A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 32
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Sermon XI.I AM upon the ſecond Propoſition that is implied in the Text, viz.
Doct. 2. That the Means of the great Salvation of the Goſpel may be neglected.
The laſt Time I ſhewed the great Evil that attended the neglect of Goſpel-Salvation, in reſpect of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Secondly, The ſecond thing propoſed was to ſhew you, what a great Evil this is in reſpect of the Sinner himſelf that doth neglect it. But before I proceed to ſpeak to this, let me premiſe one thing, namely, That we ought firſt to be ſenſible of that Evil which is in this and in all Sin, as it is againſt God; for if our Convictions ariſe not from hence, our Trouble is not right, it flows not from a true Spring or right Principles: It is not ſufficient to ſee our Sin and Evil, as it is againſt our ſelves, as it hurts and wounds our own Souls, but chiefly as it is againſt that God that made us, and ſent his Son to redeem us; or as Sin is loathſom and abominable in his ſight, tending to eclipſe his Glory, nay, to dethrone him, and fruſtrate his gracious Deſign in our Redemption, and bring his Honour under contempt. This, I ſay, ſhould firſt of all and chiefly be lamented: Such ſin againſt the Remedy, and higheſt Goodneſs, that neglect this Salvation, and the gracious Operations of the Holy Spirit, and ſo rather adhere to Satan than to God. Suppoſe a Child under the Rod of his tender Father ſhould cry out, O the Smart, but ſignify nothing of Sorrow or Grief in offending his Father, would not that rather aggravate his Guilt, or could it tend to pleaſe his Father, and to ceaſe laying on of more Stripes? But to come to ſhew you what a great Evil it is to neglect this Salvation in … of the Sinner himſelf.
1. This Sin, this Unbelief, …, is the Cauſe why all Sin remains upon the Conſcience … Sinner. True, God hath tranſmitted the Guilt of our … Chriſt, ſo that he hath ſatiſfied for them; but the Sinner … …eceive this Atonement, but refuſes it, and ſo his Sin, his Guilt and Pollution remains upon him, Faith being appointed as the Way of the Application of the Remedy.
2. Nay, Sin doth not only remain on ſuch that neglect this Salvation, and refuſe Chriſt, but this Refuſal keeps Sin in its full Strength, and binds all Sins faſt to the Soul: Sin reigns in them and condemns them; and ſo doth the Law alſo, which is the Strength of Sin, becauſe they receive not Jeſus Chriſt, who is the End of the Law, as to its condemning Power, to every one that believeth, but not to them that reject Chriſt and believe not.
3. Faith unites to a Holy God, and to a Spotleſs Saviour, whereby we come to have a Righteouſneſs which diſcharges us from all Sin, and Wrath due to it; and ſuch are made Holy: But Unbelief continues the Soul in its old Stae, as being united to the old Adam, condemned Adam; all Men are in the firſt or ſecond Adam, in the dead or living Adam: And as is the dead Adam, ſo are they that are in him; they are dead, and by the Law condemned, therefore not juſtified: And as is the living, ſo are they that are made alive; they live and are acquitted, and can die ſpiritually no more.
4. This Sin, this Neglect is againſt a Man's own Life and Happineſs: Life is offered to him, but he rejects it, he will not have Life; he has no love to himſelf, ſeeks not the preſervation of himſelf. Mankind naturally have a ſpecial care to preſerve themſelves, but theſe chuſe Death rather than Life, Sickneſs rather than Health, Slavery rather than Liberty, Curſing rather than Bleſſing.
5. Hereby they deprive themſelves of all the ſaving Benefits of Chriſt's Death, for no adult Perſon hath or can have any Intereſt in the Merits of Chriſt without Faith: He that believeth not, the Wrath of God remains upon him. He that believeth and is baptized, Joh. 3. 36. Mark 16. 16.ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be damned. Here is in this Salvation, Pardon, Peace, Chriſt and Everlaſting Life; but the Sinner contemns all: My People will have none of me, ſaith the Lord. And this is the Voice of all that neglect this Salvation, they will not have God, will not have Chriſt, will not have Life, ſuch is their Ignorance, and the Enmity that is in their Hearts againſt God: Theſe account themſelves unworthy of Everlaſting Life; and the Death of Chriſt will be in vain as to them.Acts 13. 46.
