The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 22
LECT. XXII. March 6. 1649.
Exhortation. (1.) To all in generall. Let this put all the Sons of men upon the getting of well-grounded hopes of ſalvation.
FOr the urging of this Exhortation, theſe Ʋſe 2.two things are to be opened, viz. 1. To remove ſome falſe grounds of hope. 2. To hold out ſome poſitive grounds, upon which Salvation may be infallibly and certainly hoped for, and expected.
(1.) There are three falſe grounds, upon which many are deceived, viz.
1. Outward proſperity is no certain ground of ſalvation. Many men do certainly conclude their Eſtate is good, and that they ſhall be ſaved, and that God doth undoubtedly love them with a ſaving love, becauſe their portion is fat in this world; they have the bleſſing of God upon whatever they put their hands to, God proſpers them greatly in the world, &c. therefore they hope they ſhall be ſaved.
For the removing of this, (1.) Something is to be granted. (2.) Something to be denyed. (1.) It is to be granted, That true piety and holineſs, is the high and ready way to outward proſperity, 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godlineſs hath the promiſe of the life that now is, and of the life that is to come. Many promiſes are made in the Scripture, of theſe outward things to the godly, as Prov. 3. 16. 17. Pſal. 112. 1, 2, 3. onelyonly this promiſe is to be underſtood, with this caution of Reference and ſubordination to their ſpirituall good. This Caution is alwayes in Scripture to be underſtood, when proſperity is promiſed to the godly, and it is ſometimes expreſſed, as in Pſal. 34. 10. (2.) It is to be denied, that outward proſperity is any evidence of ſalvation. And that I ſhall prove by theſe three Arguments. 1. The worſt of men have, and may enjoy much of theſe things, who ſhall never ſee ſalvation. Mat. 16. 26, our Savior ſuppoſes there more then ever any man ſhall enjoy, he that hath the whole world, muſt have theſe four things. 1. All the Riches, Honours, Pleaſures of the world. 2. A heart capable to take delight in all theſe. 3. A time of enjoying theſe from the firſt man to the laſt. 4. Freedom from all vexations and troubles of ſpirit. All theſe things are neceſſarily required, to the making good of this ſuppoſition. And yet if any man could attain to this, yet he might for ever be a caſt-away, and loſe his ſoul. There are many rich men now ſuffering the vengeance of eternall fire, Luke 12. 18. &c. Luke 16. 19, 20, 23. The beſt of men have, and may want outward proſperity, Heb. 11. 37. Some are there mentioned, of whom the world was not worthy, and yet were deſtitute, afflicted, tormented. Moſt or all the Prophets and Apoſtles, yea Chriſt himſelf muſt be excluded out of Heaven, if this were an evidence of ſalvation. 3. There would be no ſin in covetouſneſs, if this were any ground of ſalvation. The Scripture reckons covetouſneſs amongſt the groſſeſt and worſt of ſins, Col. 3. 5. Eph. 5. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 10. Its no ſin for a man to get an evidence of ſalvation with all his diligence. The love of money would not be the root of all evill, as the Apoſtle brands it, 1 Tim. 6. 10. but the root of all good, if this were an evidence of ſalvation.
II. Outward Profeſſion is no certain ground of ſalvation. Many men build their hopes of ſalvation, onelyonly on profeſſion. They hear, they pray, &c. That this is no infallible evidence of ſalvation, will appear by theſe two Arguments.
(1.) Becauſe many who have been forward in profeſſion, have been rejected in regard of eternal ſalvation, Luke 13. 26, 27. Iſay 58. 2, 3. A naturall principle may carry a man to all the duties of outward profeſſion.
(2.) Becauſe then there would be no ſuch thing in the Church as hypocriſie, whereas the Scripture makes a difference between the form of godlineſs, and the power of godlineſs, 2 Tim. 3. 5.
III. Civill morall Righteouſneſs is no infallible evidence of ſalvation. Many perſons build their ſalvation upon this, that they are civilly juſt, they are free from ſcandalous ſins. They are no Theeves, Adulterers, &c.
It were to be wiſhed, that all men were free from theſe groſſe offences: he that walks in any of theſe, can certainly have no hope of ſalvation; for the grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared unto men, &c. Tit. 2. 11, 12. But yet there are many preſidents in Scripture, which prove that all this may be in ſuch, as are out of the ſtate of ſalvation.
1. That in Luke 18. 11. God I thank thee I am not as other men, &c. He was no ſwearer, no Drunkard, &c. and yet in the Gall of bitterneſs, &c.
2. That in Mat. 25. 1. 2. They were Virgins, not Harlots: they kept company with the wiſe Virgins, and were not only in their own apprehenſion, but in the charitable judgement of others, in a good condition; and yet when the Bridegroom came, they would not be admitted, they wanted Oil in their Lamps, and ſo were excluded the Mariage-Chamber, and that with this ſad word, I know you not.
