A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 17
JOHN X. 28. And I give unto them Eternal Life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my Hand.
Sermon XV.BRETHREN, though I hope I have ſufficiently, through Divine Aſſiſtance, proved the Propoſition, i. e. That none of the Saints can ſo full away as eternally to periſh: Yet I ſhall add one General Argument more, and then come to the Application, and anſwer ſuch Objections which I have not as yet met with.
Tenthly, That the Saints of God, or every true Believer, ſhall perſevere or hold out to the End, and obtain Everlaſting Life, will appear from the Nature of true and ſaving Grace. That therefore which I ſhall in the laſt place do, ſhall be to demonſtrate that true Grace, though never ſo weak and ſmall, even like a Grain of Muſtard-ſeed, yet it ſhall be preſerved in the Soul, and at laſt become victorious. See Matth. 12. 20. A bruiſed Reed ſhall he not break, and ſmoaking Flax ſhall he not quench, till he hath brought forth Judgment to Victory. Hierom, as I find him quoted by a Learned Author, thinks, that our Saviour alludes to a Muſical Inſtrument, made of a Reed which Shepherds uſed to have, which when it was bruiſed, ſounded ill, and therefore 'tis flung away. But the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will not caſt away a poor Soul (ſaith that Worthy Perſon) although he cannot make ſo good Muſick in God's Ear as others, or anſwer not the breathing of the Spirit with that Life and Vigour, but he will take Pains with them and mend them; who in a ſpiritual ſenſe are like a bruiſed Reed, broken and bruiſed under the ſenſe of their Sins, Weakneſſes and Unworthineſſes. Smoaking Flax, or a little Flax that hath a Spark of Fire kindled in it; or a Wick of Candle, wherein there is not only no Profit, but ſome Trouble and Noiſomneſs. Tho the Soul is noiſom, by reaſon of the ſtench of its Corruption, yet he will not blow out that expiring Fire which ſmoaks; and though no Fire is ſeen, yet there is Fire in it, and it is kindled by the Lord, and for ſome great and good Deſign. By the Spark of Fire in the Flax (let our Saviour refer to what he pleaſes) is meant, no doubt, Divine Grace in the Soul of a poor, weak, and deſponding Chriſtian, and this Chriſt will not quench; that is, he will tenderly cheriſh it, and cauſe it to kindle more and more, until he makes it flame forth and burn clearly: And he will heal, cure, and ſtrengthen the bruiſed Reed; that is, he will never ceaſe until the Soul doth obtain a perfect Victory over Sin, Satan, the Fleſh, the World, and over all Enemies. Grace ſhall prevail over Corruption, though there ſeems more Smoke than Fire, more Sin than Grace, more Weakneſs than Strength, more Darkneſs than Light, more Fear than Faith, yet Grace ſhall be victorious; Grace is that Principle of Life in the Soul, the Law of God written in the Heart, which ſhall never finally be obliterated any more, or God's Image, that ſhall not utterly be defaced. Again, Grace as the Seed of Glory, ſhall abide in the Soul in ſpight of all the Oppoſition Hell can make.
And this I ſhall endeavour to prove, and fully demonſtrate:
Firſt, From the Nature of Grace it ſelf.
Secondly, In reſpect of the Fountain from whence it doth proceed, i. e. the Bleſſed God and Father of Mercy.
Thirdly, From Chriſt the Purchaſer, and more immediate Author, the Beginner and Finiſher of it in the Soul; he is the Alpha and Omega of Grace.
Firſt, From the Nature of Grace it ſelf.
1. Let us conſider unto what it is compared, even to a ſmall Seed, to a Grain of Muſtard-ſeed, Mat. 13. 31.which becomes, after it is ſown, a great Tree: Mat. 17. 20.If ye have Faith as a Grain of Muſtard-ſeed, ye ſhall ſay unto this Mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it ſhall remove, and nothing ſhall be impoſſible unto you. The Mountain of Guilt, of Pollution, of Corruption, of Oppoſition, ſhall be removed out of the way of that Perſon ſooner or later, that hath never ſo ſmall a Meaſure of Grace, ſuch is the Nature of it: I do not judg that our Saviour chiefly refers here to the Faith of Miracles; but our late Annotator, no doubt, is right:Contin. of Mr. Pool's Annotat. "I take the plain ſenſe of the Text to be this, (ſaith he) that there is nothing which may tend to the Glory of God, or to our Good, but may be obtained of God, by a firm exerciſe of Faith in him. Whether our Saviour ſpeaketh here of a Faith of Miracles, or no, I will not determine; I rather think that he ſpeaks here of any true Faith," &c. A weak Faith put into exerciſe ſhall prevail and overcome at laſt: This is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith: 1 Joh. 5. 4.it doth and ſhall overcome in every Soul at laſt. This Seed I have proved already doth remain, it can never be rooted out of the good Ground: where it was received Mat. 13.into honeſt Hearts, it brought forth Fruit unto Everlaſting Life.
