Four Useful Discourses, Sermon 5

Four Useful Discourses · Sermon 5

p. 229Sermon V.

Luke 10. 6.

Your Peace ſhall reſt upon it, &c.

APPLICATION.

Firſt, IS it ſo, that even the Bleſſed Miniſtry of the Goſpel, the Opening of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Riches of Gods Grace may be Rejected by People, and is often. The Conſideration on of this Firſt, ſhould Teach us to bewail the horrible Wickedneſs of Mans Heart, and the Diſhonour that is done to God in this: When thoſe Riches of Gods Grace, that glorious Work of God in Chriſt, the Bleſſed Son of God, coming to Ranſom Souls, and to Deliver them out of the neathermoſt Hell; yet he Rejected. There's no Object that ever was in the World, that is ſuch an Object of Lamentation as this is. When Chriſt came to Jeruſalem, He falls a Weeping: Upon what ground? O, if thou hadſt known, ſaith He, at leaſt in this thy day, thoſe things that concern thy Peace: Thou didſt not know thoſe things that did concern thy Peace. Perhaps it may be meant, outward Peace. In great part it is. But if that be ſuch an Object of Lamentation, as to draw Tears from Chriſt, what an Object p. 230of Lamentation is it to Rend, indeed, the Hearts of thoſe that underſtand what Chriſt is, what the Offer of Chriſt means; That Chriſt ſhould be Preached in any place, and yet rejected. When Jeremiah went to Preach (though not ſuch a Meſſage as this is that now we are Speaking of) yet when he ſaw the People would not hear, Chap. 13. ver. 15. Hear ye and give ear, be not Proud, for the Lord hath Spoken. But in ver. 17. But if ye will not hear it, my Soul ſhall weep in ſecret places for your Pride, and mine Eyes ſhall weep ſore, and run down with Tears, becauſe the Lords Flock is carried away Captive. If ye will not hear: That indeed ſhould be the work of the Miniſters of the Goſpel, when they are Rejected. Not to be Careleſs, and ſay, I have done my Work, and what need I care. But they ſhould take it to Heart, and Lament it as the greateſt Affliction that can befal them; yea, more than any Affliction whatſoever: That the Bleſſed Meſſage that they are ſent withal, is Rejected by Wretched and Sinful Men.

Secondly, If God in Chriſt be ſometimes Rejected, all the Mercy of God in His Son; we ſhould not think much, though our love and kindneſs towards others be many times Slighted, and Diſregarded. Indeed, there's nothing goes more to any Ingenuous Heart, than to have his love and kindneſs to be Diſregarded: But when we find our Hearts troubled at this, O that ſuch a one that I have done ſo much for, and yet that he ſhould deal thus with me; Lay thine hand upon thy Heart, and conſider what God hath done for thee in Chriſt, and how ill thou haſt requited Him. Is it ſo much for thee a poor Worm, not to have thy Love and Kindneſs imbrac'd: What is it then for the Infinite God, not to have that p. 231Infinite Love and Mercy of His to the Children of Men, not Imbraced but Rejected?

Thirdly, Let's learn from hence, never to truſt our own Hearts. We think often, had we ſuch means as others have, then we ſhould not do as they do; ſurely we ſhould do better. Men are very ready to truſt their own Hearts, and in the uſe of Means: But let us learn from hence never to truſt in our own Hearts, or in the uſe of any Means. God may ſend you Means, and Reveal glorious Truths unto you; yet it may ſo fall out, that you may never come to be partakers of the good of thoſe things: It hath been ſo with many, and you muſt look to your own Hearts. Do not Bleſs your ſelves in this, Through Gods Mercy the Lord hath ſent us His Word plentifully, and the Goſpel comes to be Opened clearly among us: That's not enough, what God hath done, but look you into your own Hearts, how you Imbrace it; otherwiſe the Goſpel may come among you, and yet you never come to be Saved by it. But this, indeed, is a ſad Condition, whereſoever it is.

Fourthly. Further, Gods Miniſters are to Learn from hence, not to be Diſcouraged. They come and Preach, and with an Expectation to prevail with the Hearts of People, to draw them to Chriſt. When they have been in their Studies, labouring to find out ſome Truths of the Goſpel, and to ſit it to the Hearts of their Auditors, and have been Praying over it: They come now with Expectation that ſome good may be done, that ſome Soul may be drawn in to Chriſt, yet perhaps find it quite otherwiſe, and the People to ſit Dead under it; it may be Slight it, Contemn it, Scorn it, Diſobey it: But they muſt not be, I ſay, Diſcouraged in this, as if ſo be a ſtrange thing had befallen them. What art thou more than p. 232Jeſus Chriſt thy Maſter? What art thou more than Paul and other of the Apoſtles? They have been rejected all in their Miniſtry, and what art thou that thou canſt not bear any Rejection? Indeed, it is the hardeſt thing to be Born by a Miniſter of the Goſpel, that poſſibly may be: But conſider, That it is not a new thing for the Goſpel, to be Rejected. I remember, I have read of Melancthon, he had ſuch thoughts, that when he began to Preach, he ſhould Convert all that heard him. He thought there was ſo much Reaſon in what he Spake, and ſo much Evidence and Power to prevail with the Hearts of People, that he thought he ſhould prevail with every one; but he found it otherwiſe by Experience. And though, indeed, when any Miniſter that is acquainted with the Glorious things of God and Chriſt, come to open them to People, they are ready to think, ſuch things will ſurely prevail with the Hearts of People, but the Lord teaches him to know that the Bleſſing depends upon Himſelf: That though the things be never ſo Excellent and Moving, yet all will not do except the Lord comes in by His Almighty Power.

