A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 33
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Sermon XII.I Cloſed the laſt Day with the ſecond Point of Doctrine, namely, That the great Salvation of the Goſpel may be neglected. I ſhall now proceed to the third and laſt Propoſition.
Doct. 3. There is no poſſibility for ſuch, or any one Soul of them, to eſcape, that neglect the great Salvation of the Goſpel.
Firſt, I ſhall ſhew you what it is they cannot eſcape.
Secondly, Why they cannot eſcape.
Thirdly, When or at what time they ſhall not eſcape.
Fourthly, Shew why the Goſpel hath ſuch fearful Comminations and Threatnings contained in it.
Firſt, They ſhall not eſcape the Curſe of the Law, (which all ungodly and unbelieving Sinners lie under); for no Man is, nor can be delivered from the Curſe thereof, but only thoſe who believe in Jeſus Chriſt, and embrace the Salvation of the Goſpel; For Chriſt is the End of the Law for Righteouſneſs, to every one that Rom. 10. 4.believeth: to them that believe, and to every one of them, but not to thoſe that believe not. Chriſt hath born the Curſe of the Law, he by his actual Obedience fulfilled the Righteouſneſs thereof; and by bearing the Penalty of it (which our Sins incurr'd) by his Death, he hath delivered all that believe from the Curſe thereof: but the Curſe of it remains on all them who receive not Jeſus Chriſt, it hath its full blow and ſtroke on all Goſpel neglecters, becauſe it is by him and no other ways we can be delivered from the Curſe thereof.
2. Therefore it follows in the ſecond place, that they cannot be delivered from the Guilt and Puniſhment of their Sins, their Sins lie upon them, they are charged upon all that neglect or refuſe the Salvation wrought out by Jeſus Chriſt: It is the Decree of the Eternal God, that all ſuch that believe not ſhall bear their own Sins, becauſe they reject Jeſus Chriſt who hath born the Puniſhment that was due to Sin. Some conceit that they need not this Salvation, need not the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, or Faith in Chriſt, and this through Ignorance, concluding their State is good. Jeſus ſaid unto them, If ye were blind, ye ſhould have no Sin: but now ye ſay, We Joh. 9. 41.ſee; therefore your Sin remaineth. They thought their own Righteouſneſs was ſufficient, and were ignorant of God's Righteouſneſs, and hence the Guilt of their Sin remaineth upon them.
3. All thoſe that neglect this ſo great Salvation, ſhall not eſcape the Wrath of God: This follows as the natural Conſequence of the former; Divine Wrath parſues them, and every Soul of them that believe not, but refuſe the Grace of God offered by Jeſus Chriſt in the Goſpel, like as the avenger of Blood purſued the Man ſlayer under the Law: The Cities of Refuſe were a type of Chriſt; 'tis to him all guilty Sinners muſt fly, if they eſcape the Wrath and Vengeance of God: Divine Juſtice is only ſatiſfied in Chriſt; and Sinners for not accepting and receiving by Faith that Atonement, and pleading that Satisfaction he hath made, Wrath follows them even at their Heels, and will ſtrike them down: He Joh 3. 35.that believeth not, ſhall not ſee Life; but the Wrath of God abideth on him. Wrath is upon all naturally, we are all by Nature the Children of Wrath, but it remains no longer upon them that believe, but it abideth on ſuch that believe not.
4. They ſhall not eſcape the Damnation of Hell, or everlaſting Burning: Our Saviour (ſpeaking to the Scribes and Phariſees) ſaith, How can ye eſcap… the Damnation of Hell? Yet they were a Mat. 23. 33.People that appeared outwardly righteous to Men, and boaſted that they were not Extortioners, Vnjuſt, Adulterers, or ſuch as Publicans were. But alas, no Righteouſneſs will carry a Man to Heaven, Luke 18. 11.but a perfect, compleat, ſinleſs Righteouſneſs. Paul was not an Hypocrite, as ſome of the Phariſees were, before he believed; yet his Righteouſneſs, tho according to the Letter of the Law, was ſuch, that few attained unto; As touching the Righteouſneſs which is of the Phil. 3. 8, 9.Law, ſaith he, I was blameleſs: yet he eſteemed it but Dung in compariſon of God's Righteouſneſs, and renounced it all in point of Juſtification, that he might be found in Chriſt. And as it is Chriſt's Righteouſneſs that is our Title for Heaven, ſo it is his Death, his bearing the Puniſhment of Sin, that delivers us from eternal Damnation in Hell. Hell is a fearful Place, it is made deep and large; The Fire is not quenched, and the Worm dieth not: Mark 3.and that Place is prepared for all Unbelievers, for all who continue in their Sins, and under the Power of Unbelief, and neglect this ſo great Salvation, the Damnation of which they cannot escape.
