Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 11
SERMON XI.
DOCTRINE VI. Miniſters of the Goſpel ſhould be well Acquainted with the Fullneſs and Alſufficiency of Chriſt.
THis Obſervation I make from thoſe Words in our Text, v. 22. Yet there is room. This was ſpoken by the Servant and by this Servant (as was hinted before) are chiefly meant God's Ministers, Meſſengers whom He ſends to declare His Mind to the Children of Men. After many were brought in to the Feaſt, the Servant ſaid, Yet there is room, q. d. Though there are ſo many come already, yet there is room for many more. So, Miniſters ſhould be ſo well acquainted with the Fullneſs and Alſufficiency of Chriſt, as to be able to ſay, Though many Sinners are already brought to Chriſt, and delivered from the Guilt of Sin and Wrath of God, yet there is room enough in Chriſt for more, room enough ſtill to Receive all that will com…. A Living Spring is not Diminiſhed or …mpoveriſhed by Dayly Supplies it yields to thoſe that come. So, though Chriſt has Communicated Saving Benefits to many, to vaſt Multitudes yet He's not at all Exhauſted, He has yet an Infinite Fullneſs and Sufficiency in Himſelf. Our Lord once ſaid, Luk. 8.46. I perceive that Vertue is gone out of me. Though He perceived, that Vertue went out to Heal that Woman that touch'd Him; yet He did not perceive that there was any thing leſs of Vertue remaining in Him. 'Tis ſaid, Luk. 6.19. The whole Multitude ſought to touch him: for there went Vertue out of him and he Healed them all. He had Vertue enough to Heal All that touch'd Him, yet this Vertue was nothing Diminiſh'd by it's Healing of Multitudes. Chriſt is full of Grace and Truth, Joh. 1.14. Many Things that are Full are capable of being Emptied; but Chriſt cannot be at all Emptied of Grace and Truth. Col. 1.19. It hath pleaſed the Father, that all Fullneſs ſhould dwell in him. It Dwells, Abides, Continues in Chriſt; ſo that tho' He ſaves many, yet there is ſtill as great a Fullneſs to ſave more, as ever there was to ſave any. Joſeph in Aegypt had vaſt Stores and Treaſures of Corn, yet they were bounded limited Treaſures, though they laſted long and fed many, yet they could not laſt always nor feed all: The more was taken out of thoſe Stores, ſo much the leſs remained in them. Tis not ſo with Chriſt, who has Stores of Food for the Souls of Men. There are Unſearchible Riches in Chrict, Eph. 3.8. There's no ſearching out the Compleat Height and Depth, Length and Breadth of the Fullneſs and Sufficiency of Chriſt.
All Old-Teſtament Saints, all New-Teſtament Saints hitherto have been Waſhed, Juſtified, Sanctifyed in the Name of the Lord Jeſus and by the Spirit of our God; and yet Chriſt is ſtill as full and Able for ſuch Work as ever He was. His Blood is as full of Saving Merit, Worth and Efficacy Now, as on the Day it was Poured forth on the Croſs; or as it was when Three Thouſand were Converted in one Day, Act. 2.41. The Blood of Jeſus Cleanſeth from all Sin, 1 Joh 1.7. This was a Truth in the Apoſtles Days, and tis as much a Truth now as ever it was: The Vertue of that moſt Precious Blood is nothing Diminiſhed. Chriſt is able to ſave to the Uttermoſt, thoſe that come to God by Him, Heb. 7.25. It may ſignify, not only His Ability to ſave a Sinner Perfectly, to Begin His Salvation and Carry it on till it's Compleatly Finiſhed; but alſo the Continuance of His Ability to ſave. He is fully able Evermore, or as long as the World ſtands, Compleatly to ſave all that come to God by Him, be they who they will, or never ſo many. His Blood is the Blood of God, it Purchaſed the Church, Act. 20.28. Not only a few Particular Sinners, but the Whole Church, the whole Number of all that ever have Believed or ever ſhall Believe in Him. If all Perſons now in the World, would Heartily Repent of Sin and Believe in Chriſt, all their Sins ſhould be fully Waſh'd away in His Blood. Joh. 3.16. Whoſoever Believeth in him, ſhall not Periſh but have Everlaſting Life. As there is Vertue enough in Chriſt's Blood, to Waſh away the Sins of all True Believers; ſo Chriſt has Wiſdom and Knowledge enough, to Lead and Guide all His Sheep through all the Darkneſs and Difficulties of this World, till he brings them to Glory. In him are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledge, Col. 2.3. He alſo has Power and Might Sufficient, to Vanquiſh all His and His Peoples Enemies. He has Deſtroyed him that had the Power of Death, that is the Devil, — and Triumph'd over Him (Heb. 2.14. Col. 2.15.) He is ſtronger than the ſtrong Man Armed. The Gates of Hell ſhall