A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 11
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 IX.BRETHREN, the laſt Day I was upon the ſecond Argument, to prove, That all true Believers ſhall certainly be ſaved, and none of them ſhall ever ſo fall away as eternally to periſh: Which was taken from the Nature of the infinite and unchangeable Love of God the Father.
Thirdly, I ſhall now proceed to the third Argument, taken from the Nature of the Love of Jeſus Chriſt the Son; and ſhew you 3d. Arg. Taken from the Nature of Chriſt's Love.that his Love ſecures the ſtanding of all his Sheep, or all the Elect Ones of God, unto Everlaſting Life.
Firſt, The Love of Chriſt is an early Love; He loved us from everlaſting The Love of Chriſt is an early Love. Prov. 8. 23 v. 30, 31.: I was ſet up from Everlaſting, from the Beginning, or ever the Earth was.—Then I was with him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing in the habitable Part of his Earth, and my delights were with the Sons of Men. It appears it was not only an early Love, but a Love alſo of Complacency, a Love of A Love of Complacency.Delight.
Secondly, Chriſt's Love to his Elect, is a wonderful Love.
1. If we conſider the Perſon loving, viz. the Son of God, the Chriſt loves his People with a wonderful Love.Prince of the Kings of the Earth.
2. If we conſider the Perſons beloved, in their natural and fallen State; for, when ſuch, he ſet his Heart upon them: When they lay in their Blood, it was then he paſſed by and loved us: Now when I paſſed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy Time was the Time of Ezek. 16. 8.Love, and I ſpread my Skirt over thee, and covered thy Nakedneſs, &c. We were his Enemies, traiterous Enemies, vile Rebels to him, having abominable Enmity againſt him in our Hearts.Rom. 8. 7.
3. Conſider the wonderful Atchievements his Love put upon him to undertake, and the wonderful Effects thereof.
(1.) Even to become a wonderful Surety for us, and to pay a wonderful Debt.
(2.) To leave wonderful Glory, even to come from Heaven, where he lay in the Boſom of the Father, and to come to the Earth, to dunghil Earth.
(3.) If we conſider his wonderful Condeſcenſion and Abaſement: he became Man, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God; yet made himſelf of no reputation, and took unto him the Form of a Phil. 2. 7, 8.Servant. He became wonderful Poor, who was wonderful Rich, yea, amazingly Rich, Heaven and Earth, and all things in it, being his own; yet was born of a Poor Virgin, who doubtleſs had little or no Money to accommodate her, or to defray the Charges of a Lying-In at the Inn; and therefore they turn'd her into the Stable, where ſhe was delivered of our Bleſſed Saviour, and laid Luke 2. 7.him in a Manger. O what wonderful Abaſement was this! Moreover, he alſo had no Money to pay the Tax that was laid upon him, therefore ſends Peter to the Sea to take a piece of Money Mat. 17. 27.out of the Mouth of a certain Fiſh. He had no Houſe of his own to dwell in, no not a poor Cottage: The Foxes of the Earth, ſaid he, have Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Neſts, but the Son of Man hath no where to lay his Head.—Alſo when in his greateſt Mat. 8. 20.Pomp on Earth he rode but on an Aſs, and that not his own neither, but he borrowed it. Moreover the good Women miniſtred John 12. 14.Relief to him, he had not to ſupply his own Neceſſities; he was poor in his Life, poor in his Death, ſtanding charged with the Debts of many thouſands, the leaſt not owing leſs than ten thouſand Talents; which could he not have paid and ſatisfied for, he muſt have lain in Priſon for ever. O what a Charge of Guilt was laid upon him! Does Sin render a Man miſerable? doth one Sin charged on a Perſon, render him poor? How poor then was he for a Time, that ſtood charged with all the Sins of his Elect? He was for ſaken of all his Friends on Earth in his greateſt Diſtreſs, and by his Father in Heaven; he was Poor and Miſerable in the Sight of all that ſaw him; they pulled off his Hair, ſpit in his Face, crown'd him with Thorns, ſtrip'd off his Garment: and all this for the ſake of his Sheep, or for his Elect.
(4.) If we conſider the wonderful and amazing Wrath he bore, what a Curſe he was made for us; the wonderful Horror, Pain, and Anguiſh he felt; the wonderful Sweat he ſuſtained, which were great Drops of Blood; the wonderful Paſſion and Sufferings on the Croſs he endured: He loved us, and waſhed us from our Sins Rev. 1. 5.in his own Blood He loved his Sheep, his People, his Spouſe, as himſelf, above himſelf: Mary loved him ſo as to waſh his Feet with her Tears; but he loved Mary ſo, and all his Elect Ones, as to waſh their Souls in his own moſt precious Blood. Jacob loved Benjamin, David loved Abſalom; but David ſaid, Jonathan's Love to him was wonderful, paſſing the Love of Women. But what is a Bubble to the Ocean! a Spark of Fire to a Furnace! or a finite Love to an infinite Love! What is all Love to Chriſt's Love?
(5.) Chriſt's Love to his Sheep, to his Elect, is wonderful; becauſe it paſſeth knowledg: That ye may know the Love of Chriſt, Eph. 3. 19.that paſſeth Knowledg.
1. It paſſeth the Knowledg of the Natural Man. What can he, with all his natural and acquired Parts find out, as to the greatneſs and wonderfulneſs of Chriſt's Love?
