The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry, Discourse 1 · Application 2

The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry · Discourse 1 · Application 2

p. 45USE. We may learn from the ATtendance of Christ, what Honour ſhall be put on Chriſt at his Appearing.

Heaven ſhall be emptied of the Angels and glorified Saints to follow Chriſt; the Graves ſhall be emptied of the dead Bodies of the Saints to meet Chriſt. 1 Theſ. 4.14. Thoſe that ſleep in Jeſus, ſhall God bring with him. They ſhall be brought from death to life, to be preſented to Jeſus Chriſt. Chriſt ſhall come in his own Glory, as he is the Son of God; and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, Luke 9.26. And he ſhall come in the Fathers glory; that is, he ſhall come in that Glory the Father hath put on him, as his Righteous Servant. Phil. 2.10, 11. God hath exalted Chriſt, and given him a Name above every Name, that at the Name of Chriſt every knee ſhould bow, and every tongue p. 46ſhould confeſs that Jeſus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Father is glorified in the glory of Chriſt. And it is further ſaid, Luke 9.26. That he ſhall come in the glory of the holy Angels. They ſhall be Chriſt's Servitors, ſhall attend on his Nod, and wait at his beck, and be ready to fulfil his pleaſure. And what terror may this truth ſpeak to the wicked, that mighty Angels ſhall be Reapers to cut them down, and execute the Sentence of Chriſt upon them? And what comfort may this truth adminiſter to the Godly, that mighty Angels ſhall gather them to Chriſt? They ſhall not miſcarry, becauſe the Angels ſhall find them out and preſent them to Chriſt, as thoſe that will be juſtified by him, and enjoy communion with him. 4. In what manner will Chriſt appear? It is ſaid in a flame of fire. Our Tranſlators render it, in flaming fire. Chriſt's coming will be terrible to the Unbelieving World; his frowning Face will then be unveiled, his puniſhing Arm will then be made bare. His fury will then come up into his Face, Ezek. 38.18. Long meekneſs and patience will end in ſeverity. Sinners do weary out the patience and Long-Suffering of God, that he can bear no more, no longer, Jer. 44.22. He is even weary of repenting, Jer. 15.6. becauſe Sinners are not weary of ſinning.

Doct. 4. Chriſt will be Revealed in flaming fire. 1. That he will be ſo Revealed in flaming fire. p. 472. The Cauſes of it. 3. The dreadful Effects of it.

1. That the Lord Chriſt will be Revealed in flaming fire. 1. His eyes will be as a flame of fire, Rev. 1.14. to diſcern and diſcover the moſt ſecret wickedneſſes, and the hidden things of darkneſs, Eccl. 12.14. He will come burning with anger, his lips will be full of indignation, and his tongue as a conſuming fire, Iſ. 30.27, 28. He will ſpeak to Sinners in his anger, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure; he will ſpeak hot, burning devouring words. Let them be ſlain in my preſence, Pſ. 2.5. Depart ye curſed into everlaſting fire. In this Sentence his Tongue is like conſuming fire. Behold the Lord will come with fire, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire, Iſ. 66.15. His Throne will be like the fiery flame, and his Wheels as the burning fire. Chriſt's Throne hath Wheels of Fire, to purſue fugitive and guilty Offenders. 4. From this Throne a fiery ſtream iſſueth, and cometh forth to puniſh the Wicked; as from the Throne of God, and the Lamb, a pure River of Water of Life proceeded, clear as Chryſtal, to refreſh the Saints. As the ſame Sun, at the ſame time, ſcorches ſome parts of the World, and revives and chears other parts with his more benign beams and rays, the Heaven of the Bleſſed, and the Hell of the Damned, will come from the ſame face of God, as ſmiling, or as frowning, Pſ. 16. laſt.

2. Why will Chriſt come in flaming fire? p. 48It is becauſe his abuſed Grace is turned into fury; he knocked, but Sinners would not open to him. They have ſhut out Righteouſneſs, Salvation, and Eternal Life, from themſelves; and they have detained Sin, Satan, and Death, and ſhut them into their own Souls. Chriſt called, but they would not anſwer; he ſtretched out his hands full of Gifts, and Spiritual Bleſſings, and no Man regarded. They would not come to Chriſt, that they might have life, John 5.40. They would not be gathered under his Wings, that they might have ſafety. They would not enter into his Fold, that they might be ſaved; go out and in, and find Paſture. They would not repair to his Houſe, that they might find reſt; or preſs into his Kingdom, that they might obtain a ſatisfying Feaſt at his Table, and an eternal Glory in his Throne. They would not kiſs the Son with a kiſs of Faithful Homage and Obedience, therefore he becomes angry; yea, his anger riſeth up to fury, and breaks forth as Fire, ſo that there is no quenching of it. Sinners have been loading Chriſt with contempt, affronts, provocations, all their days: They have been Treaſuring up Wrath, the Storm hath long been a gathering; Offenders have long been bringing Fuel to the Fire during their whole time, and God will be blowing it up during his Eternity. They thought Chriſt did not ſee, or obſerve their Iniquities; that he p. 49would not reſent, and could not puniſh their Tranſgreſſions: But Chriſt comes now in flaming fire to ſhew the height of his anger, his fixed purpoſe to puniſh, and his power to revenge. As God turned Fallen Adam out of the Earthly Paradiſe, a ſecond Adam comes in a flame of Fire, to exclude Unbelievers, and Impenitent Sinners, from the Heavenly Paradiſe. 3. Conſider the dreadful effects of this flaming Fire; it will break forth, and take hold of the Creatures, and kindle a Conflagration both in the upper and lower World. The Heavens ſhall paſs away with a noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; as if Metal ſhould be melted, and diſtil in ſcalding burning drops. The Earth, and the Works of it, ſhall be burnt up: The Earth is the Home of the Wicked, the Creatures they have doted on, and made them as their Idol Gods. And how dreadful will this be to the Ungodly, to ſee their Houſe, their Home, their Heaven, their Idol Gods, to be burnt up together? That the Creatures that were once Food to their Luſts, ſhall now become Fuel to the Fire of God's Anger? As the Philiſtines left their Images, their Idols, and David and his Men burnt them, 2 Sam. 5.21. ſo Sinners muſt leave their Heaven, and all their Idol Gods below, and God will burn and conſume them.

