The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God, Part 1

The Preaching of Christ and the Prison of God · Part 1

p. 11 Pet. III. 19.

By which alſo he went, and Preached to the Spirits in Priſon.

IN theſe words we may obſerve, 1. A Subject, He. The Perſon ſpoken of is called Chriſt in the 18th. Verſe, Though he was put to death in the Fleſh, yet he was quickned by the Spirit. He taſted Death for a little time, but ſoon aboliſhed and ſwallowed it up for ever. His Humane Nature rendred him obnoxious to Death, but his Divine Nature made him Victorious over it. 2. We have ſomething affirmed and aſſerted of this Subject, viz. That he went by it, that is, by his Divine Nature, and preached. Though the Son of God had not yet aſſumed a Humane Nature, yet he did exiſt in his Divine Nature; though he came to Men in time, yet he was with the Father from p. 2Eternity, and ſo was in a capacity to Preach before he was manifeſted in the Fleſh. As a Candle can ſhine and give Light before it is put into a Lanthorn; and the Light created the firſt day did Illuminate the World before the Sun was created the fourth day. So the Divine Nature of Chriſt did enlighten the World before he roſe, and appeared as a Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhining in and through a Body of Fleſh, while the fourth Thouſand of Years was yet currant. And this Expreſſion is obſervable, that by his Divine Nature he went and preached. Where the Son of God preaches, thither he comes, and there he is Spiritually preſent; where the Goſpel is diſpenſed, there is a ſpecial Preſence of the Son of God. In Epheſ. 2.17. it is ſaid, He came and preached Peace to thoſe that were far off, and to them that are nigh. So the Houſholder is ſaid to go forth to the elder Brother, and entreat him to come in to the Feaſt, Luke 15.28. Where the Word is preached, the Father and the Son do come forth, and draw near to Men, and treat with them about their Spiritual and Eternal Good.

3. We may obſerve to whom the Son of God preached; Peter tells us, it was p. 3to the Spirits in Priſon; but yet he preached to them before they were caſt into Priſon, while they were yet ſeated in Bodies cloathed with Fleſh, and were dwelling in the World; it is ſuch that are meet to be preached to, that are yet in the way in a ſtate of Tryal, and Candidates for Eternity. When once the Final Sentence is paſſed, and the eternal ſtate of Sinners fixed, it is too late to ſet on foot a Treaty of Peace with them, or to make offers of Mercy to them. Thoſe that were Priſoners in the days of Peter, were living, and at Liberty in the days of Noah. The **Vid. Rhemiſh Teſt. and the Notes on it.Papiſts would impoſe and obtrude this ſenſe on Peter's words, as if the Soul of Jeſus Chriſt being ſeparated from the Body, did go and Preach to ſome of the Fathers of the Old Teſtament, that were not (as they ſay) yet admitted into Heaven, but were reſerved in ſome out-rooms of Hell, where they felt no pain, but did not yet ſee the Glorious Face of God, nor enjoy his Bleſſed Preſence. But this cannot be the true genuine ſenſe of the words. For, 1. If Spirit ſignifies here the Soul of Chriſt, and quickned imports his Reſurrection, p. 4then Jeſus Chriſt muſt Preach to theſe Spirits not while his Body was dead, but after his Reſurrection, which the Papiſts themſelves will not own or admit. 2. Spirit in the 18th. Verſe ſignifies Chriſt's Divine Nature, and it was not in this, or by this that he preached to the Spirits of the Old Teſtament after their Souls were ſeparated from their Bodies. 3. Thoſe that Chriſt preached to lived, and were diſobedient in the days of Noah; it is not ſaid, they did Repent of, or break off from their ſins, but were hardned in their Unbelief, and dyed in their Iniquities; they went down uncircumciſed in Heart into the Pit, and ſo Eternal Death was their Wages, and Hell was their own Place. Now even Papiſts dare not ſay, that Chriſt preached to the Damned, their ſtate is remedileſs, the Sentence irrevocable, their Loſs irrecoverable; there is no Year of Jubilee, no Goal-delivery for impriſoned Spirits confined to, and ſhut up in Hell. Jeſus Chriſt would not Preach to thoſe that God had caſt off for ever, and doomed to Eternal Miſery, for their continued and obſtinate Diſobedience, they whoſe Nature was not changed on Earth, their Condition could not be altered in Hell. 4. If the Soul of Chriſt p. 5had preached to Souls in the Priſon of Hell, what Reaſon can be aſſigned why he ſhould Preach rather to thoſe that were diſobedient in the days of Noah, than to thoſe that were diſobedient in the days of Abraham, Moſes, or in the after-times of the Prophets? This one Argument may ſhame this Notion, and confute this ungrounded Expoſition of the words, that the Soul of Chriſt went down to Hell to Preach to Spirits there.

Before I come to the main Doctrines that the words afford, I ſhall obſerve ſeveral other great Truths that the words do offer to us. 1. That the Scripture is a moſt Excellent and Divine Book, in that it gives us ſuch a true Account, and ſuch ſure Notions about a future and eternal ſtate after Death. As it tells us what is the Condition of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Holy Prophets, that they are in the Palaces and Kingdom of God, Luke 13.28. ſo it informs us what is become of the Sinners of the Old World; that theſe are caſt into the Priſon of God. He that appoints Portion in the Paradice above, and aſſigns places in the Priſon below, and adjudges to each of theſe by an irrevocable Sentence, can beſt tell what is become of Saints and p. 6Sinners now they are departed out of the World.

2. This Evidences the Immortality of the Soul, that the Spirits of wicked Men are ſaid to ſubſiſt after Death, and to abide in God's Priſon, though their Garments of Fleſh were pluckt off, their Houſes of Clay thrown down to the Duſt, yet their Souls did not expire, or ſleep; as a Man can live, though his Garments are put off, or his Houſe be demoliſhed, or drop down: So the Soul hath no ſuch neceſſary dependance on the Body, but can exiſt though this Garment be put off, this Houſe be pulled down. This Candle will burn, though taken out of the Lanthorn of the Fleſh, Death doth not blow out, only it removes this Light into another World.

3. We may obſerve the Mercy and Goodneſs of God, that though he had threatned a Flood, and adjudged all the World (beſides eight Perſons) to be drowned by it, yet the Son of God Preaches to this degenerate and wicked World before he deſtroys them; though God deſigned Severity againſt their Bodies, yet he offers Mercy to their Souls; that though they could not avoid the firſt, yet that they might decline the ſecond p. 7Death; and though their baſer part were caſt away, yet that their Souls might ſwim to, and Land ſafely on the Shoars of a bleſſed Eternity, and God's means do not uſe to be totally ineffectual, and in vain. The Word is ſeldom if ever preached, but that ſome are to be drawn out of the dead Sea, and called out of their Graves by it. Peter ſeems to tell us, that the Word was not wholly loſt on the Old World, but that ſome received ſaving Benefit by it, 1 Pet. 4.6. For this cauſe was the Goſpel preached alſo to them that were dead, that they might be judged according to men in the fleſh, but live according to God in the ſpirit. This may be, Vid. Piſcal in locum.and is expounded to relate to, and point at the ſtate of the Old World; the Goſpel was preached to them, that though they were judged, were drowned, and periſhed in the Eye of Men as to their Fleſh, yet they might live to, and with God in their Spirits. Though God proclaimed War againſt their Bodies, yet he tendred Peace to their Souls.

4. We may further Obſerve, that even thoſe that the Son of God Preaches to, may ſtop their Ears, cloſe their Eyes, harden their Hearts, and for their Unbelief p. 8and Impenitency, may be caſt into God's Priſon, and periſh everlaſtingly. The Goſpel is to ſome the ſavour of death unto death, 2 Cor. 2.16. They did ſhut Chriſt out of their Souls, and for this are ſhut up under the wrath of God, and are the Subjects of Eternal Vengeance.

5. We may Obſerve what a hainous Evil Sin is, and what a terrible Adverſary God is: He did not only ſweep away the ſinners of the World, and drown their Bodies in a Flood of Waters, but he impriſoned and puniſhed their Souls. God drowned their Spirits in Deſtruction and Perdition, 1 Tim. 6.9. Sin is committed againſt an Infinite Majeſty, and cannot be ſufficiently puniſhed or ſatisfied for in a Finite Time, by a Finite Creature. It is an Axiom in the Civil Law, Accuſatio rei morte finitat: An Accuſation is finiſhed by the death of the guilty Perſon; all Proceſs and Proceedings then ceaſe againſt the Delinquent. But it is otherwiſe here; God's Accuſation is not let fall, his Actions are not withdrawn, his Controverſie doth not ceaſe when ſinners dye; he purſues and overtakes them in another World, there he meets them as one bereaved of his Authority, Honour, and Glory; by them, he reſents the wrongs done to him, p. 9he pours out the full Vials of his Wrath on them, and fights againſt them for ever. They are, that they may be Miſerables, a bare Stock of Being is continued, that God may graft Miſery and Eternal Torments on it.

The words afford us two Doctrines: Firſt, That the Son of God did Preach before he was Incarnate, and doth as truly Preach by Inſtruments, as he doth immediately in his own Perſon when he appeared here in the World. The Second Doctrine that riſes from the latter words is this, That the Souls of wicked Men, after they are departed out of the Body, are confined to, and ſhut up in God's Priſon.

1. Doctrine. The Son of God preached before he was Incarnate, and doth as truly Preach by Inſtruments as he doth immediately in his own Perſon. We may here diſtinguiſh three Preachings of Jeſus Chriſt. 1. He preached before his Incarnation. So in the Text the Son of God is ſaid to Preach to thoſe that were diſobedient in the days of Noah. The Goſpel was preached to them that formerly lived, but were dead in the days of Peter, 1 Pet. 4.6. And who did then Preach it? It was the Son of God. He was in the world, p. 10and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, John 1.10. He was in the World, and that to Teach and Inſtruct the Souls of Men. His being in the World relates to the time before his Incarnation; then he treated with, and revealed a way of Salvation to the periſhing Souls of Men. He was in the World to give light to ſtraying Sinners, to awaken ſleepy, to apprehend flying, to reſcue and ſave ſinning Souls. He was in the World before Abraham was choſen, and his Seed was taken as a Peculiar People, or the Son came to them as his own.

