Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22, Sermon 3
SERMON, III.
TWO Doctrinal Obſervations have been … ſpoken to; Namely,
I. That the Soul of Man is a Palace which the Great GOD built for Himſelf.
II. That it is now become as a Garriſon and ſtrong Hold which Satan keeps againſt GOD. The ſtrong Man Armed keepeth his Palace.
I now paſs to a Third DOCTRINE.
III. That there is a wretched Peace and curſed Quiet which the carnal Heart often lies in under Satans Tyranny.
His Goods are in Peace. He calls them his Palace and his Goods, and ſeems to have a peaceable Poſſeſſion. The Miſerable Soul ſeems to Enjoy a profound Peace in its woful Bondage. Satan has a quiet poſſeſſion allow'd him. He conquer'd by Conſent and ſo he rules. The Sinners Mind and Heart and Will are his; tamely yielded to him, wickedly uſed for him. "Satan rules without Controul; His Luſts are done and his intereſts ſerved; and all the Powers of the Soul are Imployed by him in his Service. The Sinner is content they ſhould be ſo; Eaſy and unconcern'd about the matter; is Secure and Merry, Servile and Obedient; likes his Maſter and loves his Service; has no ſenſe of Miſery, nor fear of Danger. Thus the ſtrong Man Armed keepeth his Palace and his Goods are in Peace.
It is ſtrange that it ſhould be ſo, becauſe the Soul is not in its native State of Rectitude and Order. The foundations are out of courſe, and all things are in diſorder and confuſion. Whence then ſhould come any quietneſs or reſt in this Preternatural State? What Peace can there be under Guilt and Wrath? But however ſtrange it be, it is in fact true and a thing undeniable, that there is a Carnal Security and Eaſineſs which ſome of the moſt wretched and guilty among the Miſerable Children of Men do ſtupidly ly in.
Concerning this, I ſhall
1. Obſerve that the thing is True in Fact.
2. That it is a very wretched and curſed thing in it ſelf.
3. Whence it comes. And ſo Apply the Doctrine.
I. In Fact we ſee it to be true, moſt palpable and very Evident to all the World, that there are many wicked and ungodly …erſons who are ſecure and in Peace in their Sins, as it there were no danger near them and they had nothing to trouble them. They ſeem either, 1. To have a good Opinion. of themſelves, and to Entertain no doubt or ſcruple about the Goodneſs of their State: Or, 2. A Fearleſsneſs and Unconcern tho' they know that it can't be well with them. They have neither any ſenſe of their own Sinfulneſs, nor any Dread of the Judgment to come.
The Scripture ſpeaks of this wretched Peace of a carnal Mind: Pſal. 36.2. He flattereth himſelf in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful. He perſwades himſelf either that he is guilty of little or no Sin, or that he ſhall ſcape well eno', and ſo goes on Impenitently in his Sinful wayes. He either doth not ſee, or will not own the Evil and danger of his wicked Courſes. Preſent eaſe and quiet is all that moſt Men propoſe to themſelves, without any regard to futurity; and a preſent fleſhly Indulgence all they crave without caring for the Conſequence thereof. Senſual Objects incloſe them without, and draw away their Eyes from future and diſtant, unſeen & Eternal things; and an evil Heart of Unbelief within yields to the power and perſwaſion of ſe…ſe, and departs gladly from the living …. The Sinner is reſolutely and obſtinately bent to keep all eaſy within; ſhuts his … upon the flames, and ſtops his … the thunders of Gods Law; an… … Peace in himſelf let the Law declare … it pleaſes. He hears the Words of this …rſe, … yet bleſſes himſelf in his heart, ſaying, … all …ve peace, tho' I walk in the Imagination, … my heart, to add drunkenneſs to thirſt, Deut. 29.19. He faces the Curſe, or turns away from it, and promiſes himſelf Impunity and ſafety, tho' he perſiſt in his Impiety. There are Multitudes of ſuch Men in the Profeſſing World, who are under the Curſe of God, and cannot but know it if they would but allow themſelves to think of it, and yet bleſs themſelves; and the more ripe for ruine, the more reſolute they are in promiſing Peace to themſelves.
