A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 31
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Sermon X.I AM upon the Proſecution of the ſecond Propoſition I raiſed from this Text, viz.
Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Goſpel may be neglected. This is implied in the Words.
1. I ſhewed you the laſt Day, what the neglecting of Goſpel-Salvation doth import.
2. I alſo ſhewed you who they are that may be ſaid to neglect it.
3. And likewiſe from whence it cometh to paſs that ſo many Perſons neglect their own Salvation.
I ſhall now proceed to the laſt thing propoſed to be ſpoken unto in the Proſecution of this Propoſition. Which is,
Fourthly, To ſhew you the great Sin and Evil of ſuch who do neglect the Means of the Salvation of the Goſpel.
Firſt, I ſhall ſhew you the Greatneſs of this Sin, in reſpect of God, or ſhew what a Diſhonour it is to him.
Secondly, Demonſtrate the Greatneſs of the Evil thereof, in reſpect of the Sinner himſelf that doth neglect it.
Thirdly, Conſidering by whoſe Influences and Inſtigations they do it.
Fourthly, Conſidering the Vanity of thoſe things for the ſake of which this Salvation is neglected.
Firſt, Such that neglect this Salvation, do caſt great Contempt upon God.
1. They caſt Contempt upon the Wiſdom of God that found it out, and on that glorious Counſel that was held in Eternity about it. What is it but a breathing forth of the higheſt Diſdain on the Wiſdom of God? What is the Voice of ſome Sinners Hearts? We ſhall be ſaved tho we go on in our own Ways, God is good, merciful, &c. This is, as it were, an undervaluing of the glorious and no leſs gracious Contrivance of Infinite Wiſdom, to ſeek to be ſaved ſome other Way, or to neglect this Way. Suppoſe a Prince ſhould hold a Council in order to make a Company of Rebels happy for ever; not only to pardon them, but to make them Rich, Noble and Honourable; and he ſhould ſend them the Offers of this rich Bounty and Goodneſs, and they ſhould contemn it, ſlight it, and wholly neglect the free acceptation thereof, would not this caſt a Slight and Reproach upon that Prince? And would not all Men ſay, ſure they were mad? Brethren, all ungodly Men who neglect this Salvation, conſult with the Devil, take Counſel of the Devil, and of their own wicked Hearts, to fruſtrate, if it were poſſible, the Counſel of God. He hath ordained the Preaching of the Goſpel as the Way to work Faith in them, and ſo to give them an Intereſt in Salvation; but they ſlight and neglect attending upon the Word, nay, believe it not, but conſpire againſt God, and ſet themſelves againſt the Lord, and againſt his Chriſt, ſaying, Pſal. 2. 2, 3.Let us break their Bonds aſunder, and caſt their Cords from us. Let us caſt away the Offers and Promiſes of this God, and of this Chriſt, about Salvation and an Eternal Kingdom, and thoſe Threatnings of Wrath and Hell, whereby they would one while allure us to forſake our Sins and beloved Luſts, and at another time frighten us into Faith and Obedience, and to ſubmit our Necks to his Yoke. Come, let us ſlight all thoſe Arguments he uſes to win us over to him, yea, ſpurn at them, and diſregard all the Hopes and Fears theſe Cords would put us into, could they get us under their Power. What are all theſe things but Fancies, vain Dreams? Tuſh, our State is good enough, we can repent hereafter: What is the Goſpel but to do as we would be done unto? Let us not trouble our Heads with any other Notions of Religion. And thus they ſlight and caſt contempt upon the infinite Wiſdom of God, who found out and contrived this way of Salvation, and by which Eph. 3. 10.his manifold Wiſdom is revealed.