never prevail againſt His Church: None ſhall ever pluck His Sheep out of His Hand. He can make the Weakeſt of His Saints, to be more than Conquerors. He can out of the Unſearchible Stores of Grace in Himſelf, give forth unwearied Recruits and Supplies to all His Saints, to all the Branches that are in Him. Paul could do all Things through Christ that strengthen'd him, Phil. 4.13. So the ſame Lord Jeſus can ſtrengthen all His Saints to Duty. They that wait on the Lord ſhall renew their ſtrength, they ſhall run and not be weary, walk and not faint, Iſa. 40.31. Their Redeemer can ſtrengthen them with ſtrength in their Souls; if they are ready to fall he can uphold them. He giveth Power to the Faint, and to them that have no Might he increaſeth ſtrength, Iſa. 40.29. He has all Power in Heaven and Earth committed to Him, and therefore can Guide His Saints by Counſel till he brings them to Glory. Yea, He has a fulneſs of Love, Grace, Good Will thus to do for all that come to Him. He Loved them and Waſhed them from their Sins in His own Blood, Rev. 1.5. This moſt Free Love of His to them is Unchangible. Having loved His own, he loved them to the End, Joh. 13.1. He will never leave nor forſake them, but help, strengthen and uphold them by the Right Hand of his Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 41. 10. He can find Motive enough in Himſelf, in His own Bowel-Compaſſions to do this for them. He will reſtore their Souls, and lead them in Paths of Righteouſneſs for his Name ſake, Pſal. 23.3. Oh the Amazing, Unſearchible Fullneſs and Sufficiency of Jeſus Chriſt! Miniſters ſhould ſtrive to be as well acquainted therewith as poſſibly they can; and that for their own Support and Comfort as Chriſtians; for their Support and Comfort in their Difficult Weighty Work as Miniſters; and that they may be the better Fitted to Perſwade Sinners to come to Chriſt, and to Comfort thoſe under all their Troubles who have accepted of Him, 2 Cor. 1.3, 4. Bleſſed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Christ the Father of Mercies, and the God of all Comfort; who comforteth us in all our Tribulation, that we may be able to Comfort them which are in any Trouble, by the Comforts wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God.
DOCTRINE VII. God would have MANY Sinners come to Chriſt.
Verſe 23. Compel them to come in, that my Houſe may be filled. Though many were come already, yet there was room for more; and as the Servant deſired that room might be filled with Gueſts, ſo did the Maſter too: They are the Maſter's Words, That my Houſe may be filled. So there is room for many more to come to Chriſt, and God would have them come till Chriſt's Myſtical Body is filled up. The Church is called Chriſt's Body, The fulneſs of him that filleth all in all, Eph. 1.23. Chriſt's Myſtical Body that ſhall be Eternally Glorified, conſiſts of all that ever have Believed and ever ſhall Believe in Him. All who thus Believe in Chriſt, were given to Him by the Father. All that the Father giveth me, ſhall come unto me; and him which cometh into me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. — This is the Fathers will which hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up at the laſt Day, Joh. 6.37, 39. When all that the Father hath given to Chriſt to be ſaved by Him, are brought home to Him by True Faith, then His Myſtical Body will be filled up as to the Parts and Members of it; and then ſhall the End come. Well, but tis not filled up yet, there is ſtill room for more to come to Chriſt, and God would have many come that his Houſe, His Church, the Mystical Body of His Son may be filled up. Indeed (as we ſhew'd before) wherever the Goſpel comes, God Commands all that hear it to come unto Chriſt. 1 Joh. 3.23. This is his commandment, that we ſhould believe in the Name of his Son Jeſus Christ. God Commands All that hear of Chriſt (though they are never ſo Many or Numerous) to ſubmit to Him. Our Lord ſaid to His Diſciples, Mark 16.15, 16. Go ye into all the World, and Preach the Goſpel to every Creature; he that believeth and is Baptized ſhall be Saved, he that believeth not ſhall be Damned. It's evident therefore that God would have many to come unto Chriſt, none are Excluded where the Goſpel comes unleſs they Exclude themſelves by Unbelief. Oh Sinners, if any of you Neglect coming to Chriſt, you can't ſay, tis for want of Room, nor for want of an Invitation neither: You cannot ſay, that every Place is filled up, or that Chriſt would not receive you if you ſhould come: You cannot ſay any ſuch Thing as this.
