A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 225 (Question 89 cont.)
SERMON CCXXV.
(II.) IN reſpect to the Preaching of the Word. That this alſo is a Divine Inſtitution, and made a Medium for the Conveyance of the Word to us, by God's appointment, is evident by the Scriptures: And that this is a more eminent Mean for the promoving of the Salvation of Men, is intimated in the Note of …peciel…y but upon it. Here then two things may be conſidered;
1. What is the Preeching of the Word here intended?
2 In what, reſpect it is a more ſpecial Medium for Man's Salvation?
Q. 1. WHAT is the Preaching here intended?
Anſw. IT is here put diſtributively with the Reading of it; and if that points to the more Private uſing of it, this will intimate the Publick Diſpenſation of it. But we may take a farther and a more diſtinct Account of it; and we may obſerve, that the Word generally uſed in the New Teſtament for Preaching ſignifies, Openly to Proclaim a thing, with a … Voice, before a Multitude: And it hath a ſpecial reference to a Her…ld, who is to Proclaim to the Subjects, ſuch Edicts as are emitted from the ſupream Powers; and this by vertue of an Office to which he is Commiſſioned. This is Metaphorically applied to a Goſpel Miniſter, who is Authorized by CHRIST to Declare and Proclaim His Mind to the Children of Men; and that in His Name: Hence that in, Rom. 10.15. How ſhall they preach except they be ſent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the… of p…l of p…ce, and bring glad tidings of good things! I ſhall here only remark two things;
1. THAT God hath ſeen good to appoint a certain Order of Men, to French unto others. They come from God to Men, in the Quality of Ambaſſadors; hence ſo called, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now then we are ambaſſadors for Chriſt. They are therefore Authorized by Him; and their Warrant for their Preaching, is the Commiſſion to their Work which He hath given them, Mark 16.15. And he ſaid unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the …oſpel to every creature. Theſe are under the Authority and Influence of CHRIST, who is the Chief Shepard, who are to Act under Him: Hence that, 2 Cor. 6.1. We then as workers together with him, beſeech you alſo, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Now the ground of this is, Sin had made a breach between God and Man, by occaſion whereof Man was expoſed to-ſuffer the Curſe of the broken Law; but God, in tender Pity to Men, hath opened a Treaty with them, in which He offers and propoſeth Terms of Reconciliation: And becauſe He ſeeth meet to manage it in a Mediate way, He hath choſen to …reat them with Men like themſelves, to whom He hath committed this Affair, 2 Cor. 5.19. And bet…uſted them to deliver His Mind to them▪ to lay open the Terms of Faithfully to them; and with Importunity to urge the Entertainment upon them: And this ſeems to be ſuitably a commodated to Man's nature, to treat them with Man of like Infirmities: It was therefore the requeſt of that People, when God had made the more immediate Diſcoveries of Himſelf to them, Exod. 20.19 And they ſaid unto Moſes, Speak thou with us, and we will …ear: but let not God ſpeak with us, l…ſt we die. Theſe Preachers therefore are ſuch as He pleaſeth to ſeparate from others, and calls to their Work, and furniſheth them for it.
2. THAT the great Buſineſs they have in Charge, i… to Preach the Word. Thus, 2 Tim. 4.2. Preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-ſuffering and doctrine. Which is elſewhere called, the Preaching the Goſpe… of the Kingdom; Preaching the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt; ſo that as Preaching is ſomething diverſe from barely Reading the Scriptures to the People, ſo it is not every Diſcourſe that is offered to Men, that will bear this Denomination; but it conſiſts in the Opening and Applying of the Goſpel Truths unto Men. For tho' Men are the Miniſters of this, yet it is the Word of GOD contained in the Holy Scriptures, which contains the whole Inſtructions of their Embaſſy; and they are to keep themſelves within the Limits of that, if they would not tranſgreſs their Commiſſion: And if they will be true to their Truſt, they muſt take heed to their Miniſtry; for the Apoſtle hath left that ſolemn Warning, Gal. 1.8 But tho' we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other goſpel unto y…u, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be a…urſed. They are to Open the Scriptures, to declare the Articles of the Chriſtian R…ligion, to Confute the Errors of the Times, to eſtabliſh the Truth, and uſe all endeavours to win Souls to Chriſt, and build them up in their Faith. This is ſ…mmarily laid open in, 2 Ti…. 4.2, 3.