Fifthly, Let all thoſe with whom the Miniſtry of the Goſpel doth prevail in any meaſure, Bleſs God that makes ſuch a difference between them and any others. It is Preached unto many, but doth them no good. But the Lord hath Called thee out, and it hath ſtruck thy Heart, converted thy Spirit: Thou ſeeſt cauſe to ſtand and admire at the Glory of God in Chriſt, and thou wondereſt perhaps that all People are not taken with the Riches of the Glory of Gods Grace in Chriſt: Well, Bleſs God that hath made a difference between thee and others. It may be in the ſame Family another Scorns it, and Contemns it, perhaps one that came out of the ſame p. 233Womb deſpiſes it, and God hath taken thee, and revealed Himſelf to thee, it may be thy rich Neighbour Contemns it; but God looks upon thee (a poor Creature) and makes Himſelf known to thee. It may be a Learned Man he ſlights it, and makes nothing of it; and thou who art but a Babe, haſt thoſe things Revealed. Thou haſt cauſe to thank God for it, For Chriſt doth: He thanks His Father for this thing, That He ſhould be pleaſed to paſs by the Wiſe and great ones of the World, and chuſe Babes, Mat. 11. 25. At that time, Jeſus Anſwered and ſaid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that thou haſt hid theſe things from the Wiſe and Prudent, and hiſt revealed them unto Babes. Now this Scripture that I bring, not only to ſhew you that God doth ſometimes Reveal the great Myſteries of the Goſpel to Babes, and hide them from the Wiſe, but as a Text to ſtir up your Hearts to Bleſs God, if He hath done ſo for any of you. Upon this ground Jeſus Chriſt doth thank His Father for it; then ſurely thou haſt cauſe to thank God the Father for this great Mercy of His, to put ſuch a difference between thee and others. For, indeed, it is one of the moſt glorious Works of God, This Work of the Lord making known the Great and High Myſteries of the Goſpel to poor weak ones; when as the Great, and Rich, and Mighty, and Learned of the World, do not come to underſtand it. It is one of the great Miracles by which the Lord doth Confirm the Goſpel to be His own, as great a Miracle as other Miracles that were Wrought by Chriſt. And for that, this is very obſervable that we have in the place where John ſends to Chriſt, to know whether He were the Meſſias, or no. Now mark the Anſwer that Chriſt gives unto John's Meſſengers, Jeſus Anſwered and ſaid unto p. 234them, Go and ſhew John again thoſe things which ye do hear and ſee, the Blind receive their ſight, and the Lame walk, and the Lepers are cleanſed, and the Deaf hear, and the Dead are raiſed, and the Poor have the Goſpel Preached to them: And as ſome of the Evangeliſts have it, Poor receive the Goſpel. Obſerve why Chriſt brings this, He brings it in as an Argument that he was the Meſſiah. John would know whether He was the Meſſiah: How ſhall he know it? Why go and tell him, The Blind receive their ſight, the Lame walk, the Lepers are cleanſed, the Deaf hear, the Dead are raiſed. Theſe are good Arguments to prove that Chriſt was the Meſſias. If Chriſt could Work ſuch Miracles as to give ſight to the Blind, to make the Lame to walk, to cleanſe the Lepers, to cauſe the Deaf to hear, and to raiſe the Dead; theſe indeed were good Arguments. But how comes in the laſt, And the Poor receive the Goſpel? How is this an Argument that Chriſt is the Meſſias? One would think that this ſhould rather be an Argument, that He is not the Meſſias. They might ſay, I indeed, there are theſe great things done by Him, but there is one thing makes us ſuſpect that He is not the Meſſias: For our Great, Rich, and Learned Men, they do not receive Him, only a Company of poor Ignorant People, this Vulgar ſort: For ſo was the Arguing of the Phariſees there, in John 7. 48. ſay they, (when the Officers were Affected with the Miniſtry of Chriſt) Have any of the Rulers, or of the Phariſees believed on him? Have any of them Believed on Him? But this People that knoweth not the Law, are Curſed. Only a Company of poor Ignorant People, they believe on Chriſt. But the Rulers, have any of the Rulers, or of the Phariſees, the Great Men, and the Rich Men, the Learned Men, Have they believed? You p. 235ſee that this was a Stumbling-block, whereby they would perſwade Men, that Chriſt was not the Meſſias. But mark, That which Men make the great Stumbling-block, why Chriſt is not the Meſſias, that Chriſt makes unto John the great Argument, why He was the Meſſias: Becauſe the Poor receive the Goſpel. And Chriſt doth put this among his other Miracles. And you will ſay, How is this an Argument? Thus, It is one of the greateſt Miracles that ever Chriſt wrought, and it may well be Reckoned among thoſe Miracles, of giving Eyes to the Blind, and Hearing to the Deaf. Thus, To make one that is a poor weak Creature, that hath but a mean Capacity, yet that ſuch a one ſhall be able to ſee into the Great, and High, and Glorious Myſteries of the Goſpel, that the Angels deſire to pry into: So to ſee into the Reolity, and the Certainty, and the Glory of thoſe Myſteries, that he dares venture his Soul and his Eternal Eſtate upon: I ſay, This is as great a Work of a …od, as ever any Work that God did in this World, and therefore it may well be put among Chriſts Miracles, …nd an Argument that Chriſt is the Meſſias. If Chriſt ſhall Reveal ſuch Glorious things, that are the Objects of the Underſtanding of Angels, to poor Illiterate People, when as the Wiſe of the World ſhall not be able to ſee them, but ſhall Reject them: They ſhall not ſee ſo much as to dare to venture the loſs of a Luſt for them, of any Creatures contentment for them; but a poor weak. Man or Woman Illiterate, that underſtands but little in other things, ſhall come to ſee ſo much the Glory of God ſhining in the Face of Chriſt, as he dares venture not only all outward Comforts in this World, but his Soul and Eternal Eſtate, upon the Grace of God in his Son. Here's a mighty Work of Chriſt. The Poor they come then to receive the Goſpel, it is Preached to p. 236them and they receive it; and hereby Chriſt ſhews his Power. Now hath Chriſt ſhown ſuch a Miraculous Work of his upon thy Soul, when he hath paſt by others that are Underſtanding, and Men of Parts, & yet Reveal'd ſuch deep and hidden Myſteries of the Goſpel unto thee. Oh admire at the Grace of God in his Son to thee, and Bleſs him, for this is not an ordinary Mercy; it is a choice Mercy. The Goſpel is Rejected many times where it comes, and thou ſeeſt it; only God hath made a ſeparation between thee and others: As I told you of that Speech of Judas, not Iſcariot, Lord, ſaith he, Why is it that thou Revealeſt thy ſelf unto us, and not unto the World. Thou haſt cauſe to wonder at it indeed.

