A Golden Mine Opened, Sermon 28
HEB. II. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
Serm. VII.BRETHREN, the laſt time I ſhewed you that Goſpel-Salvation is a great and glorious Salvation, becauſe it is a full, a perfect and compleat Salvation; it is not a piece or part of our Salvation that Chriſt worked, and doth work out for us, but it is the whole of it in every part thereof.
Twelfthly, 'Tis a Great Salvation, in reſpect of the firſt and Goſpel-Salvation great in reſpect of Chriſt, who was the great Miniſter of it.principal Miniſter, Preacher, and Publiſher of it; this is one of the Apoſtle's Arguments and Demonſtrations in our Text, which at firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, &c. Jeſus Chriſt was not only the Saviour that God ſent, and the Author and Finiſher of this Salvation, but the Revealer, the Miniſter or Preacher of it: God who in times paſt ſpake unto the Fathers by the Prophets, they Heb. 1. 1.were his Miniſters, Hath in theſe laſt Days ſpoken to us by his Son, that is, his Son perſonally, as he was manifeſt in the Fleſh.
1. His own Son, his only Son, his only begotten Son; he hath no other Son begotten by an eternal Generation but Chriſt alone.
2. The Father's Heir, The Heir of all things, by whom alſo he made the World, who is the expreſs Image of the Father's Perſon, and the Brightneſs of his Glory.
3. He that hath the abſolute Lordſhip and Dominion over all Creatures in Heaven and Earth.
4. Nay, and God the Father alſo ſpeaks himſelf in him, in ſuch a ſort and manner as he never before ſpoke in any Inſtrument; He hath ſpoken unto us; that is, the Father in and by the Son, who is in perſonal Union with himſelf. O what a kind of Salvation is this, what a Goſpel is this, that is thus revealed, made known, and publiſhed unto us! What Mortal can think to eſcape that neglects ſo great Salvation? What were the Holy Angels who delivered the Law, or what were the Prophets to this glorious Perſon, I mean, the Son of God? But at laſt of all he ſent unto them his Son, ſaying, They will reverence my Son; ſure they will attend upon his Mat. 21. 37.Word; Can they forbear honouring and reverencing ſuch a Perſon? Now I will try them: as if God ſhould ſay, they may know the Matter is of great Moment, and I am in good Earneſt, and look for Fruit from them. Sirs, Jeſus Chriſt, by Calling or Office, when he was upon the Earth, was a Miniſter, a Preacher: O what great Condeſcenſion was this in him, who is the true and eternal God! and what an honourable Employment is this! What a high and ſublime Office is the Office of a Goſpel-Miniſter! With what Trembling and Fear ought it to be undertaken! I come not to be Mat. 20. 28.miniſtered to, but to miniſter; that is, to preach the Goſpel, to communicate heavenly Treaſure to the Souls of Men and Women. The Prieſts under the Law were God's Miniſters. Jeſus Chriſt is God's High Prieſt, and therefore his chief Miniſter; we muſt receive the Law at his Mouth, at this Prieſt's Mouth: We have ſuch Heb. 7. 1, 2.an High Prieſt who is ſet down on the right Hand of the Throne of the Majeſty in the Heavens; a Miniſter of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, &c. or the true Church, the Church of the Firſt-Born, which the Jewiſh Church was but a Shadow, a Type of: But now Verſe 6.he hath obtained a more excellent Miniſtry, he excel… all Miniſters; all true Miniſters are but his Subſtitutes, and muſt one Day be accountable to him; he is the Great Shepherd, and chief Biſhop of our Souls. This is he that ſpeaketh from Heaven, who came from Heaven himſelf, and received his Doctrine from the Father, as Mediator, and as the great Miniſter of Righteouſneſs: O how ſhall they eſcape that refuſe ſuch a Preacher, one that ſpeaketh from Heaven; Heb. 12. 25.nay, him that is God over all, bleſſed for evermore. Where the Word of a King is, there is Power. Who ſhall not then attend upon the Word of this King, this great and mighty Lord? Sinners, with what Awe and holy Trembling ſhould you attend on the Word of this Salvation, that began firſt to be ſpoken by the Lord? Chriſt may be ſaid to ſpeak in and by the Prophets, nay, to ſpeak to Adam: But this ſpeaking doubtleſs refers to his perſonal ſpeaking when he was on Earth. There may be ſaid to be a threefold beginning of the Goſpel-Miniſtration.
