Last Warning to Secure Sinners, Part 1
1 Peter III. the later part of the 18, the 19, and part of the 20 Verſe.
Being put to death in the fleſh, but quickned by the Spirit.
By which alſo he went and preached unto the ſpirits in priſon,
Which ſometimes were diſobedient, when once the long-ſuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the Ark was a preparing.
IN the opening of this portion of Scripture, we will,
Firſt, Conſider its Scope; and then we will conſider the words themſelves; and give you a ſhort Explication thereof; and then we ſhall draw that Practical Obſervation from them, which the Lord bleſs unto your Edification.
As for the Scope of them (in the former part of the 18 Verſe), I have ſhewed you how the Apoſtle was acquainting us with the great benefit that ſinners do receive from the death of Chriſt; that I have (already) opened to you. Chriſt hath once ſufferd for ſins, the juſt for the unjuſt, that he might bring us to God.
Now (in the following Verſes) the Apoſtle paſſeth on from the death of Chriſt, unto the life of Chriſt; and ſhews that we have not only benefit by a Chriſt dying, but by a Chriſt living: For, Chriſt is our Saviour both ways. We are ſaved by his death, meritoriouſly; we are ſaved by his life, as he lives for to ſee the purchaſed-bleſſings of his death made good to us. Now the Apoſtle in theſe words (I have already read) conſidereth the life of Chriſt two ways:
Firſt, With reſpect to the world before he came in the fleſh; with reſpect to the old World, above Two thouſand years before he came in the fleſh; Jeſus Chriſt the Eternal Son of God was alive then: yea, before the World was, he was alive, and was God bleſſed for ever; by him the World was made. To the old World, even that world that was deſtroyed by the Flood, to that world he was a Saviour by deſignation; and he took care of them: The care of mankind, from the fall hath been depoſited in the hands of Chriſt, he hath taken care of ſinners from the fall of man into ſin. Then,
Secondly, The Apoſtle does ſpeak of the advantages that the Church hath by a living-Chriſt, upon his Reſurrection from the dead (as he ſpeaks in the 21 v.) The figure whereunto, even Baptiſm, doth alſo now ſave us, (then there comes in a Parentheſis). How does Baptiſm ſave us? Why, by the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt. When he was on earth he preached the Goſpel, promiſed pardon and ſalvation to the penitent believing ſinner, and died for him when he had done preaching; and aroſe from the dead, and is gone to Heaven to make good every word.
We are now upon the conſideration of the benefits that the old World had from Chriſt, above two thouſand years before Chriſt was born in the fleſh. Why, what was the benefit that the old World had? Why, Chriſt by his Spirit did ſend Noah, a Preacher of righteouſneſs to preach repentance to the old Word: the Spirit of Chriſt was in Noah, by which Spirit Noah Propheſied of the deſtruction of the world. By which Spirit he was directed to build the Ark, to prepare for himſelf and thoſe that ſhould repent, for that time that the Floold ſhould come upon the world. Chriſt by his Spirit preached then, to that world of ſinners that were drowned then; and not only drowned, but their ſpirits damn'd: which was for diſobeying Chriſt, for diſobeying the Spirit of Chriſt in Noah.
Having now given you the Scope of the place, we ſhall proceed (according to that light I have) to give you the underſtanding of the words and phraſes of this Scripture: for it ſeemeth to be a Scripture that is not without its difficulties. We will begin at the Firſt:
Firſt, What it is to be put to death in the fleſh? (that we muſt enquire into).
Secondly, What is it to be quickned by the Spirit? What does the Apoſtle underſtand hereby?
Thirdly, What is this preaching? What are,
Fourthly, Theſe Spirits that are in priſon? And what's the priſon? And ſo we ſhall take in what follows in its order.
Being put to death in the fleſh:
Who put to death? Chriſt. By whom? By the unbelieving wicked Jews, they were his accuſers. Put to death in the fleſh, by whom? By Pontius Pilate as his Judg. Put to death in the fleſh, by whom? Why, by thoſe Executioners that were employed by Pontius Pilate to ſee him Crucified; The Jews, Pontius Pilate, and the Soldiers put him to death.
Put to death in the fleſh, What's that? That is after he was made fleſh, he was put to death; as he was man, he hung upon the Croſs: The loſs of blood, and the anguiſh and pain, the nails in his feet, and in his hands kill'd him; he died there, his ſoul ſeparated from his body; he cryed with a loud voice and gave up the Ghoſt: ſo he was put to death in the Fleſh; that is, as to his human Nature. That is plain: The following words have more difficulty in them.
But quickned by the Spirit.
