A Few Sighs from Hell, Exposition · Verse 30
Ver. 30. And he ſaid, nay Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they would repent.
THe verſe before, you know, as I told you, it was part of an anſwer to ſuch as loſe their ſouls, ſo it is a vindication of the Scriptures of Moſes and the Prophets, where he ſaith, They have Moſes and the Prophets let them hear them; as if he had ſaid, they ſhould have cloſed in with the tenders of mercy held out by Moſes, Samuel, David, Iſaiah, Jeremiah, together with the reſt of the glorious, & certain truths that I moved them to utter and hold forth in their generation, to the world, and alſo which they have left on record both for the warning, comfort, and reproof of them who in after ages ſhould come into the world, both by holding forth the ſtate of man by nature, how miſerable it was, and by holding out the mercy and grace of God, and how large that was: and alſo, how free God is and ever was to ſave them, that did come the right way to him, namely by Chriſt: together with the lamentable and ſad ſtate that thoſe were, and are, and ſhall be in, that did turne their backs on what they did then ſpeak, and afterwards leave on record for the good of ſucceeding generations; if they vvould, or v ill be bleſſed that are yet alive, let them ovvn them, clo…e in vvith that vvhichwhich is held forth by them, namely the Meſias, or Jeſus, that came from heaven to earth on purpoſe to lay dovvn his life for the rebellious, (as I ſaid before.)
Novv this verſe is an anſvver to the former, and ſuch an one as hath in it a kind of reject…on of the former anſvver. Nay Father Abraham. Nay ſaith he, do not ſay ſo, do not put them off vvith this; ſend one from the dead, and then there vvill be ſome hopes. 'Tis true; thou ſpeakeſt of the Scriptures of Moſes and the Prophets, and ſayeſt, let them hear them, but theſe things are not ſo vvell as I could vviſh, I had rather thou wouldſt ſend one from the dead. In theſe vvords therefore, Nay, Father Abraham, there is a repulſe given. Nay, let it not be ſo. Nay I do not like of that anſvver; Hear Moſes and the Prophets? nay. The ſame expreſſion is uſed by Chriſt, Luk. 13.2, 3. Think you that they upon whom the tower of Siloe fell, were ſinners above others? I tell you nay, for except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. So here, Nay, Father Abraham, &c. By this vvord nay, therefore is ſignified a rejecting the firſt anſvver. Novv obſerve, I pray you, the reaſon vvhy he ſayes nay, is, becauſe God doth put over all thoſe that vvill be ſaved to obſerve and receive the truth contained in Scripture, and believe that. To have high eſteem of them, and to love and ſearch them, as Chriſt ſaith, Search the Scriptures,—for they are they which teſtifie of me. Joh. 5.39. But the damned ſay, Nay; as if he had ſaid, It is true, the Scriptures are truth, and every curſe contained in, and held forth by them, ſhall be fulfilled, and have its time to be executed on them vvho live and die in unbelief; as novv I feel by vvoful experience, for I ſvvim novv in the curſes and vvrath vvhichwhich once they told me I ſhould partake of. But this is the thing to be ſhort, my brethren are unbelievers, and do not regard the word of God, I know it by my ſelf, for when I was in the world it was ſo with me. 'Tis true, many a good Sermon did I hear, many a time was I admoniſhed, deſired, intreated, beſeeched, threatned, forewarned of what I now ſuffer: But alas, I was ignorant, ſelf-conceited, ſurly, obſtinate and rebellious. 'Tis true, many a time the preacher told me, hell would be my portion, the devill would wreck his malice on me, God would pour on me his ſore diſpleaſure, but he had as good have preached to the ſtock, to the poſt, to the ſtones I trod on. 'Tis true, his words rang in mine ears, but I kept them from my heart. I remember he alledged many a Scripture, but thoſe I valued not; the Scriptures thought I, what are they? a dead letter, a little ink and paper, of three or four ſhillings price. Alas, what is the Scripture, give me a Ballad, a Newsbook, George on horſeback, or Bevis of Southhampton, give me ſome book that teaches curious arts, that tells of old fables; but for the holy Scriptures I cared not. And as it was with me then, ſo it is with my brethren now; we were all of one ſpirit, loved all the ſame ſins, ſlighted all the ſame counſels, promiſes, incouragements, and threatnings of the Scriptures; and they are ſtill as I left them, ſtill in unbelief, ſtill provoking God, and rejecting good counſel, ſo hardned in their wayes, ſo bent to follow ſin, that let the Scriptures be ſhewed to them daily, let the meſſengers of Chriſt preach till their hearts ake, till they fall down dead with preaching, they will rather trampleit under foot, and ſwine like, rent them, than cloſe in with thoſe gentle and bleſſed profers of the Goſpel.