2. Grace in the Soul is compared to a Well of living Water: The Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall be in him a Well of living Water, Joh. 4. 14.ſpringing up unto Everlaſting Life. Grace in the Soul, is like a Well that hath a never-ſailing Spring at the bottom. Grace proceeds from the Spring or Well of Salvation, which continually ſupplies the Soul until it comes to Heaven. We have a glorious Figure of this in the Water that guſhed out of the Rock ſmitten in the Wilderneſs, that never ceaſed following the Iſraelites until they came to Canaan. True, this Water may not riſe up always alike, but may ſometimes be low like our Rivers, it may have its Ebbs as well as its Flows; but when it is a very low Tide, it riſen again, and may be by degrees higher than ever it was before: They ſhall Hoſ. 14. 7.revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine, the Scent thereof ſhall be as the Wine of Lebanon.
3. Grace is compared to Leaven, which a Woman hid in three Mat. 13. 33. Grace compared to Leaven.Meaſures of Meal, till the whole was leavened, the whole Soul. Grace is of a diffuſive Quality. It works alſo like Leaven gradually, it diffuſeth it ſelf firſt into the Vnderſtanding, and leavens that with bleſſed Goſpel-Light: It alſo diffuſeth it ſelf into the Will, and bows and ſubjecteth that to the Power of Divine Truth, and to a full Acceptance of Jeſus Chriſt, chuſing him, and relying upon him for Righteouſneſs and Eternal Life: It alſo diffuſeth it ſelf into the Affections of the Soul, and then the whole is leavened. It leavens, or makes gracious every Faculty of the Soul, and all its Powers, the Body and all its Members: Grace, like Leaven, makes the Creature a new Lump, and of the ſame Nature with it ſelf, Holy, Spiritual, Heavenly, &c. Leaven is a quickning thing; ſo Grace through the Spirit, is the quickning Principle in the Soul. Grace, when received, will, like Leaven, do its Work, and never ceaſe till all is in a ſpiritual manner leavened therewith.
4. Grace is alſo compared by the Spirit of God to Fire.Grace compared to Fire.
(1.) 'Tis a Divine Spark that God kindles in the Soul, which he taketh pains to do of his own abundant Goodneſs.
(2.) And as he will not quench it himſelf, as you heard, ſo none elſe can: And if it cannot be put out, then be ſure it will burn; it is the Nature of Fire to ſeize on whatſoever is combuſtible. Now Sin is that proper Fuel which Grace will never ceaſe conſuming, until it hath quite brought it (as it were) to Aſhes.
(3.) Jeſus Chriſt came on purpoſe from Heaven to kindle this Fire, to burn up Sin, and all Corruptions in the Souls of his People: And can any think it is in the Power of Satan, by his Temptations, to quench it for ever, and ſo fruſtrate his gracious Deſign? If the Devil could not quench it when it was but a ſmall Spark, like ſmoaking Flax, when it was firſt kindled in the Soul, how ſhould he be able to do it then when it has got a greater head? All know it is much eaſier to put out and get the maſtery of a Fire at firſt kindling, than it is afterwards: Yet miſtake me not, I do not ſay that this Divine Fire burns always alike in the Soul; No, Satan and Corruption may damp and leſſen its burning: but what tho? for notwithſtanding the Operations of Grace may be interrupted by the Law in the Members, the Fleſh luſting and warring againſt the Spirit; and it may ſuffer an Eclipſe, and a poor Chriſtian may loſe the ſenſe and feeling Influences of it at ſome times, as to the comforting Operations thereof, yet the Habit of Grace can never be loſt.
