The First Last, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. The fourth and laſt Ʋſe of the point, viz. Exhortation: And firſt to the Prophane, That they will improve their hopes: Proſecuted, 1. by Directions. 2. Encouraging Motives.
1. TO you that wallow in the mire of ſin, and drink the very dregs of iniquity; ſee your hopes, your poſſibilities, your probabilities for Heaven, and lay hold on them: poſſibly ſome of you may conceit your caſe hopeleſs and deſperate, but take not up ſuch ſad concluſions: There is yet hopes in Iſrael concerning this thing; ſay not then with the Eunuch and ſtranger, Iſa. 56.3. The Lord hath utterly ſeperated me from his people, Behold I am a dry tree: Nor with the Apoſtate Jews, Jer. 2.25. There is no hope, &c. Deſpair will make you deſperate: 'Tis the Epicures language. 1 Cor. 15.32. Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we die: (q. d.) Let us take our fill of pleaſure and voluptuouſneſs here, we know not what our portion will be in another world; none are ſo obſtinately wicked, as they that have hardned themſelves by deſpair. I have read of one, who after a firſt and ſecond relapſe from purpoſed and promiſed Reformation, being the third time viſited with ſickneſs, ſent for his Miniſter, who minding him of his former promiſes and failings in performance, aggravating his ſin upon him, he told him, that except he did ſpeedily and ſeriouſly repent, and put away his Harlot (who was then in his houſe) there was no hope of his Salvation. His reply was, Say you ſo; can I not be ſaved except I put her away? Then I will do as well as I can while I live; ſo calling for Wine, Cards, and that Woman, he ſpent his time (which was but three or four days) in mirth and pleaſure, and ſo in a moment went down into the grave. Oh take heed of bringing your ſelves to this paſs! That Scripture is notable, Job 15.21, 24. A doleful ſound is in his ears, Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him afraid. Here's his deſpair, or horror of Conſcience: ſee the effect of it, Verſ. 25, 26. He ſtretcheth out his hand againſt God, and ſtrengthneth himſelf againſt the Almighty: he runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick boſſes of his bucklers. Some wild Beaſts, when hunted to a ſtand, will turn again, and fly in your face: So do ſinners, when grown deſperate, even fly in the face of God himſelf. 'Tis the Devils ordinary way, when he hath drawn men into ſin, and kept them in it as long as he can, when they begin to think of turning, to perſwade them there is no hope. Oh but conſider the Text, poſſibly thy caſe may be more hopeful then many a one that paſſes in the world for a ſincere Chriſtian: yet the door is open, the Golden Scepter is held out; thy caſe is not deſperate; make it not ſo by going on ſtill in thy wickedneſs: Preſumption begins obduration, but deſpair heightens and compleats it. If once thou drink in this deadly concluſion, That there is no poſſibility of Salvation for thee; thou wilt then bid defiance to God: This made one ſhoot his darts againſt Heaven; another throw up handfuls of his own blood, crying out Viciſti Galilaea, O Galilean, thou haſt overcome: A third, wiſh himſelf above God, that he might be able to grapple with him; and a fourth lay violent hands upon himſelf, and become his own Executioner. This is it that makes the Devil a Devil, Jam. 2.19. He believes and trembles: 'Tis a Hell worſe then Hell it ſelf: See therefore, and lay hold on thy opportunity: Publicans and Harlots, (ſaith the Text) go into the Kingdom of God, art thou worſe? 'Twas a cheering word to poor blind Bartimeus, Mar. 10.49. Be of good comfort, riſe, he calleth thee. The ſame I may ſay to you, he came to call ſinners (and are not you ſuch) to repentance: Oh that you would now imitate that poor blind man, who V. 50. caſt away his Garment, roſe and came to Jeſus, Acts 13.43. with 47, 48. See how the Gentiles rejoyced and flockt in, when God vouchſafes them an invitation. Poor ſouls! They thought God had caſt them off, and not reſerved ſuch a bleſſing for them; therefore they are even raviſhed with the glad tidings, and become as Corn fully ripe, that ſhakes into the hand of the Reaper; or as mellow fruits, dropping into the mouth of him that gathers them: Oh that this diſcovery of the like hopes for you prophane ſinners, might have the like operation upon you! Oh that I could hear ſome poor ſoul pouring out ſuch breathings as theſe! What? Is there hopes for me? for me an old Drunkard, an unclean wretch, &c? Will Chriſt vouchſafe to give me a call, an invitation? Is it poſſible, that I that have ſpent my choice time, exhauſted my beſt Spirits, &c. upon ſin, ſhould yet be in a poſſibility of Heaven? Is it thy pleaſure, dear Saviour, to beſtow thy Blood and Merits, thy Grace and Spirit; yea, an heavenly Inheritance, a Crown of Glory on ſuch a dead dog as I am? Surely though none could have leſs hope, yet none hath more need then I; ſince there is a peradventure, I will go in; if I periſh, I periſh: Oh take the Prophets Counſel, Iſa. 55.7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Give me leave to ſub-join two or three words of Direction, and as many of Encouragement.