Sixthly, And then further, that we may haſten to what remains: If this be ſo, that Gods ſends the Goſpel where it is Rejected, hence be not Scandalized when you ſee it Deſpiſed and Contemned. Let none be Scandalized at it, ſo ſaith Chriſt, in Mat. 11, when he ſaith, The Poor have the Goſpel Preached to them: in the next words, And Bleſſed is he, whoſoever is not offended in me. For Men are ready to be offended, when they ſee great Ones Reject the Miniſtry of the Goſpel: But you hear that God ſends it where it is Rejected, therefore be not you offended; do not think that becauſe others do not Imbrace it, therefore there is nothing in it, and why ſhould I: There is this Temptation in the Hearts of many, though while they are Hearing of the Goſpel Preached, their Hearts are taken with what they Hear, and they are Convinc'd; but when they go away, and are among their Companions and others that they find to ſlight all and to diſregard all; their Hearts are taken off likewiſe. But, O learn by this Point, never to be Scandalized by others caſting off the Goſpel: For it is that which Chriſt hath forewarned his Miniſters when p. 237they go to Preach; he doth intimate to them that they muſt expect that their Miniſtry muſt not prevail with all.

7ly. Laſtly, Is this true, That God ſends the Preaching of the Goſpel where he ſees it will and doth not prevail with many? Now let every one of you lay his hand upon his Heart, and think thus with himſelf; Is it I? Am I the man? am I the Woman to whom Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be Preached, and ſhall not prevail? O the Lord forbid that this ſhould be ſo, though it doth not prevail with others▪ ſuch and ſuch, yet God forbid that it ſhould not prevail with my Heart; let me imbrace it ſo much the rather. Do I ſee Jeſus Chriſt rejected by others? O it is that which ſhould go neer to my Heart, that the Lord is rejected by any, and ſhall he be rejected by me too, the Lord forbid; that as Chriſt ſaid to his Diſciples when others forſook him, And will ye alſo go away? O whither ſhall we go from thee ſaith Peter, for with thee are the words of Eternal life; ſo doſt thou ſee others ſlight and neglect the glorious Miniſtry of the Goſpel, and wilt thou do ſo? wilt thou add to the diſhonour of the Goſpel too? O the Lord, the Lord forbid; but let me the rather embrace it, by how much the more it is neglected, and diſ-regarded by others. What, ſhall ſuch a glorious Goſpel be preached in vain? What, ſhall the precious Blood of Jeſus Chriſt be ſhed in vain? and it is in vain in reſpect of many Souls, and ſhall it be in reſpect of my Soul? the Lord forbid. O that the Lord would put ſuch kind of thoughts into your Hearts, when you ſee others live under the Miniſtry of the Goſpel in a ſinful way. And thus much for this Suppoſition, If not: What follows?

If not, Let it return to you again.

Here we have firſt an encouragement to Gods Miniſters, in caſe their Miniſtry is rejected.

p. 238And Secondly, A dreadful denunciation againſt thoſe that ſhall reject the Goſpel.

