Forty Sermons, Sermon 1 · Sermon 8

Forty Sermons · Sermon 1 · Sermon 8

p. 94BUT how then did Paul, and may we ſo undervalue them as St. Maries, Jan. 29. 1659/60.to account and call them foreign loſs and dung? Is not this Blaſphemy to call the Bread of life foreign (as ſome expound the word) Dogs-meat? and that loſs, which is the means of the ſaving of our ſouls? Yes, if they be ſo deemed and called as conſidered according to the former particulars. For which (as p. 95we have ſeen) they are to be ſo highly prized and valued. But Paul was no blaſphemer, though he ſo judged and ſpake; but ſet a Copy for us to write after him, and therefore there is a ſenſe, in which we ſhould ſo judge of them alſo: and that is double.

1. If upon any terms eſpecially in point of juſtification and acceptance with God they be equalled with Chriſt, or preferred before him.

2. If in a way of oppoſition they be ſet againſt Chriſt, as Circumciſion was by the Jews, who in compariſon of it and their other Jewiſh Ordinances did ſo undervalue him, that rather than they would let … go or their confidence in them, they proved profeſſed Enemies and Perſecutors of him and of his Goſpel; for which oppoſition and in oppoſition to them whom he called dogs in the ſecond verſe, he calls their Ordinances which they deſperately adhered to foreign here in the Text, for ſuch dogs to feed on; who did ſo ſnarl and grin, and tread under-foot the Childrens bread, even Chriſt the Bread of life.

Now in the proſecution of this we are

1. To ſhew wherein we come to be guilty of their ſin.

2. The unreaſonableneſs of it; where, on the contrary, we ſhall ſee what reaſon we have with the Apoſtle here to account the enjoyment of Ordinances but loſs and dung for Chriſt.

3. To preſs all home by a word of application.

1. For the firſt, we then with the Jews equal Ordinances with 1Chriſt, and indeed ſet them up in oppoſition to him, when

1. Firſt, we ſet or hold up Ordinances of our own, inſtead of, or in Conjunction with Chriſt and his Inſtitutions. Such were now Circumciſion, and the other Jewiſh Ceremonies; though before (under the Law) they were Gods Holy Inſtitutions, and ſuch as led to Chriſt, yet now that he was come being yet by the Jews retained inſtead of accepting him, and by the Judaizing Gentiles taken up in Conjunction with him, became their own devices, and made Chriſt unprofitable to them, Gal. 5. 2. Yea they cried, Not Chriſt, but Barabbas; and for them they rejected and perſecuted Chriſt and his Goſpel, and ſo they made them their own in oppoſition to Chriſt, ſo that the Apoſtle might well call them loſs, that occaſioned them to loſe Chriſt, and dung, when they proved but beggerly Gal. 4. 9.Gal 4:9Elements, and no better than very dunghill Idols.—And the like now may truly be ſaid of all Heatheniſh, Popiſh, humane Worſhip and Ordinances, which men take or hold up in Conjunction with Chriſt, but indeed (as in the Event-they prove) againſt p. 96Chriſt; and in this reſpect the worſe, becauſe of Satans or mans invention, not at all, never of Gods Inſtitution, as Circumciſion and the other Jewiſh ſervices ſometimes were: which yet men lovers of themſelves and of what is their own, hug and hold faſt, 2 Tim. 3. 2.2 Tim 3:2will needs join with Chriſt, and prefer before the Inſtitutions of Chriſt: for here alſo that of the Apoſtle holdeth, All men ſeek their own, not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts, Philip. 2. 21. more zealouſly and eagerly preſs them than the Ordinances of Chriſt, ſo as for them fiercely to perſecute the Servants and grace of Chriſt, becauſe they cannot comply with them; witneſs Popiſh Inquiſitions, Maſſacres, and other Fana… out-rages. But is not this the very ſame with the Jews ſin? And may we not with the Apoſtle well call ſuch excrementitious ſuperfluities, dung and loſs? By which the ſuffering Church hath in all ages loſt ſo much reſt and peace, and the impoſing task-maſters have gained nothing but more guilt and wrath: But leave we theſe Ordinances of men.

2. In the ſecond place we repeat this ſin of the Jews whilſt we pervert Gods own beſt Ordinances; when in point of Juſtification and acceptance with God (for that was the point which the Apoſtle here ſpake to) we put them in the place of Chriſt, and reſt in them, and the outward enjoyment of them without Chriſt. This the Jews did, which we are the more to take heed of, becauſe naturally and generally we are very prone to be guilty of it. So Iſrael of old, whatever their danger was, might but the Ark be brought into their Camp, accounted themſelves ſhot-free, 1 Sam. 4. 5. though their being ſmitten and the Arks being taken, ſoon and ſadly confuted that vain confidence, though (as the firſt verſe of that Chapter tells us) they pitched in Eben-Ezer, which by the ſignification of it's name ſeem'd to promiſe them better help and ſucceſs, and ſo afterward, Jer. 7. 4. The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are theſe. They made foreignaccount that the three parts of the Temple (which the Prophet ſtood in the gate of, v. 2. and here pointed at when he ſaid theſe L. de Dieu Grotius Calvin.words) were as a threefold Wall or Moat about an impregnable fortreſs, which kept God in from leaving them, and judgments out from ruſhing in upon them: and ſo they reſted ſecure in it and their coſtly devotions, which they tendred in it. So the ſame Prophet telleth us, that Bethel was their confidence, Chap. 48. v. 13. And Micah when he had once got a Levite for his Prieſt, thinks Judg. 17. 13.Judg 17:13himſelf as ſafe as a Church-Mouſe (as you ſay in your Proverb) p. 97and at the very day of judgment ſome are brought in ſaying, we have eaten and drunk in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreets, Luke 13. 26. as if in the ſecurity of that they both lived and died, and hoped at the laſt day to appear before God with it.