2. It paſſeth the Knowledg of the Moral Man. What can the Natural or the Moral Philoſopher do, as to the comprehending, finding out, or demonſtrating the Nature of Chriſt's Love? Can he ſound the Depth of the Sea? Can he meaſure the Breadth of the Heavens? Can he account the Length of Eternity? Beſides, here is a Height that their Art diſcovers not; the Mathematicks teacheth not this Myſtery: That ye may be able to comprehend Eph. 3. 18, 19.with all Saints, what is the Breadth and Length, the Depth and Height, and to know the Love of Chriſt that paſſeth Knowledg.
3. It paſſeth the Knowledg of the Spiritual Man; he cannot arrive to a full and perfect underſtanding of it.
4. Nay it paſſeth the Knowledg of the Holy Angels; their Wiſdom and Underſtanding no doubt is wonderful; but here they are at a loſs, they ſtand in amaze, looking into, and admiring with aſtoniſhment, this Love, to ſee him that is God become Man, to ſave ſuch a Vile and Sinful Creature; to love and delight in him that was ſo great an Enemy.
5. It is wonderful, becauſe a whole Eternity will be but little enough to let out to Believers the Love of Chriſt. It will never be fully known, it cannot be comprehended; all above, and all below, are at a loſs, they are all at a nonpluſs, and aſtoniſhed at it.
Thirdly, Chriſt's Love therefore to his Sheep, to his Saints, is Chriſt's Love to his People, an immenſe or infinite Love.an immenſe, incomprehenſible, or an infinite Love; as the Wrath and Anger of God, and the Lamb, when kindled and let out, is inconceivable, ſo is his precious Love to his People: this Breadth, Length, Depth and Height, doubtleſs refers to the unſearchable Greatneſs and Immenſity of God. Canſt thou find out the Almighty Job 11. 7. Rom. 11. 33.to perfection? Canſt thou come to the uttermoſt of what God is? Canſt thou find out the inmoſt Receſles or Secrets of God's Heart, of Chriſt's Heart? Haſt thou ſeen what is laid up in the inner Chambers of his Spirit? then thou mayſt know his Love; for it is like himſelf, God is Love, Love is his very Nature: It is as high 1 Joh. 4. 8.as Heaven, what canſt thou do? deeper than Hell, what canſt thou know? longer than the Earth, broader than the Sea. Many Wits, as Job 11. 8, 9.one notes, run Riot in Geometrical Notions about Moral Dimenſions; and whereas Naturaliſts give us but three Dimenſions of a Body, Longitude, Latitude, and Profundity, the Love of Chriſt (Brethren) hath Altitude added, which is a Fourth. Doubtleſs all theſe Dimenſions are mentioned, only to ſet forth the Immenſity of Chriſt's Love.
1. Chriſt's Love is broad, enough to ſpread over and cover, like a Mantle, all the Sins of his Elect, and alſo to hide them from Satan's Rage and Fury. His Love is long enough to reach us with his Arm of Affections, where-ever we are, or whatever our Wants be. Chriſt's Love is deep enough to find us out, and relieve us under all depths of Afflictions, Deſpondency or Diſtreſs, of what ſort ſoever. Chriſt's Love has a Height in it, enough to defend us, like a high Wall, againſt all the Aſſaults of thoſe Enemies that are in high Places, and above us; we cannot ſee them: As-Satan is a Spirit, he has the Advantage of us; ſuch is his Nature, Eph. 6. 12. & 2, 2, 3.he is ſaid to be in high Places; he is the Prince of the Power of the Air. But God is above him, Chriſt is in a higher Sphere, his Love hath a Height in it; ſo that neither Height nor Depth can ſeparate us from his Love, as well as it cannot ſeparate us from the Love of the Father.
2. Chriſt's Love is an infinite or an immenſe Love, as appears, becauſe it is without beginning, it is from Eternity, before ever the Earth was. That which was before the World was, is without beginning: but the Love of Chriſt to his Elect was before the World was, even from Everlaſting. Yea, I have loved thee with an Jer. 31. 3.everlaſting Love.
3. Chriſt's Love to his Sheep, to his Saints, is an infinite or immenſe Love; doth appear, becauſe his Love to them is as that Love the Father hath to him: As the Father hath loved me, ſo have I loved you. Though [as] may not be a Note of Compariſon in Joh. 15. 9.every Senſe, yet it doth ſignify the Truth, Firmneſs, and Greatneſe of Chriſt's Love: The Father loveth Chriſt with an eternal, immenſe, immutable, conſtant, free, full, and perfect Love; ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt love every one of his Elect Ones. Again, ſaith Chriſt to his Father, that the World may know that thou haſt loved them, as thou haſt loved me: He would have all know how he loves John 17. 23.his People, or ſuch that were given to him.
4. It appears to be an infinite Love, becauſe it cannot be found out, defined or comprehended, it paſſing all Underſtanding; as alſo by the glorious and amazing Effects thereof, which are apparent to all.
5. Becauſe it is without ending: all thoſe that Jeſus Chriſt doth love, or hath ſet his ſpecial Affections upon, he loveth to the End; Joh. 13. 1.his Love is not only from Everlaſting, but alſo to Everlaſting; he abides in his Love, notwithſtanding all the Weakneſs, Frailties or Decays of Love in his People towards him: He heals, and with a Nevertheleſs will heal their Back ſlidings, and love them freely.
