A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 23
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Serm. II.I AM upon the Proof and Demonſtration of the firſt Point of Doctrine raiſed from our Text, viz. That Goſpel-Salvation is a Great and Glorious Salvation.
I have ſpoken to this already under five Conſiderations.
Sixthly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is Great and Glorious, if Goſpel-Salvation great, conſidering the Perſons that brought it about.we conſider the Glory and Greatneſs of thoſe Perſons who ſat in Counſel about bringing of it in, and working of it out for ſinful Man. We commonly judg of the Greatneſs of the Undertaking, and the Glory of the Work, by conſidering the Dignity, Glory, Wiſdom, Power and Greatneſs of the Perſons concerned in it.
Now if this Work, I mean the Salvation of ſinful Man, had been put into the Hands of the mighty Angels, and they had called a Council about it, and ſhewed their uttermoſt Skill, Wiſdom and Power, in order to the actual accompliſhment thereof, would not all ſay, this muſt needs be ſome great and wonderful Work, or a great Salvation? But alas, they could neither have ſound out a way of Salvation for us, much leſs have wrought it out: Could they any way have thought how the Glory of every Attribute of God might have been raiſed, and have ſhone forth in equal Luſtre? could they have ſecured the Glory of God's Juſtice and Holineſs, and have made up the Wrong we had done to God by our Sin, and ſo have opened a Way for Mercy and Goodneſs to run down like a mighty Stream, and ſecured the Sanction of the Law, and yet have delivered Man from the Curſe thereof? God muſt not, will not loſe the Glory of any one of his Attributes, let what will become of the Rebellious Sinner. Alas, they could never have found out a way whereby the Attributes of Mercy and Juſtice might meet together, and Righteouſneſs and Truth kiſs each other: the Perſons then who found and wrought out this Salvation, were not the Holy Angels of God; No, no, none but God himſelf could do it: The Salvation of Iſrael is of the Lord; He is our Pſal. 25. 5.Saviour: How often is this expreſſed in the Pſalms, and in other places of the Holy Scripture. Salvation is aſcribed to the Lord, to him only; yea to his own Arm, to the greatneſs of his Power: Therefore my own Arm brought Salvation.
Brethren, each Perſon in the Trinity hath a part in it; the Father Iſa. 63. 5.hath his Part, the Son hath his Part, and the Holy Ghoſt hath What part of this Salvation is attributed to God the Father.his Part alſo. Remember, that theſe three are one; though three Perſons or Subſiſtences, yet but one and the ſame God, one in Eſſence, though diſtinguiſhed as to their diſtinct Perſonalities: the Perſon of the Father is not the Perſon of the Son; the Father took not upon him Fleſh and died for our Sins, but the Son; the Son ſent not the Father, but the Father ſent the Son: The Father and the Son do not proceed from the Holy Ghoſt, but the Holy Ghoſt doth proceed from them.
But a little to open and inſiſt upon the diſtinct Parts which each Perſon hath, and how concerned in the accompliſhing of this great Salvation.
1. The Father is held forth in the Scripture, as the Contriver or firſt Author of this Salvation: All Things are of God, who hath reconciled us unto himſelf by Jeſus Chriſt. All Things in and about 2 Cor. 5. 18.our Salvation are of God the Father, as he is the Fountain and Spring of it: He hath deviſed means, that his baniſhed might not for ever be expelled from him. I have found a Ranſom: Where did God find it? (ſaith Reverend Caryl) Certainly in his own Boſom, in his own Heart: Jeſus Chriſt came out of the Boſom of the Father, there he was, and God found him in and with himſelf; he did not find the Ranſom by chance, but he found it in his own Wiſdom, Love and Goodneſs.
2. The Father was injured, his Glory ſeemed to be eclipſed by Sin, therefore muſt be righted, and his Honour repaired; and he ſought out the proper way to do it: I know, as if God ſhould ſay, how to do the poor Sinner good; I know how to ſave him, and do my own Honour, my Juſtice, Truth and Holineſs, no wrong; my Honour is ſecured, my Juſtice is ſatisfied; and yet the Sinner whom my Heart is ſet upon, ſhall be ſaved.
