Several Works, Work 3 · Part (3 of 6)

Several Works · Work 3 · Part (3 of 6)

p. 490Now for the parts of this bondage, with which the parts of that liberty or freedom we are to ſpeak of will run parallel: We ſhall devide this bondage into theſe two general parts, it is either to ſin, or elſe to the black concomitants, which are very many; we ſhall particularize ſome of them, and thereby our liberty will the more plainly appear.

Firſt then for ſin, it is clear we are in bondage to ſin, either totally or in part, all of us by nature altogether in bondage, for we are ſold under ſin; and though it be true, that ſin is only a p. 491privation of good, and diſpoſition to evil, and ſo properly cannot be ſaid to rule over us, yet by a proſopopeia we are ſaid to be in bondage to it, therefore we are ſaid to be ſold under ſin; ſold Rom. 7. 14.Rom 7:14under it, and therefore in Scripture it is, that ſin is called an old man, corrupt according to deceitful luſts, and this old man it is Eph. 4. 22.Eph 4:22that hath the poor ſinner under his power, and ruleth him with ſubtilty. O they are deceitful luſts, …he counſels of ſin, the fetches, and tricks, and devices, depths and methods of a ſinful heart, who knoweth Brethren? he carryeth it ſo ſlily, that many think themſelves 2 Pet. 2. 29.2 Pet 2:29at liberty, as free-men as any the world hath, yea ſo free, as to promiſe to others liberty, and yet themſelves in the mean time are the ſervants of ſin; and not only ſo, but the… are Laws of ſin which carry a ſtrength with them, and the poor creature under them muſt obey them; and theſe Laws are nothing elſe but the wills of the fleſh, as the Apoſtle calls them, an arbitray Eph. 2. 3.Eph 2:3government here beginneth and takes it riſe. Hoc volo, ſic jubeo, &c. ſaith the imperious perſon. If a ſinner begin to queſtion what reaſon there is in ſuch an act, he is prompted to ſin, bloweth out the candle; hoc volo, &c. let my will be a reaſon, I will have it ſo. So many luſts, ſo many wills, and is it Rom. 6. 17.Rom 6:17not a bondage to be under theſe? Ye were, ſaith the Apoſtle, the ſervants of ſin, but now ye have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine delivered unto you; and ſo in ſeveral other places: whoſoever committeth ſin, ſaith our Saviour, is the ſervant of ſin. Ioh. 8. 34.John 8:34You talk of being Abrahams ſeed, and never being in bondage, this is nothing to my purpoſe, I ſpeak of a bondage to ſin, and he that commits it is the ſervant of it; he that works it induſtriouſly, is a drudge to his luſts, as alas, how many of us are? and he that curiouſly works it is an Artiſt. O with what art can ſome Rom. 13. 14.Rom 13:14mon lye, and cheat, and cozen, and play the hypocrites! theſe are the ſervants of ſin. O when one fulfills the luſts of the fleſh, and of the mind, maketh proviſion for the fleſh to ſatisfie the luſts thereof! This man is a ſervant of ſin: the luſts of the fleſh, the luſt of the eye, the pride of life, the love of profits, the love of pleaſures, and the love of pride, when men give themſelves up to ſatisfie theſe, ſtudy their luſts, how to fulfill them, this is a bondage under ſin with a witneſs.

Now bleſſed be the Lord, the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath delivered us, as many as believe, from p. 492this bondage, ſo the Apoſtle breaks out pathetically, Thanks be Rom. 6. 17, 18.Rom 6:17Rom 6:18to God that ye were the ſervants of ſin, but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine delivered unto you; now ſaith he; being made free from ſin, ye became the ſervants of righteouſneſs; and this is ſet forth by our death to ſin; ye are dead, ſaith the Apoſtle to the Col. and your life is hid with Chriſt in God; now death Col. 3. 3. Iob 3. 19.Col 3:3Job 3:19puts an end to all bondage … as Job ſpeaking of it, the ſmall and great are there in the grave, and the ſervant is free from his Maſter. A woman, ſaith the Apoſtle (ſpeaking of ſin, of the Law with reſpect to ſin, as afterward we ſhall ſpeak ſomewhat) ſhe is bound to her husband as long as he liveth, but if he be dead, then ſhe is free. So it is in this caſe, death breaks all the iron yoaks and brazen gates, therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, he that is dead is freed from Rom. 6. 7.Rom 6:7ſin; not as the vulgar and ſome read, is juſtified, as if our juſtification and ſanctification were confounded; for here the Apoſtle is ſpeaking of our Sanctification, or the death of ſin, crucifying the old man, of being buried with Chriſt in body, and ſo dead to ſin; now ſaith he, he that is dead, is free from ſin; the Con. is comprehended in the Antecedent, he is freed actually from ſin, Sin ſhall not have dominion over you, ſaith the Apoſtle, no iniquity ſhall have dominion over you. Thus believers are freed from ſin, Rom. 6. 14.Rom 6:14whereas before we were under a cruel bondage; you that have experience of this liberty, what it is to be freed from your former luſts which you ſerved, fooliſh and hurtful luſts; the Lord teach you to prize it.1 Tim. 6. 9.1 Tim 6:9

But ſecondly, now for the Con. of this bondage to ſin, there are many and very dreadful, which every poor ſinner is under, which are alſo as parts of this bondage.

Firſt then, hence it is that we are in bondage unto Satan, that we are under his power, that we are in bondage by nature to him, as the Jaylor, it is clear, the Spirit that now rules in the Eph. 2. 2.Eph 2:2hearts of the children of diſobedience: he rules there, ſetteth up his throne there; & ſervice to ſuch a Maſter cannot be a freedom, but a bondage, a cruel one. A Maſter that delights now naturally in nothing but miſchief; though it be but to ſwine, yet he 2 Tim. 2. 26.2 Tim 2:26would do miſchief, much more then to poor ſinners; and therefore he is ſaid to lead captive poor creatures at his pleaſure, to take them alive; and indeed, it is the Devil that binds the pinching yoak upon us, his loins are laid upon the back of a poor ſinner, p. 493and his being the Tyrant, doth help the former proſopopeia, whereby bondage is aſcribed to fo…, Zech. 1. 15. the heathen helped forward; &c. Not as if ſin would not work and keep the creature in ſubjection, or were a dead Law of it ſelf, and muſt have a Prince, a King to put it into act; no, no, if there were no Devil to aggravate our bondage, we ſhould find the rage of luſt very great, and their commands very peremptory, but yet however he is not idle, he ſtirreth up, and endeavoureth to enrage our luſts more and more; the Devil ſtirred up David to number the people: Why alas, David had that pride and fleſhly confidence in him that was ready enough to provoke him to it, but the Devil helped it forward, his concurrence with ſin maketh it the more powerful; as the Spirit of the Lord acting our graces, ſo doth the Devil alſo, though with ſome difference, act our corruption: was it not the Devil that filled Ananias and Saphira Acts 5.Acts 5their hearts? he had filled them as his throne, and ſo had laid the commands of ſin, of their luſt, of their carnal fears, that they were over-born by them: and ſo he entred into Judas after the Luk. 22. 3.Luke 22:3ſop: he came to our Saviour, and he found nothing in him, and yet he would vex him with his temptations notwithſtanding: but alas for us, he can come within us, he hath matter enough to work upon, and he can come within us to the very fancy, and there ſecretly work: now the Saints, they are delivered from this Con. which is a part of the bondage alſo; he rules no more in them, for they are not the children of diſobedience; our Saviour ſaw when the Goſpel went forth to be preached, Satan falling like lightening from heaven, he came down with a witneſs, Luk. 10. 18.Luke 10:18was dethroned, caſt out: the ſtrong man armed holds all in quiet poſſeſſion, that is to ſay, Satan holds the heart of poor ſinners quietly, while he hath his armour, their ignorance, and this carnal reaſonings, and corrupt affections, and ſtubborn wills, while Luk 11. 21, 22.Luke 11:21Luke 11:22theſe are his, he is ſafe enough; but now let the Lord Jeſus come and take away the armour, change the heart of a poor creature, and then alas, he is ſpoyled of all; therefore he is ſaid to ſpoil principalities & powers, & to make an open ſhew of them. So that he hath led captive; taking captivity actively or paſſively: Col. 2. 15.Col 2:15actively, he hath led him that did lead his people captive, now Eph. 4. 8.Eph 4:8captive himſelf: or elſe paſſively, thoſe were led captive by Satan; now the Lord Jeſus hath captivated them to himſelf, brought p. 494them under his own dominion. Satan cannot now any more challenge them as his own, nor rule over them as his ſlaves, and this is another piece of this liberty, to go forth of the paw of this Lyon, the jaws of this rouring Lyon, that goeth about ſeeking whom he may devour.

Secondly, another part of this bondage is the guilt of ſin, which is an obnoxiouſneſs to the wrath and diſpleaſure of God, Joh 3. 18, 36.John 3:18John 3:36whether the creature …eeth it, or ſeeth it not, he is under condemnation, his guilt is the Obligation which bindeth him over to anſwer it at the great day of Jeſus Chriſt, as you ſee offenders are bound over to anſwer it at the Aſſizes or Seſſions; this is guilts work in reſpect of the ſoul; now we look upon a guilty perſon that is bound over as a priſoner, if he go under bayl he is under a bondage by reaſon of this guilt. So it is here, the Law of God Gal. 3. 23.Gal 3:23is that which ſhuts up a ſinner, as it is in that place of the Apoſtle; ſo that we are, as I may ſay, in priſon; and a man under guilt, whether he ſleep, or whether he wake, he is a guilty perſon and under bondage; ſpecially, if it proceed ſo far as to a condemnation, as it is in this caſe, every unbeliever is condemned already in the Court of Scripture; for God doth mannage in this liberty concernments of our ſouls by a Law, by a Law he acquitteth or condemneth, and ſo unbelievers are under this bondage alſo; from this now every child of God is ſet free, there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, their guilt is done away, Rom. 8. 1.Rom 8:1their ſurety hath ſatisfied juſtice, hath paid the debt, laid down the price, and therefore all being cleared, the poor creature is ſet free from that part of his bondage. Is not this an unſpeakable freedom to have all the guilt of our ſins that ever we commtited taken away? but this is but the ſecond.

Thirdly, another Con… is this, the darkneſs which from ſin ariſeth, and is, as I may ſay, chains upon the ſoul, and no ſmall part of this bondage; Dungeons you know are uſually dark places, and therefore darkneſs is put for the priſon, ſometimes, as a Synonyma, to bring out the priſoners out of priſon, in that place of Iſaiah, and them that ſit in darkneſs out of the priſon-houſe; and ſo again, that thou maiſt ſay to the priſoners, go Iſa. 40. 7.Isa 40:7forth; and to them that are in darkneſs, ſhew your ſelves: The darkneſs you know impriſoned them in Egypt, no man ſtirred out of his place, none went forth nor came in by reaſon of the darkneſs; p. 495and ſo the night impriſoneth men, ſhutteth up their works and employments, night cometh when no man can work, which is the night of darkneſs, by removing the Goſpel; or elſe the night of death: Now when the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſeth upon a ſoul, he ſhall go forth of this darkneſs or priſon.