Firſt, the encouragement of the Miniſters of God in caſe their Miniſtry be rejected, Let it return to you again. In this we have theſe two Things.

Firſt, That when any Miniſter Preaches Chriſt to a people, if the people get no good by his Preaching, yet he ſhall have the benefit of it upon his own Soul; that's the firſt: let it return to you again if they will not embrace it, ſo as to have the good and benefit of it to them, it ſhall return to you, and you ſhall have the benefit and bleſſing of it upon your own Souls.

Secondly, Let it return, that is, though it prevails not here, yet it ſhall not loſe any thing of its efficacy, of the life, of the vigor of it, but it ſhall return to you with as much efficacy and life as ever, ſo as if you be ſent to ſome other place, there may be as much hopes of doing good as ever you had; theſe are the two things that are for the incouragement of Gods Miniſters, in caſe their Miniſtry be rejected. Briefly of theſe:

Firſt, That whena people rejects the Goſpel, Gods Miniſters they ſhall not loſe by it, they ſhall have the bleſſing of their Miniſtry; in Iſai. 49. 4. Then I ſaid, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my strength for nought, and in vain: here's a dreadful complaint; but mark what follows: yet ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God: there is a correcting of himſelf as it were; as if he ſhould ſay, what did I ſay it was in vain, that I had ſpent my ſtrength in vain, to no purpoſe, that I had gotten nothing by what I had done? No, let me correct my ſelf, ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God, I ſhall not loſe my labour; though I do no good upon people, yet I ſhall not loſe my labour: The truth is, even this Complaint is p. 239not ſpoken ſo much in the perſon of the Prophet, as of Jeſus Chriſt: It is a complaint of Chriſt, for it is apparent in the reading of this Chapter, that it is Prophetical of Chriſt; for it follows, And now ſaith the Lord, that formed me from the Womb to be his ſervant, to bring Jacob again to him, though Iſrael be not gathered, yet ſhall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God ſhall be my ſtrength: And he ſaid, It is a light thing that thou ſhouldest be my ſervant, to raiſe up the Tribes of Jacob, and to reſtore the preſerved of Iſrael: I will alſo give you for a light to the Gentiles, that thou maiſt be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth, &c. Now who was he that was a light to the Gentiles, and the Salvation of God to the ends of the Earth? It was Jeſus Chriſt, and yet Chriſt himſelf is brought in here complaining, that he had laboured in vain, and ſpent his ſtrength for nought, and in vain: but God comes in and incourages him, and tells him that he ſhould not loſe the benefit of their labours; his judgment ſhould be with the Lord, and his work with his God. And further, that though he did not prevail with ſome, yet he ſhould with others, he ſhould be given as a light to the Gentiles. And likewiſe that place is well known in the 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. For we are unto God a ſweet ſavour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved; I that's true, but mark what follows, and in them that periſh: A ſweet ſavour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh: as truly in them that periſh, as in them that are ſaved, Gods Miniſters are a ſweet ſavour of Chriſt, therefore their labour is not in vain. To us belongs faithfulneſs; we are to look to be faithful in our work, but for the ſucceſs that belongs to God himſelf. It is a note that Bernard hath on the 1 Cor. 15. 10. ſaith the Apoſtle there, By the Grace of God I am that I am, and his p. 240Grace that was beſtowed upon me, was not in vain: but I laboured more abundantly then they all. Saith Bernard here, he doth not ſo much glory in the fruit of his Labours, as in his labouring, for indeed we are to glory rather in our work, than in the faithfulneſs of our hearts in our work, rather than in the ſucceſs. Miniſters many times may look too much after the ſucceſs of their labour, and yet if there be any thing in the world that a man may look for the ſucceſs of his labour in, it is in the work of the Miniſtry; but eſpecially he is to look after his faithfulneſs in his labour: and if he be faithful there, he ſhall not loſe his labour: But, ſaith Bernard, you muſt have a care rather to diſcharge your work, to take care of Souls, rather than the curing of them: it is your work to take care of them, but it is Gods work to cure them; that's to be left to God. There is a Queſtion among Divines, Whether a Miniſter that Converts many Souls here by his Miniſtry, or another that is as faithful every whit as he, and as painful, and yet doth not convert Souls, or but very few; which of theſe ſhall have moſt Glory in Heaven, whether the one or the other? Many think rather the Second, becauſe the one hath a great part of his comfort here, and his incouragement; the other goes on in his painfulneſs and faithfulneſs, though he hath not ſuch comforts and incouragements. And indeed, of all Works, it is the hardeſt work for a man to go on comfortably in the work of the Miniſtry without ſucceſs; there is no work ſo hard as that is: What, for a man to think, O that the Lord ſhould ſend me to a people, to what end? to preach the Goſpel indeed, but to harden them, but to aggravate their ſin, but ſo as their condemnation ſhall be increaſed: O it is a dreadful