Sermons Volume 4, Sermons on Hebrews · Sermon 5
SERMON V.
HEB. VI.18.
—Who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before us.
THE Third thing I would take notice of in this Text, is, the Description of those who may take Comfort in God's Word and Oath; Who have fled for Refuge, to lay hold upon the Hope set before us. The Point is this:
Doct. III. The true Heirs of Promise, with whom God hath pawn'd his Word and Oath to do them good eternally, are such as have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before them.
In the Description there are two Parts; flying for Refuge, and taking hold of the Hope set before them. The one relates to their Justification, or their first Acceptation with God in Christ, Flying for Refuge. The other relates to their Carriage after Justification, To take hold of the Hope set before them. To open both these.
1. For the first Branch, Flying for Refuge. It is an Allusion to the Cities of Refuge, spoken of under the Law. God provided six Cities of Refuge for them to fly to, that were guilty of casual Homicide, that killing a Man by Chance, they might avoid the Fury of the Avenger of Blood. These Cities of Refuge were a Type of Christ. In the opening of which, I shall shew two things.
First; That Christ is a Believer's City of Refuge.
Secondly; That Believers must run in to him.
First; That Christ is a Believer's City of Refuge, or the alone Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities are spoken of, Numb. 35.11, 12, 13, 14. Ioshua 20. and Deut. 19. Now the Comparison or Resemblance between Christ and these Cities is very obvious. Look as God appointed Cities of Refuge to fly to; so Christ is of God's appointing to be a Sanctuary for distressed Souls. These Cities were built upon Hills and Mountains, that they which fled to them might ever keep them in Sight: so Jesus Christ is set forth, Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation for our Sins. And the Apostles which did hold forth Christ, are compared to a City upon a Hill, Mat. 5.14. Christ is lifted up in the Preaching of the Gospel, to be seen of all. There was a Caus-way, with Stones set up to guide them, a direct Path, that the Man-slayer might fly thither; Deut. 19.3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the Coasts of thy Land into three Parts, that the Slayer may flee thither. The Cities were so established, that they might have a short and direct way to them, and that their Escape might be more easy: So the way to Christ is clear and open, that we may not miss of him who is alone the Support of our Souls; and God hath appointed some that were as Stones to signify to us, that this is the way, Zech. 9.12. Turn ye to the strong Holds, ye Prisoners of Hope! By the Ministry of Man he holloweth, as it were, after us, Isa. 30.21. Thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right Hand, and when ye turn to the left. Again, they were ordered so that in half a Day one might recover one or other of them from any Part of the Land, or Corner of the Land: so God is made near to us in Jesus Christ; Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. Say not in thine Heart, who shall ascend into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) Or who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead) But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that is, the Word of Faith which we preach. Our Refuge doth not stand at a Distance, the Gospel hath brought him near to us; in the Gospel God doth so plainly and fully show the way of Salvation, that we need not seek further, Christ is at hand to do us good. Once more, these Cities of Refuge were all Cities belonging to the Levites; partly that the Tribe of Levi might be the more esteemed and loved of all Israel; but chiefly that they might not be lurking Holes of wicked and flagicious Persons; but a School as well as a Sanctuary, where Persons that lived there in Exile, might be instructed in the Law of God: So whoever comes to Christ for Refuge, must come also for Instruction, to be taught and instructed in all the ways of God: Micah 4.2. Come and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his Ways.