Queſt. 2 IN what regard it is a more ſpecial Medium for Man's Salvation?
Anſw. THAT we miſtake not on this Account, this may be diſtinctly conſidered:
AND that,
1. Negatively; NOT that there is any more Intrinſical V…rtue in Preaching than in Reading: If the Word Preached at any time takes effect in the Hearts of Hearers, the Preacher muſt ſay, as they did in another Caſe, Acts ….12. Why look ye ſo earneſtly on us, as tho' by our own power or holineſs we had made this man to walk? And this will be evident if we conſider,
1. THAT it is the ſame Word, We obſerved, That That is the great Inſtrument uſed by the Spirit, and with the Application whereof the Vertue is derived: And the Reading or Preaching of it, are but Circumſtances, and do not in themſelves at all alter the Property or Quality of it: it hath the vertue of an Inſtrument, for we are begotten by it in our Regeneration, as it is intimated in, Jam. 1.18. which Vertue abides in it, and ſuffers no Alterations; for without it, we obſerved that, none are Saved; and it is evermore applied in the working of Con…ſion, and carrying on of Converſion …
2. THE who…e Succeſs of it … depends on the Spirit of God who uſeth it. Tho' the Word be wiſely accommodated to this Uſe, yet the Efficacy of it cannot be wrought in the Hearts of Sinners, except He gives the Impreſſions thereon by it. If ever a Sinner be Converted, if ever a Saint grows in Grace, it muſt derive from one and the ſame Spirit, who is the prime Efficient; for tho' He can do the Work immediately without the external Application of the Word, yet that cannot poſſibly do it without Him; Phil. ….13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleaſure. And tho' we cannot, without Sin, neglect the attending on the Word, yet He communicates this Vertue with it at His own Diſcretion; Rom. 9.18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will, he hardeneth.
3. THE beſt Endowments of Preachers are only adapted to Moral ſwaſion. As true Preachers are ſent of God, ſo He is not wont to ſend Meſſengers without Feet; but all whom He Commiſſions are ſome way Qualified for it: And tho' as He diſtributes theſe Gifts in what manner and meaſure He ſees Good, and frequently uſeth ſuch as are moſt deſpiſed of Men, to do this great Work withal, whilſt ſuch as do more excell, are not ſo ſucceeded; yet it muſt be acknowledged, that ſuch as have more Plenty of theſe, have a greater Advantage to apply them to the rational Powers in Men: Hence in this regard, there is no ſmall Privilege to Hear ſuch, above the meer Reading of the Word; becauſe they are enabled to Open the Scriptures to us, for the help of our Underſtanding them, and acquaint us with the Articles of our Religion which are ſcattered therein; to Interpret to us the mind and meaning of things, that are to us abſtruſe and difficult; and to urge the Arguments therein uſed, to move our Affections; without which our Reading may no more Profit us, than the Ethiopians did him, Acts 8 30▪ &c. But when they have done their utmoſt, they can but thus lay theſe things before us; nor can they either Cure our natural Blindneſs and Error, or take away our Enmity or Obſtinacy, and ſo cauſe us to paſs from Death to Life: they can ſet things before us Objectively, but not renew our Faculties Subjectively, which are ſpiritually dead in treſpaſſes and ſins.
2. Affirmatively; THIS is the way which God hath ſeen good to ſanctify as a ſpecial Medium to this End. And hence it is that the Uſefulneſs of it to this End more than the other derives; which is included in that Enthymeme, Rom. 10.14, 15.
BUT we may here take a more diſtinct Account of this in a few Concluſions:
1. IT is ſure, This Way is ſuited to Treat with Man as a reaſonable Creature, and conſequently ſitted to his Moral Powers. God, in His Government, manageth His Creatures according to the Nature which He hath put into them: And becauſe Man is a Cauſe by …nſel, endowed with Underſtanding, Will & Affections, He applies Himſelf to theſe Faculties; and that by ſuiting His Addreſs to them, agreeably to the Nature of them, by which He doth not violently Compel, but draw him: Hence that, C…nt. 1.4. Draw me, we wil… run after thee. Now in the Preaching of the Goſpel, there is afforded Light to inform the Underſtanding, and Argument to move the Will and Affections: Hence that in, Hoſ. 11.4. I drew them with c…r…s of a man, with …ands of …ve, and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. Nor is there any thing wanting in this Diſpenſation as to Means; for we are told of the Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. All ſcripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, … correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs: That the man of God may be perfect thy …guly furniſhed unto a…l good works. And Mens not complying here withal, is charged on Men as Bruitiſhneſs; yea, that which makes them worſe than the moſt ſtupid Animals, Iſa. 1.3. Pſal. 32.9.