thought unto the heart of a Miniſter, to think that he ſhould be ſent about ſuch a task as p. 241this is. Jeremy was even weary, and ſaid, He would preach no more in the Name of the Lord, only the Word of God was as fire in his bones, and he could not forbear; but had not Gods Word been as fire in his bones, certainly he would have forborn: Hence it is that we read, when God was to ſend his Miniſters to People, that they ſhould not prevail withall, the Lord made mighty preparations, and there was much ado for to get the hearts of his Servants to go about their work: I'll give you two Inſtances remarkable for this: The firſt is in the Prophet Iſaiah, the Lord had a Meſſage to ſend by the Prophet, he would ſend him to Preach, but to a People where he ſhould not prevail; yea the Text ſaith, Go and tell this people, hear ye indeed, but underſtand not; and ſee ye indeed, but perceive not: make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and ſhut their eyes, leſt they ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their hearts, and convert and be healed. The Lord ſends his Prophets to go and to harden the hearts of people; as the truth is, there is nothing in the world will harden mens Hearts more than the Miniſtry of the Word, if it doth not ſoften them. If it doth not prevail with mens hearts to convert them, I ſay there is nothing will harden mens hearts more. There are no People in the world have harder Hearts than thoſe that live under the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. Go and make the heart of this People fat; but this was a mighty hard Meſſage: How muſt this Prophet be prepared? There needs be a mighty deal of preparation to make him go chearfully on in his work. You ſhall ſee that the Prophet had a moſt Glorious Viſion to prepare him: He ſaw the Glory of God ſilling the Temple, and above it ſtood the Cherubims, and one cryed to another, and ſaid, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of p. 242Hoſt; the whole Earth is full of his Glory, and the poſts of the door moved at the voice of him that cryed, and the houſe was filled with ſmoak. Then ſaid I, woe is me. The Lord was fain firſt to reveal his Glory to him; ſecondly to humble his heart; Then ſaid I, wo is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of unclean lips: thirdly, the Lord cauſed a Serophim to fly unto him, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongues from off the Altar; and he laid it upon my mouth and ſaid, Lo, this hath touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy ſin purged. Here's three notable works of God to prepare the heart of this Prophet: then in v. 8. I heard the voice of the Lord, ſaying, whom ſhall I ſend, and who will go for us? then I ſaid, here am I, ſend me. After he had firſt ſeen the glory of God; ſecondly, after he had been humbled for his ſin; and thirdly, after he had had ſuch an extraordinary teſtimony of the pardon of his ſin. Now Lord, as if he ſhould ſay, ſend me about the hardeſt work that thou haſt to do, and then the Lord tells him what that hard Meſſage ſhould be that he ſhould carry? he ſhould go to a people and Preach, but it ſhould be to harden their hearts, and not to prevail with their Spirits. And the like we have in the Prophet Ezekiel, if you read the ſecond, and the beginning of the third chap. the Lord tells him, that he was to go to a Rebellious Houſe; but you ſhall obſerve ſuch a ſtrange work of God for the preparing of his Heart for it in the moſt part of the firſt Chapt. the Prophet had a moſt glorious Viſion of God for the ſetting of him a work; that teaches us, that indeed there is nothing will ſet us ſo much a work as the ſight of God. Secondly, ſuch a voice of God as humbled him, for when I heard, I fell upon my face; and then God comes and comforts him, and ſets him upon his feet. Further, p. 243the Spirit enters into him, and ſpake unto him, and then declared his Meſſage, and gave him the roul, and bid him eat it; and made it to be ſweet unto him, though it was a meſſage of threatning: I ſpeak all this to this end, to ſhew that there is no work more difficult than the work of a Miniſter, and eſpecially when his Miniſtry hath not ſucceſs; and therefore this point is very reaſonable to tell unto them all, that though they have not the ſucceſs that they deſire, yet the good of their Miniſtry ſhall return upon them again. Are there a People that they are ſent to, to whom do they offer Chriſt? Why they would fain gain their Souls unto Chriſt, that they may live for ever in praiſing the riches of the grace of God in Chriſt in the higheſt Heavens. But will they not, Know, thou ſhait have the bleſſing of that peace; look what glory and comfort they ſhould have had, it ſhall return into thy boſom. It is here in the Miniſtry of the Word, as in other Duties; ſuppoſe you pray for a Child, or Friend, or Kinſman, you do not ſee that he is turned to God according to your prayers; but know, your prayer is not loſt for all that; the bleſſing of your Prayer ſhall return into your boſom, and therefore be encouraged in every good work as Miniſters ſhould be encouraged in their Miniſtry, though they have not ſucceſs; ſo you, every one in your meaſure, ſhould be encouraged in every work that God hath called you unto; go on therefore with peace and with comfort in all the work that heretofore you have been ſo much diſcouraged in; for the reward is to your faithfulneſs, and not to the ſucceſs of your Works.