2. The Son of God preached when he was manifeſted in the Fleſh. At Nazareth (where he was brought up, Luke 4.26.) he ſeems to Preach his firſt Sermon, and then he choſe that Text, Iſa. 61.1. This Scripture evidences his Miſſion, and contains his Commiſſion: As Ambaſſadors firſt ſhew their Credentials, before they enter into a Treaty with thoſe to whom they are ſent. So Chriſt, as the Father's Ambaſſador, produces his Credentials, he ſaith, The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, for he anointed him to Preach glad tidings unto the meek. And Chriſt, in purſuance of his Commiſſion and Inſtructions, went about preaching the glad p. 11tidings of the Kingdom of God, Luke 8.1. Jeſus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom, Matth. 4.23. Jeſus was not idle, did not loyter, or trifle away his time, but was daily caſting his Net to take Souls, and calling Men from Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan to God. **When the Son of God was Incarnate, then Wiſdom cried without, Prov. 1.20. And the firſt-born of Gods new Family declared his Name to his Brethren, Pſ. 22.22. Then the Church found him without, Cant. 8.1. That is, come forth into our Nature.Prov 1:20Ps 22:22Song 8:1And where he did not Convert Men, yet he did convince, and ſomewhat awaken and terrifie ſinners with the fear of Hell. In this ſenſe he is ſaid To ſmite the Earth with the Rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips to ſlay the wicked, Iſa. 11.4.

3. Now Chriſt is in Heaven he ſtill continues to Preach. Take heed, ſaith the Apoſtle, Heb. 12.25. See that ye refuſe not him that ſpeaketh — we ſhall not eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven. It was foretold that our Lord Jeſus ſhould ſpeak Peace to the Heathen, Zech. 9.10. So it was fulfilled by our Lord Jeſus. Paul ſaith, That Chriſt came to Epheſus, Preaching Peace to them that p. 12were afar off, Epheſ. 2.17. Jeſus Chriſt was then aſcended to Heaven, yet even then he came to Epheſus, and preached Peace. As he went to the Old World and preached before his Incarnation, ſo he came to Epheſus after his Aſcenſion, and proclaimed Peace; though he came into the World to wage War with Satan, and to deſtroy his works, yet he daily comes and preaches Peace to Sinners, and wooes, and beſeeches them to be reconciled to God **2 Cor. 5.20.2 Cor 5:20. Thus you ſee that the Son of God preached by Inſtruments, and by his Ambaſſadors before and ſince his Incarnation as he preached immediately when he was here in the World.

For the proſecuting of the Doctrine, I ſhall inſiſt upon theſe three things.

1. How fit the Son of God was to Preach. 2. What it was he did Preach. 3. To whom he did Preach.

1. I ſhall ſhew you how fit the Son of God is to Preach; and that in reſpect, 1. To the Divine Nature he poſſeſſes. 2. As to the Office he is cloathed with.

1. As to the Divine Nature he hath. 1. As he is God, he knows all things; as he was in the boſom of the Father from Eternity, John 1.18. He is conſcious to all his p. 13Secrets, he is privy to all his Thoughts of Grace, and Counſels of Peace, that did ſpring up in his Heart from Eternity concerning the Sons of Men. None knows the Father but the Son, and he to whom he will reveal him, Mat. 11.27. The Son knows the Father immediately, perfectly, and infallibly. As the Wiſdom of God, he hath a full Acquaintance with the Father; nothing is hid or concealed from him, what he hath ſeen with, and heard from the Father, that he teſtifieth, John 3.32. A Witneſs that reports what he hath heard and ſeen, is ſurely to be credited, and ſuch a Witneſs is Jeſus Chriſt, Iſa. 55.4. Rev. 3.14. He was to bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles, Iſa. 42.1. The Doctrine of the Goſpel is God's Judgment concerning a way of Relief, Reconciliation, and Salvation for Sinners. This Doctrine Chriſt was to bring forth, and that out of the boſom of the Father **Vid. Piſcal. in loc.Theſe great Secrets he was to reveal to the World.

2. None but the Son of God can give ſufficient Authority and Efficacy to the Word. 1. The Son gives Authority to the Goſpel, he that Preaches out of the boſom of the Father, John 1.18. He p. 14that ſpeaks from the Throne of Majeſty and Glory **Heb. 12.25.Heb 12:25, is to be regarded. The Word ought, and is to be received as the Word of God, 1 Theſſ. 2.13. It is to be entertained as a Law from his Mouth, Job 22.22. What the Son Preaches is ſtamped with a Divine Authority. All ſhould tremble at, and ſtand in awe of his Word.

2. The Son of God only can give Efficacy to the Word. He that brought forth the Goſpel out of his Father's Boſom, can bring it into our Hearts: He can ſow, cauſe the Seed to take Root, and change the Soil; he can write in the Tables of our Hearts, 2 Cor. 3.3. Jeſus Chriſt did not write the Goſpel with his own Hand in any Paper or Book, he intended and reſerved a more Noble Writing to himſelf, which is moſt becoming of him, and peculiar to him. He writes in the Minds, Conſciences, and Wills of Men; and he writes not Letters, Syllables, bare Words or Sentences, but he writes Divine Truths, Supernatural Myſteries, Spiritual Principles, Diſpoſitions, and Inclinations in the Souls of Men. The Son can come at, and write in that Table, that no other can reach, or make impreſſions on. And the Son of God can p. 15write ſo effectually as to change a Heart of Stone to a fleſhy Table; he can ſoften and melt the Heart, and make it pliable and flexible. Iſa. 51.4. Hearken unto me, my People, and give ear unto me, O my Nation; for a Law ſhall proceed from me, and I will make my Judgment to reſt for a light of the People. When may the Son of God be ſaid to make his Judgment to reſt? I Anſwer, when he engrafts his Word, and cauſes it to joyn, unite, and cloſe with the Stock of the Heart, James 1.21. When the Seed is turned into a new and Divine Nature, when in this Noble Effect of it, it dwelleth and abideth in the Soul for ever, 1 Pet. 1.23. When it is mixed with Faith, Heb. 4.3.Heb 4:3when it molds and faſhions the Soul into a Conformity to God, and a compliance with his Will; then it may be ſaid truly to reſt and abide. A Graft that is not implanted into the Stock, a Stone that is not joyned to the Foundation, may be ſpurned to and fro; but when the Graft is united with the Stock, and the Stone is laid into the Building, then it hath reſt. None can give a Reſt in this ſenſe to to the Doctrine of the Goſpel but the Son of God, and how weak ſoever Inſtruments are, yet he can p. 16produce mighty Effects, when he ſpeaks in them, and by them **2 Cor. 13.3.2 Cor 13:3Out of the mouths of babes and ſucklicks he ordains ſtrength, Pſal. 8.2. The Diſciples of Chriſt were but as Babes and Sucklings, they were not trained up in the Schools of Philoſophers, or Rhetoricians, but were foreign, Acts 4.13. Men unlearned, and ignorant in the Eyes of their Adverſaries; the word tranſlated Ignorant, is foreign Ideots, and thoſe by the Graecians are called foreign, Ideots, that have a very low Talent of Reaſon, a ſcanty meaſure of Underſtanding at utmoſt, fitting them to manage their own Private Affairs, and ſmall Concerns, but diſabling them from being employed in any Great, High, and Publick Affairs. How Obſervable is it then, that the Son of God ſhould chooſe, and employ Men of ſuch mean Parts in the moſt high, weighty, and important Matters of his Kingdom, and accompliſh ſuch great and Noble things by them? The Son of God did ſpeak in them, 2 Cor. 13.3. and work with them, Mark 16.20. ſo that they proſelyted a world of Enemies, and diſcipled Barbarous Nations to the Faith of Chriſt. They famiſhed the Heathen Gods of the Earth, p. 17Zeph. 2.11. They drew away their Worſhippers, and deprived them of their Sacrifices. The Hands of theſe Husbandmen cultivated and manured a barren and horrid Wilderneſs, and reduced it to be a Spiritual Paradiſe, and Garden of God. The word of the Croſs, ſignified by the Living Water that came out from the ſide of the Altar, Ezek. 47.1, 2. flowing out into the ſalt and dead Sea of the World, did heal theſe brackiſh, unpleaſant, and unwholſom Waters. O, how wonderful was the Son of God in this, that a little ſtream of Doctrine concerning Chriſt crucified, ſhould heal, and make freſh the Waters of the great Sea of this corrupt and degenerate World! How ſtrange and ſurprizing is this! that ſuch few and weak Hands ſhould pull down Satan's Kingdom? ſhould build the Ruines of many Generations, and wreſt the Captives from the Srong, and the Prey from the Mighty: The Arrows that the Son of God did ſhoot by his Miniſters, did hit right, pierce deep, and cauſe ſinners to fall under them

2. If we conſider the Office the Son of God doth ſuſtain, and is inveſted with, this fits him to Preach to a ſinful and loſt World. He is ſtyled a Mediator, 1 Tim. p. 182.5. If he had not undertaken to ſatisfie Juſtice, and make Peace, God would have kept ſilence as to any gracious or comfortable ſpeaking to the World. Had not he interpoſed between guilty Creatures and an angry God, we could have heard nothing elſe from Heaven but denunciations of Vengeance, threatnings of Puniſhment, and meſſages of Death. But now lively Oracles come from the Mercy-ſeat, ſprinkled with the Blood of the Mediator. He that hath made a Teſtament, and ſealed it with his own Blood, is fitteſt to open, publiſh, and declare it. He that was intimate with God, and acquainted with all his deep Deſigns, and Boſom-Secrets, was fitteſt to bring them forth, and make them known to the World. He that was to execute God's Purpoſes, was meeteſt to reveal them. God had Deſigns of Grace, Counſels of Peace, Purpoſes of Redemption and Salvation, that were conceived in his Mind, and formed in his Heart from Eternity. But theſe could not ſtep forth into execution but by the Interpoſition and Sufferings of Jeſus Chriſt. The pleaſure of the Lord was to proſper in his hand, Iſa. 53.10. And what his Hand was to accompliſh, his Mouth was to reveal. He that ſatisfied Juſtice, p. 19was fitteſt to diſcover Grace and Mercy. The Lord Jeſus is ſtyled the High-Priest, and Apoſtle of our Profeſſion, Heb. 3.1. What he merited as an High-Prieſt, that he is meeteſt to reveal and declare as an Apoſtle. We may ſee infinite Wiſdom in this: He that makes Peace by the Blood of his Croſs, Col. 1.20. He ſpeaks Peace, Zech. 9.10. He preaches Peace, Epheſ. 2.17. He that paid the Ranſom, Matth. 20.28. He preaches Deliverance to the Captives, and the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound, Iſa. 61.1. He that was taken from Priſon and Judgment himſelf, Iſa. 53.8. He calls Priſoners to come forth, Iſa. 49.9. He bids thoſe that are in Darkneſs to ſhew themſelves in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and the Glorious Preſence of God. He that was a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Grief, he is the Conſolation of Iſrael, and comforts thoſe that mourn, Iſa. 53.3. with Iſa. 61.2. He that became the Father's Servant himſelf, Iſa. 42.1. Proclaims the Acceptable Year of the Lord, publiſhes a Spiritual Jubilee to us, for the releaſe of our Souls, from the Servitude of Sin, from the Bondage of Satan. Man being fallen under the Wrath of God, the Curſe of the Law, the Sentence of Death, none p. 20but a Mediator that was made Sin and a Curſe for us, could bring us any good News, could publiſh any glad Tidings, that might be a Foundation for our Faith and Hope, relieve and revive our fainting and ſinking Souls. He that is the Wiſdom of God, and knows all, was fitteſt to be the Word of the Father to reveal all.

