Of the Day of Grace, Sermons on Psalm 81 · Sermon 3
The Third Sermon.
Pſalm LXXXI. 12.
So I gave them up to their own Hearts luſts: and they walked in their own Counſels.
UPON the Rehearſal of ſome terrible Threatning, when Judgment is denounced, or ſignified to be approaching, but the particular Perſons are not named, who are to be the Subjects of it, we may uſe the Words of the Prophet Daniel, chap. 4.29. Before he opened to the King the Import and ſenſe of his ominous Dream; The Dream be to them that hate thee, O King! and the Interpretation thereof unto thine. Enemies. But ſuch is the Severity and Horrour of this threatned Judgment in the Text, that we ſhould not, we ought not to wiſh ſo much Evil to our worſt Enemies; but do what we can to prevent it. For of all Calamities that can be threatned, or inflicted in this World, what can be worſe than for a Man to be given up to his own Luſts, and left to walk in his own Counſels? Two or three things we may obſerve by way of general Inference, before I ſpeak to ſome particular Caſes and Queſtions that relate hereto.
1. HOW Much to be pitied is the Ignorance and Folly of ſinners, that are afraid of any other Calamity more than this. I gave 'em up to their own Hearts Lusts, is a thouſand times worſe than if God had given 'em up to the Syrians to ſpoil 'em, or to their moſt enraged Adverſaries to oppreſs 'em. Men are ready to quake and tremble, and their Hearts to be moved, as the Trees of the Wood are moved with the Wind, if a thick or dark Cloud hover over them, as to publick or private Affairs. If their Health and Eaſe, their Liberties and Eſtates, their outward Priviledges and Advantages are threatened and endangered, they preſently apprehend themſelves concerned to look about them, and do their utmoſt to prevent it. But if ſin be the greateſt Enemy, to be given up to ſin is the greateſt Judgment, and ſhould be more feared than Plague, or Peſtilence, or Famine, or War, or any of thoſe Calamities that Nations and Perſons do commonly dread as moſt Formidable Evils.
2. Is it the greateſt Judgment to be given up to our own Hearts Luſts? How unreaſonable is the Diſpleaſure and Anger of Men at the ſharpeſt Methods of Divine Grace, that would bring them to Repentance, and thereby prevent this ſad Cataſtrophe? The moſt ſmart Reproofs of the Word; the moſt cloſe Exhortations, and Admonitions of Miniſters, that are now accounted troubleſome, the moſt pungent and uneaſy Convictions of Conſcience, and the moſt afflictive Rebukes of Providence too, that have this merciful Deſign and Tendency, they are the real Effects of Kindneſs, as preventive of a greater Miſchief, even this, of being left of God, and given up to our own Hearts Luſts.
What Enemies therefore are they to their own Intereſt, who uſe ſuch Language as that of the Stubborn Jews, Iſa. 30.10. ſaying to the Prophets, Prophecie not unto us Right things, ſpeak unto us ſmooth things, and prophecie Deceits. Till God in righteous Judgment reſolve, and ſay, as he did afterwards, Ezek 3.26. Thou ſhalt no longer be unto them a Reprover, Thou ſhalt be dumb, and thy Tongue cleave to the Roof of thy mouth, for they are a rebellious Houſe. When ſuch as would convince and awaken Men by neceſſary Reproofs, are diſliked, and their Preaching reckoned a Burden, becauſe the Earth is tormented with their Words, Revel. 11.10.
3. HOW wretched and dangerous is their Miſtake, who think their Caſe good, becauſe their Conſciences now trouble them no more. They have ſinned themſelves into ſuch hardneſs of Heart, and ſearedneſs of Conſcience, under ſuch Judicial Blindneſs and ſtupidity, that the ſin, which was formerly burdenſom as a Mountain, they now feel not; they bewail it not. Conſcience, that did rebuke them, is now ſilent and faſt aſleep. All things are at peace with them, they ſay, and they are glad of it, and ſo is the Devil too.
God lets them proſper in the World, they have no rub in their way, to Hell. But in the mean time he hath given them over, that they ſhall not be ſmitten any more: that they ſhall not be troubled with the ſtrivings of his Spirit any more. Neither Word nor Rod ſhall do them good more. They applaud themſelves in this, and rejoyce in it: But if to be given up to our own Hearts Luſts be the greateſt Judgment, there is no ſtorm more diſmal than ſuch a Calm, or more to be dreaded. No Trouble but is better than ſuch Peace: No Sickneſs but is preferable to ſuch Health: No Sorrow but is rather to be choſen than ſuch mad Joy.
