Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 15 – Title page 2
CHAP. XV
THe Lords diſpenſing of ſweet and heavenly bleſſings unto man, by the labours of his holy and faithfull Miniſters, ſhewes what the eſtate and condition of man is without the Lords Miniſters; even an eſtate of woes,Mans eſtate without the Goſpell, an eſtate. 1. Of Death. of myſeries, and curſes: Mans condition without the miniſtery of the Goſpell is very wretched and miſerable, an eſtate of death without ſpirituall life; the earth without the Sunne is but a dead and fruitleſſe lump; the ſoule without the Sunne of Righteouſneſſe ſhining in the Goſpell is yEph. 2.1.dead in ſinnes and treſpaſſes; a tree twice dead, oncce by originall corruption, and ſecondly by actuall tranſgreſſion, and plucked up by the zIud. ver. 12.roots, wholly ſeparate from all the meanes of life; a1 Ioh. 5.12.he that hath not the Sonne, externally in the Goſpell, internally in his heart, miniſterially in his word, and efficiently in his worke of grace; he hath not life: Such are farre from the life of grace and ſanctification, as are ſtrangers to Chriſt in his Goſpell: The woman of Shunems ſonne remained dead,2 King. 4. according to the body, till the Prophet came and raiſed him; the ſoule of man continues dead in reſpect of the inward man, untill the Miniſter of the Lord comes to quicken him. 2. An eſtate of darkneſſe: 2. Of Darknes.Man without the miniſtery of the word is in darkneſſe and the ſhadow of death, a darke body without an eye, a darke houſe without a Lamp. The ſoules cleareſt light is nothing elſe but darkneſſe, as long as the Goſpell doth not ſhine into it, to irradiate and enlighten it. There was once no light in all the land of Egypt, onelyonly the children of Iſrael had light in bExod. 10.23.their dwellings; there is no ſpirituall and heavenly light in all the world, but among Gods Iſrael; there is light only in their dwellings who enjoy the Goſpell, In Judah is God knowne, and his name is great in Iſrael. God is truly and ſavingly knowne only by that people who enjoy the light of the Goſpell. 3.3. Of Servitude. An eſtate of ſervitude and bondage. Iſrael continued under hard bondage, untill Moſes and Aaron came to deliver them, untill the Lord raiſed a fiery pillar to conduct them out of Egypt unto Canaan. Man abides under the hard bondage of Satan and his owne corruption, untill the Lord ſends his Miniſter to free him, and ſets up the fiery pillar of his word to lead him out of this ſervile and ſlaviſh condition; Man without the Goſpell is in priſon, and hath no key to open it; he is taken captive, and hath no weapon to reſiſt his enemy, to procure his freedome; he is manacled with many fetters, and hath no hammer to diſſolve and looſe them; Mans condition without the miniſtery of the Goſpell is very baſe and ſervile: When and where the Goſpell ſhineth, then and there as the Prophet ſpeaketh, The cIſa 42.7.eyes of the blind are opened, the priſoners are brought out from the priſon, and they that ſit in darkneſſe out of the priſon-houſe. 4. Of Emptines4. An eſtate of emptineſſe and barrenneſſe. The field without the dew is unfruitfull, the ſoule without the dew of divine and heavenly doctrine diſtilling thereupon, beares no good fruit; there is no lawfull conception without an husband, all the fruit of the ſoule, not eſpouſed to Chriſt by the Goſpell, is illegitimate, and a very abomination; there is no reaping, where is no ſowing: The ſoule which is not ſowne with the ſeed of the word yeelds no harveſt of grace, they are barren ground nigh to burning, who are ſtrangers to the Goſpell. 5. An eſtate of pollution and uncleaneſſe.…. Of Pollutiō. The houſe without the beſome is overſpread with ſlime and cobwebs; Naaman continued leprous untill he went ſeven times into Jordan and waſhed; the Temple was a den of theeves till Chriſt came with his whip, and drove them out; the heart of man is an unclean houſe, without the beſome of the word ſweeping it; the ſoule of man is overſread with the lothſome leproſie of ſin, untill he bathe himſelfe in the Jordan of the Goſpell; the whole man is a very den of theeves, untill Chriſt comes, and by the miniſtery of his word ſcourge and drive them out: The miniſtery of the Goſpell is the outward inſtrument and meanes of the ſoules cleanſing: Every foule eſtranging it ſelfe from Gods ordinance is under the power of uncleanneſſe. 