Great Salvation by Jesus Christ, Table of contents
A breife TABLE Of the CONTENTS.
A Short Introduction. pag. 1. 2. 3.
The rule of Gods dealing with the Refuſers of his mercy, upon which is grounded the whole Method of the Treatiſe in theſe 3 particulars.
1. Ingentia Beneficia.
2. Ingentia Flagitia.
3. Ingentia Supplicia. p. 4
Whence are raiſed 3 ſuitable Doctrines.
1. Goſpel Salvation is Great Salvation.
2. Setting light by this great Salvation is great Sin.
3. The neglect of this great Salvation brings great Damnation.
1. Doct. proved and made plaine. p. 5
1. By comparing it with Salvation by the Law.
2. By comparing it with the old Teſt. manifeſtations.
3. By comparing it with temporall deliverances. p. 5
It is alſo proved by improving the Text in its elegant Climax, or Gradation 3 stories high.
1. Salvation.
2. Great Salvation.
3. So great Salvation.
Illuſtrated further by alluding to the 3 degrees of compariſon, wherein is ſhewed to be.
1. Poſitively great.
2. Comparatively greater than other.
3. Superlatively the greateſt of all. p. 8
Proved alſo from three pregnant Scriptures.
Pſal. 130.7. Plentifull Redemption.
Luke. 1.69. A horn of mighty Salvation.
Hebr. 7.25. Salvation to the uttermoſt. p. 8, 9.
Proved laſtly by three Reaſons. p. 9.
1. Reaſon. Drawn from the ab hoc, ſhewing from what we are ſaved.
2. Reaſon. Drawn from the ad hoc, ſhewing to what we are ſaved.
3. Reaſon. Drawn from the per hoc, ſhew̄ing by what we are ſaved.
1. Reaſon. Becauſe it ſaves from great Evills. As
1. From the wrath of God. p. 10. 11.
2. From the curſe of the Law. p. 12. 13.
3. From the tyranny and dominion of Satan. p. 14. &c.
4. From the evill of ſin.
1. From the condemning. power p. 21
2. From the commanding. power p. 21
5. From the evills of Puniſhment from a 3 fold Death.
1. Internall of the Soul.
2. Externall of the Body.
3. Eternall of both Soul and Body. p. 23. &c.
2. Reaſon. Becauſe it advances to great Happines p. 6
1. Before time in Election.
2. In time in Iuſtification and ſanctification.
3. After time in Glorification. p. 27.
Two bunches of Beatitudes belonging to Gods ſaved ones.
1 Bunch.
1. Juſtification, wherein of ungodly they are made righteous.
2. Reconciliation, wherein of Enemies they are made Friends.
3. Adoption, wherein of Aliens they are made Sons.
4. Sanctification, wherein of Sinners they are made Saints.
5. Glorification, wherein of imperfect Saints they are made perfect.
2 Bunch.
1. They are entitled unto the love of God the Father.
2. The Grace of God the Son.
3. The Communion of God the holy Ghoſt.
4. The Protection of the Trinity.
5. The Guardianſhip of Angells.
6. The comforts of an appeaſed conſcience.
7. The comfortable enjoyment of the things of this life.
8. The believing expectation of the life to come. p. 28.
Its further ſhewed that Salvation advances its heires unto two Kingdoms at once.
1. The Kingdome of Grace. p. 29.
2. The Kingdome of Glory. p. 31. to 35.
3. Reaſon. Becauſe we are ſaved by great meanes.
1. The wiſdom and love of God the Father. p. 36. &c.
2. The ſufferings and Righteousneſs of God the Son p. 39. &c.
3. The Revelation and Application of the holy Ghoſt. p. 41. &c.
The other ſubord nate meanes laid down in 2 paires.
The 1 Pair is
1. Graces.
2. Duties.
p. 45. & 46.
The 2 Pair is
1. Ordinances.
2. Providences.
p. 47 & 48. &c.
