A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 12
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 X.BRETHREN, I am upon the Proof and Demonſtration of the Doctrine which I raiſed from our Text, (viz.) That none of the Sheep of Chriſt, or Saints of God, can ſo fall away as eternally to periſh.
The laſt time I ſpoke to the fourth Argument, which was taken from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace.
I ſhall proceed to the next Argument.
Fifthly, They who are the Sheep of Chriſt, Believers in Chriſt, 5th. Arg. Taken from their being the Children of God.or his Elect Ones, cannot finally fall away, becauſe they are the Children of God, begotten of God, and born of God.
Two things I ſhall do in proſecuting this Argument.
Firſt, Prove that all Believers are begotten and born of God.
Secondly, Shew you how it doth appear from hence that they can never finally fall away, and eternally periſh.
Firſt, That they are begotten of God, appears from ſeveral Scriptures; Of his own Will beg at he us with the Word of Truth, &c. Jam. 1. 18.Meerly by his own Grace, as the original Cauſe; with the Word by the Spirit, as the inſtrumental Means. Spiritual Generation is the Work of God, the Product of the Will of God, and not of the Will of Man: Which were born not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Joh. 1. 13.Fleſh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. Not of Blood, as in natural Generation, or not of the Blood of Abraham; Grace and Regeneration being not the Product of the State or Faith of believing Parents: This was the carnal Boaſt of the Jews, We have Abraham to our Father. Not of the Power of Man's Will, that cannot Mat. 3. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.produce the New Creature in himſelf, nor in a Child or Brother: If it was in the Power of a godly Man or godly Miniſter to convert or to regenerate his Child, his Wife, or his Brother, would he let them periſh? But alas, alas, this is out of Man's reach, out of his Power, he cannot renew himſelf: A Child may as eaſily beget it ſelf in the Womb before it ſelf was, as a Man can form Chriſt in his own Soul, or regenerate himſelf; 'tis God that doth it, the Holy Spirit begets us: Except a Man be born of Water and of the John 3. 5.Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoſoever believeth that Jeſus is the Chriſt, is born of God; and every one that loveth him 1 Joh. 5. 1.that begetteth, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him. Whoſoever hath that efficacious Soul, uniting Soul, transforming Soul, renewing Sinkilling Grace of Faith, is born of God. 'Tis not a bare believing Jeſus is the Chriſt, no, but ſuch a Faith that works by Love, or the Faith of God's Elect; For ye are all the Children of God by Faith in Jeſus Chriſt. Faith, ſaving Faith, the Faith of the Operation Gal. 3. 26.of God, produceth this glorious Effect, through the Spirit, in the Soul. From all which Scriptures it evidently appears, that all Believers, all the Saints are the Children of God, begotten, and born of God.
Queſt. Well what of this? (ſome perhaps may ſay) How doth this prove they cannot fall away ſo as to periſh?
2dly. I anſwer, This is my ſecond Work, and you will ſoon ſee how forcible the Argument is from hence to prove, that none of them can periſh. See what our Bleſſed Saviour ſaith, That which is born of the Fleſh is Fleſh, and that which is born of the Spirit is John 3. 6.Spirit. That which is born of corrupt Nature, or is the Product of the Fleſh, is Fleſh, or of the ſame Nature of that which did beget it: As it is ſaid of Adam, he begat a Son in his own likeneſs; Gen. 5. 3.that is, a depraved, ſinful and mortal Child: The Fleſh bringeth forth Effects proportionable to the Cauſe. 'Tis thus in the firſt Birth: But if by Fleſh you will have our Saviour intend the product of Man's natural Abilities, or the Effects of the higheſt Improvements of his natural Light, Underſtanding, Will, &c. why then it follows ſtill, that a Man purely natural can produce nothing but natural Operations; for nothing in operation exceedeth the Virtue or Excellency of that Cauſe which influenceth it: So that no Man can by his Abilities, however improved, produce any divine or ſpiritual Operation; and this ſhews that Man muſt be born of the Spirit, that becomes or is made truly ſpiritual and ſit for the Kingdom of Heaven. And ſaith our Saviour, what is born of the Spirit, is Spirit, or is of the ſame Nature with the Holy Spirit; that is, Spiritual, Holy, Immortal; ſince every Creature