6.6. Of Sorrow…. An eſtate of continuall and remedileſſe ſorrowes, ſtraights and perplexities. If God begin to waken the conſcience, and make man a little ſenſible of his wrath, then without the Goſpell, his eſtate like the waters of Marah without the tree is very bitter,Exod. 15.25. he cannot drinke of it, he cannot meditate upon it, without any comfort, then he is in dIob 20.22.ſtraights in the midſt of his ſufficiency; then he is in the green meadow of his worldly plenty, as a ePſal 42.1. Mat. 8.chaſed Hart without the water brooke; then he is full of bleſſings and agitations; like the Diſciples in the ſtorme, and nothing but the voice of Chriſt in the Goſpell can miniſter peace or comfort to him; Better be deprived of all worldly poſſeſſions, then of the Goſpell, and Gods Miniſters. O that ſuch men would conſider and ſtudy the miſery of their condition, as are left without the Goſpell, and a faithfull Miniſter to inſtruct them: All our bleſſings will prove at laſt as curſes, if we have not the Goſpell to ſweeten and ſanctifie them to us; the waters about Jericho were naught, untill the Prophet powred ſalt into them;2 Kin. 2. the deepeſt rivers, and fulleſt flouds of mans worldly abundance, prove naught, an inſtrument of death and condemnation, to him that hath not the Goſpell to ſeaſon them; not the eſtate of him that wants earthly abilities, but the eſtate of him that wants the labours of Gods Miniſters, is an eſtate of woes, miſeries, and curſes.
Doth God diſpenſe his greateſt, his heavenly,Their folly opened who eſtrange themſelves from the miniſtery. his choiſeſt bleſſings by his Miniſters? Then in this, as in a plaine and open character may we read their folly, and their impiety, who eſtrange themſelves from the houſe of God, who ſleight and undervalue the labours of Gods Miniſters; theſe men eſtrange themſelves from the place, and from the meanes of bleſſing: The ſoule which is regardleſſe of the miniſtery of the Goſpell is far from bleſſing; ſuch as come not to the light abide in darkneſſe; ſuch as reject the Phyſitian, periſh in their diſeaſes; ſuch as caſt away their weapon, fall in the battell; ſuch as refuſe the miniſtery of the word, the light, the phyſicke, and armour of their ſoules, abide in ignorance, periſh in their impieties, and fall before their ſpirituall adverſaries. Such as came not to the Arke, the place and inſtrument of preſervation in the deluge, were drowned in the waters: ſuch as refuſe the miniſtery of the Goſpell, the inſtrument of the ſoules preſervation, are ſwallowed in the deluge of Gods vengeance; Corah, Dathan, and Abiram refuſing to come up at Moſes call, the fNum. 16.earth opened her mouth and ſwallowed them; the earth will prove the occaſion and inſtrument of their ruine, who through their earthly mindedneſſe deſpiſe the Goſpell, and ſleight the call of Gods Miniſters inviting them: Such men are blind, Grounds of neglecting the miniſtery.and ſee not the worth of the Goſpell, dead in ſinne, and taſte not the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt in the Goſpell, unſenſible of their owne miſery, and know not the neceſſity of Chriſt; as of a Phyſician to heale them; as of a ranſomer to redeeme them; and as of a fountaine to waſh and cleanſe them: Such men are ſelfe-conceited, ſelf-admirers, puffed up with an opinion of their owne fulneſſe, and conſider not the need they have of Chriſt, his Miniſters, and Goſpell; as of a guide to direct them, as of a jewell to adorne them, as of a pearle to enrich them, and as of a living ſpring to fill them. Such as have leaſt ſence of their owne miſery and emptineſſe, are the greateſt deſpiſers and undervaluers of the meanes of their eternall happineſſe: And ſuch as are moſt exalted with an opinion of their owne wiſedome, doe ever prove the moſt fooliſh of all others; neither doth man ever declare greater folly and madneſſe, then in ſleighting the Goſpell and worke of Gods Miniſters;Folly and evill hereof. for every ſuch man is blind, and will not be guided, leprous, and will not be cleanſed, in thraldome, and will not be freed empty, and will not be filled, naked, and will not be cloathed, condemned and will not receive a pardon were it is tendred: Such men refuſe Gods ſweetest mercies, and expoſe themſelves to Gods bittereſt curſes; they caſt aſide the Seales and pledges of Gods greateſt loving kindneſſe, and thruſt themſelves upon Gods ſevereſt judgements, and God will at laſt be farre from them, in the withdrawment of the light of his countenance, who are now far from him, by their abſence from his ordinances, God will at laſt ſleight their prayers, who now ſleight the voice of his Miniſters.
