Twenty Sermons, Sermons · Sermon 1
HEBREWS 4.7.
Again he limiteth a certain Day, saying in David, to day after so long a time, as it is said, to day if you will hear his Voyce harden not your hearts.
I Have entered on these Words in the other Vniversity on a day of Publick Humiliation, as being suitable to the occasion, the chief matter of them being the Doctrine of the Conversion of a sinner.
For as much as God's Judgments are abroad upon the Earth, and hang over our heads, the only means to prevent and remove both temporal and eternal, is our speedy conversion and return unto God, Else he will whet his sword, bend his bow, and make it ready to our destruction, Psal. 7.12. God did bear a deadly hatred against sin in the time of the Psalmist, and so he doth still, for his nature cannot be changed, If we return not, we are but dead men. The eternal weight of God's wrath will be our portion, both here, and in the world to come, if we repent not.
In the Words there are three observable Points, though not expresly named, yet if we weigh the Context, sufficiently implied.
1. Continuance in sin brings certain death,Observation. it hinders us from entring into God's rest, and out of it there is nothing but death: Or,
For sin God's Judgments are on particular Nations, and Persons.
2. If particular Nations, or Persons turn away from their evil courses,Observation. no hurt shall come near them, or if temporal calamities surprize them, they shall be made beneficial unto them.
God takes no delight in the death of a sinner, nor that he should despair of his mercy: but would have us turn out of the broad way, which leads to destruction.
3. It behooves every one speedily to set about the work of conversion.Observation. Esteem not this therefore a vain word. I bring you those things, whereon your life depends. Obeying it, you are made for ever, neglecting it, you are undone for ever. Unless you embrace this Message, God will bend his bow, and make ready his arrow against you, or rather the arrows which he hath drawn to the head, he will let fly upon you. Know therefore 1. That continuance in sin brings certain death, There will be no way of escaping, but by repentance, by coming in speedily unto God.
The words of this Text are taken from Psal. 95. Harden not your hearts, as in the Provocation, and as in the Temptation in the Wilderness. If when God calls us, either to the doing of this, or leaving that undone, yet we are not moved, but continue in our evil ways. What's the reason of it? It's because we harden our hearts against him. The Word of God; which is the power of God to salvation, and a two-edged sword to sever between the joynts and the Marrow, The strength of the Almighty encounters with our hard hearts, and yet they remain like the stony and rockie ground: whereon though the Word be plentifully sown, yet it fastens no root there, and though for a season it spring, yet suddenly it fades and comes to nothing. We may, haply have a little motion by the Word yet there's a rock in our souls, a stone in our hearts, and though we may sometimes seem to receive it with some affection, and be made as it were Sermon-sick, yet it holds but a while, it betters us not: Why? because it's not received as an ingrafted word. Therefore saith St. James, Receive with meekness the ingrafted word, James 1.21. Let the word be ingrafted in thee; one sprig of it is able to make thee grow up to everlasting life. Be not content with the hearing of it, but pray God it may be firmly rooted in your hearts; this will cause a softning. To day if you will hear his voyce, harden not your hearts against Almighty God. If you do, expect him also to come against you in indignation. Hearken what he saith by his Prophet. I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil, Zeph. 1.12. Mark, I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish those that are settled on their lees. When a man is thus settled and resolved to go on in his sins, to put the matter to the hazard come what will come, there's a kind of Atheism in the soul. For what do's he but in a manner reply, when God tells him by his Minister that he is preparing the instruments of death against him, do you think us such fools to believe it? What does this but provoke God to swear that we shall never enter into his rest. What's the reason of this? It's because men are not shifted, they have no change, they