Jehovah Our Righteousness, Sermon 1

Jehovah Our Righteousness · Sermon 1

p. 1Several SERMONS ON Jer. XXIII. 6.

In his Days Judah ſhall be ſaved, and Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely: and this is the Name whereby he ſhall be called, The Lord our Righteouſneſs.

IN the Fifth Verſe of this Chapter we have a Prophecy and Promiſe of Chriſt; God ſaith, That he would raiſe up to David a Righteous Branch. David had too many corrupt p. 2Children, and degenerate Plants, that did turn off from, and walk contrary to his Piety; but the Lord would raiſe up to David a Plant of Renown, a Righteous Branch. Of this Branch it is ſaid, That he ſhould Reign and Proſper; his Dominions ſhould neither have Bounds or End; his Kingdom ſhould neither be kept down, or beaten down in the World; he ſhould execute Judgment and Juſtice in the Earth, Pſal. 2.4. He ſhould reſcue the Elect from bondage and ſlavery, and break Satan, the great Oppreſſor in Peices; and deſtroy thoſe that obſtinately adhere to him.

2ly. He ſhould do God right, and execute his Law by writing it in the Hearts of Men by his Spirit. The Law requires Love to be rendred to God, and our Neighbour; but our fleſh is repugnant to both: Self-Love eats us up, and devours both what is due to God. and what belongs to our Neighbour: The Law makes its demand, it calls for the Love we owe God and our Fellow-Creature; but is ſtill contradicted, till Chriſt renews our Nature, and kindles in us both fervent Love p. 3to God, and ſincere Love to our Neighbour. Even thus the Meſſiah, born after Moſes, and ſo may be ſaid to be his Younger Brother, raiſes up Seed to him, directs mens Hearts into the Love of God, and inflames their Souls to the Love of their Neighbour. In the words of the Text, we have another Promiſe concerning the ſweet Effects and bleſſed Fruits of Chriſt's Kingdom. In his Days Judah ſhould be ſaved, and Iſrael dwell ſafely. Chriſt's Kingdom is for the ſalvation of men. In Zech. 9.9. it is ſaid, Rejoice thou Daughter of Sion, thy King comes: But in Iſ. 62.11. it is ſaid, Behold thy Salvation comes. Chriſt is a ſaving King to enſlaved and periſhing ſinners.

In the Text we may obſerve theſe ſeveral parts:

1. Here is a great Benefit promiſed, and that is ſalvation; Judah ſhall be ſaved, Mal. 2.3.

2. We have the perfection and continuance of this ſalvation, Iſrael ſhall dwell ſafely, Rom. 16.20. Spiritual Enemies ſhall be ſo ſubdued, trodden under foot, and deſtroyed, that they p. 4ſhall never recover, and lift up themſelves to enſlave and oppreſs the people of God. The uncircumciſed and unclean ſhall no more, as Conquerours, paſs through the Church of God, Iſ. 52.1. Her Walls ſhall be called Salvation, and her Gates Praiſe, Iſ. 60.18. Saved and Redeemed Saints may ſerve without Fear, Luke 1.74, 75. They ſhall not be caſt out by Chriſt, John 6.37. They ſhall not by Satan, or ſinners, be plucked out of Chriſt's hands, John 10.27, 28. They ſhall not, by the mutability of their own Wills, depart from God, Jer. 32.40. So they have no ground to dread, that Chriſt will divorce them, that ſin ſhall enſlave them, and that Satan ſhall enſnare and devour them.

3. We have the Perſons to whom this Promiſe is made, Judah and Iſrael: But doth the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhine only on Canaan? Is the Salvation of the Meſſiah reſtrained to One Nation? No, Chriſt is the Saviour of the World, John 4.42. We read of a common Faith, Acts 1.9. and a common Salvation, Jude v. 3. The Hedg is pluckt up, Luke 14.23. The Wall of p. 5Partition is broken down, Eph. 6.14. The Old Encloſures are thrown open, and Chriſt is God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, Iſa. 49.6. But why then is Judah and Iſrael mentioned? Anſw. 1. They were the Ancient, and for ſome time the only people of God: They were then in being, to receive and embrace the Promiſes. God did know, eſteem, love, deal better with them than with other Nations, Amos 3.1. Pſal. 147. and the two laſt Verſes. 2. They were as it were, the Repreſentatives of, and the Truſtees for the Church Univerſal; the Oracles of God were committed to them, Rom. 3.2. the Covenant was made with them; the Promiſes of God were given to them, Rom. 9.4. 3. Believers of the Gentiles are now grafted into this ſtock of the Jewiſh Church, they are planted among the Natural Branches; partakers of the Olive and its fatneſs, &c. Rom. 17.24. they are Fellow-Heirs of the ſame Body, and Partakers of God's Promiſe in Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 3.6. and this is both the meaning, and the fulfilling of that Scripture, Ezek. 47.22. You ſhall divide the Land by Lot for an p. 6Inheritance unto you, and the Strangers that ſojourn among you, and that ſhall beget Children among you; and they ſhall be unto you, as born in the Country, among the Children of Iſrael; they ſhall have Inheritance with you among the Tribes of Iſrael. Canaan was not only a Type of the Eternal Inheritance, but alſo a Shadow of a Spiritual Canaan of the Church of God, and its Priviledges. To ſojourn among the Tribes of Iſrael, ſeemeth to be the ſame as to be grafted in among the Branches, and to have an Inheritance among the Tribes of Iſrael, may well be expounded by the Gentiles being made Partakers of the Olive and its Fatneſs; and that Proviſion that is made for the Children that Strangers ſhould beget, that they ſhould have an Inheritance among the Tribes of Iſrael, ſeemeth to me to point out the Church-Memberſhip of the Children of the Gentiles, and that they ſhall be put into the ſame Place, and enjoy the ſame Priviledges that the Children of the Iſraelites had. This ſenſe ſeemeth at leaſt very probable. We never find that material Canaan was divided among the Iſraelites and Strangers, and p. 7as this was not practiſed for the time paſt, ſo it ſeems not poſſible or practicable for the time to come, that the Gentiles ſhould have a ſhare in ſuch a narrow and ſhort Land, as Canaan is, and poſſeſs it together with the Jews.

4. The Believing Gentiles are now the Iſrael of God, and Spiritual Jews, Gal. 6.16. Rom. 2.29. As there is a Spiritual, Altar, Temple, Circumciſion, Spiritual Sacrifices, ſo there is a Spiritual Iſrael and Judah. True Believers are Iſrael, for they wreſtle with God to obtain an eternal Bleſſing; Gen. 12.2. and they are Spiritual udah as they praiſe God for the obtaining of an everlaſting Salvation, &c. Rev. 12.11.

4thly, We have the time when theſe Promiſes ſhall be moſt eminently perform'd, and that in the Days of Chriſt, in his Days Judah ſhall be ſaved.

5thly, We have an honourable and glorious Name given to, and put on the Meſſiah; this is the Name whereby he ſhall be called, the Lord our Righteouſneſs. There is ſomething p. 8extraordinary imported, and ſignified by this Name, that Jehovah that requireth Righteouſneſs of us, ſhould himſelf become Righteouſneſs to us; that he who hath impoſed righteous Commands on us, and hath denounced for our diſobedience righteous Threatnings againſt us, ſhould to ſecure and preſerve us, or be made Righteouſneſs to us: This is admirable and wonderful, that Jehovah ſhould provide a Laver to waſh us, and work out a Righteouſneſs to cloath and adorn us. This is ſuch a rare and ſtupendious thing, that the Son of God by this gracious Condeſcention to us, by this merciful Proviſion for us, hath acquired a new, honourable and everlaſting Name.

The Words afford us two Points of Doctrine,

1. That in Chriſt's Days Judah and Iſrael, Jew and Gentile, ſhall be moſt eminently, and ſignally ſaved.

2. That Jeſus Chriſt is, and ſhall be called, the Lord our Righteouſneſs.

p. 9Doct. 1. That in Chriſt's Days, Judah and Iſrael, Jew and Gentile, ſhall be moſt eminently ſaved. For the proſecuting of this Doctrine; 1. I ſhall ſhew you what Days are meant and intended by the Days of Chriſt. 2. What this Salvation is, that ſhall be given forth in his Days. 3. Why Salvation is by way of Excellency ſaid to be beſtowed in his days; and then more eminently communicate.

1. What days are meant by the Days of Chriſt. Anſ. The Days that begin from the incarnation of the Son of God, and continue and run on to his ſecond coming; theſe in Scripture are called his Days, Pſal. 72.7. In his Days ſhall the Righteous flouriſh; and theſe days are Long days, for it followeth, and an abundance of Peace there ſhall be as long as the Moon endureth. So that the days of the Meſſiah do run parralel with the Moon as to their duration. God had promiſed to him, that he ſhould prolong his Days, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhould proſper in his Hand, Iſa. 53.10. It is a wonderful Condeſcention, that he whoſe goings forth were from everlaſting, and p. 10was ancienter than days, ſhould take an Humane Nature, and live a life in it that ſhould be meaſured by days: The Time ſince Jeſus Chriſt was exhibited, and manifeſted to the World, is called his days.

2. What is this Salvation that Jeſus Chriſt beſtoweth? I ſhall ſhew you 1. The Nature: 2ly, The Properties and Adjuncts of this Salvation. I ſhall firſt explain the Nature of it; This Salvation hath two parts, 1. A Privative, 2. A Poſitive part.

1. A Privative part. It is Salvation from the moſt dreadful Evils, 1. It is Salvation from Sin, Matth. 1.21. thou ſhalt call his Name Jeſus, for he ſhall ſave his People from their Sins. 2 Tit. 14. he gave himſelf to redeem us from all Iniquity. His Blood is the precious Red Ink to blot out our Tranſgreſſions; and the moſt wonderful Red Seas to drown the Spiritual Egyptians; the Hoſt of our Iniquities in Chriſt, was but baptized in the deep Waters of ſorrow and ſufferings, but he drowned for ever all our ſins. God made war with Chriſt, to make peace with us, Zech. 13.7. God p. 11ſaves by Remiſſion of Sins, Luke 77. and by the waſhing of Regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghoſt, Tit. 3.4, 5. God made him an inſtance of Severity, that we might be eternal Monuments of Mercy.

2. Chriſt ſaves from wrath. Jeſus delivers from the wrath to come, 1 Theſ. 1. laſt. Being juſtified by his Blood, we ſhall be ſaved from wrath, through him, Rom. 5.9. The Apoſtle doth not mention whoſe wrath, but means the wrath of God: This wrath is ſo formidable, and terrible, that all other wrath is as nothing, doth not deſerve the Name of wrath; it is but a falſe, or painted Fire, a Bubble, an empty Name and ſound. God can array all the Creatures, as his Hoſts in Heaven and Earth, to fight againſt Sinners: He can awaken and ſtir up Conſcience, to accuſe and condemn the Sinner, and ſo make him both a Burden and a Terrour to himſelf. God can remember, and ſet all our Trangreſſions before our Sight, and fix our Eyes on this dreadful and diſmaying Object, that they ſhall never divert or look off from it. God p. 12can purſue Sinners with puniſhment in this world, and meet them with more dreadful vengeance in another World; he can ſtrike and ſupport the Criminal at once; he can blow up the Fire of his Anger and preſerve the Souls and Bodies of Sinners to be eternal Fuel to it; he can make extremity, and eternity of Miſery, to meet in the ſame Perſon. It is amazing wrath to make a bundle of Tares, to ſubſiſt, and continue in the Furnace for ever; to be immortal Fuel to an eternal Fire: It is from this dreadful wrath that Jeſus Chriſt ſaves his People.