3. The Father could only appoint the Terms and Way of our Salvation: Who but God could tell, or did know what would comport with his Truth and Juſtice, and with the Sanction of his Righteous Law and Infinite Holineſs? And he ſaw it did not comport with his Truth, Juſtice, Holineſs, and Bleſſed Law, to ſave Man meerly as an Act of Sovereign Mercy; but it did agree in his Infinite Wiſdom to transfer the Puniſhment of the Sinner to another, namely, to his own Son, he taking our Nature on him; who from the Union of the two Natures in one Perſon, procured an Infinite Satisfaction, or made a Plenary Compenſation for our Sins.
4. God the Father is therefore held forth as the Perſon who ſubſtituted his own Son as Mediator and Surety in our ſtead and room, to work out our Redemption, or this great and glorious Salvation; and to this end prepared him a Body: A Body haſt thou prepared me. And the Father is ſaid alſo to ſend his Son: How Heb. 10. 5.many times doth our Bleſſed Saviour aſcribe this unto the Father, in the Goſpel recorded by John? I am perſwaded not leſs than forty times: The Father that ſent me, is with me. God ſent not his Son into the World to condemn the World. This is the Will of him that Joh. 3. 17.ſent me.
5. All the Bleſſings of our Salvation are aſcribed to the free Bounty, Mercy, Love and Goodneſs of God the Father: Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, for he hath viſited and redeemed his People, and hath raiſed up an Horn of Salvation, &c. And therefore he is ſtiled, The Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort. Now this 2 Cor. 1. 3.being ſo, what an abominable thing is it for the Socinians to ſay, That the Doctrine of Satisfaction renders the Son more merciful and kind than the Father; ſee Penn's Sandy Foundation ſhaken: No, this is very unjuſtly and unrighteouſly thrown upon this great Goſpel-Truth. Certainly it exalts the Goodneſs and Mercy of God the Father, far more than their idle and abſurd Notion of God's pardoning Sin in a way of meer Mercy, without a Satisfaction to his offended Juſtice; ſeeing God in a way of Mercy and Divine Goodneſs, is ſo ſet upon this Work of our Salvation, that though it coſt him the Life of his own Son, yet it ſhall be done, he will not ſpare him: He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up Rom. 8. 32.for us all. The Father did not ſpare him as an Act of his own Love and Goodneſs to us; God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son. Certainly that Perſon ſhews greater Love and Joh. 3. 16.Pity to another, who to ſave him gives a Million, than he that gives but a Pound. Muſt God by theſe Men be deemed to have no Mercy at all, becauſe he ſeeks the Honour of his Juſtice equally with the Glory of his Mercy? Is he not Merciful, becauſe he is Juſt as well as Gracious?
6. Brethren, it was the Father that loved us and choſe us in Jeſus Chriſt before the Foundation of the World, which is the Spring of all Spiritual Bleſſings, even of Redemption and Salvation it ſelf.
7. Moreover, the Father is ſaid to raiſe Jeſus Chriſt from the Dead: Though the Son being God could raiſe himſelf, yet as Mediator, the Power to quicken whomſoever he will, is ſaid to be given to him by the Father. Beſides, it is the meer Grace and good Pleaſure of God the Father, to accept of Chriſt and his Obedience for us, and to accept of us in Jeſus Chriſt: Alſo it is the Father that bleſſeth us with all Spiritual Bleſſings in Heavenly Places in Chriſt Jeſus. Eph. 1. 3.Nay, no Man, Chriſt ſays, can come unto him, unleſs it be given by the Father; that is, Power muſt be given to him to come. And again he ſaith, No Man can come unto me, except my Father that ſent me draw him. We ought therefore to ſee we do not leſſen the Glory of God the Father in our Salvation, who is the Efficient, the Original and moving Cauſe thereof: My Father (ſaith Chriſt) hitherto Joh. 5. 17.worketh, and I work.
