A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 118 (Question 31 cont.)
SERMON CXVIII.
HE convinceth them of Miſery. This Conviction is ſubordinated to, and …ored by the former, and hence the Con… of it is rationally applied to the … man. For,
(1.) THE miſery of the reaſonable Creature, properly the fruit or puniſhment of ſin. How … God may in Sovereignty afflict one that …ocent, meetly to aſſert his Supremacy, …ll not diſp…te; but it is certain, that … miſery of man is, as inflicted on him by …, an execution of Juſtice, and ſo it muſt … to ſome law or rule of righteouſneſs. …, Death, which comprehends all miſe… under it, is ſaid to be the wages of …, 6.23. And to be brought into the … by it, Chap. 5.12. Man by making him…f …ful, procured to be made miſerable. …iſery being nothing elſe, but the execu… of the threatning that was denounced … ſin, Gen. 2.17. And if man had not …, man had been a perpetual ſtranger to …iſery, any further than as it ſtood in the …ning to be his faithful Monitor.
(2.) THE light of Nature points man to read … miſery in his ſin, and his ſin in his miſery. …tural man is ſaid to be a law to himſelf, … 2.14. And it muſt be ſo: for the ſame … which diſcovers to man that there is …, who is Governour of the World, and … whom all Creatures owe their ſervice, … alſo witneſs in him right & wrong, that … things … ought to do, and ſuch things …nold; and not only ſo, but that … is a Juſtice of God, which will puniſh … for their tranſgreſſions. This the Apoſtle …ty inſinuates, Rom. 1. uls. Who knowing …dgment of God (that they which commit …hings are worthy of death) not only do the … but have pleaſure in them that do them. … hence have riſen thoſe terrors of Conſcience in meat Heathen, upon the commiſſion of ſome nea…tural ſins. The ſame light alſo makes men, when they meet with ſome notable Aſſlictions in Providence, to have fearful reſentments of ſin, as the moral procuring cauſe of it. Hence the Widow of Sarepec. upon the ſudden Death of her Son, could ſo expoſtulate with the Prophet, I K…n. 17.18 And ſhe ſaid now Elty…b Woat have …e downs thee. O…bion man of God? art thou come unto me to call my ſen to rememberence, and to ſlay my ſon.
(3.) THE Word of God hath fully declared the miſery of man by ſin, and the natural man is capable of being convinced by it. There is a full account given of this miſery. There we are acquainted with the holineſs of God, which is peculiatly diſplayed in the diſpleaſure which be conceives againſt ſin. Hab. 1.13. Thou are of purer eyes then to babeld evil, and canſt not look or iniquity. There we are told of the Law or Covenant of God, in which he not only for had man to ſin, but alſo threatned him with Death in caſe be ſhould ſo do, Ezek. 18.4. The ſoul that ſinneth it ſhall die. There we are aſſured of the Juſtice of God, by which he hath engaged himſelf to puriſh ſin according to the tenor of the Law which he put man under, Pſal. 7.11, 12. God judgeth the righteouns, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If be turn not, be will whet his ſward; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. There we have an account of all plagues and Miſeries that are contained in that curſe of death which is fallen upon man for ſin, which are to be gathered out of all the ſeveral threatnings recorded in the book of God. There we have the reaſon rendred of all the fearful Judgments of God that have come upon the World ever ſince man's fall, which are reduced to Sin as the procuring cauſe of them. Now all theſe diſcoveries are adapted to humane reaſon. So that a natural confcience is capable of receiving the impreſſion of a Conviction of them; and made, both to acknowledge their ſin, in the miſeries they meet with, as did Pharoab, Exod. 9.27. And to be put into fearful expectation of the miſeries which they read in the threatning, though for the preſent the execution of them is deſerter. As they, Iſai. 33.14. The ſinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulneſs hath ſurprined the Lypecrites: who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us ſhall dwell with the everlaſting burnings? The Spirit therefore ſets home theſe things on the conſcience, and powerfully produceth theſe Convictions in it. Of which we may take a brief account; ſtill reſerving a reſpect to the cautions that have been formerly …ntred.
