Christ Alone our Life, Sermon · Application

Christ Alone our Life · Sermon · Application

p. 117Application.

I hope I have cleared and laid open the Caſe of every Man that hath not Chriſt; not to leave any Soul that ſhall p. 118read this in that horrid ſtate of Death, but to perſwade them to a timely Flight from the Wrath to come, upon all that believe not, and truſt not to God through Jeſus Chriſt alone for Mercy; I beſeech you, receive the Love of the Truth, that you may be ſaved.

1. If all who have not Chriſt have not Life, then he convinced of the miſerable and neceſſitous condition of all them who are under the Reign of Darkneſs and Unbelief; whatever their outward Condition is in the World, high or low, rich or poor, young or old; they lie under the heavieſt and moſt intolerable neceſſity in the VVorld. 1. They want Life, and are under Death; and what Pleaſure can they take in Pleaſures, Riches, Honours, or the Glory and Enjoyment of all the Delights of the Sons of Men (if they had them all) as long as they have not Life? VVhat ungrateful things ſhould Muſick, and Songs, and Revellings, Banquettings, Masks, Dancings, wanton Faſhions, the Fooleries of vain Minds, be to a condemned Man? VVhat Pleaſure could you take in fulfilling any ſinful Deſire, gratifying any Luſh tho in the moſt ſecret retirement, p. 119if you thought the Devil, the Executioner of God's Sentence of Death, ſtood at the Door or Stairs-foot to have you away? You are condemn'd already, and have no Pardon, no Life. 2. They need Jeſus Chriſt for Life. 3. They need Faith for having Chriſt. Here's nothing but want and miſery!

2. VVhat ſhould be the firſt and chief endeavour and purpoſe of every one of our Souls, but to be firſt out of the Danger of the greateſt Loſs, and in the way of ſupplying the greateſt want? Therefore apply your ſelves to free Grace without delay; pray and cry mightily to God for Life. The Life is more than Meat, and the Body than Raiment; but this Life is more than Meat, Raiment, Body, or the preſent Life; pray and labour for it.

3. If this be the ſad caſe of Unbelievers, then let us learn what ſhould be the great ſtudy and work of Miniſters▪ Oh! Is our ſtate any better than other Mens? No, not at all! yea, we are in danger of being further from Salvation than other Men, becauſe we are more apt to conceive and hold Errors concerning p. 120Spiritual Death, Adam's Guilt, and our own; concerning Chriſt, and Faith in Chriſt, than other Men. The greater Men's Parts are without true Light and Grace, the more apt to err, and to flouriſh out their Errors, and Sophiſtically to defend them. How ſhould we ſtudy for our own Life, and for the Life of as many Souls as we are to watch over! O! how ſhould we labour to ſave our ſelves and them that hear us! To have Chriſt for our own Life and Salvation, and then to preach Chriſt, and to draw others to have him for their Life! There are three great Points to be ſtudied by us. 1. Chriſt the Son of God, and what is written of him. How neceſſary, profitable and delightful is the ſtudy of Chriſt, who is all in all!See that excellent Sermon of the great Preacher Bp. Reynolds at an Ordination, call'd, the Preaching of Chriſt Printed at the requeſt of thoſe who were ordained. 2. The only true way of having him for Life; the Benefits of Chriſt, and the way of partaking of them; his Communication of himſelf and Benefits, and our Reception of them, and Duties towards him. How offenſive and troubleſom p. 121ſhould all thoſe Notions and Books be to us, which detract from the Glory of Free Grace in Chriſt, and bring in another Goſpel, and ſpeak vain Words of Spiritual Union and Communion, the Nature and Office of Faith, and work of the Holy Ghoſt upon the Hearts of Men! 3. The ſtate and condition of Souls, what they need, what way they muſt be ſaved; what loſeth, and what ſaveth Sinners: As they have or have not Chriſt, ſo it muſt be with them for ever. I cannot paſs by this uſe, when I conſider how faithfully and plainly Moſes dealt with Iſrael, Behold this day I have ſet Life and Death, Life and Good, Death and Evil before you, Deut. 30.15. And when I ſee the ſame Spirit of Light and plain-dealing in the Divine John; How can we honour Chriſt,It had been ſufficient to ſay, that all ſhould ſeek to Chriſt for Life; but leſt any ſhould turn aſide out of the way, he ſhuts out all from the hope of Life that ſeek it not in Chriſt. Calvin on the Eph. and be faithful to Souls, that do not preach as he wrote? How can we deal faithfully with Souls, if we have not ſome ſpiritual inſight into that, by which precious Souls are ſaved p. 122or loſt? O how faithful and plain ſhould we be, who have ſo great Arguments to treat upon, as Chriſt, and the Life and Death of Souls! And hence will alſo follow under this Head, that no Man ſhould be ignorant of, but all deſirous to learn the way of Eternal Life and Death, and to ſee in what way they are, whether in the narrow way to Life and Salvation, or in the broad way of Ignorance, Careleſneſs, Impenitence and Ungodlineſs, which leadeth to Deſtruction. But ſtill remember, when we ſpeak of the Terror of the Lord, and ſay to the wicked, that they ſhall die, if they turn not, and receive Chriſt for Salvation, that it may be to perſwade Men to be willing to paſs from Death to Life, 2 Cor. 5.11.

