A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 117 (Question 31 cont.)
SERMON CXVII.
WE have taken an Account of what is done Externally by the Spirit of God in … to Eſ…ctual Caih…g. viz lie makes Offers …, to the man, in the Goſpel. But … are not to think this to be all that he … in this great Work; ta…ga ſame …ave, … …akingly called it. Grace ſunce…t. Be ſ…ipel Offer, though …t is a great favour, … common, and there are more that … then imbrace it. This is intimated is …. 20.16. It is not ſath…eat to make … men to ſee, for one to bold a Can…dle … him; but his eve-Eght muſt alſo be pleased to him. The ſta…ce… ſpi…tual Death, … which the Word of God aſſures us all … men to be, tells us, that outward moral … is not … to draw them to Chriſt, … there muſt be ſomething done which may … them t…l…te again. Hence, although the Spirit of God …ata choſen extet…ally to … himſelf to men by the Goſpel, yet when and where he will reader this Call …, a… doth ſomething more in and for …. Here therefore,
1. THERE is ſomething that is done Inter… in theſe. W…les by the …ſtry of …, i… the alm…ltration of the Goſpel-…ces the Spirit applies himſelf to me…s … and …reats with them as rational creatures, is ſi…uating himſelf into their m…d…, …ing ſuch effic…c… as he …es meet; but … which, all the other …e de…rou…s, would … men, as to a…y ſaving Work.
Now i… this internal Work the Spirit apple …ſelf to the Soul, print pally to the … Faculties of it: To the … d… and there peculiarly to the Co…ſ…nce: … the Will, and by that alſo to the …, which are the immedia…e … it. We may take a br…e… account … of theſe.
1. … in…erd… applies himſelf is … U… …ing. And this is the firſt … …, and for the m…ſt part, of Time t…o. …hough the Spirit of God can, it he ſees … do the work together and …, yet … not ordinarily ſo do. But as he app… himſelf in the means to men, as Cauſes …ſel, ſo he propoſeth things to them, and works them up to make a deliberate this, which is not … ſtill, the … the … of this application is formed at once …. It being a work of Creation, …tely wrought by God himſelf in the …. But in his treating with men, he app… himſelf ſnitably to them; and that muſt he by informing their Underſtandings. How … the act of Faith, which is an ex… this new nature, be the act of a … Agent? Now there are two Things in which the Spirit applies himſelf to the …ſtanding, in order to the bringing the … a believe in Jeſus Chriſt.
1. BY may of Convention. He convinceth the man of his Son and Miſery. And here let it in general be obſerved, that under this head of Conviction, our Catechiſm comp… eth all that which is by Divi…es want to be called Pre…ar…ry Work; which therefore muſt be locked at in the laying of it open. Only, before I proceed to particulars …, it may not be amiſs to ſpeak ſomething of the Nature, and Next …ay of this Ce…vaction, or Preparation.
1. TOUCHING the Nature of it: The great Inquity here is, If ether it be a C…mman, … Sp…. & S…ing Work? And though there was a Touch given at this before, yet I had it needful to remove ſome miſtakes, to add a few words more to it. Now we call that a Common work, which may be found i… the …ep…hate, as well as in the Flect; & coo… quectly ha… nothing in it of evide…ce to diſtinguiſh one from the other: And that Special and Saving Work, which is wrought only in the Elect, and is either eſſential to Salvation, or at leaſt an infallible antec…deat of it; or which …penies …, as the Apoſtle expreſſeth it, Heb. 6.9. In ſum, that which brings the man under the aſſurance of the promiſe of Eternal Life. Give me leave …e;ſſ…y at the Reſolution of this ſo much diſputed Caſe in the following Propeſi…s,
1. THAT there is …hi…ſs an inter… Ope…t on as well as an external … the Spain, … his Common. We … to limit the Addreſſes of the Spirit to the N… Elect, to the outward propoſal of the Goſpel by the Word and Miniſtry, and ſupp…ſe …a…t all the i…prections made thereby on the minds and Coa…c…ces of ſuch, to be nothing elſe but the c…erciſe or improvement of their own rational powers. He indeed applies himſelt to thoſe powers, and makes uſe of them; but yet be comes in and with the means, and … ſuch operation in them. Whe… elſe is it that the ſame Word at one time … on them, which it another time ſt…s them … certainly, it was not then Chriſt's meetly ſpeaking that word to the are ter…us J…ws, that left ſuch a … in C…ſ… ces, is made them ſo act, …. Or why have men that caution given … Th… 7.19. Qu… … the Sp… were there to inve…d ſuggeſtions of his …ed in them?
