Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 8 · Sermon 60
SERMON. LX.
That Gods Grace of Converſion, is ſometimes vouchſafed to the worſt of men.
1 COR. 6. 11.
And ſuch were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, &c.
WE are now to conſider a ſecond kinde of Argument, the Apoſtle uſeth to dehort them from all groſs wickedneſs, and that is the admirable and wonderful change that is now made upon them by converting Grace: They are not Swine any more, but ſheep, and therefore muſt not wallow in the mire and filth of ſin as formerly: So that the ſcope of the Apoſtle is, to compare their former black and foul life, with the preſent glorious light they are now tranſlated into. And ſuch were ſome of you. He had reckoned up beaſts rather then men, monſters rather then men of reaſon; and yet, Such were ſome of you. He ſaith foreign, Some of you, to ſhew, that every one of them had not all thoſe filthy ſores: Every one was not guilty of all the enumerated ſins (except idolatry, which all were guilty of) unleſs in the ſeed and root, which is original corruption; but it is to be underſtood diſtributively, ſome were fornicators, ſome effeminate, ſome drunkards, ſome extortioners. Corinth was wicked, even to a proverbial ſpeech, It ſeemed an hoſpital of diſeaſed ſick men, in reſpect of their moralities. And further, the Apoſtle ſaith in the neuter gender, foreign, not foreign, not ſuch perſons, but ſuch ſins, emphatically demonſtrating their wickedneſs, that they were not ſo much Peccatores, as ipſa peccata, ſinners, as the very ſins themſelves: We may then ſtand and behold the wonderful work of Grace, that raiſeth children up to Abraham out of ſtones; that maketh Blackamores to change their skins. The Corinthians, while Idolaters, changed the image of God, into the likeneſs of an Ox, or any other beaſt; but now God changeth theſe who were become like bruit beaſts, into the image of the holy and pure God.
That the grace of God converting, is ſometimes vouchſafed even to the worſt and Obſerv. 3.vilest of men. God many times takes the moſt crooked trees, and makes them pillars in his Temple; the moſt rugged and unpoliſhed ſtones, and polliſheth them for his building; even as Chriſt while he was upon the earth, for the moſt part cured thoſe diſeaſes which were deſperate, that no art, nor no Phyſicians could cure: So many times, the grace of God changeth thoſe who are hopeleſs men, upon whom no art can do any good, upon whom ſpiritual Phyſicians for a great while have loſt all their labor. This is much propheſied of as the fruit of the Goſpel, that the ſavage, cruel and poyſonous natures of wicked men, ſhall be ſtrangely taken away, Iſa. 35. 5, 6, 7. The eyes of the blinde ſhall be opened, &c. No Lyon ſhall be there, &c. Iſa. 55. 11. 13. Inſtead of the bryar ſhall come up the mirt le tree.
Let us obſerve the grounds, why the grade of Converſion is ſometimes vouchſafed to theſe incurable men, in all humane apprehenſions, ſuch as Manaſſeth, Paul, Mary Magdalen, with many others: And
Firſt, It is to demanſtrate the power of the word of God, animated and inlivened Reaſ 1.by the ſpirit, above all H…mane Eloquence, or Moral Philoſophy; wherein men have much labored to make men better; but thoſe endeavors did prove like the waſhing of a brick, which did not cleanſe, but more defile. The Scripture doth often take notice of this peculiar effect of Gods word, that by it We are ſorewarned from ſin, Pſal. 19. the ſimple receive understanding, Pſal 119. By it we are be go… again, 1 Pet: 1. That is the ſword which entereth into the ſecret thoughts and imaginations of mens hearts, That captivateth and beateth down all the ſtrong holds of ſin and Satan, and diſpoſſeſſeth Satan out of his ſtrongeſt Caſtles: Now this fiery vertue of the word preached, is never more manifeſted, then when it meets with ſuch moyſt, green wood, ſuch indiſpoſed materials, as groſs, prophane men are. The Apoſtle calls the word preached, The power of God to ſalvation, 1 Cor. 1. when the G…ecians, men of parts and learning, judged it fooliſhneſs; and the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, He came not in the intiſing words of humane eloquence, leſt the power of Christ ſhould be obſoured, 1. Corinthians 2. 4. When therefore by the ſimple, plain and pure demonſtration of Divine truths, and of Gods Word, you ſee the hearts and conſciences of flagitious men awakened; you ſee them changed into holy, godly, heavenly men, of prophane, foul and ungodly. What glorious praite doth hereby redound to the word preached? This is like Davids little ſtone, ſlung into the head of great Goliah. If men of wiſdom, eloquence, ingenuity, and excellent Morality, if theſe onelyonly were the men converted? it would quickly be thought that it was ſome excellency in them, rather then the power of Gods word without; but in theſe groſs livers it cannot be attributed to any thing in the world, but the word preached: Deſpiſe not therefore the plain and powerful preaching of Gods word; for that is the muſtard ſeed, which though little in quantity, is in operation mighty: You ſee twelve men indued with ability to preach this, did quickly leaven this whole world.