5. The Spirit of Grace is a Vital Principle; it is the Life of Grace is a Vital Principle.the Believer, or of the Soul of a Child of God: Nay, and this Life is Eternal, it is in them an Eternal Vital Principle, as I have proved ſince I was upon this Text; therefore Grace through the Spirit, prevents their eternal periſhing; thoſe that have the Spirit in them, and Grace in them, have Chriſt and Everlaſting Life in them. Moreover, ſhould any ſay that Grace is not immutable in it ſelf, yet ſay I, with relation it ſtands in unto Chriſt, (viz. having a Spring at the bottom) it is an abiding Principle, it will and muſt live: Moreover, it is a powerful and permanent Principle; Greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World, that is, 1 Joh.the Holy Spirit in the Graces, and bleſſed Influences thereof. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you, becauſe you are not under the Law, Rom. 6. 14.but under Grace.
6. Grace is a holy and ſanctifying Principle, it reſiſteth Sin, and purgeth the Conſcience; It teacheth us to deny all Vngodlineſs and worldly Luſts, to live ſoberly, godly and righteouſly in this preſent Tit. 2. 12.World.
7. Why is Grace called ſaving, if Men may have it and yet True Grace is of a ſaving Nature.periſh? Certainly that Grace that a Man may have, and be damned, is not ſaving Grace.
Secondly, Grace ſhall abide in the Souls of Believers, in reſpect of the Fountain of it from whence it proceeds, namely, the Holy God.
Grace the Off-ſpring of Heaven.1. Grace, as I may ſay, is the Off-ſpring of Heaven: And what doth God love on Earth, above his own Grace in the Souls of his People? 'Tis God's Gift, though it be Chriſt's Merit. And as Reverend Charnock notes; "Grace hath great Allies; the greateſt Power that ever yet acted upon the Stage of the World, had a Hand in the birth of it. Should we ſee all the States of the World engaged in bringing a Perſon to a Kingdom, and maintaining therein his Right, we could not rationally think that there were any likelihood they ſhould be baffled in it. The Trinity (ſaith he) ſat in Conſultation about Grace:Gen. 1. 26. For if there were ſuch a Solemn Convention held about the firſt creating of Man, much more about the new and better creating of him, and raiſing him ſomewhat above the State of Man; the Father decrees it, the Son purchaſeth it, the Spirit infuſeth it: The Father appoints the Gariſon, what Grace ſhould be in every Soul; Chriſt raiſeth this Force, and the Spirit conducts it; the Trinity hath a hand in maintaining it: and all this is but the carrying on the New Creature. The Father is ſaid to beget us, John 1. 13. and we are ſaid to be the Seed of Chriſt, Iſa. 53. 10. and born of the Spirit, John 3. 6. therefore that which hath ſo ſtrong a Relation and Allies, cannot be loſt." Thus Charnock.
God the Father is the Foundation of Grace.2. The Father is the Root and Foundation of Grace, as it is the Effect of his free Love and Favour; and every Grace is part of the Divine Nature, in it there is an imitation of one or other of the Divine Attributes, and it exemplifies the Divine Perfections in its Operations: The Deſign of God in infuſing of his Grace into our Souls, is to ſhew forth his Vertues, or his Praiſe and Glory, in all the Parts of it, and doth glorify one or another Attribute of God.1 Pet. 2. 9.
Grace God's Workmanſhip in the Soul.3. What is Grace, and the Work of Grace in the Soul, but God's Workmanſhip, which as you have heard, he hath ſhewed much Skill and heavenly Wiſdom about, and alſo hath been at more Coſt to effect in us, than in making the World; he will not therefore ſuffer that Work to be marr'd and brought to nought: We are his Workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus to good Works. Did Eph. 2. 10.he give his Son, purchaſe Grace; and will not the ſame Love engage his Power to preſerve and perfect it in us?
