threatning from another, one ordinance from another, and one way of God from another: But the day is a coming wherein God will divide your ſouls from your bodies, and both from himſelf, his Son, his Saints, and his Glory for ever.
Sixthly, If real holineſs be the only way to happineſs, if men muſt be holy on earth, or they ſhall never come to a fruition of God in heaven: Then this truth by way of conviction, looks ſowerly and ſadly upon all hypocrites, who have only a ſeeming holineſs, a feigned holineſs, a counterfeit holineſs. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of a true holineſs,foreign. Epheſ. 4.24. (or holineſs of truth, as the Greek reads it) in oppoſition to that feigned and counterfeit holineſs, that is in the world: pretended holineſs is moſt oppoſite to the holineſs of God. Hypocritical holineſs is the greateſt unholineſs;Ex. 30.32, 33. Who can with patience ſee Apes in the habit of Nobles! ſaith Lucianus. and as God hath, ſo certainly God will ſtill ſute the puniſhment to the ſin. If it was death in Moſes his Law, to counterfeit that Ceremonial and figurative ointment; what ſhall it then be to counterfeit the ſpirit of life and holineſs? Diſſembled ſanctity is double iniquity: He that profeſſeth religion without being religious, and godlineſs without being godly: he that makes counterfeit holineſs a cloak to impiety, and a Mid-wife to iniquity; He that is a Cato without, and a Nero within; a Jacob without, and an Eſau within: a David without, and a Saul within; a Peter without, and a Judas within: a Saint without, and a Satan within: an Angel without, and a devil within, is ripened for the worſt of torments, Matth. 24.5. And ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. Hypocrites are the freeholders of hell: all other ſinners do but hold under them: none have ſo large a portion in hell as hypocrites have: No man at laſt will be found ſo miſerable, as he that hath the name of a Saint upon him, but not the divine nature in him: that hath a profeſſion of holineſs upon him, but no principles of holineſs in him: that hath a form of godlineſs, but not the power: that can cry up godlineſs, and court godlineſs, but in practiſe denyes it: that is a Jew outwardly, but an Atheiſt, a Pagan, a devil inwardly. Who had a greater name for holineſs, and who made a greater ſhew of holineſs, and who did more deſpiſe and inſult over men for the want of holineſs, then the Scribes and Phariſees? and who ſo miſerable now as they? Mat. 23.14.Hypocritis nihil eſt crudelius, impatientius, & vindictae cupidius. Luther. There is not a more cruel creature, more impatient and vindictive then an hypocrite; ſaid he that had the experience of it in his own perſon. Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, hypocrites: for ye devour widows houſes, and for a pretence make long prayers, therefore ye ſhall receive the greater damnation. Pretended holineſs will double damn ſouls at laſt. Sirs, do not deceive your own ſouls: A painted ſword ſhall as ſoon defend a man, and a painted mint ſhall as ſoon inrich a man, and a painted fire ſhall aſſoon warm a man, and a painted friend ſhall aſſoon counſel a man, and a painted horſe ſhall aſſoon carry a man, and a painted feaſt ſhall aſſoon ſatisfie a man, and a painted houſe ſhall aſſoon ſhelter a man, as a painted holineſs ſhall ſave a man. He that now thinks to put off God with a painted holineſs, ſhall not fare ſo well at laſt, as to be put off with a painted happineſs. The loweſt, the hotteſt, and the darkeſt habitation in hell will be his portion, whoſe religion lyes all in ſhews and ſhadows. Well, ſpiritual Counterfeits, remember this, it will not be long before Chriſt will unmask you, before he will uncaſe you, before he will diſrobe you, before he will take off your vizards, your hoods, and turn your rotten inſides outward, to your eternal ſhame and reproach before all the world. Counterfeit Diamonds may ſparkle and gliſter, and make a great ſhew for a time, but their luſtre will ſoon wear off (Nil fictum eſt diuturnum) nothing counterfeit will laſt long. Maud, mother to King Henry the ſecond, being beſieged in Wincheſter-caſtle, counterfeited her ſelf to be dead,Anno 1141. and ſo was carried out in a Coffin, whereby ſhe eſcaped; at another time being beſieged at Oxford in a cold Winter, by wearing white apparrel ſhe got away in the ſnow undiſcovered, but at laſt vengeance did over-take her. So though hypocrites may for a time ſeem to be dead to ſin,Job 17.8. chap. 36.13. and dead to the world, though they may cloath themſelves with a ſnow-like purity, and with the white ſattin of ſeeming ſanctity, yet God at laſt will unmask and unmuffle them, and vengeance will with a witneſs overtake them, Iſa. 33.14. Hypocrites are like blazing Stars, which ſo long as they are fed with vapours,Job 20.5. Hoſea 6.4. ſhine as if they were fixed Stars; but let the vapours dry up, and preſently they vaniſh and diſappear: As the joy of the hypocrite, ſo the goodneſs of the hypocrite is but for a moment; it is as a morning cloud and as the early dew; an hypocrite is a meer comet, a flaunt, a flaſh; principles of holineſs are laſting, but hypocriſie makes a man only conſtant in inconſtancy.