2dly, I ſhall now conſider, what it is that the Son of God Preaches.

1. Jeſus Chriſt Preaches the Doctrine of Faith, and calls Men to believe it. He Preaches good Tidings, and that to the Poor, Luke 4.18. The Law promiſes Life, and publiſhes good Tidings only to thoſe that are Rich in Habitual Righteouſneſs, and perfect Active Obedience: But Jeſus Chriſt Preaches good Tidings to thoſe that are exceeding Poor; to ſuch as have no good dwelling in them, Rom. 7.18. or good done by them, Rom. 3.12. Compare thoſe two Expreſſions; Paul ſaith, In me, even in this fleſh of mine, dwells nothing at all that is good: There is none that doth good, no, not one. O, how ſweet a Sentence is this, that Jeſus Chriſt preacheth glad Tidings to the Poor! Jeſus Chriſt Preaches Righteouſneſs. Pſal. 40.9, 10. I have preached Righteouſneſs in the great Congre…ation, I have not hid thy Righteouſneſs in p. 21my heart. Theſe words are ſpoken by the Son of God concerning himſelf; the Righteouſneſs he preached was a great Secret, a deep Myſtery. We ſhould have been for ever ignorant of it if he had hid it in his Heart: But this Righteouſneſs of God is revealed in the Goſpel, Rom. 1.17. And it is that which Faith muſt Act, and live upon from firſt to laſt; therefore it is ſaid, to be revealed from Faith to Faith, from a leſſer to a higher degree of Faith. This is a wonderful and comfortable Righteouſneſs, it conſiſts in Jeſus Chriſt his perfect obeying the Commands of the Law, and his bearing the Penalty and Curſe of it; and both theſe are the Objects of Faith, 2 Pet. 1.1. Precious Faith, foreign. I would render the words, In the Righteouſneſs of God, and of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo to note the Object of Faith. And this Expreſſion may expound to us, why this Righteouſneſs is called the Righteouſneſs of God; becauſe the Perſon that wrought it out was God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. This is not an exacting, an obliging, a menacing, or threatning Righteouſneſs, that is ſufficiently declared in the Commands and Threatnings of the Law; but this is a Righteouſneſs wrought for us, not p. 22by us; a Righteouſneſs dwelling in Chriſt, but imputed to us; a Righteouſneſs prepared and brought by Chriſt, and freely given to us, Rom. 5.17. The Law can tell us of a Debt of Righteouſneſs that we owe, but the Goſpel acquaints us with a Gift of Righteouſneſs that we may receive. And it is the empty hand of Faith that receives this Gift, the hand of a Leper, the hand of a Beggar, the weak, trembling, Palſie hand may receive a Rich Gift, a Jewel of ineſtimable Price. And Chriſt's Blood is alſo ſet forth as an Object of Faith. Rom. 3.25. Whom God hath ſet forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his Blood. The Blood of Jeſus Chriſt is Reconciling, Redeeming, Purchaſing, Purging, and Purifying Blood, and therefore is a Noble Object of Faith. And add to this the Arm of the Son of God to reſcue us, ſubdue us, and deſtroy Satan's Works out of us, Iſa. 51.5. And we have a compleat Object of Faith: This Arm of his the Son of God reveals, and reaches out to us, for our weak, fainting, heavy laden, and ſinking Souls to lean on, Cant. 3.5. This is an Arm that can Root up Satan's Tares, pull down all his ſtrong Holds, and break all his Bonds and Snares. And Jeſus Chriſt is alſo the p. 23Meſſenger of the Covenant, Malachy 3.1. He reveals to us a Covenant of Grace and Peace, a Covenant that ſecures us from the Evils that we deſerve, and dread; and ſo it is all our Salvation, and promiſes all the Good we need; and ſo it is all that we deſire, 2 Sam. 23.5. It is ordered ſo as to meet with all our Objections, and ſilence them; to quaſh our Fears, and to ſupply our Wants. The Son of God commands us to believe his Goſpel, Mark 1.15. To look to him for Salvation, to fly to him as a City of Refuge, to get under his ſhadow, that he may protect and ſecure us from the ſcorching Wrath of the Almighty.

2. The Son of God Preaches Repentance. Matth. 4.17. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. God was then about to erect that Kingdom that was foretold, Dan. 2.44. Daniel did Propheſie, That the God of Heaven would ſet up a Kingdom, and ſo it might be ſaid to be the Kingdom of Heaven. It is Heavenly in its Original, Heaven is the Subjectmatter promiſed in the Goſpel, it iſſues in the Heavenly Life, and Happineſs of thoſe that believe. They ſhall be placed in Chriſt's Throne, and feaſted at his Table in Heaven, Rev. 3.21. Luke 22.29, p. 2430. Chriſt requires Men to Repent of their low, baſe, hard, reproachful thoughts of God; to Repent of their Enmity, Whoredoms, and Rebellions againſt God. Doth God ſhew himſelf as Love, 1 John 4.8. I, and ſhall not Men Repent of their Hatred of God? Is he willing to lay aſide his Juſt and Righteous Enmity againſt us? And ſhall we not lay aſide our wicked Enmity againſt him? Jeſus Chriſt may very reaſonably require us to Repent, ſeeing God doth change his Diſpenſations towards us; and this may be called God's Repenting; he might have hardened his Heart againſt us, but now his Bowels yearn towards us: he might have aſcended a Tribunal of Juſtice, and given Sentence on us; but he ſits on a Throne of Grace, and offers Mercy to us. He might have drawn his Flaming Sword to deſtroy, but he ſtretches out his Golden Sceptre to ſave. God curſes ſinners in the Law, but bleſſes them as Believers in the Goſpel: He Condemns in the Law, but Juſtifies in the Goſpel; he rejects and diſinherits in the Law, but he receives and Adopts in the Goſpel: Doth God Repent of the evil of Puniſhment, and may he not well call Men to Repent of the evil of Sin? Is God's Puniſhing p. 25Hand bound, and ſhall our Rebellious Hand be looſe and at liberty to fight againſt God? Jeſus Chriſt calls us to deny our ſelves, Mat. 16.24. — Man fell from God into himſelf; intruded into his Throne, uſurped his Rights, alienated the Creatures from God, and turned them againſt him. Sinful Man is the Voluntier, the Creatures the preſſed Souldiers to fight againſt God; and ſhall Man, ſo mean a Creature, make himſelf the Soveraign Lord, and the laſt end of all the other Creatures? Shall Man, now become ſo filthy and deformed a Creature, dote on himſelf? Shall he that is ſo hateful, inordinately love himſelf? Shall he that is ſo poor, ſo empty, ſo vain a Creature, lift up, exalt himſelf, and be proud of an imaginary, and meerly conceited Excellency? And hath not the Lord Jeſus to amazement denied himſelf? He that was Rich, for our ſakes became poor, 2 Cor. 8.9. He that was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God, yet did empty himſelf of his Fulneſs, and caſt a Veil over all his own Glory; took on him the form of a Servant, Phil. 2.6, 7. The Ocean became as it were a drop; he whoſe goings forth from the Father were from Everlaſting, yet but as yeſterday came p. 26forth from Bethlehem, Micah 5.2. The Ancient of Days became an Infant of Days; he that bears up all things, was carried in Arms; he that knew no ſin, was made ſin, and God bleſſed for ever, Rom. 9.5. Was made a curſe, Gal. 3.13. And hath our Lord thus denied himſelf, and ſhall Servants ſeek and pleaſe themſelves? And Jeſus Chriſt calls us to take his Yoke, Matth. 11.29. And did he not take a harder and heavier Yoke on himſelf for us? He puts his Name into our Bond, and became a Surety for us; the Debt was great he was to diſcharge, it was not to be paid off with Gold and Silver, but with Blood; the Debt was not only poſſible, or probable, or likely only to fall on him, but certainly to take hold of him, and to be required of him: He was to be wounded with the Sword of his own Father, to bear the heavieſt Burden, to drink the moſt bitter Cup; this Lamb of God was to be roaſted by the hotteſt Fire, he was to ſweat Blood, and to pour out his Soul to the Death; and is it not reaſonable now that the Son of God ſhould require us to renounce our depraved Wills, baſe Luſts, and vile Affections, and put our Necks under his eaſie Yoke, bound on us by Cords of p. 27Love? Did our Lord ſubmit and obey, and ſhall we be proud, diſobedient, and rebellious?

3. The Son of God preached Peace, Epheſ. 2.17. His Goſpel is a Goſpel of Peace, Epheſ. 6.15. His Covenant a Covenant of Peace, Iſa. 54.10. In the days of his Fleſh he preached Peace, Acts 10.36. And now he ſtill publiſheth Peace to humbled Sinners. This Peace the Son of God Preaches is a coſtly and righteous Peace: His own Father did wage War with him, that he might make Peace with us, Zech. 13.7. He called the Sword of his Juſtice to awake, ſmite, and wound his own Son: The Sufferings, the Wounds of Chriſt were great and deep; they came from, they were made by the awakened Sword of Juſtice. Our Sins had made a wide Breach between God and us, and this Breach was filled by the dead Body of Jeſus Chriſt. Our Iniquities had kindled the Fire of God's Wrath, and this Fire was quenched by the Blood of the Son of God. He made Peace for our Souls, becauſe he made Atonement for our Sins.