[1.] HE convinceth the Sinner of the ſtate of Condemanation that he is in, by the ſentence of the Law which be as under. The ſtate of Condemnation into which apoſtate man is fallen, properly conſiſts in that guilt which he is under, by vertue whereof he is ſentenced to undergo all the direful effects of the wrath of God which are included in the threatning of the Law. For Guilt is nothing elſe but the binding a perſon over to ſuffer Puniſhment, according to the Law under which he ſtands. Now there are two ways, by which the word of God diſcovers this ſtate, both of which the Spirit of God ſets home on the Conſcience. One is by the imputation of the firſt and great tranſgreſſion; whereby the guilt of it derives to every one of Adam's progeny, God treating with him in the firſt Covenant as the head of Mankind; whereupon all are ſaid to die in him, 1 Cor. 15.22. And ſin and death, not only to be introduced by him, but to paſs from him upon all, Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man ſin entred into the world, and death by ſin: and ſo death paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned. The other is by actual ſin, the wages whereof is declared to be death, Rom. 6.23. And the threatning againſt which is poſitive, Ezek. 18.4. Now the Spirit of God makes this Conviction, by ſetting in with theſe truths, and making the man to acknowledge them, by yielding himſelf to be under the condemnation of the great Tranſgreſſion, according to the plain teſtimony of the Word of God; and ſhewing them the law againſt which they have actually tranſgreſſed, and the ſentence therein denounced for their ſins ſo committed; whereby the ſtand guilty and condemned in their own Conſciences. Thus he makes them to conclude themſelves to be men of death by the law of God.
[2.] HE ſhews him how fearfully miſerable be is, by reading all the Curſes to him, and charging them upon him. The Death which by the ſentence of condemnation, the finner is doomed to ſuffer, is a voluminous Word; it is not a ſingle, but a complex miſery, and there are very large Commentaries made upon it in the book of God. There are innumerable evils comprehended in the curſe; for we are told what a fearful thing it is, Zech. 5.2, 3. And he ſaid unto me, What ſeeſt thou? and I anſwered, I ſee a flying roll, the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. Then ſaid be unto me, This is the curſe that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth. And all theſe belong to the miſery that ſin hath brought upon man. The Spirit of God ſets this Roll before the man, and makes him to read it; it ſets his Conſcience on work, and cauſeth him to meditate terrors. He expounds that Text to him, Gen. 2.17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou ſhalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt ſurely die. And tells him that he is expoſed by it, to a bodily Death, and therein to ſuffer all thoſe ſickneſſes, pains, loſſes, diſgraces, vexations, which ever were felt or heard of in the World, and at length to undergo a ſeparation of Soul and Body, and be made worms meat in a rotting Grave: That he is an open prey to all ſpiritual Plagues; to be a veſſel of Hell, led about captive by Satan at his will, to be tormented with the ſtings and laſhes of a … rified Conſcience, eating out all his comfort, and beginning an Hell in him upon Earth, making him a Magor Miſſabit, and intolerable burden to himſelf, and an horror to all that ſee him: That he doth but live to fill up his meaſure, and heap up the more aſ…p…ing treaſures of Wrath to himſelf, and to … in a continual expectation of divine venge… to cut him off and deſtroy him. That he is a ſubject of eternal Death, and is only … prieved for a while during pleaſure, … while poſting apace to the lake of brim…, where he is to undergo an eternal ſeparation from the preſence of God's favour, and … the fury of God in that place whom … Worm dies not, and the fire is not que…; but he muſt ſpend a wretched Eternity … the Devils and the Damned, in torment intolerable, and without the leaſt hope of deliverance, through an endleſs Eternity. Thus, he makes him to read, and ſee this … be his portion laid out in the Curſe; and though fain he would, yet he cannot … his thoughts from it, not ſtop his Conſcience from paſſing this doom upon him.