1. In Predictions, by Promiſes, and by Types.
2. In the immediate Preparation of it, and ſo it begun in the Miniſtry of John the Baptiſt.
3. In the open, clear, and actual Miniſtration of it; and thus it begun to be firſt ſpoken by our Lord himſelf, (upon his Baptiſm, for then he entered upon his Miniſtry) and it was carried on afterwards by his Apoſtles, and other Miniſters that he appointed; and by his Church he daily ſtill does appoint, and in an ordinary manner authorize Men to preach it. But O how great is this Salvation, that God ſhould pleaſe to ſend his own Son to preach and publiſh this Salvation! Brethren, ſhould a King lay aſide his Crown, and throw off his Princely Robes, and come into the Pulpit and preach the Goſpel, would not all wonder at it, and flock to hear him? David was a King, and yet a Preacher; Solomon was a King, a mighty King, and yet a Preacher: but what poor and igneble, low-born Kings, nay, baſe-born Kings, were they to this King, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? Certainly this is Matter of higheſt Concernment, or of greateſt Moment of all things in the World, and before all things to be regarded. Did Chriſt in Perſon ſpeak from Heaven to Men on Earth, and make known to them this Salvation? Moreover, he ſpeaks ſtill, he it is that ſpeaks to you now, Day by Day, by us his poor Miniſters, who may be you are ready to ſlight and deſpiſe in your Hearts; yet know Chriſt's faithful Miniſters perſonate him, they are his Ambaſſadors, they repreſent the very Perſon of Chriſt: Now then we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, 2 Cor. 5: 20.we pray you in Chriſt's ſtead, be ye reconciled to God. He that heareth you, ſaith Chriſt, heareth me; and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me. Little Luke 10. 16.do Sinners think what they do when they ſleep under the Word, diſregard, ſlight and deſpiſe the Word of this Salvation in the Mouths of Chriſt's Miniſters, Chriſt's Ambaſſadors. See what Chriſt himſelf ſaith, And whoſoever ſhall not receive you, nor hear your Words—ſhake off the Duſt of your Feet. Verily I ſay unto Mat. 10. 14, 15.you, It ſhall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the Day of Judgment, than for that City. All this is becauſe it is Chriſt's Word, and Chriſt that ſpeaks to you by his Servants; the ſame Contempt that is ſhewed to the Ambaſſadors of an earthly King, is ſhewed to him; and he treats them as if it were done unto himſelf. Moreover, the Eſteem and Honour that is ſhewed to an Ambaſſador in receiving his Word, or in hearkening with awe and reſpect to what he ſays in his Maſter's Name, is ſhewn to the King. Miniſters are not to be eſteemed or had in Honour for their own ſakes, but for Chriſt's ſake: But if you love Chriſt, honour Chriſt, you will love and reſpect his faithful Servants, and hearken to what they ſpeak unto you in his Name and by his Authority.
Thirteenthly, The Salvation of the Goſpel is great and glorious, Goſpel-Salvation great conſidering its wonderful Confirmation.if we conſider the wonderful Confirmation and Ratification of it in the Days of the Goſpel in the Primitive Time; Which firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him; God alſo bearing them witneſs, both with Signs and Wonders, and with divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, according to his own Will. The Apoſtle brings this in alſo as a farther Demonſtration Heb. 2. 3, 4.of the Greatneſs of the Salvation of the Goſpel, namely, the conſideration of the miraculous confirmation thereof.