The next to this is: Your peace ſhall Return; that is, as I ſhewed you, it ſhall return with as much power and efficacy; for they may think thus, Lord, do we go to preach p. 244to this People, and do they reject it; what hope ſhall we have that now the Goſpel ſhall do good? it hath received a foil, and now the edge ſeems to be off, and never like to do good any where. No ſaith Chriſt, do not reaſon ſo, do not think that your Goſpel hath loſt the edge of it; it ſhall return to you again with as much power as ever it did at firſt. It is not ſo with the Goſpel as with other things. Many things in the World, if once they receive a repulſe, their edge is taken off; but the Goſpel, though it doth receive a repulſe, yet ſtill the edge of it ſhall continue, and the power of it: this is that which the Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Tim. 2. 10. Wherein I ſuffer trouble as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the Word of God is not bound: Mark, though I ſuffer Bonds, yet the Word of God is not bound: I am ſlighted and contemned, I but the Word is not bound; the Word is the ſame that ever it was, though I be hated and caſt out, that am the Miniſter of the Word; yet it remains in as much ſtrength as ever it did: I indeed am caſt into a Dungeon, but the Goſpel will prevail; all the perſecutions of Wicked men, all the ſcorn that is caſt upon the Goſpel by them, ſhall not take away the edge and power and life of the Goſpel; but that ſhall continue as much as ever: all the rage of Hell, and Devils, and Tyrants ſhall not take away the power of the Goſpel. Indeed they may reſtrain ſuch and ſuch men in the Preaching of it, but after they are dead and rotten, and roaring in Hell, the Goſpel ſhall prevail. We find it ſo at this day, ever ſince Chriſt came, the Goſpel hath been oppoſed by Ungodly men, yet it doth remain in as much life, and vigor, and power as ever it did; and I have no cauſe to queſtion but it will prevail ere long, more than ever it did in the World; though its true, ſometimes we find Miniſters p. 245Preach Sermon after Sermon, and there are but few converted to the Goſpel: what ſhall we think that therefore in hath loſt the power of it? No, Gods time is not come. When the time of God ſhall come to call home thoſe that belong to his Election of Grace, it ſhall appear that the Goſpel ſhall ariſe in power and glory, and prevail in the World again; therefore let's never deſpair, but that the Goſpel will prevail in the World as at firſt, when as there were but a few poor Fiſhermen to Preach it, and all the World was enraged againſt it; the Emperors and Princes of the Earth was enraged againſt it, and yet theſe poor Fiſhermen did ſubdue a great part of the World by the power of the Goſpel: therefore let not us be diſcouraged, for when Gods time is come, it ſhall prevail in a glorious manner more than ever. And ſo as it is with the Goſpel, ſo it ſhould be with the Profeſſors of it: If God be diſhonoured by other, yet let not your edge be taken off, but do you continue in the power, and life, and vigor, as much as ever.

Now the ſecond part, which is the main that I intend; and that is the dreadful threatning of thoſe that do reject the Goſpel: only take this one point, (there are theſe Three:)

Firſt,Doct. 1 That where a people reject the Goſpel, God may juſtly take it away from them, yea they are in danger to have it taken from them: It ſhall return.

Secondly, 2.Such ſhall not have the bleſſing of the Goſpel upon them; this ſhall be their doom, as they ſhall loſe the Miniſtry of it, ſo they ſhall be caſt out from the bleſſing of it.

And then Thirdly, 3.which is yet the principal of all, and that is, That God will deal very quick with thoſe that do reject the Goſpel, Your peace ſhall return; no more ado, p. 246there's an end of them. Theſe are the Three things in this ſentence againſt thoſe that are not the Sons of Peace, where the Goſpel is preached. But a little of the Firſt, we will leave the other.

