Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Shewing the vanity of prophane Mans hope of ſalvation.
THe carnall mans eſtrangement from the hope of ſalvation, diſcovers and layes open the vanity and deceitfulneſſe of prophane mens hopes of having life and glory by Chriſt: Though they have no true and ſaving faith in Chriſt, though they have no experience of the eſpouſall of their ſouls to Chriſt, though they have no fervent and unfained love to Chriſt, no evidence of Chriſts living in them, no knowledge of Chriſts holy and gracious working upon them, no fence of Chriſts love to them;H…ſt. 6 6. yet they hope Chriſt will ſave them. Haman hearing that King Ahaſuerus had a purpoſe to honour ſome man, concluded preſently, that himſelfe muſt be the man whom the King delighted to honour, though the iſſue croſt his expectation. Carnall man hearing of Gods mercy, Chriſts merits, and the Lords purpoſe to exalt and honour man, preſently feeds and fils himſelfe with hopes that he ſhall be the man, preſumes that God will honour him, though in the end he meets with Hamans portion, a gallowes in hell inſtead of a crowne in Heaven. As the fooliſh man in the Parable built his houſe upon the ſand: ſo doe all the carnall men in the world, build their hopes of ſalvation upon ſome ſandy and rotten foundation, which at length ſinks and ſuffers them to fall ſhamefully, fearefully, finally, as the houſe did which was built upon the ſand. Now if you aske what thoſe falſe and deceitfull props and pillars are, upon which carnall men uſually build their hopes: I anſwer,
1. Superſtitious Hopes.1. Some build their hopes upon ſuperſtitious obſervations, they receive for Doctrines the commandements of men, the traditions of their ſuperiours and predeceſſors. In the obſervation of theſe they are very full and frequent, very preciſe and punctuall, and hereupon they promiſe themſelves ſalvation: Thus Paul before his converſion, after the ſtricteſt ſect of their Religion lived a Phariſee, Acts 26 5. Rom. 7.5.and was very zealous, and thought himſelfe alive when he was dead, perſwaded himſelfe he was in the ſtate of grace, when he was in the ſtate of damnation; a childe of God, when he was one of Satans brood; a friend of God, when he was an adverſary of the Lord; a pillar, when he was a deſtroyer of the Church. The obſervers of humane Doctrines are very full of miſerable blindneſſe, poſſeſt with an overweaning opinion of the goodneſſe of their condition, ſhamefully miſtaking their eſtate, perſwading themſelves that that doth much endeare them, and highly commend them unto God, which makes them a very abomination before the Lord.Luk. 10 15.
2 Formall Hopes. Iud. 17 13.2. Some build their hopes upon a formall profeſſion of Chriſt, and Chriſtian Religion. Micah had great hopes that God would bleſſe him, becauſe he had gotten a Levite to his Prieſt, though he continued an idolater: Many men promiſe themſelves great peace and glory, becauſe they have the Goſpell, heare the Word, receive the Sacrament, are called after the name of Chriſt, though they live in all prophaneneſſe:Mat. 25. The fooliſh Virgins were very ſecure, and promiſed much unto themſelves from their lamps, though they were empty lamps: Many a vaine and fooliſh man is ſecure and conſident of his ſalvation by reaſon of his profeſſion,Hoſ. 10.1. though an empty one; though he be an empty vine, bringing forth all his fruit to himſelfe, doing all for himſelfe,T…t. 1.16. and nothing for God and Chriſt, profeſſing, as the Apoſtle ſaith, that they know God, being the meane while diſobedient and reprobate to every good worke. This is the common foundation on which all carnall Proteſtants build their hopes;Ioh 8. like the Phariſees boaſting that they were the children of Abraham, though they did the works of the Devill,Rev. 9.7, 8. being like the Locuſts in the Revelation, which had outwardly the face of a man, and the haire of a woman, but within the teeth