This becauſe natural is very uſual with us, ſomething we would have to quiet our ſelves and Conſciences with, but we would not be at any great coſt for it, nor trouble our ſelves with the inward and vigorous actings of faith and grace, in mortification of luſt, and the ſtrenuou; exerting of the power of Godlineſs; and therefore are ready to take up with what's next at hand and will leaſt diſturb our ſpiritual ſloth or beloved luſts; and therefore becauſe in Ordinances is the outward face of Religion, we are willing to put on that viſard, and becauſe it may cover our boſom ſins which we mean not to part with (as they Ezek. 3. 33. 31.) on them we will diligently attend, and in our outward geſtures and poſtures be as formal and punctual as the moſt devout, as you may have ſeen the moſt debauched Drunkard and uncleaneſt Adulterer in a whole Congregation; and then ſtroke our own head, as having done God fair ſervice, which he cannot ſure but accept of and of us for; as the Harlot, when ſhe hath preſented her Peace-offerings, and made her vows, Prov. 7. 14. Pro. 30. 20▪Prov 30:20wipes her mouth, and ſhe hath done no wickedneſs; but rather as having thus befriended God ſhe makes account …he hath obtained a Licenſe to purſue her dalliance, as your devout-profane Papiſt after he hath been at Maſs or ſhrift, thinks all ſo well with him that he may fairly ſtep out of the Church to the next B…othel-Houſe, at leaſt reſt in opere operato; a ſin which many better men are in part too often overtaken with, whilſt they too much reſt in the duty of praying, hearing, receiving, though they meet but little with Chriſt in them. The very ſin of the Jews, in 1. taking up Ordinances of our own, and 2. taking up with the outward enjoyment even of Chriſt's Ordinances.

2. Which (for the ſecond thing propounded, to ſhew the unreaſonableneſs 2of it) the Apoſtle here calls loſs and dung. And well he might upon theſe following Conſiderations, if they be equalled with, preferred before, or ſet in oppoſition to Chriſt.

1. And the firſt is taken from the uncertainty of their continuing 1or abiding by us, or we by them. It's true indeed, in the bleſſed effect and fruit of them (if whilſt enjoyed we have gained Chriſt by them) they will abide with us for ever, as the Cordial p. 98will be to chear us when it may be the Cup is taken away from us, and that is only becauſe Chriſt lives and abides by us. But they will not ſo always.

Not in Heaven, no Ordinances there, where it will be our happineſs moſt fully to enjoy his preſence to Eternity. Thou wilſt ſay no need of them there, but there will here.

And art thou ſure thou ſhalt enjoy them here always? May not the Ark be taken from thee as once from Iſrael, 1 Sam. 4.? or thou from the Ark, as David was often?

The Prieſts were not ſuffered to continue by reaſon of death, Hebr. 7. 23. Your fathers where are they? and do the Prophets live for ever? Zech. 1. 5. That Miniſter under whoſe Miniſtry thou ſometimes ſateſt with great delight, and, it may be, reſtedſt too much in, may die, or be taken away. The Shepherd may be ſmitten, and the ſheep ſcattered, and then whither wilt thou cauſe thy ſorrow to go, to find ſuſtenance to live on? when thy life (as Jacob's in Benjamin's) is wrapped up in his life, how ſad will the cries of the famiſhed infant be when pluckt from the dead Nurſes Breaſt? which ſometimes it ſucked ſo ſweetly, and in this famine of the word as in that of Jeremiah, in his Lamentation, the tongue of the ſucking Cap. 2. 11 4. 4.Child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth, and the ſucklings ſwoon in the midſt of the ſtreets of the City?

Or ſhould the Miniſter live, and thou too, the ark not taken, yet thou taken from the Ark by ſickneſs with Hezekiah, impriſonment 2 King. 20. 1, 8.2 Kgs 20:12 Kgs 20:8with Jeremiah, Cap. 36. 5. by baniſhment as David, and then if he then envieth the ſparrows that might Neſt by the Altar, whilſt himſelf ſits alone as a ſparrow on the houſe-top, or like a Pelican Pſal. 84. Pſal. 102. 6.Ps 84Ps 102:6in the Wilderneſs, or an Owl in the deſert, pants like the Hart Pſal. 42. 1, 2, 3, 4.Ps 42:1Ps 42:2Ps 42:3Ps 42:4after the Water brooks, whilſt his tears are his drink, and he poureth out his ſoul when he thinks how ſometimes he had gone with the multitude to the houſe of God from which he is now baniſhed, and in that diſtance with a long look looketh toward it from the Mount Hermon and the Hill Mizzar, i. e. from every higher Mountain and little lower Hillock, that he might get a look thitherward from, and this only for want of the Ordinances, when yet by his former improving of them he had with him the God of Ordinances: How ſad and ſinking will thy moan be in the like (or indeed far worſe) Caſe when through thy former negligent non-improvement of them thou wanteſt both them and him too? Will they not then be loſs when they are now loſt and with them Chriſt alſo, who (otherwiſe than beſt Miniſter) never p. 99dieth but ever liveth, Heb. 7. 24, 25. otherwiſe than beſt Ordinance, would never have left thee, or ſuffer thee to be pluckt from him; who would in the moſt barren Wilderneſs (as he did Iſrael) have fed thee with hidden Manna, Revel. 22. 17. and (as to David) Pſal. 42.Ps 42made even thy tears thy bread to comfort thee, in the darkeſt Priſon ſhone into thee, as to Paul and Barnabas, Act. 16. 25, 26. in Baniſhment have more than preach'd to thee, as to St. John in Patmos, Revel. 1. 9. and on thy Death-Bed inſtead of the Sacrament been thy viaticum.

