Great and Precious Promises, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
… Pet. 1.4.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promiſes, that by theſe you might be partakers of the divine nature, having eſcaped the corruption that is in the world through luſt.
THere are three moſt glorious and excellent gifts that God hath beſtowed upon man, there is that comprehenſive gift of heaven, Jeſus Chriſt, who is ſo called, Joh. 4.10. and ſure ſuch a gift as that, ought in ſome ſenſe to blind our eyes, and make us look upon all things that are below him, as nothing. The ſecond royal Gift that the Lord hath given, is the precious promiſes of the everlaſting Covenant, which are given to us thorow him: A Chriſtian that is united unto him by the bloud of Faith, he may write this above the head of every promiſe of the everlaſting Covenant, this is mine, and this is mine. His third precious gift, is the gift of Faith, which is that grace that maketh uſe of the former two: and we conceive, that our little making uſe of theſe three excellent gifts, is the great occaſion and cauſe why theſe four moſt ſad and lamentable evils have befallen us. 1. The evill of a ſilent conſcience, that though we be profound to commit iniquity, and do love a reward under every green tree, yet our conſciences doth not ſpeak nor reprove us; and if at any time they do ſpeak; yet there are ſome that are ſo poſſeſſed with a dumb and deaf ſpirit, they can neither hear what God doth ſpeak, nor can they hear their conſcience. 2. The evil of a ſilent rod, we know not the voice of our rod, and who is he that hath appointed it; God doth not now open our ears to diſcipline, nor ſeal up our inſtruction. 3. There is that evil of ſilent mercies, the mercies that we receive of God, we underſtand not the language of them: are not our mercies Barbarians unto us, ſpeaking to us in an unknown tongue? and yet we may ſay, there is not a rod nor a mercy a Chriſtian meets with, but it hath a voice, if we did underſtand it. And laſtly, there is that evil which hath befallen us, and alas, this is the capeſtone of all, a ſilent God, who doth not hearken unto the voice of our cryes, but turneth about the face of his Throne, covering himſelf with a cloud in his anger, ſo that our prayers cannot paſse through. Alas, may not each Chriſtian of this time cry out, Call me no more Naomi, but call me Mara, becauſe the Lord hath dealt bitterly with me. In ſhort, I think there are theſe two things that may be our lamentation upon the high places of Iſrael. Firſt, That we live without ſight of God; And ſecondly, that we live without ſight of our ſelves, and all this, becauſe … live without a ſight of theſe precious Gif… Chriſt and his Promiſes.
But now to the words; We told you, th… in them there were theſe four things holden forth concerning the promiſes. 1. The original and fountain of the promiſes, in that word, Whereby, or by whom: 2. The properties of the promiſes which we told you, were theſe four. The firſt was, that the promiſes were free, holden forth in that word, they are Given; all the promiſes of the everlaſting Covenant being the noble gifts of God. The ſecond (of which we are to ſpeak at this time) is this, that the promiſes of the Covenant they are unchangeable, which is imported alſo in that word, they are given, the gifts of God being indeed without repentance; And as to this: 1. We ſhall prove the truth of the point: and for this end, conſider that place, Numb. 23.19. which was a part of Balaams ſong, Hath he not spoken it, and will he not alſo do it? Hath he ſaid it, and ſhall it not alſo c…me to paſſe? and Pſal. 89.34. I will not break my Covenant, nor alter the word that hath gone out of my mouth: and the point is clear alſo, from the name that the promiſes getteth in Scripture, are they not called the ſure mercies of David, Iſa. 55.3. and are they not ſometimes in Scripture called Truth, as we may ſee from Micah 7.20. Thirdly, The nature of the Covenant proveeth it, in that it is called an everlaſting Covenant, and ſometimes a Covenant of Salt, becauſe that Covenant is above the reach of