4. If he who hath not the Son hath not Life, then in what caſe are all they that are ignorant and without Spiritual Senſe of their Spiritual Death, Unrighteouſneſs, Guilt and Condemnation by the Law for tranſgreſſing it, and that are ignorant of Chriſt, ſave by the Sound or Letters of his Name; they know him not as the Son of God, or how he is ſo; nor as he is Mediator between God and p. 123Man, to bring us to God, as well as to make Reconciliation, and procure forgiveneſs of ſin; nor how he came to be Mediator, nor to what end, nor how he performeth the Part and Office of a Mediator; nor what it is to believe in him, ſo as to have him for their Life. Many will ſometimes ſay, that he died for them, and hope he will be ſo good as to ſave them: But do they know indeed the Nature, Efficacy, and Office of Faith? which they ſhould know; for if they have him not, they ſhall die in their Iniquities. 2. In what caſe are they who neglect him and make light of him? Mat. 22.5. They neglect their own Lives that neglect him, Heb. 2.3. 3. What will become of all them that refuſe him? John 5.40. And ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life. How ſhall we eſcape, if we refuſe him who ſpeaketh from Heaven? See Heb. 12.25.

5. Seeing God himſelf hath already determined this great Point, and anſwered this Queſtion, Who ſhall, and who ſhall not be ſaved, it is every Man's Wiſdom, and ſhould be his great buſineſs to ſubmit to this Sentence of God, concerning every Mans final ſtate; and as many p. 124as have any deſire and knowledge of eternal Life, or Apprehenſions of eternal Death, ſhould apply themſelves to the means of Grace, that they may be drawn and brought to Chriſt. When Men are ſure that there are other things more worthy of their Care and Pains, than the Life of their Souls, let them lay aſide the Care of their Souls till they are filled with their Vanities, which will never be. But Man! haſt thou any Senſe left? Any deſire of Happineſs and Heaven, or fear of Hell? O then take up the ſerious Thoughts of the Life of the World to come! of Glory and Immortality; and apply thy ſelf to Jeſus Chriſt, not ſlightly and ineffectually, but betimes and earneſtly. Thou ſhalt find no Diſcouragement from him, but moſt gracious Inclinations, and aſſurance of being received into his Boſom and Arms, as a Saviour of them that believe. And know for certain, that if thou come ſhort of Eternal Life,Quamvis fides non fit niſi ex Dei dono, & hominis voluntate, infidelitas tamen non eſt, niſi ex ſola hominis voluntate. Proſp. Reſponſa ad Cap. Gallorum, p. 330. it is thy own Sin and Fault, and the remembrance of that thy Sin of p. 125making light of Chriſt, will lie heavy upon thee to Eternity, as the main Cauſe of thy Damnation.

6. In what Honour and Reputation ſhould the Son of God be had in the World, ſeeing, as was Propheſied of him by Simeon to the Mother of our Lord, that ſhould be for the fall and riſing again of many in Iſrael! Luke 2.33. He will raiſe up all that are humble, and poor, and broken in Heart, that come unto him, that they may have Life; but he will be by his Juſtice and Power the fall of all them that refuſe him. If Chriſt be ſo high and great, that the eternal Life and eternal Death of all be in his Hand, O! what ſeeking ſhould there be unto him for Life and Mercy? What crowding to his Doors? What knocking and lifting up of Eyes, Hands, Voices, Hearts, to the Throne of Grace for Life? And how would Chriſt be reverenc'd and fear'd, admir'd and magnify'd, ſought unto and lov'd, if Men would believe that he is the Prince of Life, and the Author of eternal Salvation! Heb. 5.9. O, how would it be ſaid, Happy is that Man that hath him firſt! It is p. 126the Will of his Father, that all Men ſhould honour the Son as they honour the Father; but how true is that, that they who believe not, honour neither the Father nor the Son? no, tho he have Life and Death in his Power. How will Petitioners for Pardons from a King gratifie even Door-keepers and Friends, that can make way for them? How will the proudeſt Knee come down to the King himſelf?

7. Then hence be ſatisfied in the true cauſe of the Damnation of Sinners. Sinful Man takes himſelf to be wiſe in ſhifting off the true Cauſe of his Miſeries and Sufferings which come upon him from himſelf upon others; The Woman that thou gavest me, &c. Gen. 3.12. Adam doth not only caſt the Blame upon the Woman, but upon God himſelf, Which thou gaveſt me. If thou hadſt not given me the Woman, I had never eaten.

But now this Text is of great uſe to carry us to the proper Cauſe of Perdition; the true reaſon why Sinners die, is becauſe they have not the Son. And if this be the Cauſe of Perdition, then as you love Life, and hate Death, do all that God commands you to prevent p. 127your Damnation in the Cauſe of it. The means of Grace are the open and beaten way of Life; O! keep that way with care and diligence.

