Death and Life, Sermons · Sermon 2
Sermon 2.
Q. 5. VVHy ſhould ſuch Doctrine be preached to believers? A. Not as if they who have true faith, ſhall ever any of them ſo live after the fleſh as at laſt to dye the ſecond death, this is not intended, nor implyed, either in my Text, or any other like Sentence of Scripture; for it's certain nothing is meant, or can by right conſequence be deduced from one place of Scripture, which is contrary to any thing expreſſed in another; but it is expreſſly aſſerted that God who hath begun a good work in his people will perform, carry it on, to the day of Chriſt, Phil. 1.6. he that layes the foundation of true grace in any ſoul, will go forward with his work, till he hath laid the top ſtone, and that becauſe he is faithful, 1 Cor. 1.8, 9. Who ſhall alſo confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameleſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowſhip of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, ſo, 1 Theſſ. laſt, 24, and 2 Theſſ. 3.3. and as God is faithful, ſo it's ſure he is able, otherwiſe he would never have begun his work in us, as may be argued from thoſe words of Chriſt, Luke 14.28, 29, 30. which of you intending to build a Tower, ſitteth not down firſt, and counteth the coſt whether he have ſufficient to finiſh it? leſt haply after he hath ſaid the foundation, and is not able to finiſh it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, ſaying, this man began to build and was not able to finiſh. How much wiſer is God than man? none ſhall have cauſe to mock him, therefore he both can and will finiſh his building the Church, and the work of grace in every one of his effectually called ones.
But why then is it ſaid to Believers: If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall dye?
A. 1. All Believers are not ſuch in truth, all who make a profeſſion, have not been under the power of God to their ſaving Converſion; when God ſows wheat, the Devil ſows tares, when God makes true Converts, the Devil makes Hypocrites, Mat. 13.38, 39. Hypocrites eſpecially are the Devils Children, the tares are the Children of the wicked one, all wicked ones, are Children of that wicked one, chiefly Hypocrites, theſe are as his firſt born, and have moſt of his likeneſs. There ever were, and will be, during the ſtate of things, ſuch as Judas, Symon Magus, Demas, &c. hereafter all ſuch ſhall be gathered out of Gods Kingdom, No Hypocrite ſhall be in the New Jeruſalem, but now there are fooliſh as well as wiſe Virgins, workers of iniquity who hear Christs word, and eat and drink in his preſence, at his Table; with reſpect to this it is needfull there ſhould be ſuch Doctrine Preached now in the Church, ye ſhal dye if, &c the rather becauſe men know not the hearts of thoſe to whom they Preach, Mal. 3. laſt, Then ſhall ye return and diſcern between the righteous and the wicked, now there is not a certain Infallible diſcerning; and falſe unſound hearted ones are frequently very confident of their ſtate, that it is good, that it is ſafe; As men in a dream while dreaming are very confident of this or that concerning themſelves, the contrary whereto they find true when they awake; hence this truth is to be taught to awaken ſuch if it may be; and to ſhew them their great and ſad miſtake.
Secondly, Though it ſhall never be (becauſe of Gods faithfulneſs, as alſo becauſe of Gods election, Chriſt's death, &c. (that true Believers ſhall ſo live after the fleſh, that they ſhall periſh, yet the thing is poſſible in it ſelf, and as to themſelves. Did not Adam in innocency fall, and come under the ſentence of death? ſo would the beſt men fall into perdition, if left to themſelves; as Peter had ſunk quite down and drowned, if left to himſelf, and when he denied Chriſt ſo far, he had denied him utterly. Corruption becauſe natural, hath great advantage againſt grace in us, and Satan by all means layes about him, to draw it forth, ſo that if we had no keeper, no guid, or better Pilot than our ſelves, we ſhould live after the Fleſh, and ſplit, daſh in pieces on that rock; therefore that none may have confidence in themſelves, but all of us be kept conſtantly truſting in the living God, in Chriſt the power of God, and that we may not be high minded, but fear, hence the Apoſtle having given that exhortation, Rom. 11.20 be not high minded but fear, he adds v. 21, 22. if God ſpared not the natural broaches, take heed leſt he ſpare not thee, behold therefore the goodneſs and ſeverity of God, on them that fell, ſeverity, but towards thee, goodneſs if thou continue in his goodneſs, otherwiſe thou alſo ſhalt be cut off. As a Mother leading her little Child, it goes towards the fire or water, and though ſhe hold it faſt, ſure, that it ſhall not fall in, yet to make it careful, ſhe ſaith take heed, if you fall into the fire, you'l be burn't, if into the water you'l be drowned; ſo that we may not be ſecure and careleſs, and ſelf confident, we have divers ſuch If's in Scripture ſpoken to Gods Children.
Thirdly, True Believers may have, and too oft have (through compliance with the Fleſh) great falls, though they live not after the Fleſh, they act much according to it, therefore to cauſe them to maintain a continual ſight againſt the Fleſh, and to keep at the fartheſt diſtance from it, and to quicken them to repentance when they have turned aſide, therefore are they to be put in mind what an enemy the Fleſh is, even ſuch that if they do live after it they ſhall dye eternally, and ſo far as they act according to it, they do dye ſpiritually. For ſuch reaſons as theſe the Apoſtle ſpeaks, that, Heb. 10.26. If we ſin wilfully, (he faith not you, but we, if we ſin wilfully) after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more ſacrifice for ſins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, &c. that is, even for us, if we ſo ſin.