Othe… things are spoken of these Cities of Refuge, but I now come to the Persons that had slain a Man by chance, and were not guilty of Malice prepense, they fled thither as for Life, for fear of the Avenger of Blood: So do we even fly from Wrath to come, Matth. 3.7. as if the Wrath of God were at our Heels. And whoever ran to the City of Refuge was to be received, the Gates were always open, for Jew or Foreigner; the Sojourner was capable of the Privilege as well as the Natives; Numb. 35.15. These six Cities shall be a Refuge both for the Children of Israel, and for the Stranger, and for the Sojourner among them; that every one that killeth any Person unawares may flee thither. So Iohn 6.37. He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. The Arms of the Lord's Mercy stands open to receive us. And when they were once received, they were safe, and might enjoy their Privilege without Molestation, unless they went out of the Limits and Bounds of the City, then it was Death; Numb. 35.26, 27. But if the Slayer shall at any time come without the Border of the City of his Refuge, whither he was fled; and the Revenger of Blood find him without the Borders of the City of his Refuge, and the Revenger of Blood kill the Slayer, he shall not be guilty of Blood. So when Wrath makes Inquisition for Sinners, they are never safe but so long as they are found in Christ, Phil. 3.9. Christ must not be made use of only at first, but for ever. And here they were to remain until the Death of the High-Priest, Iosh. 20.6. who was herein a Type of our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by his precious Death wrought out a perfect Reconciliation between God and us, and procured the full Pardon of all our Sins, and a perfect Liberty from the Pursuit of God's Wrath; Iohn 8.36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I mention these things, because it is very comfortable to compare the Law and the Gospel. Look as though you know a Man well, yet you delight to view his Picture: So though Christ be more clearly represented in the New Testament as a Sanctuary for Souls, yet it is good to look upon his Picture, and the Shadows of Christ under the Law.
Secondly; It is the Property of Believers to fly to Christ for Refuge. This flying may be explained with Analogy to the two terms of every Motion, which are terminus à quo, and ad quem; from what we fly, and to what; and so we have the perfect Method and Course which the Spirit observeth in bringing home Souls to God. In this flying to Christ as a City of Refuge, there is a driving and a drawing Work; the first belongs to the Law, the second to the Gospel. The Law driveth us out of our selves, and the Gospel draweth us, and bringeth us home to God: First there is a Preparative Work of the Law, which causeth Flight and Fear, and is as the Avenger of Blood at our Heels to make us run as for Life: But the Gospel hath the greatest Stroak in the Conversion of a Sinner; it is the Gospel that pulls in the Heart of a Man to God. In coming to Christ we are moved not only with Fear but Hope; a Flight argueth Fear, and there is an Hope set before us; there is a Fear of deserved Wrath, and a Hope of undeserved Mercy. First the Law worketh Fear in us, as a good Preparation to make way for the Gospel, but then the Hope set before us in the Offers of the Gospel perfecteth the Work: as Moses brought them to the Borders, but Ioshua led them into the Land of Canaan. Let us speak a little distinctly of these Points.
1st. Let us speak of the Terminus à quo, the Term from which we come, or the driving Work; it is comprized in these two things; a Sense of Sin; and a Sense of the Wrath of God pursuing for Sin.
(1.) There must be a Sense of Sin. A Man is satisfied with his Condition until he seeth his own Vileness in the Glass of the Law; Rom. 7.9. I was alive without the Law once; but when the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. He had as great Hopes as most Men have. Persons have a strong Conceit of themselves, and a large Opinion of their own Righteousness, until the Law of God comes upon their Hearts in full Evidence and Power, and shakes their Confidence: Then what wretched Creatures do we appear to our selves upon such Conviction? I thought that I was thus and thus towards God, but I see that I am wholly carnal, and the Law is spiritual; I had thought that I had a better Heart towards God; but alas! I was wholly overgrown with Lusts. This is like the awaking out of a Dream; a poor hungry Man dreams that he is satisfied, but awaking, his Soul hath nothing: So a Sinner says, I thought my Estate was good; but now I am convinced of the Unsoundness of my Heart, O how poor and miserable, and wretched am I in all spiritual Respects? First or last we are thus humble; Rev. 3.17. Thou …ayest I am rich, and increased with Goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Sottish Wretches think they had ever a good Heart towards God; Matth. 19.20. All these things have I kept from my Youth up: and they go on with a pleasing Dream, and so are not so much as prepared for Christ. The Children of God are kept constantly humble, they think none can have a worse Heart than they; 1 Tim. 1.15. Iesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners, of whom I am chief.