What's the meaning of quickned? And what's here meant by Spirit? (that we muſt enquire into, becauſe it will tend to open the difficulty that lies in the following words): Quickned, (as the Greek hath it) Vivificatus autem ſpiritu, made alive, which is of the ſame import with quickned: he died as to his human Nature, but he did not continue in a ſtate of death, but was made alive again. Chriſt that died for ſinners, was made alive. What was made alive? That which was dead. What was dead? The man Chriſt; ſo that that which died for our ſins, was made alive again; that is, raiſed from the dead, that's the meaning of it. There's nothing can be made alive, but that which was dead. The Apoſtle uſeth this word foreign, for to ſignifie the Reſurrection of the body; and therefore in reaſon it may ſignifie ſo in this place, 1 Cor. 15.22, For as in Adam all died, ſo in Christ ſhall all be made alive: 'Tis the ſame word foreign, made alive: that is, they ſhall be raiſed from the Grave. So here Chriſt died as to the fleſh, but he was made alive: that is, he was raiſed from the dead: Raiſed, How was he raiſed? (it follows) In or by the Spirit. What Spirit is here? Why it is that Spirit that did efficiently raiſe him; he was quickned in, or by the Spirit.
Now by this Spirit, ſay the Papiſts, is meant the human Soul of Chriſt. For this reaſon it cannot be meant of the Soul of Chriſt, becauſe that the Soul of Chriſt being a creature, could never quicken, could never raiſe the dead body of Chriſt: For Chriſt was perfect God and perfect Man; as he was Man, he had a Soul and body; his Soul and body were creatures; and though the Spirit or Soul of Chriſt was an excellent, pure, holy Soul, without ſin; yet it was not God, and had not an Almighty power. None but God could raiſe the dead: therefore the ſoul of Chriſt could never raiſe the body of Chriſt. What was it then? It muſt then be the Holy Ghoſt, it muſt be the Spirit of God, which is God, which is Almighty, that can raiſe the dead, and did raiſe the dead Chriſt.
For what reaſon do I think that by Spirit is here meant the Holy Ghoſt? Why, I will tell you: Becauſe all the Miracles that Chriſt, or his Apoſtles did, whether they healed the ſick, whether they raiſed the dead, or caſt out Devils, were all attributed to the Spirit of God, to the Holy Spirit of Chriſt. And therefore no wonder if the very Reſurrection of Chriſt be given unto the Spirit of God. And (if I miſtake not) that is the meaning, or the import of the Apoſtle, in Rom. 1.3, 4, Concerning his Son Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, which was made of the ſeed of David according to the fleſh: And declared to be the Son of God, with power, according to the Spirit of holineſs: Holineſs in the abſtract, that is by the Greeks commonly uſed for the concrete, and you may read it thus, According to the Holy Ghoſt, he was declared to be the Son of God, with power, with the power of the Holy Ghoſt, by the Reſurrection from the dead; he was raiſed by the Spirit of God, by which all works of Miracles were wrought, or done by Chriſt and his Apoſtles; he was raiſed from the dead by this Spirit.
And now, That which follows will be ſomewhat clear: For if by being made alive, is to be underſtood the Reſurrection of Chriſts human Nature, and by the Spirit that raiſed that human Nature, is to be meant the Holy Ghoſt; then proceeds, by which, or in which, he went and preached. He went. Who went? Chriſt went. By which Spirit? by which Holy Ghoſt he went and preached to the ſpirits in priſon. Why, did Chriſt the Son of God preach to the old world before he came in the fleſh? Yes, How? By his Spirit. What immediately? No, but by Noah, for he was a preacher of righteouſneſs: Why all the Prophets they had their Prophetical gifts, and they had them all from the Spirit of Chriſt, 2 Pet. 2.5. — And ſpared not the old world, but ſaved Noah the eighth perſon, a preacher of righteouſneſs, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. You muſt know, all the preachers under the Goſpel have their gifts from the Spirit; the Spirit is employed in ſending them out: the Spirit aſſiſteth them; the Spirit ſaid, Seperate me Barnabas and Saul: It was the Spirit which ſent all the Prophets out; the Spirit of Chriſt ſent out Noah, made him his Preacher. So then, by this Spirit of Chriſt Noah preached, or Chriſt preached in Noah. To whom? To the Spirits in priſon; that is, to the ſouls of thoſe wicked men that are now in priſon; that were in priſon at the time when Peter did write. When God drowned the world, that was not all; their bodies lay floating upon the great Sea, but their ſouls went down into Hell. Well; but ſay you, Did Chriſt by his Spirit preach to them after they went to Hell? No. They were preached to when they were ſometime diſobedient, in the times of Noah; as in the verſe following; the Spirits in priſon, that were ſometime diſobedient. Diſobedient to whom? To the Spirit. When? In the time of Noah; for they diſobeyed Noah, regarded not his preaching, nor the building of the Ark; looked upon him as a mad-man, they took not the warning, and were ſwallowed up in the flood, and are now in priſon for their diſobedience; they were diſobedient to the Spirit of Chriſt in Noah.
The Papiſts, by the Spirits in priſon, they would perſwade you, is to be meant a Limbus Patrum, (as they call it) a middle ſtate between Heaven and Hell, wherein the Patriarchs were held until the time that Jeſus Chriſt died; and that when Chriſt was dead, and his body in the grave (for that three days and nights) that Chriſt in his ſoul did deſcend into this Limbus, and there did preach himſelf unto the ſoul of Abraham, of Iſaac, and Jacob, and the reſt of thoſe good Spirits that were alive in former days, and took them out of that ſtate, and carried them to Heaven. Thus ſay the Papiſts; this is their Interpretation.