2. There is a poſitive part of this Salvation. 1. Jeſus Chriſt ſaves and quickens us. The Dead hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear it ſhall live, John 5.25. As God breathed the Breath of Life into Adam's formed Body, and he became a living Soul, Gen. 2.7. ſo Chriſt breathed on his Apoſtles, and ſaid, Receive you the Holy Ghoſt, John, 20.22. the Life of Saints, is a Beam of, and a ſtream from the Life of Chriſt, Eccl. 2.20. How noble is their Life? They live p. 13by Chriſt's living in them; through the Spirit they are ingrafted into Chriſt, are Branches of the true Tree of Life; they are in him, who is the true God, and Eternal Life, 1 John 5.20. 2ly, Chriſt ſaves them, and builds them, Zech. 6.12, 13. The Branches ſhould grow up out of his Place, and he ſhould build the Temple of the Lord; we fell, and were ruined in and by Adam, and we lay in Ruines and Rubbiſh, till Chriſt doth lift up his Feet to our Deſolations; doth with Pity behold, and in Mercy raiſe up our Ruins. Satan dwells in, and rejoices over theſe Ruins. Thoſe that are pulled down with reſpect to God, may be ſaid to be built up with reſpect to Satan; as Ruins of a Houſe are of no uſe to us, ſo ruined Creatures are altogether unprofitable to God, Rom. 12. O this is great Mercy, for Satan to be diſpoſſed and ejected, and for Souls to be framed as a holy Houſe, and to be built up as a Spiritual Temple for God to inhabit, and be worſhipped in. Thoſe that are God's Temples are animated by his Spirit, and are filled with his Glory p. 14at once; they are framed to be a Habitation for God, and fitted to be Inhabitants with him in the Heavenly Jeruſalem.

3. Chriſt ſaves waters, and improves our dry Ground, our Barren Land, Iſa. 44.3. God, ſaith he, will pour water on him that is thirſty, and Floods on the dry Ground. And God thus explains the meaning of this Metaphor, I will pour my Spirit on thy Seed, and my Bleſſing on thy Off-ſpring. We are by Nature a wretched, dry and barren piece of Ground; we did ly upon improvement to none, but to the Heavenly Husbandman; it was the ſecond Adam only that could enrich ſuch a hungry and dry Ground; he that can give the Spirit, as Rivers of Living Water, John 7.37, 38, 39. He invites Sinners to come and drink: Thirſty Souls may here drink in the very Fountain of Grace, the Spirit, and ſo be enabled to ſend forth Spiritual Rivers, to ſtretch and ſolace others. Chriſt can cultivate, and manure the Wilderneſs, cauſe it to be well watered, Iſa. 35.6, 7. and ſo to become a pleaſant Eden, a delightful p. 15and fruitful Paradiſe to God; as God had a River in the Clouds to improve and enrich Canaan, Pſal. 65.6. Thou viſiteſt the Earth, and watereſt it, thou greatly enricheſt it with the River of God, which is full of Water. So Chriſt hath a better River with him in Heaven, and this River he ſends down, and lets it in, and turns it over our dry and barren Land: When Hannah was delivered from Barrenneſs, ſhe calls this God's Salvation, and rejoyceth in it, 1 Sam. 2.1.

4. Chriſt ſaves and anoints, and and perfumes his Redeemed People, Ezek. 16.9. I throughly waſhed away this Blood from thee, and I anointed thee with Oyl. Here is plain alluſion to thoſe precious and ſweet-ſmelling-Oyls that great Perſons were anointed and perfumed with, Eſter 2.12. Pſal. 23.5. Chriſt doth not only waſh away the guilt of Sin with his Blood, but alſo anoints his People with his Spirit, and its ſweet ſmelling Graces. Believers are called Chriſtians, becauſe they partake of the Ointment of his Spirit, 2 Cor. 1.21. And the Church is ſaid to aſcend as Pillars of Smoke, perfumed p. 16with Myrrh and Frankincenſe, and all the powders of the Merchant. Cant. 3.6. Chriſt doth not only take the ſtink of our Sins, from the Noſtrils of God, by his ſweet ſmelling Sacrifice, Eph. 5.2. but alſo perfumes us with the ſweet Odours and Powders of his Graces. The Ointments, the Garments of Saints, caſt out a ſweet ſmell, Cant. 4.10.

5. He ſaves and cloaths us, Rev. 3.18. he puts white Raiment on us, that the ſhame of our Nakedneſs may not appear. He takes from Sinners their ſordid Garments, and cloaths them with change of Raiment, Zech. 3.3, 4. We could not provide any Wedding Cloaths for our ſelves, if Jeſus did not give them to us, and beſtow them on us. To her was granted to be cloathed in fine Linen, white and clean, which is the Righteouſneſs of Saints, Rev. 19.8. Jeſus Chriſt doth not only cover us with the Robe of his Righteouſneſs, but alſo adorns and beautifies us with his new Nature; we are made Partakers of Chriſt, Heb. 3.14. We have a Spiritual Underſtanding; we have the Mind of Chriſt. 1 John 5.20. p. 17and the Bowels or Affections of Chriſt, Phil. 1.5. We are to put on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 13.14. his Mind muſt be put upon our Mind, his Will on our Will, his Affections on our Affections; nothing of our own ſhould be ſeen or appear, but all the Faculties of our Souls ſhould be covered with the Livery of Jeſus Chriſt. This Apparel wears freſher, and will laſt to Eternity.

6. Chriſt ſaves and adopts, John 4.12. To as many as received him, gave he power to become the Sons of God. He was ſo far from envying us, or grudging of us this Priviledge of Adoption, that he vailed his own Sonſhip under the form of a Servant; he was made under the Law, and died, that we might receive the Adoption of Children, Gal. 4.4. He doth not only ſave Criminals from Execution, but alſo, makes them Heirs of a Kingdom, and an eternal Inheritance, James 2.15. Heb. 9.5.

2dly, I ſhall now ſhew you the Properties and Adjuncts of this Salvation.

p. 181. It is for the preſent, moſtly a Spiritual Salvation, our Soul's live, Iſa. 55.3. our Souls find reſt, Matth. 1.28. our Souls are ſaved, 1 Pet. 1.9. our Souls do delight themſelves in Fatneſs, Iſa. 55.2. But the Bodies of Saints are often in this World expoſed to Poverty, Hardſhips, Impriſonments, grievous Sufferings, and cruel Deaths; and theſe Evils do cloud the Saints Adoption and vail their State of Spiritual Salvation. This cauſed the Heathens (as Lactantius tells us) to ſay, De Juſtitia.that Virtue was an empty thing. If Men had not Riches, Honours, exemption from Sufferings, freedom from outward Evils, and Victory over Enemies; but Chriſt hath not made the Earth, and Plenty of Worldly Enjoyments, as a Jointure to his Spouſe the Church, but tells his Diſciples, that in the World they ſhall have Tribulations, John 16. laſt. that thoſe, that will live Godly, muſt ſuffer Perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. there is an irrevocable Sentence paſſed on the Old Man, on the natural Body, that it ſhall p. 19return to the Duſt, and this Sentence muſt be executed, Gen. 3.19.

2. This is a Righteous Salvation; this is intimated in the laſt part of the Verſe, Judah ſhall be ſaved, and that, by him who is the Lord our Righteouſneſs. God is juſt in puniſhing ſin on Chriſt, that he may be juſt in pardoning it to us, Rom. 3.25, 26, 27. God will not tare Believers in pieces, according to his Threatning, Pſal. 50.22. Becauſe the Vail of Chriſt's Humane Nature, his Soul and Body was divided, and rent in twain, Heb. 10.19. God may in a righteous way, build up Sinners out of their Ruins, becauſe the Temple of Chriſt's Body hath been deſtroyed, and pull'd down to the Duſt. Jeſus Chriſt, though a Tree of Righteouſneſs, was cut down, that many Branches of Righteouſneſs might ſpring out of this precious Root; he was ſowed in the Duſt, that he might be multiplied, and many might, from this holy Grain, ſpring up to Everlaſting Life, John 12.24. God cloathed himſelf with the Garments of Vengeance, and loaded Chriſt with ſorrows, that he might p. 20cloath us with the Garments of Salvation, &c. Iſa. 1.10. As the living Sparrow was dipt in the Blood of the ſlain Sparrow and ſo let fly, Lev. 14.5, 6, 7. ſo we have liberty in a righteous way, by being dyed in Chriſt's Blood. Jeſus Chriſt can marry us, becauſe his Soul and Body were divorced, to reconcile us to God. And he can repair and reſtore the beautiful image of God to us, becauſe his Viſage was marred more than any Man's, and his Form more than the Sons of Men, Iſa. 52.14. This is the excellency and glory of the Chriſtian Religion, above all the pretended Religions in the World, that it ſheweth how God may pardon ſin in a condecent manner, in a way becoming of himſelf, and not reflect on his Holineſs, reproach his Juſtice, or wrong his Law, Heb. 2.10. It became him, of whom, and for whom, are all things, in bringing many Sons to Glory, to make the Captain of their ſalvation perfect through ſufferings. Such an High-Prieſt became us, who is holy, harmleſs, undefiled, and ſeparate from ſinners, Heb. 7.26. God is more honoured, and his p. 21Law exalted by the ſufferings of Chriſt, than if we had fell under the Curſe, and lain in Hell for ever.

3. This is a powerful Salvation: God laid the help of Sinners on one that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19. God hath raiſed up for us an Horn of Salvation, Luke 1.69. one that is able to pierce through, and to puſh down all the Enemies of our Salvation. The Captain of our Salvation is the mighty God, Iſa. 9.6. no Enemy can ſtand before him, or prevail againſt him; no Diſeaſe is ſo ſtrong, or malignant, but the great Phyſitian can cure it; no Droſs cleaves ſo cloſe to us, but he can ſeparate it from us: Chriſt is a refining Fire to his People, and a conſuming Fire to their Enemies: As the firſt Adam corrupts and defiles inevitably, ſo the ſecond Adam can renew, cleanſe, ſanctify irreſiſtibly. And infallibly he can ſpeak ſo, as to cauſe the Deaf and Dead to hear, Iſa. 29.18. John 5.25. He can woo ſo, as to cauſe himſelf to be loved, and choſen; he can draw ſo, as to make Sinners to run to him at firſt, Iſa. 55.5. and to run after him ever after, Cant. 1.4. p. 22The ſpirit of Chriſt is mighty in its Operations; it acts as a ſpirit of Power; it cauſeth Men to paſs under Chriſt's Paſtoral Rod, and brings them under the Bond of the Covenant, Ezek. 20.37. It cauſeth Men to approach to God, and dwell in his Houſe, Pſal. 65.4. It cauſeth Men to walk in God's ways, and to keep his Statutes, Ezek. 36.27. This word (Cauſe) is obſervable and emphatical, and ſignifies the ſpirit's mighty and effectual way of working. It doth not only propoſe Arguments, and ſollicite the Souls of the Elect in a moral way, but renews the Will, changes the Heart effectually, inclines men to yield to, and follow after God. The event is not pendulous and uncertain, and ſuſpended on Man's free-will, but Chriſt undertakes that his Sheep ſhall hear his Voice, and he will bring them to his Fold, John 10.16.

