The Lords Voice Crying out to His People, Sermon 2 – To the reader

The Lords Voice Crying out to His People · Sermon 2 – To the reader

p. 75Some of the Laſt Words OF Several Dying Perſons conſidered.

LUKE XXIII. 39, 40, 41, 42, 43.

¶ And one of the Malefactours, which were hanged; railed on him, ſaying, If thou be Chriſt; ſave thy ſelf and us.

But the other anſwering, rebuked him, ſaying, Doeſt thou not fear God, ſeeing thou art in the ſame condemnation?

And we indeed juſtly; For we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man hath done nothing amiſs.

And he ſaid unto Jeſus, Lord, remember me when thou comeſt into thy Kingdom.

And Jeſus ſaid unto him; Verily I ſay unto thee. To day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſes;

THE deſign of my Sermon is, to excite Repentance towards God and Faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

Repentance unto Life, and Believing unto the Saving of the Soul, p. 76ſhould be alwayes deſigned by all that Preach, and by all that hear the Goſpel.

In the proſecution of this deſign, ſome of the laſt words of ſeveral Dying Perſons are now to be conſidered.

The laſt words of Dying Perſons have been frequently eſteemed conſiderable.

Of the Perſons, that we are now to conſider ſome of the laſt words; One was a very bad man, he had lived wickedly and then he dyed wofully; he continued wicked unto the end of his Life, and was very miſerable in his Death, at his laſt. Another had been a very bad man too long, but before his Death, he became a very good Man, he ſhewed and proved, beyond all contradiction, before he dyed, that he was a very good Man; he had the Approbation, the Atteſtation of Truth it ſelf, that he was become really good. So that tho' ſome of the circumſtances of his death were very doleful, yet he dyed happily he was unſpeakably happy in his Death at his End. The Other was the very bell Man that ever lived, that ever dyed; H… was more than a meer Man, He was God as well as Man, the Almighty Saviour of Men. Therefore his words, be ſure, firſt and laſt and all of them are moſt worthy of our Serious conſideration.

p. 77Among the Ancient Predictions about our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, regiſtred in the holy Bible, it was foretold by the Prophetical Evangeliſt, the Evangelical Prophet Iſaiah, [whoſe Name ſignifies, The Salvation of the Lord. And ſo clearly does he propoſe the Methods of Salvation for Sinners, by our anointed Lord, and ſo plainly does he deſcribe the Perſon, who is the Author of eternal Salvation, that he may well wear that Name, He foretold,] in the concluſion of the Fifty-third Chapter of his book, That the Lord, our Saviour, ſhould be numbred with Tranſgreſſors, while he bare the Sin of Multitudes, and made Interceſſion for Tranſgreſſors. Now we find that all the Four Evangeliſts, who wrote the Life and Death of Jeſus Chriſt, have taken expreſs notice of the Punctual …ulfilment of this Remarkable Prediction.

There were two notable Tranſgreſſors crucifyed with our Saviour, while he was hanging on the Croſs, bearing the Sins of all Multitudes of his People, making Interceſſion for the Tranſgreſſors that Crucifyed him. One Tranſgreſſor was hanging on his Right Hand, another Tranſgreſſor was hanging on his Left Hand, He being placed between them, as if he had been the wickedeſt of all Tranſgreſſors.

p. 78One of thoſe Tranſgreſſors continued Impenitent, manifeſted his impenitence in the time of his Crucifixion, dyed a miſerable Impenitent.'

The other of thoſe Tranſgreſſors diſcovered himſelf a true Penitent, evidenced his Repentance in the time of his Crucifixion, dyed a truly repenting Believer.

Whether he was a true Convert before his being guilty of the crime, for which he was Crucifyed, or whether he might be Converted after his Apprehenſion, before his Condemnation; or after his Condemnation, before his being brought unto the Place of Execution; or whether he might receive the Principle of Saving Grace, and might begin the exerciſe of Repentance, after he was nailed to, and hanging on the Croſs; are all of them things not ſo eaſily and certainly to be determined, as that he was a true Penitent, before he dyed, whenſoever he began to Repent. We have as clear evidence that he was a true Penitent, as we have concerning any Perſon, that we read of in the whole Book of God. We are ſure and certain that he was a true Penitent. Some of the ſure ſigns, the certain tokens of his Repentance are to be conſidered by us, with ſome other conſiderable things, in the Sermon that is now Preaching.

p. 79Our Text may be divided, according to the Two Parts of the Speech of the Penitent Sinner mentioned in the Text. And both Parts of his Speech have ſeveral things in them, well worthy of our Obſervation.

1. We have the Speech of the Penitent Sinner unto his Impenitent Companion, with the occaſion of that part of his Speech.

The occaſion of his Speech to his Companion, was the railing expreſſion of his Companion againſt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. It is ſaid, One of the Malefactors, which was … r…iled at him, ſaying, If thou be th… Chriſt, ſave thy ſelf and us.

If the other Malefactor joyned with him, for a while, in reviling of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or doubting whether he were the promiſed Meſſiah, yet we are ſure that he Repented of that wickedneſs, that ſinful In belief, or disbelieving or queſtioning the. Truth of the Word of God. But there is room for us to ſuppoſe that he did not joyn with him at all, in his Unbelieving diſcourſe, nor ſo much as countenance him … all in his railing expreſſion; or at moſt, not any more than his Silence from reproving him for a while, might ſeem, in the apprehenſion of ſome of the by-Standers, to countenance him in his Ungodlineſs; p. 80however, certain it is, he did ſufficiently clear himſelf, at laſt, from all communion with him, in his Impiety. For his Speech to his Companion will be his own everlaſting Vindication. It will be a perpetual Teſtimony for him, that he was entirely ſeparated from the Sin of that Sinner, if he had, for any time, at all partaken with him in his Sin. He ſhewed that he would no longer have any fellowſhip with him in his wicked expreſſion, but rather would rebuke him for the wickedneſs of his words. When his Companion ſhe was his Impenitence by his wicked words, he would not ſuffer thoſe wicked words to … unrebuked.

And in his rebuking of his Companion, for his Impenitence, he diſcovers that he had himſelf truly Repented, when he ſayes, … not thou fear God, ſeeing thou art in the ſome Condemnation? As if he had ſaid:

If all this great Multitude of People ſhould have ſo little of the fear of God in them, as to revile an innocent Perſon ſuffering here, yet THOU ſhouldeſt have more of the fear of God in thee, than … revile this innocent Perſon. If thou haſt no fear of Man, yet ſhouldeſt thou have ſo much to the fear of God, as to keep thee from adding Sin to Sin. If … p. 81haſt no Love to God, yet the preſent Execution of his wrath upon thee, ſhould produce in thee ſome fear of God, ſo as to hinder thee from going on Impenitently in thy wickedneſs. Yea, what thou now feeleſt of the terrible impreſſions of the Juſtice of God upon thee, in bearing the Temporal Miſeries, to which thou art condemned by Man, ſhould make thee fear the more terrible impreſſions of the Divine Juſtice upon thee in bearing thoſe Eternal Miſeries, to which thou deſerveſt to be condemned by God, ſo as to conſider how thou mayeſt be delivered from his anger for ever. Thy ſufferings now are dreadful, but they will quickly be more dreadful, if thou do…t not fear God ſo as to uſe all Means to eſcape his everlaſting indignation. So does he adviſe and reprove his Impenitent Companion.

But here is not all the evidence of his own Repentance, for he does not only rebuke his Companion for his wickedneſs, but he alſo acknowledges the Juſtice of their Puniſhment; They were juſtly condemned, for they received the due reward of their deeds. And he juſtifies the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, acknowledging that He had done nothing amiſs. Nor is this all the evidence of p. 82his Repentance, We have yet farther evidence in the other Part of his Speech, that he truly Repented. For,

2. We have the Speech of the Penitent Sinner unto his Merciful Redeemer; with the conſequent of that Part of his Speech. He ſayes to Chriſt, Lord remember me when thou comeſt into thy Kingdom. He had acknowledged that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was true Man, while he was confeſſing his innocence. This Man hath done nothing amiſs But now he acknowledges that he is true God, while he is deſiring his Mercy: he calls him Lord, Commits and Submits himſelf of his diſpoſal; he owns that he into King, that he hath a Kingdom, that he was to come into his Kingdom; that … had Power to admit whom he pleaſed into his Kingdom; that he could bring the moſt miſerable Sinner into his Kingdom, as eaſily as think upon him: and he humbly deſires the loweſt degree of Mercy, … good thought, that he might be kindly thought upon, that the Merciful Saviour would Mercifully Remember him, when he came into his Kingdom. Thus humbly Prayes the Penitent Sinner.

