A Golden Mine Opened, Hymns – Sermon 22
HYMNS of PRAISE.
A New Song ſing unto the Lord
For mighty Wonders done,
His right Hand, and his glorious Arm,
Hath our Salvation won.
Let all poor Sinners taſte and try
That thou, O Lord, art good;
Nay let them feed, Lord Chriſt, on thee,
And waſh them in thy Blood:
That they with Saints with one accord,
May joy with Holy Mirth,
Before the Great and Glorious Lord,
And ſhew his Praiſes forth.
Come Sinners, come, and feed on Chriſt,
Before that you do die;
Come to the Wedding-Dinner, come;
See here's Variety.
All Good is in the Lord ye need,
Let not a Taſte ſuffice;
But ſearch to find where the Sweetneſs
Of Goſpel-Dainties lies.
Truly enlightned Souls may ſing,
Who ſpecial Grace receive;
True cauſe of Joy to ſuch does ſpring,
Who ſavingly believe:
Such Souls ſhall never fall away,
But ever happy be;
Such ſhall be fed with Chriſt's own Lambs,
And ſing eternally.
BReak forth and ſing now, all ye Saints,
Lift up God's Name on high,
In ſacred Songs to celebrate
His Praiſe continually:
Exalt the living God above,
Your ſtanding is moſt ſure;
Thy Mercy, Lord, and tender Love,
Will keep our Souls ſecure.
When we do fall, Lord, we ſhall riſe
By thy own Bleſſed Hand;
Thou ſet'ſt our Feet upon a Rock,
Where we moſt ſafely ſtand.
With Saints of old we'l ſing therefore,
And ſay, Spring up O Well,
And ſend thy Waters forth for to
Refreſh thy Iſrael.
The Pleaſures of the World to come
Let's taſte of every Day,
And long when Jeſus on the Throne
Shall the bleſs'd Scepter ſway.
What ſhall we hear, what ſhall we ſee,
When raptured in Bliſs,
When we with Bleſſed Jeſus be,
What Happineſs like this?
We therefore ſing the Lamb's ſweet Song,
And Him we will adore;
The Day is near when Saints ſhall be
With him for ever more.
The Great Salvation: OR, The Salvation of the Goſpel Great and Glorious. Delivered in ſeveral SERMONS, By BENJ. KEACH.
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation, which at firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him?
Sermon 1.IN the precedent Chapter, the Apoſtle ſets forth the Excellency, Glory and Dignity of the Perſon of Jeſus Chriſt.
1. Above Moſes and the Prophets, ver. 1, 2, 3. God who at ſundry times, and in divers manners, ſpake in time paſt unto the Fathers by the Prophets; Ver. 2. Hath in theſe laſt Days ſpoken to us by Reader, This Treatiſe is ſwollen ſo big already, that I can give thee little more than the Heads of the Sermons on this Texts.his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things. Ver. 3. Who being the Brightneſs of his Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the Word of his Power, when he had by himſelf purged our Sins, ſate down on the right Hand of the Majeſty on High.
2. Above the Holy Angels: ver. 4. Being made ſo much better than the Angels, as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. Chriſt doth not only ſurpaſs Moſes and the Prophets, but alſo all the Angels of God.
1. In reſpect of his being God, of the Subſtance of the Father, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon, the Eſſential Glory of God ſhining forth in him.
2. In that he as God created, and alſo doth uphold the World, and all things in it, by the Word of his Power.
3. In that he hath obtained a more excellent Name than they, verſe 4.
4. In that Angels are required to worſhip him, ver. 5, 6.
5. In that Angels are but his Servants, ver. 7, 14.
6. In reſpect of his Scepter and Kingdom, ver. 8.
7. In reſpect of his glorious Exaltations at the Father's right Hand, ver. 13.
The Apoſtle having laid down theſe things ſo fully and clearly, to illuſtrate and confirm the great Doctrine of the Goſpel; he in the beginning of this ſecond Chapter, proceeds to make the neceſſary Improvement of it: Therefore we ought to give the more earneſt Heed to the Things which we have heard, leſt at any Time we let them ſlip, ver. 1. For if the Word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, &c. (and from hence he brings the Words in our Text) How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great Salvation? &c.
The Words contain an Interrogation, which doth imply a ſtrong and moſt vehement Negation; How ſhall we eſcape if we, &c. That is, we cannot eſcape, or it is impoſſible we, or any Perſons whatſoever, ſhould eſcape, if we or they neglect ſo great Salvation. Eſcape what? That is implied here, which is not expreſſed, namely, the Wrath of God: How ſhall we eſcape the dreadful Judgment and Indignation of God, or Eternal Damnation in Hell, if we neglect or ſlight, deſpiſe or reject the Means of this Salvation?