[3.] HE makes him to find and feel … beginings of theſe miſeries to be already upon him; and that, both thoſe that are temp…d … thoſe that are ſpiritual. There is a … Conviction which he affords to men, … at leaſt a leading of them by that which is … ſible, to an apprehenſion of their ſad … That there is a begun operation of the … upon ſinners in this life, is certain, … Spirit of God maked uſe of it to bring … to a deeper fight of the miſery that … them. All men readily confeſs that … condition of mankind is troubleſome … ſorrowful; but men generally ſee not the true reaſon of it, but are ready to ſay, … the Philiſtines, it is a Chance. But God … times, brings ſome ſore trouble upon … and with it ſhews them the threatning of his Word, and makes them compare … ſelves with it, and thereupon to conclude, … to be a fruit and effect of it. Thus it … with Joſeph's Brethren in that diſ… theirs, Gen. 42.21. And they ſaid one to other, We are verily guilty concerning our … in that we ſaw the anguiſh of his ſoul, when he beſought us; and we would not bear: … is this diſtreſs come upon us. Thus m… ſorrows by the Word and Conſcience, are … to ſhew them the wrath of God, and … miſery by it. And thus alſo ſpiritual miſe… are ſenſibly begun in them, whiles he … with them, and makes them to read … ſee themſelves equally expoſed to all … and puts them into a fearful expectation of them. And they are convinced that God … begun with, and let looſe his hand upon … and they are terribly afraid that he will … ceed to the uttermoſt. And hereby he ca… them to ſee that ſin hath made them miſe… ble. Thus God ſpeaks to them, Jer. 2.17, 18 … them not procured this unto thy ſelf, in that thou … forſaken the Lord thy God, when be … thee by the way? And now what haſt thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Savor? or what baſt thou to do in the way of …, to drink the waters of the river? Thine … wickedneſs ſhall correct thee, and thy back… ſhall reprove thee: know therefore and ſ… that is an evil thing and bitter that th…u haſt forſaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is … in thee, ſaith the Lord God of h…its. And this indeed is one great end of the Judgments of God which he brings on men, whe her publick or perſonal, that now he may bring them to conſideration, and by the miſerable …ects of it to give them a more clear ſight of the miſchief watch ſin hath expoſed them ….
[4.] HE convinceth him of the powerful Ob…cion be is under to fuſier all the reſt of the … contained in the threatning. And he … times makes uſe of the former in order to the production of this. Though the curſe be out againſt every ſinner, and all the plagues i… it are the portion that he is doomed to native from the hand of God; yet it is here a day of patience and forbearance, in which the hand of mercy holds back the full exe…ion of that ſentence. And ſuch is the … and folly of Sinners, that they grow … thereupon, yea are ready to think themſelves happy, and put away all fears of after miſery. But when the Spirit pleaſed, he makes the Sinner to ſee his danger, and puts him from his ſecurity, and that by … of him into a Contemplation of the … of the Curſe that is upon him: He … him the indiſpenſible neceſſity of unduging the utmoſt extremity of it, if there the so bedemption provided for, and applied to him. He canſeth him to underſtand that the ſentence of the Law if poſitive, that there are theſe glorious Attributes of God engaged for the accompliſhment of it, which would … of their glory, if he ſhould not purſue it. His Holineſs, which is ſet againſt, and … endure Sinners: His Truth, which … itſelf to the fulfilling the threatning as well as the promiſe of the Covenant: His Juſtice, for the illuſtration of the glory whereas, the Law or Covenant of Works are eſtabliſhed to be a rule of God's proceedure with …. In theſe the Sinner is made to read … certain he is to undergo all the reſt, as well as what he hath felt; that delays are to diſcharges; that God is not ſlack, but will in due time, fulfill all that he hath ſaid.