It may be objected, is this a ſit and proper argument, to work upon true Believers to keep them from the wayes of the fleſh, or to bring them to repentance when they are ſeduced thereby? ſhould not ſuch rather have other things Preached to them? A. Other things ſhould be Preached, and that chiefly, as the death of Chriſt, love and grace of God, &c. but this alſo, ye ſhall dye if, &c. all conſiderations are needful in this world to keep us awake; God thought it a proper and fit argument to lay before Adam when he had no Fleſh, no corruption in him, in the day thou eateſt thereof thou ſhalt dye; why then is it not a proper and fit argument to be propounded to thoſe who have much ſin remaining in them? though they being in Chriſt, are not under that Covenant, under which Adam was, and cannot fall as he did, yet is this argument rather more ſuitable to them, than to Adam, even the argument of death, in this reſpect, becauſe they have much Fleſh in them, which both in it ſelf deſerves death, and enclines them, or moves them to walk in the wayes thereof; ſweet arguments may more take with the renewed part, but this may more curb, remaining Corruption, and work upon the heart when in a fearleſs, careleſs frame; and if the ſoul be in never ſo good a frame, to hear that they who live after the Fleſh ſhall dye, may ſtir it up to thankfulneſs, that through and in Chriſt it is ſecure, and the more thankful, the more obedient ſhall we be to God; If any ſay that grace moſt works upon them, I anſwer, the more any are drawn by Grace, the leſs do they need to be driven by this truth, yet even this truth minds us of, and ſets forth to us the grace of God, in that, but for it, we had all lived after the fleſh, and there is love in this very truth, that the Lord is thus pleaſed to warn us. It may again be ſaid, but is this right, to avoid or turn from the wayes of the Flaſh, becauſe they bring to death? A. We are bound to believe all the word of God, and it's the nature of true faith to Believe all, believing all things ſaith the Apoſtle that are written in the Law and the Prophets, Acts 24.14. therefore all Scripture truth is to be Preached, and whatever we do in faith, from true faith, is as ſo, well done, and acceptable to God, as Noah's building an Ark, becauſe through faith he was moved with fear, &c. beſides, death implyes ſeparation from God, and this is very good, it is love to God, to avoid ſin, that by it we may not be ſeparated from him.
Application.
Uſe. 1. Whether do you, or any of you live after the Fleſh? It is as great a queſtion as whether you ſhall dye; Be the more inquiſitive each one as to himſelf, becauſe multitudes are ſtrangely miſtaken; ſome ſeem as if they did live after the fleſh, yet really before God they do not, 2 Cor 10.2. I beſeech you, that I may not be bold with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold againſt ſome, which think of us, as if we walked according to the fleſh, the Apoſtles themſelves ſeemed to ſome ſo to walk, yet were they far from ſo walking. On the other hand there are, and that many more, who make a ſhew as if they did not live after the fleſh, yet in truth, after it do they live. Thus men alſo miſtake concerning themſelves, thinking that of themſelves which is contrary to truth. It's like if the queſtion were put in the general to any of you, whether think you not there are ſome here preſent who live after the Fleſh, you would every one ſay (if you ſhould ſpeak your thoughts) yes, ſome here do ſo live, or I fear there are ſome whoſe life is ſuch; but let every one be ask'd as to his own particular, probably he would ſay, I do not, or I hope I do not live after the Fleſh. I beſeech you, Brethren, deceive not your ſelves, for if you do thus live, whether you think ſo, or no, of your ſelves, you will find this true that ye ſhall dye. I would be helpful to you in this enquiry, for which purpoſe I ſhall (briefly offer) divers things to your ſerious thoughts, to be made uſe of in ſelf examination, I ſay, ſelf examination, for you know it's not that, God requires of you, nor that, which concerns you, (or not ſo much) to try others, as each one himſelf, and her ſelf.
1. Whoever hath not had a great change in his heart, a mighty turn, he doth live after the Fleſh, however he may ſeem to live, for all by nature are dead in their ſins, and the uncircumciſion of their Fleſh, Col. 2.13. all naturally are born of Fleſh, and are Fleſh, having no good thing in them; and if the tree be bad, the fruit cannot but be bad alſo, if any are dead in the Uncircumciſion of their fleſh, it's certain they live after it.