Firſt, That where a people do reject it, and that preſently; for ſo it is, when you come to a Houſe and offer it, if they do not embrace it, let your peace return again: Chriſt here compares his Diſciples unto Chapmen that ſhould go and offer rich Wares, they have Diamonds, and Precious Stones, things worth Thouſands, and they come perhaps to poor Country-people, and open their Cabinet of Diamonds and Precious Stones, and make offers to them, but they do not know the worth of them, they will bid nothing for them: Now when he ſees that they reject and deſpiſe them, ſaith he, give me my Wares again, and ſo he packs them up again, and away he goes; for ſaith he, this is not a people that is fit for ſuch things as theſe are; ſo ſaith Chriſt, you are ſuch Chapmen, I ſend you abroad with the moſt rich pearl of the Goſpel, to go and ſhew the excellency of it to people, and to offer it to them; and the truth is, I require thus much of them, that if they would have this Pearl, they muſt ſell all: Now the Miniſtry of the Goſpel comes, and they are ignorant of this Pearl, that they have brought this rich Commodity. They can tell them indeed that here is an exceeding rich Pearl, but this is the tenor, that you muſt be content to part with all for this Pearl, that is thus: Firſt, you muſt actually lay down and renounce every beloved ſin. Secondly, you muſt enter into Bond as it were with God, that whenſoever he calls for your Eſtates, your Liberties, your outward Peace, and Comforts that you have in the World, ſhall be at Gods diſpoſe: Thus you enter into Bond, as in your dealing for Commodities, when you ſee p. 247a great and rich Commodity, you lay down ſomewhat for the preſent, and give Bond for the reſt to be paid when it ſhall be called for. When you go to buy Pedling things, there you lay down all at firſt, and no entring into Bond; but when it is a great Purchaſe, then there is a little laid down for the preſent, and entring into Bond for the reſt. Now certainly in this Bargain of the Merchant, there is firſt a laying down for the preſent, thy Luſts, thy Sin; as if the Soul ſhould ſay, O Lord, let me have my part in Chriſt, in this glorious Peace of the Goſpel; as for any wayes of ſin that I have lived in heretofore, Lord I renounce them; and will not live in any way of known ſin, Lord grant me thy Grace to do it: Indeed this is the way of the Hearts coming in at firſt; I but ſaith God, I will not only have thy ſin renounc'd, but thy Eſtate, and Liberty, and Life at my diſpoſe; and thou ſhalt enter into Bonds to lay down all; yes Lord, this is the very Engliſh of the Covenant: The Soul ſeeing the glory of God in Chriſt, ſaith the Soul, Lord I will not only renounce my ſin, but Lord, whatſoever I am, whatſoever I have, whatſoever I can do ſhall be at thy diſpoſe; and here I enter into Bond Lord, that is, I Covenant, and Vow, and bind my ſelf by the ſtrongeſt Bonds that a poor Creature poſſibly can do, that whenſoever thou ſhalt call for any of my Eſtate, of my Liberty, or my outward Comforts, when thou ſhalt call for my Life, Lord they ſhall be at thy diſpoſe. Now have you ſold all? have you thus bought the Pearl? When we come to bring the Pearl of the Goſpel to you, have you embrac'd it? O if our Miniſtry prevails, this hath been the frame and working of your hearts; but if not, our Miniſtry hath not yet prevail'd with you; but when your Hearts begins to work thus, then our Miniſtry begins p. 248to work to purpoſe in your Souls. But we may come to moſt People and open the Pearls of Chriſt, and open the Miniſtry of Reconciliation, and they will do neither of theſe Two; neither lay down any thing for the preſent, renounce no known Sin; and as for Entring into Bond, to have their Eſtates, and Liberties, and Lives, and all to be at Gods diſpoſe, ſo as they are reſolved that they will never enjoy any of them, but only in God, and for God: O how far are People from this? No, they love their Eſtates too much, and they will ſee what they ſhall have before they part with them: And thus that all the Miniſters of the Goſpel Preach unto you concerning God and Chriſt, are but meer Notions; but we are ſure our Money and Eſtates have ſomething in them, and ſo their Hearts embrace this preſent World, and reject Jeſus Chriſt: and do you ſo? Well ſaith God, Pack up your Commodities again, I have no more People in this Place, therefore go and carry them ſome-where elſe; there is another People that will know the worth of theſe things; there is a People in the World that will be willing to renounce their Luſts, and to give up all that they have unto me, if they may have but this Goſpel preached to them; therefore go ſomewhere elſe: Juſt as we Read of the Apoſtles in the Acts 13. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, they were not daunted, and ſaid, It was neceſſary that the Word of God ſhould firſt have been ſpoken to you, but ſeeing ye put it from you, and judge your ſelves unworthy of Eternal Life; lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Indeed you are the Jews, and in Profeſſion the only People of God for the preſent, and therefore we were to come to offer it at firſt to you; but ſeeing you judg your ſelves unworthy of Eternal Life, that is, if you by your carriage do manifeſt that you are a p. 249People no wayes ſuitable to this glorious Goſpel, then we turn to the Gentiles; we will pack up our Commodities, and go to ſome others that will buy it: and indeed, if there be any thing in the World that makes a Faithful Miniſter go from any Place, it is the rejection of his Miniſtry: Other things are no ſuch Arguments as this is, and if there be any thing can Warrant it, this as much as any thing, by vertue of this Scripture, and by vertue of my Text, Let your Peace return to you again, and be gone to ſome other Place: We know the Scripture ſaith, that Pearls are not to be caſt before Doggs, and Swine: And indeed when Men ſhall priſe their Swiniſh Luſts before the Pearl of the Goſpel, all the good that is tendred to them in Jeſus Chriſt; what are they in Gods eſteem but as Swine? and why ſhould Pearls always lye before them, that they ſhould trample them under-foot; and therefore the Lord would have his Light to be removed: God Warrants his Miniſters in ſome Caſes ſo to do. But let people know that this is a dreadful condition, if this ſhould fall out concerning them: If the Lord ſhould begin to make a tender of the Mercy of Chriſt to a People, or particular Souls; and if God ſhould take it away again, that Soul or People is in a moſt dreadful condition: Perhaps you think you may ſpare it well enough; but know, if you can do well enough without the Goſpel, the Goſpel can do well enough without you; when that is taken away from a Place, the very light of that Place is taken away, there is double darkneſs. I remember I have read of the Chriſtians in Chryſoſtoms time, howſoever people now make little eſteem of the preaching of the Goſpel, yet the Chriſtians were ſo affected with Chryſoſtom's Miniſtry; the Story ſaith, that when he was ſilenced by a Wicked Empreſs, they did profeſs, That they p. 250would rather have the Sun withdraw the beams of light from the World, then that the mouth of John Chryſoſtom ſhould be ſtopt; they ſaw ſo much good in his Miniſtry, he preaching Chriſt to them, that if it were put to their choice whether they would be without the beams of the Sun, or his Miniſtry; they would rather chuſe to be without the beams of the Sun than his Miniſtry. It's true, we are not to arrogate ſuch things to any particular man now, we do not ſpeak to that end, no, but to the Miniſtry it ſelf. What if God take away a faithful Miniſtry, we do not ſpeak of any particular men that are ſent to Preach the Goſpel to you: But certainly if God take away the clear light of the Goſpel indeed, that Goſpel that opens Jeſus Chriſt, and the way of Salvation and Eternal life to your Souls. O what if God take away that from you: either take that from you, or you from that, that you ſhall never come to hear the Myſteries of it opened more, (but inſtead of the glorious things of it, you ſhould hear ſome pleading for Ceremonies, Croſs or Surplice, or Cringing, and that ſhould be the Chaff that you ſhould be fed withall) I ſay, when God takes away this from a People, he takes away the light from them, and leaves them in darkneſs: It is not ſuch a fruit of Love and Mercy from the Lord to give fruitful ſeaſons, and to bleſs you in your Trading, as for the Lord to ſend the Miniſtry of peace among you to open the unſearchable Treaſures and Riches of Jeſus Chriſt; that's the ſpecial Token of Gods love to ſuch a place, and when that's removed, then the ſpecial note of the love of God is removed; and when he takes away that, he takes away the Bread of life from you; and therefore the abſence of the Word is called a Famine: We read of the poor people in Egypt, they came and ſold all, that they might have Bread: It may be ſome of p. 251you complain of great Taxations, and want of Trading, and your Eſtates decay, and the like; I but doth not God recompence this with a more plentiful uſe of the Goſpel than ever he did before? and doth not this Recompence you for the trouble that you ſuffer, and the loſs of your Eſtates? I make no queſtion but there are many Souls ſince the beginning of this Parliament that are now in Heaven, that were alive, and did ſuffer much for a while, but are now in Heaven, and bleſſing God for theſe Two or Three Years; and I know no greater Argument of a Carnal, Baſe, and Vile Heart than this, for them to be alwayes complaining of the loſs of their Eſtates, and not to think it at all made up with the liberty of Gods Ordinances, and with the more clear light of the glorious Goſpel that ſhines among them; whereas did the Goſpel take your Hearts indeed, you would bleſs God. It's true Lord my Eſtate is leſs than before, but Bleſſed be thy Name that we live to hear Jeſus Chriſt, and the way of Life and Salvation opened further to us than heretofore. If God ſhould take you away, perhaps then your Conſciences would accuſe you, and ſay, we had an Opportunity wherein we heard Jeſus Chriſt opened to us in his Natures, and in his Offices; O had we taken that time, how happy had it been for us?