4. Chriſt's Salvation is a full and comprehenſive Salvation, Luke 1.71. That we ſhould be ſaved from the Hand of our Enemies, and from all that hate us. Sin, the World and Death are our Enemies.

p. 231. Sin is our Enemy. Our Luſts do Satan's work, if he ſhould ſtand ſtill, James 1.14, 15. A Man is tempted, and drawn away by his own Luſt; This is a Body of Death, Rom. 7.24. it deforms our Souls as much as Death deforms our Bodies; it makes them corrupt, putrify, and ſtink in the Noſtrils of God; it renders us as unactive for God, as a dead Carcaſe is unſerviceable to Man; it defiles and enſlaves our Souls; lets us only do dead works, Heb. 9.14. ſuch works as are the fruits of ſpiritual death, and the ſeeds of eternal death: Where it prevails and reigneth, it cauſeth us continually to go a whoring from God, and to riſe up in Rebellion againſt him; it cauſeth us to lead a life of Vanity here, and prepares us for a life of Miſery hereafter.

2. The World is an Enemy: We need the Armour of Righteouſneſs on the Right Hand, to ſecure us from the danger of Proſperity, and the Aamour of Righteouſneſs on our Left Hand, to guard us from the evil of Adverſity, 2 Cor. 6.7. Height of Proſperity, and depth of Miſery, Rom. 8.39. p. 24are dangerous ſnares, and may prove mortal Enemies to us, if Grace doth not prevent. The World's Muſick is to draw, and its Furnace is to drive us from God; Satan takes his Bait, and fetches his Weapons from ſome thing in the World. How doth it blow up, and inflame our Hearts? fire and fuel our Luſts? How many are made to forget God, and to think they have no want and need of him, in their Plenty and Abundance, Pſal. 50.22. Job 1.14.15. Job 22.17. Jer. 3.31.

3. Death is an Enemy to God's People, 1 Cor. 15.26. it ſtrikes them dumb, and deprives them of the uſe of their Tongues, in praiſing God which is their Glory. Saints as well as others, when they die, go down into ſilence, Pſal. 115.17. Iſa. 38.18. Death diſables us from working for God in a body of Fleſh; it gives a Quietus eſt to one half of us, and diſchargeth it from the ſervice of God. The Temple in which the ſpirit dwelt, is now pulled down, and ſinks into Duſt and Aſhes; and Death that deprives us of ſo great and glorious p. 25an Inhabitant in our Bodies, and takes us off from ſuch noble ſervice, with our Tongues and Members, muſt needs be our Enemy.

But Chriſt ſaves from theſe Enemies: Sin ſhall not Reign, Rom. 6.14. and in due time it ſhall ceaſe to be ſin, and ſhall be utterly extirpated out of the People of God. As Iſrael's Freedom was begun in the death of the Firſt-born of the Egyptians, and was compleated in the drowning of Pharaob and all his Hoſt in the Red Sea; ſo the liberty of Saints is begun in deſtroying the reign of beloved ſins, that are the firſt-born of the Old Man, and ſhall be compleated by the total extirpation and deſtruction of all ſin. We are Baptized into the Death and Burial of Chriſt, Rom. 6.3. and we muſt be made Partakers of the ſaving Benefit of both. Sin ſhall not only die, but alſo be buried: A Dead Man hath loſt his Command in the Houſe, yet his Carcaſe may remain in it; but when he is to be buried, his Corps is carried out, and he ceaſeth any longer to be in the Houſe. So ſin ſhall not only ceaſe to reign, but p. 26alſo to be in the ſoul; we ſhall be waſhed, and free from every ſpot and wrinkle, Epheſ. 5.25, 26, 27.

2. The World is foiled and overcome by Chriſt; Joh. 16. & laſt. It could not divert or draw him from doing his Father's work and will; and this conquered Enemy ſhall not have ſtrength to captivate and deſtroy Believers; they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, Rev. 12.1. Our victorious Saviour hath purchaſed conquering Strength, and merited Victory for us in the midſt of all ſnares and temptations. We are more than Conquerors, through the Lord Jeſus that hath loved us, Rom. 8.39.

3. Chriſt will ſave his People from Death, after this Enemy hath not only ſwallowed them up, but digeſted them: Chriſt hath aboliſhed Death already in himſelf, and will aboliſh it alſo in all his People, Hoſ. 13.14. he threatens Death, that holds the Rod over, and threatens the whole World; he menaceth Death, that he will be the plague of Death; a mortal Diſeaſe to it. He threatens the Grave that he will deſtroy it, and in p. 27due time Triumphant Saints ſhall ſing this Song, O Death, where is thy ſting? O Death, what haſt thou gotten by killing our Bodies, they are alive again? O Grave where is thy Victory? what haſt thou gotten by taking away all the ſhape of a Body, and crumbling it into Duſt? 3ly. This Body is now reſtor'd, our Particles of Duſt are gathered together, and formed into a Body like the glorious Body of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.55.57. Phil. 3.21. Chriſt will, in Living Saints at the laſt day, ſwallow up Mortality of Life, 2 Cor. 5.4. and, in dead Saints, he will ſwallow up Death into Victory, Iſa. 25.8.

2dly, There are thoſe that hate Saints; and ſo wicked Men and Satan do; they hate them, becauſe they bare the Image, and live the Life, and uphold the intereſt of God; but the wicked cannot kill the Souls of the Saints, Luke 12.4. and Satan, though he may deſtroy the natural Life, yet he ſhall not quench the Life of God in them; and in due time, the Saints ſhall tread down the wicked, they ſhall be as Aſhes under the ſoles of their Feet, Mal. 4.2, 3. and the God p. 28of Peace ſhall ſhortly tread Satan under the Feet of Believers, Rom. 16.20.

5. This is an everlaſting Salvation, Iſa. 45.17. Iſrael ſhall be ſaved in the Lord, with an everlaſting ſalvation; Saints ſhall have a full, and an eternal Victory, as God did ſwear to Abraham, that his Seed ſhould poſſeſs the Gates of their Enemies, Gen. 22.17. When, not only the Field Army is beaten, but the ſtrong Towns and Cities are taken, then there is a total and laſting Conqueſt. Saints ſhall be ſaved from Sin, Sinners and Satan for ever; and this Salvation muſt needs be eternal, for it is founded on the Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, Pſal. 92.24. and the eternal Redemption of Chriſt, Heb. 9.12. There is no poſſibility for glorified Saints to ſin or fall; there ſhall no Serpent creep into the Heavenly Paradiſe to tempt. Saints ſhall never make Forfeitures of it, or be driven out of it; they ſhall there eat of the Tree of Life, and live for ever, Rev. 2.7.

p. 296. This Salvation. Salvation is joined with Vengeance executed on our ſpiritual Enemies, Iſa. 35.4. Your God ſhall come with vengeance; God ſhall come with a Recompence, and ſave you, Iſa. 61.2. the acceptable Year of the Lord, is come with a Day of Vengeance. As Iſrael could not be delivered out of Egypt, or be freed from Babylon, but the Firſt-born of Egypt, Pharaoh and all his Hoſt muſt be ſwallowed up, and deſtroy'd, and Babylon's Empire muſt ceaſe, and her Kingdom be deſtroyed, Jer. 50.18.26. So the Elect cannot have liberty and ſalvation, but Satan himſelf muſt be deſtroy'd, Heb. 2.15. and his works alſo be rootod out of the Hearts of Men, 1 John 3.5. O what Mercy is this to Believers, that the wrath of God is turned away from them, and that the vengeance of God falls on Satan and Sin; that Sin is condemned and executed, but Sinners are juſtified and ſaved, Rom. 8.3. with Rom. 9.1.33.

3. But why is it ſaid, that Judah ſhould be ſaved, and Iſrael dwell ſafely in the Days of Chriſt? why is Salvation p. 30ſo eminently put on Goſpel times.

I anſwer, though Saints before Chriſt were ſaved, yet ſtill it was with an Eye to, and proſpect of Chriſt's coming: If Chriſt had not been exhibited in the Fleſh, and bled and died in our Natures, no Sinners could have been ſaved: The Faith, Hope, Salvation of Saints, did depend on Goſpel-times and days; Chriſt was a Lamb ſlain in the purpoſe of God, and in the Typical Sacrifices from the Foundation of the World, Rev. 13.3. God took Chriſt's word, when he became a ſurety; he depended on his performance of his Promiſes, and his Oblation of a Sacrifice; and the Eyes of Saints was to him, and upon him, John 9.56. Your Father Abraham (ſaith Chriſt to the Jews) rejoyced that he might ſee my day, he ſaw it, and was glad. He ſaw the day of Chriſt's Birth, in the Birth of Iſaac: He ſaw the day of his Death, when Iſaac was bound, laid on the Altar, and ready to be offered up in Sacrifice; and in the Lamb that was ſubſtituted in Iſaac's Room, p. 31which pointed out Chriſt, that was our Exchange, and ſo our Ranſom and Redeemer. The words that Jacob ſpake, was the Language of Saints in the Old Teſtament, Gen. 49.18. I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord. Our Saints of the New Teſtament, have this Priviledge and Advantage, that they can ſpeak as Simeon, Luke 2.29, 30. Mine Eyes have ſeen thy Salvation, which thou haſt prepared before the Face of all People. The Prophets were but Seeds-Men, they miniſtred to the Church a Promiſe of the Meſſiah to come, John 4.37.38. but the Apoſtles and Miniſters of the New Teſtament are Harveſt-men; they relate the Hiſtory, and preach the glad Tidings of Chriſt's Incarnation, Death, Reſurrection and Aſcention into Heaven; and the Saints of the Old Teſtament enjoyed no Spiritual Liberty, but with reſpect to the Ranſom to be paid by Chriſt; and no Legacies had been beſtowed, but in proſpect of the Death of Chriſt. There is therefore great Reaſon why it ſhould be ſaid with an Emphaſis, that in Chriſt's Days Judah ſhould be p. 32ſaved. But what is the benefit of Chriſt's Days? What peculiar influence have they on Salvation?

I anſwer, It may well be ſaid, that in Chriſt's Days Men are ſaved, becauſe 1ſt, That now Chriſt is incarnate; he that made all things is now made Fleſh, 1 John 1.2.14. And we have a two-fold Advantage, for our Salvation, by Chriſt's Incarnation.

1. He is now become our Brother, Cant. 8.1. and ſo, hath right to redeem us, as he is our near Kinſman, Lev. 25.47, 48, 49. If an Iſraelite did ſell himſelf for a Servant, after he was ſold, his Brother, or any that was near of Kin to him, might redeem him, and ſo reſtore him again to liberty. We are by the firſt Adam, and ſince, by our ſinful choice, ſold under ſin; we know of no Kinſman or Brother that could give to God a Ranſom for us. It was God's infinite and free Mercy, to raiſe up Jeſus Chriſt, in our Nature, to pay a Ranſome for us; we did not think or dream of ſuch a Brother or Kinſman. No meer Creature ſhould have p. 33undertook the work of Redemption, but he muſt have miſcarried, and ſunk under it; but Chriſt is fitted now to redeem us, becauſe he is God's Son, and our Brother.

2. Chriſt as our Brother, and incarnate Kinſman, is fit to be our God, or Avenger of Blood; he that was the Kinſman of one that was ſlain, did claim a right to avenge his Blood on him that ſhed it. So Chriſt by aſſuming our Nature, is fitted to avenge us of Sin and Satan, that are our great Enemies, to deſtroy thoſe that have ruined and undone us; the ſame Hebrew Word, foreign ſignifies both a Redeemer and an Avenger; ſo it is ſaid God ſhall come with Vengeance and ſave us, Iſa. 5.4.