(2.) There must be a Sense of the Wrath of God pursuing us for Sin: Both are necessary. Some are sensible of Sin, but not of Wrath; as the carnal and dissolute, who cannot but know themselves wicked wretched Creatures, but do not consider of Wrath to come; Amos 6.3. Ye put far away the evil Day. Hell is at a Distance, and Judgment is to come; they put off Trouble when they cannot put it away; they sleep, but their Damnation sleepeth not; they adjourn their Work, and leave their Souls at a desperate Pass. Things afar off, though they be marvellous great, seem little; a Star that is bigger than all the Earth, is as a Spark or Spangle. Their Consciences are not sensible of Wrath, though their Hearts be full of Sin. Wrath is not upon them, nor the Avenger of Blood at their Heels, they delay and dream of a devout old Age. But now God maketh them sensible of Wrath, to whom he meaneth Grace, though I confess in a different Degree. They are solicitous, if not anxious; one time or other they are brought to this, What shall I do? Some more violently, others more gently; some are wounded at the very Heart, others are pricked and a little stung at the Heart; Acts 2.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their Heart, as with an empoisoned Dagger. No certain Rules can be given; sometimes they that have good Education, have least Terrors, as being restrained from grosser Sins. Trees long unprun'd, have the more Cuts when they come to be lopp'd. Some have more Terrors, because they have withstood more Means. Some that are called to greater Services, have most Terrors; he that hath received much Wrong by a bad Neighbour, can speak worse of him than he that hath received less Injuries. Those that are not called to such eminent Services, God spareth them. Work serveth instead of Sorrows. Some have drunk most deeply of the Dregs of Sin, they serve only for Monuments of the Power of God's Anger. Sometimes Men or Women of the most excellent and acute Understanding, are most troubled, as having the clearest Apprehension of the Hainousness of Sin, and Terribleness of Wrath. At other times it cometh from Ignorance, as Fears are in the dark, and weak Spirits are apt to be terrified. There can be no certain Rules, only this in general, All feel some Smart. Sin would not be bitter, and Christ would not be sweet, did not we taste it sometimes. The Hart would not pant for the Water-Brooks, if it were not chased, Psal. 42.1. Every one cometh to Christ with their Load. A Man that was never lost in himself, will never be found in Christ.
2dly. Let us come to the Terminus ad quem; from what we come to what; they run to Christ as their City of Refuge.
1. It implies Earnestness, as in a Case of Life and Death. A dilatory trifling Spirit shews we are not touched at Heart. A Man scorched with the Wrath of God, will not linger but fly: Delays are a Sign of Unwillingness. To say, Non vacat, I am not at leisure, rightly interpreted, is, Non placet, it doth not please me. When Men are not at leisure for the things of their Peace, it is a Sign they have no Mind to go to Christ, and are not earnest in this matter. Excuses are but a real Denial, as they that have no Mind to pay their Debts, they put off their Creditors, and troublesome Suitors until another time, only to be rid of them. When Men have a true sense of their Case, they can trifle no longer. In a matter of Life and Death Delays are dangerous. God is for present Obedience, Heb. 3.7. To day if ye will hear his Voice: And so a Soul that is affected with its Condition, cannot dally with God any longer; Gal. 1.16. —Immediately I consulted not with Flesh and Blood. When Christ called Andrew and Peter, they straitway left their Nets, and followed him, Mat. 4.20. And Zacheus made haste and came down, and received him joyfully, Luke 19.6. When Men have but a slight Conviction, they think of a more convenient Season, when such a Business or such a Temptation is over; but alas! modò & modò non habet modum, a Sinner's Morrow will never come.