Here it will be enquired what is meant by this darkneſs, which is a part of this bondage. Firſt, by darkneſs, I mean a ſtate of ignorance; groſs darkneſs covereth the earth, ſaith the Prophet; ye were ſometimes darkneſs, but now are ye light in the Lord; that is to ſay, ſo dark as that nothing but the abſtract would Eph. 5. 8.Eph 5:8ſuffice to ſet forth their condition. Now truly, ignorance may well be lookt upon as a bondage, for it is the very beginning, the principal of all our bondage, and therefore when the Lord ſpeaks of delivering a poor ſinner from the power of ſin, he ſaith, who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſs, and tranſlated us Col. 1. 13.Col 1:13into the Kingdom of his dear Son: mind you, from the power of darkneſs, darkneſs is the power of Satan, he is the Prince of the power of darkneſs, as ſome render that place: were it not that ſinners are blind-folded, do you think they would be led by Eph 2. 2.Eph 2:2Satan into ſo many horrid things? O if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; Father forgive them, they know not what they do. Alas, the Panther hideth his head when he allureth the beaſts, the ſweetneſs of his ſmell, or beauty of his Luk. 23. 34.Luke 23:34skin, only the Drag is ſaid to flie from him, Iſid. li. 12. 2. See Mead upon Revel. p. 2. p. 52. Alas, they ſee not the head, which is ready to affright them and devour them; and not only is it the ground of this bondage, but of all the reſt; how cometh it to paſs that poor ſouls are plunged into ſuch deſperate gulfs of deſpairing, and ſuch breaking bondage in that kind, but becauſe they are held in ignorance, they do not come to know the Father and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent, he keepeth them in ignorance of the John 17.John 17promiſes, the ſweet and precious promiſes of Jeſus Chriſt. O dear friends, it is impoſſible, were it not for our ignorance of that love of God in Jeſus Chriſt, and that riches, exceeding riches of grace that is in him, and his thoughts that are above our thoughts, that there ſhould be ſo many cloudings, ſuch fearful plunges as many poor ſouls are put unto, yea many times even after they are once delivered from them; why now I ſay, when the Lord Jeſus cometh, ariſeth upon a ſoul as the Sun of righteouſneſs, p. 496he diſpels this ignorance, diſcovers ſin in its own colours, and indeed worſe it cannot be ſet forth in; therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, that ſin might appear to be ſin; and then he opens the treaſuries Rom. 7. 13.Rom 7:13of the Promiſes of the Covenant of Grace, to let a poor ſinner ſee there is enough for him there: though his ſins be great, yet mercy is tranſcendantly greater: if he have mountains to be covered, the Lord hath a ſea to ſwallow them up; if multitudes of ſin, there is multitude of mercies: there is love, which will cover a multitude; and ſo by diſcovering himſelf thus, and our ſelves to our ſelves, he by degrees ſetteth the creature at Liberty from thoſe fearfull apprehenſions of God, and from that delight in ſin, which formerly he had taken; ſo that now no longer will he ſerve it. But a little more▪ plainly, take a Scripture or two for it, in that of Iſaiah, To proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the priſon to them that are bound; the opening of Iſal. 61. 1.the priſon, ſome read it ſo, and ſo do our Tranſlators, though it is acknowledged by the learned among us, that the latter is no where elſe uſed in this ſenſe for the priſon, nor for the prey, as ſome others uſe it; and therefore ſome do take the word to be but one, and render it om…im…do apertionem, ſo that the doubling of the Letters here are Emphatical, and by way of foreign, though then Manaph here remaineth as a difficulty, for words ſo doubled uſe not to be ſo joyned together: ſo that ſome would have it here nothing elſe, but a very large opening of their eyes, and ſay that it is uſed moſt properly, if not conſtantly, of the opening of the eyes: and ſurely this is the way of Gods delivering his Captives, and agreeable to the text here; the Sun ariſing in the morning opens the eyes, ſetteth the ſenſes at liberty from Iſal. 42. 7.that priſon of darkneſs they were in in the night; and elſewhere it is manifeſt in that of Luke 4. 18. To preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of ſight to the blinde: and again the Pſalmiſt, The Lord looſeth the Priſoners, he openeth the eyes of the Pſal. 146. 8.Ps 146:8blinde; therefore Paul was ſent to open the eyes of the blinde, and turn them from the power of Satan to God, and from darkneſs Act. 26. 8.Acts 26:8to light; for we muſt know that this bondage is of the ſoul, the faculties thereof, and chiefly the will: Now the Lord when he cometh to deliver us, dealeth with us as with men; and therefore, firſt opens the eyes of the mind, and draweth us with the cords of a man, with arguments over-powring our reaſon, and p. 497then, with the cords of love, ſweetly thereby inclining our hearts, and bowing our wills, and then the poor creature comeeth forth out of this bondage; before we ſee we are in priſon, or ſee the loathſomneſs of it, the darkneſs of it, we are in love with it, and will not go forth.

But Secondly, This darkneſs comprehendeth another, and that is Error, or rather this ariſeth from the other, and therefore we ſhall ſpeak to it apart, Ye err, not knowing the Scripture, nor the Matth. 22. 1….Matt 22:1power of God; he ſaith not, ye err, not knowing immediate Revelations, but not knowing the Scripture; for there the light is in the Lanthorn, if we will behold it; now this error, of what kind it will be, it is a ſnare of the Devil, and therefore it is a bondage. The Apoſtle there ſpeaks of Heretical Doctrine, held by ſuch as do perverſly oppoſe themſelves againſt the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, who hold out the truth as it is in Jeſus. He ſheweth how Timothy is to carry himſelf to them, in meekneſs, inſtructing them that oppoſe themſelves; if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledgement of the truth; Repentance is a turning from ſin to God, and to the contrary 2 Tim. 2. 2…2 Tim 2:2Grace or Vertue, and that is the acknowledgement of the truth; therefore their ſin was ſome corruption of the truth, and that they may recover themſelves out of the ſnare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will, out of the ſnare of the devil; a ſad ſnare it is: if the devil can but get ſo far within a man as to dazle his eyes, to blinde them, he may lead them whither he will; if he can but corrupt their judgement, eſpecially in fundamentals or practicals, then they are his own, they are faſt enough, he carryeth them captive, takes them alive even at his pleaſure. Now our liberty from this part of bondage alſo is by the ariſing of Ioh. 16. 13. Ioh. 1. 2, 20.John 16:13John 1:2John 1:20the Sun of righteouſneſs upon us; the Spirit maketh us free, as he is a ſpirit leading his people into the truth; not only the notion, but the practiſe of it alſo; & we have an anointing, whereby we know all things, ſaith the Apoſtle, ſpeaking of Antichriſt: it is needle…s for me to ſpeak to you of him, you have an anointing will teach you to avoid th…ſe his errors: O happy is that ſoul, that hath ſuch a Guide! ſuch a Leader to lead him forth out of priſon; even as the Angel went before Peter, elſe between ſleep and Acts 12. 18.Acts 12:18wake, hope and fear, he might haply have miſt his way. So the Lord Jeſus cometh and giveth his Spirit, and bids the ſoul go p. 498forth: alas, whether ſhould they go? they know not the way, Ioh. 14. 6.John 14:6as Thomas ſaid; why ſaith he, …ollow me, I will lead you, as he in his word hath therein revealed himſelf, and maketh it out by his Spirit to his people.

Fifthly, There is another part of bondage, under a ſlaviſh obedience, that is to ſay, ſuch an obedience to the Law of God, as nothing but a ſlaviſh fear is the principle of it; and truly, this puts on men to do many things; they know it is written, Curſed is Gal. 3. 10.Gal 3:10he that continueth not in every thing that is written in the book of the Law to do it: Now this ſticks with the poor ſoul, God requireth me to love him with all my heart, with all my ſoul, with all my ſtrength; and if I do not, I am curſed; therefore now he buckles a little to it, as far as ſuch terrors will carry him; but alas, he is not able to do it; like a ſlave that doth his task, while his Maſter ſtands over him with a rod; or becauſe he is ſure to be beaten, if he do it not; not out of any love to the Maſter, nor to his ſervice at all, what a grievous bondage is this? Let but any Apprentice, that hath a hard Maſter, whom he ſerveth meerly out of fear, as the Egyptians did their task, becauſe if they did them not, they muſt be beaten: and this maketh the yoke very heavy and uneaſie, alſo it pincheth exceedingly. Now when the Lord Jeſus cometh to a ſoul, he breaks this yoke, the Law Gal. 4. 24. & 3. 13.Gal 4:24Gal 3:13genders to bondage; the curſe of it hath the very ſeeds of bondage in it: Now I ſay when the Lord Jeſus cometh, ariſeth upon a ſoul, letteth him ſee that he hath undertaken for him, not only the curſe of the Law, being made a curſe, but hath ſet his love upon him, hath paid all the debt, will take him to be his ſon, no more as a ſervant; O now when the ſoul beginneth to be ſenſible his condition is changed, that he is a Son, and now hath not a cruel hard Maſter to ſerve, but a Father that will pity and ſpare where he falleth ſhort of his duty, let him do his beſt; this doth much facilitate the work, maketh the yoke eaſie, and the burden Mat. 11. 28.Matt 11:28light, his Commandments are no more ſo grievous to the ſoul, as they were before: Now the Law of Chriſt is a perfect Law of Liberty to him; before it was a Law gendring bondage; for alas, before it was only preached to the ear, and that under the Iam. 1. 25.Jas 1:25penalty of ſuch a curſe, now it is written in the heart; now there is an eccho in the ſoul reſounding, Thy will Lord will I do, Iſal. 40.when he ſpeaks any thing; as the Law of love was upon the p. 499heart of Chriſt, in the work of our Redemption; now his Law is in our hearts, and therefore we delight to do his will in ſome meaſure, I delight in the Law of God after the inward man, as the Rom. 7. 22.Rom 7:22Apoſtle ſaith; as a Servant it may be for a while under his Maſter hardly uſed, yet afterward he changeth his manner of dealing with him, offers him great immunities, it may be, to be of a Servant, Son in Law to the King: O now the Servant will be bored, he will now become a willing ſervant, and not be dragged to obedience by terrors and fears any more, but willingly yieldeth up his members weapons of righteouſneſs to holineſs: now the Pſal. 40. 6. Exod. 21. 5. & 6. Rom. 6. 19. Pſal 110. Rom. 6. 17.Ps 40:6Exod 21:5Exod 21:6Rom 6:19Ps 110Rom 6:17ſervice is hearty and free; his people ſhall be a willing people in the day of his power: O ſaith the Apoſtle, Ye were the ſervants of ſin, but now thanks be to God, ye have from the heart obeyed the form of doctrine delivered to you: from the heart, that is to ſay, out of love, it cannot elſe well be from the heart; for whom we dread with a ſlaviſh fear, we hate, and while the ſoul looks upon God, as ſuch a Judge, as a cruel Maſter, and his Law a cruel, bloody Law, nothing but blood and ruine to them that come not up unto it, there is a hatred of God, it is impoſſible to love him, or his ſervice; and then the ſervice ſuch a man doth, it is not from the heart; a man may ſerve ſin, and yet do ſome ſervice to God out of a ſlaviſh fear, as moſt unbelievers do; therefore they pray, and therefore they read, and therefore they do many things, and yet ſerve ſin; but they never obey from the heart, until this work be done, the Law of love be written in their ſouls: now you ſhall go forth, you ſhall obey no more out of fear, but out of love: this is a Fifth.

