A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 35
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Sermon XIV.Fourthly, THE laſt thing I propoſed to do, was, To ſhew you why the Goſpel is attended with dreadful Threatnings as well as gracious Promiſes: And this I ſhall, God aſſiſting, ſpeak unto at this time.
1. It may be in regard of him whoſe Word it is; Where the Word of a King is (ſaith Solomon) there is Power. Eccl. 8. 4.Shall not the Majeſty of God the great Law-giver be feared? If I am a Maſter, where is my Fear? Mal. 1. 6.Brethren, awful Threatnings become the Quality and Dignity of Chriſt's Perſon. True, in the Days of his Humiliation, as touching thoſe Perſonal Injuries and Wrongs done unto him, he ſuffered, and threatned not; 1 Pet. 2. 23.yet nevertheleſs for the Contempt of his Grace, Salvation, and infinite Goodneſs in the Goſpel, it is otherwiſe, he doth now pronounce dreadful Threats: Bring out thoſe mine Enemies that would not have me to reign over them, and ſlay them before me.Luke 19. 27.
2. Too great Lenity and Mercy we ſee among Men, cauſes Contempt of the Perſon of a Prince, it makes impudent Rebels ready to inſult over him. And now, Brethren, becauſe it ſeems not to pleaſe the Wiſdom of God, or not to be good in his ſight, who is the great Soveraign of Heaven and Earth, commonly to inflict Temporal Puniſhment on Goſpel-Slighters and Goſpel-Neglecters, but to reſerve their Puniſhment to another World; ſhall not he therefore tell them what they muſt expect to meet with and undergo hereafter, if they rebel againſt him, contemn his Goodneſs, Clemency and Mercy? Is it meet that the Holy God ſhould ſtrike before he threatens, or not ſhoot off his Warning-Piece before he lets fly his Murdering-Piece? Can that ſtand conſiſtent with his Infinite Goodneſs and Wiſdom? Shall he come ſecretly on his Enemies before he tells them of their danger? Shall he condemn that in his Creatures which he allows in himſelf? Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael; and becauſe I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet Amos 4. 12.thy God, O Iſrael. It is God's good Pleaſure, as well as it is the Property of his merciful Nature, to diſcover the future Miſery of Rebellious Sinners to them before he brings that Miſery and Ruin upon them.
3. Shall the Laws of the Servant be clothed with fearful Combinations and Threatnings againſt the Tranſgreſſors thereof; and ſhall the Law of the great Soveraign (or Goſpel of) Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, have none at all? that might ſeem ſtrange indeed, eſpecially conſidering thoſe that diſobey or believe not the Goſpel, ſhall meet with far greater Puniſhment. If the Word ſpoken by Angels were ſtedfaſt, and every Tranſgreſſion and Diſobedience received a juſt Recompence of Reward; How ſhall we eſcape? &c. This being ſo, there is reaſon that the Goſpel ſhould be accompanied with awful Threats.
4. Becauſe of the greatneſs of the Sins of ſuch who do refuſe, reject, or neglect the Grace and Mercy of God offered by Jeſus Chriſt: Certainly the Abuſe of the greateſt Goodneſs calls for the ſevereſt Denunciation of Divine Wrath and Vengeance, Man himſelf being Judg: Of how much ſorer Puniſhment ſuppoſe you ſhall he be thought worthy? Do you judg, to whom I appeal, what ſore, what bitter, what grievous and unexpreſſable Wrath and Judgments they deſerve, who conten…n Jeſus Chriſt, or prove Apoſtates, Revolters, and Backſliders from the Goſpel, and ſlight his precious Blood, …ead under … the Son of God? Sure ſuch deſerve worſe Puniſhment than thoſe who … againſt Moſes's Law. Now the greatneſs of their Sin, who ſ…i…ht and neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, I have already opened. O call to mind what you have heard; and you that are ſecure Sinners, tremble! What Wiſdom do ſuch deſpiſe, what Goodneſs do they diſregard, what infinite Love and Patience do they abuſe that neglect this Salvation? Shall the Sinner caſt Di…t in the Face of God, and not be told of it? Shall he ſlight an Intereſt in Chriſt, and not know it will be his ruin in another World?