4. Jeſus Chriſt preached Salvation, That we ſhould be ſaved from the hands of our Enemies, and from all that hated us, Luke 1.71. Sin and Death are our Enemies, p. 28wicked Men and Satan hate us; here is a Salvation from Enemies, and all that hate us. And this is a full and perfect Salvation; Chriſt ſaves from ſin, Matth. 1.21. And he ſaves from wrath, Rom. 5.9. And by his own Sufferings he was delivered up to Death, Rom. 8.32. that he might deliver us from the Wrath to come, 1 Theſſ. 1. laſt. He fell into the hands of God as an angry Judge, that we might not fall into the Bottomleſs-pit. He went out into the moſt dreadful Storm, that he might allay it, and free us from it. The Cup of Wrath came to him, that the Cup of Salvation might come to us. Jeſus Chriſt could not have been a Shield to us, if he had not been pierced by the Arrows of Divine Vengeance himſelf. He could not have been a ſhadow to us from the burning, ſcorching Wrath of God, if he had not been himſelf expoſed to it. That Cloud that skreened Iſrael from the hotteſt Beams of the Sun, was expoſed to them; that Cloud did not feel the burning Beams of the Sun, but Jeſus Chriſt had a tender ſenſe and feeling of the Wrath of God, that for our ſakes he was liable to.

p. 295. Jeſus Chriſt preached the Kingdom of God, Matth. 4.23. He went about Preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom, and declaring the glad Tidings of the Kingdom of God, Luke 8.1. Jeſus Chriſt doth not only Preach to us Salvation from the greateſt Evil, but alſo the Enjoyment of the higheſt Good. The Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 2.10. ſaith, The Elect ſhall obtain the Salvation that is in Chriſt, together with everlaſting Glory. As Shadrach, Meſhach, and Abednego were not only called out of, and ſaved from the Fiery Furnace, but alſo promoted and exalted to Honour and Rule in the Province of Babylon, Dan. 3. laſt. So Believers are not only preſerved from a Furnace of Fire, but alſo called into a Glorious Kingdom; they do not only eſcape Ruin, but are advanced to Reign. And this Kingdom is bequeathed by Jeſus Chriſt, foreign; the word, as Budaeus **In Comment. Graecae Linguae.obſerves, is Verbum Teſtamentale, a word uſed by the Graecians in making their Wills. Though in the account of wicked Men Jeſus Chriſt died as a Malefactor, yet in the Eye of God he died as a Teſtator; when he was robbed of his Liberty, Garments, and Life, then he bequeathed a Kingdom to enrich p. 30us for ever. The Eternal Inheritance is a Legacy of Chriſt's Teſtament, Heb. 9.15. Chriſt that is Heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. takes us to be Coheirs with himſelf, Rom. 8.17. Thoſe that ſerve God ſhall Reign, Rev. 22.3.5. And thoſe that are Subjects to Chriſt ſhall wear a Glorious and Everlaſting Crown, Rev. 2.10. As the Blood of Chriſt keeps deſtroying Juſtice out, ſo it gives us boldneſs to enter into the Heavenly Sanctuary, Heb. 10.19.

6. The Croſs of Chriſt is preached, 1 Cor. 1.19.23. as the Meritorious cauſe of all Good. Chriſt's Poverty enriches us, his Abaſement Exalts us, his Infamy is our Glory: He is a Prieſt of good things, Heb. 9.11. he merits and procures them by his Sacrifice. The Death and Teſtament of Jeſus Chriſt is the very Foundation of our hopes of, and of our call to the Everlaſting Inheritance, Heb. 9.15. In the Civil Law **Inſtitut. lib. 2. Tit. 19. Sect. 6., he that is an Heir is ſaid to be Vocatus ad haereditatem, and that by the Teſtament of the Deceaſed. This much illuſtrates Spiritual things; Chriſt makes a Teſtament, deſigns Heirs, and calls them in due time to what he hath deſigned for them. The p. 31Croſs of Chriſt ſhould be preached, and the Death of the Son of God ſhould be moſt valuable in our Eye, becauſe this is the Foundation and Confirmation of Chriſt's Teſtament. If he had not made a Will, and died to confirm it, there had been no Heirs appointed, there had been no Inheritance bequeathed, and there had been no ground to call any to the Kingdom and Glory of God.

3. To whom did the Son of God Preach? I Anſwer, ſometimes to more, ſometimes to fewer; before Abraham was called, and his Seed choſen and ſeparated to be God's Peculiar and only People, he preached more or leſs to all Mankind, if they did not cut off, and caſt themſelves out by their Negligence and Profaneneſs, as Cain's Poſterity ſeemed to do. Afterward God made an Incloſure of a Common, when he took Abraham, redeemed him from his Idolatry, and called him from his Ignorance and Blindneſs. Since that, God hath made a Common inſtead of an Incloſure. We read of the Common Faith, Titus 1.4. And of the Common Salvation, Jude's Epiſtle, Verſe 3. After Chriſt's death the Hedges were pulled **Luke 14 23.Luke 14:23up, the Incloſure thrown open. Chriſt was to p. 32be a Light to the Gentiles, and to be Gods Salvation to the ends of the Earth, Iſa. 49.6. The Son of God is the true Univerſal Biſhop, 1 Pet. 2. laſt. The whole World is his Dioceſs. This Husbandman goeth forth to ſow, Matth. 13.3. and the large Field that he ſows in is the World. Matth. 13.38. The Field is the World. This Noble Fiſherman doth not Fiſh in the Rill of a Village, in the Rivulet of a City, in the River of one Country, but in the Sea of the wide World. Mat. 13.47. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net caſt into the Sea. It is obſervable what the Son of God ſaith, Pſal. 40.9. I have preached Righteouſneſs in the great Congregation. What is this great Congregation? It is the Church made up of Jew and Gentile; it is Men of all Nations: He did not come only to call the Jews, to raiſe up Jacob, and to reſtore Iſrael, Iſa. 49.4, 5. but he was to gather the Kingdoms of the Earth, Pſal. 102.22. To gather all Nations, Jer. 3.17. To call and bring home Sheep, that were not of the Fold of the Jewiſh Church, John 10.16. The Son of God preached to the Heathen, Zech. 9.10. cauſed Barbarous People, and the Inhabitants of Wilderneſſes to bow to his Sceptre, and to ſubmit to his Authority. p. 33Pſal. 72.9. They that dwell in the wilderneſs ſhall bow before him, and his Enemies ſhall lick the duſt; yea, the Kings and Great Ones of the World ſhall fall down before him as Subjects and Worſhippers. And the Son of God preached with ſuch Authority, Efficacy, and Succeſs, that thoſe that knew him not before, did at his call run to him, Iſa. 55.5. And fly as the Clouds, and Doves to their windows, Iſa. 60.8. As the Jews did formerly attend on the Miniſtry of God's Prophets, Zech. 11.11. The poor of the Flock that waited on me: So now the Gentiles ſhould wait on the Son of God, liſten to his Doctrine, and receive his Law: Iſa. 51.5. The Iſles ſhall wait upon me. And Iſa. 42.4. The Iſles ſhall wait for his Law. By the Iſles we are to underſtand the Gentile Nations that were beyond the Seas, and lived remote from the Land of Canaan; even theſe ſhould wait for the Rain of Chriſt's Doctrine, for the Dew of his Word; they ſhould ſubmit to be Scholars when the Son of God did Teach, and become his Diſciples when he did call: As Iſa. 2.2, 3. The Gentiles ſhould exhort one another, and ſay, Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord's Houſe, for he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in them. This is obſervable, that the p. 34Lord is not ſaid to Teach alike every where, but in the Mount of his Houſe, that is, in his Church he Teaches; here it is Day when it is Night with other Parts of the World. Darkneſs doth cover the Earth, groſs darkneſs the People, but the Glory of the Lord ariſeth on, and ſhines in the Church, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3. Therefore the Gentiles are ſaid to repair to the Churches Light with a full Reſolution to yield, ſubmit, and obey what the Son of God ſhould teach as Truth, and dictate as Duty. I ſhall come now to the Uſe of the Doctrine.

Uſe 1. The Son of God preached by Inſtruments, and hath alſo preached immediately in his own Perſon; this may inform us of the wonderful Grace and Kindneſs of Jeſus Chriſt: As a Prieſt he purchaſes Good Things for us, and as a Prophet he Preaches them to us. He bought precious things dearly at God's hands, and he propoſeth, and proffers them freely to our hands; he procured an Inheritance, provided a Feaſt, and prepared Salvation, and he promulgates and declares them to us. O, what a condeſcention is this! that the Son of God ſhould be a Herald to Proclaim Peace, and the King of Glory ſhould deign to p. 35be the Father's Ambaſſador, to treat with Rebels, and beſeech Enemies to be reconciled to him?

