The Efficacy of the Fear of Hell to Restrain Men from Sin, Sermon 3
The Third Sermon.
Luke 4.18.
He hath ſent me to Heal the Broken-hearted.
THESE Words are an amplification of the Former; ſhewing the Effect of Preaching the Goſpel to the Poor. Where 1. The Perſons to be benefited, the Broken-hearted. The Broken-hearted, that is, thoſe that are diſtreſſed becauſe of Sin. This may be either from godly Sorrow, Pſal. 34.18. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a Broken-heart, and ſaveth ſuch as be of a Contrite ſpirit. Or, from a ſenſe and apprehenſion of Miſery and Danger. Prov. 15.13. By Sorrow of Heart, the Spirit is Broken. Prov. 17.22. A merry Heart doth good like a Medicine, but a broken Spirit drieth the Bones. And here it ſeems to have a reſpect to thoſe that are in Diſtreſs of Conſcience. 2. The benefit he was to bring to them, healing of them. There are two Caſes wherein Men ſtand in need of Healing. One is in Caſe of Sickneſs and Diſeaſes. Pſal. 103.3. Who healeth all thy Diſeaſes. The other is, in Caſe of Wounds. That is the Caſe here. Their Conſciences are wounded. In Iſaiah it is, To bind up the broken in Heart. That is the manner of Surgeons in order to Healing.
DOCTRINE. There is Virtue in the Goſpel to Heal wounded Conſciences. As the Body of a Man, ſo the Conſcience of a Man may be wounded in divers Degrees; but ſometimes the Wounds of Conſcience are very Dreadful. And it is a great Service to a Man to have thoſe Wounds healed. This cannot be effected by other Means. Many Men have made tryal to little Purpoſe, but the Goſpel is powerful that way. The Law Wounds the Conſciences of Sinners. 1 Cor. 15.56. The Sting of Death is Sin; and the ſtrength of Sin is the Law. But the Goſpel Heals their Conſciences. The Goſpel is of exceeding great Uſe otherwiſe; as it ſanctifies the Hearts, and gives Men Power over Indwelling-Sin. And this way it is very uſeful; that it Heals the Conſcience, it frees the Conſcience from Grief, and the Terrour of Hell, and brings inward Peace and good Hope of eternal Life. Let the Wounds of Conſcience be never ſo deep, yet by the Goſpel they may be healed. God is the Author of Healings. Pſal. 147.3. He healeth the broken in Heart, and bindeth up their Wounds. But the Goſpel is the Means. Rom. 15.13. The God of all Hope fill you with all Peace and Joy in Believing. 1 Pet. 1.8. In whom, though now you ſee him not, yet Believing, ye Rejoyce with Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory. Hence the Goſpel is called the Goſpel of Peace. Rom. 10.15. How beautiful are the Feet of them that Preach the Goſpel of Peace, that bring glad Tydings of good Things! Eph. 6.15. And your Feet ſhod with the Preparation of the Goſpel of Peace. The Goſpel is a means of Peace with God, and ſo of Peace of Conſcience. Here I ſhall Premiſe two Diſtinctions.
1. Between a ſtupifyed Conſcience, and an healed Conſcience. Some Sinners have no Anguiſh in their Conſciences. This riſes from a ſtupid and ſenceleſs Spirit. They are under the Power of an Atheiſtical Principle. They have no ſenſe of Eternal Things. Theſe Men know, that they are Corrupt, and Unregenerate; and that if the Scripture be true, they are Miſerable. But they are beſotted and benummed, and don't feel inward Pain. Rom. 11.8. God hath given them the Spirit of deep Sleep and Slumber. This Conſcience differs from a Conſcience that is healed: For a Conſcience that is healed, is very ſenſible of Judgment, and the Wrath of God againſt Sinners, and the truth of the Threatnings, and the Reaſon of its quietneſs is not from Unbelief, but becauſe his ſtate is changed, and he is brought in to a ſtate of Reconciliation with God. He perceives that God is at Peace with him, and ſo he Rejoyces in hope of Glory. Rom. 5.1, 2. Being juſtifyed by Faith, we have Peace with God, through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. By whom alſo we have acceſs into this Grace wherein we ſtand, and Rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God.