begetteth its own Nature, Qualities, and Image: Such as is the Cauſe, ſuch is the Effect. Thus it is in Generation, and thus it is in Regeneration; it muſt be from a Divine, from a ſpiritual Cauſe, and not a Natural, that the Image of God is formed in the Soul. The Fleſh cannot bring forth an Heavenly Babe: Can Corruption produce or be the Cauſe of Regeneration? Can a Worm, or an Ant bring forth a Man, ſooner than Fleſh? Or can any Man under Heaven beget, or form, and bring forth the New Creature in the Soul; which is called the forming of Chriſt, or the Image of God in us? But now pray conſider, that ſuch as is the Nature or Quality of the Begetter, ſuch is the Nature of that which is begotten of him; therefore ſince the New Creature is begotten by the Holy Spirit, it muſt partake of the Nature of the Spirit. Chriſt ſaith, it is Spirit, it is ſpiritual, immortal or incorruptible. Hence the Apoſtle Peter ſaith, Believers partake of the Divine Nature; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great 2 Pet. 1. 4.and precious Promiſes, that by theſe we might be partakers of the Divine Nature. Every Child of God is begotten by the Spirit through the Promiſe, as Iſaac was: I will come, and Sarah ſhall have a Son. Gal. 4. 23.Compare this with that in 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever. Pray obſerve it, which liveth and abideth for ever. Mortal Seed in Generation begetteth and bringeth forth a mortal Babe, a corruptible Child; but the Word and Spirit of God, begetteth and bringeth forth an immortal or an incorruptible Babe: Such is the Babe of Grace, or Child of God; I ſpeak of the New Creature, or the regenerated Part in Man.
From hence let me draw this Argument, viz.
Arg. 1. That which is begotten and born of, and is brought forth by the Spirit of God, or of immortal and incorruptible Seed, is an immortal or incorruptible Babe: But the New Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate, is begotten and born of, or brought forth by the Spirit of God; therefore the New Creature in the Soul of the Regenerate is an immortal or an incorruptible Babe.
Now if it be immortal or incorruptible, it can never die, but liveth and abideth for ever; and this the Apoſtle ſhews and affirms: Therefore it is impoſſible ſuch ſhould fall away, or ſuffer a Spiritual Death here, or an Eternal Death in Hell hereafter.
2dly, My ſecond Argument from hence is this, Becauſe the Child of a natural Parent cannot ceaſe to be his Child whilſt he liveth, or Life abideth in him; this every Man muſt grant: True, he may prove a Rebellious and a Diſobedient Child, but ſtill he is his Child, and the Man that begat him is his Father, that Relation cannot be loſt; nay, and that Nature which the Child derived from his Father, continues, and muſt continue, he is of his Fleſh and Blood ſtill. Even ſo it is here, and impoſſible it is that it ſhould be otherwiſe, that Man or Woman, whoſe Soul is begotten and born of God, cannot ceaſe to be a Child of God, though he may prove diſobedient to his Heavenly Father, and grieve and diſhonour him, but yet nevertheleſs he is a Child of God ſtill: and God who by his Spirit in a ſpiritual manner begot him, is his Father; and that bleſſed Relation continues; and that holy Nature or Seed of Grace which he derived from God, continues and muſt abide alſo in him, as long as that Life he hath in him, as a Child of God, doth remain; and that Life is, as I have proved by the former Argument, Eternal or Immortal.
3dly, Beſides I have made it moſt evident by my former Arguments, that God in the Covenant of Grace, and through the Suretiſhip of Jeſus Chriſt, hath provided that his Children ſhall never ſo rebel againſt him, as finally to depart: I will put my Fear Jer. 32. 40. Ch. 3. 14.into their Hearts, and they ſhall not depart from me. Though they may be backſliding Children, yet God ſaith, he is married to them, which denotes that intimate Union there is between the Lord Jeſus and them, according to another Metaphor.
4thly. None of thoſe who were truly Regenerate, or indeed the Children of God, as being begotten and born of him, though ſome of them grievouſly ſinned againſt him, were ever caſt out ſo as to ceaſe to be God's Children. Where is he that can contradict this, by ſhewing ſome that were indeed Children begotten of God, who have by their Diſobedience ceaſed from being his Children, or never were reſtored after they ſinned and fell? Who fell worſe than David and Peter? I have before clearly proved, though they may ſin, and fall, yet they ſhall riſe again.