8. Then how inexcuſable will all Unbelievers be before God's Tribunal, that have not Life? They ſhall then know what a Life, what a Pearl they have loſt: And the more inexcuſable, the greater will the ſhame of their being placed on the left Hand be; and the more their ſhame, the more grievous will their Torment be. They ſhould have had Chriſt, and he was made known and offer'd as the Author of Eternal Salvation; and Salvation and Damnation were ſet out before them, but they neglected the Son of God, and loſt Eternal Life by wilful neglect. The Cauſe of the Death of Sinners is ſlighting of Chriſt, Mat. 22.5. Neglecting of great Salvation, Heb. 2.3. Refuſing to hear Chriſt, Heb. 12.25. Scriptures quoted but little before. But Soul, to whom I ſpeak, what think you? Is a Saviour to be neglected, when there is but one, and no other? Is the Salvation of Soul and Body to be neglected, when thou haſt but one of a kind, one Body and one Soul? p. 128Is Life Eternal to be neglected, when there is but one day of Salvation, and when that is once gone, not one moment to be added to it? They who in the Parable of the Wedding-Feaſt are ſaid to make light of Chriſt, are the good Huſbands and Men of Buſineſs in the World, who could ſpare no time from their careful Occaſions to ſpend in ſeeking, nay, in accepting the Grace and Favour of God, and Communion with him, who had made great preparation for them. We ſhould let all things lie, rather than neglect the momentous Affairs of a better and more enduring Life. Oh! then how do they neglect it, and make light of Chriſt, who are Men of Pleaſure and Diverſion, who have ſo much time lying upon their hands, that they are glad of ſuch Perſons and Occaſions as will help them to conſume it! And how can they who throw away this Life, ſave that which is to come! And with what Shame and Confuſion will they go out of the World, and come out of their Graves to be judged by the Judge of the whole World, who offered them a dearly purchaſed Pardon and Life! What a Madman would you account him to be, who p. 129hath no more life to ſpend than what runs between Condemnation in Law, and execution in Judgment, that would ſpend that precious time, in ſtead of ſecuring his precious Life, upon his Hair, his Cloaths, in reading Plays, in Drollery, Songs, Racing, Gaming, the News of the Town, fruitleſs Diſputations, Contentions, Quarrelling and Fighting? Oh! What time have we but the time of Patience and long-ſuffering, which we ſhould count Salvation? 2 Pet. 3.15. That is a time for us to take hold of eternal life. All are condemned already that do not believe, John. 3.18. But if Judgment be not ſpeedily executed, ſhall we live after the Fleſh this time? Then we muſt die, Rom. 8.13. How bitter will Death be after a Life of Pleaſure; and when this ſhall be a continual Aggravation to make it the more bitter, that eternal life was loſt through neglect! How mad are worldly Men with themſelves, if they loſe a Fortune, as they ſpeak, or a Place of Profit or Honour, by being out of the way at a convenient ſeaſon. Oh! how will they rave when they go to Hell for the loſs of life by negligence and folly?

p. 1309. One Inference more, and ſo to other Uſes. Hence you may plainly ſee, what is the great Duty and Intereſt of all Men whatſoever, to whom the Word of Salvation is ſent; it is to have, and to ſecure to themſelves the having of Jeſus Chriſt; for have Chriſt have life, and all ſpiritual Bleſſings, all kind of promiſes of all kind of good; but, no Chriſt no Life. What is every natural Man's buſineſs in the World, but to live in ſome faſhion, or way or other? O! ſhall the ſhort and uncertain life that fadeth away, be more the Care and Concern of all Men, than the life of Jeſus? That incomprehenſible Gift of God, which is eternal life through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, unto all them, but to none but them who have his Son: Labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for the meat which indureth unto eternal Life, which the Son of Man ſhall give you, John 6.27. Yea, count it better to enter into life halt or maimed, or blind, to avoid Sin, the cauſe of Death, than having two Hands, two Feet, two Eyes, to be caſt into Hell-fire, Mat. 18.8, 9. yea, if it comes not only to the loſs of Limbs, but of Life it ſelf; ſpare not any thing p. 131to ſecure the Son, and Life to thy Soul. The having of him is ſafe, without aſſurance; but the aſſurance of it is comfortable; for then the greateſt danger is over, and the everlaſting Treaſure and Inheritance ſecured, and known to be ſo by the Teſtimony of the Spirit, both from the Word and Conſcience alſo.

2 Ʋſe. Of Exhortation and Perſuaſion to believe in Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, ſo as to have him altogether, Perſon and Offices, for all Uſes, Neceſſities Benefits and Purpoſes, with all your Soul, Mind and Strength. What can be ſaid more to perſuade you, than what is contained in theſe two ſhort Sentences in the Text? Be not content with any thing below the real, and ſaving having of the Son of God. Deceive not your own precious Souls; try what you have, whether what you have, and put confidence in, doth cauſe a ſpiritual Life of Holineſs, and true Joy and Peace in believing, and be in you the hope of Glory, all which they have who have Jeſus Chriſt indeed.

That you may not be deceived in ſo great a matter, I will ſhew you what ſome have had, and you may have, and p. 132yet come ſhort of having the Son to Salvation; and what they have who have him.