2. Between a flattering Conſcience, & an healed Conſcience. Some Men have quietneſs in their Conſciences, from falſe Imaginations that they are at Peace with God. They have hopes of going to Heaven, and Apprehenſions that Gods is reconciled to them, either from falſe Principles; So Papiſts, and Quakers, and Arminians, they think ſuch things will bring them into a ſtate of Peace, as will not. Or from falſe Apprehenſions that they are converted, and have Faith and Love. Prov. 30.12. There is a Generation that are pure in their own Eyes, yet are not cleanſed from their Filthineſs. The Wounds of their Conſciences are ſkinned over, and when they are inlightned, the Wound will open again; but when the Conſcience is healed, Men are not under a Miſtake; they have a good Foundation for their Hope. 2 Theſ. 2.16. God hath loved us, and given us everlaſting Conſolation, and good Hope through Grace. Many Men find religious Affections, and a Conſcienſcious Care to pleaſe God, and get conſiderable Victory over Temptations, and have ſome ſuperficial Joy in the hearing of the Goſpel, and ſo they flatter themſelves that the bitterneſs of Death is paſt. But when Conſcience is healed, it is from an Application of the Blood of Chriſt.
Q. What muſt be done by the Man, in order to the Application of this healing Virtue?
A. 1. He muſt believe the offers of the Goſpel to be true. Multitudes hear and read the Goſpel, that have no benefit of its healing Virtue, becauſe they don't believe it to be true. Heb. 4.2. The Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it. If the Goſpel were not true, it would be no Foundation of true Peace, and many are at a loſs about the truth of it. Their Minds are blinded. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them that believe not, leſt the Light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt ſhould ſhine unto them. They have Objections againſt the Goſpel, and don't diſcern the truth of it, by the Teſtimony of God. But in order to the healing of their Conſciences, they muſt be convinced of the truth of the Goſpel, that Chriſt Jeſus is the Son of God, that his Sacrifice has ſatisfied Juſtice, that God offers Mercy through him. The Word muſt come with a divine Authority. Men muſt hear the Voice of Chriſt. Chriſt muſt be revealed by the Father. 1 Theſ. 2.13. Ye received the Word, as the Word of God. Joh. 5.25. The Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and live. Math. 16.17. Fleſh and Bloud hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father that is in Heaven.
2. He muſt receive theſe Offers. It is the Duty of Men to receive the Invitations of the Goſpel, and that is neceſſary in order to Peace of Conſcience. For if a Man don't receive the Goſpel, the Word ſpeaks Terrour to him. Mar. 16.16. He that believeth not ſhall be damned. Rom. 2.8, 9. To them that are Contentious, and obey not the Goſpel, but obey Unrighteouſneſs, God will render Indignation and Wrath. 2 Theſ. 1.8. Chriſt will come in flaming Fire, taking Vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt. If Men do not receive the Goſpel, they are not at Peace with God. Whatever commendable Qualifications they have, they are not reconciled to God: And if they have not Peace with God, they cannot have true Peace of Conſcience. The Office of Conſcience, is to echoe to the Voice of God. Men muſt receive Chriſt. Joh. 1.12. To them that received him, gave he Power to become the Sons of God. That brings them into an eſtate of Juſtification. Receiving of Chriſt is the Condition of the Goſpel Covenant. The Redemption of Chriſt brings no ſaving benefit to them that don't receive him. Men muſt believe on him, that ſo they may have an intereſt in his Blood. God don't force the benefits of Chriſt on any Man, they muſt come to him. Math. 11.28. Come to me all ye that are Weary, and heavy Laden, and I will give you Reſt. Theſe two Particulars always go together: Thoſe that do believe the Goſpel, do always receive Chriſt: The Mind and Will act in Conjunction.