are settled on their lees. Moab hath been at ease from his youth, he hath been setled, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity, Jer. 48.11. Consider we whether our security comes not from the same cause: We have not been emptied from vessel to vessel, we have always been at rest. Why have we so little conversion? There are two things hinder it: the hardning of a mans heart against the Word: and our setling our selves on our lees. When we have no change in our condition, we are secure, we never see an evil day. That makes us say, with the Sensualists in the Prophet, To morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant, Isa. 56.12. And this is that, which slays the foolish person. Wo to them that are at ease. It were better for thee to be emptied from vessel to vessel, to go into captivity. For as long as a man continues thus in an unregenerate condition, he can look for nothing but troubles; certain Judgments must necessarily follow, and as sure as God is in Heaven, so sure may they expect misery on Earth: and they shall receive the eternal weight of God's wrath, treasured up against the day of wrath: Therefore there is a necessity of our conversion, if we will keep off either temporal, or eternal wrath. Our Saviour makes it the case of all impenitent sinners, to be liable to wrath: One Judgment befel the Galileans, another those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell: But what saith our Saviour, Suppose you that these were greater sinners above all the men of Jerusalem? I tell you nay, but except you repent you shall all likewise perish, Luke 13.3. All, every Mother's Son here present, if you turn not from your sinful courses, God will meet with you one time or other, if you harden your hearts against him, be sure. Who ever hardned his heart against God and prospered? Job 9.4. As long as a man is in this condition, his state is woful. As many as are in the state of unregeneracy, are under the power of Satan, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. Mark the Apostles words, In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. The state then of the hardned and setled on their lees, is as of a bird in a cage, taken alive, at the will of the Fowler. So it is here, as long as we continue obstinate, and hardned, we are taken alive at Satan's will, we are at his disposing. While we are at liberty, we are way-laid by his nets and traps, and taken, we are at his pleasure: As long as we are hardned in heart, we are in the Devil's cage: true repentance is that, whereby alone we purchase our freedom, whereby we recover our selves; and therefore in Rom. 2.5. Hardness of heart and impenitency signifie the same thing. After thy hardned and impenitent heart thou treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath. Mark then: what's a hard heart? It's an impenitent heart. Dost thou harden thy heart? Then know that for the present thou art a dead man. If notwithstanding all God's threats out of his word, thou art not a jot moved, thou art dead whilst alive, as the woman that lived in pleasure. And if thou continuest so, thou treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath, and the just revelation of God's Judgments. God's word is the especial means to recover thee. A man that is in a swoon, they rub him to recover him, because there's life in him; but if dead, strong-waters, or any thing else cannot restore him. Examine thy self then, does the working of the Word rub, and gall thee? It's a sign there is life in thee; but if it make no impression, it moves thee not, it's a sign of a dead heart. Consider then the danger of this condition for a man to resolve on his evil courses, never purposing to alter matters. It exceedingly hastens God's Judgments.
But leaving this, I proceed to the second Point, which is to direct us how to work our escape. Though God threatens us, yet if we have but the grace to look about us, and remember our selves: If God do but cause us to consider we have to deal with a merciful Father, and make us meet him by humiliation, then though our sins were as scarlet, yet submitting our selves to our Judge, living as obedient Subjects the storm shall pass from us: So that this is the Second Point.
2. Notwithstanding God threatens us, yet if he gives us but grace to repent, and bethink our selves, let our sins be never so great, we may be sure of mercy.