1. You may read, that the Jews thought they had enough, when they could ſay, they had Abraham to their Father, John 8.38. But if God had been their Father, they would have loved his Son, v. 42. And by their Relation to Abraham they had the ſign of Circumciſion, and other outward Privileges, which many did build much upon: But the Apoſtle did often overthrow their deceitful Building, often telling them, that Circumciſion availed nothing, no more than Uncircumciſion, but Christ was all in all, Col. 3.11. But Faith working by Love, Gal. 5.6. And a new Creature, Gal. 6.15. 2. They may not oly build upon their relation to Abraham, and have nothing in themſelves, but they had a Form of Knowledge and Truth of the Law, and think they can be Teachers of others, Rom. 2.20, 21. &c. 3. And not only a Form of Knowledge, a Religion in the Head, but alſo a Form of Godlineſs in their Lives, in oppoſition to the power of it, 2 Tim. 3.5. which is rooted in the Heart, and from the Heart p. 133ſprings forth and grows out in the Life, dying to Sin and the World, and living unto God. 4. They may think they have, and ſeem to have, but they are miſtaken in their thinking, and but ſeem to have, Luke 8.18. They may ſeem to have a Root of Faith, when the Seed of the Goſpel comes up in a green Blade; but it withereth and is choaked by the heat of Sufferings and worldly Affections. And they may ſay they have Faith, James 2.14. Theſe may have knowledg of Chriſt and his Word, and be ſo far convinced of his being the Son of God, as to be able to anſwer Queſtions concerning Chriſt, and make an acknowledgment of him. As the Devils confeſſed Chriſt, Thou art Chriſt the Son of God, Luke 4.41. And he ſuffered them not to ſpeak, for they knew that he was Chriſt. Which was almoſt as much as Peter's Confeſſion, Mat. 16.16. and more than the ordinary Jews and Phariſees could ſay. The one was the ſincere Confeſſion of a Friend, the other of an Enemy. There is an Aſſent to this Truth, as to a Propoſition, or a true Doctrin; and an Aſſent that is lively, practical and cordial in order to have Chriſt the Son of p. 134God, as a Perſon to be truſted to, and relied upon for Life. This is the Aſſent of a true Faith. 5. Men have ſome Deſires after Chriſt for the good they may get, as the Scribe expreſſed, Master, I will follow thee whitherſoever thou goest. And Jeſus ſaith unto him, The Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Neſts, but the Son of Man hath no where to lay his Head, Mat. 8.19, 20. This was a trial of his ſincere Faith, if he would be as poor and deſtitute as the Maſter was. If you had all things that can be named, and have not Chriſt, you have not Life. Take heed therefore where you pitch and ſettle, what you count your Treaſure, and upon what you build your Confidences. Give me leave to hold you a little longer, and to ſhew upon what Sand careleſs Builders, who look not to the things that are eternal, do lay their hopes of Life. Suppoſe you had all things that are common to the ſincere Believer, and to the Pretender, all will not amount to the Happineſs of Life. You ſay, you are born of Chriſtian Parents, and not only of profeſſing Chriſtians, but holy Parents: So had the Jews, as was noted but now, p. 135Abraham the Father of the Faithful to their Father; but not his Faith in Chriſt. Say, you have the beſt Church in the World for your Mother; to what purpoſe, except you are a living, new-born Child of God? Know you not that the Children of the Kingdom, ſuch as they were, ſhould be caſt out? Mat. 8.12. You have Baptiſm: Had not Simon Magus that Token upon him? Acts 8.13. You have the Miniſtry of the beſt Scholars and bleſs'd Men: Had not they who had not Life, this to ſay to Chriſt himſelf, Thou haſt taught in our Streets? Luke 13.25. Yea, but you have a Society of Saints, you have Fellowſhip with Virgins, and wiſe Virgins; and had not, and have not fooliſh Virgins the ſame? Mat. 25. Shew what you have with your Lamps, and what Oyl your Lamps are furniſhed with. Have you Faith? So had Simon Magus, Acts 8.12. ſo have Devils. Have you Chriſt indeed? Have you Love, unfeigned, burning, fruitful Love? You have perhaps a Name to live, a Name of Renown and Eminency, ſo had they who were dead, Rev. 3.1. All theſe things will make rather againſt you than for you, p. 136if by all outward means you have not the Son himſelf.

2. But ſome may ſay, How ſhall I be certain that I have Chriſt the Son, truly and indeed? Let me ask you a Queſtion or two, and anſwer them to your ſelf. 1. How came, you to ſeek after him, and to have him? Have you underſtood and felt your own Caſe, and do you ſtill know and feel when you look into your ſelf, a dead, miſerable, loſt, curſed ſtate of Guilt, Uncleanneſs, Bondage, and utter Inability to come to Life of your ſelf? 2. Have you ſeen the neceſſity of a Mediator, to make your Peace, and to bring you to a reconciled God? 3. Have you been, and are you ſtill ſatisfied with Chriſt? And Chriſt alone? His Death, Merits, Reſurrection and Interceſſion alone? (not joyning Antichriſt as a Head, bringing him to Chriſt, and ſodering him to you with ſoft Wax, or binding him to you with a Rope of Sand) nor adding Saints Merits and Interceſſions to his? Nor any other deviſed Supplements and Means of your Peace and Salvation? 4. Have you with hearty ſelf-abaſement been, and are you ſtill a great Admirer of the way of your recovery by Jeſus p. 137Chriſt? And ſtand amazed at the Grace, Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs and Love of God in Chriſt? 5. Have you come naked, wounded, poor and humbled to Jeſus Chriſt upon his Offer and Invitation; and taken him underſtandingly, adviſedly, deliberately, heartily and reſolvedly through his Grace and Aſſiſtance, without whom you can do nothing; caſting away whatever offends him out of his place and Houſe, namely, your Heart? And do you ſtill know that you are dead without him? And do you love him, and obſerve him, and the longer you are acquainted with him, the more and better?

2. What Uſe do you make of the Son? Do you reckon him your Life? Do you draw your Spiritual Life from him? And do you alledg him, Rom. 8.34. and plead him for your Diſcharge againſt all Accuſations, and truſt him for your Salvation in his own way, and your way of Adherence and Obedience?

