The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Containing an Uſe of Information.
IS the grace of God pervetted to Laſciviouſneſs? Uſe 1 for Information.For Application, this ſad, and (as hath been ſhewen) common ſin, a multiplyed, monſtrous evil, of eminent guilt, of eternal bad conſequence to all that live and dye in it, calls for ſerious meditation, and fruitful improvement.
1. Information, in ſundry Inferences, or Conſectaries from this ſad truth.
SECT. 1.
INference, that ſin of a poyſonous nature. It will do evil 1. Sin is of a poyſonous nature. Antidotum Lex vitioſitas venenum foreign.becauſe God is good, continue in ſinne that Grace may abound, Rom. 6. 1. It powres its poyſon upon Goſpel Antidotes. It is like the Spider, that converts wholſome things into poyſon. It is like the Vintner, that daſheth and corrupts wine with water. We do not ſo corrupt the word, faith the Apoſtle. It is like a corrupt ſtomack that turns good food into crude deſtructive humours. It is like a corrupt bitter Fountain, that running into ſweet …holſom waters, turns them into bitterneſs; they are all corrupters, Jer. 6. 28. It is the genius and brand of envenomed natures. They corrupt good manners, yea the higheſt things in Religion, are depraved by them. The very Grace, Word, and Spirit of God by corrupt ſophiſtication, are made to ſpeak and patronize, what they never allowed. See in this the ſad picture of mans faln nature. That vitioſity that firſt abuſed nature, ever ſince turns the grace of God into rank poyſon, ſo little cauſe hath any man to pride himſelf in any excellency, that makes in any an occaſion to ſin.
SECT. 2:
2. INference, that the Ordinances of grace are no ſufficient 2. The Ordinances of grace are no ſufficient plea; for happines.plea for happineſs. Their Abuſe marrs their enjoyment. it is not the having, but the bleſſing of good Food and Phyſick that procures health: diſeaſed men may periſh in their injoyments: Capernaum ſuck the deeper in Hell, by high yet injured Ordinances of grace, Chriſts commiſſion to his extraordinary Miniſters, his Diſciples, implyed men may be accurſed under bleſſed meanes, they were to offer the goſpell of grace and peace to wicked men, Luke 10. 5. And to bring neer the Kingdome of God unto them, v. 11. But if the Son of Peace were not there, if the hearers were not worthy, that is fit to receive it, and welcome the Meſſengers, the very duſt of their feer they ſhook off, ſhould be a Witneſſe againſt the deſpiſers and rejecters of grace, v. 11. Many ſhall ſay, Lord, Lord open unto us, Luke 13. 25. Who ſhall finde acceſſe to glory, blocked up for abuſing the offers of grace, they are not happy that barely wait at the poſts of Wiſdome, and heare her inſtructions, but that find wiſdome, get underſtanding, Prov. 3. 13. That take faſt hold of inſtruction, and let her not goe, but keep her as the life of the Soule. v. 18.
SECT. 3.
3. INference; The Joyes of carn…l Goſpellers are falſe joyes. 3. The joyes of Carnall Goſpellers are falſe joyes.not only the Joyes in their ſins, the Creatures, but their Religious Priviledges will faile them. They who delighted to know Gods wayes, and in approaches to God, and Pervetted their joyous injoyments of ordinances, to a retaining their corrupt will, ſtrife and debate, ſmitings with the fiſt of wickedneſs, continuing the bands of wickedneſs, heavy burdens and oppreſſions, are abominated of God, as looſing all fruit by their religion Graviſſimum malum quando quis gaudet de propriis damis. Chryſ. Miſerando Laetitia. Pet. Mart. Luctuoſa Lae. …itia Fulgent.I ſa 58. 2. &c. All faſting, praying, preaching, hearing, profeſſing joyes, all the joyes of confidences and hopes in ſervices and ſins will prove like a Widdowes joy, an expiring blaze, the cracking of Thorns under the Pot. They ſhall vomit up all their ſweet morſells, diſgorge their falſe joyes, that have pleaſed themſelves in their impieties, and unrighteouſneſſes, under the favour of grace. They rejoyce in a thing of nought. Amos 1. 13. When thou doeſt evill then thou rejoyceſt. Jer. 11. 15. The Lords charge againſt wanton Iſrael, under meanes of grace, and the juſt reproofe of wantons, under the goſpell, when they doe evill they rejoyce, it is but looking up to Gods grace, and all is well. How miſerable are thoſe men, who rejoyce in their loſſe. It is wofull, mournful, mad joy, to found on the abuſes of grace, and the diſhonors of God, the Triumphs of ſin and wickedneſs, which cauſeth bitterneſſe in the end.
SECT. 4.
4. INference. The beſt things have evill entertainment of hard Sect. 4. The beſt things have evill entertainment from hard hearts.Hearts. Iſrael had gracious Propheſes; but they hardned their necks, did not beleeve, rejected Gods ſtatutes, followed vanitie and were vaine. 2 Kings 17. 14. 15. Chriſts familie experienced his gracious miracles; but their hearts were hardned, and conſidered not the miracle of the loaves, when brought to a new ſtrait Mark. 6. 32. If Chriſt upbraided their hardneſſe of heart for not beleeving the reports of his Peſurrection Mark. 16. 14. How blameable is that Phamonicall Hardneſſe of Heart, that receives no impreſſion of grace, by the priviledges, promiſes, word, and ſpirit of grace, that are pretended to. The ſweet inriching dewes, doe no good upon the hard rock, nor doe the ſweet dews of inſtructions and motions of grace doe good upon rocky hearts. Weeds ſpring and grow by the rain and the ſun. Corruptions riſe up and increaſe by occaſion of Gods grace.
SECT. 5
5. INference. The grace of God is to be appropriated and applied Sect. 5. The grace of God is to be applied with feare and trembling.wi vbth feare and trembling. With it worke out your ſalvation is the Apoſtles counſell. Phil. 2. 12. Rejoyce with trembling the Pſalmiſts Pſal. 2. 11. The fancy of ſaving grace is eaſy Tis good to feare deceit, about intereſt in Grace. The Synagogue of Satan may boaſt themſelves to be the City of God. This high goſpell Grace, God is my reconciled father, his Convenant-Promiſes are mine, the Grace of Chriſt is mine, is fooliſh and common intruſion, like the vain man that ſayes, the houſe and land is his, for which he hath no good title. …ſurping wantons are audacious, and boldly write down themſelves in the booke of Life, living members, covenanters of grace, heirs of glory, which happineſſe, many an humbled broken hearted, combating Chriſtian, cannot ſee in many yeares attendance on the Ordinances, walking with, and waiting on God, and are only borne up in the Waves of Doubts, Deſpondencies, and Feares, with probabilities and weake hopes, enough to uphold, not to comfort in the wayes of Religion. The grace is glorious that is contained in thoſe exceeding, great, and precious promiſes, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people: Their ſins and iniquities will I remember no more: Iſrael ſhall be ſaved with everlaſting Salvation, and the like, fear and tremble, leſt theſe be abuſed, unrepented wrongs to theſe favours, will prove their eternall forfeiture, the wanton purſuit of lying vanities, is the way to be outed of thoſe mercies. Think with thy ſelfe, what if the Lord, whom I take to be my gracious God, prove my avenging Judge, if the ſinnes I conceive are blotted out, ſhall appear againſt me in legible characters? if inſtead of free love, I meet with juſt wrath? if the preſumptions of everlaſting ſalvation be conf…ted by eternall damnation? If I wrong his grace, and repent not of the unkindneſſe, how can I eſcape a fearfull looking for of fiery indignation, which will devoute ſo wicked an adverſary?
SECT. 6.
6. INference: Carnal Coſpellers rever knew the Grace of God Sect, 6. Carnall Goſpellers never knew the grace of God in truth.in truth: It was never known, and de…iberately, conſtantly abuſed, if ye have been taught by him the truth as it is in Jeſus, That ye put off the old man, and put on the new, Eph. 4. 21. 22. Chriſts diſciples that have learned the truth, not only as in books, Sermons, the Letter, the Notion, but in the teaching Heart, fixing transforming power of Jeſus, by the anoynting of the Holy Ghoſt, are taught not to dandle, and nouriſh, but to put off and ſtarve corruption; not to hate but love, not to oppoſe, but to imbrace and exerciſe the quickning grace of God: If envy and ſtrife ragin in the heart, glory not, lye not againſt the truth, Jam. 3. 14. He that ſaith I know him, and keeps not his Commandemants, is a lyar, and the truth is not in him, 1 Joh. 2. 4. He that conſents not in Judgement and Conſ…ience to practiſe the Doctrine according to godlineſſe, is deſtitute of the truth, I Tim. 6. 5. Sanctiſie them with thy truth, thy word is truth, Joh. 17. 17. The grace of God known in truth, ſanctifies and gives no allowance to ſin. It is not becauſe men know, but becauſe they truly know not the grace of God, that it is ſo diſhonoured.
SECT. 7.
7. INference: It is a ſafe and a wiſe courſe to be trying our Principles 7. It is a ſafe and a wiſe courſe to be trying our principles.and practices in Chriſtianity.
1. Our Principles, whether they tend to godlineſs, whether they are not grace-deſtroying, heart-hardning, the fear God baniſhing, carnal ſecurity nouriſhing Principles; ſuch as theſe, God obſerves not believers ſins: They muſt live above, that is, in a wicked ſenſe, without Ordinances: God chaſtifeth not his people for ſin: Mourning for ſin is a low attainment, a legal buſneſs, a double lie.
1. It is ſo high an Attonement, that the high and the holy God of all hearts in the world, prefers the lowly mourning broken heart to dwell in.
2. It is a meer Goſpel grace, the Law accepts not an Eternity of tears, nor repentance.
This alſo is a looſe Principle, that a Chriſtian in his obedience, is to look only to the love of Chriſt within him, not the Law a rule of life without him, an impious Atheiſtical opinion; for when the ſad experience of the beſt of Saints gives true report, that too often there are no ſtirrings of love to God, if there be not a fixed rule of duty without, what is left to hold a man in obedience? …lſo this Maxime, that Believers have nothing to do with the threatnings, becauſe there is no condemnation to them, is an engine of the Devil to pluck out of the heart the fear of threatned ſins: How contrary to the Scripture, is this ſetting the fearleſs daring heart, out of the threatning Law, yea Goſpels gun-ſhot? and ſo the Libertine, that neither hath fear of God to love him and obey him, nor fear of Hell to keep him from ſin, fails with full winde and tide to the dead Sea of eternal deſruction. Try, Chriſtian, whether as the Philiſtins put out Sampſons eyes, the Devil hath not pull'd out thine, to believe Doctrinal lies to debauch thine heart and life. 'Tis further, an high point of Chriſtian care and wiſdom to try,
Our practices. Gods grace may be, and is proſtitured to wickedneſs, Is it not ſo with thee? Inquire in thy Vocation, Condition, Relation, wherein thou ſtandeſt: Hath not thine heart and converſation been tainted with this curfed Leaven, The abuſe of Gods grace? When the Plague is at thy neighbors houſe, there is need to watch and try the ſoundneſs of thine own: Since this worſt of Plagues, The abuſe of Gods grace is abroad, happy are they that ſearch and purge their hearts and lives from licentiouſneſs.
SECT. 8.
8. INference: The Devil hath his ſnares in the moſt holy 8. The Devil hath his ſnares in the moſt holy things.things: His great fear of War is in and about heavenly things: We wraſtle againſt ſpiritual wickedneſs in high places, the original is in heavenly things, Eph. 6. 12. Satan ſtood at Joſhua's right hand, Zach. 3. 1. The Pulpit, the praying Cloſet, the publike Oratories, humbling Sack-cloth days, the great and bleſſed truths of the Goſpel, the Orthodox, as well as the Heretical head, is not exempted from his ſnares; The ſaving things of Gods grace, Chriſts merits, the promiſes of the Covenint, the Spirits Gifts and Operations, are all made Satans occaſional baits to ſin: Where is weak ſinning man ſafe, who is in danger of abuſing the holieſt things? How many have been tempred to be overcome by, and periſh in reigning ſins, under the pleaſing conceit and deceit of a favoring propriety, in God, Chriſt, the Spirit, and Grace? Happy are they that fear always the ſinners of the Fowler, not onelyonly laid in Creature-comforts, but Ordinances of grace, in the very grace of God and Chriſt: Moſt happy are they that are out of the enemies Countrey and reach, that are in the ſtate of bleſſed Indemnity, without the fear of being overcome by Satans ſnares, laid moſt cunningly, and vain pretences, though never ſo fairly gilded over.
SECT. 9.
9. INference: Libertiniſm puts the higheſt affront upon God: 9. LIbertinniſm puts the higheſt affront upon God.It abuſeth him there where he is moſt glorious; ſhould have moſt praiſe, his grace; The praiſe of the glory of his grace, Eph. 1. 6. Moſes ſaid to God, I beſeech thee ſhew me thy glory; and God ſaid, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, Exod. 33. 18, 19. They are LIbertines in nature that abuſe the Creature: God hath given the ſweet ſuccors of this life to be rightly uſed not abuſed, 1. Cor. 7. 31. To ſerve him, not luſts; to be ſtairs of Aſſenſion unto him, not Averſons from him: The rich wantons of the world, the Apoſtle James tells, ſhall pay dear for abuſing his Creatures, to Voluptuouſneſs, Oppreſſion, hard heartedneſs, forgetfulneſs of God: But the Libertines in grace are the worſt and moſt injurious. To caſt dirt on Canvaſe is a wrong, but on Scarlet is a greater: To abuſe a great man in his ſervant, is an indignity, but in his Wife, in his Sons, a greater. The abuſed goodneſs of God in his grace and Chriſt, goeth nearer his heart, then in his Creatures. Grace is Gods ſaving Arm; The Libertine doth what in him lies, to weaken, yea wound the arm of God, that it cannot ſave: In ſome things Almightineſs is at a ſtand. He could in his own Countrey do no mighty works, but heal a few ſick ones, becauſe of unbelief, Mark 6. 5, 6. The grace of God cannot ſave the conſtant and wilful abuſer of it: Paul was careful, leſt he ſhould abuſe his power in the Goſpel, 1. Cor. 9. 18. Be careful, O Chriſtian! leſt the Indulgences, Powers and Liberties of the Goſpel be abuſed.