O that we could see with what a gracious God, we have to deall Canst thou but humble thy self? All these things shall speak peace unto thee. As an impenitent sinner is under the power of Satan, and liable to all misery: So contrariwise who ever returns and seeks the Lord, is sure to be under his wings, and free from all evil. Thinkst thou that God makes use of threatnings for thy hurt? No, he deals not with us as an angry Judge, but as a compassionate Father; men will take an enemy always at an advantage, when they may do him most hurt. God's terrors overtake us, he threatens us, that he will do this and this, that we may prevent it. He knows that unless his terrors awake us, we will rest secure. Before he smites us, he tells us. He will whet his sword: He hath bent hi… bow, and made it ready: He hath prepared his instruments of death, Psalm 7.12, 13. He could shoot thee presently, and instantly run the through, but he threatens thee, that so he may not strike thee. Non te vult percutere qui tibi clamat, Observa, He that saith: Look to your self, hath no intention to strike thee. See what the Prophet Amos denounces from the Lord, Cap. 11, 12. I have given you cleanness of teeth, I have with-holden rain, v. 6, 7, 8. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew, v. 9. I have sent amongst you the Pestilence, v. 10. yet have you not returned unto me. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel, and because I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel, v. 12. What Judgments have befallen us, have befallen us for our own use, if so be we will be warned by them. The reason why God saith, he will overthrow us, is not because he means to do it, but that we may prevent him by repentance. Look into Jer. 3 1. and see what wonderful passages are to this purpose: There's a Law case. If a man put away his Wife, and she go from him, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that Land be greatly polluted? But thou hast plaid the Harlot with many Lovers. And in the 20. v. As a Wife treacherously departeth from her Husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel. And yet see God's unspeakable mercy. Return again unto me. And 23. v. Return ye back-sliding Children, and I will heal your back-sliding: turn to me, and I'll not cause mine anger to fall upon you. Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, v. 13. See God supporteth us the worst and vilest of all, and yet as it were intreats us to return. See then …he Conclusion of the second Point; how, if God give us but grace to repent, let our former evils be what they will, the danger is past, the terror I mean of eternal destruction; so that you may say, and not in Agag's delusion, the bitterness of death, the second death is past, 1 Sam. 15.32.
But I leave this and come to the Third, for which I chiefly chose this Text. You have seen how dangerous a thing hardness of heart is, how it brings certain death: and that if we have the heart to repent, we are safe. As to make it appear in an instance. It's not the falling into water, but the lying under it that drowns a man. Art thou faln into sin? only lift up thy head: if thou canst be but thus happy, the promise of salvation belongs to thee. The main thing then is this.
3. It behooves us to set about the work of conversion and repentance presently.
God is angry with us, and we know not whether God will execute his Judgments on us this day or no, therefore go about it presently. God will remove all our adulteries, and put away all our sins, if we will come to him within a day. Now what madness is it to neglect it? After a certain time (saith the Apostle) according to that in the Psalmist. Psalm 95. God hath limited a certain day: Thou hast provoked the Holy Ghost, and now he limits thee a day, Heb. 3.7. Wherefore (saith the Holy Ghost) to day if you will hear his voice. Now is it safe think you to pass this day? A hard heart is a provoking heart, and as long as it continues hard, it continues provoking God, and despising the Holy Ghost. To day therefore hear his voice, that is, this present day. But which is that day? It's this very time, wherein you stand before God, and in which you hear me. If you embrace the opportunity, happy are you; if not, you shall give as dear an account, as for any thing you ever heard in your life. There is no dallying with God, take his proffer, take him at his word, in a matter of salvation. He calls to thee to day, peradventure he will speak no more, therefore Heb. 4.7. we shall find it's a limited day. Exhort one another to day; whilst it's called to day, lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin, Heb. 3.13. While it is called to day, that is, stay not till to morrow, but embrace the present opportunity. This day God holds out the golden Scepter, and my life for yours, if you accept it you shall be saved. If you take it not to day, your heart will be more hardned to morrow; and so it may be you will never touch it; your hearts will be like stones, and you'l be uncapable of yielding. God is angry with us, Psal. 7.11. Why? He is our adversary, because we bear arms against him, and will try the mastery with him. We oppose him in hostile manner as long as we continue sinful against him. What's the best counsel in this case? Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him. It's wisdom to do that soon, which must of necessity be done. If it be not, we perish for ever. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and thou perish from the right way, Psal. 2. ult.
Obj. But what needs such haste, I may do it hereafter,Obj. when I come to my journeys end?