There are Degrees of this Peace in Sin. Some ſeem to have it more and ſome leſs; yet 'tis ſo much a Cheat that they who ſ…em to have it moſt may indeed have leaſt of it; tho' they hector Conſcience and ſuppreſs it, or bear up againſt it as well as they can.
1. In ſome it is only a ſtupid Ʋnconcern, Careleſsneſs and Tho'tleſsneſs: and then it is uſually the dull quiet of the Ignorant and Untaught, who know and have heard or minded little of God or His Word: for a vain and looſe Education muſt needs lay a foundation for unconcern about our Spiritual State.
2. In other it is a Preſumptnous Hope. The vain Sinner will hope groundleſly, and if he can but co… …p the Word and corrupt Conſcience to permit him this, he layes a ſure foundation for a falſe Peace. The World is full of hope without a Promiſe; ſaid the Devout Mr. Flavel. A Hope whereof a Man can never give a Reaſon. A groundleſs, dead, Chriſtleſs, irrational, idle, abſurd hope: Job. 8.54, 55. Of whom ye ſay that he is your God, and yet ye have not known him.
3. In others this falſe Peace riſes into a falſe Joy. And this is natural 'eno, for as a preſumptuous hope cries Peace, Peace to the Sinner it muſt needs cheer him in his evil way. This fond deluſion of ſelf-love is ſometimes ſo ſtrong, that it may buoy the light and vain heart over the Billows of Adverſity thro' this Life, and thoſe of Death at the End of it. As bladders of Wind may make a ſhift to keep the head above Water. They are not in trouble and they have no Bands in their death. They die with ſome Expectation that it will be well with them hereafter.
Indeed many that live ſtupidly and quietly in Sin die ſo too, and they that ignorantly and looſely take up fond hopes of their good Eſtate die with leſs fear and diſtreſs very often than many of the Godly themſelves. To this length may ſecurity ſometimes go.
But after all, It is not …eet to be called Peace of Soul, which is a Great and bleſſed thing whereof this is but the fiction. True Peace is a gracious Tranquillity and S…nity of Mind built on the ſolid principles of Religion, the unchangeable Promiſes and Covenant-faithfulneſs of God; the Experience of his Good Work in us, and the certain Exerciſe and Actings of Grace toward God. The Wicked are far from this, in their careleſs quiet or preſumptuous hopes.
I go on therefore to the Second thing propounded under the Doctrine; Namely, to obſerve,
II. That it muſt needs be a very wretched Peace and curſed Quiet which the carnal heart lies in under Satans Tyranny. Do you ſpeak of Peace, O Sinner? What Peace can there … ſo long as thy reigning Sins, are ſo Many? and the power and Witchcraft of Satan over thee is ſo Strong? There is no Peace faith …y God unto the Wicked, Iſai 57.21. God is not at Peace, not reconciled; and Conſcience ſhould not be eaſy, nor ſuffer the guilty So… to enjoy any quiet.
Peace is a Happy thing in it ſelf, Greatly to be wiſht for, Earneſtly to be ſought aft… and much to be priz'd and cheriſhed by him that has it: But in ſome caſes it is unnatural, unlawful, impoſſible, and the pretence of it the greateſt Curſe and Miſchief. Peace in Six, Peace without Holineſs, Peace without Reconciliation to God, Peace without Pardon, — It is a moſt Irrational as well as Irreligious and proſane thing
Peace under Guilt and Condemnation, and quietneſs under the Wrath and Curſe of God, what madneſs and diſtraction muſt it ſuppoſe? To be at Peace under Satans po… ru… …nd …y…nny! Under Spiritual-P… … …ſs and on the brink of hell! To be quiet & at eaſe while God is our Enemy, and ready to damn and deſtroy both Body and Soul in Hell for ever. Job 12.6. And they that provoke God are ſecure.
A Peace not of Gods giving nor allowing! A Peace of Sutans ſoothing and deceiving into! A Stupor upon the Soul and Lethargy, which under the ſhews of faſt and ſweet Sleep, is the ſure and fatal Symptom of approaching death.