2ly, Jeſus Chriſt hath now made his Soul an Offering for ſin, Iſa. 53.10. He came to make atonement, and is a propitiation for our ſins, 1 John 2.2. he made Peace by the Blood of his Croſs, Col. 1.20. and reconciles Enemies to God by his Death, Rom. 5.10. And this is obſervable, that the Year of Jubilee began from the day of Attonement, Lev. 25.9.10. Then Servants p. 34were reſtored to their Liberty and thoſe that had alienated their Lands, recovered their ſold Inheritances. Even ſo Chriſt having now made at Atonement, he can and doth proclaim a Year of Jubilee, for the Remiſſion of Sins, and the Releaſing of Sins Servants, God's Priſoners, and the Devil's Captives; Iſa. 61.2. as in David's Days, when a Peſtilence was ſent by God for numbring the People, firſt, God bid the Angel that came to deſtroy Jeruſalem, to ſtay his Hand, 2 Sam. 24.16. But when a Sacrifice was offered, he bid him to put up his Sword, 1 Chron. 21.27. So in the times of the Law, God did but as it were ſtay his Hand: Sins were ſaid to be paſſed by, foreign in the forbearance of God, that Time is called a Time of Forbearance, and God ſtaid his Hand from puniſhing thoſe that did look to Chriſt to come. But now the great Sacrifice is offered up; God's Sword is ſheathed; and he can magnify Grace, through the ſacrifice and ſatisfaction of Chriſt; it may reign through the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 5.20.21. Jeſus p. 35Chriſt being lifted upon the Croſs, will draw all to him, John 12.32. All, that is very many, compared with the few, that were drawn before a Dying Saviour.

3dly, Chriſt hath now paid a Ranſom, Matth. 20.28. and purchaſed a Church by his own Blood, Acts 20.28. And therefore Chriſt hath now juſt ground to come to the Priſon Door of Sinners, and to call them forth, Iſa. 49.9. That thou maiſt ſay to the Priſoners go forth, and to them that are in darkneſs, ſhew your ſelves. Come with boldneſs into the preſence of God; appear and ſhew your ſelves with confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary. He that is foreign a Redeemer, hath juſt Ground to be foreign, a Deliverer, Rom. 11.26. ſhall he Ranſom, and not Reſcue? ſhall he buy, and not poſſeſs? hath not Chriſt a juſt claim to what he hath purchaſed, to take poſſeſſion of it?

4thly, Chriſt hath now ſealed, confirmed and eſtabliſhed his Teſtament by means of Death, Heb. 9.15. He that might have given a Sanction to to the Threatning, by our Blood, and p. 36have executed the Curſe in our Death, hath ratified the Promiſes, and confirmed his Teſtament by his own Death. Chriſt hath given Vigour and Strength to the Promiſes, by his being Crucified through weakneſs, 2 Cor. 13.4. and hath given Life to his Teſtament by his own Death; and he is riſing again to be his own Executor. Now he can fulfil the Promiſes of the New Covenant, and beſtow the Legacies of his new Teſtament, and that eſpecially becauſe Chriſt is ſuch a Teſtator, as by his death doth purchaſe of God, all the Legacies he bequeaths in his Teſtament, which no other Teſtator doth. All the Mercies of the Everlaſting Covenant, are the ſure Mercies of this Spiritual David, Iſa. 55.3. they are ſure, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt is riſen from the Dead to beſtow them, Acts 13.34. And certainly Chriſt may freely and lawfully give forth his own.

5hty, Now Chriſt is ſaved; and therefore in a full capacity to ſave others, Zech. 1.9. Thy King cometh to thee, foreign. Salvatus ipſemet ut de brevi tranſitu in locum. Saved. Chriſt had p. 37many Adverſaries, and did encounter with mighty Enemies; they endeavoured totally to cruſh Chriſt, and wholly to ſwallow him up; it was of great concernment to the whole Church of God, that Chriſt ſhould be ſaved. The Holy Ghoſt therefore dictated that Prayer to the Saints, to be put up for Chriſt, Pſal. 118.25. Save now we beſeech thee, we heſeech thee now ſend Proſperity; now was the time of War and utter Deſtruction, there were many aſſociated and united againſt Jeſus Chriſt, Acts 4.25, 26, 27. He is ſtiled Child Jeſus, Enemies thought eaſily to deſtroy him; Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Jews, and the Gentiles. Many Dogs were hunting down this Morning Hart, Pſal. 22. and the Title of Pſal. 16. And it was that which the Church deſired, and Chriſt himſelf alſo pray'd for, that he might be delivered from their cruel and devouring Mouths, Pſal. 69.29. I am Poor and Needy, let thy Salvation ſet me up on high. And Chriſt was heard in what he pray'd for: He was taken from Priſon and Judgment, Iſa. 53.8. From Man's Priſon, Tribunal, and p. 38Judgment, and God did ſet him up on high, even in a glorious Throne, far above the reach and rage of all his Enemies; that Chriſt that is ſo perfectly ſaved himſelf, can fully ſave us. He that did wreſt himſelf out of the Hands of his Foes, can alſo reſcue us from the Power of all our Enemies; the day of Chriſt's Weakneſs is paſt, 2 Cor. 13.4. and the day of his Power is now come, Pſal. 110.3.

6thly, Chriſt is now Perfected, and being made Perfect, he is fit to become the Author of Eternal Salvation to thoſe that obey him, Heb. 5.9. The Captain of our Salvation is made perfect through Sufferings, and can lead to Glory, Heb. 2.10. All the Rounds or Rongs of the Spiritual Ladder, that reacheth from Earth to Heaven, are compleat, Gen. 28.12, 13, 14. with Rom. 5.33, 34. Chriſt hath cloathed himſelf with our Fleſh, he hath died, is riſen again, is aſcended to Heaven, is at the Right Hand of God, to make Interceſſion for us. His Prieſtly Garments are ſprinkled with his own Blood; and ſo he is fitted to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary, p. 39and to appear in the Preſence of God; the Sons of Aaron were to have their Prieſtly Garments ſprinkled with the Blood of a Sacrifice, before they could officiate in the Sanctuary, Exod. 20.21. Chriſt's own Death did conſecrate him, as a Prieſt for ever, and perfect him for the great work of Interceſſion, Heb. 7. laſt.

7thly, Chriſt is now Victorious over all his, and our Enemies; he hath overcome the World, John 16. laſt. he hath made Reconciliation for Iniquity, yea, made an end of ſin, Dan. 9.24. he hath aboliſhed Death, 2 Tim. 1.10. by taſting it for a few Hours, he hath ſwallowed it up for ever: By Death, he hath deſtroy'd him that hath the power of Death, even the Devil, Heb. 2.15. As a Goaler hath the power of the Law to keep a Malefactor in Priſon, and the Executioner hath the power of the Law to put him to Death; ſo Sinners hath broken the Law, and incurred the Penalty; Satan hath the power of the Curſe, to cut off, and deſtroy Sinners. But Chriſt hath ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, turned Satan out of his p. 40Office, ſtript him of his Power, as to thoſe that believe. The Curſe is the Armour that this Strong Man truſts in, Luke 11.22. And Chriſt hath redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, by being made a Curſe himſelf, Gal. 3.13. And Chriſt hath now the Key of Hell, and Death: the Key of Hell to ſhut it, that the Souls of his People may not enter into it, and the Key of Death, to reſcue and bring forth the Bodies of his People out of the Grave. He hath led Captivity Captive, Pſal. 68.18. and triumphed over the Enemies of our Salvation; the Captain of our Salvation is entred in triumph into his Royal City above; as he hath overcome in his own Perſon, ſo now he can overcome in us. His ſtrength is perfected in our weakneſs: It is diſcovered to be moſt perfect, when we are moſt weak and low; when we ſeem as Chriſt's Soldiers, to lye in the open Field, and to be expoſed to manifold Inconveniences and Sufferings from the rage and fury of the World, then the power of Chriſt is ſpread as a Tent over us, foreign, 2 Cor. 12.9. Chriſt the p. 41Captain of our Salvation, can be preſent with, and mighty in all his Soldiers, and ride in triumph through the World on poor Worms. He that hath wounded the Head of the Old Serpent, and broke the ſtrength of Satan, is able to foil all his ſcatter'd Forces, that yet remain, Rev. 6.2. He rideth forth Conquering, and to Conquer, and turneth the Battel even to the Gates of Hell. Iſa. 28.6. Chriſt the true David doth ſuccour his People out of the Heavenly City, 2 Sam. 18.3 and ſend to his Fighting Soldiers the Supplies of his Spirit, Phil. 1.19.

8thly, Chriſt is alive, and lives for evermore, Rev. 1.18. And Chriſt doth not live idly, but to make interceſſion for all that come to God by him, Heb. 7.25. He lives to execute his Teſtament, ſprinkle his Blood, and apply his Redemption. Paul reaſoneth thus, Rom. 5.10. If we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, much more ſhall we be ſaved by his Life. Chriſt hath gone through with the moſt hard, difficult, and painful part of his work; he gave p. 42his Life a Ranſom, he poured out his Soul unto the Death; and will he neglect or omit the eaſieſt part of his work? He may live and ſave us; he needs not to bleed again, to go forth into any more Storms, or to be ſet up as a Mark of God; he may ſit in his Throne, he may wear his glittering Crown, and reign in his Glory, and do al the reſt that is requiſite to accompliſh and compleat our Salvation. Becauſe Chriſt liveth, his People ſhall live alſo, John 14.19. Chriſt liveth, and therefore his Intereſt ſhall not die in the World. Our Redeemer liveth to quicken our Spirits, Job 19.25, 26. Now by his Spirit, to receive our departing Souls, and to revive our dead Bodies. Chriſt is alive to woo his Spouſe, Cant. 8.8. and marry her, Romans 7.4. to aſſault and ſubdue his Enemies, Iſa. 42.13, 14. Rev. 6.2.

I ſhall come now to the uſe of the Doctrine.

Ʋſe 1. Shall Men be moſt eminently ſaved in Chriſt's Days, then we may be inform'd of the wonderful p. 43Mercy of God; of the admirable Grace of Chriſt, that we have ſuch days of the Meſſiah. The days due to Sinners, are days of Puniſhment, days of Vengeance, Luke 21.22. A day of Evil, a day of Deſtruction, is properly called a Sinners day, Pſal. 37.13. The Lord ſhall laugh at him, for he ſeeth that his Day is coming. Ezek. 21.25. And thou Prophane Prince of Iſrael, whoſe day is come, when Iniquity ſhall have an end. By theſe Paſſages of Scripture, we may ſee what days Sinners deſerve, and what days they might have looked for. If God had dealt with the World according to the rigour of his Juſtice, the Threatnings and Curſe of his Law there, would have been no other days, but the days of the firſt Adam. In his days Sin reigns unto Death, and Death reigns, Rom. 5.14.21. How terrible would it have been, if there had been no other days, but days for Sin and Death to Reign in? It is through the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that we have an Accepted time, and a day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. Otherwiſe Men would do nothing elſe but p. 44ſow the Seeds of Woe here, and reap a full Harveſt of Miſery hereafter. They would ſin in this World, and ſuffer in the World to come; they would walk contrary to God in time, and God would walk contrary to them to Eternity.