He confirms what he aſſerts, or aggravates the Greatneſs of their Sin who do neglect this Salvation, and the impoſſibility of ſuch ever to eſcape God's Wrath.
1. From the Power and Authority of Chriſt, who not only wrought this Salvation out, but only firſt declared it, or made it known; which firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord. Which ſome think may refer to his firſt declaring of it from the beginning to Adam upon his Tranſgreſſion, and to the Fathers under the Old Teſtament: But I conceive he means chiefly our Lord's preaching this Salvation in the Days of his Fleſh, when he entred firſt on his Miniſtry, as verſe 1. of the firſt Chapter; God hath in theſe laſt Days ſpoken unto us by his Son.
2. From the confirmation of it, by Signs and Wonders. I ſhall be very brief in ſpeaking unto the Terms of our Text.
How ſhall we eſcape, avoid, get clear of, or deliver our ſelves from God's Wrath and Vengeance.
If we neglect, if we mind other things more than this Salvation, or ſeem to be indifferent in and about this great Buſineſs, like thoſe that made light of the Invitation to the Marriage-Supper, Mat. 22. Luke 14. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
So great Salvation, namely, the Salvation of the Goſpel. Great, as it refers to God, denotes the glorious Perfections of his Nature, the Great God; it ſignifies the infinite Power, Wiſdom, Holineſs, Mercy and Glory of his Majeſty. Great, as it refers to things, may be conſidered as to the Nature and Quality of them, as Great Riches, Great Light; as the Sun is called a great Light, that is, a Glorious Light, excelling all other Natural or Created Lights, or Artificial Lights. Great Peace have they that love thy Law; that is, Glorious Peace. So, great Salvation denotes Glorious Salvation, exceeding all Temporal Salvation. So Great, this [ſo] raiſes the Greatneſs and Glory of this Salvation. God ſo loved the World: So, how? Even ſo, that it cannot be conceived, much leſs expreſſed. So, this great Salvation is ſo wonderful, ſo amazing, ſo glorious, and ſo affecting, it calls for all to admire it, conſider it, imbrace it, and by no means to ſlight or neglect it.
From hence I ſhall note three Points of Doctrine.
Doct. 1. That the Salvation of the Goſpel is a Great and Glorious Salvation.
Doct. 2. That the Means of this Salvation may be neglected.
Doct. 3. That all ſuch who do neglect this Salvation, ſhall not, cannot eſcape.
I purpoſe to ſpeak to all theſe three Propoſitions, and ſhall begin with the firſt, namely, That the Salvation of the Goſpel is a Great and Glorious Salvation.
Firſt, I ſhall prove, and fully (God aſſiſting) demonſtrate the Truth of this Doctrine.
Secondly, I ſhall improve it by way of Application.
Firſt, It is a Great and Glorious Salvation comparatively: or when it is compared with all other Salvations.
1. That was a Great and Glorious Salvation which God wrought Goſpel-Salvation great Salvation comparatively.for Iſrael at the Red Sea. But what a Salvation was that? Who were they ſaved from? It was from Pharaoh, a bloody and cruel Perſecutor: but this is from Satan and all cruel Enemies of our Souls.
2. That was from the Wrath of Men; this is from the fearful Pſa. 91. 11.Wrath of God, which none are able to conceive of: according to thy Fear, ſo is thy Wrath.
3. That was a Salvation of the natural Lives of the Children of Iſrael; this a Salvation of our Immortal Souls and Bodies too for ever.
4. That was a Type of this Salvation, a Shadow of it: and as far as the Subſtance exceeds the Shadow of a Thing, ſo far doth this Salvation exceed that and all other Salvations.
5. That was a Temporal Salvation, this is an Eternal Salvation. Now that Salvation at the Red Sea being one of the greateſt Temporal Salvations that ever was wrought, I need not mention any other. Iſrael had many great Salvations wrought for them afterwards, and ſo have many of the Saints had great Salvations and Deliverances wrought for them in the Times of the Goſpel.