2. THAT the f…d … the Spirit in any, … New…re in …gen…tion. Whatſoever are the ſecret purpoſes of God concer…d, m…, it is certain that there is no ſaving g…ſt beſtowed on them, before he works the ſaving Change in them, in which all the G…ce… of the Spirit are produced. …span it ſelf, is the firſt ſaving gift applied to me…: in which men are put into Chriſt. And we are told, 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore if …ny man be in Chriſt, he is a new creature; … are paſt away, behold, all things are be…me new. So that we muſt either ſuppoſe the ma…o… be Converted antecedently to this Conviction, or that the Corviction it ſelf is Converſion, or elic allow it to be Common work. There is no promite of ſpecial Grace, but requi…es … in us to imbrace is, in order to the con… got a title to the good in it to us; and there can be no Faith exerted, where there is not a principle of ſaving Grace implanted.
3. THAT there is nothing done in an Elect perſon before this, but that may be done in a Reprebate. Not only is the Spirit of God, who is a Spirit, as able to come home to the Conſciences of men, by touching of them, as to their ſenſes by the means; but unregenerate men, in their natural ſtate are capable of receiving all theſe impreſſions on them, without any ſaving Change wrought in them. Their Underſtandings and Conſciences, need no new habits to be put into them for this work; but it may be done by the awakning and exciting of thoſe that are in them. A P…roab may be convinced or ſin, and made to confeſs God to be righteons in his puniſhing him, Ex…l. 9.27. A Hypecrite may be ſo apprehenſive of God's terrible Wrath, as to be afraid of it, Iſal. 33. 14. Nor is there any difference in that which is excited in the one before Converſion, either as to the manner of it, or as to the degree; to d…ſ…inguiſh it from what may be in the other.
4. THAT all thoſe works comprised in this Convintion, may be ſound in theſe that of te…cards t…taily and …na…ly Apoſtatize. It is a received Truth among the Orthodox, and plentifully confirmed by the Word of God, that none in whom there is a ſaving Work wrought, tho' never ſo ſmall, ſhall ever totally of finally fall away from it: Grievous backflidings indeed, they may be drawn into, as Feter was, but not deadly. I ſhall not here particularly inquire, what is comprized in thoſe ſeveral expreſſions, in Heb. 6.4, 5, but it is beyond diſpute, that all theſe Convictions are included in it; and yet the Apoſtle ſuppoſeth ſuch in hazard of an irrecoverable tall. Not doth the mention it as a meet problem or ſupdoth which may never be; but as that which he gives them notice of, and expreſſeth better Charity for them, as ſuppoſing them built on a ſtronger foundation, ver. 9.
5. THAT many Elect Perſons have had the beginnings of theſe Works in them, which they have outgrown. There is many a true Convert, that can make report of this upon his own Experience, that before the Spirit came to do the Work effectually in him, he had many an Awakening, many a ſtrong Conviction, many a deep prick in his Heart, which put him upon thinking, purpoſing, and practiſing too, which yet he out grew, and wholly wore off, and grew to the old paſs again. And though it be often otherwiſe, yet it is frequently thus, with ſuch as have lived all their time under the Ordinances. And God will hereby let Men know, whom they are beholden to for their Converſion.
6. THAT yet theſe Convictions begun, and carried on in the Soul, afford no ſmall hope, to and of theſe that have them. As long as perſons remain ſecure, ſenſeleſs, unconcerned … all the cries and calls of the Goſpet, … to be loſt on them, or to have a contrary operation, and to be a ſavour of death to … though God often ſuffers is to be ſo, the … to mag…ity his mercy on them afternoon. But when once the man is awakened, … terrors of the Lord put him in fear, and in is made to appro herd himſelf a vile & und… Sinner, and to cry out, What ſhall I do who ſaved? Now there is hope in Iſrael of … an one, that he is not far from the Kingdoms Heaven. And that, becauſe this is the Spirith way, in which he brings Sinners h… … Chriſt. For ſuch therefore are thoſe … encouragements laid in, Iſal. 41.17. Jor. 30.18. &c. And the Invitation, Mat. 11. ….