Firſt, But this is not to be believed; becauſe the Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſuch Spirits that were diſobedient, not of the Spirits of the Fathers: for the very Papists themſelves ſpeak of no Spirits in their Limbus, but only good Spirits; But the Apoſtle (in this place ſpeaks of none but diſobedient Spirits.
Secondly, 'Tis a vain Interpretation; becauſe if that their Limbus (or middle ſtate) is only a receptacle of good Spirits: Why, they needed not to have preaching after their death to them; becauſe they believed while they were upon the earth: and if they believed whilſt upon the earth, they were juſtified; and if they were juſtified, their ſins were taken away: and what then ſhould keep them out of Heaven? 'Tis a very impertinent thing to think, that Chriſt ſhould go into their Limbus, to preach faith to them that have believed already.
Thirdly, Their Interpretation dependeth much upon the interpreting the Spirit by which he was quickned; interpreting that to be meant of his ſoul. But if that cannot be meant of his ſoul, but of the Holy-Ghoſt, then their notion falls to the ground: for they read it thus, Chriſt was dead in the body, but kept alive in his ſoul; by which he went and preached unto theſe Fathers in their Limbo.
Laſtly, The Scripture is plain, that Chriſt did not go down into any ſuch middle-ſtate; for he ſaid to the Thief, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe. This can't be any middle-ſtate, where Paul ſaid, He ſaw and heard things that were unutterable. Well then, this is that the Apoſtle meaneth, that thoſe Spirits that are now in priſon, were ſometime alive in the body as we, and they heard the preaching of the Spirit of Chriſt in Noah; but for their diſobedience they were taken off by the flood, and their ſouls were laid up in Hell, as in a priſon.
Now the Doctrine ſhall be this;
That the Spirits or ſouls of wicked men, (when they die) they ſhall as priſoners of Gods juſtice be dragged out of their bodies; and by the righteous ſentence of God, ſhall be laid up in the priſon of Hell, for their diſobedience unto the Spirit of Chriſt, that preacheth in his Miniſters.
All this is contained in the words.
In the opening of it, there are theſe things I ſhall ſpeak to;
Firſt, What are theſe Priſoners? Spirits.
Secondly, How are theſe Priſoners carried away to their Priſon? By death (as thoſe of the old world were by a death cauſed by the flood).
Thirdly, What's this priſon? Hell.
Fourthly, What's the cauſe of their commitment? Diſobedience, diſobedience to the voice of the Spirit of Chriſt in his Miniſters.
Laſtly, Here is the juſtneſs of the Sentence implied; for inaſmuch as they are Gods priſoners, ſo they are priſoners that are juſtly impriſoned. I pray God by what you and I hear of it (this day), it may never be any of our lots; that you and I may never prove any of theſe dreadful Priſoners!
Firſt, What are theſe Priſoners? Spirits, Souls: thoſe immortal Souls that live and abide in you, while you are in this world. Your bodies they are like houſes that are made up of clay, of earth: but a houſe is not without its Tenant. God hath made no body, but he hath made it for a Tenant. Every human body hath his Tenant: What's that? The Soul, the Spirit. It is that immortal Spirit that is in you, by which you live, move, act, reaſon; by which you ſee, hear, walk: all the motions that are ſeen, or done by any part of you, come from the Spirit, from the Soul. And as it is with an old houſe, or any houſe, if it be pull'd down, the Tenant goes out of doors; if it be fir'd down, the Tenant ſteps out of doors, and perhaps on the other ſide of the ſtreet, looking upon his houſe burning down: The houſe is burnt, but the Tenant's alive: So it is with you, when theſe bodies of clay of yours fall, are they drowned (with theſe of the old world); ſhould they be burnt, ſhould they fall by a Fever, or any other way; your ſouls (like Tenants) they come out: That living ſpirit in you comes out, you give up the Ghoſt, give up the Spirit. The body returns (ſaith Solomon) to the earth, your Spirit returns to God, to be judged. This is the Priſoner. But, O what a ſad Priſoner is the ſoul of a wicked man, when ſtript of his body! He is a naked Priſoner, and a friendleſs Priſoner; which are two ſad circumſtances of a priſoner. When God ſendeth the Serjeant death, and ſeizeth upon the ſpirit of a wicked man, knocks at the door of his body; the body is faſt bolted, locked, no getting in. What does death do? breaks down the Body, pulls it about his ears: ſometime death drowns him, ſometime death hangs him, ſometime ſtabs him, ſometimes he goes to Sea, and is caſt away, ſometimes a Cart goes over him; and ſo the poor ſoul of the wicked man is arreſted; death lays hold of him, and drags him away to the Tribunal of God, and there is he in a naked condition: naked of the world, naked of his body: A poor thing! When a wicked mans ſpirit is in the world, he hath a houſe, a body; and out of his body he hath the caſements of his eyes to look through, and hath ſome kind of enjoyment in his meats and drinks. But when death comes, he pulls down the houſe about his ears, and the ſoul's drag'd away, and there is no more the light of the Sun, no more eating and drinking, no more the delights of the fleſh. He is like the malefactor that