The Power of God concerned to preſerve Grace in us.4. And ſince God's Power is concerned in preſerving Grace in us, and us in a State of Grace; can it be thought that Satan, that ſtrong Man armed, when he had full poſſeſſion of the Soul, and alſo had ſo ſtrong a Party in us on his Side, and yet could not prevent an overthrow, he being vanquiſhed and turned out, ſhould ever get poſſeſſion again, eſpecially ſince now the Soul is ſo well armed, and hath the ſtrongeſt Party on its Side againſt him; beſides ſuch wonderful Allies to ſtand by it to oppoſe its Enemies, and to aid and aſſiſt it againſt him and all his Abetters? If Grace, when a Babe, gave Satan ſuch a fatal Defeat and Overthrow, certainly now it hath got ſuch ſtrength in the Soul, it will never be overcome by him: We are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto 1 Pet. 1. 5.Salvation. And Chriſt hath prayed that our Faith fail not, and was heard therein. Brethren, is the Power of the Omnipotent God limited to a Faith of the Creature's getting, and to his Care in ſecuring? If ſo, it is as much as to ſay, the Nurſe will keep the Child in her Hand, if it doth not get out of it and ſtray away from her. We ſay God keeps us by his Power through Faith, becauſe he hath ordained Faith and Holineſs to be the Means (which he by his Power will maintain in us) as well as Happineſs, or the Salvation of our Souls to be the End.
The Promiſes of God ſecures Grace in us.5. God hath promiſed to help us, to uphold us, to ſtrengthen us, and to preſerve us unto the End: Pſal. 37. 23, 24.The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his Way. Though he fall, he ſhall not be utterly caſt down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand. If he falls into Sin, into Temptation or Affliction, the Lord will not leave him, but help him up, and bring him out of all his Diſtreſſes: He hath promiſed, never to leave us nor forſake us: He hath alſo promiſed to be our God and our Guide, even unto Death; and hath aſſured us, That the Righteous ſhall hold on their Ways; and he that hath clean Hands ſhall grow ſtronger and ſtronger; and to put his Fear into our Hearts, that we ſhall not depart from him. Again, the Apoſtle aſſerts, That he that hath begun a… Phil. 1. 6.good Work in us, will perform it to the Day of Chriſt.
It cannot ſtand conſiſtent with the Wiſdom of God, and all other Attributes, to let Grace utterly fail in us.6. In a word, it cannot ſtand conſiſtent with the Wiſdom, Love, Faithfulneſs, Holineſs, nor the Glory of God, to ſuffer any of his own Children, and redeemed Ones, to be pulled away from him by Sin, Satan, the Fleſh, or this World, or any Enemy whatſoever, and Grace to come to nothing in them.
1. Can it ſtand conſiſtent with his Wiſdom, to ſuffer his own Eternal Counſel to be fruſtrated? Or hath any Man the true Grace of God, and yet not as the Reſult of God's Purpoſe from Eternity? If ſo, how comes it to paſs that Paul tells the Saints, That they were ſaved, and called with an holy Calling; not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpoſe and Grace, which was 2 Tim. 1. 9.given us in Chriſt before the World began? Can it ſtand conſiſtent with Divine Wiſdom, to let Satan inſult over God himſelf, and boaſt after this manner; Thou haſt ſent thy Son to die for theſe Perſons; thou haſt renewed them by thy Grace, and made them thy own Children, and eſpouſed them to thy own Son, and this according to the greatneſs of thy Love and thy Purpoſe, before all Worlds; and didſt it alſo to deſtroy and bring to nought my Deſign and laborious Work in ſeeking to devour them; but ſee how thou art defeated and fruſtrated in all thou haſt done: I have tempted them to Sin, I have again deceived their Souls, and ſet thee againſt them; and thy Deſign in ſaving of theſe, is by me made of none effect; I have turned thoſe Saints into Swine, and robbed them of all that Grace and rich Treaſure thou gaveſt to them, notwithſtanding thou hadſt put them into the Hand of thy own Son to preſerve and keep?
2. Can it ſtand conſiſtent with his tender Love, to leave his Saints in the midſt of ſo many cruel Enemies, who are unable to ſave themſelves (as poor Babes of two or ten Days old) out of their Hands, and yet ſuffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces, whilſt he ſtands by and looks on; and yet they are ſuch that are his own Children, begotten and born of him by his Spirit? Or ſhall his Love be ſo great in begetting Grace, or in infuſing Grace, and no more Love ſhewed in keeping and preſerving that Grace in their Souls? What! purchaſe ſuch Riches for them by the Blood of his Son, and let them be robbed of it all in a Moment?
3. Can it ſtand conſiſtent with the Faithfulneſs of God, who hath ſaid, I will help thee, I will uphold thee by the right Hand of my Righteouſneſs; and I will not ſuffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able, &c. The Work I have begun in thee, I will perform to the Day of Chriſt; and as thy Day is, thy Strength ſhall be; and yet notwithſtanding all this, will leave them, and let their Grace wither and come to nothing, and Sin and Temptations be too hard and ſtrong for them, and ſo caſt them off for ever?