3. He muſt diſcern that he doth receive the Goſpel. Peace of Conſcience riſeth from an underſtanding of the truth of the Goſpel, and that he himſelf hath cloſed with it. Men are capable to perceive that they have received it, and Conſcience is very obſervant at ſuch a time. It is a thing that the Heart is much concerned about; and generally they do take notice of it, and obſerve the very time. Some times they can roundly ſpeak up to it. Joh. 9.38. Lord I believe. Others do perceive it, though under more Uncertainty. The Conſciences of Men have a reflecting Power, and may diſcern their own Actions. Conſcience diſcerns Unbelief, and ſo Accuſeth; and it diſcerns Faith, and ſo ſpeaks Peace. Men are afterwards ſubject to divers Temptations; but generally they take ſome Notice of the Change that God has made in them; that they have been perſwaded, and after much Oppoſition, have yielded to the calls of God. When God hath ſaid, Return ye backſliding Children, and I will Heal your Backſlidings, they have anſwered, Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. As Jer. 3.22.
2. Q. How doth the Goſpel apply its healing Virtue?
A. 1. It manifeſts, that God hath juſtified and accepted him. This is the plain Concluſion from the Premiſes. The Goſpel teſtifies, that he that believes is juſtified. Act. 10.43. To him give all the Prophets Witneſs, through his Name, whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall receive the forgiveneſs of Sins. God is reconciled to all believers. God that has authority to Pardon Sin, that is the Judge of the World, declares that he will be reconciled to believers; and Conſcience affirms, that he doth believe in Chriſt; he hath betaken himſelf to Chriſt for Refuge. Sometimes this is more clear to him: He can ſay as Pſal. 13.5. I have truſted in thy Mercy. And ſo he concludes that God is reconciled to him. He is delivered from Condemnation, according to that, Joh. 5.24. He that ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him that ſent him, hath everlaſting Life, and ſhall not enter into Condemnation, but is paſſed from Death to Life. So he concludes that God is his Father, that his Sins are caſt into the depths of the Sea; that God will beſtow heavenly Bleſſedneſs upon him; his Conſcience echoes to the Voice of God, and pronounces him an Heir of Glory; and ſo he rejoiceth in hope of the Glory of God. Rom. 5.1.
2. The Goſpel manifeſts, that it is agreeable to the Law, that he doth juſtify. Formerly he he was dreadfully ſcared with the Law. 1 Cor. 15.56. The Sting of Death is Sin, and the ſtrength of Sin is the Law. He conſidered that the Law muſt be fulfilled. Math. 5.18. Not one jot or tittle muſt paſs from the Law, but all muſt be fulfilled. But the Goſpel gives a clear Account that Chriſt has ſatisfied the Law. That the Law did allow a Mediatour. Gal. 3.17. The Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Chriſt, the Law which was four Hundred and thirty Years after, cannot diſanul, that it ſhould make the Promiſe of none effect. That the Curſe of the Law was executed on Chriſt. Gal. 3.13. He hath redeemed us from Curſe, being made a Curſe for us. Chriſt Jeſus ſuffered for our Sins. 1 Cor. 15.1. Chriſt died for our Sins, according to the Scriptures. Iſai. 53.6. He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, and bruiſed for our Iniquities. Hereby the Soul is ſatisfied that God may ſave him without any Contradiction to the Rule of Juſtice. All the Challenges of the Law have been anſwered by Chriſt, ſo that now the Threatnings of the Law are not a Terrour to him. He ſees the Debt is paid, the Account is cancelled; it is according to a Rule of Righteouſneſs that he ſhould be ſaved. The Law lays no Bar in the way. Rom. 3.26. God is Juſt, and the juſtifier of him that believeth in Jeſus. Rom. 3.31. Do we then make void the Law through Faith? God forbid: Yea, we eſtabliſh the Law.