2. They alſo who neglect and ſlight the Salvation of the Goſpel, do caſt Contempt upon the higheſt Goodneſs, Love and Mercy that was ever ſhewed to Man: God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth on him might not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life. Love, to the wonderment of Men John 3. 16.and Angels! Shall ſuch a Marriage be offered by the great King, ſuch a Banquet be prepared that coſt ſo much, and ſhall any make light of it, and deſpiſe Infinite Goodneſs for the ſake of their own filthy Luſts, and think they may be ſaved ſome other Way? They thereby render the Holy God cruel to his own Son, in his giving him up to die, and to become a Sacrifice for Sin.
Brethren, if Salvation be neglected, it is either out of Preſumption or Deſpair.
(1.) Now ſuch that preſumptuouſly neglect it, ſeem to magnify God's Mercy in their own Conceit, being wholly ignorant of his Juſtice and Holineſs, and ſo ſlight the conſtituted Method of his declared Goodneſs in Jeſus Chriſt; and ſo whilſt they ſeem to magnify God's Mercy, they impair, nay contemn his Soveraignty, by chuſing and preſcribing other Ways of God's communicating of himſelf to his Creatures, than what he in his Eternal Counſel fixed upon, and found out.
(2.) If it be neglected through Deſpair, they caſt Contempt upon Chriſt's Blood, as if there was not a Sufficiency in it to cleanſe and ſave them from their Sins; and not only ſo, but alſo render God not to be believed, who hath ſaid, There is Life in his Son, and whoſoever believes in him ſhall not periſh. Therefore Deſpair makes God a Liar, as it is a high degree of Unbelief: Moreover, it renders God to be cruel to his Creatures; for though they fall down at his Feet, and humble themſelves, yet the Voice of Deſpair is, God is only an angry Judg, and clothed with nothing but Wrath and Fury. Nay, and it caſteth a diſparagement upon the Power and Sufficiency of God to ſave when he appears in his full united Strength, for ſo he does manifeſt himſelf in Jeſus Chriſt. And hereby ſuch ſeem to intimate, as if a multitude of Sins could throw God's Mercy into the Depths of the Sea, inſtead of Mercy's caſting our Sins therein, notwithſtanding Juſtice hath received a full Satisfaction for them by the Hands of our Bleſſed Saviour and Surety.
3. From hence it appears that they who neglect this Salvation through Unbelief, do caſt alſo Contempt upon God's Power to ſave, rendering him unable to do it by his right Hand, even by Jeſus Chriſt: Man is very apt to queſtion God's Power, like them of old; Can God ſpread a Table in the Wilderneſs? All Diſtruſts ariſe from Fears and Jealouſy, either of the Strength, or elſe of the Faithfulneſs and Juſtice of the Object addreſſed unto in a Time of Diſtreſs; that either the Perſon is weak and unable to help, or elſe diſhoneſt and unjuſt; and though he hath promiſed to ſave, to help, yet he will not. Even ſo it is here, all they that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, from Unbelief and deſponding Thoughts, either ſeem to ſtrip God and Jeſus Chriſt of his Power to ſave, or elſe of his Truth and Faithfulneſs, who hath ſaid, Look unto me, and be ye ſaved, all ye Ends of the Earth. And again, He that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. A convinced Iſa. 45. 22. Joh. 6. 37.Sinner, before he comes to Chriſt (nay and ſometimes afterwards too when under Temptation) is apt to ſay, Can God pardon my Sins? Can God remit my Sins that are ſo great? Pray take notice of two Texts of Scripture, the one reſpects ſuch Sinners that are not awakened, and ſo ſeem to preſume; the other refers to convinced and awakened Sinners who ſeem to deſpair, and yet go on in their Sins.
(1.) Iſa. 57. 10. Thou art wearied in the greatneſs of thy Way; yet ſayeſt thou not, There is no Hope? Thou goeſt on in thy unjuſt and ſinful Ways, till thou haſt even wearied thy ſelf, as if the Lord ſhould ſay, and yet thinkeſt thy State good, wilt not ſay there is no Hope; but contrariwiſe thou haſt Hope, and doſt conclude all is well: theſe are bold preſumptuous Sinners.