The quiet which Impenitent Sinners have in their evil wayes is curſed in its Original, which is of Hell; and curſed in its End and final Iſſue, which is there from whence it took its riſe. It is a woful Peace, curſed in its Cauſes and curſed in its Effects.
It comes of Infidelity and Unbelief, Profaneſs and Contempt of God, preſumption and fearleſsneſs, fleſhlineſs and ſenſuality. It is earthly, ſenſual and deviliſh. And it hardens Mens hearts, blinds their eyes, deprives them of underſtanding; ſtupefies, fears and makes Men Inſenſible of Good and Evil. It is a Root that beareth Gall and Wormwood, as Moſes ſaith: One of the ſtrongeſt holds of Satan whereby he keeps Men in Impenitence and fixeth them in an Everlaſting Eſtrangement from God: It reſerves the Soul in chains under darkneſs, as ſure as thoſe under which Devils are held, unto the Judgment of the Great Day.
This curſed quiet and ſecurity fruſtures all Awakning Means, receives all the terrors of God with mildneſs and unconcern; as an Arrow ſinks ſilently into a Wall of Mud; or it roughly puts them away, as an Arrow blunts and breaks againſt a Wall of Stone. Finally, It provokes the Lord to Jealouſy, and treaſures up wrath againſt the day of wrath, and will make the Revelation of that wrath the more Surpriſing and Inſupportable.
The Holy Ghoſt has therefore given us the Character and the Judgment of this Secure Sinner, his Way and his End, in diverſs paſſages which are very dreadful to read, but moſt neceſſary and profitable for us to weigh. The Character of the Impiety we have, Pſal. 36.1,—4. The tranſgreſſion of the wicked ſaith within my heart, that there is no Fear of God before his Eyes. For he flattereth himſelf in his own Eyes until his Iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his Mouth are iniquity and deceit; he hath left off to be wiſe and to do good. He deviſeth miſchief upon his Bed, he ſetteth himſelf in a way that is not good, he abhorreth not evil. What a miſerable account is here of the Perſon? Flattering himſelf on in wicked wayes without any regret or remorſe? But what is the End of it? Can it laſt alwayes? No: but as the ſoft Oyl yields the moſt Vehement flame when it is ſet on fire, ſo this carnal Peace prepares and layes open a wretched Soul to the devouring fire of Gods wrath to fix and prey upon, when he comes forth to Judgment. So Moſes tells us, Deut. 29.20, 21. The Lord will not ſpare him, but the Anger of the Lord and his Jealouſy ſhall ſmoke againſt that man, and all the Curſes that are written in this Book ſhall ly upon him, and the Lord ſhall blot out his Name from under Heaven: and the Lord ſhall ſeparate him unto Evil, according to all the Curſes of the Covenant. There is ſcarce a Threatning in all the Book of God that ſounds more dreadful than this; (ſayes Mr. Henry on the Place) O that ſecure and preſumptuous Sinners would but read it and tremble! For it is not a Bugbear to frighten Children and Fools, but a real Declaration of the wrath of God againſt the Unrighteouſneſs and Ungodlineſs of Men. The Lord ſhall not ſpare him. The dayes of his Reprieve which he abuſeth ſhall be ſhortned, and no Mercy remembred in the midſt of Judgment. The Jealouſy of the Lord, which is His fierceſt Auger, ſhall Smoke as a Furnace againſt him. The Curſes Written ſhall not only light upon him and terrifie him, but ly upon him and abide in all their weight, to ſink him down into the loweſt Hell. He ſhall be Separated unto Evil, which is the moſt proper Notion of a Curſe; Cut off from all happineſs, & all hope of it; and Mark'd out for Miſery, without Remedy. And all this according to all the Curſes of the Covenant, which are the moſt fearful Curſes, being the Revenges of Abuſed Grace.