1 USE. Hence learn the Preciouſneſs of the Goſpel. The Goſpel is called Glorious. 2 Cor. 4.4. It is called the Word of God's Grace. Act. 20.32. I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace. It is called the good Word of God. Heb. 6.5. Have taſted the good Word of God. The Promiſes of it are called, exceeding great and precious Promiſes. 2 Pet. 1.4. And truly on this Account, the Goſpel is precious, that it heals wounded Conſciences. The Balm of Judea is counted precious, becauſe of its healing Virtue. So the Goſpel is to be prized becauſe of its ſanative Power, that it heals the Wounds that Sin has made in the Conſcience. There be a great many that hear the Goſpel, that are not healed, but thouſands have been healed by it. Every Man that doth receive it, is healed thereby, whatever their Terrours were.
1 Conſider. Theſe Wounds can't be healed any other way. Some other things can ſtupify the Conſcience, and ſkin the Wounds over, but nothing but the Goſpel can cure them. Mic 6.6.7. Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, and bow my ſelf before the high God? Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings, or Calves of a Year Old? Will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of Rams, or ten thouſands of Rivers of Oyl? If a Man ſhould Weep Day and Night, that will not do. If he ſhould give all his Goods to the Poor, that will not do. If he ſhould walk in Print, that will not do. Theſe Wounds do reject all other Medicines. Rom. 3.20. By the deeds of the Law, ſhall no Fleſh living be juſtified in his Sight. If a Man ſhould with Anna, ſerve God with Faſtings and Prayers Night and Day; if he ſhould with Paul, go Preaching the Goſpel from Jeruſalem, round about unto Illyricum, if he ſhould with Elijah be very jealous for the Lord of Hoſts; if he ſhould confeſs his Sins with Tears of Blood; if he ſhould give his Body to be burned, it would not do. The biting of the fiery Serpent could not be healed, but by looking to the brazen Serpent. So there is nothing can allay the Venom of theſe Wounds, but the Goſpel. Many Men try many Concluſions, but their Wounds Stink and are Corrupt. There is no Soundneſs in their Fleſh, becauſe of God's Anger, nor any Reſt in their Bones, becauſe of their Sins. Their Bones wax Old through their Roaring all the Day, and their Moiſture is turned into the drought of Summer, till the Virtue of the Goſpel is applyed unto them. Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you: Not as the World giveth, give I unto you. Heb. 9.14. How much more ſhall the Blood of Chriſt, who through the eternal Spirit offered himſelf to God, purge your Conſciences from dead Works?
2. Theſe Wounds are full of Anguiſh. Many Men have ſuch Wounds in their Conſciences, as are exceeding hard to bear. Their Sins are like Ghoſts, gaſhly to behold, when God ſets them in order before Men. The Wrath of God is hard to bear: It lies like a Mountain of Lead upon the Soul; and Terrours take hold of them like Waters, when the Arrows of the Almighty are within Men, the Poiſon of them drinks up their Spirits, and they have a dreadful Sound in their Ears. Job 15.21. Their Hearts are as heavy as Lead, their Sorrows pierce them as with the piercings of a Sword. The Wrath of God ſearches like Fire; they are in an amazed Condition. Other Afflictions are hard to bear, theſe are harder. Men may bear up under other Sorrows, but theſe ſink the Soul. Prov. 18.14. The Spirit of a Man can ſuſtain his Infirmity; but a wounded Spirit who can bear? They cry out in Diſtreſs. Iſai. 33.14. Who among us can dwell with devouring Fire? Yet the Goſpel can heal theſe Wounds, and turn their Mourning into Dancing, and turn their Sorrow into Joy, that they ſhall Sing for Joy.