Uſe 2. Here is great matter of Conſolation, that the Son of God Preacheth as truly by Inſtruments, as in his own Perſon: He can give Efficacy and Succeſs to his own Word. Our caſe were deplorable, yea, deſperate, if Men only did Preach. Could they open blind Eyes, unſtop deaf Ears, quicken dead Souls? As Eglon's Servants did wait till they were aſhamed, for his riſing and opening the Parlour-door to them, Judges 3.23.25. But their waiting and expectation was in vain, Ehud had killed Eglon the King of Moab, Judg. 3.21, 22, and a dead Man could not open the Door to his waiting Servants without. So Sinners are dead in Treſpaſſes, and in the uncircumciſion of their Fleſh, Col. 2.13. And can ſuch ariſe and open the doors of their Hearts to the Son of God? Free-will ruined Mankind when the Image of God was drawn on their Souls, and the Law of God was written in their Hearts; and will Free-will now raiſe and recover Man again out of his Ruins with the aids of Common Grace, when the poor Sinner is a Captive under the Law of Sin and Death? This was p. 36the great Encouragement that Chriſt gave his Apoſtles to go forth into the World and Teach all Nations, That he was, and would be with them to the end of the World, Matth. 28 19, 20. He that had all Power both in Heaven and Earth, could make way for his own Word, and cauſe it to be received and entertained. Miniſters need the ſpecial Preſence, and the powerful Working of the Son of God with them. Weak and degenerate Man doth not only need an Auxilium ſine quo non, ſuch an aid, without which they cannot believe or come to Chriſt, but an Auxilium cum quo, as Janſenius **In his. Auguſt.excellently and truly diſtinguiſheth. We need ſuch an aid as will certainly produce the Effect: Such an aid as Free-will is Lord of, and is to Husband and Improve, will not ſuffice for our Recovery; but ſuch an aid of Grace we need as will Lord it in our Will, and effectually incline it to yield and ſubmit to Chriſt. Ezek. 20.37. I will cauſe them to paſs under the Rod, I will bring them into the bond of the Covenant. Bleſſed is he whom thou chooſeſt, and cauſeſt to draw nigh, Pſal. 65.4. Chriſt can ſo influence the Will, as to undertake it ſhall, and cauſe it to comply. Ars Coeleſtis p. 37Medici eſt Demonſtrativae, as Alvarez **De Auxiliis gratiae.truly aſſerts; it is in the Hand and Power of the Heavenly Phyſician to Cure the Will of its Malignity, Enmity, and Rebellion. Surely he can Cure whom he will, and when he will, elſe he were not infinitely Wiſe and Omnipotent. He could undertake that the Gentiles, though deaf, Iſa. 29.18. yea, though dead, John 5.25. ſhould hear his Voice, and be joyned with his Flock, and gathered into his Fold. God bids Moſes to ſmite the Rock, and it ſhould give forth Water for the Thirſty Iſraelites to drink, Exod. 17 6. But would the Rock yield Water if Moſes alone had been there, and ſmitten it with his Arm? No, a ſtruck Rock would yield rather ſparks of Fire, than floods of Water, had not the Lord ſtood on the Rock, and cauſed it to cleave; and turned the Flint into a Fountain of Waters, Pſal. 114. laſt. So in vain would Chriſt's Miniſters ſmite on the Rocky Hearts of Men to draw Penitential Tears from thence, if the Son of God doth not ſtand on this Rock, and ſo melt and diſſolve it into Floods of Godly Sorrow. In vain would our hands knock at the Door of Mens Hearts, if Jeſus Chriſt had not a Hand to open them. p. 38Acts 16.14. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, and then ſhe attended to what Paul ſpake. The Prophet Iſaiah ſaith, The Lord ſpake to him with a ſtrong hand, and that he ſhould not walk in the way of that People, Iſa. 8.11. The Lord ſpeaks with a ſtrong Hand when he levels Mountains of Oppoſition, conquers Enmity, and effectually Plants the Word in the Heart. The Bridegroom did not only give ſweet Names to, and uſe ſtrong Arguments with the Church, why ſhe ſhould riſe and open to him, but he put in his Hand by the hole of the Door, he touched her Heart, he ſtirred her Affections, he moved her Bowels towards him, and then ſhe roſe to open to him, Cant. 5.2.4, 5, 6. This is a great Encouragement, that Miniſters do not ſpeak alone, but Chriſt ſpeaks in them, 2 Cor. 13.3. And they do not act alone, but the Lord Chriſt works with them, Mark 16.20.

Uſe 3. Doth the Son of God Preach as well by Inſtruments, as when he Preaches immediately in his own Perſon? Then, 1. Be convinced, that whoever Preaches, that you have to do with the Son of God; it is he that ſpeaks to, and deals with your Souls. Noah he treated with, and preached to the Old World; he is ſtyled, A Preacher p. 39of Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 2.5. But in the Text Peter doth over-look him, and keep ſilence concerning him, and ſaith, The Son of God went by his Divine Nature, and preached to the old World that were diſobedient in the days of Noah: As the light of the Sun doth obſcure, darken, and hide the Stars, ſo this Sun of Righteouſneſs by his Glorious Light doth darken all the dim and little Candles he doth make uſe of. O! how ſhould this awe our Hearts, and make us to tremble at the Word, that it is the Son of God that Preacheth, and diſpenſeth it to us?

2. This ſhould make us forward, willing, and ready to hear, becauſe it is the Son of God that Preacheth: If Chriſt were now on Earth, and was to Preach at ſuch a place to day, and at another place to morrow, would not Men and Women run, and flock to hear him? Should we not charge folly on, and impute ſin to thoſe that would not lay aſide Excuſes, neglect their little petty Affairs and Concerns in the World, to hear the Son of God Incarnate? And yet when the Son of God Preaches by Inſtruments, how ingenious are Perſons to invent Pretences to neglect and hinder themſelves from hearing Chriſt ſpeaking by his Ambaſſadors? p. 40They will not, with the Eunuch **Acts 8.38.Acts 8:38, cauſe the Chariot of their Trade and Worldly Buſineſs to ſtand ſtill, to attend on an Ordinance of God, and liſten to the Word of Jeſus Chriſt. The Queen of the South came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wiſdom of Solomon, Mat. 12.42. But how few now will ſtep without their Doors to hear the Son of God Preaching by his Servants? It is ſaid in Prov. 8.33, 34. That they are bleſſed that do hear Wiſdom, watch daily at her Gates, and wait at the Poſts of her doors. Men ſhould be as willing and forward Scholars, that come to School before the Gates, or Doors of the School are opened; that ſtay and wait there when the Doors will be opened, and they be let in to be inſtructed, and learn. Thus ſhould we run to, and wait at the Doors of Wiſdom's Houſe, where ſhe teacheth School, and gives ſaving Inſtructions to ignorant Souls.

3. Doth the Son of God Preach by his Inſtruments as truly as in his own Perſon? O then, how ſhould we attend and liſten to the Word! Hearken, O Daughter, encline thy ear, Pſal. 45.10. As thoſe that are ſomewhat deaf, are thick and hard of Hearing, how do they bow down their p. 41Ears, and put them near to the Mouth of the Speaker? So we ſhould with the greateſt care attend to Chriſt's Word, Iſa. 55.2. We ſhould hearken diligently to Ch…ſt, and eat that which is good. The Word that we hear is the Bread of Life, and the Food of our Souls, and ſhall we not therefore liſten to it? We ought to give the more earneſt heed to the things we hear, leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip, foreign; there ſeems to be an Alluſion to Water-Glaſſes that were anciently uſed to meaſure Time by; and as the Water in the upper Glaſs did drop into the lower, till all was run out: So we are apt to loſe the Word of God by our negligent and careleſs hearing of it; ſo it leaks and flows away from us, and we get no ſaving Benefit by it▪ We muſt hear with that Attention, as thoſe that have to do with the Prince of Life, with the Lord of Glory; as thoſe that hear Matters of Infinite Conſequence, and everlaſting Concernment. You muſt attend as thoſe that hear for their Souls and Eternity. Take heed of a ſleepy Ear, a drouſie Mind, a Heart wandring and roving. Will you bring Bodies only into God's Preſence? Will you leave Carcaſſes before him, and let your Thoughts p. 42ſtray, and your Minds run to the ends of the Earth? Would a condemned Malefactor hear his Pardon read, as you hear Jeſus Chriſt offering Grace and Remiſſion of Sins to your periſhing Souls?

4. We ſhould readily receive the Word of the Son of God, as the good Ground is ſaid to drink in the Rain and Dew that cometh oft upon it, Heb. 6.17. O, how ſhould you drink in the Word of Jeſus Chriſt! O, how ſhould it ſoak and ſink into your Hearts! That Doctrine that came out of the Boſom of the Father, ſhould it not be lodged in your Breaſts, and be received into your Hearts? Job 22.22. Receive the Law from his mouth, and lay it up in thy heart. We muſt entertain the Word, as coming immediately from the Mouth of Chriſt; and you muſt let it into your Hearts. Pſal. 119.20. My Soul breaketh for the longings it hath to thy righteous Judgments at all times. As the dry Ground ſo thirſteth after Rain, that it chappeth, cleaveth, breaketh, and with open mouth Petitions Heaven for Rain. So our Souls ſhould even break for the Longings we have after the Rain of Chriſt's Word. Matth. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven ſuffered violence, and the violent took it by force; the Doctrine of a p. 43Spiritual and Heavenly Kingdom was earneſtly catched at. foreign, the violent do catch at, and ſnatch it away. If Bread were thrown among the Hungry, if Pieces of Gold and Silver were thrown among the Poor, O how would ſtarving and periſhing Poor catch at this Bread, and theſe Pieces of Gold and Silver? And ſhould not we more greedily, and earneſtly catch at the Doctrine of Reconciliation, and the Promiſe of Eternal Life?

5. We ſhould yield, ſubmit to, and obey Chriſt's Word: The Scripture ſpeaks of receiving Chriſt's Teſtimony, John 3.33, 34. and of receiving Chriſt, John 1.12. If we receive the Doctrine of Chriſt, we ſhall receive Chriſt himſelf; on the other hand, we reject Jeſus Chriſt, if we receive not his Word, John 12.48. The Natural Man receiveth not, entertaineth not the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.14. foreign. Though Men do exerciſe Hoſpitality, and take in Natural and Moral Truth, yet how is the door of the Heart ſhut againſt thoſe ſupernatural Doctrines and Myſteries that the Spirit revealeth? There is no room, no Lodging or Entertainment for theſe wonderful and Divine Truths. But we muſt comply with, and p. 44yield Obedience to theſe things that the Spirit makes known. We muſt believe them, that they may work effectually in us, 1 Theſſ. 2.13. The Word of the Goſpel muſt be a Mold to ſhape and faſhion our Souls. Rom. 6.17. You have obeyed from the heart that mold of Doctrine, into which ye were delivered; for ſo it is in the Greek, foreign. The Goſpel of Chriſt is elegantly compared to a Mold, into which the Hearts of Men as melted running Metal are delivered, that they may be faſhioned aright, and conformed to the Word; that they may be Holy, Spiritual, and Heavenly, as the Word is. The Goſpel muſt leven all the Powers and Faculties of your Souls, Mat. 13.33. and ſo give them a new taſte and reliſh; as a Graft doth meliorate, improve the Sap of the Stock, and makes it to bring forth better Fruit, than ever it could otherwiſe do; ſo the Goſpel heightens, ennobles, and advances all the Faculties of the Soul to better and more excellent Operations than otherwiſe they would riſe to, or bring forth. We muſt ſteadily look into this Spiritual Glaſs, and behold the Glory of Chriſt in it, 2 Cor. 3. laſt. So by beholding the Glory of the Lord, we ſhall be changed and transformed into the ſame p. 45Image. Yield therefore to Chriſt, and his Word; let Chriſt erect his Tribunal in your Souls, ſuffer him to Judge your State, Condemn your Sins, to paſs Sentence on your Luſts; that when he hath wounded, he may heal you; when he hath caſt you down, he may raiſe you up. Iſa. 2.4. It it ſaid of Chriſt, That he ſhall Judge among the Nations, and Rebuke many People. Chriſt executes a Judicature by his Word; to this you are to ſtand, by this you are to be ſentenced to Life or Death. O therefore when you come to hear, do not carp, cavil, and judge the Word, becauſe it thwarts your Fooliſh Notions, or croſſeth your viſe Affections; but yield and ſubmit to Chriſt, Judging and Commanding of you by his Word.