The gracious and comforting anſwer … our compaſſionate Redeemer immediately follows this humble Prayer of the Penitent p. 83Sinner. Jeſus ſaid unto him, verily, I ſay unto thee, To day, thou ſhalt be with me in Paradiſe. It means, that immediately after the ſeparation of his Soul from his Body, he ſhould be lodged in a Place of happineſs, in a State of bleſſedneſs; and ſhould certainly be brought unto the poſſeſſion of what he humbly deſired; he ſhould be remembred by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when he came into his Kingdom. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt would have him aſſured, that he would not forget him, and fully ſatisfyed that he would Mercifully Remember him. As if he had ſaid, Poor Soul, don't fear that I ſhall forget thee, I'le certainly Remember thee, and thou ſhalt be ſenſible of it, this very day, to thy unſpeakable Conſolation. Oh! Then let us think well & ſpeak well about our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whom we find thus ready & willing, in the time of his own bitter ſorrows, to ſhew compaſſion to a miſerable Sinner. What greater encouragement for Faith in Chriſt, Repentance of Sin, Prayer to God, can be deſired, than to have the Lord nigh to us, in all that we call upon him for, and to hear us, and help us, and beſtow upon us all that we can deſire, as ſoon as we deſire it; yea, to do for … exceeding abundantly above all that we can aſk or think?

p. 84The Day of Judgment will be the moſt glorious Day of God, that ever has been: Then will the glorious Perfections of the ever glorious GOD ſhine forth moſt gloriouſly, before the whole World of Men and Angels, in ſuch a manner, as never before. But next unto the Day of Judgment wherein our Lord Jeſus Chriſt will appear upon a glorious Throne, The Day whereon our Lord hanged on the Croſs, may ſeem the moſt wonderful Day.

For as at the Day of Judgment, there will be ſome ſtanding Condemned at One Hand of the glorious Judge, and ſome Acquitted on the other Hand; ſo on the Day of our Lords Crucifixion, There was one, Impenitent, on one ſide of Him, and another Penitent, on the other ſide of Him.

And as at the Day of Judgment, the Grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will appear glorious in the Salvation of them that are Saved; and his Juſtice will appear glorious in the Deſtruction of them that are Condemned. So in the time of his Crucifixion, He appeared glorious both in his Righteouſneſs, and in his Mercy; Righteouſly ſuffering one Sinner to continue Impenitent in his wickedneſs, & leaving him to Periſh in his Impenitence; and mercifully enclining & enabling another Sinner p. 85to Repent of his wickedneſs, and receiving him into his favour, and promiſing to receive him into his Kingdom upon the manifeſtation of his Repentance.

But having now conſidered theſe things about the Text in general, ſome of the particular Doctrines, that ly plainly before us in the Text, may be mentioned for our Conſideration.

DOCT. 1. Perſons may be equally favoured with External Privileges, for the Exciting and Aſſiſting of Repentance, and other good things; and yet may be wonderfully diſtinguiſhed in reſpect of their Internal Advantages by thoſe Privileges.

They that enjoy the ſame External Means of Grace, may not alwayes receive the ſame benefit by thoſe Means. They that are a-like as to their Outward Enjoyments, may not be a like as to their … provements of thoſe Enjoyments. This is plain from the Inſtances in our Text; This Two Malefactors on the Croſs, were both of them near unto our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; the dying Saviour was bleeding by their ſides, and his blood, for ought appears, offered as freely to one, as to the other; and both of them ſaw, and heard, and felt very p. 86terrible things, that ſhould have imbitter'd Sin to their Souls, and made them willing to have the blood of Chriſt applyed to their Souls, and their Souls cleanſed from Sin with that blood. Yet one remained Impenitent, manifeſted his Impenitence, proceeded in Sinning againſt God. The other appeared Penitent, manifeſted his Repentance, gave glorious demonſtrations, that he ſincerely Repented of his wickedneſs, confeſſed his Sin, acknowledged the Juſtice of God in his Puniſhment, pleaded for the Innocence of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, believed in him for Salvation, ſhewed the Truth of his Faith by his humble Prayer to the Lord, profeſſed Him before all People; there preſent, had a ſpeedy, gracious glorious, wonderful & Soul-ſatisfying anſwer to his Prayer: A full demonſtration of the … & ſincerity of his Repentance. Thus … theſe two diſtinguiſhed, as to the be… that they obtained by the Means of Grace, notwithſtanding their being ſo much a like in the External Means that they enjoyed. And ſo in other Inſtances, Perſons that are a-like in External Privileges may be unlike, in reſpect of Spiritual advantages by thoſe Privileges.

Thus, near the beginning of the World, Cain and Abel doubtleſs had the ſame Religious p. 87Admonitions about the Affairs of their Souls given to them by their father Ad…. So Shem and Ham in the Family of Noah; ſo Iſaac and Iſhmael in the Family of Abraham; ſo Jacob and Eſau in the Family of Iſaac. And yet they differed much in reſpect of the benefit which they received by the means that they enjoyed. And in after-times, did not Peter and Judas enjoy the ſame excellent inſtructions of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt? And were not the ſame Exhortations delivered by John the Baptiſt, and by our Saviour in the hearing of the Phariſees, and of the Sadducees, that were delivered by them, in the hearing of their other Diſciples? And were not the fooliſh Virgins equally favoured with the wiſe, in reſpect of their External Privileges? But how vaſt the difference between them, in reſpect of their advantages by thoſe Privileges? And is it not ſo in our dayes? Don't we ſee that as the ſame Sun that ſoftens the wax, hardens the clay; ſo the ſame Word which unto ſome is the ſavour of life unto life, is unto others the ſavour of death unto death. And the Seals of the Covenant may be Seals of Salvation to ſome, and of Damnation to others And the Providential diſpenſations of God, both Mercies and Sorrows, ordinary and extraordinary, p. 88may have a very different operation upon the Subjects of them. Some are bettered and benefitted by what they experience, and furthered in holineſs, and prepared for eternal happineſs; while others may be hardned and confirmed in their wickedneſs, and ripened for eternal miſery, by what they experience.

This comes to paſs by the Sovereign diſpoſal of the All-wiſe God, who is not obliged to give an account about any of his Matters, unto any of his Creatures. He may do what he will with his own; we are all the work of his hands, He hath brought us out of nothing into being, and ſo may diſpoſe of us for Time and for Eternity as He pleaſes. And beſides this, we are all Sinners, and by our Sins we all deſerve the Wrath and Curſe of God for ever, and he would be juſt, if he ſhould leave us all to Periſh eternally in our Sins, He might juſtly with hold from us oil the Means of Grace, or a bleſſing from all thoſe Means. It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that ſheweth Mercy, that any are ſaved or advantaged by the Means of Grace. Therefore ſhould not any truſt in the Means of Grace nor bleſs themſelves in their enjoyment of the Means of Grace, nor imagine that, becauſe p. 89they enjoy the Means of Grace, therefore they are in a happy condition: For Perſons may enjoy the Means of Grace, and yet Periſh in their Sin. Salvation cannot be aſcertained to all them that enjoy the Means of Grace. For we ſee that ſome who enjoy thoſe Means of Grace, that as far as we can diſcern, are exceedingly beneficial to others, yet periſh themſelves. The Impenitent Sinner on the Croſs periſhed in his Sin, tho' he were near unto that Saviour, by whom his Penitent Companion obtained Eternal Salvation.

Yet we are not excuſed from ſerious diligence, in all ſuitable endeavours, to get good by all the Means of Grace, tho' Salvation be not infallibly annexed to thoſe means. We muſt be diligent in the improvement of all the Means of Grace, that we can improve, acknowledging, that if we obtain ſaving Grace, in the uſe of any of the means of Grace, it muſt be aſcribed unto the Free Grace of God, by whoſe Grace we are ſaved, through Faith, and that not of our ſelves, that is the Gift God.

Therefore we muſt not ſay, that becauſe others have got no good by the Means of Grace, there is no hope that we ſhall ever get any good, and ſo it is in vain for as p. 90to uſe thoſe Means, But we muſt in Obedience to God and with Dependence on Chriſt, for aſſiſtance and acceptance, improve the Means of Grace, with hopes for benefit, by the Grace of God, whatever has been the effect thereof unto others, whatever may be the event thereof unto our ſelves.