3. If theſe Wounds be not healed here, they never will be healed. There is great neceſſity that Mens Conſciences ſhould be healed now in this World. It is a doleful Thing for theſe painful Wounds to continue ſeveral Months; more Doleful for them to continue, as ſometimes they do, ſome Years. But there lies great neceſſity upon Men to get theſe Wounds healed quickly, for if they be not healed here, they never will be healed. If Men go with the Wounds out of this World, they will abide for ever. Their Guilt will remain for ever, and the Wrath of God will be poured out on them for ever. What can heal them in the other World? The Puniſhment that they ſuſtain, will not take away their Guilt. They will never be able to pay their Debts, and ſatisfy divine Juſtice; for they deſerve everlaſting Puniſhment; for that they will be ſentenced unto. Math. 25.41. Depart ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire. And as long as their Guilt continues, their Wounds will continue. Yea, their Wounds will be fuller of Anguiſh then, Conſcience will be much more ſenſible then, than it is now. Now they have many outward Enjoyments that do help to ſtupify Conſcience. Now they have abundance of carnal Reaſonings and flattering Hopes, that give them ſome eaſe. Now their Underſtandings are more Dull; but in the other World, theſe Wounds will be fuller of Anguiſh than now; they will have more Underſtanding then of the greatneſs and Majeſty of God; they will be ſtripped out of all their carnal Enjoyments; they will know and remember all their Sins: They will have Experience of Divine Vengeance; they will Drink of the Wine of God's Indignation. There will be more Revelations of his Wrath to them, & they ſhall be utterly without Hope, and ſee an impoſſibility of Deliverance. Mar. 9.44. There the Worm dieth not.
4. Theſe Wounds are ſo healed by the Goſpel, that they ſhall never prove Mortal. The Goſpel doth the thing effectually. It is with theſe Wounds indeed, as it is with bodily Wounds and broken Bones; after they are healed, they ſometimes Ake againſt change of Weather, but yet they ſhall not prove Mortal. A Man whoſe Conſcience is healed, ſhall never die of his Wounds. If the Wounds of Conſcience be not healed, they will iſſue in Ruine; but if the healing Virtue of the Goſpel be applyed to them, the Men are delivered from Deſtruction; they may have Pain ſometimes, but their Life is ſafe. Col. 3.3. Your Life is hid with Chriſt in God. Joh. 5.24. They are paſſed from Death to Life. Rom. 8.1. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus. If Conſcience be healed, and acquits from their Guilt, their Sins ſhall never be charged upon them, and ſhall never prove a Diſcouragement to them, ſo as to make them forſake Chriſt, nor fall into a way of Unbelief.
2 USE. Of Examination, whether the Wounds of your Conſciences have been healed. Some Mens Conſciences are more quiet than they were. There was a time when you were mightily terrified; you could not reſt Day nor Night; your Sins were ſet in order before you, and the Wrath of God was terrible to you; the Terrours of the Almighty ſet themſelves in array againſt you, and you had amazing Fears: Some times you feared that your Day of Grace was paſt; ſometimes that the Spirit of God had left you; ſometimes that you had committed the unpardonable Sin; ſometimes that you ſhould die before Morning. It was Dreadful to think of Dying, and the end of all Opportunities, of going in your Sins before the Judgment-Seat; of lying among Devils; of unquenchable Fire. You were amazed to think how you ſhould ſpend the Day, and then how you ſhould wear out the Night, and how you ſhould grapple with eternal Miſery; but now the caſe is altered, and you are not under ſuch Fears; you live quietly and hope to go to Heaven. The thoughts of Death are not ſuch a Terrour to you as they were: But there may be eaſe of Conſcience where there is no Healing. Some Mens Conſciences are not healed, but ſtupified. The Wounds of ſome Mens Conſciences are only ſkinned over, not cured. You may know it by this: When they are indeed healed, they are always healed by the Goſpel.