Secondly, God makes his grace to come to ſuch great ſinners ſometimes, that his 2.tender mercies and compaſſions may be made the more illuſtrious: As it was Chriſts pitty to cure that cripple, that lay thirty years by the pools ſide, and had no man to help him; ſo theſe ſinners that are bound in ſtronger chains then others, whom the Devil detaineth in ſurer chains then others, its a greater act of pitty and grace to reſcue them: Thus Paul being ſenſible of himſelf, as the greateſt of all ſinners, how paſſionately doth he break out to admire the mercy and grace of God to him: So that when we ſee a wretched obſtinate ſinner, who careth for nothing, feareth nothing, is not able to pitty himſelf, converted and inlightned by the grace of God; here are tender bowels, God pittieth him more then man doth himſelf. As Hierom ſaid of the poor dumb man that cannot ſpeak or beg for an alms, Maxime rogat, dum non poteſt rogare, The more unable he is to ſpeak, the more he doth ſpeak, moving compaſſion and pitty. Thus a wicked man, who is indeed dumb ſpiritually, cannot ſpeak, cannot pray, cannot utter any one word in his behalf, is thereby an object of pitty with God, becauſe ſo miſerable: If then you ask, Why are ſuch mens eyes opened? why do ſuch men underſtand what they did not? Chriſt in mercy hath ſaid unto them, Ariſe and walk.
Thirdly, Grace converts ſometimes notorious ſinners, to confound the pride and ſwelling thoughts of ſelf-righteous men. There are a generation of men, whoſe ways 3.are clean in their own eyes, Prov. 16. 1. men who juſtifie themſelves, bleſſing God they are not like other men; now when the grace of God comes and worketh upon the moſt profligate ſinners, leaving others to their own pride and conceited righteouſneſs, hereby they are confounded and aſhamed: Thus it was diſcovered by our Saviour, he tells the Phariſees, That the publicans and harlots ſhould go into the kingdom of heaven before them; and, He came not to call ſuch righteous as they were, but ſinners to repentance; Mat. 9. 13. There are none commonly further off true grace, then thoſe who pleaſe themſelves with the conceit of their own goodneſs and righteouſneſs. The emptieſt ear of corn growes up higheſt, and holds its head above others; but thoſe who have true grace, are deeply ſenſible of their own inſufficiency and imperfections; their righteouſneſs, is to bewail their own unrighteouſneſs: It falls out therefore, that there is ſometimes more hope of a groſs ſinner, then a civilized Phariſee; for the one is ſooner convinced, his conſcience is eaſier awakened; but the other being already falſely perſwaded of his own worth, can hardly be changed: Ille morbus vix eſt ſanabilis qui ſanitatem imitatur, That diſeaſe which is like health, is hardly cured; and thus a man living a life like godlineſs, when it is not ſo indeed, is ſeldom truly reformed.
