The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 14
SECT. XIV.
Vse 3. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved? I shall then endeavour to put in practice this duty of Ministers, in telling you words whereby you may be saved.
In order to your salvation, I shall speak,
1. Some Words to try you whether you be in a state of Salvation.
2. Some Words to move you to endeavour after your Salvation.
3. Some Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation.
1. The first words shall be to try you, whether you be in a state of Salvation; and here I must put you upon the tryall of your selves, wherein I may give you some help; take the Exhortation of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves, whether ye be in the Faith, prove your own selves. Examine your selves by the Rule of the Word: And because these Words are chiefly intended in order to the salvation of such as have not yet attained it; to prepare them for the following Motives and Directions, which, if they mistook themselves to have already attained to a state of salvation, would likely do them no good: Therefore I shall briefly out of the Word of God give
Some Characters of such as are not in a state of Salvation.
1. Ignorant persons are not in a state of salvation. See this Isa. 27.11. It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour: Those that are grosly ignorant of the Fundamental Truths of Religion, concerning God and Christ, the lost estate of Man since the fall, the way of Salvation, Repentance, Faith, the Resurrection from the dead, the last Judgement, and the future Rewards and Punishments in Heaven and Hell, and the like Principles of Religion, which are necessary to be known in order to salvation, they cannot for the present be in a state of Salvation; the meanest understanding is capable of knowing these things by the teachings of the Word and Spirit, therefore such as do neglect the means of Instruction, and do not search the Word, and cry to God for it, but nuzzle up themselves in an affected ignorance in these things, are inexcusable in their fault, and will bring unavoidable destruction upon themselves, Hos. 4.6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
2. Negligent persons are not in a state of salvation, I mean such as neglect their salvation. Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Such as do not value and prize this great salvation purchased by Christ, and published in the Gospel; such as never were made sensible of their need hereof; such as never had any great desires after it; such as never took any pains in the use of means to obtain it; all which are evidences of their neglect, they cannot escape the dreadfull punishment of Hell, which is prepared for such persons. Such as are diligent to make provision for their Bodies, but neglect the salvation of their souls; if they persevere in this negligence they must needs miss of salvation.
3. Impenitent persons are not in a state of salvation. Luk. 13.3. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. All are guilty of sin original, and actual, and have matter for repentance; such as have an obdurate and impenitent heart, which never was broken, and melted, and humbled; which never was affected with true evangelical sorrow for sin; but on the contrary, can commit sin with delight, rolling it as a sweet morsel under their tongue, which they will not part withall, they must needs perish everlastingly, if they should die in this estate; the word is express, that iniquity will be the ruine of the impenitent, Ezek. 18 30.
4. Vnregenerate persons are not in a state of salvation. Ioh. 3.3. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Such as never had a gracious change wrought in their hearts, that are asleep in sin, and never were awakened; as are dead in sin, and never were quickened; such as have old natures and old hearts, and never were renewed; that never put off as concerning their former conversation the old man which is corrupt, according to deceitfull …usts, and put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. 4.22, 24. they are uncapable whilest such, of this salvation, there is no entrance for them into the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. Christless persons are not in a state of salvation, 2 Cor. 13.5. Know ye not your own selves, that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates. Such as have not Christ, and are not themselves in Christ, they are for the present in a state of Reprobation; It is Christ only can save; those that are without Christ, that are not united to him by Faith and the Spirit, that are Unbelievers without Faith, and carnal without the Spirit, they cannot, whilest such, be saved.
6. Vnsanctified persons are not in a state of salvation. Heb. 12.14. Without holiness none shall see God. Such as are unholy, such as live after the flesh shall die, none but those that through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body shall live, Rom. 8.13.
7. And in a word, Disobedient persons are not in a state of salvation. Heb. 5.9. He became the author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, to none else; and Eph. 5.6. The wrath of God cometh upon the Children of disobedience. Such as walk in a course of disobedience, as live and allow themselves in the practice of known sins, whatever they be, they are children of wrath because children of disobedience. The Scriptures are so plain, that I need without many words of mine, only lay them before you, as a Glass wherein you may discern your spiritual state. Try your selves by these places, these Texts will reach all that are not in a state of salvation.