As the Lord diſpenſeth many ſweet and heavenly bleſſings by his Miniſters,Care not to withdraw our ſelves from Gods houſe. ſo it ſhould be our care and wiſedome, 1. Not to eſtrange our ſelves from their labours, not to withdraw our ſelves from Gods houſe, as the Prodigall in the parable withdrew himſelfe from his fathers houſe: Forget not (ſaith the Apoſtle) the gHeb. 10.25.aſſembling of your ſelves together; abſence from the ſacred aſſemblies, proves uncomfortable and perillous. The proffer of Gods mercy is refuſed, the tender of Gods ſweeteſt love is rejected, the choiſeſt comforts of the ſoule are deſpiſed; the eſtate of the men of the old world deſpiſing the Arke, the only inſtrument of preſervation from the waters, proved dangerous; the eſtate of ſuch as refuſe the Goſpell, the meanes of ſalvation proves ruinous, everlaſting perdition proves their laſt portion; the Scholler eſtranging himſelfe from the Schoole, remaines void of learning; the ſicke man eſtranging himſelfe from the Phyſician continues diſeaſed; the ſouldier withdrawing himſelfe from the Artillery houſe, remaines unarmed; the diſeaſed woman in the Goſpell could not get her bloudy iſſue cured, untill ſhe came to Chriſt; Man eſtranging himſelf from the houſe of God remaines ignorant, his ſoule unarmed, his whole man mortally diſeaſed. Sinne ever proves an incurable and mortall ſickneſſe to him that abſents himſelfe from Chriſt in his ordinances, abſence from the houſe of God, ſpoyles the ſoule of all gracious and comfortable communion and acquaintance with God; he that refraines the Kings Court, loſeth all communion with the King: Gods houſe is Gods Court, his Goſpell the voice by which he ſpeaketh, the glaſſe in which he ſhineth and ſhewes himſelfe; the banquetting houſe wherein he communicates himſelfe, as the Maſter of the feaſt unto his gueſts. He that neglecteth this, neglects the medium of his ſoules communion with God; eſtrangement from the houſe of God brings poverty upon the ſoule; the Prodigall forſaking his fathers houſe, became very poore and baſe, he made himſelfe a companion of Swine and would have eaten of the huskes, if any man would have given to him; great is their baſeneſſe, ſwiniſh are their diſpoſitions, ſhamefull is their ſpirituall poverty and emptineſſe, who forſake the houſe of God, their Father, reject the labours of Gods Miniſters, and follow their owne …: Abſence from the houſe of God, argues want of love to God; Can you love a man from day to day, inviting you, preparing a coſtly feaſt for you, and yet you refuſe to come within the threſhold of his houſe, and to taſte of his dainties? Mans abſence from the houſe of God proclaimes the alienation of his heart from God. How canſt thou ſay (ſaith Dalilah to Sampſon) that thou loveſt me, when thy heart is not with me. How canſt thou O man ſay that thou loveſt God, when thy heart is not with God, exciting, thee to come to God, when thy foot is not with God, to carry thee to the houſe of God, when thy eare is not with God, to heare the word of God: He is far from God in his inward affections, who wittingly denies God his bodily preſence; Eſtrangement from Gods ordinance provokes God, cauſeth him to become a ſtranger to us, to reject and leave us, and to walke as an adverſary againſt us. When Ʋaſthi refuſed to come to the Kings feaſt at the Kings command, it was ordered that Ʋaſthi ſhould come no more before the King, and that her royall ſtate ſhould be given unto another better then ſhe. Many people refuſing to come to God, to partake of that feaſt which God hath prepared for them in his Goſpell, have been rejected of the Lord, excluded from his gracious preſence, and the Goſpell given unto others. God will deny that man the comfort of his face and counteance, who denyes God his preſence in his ſacred aſſembles; ſhamefull and ſoule-deſtroying deſertion is the uſuall attendant of mans refuſall of the Goſpell. When Joah refuſed to come to Abſolon inviting him, Abſalon ſent, and ſet ſire in his corne fields: Mans rejection of Gods invitations, turnes his favour into anger, his mercy becomes fury. Great were Gods mercies towards Jeruſalem, great was Jeruſalems abuſe of Gods goodneſſe, patience, and long-ſuffering, and at the laſt very diſmall was Ieruſalems deſolation; Capernaums fall and deſtruction was anſwerable to her exaltation. God will make ſuch men deſolate at laſt, as leave the houſe of God deſolate now.
