A Gospel Glass, Treatise · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Their delays to cloſe with Chriſt.
4ly. Many delayers to believe.HOw many do delay in their coming to Chriſt? And O! what indignities are herein put upon Chriſt? How long doth he ſtand at the dores of ſinners, ere they let him in. Cant. 5.2. Hebr. 3.7. Jam. 4.14. Mark 16.16. 2 Cor. 6.2. Gen. 6.3.My head (ſaith Chriſt,) is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night, Though he limit linners to a day, To day if ye will hear his voice, &c. Though our life be even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vaniſheth away, ready every moment to expire; though we muſt needs periſh and be damned, if we believe not in him before we dye; He that believeth not, ſhall be damned; though now is the accepted time, though the Spirit may never invite more: My ſpirit ſhall not alwayes ſtrive with man; though we are not ſure of one day of grace more; yet how do many hazard their eternity rather than they will be yet beholding to Chriſt for Life and Salvation? Though they may have his Righteouſneſs, his Redemption, his Spirit, his Image, his Heaven, his Glory, his Love, his Honours, his Inheritance by coming to him; yet what trifling delays are mens hearts filled with? Though they are actually condemned by the Law for their Capital Offences, for high Treaſon againſt the Majeſty of Heaven, and pardons be offered freely by Jeſus Chriſt unto them, if they will but accept of him and them, yet ſo is Chriſt fall'n in the accompt of them, who yet are nominal Chriſtians, that they will hazard their Souls, rather than they will yet be ſo much beholding to Chriſt. This deſperate enmity againſt Chriſt and his offers is the condemning ſin. This is the condemnation, Joh. 3.19.that light is come into the world, and men loved Darkneſs rather than Light, becauſe their deeds were evil. All other ſins are nothing to this; what? when God hath limited thee to A day, wilt thou, dareſt thou careleſly miſpend that one day, when thou art not ſure of another? Believe it, your trifling delays are more hideous ſins, do more ſtain your ſouls, and provoke God, than drunkenneſs and unnatural luſts in ſuch, as never had one of your Calls. How dareſt thou, having ſo many wayes tranſgreſſed againſt this God, having provoked him to wrath by ſo frequent breaches of his Holy Law, to add to all theſe iniquities thy trifling delays of coming into Chriſt, that thou maiſt be pardoned? How durſt thou, when lying under the wrath of a juſtly incenſed God, ſend away Chriſt as Faeli… did Paul, with Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient ſeaſon, I will call for thee: when (wretch) is that convenient ſeaſon? Is it then, when thou haſt ſerved the Devil ſome weeks, months, or years longer? When thou haſt ſpent all the flowre of thy time and ſtrength in the ſervice of Hell? Muſt Then Chriſt have the dregs of thy time? Muſt he have nothing but Sathans leavings? O! Doubtleſs for theſe delays is Chriſts wrath ready to be powred out upon this Nation to the uttermoſt. The Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from Heaven, 2 Theſ. 17.8.in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: By delaying to hearken to Chriſts calls and invitations thou telleſt Chriſt to his face, that he is not altogether lovely, that he is not the faireſt of ten thouſand, that there is ſomewhat in Sins ſervice and the Devils, that is more deſirable than what can be had in Chriſts. And canſt thou imagine ſuch Blaſphomy, viz. (To tell Chriſt to his face, that thou valueſt thy luſts above the enjoyment of him,) is not provoking? O! if ever theſe come over fully to Chriſt, if Chriſts patience be extended yet longer, and they be at length wone to him; How will they befool themſelves that they came into Chriſts ſervice no ſooner? Nimis ſero te ama…. O! I have loved thee too late. Oh th… …oy, the unſpeakable Joy I have loſt! Oh the peace, that I might have had! Oh the aſſurance of Gods love, that my Soul might have been filled with! Oh the experiences of the grace of God, that I might have had, if I had come into Chriſt on Chriſts firſt call and intreaty! Oh the opportunities of ſervice, that I might have had, when the marrow was in my bones, when I was young and freſh for duty! Oh! Lam. 3.27.How good had it been if I had born Chriſts yoak (ſooner) in my youth? O the many ſins that I have been guilty of! Oh! how long withſtood I the Grace of God, and grieved the Spirit of God? Oh! What a burden was I to Chriſts Miniſters, and much more to Chriſt himſelf? But God alone knows, how ſoon his Spirit ſhall ceaſe ſtriving with theſe poor Souls, and how long they ſhall be within a capacity of obeying the Heavenly Call. The Jewes have a Rule, that if a man vowes any ſervice to God before he dyes, he muſt do it preſently, becauſe he may dye preſently. Rev. 6.8.Death and Hell are deſcribed coming on Horſeback, in full ſpeed: Ask thy ſelf therefore Jeremiah's queſtion, Jer. 12.5.Can I out-run or eſcape theſe Horſemen? However, through the great and wonderful averſeneſs there is in mens hearts from Chriſt, they ſtay and linger, like Lot in Sodom, that if God do not work a miracle upon them, and for them, they will periſh in the flames. They know what the fooliſh Virgins loſt by their delayes; all is one, no coming to Chriſt, as long as poſſibly they can make any ſhift to live without him, and until an Almighty power exert it ſelf on their Souls, to make them willing of a Chriſt. One hath a Wife, another a Yoak of Oxen, all of them ſome buſineſs or other to detain them for the preſent from Chriſt. They do not utterly deny to come, but at preſent they have ſuch employments, as that they have no preſent freedome to wait upon him. The Son of God muſt dance attendance on them, they muſt be banqueting with the Devil within, and Chriſt muſt ſtand without, yea wait their leaſure, till they receive him in. There are ſeveral ſorts of theſe delaying Profeſſours.