2. Poſitively. All that have him are united to him, that's the immediate Work of the principal efficient Cauſe, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt, or the Spirit, who makes Application of p. 138Redemption, and brings Chriſt and his Members to be one, and the immediate Work and Office of Faith, given of God, and excited by the Spirit; like the opening of a blind Eye to behold an admirable lovely Object, or quickning a dead Palſie Hand to receive a Pardon.

2. Every one who is united to him, and made one, is regenerate and born of God, 1 John 5.1. 2 Cor. 5.17. If any man be in Chriſt, he is a new Creature. 3. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit. And this having of the Spirit is made a Sign of the mutual Union between Chriſt and the true Believer, 1 Joh. 3.24. And he that keepeth his Commandments (of Believing on the Name of his Son Chriſt, and mutual Love to the Brethren, verſ. 23.) dwelleth in him, and he in him; and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. But how may the true Spirit be known? By his Light, Life, Operations and Fruits. As the Soul of Man is known to be a rational Soul by its Operations, ſo is the Spirit of Chriſt known to be in Believers by his Operation and Effects. Take your Aim and Direction in this, from one effect of the Spirits p. 139uniting us to Chriſt and dwelling in us, and that is Life. He that hath the Son, and the Spirit of the Son, hath Life in him, whereby he lives a New Life to God through Jeſus Chriſt. Where this Life is, it is known by a ſpiritual ſenſe and motion from Chriſt and back again unto him.

2. By Hunger and Thirſt, by an Appetite to Spiritual Food As a new born Babe deſires the ſincere milk of the word, 1 Pet. 2.2. 3. By Growth and Strength: As new born Babes grow and gather ſtrength till they come to be Men, by uſing proper means of nouriſhment, as Milk, and ſtronger meat, by abiding in Chriſt, and living by Faith, drawing Supplies of Grace by holy Deſires and Prayers with all perſeverance. 4. By Nauſeating and loathing, refuſing, reſiſting and caſting out Contraries to it, and uſing Preſervatives.

Theſe things being drawn up for your Service in this little room, I return to my Exhortation, to perſuade you to have Chriſt, to have him for Life; for your Neceſſity is ſo great, that you do not need him for leſs than your Life; and that you would make haſte and p. 140have him while he is near, Iſa. 55.1, 2. Or elſe you may ſeek him when you ſhall not find him, John 8.21. And when you have him, adhere to him; have him and cleave to him, for (ſtill the ſame reaſon continueth) it is for your Life. What will ſtir you, if the Words of the Text will not?

Conſider the unconceivableneſs of the loſs, and what is the conſequent of it. The greatneſs of the loſs and deprivation, and the nearneſs of it are implied in theſe Words, Hath not Life. Oh! Wo! Wo! to that Soul. His ſtate is infinitely worſe than his, who hath not the Light of the Day to look on, nor Eyes to ſee it: Worſe than his, who hath not a Friend in the whole World, not a Rag to his Back, not a Farthing in his Purſe, not a Morſel to eat, not as much as a fading Gourd to hide his Head under; not the uſe of a Limb, not Skin upon his Back; no, not a Grave to reſt in: If every Unbelievers loſs were as great as Job's was, it were nothing to this, Hath not Life. It amounts to as much as the loſs of God, of Heaven, and all that is therein. The loſs of Earth and the preſent Life is the leaſt part of it. This p. 141loſs cannot be reckoned in the Ages of of the World; it is a loſs, under which there is no ſupport or relief to bear it: (Miſerable Sinners can contribute nothing but Miſeries and Sorrows to one another.) Nor will God himſelf ever repair it to any of them. They who will not have the Son for their Saviour and Redeemer, would refuſe, yea, deſpiſe, all other means and ways of their recovery, and readmiſſion to happineſs. They who do not aſſent to this wonderful way of God, nor conſent to the Terms of the Covenant of Grace now revealed, would diſſent from any other ways, if there were any other reſerved in the Will of God. They who cannot forſake, nor give up their Sins, which a Diſgrace, a Shame, a Burden, a Perverſion, a Confuſion of Nature, which every Sinner hath cauſe to be ſick of, and in continual pain till he be delivered of it, would never accept of Grace and Mercy upon condition of being Holy, and pleaſing God. They who will not have the Son for their Saviour, would not have God for their God and Father: There being no way left to recover their forfeited Life, they are loſt for ever who loſe it.

p. 142Q. But may not a man, who hath not the Son at preſent, have him, and Life by him hereafter? A. Yes, if he have him while it is to day, when God waiteth, that he may be gracious. But if he die before he comes to, and receiveth Chriſt, he dies in his Sin, and is out of all hopes of Life. Oh! who would for any buſineſs, or any Pretence whatſoever, delay the having of the Son, ſeeing that is no leſs than to put off the having of Life. Who would run his Life upon ſuch an Hazard, ſeeing their are ſo many Enemies that ſeek our Damnation, and work it by gaining the time of our delaying? Can any Buſineſs or Pleaſures in the World be thought of that Conſequence, as for them to venture the loſs of eternal Life? Many Men given much to the Pleaſures and Vanities of Life, have caſt them off, and fallen to the ſtudy of the Law, or to follow their Buſineſs, when but ſome Branch of their Eſtates have been in Queſtion, much more when the whole was in Danger. Oh! how diligent and wiſe for the World, and careleſs for a World to come, are Men? Put on Conſideration, and know for certain, that the greateſt matters of p. 143care and diligence meet in this one Life; for this Life comprehends in it the whole of a Man's Eſtate. He who hath not Life hath loſt all in one; and both theſe ineſtimable things, and both theſe ineſtimable things, an everlaſting Kingdom, an Heavenly Treaſure, a Crown of Life and Glory, and that Life in the poſſeſſion whereof the bleſſed Saints ſhall rejoyce for ever, and in the privation of which the miſerable and damned ſhall weep and lament for ever.

And this Puniſhment of Privation of Life will be the more intolerable, when it ſhall come upon the Unbeliever for this Cauſe, of his not having the Son. For not having the Son, who is the Son of God's love, infinitely amiable, and dear to all that love their own Nature; for he is the Son in our Nature, and now in our Nature glorified. All Men think themſelves honoured in the Honour of their Blood and Kindred, and eſteem the Perſon that is advanced. But ſuch is the Nature of Unbelief, that it moves to no Eſtimation, or Love to our Lord in Glory, who hath promiſed Glory to all that believe and follow him, and can ſee no excellency in him, who is highly exalted, p. 144and hath a Name that is above every Name. The not having of the Son, is upon Refuſal and Contempt, in Deeds, if not in Words. And becauſe this Privation of Life is for Unbelief and Refuſal, the loſs will be the greater; for the Puniſhment of Unbelief muſt needs be great, becauſe Unbelief is a great ſin, and we need not go further than this Text to prove it. Unbelief and not having, is the undervaluing, neglecting and refuſing the only two things that cannot be valued, the Son of God, and everlaſting Life. O that I could ſay ſomething that may enter and ſtick to the Heart! Hath God been pleaſed to make manifeſt the Myſtery of Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt, which hath been hid from Ages, Col. 1.26. and now will ye not look into it, but reject the Counſel of God, as the Lawyers did againſt themſelves? Luke 7.30. Hath God ſo loved the World, that he ſent his only begotten Son, that whoſoever believeth in him ſhall not periſh; and now he is ſent to you, who have as much need of him as any in the World, will you not have him? Is there Salvation in no other, and will you not have him? Do you no more p. 145value the Grace and Love of God in his Son Chriſt? Nor the love of Chriſt in humbling himſelf unto Death, even the Death of the Croſs for you? And now he is at the Right Hand of God in poſſeſſion of his Kingdom, and is able to ſave all that come to God by him, and will you not have him, and Life by him? Oh then you muſt periſh! Then you muſt have no part in the Tokens of God's everlaſting Love; no Saving Benefit of all the Coſt our Lord hath been at to redeem you; no Joy or Conſolation by the Spirit; no Communion with Saints in Glory, nor Light, Reſt, Peace in your own Souls for ever! No pardon of Sin, or Peace and Comfort by it, nor any other Bleſſing of Grace.

Obj. But ſome may ſay, If I have not Life, then I ſhall die.

A. So you ſhall: But you hope you ſhall be extinct, and be no more; but that ſhall not be; eternal Death will not be like the blowing out of a Candle, which ſhall never be lighted again. No, if you are Unbelievers and Atheiſts of that ſort, the everlaſting Pain and Torment ſhall convince you of your wicked Error, and of the loſs of not p. 146having Life. And this ſhould be a

2. A Second effectual Motive to have Chriſt and Life, for elſe you ſhall not have Life, but enough of Death the firſt moment. Oh! how bitter and dreadful will it be to Eternity! All they that hate me, love Death, Prov. 8. verſ. ult. They love the way, and the ſins which deſerve it. This ſhall be the Puniſhment of all Unbelievers. Oh! who would make light of Chriſt and Life, that ſhall be condemned, if they have him not, to Death Eternal? Death! A word containing innumerable and endleſs Evils. The loſs of God and Heaven will be a Death. The ſight of Hell and Devils, with Millions of Workers of Iniquity under Condemnation, will be Death. Death! not an End of the Sinner, but of his Happineſs! If the Flames ſhall never be quenched, as they ſhall not, as Chriſt hath declared, whoſe word is true, Mat. 25.41. And this everlaſting Fire is called everlaſting Puniſhment, verſ. 46. If the Puniſhment ſhall be everlaſting, it will follow, that they who are puniſhed muſt live in it, and endure it for ever. And Men may as well ſay, that the bleſſed of the Father ſhall not go into p. 147everlaſting Life, as that the wicked ſhall not go into everlaſting Puniſhment. As long as the Puniſhment ſhall endure, they ſhall endure that have deſerved it, and ſhall be condemned to it. Oh! what a curſed Death will this be! Oh! how miſerable will an immortal Body be with an immortal Soul! All the Miſeries of the Damned are ſet forth by the Name of Death: Every drop of the Rivers of Brimſtone, every Spark of the unquenchable Fire, every Tear that the Damned ſhall drop, every Gnaſh of their Teeth, every Bite of the Worm will be a Death! O Death! How full of Stings! This Death will be a Death of Separation from God and Good: When Chriſt ſhall bid the wicked depart from him, then all preſumptuous Thoughts, all fond Imaginations, all vain Hopes, all carnal Confidences, and all that ever they deceived themſelves withal ſhall depart from them; and under this Death they ſhall weep and roar for ever! Now if the Life everlaſting with God in Heaven were no better than a Priſoners Life upon Earth, or of a Perſecuted Proteſtant kept from Sleep, and tortured by Dragoons, the Devils black Regiments, p. 148and bare-fac'd Wolves; the Conſideration of this fearful Death ſhould make all Men that have any Conſideration, deſire and prefer the Son's Grace before the whole World. But when the Life that is entail'd upon Believers is a Son's Life in the Kingdom of God, an Heirs of Life, what deſperate Folly and Madneſs is it for any to refuſe him, or any thing enjoyned by him! Men have ſold their Services, and hir'd themſelves for Slaves; but who ever ſold his Life, but Sinners, for no Hire?