alteration or putrifaction; And fourthly, It may be likewiſe ſhown from the conſtant experience that the Saints have had of the unchangeablneſſe of the promiſes. Th… Joſhua taketh notice of, Chap. 23.24. when … when he was a dying, There hath not failed (ſaith he) one thing of all theſe good thing … that God hath ſpoken; and he is ſo confidence of this, that he is forced to repeat that wor… over again in that verſe: and he taketh notice of it, Joſh. 21.45. where he hath that ſame expreſſion again, There hath not failed (ſaith he) one thing of all the good things that God hath spoken: and this Solomon he took notice of, 1 King. 8.56. There hath not failed one thing that God hath ſpoken unto us by Moſes; and indeed, there is near ſix thouſand years experience that preacheth this truth, the promiſes are unchangeable, ſo that we may now ſay, The word of the Lord is tried as ſilver is purified in a furnace of earth hot ſeven times: If there had been any falſhood in the precious promiſes of the everlaſting Covenant, ſix thouſand years triall ſhould have brought it to light; but doth not every one of the cloud of witneſſes that have gone before us, leave this teſtimony upon record, Faithfull is be that hath promiſed, who will alſo do it, his promiſe is with the night and with the day, it cannot be altered, the ordinances of heaven continue to this day, much leſſe can this Covenant of love be broken or altered, only w… would have you taking this Caution by th… way, that there are ſome conditional promiſes that God paſſeth unto his people which in the depths of his ſpotleſſe wiſdo… he doth not accompliſh unto theſe who … ver fulfill the condition; ſuch was that promiſe that he gave to the Iſraelites in the land of Egypt of their poſſeſſing the land of Canaan, who yet died in the wilderneſſe: And hence is that ſtrange word, Numb. 13.34. Ye ſhall know my breach of promiſe ſaith the Lord, which is a word ſpoken after the manner of men, not importing any change of purpoſe in God, but only ſhewing that becauſe they did not believe, and ſo fulfill the condition of the promiſe, therefore it was not to be fulfilled perſonally to them.
The ſecond thing that we ſhall ſpeak to upon this, that the promiſes are unchangeable, ſhall be to propoſe theſe ſix golden pillars and excellent foundations, upon which the unchangeableneſſe of the promiſes is built. And the firſt of them is the omnipotency of God, that there is nothing that he hath promiſed, but he is able to effectuate and to bring to paſſe: Therefore, 2 Cor. 6.18. when God had been paſſing many excellent promiſes, he ſtrengtheneth their faith with this, Thus ſaith the Lord God Almighty: and no doubt, where the word of this King is, there is power, and who can ſay unto him, what doſt thou: O miſbeliever of the precious promiſes of the Covenant, be aſhamed to caſt up your eyes to heaven above, or to the earth beneath; we think the Stars, the Sun, the Moon, and all the works of God; they may ſpeak that to you, do not miſbelieve God, but truſt in him, That is wonderfull in counſell, and excellent in working. The ſecond is, the wiſdom and infinit counſel of God, he hath not only compleat ability to accompliſh the promiſe that he hath given, but he hath the depths and treaſures of knowledge, by which he hath contrived the way of the accompliſhment of ſuch a promiſe: Hence is that word, 2 Sam. 23.5. that the Covenant is well ordered, which ſpeaketh out the wiſdom of God and then that word is ſubjoyned, the Covenant is ſure, yea, the Covenant of Grace is ſuch a thing, that there is ſo much of the arte of heaven, ſo much of infinit wiſdom ſhining in it, that it is called the counſel of God, Heb. 6.17. That ye might know the immutability of his counſel. The third golden pillar, is, the infinit love of God, that though there be nothing in us that can put him to accompliſh the promiſes, yet he will take an argument from his own love, to make out ſuch a promiſe to us; there is ſometimes (if not alwayes) nothing in us, but that which may ſpeak forth delayes of the accompliſhment of the promiſes; but when God can bring no argument from