2. But ſecondly ſuppoſe Ordinances ſhould be continued to thee 2and thou to them, they will be loſs becauſe at leaſt at beſt thou wilſt be no true gainer by them, if (as the Apoſtle here ſpeaks) thou doſt not gain Chriſt with them.

At beſt they are in themſelves but means, and media habent amabilitatem à fine, they have all their deſireableneſs and goodneſs from the end, without the enjoyment of which by them fruſtrà omnia, they are wholly vain, uſeleſs, idle, or rather the uſe of them is a trouble and not a benefit; for what is Paul and what is Apollos, but Miniſters by whom you believed? 1 Cor. 3. 5. and if but Miniſters, it was but to miniſter Chriſt to you, and what was John Baptiſt, than whom there was none greater that was born of a woman, ſaith our Saviour, but a friend only of the Bridegroom? John 3. 29. Not to wooe for himſelf, but to bring Chriſt and thy Soul as his Spouſe together? And what are beſt Ordinances at beſt but the Bed of loves? (as ſome expound that in the Canticles.) Cantic. 1. 16. 3. 1.Song 1:16Song 1:3Song 1:1But what is the Bed of loves, if the Spouſe find not her beloved there? For all that ſhe goeth up and down as a deſolate Widow, ſaying, But ſaw you him whom my ſoul loveth? Cant. 3. 1, 3. It is Chriſt in a word, in a Sacrament, in any Ordinance that the chaſt Spouſe deſireth to meet with and ſeeks after, whom if ſhe findeth not, though ſhe enjoy them, ſhe hath but the Casket without the Jewel, the Field but not the Pearl, and if he be all in all, then Col. 3. 11. Philip. 3. 2.Col 3:11Phil 3:2all theſe and all elſe without him are nothing, foreign is but foreign Circumciſion, but a cutting and mangling of the fleſh, and that's all. Prayer without Communion with Chriſt in it but a meer lip-labour; Sacraments but empty Ceremonies, and hearing, liſtning to as empty a ſound. The leſs is Grace beholden to Pelagian See Dr. Wards Clerum.and Arminian Divinity which placeth all the efficacy of it in the bare propoſal of Doctrine, which without the Spirits inward teachings will prove wholly ineffectual, for it's not the breads touching of the skirt of the Prieſts Garment, that will make it holy, p. 100but on the contrary any unclean bodies touching it makes it unholy, Hagg. 2. 12, 13. and ſo any unſanctified Souls converſing with holy Ordinances, rather pollutes them than receives ſanctification or other bleſſing by them. Without Chriſt they are loſs, becauſe thou loſeſt that which thou ſhouldſt eſpecially deſire and expect from them. It's no good thou gaineſt by them. But on the contrary,

3. Much hurt and dammage, for if not for the better, it will 3certainly be for the worſe, 1 Cor. 11. 17. and that every way; both in point, 1. Of ſin. 2. Of miſery.

1. Of Sin: and hence it is that we often find worſt men under beſt Ordinances. Sowreſt grapes brought forth where moſt coſt hath been ſpent, Iſa. 5. 2, 7. ſtrong Phyſick if it do not Cure, ſtrengthning and enraging the Diſeaſe, and ſo

1. For more ſpiritual or rather deviliſh ſins, ſeldom ſhall you meet with more keen anger and rage, or more invenomed malice and hatred againſt God and Godlineſs than in ſuch men, who having enjoyed means of Salvation, not being by all Chriſts intreaties prevailed with to be reconciled friends, prove moſt inveterate Enemies. So we find the men of Penuel, Judg. 8. 8. yea the young Children in Bethel, 2 King. 2. 23. to have been virulent ſcoffers; and from the Scribes and Phariſees downward, greateſt pretenders to Gods worſhip, moſt malicious perſecutors.

2. Nor are ſenſual luſts (though 2 Sam. 12. 4. expreſſed under the notion of a traveller) wont to be ſtrangers to thoſe whom we now ſpeak of. Paul writes of ſuch fornication to have been among the Corinthians (with whom he had ſtayed and preached longer than in moſt other places) as was not ſo much as named 1 Cor. 5. 1.1 Cor 5:1among the Gentiles: And Peter and Jude ſpeak of falſe Prophets 2 Pet. 2. 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20. Jude 4, 8, 10, 16, 18, 19.2 Pet 2:102 Pet 2:122 Pet 2:132 Pet 2:142 Pet 2:182 Pet 2:192 Pet 2:20and Profeſſors in the Church, as in this kind abominably guilty, whom we ſhould never have ſo well underſtood if our Libertines and Ranters in the former and preſent age, had not imitated and out-acted in their loathſome practiſes; to the moſt impious defiling of the Church, and ſcandal of the Goſpel; God in his juſt judgment revenging their rejecting of Chriſt and his Holy Spirit by ſuffering them as the Gentiles of old, to give themſelves over to laſciviouſneſs, to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs; yea with Epheſ. 4 19.Eph 4:19the blaſphemous pretences of Goſpel-liberty and holineſs.