Thus therefore theſe words, (Nay Father Abraham, but if one ſhould riſe from the dead they would repent, are to be underſtood. That the world of ungodly men will not regard the Scriptures ſeriouſly. Though they have Moſes and the Prophets, (the Scriptures) they will not repent or heartily cloſe in with Jeſus Chriſt, though the Scriptures do witneſs againſt them. If therefore there be any good done to them, they muſt have it another way. I think, ſaith he, it would work much on them, if one ſhould riſe from the dead. And this truth indeed is ſo evident, that ungodly ones have a light eſteem of the Scriptures, that it needs not many ſtrong arguments to prove it, being ſo evidently manifeſted by their every dayes practice, both in words and actions, almoſt in all things they ſay and do. Yet for the ſatisfaction to the Reader, I ſhall ſhew you by a Scripture or two, (though I might ſhew many) that this was, and is true with th… ge…erality of the world. See the words of Nehemiah in his 9. Chapter, concerning the children of Iſrael, who though the Lord afforded them mercy upon mercy, as it is from ver. 19. to ver. 25. yet ver. 26. ſaith he, Nevertheleſs they were diſobedient for all thy goodneſs toward them, and rebelled againſt thee, (but how?) and cast thy law behind their back. And was that all? No, for they ſlew the Prophets which teſtified againſt them, to turn them to thee; and they wrought great provocations. Obſerve. 1. They ſinned againſt mercy. And then. 2. they ſlighted the law, or word of God 3. They ſlew the Prophets that declared it unto them. 4. The Lord c…unts it a great provocation. See Heb. 3. from ver 10. to ver. 19. And ſee Zach. 7.11, 12. But they refuſ…d to hearken, (ſaith he there of the wicked) and pulled away the ſhoulder, and ſtopped their ears, that they ſhould not hear the law: Yea, they made their hearts hard as an adament ſtone, leſt they ſhould hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hoſts ſent unto them by his ſpirit in the former Prophets, &c. Mark I pray you, here is alſo, Firſt, a refuſing to hearken, namely to the words of the Propehts.
2. That they might ſo do, they ſtopped their cares.
3. If any thing was to be done they pulled away their ſhoulder.
4. To effect this, they labor to make their hearts hard as an adament ſtone.
5. And all this, leſt they ſhould hear and cloſe in with Jeſus and live, and be delivered from the wrath to come, all which things do hold out an unwillingneſs to ſubmit to, and embrace the words of God; and ſo Jeſus Chriſt which is teſtified of by them. Many other Scriptures I might bring in for confirmation of the thing, as that in Amos 7.12, 13. alſo 2 Sam. 2.24, 25. 2 Chron. 25.15, 16. Jer. 7.23, 24, 25, 26, 27. and Chap, 16, 12. Read alſo ſeriouſly that ſaying, in 2 Chron. 36.15. where he ſaith, And the Lord God of their Fathers ſent unto them, How? by his meſſengers riſing up betimes, becauſe he had compaſſion on his people, and on his dwelling place. And did they make them welcome? No, But mocked (them) the meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words: And was that all? No, they miſuſed his Prophets. How long? untill the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt them. In how high a meaſure? Till there was no remedy. See alſo Jer. 29.19. Chap. 25.3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Luk. 11.49.
But alas we need not be ſo earneſt in quoting the Scriptures ſo plentifully, ſeeing any one or two places are enough. And beſides, the converſation of almoſt all men doth bear witneſs to the ſame, both religious, and profane perſons: in that they daily neglect, reject, and turn their backs upon the plain teſtimony of the Scriptures.
