A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 15
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 XIII.BELOVED, the laſt Day I was upon that Grand Argument, to prove, That none of Chriſt's Sheep can fall away, ſo as eternally to periſh, (viz.) taken from the Death of Chriſt.
I ſhewed you that Chriſt died in their ſtead; he bore all that Vindictive Wrath that was due to them for their Sins, ſo that they might never bear it, or ſuffer in Hell.
I ſhall now proceed.
Eighthly, My next Argument ſhall be taken from the Effects of Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection. Though I have ſpoken ſomething The Eighth Argument taken from the Effects of Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection.already touching the Effects of the Death of Chriſt, yet I ſhall, before I paſs it, add ſomething further to it.
Firſt, We have ſhewed you, that the appeaſing of God's Wrath was the Effects of the Death of Chriſt; he put an end to all Vindictive Wrath and Vengeance that was due to all Believers or Elect Ones: The Pangs of Hell due to us, ſeized upon him, and he bore it in our ſtead upon the Croſs: He was delivered for our Offence, and roſe again for our Juſtification. Now when Chriſt was diſcharged, all his Elect were virtually diſcharged alſo, becauſe he ſuffered and roſe again as a publick Perſon, repreſenting all that were given to him by the Father: thoſe things which he did in his own Perſon in this reſpect, we are ſaid to do together with him. Brethren, the benefit of his Performances doth redound unto us; we are ſaid to die with him, and to be quickned together with him, and entred Rom. 6. 5, 6. Col. 2. 12, 13.into the Holy Place with him; the whole Victory over Sin and Death being obtained, and the Quarrel removed; the condemning Power of Sin being deſtroyed: all things about making an end of Sin are done and paſſed through. Now what ſaith the Apoſtle, He that is dead, hath ceaſed from Sin. Well, what of this? Likewiſe, 1 Pet. 4. 1.ſaith he, Reckon ye alſo your ſelves to be dead indeed unto Sin; but alive unto God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Knowing that Chriſt being Rom. 6. 10, 11.raiſed from the Dead, dieth no more; Death hath no more Power over him. Now this being done by us, and for us in our Head, can we henceforth die any more? Shall Eternal Death have Dominion over us? No, no, we are to reckon our ſelves to be as abſolutely freed and diſcharged from Sin and Eternal Death, as Chriſt is diſcharged and freed from Death, and dieth no more: And this comes to us as the Effects of his Death, by his ſuffering for us, and in our room. If one died for all, then were all dead, (that is, all 1 Cor. 5. 15.thoſe for whom he died) they were dead, and died likewiſe with him their Sponſor, and are delivered from the Curſe due for Sin; ſo that we now might and ſhall live to him that died for us, and roſe again. This was the End of his Death, and is or will be the Effect thereof on all for whom he died.
Secondly, Reconciliation, from hence it doth appear is alſo another Reconciliation the Effect of Chriſt's Death. Eph. 2. 16.Effect of Chriſt's Death. The Deſign of God was to bring us to Happineſs; and this he doth as the Effects of the Death of his own Son the Lord Jeſus, who hath made our Peace by the Blood of his Croſs. He hath reconciled both Jews and Gentiles to God in one Body, having ſlain the Enmity thereby. Divine Juſtice, you heard the laſt Day, has nothing to charge upon God's Elect, becauſe it is Chriſt that died.Rom. 8. 34.
1. Obſerve; Chriſt's Death hath reconciled God to us: When we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son.Rom. 5. 10.
2. And then alſo, as an Effect and Fruit of his Death, he having obtained the Spirit for us, we are actually reconciled to God: And thus our Days-man lays his Hands upon both; he brings God to us, and us to God; he is not the Mediator of one, but God is one: There is one Mediator between God and Man, the Man Chriſt 1 Tim. 2. 5.Jeſus.