6. Hereby alſo they ſhew they have no Love nor Pity for their Immortal Souls: If they loved their Souls, would they not ſeek the Salvation of them? Nay, they are cruel to their own Souls: Would not that Man be cruel to his poor Child, that ſaw it fall into the …, and would not endeavour to pluck it ou…; or … it in the Water almoſt drowned crying out for help, but would not … to ſave it, nor c… for help? O mercil…ſs Mortals! What no pit, on your precious Souls that are ſo dear and near to you? Will you nor cry to God, to Jeſus Chriſt, to pull your Souls out of the Fire, or reſcue them out of the Teeth of the devouring Lion? Can there be greater Folly, Madneſ or Cruelty than this? O think upon it, you Sinners, that neglect this Salvation.
7. Moreover, their Folly appears further who neglect this Salvation, in that they refuſe a Crown, a Kingdom, and to be Heirs, Heirs of God: They may be rich, eternally ri…h, yea, great and honourable for ever, but utterly refuſe it. Riches and Honour are Prov. 8. 18. John 12. 26.with me (ſaith Chriſt) yea durable Riches and Righteouſneſs. If any Man (ſaith our Saviour) ſerve me, him will my Father honour.
8. Such that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, it doth vet further appear, are very cruel to themſelves, and therefore guilty of the greateſt Folly imaginable. (Had the Children of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, when they were ſtung with fiery Serpents, refuſed to have looked up to the brazen Serpent that was lifted up upon the Pole, when they were in tormenting Pain and Anguiſh, would it not have ſhewed great Cruelty to themſelves, as well as Madneſs?) Sinners are wounded, mortally wounded, they are ſtung with a worſe Serpent than thoſe fiery Serpents: And to look unto Chriſt by Faith, is the only Cure and Remedy, or the only way to be healed: and as there is no other way, ſo this is a certain and infallible Cure. But Sinners who neglect this Salvation, refuſe to apply this ſovereign Balſam to their wounded Souls.
9. Is it not an evil and hurtful thing for a Man to yield himſelf up to the Counſel and Conduct of a ſworn, cruel, and mortal Enemy, who ſeeks his Blood, and will rip up his Bowels, and tear out hi… very Heart? But thus they do that neglect this Salvation, they hereby follow the Advice and Counſel of the Devil, who will devour them as a hungerſtarv'd Lion; nay, it is juſt as if a Man ſhould throw his dear Child into the Lion's Den to be torn in pieces. Suppoſe a Man in Slavery in Turkey, ſhould be told that his Ranſom was paid, and he hath the greateſt demonſtrations given of it imaginable yet he will not believe it, but ſays, I will continue here a Slave, and wear theſe Chains, and be under Bondage to this cruel Tyrant, though I am told that he will murder me at laſt; would not all ſay, he deſerved not to be pitied, eſpecially ſhould he behold that … is redeemed by the Blood of his own gracious Sovereign?
10. Is it not an evil thing, and the greateſt madneſs, at the Inſtigation of a bloody and cruel Enemy, for a Man to ſuffer him to thruſt a Sword into his own Bowels; or when wounded at his Inticements, to refuſe to apply ſuch a Plaiſter that would certainly cure his Wounds and ſave his Life? but thus do all they who neglect this Salvation. Or ſuppoſe a Man was almoſt ſtarved to Death, and Bread is ſet before him, nay all choice Varieitie, and he is bid to eat; but being perſwaded by an Enemy (that hates him, and longs to ſee him dead) not to eat, but to feed with his Swine on Husks and Grains, would it not be folly with a witneſs, ſhould he do ſo? But thus do all thoſe Perſons that neglect this Salvation, they refuſe to eat of the Bread of Life, or to feed on that coſtly Supper God hath graciouſly provided for them in the Goſpel, and at the Devil's Inticements feed, as the poor Prodigal did, on Husks which the Swine do eat.