2. BUT the ſaving Efficacy of theſe depends upon His Bleſſing of the Means. It is of the Nature of Inſtruments, that let them be never ſo well ſuited for the Work, yet there muſt be an Agent to uſe and apply them to the Work, elſe they do nothing; and every hand cannot ſo apply the Inſtruments, but it muſt be one who hath both Skill and Ability: Now it is certain, that tho' Preachers can apply the Word outwardly, yet they cannot make it to leave ſaving Impreſſions on the Soul; but this muſt come from a more powerful Hand. They may Preach, but He muſt Bleſs and Proſp…r it, if any good be done: Paul therefore tells us, that when they have done their Beſt, this depends on God alone; 1 Cor. 3 6. I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increaſe. Hence that, Eccl. 11.6. In the morning ſow thy ſeed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for tho… knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, either this or that, or whether they both ſhall be alike good. And this was his Conſolation, Iſa. 49.4. Then I ſaid, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought, and in vain; yet ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
3. HE hath put this Honour upon His Word, to make it the great Inſtrument of Man's Salvation. It is the prime Medium, and that without which no other are available: for tho' He ſometimes uſ…th Providences to be ſerviceable to Men for this End, yet not without the Word, by which they are directed to the right Improvement of them; as, Pſal. 94.12. Bleſſed is the man, whom thou chaſteneſſ, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy law. And when He employs Men in this Work, they are ſtill to make uſe of the Word in all their Applications: Hence that in, Pſal. 19 11. By them is thy ſervant warned: and in keeping them there is great reward. And ſuch is the Uſefulneſs and Neceſſity of it, that there is ordinarily no Salvation to the expected without it, … Cor. 4.…. If our, …, it is had to them that are …. Pr…v. 2….10. Where there is no viſion, the people periſh.
4. HENCE He hath adapted the Preaching of the Word, to Treat with Men, at Reaſonable Creatures. And there are ſeveral reſpects, in which this manner of Diſpenſation is accommodated to diſplay His Wiſdom and His Kindneſs to Men.
1. IN this way He addreſſeth us by Men like ourſelves. He could apply Himſelf to us more Immediately; but His Glorious Majeſty would be a Terror to us, and His dread make us afraid, whilſt we dwell in theſe houſes of Clay, Iſrael deſired that God would ſpeak to them by Moſes; and it is doubtleſs His kindneſs, to treat us by Men of like Infirmities, who can ſpeak to us in our own Language: Hence we have that in, Job 33.6, 7. Behold, I am according to thy wiſh in God's ſtead: I a…ſo am formed out of the clay. Beh…d, my terror ſhall not make thee afraid, neither ſhall my hand be heavy upon thee. And Chriſt mentions it as a Condeſcendency, Joh. 3 10. Are thou a maſter in Iſrael and knoweſt not theſe things?
2. HE beſtows Gifts upon Men, … …it them to apply the Word to our M…ral Powers. When He ſent forth His Ap…ſtles to Preach to the World the Goſpel of Salvation, we find in, Luk. 24.45. Thou opened he their understanding, that they might understand the ſcriptures. And it is mentioned as belonging to His Aſcenſion Gifts, Eph. 4.7, 8. But unto e…y one of us is given grace according to the meaſure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he ſaith, When he aſcended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And that is remarkable, Amos 3.7. Surely the Lord G…d wi…l…d nothing, but he revealeth his ſecret unto his ſervants the prophets. And tho' theſe extraordinary Gifts are ceaſed, which he imme…i…tely beſtowed on them at firſt yet He hath appointed Means for their knowing His Mind, and Bleſſeth them for that end, that ſo they may be ſerviceable to the carrying on of th… Work, for the furtherance of Men's Salvation: Hence that Promiſe, Matth. 28.20. And l…, I am with you alw…y, even unto the end of the w…rld, Amen.