[5.] HE convinceth him, that it is utterly bep…d his power to deliver himſelf from this …, yea, beyond the power of the whole Creature. That his help kis not in his own hand, … perſon or thing in Heaven or Earth, the … relieve him, if God do not, Pſal. 73.25. And this Conviction may be alſo wrought upon the natural Conſcience. For, tho' there … be a principle of Grace in us, to appre… the ſpiritual miſery flowing from the nature of ſin, yet the man is convincible of his legal miſery by vertue of his relation to the Covenant of Works, by the light of common reaſon, when applied powerfully by the Spirit; and from that of his helpleſs ſtate in regard either of himſelf or the creature. For, when he reads his miſery grounded in the ſentence of the Law condemning him, and the Truth, Juſtice, and Power of God engaged in it, to bring all this miſery upon him, he muſt conclude that there is but one of theſe two ways for his eſcape; either by fortifying againſt, and ſo ſecuring himſelf from the wrath of God; or by compoſition, buying himſelf out of the hands of the Law either by force, or by price: but he is convinced that neither of theſe courſes will avail him. Not the former, becauſe he hath to do with the great God, who is a great King, againſt whom there is no riſing up; whom none over reſiſted and proſpered; before whom the mountains quake, and the hills tremble. There is no hiding from him, who is Omniſcient, and Omnipreſent, Jer. 23.24. Can any hide himſelf in ſecret places that I ſhall not ſee him ſaith the Lord I do not I fill heaven and earth? ſaith the Lord. There is no entring the liſts againſt him. Hence that, 1 Cor. 10.22. Do we provoke the Lord to j…alouſie? are we ſtronger than he? No Gatriſon in the World ſtrong enough to keep out his fury from overflowing. Iſai. 24.17. Fear, and the pit, and the ſnare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. Not the latter, for that muſt be by a valuable Redemption-price paid, and a ſufficient Righteouſneſs offered; but he can do neither: all the World will not make up ſuch a ſum, Pſal. 49.7, 8 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ranſom for him: (For the redemption of their ſoul is precious, and it ceaſeth for ever.) God therefore blows on ſuch an offer. Mich. 6.6, 7. Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, and how my ſelf before the high God? ſhall I come before him with burnt afferings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleaſed with thouſands of rams, or with ten thouſands of rivers of oyl? ſhall I give my firſt-born for my tranſgreſſion, the fruit of my body for the ſin of my ſoul? And as for a Righteouſneſs of his own, it cannot avail, becauſe nothing but Death will anſwer the ſentence of the Law.
[6.] HE convinceth him that all this is righteouſly befallen him. It is true, the corrupt reaſonings of carnal men do here riſe up, and are ready to find fault with the rigour of the ſentence of the Law, and charge God for being an hard Maſter: But yet the Sinners mouth is here alſo ſtopt. Hence that, Rom. 3.19. Now we know that what things ſerver the law ſaith, it ſaith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be ſtopped, and all the world become guilty before God. And our Saviour Chriſt tells us that the Spirit ſhall convince the world of Righteouſneſs. Joh. 16.8. And to this belongs the Conviction of the Righteouſneſs of the Law; from which flows a rataional Convection of the Juſtice of the ſentence of it, & that not meeting becauſe it is Gods Law. And the ſame reaſon that tells us there …s…a God, ſaith that be cannot be untoghteves. Hence that, Rom. 3.5, 6. But of … ea…g …e…aſ…ſs commend the rightecaſneſs. caſ…eſ… …f … what ſhall we ſays is God unrighteous … taker …geance? (… ſpeak as a mand … for i… whom ſtell God…adge the …. … there is alſo a reſe…ment on the Conſe … of men of the demerit of ſome fins … the … bo…kn …ng the judgment of God, that they with a m… ſaith things are worthy of death. So that a …. Conſcience will cedar for God, and pronounce him righteous, …. 9.27. And by all theſe Convictions the finner is made to …i… & feel himſelf to be eviteamly miſerable. And this may ſuffce for the Convictions themſelves.