II AS to the Neceſſity of this Convi… Preparation, Let is obſerve theſe following Concluſions,
1. THAT this Conviction hath no cauſed influence into Paſſive Converſion. All the … ceſſity that can be urged on that account, is only that of concemitancy. The Spirit of God hath done this in ſuch as were not capo… of Conviction under and by the mean. … d…cious Davines judge that Jeremiah, and Ju… the Baptiſt were Converted before they …re born. And it is to be believed that … Infants dying in their infancy, have the … Creature formed in them, without which they could not be ſaved. Job. 3.3. Verily, … I ſay unto thee, Except a man be born … cannot ſee the kingdom of God. And … this Work is done for others that live, … we are aware of it, who have given evi… of their ſeriouſneſs from their Infanty, … ever, the man can no more Covent … upon theſe Convictions, then he …, nor is it eaſier for the Spirit to do it …, Whenever i… is done, it muſt be by a … Power, in which God uſeth no Inſtr…, but acts immediately.
2. THAT yet, the ordinary ſeaſon in which the Spirit is wont to do this Work, is whi… the i… applying of himſelf to them, in and work … Word. At what article of this Con… the Spirit pleaſeth to work this glo… Change, is not for is critically to det…. But in his Converting of men under the … nances, while he is morally applying to them, both outward…, and inwardly, he ſtealt … Grace unawares to us, and draws forth … Souls unto gracious actings. Th… while Paul was preaching, Lydia is moved, &c. … 16.14. And a certain woman named Ly…, … ſ…ller of purple, of the city of Thyat…a, … worſhipped God, heard us: whoſe heart the … opened, that ſhe attended unto the things … were ſpoken of Paul. Thus Ephraim, wh… … is looking on, and bemoaning his unworthy carriages, is made able to take hold on God by Faith, and call him his own God, J…. …. 18. I have ſurely heard Ephraim be… … ſelf thus, Thou hast chaſtiſed me, and I am chaſtoſed, as a bullock unaccuſtomed to the … … thou me, and I ſhall be turned; for thou … the Lord my God. And how often do …, finking deſpairing Souls under O…ction, in one inſtant find their hearts …raged to hope and truſt in God?
3. THAT the end or deſign of the Spirit's …ing the grace of Faith, in paſſive Coverſion, i… thor we may actually believe in Chriſt. All … are properly deſigned for acts ſuitable … nature of them; and then they attain … end, when they are exerted in ſuch acts, … Goſpel invites men to believe in Chriſt, … for incouragement promiſeth Salvation … them that ſo believe: And becauſe no man … believe of himſelf, or till he be renewed in the Image of his mind, the Spirit of God … this renovation in him, and that not to be a ſleeping power in him, but a new … that he may live according to it. The … therefore urgeth the actings of Grace … Chriſtians, from the conſideration of their …ring the habits in them, Gal. 5.25. If we live in the S…int, let we alſo walk in the Spirit. … God tells us what is the deſign of the … Creation, Iſal. 43.21. This people have … for my self, they ſhall ſhew forth my ….
4. THAT this Faith is drawn forth, and ex… us, at the act of a cauſe by Counſel. Though the Spirit puts into us a power of …ing without any, either conſent or … of ours, yet he doth not draw forth … into action without us, not con… but intirely according to the nature … God had not into us. We are ſo drawn, … fellow voluntarily, and not by force, … countable inſtinct. C…. 1.4. Draw … run after thee. And that we may … …tarily, we muſt do it knowingly: … underſtanding muſt be eyes to our … entertain the reaſon for our ſo do…. The Treaty therefore between God and … be carried on in this way; though … ſuch a powerful alteration made in … under it capable of being ſo.
5. THAT the Spirit of God in his treating … preſents Chriſt to us, as the Object for … to rely upon for Salvation. It is cer… … Chriſt is in the Goſpel offered to … Saviour, and we are commanded to … on him as ſo. We are therefore ſaid … to Salvation, Rom, 10.10. For … heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs, … the mouth confeſſion is made unto ſal…. Thus therefore the Spirit with the … perſwades is to look upon him. And … the great Argument to move us to … and rely upon him, becauſe he is … One, and there is none elſe, Act. 4 12. … 2…. Look unto me, and be ye ſaved all … of the earth: for I am God, and there …. And further to ſtimulate us, he … us of the compleatneſs of ſufficiency … him for this end, Heb. 7.25. Whereſ… … able to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that … God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to … Interceſſion for them. And what is all … for, but to draw us to believe in him?