Had the Penitent Thief on the Croſs been diſcouraged, by hearing the ungodly Expreſſions of his Impenitent Companion, he would have made an ill uſe of what he heard. But when he exerciſed the Grace of God in his rebuking of his Companion for his Wickedneſs, and acknowledged the Righteouſneſs, of God and the Innocence of Chriſt, and profeſſed his Faith in the Glorious Redeemer, Prayed to Him for His Mercy, humbly referred himſelf to His Will; we ſee that things then iſſued well to him.

Indeed, that the Impenitent Thief continued Impenitent, is to be aſcribed unto the Wickedneſs of his own heart; and that the Penitent Thief diſcovered his Repentance, muſt be aſcribed unto the Free Grace of God. There is Wickedneſs enough in the Hearts of all Sinners, to keep them for ever in their Impenitence, if the Grace of God were not beſtowed on ſome p. 91to promote their Repentance. And God … under no Obligation to beſtow His Grace upon Sinners. But He will be Gracious, to whom He will be Gracious, and He will have Compaſſion, on whom He will have Compaſſion. But where God intends to beſtow Mercy upon Sinners, He will excite Sinners to improve Means to obtain Mercy: at leaſt, before He makes them ſenſible that He has beſtowed ſaving Mercy on them. If your Salvation be intended, you ſhall be excited to uſe the Means of Salvation. But it will not be enough to enjoy to attend the Means of Salvation; others may do ſo and get no good by them, as to their Eternal Benefit. But if God has deſigned your Salvation, He will incline you to improve the Means … Salvation diligently, ſeriouſly, and to Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling. And He will work in you … will and to do according to His good …eaſure. And one hopeful Evidence of …he Gracious Intention of God, about your ſalvation, will be your Prayer to Him …hat His Grace may be ſo exerciſed toward you, and therein glorified.

p. 92DOCT II. Impenitent Sinners would be Saved from Eternal Miſery, without any Regard to the Glory of God in their Salvation.

There is in all Rational Creatures a Natural deſire of Happineſs, or Freedom from Miſery. They would not be Eternally Miſerable. The worſt of Sinners have ſome ſort to deſire to be Eaſy and Happy for ever. They think, they pretend, they would be Saved and go to Heaven. They would not be Damned nor go to Hell. If they muſt leave this World; when they leave it, they would not go to a place of Torment, but to a place of Comfort.

But as for all Impenitent Sinners, while they remain Impenitent, they do not ſincerely deſire the Glory of God in their Salvation. The Impenitent Malefactor on the Croſs cryed, If thou be the Chriſt, ſa… thy ſelf and us. He Prayed, after a manner for Salvation, for himſelf and his Companion. He deſired that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt would ſhew Himſelf to be the Promiſed Meſſiah, by delivering Himſelf … of the hands of His Enemies, and from His preſent Sufferings, and by appearing for the Salvation of himſelf and his Companion p. 93… preſent Miſe… … regard for the Glory of … might be Glorifyed in their Salvation.

So it is with all Impenitent Sinners, might they live in Sin for ever, and be free from Miſery: they would have no concernment about being Saved to Glorify God: they would be contented to live in Sin for ever, to the diſhonour of God. This is the diſpoſition of all Impenitent Sinners Univerſally.

Indeed ſome Sinners do, more plainly, diſcover this diſpoſition, than ſome other Sinners. But all Impenitent Sinners have ſo much of this ungodly diſpoſition prevailing in them, as long as they are Impenitent, that might they be Saved and Freed from Eternal Miſery, let who will be concerned for the Glory of God, they take no care about Glorifying God.

Thence it is, partly, that ſo many Sinners do ſo Shamefully and Wickedly put off the Work of their Souls, from time to time, and follow their ſinful courſes, until they think they are near Dying, and then they begin to think ſomething muſt be done, to get ready for Death, to make their Peace with God, that He may be willing to take their Souls into Happineſs, when p. 94they go out of this Miſerable World. They deſire that God would take them to Himſelf, now they think, they can live no longer. But if God remove the occaſion of their preſent fear of Dying, and they ſeem like to live longer; they can preſently take to the ſame Courſe of Sin, that they were in before, they go on ſtill in their Treſpaſſes. They are not concerned For the Glory of God in their Salvation. All the Salvation that they deſire, might be ſeparated from the Glory of God.

And ſo ſome, that ſeem to be Mightily concerned for ſome of the Means of Salvation, Eccleſiaſtical Privileges, the Sealing Ordinances of God, Baptiſm and the Supper of the Lord to be Adminiſtred to themſelves and to others, they are frequently too little concerned for the Glory of God. If they might be admitted to Evangelical Privileges, they would be contented to live in their Sins, to the diſhonour of God, and the reproach of Religion. So, it ſeems, it was with ſome of the Hearers of John the Baptiſt, and therefore he adviſed them to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance, if they deſired to be Baptized now they were up grown. So they that deſire Goſpel Privileges, in a Church State now, muſt be concerned to prepare p. 95for thoſe Privileges, that they may Glorify God in their injoyment of them. They muſt endeavour that there may be, at leaſt, room to hope that they do ſincerely deſire to turn from all Sin to God in Jeſus Chriſt, and to live holily by the Grace of Chriſt, and to follow and perfect Holineſs in the fear of God, for the Glory of God; before they can be regularly admitted unto the Table of the Lord, or unto Baptiſm, if they are come to years of underſtanding. I have ſaid, at leaſt, Room to hope thus of the….

Indeed, it would be a very awful thing, if any People, Profeſſing the Chriſtian Religion, ſhould be overwhelmed with ſuch Enthuſiaſtical Prophanity, as to live contentedly without the Holy Ordinances of God, and without any care to prepare for thoſe Ordinances, and without any ſenſe of any need of any Preparation for them, and yet think that things are well enough with their Souls, tho' they live in diſobedience to the plain, expreſs, poſitive Commands of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

But it would be a no leſs awful thing, … …y People, pretending to Chriſtianity ſhould be carried away with ſuch … Formality, as to deſire that … Ordinances of God ſhould be proſtituted … p. 96to the baſe Luſts of Wicked Sinners; and be Adminiſtred unto thoſe that are notoriouſly unprepared for thoſe Ordinances, and evidently without any care to prepare for the improvement of them, and would be hardened in their Wickedneſs and confirmed in their Impenitence, and have their Damnation dreadfully Sealed upon their Souls, if they ſhould enjoy them.

Nor would it ſeem well, if any Perſons, manifeſting a Zeal for God, ſhould ignorantly encourage poor Sinners to any ſuch impiety. For how can they think that the Lord will hold them guiltleſs?

For we ſhould be concerned for the Glory of God, in all the remarkable Enterpriſes of our whole Converſation, but peculiarly in our attending of the Holy Ordinances of His Inſtituted Worſhip. And it is not for the Glory of God, for us to neglect the Ordinances of God, pretending that we are not fit for them. Herein we Rebel againſt God. Nor is it for the Glory of God for us to abuſe the Ordinances of God by Proſtituting them to the Luſts of Sinners, in Adminiſtring them to thoſe, that by their clearly … to p. 97Ordinances; This would be to Reproach the Lord, who is Glorious in Holineſs.

But it will be for the Glory of God, if we mourn for our negligence and careleſsneſs about our Preparation for the Ordinances of God, and beg Pardon for all our ſinful Omiſſions, for the ſake of Chriſt, and Pray for Grace that we may be prepared for the Ordinances of God, according to the Directions of the Goſpel.

And when we are ſo prepared, it will be for the Glory of God, for us to deſire to have them Adminiſtred unto us, according to the Rules of His Word. This would be for the Glory of God & for the Honour of His People in this World and for their Welfare for ever.

But if People are not concerned for the Glory of God, in their Salvation, He will take care for His own Glory, in their confuſion. For He has declared in Lev. 10. 3. I will be Sanctified in them, that come nigh me, and before all the People I will be Glorified. Then if God intends our Salvation, He will make us concerned for His Glory.