Nay, we in theſe Nations have ſeen and heard of great and wonderful Things which God hath wrought for us, and for our Forefathers. It was a great Salvation that was wrought in 1588, at the Spaniſh Invaſion, and from the Powder-Plot; and alſo that in 1688, when We, and the Proteſtant Intereſt, were brought very low, and we could not ſee which way Relief and Deliverance could come. But alas, what are all theſe Salvations to this in my Text? Pray remember that Goſpel-Salvation is Great and Glorious comparatively. But,
Secondly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is not only great comparatively, Goſpel-Salvation great in it ſelf.but alſo poſitively: not only in reſpect of all other Salvations, but alſo in regard of it ſelf. And to demonſtrate this, conſider, that it is great and glorious in reſpect of the Time (or rather that Eternity) in which it was contrived and graciouſly promiſed.
This Salvation, Brethren, was contrived and found out by the Wiſdom of God, before the World began. Hence Chriſt is ſaid to be a Lamb ſlain from the Foundation of the World; that is, in the Decree, Rev. 13. 8.Counſel and Purpoſe of God: Chriſt was ſet up from Everlaſting as the great and glorious Mediator and Saviour of all that ſhould believe in him, or that were given unto him by the Father.
The Lord poſſeſſed me in the beginning of his Way, before his Works of Prov. 8. 22, 23, 24old. I was ſet up from Everlaſting, or ever the Earth was. When there were no Depths, I was brought forth. As theſe Scriptures prove the Deity and Eternal Generation of the Son of God; ſo alſo there was a Deſignation of him by the Father, as Mediator, to be our Saviour before all Worlds. Hence God ſaith of miſerable Man, Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a Ranſom. And as it was found out before the beginning of the World, Job 33 24.or from Eternity, ſo it was alſo as early promiſed to us, as the Elect in Chriſt, in hope of Eternal Life, which God that cannot lie Tit. 1. 2.promiſed before the World began: Compared with that in Timothy, Who hath ſaved and called us with an holy Calling; not according to our 2 Tim. 1. 9.Works, but according to his Purpoſe and Grace, which was given us in Jeſus Chriſt before the World began.
God thought of us poor Sinners, and found out this way of Salvation before we had a Being, yea even from Eternity, foreſeeing us fallen in the Firſt Adam, brought into a deplorable Condition of Wrath and Miſery.
Thirdly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is great and glorious, in regard Goſpel-Salvation great in reſpect of that Counſel held in Eternity about it.of that Counſel that was held before all Worlds about bringing of it in. Chriſt the great Saviour was delivered up according to the determinate Counſel of God, Acts 2. 23. Should all the Wiſe Men and Great Potentates of the Earth be called together, and ſit in Council about the doing of ſome great and wonderful thing, which unleſs it was effected, all the Kingdoms and States of the Earth would ſink and be diſſolved, would not all ſay, that would be an amazing Thing, and an important Concernment?
Alas! what is a Counſel held by all the wiſeſt Men and greateſt Potentates on Earth, of the higheſt Concernment here, to that Council held by the Glorious Trinity in Eternity, about bringing in of this Salvation? O of what Moment is the Salvation of our Souls? None but the Great God could effect it, it was the Reſult of Infinite Wiſdom and Counſel. God ſeemed, Brethren, to call a Council about the firſt Creation of Man; Let us make Man after our own Image, &c. But how much more of the Glory of God's Wiſdom, according to his Eternal Purpoſe, ſhines forth, as the Reſult of that Counſel held about the Reſtauration of Fallen Man, than what ſhone forth in the firſt Creation of him? And the Counſel of Peace was between them both; that is, between the Father and Zech. 6. 11.the Son.
Fourthly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is great and glorious in reſpect 'Tis a great Salvation in reſpect of the Deſign of it.of God's Deſign therein: Which more generally and comprehenſibly I may open in three reſpects.
1ſt. His own Glory in all his Attributes.
2dly. The confounding and baffling of Satan, and the utter Deſtruction of his Kingdom and Helliſh Deſign.
3dly. The Eternal Salvation of Man; I mean, all that believe in Jeſus Chriſt, or are given to him by the Father.
1ſt. God before all things hereby deſigned his own Glory, or to make all the Perfections of his Holy Nature manifeſt to the Creature which he had made, and to open a Way by which each of his Attributes might gloriouſly appear, and to vanquiſh that Cloud that ſeem'd to eclipſe their ſhining.
1. For God's Mercy could not be extended in another Way to the Help and Relief of Mankind under Wrath and Miſery, becauſe Juſtice was injured, and called for the Sentence to be executed on us for our Sins.
