The Wells of Salvation Opened, Section 16

The Wells of Salvation Opened · Section 16

p. 99SECT. XVI.

Motive 2. FRom the consideration of the Salvation which you should endeavour to obtain; and here I shall set before you some properties of this salvation to move you the more effectually to seek after it.

1. It is a great Salvation.

2. It is a rare Salvation.

3. It is a necessary Salvation.

4. It is a possible Salvation.

5. It is a neer Salvation.

6. It is an evident Salvation.

7. It is a free Salvation.

8. It is a sure Salvation.

1. It is a great Salvation, and that both in regard of the thing it self, and in regard of the causes of it.

(1.) It is great in regard of the thing it self. As in Motion, so in Salvation there is the terminus à quo, and the terminus ad quem, the term from which, and the term to which; that which people are in Salvation delivered from, and that which in Salvation they attain unto, both which are exceeding great.

1. That which people in Salvation are delivered from.

There are six great evils which those that are saved are delivered from.

1. From sin, the greatest evil of all, from the guilt of sin, Eph. 1.7. and the power, the reigning power of sin, Rom. 6 14. 2. From Sathan the greatest enemy of p. 100all, from his power and tyranny, Col. 1.13. 2 Tim. 2.26. 3. From the Law, the evil which it occasioneth, namely, the provoking to concupiscence and disobedience, Rom. 7.5, 6. and the evil which it denounceth, namely Gods curse, Gal. 3.10, 13. 4. From the world, not in regard of their place, but in regard of their course, Gal. 1.4. Ioh. 15.19. Ioh. 17.16. 5. From Death, the sting of death, and the fear of death, at least the grounds of fear, Heb. 2.14, 15. 6. From wrath, the wrath of God which is to come, 1 Thes. 1.10.

2. This Salvation is great in regard of that which in Salvation people do attain unto. All the priviledges of the Gospel are wrapt up and included in the word Salvation. Election is the foundation of it; Effectual calling is the begining of it, Justification, Adoption and Sanctification are contained in it, and Glorification is the consummation of it. This Salvation then is great in regard of the thing it self.

(2.) This Salvation is great in regard of the causes of it.

1. Efficient.

2. Meritorious.

3. Instrumental.

4. Finall.

1. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the efficient cause, and that is God the Father: Salvation is ascribed to him as the author, Tit. 3.5. According to his mercy he saved us. God is the cause of our Salvation, 1. as he hath chosen us unto Salvation, Eph. 1.4. As he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world: which Election being of Free grace, we are said to be saved by Grace, Eph. 2 5. 2. As he hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, to purchase Salvation for us, p. 101Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Gal. 4.4, 5. When the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, to redeem them which were under the Law, that we might receive the Adoption of Sons. 3. As he revealeth this Salvation unto us by the Preaching of the Gospel, for which end he qualifyeth and sends his Ministers upon this Embassage to make known the glad tydings of Salvation. 4. As he conferrs Salvation actually upon us in our effectual calling, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification and Glorification, all these are from God. Now that must needs be a great Salvation which is effected by the great God, especially if we consider that it is the greatest and most glorious of all his works in the world, and unto which all his other works have some kind of tendency.

2. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the meritorious cause, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, the excellency and greatness of whose nature, office and sufferings do demonstrate the greatness of this Salvation which was purchased by him. The sufferings of Christ were most properly the meritorious cause of mans salvation, and they were the greatest sufferings that ever were endured, insomuch as 1. They were the sufferings of the greatest person; as man he was the head of the creation in regard of dignity, he was a greater King than Solomon, Matth. 12.42. a greater Prophet than Moses, Heb. 3.3. a greater Priest than Aaron, even a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Heb. 7. Moreover he was God as well as man, God manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3.16. and though the Godhead could p. 102not properly suffer, yet through its union in the same p…rson to the Manhood, it put an efficacy in his suffering, and strengthened the humane nature to undergo greater sufferings as to the value of them in that short space of time, than all the Angels and Men in the world (had their strength been united together in one person) could have endured, if the greatest extremity of misery had been layd upon such a one unto all eternity: For 2. The sufferings of Christ were equivalent unto eternal death, and …he torments of the damned in Hell, yea they were far exceeding, as is evident, because Gods infinite Justice is hereby fully satisfied, and there is sufficiency of merit in them for the redemption of the whole world not only of Believers, but also of Unbelievers, not only of Men but of Devils too: Christs sufferings were of infinite value, not in regard of the sufferings, but in regard of the Divine nature so closely united unto the Humane nature: Therefore the salvation purchased by these sufferings must needs be a great salvation.

3. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Instrumental Cause, and that is Faith; faith is a grace of great worth and excellency, insomuch as it doth not spring from any root or power of nature, but is wrought by the power of God, and requireth such exceeding great power in the effecting of it; we read of the exceeding greatness of Gods power towards them that believe according to the working of his mighty power, Eph. 1.19. which shews that the salvation is great which is effected by this grace of Faith.

4. This salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Final Cause, and that is the manifestation of p. 103Gods glory: 1. The glory of his Wisdom in contriving such a way for Mans salvation, which no created understanding could have tho…ght of: 2. The glory of his Justice which is as fully satisfied through Christs sufferings, as if all Believers had been eternally punished: 3. And chiefly the glory of his free grace and mercy, which is set forth and magnified so eminently in all the degrees of mans salvation, that nothing may be ascribed unto Man, but all unto God alone.

Thus you see, that this salvation is a great salvation in regard of the Thing it self, and in regard of the Causes of it. It is so great salvation as it hath no comparison, and is beyond expression, therefore labour to attain t…is salvation; some endeavour to get a great Estate, others to get great Friends, others to get great honour and repute in the world, do you labour to obtain this great salvation which doth exceed all in greatness, it is a high and noble design, and is worthy your uttermost care and diligence in seeking after it; other things are but small things, meer toyes and trifles in comparison; nothing in the world hath the least degree of worth, compared with this so great s…lvation. I shall be more brief in speaking of the other properties of this salvation.

