England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 33
Coloſſ. 1.18. The firſt born from the dead.
THere are two firſt-born mentioned in this chapter, the firſt-born of every creature, verſe 15. and the firſt-born from the dead: the one reſpects being, the other reſpects well-being, and Chriſt is firſt in both theſe, firſt in being in reference to all the creation, and firſt in well-being, in reference to the new creation; the firſt that came forth from under the power of ſinne alive, which is the firſt-born from the dead here meant, which the Apoſtle calls the firſt-born amongſt many brethren elſewhere, that is, the firſt in our nature in the ſtate of divine favour. Chriſt broke the ice (as we ſpeak) in reference to that body of death, under which the ſtate of mankind lay, and ſo the firſt that came forth alive from under the guilt of ſinne, and the killing juſtice of God.
This time is ſad, ſo is our text, it leads us to behold a world of dead men. From the dead, &c. The term is indefinite, and ſpeaks our condition univerſally. We are all by ſinne dead, without power to pleaſe God, and liable to wrath for ever, and Chriſt the firſt that made way out of this condition, the firſt that broke through that diſpleaſure which ſpoild us all. Bodily death is ſad, ſoul-death a thouſand times more ſad: we muſt walk amongſt the tombes for an houre, we are to rip up the dead, to ſet out the nature of ſoul-death.
Demonſt 1.Breath is gone, the ſpirit of God is not in a dead ſoul. Union ſpeaks life, Sathan not Chriſt, lies in a ſinners heart, he is alive to ſinne; affection ſtrong, action, that is, evil action, free among the dead. Such light hath ſuch motion, ghoſts walk in the dark, wayes of death dead ſouls walk in. Spirituall death, is a ſoul caſt out from God; a ſoul caſt out from God, caſts out God, the word of God, the operations of God; a dead ſoul fights againſt life, quicknings are as ſtabbings, ſermons which ſtirre are conjurings; his eyes ſtare, his heart quakes, let Paul be gone, Felix will be in hell elſe before the time: the words of life, are death to a dead ſoul, Felix ſoul is in departing, whileſt a world of life was imparted to him: nothing will keep life in a dead ſoul, but the departing of Chriſt, and his quickning ſpirit. The dead deny the reſurrection, they would not be raiſed out of their grave, means that are uſed this way, are to them as conjuring from the dead, gaſtly. Chriſts yoke is eaſie, wiſdomes wayes are pleaſant: ſo the devils yoke is eaſie, and his wayes are pleaſant: the dead are at reſt in ſinne, they feel no pain though in the way to hell, till they come there.
Eyes cloſed; this alſo belongs to the dead in ſinne. The dead ſee nothing, godlineſſe is a myſtery, and the word of life a parable to a dead ſoul. Confuſion covers the dead; reaſon is rebellion, doing is undoing, and yet the ſoul thinks all is well. Light is darkneſſe, ſweet is bitter, life is death to a dead ſoul; Jacob is Eſau; the blind miſcall every perſon, and every thing. O that thou hadſt known in this thy day. The ſunne brought out of heaven, and ſet at the doore, and yet not diſcerned; the dead ſee nothing in the day time; day is night to the dead, ſunſhine darkneſſe; Chriſt cloſe by, yet not apprehended by the dead; Chriſt knocks at the doore, the voice though juſt behind, or juſt before, yet not heard: our Goſpel is hid, though this be light, more ſparkling, more ſhining, then all other light. Pride buds, as the Prophet ſpeaks, ſinne ſpreads, God frowns, hell gapes, yet the dead ſee nothing. Spirituall death 'tis ſpirituall underſtanding quite loſt, one not able to diſcern divine things, however externally advantaged: hold a torch to the eye of the dead, yet he ſees nothing, and if ye could hold the ſunne cloſe to the eyes of a dead man, yet could he apprehend nothing: the wiſdome of the world is fooliſhneſſe in it ſelf, the wiſdome of the Scriptures is even alſo the ſame to a dead ſoul, he knows nothing as he ought, not the things he gathers, and looks upon, in wiſdomes houſe.
Carcaſe ſtinking. The dead ſmell lothſome; the dead in ſins do ſo. Malignity hath got victory, the whole ſtate is corrupted, all the bloud black and filthy in the dead. Temptations overcome, what Sathan ſaith is law and Goſpel, imaginations evil, and all ſo, and onelyonly ſo, evil; the whole bulk and carcaſe of Chriſtianitie, ſtinking to Chriſt & Chriſtians. The dead are all dead, all filthy, from the crown of the head to the ſole of the foot, full of ſores, plague-ſores, and all run, and bloud & filth is wallowed in. Spirituall death is the ſoul under the rule of ſinne; ſinne ruling, the heart ſleights truth, the heart ſleighting truth, life is evil, and yet pleaded for, as good, this ſtinks abominably in the noſtrils of God.Havvoth pravitates wickedneſſes. Spirituall death is the inward parts very wickedneſſe, the heart given to a harlot, a ſtrumpet is baſe and ſtinking. Affection falſe, and your lungs are rotten, the opening of your mouth to God, is as the opening of a ſepulchre. Spirituall death, 'tis a man abominable to God, perſon, action, in life, in death; the dead ſtink alwayes, God hates a wicked ſoul forever. Sinne is everlaſting, ſo is juſtice, the ſoul that lies in it, is an abomination from generation to generation. The grave and hell, do not purifie the dead. Spirituall death, is a ſoul eternally lothing, and lothed.