Sixthly, From the terrors and fears before a mans converſion, which uſually ſeize upon the creature, in order to it; for truly, before the Lord hath to do with our hearts, we are ſo dead aſleep with the opium of ſin, that there muſt be ſomewhat to rouſe us, to awaken us; uſually there is a ſpirit of bondage, which works fear and dread, and terror in the ſoul, that is to ſay, when the Spirit of Chriſt, breathing in the Commandment, maketh ſin appear to be ſin, exceeding ſinfull, and opens ſome of the terrors which ſin doth breed in it, witneſſeth to the poor creature, that he is in a ſtate of condemnation, that there is no way but one with Rom. 8. 15.Rom 8:15him: O now the ſoul beginneth to be amazed, and ſtartled, and knoweth not what to do! this runs him to the heart: he had p. 500many afflictions and troubles in the fleſh before, never any came ſo near as this; and no marvel, becauſe the Spirit▪ of Jeſus Chriſt hath wounded him at the very heart. Brethren, the Law of God is, as I may ſay, an Habeas Corpus, or rather Animam, apprehends, or claps up a ſoul, as I may ſay, puts him in priſon; and therefore the Apoſtle uſeth that expreſſion; mind you, the Scripture hath concluded all under ſin foreign hath ſhut us up together, all concluded under one priſon▪ in one dungeon, that Gal. 3. 23.Gal 3:23the promiſe, which is of Faith of Jeſus Chriſt, might be given to them that believe; but before Faith came, we were kept under the Law: I pray you minde it, we were kept as in a Garriſon, as the Learned interpret it, foreign; and again, foreign, being ſhut up together unto the Faith, which ſhould afterward be revealed: it is juſt as it is with a Prince, he proclaimeth Pardon to all his Rebellious Subjects, but withall he ſendeth out his Meſſengers, his Purſuivants, to apprehend, throw in priſon, keep under Bolts and Shakles as many of them as he can apprehend; this is not contrary to his mercy, nor proclamation of Pardon, but in order to it, ſubordinate to it, that ſo his Pardon, offered might be accepted, they might ſue for it: So it is here, the Law doth thus ſhut up a ſoul, as I may ſay; as when there is an High-way open for a man to walk in, but he will go another way, there it is hedged up; at laſt he is ſo hedged in, he cannot tell which way in the world to get out again: O then! if he could but finde the open way, he would go in it: So it is in this caſe, the Lord maketh this terror and this bondage a means to their inlargement. Ah bleſſed Priſon! that is only to make poor creatures willing to be at liberty; well, now this the Lord Jeſus when he cometh and revealeth himſelf to a ſoul, he brings him out of theſe labyrinths of fears and terrors; letteth the poor creature ſee, that himſelf is the way, and the only way; he hath undertaken the work for his people, only if they will believe, though they have no ſtrength in them to do any thing, nor to extricate themſelves from the difficulties they find themſelves in, by reaſon they cannot fulfil the Law; yet he is the mighty one upon whom help is laid, and withal letteth them underſtand how his bowels do yern over them, and how his heart is open, ready to inlarge them; and ſo perſwadeth them to cloſe with him; and then they go forth when faith cometh; ſo Chriſt is the end of the Law, and the p. 501…aw a School-Maſter to bring us to Chriſt: But that is but the Sixth.

Seventhly, Another part of this bondage, is thoſe after-claps of fears and terrours, that after Chriſt hath been revealed to, and in a ſoul, may befall the creature; alas, you find it ſo, they may be clapt up afterward in the pit of noiſe, the horrible pit, and be in the deeps, and in darkneſs; and like Jeremiahs dungeon, Pſal. 40. 2.Ps 40:2ſink in the mire, where there is no ſtanding, they feel no bottom of their miſery, their fears are overwhelming; or like Jonahs Pſal. 88. 6.Ps 88:6Whales belly, they are in the belly of hell, and all the waves and billows of God go over them: O this is ſore bondage! however it be true, that the Spirit of God is never any more a ſpirit of bondage to them, to witneſs to them they are children of wrath Rom. 8. 16.Rom 8:16afterward, yet he doth not ſay but they may have bondage again; and all fear hath torment, and is bondage to the Spirit, it doth fetter it, and ſhut up and contract the ſpirits exceedingly. Now I ſay, the darkneſs of a mans own heart, which doth naturally gender, fear, and Satan to help, and the frowns of Gods diſpleaſure for the preſent, though he do not witneſs any more that a man is a child of eternal wrath and diſpleaſure, theſe may bring the poor creature into ſad perplexities; Well, yet the Spirit of the Lord Jeſus when he cometh, brings alſo liberty with him from this bondage; David will tel you ſo; and Heman will tell you ſo: do but conſider what conditions they were in? how came they to be delivered? O lift up the light of thy countena nce upon me; Pſal. 4. 15.Ps 4:15Son of God ariſe upon me, ſhine upon my ſoul, and then I ſhall be healed. O reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation, make me▪ to hear joy and gladneſs, &c. Well, the Promiſe doth extend even to this bondage alſo, and to this may we refer the next: I will ſpeak of it diſtinctly.

Eightly, There is another Bondage, and that is the fears of death and judgement, whereby many a poor creature is kept in Bondage all the days of their lives; (as the Apoſtle ſaith in that to the Hebrews) to which I will ſpeak a few words; He came; (ſaith the Text) and took part of fleſh and blood, that through death be might deſtroy him that hath the power of death (that is to Heb. 2. 14.Heb 2:14ſay, the Devil) and deliver them that through fear of death were all their life-time ſubject to Bondage. Brethren, death it ſelf is a terrible thing, the Simplex could ſay, but hardly could he p. 502tell the reaſon of it; for them that have no fear of God before their eyes, but have put out the eye of reaſon, and live like Beaſts, giving up themſelves to commit wickedneſs with greedineſs, though while they can keep off the apprehenſions of death, they may go on merrily, but when that ſeizeth upon them, it marrs their mirth, it maketh a change in their faces, and they are not: now truly death is not ſo terrible in it ſelf conſidered, but that the ſtoutneſs of a mans ſpirit, ſpecially where there is no other conſideration of it, he may overcome it, and live above the fears of it, as the Heathens ſome of them did; but now a man that knoweth indeed what death is, not only a diſſolution of the union between the ſoul and body, taking down this mouldring Tabernacle, but a Serpent with a ſting it is, where 1 Cor. 1. 15. 5, 6.1 Cor 1:151 Cor 1:51 Cor 1:6ſin and guilt lies upon the ſoul; it is the beginning of ſorrows, the arreſt of the ſoul to judgement to come, to receive its doom for all its bloody evils he hath been guilty of. The wordling is not willing to give up his ſoul, O he knoweth, he can never anſwer for his waſting of his ſpirits, and ſpending his time to lay up treaſure here, and in the mean time neglecting his ſoul and Jeſus Chriſt, and tenders of Grace; he knoweth this well enough, and therefore he will not yield up his Spirit, they ſhall take it from him, as it is in the Parable; This night ſhall thy ſoul be taken from thee: and ſo for any other ſin; and now I ſay this maketh death Luke 12. 20.Luke 12:20terrible, and by reaſon of theſe fears of death, men that have any ſight or ſenſe of their condition, they are in Bondage all their lives long, yea, even the people of God themſelves are in ſome meaſure under this bondage; and according to the meaſure of the diſcovery of Chriſt to them, and the power of faith in them, is this fear, and this bondage broken, and the Lord Jeſus came for this end, to deliver them: alas, before his coming the Saints may be ſpecially meant here, who had indeed the knowledge of Chriſt to be crucified for Sinners, and beheld him crucified, though darkly in the ſacrifices, &c. and in the promiſe from the foundation of the world, but yet notwithſtanding they had not that confidence uſually, but there was more room for doubtings and fears, becauſe they died ſtill without the accompliſhing of that promiſe; now though ſuch as had an extraordinary meaſure of faith and a prophetical ſpirit, might ſee this clearly, and ſo it might raiſe them much what above this bondage, yet ordinarily p. 503I believe it was not ſo, that they had ſuch clear conviction of the freeneſs of grace, and the abundance and riches of it in Jeſus Chriſt, and therefore it did not ſo f…lly quiet their Spirits in reſpect of fears of death and judgement, they did not ſo clearly ſee the ſting pluckt out; therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, thoſe Sacrifices, though they did hold out Chriſt, could not make the Heb. 10. 1. & 14.Heb 10:1Heb 10:14comers thereunto perfect, and therefore they were often repeated; But now the Lord Jeſus he hath by once offering, for ever perfected, compleated their ſalvation, and therefore you ſhall find, that the Apoſtle and others do ſo triumph over death, and the grave, and ſin, as we hardly find any before the coming of 1 Cor. 15. 56.1 Cor 15:56Chriſt; and it muſt needs be ſo, becauſe now the Spirit, which is the liberty of the Saints was poured out in a greater meaſure, and therefore we may underſtand this of a general ſtate of the Saints before the coming of Chriſt; the ariſing of this Sun of righteouſneſs indeed, hath ſhone into the very chambers of death themſelves, to let us ſee tha… there is not that real terrour in it, that otherwiſe, except himſelf had gone through it, and broken the bars of it, and pluckt out the ſting, and ſanctified it as a paſſage to our Glory as well as to his own, we ſhould ſtill have been in as great bondage as they were in this reſpect, and therefore Simeon ſaith, Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace according to thy word: now he had embraced the Lord Luk. 2. 29.Luke 2:29Chriſt not only in his bodily arms, but had a clearer diſcovery alſo of him to his ſoul doubtleſs: and the ſence may help faith alſo.

But then ſecondly, According to the meaſure of the faith of his people is the degree of their liberty from this bondage; alas, it is terrible to many of us, yea, ſuch as do believe; but their faith is weak, and the perſwaſions of ſenſe are ſtrong, and hold down the ſoul many times, but the Lord Jeſus came to deliver his people alſo from this bondage, and according to the degrees of his manifeſting himſelfto the ſoul, will the ſoul go forth from theſe fears: and though Ariſtotle died doubtful whither he ſhould go, and yet cried out, Ens entium, & cauſa cauſarum miſerere mei; Yet the Apoſtle, and thoſe that attained that pitch, to know that when our tabernacles are diſſolved, we have an houſe eternal in the heavens: to know, the ſting of death, and victory of the grave is ſwallowed up by Jeſus 2 Cor. 5. 1.2 Cor 5:1Chriſt, it left its ſting in his ſide; to know that when we p. 504are diſſolved, we ſhall be with Chriſt; and know how much better that will be to the ſoul, that is well ſtudied in theſe things, and grown ſtrong in the faith that is in Jeſus, he will deſire to be diſſolved and to be with Jeſus; O here is a going forth now, a liberty and freedom indeed, by the ariſing of the Sun of Phil. 1. 23.Phil 1:23Righteouſneſs upon us.

Ninthly, A freedom or liberty from the Govenant of works; What ſaith the Law? Do this and live: continue in every thing that is written; now when the ſoul cometh to ſee how ſpirittual the Law is, and how earnal he is, and ſold under ſin, that it binds not only the thoughts, but the deſires of the heart, that there muſt not be ſo much as a vain thought paſs through his ſoul, but if there do, this Covenant knoweth no mercy; alas, this keepeth the poor creature under much bondage, and trouble, and doubting concerning his condition; now we muſt know that this is not a bondage of Gods putting upon us, (though he gave us the Law) but of our own making; the Lord gave the Law with Evangelical purpoſes, it was added becauſe of tranſgreſſion; it was added, that the Covenant of Grace, that it might convince poor creatures of their condition by ſ…n, and not to be their Saviour, or a Covenant of life to them; When the Commandment came, ſin revived, and I died: (ſaith the Apoſtle) Gal 3. 19.Gal 3:19that is the work of it indeed; but now we would needs make it to be a Covenant of works, and look upon it ſo: and therefore do what we did in obedience to this Law as for life, expecting to be ſaved by our own works: and ſo the Hebrews, the Jews to whom that Law was firſt given: we ſee, how they would not ſubmit, they would not ſtoop to have this yoke taken off from them, they would not ſubmit to the righteouſneſs of Ged, but would have a righteouſneſs of their own; they had two ſtrings to their bow, and as long as either of them would hold, they would not Ioh. 8. 32. Rom. 10. 1, 2.John 8:32Rom 10:1Rom 10:2yield to be righteous by the righteouſneſs of God in Chriſt: the one was their freedom by Birth, They were the ſeed of Abraham, and not the ſeed of the Bond-woman, and therefore what need they care for this liberty: the other was their own works, they made account their own penny was good ſilver enough, though the Lord knoweth it was but reprobate ſilver, they went about to eſtabliſh their own righteouſneſs, they would be juſtified by a Covenant of works. And ſo there were ſome that came, and p. 505endeavoured to turn aſide the Galathians to another Goſpel, by teaching them they ſhould again put their necks under this yoke, not only of Ceremonies, though that be one thing to the Jews, if not to the Gentiles, that never were under it; but it is the Law, the Moral Law, as a Covenant of Works, elſe to what end doth he mention the curſe therein: And if ye be juſtified by the Law, Chriſt ſhall not profit you, you are fallen from the Doctrine of Grace. Well now, the Lord Jeſus, when he is revealed to a ſoul, delivereth him from this: though I muſt tell you, it is an harder matter to get clearly off it, then many do imagine; and even the people of God themſelves ſhall find, that too often they are turned aſide to the bondwoman from the free, from the Covenant of Grace to a Covenant of Works. Again, from the Law as provoking, for that is the Bondage chiefly the Apoſtle ſpeaks of: Rom. 7. But the more clearly and fully the Grace which is in Chriſt, is revealed to us, with the greater power he ariſeth upon us, the more fully are we ſet free from it. Here we might diſcuſs the queſtion, how far we are delivered from the Law, and how far by Jeſus Chriſt? I will rather reſerve that to another place, and proceed to conclude this part.