II. This salvation is a Rare Salvation: I mean, that few do obtain it; Many are called, few are chosen, Matth. 20.16. Many are damned, few are saved: There are many troops of sinners that are posting in the broad way of destruction, it is but a thin scattered company that are pressing forward in p. 104the narrow way of life and salvation; this is evident from the Answer of our Saviour upon the Question propounded unto him, Luk. 13.23, 24. Then said one unto him, Lord are there few that he saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. In which words he doth in eff…ct say, that Few, very Few should be saved, for he tells them plainly, that the gate of salvation is a strait gate, and many cannot pass thorow a strait gate; and although many should seek to enter in at this gate, yet they should not be able; and if many that seek to enter in shall not be able, then it follows, that none of those which do not seek to enter in shall be able: Hence then we may gather a strong argument to prove, that very few shall be saved; If the most of men and women in the world do not seek salvation at all, and they cannot possibly attain it, and many that seek salvation shall never finde it, then there are but few that shall be saved; but the most in the world do not seek salvation at all, to say nothing of the Heathen world which is by many degrees the far greater part of the world, who sit in darkness, and from whom the Gospel of salvation is hid, and therefore are expresly said to be lost, 2 Cor. 4.3. Even in the Christian world where the light of the Gospel doth shine, the most of men and women, that bear the name of Christians, are ignorant, or profane, or only civil and morall, and live in the total neglect of the salvation of the Gospel, and such cannot possibly attain salvation that do not at all seek after it: And of them that make some profession of Religion, and do something in order to salvation, many shall not be able p. 105to attain it; our Saviour saith, that many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able, because they do not seek in a right manner, because they do not seek salvation chiefly; they seek the satisfaction of their lusts, before the salvation of their souls; because they do not seek it diligently, they are careless and formal in the use of the means of salvation; they seek, but they do not strive to enter in at the strait gate; they do not press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling, and therefore they fall short and miss of it; there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate, that strive as wrestlers in wrestling, or racers in running, or warriours in fighting, as the word foreign doth signifie; few that seek their salvation above all other things, and with all their heart and might, few that are resolved for salvation whatever it cost them, whatever they do, or suffer for it, unto which resolution and endeavour all must come, or else they cannot be saved, and these being so few, certainly there are but few that shall be saved. More plainly our Saviour speaks to the same purpose, Math. 7.13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that finde it. The gate and way of sin which leads to death and Hell, are wide and broad, and the most in the world are passing thorow this gate, and walking in this way; the course of the world is a course of sin, the end of which course is destruction, and the reason why so many go in at the gate of sin, which is the outer gate of Hell, is, because strait is the gate, and narrow the way which leadeth unto life; p. 106because of the difficulties in the way of life and salvation, which require much pains and diligence if we would go thorow them; we must give all diligence, if we would make our calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1.10. We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling, if we would attain salvation, Phil. 1.12. we must labour if we would enter into Rest, Heb. 4.12. we must strive if we would enter in at the strait gate, Luk. 13.24. we must run if we would obtain the prize, 1 Cor. 9.24. we must fight the good fight of Faith if we would lay hold on eternal life, 1 Tim. 6.12. the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, saith our Saviour, and the violent take it by force, Math. 11.12. we must lay siege to Heaven, if we would take it, and wi…h force and violence overcome those potent enemies, the Devil, the Flesh, and the World, who would draw or drive us away from the walls and gates of the New Ierusalem. It is not an easie thing to be saved, the way to Heaven is narrow, and it lyeth up hill, our endeavours for Heaven especially at the first, are like climbing up a steep hill, like hewing a way thorow hard rocks, like swimming against a strong stream, like cutting hard wood against the grain; and because of the opposition and difficulty in the way of salvation, therefore there be but few that finde the path thereof; most choose a broader and easier way. It is evident then from what hath been said, that this salvation is Rare and scarce, the consideration whereof should not discourage you, but quicken you unto the greater diligence in your endeavours after it; the rarity of it sheweth the worth and excellency of it; Jewels and precious stones are rare and hard to be got; what difficulties will some goe p. 107thorow? what dangerous voyages unto the uttermost parts of the Earth will some undertake, to bring home some rare things? but especially the consideration withall of the necessity of salvatio… (of which in the next particular) should quicken you to seek after it. Think with your selves (my beloved) think seriously, and think frequently, that there are but few that shall be saved; and then examine, what reason you have to think that you are in the number of those few: When our Saviour told his Disciples that but one of them should betray him, they looked one upon another, and every one asked him, Lord is it I? there was none of them without their fears which made them so inquisitive, and they seem to be in pain untill they are resolved; what then would they have thought and said? how fearfull would they have been, if our Saviour had told them that the most of them should have betrayed him, yea that all of them should betray him, but one? May not I without uncharitableness say, that not one in twelve, no nor one in twenty, no nor one in a hundred in this City and Nation shall be saved? If I should tell you that hear me this day, that some of you will be damned, yea that many of you will be damned, yea that most of you will be damned, and that but few of this great company will be saved, should I be a false Prophet? I will not say it will be thus, neither can I do it, because this is Gods secret; much less do I desire it should be thus, for the end of my preaching is, that you all might be saved; but let me tell you, that I fear that many of you here present will be found in the number of those many our Saviour speaketh of, that shall seek to enter in at the strait gate, and shall not be able; p. 108our Saviour told his Auditors, that flocked to hear him, thus, and are you better than they? you all seek to enter in at the strait gate, by coming into this place where the Gospel is preached, and where the gate is set open before you; but are there not many amongst you that seek in a careless and negligent manner? May not I say of all the seekers here, that there are but few that strive to enter in at the strait gate? Do you all, or the most look as if you had your eye upon the mark and glorious prize before you, and were pressing with all your might towards it? do you hear as if it were for your lives, as if you might hear words this day whereby you may be saved? do you pray and seek as if you were in earnest, as if you were resolved to take Heaven by violence, and whatever you were denyed in, would not be denyed your salvation? Such as do not strive shall never get thorow the strait gate. Think with your selves, It may be that many in this place shall be damned, and then say, Shall not I? shall not I? and O what a miserable wretch shall I be if I should be damned! if I should get only to the gate of Heaven, and not get thorow! if I should come only to the borders of the Heavenly Canaan, and dye in the Wilderness! if I should be found in the number of the negligent seekers which will miss of salvation? What grounds have I to think that I shall be saved? there are but few, can I think that I am in the number of the few? Methinks this consideration of the Rarity of salvation should awaken you to give earnest heed that with the most that seek it, you may not miss of it.

