Words Whereby We May Be Saved, Chapter 3

Words Whereby We May Be Saved · Chapter 3

p. 11CHAP. III.

Motive 2. FRom the conſideration of the Salvation which you ſhould endeavour to obtain; and here I ſhall ſet before you ſome properties of this ſalvation to move you the more effectually to ſeek after it.

1. It is a great Salvation.

2. It is a rare Salvation.

3. It is a neceſſary Salvation.

4. It is a poſſible Salvation.

5. It is a neer Salvation.

6. It is an evident Salvation.

7. It is a free Salvation.

8. It is a ſure Salvation.

I. It is a great Salvation, and that both in regard of the thing it ſelf, and in regard of the cauſes of it.

(1.) It is great in regard of the thing it ſelf. As in Motion, ſo in Salvation there is the terminus à quo, and the terminus ad quem, the term from which, and the term to which; that which people are in Salvation delivered from, and that which in Salvation they attain unto, both which are exceeding great.

1. That which people in Salvation are delivered from.

There are ſix great evils which thoſe that are ſaved are delivered from.

1. From ſin, the greateſt evil of all, from the guilt of ſin, Eph. 1. 7. and the power, the reigning power of ſin, Rom. 6 14. 2. From Sathan the greateſt enemy of p. 12all, from his power and tyranny, Col. 1. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 26. 3. From the Law, the evil which it occaſioneth, namely, the provoking to concupiſcence and diſobedience, Rom. 7. 5, 6. and the evil which it denounceth, namely Gods curſe, Gal. 3. 10, 13. 4. From the world, not in regard of their place, but in regard of their courſe, Gal. 1. 4. Joh. 15. 19. Joh. 17. 16. 5. From Death, the ſting of death, and the fear of death, at leaſt the grounds of fear, Heb. 2. 14, 15. 6. From wrath, the wrath of God which is to come, 1 Theſ. 1. 10.

2. This Salvation is great in regard of that which in Salvation people do attain unto. All the priviledges of the Goſpel are wrapt up and included in the word Salvation. Election is the foundation of it; Effectual calling is the begining of it; Juſtification, Adoption and Sanctification are contained in it, and Glorification is the conſummation of it. This Salvation then is great in regard of the thing it ſelf.

(2.) This Salvation is great in regard of the cauſes of it.

1. Efficient.

2. Meritorious.

3. Inſtrumental.

4. Finall.

1. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the efficient cauſe, and that is God the Father: Salvation is aſcribed to him as the author, Tit. 3. 5. According to his mercy he ſaved us. God is the cauſe of our Salvation, 1. as he hath choſen us unto Salvation, Eph. 1. 4. As he hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world: which Election being of Free grace, we are ſaid to be ſaved by Grace, Eph. 2 5. 2. As he hath ſent his only begotten Son into the world, to purchaſe Salvation for us, p. 13Joh. 3. 16. God ſo loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoſoever believeth in him ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life. Gal. 4. 4, 5. When the fulneſs of the time was come God ſent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, to redeem them which were under the Law, that we might receive the Adoption of Sons. 3. As he revealeth this Salvation unto us by the Preaching of the Goſpel, for which end he qualifyeth and ſends his Miniſters upon this Embaſſage to make known the glad tydings of Salvation. 4. As he conferrs Salvation actually upon us in our effectual calling, Juſtification, Adoption, Sanctification and Glorification, all theſe are from God. Now that muſt needs be a great Salvation which is effected by the great God, eſpecially if we conſider that it is the greateſt and moſt glorious of all his works in the world, and unto which all his other works have ſome kind of tendency.