As 1. Take the threatnings laid down in holy writ, and how are they diſregarded; there are but a few places in the Bible, but there are threatnings againſt one ſinner or other; againſt drunkards, ſwearers, liars, proud perſons, ſtrumpets, whoremonger, covetous railers, extortioners, theeves, lazy perſons; In a word, all manner of ſins are reproved, and without faith in the Lord Jeſus, there is a ſore puniſhment to be executed on the committers of them: and all this made mention of in the Scriptures.
But for all this, how thick, and by heaps, do theſe wretches walk up and down our ſtreets? Do but go into the Alehouſes & you ſhall ſee almoſt every room beſprinkled with them, ſo foming out their own ſhame, that it is enough to make the heart of a Saint to tremble, in ſo much that they would not be bound to have ſociety with them any long while for all the world. For as the wayes of the godly are not liked of by the wicked, even ſo the wayes of the wicked are an abomination to the juſt, Prov. 29.27. Pſal. 120.5, 6.
As now to particularize ſome things. The Scriptures ſay, Curſed is the man that truſteth in man, that maketh fleſh his arm, and whoſe heart departeth from the Lord. Jer. 17, 5.
And yet how many poor ſouls are there in the world, that ſtand in ſo much aw, and dread of man, and do ſo highly eſteem their favour, that they will rather venture their ſouls in the hands of the devil, with their favour, then they will fly to Jeſus Chriſt for the ſalvation of their ſoul, if they muſt loſe their favour, and have their frownes and diſpleaſure for the ſame. Nay, though they be convinced in their ſouls that the way is the way of God; yet how do they labour to ſtiſle convictions, and turn their ears away from the truth, and all becauſe they will not loſe the favour of an oppoſite neighbour. Oh! I dare not for my Maſter, my Brother, my Landlord, I ſhall loſe his favour, his houſe of work, and ſo decay my calling. O ſaith another, I would willingly go in this way, but for my Father, he chides and tells me, he will not ſtand my friend when I come to wants; I ſhall never enjoy a penyworth of his goods, he will diſinherit me. And I dare not, ſaith another, for my Husband, for he will be a railing, and tells me, he will turn me out of doors, he will beat me, and cut off my legs. But I tell you, if any of theſe, or any other things be ſo prevalent with thee now, as to keep thee from ſeeking after Chriſt in his wayes; they will alſo be ſo prevalent with God againſt thee, as to make him caſt off thy ſoul, becauſe thou didſt rather truſt man then God; and delight in the imbracings of man, rather than in the favour of the Lord.
2. Again, the Scripture ſaith, He that being often reproved heardneth his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed and that without remedy, Prov. 29.1. Yet many are ſo far from turning, though they have been convinced of their wretched ſtate an hundred times; that when convictions or trouble for ſin comes on their conſciences, they go on ſtill in the ſame manner reſiſting and choaking the ſame, though remedileſs deſtruction be hard at their heels.
3. Again, thou haſt heard ſay, Ʋnleſs a man be borne again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Joh. 3.3, 5, 7. And yet thou goeſt on in a natural ſtate, an unregenerate condition, nay, thou doſt reſolve never to turn nor be changed, though hell be appointed on purpoſe to ſwallow up ſuch, Iſa. 14.9. Pſal. 9.17. The wicked ſhall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
4. Again the Scriptures ſaith plainly, That he that loveth and maketh a lie, ſhall have his part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone. Rev. 21.8, 27. And yet thou art ſo far from dreading it, that it is thy delight to jeaſt and jeer, and lye for a penny or two pence or ſix pence gain. And alſo if thou canſt make the reſt of thy companions merry, by telling things that are falſe of them that are better then thy ſelf, thou doſt not care a ſtraw. Or if thou heareſt a lie from, or of another, thou wilt tell it, and ſwear to the truth of it. O miſerable!
5. Thou haſt heard and read, That he that believes not, ſhall be damned. Mar. 16.16. And that all men have not faith. 2 Theſſ. 3.2. and yet thou doſt ſo much diſregard theſe things, that it is like thou didſt ſcarce ever ſo much as examine ſeriouſly whether thou wert in the faith or no; but doſt content thy ſelf with the hypocrites hope, which at the laſt God will cut off, and count it no better then the ſpiders web. Job 8.13, 14. or the houſe that is builded on the ſands, Luk. 6.49. Nay, thou peradventure doſt flatter thy ſelf, & thinkeſt that thy faith is as good as the beſt of them all, when alas poor ſoul, thou mayeſt have no ſaving faith at all; which thou haſt not, if thou be not borne again and made a new creature. 2 Cor. 2.17.