I do not now inſiſt on all that either open or ſecret uncleanneſs, either of profane ſinners, or cloſe Hypocrites amongſt us, which God and their own Conſciences, and it may be other men p. 101are privy to. This that I have ſaid is ſufficient to have ſhewed that dead Trees grow the more corrupt and rotten by being often rained upon.

3. I only add a third ſin, which they who gain not Chriſt by the enjoyment of his Ordinances take occaſion to lull themſelves aſleep in, and that is carnal ſecurity, and preſumption and obdurateneſs, that they are not only Sermon and Ordinance-proof, (can rebel againſt the light, Job 24. 13.) but think they have by them gotten a protection, and plea which will hold at the laſt Judgment-Bar to ſecure them againſt the accuſations of all their other abominations, that Chriſt hath preached in their ſtreets, as you heard out of Luke 13. 26. and thoſe other fore-mentioned inſtances: and ſo it cometh to paſs that theſe bleſſed helps prove their greateſt hindrances and diverſions in the way to life, whilſt taking up with outward attendance on Ordinances as the way, they ſit down and reſt in it, and ſo never come to their intended journeys end, or rather moſt dangerouſly miſtaking the way to Hell for that to Heaven, before they be aware come to a ſadder end of it, than they ever thought of, and ſo, as I ſaid, they find beſt helps to prove greateſt hindrances of their peace and ſalvation.

And heavieſt aggravations both of their ſin and condemnation.

Of their ſin, when at an higher rate, becauſe againſt greater light.

And of their Condemnation, which will be exceeding heavy when Goſpel-Grace neglected pronounceth the ſentence, and the wrath of the meek Lamb proves heavier than rocks and mountains, Revel. 6. 16. But this leads me to

2. The ſecond thing propounded, that by Ordinances without 2Chriſt gained by them, we come to be worſe, as in point of ſin, ſo of judgment, and this temporal, ſpiritual, and eternal.

I confeſs the Caſe is very ſad when our Phyſick proves poyſon. It was one of the ſaddeſt Curſes that David could imprecate againſt his worſt Enemies, that their table ſhould become a ſnare, and what ſhould have been for their welfare, a trap, Pſal. 69. 22. and yet that's ſadder which the Prophet expreſſeth, that the acceptable year of the Lord ſhould become the day of vengeance of our God, Iſa. 61. 2. and yet another Prophet fore-tells it will ſo be, that very day in which the Sun of Righteouſneſs would ſhine upon ſome, ſhould burn like an Oven to others, Mal. 4. 1, 2. and a third aſſureth us, that the Lord God is a witneſs againſt Sinners, even p. 102out of his holy Temple, Micah 1. 2. not only from Mount Sinai, Calvin in loc.but even Sion too. God thunders in judgment againſt ſuch that make not ſure of Chriſt for their ſhelter; And that Earth is neareſt to a Curſe, and its end is moſt ſure to be burnt, that drinketh in the rain from heaven, and yet brings forth nothing but briars and thorns, Heb. 6. 7.Heb 6:7which make fewel for the fire, even the ſavour of life, proves to ſuch the ſavour of death, 2 Cor. 2. 16. A ſurfeit of Bread, ſome ſay, is moſt dangerous, but how deadly will it be, if a ſurfeit of this Bread of life! The Cure is deſperate, when, as Auſtin ſpeaks, ipſa medicamenta convertuntur in vulnera, if my Medicine wound De Temp Serm. 55.me, and the word of life kill me. And yet ſo it doth; if Chriſt be not gain'd but rejected, Ordinances though enjoyed will be ſo far from proving means of Salvation, that they or rather our abuſe of them will be the inlet and means of