hath committed ſome great crime, and the Prince ſends the Officers, and they ſurround the houſe, and break it open, and drag him away in his ſhirt, and won't give him time to put on his cloaths. This is a ſad ſight. Juſt ſo will thy wicked ſoul, O thou wicked man, be dragged away without ſhirt, or hoſe, or ſhoe, out of the houſe of thy body. And when the poor priſoner, the ſpirit of a wicked man, is ſent by death to the Tribunal of God, he is in a friendleſs condition. If a man is Arreſted for debt, there may be ſome compoſition; ſome good neighbours may come and ſay, Pray have pity, he is a poor man, he cannot pay you, he will pay you when he can, I will lay down ſomewhat for him: you have ſuch a thing as that is here, that ſaves the poor man from priſon. But alas! thou poor wicked ſoul that wouldeſt take no warning, but haſt been diſobedient to the Goſpel, when death comes with a Commiſſion from God, from Chriſt the great Judg of quick and dead, he ſeizeth upon thee, draggeth thee away; and perhaps, when thou art dragging away, thou lookeſt about, what, can I have no friend to intercede for me? O, for a little more time to repent in! A little more time to pay my debts in! What, will none lay down a ranſome for me? No, No. Thou wicked man, while thou art in the body, Jeſus Chriſt comes often in his Miniſters, ſaying to thee, Thou wicked ſinner, thou art ten thouſand Talents in debt; Come ſinner, believe in me, repent of thy ſins againſt me, and I will pay all thy debts; I will diſcharge them all: but thou poor rebel wouldeſt not hearken to it, but thou wouldeſt go on, and run farther and farther. Now ſays Chriſt, I will have no more to do with him; Juſtice, ſeize upon him. Serjeant of death, arreſt him, drag him along with thee: bring him to my Tribunal, and there to priſon thou muſt go: and now poor ſoul, thou haſt no body to pay thy debts for thee; now thou muſt go, and pay them all thy ſelf: but thou wilt never be able to pay the uttermoſt farthing; nay, thou art not able to pay one farthing.
Well, but whether muſt I go? To priſon. What's that priſon? Hell (man), that's the priſon: ſo it is called a priſon, Rev. 20.1, 2, And I ſaw an Angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomleſs pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him: Where? why where he was looſed afterwards, for a time, Verſ. 7, And when the thouſand years are expired, Satan ſhall be looſed out of his priſon. This deep pit is here call'd a priſon; this deep pit where the Devil is chained, is a priſon, and thither muſt every arreſted ſinner be dragged into this pit, and laid in this priſon, in chains, under darkneſs. Why, ſay you, Why is Hell call'd a priſon (for theſe poor ſpirits to be laid in)?
Why, becauſe of the reſemblance that it hath to a priſon. In theſe three reſpects Hell is called a Priſon.
Firſt, It's a place of puniſhment, as Priſons are.
Secondly, It's a place of Reſtraint.
Thirdly, It's a place of Abode.
1. A priſon is a place of Puniſhment: Alas, your priſons are full of the inſtruments of puniſhment: Go into a priſon, and there you ſhall ſee your dark dungeon, without any light (or next to none), there you may ſee your Preſs-yard, where the malefactors are ſometimes preſs'd to death, and you may ſee the preſs, and the weights that are laid upon them: go into Priſons, and there you ſhall ſee Racks to torture men, to ſtretch them, to pull their limbs and members out of joynt; there you ſhall ſee Chains, Chains for the feet, for the hands, to bind them, to load them, to pain them. Priſons are places of puniſhment, torment, miſery. Hell is called a Priſon, becauſe it is a place of pain and torment. Why, what is there in Hell that anſwers to theſe Racks, Preſſes, Irons, Chains? Why there is darkneſs, there's your Dungeon, utter darkneſs, extream darkneſs: For Miſery, there is weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth. For Torment, there is fire, everlaſting fire that will never go out. There's a rack for the Spirit, there's the worm that never dieth. For a Jaylor, there's the Devil, that is in for his own fault, and to be tormented himſelf, and to torment others. O! 'tis a ſad Priſon! to be under a cruel Jaylor, in Chains, and fire, with a worm gnawing at the very heart, under the wrath of God! This is a ſad ſtate, ſinners! a ſad ſtate! The Lord help you to believe it. But you are apt to hear this as a Fable; but believe it, you will find this true. The old world was as ſecure as you are. Repent, faith God, or I will drown you all, and (that which is more) I will damn you too: I will ſend your bodies to rot in the ground, and your ſouls to the Priſon of Hell. Noah tells them ſo: Says God to Noah, Prepare thy Ark against the time: He did ſo. Why what did the reſt do? They believed it not, they regarded it not: they thought Noah muſt ſay ſomething, and they look't upon him as a Mad-man, and ſo you do Us. Sinners! take heed that death does not come and drag you away before you have repented, and obeyed the voice of Chriſt in his Miniſters. The old world becauſe they did not repent, they were damn'd for not hearkning to Noah; and you ſhall be damn'd if you will not hearken to Us. The Lord awaken your ſleepy ſouls, that you may not ſleep the ſleep of death; that you may not go down with your bodies to the Grave, and your ſouls to Hell.