DOCT. III. Where there is no evidence of Repentance it may be juſtly feared that there is no right fear of God.

p. 98If People did rightly Fear God, they would Repent of Sin. So thought the Peninent Sinner on the Croſs, about his impenitent Companion, hearing him utter his ungodly expreſſions, that ſhewed that he had no Repentance, he feared that he was without the Fear of God, and ſays, Doſt not thou fear God. The fear of God will excite Repentance of Sin. So thought the Saint of God, in Pſal. 26 1. The tranſgreſſion of the Wicked ſaith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his Eyes. If Sinners abide in their Tranſgreſſion without Repentance, we may juſtly fear that they do not rightly Fear God. Therefore ſhould we conſider the Glorious Perfections of God, that we may Fear Him and repent of Sin. For ſuch is the wickedneſs of our ſinful Hearts, that we are not willing to part with Sin, except we are terrifyed from Sin. Job acknowleges in Chap. 31. 23. Deſtruction from God was a terror to me, and by reaſon of His highneſs I could not endure. Tho' he were a good Man, yet he found that there was need for him to be kept in aw, by the Fear of God. Then let us conſider the Righteouſneſs, the Holineſs, the Infinite Purity, the Almighty Power and the Superlative Excellency of God, that we may p. 99be excited to Fear Him, as a God hating all Sin, reſolving to Puniſh all Sin, to deſtory, Eternally, thoſe that continue finally Impenitent in Sin. But let us alſo conſider the Grace, the Mercy, the Compaſſion, the Loving Kindneſs of God, that we may Fear the Lord for His Goodneſs, and Fear Him, as One ready and willing to ſhew Mercy for the ſake of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto Miſerable Sinners that Penitently repair to Him, in the Name of Chriſt, for His Pardoning Mercy, notwithſtanding all their unworthineſs.

DOCT. IV. Penitent Sinners will Deſire and Labour that other Sinners may be brought unto Repentance.

This diſpoſition appears in the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs; one of the firſt Evidences of His Repentance, was this, he rebuked his Companion for his wickedneſs, and laboured to excite him to Fear God, and ſhewed him that there was great reaſon for Him to Fear God now he was under Condemnation for his wickedneſs.

And we read about David in Pſal. 31. 123 He promiſes that upon Gods reſtoring him unto his Favour, after his great Sin, her p. 100would endeavour that Sinners might be Converted unto the Lord.

And we find about the Apoſtles of our Lord, that were firſt called by Him, they Invited others to come and partake with them, in the Benefits of the Merciful Meſſiah.

And our Lord gives that Counſel to Peter, When then art Coverted, (that is, reſtored from thy Fall) ſtrengthen thy Brethren And he remembred the Counſel and practiſed it, in adviſing, Paſs the time of your Sojourning bo… in fear: he would not have others to be ſinfully confident of their own ſtrength, as he had been of his. But he would have them to fear always, and walk humbly with God that they might be preſerved from Sin.

This will be the diſpoſition of all truly Penitent Sinners; they will endeavour that others may be brought to ſhare with them, in the benefits of Repentance.

For as Impenitent Sinners have ſo much of the Spirit of the Devil within them, and the Image of Satan upon them, that they deſire and labour to hinder other Sinners from turning from Sin to God, in Jeſus Chriſt, they ſtrive to prejudice them againſt the Means of Grace, and would all their … with baſe, mean thoughts p. 101about the Ordinances and the Emba… dours of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, be…e that then they may be kept out of the way of Converſion. So Penitent Sinners, that have the Spirit of Chriſt in them, and the Image of God reinſtamped on them, they deſire and labour to further others in turning from Sin to God, in Jeſus Chriſt; they endeavour to awaken them out of their ſinful ſecurity, and they ſtrive to promote in them, good and right Opinions about the Means of Grace, and would have them love the Ordinances of God, and prize the Embaſſadours of Chriſt, becauſe then they will be in a hopeful way unto Repentance and Salvation, they will be in the way where the Lord commands His Bleſſing, even Life for evermore, to them that walk uprightly in that way conſcientiouſly improving the means of Grace … Obedience to God, with reliance on Chriſt for the Influences of the Holy Spirit, to make thoſe means beneficial for the ſaving of their Souls.

This may help us to know what ſort of People they are that hinder others from repenting of their Sins. They are Impe… Sinners themſelves, or at beſt, they … much more to be done, than has been done, about their own Repentance! p. 102And this will be found the fault of not only the more Prophane Tranſgreſſours, who declare their Sin, like Sodom and hide it not, and labour all they can to make other People as bad as themſelves; and have their various devices to keep their Fooliſh Companions faſt in the Chains of Death, by holding them in the Cords of their Wickedneſs: But this will be found the Crime of too many Formal Profeſſors, Perſons that have only the Form of Godlineſs themſelves, denying the Power of it, and ſo labour to make others contented with the Formalities of Religion, without ever endeavouring to experience the realities of Chriſtianity. And this likewiſe will be found the Crime of ſome indiſcreet Perſons, that ſtifle the Convictions of Sinners, by leading them into ſome Company, or ſome Exerciſe, that ſhall ſo divert their Convictions, that they ſhall never be really Converted, they ſhall never ſee their need of coming to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for Salvation. Abundance of Souls are loſt, by having their Convictions diverted without being brought unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by a ſaving Converſion.

They that, notwithſtanding all ſuitable Cautions, will ſtill go on to hinder Souls from repairing to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for p. 103deliverance from their Burthens, will give too much reaſon to impact that they never yet experienced a Work of Repentance in their own Souls; but taking up with an imperfect work of the Law, having ſome Convictions upon their Souls, that … a little Trouble, and then with an imperfect Work of the Goſpel, miſapplying ſome Promiſes, that give a little Comfort to their Souls; they never come … Chriſt themſelves, and ſo are left unto the Tremendous miſery of hindering … Converſion of others. Let all of us beware of this Evil and keep clear from …very ſuch Evil, that we may not loſe our ſouls.

DOCT. V. It is a great aggravation of their Wickedneſs, for Wicked People to continue Impenitent in their Wickedneſs, without the Fear of God, while they are under terrible Puniſhment for their Wickedneſs.

Therefore ſayes the Penitent Sinner to … Impenitent Companion, Doſt not thou … God, ſeeing thou art in the ſame condemnation? As if he had ſaid, whatever others may plead, you are inexcuſable, if you remain Impenitent in your Wickedneſs, while God is puniſhing of you for your Wickedneſs.

p. 104To Treſpaſs yet more, in the time of Diſtreſs, it is the way to get a Brand fixed upon the Impenitent Sinner to all Generations. This is that King Abaz! that treſpaſs'd yet more in the time of his Diſtreſs. Take notice of him! To Sin againſt God is very bad; to continue in Sin, till God calls to turn, is worſe; to proceed in Sin, till God ſmites with blows for Sin, is yet worſe; But to go on in Sin after many blows have been diſpenſ… …ill makes the caſe worſe and worſe. This proceeds from a dreadful hardneſs of Heart. To receive no Correction; to refuſe to be reclaimed, to reſolve to continue unreformed, unamended, incurable under and after all the dreadful ſtrokes of Gods Mighty Hand, it is to be going apace toward the Condition of the Devils, that never will Repent.

Let none of us be found among ſuch woful Sinners. Have we been Chaſtiſed for our Faults? Then let us reſolve that we will not offend any more. Beg of God for the Pardon of Sins paſt, for me ſake of Chriſt. And beg of God to give His Grace, for the ſake of Chriſt, that you may give to His Glory for time to come, and be … for His Glory for ever.

Tremble to think of being given over to ſuch a Miſchief, ſuch a Miſery, ſuch a p. 105Lamentable Calamity as to remain Impenitent under and after Puniſhment. Dread the thoughts of coming into ſo ſad a Condition, as that of the Impenitent Malefactor upon the Croſs, to be without the Fear of God, while under Condemnation.

But what! Are there any Numbers of People in ſuch Danger, that we need to be ſo Admoniſhed, thus Cautioned? Yes; there is reaſon to fear ſome are in Danger. Three or Four ſorts of People, at leaſt, might be mentioned, that are in dreadful Danger of being more Miſerable than the Impenitent Malefactor on the Croſs, becauſe they are in Danger of Periſhing in their Wickedneſs, after they have been warned by his Example. Who are they?

1. Unchaſt Sinners. They that ſeem to be given over to the Sins of Unchaſtity, and are ſo far brought under Condemnation, that they have brought ſhame, diſgrace, and reproach on their Names, diſhonourable wounds, miſchiefs and ruines upon their Intereſts; and yet have ſo little of the Fear of God in their Souls, that they venture to go on ſtill in their Wickedneſs. They can't find in their Hearts to leave their Unchaſtity, nor can they heartily Pray … God for clean Hearts. Theſe are in p. 106Danger of Periſhing under a terrible Condemnation, becauſe that ſuch are ſeldom reclaimed unto Repentance. The Bible ſhews about the Sin of Unchaſtity, that none that go to it, return. So few that they are almoſt none, they are next to none. They make no ſhew, they are ſo very few that be recovered from the Sin. Oh! that the Sinners that feel their Conſciences now ſmiting of them, or ſhould feel the laſhes of their Conſciences, would beg Earneſtly of God, in the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for the Purifying Influences of His Holy Spirit, that they might have Grace to Repent, before it be too late.