I ſhall now proceed to give and preſs ſome Motives to urge you to liſten to, comply with, and obey the Son of God that Preaches to you.

1. It is Wiſdom that Preaches to you: Prov. 1.20, 21, 22. The Son of God is the Wiſdom of God, and Wiſdom is now come forth into our Nature, and cries without in our Streets. Doth not Wiſdom deſerve to be ſtyled, A wonderful Counſellor, Iſa. 9.6. who is ſo fit to adviſe us how to fly from the Wrath to come, p. 46to eſcape the Corruption that is in the World through Luſt? Who is ſo meet to Teach and Direct us how we may come out of Debt, and get out of Priſon, as Infinite Wiſdom? Who can ſo well Inſtruct us how our Conſciences may be purged, the fore-skin of our Hearts cut off, our Diſeaſes healed, our Guilt and Filth purged away, as the Wiſdom of God? Shall we exalt our vain Minds, and our fooliſh Underſtandings in Oppoſition to the Counſels and Dictates of Wiſdom? We are entangled in a Wilderneſs of Woe, we are in a Labyrinth of Iniquity and Guilt, and Wiſdom only can teach us the right way to get out, and lead us to the Glorious City of God above. We knew not how God ſhould be Juſt, and yet juſtifie the Ungodly; how his Righteouſneſs ſhould be glorified in Puniſhing, and yet his Mercy magnified in Pardoning; how Sin ſhould meet with a Hell of Puniſhments, and yet Sinners enjoy a Heaven of Bleſſedneſs. Yet the Son of God, that is, Wiſdom, doth reconcile theſe things, and make them to conſiſt with each other.

2. The Son that Preacheth is Love it ſelf. Cant. 3.5. The Church chargeth the Daughters of Jeruſalem not to ſtir up, p. 47nor awake foreign that Love. Chriſt is called by way of Excellency that Love, that admirable, that tranſcendent Love. O, will you not liſten to him that is Love it ſelf? If he had not been Love it ſelf, he could never have ſtooped ſo low, have drank ſo bitter a Cup, have endured ſo heavy a Burden, have expoſed himſelf to ſo dreadful a Storm. He that was Rich, became Poor, 2 Cor. 8.9. He that was the Holy One of God, and without ſpot and blemiſh, was made Sin; he that was God over all, bleſſed for ever, Rom. 9.5. Was made a Curſe, John 3.14. And in order to all this, he that made all things, was made Fleſh, John 1.1, 2.14. He ſhewed himſelf to be Love, that as a Head he would chooſe and take a Body below; and as a Bridegroom be related to a Spouſe on Earth. O, how wonderful is this! that Nobility ſhould wooe Vileneſs and Baſeneſs? That Riches ſhould court Poverty? And Beauty be enamoured with Deformity? O! is it not wonderful Love, that the Heir of all things ſhould make Addreſſes to thoſe that had nothing, yea, were indeed worſe than nothing? For nothing cannot go Aſtray, cannot run a Whoring, cannot Rebel, and Provoke; yet ſinful Men and Women are guilty of p. 48all theſe. If the Son of God were not Love, would he have dyed to open a Fountain to waſh us, Zech. 13.1.Zech 13:1to provide a Remedy to heal us, Iſa. 53.5. By his ſtripes are we healed? If he had nor been Love, would he have been a Sacrifice, 1 Cor. 5.7, 8. that we might have a Feaſt on his Altar? Heb. 13.10. If Jeſus Chriſt were not Love, would he caſt his Net to draw us out of a dead Sea? **Ezek. 47.10.Ezek 47:10Would he ſpeak to raiſe us out of a Spiritual Grave? **John 5.25.John 5:25Would he call us out of a dark and doleful Priſon? Iſa. 49.9. If he were not Love, would he Preach to raiſe Sinners out of their Ruins, and to build them up as a Houſe and Temple for God? 1 Pet. 2, 4, 5. Would he encloſe and take us within the Walls of the Spiritual Jeruſalem? Jer. 31.38, 39, 40. Jer…miah Propheſies of a Jeruſalem that ſhould be built to the Lord, that is, for him to dwell in; the Name of this City is Jebovah Shammah, Ezek. 48. laſt. It is an Honourable and Glorious Name, that Jehovah is there, that his ſpecial Preſence is to be found and enjoyed in this City. It is farther ſaid, that this City ſhall be Holy to the Lord; that is, conſecrated and devoted to God, and that p. 49it ſhould never be pluckt up, nor thrown down; the Rage of Men, the Fury, Policy, and Power of Satan ſhould never prevail againſt it. And this commends this City yet the more to us, that it is greater, larger, and wider than the Earthly Jeruſalem. The Building-Line for the raiſing of this City ſhould go forth, and be ſtretched over the Hill Gareb. The Hill Gareb ſignifie the Hill of the Scabby, or of the Lepers. Such diſeaſed Perſons were to be ſhut out of the Earthly Jeruſalem, and it ſeems at leaſt probable that ſuch Lepers pitched their Tents on this Hill: Yet the Hill Gareb ſhould now be taken into the Spiritual Jeruſalem, beſides, the Valley of dead Bodies, and of the Aſhes was to be incloſed within the Walls of this Spiritual Jeruſalem. We Gentiles were as Spiritual Lepers, Ulcers and Scabs were upon us, we had even Plague-ſores on our Hearts; we were dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes, vile Duſt, unclean Aſhes. And is not this moſt ſurprizing Love, that Jeſus Chriſt will Preach to gather all Nations into this Holy and Spiritual Jeruſalem? Jer. 3.17. Jeruſalem ſhall be called the Throne of the Lord, and all Nations ſhall be gathered unto it, to the Name of the Lord, to Jeruſalem, neither ſhall they walk any more p. 50after the imagination of their evil hearts. Here is an excellent Expoſition, what is meant by building a Jeruſalem with larger Walls, that the Gentiles ſhould be brought into, and joyned with the Church, John 10.16. be in the ſame Fold, of the ſame Flock, under the ſame great Shepheard: And that though the Gentiles were in themſelves unclean Creatures, as wild Beaſts, and polluted creeping things, Acts 10.11, 12, 13, 14. yet they ſhould be transformed into Sheep, and be wrapt up in the ſame Sheet of the Church with the Jews. And why doth the Son of God Preach but to build up Spiritual Jeruſalem, to enlarge its Walls, and increaſe the number of its Citizens? And what Love hath the Son of God expreſſed, that he Preaches to call the Gentiles, to make them Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, Members of God's Family, and partakers of his Promiſe in Chriſt Jeſus, Epheſ. 2.19. and 3.6.

3. The Son of God is Lord of all, Acts 10.36. He ſits on a Throne above, and ſpeaks from his Heavenly Glory, Heb. 12.25. 1. Will you not liſten to him ſpeaking to you from Heaven, whoſe Blood muſt ſpeak for you in Heaven, or elſe you muſt periſh everlaſtingly? Heb. 12.24. p. 512. Will you not regard his Voice, that can call you out of the World when he pleaſeth? If he ſaith, Return, ye Sons of men, Pſal. 90.3. we can continue in the Body, we can ſtay on Earth no longer. If he ſpeak the word, we muſt return to the Earth, and be crumbled to Duſt; his Command cannot be gainſaid, or contradicted. 3. Will you not liſten to him, that can, and will call you out of your Graves at the laſt day? John 5.28, 29. All that are in their Graves, ſhall hear his voice, and come forth. Job ſaith to God, Thou wilt call, and I will anſwer, thou wilt have a deſire to the work of thy hands, Job 14.13.15. O, what Authority and Power hath the Son of God, that can make the dead to hear and obey? 4. Will you not liſten to him that will give the laſt and perfecting call to Saints? Mat. 25.34. Come, ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. How much is it our Intereſt to regard, believe, and obey him, who can at the laſt day call us into his Eternal Kingdom and Glory?

4. Will you not liſten to the Son of God, when his Word is the Rule of p. 52Judgment, and the very Ground of the Eternal Sentence of Men and Women? Chriſt ſaith, The Word that I have ſpoken ſhall Judge you at the laſt day, John 12.49. Men ſhall be ſentenced to Life or Death, be adjudged to Heaven or Hell, as they receive or reject Chriſt's Word.

5. Thoſe that Receive not Chriſt's Word, and Reject his Perſon, have one that will Judge them, John 12.48. The Father will call ſuch to a ſtrict Account, will enter into Judgment with them, and execute Vengeance on them. Moſes did Prophecy of Chriſt, Deut. 15.18, 19. That God would raiſe up a Prophet like to him. And God ſaith, That he would put his words into his mouth, and he ſhall ſpeak all that I command him; and it ſhall come to paſs, that whoſoever will not hearken unto my words, which he ſhall ſpeak in my Name, I will require it of him. God will require an Account of his Unbelief and Diſobedience, and will requite him for it. Chriſt ſeems to have a reſpect to theſe very words, when he ſaith, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that will Judge him. Will you not dread the Impartial and Righteous p. 53Judgment of God, and fear Puniſhment from his Hand?