DOCTRINE VIII. Thoſe who refuſe to come to Christ ſhall Periſh for ever.
We find in our Text, when the Maſter of the Houſe heard, that ſome who were Invited to his Feaſt, made Excuſes and would not come; he was Angry, v. 21. and ſaid of them, v. 24. None of thoſe Men which were bidden ſhall Taſt of my Supper. Since they would not accept the Invitation to his Supper, he reſolv'd they ſhould not Taſt of it. So thoſe who Refuſe the Gracious Offers of Chriſt, ſhall not Taſt of that Eternal Salvation, Bleſſedneſs and Glory they were Invited to. When the Maſter of the Houſe ſaid, They ſhall not Taſt of my Supper, tis as if he had ſaid, They ſhall have no Share nor Interest, no Part nor Portion in that Bounty and Kindneſs of mine, which I Offered them, but they Rejected. So thoſe who Reject God's Offered Grace, and Utterly Refuſe coming to Chriſt, though God Invites and Commands them; they ſhall have no Share, Intereſt, Part or Portion in that Compleat Bleſſedneſs which the Saints ſhall Injoy in God's Favour for ever. God is Angry with them for Rejecting His Offered Kindneſs, He will never beſtow on them that Salvation that they Refuſe and Neglect. They ſhall Eternally Periſh and be Undone. He that Made them will have no Mercy on them: He that Formed them will ſhew them no Favour. Their Woful, Periſhing, Undone Condition is ſet forth, ſometimes Negatively and ſometimes Affirmatively. It's ſet forth Negatively in our Text, They ſhall not Taſt of my Supper. So, Heb. 10.38. — My ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him. Thoſe in whom God's Soul takes no Pleaſure, whom He is not pleaſed to Favour with the Endleſs Injoyment of Himſelf; they are Undone, Miſerable Creatures indeed and that for ever. Joh. 3.36. He that Believeth not on the Son, ſhall not ſee Life. 'Tis Everlaſting Life, Eternal Bleſſedneſs that is ſpoken of in the next preceding Words; but he that Believes not on the Son, ſhall never See, Taſt, nor Injoy that Life. Oh Wretched Miſerable Creature, that is thus Deſtitute! But their moſt Wretched Miſerable Condition, is likewiſe ſet forth Affirmatively. Joh. 3.36. The Wrath of God abideth on them. God is Angry with all thoſe, who won't be perſwaded to ſubmit to Chriſt; and His Terrible Inſupportable Wrath will Abide and Continue on them for ever. If they draw back, His Soul has no Pleaſure in them; and therefore they draw back to their own Perdition or Deſtruction, Heb. 10.39. As to Outward Things and Circumſtances in the World, many are in a Middle State, not vaſtly Rich nor Extremely Poor. But there is no Middle State in the Future World: The True Believer ſhall be Saved, the Unbeliever Damned. Every Particular Perſon, will be Eternally and Inconceivably Bleſſed, or Eternally and Inconceivably Miſerable. Chriſt will ſay, Come ye bleſſed, inherit the Kingdom, or elſe, Depart ye curſed into Everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels, Mat. 25.34, 41. Therefore all that Reject Goſpel Invitations, and will not come to Chriſt, they ſhall not Taſt of that Supper, that Feaſt of Salvation Offered in the Goſpel: They ſhall certainly Periſh and be Damn'd Eternally. And ſurely, this Future State of the Damned, will be moſt Terrible, Doleful, Dreadfull; we cannot but think ſo, if we ſeriouſly Conſider and Believe,
1. How it's Deſcribed in Scripture. The Future Miſery of the Damned is ſet forth in Scripture, by ſundry Things which in our preſent Animal State, are look'd on as moſt Afflictive, Terrible and Diſtreſſing. As 'tis a Pleaſant Thing for the Eyes to behold the Sun, ſo meer Darkneſs is Terrible and Afflictive: The Aegyptians found it ſo. Well, the State of the Damned is ſet forth, by their being cast into outer Darkneſs, Mat. 8.12. Never to ſee the Light, but to be in the Diſconſolate, Diſtreſſing Horror of Darkneſs, is Terrible indeed. Oh how Dreadful will be the Execution of that Sentence? Mat. 22.13. Bind him Hand and Foot, and take him away, and caſt him into outer Darkneſs: there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth. It's Terrible to have Worms continually Gnawing and Eating of us; yet 'tis ſaid of the Damned. Mark. 9.44. Their Worm dieth not, and their Fire is not quenched. It's very Painful and Tormenting to be Burnt with Fire, how Grievous do we find a ſmall Burn when it happens to us? But as for the Damned, they ſhall go into Hell, into the Fire that ſhall never be quenched, Mark. 9.43. Fire that is fed with Brimstone, is very Fierce and Terrible. Yet the Damned ſhall have their Part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone which is the ſecond Death, Rev. 21.8. To ſuppoſe a Lake or Sea of Fire, continually fed and Flaming with Brimſtone, and a Perſon caſt into it, Incompaſſed and Wrapt all round with thoſe Tormenting Penetrating Flames; this muſt needs be Unutterably Grievous and Terrible: No Tongue can Deſcribe this Miſery.
