A Pastors Legacy to His Beloved People, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII. To the Hypocritical and Deceived.
TO all unsound Christians, whether they know, or not know, themselves to be such.
1 Word. First, I say my heart trembles, for fear of multitudes in this nature, in this place.
How has Gospel-Sincerity, and Divine-Communion, been the two great subjects of my discourse?
If I have been wanting in other things, surely in this, I have much left you without excuse.
But Oh! how few are Christians, in good earnest? How few convinc'd Standers-by? How few carry the Visage of God upon them, before the world?
How my soul trembles for multitudes hereabouts? good talkers, that come short of the power of Godlinesse.
I have oft trembled, least God hath resolved, not to work by me, because of so little real vertue in the midst of us.
How many go on, and consider not whither they are going, but take it for granted all is well?
How many fear, and yet go on? how many souls have many of us damn'd, that will be required at our hands; for our practice so unlike our profession?
Let most Professors remember, I am jealous over their souls.
Where is Impartial-sincerity, and Self-denial? Where is zeal for God Where is thriving in Grace?
Know if thou miscarriest, I gave thee warning.
Secondly, Is searching grievous to thee? then soundness is not in thee.
Searching by others, or by thy self: He that fears discovery hath rottenness: He that fears an admonisher, is not a right Christian; what ever may be in the seed, the fruit is naught.
Art thou one that inwardly repines at, outwardly detracts from, a serious reprover? thy soul is in some great cloud of ignorance, or some close league with wickedness.
An upright heart delights in a serious reprover, as a vain person doth in a curious dresser, that will put all right and fine.
How many of us have been reproved, but how few reformed? reproved of earthliness, carelesness, selfishness, offensiveness, but not reformed.
An honest heart being soberly reproved, ceases not, till he hath given satisfaction, or shewn reformation.
How many exhortations, and reproofs have come over us, like the wind, that passes away, and returns no more?
Dost thou love searching and examining, or licking whole thy heart? Dost sleep secure, fall back, fall edge; let things be as they will with thee, thou wilt not trouble thy self to look about thee?
How many will not examine, because they know 'tis bad? or if they do, soon pass it over, as sluts cleanse vessels or houses, they search not the corners.
How many search not their hearts, for their own particular corruptions, or take heed of their proper reformation?
Is labour, or falsness most abhorrent to thee; accordingly, art thou sincere or hypocritical.
Thirdly, Take heed conviction and affection damn thee not, while they stand with thee for Conversion and Religion.
There's many take a wind in the bowels for a child in the womb; that stirs and moves, and they think its this.
Many take the Harbengers for the King; the frequent fore-runners of grace for it self.
Thou likest holiness, and lov'st it; it's well, but not saving well, unless thou livest in it.
I wish my usual incouraging of beginnings may not destroy in conclusion; I cannot but speak comfortably, and joyfully of dispositions to grace.
Blessed be God for the least dawning of the Kingdom of Heaven, but set not up thy rest on this side Jordan, sincerity it self.
He that at last comes short one step of glory, never enters into it.
Some mens Religion is only the witness of their condemnation, not justification; to shew they walk against light, not in truth.
Art afraid of going on to full perfection? Thou art not yet in the right path.
Once more I charge thee, search thy soul, that God may absolve, not search it at last.
See that the movings of thy light and heat, be informed with a living power therein.
Fourthly, Art busie in true obedience and Faith?
1. Is thy obedience universal?
Hast given up thy self a whole Sacrifice to God? or only, as far as thou canst with submission to over-ruling profit, pleasure, or acquaintance?
Art not thine own indeed, but Gods? and so holdest, and considerest thy self.
2. Particular; may be thou art universal in general option or intention, but art thou so in particular circumspection?
Dost consider all thy particular duties, & take care for their performance, or let them run at random, and come by accident?
Art particular for time, now to do the duty, which belongs unto thee; or art thou ever putting it farther off?
Art careful only of some omissions, or commissions, or against them all?
Many are ever good in Thesi, but seldom in Hypothesi: Christians in notion shall be condemned in act.
Those who make it not their business, to be ever in all the sear of the Lord, are like never to dwell in the joy of the Lord.
3. Is thy obedience, self-crncifying?
Dost set all thy strength against thy most pleasing predominant sin? that which brings in thy profit, thy pleasure, thy credit, thy ease?
Here is sincerity:
He that sets himself against this, can against any.
Look to it Tradesmen, are you loath to hear, such and such cheats of men, and neglects of God, are sins? Will you not enquire after them, nor leave them, set your selves against them? Look to it Relations, what's that duty you will not hear of, you will not consider, not conquer your spirits under? Take heed this neglect be not thy death.
Remember your old Minister, used to tell you, your Isaac was your touchstone: Look to it, you that esteem such and such little sins, and so swallow them down.
He that crucifies not himself in time, will be crucified to all eternity.