us, he can bring an argument from his own love, as Deut. 7.7, 8. where giving a reaſon of the accompliſhment of many promiſes, and of his love to them, I loved you, ſaith he, becauſe I loved you; there being no reaſon that can be given for love, but love. The fourth is, The unchangeablneſſe of the Promiſer, that he is the ſame, yeſterday, and to day, and for ever, and without all alteration and ſhaddow of change: Hence ye may ſee, Exod. 3.14. when God is repeating many preciou… Promiſes unto Moſes, He (as it were … ſtrengtheneth Moſes faith with this, I am, ſaith he, that I am, which we conceive to point forth the unchangeablneſſe of God, that what he hath ſaid, he will certainly accompliſh in its own time, and though the viſion do tarry, yet at laſt it ſhall speak. The fifth is, The faithfulneſſe of God, and that he is one that cannot lie, but certainly will make out what he hath ſpoken. Love, it maketh the promiſes, the faithfulneſſe and power of God accompliſheth the promiſes, and the infinit wiſdom of God chooſeth the moſt fit time for the performing of them. Hence it is ſaid, Pſal. 119.89, 90. Thy word O Lord, is for ever ſetled in heaven, and the ground of it is in the following verſe; For thy faithfulneſse is unto all generations: Hence you may ſee, that oftentimes when God is making promiſes to his own, he putteth to that word, I that ſpeak in righteouſneſſe, Iſa. 45.19. and Iſa. 63.1. O! muſt not the promiſes be unchangeable that are made by the Father who is the God of Truth? Muſt not the promiſes be unchangeable that are received and merited by the Son, that is Truth it ſelf, and the faithfull Witneſſe, and Amen? Muſt not the promiſes be unchangeable that are applyed by the holy Ghoſt, that is the Spirit of Truth? And muſt not the promiſes be unchangeable that are made known unto us by the Goſpel, that is the word of Truth? Was there ever any who could leave that upon record of God, that he was unfaithfull in the accompliſhment of his promiſes. O what a clear ſight of the faithfulneſſe of God ſhall a Chriſtian get, whe… he ſhall be ſtanding upon the our moſt line between Time and Eternity, then he will ſee God faithful in accompliſhing all his promiſes unto him from firſt to laſt. The laſt golden pillar, is, The juſtice of God, His juſtice, it now putteth him to accompliſh his promiſes, mercy and righteouſneſſe have now kiſſed each other: Hence is that word, 1 Joh. 1.9. He is juſt and faithful to forgive: So that now the accompliſhment of the promiſes, it is not only an act of love, but it is an act of juſtice alſo: We confeſſe indeed, love and mercy maketh the promiſes, but juſtice and truth alſo putteth God to the accompliſhment of them: Hence is that word, Micah 7.20. To perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham: Why is it mercy to Abraham, and it is truth to Jacob? It is in ſhort this, becauſe mercy made the promiſes to Abraham, but truth did accompliſh the promiſes to Jacob.
The third thing that we ſhall ſpeak to from this, That the promiſes are unchangeable, ſhall be, to preſſe theſe ſix duties upon you from this point.
O Chriſtians and Expectants of Heaven, who have Chriſt in you, the hope of Glory, rejoyce and be exceeding glad that the promiſes are unchangeable. 1. This is a duty that is preſſed from that ground, Heb. 6.18. That by two immutable things we might have ſtrong conſolation: There is exceeding much joy that may come to a Chriſtian from this that the promiſes ſhall be accompliſhed i… their own time. We conceive that the word unchangeable, it is engraven upon the head of many a Chriſtians mercies. Is not unchangeable written above the head of our promiſes? Is not unchangeable written upon the head of our bleſſedneſſe? Is not unchangeable written above the head of our enjoyment of God? That day is coming when we ſhall have unchangeable love, unchangeable enjoyment of God, and all things unchangeable: And we conceive, that if theſe two were believed, the truth of the promiſes, and the unchangeableneſſe of the promiſes, a Chriſtian might walk through this valey of tears with joy, and comfort himſelf in hope.
The ſecond duty we would preſſe, is this, that ye would ſurceaſe and give over your diſputings and carnal reaſonings about the accompliſhment of the promiſes, ſince the promiſes of God are unchangeable, ought not we with this to ſilence miſbelief, and all that blind humane reaſon can ſay: This is preſſed, Heb. 6.16. An oath for confirmation, it is an end of all ſtrife. Gods confirming of his Covenant by an oath, it ought to cut ſhort the diſputings of miſbelief; And here give me leave to point out a little theſe grounds upon which it is that Chriſtians doth ſo much diſpute the accompliſhment of promiſes: and to let you ſee how all theſe grounds may be anſwered from theſe ſix pillars that were given of their unchangeablneſſe.
The firſt is, When diſpenſations ſeemeth to coutradict the truth of the Promiſes, the promiſe it ſpeaketh one thing, and diſpenſations ſeem to ſpeak another: and this is the occaſion that oftentimes Chriſtians cry out, Doth his promiſe fail for evermore. This is clear from the practice of David, 1 Sam. 27.1. when diſpenſations were upon the top of the accompliſhment, and truth of the promiſes, then miſbelief it ariſeth as a Champion mighty to war, and cryeth out, I ſhall one day fall by the hand of Saul: And we conceive, that diſpenſations contradicting the truth of the promiſes, was the occaſion of his ſpeaking that word, Pſal. 116.11. I ſaid in my haſte, all men are liars. And I would only ſay to you that diſpute the truth of the promiſes upon this account, that diſpenſations contradicteth them: Do but conſider this: God in his way is not like unto you: Would ye know the time when the promiſes are neareſt their accompliſhment, it is then when we can leaſt ſee that they are to be accompliſhed, the promiſes are never nearer their performance, then when we think that they are furtheſt off from it: And therefore let the faith of the omnipotency of God, uphold your ſpirit under ſuch a debate, then let diſpenſations ſpeak what they will, ye may anſwer all with this, There is nothing too hard for him, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. I grant this may try the ſtrength of the ſtrongeſt faith, yea, we finde it hath made the beſt to ſtagger when they had no probabilities to tell them that the promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed: this was the ground of Sarahs miſbelief, Gen. 18.12. that when ſhe heard ſhe ſhould bear a ſon in her old age, ſhe laughed within her ſelf, and did, as it were, mock at ſuch a promiſe: and this was the ground of Moſes his miſbelief, Numb. 11.21, 22. he did not ſee a probability that ſuch a multitude ſhould be fed with fleſh, and therefore he did call in queſtion the truth of that promiſe: this was the ground of the miſbelief of that Lord that is made mention, 2 King. 7.2. and this was the ground of Zecharies miſbelief, Luk. 1.20. But I would only ſay to you that do ſo much conſult with probability in the exerciſe of your faith, theſe two things. 1. There is nothing too hard for God, this was the very argument that God took to convince Sarah in the 14. verſ. of that 18. Chapter, Is there any thing too hard for God? And, 2. Faith is never in its native and ſpiritual exerciſe, till once probabilities contradict the truth of the promiſe, then faith it is put upon the ſtage, and then faith doth act; but as long as faith and probabilities think one thing, then the day of the trial of the ſtrength of faith is not yet come.
The ſecond ground upon which Chriſtians diſpute the accompliſhment of the promiſes, Is their much diſputing of their intereſt in God? Sometimes a Chriſtian will believe a promiſe, and before the accompliſhment of the promiſe come, their hope will be darkned, their intereſt in Chriſt will be obſcured, and then they do quite their faith in adhering to the truth of that promiſe. Theſe two are joyned together, want of the faith of our intereſt, and want of faith of the accompliſhment of the promiſe, as it is clear from that word, Pſal. 77.8. Is his mercy clean gone. There is diſputing of his intereſt, and preſently this is ſubjoyned, Doth his promiſe fail for evermore. Except a Chriſtian ca… read his name in the ancient records of heaven, and can ſeal this concluſion, I am my beloveds, and my beloved he is mine, it will be a hard and a difficult taſk for him, if not impoſſible to believe the promiſes.
The fourth ground of a Chriſtians diſputing the truth of the promiſes, is, their miſtaking the way how the promiſes are to be accompliſhed, There are ſome that ſuppoſe that when ever they cloſe with a promiſe by faith, there is no more but to enter to the poſſeſſion of ſuch a promiſe; but do not miſtake it, between your believing the promiſe and the accompliſhment of it, there may be ſad and dark dayes interveening, according to that word in Mark. 10.30. where Chriſt paſſing great promiſes to his Diſciples, He, as it were doth adde, do not miſtake me that ye ſhall have theſe promiſes without trouble and affliction, Ye ſhall receive (ſaith he) an hundred fold in this life with perſecutions. A Chriſtian when he believeth the promiſes, he muſt reſolve to have a winter before the ſpring time come, wherein the promiſe ſhall bud and flouriſh.
The fifth ground of a Chriſtians diſputing …e truth of the promiſes, is, when the promiſes are long in their accompliſhing. A Chriſtian when firſt he meeteth with a promiſe, he will cry forth, O I believe, but when time is taken for the accompliſhment of it, then his faith beginneth to faint, and his hope beginneth to languiſh and give over; yea, ſometimes Chriſtians they fall in this fault, when they believe a promiſe, they fix a day for the accompliſhment of it, which if God do not keep, but go over; then they immediately cry forth, What is my ſtrength that I ſhould wait, and what is my confidence that I ſhould prolong my dayes. This is clear in the practice of Abraham, where the promiſe of having a numerous ſeed being given to him, Gen. 2.12. the long time before that promiſe was accompliſhed in part to him, was the occaſion of his miſbelief, that he vented, Gen. 15.3. O Lord, what wilt thou give me, ſince I go childeleſſe: But ye muſt know, that before the viſion ſhall speak, there is an appointed time that ye muſt wait, according to 1 Pet. 5.9, 10. After ye have ſuffered a while, then the promiſes ſhall be accompliſhed, and ye ſhall be made perfect.
The ſixth ground upon which Chriſtians call in queſtion the accompliſhment of the promiſes, is, The conſideration of the greatneſſe of the thing that is promiſed, when they compare it with their own worth and deſerving, then they begin to diſpute, O ſhall ſuch a thing be, ſhall unworthy I, ſhall finful I, ſhall ſelf-deſtroying I, ſhall I that am leſse then the leaſt of his mercies, receive the accompliſhment of ſuch a mercy? This we may ſuppoſe was one ground of Abrahams miſbelief, Gen. 17.18. when he cryed forth at that ſame time, when the Lord was giving him the excellent promiſe of an Iſaac, O that Iſhmael might live: He thought an Iſaac ſuch an excellent mercy, that he could not without preſumption, expect the accompliſhment of that promiſe. And, Zach. 8.6. this was the ground of their miſbelief which God doth ſweetly obviate, If it be wonderful in the eyes of the remnant of this people in theſe dayes, ſhould it alſo be wonderful in mine.
The laſt ground upon which Chriſtians diſpute the accompliſhment of the promiſes, is, When in the time between their believing and the accompliſhment of the promiſe, they fall into ſome groſſe iniquity, this maketh them exceedingly debate, whether the promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed unto them, for ſince they have tranſgreſſed the Covenant of God, and have broken their purpoſes and reſolutions, they cannot ſuppoſe God will abide faithful to them, and once accompliſh his promiſes unto them, and the only way how to anſwer this diſpute, is, to look to the faithfulneſſe of God, and uſe that word, 2 Tim. 2.13. Though we believe not, yet God doth abide faithful, he cannot deny himſelf.