p. 1093. This salvation is a necessary salvation: the great difficulty of obtaining some precious things discourageth the endeavours of the most in seeking after them, especially when they may be well enough without them; but this salvation is necessary, you cannot be without it; it is of absolute and universal necessity; some things you may have, this you must have; without it you are undone, you will be irrecoverably and eternally miserable; there is no medium, no middle condition between salvation and damnation (of which more by and by): some things are necessary to the body, but salvation is necessary to your happiness, without it there is no possibility (in this fallen state) of obtaining the chief end, the chief good which you are capable of; without this no coming neer to God in whom your chiefest happiness doth consist, no vision or fruition of him either in part here, or in full and eternally hereafter. Some men have need of one thing, and some of another, but all the men and women in the world have need of salvation, because all are sinners, all are children of wrath by nature. There is not one person amongst you all but have been guilty of sin, for the whole world is guilty before God, Rom. 3.19. and every moment of your lives you are exposed unto the punishment of sin in Hell, unless you are brought into a state of salvation. It is necessary therefore that all of you should above all things seek after your salvation.

4. This salvation is a possible salvation; though there were never so much worth and excellency in, never so much necessity of this salvation, yet if there p. 110were an impossibility of obtaining it, all arguments would be used in vain to press any to endeavour after it; but this salvation is possible, it is possible that you should attain it, that the meanest of you, the vilest of you, yea that every one of you that hear these words may attain it.

1. The meanest of you may attain this salvation, and that 1. Such of you as are of the meanest parts, though you have neither humane learning, nor capacity or ability for it; though your judgement be shallow, your fancy and invention dull, your memory weak, and so could never understand and retain the many Arts and Sciences in Philosophy, and the divers kinds of Languages, which learned men have written their books in; yet you are capable of being made the Schollars and Disciples of Jesus Christ, and he can teach the dullest and shallowest of you all the deep mysteries of salvation by his Spirit, yea and he can give you a greater understanding in them, than the wisest and most learned men that are without the Spirit do attain unto; For he hideth those things from the wise and prudent which he revealeth unto babes, Matth. 11.25. And the natural man, let him be never so learned a man, receiveth not the things of the Spirit, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. And therefore when not many wise men af…er the flesh are called, God chooseth the foolish things of the world to exalt the riches of his free grace in their salvation, 1 Cor. 1.26, 27, 31. Surgunt ind…cti & rapiunt coelum, quum nos cum omni doctrinà in Gehennam detrudimur, saith one. The unlearned arise, and take Heaven by violence, when we with all our learning are violently thrown down p. 111into Hell. So that you who are of no learning, and but mean natural abilities, have encouragement to seek after this salvation of the Gospel, seeing the Lord can teach you by his Spirit, and it doth better suit with his design of glorifying his free grace in bestowing it upon such as you, rather than on the wise and learned men of the world, who would be apt to ascribe the glory unto themselves. 2. Such of you as are not only of the meanest parts, but also of the meanest condition in the World, may attain this Salva…ion; the poor have the Gospel preached unto them, Matth. 11.5. If with poverty in regard of Estate, you are also poor in spirit, the riches of grace and salvation are tendered freely unto you; read for your encouragement what the Apostle saith, Iam. 2.5. Hearken my beloved Brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this World, rich in Faith, and H…irs of the Kingdom, which he hath promised unto them that lo… him. If you were to seek some great favour from an Earthly Prince, your mean attire and condition might keep you at a distance; and you might have no regard given to your request, should it have a hearing; The Petitions of the great and rich are heard in Courts on Earth, when the poor and mean are despised: but the King of Heaven doth regard the rich no more than the poor, Iob 34.19. And if you seek diligently after this Salvation, you may have as free access to the Lord as any, and your Petitions shall be heard in the Court of Heaven, and you shall certainly obtain this Salvation which you seek after.