2. We proceed to corſiler the Effects which the Spirit works by them on the Conſ…nces of Sinners. When are eſpecially.
1. THIS …ion ſ…ts them into borrible Fear. Fear is properly a reluctancy on the heart, on the apprehenſion of the danger of ſome approaching n…chief; and at…n from the hatted in us againſt it, and an earneſt do the to eſcape it. Thus Sinners &c. Iſai. 33. 14. The ſ…s in …on are afraid, ſearſ… …ath ſurp…ced … crites. This affection was put into man at n…lf, to make him cautious to himſelf, to keep out of harms way, and not to adve ture upon any ſin. But ſince mans full, and the miſery befallen him by it, there is a double improvement made of it by God in his Providence. Partly, as a …an…ment of Sin, and the beginning of hell on Sinners in thus Life: and this is, by making ſuch impre…ons by the forecited Convictions on the Conſciences of finners, as, together with their fearful expeclation of fiery indignation, they put away all hope from them, & abandon themſelves to deſperation; as did Cain and Jades. Partly, as a Preparitory for the gro… as diſcover, of the Redemption of G… to the Souls of men, in order their making in welcome when it comes. For, fear, of its own nature, puts men upon ſight, makes men to ſeek an eſcape, of poſſible, from the thing they are afraid of, as long as there are any glimmering hopes of a p…bility for their eſcaping, as theſe are diſcovered to ſinners by the Goſpel. We ſhall therefore find ſuch an expreſſion as that, Pſal. 23.15, 16 So perſecute them with thy tempel; and make them afraid with thy ſtorm: Fill their faces eath ſhame; that they may ſeek they name, O Lord. And we find that Paul makes uſe of the terrors of the Lord to perſwade men withal, 2 Cor. 5.11. And if ſuch a Conviction as this be really wrought in the Conſcience, it cannot but leave the impreſſions of this fear upon him.
2. IT eats out all his Comfort in any Ceature Enjoyment. Sinners, in this life, do enjoy a great many outward favours of God: And while Conſcience is aſleep, and the terrors of the Lord do not amaze it, they pleaſe themſelves in the fruition of them, & rec… thenſelves happy therein. We have an account of their jollity in their proſperity, … 21.12.13. But when Conſcience is … awakened with the Thunder, an wo…ded with the Lightning of theſe Conviction, their whole mirth is marred, and their jo…y confounded. Either it is to them as the ſtory of Abigail was to Nebel. 1. Sam 25.37. or as the news of Jenatban to Adenijah, and his gueſts, 1 King. 1.49.50. or as the hand writing on the wail was to Beiſh…er in the midſt of his circuſing, Dan. 5.6. All … rather to aggravate than moderate the fear and trouble upon then. They can ta… … more reliſh in any thing here, than in the t…e ſ…er…g. Theſe thoughts are like the cole quintida of the Prophets, making then to cry out. There is death in the Per. They ſee the curſe of God upon all, which inditers every Relation, and every Enjoyment to them.
3. IT ſtrips him of his carnal Hopes & Conſidences. There is a vain hope, which fer… ſinners bolſfer themſelves up withal, and on which they build a preſumptuous confidence that all is and ſhall be well with them, a… by which they put away from them all fear of the evil day. But when this Conviction comes home upon them, it ſhrinks up all theſe hopes to nothing; and their concidence fly away from them. So we have the … crite ſet forth, Job 8.12, 13, 15. For … he is made to fied the vanity, emptineſs, and deceitfulneſs of all the props on which he ſupported himſelf, that they are but she ſtaff of a broken reed; that they can neither ſave him from, nor relieve him under the miſery that is upon him, and that is nothing to devour him. And he is made though … willingly, to throw them all away. As him 2.20, 21. In that day a man ſhall caſt his … of ſilver, and this idois of gold, which they made, each one for himſelf to worſhip, to the …, and to the buts: To go into the clefts of the … and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for ſo… of the Lord, and for the glory of his majeſty, what be criſeth to ſpoke terribly the earth. He is made to ſee and acknowledge, that if he … no other Object of truſt, he is loſt beyond hope for ever.
3. IT ſtrips him of his carnal Hopes & Conſidences. There is a vain hope, which fer… ſinners bolſfer themſelves up withal, and on which they build a preſumptuous confidence that all is and ſhall be well with them, a… by which they put away from them all fear of the evil day. But when this Conviction comes home upon them, it ſhrinks up all theſe hopes to nothing; and their concidence fly away from them. So we have the … crite ſet forth, Job 8.12, 13, 15. For … he is made to fied the vanity, emptineſs, and deceitfulneſs of all the props on which he ſupported himſelf, that they are but she ſtaff of a broken reed; that they can neither ſave him from, nor relieve him under the miſery that is upon him, and that is nothing to devour him. And he is made though … willingly, to throw them all away. As him 2.20, 21. In that day a man ſhall caſt his … of ſilver, and this idois of gold, which they made, each one for himſelf to worſhip, to the … to the buts: To go into the ciefts of the … and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for ſo… of the Lord, and for the glory of his majeſty, what be criſeth to ſpake terribly the earth. He is made to ſee and acknowledge, that if he … no other Object of truſt, he is loſt beyond hope for ever.
4. IT makes him very inquiſitive, … there be no poſſibility of his eſcape. Tho' the corrupt heart in man hath a natural liking to fin, whereby his luſts are gratifyed, … nature itſelf relucts at miſery. And hence the fear of it puts him upon making that he firſt inquity, after his danger is realized to him, But is there no way to be delivered from it? Muſt I needs dye? Is there no hope but I muſt dwell with Everleſting Burnings? It there nothing to be done that may be ſound fra… the Wrath to come? Thus did they, when they were picked at their hearts, Act. 2 37. This did the rough Jaylor, when terrifyed, Act. 16.29, 30. He that before, deſpiſed all cou…ſ… no made light of Goſpel Invitations, now big…es to ask ſerious Queſtions.
5 II ſas him upon legal Repentance and Information. This indeed is the fartheſt that Convictions leads the moſt unto; and it is uſually the firſt thing that any ſet themſelves about. And the ground or reaſon of in lies here: This Conviction of ſin & miſery … together; the Spirit not only convinceth … that they are miſerable, but whence their miſery proceeds, viz. from their ſin; that that is it which hath involved them in all theſe ſorrows. And tho' they have not a gemine hatted of ſin, for that is a ſaving Grace, and fl…ws from the Grace of Regence…i…; yet they …i…d it too hot for them. They ſee, that it they go on in their ways of ſin, they run upon the point of the Curſe and go certainly to deſtruction; this makes them … …tain, and take up a courſe of Duties inſtand thereof. Thus did Iſreal once and …, when God's Judgments on them, wro…t C…rict…ons, and Terrors in their Conſciences.
6. II …ts him upon a more diligent and ſcri… Attendance in the Reports of the Goſpel. Before, he little regarded the Ordinances, has either neglected coming at them, or to…k … beed to the Truths delivered in them, or …ertai…ed them with Plejudice and Con…. But now, the very hearing that the Goſpel is a dif…very made of a way in which miſerable Sinners may be delivered, and ob… Salvation makes him to entertain a civil … to and liking of it; and thereupon be hear their glad ridings with no little ra… watent: ſo did the ſt…ny ground hearers, … 13.20. Such effects as theſe are, the Spirit works, as he ſees meet, by theſe Conſ…es.
USE I. HENCE Learn, what to think of …ſe that are ſtrangers to theſe Convictions. We have already obſerved, that the Spirit works them diverſly, both as to the manner and degree. But that man that prote…ds to believe in Chriſt for Salvation, that hath not been …evinced of his fin, and miſery by it, ca… give a good reaſon of his hope, or ſatiſty …is own Conſcience what he truſts in Chriſt for.
USE III LEARN hence, that theſe Convictions alone, are not a ſufficent evidence of … g…al and ſafe ſtate. They are of the …ay is which God uſually, under the means beings Sinners home to himſelf; but they may be wrought upon the natural principles the are in fallen man, without any ſaving ca…ge in the heart; and therefore cannot …a diſtinguiſhing character of a Child of God, It is therefore preſumption for any to b…d their confidence upon them. Theſe C…ctions may dye away, or they may take … legal Repentance, ſhort of ſaving Grace.
USE III. HENCE it is our duty to en… with men to bring them to, and nouriſh … theſe Convictions. If we deſire and … be inſtrumental of Converſion of our friends, we muſt begin here. To tell them of a Chriſt, before we ſhew them their need of him, is prepeſterous: And that is done by laying open before them, their Sin and Miſery. And when we ſ…e any labouring under the diſtreſs of theſe Convictions, let us not be ſorry for, but glad of it: and take heed how we ſeek to ſtop them. It they tend to deſpair, it is good to offer encouragement, but not to hinder but help the kindly operation of them, as to encourage our praying for them, and to ſement the operation of them, unto a godly ſorrow under them; and thereby, doing what in us lies to help on the Repentance that is not to be repeated of, and put them upon ſeeking of Chriſt reſ…leſly till they have found him.
[FEBRUARY 17. 1697.]