2. This Fire will not ſtop here; the Scripture joins the burning of Heaven and Earth, p. 50and the Perdition of ungodly Men together. 2 Pet. 3.7. The heavens; and the earth, that are now by the ſame word, are kept in ſtore, reſerved unto fire, againſt the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. Shall the Traytors Houſe be burnt, and the Traytors themſelves eſcape? Shall the Creatures, that have been but paſſive Inſtruments of ſin, be conſumed? And ſhall the active Agents go Scot-free? Shall thoſe that have been Preſſed, forced Soldiers, ſuffer ſuch hard things? And ſhall the Voluntiers in this wicked War againſt God be exempted from puniſhment? The Heavens and the Earth fly from the face of the Judge ſitting on his white Throne, and their place was found no more. If the defiled Creatures could not brook or bear the angry face of the Judge, what ſhall become of the defilers of them? It is Men that have perverted and abuſed the Creatures, contrary to their natural inclinations and tendency, to ſerve their Luſts, and fight againſt God, therefore the moſt dreadful, ſcorching, and laſting Fire, muſt be their Portion and Puniſhment. God ſaith, Deut. 32.22. A fire is kindled in mine anger, and ſhall burn to the loweſt Hell; it ſhall follow and purſue its fuel thither. God ſaith further, This fire ſhall conſume the earth and its increaſe. Theſe words may well expound the Text of Peter, 2 Pet. 3.10. That the earth, and the works of it, or therein, that is, its fruits and increaſe, ſhall be burnt up. This Fire ſhall inflame, and p. 51burn the very Foundations of the Mountains. If ſtrong Mountains cannot withſtand this Fire, how ſhall weak Sinners reſiſt it? The ſame Fire that burns Heaven and Earth, ſhall purſue Tranſgreſſors, as its moſt proper, kindly, and perpetual Fuel. Immortal Criminals ever dying, yet never dying Sinners, ſhall be the Fuel of it, and an eternal God ſhall blow up the flame over them, Iſ. 30.3.3. This fire will be dreadful: For, 1. It is the Fire, this is proper to, and will go forth againſt the Enemies, Iſ. 26.11. The fire of thine enemies ſhall conſume them; that is, the Fire that ſhall burn againſt, and prey on Enemies. So it is ſaid, Fiery indignation ſhall devour the Adverſaries, Heb. 10.27. Thoſe that are the Fuel of this fire, they are ſuch as were God's Enemies in time, and will continue his Adverſaries to Eternity, and ſo be fit objects of his Fury. 2. This Fire ſhall burn to the utmoſt, it ſhall put forth its zeal to the utmoſt, foreign, Heb. 10.27. The zeal of Fire, as the blackneſs of darkneſs, Jude 13. doth terribly ſet forth the privative part of Hell; ſo the zeal of fire doth dreadfully expreſs the poſitive part. God will puniſh with the glory of his power, 2 Theſ. 1.8. that is, with his power put forth moſt gloriouſly. Theſe expreſſions, the zeal of fire, and the glory of God's power, do illuſtrate one another. 3. This fire it will torment, but it will never refine. Never was, nor can any be brought to repentance by the fire of Hell. Sinners p. 52will continue obſtinate in Sin, and God's heart will be hardened, his bowels be ſhut up; he will be fully reſolved to puniſh. 4. This Fire will come immediately from God and Chriſt, 1. From the face of God, 2 Theſ. 1.4. foreign, from the face of the Lord. So they are ſaid to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10.31. He doth puniſh them immediately. God hath to do with them, Ezek. 22.14. Can thy hands be ſtrong, can thy heart endure in the day that I ſhall have to do with thee? The hands of Sinners cannot be ſtrong to reſiſt or keep off puniſhment; neither can their hearts be ſtout enough to endure and ſtand under it. Can Stubble, Chaff, Tares, reſiſt a God that is conſuming fire? Heb. 12.29. Chriſt will kindle this Fire, and heat the Souls of Sinners, as an Oven. As Satans temptations, as his ſuggeſtions, as a Baker, Hoſ. 7.4, 6. and Mens own Luſts, did ſinfully heat this Oven, ſo Chriſt's wrath will, in a way of Righteous puniſhment, heat it. It is ſaid of Chriſt, Pſal. 21.8, 9. That his hand ſhall find out all his enemies; his right hand ſhall find out all that hate him; thou ſhalt make them as an fiery Oven in the time of thine anger. 5. This Fire will. eat up the Adverſaries, Heb. 10.27. it will be eating of Adverſaries continually, yet never totally devour them. It will be eating of them to Eternity, and never make a full end of them. That Fire that devoures, will alſo ſalt the Subject it preys on, that it ſhall be preſerved p. 53to Eternity. Sinners are ſaid not to fall into the hand, but the hands of God: Both his hands, all his power is imployed for their miſery. As there is a puniſhing Hand, ſo there is a ſupporting Hand, to bear up the Sinner to endure torments to Eternity; Stubble and Chaff, Tares and Thorns, could never hold out as Eternal Fuel to the Fire of God's wrath, were there not an Eternal God, and an Eternal Power to ſupport the Damned. 6. Sinners ſhall be tormented with Fire and Brimſtone in the preſence of the Lamb, Rev. 14.10. This anſwers thoſe words of Chriſt, Let them be ſlain in my preſence, Luke 19.27. Tho' Chriſt be a Lamb, yet we read of the wrath of the Lamb; and that great day of his wrath will come, Rev. 6.16.17. The Lamb will look on the torments of the wicked, and will not commiſerate them, or relent in the leaſt towards them. The Lamb will look on their torments, and will rejoice at them, and be much pleaſed with them, Rev. 7.14. They that neglected to waſh their Robes white in the Blood of the Lamb, Chriſt, in honour to himſelf, will stain all his Raiment; their blood ſhall be ſprinkled on his Garments, and this will render his Apparel as a Victorious Conquering Captain, glorious, Iſ. 63.1.3. Chriſt will never leſſen, or put out this Fire: It is a Fire to puniſh perverſe Rebellious Creatures, hardened and Implacable Enemies; a Fire of Jealouſie againſt Adulterous Souls.

p. 54USE 1. This Truth may inform us how much Mens Sins, and obſtinate Unbelief, doth alienate, and transform the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: That he, that is ſtiled Love, ſhould be Revealed in flaming Fire: That he, whoſe Office is to be a Mediator, to quench Wrath, to make Peace, ſhould come to pour out Fury: That he, who beſeeched Men to be Reconciled to God, and wooed them to be Eſpouſed to himſelf, ſhould now come to Execute Vengeance: That he that long and often did knock, and call Sinners to open to him ſhould now riſe up, ſhut the Door, and be deaf to all the knocks and beſeeching of Sinners, Luke 13.26. That he who ſpread out his Hands, and ſtretched out his Wings, to call and gather Sinners to himſelf, doth now ſhut them out from himſelf, and expoſe them to an Eternal Storm of Vengeance: That he who once acted as a Phyſician, to heal, ſhould now come to deſtroy: That he that is a Redeemer to others, ſhould come now to bind obſtinate Sinners in Chains, and caſt them into Priſon, and ſubject them to Eternal Bondage under the ſecond Death.

USE 2. This may ſtrike a Terror into Impenitent Sinners.

If Chriſt will come in flaming Fire, what then will become of Stubble fully dry? What will thoſe ſuffer that are but Chaff? That are Reprobate Silver? And that are but Droſs? Pſ. 119.119. Veſſels of wrath fitted for Deſtruction? When the Harveſt of the Earth is ripe, when the Grapes of the Vine of the Earth are fully ripe, p. 55the Sickle muſt be thruſt in, and made uſe of, to reap the Harveſt, and cut the Grapes, that they may be caſt into the Wine-preſs of the wrath of God, Rev. 14.15, 18. Tares, barren, and dry Trees, muſt be fuel to this flaming fire, Matt. 3.10.

USE 3. Endeavour to prevent deſtruction by this flaming Fire.

O make ſure that you ſhall not dwell with Conſuming Fire, that you ſhall not inhabit with Everlaſting Burnings. O come to the Mediator, that he may make peace. O come to the Blood of ſprinkling, that it may ſpeak, and plead for your Pardon. Fly to Chriſt, that you may be found in him, Pſ. 3.9. and ſo may find mercy with God, and may be found in peace, and your Faith may be found to Honor and Glory at the Appearing of Chriſt. It is the Blood of Chriſt that muſt quench the Fire of God's wrath; and it is the Spirit of Chriſt, as mortifying, as ſanctifying, that muſt pull away the Fuel of this Fire. There is a ſweet and gracious Promiſe, Iſ. 1.25. I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy Droſs, and take away all thy Tin. How full, how rich, and comprehenſive, is this Promiſe, that the Droſs of Prophaneſs, and the Tin of Hipocriſie, ſhall be purely purged away? If open Sin, and ſecret Hipocriſie, be removed, the Euel of this Eternal Fire will be put away. We muſt be put into Chriſt's Refining Fire, that we may not be expoſed to God's Conſuming Fire. If Chriſt now p. 56appear for you in Heaven, Heb. 9.23, 24. he will not appear againſt you in the great Day. Thoſe he has made Righteouſueſs and Sanctification to, he cannot Condemn; he will not deſtroy at his Appearing.