Secondly, To live in the doing of any of the works of the Fleſh, though it be but in ſome one or two of them is to live after the Fleſh. Q. What are the works of the Fleſh? A. They are very many, and they are all or moſt of them very manifeſt, as the Apoſtle tells us, Gal. 5.19. The works of the Fleſh are manifeſt, they are manifeſt to Conſcience, to right reaſon, as declared in Scripture, and becauſe they ſo abound in the world, they may eaſily be known by thoſe who have a mind to know them; and he there reckons up about 16 or 17 of them, which you ſhall do well, to read again and again, and pondering ſeriouſly, thereby to try your ſelves; The works of the fleſh (ſaith he) are manifeſt, which are theſe, Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanneſs, Laſciviouſneſs, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Hereſits, Envyings, Murders, Drunkenneſs, Revellings, and ſuch like. Though he mention ſo many, yet he adds, and ſuch like, intimating thoſe named, are but ſome; the Fleſh is exceeding fruitful, it hath a numerous iſſue, a great ſwarm of brats, an abundance of vile fruits. Now, if there be any one of us, any man or woman here, who liveth in any one of thoſe works, or in any ſuch like thing, ſuch a one liveth after the Fleſh; though thou avoid and (after a ſort) hate drunkenneſs, witchcraft, Adultery, &c. yet if thou liveſt in ſome other of thoſe works, if in hatred, if in variance, if in emulations, or wrath, or ſtrife, or hereſies, or envyings, or covetouſneſs, or any ſuch other, thou, even thou, doſt live after the Fleſh, and conſequently ſhalt dye (unleſs thou ſpeedily repent) therefore the Apoſtle adds, v. 21. of that Chap. of the which I tell you before, as I have alſo told you in time paſt (you need to be oft told, and can hardly be told too often) that they who do ſuch things ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Thirdly, If you live in the doing any work of the Fleſh inwardly, though not outwardly, to the eye of others, yet do you live after the Fleſh in the eye of God; If your affections are ſtill working according to the Fleſh, and you give way thereto, though they break not forth, or ſeldom in open actions to be taken notice of by men, If the fleſh command this and that affection in you, your love, and deſire, your hope and fear, your joy and ſorrow, as if any one live in love of money, in heart covetouſneſs, though he do not ſuch things, as others, Neighbours, Acquaintance can charge him with, if thy heart be ſet upon the things of the world, if thy comfort come in only from them, if the ſtream, the main chanel of thy deſire run out to them. The Apoſtle calls the things of this life carnal, 1 Cor. 9.11. If we have ſown unto you ſpiritual things, is it a great matter, if we ſhall reap your carnal things? why calls he theſe things carnal, not only becauſe they are of uſe to our bodies, but perhaps alſo becauſe they are ſuch things as carnal hearts take up, and are ſatisfied with. Or, if a man live in pride of heart, being as the Apoſtle ſaith, Col. 2.18. vainly puffed up by his Fleſhly mind, though with outward voluntary humility. Or if the fleſh have the rule of a man's thoughts, then doth he live after the fleſh, Rom. 8.5. they that are after the fleſh, do mind the things of the fleſh, their minds are kept going, ſtill ſet on work by the fleſh, as the mill by wind, or water.
Fourthly, If in any thing you live contrary to your Conſciences, then you live according to, or after the Fleſh, Conſcience ſaith you muſt not act ſo or ſo, yet you do, and will, this is your way, your courſe to contradict Conſcience; It's true the beſt in this life ſometimes diſpleaſe their Conſcience by ſome things they do croſs to its Councels and Dictates, ſo that they have ſmiting of Conſcience as David had; but if this be the practiſe of any to walk diſobediently to their Conſcience, this is living after the Fleſh, therefore the wrath of God (we read Rom. 1.18.) is revealed from Heaven, againſt ſuch who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs, that is, who walk contrary to their Conſcience, what though you pleaſe men, pleaſe your Neighbours, Friends, Relations, if you diſpleaſe your Conſciences, this is fleſhly and deadly. Whatever is contrary to Conſcience, that as ſo, is of the fleſh.
He that lives after God doth exerciſe himſelf to keep a good Conſcience in all things, as the Apoſtle Paul ſaith he did, he that doth not ſo, lives after the Corruption of his heart; It is a matter of great conſequence to be well skil'd in diſcerning the commands of the Law of ſin, to know what is of the fleſh, and what not, this may be known by the Law of God, and of Conſcience; there are indeed divers things that are of the fleſh, which are not againſt ſome mens Conſciences, becauſe their Conſciences are bribed, blinded, ſeared, or not rightly informed, but whatever is againſt Conſcience, if done, as ſo done, is from the fleſh.
Fifthly, They live after the Fleſh, who live in the neglect of thoſe things, the Fleſh would not have them to do, as the Fleſh wills ſome things to be done, ſo it wills other things not to be done, every Lord gives negative as well as poſitive Commands, ſo doth the fleſh; as God ſaith thou ſhalt do this, thou ſhalt not do that, ſo the Fleſh enjoyns and prohibits or forbids, it moves to, and pulls back from, the doing divers things; Now I ſay, when a man lives in the neglect of thoſe things which are againſt the wills of the fleſh, they live after it; but what are thoſe things? A. Whatever God poſitively commands, that the Fleſh commands negatively; God ſaith, pray continually, the Fleſh faith, pray nor at all, or only now and then; God ſaith, worſhip me fervently, the Fleſh ſaith, be not fervent in the Duties you perform; God ſaith, look well to your ſouls, above all keepings, keep thine heart, ſeek the good of your ſouls above all the world, prize eſteem them more than all the world, for ſo much is implyed, in thoſe words of Chriſt, what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and loſe his own ſoul? the Fleſh ſaith, never mind your ſouls, or be leaſt careful about them; God ſaith, ſeek firſt my Kingdom, and the righteouſneſs thereof, the Fleſh ſaith, ſeek not thoſe but other things firſt, time enough hereafter for ſuch things; God ſaith, be careful to maintain good works, the Fleſh ſaith, goods, are better than good works, money is better than charity, therefore trouble not your ſelves about ſuch works, wrong not your ſelves by your charity, empty not your purſe by your liberality, &c. which of theſe two Lords are you wont to hear and obey in theſe and ſuch like things, the bleſſed Lord God, or that curſed Lord, the Fleſh? Though you do no body any wrong, though you are neither Drunkards, unclean, envious, malicious, nor wrathful; yet if you uſe to forbear doing the things the Fleſh bids you not do, what are you, but ſervants of the Fleſh? As it is as true, as much obedience to God to avoid, what he forbids, as it is to do, what he enjoyns, ſo is it as truly obedience to the Fleſh, to paſs over thoſe things it prohibits, as it is to do what it moves you to.