4. Can it ſtand conſiſtent with his Holineſs, to let his precious Grace, which is an Impreſſion of his own Image and Likeneſs in the Soul, be blotted, blurr'd and defaced for ever; this Likeneſs being a Likeneſs unto him in that moſt high and beloved Perfection of his Nature, viz. his Holineſs, which Work on the Soul is curiouſly wrought by his own Spirit, and more valued by him, than ten thouſand Worlds; will he, I ſay, neglect that which is ſo dear and like unto him, and ſuffer it to be cruſh'd under the Foot of filthy Corruption by the Luſts of his implacable Enemy?
5. Can it ſtand conſiſtent with the Honour of God's moſt Sovereign Majeſty, to let Grace be deſtroyed and come to nothing in the Soul, whoſe End in all he doth is principally to advance his own Glory? What is it, I pray you, that tends more to bring Honour to God in the World, than that Grace which he hath infuſed into the Hearts of his People? If Sin brings the greateſt Diſhonour to him, then certainly Grace brings the greateſt Honour to him, which ſtrives to root out and utterly to deſtroy Sin, ſo that God and Jeſus Chriſt might reign alone in the Soul. If a King hath but one ſpecial Favourite that aſſerts and maintains his Right, and ſeeks to uphold his Throne, be ſure he will, if poſſible, preſerve him, and ſuffer none to undermine and ſupplant that Favourite, ſo as to root him out of the Kingdom.
Thirdly, In regard had to Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Purchaſer and Chriſt is the Purchaſer, the Author and finiſher of Grace.immediate Author of Grace, I further argue; Grace ſhall at laſt become Victorious, or never finally be ſuppreſſed in the Hearts of Believers.
1. Chriſt by his Death purchaſed that Grace which every true Chriſtian is poſſeſſed of: He died to redeem us from all Iniquity, and Tit. 2. 14.to purify unto himſelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. It is upon the Account of his Death, as the Effects of his Death, the Spirit and the Graces of the Spirit are ſhed abroad in our Hearts: Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted, and having received Acts 2. 33.of the Father the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, he hath ſhed forth this which you ſee and hear. Certainly if he purchaſed us, and Grace for us, when we were his Enemies, he will preſerve it in us ſince we are actually now reconciled to him. Shall he be at the expence of his Blood to buy it, (as one notes) and ſpare his Power to ſecure it?Charnock.
2. Chriſt was manifeſt to take away Sin, to diſpoſſeſs Satan, and will he let Satan take Poſſeſſion again? He came to deſtroy the 1 Joh. 3. 5, 8.Works of the Devil? And what are Satan's Works but Sin? Will not Chriſt accompliſh that which he came into the World to do?
3. He is called the Author and Finiſher of our Faith: If this be ſo, we may aſſure our ſelves he will perfect it; he that begins Heb. 12. 2.it, will end it; he hath not left it to another after he hath begun the Work of Faith, to finiſh it: No, no, he ſtill keeps it in his own Hand, and he will ſee it done.
4. It is for the Honour of Chriſt, that Grace lives and is ſtrengthened in his People: Wherefore alſo we pray for you, that our God would account you worthy of this Calling, and fulfil all the good Pleaſure of his Will, and the Work of Faith with Power. Part of the good Pleaſure of the Will of God had been fulfilled in them; they were called, juſtified, adopted, and the Work of Sanctification was begun; and Paul prays, that with Power it might be compleated, and then ſhews us how it tends to the Glory of Chriſt to have this done; That the Name of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt may be Verſe 12.glorified, and you in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Brethren, the Glory of Chriſt, and the final Salvation of the Saints, are wrap'd up together; Grace tends to Chriſt's Glory here, and to his Eternal Praiſe and Glory hereafter.
5. Jeſus Chriſt's Work, now he is in Heaven, is to intercede The Interceſſion of Chriſt, ſecures the Saints in a State of Grace.for his Saints: And be ſure as he prayed when on Earth that the Faith of his Peters might not fail, ſo he makes the like Interceſſion for them in Heaven. Hence the Interceſſion of Chriſt is part of the Saints Holy Triumph, in that of Romans 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died, yea rather that is riſen again, who alſo maketh Interceſſion for us.