2. Drunkards. They that are given over to the Luſt of Drunkenneſs, and are ſo far brought under Condemnation for that their Wickedneſs, that they begin to feel the Woes, that God has Denounced againſt Drunkards: Their Names are Blaſted, their Eſtates are Waſting and Sinking, their Bodies conſuming, if they don't ſtagger in the Streets, by reaſon of Strong Drink, but above all their Souls are dreadfully Deſtroyed, yea, their Conſciences benummed ſo, that they can't find in their Hearts any the leaſt Inclination to leave off their Wickedneſs. They muſt have p. 107their Drams, they will have their Drams they love their Strong Drink; ſo that it they looſe their Eyes and all that is dear to them, yet they can't leave it. Are not theſe under Condemnation? Don't the Wrath of GOD Flame upon their Souls? After they are Drunk, before they are quite Sober, they'l ſay, they will ſeek it yet again. They'l Profanely ſay, they'l take another Hair of the ſame—, tho' they are Damn'd for it. Oh! Let no Perſon then abide under ſuch Condemnation: But beg for the Holy Spirit of God, that you may be filled with the Spirit, and then you will mourn bitterly before the Lord, for all your Exceſſes in drinking Strong Drink, and you'l pray for Pardon for the ſake of Chriſt, and you'l beg that …ou may be kept out of the way of Temptation to the like Sin for Time to come and you'l watch againſt the Occaſions of ….

3. Hypocrites. That have made a Profeſſion of Godlineſs, but have not been Sincere in their Profeſſion. They know that they endure Terrible Things, their Conſciences frequently ſcourging of them Terribly, for their Falſe Dealing with God. And they find it hard to keep up … Shew of Religion, becauſe they have p. 108no Root of Grace in their Souls, nor Union with Chriſt. And yet they can't find in their Hearts to beg of God to change their Hearts. They are loth to leave all their Sins. They have ſome Sin or other, that they are unwilling to part with. And tho' they know themſelves to be Hypocrites and ſo under Condemnation, yet they will not Repent. Yea, tho' they find God chaſti…ing of them, in leaving them to ſad Falls into great Sins; yet they Repe…t not of their Hypocriſy. Let them take heed, leſt they come at laſt into the Condemnation of the Impenitent Sinners, who having no Fear of God, are led forth with the Workers of Iniquity. When will they Pray Sincerely and Earneſtly for Integrity and Uprightneſs?

4. Covetuous Wordlings; who know that their Hearts are ſet upon the World, … that they love the World more than they love God or their Souls, and find God croſſing them in their Worldly Deſigns, diſappointing and impoveriſhing them with one … after another. And yet they will not Repent of their Unrighteouſneſs, and their … from God more than is meet while they ſee it brings them to Poverty. Let them take heed leſt they be found lying under the Condemnation of Sinners p. 109without the Fear of God. And let them remember, that the Covetuous are Abhorred of the Lord. If any Man love the World, the Love of the Father is not in him. Oh! That they would ſee the Vanity of the World, and chooſe the Lord for the Portion of their Souls.

5. We might add One Article more, and a very Comprehenſive One;

The Ungodly Company-Keepers. Who know, that their Ungodly Company has done them a deal of Damage, rob'd them of abundance of their precious Time, Defaced and ſo Defeated all their good Convictions, fill'd their Souls with terrible Confuſions, deprived them of their once deſireable Reputation among the Religious, and yet they can't leave their Ungodly Company. They ſeem under the Condemnation of them that Fear not God. They have no Inclination to abandon their unneceſſary Familiarity, with their Ungodly Company, that never did them any good. Tho' they have heard the awful Warnings of God, A companion of … muſt be deſtroyed, and they that will not depart from the Tents of the Wicked, ſhall be conſumed in all their Sins. And they that will partake with Sinners in their Sins, will partake with them in their Plagues; and p. 110tho' they have ſeen the dreadful Judgments of God, ſignally breaking the Knots of Ungodly Company, and waſting away thoſe that belonged unto thoſe Impious Combinations, yet they venture on ſtill in their Wickedneſs, encouraging one another to hold on their Way, ſtrengthening the Hands one of another for their Evil-Doings, notwithſtanding all the remarkable Blaſts of Heaven Thunder ſtriking of them, in their Infandous Enterprizes, before all Serious Obſervers. But,

When will the Ungodly Company-Keepers come to themſelves, and forſake the Fooliſh and Live, and walk in the way of Underſtanding? When will they become the Companions of them that Fear God, and keep His Precepts, and mind their Souls. Oh! That they would walk with the Wiſe, and Pray to God for the beſt Wiſdom, that they might appear Wiſe unto Salvation thro' Faith in Chriſt Jeſus. But leaving them, another Doctrine may now be conſidered.

p. 111DOCT. VI. The Truth of Repentance for Sin ſhould be diſcovered in Penitent Sinners, not only by their Serious Concernment for the good of others and the Glory of God, as well as their own good; but alſo by their Humbleneſs before God, and their Thankfulneſs unto God.

They muſt humbly refer themſelves unto the Sovereign Pleaſure of God, and Thankfully accept and improve the leaſt Mercy from God. So the Penitent Sinner in our Text, not only endeavours to reclaim his Impenitent Companion from his unreaſonable Wickedneſs, but he alſo ſenſibly acknowledges the Righteouſneſs of God, in the Puniſhments that were come on them for their Wickedneſs. And he humbly Prays unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and humbly Submits himſelf unto the Will of that Glorious Lord, and ſhews a willingneſs to be contented with the leaſt Mercy that might be conferred on him, and waits on the Lord for His own Time to know His Will. So Humble, ſo Thankful was he in his Repentance:

We might here ſay, that the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs, having Preached a good Sermon, he then made a good Prayer, in the hearing of Jeſus Chriſt. His Sermon was Occaſioned by what was Lamentable, p. 112the Railing Language of a Sinful Creature at our Suffering Saviour. His Prayer was anſwered with what was Comfortable, the Gracious Promiſe of our Merciful Saviour to a Diſtreſſed Sinner.

The Converted Sinner concerned for the Glory of God, perceiving his Unconverted Companion to be in a very bad Frame under his terrible Sufferings, for his heinous Wickedneſs, he Preaches unto him an Excellent Sermon to promote his Repentance toward God, endeavouring to Excite him unto a Conſideration of his Duty, under his … Circumſtances, adviſing him to Evidence more of the Fear of God, than had hitherto appeared in his Language, and to conſider and Acknowledge the Righteouſneſs of God in the Puniſhment that was Inflicted upon them both for their Wickedneſs. And then he Preaches about the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, declaring His Righteouſneſs, while he Condemned himſelf and his Companion for their own Wickedneſs, and manifeſted an acceptation of the Puniſhment of his own Wickedneſs, and would have his Companion to be ſo ſenſible of his Ill deſerving that he might accept of the Puniſhment of his Wickedneſs. Thus he Preached to … Companion.

p. 113But it is poſſible that the Penitent Sinner, ſeeing little or no Evidence of Repentance in his Companion, he then Addreſſes himſelf unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and makes unto him an Excellent Prayer, to entreat His Compaſſion for his own Soul. But probably with an earneſt Deſire ſtill for the Welfare of the Soul of his Companion; for he ſo Expreſſes himſelf in his Prayer, that his Companion might be encouraged to Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He plainly diſcovers before all People, his own firm Confidence in the Tender Compaſſions of his Gracious Lord, ſo that he could venture the Everlaſting Affairs of his never-dying Soul with Him. This might have been for the Encouragement of his Companion. However, in his Prayer, Lord, Remember me, when thou comeſt into thy Kingdom; he Acknowledges the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to be the Son of God, the Saviour of Souls, and the King of Heaven; that He was then going into His Kingdom, that if He had but a kind Thought about him, and would but think upon him with Compaſſion, it would be to his Advantage; and he is contented with the ſmalleſt Mercy, a kind Thought: And he deſires this Kindneſs of the Lord, when he ſhould come into p. 114His Kingdom. He would wait His Will about the Time and Way for the beſtowing of any the leaſt Mercy that He ſhould ſee cauſe to beſtow upon him. Thus he Prayed to his Redeemer.

Now for the USE of this Doctrine.

Let all Perſons thus diſcover the Truth of Repentance for Sin, imitate the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs. in his diſcovering of his Repentance for Sin.

It is not enough to ſay, that you have Faith in your Souls, toward the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; nor is it enough to ſay, that you have Repentance toward God in your hearts; but you muſt endeavour to ſatisfy others, that you do truly Repent.