1. Come within the call of Chriſt; lie at the Betheſda of Ordinances; put your ſelves under the Phyſicians hands, if you will be cured: Faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10.17. Miſs not an opportunity; you know not when the Spirit will blow, or the Angel deſcend to move theſe waters: Though God hath called ſome from the Ale-bench, Tavern, Stews, Receit of Cuſtom; yet it is not to be preſum'd God will do ſo; 'tis out of Gods ordinary road. Thoſe whom Chriſt cured, or called, were ſuch ordinarily as were in his way: So the ten Lepers, Luke 17.12. The blind man, Luke 18.35. The wounded man lay in the way betwixt Jerico and Jeruſalem, &c. Zacheus got into the Sycamore-tree where Chriſt was to paſs by, Luke 19.4, 5. and he hears that glad tidings, Come down Zacheus, &c. Ezek 16.6. When I paſſed by thee—I ſaid unto thee, live: 'Tis good to be where Chriſt may paſs by us, and that is in his Church, amongſt his people; for his walk is in the midſt of the ſeven golden Candleſticks, Rev. 2.1. Wiſdom cries without, ſhe uttereth her voice in the ſtreets; ſhe cryeth in the chief place of concourſe, &c. Prov. 1.20— What hope maiſt thou conceive if thou waiteſt at her Gates, and watcheſt daily at the poſts of her doors, ſince ſuch are pronounced bleſſed, Prov. 8.34? Some have been caught in the net before they were aware, (a happy catching!) yea, when they came to catch, carp and deride: What hope maiſt thou have, if thou wilt conſtantly and conſcientiouſly wait upon God in his Ordinances?
2. Call upon Chriſt; caſt thy ſelf at his feet, with the Lepers, and the blind man, Luk. 18.41. Lord, that I might receive my ſight. Learn the Publicans poſture, Luk. 18.13. Lord be merciful to me a ſinner. Take the Apoſtles counſel to Simon Magus, Act. 8.22. Pray that the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee: ſuch prayers, (whatever ſome ſay) ſhall not be rejected; elſe why doth the Holy Ghoſt direct to the uſe of them? Chriſt hath taught thee importunity, Luke 18.1-8. Put his Leſſon in practice; beg pardon and juſtification: ſay to Chriſt, Lord ſpread thy ſpirit over me, ſince thou art become a near kinſman: Beg Sanctification; Lord here's a filthy heart, O cleanſe it; a hard heart, O mollifie it; a dead heart, O quicken it: Plead ſuch free Promiſes as that, and put them in ſuit, Ezek. 36.26. Take, Lord, the ſtone out of my heart, and give me an heart of fleſh: ſprinkle clean water upon me, &c. Take up Ephraim's words, Jer. 31.18. Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, for thou art the Lord my God; And Hoſ. 14.1, 2. Plead the examples of ſuch as thou art, whoſe converſion is recorded for thy encouragement; Magdalen, Zacheus, Paul: ſee that ſweet Scripture, 1 Tim. 1.15, 16. How be it, for this cauſe I obtained mercy, that in me firſt Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-ſuffering, for a pattern to them which ſhould hereafter believe on him to life everlaſting. Caſt thy ſelf upon him, in confidence of that word, Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt off: Plead as the ſervants of Benhadab, 1 King. 20.31. I have heard the God of Iſrael is a merciful God: A meer peradventure ſhould be enough to an undone Creature, as it was to the four Lepers, 2 King. 7.8. much more when thou haſt ſuch invitations and encouragements to allure thee to come in.