3. HE hath Promiſed peculiar Succeſs to attend this …ppointment of His, and Threatned the Neglect of it. As He hath made it the Duty of Men where the Goſpel is Preached, to wait upon Him in the way of His Ordinances, as they hope to obtain Eternal Life; ſo He hath promiſed that if they do ſo ſincerely, they ſhall have the good of it beſtowed upon them: Hence we have that Encouragement, Prov. 8.34. Bleſſed is the man that …eareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the paſte of my doors. And tho' He reſerves a Liberty in the diſpenſing of this Grace, that it may appear to be of Grace; yet where He gives an Heart to Attend, He alſo cauſeth ſuch to Profit: And He hath alſo menaced ſuch as do Deſpiſe the Means, and diſregard the Ordinances: and declared. Luk. 1… 14. He that … you, …eareth me; and be … …ſ…iſeth …, deſpiſeth me; an… he that deſ…ſeth me, deſpiſeth … that ſent me.
4. IN thus doing He p…ts Honour upon Men, …n… advanceth His own Glory in our Salvation It is a great Honour put upon frail and ſinful Men, that Chriſt will make uſe of them, to be Inſtrumental in the Converſion and Salvation of their Brethren; that He will admit them to be workers together with him; (2 Cor. 6.1.) And Paul looked upon this to be a Privilege, that he could not ſufficiently deſcant upon, Eph. 3.8. … me who am leſs than the leaſt of all ſaints in this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt. In this way alſo, He conſults His own Honour, and makes it to appear that He alone is the Author of that Salvation, which He uſeth them to be Inſtrumental in bringing about, in that they are ſuch as are no way Competent; and thro' their Frailty. His Power is made illuſtrious. 2 Cor. 4.7. But we have this treaſure … earthen veſſels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
5. BUT th… is not …or ſtrained to Preaching, but that be alſo confers this Grace together with Private Means. There is as much Vertue in one as the other in themſelves; the Efficacy therefore is as God will; and He hath Bleſſed, and will Bleſs all His own appointments. The Publick Means are ſometimes ſuppreſt, and many are ſhut up from them, that they cannot enjoy them; and the this be a ſore Affliction, yet He can, and will be a little Sanctuary to them that Fear Him; and ſo make up to them this want, by Private Means, that their Souls ſhall ſ…l …ive; and nor ſeldom are the firſt ſenſible Applications of Himſelf to the Soul, made in their ſecret Reading of the Scriptures, and the more Private Addreſſes of Counſels to them; tho' ſtill, it is to thoſe who are made to …riz… theſe Goſpel Liberties, and long for the Sanctuary, when ſhut out from it; and do not, becauſe they find Him here, grow Careleſs of the other.
V. WE are now to proceed to conſider, the ſeveral Uſes which the Spirit of God makes of the Word, in order to the advancement of our Salvation, viz. Convincing and Converting Sinners, and Building them up in Holineſs and Confort, &c. And under theſe is comprehended, all that is requiſite in the bringing of us from Sin to Grace, and thro' Grace to Glory: T…s whole Work is therefore reduced to two Heads viz. The Bringing of Men out of a Seate of Sin & Miſery, into a State Salvation, which is intended in Conviction & Converſion; and the Perfecting of the Work in them, to their preſ…nt Conſolation, and future Glory, intended in the Building them up, &c. The work of Grace is here compared to the Building of an Houſe, in which there is to be a Foundation laid, and an E…ifice erected and finiſh…d: Now, as the whole of this is the Spirit's work, ſo he makes uſe of the Word of God in every part of it; and ſo makes it effectual to obtain the End of it. Touching the things themſelves that are here aſcribed to Him, and whereto the Word is made ſerviceable, they have been formerly conſidered in the Nature of them; the great … therefore that lies here before us, is to conſider, H…w, or in what Way, the Word is made Inſtrumental in each of theſe, through he Operation of the h…y Spirit? We may therefore make ſome particular glances on theſ… things,
I. AS to the Bringing of Sinners into a State of Grace, in which there is the Foundation of Salvation laid in them: All Men in their Natural State are alienated from God, Children of Wrath, and far from Salvation (Pſal. 19.155.) They muſt therefore be brought over from Sin to God; and till they are ſo, they are in the way to Perdition: And in this there are two things obſervable, viz. Conviction and Converſion; for tho' it is true, that Conviction is a ſtep to Converſion, and hath a proper re…erence to it, and is ordinarily a Diſpoſition to it, and is made ſo Eventually in God's Elect, and in that regard may be ſaid to be Saving; yet in it ſelf it is a common Work of the …pirit, and doth not alone put Men into a State of Salvation; but is uſed in way of Preparation; and how it doth ſo, hath heretofore been accounted for: That therefore which now lies before us, is,