2. This Salvation is a great Salvation in regard of the meritorious cauſe, and that is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the excellency and greatneſs of whoſe nature, office and ſufferings do demonſtrate the greatneſs of this Salvation which was purchaſed by him. The ſufferings of Chriſt were moſt properly the meritorious cauſe of mans ſalvation, and they were the greateſt ſufferings that ever were endured, inſomuch as 1. They were the ſufferings of the greateſt perſon; as man he was the head of the creation in regard of dignity, he was a greater King than Solomon, Matth. 12. 42. a greater Prophet than Moſes, Heb. 3. 3. a greater Prieſt than Aaron, even a Prieſt after the order of Melchiſedec, Heb. 7. Moreover he was God as well as man, God manifeſted in the fleſh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. and though the God head could p. 14not properly ſuffer, yet through its union in the ſame perſon to the Manhood, it put an efficacy in his ſuffering, and ſtrengthened the humane nature to undergo greater ſufferings as to the value of them in that ſhort ſpace of time, than all the Angels and Men in the world (had their ſtrength been united together in one perſon) could have endured, if the greateſt extremity of miſery had been layd upon ſuch a one unto all eternity: For 2. The ſufferings of Chriſt were equivalent unto eternal death, and the torments of the damned in Hell, yea they were far exceeding, as is evident, becauſe Gods infinite Juſtice is hereby fully ſatisfied, and there is ſufficiency of merit in them for the redemption of the whole world not only of Believers, but alſo of Unbelievers, not only of Men but of Devils too: Chriſts ſufferings were of infinite value, not in regard of the ſufferings but in regard of the Divine nature ſo cloſely united unto the Humane nature: Therefore the ſalvation purchaſed by theſe ſufferings muſt needs be a great ſalvation.

3. This ſalvation is a great ſalvation in regard of the Inſtrumental Cauſe, and that is Faith; faith is a grace of great worth and excellency, inſomuch as it doth not ſpring from any root or power of nature, but is wrought by the power of God, and requireth ſuch exceeding great power in the effecting of it; we read of the exceeding greatneſs of Gods power towards them that believe according to the working of his mighty power, Eph. 1. 19. which ſhews that the ſalvation is great which is effected by this grace of Faith.

4. This ſalvation is a great ſalvation in regard of the Final Cauſe, and that is the manifeſtation of p. 15Gods glory: 1. The glory of his Wiſdom in contriving ſuch a way for Mans ſalvation, which no created underſtanding could have thought of: 2. The glory of his Juſtice which is as fully ſatisfied through Chriſts ſufferings, as if all Believers had been eternally puniſhed: 3. And chiefly the glory of his free grace and mercy, which is ſet forth and magnified ſo eminently in all the degrees of mans ſalvation, that nothing may be aſcribed unto Man, but all unto God alone.

Thus you ſee, that this ſalvation is a great ſalvation in regard of the Thing it ſelf, and in regard of the Cauſes of it. It is ſo great ſalvation as it hath no compariſon, and is beyond expreſſion, therefore labour to attain this ſalvation; ſome endeavour to get a great Eſtate, others to get great Friends, others to get great honour and repute in the world, do you labour to obtain this great ſalvation which doth exceed all in greatneſs, it is a high and noble deſign, and is worthy your uttermoſt care and diligence in ſeeking after it; other things are but ſmall things, meer toyes and trifles in compariſon; nothing in the world hath the leaſt degree of worth, compared with this ſo great ſalvation. I ſhall be more brief in ſpeaking of the other properties of this ſalvation.