This is the ſure and certain End of preſent Security and Peace in Sin; and it comes alwayes with …prize and as a Snare that covers the unwary Bird while it feeds, or ſings ſecurely and merrily. As in the dayes that were before the Flood, they were Eating and Drinking — and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, Mat. 24.38. The height of the Sinners ſecurity is the time of his Inſtant Danger, that his folly may be the more manifeſt, and the warning to others the louder, and that the ſeverity of the Puniſhment may awfully appear in the ſurprize it brings with it. 1 Theſ. 5.3. For when they ſhall ſay peace and ſafety, then ſudden Deſtruction cometh upon them, …s Travail upon a Woman with Child, and they ſhall not eſcape.
So in the Parable of the rich fool we have the Picture of Carnal ſecurity drawn in its true Features, and in moſt lively Colours, together with the miſerable End of it: Luke 12.19, 20. And I will ſay to my ſoul, Soul thou haſt much goods lard up for many years, take thy eaſe, eat, drink and be merry: But God ſaid unto him, thou Fool, this night ſhall thy Soul be required of thee. O the ſurprize in the midſt of his Song, of many a ſecure day to come, wherein he propos'd to dwell at eaſe! In a day when he look'd not for it, and in the hour when least aware, is he cut aſunder. Tho' while he liv'd he bleſſed his Soul, and his Nei'bours might praiſe him as projecting well for himſelf, in a Moment he goes down to the dead, and lifts up his Eyes in Torments. It is a very wretched Peace and curſed Quiet which deceives Souls into this Miſerable End.
III. Whence comes it? And how comes it to be ſo common a thing among ungodly Men? It is a Strange Infatuation, and Ʋnaccountable Madneſs in the hearts of the Children of Men: What poſſeſſes them? I anſwer,
1. Satan does. The God of this World hath blinded their heart, that the light of the Goſpel may not ſhine into them. He keepeth the Palace with a ſtronghand and with much skill. He keeps it in peace. His Agency in the matter muſt be Acknowledged. It is the ſign and proof of Satans power over the Soul, his ſtrong hold in it. If he can lull and rock us Aſleep in Sin his poſſeſſion is ſ…ure. If we doze away our Life he has the…reſs trouble to watch us, the leſs danger of loſing us. It is a ſure and eaſy way of keeping his hold, if he can perſwade us to be quiet, that there's no danger near us, that we are ſafe and have nothing to fear. He takes away the good ſeed ſown in the heart, quenches Convictions, puts off ſerious Tho'ts, and endeavours to keep the Soul from any concern or trouble about its Spiritual State and Intereſts. If he can keep thee quiet thou art his own for ever, for we muſt beſtir our ſelves, and reſiſt him, and fight for our Liberty and Lives if we would be deliver'd. Satan knows where thy ſtrength lyes, and where his own hold of thee, and will find thee a Delilahs lap to ſleep and be ſhorn in. There is not a more manifeſt Temptation of the Devil than this of ſecurity, which he beguiles unwary Souls into. So he began, and ſo he holds on; (a Liar and a Murderer from the beginning) Gen. 3.4. And the Serpent ſaid unto the Woman, Ye ſhall not ſurely die.
2. Men are willing to be deceived. It is the Diſeaſe of the Carnal heart to love eaſe, to indulge ſtoth, and to avoid the pain and uneaſineſs of conſidering its own miſeries and dangers Men naturally love quiet and hate to be diſturb'd in their Evil Wayes. The carnal Mind agrees with the Unclean Spirit in his Outcry at the Sight of Chriſt, What have I to do with thee, thou Holy One? I beſeech thee torment me not. Every Man is unwilling (ſayes Dr. Barrow) to entertain a bad Conceit of himſelf, and to paſs a ſad Doom upon himſelf. No Man likes to be gall'd, to be ſtung, to be rack'd with a ſenſe of Guilt, to be ſcar'd with a dread of Puniſhment, and the apprehenſion of Imminent danger; Gladly therefore would he ſhun that Doctrine which demonſtrates him to be a grievous Sinner, which ſpeaks diſmal terror and thunders ghaſtly woe againſt him. Seeing he can't find a heart to mourn for and part with his Sins he would fain be quiet in them. He flies from Convictions, as from a Spectre that haunts and I terrifies him; Haſt thou found me O my Enemy; and art thou come to torment me before my time! Now there is but this one way to be eaſy in a ſinful way, and that is Not to trouble ones ſelf about it, but to live on ſecurely without thinking, Conſidering and laying things to heart; or if troubleſome tho'ts will ariſe to give them no Entertainment, but get rid of them again as ſoon as they can, being painful and unwelcome things.