Seventhly, If real holineſs be the only way to happineſs; if men muſt be holy on earth, or they ſhall never come to a fruition of God in heaven: Then this truth by way of conviction, looks ſowerly and ſadly upon ſuch, who pleaſe and bleſs themſelves with common gifts and common grace;1 Cor. 12.4. Matth. 7.22. with a gift of knowledge, a gift of faith, a gift of prayer, a gift of utterance, a gift of memory, &c. when they have nothing of real holineſs in them. Like choſe in Mat. 22.23. who had great gifts, but were ſo far from real ſanctity, that they were workers of iniquity; they had a flood of gifts, but not a drop of grace; they had many gifts, but not one ſaving grace; they could work miracles, but that miracle of holineſs being not wrote in them, Chriſt takes an everlaſting farewell of them, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. So they in Heb. 6. had enlightened heads, but where was their humbleneſs and holineſs of heart? they had ſilver tongues, but where was their ſanctified ſouls? they had ſome ſmack, ſome taſtes and reliſhes of heavens glory, but where was their inward and outward purity? Notwithſtanding all their extraordinary gifts of ſpeaking with tongues, caſting out of Devils, and opening of propheſies, yet were they not renewed, regenerated and ſanctified by the Holy Ghoſt:As Nurſes milk is of uſe to others, but of none to themſelves. Their gifts might be of ſingular uſe, to the enlightening, quickening, edifying, comforting and encouraging of others, and yet never have any influence upon their own hearts, to the changing, renewing and ſanctifying of them. Men of greateſt gifts are not alwaies men of greateſt holineſs: The Scribes and Phariſees, Judas, D…mas, Tertullus, and Simon Magus, were men of great gifts, and yet they had no real holineſs; they had the ninety nine of gifts wh…ch Chriſt looks not after, but wanted the one, viz. real holineſs,Matth. 23.15. which with Chriſt is all in all:Auguſtine trembled when he conſidered the extraordinary gifts and parts that were in his baſe child, to think what God meant in infuſing ſo precious a ſoul, and in giving ſuch rare gifts to ſuch an impure creature. The Devil hath greater gifts then any man on earth, and yet he is a Devil ſtill; gifts without holineſs, will but make a man twice told the child of hell: The more of gifts here, the more (without holineſs) of hell hereafter. The greateſt Schollars have often proved the greateſt ſinners, the ſtouteſt oppoſers, and the worſt of perſecutors. There are none ſo wicked, as he that is wittily wicked. The higheſt gifts many times prove but the faireſt pathes to the chambers of death. As the richer the Ship is laden with barrs of ſilver and gold, the deeper it ſinks; ſo the richer the ſoul is laden with ſilver parts and golden gifts, and yet not ballanced with real holineſs, the deeper it ſinks under wrath and miſery: And no wonder, for 1. Gifts do but tickle the ear, they do not cleanſe heart. 2. They do but ſtir the affections, they do not kill corruptions. 3. They are but ornaments to a mans profeſſion, they have no ſaving influence upon a mans converſation. They tempt a man to take up with the world, but they never help a man to overcome the world. 4. They make a man wiſe to deceive, and wiſe to delude both …imſelf and others; rare accompliſhments are many times turned into beautiful ornaments to adorn the Devil and errour withall. 5. The gifted man cares not who is moſt holy, ſo he may be moſt honoured; who is higheſt in favour with God, ſo he may be higheſt in favour with men; who is moſt ſerviceable, ſo he may be moſt acceptable; who gets moſt of another world, ſo he may have moſt of this world; and what ſhould ſuch an one do in heaven? Gifts differ as much from real holineſs, as an Angel in heaven differs from a Devil in Hell.Zach. 7.5, 6. Rom. 14.6, 7, 8. 6. Gifts makes a man work for life, but holineſs makes a man work from life. 7. Gifts work a man to ſet up for himſelf, and to deal and trade for himſelf; but holineſs works a man to deal for God, and to trade for God and his glory. 