Ʋſe 2. If Sinners are ſaved moſt eminently in Chriſt's Days, O then examine your ſelves whether Chriſt's Salvation be applied to you; whether God doth cloth you with the Garments of Salvation, Iſa. 61.10. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, that hath cloathed me with the Garments of Salvation. Have you obtained the Salvation that is in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 2.10. Try your ſelves, by propoſing to your own Souls theſe following Queſtions.

1. Were your Eyes ever opened; liberty of ſight makes way for liberty of Soul; the opening of Mens Eyes, is the firſt ſtep that Chriſt takes towards their Salvation, Iſa. 42.7. He is appointed to open the Blind Eyes, to bring out the Priſoners from the Priſon, p. 45and them that ſit in darkneſs out of the Priſon-houſe. As thoſe Jews that were born in Babylon, if they were not better inform'd, would account Chaldea to be the Native Country of their Fathers, and that they had always dwelt there, and ſo be contented to ſtay in the Land of their Captivity: They therefore needed to have their Eyes opened, that they might know that Chaldea and the other Countries under the Babyloniſh Empire, were the Land of their Captivity. That God in wrath had ſlung them out into this ſtrange Country, Jer. 10.16. That their ſins had driven them hither, and ſcattered them among their Enemies. Even ſo Sinners need to have their Eyes opened, that they may know whoſe they are, and where they are. Men do not acknowledge, and conſider that they are under the Law of Sin, the power of Satan, and the wrath of God. Sinners do not know themſelves to be Condemned Men and Women, ſhut up under a Sentence of Death, and reſerved to the Day of Wrath and Execution, Job 21.30. Men are as careleſs and unconcerned p. 46as if they had not degenerated and fallen from God; as if their Natures were not corrupted and depraved; as if Mankind never knew a better ſtate, but were always as vitious, looſe and wicked, as now they are. Could Sinners be ſo quiet, yea, be ſo merry and jovial as they are, if they knew they were God's Priſoners, and that the Day of Judgment and Vengeance was at hand. Conſider therefore how it is with you; did God ever open your Eyes, and let in Light into your dark Priſon? Did you ever feel the Chains of Guilt that are about you? the burden of Iniquity that is upon you? Have you ever applied the Threatnings and Curſe of the Law to your own Souls, and ſo have in the bitterneſs of your Souls, cried out that you are undone. None are fit to be Chriſt's Patients, but ſuch as are broken in Heart, or are capable of Chriſt's Comforts, if they be not firſt Mourners in Zion, Iſa. 61.1.2. The Prodigal came to himſelf, and was ſenſible of his Miſery, before he took a Reſolution that he would ariſe and come to his Father, Luke 25.17.18. p. 47Did you ever ſee your worſt and moſt dangerous Enemies to be within you? Have you been made ſenſible of your vain Minds, hard and whoriſh Hearts, and carnal Affections?

2. Were you ever effectually called? 2 Tim. 1.9. He hath ſaved and called as with an holy Calling. Hath God called you, ſo as to ſave you from your unbelief and impenitency? Hath God ſpoken to you with a ſtrong hand? Iſa. 8.11. Hath he laid the hand of his Power on your Hearts. The Angels ſpake to Lot with a ſtrong hand; they did not only exhort him to haſten and be gone out of Sodom, but when he lingred, they laid hold on the Hand of Lot, of his Wife, and of his Two Daughters, and brought them out of Sodom, Gen. 19.15, 16. Even ſo Chriſt ſpeaks with a ſtrong hand to the Spouſe, Cant. 5.2.4.5. He not only pleaded, and uſed Arguments why ſhe ſhould riſe and open to him, but he put in the Hand of his Spirit by the Hole of the Door. His Hand was as a Key fitted to the Wards of the Lock; he touched her Breaſts, and moved her Bowels, p. 48wrought on her Affections, and then ſhe roſe to open to her Beloved. Hath Chriſt ever apprehended you; as he did Paul, Phil. 3.12. It is ſaid the Converted Gentiles ſhould follow the Church in Chains, Iſa. 45.14. They ſhall come after thee in Chains. Hath Chriſt caſt ſweet Chains of Light and Love about your Souls, and thereby Powerfully draw you?

3. Did you ever fly for Refuge, and come to Chriſt? The Heirs of Promiſe are ſaid to fly for Refuge, to take hold of the hope ſet before them, Heb. 6.17, 18. Men will not fly, if they do not ſee a Cauſe, and know a danger that is towards them. Hath it been with you, as with Noah's Dove, it did fly Abroad, but found all to be cover'd with Water, and that there was no reſt for the ſole of her Feet; and therefore ſhe returned to the Ark; and Noah ſtretched out his Hand, and pluck'd her unto him into the Ark, Gen. 8.39. So have you ſeen nothing but a Deluge of ſin and wrath out of Chriſt, and therefore have fled to him, and he hath ſtretched out the Hard of his Spirit, and plucked p. 49you into himſelf? Have you joyned, and given your ſelves to the Lord, Zech. 2, 11. 2 Cor. 8.5. For in the event Chriſt will ſave no more, but thoſe that are in him, and of his Body, Eph. 5.23. He is the head and Saviour of his Body. All out of Chriſt muſt certainly ſink into the mighty Sea of the wrath of God, and periſh everlaſtingly. O therefore inquire whether you have ground to conclude, that you are in him, who is the true God, and Eternal Life. 1 John 5.20. As thoſe Beaſts that God would ſave, were by him inclined to come and enter into the Ark, ſo thoſe that God will, ſuch are drawn to Chriſt, John 6.44.

4. Have you experienced this Salvation in the ſeveral parts of it, to be executed upon you? Hath Chriſt bound up your broken Hearts, healed your wounded Spirits? Iſaiah 61.1. Hath he refined you from your Droſs? Mal. 3.23. Hath he circumciſed your Hearts, Col. 2.11. Have you felt Chriſt laying hold on your Hearts, and cutting off the filthy Fore-skin that was upon them? Jer. 4.4. Hath ſelf-love p. 50been moderated, reduced within its bounds? The Waters covered all at firſt, till God ſaid, Let the Waters be gathered together into one Place, Gen. 1.9. So ſelf-love overſpreads the Soul, till Chriſt doth bound and bank it in, and raiſes up the love of God in our Souls. What hath the Old Man ſuffered in you? 1 Pet. 4.1. Have your Luſts received a deadly wound? Or are you made free from the Law of Sin and Death? Rom. 8.2. And doth it not reign in your Mortal Bodies? Do you not obey it in the Luſts thereof, Rom. 6.12. God juſtified Chriſt by raiſing him up from the Dead. So the Gift of the Spirit to quicken us, it's the Execution of our Juſtification. When God paſſes the Sentence of Life on Men, Rom. 5.18. then he breaths and puts the Spirit of Life into them, Ezek. 36.27. As the Beaſts ſaved in the Ark, were planted in the likeneſs of Noah's Death and Reſurrection, they entred into the Ark, were buried in it, and roſe and came out of it, with Noah, ſo have we been planted in the likeneſs of Chriſt's Death and Reſurrection, Rom. 6.5. Hath Chriſt p. 51pick'd up, and purged out Satan's Leaven out of our Souls, and laid his own Leaven in our Hearts, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. with Matth. 13.33.

5. Have you anſwered Chriſt's ends in your Salvation? He ſayes, that we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies, might ſerve him without fear, in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs before him all the days of our lives, Luke 1.74.75. Of old in War, thoſe that the Conquerors did ſave alive, did promiſe to become Servants. Serva, & ſerviam; Save me, and I will ſerve thee, was the words of a foiled Enemy, in danger to be deſtroyed. O hath Chriſt ſaved us, when he might have deſtroyed us, and doth not this Grace influence and oblige our Souls? How much did Chriſt deny himſelf, to ſave us? and ſhall not we deny our ſelves to ſerve him? Hath not Chriſt's ſelf-denial redeemed us from Self-ſeeking? 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. He died, that thoſe that live might not henceforth live to themſelves, but to him that died for them. Hath not Chriſt bought our Souls, and hired our ſervice for ever? Hath God cloathed p. 52us with Garments of Salvation? Iſa. 61.10. theſe will be alſo Garments of Praiſe, Iſa. 61.3. Polybius tells us, that if a Soldier was ſaved from Death in a Battel, by his Fellow-Soldiers, foreign. The Tribunes did judge, that he that was ſaved, ſhould crown him that ſaved him, and through his whole Life, he ſhould honour him as his Father, and do all things to him and for him, as if he were his natural Parent. Surely, if Chriſt hath ſaved us from the wrath of God, the Paw and power of Satan, we ſhall be induced to Honour, Obey and Glorify our Saviour and Redeemer. Every Day ſhall he be praiſed, Pſal. 72.15.

Ʋſe 3d. If Sinners are eminently ſaved in Chriſt's Days, then I would earneſtly preſs, and exhort you, to ſeek after Salvation. For Men to be ſaved, is the glory of Chriſt's Days; and will you caſt a Reproach and Infamy on Chriſt's Days, by neglecting p. 53of Salvation, and running upon Deſtruction? Will you envy and grudge to Jeſus Chriſt the glory of ſaving you? and will you put this honour on Satan, that in a day of Light he is able to blind you, and in a day of Salvation to deſtroy you? and when ſo much is revealed, to diſparage his Baits, and to ſpoil his Market, that yet you ſee Reaſon to perſiſt in your fooliſh and pernicious Choice, and to adhere to your bitter and mortal Enemy? Shall Death and Hell have a Harveſt? ſhall Satan captivate and inſlave in a Day of Salvation? Two things I ſhall inſiſt on, to proſecute this Exhortation. 1. I ſhall lay before you ſome Motives to enforce this uſe of Exhortation. 2. I ſhall lay down ſome Directions as to what you are to do, in order to the obtaining and aſſuring this Salvation to you.

1. I ſhall propound and preſs ſome Motives to ſtir you up to ſeek after Salvation.

Motive 1. This Salvation is a very great Salvation; if we conſider firſt the way of purchaſing and procuring p. 54of it. The Son of God aſſumed the nature of a Creature, emptied himſelf, and caſt a thick Vail over all his Glory: How was Chriſt's immenſity, his omnipotency, his eternity, his omniſciency vailed, by taking a Nature ſo weak, confined to a Place, and that did exiſt but lately, and was to grow in Wiſdom, Luke 2.52. Chriſt became a Surety, a Servant, a Sacrifice; was made Sin, and a Curſe to appeaſe God's Wrath, and redeem us from Deſtruction. The Son of God was arreſted as a Debtor to Divine Juſtice; was arrained as a Criminal, ſentenced and executed as a Malefactor; he hung on an infamous Tree, among heinous Sinners; he became the Captive of Death, and lay in a dark and cold Grave. All this Jeſus Chriſt yielded and ſubmitted to, for to procure Salvation. And ſhall we deſpiſe or neglect a Salvation that was purchaſed by ſuch an amazing Condeſcention, and ſuch grievous ſufferings of the Son of God? Shall we undervalue and contemn the Travel of his Soul, and the purchaſe of his Blood. If the Ocean had been leſſened p. 55to a Drop, it had not been ſo much, as for the Son of God to be made Man. If a Prince ſhould execute Ten Thouſand of his Subjects for a Crime, it had not been ſo much, as to adjudge his own Son to a cruel death for an Offence; ſo, for God's Sword to awake againſt his only begotten Son, was a more ſtrange act of Juſtice, than if he had executed all Mankind. And will you not ſet a Price on that Salvation that is the product of the ſorrows and ſufferings of the Son of God.