Tenthly, There is a kind of bondage the people of God are under, even that weakneſs, and ſtraitneſs, and deadneſs of heart towards God: you know that ſickneſs doth weaken a man exceedingly, in ſo much that he can ſcarce go upon his legs, he is a priſoner a great while under that weakneſs, from all action to purpoſe; let but a poor priſoner be under hardſhip a while in the priſon, and how feeble will he be, and ſcarce worth the ground he goeth upon? a while longer he is a priſoner under that weakneſs, ſo it is here; therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Then Pſal. 119. 32.Ps 119:32will I run the ways of thy commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. Now the Lord Jeſus when he cometh in with pardon, ſpeaking peace, ſmiling upon the ſoul, filling the heart with joy unſpeakable, this joy of the Lord is the ſtrength of the ſoul, he goeth forth, even as a man to his labour in the morning when the Sun ariſeth, that drouſineſs, heavineſs, deadneſs under which he was a priſoner before, being now removed.

Eleventhly, There is a liberty and freedom alſo from outward afflictions, for theſe are alſo an appendix of the Law, a part of the execution of it; and therefore the Lord doth ſet his people p. 506free from the fear of theſe, before they come, which is a kind of bondage upon them. Secondly, From the preſence of them when they are come. Or Thirdly, From the evil of them, the pinching, and wringing, and galling of the yoke.

Firſt, In reſpect of the fear of them, They ſhall go forth: he ſpeaks here plainly to the believing Jews, they were afraid of the judgments of God in the threatning while they did but hang over their heads, and they were in a kind of priſon, or bondage by reaſon of this fear; Well ſaith the Lord, Fear not, you ſhall go forth, the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe upon you. Job was afraid of his ſorrows: take and compare Job the none-ſuch in the Eaſt, a moſt eminent Saint, and Paul in the New Teſtament: and the Iob 9, 28.Job 9:28one you find; he is afraid of his ſorrows, Paul he glories in his tribulations, you never hear him complaining of his ſufferings, no nor feared them, he knew that bonds and impriſonments did abide him in every City, but he cared not for any of theſe things, he Acts 20. 23.Acts 20:23had a richer diſcovrey of the Grace of God in Chriſt, then Job had, and clearer it is like; and therefore this ſet him free in a great meaſure from them: and indeed his ſoul that knoweth the things that are freely given him in Chriſt, knoweth now that he is his Father, and what ever ſhall befall him, it ſhall turn to his good, what need he much to fear.

Secondly, They ſhall go out from the preſence of them, this the Lord doth many times for his people what though the day of the Lord burn like an oven, and burn up the chaff and ſtubble, and devour them root and branch, I will be an hiding place to you, ſaith the Lord, You that fear my name indeed, and tremble at my word: O the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhall ariſe upon you, and by vertue of his death ye ſhall be delivered as the Jews were in Egypt, By the ſprinkling of the blood of the Paſſover upon the Poſts of the Doors, which did repreſent and typifie the blood of Jeſus Chriſt: Exod. 1…. 13.Exod 1:13and in that place of Z…ch. Mark you, ſaith the Lord, concerning his peoples Deliverance out of Babylon, a type of ſpiritual deliverance Zech. 9. 11.Zech 9:11and freedom of his people: as for thee alſo by the blood of the Covenant, I have ſent forth thy Priſoners out of the Pit wherein there is no water; this is done by vertue of the Covenant of Grace, whereby this freedom and going forth is made out to Believers, therefore you may obſerve, when the Lord cometh to deliver Iſrael out of Egypt, he uſhers it in thus. I remember my Covenant: the p. 507Exod. 6. 5.Exod 6:5difference between the deliverances of Iſrael and other people are, the one is a Covenant mercy, the other a common mercy meerly. Well now ſaith the Lord, ye ſhall go forth of the burning, even as the children in the Furnace, it burned, but they eſcaped, the Lord Jeſus was with them, ſo ſhall ye go forth; and the Lord did provide a little Zoar for his people in the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, many of them eſcaped to Pella as the ſtory goeth, a little Town beyond Jordan; and ſo the Lord doth ſeal the 144000. before he brings thoſe bloody calamities upon the earth, Rev. 7.Rev 7the perſecuting world, and thoſe in the ninth of Ezekiel, O who would not be in Covenant with God! they ſhall go forth.

Or thirdly, They ſhall be freed from the deſtroying evil, the hardening evil of affliction, which is a bondage, and a ſore one too, being bound in affliction and iron; and ſo Job in the 13. ch. Pſal. 107. 10.Ps 107:10ver. 27. God writeth bitter things againſt him, and puts his feet in the ſtocks, and all his affliction together is called Jobs captivity; he was, as I may ſay, reſigned up to the pleaſure of Satan for a while, who led him from one affliction to another, but the Lord brought him out, and brought him off without the evil, the Devil expected that he ſhould curſe him and dye, curſe him to his Iob 1. 11.Job 1:11face: now I ſay, the Lord maketh his people go forth, brings them through; and not only ſo, but without any of the hurt ſeizing upon them. Sinners are the harder for being in the fire, but they are melted, as very a ſtone as Pharaoh was, he began to burn in the fire, and be hot, and a man would have thought his heart had given, but it was a ſtone ſtill; but his people came out melted, refined with this Epiphonema to all their afflictions. O it was good for me, I could not have been without it, much of my droſs Pſal. 119. 71.Ps 119:71is gone by it; and thus the Lord maketh his people go forth; …e ſhall go forth.

Twelfthly, There is one more, and that is the yoak of Ceremonies & traditions of men, I will put them both together; the Ceremonies were a yoak you know, circumciſion was a hard ſervice, to draw blood of their children at eight daies old, their journeys to their feaſts at Jeruſalem, their offerings and oblations, they were very chargeable, inſomuch that they grew weary of them, and ſnuffed at them, &c. And for the Traditions of men, they are a grievous burthen where their Doctrines are taught and received; p. 508Mal. 1. 13.Mal 1:13the Apoſtle comprehends both-under that word, the rudiments of the world, whereunto he would not have them be brought in Col. 2. 8, 20.Col 2:8Col 2:20bondage again, the difference of meats and drinks, &c. the Lord Jeſus hath let us looſe from thoſe obſervations, and therefore it is a deſperate doctrine, a doctrine of Devils, or at leaſt of them that ſpeak lies in hypocriſie, to forbid to marry, and commanding 1 Tim. 4. 2, 3.1 Tim 4:21 Tim 4:3to abſtain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thankſgiving; and bleſſed be his name, that by the riſing of the Sun of righteouſneſs among us, he hath brought us out from this bondage generally: and if he would be pleaſed to ſhine among the poor ignorant Papiſts, that they might but come to the knowledge of his will, doubtleſs this would be quickly ſhakt off with them alſo, but you have the parts of this liberty.

For the degrees of it, we muſt know this, that it is not in the ſame degree to every believer, you have already heard, how that before Chriſt's coming it was not in ſuch power as ſince; Ye ſhall go forth, hath been accompliſhed in many reſpects ſince the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and the more faith and the clearer ſight we have of Jeſus Chriſt, with the greater power, and ſplendor, and glory he ſhines upon us, the more of the riches of his grace we come to apprehend, the more fully and perfectly to reſt upon that grace, the more ſhall we find that all theſe bondages ſhall be broken we have been ſpeaking to; but thus much for the two things, which is, what this liberty is.

Which are the arguments for the further confirmation of the 3.Doctrine, Where the Lord Jeſus ariſeth upon a ſoul, there is liberty and enlargement.

Firſt, from the very nature of that gift of grace, the ariſing of the Sun of righteouſneſs upon them, what is this but the giving of himſelf unto a ſoul, revealing himſelf in the ſoul, as the Gal. 1. 16.Gal 1:16Apoſtle ſpeaks, it pleaſed the Father to reveal his ſon in me, by which means that darkneſs and terrour is taken away in great meaſure; Chriſt is all in all: the bondage you heard before, it is Col. 3. 11.Col 3:11either ſin, or the ſad effects of ſin; the revelation of Chriſt anſwerably, is either for holineſs, or elſe by joy and comfort, wherein he meeteth with both the other, the guilt, the bondage he takes away, to that end himſelf was made ſin, that knew no ſin, 2 Cor. 5. 21.2 Cor 5:21that we might be made the righteouſneſs of God in him; it is the p. 509power of Satan, him he overcame; yet the power of ſin that is broken alſo, ſin ſhall not have dominion over you, &c. If it be terrours, fears, whatſoever, our bleſſed Saviour where he maketh himſelf manifeſt to a ſoul; is enough to take away all, but this you have in effect had before, therefore no more of it here; he adopts us all, Joh. 8. 36. foreign, was uſed in ſome Cities in Greece, as Grot. noteth:

Secondly, another Argument ſhall be this, that they might ſerve him, therefore they ſhall go forth; while a man is under bondage he is at the command of ſuch as he is in bondage unto, and therefore cannot ſerve another Maſter whatſoever; this ſpecially reſpecteth that part of the bondage which concerneth ſin and Satan: when Satan had filled Ananias heart, could he obey Acts 5. 1 King. 21.Acts 51 Kgs 21the will of Chriſt? No, no more could Ahab that had ſold himſelf to commit wickedneſs; it is impoſſible for a man to be a ſlave of ſin, and a ſervant of Chriſt at the ſame time. I ſpeak not what a man may do for an act or two, but a man that doth work ſin, Ioh. 8.John 8labour it, hammer it in his brain, forge it there, art it and polliſh it, and with great dexterity, for ſuch a man to ſerve Chriſt, ye cannot ſerve God and Mammon, ſaith our Saviour, mentioning one luſt, they are contrary one to another; When a man doth Mat. 6. 24.Matt 6:24wickedneſs with both hands earneſtly, there is never a hand left for Chriſt's ſervice; that is compleat ſervice indeed, when it is from the heart, as ſeemeth by that oppoſition, thanks be to God, Mic. 7. 3. Rom. 6. 17.Mic 7:3Rom 6:17that ye were the ſervants of ſin, but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of Doctrine. So that the heart is the main thing, if that be gone after ſin, we cannot ſerve the Lord Jeſus heartily; and then for the carkaſs, the lip, the eye, the tongue, he matters it not; therefore firſt, the Marriage-yoak muſt be broken between the ſoul and ſin, before they can be married to another, even to the Lord Chriſt to ſerve him, ye are become dead to the Law, that, ye might be married to another; when ye were the ſervants of ſin, ye Rom. 7. 4.Rom 7:4were free from righteouſneſs; mind you, if under the command of ſin, you are free from righteouſneſs, it hath no commanding Chap. 6. 20.power over you at all; and if a man be under the commanding power of Chriſt▪ there ſin hath not the command of him, we muſt be dead to ſin, and ſo free from ſin, as the Apoſtle ſaith, he Rom. 6. 7.Rom 6:7that is dead, is free from ſin, or elſe we cannot be alive to God to ſerve him. Brethren, I know that every man would be thought p. 511a ſervant of Chriſt, and we look upon him as the off-ſcouring of the world, and not worthy to live among men, that would not ſerve the Lord; poor creatures, while we are under the command of ſin it cannot be, when a man yieldeth his members inſtruments Rom. 6. 19.Rom 6:19of unrighteouſneſs to unholineſs, and yet pretends to be a ſervant of Chriſt. What is this but a mockery? but be not deceived, God is not mocked: would you not take this to be a mockery, if one come and tells you, O Sir, I will be your ſervant if you will give me this or that reward, but you muſt give me leave to do all the ſervice I can to your enemy, you ſhall have the name of my ſervice, but your enemy ſhall have the reality of it: is not this a mockery?