(1.) TO obſerve how the Spirit Improves the Word in the Diſpenſation of it, to promove this Conviction in Sinners, in order to their Converſion. And this is done by making of their preſent ſinful State evil and bitter to them. Every natural Man in his Carnal Security, is in love with his Sins, is deceived in his tho'ts, and tenacious of his Errors; he muſt therefore be rouſed from this, and made to entertain other reſentments of it, before he will ſeek after a redreſs from it: And tho' the Spirit alone can work this, and till He comes to do it, the Sinner deſpiſeth all the Means, and grows …arder under them; yet He Improver and Applies the Word to their Conſciences in this. And how he makes it ſerviceable to this purpoſe will uppear in a few Conſiderations:
1. IT is by the Word thay He makes diſcoveries of Sin to Men in it's true Nature & Colours. There are indeed thoſe Convictions in the natural Conſcience, which make them that have not the Law, to be a … to themſelves. Rom. ….14, 15. And theſe do ſometimes raiſe great Terrors in them as the Philoſophers do obſerve; for there are common Moral Principles in Men ſince the Fall; but theſe are but faint Repreſentations to ſuch as the Word of God makes of this matter. The Word of God gives us the account of the Original of Sin, and of the Original Sin that cleaves to us, and hath pervaded all our Powers; of that Vileneſs of it, how odious it is a God, how hurtful it is to us, and what a ſhame and reproach it brings upon us; here we have its Pedigree, Rom. 5.12 by one man ſin entred into the world, and death by ſins; and ſo death hath paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned. It tells us how it hath ſtript us of our Primitive Glory, and debaſed us below the ſenſible Creation, Iſa. … 3. The … knoweth his owner, and the aſs his maſters crib: but Iſrael doth not know, my people d…th not conſider. It repreſents it to us as that which is abominable to God, Jer. 44.4. O… do not this abominable thing that I hate. which hath armed His Holineſs againſt us, Hab. 1.13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canſt not look on iniquity. And hath rendred us every way unprofitable, and emptied us of all true Goodneſs, Rom. 3.10, 11, 12 There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that underſtandeth, that ſeeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no not one.
2. IT is by this Word that He convinceth them of the true Miſery under which they ly, by reaſon of Sin. The Gentiles had ſome faint Diſcoveries of this, but their reſentments did not drive them to Deſpair, tho' their Conſciences reflected Guilt upon them, and told them that they expoſed themſelves to the Divine Diſpleaſure; yet it was only in regard of more notorious Crimes: and they thought they could by their own Power atone for them: whereas the World of God diſcovers Guilt in the leaſt Sin; and aſſures Men that it lays them open to Judgment; Matth. 12.36. I ſay unto you, That every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak, they ſhall give account in the day of judgment. Eccl. 12.14. For God ſhall bring every work into judgment, with every ſecret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. And it aſſures them, that they can make no Satisfaction to the Juſtice of God for one Sin, no not the leaſt; but that every Sin expoſeth them to Ruin. Ezek. 18.4. The ſoul that ſinneth, it ſhall die. Here are all the Plagues and Torments, denounced againſt Sinners, which are enough to make their hearts to tremble.
3. BY this He ſhews them, both the Unreaſonableneſs and Unprofitableneſs of Sin. Ungodly Men think, that they Sin with a great deal of Reaſon; and that the Courſe of Sin, which they purſue, is very Advantageous to them; ſo they, Prov. 1.13. We ſhall find all precious ſubſtanes, we ſhall fill our houſes with ſpoil. But by the Word of God, they have abundant matter of Conviction ſet before them of their fooliſh Miſtake in it: It diſcovers the worſe than Brutality of Sin, in that it breaks all the Bonds & Obligations laid upon them; that it is againſt God who made, and preſerves them, who hath Sovereign Authority over them, and by right requires Obedience of them; and who hath laid the moſt forcible Obligations on them to pleaſe Him: hence that, Iſa. 1.2, 3. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath ſpoken, I have nouriſhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againſt me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the aſs his maſter's crib: but Iſrael doth not know, my people doth not conſider. Jer. 2.5. Thus ſaith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers ſound in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? Deut. 32.6, 7. Do ye thus require the Lord, O fooliſh people and unwiſe? is not be thy father that hath bought thee? hath be not made thee, and eſtabliſhed thee? Remember the days of old, conſider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and be will ſhew thee, thy elders, and they will tell thee. If alſo gives evident Demonſtration, that there will be no Profit, but abundance of Miſchief ariſe from Sin; that the Pleaſures of it are but for a Seaſon; that they will are long be aſhamed of it; that a Miſerable End will follow upon it; and the more Sin, the more Torment.