Further, Perhaps Carnal Hearts may think it nothing to have the Goſpel taken from them, yet when that is taken from you, know that the Kingdom of God is taken from you; that place in Mat. 21. 43. is very remarkable, O this is one of the dreadfulleſt Threats; therefore ſay I unto you, The Kingdom of God ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. When you have the preaching of the Goſpel in the clearneſs if it among you, know that you have the Kingdom p. 252of God among you: Now God doth require that you ſhould bring forth the fruits thereof; therefore examine your own Hearts what fruits of the Kingdom of God are in my Life, in my Family: Why, the Kingdom of God is among us, that's the meaning of Chriſt's and Johns preaching, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; that is, now comes the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpel, and he calls people to Repent upon this Ground. O Repent and Turn from your ſins; Why? for the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt is come among you. I ſay to you in this place, therefore Repent, Repent now, for the Lord is coming to Open the Kingdom of Heaven, and to Reveal the Grace of Chriſt, and the Glorious things of Eternal Life to you; and therefore if you ſhould pleaſe your ſelves rather in ſporting upon the Lords Day, and going to Ale-Houſes and Wicked places rather than Attending upon the Word, why the Lord may take away this Goſpel, and ſo take away the Kingdom of Heaven from you; and the taking that from you, it is but a fore-runner to the depriving of you from the Everlaſting Kingdom that the Saints ſhall have to all Eternity.

And know there is no Dallying with God, for when thou comeſt to the Offer of Mercy in Chriſt, ſaith Chriſt either come in or not; Chriſt calls for your Anſwer quickly: Though the Lord be very patient towards men that never yet underſtood the Offering of the Goſpel of Chriſt, but if they come once to have Chriſt preached to them, they muſt not expect the like patience. When John began to preach Chriſt, you know what he ſaid: Now is the Axe lay'd to the root of the Tree: And why now more than before? Becauſe now the Kingdom of Heaven is to be preached to them; and now, Every Tree that bringeth p. 253not forth good Fruit ſhall be hewn down, and caſt into the Fire. Perhaps they have gone this Thirty or Forty Years, and there was no Hewing of them down; but now the Axe is lay'd to the root of the Tree. You know that of Chriſt to his Apoſtles, go your wayes and preach, ſaith he, He that Believes ſhall be Saved, and he that Believes not ſhall be damned: there is no more ado, either Believe and be Saved, or Believe not and be Damned; there is quick work, and indeed that's a Point that I would very gladly have been upon, even the Conſideration of the Quick Work of God upon thoſe Souls that ſhall reject the Miniſtry of the Goſpel.