Thirdly, That their ſervices may be more chearful, therefore he ſetteth them free from their bondage, and this reſpecteth that part of bondage which concerneth the Concomitants, even ſorrow, and fears, and terrours, and the like; the Lord doth not love to have his people follow him whining, he loveth a cheerful giver and a cheerful doer of his will, it is much for his honour that his ſervants ſhould lift up their heads; for what would we ſay to ſee a poor ſervant go diſcouraged, and as if ſcarce worth the earth he goes upon, amazed with fears, with ſorrows; ſure ſuch a ſervant hath a hard Maſter, that he hath ſo Pſal. 40. 2.Ps 40:2little joy of his life, therefore the Lord Jeſus maketh his people go forth out of the horrible pit, ſetteth them free from all their fears, and terrours, that they may with a cheerful and a large heart ſerve him; here is love indeed, that the Lord doth ſo ſweeten his yoak and his ſervice, as that his people ſhall delight in it, therefore ſaith he, that we might ſerve him without fear in Luke 1. 74.Luke 1:74holineſs and righteouſneſs all the daies of our lives.

Fourthly, that their ſervices to him may be more ſtrong then otherwiſe they would, a man under bonds brought down with bard bondage, cannot do the ſervice which another man can, but the▪ joy of the Lord is the ſtrength of his people, as in that of Neh. 8. 10. therefore he doth enlarge their hearts, that they may run the waies of his commandments, takes off the fetters for this very end; a poor child of God under terrours and fears, or under the prevailing of a luſt, have, as I may ſay, their hands manacled, they cannot fight, their feet are fettered, they cannot walk, much leſs run.

p. 510Fifthly, Yet one more, and that is, leſt a poor ſoul held under bondage too long, ſhould put forth his hands to ſin, this reſpects ſpecially the bondage of ſorrows and fears which are ready to ſwallow up many a poor creature many times, my ſpirit is over-whelmed Pſal. 77. 3.Ps 77:3within me, ſaith the Pſalmiſt … like caſe; the Lord will ſpeak peace (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) unto his people, that they may not Pſal. 85. 8.Ps 85:8return to folly any more; for if the Lord ſhould lay his hand upon them, continually preſſing them, they could not alway hold out, but if they can find no pleaſure in God nor in his waies, they would be inclinable to return to their pleaſures of ſin, as in that Pſalm, let not the rod of the wicked alway reſt upon the lot of the Pſal. 125. 3.Ps 125:3righteous, leſt they put forth, &c. as you ſee the Pſalmiſts heels were almoſt thrown up, and himſelf upon his back, his faith upon its back in this very reſpect. O ſaith he, if it be thus, I muſt be plunged every morning, alway in the net, under the yoak of affliction, Pſal. 73. 2, 13, 14.Ps 73:2Ps 73:13Ps 73:14in affliction and iron continually, ſurely I have cleanſed my ſelf in vain; and theſe rods are the rods of God of a leſſer nature, thoſe with which the ſpirit is laſhed are moſt ſore, and therefore the ſoul might be in danger to depart to iniquity, to return to ſin again; how ſoon did Iſrael reſolve of making them a Captain to return again? N…h. 9. 17: If the Prodigal return in ſuch diſtreſs to his Father, and he ſhould keep him hungring and languiſhing, when Luke 16.Luke 16he hath not ſo much as husks to eat; ſurely this were the way to put him upon it to return again to riotous courſes: the peace of God keepeth them with God, &c.

Sixthly, Again, becauſe the ſpirit would fail which he hath made, if he did not in due ſeaſon break the yoak, ſet them at liberty; as a tender Father will not loſe his child for want of Iſa. 57. 16. …Isa 57:16the rod, no more will the Father of ſpirits for want of …ſhing our ſpirits; yet on the other hand, a tender-hearted Father will much leſs loſe him by over-doing of it; as he will not ſpare him, indulge him to death, ſo neither will he whip him to death, hang …rons and fetters upon him until they eat into his ſoul and conſume him. O no, when the Father ſeeth the ſpirit of the child to fall, and he beginneth to ſwoon under his rod, under the yoak of fear, which hath torment, be it what it will be, then he letteth the rod fall out of his hand, fals a kiſſing of the child to revive him again; we muſt preſerve the ſpirits, and maintain nature in Phyſick, and if purgations have wrought the patient off his p. 512ſtrength, there muſt be a reſtoring with Cordials, 1 Cor. 10. 13. he will not ſuffer them to be tempted above what they are able, &c. he will not ſuffer his people to periſh, and ſink, and go away in priſon and bondage, and therefore he cauſeth them to go forth, and doth ariſe upon them to that end.

For the Application of the point, there are ſeveral uſes to be made of it.

Firſt then, take notice from hence what a grievous bondage the ſervice of ſin is, this is the principal part of the bondage, and all the reſt are but the product of ſin; ſin is pregnant, it hath the ſeeds of all thoſe terrors, fears, ſorrows, ſlaviſhneſs, deadneſs, ſtraitneſs, and all the reſt in its womb, but it ſelf is the chief, and therefore we are ſaid to be ſold under ſin, and ſin is ſaid to have dominion over us; ſo many luſts, Brethren, in ſtrength, ſo many Rom. 7. 14.Rom 7:14pairs of fetters there are about our legs, and how then is it likely that a ſinner ſhould run the waies of Gods Commandments! but I hope by what hath been ſaid already, it will be granted, that a condition of ſin is a condition of bondage; only a little to aggravate this conſideration to you, and all little enough, I doubt, to ſtartle ſinners who are in this condition.

Firſt conſider, it is the baſeſt, moſt ſordid thing that can be; you know a ſervile condition is mean and baſe in compariſon of liberty and freedom, take it at the beſt; but to ſerve the baſeſt of men, who would not abhor this? what ſpirit would ſtoop to be a drudge to a Maſter, to rake Channels and cleanſe Jakes, who would not abhor this? Brethren, this is nothing to ſin, to the ſlavery of ſin: as it was the greateſt honour in the world to be a ſervant, a ſon of God; Moſes the ſervant of the Lord, David my ſervant: As you know ſervants do much bear themſelves up upon the honour of their Maſters. So it is the baſeſt ſervitude in the world to be in bondage to a luſt, for a man to ſell himſelf into the hands of ſin and Satan, for a moments pleaſure of ſin, this is baſe: It is brutiſh for a man to ſubject his underſtanding and will to the paſſions of his luſt, diſhonourable baſe paſſions; Rom. 1. 26.Rom 1:26for beaſts are led by their appetites.

Secondly, As it is baſe drudgery, ſo ſecondly the poor ſinner hath ſo many luſts and ſo contrary to ſerve and ſatisfie, that he muſt needs be diſtracted between them; one commands him this way, and the other commands him that way; as now for a man p. 513to ſerve his pride and covetouſneſs, or his luxury and covetouſneſs, theſe are contrary, and diſtract, and diſtort the mind, and hurry him hither and thither, he can enjoy no peace in his own ſpirit at all; you ſhall ſee a man that will ſpend at no aim when he is in company, and none ſeemeth to ſet leſs by the world then he at ſuch a time; but afterward, when he recollects himſelf, then he muſt run, and drudge, and hurry himſelf and all his family, and drive faſter then they are able to bear, and all to make up that which he hath conſumed upon his luſts, is not this a miſerable bondage to be under ſuch contrary luſts?

Thirdly, Yea conſider that theſe luſts are moſt inſatiable, in drinking up a mans time, and ſpirits, and ſtrength, and will never Luk 16.Luke 16leave a man while he hath any thing to lay out upon them more. So you know the Prodigal ſpent all that ever he had upon his luſts, all his patrimony, his time, and ſtrength, and ſpirits, and all; and ſo the wanton doth upon his Dalilah, and thou mourn at the laſt, ſaith the wiſe man, when thy life and thy body is conſumed, and Prov. 5. 11.Prov 5:11ſay, how have I hated inſtruction, and my heart deſpiſed reproof? except it have all the precious workings of the ſoul, it is not ſatisfied, it muſt have all the thoughts, be in them all, though God be in none of them, all that precious water muſt drive this mill; as for covetouſneſs, now how is the ſoul under the power of that luſt, as I may ſay, hanged up like a meteor in the air, as the Evangeliſt hath it, foreign, be not hanged up as meteors in the Luk. 12. 2….Luke 12:2…ir, as I may ſay, between heaven and earth; and be not careful, …aith our Saviour, be not divided, diſtracted in your cares. O …hat they ſhall eat, and what they ſhall drink, how they ſhall accompliſh this and that deſign, what a drudge is any man that is under the power of this luſt, he doth nothing but root in the world? in other ſervitude, if that a ſervant were maimed or diſmembered, loſt an eye, yea or but a tooth, they muſt be let go Exod. 21. 26.Exod 21:26for their eye-ſake, or for the tooth-ſake, but here ſin doth nothing but wound the ſoul, breaks a man, conſumeth him ſoul and body, and yet will not let him go; ſin doth put a mans eyes out, that ſo it may have the more full compleat command over the poor creature, and ſtops the ears, and ſtrikes out the teeth, and diſtaſteth the pallate, ſo that any thing of God hath no more reliſh then a chip to a ſoul, maketh the poor creature lame for any luſt harboured in the ſoul, maketh a man go with an uneven pace, p. 514and halt, he cannot go uprightly, and ſo it weakens the hands and maketh feeble knees, and indeed like a woolf in the fleſh, or a greedy wen, devours all the ſtrength, and yet will by no means let the poor ſinner go free.

Fourthly, It is a growing bondage, the longer a man continueth in it, the faſter he is held with the ſnares and bonds of his ſins; in the tranſgreſſion of an evil man there is a ſnare, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 29. 6.Prov 29:6and every act of ſinning doth faſten the ſnare ſo much the more upon the ſoul with bands of iron and braſs, yea of adamant; the longer they are in this dark and filthy dungeon, the deeper they ſink into the mire and clay, where there is no ſtanding, the heart groweth more hard through the deceitfulueſs of ſin. O the cup of delights is a bewitching cup, and the more a man drinketh of it, the more he may; every drop of oyl you caſt upon the flame, maketh it the harder to be quenched, every act of ſinning doth ſtrengthen the habit, as in all other caſes, and diſpoſe a man ſo much the more ſtrongly, incline him to the ſame ſin again, and ſo there is ſo much the more ado to get the heart off from theſe luſts; there is many a poor ſinner among us, I believe, can ſpeak by experience what a miſerable bondage it is, and what a growing bondage it is, the further a man goeth in it, he goeth ſtill further into the priſon, binds the yoak upon his neck ſo much the harder and cloſer, inſomuch that a gray-headed-ſinner you ſhall ſeldom ſee recovered out of the ſnare of the Devil, though ſometimes we may: This the fourth.