3. Caſt away thy tranſgreſſions, Ezek. 18.31. Thou canſt not be ſaved in them, but from them thou maiſt: This is the good old way wherein onelyonly thou ſhalt find reſt for thy ſoul. Jer. 6.16. This doctrine will abide the fire, when all the wood, hay and ſtubble of novel and unſcriptural ſpeculations, will be burnt: 'Tis Chriſt's own Doctrine, Luke 13.3, 5. Away then with thy lewd companions, exceſs, revellings; put away thoſe works of the fleſh, Gal. 5.22. elſe take no comfort in all: I have ſaid, read over the examples of all thoſe that were ſaved, eſpecially ſuch prophane ones as thy ſelf: Was not this valley of Achor, bitter Repentance, their door of hope: 'Tis not Paul the Perſecutor, but Paul the Penitent, the faithful Apoſtle, that is in Heaven: Not Zacheus the Oppreſſor, but Zacheus the Reſtorer: Not Magdalen the Harlot, but Magdalen the Penitent; weeping Magdalen, waſhing Chriſt's feet with her tears, and wiping them with the hairs of her head: And what is there in any ſin, that hopes of future glory ſhould not make thee willing to part with it? Is the Favour of God? Are the Conſolations of the Spirit? The Priviledges of the Saints? Is Heaven, and Glory, and the eternal fruition of the Beatifical Viſion, ſo contemptible, that they cannot out-bid one baſe luſt? Are the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, better then the eternal recompence of reward? Are devouring flames, everlaſting burnings ſuch light matters, ſo eaſie to be endured, that for the enjoyment of ſome worldly delight or contentment, perhaps for ſome ſin that hath in it neither profit nor pleaſure, (ſuch as ſwearing is) you ſhould plunge your ſelves into them irrecoverably? Do you believe thoſe eternal things, or no? If not, Why do you come to hear? Why do you not declare your ſelves profeſſed Atheiſts, and lay aſide all Profeſſion of Religion? Why do you not take your fill of carnal pleaſures? But if you do believe them, (as I know you will profeſs you do) why do you not put away your abominations? Why do you not fly from the wrath to come, by bringing forth fruits meet for Repentance? Will you yet ſay, my caſe is hopeleſs, I have ſinned away my opportunities? Look once again into the Text, ſee who the perſons are; Publicans, and Harlots: What their priviledg is; they go into the Kingdom of God: To whom they are preferred, as to their hopes of Salvation; the Morally Righteous, the Formal Profeſſor, you may (if you will take the courſe preſcribed) ſtep into Heaven before them: But that I may leave you without ſcruple in this particular, take theſe two conſiderations further along with you.
1. Will not God, think you, be moſt ready to do that which beſt pleaſes, and moſt honours him? and what's that but pardoning the Penitent, embracing returning Prodigals? Do you queſtion this? A great part of Scripture, yea, the very ſcope of the Goſpel may convince you. Read Jer. 9.24. Mich. 7.18. Exod. 34.6, 7. Iſa. 55.7. Joel 2.12, 13— Will you believe God upon his word? he hath told you, Ezek. 18.32. that he hath no pleaſure in the death of him that dieth: will you have his Oath? Ezek. 33.11. As I live, ſaith the Lord God, I have no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; [herein he hath pleaſure:] turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, &c. If neither Word nor Oath will ſerve, yet I hope his Actings, and gracious Diſpenſations towards the ſons of Men, towards your ſelves, may paſs for a Demonſtration: Had God delighted in the Deſtruction; yea, had he not had unſpeakably more delight in the ſalvation of poor ſinners, would he have ſent his Son? Would he have publiſhed the Goſpel? Would he wait, and beſeech, and ſo pathetically beg your ſouls? 2 Cor. 5.19. And for thy own caſe, could not God have thrown thee into Hell ſo ſoon as thou waſt born, if that had pleaſed him? Would he have been at ſo much coſt and pains with thee? Or if thou now returneſt, will he not accept thee; yea, meet thee while yet afar off, fall upon thy neck, and kiſs thee, who hath been ſo long waiting that he might be gracious unto thee? And then for the honour of God; 'tis true, he can get it in thy deſtruction, but he had rather thou wouldeſt give it him in thy Salvation: Such is his Philanthropy, and love to man, that he eſteems that his greateſt honour, which conſiſts with his creatures greateſt happineſs. Let me ſpeak a ſerious word; Which do you think will make the ſweeter melody in God's Ear? whether the eternal howlings and yellings of the damned, blaſpheming, and tearing his Name in pieces; or the inceſſant Bleſſings and Hallelujahs of glorified Saints, ſinging Praiſes to him that ſits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever? And for you to whom I am ſpeaking [Prophane ſinners] How ſingularly pleaſing will it be to God? How delightful to the Angels, &c. to entertain you into their heavenly ſociety? (to entertain you, I ſay, not ſuch as now you are, but waſht in the blood of the Lamb, cloath'd with white linnen, which is the Righteouſneſs of the Saints) read, and read again thoſe three Parables of the Prodigal ſon, the loſt groat, and loſt Sheep, Luke 18. They tell you, there is more joy in Heaven over one ſinner that repenteth, then over ninety and nine juſt perſons that need no repentance; and for the glory of God, he will both get more by you, (for the Phyſician's skill is commended by the deſperateneſs of the diſeaſe he cures) and you wil (at leaſt endeavour) give him more then others: If we may imagine an holy ſtrife and emulation amongſt the glorified Saints, to excel each other in praiſing God; ſurely they that have exceeded others in ſinning here, will in ſinging hereafter: they to whom moſt is forgiven, will love moſt, admire moſt, and labour to riſe higheſt in their praiſes: So that this may be helpful againſt any d ſcouraging fears of being rejected: 'Tis ſingularly pleaſing and honouring to God, that you ſhould come in; you cannot ſuppoſe God unwilling to receive you upon your ſerious return, but you ſuppoſe him alſo falſe in his word, his oath; deceitful in his actings, and unfaithful to the great intereſt of his own glory: all which is no leſs then blaſphemy to imagine.