Sixthly, They live after the Fleſh, who are lively in ſinning and that ordinarily; all ſin, but all are not lively in ſinning; when any are alive in the doing of evil, as in their element, they ſin with livelineſs, theſe are like to dye, eſpecially if they are lively in ſinning, and they uſe to be as without life, lifeleſs in ſerving God; they are lively in ſpeaking idely, vainly, but dead hearted in all diſcourſes about ſpiritual matters; lively in reproaching, revileing, back-biting, but dead hearted in reproving, counſelling, exhorting according to rule; lively in murmuring, repining, but dead hearted in praying to and praiſing God; lively in hearkning to evil or vanity, ſwift to hear what's fooliſh and ſinful, but dead ſlow in hearing the things of God, and of ſalvation; ready to evil, and backward to good works, Tit. 1. laſt, to every good work reprobate; yea, if a man be lively in worldly affairs, outward buſineſſes, and as without life in ſpiritual ſervices, and this be a man's daily or ordinary temper, he lives after the Fleſh.
Seventhly, They live after the fleſh moſt aſſuredly, who boaſt, glory in the fleſh, or any works of the fleſh, Phil. 3 19. they glory in their ſhame, they mind earthly things, their end is deſtruction. They glory in what they have got of the world, thus much they have, ſo and ſo rich they are, ſo they thrive in their trade, which is their ſhame, conſidering that though they gain much outwardly, they being worldly perſons, gain nothing ſpiritually; while they are rich towards men, they are poor towards God, they thrive in their earthly, but not in their heavenly trade, or elſe becauſe that they gain of the world is got unjuſtly, by bribery, by extortion, oppreſſion, or ſome wayes of covetouſneſs, therefore it is their ſhame, and they glorying, be it in their words or thoughts, with their mouth, or their heart, or both, they do glory in their ſhame; whoever glorieth in any ſin, or in any thing won, or attained by ſin, as ſo glorying, it is in his ſhame. Some they glory in their exceſſive drinking, other's in their ſwearing, others in their over reaching, ſome in their lewdneſs and filthineſs, others in their perſecuting, others in their Idolatrous or ſuperſtitious wayes; Gal. laſt, 12.13. As many as deſire to make a fair ſhew in the Fleſh, they conſtrain you to be circumciſed, only least they ſhould ſuffer perſecution for the Croſs of Christ, for neither they themſelves who are circumciſed keep the Law, but deſire to have you circumciſed, that they may glory in your Fleſh. When they had conſtrained others to be circumciſed (which was their great ſin) then they gloried in it. How frequent is this for men to ſin, to cauſe others to ſin, to oppoſe good, to hinder the work of God, to further evil, to do miſchief, and when they have done, they glory in it. Let all ſuch expect death.
Eighthly, They live after the Fleſh, who live after a fleſhly rule, there are divers rules the Fleſh teacheth men to live according to, viz their own will, imagination or phanſie, the pleaſing bodily ſenſes, cuſtom, example of men, theſe with other, are the rules that the fleſh teacheth men to live by, yea, education it ſelf though not very bad in it ſelf, or Conſcience it ſelf, is a fleſhly rule, or any other thing, if look'd to, and followed without reſpect to the Word of God, without conſideration of, or regard to the Divine Law. If then any thing be your rule, unleſs with an eye, and inſubordination, to the will of God revealed in his Word, you live after the fleſh, for that which gives you your copy is your Teacher, Maſter; that which gives you your rule is your Lord, Gal. 6.16. Peace, happineſs, is only for them who walk according to this rule, that is, the rule of Scripture, of God in this Word, Iſa. 8.20. If they ſpeak not (ſo if they live not) according to the Word, this law and teſtimony of God. It is becauſe there is no light in them, the fleſh reigns in them, which is darkneſs, in which there's no true light at all.
Ninthly, They live after the Fleſh, who do what they do, though in it ſelf good, from carnal fleſhly principles, to a carnal fleſhly end, ſuch as the principles are from which we act, and ſuch as the end is, to which we live, ſuch is our life.
What are fleſhly principles? A. They are fear of Man, or tear of God which is not accompanied with, and rooted in love, pride of heart, love of money, love of the praiſe of men, if a man be acted by ſuch like principles, if he allow them, then he lives after the Fleſh. Or if a man's end be fleſhly, his aim in what he doth be taken by the direction of the fleſh, as if it be, meer ſelf; if outward good; honour, eſteem with men, worldly gain, or barely to quiet Conſcience, if our deſign be for the attainment of ſuch things, and not to honour God, and pleaſe him; then though we abound in good duties, religious performances, yet are we livers after the Fleſh before God, as really as they who live in the moſt abominable Luſts of the Fleſh. For the fleſh hath the command and government of our hearts, if our principle and end in acting be of and from the fleſh, though the thing in it ſelf conſidered which we do, be contrary to the Fleſh, yet is it thereby ſerved and pleaſed.