Fifthly, it is ſo durable a bondage, that it abides in part, even where a ſoul is brought under the command of another principle, it doth continue in a great part in many a gracious heart, as in this place of the Apoſtle, I am carnal and ſold under ſin; he ſaith Rom. 7. 14.Rom 7:14not he was, but he is carnal; that is to ſay, in part, as thoſe in that firſt to the Corinthians, are you not carnal? that is to ſay, 1 Cor. 3. 1, 4.1 Cor 3:11 Cor 3:4hath not the fleſh a great ſway with you, when you are ſo divided and full of ſtrife and emulation, and one for Paul, and another for Apollo? &c. and therefore the Apoſtle did walk heavily under the ſenſe of the chains which were upon him, not altogether ſhakt off. O wretched man, who ſhall deliver me? I am Rom. 7. 24.Rom 7:24carried captive by a Law in my members to the Law of ſin. O ſtrange, that in the Apoſtle, ſo ſanctified, ſo mortified a creature, yet the Law in his members ſhould have ſuch a ſtrength as this p. 515is, to carry him captive; though the ſpirit do luſt againſt the fleſh, yet the fleſh doth luſt againſt the ſpirit, ſo that they cannot Gal. 5. 17.Gal 5:17do the things they would; they are under bondage in part, though notunder the reign of ſin; yet it uſurpeth, and tyranizeth, and laies its commands upon a poor believing ſoul, as if he were altogether his own; ſin will not let go its hold altogether, but if it loſe the Cittadel, the Tower, the chief Fort, the Will, yet it will lurk in ſome of the out-works ſtill; if it loſe the heart, it will hold by the heel ſtill, and hang about us, that we cannot walk at liberty in the waies of his Commandments.

Sixthly, The reward to the ſervice and bondage of ſin, what is it but bondage upon bondage? you have heard how many ſad Concomitants there are of this bondage of ſin, doth it not ſubject to the curſe, to the wrath of God? it is not only an unprofitable ſervice, what fruit had ye then in thoſe things whereof ye are now aſhamed? that is to ſay, what good had ye by them, ye are now aſhamed of them: that is the reward, as you ſee in the caſe of Adam, it laid him open and naked before the Lord, both without covering for the ſhame, and without defence againſt his diſpleaſure, now he wanted ſomewhat in ſtead of his innocency to skreen him from the everlaſting burnings, or the preſence of God, who Phil. 3. 19:Phil 3:19is a conſuming fire, yea the wages of theſe things is death, whoſe end is deſtruction, ſaith the Apoſtle, whoſe glory is in their ſhame, whoſe God is their belly, who mind earthly things; a man will hardly believe this, that the ſavouring of earthly things is ſo dangerous a ſervice, being ſo pleaſing as it is to men; alas, you little think what you do, you have heard ſome of you, how many evils do attend it, you little know what wounds you get, a wound and diſhonour ſhall he get, and his reproach ſhall not be wiped away; this is nothing to the wound of the conſcience. O what pains ſinners are at to ſtore up gun-powder at laſt to blow up their comforts and their ſouls and all; would you not think it a ſad ſervitude where a maſter ſhould delight in nothing but the cruel wounding and goring of a mans ſelf, this is nothing indeed to the ſervice of ſin, you will one day find ſinners, the truth of this, whether you will believe it now or no, that ſin is big with terrours, and fears, and amazement, that ſin doth nothing but wound the ſoul, the conſcience, though you feel it not for the preſent; many and Prov. 5. 11. Prov. 23. 29.Prov 5:11Prov 23:29many that have been as ſenſleſs as many of us are, that yet at p. 516laſt mourned and ſaid, O how is my fleſh and my body conſumed! O what a wretch was I to ſerve ſin, to lay out my ſelf for ſin, that now hath nothing but woe and miſery, nothing but racks and woundings to reward me with! O what a reward is it Brethren, to paſs fro m the chains of your ſins here, to thoſe everlaſting chains of darkneſs!

Se venthly and laſtly, it is inextricable, as to our ſelves, we cannot open the priſon doors, nor looſen our fetters, the cords of our ſins wherewith we are held, and bound over, as I may ſay, to Judgement. O I know the poor creature, ſpecially when his eyes are open to ſee what a condition he is in, will be making many an attempt, ſometimes to break priſon, ſometimes to looſe his bonds, but it will not be; O what reſolutions and vows you ſhall have many a ſinner make, ſpecially after a paſſion in their ſpirits, when their eyes are a little open; O they will never return to their folly any more, and it is the next thing they do. O the bands of our own making are too ſlender to pull a poor creature out of the mire and clay, they all break even as a thread of Tow when it cometh to the fire, and there the poor ſoul ſticks; no, nor is it the prayers nor tears of our own that can do it, for you ſhall ſee, and haply ſome of us know it by experience, though it be wonderful to ſee a man pray and ſin, and weep and ſin, mourn and ſin, go on in the ſame courſe of ſinning a long time, ſome of our ſouls I believe know this, we pray and are not willing to be delivered, as Aug. did, and ſo mourn upon the ſight of the grievouſneſs of a ſin, but it prevails not to for ſake it. O no, if any of all this would have done it, what need the Lord Jeſus then be annointed for that work, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the opening of the priſon doors to them that are bound: ſurely the Lord would do no nothing in vain: but ſo much for this Application.

Then it may teach us the vanity of all conceit of liberty or Ʋſe 2.freedom, or going forth before the Lord Jeſus come and ſhine upon a mans ſoul, then they ſhall go forth, not before; what is the reaſon that the moſt of men can ſatisfie themſelves with their condition as they do, but they have ſome conceit they are at liberty; were ſinners perſwaded that they are under the dominion of ſin and Satan, &c. could they eat, or drink, or ſleep? p. 517what a fearful thing would we think it, if the Devil had but power over our bodies, to carry them whither he pleaſed, to ſhatter and ſhake them at his pleaſure? but what is this to the having power over the ſoul, over the will, the affections, the mind, by keeping them in blindneſs? and yet ſinners do not believe they are in ſuch a bondage, but think they are free, nor do I think there is any one thing doth keep more poor creatures in bondage then this, they think they are free; but let us ſee a little the vanity of ſuch conceits.

Firſt, Some are ſo groſs, as to think they are born free, when as you heard before, We are born the children of wrath, we are Eph. 2. 3.Eph 2:3all born in the houſe of bondage, in the Priſon Houſe; and therefore, we as well as our Parents are under bondage. Can a ſlave bring forth any other then a ſlave? If many of us look to the Iſa. 51. 1.Isa 51:1Rock whence we are hewen, as the Prophet ſpeaks, we ſhall find that our very Parents were the ſervants of ſin, and it may be lived and died ſo; and what then? were they the ſlaves to Satan, and can we be Chriſt his Free-men by Birth? It cannot be ſurely. It is very ſtrange, that men that know their Parents to be looſe, wicked, prophane, earthly, carnal crearu…es, that yet ſhould bear up themſelves with this priviledge, they are born free, they are Chriſtians by birth, ſuch men little know what goeth to make a Chriſtian; can the bond-woman bring forth children that are free?

Secondly, Others have a fairer pretence for it then this, they think they are free by birth, becauſe they had faithful believing parents, we have Abraham to our Father, and we being his ſeed, John 8.John 8how can we be in bondage? I muſt confefs, Brethren, this is ſomething to me, for as Satan hath ſervants born in his houſe, in his Eccl. 2. 7.Eccl 2:7kingdom, ſo the Lord Jeſus hath in his; if bond-men were born bond-men, and ſervants were born in the houſe, then God hath ſervants alſo born to him, and his ſervants are free in that ſenſe, that they are his ſervants, and therefore it is remarkable in that of Leviticus, they muſt let their ſervants go free, and their children Levit. 25. 41, 42.Lev 25:41Lev 25:42alſo, for they are my ſervants ſaith the Lord, whom I brought out of Egypt; which was a Type of our ſpiritual bondage: mind you, the Lord calls them his ſervants, his children, as well as others; only note here two or three things for the clearing of it.

p. 518Firſt, that this is by grace and not by nature; for by nature and natural generation, no man can beget, nor woman bring forth any child that is free; no, though they themſelves through the riches of grace are made free, yet their children by nature are the children of wrath as well as others; yea, though they belong to the Election of grace, and be ſaved whether they die in infancy, or come to the acknowledgment of the truth, and believe, as the Apoſtle did; yet by nature they are the children of wrath, a ſad condition our poor children are in by nature, if parents did but well lay it to heart; but what then doth this hinder, but that by grace they may be free, though by nature they are bound? as the Apoſtle himſelf by nature was a child of wrath, under the curſe of the Law; that is to ſay, and in bondage, but by grace he was free; and why might not the Lord by grace make him free ſooner if he pleaſed, as well as later? is it not all one with him, can he not make children free as well as men if he pleaſe? are not men purely receptives in the firſt grace, and are not children as paſſive and receptive as any?

But ſecondly, there is a freedom inviſible and ſaving, and a freedom viſible, and both by grace; the freedom inviſible, when a ſoul is actually ſet at liberty from the power of ſin and the bondage of his corruptions; or elſe viſible, when there is ground for our judging they are ſo freed; now many are viſibly free, that are not inviſibly free at all: ſo there is many an hypocritical profeſſor, that carries it ſo like a free-man of Chriſt, that it would puzzle the moſt diſcernable ſpirit to diſcover that he is under the bondage of ſin or Satan, and yet he is ſo inviſibly haply, but viſibly he is free, that is to ſay, appears to be ſo: appears to be in Covenant with God, for that is the freedom; therefore whereever Chriſt is ſpoken of, as to preach liberty, it is ſaid ſtill, he is given as a Covenant to the people; ſo many appear to be in Covenant, and ſo viſibly are ſuch, that inviſibly are not▪ and ſo the children of ſuch holy parents, who are in Covenant with God, are viſibly free, though inviſibly they may be in bondage, that is to ſay, they are in viſibly in Covenant with God, that is to ſay, we have ground to judge charitably and hopefully of them, that they are in Covenant with God, and if they ſo die, that they are …aved by vertue of that Covenant there; which for my own part, I know no other revealed way of ſalvation, and therefore if p. 519we deny them this, we muſt either ſay there is no grounded hope of their ſalvation, and I would be loath to be ſuch a durus pater infan…um, to deny all viſibility of ſalvation to them: Or elſe we muſt ſay, the Lord hath left nothing upon record, whereby we might have any comfort concerning little ones that die in that condition; which what an impeachment it were to the wiſdom & grace of God in Chriſt, I wiſh men would impartially conſider. And if they will ſay they may be ſaved, can it be without the inviſible grace? have they not corrupt natures, and the ſeeds of all ſin in them? and can any unclean thing enter into heaven? and therefore ſure they muſt be freed from ſin: and will we grant them the inviſible grace, that they come under that which is narrower, and ſhall we deny them that which is larger? would you think that man himſelf, that ſhould yield that a man may be in the Kings bed-Chamber, but he may not be in the Pallace; or a man be in this houſe, and yet not in the City, which is much more large and comprehenſive?