5. For what end will Chriſt be Revealed in Flaming Fire? It is thus expreſſed, He comes in a Flame of Fire, foreign, giving Vengeance. 1. He that is a merciful, and gracious God, yet will have no other gift to beſtow on impenitent Unbelievers. Tho' Mercy belongeth to God, which he will Exerciſe towards his People; tho' Forgiveneſs belong to him, which he will beſtow on penitent Believers, yet only Vengeance belongs to God, to be executed on hardened Tranſgreſſors, Heb. 10.30. Pſ. 94.1, 2. He hath no other Attributes but Juſtice and Power, Rom. 9.22. to be glorified in them. 2. This is an Impoveriſhing Gift, when Chriſt gives Vengeance, the one Talent ſhall be taken away, Matt. 25.28. All that the Souls of Sinners do Luſt after ſhall depart; all the things that are dainty and goodly ſhall depart, and they ſhall find them no more at all, Rev. 18.14. 3. This is a Formenting Gift; it is a Cup of trembling, a Cup of fury, If, 51.21, 22. it is a Cup of red Wine, and full of mixture; all bitter, all fatal, deadly Ingredients, are ſqueezed into, joined, and are rempered in this Cup, yet it is without mixture, not one drop of Mercy or Kindneſs in it, but it is pure Wrath and Severity, as if all the p. 57ſtrongeſt, moſt griping, tormenting Poyſons, did meet in one Cup, Rev. 14.10. and there was nothing to antidote or allay their deadly force and operation. 4. This is a Gift they muſt receive, they cannot decline, avoid, or refuſe. Jer. 25.15, 28. Take the Wine-cup of this fury at my hand, and cauſe all the Nations, to whom I ſend thee, to drink it. If they refuſe to take the cup and to drink, then ſhalt thou ſay unto them, Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, ye ſhall certainly drink. I may allude to this Text, Tho' Condemned Sinners do loath the bitter and dreadful Cup, that God giveth to them, tho' they may recoil, ſtart from it, and refuſe it, yet they ſhall certainly drink it. 5. This is a Gift that is Debt and Wages, Rom. 6.23. The wages of ſin is death. So God is ſaid to repay fury, to repay recompence, Iſ. 59.18. and to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of Fire. We are commanded to render to all their dues, Rom. 13.7. Miſery and puniſhment is due to Sinners, if Chriſt ſhould not pay it he would not be true to his Word, or juſt to himſelf. Tribulation and anguiſh belongs to every Soul that ſins, Rom. 2.9. We are bid to owe nothing to any man but love, Rom. 13.8. And this is a Debt that muſt be always paying, and yet can never be fully diſcharged; ſo God owes Sinners enmity, and vengeance, and this Debt will be paying, and yet never be wholly paid off, or diſcharged to Eternity. What Preſents do p. 58Sinners make to, or what Gifts do they beſtow on God? What Fruit did God's Vineyard yield to him? Were they not ſowre, and wild grapes, grapes of gall, and bitter cluſters? Wine that is the poyſon of Dragons, the cruel venom of Aſps? Deut. 32.32, 33. What crop, or harveſt, doth barren, and bad ground, yield to the Husbandman, but briers and thorns? Heb. 6.8. How Righteous is it then, that Chriſt ſhould give vengeance to them? Deal out blows, ſtripes, and wounds to them, and that for ever? Chriſt offered them Mercy once, and they would not receive it, but he will give them Puniſhment, he will ſhew Severity to them, and they ſhall not be able to decline, refuſe, or reject it. Sinners would not do Chriſt right, would not give him their hearts, Prov. 23.26. They would not give him glory Jer. 13.16. Chriſt muſt therefore inflict puniſhment on them, and give vengeance to them. If Men will not give God, and Chriſt glory, Chriſt will get honour on them whether they will or no. Compare thoſe two Scriptures, Jer. 13.16. Give glory to the Lord your God. And that in Exod. 14.17. I will get me honour on Pharaoh, and all his Hoſt. Thoſe that will not give Chriſt glory by repenting and believing Chriſt will get Honour by pouring out his fury, and executing vengeance on them. Ezek. 28.22. O Zidon, in thee I will be glorified, they ſhall know I am the Lord, when I ſhall have executed judgments in her. The day of vengeance p. 59is in Gods heart, Iſ. 63.4. And the ſtrokes of Juſtice ſhall ſhortly be dealt out by Chriſt's hands. The whirlwind of the Lord will go forth in fury, it ſhall fall grievouſly on the head of the wicked, Jer. 23.19. 6. But on whom will Chriſt take vengeance? This Text informs us, it is on all that know not, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. As it is life eternal to know the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, John 17.3. ſo this cauſeth death eternal to be ignorant of the true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent. Thoſe that hear the Goſpel, and do not liſten to it, and receive it, are guilty of a wilful and affected Ignorance of God, and Chriſt. The light ſhineth, but they come not to it; yea, they ſhut their eyes againſt it, Matt. 13.15. and ſo concur with Satan to promote their own deſtruction. The Devil blinds their minds, 2 Cor. 4.4. leſt they ſhould believe, and they cloſe their own eyes, leſt they ſhould ſee with their Eyes, hear with their Ears, underſtand with their Hearts, and ſo ſhould be converted, and God ſhould heal them. How guilty are Men before God, who impriſon, and ſhut in Natural Light? Rom. 1.18. and exclude, ſhut out, Supernatural Lights. The natural man receiveth not the things of the ſpirit, for they are fooliſhneſs to him, 1 Cor. 2.14. The blindneſs, folly, and vanity of their minds, is as a dark Lanthorn about the Candle of Natural Light, to hinder it from ſhining out in their p. 60Words and Actions: They detain, and hold it under unrighteouſly: Their Luſts are too hard for their Light, and do Rebel againſt it. And Men come not to that Supernatural Light, that ſhines in the Goſpel, leſt their deeds ſhould be reproved, and themſelves condemned. Tho' Men may pleaſe themſelves with Notional, and Speculative Knowledge, as it may ſwell their Pride, and commend them to the Eſteem of Men, yet when it ſhould touch and wound Conſcience, affect the Heart, be reduced to Practiſe, and reform the Life, then they hate knowledge, Prov. 1 29. Thus thoſe two Texts are to be reconciled, Iſ. 58.2. They ſeek me daily, and delight to know my ways. Yet this is charged even on Iſraelites, That they hated Knowledge, and would not chuſe the Fear of the Lord; they did not like to pleaſe, fear, worſhip, and ſerve God in ſincerity.

Queſt. But is there no diſtinction of Perſons meant in theſe words? Are they to be underſtood of the ſame Unregenerate Perſons within the viſible Church, that both know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt?

Anſw. It is true, that there are Carnal, Unconverted Perſons within the Church, that may be ſaid neither to know God, nor yet to obey the Goſpel of Chriſt. Eli's Sons, tho' they were Prieſts, are ſaid not to know the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.12. And the Jews are thus charged, Through deceit they refuſe to know me, ſaith the p. 61Lord. Jer. 9.6. Either they thought they had found ſome better Good, ſome ſweeter Portion than God, or that the knowledge of God would diſturb their Peace, and imbitter their Pleaſures and Luſts to them; and thus thro' deceit they did refuſe to know God. God complains, That his People are deſtroy'd for lack of knowledge, Hoſ 4.5, 6. It may be Day without, as Men are under a clear diſpenſation of the words of Reconciliation, Righteouſneſs and Salvation, yet it may be Night within, by reaſon of the blindneſs of the Mind, and obſtinacy of the Will. If Men did rightly know God, they would truſt in him, Pſ. 9.10. and ſet their love on him. Pſ. 91.14. They that know Gods name, are ſaid to give their hearts to him, to ſet their love on him. But it is apparent, that the Truſt of many, called Chriſtians, is with-held, and their love withdrawn from God. They caſt God himſelf, and his Word too, behind their backs, Pſal. 50.17. and therefore do not know God. If they did indeed know the perfect Holineſs of God, the Purity of his Word, the ſtrictneſs of his Law, the Severity and Terror of his Threatnings, they would fly to Chriſt, ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of God, obey the Goſpel, and Truſt on the Lord Jeſus, both for Reconciliation and Sanctification, Matt: 5.6. It is too evident, that all Unconverted Perſons in the Church, though called Chriſtians, do not p. 62know God, Their Light doth not ſhine before men, Phil. 2.15, 16. And they do not hold forth the Word of Life in their Converſations, Pſal. 10.4, 3. They do not think of God, he is not in all their thoughts, Eph. 2.2. They do not truſt in him. They do not love God. Chriſt ſaith to the Jews, I know you, that the love of God is not in you, John 5.42. They delight not in the Almighty, Job 27.10. they fear not God. My fear, ſaith God, is not in thee, Jer. 2.19. There is no fear of God before their eyes, Rom. 3.18. They lightly eſteem of God, are unmindful of him, and forget him, Deut. 32.5, 18. They do not ſeek after God, draw near to him, converſe and enjoy communion with him, Rom. 3.11. If Men deſigned to pleaſe God, would they paſs the bounds that he ſets to them? Eph. 2.2. break the yoke he puts on them? Would they affront and reject his Authority? Would they make God's Laws void, and live in the open and notorious breach of his Commands? If Men did know God, could they allow themſelves in Envy, Hatred, Malice? In Curſing, Swearing, Lying, Stealing, Whoredom, Adultery? Could they go on in vain, unprofitable Talks; yea, in filthy and rotten Communication, in Wanton and Laſcivious Language? Could Men be ſo unjuſt one to another, as to Plow away one anothers Land at Seed-time, and to cut over p. 63their Furrows, and take away their Neighbours Corn at Harveſt? Could Men ſo gripe, and oppreſs one another? Could they live without Prayer, and not call upon God in their Families? Would they ſo neglect their Children? Not Teach, Inſtruct, and Educate them for God, but rather yield, and give them up to Satan, by leaving them under the Power of Darkneſs, and the Law of Sin? Could they ſo connive at their Sins, and not ſeverely check and chaſtize them for, and reſtrain them from their Vices, if they did know God? If Men neither own God as a Father, and do not acknowledge Men as Brethren, do not all theſe Evils loudly proclaim, and ſtrongly evidence, that many, called Chriſtians, do not know God? Therefore Chriſt will come to Execute Vengeance on them; to thruſt them into a dark, dreadful Priſon, and to caſt them into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire.