1. Delayes to come to Chriſt.Some (and they the worſt ſort) from their great love to their luſts, and to the comforts and ſenſualities of this life, which they fear, From love to worldly Luſts.when they are under Chriſts yoak, they ſhall be bereaved of, delay coming to Chriſt. Sin hath ſo rooted it ſelf in their hearts and affections, that they are loth to take a final farewell thereof, loth to mortifie their earthly members; Sin is ſo prevalent with them, that they had rather part from their right eye, hand, and foot, than part from their ſins; hence they choak their Convictions what they can, admit of any pleaſures and diverſions, to wear out the impreſſions that are made in their Conſciences, that they may ſtill lodge ſin in their boſomes, and not come to Chriſt; hence they labour to quench the Spirit of God, and through the prevails of ſpiritual ſloth, will not uſe the means, whereby they may be fully converted to Chriſt. They pretend they are deſirous of Chriſt, only they doubt whether Chriſt is willing to receive them; but that which lieth at the bottom is this, they are loth to leave their darling luſts, and loth to pray and watch their hearts, and to do what God requires and expects at their hands, in order to Converſion. You may imagine God is highly provoked hereby; for God to ſend his Son unto you, the beſt Jewel that ever lay in his boſome, and for you to neglect and undervalue him, and preferr ſwiniſh luſts before him, 'tis a plain argument, that you never ſaw ſin aright in its nature and effects, and that you do not credit God in his diſcoveries of the glory of his Son. You do not believe you are ſo miſerable without a Chriſt, as indeed you are; you ſlight the greateſt Gift, that ever God conferr'd upon the children of men; you make void the great counſels of God, all the thoughts of his wiſdome and grace, in contriving ſuch a way, as by Jeſus Chriſt, to ſave you from wrath to come; you alſo fruſtrate the expectations of God, Mat. 21.37.for Surely (ſaith God) they will reverence my Son; whereas, by your trifling delayes, you tell God and men, that you believe not any advantage you ſhell have by the Son of God; you think it will be to your loſs, to receive in the Lord of glory. He tells you, Pſal. 36.8.Ye ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſs of his Houſe, Cant. 5.1, 3.and ye ſhall drink of the Rivers of his Pleaſures. He tells you, He hath gathered his Myrrh, with his Spices; He hath wine, milk, and honey. You cry out, Prov. 24.33.I have put off my Coat, how ſhall I put it on, &c. A little more ſlumber in the Devil's Lap, a little more folding of the hands to ſleep. You are told of Joyes unspeakable, and full of glory; 1 Pet. 1.8. Phil. 4.7 John 17.3.of Peace that paſſeth all underſtanding; of eternal Life by knowing Chriſt. You are told, you can never be reconciled unto God, but by Chriſt; that he muſt end all Controverſies between Chriſt, and your Souls; that He is able to ſave to the uttermoſt, Hebr. 7.25. Pſal. 19.10. Acts 24.25. Luke 14.18. Jo. 8.24. Jo. 3.36. Pro. 8.34, 35. Rev. 3.20.all that come unto God by him; that His Word is more deſirable than gold, yea, than much fine gold. But all this prevails not with you. When I have a convenient Seaſon, &c. Yet I cannot, I pray have me excuſed. He tells you, If you believe not that I am he, you ſhall dye in your ſins; and that he that believeth not the Son, shall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him, yet delayes ſtill. He tells you, Bleſsed is the man that heareth me, and who ſo findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Behold, I ſtand as the doer and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me. Jo. 6.35I am the Bread of Life, he that cometh to me, shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me, Epheſ. 2.19. Jo. 1.12shall never thirst. He tells you, Of Strangers and enemies, you shall become Children, and yet this ſeems a light matter, to be ſo near related to the King of Kings. Is not this Englaeds great Provocation, to refuſe ſo great an honour and dignity? Rom. 8.1He aſſures you, There is no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt. And ſhall he not condemn Wretches, that ſlight the Pardons that are offered to them? Hebr. 10.29.Theſe muſt expect a double wrath. Of how much ſorer punishment shall they be thought worthy, &c.