II. This ſalvation is a Rare Salvation: I mean, that few do obtain it; Many are called, few are choſen, Matth. 20. 16. Many are damned, few are ſaved: There are many troops of ſinners that are proſting in the broad way of deſtruction, it is but a thin ſcattered company that are preſſing forward in p. 16the narrow way of life and ſalvation; this is evident from the Anſwer of our Saviour upon the Queſtion propounded unto him, Luk. 13. 23, 24. Then ſaid one unto him, Lord are there few that be ſaved? And he ſaid unto them, Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, for many I ſay unto you will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able. In which words he doth in effect ſay, that Few, very Few ſhould be ſaved, for he tells them plainly, that the gate of ſalvation is a ſtrait gate, and many cannot paſs thorow a ſtrait gate; and although many ſhould ſeek to enter in at this gate, yet they ſhould not be able; and if many that ſeek to enter in ſhall not be able, then it follows, that none of thoſe which do not ſeek to enter in ſhall be able: Hence then we may gather a ſtrong argument to prove, that very few ſhall be ſaved; If the moſt of men and women in the world do not ſeek ſalvation at all, and they cannot poſſibly attain it, and many that ſeek ſalvation ſhall never finde it, then there are but few that ſhall be ſaved; but the moſt in the world do not ſeek ſalvation at all, to ſay nothing of the Heathen world which is by many degrees the far greater part of the world, who ſit in darkneſs, and from whom the Goſpel of ſalvation is hid, and therefore are expreſly ſaid to be loſt, 2 Cor. 4. 3. Even in the Chriſtian world where the light of the Goſpel doth ſhine, the moſt of men and women, that bear the name of Chriſtians, are ignorant, or profane, or only civil and morall, and live in the total neglect of the ſalvation of the Goſpel, and ſuch cannot poſſibly attain ſalvation that do not at all ſeek after it: And of them that make ſome profeſſion of Religion, and do ſomething in order to ſalvation, many ſhall not be able p. 17to attain it; our Saviour ſaith, that many ſhall ſeek to enter in and ſhall not be able, becauſe they do not ſeek in a right manner, becauſe they do not ſeek ſalvation chiefly; they ſeek the ſatisfaction of their luſts, before the ſalvation of their ſouls; becauſe they do not ſeek it diligently, they are careleſs and formal in the uſe of the means of ſalvation; they ſeek, but they do not ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate; they do not preſs towards the mark for the prize of the high calling, and therefore they fall ſhort and miſs of it; there are but few that ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, that ſtrive as wreſtlers in wreſtling, or racers in running, or warriours in fighting, as the word foreign doth ſignifie; few that ſeek their ſalvation above all other things, and with all their heart and might, few that are reſolved for ſalvation whatever it coſt them, whatever they do, or ſuffer for it, unto which reſolution and endeavour all muſt come, or elſe they cannot be ſaved, and theſe being ſo few, certainly there are but few that ſhall be ſaved. More plainly our Saviour ſpeaks to the ſame purpoſe, Math. 7. 13, 14. Enter ye in at the ſtrait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to deſtruction, and many there be which go in thereat; becauſe ſtrait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that finde it. The gate and way of ſin which leads to death and Hell, are wide and broad, and the moſt in the world are paſſing thorow this gate, and walking in this way; the courſe of the world is a courſe of ſin, the end of which courſe is deſtruction, and the reaſon why ſo many go in at the gate of ſin; which is the outer gate of Hell, is, becauſe ſtrait is the …, and narrow the way which leadeth unto life; p. 18becauſe of the difficulties in the way of life and ſalvation, which require much pains and diligence if we would go thorow them; we muſt give all diligence, if we would make our calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1. 10. We muſt work out our ſalvation with fear and trembling, if we would attain ſalvation, Phil. 1. 12. we muſt labour if we would enter into Reſt, Heb. 4. 12. we muſt ſtrive if we would enter in at the ſtrait gate, Luk. 13. 24. we muſt run if we would obtain the prize, 1 Cor. 9. 24. we muſt fight the good fight of Faith if we would lay hold on eternal life, 1 Tim. 6. 12. the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth violence, ſaith our Saviour, and the violent take it by force, Math. 11. 12. we muſt lay ſiege to Heaven, if we would take it, and with force and violence overcome thoſe potent enemies, the Devil, the Fleſh, and the World, who would draw or drive us away from the walls and gates of the New Jeruſalem. It is not an eaſie thing to be ſaved, the way to Heaven is narrow, and it lyeth up hill, our endeavours for Heaven eſpecially at the firſt, are like climbing up a ſteep hill, like hewing a way thorow hard rocks, like ſwimming againſt a ſtrong ſtream, like cutting hard wood againſt the grain; and becauſe of the oppoſition and difficulty in the way of ſalvation, therefore there be but few that finde the path thereof; moſt chooſe a broader and eaſier way. It is evident then from what hath been ſaid, that this ſalvation is Rare and ſcarce, the conſideration whereof ſhould not diſcourage you, but quicken you unto the greater diligence in your endeavours after it; the rarity of it ſheweth the worth and excellency of it; Jewels and precious ſtones are rare and hard to be got; what difficulties will ſome p. 19thorow? what dangerous voyages unto the uttermoſt parts of the Earth will ſome undertake, to bring home ſome rare things? but eſpecially the conſideration withall of the neceſſity of ſalvation (of which in the next particular) ſhould quicken you to ſeek after it. Think with your ſelves (my beloved) think ſeriouſly, and think frequently, that there are but few that ſhall be ſaved; and then examine, what reaſon you have to think that you are in the number of thoſe few: When our Saviour told his Diſciples that but one of them ſhould betray him, they looked one upon another, and every one asked him, Lord is it I? there was none of them without their fears which made them ſo inquiſitive, and they ſeem to be in pain untill they are reſolved; what then would they have thought and ſaid? how fearfull would they have been, if our Saviour had told them that the moſt of them ſhould have betrayed him, yea that all of them ſhould betray him, but one? May not I without uncharitableneſs ſay, that not one in twelve, no nor one in twenty, no nor one in a hundred in this City and Nation ſhall be ſaved? If I ſhould tell you that hear me this day, that ſome of you will be damned, yea that many of you will be damned, yea that m… of you will be damned, and that but few of this great company will be ſaved, ſhould I be a falſe Prophet? I will not ſay it will be thus, neither can I do it, becauſe this is Gods ſecret; much leſs do I deſire it ſhould be thus, for the end of my preaching is, that you all might be ſaved; but let me tell you, that I fear that many of you here preſent will be found in the number of thoſe many our Saviour ſpeaketh of, that ſhall ſeek to enter in at the ſtrait gate, and ſhall not be able; p. 20our Saviour told his Auditors, that flocked to hear him, thus, and are you better than they? you all ſeek to enter in at the ſtrait gate, by coming into this place where the Goſpel is preached, and where the gate is ſet open before you; but are there not many amongſt you that ſeek in a careleſs and negligent manner? May not I ſay of all the ſeekers here, that there are but few that ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate? Do you all, or the moſt look as if you had your eye upon the mark and glorious prize before you, and were preſſing with all your might towards it? do you hear as if it were for your lives, as if you might hear words this day whereby you may be ſaved? do you pray and ſeek as if you were in earneſt, as if you were reſolved to take Heaven by violence, and whatever you were denyed in, would not be denyed your ſalvation? Such as do not ſtrive ſhall never get thorow the ſtrait gate. Think with your ſelves, It may be that many in this place ſhall be damned, and then ſay, Shall not I? ſhall not I? and O what a miſerable wretch ſhall I be if I ſhould be damned! if I ſhould get only to the gate of Heaven, and not get thorow! if I ſhould come only to the borders of the Heavenly Canaan, and dye in the Wilderneſs! if I ſhould be found in the number of the negligent ſeekers which will miſs of ſalvation? What grounds have I to think that I ſhall be ſaved? there are but few, can I think that I am inthe number of the few? Methinks this conſideration of the Rarity of ſalvation ſhould awaken you to give earneſt heed that with the moſt that ſeek it, you may not miſs of it.