3. That in Mat. 11. 12. He was no ſcandalous ſinner. As far as men could look, he was very right, none but the eye of the King, who ſees what is in man, could diſcern any defect in him, and yet caſt out with ſhame into outer darkneſs, verſe 13.
4. That young man in Mat. 19. 18, 19, 20. He was not only free from ſcandall, but he was very exact in many outward things. All theſe have I kept from my youth. There were ſo many common graces in him, as were worth the drawing out of affection. Jeſus loved him, ſaith another Evangeliſt, Mark 16. 21. and yet out of the ſtate of ſalvation for the preſent: he went away ſorrowful, for he was very rich.
5. That in 2 Pet. 2. 18. 20. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſuch as were not ſcandalous, they had eſcaped the pollution of the world, and yet far from ſalvation.
6. The ſeparation which ſhall be made at the laſt day, Mat. 25. 32. is a proof of this. It is not of ſheep and Wolves, but of ſheep and Goats. Sheep and Goats feed together, and herd together, and yet Goats ſhall be condemned as well as Wolves.
7. That in Mat. 5. 20. How exact the Scribes and Phariſees were, for all acts of externall righteouſneſs, will appear from that of the Apoſtle, Phil. 3. 5. 6. concerning the righteouſneſs of the Law blameleſs, and yet at that time, out of the ſtate of ſalvation. Sin may be reſtrained, when it is not mortified. A perſon may be under the raign and Dominion of ſin, who is not under the rage and fury of ſin. Sin may be reſtrained in men unconverted,
1. By civill education. Thus it was with Paul, before his converſion, Phil. 3. 5, 6.
2. By outward affliction, Pſal. 78. 34. when he ſlew them, they ſought him, 2 Reg. 17. 25, 26. God ſent Lions amongſt them. Thoſe devouring Creatures reſtrained their ſin for a time.
3. By the external power of Ordinances. Humane Ordinances may reſtrain ſin, as Magiſtrates, Rom. 13. 3, 4. When the Angel of God came to Balaam with his dtawn Sword, he put him to a preſent ſtop: the Sword of Magiſtracy may do this.
Divine Ordinances. The thundring of judgement and damnation from the publique Miniſtry, may reſtrain ſin for a time. Go down ſaith God, to Moſes, and ſet bounds, Exod. 19. 12. vid. Cap. 20. 18. When the people heard the thundrings, &c. they removed, and ſtood a far off.
4. By common grace, ſuch was Abimelech's reſtraint, Gen. 20. 6.
Secondly, For poſitive evidences, I ſhall name but theſe three, viz.
1. That in Col. 1. 27. Christ in them the Hope of Glory. The Rule of evidence is this, Jeſus Chriſt is in that perſon, who hath a well-grounded hope of everlaſting glory. No man hath any foundation of hoping for eternal ſalvation, but onelyonly he that hath Jeſus Chriſt dwelling in him. I might bring many concurrent teſtimonies of Scripture, for the proving of this, as 2 Cor. 13. 5. Hence it is, that the Apoſtle calles Chriſt our hope, 1 Tim. 1. 1. It is by Chriſt alone that we have hope. As he alone is our peace, ſo is he alone our hope. Now we may know, that Chriſt is in us, by theſe two evidences.
1. If Chriſt be in you the body is dead in regard of ſin, Rom. 8. 10. he, that is withour Chriſt is dead in ſin, and he in whom Chriſt is, is dead to ſin. The Dominion of ſin is deſtroyed. The love of ſin is removed. Sin doth not raign, ſin is not affected, where Jeſus Chriſt dwells in power. Sin may be where Chriſt is, but it doth not bear ſway; it hath not a quiet Being, it is oppoſed, it is lamented, and that not onelyonly that ſin which breaks out in the life, but alſo that root of bitterneſs which abides in the heart: Sin undiſcerned of the eye of man, as well as that which is diſcovered to the eye of man. Sin Dormant, as well as ſin Rampant, ſins of daily incurſion and infirmity, as well as ſcandalous ſins. Omiſſions of good, as well as the perpetration of evill.
2. If Chriſt be in them, the Image of Christ is in them. 2 Cor. 5. 17. All things are become new. The minde and underſtanding are renewed: he ſees what he did not before diſcern, The loathſomneſs of ſin, the beauty of holineſs, the preciouſneſs of Chriſt, the excellency of the ſoul, the emptineſs of all worldly things.
The will is renewed, Acts 9. 6. Before Chriſt came it was hard, ſtubborn, contentions, ſelfiſh; but now its made plyable, ductile, ſubmiſſive to God in all things, and that with chearfulneſs and conſtancy, and ſpeedineſſe, Acts 9. 6. Lord what wilt thou have me to do? before it was an Iron ſinew, a Brazen Wall, now 'tis fleſhly and yielding.
The Conſcience is renewed. Before it was ſleepy, ſecure, ſtupid: now 'tis watchful, tender, ſenſible both of the leaſt ſin, and of the leaſt duty.