But again, Hell is called a Priſon, becauſe it is a place of reſtraint; you can't go out when you pleaſe. Go to Newgate, they will talk with you through the grates, but they can't go out of doors, neither can friends come to them, but muſt ask the Jaylor leave: and if he hath commiſſion to deny any, away you muſt go, though a Wife, though a Father or Brother: So, poor ſoul, when God hath ſtript thee of thy body, and laid thee in this Priſon, thou ſhalt be reſtrained, and others reſtrained from coming to thee; there's no friend to come to thee then. Noah preached to the old world in the body, and ſo we do to you; but when you have by your diſobedience provoked God to cut you off, and lay your ſouls in this Priſon, there's no coming to you, no preacher then, no Chriſt, and no Spirit to offer Salvation then: you are poor Priſoners reſtrain'd and kept from all manner of comfort. O ſaith the rich man in Hell, Father Abraham, O that ſome would come and give me but the refreſhment of a drop of cold water to cool my tongue in this torment! No, ſays he, there's a gulf between us and you; 'tis a Gaol, and the Priſoner is bounded up by the Juſtice of God; and there is a charge, none ſhall come from us to you, nor from you to us. It's a Priſon, you are reſtrained, poor ſinners! Will you believe? No, you don't believe. Becauſe you dont believe, you will be damn'd: This damn'd the old world, and this will damn you, if you don't believe.
Thirdly, Hell is a Priſon, as it is a place of Abode. When you are in Priſon, if it be for debt, How can you get out? Why theſe Three ways you may get out of theſe Priſons.
1. By breaking of them: but you can't break the gates of Hell, no you can't; you may clamber theſe walls, and come down by ropes: but there is a great gulf, that you may as well think of clambering the Stars, as to get out of this Priſon. And again,
2. There is an other way, if you can't pay your debts, another may: But there is no paying for you out of Hell. Chriſt hath once done it, if you will repent he will pay all for you; but if once clapt into that Priſon, Chriſts blood will profit you nothing. Or,
Laſtly, By Pardon. If no body will pay the debt, the Creditor may forgive him: but believe it, ſinner, you will never have ſuch a pardon from God; for here's your time of pardon, if thou wilt repent, Chriſt he will pardon thee, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts: but if you die, no more pardon, no more offers of Grace; then thou art ſhut up for ever. 'Tis a Priſon. Never man that was in Hell, got out of Hell more. So much for the Third.
Fourthly, What's the Crime (having diſcourſed of the Priſon)? Wh…'s the Crime? Diſobedience. That were ſometimes diſobedient in the days of Noah. To whom? To the Spirit of Chriſt. In whom? Noah Where … the old world. Why, did the Spirit appear in viſible ſhape? No, but in Noah, a Preacher of righteouſneſs. They hearkned not to Noah, and for that they periſhed: That is the great crime for which men have from the beginning of the world gone down into Hell, for their diſobedience to the Spirit of Chriſt in his Prophets, and in his Miniſters. Why, what were the ſins that they were guilty of, that Noah called them to repent of? Why you ſhall ſee in the 6 Chap. of Gen. and the 5 ver. (they were a wicked ſort of people, and made God repent that ever he made them, Gen. 6.5), And God ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually. Here were wicked ſpirits, wicked ſouls: they are the principals in ſin, and they are the principals in puniſhment. The wickedneſs of their hearts. Men are condemn'd for the wickedneſs of their thoughts, as well as for the wickedneſs of their lives, The 11, 12, 13, Verſes, The earth alſo was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold it was corrupt: for all fleſh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God ſaid unto Noah, the end of all fleſh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them: and behold, I will deſtroy them with the earth. Here are wicked hearts, and wicked lives; wicked thoughts, and wicked deeds: When God does impriſon ſouls in Hell, it is for their wicked thoughts, as well as for their wicked lives; and ſome of you perhaps never take account of the wickedneſs of your thoughts; and yet God does take a a ſpecial account of your wicked thoughts. And in this ſtate of ſin they were a ſecure people, they feared nothing; they went on in trading, and merry in their buſineſs, as the world is juſt now. As in Mat. 24.38, As in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and givîng in marriage, until the day that Noah entred into the Ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; ſo ſhall alſo the coming of the ſon of man be. They were ſinners, wicked rebellious ſinners, and ſecure ſinners, and Noah was ſent to awaken them out of this ſecurity, and called them to repentance, and threatned the wrath of God upon them if they did not repent. But (ſays Chriſt) they regarded it not; no, not to the very day that the flood came. And ſo it will be (ſays he) againſt the coming of the ſon of man. And is it not ſo now? Look about your ſtreets, in the morning there you hear the clattering of your Shop doors, and ſetting out of your wares, and buying and ſelling; and when Breakfaſt, or