But thirdly, I conceive that this viſible freedom of theirs is to be limited with the time, until they come to diſcover the contrary; as an hypocritical profeſſor, to us he is viſibly a Saint, and free, until his leaf do fade and fall, and that be taken from him which he ſeemeth to have, as it is in that of the Evangeliſt; now the child is upon his Fathers root, the Lord owning them with their parents in the ſame covenant of grace; yet if afterward, when they come to underſtanding; and by the rule of Chriſt they are to own the covenant themſelves actually; if they do diſown it, they ſhall be caſt out as well as Iſmael was, and therefore it is I ſuppoſe, that our Saviour reproveth the Jews when they ſtood now at age, and ſhould have minded what themſelves had done, now ſtanding upon their own, and not upon their Fathers root, they ſhould have owned the Covenant themſelves, and believed, that ſo they might have been free indeed inviſibly; but though they never wrought the works of Abraham, to believe in Chriſt to come, and now in Chriſt come, they ſhould have believed; but wrought the works of the Devil: yet they bound themſelves up with this, that they were the children of Abraham, they were ſo indeed; and this in their infancy was ground for a believing hopefully of them, ſpecially if their Parents were Believers; but now the Lord required themſelves, I ſay, to own p. 520the Covenant, and walk worthy of it, elſe that would not ſtand them inſtead; it is juſt as if a man that maketh a profeſſion of Chriſt gloriouſly for a while, and in the judgement of all that behold him he is a gracious man, but yet he falls off, draweth back to perdition, the latter end of ſuch a man is worſe then his beginning, yet he bears up himſelf, O I am a Chriſtian, I have profeſſed Heb. 10. 2.Heb 10:2Chriſt as well as you, and yet at preſent is thus ſtubborn and rebellious; do you think this would ſatisfie any mans ſpirit Mat. 12. 45.Matt 12:45concerning him, is not here as much vanity of hope concerning his condition, as in the other caſe?

O but ſome will ſay, what a Doctrine is this? can a man be free in any ſenſe, and yet come into bondage again, and periſh afterward? are not the gifts and calling of God without repentance? therefore that children ſhould be free by vertue of this Rom. 11. 19.Rom 11:19Covenant, and yet afterward become the ſervants of ſin and Satan, and be ſo deſperately wicked and prophane, this ſeemeth derogatory to grace, and that any that have been in Covenant of God and free, ſhould now be bound with everlaſting chains of darkneſs? It is no derogation from the truth, nor from the grace that came by Jeſus Chriſt that it ſhould be ſo; for mind you, it is one thing to be free in the account of God, and another thing to be free in the account of the Church and people of God; God judgeth not as we judge, viſibly we judge, and he judgeth that which is inviſible: now it is true, one that hath been truly inwardly delivered from the bondage of ſin, and ſo gone out of priſon, he can never be reduced to ſuch a condition, cannot periſh; and ſo that man that is, or ever was inviſibly in Covenant with God, can never come to that place of darkneſs; but ſuch as only viſibly and in appearance did own the Covenant, or were in Covenant, may miſcarry; how many glorious profeſſors that made a great ſhew for a time, and ſprang up as faſt, and flouriſhed as much as any, that yet now are the fuel for thoſe everlaſting flames? what could men judge of them, but that they were in Covenant with God, and ſo free-men and delivered from the Mat. 13. 6. They had not root, though they had blade enough. Mat. 8. 12.Matt 13:6Matt 8:12priſon, from the bondage, yet alas were in the hold of ſin to that day? and why may it not be ſo, and allowed in this caſe, as well as in that? may not the children of the Kingdom be caſt out into outer darkneſs? I could wiſh that were well conſidered, the children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into outer darkneſs; p. 521we will allow profeſſors a communion and fellowſhip with us as free-men, as men in Covenant with God, whoſe profeſſion ſo oftentimes prove rotten and unſound, and think this profeſſion is a ſufficient ground to declare to us they are in Covenant with Chriſt, and yet we will not allow Believers children to be in Covenant with God, becauſe afterward they come to walk contrary to this Covenant: Nor do we think the declaration of God, that he doth own them as his, as his children, his ſervants, as holy to himſelf, to be as ſufficient to make it out they are in Covenant with God: For my own part, I ſee not the pretended difference, but if there be any advantage in the viſibility of being in Covenant with God, I take it upon this hand, for I do and ſhall make more of a word of God, where the Lord hath ſaid it, that they are his in a way of grace, though it prove to be but viſibly, not inviſibly, then I ſhall make of any mans profeſſion in the world, which can amount to no more then a viſibility, or at leaſt I ſhall make as much of it.

Well but then, ſuppoſe thou wert a child of Abraham, of believing parents, and ſo wert free and in Covenant with God viſibly; yet alas, this will not now ſtand thee in ſtead to ſalvation, no more then a profeſſion of a temporarie faith will do an hypocrite; thou workeſt the works of the Devil, art a very drudge to Satan, and the world, and thy own hearts luſts, and yet will hang thy hopes of ſalvation upon a being born free, we are Abraham's ſeed; if any ſeed of Believers ſince the Covenant, ſhould have been ſaved and freed, inwardly and ſavingly, Joh. 8. 44.John 8:44by being the ſeed of ſuch parents, when themſelves came actually to renounce it in works, to deny the Covenant in works, they might have it by Abraham; but yet you ſee our Saviour tells them, the Son muſt make them free, before they could be free; therefore this is a vain conceit, the Lord perſwade poor ſinners againſt it.

Secondly, ſome there are, that becauſe they feel nothing of ſuch a bondage as hath been ſpoken of, therefore they conclude there is no ſuch thing upon them, they do not feel any ſuch thing as fetters and ginns upon them, they never were under any ſuch ſlaviſhneſs of obedience, under any ſuch terrours, nor under the command of their luſts, they think they are Maſters of themſelves, and can command their paſſions and appetites as well as p. 522any others, and therefore ſure they are free. This is a deceit alſo. The more undiſcerned the bondage is, the more ſure it is; it was the ſlatelineſs of ſome Princes, they would not be ſeen by their ſubjects, nor make their perſons too common, they ſhould feel the weight of their loins, but not ſee them, to keep up an eſteem among them; if they had made themſelves too common haply, and too cheap, it might have weakened their authority: So it is in this caſe, ſin and Satan will not be ſeen haply in the buſineſs, they know if it ſhould appear to a ſinner he is in bondage to them, it were a dangerous ſtep to dethrone him, and deveſt him of his commanding power over a poor ſinner; for who, if he did ſee himſelf thralled to ſo baſe and bloody an enemy as Satan is, would endure it long? and therefore he keepeth them in darkneſs, from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan to Acts 26. 18.Acts 26:18God; therefore it is the firſt work of grace to open the eyes, as in the caſe of Paul, who art thou Lord? he knew not, nor did he know his perſecution was a ſin; he was ſo far from it, as that he thought verily he ought to do many things againſt that way: Acts 26. 9.Acts 26:9And truly ſo it is with many a poor ſoul, they think they are as far from bondage in ſin; as he that is furtheſt, whereas they are altogether in bondage: A man in errour, if of a leſſer or greater moment, he is in the ſnare of the Devil, and yet he thinks himſelf free, ſpecially before admonition; elſe fundamentals are written ſo clearly, that after the firſt and ſecond admonition, if Tit. 3. 11.Titus 3:11adminiſtred with ſuch clearneſs and tenderneſs as it ought. Dear friends, I doubt there are ſome of us, that it never came into our hearts ſeriouſly to conſider, ſcarce to ſuſpect that we were in bondage; do not your hearts bear witneſs to this truth? believe it, ſuch are in the greateſt bondage of all others ordinarily. I know it is true, that even from the child-hood, under gracious education, which the Lord hath promiſed a bleſſing to, as one of his Ordinances, with it may be inſtilled ſo inſenſibly, as that a man may ſcarſe ever know how it came to paſs; but yet that he is free, he may know, as the blind man ſaid; but I ſpeak of ſinners, that it is too apparent; alas, if they did, or could but ſearch, and try, and ponder their waies, that they are in the gall of bitterneſs and bonds of iniquity, and yet think highly of themſelves, as Magus did, that they are ſome body: O this is a grievous deceit.

p. 523Thirdly, There are ſome, that becauſe they part with ſome ſin, they think they are free; it may be they were before drunkards or blaſphemers, now they are reformed, and not guilty in this kind, therefore they think they are free, they have gone forth; when alas they are held in the cords of another luſt; it may be run from one extreme to another, reel from one pit to another, and truly one chain upon the ſoul will hold it faſt enough; one foot in the ſnare holds it as well as if the whole body were reſtrained; if Satan have but one cord about us, 2 Tim. 2. 16.2 Tim 2:16he takes us alive at his pleaſure; Becauſe that they paſs one Gate in the Priſon, they think they are preſently out, no: Brethren, there are iron Gates and Bars yet to be opened, there are more luſts yet to be ſhaked off, before you can look upon your ſelves as free; Sampſon muſt have his Dalilah; Herod, his Herodias, though he did many things.

Fourthly, Some think they are free, becauſe it may be they forbear the outward acts of rebellion: ſo be they can keep themſelves 1 Tim. 3. 2.1 Tim 3:2unblamable and unreprovable of the world, foreign, they heed not what is within. Brethren, what is it the better to have the hand and the foot out of the ſnare, and the heart be intangled? a man may through fear, ſlaviſh fear of God, or elſe fear of men, fear of ſhame, or the like, forbear to act, and yet the heart love and like the ſin well enough. The Dog is not offended with his vomit, though he bring it up, he liketh it well enough, it is only ſome pain at the ſtomack which he cannot brook. So you may pluck away the iron from the Loadſtone, but it hath a lingering after it ſtill; and ſo Phaltiel when his Wife was taken 2 Sam. 3. 16.2 Sam 3:16from him, he parted with her indeed, becauſe he durſt not otherwiſe chuſe, for the dipleaſure of the King would wax hot againſt him; he might loſe his liberty, if not his life, if he had refuſed; but ſaith the Text, He went mourning after her, he did it with an unwilling heart. So may a man part with ſin, the practice of it, but yet his heart cleaveth to it ſtill; he may caſt it away when the coal is fired, but yet he could be content if the fire were out, to put it into his boſom again; Brethren, Is it thus with us? we dare not let down ſin haply, ſwallow it, for fear it prove bitterin the belly: but yet we will roul it under the tongue as a ſweet morſel; ſurely this is not to go forth, to be ſet free from this bondage, therefore do not miſtake your ſelves: it may be thou p. 524doſt not gripe and oppreſs in bargain, dealing hardly or over-reach, but thy teeth water at it, thou couldſt digeſt it well enough thou durſt, thou diſlikeſt it not, becauſe it is ſin, and diſpleaſing to the Lord, thou art not yet free.

Fifthly, Some think they are free, becauſe looſe Libertines promiſe them liberty, when themſelves are the ſervants of ſin; Truly Brethren, if ever hell were broke looſe, now is the time: 2 Pet. 2. 19.2 Pet 2:19the Devil never enjoyed more chain then now, ſpecially as an Angel of light: it is come to that paſs now adays, that men think they are never free, until they have broken the bands of Chriſt, and caſt away his cords from them, until they have broken Pſal 2. Mat. 11. 28.Ps 2Matt 11:28the yoke of Chriſt from off their necks: ſons of Belial, that will not endure to he yoked, though never ſo eaſie; O theſe Ordinances, and Duties, and Services, they are a bondage, they are poor and beggerly rudiments, to which they will not any more be in bondage: they will not any more be Prieſt-rid den, as they call it: and as for Sabbaths, and Prayers, and Hearing, and Reading, and Meditating, theſe are poor empty things, and a burthen it is to bear them, they are weary, and ſnuff at it, as in Malachy. It Mal. 1. 13.Mal 1:13is true, they are empty to them that have not communion with Chriſt in them: Elſe as David ſaith in the like caſe, The ſoul may there be filled with marrow and fatneſs. But now mind what ſaith the Apoſtle, When themſelves are the ſervants of ſin; I do obſerve it, and it is worth the noting, in the example of ſuch as would not have their necks under the yoke of Chriſt, his Ordinances, but live above them; have the yoke upon them, uſually they are perſons under the command of their luſts; and are theſe likely perſons to teach men the way to liberty? ſurely no.