Now the Interceſſion of Chriſt hath great Power and Prevalency in it, in order to our final Perſeverance in Grace.
1. Becauſe he pleads continually with God the Virtue of his own Merits: what he hath purchaſed for us, he intercedes for; but he purchaſed Grace for us, and he prays for the final continuation of it in us; therefore it ſhall abide in us to the End.
2. By his Interceſſion, he prevails with God that we may be delivered from all our Spiritual Enemies, that they may never have Power over us, of whom Sin is the chief: That which Chriſt intercedes for, he is heard and accepted in; but he intercedes that we may be kept and delivered from the Power and eternal Puniſhment of Sin, therefore Sin ſhall never have Power to condemn us.
3. He intercedes that our Prayers may be heard, and that we may be helped to pray; and part of our Prayer is that Sin may not have Power over us to condemn us; therefore Sin never ſhall ſo condemn us, becauſe Chriſt cauſes our Prayers, with the Incenſe of his own Interceſſion, to come up as a ſweet Savour in the Noſtrils of God.
4. Chriſt intercedes that all our Sins may be pardoned and covered: If any Man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father. He 1 Joh. 2. 2.carries this Cauſe for us in the Court of Heaven; therefore our Sins ſhall never work our Ruin.
5. It is by his Interceſſion we come to the Throne of Grace with boldneſs; Chriſt our Friend and High Prieſt appearing Heb. 7. 25. Heb. 10. 21, 22.evermore in the Preſence of God for us.
6. And alſo it is through Chriſt's Interceſſion that all our Good Works and Holy Services are accepted of God.
So much ſhall ſerve to the tenth and laſt Argument; And from hence I argue,
If Grace, though never ſo weak, ſhall be victorious; if Grace be The general Argument.ſuch a Bleſſed Principle, ſuch a Spark that Sin nor Satan can't quench, ſuch a Seed that no Enemy can get out of the Ground of our Hearts; if Grace through the Spirit is Life, Eternal Life in the Soul; if Grace be the Darling of Heaven, hath ſuch great and Almighty Allies; if the whole Trinity ſate in Council about the Birth of Grace, or the Way of its infuſion into the Soul; if it be the Gift of the Father's Free Love, and a part of his Holy Nature; if it be wrought in us to ſhew forth his Praiſe; if Grace be God's great and glorious Workmanſhip; if the Power of God be engaged to preſerve it in us; if God hath promiſed to maintain its Life in us; if it cannot ſtand conſiſtent with God's Wiſdom, Love, Faithfulneſs and Holineſs, to let it be totally overcome and vanquiſhed in the Souls of his Elect; if Chriſt purchaſed Grace for us; if he was manifeſt to take away Sin; if Chriſt be the Author and Finiſher of Grace in the Soul; if the Life of Grace tends ſo much to the Honour of Chriſt; if Chriſt's Work now in Heaven is to interceed for the continuation of Grace in us, that it may never fail in the Seed or Habit of it; Then no true Believer can fall ſo from Grace, as eternally to periſh. But all this is true; therefore no Believer can ſo fall from Grace as eternally to periſh.
APPLICATION.
Firſt, Of Information.
1. Firſt from the whole we may learn, that the State of Believers, through the Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt, is far better than Adam's was by Creation: for though we have no natural and inherent Power of our own, yet we have a ſupernatural Power ingaged to help and uphold us; we are kept by the Power of God. He ſtood by the Strength of Nature, and Power of Free-Will, before the Fall: We by the Strength of Grace, and Power of the Mediator, who hath a Charge to uphold us in a State of Grace, which was not allowed to Adam, nor the Angels; we have not only the Word of Grace to encourage us, but alſo the Power of Grace to eſtabliſh us. Adam ſtood by his own Original Righteouſneſs; our ſtanding is by the Suretiſhip, Righteouſneſs and Undertakings of Jeſus Chriſt: Who of God is made unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption. Adam's Life was in himſelf, our Life is 1 Cor. 1. 30.hid in Chriſt; and ſo out of the Power of our worſt Enemies to come at it, or deprive us of it: and as Adam and all his were condemned, ſo Chriſt and all his are juſtified.