6. Thou haſt heard, That he that neglects Gods great ſalvation, ſhall never eſcape his great damnation. Heb. 2.3. compared with Luke 14.24. and Rev. 14.19, 20. And yet when thou art invited, intreated, and beſeeched to come in, (Luk. 14.17, 18. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. Rom. 12.1.) thou wilt make any excuſe to ſerve the turn. Nay, thou wilt be ſo wicked, as to put off Chriſt time after time, notwithſtanding he is ſo freely proferred to thee: a little ground, a few oxen, a farme, a wife, a two penny matter, a play, nay, the fear of a mock, a ſcoffe, or a jeer, to be of greater weight to draw thee back, than the ſalvation of thy ſoul to draw thee forward.
7. And thou haſt heard that, Whoſoever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God. Jam, 4.4. But thou regardeſt not theſe things, but contrariwiſe, rather then thou wilt be out of the friendſhip and favour of this world, thou wilt ſinne againſt thine own conſcience, and get thy ſelf into favour by fawning and flattering of the world. Yea, rather then thou wilt go without it, thou wilt diſſemble, lye, backbite thy neighbour, and an hundred other tricks thou wilt have. O ſad!
8. You have heard that the day of judgement is near, in which you and I all of us mu…t appear before the tribunal of Jeſus Chriſt, and there be made to give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead; even of all that ever we did, yea, of all our ſins in thought, and word, and deed, and ſhall certainly be damned for them too, if we cloſe not in with our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and what he hath done and ſuffered for eternal life, and that not notionally or contradictionally, but really & ſavingly in the power and by operation of the ſpirit, through faith (Eccleſ. 11.9, 12, 14. Heb. 9, 27. Acts 10.42. Acts 17.30, 31. 2 Cor. 5.10. Rev, 20.12.) And I ſaw the dead, ſmall and great ſtand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of thoſe things that were written in the books. There is the book of the Creatures, the book of Conſcience, the book of the Lords Remembrance, the book of the Law, the book of the Goſpel. (Rom. 1.20. compare, with Rom. 2.12, 15. Rev. 16. ver. 19. Joh. 12.48.) Then ſhall he ſeparate them one from another, as a ſhepherd divideth his ſheep from the goats, and ſhall ſet the ſheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. (Matth. 25.30, 31, 32.) And ſhall ſay to them on his right hand, Come ye bleſſed, ver. 34. But to the other go, or depart ye curſed, (ver. 41.) Yet notwithſtanding the Scriptures do ſo plainly and plentifully ſpeak of theſe things, alas! who is there that is ſo weaned from the world and from their ſins and pleaſures, as to fly from the wrath to come, (Mat. 3.7.) notwithſtanding the Scripture ſaith alſo, That heaven and earth ſhall paſs away, rather than one jot or one tittle of the word ſhall fail, till all be fulfilled, they are ſo certain, Luke 21.37.
But leaving the threatnings, let us come to the promiſes, and ſpeak ſomewhat of them, and you may ſee how light men make of them, and how little they ſet by them, notwithſtanding the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken them.
As firſt, Turn ye fools, ye ſcorners, ye ſimple ones at my reproof; and behold I will pour out my ſpirit upon you. Prov. 1.24. And yet perſons had rather be in their fooliſhneſs and ſcorning ſtill, and had rather embrace ſome filthy luſt then the holy, undefiled, and bleſſed Spirit of Chriſt thorow the promiſe, though by it, as many as receive it, are ſealed unto the day of redemption, Eph. 4.30. And although he that lives and dies without it, is none of Chriſts, Rom. 8.9.
2. God hath ſaid, If thou do but come to him in Chriſt, though your ſins be as red as ſcarlet, they ſhall be as white as ſnow: and he will by no means cast thee away, (compare Iſa. 1.18. with Job 6.37.) And yet poor ſouls will not come to Chriſt that they might have life. (Joh. 5.41.) but rather after their hardneſs and impenitent heart, treaſure up unto themſelves wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. Rom. 2.4, 5, 6.