3. The Security and Peace of carnal Men comes very much from Example, and the Evil Converſation of the Wicked. They ſee others eaſy and chearful in ſinful wayes, and why ſhould not they as well. They learn of their Betters too uſually, their Superiours, their Parents it may be, and thoſe that have more Knowledge, more Age, & make more Profeſſion than they do. They ſee their Careleſs and Looſe walk, and Unconcern about it, and are glad of the Licenſe (as they take it) to themſelves. More eſpecially looſe and evil Companions are ready to tempt and ſolicite others into their own Jollity and Careleſsneſs. They think it ſtrange if others are not as free and eaſy in Satans Bondage and Drudgery as themſelves. They will laugh 'em out of a Serious look, or a thos'tful air; and ſpeak evil of them if they will not run into the ſame Exceſs that they do. Iſai. 56.12. Come ye (ſay they) I will fetch wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink, and to morow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant.
4. Sometimes there is a Judicial Infatuation and Senſleſsneſs inflicted by GOD, whereby he gives ſuch up to a Spirit of Slumber; Eyes that they ſhould not ſee, and Ears that they ſhould not hear unto this Day, Rom. 11.8. This Calm of a Senſual Heart is like that of the dead Sea, the Lake of Sodom, from the Curſe of God upon it: The leſs it is Agitated the more it Stagnates and gathers filth. God gives Men over to a Reprobate Mind, to work all uncleaneſs with greedineſs & with fearleſsneſs. He gives them up to their own hearts luſts and they walk in their own counſels. Si vult decipi decipiatur. The Plague of Darkneſs falls upon the Soul, and there is not a worſe Curſe that God has to inflict: Let their Eyes be darkned that they may not ſee, and bow down their back alwayes. Yea thou ſhalt be as one that lieth down in the midſt of the ſea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a Mast. i. e. as a Miſerable Mad Man inſenſible of danger.
5. And laſtly, One Reaſon of the wretched Peace of S…nners is, Satans Confidence and Security of his Intereſt in them & Power over them, and their object ſervility of Spirit and tame ſubjection to luſt. This makes the devil eaſy about them (if I may ſo ſpeak) and keeps his houſe in Peace, for he ſees no great danger of loſing the ſecure Sinner. He truſts in his Armour, his paſt Conqueſts, and his long and quiet poſſeſſion by the Sinners conſent. The Sinner (he ſees) has no Spirit or Reſentment left, ſo much as to ſtruggle for his freedom. Luſt has taken away his heart, and he has no tho't of Liberty. It is not for Satans Intereſt to diſturb the Sinner in his quiet, free, and eaſy ſubjection. By long Experience and many a Million ſad Inſtances he has long ſince learn'd that it ordinarily holds. Were there any danger of loſing the Soul the Devil would diſreſt him ſoon. So long as all is his own, and he ſees his Slave eaſy, all is well and let him be eaſy. But yet, in this his Confidence Satan is ſometimes taken; and the Strong Redeemer comes upon him unexpected, and takes from him all his Armour wherein he truſted and divideth his ſpoils.
To Conclude, There is a kind of Concord in Hell, and ſo between Satan and Sinners here, ſo long as they agree in Sin. Satan will not caſt out Satan. As long as you will be quiet in Sin the Devil will willingly let you.
USE.
The Application and Improvement of the Doctrine may be in divers USES.
I. Of Conviction to Secure and Quiet Sinners: See the exceeding Sinfulneſs and the dreadful Danger of your wretched State. The Devil keeps you in this curſed Peace. Let this Convince you,
1. Of the Wickedneſs, and
2. Of the Folly of your Security.
1. It is exceeding wicked and ſinful in you, and a prodigious Guilt, and ſhould ſo appear to you.
1. You don't believe Gods Word, and the Doctrines or Threatnings thereof relating to a State of Sin. There is ſurely a ſecret Disbelief and Infidelity which makes you ſay in your heart, There is no God, or I hope he is not that Holy, Juſt and Dreadful God which the Scripture repreſents him. Under all your profeſſion of the Chriſtian Belief you are certainly guilty of ſecret Atheiſm, or you would not act ſo like an Infidel. So the Judge will at laſt ſurprize a ſecure World, as he did the ſtupid Jews in their laſt Deſtruction, and not find Faith in the Earth, Luk. 18.8. Now is the Time and here is the Place for Faith, even while we are here on Earth; and Sinners if they did believe would fear thoſe Threatnings of Gods Wrath, which elſe in a little time they ſhall be made to feel.
2. You highly Contemn God if you do partly believe the Truths and Threatnings of his Word. Pſal. 10.13. Wherefore do the Wicked contemn God — Sinners caſt great Contempt upon the Holy God by their ſinful Courſes. They contemn his Dominion, his Holineſs, his Truth, his Power and Vengeance. " What an Impious and Abſurd thing is this? Jer. 5.22. Will ye not fear me, ſaith the Lord? will Je not tremble at my Word? No, they wont: and in Effect they dare to tell God ſo. If you are but almoſt perſwaded of the Being of God, and of the Revelations which he has made of his Wrath againſt all Unrighteouſneſs and Ungodlineſs of Men, who hold the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs, it were a horrible thing that you ſhould be able to be ſecure and quiet in ſinful wayes. Wherefore do you ſo Contemn that glorious and fearful Name, THE LORD THY GOD?
3. Conſider the Aggravation of this thy Contempt of the Great GOD, under our Light, and the Means of Conviction & Awakning which we Enjoy. We are not of the Night nor of Darkneſs to excuſe us: Not in the Night of Ignorance; nor under the Darkneſs of meer Nature and of Heatheniſm: Theſe Times and Places God might wink at, but now he calls all Men every where to repent. This ſound has gone out to all the World, and reached theſe Ends of the Earth What Preſumption and Inſolence muſt it be in us then to be ſecure and fearleſs in a State of Sin and Wrath? Who know the Judgment of God that they that do ſuch things are worthy of Death? It is a hainous thing, however light we may now make of it, to do violence to Reaſon, and Conſcience riſing againſt us within, and deſpire unto the Spirit of God teſtifying againſt our Sins in his Word, and by that in our Conſciences. Heb. 10.26, 27. For if we ſin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remaineth no more ſacrifice for ſins: But a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, that ſhall devour the adverſaries. Eph. 4.17, 18, 19. This I ſay therefore and teſtifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind; having the understanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God thro' the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſs of their Heart: Who being paſt feeling have given themſelves over unto laſciviouſneſs, to work all Uncleaneſs with Greedineſs. But ye have not ſo learned CHRIST.
2. Be Convinced of the exceeding Folly and deſperate Madneſs of your Security and Peace under the Power and Guilt of Sin. Here we muſt apply our hearts, to know the wickedneſs of folly, even of Fooliſhneſs and Madneſs: Madneſs is in their hearts while they live and after that they go to the Dead. Men ſhift off their fears as well as they can; compaſſing themſelves with Sparks of their own kindling; they walk in this poor Gleam of light for the Moment that it laſts, and then ly down in Sorrow.