2. It may inform us, that ſuch who make a Profeſſion of Religion, without attaining to a State of true Grace and real Union with Chriſt, are in danger of eternal Ruin, notwithſtanding whatſoever their Knowledg, Gifts and common Improvements may be, and their Hopes thereupon; and that they are of this ſort that frequently fall away and periſh in their Sins: which if well weighed, may put every Profeſſor into ſerious Thoughts, and upon a thorow Work of Self-examination about their preſent Condition; and therefore in this reſpect, there is need enough of thoſe Cautions and Take-heeds in the Scripture, Let him that thinketh he ſtands, take heed leſt he fall. How many are there who do but think they ſtand, or that their State is ſafe and good, when in truth they are in no better Condition than the Fooliſh Virgins, or the thorny and ſtony-ground Profeſſors?Mat. 13.
3. It alſo may inform us, that all thoſe that ſhall be ſaved, are ſuch who take care to make their Calling and Election ſure. It is a palpable Demonſtration, that they are under ſtrong Deluſion, who ſuppoſe Election only refers to the End, and not to the Means; or that Men that are elected, ſhall be ſaved, let them live how they pleaſe: No, no, the Caſe is quite otherwiſe; we are elected to be Holy, as well as to be Happy; the whole Deſign of God herein, being to make us Holy, and alſo to preſerve us in a Way and State of Holineſs: Therefore if thou doſt begin well, haſt obtained true Grace, and doſt continue in a Way of welldoing; or doſt bring forth good Fruit, and doſt not waver nor faint in thy Mind, it may be an Evidence, that thy State is Good, and that thou art one of Chriſt's Sheep, who follow him conſtantly, and wilt ſo follow him unto the End.
Secondly, This may be Matter of great Comfort to weak Believers, and ſuch who may be under ſpiritual Deadneſs, and feel Corruption too ſtrong for them. O do not be diſcouraged, the weakeſt Grace gives a deadly wound to Sin, and a good ground of Hope thy State is ſafe: your Names are written in Heaven, which is, as our Saviour notes, the greateſt Cauſe of Joy; which Luke 10. 20.it could not be if their Names might be blotted out again. 'Tis no wonder Sin is in thee, and makes thee mourn, when it made Paul to cry out, O wretched Man that I am, who ſhall deliver me Rom. 7. 24.from this Body of Sin and Death! 'Tis one thing to have the Law of Sin in our Members, and to have Sin in our Converſations; and another thing to have it reign in us, or to have it in our Affections. Soul, remember that weak Grace, weak Faith, ſhall become victorious: Thou haſt Grace enough in thy Head, though thou haſt but little in thy Hand. O cry to God, be much in Prayer that God would give thee more Grace, and ſupply thy Wants, and quicken and revive thy Soul, as he hath promiſed. A weak Faith renders the Soul as perfectly juſtified in Chriſt, as the ſtrongeſt Faith any Man hath whoſoever he be; and gives a Title to Eternal Life: he that had but a weak or a dim Eye, that look'd up unto the Brazen Serpent, was as well healed, as he that had a ſtrong Sight or good Eyes.
2. This Doctrine yields much Comfort to the ſtrongeſt Saint alſo; for if he that hath never ſo ſtrong and lively Faith, might fall finally away and periſh, what would Regeneration, Juſtification, Adoption, &c. ſignify to him? Would not his Spirits droop, and his Fears torment him! But here, by virtue of the Doctrine of final Perſeverance, is Comfort both for the Weak and Strong, both have equal Intereſt in Chriſt, in God's Love, in the Covenant; both are elected, both are in Chriſt's Hand. Such who have now a ſtrong Faith, had once but a weak Faith; it was but a little Seed once: and Chriſt's Charge extends to thoſe that are weak, He carries the Lambs in his Arms: and the Stock in Chriſt's Hand is ſure, and his Promiſe of ſupply ſhall not fail; and the Iſa. 40. 11.Strong cannot ſtand of themſelves.
Thirdly, Caution. Judg not of the Truth of thy Grace by the weakneſs of it; a little Gold, a Dram is Gold as well as a great Wedg.
2. Let not this encourage thee to be negligent or remiſs in Duty: God has promiſed thee Victory, but thou muſt ſight: Grace Tit. 2. 11, 12.teacheth us to deny all Vngodlineſs. He that is not under the Influence of Grace, never had the Truth of it in him.
Fourthly, Always conſider this in thy Heart, that thy ſtanding is by Grace, and that thou art in Chriſt's Hand: O depend on him for all, and fly to him for whatſoever thou doſt need.