2. Running to the City of Refuge, implieth avoiding all By-ways. A Soul that is rightly affected, cannot be satisfied with any other thing: Another place would not secure the Man, nothing but the City of Refuge. Worldly things to a wounded Conscience are as unsavoury as the White of an Egg. Surely the Wound is not deep enough, when it can be healed with other Plaisters; and that Thirst is not urgent, which we can quench at the next Ditch; I mean, when the Comforts of the Creature can satisfy the Soul, our Thirst was not very deep. Many have a Trouble upon them, but they quench it in Mirth and carnal Company, and by little and little wear out all Feelings of Conscience. A Man that ran to a City of Refuge, would not turn aside, but went a strait way thither, another Town could not secure him: So all things else are but Dung and Dross in comparison of being found in Christ, Phil. 3.8, 9. There are two things which are apt to keep us from Christ when we begin to be touched with any sight of Sin, or God's Wrath pursuing us; either the Delights of the World, or some formal Duties. When a Man begins to be in want with the Prodigal, he first feeds upon Husks with the Swine, takes up with Worldly Delights, which serve to benum and stupify the Conscience. Or, if that will not do, then some outward formal Duty. That Trouble never went very deep, that can be cured with any thing on this side Christ.
3. This Running implies an unwearied Diligence. The Man was running still till he was gotten into the City of Refuge, for it was for his Life: so we are unwearied until we meet with Christ, Cant. 3.2. The Spouse sought her Beloved throughout the whole City, from one Ordinance to another, Where is Christ? They run here and there; to the Word, and to Prayer, to see if God will let in any glimpse of Love. They do not presently give out, tho they find not what they look for, but are born up by Encouragements of the Word. Many that have Trouble upon them, are anxious, and make a kind of Essay whether God will give them Christ or no, and if not presently answered, throw up all: But they which run to Christ in good earnest, wrestle with many a Discouragement and Delay; it is for the lost Sheep of the House of Israel; it is Childrens Bread, and not to be given to Dogs, but they are resolved to hold fast and take no Denial.
4. When they are got into their City of Refuge, they stay there; having once taken hold of Christ, they will not quit their hold-fast for all the World. Many times the Children of God have that which Divines call a Negative Adherence, that is, they do not stick to other things, tho they dare not apply Christ to their Souls, tho they have but a Twilight, and make but a blind Adventure, they dare not say Christ is theirs, yet they will not let go that kind of loose Hope for all the World. Much more when it comes to some Positive Adherence, tho not a full Assurance, that is, when they are resolved to cast their Souls on Christ, to see what God will do with them: as Ioab when he took hold of the Horns of the Altar, he said, If I die, I'll die here, 1 Kings 2.30. So, whatever Discouragements they meet with, their Hearts hold Christ fast, and will not let him go.
II. For the second Branch, To lay hold upon the Hope that is set before us, and you must repeat the word flying or running again. Here is another Metaphor implied: the Apostle having spoken of flying, alludeth not only to the City of Refuge, but to that speed and haste Men make in a Race to take hold of the Prize; for he speaks of laying hold of a Hope set before them, (the word foreign signifies to seize upon it) and ver. 20. of a Fore-runner that is entred before us.
1st. What is this Hope? Hope is put for the thing hoped for, Heaven with all the Glory thereof; for it is a Hope that lies within the Vail, ver. 19. or a Hope laid up for us in Heaven, Col. 1.5. Mark the double end of him that cometh unto Christ, Refuge and Salvation; for in Christ there is not only Deliverance from pursuing Wrath, but Eternal Life to be found: First we fly from deserved Wrath, then we take hold of undeserved Glory. This is more easy of the two, Rom. 5.10, 11. For if when we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his Life. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Iesus Christ, by whom we have now received the Atonement. The greatest Brunt is at first, because of the great fear upon us to fly from Wrath; then we encourage our selves to take hold of Eternal Life. In the temporal Refuges they had Security, but not Possessions, there was no Heritage there: but here we are not only secured against the Avenger of Blood, but we are called to great and glorious Hopes. Our Privileges in Christ are not only privative, but positive. Cant. 2.3. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his Fruit was sweet to my Taste. Christ is not only a shady Tree, to afford a cool and wholsome Shade to shelter us from the Scorchings of the Sun, but a fruitful Tree; we are not only sheltred from Wrath, but called to eat of the Apples of Paradise. In the Covenant of Grace God doth not only enter into a League with us, that he will not hurt us, but he openeth all his Treasure to us. So Psal. 84.11. The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield. We are not only pardoned, but restored to Favours and Friendship. It is much to us to be delivered from the Terrors of Hell, but more to be made Heirs of Eternal Life. The Prodigal only looked for a Pardon, Luke 15. 19. —Make me as one of thy hired Servants; and the Father bringeth forth the Robe, the Ring, and the fatted Calf. O that we that have deserved to be in the bottom of Hell, should find a place in the Heart and Bosom of God! Let us enlarge our Expectations according to the Extent of Christ's Mercy. Here is Pardon and Glory; Heaven is more credible than Pardon, Rom. 5.10. —Much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his Life. It is harder to get a guilty Sinner pardoned, than a pardoned Sinner glorified. And let us answer the Divine Mercy, to be not only negative, but positive in our Obedience. Many please themselves in an Abstinence from gross Sins, but do not care to maintain Communion with God: Psal. 1.1, 2. Blessed is the Man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly, nor sitteth in the Seat of the scornful: But his Delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate Day and Night. They are not Scorners, wicked Enemies and Drunkards, but there is no Savour of Religion upon their Hearts. Do they delight in the Law of the Lord? Do they meditate on it, and make it their Study? To leave Sin is but the first degree, there must be something more.
2dly. Why is this Hope said to be set before us?
I answer.
1. To note the Divine Institution of this Reward; it is not devised by our selves, but appointed by God. The Hypocrite's Hope is compared to the Spider's Web, Iob 8.14. which is a poor slender thing, woven out of her own Bowels, and it is gone by the first turn of a Besom; so is the Hypocrite's Hope a Fancy, a slender Imagination, or a rash and unadvised Confidence, which comes to nothing.
2. It is proposed and set before us for our Encouragement. As it is said of Christ, Heb. 12.2. For the Ioy that was set before him, he endured the Cross, and despised the Shame; that is, for the Joy that was propounded to him. Well then, it is a real Hope, and a Hope offered to us, and laid before us.
3. What is it to run to take hold of the Hope set before us? Sometimes it implieth a challenging it as ours, as 1 Tim. 6.19. —That they may lay hold on Eternal Life: Here it signifies holding fast, never to let this Hope go. It implieth Diligence of Pursuit, Perseverance to the end, and all this upon Christian Encouragement.
(1.) Diligence in Pursuit of Eternal Life in the Heirs of Promise. It is express'd by working out our Salvation, making it our business, Phil. 2.12. Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Most Men make a Jest of it, or a thing of course; but when it must be made the main Work, the great Pursuit and thing in Chase, as the obtaining the Prize in a Race, and not only a Business, but that which is first and chief, Mat. 6.33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof. And a Business that must be earnestly prosecuted, and well followed, and that notwithstanding Discouragements. Mat. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the Violent take it by Force. When Men press through, and will not be kept out, there must be earnestness in the Matter; and this not only for a fit, and for a little while until they have made some progress, but there must be a getting ground daily: I press toward the Mark, for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Iesus, Phil. 3.14. getting nearer and nearer, making for Heaven apace, to be established in the Hopes of eternal Life. When we will not be put off with any thing else, but have Heaven or nothing, this is to seek Heaven in good earnest.