1. Ʋſe. Of Conſideration.
1. What it is.
2. How great it is. p. 51. to 54.
2. Ʋſe. Of Proclamation. p. 54. 55. 56.
3. Ʋſe. Of Reproof. p. 57. to 65.
4. Ʋſe. Of Conſolation. p. 65. to 70.
5. Ʋſe. Of Exhortation. p. 70. to 77.
2 Doctrine, Setting light by this great ſalvation is great ſin. p. 79.
1 Poſitively great p. 84, to 88.
2 Comparatively greater than other p. 88, to 95.
3 Superlatively the greateſt p. 95.
1 Reaſon: Becauſe an accumulated ſin p, 95.
Proved to be ſo, becauſe it is a refuſing of Chriſt in all his Offices. as p, 98.
1 His Prieſtly office p. 100. &c.
2 His Propheticall office p. 102. &c.
3 His Kingly office p. 105. &c.
2 Reaſon. Becauſe its an aggravated ſin by three circumſtances, p. 110.
1 Of Perſon p. 111, to 114.
2 Of Time p. 114, to 116.
3 Of Place p. 117. 118.
3 Reaſon, Becauſe it is a State confounding ſin. p. 119 &c.
4. Reaſon. Becauſe it is a Church confounding ſin. p. 123. &c.
1 Ʋſe of Information to ſhew wherin it conſiſts. p. 131.
(Viz.)
1 In taking no care for ſalvation p. 132. &c.
2 In taking but little care, conjunct with greater care. p. 137. &c.
3 In not making it our greateſt care. p. 139. &c.
2 Ʋſe of Direction in 4 things. p. 142.
1 There muſt be great thoughts of heart. p. 143.
2 Great ſearchings of heart about it. p. 145.
3 Great humblings of heart about it. p. 147. &c.
4 Great chainges of heart, about it p. 151. &c.
3 Uſe of conſideration, in order to conſolation in two things.
1 That only is Goſpel refuſing which is finall. p. 153. &c.
2 Goſpel-mercy will pardon all Goſpel-refuſing which is not finall. p. 156. &c.
… Doctrine, The neglect of great Salvation brings great Damnation. p. 161.
Damnation, that is,
1 Poſitively great, p. 164. &c.
2 Comparatively greater than other, p. 167. &c.
3. Superlatively the greateſt. p. 170. &c
1 Reaſon. Becauſe it comes from ſo great a God. p. 174. &c.
2 Reaſon. Becauſe it is for deſpiſing ſo great a Saviour. p. 177.
3 Reaſon. Becauſe inflicted for reſiſting the ſpirit. p. 180. &c.
4 Reaſon. Becauſe prepared for great Enemies. p. 182.
5 Reaſon. Becauſe it hath a long reach. p. 185.
1 It reacheth to the Soul. p. 185. &c.
2 It reacheth to eternity. p. 187. &c.
6 Reaſon, Becauſe it conſiſts of great Puniſhments, p. 189.
1 The Puniſhment of Loſs.
2 The Puniſhment of Senſe. p. 189. &c.
1 Noted by the worm that dyeth not. p. 192.
2 By the fire that never goes out. p. 193.
1 Rationall Torments inflicted upon.
1 The underſtanding …
2 The conſcience in three things. p.
1 Remembrance of things paſt.
2 Senſe of preſent miſery. p. 197. &c.
3 Fear of wrath to come.
3 The Will. p. 200.
4 The Paſſions. p. 221. &c.
2 Senſible Torments for the Body. p. 213. &c.
Uſe of Terrour. p. 219.
Prompting us to a 4 fold Meditation.
1 Of Death. p. 224. &c.
2 Of Judgement. p. 227. &c.
3 Of Hell. p. 230. &c.
4 Of Heaven. p. 232. &c.
The Concluſion. from pag. 234. to the end.
GREAT SALVATION BY JESVS CHRIST Tendered to the greateſt of Sinners, &c.