2. And his Juſtice could not be executed, but his Mercy and Goodneſs would have been brought under Obſcurity, and been vailed for ever. And had Mankind for ever been brought under the juſt Deſert of Sin, God had, it is true, glorified his Juſtice; but Mercy is as well a Property of his Bleſſed Nature as Juſtice: and had that been done, how had any of his Creatures known any thing of his Mercy and Goodneſs? certainly Mercy had never been manifeſted at all, no more than is ſeen in the caſting off the Fallen Angels. God to them appeared only Juſt, not Gracious; but in Chriſt to Mankind, he appears not only Juſt, but alſo Good and Gracious. Yet the Salvation of our Souls could not conſiſt with the Holineſs and Juſtice of God in a way of Mercy, without a Satisfaction be made to Divine Juſtice. Therefore Infinite Wiſdom in ſubſtituting Jeſus Chriſt to die in our Nature and Stead, makes God's Juſtice a full Compenſation for the Wrong and Injury we had done by our Sins and Tranſgreſſions; and from hence it appears that Infinite Wiſdom, Juſtice, Holineſs, Power, Mercy and Goodneſs, &c. are diſcovered and magnified equally in God's bringing in this Great Salvation of the Goſpel: and this was, I ſay, the grand Deſign of God herein, by which he removes and ſolves all thoſe ſeeming Contradictions and great Difficulties that appeared in the way of our Eternal Recovery, and magnifies the entire Glory of God, that ſeemed to be loſt by our Sin, or was before hid under Obſcurity; it is hereby fully repaired, and to the Joy of Saints and Angels is made known and magnified in Chriſt. And from hence it is that the Goſpel is called the Wiſdom of God; and Chriſt is alſo called the Wiſdom of God, and the Power of God, becauſe 1 Cor. 2. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 24.in him all the Strength of God, I mean the Power and Glory of all his Attributes, are joined or united together, and ſhine in equal Glory in our Salvation.
But more of this hereafter.
2dly. Hereby alſo Satan is overthrown, and his grand Deſign marr'd and fruſtrated for ever, and his Kingdom ſpoiled; our Lord Jeſus having ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a ſhew of Col. 2. 15.them openly, triumphing over them in it: and this was done by the Death of his Croſs, and by his Reſurrection; To this purpoſe was 1 Joh. 3. 8.the Son of God manifeſt, that he might deſtroy the Works of the Devil.
3dly. Moreover hereby God deſigned to make Man, even all that believe in Chriſt and embrace this Salvation, happy again, and bleſſed for ever; nay (as I ſhall ſhew you, before I have done with this Text, God aſſiſting me) even to raiſe him up into a higher and better State than that was in which he was at firſt created.
Fifthly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is Great and Glorious, if we Goſpel-Salvation great conſidering how low Man was fallen, and the ſeaſonableneſs of it.conſider how low Man was fallen and ſunk by his Tranſgreſſion, and what kind of Wrath he was laid under; As alſo if we conſider how helpleſs he was, having no Friend nor Brother that could give to God a Ranſom for him; no nor could the Angels of Heaven do it, whoſe Power is very great: No, no, none but Chriſt alone, with his Almighty Arm, could ſave us from the threatned Wrath and Vengeance of an angry God. Beſides, this Salvation muſt needs be great and glorious, if we conſider the ſeaſonableneſs of it; it was a timely Salvation, it was brought in juſt as the Hand of Juſtice was up, and ready to ſtrike the fatal Stroke. Juſtice ſtood (as it were) with his Ax in his Hand to cut off all our Heads; and Chriſt to ſave us, ſtept in and laid down (as I may ſay) his own Neck, and took the Blow: Or we may conceive that Juſtice ſtood with his Spear in his Hand, ready, as it were, to run it into our Bowels; and Jeſus Chriſt run in between Divine Wrath and our poor Souls, and cried out, Let thy Spear, O Juſtice, be thruſt into my Heart, I will die for theſe condemned and guilty Wretches. See what Paul ſays, When we were yet without ſtrength, in due time Chriſt died for the Vngodly. So Verſ. 8. While we were yet Sinners, Chriſt died for us. Rom. 5. 6.Though I deny not but that this Text may refer to the Fulneſs of Time prefixed by the Almighty for Chriſt to come, and take our Nature upon him, and to die in our room; and that was the due Time, or Time God had appointed: Yet Chriſt was as a Lamb ſlain from the beginning of the World, nay, before the Foundation thereof. And we may ſay, that as ſoon as our firſt Parents ſinned, even then, and at that very Seaſon, Jeſus Chriſt ſtep'd in, and yielded up himſelf to God as a Sacrifice for us: and had he not then been accepted, we had been loſt for ever. O how refreſhing, how ſweet and how welcome is it to a poor condemned Criminal, when he is brought to the Place of Execution, to ſee the Sheriff pull out an Arreſt of Execution, a Reprieve, nay, an abſolute Pardon, and tell him, You have met with a Friend, the King has accepted of one that he ordained and ſubſtituted to be your Surety, and to die for you, and ſatisfy the Law and Juſtice for you; Friend, you are acquitted. Brethren, thus it is here, Chriſt offered himſelf, and the Father accepted him in our ſtead to die for us, and to bear that Wrath that was due to us for our Sins; and this he did then, even when we firſt ſinned in Adam. So that we may ſay, in due time Chriſt died for the Ungodly, juſt as the Stroke of Wrath and Divine Juſtice was falling on us, for it was all one as if he had then actually ſuffered: And alſo his Blood was as efficacious to ſave and abſolve Adam, and all that did believe, and apply the Virtue thereof, before it was ſhed, as it is to us who believe in theſe latter Times of the World, after it has been ſhed more than ſixteen hundred Years. Would not ſuch a guilty Malefactor I mentioned, ſay, O this is a great Salvation indeed! nay, ſtand and admire at it, he expecting nothing but Death, and had none to help him, or afford any hope or relief to him in the leaſt!
