The Sinners Last Sentence, Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX. Arguments againſt ſins of Omſſion. The new Nature in Believers inclines them to poſitive as well as negative Holineſs, and the profit will anſwer the pains.
11. COnſider if thou art a Believer, thy predominant new Nature inclines thee to poſitive as well as negative Holineſs. And ſhall this be given thee in vain? ſhall God be at ſuch coſt and charge, as to infuſe a principle of life into thee to no purpoſe? Pray obſerve what end God hath in this regenerating Work. Of his own Will begat he us again, by the Word of Truth, that we ſhould be a kind of Firſt-Fruits of his Creatures, Jam. 1.18. Where we have the cauſes of Regeneration: 1. The efficient Principal, He. 2. The moving, His alone Will. 3. The formal, Begat us again. 4. The inſtrumental, The Word of Truth. 5. The final, That we ſhould be a kind of Firſt-Fruits. God begets us again, that we ſhould be devoted to him; as the Firſt-Fruits of all the ſheaves were conſecrated to God, and that out of thankfulneſs to him, for his innumerable bleſſings, Prov. 3.9. Rom. 12.1. The Firſt-Fruits were holy to the Lord, and ſo ſhould all Chriſtians be. Again, he tells us his deſign in giving a new Spirit, and putting his Spirit into them, That they may walk in his Statutes, and do them, Ezek. 36.26, 27. So that 'tis Sacriledge, and God-robbery for a Chriſtian to imploy himſelf to the uſe of any but God, becauſe he is devoted to God; and it's alſo below a Chriſtian, as for a man to live as doth … Beaſt; for him that hath a noble Di…ine Principle to live as other men. As all the Children of the firſt Adam derive from him a depraved Nature, which inclines them not only to omit what is good, but alſo to do what is evil; therefore his Seed … known by both thoſe ſigns, Pſal. 36.3, 4. Hoſ. 4.1, 2, 3. So all the Children of the ſecond Adam derive from him a renewed Nature, (For they are made partakers of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1.4.) which doth not only take them off from what is evil, but alſo put them forward to that which is good, Rom. 6.11. As the Branches derive from the Root that ſap and moiſture which enableth them to fruitfulneſs; ſo the Chriſtian draweth that Virtue from Chriſt, even in his firſt Converſion, that inclines him whilſt he lives to bring forth fruit to God, Epheſ. 2.10. We are his Workmanſhip, created in Jeſus Chriſt unto good Works, which God hath ordained that we ſhould walk in them. Mark, this new piece that is indeed Gods Maſter-piece (for the New Creation doth far excel the old Heavens and Earth,) is formed in Chriſt as the efficient Cauſe unto good Works, unto ſuch Works as flow from the Spirit of God as the Principle, as are according to the Will of God, as the Rule, and for the Glory of God as the end, Gal. 5.20. Gal. 6.16. Phil. 1.11.
Each Convert hath …munion with Chriſt in his Death, and alſo in his Life; He knoweth Chriſt, and hath fellowſhip with him in his Death, whereby he dieth to Sin: Hence he is ſaid to be dead and buried with Christ, Rom. 6.6. knowing this, that our old man (ſo Sin is called, becauſe it's nigh as old as man, is full of ſubtilty and craft, and ſhould be always decaying and dying,) is crucified with him, (i. e. Chriſt, whom Sin crucified, and whoſe Death crucifieth Sin,) that the body of ſin (ſin is ſaid to have a body, becauſe it conſiſteth of many members, Col. 3.5.) might be deſtroyed, (for as the life of Sin gave Chriſt his deaths-wound, ſo the death of Chriſt gave Sin its deaths wound,) that henceforth we ſhould not (willingly, chearfully, cuſtomarily,) ſerve ſin as our Lord and Maſter. And as the Convert hath fellowſhip with Chriſt in his Death, ſo alſo in his Reſurrection. That I may know him, and the power of his Reſurrection, Phil. 3.10. i. e. Have experience (for 'tis ſuch a knowledge he ſpeaks of) of the power and energy of the Life of Chriſt, to quicken me unto new Obedience.
Beſides, the true Convert hath the Law of God written in his Heart, which cannot but move him to the obſervation of the Law in his Life, Pſal. 37. Heb. 8. According to the predominant principles that are in every mans nature, ſuch are his inclinations, whether to God or evil, and ſuch are ordinarily his practices. As a bowl moves this way or that way, according as the Byaſs inclines.