p. 213. This ſalvation is a neceſſary ſalvation: the great difficulty of obtaining ſome precious things diſcourageth the endeavours of the moſt in ſeeking after them, eſpecially when they may be well enough without them; but this ſalvation is neceſſary, you cannot be without it; it is of abſolute and univerſal neceſſity; ſome things you may have, this you muſt have; without it you are undone, you will be irrecoverably and eternally miſerable; there is no medium, no middle condition between ſalvation and damnation (of which more by and by): ſome things are neceſſary to the body, but ſalvation is neceſſary to your happineſs, without it there is no poſſibility (in this fallen ſtate) of obtaining the chief end, the chief good which you are capable of; without this no coming neer to God in whom your chiefeſt happineſs doth conſiſt, no viſion or fruition of him either in part here, or in full and eternally hereafter. Some men have need of one thing, and ſome of another, but all the men and women in the world have need of ſalvation, becauſe all are ſinners, all are children of wrath by nature. There is not one perſon amongſt you all but have been guilty of ſin, for the whole world is guilty before God, Rom. 3. 19, and every moment of your lives you are expoſed unto the puniſhment of ſin in Hell, unleſs you are brought into a ſtate of ſalvation. It is neceſſary therefore that all of you ſhould above all things ſeek after your ſalvation.

4. This ſalvation is a poſſible ſalvation; though there were never ſo much worth and excellency in, never ſo much neceſſity of this ſalvation, yet if there p. 22were an impoſſibility of obtaining it, all arguments would be uſed in vain to preſs any to endeavour after it; but this ſalvation is poſſible, it is poſſible that you ſhould attain it, that the meaneſt of you, the vileſt of you, yea that every one of you that hear theſe words may attain it.