Fourthly, The Love of Jeſus Chriſt to his Saints is a Conjugal Love; it is an Eſpouſal Love Though I purpoſe to ſpeak to the Nature Chriſt's Love is a Conjugal Love.of that bleſſed and myſtical Union which is betwixt Chriſt and every Believer under a diſtinct Argument, yet let it be conſidered here, that the conſideration that Chriſt's Love is ſuch, as that he doth eſpouſe every Godly Soul, and marry it to himſelf; this muſt needs be one of the higheſt Arguments that can be produced to prove their final Perſeverance; becauſe Eſpouſal Love is the Sweeteſt, the Firmeſt, and moſt abiding Love, eſpecially the Love of Chriſt's Eſpouſal: I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea Hoſ. 2. 19, 20., I will betroth thee unto me in Righteouſneſs, and in Judgment, and in loving Kindneſs, and in Mercy. I will even betroth thee unto me in Faithfulneſs, and thou ſhalt know the Lord.
What words can more fully expreſs the Firmneſs of this Marriage-Contract, or Eſpouſal Love of Chriſt to his true Iſrael? This Conjugal Love of Chriſt is that never-exhauſted Fountain of all our ſpiritual and eternal Comforts; all Mercies, like Streams which never fail, flow to all Believers, from hence. Can a Man ſhew greater Love to a Woman, than to eſpouſe her to be his Wife? This is beyond the Love of Parents to Children: Chriſt beſtows himſelf on us, and all he hath; nay, and that he might do this, he bought or purchaſes us: Chriſt bought his Spouſe; none ever gave ſuch a vaſt Sum for a Wife as Jeſus Chriſt hath done; and ſhall any think he will loſe her after all this, if he is able to help it? How can that enter into any Man's Thoughts? Will a faithful Husband, a tender Husband, ſuffer his moſt dear and beloved Wife, that he hath ſuch Affection to, to be torn from him, and be abuſed and pulled into pieces, and he look on? If he hath Power in his Hand, will he not reſcue her, nay, die upon the Spot before he will ſee this done? But alas, ala, what is the Love of any mortal Man, to his Spouſe, to his Wife, when compared with the Love of Chriſt to his Saints, who loved his Church, and gave himſelf for her; and whoſe Love is as you have heard, ſo wonderful, infinite, and inconceivable? Moreover I hope none doubt of his Power. Others may ſee their Wives raviſhed and torn in pieces before their Eyes, and cannot help it, they are not able to help and ſave them: but Chriſt wants no Power, as he wants no Wiſdom, Care, or Affections. Now what are the Enemies, the moſt dangerous Enemies of the Spouſe of Chriſt? Is not Sin the chief, Sin, the World, the Devil, &c. Will he then, think you, let Sin prevail, Satan prevail, ſo far as to deflour, murder and deſtroy that precious Soul he thus loves, and hath eſpouſed to himſelf? Thoſe who aſſert final falling from a State of true Grace, muſt ſay he doth thus, viz. He ſuffers Sin to deſtroy his Spouſe, even to put out the Eyes, deflour, ſtrip, wound, and murder the Soul he has eſpouſed, whilſt he ſtands by and looks on, and can, but will not help nor deliver her, becauſe the Soul is bliaded by ſome Luſts, or drawn away by an Enemy; therefore they ſay he will not. He that can believe ſuch a Doctrine, let him. But,
Fifthly, Chriſt Love hath an attracting and a retaining Quality in it: It draws the Soul to Chriſt, and it keeps it cloſe with Chriſt, Chriſt's Love an attracting Love.when it hath received and imbraced him; it draws, nay, conſtrains the Soul to love Chriſt; We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us. And no Man or Woman that loves Chriſt ſincerely, but they hate Sin: it conſtrains the Soul to return Love for Love. Chriſt's Love is like Elijah's Garment that he caſt upon Eliſha, who immediately run after Elijah, and ſaid, Let me, I pray thee, kiſs my Father and Mother, and then I will follow thee. And be ſaid, Go 1 King. 19. 19, 20.back, what have I done unto thee? Thus doth Chriſt's Love to the Soul in all that feel its Influences, they follow him, cleave to him, and alſo keep with him: for like as the Fear of God, ſo the Love of God is put into our Hearts, (if we are ſincere Chriſtians) and we ſhall not, cannot finally depart from him.
Sixthly, Chriſt's Love is a free Love; as nothing did purchaſe A free Love.it, ſo nothing can nor ſhall loſe or forfeit it: I will love them freely.
From the whole I infer,—If the Love of Jeſus Chriſt is an early Love, a Love of Complacency; if it be a wonderful and amazing The General Argument.Love; if it be an immenſe, infinite, and incomprehenſible Love; if it is a conjugal Love, an attracting and retaining Love, a free and abiding Love, which he hath to every Believer; then he will not ever let go that hold he hath of every one of them, ſo as to ſuffer them to fall from him, as eternally to periſh: But ſuch is the Nature of the Love of Jeſus Chriſt; therefore he will never ſo let go that hold he hath of every Believer, as to ſuffer them to fall ſo as eternally to periſh.
Brethren, ſuch is the Love of Chriſt to his Saints, as that he Chriſt's ſpecial Love-Tokens.gives them ſpecial Tokens and Aſſurance of his Eternal Favour.
Some of them are theſe following.
1. He calls them with an effectual and ſpecial Calling.
2. He renews them, and ſtamps his own Image upon them.Rom. 8. 29. Ezek. 36. 26.
3. He puts his Holy Spirit into them.
4. He juſtifies them freely by his own Grace, giving them his own Robe of Righteouſneſs, which is beyond a Garment of Cloth Iſa. 59. 5. Ch. 6. 10.of Gold.
5. He ſanctifies them, and endows them with Power to mortify Rom. 6. 14.Sin; and when they fall, he helps them up again by his right Hand.
6. He ſeals his Love to them with the Kiſſes of his Mouth, or by Cant. 1. 1, 2. Pſal. 91. 11.his moſt ſure and precious Promiſes.