Now, Reader, Conſider, either thou art a Believer or not: If thou art not, it concerns thee ſpeedily to look about thee, leſt thou die in this eſtate, and be damned for ever, Joh. 3. ult. If thou art a Believer, it would be very ſtrange for thee to continue in any Omiſſion, for all this while thou acteſt againſt thy nature. It's very much eaſier to ſin with thy nature than againſt it. A wicked man that hath knowledge, cannot ſin with ſuch pleaſure and eaſineſs as another, becauſe he doth in ſinning oppoſe and fight with Conſcience within him; but it ſeems harder for thee, for thou doſt not only offer violence to thine enlightned Conſcience, but alſo to the new Nature that is implanted in thee. By thy Omiſſions, thou doſt not only ſin againſt thy natural Light, but alſo againſt thy new ſpiritual Life. It's hard, we ſay, for a man to thwart or croſs nature, Naturam expellas furca, &c. and wilt thou take ſuch pains to diſobey thy Gods Precepts? The Devils Servants do his Will, but it is with their own whole Wills, according to their own inclinations; they do not croſs themſelves to pleaſe him. But thou canſt not neglect the Will of God, but it muſt be in part againſt thine own will, and againſt thine own inclinations; and wilt thou diſpleaſe thy ſelf to diſpleaſe God, and walk contrary to thy ſelf, that thou mayſt walk contrary to God. This is the part and guiſe of the moſt ſpiteful, envious, and malicious Enemies, and I am ſure it's impoſſible for thee (if a Believer) to be ſuch an enemy to God. God did purpoſely endue thee with a new Spirit, that thou mighteſt live to his praiſe, Iſa. 43.21. This people have I formed for my ſelf, and (new made and moulded them) they ſhall ſhew forth my praiſe. Now how is the praiſe of God ſpread in the World, but by good Works, Matth. 5.16. Let your light ſo ſhine before others, that they ſeeing your good works, may glorifie your heavenly Father, ſo Joh. 15.8.
Again, it would be marvailous if thou ſhouldſt not follow thy own natural propenſity and inclinations. For a dead man to lie ſtill, and not ſtir, nor perform any actions of life, is nothing ſtrange, none expecteth any other; but for a living man, one that hath a principle of life to do ſo, would be accounted little leſs than miraculous. For a man dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes, that hath no Spirit of Grace to enliven his poor Soul, to lie ſtill in his idleneſs, and ſlothfulneſs, and carnal ſecurity, and to neglect the performance of the Duties of a ſpiritual Life, is no wonder; but is it not a wonder for one that is quickened in Chriſt, Epheſ. 2.5. created unto good works, fitted and formed for them, Eph. 2.10. that hath Jeſus Chriſt living in him, Gal. 2.20. and a principle of holineſs inclining and inabling him hereunto, ſhould omit thoſe actions that are proper to life. I beſeech thee, Friend, do not diſpleaſe thy ſelf, and croſs thy very Nature, to diſobey thy God; ſurely he is worthy of more dutiful behaviour from thee.
12. The Reward will anſwer the Work, and the profit of poſitive Holineſs will anſwer all thy pains. I confeſs Obedience to the affirmative part of the Command, (to pray, and hear, and give to the Poor, &c. with thoſe qualifications, and in that manner which God commandeth,) is much harder than to the Negative; and to do good is much more difficult than not to do evil; but thy labour ſhall not be in vain. I have told thee already all the reward of a meer negative Holineſs, is a cooler Hell; but I muſt tell thee now, that the reward of poſitive Holineſs will be a glorious, and bleſſed, and endleſs ſtate of happineſs in Heaven. A negative Holineſs ſhall not have ſo much as a full negative Happineſs; it ſhall not aboliſh, only abate the Torments of Hell; and the reaſon is, becauſe ſuch Holineſs is counterfeit and hypocritical: But poſitive Holineſs ſhall have both, a full negative and poſitive Happineſs. God will do him good, that is good, and doth good, Pſal. 125.4. And if God undertake to do good to a perſon, he will do it to good purpoſe. Mans doing good, which is his poſitive Holineſs, is little; yea, nothing to God. My goodneſs extendeth not to thee, ſaith David, Pſal. 16.3. But Gods doing good, which is his poſitive Bounty, is effectual, yea all in all with man; therefore when he would ſpeak in few words the great kindneſs he had in ſtore for his people, he only tells them, Jer. 32.40. I will not turn away from them to do them good. And verſ. 41. I will rejoyce over them to do them good. Nay, though negative godlineſs obtains only at preſent ſome reſpect from men, and hereafter fewer ſtripes from Hells Jaylor; poſitive Holineſs hath a far greater, and another manner of reward, both here and hereafter. In the doing of thy Commands there is great reward, Pſal. 19. In the forbearing thy Prohibitions there is ſome reward, but in the doing thy Commands there is great reward. Poſitive Holineſs hath meat in its mouth, affirmative Obedience is its own recompence. It brings that calmneſs and ſerenity of mind, that nothing elſe can do. Negative Holineſs may do ſomewhat towards a negative quietneſs, i. e. a freedom from thoſe dreadful horrors and terrors which ſometimes ſeize thoſe who commit groſs unnatural ſins; but poſitive Piety brings poſitive Peace. Great peace have they which love thy Law, Pſal. 119. 