God is ſaid to bear witneſs to the Goſpel, and to the Salvation thereof; there was never ſuch Witneſs born to any Truth, as is to the Truth of the Goſpel. For,
1. All the Prophets bore witneſs to it.
2. John the Baptiſt was ſent to bear witneſs to it.
3. The Apoſtles were alſo Witneſſes choſen of God to this end; nay, and we have the Witneſs of God himſelf; And the Father himſelf that hath ſent me, hath born witneſs of me. The Father bore Joh. 5. 37.witneſs at our Saviour's Baptiſm, and at the Transfiguration, by a Voice from Heaven.
4. We have the Witneſs and Confirmation of the wonderful Miracles that our Lord wrought: But I have a greater Witneſs than that of John; for the Works which the Father hath given me to finiſh, the ſame do bear witneſs to me that the Father hath ſent me. That Ver. 39.which was a Witneſs of Chriſt's being the true Meſſiah, was a Witneſs of the Salvation he hath wrought.
1. He raiſed the Dead, opened the Eyes of the Blind, even of him that was born blind; he caſt out Devils, he cauſed the Lame to walk, the Dumb to ſpeak; he cleanſed the Lepers, and healed all manner of Diſeaſes and Sickneſſes among the People, and all to confirm the Truth of this Salvation; no Man ever did ſuch Works.
2. Moreover, the Holy Ghoſt was given in a miraculous manner unto the Apoſtles and others, they were filled, yea baptized with it, they ſpake many ſtrange Languages; and all this was,
(1.) To confirm and fully to prove, that Chriſt was the Son of God, and Saviour of the World.
(2.) To confirm the Truth of his Doctrine, and every Precept, Ordinance, and Promiſe thereof.
(3.) To aſſure all that believe of the certainty of their Eternal Salvation, and that they ſhould never periſh. And alſo,
(4.) To aſſure all that believe not, that repent not, but live in Ways of Sin and Wickedneſs, that they ſhall all be damned: It confirms particularly that word, Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe Luke 13. 3, 5. Joh. 3. 3. Joh. 3. 36.periſh; and that word, Except a Man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God; and that, But he that believeth not, the Wrath of God abideth on him; and this in my Text, touching the Impoſſibility there is for any Man to eſcape that neglects this ſo great Salvation, and whatſoever elſe is contained in the New-Teſtament.
3. It was alſo ratified and confirmed by the Blood of Chriſt, by his Death, and by his glorious Reſurrection, and by the rending the Vail of the Temple, and by that great Darkneſs that was at the time when our Lord gave up the Ghoſt, over all the Earth; and by the riſing of many of the dead Bodies of the Saints after his Mat. 27. 51, 52.Reſurrection. Look to it, Sirs, this Salvation muſt needs be very great that was thus confirmed.
Fourteenthly, The Goſpel-Salvation is great, if we conſider with The Salvation of the Goſpel great in that the Angels behold it with admiration.what amazement the Holy Angels behold it, they are ſaid to look into it: 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12. Of which Salvation the Prophets have enquired and ſearched diligently, who propheſied of the Grace that ſhould come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Chriſt which was in them did ſignify, when it teſtified before-hand the Sufferings of Chriſt, and the Glory that ſhould follow. VntoUnto whom it was revealed, that not unto themſelves, but unto us they did miniſter the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Goſpel unto you, with the Holy Ghoſt ſent down from Heaven: which things the Angels deſire to look into. They look into it with the greateſt diligence, do, as it were, bow down to pry into it; they ſtand, as it were, aſtoniſhed to ſee the Son of God in Fleſh, or having taken Man's Nature upon him; he that is their mighty Lord and Soveraign, to abaſe himſelf to ſuch a degree, and to die the ſhameful Death of the Croſs, to work out Salvation for ſuch vile and rebellious Creatures as Mankind are: 'Tis ſaid, He was ſeen of Angels. The Angels knew of Chriſt's coming, no doubt, 1 Tim. 3. 16.long before he was manifeſt in the Fleſh. The Angel told Daniel of the ſeventy Weeks, and of the cutting off of the Meſſiah; and the Angels alſo brought the firſt News of his Incarnation and Nativity: but nevertheleſs with what Wonderment was he ſeen of the Angels! The natural Knowledg of the Angels which we underſtand not, no doubt is great; but they have alſo an experimental Knowledg, they learn of the Church the manifold Wiſdom of God. They were likewiſe Witneſſes of our Saviour's Reſurrection, Eph. 3. 10.and miniſtred to him in his bloody Agony: Lo the Salvation of our Souls doth not a little affect the Holy Angels; they ſee God's Love is more to Mankind, than it was to thoſe Creatures of their own Nature that fell, I mean, the Evil Angels. O, my Brethren, ſhall the Angels look into this Salvation, whom it concerned not as it doth us, (they did not need a Saviour to redeem them) and ſhall not we look into it, pry into it, and be affected therewithal? Shall all in Heaven contemplate it, and not we? Is it ſo great, ſo glorious, and ſhall we not mind it above all things?