1. Heavieſt temporal judgments both to perſons and nations. Scripture for this is pregnant and inſtances too frequent. In the giving and inſtituting of Ordinances, Paſsover, Law, Goſpel, Lords Supper Promiſes are join'd with Threats. The burden of the valley of Viſion, Iſa. 22. 1. The Controverſie of Zion, Iſa. 34. 8. the quarrel of God's Covenant, Levit. 26. 25. and the vengeance of his Temple, Jer. 50. 28. are very reverend and terrible, and ſpeak loud to this purpoſe. Holy Ordinances are ſharp-edged tools, and we had need of great care how we handle them; as being in great danger to wound our ſelves with them if we do it not dextrouſly. (Such ſhowrs that ſhould quench the fire prove Oil to kindle it.) This in part made the Elders of Bethlehem tremble at the Prophet Samuels coming to them, and the Widow of Sarepta in a paſſion to 1 Sam. 16. 4. 1 King. 17. 18.1 Sam 16:41 Kgs 17:18ſay to the Prophet Elijah, what have I to do with thee, O thou man of God, Art thou come unto me to call my ſins to remembrance, and ſlay my Son? This the men of God by accident often do, as the Prophet Jeremiah was ſet over Nations and Kingdoms, as well to root up and pull down as to build and to plant. As ſoon as ever Jer. 1. 10. Matth. 3. 10.Jer 1:10Matt 3:10the Goſpel began to be preached to the Jews, then was the axe laid to the root of their tree, if they brought not forth fruit, to hew them down, and the ſharper the Axe, the ſooner it cuts the barren tree down, and the more powerful the Miniſtry is, the ſpeedier it doth the ſame to an unfruitful and rebellious people, as the purer the air, the ſooner ſometimes it diſpatcheth a corrupt Conſumptive body. This was ſadly exemplified in the deſtruction of the Jews, their City and Temple, when, as Nazianzen faith, foreign, their defiled p. 103Orat. 1.filed Altars, firſt burnt their City, and their blood was (not only mixed with their Sacrifices, but) ſhed inſtead of the blood of their Sacrifices. The preſent ſtate of that forlorn people in this kind is moſt ſad; and ſo of the other Eaſtern Churches. The death of ſeventy thouſand of the Bethſhemites; for their rude entertainment 1 Sam. 6. 19. Hoſ. 4. 15. 5. 8. Jer. 7. 12. Iſa. 29. 1.1 Sam 6:19Hos 4:15Hos 4:5Hos 4:8Jer 7:12Isa 29:1of the Ark. That Bethel became Beth-Aven, that Shilo was forſaken, that a Wo was proclaimed to Ariel, to Ariel the City where David dwelt, That that peoples abuſe of Ordinances brought them to ſuch a paſs, that they muſt periſh without Remedy, 2 Chron. 36. 16. and without pity, for ſo (v. 15.) when God out of compaſſion had afforded Ordinances and they abuſed them, he (v. 17.) ſends Enemies which would ſhew them no mercy; nor have any compaſſion. Theſe are ſad inſtances of this Truth, and ſtrong proofs, that (as the Prophet ſaith) Gods fire is in Zion and his furnace in Iſa. 31. 9.Isa 31:9Jeruſalem, to conſume Enemies as well Domeſtick as Strangers, though the latter there eſpecially meant. For although the uſual Pſal. 128. 5.Ps 128:5word was, The Lord bleſs thee out of Zion, yet it hath proved as true, the Lord curſe thee out of Zion too: for in the Revelation we ſhall find, the ſeven Angels that have the ſeven Plagues, and pour out the ſeven vials of the wrath of God, upon the Antichriſtian State, came out of the Temple: and that the Angel took coals of Revel. 15. 6. 16. 1.Rev 15:6Rev 15:16Rev 15:1fire from the Altar, and caſt them upon the Earth, from which came ſuch thundrings and lightnings, and Earth-quakes in the World. Revel. 8. 5.Rev 8:5Temple-Ordinances if profaned and deſpiſed, nay if not walked worthy, of, bring down heavy judgments; and it were well if it were ſadly conſidered, whether this amongſt and above other ſins of ours, did not cauſe our preſent Earth-quakes and unſettlements, and ſo repented of as to prevent future and now impendent heavier judgments, which ſo ſorely threaten us: for ſo we find it of old, when Iſrael was ſo ſtupid and obſtinate, that like to dull and froward Scholars, line muſt be upon line, and precept upon Iſa 28. 9, 10, 11, 17.Isa 28:9Isa 28:10Isa 28:11Isa 28:17precept to them, that God laid judgment to the line, and righteouſneſs to the plummet; and becauſe he was fain to liſp (as it were) and ſtammer and ſpeak to them with another tongue, and they yet would not underſtand and obey, therefore he would bring Strangers and Enemies upon them of a deep ſpeech and a ſtammering tongue, which they ſhould not underſtand. A moſt heavy judgment! which Iſa. 33. 19.Isa 33:19the Lord keep us from, that ſuch vexation do not make ſuch froward dullards as we are underſtand doctrine as ſome read and interpret Margin. Engliſh Annot.that 19th verſe of the 28th of Iſaiah. To conclude this, we may certainly conclude upon it, that (as in the former part of this p. 104point we ſhewed) as God's Ordinances duly entertain… … walked worthy of, uſe to bring in outward mercies wi… … if abuſed, they will as certainly pour in upon us heavi… … judgments; for as Gods way is in the Sanctuary, Pſa… … in the ſea too, v. 19. as to conduct Iſrael into Canaan, … overwhelm Egyptians, even with heavieſt temporal miſeries.