Sol. There needs haste. The day is limited. A thousand to one,Sol. if God be angry, but we perish from the way. I have heard thee in an accepted time, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee, behold now is the day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6.2. It's a day of salvation, and would not we be glad to know this time? Behold this is the accepted time. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him, while he is near. This is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation, Esa. 49.8. Embrace this time, for now he may be found; this instant is the time, the foreign, the present now. God at this time stirs the Waters, if now thou wilt step in and close with God, casting down thy weapons, then this will be the day of thy salvation; this is called, as Gods day, so our day: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, if thou hadst known in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace, but now they are hidden from thine eyes, Luke 19.42. Mark, If thou hadst known in this thy day: So that if we pass by in this acceptable time those things which belong to our peace, they will be hidden from our eyes. Therefore should the enemies of Jerusalem lay her even with the ground, because she had neglected this opportunity, the day of Gods visitation. Wilt thou be so hard-hearted, as to put from thee Gods grace? If thou findest now that Satan hides this from thee, and perswades thee to do it to morrow, and to take a day of thine own, neglecting Gods day, Know and remember that he is a lyar from the beginning.
Give me leave to press this to you, for nothing more brings destruction, then this putting from us the proffers of Gods grace; unless we return to the Almighty, humbling our selves there will be bitterness in the end. There's the matter, whether God must wait on us, or we on him? This is the day of Salvation, saith God, and we must take time to think of it, whether it be seasonable or no. Alas
1. By this means we incur the highest presumption: And this is no light thing inconsiderately to be passed over. Shall God offer you such a proffer, and you be so presumptuous, as to think such a one more seasonable? It's high presumption for thee to make thy self wiser then God, to neglect that he perscribes, and that with a promise too, as if thou hadst God at command. If thou resolve to take to morrow, it is requisite that thou have. 1. Space to repent, and
2 Grace to do it. Now neither of these are in thine own hands, if they were, thou hadst ground for a farther delay. If thou hadst power to say, I will live so long, or couldest by thine own might prolong thy life, it were something, but it's otherwise. In refusing Gods proffer, thou refusest him, that hath thy life in his hand. What high presumption is this? See it in Jesabel, Rev. 2.21. I gave her space to repent, but she repented not. As if God should have said, it's I gave it here, I gave her time to live, I might have cut her off in the midst of her Whoredomes. Observe here by the way the reason why God gives us this space; it is to repent. What presumption must that be, when we will go quite contrary to God? And because we have space, therefore we will not repent. Why does not God smite thee from heaven, when thou thus audaciously settest thy self against him? Why do's he not strike thee with a thunderbolt? Sure he gives the this space not to spend idly, but to another end; not to follow our lusts, neglecting Gods call, but that thou mayst remember thy self, and return with all thy heart. Remember those words of the Prophet, My times are in thy hand. Psal. 31.15. He said not, my times are in mine own hands; for he knew it was grand presumption. Why then should any challenge that to himself, which belongs to God, as if he were the Lord of his own life, supposing Gods call unseasonable, and that he may think on it better hereafter? May not a young man die soon? Now an old man cannot live long. Many strong and lusty men are brought to the Grave as well as the weak and feeble. And why should we suffer Satan to abuse us thus? Thy space then is preserved in Gods hand, and therefore thou mayst not be Lord and Master of it. But admit God grant thee space, yet thou mayst not have the grace to do it. What was Jezabels case, Rev. 2.21. Though God gave her space, yet she repented not. What canst thou tell, what may then become of thee? perchance thou mayst live long, yet mayst thou never find as much as thy thoughts on repentance, much less the grace to do it: Thou mayst not have a desire that way, much less perform it. Repentance is not a thing at our own command. In meekness (saith the Apostle) instruct them that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowl…dgment of the truth, 2 Tim. 2.25. If God will give it them. It's a thing then (it should seem) in Gods hand, it's his proper gift. Mark, the Apostle would have Gods Ministers to be humble and meek; but how many are of other spirits? If anothers opinion be contrary to theirs, they are in a heat presently, as if a man were master of himself and of his own heart, to believe what he would. No, no, Repentance is a grace out of our reach, it's not in a mans own power. Be meek therefore in instructing. What needs passion? That helps not the matter. The opening of the eyes of the blind is in Gods hands; thank him for what thou seest, and know that 'tis his gift, Acts 5.31. The Apostle speaking of our Saviour Christ, saith, Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. The grace of repentance then is no Herb growing in our own Garden, it's a gift of Gods bestowing. And to this purpose is Acts 11.18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. As God grants life, so repentance unto life. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, saith the Lord, Thou hast chastised me, and I am chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke, turn thou me, and I shall be turned, Jer. 31.18. And to the same purpose, Lam. 5.21. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned. As if Zion should have said, we are no more able to turn our selves then a dead man. After that (saith Ephraim) I was turned, I repented, and after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea even confounded. See then what an high presumption it is for a man to presume he hath this grace of God at command: But as it is high presumption, so
2. It's the highest contempt and despising of the grace of God. Rom. 2.4. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering? Thus is it here. God gives thee space: Thou hast it, but imployest it not in what God gave it thee for. Thou deferrest the main business; and the Apostle accounts it no better then despising the proffers of Gods grace and goodness. Dost thou think God will take this at thy hands? Wilt thou despise him, and think he'l not despise thee? With the froward he will shew himself froward. God will come on a suddain, if thou makest not use of thine opportunity, and take all away from thee. The threatning is plainly laid down, Rev. 3.3. If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee. It's spoken to us all, and therefore concerns us all: Whosoever hath an ear to hear let him hear. They are God's words, I have spoken to you this day, and you shall be accountable for them: let not the Devil steal this from you, hold it fast, this is your day: If thou shalt not watch, I'll come on thee suddenly as a Thief. It's the heaviest Judgment can come on unconverted persons, irregenerate souls, not to awake till God comes on them, never to bestir themselves till hell rouze them up. Thus will it be with us, unless we awake by repentance, God will come stealing on us as a thief by suddain death, and speedily cut us off.
To pray against suddain death, and not to fit thy self for it, is to add contempt to thy presumption and rebellion. The wise man tells us, That man knoweth not his time, as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them, Eccles. 9.12. Mark, when it falls suddenly, at unawares, here's the wisdom then to provide that thou mayst not be taken suddenly. If the good Man of the house knew at what time the Thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to have been broken up, Matth. 24.43. And therefore Christ counsels us to watch, since we know not the day nor hour when the Son of man cometh, Here's the difference then between wisdom and folly. Hereby may we know whether we are wise men or fools, if we foresee this day, and provide for it, it's an argument of wisdom, if we watch, so as that when it falls, it may not fall on a suddain on us. If we are negligent of this day, and suffer our hearts to be dead as Nabal's like a stone, 1 Sam. 25.37. He had a great time of repentance, ten days, yet repented not, for his heart was dead, and like a stone; and this may be the case, if thou despisest the day of thy salvation, God's day, and thine own day too, thou mayst be a Nabal, no more moved than a Pillar in the Church, as I have found some by sad experience.
But you may reply, I suppose God will not take me at an advantage, I trust I shall have life and space, and not Nabal's condition; I hope I shall have my wits about me to be able to cry, Lord have mercy upon me.
But suppose God gave thee a tender heart, and thou art sensible of thy danger, that so thou call and cry earnestly to God for mercy, yet this is a miserable condition. Thou shalt find it will not be enough to cry, Lord be merciful to me. If thou neglectest him here, he will cry quittance with thee on thy death bed: Nor do I speak this of my self; No: Look what Wisdom saith, Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out mine hand, and no man regarded, but set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh, Prov. 1.24, 25, 26. As if he had said, you refused me on my day I called and cried unto you, but you set at nought my words, and rejected my counsel, and were wiser than I, therefore will I laugh at your destruction: when you are in misery I will mock and deride, in stead of succouring. A terrible thing will it be, when in stead of hearing outcries to answer them, he shall deride us, and laugh at our folly and madness, And in the 28 verse, Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. See what folly then it is to let slip this time. This is the acceptable day, Esay 55.6. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near. When a man refuses God's day, God will not hear his prayer, all his sighs and sobs, his groans and cries, shall not prevail, Esay 66. I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear. When men will needs be choosers of what God would not have, God will have his choice too, and it shall be that which will be displeasing to them. I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them.