A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 34
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Sermon XIII.I AM upon the third and laſt Point of Doctrine, which I obſerved from our Text, viz. That there is no poſſibility for ſuch, or any one Soul of them, to eſcape, that neglect the great Salvation of the Goſpel.
The laſt Day I ſhewed you,
Firſt, What thoſe things are which they ſhall not eſcape.
Secondly, Why they cannot, ſhall not eſcape, who are guilty of this Neglect.
Thirdly, I am now to ſhew you, When or at what Times they that neglect Goſpel-Salvation ſhall not eſcape.
1. In the Day of common Calamities, and deſolating Judgments The Time when Sinners ſhall not eſcape.that will come upon the Earth; there is, Beloved, a diſmal Hour ſpoken of in God's Word, that is not yet come, yet no doubt it is very near, in which but a few ſhall eſcape: I am afraid many good Men, who have been remiſs and negligent in and about the great Concerns of Chriſt, and of their own Souls, ſhall not eſcape; I mean, they may fall in that Hour by Temporal Judgments. God in the laſt Days will pour out the Fierceneſs of his Wrath; For my Determination is to gather the Nations, that I may aſſemble the Kingdoms, to pour upon them mine Indignation, even all my fierce Anger; for all the Earth ſhall be devoured with the Fire of my Zeph. 3. 8.Jealouſy: compared with Nahum 1. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. It will be with the Ungodly then, as it befel the People of Old, according to the Prophecy of the Prophet Jeremiah Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Jer. 11. 11.Behold, I will bring Evil upon them which they ſhall not be able to eſcape; and though they ſhall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. Our Saviour alludes to that Time of which I ſpeak, Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe Luke 21. 36.things that ſhall come to paſs and to ſtand before the Son of Man. O who ſhall ſtand when God appears in the latter-Day-Judgments which are now juſt at the Door? There are a few which he hath ſet his Mark upon, that ſhall be hid; and they are ſuch that ſigh and mourn for all the Abominations that are committed in the Land. Ezck. 9. 4.They of them that eſcape, ſhall eſcape, and they ſhall be on the Mountains like Doves of the Valley, every one mourning for his own Iniquities. O what an amazing Hour will that be, when the ſeven Vials of God's Wrath ſhall be poured out upon the Kingdom of the Beaſt! the Earthquake is near, look for it, and the Midnight Cry not far off. Be ſure there is ſuch a diſtreſſing Hour approaching upon the World, that thoſe that have, and ſhall ſtill neglect this Salvation, when it comes ſhall not eſcape.
2. They that neglect this Salvation, ſhall not eſcape in the Day of Conſcience; I mean, eſcape the Torments of an enraged, accuſing and condemned Conſcience: and ſometimes the Conſcience is awakened, and is let out upon the Sinner here in this World, before the Soul is ſeparated from the Body. How many through the Guilt of their horrid Sins have been this way tormented: Some Mens Sins are open before-hand, going before to Judgment; and ſome 1 Tim. 5. 24.Men follow after. Some Mens Sins are diſcovered by themſelves, through that great Guilt that lies upon them; or others diſcover them, or God himſelf brings their Sins to light; and by this means they ſometimes paſs Judgment upon themſelves, and may be a ſevere Judgment; or Men paſs Judgment upon them; or perhaps more directly to the Purport of the Holy Ghoſt in the Text, the Church paſſeth Judgment, or a righteous and juſt Church-Cenſure upon them for their great Sins. But what a ſevere Judgment in the day of Conſcience did poor Spira and Child paſs upon themſelves for their Iniquities? However thoſe cannot eſcape who trifle in the matters of Religion, or neglect the great Salvation in ſuch a time; when God lets Conſcience out upon them, their Sorrow and Miſery is very great: and if it be ſo bitter a thing to fall into our own Hands, I mean to fall into the Hands of our own Conſcience, what a fearful thing is it to fall into the Hands of the living God? God giveth to ſome Men the Name he gave to Paſhur, even Magor-Miſſabib, that is, Fear and Terror on all ſides; he makes them a Terror to Jer. 20. 3, 4.themſelves, and to all their Friends, ſo that they are all afrightned, reflecting on their ſad and miſerable Condition, partly by Terror within, and partly by Judgments without.
3. Thoſe that neglect this Salvation ſhall not eſcape at the Hour of Death; may be ſome of them may go on quietly in their Sins, and not fall under the Accuſations and Terror of their guilty Conſciences: Conſcience may be aſleep, or ſeared with a hot Iron; but at Death, I mean as ſoon as the Soul departs, they will be with a witneſs awakened, and then they ſhall ſee they cannot eſcape; nay, all hope and poſſibility of eſcaping is then gone for ever. True, many as ſoon as ſtruck with Death roar out and find no eſcaping; others may be God then in his Infinite Mercy may ſhew the way of an eſcape; but when dead, if ungodly, if they have neglected this Salvation, they lift up their Eyes in Hell with the rich Glutton, being in Torment. Remember if Death comes upon you Luke 10. 23.before you have got an Intereſt in Chriſt, or a part in this Salvation, you cannot then and at that time eſcape.