Secondly, let it be our care and wiſedome,Care not to ſleight Gods Miniſters. not to ſleight and undervalue the labours of Gods Miniſters, and the preſence and publication of the Goſpell; preferring our baſe and ſervile luſts above it, as Eſau did a meſſe of pottage above his birthright, exalting the vaine and empty things of the world above it, as the men of Shechem ſet the bramble above the vine; this is the ciſterne by which God conveyed the rivers of his grace, of his ſweeteſt and choiſeſt bleſſings to the ſoules of men; therefore doe not deride this as a fooliſh thing; a light, an idle, a fruitleſſe thing, as a light head, 1 Cor. 2.14. Num. 11.5.as a babling ſpeech; but remember this is Gods ordinance, the inſtrument by which he hath appointed to miniſter ſalvation unto man, as he ordained to ſave Iſrael by the ſtaffe and ſtone in Davids hand; this is the arme and power of God unto ſalvation; this is the fiery pillar by which he will guide us; this is the Bethesda in which he will heale us; this is the immortall ſeed by which he will regenerate us; this is the greene pasture and ſtill water by which he will leade and feed us; this is the trumpet, …t the ſound whereof he will make the wals of Jericho, the holds of ſinne to fall; this is the ſtore-houſe in which the Lord will enrich us; this is the banquetting-houſe in which God will betroth us to his Son Chriſt Jeſus; this is the river by which the Lord will water, refreſh and glad us; and this is the Dove by which God will ſend the (live branch of peace unto us. Undervalue not this then, which is to our ſoules a Sun of ſo many bright and comfortable beames, a tree loaden with ſuch variety of ſoule-nouriſhing fruit, a meſſenger comming with ſuch joyfull, peaceable, and pacifying tydings, a ſtore-houſe enriching us with ſuch matchleſſe treaſures, and an inſtrument of the choiſeſt, fulleſt, and everlaſting bleſſings. How blind are they who ſleight the light of this Sun? how ignorant are they who diſeſteeme the worth of this pearle? how diſtempered are their palates who relliſh not the ſweetneſſe of this feaſt? how deafe are their eares who are not affected with this joyfull ſound? O! how baſe are they in the eyes of God, who have ſuch baſe apprehenſions of Gods Ordinances, and the labours of his Miniſters. God will ſurely ſleight them that ſleight his Chriſt, his Goſpell, or any of Gods appointed inſtruments and meanes of their ſalvation: Honour therefore and attend the Goſpell as the Starre in which Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſſe doth ſhine unto you; as the cloud whence Chriſt diſtilleth like the dew upon you; as the fiery pillar wherein Chriſt goes before you; as the Schoole wherein Chriſt inſtructeth you; as the feaſt whereat Chriſt feedeth you; as the Phyſicke by which Chriſt healeth you; and as the fiery charet in which Chriſt triumphantly carries you to everlaſting bliſſe and glory. *⁎*
FINIS.
THE MYSTERY OF SELF-DENYALL: OR, THE CESSATION OF Mans living to himſelfe: AND THE INCHOATION OF CHRISTS living in Man.
Diſcourſing of the neceſſity, utility, and comfort of mans proſtrating himſelfe, and all that is his under Chriſt: Diſcovering the danger of Self-ſeeking, Self-admiration, and Self-exaltation, and alſo opening the Myſtery, Comfort, and Excellency of Chriſt living in Man. The whole conducing to the working of Man out of himſelfe into CHRIST.
Whoſoever will ſave his life ſhall loſe it, and whoſoever will loſe his life for my ſake ſhall find it,
Mat. 16.25.
They that are Chriſts have crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts,
Gal. 5.24.
By Alexander Groſſe, B. D. Miniſter of the Goſpell, and Paſtor of Bridford near Exon in Devon-ſhire.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for John Bartlet, at the Signe of the Gilt Cup near Saint Auſtius Gate. 1642.