1. The meaneſt of you may attain this ſalvation, and that 1. Such of you as are of the meaneſt parts, though you have neither humane learning, nor capacity or ability for it; though your judgement be ſhallow, your fancy and invention dull, your memory weak, and so could never underſtand and retain the many Arts and Sciences in Philoſophy, and the divers kinds of Languages, which learned men have written their books in; yet you are capable of being made the Schollars and Diſciples of Jeſus Chriſt, and he can teach the dulleſt and ſhalloweſt of you all the deep myſteries of ſalvation by his Spirit; yea and he can give you a greater underſtanding in them, than the wiselt and moſt learned men that are without the Spirit do attain unto; For he hideth thoſe things from the wiſe and prudent which he revealeth unto babes, Matth. 11. 25. And the natural man, let him be never ſo learned a man, receiveth not the things of the Spirit, neither can he know them because they are ſpiritually diſcerned, 1 Cor. 2. 14. And therefore when not many wiſe men after the fleſh are called, God chooſeth the fooliſh things of the world to exalt the riches of his free grace in their ſalvation, 1 Cor. 1. 26, 27, 31. Surgunt indocti & rapiunt coelum, quum nos cum omni doctrina in Gehenn… detrudimur, ſaith one. The unlearned ariſe, and take Heaven by violence, when we with all our learning are violently thrown down p. 23into Hell. So that you who are of no learning, and but mean natural abilities, have encouragement to ſeek after this ſalvation of the Goſpel, ſeeing the Lord can teach you by his Spirit, and it doth better ſuit with his deſign of glorifying his free grace in beſtowing it upon ſuch as you, rather than on the wiſe and learned men of the world, who would be apt to aſcribe the glory unto themſelves. 2. Such of you as are not only of the meaneſt parts, but alſo of the meaneſt condition in the World, may attain this Salvation; the poor have the Goſpel preached unto them, Matth. 11. 5. If with poverty in regard of Eſtate, you are alſo poor in ſpirit, the riches of grace and ſalvation are tendered freely unto you; read for your encouragement what the Apostle ſaith, Jam. 2. 5. Hearken my beloved Brethren, hath not God choſen the poor of this World, rich in Faith, and Heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promiſed unto them that love him. If you were to ſeek ſome great favour from an Earthly Prince, your mean attire and condition might keep you at a diſtance; and you might have no regard given to your requeſt, ſhould it have a hearing; The Petitions of the great and rich are heard in Courts on Earth, when the poor and mean are deſpiſed: but the King of Heaven doth regard the rich no more than the poor, Job 34. 19. And if you ſeek diligently after this Salvation, you may have as free acceſs to the Lord as any, and your Petitions shall be heard in the Court of Heaven, and you ſhall certainly obtain this Salvation which you ſeek after.

2. The vileſt of you all may attain Salvation; Some of you it may be have been notorious ſinners, p. 24your conſciences do accuſe you of ſuch great ſins, with ſuch hainous aggravations, that you may be diſcouraged and out of hope that ſuchas you ſhould be ſaved; you have offered ſuch high affronts and indignities unto the higheſt Majeſty that you think he can never put them up; you have run ſo deep and ſo long upon the ſcore, that you think the ſcores can never be wiped off; if they had been ſmaller faults, or more ordinary ſlips, or you had ſought after Salvation ſooner, you might have hoped to ſpeed, but now you fear the door of mercy is ſhut, and the day of Grace is ſpent, and there is no pardon and ſalvation for ſuch vile ſinners as you: But let me tell you that the vileſt of you all may attain Salvation, the door of mercy is not ſo faſt ſhut as yet, but by knocking hard it may be opened; and ſo long as the day of your life is continued, and the means of grace are continued, you cannot ſay that the day of grace is quite ſpent; there is ſalvation attainable by the worſt of you all, if you will look after it; our Saviour tells us of Publicans and Harlots that entred into the Kingdom of Heaven ſooner than the Phariſees who boaſted in their own righteouſneſs, Matth. 21. 31. He converſed with, and called the worſt of ſinners to repentance, Matth. 9. 11, 13. Indeed when the Apoſtle maketh mention of notorious ſinners, he telleth us, that ſuch whileſt ſuch, could not be ſaved, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God, Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor …ffeminate, nor Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inkerit the Kingdom of God. Thoſe that are ſuch notorious p. 25ſinners, and continue in the practice of ſuch ſins without repentance, they cannot be ſaved; but withall he addeth in the 11. verſe, that ſome of them had been ſuch ſinners, but were now in a ſtate of Salvation through their intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, and the operation of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, And ſuch were ſome of you; but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the ſpirit of our God; they were juſtified, their ſins pardoned and perſons accepted, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, through the imputation of his righteouſneſs unto them, and they were waſhed and ſanctified by the Spirit of God, through infuſion of Grace by the Spirit into them: I might add further inſtances of notorious ſinners who have been ſaved, as Manaſſes, Mary Magdalen, Paul, who before Converſion calleth himſelf the chiefeſt of ſinners, yet obtained Mercy and Salvation; and let me tell you moreover, that if you repent now and apply your ſelves to Chriſt, the greater your ſins have been, the more will Gods glory be illuſtrated in your Salvation, and the abounding of your ſins will make way for the ſuperabounding of his grace.

3. All of you that hear theſe words may obtain Salvation, it is poſſible that every one of you in this place may be ſaved; it would be a rare thing, but it is a poſſible thing: indeed there are but few that ſhall be ſaved; but who knoweth but all of you may be found in the number of thoſe few; and O how would it rejoyce my heart to ſee all thoſe faces in Heaven whom I ſee here this day to hear the words of Salvation. Be encouraged to ſeek after your ſalvation by the poſſibility of obtaining. Now p. 26ſalvation is poſſible for all of you that have not as yet attained it; but let me add, that it will not be poſſible long for you all; whilſt you are in the land of the living it is poſſible, though you be condemned to Hell for ſin whilſt unbelievers, Joh. 3. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already; yet the ſentence of condemnation is traverſible, you may appeal from the Court of the Law, to the Court of Chancery; you may fly from the bar of Gods juſtice, unto the throne of grace; and if you heartily repent of ſin, and by faith lay hold on Chriſt, you may obtain pardon and ſalvation: Whilſt the reprieve of your life laſteth, ſalvation is attainable; but when once your life is come to an end (which you know not how ſoon it may be) and you be found in a ſtate of impenitency and unbelief, then the percullis will be ſhut down upon you for ever; then the black flag will be hung out; then the talent of lead will ſeal up the meaſure of your wickedneſs; and your condemnation will be irreverſible; when the day of your life is ſpent, the day of grace will be ſpent too, and the door of mercy will be ſhut upon you for ever; and it will be impoſſible for any of you that have not attained, then to attain ſalvation.

5. This ſalvation is a neer Salvation. Say not in your heart, Who ſhall aſcend up into Heaven to learn what it is there? or who ſhall deſcend into the deep to bring notice of it from thence? or who ſhall take the wings of the morning, and fly into the uttermoſt parts of the earth thence to bring tydings of it to you? for the word of ſalvation is near unto you, it is brought home to your own doors, it is p. 27that word which is now ſounding in your cars, even the words which we Miniſters preach unto you: read what thoſe words are which are brought ſo nigh, Rom. 10. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, That if thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thy heart that God hath raiſed him from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaved: For with the heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs, and with the mouth confeſſion is made unto ſalvation. For the Scripture ſaith, Whoſoever believeth on him ſhall not be aſhamed: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the ſame Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him: for whoſoever calleth upon the Name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved. Heretofore ſalvation was only amongſt the Jews, and whoever of other Nations would be ſaved, they muſt travel to Jeruſalem, and worſhip the Lord in his Temple, and enquire for ſalvation in that place: then ſalvation was afar off from the Gentiles, eſpecially from theſe Brittiſh Iſles; but now ſince the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, as thoſe which were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt; ſo the word of ſalvation is brought nigh unto us; you have many Meſſengers of Peace, which bring the glad tydings of ſalvation near unto you, and this may further encourage you to ſeek after it.

6. This ſalvation is an Evident Salvation: I mean, that it is more clearly and evidently made known unto us, than it hath been in former ages unto any, or than it is in other places unto many.

In former ages this ſalvation was not made known p. 28ſo clearly unto any, I mean in the ages before the coming of Chriſt: the Prophets themſelves who propheſied of it, did not fully underſtand what the Spirit in them did ſignifie, when it foretold of this grace which ſhould come unto the Church in after ages, 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11. And therefore the firſt preaching of the Goſpel of ſalvation, is called a revelation of the myſterie which had been kept ſecret ſince the world began unto that time, Rom. 16. 25. And a manifeſtation of that myſterie to the Saints which had been hid from ages and generations, Col. 1. 25, 26, 27. The Goſpel of ſalvation was indeed revealed in the diſpenſation of the Law upon Mount Sinai by Moſes, but it was more obſcurely; it was wrapt up in types and figures; and as there was a vail before Moſes his face, ſo there was a vail before the truths of ſalvation, ſo that the children of Iſrael could not ſtedfaſtly look unto the end of thoſe things which were after to be aboliſhed, 2 Cor. 3. 13. but this vail is done away in Chriſt, v. 14. When Chriſt ſuffered upon the Croſs, the vail of the Temple, which kept the people off the Holy of Holies, was rent from the top to the bottom of it, and then the way into the Holy of Holies was made manifeſt, and Chriſt by his appearance aboliſhed death, and brought life and immortality to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Then darkneſs did paſs away, and the true and marvellous light did ſhine upon the Church, 1 Joh. 2. 8. And now with open face believers do behold as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, 1 Cor. 3. 18. The ſcope of which places is to ſhew the obſcurity of former revelations, and the clearneſs and evidence of the revelation of the Goſpel in theſe latter daies.

In other places this ſalvation is not made known ſo p. 29clearly unto many; it is not made known at all unto the moſt in the world; a thick darkneſs of ignorance doth overſpread the greateſt part of the face of the earth, and even amongſt thoſe that call themſelves by the name of the Church of Chriſt: there are in many places ſuch fogs and miſts of errour and hereſie, that the truths of ſalvation are darkened, and peoples minds are blinded; but now unto you this ſalvation is made ſo clear and evident; the thing and way of it is made ſo manifeſt, that it is a great encouragement to ſeek after this ſalvation.

7. This ſalvation is a Free Salvation; it will coſt you no money, you may have it for nothing, you may have it for accepting: If you were taken captive by men, if you were ſlaves to the Turks, poſſibly you might not be delivered without ſome conſiderable ſumm for your ranſom; but you may be delivered from the ſlavery of the Devil, and your own luſts, you may be ſaved from ſin and Hell without money: Indeed a price hath been paid for your ranſom, not ſilver or gold, but that which is ten thouſand times more precious, and that was the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, which was ſhed upon the Croſs for you; yet though your ſalvation coſt Chriſt dear, it is free unto you, it will coſt you nothing; pardon is free, and grace is free, and eternal life unto you is a free gift; you are invited to come unto the waters, and to buy wine and milk, but it is without money and without price, Iſa. 55. 1. The Spirit faith, come, and the Bride faith, come, and whoſoever is athirſt let him come, and take of the waters of life freely, Rev. 22. 17. There is ſufficiency of grace in God for p. 30the ſalvation of you all, and you may come and partake of this grace in your ſalvation freely: You may have it without money, if you be poor; the gifts of God cannot be bought; and you may have it without merit; if you conceit that you deſerve any thing, you ſhall be ſure to have nothing; if you are ſenſible of your unworthineſs, and apply Chriſts merits and righteouſneſs, through him you may have ſalvation freely.

8. And laſtly, This ſalvation is a Sure Salvation; you have the promiſe of God for it, and there can be no greater certainty of a thing than the word of God, eſpecially if you conſider that God is infinite in power, and therefore can do whatever he will, and that God is infinitely true, and therefore will do whatever he hath promiſed: God is moſt powerful, and therefore able to ſave you; there is ſtrength ſufficient in his Almighty Arm, to bring ſalvation unto you; and God is moſt faithfull in the promiſes of ſalvation, which he hath made in the Covenant of Grace; if you get faith to apply the promiſes, you ſhall certainly have the thing: There is an uncertainty in every thing elſe in the world, but there is a certainty in this ſalvation; that there is ſuch a thing is certain from the revelation of the Word of God, who cannot lye; and that you may have it if you will accept of it, is certain from the nature and firmneſs of the promiſes; and when you have attained unto any degrees of this ſalvation, the perfecting of it will be moſt ſure; for he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 1. 6. Thus I have laid before you the properties of this ſalvation; it is a great ſalvation; it is a rare ſalvation; it is a neceſſary ſalvation; it is p. 31a poſſible ſalvation; it is a near ſalvation; it is an evident ſalvation; it is a free ſalvation; it is a ſure ſalvation; all which being laid together, may be a ſtrong motive and inducement to you to labour that you may attain a ſhare in this ſalvation.