Compare this Text with that in Jer. 2. 25. But thou ſayeſt, There is no Hope; No, for I have loved Strangers, and after them I will go. We are very vile, our Conſciences reprove us, convince us of our abominable Evils, but there is no Hope, God will not pardon us, nor take us into his Favour; therefore we will go on in our own Ways, and take our ſwing: Theſe were aſhamed of their doings, as the next Verſe ſhews, and yet not ſo aſhamed as to leave their Sins and Doings, and to return to the Lord, but doubted of his pardoning Grace. We ſee, ſay ſome, there's no ground of Hope, there is no help for ſuch as we, our Hearts are ſo hard, Corruptions are ſo ſtrong in us, there is no Salvation for us; we will therefore take our Courſe, cleave to our Sins and Lovers, and to our old Companions; we will even follow our Trades, and purſue the World, and ſatisfy our Luſts with Pleaſures. Deſpair ſometimes makes Perſons deſperate; others of this ſort grow melancholy, and ready, through Satan's Temptations, to lay violent Hands on themſelves, when it prevails far upon them. Now theſe I ſay do caſt great Reproach upon the Power of God, and his pardoning Grace in Jeſus Chriſt.
4. Such who believe not but neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, caſt contempt and diſhonour on the Truth of God, they do not give credit to what God ſays in his Word about Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, and of that neceſſity there is of Faith in him, and Union with him, and of being born again, if ever they are ſaved. If ye believe not Joh. 8. 24.that I am he, ye ſhall die in your Sins. But the Jews would not believe this. Hence it is ſaid, He that believeth not, maketh God a Liar, 1 John 5. 10.becauſe he believeth not the Record that God gave of his Son: As ſuch do, who do not believe the Teſtimony of any Perſon, though never ſo true. And is it not a horrid Evil to render God a Liar? He ſaith, Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh; and except a Man Luke 13. 35. John 3. 3, 5.be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. But this is not believed by many Perſons, they hope to be ſaved, though not regenerated.
5. Such who believe not, but neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, yet think to be ſaved, go about to croſs and contradict the ſettled Will and Purpoſe of God; it is in effect to ſhew a diſlike of God's way of Salvation: The Jews are ſaid not to ſubmit themſelves to the Righteouſneſs of God: they magnified their Wills Rom. 10. 3.above the Will of God, liked not of that way of Salvation that he in his Eternal Counſel fixed upon; they will be ſaved by their own Righteouſneſs; that which God accounts but as filthy Rags, they eſteem as a choice Robe. Suppoſe, Brethren, there was ſome other Way to be ſaved than by Chriſt, yet is it not meet that the Creature comply with the Will of his Creator? Shall he rebel againſt his Soveraign? Were there two ways to ſuch or ſuch a City, one by Sea, and the other by Land, and a Prince commands his Servant to go by Sea, and not by Land, ſhall he attempt to go by Land, and ſo croſs his Maſter's Will, and violate his expreſs Command? But it is not ſo here, there is but one Way of Salvation; There is no other Name given under Heaven: therefore ſuch muſt Acts 4. 12.needs be more inexcuſable, who neglect this Way, and their Condition dangerous; for let them think what they will, damned they will be at laſt, whoever they are that neglect this Salvation. But more of that hereafter.
2dly. Thoſe that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, do ſlight and caſt Contempt on Jeſus Chriſt; they ſeem to undervalue all that he has done: certainly that was not worth his coming from Heaven to Earth to effect, that you do not think worth your while to go a Mile or two to attend upon the Means of, nor worth ſetting your Thoughts ſeriouſly upon. Was our Salvation ſo great, that he parted with his Life to procure it, and is it not worth your parting with your Sins to have an Intereſt in it? What is the Voice of the Hearts and Ways of ſuch Sinners? Do not they reproach the Son of God after this manner, Why waſt thou ſo unwiſe to ſhed thy Blood to purchaſe Salvation for us? We do not value it above the Pleaſures of the World, we eſteem our carnal Delights and earthly Profits more than that Salvation which thou haſt wrought.