2. But with more heavy ſpiritual judgments (they are judgments, foreign, Jude v. 4.) and ſuch are the permitting and giving over to ſtupid ſenſleſneſs, moſt enormous, outragious ſins, obſtinate obdurateneſs and final impenitency in them. But of theſe we ſpake before. Only conſider them here in genere poenae, as judicially, but moſt juſtly inflicted as the recompenſe of mens ingrate and impious neglect and deſpiſing of God in the profane abuſe of his holy and bleſſed Ordinances. Sion ſinners uſually are the greateſt Sinners, and Ordinance-deſpiſers, as of all moſt obſtinate, ſo their caſe moſt deſperate, and it's a righteous thing with God to leave them ſo. The very Remonſtrants who will not allow God the liberty and freedom of his Decrees, do yet freely ſubſcribe to the equity and juſtice of this diſpenſation, that when means of Salvation have been non-improved and deſpiſed, men may by God be judicially and irrecoverably hardned; that he may by his Prophets juſtly ſay, we would have healed Babylon, but ſhe is not healed, therefore forſake her, Jer. 51. 9. Nay we read him ſaying it even to Jeruſalem, Becauſe I have purged thee, and thou waſt not purged, thou ſhalt not be purged from thy filthineſs any more, Ezek. 24. 13. Nay it is a Goſpel-Sanction, and we read it in the very end and cloſe of the New Teſtament, in the two and twentieth of the Revelation, after all the fore-going Revelation in that Book, yea after the full manifeſtation of the will of God in the whole Scripture, when he now comes to ſeal the Canon of it, v. 18, 19. if any, notwithſtanding all this, will ſtill continue ignorant and obſtinate, he ſeals him up under this moſt heavy doom, He that is unjuſt let him be unjuſt ſtill. He that is filthy let him be filthy ſtill, v. 11. God with ſuch hath as a Phyſician gone through all his methods of Phyſick, and if by none of them the Cure be wrought, it's given over as deſperate (as in that place of Jeremy, 51. 9.) Or (as in Iſaiah) as an Husband-man he hath been planting and dreſſing, and watering his Vineyard, if after all, nothing but ſour grapes; foreign, what could I have done more, or rather (as ſome otherwiſe, and (it may be) better, render it) what is … to be done, in ſo deſperate a Caſe? (Iſa. 5. 4.) but p. 105what he adds and anſwers (v. 5.) but to take away the hedg that it may be eaten up and trodden down.

Or as a founder of metal he hath been about melting and refining, and purging their droſs from them, but the bellows are burnt and the lead is conſumed, and the droſs not taken away, Reprobate ſilver then call them, for the Lord hath rejected them. Jer. 6. 29, 30. Ezek. 22. 18, 19, 20.Ezek 22:18Ezek 22:19Ezek 22:20The ſaddeſt judgment that in this life can befal a man, and no ſadder ſight in the World than to behold ſuch a triſte bidental, ſuch an Heaven-ſtruck forlorn-Sinners grown blind by ſeeing the light, and deaf (as they that dwell near the out-falls of Nilus) by hearing a more pleaſing ſound, even the word of life, more filthy for waſhing, more barren (or rather fruitful of poyſonous weeds) for watering, and more deſperately and irrecoverably ſick, by the beſt Phyſicians greater care of the Cure, ſo that it cannot be written on his door, The Lord be merciful to him. It's pity, you ſay, that fair weather ſhould do any hurt: but a thouſand pities to ſee a miſerably blinded ſinner to go into everlaſting darkneſs by the light of the Sun ſhine of the Goſpel; to ſee an unruly ſtray Sheep that would not be kept in the Shepherds Fold, in the Wolfs or Lions mouth, dragged through all mire and dirt into his Den, and there to be devoured. Seeſt thou this? thou ſeeſt a miſerable forlorn Sinner, whom the good Shepherds Rod and Staff could▪ not keep in to be fed in green paſtures, and led by ſtill waters, now forſaken of God like another Cain or Judas, made ſenſleſs and obdurate in ſin, and dragged into the pit-fall of Hell to his everlaſting deſtruction.

3. Which is the third and laſt particular before mentioned, that eternal wrath and judgment, that irrecoverable loſs which ſuch Sinners in another World procure to themſelves by their abuſe of Ordinances, when they have not gain'd Chriſt by them. Of all others the Sinners in Sion ſhall be moſt afraid, when it ſhall once come to dwelling with devouring fire and everlaſting burnings, Iſa. 33. 14. Then Capernaum, that in enjoyment of Ordinances was once lifted up as high as heaven, ſhall be thrown as low as hell, Matth. 11. 23, 24.Matt 11:23Matt 11:24nay to the loweſt depths of it, where Sodom and Gomorrha's fire ſhall be more tolerable; this furnace being heated ſeven times hotter whilſt the breath of the Lord as a ſtream of brimſtone ſhall kindle it: Iſa. 30. 33. Mark 9. 43. 45.Isa 30:33Mark 9:43Mark 9:45that Tophet intolerable, that fire unquenchable, when the ſometimes ſweet breathings of the Goſpel-Spirit, and Word and Miniſtry ſhall blow it up, and keep it burning to Eternity. Oh! No Condemnation to Goſpel-Condemnation. No wrath ſo fierce as p. 106that, when after grace turned into wantonneſs, patience ſhall be turned into fury. How low low will that for-ever-loſt Soul be ſunk, that in thoſe unſupportable torments ſhall everlaſtingly have time and cauſe to think and ſay, How ſhall I ever eſcape that have neglected, abuſed, deſpiſed, ſo great Salvation! That of all other aggravates and perpetuates ſuch mens damnation. Goſpel-Grace and Ordinances, which are the Key to open Heaven to Believers, lock up neglecters and deſpiſers in the Priſon of Hell; and roul the heavieſt ſtone upon the mouth of the bottomleſs pit: the unſupportable weight whereof will not only prevent all removal or eſcape, but above all things will pinch, and preſs, and ſink them down to Eternity. Then they will be fully convinced of the truth of the point in hand, that all things are loſs and dung in compariſon of Chriſt, when they ſhall ſadly but unprofitably and deſpairingly ſay, Oh of how much greater worth is Chriſt above all other comforts, even beſt Ordinances, when notwithſtanding them for want of him, we are now everlaſtingly lodged and tormented in Hell, whereas had we by the enjoyment of them come to have gained and enjoyed him, we had with him in Heaven been happy for ever.