7. He commands his Holy Angels to attend them, and to adminiſter to them, and keep them in all his Ways.
8. He leads, feeds and preſerves them, under all Trouble, Temptation and Afflictions, and ſympathizes with them.
9. He ſets them as a Seal upon his Heart, as a Seal upon his Arm; Cant. 8. 6.they are engraven on the Palms of his Hands; he hath ſworn that his loving Kindneſs ſhall never be taken away from them. As I have ſworn that the Waters of Noah ſhould no more go over the Earth, ſo have I ſworn that I will not be wroth with thee.—For the Mountains ſhall depart, and the Hills be removed; but my Kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, &c.Iſa. 54. 10.
10. He puts his Law into their Hearts, that none of their Feet ſhould ſlide.Pſal. 37. 31.
APPLICATION.
Firſt, 1ſt. Exhort.To cloſe with this; O ſee, you that are Believers, that you ſtrive after the Knowledg of Chriſt's Love.
Motives.
1. It is the higheſt Ingratitude not to deſire after the Knowledg of ſuch Love: Shall a Beggar be beloved by a Prince, and ſhe not be affected with it, nor inquire after it?
2. Becauſe you are the Objects of this Love, of this Affection; doth it not ſeem an amazing Conſideration to you? May be you can't ſoon believe it; becauſe you ſee no worth in your ſelves. Ah, ſaith the Soul, Chriſt loves me thus! What, ſuch a poor ſorry and filthy Wretch! Wonder O Heavens, be aſtoniſhed O Earth! The more you know it, the more you will love your Bleſſed Saviour. He loved me not a righteous Perſon, but me a Sinner, a loathſom Sinner, when in my Blood and Filth.
3. This will make you little in your own Eyes; the more we know of God, and of Chriſt, and of his Love, the more we ſhall loath and abhor our ſelves. O that ever I ſhould grieve him Joh 42. 5.as I have done! How did the ſenſe of God's Love and Goodneſs to David humble him: Who am I, O Lord, and what is mine 1 Chron. 17. 16.Houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto? And yet is this a ſmall thing in thine Eyes, O God, for thou haſt ſpoken of thy Servant's Houſe for a great while to come, and haſt regarded me according to the Eſtate of a Man of high Degree, O Lord. Thus may every Believer ſay. The Love of Chriſt will have the like Effect on our Souls, as the Knowledg of David's Love to Abigail, when he ſent Meſſengers to her to make her his Wife, and raiſe her to his Throne: Let me (ſaith ſhe) be a Servant, to waſh the Feet of the Servants of 1 Sam. 25. 41.my Lord.
4. The Knowledg of Chriſt's Love, will beget greater and ſtronger Love in our Souls to him: Love begetteth Love, but not till it is known. O taſte, Sinners, of this Love: had you but a Taſte, how would your Hearts be enflamed in Love to Jeſus Chriſt. And as to you Saints,
5. The more you know of Chriſt's Love, the more your Hearts will die (and your Love cool) to all earthly things.
6. The more you know of Chriſt's Love, the more firmly you will be fixed and ſetled in his Truth, and be delivered from Fears and Doubts about your ſtanding. Alas, it is not Sin, nor Satan, nor Hell, nor Death, that can deprive your Souls of Chriſt's Love, if you are his. If Satan ſays, Thou art a vile Sinner, and lays before thee the Baſeneſs of thy Heart; tell him, Chriſt's Love paſſeth Knowledg. Does he ſay, that thou wilt fall one time or another? Tell him, Chriſt loved thee not for thy Righteouſneſs; and his Love that is ſo infinite, will never ſuffer thee to fall and riſe no more.
7. The Knowledg of Chriſt's Love will make us to ſpeak well of God, and Chriſt, and his Ways, at all times; ſtill we ſhall ſay, the Love of God, and Jeſus Chriſt, is the ſame, all is in Love; whom I love, I rebuke and chaſten: Chriſt's Love known and experienced, Rev. 3. 19.will be a Cordial to bear thee up to the end of thy Days.
8. This will ſet your Souls at liberty, and bring you out of the Spirit of Bondage, and make you to run after him: But it is Cant. 1. 4.not the knowing of Chriſt's Love in any degree, but to that degree that paſſeth Knowledg; a Love that can't fail which will do this.
9. The Knowledg of Chriſt's Love will make you cling and cleave to him: Chriſt is the Loadſtone, and our Soul the Needle; and now our Soul having touched him, it makes to the Center; and though you may, like the Needle, tremble for a Time, yet you are haſtening to him, and never will reſt till you come to him whom your Souls love.
10. The more you know of him, and of his Love, the more will be your inward Joy and Peace: For this is the Way to be filled with all the Fulneſs of God, and to know the Love of Chriſt Eph. 3. 19.which paſſeth Knowledg, that you may be filled with all the Fulneſs of God.
Secondly, This may reprehend and ſharply reprove, ſuch Chriſtians that doubt of the Love of Chriſt; eſpecially thoſe who affirm, that juſtified and ſanctified Perſons may for ever loſe his Love and periſh; for this renders his Love mutable and changeable, according as the Love of Mortals change one towards another.
Thirdly, and laſtly, What Comfort and Conſolation doth this afford to all true Chriſtians?
But I muſt proceed to the next Argument, to prove, That Saints ſhall not, cannot finally fall ſo as to periſh.
Fourthly, Chriſt's Sheep, his Saints, ſhall never ſo fall, as finally The fourth A … taken from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace.and eternally to periſh, I ſhall in the next place prove, and that from the Nature of the Covenant of Grace.
