Words Whereby We May Be Saved, Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
THE chief end which every one ought to intend in his Life, is the Glory of God, and the Salvation of his own Soul: The chief work of Miniſters is to tell People words whereby they may be ſaved: Such words Peter ſpeaketh to Cornelius, Act. 11. 14. and ſuch words I ſhall endeavour in theſe ſheets to tell ſinners.
In order to your ſalvation, I ſhall ſpeak,
1. Some Words to try you whether you be in a ſtate of Salvation.
2. Some Words to move you to endeavour after your Salvation.
3. Some Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation.
I. The firſt words ſhall be to try you, whether you be in a ſtate of Salvation; and here I muſt put you upon the tryall of your ſelves, wherein I may give you ſome help; take the Exhortation of the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your ſelves, whether ye be in the Faith, prove your own ſelves. Examine your ſelves by the Rule of the Word: And becauſe theſe Words are chiefly intended in order to the ſalvation of ſuch as have not yet attained it; to prepare them for the following Motives and Directions, which, if they miſtook themſelves to have already attained to a ſtate of ſalvation, would likely do them no good: Therefore I ſhall briefly out of the Word of God give
Some Characters of ſuch as are not in a ſtate of Salvation.
1. Ignorant perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation. See this Iſa. 27. 11. It is a people of no underſtanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will ſhew them no favour: Thoſe that are groſly ignorant of the Fundamental Truths of Religion, concerning God and Chriſt, the loſt eſtate of Man ſince the fall, the way of Salvation, Repentance, Faith, the Reſurrection from the dead, the laſt Judgement, and the future Rewards and Puniſhments in Heaven and Hell, and the like Principles of Religion, which are neceſſary to be known in order to ſalvation, they cannot for the preſent be in a ſtate of Salvation; the meaneſt underſtanding is capable of knowing theſe things by the teachings of the Word and Spirit, therefore ſuch as do neglect the means of Inſtruction, and do not ſearch the Word, and cry to God for it, but nuzzle up themſelves in an affected ignorance in theſe things, are inexcuſable in their fault, and will bring unavoidable deſtruction upon themſelves, Hoſ. 4. 6. My people are deſtroyed for lack of knowledge.
2. Negligent perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation, I mean ſuch as neglect their ſalvation. Heb. 2. 3. How ſhall we eſcape if we neglect ſo great ſalvation? Such as do not value and prize this great ſalvation purchaſed by Chriſt, and publiſhed in the Goſpel; ſuch as never were made ſenſible of their need hereof; ſuch as never had any great deſires after it; ſuch as never took any pains in the uſe of means to obtain it; all which are evidences of their neglect, they cannot eſcape the dreadfull puniſhment of Hell, which is prepared for ſuch perſons. Such as are diligent to make proviſion for their Bodies, but neglect the ſalvation of their ſouls; if they perſevere in this negligence they muſt needs miſs of ſalvation.
3. Impenitent perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation. Luk. 13. 3. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. All are guilty of ſin original, and actual, and have matter for repentance; ſuch as have an obdurate and impenitent heart, which never was broken, and melted, and humbled; which never was affected with true evangelical ſorrow for ſin; but on the contrary, can commit ſin with delight, rolling it as a ſweet morſel under their tongue, which they will not part withall, they muſt needs periſh everlaſtingly, if they ſhould die in this eſtate; the word is expreſs, that iniquity will be the ruine of the impenitent, Ezek. 18. 30.
4. Ʋnregenerate perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation. Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. Such as never had a gracious change wrought in their hearts, that are aſleep in ſin, and never were awakened; as are dead in ſin, and never were quickened; ſuch as have old natures and old hearts, and never were renewed; that never put off as concerning their former converſation the old man which is corrupt, according to deceitfull luſts, and put on the new man, which is created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs, Eph. 4. 22, 24. they are uncapable whileſt ſuch, of this ſalvation, there is no entrance for them into the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. Chriſtleſs perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Know ye not your own ſelves, that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be Reprobates. Such as have not Chriſt, and are not themſelves in Chriſt, they are for the preſent in a ſtate of Reprobation; It is Chriſt only can ſave; thoſe that are without Chriſt, that are not united to him by Faith and the Spirit, that are Unbelievers without Faith, and carnal without the Spirit, they cannot, whileſt ſuch, be ſaved.
6. Ʋnſanctified perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation. Heb. 12. 14. Without holineſs none ſhall ſee God. Such as are unholy, ſuch as live after the fleſh ſhall die, none but thoſe that through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ſhall live, Rom. 8. 13.
7. And in a word, Diſobedient perſons are not in a ſtate of ſalvation. Heb. 5. 9. He became the author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, to none elſe; and Eph. 5. 6. The wrath of God cometh upon the Children of diſobedience. Such as walk in a courſe of diſobedience, as live and allow themſelves in the practice of known ſins, whatever they be, they are children of wrath becauſe children of diſobedience. The Scriptures are ſo plain, that I need without many words of mine, only lay them before you, as a Glaſs wherein you may diſcern your ſpiritual ſtate. Try your ſelves by theſe places, theſe Texts will reach all that are not in a ſtate of ſalvation.