The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 3 · Section 5
SECT. 5.
5. THe calling inviting offers of Grace are turned into wantonneſs: 5. The calling inviting offers of Grace are turned into wantonneſs.The great things of the Kingdom of Heaven were rendred to the Inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethſaida, and to the Capernaites, but they gave ſtill wanton indulgences to their luſts, repented not, and this in the judgement of our Lord Chriſt, ſhould double their woe, aggravate their rejecting the way of ſalvation, and plunge them deeper in Hell, Luke 10. 15. becauſe Heaven on Goſpel-tearms was offered and refuſed: Be ſure of this, the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you, ver. 11. As if Chriſt had ſaid, You had ineſtimable gracious proffers, but you have caſt them off to your damnation. The like Grace of the Kingdom of Heaven was held forth to the Jews in Pauls Preaching, but they anſwered it with contradicting and blaſpheming the Goſpel, Acts 13. 45. Thus in too many Congregations in England, where Heaven hath been clearly opened in the ſaving myſteries of ſalvation, which might even raviſh the hearts of humble intelligent and believing hearers, what wanton eyes, geſtures, ears, fancies, hearts, are brought before the publick glorious diſcoveries of the precious methods to be holy and happy to all eternity? with what levity, looſneſs, frothy ſpirits, you have ſeen the ſlaves of carnal voluptuouſneſs, merry wantons, deſigned and reſolved for their pleaſing ſenſualities, come from Stage-plays; without breach of charity, huge members of Goſpel-wantons, have in like manner come from the ſacred, grave trembling Truths of the Goſpel: How ſad is it that thoſe, not onelyonly Law, but Evangelical ſeverities, that ſhould have ſet eminent ſinners on trembling, mourning, weeping, and reſolving to repent, (the beſt applauſe of a Sermon) ſhould have Lachrymae veſtrae applauſus noſter.no better cloſe, then prophane, profuſe gigling and laughing, it may be ſporting at the Miniſter and his Doctrine, ſlighting what they heard, driving it out by idle talk, vain worldly diſcourſes, or ſpeaking of nothing to ſoul advantage, carrying in uncivil and unholy carnal merriments, as if they had been in a Theater, not the Church, and had heard a Stage-Player, and not a Preacher. Do Princes and States well reſent the ſlighting and abuſing of their gracious offers? ſurely the heavenly everlaſting King, nor will, nor can put up the deſpiſings of his gracious invitations, with everlaſting patience and indempnity. It is a matter of Lamentation, that many faithful and painful friends of the Bridegroom have offered Eſpouſals of higheſt profits, pleaſures, preferments in Jeſus Chriſt, to Blackamore, deformed, worthleſs, loveleſs ſouls, and yet they had rather match with Hell then Heaven, rather have the Prince of Darkneſs, than the Lord of Glory to be their head; though there be infinite more drawing incouragements for Eſpouſals with Chriſt, than covenanting with the Devil: Let not the Phraſe ſeem harſh, There is truth in it: Though few, like Witches, reſign themſelves up to Satan by an expreſs contract, yet moſt do by an implicite and interpretative conſent: Is he not the ſpirit that rules in the children of diſobedience? Eph. 2. 2. Is he not called from his deſtructive Soveraign Government in the World, the god of this World? 2 Cor. 4. 4. who hath the Harveſt of Service, when the Lord Jeſus hath but the Gleanings: Is he not called the Ruler of the darkneſs of this World? Epheſ. 6. 12. that Infernal Jaylor, that keeps his numerous Captives in the dark Dungeon of Ignorance and Wickedneſs; yea, Do not his miſerable Subjects love to have it ſo? Jer. 5. 