Tenthly, They live after the fleſh who upon choice live with thoſe who are in the fleſh, according to the company a man chooſeth ſuch is his heart, ſuch his life, though he do not all things which they do, whom he makes his Companions, yet in the general he lives after the ſame manner, when was it that Nebuchadnezar accompanied with the beaſts? then when he was like them, void of underſtanding. A companion of Fools, ſaith Solomon ſhall be deflroyed, why? becauſe he is a Fool, Prov. 13.20.and will be ſo more and more, very ſojourning with the ungodly (Pſal. 120.5.) in Meſech, in the Tents of Kedar, was as death to the Pſalmiſt; why? becauſe they and he lived a contrary life, How can two walk together, unleſs they are agreed, Amos 3.3. that Italian Proverb hath truth in it, tell me where thou goeſt (that is, what company thou keepeſt) and I'le tell thee what thou doeſt; to be intimate (as one ſaith) with ſinners, is to intimate you are ſinners.
Laſtly, Whoever lives not after the ſpirit, doth live after the fleſh, Rom. 8.1. there's no condemnation to them who walk not after the fleſh, but after the ſpirit, there's no middle between theſe two, when any ceaſe living after the fleſh, they begin to live after the ſpirit, when any come from under the power and dominion of corruption, they do come under the power and dominion of grace, holineſs, and the ſpirit of God; either therefore the ſpirit of grace rules and bears ſway in us, or we do live after the Fleſh. Thus much for the firſt uſe, let not theſe things be ſpoken in vain, make application of them to your ſelves, try your ſelves by them, pray over them, reſt not till you know what your life is, how it is that you do live, for this is one Word of God by which we ſhall be judged hereafter, when the great Judge ſhall come to execute the final, diſmal Sentence of Death, then will it be enquired and publiſhed who have lived after the fleſh.
Uſe 2. Let the ſecond Uſe be to convince thoſe whoſe life is after the fleſh of their miſery, art thou ſuch a one, and yet doſt think thou ſhalt not dye, not dye the ſecond, the worſt death? thou deceiveſt thy ſelf, thou doſt contradict my Text, belye the Word of the Lord, ſo art thou the more guilty, and while ſenſeleſs of thy miſerable ſtate, that thy ſenſleſsneſs is a bar to thy repenting. How art thou like to turn, who walkeſt in the way of Death, and wilt not believe it is ſuch a way, or that thou art in it? No wonder if all calls are ineffectual, though God ſaith turn ye, turn ye, why will ye dye? yet thou art like the deaf Adder. Therefore let me perſwade thee who doſt live after the fleſh, to receive this as a truth, (though uncomfortable, yet profitable) ſhouldeſt thou dye preſently a natural death, thou wouldeſt in dying, dye; dying naturally, thou wouldſt dye everlaſtingly, and unleſs thou liveſt a new life thus will it be whenever death comes, It will come double, when a viſible death ſhall arreſt thy body, an inviſible death will arreſt thy ſoul, even thine, for God will ſtand to his word, he will not forget any one word that he hath ſpoken by any of his Servants, Iſa. 44.26. he confirmeth the word of his Servant, and performeth the counſel of his Meſſengers.
God never goeth back from any word that he abſolutely uttereth, as this, without any If, expreſſed or intended, only this if ye live after the fleſh ye ſhall dye, certainly, unavoidably. It is moſt undeniable God is able to execute his word, he is able (as Chriſt ſaith) to deſtroy ſoul and body. If a man, a beaſt, a ſmall creature, a very gnat, or a diſeaſe can kill thy body, how much more can he who made thee, kill thee, ſoul and body, deſtroy thee with an everlaſting deſtruction; what are we to the Angels that ſinned? yet the Lord God hath clapt them all (though many Legions, though mighty ſpirits, though very ſubtle and cunning) he, that almighty only wiſe one, hath put them all under everlaſting chains of darkneſs; How able then is he to cruſh us as moths, to trample under his feet us poor worms, to break us as a Potters Veſſel? and as God is able to fulfill his threatning, ſo is he reſolved to do it, his word tells us his ſetled purpoſe, his eternal will, and unalterable Counſel; as his threatnings are written in the ſame book with his promiſes, ſo have they the ſame confirmation, his oath, as well as his bare word and determinate counſel, Am. 8.7. The Lord hath ſworn by the excellency of Jacob, ſurely, I'le never forget any of their works, I'le, that is, eternally puniſh impenitent ſinners, for all their iniquities; Solomon ſaith, where the word of a King is, there's power, much more where the word of the great King is, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, there's power, all power, to put his Word in execution, but, behold here's the Word of God, ſee it, read it, ye ſhall Dye, Almighty power is tyed to ſee this word accompliſhed. Bear with me a little, I beſeech you, while I ſpeak in love, for good.