165. and nothing ſhall offend them. They are not only freed from thoſe gripes of Conſcience with which many others are afflicted, but they have that ſpiritual joy and heart-comfort which the World is a ſtranger to, Gal. 6.16. Faith which is not the leaſt part of this holineſs, fills the Soul with joy; yea, with joy unſpeakable and full of Glory, Rom. 15. 1 Pet. 1.8. I may appeal to the experience of a Chriſtian, whether ever he find more comfort, than when he hath done his God faithful Service, and whether ever their hearts are more heavy, than when they have been negligent of their Duty. David and the Iſraelites were almoſt tranſported, their hearts leaped for joy that they had offered ſo willingly and liberally towards the building of the Temple; then the people rejoyced, for that they offered willingly, becauſe with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord; and David the King alſo rejoyced with great joy, and the wine of their joy was ſo ſtrong, that he was forced to give it vent. Wherefore David bleſſed the Lord before all the Congregation, and ſaid, Bleſſed be thou Lord God of Iſrael, our Father for ever and ever, &c. 2 Chron. 29.9, 10, 11, 12, &c. But mark, God is ſo tender of this man that mindeth his Duty, that he will ſuffer no wind, no ill wind to blow upon him. Great peace have they which love thy Law, and nothing ſhall offend them. None muſt knock at their door, to diſturb them of their reſt. All the Creatures muſt be kind to them for his ſake; they muſt have nothing done to them which may be offenſive.
Yet this is not all the profit of Holineſs here, (though I ſhall paſs to the next) much leſs in the other World. As I ſaid before, a poſitive Holineſs ſhall have a poſitive Heaven. The Chriſtians avoiding what is evil, through the blood of Chriſt, ſhall be recompenced with a freedom from Hell; and the Chriſtians doing what is good through the ſame meritorious cauſe, ſhall be rewarded with the fruition of Heaven. The two Servants that had (not hid their Talents in a Napkin, as the negative Chriſtian doth, but) traded according to his truſt, and improved his ſtock faithfully in doing good, as he had opportunity; is commended by his Maſter for a good and faithful Servant, and honoured with his Maſters own happineſs. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. No leſs will content his large liberal heart than his own joy for his holy Ones, a joy ſo great that it cannot enter into them; their narrow Veſſels can never hold ſuch an Ocean, therefore they muſt enter into it, and be immerſt and ſwallow'd up as it were in this vaſt Sea of Pleaſure and Solace. But, Reader, conſider in this Chapter before the Text, verſ. 34. What will be the profit of this ſort of Piety, how infinitely the gains will exceed the pains, were they ten thouſand times more than they can be. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World; For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat, &c. How doth every word ſpeak Love and Life, every ſyllable drop Myrh and Mercy. In which we may obſerve the welcome thoſe that are fruitful Chriſtians ſhall find from Chriſt in the other World. We have, 1. The eſtate they ſhall be inveſted with, and that is a Kingdom. 2. Their Title to it, and that is by Inhetance from their Father; Ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom. 3. Its preparation for them, Prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. 4. Their formal introduction into it; Come ye bleſſed of my Father. 5. The qualification of the perſons that ſhall inherit this Kingdom, (I was hungry, and ye fed me,) ſuch as feed the Hungry, and cloath the Naked. 1. Obſerve, Reader, for thine encouragement, to mind poſitive Holineſs, the eſtate thy loving and bountiful Father hath provided for thee, when thou comeſt to age. It's no leſs than a Kingdom; thou ſhalt be a King now (and enjoy a Kingdom then, He hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God, Rev. 1.6.) with Palms in thy hand, Rev. 7.9. (of which the door of the Holy of Holies was made, 1 Kings 6.33. an emblem of perfect Victory over all thine enemies,) and Robes on thy back, Rev. 19.8. (of perfect Purity, ſpotleſs Innocency, and Meridian Glory,) and a Crown on thy Head, James 1.12. (ſuch a Crown as will never wear, never waſte, but endure; and therefore called Incorruptible, 1 Cor. 9.25.) and reign with Chriſt for ever and ever. Reader, hath a Kingdom nothing of amiableneſs in it to allure thee? What fighting, and killing, and ſwearing, and forſwearing is there for an earthly Kingdom? O what ſhouldſt thou not do for an heavenly Kindgom! Where, 1. Is the greateſt Glory, (a far more exceeding Weight of it, 2 Cor. 5.17, 18.) 