3. Chriſt Jeſus hath ſaid in the word of truth, That if any man will ſerve and follow him, Where he is, there ſhall alſo his ſervant be, Joh. 12.26. but yet poor ſouls chooſe rather to follow ſin, Satan, and the world, though their companions be the devills and damned ſouls for ever. Mat. 25.41.
4. He hath alſo ſaid,Luke 12.31. Seek firſt the kingdom of God and all other things ſhall be added. But let whoſo will ſeek after the kingdom of heaven, in the firſt place, for them; For they will take time while time ſerves to get the things of this life for them and their ſeed, while it is to be had: And if it be ſo that they muſt needs ſeek after heaven, or elſe be damned in hell, they will ſtay till they have more leiſure, till they can better attend to it; till they have other things handſome about them; till they are older; when they have little elſe to do; or when they come to be ſick, and to die. Then Lord have mercy upon them; though it be ten thouſand to one but they periſh for ever.
For commonly the Lord hath this way to deal with ſuch ſinners who put him off when he is ſtriving with them, & tenders his Son & his Goſpel to them, either to laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh, (Prov. 1, 26.27, 28.) or elſe ſend them to the gods they have ſerved, which are the devils, Judg. 10.13, 14. (Go to the gods you have ſerved, and let them deliver you, ſaith he,) compare this with Joh. 8.44.
5. He hath ſaid, There is no man that forſaketh father, or mother, wife or children, or lands for his ſake, and the Goſpels, but ſhall have an hundred fold in this world, with perſecution, and in the world to come, life everlaſting. Mark 10.29, 30.
But men for the moſt part are ſo far off from believing the certainty of this, that the will ſcarce loſe the earning of a penny to hear the word of God, the Goſpel of ſalvation. Nay, they will neither go themſelves nor ſuffer others to go, (if they can help it) without threatning to do them a miſchief, if it lie in their way: Nay further, many are ſo far from parting from any worldly gain, for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpels, that they are ſtill ſtriving, by hook and by crook, as we ſay, by ſwearing, lying, couſening, ſtealing, covetouſneſs, extortion, oppreſſion, forgery, bribery, flattery, or any other way, to get more, though they get together with theſe worldly gains, death, wrath, damnation, hell, the devil, and all the plagues that God can powr upon them. Now if any do not run with them to the ſame exceſs of riot, but rather for all their threats, will be ſo bold, and careleſs (as they call it) as to follow the wayes of God; if they can do no more, yet they will whet their tongues like a ſword to wound them, and do them the greateſt miſchief they can, both in ſpeaking againſt them to neighbours, to wives, to husbands, to landlords and raiſing falſe reports of them. But let ſuch take heed leſt they be in ſuch a ſtate and woful condition, as he was in, who ſaid in vexation and anguiſh of ſoul, One drop of cold water to cool my tongue.
Thus might I adde many things out the holy Writ, both threatnings and promiſes, beſides thoſe heavenly counſels, loving reproofs, free invitations to all ſorts of ſinners, both old and young, rich and poor, bond and free, wiſe and unwiſe. All which have been, now are, and it is to be feared as long as this world laſts, will be trampled under the feet of thoſe ſwine. (I call them not men) who will continue in the ſame. But take a review of ſome of them.
1. Counſel.
What heavenly counſel is that where Chriſt ſaith, Buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayeſt be rich, and white rayment that thou mayeſt be clothed, that the ſhame of thy nakedneſs do not appear. Rev. 3.17, 18. Alſo that, Ho every one that thirſteth, come to the waters: Yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price, Iſa. 55.1. Hear, and your ſouls ſhall live. ver. 3. Lay hold of my ſtrength that you may make peace with me, and you ſhall make peace with me. Iſa. 27.5.