Who, what, ſhall, can let or hinder thy death, If thou liveſt after the Fleſh? ſhall thy riches, eſtate, any thing of this world? No, Riches profit not (we read) in the day of wrath, what's Gold and Silver, what's all the rubbiſh of this world, when the Lord ſhall come forth as a conſuming fire? when the earth ſhall be burnt up and the works thereof? will fallen Angels who now deceive, help? they could not ſave themſelves, they ſeek to devour; but will good Angels, they will be evil Angels (in reſpect of the execution of evil) to evil men, they alwayes hearken to God's voice and obey the word of his Command, they, Chriſt ſaith, ſhall gather the tarts and cast them into unquenchable fire; or will Chriſt himſelf ſtay the execution of this word? No, he'l ſee it executed, he'l come in flaming fire taking vengeance on all who know not God, 2. Theſſ. 1.8.and obey not the Goſpel of his Son, though Chriſt hath dyed for ſins, he hath ſaid, impenitent ſinners ſhall dye in their ſins, and he puts the queſtion himſelf to ſuch, how can ye eſcape the damnation of hell? Mat. 23.33. I may ſay Chriſt himſelf could not anſwer it, how they who continue living in their ſins, ſhall eſcape, becauſe it's not to be anſwered. there's no answer can be given to that Quaerie. Shall ſinners be able to ſave one another? Nay, no more than the men of the old world, than the men of Sodom did, who periſh'd all together. Shall ſinners prayers, ſhall all that they can do, or ſay, ſave them? No, all will be charged upon them as ſin; Iſ. 1.15. God declares, though they make many Prayers he'l not hear, whereof Chriſt alſo gives aſſurance, teſtifying before hand, when they ſhall hereafter ſay, Lord, Lord, open to us, &c. he'l ſay, depart, I know you not. Shall the mercy of God ſave ſuch? No, for it is holy, faithfull mercy, therefore cannot ſave any againſt his word. How ſure then is the death of all who live after the fleſh? Therefore if thou ſo liveſt, and yet thinkeſt, thou ſhalt not dye, thou art deceived by ſin, by Satan, yea, thou art a ſelf deceiver, and wilfull in thy deceiving thy ſelf. Do ye not know? I pray, remember this day; God ſaid to Adam, in the day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt dye, but he deceived by Satan thought, though he did eat, he ſhould not dye; Now doth not woful experience to this day teach us, the truth of Gods Word? for, hence we were all born in ſin, hence the grave ſo filled with the bodies of Adam's poſterity, hence the world ſo full of miſery, as now, and as it hath been in all ages, hence you women bring forth in ſorrow, hence we men get our bread with the ſweat of our brows, hence all our labour, all our toyl, hence the earth brings forth bryars, and thorns, hence all afflictions. And as ſure as that word proved true which God ſpake to Adam (notwithſtanding what Satan inſinuated to the contrary) ſo ſure is this word true, if thou O man, if thou O woman, liveſt after the fleſh thou ſhalt dye, whatever Satan may whiſper in thee to the contrary; wherefore ſhut thine ear, to all thoughts that contradict this truth, and take it into thy heart, as that which all who are diſobedient, will feel at laſt to be moſt true.
I might here deſire you to think, or ask you what you do think in your ſouls, whether (in your conſciences) you think not, (this word being true,) there be not a multitude of poor creatures, high and low, rich and poor, who are woefully deceived? Doth it not appear there are great ſwarms and droves of men and women, many and many in all places, who live evidently after the fleſh, yet, who (almoſt) but thinks he ſhall eſcape death, though he live as he doth? How ſad is this? O ſadneſs, lamentation, that ſo great a number of our father Adam's Children are ſo deceived, not taking warning by his being deceived! and Alas, alas, that ſuch a number of people muſt dye, eternally dye, even all that multitude who live after the fleſh; Did you hear of a 1000, or a 100, to be executed on the Scaffold, to be broken upon the wheel; would not your bowels earn? ſhould you not be much troubled? and ſhall not this move you, and cauſe you to weep and pray much, to hear from the word of truth, that all thoſe many and many who live after the fleſh, ſhall dye the ſecond death, be tormented in that lake which burns with fire and brimſtone, for ever, and ever. Ah, how great our unbelief? how little our love to thoſe made of one blood with us? how rocky our hearts? O our want of bowels, that this affects us no more! But,
Uſe 3. Hear me, O precious, immortal ſoul, every one who lives after the fleſh, give ear, turn, O turn, repent, O repent, (I beſeech thee for thine own good, for thy greateſt good) Live a new life, that thou mayeſt not dye. Be not angry with the Word of God, be not angry with him that ſpeaks it, but be angry with thy ſinful life, God ſaith Ezek. 38.18. It ſhall come to paſs at the ſame time when Gog ſhall come againſt the Land of Iſrael (ſaith the Lord God) that my fury ſhall come up in my face, ſo, when any luſt ſtirs in thee, and warreth againſt thy ſoul, O let thy fury come up in thy face, deal with it, as with thy worſt enemy; be entreated, ſo to love thy ſelf as to turn over a new leaf, to write after a new Copy, Turn thy face from the fleſh, turn thy back upon it. Should I tel you that if you live after ſuch a cuſtom, ſuch an old new faſhion or the like, ye ſhall dye by the hand of man, would you not be perſwaded to leave that cuſtom, that faſhion, and thank me for my pains in perſwading you? can you think dying by the hand of man, worſe than dying by the hand of God? is not the hand of the Almighty heavier than the hand of man? have you not heard? have you not read what the Apoſtle ſaith? It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, even of him in whom ye live, and move, and do you not believe he ſaith true, that it is ſo indeed?