And now to ſhut up this ſecond duty tha… …e preſſe from the unchangeablneſſe of th… …omiſes: I ſhall only ſay theſe two word… …o you, 1. Aſſure your ſelves of this, that theſe accompliſhments of promiſes that come not through the lively exerciſe of Faith, doth looſe much of their ſweetneſſe, much of their luſter, and much of their advantage: Sometimes a promiſe will be accompliſhed unto a Chriſtian, when he hath not been much in the conſtant lively exerciſe of Faith in believing ſuch a promiſe; but then the diſadvantage that attendeth ſuch a one, are not eaſily expreſſed: How often may he cry out, The Lord was in this place, and I was not aware: How little of God doth he ſee in it, how ſhort is he in praiſes and rendering to the Lord according to the good he hath receeived? How negligent in improving or keeping the mercy, and how loath to lay it out for God, when he ſaith, The Lord hath need of it: and many things more of this kind which may preſſe us to be ſtedfaſt in believing. And, 2. O diſpute leſſe, and believe more, what profite ſhall ye have of your diſputings; and if ye would produce all your ſtrong arguments why ye ſhould not believe the promiſes, ye may drown them in this immenſe depth, God is unchangeable. Let me ſay but this further, There are three moſt remarkable changes in a Chriſtian, in his making uſe of the promiſes: Firſt, Sometimes he will believe the promiſes and make application of them, and ere many hours go about, he will miſbelieve that promiſe which preſently he believed. Will not ſometime a Chriſtian in the morning cry out, I am my beloveds, and my beloved he is mine and ere twelve hours come, they will change their note and cry out, My hope and my ſtrength is periſhed from the Lord: Sometimes a Chriſtian in the morning will cry out, My mountain ſtandeth ſtrong, I ſhall never be moved, and ere many hours go about, he will change his note, and cry out, Thou haſt hid thy face from me, and I was troubled. Secondly, Sometimes a promiſe will be to a Chriſtian ſweeter then the honey and the honey comb: Sometimes a Chriſtian would die and live upon the promiſe: Sometimes the believing of a promiſe will be to a Chriſtian as the valey of Achor for a door of hope, that will make him to ſing, and yet ere many dayes go about, he may come to that ſame very promiſe, and it will prove taſteleſſe to him as the white of an …gge; ſo that he may cry out, O that it were with me, as in months paſt, and in the ancient times: And O where is the ſweetneſſe that I found in ſuch a promiſe? O it is gone, it is gone, and I am left deſolate. Thirdly, Sometimes when a Chriſtian will be believing ſuch … promiſe, and reſting upon it, he wil (through … Spirit of the Lord) ſee much light and …earneſſe in that promiſe, he will take up the deep things of God that ſhineth therein; and at another time he may come to that … promiſe, and it may be dark to him, ſo, that his light hath evaniſhed: and ſometimes the joy of a Chriſtian in the promiſe will be one then his light that he had in it may main with him. A Chriſtian may come to … promiſe, and find his ancient light, yet not his ancient joy, nor his ancient delight. Therefore if ye would have the promiſes alwayes ſweet unto you, pray over them, pray that God might breath upon ſuch a promiſe, and make it lively to you.
The third thing that we would preſſe upon you from the unchangeableneſſe of the promiſes, is that which by proportion ye may gather even from this, that the threatnings of God are unchangeable; theſe two are conjoyned: yea, Joſhua ſeemeth to infer the unchangeableneſſe of the threatnings from the unchangeableneſſe of the promiſes, Chap. 23.14. compared with verſe 15. and theſe two are conjoyned, Zech. 8.14, 15. That as I thought to puniſh you, and it hath come to paſse, ſo I have thought to build you up, and it ſhall come to paſſe. And I would from this deſire you to ſtand in awe, leſt you come under the laſh of the unchangeable threatnings of God; for know, that as God is unchangeable in the promiſes, and there is not one word in all the everlaſting Covenant that ſhall not be accompliſhed; ſo likewiſe know, there is not a curſe in all the Book of the Covenant, but it ſhall be accompliſhed in its time: And know this likewiſe, that the day is coming when that ſad word that i… in Hoſ. 7.12. ſhall be accompliſhed, I will chaſtiſe them as their Congregation hath heard. And O ye that live in this place, if all the threatnings that your Congregations hath heard, ſhall be accompliſhed in their time ye may take up the laſt words of Balaam… ſong, alas, Who ſhall live when God ſhall … theſe things: And therefore ſince the th… nings of God are nuchangeable, as alſo promiſes, life and death is ſet before yo… and either ye ſhall be the object of the … changeable threatnings of God, or ye … be the object of the unchangeable promi… of God: And therefore I would from th… charge you, that as you would not be he… full to the deſtruction of your own immor… ſouls, you would not undervalue the threa… nings that ye hear in your Congregations ſince there is a declaration paſt, that th… threatnings in your Congregations ſhall b… accompliſhed.
