The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 13
SECT. XIII.
Vse 2. FOR Reproof
1. Of Ministers.
2. Of People.
(1.) Are Ministers to tell people words whereby they may be saved? this then reproves such Ministers, 1. As do not preach at all: 2. As do not preach soul-saving Truths: 3. As do not preach in such a Way as is likely to do good. But my business being chiefly to speak unto People, I shall pass by this Use.
(2.) People are here to be reproved, unto whom the Lord sends faithfull Ministers to tell them such words whereby they may be saved.
1. It reproves such as persecute such Ministers; that are of such a spirit as the wicked Iewes of old spoken of, 1 Thess. 2.15, 16. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their own Prophets, and persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary unto all men; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sin alway, for wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. Some there are that persecute Ministers with the tongue, by reproaching of them, others persecute Ministers with the hand by imprisoning of them, and many other wayes afflicting of them, seeking the extirpation of them, as persons not fit to live upon the face of the earth; thus ungratefully they endeavour the ruine of them that desire and seek their salvation, and foolishly endeavour to blow out the light which would shew them the way to Heaven.
2. It reproves such, who if they do not persecute Ministers, yet hate them, bear a secret spight and enmity in their hearts against them; and the reason is because they testifie that their works are evil, upon which account our Saviour was hated, Ioh. 7.7. they hate them because they reprove them for their sins, and disturb their Consciences sometimes, by sounding peals of Judgement in their ears, that they cannot sin with that freedom and security as they desire: Poor souls, how will they endure the pains of Hell themselves, that cannot endure the sore-thoughts of them, and hate them which bring such sad thoughts into their mindes, though it be in order to their escape? Would any of you hate a neighbour that should cry aloud in the dead of the night, Fire, fire, and bounce at your doors, and awaken you out of your sleep, to warn you of a Fire drawing neer to your habitation, which if not prevented would burn house and goods and persons together? And what do Ministers more than cry Fire, fire, and tell you of your near approach to everlasting burnings, in which without some speedy course taken for prevention, will certainly seize upon you, and consume you everlastingly? And have any reason to be troubled and offended, and hate Ministers for awakening them upon such an account as this, when their souls lie at stake, and are in such danger? A Physician of the body is not hated, that tells his Patient that his disease is dangerous, which if let alone without taking such a remedy will certainly be his death: And have any reason to hate Ministers who are Physicians of the Soul, because they tell men of the disease of sin, which if not cured by the blood of Christ will certainly and may suddenly bring eternal death?
3. It reproves such, who if they do not so deeply hate Ministers, yet will not be perswaded to hear them; such as are so drencht in the World, and so over head and ears in worldly business, that they minde nothing else. If any could tell them of a good bargain, or some notable way of thriving in their Estates, such a one they would visit and hear, and O how would they relish such discourses! But though Ministers give notice of the best bargain that ever was made, and bring tydings of the most notable way of thriving, namely of the way of thriving in spiritual and heavenly riches, and shew men how they may gain pardon, and peace, and the favour of God, and the graces of the Spirit, and escape future misery, and attain salvation and everlasting happiness; yet like Gallio they minde none of these things, they will not step over the threshold to hear Ministers preach the Gospel of salvation; and how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation? Heb. 2.3.
4. It reproves such, who if they do hear Ministers, yet do not understand them; that are so dull of hearing, that they know not what Ministers say, nor whereof they affirm; that gather about a Minister as beasts about a Man that sounds a Trumpet, and stare upon him, but know not what the meaning of the sound is; so they hear Ministers, and look and stare upon them, some strange things are brought to their ears, which they know not the meaning of, and are like words of another language to them, because their eyes are closed, and they want spiritual sense and discerning; and a great reason is, because they do not desire, and will not take pains to get an understanding in these things, by beginning first with the Principles of Religion in the Catechisme, and begging earnestly for the teachings of the Spirit, and readiness to do according to what they already know.
5. It reproves such, who if they have some notional knowledge of the Doctrine of salvation preached by Ministers, yet they do not believe the Doctrine: their words seem to them like idle tales, or some cunningly devised Fable; they do not receive it as the Word of Truth, as the Word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe, 1 Thess. 2.3. they feel no effectual operation of the Word in the change of their hearts, and the change of their lives; they that were filthy are filthy still; and they that were unjust are unjust still; and they that were Drunkards, and Swearers, and the like, go on still in their sinful course, whatever notion they have of sin, and whatever discovery of their danger, and Saviour, and way of salvation by him; which is an evidence that they do not believe; and this unbelief is the great God-provoking and Soul-damning sin; such make God a lyar, 1 Ioh. 5.10. but they will find him to be true to their cost and pain.
6. It reproves such, who if they have some notional knowledge, and historical Faith, yet do not relish the Words of salvation which are preached by Ministers; 1. Those that do not relish the things, who make no account of salvation, as if there were no desireableness therein: 2. Those that if they desire salvation from Hell-torments and future misery, yet they do not relish the terms, they do not like the Lords Yoak, they will not bear his Cross, they will not be perswaded to deny themselves, to mortifie the deeds of the body; they could like to be saved from Hell, but they do not like to be saved from sin; they could like to have Christ to be their High-Priest and Advocate, but they will not have him to be their King and Lord, and will not have him to reign over them: To part with all sin, and to be universally holy, to lay down Estate, Liberty, Life it self, at the Lords feer, and be resolved to suffer the loss of all, if they stand in competition with Christ; are such hard sayings that they cannot bear: But how hard will it be for them to bear the loss of Heaven and happiness, and endure the dreadfull, eternal wrath of God in Hell, as they shall certainly do, who will not accept of salvation upon the terms of the Gospel.