2. The Damned in Hell, will be Deſtitute of all Good and Comfort. Perſons in this World though under ſore Afflictions, yet often (yea always) have ſome Good mixed with their Evil; ſome Sweet with their Bitter. But the Damned in Hell, ſhall have no Good, no Comfort at all. God's Soul will have no Pleaſure in them, therefore He will beſtow no Comfort on them. The Wicked Rich Man, who in this World liv'd in Plenty, and Fared Sumptuouſly every Day; yet when caſt into Hell, he had no Comfort at all. When Scortch'd in the Flames of Hell, he deſired that Lazarus might dip the tip of his Finger in Water, and therewith cool his Tormented Tongue; yet he could not obtain ſo ſmall a Refreſhing Comfort as that was. No, 'twas ſaid to him, Thou in thy Life Time receivedſt thy Good Things, now thou art Tormented, Luk. 16.22. — 25. All his Good Things, Comforts Benefits he had receiv'd in his Life Time, while he liv'd on Earth; after Death he had no more any Good Things, he was utterly Deſtitute of every Good Thing whatſoever, could not obtain ſo much as one Drop of Water to cool his Inflamed, Tormented Tongue. He had no Comfort, but was filled with Torment.
3. The Damned will have the worſt Companions that can be in their Miſery. The Damned will be ill Companions to one another, and Doubtleſs (one way or other) help to promote each others Miſery. The Wicked often love one another's Company in this World, but Doubtleſs they will rather dread it in Hell, but cannot avoid it. Will they not Dread to hear the Doleful Groans, Piercing Cries and Screetches of Damned, Tormented Wretches; and to hear the Curſes and Upbraidings of their former Wicked Companions? But Damned Men muſt not only Company with one another which Doubtleſs will increaſe their Miſery; but muſt alſo be Plagued and Tormented with Devils forever. The Devils are Apoſtate Spirits, Apoſtate Angels, Implacable Enemies to God and Men; they are full of Murder, Malice, Spite and moſt Curſed Rage; theſe Tygers, theſe Roaring Lions of Hell; Damned Men muſt be with for ever and ever. The Sentence to be Pronounc'd againſt them is that, Mat. 25.41. Depart from me ye Curſed, into Everlaſting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. When the Angels Sinned, God was ſo Provoked with them that He ſpared them not; He preſently put them into Chains of Darkneſs reſerving them to the Judgment of the Great Day. And theſe Curſed Rebels, from the very firſt of their Apoſtacy till the Great Day of Judgment comes; are with all their Might, Power, Policy oppoſing the Honour and Glory of God as far as poſſibly they can: And has not (think you) the Infinitely Holy and Powerful GOD, prepared Terrible Torments for ſuch Early, Obſtinate long Continued Rebels as they are? Yes moſt certainly. Well, with theſe Damned Devils, Damned Men muſt have their part for ever. How far theſe Tormented Devils will be Inſtrumental in Tormenting of Damned Men, no Tongue of Man can Declare. Doubtleſs theſe Devils full of all Spite Malice and Rage, will Inconceivably Vex, Plague and Torment them. When Satan was permitted, how Grievouſly did he Torment the Body of Holy Job for a while? When he was permitted to to take Poſſeſſion of ſome Perſons, he made them Wander about Night and Day, in Mountains and Tombs, crying and cutting themſelves with Stones, Mark. 5.5. He often threw them into the Fire, and often into the Water, Mat. 17.15. And if his Limited, Chained Rage wrought ſuch Terrible Effects as theſe; what will he do to the Damned in Hell, when all Reſtraints are taken from his Malice, and Damned Men intirely given up to ſuffer Vengeance? Doubtleſs, when God gives up the Wicked to the full Blow of His Holy Wrath and Vengeance, He'll ſuffer exaſperated Devils, to be Inſtrumental of Inconceivable Perplexity and Vexation to them. And as for thoſe who Pariſh from under the Goſpel, how Terribly may the Devil Twit them, Upbraid them, and Triumph over them? May they not ſay to them?
By our own Folly we have brought our ſelves into this Miſery, but you are greater Fools than we. When are Sinned, no Remedy was propoſed to us, no Salvation was ever Offered us; but you had Salvation through Chriſt Offered to you, and you would not Accept it. God waited to be Gracious to you, He uſed long Patience; He often call'd on you by you Parents, Maſters, Neighbours, Miniſters, by the checks and awakenings of your own Conſciences, by the Motions and Strivings of His Spirit; but you refuſed all theſe. Salvation ſtood long (as it were) Knocking at your Door for Entrance, yet you would not Open and let it in, yet you Refuſed. We Devils never ſhow'd ſuch Folly as this, we never Refuſed Salvation for it was never Offered to us. Oh you Fools, you that miſs'd of Salvation, of a Glorious Crown and Kingdom for the ſake of empty Trifies; now reap the fruit of your own Folly, the fruit of your own doings, &c.
If the Devils ſhould thus upbraid Damned Men, and their awakened Conſciences bear the ſame teſtimony, and as a never dying Worm graw upon them, filling them with ſuch Self-condemning Reflections; how unutterably Tormenting muſt this needs be?
4. They ſhall be Tormented in their whole Man, both Body and Soul. When the wicked die, their Souls go to Hell Torments, Luke 16.22, 23. But after a while, the Reſurrection of the Dead and Day of Judgment ſhall come; and then both Body and Soul together ſhall be Puniſhed. Mat. 10.28. — Fear Him who is able to deſtroy both Body and Soul in Hell. As for the obſtinately Wicked and Impenitent, they ſhall have their Bodies and Souls thrown into Hell: they ſhall be Tormented in their whole Man in all their Parts and Powers. The Worm of Conſcience gnawing within, and nothing but Vengeance from without; how terrible will this be? In this World, great extremity of Pain if in but one Tooth, one Finger, one Toe, any one Part or Joint of the Body; it's counted almoſt intollerable; what then will it be, when all the Parts of the Body and all the Faculties of the Soul ſhall be quite fill'd with Miſery and Torment? The Damned are call'd, Rom. 9.22. Veſſels of Wrath fitted … Deſtruction. Veſſels, as Pots or Cups are often denominated from what is put into them, or the uſe that is made of them (as a Wine-Cup, a Beer-Glaſs) ſo the Damned will be Veſſels of Wrath, fill'd up with the Wrath of God. In this World they were Veſſels of Sin, full of Sin, the Servants of it, their Members being Inſtruments of Unrighteouſneſs (Rom. 6.13, 17.) wholly Imploy'd in Sin's Service: in the next World, they'l be Veſſels of Wrath, fill'd brim-full with the Tormenting Wrath and Vengeance of the Lord God Almighty. And when thus Tormented in all their Parts, Powers, Faculties, how inconceiveably terrible will it be!
5. God will Glorifie Himſelf in Puniſhing and Tormenting of them. On the Judgment Day and for ever after, God will Eminently Glorify His Mercy on the Veſſels of Mercy; and His Wrath on the Veſſels of Wrath. That time therefore is called with reſpect to the Wicked, The day of Wrath, and the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God, Rom. 2.5. God will then fully, clearly, evidently Reveal Diſcover, Manifeſt to the whole World; that He's Infinitely Holy, Juſt Righteous in pouring out His moſt terrible Wrath and Vengeance on the Wicked. They ſhall be Puniſh'd with everlaſting destruction, from the Preſence of the Lord and from the Glory of His Power, 2 Theſ. 1.9. God will then Diſplay and Glorifie, His Infinite Juſtice and Power too, in Puniſhing the Unbelieving and Diſobedient. In this World, He Glorifies His Patience and Forbearance to them; but then He'l Glorifie His Juſtice and Power in Tormenting of them. And when the Great …d ſets Himſelf on purpoſe (as it were) to ſhow the greatneſs of His Revenging Juſtice, and of His Power, will He not do it wonderfully beyond all we can conceive of? Yes indeed He will … When Men have a mind to give the brighteſt diſcoveries of their Strength, Ingenuity, Skill in any matter; then they commonly ſtretch their Faculties (as it were) and exert themſelves to the uttermoſt. Surely then, when God deſigns eminently to diſcover and glorify, His Revenging Justice and Great Power in Puniſhing the Wicked; their Puniſhment muſt be Inconceivably terrible indeed. He'l remember againſt them all their Sins in Thought, Word & Deed; all the Aggravations of them: and He'l Inflict the full weight of Wrath for every Sin. He'l abate them nothing, He'l Puniſh them according to their ways, and according to the fruit of their doings. When the promoting and manifeſting His own Glory, is thus concern'd in Puniſhing, Plaguing, Tormenting of them; Surely He'l render them Inconceivably Miſerable.