Brethren, we are not to attribute the Works of Creation and Providence to God the Father only, for he hath a great and glorious Hand in the Work of Redemption, I may ſay, to accompliſh this Work, even the Salvation of his Elect; he worketh hitherto, and Chriſt alſo worketh: which brings me to conſider of the next Perſon in the Trinity concerned herein.
Secondly, As the Father hath, as you have heard, his part in What a Part Chriſt hath in working out this Salvation.bringing in the great Salvation of the Goſpel, ſo Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of God, hath his part in working of it out; the Father fix'd on him, as the great Agent, actually to perfect it: he is in ſuch a peculiar manner concerned in it, that his Name is Saviour, his Name ſhall be called Jeſus; Jeſus ſignifies a Saviour: certainly this muſt needs be a great Salvation, if we conſider the Greatneſs, Dignity and Glory of his Perſon, whom God hath ſent to ſave us. And becauſe it is mainly from this Foot of account, that the Apoſtle in the Text draws his Inference, and calls Goſpe-Salvation Great Salvation, I ſhall a little further enlarge upon this particular;
1. Jeſus Chriſt hath a great Name given to him, yea, a Name Chriſt is a great Saviour.above every Name; that is, he is ſo highly exalted, (as he is Mediator) that he is clothed with Power, Glory and Majeſty, above all Creatures in Heaven and Earth; ſo that all in Heaven Phil. 2. 9.above, and in Earth beneath, muſt bow down before him, and adore and worſhip him, and be in ſubjection to him: For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given, and the Government ſhall be upon his Iſa. 9. 6.Shoulders; And his Name ſhall be called Wonderful, &c. This his Name is according to his Perſon, he is a wonderful or an admirable Perſon; Wonderful in his Incarnation, God man; Wonderful in his Birth, Wonderful in his Life, Wonderful in his Death; and in the Effects, End and Deſign of his Death; he is not only called Wonderful, but alſo Counſellor: Never ſuch a Counſellor for Iſa. 6. 9.Wiſdom and Knowledg, for he is the Wiſdom of God it ſelf, and the only Wiſe God: He is called the Mighty God, the Everlaſting Father, or the Father of Eternity, and the Prince of Peace. Moreover, he is called Immanuel, God with us, God in our Nature; and alſo called the only begotten Son of God, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the only Potentate; he is called the Deſire of all Nations, Elect, Precious: And he is made ſo much better than the Angels, as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they; for unto which of the Angels ſaid he at any time, Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotten thee? He is Heb. 1. 4, 5.called the one Mediator; time would fail me to ſpeak of all his Names. And,
2. As is his Name, ſuch is his Nature: He is God's Fellow; he is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; he thought it not robbery to be equal with God. O what a kind of Salvation muſt this be, that ſuch a Perſon is ſent to work it out! One clothed with Phil. 2. 6.ſuch a Name, with ſuch a Nature, with ſuch Glory: He is called a Saviour, a great One; He ſhall (that is, God ſhall) ſend them a Saviour, a great One, and he ſhall deliver them. He, as he is God-Man, Iſa. 19. 20.is ordained Heir of all Things, and all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him; nay, he is the Upholder, the Suſtainer or Preſerver of the World: he is not only the Brightneſs of the Father's Glory, and expreſs Image of his Perſon, but he upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power. He is one and the ſame God with the Father, the expreſs Character of the Father's Pérſon; ſo Heb. 1. 3.that they that ſee and know him, ſee and know the Father alſo. He ſupports, ſuſtains, feeds, preſerves, governs, throws Joh. 14. 9.down and raiſes up, kills and makes alive whom he will; he has the Keys of Hell and Death. He is the Wonder of Angels, the Conſternation and Dread of Devils, and the Joy and Delight of the Saints; there is not ſuch another Perſon in Heaven nor Earth, perfect God, and perfect Man, and yet but one Chriſt, one Perſon: certainly here's ſome great and wonderful Work to be done, when ſuch a Perſon is ſubſtituted, ordained and ſo qualified, and ſent into the World to work out the actual Accompliſhment thereof. Nay, God himſelf, who delighteth in him, put the Prophet to propound this Queſtion concerning him; Who is this that cometh from Edom, with died Garments from Bozrah? this that is Iſa. 63. 1.glorious in his Apparel, travelling in the greatneſs of his Strength? Chriſt himſelf (as I conceive) anſwers, I that ſpeak in Righteouſneſs, mighty to ſave. O happy Mortals, that God hath ſent us ſuch a Saviour, he is mighty to ſave.
