The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration, Treatise · Answer 2
The ſecond objection anſwered: That unregenerate men ſin in performing duties, and attending on ordinances.
SEcondly, it may be, thou wilt ſay, You preſſe me much to pray, and hear, and frequent the means of grace; but I ſin in doing ſo; I ſin in praying, I ſin in hearing, and ſinging; and would you have me ſin?
I anſwer; Firſt thou ſinneſt in eating, and drinking, and following thy calling, in not doing theſe things upon right principles, and for right ends; and wilt thou therefore forbear them? thou wilt pamper and pleaſe thy body, right or wrong, not onelyonly in the uſe, but even in the abuſe of the creatures; but how ordinary an excuſe will make thee neglect thy ſoul?
Secondly, Regenerate men themſelves ſin in all their performances (though not in ſuch a manner as unregenerate ones do) and ſhould they therefore lay them down?
Thirdly, no pretence whatſoever can excuſe from obedience to clear precepts (remember alſo that the commands of God do not interfere or contradict each other.) Now God expreſly commandeth thee, though thou art in a natural eſtate, to perform duties. Peter, when he had told Simon Magus, that he was in the gall of bitterneſs, and bond of iniquity, yet he bids him pray to the Lord, Acts 8.22. if peradventure the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven him: our ſinning in duties cannot abrogate that Law of God which enjoyns duties; as Gods precepts are not meaſures of our ſtrength, ſo they are not leſſened by our weakneſs. The Ninivites, though unregenerate (as ſome think) yet when threatned with deſtruction, did both pray and faſt, and found that it was not in vain, Jonah 4.3.
Fourthly, thou ſinneſt leſs in performing duties then in neglecting them: If thou art reſolved to go on in a courſe of ſinning, and damning thy ſoul, I know not what to ſay to thee; the Lord pitty thee; but if thou haſt any deſire of Salvation in a Goſpelway, thou offendeſt far far leſs in waiting on God in his Ordinances, then thoſe do that refuſe them; in performing duties without ſuitable grace, thou faileſt in the manner of Divine worſhip; others that omit duties, fail both in the matter and manner: thou oweſt God outward as well as inward ſervice; the confeſſion of thy mouth, as well as the converſion of thine heart; ſurely then, if thou giveſt God the former, though without the latter, thou doſt not ſin ſo much as they that give him neither.
Fifthly, ſhouldſt thou neglect the means of grace, thou wouldſt make thy condition (which is already dreadful) to be deſperate; if ever God meet thee, it muſt be in his own way, Rom. 10.15, 17. Prov. 8. I believe thou ſcarce ever heardſt of any man converted, while he caſt by the means of grace which God afforded him.
Sixthly, If thy condition be ſo ſad, that thou ſinneſt in all thou doſt, thou haſt the more need to haſten out of it: Ah, who would be quiet one hour in ſuch an eſtate wherein what ever he doth is abominable to God! Men, that are weak and ſickly, do not therefore forbear food, becauſe they are not able to digeſt it well, and it may poſſibly yeild ſome nouriſhment to their diſeaſe, but do therefore eat that they may get ſtrength, and be enabled to overcome their diſtempers.
Seventhly, God may meet with thee in the means of Grace. The Ordinances of God are the golden pipes through which he conveyeth the oil of Grace from Chriſt the olive tree: God doth not bid thee to wait upon him for nothing; thouſands have found by happy experience, that they are bleſſed which watch at Wiſdoms gate, which wait at the poſts of her doors, Prov. 8. latter end. The Ninivites (when Jonah had foretold their ruine) faſt and pray, ſaying, Who can tell if God will repent and turn from his fierce anger that we periſh not! Jonah 3.9. So now God hath foretold in his word the eternal deſtruction of all in thy condition; do thou faſt and pray, read and meditate; who can tell but God may turn and have mercy upon thee, pour down his Spirit and holineſs into thee, that thou periſh not! Thou mayſt hear and read of the ſucceſs of others; others have found him in his houſe of prayer, and why not thou? The Mariner cannot make either winde or tide, yet he lieth ready upon the waters and waits for them. The Huſbandman cannot cauſe an harveſt, yet he ploughs and ſoweth, hoping that the Heavens will help him; Thou canſt not heal thy ſelf, wait therefore at the means, Chriſt may come when thou little thinkeſt of it and cure thee; God delights to bleſs mans induſtry; his uſual courſe is to meet them that meet him; he hath been found of them that ſought him not, and will he hide himſelf from thee when thou ſeekeſt his face? for thine encouragement thou haſt his word, (which is truth it ſelf) That if thou ſeek him early, thou ſhalt finde him, Prov. 8.17. Whilſt there is life there is hope; thou liveſt under the means, O reſolve to give God no reſt till he give thee Regeneration.