Doubt. 1. BUT becauſe I would not break the bruiſed Reed, or quench the ſmoking Flax, or ſadden the Hearts of thoſe whom God would not have ſaddened; but rather awaken the Joy, and aſſiſt the Conſolation, and promote the ſpiritual Peace of thoſe unto whom it doth of right belong: I ſhall therefore conſider ſome of the Doubts, and Objections of ſeveral weak, or melancholy, dejected Chriſtians, who on all Occaſions argue againſt themſelves, and conclude hardly of their own State, from every word of Threatening and Terrour againſt the Ungodly: As melancholy People can hardly hear any Diſeaſe talked of or deſcribed, but they preſently imagin they have ſome of the Symptoms of it in their Caſe.
WHAT I have ſaid of the Nature and Terrour of this Judgment, and of the Methods o… Divine Juſtice in the Execution of it, may make ſome ready to ſay.
I fear leſt God hath given me up, for I have reſiſted many of the ſtrivings of the Spirit of Grace, and now I think he doth not ſtrive with me any more. I have been under the Rod, and not bettered by it, the Spirit of ſlumber and of a deep ſleep ſeems to poſſeſs me. I have outſtood many Calls to Repentance, and ſtifled many Convictions of Conſcience, and contradicted many good Reſolutions, and broken many Vows and Promiſes; I have backſliden and revolted from God after very hopeful Beginnings: Therefore the Puniſhment of Apoſtates may Juſtly be inflected on me. I, that have caſted the good Word of God, and of the Powers of the World to come, may well fear being left of God, ſo as it ſhould be impoſſible for me to be renewed by Repentance, Heb. 6.7.
My Day of Grace is over, ſaith Another, my accepted Time paſt, there is nothing ſo bad but I may Juſtly fear it: For I find I grow worſe and worſe, inſtead of making progreſs in Holineſs: whereas if my Grace were true it would be growing. But I find my Corruptions exceeding ſtrong, my heart very dead and hard, &c.
Doubtleſs God has withdrawn his Spirit from me, will Another ſay, I have not the Covenant Bleſſing of a ſoft Heart, a Heart of Fleſh; I cannot weep a Tear for my ſins, as once I could: I am good for nothing, unfit for any ſpiritual Duty; None in the World have ſuch a treacherous vile abominable Heart as I have, I am afraid God has given me over; I do not know but I may have ſinned the ſin unto Death, the unpardonable ſin, the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, which ſhall never be forgiven.
Anſw. THIS being a complicated Caſe, comprehending the objections of ſeveral People, wherein are ſome things that deſerve Pity, and others that need Reproof; there being ſomewhat very ſad in it, and ſomewhat very faulty too; It is manifeſt that my Reply muſt be mixed: It muſt in part be monitory and reprehenſive, and in part conſolatory. For Reproof and Counſel are neceſſary, as well as Encouragment and Comfort. I ſhall endeavour to intermix both; in the following particulars, by way of Anſwer.
1. CONSIDER, That to be under very great Darkneſs, Doubts, and Fears, ſo as to create much Trouble and Torment to your ſelves, will not of it ſelf conclude your Caſe deſperate, and your Souls finally forſaken. There are many Reaſons for Soul trouble, the Children of Light may walk in Darkneſs. You may Judge and condemn your ſelves for Unbelievers and Reprobates, and yet unjuſtly do ſo. You may refuſe to be comforted, and ſay all that the Devil ſpeaks againſt you to be true, and that it is impoſſible for ſuch a one, as you, to find Mercy: And yet all this may be falſe and faulty, and thoſe Clouds may afterwards vaniſh, Light appear, and Joy return. The Examples in Scripture, and the Experience of every Age will teſtifie this.
It may be your miſtake about the Nature of Faith, and make it to conſiſt in Aſſurance, not diſtinguiſhing between the direct and the reflex Act of Faith. Whereas if true Faith conſiſt in Aſſurance, and without Faith there is no ſalvation; A Man muſt be aſſured of his Salvation, or elſe he muſt neceſſarily be damned. And this is to ſuppoſe that a Man muſt Firſt be ſure of Heaven, before he can be capable of it. But you may be in Chriſt, and have the Image of Chriſt, and the Characters of his Children, and ſhall be kept by the Power of God unto Salvation; though for a time you may diſtruſt, and deſpair of it, walk mournfully, and refuſe to be comforted. Your own Doubts and Fears will not prove that you are given over, but rather the Contrary. For,
II. If you are given up to your own Hearts Luſts, how is it that you thus mourn, and greive at the Apprehenſion and Fear of it? Do you not value his Favour more than Life? And dread his Diſpleaſure more than Death? and fear nothing more than that God ſhould forſake you? And is it likely that Such are left of God, who hereby diſcover that they love him in Sincerity? Your very Solicitude, and Fear, and Diſquiet, leſt God ſhould finally reject you, and caſt you off, is an Argument that he hath not; and, if you continue of this Mind, that he never will.