But this expreſſion, thoſe that know not God, doth mainly and chiefly concern the Heathen World, Galat. 4.8. While the Galatians did not know God, they did ſervice to them that were no Gods. And the Corinthians were carried to Dumb Idols, even as they were led. They did not know the right Object of Adoration, but did Service to them that were no Gods by Nature. They did endow a falſe God with their Religious Adoration. p. 64Many of the Heathen did think the World was from Eternity, and never made: They did not acknowledge the Author of their Being, or the end for which they were made. They ſought after nothing but what they ſhould eat, what they ſhould drink, and wherewithal they ſhould be clothed, Matt. 6.32. as if they were all Body, and there were no other Life but this preſent Life. Now this is a heinous Sin for Heathens, not to know God, not to ſeek after him. This is a great and inexcuſable ſin not to know, when there are ſo many Witneſſes that do teſtify for God. He hath not left himſelf without witneſs, Acts 14.16, 17. Theſe Witneſſes ſhould be called and examined, Job 12.7, 8. Ask now the Beaſts, and they ſhall teach thee; and the Fowls of the Air, and they ſhall tell thee; or ſpeak to the Earth, and it ſhall teach thee; and the Fiſhes of the Sea ſhall declare unto thee. There is a great Cauſe depending about the Being of God. When this weighty Matter is to be tried, ſurely we ſhould, by Meditation, call and ask the Witneſſes, what they can teſtify for God, his Being, Power, and Goodneſs?

2. There are ſo many Preachers that declare his Glory, and ſhew forth his Handy-work. As this is Engraven on the Scriptures, God ſpake me, ſo this is in Capital Letters written p. 65on the Creature, God made me. That Hand that ſtretched out that ſpangled Canopy above our Heads, and that hath ſpread this flowery Carpet that is under our Feet, day unto day uttereth ſpeech, Pſal. 9.2. Every day doth abundantly utter ſomething of God. And the ſame word is uſed of the Righteous, Pſal. 145.7. I ſhall abundantly utter the memory of that Goodneſs. Two things are here to be obſerved, 1. That the Creatures are ſuch Preachers, as never do keep ſilence, day unto day uttereth ſpeech. It offers new Matter of Contemplation and Admiration, and Night unto Night ſheweth Knowledge. Every ſucceeding Night inſtructs the preceding Night, and makes ſome farther and new Diſcoveries of God, that ſhould more enlighten the Minds, and affect the Hearts of Men towards God. 2. The Creatures preach God in a Speech and Language, that all Nations may underſtand, though their Languages are ſo confounded, and are not underſtood by other People and Nations; there is no Speech, or Language, where their voice is not heard. The moſt ignorant and brutiſh Barbarians, may underſtand the Speech and Language that the Creatures do preach in. The confuſion of Babel doth not hinder the Creatures from being underſtood in what they publiſh, and declare of God.

p. 663. There is a great Book in which Men may read God, Pſal. 19.4. Their Line is gone forth into all the Earth, and their Words to the end of the Earth. The Pages of this great Book are the Sea, the Heavens, and the Earth. And this Book ſtill lieth open, and the moſt ignorant, illiterate, and unskilful, may read in this Book, and underſtand ſomewhat of its Contents. This is a long Line that reacheth to the ends of the Earth; and it is written in ſuch great and Capital Letters, that all may read it.

4. Men are in the World as in a great Room all hung round with Glaſſes; he that is in ſuch a Room, may clearly and plainly ſee the Attributes, and Excellencies of God. The inviſible things of God, from the Creation of the World, are clearly ſeen, Rom. 1.20. They are evidenced and demonſtrated to Senſe; yet ſo, that the Underſtanding doth help the Senſes, foreign. They are underſtood by the Mind, that contemplates the things that are made; and ſo Senſe, by the aſſiſtance of the Mind, doth clearly ſee inviſible things.

5. There are Garments, with which God is Clothed, and in which he may be ſeen, Pſal. 104.2. David ſaith to God, Who covereſt thy ſelf with Light, as with a Garment. p. 67The Pſalmiſt plainly refers to God's Creation of Light. Gen. 1.3. God ſaid let there be Light, and there was Light. God did then put on this bright and glorious Creature as a Garment. As the Greatneſs, Majeſty, and Glory of Kings, is ſeen in their Clothing, ſo God is known how Powerful, how Good, how Wiſe, he is by his Works. Scultetus ſaith, (on Pſal. 104.) Veſtis Dei Contemplanda, ſi Deum Contemplari volueris; You muſt view God's Garment, if you will Contemplate God himſelf, for God himſelf otherwiſe is inviſible. We cannot come to the naked Divine Eſſence, but we muſt ſee the firſt Cauſe clothed with Effects in the Works of Creation and Providence: As when God comes forth to execute Juſtice, he is ſaid to Clothe himſelf with the Garments of Vengeance. Iſa. 59.17. He puts on the Garments of Vengeance for Clothing, and was clad with Zeal as a Cloak. Hath God Clothed himſelf with ſo many, and ſuch glorious Garments? Are his Attributes ſo viſible in his Creatures? And are not Men inexcuſable, that know not God, who daily comes forth to us Clothed in his Works of Creation and Providence, and thereby renders himſelf viſible to us?

Queſt. But what do theſe Witneſſes, Preachers, Books, Glaſſes, Garments of God, diſcover and make known?

p. 68Anſw. The Being, the Eternity, Wiſdom, Power, and Goodneſs of God.

1. The Being of a God, the inviſible things of God from the Creation of the World, are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even his Eternal Power and Godhead, or his Divine Being. Where there are Effects, there muſt be a Cauſe; where there are Streams, there muſt be a Fountain. If you will trace, follow, and perſue the ſmalleſt ſtream, it will at laſt bring you to the Ocean; ſo follow the ſmalleſt Rivulet of Creature-Beings, and it will bring you to God, the infinite Sea of Being. Where there is ſo great a Houſe raiſed with ſo much Art and Skill, there muſt needs be a Builder: None ever ſaw a Houſe built by Chance, or Accident, and what Folly and Madneſs is it to think, that this great Houſe of the World was built by a Caſual, yet Lucky meeting of Stones together? The Creatures are not of themſelves, and therefore cannot be from Eternity. That only that is Infinite, Omnipotent, All wiſe, can be from Eternity; Creatures are not ſo, and therefore cannot be from Eternity. Ask any Man living, did you make your ſelf, none can be ſo impudent to affirm that he made himſelf. And there is the ſame Reaſon againſt his Father; or any p. 69other Man, that he did not make himſelf; therefore Men muſt neceſſarily come to a Firſt Man, and to a God that made him. Thus the Creatures do demonſtrate the Being of a God.

2. The Creatures declare the Eternity of God. He that made all things muſt neceſſarily be before them. Col. 1.17. He is before all things, and by him all things were made and conſiſt, Col. 1.16, 17. From everlasting to everlaſting he is God, Pſal. 90.2. If God were not from Eternity, the World could not have had a beginning, or any Creature have been formed.

3. The Creatures proclaim the power of God, Rom. 1.20. his eternal power. Men ſpeak words, but God ſpeaks things; by his word he calls things that are not, Rom. 4.17. And their anſwer is to riſe, ſpring up, and exiſt; that which is nothing, yet hears and obeys God. God ſaid let their be Light, let the Earth bring forth Trees, Plants, Herbs, and Flowers, and it was ſo; and yet the Earth had no Seed of theſe things in it ſelf, Gen. 1.11, 12. And as God ſpeaks Creatures, ſo he breaths the Soul, Gen. 2.7. God breathed into mans noſtrils the breath of life, and he became a living ſoul. And God writes in the Minds and Wills of Men; none but he p. 70can reach, or come at theſe Tables, and write in them. And God doth not as Men, write Syllables, and Words, but he writes new Principles, Habits, Diſpoſitions, and Inclinations; he writes Light in the Mind, and Love in the Will. Conſider of theſe three glorious Effects of the power of God, That he ſpeaks Creatures, breathes Souls, writes new Principles and Inclinations in the Soul. The power of God gloriouſly ſhines in the Work of Creation.