6. Conſider the Matter that Chriſt Preacheth. He ſpeaks excellent things, Prov. 8.6. Wonderful things. Pſal. 119.18. Open thou my Eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law. The Apoſtles filled with Chriſt's Spirit, did Preach the Mighty Works of God, Acts 2.11.

Jeſus did Preach the Myſteries of the Kingdom of God, Matth. 13.11. He revealed the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10, 11. And did declare the Wiſdom of God hid in a Myſtery, 1 Cor. 2.7. and manifeſt the Name of the Father, John 17.6.26. There is a Name of the Father, that the World would never, could never have known, had not the Son declared it. The Law declares, That God loves Righteouſneſs, and hath a delight in Righteous Men; and that he will do good to thoſe that be good. But if Men break his Laws, caſt off his Yoke, reject his Authority, the Law denounceth Wrath and Vengeance, threatens Sinners with Perdition and Deſtruction. Thoſe that rob God of his Honour and p. 54Glory, muſt make Reſtitution to him by their Eternal Sufferings and Miſery. The Light of Nature, or the Law of God gives us no. Account that God hath Grace to exerciſe towards the underſerving, yea, ill deſerving; that he hath any Pity to extend to thoſe that have provoked his Anger, and affronted his Infinite Majeſty. This is a great Secret, that God will ſtretch out his Hand from Heaven to raiſe up fallen Man; that he will provide a Laver to waſh foul and filthy Sinners in, that he will out off his own Plea againſt Offenders, ſheath his Sword, and provide a Satisfaction for his own Juſtice, and pay himſelf out of the Blood of his own Son. And how deep a Myſtery is this, that the God that might have required us to be Sacrifices to his Revenging Juſtice, ſhould call his own Son to make his Soul an Offering, and lay down his Life for Sinners? Iſa. 53.10. John 10.18. That he ſhould be juſt in bruiſing and puniſhing Chriſt, that he might be juſt in juſtifying us, in healing our Wounds, and purging our Conſciences. It is this gracious, ſweet, precious Name of God that is the Subject-Matter of Chriſt's Preaching; he declares it, that the Love p. 55wherewith God loves Chriſt, may be in us, and he in us, John 17. laſt. O, how welcome ſhould this Diſcovery of the Father be to us? O, how greatly ſhould it affect and rejoyce our Souls? This Declaration of the Name of God is, 1. As a retreſhing Rain, and reviving Dew to the dry and parched World. Pſal. 72.6. He ſhall come down as Rain on the mown Graſs, as ſhowers that water the Earth; the Church, with reſpect to the Doctrine of the Goſpel diſpenſed by her; As a Dew from the Lord, as the ſhowers upon the Graſs, M…cah 5 7. 2. This Declaration of the Name of God is as comfortable, chearing, directing Light to the dark World. Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3. Though darkneſs doth cover the Earth, groſs ignorance doth over-ſpread the People, yet the Lord doth ariſe on the Church, and his Glory is ſeen on her. The Grace of God to periſhing Sinners is his Glory; and when his Name is declared as Gracious and Merciful, then his Glory is declared to the World, Iſa. 66.18, 19. In knowing God's Name, Men do ſee his Glory; this makes it Day with the Church, when it is Night with the World.

p. 563. It is this Name of God that is as a ſweet Perſume to refreſh and revive fainting Sinners. 2 Cor. 2.14. Thanks be to God, which always cauſeth us to triumph in Chriſt, and maketh manifeſt the ſavour of his knowledge by us in every place. The Apoſtle compares the Goſpel, the Knowledge of God in Chriſt to a ſweet Smell, to a ſtrong Perfume. He further tells us, that he did overcome Sinners, and Triumph in the World by burning this Incenſe, by ſpreading the ſmell of this Perſume. O, how ſtrange and wonderful a Victory is this, that is got by pouring out the Name of Chriſt as an Oyntment? Cant. 1.3. By declaring the Glorious Grace of God to loſt Man. Yet this was the way that the World was conquered, and the Heathen Gentiles ſubdued to the Church. Pſal. 48.3. He ſhall ſubdue the People under us; foreign the word properly ſignifies to ſpeak from foreign, and ſo to ſubdue by ſpeaking. Thus the Apoſtle did Conquer, and Triumph by ſpeaking forth the Glorious Grace of God, by ſhedding abroad the ſweet Savour of his Knowledge, by diſcovering how willing God is to be reconciled to Enemies, and receive Prodigals.

p. 574. This Diſcovery of God is the very Bread and Food of our Souls; Iſa. 55.2. Hearken diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your Soul delight in fatneſs. The beſt things of this World without the Favour of God, and an Intereſt in Chriſt, will be rather hurtful than good to us. But if we hearken unto Chriſt, we ſhall eat that which is good indeed. The Benefits of Chriſt are a Spiritual Good, a Satisfying Good, an Eternal Good, and our Souls may here delight themſelves in Fatneſs: Here are not only Fat things, Iſa. 25.6. but Fatneſs it ſelf; not only Good things, but Goodneſs it ſelf. Pſal. 65.4. We ſhall be ſatisfied with the Goodneſs of thy Houſe, even of thy Holy Temple. Your Souls will have nothing to live upon, and to ſuſtain themſelves with, if you liſten not to Jeſus Chriſt; there is no Bread of Life, no Water of Life, but in Jeſus Chriſt. Famine Reigns abroad in the World, and thoſe that are ſtrangers to Jeſus Chriſt will periſh with Thirſt.

p. 582. Jeſus Chriſt Preacheth theſe Great and Excellent Things very plainly. 2 Cor. 3.12, 13. We uſe great plainneſs of ſpeech, and not as Moſes, that put a Veil over his face. There is great Luſtre and Light in the Goſpel-diſpenſations, So that with open face we may behold the Glory of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3.18. If the Goſpel be hid from us, the Veil is not on Chriſt's Face, but on our Hearts, 2 Cor. 3.15. The Veil before the moſt Holy Place is rent, Life and Immortality is brought to light. We are plainly taught in what Name we muſt be juſtified **1 Cor. 6.11. John 16.23.26.1 Cor 6:11John 16:23John 16:26, and call upon God **We muſt be juſtified and Pray in Chriſt's Name.; on what Arm we muſt truſt, Iſa. 51.4. In what Beloved we muſt be accepted, Epheſ. 1.6. In whoſe Blood we muſt waſh our Robes white, Rev. 7.14. In what Seed we muſt be bleſſed, Gal. 3.8. If Men are now Ignorant, it is becauſe they ſhut their Eyes, love Darkneſs, and hate the **John 3.19, 20.John 3:19John 3:20Light.

p. 593. Jeſus Chriſt Preacheth theſe Great and Excellent Things as in a great meaſure come, and now actually exhibited to us. The Patriarchs ſaw the Promiſes afar off, but the Watchmen of the Goſpel are ſaid to ſee Eye to Eye, Iſa. 52.8. They behold the things that were future, now to be accompliſhed, come, and performed. The Law and the Prophets Propheſied until John, Matth. 11.13. They ſpake of Chriſt, and his Kingdom as future things; but now ſince that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every Man preſſeth into it, Luke 16.16. Now the Kingdom of God is come, is ſet up; the Meſſiah hath paſſed through, and laid aſide the form of a Servant, and hath put on the Majeſty and Form of a Lord; the low ſtate of the Meſſiah, his Humiliation is paſt, he is entred into his Glory; theſe Glad Tydings are now publiſhed to us, that our God who ſerved below, now Reigneth above, Iſa. 52.7.

4. The Son of God Preacheth the moſt Excellent Things as ſure Mercies, and to be obtained in a Righteous way; p. 60Iſa. 55.3. I will give you the ſure Mercies of David; that is, of the Meſſiah, that was not only the Son of David, but alſo Typified and ſhadowed out by him. And theſe Mercies are ſaid to be ſure, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt is dead, and riſen again, and can dye no more, Acts 13.34, 35. Lives to Intercede for his Purchaſe, and to execute his Teſtament. The Son of God hath taken a Sure, a Juſt, and Righteous way to impart and communicate Spiritual Benefits to us: They come not as Gifts from a Living Perſon, but as Legacies from a Dying, yea, Dead Perſon. The Son of God dyed in our Nature to Ratifie and Confirm his own Teſtament, and to make it irrevocable. If a Man's Teſtament be eſtabliſhed by his Death, there is no diſannulling of it, or adding to it, Gal. 3.15. Chriſt's Teſtament cannot be fruſtrated, it muſt be executed: This makes the greateſt Spiritual Benefits, yea, the Eternal Inheritance ſure to us, that they come to us in a Righteous way. Jeſus Chriſt bequeaths nothing but what he purchaſed by his own Blood. The Lord Jeſus is the Mediator of the New Teſtament, Heb. 9.15. not only as he dyed to Ratifie it, but as he lives, p. 61and continually Intercedes with the Father in Heaven for the fulfilling and executing of his Teſtament. And will you not liſten to the Son of God, as opening, promulgating, and declaring his own Teſtament, and the Riches and Fulneſs of it? Other Men's Teſtaments do make Heirs, but they cannot make Children: But in the Teſtament of Chriſt a new Heart, a new Spirit, and the Holy Ghoſt to ſanctifie and quicken, are bequeathed, Ezek. 36.26, 27. Thoſe that are ſavingly renewed, are regenerated by vertue of this Promiſe, and ſo are ſtyled, The Children of Promiſe, Gal. 4.28. We Brethren, as Iſaac was, are Children of Promiſe, as Iſaac was born by vertue of God's Promiſe; Rom. 9.9. At this time will I come, and Sarah ſhall have a Son. So Saints now are Children of Promiſe, they are born again by vertue of this Promiſe; A new Heart will I give to them, a new Spirit will I put into them, Ezek. 36.26. And as all the Grace we have is from the Womb of the Promiſe, ſo all the Glory we hope for is by the Promiſe; and therefore Believers are alſo ſtyled, The Heirs of Promiſe, Heb. 6.17, 18. O, how is Chriſt's Teſtament ordered! firſt, p. 62to make us Children, and then to make us Heirs. Firſt, to make us Holy, and then to make us Happy. And will you not believe on, and ſubmit to the Son of God, that Preacheth his own Teſtament? Firſt, to impart to us a Divine Nature, and then to communicate to us an Eternal Kingdom, an Everlaſting Glory.

I ſhall proceed to Propoſe a few Directions, and ſo conclude my Diſcourſe on the firſt Doctrine.