Believe it, O doubting Chriſtian, if thou art from thy Soul unwilling to leave God, and of all things in the World doſt dread and deprecate his leaving thee, He hath not left thee, or given thee over. For be aſſured of this, God never did, or will forſake any, but thoſe who firſt f…rſake him, and are unwilling to Return. Where do you ever find, or how can it poſſibly be, that ſuch a Mans Day of Grace is paſt, and the time of his Viſitation over, that God hath Judicially left him, and given him up, who values the Preſence of God, and fears nothing more than to Sin againſt him, or to provoke him to caſt him off? Is ſuch a Man loſt, and given over, who thirſteth after God, and can be ſatisfied with nothing ſhort of him? Where do you ever find, that God did ever finally leave a Man, and leave any ſuch Grace behind him?
Is ſuch a Man loſt, and given up by God? Who prefers the Light of his Countenance before Corn, and Wine, and Oil, and all the Riches, Treaſures, and Honours of the World; Who had rather live in the moſt mean miſerable afflictive Condition on Earth, with the Love and Favour of God, than enjoy the greateſt Abundance of all things without it. I ſhall amplifie this more preſently under the ſixth Head.
III. LET me ask you, Are you not reſolved to hold on your Fight and Warfare againſt ſin? To continue and maintain your Conflict, notwithſtanding all your Doubts, and all your Complaints? You may ſometimes take being tempted for being overcome. But though Temptations have been too prevalent, and many of your Reſolutions and Purpoſes againſt ſin have been broken; Are you reſolved to ſtruggle no more, to reſiſt no longer? Dare you ſay upon ſerious Deliberation, Well, now I ſee my Caſe is hopeleſs, I will uſe no more Means againſt the Devil and ſin, I will pray to God no more, I will hear, and read his Word no more, I will attend upon the Ordinances of the Goſpel no longer, it is all to no purpoſe? I know you durſt not ſay this, nor talk at this rate.
Beſides, when you have fallen into ſin through the Prevalency of a Temtation, do you not make haſte to riſe again by bitter Repentance? Do you not freely confeſs, and aggravate your ſins in the Preſence of God, and not palliate, cover, or excuſe them? Are you not uneaſy, and reſtleſs under your Declenſions? Deſirous to make your Peace with God, and to be reconciled through Chriſt? Do you not double your Guard, and Watch afterwards? Do you not ſtill love Holineſs, and the Image of God, wherever you ſee it? Do you not check, and chide, and find fault with your ſelves, for your ungrateful Carriage to the God of Love? Are you not diſpleaſed with your ſelves? And aſhamed of your ſelves? And glad of any Help and Aſſiſtance that leads to your Recovery? If this be your Caſe, be aſſured your Day of Grace is not paſt, you are not left of God.
IV. YOU ſay, you cannot weep, and mourn, and expreſs your Repentance, as formerly, and as ſome others you know do; Yet conſider that it is the hatred of ſin and watchfulneſs againſt it, that is the trueſt ſign of Repentance and godly ſorrow. For to uſe the words of Mr. B. He that will be at the greateſt Coſt and Pains to be rid of ſin, or that he had not ſinned, or that he might ſin no more, though he have not ſuch command of Tears as Others, is the trueſt Penitent. You cannot weep for ſin as Others, but you would give all the World to be rid of ſin; you could wiſh that when you had diſhonoured God by Sin, you had ſpent that time in Suffering, and if it were to do again, upon the ſame Reaſons and Inducements, you would not do it. And if you might but pleaſe and obey God more than formerly, and be kept from diſobeying him, you would be content with any thing Judge your ſelves by this.
Beſides *See Dr: Collings Cordial for a Fainting Soul, part 1. Serm. 2.God hath not told us juſt what degree and meaſure of Humiliation and Sorrow for ſin is abſolutely needful. Some have more, and others leſs even of true Penitents.
