A Pastors Legacy to His Beloved People, Sermon 3
SERMON III. To the furiously Voluptuous.
ARe there none here resolved, or accustomed to please themselves, what ever falls out in the world?
Oh, the resolute rage of the prophane voluptuous!
But wilt thou yet hear?
1. First, Is not a Fountain fuller than a Vessel? God, than creatures, which are but drops from this Ocean?
Made not he thy sences, and their objects? and has he not the residue of the Spirit? Mal. 2.15. Can he not give a thousand delights in a moment, surpassing thy bewitchers?
Psal. 36.8, 9. With him is the river of pleasures, in him the fountain of light and life. Psal. 16. last. In his presence is fulness of joy. Psal. 84.10. A day in thy Courts is better than a thousand.
Epicures do go mean & low; Hearken, lose not pleasure; list up thine eyes and arme to Heaven, and thy pleasures will become a harvest of an hundred fold.
2. Secondly, Is not lust, to earthly pleasures, the destruction of souls?
Consider seriously what destroyes thee and the world.
Titus 3.3. Serving divers lusts and pleasures, is the road to Hell.
2 Tim. 3.4. Lost souls are descried, to be lovers of pleasures, more than God.
Ephes. 2.3. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, makes us the children of wrath.
Souls, be not content in the barge of death: Choose either, now self-pleasing, and hereafter eternal pain; or now self-displeasing, and hereafter eternal pleasure; for so it will be, Rev. 18.7. So much as she fared deliciously, so much sorrow and torment give her.
Lovers of pleasure, are nothing but lovers of Death.
3. Thirdly, Are not drukenness and uncleanness; in Scripture, reason and experience, two most famous channels of Death?
Hells Chariot, goes usually on these four Wheels, Covetousness and Hypocrify, Uncleanness and Drunkenness, two open, and two hid: Covetousness and Hypocrifie, lies oft in secret, and can't be known but by the heart, and the heart-searcher; but Uncleanness and Drunkenness, march to Hell with Drums beating, and Colours flying, and therefore these are the most famous enemies of the Gospel.
That which dares sin most in the face of God and the world, is the most certain train for death, Isa. 3.9. A civil man may go to Hell, but a deboist man must; he that uses me kindly, may intend me a mischief, but he that stabs me to the heart, or cuts my throat, doth it certainly; a silent man may be a Rebel, but he that is up in Arms is one.
Uncleanness is the most inextricable cord of death in the world, being most natural to corruption, and most grieving the Spirit of holiness.
I believe, where any thing else (but hypocrisie) has slain his thousand, this has slain his ten thousands.
Gal. 5.9. These words are the first, and eminent works of the flesh, Eph. 5.3, 4, 5. These have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God, but the wrath of God comes upon them.
It's a sad place, Prov. 2.18, 19. Her house inclineth to death, and none return there-from. Chap. 5.5. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold on Hell.
Chuse which thou pleasest, firm resolution, and watchfulness against this sin, or the flames of eternal torture; one must be thy portion, remember I told thee so.
If thou canst not cease from sin, thou must be damned, 2 Pet. 2.14.
Drunkenness, that which is called good-fellowship, is the School of Hell; there goes out all graces, comes in all sin; men are hardened against Heaven, and unto Hell by this, Hos. 4.11. Wine with whoredom take away the heart.
This was Pauls frequent Doctrine; drunkards have nothing to do with Heaven, Gal. 5.21. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Isa. 5. from 11. to 14. Hell opens her mouth to those, that opens their mouths to drunkenness.
Chuse which thou wilt have, the company in an Ale-house, or in Heaven; to be filled with drink, or with the Spirit; both consist not together.
I speak short, but pray do you remember, when nothing can cure you of this; or you are entring into this trade, say, Now, farewel life, come death; or rather, Oh, give Heaven and thy soul no rest, till thou art delivered. If any thing prevail against these lusts, it must be wrestling-prayer, with believing watchfulness.
4. Fourthly, Canst thou think beastial delights were the end of thy Creation?
Hast thou a soul only to play the beast withal? sure I am, 1 Thes. 4. from 3. to 7. God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. And Psal. 49.20. Man in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beast that perisheth. 2 Pet. 2. from 12. to 14. Voluptuous men, are but as natural bruit beasts, made to be taken and destroyed.
If thou chusest to be a beast here, know, God will make the feel the woe of thy choice hereafter: Remember I beseech you, to be men.
5. Fifthly, Believe the experience of all the world, and be wise before it be too late.
Who is there (that is not distracted at that minute with lust), but will say, Uncleanness and Riot, destroy soul and body, name and state, and all blessedness?
That which the whole stream of sober men speak ill of, will have a dreadful issue.
Consider what is said, Prov. 5. from 7. to 14. and that betimes, least thou be as is exprest, ver. 22.23.
Oh, let me perswade some one voluptuous person, to arise out of the grave of death. How will awakened souls, long for the helps they now loathe If God should not send you a serious person, you will once say, We had some hands lent us, though we would not use them; now there's none will regard our poor souls, we may perish while we will, no man recalls us.
6. Sixthly, Tast the riches of the spirit.
As sure as Truth it self, thou wilt be then much more well pleased: Oh, that thou wouldst enter into thy Closset, begin to repent; and return, and try which gives thy soul most refreshment.
7. Seventhly, Help thy soul to Heaven, no need to help it to Hell: Strive against, not run with the stream of thy corruption.
Who thrusts himself downhill, but restrains himself with all his might?
Dispute not, comfort not, harden not thy heart in sin, and unto death; it will run fast enough to that sad place alone: You are most convinc'd men, my soul bleeds you are not converted: Most of you love goodness, oh the bitterness of your worm.
I beseech you, by all the excellencies of God, glories of Heaven, beauty of Holiness, terrors of Hell; arise in good earnest, take my frequent prescription, viz. Dare to be saved; say a few words to deliver thee from Hell, and enter thee into Heaven.
Remember thy poor despised departed Minister, said again, Dare to be saved; speak a few words for eternity sake; may be this prescription may save some Souls divers years hence: say, Heart, thou shalt leave thy dreadful pleasure; Companion, I must sin no more, I must save my soul.
How speedily would these words, resolutely and believingly spoken, free thee into eternal glory.
8. Lastly, Sin not against the holy Ghost, by reason of those who stand in the way of thy pleasures. Hate not ho-holiness because of reproofs; nothing so unpardonable as that: Let no lust-love, bring thee to the hatred of God and holiness; wound not that Spirit, who must onelyonly be thy reviver, he has deserved no ill of thee; the knif may easily run from the reprovers heart, into Gods breast, and thine own eye. Take Gods part against sin now, that he may take thine against it hereafter.