of a Lyon, and behinde, the tayle of a Scorpion: Thus theſe men have outwardly the name of Chriſtians, a profeſſion of Chriſt, but as ſavage and indomitable as the Lyon, as full of all ſinne, as the Scorpion of venome; and what a fond thing is it for a man to build his hopes upon an empty profeſſion? Will a husband delight himſelfe in his wife, becauſe ſhe profeſſeth him to be her husband, living the while in adultery with ſtrangers? Will the King honour a man for profeſſing him to be his King, not ceaſing to plot treaſon, and act rebellion againſt him, Is there any hope that Chriſt will take pleaſure in a man, or honour him, becauſe he cals him Husband, Lord and King? in the meane ſpace committing fornication with the world, plotting ſpirituall treaſon, and acting open rebellion againſt him?Dan. 2. Surely ſuch men are like Nebuchadnezzars Image, and it will be with them as with Nebuchadnezzars Image at laſt; his Image had a head of gold, but feet of clay, and the ſtone hewne out of the mountaines without hands brake it in peeces: Such men have a golden profeſſion, but an earthly and uncleane converſation, and Chriſt at laſt will daſh them in pieces,Mat. 21 19. as an iron rod a Potters veſſell. As Chriſt curſed the Fig-tree which had leaves and no fruit: ſo will he curſe them that have the leaves of Chriſtian profeſſion, but want the fruit of a good converſation; a barren profeſſion doth but aggravate the condemnation of a Chriſtian.
3 Mercinary hopes.3. Some build their hopes upon their elymoſynary duties, and works of charity; becauſe they are bountifull to the poore, they hope they ſhall be ſaved, they truſt in their good works, and hope to purchaſe heaven by their beneficence, excluding Chriſts merits: As the builders of old, by raiſing a Tower thought to preſerve themſelves from an after deluge,Gen▪ 11.4. and ſcale the wals of Heaven; but as their hopes periſhed, God confounding their worke, ſo will the hopes of theſe mercinary and proud workers, their beſt works without Chriſt will bring confuſion inſtead of ſalvation upon them; The ſword in which Goliah truſted,1 Sam. 17. cut off his head; whatſoever a man doth reſt upon beſides Chriſt, he is confounded by that wherein he truſteth. It may ſeeme ſtrange, and yet is very true, that many mens good works prove more prejudiciall to them then their evill works; their bad works prove an occaſion of humiliation to them, and drive them wholly out of themſelves unto Chriſt; their good works puffe them up, and make them ſtay in themſelves, and never come to Chriſt; and ſuch men as have no better foundation then their works of charity to build upon, the Apoſtle will tell them, that a man may give all his goods to the poore, 1 Cor. 13.and yet be nothing.
4 Comparative hopes.4. Some build their hopes upon their not being ſo bad as the worſt, they compare themſelves with ſuch as are worſe then themſelves, and thereupon conclude they are in a good eſtate, this is, as if a man having many ulcers, ſhould yet perſwade himſelfe he is very beautifull; becauſe he is not as leprous as Gehezi was: As if a man guilty of many ſmall felonies, ſhould perſwade himſelfe the Judge will ſave him, becauſe he is not ſo notorious a malefactor as Barabbas was, or as if a man indebted an hundred pounds more then he is worth, ſhould perſwade himſelfe he is rich, becauſe he is not indebted ſo many thouſand pounds as ſome others are: This was the deceit and falſe flattery of the Phariſee, I thanke God (ſaith he) I am not as other men are, extortioners,Luk 18. unjuſt adulterers, or as this Publicane. Men dye not all of one ſickneſſe, ſome have more peſtilentiall diſeaſes then others, yet all dye, the wages of all ſinne is death: It is not he who is not ſo bad as others, but he that is a new Creature in Chriſt,Rom. 6.23. that bath aſſured hope of life and peace, to them that are in Chriſt there is no condemnation who walk not after the fleſh but after the Spirit.