It is but a falſe ſhew of Peace; a Shadow, a Dream, an Imagination of it. It is interrupted with many a ſting of guilt and fear. It does not at all put off, nor skreen thee from the Evil Day: No more than it ſecures a Perſon from the Lightning to ſhut his Eyes, or ſtop his Ears againſt the Thunder. Thou art every Moment liable to the Blow of God, tho' thou wilt not conſider it. It is a fond and abſurd kind of ſelf love that makes thee promiſe thy ſelf any ſafety. Satan is highly gratified in his Succeſsful Beguiling thee into it. And nothing more ſhews his poſſeſſion of thee, or ſtrengthens it more than thy Security, While Sin reigns in quiet, the Kingdom is ſtrengthened in its hand. Luſt has its undiſturbed ſway, and however Imperious It is in its will, it is Obſequiouſly obey'd. The Devil ſhould not be allow'd this eaſy Dominion. His Cunning lies (as Monſieur Ludolf ſayes) in keeping his Slaves from knowing their own Inward State. They fancy all is well in the midſt of Miſery. The Soul is one Spirit with the Devil and knows it not, tho' the ſad Effects of that dark Union are manifeſt. So then you are bewitch'd and inchanted by ſenſual Luſts, or you would not be ſo quiet in your Sins. You have a Devil and art mad. And whenever Conſcience awakes, this Guilt wilt rend and tear thee. God may give thee up to thy Security and to Satan for ever. If he do not the pains of Repentance will be horrible unto thee. At laſt it will bite like a Serpent and ſting like an Adder. Prov. 1.27. When your Fear cometh as Deſolation and your Deſtruction as a Whirlwind; when diſtreſs and anguiſh cometh upon you. Falſe Peace vaniſhes uſually at Death, Everlaſting Torments begin. The fooliſh Virgins ſleep on, and at Midnight there is a Cry made, Mat. 25.6. Midnight is the time of Security, when deep ſleep falleth upon one. To be wak'd with an Outcry then is frightful indeed, and ſets all the joynts a trembling. O the Conſternation when Death Surprizes Sinners in their Security! The sting of death is ſi…. Sin throws away its …lask and Vizour when Death advances. It …ares him in the face whom it ſooth'd before. The hope of the Hypoorite is given up with the Ghost. The Spiders Web is ſwept away with the Beſome of Deſtruction.
This is the first Uſe, To convince Sinners of the Evil and Danger of their Security.
II. The next USE may be of Comfort to them that are under Spiritual Trouble, and Diſtreſſed on the Account of their Souls: who are Mourning, fearing and trembling on the account of their Sins. Peace be to you from Christ the Saviour: Let not your Hearts be troubled, neither be afraid. This Sorrow which hath fill'd your hearts is a thouſand times better than to be at quiet in ſinful wayes. The Fear and Diſtreſs which thy Convictions …ive thee are Neceſſary unto and …xcretratory for that Divine Peace which …es all Underſtanding & which abides for ever. When the Comforter comes he does thus Convince of Sin. Godly ſorrow worketh Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of. Now…d rejoyce, not that you are made ſorry, but that you ſorrow to Repentance.
The Devil hates to ſee thee under this Concern. And now he will difreſt & trouble thee as much as he can. But be of good cheer, this is the way of thy Deliverance and his Ejection. No wonder if he tear & rend thee when he is forc'd out after a long and too quiet a poſſeſſion. But Christ is then near thee to take thee up and heal thee.
While you lay in: your Stupidity and Security in Sin, Hell triumph'd over thee with Inſult and cruel pleaſure: but now in thy Repentance there is Joy in Heaven among the Angels of God. Hell rages at what God is doing for thy poor Soul. Satan will now deſire to terrifie thee. But the High & Lofty One Looks to him that is of a poor and contrite Spirit and that trembleth at his Word. The God of Peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your feet and do it ſhortly. Chriſt has Purchaſed Peace for, and Spoken it unto the Penitent. Let his Peace Keep thy Soul. Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you; not as the … give I unto you: Let not your … …ed, neither be afraid. If He giveth …, who can give trouble? A holy Serenity and Security of Mind becomes Believers in Chriſt. Iſai. 32.17. The work of Righteouſneſs ſhall be Peace, and the Effect of Righteouſneſs quietneſs and aſſurance for ever. Pſal. 4.8. I will both lay me down in peace and ſleep, for thou Lord only makeſt me to dwell in ſafety.
III. Let the Laſt USE therefore be, To direct our feet in the way of Peace. See the Peace which you ſhould be ſeeking after. It lies in a Deliverance from Satans Thraldom, in Penitential Mourning for Sin, in Gods Speaking Pardon to us thro' Christ, in the Fruits and Evidences of our Regeneration, the Spirit of Chriſt in us, and his Witneſſing with our Spirits that we are the Children of God.