4. They ſhall not eſcape in the Day of Judgment, in the Day when Chriſt ſhall come. For when they ſhall cry, Peace and Safety, then ſudden Deſtruction cometh upon them, as Travail upon a Woman with 1 Theſſ. 5. 3.Child, and they ſhall not eſcape: Tho Sinners eſcape here in this World, yet they ſhall not eſcape in that day, they ſhall not be able to deliver themſelves out of God's Hands; nor ſhall any be able to deliver them. The Wicked ſhall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath; Job 21. 30.they ſhall not come willingly to Chriſt's Bar, but they ſhall be brought forth, dragged as it were to hear their Sentence, which will be, Depart from me, ye curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Mat. 25.Devil and his Angels. If the Righteous ſcarcely are ſaved, where ſhall 1 Pet. 4. 18.the Vngodly and Sinner appear! they will not be able to ſtand in the Judgment: O what Dread and Horror will then ſeize upon them! they that give the greateſt Diligence, take the greateſt Care about the Salvation of their So … are ſaved with much difficulty: 'tis a narrow Way and a ſtrait Ga…e that leads to Life: Through much Tribulation and Temptations we enter into the Kingdom of God; and if this …e ſo, what will become of them in the great Day that have wholly neglected this great Salvation? If the Righteous be ſcarcel… ſaved, the Wicked ſhall certainly periſh and be damned.
Queſt. What is the Nature of that Wrath which none of them that neglect this Salvation ſhall eſcape?
Anſw. I anſwer, it is great Wrath, Wrath proportioned according What the Nature of that Wrath is the Wicked ſhall not eſcape.to the Greatneſs of their Sin: as the Salvation …ighted is great Salvation, ſo the Wrath that ſuch ſhall bear will be great Wrath.
1. It is incenſed Wrath, therefore great Wrath, ſuch Wrath that hath been long a kindling in the Heart of God for the Abuſe of his Mercy and Infinite Goodneſs:
2. It is intolerable Wrath, therefore great Wrath; the Torment of the Heathen that never heard of this Salvation ſhall be more tolerable, more eaſy to bear, than the Wrath which is poured out in Hell upon ſuch that neglect the Salvation wrought by Jeſus Chriſt: Nay, it ſhall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for them.
3. It is infinite Wrath. Who knows the Power of thine Anger? even Pſa. 80. 11.according to thy Fear ſo is thy Wrath: it bears full Proportion to the Fear of it; nay, who is able to arrive to the full Senſe, Fear and Apprehenſion of God's Infinite Wrath? it is inconceivable Wrath: as God's Love and Goodneſs is inconceivable, infinite, incomprehenſible, which all that love him ſhall partake of to Eternity; ſo on the other hand, his Wrath and vindictive Vengeance is unexpreſſible, nay inconceivable, which will be let out upon the Ungodly. Who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting Deſtruction from the Preſence 2 Theſſ. 1. ….of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power. Mark it, from the Glory of his Power, from the Greatneſs of God's Power, exalted Power; O it appears to be amazing Wrath, were this conſidered well and laid to Heart!
4. It will be unmixt Wrath, or Wrath without Mixture: the Wrath of God that is let out here in this World is full of Mixture; nay, that which hath been let out upon the Spirits and Conſciences of Men hath had ſome mixture in it, ſome Eaſe mixt with Anguiſh, ſome mitigation of Pain and Horror, ſome Mercy mixt with Miſery; but in Hell the Wrath of God is unmixed Wrath, it is all pure Wrath, nothing but Wrath. The ſame ſhall drink of the Wine of God's Wrath, which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Rev. 14. 10.Indignation, and he ſhall be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone, &c.
5. It is fierce Wrath; it is called the fierce Wrath of the Lord, a Metaphor taken from a fierce and amazing devouring Fire. Sinners are commanded to ſeek the Lord before the Decree bring forth, Zeph. 2. 1, 2.before the Day paſs as the Chaff, before the fierce Anger of the Lord come upon them. I he Heat of Anger, inraged Anger and Fury: Behold, the Day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with Wrath and fierce Anger.Iſa. 13. 9.
6. It is irreſiſtable Wrath, no withſtanding it, no making Head againſt it; Wrath breaks forth againſt the Sinner like a Giant or mighty Army, that none can reſiſt nor ſtand before: Who can ſtand Nah. 1. 6.before his Indignation? and who can abide the fierceneſs of his Anger? his Fury is poured out like Fire, &c.
7. It is juſt and deſerved VVrath, Wrath that is due to ſuch who ſlight and neglect ſo great Salvation; it is the Wages of Sin, of ſuch Sin, it is their juſt Due and Deſert, as Wages are due to a Servant. Every one ſays, With-hold not from the Hireling his Wages. A Servant when he hath done his Work muſt be paid his Wages, it is right and juſt that he ſhould have it; ſo it is Right and Juſtice in God thus to reward all thoſe who abuſe his Mercy, and neglect his Salvation, ſo great Salvation. God will proportionate every Man's Reward according to the nature and degree of his Sin.
8. It is heavy Wrath, David complained of the Heavineſs of his Sin: Alas! it was no doubt, as Mr. Caryl notes, from the Apprehenſion of the Anger and Wrath of God: Mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as a heavy Burden, they are too heavy for me. I have Pſal. 38. 4.offended thee, I fear thy Diſpleaſure, my Sin deſerves thy Wrath; but tho there are Mountains of Iniquity upon unconverted Sinners, they feel no Weight, they make light of it, they ſport at it: but when Wrath comes once to be laid upon them, they will feel how heavy that is; who can bear this Burden, or ſtand under this Weight? When Wrath was laid upon our Bleſſed Saviour, how heavy did he find it? it made him ſweat great drops of Blood, it almoſt cruſhed him down unto the Earth: one Sin is heavy, and if God lay the Weight, I mean the Guilt of it, upon the Soul, it will cruſh it down to Hell. O then what a Weight will that be which will lie upon Sinners, when the Burden or Weight of all their Sins are laid upon them! and none to take that Weight off of them for ever, how low will it ſink them!
9. It is eternal Wrath, everlaſting Wrath, Wrath that will never ceaſe; They ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting Deſtruction. He ſhall 2 Theſſ. 1. 9. Rev. 14. 10, 11.be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone in the preſence of his holy Angels; and in the preſence of the Lamb; and the Sincke of their Torment aſcendeth up for ever and ever. O what a woſul Condition will all thoſe be in, that God lets out ſuch Wrath upon! How lamentable is and will be their State, who neglect this ſo great Salvation! Can you think of theſe things you that ſlight the Offers of God's Grace in Jeſus Chriſt, and not tremble!
APPLICATION.
1. O what a Mercy have they obtained that are delivered from ſuch Wrath, ſuch heavy Wrath! As no Man is able to bear the Wrath of God, ſo no Man is able to get away from it when it hath took hold of him; he cannot eſcape from that which he cannot endure. Alas! the Devils themſelves ſhall be tormented with all Unbelievers, and they cannot eſcape with all their Powers of Darkneſs; and indeed this will add to the Torment of the Wicked, I mean to be yoked in Hell-Torments with ſuch Companions, to be forced to abide for ever with Devils, who perhaps will add then to their Miſery, and aggravate their …, by upbraiding them with their Folly in believing him who was … Father of Lies, and to contemn ſo great Salvation for the ſake o… very Vanity, for the love to Sin, or love to the tranſitory Pleaſures and Riches of this evil World.
2. We may alſo from hence ſee cauſe to admire the Love of Jeſus Chriſt, who bore the Wrath of God for us: Certainly had not he had the Power of the Deity to uphold him, he could not have born that Wrath that was ſo heavy upon him. O love and honour this bleſſed Saviour, who hath ſaved you that believe from ſuch Wrath! His Blood hath quenched this flaming Fire, ſo that you ſhall never feel what the Wrath of God is. Brethren, remember we could not be delivered from the Wrath of God, unleſs Jeſus Chriſt did bear it in our ſtead, even Jeſus who delivered us from Wrath to come: 1 Theſſ. 1.our Jonas was thrown into the Sea of Wrath to ſave us from ſinking down to the bottom of eternal Wrath.
3. And may not this ſtir you up that are ungodly Perſons to flee from Wrath to come? Why do you ſtand making a Pauſe as it were? O haſte to Jeſus Chriſt, come to him, for that is the way, and the only way, as you have heard, to be delivered from Wrath. You know not how near you are to fall under the Wrath of God, and then it will be too late: God gives you ſpace to repent, and to take hold of his Salvation; you will, Sinners, have no Excuſe, no Plea in the great Day if you neglect the Day of your Viſi…ation, and ſlight the Offers of God's Infinite Grace and Favour! Can you bear the Wrath of God? Are you willing to try how heavy it is? We read of an eternal Weight of Glory, that will be a good Weight, not 2 Cor. 4. ult.a burdenſome Weight, not an oppreſſing Weight, it is called a Weight of Glory becauſe of the Greatneſs of it, the Excellency of it: But know, as there is a bleſſed Weight, or a Weight of Bleſſedneſs, ſo there is a Weight of Miſery, or a miſerable Weight; yea, it is ſuch a Weight as will cruſh the ſtrongeſt Giant like a M…th, and break the Bones of the Mighty.