Secondly, I ſhall ſhew you the Reaſons why ſuch cannot, ſhall not eſcape God's eternal Wrath, that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel.The Cauſes and Reaſons why they cannot eſcape that neglect Goſpel-Salvation.
1. It is becauſe this is the way, yea, the only way which Infinite Wiſdom hath found out for the Salvation of our Souls: If there is but one way to cure a Mortal Diſeaſe that may ſeize upon a Perſon, then if he neglect that one Remedy, he muſt die. Sirs, as there is but one way to eſcape ſtarving, and that is, to eat; ſo there is but one way to eſcape periſhing, and that is by believing, or by feeding on Jeſus Chriſt, or by eating of his Fleſh, and drinking of his Blood. There are many ways to be damned, but there is but one way to be ſaved. Verily verily I ſay unto you, Except ye eat the Fleſh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life John 6. 53.in you. If you neglect this way of Salvation, there is no other way whereby you can be ſaved; Neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4. 12., for there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby we muſt be ſaved.
2. Such that neglect this Salvation, cannot, ſhall not eſcape the Wrath of God, becauſe it is juſt and equal that all ſuch Perſons who ſlight and neglect this Salvation, ſhould be deſtroyed, and that for ever. (1.) By reaſon they neglect an Offer of Pardon and Peace, contrived by the Infinite Wiſdom of God, and it is the higheſt Demonſtration of admirable Mercy and Goodneſs; therefore there cannot be a higher Indignity and Contempt caſt upon God's Sovereign Grace and Favour. Many of thoſe Sinners that neglect this Salvation, are ſo vile and ungrateful, as not to enquire what this Grace means, nor on what Terms this Salvation may be had: And is not this in plainneſs to tell the Holy God, that they ſcorn his Love and Goodneſs, and deſpiſe the Offers of Peace and Reconciliation by Jeſus Chriſt, and fear not what he can do unto them; and ſo no leſs than a trampling the Blood of Chriſt under their Feet? Let Men deal thus with their provoked Rulers, or with an earthly Prince, when guilty of High-Treaſon, and ſee how unpitied they will die, yea, be drawn, hang'd and quartered. What, guilty of the worſt of Treaſon, and have an Offer of Pardon, and ſlight or neglect the ſuing of it out? How equal and juſt a thing would it be that ſuch ſhould die? So it will be here, Brethren, God will not be mocked: Sinners ſhall one Day ſee what it is to neglect the Salvation wrought out by Jeſus Chriſt, I mean, the Way and Means of the Application thereof; they will be forced to ſubſcribe to the Righteouſneſs, Juſtice and Equity of their own Damnation, in loving and cleaving to their Luſts, and counting their earthly Riches, Pleaſures and Honours, better than Jeſus Chriſt, and a part in this Salvation. Remember it is the Sinner's own Salvation that he neglecteth, it is his own Good, his own Cure, his own Relief, his own Happineſs: Can any periſh more juſtly and deſervedly, than ſuch who refuſe to be ſaved, who chooſe Death rather than Life, and Darkneſs rather than Light?
3. They cannot, ſhall not eſcape, becauſe it is Salvation in ſuch a way, a way that coſt ſo dear, even the Blood of the Son of God: Should the King yield up his own Son as a Sacrifice to anſwer the Law for a curſed Traitor, and yet he ſhould deſpiſe and ſlight his Goodneſs, how would that aggravate his Guilt? O with what a Price is this Salvation procured, by what a Sacrifice! What Tears did Chriſt ſhed! O what drops of Blood did he ſweat! and what Wrath did he bear! What a Curſe did he undergo, to ſave us from Hell and Death! How can any think to eſcape that neglect the Means of this Salvation?
4. Becauſe it is Salvation on ſuch eaſy Terms as to us; had God offered Sinners Salvation on hard and difficult Terms, their Sin might not ſeem to be attended with ſuch Aggravations. Had God required a thouſand Rams, or ten thouſand Rivers of Oil of every Mich. 6.one that would be ſaved; or to ſacrifice their Sons and Daughters, or their Firſt-born, the Fruit of their Bodies for the Sin of their Souls, this would ſeem hard: but none of this God requires of us, it ſhall not be, muſt not be our Son, our Child, our Firſt-born, but his Son, the holy Child Jeſus, his Firſt-born, that muſt die or be a Sacrifice for our Sins: it muſt be my Son, as if God ſhould ſay; and all that I require of you, is to apply his Blood, and to ſacrifice your Sins in love to me.
5. That which the Apoſtle builds the Righteouſneſs of God's proceeding againſt ſuch that neglect this Salvation upon, and ſhews the unavoidableneſs of their periſhing from, is the greatneſs of the Salvation it ſelf. Shall God's Juſtice be eclipſed, ſhall his Honour be marr'd, his Goodneſs be deſpiſed, his Law be violated, his Holineſs ſtained? it would be thus, ſhould ſuch be ſaved who neglect and ſlight this Salvation: Therefore all ſuch cannot eſcape his Wrath.
6. The Apoſtle further argues the impoſſibility of their eſcaping who neglect this great Salvation, from that impoſſibility there was of their eſcaping who refuſed to hear Moſes: For if the Word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, and every Tranſgreſſion and Diſobedience Heb. 2. 2, 3.received a juſt Reward; How ſhall we eſcape? &c. It was a juſt Reward they received for their Sins and Diſobedience: And if ſo, how ſhall theſe eſcape? God will render a juſt Retribution, a righteous and proportionable Puniſhment, it will be far worſe, or much greater; howbeit, it is againſt greater Light, greater Grace, and deſpiſing a Perſon of far greater Honour and Dignity: He that deſpiſed Moſes Law, died without Mercy, under two or three Witneſſes. Of how much ſorer Puniſhment ſuppoſe ye, ſhall he be thought Heb. 10. 28, 29.worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Blood of the Son of God? &c. Sirs, to love Sin, to love this World, or any Perſon or Thing above Jeſus Chriſt, is in effect to tread the Son of God under your Feet, 'tis ſuch an undervaluing and vilifying of him. God doth, as it were, propound the Caſe to us, he would have Sinners themſelves to be Judges how juſt their Condemnation will be if they neglect this Salvation; and alſo the Nature and Quality, or Degree of it; Of how much ſorer Puniſhment ſuppoſe ye ſhall he be thought worthy? &c. God at the laſt Day will ſo juſtly and righteouſly proceed againſt wicked Men, that their Reward ſhall be judged reaſonable in their own Judgment, and by their own Conſciences.
7. They ſhall not eſcape, becauſe Mercy and Grace is ſinned againſt, principally, by all that neglect this Salvation: Mercy will, as you have heard, plead againſt them. And if Mercy be their Enemy, if Goodneſs it ſelf riſe up againſt them, where will they find a Friend to appear for them?
8. They ſhall not eſcape, becauſe God hath abſolutely and unavoidably decreed the Deſtruction and eternal Damnation of all thoſe that believe not, but neglect this Salvation: His Decree, his Counſel and Purpoſe ſhall ſtand; He that believeth not, ſhall be Mark 16. 16.damned.
9. It is becauſe the Sinner is not able to deliver himſelf out of God's Hand: If he eſcape, it muſt be from one of theſe two Conſiderations.
1. That either God muſt change his Purpoſe, his abſolute Decree and Counſel.
2. Or elſe the Sinner muſt get out of God's Hand, and ſo deliver himſelf.
Now it is impoſſible God's Mind ſhould change, or his abſolute Decree be made void; his Decree ſhall ſtand, and he will do all his Pleaſure: God will be true, and not make himſelf a Liar to ſave the guilty Sinner. And that it is impoſſible for the Sinner to get out of God's Hands, is evident, becauſe God is Omnipotency it ſelf: whither can he fly from his Preſence? Who can ſtand before (or eſcape) his Indignation? Therefore there is no way for ſuch Nah. 1. 6.to eſcape God's Wrath, who neglect this Salvation.
APPLICATION.
1. O bleſs God for this Salvation, and value it according to the Nature, Worth, and Greatneſs of it.
2. Bewail all ungodly Perſons, who are found ſlighters and neglecters of it, and mourn over them. O how ſad is their Condition! May be you have ſome in your Families that are Neglecters of it, may be a Wife, a Husband, or Children, that do not regard it, but are ungodly, and neglect the Means of Grace; how ſhould what you have heard move you to pity them, to weep over them, to pray for them, and ſtrive with them.
3. Examine your ſelves, whether you have not, or do not neglect this Salvation? Do you make it your chief Buſineſs to get an Intereſt in Chriſt? Do you prefer the Means of Salvation above all things in the World? What time do you take to ſeek God, to pray to him, to hear his Word? And with what Zeal, Love, Faith and Diligence do you do all theſe things? Do you not defer Soul-Concernments to another time? O ſee to it, and examine your ſelves; Do you not reſt upon ſomething or another ſhort of Chriſt? Doth the Power of Grace appear in your Hearts and Lives?
4. This may teach Believers to bear up under all Trials and Fears: Let what will come, they are ſafe who have an Intereſt in this great Salvation; other Salvations are nothing to this, and if we ſhould not be ſaved from the Wrath of Man, but muſt loſe our Liberty, and be expoſed to Death and Dangers here in this World, yet it will go well with us if this Salvation is ours. Let what Judgments can come upon the Land, thou haſt got a ſure Sanctuary, God is thy Help and thy Salvation. Brethren, there are many ſad Effects that do attend thoſe that neglect, continually neglect this Salvation, whilſt they are in this World, as Manifeſtations of God's Diſpleaſure, As,
1. God withdraws the Influences of his Spirit from them, after they have for a long time reſiſted it, in the common Motions thereof, even to ſuch a Degree, that it ſhall ſtrive with them no more: thus God dealt with the old World.
2. God gives ſuch up at laſt to blindneſs of Mind, ſo that they in ſeeing, ſee not; and in hearing, hear not, neither do they underſtand. Mat. 13. 13, 14.And in them is fulfilled the Prophecy of Eſaias, By hearing ye ſhall hear, and ſhall not underſtand; and ſeeing ye ſhall ſee, and not perceive. The Word of God, if neglected, and not received, that it may become a Savour of Life unto Life, will become a Savour of Death unto Death, it either ſoftens or hardens Mens Hearts.
3. God gives them up to their own Hearts Luſts, as God by the Pſalmiſt ſays, My People would not hearken to my Voice: and Iſrael would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Luſts; Pſal. 81. 11, 12.and they walked in their own Counſels.
4. Nay ſometimes God takes away the Goſpel from them, as he did from the Jews that rejected Chriſt, refuſed the chief corner-Stone: Therefore I ſay unto you, The Kingdom of God ſhall be taken Mat. 21. 43.from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof. What can be a worſe Judgment? this befel that People, and it hath not been reſtored to them ever ſince. When God removes the Goſpel, it may be long before he lets a People have it again, nay perhaps never.
5. Moreover, for neglecting the great Salvation, God ſometimes brings upon a People or Nation fearful temporal Judgments, and puts them, it may be, into the Hands of cruel Enemies: For thus he dealt with the unbelieving Jews, he brought the Romans in upon them, that burned their City and Temple; ſo that it is ſaid, Wrath came upon them to the uttermoſt.1 Theſſ. 2. 16.
6. God ſometimes will not ſave Perſons with Temporal Salvation, becauſe they neglect Spiritual Salvation, ſo that they may read their Sin (if the Lord opens their Eyes) in their Puniſhment. But it is not God's uſual way under this Diſpenſation, to inflict Temporal Puniſhment on ſuch that neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, but he reſerves his Wrath to another World; and therefore let none think, though they eſcape his Judgments here, that they ſhall eſcape his Judgments and Wrath hereafter; that they ſhall not be able to do, as you heard. But no more at this Time.