2. The vilest of you all may attain Salvation; Some of you it may be have been notorious sinners, p. 112your consciences do accuse you of such great sins, with such hainous aggravations, that you may be discouraged and out of hope that such as you should be saved; you have offered such high affronts and indignities unto the highest Majesty that you think he can never put them up; you have run so deep and so long upon the score, that you think the scores can never be wiped off; if they had been smaller faults, or more ordinary slips, or you had sought after Salvation sooner, you might have hoped to speed, but now you fear the door of mercy is shut, and the day of Grace is spent, and there is no pardon and salvation for such vile sinners as you: But let me tell you that the vilest of you all may attain Salvation, the door of mercy is not so fast shut as yet, but by knocking hard it may be opened; and so long as the day of your life is continued, and the means of grace are continued, you cannot say that the day of grace is quite …; there is salvation attainable by the worst of you all, if you will look after it; our Saviour tells us of Publicans and Harlots that entred into the Kingdom of Heaven sooner than the Pharisees who boasted in their own righteousness, Matth. 21.31. He conversed with, and called the worst of sinners to repentance, Matth. 9.11, 13. Inde…d when the Apostle maketh mention of notorious sinners, he telleth us, that such whilest such, could not be saved, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor …ffeminate, nor Abusers of th…mselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, no… Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God. Those that are such notorious p. 113sinners, and continue in the practice of such sins without repentance, they cannot be saved; but withall he addeth in the 11. verse, that some of them had been such sinners, but were now in a state of Salvation through their interest in Jesus Christ, and the operation of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our God; they were justified, their sins pardoned and persons accepted, in the name of the Lord Jesus, through the imputation of his righteousness unto them, and they were washed and sanctified by the Spirit of God, through infusion of Grace by the Spirit into them: I might add further inst…nces of notorious sinners who have been saved, as Manasses, Mary Magdalen, Paul, who before Conversion calleth himself the chiefest of sinners, yet obtained Mercy and Salvation; and let me tell you moreover, that if you repent now and apply your selves to Christ, the greater your sins have been, the more will Gods glory be illustrated in your Salvation, and the abounding of your sins will make way for the super-abounding of his grace.

3. All of you that hear these words may obtain Salvation, it is possible that every one of you in this place may be saved; it would be a rare thing, but it is a possible thing: indeed there are but few that shall be saved; but who knoweth but all of you may be found in the number of those few; and O how would it rejoyce my heart to see all those faces in Heaven whom I see here this day to hear the words of Salvation. Be encouraged to seek after your salvation by the possibility of obtaining. Now p. 114salvation is possible for all of you that have not as yet attained it; but let me add, that it will not be possible long for you all; whilst you are in the land of the living it is possible, though you be condemned to Hell for sin whilst unbelievers, Ioh. 3.18. He that believeth not is condemned already; yet the sentence of condemnation is traversible, you may appeal from the Court of the Law, to the Court of Chancery; you may fly from the bar of Gods justice, unto the throne of grace; and if you heartily repent of sin, and by faith lay hold on Christ, you may obtain pardon and salvation: Whilst the reprieve of your life lasteth, salvation is attainable; but when once your life is come to an end (which you know not how soon it may be) and you be found in a state of impenitency and unbelief, then the percullis will be shutt down upon you for ever; then the black flag will be hung out; then the talent of lead will seal up the measure of your wickedness; and your condemnation will be irreversible; when the day of your life is spent, the day of grace will be spent too, and the door of mercy will be shut upon you for ever; and it will be impossible for any of you that have not attained, then to attain salvation.

5. This salvation is a neer Salvation. Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend up into Heaven to learn what it is there? or who shall descend into the deep to bring notice of it from thence? or who shall take the wings of the morning, and fly into the uttermost parts of the earth thence to bring tydings of it to you? for the word of salvation is near unto you, it is brought home to your own doors, it is p. 115that word which is now sounding in your ears, even the words which we Ministers preach unto you: read what those words are which are brought so nigh, Rom. 10.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Iesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed: For there is no difference between the Iew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him: for whosoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. Heretofore salvation was only amongst the Jews, and whoever of other Nations would be saved, they must travel to Ierusalem, and worship the Lord in his Temple, and enquire for salvation in that place: then salvation was afar off from the Gentiles, especially from these Brittish Isles; but now since the revelation of Jesus Christ, as those which were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ; so the word of salvation is brought nigh unto us; you have many Messengers of Peace, which bring the glad tydings of salvation near unto you, and this may further encourage you to seek after it.

6. This salvation is an Evident Salvation: I mean, that it is more clearly and evidently made known unto us, than it hath been in former ages unto any, or than it is in other places unto many.

In former ages this salvation was not made known p. 116so clearly unto any, I mean in the ages before the coming of Christ: the Prophets themselves who prophesied of it, did not fully understand what the Spirit in them did signifie, when it foretold of this grace which should come unto the Church in after ages, 1 Pet. 1.10, 11. And therefore the first preaching of the Gospel of salvation, is called a revelation of the mysterie which had been kept secret since the world began unto that time, Rom. 16.25. And a manifestation of that mysterie to the Saints which had been hid from ages and generations, Col. 1.25, 26, 27. The Gospel of salvation was indeed revealed in the dispensation of the Law upon Mount Sinai by Moses, but it was more obscurely; it was wrapt up in types and figures; and as there was a vail before Moses his face, so there was a vail before the truths of salvation, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look unto the end of those things which were after to be abolished, 2 Cor. 3.13. but this vail is done away in Christ, v. 14. When Christ suffered upon the Cross, the vail of the Temple, which kept the people off the Holy of Holies, was rent from the top to the bottom of it, and then the way into the Holy of Holies was made manifest, and Christ by his appearance abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1.10. Then darkness did pass away, and the true and marvellous light did shine upon the Church, 1 Ioh. 2.8. And now with open face believers do behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord, 1 Cor. 3.18. The scope of which places is to shew the obscurity of former revelations, and the clearness and evidence of the revelation of the Gospel in these latter daies.

In other places this salvation is not made known so p. 117clearly unto many; it is not made known at all unto the most in the world; a thick darkness of ignorance doth overspread the greatest part of the face of the earth, and even amongst those that call themselves by the name of the Church of Christ: there are in many places such fogs and mists of errour and heresie, that the truths of salvation are darkened, and peoples minds are blinded; but now unto you this salvation is made so clear and evident; the thing and way of it is made so manifest, that it is a great encouragement to seek after this salvation.

7. This salvation is a Free Salvation; it will cost you no money, you may have it for nothing, you may have it for accepting: If you were taken captive by men, if you were slaves to the Turks, possibly you might not be delivered without some considerable summ for your ransom; but you may be delivered from the slavery of the Devil, and your own lusts, you may be saved from sin and Hell without money: Indeed a price hath been paid for your ransom, not silver or gold, but that which is ten thousand times more precious, and that was the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed upon the Cross for you; yet though your salvation cost Christ dear, it is free unto you, it will cost you nothing; pardon is free, and grace is free, and eternal life unto you is a free gift; you are invited to come unto the waters, and to buy wine and milk, but it is without money and without price, Isa. 55.1. The Spirit saith, come, and the Bride saith, come, and whosoever is a thirst let him come, and take of the waters of life freely, Rev. 22.17. There is sufficiency of grace in God for p. 118the salvation of you all, and you may come and partake of this grace in your salvation freely: You may have it without money, if you be poor, the gifts of God cannot be bought; and you may have it without merit; if you conceit that you deserve any thing, you shall be sure to have nothing; if you are sensible of your unworthiness, and apply Christs merits and righteousness, through him you may have salvation freely.

8. And lastly, This salvation is a Sure Salvation; you have the promise of God for it, and there can be no greater certainty of a thing than the word of God, especially if you consider that God is infinite in power, and therefore can do whatever he will, and that God is infinitely true, and therefore will do whatever he hath promised: God is most powerful, and therefore able to save you; there is strength sufficient in his Almighty Arm, to bring salvation unto you; and God is most faithfull in the promises of salvation, which he hath made in the Covenant of Grace; if you get faith to apply the promises, you shall certainly have the thing: There is an uncertainty in every thing else in the world, but there is a certainty in this salvation, that there is such a thing is certain from the revelation of the Word of God, who cannot lye; and that you may have it if you will accept of it, is certain from the nature and firmness of the promises; and when you have attained unto any degrees of this salvation, the perfecting of it will be most sure; for he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1.6. Thus I have laid before you the properties of this salvation; it is a great salvation; it is a rare salvation; it is a necessary salvation; it is p. 119a possible salvation; it is a near salvation; it is an evident salvation; it is a free salvation; it is a sure salvation; all which being laid together, may be a strong motive and inducement to you to labour that you may attain a share in this salvation.