2. This Salvation is great, conſidering the greatneſs of the Evils that we are ſaved and freed from.

1ſt, It is a Salvation from the ſecond Death, Rev. 2.11. He that overcometh, ſhall not be hurt of the ſecond Death. This is the hurting and killing Death; the firſt Death only ſeparates Soul and Body, but this Death ſeparates God and the Soul for ever. The firſt Death deprives the Body of any ſenſe or feeling of Pain, but this ſecond Death is attended with the moſt acute ſenſe and feeling of Miſery and Torments. This Death kills p. 56all that is ſweet and pleaſant, and leaves only a Carcaſe of being; a bare Stock for God to graft Sufferings and Torments on: It is ſad for Men to be, only to be miſerable. For to be a Footſtool for God to tread on, and a Mark for him to ſhoot at: As Grapes when trod in the Wine-preſs, all that is grateful and delightful, is ſqueez'd out of them; only a dry and harſh Husk remains and is left. Even ſo ſhall it be, when Sinners ſhall be trod in the Wine-Preſs of the Wrath of God, Rev. 19.5.

2dly, Believers are preſerved from a dark and diſmal Priſon. Peter ſpeaks of the Spirits in Priſon, 1 Pet. 3.19. All light of Joy and Comfort is ſhut out of this Priſon; all wo, evil and miſery is ſhut up in it: This Priſon is not only a Place of Confinement, but alſo of Execution; here is the Furnace of unquenchable Fire, Matth. 3.12. Matth. 13.42. Sinners fall now into the Hands of God immediately, Heb. 10.31. The Sovereign Judge executes his own Sentence.

p. 573dly, Chriſt ſaves from a bottomleſs Pit: Hell is ſo called, Rev. 20.3. Sinners ſhall fall lower and lower, and ſink deeper and deeper into Miſery, and never know when they are at the bottom of their Miſery; they ſhall never ſay, that now they know the utmoſt that God can inflict, or the worſt that they can ſuffer: As in Heaven there will ſtill be new Viſions of Glory, ſo in Hell there will be new Scenes of Miſery for ever.

4thly, Chriſt ſaves and keeps from a Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone for ever, Rev. 20.10.14. This Expreſſion, a Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, alludes to Sodom's Puniſhment. God deſtroy'd it with Fire and Brimſtone from Heaven, and turn'd the Place on which Sodom and the other Cities ſtood, into a dead-Sea, or ſtanding ſtinking Lake. It is dreadful for Sinners to be drowned in this Lake of Fire, and yet never to die. Luſts are ſaid to drown Men in Deſtruction and Perdition, 1 Tim. 6.9. and yet they exiſt, and continue to feel this tormenting Fire and Brimſtone; p. 58this Lake of Fire will never ebb away, or dry up.

5thly, All Sorrows, Pains, Crying, Death, and any Evil whatſoever ſhall paſs away, be remembred no more, but be forgotten for ever, Rev. 21.4. All the Reproaches of God's People ſhall ceaſe, and their Tears ſhall be wiped away for ever, Iſa. 25.8.

3. This Salvation may well be called great, Heb. 2.3. if we conſider that Believers not only are freed from the greateſt Evils, but alſo enjoy the higheſt and beſt Good. The Apoſtle Paul joins everlaſting Glory with God's Salvation, 2 Tim. 2.10. that the Elect may obtain the Salvation that is in Chriſt, together with Everlaſting Glory. As Danicl's Three Companions were not only call'd out of, and ſaved from the Fiery Furnace, but alſo promoted and advanced to Honour, Dan. 3. laſt, ſo Saints ſhall not only be delivered from ſhame and ſufferings, but ſhall wear the Crown of Life, Rev. 2.10. ſit in the Throne of Chriſt, Rev. 3.21. Reign in Life, Rom. 5.17. and ſhine for ever in the Kingdom of their Father, p. 59Matth. 13.43. They ſhall have an Eternal Day, made by the Light of God's Countenance; an everlaſting Feaſt, by the manifeſtation and diſplaying of his Love, as a Banner over them. Believers are Heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. and Heirs of the Kingdom, James 2.5.

Motive 2. We do exceedingly need this Salvation.

1. We are Children of Wrath by nature, Epheſ. 2.3. and ſo Hell is our Inheritance. The Wrath of God might deſcend, and be poured out on us, as ſoon as we draw our firſt Breath in the World; the Veſſels of Wrath are then fitted for Deſtruction, Rom. 9.22. and it is wonderful Patience, that God forbears Sinners ſo long. God had ground for a Controverſy, juſt cauſe for Enmity againſt us, as ſoon as we were born. God then ſaw the Plague of, and the evil Treaſure in our Hearts; ſuch Tares might have been rooted up; ſuch Weeds have been rooted out, ſuch corrupt Trees have been cut down long ago. p. 60Do Men ſuffer Weeds to grow up and ſeed.

2. We are Children of Diſobedience by Practice, Epheſ. 2.2. and ſo Hell is our Purchaſe. We went aſtray as ſoon as we were born, Pſal. 58.3. Our Whoriſh Hearts have continually departed from the Lord, our whole unregenerate eſtate, hath been nothing elſe but Barrenneſs and Enmity, Idleneſs and Rebellion, Jer. 32.23.30. The Children of Iſrael are ſaid to have done nothing of all that God commanded them, but had only done eevil, and provoked God to Anger. The Carnal Mind is Enmity to God, is not ſubject to him, nor indeed can be. They that are in the Fleſh, cannot pleaſe God, Rom. 8.7.8. Sinners only ſow the Seeds of their own wo, being Fuel to the Fire of God's Anger, and fit themſelves for Deſtruction. As a Fountain caſteth out its Water, ſo they caſt forth their wickedneſs. An evil man out of the evil treaſure of his heart, brings forth evil things, Jer. 6.7. Matth. 12.35. All Mens doings, is to undo themſelves.

p. 613. Sinners owe God glory to be raiſed out of their ſhame and miſery. Sins are called Debts, Matth. 6.12. Men by tranſgreſſing, rob God of his Authority and Honour, and are bound to make Reſtitution to him; and God as a Righteous Judge, owes Puniſhment unto them. God is a Debter to his Threatning and Juſtice, to take Vengeance on Tranſgreſſors; therefore it is ſaid, He will repay Fury to his Adverſaries, Iſa. 59.18. He will render Anger to his Enemies, Iſa. 66.15. God will not always forbear Sinners, or be in Debt to them. The Wages of ſin is Death, Rom. 6. laſt, and it becomes the Juſt Judge of the World, to pay the Servants of Sin their Wages. Impiety ſhall not be joined with Impunity. God will diſtribute a Portion of Sorrows, and divide an inheritance of Torments and Miſery to Satan's Children, Job 31.23. God will be glorified in their everlaſting ſhame, Ezek. 28.22. Dan. 12.2.

4. Sinners are in God's Priſon, they are in Satan's ſhare, they are under the curſe of the Law.

p. 621. They are in God's Priſon. There would be no need for Chriſt to Preach the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound, Iſa. 61.1. if Men were not in God's Priſon, there were no need to call them forth into Liberty, Iſa. 49.9. if they were not in Bondage. There is an outer Priſon of God, from which Men may be brought, Iſa. 42.7. but there is an inner Priſon, a deep Dungeon, from whence there is no Redemption. Though Tranſgreſſors now think themſelves to have liberty, and walk at large, yet God's Eye is ſtill over them, the Chains of Guilt bind their Conſciences: They are Condemned Men, both by the Law for their Diſobedience, and by the Goſpel for their Unbelief. God's Hand hath faſt hold of them; their Iniquities are before God's Eyes to provoke him to abhor them; they clamour loud in his Ears to pluck down his Vengeance on them, their Crimes are both Alledgers and Witneſſes againſt them; they cannot fly or eſcape from God: If they run to the ends of the Earth, they go but to the ſides of their Priſon. The p. 63Jews were in danger of Death, in all the Provinces of Abaſuerus his Empire, by virtue of the Edict given forth againſt them; yet it was poſſible for them to Travel out of Ahaſuerus's Empire, where his Law would not reach them: But Sinners cannot get out of the Bounds of God's Empire, the whole World is his Dominion, Pſal. 103. laſt. If Men ſtay in God's Priſon, they ſhall be certainly brought forth, to be condemned and executed in the Day of Wrath, Job 21.30.

2. Sinners are in Satan's Snare, 2 Tim. 2. laſt, every ſweet, beloved reigning ſin, is the Snare of the infernal Fowler, of this cruel Hunter. Wo be to thoſe that continue in this Snare. There is a time when a Snare is taken up, (as the Expreſſion is, Amos 3.5.) Satan will viſit his Snares, and take the Prey catched in them, into Hell: In this Den, the roaring Lion will devour what he hath taken in his Snare.

3. Sinners are under the Curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.13. We needed not Chriſt to Redeem us from the curſe of the Law, if we were not under it; p. 64and the curſe of the Law, is the curſe of the Law-giver: This is dreadful for God's Anger to be ſo kindled, for his Spirit to be ſo imbittered, as to curſe his own Creature. God that wiſheth evil to, and deſigns evil againſt his Creatures, is able to execute his own Curſe; his Curſe is not a cauſeleſs, but a righteous Curſe: It is the Curſe of him that is Omniſcient, that knows what Mens Offences are, and where the Offenders are: It is the Curſe of him that fills Heaven and Earth; there is no flying from him. It is the Curſe of him that is wiſe in Heart, and therefore can deviſe the moſt dreadful Evils, and that is mighty in ſtrength, Job 1.4. and therefore can execute them. God lives for ever to execute this Curſe, to pour wrath into, and blow eternal Flames over the Soul. The meaning and dreadful effects of this Curſe, is expounded by Chriſt, Matth. 25.41. Go, ye curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Men curſe, when they are weak, and not able to puniſh us; when David was weak, and the Sons of Zerviah p. 65were too hard for him, 1 Sam. 3.39. and ſo he could not puniſh Joah and Abiſhai for the Murder of Abner, yet he curſeth them, 1 Sam. 3.28, 29. But God that curſeth not without a cauſe, hath an Almighty Arm to execute his own Curſe.

5. There is a black, diſmal Storm that hangs over the Heads of Sinners, in the Clouds of God's Threatnings, Pſal. 11.6. On the Wicked the Lord will rain Snares, Fire and Brimſtone, and an Horrible Tempeſt; this ſhall be the Portion of their Cup. They that drink in Iniquity now, Job 5.16. ſhall drink in Wrath at laſt, Joh 21.20. Sinners ſhall not be able to fly from this Storm; God will rain Snares to take hold of them, and to hold them faſt. God's Ax is at the Root of Sinners, Matth. 3.10. his Arrows are levell'd at their Hearts; all the Sufferings they feel now, are but the firſt-fruits of Wo, earneſt of a more grievous Vengeance; Harbingers and Forerunners of an Everlaſting Deſtruction. It is terrible, when the Sins of Men are yet with them, Iſa. 59.12. when the Breach is open, to p. 66let in a Deluge of Miſery on them, and the Sentence of Death ſtands in full force againſt them. O ſhould not this affect and affright the Souls of Sinners, that God is ready to arreſt them, and tear them in pieces; to ſet them up as his Mark, to pierce their Hearts, and cleave their Reins with his Arrows, and to conſume them with the Fire of his Anger. Though Gods Judgments are now far above, out of their ſight, Pſal. 10.5. yet the Wicked ſhall ſee their Deſtruction, Job 21.20.