Now there is that fourth duty that … would preſſe upon you from this, that … promiſes are unchangeable, have an unchan… able love to the Promiſer; let this comm… the Promiſer, let this conſtrain your hearts delight in the Promiſer. O what a bleſſed … penſation of love is this, that an unchangeable God ſhould make unchangeable promiſes … to changeable creatures. If the promiſes the Covenant of Grace were as changeable their nature as we are changeable, there ſh… not one of us go to heaven: but know, i… the bleſſed deſign of love, and it hath be… …ſſed practice of the infinit wiſdom of G… … when he hath to do with changeable … …ires, he will give them unchangeable …. And I would once invite you … that you would come near and imbrace unchangeable Promiſer: I ſhall ſpeak … five words that may perſwade you. … Chriſt is eaſily to be gotten if ye will him, ye will get Chriſt if ye will but hear; yea, for one liſtening of your ear to his voice ye ſhall get him: according to that word, Iſa. 55.3. Hear, And what of that, and your ſoul ſhall live; Is not this to get Chriſt at an eaſie rate: and as we ſpake before, ye will get Chriſt for a look, and is not that an eaſie rate, Iſa. 45.22. Look unto me all ye ends of the earth and be ſaved: Have ye a deſire to take Chriſt, ye ſhall get him for that deſire; according to that word, Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirſteth let him come, and he that wills let him come: Will ye but conſent to take him, ye ſhall have him, and what can you have at a lower rate the… this: Shall never your curſed hands take the pen and put to your name to the bleſſed contract of Marriage? Shall never theſe curſed hearts of ours cry forth, Even ſo I take him, and do promiſe to live to him, and to die to him. O ſtrange, will ye not do it, upon what terms would the world have Chriſt, is it poſſible to have him without a conſent to take him? Oh if ye would but open to him, he would condeſcend to come in unto you, and to ſup with you, and ye with him; do ye but ſtir to open, Chriſt hath the keys in his own hand, and he would help you to open. O what if Chriſt the precious Gift of Heaven, the eternal admiration of Angels, that Branch of Righteouſneſſe ſhall be deſpiſed, being offered upon ſo eaſie tearms; then curſed eternally ſhall be that perſon that thus undervalueth Chriſt, it had been better for him that he had never been born: Curſed ſhall ye be in your birth, and in you …, and in your death, all the curſes of th… Perſons of the Trinity will light upon you yea, believe it: O wife that hath a believing huſband, in the day that the great ſentence of eternal excommunication from the preſence of the Lord, ſhall be paſt againſt th… undervaluers of Chriſt, a believing huſband will ſay amen to that ſentence, even to his wife that did thus undervalue that Noble Plant of renown: and the wife upon the other part will ſay with hearty conſent, amen, to that ſentence againſt the unbelieving huſband, and the father to the ſon, and the ſon to the father.
Now there is this fifth duty that w… would preſſe upon you from this, That th… promiſes are unchangeable, that ye would be perſwaded to make the promiſes your portion and your inheritance; What can ye wa… that will choiſe the promiſes for your por… on? I know, our curſed eyes doth not love to make inviſible promiſes, and that inviſible crown, and an inviſible God our portion, … look to walk by ſight, not by faith. But o… if you knew once what it were but to clai… a relation to Chriſt! Did ye once know wh… it were to have but Chriſt a moment betwe… your breaſts, ye would cry forth, O! … would not love him who is the King of Saint▪ who would not be content to quite all thing that they might get Chriſt that noble pe… of price.
And there is this laſt duty that we wo… preſſe upon you from this, That the … miſes are unchangeable; read a lecture from this, O Chriſtian, even your miſbelief; God hath confirmed his everlaſting Covenant with an oath, with the Bloud of his Son, by the two great broad Seals of heaven, the Sacrament of Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper; And what doth all theſe confirmations ſpeak but our dreadfull miſbelief, and that we know not what it is to be reſting on a naked word of promiſe. I ſhall ſay no more, but deſire that ye would conſider and take notice of theſe three. Firſt, Ye have been ſolemnly and often invited by the Ambaſſadors of Chriſt to cloſe with him, and to take him for your Huſband and your Lord, and will you conſider preſently, that all the Angels in heaven, and all that are about the Throne, and the three moſt glorious moſt bleſſed Perſons of the Trinity, that they are witneſſes, and ſhall be to your diſſent. And are there not many here whoſe hearts could never be brought up to give a hearty conſent to cloſe with Chriſt that is the great Promiſer, and who hath laid all the bonds that heaven or earth could contrive to gain ſinners hearts unto himſelf: O precious Chriſt, what could he do to perſwade us to love him which he hath not done; and yet that may be your name, which is in Epheſ. 2.2. Children of diſobedience, Or as the word is, Children of Imperſwaſion, we cannot be perſwaded. Secondly, I fear if Chriſt Himſelf would come from heaven and invite you, and ſay, here am I, in brace me, there are ſome here who would cloſe not only their eyes, but their ears, … would cloſe their eyes leſt the beauty▪ Chriſt ſhould allure them, they wou… cloſe their curſed ears leſt they ſhould gained and captivate by the ſweet encha… ing voice of that bleſſed Charmer, when … ſhould charm ſo wiſely. And, laſtly, w… thou tell me, O Chriſtian and expectant … heaven, what a day ſhall it be when all th… unchangeable promiſes of God ſhall be … compliſhed? What a day ſhall it be wh… that promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed. Ye ſhall ſee him as he is? What a day ſhall it b… when that promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed, Ye ſhall be made like unto him? What a day ſhall it be when that promiſe ſhall be accompliſhed, ye ſhall know as ye are known? O are ye not longing for the day of the full accompliſhment of the precious promiſes … God, when ye ſhall ſit down and comfort your ſelves in the eternal and unſpeakable fruition of them? O let us long and wa… till the day ſhall be when that voice ſhall … heard in heaven, That the myſterie of God i… finiſhed, till the day when that voice ſhall be heard in heaven, Behold, the Bridegro… cometh, go ye out to meet him: Oh how us willing are we to leave a world. And ho… gladly would we take up our reſt on th… ſide of Jordan. I think if this were th… night that that bleſſed voice were to … heard in heaven, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him; ſome, if … many of the Chriſtians (that are ſo indeed in this time would cry forth, Oh ſpare little that we may recover ſtrength, before we go hence and ſhall be no more. Are ye not longing to bring the King over Jordan, and to bring him home to your ſelf, and to have your heart brought home to him? O bleſſed, bleſſed are theſe that are above; Is not the voice of theſe that ſhout for victory heard amongſt them? Is not the voice of theſe that ſing for joy heard among them? Job doth not now any more complain, Why doſt thou make me to poſſeſse the iniquities of my youth, and ſetteth a print upon my heels? David doth now no more complain, Why doth thy promiſe fail for evermore, but rather doth ſweetly ſing, How is thy promiſe fulfilled for evermore? Heman doth now no more complain, While I ſuffer thy terrours I am diſtracted, but rather cryeth out, While I feel thy comforts I am raviſhed. The voice of mourning is now ſweetly gone away, and the voice of Hallelujah and of eternal praiſing of him that ſitteth upon the Throne is now heard in the place of it: O ſuch a day that ſhall never admit of a following night. Now to him that is upon his way, that will come, and ſhall come, and ſhall not tarry, we deſire to give praiſe.