Fourthly, God will have ſome of the worſt of men ſometimes converted, that the Miniſters of God, who are ſometimes caſt upon ſuch a people, might not ſow without 4.hope, nor preach without hope: Even a wilderneſs may become a pleaſant river, even a Mary Magdalene, a Publican, may be converted by preaching; What then may not the Miniſters of God expect? though their ſoul (as David ſaith) lyeth down among Lyons: We may not always ſay, Wo be to us, becauſe we live in the tents of Kedar, for God may make that like Jeruſalem. A place where nothing but bryars and thorns came up, may be made a pleaſant garden: Chriſt told his Diſciples, He ſent them like ſheep amongſt wolves, Mat. 10. 16. and yet theſe ſheep made many wolves ſheep like themſelves: Though therefore we catch nothing, when we caſt our nets; yea, though we catch ſcorpions inſtead of fiſhes, yet theſe ſcorpions may be made fiſhes: With God all things are poſſible, ſaith our Savior, Mat. 19. 26. ſpeaking of this very thing, to convert men, which is to make a Camel go through the eye of a needle: Though therefore humane reaſon may tell a man, there is no ſucceſs to be expected, no good to be done, becauſe a people ſo and ſo vicious; yet we muſt not regard the dead womb, but the power of God: Its he that opens the barren womb, and makes thoſe that were fruitleſs to bring forth.
Fifthly, Therefore God will have ſome of theſe Beelzebub ſinners converted, that ſo grace may be acknowledged to be a real, manifeſt, powerful work, and that in the 5.eyes of all the world: Men are prone to judge godlineſs, nothing but the Melancholy, and the tender conſtitution of ſome mens bodies, or their black imaginations or fancies which ariſe within; but now when ſuch, who have been ſo long, ſo continual in evil and ungodly ways, they ſhall love and delight in what they once loathed: This makes godlineſs a palpable viſible thing: When Paul a blaſphemer, a curſed oppoſer of the ways of Chriſt, is converted, and ſets up that which he once pulled down, this makes all men ſee Gods Grace is not a notion, but a real lively work upon a man. That as the whole world wondered, when they ſaw Chriſt work ſuch palpable miracles, making the blinde to ſee, the deaf to hear, the dead toriſe, they concluded he was God; here could be no impoſture or deceit, the things were ſo manifeſt: Thus when God calls ſome wicked men, and makes them forſake all the pleaſures and profits, leave the cuſtom receipt immediately, deny their parents, friends, and all that might work upon natural affections; all the prophane and carnal company to whom their ſouls was once glewed; this muſt make every man ſay, Here is more then notions, here is a real fire. The Poets taught much of Circe's cup, which turned men into beaſts, but here is a change of beaſts into men, yea into Angels; and we may ſay, This work of the Lord is marvellous in our eyes.
Of incouragement to the ſpiritual husbandman, though he ſow even upon the hardeſt Uſ…rocks, and preach to beaſts rather then men; For who knoweth but that God may turn a noyſom dunghil, into a mine of gold. That of our Saviours ſhould be wings to us in our race, With God all things are poſſible; and that of God, I will take away the heart of ſtone, and give an heart of fleſh: Oh that we might ſay of all wicked men, that which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh here in the Text, And ſuch Ezek. 32.were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified: God will not have any wicked man deſpair in himſelf, that he is ſo wicked that God cannot or will not ever give him a better heart; nor yet the miniſter to deſpair, though there be no viſible hopes of ever doing good upon ſuch unworthy men. OnelyOnly you may have this objection in your hearts:
Why do we not ſee God working thus as wonderfully to the change of men, Queſt.as he hath done heretofore? there the Corinthians, the Epheſians, and other Heathens, wallowing in Idolatry, and all moral vices, yet found the word of God aſſimilating them to its own nature; it made men leave their corrupt and defiled natures, and come to imbrace that which formerly was ſo contrary to them: But now we ſee no ſuch things done, no not among Chriſtians; in thoſe days an Heathen Adulterer, an Heathen a Drunkard, became waſhed and cleanſed by the word; but now a Chriſtian thus polluted, notwithſtanding his Chriſtianity, and the word frequently preached unto him, doth not reform and make him leave his former impieties.