Truely, friend, if thou art one who liveſt after the fleſh, it is a wonder thou art not actually dead, under the ſecond death already, in the paws, Jaws of everlaſting death, that that is not now at this day feeding upon thee; but God hath ſpared thee hitherto, why, why, thinkeſt thou is it? Is't not that thou mayeſt repent? Yes, the long ſuffering of God, ſaith the Scripture, is ſalvation, and ſo thou thouldeſt account, 2. Pet. 3.15. account that the long ſuffering of our God is ſalvation, even as our beloved brother Paul alſo, according to the Wiſdom given unto him, hath written unto you, Rom. 2.4. or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and longſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Is not this mercy? O great mercy that yet, that after ſo long a time, God waits for thy turning, and thou haſt once again a fair warning. How woefully guilty wilt thou be of thine own death, if being thus warned, thou ſhalt turn a deaf ear? How inexcuſable wilt thou be? whatever thou ſhalt plead for thy ſelf, It will be anſwered, thou wert plainly told what would be the end of thy fleſhly life; thou thoughteſt thou ſhouldſt not dye, but thy thought contradicted that word of truth which was Preached to thee. Doth not this word ſound terribly in thine ears, thou ſhalt dye, dye in thy ſoul, dye in thy whole man, dye a death of the greateſt, of unſpeakable miſery, dye eternally? why then, let it awaken thee to repentance; how canſt thou ſleep in thy ſin, how canſt thou reſt and be quiet, with ſuch a terrible word ſounding in thine ears? will not dying it ſelf, be far more dreadful, than to hear of it, is, or can be? I ſhall not now ſtand to uſe more words, if any ſoul will not hear, the blood of ſuch a one will be upon his own head; and let me mind thee, my friend, that the longer thou liveſt in thy ſin, before death comes to thee, the more ſore, grievous and tormenting will it be when it comes. I wonder what impenitent ſinners think, of that word, Rom. 2.5. But after thy hardneſs and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds, wilt thou believe it, and turn from the wayes of the fleſh? If not, thou muſt experience it, and ſhalt find it to be as true, as he is true whoſe word it is.
It may be ſome one may think, Is there hope, yet hope for me, after all my ſinning for ſo long a time? A. There is a certain hope, haſt thou a mind, a heart, to turn in good earneſt? lift up thy head, fear not, doubt not. Turn heartily, God is ready to receive thee, and he will receive thee graciouſly, for ſo he hath promiſed, 2 Cor. 6.17. Come out from among them (come away in thy heart and life from all that live after the fleſh) touch not the unclean thing, (Let thy repentance be thorow and ſound) what then, if I ſo turn who will receive me? God anſwers, I will receive thee, I will, that is, receive thee graciouſly, I will receive thee to my mercy, into the boſome of my grace, as the Prod…gals father received him, therefore it follows, and I will be a Father to you, ſaith the Lord God Almighty, yea, and ye ſhall be my Sons and my Daughters, I'le receive you as a moſt tender father his Children, when they are in great ſtreights and and dangers, conſider the Lord's promiſe, think, how a Father doth catch his dear Child when falling into the water or fire, or when his Child runs to him from one that would kill him, ſo even ſo, and with much more readineſs, and tenderneſs, will the Lord God receive you, if ye run to him in Chriſt from your ſins, he'l ſpeedily receive you into the arms of his mercy, with all his heart and ſoul will he embrace you, and hold you faſt, and keep you till he hath brought you to heaven, obſerve well how that good promiſe is ſhut up, thus ſaith the Lord Almighty, He who is as able to ſave, as to deſtroy, he that is almighty to pardon thy many ſins, he who is almighty to ſubdue thy mighty Corruptions, and to deliver thee from the moſt mighty temptations, he ſaith he will receive thee, and that as Almighty, ſo as to ſhew himſelf Almighty for thy ſalvation. If thou deſireſt yet another Scripture to encourage thee, read and ponder that word full of ſweetneſs, Jer. 31.18, 19, 20. and be aſſured Jeſus Chriſt hath dyed, that thou mightſt not ſee death, not taſt the worſt death, or feel the curſe of death, if thou turn'ſt from the fleſh to God in him.
Uſe 4. Let me preſs you all to take great heed that you never at all live after the fleſh, never take one ſtep after it; Beware, my Brethren, beware of that fleſh that is within you, of that corruption that is in you, becauſe it is ſo dangerous to live after it, it is a deadly thing, it is a ſubtle, deceitful thing, alluring, enſnaring and powerfully moving, let us all be very watchful againſt it. conſider a few words.
Firſt, ſo far as you give way to the fleſh you'l hinder your aſſurance; what aſſurance (conſidering this truth) can I, or you have, unleſs our Conſcience acquit us, and bear witneſs in us, that we live not after the fleſh? but you, Chriſtians, know the worth of aſſurance, ſay, is it not a ſad thing to have your aſſurance (though but in ſome degree) weakened, clouded? is it not very ill to have your evidences blotted, to have any ground, or ſo much as ſeeming cauſe to doubt concerning your ſtate, and to fear that you are among them that ſhall dye; They who know not what it is to dye ſpiritually, everlaſtingly, may be in a ſtate of death, and make nothing of it, but you who underſtand what this dying meaneth, cannot live comfortably, without good aſſurance that you ſhall not dye. O let there be nothing of the reprobates mark found upon you.
Secondly, So far as you yield to the fleſh, ſo far you feed, you nouriſh it; but would you feed a deadly diſeaſe? If you feed your Corruption you ſtarve your ſouls; every degree of living, all acting after the fleſh, all complying therewith, ſtrengtheneth it, and weakneth your ſouls, do not you, O do not, ſtrengthen your enemy againſt your ſelves.
Thirdly, ſo much as you are led by the fleſh, and let it have its will, you honour it, you commend, you praiſe it, as if it were a good thing, a good Teacher, a good Maſter; but, will you honour ſuch a ſhameful thing? will you commend, will you praiſe, that God ſo much condemns, and abhorreth? you honouring it, diſhonour your ſelves, commending it, you ſhame your ſelves.
Fourthly, To fulfill the deſires of the fleſh, is to ſpeak as if you were Debtors to it; as is intimated in the verſe before my Text, where we read thus, Therefore brethren we are Debtors, not to the fleſh to live after the fleſh, No, how can we be Debtors to it, for it's a poor thing, it's not worth any thing, we never had or could have good by it, therefore we cannot be Debtors to it, except it ſhould be by Gods Command, or by compact and agreement or promiſe, but Gods command runs contrary, and as for agreement, we have covenanted with God, and promiſed oft to have nothing to do with the fleſh, therefore we are no way Debtors to it, unleſs it ſhall be ſaid, we owe it hatred, and all that we can do for it's deſtruction, ſo indeed we are Debtors to the fleſh, we owe it all poſſible hatred, and the utmoſt of our endeavour's for the utter extirpation and ruining of it; whereas if we let the fleſh have its will, then we act as if we owed it ſervice, and were indebted to it by the bond of love. But this is ſure, you believers are exceedingly by all bonds, and obligations engaged in love, thankfulneſs, obedience, to the Father, and Son, and holy Spirit, who have made you, preſerved you, redeemed, called, and choſen you. So far as you ſerve the fleſh, you rob God, you do as pay money where you owe none, and refuſe or neglect to pay what you greatly ſtand indebted for. Beſides, you believers have a principle of grace in you, to that you are Debtors, for it hath done you great good, by the new man created in you, your condition is altered, of Children of Satan, you are become Children of God, by it you are fitted for fellowſhip with God, by it you have had much peace, comfort, and God commands you to live after it, and have you not promiſed ſo to do? therefore ſpend not the money of your time, ſtrength, ſervice, in acting according to the Fleſh, to which you owe nothing, but pay your Debts to the new man, that ſeed of grace that is in you, quench alwayes the motions of the Fleſh, but blow up, nouriſh, cheriſh all holy motions, grieve the fleſh as much as ever you can, but pleaſe the ſpirit to the utmoſt.
To live after the fleſh is to countenance the old, and diſcountenance the new man; to give way at all to the fleſh, it is to favour, to ſmile upon your corruption, and frown upon the ſeed of God in you.
Yea, it is to reſiſt the ſpirit, for that draws you from the fleſh; a contrary way to that wherein the fleſh would lead you;
Ag. To comply with the fleſh ſpeaks no, or little, love to Jeſus Chriſt, for the fleſh it was, the corruption of man that murdered him, and it is againſt the death of Chriſt, for the Goſpel tells us Chriſt dyed, that we ſhould not live after the Fleſh, but to him that dyed for us.
I ſhall not hold you longer on this, only do you make good uſe of the Apoſtles argument, though you are ſure that you are in Chriſt, yet make uſe of this word, if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall dye; but remember to uſe it lawfully, 1 Tim. 1.8. We know that the Law is good, if a man uſe it lawfully, ſo is this truth good, very good if it be uſed lawfully, not to hinder, but to help to a right grounded aſſurance, not to terrifie, but to awaken your ſpirits, not to overſes, but to ballaſt them, to poize them;—and this word is to be made uſe of ſeaſonably; There is a great deal of Chriſtian wiſdom in the ſeaſonable making uſe of truths; ſometimes your ſouls may be in a deſponding, fainting, ſinking frame, full of diſcouragement, and fear, then call to mind promiſes, gracious invitations, the comfortable words of Scripture; but too oft your ſpirits are in a light, vain temper, inclining to carnal confidence, preſumption, fearleſſeneſs, and careleſsneſs, they begin to be ſomewhat bold, and ventrous upon evil; then is a fit ſeaſon to meditate on this truth, and to think, what do I do, why am I ſo heedleſs, what mean I, to ſhew any friendſhip to, to hold correſpondence with, or at all to countenance the fleſh, that Traytor, to the Majeſty of heaven, that deadly enemy to my ſoul, doth not the Scripture ſay, if I, whatever I am, live after the fleſh, I ſhall dye?
O that the Lord would make uſe of this word (pray you, that he would) as he did of the Stone that David ſlung, whereby he killed that Gyant Goliah, our fleſh, corruption is as a mighty Gyant, he that ſpeaks the word, is of no ſtrength, but if God ſet in with it, it ſhall knock our fleſh on the head, and lay it dead, as that ſtone little David ſlung, run into the head of that Philiſtine, and brought him down dead to the Ground, ſo that David (whom he defyed) came, and ſtood upon him and cut off his head.
In a word, when ever the fleſh calls you after it, anſwer it with this, whenever Satan tempts you to follow it, let this be your reply, ſo and ſo the Scripture ſaith.
And do you Parents Preach this to your Children, you friends and companions tell one another of this, when you ſee one another acting ſinfully, Children, Friends, Companions, the Lord God by his Apoſtle hath ſpoken it, If ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall dye.
Laſtly, See what cauſe you have to bleſs the Lord, who once did live after the fleſh, but now do not, O mercy, rich mercy, that God hath turn'd you, from that way wherein had you ſtill lived, it would have carried you from God, from Heaven, into the bottomleſs pit, that place a thouſand times worſe, than Nebuchadnezar's fiery Furnace when heated ſeventimes hotter than it uſed to be, while you live, praiſe God for this, that you live not after the fleſh.
And let this bear up your ſpirits under all afflictions, though you live a life of affliction now, yet not a life of corruption, though an afflicted life, yet not that life, that will end, in endleſs death.