1. If the Son of God Preaches as well, and as truly by Inſtruments, as in his own Perſon immediately, then believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that ſounds in your Ears; and believe ſoundly and deeply what he Preacheth. 1. Believe it is the Voice of the Son of God that you hear; Heb. 3.7. To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. There is not only the Voice of Miniſters, and Ambaſſadors, but alſo the Voice of the King of Glory. Chriſt draws near, and comes with them; Epheſ. 2.17. He came and preached Peace to you that were afar off. And Jeſus Chriſt ſpeaks in them, 2 Cor. 13.3.

p. 632. Believe ſoundly and ſincerely what Chriſt Preacheth; Rom. 10.10. With the heart Man believeth unto Righteouſneſs. Acts 8.37. If thou believeſt with all thy heart. You ſhould believe ſo as to be ſure, and fully perſwaded in your own Minds; John 6.69. We believe, and are ſure that thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God. Let us draw near with a true Heart, in full aſſurance of Faith, Heb. 10.22. We may confidently relye on the Word, and we may boldly lean on the Arm of the Son of God. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave Sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. It is a Faithful Saying, the Underſtanding may acquieſce in it; and it is worthy of all Acceptation, therefore the Will may embrace it.

2. Make Particular Application of Chriſt's Word and Doctrine to your own Souls. Account that Chriſt as truly Addreſſeth himſelf to you, as if he did from Heaven call you by Name, and apply himſelf to you; John 10.3. He p. 64calleth his own Sheep by Name. Jeſus Chriſt with an effectual Call makes Perſons to know that he ſpeaks as expreſly to them, as if he did from Heaven mention their very Names. Do not divert or turn off the Word to others. Do not think that a Portion is divided to them, but not to thee; that their Conditions are pointed at, their Sins reproved, but not thine. As Pictures in a Room do ſeem to look on every Perſon, whoſe Eye is fixed on them. So we ſhould Account, that the Word of the Son of God hath a particular Aſpect on us, that it directs our Hearts into the Love of God, that it guides our Feet into the ways of Peace; it ſpeaks to all that hear it. We ſhould account that what is written, is written for our Learning; and what is ſpoken, is ſpoken for our Practice.

p. 653. Obey the Son of God, hear his voice preſently, Heb. 3.7. To day if you will hear his voice harden not your Hearts; excuſes, delays will harden the Heart; Audience and Obedience ſhould be preſently yeilded and rendred Jeſus Chriſt; we muſt not put off, adjourn our Obedience to a longer day, or to years hereafter to come; David ſaith, He conſidered his ways, and turned his Feet to God's Teſtimonies, he made haſt, and delayed not to keep his Commandments, Pſal. 119.59, 60. The Gentiles when they were Enlightned, Convinced, Converted, they Exhort, they Incourage one another, Zech. 8.21. the Inhabitants of one City ſhall go to another, ſaying, Let us go ſpeedily to Pray before the Lord, and to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts: I will go alſo; thoſe that are ſenſible of their Duty and Danger, cannot defer, or put off the great concernment of their Souls any longer Iſa. 49.17. it is ſaid to Zion, Thy Children ſhall make haſt, that is, to joyn themſelves to Chriſt and his Church: This haſt is ſet down by many Similitudes in Scripture; it is ſaid, The Gentiles ſhould as waters Flow to the Mountain of the Lords Houſe, Iſa. 2.23. Tho Waters they do run downwards naturally, yet the Nature and motion of the Heathen Nations ſhould be ſo chang'd, that they ſhould run upwards, aſcend the holy p. 66Hill of God, the Nations ſhould flow unto it.

2. It is ſaid, The Gentiles ſhould run to Jeſus Chriſt, Iſa. 5.55. Behold thou ſhalt call a Nation that thou knoweſt not, and Nations that knew not thee ſhall run unto thee becauſe of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy one of Iſrael, for he hath Glorified thee.

3. It is ſaid, that the Converted Gentiles ſhould fly to the Church, Iſa 60.8. Who are theſe that fly as a Cloud, and as the Doves to their Windows: How ſwiftly do the Clouds move, when driven by the Wind? How ſwiftly do the Doves fly when purſued by the Hawk, or any other Bird of prey; ſo convinced, and awakened Spirits will fly from the wrath that is to come, and will fly for refuge to take hold of the hope ſet before them, Matt. 3.7. Heb. 6.18. Are your Souls ſick? Are your wounds bleeding? Are your Conſciences burdened? Are your Hearts broken? And can you delay turning to Jeſus Chriſt preſently? O! conſider how great that Perſon is that ſpeaks to you, it is the Prince of Life, the King of Glory, and is he to be ſhut out, or put off till a longer time. O! think how great matters Jeſus Chriſt ſpeaks, and treats about; is Reconciliation to God, eſpouſals to Chriſt, cutting off the Entail p. 67of the Curſe, reverſing the Sentence of Death, and ſetling upon you an eternal Inheritance, ſmall matters; Are they unneceſſary, or inconſiderable things, that you ſhould delay to mind them till hereafter? Is it not great mercy that the Son of God will open his Mouth? He might have kept ſilence towards us, as he doth to many Nations of the World at this day. Why ſhould we be Viſited, when others are paſſed by, and neglected? Why ſhould the Son of God come to, and knock at our Doors, when he is far off from others, and makes no Addreſs to them? And will you ſlight, and abuſe Chriſts Kindneſs? Will you break off the Treaty of Peace, and reject the offers of Mercy? If you delay, Jeſus Chriſt may withdraw, he may utterly depart from you, the Bridegroom may no more woo you; the Phyſitian may no more offer his Help to you, but ſuffer you to die of your Diſeaſes; the great Shepherd may break his Staff of Beauty, take no more care of you, but leave you to be a prey to Satan that roaring Lion. O! conſider if you delay, and put Chriſt off, Sickneſs may ſuddenly ſeize you, Death may in a moment ſnatch you away, your Flower may ſoon Fade, your Lamp of Life be quickly blown out, an p. 68Apoplexy may ſurprize you, your Reaſon may be Clouded, your Underſtanding darkned, your Speech may fail you, ſome ſudden accident (that you never thought of) may cut off your Life in an inſtant; will not your delays then be pernitious and fatal to you? What then will become of all your Promiſes, and all your purpoſes to Believe, Repent, and turn to God? Will not Satan then catch away the Soul to Hell? Will you not then fall into the Hands of the Living God? Will you not be the objects of his Eternal Frowns and Fury? Will you not then too late underſtand your Folly and Madneſs in puting off Jeſus Chriſt? O! will not Conſcience then twit, upbraid, reproach you? what did you think it was too ſoon to be Cured of your Diſeaſes? Was it too ſoon to have your Bonds, and Satans ſnares broken? Was it too ſoon to be made wiſe? Too ſoon to be ſet at liberty? Too ſoon to be Pardoned? Too ſoon to return from your wanderings, and get into the way of Salvation and Eternal Life? How did Satan blind your Eyes? How did Sin charm and bewitch your Souls? You that once thought it too ſoon, do now underſtand and feel that it is too late: It is a very obſervable Sentence in Cyprian, Sero credunt in p. 69aeternam paenam, Contra Demetr.qui noluerunt credere ad aeternam vitam. Thoſe too late will believe the truth of Gods word to their Eternal Puniſhment, who would not timely believe to their Eternal Life; they that would not ſee their Danger, ſhall ſee their Deſtruction: They that would not fear the Threatnings of Gods Mouth, ſhall feel the Blows of his Hand, Is it not better to hear now the ſweet noiſe of the Bridegroom, than hereafter to hear the terrible Voice of an Angry and Condemning Judg. Take heed that you be not Cheated and Beguiled by Satan; he tells thee thou maiſt liſten to Chriſt, and Repent hereafter; but his deſign is to harden thy Heart, and that thou ſhalt never liſten, or turn to Chriſt. As the Levite roſe early to go his Journey, Judges 19.5. but his Father in Law incouraged him to ſtay, and comfort his Heart with a morſel of Bread, and afterward he ſhould go his way; ſo Satan, and ſin are firſt modeſt in their Temptations, and Suggeſtions; They tell ſinners they need not riſe early, and ſoon ſet out in the way to Heaven? That it is beſt firſt to Comfort their Hearts with the Pleaſures and Enjoyments of the World: after they have Eaten a Morſel, and Drunk a Draught of Stolen p. 70Waters, they may go on in their way to another World, and as the Levites Father in Law that firſt asked but for the Morning, afterward deſires the whole day, and would have the Levite tarry all Night, and ſo he did; even thus Sin and Satan deal with wicked men after they have prevailed with them to miſ-ſpend, and vainly Conſume the Morning of their Lives, they afterwards inſinnate, deſire and demand the whole Day of Life to be ſpent in Eſtrangement from God, in the ſervice of vile Affections and baſe Luſts; ſo that the Night of Death comes on them, and they drop down into the bottomleſs Pit; The Levite, tho he did not depart and journey one day, yet he might Travel away the next; but when our one day of Life is paſt, and ſpent in ſin, there is no day of Life or Grace that will ſucceed to amend our Folly, or repair our loſs; Pſal. 49.19.Ps 49:19careleſs and negligent ſinners go to the Generation of their ungodly Fathers, they that never ſee the Light; there will be a morning for Judgement and Condemnation, but none for Repentance; Delays are exceeding dangerous; the Heart it more hardened, Heb. 3.13.Heb 3:13the old Man is more corrupted, Epheſ. 4.22. p. 71As a Dead Body doth every day grow worſe, more corrupt, and putrified; even ſo the old Man in us doth more corrupt in its deſires, and affections; it is great Policy in a Captain to hold an Enemy in a Treaty about a Surrender, while he doth Portify his Garriſon; ſo it is a deep Policy of Satan to put thee on Fair Promiſes, and faint purpoſes of yeilding to Jeſus Chriſt, while thy Heart is more Fortified with prejudice and enmity againſt God, and Chriſt; O! therefore ſoon ſtretch out thy Hands to Chriſt, Pſal. 68.31. Ethiopia ſhall ſoon stretch out her hands to God; in the Hebrew it is, ſhall make her Hands run to God: O! that thy Hands may run to Chriſt, to receive precious Gifts from him, and to offer up a Living Sacrifice to him.