6. THAT we may be drawn to cloſe with hi… as ſuch, we muſt apprehend our need of him. All motions offered to a rational Agent, that are accommodated to move on him as ſuch an one muſt not only deſery an excellency in the Object propoſed, but alſo a ſuitableneſs in it to the ſubject treated withal. What avails it to commend a man for his excellent skill in Phyſick, to one that is ſound, and feels ny malady? Mat. 9.12. They that be whole need not a phyſician, but they that are ſick. It is indeed, excellent good news, that Chriſt is a mighty Saviour, but to whom is it ſo, but thoſe who are miſerable, and need Salvation; it will not allure any elſe to make uſe of him. Men therfore muſt apprehend themſelves to be in ſuch a condition, before they go out of themſelves to Chriſt, that they may be ſaved.
7. THIS will not be without ſuch a Conviction as this is. The natural man is ſecure and ſelf-conceited, and not acquainted with his true ſtate: like them, Rev. 3.17. But the Spirit of God in this work … them ſuch a Lectures; and makes ſuch impreſſion o… their Conſciences by it as puts them off from that ſecurity, and becomes a potent argument in them to excite their faith, when he reveals Chriſt in them. This helps them to prize Chriſt above all and put an ineſtimable value on the reports and offers made of him. Thus Paul expreſſeth himſelf, 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners, of whom I am chief.
IT now follows that we proceed to a more particular Inquiry into this Work of Conviction. Under which we are to conſider, not only the bare Convictions or Diſcoveries themſelves, but all the Operations and Effects of ſuch a diſcovery, as are wrought in the natural Conſcience thereby. Only let this Caution be here entred, viz. That there are ſome Convictions of ſin and miſery, which do neceſſarily ſuppoſe a principle of ſaving Grace in the heart, or a ſaving Illumination on the mind, and the genuine effects whereof, are the diſcoveries of Faith already wrought in the man. And theſe belong not no our preſent Inquiry, but only ſuch as are wrought by the Spirit on a natural Conſcience. Here then we may conſider,
1. The Convictions themſelves.
2. The Effects which the Spirit works by them on the Conſciences of Sinners.
1. FOR the Convictions themſelves: And theſe are two, viz Of Sin & Miſery. Of which in Order.
WE have before been acquainted that the fall brought Mankind into a ſtate of ſin and miſery; where we took a ſummanry Account of both. Now theſe are the things to which this Conviction refers; and therefore need here to be but briefly glanced at.
1. HE convinceth them of Sin. This our Saviour plainly aſſerts, Joh. 16.8. And here let us obſerve,
(1.) THAT there are thoſe Principles in the Conſciences of natural men, by the application of which they are able to judge of this or that to be Sin The light of nature is not ſo extinguiſhed, but that it may by ſearching ſind out many fragments of the Law engraven on the Conſcience, by which comparing himſelf, he muſt needs charge himſelf with Sin. This is manifeſt by that, in Rom. 4.14, 15. For if they which are of the law be heirs, ſaith is made void, and the promiſe made of none effect. Becauſe the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no tranſgreſſion. A man's own reaſon tells him, thus he ought to do, and this to avoid, in a multitude of Caſes. And if men did not impriſon the truth in unrighteouſneſs, but ſet their moral powers on work, they ſhould find more. Hence the Morals of the Heathen Philipſophers.
(2.) THAT there is an hiſtorical credit or aſſent to the truth of the Scriptures, as being the Word of God, which the moſt that are educated under the Goſpel do give. This our Saviour acknowledgeth to thoſe carnal Jews, Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which teſtify of me. Though they have no love to the Word of God, yet their Conſciences ſay that it is true, and they expect to find them to be ſo another day. Now the Law given to man for his rule, is one part of this Word; and the Apoſtle hath that aſſertion about it, Rom. 7.7. What ſhall we ſay then? Is the law ſin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known ſin? but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had ſaid, Thou ſhalt not covet. And 3.20. Thereſore by the deeds of the law, there ſhall no fleſh be juſtified in his ſight; for by the law is the knowledge of ſin. So that if men will but ſet themſelves to ſtudy, and acquaint themſelves with the Scriptures, they muſt needs know a great deal about Sin, and acknowledge it too.