Christ in our Peace. We muſt direct Sinners unto Him. You muſt have your Hearts ſprinkled from an Evil Conſcience. The Blood of Chriſt is this blood of Sprinkling. The Soul is purified, and the Conſcience pacified, by Faith therein.
Wherefore Awake thou that ſleepeſt, and ariſe from the dead and Chriſt ſhall give thee Life. Ly no longer ſtill in thy Sins, but ly at Jeſus feet waſhing them with thy tears and wiping them with the hair of thy head. Weep and Love much, for much is to be forgiven thee. He who has ſatisfied Gods Juſtice, can ſatisfy thy Conſcience, and He only can do it. His Blood quenches Guilt, and Guilt it is that ſets Conſcience on fire.
We may not dare to heal the hurt of your Souls ſlightly, ſaying peace, peace, when there is no Peace. You muſt Repent and Believe in Chriſt, or you will die in your Sins. You muſt ſee your periſhing and loſt Eſtate and need of a Saviour. You muſt go to him for deliverance from the Dominion of Sin, as well as from the Curſe due to it. You muſt be Sanctified by the Spirit of Chriſt, and Justified by his Righteouſneſs. You muſt be taught, and ruled and ſaved by him.
Then all the Malice and Powers of Hell ſhall not be able to over thr…w thy Peace. It is built upon a Rock. Thy Faith in thy Saviour ſhall quench all the fiery darts which the Enemy of thy Soul can throw at thee.
But let not the Believer in Chriſt be ſecure neither. Thou ſtandeſt by faith, be not high minded but fear. The Wiſe Virgins are too apt to Slumber, but their Fnemy is wakeful. Tho' Chriſt has pray'd for them that their faith may not fail, yet if they do not watch and pray they may ſadly fall and wound themſelves and make work for bitter Repentance. If you have Peace take care to keep it. Do not ſleep as do others, but watch and be ſober.
We have need to be thus Exhorting one another daily while it is called to day, leſt any be hardned thro' the deceitfulneſs of ſin. See that your hopes be well grounded, and that you are able to give a Reaſon of them with meekneſs and fear: That they be ſuch as purifie thy heart and quicken thee in Godly living. There is but one way of Peace to a Sinner, and that is to yield unto Chriſt the Saviour, upon the Terms of the Goſpel.
Chriſt is now Storming the Sinners heart, he breaks the Truce and League with Sin and Death. He gives it terrible Alarms of Judgment & of Hell,Mr-Baxter. he batters it with the Ordnance of his Threatnings and Terrors; he ſets all in a Combuſtion of fear and ſorrow, till he force it to yield to his meer mercy. Now, wilt thou yield and ſubmit to Him? To the Conditions of Peace which he offers? He will then be at Peace with thee: thy Peace may be made with God immediately thro' Him, upon the Surrender of thy ſelf to him. Do this then: Lay down the Arms of thy Rebellion, throw thy ſelf at his feet, take Him for thy LORD, ſubmit to his Rule and Government. This is the only Baſis of true and ſolid Everlaſting Peace: Iſai. 27.5. Let him take hold of my ſtrength, that he may make peace with me, and he ſhall make peace with me.
I will Conclude with ſome very Pathetical Words of the Excellent Mr. Baxter in his Saints Everlasting Reſt: "I ſhould wonder, but that I know the deſperate hardneſs of the heart of Man, how a Man that is not ſure of his Peace with God, can eat, or drink, or ſleep, or live in any Quiet. Well, if thou wert the neareſt Friend that I have in the World, I could wiſh thee no Greater Good, than that God would break in upon thy careleſs heart, and ſhake thee out of thy falſe Peace, and caſt thee into trouble, — and make thee ever read thy Sentence as if it were ſtill written before thy Eyes; and which way ſo ever thou goeſt ſtill meet thee full in the face with the ſenſe of his Wrath, as the Angel did Baalam with a drawn ſword; till he make thee caſt away thy groundleſs Peace, and ly down at his foot, ſaying, Lord what wilt thou have me to do!