Fifteenthly, It is great Salvation, becauſe it is a free Salvation, it Goſpel-Salvation great and glorious, becauſe it is a free Salvation.is all of Grace; You may have it, Sinners, without Money, and without Price, Iſa. 55. 1. True, ſome things you muſt part with, whoever you are, that will have a part in this Salvation: But what is that? Nothing of any Worth, nothing that will do you any good: You muſt part with your Sins, with your filthy Luſts, with the Love of this World. Chriſt came to ſave his People from their Sins; not in their Sins, no, no. They that will not part with their Iniquities, with their carnal and ſinful Pleaſures, Profits and Honours, are never like to have any Part or Lot in this Matter: Nay, and they muſt part with all their own Righteouſneſs too, I mean, in point of Truſt and Dependance, and muſt ſee that they have nothing which can recommend them to God, nothing that can juſtify them in the ſight of God; unleſs a Man denies himſelf in all theſe Reſpects, he cannot be Chriſt's Diſciple. But notwithſtanding this, yet the Salvation of the Goſpel is free; the worſt of Sinners have an Offer of it, they whoſe Sins are as red as Scarlet, or as red as Crimſon; here is Wine and Milk without Money, or any Iſa. 55. 1, 2.thing the Creature hath to purchaſe it, or to give for it: it is not to be had for the ſake of any thing done by us, or can be done by us, or wrought in us. Sinners, the Water of Life is freely tendred to Rev. 22. 17.every one that thirſteth, nay to every one that will, that has a Will inclined to accept it; if it could not be had unleſs we firſt cleanſed our ſelves from our Sins, or made us a new Heart, it would not be free or alone of Grace, nor to be had on eaſy Terms, nay not at all: But you have heard that a new Heart is one part of this Salvation, 'tis contained in it; and thoſe that would be waſhed, muſt come to the Fountain of Salvation, they muſt come to Chriſt, believe in Chriſt, or by Faith apply his Blood to waſh and cleanſe their polluted Souls.
Brethren, if there was a Salvation for rich Men only, what would become of the Poor? But this Salvation is offered unto the Poor as well as unto the Rich; nay, and they chiefly indeed do receive it, as our Saviour teſtifies. And if it was a Salvation for Righteous Men only, what would become of ungodly Sinners? But remember, this Salvation is only for Sinners, I mean, ſuch that ſee their Sin, and know the want of a Saviour; Chriſt came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance.
Sixteenthly, In the laſt place, Goſpel-Salvation is a great Salvation, Salvation Eternal, therefore great.becauſe it is an eternal Salvation: And being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, Heb. 5. 9. As Chriſt brought in an Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, ſo he wrought out an Everlaſting Salvation: Iſrael ſhall be ſaved in the Lord, Iſa. 45. 17.with an Everlaſting Salvation; once ſaved, and for ever ſaved: For as the Damnation of all that refuſe or neglect this Salvation ſhall be Eternal, ſo the Salvation of all that receive it ſhall be alſo Eternal: The Earth ſhall wax old like a Garment, and they that dwell Iſa. 51. 6.therein ſhall die; but my Salvation ſhall be for ever, and my Righteouſneſs ſhall not be aboliſhed.
Thus I have done with the Demonſtration of the firſt Doctrine, which I ſhall improve in applying the next Propoſition.