If it were by the Goſpel, then you were convinced that nothing elſe would Heal you. Before Men feel the Efficacy of the Goſpel, they muſt be beaten off from all falſe hopes. Men may ſee that their Hearts are very bad, and a great deal of Rottenneſs and Hypocriſy in themſelves, and much of the inſufficiency of their own Righteouſneſs, yet not be prepared to receive the offers of Chriſt, and depend on his Righteouſneſs. There be particular Convictions of the wretchedneſs of Mens own Hearts, for Months going. They may ſee more and more of the deſperate Wickedneſs that is in their Hearts, and yet they not be brought out of themſelves. But before they come to Chriſt for healing, they muſt be convinced of the incurableneſs of their Wounds by any other Medicine. If they can help themſelves by Prayers, Deſires, Sorrows Inlargements, they will neglect Chriſt. They will never come to Chriſt, till they are reduced to Extremity. If they can make a ſhift to eaſe their Conſciences with their Priviledges & Performances, they may counterfeit Faith in Chriſt, but they will neglect him. They muſt ſee themſelves Dead. Rom. 7.9. Sin revived and I died Their ſtrong holds muſt all be thrown down. 2 Cor. 10.4. The weapons of our Warfare are mighty, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds. Men muſt be empty of themſelves, and all Refuges muſt fail them, before they will come to Chriſt.
2. If it were by the Goſpel, it was by the ſpiritual Diſcovery of the Grace of God, and the Virtue of Chriſt's Blood. There is a twofold common Diſcovery of the Virtue of Chriſt's Blood: One is from the ſtrength of Reaſon. Men can argue from many Topicks that it muſt be ſo, from the Miracles that he wrought, from his Reſurrection, from the conſent of the Old Teſtament, &c. And thus the generality of thoſe that are called Chriſtians, have ſome perſwaſion of it. Like them, Joh. 2.23. Many believed on his Name, when they ſaw the Miracles that he did. The other is by more than ordinary Illuminations. Some carnal Men have a ſuperficial Illumination. Heb. 6.4. Some that have been inlightned fall away. Math. 13.20. They receive the Word with Joy, but have not Root in themſelves. This Illumination is like a flaſh of Lightning▪ it affects Men at preſent, but wears off after a while: But when their Conſciences are ſealed by the Goſpel, their are indeed convinced. There is a ſpiritual Diſcovery of the ſaving Virtue of the Blood of Chriſt. They ſee his Glory, as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father. Joh. 1.14. So Chriſt was revealed in Paul, Gal. 1.16. God gives the Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of him. The Blindneſs of the Mind muſt be removed before Men will receive the Goſpel. Men muſt hear God calling them, before they will come to Chriſt. And ſuch Perſons have not only a ſpiritual Diſcovery of Chriſt, when their Conſciences are firſt healed, but afterwards they are wont to have further Diſcoveries thereof, whereby they are helped to renew their Dependance on the Blood of Chriſt.
3. If it were by the Goſpel, then the Diſeaſes of their Hearts are healed alſo. When the Goſpel is received, it has not a great power over the Conſcience only, but over the Heart alſo. As it delivers the Conſcience from the guilt of Sin, ſo it delivers the Heart from the power of Sin. It doth not only Comfort, but it Purifies the Man. The Goſpel teaches us to deny Ungodlineſs, and worldly Luſt; and to live Soberly, Righteouſly and Godly, in this World. 2 Tit. 11.12. And wherever the Goſpel is indeed received, it has a mighty Efficacy to renew the Heart. Thoſe that know the Grace of God, and Excellency of Chriſt, are thereby inclined to carry Holily. Some Men get a falſe Peace by common Illuminations, and that occaſions ſtrong Affections, Sorrow for Sin, delight in Ordinances, care of their Converſation for a time; but before it be long, their Corruptions revive like Snakes in the Spring. Luk. 8.13. For a while they believe, and in time of Temptation they fall away. But if the Conſcience is healed, the Diſeaſes are cured. The Heart is changed; the Man has a Spirit of Love to God; he has ſuch a ſight of God and Chriſt, as gives Life to him. 2 Cor. 5.17. If any Man be in Chriſt Jeſus, he is a new Creature: Old things are paſt away, and all things are become New. As the ſight of God and Chriſt inclines the Soul to truſt in him, ſo to Love and Fear him. Joh. 5.25. The Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and live.