6. Their Puniſhment will be Eternal. In this World, it's often a relief to thoſe in great Pain or Trouble, to hope that it wont laſt long: if it were not for hope the heart would break. Well, but the Torments of the Damned, will never have any end at all: they'l have no Intermiſſion, Mitigation, nor Ceſſation for ever. Their Miſery is call'd, Everlaſting Puniſhment, Mat. 25.46. Everlaſting Destruction, 2 Theſ. 1.9. They muſt go into Everlaſting Fire, their Worm never dies, their Fire is never quenched.
Thus I have indeavoured in ſome Meaſure to ſhow, that the Future Miſery of the Damned will be exceeding great; but how Great, how Terrible, no Tongue of Man can tell. The Scripture ſets it forth by thoſe things, which are moſt Terrible to the preſent apprehenſion of our Senſes; but twill be never fully underſtood till fully endured. The Scripture ſometimes ſets forth the Future Glory of the Saints, by thoſe things which are commonly moſt valu'd and eſteem'd by Men in this World, as by a Crown, a Kingdom, an Inheritance, &c. and yet it ſays, 1 Joh. 3.2. It doth not yet appear what we ſhall be. Notwithſtanding all that's ſaid about the Future Glory of the Saints; yet it does not fully appear at preſent, how Great and Eminent it will be. Eye has not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor has it entred into the Heart of Man fully to conceive at preſent; the good things God has prepar'd for them that love Him, 1 Cor. 2.9. So, notwithſtanding all that's ſaid about the Future Miſery of the Damned; yet it does not fully appear at preſent, how Great and Terrible it will be. Eye has not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor can the Heart of Man at preſent fully conceive, what Rivers, what Tormenting Floods of Divine Vengeance will forever be poured out on the Ungodly. Yet all this Inconceivable Miſery, will moſt certainly be the Portion of all that refuſe Chriſt, & neglect the Great Salvation Offer'd to them. Surely then we ſhould bethink our ſelves, we ſhould flee from this Terrible Wrath which is to come. If we ſhould Periſh from under the Goſpel, our Condition will be more terrible than theirs of Sodom and Gomorrah. If we ſhould Periſh, how terrible will it be, to conſider of and reflect on our own Folly and Wickedneſs. To conſider how long we liv'd under the Goſpel, how many Precious Offers of Salvation we had, how frequently and fervently we were urg'd to mind the welfare of our Souls, and yet that we Fooliſhly and Wickedly neglected the things of our Peace in the time of them; Surely, no Heart can conceive the Anguiſh, Terror, Horror that will be produc'd by ſuch reflections. To think, if we had heartily Obey'd the Goſpel as many others did, we ſhould now have been in Glory as well as they, with Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, the Holy Prophets and all Sincere Believers; but Fools, Wretches, Self-Deſtroyers, Self-Murderers that we were, we gave way to the Temptations of Satan, the Corruptions of our own Hearts; were more fond of Shadows, Trifles, Momentany Vanities, than of Eternal Bleſſedneſs; by this our Folly and Wickedneſs, we have loſt Inconceiveable Eternal Glories, and brought on our ſelves theſe Intollerable Plagues that can never be got rid of; I ſay, ſuch Reflections as theſe will be Inconceiveably Tormenting. Let all of us therefore be in good Earneſt about our Souls, ſearch and try our ways and turn to the Lord. Let us with utmoſt Speed, Sincerity and Diligence, Repent of all our Sins, Submit to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt on Goſpel Terms, Imploying all that we are and have for Him: if we thus do, it ſhall be well with us for ever. If we thus do, then, When Chriſt who is our Life ſhall appear, we alſo ſhall appear with Him in Glory, Col. 3.4. But if we neglect Chriſt, our Doom is that, Pſal. 9.17. The Wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, with all the Nations that forget God.
FINIS.