11. Such who neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, do greaten and aggravate their Sin and Guilt, as our Saviour ſpeaks concerning the Jews; If I had not come and ſpoken to them, they had not had Sin; but now they have no cloak for their Sin: that is, they had John 15. 22.not been guilty of Sin to ſuch a degree, their Sin had not been with ſuch Aggravations. Therefore thoſe that have the Salvation of the Goſpel offered to them, and they neglect it, or refuſe to receive it, ſhall have the greater Condemnation; it ſhall indeed be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, nay with Pagans and Inſidels, than with them in the Day of Judgment.
12. Moreover, ſince the way of God's glorifying of all his Bleſſed Attributes is deſpiſed and utterly rejected, by thoſe who neglect this Salvation, all the Attributes will riſe up and plead againſt ſuch Sinners to condemn them.
1. Divine Wiſdom may plead againſt them, and call for Judgment with the greateſt ſeverity to be executed upon them, becauſe that All the Divine Attributes plead againſt ſuch who neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel.way of Salvation which Infinite Wiſdom contrived and determined in the Eternal Council, is rejected, ſlighted and contemned.
2. The Veracity, or Truth of God, may plead againſt all Sinners that neglect this Salvation, becauſe the Sacred Precepts of the Goſpel are not obeyed, nor the Threats feared, nor the faithful Promiſes thereof believed.
3. Divine Power may riſe up and plead againſt ſuch Sinners, becauſe that Almighty Arm which is ſtretched forth in working out this Salvation, is not took hold of to ſave them, and therefore it ſhall be ſtretched out to deſtroy them: Who ſhall be puniſhed with Everlaſting Deſtruction from the Preſence of God, and from the Glory 2 Theſſ. 1. 9.of his Power. That will be the Time when God will make the Power of his Wrath and Anger known: Who (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) knows the Power of thine Anger? as is thy Fear, ſo is thy Wrath.Pſal. 90. 1.
4. Divine juſtice may riſe up againſt all thoſe who neglect this Salvation, and exact the p…iment of all the Debts the Sinner owes and ſtands charged with, becauſe the Satisfaction made by Jeſus Chriſt, our bleſſed Surety, is contemned, utterly neglected, or not accepted of, they not believing; Faith being the only way appointed for Intereſt therein, and for the Benefit thereof.
5. Moreover, Divine Mercy and Goodneſs will come forth and plead againſt the Sinner, and be turned into Fury, ſince ſuch Infinite Grace and Favour, and Sovereign Bowels, are not regarded, but utterly ſlighted and neglected: And wo be to thoſe that Mercy it ſelf appears againſt, and calls for execution of Wrath upon.
6. And the Law alſo will riſe up and condemn all thoſe that neglect this Salvation, becauſe the only way by which its Glory ſhines forth, and by which its Breach is repaired, and its Honour is raiſed, is ſlighted: the Law will break forth with its bitter Curſes, and throw the Souls of ſuch into Hell in ſury, who neglect this Salvation.
7. Nay, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf will alſo riſe up and condemn all neglecters of this Salvation, becauſe all his Infinite Love and Grace which he hath ſhewed, and Pain and Anguiſh which he hath endured to work it out, is ſlighted and trod under-foot; he will change his Lamb like Nature, and appear like a Lion, to tear all ſuch into pieces. In a word, it puts a Sword, as it were, into the Hands of all the Attribute, of God, and a Sword into the Hand of the Law of God, nay into the Hand of Jeſus Chriſt, to cut down and utterly to deſtroy their Souls; which Divine Wrath will ſpeedily execute with Vengeance, if they proceed on in their evil way, and do not embrace this ſo great Salvation.
8. This is not a Sin againſt the killing Letter, but againſt the healing Spirit; and it is a caſting Dirt upon all God's bleſſed Attributes, as they diſplay their higheſt Glory, or are dreſſed in their richeſt R…bes, or appear in their moſt ſublime Perfections. Suppoſe a Traitor ſhould caſt Dirt upon a Prince, or ſpit in his Face when he is but in his common Dreſs, would not that be deemed an abominable thing? but much more odious, ſhould he do it as he fits on his Throne, when his Crown is on his Head, and hath all his Royal Robes upon him, and his Scepter in his Hand, and all his Nobles about the Throne. God in this Salvation appears in his high and ſublime Glory, as diſplaying his higheſt Beauty, Splendor, and Honour of all the Perfections of his unwordable and inconceivable Being, even the Depths of Infinite Wiſdom, Juſtice, Power, Holineſs and Goodneſs: Therefore wo to thoſe Sinners who ſlight and neglect this Salvation.
Thirdly, The third thing that I propoſed to ſpeak unto, was to Satan's Work it is to hinaer Mens Salvation.ſhew you the greatneſs of their Sin who neglect this Salvation, with reſpect had to him by whoſe Influences, and at whoſe Inſtigations they neglect it, and that is the Devil. Satan ſtirs up Men to ſlight and neglect this ſo great Salvation: Is it not ſad that Men ſhould adhere to the grand Enemy of their Souls? If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of thoſe that believe not.
Satan acts out of Malice to Mankind, in ſeeking Ways and Means to blind their Eyes: He hath many Devices whereby he ſtrives to do this, which I ſhall not now inſiſt upon; he ſhews them the Glory of this World, thereby to allure them into his hungry Jaws, to devour them and deſtroy their Souls for ever: He has many Nets ſpread, and Multitudes are caught by him, either one way or another.
1. Some he deprives of this Salvation, through love of ſinful Profits or worldly Gain: This way he deſtroyed the young Man mentioned in the Goſpel that came running to Chriſt; and alſo Demas who forſook the Goſpel, and fell away for love to the ſinful Profit of this evil World. And how many daily, by Earthlymindedneſs, and abominable Covetouſneſs, loſe this Salvation, through the Craftineſs of the Devil, and the Evil of their own Hearts.
2. Some by ſinful Honours: O how many love worldly Grandure, and a Name among Men, above the Salvation of their Souls! Theſe are like thoſe jews who are ſaid to believe on Chriſt, Joh. 12. 43.but did not confeſs him, for fear of being put out of the Synagogue; for they loved the praiſe of Men, more than the praiſe of God.
3. Others by earthly Pleaſures and ſinful Delights, he catches in his Net and makes a Prey of.
4. Alſo Multitudes he deſtroys, by curſed Errors and damnable Hereſies: That way he deceives them, and robs them of this Salvation, concluding, that thoſe Principles they have ſucked in, are the undoubted Truths of Jeſus Chriſt, and do not doubt of the Goodneſs of their Condition.
Fourthly, And laſtly, Conſider the Vanity of all thoſe things, for the take of which Men neglect this ſo great Salvation. What is Sin, the Pleaſures of Sin, or all the R…hes and Glory of this World, when compared to the Salvation wrought by Jeſus Chriſt? Sin is the Soul's Sickneſs, the Scabs and Sores, the Plague and Poiſon of the Soul; 'tis the Sp…wn of the old Serpent, and yet Sinners lick it up, and eſteem it above all that Good that is in God and in Jeſus Chriſt, and value it more than the Crown of Glory in Heaven. Sin is the Leproſy and Plague of the Soul; 'tis compared to the rottenneſs and ſtinking Putre action of a filthy Sepulchre, nay, to the ſuperfluity of Naughtineſs: O that Men ſhould …am. 1. 21.neglect ſo great Salvation, and expoſe themſelves to eternal Flames and Wrath in Hell, for love to that which the Holy Ghoſt thus paints out, and diſcovers the deteſtable Nature of!
Beſides, how ſoon are Men deprived of all thoſe things which their deceived Hearts are ſet upon; they are not ſure of enjoying them one Day, no not for one Hour! O how ſoon will all the Reader, … theſe Sermons ….ſeeming Sweet of Sin, and of this World, be turned into Bitter, and all earthly Joy into Sorrow, all their Pleaſures into eternal Pain and Miſery! And O how will they cry out againſt themſelves for ſlighting the Salvation of their Souls, for the ſake of, and love to theſe things, when it will be too late!