Dinner, or Supper comes, you ſet down, and eat and drink; you lie down and riſe again; and ſometimes you go to the Change, and buſie you are, like ſo many Ants; and here we Miniſters of the Goſpel come, like Noah, we ſay, Repent, repent, for God hath appointed a day wherein he will judg the world for ſin, by the man Chriſt Jeſus. Yea, that he hath a priſon to throw your ſouls in at death, where he hath darkneſs to affright you, and chains to bind you, and fire to burn you; and you mind us no more than theſe people did in the days of Noah; no, not you: till ſickneſs comes, or the day of your death; and then you begin to bethink your ſelves, and cry, O that I had an Ark now! O that I had an intereſt in Chriſt! O that I had Grace and a title to Heaven! Now nothing but Chriſt, nothing but Grace, nothing but praying and ſending for Miniſters to come and talk with you. Here is a Cuſtomer come in, O don't talk to me now! O I muſt mind Heaven! But before that time, you are as careleſs as the old World was, until the flood came and ſwept them all away. O you poor fools! what do you do? you are buſie for time, and regardleſs for eternity: Death is at your doors, and you know not how ſoon you may hear the blows and clattering about your body, and your houſe fall, and your ſouls hurried away; and yet do you mind nothing but eating and drinking, buying and ſelling, and the like. What will you do? The Lord awaken you! Here you ſit and hear me, and you are ſtupified many of you, you gaze upon me, you do not know what to think of what I ſay; and thou art queſtioning whether what I ſay be true; and thou art thinking to eſcape, but aſſure thy ſelf ſinner, that as ſure as God is in Heaven, thou wilt not eſcape, if thou doſt not believe now in this thy day, when God is calling upon thee, now hear his voice; but if thou goeſt on ſecure, as the old World, ſay you had warning, and that I gave you warning this day: God knows but before ſeven days hence thou maiſt be in this priſon. O come to Chriſt that your debts may be diſcharged. But you go away, go to dinner, and come again, make it a hearing-buſineſs, and do no more, and think your ſelves ſecure: This will not ſerve thy turn, poor ſinner, no, no; no, this will not do. Go into thy Cloſet and down upon thy knees, tell God what a ſinner thou art; tell him how much thou haſt provoked him, and promiſe him to obey him for the time to come; and never give him reſt till he hath given thee an intereſt in Chriſt, and an aſſurance of an Ark; and then go comfortably, man, about thy buſineſs, when thou haſt got an aſſurance of another world. Noah might go and eat, and drink comfortably, he had an Ark to go into when the flood came; ſo thou poor ſoul if thou wouldſt but repent and believe in Jeſus Chriſt, thou maiſt comfortably eat and drink, and buy and ſell as thou haſt occaſion, for thou haſt an Ark. But for thee to live in a wicked ungodly way, and take no thought for eternity: what wilt thou do ſinner, when death comes and awakens thee? O that the Lord would awaken you this day! How few of you have been a hammering upon this Ark? a making this Ark? I tell thee, (I will be a Prophet to thee, ſinner!) thou wilt wiſh a thouſand times that thou hadſt taken this counſel. Be wiſe now in time; thou wilt repent that thou haſt not prayed more, that thou haſt not repented more. O do it now then, for the Lords ſake; for when thou art once thrown into priſon, thou art gone for ever. It is for the diſobeying of the Goſpel; and therefore the rich man in the Goſpel cried, Father Abraham, I have brethren upon earth, O that ſome would go and tell them: no, no, ſays Abraham, they have Moſes and the Prophets, if they will not believe them, neither will they believe, though one go from the dead. So then the rich man is in hell; how ſo? Why I did not believe my ſin would bring me there? Why, did not Moſes and the Prophets tell thee ſo? Yes, But I did not believe; O that ſome would come from the dead! ſo ſinners, you go on in ſin, why do you ſo? Becauſe you do not believe what will come of it. Why, did not Miniſters tell you ſo? and they are ſent of Chriſt to tell you ſo? hath not Moſes and the Prophets told you ſo? Yes, yes; But you will not believe us, nor Chriſt, nor his Apoſtles, nor Moſes, nor the Prophets. Men will have their ſins, and they will not fear being damned; though all the whole cloud of witneſſes warn them, they regard them not. But though you will not regard them now, they will all come in as witneſſes againſt you at that day. Had not you a Bible? Yes, but I could not read. But did not you hear it read, and had it preached to you? What can you ſay? But ſay you, here's a priſoner, and ſent to priſon too, for diſobeying the Goſpel; but is it juſtice for God to ſend men to priſon for not hearkning to a company of prating Preachers? Prating! God will vindicate us from prating; I tell you, we come with our Commiſſion from God to you, and Chriſt ſpeaks by me, and by every Miniſter that cometh to you; and if you reject us, you reject him; if you reflect upon us for prating, you may as well ſay, it is a prating Chriſt. We beſeech you in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled to God. We come not with our own words, but the words of the Lord we bring and preach.