2. Nay they ſlight the Perſon of Chriſt, who ſays, Behold me, behold me, look unto me; Can you ſee me ſtand knocking at the Door of your Hearts, and refuſe to let me in? Should one cry out Pity me, pity me, you will break my Heart, if you do this thing; ſuppoſe it be a dear Father or Mother that thus ſpeaks to a Child that takes evil Courſes, and the Child regards not the Cry nor Tears of its Parent; would not all ſay, that ſuch a Child contemn'd his Father? Thus, Sinners, you will be found contemners and ſlighters of Jeſus Chriſt one Day, if you neglect this ſo great Salvation; he ſtands ready to imbrace you in his Arms, to eſpouſe your Souls, but you ſlight and deſpiſe him and his precious Love in your Hearts.
3. Nay ſuch who neglect this Great Salvation, ſlight the Voice of Chriſt's Blood. Sirs, the Blood of Chriſt cries, his Death has a Voice in it: Hath Chriſt's Blood been ſhed to redeem you, to cleanſe you from Sin, to ſave and ſanctify your Souls, and will you not hear the loud Cry thereof? Nay, doth not Chriſt himſelf cry to you after this manner, Wilt thou continue in thy Sin, and neglect the Salvation I have purchaſed? What greater Ingratitude, what worſe Indignity canſt thou caſt upon me, and upon that Sacrifice which I have offered up to make thy Peace, and reconcile thee unto God? After this manner Chriſt ſeems to ſpeak.
4. To neglect this Salvation, is to croſs or contradict the grand Deſign of God in ſending his Son into the World; was it not to exalt Jeſus Chriſt, to magnify him? Laſt of all he ſent unto them his Mat. 22. 37.Son, ſaying, They will reverence my Son. God requires and commands all to honour his Son, believe in his Son, receive and imbrace his Son, ſubject to his Authority; to this End he ſent him into the World: But how do ſuch ſeek to croſs the Deſign of God herein, who prefer their earthly Profits and Pleaſures, nay their ſinful Ways and wicked Practices, above Jeſus Chriſt and that Salvation he hath purchaſed? O how great is the Sin of ſuch who neglect this Salvation!
5. Hereby alſo they abuſe the matchleſs Love, the unſpeakable Love and Favour of Jeſus Chriſt; they do not only ſlight his Perſon, contemn his Blood, and croſs the Deſign of the Father, but they alſo abuſe and diſdain his precious Love, which cauſed him to take upon him the Form of a Servant, and to yield himſelf up to the curſed Death of the Croſs. Greater Love hath no Man than this, that a Man lay down his Life for his Friend: But Jeſus Chriſt laid John 15. 13. Rom. 5. 10.down his Life for his Enemies; Whilſt we were yet Enemies, we were reconciled unto God by the Death of his Son. And ſhall Sinners, after the manifeſtation of ſuch Love, ſlight him, and the Salvation wrought by him at ſuch a dear Rate? Nay, ſhall Chriſt's repeated Calls, Wooings, and Intreaties, be not regarded, who ſpreadeth Iſa. 65. 2.forth his Hands all the Day long? Shall any be ſo ungrateful, ſo blind, ſo rebellious, as to let Chriſt ſtand all Night at the Door of their Hearts, even till his Head is wet with Dew, and his Locks with the Drops of the Night? This ſhews the great Evil and Wickedneſs of Cant. 5. 5.thoſe who neglect this great Salvation: Doth not this tend to expoſe the Son of God to ſhame, to be thus ſlighted, as if not worth the leaſt regard? Should a Prince come a thouſand Miles to court, or offer his Love to a low, a contemptible and baſe-born Damſel, and ſhe ſhould nevertheleſs ſlight him, and give him no entertainment, would not this be deemed an abominable Abuſe of his Love, as well as great Contempt caſt upon his Perſon? Sinners are ready to ſay, there is no comelineſs in him that we ſhould deſire him: but Iſa. 53. 2, 3.alas, 'tis becauſe they do not know him; they are blind and ſee him not, 'tis the carnal Eye that can ſee no Beauty in Chriſt; were the Eyes of their Underſtandings opened, they would be of another Opinion concerning him.