Arg. 2. If all thoſe that were the Children of God, who ſinned, were reſtored, and not one Inſtance can be given of any one of this ſort, i. e. that were truly regenerated, that ſinned, fell, and roſe no more; then none of the true Children of God can ſo ſin, ſo fall, as eternally to periſh. But all thoſe that were the Children of God, who ſinned, were reſtored; and not one Inſtance can be given of any one of this ſort, i. e. that were truly regenerated, that ſinned, and fell, and roſe no more; therefore none of the true Children of God can ſo ſin, ſo fall, as eternally to periſh.
5thly. Thoſe that are the Children of God, begotten by him, cannot ſin, ſo as eternally to periſh and loſe. Eternal Life; becauſe all that are his Children, are Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Chriſt. This I grant is not always true of the Children of earthly Parents, or earthly Princes, for they are oft-times diſinherited; but it is otherwiſe here, they are all born Heirs, their being regenerated and united to Chriſt, gives them a ſure and undoubted Right and Title to Eternal Life. The Holy Ghoſt poſitively aſſerts this very thing; And if Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Chriſt.Rom. 8. 17.
6thly. It is becauſe the Children of God are the Seed of Chriſt, which the Father ſaid Chriſt ſhould ſee; He ſhall ſee his Seed: Nay, the Father aſſured him, that his Seed ſhould indure for ever. Iſa. 53. Pſal. 89. 29.And they are all given to him, and Chriſt will ſay at the laſt Day, Lo here am I, and the Children that thou haſt given me, none of them are loſt.
7thly. I argue yet further upon this Argument, from that bleſſed How Believers may be ſaid not to commit Sin.Text in the firſt Epiſtle of John; Whoſoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin, for the Seed remaineth in him; and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God. I am very much miſtaken if I have not my 1 Joh. 3. 9.Argument here in expreſs Terms: Evident it is, the Apoſtle means not, that they do not ſin at all; that's evident becauſe he elſewhere ſays, If we ſay we have no Sin, we deceive our ſelves, and the Truth 1 Joh. 1. 8.is not in us. James alſo ſays, in many things we offend all; neither is there, as Solomon declares, a juſt Man upon the Earth that doth Eccleſ. 7. 20.Good, and ſinneth not. Therefore that is not the ſenſe of the Text, I will give you my underſtanding of it.
1. So far as he is born of God, he doth not commit Sin, or ſo he ſins not; that is, the New Creature doth not ſin, that never yields to Sin, but evermore wars againſt it, and reſiſteth it: This is that which Paul calls the Law of his Mind, it is the renewed or Rom. 7. 25.regenerated Part, or 'tis that which is born of God, that luſteth againſt the Fleſh, or wars againſt it.
2. He doth not, nay, he cannot ſin as others do: this appears by that I mentioned laſt, becauſe of that new Nature or bleſſed Seed he hath received.
3. He cannot live in a Courſe of Sin, or make a Trade of Sins He cannot live in a cuſtom of Sinning, becauſe all evil Habits are broken by Divine Grace in him. That Man that lives in any way of Sin, the old Habit of Lying, Pride, Luſts, Drunkenneſs, Covetouſneſs, or any other Sin being not broken, is not born of God; for it is impoſſible a Child of God ſhould ſo ſin, i. e. live in a courſe and practice of committing of known Sins, or in a conſtant and continual omiſſion of known Duties: Though he may fall into groſs Sins, as David and other Children of God did, yet they continue not in a Courſe of ſuch Sins that once poſſibly they were overcome by; nay, be ſure they ſet a greater Watch againſt ſuch Sins, and hate them rather more than all other Sins, becauſe thereby they greatly diſhonoured God, and wounded their own Souls.
4. Therefore Sin is not his Way, or Walk; he doth not commit Sin, as to walk after it; he walks not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit. He may ſtep into the Way of Sin, but he Rom. 8. 1.ſoon ſteps out of it again, whereas others walk in that Way every Day; it is the high Way, the common Road of the Ungodly.
5. He doth not commit Sin with Liking, Allowance, and Love. Though the fleſhly Part may like, love, and allow of it, yet he finds another Part in him that hates it: What I hate, that do I. And hence it is the Apoſtle ſaith, It is not I that doth it, but Sin Rom. 7. 15.that dwells in me. I am againſt it, Grace hath the upper Hand in my Soul: I am for the Law of God, I give my Voice for Chriſt; I, that is my renewed part, that's the I he ſpeaks of.