Well, but is it juſt for God to damn me thus eternally in a priſon, becauſe I will not repent of my ſin? Yes. Why?
Firſt, becauſe God does it.
Secondly, becauſe thou deſerv'ſt it.
God! why what is he? A righteous God, a juſt God, juſt in his nature, righteous in all his ways; and when he does pour out his plagues upon ſinners, the Heavens glorifie his Juſtice, and cry Hoſanna's to him. See how God is applauded in his ſevere acts of Juſtice upon men: Rev. 15.1, 3, And I ſaw another ſign in heaven, great and marvellous, ſeven Angels, having the ſeven laſt plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. Ver. 3. And they ſung the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the ſong of the Lamb, ſaying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; juſt and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Go Angels, pour out the plagues full of my wrath upon yonder rebellious ſinners. And when the Angels come upon this work, Righteous, O Lord God Almighty art thou, thou loving King of Saints: Thou loving King of Saints that haſt mercy for thouſands, and ten thouſands of them that love thee: But for them that hate thee, Just and righteous art thou, O God, in all thy ways of pouring out plagues full of thy wrath upon men. O ſinner, the Angels will ſhout up the Juſtice of God for pouring down the wrath of God upon you. So ſinner, do but think of it; ſuppoſe thou Drunkard wert to die to night, and to be dragged to the Tribunal of Chriſt, and to receive this ſentence, Go, get thee down to thy fellow-priſoners that have diſobeyed the voice of my Son. O poor Drunkard! for thee to hear thouſands of Angels (preſently) ſhout, and ſay, Righteous and juſt art thou, O Lord God, for ſending that Drunkard to hell. O we knew with what a hard heart he perſever'd in his ſins, notwithſtanding all the calls and warnings given him by the Spirit of thee our God in thy Miniſters. Rev. 16.5, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and waſt, and ſhalt be, becauſe thou hast judged thus. Angels admire God for judging thus; that is, for judging the ſpirits of wicked men to hell; and afterwards for raiſing their bodies, and uniting ſpirit and body together, and throwing down both into hell. Now,
Secondly, Thou haſt deſerv'd it, ſinner; thy crime deſerves it: What is the crime? The crime is diſobedience, rebellion, ſtubborneſs, obſtinacy in ſin; men are damn'd for that. The wicked world had evil thoughts, were full of evil thoughts and imaginations continually, they were full of violence, full of oppreſſion. Were they damned for that? Yes; but not only for that. What then? why it was becauſe they were told (by the Spirit of Chriſt in Noah) the wickedneſs of theſe thoughts, how they angred God, and God repented that he made them; but notwithſtanding this, they would go on; this is that which damns the ſinner; 'tis not barely, becauſe a ſinner, but it is becauſe when he is called upon (by the Miniſters of Chriſt) to repent, he will not repent. You poor ſinners, you have lived lives without God, without Chriſt, prayerleſs lives, drunken lives, unclean lives, Sabbath-breaking lives; ſhall theſe damn me? no ſinner, if thou wilt now (while Chriſt ſpeaks by his Miniſters) hearken to his voice, and not harden thy heart againſt the Call of the Goſpel; theſe ſhall not damn thee, if thou wouldſt but repent and confeſs them to God, and give thy ſelf up to Chriſt, to be ruled and governed by him: God for Chriſts ſake will then blot them all out, and they ſhall never riſe up in judgment againſt thee. What is it damns me then? why this, That thou art a Drunkard, and wilt be ſo; a Swearer, and wilt be ſo; an unclean perſon, and wilt be ſo; a prayerleſs man, (thirty or forty years) and wilt not call upon God: Thou art an obſtinate ſinner, a rebellious ſinner; though Chriſt calls by one Miniſter, and another, yet thou regardeſt it not: 'tis for this that God will throw thee to hell; and how juſt a thing is it for thee to be damned for ſtubbornneſs? If a child hath committed a fault, and will be reclaim'd, the father will forgive him; but if he will go on ſtill in his ſtubbornneſs, the natural affections of the father will be turned to hardneſs. You ſee the Prodigal when he came home crying, I have ſinned againſt heaven and before thee: father let me be as one of thy hired ſervants: The father meets him, falls about his neck, and kiſſes him, takes him home, and ſays, My ſon was loſt, and is found: he was dead, and is alive again; and there was joy and rejoicing. But if this ſon now after he had ſpent all, and continued with his harlots, and never had thought of returning, he might have died & rotted there in that field with the ſwine. So ſinner, if thou wilt ſtill keep to thy ſwiniſh luſts, and there lie and die, and rot, and go to hell, God does not matter thee, Chriſt will not regard thee. But if it comes into thy heart, Lord I am in a ſtarving condition, here I am, a rebel, an unclean perſon, a drunkard; I am a weary, I ſee I am undone; I come to thee, father. Go now, and he will accept of thee, and receive thee. But if thou art ſtubborn and rebellious, and wilt go on, thou maiſt expect no other, but that God will inflict upon thee, hell to thy ſoul at death, and at the Reſurrection, hell to ſoul and body.