6. The Evil in neglecting of this is ſo great, that it is (as it were) a piercing of Chriſt again; nay, and when a poor Sinner is convinced of this great Iniquity, he cries out, What have I done? Have I not grieved, nay, wounded afreſh my dear Saviour, by not believing in him, and not receiving the great Salvation offered by him? Though I never ſaw the Perſon of Chriſt, yet I have offered Violence to him in reſiſting his Authority, deſpiſing his Love, and ſlighting his Salvation. As a Man is guilty of Treaſon, by abaſing the Statue or Image of a King, ſo are Men guilty of the Blood of Chriſt, and of trampling upon it, when they count it as a Trifle, or unprofitable to their Salvation, ſeeking Life and Salvation ſome other ways, or are wholly regardleſs about it; it is as a Stab at his very Heart, a tearing out (as it were) his Bowels: he ſuffered willingly all thoſe great Torments which were inflicted upon him, to remove from us a neceſſity of Suffering; had he not ſtept in to bear our Sins, we had been loſt for ever. O why then is not he imbraced by Faith that works by Love! It implies a Sinner has no Love to him, no not ſo much as to his Sins and Folly; it is a denying the Excellences of Chriſt, the Preciouſneſs of Chriſt: for as Faith accounts all things but Dung in compariſon of Chriſt, ſo (as one obſerves) Unbelief counts Chriſt but Dung, Union and Charnock.Communion with him but Dung, in compariſon of this World and the Pleaſures of Sin.
7. Thoſe that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, thinking to be ſaved ſome other way, do ſeem to reflect upon, if not deſpiſe the Wiſdom of Jeſus Chriſt: Do they not charge him with Folly and Inconſiderateneſs, in undertaking ſuch a Task, ſuch a Work, on ſuch hard Terms, when it might be had ſome other way? What, ſuffer ſuch Pain, Sweat, great Drops of Blood, and be nailed to the Croſs to procure Salvation for us, which might be obtained by a ſober Life, or by doing to all as they would be done unto, or by following the Dictates of the Light of natural Conſcience, or by our own Inherent Holineſs? What did Jeſus Chriſt aim at by ſhedding of his Blood, but the appeaſing of God's Wrath, and the bringing in of an Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and to purchaſe Grace to ſanctify Mens Souls, and to open the Gates of Heaven, which Divine Juſtice had ſhut and barr'd up againſt us? Now certainly thoſe who neglect this Salvation, do either fancy theſe Bleſſings are not worth regard or looking after, or elſe they may be procured by ſome other Way, and on eaſier Terms, than by Faith in the Blood of Chriſt: And is not this to charge our Lord Jeſus with Folly; and with the Greeks of old, to account the Preaching of the Croſs Fooliſhneſs?
8. They render, it is evident, the ſhedding of Chriſt's Blood to be in vain, who neglect the Means of this Salvation, and ſo thereby ſlight the Bleſſings which he hath purchaſed: it muſt be an undervaluing of the price of Redemption; for that which a Perſon regards not, though procured at never ſo dear a rate, he declares was in vain purchaſed: this is, with a Witneſs, therefore, lightly to eſteem of the Rock of their Salvation: it is to ſtop their Deut. 32. 15.Ears to the Cry of Chriſt's Blood. His Blood (as you heard) cries to Sinners to apply it to their periſhing Souls, and to leave their ſinful Ways; but they regard it not, though it ſeems afreſh to ſtream forth from his Heart in the Virtue of it, and flows through the Pipes of the Goſpel in the Offers of it. Did not they who refuſed to come to the Marriage-Supper, declare, that the King had in vain prepared all thoſe coſtly Dainties, for let who will come and eat thereof, they will not? And thus many render the bloody Sacrifice to be offered up in vain, by neglecting the Salvation offered in the Goſpel.