3. Therefore as the Effects of Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection, Reconciliation is made with God for us, and that for ever: it is not a Peace made for ſuch a time, or for ſo long, but for ever, ſo that there ſhall never be any deſtructive Breach any more, no more War between God and Believers; let Sin and Satan do what they can, they cannot break this League of Peace and Amity. 'Tis not a Peace upon Condition that we are to keep, and may break it; No, no, the Peace was made by Chriſt, and he that made it, maintains it, as he ſits upon the Throne: He it was that made it as he is a Prieſt, and he maintains it as he is a King upon the Throne; Zech. 6. 13.he will never ſuffer Sin to get ſuch Head in us, that we ſhall caſt off God any more, or violate our Covenant with him, nor will he ſuffer Satan to do it; therefore they who are reconciled, ſhall never periſh, no not one of the Elect of God.
Thirdly, The Gift of the Holy Spirit is another Effect of the Death of Chriſt: This Jeſus hath God raiſed up, whereof we are Witneſſes. Acts 2. 32, 33.And having received of the Father the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, he hath ſhed forth this, which ye now ſee and hear. The Father promiſed unto his Son upon his dying for us, that the Holy Spirit ſhould be given to all his Seed: I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed. Iſa. 44. 3.Indeed, Chriſt receiving the Holy Spirit without meaſure for us, in his own Perſon as Mediator, antecedent to our believing, is the fulleſt Security to us imaginable: We are bleſſed with all ſpiritual Bleſſings in Chriſt, that is, in him as our Head. And although Chriſt received the Spirit before he ſuffered, yet it was upon the account of his Sufferings; the Father truſted his Son, took his Son's Word, and gave him part of his Wages from the beginuing: for all the Saints under the Old Teſtament, had the Spirit upon no other Account than as we have it, namely, as the Fruits and Effects of Chriſt's Death and Purchaſe who was to die.
Now, Brethren, pray conſider what the Work of the Holy Spirit is, which is promiſed to abide with the Saints and Seed of Chriſt for ever.
1. His Work is at firſt to quicken them: You hath he quickned.
2. To renew, to regenerate, to ſanctify them; this is the Work and Office of the Spirit: I will ſprinkle clean Water upon Ezek. 36. 25. Rom. 15. 16. 2 Theſſ. 2. 13.you, and ye ſhall be clean from all your Filthineſs. And hence the Gentiles are ſaid to be ſanctified by the Holy Ghoſt. But pray take notice of this, the Rock in the Wilderneſs was firſt ſmitten before Water guſh'd forth. So Chriſt was firſt ſmitten, firſt crucified, then the Spirit like Water was poured forth: It is, Sirs, wholly the Effects and Fruits of his Death.
3. It is the Work of the Spirit to cauſe us to walk in God's Ways, and to keep his Statutes: I will put my Spirit within you, Ezek. 36. 27.and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall keep my Judgments, and do them. We ſhould not do this were it not for the Spirit; we could not keep God's Precepts, nor walk in his Paths, but God puts his Spirit into us that we ſhall not depart from him; that is, we ſhall not finally apoſtatize from him, but ſhall keep his Precepts to the End.
4. It is the Work of the Spirit to help us to pray, and breathe forth our Deſires to God: We know not how to pray, but as the Spirit Rom. 8. 26.helps our Infirmities, and maketh interceſſion for us with Groans that cannot be uttered. Chriſt having redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, it is, that this Bleſſing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles: And becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts, crying, Abba, Father.Gal. 4. 5, 6.
5. The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, is to enable us to mortify Sin: Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body, ye ſhall live. And hence it is alſo that Sin ſhall not have Dominion over them; and therefore Believers cannot periſh, they having ſuch a Helper: He deſtroys all that Dominion Sin and Satan had in them, and Power over them: The Spirit utterly ſpoils Satan's Kingdom in them, Becauſe greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the World, ſaith John, ſpeaking to the Saints. This is 1 Joh. 4. 4.ſuch a Helper that can never be worſted.
6. It is hereby we perform all our Holy Duties: By the Spirit Miniſters preach to profit, and Hearers hear to their profit; hereby we read to profit, and ſing God's Praiſe to our profit and ſweet comfort: for as we pray with the Spirit, ſo we ſing with the Spirit; and the ſame Meaſure, the ſame Fillings of the Spirit that enable us to do the one, enable us to do the other. By the Spirit we are alſo helped to meditate on God, and on his Word; and hereby our Meditations of him are ſweet to our Souls.