Stretched out, coffin'd and buried, this is the laſt property of the dead. Dead in ſinne, are ſtretched out with a witneſſe; conſcience is racked: Conviction is the proper divine operation in a dead ſoul; men under the power of ſinne, are under the power of wrath here; ſpirituall death is a heart under the mere ſence and guilt of wrath. Worms eat the dead, conſcience gnaweth ſouls that lie in their ſinnes. The dead are ſtretched out and buried; the dead bury the dead: There be black bearers below, and they are fetched up when wicked ſouls depart, and thouſands of them ſtand ready to carry the dead to their place. This night [they ſhall take away thy ſoul. A dead ſoul is ſtretched out, carried forth, and buried in the night, ſaith the Text; [This night they ſhall take away thy ſoul. Dead ſouls are all buried in the night in utter darkneſſe. The ſumme of all is this, Spirituall death is a ſoul ſeperated from God, under pollution and conviction, untill condemnation.
Ʋſe. 'Tis a time of ſlaughter; fields, cities, towns, dipped and dyed in bloud. Dead bodies are many, but dead ſouls are more; the dead are in every houſe, yea almoſt in every bed, and yet no Lord have mercy at the doore: Husband dead, wife dead, child dead, and yet no mourning for the dead. This generation affrighteth me; what are become of ſpirituall bowels? are they ript up too? are bad men dead, and good men dead, and is there no life left? Ignorant men dead, men of light dead, death paſſeth over all; paſſion ſwayeth high and low, 'tis a pang of death, and preſageth the death of all, if the Lord heal it not. Prepare coffins and graves for the dead: dead ſinners, dead Chriſtians, buy your winding-ſheets, make your wills, if there be any life in me, your condition is dangerous. The axe is laid to the root now, I beleeve every dead tree will down, ere Chriſt lay down his axe.
Danger onelyonly ſtirreth ſome men, ſinners ſtand up from the dead, do you ſee nothing coming towards you? God is againſt you, is not he all enemies? and all engines? the ſword of man may be ſheathed, yet will you be cut off; not a wilfull ſinner will be ſpared, for the anger of the Lord is againſt you; juſtice viſites but ſeldome, but when ſhe doth, ſhe ſweeps every room. Every one that is proud, and every one that is lofty, Eſay 2.12. Proud fleſh is dead fleſh, every one that ſwelleth againſt Chriſt ſhall be lanced; every one that ſtoopeth not, ſhall be broken: Without, Chriſt will ſweep clean; within, he will do the ſame, even amongſt his own, he will throughly purge [his floore. If you have any life in you think of theſe things. Londoners, Londoners, now trading is dead, think of your dead hearts: theſe two yeares and upward trading hath been very dead; why, this tenne yeare, this twenty yeare, thy heart hath been dead: a dead name, a dead ſtate, a dead body, ſuit a dead ſoul: If you have any love to your bodies, or any love to your ſouls, looke out after ſpirituall life, or all will die for ever.
Two things tend to ſpirituall life. Chriſt ſtrongly applied; his ordinances throughly purſued. Chriſt is the firſt riſen from the dead, and whom he taketh by the hand, ariſe next after him. Death and him that had the power of death Chriſt hath deſtroyed, and all that would do the like, muſt come to him. Perverſneſſe will kill ſinners quite; the dead want life, becauſe they will not come to Chriſt. You will not come to me that you may have life. Dead hearts look to it, your ſinnes loved and Chriſt rejected, you cannot live: you muſt let Chriſt kill any thing, ſo he will but make alive your ſouls, cut off any thing, a right hand, ſo he will but unite what remaineth to himſelf. Our merit muſt not be thought of, for alas what can the dead do! but Chriſts merit and order both muſt. Chriſt killeth and then maketh alive; he ſlayeth pride, and bringeth ſouls to fall at his feet, willing to be done any thing with, and then he doth all for them.
Waters of life are given to ſwouning perſons, they that grone and are heavie loden with ſinne, and come to Chriſt they find eaſe, a ſpirit of life and joy. Coming to Chriſt is application of Chriſt, He hath loved [me, and given himſelf for [me. He ſatisfieth for me, he intercedeth for me, he appeareth in the face of perfect righteouſneſſe for me: All theſe are vitall acts; the ſoul that indeed this moveth, is joyned to all the living, and is a lively ſoul indeed; Chriſts merit and Chriſts ſpirit is this mans, he hath eternall life abiding in him, and is paſſed from death. You muſt drink of the waters that Chriſt profereth you▪ and then you will find a well of waters ſpringing up in you to everlaſting life. He that ſhall drink of the waters which I ſhall give him, &c. If the ſtomach be weak to this, lively ordinances muſt be looked out: dead ordinances, make dead ſouls. Ordinances that are as the tree of life, of the Lords own planting, ſpeak Chriſt to the life, and make dead ſouls alive.