4. BY this He ſhews them, the Neceſſity of their Periſhing, if they get not delivered from Sin There are two things that attend a Sin in the Natural Man, Gu… & Dominion; and as long as theſe abide, the Sinner ſtands bo…d over to ſuffer Eternal Vengeance; and the Word of God is full in aſſuring us of this; We are told, Exod. 34.7. That he will by no means … the guilty. And hath declared it the upſhot of Miſery, Joh. 8.24. I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall … in your ſins: for if ye believe no… that I am be, ye ſhall die in your ſins. The Sinner is apt to be ſecure; is not willing to think of, or believe that he is ſo expoſed; and is ready to …light all Warnings given about it; but this matter is fully determined in the Word of God: It aſſures us that Iniquity will be our rain, if we obtain not a diſcharge from it: it tells us, Pſal. 11.6, Upon the wicked he ſhall rain ſna…es, fire and brimſtone, and an horrible tempeſt; this ſhall be the portion of their cup.
5. BY this He ſhews them, the Vanity of all the Re…uges of Lies, which they have ſheltered themſelves under. Nothing more hardens Sinners in their lewd ways, and to deſpiſe Warnings and Counſels, than a vain Preſumption that they are out of the reach of Danger, and ſecured againſt God's Wrath and Vengeance: Hence they, Iſa. 28.15. We have ma…e a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing ſcourge ſhall paſs thro', it ſhall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falſhood have we hid our ſelves. But the Word of God abundantly Confutes this Confidence, repreſenting God not only in the Truth and Veracity of His Threatnings, but alſo in His mighty Power to give being to His Word, in ſpite of all the Attempts of Sinners to ſecure againſt Him; hence that, Ver 17. Judgment alſo will I lay to the lines, and righteouſneſs to the plumme…, and the hail ſhall ſweep away the re…uge of lies, and the waters ſhall overflow the …ing …ce. It therefore gives them to know that He is reſolved; and if they reſiſt Him, they ſhall not proſper; yea, He gives His Oath to i…, Deut. 32.35, 36, 40, 41.
6. HENCE by this, He rouſeth them up to enquire after Deliverance from the Wrath to come. It is imprinted on Man's Nature, to be wrought upon, by the real apprehenſion of Miſery to which they are ſubjected, to be very ſollicito…s to ſeek how they may eſcape it; and it is nothing but their fearleſsneſs of this, that makes them Content in their preſent State, becauſe they apprehend no Danger. The Spirit of God therefore not only ſets theſe Truths before them by the Word; but together with that, He powerfully imprints on their Conſciences ſuch a Belief of the Truth & Veracity thereof, as puts them in Fear: He toucheth their ſleepy Conſciences, & cauſeth them to reflect theſe things upon them with aw, & they can no more withſtood them: But the Word ſo ſet home, leaves deep Wounds on their Souls, and horrid Terrors … them, and will give them no reſt. Hence that, Iſai. 33.14. The ſinners in Zion are afraid, …fulneſs hath ſurprized the hypocrites: who … ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? For this reaſon we have that requeſt put up for ſuch, by the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 83.16. Fill their … with ſhame: that they may ſeek thy …, O Lord. Now ſuch impreſſions as theſe made upon the hearts of finners, will naturally …ad, in the iſſue, to one of theſe two things, viz. Either to ſink under deadly diſcouragement, and die of deſpair; or elſe to make the moſt earneſt enquiries, how they may eſcape the wrath to come. And how the Spirit of God appli… theſe things to the Elect, to thie Enquiry, in order to bring about their thorough Converſion, will come under the next ſubject of Conſideration.