All Sinners have diſhonoured God, by Sinning againſt Him. They ſhould therefore endeavour to honour Him by Repenting of their Sins. But ſome of their Sins have been committed before others, they ſhould therefore endeavour that others may know, as well about their Repentance for Sin, as they have known about their Commiſſion of Sin. The Salve ſhould cover the Sore: and if the Sins of any Perſons have been openly committed, then ſhould Repentance for thoſe their Sins, be openly evidenced.

p. 115And if God hath, in His Holy Providence, brought Sinners out upon the Stage of the World, to make them to be Examples unto others, then it is their Duty to Glorify God before the World, by confeſſing of thoſe their more Secret Sins, that have Provoked the Lord to leave them unto the more Open Sins, that have expoſed them before the World; that others may be warned againſt, and ſo preſerved from the like Out-breakings into Sin, ſo as to prevent further Diſhonour from coming … the Holy Name of God, by Open Sinning. This agrees with the Advice to … a Bad Man, as alſo with the Practice of David, a Good Man; when their Sins found them out, and they were, by … Holy Providence of God, openly expoſed. They were then to give Glory to God by making Penitent Confeſſion of …eir Sins before the World, that others …ight hear and fear, and might no more …in ſo againſt the Lord.

If one Sinner has been left, by the Sovereign Providence of God, to ſtumble … fall grievouſly into any great Iniquity, … as mightily to Diſhonour God and …ound his own Soul, and grieve the Hearts … his Neighbours; it is for the Honour of …od, and the Benefit of others, that he p. 116tell them of the Evils, at or by which he began to ſtumble, and that he warn them againſt thoſe Evils. Thus,

If Sinners have neglected Secret Prayer to God, or grown ſlack to, or cold in, or careleſs about, any other Duty of Godlineſs, and God has puniſhed them for their ſecret Neglects, by His leaving them to fall into more Open Sin, that brings them under publick Shame, they ſhould acknowledge how they began to leave God, and ſhould acknowledge the Righteouſneſs of God in leaving them, and ſhould therewithal adviſe others to take heed, leſt they begin to leave God, by giving way to ſecret Sins of Omiſſion, that are often puniſhed by the guilty Sinners being left unto Open Sins of Commiſſion, that bring the woful Sinners at laſt unto Open Puniſhment. If Sinners have been remarkable for their Diſobedience to their Superiors, and God has puniſhed them for their Diſobedience, by leaving them to further and greater, and more Heinous and Open Crimes, and they come to be cut down by the Sword of Civil Juſtice, and muſt Dye before their Time, for their being Wicked overmuch, it is their duty to Adviſe all and eſpecially Young People, to avoid all ſinful Diſobedience to their Lawful Superiors p. 117leſt God cut them off in the midſt of their Days, and take them away by ſome dreadful ſtroke of His Wrath.

If Sinners know in their own Conſciences, that they were very careleſs about the Religious Obſervation of the Lord's Day, and God hath left them ſo to ſome other Iniquity, that they are Openly Puniſhed, as they juſtly fear, for their Prophanation of the Sabbath of the Lord; they ſhould warn others, that Sabbath breaking is a coſtly Sin, that they may dread the Wickedneſs, the Sacrilage of Robbing God of His own Time, that He hath reſerved in peculiar for His Holy Worſhip.

And if Sinners know, and can truly charge themſelves, that they have not kept ſuch a Guard as they ſhould have kept, on their Tongues, nor had ſo much care of Truth, as they ſhould have had in their ſpeech, but have ſometimes talked too much at random, without the Fear of God; and God hath puniſhed them for that their Wickedneſs, by leaving them to more grievous and ruining Tranſgreſſions; They ſhould warn others to take heed to their Ways, that they Sin not with their Tongues, but keep their Tongues from Evil, and their Lips from ſpeaking Guile.

The Penitent Sinner on the Croſs may p. 118be produced as a good Example for this Thing. The cautioning of Sinners againſt Evil Speaking. For he was ready to reprove his Companion for his Ungodly Expreſſions. He would have him to govern his Tongue more with the Fear of God.

The Impenitent Sinner on the Croſs, doubtleſs might be Ignorant enough, and he might have had very little Information about our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; he might only hear ſome general Report that he was the Meſſiah, the Saviour of the World, before he came to hang by him on the Croſs. And ſo his Ignorance might be ſome Occaſion of his Unbelief, that he diſcovered in ſaying, If Thou be the Chriſt, ſave thy ſelf and us. But yet he was not without great Fault in his Ungodly Expreſſions foraſmuch as we know, that he ſhould have been more Confiderate than to make a Doubt, whether One that had ſo many Tokens of His being the Chriſt, were indeed the Meſſiah. But the Penitent Sinner did well to Admoniſh him for his unfi… Diſcourſe. And ſo ſhould they that have been Faulty, and are brought to Repentance themſelves, Admoniſh others againſt the ways of Sin, that they have experienced to be Pernicious to their own Souls.

p. 119And if Sinners know, and can juſtly charge themſelves [and Oh! what Numbers that live under the Goſpel, may ſo charge themſelves, and very juſtly?] that they have dreadfully deſpiſed the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, neglected the great Salvation, delaying to accept the Offers of His Goſpel, and to comply with the Motions of the Holy Spirit of God, and ſo have lived in their Impenitent Unbelief, and are ſatisfyed that the Righteous and Holy God us therefore given them up unto their own Hearts Luſts, and unto the Power of … …s the puniſhment for their wickedly refuſing to accept the gracious Offers of … Merciful Saviour; They ſhould ſeriouſly tell others about the Danger of all … delayes, and ſolemnly warn them againſt the Evil of all ſuch needleſs delayes, and earneſtly excite them to make …aſte and make ſure about the Affairs of their Souls, and preſently give themſelves unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and ſincerely comply with the Invitations of Salvation immediately, that they may not receive … Grace of God in vain, leſt the Lord would be provoked to give them up Eternally unto the Luſts of their own Hearts & …ower of Satan, who will be ready to hurry them into Soul-Deſolating Abomination.

p. 120For ſo it is very often with Sinners living under the Goſpel, that have a Day of Grace, enjoying the means of Grace and the ſtrivings of the Spirit of God, urging them to accept the Offers of Salvation by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and heartily conſent to receive Him as their External Saviour; they are not for a preſent conſent, but they carele…ly delay and put off this work from time to time, until the Holy Spirit of God is grieved, ſo that He withdraws and goes from them; and then the Evil Spirit comes to them and he takes poſſeſſion of their Souls, and fills them and rules … and leads them away Captive according to his will, and they Periſh for ever in their Impenitence; and ſome of them do, before they Dye, become guilty of greater Abominations, than are commonly committed by them that never lived under the Goſpel. According to what we find in Pſal. 81. 11. Where ſayes the Lord, My People would not hearken to my voice, and Iſrael would none of me … gave them up unto their own hearts … and they walked in their own Counſels. But when Sinners be ſo forſaken by God, they may fear that Satan will quickly be their Councellor. Thence have ſome that once enjoyed the Offers of the Goſpel, but rejected p. 121thoſe Offers, been given up to an aſtoniſhing efficacy of Errour, they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be Saved. And for this cauſe, doth God ſend them ſtrong Deluſions, that they believe a Lye, that they may be Damned. They take ſuch incurable Offence at the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or at ſome thing in His Goſpel, or Worſhip, or People, or Providential Diſpenſations, that they forſake. Him and His Holy Ordinances, and will never be recovered, never be reduced, never be renewed again unto Repentance.

But God may ſuffer ſome, that have neglected the great Salvation a long time, to ill ſo grievouſly into Sin, that their Falls may awaken them out of their ſinful ſecurity, and when they are thorowly awakened ſo as to ſee their Miſerable Condition, He may by His Holy Spirit, lead them unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and help them to repair to Him with their diſtreſſed and burthened Souls for Salvation. The Prodigal Sinner may go far from his Fathers Houſe, & may bring himſelf into grievous diſtreſſes, and while he is under thoſe diſtreſſes, he may come ſo far to himſelf, that he may bethink himſelf, and call to mind how things were with him … former days, and how he enjoyed the p. 122Offers of Mercy, but refuſed then to accept thoſe Offers; and he may, by the Grace of God, be aſſiſted to ſeek the Face of God, and Pray to the Lord in the time of his Affliction, ſo as to obtain Mercy and be received into the Favour of God, for the ſake of Chriſt, after a long time of wandring from the Lord! Was it not ſo with Repenting M…aſſeh? Was not he ſuch an Inſtance of the Sovereign Grace of God? He had enjoyed a Religious Education, but he had ſadly abuſed what he had enjoyed, he became a very Wicked Sinner; and among other ways of his Wickedneſs, he Wickedly ſhed abundance of Innocent Blood, and maintained Converſation with ſome who dealt with Familiar Spirits and was very Wicked before the Lord and before the World. And God brought him into Trouble for his Wickedneſs, but in the time of his Trouble he ſought the Lord, and the Lord was entreated of him, and he knew that the Lord was God. He acknowledged Jehovah, the God of Iſrael for his God. It is hop'd that he became a true Penitent, that he truly Repented of his Sin.