To this the anſwer may be, That wicked men living in their ſins, under the daily Anſw.exerciſe of the word, quickly provoke a ſpiritual cenſure and judgement to be inflicted upon them; by which means, as the clay under the Sun, they become more obdurate; wonder not then, if as miracles, ſo this wonderful work of converſion ceaſeth (at leaſt its not ſo frequent) for rebellion and unfruitfulneſs under the means of grace, enjoyed ſo long a time, hath deſerved this: but I added (not ſo frequently) becauſe even to this day in ſeveral places, God ſtill goeth out with this Omnipotent power upon ſome few, ſome firebrands there are pulled out of the fire, ſome Tygers are made Lambs, although this is very rare in compariſon of what hath been formerly; not but that Gods arm is as ſtrong, and the word we preach as powerful, but as it is ſaid of one place, Chriſt could do no miracles there, becauſe of their unbelief, Mat. 6. 6. He conld not (that is) he would not, becauſe he ſaw their unbelief made them ſo wretched a people; ſo it is here, our miniſtery can do no good, our preaching cannot convert; not that mens luſts are ſtronger then Gods grace, but becauſe they put ſuch bol…s and bars, ſuch obſtructions in the way of grace, that thereby God will not make it effectual to them. O then be afraid, if thou, though ſtill before this fire of the word, yet art always cold and chill, feeling no ſpiritual heat at all.
In the next place, let us obſerve from the words of oppoſition, And ſuch were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed: They are not the ſame they were once.
That where converting grace is vouchſafed to a man, it makes a great change, he is not the man he was once.Obſerv.
We may ſay of every regenerate man, Such wicked men you were once, prophane as others, negligent as others, ſenſeleſs of ſin and Gods wrath as others, but now this dark night is turned into a glorious day. The Prophet ſpake of ſome, Amoſ 6. 12. That they turned righteouſneſs into hemlock and wormwood: That was a wicked turning, but this turneth hemlock into righteouſneſs. The Prophet complained of Jeruſalem, fallen from her mercies, That her gold was become droſs, and her wine water, Lam. 4. but here is the contrary, droſs is become gold, and water wine. Ego non ſum ego, ſaid an unclean perſon once converted, to the whore that ſollicited him to the ſame courſes ſtill: So do thou ſay to all thy former wickedneſs, catching hold on thee as Joſephs miſtreſs did on him; I am not I, I have not the ſame judgement, the ſame affections, the ſame deſires that once I had, and therefore cannot imbrace what I once ſo dearly loved. The exact handling of this point will be, when we come to thoſe Texts that call it converſion, or a change, or a turning to God; then the term from which, and the term to which, may more largely be conſidered: OnelyOnly I ſhall now give you ſome qualities of this turning, and change from our evil ways, truly to ſtir you up immediately to the practiſe thereof. We ſee God hath wrought many changings and turnings of things in our days: O how happy, if in all theſe, we might ſee this ſpiritual change, men formerly prophane, now holy; men heretofore guilty of notorious ſins, now as exemplary and zealous of what is godly.
And firſt, Therefore this change is a neceſſary one: It muſt be ſaid of every one 1. The qualities of a gracious change or turning from our evil ways.that would be ſaved, Such an one thou once waſt, but now thou art ſanctified. Even the man who hath always lived civilly and unblameably, that hath no groſs ſin to be turned from, yet he hath the ſoul-uncleanneſs, and the heart-…eproſie upon him, from which he muſt be waſhed; ſo that this turning from what once we were, is indiſpenſibly neceſſary in yong and old, in rich and poor, either inwardly or outwardly: Conſider of this therefore, you whoſe Motto is, Semper idem; though that be a glory in a good thing, yet for a man to be always the ſame he was from the womb, is certain and irrecoverable death; When then will you bethink your ſelves? when ſhall the time be, that thou wilt become another man? think not that fleſh and blood can inherit the Kingdom of heaven: This undoeth many, that as they never dream of a change, which death will one day make upon them, ſo they never deſire a change, that Grace in this preſent life ſhould work on them: Therefore as Job ſaid of the change by death, He would every day wait till his change came, Job 14. 14. (as ſome expound it:) do thou ſay of this change by grace, I will every day pray, hear, read, meditate, mourn and roar out before God all the day long, till this ſpiritual change come.