9. Such alſo who believe not, but reject and turn their Backs upon the Goſpel-Salvation, put Jeſus Chriſt to Grief again: It is Mark 3. 5.ſaid, He was grieved becauſe of the hardneſs of their Hearts. So God ſaid, he was grieved forty Years with thoſe who believed not in the Wilderneſs. O how many Years have ſome of you grieved both the Father and the Son, (to ſpeak after the manner of Men) and is not this a great Evil? Will you grieve and weary out the Heart of God, and the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt?
10. It alſo gives occaſion to Satan, to vaunt, boaſt and triumph over the Son of God: See, ſays he, how little theſe Men and Women, for whom thou gaveſt thy ſelf to die the Death of the Croſs, do mind the Salvation thou haſt purchaſed for them; they like and approve of my Ways and Motions, my Offers, better than any thing thou haſt procured for them, and doſt offer to them. May not Satan inſult after this manner over the Lord of Life and Glory, whilſt Sinners cloſe in with his Temptations, and cleave to their Luſts, earthly Profits and Pleaſures, and neglect the great Salvation of the Goſpel?
3dly. Such who neglect this ſo great Salvation, offer Violence to the Holy Ghoſt.
1. They do reſiſt the Holy Spirit, whom God hath ſent as his great Meſſenger, to influence, enlighten and convince their Hearts and Conſciences about the Worth and Weightineſs of this Concern: He will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of John 16. 8, 9.Judgment. Of Sin, becauſe they believe not on me. Becauſe they neglect attending upon the Means of this Salvation, believe not the Neceſſity there is of this Saviour, nor of Faith in him, and ſeek it not above all things: Is it a ſmall Matter to reſiſt the Holy Ghoſt? O lay it to Heart.
2. They grieve the Holy Spirit alſo, yea, and hereby tire him out ſo, that he at laſt withdraws his Influences from the Sinner, and will ſtrive with him no more, like as he did by the World; and if ſo, the ruin of the Soul will be unavoidable: for without the Holy Spirit no Man can repent, believe, or be renewed, be regenerated, and ſo come to have Intereſt in this ſo great Salvation.
3. Such quench the Spirit who neglect this Salvation, and do not believe; it is to caſt Water on that Divine Spark which the Holy Ghoſt ſtrives to kindle in the Soul of a poor Sinner, or to blow out the Candle of the Lord, (ſo far as the Sinner is able to do it) whereby Spiritual Light and Knowledg comes to be let into the Heart.
4. Nay, to neglect this Salvation in the Means of it, is as much as may be to hinder the Work and Office of the Holy Spirit in and about this Salvation. The Holy Spirit hath more immediately to do with Sinners; his ſpecial Work is to enlighten, to convince of Sin, to work Faith in the Soul, and to renew and ſanctify the polluted Heart; and all that neglect this Salvation, or that ſlight thoſe Convictions they have of the Evil of Sin, or Senſe of their woful Condition, do ſeek to obſtruct the King's great Officer and Meſſenger in the diſcharge of his Office. Look to it, Sinners, for if it be deemed a dangerous thing to reſiſt a Conſtable in the exerciſe of his Office, becauſe he is the King's Servant, what Danger do you expoſe your ſelves to, that oppoſe, withſtand, and ſtrive to hinder the Spirit in the diſcharge of his great Work and Office? It is to contemn the King's Ambaſſador; the Holy Spirit is ſent to treat with Sinners in Chriſt's Name, it is hereby Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks to them from Heaven: and they that adhere to the Motions of the Spirit, do adhere to Jeſus Chriſt; and they that oppoſe or reſiſt his Motions, do oppoſe and reſiſt Chriſt alſo. The Holy Spirit is the great Goſpel-Bleſſing promiſed, to infuſe Grace in the Soul: all Grace is from the Spirit; Sinners cannot believe without the Holy Spirit, nor love God: The Love of God is ſhed abroad in the Hearts of Believers by the Holy Ghoſt. There is no Regeneration without the Spirit: Thoſe that are born again are born Rom. 5. 5. John 3. 5.of the Spirit; no Union with Chriſt without the Spirit, no broken Heart, no Cries, no Tears that will prevail with God without the help of the Spirit: Such that will not adhere to his Motions and Influences, ſay in their Hearts, that they will not be changed, will not believe nor repent, nor have Chriſt to be their Prince and Saviour. The Spirit awakens the Conſcience, and ſtirs up Fears in the Soul, and ſets before the Sinner's Eyes, his great Evil, Guilt and horrid Pollution; therefore if they refuſe the Wooings, Intreaties and Influences of the Spirit, they muſt periſh for ever.