5. Threatnings are contained in the Goſpel, to ſhew that God is Juſt as well as Gracious. Nay, Brethren, the Juſtice of God never appeared to that degree to the Sons of Men, by Moſes's Law, or any other way, as it doth in the Goſpel, in that Jeſus Chriſt the only begotten Son of God is not ſpared, when he ſtands as our Surety in our Law-place to bear our Iniquities: God ſpared not his own Son, &c. He did not ſpare him, as an Act of Love and Mercy, but ſubſtituted and appointed him to be a Sacrifice for us; and he did not ſpare him, as an Act of his Juſtice, when he was ſo ſubſtituted, but he put him to Grief, and made his Soul an Offering for Sin, the Juſt for the Vnjuſt: He was made Sin for us, i. e. a Sacrifice for our Sin: It pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him. This ſhews that God is Iſa. 53.juſt with a witneſs: there was no other way found out to put away Sin, to pacify Divine Wrath; and ſhall the Sinner ſlight and trample upon the Mercy and Juſtice of God, and not be told he ſhall not eſcape Divine Vengeance? O, Sinner, think of it, if God ſpared not his own Son, who had Sin upon him only by Imputation, our Sins laid upon him, and none of his own; Canſt thou think to eſcape his dreadful Wrath, who for not accepting of this Atonement, this Salvation, haſt all they Sins charged upon thy own Head, and muſt bear that vindictive Wrath that was due to thee for them? You that think God is only a God of Mercy, and Chriſt only a Lamb, will find your ſelves at laſt greatly deceived, for you will find that God is a juſt, a ſevere and Sin-revengeful Majeſty; and eſpecially he will appear ſo, when he pleads with Sinners for the abuſe of his Mercy; and they will find Jeſus Chriſt like a Lion, who will at length tear in pieces his Enemies: I have trodden the Wine-preſs alone, and of the People there was none with me; Iſa. 63.for I will tread them in mine Anger and trample them in my Fury, and their Blood ſhall be ſprinkled upon my Garments and I will ſtain all my Raiment. O remember, that the great Day of the Lamb's Wrath will come; he is a King, and has a Sword as well as a Scepter, a Rod as well as a Crown; he is Juſt as well as Good, and therefore it is that the Goſpel is clothed with ſuch Threatnings of Wrath and Divine Vengeance. All the Perfections of the Deity appear, and ſhall appear in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, he being the expreſs Image of the Father's Perſon.
2dly. The Goſpel hath its Threats as well as its Promiſes, I might ſhew you, in regard of Sinners.
1. To awe their rebellious Hearts, that their abominable Sins, Pride and Arrogancy might be curb'd, and they not ſo boldly and impudently go on in their Diſobedience and Contempt of Jeſus Chriſt. Chriſt to this End, as Dr. Owen obſerves, hath his Arrows which he lets fly upon his Enemies; ſome may …ick in their Hearts, and they fall down dead before him, he this way may kill them to give them Life.
2. That all ungodly Sinners may be left without Excuſe, and Jeſus Chriſt be juſtified in his righteous Proceedings againſt them at the laſt Day. He tells them before-hand what they muſt expect and look for; If they repent not, they ſhall all likewiſe periſh; Luke 13. 3, 5. Mark 16. 16. John 3. 3, 5. 1 Cor. 6. 10, 11. Rev. 21. 8.if they believe not, they ſhall be damned; if they are not born again, they ſhall not ſee the Kingdom of God; if they continue in any courſe of Sin, as Adultery, Fornication, Drunkenneſs, Theft, Pride, Covetouſneſs, Lying, &c. they ſhall have their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone: And if they neglect this ſo great Salvation, they ſhall not eſcape Divine Wrath.
3dly and laſtly, The Threatnings that are in the Goſpel, may be of great uſe to Believers, even as a Whip or Laſh to quicken them when grown ſlothful and negligent in their Duties, or fall into a ſleepy and ſecure State; and to ſhew them that the Goſpel tolerates no looſeneſs, allows of no Sin, but that the whole Deſign of it is, to promote Holineſs, God will be ſanctified by all Levit. 10. 2, 3.that draw near to him. They may ſerve alſo to prevent the Power and Prevalency of indwelling Sin, or tend to nip off the Buds as they put forth, or kill thoſe Weeds that might otherwiſe grow the more in their Hearts; and alſo to ſtir them up to ſtand upon their Watch, and make a ſtout Reſiſtance of all Enemies; for that God tells us, we muſt either kill or be killed: If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall die; but if ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of Rom. 8. 13.the Body, ye ſhall live. Chriſt's Souldiers are ſure of the Victory, but not without ſighting; if they turn their Backs, they are gone; though to their great Joy and Comfort, if they are true Believers, they know they are not of that ſort that draw back unto Perdition. Alſo by theſe Threats, the Saints may be the better enabled to ſuffer Perſecution, and endure any Trials here for Chriſt's ſake; they hereby knowing how much eaſier it is to bear and undergo the Wrath of Man, than it is to endure the Wrath of God.
What kind of Sinners Wrath ſhall fall upon.Queſt. On whom is the Wrath of God denounced, or what kind of Sinners ſhall undergo it?
Anſw. 1. I anſwer, All prophane and ungodly Sinners, of what ſort ſoever, as Aduiterers, Fornicators, covetous Perſons, malicious Rom. 2. 29, 30. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. Rev. 21. 8. Rom. 1. 18.Perſons, Whiſperers, Backbiters, haters of God, deſpiteful and proud Perſons, Covenant-breakers, Implacable, Vnmerciful, Thieves, Drunkards, Revilers, Extortioners, Murderers, Witches, Sorcerers, and all Liars. Theſe and all other prophane Perſons whatſoever, who live and die in any of theſe, or other Sins, having neglected this Salvation, ſhall not eſcape the Wrath of God; For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſtall Vngodlineſs, and Vnrighteouſneſs of Men. The Wages of every Sin, yea the very Luſts of the Heart, is Eternal Death; Sin is their Sickneſs, and the neglecting the Salvation of the Goſpel, is their refuſing that Remedy and only Cure of their Sickneſs which God doth afford.
2. All civilized Perſons, ſuch who depend upon Principles of Morality, or living a ſober Life, and never look after Faith in Jeſus Chriſt and Regeneration: I ſay unto you, Except your Righteouſneſs Mat. 5. 20exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet Paul when a Phariſee, ſaith, That as touching the Righteouſneſs which is of the Law, Phil 3. 8, 9 Joh. 3. 3.I was blameleſs. Except a Man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. Theſe as much neglect this great Salvation, as ſcandalous and prophane Sinners, and therefore ſhall not eſcape God's Wrath.
3. All Idolaters, Perſecutors, and heretical Perſons, ſuch who are corrupted with damnable Hereſy, who deny the Perſon of Chriſt, or our Lord Jeſus the only Saviour, or Salvation and Righteouſneſs by him; theſe alſo are neglecters of this Salvation, and living and dying in thoſe Sins, cannot eſcape the Wrath of God.
4. All Unbelievers, or ſuch who are without ſaving Faith in Jeſus Chriſt: He that believeth, and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he Mark 16. 16.that believeth not, ſhall be damned.—He that believeth not, ſhall not ſee Life; but the Wrath of God abideth on him. No Unbeliever can Joh. 3. 3.eſcape the Wrath of God.
5. All Hypocrites, or ſuch who make a Profeſſion of the Goſpel, without the ſaving Grace of God in their Hearts. Of theſe there are two ſorts.
(1.) Such who are ſelf-condemned Hypocrites, who know they are not what they profeſs themſelves to be, but have carnal and ſiniſter Ends and Aims in their profeſſing the Goſpel, Religion being but a Cloak to cover their Deceit and Hypocriſy.
(2.) Such as the fooliſh Virgins were, whoſe Hearts deceive them, thinking their State was good; 1. But never paſſed through the Pangs of the new Birth, but truſted to a Form of Godlineſs without the Power of it. This ſort it ſeems, 2. are very blind and ignorant, in that they thought to receive Advantage by the Graces or good Works of wiſe and gracious Chriſtians; Give us of your Oil, for our Lamps are gone out: 3. They never ſought for Grace Mat. 25. 8.any way, until it was too late, even not till the Bridegroom was come. 4. It appears that this ſort alſo were very conſident of the Goodneſs of their Condition; (that is a bad ſign) for they roſe up to meet the Bridegroom. Gracious Chriſtians are attended with Godly Jealouſies of their own Hearts: yet theſe Mens outward Converſation might be clean to outward appearance, in that they were not known to the Wiſe to be fooliſh Ones. 5. Their Folly appears in that they pleaſe themſelves with a Name of being Chriſtians, Saints, and Church-Members, without the Nature, Faith and Holineſs of ſuch, prizing a Lamp of Profeſſion above the Grace of God, or a Form of Religion more than the Power of it; valuing the Approbation of Men more than the Approbation and Acceptation of God; eſteeming the empty Cabinet, or pleaſing themſelves with the Shell of Religion without the Kernel of it; and in their thinking it was time enough to ſow, when others were juſt going to reap, and by laying Claim to Heaven, without any Title to it. None of theſe, living and dying under this Deceit, Ignorance and Hypocriſy, can eſcape the Wrath of God.
6. All ſuch cannot eſcape, who utterly apoſtatize or backſlide from God and the Truths of the Goſpel; who after they have made a Profeſſion of Religion, turn with the Sow to her wallowing in the Mire, and with the Dog lick up their old Vomit again; I mean, 2 Pet. 2. 20, 21, 22.cleave again to their former evil and ungodly Ways and Practices, and become utter Enemies to God and his People.
7. Laſtly, All Atheiſts, or ſuch who deny the Being of God, or the Eternal Godhead and Deity of the Majeſty of Heaven, and ridicule and contemn all ſupernatural Knowledg or Revelation of God; theſe ſhall receive and undergo the Wrath of God, from which they cannot eſcape.
APPLICATION.
This may ſerve to awaken all ſecure Sinners who have falſe Notions of God's Mercy. What will you do if you perſiſt ſtill in your evil Ways? I am afraid here may be ſome of one ſort or another of them which I have named, that ſhall not eſcape the Wrath of God. O that we could but hear that Cry which we read of, Acts 2. 36. What ſhall we do? Were Sinners pricked in their Hearts, they would break forth into Tears in the ſight and ſenſe of the Evil of Sin. Hath Sin put the Lord of Life and Glory to death? Was the Wrath of God due to us let out upon him, that we might never feel the weight thereof? O how ſhould this fill our Hearts with Revenge and Indignation againſt Sin! Certainly the Sufferings of Chriſt for our Sins, ſhew forth the Evil of it, beyond all the Torments the Damned endure in Hell: and if God did not ſpare him, who as our Surety ſtood in our Place and Room, what will become of thee, O Sinner, that goeſt on preſumptuouſly in thy evil Way, and doſt not regard or lay to Heart the great Salvation of the Goſpel? Shall not the Love of God overcome thee? then fear his Wrath, which is ſo dreadful, and will be let out in Fury.
Queſt. What is the Reaſon Men do no more fear and dread the Wrath of God?
Anſw. 1. It is becauſe they do not know the direful Nature thereof: We knowing the Terror of the Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle, perſwade 2 Cor. 5. 11.Men. The faithful Servants of God know it, but Sinners know it not, therefore fear it no more.
2. It is becauſe God doth not execute the Sentence againſt their evil Works preſently: This is the Reaſon, Solomon tells us why; Eccleſ. 8. 11.The Hearts of the Children of Men are fully ſet in them to do wickedly.
3. Sinners are blinded by the Devil, and think God takes no notice of their Ways and evil Doings, and ſo go on boldly; may be think no Eye ſeeth them: And becauſe God is ſo gracious, patient, and ſlow to Anger, and long before he ſtrikes, they think the Blow will never come at all. O it is ſad that the Goodneſs, Rom. 2. 3, 4.Mercy, and Long-ſuffering of God, which ſhould lead Men to Repentance, ſhould tend to harden them in their evil Ways: but though they now deſpiſe his Goodneſs and Forbearance, &c. yet they ſhall not eſcape the Judgment of God.
Queſt. What ſhould Sinners do to eſcape the Wrath of God?
Anſw. 1. Sinner, if thou wouldſt eſcape God's Wrath, find out the Original Cauſe thereof; ponder well thy State by Nature, and the Pollution of thy Heart, from whence all actual Sins flow.
2. Find out the immediate Cauſe of his Diſpleaſure and Wrath that is ready to break forth againſt thee, and cry out, What have I done? O ſee, what Guilt lies upon you, and the Nature of it.
3. Labour to know what it is that hath appeaſed God's Wrath: nothing but a Sacrifice, an Atonement could do it; thy Tears, thy Prayers, thy Repentance could not do it: the Storm was great, and our beloved Jonas was thrown into the Sea of God's Wrath to allay it, and to cauſe a Calm.
4. Get a thorow Senſe of the great Evil of Sin.
5. And then loath your ſelves. Nothing but Grace poured forth from the Lord can do this. O when once you can mourn for your Iniquities, as a Man mourns for his Firſt-born, by beholding him whom you have pierced, there will be hope.
6. Pray and cry mightily to the Lord, ceaſe not Day nor Night, until you find out the Plague of your own Hearts.
7. Above all things fly to Jeſus Chriſt, look up to him, and neglect not this Salvation one Hour, but throw down your Arms, ſight againſt God no more, nor fence againſt the twoedged Sword of his Mouth; but as a poor, loſt, and burdened Sinner, come to him, and thou ſhalt find reſt unto thy Soul.Mat. 11. 28.
Object. But perhaps ſome may object, Is not this Doctrine a Legal Doctrine?
Anſw. I ſay no, but I ſhall anſwer this Objection the next time, and ſo cloſe with this Text.