2. Inſtruction. What inſtruction is here.
Hear inſtruction and be wiſe, and refuſe it not. Why, what is it? Bleſſed is the man that heareth me, (ſaith Chriſt) watching daily at my gates, waiting at the poſts of my doors: For who ſo findeth me findeth life, and ſhall obtain favour of the Lord. Prov. 8.32, 33, 34, 35. Take heed that no man deceive you by any means. Labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for that which endureth unto everlaſting life. Joh. 6.27. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, Luke 13.24. Believe on the Lord Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. Act. 16.31. Believe not every ſpirit, but try the ſpirits. Quench not the ſpirit. Lay hold on eternal life. Let your light ſo ſhine before men that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in heaven. Mat. 5.16. Take heed and beware of hypocriſie; watch and be ſober. Learn of me (ſaith Chriſt.) Come unto me.
3. Forewarning. What forewarning is here.
Becauſe there is wrath, beware leſt he take thee away with his ſtroak, then a great ranſome cannot deliver thee, Job 36.18. Be ye not mockers, leſt your bands be made ſtrong, for I have heard from the Lord God of hoſts a conſumption even determined on the whole earth. Iſa. 28.22. Beware therefore leſt that come upon you that is written: Behold ye diſpiſers, and wonder and periſh. For behold I work a work in your dayes which ye ſhall in no wiſe believe, though a man declare it unto you, Act. 13.40, 41. Let him that thinketh he ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall, 1 Cor. 10.12. Watch and pray leſt you enter into temptation, Luke 22.40. Let us fear therefore, leſt a promiſe being made, or left us, of entring into his reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it. Heb. 4.1. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord having ſaved the people out of Aegypt, afterward deſtroyed them that believed not. Jude 5. Hold faſt that thou haſt, let no man take thy Crown, Rev. 3.11.
4. Comfort. What comfort is here.
He that commeth unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Joh. 6. ver. 37. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. Mat. 11.28. Be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee. I will never leave thee nor forſake thee, (for) I have loved thee with an everlaſting love. Jer. 31.3. I lay down my life for my ſheep; I lay down my life, that they might have life. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of ſalvation have I ſuccoured thee. 2 Cor. 6.2. Though their ſins be as ſcarlet, they ſhall be as white as ſnow; though they be as crimſon, they ſhall be as wool. For I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy tranſgreſſions, and as a cloud thy ſins; return unto me, for I have redeemed thee, Iſa. 44.22.
5. Grief to thoſe that fall ſhort. O ſad grief.
How have I hated inſtruction, and mine heart deſpiſed reproof, and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor enclined mine ear to them that inſtructed me, Prov. 7.11, 12, 13. They ſhall curſe their king and their God, and look upwards. And they ſhall look to the earth, and behold trouble and darkneſs, and dimneſs of anguiſh: and they ſhall be driven into darkneſs, Iſa. 8. ver. 21, 22. He hath diſperſed abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteouſneſs endureth for ever.—The wicked ſhall ſee it, and be grieved, he ſhall gnaſh with his teeth, and melt away; the deſire of the wicked ſhall periſh, Pſal. 112.9, 10.
There ſhall be weeping when ye ſhall ſee Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of heaven, and your ſelves thruſt out. Luke 13.26, 27, 28. all which things are ſlighted by the world.
Thus much in ſhort touching this; that ungodly men undervalue the Scriptures, and give no credit to them, when the truth that is contained in them; is held forth in ſimplicity unto them, but rather cry out, nay, but if one ſhould riſe from the dead, then they think ſomething might be done: when alas, though ſignes and wonders were wrought by the hands of thoſe that preach the Goſpel, theſe poor creatures would never the ſooner convert, though they ſuppoſe they ſhould, as is evident by the carriages of their forerunners, who, albeit the Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf did confirme his doctrine by miracles, as opening blind eyes, caſting out of devils, and raiſing the dead, they were ſo far from receiving either him, or his doctrine, that they put him to death for his pains. But to paſs this I ſhall lay down ſome of the grounds of their rejecting and undervaluing …he Scriptures, and ſo paſs on.
1. Becauſe they do not believe that they are the word of God, but rather ſuppoſe them to be the inventions of men, written by ſome politicians, on purpoſe to make poor ignorant people to ſubmit to ſome religion and government. Though men do not ſay this with their mouthes, yet their practices teſtifie the ſame; as he that when he heares the words of the curſe, yet bleſſeth himſelf in his heart, and ſaith, he ſhall have peace, though God ſaith he ſhall have none. And this muſt needs be, for did but men believe this that it is the word of God, then they muſt believe that he that ſpake it is true, and that; becauſe he that ſpake it is true, therefore ſhall every word and tittle be fulfilled. And if they come once to this, unleſs they be ſtark mad, they will have a care how they do throw themſelves under the laſh of eternal vengeance. For the reaſon why the Theſſalonians received the word, was, becauſe they believed it was the word of God, and not the word of man, 1 Theſſ. 2.13, 14.