But there are Aggravations of this thy ſtubbornneſs, for thou art ſtubborn,
Firſt, Againſt the tenders of mercy that are made to thee.
Secondly, Againſt the long-ſuffering of God to thee. And,
Thirdly, Thou art ſtubborn, notwithſtanding thou haſt had ſo much warning.
And theſe things will juſtifie God, and lay a foundation for condemning thee in thine own Conſcience: As,
Firſt, Mercy, mercy! I will pardon their iniquities; let a wicked man forſake his ſins. What then? I will have mercy upon him, and will abundantly pardon him. Here are tenders of mercy offering ſtrength to help thee to conquer thy luſts (according to that of the Prophet), O ye ſimple ones, how long will ye love ſimplicity? Are you blind? I will teach you. Are you weak? I will ſtrengthen you. How wilt thou do it? I will pour out my Spirit upon thee. Haſt thou a mind to have Grace? He will give it thee. Haſt thou a mind to have the Spirit of Grace and Supplication? He will beſtow it upon thee. But for thee to go on in ſin, and reject pardon when offered: What canſt thou ſay for thy ſelf?
Again, Theſe tenders of mercy are made with long-ſuffering. There are a great many ſinners (I am afraid ſome here are not yet Converted), who all for a long time have heard Sermons: God hath been calling upon you. As God ſaid of the old world: Here is a wicked people, What ſhall I do with them? What? Why Juſtice might have ſaid, deſtroy them. No, ſaith God, they are a raſh giddy-headed-people, I will give them warning. How long? Why almoſt one hundred and twenty years. So ſinner, God ſaw thee Drunk, heard thee Swear: Juſtice might have ſaid, cut him off: No, ſaith God, I will try him with another month of Sermons, another year of Sermons; I will try what my Children, that are his Friends, will ſay to him. O ſinner! The long-ſuffering of God waiteth upon thee. Grace cries, repent, and I will pardon thee: Repent, and I will give thee my Spirit: though thou art a wicked Rebel, I will not ſnatch thee away; I will let thee live five years longer, ten years longer: O, if thou goeſt to Hell, what will Conſcience ſay? O thou art a ſtubborn ſinner. Thou muſt ſay, Righteous art thou, O God, in all thy ways, and juſt in all thy judgments. I might have been in Heaven, but I would not; and now I am in Hell, and that juſtly; becauſe I preferred my luſts before God.
Laſtly, Never ſay, 'tis an unjuſt Sentence; becauſe God gives you warning: There is the merit of the cauſe. If nothing will do, Why then take notice God gives you warning. He does not let you go on, and ſay, let them alone, I will be even with them at length: He might have done ſo: No, but in pity to poor ſinners, he gives them warning. Sinner, repent, ſaith God, and be reconcil'd to me; come and lay hold upon Chriſt, for elſe I will damn thee. Take notice of it, there is a Tophet prepared, and everlaſting burnings prepared, a worm that never dieth: and I tell thee before-hand what it will coſt thee, and yet ſinners will go on ſtill. Never complain that God hath done thee wrong, he hath offered to give thee his Spirit to ſanctifie thee, and ſave thee. But if thou wilt not, after all, thank thy ſelf if thou goeſt to Hell. O ſinners, What will you do? Will you imitate the old world, or imitate Noah? Why, if you imitate the old world, you ſee then what a deſperate courſe you are running; you are running your bodies to the Grave, and your ſouls to Hell: For when the flood came there was not one ſpared: The flood takes whole Families; they look gaſtly one at another: Father, what ſhall I do (ſaith the child)? And when the world was full of cries and ſcrieks, and they all drowned, one would have thought this was enough, yet God had no pity upon them; for as ſoon as they were dead, their diſobedient ſouls were laid in Priſon.
Well now, ſay you, What ſhall we do? Why, obey the Goſpel, This is your Duty. Obey Chriſt Jeſus ſpeaking by his Spirit in Us, poor men, that are the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt; for we are but as inſtruments to convey the mind of the great God to you; for certainly, what I have Preached to you, is no other than the word of Jeſus Chriſt, and he will make it good. O get into ſome corner, and cry mightily to the Lord, and pray Chriſt to pay all your debts for you; and that the blood of Chriſt might take away all your iniquities, and that you might have an Ark to ſave you from the fire that will burn the world; as Noah had an Ark to ſave him and his houſe from the flood that did drown the world; and then you are ſafe, and never ſafe till then. The Lord awaken you, that you may take warning, and not go away and mind no more what you have heard, than they did, and ſo be loſt as they were.