3. Conſider alſo that none but he could ſave us, procure and work about this Salvation for us; There was none in Heaven nor Earth Rev. 5. 5.able nor worthy to open the Book, and looſe the Seals thereof, but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, he hath prevailed.
4. Jeſus Chriſt is ſuch an Almighty Saviour, that he is able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come to God by him. He has the Perfection Heb. 7. 25.of Power with him, he can ſave to the full, let the State of the Soul that comes to God by him be whatſoever it will or can be.
1. Though a Man is ſunk down to the very Gates of Hell, under the preſſure and ſenſe of God's Wrath.
2. Though he hath the Guilt of Millions of Sins like Mountains of Lead lying upon him, yet Chriſt can ſave him.
3. Though Satan ſays there is no Hope, and the Heart of the Sinner joins in with him, and ſays, there is no Hope, no Pardon, no Help, no Salvation; hang thy ſelf, drown thy ſelf, ſaith Satan, thou art damn'd, there is no Mercy for thee: yet Chriſt can then ſave that poor Soul; and many ſuch he hath ſaved, when but a little before all hope of Relief ſeemed to be gone.
4. Though the Devil ſhould raiſe up all the Force and Powers of Hell and Darkneſs againſt a Perſon, to deſtroy him, yet Jeſus Chriſt can ſave him; if he will work upon the Soul by ſtretching forth his Almighty Power, nothing can obſtruct or hinder him.
5. Chriſt can ſave from the Sin, from the Guilt, the Filth and Power of it, and break into pieces all the Bonds, Chains and Fetters of the Enemy; nay, let the Sins of a Perſon be never ſo many, never ſo great, yet he can ſave to the uttermoſt, though they are ſuch Sinners as Manaſſeh and Mary Magdalen were; nay, ſuch that put to death by wicked Hands the Lord of Life and Glory: 'tis as eaſy with him to ſave great Sinners, as the leaſt, or leſs guilty Ones; he can ſave the ſtout-hearted, ſuch who are far from Righteouſneſs.Iſa. 42. 12.
6. He can ſave from the Curſe of the Law and from the Wrath of God; he is every ways furniſhed, fitted and enabled to ſave.
7. He is a Mighty Saviour, and able to ſave to the uttermoſt, in that he can ſave by himſelf alone, by his own Power; it is not if we will begin the Work, if we will do what we can, he can and will ſave us; no, but he takes the whole Work of Salvation into his own Hand, he is the Author and Finiſher of it, 'tis he alone.
7. Moreover, Chriſt is as willing to ſave poor loſt and undone Sinners, as he is able; he had his Name given to this end, i. e. becauſe of his Power, willingneſs and readineſs to ſave Sinners.
Brethren, this doth not only beſpeak this to be a great Salvation, but alſo it diſcovers the greatneſs of God's Love even the greateſt Pity, Power and Wiſdom that ever was manifeſted.