But when Sinners become true Penitents, it becomes them to evidence the Truth of Repentance by their endeavours p. 123that other Sinners may be brought unto Repentance. They muſt not ſay, What can we do? People won't care to mind any thing that we ſay to them. They will but reproach and revile us, if we ſhould ſay any thing to them concerning Repentance. They muſt not excuſe themſelves thus. For the Penitent Sinner-on the Croſs did not excuſe himſelf, tho' the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was between him and the other Malefactor; yet when he diſcerned a convenient Opportunity for him to ſay ſomething for God and for Chriſt, he then ſaid what he thought proper for him then to ſay, for the convincing of his Companion of his Wickedneſs, and the reclaiming of him from it. He did not plead, That Wicked Sinner has rail'd at the Lord of Glory, and therefore it is in vain for me to ſay any thing to him. There's no hope that he'l mind any thing that I ſay. But he was willing to do his Duty, whatever might be the Succeſs. He leaves that with God. And one Event of his going his Duty, is this that it is Recorded for his Everlaſting Commendation, that he pleaded againſt Sin, and for God, and for Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſaddeſt condition of Humiliation, that our Lord was ever in, while He was living upon Earth, before He gave up the Ghoſt. p. 124And tho' the Penitent Sinner did not prevail with his Impenitent Companion to Repent, that we can diſcern, yet it tended …o the Glory of God and his own honour, that he attended his Duty. And ſo it will be with others, that will attend their Duty in their Seaſon. They ſhall not loſe their Labour. And beſides this, Repenting Sinners do owe more than this unto the Glorious God, for what He has done for them, in granting unto them ſaving Repentance. They ſhould acknowledge their Thankfulneſs unto Him for His Grace, by endeavouring that others may be Partakers with them in His Grace, or at leaſt, that He may have His Grace Glorifyed, in helping them to perform their Duty.

But this muſt not be all that Repenting Sinners do for the Glory of God, to endeavour that others may be brought unto Repentance; But they muſt Pray to God for their own Souls. Thus did the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs, he not only ſuitably adviſed his Companion to what would have been for his benefit, if he had taken his advice; but he alſo took time, while there was time, to Pray unto the Glorious Redeemer to remember him, and he ſhowed his humility in his Prayer, and p. 125his Reſignation to the Will of Chriſt, in Praying for the ſmalleſt Mercy, acknowleging the Sovereignty of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, referring himſelf entirely to His Pleaſure. So ſhould others do But Omitting other things, One Doctrine more may be mention'd, and it is a very comfortable One.

DOCT. VII. The Gracious Lord Jeſus Chriſt will readily admit into His Favour all truly Penitent Sinners, and will certainly receive them into His Kingdom.

Let ſinful Perſons be ſure that they truly Repent of all their Sins, with unfeigned Repentance, and let them endeavour in all fit ways to ſhew the Truth of Repentance; and they may juſtly expect that the Merciful Saviour will not only be ready to Pardon all their former Sins, without upbraiding them with any of them, and willing to admit them into His Favour immediately upon their manifeſtation of Repentance; but alſo He will certainly receive them, at laſt, into His Kingdom. No ſooner had the Penitent Sinner made his humble Prayer unto his then Crucifyed Lord, but immediately thereupon our now Glorifyed Lord preſently ſhews Favour p. 126unto him. receives him into His Favour gives him a favourable Anſwer to his Prayer; graciouſly anſwers the humble deſires of his diſtreſſed Soul, aſſuring him, To day thou ſhalt be with Me in Paradiſe. In a ſtate of Bliſs and Eaſe, and Reſt, and wonderful Satisfaction. Thence might the Apoſtle Paul be fully ſatisfyed (as well as by what is other wayes Revealed) that Believers on Chriſt will be with Chriſt, in happineſs, immediately after the Diſſolution, the Separation of their Souls from their Bodies. The Lord aſſured the Penitent Sinner, it ſhould be ſo with him

It was one mentioned for the Diſgrace, but it is indeed for the Glory of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, That he Receiveth Sinners. Penitent Sinners will ever be welcome to Him, he will in no wiſe, caſt out any of them, that come to Him with Repenting Souls. Never did he turn away one Soul, never will He turn away one Soul, that comes to Him, deſiring Deliverance from Sin. He is moſt ready, forward, willing to receive ſuch. And he ſays, in Mat. 9. 13. I am come to call Sinners to Repentance. Then be ſure he will not reject them that Obey His Call but will receive them.

p. 127It was declared of Old, in Prov. 28. 13. It was adviſed and promiſed, in Iſa 55. 6, 7. We are adviſed and aſſured, in 1 Joh. 1. 7, 9. And elſewhere abundantly in the Sacred Scriptures, we find that God is ready and willing to Pardon Sinners, that ſincerely Repent of all their Sins, for the ſake of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and in Him to be Reconciled unto them. And that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is ready and willing to receive …to his Favour Penitent Sinners, that are coming to God by Him. And that He will certainly guide them by Counſel … bring them to Glory.

USE.

Then let all Sinners be Adviſed to make haſte, and make ſure about their unfeigned Repentance, upon the firſt Invitations to Repentance. Does our Lord Jeſus Chriſt readily admit Penitent Sinners into His Favour, immediately upon their Expreſſions of Repentance, and ſpeedily aſſure them of Admiſſion into …is Kingdom? Then let Sinners be …eady and willing to comply with the … Invitations of the Gracious Lord … Repentance.

p. 128And if there be thoſe that have ſlighted many Invitations, Let them comply with the preſent Invitations to Repent. Oh! Repent Now and turn from all your Tranſgreſſions that ſo Iniquity may not be your Ruin. Conſider God's Laws and Examine your Souls and Lives, Confeſs and Bewail before God, what you find contrary to the Laws of God in your Souls and Lives. Acknowledge that you deſerve to be Deſtroyed for ever, becauſe you have Tranſgreſſed the Laws of God. Beg Pardon for your Tranſgreſſions for the ſake of Chriſt. Repair to the Blood of Chriſt for Pardon of all Sins paſt, and look to Him for Grace to Glorify God, in Time to come, with an Holy Converſation. Theſe are ſome Things belonging to Repentance, and ſome of you have been often adviſed about ſuch Things. But if you have never attended them, you ſhould Now attend them and Repent Now.

If the Penitent Sinner had not heard about the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, before he was hanged on the Croſs, then it ſeems that this was the firſt Invitation, the ever he had unto Goſpel Repentance And he complyed with it. And if he had neglected to comply with any former p. 129Invitations, we find that his. Now complying with the preſent Invitation, was not in vain. Therefore

Let us all now comply with the preſent Invitations to Repentance. You are now Invited in the Name and Fear of God to Repent; but none of you know that you ſhall have another Invitation, if you don't comply with this.

And remember, tho' true Repentance be never too late, yet late Repentance is too ſeldom true. Thoſe that have been brought under fearful Expectations of ſpeedy Death, and have ſeemed mightily concerned about their Souls; and have made their promiſes, how well they would live in time to come, if God would be pleaſed to ſpare their Lives and continue them longer in the World, and have been delivered from their Fears; Few of them have diſcovered … Truth of Repentance by their after Converſation. I ſay very few of them … appear true Penitents. The moſt of … quickly forget their Diſtreſſes and … Promiſes, and are as bad as ever, … ſome worſe than ever, before many Months paſs away.