7. 'Tis by the Spirit we reſiſt and repel Satan's Temptations: Or if he doth at any time worſt us, the Spirit will help us up again.
8. It is the Holy Spirit that doth confirm and eſtabliſh us in the Truth.
9. In a word, All Grace is from the Spirit; and it is by the Aid and Aſſiſtance of the Spirit, that we are enabled to exerciſe that Grace: for as he firſt formed the Habit in our Souls, ſo it is he helps us to do the Act alſo, or that doth influence us in the Exerciſe thereof.
10. The Holy Spirit is alſo the Earneſt of the Saints Inheritance: Eph. 1. 13.'Tis given to them as an Earneſt of that Glory they ſhall one Day abſolutely be poſſeſſed of: 'Tis given to aſſure them, that as certainly as they have received the Holy Spirit here, and he is in them, ſo certain it is that they ſhall be ſaved, or have the Eternal Inheritance. True, I have mentioned this two or three times already, yet it is of ſo great Importance, I cannot paſs it by here: It is no ſmall Matter that God gives us, when he gives the Holy Spirit to us; for as he is that Principle of Life in us, ſo he gives us a full Aſſurance of Eternal Life hereafter: and it is upon this Earneſt-Money a Saint may be ſaid to live, whilſt in this World; nay, and it will defray all his Charge, and ſupply all his Need and manifold Wants, as long as he lives upon the Earth, even until he comes to the full poſſeſſion of his Inheritance above.
11. And as the Spirit is the Earneſt of Glory, or of Everlaſting Life, ſo he is alſo the Witneſs of God in our Souls; yea, ſuch a Witneſs, whoſe Teſtimony every Chriſtian may truſt to, and reſt upon: The Spirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our Spirit, that we are Rom. 8. 16.the Children of God. It witneſſeth to us our Adoption, that we are Children, and ſo Heirs, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Chriſt. There is a twofold Witneſs of the Spirit.
(1.) The Spirit witneſſeth by a direct Act, we taking hold of Chriſt, and of the Promiſe: Saith the Spirit to the Soul, I teſtify that Chriſt and Eternal Life is yours; you believe, and therefore you have Chriſt, and ſhall be ſaved.
(2.) There is the witneſſing of the Spirit by a reflex Act: A Man finds ſuch and ſuch gracious Effects of Divine Grace upon his Soul, and by theſe the Holy Spirit teſtifies he is gracious. One that loves God, that hates Sin, is changed, renewed, lives a godly Life; therefore is in Chriſt Jeſus, and ſhall be ſaved.
12. It is alſo by the Holy Spirit that Believers are ſealed unto the Day of Redemption. Alſo after that ye believed, ye were ſealed Eph. 1. 14. & 4. 30.with that Holy Spirit of Promiſe. Strange! Can theſe fall away? Can ſuch periſh that have received the Earneſt of Heaven, and have the Witneſs of the Spirit, and have it ſealed to them? No, no, God hath put his Seal, or Mark, upon them; he by his Seal hath ſecured them to and for himſelf: and all this is the Effects of Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection.
13. The Spirit alſo thus purchaſed by Chriſt's Death, and given as the Fruits and Effects thereof to Believers, the Promiſe of the Father is, that it ſhall abide with them for ever; it is the great Promiſe made to Chriſt in the Covenant; My Spirit which is upon thee—ſhall not depart from thee, nor from thy Seed, henceforth and for ever: See the Words, Iſa. 59. 21. there is the Promiſe of the Father; it is an abſolute Promiſe, and it runs thus, it ſhall be in Chriſt and in his Seed, henceforth and for ever. The Spirit is called the Promiſe of the Father. Alſo we have a Promiſe of the conſtant abiding of the Spirit in all Believers, made by Chriſt, the ſecond Perſon in the Trinity; he told his Diſciples, The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter ſhould abide with them, and be in them forever. Unto John 14.theſe, add the Teſtimony of the Holy Ghoſt himſelf; for it is he that doth in the Word aſſure us of his own abiding with us; he hath choſen our Souls to be his own Temple and Habitation for ever; and alſo aſſures us, That all the Promiſes are in Chriſt, yea and amen, to the Glory of God. So that we have this great Truth ſealed and confirmed to us by the Three that bear witneſs in Heaven.
Fourthly, Pardon of Sin is another Effect and Fruit of the Death of Chriſt, In whom we have Redemption through his Blood, that is, as Col. 1. 14.the Effects of his Blood, even the Forgiveneſs of Sin. True, Jeſus Chriſt ſatisfied God's Juſtice for our Sins, he paid our Debts, it is not Remiſſion without a Satisfaction, but yet we are freely forgiven; we have it of God's Free Grace, but it is through the Blood of Chriſt; Remiſſion of our Sins follows Redemption, as the neceſſary Effects thereof. Chriſt hath procured this Favour and Bleſſing for us, and Goſpel-Remiſſion or Pardon of Sin is for ever: I will remember their Sins no more, they are blotted out for ever; he hath caſt our Sins into the Depth of the Sea, put them behind his Back; yea, he hath put them far away from him, as the Eaſt is from the Weſt.
Fifthly, Adoption is the Fruit and Effect of Chriſt's Death; He hath redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, that we might receive Gal. 4. 5.the Adoption of Sons. God takes us through Chriſt, or by virtue of Chriſt's Death, into the Relation of Sons; which Privilege we have for ever, we ſhall never ceaſe being Sons and Daughters of God.
Sixthly, Free Acceſs to the Throne of Grace, or unto the Father, is the Effect of Chriſt's Death: Having therefore, Brethren, Heb. 10. 19, 20. Reader, theſe things were enlarged upon when this Sermon was preached, which I am forc'd to leave out here.boldneſs to enter into the Holieſt by the Blood of Jeſus, by a new and living Way, which he hath conſecrated for us through the Vail, that is to ſay, his Fleſh, Chriſt's Blood: His Death opened this Way, it is by him we have acceſs to the Throne of Grace.
Seventhly, Another Fruit and Effect of the Death of Chriſt, is, Redemption from all Iniquity: He gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, &c. Tit. 2. 14. Therefore this Glorious Effect his Death ſhall have upon all Redeemed Ones; it was not to redeem only from the Curſe of the Law, as ſome talk, but from the Guilt, Pollution, Power and Puniſhment of Sin; therefore Believers ſhall never periſh.
Eighthly, Juſtification is alſo another Effect of the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt; which is to acquit, abſolve, and to pronounce us Righteous in God's Sight; God accepting us Righteous by the Imputation of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs which is ever the ſame. Now Chriſt's Death being the Meritorious Cauſe thereof, we are ſaid to be juſtified by his Blood, Rom. 5. 9. And pray ſee the Apoſtle's Argument from hence; Much more then being now juſtified by his Blood, we ſhall be ſaved from Wrath through him: It is more to be reconciled and juſtified, than it is to be ſaved; ſuch are juſtified, and Chriſt's Blood having done the former, will much more effect the latter: thoſe that Chriſt juſtifies, he will glorify; nay, and his Death and Reſurrection cannot be without this Effect: And by him all that believe are juſtified from all things, &c. The Word Acts 13. 39.Juſtified is oppoſed to Condemnation; thoſe that are juſtified, are juſtified for ever. Juſtification is not a gradual Act, as Sanctification is; it reſults not as the Fruits of our Repentance, or inherent Holineſs, but as the Fruits of Chriſt's Death and Merits; it is never leſs nor more: as our Holineſs cannot add any thing to it, ſo the Sins and Infirmities of true Believers, cannot diminiſh any thing from it; there may be additions to our inherent Sanctification, but not to our Juſtification: Chriſt roſe again for our Juſtification. I may alſo challenge all the Men in the World to prove, that any Man that was juſtified in the ſight of God, did ever fall away and come under Condemnation.
Ninthly, Sanctification is another Effect of the Death of Chriſt: You may again read that Text, Heb. 9. 13, 14. Chriſt died not only to juſtify Believers, but to ſanctify them alſo.
Object. But ſome may ſay, A Man may be ſanctified, and yet be defiled again: We read of ſome that eſcaped the Pollution of the World through the Knowledg of Chriſt, yet were again entangled and overcome.2 Pet. 2. 20.
Anſw. 1. If any ſincere Chriſtian be defiled again, through any Sin or Corruption, they ſhall be waſhed and cleanſed again.
2. Thoſe that Peter ſpeaks of, were ſuch that only had eſcaped groſs Pollution through the common Operations of the Spirit; it appears, their ſwiniſh Nature was never changed: he therefore ſaith, It is happened to them according to the true Proverb, The Dog it Ver. 22.turned to his Vomit again, and the Sow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the Mire. Such therefore never were ſanctified in Heart, they never experienced the Effects of Chriſt's Blood, not that Soul-purifying Virtue that is in it; they were cleanſed from groſs Idolatry, through the Knowledg of Chriſt, and alſo from ſome groſs Acts of Prophaneneſs; they had obtained a reformed, but no renewed Life of Grace and Holineſs; therefore ſuch fall into Sin again, and are ſo overcome, that the latter End is worſe with them than the Beginning. As to true Believers, ſee what the Apoſtle ſays; For by one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are Heb. 10. 14.ſanctified. By this one Offering our Lord Jeſus hath procured our Sanctification perpetually to be continued; the Death of Chriſt hath ſpecial influence unto the mortification of Sin: in the Death of the Croſs, Our Old Man is crucified, that the Body of Sin might be deſtroyed: Sin is mortified, and we are ſanctified by virtue of the Death of Chriſt; and we hereby through his Grace come to be planted into the Likeneſs of his Death. And as Paul Rom. 6. 5.in another place ſaith, Being made conformable unto his Death: This Phil. 3. 10, 11, 12.Conformity is not in our Natural Death, or in our being put to death for him; but Chriſt dying for our Sins is the procuring Cauſe of our dying to Sin: therefore we muſt look for the Death of our Sins in the Death of Chriſt, as the proper Effect thereof. Virtue goeth from the Death of Chriſt, to the ſubduing and deſtroying of Sin; his Death was not only a Paſſive Example, but is accompanied with Power, conforming and changing us into his Likeneſs: 'Tis the great Ordinance of God to this very End, it is by a fellowſhip or participation in his ſuffering; we are never made conformable to the Death of Chriſt, till we die to Sin: the Death of Chriſt was deſigned to be the Death of Sin. And as certain as Chriſt died for the Sins of all the Elect, ſo certain it is they ſhall all, firſt or laſt, feel the powerful Effects thereof in the Death of their Sins. The Corn fell into the Ground and died, and ſhall produce all the Increaſe that virtually was hid in it: Chriſt is our Life, the Spring, Fountain and Cauſe of it; therefore we have nothing but what we derive from him.
Object. He is, ſay ſome, the Author of Life; and as he taught the Way of Life, ſo he is our Life.
Anſw. He is our Life as he is our Head; and it would be but a ſorry Head that ſhould only teach the Feet to go, or the Members to act and move, without communicating Strength unto them, and to the whole Body. Chriſt, Brethren, is an Head of Influence; and in theſe ſpiritual Influences, or Life, that Strength which he communicates to us, doth conſiſt in the killing of Sin: He loved his Church, and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctify and cleanſe it with the waſhing of Water, that he might preſent it to Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27.himſelf a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; but that it ſhould be Holy and without Blame. And if this was his End in his Death, be ſure his Death ſhall perfectly effect this glorious Work in the End upon every Soul of his.
Tenthly, and laſtly, Glorification is alſo an Effect of the Death of Chriſt; it is the Fruit of his Suffering, it was by his own Blood he entred as our Head and Repreſentative once into the Holy Place, having obtained Eternal Redemption for us. The Crown of Heb. 9. 12.Glory is the Purchaſe of his Blood: and as ſure as his Righteouſneſs, his Holy Life and Obedience, and Meritorious Death carried him to the Father, and ſet him down at the right Hand of the Majeſty on high; ſo will his Merits as certainly bring all the true Heirs to that Glory above, where the Fore-runner is for us already entered: For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many Sons to Glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings. Firſt he brings thoſe Sons into a State of Grace, as the Effects of his Death and Reſurrection, and unto a State of Glory: And whom he juſtified, them alſo he Rom. 8. 30.glorified.
I ſhall draw up the Sum of this Argument: If ſuch are the certain The general Argument.Fruits and Effects of Chriſt's Death; (1.) If it hath appeaſed the Wrath of God for all that are in him: (2.) If it hath made their Peace, and for ever reconciled them unto God: (3.) If the Holy Spirit is purchaſed, and procured as the Effects of his Death for them, by which they are renewed, quickned and helped to mortify Sin; and is to them an Earneſt, a Witneſs, and Seal of Everlaſting Life, and ſhall abide with them for ever: (4.) If Juſtification is the Effect of Chriſt's Death, and they are for ever acquitted from all Sin, and accepted as Righteous in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs: (5.) If all that believe in him are ſanctified, as the Effects of his Death, and ſhall be perfected for ever: (6.) If Pardon of Sin is an Effect alſo of Chriſt's Death, and all Believers have and ſhall have their Sins forgiven for ever, or remembred no more: (7.) If they are adopted Sons and Daughters to God, as the Effect of Chriſt's Death: (8.) And alſo if Glorification is an Effect of his Death; and as certain as is the Cauſe, the Effect will be; or as ſure as Chriſt is glorified in Heaven, all that are his Members ſhall be glorified. Then it is impoſſible that any one of them ſhould ſo fall away as eternally to periſh: But all theſe things are true, and none dare to deny them ſo to be, therefore they cannot fall, ſo as eternally to periſh.
I ſhall apply this, and come to the next Argument.
APPLICATION.
Firſt, To Sinners.
1. Hath the Death of Chriſt ſuch Virtue in it, even to renew, quicken, regenerate all that believe in him? Is God through the Death of his Son reconciled, and ſhall all that take hold of him be juſtified? &c. O then, Sinners, look up unto him and never ceaſe looking, until you find the Effects of his Death in your own Souls.
Object. 1. But alas, Sir, I am a vile and abominable Sinner.
Anſw. Well, notwithſtanding that, yet there is Virtue enough in Chriſt to ſave you.
Object. 2. But I have been a Drunkard, a Swearer, an Adulterer, a Thief.
Anſw. So had ſome of thoſe Paul ſpeaks of, 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were ſome of you, but you are ſanctified, but you are juſtified.
Object. 3. But I have been an Old Sinner.
Anſw. Well, let it be ſo, yet but a Sinner, and Chriſt died for Sinners, for the chief of Sinners, therefore there is hope for you; nay, if you can believe, and apply the Virtue of Chriſt's Blood, you ſhall find Mercy.
Object. 4. But I fear Chriſt did not die for me.
Anſw. 1. If he died for the Chief of Sinners, why not for thee? And if thoſe that crucified him found Mercy, why not thee?
2. Thou haſt as much ground to believe that Chriſt died for thee, as any ungodly Perſon hath that dwells on the Face of the whole Earth. Sinner, look up. Nay,
3. Thou haſt as much ground to believe that Chriſt died for thee, as any of thoſe had once who now feel the Effects of his Death.
4. Did ever any Sinner throw himſelf at his Feet as a poor loſt and undone Creature, and take hold of him, that was rejected?
Query. What is the firſt Effect of Chriſt's Death?
Anſw. The firſt Effect of Chriſt's Death in the Soul, is Life; Life is infuſed: And if thou haſt a vital Principle in thee, thou wilt cry out under the Senſe of thy Sin. Thruſt a Sword into a dead Man's Bowels, and he will not ſtir nor cry out. Sin is in wicked Men, like a Sword in the Sides of ſuch as are dead; but as ſoon as Life is infuſed, there will be Senſe, and a crying out. Now when they heard this they were pricked in the Heart, and ſaid unto Peter and to the reſt of the Apoſtles, What ſhall we do? Some of Acts 2. 37.theſe had been the Murderers of the Lord of Life and Glory, yet they found Mercy.
2dly. Another Effect is this, viz. You will perceive a mighty Famine in your Soul, as it was with the Prodigal Son; all your old Hopes of Heaven will be gone, Poverty of Spirit will overtake you: An awakned wounded Sinner deſpairs of all Supplies or Help in himſelf; he is diſtreſſed with pinching Hunger, and ſo flies home to his Father: (1.) Yet may not get Power over Sin preſently. (2.) But O he trembles at the Thoughts of God's Juſtice, by beholding the Spear in Chriſt's Side. (3.) He throws down his Weapons as being conquered and overcome, and reſolves to do as the four Lepers did, 2 Kings 7. 3, 4, 8, 9. (4.) He ſees nothing but Death if he abides where he is, and believes not: And if he returns to his old Courſe, he ſees he muſt die; and therefore ventures to throw his Soul upon Chriſt, or ventures himſelf on Chriſt, and lies at the Feet of Chriſt, and ſays, If I periſh, I periſh, I can but die; and if he will pardon me, heal me, and have compaſſion on me, I ſhall live. O Sinners, that you could but do thus.
Secondly, We may infer from hence, that it is in vain for any Perſon to talk of Chriſt's Death, or to ſay Chriſt died for Sinners, nay, for the whole World, and therefore for me, unleſs they come to feel the Virtue and bleſſed Effects of his Death on their own Souls. O ſee you reſt not, without finding the Power of the Death of Chriſt. Sirs, though the Sacrifice is over, yet the Virtue and excellent Cauſality of it remains; and not only to juſtify and abſolve a believing Sinner, but alſo to quicken, regenerate, and to ſanctify and make him Holy alſo. Therefore labour to know and experience the Power of Chriſt's Death.
Thirdly, From hence alſo we may infer, that this is the only Way to know Chriſt died for us; namely, when we find the Effects of his Death, that we die to Sin, that the Body of Sin is crucified in us with him. Hath the Life of your Sins been let out? O ſee to this you that proſeſs the Goſpel.
Fourthly, This ſhews us alſo what a dangerous thing it is for any to build their Faith upon the general Love of God to Mankind. What ſay ſome? I believe Chriſt died for me, becauſe he died for all; and becauſe for all, therefore for me. Brethren, I am afraid this is the ruin of many Souls, becauſe it may be but a falſe Faith that thoſe poor Creatures have, they may not experience the Effects of Chriſt's Death; may be it is not preſt upon their Conſciences, but this of Chriſt dying for all, they think is enough. Now pray conſider, and O that all ſuch miſtaken Perſons would conſider it alſo;
1. That a general Faith, viz. to believe that Chriſt died for all, gives no Man any particular ſaving Intereſt in Chriſt's Death: for if it did, then every Man that ſo believeth, hath a ſaving Intereſt in his Death. But thouſands perhaps ſo believe, and yet are as vile and ungodly People as any in the World: Therefore to build on that general Faith, without a particular Application of the Promiſe, or Promiſes of God, and experiencing the Effects of Chriſt's Death, is a falſe Faith, and deceives the Soul.
2. That that Faith which a Man may have, that may leave ſuch that have it and truſt in it, under the Power of Sin, is a falſe Faith, and will deceive the Soul: but Men may have that Faith, namely, believe Chriſt died for all, and therefore for them, and yet be under the Power of Sin; therefore that may be a falſe Faith.
3. That Faith that doth not change the Heart, purify the Heart, is a falſe Faith: But many that believe Chriſt died for all, and therefore for them, have that Faith, and yet it doth not change their Hearts, purify their Hearts; therefore it is a falſe Faith.
4. From hence I argue, that it follows undeniably, that all thoſe People that believe Chriſt died for all, muſt come to a particular Application of Chriſt's Blood, and not truſt to that general Application; they muſt feel the Effects of Chriſt's Death upon their own Souls, or elſe they are undone: nor do I doubt in the leaſt but many of them of that Judgment do ſo, divers of them being as gracious Chriſtians as any others; and have Experiences that clearly contradict their own Principles.
Fifthly, and Laſtly, Here is Comfort for Believers. O ſee what the Death of Chriſt hath and will effect for you, and in you. 1. God's Wrath is appeaſed in him towards you. 2. Juſtice is ſatisfied in him towards you. 3. The Law is ſilenced. 4. Peace and Pardon procured. 5. Life is infuſed. 6. The Guilt, Power, Pollution and Puniſhment of Sin, removed and gone for ever. 7. You are juſtified. 8. Satan is conquered. 9. The World is overcome, you are and ſhall be ſanctified, and Heaven is opened; you are in Chriſt's Hand, and ſhall not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life.