2. From believing Satan before God.Others, in imitation of the old Adam, believe the Devil before God, credit his Suggeſtions, beyond all Gods Diſcoveries. O! O! What a black grain'd Sin is this? Saith the Devil, You have ſinned againſt Light, and therefore Chriſt will not favour you: Saith God, Let the wicked forſake his way, Iſa. 55.7and his thoughts, and I will abundantly pardon. Saith the Devil, You have ſinned more than others, you have provoked God exceedingly, and therefore never hope for ſaving benefit by Chriſts death: Saith God, Ceaſe to do evil, Iſa. 1.16, 17, 18.learn to do well, come now, and let us reaſon together, though your ſins be as ſcarlet, they shall be as white as ſnow. Saith the Devil, You have ſinned not only againſt the Law, but againſt the Goſpel, you have neglected Chriſt: Saith God, Luke 12.10.Every ſin againſt the Son of man shall be forgiven. Saith the Devil, You have no right to Chriſt, it is in vain to come: Jo. 3.16Saith God, Whoſoever believeth shall not periſh. Saith the Devil, Your day of grace is paſt: Saith God, To day, whilſt it is called to day, Hebr. 3.7, 13.hear his voice. Saith the Devil, God never intended you good, you are a Veſſel of Diſhonour: Saith God, As I live, Ezek. 33.11.I deſire not the death of a ſinner, but that he turn and live. Now I pray conſider, whether God takes it kindly at your hands, John 8.44. Titus 1.2.that you ſhould lay more weight on the Father of Lyes, than on the faithful God, who hath promiſed, and cannot lye; who muſt ceaſe to be God in that very moment, wherein he ceaſeth to be true. You perhaps deceive your ſelves with the Phariſees Comforts, Luke 18, 11.You are not as theſe Harlots, as theſe Publicans, no Drunkards, &c. but little think that you put the Lye upon God. You believe the Enemy more than the Friend. O! what a Provocation is this?
3. Through Pride. Rom. 10.3.Others, through the pride of their hearts, will not come (as yet) unto Chriſt. They have no mind to ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of faith. He is judged a proud man (without a Jury ſitting on him) who when Condemned will not ſubmit, will not ſtoop ſo low as to accept of a Pardon. I muſt indeed correct my ſelf, men are willing to be juſtified; but they would have their duties to purchaſe their peace and the favour of God: they ſcorn to be beholding to Chriſt. Thouſands will dye and be damned rather than they will have a pardon upon the ſole account of Chriſts Merits and Obedience. O the curſed Pride of the heart! When will men ceaſe to be wiſer than God? To limit God? When will men be contented with Gods way and method of ſaving them by the bloud of the Everlaſting Covenant? How dare men thus to preſcribe to the infinitely wiſe God? Is it not enough for thee that thy deſtruction is of thy ſelf? But muſt thy Salvation be of thy ſelf too? Is it not enough that thou haſt wounded thy ſelf? But wilt dye for ever, rather, than be beholding to a plaiſter of free grace? Wilt be damned unleſs thou mayſt be thine own Saviour? Jo. 3.16.God is willing (So God loved the World, that he gave his Son) Art thou ſo proud, as that thou wilt not be beholding to God? Thou wilt deſerve, or have nothing. What ſhall I ſay? Rev. 3.17.Poor thou art, and yet proud, thou haſt nothing but wretchedneſs and miſery, and yet thou art talking of a Purchaſe. This is a provocation. God reſiſteth the proud, eſpecially the ſpiritually proud. He that is proud of his Clothes and Parentage, is not ſo contemptible in Gods eyes, as he that is proud of his Abilities, and ſo ſcorns to ſubmit to Gods methods for his ſalvation by Chriſt and his righteouſneſs alone.