APPLICATION.
1. We may from hence infer, God's Love to Mankind is inconceivable; nay, his Love to ſinful Man, to loſt Man, rebellious Man: What is Man that thou art mindful him? ſuch a vile Creature, Job 7. 17.a Worm, a filthy and loathſom Worm, a curſed Rebel and Traitor againſt God, that God ſhould let out his Thoughts from Eternity upon him, when the Sentence was paſt againſt him, and he ready to go down to the Pit of Everlaſting Wrath and Miſery; that he ſhould ſay, Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have Job 33. 24.found a Ranſom. 'Tis not he (that is, Man himſelf) hath found a Ranſom: No, no, I have, ſaith God, found a Ranſom; the Juſt for the Vnjuſt, or in the room and place of the guilty Sinner. It is not, I have found Man's good Works, Man's reformed Life, his Repentance, his Faith, his Tears, his ſincere Obedience; no, but it is the Obedience of Chriſt, the Blood of Chriſt, the Sacrifice of Chriſt, the Merits and Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, this God hath found to be our Ranſom. God hath found a full Ranſom, a perfect Ranſom. God accepted of Chriſt's Sacrifice for a Compleat Satisfaction; it is more ſatisfactory than if we had lain in Hell for ever, for we muſt always have been paying, but never could have made Satisfaction. O who could have thought of ſuch a Ranſom, of ſuch a way of Salvation! in this lies the Depth of Divine Wiſdom, and the Great Myſtery of the Goſpel: How ſhould we adore and admire the Grace of God in Jeſus Chriſt!
2. To you poor Sinners let me ſpeak one word by way of Exhortation: Did God ſo early contrive our Salvation? O then do you ſet your Hearts on work to ſeek this Salvation, I mean, an Intereſt in it; be early at it, do not defer it: You young Men, think upon it in the morning of your Days, this Salvation calls for your utmoſt diligence to underſtand and find out; the Goſpel is a Myſtery, 'tis not eaſily underſtood. The Preaching of a Crucified Chriſt is to ſome Men Fooliſhneſs; but to them that are ſaved, it is the Power of God. Many ſtumble at the Stumbling-ſtone God hath laid in Sion. Chriſt is to ſome a Stumbling-ſtone, and a Rock of Offence, but take heed he is not ſo to you.
3. Was there a Council held in Eternity about our Salvation? O then conſult with all Wiſdom the grand Deſign of God herein: It is to exalt his own Glory, his own Name, his own Free Grace; and this being ſo, let it be all your care to advance the Riches of his Grace, and let God be wholly exalted, and do you lie low at his Feet. O cloſe in with God's Counſel, accept of this way of Life, do not think there is any other way.
4. And laſtly, Conſider that the Greatneſs of God's Mercy and Divine Goodneſs to us, was alſo one grand End and Deſign in finding out this Salvation: It doth diſplay his unſpeakable Love and Bowels towards his poor Creature Man. True, he had the like regard to his Juſtice; but his Juſtice had been magnified in our Deſtruction, if his Mercy had never appeared. But that his Mercy might be manifeſted, what hath he done, his own Son hath born our Sins, he hath laid the Hand of his Juſtice, and let out that Wrath that muſt have lain upon us for ever upon his own Son, that Mercy might flow forth to us. This ſhould teach us to ſtudy Acts of Mercy, and contrive that way to be like unto the Holy and Merciful God: This is that which he requires of us, even to do juſtly, love Mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.