31. O you Inhabitants of England, that own the Chriſtian name, and that from year to year, from one paſſionate woing to another, have ſtill turned your backs upon Angels joys and admirations, the Myſteries and Miracles of Goſpel Salvation; be convinced of your perilous, diſhonorable, looſe refuſals: Are you wont to deal with neceſſitous Temporals, as you do with Spirituals and Eternals? Will not catching preſented worldly advantages and opportunities by the foretop, condemn your ſoul-undoing delays of welcoming Heavenly calls, which hearkned too, will make you, (I ſay not men) in the Worlds Phraſe, but Saints and Angels, fellows in glory to all Eternity? offer a pardon to a condemned perſon, on exceeding hard tearms, and what Felon almoſt will reject it? But the offers of Goſpel Pardons, to ſinners dead in Law, the Covenant of Works, upon ſweet, eaſie, rational, honorable, and profitable tearms, who almoſt will entertain them? Offer Gold and Silver to needy Beggars, when is this propoſal refuſed? But Chriſt, the Pearl of great price, is offered to poor ſinners that have not a dram of Grace, and the Tenth Chriſtian in external profeſſion, that bears much upon Baptiſmal Grace, giveth no demonſtration of acceptance. Let a Phyſitian offer his beſt skill without a ſee to the mortally diſeaſed, with a promiſe alſo to pay for his Phyſick, what patient, unleſſe unſenſible of his danger, and frantick will deſpiſe this kindneſſe? Chriſt, the Almighty Soveraign Phyſitian offers the recovering virtue of his Spirit, Grace, Ordinances, Afflictions, to mortally diſeaſed ſinners, without a fee or reward, yea hath already payd dear for the Phyſick, and its ſucceſſefull application; who then but ſelf-deſtroying, frantick ſinners, ſenſleſſe in a deep Lethargy of carnall ſecurity, had rather periſh in their ſin, than accept of the guiding orders of Chriſts healing? If you ſay this cenſure is over-rigid, pitty he ſhould live that doth not take the gracious invitations of Jeſus Chriſt into his heart. We willingly own his loving calls to grace and glory. It is not ſo ſoon done as ſaid. You may lodge the glorious tenders of the Goſpel in your fancies, underſtandings, memories, yea ſeem to honour them with your lips, and yet your hearts may be very farre from ſubſcribing and ſaying Amen to them; as an Adulterous womans lips may conſent to Mariage Articles, profeſſe and confirme Matrimonial union, when her heart was never Married. Oh Sirs! that have ſhut your hearts againſt the proffers of Grace in many a Chapter, Sermon, motion of the Spirit, me-thinkes your ſpirits ſhould bee aſtoniſhed, and hearts broken, by the ſerious conſideration of ſeven things.
1. You and Sathan your Father are fellow lyars: You put a 1 There is a lye put upon the report of Gods race.great lye upon the report of Gods grace. The Bible lifts it up above the world, and you almoſt ſet it below any pleaſing worldly vanities. It is more precious than Gold and Silver, its merchandize is better than the merchandize of Silver, Prov. 3. 14. ſo 15. v. It is above all things you deſire, and yet you deſire other things above it. Though your tongues would bluſh to ſay, yet the frame of your rebellious, grace-refuſing hearts and lives, really ſpeak it in the notice of the infinitely underſtanding God, the Goſpel is folly, 1 Cor. 1. 23. the power and practice of Religion is a vain thing, Mal. 3. 14. and the Grace of God is not worth the looking after. You live before God, Angels, and Men, as if your tongues ſhould ſay, Solomon was deceived, when he ſo cried up gracious wiſdome. Beauties are the pleaſures of the Senſes, Riches out-worth it, the Honour of the world outſhines it; the glorious applauſe of men out-goes its commendations; the ſhort enjoyment of the fleſh exceeds its eternall treaſures; a ſhort leaſe of this lifes comforts, is better than its eternall Fee-ſimple of delights.
2. You abuſe Gods condeſcenſion in the offer of grace. Was 2 Gods condeſcenſion is abuſed in the offer of Grace.there any need for God to ſtoope to offer you a Covenant of Salvation, wherein the whole Trinity doth humble themſelves? The Father, ſo much as to have thoughts of grace to relieve and ſuccour loſt ſinners; the Son that humbled himſelf to an obſcuring incarnation, a life of ſorrows, ſpotleſſe obedience, a bloudy death the price of Redemption. The Holy Ghoſt to come into vile ſinners, to plead the acceptance, and improvement of the Father and Sons love. O inconſiderate ſinners! of what a ſcarlet tincture is your unworthy ſlighting of the Trinities kindneſs, your treading under foot the bleſſed Gods acts of grace! might he not have left you as the fall of Adam made you to be, in a loſt, polluted, helpleſſe, and damnable eſtate? Doth hee need your perſons recovery, ſervices, holyneſſe, and happineſſe? Doth goodneſſe in accepting Chriſt and his Goſpel extend to him? Is it his profit if you accept? Is it his hurt if you deſpiſe him? Pſal. 16. 2. Job. 22. 3. & 35. 6, 8. Hath he humbled himſelf to enter into peace with you, when he might have proclaimed and maintained everlaſting War? Will a King bear it, that his deſcending below himſelf to ſave obſtinate Traytors, ſhould be deſpiſed? Surely the bleſſed God will not alwaies beare the inſolent refuſall of his mercifull condeſcenſions, who every minute could confound rebellious ſinners.
3. You abuſe the infinite purchaſe of that grace that is offered. 3 The infinite purchaſe of Grace offered is abuſed.Now Chriſt hath by his active and paſſive obedience ſatiſfied Juſtice, and dearly payd for pardoning and purging grace; He ſits at Gods right hand to give unto Iſrael repentance and remiſſion of ſinnes, Acts 5. 31. to offer it in common to the worſt of ſinners, hath made an healing plaister of his blood. Iſa. 53. 5. and offers the application of it to diſeaſed ſinners; what elſe but a ſpiritual madneſſe is it to cry out, we will have none of the phyſick; away with this mortifying Grace, ſeverities of repentance? If we ſubmit to unpleaſing medicines of ſtrict Goſpell preſcription, we muſt never have merry dayes, our deare luſts muſt be pinion'd and ſtarved; ſuch adoe about Religion, the new creatures, that preciſe Puritans talk of will make our lives miſerable: We will not have this man to reign over us, Luk. 19. 14. Take Chriſt who will, we have made, and we will keep our covenant with the world and the fleſh; we will have our eaſe and delights, come what will of it. Jer. 7. 9. Looſe hearts and lives ſpeak theſe ſad things, this deplorable injury to the Lord Jeſus: He is highly affronted, that the price of grace, the purchaſe of infinite redemption ſhould be ſo unworthyly vilified.
4. You abuſe the heavenly meſſenger of Grace, the Holy Ghoſt, who proceeds from the Father and the Sonne, and comes 4. The Holy Ghoſt, the heavenly Meſſenger of Grace is abuſed.with ſweeteſt intelligence of Peace, Pardon, Purity, and Glory. The heavenly Spirits whiſpers would be powerfully taking, if vile ſinners, their falſe loves, and curſed luſts did not oppoſe them. Hath not the Spirit told many of us, a gracious converſation is incomparably better than a carnal, and that there is to be found a more high, noble, pleaſurable, ſatisfying, and gainfull life in Jeſus Chriſt, than the world, fleſh, and devill can poſſibly afford? Have not theſe inward ſpeakings, according with the outward written word, the juſt ſtandard, awakened the ſoul, that Sobriety, Chaſtity, Charity, Liberality, Faith, Love, Heavenlymindedneſſe, a fear of God, a tender Conſcience, redeeming time, &c. are rather to be choſen than their contrary vices and corrupt inclinations and affections that reſiſt them? Have not many by the woings and ſtrivings of the Holy Ghoſt, with Agrippa, not onelyonly been almoſt perſwaded to be reall Chriſtians, but often promiſed God their utmoſt, and zealous endeavours for a through change? But what is the iſſue? a wanton looſe ſpirit hath baniſhed former ſerious gravity: Theſe warm, heavenly motions are ſoon coold and dead, by the world and the fleſhes cold pourings in. How ill doth the holy and delicate Spirit take it, ſoon ſenſible of affronts, that his gracious inſpirations, ſhould either coldly be received, or poſitively rejected, or after entertainment be ungratefully forſaken? The Spirits goads that prick and ſtir up lazy ſleeping conſciences, are quickly blented. O our unkind abuſe of the good Spirit. Thoſe Divinos inſtinctus vel non animadvertimus, vel diſſimulamus & in aliud tempus differrimus vel quod deterrimum est negligimus.divine inſtincts wherewith we are excited and moved to holyneſſe of life and Goſpell obedience, either we take no notice of them, or we diſſemble them, or we put them off to another time, or, which is worſt of all, we totally neglect them, ſayth an holy writer. This, O this is the ſpirits puniſhment, not more dreadfull than diſregarded, the heavenly meſſenger bids an eternall welfare, and never knocks again at thoſe rebellious houſes, where he hath been never bid welcome, but conſtantly refuſed. My ſpirit ſhall not always ſtrive with fleſh. Gen. 6. is a plague, a fearfully avenging one. Reſolved Libertines will not follow the wiſdome, and ſaveing guidance of the ſpirit, and the Lord chuſeth their deluſions. Iſa. 66. 4. What ſafe Leader they will not have, they ſhall not have; they will wander from the way to heaven; divine power now ſhall not ſtop them, they ſhall dye without inſtruction, and in the greatneſs of their folly they ſhall go aſtray, Prov. 5. 23. Then thoſe eyes deep ſecuritie hath ſhut, wrath will open, either in a death-bed deſpaire, or in hels flames after death. O unkind Spirit greevers and reſiſters, lay it to heart before it is too late. Ingenspericulū divinis inſpirationibus reſiſtere, Granatenſis 5 The Meſſengers of grace are abuſed.It is an eminent danger to oppoſe Divine inſpirations.
5. You abuſe the faithly meſſengers of grace, the Miniſters of the Goſpell. Their worke is in the authoritie of their Maſter Jeſus Chriſt to exhort and enjoyne you to beleeve, and repent, and if this prevaile not, to beſeech you in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled 2. Cor. 5. and if this mild courſe ſpeed not, but goſpell grace is put away, as it was by the hardned Jews. Act. 13. 46. Their other ſad part of their Commiſſion, is to tell them, He that beleeveth not ſhall be damned. Mark. 16. 16. and that very goſpell grace that to others is a ſavour of life unto life, embraced, will be to them a ſavour of death unto death, when it is deſpiſed. As the Hanunites that cut of Davids Meſſengers garments had a warr Commenced againſt them, for anſwering their kind errands with ſuch ſhamefull indignities, 2 Sam. 10. 3, 4. 7. ſo the angry King of heaven, will wage an eternall warre againſt them that unnaturally abuſe the meſſengers, and meſſages of grace. O Take warning Looſe-livers under the convictions of Goſpel ſtrictneſs, that when you hear & read of the ſaving overtures of the word of life, you may no more be as ſlighty & ſenſleſs under them, as the Pues you ſit in, and as walls, and rocks. The deſpiſing of wholſome heavenly inſtructions, no leſſe then the deſpiſing of the Lord Jeſus Luk. 10. 16, is that which makes honeſt godly Miniſters, to ſet down with mourning and tears in their cloſer addreſſes to God, that their hearers will not be converted, ſaved, and have eternal life. Act. 13. 46. and Phil. 3. 8.
6. You will be unexcuſable, when you ſhall ſee the offers 6. Men will be inexcuſable, when they ſee offers of Grace at an everlaſting diſtance from them.and hopes of Grace, at an everlaſting diſtance from you: How will paleneſs ſit on your faces, when you are before a dreadful Bar? what trembling will ſurpriſe your hearts, when conſcience ſhall terribly inform you, that the Lords Meſſengers, in earneſt deſires and longings for your happineſs, in zeal, love, and tears offered you for Chriſts ſake, to embrace the Heavenly Treaſures of the ſaving Covenant, and you would not; or ſoon ſtifled your Convictions, loſt your good reſolutions and affections; you ſecured the world, and that great Idol fleſh pleaſing, but not Eternity; you can eaſily ſlight, it may be jeer the Miniſter, but remember you will be enforced to call to minde his paſſionate woings for Jeſus; and that your blood would be upon you, that you would be your own deſtroyers, if you diſallowed and abhorred Chriſt, if you knew not God, and obeyed not his Goſpel. At ſuch and ſuch times in hearing and reading the Word, in heart-ſearching godly Books, the Spirit of Jeſus held forth before you a Feaſable, Juſtified, Adopted, Sanctified and Glorified Eſtate, and you liked not Chriſts conditions to fit you for and obtain Eternal Glory: How have you abuſed Chriſt and his Goſpel-Miniſtry, when you were told his yoke was eaſie, by Divine Power? Did not you look upon the Preacher, exhorting the duties of Religion, as a propoſer of intolerable and too ſevere tasks? as if the glorious patern of Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, and Sweetneſs, ſhould tyrannize over men, and bid men be his ſervants to their loſs, and the Devil and the World could make more gainful, honorable and comfortable bargains.
7. You ſhall have no cauſe to blame the pure Juſtice of the 7. There will be no cauſe of blaming Gods Juſtice.angry Lamb, the Judge of the World, if when you ſhall cry Lord, Lord, he be as deaf at your dreadful crys, as you were at his calls; if he know you not to ſave you, when you knew him not to ſerve him: This will juſtifie the direful laſt Sentence, Go ye curſed, and clear your eternal ſtripes from cruelty, when you have wilfully abuſed the infinite love of the Son of God: Grace was offered you, but you would not be healed, nor reformed; you have deſtroyed your ſelves: 'Tis Divine Juſtice that the wickedneſs of the wicked in due penalty ſhould be upon him, Ezek. 18. 20. Wicked Goſpellers, even put fury into a gracious God, and neceſſitate him to gain the reputation of his Holineſs out of their damnation: It becomes the natural Juſtice of his Majeſty, to be the Avenger, who is not the Author of wilful unbelief: The holy One of Iſrael is provoked, Iſa. 1. 4. The holineſs of God is read in the Characters of thoſe Temporal, Spiritual, and Eternal Judgements, which he executes on the impenitent World. Its juſt the heavieſt of puniſhments ſhould be the vindications of Gods Diſhonors by the affronts of his Grace, upon a threefold account.
1. The ungrateful and voluntary high indignities, that vain 1. Vain looſe people put voluntary indignities upon Gods Grace. Suadet, terret, hortatur, excitat, monet, Clem. Alex. Ad Gentes.looſe hearts and lives put upon Gods Grace. Wiſdom hath ſent out her maidens, to invite ſinners to be Saints, Prov. 9. 3, 4. and ſit down at its heavenly Table, v. 5. of all ſufficient, ſatisfying, ſaving proviſions, comes with Perſwaſions, Comminations, Admonitions, to accept the Call, but the looſe gueſts either come not at all, or unprepared, ſurfeit on good food, turn it into ill humors: The offended King of Heaven hath ſent out his Heralds of Arms, to proclaim Peace and Mercy on moſt righteous tearms; but ſtout rebels will not reſign up their hearts to Chriſt, but keep them ſtrongly garriſon'd for Luſt and the Devil; and this is the ſucceſs the Calls of Gods Grace meet withal: Satan and Chriſt knock at the ſoul for entrance: It is opened to Satan, and locked to Chriſt: Shall obſtinate, unprofitable hearers blame God under their everlaſting ſmart, when they have not ſo much deſpiſed their Miniſters as Jeſus Chriſt? Shall looſe unreformed Children, that deſpiſed their godly wooing and warning Parents, cry out of unjuſtice under eternal wrath; when they did not ſo much abuſe their holy Invitations, as Gods? It was his Qui mihi monitus muliebres tui erant. Aug. Conf. l. 2.ſpirit that made by Religious Fathers and Mothers, gracious proffers to gainſaying Children: Conſcience will give in teſtimony on Gods ſide, that he graciouſly called froward, wilful ſinners, that they might be pardoned, not abide under condemnation; they Libertatem pollicetur vos aufugitis in ſervitutem.might be Saints, not remain ſinners; they might be free, not continue Captives; obtain a bleſſing, not lie under the curſe, and be ſaved, in mortifying the deeds of the Body, and not be ruined by cruel mercy and Indulgences to corrupt nature, the worſt of enemies.
2. The bold abuſes of heavenly inviting offers, though God 2. The bold abuſe of heavenly inviting offers.hath complained of this long before in his holy Word, and urged ſuch injurious dealing, as a moſt juſt Apology of his ſevereſt vengeance: I have called, and ye refuſed: I have ſtretched out my hand, and no man regarded, Prov. 1. 4. Therefore when your fear cometh as deſolation, and your deſtruction as a whirl-wind, when diſtreſs and anguiſh cometh upon you, (I will be even with you) you ſhall call upon me, but I will not anſwer; ſeek me, but not finde me, v. 27, 28. All the day long have I ſtretched out mine hand to again-ſaying people, Iſa. 62. 5. Therefore the Lord Chriſt threatned theſe unbelieving Jews, that the Chriſt, and the Grace they rejected, ſhould be offered to better entertainers: He would have a Church among the Gentiles, the Kingdom of God ſhould be taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, Matth. 21. 42, 43. I ſaid you ſhall die in your ſins, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your ſins, John 8. 24. He that believes not in the Son, ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abides on him, Iohn 3. 36. How juſtly do the Wrongings of Gods grace bring endleſs miſery, when the Lord hath often complained of it before hand in the Scriptures, cautioned us to fear and tremble, leſt we forſake our own mercies, Jonah 2. 8. Threatning this abuſe with eternal death?
3. The Lord hath already acquainted us in his Word, that if 3. A Woe denounced againſt them who make excuſes and refuſe to come.like the gueſts in the Parable, we either finde excuſes not to come and feed on Chriſts heavenly dainties, Luke 14. 18. or we be unprepared, wanton, looſe gueſts, and come not to his Feaſt with the Wedding Garment, (i. e. Faith in Chriſt) with the whole train of Graces, but in the deformed rags and pollutions of our ſins; I ſay, if we be like thoſe that either openly and poſitively reject his offered Grace, or like thoſe wanton abuſers of Gods grace, in the Apoſtle Jude; tread in their ſteps, and die in this Libertiniſm, as a Woe is denounced unto them, Jude Ep. v. 11. under condemnation, v. 4. to whom is reſerved the blackneſs of darkneſs for ever, v. 13. So if we be fellow-wanton Goſpellers with them, we ſhall follow them in their everlaſting miſery. He is deſervedly hanged that ſeeth a Felon die before, and yet greedily purſues his wicked courſes. We are told Sodomites, Apoſtate Angels, Abuſers of Goſpel-grace, are already in Hell: If the examples of their torments make us not to abhor and eſchew their ſinnes, divine juſtice wrongs us not in our everlaſting deſtruction, whom ſhould ſelf-deſtroyers blame but themſelues? I have been the longer in this Section, becauſe of the mighty importance of the matter, the common, wofull, lamentable, damnable refuſall of Goſpel gracious calls, and invitations to everlaſting happineſſe, unchriſtianly, prophanely, diſhonourably abuſed.