When ye received the word which ye heard of us (ſaith he) ye received it, not as the word of man, but as it is indeed the word of God; which effectually worketh in you that believe. So that did a man but receive it in hearing, or reading, or meditating, as it is the word of God, they would be converted. But the word preached doth not profit, not being mixed with faith in them that hear it. Heb. 4.1, 2.
2. Becauſe they do not indeed ſee themſelves by nature heirs of that exceeding wrath and vengeance that the Scriptures teſtifie of. For did they but conſider what God intends to do with thoſe that live and die in a natural ſtate, it would either ſink them into deſpair, or make them fly for refuge to the hope that is ſet before them.Heb. 6.18. But if there be never ſuch ſins committed, and never ſo great wrath denounced, and the time of execution be never ſo near; yet if the party that is guilty be ſenſeleſs and altogether ignorant thereof, he will be careleſs and regard it nothing at all. And that man by nature is in this condition it is evident. For take the ſame man that is ſenſeleſs and ignorant of that miſery he is in by nature, I ſay, take him at another time, when he is a little awakened, and then you ſhall hear him roar, & cry out ſo long as trouble is upon him, and a ſenſe of the wrath of God hanging over his head: Good ſirs, what must I do to be ſaved? Though the ſame man at another time (when his conſcience is fallen a ſleep, and grown hard) will lie like the Smiths dog at the foot of the anvil though the fire-ſparks fly in in his face. But as I ſaid before, when any one is a little awakened, O! what work will one verſe, one line, nay one word of holy Scriptures make in his heart, ſo that he cannot eat, ſleep, work, keep company with his former companions; and all becauſe he is afraid that the damnation ſpoken of in Scripture will fall to his ſhare, Like Balaam, who ſaid, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord, ſo long as he had ſomething of the word of the Lord with authority, ſeverity, and power on his heart: but at another time he could teach Balak to caſt a ſtumbling-block before the children of Iſrael. Rev. 2.14.
3. Becauſe the carnal Prieſts do tickle the ears of their hearers with vain Philoſophy and deceit, and thereby harden their hearts againſt the ſimplicity of the Goſpel, and word of God, which things the Apoſtle admoniſhed thoſe that have a mind to cloſe in with Chriſt, to avoid, Col. 2.8. ſaying, Bewar… …eſt any man (be he what he will) ſpoil you, through Philoſophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, and rudiments of the world, and not after Chriſt. And you who nuzzle up your people in ignorance with Ariſtotle, Plato, and the reſt of the heatheniſh Philoſophers, and preach little, if any thing of Chriſt rightly. I ſay unto you, that you will find that you have ſinned againſt God, and beguiled your hearers, when God ſhall in the judgement-day lay the cauſe of the damnation of many thouſands of ſouls to your charge, and ſay, He will require their blood at your hands. Ezek. 33.6.
4. Another reaſon why the carnal unbelieving world do ſo ſlight the Scriptures, and word of God, is, becauſe the judgement ſpoken of in the Scripture is not preſently executed on the tranſgreſſors. Becauſe ſentence againſt an evil act is not ſpeedily executed, therefore the hearts of the ſons of men are wholly ſet in them to do evil. Eccleſ. 8.11. Becauſe God doth not preſently ſtrike the poor wretch as ſoon as he ſins, but waits, and forbears, and is patient; Therefore the world judging God to be unfaithful, go to it agai… and again, and every time grow harder and harder, till at laſt God is forced either to ſtretch out his mighty power to turne them, or elſe ſend death with the devil and hell to fetch them. Thou thoughteſt (ſaith God) that I was altogether ſuch an one as thy ſelf, but I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thy face. Now conſider this, ye that forget God leſt I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver, Pſal. 50.20, 21.