Firſt. Becauſe it is a Covenant of Grace: We do not ſtand in this Covenant, as Adam ſtood in the firſt Covenant.
And now that it is a Covenant of Grace, will appear, if we conſider with whom this Covenant was primarily made; and that was with Jeſus Chriſt, it was made between God in the Perſon Iſa. 53. 10, 11. Zech. 6. 12, 13.of the Father, and Man in the Perſon of Chriſt. Our Lord Jeſus was conſtituted in this Covenant, the great Head, Repreſentative, and bleſſed Surety, for and in behalf of all the Father gave unto him. Adam had no Surety that undertook for him in the firſt Covenant, as a Covenanting Hand, but was entruſted with all his Riches, all being put into his own Hand, which he ſoon by his Sin loſt, and undid himſelf and all his Poſterity, whom he was ſet up as the common Head and Repreſentative of. God foreſecing this, he would not enter into a Covenant any more with Man, his Credit being for ever loſt: And ſince he loſt all when he had Power to ſtand, there was no likelihood or poſſibility of his ſtanding, after he had deprived himſelf of his Power of doing good, being depraved in all the Faculties of his Soul. Therefore Chriſt was ſet up, ſet up from Everlaſting, by the Holy God, (who foreſaw all things before they came to paſs) as the Head and Surety of the New Covenant, (called the New Covenant, in reſpect had to the time of the Revelation of it to Mankind, it being not known until Man had broke the firſt Covenant): now Chriſt undertook in the Covenant of Grace for all the Elect, he perſonating them, when the Father and he entred into that glorious Compact or Covenant-Tranſactions, we having not then an actual Being, he repreſented all that were given to him out of the loſt Lump of fallen Man; and undertook, as Mediator, to make up that Breach that was between God and Man; and by his perfect Obedience to merit for them Everlaſting Life, and to bring them all to Glory. This being ſo, nothing can more fully demonſtrate the Certainty of their Salvation, and the Impoſſibility of any of their periſhing; for they for whom Jeſus Chriſt did undertake this great and glorious Work, even all the Elect Seed, were put into his Hand by the Tenour of this Covenant, to work out Life and Salvation for them, and to die in the room and ſtead of them; thereby to bear that Wrath and Curſe that they otherwiſe muſt have ſuffered, born and endured for ever. Now in this Covenant, Eternal Life comes to us primarily by God's Free Grace, in his finding out, parting with, and accepting of his own Son to be our Saviour and Surety. And ſecondly, by virtue of what Chriſt hath done, and did undertake to do and ſuffer for all that ſhould be ſaved, they cannot periſh: I have found David my Servant; with my Holy Spirit have I anointed him.—My Mercy will I keep with him for evermore, Pſal. 89. 20. Verſe 28, 29.and my Covenant ſhall ſtand faſt in him. His Seed alſo will I make to endure for ever. His Seed, that is, all that are the Product of his Spirit, or are quickned and renewed by him. This is the Nature of the Covenant of Grace, Chriſt is their Root and Head, their Spirit of Life is in him, and it is derived from him in Regeneration, in a ſpiritual way, as our natural Life was in, and derived to us from the firſt Adam by Generation, in a natural way. My Brethren, pray do not miſtake about the Nature and Tenour of this great and glorious Covenant: The Father, we ſay, enters into a Covenant with his Son, and promiſes Eternal Life unto him, and to all his Elect Seed, upon the conſideration of what he, I mean our Bleſſed Saviour, was to perform in reſpect of thoſe federal Conditions propoſed to him, which he did then undertake on Man's behalf, or ſuch of Mankind that God did intend to ſave. And the Father that accepted of him, and ſent him into the World, and gave him his Sheep, doth look to him as to the final and compleat Accompliſhment of all things, that were either to be done for them, or wrought and done in them, in order to the Everlaſting Salvation of their Souls. And this Chriſt engaged to do, and took them into his Hands in this Covenant to effect; which is clearly ſignified in my Text, together with a full Aſſurance unto us, that he will do it in ſpite of Sin, Devil, World, and all Enemies; Neither ſhall any pluck them out of my Hand. Our Bleſſed Saviour further ſaith, All that the Father hath given me, ſhall come unto me; and him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. For John 6. 37, 38, 39.I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that ſent me. And this is the Father's Will that ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt Day. This was the Covenant between them both, this is his Father's Will, that none, no not one, no nothing of them that were given to him, neither their Souls nor Bodies, ſhould be loſt, but all muſt be ſaved, he having engaged and promiſed to fulfil and accompliſh the Father's Will herein. O happy Believers! you are not left to your own Covenanting with God, to the Power of your own Wills; nor do you ſtand upon your own Legs, but you are in God's Covenant, in Chriſt's Covenant; you are committed into Chriſt's Hand to keep, you ſtand upon your Surety's Engagements, his Undertakings; God looks to him, and expects that he gives a good Account of all his Sheep at the laſt Day; and Chriſt is able and faithful: He ſays, Them I muſt bring; I have ſtruck Hands with my Father, I have covenanted and promiſed to die for them, and to call, renew, and eternally to ſave them; and they ſhall never periſh. This being all true, what is become of the Doctrine (or rather of the groſs Error) of a final falling from a State of true Grace?