(2.) This flying to take hold of the Hope set before us, importeth Perseverance in well-doing, notwithstanding the Difficulties in the way to Heaven. The Israelites way to Canaan lay through a howling Wilderness: So we have many Inconveniences and Discouragements in our way to Heaven; but we are born up with this Hope, that the Promise will make amends for all, and so we go on in our course till we come to our Journey's end. And the Apostle speaking how Christ, as Judg of the World, will distribute eternal Rewards, describeth those that shall inherit eternal Life; Rom. 2.7. Those that by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality. It is not a Description of our first Address to Christ, and taking comfort in his Merit; no, that consists in a broken-hearted acknowledgment of our Sins, and a desire to be found in Christ, depending upon his Merits and Righteousness, to free us from the Wrath of God. But the Apostle is not describing our coming to Christ, but our coming to Heaven; and the manner how Justified Persons look for their eternal Reward, by patient continuance in well-doing, they seek for Glory, Honour, and Immortality. Though we are justified, and have the Right of Sons, yet we shall not have the Possession of the Inheritance, until we are exercised in well-doing; therefore we must wait God's leisure, and persevere in Obedience. And,
(3.) All this upon Christian Encouragements, for the Hope that is before them. A Man may know much of his Spirit by what bears him up, and what is the Comfort and Solace of his Soul; Titus 2.13. Looking for the blessed Hope. When a Man is born up by invisible Comforts, and upon the Hopes of an invisible Inheritance kept for him in Heaven. A wicked Man's Hope lies within the Compass of the World, therefore it may perish and die before he dies: Prov. 11.7. When the wicked Man dies, his Expectation shall perish: and the Hope of unjust Men perisheth; or at least it ends at Death. Prov. 14.32. The Wicked is driven away in his Wickedness: He would fain stay longer in the World, but he is arrested by Death, in the Name of the great God of Heaven, and driven into the other World, there to be responsible to God: but the Righteous hath hope in his Death; then his Hope beginneth.
APPLICATION.
Vse 1. Comfort to those that can apply it, even to those who are thus qualified, that are driven and drawn to Christ, and then go on chearfully with the Work of Obedience, waiting for their Inheritance in Heaven. Now that you may take in this Comfort, examine your selves.
1. Have you ever felt any Law work? Were you ever driven to Christ? Were you ever startled and rowzed out of your Sins, and made sensible of the Displeasure of God, and forced to sit alone and complain over a naughty Heart? Have you Paul's Experience, Rom. 7.24. O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death? Have you been awakened? Ephes. 5.14. Wherefore he says, Awake thou that sleepest.
2. Have you been drawn to Christ by the Cords of the Gospel? Have you been brought to him as a Sanctuary for your distressed Souls; as the Man shut up himself in the City of Refuge? 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that Day. Here is my Anchor and Safety.
3. Are you begotten to a lively Hope? Do you often look within the Vail, and groan and long for your everlasting Hopes? Do you send Spies before-hand into the Land of Promise, a few Thoughts thither? What hearty Groans are there, and Sighs of that happy State? Rom. 8.23. And not only they, but our selves also, who have the First-fruits of the Spirit, even we our selves groan within our selves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our Body. Doth it quicken you, and make you mend your pace, whatever Difficulties you meet with? Rom. 5.2. We rejoice in hope of the Glory of God.
Vse 2. Conviction. It sheweth the hardness of their Hearts, who have neither felt the Law-work nor the Gospel-work, but remain like the Smith's Anvil, softned neither with Hammer nor Oil; neither driven by the Threatnings of the Law, nor drawn with the glad Tidings of Salvation; neither Iohn nor Iesus worketh on them. Of such Christ speaketh, Mat. 11.17. We have piped unto you, and you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and you have not lamented. A rude and stupid People, not affected with any kind of Musick. In times of Rejoicing, the Jews had their lighter Notes fitted for Mirth; in times of Lamentation, they had their Minstrels and mourning Women, that had venales lachrymas, beating their Breasts, and crying, Alas my Brother! and, ah Lord! and, ah his Glory! Jer. 9.17. Consider ye, and call for the mourning Women. Notable movers of Passions they were. It was a thing so common among them, that the Boys would imitate them in the Streets. To these Christ likeneth a stupid People, that are moved with no kind of Doctrine, neither with Judgment, nor sweet offers of Grace: Alas! they are far from the strong Comfort here spoken of.
Vse 3. To perswade you to this Temper.