TAKE heed of miſtaking the Caſe concerning the Day of Grace being over, and ſinners being finally left of God. For it is never true in this Life, that any are ſo left of God, and their Day of Grace ſo over, as that if they truly repent, and turn to him, he will not accept them. This would be againſt the whole tenour of the Goſpel Covenant: For whoſoever turns to God by true Repentance, and Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall not periſh but have eternal Life.
But there is another ſenſe of ſuch Ex…reſſions, that is, when men have ſo …ng reſiſted the Spirit, and refuſed the …ffers of Gods Grace, and rejected the Yoke and Government of Chriſt, that God reſolves to let them alone, never …o give them the prevailing Grace of his Spirit, but in righteous Judgment …o abandon them to their own Hearts Luſts, to walk in their own Counſels.
Becauſe they would not turn at my Reproof, they ſhall call, but I will not anſwer, ſeek me earneſtly, but not find me, Prov. 1.28. If men harden their Hearts, and will not hear and obey the voice of God, He may ſware in his Wrath, that they ſhall not enter into his Reſt. Heb. 3.11.15, 18. Num. 12.22. Ezek. 24.13. It may be this very day, or hour while now thou art called by God to Turn and Live, if thou refuſe now, thy Day may be over, and paſt for ever. To morrow God may ſay, Let him Alone, he ſhall not be purged, he ſhall dye in his ſins. Iſa. 42.14. Hoſ. 4.17. This is a poſſible Caſe, but who can tell when it is thus? How can this be known of particular Perſons when it is ſo, though ſome Approach nearer to it than Others? How can it poſitively be ſaid of any, that God will never give ſuch Perſons Repentance unto Life? You may be ſure, that if you find your Hearts Penitent, and willing to return to him, that it doth not reach you: It is not your Caſe. Therefore,
VI. YOU that thus complain and fear, have you not many of the Fruits of the Spirit viſible, and manifeſt in you? Therefore the Spirit of Chriſt hath not left you; God hath not given you over. Do you not eſteem and prize the GRACE of the Goſpel? Do you not cry to Heaven for the Spirit of Grace? Are you not earneſt in the ſeeking the Spirit of Holineſs from day to day? Whence is it, but from Grace, that you have an Heart to prize and ſeek it? They that have outſtood the Day of Grace, they deſpiſe it; they are ſunk into Carnality, and Forgetfulneſs of God; they are inſenſible, and ſtupid, and unconcerned about his Grace. But for you that value it, and ſeek it, your Day of Grace cannot be over: For it is from Common Grace, at leaſt, which has a tendency to Special, and ſhows your Caſe not to be like thoſe, who are given up of God.
But with moſt that thus complain, there is more than common Grace: There are Fruits of ſpecial Grace viſible. You do unfeignedly Repent, and mourn for Sin; and deſire to give up your ſelves to Chriſt. Now what but Grace hath made you to ſee the evil of ſin, and hate it? What but Grace hath made you willing to Accept of Chriſt, for your Lord and Saviour? What but Grace has made you value the Favour of God, and a holy Heart and Life, above all the World? How is it that you are brought to love God, and delight in him, to ſeek after him, and deſire to pleaſe him, and to be troubled that you can do ſo no more, no better? For ſuch as you to ſay your Day of Grace is over, is as abſurd, as one expreſſeth it, as for a Man to come into our Aſſemblies, and hear the Sermon, and then go away lamenting that the Sermon was done before he came. You have received that Grace, which you complain you want.
You know 'tis otherwiſe with Many. Were you like them; Did you find your Luſts and Paſſions lead you captive at their pleaſure; had you no Affections ſtirring after God, and Holineſs; did you deſpiſe Chriſt, and all Regard and Duty to him; and could not perſwade your ſelves to hear, or read, or pray, or think of another World, or do any thing to provide for it, you might then fear indeed what the iſſue of your Caſe would be.
But that is not the Caſe I am now ſpeaking of; nor of any, I hope, that now hear me, your Appearance in theſe Aſſemblies is ſome ſign of the contrary: And though as yet you may be unconverted, and unſanctified, if you are ſo far Awake as to look after Reconciliation to God; if you are touched with a ſenſe of your ſin and Danger, ſo as to deſire to be aſſiſted, and enabled to Repent, and turn to the Lord; how bad ſoever your preſent Caſe be, it is not Deſperate, and Remedileſs: For you are in the way of Mercy, and nothing but your own wilful, impenitent refuſal of Mercy, can deprive you of it.