Secondly, To proceed a little further: Jeſus Chriſt, by virtue of this Covenant, and in purſuance of that great Work he undertook, did not only die to ſatisfy for the Sins of his People, but alſo purchaſed or procured thereby a gracious conveyance of the Holy Spirit, and the ſaving Graces and Influences thereof, to change their Hearts, bend and ſubject their Wills, and graciouſly to renew and convert their Souls unto God, which God foreſaw otherwiſe could never be done, and alſo to carry on that good Work in them until they come to Glory: And this indeed he was obliged to perform, according to the Tenour of this Covenant. And hence it is that Paul ſaith, Being confident of this very thing, that he which Phil. 1. 6.hath begun a good Work in you, will perform it until the Day of Chriſt; or until the Day of your Death he will perform it; which denotes his Covenant-undertaking, he having obliged or bound himſelf as our Surety to do it. It is not ſaid he will perfect, or finiſh it, but he will perform it. Had not the Apoſtle referred to that Obligation in the Covenant of Grace which he laid himſelf under, the other Expreſſion had been as proper, i. e. to ſay, he will perform it. He is faithful, and cannot fail in doing and performing what he hath made a Bargain, or covenanted to do: As we ſay, when a faithful and reſponſible Perſon hath covenanted to do this or that, though the Work be great and difficult, and much Oppoſition lies in his way, yet he will do it, he will perform what he hath undertaken. Hence David ſaith, I will cry unto God moſt High; unto Pſal. 57. 2.God that performeth all things for me: To God moſt high that is able to do it, let Sin, Men and Devils, do what they can to hinder him. This is further confirmed by the Prophet; Lord, thou wilt ordain Iſa. 26. 12.Peace for us, for thou alſo haſt wrought all our Works in us: All is the Effects of thy Grace, according to thy glorious Covenant. Hence alſo the Apoſtle ſaith, For it is God that worketh in you, both to will Phil. 2. 13.and to do of his own good Pleaſure. No Man can chuſe that which is ſavingly Good, much leſs perform it, until his Will is graciouſly renewed: My People ſhall be willing in the Day of my Power. This Pſal. 110. 3.being ſo, how contrary is this Doctrine to that which ſome Men maintain concerning the Power of the Creature, or Power of Man's depraved Will, the purport of which leaves the Salvation of every Soul at the greateſt Uncertainty imaginable? They tell you Chriſt died for all Men, that is, for their Good, and ſatisfied for their Sins, againſt the firſt Covenant, for all Men; and that all are put into a Capacity to be ſaved, if they will believe, repent, and continue in believing and in well-doing to the End: they clearly intimate, that whatſoever the Decree or Purpoſe of God is, and whatſoever the Nature of the Covenant of Grace is, yet all is at the determination of Man's own Will, whether any one will be ſaved or not, God affording him only ſtrong moral Perſwaſions, Reaſons, Motives, and Subjective Conſiderations thereunto, which may, or may not incline, excite or prevail with him to believe and obey the Goſpel, and perform the procuring Conditions of Life and Salvation; or they may not incline, excite or prevail with any one Soul: they do not, will not ſay, that Chriſt is under an Obligation, by virtue of the Covenant made with the Father, to afford effectual Grace, ſpecial Aid, internal Strength to any, in order to bring them over unto God; but that it is left to the Creature, and that he needs no ſuch ſupernatural or irreſiſtible Grace to work upon him: Which doth,
(1.) Evidently tend to aſcribe the whole Glory of our Regeneration and Perſeverance in Grace unto Man, and not to the Grace of God: for that Act of our Wills on this Suppoſition whereby we convert unto God, is meerly an Act of our own, and not of the ſpecial Grace of God. This is clear; for if the Act it ſelf were of effectual Grace, then would it not be in the Power of the Will to hinder it, as a late Reverend Miniſter notes.Dr. Owen.
Alſo (2.) it would and muſt follow, that this would leave Regeneration and Salvation abſolutely uncertain, (notwithſtanding the Purpoſe of God, the Covenant of Grace, the Undertaking and Death of Chriſt) whether ever any one in all the World ſhould be ſaved, or no, as I hinted before: for when God hath done all, Chriſt hath done all that he is concerned in, or is to do on his part, it is abſolutely in the Power of the Will of Man, whether it ſhall be effectual, or not; which is directly contrary to the Covenant, Promiſe and Oath of God unto Jeſus Chriſt:
(3.) It is alſo contrary, as you have heard, unto expreſs Texts of Scripture, wherein effectual Converſion, and final Perſeverance is wholly aſcribed unto the ſpecial Grace of God, as the immediate Effect thereof; God worketh in us to will and to do. The Act therefore it ſelf in our Converſion, is of God's Operation; and though we will our ſelves, yet it is he who cauſeth us to will, by working in us to will and to do But if the Act of our Will in Believing and Obedience, in our Converſion and Perſeverance, be not the effect of God's ſpecial Grace in us, then God doth not work in us, both to will and to do of his own good Pleaſure.
Thirdly. The Covenant of Grace ſecures all Chriſt's Sheep, all his Saints, from falling away ſo as eternally to periſh, becauſe the Covenant of Grace is an Everlaſting Covenant, well ordered in all … Sam. 23. 5.things and ſure: Not only well ordered in all things for the Glory of God, in all his bleſſed Attributes, but alſo for the Happineſs, Safety and Security of all their Souls that the Father gave unto Jeſus Chriſt.
1. It is well ordered for our Good, in that Chriſt hath pacified the Wrath of God thereby for us. Chriſt hath, by the Blood of his Covenant, made up that great Breach that was between God and us. So that now God ſays unto his People, Fury is not in me. See what Paul ſays, When we were Enemies, Iſa. 27.we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son: And by his Spirit he reconciles us, he ſlays and ſubdues the Enmity that naturally was in our Hearts againſt God. Chriſt in this Covenant (it is ſo well ordered) is that bleſſed Days-man that lays his Hand upon both, he brings God to Man, and Man to God: We were the Children of Wrath, and under the Epheſ. 2. 2, 3. Gal. 3. 4, 25.Curſe of the Law; but by the Grace of this well-ordered Covenant, we were made the Children of God, and delivered from the Curſe of the Law: Chriſt hath delivered us from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us.