Thirdly, The third Perſon that is concerned in this Salvation, is The H. Ghoſt hath his part in working about our Salvation.the Holy Ghoſt: The Father chuſes, the Son purchaſes, and the Spirit applies the Bleſſings purchaſed. Salvation is called a Garment; He hath clothed me with the Garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteouſneſs. The Father may be ſaid Iſa. 61. 10.to prepare the Matter which this Robe is made of; the Son wrought it, he made the Garment, and the Holy Spirit puts it on the Soul; the Garment of Salvation is Chriſt's Righteouſneſs. Again, the Father ſought out or choſe the Bride, the Son eſpouſes and marries her, but it is the Holy Ghoſt that inclines her Heart and ſtirs up, nay, that cauſes the Soul to like and to love this Bleſſed Lover, and brings it to yield and conſent to accept heartily and willingly of Jeſus Chriſt. We were ſick of a fearful and incurable Diſeaſe, and the Father found out the Medicine; the Blood of Chriſt is that Medicine, and the Holy Spirit applies it to the Soul. We were in Debt, in Priſon, and bound in Fetters and cruel Chains, and the Father procured a Friend to pay all our Debts; The Son was this our Friend, who laid down the infinite Sum; and the Holy Spirit knocks off our Irons, our Fetters and Chains, and brings us out of the Priſon-houſe. The Father loved us, and ſent his Son to merit Grace for us; the Son loved us, and died, and thereby purchaſed that Grace to be imparted to us; and the Holy Spirit works that Grace in us. O what is the Nature of this Salvation; how Great, how Glorious! That the whole Trinity, both the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt, are thus imployed in and about it, that we might have it made fure to us for ever.
APPLICATION.
1. Reproof. Wo to ſuch that eſteem their own filthy Rags above this Garment of Salvation, or that ſeem to ſet light by it: Hath God the Father, Jeſus Chriſt, and the Holy Ghoſt, held a Counſel before the World began, about the Salvation of our Souls; and hath each Perſon of the Bleſſed Trinity ſuch a Part in order to the making of it to be effectual to us? And ſhall any dare to ſay there is no need of this Garment? We may work a Robe out of our own Bowels by the Operations of the Spirit, that will ſerve to hide our Nakedneſs, trouble not us with your old Divinity: We are for rational Religion. He that is Righteous, and obeys Chriſt, and leads a Goldly Life, need not doubt of his Salvation: For in Acts 10.every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteouſneſs, is accepted of him. O how ready are Men to abuſe the Scripture! Can any Man think that his own perſonal inherent Righteouſneſs, can either juſtify or ſave him; or that the Apoſtle Peter means any ſuch thing? God may ſo far accept of a Man in his Obedience, in which he acts in all Sincerity and Faithfulneſs to him, as to hear his Prayers, ſo as to reveal himſelf to him in Chriſt as he did to Cornelius. But was Cornelius a Believer, and juſtfied before he heard of Jeſus Chriſt, and had Faith wrought in his Soul? See how Peter preached Chriſt for Life and Salvation to this Man: Notwithſtanding all his own Righteouſneſs, Peter was commanded of God to tell him what he ſhould do that he might be ſaved, plainly intimating he did not know the Way, or how to be ſaved before Verſe 6.Peter preached Chriſt to him: He (ſaith the Lord) ſhall tell thee what thou oughteſt to do. *God calls the Gentiles, or whom he pleaſes among them, as well as the Jews; which Peter might not underſtand before now.And in verſe 43. Peter ſaid, To him (that is, to Jeſus Chriſt) gave all the Prophets witneſs, that through his Name whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould receive remiſſion of Sins. Will any ſay Cornelius had remiſſion of Sins before he heard this Sermon, and believed in Jeſus Chriſt? Was not Peter ſent to him (and to thoſe other Gentiles with him) that they might be converted? O take heed you ſtumble not at this Stone, leſt it fall on you and grind you to Pouder.