VII. As to the Complaint of an Hard Heart, Remember it is the Impenitent, and the Ʋnperſwadable Heart that is the only hard Heart you need to fear. They that are obſtinate, and diſobedient, intractable and incorrigible; as the People of the Jews were, that neither regarded the divine Threatnings or Promiſes, or minded his Precepts; Theſe are they that are under Hardneſs of Heart. This is the Judgment you ought to fear, to be left under ſuch a Temper. But you find it otherwiſe with you, that the voice of God doth awe and command you: Your Wills are bowed unto Subjection to him; you are willing to take upon you the Yoke of Chriſt, or have taken it; and renouncing all Competitors, you deſire to chuſe Chriſt for your Lord and Saviour, and that God in Chriſt ſhould be your Ruler, and your Felicity. If it be thus, you may be ſure you are not left of God.
VIII. THAT Sight of ſin, and ſenſe of the Burthen of Corruption, which you complain of, as the Ground of your fear, will argue the direct contrary to what you alledge it for. For ſin has always the greateſt ſtrength where the ſinner is the leaſt Apprehenſive and Senſible of it. There is more hope of a ſenſible Patient, that feels his ſickneſs, and complains of it, than of one that feels nothing, but is confident all is well. Is not their Caſe much worſe, who feel nothing of the Evil of ſin, to whom the Power of it is not troubleſome, nor the Pollution of it lothſom, nor the Guilt of it butthenfom? While it is otherwiſe with you, you may be aſſured you are not given over, and left of God, and your Day of Grace paſt: it is yet Day with you or elſe how came you by ſo much Light to ſee the evil of ſin more than formerly and to ſee ſo many things to be ſin, which before you did not?
Though there may and will be a Conflict between Fleſh and Spirit, Corruption and Grace, in the beſt, while in this World; yet which Party doſt thou ſide with? Which has thy moſt willing Conſent? Which way is thy prevailing Deſire, Love, and Choice? Doſt thou not bewail the Body of ſin and Death? And wiſh to be delivered from Corruption more perfectly? To gain a more intire Victory? Doſt thou not watch, and wreſtle, and ſtrive, and pray againſt it from day to day? Is this the true ſtate of thy Caſe? Then never think thou art left of God.
As to Some of you, I may go further; and deſire you to look back upon your former Humiliations for ſin, when Firſt you turned to God. Though all have not the ſame ſenſible Degree of Humiliation; yet hath not the Spirit of Grace convinced you of the Holineſs and Equity of the Law of God? And of your own wretched, accurſed Condition under the Guilt of ſin? Have you not been brought, to tremble at the thoughts of his righteous Vengence? So as to diſreliſh all the Pleaſures of this World, by reaſon of the ſenſe of ſin; ſeeing no way out of this Perplexity, but by the free, and unconceivable Mercy of God in Chriſt; and therefore Renouncing all things that might ſeparate between Chriſt and thee, ready to part with all thy Luſts, and Pleaſures, and Profits, and Honours, Thou wert made willing to accept of his Mercy on his own Terms; crying earneſtly for pardoning, and ſanctifying Grace, acknowledging thy Unworthineſs of the leaſt Favour; owning the righteouſneſs of God, if he ſhould condemn thee; and yet, upon the Invitation and Call of the Goſpel, looking up to his Mercy-ſeat with Hope, Reſolving there to anchor and take no Denial.
Now after all this, and the Covenant Dedication of your ſelves to God in Chriſt, that followed upon it, and ſome Calmneſs and ſtability of Soul conſequent thereto, will you queſtion all again? Becauſe Corruption is not quite mortified, nor Sin quite deſtroyed? Even that ſenſe of remaining Sin that you make the matter of your Objection againſt your ſelves, is an Argument for you, and will conclude the Contrary to what you alledge it for.
IX. THO You cannot ſay ſo much, as to preſent ſenſe, of your Hatred of ſin and Loathing of it, as you deſire; yet examine your ſelves as to the Sins of Others, and what ſenſe you have of the Diſhonour of God by them. We may ſometimes gather matter of Comfort this way, concerning our own Sincerity, and Love to God, when we cannot ſo well have it nearer home. As bad as thou art, or thinkeſt thy ſelf to be: Art thou not tender of the Honour of God? Art thou not concerned for his Intereſt and Glory? Doth not thy ſoul tremble, and thine Heart ake when the Being of God is denied, or his Sacred Name blaſphemed, or the Glory of the Mediator Struck at, and the Authority of his Goſpel queſtioned, by the Atheiſts, and Saduces, and Infidels of the Age? Or the Progreſs of it obſtracted?