APPLICATION.
1. O let us lament and mourn over all that neglect this ſo great Salvation: All Unbelievers and Neglecters of the Means of Salvation, are horridly guilty before the Lord; 'tis hereby all their Sins are bound upon their Conſciences, and cleave to them, and are charged upon them, not only Original, but all actual Sin whatſoever.
2. O infinite Love and Patience! May we not ſtand amazed, and wonder at the long-ſuffering and forbearance of God? O Houſe of David, (ſaith the Prophet) is it a ſmall thing for you to Iſa. 7. 13.weary Men, but will you weary my God alſo? What greater Wickedneſs and Ingratitude can there be than this? Will you contemn and reſiſt your Saviour and the Holy Ghoſt? How long ſhall God wait upon you? Will he always wait to be gracious? O know that his Mercy will at laſt be turned into Fury.
3. Unworthy are ſuch to live, to be fed, to be clothed, to be protected and preſerved, that thus deſpiſe God's Mercy and ſovereign Goodneſs: Would a Man feed, clothe, and beſtow great Favours on ſuch that deſpiſe, ſlight and contemn him?
4. What do you think of your ſelves, Sinners? to you I ſpeak that neglect this ſo great Salvation. O this is your Sin, you refuſe the only Remedy God hath found out to heal and ſave your Souls, therefore your Damnation will be juſt and deſerved with a witneſs: You love Darkneſs rather than Light; you contemn the higheſt Good, the beſt of Beings, and the higheſt Expreſſions of his Love and Favour; that God that made you, that Chriſt that ſpilt his Blood to redeem the worſt of Sinners, thoſe Bowels that pitied you, you refuſe, and reſiſt that Spirit that would renew you, ſanctify you, and make you meet for Heaven, and all this out of love to your baſe Luſts, your cruel Enemies that ſeek to deſtroy and murder your precious Souls. Abhor your ſelves: Alas, Men do not ſee what Monſters of Wickedneſs they are, whilſt they neglect this ſo great Salvation. You ſin, I ſay, againſt the Remedy, the coſtly Remedy, the only Remedy, againſt the Remedy that Infinite Wiſdom hath found out, and Infinite Goodneſs hath vouchſafed: Yet if you return to God, there is Mercy for you; ſay, O Lord, now we ſee our Sin: O that you could but ſay ſo in truth, and fall down at the feet of God, and ſay, Thou haſt overcome us with thy Love.
5. Laſtly, Here is Comfort for Believers who have received this ſo great Salvation. O bleſs God for Faith, cheriſh the Motions of the Holy Spirit that hath broken your Bonds; you prefer Chriſt, and the Salvation by Chriſt, before all things: live worthy of a Part and Intereſt in this Salvation; you have Salvation, and ſhall not loſe it. O walk ſo that you may never loſe the Joy of it; for that you may do, God may hide his Face, Chriſt may withdraw himſelf: if he hath done it, enquire when you had him, and conſider what you have done that he hides his Face from you; let the Cauſe, if it be Sin, be bewailed, and let the loſs of him be more grievous to you, than the loſs of Comfort from him, and be willing to do any thing to enjoy Chriſt again.