Scondly, Its a rational change: Its the higheſt act of reaſon, for a man to 2.become another man: For ſeeing the Scripture, which cannot lye, informeth us both of original and actual pollution, whereby we become no more qualified for heaven, then Toades to be made Angels: This being granted, its the greateſt reaſon in the world, that thou ſhouldſt immediately ariſe, and go out from thy own ſelf; For how wilt thou, who art but ſtubble and dry wood, be able to indure this conſuming fire of Gods wrath? Again, its rational, becauſe its for the better: Though men do not love to change, yet when its for the better, then they are glad; How do men thus change, in all their outward affairs? but herein turning from ſinto grace, we tranſcendently have the advantage; we change corruption for glory, coals for gold, luſt and ſin, for the enjoyment of God, and communion with him: So that if men would ſet judgement on work, and conſider what that is they were once; and what that is to which God now calleth them, they would make no delay, but riſe up and be doing. Again, its the greateſt reaſon thus to change, becauſe we our ſelves are ſubject to a total change by death: We cannot always live and abound in our pleaſures, and our jollities, but death will at laſt come and make a wonderful change: Oh therefore be changed ſpiritually, before thou art changed corporally; the time will come, when it will be ſaid of thee, Thou livedſt in ſuch advantages, in ſuch comforts, but now thou art not, death hath ſwallowed up all thy temporal joy, and life it ſelf: Oh let it be for the preſent ſaid, Thou didſt live once in ſuch wickedneſs, in ſuch impieties, but now all is altered: I beſeech you as pilgrims, abſtain from the luſts of the fleſh, 1 Pet. 2. 11. Remember you are pilgrims and travellers, you have no abiding place in this world.
Thirdly, Its a profitable change: What profit have you of thoſe things, whereof 3.you now are aſhamed, Rom. 6. 1. Alas, thy ſins are no ways profitable to thee, for all the curſes of God both temporal and ſpiritual do accompany them; but godlineſs is profitable for all things: Though it would not profit a man, to gain the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul, yet it would exceedingly profit a man, to gain his ſoul, though he loſt all the world: Though he ſaid, Miſerum eſt illud verbum fuiſſe, yet here, Faelix & beatum verbum eſt fuiſſe: Its a bleſſed and happy word, to ſay, Such an ungodly man once, but now not at all; ſuch an one that ſcorned and deſpiſed the ways of God, but now he loveth and rejoyceth in them; even as the Prodigals Father rejoyced over his repenting ſon, He was dead, but now is alive; he was loſt, but now is found: Thus mayeſt thou, with joy and thankſgiving, ſay, I was loſt, but grace hath found me; I was dead, but grace hath inlivened me.
Fourthly, Its an honorable change: For thoſe that honor God, God will honor, 1 Sam. 2. 30. As thoſe that ſerve baſe and vile luſts, the Lord giveth them 4upto contempt and ſcorn before others. Its true, in the eyes of the world, to ſet upon this change, its many times object of diſdain, To leave thy luſts, thy wantonneſs, thy pride, thy jolly companions, and to betake thy ſelf to a more accurate and exact way of godlineſs, makes a man the drunkards ſong, Pſal. 69. 12. as David complained he was: But as David was then more honorable, when he danced ſo Religiouſly before the Ark, then when he conquered and ſubdued ſo many Philiſtims, although Michal deſpiſed him and ſcorned him at her very heart: Thus it is here, ſince thou haſt forſaken thy ſinnes, feared an oath, been conſtant in Private and Family Prayer, zealouſly ſanctifying Gods Sabbaths, which he hath commanded: Since this (I ſay) thou art become truly honorable, and art born of God.
Uſe of Exhortation, To raiſe and awaken your ſelves out of your former impieties: Uſe.Oh that once we might ſay, You were dead, but now are made alive: Oh that at laſt we might ſay this Text, Such and ſuch hainous offenders ſome of you have been; but now ye are waſhed, now ye are ſanctified through the blood of Chriſt. Call thy ſelf to an account, ſay, Oh my ſoul, doeſt thou minde to be thus always? Are there no purpoſes or reſolutions to become another man? Why doth not he that uſed to ſwear, ſwear no more? Why doth not he that uſed to be luſtful, be luſtful no more? Let him that ſtole (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſteal no more, Epheſ. 4. 28. Oh that God would make this bleſſed change in your lives! What ſhould hinder it? Can your ſinnes be better then GOD to you? Can your luſts be more then Heaven to you?