We had loſt the Image of God; but by this Covenant it is reſtored to us again, and ſo that we ſhall not loſe it any more for ever. We were dead, blind, naked, in Bonds and in Priſon, but by the Grace of God in this Covenant we are quickned, our Eyes Epheſ. 2. 1, 2. Eph. 1. 18. Zech. 9. 11.are enlightned, and we have our naked Souls clothed; yea, and are brought out of Priſon, and all our Wounds are healed. We were guilty and filthy Creatures; but by this Covenant are juſtified and ſanctified, being actually acquitted, and through Faith pronounced Righteous, in the perfect Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and all our Sins pardoned; and are ſanctified, purged and waſhed by Faith in his Blood, and ſhall not come into Condemnation: There Rom. 8. 1.is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus; they ſhall never periſh: If there is no Condemnation to them, there is no poſſibility of their final falling.
Well, but what are the Characters of thoſe happy Souls? why, they are ſuch, ſaith the Apoſtle, who walk not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit. Moreover, ſee this more fully confirmed by Chriſt himſelf; Verily, verily I ſay unto you, he that heareth my Words, and believeth on him that ſent me, hath Everlaſting Life, and ſhall not come into Condemnation, but is paſſed from Death to Life: He is paſſed out of a ſtate of Death to a ſtate of Spiritual Life; he hath Eternal Life in the Seed of it in him; he hath a ſure and certain Right and Title to Everlaſting Life; he ſhall not be deprived of it by any Enemy whatſoever: ſo much do theſe words of our Bleſſed Saviour imply. Now what daring Men are they who ſay, they may come into Condemnation that do believe? Will they gainſay and contradict the Lord of Life and Glory?
3dly. It is a well-ordered and ſure Covenant, becauſe it is made in and with our bleſſed Surety, as before I ſhewed you: God treats with us, trades again with us, gives forth his Heavenly Treaſure to us; but all is upon the Credit and Security of Jeſus Chriſt, who is become the Surety of this Covenant. Now we may have what we need, come when we will in his Name, he is engaged to God the Father for us; Chriſt was made a Surety of a better Covenant. Heb. 7. 22.When God ſaw Man undone, run out of all, and no truſting him any more, Chriſt ſtep'd in and undertook for us, and put his Hand to the Covenant, and brings himſelf under an Obligation for us.
Queſt. Is Chriſt a Surety to God for us, or of us to God?
An. I anſwer; God on his part had no need of a Surety to undertake for him; he never failed nor broke at firſt with Man, it was Man that broke and failed in his Covenant with God. "But we on all Accounts (ſaith Dr. Owen)Dr. Owen on Heb. 2. 22. p. 223. ſtand in need of ſuch a Surety for us, or on our behalf: Neither without the interpoſition of ſuch a Surety, (ſaith he) could any Covenant between God and us be firm and ſtable, or an Everlaſting Covenant ordered in all things and ſure."
4thly. Becauſe this Covenant is made upon the unchangeable Decree and Counſel of God: My Covenant I will not break; nor alter Pſ. 89. 34.the thing that is gone out of my Mouth. If you can break my Covenant of the Day and Night, then may alſo my Covenant be broken with David. Now Chriſt and his Seed, his Elect, are but one Party in this Covenant; J…. 33. 20, 21.it was made with him, and with us in him, before the World began. See Paul; Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy Calling; not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpoſe and Grace, which was given us in Chriſt Jeſus before the World began. It was made as firm to us in Chriſt who do believe, as it was made to him, and only made with him for us; to this End, even to ſecure Eternal Life for us, that we might not loſe it: and it is as firm by the Decree and Counſel of God, as the Covenant of Day and Night. And thus it is of Grace alone; the Reaſon of which the Apoſtle gives us; Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be of Rom. 4. 16.Grace, to the end the Promiſe might be ſure to all the Seed. Pray obſerve it well.
5thly. This Covenant is ſure to all the Elect, and gives them an Aſſurance of Everlaſting Life; becauſe the execution of it is put into the Hands of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghoſt is to ſee that all the Legacies left in Chriſt's laſt Will and Teſtament, are given to all Believers; all Covenant-Bleſſings ſhall therefore be faithfully beſtowed upon them of which final Perſeverance in Grace and Holineſs is none of the leaſt: Chriſt's Will runs, none of them ſhall periſh; and it is the Father's Will, that none that he hath given to his Son ſhould be loſt. Now the Spirit of God cannot fail, it is his Work to regenerate, ſanctify and preſerve, and to make meet all the Saints of God for the Eternal Inheritance; therefore they cannot periſh.
6thly. The Covenant is firm and ſure, and doth ſecure all Chriſt's Sheep unto Eternal Life, appears further, becauſe it is confirmed by the higheſt Witneſſes in Heaven and Earth. (1.) The Father, (2.) the Son, (3.) the Holy Spirit, and all thoſe wonderful Miracles that were wrought: this was one End of that mighty Teſtimony, viz. That all the Father hath given to Chriſt, or all that believe in him, may aſſuredly know they ſhall not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life.