1. That he made all things out of nothing. Heb. 11.3. Things which are ſeen, were not made of things which do appear. That is, They were made out of nothing. There did not appear any eternal Firſt Matter, out of which God made all things. Other Artiſts do not make their Matter, but they muſt have it made to their Hands, but God made all things out of nothing.

2. God made all things: By the Word of his Power, Pſal. 33.6. were the heavens made, and all the hoſt of them, by the breath of his mouth. Pſal. 33.9. He ſpake, and it was done; he commanded, and it ſtood faſt.

2. God made all things without any Aſſiſtant or Heiper, Iſa. 44.24. I am the Lord that maketh all things, that ſtretcheth forth the p. 71Heaven alone, that ſpreadeth abroad the Earth by my ſelf.

3. There was none that invented a Pattern, or drew a Scheme or Draught, to direct God to Work by.

4. None gave God Counſel, or Inſtructed him, what he ſhould do, or how he ſhould Work. Who hath directed the ſpirit of the Lord, or being his counſellor hath taught him? With whom took he counſel, and who inſtructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and ſhewed to him the way of understanding? Iſa. 40.13, 14.

5. God hangs the earth on nothing, Job 26.7. This amazed Ariſtotle, (de Mundo.) That if you did throw up a clod of Earth into the Air, it would not hang there; and that yet, the whole Globe of the Earth, and Water, ſhould hang in the Air, and all things be born up by the Word of God's power, Heb. 1.2. It is ſaid of God, in Pſal. 95.4. In his hand are the deep places of the earth. God's Hand carries the whole Globe of the Earth; its Foundation is laid in his Hand, and is ſupported by him.

6. There is a daily ſtrong confirmation of the Hiſtory of the Creation, and ſuch an p. 72evident demonſtration of the power of God, it plainly appears that it is true, That all things came from nothing at firſt, becauſe they daily ſpring, and riſe from ſuch ſmall, contemptible beginnings, as are next kin to nothing: As that from an Acron ſhould grow an Oak of above twenty four Tun of Timber. In the New Foreſt it is ſaid there was cut an Oak, that Top, Lop, Root, and Body, was eight and twenty Tun of Timber. That from a ſmall Grain of Muſtard-Seed, ſuch a Tree ſhould grow as Chriſt ſpeaks of, Matt. 13.31, 32.

4. The Creatures declare the Wiſdom of God: That out of a Chaos, without Form, Beauty, or Order, God ſhould draw forth, and raiſe ſo beautiful a World. Athenagoras (in his Legat. for the Chriſtians) tells us, That Plato called the World foreign, The Art of God. The Apoſtle Paul uſes a Word much to the ſame Senſe, 1 Cor. 1.21. The World, foreign, in the Wiſdom of God; that is, in the Frame of Heaven and Earth, in which the Wiſdom of God doth ſo eminently ſhine, by their Natural Wiſdom, or Underſtanding, did not know God. The Wiſdom of God appears in the making of the World.

p. 731. In making ſuch various ſorts of Creatures. Sixteen hundred ſorts of Herbs are ſaid to grow in England; and four thouſand diſtinct Vegetables, Plants, and Trees, are reported to be, and grow in the Phyſick Garden at Oxford. None but an Infinite Underſtanding could form the different Ideas of ſo many thouſands of ſorts of Flowers, Trees, Birds, Beaſts, and Fiſhes.

2. That Objects ſhould be ſo exactly fitted to the Senſes of Men; Colours to the Eyes, fragrant Smells to the Noſe, ſweet and grateful Reliſhes to the Taſte, Sounds to the Ear; this could not be a Work of Chance, but of Infinite Wiſdom.

3. That God ſhould form ſeveral Creatures, one higher than another, and ſubordinate to another. God is ſaid to build his Stories in the Heaven, Amos 9.6. There is the loweſt, the middle, the higheſt Heavens, as ſeveral Stories, in a great and high Building; ſo God buildeth up Stories of Creatures on the Earth. There are Plants that are the loweſt Story, Beaſts that are a higher Story, and Man that is the higheſt Story in this lower World; and theſe are ſubſervient to each other. The Plants and Graſs ſeed the Beaſts, and Beaſts do nouriſh Men; and they ſhould devote themſelves to the Service and Worſhip of God.

p. 744. That God ſhould put ſuch Shapes and Signatures on Herbs, to ſhew ſomething, what they were made, and are good for. Eye-bright hath the figure and ſhape of an Eye, and is an excellent Herb to cure the Maladies of the Eye. Pimpernel hath ſomething like the Plague-ſpots under its Leaves, and is of excellent Virtue againſt the Plague.

5. That Herbs, proper to cure Diſeaſes, do naturally grow in the Country, where the Diſeaſe reigns: As Scurvy-graſs in England, and in other Northern Countries, doth ſpring up Naturally. And yet an Experiment hath been made, and much Art uſed, and Care taken, to Plant and Cultivate Scurvy-Graſs in ſome parts of France, where the Diſeaſe is not known, and it would not grow.

6. Some Herbs do Figure the Part that they are good to Heal: As Adders-Tongue, Hearts-Tongue, Rib-wort, Wood-Sorrel, that hath the ſhape of a Heart, is accounted a good Cordial Herb.

7. How doth God's Wiſdom appear in placing the Sun, Pſal. 19.4. In the Heaven God is ſaid to have made a Tabernacle, or Dwelling-place for the Sun. That part of the Heavens that is between the two Tropicks p. 75of Cancer and Capricorn, in which the Sun ſtill moves, or is, may be ſtiled the Tabernacle of the Sun. This is wonderful Wiſdom, that the Sun ſhould be ſo ſituated in the midſt of the Heavens, to communicate Light and Heat to the whole World ſucceſſively: That the Sun never goes beyond the Tropicks, but doth in ſo orderly a way return to us again, and obſerve ſuch an exact Courſe in the lengthning or ſhortning of the days, the Sun doth not Riſe or Set two days in the ſame place. God puts this Queſtion to Job, Job 38.12. Haſt thou commanded the morning? Haſt thou cauſed the day-ſpring to know its place? And Pſal. 104.19. The Sun knoweth his going down. The Sun doth Riſe and Set in different places every day, yet it is ſaid to know the place of its Riſing and Setting, as if it had a Principle of Reaſon and Underſtanding, that the Days and Heat ſhould increaſe and decreaſe, in ſuch a ſtated courſe. That we do not paſs from the extremity of Cold into the ſcorching Heat of Summer, but through a Spring, that doth partake of Gold and Heat mixed: And that we do not paſs out of the heat of the Summer, into the extremity of Winter cold, but through an Autumn, that hath a mixture of ſome heat and cold. This is wonderful Wiſdom, that God hath clothed and beautified the Sun with ſuch a glorious Garment of Light, Pſal. p. 7619.5, 6. Which is as a Bridegroom coming out of his chamber; that God hath given him ſo ſwift a motion, that he rejoyceth as a ſtrong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it. O how wonderful is God's Wiſdom and Power, to make a Sun that ſhould run round the World every day with ſo ſwift a motion! That God ſhould furniſh the Sun with ſo great a heat, that it is ſaid there is nothing hid from the heat of it! It pierces even to the Roots of Plants and Trees, and reaches into the bowels of the Earth. This alſo is wonderful, That the Sun riſing every Morning, doth give a new ſtamp and beauty to the Earth, and the Creatures in it, Job 38.13, 14. The day-light takes hold of the ends of the earth; that is, the earth is turned as clay to the ſeal. The Light is as a Seal that ſtamps the Earth; the Earth by darkneſs loſeth its luſtre, (for then we cannot diſcern it) but by the Morning light doth (as to our ſenſe) recover a new luſtre, as if Clay were new ſtamped, and received a new impreſſion by a Seal: and as if the Earth were decked with a new Garment, and variety of Ornaments, and had a new beauty and luſtre put on it. Manifold are Gods works, and in wiſdom he hath made them all, Pſal. 104.24.

p. 775. The Goodneſs of God eminently appears in the making of the Creatures. The earth is full of the goodneſs of the Lord, Pſal. 33.5. The Earth is ſaid to be full of the Mercy of the Lord, Pſal. 119.64. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works, Pſal. 145.9. This was wonderful Goodneſs, that God prepared a place for Mans Habitation before he was made. God commanded the Waters to be gathered together into one place, and the dry Land to appear, that Man might have a place of Abode: The waters ſtood above the mountains, they covered all, Pſal. 104.6, 7, 8. But God rebuked this as a diſorder; he gave forth a thundering Command to the Waters, at which they fled, and haſted away. Two things here are obſervable:

1. That God brake up a deep and hollow place in the Earth, large enough to receive ſuch vaſt quantities of Waters, Job 38.10. I brake up for it my decreed place, that the Earth ſhould ſink ſo deep as to entertain theſe huge Treaſures of Waters. It is ſomewhat probable, that as the Earth was depreſſed ſo low in ſome places, ſo it did proportionably ſwell, and riſe high in other places. The low Valley, in which the deep Sea doth lie, is anſwered by high Mountains, that aſcend ſo much above the plain ground.

p. 782. This is obſervable, That God ſhut in the Sea; he ſets bars and doors. God commanded the Sea, Hitherto ſhalt thou come, but no further; and here ſhall thy proud waves be ſtayed, Job 35.10, 11. This is wonderful Power and Goodneſs, for God to Park in, and Incloſe, ſo wild and furious a Creature as the Sea is; and when its Waves riſe to be as high Mountains, God is ſaid to tread on the Waves of the Sea, Job 9.8. And God treads theſe ſwelling and mountainous Waves into a Plain when he allys the Wind; cauſeth the Storm to ceaſe, and makes a Calm. God hath ſet a bound, that they may not paſs over; that they turn not again to cover the Earth. The ſand is fixed as a bound to this furious Creature by a perpetual decree, Jer. 5.22.

2. Here is more Goodneſs, that reſtrains the Waters that are over our Heads: God binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the clouds are not rent under them, Job 26.8. We dwell between two Seas, a Sea below, and a Sea in the Clouds. There are vaſt quantities of Waters in the Clouds, that would fall down and overwhelm us, did not the power of God bear them up. For this reaſon, as well as others, Gods ſtrength is ſaid to be in the clouds, Pſal. 68.34.

p. 793. That God hath made ſuch variety, and abundance of Creatures, for Mans uſe: Bread to ſtrengthen, and Wine to chear his Heart, Pſal. 104.15. Birds, Beaſts, and Fiſhes, for his uſe. God did not make Man till he had ſtocked a Farm, and furniſhed a Houſe for him. The earth is full of Gods riches, Pſal. 104.24. which were made not to advantage, or enrich God, for he hath need of nothing, Acts 17.25. but Man was to be enriched by being made Proprietor and Poſſeſſor of this great Houſe and Farm.

4. That God ſhould ſo graciouſly ſhare, and divide the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and by turns communicate their light to all Nations, Deut. 4.19. The Sun ſhines to ſome, and makes a day with them, when it's night with others. The Sun gives a ſix Months day to ſome, and a ſix Months night to others; ſo the Moon and Stars do by turns afford light to ſeveral parts of the Earth.

5. That God hath made Beaſts for burden, to carry Men, and their Goods, up and down; to Draw and Plow their Ground. And God hath made other Beaſts, Birds and Fiſh, to feed Men.

6. That God hath not only made Herbs and Plants for Food, but alſo for Medicine, p. 80Healing of Diſeaſes, and Curing of Wounds.

7. That the Earth doth not only ſerve us, with its ſurface and outſide, bearing under-Wood, Trees, Broom, Furzes, and Turf, but with its inſide, Heart and Bowels. There are ſeveral rich Mines, precious Stones, Peat and Coals, growing in the Bowels of the Earth for Fuel. The Earth ſerves us with its outſide and inſide, which ſhould oblige us to ſerve God with our Souls and bodies, with our Hearts and Lives.

8. Though particular Creatures, as Men, Beaſts, Birds, Fiſh, Flowers, Herbs, Trees, do die, yet God doth not ſuffer any Species of Creatures utterly to periſh, and be extinguiſhed, but new Creatures do ſpring up and riſe in the room of thoſe that decay and periſh, and ſo do fill up their place. Thou ſendeſt forth thy ſpirit, and they are created, thou reneweſt the face of the earth, Pſal. 104.30. God's Spirit gives Life to the Creatures, he brings forth a new Stock of Men, Beaſts, Birds, Trees, and Plants, ſo that God's great Farm is not left unſtocked and unfurniſhed; God may be ſeen and felt in his Creatures. Thoſe that do not ſee God's Glory, that do not adore his Wiſdom and Power, that do not admire his Goodneſs, deſerve to be conſumed out of the earth, and to ceaſe their being p. 81here, Pſal. 104.4. yea, that Chriſt ſhould come in flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on them for their Ignorance of God: That they cloſe their Eyes againſt ſuch a light as ſhines through the World, ſpreads and diffuſes it ſelf among all the Creatures. Man was made to ſeek God, Acts 17.26, 27. And God endued Man with a Life of Light, John 1.40. Taught him more than the Beaſts of the Earth, and made him wiſer than the Fowls of Heaven, Job 35.10, 11. and this was to fit Man to ask and inquire after God. Every Rational Creature ſhould ſay, Where is God my Maſter, that gives Songs in the Night? God did not breathe a Soul into Man, that he ſhould pant after the duſt of the Earth, Amos 2.7. but ſhould breathe and pant after God, Pſal. 42.1, 2.

2. Chriſt will come in flaming fire, to take Vengeance on thoſe that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Three things here I ſhall inſiſt upon: 1. I ſhall ſhew what the Goſpel is. 2. What it is to obey the Goſpel. 3. How great and heinous a ſin it is, not to obey the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

1. What the Goſpel is, I Anſwer, It is not only foreign, a Promiſe, but foreign, Good News that this Promiſe is performed, Acts 13.32, 33. We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promiſe, which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the ſame unto us their p. 82children, in that he hath raiſed up Jeſus again. Theſe glad Tidings are brought by the Son out of the boſom of the Father, John 1.18. It is good News of the beſt Good, the ſweeteſt Feaſt, the richeſt Inheritance, the moſt Noble and Honorable Relation to God; and that when a Sentence of Death might have been dreaded, and an Eternal Vengeance felt. It is a Goſpel of grace, Acts 20.24. A Goſpel of ſalvation, Eph. 13.1, 24. The goſpel of the kingdom, Matt. 4.23. Here is Salvation from the moſt dreadful Evils, the poſſeſſion of a glorious and everlaſting Kingdom, and all beſtowed in a way of pure Grace.

2. What is it to obey the Goſpel: we read of obeying the Truth, Gal. 3.1. and what ſhall be the end of them that obey not the Goſpel of God, 1 Pet. 4.17. Theſe expreſſions of obeying the Truth, and obeying the Goſpel, do ſeem to intimate that the Goſpel is ſomething more than a meer Promiſe. To obey the Goſpel, is to Believe and Repent; we muſt credit God's Teſtimony, 1 Cor. 2.1. Iſ. 5.3. Rom. 15.17. Believe the Report he gives, receive the Gifts that he offers, elſe we reject the higheſt Mercy, and make God a Liar, 1 John 5.10. if we believe not the Goſpel.

2. We muſt alſo Repent of our Sins. To be called to Repent of our Sins, and to have ſuch ſweet, great, and ſtrong Incouragements to Repent, is certainly Goſpel-grace. Muſculus p. 83(on Matt. 10.5.) ſaith, He doth not preach the Goſpel that doth not preach Repentance. That Repentance is a Goſpel Duty, theſe three things do evidence and demonſtrate.

1. It is a Call from an offended provoked Husband, to return from our Whoredoms, and to be Loyal to him. Thou haſt played the harlot with many Lovers, yet return again to me, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 3.1. God acting according to the Covenant of Works, would for ever divorce, and eternally puniſh Sinners for their Adulteries, not call 'em to be reconciled.

2. The Call to Repentance is a Call from Chriſt as a Phyſician, Matt. 9.12, 13. The whole have no need of a Phyſician; I am come to call ſinners to repentance. Chriſt in this acts as a Phyſician, in calling Sinners to Repentance, that they may be his Patients, and that he may heal and recover them from their Diſeaſes.