6. Chriſt will come to execute the Vengeance that the Law denounces, and that Chriſt threatens, 2 Theſ. 1.8.9. He that came at firſt with Beams of Love, will come a ſecond time in Flames of Wrath, to avenge the Quarrel of deſpiſed Grace, and of abuſed Mercy. Then Sinners ſhall feel the truth of God's Threatnings, that there will be a Day of Vengenance, Iſa. 63.5. a Day of Wrath, Rom. 2.5. a Day of Deſtruction, Job 21.30. Though Chriſt will appear for Salvation to thoſe that look for him, yet he will alſo be revealed p. 67to remember and puniſh thoſe that forget God, Pſal. 50.22. to burn Adulterous Souls, and to deſtroy Obſtinate and impenitent Rebels.

7. You can have no true, ſolid or laſting joy, except you partake of this Salvation, Pſal. 51.12. Reſtore unto me the joy of thy Salvation. This Prayer of David is obſervable; it was not his Palace, his Crown, or his Throne that would afford Joy, when God's Heart did burn with wrath, and his Face was clouded with Anger. He could not content or ſatisfy himſelf with the joy of Riches, ſenſual Delights, or Worldly Honour; ſuch joy did not go deep, would not ſtay, or laſt long. It was nothing but the joy of God's Salvation, that could ſatisfy him, Iſa. 25.9. We will be glad and rejoyce in thy Salvation. Heſter could take no Pleaſure in her Honour, in her Palace, in all her outward Enjoyments, when the Decree was paſſed to deſtroy her and her People, Eſther 7.3, 4. If Sin reign in you, Eternal Death muſt reign over you, and the wrath of God abide on you. What outward thing can comfort, relieve p. 68or revive you? Will it chear a Man condemned to Death, to tell him you will give him one ſweet Draught of Wine, one good Meals Meat before he be Executed.

8. You cannot dwell ſafely, if you are not ſaved. In the Text it is promiſed, that thoſe that are ſaved ſhall dwell ſafely; and indeed, no others can dwell ſafe from the fear of Evil, Prov. 1. laſt. Thoſe that are in their Sins, and under Guilt, may fear ſtill to be arreſted by God their great Creditor, and to be arraigned before him as their Sovereign Judge. The dread of the Firſt and Second Death may torment them, an d hold them continually under grievous Bondage, Heb. 2.15. Your Tabernacles (Sinners) will moulder down; your Earthly Comforts will melt away; your Stewardſhips will be taken from you; God will change your Countenances, and ſend you away into a miſerable Eternity, into a dark and doleful Priſon. You are Tenants at God's Will, you are not ſure of one Days continuance in the World; God may quickly require, and take away your p. 69Souls. If David panted and longed ſo much for a ſhort Temporal Salvation, Pſal. 119.81, 82. how much more ſhould we long for a Spiritual and Eternal Salvation, Pſal. 14. laſt. We ſo need this Salvation, that it is abſolutely neceſſary for us, Acts 4.12. We muſt be ſaved, we can have no Pardon, but from the God of Salvation, Pſal. 51.14. and we can receive no Bleſſing but from the God of Salvation, Pſal. 68.10. We muſt ſee God's Salvation, Pſal. 11. laſt, or our own Deſtruction, Job 21.20. If we cannot commit our Spirits into the Hand of God as a Redeemer, Pſal. 31.5. we muſt fall into his Hand as a Judge, Heb. 10.31. No outward Enjoyments here, can either be ſafe for us, or ſweet to us, if they flow not from the God of Salvation.

God doth afford us a Day of Salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. this is cauſed by the Day Spring from on high, Luke 1.78. by the exerciſe of Chriſt's Prophetical Office, Pſal. 22.22. John 17.6.20. He declares the Father's Name to us; he teaches us, that God hath choſen and appointed ſome to p. 70Salvation, 1 Theſ. 5.9. 2 Theſ. 2.13. that he hath prepared Salvation, Luke 2.29, 30, by anointing, and ſending his Son to obey, ſuffer and ſatisfy. God hath raiſed up this Horn of Salvation, Luke 1.69. he hath perfected the Captain and Author of Salvation, Heb. 2.10. Heb. 5.9. As Chriſt is ſaved himſelf, Zech. 9.9. ſo he is in a fit and full capacity to ſave others. The word of Salvation is ſent to us, Acts 13.26. The Goſpel of Salvation is a Supernatural Doctrine, we ſhould have been utterly ignorant of it, if God had not ſent it to us. What Grace is this, that the word of Salvation ſhould be ſent to us, that had deſtroyed our ſelves, Hoſ. 13.9. that were ſo blind, that we did not ſeek after God, and ſo vile and filthy, that God might for ever have ceaſed to ſeek after us, that are without ſtrength to help our ſelves, and yet are ungodly, and ſo do provoke God never to help us, or favour us, Rom. 5.6.8. That it ſhould be ſent to us, that did not ſeek after, or ſend for it. Light came, it was not ſent for, John 3.19. O that God ſhould ſend it to p. 71us, and not to ſo many other Nations in the World; they hear not the Trumpet of the Jubilee, the Call of the Shepheard, the Voice of the Bridegroom. O ſhall the Spirit ſtrive with us, Gen. 6.3. and Chriſt's Servants endeavour to compel us, by Earneſt Intreaties and Importunity, and yet ſhall all this be in vain; will you not believe their Report, or come to Chriſt for Life? Shall a Treaty of Peace, end in an Eternal War, and a day of Salvation iſſue in your everlaſting Deſtruction. Salvation is brought near to you, and placed in Zion, and will you put the word of Salvation away from you, and thereby judge your ſelves unworthy of Everlaſting Life, Acts 13.16. The Cord of a Promiſe is let down into our Dungeon; Chriſt's Chariot comes among us, Cant. 3.9, 40. He comes near to us, preaching Peace, Epheſ. 2.17. He knocks at our Doors, Rev. 3.20.

4. You cannot eſcape, if you neglect this Salvation, Heb. 2.3. There is no other Phyſitian to heal you, no other Redeemer but Chriſt to ſet you free, no other Fountain in which you p. 72may waſh; no other Foundation on which you may build; no other Wing, Shadow, or City of Refuge to ſecure you. God will not ſuffer your contempt of Chriſt, and neglect of Salvation, to go unpuniſhed. God will wound the Head of ſuch as go on in their Treſpaſſes, Pſal. 68.21. Chriſt's Hand will find out all his Enemies, Pſal. 21.4. thoſe that turn away from Chriſt, Prov. 1.32. ſhall certainly be turned into Hell, Pſal. 9.17. God bringeth near his Salvation, offers it, and promiſes it to all that will look to Jeſus Chriſt for it, Iſa. 45.22. Thoſe therefore are worthy to periſh, that turn away from Chriſt, and deſpiſe his Salvation.

5. Conſider there is but a Remnant that ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 9.27. few that will walk in the narrow way, that find the ſtrait Gate, Matth. 7.13, 14. And thoſe that are ſaved, will be ſaved with a great deal of difficulty, 1 Pet. 4.18. The Righteous are ſcarcely ſaved, they muſt bear the Croſs, endure many Tribulations, have frequent Combats and Conflicts, and continual Warfare with Spiritual p. 73Enemies: They muſt run with the greateſt ſpeed, fight with the greateſt zeal againſt Sin, 1 Cor. 9.26. They have a Civil War with Luſts within, a Foreign War with the World and Satan without.

6. Conſider what a great Mercy it is to obtain this Salvation; it is a moſt valuable Grace, for God to chooſe and appoint any to Salvation, 1 Theſ. 5.9. 2 Theſ. 2.13. when he might have appointed all to periſh, and left them to Deſtruction. O what a Mercy is this, for God to pluck out of a periſhing World, Gal. 1.4. to fiſh out of a dead Sea; to cut off from a corrupt Stock; to call out of an infected Houſe, and a barren Wilderneſs. The Church repreſents, it as a rich Stream of Mercy, and ſpring of Joy, to be cloathed with Salvation, Iſa. 61.10. This is a great Mercy, for

1. Such are armed againſt Spiritual Conflicts, that have for a Helmet, the Hope of Salvation, Epheſians 6.17. 1 Theſ. 5.8. This may guard their Heads from all anxious, perplexing Thoughts about their Eternal State. p. 74Hope is an Anchor caſt within the Vale; as ſoon as they ſet out, and begin their Voyage, they may caſt their Anchor into their Port and Haven, and ſo have their Hearts eſtabliſhed, Heb. 6.19.

2. Thoſe that have hope of this Salvation, are ſupported under Afflictions and Perſecutions, 2 Tim. 18.9. Partake thou of the Afflictions of the Goſpel, according to the power of God, who both ſaved us, and called us. As if Paul ſhould ſay, Murmure not at, faint not under the Afflictions of the Goſpel, for God hath ſaved you from the greateſt Enemies, and from the worſt Evils, and all your Afflictions ſhall turn to your Salvation, Phil. 1.19. They ſhall further advance, promote it; they ſhall refine Saints from their Droſs, wean them from their ſtrange Land, and cauſe them to long more after their Father's Houſe, and Heavenly Country. Have they any Reaſon to be diſcontented, whom God loves, 1 John 4.59. and that are Heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. and of the Kingdom. James 2.5.

p. 753. Theſe may die with comfort; they have hope in Death, Prov. 14.32. That which doth ſhipwrack others, ſhall land them ſafe on the calm Shores of a Bleſſed Eternity; that which impoveriſhes others, ſhall enrich them. Though Death doth pluck off the Rags of Mortality, yet God ſhall cloath them with Robes of Glory: When their Bodies drop down into the Pit, their Souls ſhall be taken up into the Palace; when their Fleſh feeds Worms, their Spirits ſhall feaſt with Saints, and Angels; though God doth kill them, yet they may truſt he will be their Salvation, Joh 13.15, 16. When the Eye of Senſe ſhall be ſhut, ſo that Saints ſhall no more ſee Worldly Objects, yet then God will ſhew them his Salvation, Pſal. 91. laſt. They ſhall ſee God's Salvation, from Sins Temptations, Troubles, Afflictions; they ſhall ſee a freedom from Spiritual and Temporal Evils, and alſo be tranſlated into an Eternal Kingdom. Chriſt will receive their departing Souls, and be their Guardian and Truſtee till the Reſurrection. O it is ſweet, when God adds to the p. 76Mercies of Sixty, Seventy, Eighty Years, the enjoyment of a bleſſed Eternity. It is Salvation that muſt crown Old Age with Glory; Death is the critical time, the Soul muſt then ſee Life or Death; a Heaven muſt ſhine from God's pleaſing Countenance, or Hell be rained from his angry Face. O how ſweet is it then to ſee the truth of God's Promiſes, in the enjoyment of an Eternal Salvation!

4. Thoſe intereſted in this Salvation, ſhall be ſaved in the Day of the Lord, 1 Cor. 5.6. when Sins will find out others, and Vengeance will take hold of them, then Believers ſhall be ſaved. O what unexpreſſible comfort will it be, to point out Jeſus Chriſt at the Great Day, and to ſay, This is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us, and we will be glad, and rejoyce in his Salvation, Iſa. 25.9. This is a Salvation that will for ever ſet Souls beyond Gunſhot, out of the reach of all Dangers, Evils, Enemies: They ſhall then fully receive the end of their Faith, even an Eternal Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.9. p. 77Chriſt will appear unto Salvation, to thoſe that look for him, Heb. 9. laſt. Then Saints ſhall be Heirs in full poſſeſſion of Salvation, Heb. 1.14. They ſhall be redeemed from all Evils, or poſſeſſed of all goodneſs, be exalted to the Kingdoms, and be placed in the Throne.