Hebr. 2, 3.
How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
SAlvation is ſo ſweet a ſubject, that its pitty it ſhould meet with any but faithfull handlers, and profitable hearers; I may ſay of the very ſillables of it, as once holy Bernard did of that ſaving Name Jeſus, in which it was founded, Mat. 1.21. That it is Mel in ore, melos in aure, jubilum in corde; Hony to the mouth, Muſick to the eare, and rejoycing to the heart. Words of Salvation are breath of life, and its pitty any of that ſhould be lik… breath ſcattered in the ayre; they are water of life, and its pitty it ſhould be like water ſpilt upon the ground; we ſhould deal by ſuch doctrine as goldſmiths do by the filings of their gold, ſecure every duſt of it; As God ſaith to ungodly teachers, ſo may we ſay unto ungodly hearers, What have you to do to take my word into your mouthes, or eares, when it takes no hold upon your hearts, Whereas you hate to be reformed, and have caſt my words behind you. Pſal. 50.16, 17.
Salvation is ſuch a myſtery of miraculous mercy, that the very Angells do delight to pry into is, 1. Pet. 1.12. And as they were miniſtring Spirits to the great Saviour when he was upon Earth, ſo they are glad to be Miniſtring Spirits to the heyres of this great Salvation. Heb. 1.14. A Meſſenger coming from the dead, and from that triumphant community of juſt and perfect Soules, were fitter to ſpeak to you of ſuch a theam, than one that's going to the dead, and is yet clothed with the raggs of mortality and corruption: If ſuch a one ſhould hear us expreſſing our low conceptions of ſuch ſublime myſteries as accompany Salvation, he wouldſay as the Queen of the South of Solomons wiſdome, that one half is not told you in your own Country; If the Divell and damned Soules might hear but one Sermon more of Salvation with hope of obtaining it, can you think that they would be ſo regardles, and negligent as the common ſort of hearers are? Do you think that the divells themſelves (which beleeve the dreadfullneſs of perfected damnation, and tremble to beleeve it) would ſay to ſuch a preacher as Foelix did to Paul, Acts 24, 25. Go thy way for this time, and when I have a more convenient ſeaſon I will call for thee.
This is the unum magnum, the unicum maximum; the great thing that the Apoſtle indeavours to ſecure in this place, that none of Chriſts blood may be loſt, that none of his own Miniſteriall labour may be labour in vaine: In a word his drift and ſcope is that that Salvation which was ſo great in the operation, and in the Revelation, ſhould be as great in the Worlds acceptation. Chriſt had wrought it out, who was the Son of God, higher than Angells, the great Prophet, and Prieſt, and King of his Church, as this Epiſtle declares at large.
The Goſpel had brought it to light, which is the glorious Goſpel of the bleſſed God, 1. Tim. 1.11. which makes Salvation neerer and clearer than the law did. And therefore if we accep… it not, how ſhall we eſcape? that is to ſay, there is no poſſib…ity of eſcaping.
One of the Ancients hath laid down this Rule as Gods method of dealing with the refuiers of his mercy. Ingentia beneficia, flagitia, ſupplicia. Where God offers, or beſtowes great me…cies, there the ſetting light by thoſe mercies are ſinns with an high hand, and thoſe great ſinns draw down proportionable puniſhments.
Now according to this Rule.
1. What mercy …reater than Goſpel-mercy?
2. What ſin can be greater than to ſet light by ſuch mercy?
3. What puniſhment can be greater than that, that ſuch ſin deſerves?
The Apoſtles words here conſidered as related to the context, may be exactly reduced to hat rule; we ſhall therefore from ſuch premiſes draw theſe three naturall concluſions, as the plaine reſults of this Scripture.
1. That Salvation brought to light by the Goſpel is great Salvation.
2. That ſetting light by ſuch Salvation is great ſin.
3. That the neglect of ſuch great Salvation brings great damnation.