2. Dare any of you think that this Salvation is but a ſmall Matter, and that you need not trouble your ſelves about it? O tremble you who never had one ſerious Thought about it to this Day: You have other things to mind, are full of Buſineſs; but, O Sirs, what is of ſuch Moment as this Salvation? Yet nevertheleſs ſome will not ſpare time to hear it, or to attend upon the Word of this Salvation: Others will not part with the Love of this World, to have a Part in it; they value their earthly Riches, Pleaſures and Honours, above it; nay, too many eſteem their filthy Luſts more than an Intereſt in this great Salvation. But what contempt do ſuch Perſons caſt upon the great God, who hath manifeſted ſuch Depths of Divine Wiſdom, Grace and Goodneſs in bringing of it in, and working of it out for our precious Souls: Did they know what God is, Chriſt is, Salvation is, certainly they would change their Opinion, and not a little blame themſelves for their great Folly. Brethren, a true and ſpiritual Knowledg of the Great Salvation of the Goſpel, makes all the Things of the World ſeem little, nay nothing in compariſon thereof: All things that Carnal Men have their Hearts ſet upon, are poor, thin and beggarly Things, when compared to Grace here, and Glory hereafter. No ſooner had Paul a true ſight of this Great Salvation, but immediately he conſulted not with Fleſh and Blood. When the ſweetneſs Gal. 1. 16.of Chriſt and Salvation is taſted, and a Soul knows how good and ſatisfying it is, every thing that hath a Tincture of Fleſh and Blood, all carnal Intereſts, and fleſhly Counſels expire. A full ſight of this Salvation ſeems to make Life uneaſy, and Death deſirable: Lord, now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in Peace, for mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation. Nothing in this World could be worth a Thought of his Heart, ſince his Eyes had ſeen God's Salvation. Why what did he ſee? It was Jeſus Chriſt the Author of Salvation, in whom he knew was Salvation, and in no other: He that lives ſo long as to ſee Chriſt by an Eye of Faith to be his Saviour, and his Salvation, will be willing to leave this World, be willing to die, becauſe he then ſhall die in peace. None can die happily that have not a ſight of this Great Salvation; nor can any have a true ſight of this Salvation, but they only who have by Faith a true ſight of the Bleſſed Saviour. Paul, when he came to the Knowledg of Chriſt, and of Salvation by Chriſt, eſteems every thing in the World to be no better than Dung, and longs to be diſſolv'd, and to be in Chriſt's Arms, and taſte how good Salvation is in the full poſſeſſion of it in Heaven.
3. This reproves ſuch who delay ſeeking after the Knowledg of this Salvation: If it be ſo great, it muſt and ought firſt of all be regarded: Seek firſt the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouſneſs. May be 'ere long you will wiſh you had ſought after Chriſt Mat. 6. 33.and Salvation by him, before all things, when you come to lie upon a ſick Bed. O Sirs, you will need it at laſt, and may be ſeek it when too late. Were a poor condemned Criminal ſenſible of a Way how to be ſaved from Death, or that a Pardon might be had, would he delay the Time, or would he not make it all his Buſineſs with his uttermoſt Care to ſeek for a Pardon, leſt the Day of his Execution ſhould come before he hath got it? And if ſo, he knows die he muſt: Alas Sirs, what is it to be delivered from Natural Death, to our being delivered from Eternal Death! The Time when you muſt die may be near; and if you have not an Intereſt in this Salvation when you die Naturally, your Souls muſt die Eternally. Pray obſerve the Argument I am upon to excite and ſtir up your Souls to a Holy Diligence, in attending on the Means of this Salvation; it is the ſame the Apoſtle uſes, it is called Great Salvation, conſidering the Dignity of Chriſt's Perſon, who laid down his own Life to purchaſe it for us; and alſo was the firſt great Miniſter and Preacher of it, which at firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord: It was preached by the Lord of Life and Glory, the great Mediator, Head of all Principalities and Powers; and it is again by one of his poor Servants this Day offered unto you, in the Name of my Great Maſter, therefore refuſe it at your Peril: If you receive it, imbrace it, you ſhall be happy; but if you refuſe it, you will be miſerable, and at laſt die in your Sins.