5. Preſumptuous hopes.5. Some build their hopes upon the mercies of God and merit of Chriſt, preſuming they may be ſecurely ſinfull, becauſe God is mercifull, and that they may ſtill run on upon Gods ſcoare, becauſe Chriſt hath given himſelfe a ranſome; and thus they turne the grace of God into wantonneſſe, and harden themſelves by thoſe mercies which ſhould leade them to repentance, turning their phyſicke into poyſon, and the meanes of their freedome into chaines and fetters to tye them the faſter in their thraldome; and what is this, but as if a man ſhould tumble himſelfe in the mire and durt, becauſe there is water enough in a Well to waſh him, yet a ſealed deep Well whereof he hath no bucket to draw: Or as if a man ſhould give himſelfe many mortall wounds, becauſe there is a Surgeon that can cure him, of whoſe help he hath yet no promiſe; Gods mercies and Chriſts merits miniſter pardon and peace to ſuch alone as turne from iniquity, and walke in the wayes of peace: All mercies prove curſes which lead not the ſoule to God and Jeſus Chriſt; The meditation of Gods mercy can never truly comfort thee unleſſe it humble thee. Benhadads ſervants hearing that the Kings of Iſrael were mercifull Kings, came not before Ahab with their bowes bent, and ſwords drawne, but with roapes about their necks, and ſackcloth about their loynes. He that comes to God in the confidence of his mercies, muſt lay aſide the weapons of his ſinne, and come with teares in his eyes, and godly ſorrow in his heart, becauſe there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared: Rom. 2.4.not to encourage man to continue wicked; not knowing (as S. Paul ſaith) that the goodneſſe of God ought to leade thee to repentance, but after thy hardneſſe and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up againſt thy ſelfe, wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God.
6 Humiliation hopes.6. Some build their hopes upon their Humiliations and Repentance, they have beene in affliction of conſcience, they have beene humbled for their ſinnes, and have beene many dayes in great anguiſh of ſpirit, and in this they reſt, here they ſtay and hope by this to be ſaved;Iſa. 58. 2. thus the people in the Prophet, We (ſay ye) have faſted, and we have afflicted our ſoule, and for this they thought to be heard and accepted of the Lord; but there is a legall, as well as an Evangelicall repentance, a ſorrow ariſing from feare and not from love, from the apprehenſion of Hell and not of Heaven, from the ſence of wrath, and not from the working of love, from the feeling of terrours and not from the hatred of ſinne, a ſorrow of ſlaves and not of ſonnes,2 Cor. 7. Gen. 4. a ſorrow which worketh unto death, and not a ſorrow which worketh Repentance to Salvation: a man may with Caine cry out of the greatneſſe of his iniquity, and his ſorrow ſinke him even as low as Hell; hee may with Ahab put on ſack-cloth and walk humbly many dayes; he may with Pharaoh in his anguiſh, ſend for the Miniſter of the Lord, and acknowledge his ſinne, and intreat the prayer of Gods ſervants, on this he may build his hopes and deceive himſelfe; that repentance which doth not ſupple and ſoften and change the heart is little worth; the Lord ſmote the Rocke and waters guſhed out, yet it continued a Rocke; God ſmites the heart of many a man with perplexing and terrifying ſtroakes, to the drawing of many teares, and yet it continueth a hard and ſtony heart; that ſorrow which workes not the mortification of ſinne, gives no aſſurance of the remiſſion of ſinne. Is it ſuch a faſt (ſaith the Lord,) that I have choſen, a day for a man to afflict his ſoule, is it to bow downe his head as a bull-ruſh, and to ſpread ſack-cloth and aſhes under him; wilt thou call this a Faſt, and an acceptable day to the Lord; is not this the Faſt that I have choſen, to looſe the bands of wickedneſſe? &c. that ſorrow which doth not lead a man out of himſelfe to Chriſt, which diſſolves not the chaines of his ſin, and …les him to come freely and fully home to Chriſt, and fill him with the ſence of Chriſts comforts,Mat. 11.28. which emptieth not man of his ſinne and of himſelfe, and puts him upon Chriſt for all fullneſſe, is a ſorrow miniſtring no other then falſe and deceitfull hopes of ſalvation.