6. He cannot ſin unto Death; ſin ſo as to fall, finally fall, and periſh for ever. 'Tis evident that this is intended here, though there may be a Truth in the other reſpects. If any Man ſee his 1 Joh. 5. 16.Brother ſin a Sin which is not unto Death, he ſhall ask, and he ſhall give him Life for them that ſin not unto Death. There is a Sin unto Death; I do not ſay he ſhall pray for it. The Elect ſin, but not unto Death; there is Pardon for all their Sins; if they ask, their Sins ſhall be forgiven them: but there is a Sin unto Death, a falling into Hereſy or Debauchery, or ſuch an Apoſtacy that ſhall never be forgiven; but thus they cannot commit Sin that are born of God, ſo as to periſh. Which indeed the Apoſtle in the ſame Chapter ſhews to be his meaning, All Vnrighteouſneſs is Sin; and V. 16, 17.there is a Sin not unto Death. [Mind his next words] We know that whoſoever is born of God, ſinneth not. He clearly ſhews us what he intendeth by ſinning not, namely, he ſinneth not unto Death; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himſelf that the Wicked one toucheth him not: This is the great Happineſs and Advantage of the Children Ver. 18.of God, who partake of his Holy Nature, they are furniſhed with a ſelf-preſerving Principle; the Seed remains, they ſhall never loſe their New Nature, therefore cannot ſin unto Death: For whatſoever is born of God, overcometh the World; the World in all 1 Joh. 5. 4.its Snares, Sins, Allurements and Temptations whatſoever; that is, they ſhall at laſt overcome, Becauſe he that is in them, is ſtronger 1 Joh. 4. 4.than he that is in the World.
6thly, The very Relation of Children ſecures them, and fully ſhews they cannot, ſhall not ſin, fall, and periſh for ever: for what Father, a dear and tender Father will ſuffer any one of his Children to be torn into Pieces (and cruelly devoured) before his Face, if he be able to preſerve and deliver it? Or ſhould he ſuffer it, would not all ſay that he was a cruel and unmerciful Father, one that had no Love, no natural Affections to his poor Child? If therefore any one Child of God falls into the Enemy's Hand, I mean, into Sin's Hand, or Satan's Hand, and is torn into pieces, or is deſtroyed and ruined for ever; it muſt be,
(1.) Either for want of Love in God to that poor Child of his:
(2.) Or elſe for want of Power and Ability in God, he being not ſtrong or able enough to ſave his diſtreſſed Child out of the Hands of thoſe cruel Enemies.
Or, (3.) For want of Care and Watchfulneſs in God, from whence the Enemy took an Advantage, and deſtroyed his Child that was begotten and born of him.
Now it cannot be that God wants Love to all, or any one of his Children; we have ſhewed you, that he loves them with an everlaſting, infinite, and inconceivable Love, ſuch a Love as nothing can ſeparate his Children from it: and to ſay he either wants Power to ſave them, or Care and Faithfulneſs, is Blaſphemy. O what is the Love, the Care and Faithfulneſs of God? Beſides, he has committed them into Chriſt's Hand, to keep and preſerve them, as my Text holds forth: And can any think that Chriſt has not received a Charge to keep them from the Danger of Sin, that they be not finally loſt thereby, as well as from any other Enemy? Or do you think Chriſt will fail in his Care and Faithfulneſs, who is their great Shepherd, Sponſor, Surety, or Truſtee? Moreover, if he ſhould (as I ſhall hereafter ſhew you) loſe one Child, he loſes one of the Members of his own Myſtical Body.
Now from the whole, let me draw this general Argument; and ſo conclude with this:
(1.) If every true Believer is begotten and born of God:The general Argument.
(2.) If they partake of his Holy and Divine Nature:
(3.) If Children cannot ceaſe being Children, or that Relation continues as long as Life continues, however diſobedient the Child may be; and if it be thus with the Children of God, who are begot and born of him, or by his Spirit, that they cannot ceaſe being his Children, nor loſe that Divine Nature they derived from him in Regeneration:
(4.) If God hath provided ſo well for his own Children in the Covenant, that they ſhall not depart from him:
(5.) If no Child that was born of God, did ever periſh that we read of:
(6.) If they are the Children of God, or Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Chriſt:
(7.) If they cannot ſin unto Death: Then no true Believer can ſo ſin and fall away as eternally to periſh.
But all theſe things affirmed, are true, certainly true; therefore no true Believer can ſo ſin and fall away as eternally to periſh.
Brethren, I ſhall apply this, and paſs to the ſixth Argument.
APPLICATION.