3. But whatever others do, or whatever becomes of others, do not you, to whom the Lord of Heaven and Earth doth make a gracious Tender of his only Son and Eternal Life; refuſe not, nor delay to have the Son of God, for you profeſs, and are engaged to have him. Your Baptiſmal Covenant binds you to go thorough with the Match you have put him on, Gal. 3.25, 26. O know him as he is, eſteem as he deſerves, joyn Hearts and Affections to him, renounce all Friendſhip with Sin and the World, and receive the Son to dwell in your Hearts, as Sovereign Lord and Maſter, and cleave to him to the end, and you ſhall have all p. 149that he is gone before to prepare for them that love him.

4. I know not how to make an end of perſwading you, the buſineſs is ſo great and urgent: If there were any Compariſon to be made between theſe two, of having Chriſt and Life, and not having him and Life, there might be ſomething to be ſaid for chuſing the worſt, before the beſt; but there being no compariſon between the one and the other, let me urge you, for the love of Jeſus, and your own Souls, to have the Son of God. Many a Man may be ſuch a Fool as to chuſe the worſt, and part with the beſt of it. Eſau choſe a Meſs of Pottage before his Birthright in his Extremity of Hunger and Impatience. Our firſt Parents thought of bettering themſelves by eating the forbidden Fruit. But, mark it, here is no colour for chuſing. If the caſe were, If you have the Son of God, you ſhall have the beſt of Lives; but if you have not this Chriſt the Son of God, you may have another, tho not ſo great and good. But if you have not the Son, you can have no other Saviour; there is no pretence for refuſing him. If the Caſe were, If you have p. 150the Son, you ſhall be juſtified, and all your Iniquities forgiven; you ſhall have the Life of a glorious King, a Saint in Heaven, and of perpetual and endleſs Communion with God in his Glory: But if you have him not, you ſhall live indeed, tho more meanly; you ſhall live, tho barely and poorly, by the ſweat of your Brows; you ſhall live, but between Sickneſs and Health, Pain and Eaſe, Peace and Trouble; ſometimes you ſhall be well, but for the moſt part ill; you ſhall have no better a Life than Lot had in Sodom, or David in Meſeck; ſome ſuch Life as Sinners have upon Earth you ſhall have, but the Life of Heaven you ſhall not have, nor the Life of Faith, nor the Life of Joy and Hope. But now this is the caſe, If you have not the Son you have not Life, no better Life than the Life of the damned in Hell. What madneſs of Unbelief is this! Here is no compariſon, but direct oppoſition, and the greateſt Contrariety of Good and Evil. Many a Man and Woman do chuſe the worſe for an Husband or Wife. But what a Self-hater is that Man or Woman that would have none of an Abraham, or a Sarah, or any other p. 151great and bleſſed Man or Woman, and have a curſed Branch of ſome curſed Stock; yea, to lead ones Life with a very Devil. Apply this Conſideration, and then you will find worſe than the worſt Compariſon you can make. No Son of God, no Life, not one good Day, or Moment of a Day to Eternity. O that you would hold your Thoughts to ſome ſuch Illuſtrations of the greateſt Loſs, where there is not the leaſt Advantage, the greateſt Loſs of the greateſt Good, to fall into the greateſt Miſery.

5. You cannot ſeparate either of theſe things from the other, both go together. You cannot refuſe Chriſt the Son of God, and yet have Life; and you cannot ſeparate the not having Life from the not having Chriſt. Chriſt will make any Soul happy in the higheſt degree that hath him. But if there were no better a Life to be had with Chriſt, than Chriſt with Baniſhment, Perſecution, with with a Croſs, yea, many Croſſes in this Life; to live as the Apoſtles did, ſometimes in Bonds, Priſons, Stocks; how infinitely is that to be preferred before all other Lovers! The excellent Properties p. 152of a Perſon in Marriage, will make a Wife follow him through the World. The Perfections of the Son of God make him moſt deſirable with all Afflictions and Sufferings. But what! when you have Chriſt, you have a bleſſed Life now, and a glorious one hereafter! But you cannot have the Glory without Chriſt: yea now, if you conſider the Life of Glory, you ſhould have Chriſt, tho he were but like a curs'd Husband. (O ponder the Compariſon and Suppoſal, it is but to illuſtrate the Point!) As many a Woman marries a Crab-ſtick for a great Eſtate and ample living; fat Sorrow is digeſted, the Sorrow is ſwallow'd, becauſe it is fat. But Oh! there is nothing but Sorrows and Wo attends them who have him not; nothing to ſhew, be it never ſo little, that is good, and abides with them; nothing but what will make them as ill at eaſe in their Minds as their Bodies in Flames of Fire. O! then before I leave you, let me in the Name of Chriſt, on hi… Behalf, and for your deareſt Life ſake, beg you to be prevail'd, and won this day over to Jeſus Chriſt.

6. Conſider one thing more, whoſe Work it is to make you averſe from Jeſus p. 153Chriſt. Oh! the wonderful power of the Devil upon the corrupt Natures of Men! The Devil himſelf never had the Impudence to bely or ſlander the Son of God with his own lying Tongue: The Father of Lies did never forge an ill word to the Diſhonour of the Lord of Glory: nay, he ſpake to his Honour, and yet he works, by means of the World, upon the ſinfulneſs of Man, to diſhonour him, to belie him: We remember this Deceiver ſaid; Men ſpake what the Devil durſt not, yet he was that lying Spirit from whom they ſpeak; he filled the Heart of Judas to betray him, and the Hearts of all others with Prejudices againſt the embracing of him; he crams them with the Chaff of worldly things, (they (tho now gilded, laid over with various Colours, and ſtrewd with Spice) will prove no better) that feeding them to the full, they may lie under the Wo to them that are full, Luke 6. that there may be no room for the Son of God in your Thoughts and Affections. It is he that keeps all he can poſſibly prevail upon, not to have the Son of God; for Satan muſt out when the Son of God comes in: Therefore knowing the deſign of the p. 154Devil, be not ſuch Enemies to Chriſt and your own precious Life, and ſuch Inſtruments of the Devil againſt Chriſt and your own Souls, as to loſe Life, and lie under eternal Death through his Temptations and prevailing Power. It will be more tolerable in Hell for Devils, than for any of you, if you die in Unbelief; for Chriſt died not to ſave them, nor was he ever offer'd to them as he is to you. Will you chuſe Sin and Death, rather than Chriſt and the Life of Pardon, Grace and Glory, becauſe the Devil would have you do ſo? What Evil have you heard of the Son of God, that rather than have him you would be tied to a ſtake, yea, dragged in pieces, yea, loſe Life rather than have it, if you muſt have him for it! Oh! the Prejudices, Strangeneſs and Enmity of the World againſt Chriſt, and his ways of Salvation! But will you live and die without a Saviour? And walk in that Faction of Men againſt God, which hath the Devil in the Head of them? You ſhould turn out of all the Paths of the Devil, for he brought in Sin, and Death by Sin into the World. If you come to Chriſt, and have him with his Merits and Benefits, with his Fathers Love and p. 155Spirits, Grace and Comfort, you ſhall have a Chriſtian's Life in Heaven; but if not, you muſt take what Follows, the Life of a Sinner, which is a Slave's Life upon Earth, and a Devil's Life in Hell.

Precious and Beloved Soul! whoever ſeriouſly reads, and is moved with any of theſe things, take theſe Advices and Directions following; and the Lord give you a Heart to follow them. 1. Do not careleſly lay by the Book, and the Thoughts of what is written together. If one Eye be opened to ſee ſomewhat of your Caſe, cloſe it not up to ſleep upon it, but open both to ſee the true ſtate of your Soul, as to Life and Death. If you are prickt in the Heart, receive more Pricks, and fear not to be wounded for ſin; for Chriſt can heal thee, and give thee Life.

2. Do not receive the Word upon my Credit, and do not reject it for any Prejudice againſt me, but go to the Word of God it ſelf: Read the Text, and recieve it, as it is the Word of God, for ſo it becomes effectual, 1 Theſſ. 2.13.

3. Dread a ſlight Work upon thy Heart. The Son of God finiſhed his Work, and left nothing undone that was to be done. It lay heavy upon him, yet he did it, till all was finiſhed. Be faithful to thine own Soul, to thine own Life, in working out thine own Salvation with fear and trembling, with a wiſe care and diligence, fearing to fail and miſcarry. And when you are heartily and ſeriouſly engaged to work out your Salvation, Take theſe Directions.

1. Study well, with reading, hearing, praying, the Word of Grace and Salvation. As you ſhall paſs from Death to Life in your Juſtification, ſo you muſt have a new Principle of Life, and be changed from Death to Life in Regeneration and Sanctification. How was the Apoſtle changed? p. 156The Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Chriſt Jeſus, Chriſt hath made me free from the Law of ſin and death, Rom. 8.2. The Goſpel is the Miniſtration of Life, 2 Cor. 3.6. and by it we are changed, while we behold the Glory of the Lord, (the Son Jeſus Chriſt) with open face as in a glaſs, v. 18.

2. As you are dead, and can never be ſaved but by Chriſt the Saviour, ſo you can never be quickned, nor believe, nor have Chriſt but by the Holy Spirit; We are changed from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.18. It is the real effectual Work of the Spirit of the Lord, and it is ſo done, as to demonſtrate the Finger of God to be in it.

3. Reſt not in outward Performances and Acts of Devotion, but wait upon God in all his Ordinances, as appointed means for Salvation. Pray for the Spirit of the Lord, to work in you a ſincere Separation from ſin, Satan, and Self, and to implant you in Jeſus Chriſt, to work your Hearts to believe, and joyn you to him in love, that you may have him for all thoſe kinds of Life that have been ſpoken of.

4. Reſt not in Wiſhes that you had Chriſt, but by humble Applications, with great earneſtneſs of Soul, by the quickning Aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit come to Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, for Himſelf and Life. You muſt have Chriſt himſelf, therefore come to him directly, and ſee that no overloved Creature or Sin whatever lie in the Heart, like a Stone between the Graſs and the Tree, to hinder a cloſure. Idols and Harlots muſt be ſhaken off, or there will be no Marriage-Union between the Son and you. And now the God of all Grace ſupply what I am wanting in, and give Life with his Son, to whom be Glory for ever.