8. Gifts takes up in ingenuous civilities and outward formalities, but holineſs takes up only in that holy one.Hab. 1.12. 1 Cor. 8.7. 9. Gifts only reſtrains the ſoul, but grace renews and changes the ſoul. 10. Gifts puffs the ſoul, but holineſs humbles the ſoul. 11. Gifts makes a man beautiful like Rachel, but holineſs makes a man fruitful like Leah. 12. Gifts makes a man moſt ſtudious and laborious about mending and reforming other mens hearts and lives; but holineſs makes a man moſt ſtudious and induſtrious in mending and reforming his own heart and life.Pſalm 45.13. 13. Gifts makes all glorious without, but holineſs makes all glorious within. 14. Gifts makes a good head, but holineſs makes a good heart. 15. Gifts envies, leſſens, darkens, obſcures, and diſparages with buts, and ifs and ands, the excellencies of others; but holineſs makes a man rejoyce in every Sun that out-ſhines its own.John 4.14. 1 John 3.9. 16. Gifts are fading and withering, but holineſs is an everlaſting ſpring that can never be drawn dry.1 Cor. 13.1, 6. 17. Gifts draws from God, but holineſs draws to God; though men of gifts may bid fair for heaven, yea come ſo near as to hear the muſick of heaven, yet without holineſs they ſhall never enter into heaven. When night comes, the Father will only take in his own child into his houſe, and though another child which may be much like his own ſhould attempt to come in, yet the Father will keep him out, and wiſh him to repair to his own home; So when the night of death comes, the Father of Spirits will only take into the family of heaven his own child, viz. the child of holineſs; but now if the child of gifts (which is ſo like the child of holineſs) ſhould preſs hard upon God to come in, as that child of gifts Baalam did,Numb. 23.10. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my laſt end be like his; God will anſwer him, No, he will ſay to him as he did to that child of gifts Judas, Acts 1.25. Mat. 8.12.Go to your own place. In the night of death and judgement, the children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out: the children of the Kingdom, that is, of the Church; now the children of the Kingdom are children of gifts, and yet there will come a day when theſe children ſhall be caſt out.Gen. 25.6, &c. As Abraham put off the ſons of the Concubines with gifts, but entailed the inheritance upon Iſaac: So God puts off many men now with gifts, but he entails the heavenly inheritance upon holineſs. Pſalm 24.3, 4. Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? and who ſhall ſtand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lift up his ſoul to vanity, nor ſworn deceitfully: Heaven is for that man, and that man is for heaven, who hath clean hands and a pure heart, whoſe holy converſation is attended with heart-purification; a pure heart is better then a golden head; a heart full of holy affections, is infinitely beyond a head full of curious notions; there is no Jewel; there is no anointing to that of holineſs; he that hath that hath all, and he that wants that hath nothing at all. But,
Eightly and laſtly, if real holineſs be the only way to happineſs; if men muſt be holy on earth, or they ſhall never come to a bleſſed fruition of God in heaven; then by way of conviction let me ſay, that this truth looks very ſowerly and angrily upon thoſe who are ſo far from being holy themſelves, that they cannot endure holineſs in thoſe that are about them, or any waies related to them. Ah how many unholy people be there, that cannot endure holineſs in their Miniſters! and how many unholy husbands are there, that cannot endure holineſs in their yoak-fellows! and how many unholy parents are there, that cannot endure holineſs in their children! and how many unholy Maſters are there, that cannot endure holineſs in their ſervants! The Panther, ſay ſome, when ſhe cannot come at the man, ſhe rendeth and teareth his picture in pieces; ſo many unholy husbands, unholy fathers, and unholy maſters, when they cannot rend and tear the perſons of their relations in pieces; ah how do they do their beſt to rend and tear the image of God upon them,Matth. 23.14, 15. 2 Sam. 6.16, 20. viz. holineſs in pieces! Theſe forlorn ſouls will not be holy themſelves, nor ſuffer others to be holy neither; they will neither go to heaven themſelves, nor ſuffer others to go thither who are ſtrongly biaſed that way: Some deſpiſe their gracious relations, even e… nomine, for that very reaſon, becauſe they are holy; ſometimes you ſhall hear them ſpeak at ſuch a rate as this; Well, our relations are wiſe and witty, but ſo holy; they are very knowing and thriving, but ſo preciſe; they have good parts and ſweet natures, but they are ſo ſtrict; they are ſo round that they will not endure an oath, a lye, &c. and therefore I cannot abide them, I cannot endure them. Theſe are like he in Seneca, which was ſo fearfully idle, that his ſides would ake to ſee another work: So theſe are ſo fearfully wicked, that it makes their ſides, their heads, their very hearts ake, to ſee others holy. How far theſe are in their actings below Heathens, you may ſee in Rom. 16.10, 11. Ariſtobulus and Narciſſus that are ſpoken of in this Scripture, were both Heathens, and yet they had in their families thoſe that were in the Lord, thoſe that were gracious, &c. Heathens were ſo ingenuous, that they would not deſpiſe that holineſs in others, that they wanted in themſelves; they were ſo noble, that they would give holi…eſs houſe-room, though they knew not how to give it heart-room:Gen. 39.1, 2, 3, 4. So Potiphar, though he was an Heathen, yet he gave holy Joſeph both houſe-room and heart-room: Theſe and ſeveral other heathens of the like ſpirit with them, will one day riſe in Judgement againſt many in theſe dayes, that are ſo far faln out with holineſs, as that they will not endure it under the roof of their houſes, yea as that they make it the greateſt matter of ſcorn and deriſion: Like thoſe in Lam. 2.15, 16. All that paſs by, clap their hands at thee; they hiſs and wag their head at the daughter of Jeruſalem, ſaying, Is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth againſt thee; they hiſs and gnaſh the teeth; they ſay, We have ſwallowed her up, &c. Ah how many ſuch monſters are there in theſe dayes, who expreſs their deriſion, diſdain, and contempt of holineſs and holy perſons, by all the ſcornful geſtures, poſtures and expreſſions imaginable; that clap their hands, that hiſs, that wag their head, that gnaſh their teeth, and that ſay, Lo theſe are your Saints, theſe are your holy ones, your perfect ones, your beautiful ones! It is very ſad to want holineſs, but it is ſaddeſt of all to deride holineſs, to diſdain holineſs. Of this evil ſpirit, Salvian complained in his time;Salvi. de Guber. lib. 4. What madneſs is this (ſaith he) amongſt Chriſtians, that if a man be good, he is deſpiſed as if he were evil! if he be evil, he is honoured as if he were good! And as great cauſe have we to complain of the prevalency of the ſame evil ſpirit in our times: If the wife be holy,1 Cor. 7.16. how is ſhe deſpiſed (by her unholy husband) as if ſhe were wicked! If ſhe be wicked, how is ſhe honoured as if ſhe were holy! So if the child be gracious, how is he diſdained as if he were gracleſs! if he be gracleſs, how is he admired as if he were gracious! So if a Servant be godly, how is he ſcorned as if he were godleſs! if he be godleſs, how is he applauded as if he were godly! Certainly God will never endure ſuch to ſtand in his ſight, who cannot endure the ſight of holineſs. Doubtleſs,Pſalm 1.5. God will never give them any room in heaven, who will not ſo much as give holineſs a little houſe-room (I ſay not heart-room) here. He that now deſpiſes and diſdains holineſs in others, ſhall at laſt be eternally deſpiſed and diſdained for want of holineſs himſelf.