2. The ſtrongeſt Security, (a Kingdom that cannot be ſhaken, Heb. 11. No Devil or ſubtile Serpent can crawl into the Coeleſtial Paradiſe.) 3. The brighteſt Splendor, (tranſparent as Chriſtal, Rev. 21. Wherein the Inhabitants ſhall ſhine as the Sun, and much more luſtrouſly, Matth. 13.) 4. The higheſt Attendants (Cherubims and Seraphims ſtanding as Servants or Porters at the twelve Gates of the City, Rev. 21.12.) 5. The greateſt Power, (the Saints ſhall inherit all things, Rev. 12.) Judge that World which now cenſureth and judgeth them, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. & 6. the moſt pure and perfect ſatisfaction, in every power and part of Soul and Body, (There is fulneſs of Joy, and rivers of Pleaſures,) and verſ. 7. eternity to compleat their felicity; 2 Pet. 1.11. So an entrance ſhall be adminiſtred into the everlaſting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.
2. The Title, Inherit the Kingdom. It comes to them not by their Purchaſe, but by Chriſts Purchaſe; therefore called the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, Epheſ. 1.14. Ʋntil the Redemption of the purchaſed Poſſeſſion. It comes not to them by their goodneſs, but by Gods Gift. Fear not little Flock, it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you a Kingdom, Luk. 12.32. It comes not to them by their Obedience, but by Inheritance from their Father. Chriſt is Gods natural Son and Heir of all things, by him Believers are Gods adopted Children, Gal. 3.26. Ye are all the Children of God through Faith in Jeſus Chriſt: and if Sons, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and Joynt-Heirs with Chriſt, Rom. 8.17.
3. Its preparation for them from the Foundation of the World. When God firſt erected the ſtately Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, probably he made the empirean Heaven the place of the bleſſed; for at firſt, when he laid the Foundations of the World, the Morning-Stars ſang together, and all the Sons of God ſhouted for joy; therefore it's likely the place of their Reſidence was made. Beſides, it was prepared in the Decrees of God; they were deſtinated to a Diadem before they had a being.
4. Their formal admiſſion into it, Come ye bleſſed of my Father. Come from all Sin, from all Sorrow, all Sufferings; Come from Babylon to Sion, from a barren Wilderneſs, where is no water for a thirſty Soul, to a fruitful pleaſant Paradiſe, where are all ſorts of luſcious and heart-chearing Rarities. Come, where have ye been all this while? how could ye bear my abſence ſo long? what have ye done in a Valley of Tears, a Bochim, a place of weeping, ſo many years? When he calls them to die, his Voice need not be unpleaſant to them. He doth but call them as a Father his Child, out of the ſhower into his houſe. Come my people enter into the Chambers, ſhut the door, hide your ſelves for a very little moment, till the Indignation be overpaſt, Iſa. 28.20. Come Child, go to bed, I will cauſe the duſt to be a ſoft Couch of repoſe to thee, and when thou awakeſt in the Morning of the Reſurrection all ſhall be well with thee; but his Voice at the Reſurrection will be ſweet indeed; Come Child, O come dear Child into my Arms and Embraces; come into my Heart, come into my very Soul. Come and take poſſeſſion of my dear bought Purchaſe; Come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for thee. Come Child, and enjoy all that Honour, and Treaſure, and Joy, and Delight, and Happineſs, which thou haſt ſo often pray'd, and wept, and watcht, and ſighed, and ſob'd for. Come Child to thy Fathers Houſe, ſit down at his Table, drink of his new Wine, and eat of his hidden Manna, and feaſt of the Tree of Life, that groweth in the midſt of Paradiſe for ever and ever.
5. The qualification of the Perſons that ſhall partake of this Poſſeſſion, they are ſuch as feed the Hungry, cloath the Naked, &c. For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat; thirsty, and ye gave me drink. Reader, doſt thou not obſerve, that thoſe who mind this poſitive Holineſs, are the bleſſed of the Father, and the Heirs of the Kingdom, and wilt thou neglect? A Kingdom makes the greateſt difference among men. The height of any ones ambition can be but a Kingdom; and will not a glorious joyful eternal Kingdom move thee?