7. Some build their hopes upon their Reformations, 7. Reformation hopes.they are eſcaped from many pollutions, they have forſaken many of their evill wayes, and they are not the ſame they were in time paſt, and therefore hope to be ſaved, and with this they pleaſe and deceive themſelves.1 Sam. …5. Saul deſtroyed the refuſe of the ſtuffe, but ſpared the lowing Oxen and the bleating Sheep, and yet thought he had done an acceptable worke, but be was deceived, God rent the Kingdome from him; the Reformation which is not univerſall is hypocriticall; the Traveller that forſakes not every falſe path, looſeth his labour, all his turnings and returnings are in vaine; hee that returnes not from every ſinne, never returnes to God; the woman which reſerves one ſtranger in her boſome, her heart never returnes to her husband; there is no returning to Chriſt without the depoſition of every ſinne, Chriſt hath no being where any one ſinne hath allowance and dominion; beſides he that ſtayes in his Reformation, and lookes not beyond it unto Chriſt for ſalvation, makes an idoll of it, and deludes himſelfe in hoping for Salvation by it; mans Reformation deſtroyes him, if it makes not Chriſt more ſweet and precious to him.
8. Duty hopes. Lu. 13.8. Some build their hopes upon their uſe of ſacred and religious duties; becauſe they heare and pray and faſt and conferre of holy things; in this they reſt and by this they hope to be ſaved, Lord (ſay they) haſt not thou taught in our ſtreets? and have not we eate and drunke in thy preſence? Gen. 41.Have not we beene hearers of thy word, frequenters of thy houſe, receivers of thy Sacrament, and ſhall not we be ſaved?2 Tim. 3.7. though they be like Pharaohs leane kine, eating the fat and yet ſtill leane, like them of whom the Apoſtle ſpeakes,Ezek. 33.31. who were alwayes learning, yet never came to the knowledge of the truth, like Ezekiels hearers, whoſe hearts went after their covetouſnes, yet they hope for their frequency in theſe duties, to be ſaved, though their prayers ſtill return like Noahs Dove at the firſt empty, bringing home no treaſure from Heaven to the ſoule, though they returne from the word and Sacrament, as the children of the Nobles in Jeremy, Ier. 14.from the pits, with their pitchers empty, yet they flatter themſelves and hope for this to be ſaved, as the Harlot in Salomon for her peace-offering; but as the man at the wedding feaſt without his wedding garment, though at the feaſt,Prov. 7. was bound hand and foot and caſt into outer darkneſſe; thus men uſing holy duties, comming to Chriſts wedding feaſt, ſtaying in the duty and not putting on Chriſt,Mat. 22.11. will be caſt into utter darkneſſe at the laſt. Many deale in this behalfe with Chriſt, as other wedding gueſts do with the Bridegroome, they are invited, they accompany the Bridegroome, they ſee and heare the wedding, but they receive him not in wedlock, becauſe either they are already married, or elſe there is no contract betweene them and the Bridegroome; thus Chriſt inviteth men to holy duties, his wedding feaſt, they accompany Chriſt to the feaſt, to the Banquetting-houſe, they goe along with him in the uſe of the duties, but further they goe not, they are already wedded to the world, and to ſome luſt of theirs, at leaſt they have no matrimoniall love to Chriſt, they take him not to husband, they returne without him: Now as it were a great folly in a woman to perſwade her ſelfe, that ſuch a man were her husband, and that all his dignities and riches were hers▪ becauſe ſhe was at his wedding feaſt: thus it is a great deceit in man to hope that Chriſt is his, that ſalvation and all the benefits of Chriſt are his, becauſe he hath bin at Chriſts wedding feaſt, done the ſacred duties, but not taking Chriſt in wedlock to his ſoule; the uſe of holy duties, do no further give man hope of ſalvation, then as they take a man off from the world, empty a man of ſin and of himſelfe, eſpouſe man to Chriſt, derive and draw from, and fill the ſoul with Chriſts fullnes, and make Chriſt more glorious and amiable in mans apprehenſion: and thus you ſee a few of the many rotten and ſandy foundations, wherupon carnall man builds his hopes of ſalvation.