2. Will Jeſus Chriſt, think you, be more willing that his blood ſhould be ſpilt, and the great end of his undertaking fruſtrate (as to you) in your deſtruction, then accompliſhed in your ſalvation? Did he take all that pains, undergo ſuch a ſhameful and ignominious death, the wrath of God, the terrors of Hell, to ſave poor loſt ſouls? and now all is done, and ready, nothing wanting but your conſent and application; And can you imagine, that he will rather loſe all, then freely beſtow what he hath ſo dearly purchaſed? True, he is not ſo prodigal of his blood and merits as to throw them away upon thoſe that neither ſet their need of them, nor will thank him for them; but when you are ſenſible of your neceſſity, and humbly ſue to him for an intereſt in them, and caſt your ſelves upon him, do you think he will caſt you off? Hath he done the painful part, and will he not much more do the pleaſant part of the work? Will it not be abundant ſatisfaction to ſee the fruit of the travel of his ſoul, in the Converſion and Salvation of yours? O with what contentment and complacency will Chriſt embrace you? Welcome poor Prodigal, loſt, weary, heavy-laden ſoul; now it repents me not of all my toil and travel: 'tis enough that thou wilt accept what I have done and ſuffered for thee; I freely give thee my Blood to juſtifie thee, my Merit to procure thy acceptance with the Father; my Grace to ſanctifie thee, my Spirit to ſeal thee to the day of Redemption; yea, Heaven it ſelf for thine Inheritance: mine it is by purchaſe, and on thee I beſtow it; I expect nothing but thy ingenious acceptance, and grateful obedience: Oh, you cannot more diſgrage the wiſdom or mercy of Chriſt, then to imagine him unwilling to beſtow himſelf, and all he hath done, upon thoſe that humbly beg it, in the deep ſenſe of their own neceſſity: ſo that let not the vileſt wretch, the prophaneſt ſinner in the Congregation, ſtand off upon ſuppoſition that God will not accept him, or that Chriſt will caſt him off: You ſee in the Text, who were the chief materials of that ſtately Fabrick, the Chuch, when Chriſt and his Apoſtles were the builders, even Publicans and Harlots, ſinners, ſuch as your ſelves are: With whom did Chriſt converſe? Whom came he to call? Who were they moſt commonly embraced by him, but ſuch? Nay, ſuch were not onelyonly ſtones in the building, but Maſterbuilders, even Paul (though a Phariſee yet) in his own account, a Perſecutor, a Blaſphemer, Injurious, 1 Tim. 1.12. If you want not hearts, you want no hopes for Heaven. All this I have ſpoken, not in the leaſt to ſtrengthen your hands in wickedneſs, (Woe to him that ſhall ſo turn this grace of God into wantonneſs) but to remove that ſcruple which poſſibly may keep ſome at a diſtance from Chriſt; nor would I be underſtood as encouraging any to delay their turning to God, preſuming upon acceptance at laſt gaſp. Remember that of Auſtin, Qui dat poenitenti gratiam, non ſemper dat peccanti poenitentiam: He that gives pardon to the Penitent, doth not always give Repentance to the Sinner. Come then, Prophane Sinner, come ſpeedily, ſeriouſly, humbly, and ſelf-denyingly to Chriſt, and I promiſe thee acceptance; Make good the Text, Step into Heaven, and lay hold on Eternal Life before the proud Formaliſt. Then, though ſuch as they diſpiſe thee, God will accept, and prefer thee before them: Then, however filthy and polluted thou art, thou ſhalt be waſht in the Lambs blood, cloath'd with his Righteouſneſs, made comely with his comelineſs, and admitted into that bleſſed ſociety, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. there to continue to all Eternity.