Infer. 1. From hence we infer, that thoſe Men who affirm that ſuch who are the Children of God, begotten and born of the Spirit, may periſh, are ſtrangely beclouded; for they muſt ſuppoſe that a Child may utterly loſe the Nature and Relation of a Child, and degenerate ſo far, as to become a Dog, a Swine, &c. which is impoſſible in Nature, and much more in Grace: for as none but the Almighty Power of the Infinite God could change the Soul; ſo it is impoſſible for any Diabolical Power to turn or change that Holy Nature again; and that not only becauſe the Divine Nature and Image of God is ſuch in ſelf, but alſo by reaſon of the Deſign and Purpoſe of God, in and by Jeſus Chriſt in our Reſtauration, that being ſuch, that it cannot be loſt any more without the higheſt diſhonour to God, and a fruſtration of his Eternal Purpoſe and Counſel, which was to deſtroy the Works of the Devil. If any ſhould object, that Adam had the Image of God in him before he fell, and loſt it. I anſwer, He was the Son of God by Creation only, not by Grace; he was not begotten by the Holy Spirit, nor did he ſtand as we do, in Chriſt.
Infer. 2. This may alſo therefore inform all Believers, that they are in a moſt happy and ſafe Condition, becauſe they are born of God, and brought by Grace and Regeneration into an unchangeble State.
Exhort. O ſee that you are the Children of God, begotten of God; for if ſo, though you are but Babes, yet you are out of Eternal Danger.
Let me give you, Brethren, here a few Marks or Characters of Babes in Chriſt, or of a Child of God.
1. Babes have all the Parts and Lineaments of a Man, if it be a perfect Birth: So a Babe in Chriſt hath all the Eſſentials of a true Chriſtian; he hath all the Parts and Lineaments of the New Creature. There is a Formation of God's Image, or a gracious Work of the Spirit in every Faculty of the Soul, and a partaking of every Grace; though at the firſt forming it is not come to full Growth and Perfection: there is not only Light in the Vnderſtanding, Convictions in the Conſcience, but the Will is ſubjected to the Will of God, and Power of Divine Grace; and the Affections are renewed and changed alſo to love, as God loves; and to hate, as God hates.
2. A Babe partakes of the Nature of the Father that begot him: So does a Child of God partake of his Divine Nature; he is after God created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs. That which is Eph. 4. 24. John 3. 6.born of the Fleſh, is Fleſh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.
3. It is obſerved, that Babes come into the World crying: So a Babe in Chriſt, or one born again, comes into a State of Grace praying; Behold he prays. And though it be not univerſally true in Nature, Acts 9.yet it is ſo in Grace, always ſo; he that prays not, is not renewed, nor born again.
4. A Babe or Child new-born, deſires the Milk of its Mother's Breaſt: So ſuch who are born of God, deſire after the ſincere Milk of the Word, or the heavenly and pure Doctrine of the Goſpel, that they 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2.may grow thereby.
5. A dear Child loves and honours his Father who begot him: So every true Child of God does love and honour God: If I be a Father, where is mine Honour?Mal. 1. 6.
6. A Child is grieved when the Father is offended, and will take care that he doth not diſpleaſe him, if a dear Child: So doth every Child of God mourn when God is offended; and alſo takes ſpecial care and heed he diſpleaſes him not.
7. A dear Child loves all his Brethren and Siſters: So every one that is born of God, doth not only love him that begat, but alſo all thoſe 1 Joh. 5. 1.who are begotten of him.
8. A dear Child will ſtrive to follow and imitate his Father in all his Vertues: So a Child of God follows God, imitates God in all his imitable Perfections; Be ye followers of God as dear Children.Eph. 5. 1.
3. Reproof. How doth this tend to reprehend the Enemies of God's People, who abuſe, reproach, backbite, nay, perſecute them? How will they ſtand in the Judgment-Day, when Chriſt will ſay, what ye did to this and that Child of mine, you did it unto me? He that toucheth you, (ſaith Jehovah) toucheth the Apple Zech. 2. 8.of my Eye.
4. This greatly raiſeth the Honour of Believers: What greater Dignity can be conferred on us, than to be begotten and born of God? This is more than to be Adopted Sons, we are born of God, partake of his Divine Nature: Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God— 1 John 3. 1, 2.Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, &c. If David thought it no ſmall Honour to be the Son-in-Law to an Earthly King; what an Honour hath God conferred upon his Saints!
5. And laſtly, You that are Saints, read your Privilege, If Children, then Heirs.
But no more at this Time.