5. Another reaſon why the blind world do ſlight the authority of Scripture, is, becauſe they give ear to the devil, who through his ſubtilty caſteth falſe evaſions, and corrupt interpretations on them, rendring them not ſo point blank the minde of God, and a rule for direction to poor ſouls, perſwading them, that they muſt give ear and way to ſomething elſe beſides, and beyond that: or elſe he labours to render it vile and contemptible, by perſwading them that it is a dead letter, when indeed they know not what they ſay nor whereof they affirme. For the Scripture is not ſo dead, but that the knowledge of it is able to make any man wiſe unto ſalvation through faith and love which is in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 3.15. And is profitable for inſtruction, reproof, and correction in righteouſneſs; that the man of God may be throughly furniſhed to all good works, ver. 17.
And where it is ſaid the letter killeth, he meaneth the law, as it is the miniſtration of damnation, or a covenant of works, and ſo indeed it doth kill, and muſt do ſo, becauſe it is juſt: foraſmuch as the party that is under the ſame, is not able to yield to it a compleat and continual obedience. But otherwiſe I will call Paul and Peter to witneſs, that the Scriptures are of a very glorious concernment, in as much as in them is held forth to us the way of life; and alſo, in that they do adminiſter good ground of hope to us, Rom. 15.4. For whatſoever things were written a foretime (Mark, whatſoever) were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture m…ght have hope. And again, Rom. 16.25, 26. Now to him that is of power to stabliſh you according to my Goſpel, and the preaching of Jeſus Chriſt according to the revelation of the miſtery which was kept hid ſince the world began, but now is made manifeſt, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlaſting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. And therefore whoſoever they be that ſlight the Scriptures, they ſlight that which is no leſs then the word of God; and they who ſlight that, ſlight him that ſpake it; and they that do ſo, let them look to themſelves, for God will be revenged on ſuch. Much more might be ſaid to this thing, but I would not be tedious.
A word or two more, and ſo I have done with this. Conſider the dangers of ſlighting the words of the Prophets or Apoſtles, whether they be, correction, reproof, admonition, forewarning, or the bleſſed invitations and promiſes contained in them.
1. Such ſouls do provoke God to anger, and to execute his vengeance on them. They refuſed to hearken, they pulled away their ſhoulder, they ſtopped their ears leſt they ſhould hear the law, and they made their hearts adament ſtone, that they might not hear the law, and the words that were ſpoken to them by his ſpirit in the former prophets: Therefore came a great wrath upon them. Zach. 7.11, 12.
2. God will not regard in their calamity. Becauſe I called and ye refuſed, I ſtretched out my hand & no man regarded, but ſet at nought all my counſels, and would none of my reproof: I alſo will laugh at your calamities, and mock when your fear cometh. When their fear cometh as deſolation, and their deſtruction, like a whirlewind. Then ſhall they call, but I will not anſwer; they ſhall ſeek me early, but they ſhall not find me, Proverbs, 1.25, 26, 27.
3. God doth commonly give up ſuch men to deluſions to believe lies. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved, therefore God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe a lie. That they all might be damned, 2 Theſſ. 2.11, 12.
4. In a word, they that do continue to reject and ſlight the word of God, they are ſuch, for the moſt part, as are ordained to be damned. Old Eli his ſons not hearkenning to the voice of their father reproving them for their ſins, but diſobeying his voice, it is ſaid, It was becauſe the Lord would ſlay them. 1 Sam. 2.15. Again, ſee in 2 Chron. 25.15, 16. Amaziah having ſinned againſt the Lord, he ſends to him a prophet to reprove him: But Amaziah ſayes, Forbear, wherefore ſhouldſt thou be ſmitten? (he did not hearken to the word of God) Then the Prophet forbare, ſaying, I know that God hath determined to deſtroy thee, becauſe thou haſt not hearkened to my counſel. Read therefore,Verſe 31. and the Lord give thee underſtanding. For a miſerable end will thoſe have that go on ſinning againſt God, rejecting his word.
Other things might have been obſerved from this verſe, which at this time I ſhall paſs by; partly becauſe the ſum of them hath been touched already, and may be more clearly hinted at in the following verſe, and therefore I ſhall ſpeak a few words to the next verſe, and to draw towards a concluſion.