1. Is thy faith (Christian) fixt upon the Person, Meditation, Satisfaction, Intercession of the Lord Jesus, and not moral only of the God-head?
Dost thou believe, Jesus was sent, and sealed by the Father, the Lamb of God, to take away the sins of the world?
Is thy Marriage-Covenant made with him, and in him with the Father?
2. Totally depending on him, for life and Salvation.
Dost loath and abhor all thoughts of power, or excellency in thy self? But is,
1. Thy general expectation.
2. Particular goings forth to action.
3. Thy strength in action.
4. All thy reflection upon action.
5. All the recumbency of thy soul, wholly upon the bowels of God, through the Merits of Jesus Christ?
Dost expect no grace nor glory, but purely from God, through Christ?
Dost go forth, only to act in Jesus Might?
Dost thou feel all vigor, coming freely from above?
Dost run, & carry home all grace to Christ, the Fountain thereof?
Dost wholly lean, & rest thy soul, upon the root of Jesse, to all eternity?
3. Sensible of the Matrimonial yoak, that thou art his in Covenant, and not thine own: And thereby findest,
1. The Conscience.
2. The pleasure.
3. Power. And,
4. Dignity of that consecrated united state.
If this faith & obedience be not all in thee, there is no assurance of sincerity.
Consider what I say, thou mayest hereafter wish for a glass, to see thy face in, look in it now.
5. Fifthly, How sharp will pangs of conscience be for your hypocrisie, who have had so much description of it, and Exhortations against it?
You will not be able to plead; Lord, I know not Truth; no, every one that here perisheth, has wilfully or knowingly chosen some self ease or satisfaction, before God and Eternal life.
God will say, hypocrisie was joyned to thee, thy spots were of the Leopard and Blackmore; thou wert reprobate silver, would'st not part with thy dross; such flesh, as nothing could separate from it's scum.
How will Conscience scourge, when God speaks this unto thee? It will be bitter, when Conscienc shall whip, and say, no opening would affright thee from the jaws of death.
6. Sixthly, Let looking to Jesus, walking in the wayes of Life, & departing from the paths of Death, lead thee to thy tomb.
Thou mayest say, I have tried all wayes in the world, but cannot be sincere; what shall I do, but give off all?
No, take these directions.
1. Live, and die, looking to Jesus; In
1. Acknowledging all must be from him.
2. Constant Cordial giving thy self to him.
3. Ardent crying, that he would accept thee.
4. Resolute leaving thy self with his Mercy.
2. Walk in the waves of Life, viz.
1. Live Praying.
2. Keeping thy heart in Heaven.
3. Be spiritual in Ordinances, where Christ uses to come.
4. Let thy eyes be ever open in watchfulness, and Divine presence.
5. Never cease recovering, and trying to Believe and Conquer.
3. Depart from the paths of death.
1. Be ever in the Name, and strength of Jesus, strugling against all known sin, and infidelity.
By 1. Early avoiding. 2. Rejecting, and 3. Arising from Temptation.
2. By enquiring yet more perfectly, what is the way of the Lord.
This I leave as my legacy with you; leave not thy self in the arms of death.
In the worse case look to Jesus, watch and pray again.
If thou seemest to despaire of fruit, yet be found longing in desire; walk to the utmost in the way, though ashamed to lift up thy face to Heaven.
The Spirit may, and oft doth come unexpectedly, to the obedient waiter.
7. Seventhly, Give not thus off the pleasures of sincerity; let no foyles make to cease so glorious a pursuit.
My Friends, would you be happy, labour to be sincere?
Rest, Joy, and Power, these are the children of sincerity: The more sincere, the more glorious in the spiritual Fight; but the Triumphs in this War, are inconceivable.
The stings of hypocrifie, are more sharp than the pains of sincerity.
Remember you live in Hell, till this be attained. Be in love or league with no sin, or contradiction to God, and thou art sincere.
A King, in a Castle full of pleasures, and incompast with powers, is not so secure and blessed, as is every sincere soul.
8. Eighthly, The wrath of God, and the worm of Conscience, in a lost estate, will be more than thou canst bear.
Therefore arise, Oh man, and run divore't from all, to Jesus.
No worm bites so hard as hypocrites who lost Heaven, and fell into Hell for so little.
And God is exceedingly provok't by the abuse of his spirit and patience.
The portion of hypocrites is dreadful, Mat. 24. last. Weeping and gnashing of Teeth.
Oh! be not fellow troublers of the Church, and lodgers with the damned; as here is exprest of hypocrites.
You may put off Grace, while you will, but hell you can't bear.
How sad will hell be after so much of Heaven as you have enjoyed?
Soul! Must thou that hast talked so much of God, lie under his Eternal Scourge?
Oh! that I could breath life into thee! Oh let the Lord do it, who onelyonly can!