I ſhall laſtly give you ſome Directions how you may be ſaved.

1. You muſt be enlightned and convinced of your Danger; you muſt ſee the Evils you are under, and the Danger and Deſtruction you are expoſed to. Few do think themſelves to be condemned to Death, and to be ſick unto Death. That they are Children of Satan, and Enemies to God. They will not believe that they are captivated by the Devil, enſlaved by Sin, and chained to the World. The Scripture teaches us, that Men are held, Rom. 7.6. and that they are led, 1 Cor. 12.2. they are held in the Snares of Sin, and led by Satan: Their Luſts are Bonds, their depraved Wills and corrupt Affections, are the Chains that the Devil p. 78leads them by. Men diſcourſe, ſee or diſcern what are the true Evils that they ſhould be ſaved from; they are not ſenſible of the blindneſs and vanity of their Minds, the deceit and deſperate wickedneſs of their Hearts; That their Wills are perverſe and rebellious, and the greateſt Enemies to God and their own Souls. They will account that Troubles, Afflictions, Reproaches, Wants and Death, are Evils, but they do not perceive that their greateſt Evils, and worſt Enemies are within themſelves. A Root of Bitterneſs, an evil Treaſure, a Body of Death, a Fountain of Iniquity, that is in their Souls. But Sinners muſt know what firſt cleaves to them, abide in them, do defile and deform their Souls, and teſtify againſt them before God, Iſa. 59.12. Our Tranſgreſſions are with us, and as for our Iniquities we know them. Yea, Men have no liking of that which is the true Salvation. Saints are ſaid to love God's Salvation, Pſal. 70.4. but a Carnal Creature doth not love, but loath God's Salvation; to be delivered from his falſe Notions, his vain p. 79Thoughts, his corrupt Opinions, his inordinate love of himſelf, and of the Creatures, to be taken off from his ſenſual Pleaſures, carnal Delights, to be brought to give his Heart to God, ſet his Love on Chriſt, to delight in Spiritual, Future, Inviſible things; this is a Salvation he dreads and hates, and if he could go to Heaven with this vain Mind, and carnal Heart, it would be a place of Exile, and of Puniſhment to him.

You muſt ſee your Danger; that you are as Iſaac bound, laid on the Altar, and ready to be ſacrificed, as a whole Burnt-Offering, in the Flames of Wrath. You muſt hear the juſt, dreadful Sentence, Matth. 18.25. The Lord commanded the Debtor to be ſold, and Payment to be made. It is dreadful to be ſold into the Priſon, into a Place of Eternal Bondage. Your Heart muſt be broken, your Spirit wounded, your Soul burdened under the ſenſe of the guilt and filth of Sin, elſe you will not have a due value of the Doctrine and Promiſe of Salvation, 1 Tim. 1.15. We muſt account it worthy of all acceptation, more valuable than all the p. 80Riches, Pleaſures, Honours of the World. If a Man were ſinking, and drowning, he would not regard a Bag of Gold, or a Box of Diamonds, but prefer a Cord caſt out to ſave him, a Boat to take him in, more than all the things of the World. Believe that your Condition is exceeding bad and dangerous. Lot's Wife looked back, as one that doubted whether Sodom would be deſtroyed; and Lots Sons in Law, could not believe that the danger of Sodom was ſo great, and its Deſtruction ſo near, Gen. 19.14. So Sinners believe not, that to be Carnally minded is Death; that they that live after the Fleſh, ſhall die; that they that are far off from God ſhall periſh, Pſal. 73.27. They that go a whoring from God, ſhall be deſtroyed.

2. Conſider what is the great hindrance, the grand obſtruction of your Salvation: Whether ſome Sin is not ſo ſweet, ſome Luſt ſo pleaſant and delightful, that you will rather venture a miſerable Eternity, than part with it? What is it that holds you? Rom. 7.6. And what is it that you p. 81hold faſt, Jer. 9.5. There is ſome Adulterous League between you and your Luſts, between your Hearts and the Creatures, that hinders a lawful Marriage with Jeſus Chriſt, and an intereſt in his Salvation. Do you not delight in ſome Abomination, and therefore are unwilling to be made clean, and ſet free from it.

3. We muſt fly to Chriſt, enter into this Ark, get into this City of Refuge. Men are ſaid to be ſaved in the Lord, with an everlaſting Salvation, Iſa. 45.17. We muſt look to Chriſt for Salvation, Iſa. 45.22. Come to him for Life, John 5.40. There is a believing to Salvation, Heb. 10. laſt. Salvation is in Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.10. Redemption is in Chriſt, Rom. 3.24. and everlaſting Life, 1 John 5.11. Truſt on Chriſt, and not on the pieces of the Shipwrack, as they Acts 27. laſt. Some have Civility, Morality, a little Form of Religion; all theſe are but the broken Planks of our old Shipwrackt ſtate; do not miſtake a Truce for a Peace, Embalming for Quickening; it is Chriſt only that can be our Salvation, and our p. 82Life. We muſt ſee the Son, and believe on him, John 6.40. Acts 16.31, that we may ſee Salvation, Luke 3.6. Though Noah was a Righteous Man, yet he muſt leave his own Home, and enter into the Ark, that he might be ſaved from the Flood. So thoſe that have moſt of an inherent Righteouſneſs, muſt not ſtay at Home, nor truſt in themſelves, but fly to Chriſt, the Ark of Salvation, that they may be deliver'd from an Eternal Storm of Fire and Brimſtone, Pſal. 11.6.

4. We muſt repent unto Salvation, 2 Cor. 1.10. waſh our Hearts from wickedneſs, that we may be ſaved, Jer. 4.14. We cannot fly from wrath, Mat. 3.7. If we do not eſcape that Corruption that is in the World through Luſt, 2 Pet. 1.4. how can we drink Spiritual Poyſon, wallow in our Mires, ſerve thoſe Luſts that war againſt our Souls, and yet be ſaved? 1 Pet. 2.11. We muſt crucify the Fleſh, with its Affections and Luſts, Gal. 5.24. It is theſe hurtful Luſts that do drown Men in Perdition and Deſtruction, 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. How p. 83can we be ſaved, and yet retain that which keeps open the Breach, keeps up the enmity between God and us. Luſts do war againſt our Souls in good earneſt, and we muſt not be in jeſt with Sin, or fight as thoſe that beat the Air, 1 Pet. 2.11. 1 Cor. 9.26.

5. We muſt work out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling, 2 Phil. 12, 13. We muſt work upon and about our Salvation, we muſt work more to perfect it; there are things lacking in our Faith, 1 Theſ. 3.10. We are defective in our Love and Holineſs; we muſt nor think we are rich enough, are ſaved enough, live enough; we muſt not ſet any limits to Chriſt's Kingdom, or bounds to our growth; God bids us open our Mouth wide, that he may fill it, Pſal. 81.10, 11. Chriſt came, that his Sheep might have Life, and have it more abundantly, John 10.10. Saints ſhould daily be drawing Spiritual Waters at the Wells of Salvation, Iſa. 12.3. We muſt draw, or elſe be dry; we muſt draw, or elſe decay and decline, run behind hand, and become poor: What pains did Noah take, in preparing p. 84for, and building of the Ark, and yet this was but the means of Temporal Salvation. Noah was probably longer in building the Ark, then we do live bere in the World; and he did not give over, till he had wrought out, and finiſhed this Veſſel for his Temporal Salvation; and ſhall we not all our Life long, be working out, and perfecting our Spiritual Salvation. O tremble to neglect any means of Salvation, or to uſe them ſlightly. It is God that works in us both to will and do of his own meer good pleaſure; therefore we muſt not diſpleaſe, affront or provoke him by our Lazineſs or Slightneſs. This is the great end, and the proper improvement of God's long-ſuffering, to account it Salvation, 2 Pet. 1.15. that God ſpares us not that we might riſe to Honour, gather Wealth, drink in ſenſual Pleaſures and delight, but that we might mind and purſue an Everlaſting Salvation. As God exerciſed longſuffering towards the Old World, while the Ark was building, 1 Pel. 3.20. ſo God lengthens out his Patience, while the Elect are building up themſelves on their moſt holy p. 85Faith, and are perfecting Holineſs, in the fear of God, 1 Cor. 7.1. Be therefore more renewed in the Spirit of your Minds, Epheſ. 4.23. Let the word of God root deeper, and let the Temple of God riſe higher in you. Let your Weeds be more rooted out, your Filthineſs be more purged away, your Droſs be more burnt up; take heed of minding of, and doting on Earthly things, and of forgetting, and neglecting your Eternal Salvation.

6. We ſhould order our Converſations aright, Pſal. 50. laſt, walk with God, walk worthy of God, to all well-pleaſing, 1 Col. 10.11. 1 Theſ. 2.12. We muſt keep the way of Salvation, walk in the path of Life, and in the way everlaſting, Pſal. 159. laſt. If we are guided by God's Counſel, Pſal. 73. Pſal. 24. and led by his Spirit, we ſhall be certainly received to his Glory.

7. We ſhould often conſider, that our Salvation draws every Day nearer, Rom. 13.11.12. We advance in our Race, we draw nearer to the Mark, and Prize; and this ſhould mightily quicken and influence our Souls. O think often of this, that you are near the end of Time, the Borders and p. 86Confines of Eternity; you draw nearer to the glorious Preſence of God, and to an immediate and full Communion with him. Should you flag or faint near the end of your Race; ſhould you grow drowſy, and ſleep at the Door of your Father's Houſe, near the Borders of Immanuel's Land? O, how ſhould you rouſe up your ſelves, and conſider you will ſoon be gone from the Lion's Den, and Mountains of Leopards? You will get out of this Barren Wilderneſs, into the delicious pleaſant Canaan, that is above. Salvation is ready to be revealed, 1 Pet. 1.5. a full, and perfect Salvation. Chriſt will come as a Saviour from Heaven, Phil. 3.20. His Life ſhall then perfectly be derived to the Soul, and his Image be impreſſed on the Body, Phil. 3.21. 1 Cor. 15.48. Then you will be ſatisfied with his likeneſs, and be fitted to have an immediate and everlaſting Communion with him. O think upon, and make ſure your Intereſt in this Salvation; you will looſe the greateſt good, and ſuffer the worſt Evil, if you come ſhort of this Salvation. p. 87Conſider whether you have the things that accompany Salvation, Heb, 6.9. Have you the Graces that are joined with a ſtate of Salvation? Have you Faith of God's working, Col. 2.12. Hope of God's begetting, 1 Pet. 1.3. Love of God's kindling, 2 Theſ. 3.5. Deut. 30.6. Have you Evidence that you are redeemed, that is, bought again, 1 Cor. 6.20. in that your Captivity is turned, and that you are brought again, Iſa. 52.8. Hath God ſaved you? 2 Tim. 1.9. Is God's Salvation in a conſiderable degree communicated to you, and executed in you? God's Gifts and Calling are without Repentance, Rom. 11.29. Thoſe that God hath begun to ſave in Time, he will not deſtroy to Eternity.