Therefore ſhould we take heed leſt we …eive our own Souls, by pretending p. 130or ſuppoſing that we may ſafely put off Repentance till we come to Dye, and then may, in drawing ſome of our laſt breaths, do enough about Repentance, to ſecure the welfare of our Souls: for there is danger about thoſe who delay Renpentance, leſt they be hardened for ever and confirmed in Sin. They, that think Repentance may be attended and performed well enough in a ſhort time, diſcover too much of Ignorance about Repentance. Indeed the Thief on the Croſs had but a ſhort time to Repent, if he began there to Repent. But if God enabled him to Repent in a ſhort time, on ſuch an extraordinary occaſion; yet this may not encourage others to delay Repentance with an imagination that they can well enough Repent in a ſhort time. Nor can we be ſure that the Thief then began to Repent, while he was Hanging on the Croſs. He might have the Foundation of Repentance laid in his Soul, a great while before then, ſo that the Principle of Grace in his Soul, being then excited, he might then go on to Build upon the Old Foundation that was laid a long while before that time. However it is utterly uncertain that he was ever guilty … delaying his Repentance with an Expectation p. 131to Repent, well enough, at laſt. But very certain it is, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt will never come again to be Crucifyed any more, to give any other Sinner ſuch an Opportunity to Repent. On this Inſtance we may ſay, as hath been ſaid a long Time ago. If the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs began his Repentance there, then there was one Sinner that began to Repent in ſome of the laſt Hours of his Life, and is gone to Glory; and but one ſuch Inſtance recorded in all the Hyſtories of more than four thouſand Years. There was One, that none might Deſpair; and but One, that … might Preſume. And we ſhould remember that God hath alwayes promiſed Pardon to the Penitent; but He hath never promiſed Repentance to the Preſumptuous. Therefore let all of us Repent Now, make haſte and make ſure Now about Repentance, hoping for the Pardoning Mercy of God for the ſake of Jeſus Chriſt.

And YOU that have no expectation at all to hear another Sermon about Repentance, Publickly Preached unto you, throughout Eternal Ages. Oh! Repent Now and be Awakened & Encouraged unto Repentance by what you have heard.

p. 132You have head ſomething about the broken heart of a Repenting Sinner, that will be acceptable with God through Jeſus Chriſt (in the former Part of the Day) God can Glorify His Grace in giving you ſuch an heart, and in healing your broken heart. And you have heard now (in the later part of the Day) about ſome of the laſt Words of a very bad Man, that Dyed (for ought we know) with an hard, ſtupid, unbroken, impenitent Heart. Oh! Be not you like him, without the Fear of God, while under Condemnation. You have heard about ſome of the laſt Words of one that, tho' he had been a very had Man, yet he became a very good Man before he Dyed. Oh! Be you like him, Do you follow him in Repenting of Sin, Evidencing the Truth of Repentance, Being ſincerely concerned for the Glory of God, and the good of others, Humbly committing and reſigning your ſelf into the Merciful Hands of the Almighty Redeemer of Souls And you have heard about ſome of the laſt Words of that Almighty Redeemer of Souls, and how ready and willing he is to receive into his favour truly Penitent Sinners, and to heal their broken hearts, and fill their wounded & troubled Souls with the ſweet p. 133Conſolations of his Holy Spirit, and to admit them at laſt, into his Glorious Kingdom of Life, and Light, and Joy, and Peace and Eternal Bleſſedneſs.

Be aſſured, that our bleſſed Lord has the ſame Heart now He is in Heaven, that He had while He was upon Earth. And He is now as full of Grace, and Mercy, Love and Compaſſion as ever, toward Miſerable, Unworthy Sinners, that humbly Cry to Him for Grace and Mercy. He hath not forgotten to be gracious, now He is in Glory. Then, if notwithſtanding all his Griefs and Pains, that he endured while he was hanging on the Croſs, He had leiſure to take notice of and ſhew kindneſs to a diſtreſſed, broken hearted Sinner, making his addreſſes to Him for his favour; We may be ſure he will not now diſregard thoſe, that humbly ſeek to Him for his Mercy, how unworthy ſoever they are. He did not upbraid the Penitent Sinner with his Unworthineſs, when he cryed to Him for his Merciful Remembrance.

Let this Conſideration be for your encouragement. If you ſincerely Repent, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will certainly have Mercy upon you. Remember David and Manaſſeh that were guilty of Murder; and yet they Repented and Obtained Mercy. p. 134Remember that ſome of the Murderers of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt Repented and Obtained Mercy, and their Sins were blotted out, and their Souls were Waſhed & Saved by the blood, which they ſinfully ſhed: Tho' no Murderer hath eternal Life abiding in him, yet they, that have Grace given them to Repent of their Murders, with Unfeigned Repentance, will have their Souls cleared from the guilt of their Murders by the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and ſo ſhall be bleſſed with Life Eternal.

But now you are going to hear the laſt Words that ever I expect to Speak to you in this Place.

What ſhall I ſay unto you! Oh! Be not deceived about the Affairs of your Soul. Be not deceived by truſting to your own Righteouſneſs. Be not deceived by making a Righteouſneſs of your own with any thing that you think you do about Repentance. You cannot but know that if you had Lived without Sin, all your Days ever ſince you came into the World, (had ſuch a thing been poſſible) Yet you brought with you into this World enough Sin to deſerve your Eternal Deſtruction. You cannot but know that all your beſt endeavours about Repenting of Sin, have ſo much of ſinful Pollution cleaving unto p. 135them, that they deſerve the wrath of God for ever. And you cannot but know that all your own Righteouſneſs will come Infinitely ſhort of the Righteous Demands of the Holy Law of God. Therefore when you have done all that you can, to endeavour that Things may be well between God and your own Soul, and all that you can, to endeavour in all fit Ways to evidence the Truth of Repentance before the World, by Confeſſing and Bewailing your Sins, Mourning Bitterly for them all, and Lamenting your Miſeries before the Lord. Acknowledging His Righteouſneſs, and Warning others upon all ſuitable Occaſions to take heed of all the Paths of the Deſtroyer, againſt which you may Adviſe them, and by begging the Prayers of all that Fear God for you, and Praying to God for your own Soul; Don't imagine, that by any of theſe, or any ſuch Things, you deſerve any the leaſt Favour from God. Renounce all Confidence in your own Righteouſneſs. Remember it is a great Sin to go to Eſtabliſh a Righteouſneſs of your own, by any of your own Doings, or by Repentance for Sin. But when you have done all that can be done, acknowlege that you are Unprofitable before God, and that p. 136you deſerve nothing of Good from God, and that God muſt Glorify His Free Grace unto you, if you are Saved. And keep ſtill relying on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for all Good; for Pardon, for Healing, for Aſſiſtance, for Acceptancce, for every Bleſſing, that is needful for your Soul. And beg of God, that whatever He denies you, yet you may not be Deceived about your Soul, ſo as to loſe your Soul for ever; that whatever He denies you, yet you may be remembred by the Merciful Redeemer, and received into His Kingdom, tho' a Miſerable Sinner. And if it ſhould be ſo, that after all your Endeavours about your Soul, the Righteous and Holy Lord ſhould ſee Cauſe to hide the Light of His Countenance from your Soul, ſo that you muſt go out of this World in the Dark, without any comfortable Satisfaction of his being Reconciled to your Soul, or Aſſurance of the Pardon of your Sins; yet be ſure to Juſtify Him in all, Acknowlege His Righteouſneſs and Holineſs to the laſt; and try to keep the Eyes of your Soul upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, remembring that He is able to Save unto the uttermoſt, all that come to God thro' Him, ſeeing He ever liveth to make interceſſion for them, and p. 137He can Save at the Laſt. And remember what the Penitent Sinner on the Croſs hath Experienced, at the Laſt, for your Encouragement. God can take from the Croſs into Paradiſe, and from the Gallows into Glory; and He can help you ſo to Repent of all your Sins that you may Glorify Him before you Dye.

And ſo far as you may be Encouraged by this (and this may be ſome Encouragement) you may be ſatisfyed, that they that Fear God will not ceaſe to Pray to the Lord for you. They will continue to take all proper Seaſons, both in Publick now, and in Private and in Secret to Pray for you, as long as you continue a proper Subject for Prayer. But if you would have any ſaving benefit by their Prayers, you muſt be ſure to continue to take all Times to Pray for your ſelf, and continue Repenting of Sin as long as you Live, and continue Believing on Chriſt as long as you Breath, and keep longing for ſuch Manifeſtations of Gods Love in Chriſt Jeſus unto your own Soul, that you may be able truly to ſay (as in Pſal. 49. 15.) God will redeem my Soul from Hell, and he will receive me.

The End of the SERMON.

Readers,

NOw you have ſeen, (if you have Read the preceding Sermon,) ſome of the things that were Preached in the Audience of a Poor Man hearing for his laſt. GOD knows, if he got any good by what he heard. But we know that you and I ſhould get good by what I have Preached, and you have Read. If you hope that you get any good, Aſcribe the Glory of all to the Free Grace of God, in Chriſt, (for there it is all due) and Praiſe the Lord for His Grace to you, and Pray that the Riches of His Grace may be ſo Glorifyed to me, that I may be Saved and they that hear me.

FINIS.

End of the text · Nathaniel Clap, The Lords Voice Crying out to His People (1715)