3. A Call to Repentance flows from God, and Chriſt as a Shepherd: He ſeeks out that which was loſt, and brings back that which was gone aſtray, Luke 19.10. Theſe are Acts proper to Chriſt as a Shepherd, and therefore Repentance muſt needs be a Duty of the Goſpel, Zech. 10.8. I will hiſs for them, and gather them, for I have redeemed them. Here is a plain Alluſion to the Shepherds hiſs, to gather the Sheep that are ſcattered; and he gathers them, becauſe he hath Redeemed them. This ſtill more evidences, that a Call to Repentance is grounded on the Goſpel.

p. 843. I ſhall ſhew you what a heinous Sin it is not to obey the Goſpel. 1. The Goſpel requires us to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 1.20. O what Mercy is it, that Reconciliation is poſſible; we could not be Reconciled but by the death of God's Son. We could not be healed but by his ſtripes, Iſa. 53.5. God could not make Peace with us, but he muſt make War with his Son, Zech 13.7. Awake, O ſword, againſt my ſhepherd, and ſmite the man that is my fellow. Devils are not invited to be Reconciled, the blind Heathen World are not called to be Reconciled. Let Heaven and Earth be Witneſs and Judge, whether it be not reaſonable that Sinners ſhould be reconciled to God; that is Love, and Goodneſs, that never did them any wrong; that is their Creator, Preſerver, and Benefactor: Is not the enmity of Men unjuſt, fooliſh, and pernicious to themſelves? Shall Graſhoppers leap up againſt Heaven? Iſ. 40.22. Shall Worms, Job 25.6. contend with the Almighty? Shall Potters Veſſels challenge a Rod of Iron? Pſ. 2.8, 9. Shall Stubble and Chaff, Briers and Thorns, ſet themſelves in Battle againſt devouring Fire? Hath God found out a way to appeaſe his own wrath? Iſ. 27.4, 5. To cut off his own plea and advantages againſt us? Nahum 10.3. To end the dreadful Controverſie between Heaven and Earth, and to ſheath his glittering Sword, and will you yet perſiſt in your enmity, p. 85and continue the War againſt God? Do you reſolve to pluck down his wrath and vengeance on you? Will the ſhort, momentary pleaſures of Sin, countervail eternal Torments? When God calls you to be Reconciled, what is contained in it, but that you ſhould lay down your weapons of Hoſtility, and lay hold on Chriſt's atoning Sacrifice, as the only means of Reconciliation? O ſhall not your Scum go out of you? Shall not your Droſs be ſeparated from you? Shall not all the Tranſgreſſions be caſt away by you? Should you not return to your place, ſubmit, and be ſubject to God? You muſt turn from your Iniquity, God will never change and depart from his Holineſs. 2. The Goſpel calls men to be Eſpouſed to Jeſus Chriſt, Cant. 8.8. The little Siſter, that is, the Gentiles, are ſaid to be ſpoken for; that is, to give her Heart to, and ſet her love on Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Cor. 6.17. Chriſt doth wooe you to be joined to him, to give your ſelves to him, and to be his, 2 Cor. 8.5. Is not Chriſt the moſt beautiful, rich, loving, and glorious Bridegroom? Can you find any other Match, that may compare with him? He is fairer than the children of men, Pſal. 45.2. He is white, and ruddy, and the chiefeſt of ten thouſands, Cant. 5.10. He hath unſearchable riches, Epheſ. 3.8. He is love it ſelf, Cant. 3.5. All power in Heaven and Earth is given to him. He was dead, but he is alive, and lives for p. 86more, Matt. 28.18. Rev. 1.15. He will never put you away or leave you a deſolate diſconſolate Widow. Is it not amazing, that Beauty ſhould wooe Deformity? Riches ſolicit Poverty? Nobility ſuit Vileneſs and Baſeneſs, and yet be rejected? If you match not with Chriſt, who ſhall pay your Debts? Protect and cover you from Arreſts? Who ſhall make you a Jointure, or provide you a Houſe and Home in another World? Who ſhall waſh away your Guilt and Filth? Supply your Wants? Cloth and Cover your Nakedneſs? If Jeſus Chriſt be not your Husband, will you ſtill dote on baſe and beggarly Objects? Will you ſtill go a Whoring from God? Pſal. 13.27. Will you continue Aholah, dwelling in your own Tent, and broken off from the Houſe of God? Thoſe that ſlight, and ſpurn at Chriſt's love, are they not worthy to feel the ſcorching Fire of his wrath? Carnal Creatures do not love a Spiritual Bridegroom; they ruſh into the embraces of carnal and preſent Objects, but Souls conſider not they muſt ſhortly be ſnatched out of the boſom of beloved Objects, muſt be ſeparated from them, and be for ever puniſhed for their Adulterous Embraces of them. 3. It is a heinous ſin not to be willing to be Chriſt's Patients. He is a Phyſician, Matt. 9.12. His Blood is a Soveraign Medicine againſt the guilt of Sin, his Spirit is a mighty Antidote againſt the power of Iniquity. Never p. 87was there ſuch a Phyſician as Chriſt, that did Die to provide the Medicine, and then roſe again, and viſits the Dead to apply it, John 5.25. None can viſit and recover the Dead but Jeſus Chriſt; but who regards, or minds, a cure for his Soul? Do not the wounds of Sinners more rankle, feſter, and putrify? Do not their Diſeaſes grow ſtronger on 'em? Do not their Luſts root deeper? Yea, are not Sinners ſo blinded, that they think their Diſeaſes to be Members neceſſary and profitable? How many do not account themſelves ſick, but rather whole? Matt. 9.12, 13. The Jews, thought themſelves to be ſound, and free from Spiritual Diſeaſes. This highly provokes Jeſus Chriſt, that on ſuch coſtly terms he became a Phyſician, and yet Men ſeel no want, or need of him, John 3.14, 15. Tho' our diſeaſes are dangerous, and threaten us with eternal Death; tho' the cure ſeems to be ſo eaſie, that Perſons may look to Chriſt, and be rid of the deadly Poyſon of the Old Serpent; a touch of Chriſt may heal the Spiritual Leproſie and our touching of Chriſt by Faith, may cauſe our iſſue of Blood to dry up, yet Sinners ſee not, know not the plague of their own hearts, they are pleaſed with their Dropſie, with Thirſt, their Feveriſh Fire, and burning Luſts; they think they ſhould be maimed, if their Members on Earth were cut off; and that their Lives would be uncomfortable, if bereaved p. 88of the Pleaſures of Sin; tho' their condition without Chriſt be wholly deſperate, yet they will not part with their Diſeaſes, but languiſh under them, pine away in them, and die eternally.

4. It is heinous Diſobedience againſt the Goſpel, that Men will not be Chriſt's Gueſts, Mat. 22.1, 2, 3. The Jews were invited to a Marriage-Feaſt, made by the Father for his Son Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 22.1. Pſal. 18. ult. Pſal. 22.26. to partake of his Reſt, his Pleaſure, his Joy, his Glory; but Sinners make light of the Chear, tho' it be ſpiritual, ſuited to the nature and duration of the Soul; tho' it be ſatisfactory, and will make the Hearts of Men to live for ever, yet, as ſick Perſons, they abhor this dainty Meat, Job 33.20. They luſt after the Dainties of Carnal Delights, they are prepoſſeſſed with the love of the World, and ſo do haſten to the Feaſt that Satan bids them to, but they invent and make Excuſes to blind their own Minds, and harden their own Hearts, and to hold themſelves back from this Feaſt; they lay out their Money for that which is not Bread, and their Labour for that which ſatisfies not; they muſt ſhortly fall under an eternal Famin of all Good, and then muſt eat the bitter Fruit of their own ways and doings, and drink the Wrath of the Almighty. This is a heinous Sin, that Men will not come to p. 89Chriſt's Feaſt, 1. when they are not able to keep alive their own Souls, Pſal. 22.29. they have nothing to ſuſtain and ſupport their languiſhing and dying Souls, but, as the Prodigal, they are ready to periſh with Famine. 2. This is a Feaſt made on a Sacrifice, Chriſt our Paſſover is ſacrificed for us, let us therefore keep the Feaſt, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. Iſa. 25.6. How precious, how coſtly is this Feaſt! 3. It is a Feaſt of Marrow and fat things: here is Pardon and Juſtification thro' the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt: here is Adoption, Salvation, a Kingdom of Glory; God himſelf will be the Father and Portion of thoſe that come to this Feaſt; here are Wines well refined from all droſs and dregs. 4. It is a Feaſt made for all Nations, Hedges are pluck'd up, and Incloſures are thrown open, this is a common Salvation, Iſa. 25.6. Luke 14.23. 5. Chriſt's Miniſters, as they are to pluck ſecure Sinners out of the Fire, ſo they are to ſtrive, and compel them to come in to the Feaſt, Jud. 23 Luke 14.23.

5. This is affronting and highly provoking Diſobedience to the Goſpel, that Men will not traffick and trade with Chriſt, that they will not be Chriſt's Chapmen and his Cuſtomers, when 1. Chriſt's Goods are excellent and neceſſary: We muſt be poor, without his Gold tried in the Fire; we muſt be ſhamefully naked, without his white Raiment; p. 90we muſt be eternally blind without his Eyeſalve; we muſt ſtarve, if we do not eat of his good things, and delight our ſelves in the fat things offer'd: here is Milk for nouriſhment, and ſpiritual Wine, as a moſt noble and generous Cordial; we may eat and not die, John 6.50. Pſal. 22.26. we may eat and be ſatisfied, and our Hearts will live for ever. 2. Theſe Goods are brought near, Iſa. 55.1. Come down to the Waters, as Goods brought from a foreign Country to the Wharf, Key, or Shore of a Town or City; and ſome are ſent up into the City, to proclaim that the Goods are arrived, and are to be had at the Water-ſide: The Blood of Chriſt is the Red-Sea, by which all Chriſt's ſpiritual Goods are imported into the World. 3. Chriſt keeps a Market for the Poor, and none but he doth ſo, Iſa. 55.1. buy Wine and Milk without mony and price. Trade is driven by Mony, or exchange of Goods, but here neither Mony nor Price, we part with nothing that doth impoveriſh us or enrich Chriſt. If there were Markets and Fairs kept for the Poor here in the World, how would they be frequented? what flocking, what crowding would there be to get to ſuch Markets? yet how do Chriſt's goods lie by, as ſlighted and neglected! 4. Chriſt counſels us to buy of him, and his Counſel ſhould be a Command to us, and lay a Neceſſity on us, but (alas!) how ſtupid and p. 91ſenſleſs are Men, that provide no Treaſure for their Souls or Eternity? they have no Good to carry away with them, or to enjoy for ever, they ſeek not for their own things, Luk. 16.12. but content themſelves with the things of another; ſo they are only Stewards, not Proprietors; Riches are the things of another, but Graces are our own things: but Sinners ſee not their own Wants and Poverty, they underſtand not, prize not Chriſt's Riches and Fulneſs, Rev. 3.17. they are contented to continue poor, as deſtitute of an inherent, and naked, as void of an imputed Righteouſneſs.

6. This ſtirs up Chriſt's Anger againſt, and plucks down his Vengeance on Sinners, that when Chriſt comes near to them, knocks with Importunity, and waits with much Patience, yet they will not open to Chriſt; He came to his own, yet his own received him not, John 1.11. Luke 2.7. If Chriſt with his Body were on Earth, would not they be accounted very unkind and inhuman, that would not entertain and lodge Chriſt in their Houſes? But yet do not thouſands of nominal and titular Chriſtians ſhut Chriſt out of their Hearts? they ſuffer Sin, Satan, and the World to keep poſſeſſion, but they ſhut out the Prince of Life, the King of Glory, the Heir of all things: they are not willing that Chriſt ſhould come in, ſubject all to himſelf, order and govern all for himſelf: Guilt, Poverty, and Miſery p. 92are ſhut into their Souls; Righteouſneſs, Riches, Life are ſhut out.

7. This is grievous Diſobedience to the Goſpel, that Men are not willing to be made clean, or ſet free. 1. They are not willing to be made clean; As a Fountain caſteth out her waters, ſo Jeruſalem caſteth out her wickedneſs: O Jeruſalem, wilt thou not be made clean? Jer. 6.7. When ſhall it once be? Is it not moſt reaſonable that Souls ſhould be made clean? yet they return as the Dog to his vomit, and as the Sow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. 2. laſt. God pronounces woe to thoſe that will not be made clean, and will you deceive your ſelves, and ſay, it ſhall be well with you? Chriſt tells us, Except he waſhes us, we can have no part with him in the Kingdom of Glory, John 13.8. and will you give the Ly to Chriſt, and credit Satan, that you ſhall go to Heaven tho' you are not waſhed? Can you thruſt into the new Jeruſalem, into which no unclean thing ſhall enter, Rev. 21. laſt? Men ſometimes promiſe fair, and faintly reſolve to cleanſe themſelves, but when ſhall it once be? they that cleanſe not away their Filth, muſt themſelves be waſhed away, as Spots from the Face of the Church, and be abhorred by God for ever. 2. Men are highly diſobedient to the Goſpel, in that they will not be made free; they are fond of their Fetters, and hug their Chains, as the Servant that p. 93rejected the benefit of the Year of Releaſe or Jubilee, ſaying, I love my Maſter, I will not go out free, Exod. 21.5, 6. So Men love Sin, their old Maſter; when a better choice is offer'd, they ſtick to their old and firſt choice; yea, they have choſen their own ways, and their Soul delights in their abominations, Iſa. 66.3. The moſt of Men are like the carnal Iſraelites, ſatisfied with their Slavery: They ſaid to Moſes and Aaron, Let us alone to ſerve the Egyptians, Exod. 14.12. So Sinners would not be diſturbed, they would be let alone to ſerve the Devil, and enjoy their Luſts.

8. This is high diſobedience to the Goſpel, that Men will not have Chriſt to reign over them; they are incenſed, Iſa. 45.24. they rage againſt Chriſt, Luke 19.14, 27. Pſa. 2.1. but I may renew the Queſtion that Pilate put to the Jews, when they were ſo inflam'd againſt Chriſt, What evil hath he done? Mat. 27.23. Chriſt calls Souls out of Priſon, and from their wandrings and ſtrayings, he makes Men free from the Law of Sin and Death, and is this to do Evil? how unreaſonable is it that Men ſhould be ſo diſaffected towards, and ſo prejudic'd againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt, when he reigns to deſtroy the reigning power of Sin, Satan, and Death, and to exalt his Subjects now to reign with him in the Kingdom of Grace, and hereafter to ſit in the Throne, and reign with Chriſt in the Kingdom of p. 94Glory. O that Sinners ſhould ever be ſo ungrateful to Chriſt, and ſo injurious to their own Souls! how mild, benign, and gracious is the Government of Chriſt? he rules not only as a Political Head that gives Laws, but as a Natural Head that gives Life, and influences; he governs as a Husband, Brother, and Saviour: how reaſonable therefore is it, that our homage and ſubjection to him ſhould begin in a Kiſs of Faith and Love? Pſa. 2. laſt. But how provoking is this, that Men chuſe Sin and Satan a Murtherer, and prefer him Before a Saviour? This is to renew and revive the Affronts put on Chriſt at his Paſſion, and to chuſe Barabbas rather than Jeſus. Thoſe that would not have Chriſt to reign over them for their Salvation, do ſet up Satan to rule over them for their Deſtruction.

9. This is ungrateful, and highly provoking Diſobedience to the Goſpel, that Men would have Chriſt to buy, yet to poſſeſs and enjoy nothing: They can be willing Chriſt ſhould hire them, and promiſe them a reward, but they ſtand idle all the day long, will do no Work for Chriſt, they are idle, and barren in the knowledg of Chriſt, yea, walk as Enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt, while they ſet up what he came to pull down, and keep alive what he came to deſtroy. Chriſt hath acted as a Shepherd, and doth demand his price, Zech. 11.12. Surely Love, Service, and Obedience is p. 95due to him, but Men put off Chriſt with an empty Name of Lord, and with a dead form of Religion; they do not render the Fruits of a Vineyard, or bring forth the Fruits of God's Kingdom; their Knowledge is cold, idle and barren, as the light of a Glow-worm, that is not ſufficient to direct a Traveller in his way. The Goſpel ſhould bring forth Fruit, from the firſt day that Men know it, Col. 1.5, 6. it ſhould be a Seal, to ſtamp the Image of God on Men; it ſhould be a Mould, to ſhape and faſhion Mens Hearts and Lives, Rom. 6.17. as the Sun riſeth, and Man goes forth to his work, Pſ. 104 23. ſo when Chriſt ariſeth and ſhineth in any Country, Men ſhould go forth to all the work of their heavenly calling; Knowledge ſhould not only float in the Head, or be impriſon'd in the Mind, but ſhould be a light to Mens Feet, and a Lamp to their Paths, Pſal. 119.105. But how many nominal Chriſtians do love darkneſs and hate the light? they ſtill love to wander, and in the broad day to follow Sin and Satan; they do nothing of all that God commands them; they only ſtray, and work Iniquity, and ſo deſerve to be caſt into outer darkneſs, Jer. 14.10. Jer. 32.23, 30. Mat. 8.12.