4. Others, Through hopes to prepare themſelves, and make themſelves fit for Chriſt.through their ignorance and weakneſs ſtay off from Chriſt, in hopes of working that, which cannot be wrought without a Chriſt. Were their hearts ſo humbled and melted, as ſuch and ſuch are, could they ſee all their ſins ſubdued, were their hearts more fitted and prepared for to lodge ſo great a Friend, they would then cloſe with the Promiſes, with Chriſt; whereas they ſhould come to Chriſt, as ſoon as they apprehend they are poor, blind, and naked, Rev. 3.17, 18.for them lie calls and invites. But alas! a ſight of their wants, is a barr to their coming. They would have the Fruit firſt, and then the Tree; have their hearts purified, and then come to Chriſt (Who is appointed by God to be Sanctification to them.) God comes, by his Spirit, to convince them of their ſinful nature and weakneſs, on purpoſe, that they ſeeing their neceſſity of Chriſt, might flye to him, as their City of refuge, and they are driven farther off by the ſight of their ſins and unworthineſs. Whereas they ſhould come to Christ, as to a Magazine and Store-houſe, and wait on him, in the uſe of means, for the broken heart, the pure heart, and all other ſpiritual mercies, which their Souls are yet deſtitute of, but they will not. O faithleſs Generation! How long ſhall I be with you? Mar. 9.19.how long ſhall I ſuffer you? Chriſt is put to the utmoſt of his patience, to bear with Unbelief.
5. Through ſeeming modeſty.Others, through ſome kind of ſeeming modeſty and tenderneſs, delay in their coming to Chriſt. They are afraid of abuſing the holineſs and juſtice of God, if they ſhould hope for any privilege in the blood of Chriſt, and mercies of God. What mercy for me? me a proud wretch, an unclean wretch, an enemy to God, a ſlighter of his Spirit? I deſerve nothing but Hell, what Heaven for me? I have affronted the Majeſty of the great God, and what? This God beſtow a Chriſt on me? Who can believe, that the Juſt God, who turned down the glorious Angells to Hell for one tranſgreſſion, will ſave me, who have committed more ſins in number, than the hairs on my head, than the ſands on the Sea ſhore? And what, Mercy for me? Shall I have a Chriſt? Will Chriſt accept of me, who have wronged his Father and him for ſo many years together? O! how long doth many an awakened Soul hang in doubts and fears, ere it will venture upon Chriſts graciouſneſs alone; and then, when the Soul hath long ſtood out, the fears increaſe. I have refuſed Chriſt ſo long; to all my former tranſgreſſions I have added this, my puting off Chriſt and Salvation, when freely tendered, and therefore ſure I may not now come. And now if Chriſt offers them mercy, ſtill they are fearful; they cannot believe that Chriſt is ſerious and real. O! by theſe jealouſies of Chriſt, you provoke him not a little. You are ready to ſay, This is too good news to be true: What is this, but to ſay, The Goſpel is falſe, it is no true and faithful Word, 'tis not to be received with all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave the greateſt of ſinners, blaſphemers and perſecutours of Chriſt? This is the great Sin that made Chriſt weep. You ſeldome find Chriſt weeping over the Idolaters of the World: I find him not weeping over Sodom and Gomorrah; but if Hieruſalem refuſe Chriſt, this makes him weep indeed, Hieruſalem, Luke 19.42.Hieruſalem, O if thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things that concern thy peace! Chriſt became a man of ſorrows, Iſa. 53.3was acquainted with griefs, &c. on hopes he ſhould ſee of the travail of his Soul, and be ſatisfied. It troubles Chriſt to ſee thee to goe about to make God a Lyar to his Son, and to be denied thy loves and affections, for whoſe ſake he ſubmitted to his Fathers frowns. O! this ſin of Unbelief hath great unkindneſs in it, Mar. 16.14.and therefore no wonder if Chriſt upbraids for it. A man is properly upbraided, when as the kindneſs that hath been done to him, is revealed to him, together with his ungratefulneſs. But what ſhall I ſay? So farr are Souls from coming to Chriſt, that they do ſeldome bewail this ſin, and ſeldome ſeek to God for power againſt it; and though men pretend they cannot come to Chriſt, yet the truth is, they will not (ſo Mr. Fenner, in his willful impenitency hath abundantly proved.) The immediate cauſe of your not coming is not a natural deficiency, but a moral oppoſition of Spirit againſt Chriſt.