(3.) HENCE, The Spirit coming in with theſe Truths, and ſetting them home on the Conſcience with power, works this conviction of ſin in she Man. He awakens theſe principles in the Man, and ſets him to think of them, who was apt to forget them: He confirms his credit of them, by making his Conſcience to ſet a new ſubſcription to them; and he makes him to compare himſelf by them; & to diſcover how he is declared to be a ſinner by them, and ſo cauſeth his Conſcience to condemn him for ſin, or conclude himſelf to be guilty of it. He makes him to acknowledge, that he owes Obedience to God as his Lawgiver and Sovereign; that this is the Law by which he is obliged, that he hath tranſgreſſed it, and is thereby proved to be a ſinner.
(4.) THIS Conviction is extendible, ſo far as either the light of Nature, or the Law of God, declare him to be under Sin. There are ſome things which the remains of natures Light in fallen Man do not of themſelves bear witneſs to; but yet the Word of God plainly aſſerts: And the ſame aſſent which ſubſcribes to the truth of the Word, muſt yield to theſe on that ground; ſo that though the … may not ſee through the reaſon why it is … yet he cannot but acknowledge that it is … becauſe God, who cannot lye, hath d… it to be ſo. So that though the ma… … in men's hearts, riſeth up againſt theſe … yet the influence upon their Conſcience makes them confeſs them to be true for … And ſuch was the Conviction that was …wowrd… them, Acts 7.54. Here then to drawn … ſome particulars,
[1.] HE convinceth them of Actual … ordinarily Conviction begins here. Sometimes they here this or that Sin laid … to them in an Ordinance, and reproved … the Spirit of God toucheth Conſcience … makes it to ſay, Thou art the Man. Sometimes God ſuffers them to fall into ſome no… Sin, and then makes their hearts to … them, and teſtify againſt them. And … he leads them from one Sin to another, and ſhews them an innumerable company of them, both omiſſions and commiſſion … they have broken the Law from ſtep … Job. 36.9. Now Conſcience ſaith, at this … and that time &c. till it goes beyond …
[2.] HE convinceth them of many L… tions of Sin. Makes them to ſee, and … that they have broken the command … have done it boldly, impudently, againſt … light of Nature, or the knowledge … Word of God; againſt the checks of … ence, againſt Mercies obliging them, Wa… given them &c. Solomon therefore … Shimei, 1. Kings 2.44.
[3.] HE convinceth them of Original … … How far the light of Narure may be … ved for this, I ſhall not now inquire, … doubtleſs it will ſay a great deal on … count: Notwithſtanding the Heather … liſts, who have ſpoken much of actual … obſerved very little about their origi… though ſometimes ſomething that … way; eſpecially as to Man's im… Whence Plato complains that the Soul … broken her wings, and ſuch like. … Word of God is full for this, Gen. 6. … 21. Rom. 5.12. and elſewhere. And … the Spirit leads men from actual Sin. … original Sin, as the fountain from … the other ſtreams, and makes Men … and confeſs, that the very bias of th… … ture inclines and forceably leads them … way. Thus David runs up his Sin, … He makes Sinners to feel that their … hearts are prejudiced at, and riſe …spab… malignity againſt the Law of God, … contrary to them. As a Medea could …
— Vid… mali…e …
Detoriora ſequor —
[4.] HE convinceth them of their … Adam's Sin by Imputation. This … be above the reach of the light of … in fallen Man; and therefore this … on is made by the application of the … of God. For though there are many … this, and the carnal reaſonings in the departed minds of Men, have a great deal to … againſt it; yet the Word of God, by which, all that acknowledge it to be his …, are to judge of things, is ſo full and d… for it, that when the Spirit of God …es to ſet it home, on the Conſcience, the Man is made to acknowledge that it is verily ſo, be cannot withſtand the plain truth of the Scripture, viz. that in Adam we all ſinned, warding to, Rom. 1.12. And that thers… we are chargeable with the Guilt of it, ſo as by it to be expoſed to all the evil con…ts of it, even all the fruits and effects of the wrath of God, which were introduced … which puts him upon the expectation of being called to an account for it, and bear … penalty of it. Thus He convinceth Men ….
[JANUARY 18. 16…1.]