7thly. This Covenant makes all the Bleſſings thereof ſure to all Believers, becauſe it is confirmed and ratified by the Blood of the Teſtator Jeſus Chriſt: That Covenant that is confirm'd and ratified by Chriſt's Blood, muſt needs be ſure to all the Seed, and ſecure all Bleſſings in it to them. We have alſo as a Sign and Token of this Confirmation of the New Covenant, the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper; This is the Blood of the New Covenant that is ſhed for you, to make Peace for you, to procure Juſtification, Reconciliation, pardon of Sin, and Eternal Life for you: it is ſealed to you by the Spirit through my Blood; take, eat this, and drink this in token of it, as an Aſſurance of it.
8thly. The Covenant of Grace doth ſecure the ſtanding of Chriſt's Sheep, or preſerve all Believers to Everlaſting Life, becauſe of the Promiſe and Oath of God. We have,
(1.) The Promiſe of God to Chriſt; He ſhall ſee his Seed. And Iſa. 53. 10. Pſal. 89. 28, 29.again, His Seed ſhall endure for ever. How can that be, if any one that is begotten by Chriſt's Word and Spirit may periſh?
(2.) The Promiſes alſo are as made to us in Chriſt. This was Abraham's Title to the Bleſſings of the Covenant: To Abraham Gal. 3. 16, 29.and to his Seed were the Promiſes made; that is, to Chriſt and to all Believers in Chriſt. For all the Promiſes of God in Jeſus Chriſt, are not 2 Cor. 1. 20.Yea and Nay, but Yea and Amen, to the Glory of God the Father: From the Father through the Merits of Chriſt, and the Application of the Holy Spirit. Nay, God that cannot lie, promiſed them to us in Chriſt before all Worlds: See Paul, In hope of Eternal Tit. 1. 2.Life, which God that cannot lie, promiſed before the World began. If Believers do periſh, what will become of the Promiſes of God, nay, of the Oath of God? For when God made Promiſe to Abraham, Heb. 6. 13, 17, 18.becauſe he could ſwear by no greater, he ſwore by himſelf, &c. Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the Heirs of Promiſe the immutability of his Counſel, confirmed it by an Oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lie, we might have ſtrong Conſolation, who have fled for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope ſet before us. This Promiſe and Oath of God, doth reſpect the Salvation of all the Elect, or all that are Believers, who are the Heirs of the Promiſes. O let any take heed how they affirm, that any one of theſe may periſh, ſince God's Oath is paſſed that they ſhall not; and 'tis to this end that all of them might have ſtrong Conſolation.
9thly. I might proceed to ſhew you that the Covenant of Grace does preſerve all the Sheep of Chriſt to Eternal Life, and ſhews us, that it is impoſſible that any of them ſhould ſo fall away, as eternally to periſh, becauſe they in this Covenant have received the Epheſ. 1. 13, 14. Ch. 4. 30.Earneſt of the Inheritance, and by the ſame Spirit it is ſealed to them alſo. But I ſhall paſs by that, having elſewhere ſpoken fully to it.
10thly, and Laſtly, This Covenant prevents the Saints final falling, becauſe it is an abſolute Covenant which can never be broken, but ſtands as firm as their Eternal Rock. See what the Prophet ſpeaks, 'tis as abſolute as the Covenant God made with Noah: For this is as the Water of Noah unto me; for as I have ſworn the Iſa. 54. 9, 10.Waters of Noah ſhall no more go over the Earth, ſo I have ſworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the Mountains ſhall depart, and the Hills be removed, but my loving Kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither [mark it] the Covenant of my Peace be removed, ſaith the Lord that hath Mercy on thee. And now this Covenant is made with every Sheep and Lamb of Jeſus Chriſt, as it appears by what the ſame Prophet ſpeaks, Incline your Ear, and come unto me; hear, and your Souls ſhall live; and I will make an Iſa. 55. 3.Everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure Mercies of David: that is, then you ſhall be brought actually into the Bonds of this Covenant, which is the Work of the Spirit; for who elſe can make the Dead to hear and live? So this Covenant ſecures you to Eternal Life.
Let me ſum up the whole of this Argument.
(1.) If the New Covenant be a Covenant of Grace, and not of The general Argument.Works; if it be not according to the firſt Covenant that was made with Adam, but of a quite contrary Nature.
(2.) If it be made with Chriſt for all his Elect, and in him with them, before the World began.
(3.) If Chriſt is the Surety of the Covenant, and hath ingaged or obliged himſelf in this Covenant to the Father, to perform all the federal Conditions propoſed to him, and undertaken by him on their behalf, namely to work out perfect Righteouſneſs according as the Law requires, (of all that can be juſtified with God) and to die in their room, to ſatisfy for their Breach of the Law, and to quicken, renew, ſanctify and preſerve them all unto Eternal Life.
(4.) If it be an everlaſting Covenant, well ordered in all things, and ſure, for the Salvation of all that are given unto him, it being made upon the unchangeable Decree and Counſel of God.
(5.) If the Execution of all things that are required of Believers, in order to their Intereſt in this Covenant, and their perſeverance to the End, be put into the Hands of the Holy Ghoſt to work in them, and for them.
(6.) If the Covenant is confirmed by ſuch infallible Witneſs; if it be ratified and confirmed by the Blood of Chriſt.
(7.) If it is alſo confirmed by God's Promiſe and Holy Oath.
(8.) If the Earneſt of Salvation is given to them.
(9.) And they are ſealed unto the Day of Redemption by the Holy Spirit.
(10.) And if 'tis an abſolute Covenant like that of Noah: Then they all, and every one of them, ſhall certainly be ſaved, and none of them can fall away ſo as eternally to periſh. But all this is true, and evidently ſo, therefore they ſhall all be ſaved.
No more at this Time.