The affections are renewed: love, joy, hatred, fear, ſorrow, anger, zeal, were before miſplaced: now they are ſet on right objects, and greatly intended towards their objects. He loves God with a great love, he hates ſin with a perfect hatred. He rejoyceth in the hope of the glory of God, more then ever he did in the things of this life. He fears his God more then ever he ſlighted him. He is more grieved for ſin, then ever he was for any worldly loſſe: He is more angry with the wicked, then ever he was with the godly. His zeal is more fervent for God, then ever it was for the world before converſion.
2. That in 1 John 3. 3. Every one that hath this hope, purifieth himſelf as God is pure. It is laid down not only by way of duty, but by way of evidence and character. He is continually cleanſing and purging himſelf from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear of God. No pattern will ſerve him, but God himſelfe the exemplar of all holineſs. He findes it written, Be ye holy as I am holy, 1 Pet. 1. 16. and no other Copy is in his account fair enough for him to write after. If you read but verſe 13, 14. you ſhall finde the Apoſtle brings it in, as the Character and evidence of one that hath a right hope of Heaven. Gird up the loyns of your minde, &c. And the like you have Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13. You that think you have holineſs enough, you that can allow of any ſpots of ſin, do not talk of hoping for Heaven. This is not the fruit of ſuch hope. No man is more frequent in waſhing himſelf, then he that hath hopes of ſalvation. There is this reaſon for it, he ſees Heaven to be an holy place, and he deſires to be made like it before he come to enjoy it.
3. That in Phil. 3. 20. Our Converſation is in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour. He that hath a well-grounded hope of ſalvation after this life, hath his thoughts and heart much in Heaven while he is in this life. This hath been the guiſe of men that hoped for ſalvation, 2 Cor. 4. 18. Cap. 5. init. His heart is not taken up much with any earthly thing. He is not too much lifted up with the enjoyment, nor too much caſt down with fear of loſing theſe mean things. His ſpirit is looſened from them, his heart is above them, his ſoul converſeth daily with things of an higher nature. He is with God when he goes to ſleep, and when he awakes, he is with him. He hath the Kingdom of God within him. Put this home, and ſee how it is with you. Whereſoever your Treaſure is, there (undoubtedly) will your hearts be alſo, Luke 12. 34.
2. I have a word of Exhortation to you in particular, who have hopes of Heaven upon good grounds. Nouriſh and preſerve this Helmet. Keep it upon your heads, and labour to confirm it. Shew all diligence to the full aſſurance of hope unto the end. The Doctrine hath motive enough in it. I ſhall but give ſome helps or directions, and ſo conclude.
The Directions are theſe 6. viz.
[1] Labour to be armed againſt all the Arguments of Satan, to drive you to deſpair. He objects for this purpoſe three things eſpecially.
(1.) Your own unworthineſſe. You are great ſinners, &c. Againſt this do you conſider by way of anſwer.
(1.) That as great ſinners as you are, or ever were, are now in Heaven, Manaſſeh, Magdalen &c.
(2.) That you do not expect Heaven for your own worthineſs, but for the worthineſs of Chriſt, Ezek. 36. 32. I do not this for your ſakes, &c.
(3.) That a Chriſtians worthineſs doth not conſiſt in legall perfection, but in ſincerity and remiſſion of ſin.
(4.) That you will not add to your unworthineſſe, the great ſin of rejecting Jeſus Chriſt and deſpair.
(5.) That its better to periſh hoping, then periſh deſpairing.
(II.) The preſent overcaſtings of the light of Gods countenance, and your many outward troubles, Againſt this, conſider (1.) 'Tis no new thing to the dear ſervants of God, to be under Spiritual Deſertions, and outward troubles. David, Pſal. 43. Generally, all that are now in heaven, have bin under theſe Clouds. (2) Theſe Providences are ſooneſt removed by the grace of Hope. God hath appointed them to ſtrengthen this Grace, not to deſtroy it, Pſal. 43. ult. Lam. 3. 18, 19, 20, 21. (3.) God can make the Valley of Achor a door of Hope, Hoſ. 2. 15.
[III.] Many have been ſhipwracked upon falſe hopes: Ergo. Againſt this, anſwer, 1. That many have periſhed for want of Hope; many have been deſtroyed by deſpair, Cain, Judas, Saul:
2. Thoſe who have periſhed, did not periſh becauſe they hoped, but becauſe they hoped amiſs. 3. A commanded Duty is not to be neglected becauſe many by doing it amiſs have been rejected. Nouriſh the Grace of Faith; if Faith be ſtrong which is the Mother, Hope the Daughter will be ſtrong. Act your Hope upon Chriſts All-ſufficiency, Gods faithfulneſs Heb. 6. 17, 18. The example of the Saints. Be much in prayer.
Keep your hearts in the love of God, Jude, ver. 21. This is the way to keep up Hope.