4. Here is Comfort and Encouragement for the worſt of Sinners. Are you ſuch who are and have been great Sinners? Well, let it be ſo, yet be not caſt down into utter Deſpair, for here is a great Saviour; you have heard of his mighty Power and Ability to ſave; and he ſaith, All that the Father hath given to me, ſhall come unto me. Ay but you perhaps may ſay, you know not who they be that the Father hath given to Chriſt. Well, what of that? Pray mind his next Words, And he that cometh to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Joh. 6. 37.Whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall not periſh, but have Everlaſting Life. Joh. 3. 15.Receive this Saviour, believe in him, and you ſhall be ſaved whoſoever you are: It is not the greatneſs of your Sins that can hinder or obſtruct him from ſaving your Souls; though your Sins be as red as Scarlet, or as red as Crimſon, he will waſh them all away, and make you as white as Wool, as white as Snow.
5. Alſo here is good News for poor Sin-ſick Sinners, to wounded and loſt Sinners, I mean, ſuch who feel themſelves ſick, ſee and feel themſelves wounded, who find they are loſt and undone in themſelves. O Souls, you are the Perſons the Word of this Salvation is ſent to; The Whole need not a Phyſician, but ſuch that are ſick. I am not come to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance. Mat. 9. 12, 13.Such indeed who are conceited of their own Righteouſneſs, or ſwelled with a good Opinion of their own good Works, good Deeds, and good Duties, will not come to Chriſt, ſuch think they need no ſuch Phyſician as Chriſt is: But you that ſee you have no Righteouſneſs of your own, but that all your Righteouſneſs is as Dung, O look to Chriſt, come to Chriſt, hear what he ſays to ſuch that are loſt, that are under the burden of their Sins, and wounded ones; Come to me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I Mat. 11. 28.will give you reſt.
6. But here is ſad News to ſuch who ſlight this Salvation, and refuſe Jeſus Chriſt, great will their Condemnation be: The Men of Nineveh ſhall riſe up in judgment with this Generation, and condemn it, becauſe they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold a greater than Jonas is here. The greatneſs of this Saviour who preaches the Goſpel to you, and is come to ſave you, will aggravate your Condemnation. What was Jonas to Jeſus Chriſt? Alſo our Saviour ſaith, The Queen of the South ſhall riſe up in Judgment with this Generation, and ſhall condemn it; for ſhe came from the uttermoſt Parts of the Earth to hear the Wiſdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here. Solomon was a mighty King, and for Wiſdom exceeded all that went before him. But alas, what was Solomon to Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Wiſdom of God it ſelf, and the expreſs Image of the Father's Perſon, and the Brightneſs of his Glory? O know you, Sinners, this Day, that Jeſus Chriſt, this glorious King, and Prince of the Kings of the Earth, this mighty Saviour is come to your Doors: Behold, I ſtand at the Door and knock: Will you not open the Door, nor cry to him to Rev. 3. 20.help you to open to him, to enable you to believe in him? What do you ſay, ſhall the Son of God ſtand at your Doors, and you not ſo much as ask, Who is there? Who is at my Door? Shall Chriſt be kept out of your Hearts, and ſtand at your Doors, whilſt Sin commands the chiefeſt Room, and has abſolute Power over you, and rules in you? How will you be able to look this Bleſſed Saviour in the Face another Day? Is he come through a Sea of Blood to offer his Love to you, and to eſpouſe you unto himſelf for ever, and will not you be perſwaded to break your League with your old Lovers, who will at laſt ſtab you at the very Heart, and betray your Souls into the Hands of Divine Wrath? Now, they have done it already: What are your Lovers but your …, your Pride, your Earthly-mindedneſs, your ſinful Pleaſures, Profits and Honours? O reſolve to deſert them, they otherwiſe will damn your Souls for ever, and expoſe you to the Torments of Hell-Fire: And to deliver you from them, and from that …rath which is due to you for them, (I mean, for your Sins) is Chriſt come, and this great Saviour is offered to you. The Lord help every one of you to conſider of this, and to lay it to Heart.
7. And laſtly, Here is Comfort for poor drooping Saints: This Saviour is yours, this mighty Saviour, who is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, and he will help you in all your Straits, and ſupply all your Wants; and he hath taken the Work into his own Hand, and hath alſo begun it, and will perform it, and finally finiſh it before Phil. 1. 6.that he hath done; reſt therefore upon him.