Doth not thy Heart riſe within thee, if thou happen into wicked Company, where the Word of God, his Inſtitutions, his Miniſters, and Servants are vilified and reproached, and bold Impieties vented, and vile Impurities boaſted of? &c.
X. BUT I do not Grow, I rather wax worſe, will ſome ſay. As to that, Conſider, that though there be Precepts, Promiſes, and Examples of growing in Grace, that ſhew what is Gods uſual way, and the Proper Tendency of the Spiritual Life; yet thoſe Promiſes are not ſo Abſolute, without any Condition, as that there is no true Believer who doth not alwaies grow in Grace: For Experience ſhews, that ſome decline and loſe their firſt Fervour, and need to be awakened to Repentance. The Promiſes of Growth and Faithfulneſs are not abſolute, but depend on the Improvement of Grace received, and the Performance of many Duties, with great watchfulneſs and Diligence in our whole Chriſtian Courſe. And many Chriſtians, live not up to the Condition of the Accompliſhment of ſuch Promiſes, as concern the Growth and thriving of Spiritual Life. They decay, and decline through their own Carleſneſs, and Negligence.
Senſible Affections be ſure, and vigorous Encreaſe in that reſpect, is not the true Meaſure, whereby to Judge of growth in Grace. For different Ages, and Tempers, and Circumſtances of our condition in the world will make a great Difference in ſenſible Affections.
You may grow in Grace, by a more Judicious Eſteem, and value of God and Holineſs, Love to Chriſt and his Grace, and Glory, ſo as it may be harder for the Devil to draw you off from God, than before; even when you think you do not grow, you may be more ſtable and reſolved, though not ſo lively and affectionate. And the decay of natural ſtrength, and vigor of parts by old age or ſickneſs, may make a Difference with ſome. Your Humility, your ſelf denial, and Patience may encreaſe, when you think otherwiſe. And he who grows more humble thrives in every other Grace, whether he believe it, and take notice of it or no. But if you are declin'd, the Remedy muſt be to Awake, and to uſe Gods appointed Means to make you, grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. You cannot thereupon conclude that you have no Grace, much leſs that you are left of God, and given over. Such as enquire not whether they grow or decay, who have little or no Concern about their own Caſe as to theſe things, have moſt reaſon to fear it of themſelves, whilſt ſuch as do really grow, for a time, may not diſcern it. And ſometimes others may obſerve it, when they themſelves diſown it, or perceive it not.
But if you are under ſome declenſion, Remember the cauſe, that it is from ſloth and negligence in the uſe of God's appointed means for Encreaſe; from the want of daily Mortification of ſin, and Watchfulneſs againſt it; from countenacing ſome Luſt, ſo that its power is encreaſed, ſuffering the Love of the World to ſteal upon you, and conforming to it; giving way to Formality, and careleſſneſs in divine Worſhip, and the Duties of Religion; and Apply the Remedy by Repentance, Mortification, and doing your firſt works, Rev. 3.1,2. But make not haſty, unjuſt Concluſions concerning your final ſtate.
XI. MOREOVER Conſider, there may be much more of Blame and Faultineſs, of Guilt and ſin, in your unbelieving Objections, and Deſpondency, than you are aware of. Therefore while you complain of ſin, take heed you do not encreaſe, and add to your ſin by diſobeying the command of God to Believe and Hope. God hath made Hope a poſitive Duty, and Gods Command were enough, if there were nothing elſe in your Caſe. Your Deſpair, as if your Caſe were deſperate, and your Condition hopeleſs, that God had finally given you over, is a plain ſin: And will you juſtifie it? He obliges you to hope; he hath not bid the Devil or the damned to hope, as he hath commanded you. It is by hope we are ſaved; and he takes Pleaſure in them that hope in his Mercy.
But to convince you of this ſin, conſider what a Repreſentation of the bleſſed God your Objection makes, as if he were not a God of Grace, pardoning Inquity, Tranſgreſſion and Sin, upon Repentance, which is what he hath declared concerning himſelf. Now is it not a ſin to believe God to be ſuch an one, as is directly contrary to the Character he has given of himſelf? That though I never ſo much deſire his Favour, and value it as my Life; though I deſire to my utmoſt to comport with his Mind and Will, ſo far as he hath, or ſhall reveal it to me; to believe that yet he hath caſt me off, or will caſt me off: What a ſad Account of God does this give? What a Reproach upon him would this bring? Is not this to take the Devils Repreſentation of him to be truer than his own?
There is likewiſe further ſin in your Objection, and Doubt, by miſrepreſenting the Tenor of the Goſpel Covenant. Whereas that ſays, Take God in Chriſt for your God, and give up your ſelves to be his, and he is, and will be yours; you add ſomething more out of your own Head as neceſſary, and ſo alter the Terms of Life and Death. And what is this but to make a new Goſpel? The Bleſſed God hath ſaid, on ſuch Terms Souls ſhall be ſaved, you add others as neceſſary: And ſay, I ſhall never be ſaved, unleſs it be thus and thus with me; which God hath never ſaid. Though I do accept God for my God, and Chriſt for my Saviour, and conſent to be his, and endeavour to pleaſe him, yet he will not ſave me. This is to give God the Lye, and there is more Guilt in it than we think. Therefore.
XII. LAY this as a Foundation Truth, and keep it, That you can never be more willing to Come to Chriſt, than he is to Receive you. If you think otherwiſe, your ſeeming Humility in Doubting hath much of Pride in it. If you are willing to have Chriſt and his Grace on his Terms, He is yours. If you are willing to have Chriſt for your Saviour, and your King, to receive him as Chriſt Jeſus the Lord; and the bleſſed Spirit as your Sanctifier; and had rather have his Favour, and Love, and his holy Image, than all the riches of this World; you are then His: If your Willingneſs be prevailing, and more than your Unwillingneſs.
For Chriſt, be aſſured, is Willing; He hath firſt ſhown his Willingneſs, He dyed to manifeſt it, and hath drawn up, procured, and publiſhed a Covenant of Grace, wherein he declares his Conſent, and calls for yours. Therefore if there be not a Covenant Union unto Eternal Life between him and you, it is through your Refuſal, not his.
Now if you are not willing to Accept his offered Grace, to be ſanctified by him, and bleſſed in him; why do you complain, for the want of that which you would not have, and are not willing of? For I tell you again, He is willing to Receive, and Accept you, and to be Yours in an Everlaſting Covenant never to be broken, if you are ſincerely Willing to be His Covenant Servants. Moreover,
XII. AS to the Doubt concerning the ſin against the Holy Ghoſt, I think ſuch as make that Objection do not well underſtand wherein it lyes. Read the 12th of Matthew throughout, and Mark 3.28, 29, 30. And you will find that the Sin againſt the Holy Ghoſt never to be forgiven, was to this purpoſe; That when, notwithſtanding the Miracles of Chriſt, which confirmed his divine Commiſſion, and proved him to be the Meſſiah, They who ſaw thoſe Miracles of Chriſt, and could not deny them to be true; yet did not believe him to be the Son of God, or his Doctrine to be true, though atteſted by thoſe Miracles. But rather than own him to be the Chriſt, they blaſphemouſly aſcribed his Miracles unto the Agency' of the Devil, the unclean Spirit; That were wrought by the Power of the Holy Ghoſt.
They therefore who own Chriſt to be the Meſſiah, and his Goſpel to be true; who do not take him for a Deceiver, but acknowledge him as their Lord, and honour and worſhip him as the Chriſt of God; they are not Guilty of the ſin there mentioned, called The ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt.
I deny not but ſome may be guilty in our days of ſuch Sins, as make Approaches unto this, and are ſomewhat like it; As when, notwithſtanding clear Evidence of the Truth of the Goſpel, Men reſiſt the Light, and rebel againſt it, and turn open Apoſtates, and Perſecutors, if not down right profeſſed Infidels. But the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, there deſcribed by the Evangeliſt, ſeems to imply a Man's taking Chriſt for a Deceiver. Be ſure none who own the Goſpel to be true, and Chriſt to be the Saviour of fallen ſinners, are guilty of that Sin, though they may make dangerous Approaches to it.
Much leſs are they Guilty of it, who fear the guilt of this ſin: But ſuch doubting fearful Perſons, who make this Queſtion concerning themſelves, becauſe of ſome blaſphemous Suggeſtions of Satan, &c. They would have been afraid of the Guilt of any other ſin as well as of this, if they had ever heard, or read ſuch dreadful things declared againſt any Other ſin, as againſt This: But they ſeem not to underſtand the Nature of it.
*See Mr. Howe's Append. to Redeemer's Tears.I do not deny but there may alſo be an equivalent Evidence of the Divinity of Chriſt, and of the Truth of the Goſpel, that the Infidels of our Age may ſin againſt; Equivalent, I ſay, to what the Scribes and Phariſees who where guilty of this ſin, did ſin againſt. And therefore our modern Deists, who reproach the bleſſed Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit of God, had need look to it, leſt they approach unto the unpardonable ſin, and God ſhould give them over to their own Hearts Luſts. But as to poor doubting Chriſtians, that fear they are guilty of the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, mentioned in the Goſpel, It is plain enough, that they fearing the Guilt of it are not in danger of it for the preſent, or like to be ſo.
LASTLY, To bring the whole matter to a ſhort Iſſue, and to put it out of queſtion, that your day of Grace is not over, and that God hath not left you, or given you over to your own Hearts Luſts; I do now tender you the Grace and Salvation purchaſed by Chriſt in his Name. If now you are heartily willing to accept it, the Caſe is determined: and determined in the beſt manner that can be. Therefore to put all out of doubt, Accept the preſent offer of Gods Grace, which is this day made you. Oppoſe not the greatneſs of your ſins paſt, or the Aggravations of your preſent Unworthineſs, but penitently, and humbly, and thankfully accept the Pardon that is offered you in the Name of Chriſt.
Do you think, in contradiction to the whole Goſpel, that your ſins are ſo many, or ſo great, that Chriſt did not, could not ſatisfie for them, and that he will not forgive them, if you Repent, and turn to God, and Believe on the Name of his Son? You are condemned by the Law; Chriſt came to ſave ſinners, and ſuch as were loſt; and he requires no Worthineſs, or Price in your Hands, but that you unfeignedly Conſent to be his, to accept an offered Saviour, and his Salvation according to the Ends and Uſes of the Covenant of Grace: That he may illuminate and teach you, ſanctifie and guide you, govern and rule you, by his Word and Spirit. This is the Condition of your Title to the Bleſſings of the Covenant, and conſequently muſt be the Evidence of your Title, and ſhould be a ſatisfactory one.
But if you are Unwilling to forſake ſin, and return to God by Jeſus Chriſt; if you are unwilling to receive him as your Teacher, Sanctifier, Saviour and Lord; you have reaſon to doubt your ſtate indeed, or rather the matter is paſt doubt, you are unſanctified, and as yet unreconciled to God.
Whoever thereſore, upon the account of their former Reſiſtance of the Spirit, ſtifling Convictions, violating their good Reſolutions, &c. Do queſtion their State, whether God hath not given them over; yet let them Conſider they are now invited, and entreated to put it out of queſtion that their Day of Grace is not paſt, by letting this be Their Accepted time, the Day of their Salvation; by now heartily accepting an offered Saviour, and giving up themſelves unto him. And then, notwithſtanding all your former Refuſals of his Mercy and Grace, if now at laſt you will return and ſubmit, and take his yoke upon you; there is Eaſe, and Reſt, and Pardon, and Comfort, and Life, Eternal Life to be had.
To conclude, Inſtead of Doubting, and Complaining, and queſtioning any longer, Reduce all that which is Doubtful with you, to that which is Plain and Certain. It is certain that God hath ſent his Son into the World to ſave ſinners; It is certain that you are ſome of thoſe loſt, miſerable, guilty Creatures that need this Salvation; It is certain that he has publiſhed the glad Tidings of the Goſpel to ſuch, that whoever believeth ſhall be ſaved; Is is certain that God cannot lye, it is therefore inconſiſtent with his Nature, that ſuch as come to him in the Exerciſe of Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſhould not be Accepted with him.
Therefore diſpute, and queſtion, and complain no longer how matters have been, or how they are with you, but come in upon the Call and Invitation of the Goſpel Grace: Remember the Covenant thou haſt made with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt in Baptiſm; Reſign, yield and give up thy ſelf with all thy Heart and Soul to be his, reſolving that thou wilt throw thy ſelf into the Arms of his Love, and Mercy, becauſe it is the Command of God that you believe on his Son; Reſolve that through his Mercy and Grace, by the help of his Spirit of Grace, you will now do ſo, whatever come of it.
Do not perplex your ſelves about the Queſtion, whether you did it not formerly, four, or five, or ten years ago? But do it again; Bleſſing God that you may now do it; that he has not repealed his Goſpel, and that he never will repeal it to the end of the World. I may Accept of his Son now, as well as ſo many years ago. Bleſſed be God, the Invitation, the Command, the Promiſe is the ſame now as it was then; And to as many as Receive him, he will give the Priviledge to become the Sons of God, even to as many as believe on his Name. Bleſſed be God for Jeſus Chriſt, and the Covenant of Grace.