Sixthly, Some think they are freed and delivered, if they do but attain that knowledge which the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, in the uſe of indifferent things; they ſcruple not any thing, as clean or unclean, in … Cor. 8. 7.meats, or clothes, or days, make no difference at all, and hereupon they make account they are free, whereas this may ſtand with a bondage unto ſin notwithſtanding; O how may ſuch men in the very uſe of this part of their liberty enſlave themſelves to ſin, to their luſts? it is but a pretence many times, their liberty is; they wil uſe the creatures liberally, and without ſcruplicity and nicety, will nor ſuffer their conſciences to be coy or tickle in ſuch ſmal things wherein they have a liber…y, whereas the very truth is, they p. 525have no command of their Luſts nor Appetites, and then liberty▪ is the cloak of it; they are ſo impotent they cannot forbear meat or drinks; or ſuch & ſuch rich apparel, as is a queſtion, whether it become them or no; they are brought under the power of theſe things, and yet liberty is the pretence: Surely brethren this is not to be free neither: ſo much for this ſecond Uſe, whereby we may perceive, how many of us, that, it may be, think we were …ree, are yet in bondage to this day; theſe miſ-conceits of freedom ſet us not free: a Priſoner dreams his chains are fallen off, and he walks up and down at liberty; but when he awakes, alas, his bonds are upon him ſtill.

Seventhly, No nor yet is every one that doth endeavour to fulfill the Law of God, yet ſet free: there is many a diligent ſoul, very induſtrious and laborious, it may be, and as they think, for heaven, that would put the moſt of us to ſhame in this point: and yet all this while alas they are working in their fetters, in their bonds, yea they do twiſt and work bonds, they are held in the cords of their own ſervices, ſtick there and never go further, theſe are not free neither: it is not Moſes any more then Abraham, that can make free; it muſt be the Son muſt do it; yea, truly, for my own part, I take it, that theſe poor ſouls that are under the Law as a Covenant of life, are in the moſt dangerous condition: for alas, they are in love with their bondage, and ſo much the more, becauſe they take it for freedom: A man is in love with his Fetters, becauſe they are gold, he maketh account they will buy his freedom, when he pleaſeth: when any offers to take them away, what, would you have me to part with my gold? O no: And ſo many a poor creature is in love with a Sepulchre full of rottenneſs, and dead mens bones, becauſe: it is painted and garniſhed: how hard a matter is it to perſwade many a Juſtitiary among us, that he is in ſuch a bondage, and ſtands in need of this great power of Chriſt to make them free? &c. Well then, do we move as heartleſs Chriſtians do? like Watches, with outward motion? come duties from us, like fire from a Flint? alas do we what we do by conſtraint, or of a willing mind.? are we a free people? is love our conſtraint? as the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5. &c.

3. Ʋſe. Shall be then to take notice what an incomparable p. 526Ʋſe 3.benefit the Goſpel is, that brings ſuch glad tidings unto poor ſouls in bondage, in priſon: Brethren, do but imagine how welcom tidings it would be to a company of poor Gally ſlaves, to tell them, your Prince hath laid down your ranſom for you, and hath ſent to proclaim Liberty to you, if you will go forth: O how their hearts would leap within them for joy, they could hardly believe it at firſt, but would be like them that dreamed there in the Pſalms; but when they come to themſelves, ſurely they would rejoyce more in it, then if they had found great ſpoils; you have heard it is the Goſpel preached, whereby this Liberty is held out, yea and conveyed; for the truth ſhall make you free: Ioh. 8. 3….John 8:3and now to a man that is in love with the priſon, and not willing to come out, the tenderings of Liberty is not ſo much; but he that is weary of the naſtineſs of the Priſon, of the weight of his chains; he whoſe ſpirit is overwhelmed with the pre-apprehenſions of his condemnation, and, it may be, never expected to come out of his priſon, except to be led to Sentence, or to the Execution: now for Liberty to be proclaimed to ſuch, and freely too: O what a benefit is here? Brethren, if it were not for this Goſpel of glorious Liberty, what were the world but a priſon, a dungeon full of poor miſerable Caitiffs, ſhut up under ſin to the revelation of the righteous judgement of God, at Gal. 3. 13.Gal 3:13the great Day: it were better for us to die aſſoon as we are born, were it not for this Goſpel: What miſerable comforts were our Riches, our Honours, our Friends, and Relations, were it not for this Goſpel? A man in priſon, liable to condemnation, under Bolts and Shakels, tell him of wearing ſoft rayment, or Royal dainties, faring deliciouſly every day: alas, it goeth not down with him, he is a priſoner in bondage, nothing can be pleaſing to him, it deadens his heart, his relliſh to all things elſe; liberty would be a ſweet welcom meſſage to him: Brethren, this is the tidings of the Goſpel.

4. Ʋſe. See here and admire the riches of this Grace of the Ʋſe 4.Goſpel in Jeſus Chriſt, that he ſhould proclaim Liberty to the Captives, notwithſtanding their wilfulneſs in throwing themſelves into theſe chains, their willingneſs to continue in them, and unwillingneſs to go forth, to go out of them; notwithſtanding their being worn out, as I may ſay, and ſpent in this bondage, ſo p. 527that they can very little be ſerviceable to him. For the firſt of the aggravations of the bondage, which tends to heighten the freedom and deliverance from it, that we wilfully plunged our ſelves into it: if a man be taken captive by the Turk againſt his will, we pitty him much; but if he wilfully throw himſelf upon them, this takes away much of the compaſſion; yet this is our caſe: did not Adam ſell us in the firſt tranſgreſſion, in which reſpect we are all to this day ſold under ſin? yea more then ſo: alas, what Rom. 7. 14.Rom 7:14ſinner is there almoſt that liveth to any years, but he ſells himſelf with prophane Eſau? ſells his ſoul, and his hope of heaven, and all for a Meſs of pottage, for a little moments ſatisfaction to his luſts: Nay, do we not all ſubſcribe to that act of ſelling us under ſin, when we ſo willingly imbrace our chains? In ſo much that ſome do even wear their chains as their ornaments, glorying in their ſhame, that is to ſay, making their boaſt of their wickedneſs. And that yet notwithſtanding, when no eye pittied poor ſinners in this condition, they themſelves were ſo far from pittying themſelves, that they were pleaſed with the priſon: all men in the like condition with themſelves, cannot pity them; the Saints alas, want bowels to ſuch as willingly are in bondage: that yet the Lord, who is moſt ſlighted in all this, ſhould pitty and make a way for their deliverance; this is unſpeakable, rich grace! that the Lord ſhould, as I may ſay, ſtudy a courſe to make them willing to come forth; to which end all the ſad and fearfull Characters of this bondage in Scripture are; to which end is the Law given, that ſin might appear to be ſin, and exceeding ſinful, and the bondage very great, that they might thereby ſee themſelves ſhut up: to this end, all thoſe ſweet invitations, and powerfull expoſtulations with poor ſinners in the Goſpel; O why will ye die? why will ye periſh and rot in priſon, ſince there is a ranſom found for you? the Lord takes no pleaſure in your death; and why will ye delight in your own death? O Ez…k. 18. 31.what powerfull Rhetorick are theſe loving intreaties, expoſtulations, the yearnings of his bowels over them? his tears over Jeruſalem, when they would not be gathered under his wings? Luk. 19. 42.Luke 19:42and all this to make the poor ſinner willing; and when all will not do, that he ſhould even put forth a power upon their wills and hearts, inclining them to it by a ſweet, and yet ſtrong, though not compulſory influence of his Spirit upon them, this is admirable! p. 528what tenderneſs was there towards Lot, that when he lingered Gen. 19.Gen 19and delayed, the Angel took him by the hand, and brought him without the City, and bid him haſte for his life: truly there is not a ſoul delivered from this bondage, but there is as much exerciſe of the patience, and bowels of Chriſt toward them, to make them willing; yea to take them by the hand, when they linger and make excuſes: as thoſe in the Goſpel; I will follow thee, but let me go and bid farewell to my friends: I muſt not come off abruptly from my old Companions in ſin, but take leave of them handſomly: I muſt go bury my father, ſaith another; but the Lord Jeſus takes by the hand, plucks us out, as I may ſay, by head and ears, before we will come out.

Again, conſider how we have worn out our ſelves in the bondage and ſlavery of ſin, and with theſe fetters upon our ſouls, or elſe ſpent ſo, that now he may even ſay, we our ſelves may ſay of our days, there is no pleaſure in them: ſo Luke 4. 18. to ſet at liberty them that are bruiſed, Dimittere confract…s in remiſſionem, foreign which words are not in Iſaiah 61. neither Hebrew, Greek, nor Latine, but they are added foreign by Luke, as ſome conceive: …atabl. and others, read them v…lneratos, perſons wounded, ſhattered, worn out with the hard bondage and ſervice they were put to; bondage is a weary thing at the beſt; but when a man is ſuch a ſlave, as that he muſt like a Gally Slave, work like a horſe in the ſervice of ſin: O what pains ſinners do take with both hands! earneſtly they come to iniquity, and ſo exhauſt their ſpirits, the beſt milk and marrow in the bones, ſo that they are as dry ſticks, that are good for nothing; and yet that the Lord Jeſus ſhould to ſuch proclaim liberty, bring them forth, that are able to do him no ſervice in a manner; ſo the thief upon the Croſs: and ſo the Jew that Andreas is ſaid to convert, hanging upon the Croſs: and ſo many a gray headed ſinner, that Fullers Lives pag. 38 8.never ceaſed ſerving ſin, yet now, &c. Truly, if the Lord Chriſt ſhould ſet us free, with a reſpect to any ſervice we ſhould do him afterward, I doubt none would ever be ſet free: for Brethren, what can we add to him? if thou be righteous, it profiteth him Pſal. 16. 4.Ps 16:4not at all; he is a God infinitely perfect in himſelf, our goodneſs extends not to him; all the beſt of Lebanon, and the wood Iob 35. 8.Job 35:8are not enough for a burnt offering, ſo great a God he is; and yet though he be not advantaged by our ſervice when we are ſet at p. 529Liberty, but what commandments he giveth us to obſerve, and giveth us hearts, inclineth our hearts thereunto, they are for our own welfare, as in that of Deuteronomy. The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, for his good, his advantage; Deut. 6. 24. Mar. 2. 27.Deut 6:24Mark 2:27and ſo is all the ſervices: or if it were, yet alas (I ſay) how are we broken many times with the bondage of ſin, ſo that we are fit for nothing, the underſtanding and affections ſo weakned and waſted, and beſotted with ſin, that afterward we can do little for him, becauſe of that ſad effect ſin hath left upon our ſouls, and yet he delivereth us: this the fourth.

Ʋſe 5. Then it ſhall it be for Exhortation and invitation this day to every poor ſinner, that is in bondage, that they would Ʋſe 5.cloſe with this promiſe, that they would go forth: O Sinners! that you would but accept of Deliverance and Liberty, that now the Lord Jeſus, after ſo dear a purchaſe of it, doth tender to you; you ſee he is willing, he came on purpoſe into the world, to preach and proclaim liberty to the Captives: Now art not thou a Captive? and haſt thou no minde to be ſet free? And for ſome Motives to ſtir us up a little, at leaſt to a conſideration of our condition, and what we do all this while.