3 USE. Of Direction what Courſe to take, that your Conſciences may be healed. Some Men are diſtreſſed by reaſon of the Wounds of their Conſciences. Prov. 18.14. A wounded Conſcience who can bear? And they are willing to take a great deal of Pains in order to their healing. They would be contented to bear bodily Pains, to part with a great deal of Money, if that would effect the thing; to give Thouſands of Rams. Mic. 6.7. The Papiſts take great Pains, Torment their Bodies, are at great Expence: And many among our ſelves, Reform their ſinful Carriages that were dear to them; are very laborious in ſeeking God, and ſtriving with their own Hearts; but the way to get your Conſciences healed, is to receive the Goſpel. There muſt be Reformations and Supplications, but the principal Thing is to receive the Goſpel, and yet the Blood of Chriſt applyed to the Soul. It is the Blood of Chriſt that waſhes away Sin. 1 Joh. 1.7. The Blood of Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God cleanſes us from all Sin. This is the price of our Redemption; receive therefore the offers of the Goſpel.
And in order to this,
1. Diſpair of getting a Cure in any other way. There is a great endeavour in Men to get ſomething of their own to pacify the Anger of God. They are ſenſible that they cannot perform the Condition of the Covenant of Works: They cannot perfectly keep the Law, yet they hope to get ſomething of their own to commend them to God's acceptance. They hope that their Sorrow, and their Deſires, and Affections, and Reformations will moderate the Anger of God, and contribute ſomewhat to the pacifying of his Anger. They think God can't but delight in thoſe things, and can't be ſo Angry with them as he was. They hope that their own Obedience doth take ſomething with God, and incline his Heart towards them, and render them more acceptable to God than they were. They go about to eſtabliſh their own Righteouſneſs; but you muſt be convinced of the Vanity of this Confidence; all their ſtrong holds muſt be thrown down, that your Tears and Affections will do nothing, that they can't incline God to pitty you; you muſt find by Experience, ſuch Defects and Corruption in all your Services, and ſuch Wretchedneſs in your Heart, as ſhall make it evident to you, that you cannot help your ſelf. Your Conſcience muſt ſpeak as God ſpeaks, that it is fair for God to caſt you off; as Righteous to reject you, as if you had never made a Prayer or ſhed a Tear for your Sins▪ That whatever you have done, you have laid no bonds on God to ſave you. That you can do nothing to force God to ſave you; but you are after all at God's free Diſpoſal. You muſt ſee that you are without Strength, Rom. 5.6. That God is the Potter, and you are the Clay. Rom. 9.21.
2. Conſider, That it is God that offers healing to you in the Goſpel. You hear Men inviting and encouraging you to come to Jeſus Chriſt; and you are perſwaded that they are Men of Underſtanding, and that they do judge in their Hearts that is a ſufficient way of Salvation; but you cannot depend on the Judgment of Men, that will not ſatisfy your Conſcience, that Men think there is healing Virtue in the Blood of Chriſt: But God doth teſtify to it, Dan. 9.24. Chriſt will finiſh Tranſgreſſion, and make an end of Sins, and make Reconciliation for Iniquity. Rev. 5.9. Thou haſt redeemed us to God by thy Blood. And he freely offers this unto you, and is ready to pardon all your Sins through Chriſt Jeſus. Do but believe that it is God that ſpeaks in the Goſpel, and you will ſee Encouragement enough: Then you will be ſatisfied in the Mercy of God; then you will be ſatisfied in the Faithfulneſs of the Promiſe; then you will be ſatisfied in the ſufficiency of Chriſt's Redemption, and not be afraid to truſt in him. 1 Theſ. 2.13. Ye received the Word, not as the Word of Men, but (as it is indeed) the Word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe.