Christ Crucified, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
ISAIAH LIII.I.
Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
THE Prophet Iſaiah, is very ſolicitous about the fruit of his Preaching, when he hath preached concerning Chriſt; as indeed it is not enough for Miniſters to preach, and for People to hear, except ſome fruit follow; and now when he hath been much in Preaching, and looketh to others that have been much in that work, he ſadly regrates the little fruit it had, and would have among them, to whom Chriſt was, and ſhould be ſpoken of; a thing, that in the entry ſhould put us to be ſerious, leſt this complaint of Iſaiah ſtand on record againſt us; ſeeing he complains of the Hearers of the Goſpel, not only in his own time, but in our time alſo.
We told you, there were four things in this firſt part of the Verſe. 1. The great errand that Miniſters have to a People, it is to report concerning Chriſt; and beſide what we obſerved from this Head before, looking to the Scope, we ſhall obſerve further.
1. The end that Miniſters ſhould have before them in preaching Chriſt and the Goſpel, is, That the Hearers of it may be gained to Jeſus Chriſt by hearing, ſo as they may be brought to believe on Him; it's in a word, to gain them to ſaving Faith in Chriſt:
2. It is implyed, That Jeſus Chriſt is only to be propoſed as the Object of Faith, to be reſted on by the Hearers of the Goſpel, and as the only ground of their Peace; there is no name that can be mentioned for the ſalvation of Souls, but this Name only; ly; and there is no other Goſpel can be propoſed but that which holdeth Him out to People.
3. Obſerve, (which is much the ſame with the former Obſervation, and to which we would ſpeak a little more particularly,) That by the preaching of the Goſpel, Jeſus Chriſt is laid before the Hearers of it, as the Object of their Faith, and propoſed to be believed upon by them, elſe there would be no ground of this complaint againſt them; but where-ever this Goſpel is preached, there is Chriſt is laid, as it were, at the foot or door of every Soul that heareth it, to be believed and reſted on; this is the great errand of the Goſpel, to propoſe to People Jeſus Chriſt, as the Object and Ground of Faith, to lay Him down to be reſted on for that very end; when the Apoſtle is ſpeaking Rom. 10.8. of the Doctrine of Faith, he ſaith, It is not now who ſhall aſcend into heaven, nor who ſhall deſcend into the deep, but the word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; what word is that? the word of faith which we preach; now ſayeth he, Chriſt by the preaching of the Goſpel is brought ſo near folks, that He is brought even to their Hearts, and to their Mouths, ſo near, that (to ſpeak ſo) People have no more to do but to ſtoup and take Him up, or to roll themſelves over upon Him; yea, it bringeth Him in to their very Heart, that they have no more to do but to bring up their Heart to conſent to cloſe the Bargain, and with the Mouth to make confeſſion of it; and theſe words are the more conſiderable, that they are borrowed from Deut. 30. where Moſes is ſetting Death and Life before the People, and bidding them chooſe, though he would ſeem to ſpeak of the Law, yet if we conſider the ſcope, we will find him to be on the matter ſpeaking of Jeſus Chriſt, holden forth to that People under Ceremonial-Ordinances, and ſhewing them that there was Life to be had in Him that way, and according to Gods intent, they had Life and Death put in their choice.
I know there are two things neceſſary to the acting and exerciſing of Faith, The 1. is objective, when the Object or Ground is propoſed in the preaching of the Goſpel. The 2. is ſubjective, when there is an inward, ſpiritual, and powerful quickning, and framing of the Heart, to lay hold on, and make uſe of the Object and offer; it is true, that all to whom the offer cometh are not quickened, but the Doctrine ſaith, that, to all to whom the Goſpel cometh, Chriſt is propoſed, to be believed on by them, and brought near unto them; ſo that we may ſay as Chriſt ſaid to His Hearers, The kingdom of God is come near unto you; both Chriſt and John brought, and laid the Kingdom of Heaven near to the Jews, and it is laid as near to you in the preached Goſpel: This is it then that Doctrine ſayes, 1. That the Goſpel holdeth out Chriſt as a ſufficient ground of Faith to reſt upon. And 2. with a ſufficient warrand to theſe who hear it, to make uſe of Him, according to the terms on which he is offered. And 3. it brings Him ſo preſſingly home, as He is laid to the Doors and Hearts of Sinners who hear the Goſpel; that whoever hath the offer, he muſt neceſſarily, either believe in, and receive Chriſt, or reject Him, and caſt at the report made of Him in the Goſpel.
I ſhall firſt a little confirm this Doctrine, and then ſecondly make uſe of it.
Firſt, I ſhall confirm it from theſe Grounds, 1. From the plain offers which the Lord maketh in His Word, and from the warrand he giveth His Miniſters to make the ſame offers; It's their Commiſſion to pray them to whom they are ſent to be reconciled, to tell them, that God was in Chriſt reconciling the world to himſelf, as it is, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. and in Chriſt's ſteed to requeſt them to embrace the offer of Reconciliation; to tell them that Chriſt died for the Sinners that will embrace Him, and that He will impute His Righteouſneſs unto them; and Chap. 6.1. We beſeech you (ſaith he) that ye receive not this grace in vain; which is not meant of ſaving Grace, but of the gracious offer of Grace and Reconciliation through Him; This is Miniſters work, to pray People not to be idle Hearers of this Goſpel, for, ſaith he, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of ſalvation have I ſuccoured thee; behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of ſalvation; The force of the Argument is this, if ye will make this Goſpel welcome, ye may get a Hearing, for now is the day of Salvation, therefore do not neglect it; So Pſal. 81.10, 11. (where God maketh the offer of Himſelf, and that very largely,) Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it; The Offer is of Himſelf, as the words following clear, My people would not hearken to my voice, and Iſrael would none of me; for they that refuſe His Word, refuſe Himſelf; and hence, Iſa. 65.1. he ſaith, I am found of them that ſought me not, I ſaid, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name, and to the Jews, I have ſtretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people. 2. We may clear and confirm it from theſe ſimilitudes, by which the Offer of this Goſpel is, as it were, brought to the doors of People, and there are ſeveral ſimilitudes made uſe of to this purpoſe; I ſhall name but four. 1. It's ſet down under the expreſſion of wooing, as 2 Cor. 11.2. I have eſpouſed you as a chaſt virgin to Chriſt, this is ordinary, and ſuppoſeth a Marriage, and a Bridegroom, that is by his friends wooing and ſuting in Marriage; ſo that (as we ſhew) wherever the call of the Goſpel comes, it's a beſpeaking of Souls to Him, as Cant. 8. What ſhall we do for our ſiſter in the day that ſhe ſhall be ſpoken for? 2. It's ſet out under the expreſſion of inviting to a Feaſt, and Hearers of the Goſpel are called to come to Chriſt as Strangers, or Gueſts are called to come to a Wedding-feaſt, Mat. 22.2, 3, 4. All things are ready, come to the wedding, &c. Thus the Goſpel calleth not to an empty Houſe that wants meat, but to a Banqueting-houſe where Chriſt is made ready as the Cheer, and there wants no more but feaſting on Him: So it's ſet out under the ſimilitude of Eating and Drinking, John 6.57. He that eats me, even he ſhall live by me. 3. It's ſet out often under the expreſſion or ſimilitude of a Market, where all the Wares are laid forth on the Stands, Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirsts come to the waters, &c. and leaſt it ſhould be ſaid, or thought, that the Proclamation is only to the thirſty, and to ſuch as are ſo and ſo qualified; ye may look to what followeth, let him that hath no mony come, yea, come buy without mony and without price; and to the offer that is made to thoſe of Laodicea, Rev. 3. who in appearance, were a hypocritical and formal People, yet to them the Counſel and Call comes forth, Come buy of me eye-ſalve, and gold tryed in the fire, &c. It ſayes, the Wares are even in their offer, or even offered to them. 4. It's ſet out under the ſimilitude of ſtanding and knocking at a Door, becauſe the Goſpel brings Chriſt a knocking and calling hard at Sinners doors, Rev. 3.20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and ſup with him, and he with me; So Cant. 5.2. By the ſleepy Bride it is ſaid, It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh; and Pſal. 24. laſt four Verſes, it's cryed, Lift up your heads ye gates, and be lift up ye everlaſting doors, that the king of glory may come in, which is an …arneſt invitation to make way for Chriſt Jeſus, wanting nothing but an entry into the heart; whereby we may ſee, how near Chriſt comes in the Goſpel, and is laid to folks hand. 3. We may confirm it from the nature of Faith, and of the obedience that is required to be given to the command of Believing; Wherever this Goſpel comes, it tyeth and obligeth all the Hearers to believe on Chriſt, that is, to receive and welcome Him; and there could be no receiving of Him, if He were not making an offer of Himſelf; thus it's ſaid, Joh. 1.11.12. He came unto his own, but his own received him not, but to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the ſons of God; He came to both theſe who received Him, and to theſe who received Him not; but He gave to Believers only, this priviledge of Son-ſhip: If we look to all the names of Faith, as coming to Chriſt, eating and drinking of Him, receiving of Him, reſting on Him, &c. They all ſuppoſe that Chriſt is near to be catched hold of, and within ſpeaking and tryſting terms to People that hear the Goſpel. 4. It may be confirmed from the many ſad complaints that the Lord hath for not receiving Him, and not believing His Word, and from the dreadful deſignations by which He holds out the ſin of Unbelief; all which, will make out this, that God lays Chriſt at Sinners door in His Word; Hence Joh. 5.40. our Lord ſays, Ye will not come unto me, that ye may get life: and Matth. 23. at the cloſe, O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how often would I have gathered thee, and ye would not; This was it that did aggravate their ſin, that He would, and they would not; So Pſal. 81. My people would not hearken to my voice, and Iſrael would none of me; and Luke 7. it's ſaid, the Scribes and the Phariſees rejected the counſel of God againſt themſelves; and Acts 13.45. when the Jews rejected Chriſt, it's ſaid, they judged themſelves unworthy of everlaſting life; and therefore the Apoſtles ſay, that they will leave them and turn to the Gentiles. 5. We may confirm it from this, That in reſpect of the Goſpel, and Offer made in it, Chriſt comes alike ne…r to all that hear it; for if He be near to ſome, then He is near to all, I mean in regard of an objective nearneſs; there is the ſame warrand to ſpeak and make the offer to all, before there be ſome diſcovery made for qualifying the Doctrine to ſome; I…'s true, there is a difference in reſpect of the power that accompanieth the Goſpel, but as it layeth out the offer of Chriſt, and Life through Him, it comes alike near to …ll the Hearers of it; the Invitation comes to all, and in the ſame terms, to them that refuſe, as well as to them that receive Him, the ſame Goſpel is preached to both. A 6th. Confirmation is from the nature of God's adminiſtration of His external Covenant, which is ſealed in Baptiſm to both, not one Covenant to one, and another Covenant to another, but the ſame Covenant on condition of believing to both: Behold then, in the preaching of this Goſpel, that Chriſt comes near you, even to your door, in reſpect of the mediate Ordinances, as near as He did to Abraham and David; Although God had His extraordinary ways of manifeſting Himſelf to them, not common to others; yea, this day, the Goſpel is more clear objectively to you then it was to Abraham, who rejoyced to ſee Chriſt's day afar off, when it was vailed; yea, the Goſpel is as clearly preached to you, as thoſe who are now before the Throne of God, had it preached to them, as to the matter of it, though we will make no equality as to the manner of it.
Uſe 1. Advert to this, when ye come to hear the Goſpel preached, and think how ye are living in tryſting terms with God, and how near Chriſt comes unto you; the word of Faith lays Him ſo near, that ye have no more to do but to receive the offer of Him, to believe and cloſe with Him, and ſtep in upon Him, as it were, to come as living Stones to be built upon Him as a ſure Foundation.
But it will be aſked, How comes this Goſpel ſo near? How does it bring Chriſt ſo near to Sinners? Anſw. In theſe five ſteps, 1. As it makes the Report of Chriſt, and brings the Tydings of ſuch things, as that He is Born, and that He hath Suffered, and for ſuch an End, and that we may partake of the Benefite of them on ſuch terms; It makes the Proclamation narratively, and tells what He did, what Good may be gotten of Him, and how we may come by it. 2. As it brings an offer of theſe good things on the terms on which they are to be gotten, ſo that it never tells that Chriſt is come, but it ſays alſo, here is Life to be gotten in Him by you, if ye will take the way propoſed to come by it; therefore, when the Proclamation comes forth, that all things are ready, the next word is, Come to the Wedding; And when in the one word He ſays, I ſtand at the door and knock, at the next He ſays, If any man will open the door, I will come in to him, and ſup with him and he with me; and when Iſa. 28. it's ſaid, He is a precious corner-ſtone, a tryed foundation-ſtone laid in Zion, the next word is, He that believes on him ſhall not make haste, or as the Apoſtle hath it, ſhall not be aſhamed or confounded; this makes the Goſpel glad Tydings, becauſe it comes alwayes with an offer of Chriſt and of Life in Him. 3. When the Offer is made, and the precious Wares are expoſed to ſale in this cryed Fair of Grace, a command comes out, chooſe Life, come buy the Wares, believe, receive the Offer, as is clear in all the places we named before; It leaves not Folks indifferent to receive or nor, but chargeth them as they would be obedient to a Command, to receive Him, 1 Joh. 3.23. This is his commandment, that ye ſhould believe on the name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt; This is the great Goſpel-command, and Miniſters have not only the telling of theſe News, and warrand to make the Offer, but a Commiſſion to command to receive it, and therefore the ſitting and ſlighting of the Offer, is a Sin oppoſite to the Command. 4. It not only makes the Offer, and backs the Offer with a Command to embrace it, but it ſweetens the Command with many gracious Promiſes knit to it, as Iſa. 55. Hear and your ſoul ſhall live, and I will make an everlaſting Covenant with you, even the ſure mercies of David; And whenever the Command of Believing comes out, it's always with a Promiſe; as Paul deals with the Jaylor, Act. 16. Believe and thou ſhalt be ſaved; and Mark 16. towards the cloſe, the Lord ſays, They that believe ſhall be ſaved, to encourage to Faith in Him. 5. It preſſes the Offer, and commands embracing of it with the Promiſe, with a certification; for the Offer is not conditional, but alternative, Mark 16. If ye believe not, ye ſhal be damned; ſo Deut. 30. Death and Life are propoſed, and they are bidden chooſe: If the Goſpel be not effectual in it's Commands and Promiſes, it will be effectual in its Threatnings; The Word of God will triumph one way or the other, and not return to Him void, as is very clear, Iſa. 55.11. and 2 Cor. 2.15, 16. It triumphs in ſome, while they are brought by the Promiſe to give obedience to the command of Believing, and to them it becomes the ſavour of life unto life; and to others it triumphs as to the execution of the Threatning on them for their Unbelief, and to them it becomes the ſavour of death unto death: In a word, Chriſt Jeſus comes ſo near People in this Goſpel, that He muſt either be choſen and Life with Him, or refuſed, to the deſtruction and death of the Refuſer; ye have the ſame Chriſt, the ſame Word, the ſame Covenant, the ſame obligation to Believe, propoſed to you, that Believers from the beginning of the World had, and another ye will not get, and what more can the Goſpel do to bring Chriſt near to you? when it brings Him ſo near, that ye have Him in your offer, and the Authority of God and His Promiſes interpoſed, to perſwade you to accept of the Offer; and Threatnings added, to certifie you, that if ye accept it not, ye ſhall periſh; in which reſpect, we may ſay as the Prophet Iſaiah doeth, chap. 5. What could God do more to his vineyard which he hath not done? as to the holding out of the Object of Faith, Jeſus Chriſt to be reſted on by you.
But ſome wi…l, it may be, object here, 1. But if there come not Life and Power with the Offer, it will not do the turn; we cannot Believe, nor receive the Offer. Anſw. Whoſe fault is this that ye want ability? It's not God's fault, ye have a ſure ground to Believe, His Wo…d is a warrand good enough, the Promiſes …re free enough, the Motives ſweet enough; the great fault is a H…art of unbelief in you, that ye will not believe in Chriſt, nor open to Him when He is brought to your Door; I doubt, yea, I put it out of doubt, when all that ever heard the Goſpel ſh…ll ſtand before the Throne, that there ſhall be one found that ſhall dare to make this excuſe, that they were not able to receive Chriſt; the Goſpel brings Chriſt ſo near them, that they muſt either ſay yea or nay, it is not ſo much, I cannot, as, I will not believe, and that will be found a wilful and malicious refuſal.
2. It may be objected, But how can this Goſpel come to all alike, ſeing it cannot be, that theſe that will never get good of the Goſpel, hath it as near to them, as theſe that get the ſaving Fruit of it? Anſw. Not to ſpeak of God's Purpoſe, or what He intends to make of it, not of the Power and Fruit that accompanies it to ſome, and not to all; it's certain, the Goſpel and Chriſt in its Offer, comes alike near to all that hear it: It objectively reveals the ſame glad Tydings to all, with the conditional offer of Life, and with the ſame command and encouragement, and certification in Threatnings as well as Promiſes; In theſe reſpects Chriſt is brought alike near to all, and when God cometh to reckon, He will let Sinners know in that day, that the Goſpel came to their Door, and was refuſed; yea, it comes, and where it comes, will take hold of ſome to pluck them out of the Snare, and be ground of Faith to them, and to others it will be a ground of Challenge, and ſo the ſavour of death unto death; for though it take not effect as to its Promiſes in all, nor in its Threatnings to all, yet as to either Death or Life, it wi…l take effect in every one, ſo as, if Life be refuſed, Death ſteps in the room of it.
But it may be aſked, Why will God have Chriſt in the Offer of the Goſpel brought ſo near the Hearers of it? Anſw. 1. Becauſe it ſerves to commend the Grace and Love of God in Chriſt Jeſus, when the Invitation is ſo broad, that i… is to all; it ſpeaks out the royalty of the Feaſt, upon which ground 2 Cor. 6.1. it's called Grace, the Offer is ſo large and wide. 2. Becauſe it ſerves for warranding and confirming the Elect in the receiving of this Offer, for none of the Elect could receive Him if He were not even laid to their Door; It's this which gives us warrand to receive that which God offers; it's not becauſe we are elected or beloved of God before time, or becauſe He purpoſed to do us Good, that we believe, theſe are not grounds of Faith, being God's ſecret Will; but we believe, becauſe God calleth and maketh the Offer, inviteth and promiſeth, knowing that He is faithful, and we may truſt Him; Hence David ſays, I will never forget thy Word, and, in God will I praiſe his Word; for the Word in its Offer ſpeaks alike to all, and to none particularly: Indeed when it comes to the Application of Promiſes for Conſolation, that is to be made according to the qualifications in the Perſons, but the Offer is to all. 3. Becauſe by this means the Lord hath the fairer acceſs to found His Quarrel and Contraverſie againſt Unbelievers, and to make their Ditty and Doom the clearer in the day of the Lord, when its found that they never received the Offer, My people would not hearken to my voice, and Iſrael would none of me, therefore I gave them up to their own hearts luſts, and they walked in their own counſels; and this is an approbation given to Juſtice here, it's well-wair'd ſeeing they would not receive Thee, that they get worſe in Thy room.
Uſe 2. Seing Chriſt comes near you in this Goſpel, and this is one of the Mercat days, I intreat you, while He is near, receive Him, call upon Him while He is near; or take it in the plain words of the Apoſtle, open to Him, take Him in, give Him welcome while He bodes Himſelf, to ſay ſo, on you; there is not a Conſcience in any Man that hears this Goſpel, but he will have this teſtimony from Him in it, that He came near them, was in their ſight, and within their reach and grips, as it were, if they would have put out their hand to receive Him, and ſeing it is ſo, O receive this Goſpel, give Him room; while He is content to ſup with you, take Him in, make ſure your union with Him; this is the end why this Report is made, and Chriſt is laid before you, even that ye may lay your ſelves over on Him.
I would follow this Uſe a little, by way of Exhortation and Expoſtulation jointly, ſeeing the Doctrine will bear both, for when Chriſt is brought ſo near even to the Mouth and to the Heart, it will be great ground of reproof and expoſtulation if He ſhall be rejected. Be exhorted therefore to be in earneſt, ſeing 1. It is a matter of ſuch concernment to you; many Nations, Kings and Kingdoms have not had Chriſt ſo near them as ye have, neglect not ſuch an opportunity; do ye think that all that is ſaid in the Goſpel concerning this, is for nought? Is it for no uſe that ſuch a Report is made, and Preaching continued ſo long among you? And if it be for any uſe, is it not for this, that ye may receive the Report, and may by doing ſo, get your ſouls for a Prey? To what uſe will Preaching be, if this uſe and end of it be miſſed? Will your hearing the Goſpel make your Peace with God if Chriſt be not received? 2. Conſider the Advantages ye may have by receiving the Goſpel that others have not, is it a little thing to be called to God's Feaſt, to be married to Chriſt, to be made Friends with God, and to enjoy Him for ever? the Day comes when it will be thought an Advantage, and are there Motives to perſwade to any thing, like thoſe that are to induce to that? 3. Conſider what it is that we require of you, it's no ſtrange nor hard thing, it's but Believing, and this is nothing elſe, but that the Report concerning Chriſt be received, yea, that He be received for your own good; that is it that the Goſpel calls you to, even to betake you to a Phyſician for Cure, to betake you to a Cautioner for your Debt; if ye could eſcape a Reckoning and Wrath another way, it were ſomething, but when there is no other way to obtain pardon of Sin and Peace, or to eſcape Wrath and obtain favour and friendſhip with God, but this, and when this way (to ſpeak ſo) is made ſo eaſie, that its but to ſtoop down, and to take up Chriſt at your foot, as it were, or to roll your ſelves on Him, how inexcuſable will ye Unbelievers be, when ye ſhall be arraigned before His Tribunal? But 4. look a little farther to what is coming; If ye were to live always here, it were hard enough to live at feed with God; but have ye faith of a Judgement after Death? if ſo, how will ye hold up your Faces in that Day that now refuſe Chriſt? will not horrible confuſion be the portion of many then, and will any ground of confuſion be like this, the ſlighting of Chriſt? when He ſhall be ſeen coming to judge Slighters of Him, what horrour will then riſe in Conſciences when He ſhall appear and be avenged on them that were not obedient to this Goſpel? as is moſt clear, 2 Theſſ. 1. When our Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed in flaming fire, with his mighty Angels from Heaven, to take vengeance on all that know not God and obey not the Goſpel. 5. Conſider, that Death and Life are now in your option, in your hand as it were, chooſe or refuſe; I ſpeak not, nor plead here for Free-will, but of your willing electing of that which ye have offered to you; for one of two will be, either ſhall ye willingly chooſe Life, which is a fruit of Grace, or refuſe Life, and chooſe Death, which will be found the native fruit of your Corruption; ye may have Life by receiving Chriſt who is laid to your Door, and if ye refuſe Him; Death will follow it; as now in Hearing this Goſpel ye carry in chooſing or refuſing, ſo will the Sentence paſs on you at the great Day, and ſo your Sentence, in a manner, is written down with your own hand, as it's ſaid Act. 13.46. Ye judge your ſelves unworthy of eternal life, not out of humility, but maliciouſly: Now when the matter is of ſuch concernment, beware of playing the fool; if ye will continue preſumptuous and ſecure, following your Idols, what will the Lord ſay, but let it be ſo, ye get no wrong when ye get your own choice, and He, but as it were, ratifies the Sentence which ye have paſt on your ſelves. 6. I ſhall add but this one word more, and beſeech you that ye would ſeriouſly lay this to Heart, as a weighty thing, conſidering the Certification that follows on it; It's not only Death, but a horrible Death, Wrath, and Wrath with its aggravation from this Ground; like that of Capernaum that was lifted up to Heaven in this reſpect, having Chriſt brought ſo near them; to whom this Goſpel is not the ſavour of Life unto Life, it ſhall be the ſavour of Death unto Death, and think not this a common Motive, though it be commonly uſed, it will bring Wrath upon Wrath, and Vengeance upon Vengeance on the Hearers of this Goſpel, beyond that of Sodom, if ye be ſtill Rejecters of it; ſure, none of you would think it an eaſie thing to be puniſhed as Sodom was, nor digeſt well the Curſe that came on them; is there any of you but ye would think it uncouth and ſtrange, yea ſtupendious, to enter into their Judgement, and to have your Lands turned in a ſtinking Loch, and your ſelves eternally tormented with them? but there is more wrath and vengeance following on the ſin of Unbelief, and rejecting of Chriſt when He comes to your Door in this Guſpel. To cloſe up all, Conſider that Chriſt is near you, and hath been long near you, and wooing you, ye know not how many Days or Years ye ſhall have, how ſoon this Goſpel may be taken from you, or ye from it, how ſoon ye may be put in the Pit, where ye will gnaſh your Teeth, gnaw your Tongues, and blaſpheme God; therefore be ſerious while Chriſt is in your offer, and roll your ſelves over upon Him while ye have Him ſo near you, welcome this Hearing or Report while it ſounds in your Ears, that there may be no juſt ground of this Complaint againſt you, Lord, who hath believed our report?