Three sorts of People usually we speak to▪
1. The carnally Secure.
2. Those that are affected with their Condition.
3. Those that esteem Christ, and embrace him, that own him as ready and willing to save Sinners.
1. For the carnally Secure, that never made their Peace with God, never fled for Refuge, nor took Sanctuary at the Grace of Christ. Our Work is to make them sensible of the Avenger of Blood that is at their Heels. O poor Wretches! will you sleep, when your Damnation sleeps not? Within a little while what will become of you? In the ordinary Course of Nature, you have but a few Years to pass over in this World; but, for ought you know, the Wrath of God, which makes Inquisition for Sinners, may seize upon you a great deal sooner; you may not live out half your Days, that is, so long as in an ordinary Providence you might expect. Psal. 68.21. God shall wound the Head of his Enemies; and the hairy Scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his Trespasses. God may take you by the hairy Scalp, while you are in your youthful Freshness, before Baldness and old Age cometh, and Infirmities seize upon you. That which is measured by Time, will soon come about. Every Day you are a step nearer to Eternity. O what will become of you? When you are at odds with God, Death way-layeth you in every place; it may take you Sleeping, Eating, Drinking. Ah poor Man! what Refuge hast thou? What Buckler to catch the Blow of God's angry Indignation, and ward off the Strokes of his Vengeance? O fly Sinners for Refuge, the Lord knows how soon Destruction may seize upon you, while you are yet in Health and Strength; there is no other means but Christ. Surely this driving Work would prosper more, if Men were not wanting to themselves, to improve the Conviction of the Word. When God shews you your natural Face, and begins to startle and awaken you, O let not Conviction die. No Iron so hard, as that which hath been often quenched, and often healed: So no Heart so hard, as when it hath worn out many Convictions. Make use of Remorses of Conscience, and your own trembling Fears, lest you are given up to a Spirit of Slumber.
2. To those that are affected with their Condition, to seek for Salvation in Christ alone. You which are troubled about your Eternal State, own Christ as a City of Refuge, his Arms are always open to receive poor trembling Sinners, that fly thither from the Wrath of God. You do but go about, while you seek else-where. Jer. 31.22. How long wilt thou go about, O thou back-sliding Daughter? for the Lord hath created a new Thing in the Earth. A Woman shall compass a Man: that is, when God hath set forth Christ born of a Woman, why will you weary your selves to go about? This City of Refuge stands open for all Corners; own Christ as the only Remedy. One who was long exercised with Troubles of Conscience, and at length came to some establishment, gave this Advice; I will never look for that in the Law, which is only to be found in the Gospel; and I will never look for that in my self, which is only to be found in Christ; and I will never look for that on Earth, which is only to be found in Heaven. These three things are the Causes why Men are kept in Trouble. You will get nothing but Weariness and Discomfort by running about, and looking to Duties and legal Qualifications; and therefore while you are affected with your Condition, own Christ.
3. To those which are fled to Christ, and owned him as the only Sanctuary for poor Souls; Press onward to take hold of eternal Life. Now you have fled from deserved Wrath, run to take hold of undeserved Glory. You are past the worst, the rest is more easy. The Apostle, Rom. 5.11, 12. puts a much more upon this; Much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his Life; as if that were a more easy thing. Now the worst Brunt is over; And not only so, but we also joy in God through the Lord Iesus Christ, by whom we have now received the Atonement. When you are reconciled to God, you may look to be entertained as Friends; being adopted in Christ, you may look for a Child's Portion. If God would pardon your Sins, and take you with all your Faults, quicken your selves to be more diligent in the pursuit of Eternal Life, and put to your best Strength. You will have many ups and downs in the World, but bear it with Patience, Heaven will pay for all.
But here is a Doubt; May we look to the Rewards? I answer; Yes, else there were no room for Hope, for Hope is nothing else but a longing expectation of Blessedness to come. Sure, those think themselves wiser than God, that deny us the use of the Spirit's Motives; why else doth God set these things before us? It requireth some Faith to aim at things not seen. The World is drowned in Sense and present Satisfaction; it is a great help to us to look upward. Christ made use of it, Heb. 12.2. For the Ioy that was set before him, he endured the Cross, and despised the Shame: As Man, he was supported with humane Encouragements. Our Flesh is weak, and our Task is difficult, and therefore we need all Helps. But yet we are not so to covet the Reward, as to fever it from Duty, and neglect our Work.