Which in the Application of it ſhould moſt ſeriouſly adviſe and Uſe. perſwade us in our due both eſtimate and abearance both to Chriſt and his Ordinances reſpectively.

1. And firſt for Ordinances, as the former part of the point called upon us highly to prize them and diligently and conſtantly to attend upon them, ſo what hath been ſaid in this latter ſhould with all ſadneſs warn us

1. Not to rely on, or to reſt in the bare enjoyment of them; 1. They may do us no good, therefore reſt not in them.for, (as we have heard) as they may be, ſo, ſhould we thus do, certainly they will be empty, and at beſt we ſhall get no good by them. Circumciſion is nothing, 1 Cor. 7. 19. The Letter without the Spirit ſignifieth little, and the beſt Ordinances without Chriſt, as to our Salvation, will prove juſt nothing. They are indeed in themſelves, and by God's Inſtitution, Wells of Salvation; but to us in the iſſue they will prove but dry empty Ciſterns, if this water of life be not conveyed to us by them: and therefore in this our journeying to Heaven, let us not take up and dwell in our Inne; and although the way of Ordinances lead thither, yet if we ſit down in our way we ſhall never come to our journeys end. In this therefore follow the Pſalmiſts example, Pſal. 121. who, when in the firſt verſe he had ſaid, I will lift up mine eyes to the p. 107Hills (of Zion and Moriah the ſeat of God's Ordinances, as Interpreters expound it) from whence cometh my help; as though he had ſaid too much of them or any Ordinances that his help ſhould come from them, as it were correcting himſelf in the ſecond verſe, he preſently adds, my help cometh from the Lord which hath made Vide Auguſtinum. Tract. …. in Joannem, mox ab initie.Heaven and Earth. It's God and Chriſt only who made Heaven and Earth, that can create the fruit of the beſt Miniſters lips to be peace to his people, Iſa. 57. 19. and therefore ſome Expoſitors read that firſt verſe of the Pſalm interrogatorily, ſhould I lift up mine eyes to the Hills, as though from them ſhould come my help? The lifting up of eyes and ſoul in Scripture-Phraſe expreſſeth not only delight and deſire, but expectance and dependance, and then (although we ſhould come to Ordinances with encouraging expectations of help from God in them, yet) ſhould we thus lift up our Eyes to the Hills themſelves, to the higheſt towring Eloquence, or moſt raiſed abilities, or moſt ſublime piety of the Miniſters that we moſt admire, ſo as to expect ſaving help from them? No. Alas, Either They, or at leaſt the Event will tell thee, that they are but empty Ciſterns and dry Breaſts, which cannot afford the leaſt drop, but what Chriſt the fountain hath put into them: and it may be out of thy experience thou maiſt be able to ſay to thy ſelf, that thou never wenteſt away more empty and leſs ſatisfied than when (not making out after Chriſt) in way of a Carnal-Creature-confidence thou expectedſt moſt from them. Though thou beeſt therefore on the Mount of Transfiguration (where Chriſt was Matth. 17. 4.Matt 17:4transfigured, but they were not) Do not ſit down with Peter and ſay, It's good to be here, unleſs Chriſt be there, and in ſuch pure glaſſes thou ſeeſt the face of Chriſt, and art changed from glory to 2 Cor. 3. 18.2 Cor 3:18glory into the image of Chriſt by the ſpirit of Chriſt, ſit not down ſatisfied, That's the firſt. Reſt not ſecure in the bare outward enjoyment of Ordinances, for ſo they may prove empty, and at beſt do thee no good.

2. Nay ſecondly, Rejoice with trembling. Chearfully and thankfully 2. They (without Chriſt) may do us much hurt, therefore with all holy care and fear converſe with them.receive and entertain them, yet with much awful reverence and ſolicitouſneſs, for we may ſo handle the matter, that (as hath been ſhewn) by them we may come by much hurt and diſadvantage; as the Iſraelites and Bethſhemites received the Ark with much joy, 1 Sam. 4. 5. and Chap. 6. 13. but by their Carnal confidence in it (in the former place) and their too bold, and rude uſage of it (in the latter) their joy was ſoon damp'd and extinguiſhed with their tears and bloud, Precious Ordinances being p. 108like great chear and high fare in an Inn; which though it pleaſe whileſt eating, yet at laſt it brings in a great and heavy reckoning: and ſome have paid very dear for their abuſe of God's bounty and coſt in theſe ſpiritual entertainments. The Devil entred into Judas with the ſop, as many take their Bane in the Sacrament, John 13. 27.John 13:27are blaſted by the breath of the word (Never fruit grow on thee hereafter) and by their guilt and frowardneſs make the very Goſpel, though it be not the Miniſtry of Condemnation, to 2 Cor. 3. 7.2 Cor 3:7pronounce the ſentence of their Condemnation, like the mad man that ſtrangleth himſelf with the Cord that is let down to him to draw him out of the Dungeon, as if Jeremiah had put that Cord about his neck, and not under his armholes. How ſollicitous Jer. 38. 12.Jer 38:12therefore ſhould we be inſtead of ruſhing into God's preſence, according to Solomon's advice, Eccleſ. 5. 1. to take heed to our foot when we go to the houſe of God, leſt we tread awry, and wrench it, to be of the number and temper of thoſe who tremble at his word, Iſa. 66. 5. not to weaken faith, but to quicken our care and ſuch awful thoughts as theſe are: God now though upon a throne of grace, is yet upon a Judgment-ſeat, ſo that when I go to his word I go upon my trial, and if I look not better to it, this Letter that I read, if it be only a letter without ſpirit, may kill; this word that I hear may be the matter of my guilt, and 2 Cor. 3. 6.2 Cor 3:6ſentence me to death: This Sacrament that I receive is a ſeal, but may ſeal to me my damnation. I had need therefore pray, and read, and hear and receive for my life, draw near to God as an holy God, who will be ſanctified in all them that come nigh him, Levit. 10. 3. entertain and converſe in holy Ordinances with all care and reverential fear; as by which, through my neglect and abuſe of them, I may make them loſs and dammage by procuring to my ſelf much hurt, but ſhall be no gainer at my laſt account, unleſs (with the Apoſtle here) I win and gain Chriſt with them and by them.

2. Which leadeth to the ſecond part of the Inſtruction which this point teacheth us in reference to Chriſt, and ſo it calleth upon us for two things.

1. To prize Chriſt above all Ordinances the choiceſt, and when moſt purely and regularly diſpenſed, ſuch was Circumciſion on the eighth day. And yet that with Paul was but loſs in compare with Chriſt. And ſo they ſhould with us. Honour we our Miniſters as the Miniſters of God, and as the Galatians ſometimes did Paul, even as Angels of God, even as Chriſt Jeſus; but that p. 109Cap. 4. 14.As muſt be only of Similitude, not of Equality. It muſt be under Chriſt. Their affection was ſo great to Paul, that he ſaith, they were ready to have plucked out their own eyes, and have given them V. 15.to him, but not thereupon to prove ſo blind, as not to give their hearts to Chriſt. Prize alſo all God's Ordinances, Word, Sacraments, and the reſt very much, and you cannot over-prize them if it be kept in a ſubordination to Chriſt and his Grace, which they are inſtituted as means to adminiſter and convey and lead to, as the great end of our endeavours and their appointment. Let him therefore be ever (after Pauls example) prized above Ordinances.

2. Deſired, made after and made ſure of in and by Ordinances. This alſo the Apoſtles ſenſe and expreſſions fully hold out, foreign, v. 7. and foreign, v. 8. All was For Chriſt, and That he might gain Chriſt, as the main end he aimed at, and the chief good which either with them or without them he looked after, and ſo Go thou and do likewiſe. In the uſe of Ordinances it is thy duty, as Zacheus did, to ſet thy ſelf in Luke 19. 4.Luke 19:4Chriſts way and walk, but on purpoſe that thou maiſt meet with him in it, and ſo receive him into thy heart as he entertain'd him in his houſe, into which ſalvation that day came with the Saviour, V. 9.ſo that he loſt nothing by his invitation and entertainment. So it was the One thing which David deſired of the Lord, and which he would ſtill ſeek after, that he might dwell in the houſe of the Lord all the days of his life: But that was, that he might ſo behold the beauty of the Lord, and enquire in his Temple, Pſal. 27. 4. And elſewhere when now an exile in the Wilderneſs, his Soul thirſteth, and his fleſh longeth for God to ſee his power and his glory as he had ſeen him in the ſanctuary, Pſal. 63. 1, 2. It's a choice mercy highly to be prized and earneſtly to be thirſted after all our days to dwell in Gods houſe, and peaceably to enjoy his Ordinances in the ſanctuary. But that's not all that a David or any of his Spirit ſeeks after and takes up with. He deſires to go into, yea to dwell in the Temple, but it is to enquire after God, and to meet with Chriſt there (as God was wont to meet with Iſrael at the door of the Tabernacle, and at the mercy-ſeat) to ſee his power and glory in Exod. 29. 42. 25. 22. Mark 13. 1.Exod 29:42Exod 29:25Exod 29:22Mark 13:1the ſanctuary, not with the Diſciples to gaze on the goodly outward ſtructure and Ornaments of the Temple, no nor ſo much to be taken with the ſolemn and ſtately outward worſhip and ſervice of it (which in its coſtly and precious Veſſels, and other Utenſils, the luſtre of the Prieſts Veſtments, and the royal ſound of ſo p. 110many Trumpets over their Sacrifices was very magnificent, and a part of the Beauty of Holineſs which the Scripture often ſpeaks of (which yet the more ſimple but more ſpiritual form and order of Goſpel-worſhip far exceeds in glory) but it's the power and preſence 2 Cor. 3. 9.2 Cor 3:9of Chriſt in them that exceeds both that and this and all with a true Goſpel Spirit. The Gold gliſtered, but it was the Altar that ſanctified the Gold, and it was Chriſt that ſanctified the Altar, that ſanctifieth and bleſſeth all, and which in all and above all moſt precious Ordinances a ſanctified heart moſt highly prizeth and moſt earneſtly looks and ſeeks after, and in compariſon of which (as the Apoſtle here) accounts all as loſs and dung.

1. All outward Excellencies. 2. All Birth-right-Privileges. 3. The enjoyment of all Church-Ordinances. And fourthly, All Perſonal moral qualifications which the Apoſtle expreſſeth in thoſe words: