The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin of Righteousness of Judgment, Sermon 2

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin of Righteousness of Judgment · Sermon 2

p. 37SERMON II.

JOHN xvi. 8.

AND when he is come, he will reprove the World of Sin, and of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgement.

DOCTRINE.

IT is the Work of the Holy Spirit to convince and reprove Men of Sin.

I. The Holy Spirit is the Author of this Work of Conviction.

II. We conſider'd the Means which the Spirit of God uſeth to convince Men of Sin.

I proceed,

III. To give ſome brief Deſcription of the Work of the Spirit in convincing and reproving Men of Sin. Wherein I ſhall alſo conſider ſome of the Fruits of the theſe Convictions.

p. 38Before I ſpeak particularly to this Head, I would obſerve to you, that the infinite Spirit of God hath the neareſt Acceſs to our Spirits which are his Creatures, and can make Impreſſions upon them as he pleaſeth: And he convinceth Sinners by an inward Application to the Powers of the Soul, the Underſtanding, Conſcience, &c. before a ſaving Change is wrought in the Heart.

1. In this Work of Conviction the Spirit of God brings Home the Senſe of Sin and the Guilt to the Heart and Conſcience of the Sinner. And then his Spirit is wounded, and his Heart mov'd with Fear. Tho' Men will generally acknowledge that they are Sinners, yet alas! there are many unconverted Perſons who flatter themſelves in their evil Ways as if Sin had not Dominion over them, and they were not walking in the Path of the Deſtroyer. Many are in a lamentable manner ignorant of the Strictneſs and Purity of God's Law, and at the ſame Time very much Strangers to their own deceitful Hearts. It ſeemeth that Paul, while Phariſee, was not ſenſible that the firſt Motions of evil Concupiſcence were Sin. Rom. 7.7. And Ephraim ſays, In all my Labours they ſhall find none Iniquity in me that is Sin: Tho' the Balances of Deceit were in his Hand, and he loved to oppreſs. Hoſ. 12.7, 8. How many falſe Pleas and vain Excuſes do Men frame to blind p. 39and bribe their Conſciences? whereby they are laid aſleep in carnal Security. There is a Way which ſeemeth right unto a Man; but the End thereof are the Ways of Death, Prov. 14.12. So deceitful and deſperately wicked are the Hearts of Men. But when the Spirit of God comes with the Word to ſhew Men their Iniquity, he detects and lays open this Deceit, and maketh the Sinner know that he has offended the holy, heart-ſearching God, and ſtands condemned by His righteous Law. Conſcience is awakened to do it's Office, and as it were ſays to the Sinner, Thou are the Man: And now, he beholdeth his Sin in it's hainous Nature and Aggravations; and ſelf-judged, maketh that Confeſſion before the Lord, Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned, and done this Evil in they Sight, Pſal. 51.4. When the Spirit of God reproveth Men of Sin, they dare not deny the Fact, nor excuſe the Fault or Crime cleaving to it. But rather deprecate God's entering into Judgment with them, ſaying with the Pſalmiſt, If thou Lord, ſhouldſt mark Iniquities: O Lord, who ſhall ſtand Pſal 130.3. Surely none can ſtand in the Judgment, ſays the convinced Sinner; and as for me, I am now ſenſible that I muſt fall under the condemning Sentence of the Law, vile Wretch that I am. And tho; this may be at firſt from Conviction of ſome particular Sin, as here of the Sin of Unbelief; yet the Spirit of God leads Men up p. 40to the Conſideration of their guiltineſs and vileneſs as Children of Apoſtate Adam; ſheweth them that they ſinned in him and fell with him, and that as they proceed from him they bring a corrupt Nature into the World with them, empty of Grace, and bent unto Sin. And now they are ready to ſubſcribe that Confeſſion, Pſal. 51.5. Behold I was ſhapen in Iniquity: and in Sin did my Mother conceive me. Now God's Word is ſet home upon their Hearts, in which it is declared, that all are under Sin; there's none Righteous, no not one. Their Mouths are ſtop'd, and they become guilty before God, Rom. 3.19. And they are ready to acknowledge that they were expos'd to the Wrath and Curſe of God as a Generation of Vipers, even from their early Childhood. And whatever have been their outward Attendance on religious Duties, and blameleſs Behaviour before Men; they now find that they are Children of Wrath, even as others. This was the Caſe of Saul, afterwards call'd Paul, tho' he had liv'd as a ſtrict Phariſee, a blameleſs Life according to his underſtanding of the Law. I was alive without the Law once; but when the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died, Rom. 7.9. While a Phariſee, tho' he had the Law in the Letter of it, yet he was wihtout the Law, being dreadfully ignorant of the ſpiritual Meaning and Uſe of it, as alſo of …s Purity and extenſive Obligation and ſo he tho't himſelf p. 41alive, in a good Condition; and that he was in a fair Way to obtain Life by the Deeds of the Law: But when the Commandment was ſet home upon his Conſcience, and the Spirit of God convinced him of his Sin by the Law, his vain Hopes died away, and he found himſelf in a State of ſpiritual Death, dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins. And this is the Caſe of the cloſeſt Hypocrites and moſt ſpecious Formaliſts, when the Spirit of God is pleas'd to convince and reprove them of Sin: When he thus by his Word of Providence ſheweth them their Work, and their Tranſgreſſions, that they have exceeded; they can no longer cover their Sins, nor flatter themſelves in their evil Ways. Their own Hearts condemn them, and they ſee themſelves expos'd to the Judgment of that God▪ who is greater than their Hearts, and knoweth all Things. And accordingly they are ready to fall down before God and confeſs with them, We are all as an unclean Thing, and all our Righteouſneſſes are as filthy Rags, and we all do fade as a Leaf, and our Iniquities like the Wind, have taken us away, Iſa. 64.6. Whence followeth deep Concern, and ſometimes almoſt overwhelming Anguiſh and Diſtreſs of Soul. Which leads me to ſay,

2. In this Work the Spirit of God maketh Men ſenſible of the deadly Evil of Sin, and of their miſerable State … the Guilt, p. 42and Dominion of it. As the Spirit of God ſhews Sinners the Guilt and Power of their Sins, ſo he declareth to them the dreadful Puniſhment which they lie expos'd to as Tranſgreſſors of the Law; that the Wages of Sin is Death, not only temporal, but eternal Death. Is not Deſtruction to the Wicked? and a ſtrange Puniſhment to the Workers of Iniquity? Job 31.3. Yes ſurely, and when the Spirit of God pleaſeth, he can make the ſtouteſt Sinner ſenſible of it. Such is the Folly and Madneſs bound up in the Hearts of Men, that they are ready to make a mock of Sin. While aſleep in carnal Security, they dream of enjoying the Pleaſures of Sin, without enduring the Puniſhment. He flattereth himſelf in his own Eyes, until his Iniquity be found to be hateful. Pſ. 36.2. Thus it is ſaid of the Young Man, void of Underſtanding, when enticed by the Adultereſs, He goeth after her ſtraightway, as an Ox goeth to the ſlaughter, or as a Fool to the correction of the ſtocks: Till a Dart ſtrike through his Liver, as a Bird haſteth to the Snare, and knoweth not that it is for his Life, Prov. 7.22, 23. Men do not know, they will not conſider the End of Sin, tho' faithfully warn'd in God's Word; and ſo they often go on in the Ways which lead to Death, till they are ſuddenly deſtroy'd. The ſimple paſson, and are puniſhed, Prov. 22.3. And the Old Serpent the Devil, is ſtill ready to tempt us as he … Eve, Ye ſhall not ſurely p. 43die: This ſubtle Tempter ſeeks to allure Men, by ſetting before them the carnal Pleaſures and Profits of Sin; and at the ſame Time laboureth to divert their Minds from all ſerious Conſideration of the Puniſhement. Alas, how ſucceſsfully! It is ſuppoſed that there might be found among God's People, Man or Woman, that would ſay, I shall have Peace, tho' I walk in the Imagination of my Heart, to add Drunkenneſs to Thirſt: But the Lord threatens, That he will not ſpare him, but the Anger of the Lord and his Jealouſy ſhall ſmoke againſt that Man, and all the Curſes written in this Book ſhall lie upon him, Deut. 29.18, 20. And accordingly, when the Spirit of God ſhoots the Arrows of Conviction into the Sinners Heart, he ſheweth him the daring Preſumption of this, and maketh him know that Sin is an evil Thing, and will be bitterneſs in the End. The Spirit makes Men feel the Plague of their own Hearts, and the deadly Wounds Sin hat given them. Now they find that Deſcription agreeth to them; The whole Head is ſick, and the whole Heart is faint. From the ſole of the Foot even unto the Head, there is no ſoundneſs in it; but Wounds and Bruiſes and putrifying Sores, Iſa. 1.5, 6. When the Word of God is thus impreſs'd upon the Sinner's Heart, it is like Fire, reſpecting the Light it gives to diſcern the Evil of Sin, and the Pain and Miſery inflicted on the Soul conſequent upon this. Thus the p. 44Spirit of God ſhews Men the great Evil of an Heart of Unbelief whereby they depart from the living God, and reject the only Saviour, by ſuch a Word as that, He that believeth not, ſhall be damned, Mark 16.16. The great Evil of an hard and impenitent Heart, whereby Men treaſure up Wrath againſt the Day of Warth, by ſuch a Word as that, Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh, Luke 1 3 3. And their Conſciences are inflamed with painful Apprehenſions of the burning Wrath of God due to them for their Sins. Now that Word cometh home to them, Thou haſt deſtroyed thy ſelf, Hoſ. 13.9. And ſenſible of their miſerable State, they cry out with the Prodigal, I periſh. Luke 15.17. They no longer dream that the Pleaſures of Sin can be ſeparated from the Puniſhment; but now find they have to do with an holy heart-ſearching jealous God, that will by no means clear the guilty. God ſpeaks to them by his Word, together with the inward Impreſſions of his Spirit, as Pſal. 50.21, 21. Theſe Things haſt thou done and I kept ſilence: thou thoughteſt that I was altogether ſuch a one as they ſelf: but I will reprove thee, and let them in order before thine Eyes. Now conſider this, ye that forget God, leaſt I tear you in Pieces, and there be none to deliver. And while the Spirit of God is thus a spirit of Bondage, the Sinner trembleth for Fear of God, and is afraid of his Judgments. Thus p. 45We read The Sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulneſs hath ſuriſed the Hypocrites: who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring Fire? Who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting Burnings? Iſa. 33.14. They now know the Terrors of the Lord, and find that he is of purer Eyes than to behold Evil, and can't look on Iniquity without Abhorrence. They are in Anguiſh while their Sins lie heavy upon them, and the iron Yoke galls their Conſciences. And are ready to complain that their Iniquities are gone over their Heads, as an heavy Burden too heavy for them to bear. Yea, now the Sinner is ſometimes almoſt diſmayed with Fear leſt God ſhould take him away with a Stroke, and caſt him into Hell.

3. When the Spirit of God reproveth of Sin, He brings the Sinner to humble himſelf before God. When the Arrows of Conviction are ſharp in the Hearts of the King's Enemies, the People fall down under him, Pſal. 45.5 Thus it is when our Lord rides forth on the Word of Truth accompanied with the holy Spirit, the Sinner lieth proſtrate at his Feet, ſenſible that it is a dreadful Thing to fall into the Hands of the living God, as an Avenger of Sin. Now there is a Work of Humiliation wrought, in which the Haughtineſs of the Sinner's Spirit is quelled, and he is caſt down convinced that he can't reſiſt God, p. 46and proſper. He is made ſenſible that God can break him in Pieces, and that none is able to deliver out of his Hand. Such a Word as that is ſet home upon his Conſcience. See now that I, even I am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my Hand. For I lift up my Hand to Heaven, and ſay, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering Sword, and mine hand take hold on Judgment; I will render Vengeance to mine Enemies, and will reward them that hate me. And when the convinced Sinner finds himſelf thus in the Hands of that God, who is able to ſave or deſtroy forever; he lieth down in the Duſt before him. Now the lofty Looks of Men are humbled, and God is exalted. Thus when God denounced dreadful Threatnings againſt Ahah, by the Prophet Elijah, it is ſaid, And it came to paſs when Ahah heard thoſe Words, that he rent his Cloathes, and put Sackcloth upon his Fleſh, and faſted, and lay in Sacrcloth, and went ſoftly, 1 Kings 21.27. Yea, ſuch was his Humiliation, though here was no true ſaving Repentance, that God was pleas'd to take a gracious Notice of it, and mitigate the Judgment threatned, 29th ver. Seeſt thou how Ahah humbleth himſelf before me? becauſe he humbleth himſelf before me, I will not bring the Evil in his Days. In like manner, the cruel hardy Jailor fell p. 47down before Paul and Silas, as the Servants of the moſt high God, humbly to intreat them to ſhew him the Way of Salvation, Acts 16.29, 30. Had he done this to worſhip them, they would have rejected it with Abhorrence. He did it, as a judicous Expositor ſuppoſeth, "being moved by the Fear of God's Judgments thus to humble himſelf"**Calvin.When Men are thus convinced, their haughty and ſtubborn Spirits are bro't down, they are forced to quit their carnal Confidences as Refuges of Lies, and are bro't before God, as the Servants of Benhadad came in his Name, before the King of Iſrael, with Ropes upon their Heads; and with that ſubmiſſive Requeſt, I pray thee let me live. To allude to thoſe Words, 1 Kings 20.31, 32. For they now find that they lie at God's Mercy, and have a dread of his fiery Indignation leſt it ſhould conſume them. We read, that The Wicked, through the Pride of his Countenance, will not ſeek after God, Pſal. 10.4. But when God cometh upon the Sinner by his Spirit to ſhew him his Sin and Miſery, and the Danger he is in of being broken to Pieces in the Day of his Wrath; then you ſhall hear him cry, Mercy Lord, Mercy for a miſerable Sinner, or I periſh!

p. 484. When the Spirit doth thus convince of Sin, He maketh the Sinner confeſs his Sin, and exciteth him to reform his Life. Tho' in this Work there is not a Principle of ſaving Grace infus'd in Oppoſition to Sin, yet Sin is made bitter from the Fruits of it; ſo that while the Spirit of God doth in this manner ſtrive with the Sinner, and impreſſeth on his Mind a dread of God's Wrath, he dare, not go on in his evil Courſes, and can't, reliſh the Pleaſures of Sin, as when he liv'd in carnal Security, fearing leſt that Threatning ſhould be fulfill'd upon him; How much ſhe hath glorified herſelf, and lived deliciouſly, ſo much Torment and Sorrow give her, Rev. 18.7. His Caſe is like that expreſs'd Job 20.12—14. Though Wickedneſs be ſweet in his Mouth, though he hide it under his Tongue; Though he ſpare it, and forſake it not; but keep it ſtill within his Mouth: Yet his Meat in his Bowels is turned, it is the Gall of Aſps within him. And now the Burden of Sin lieth ſo heavy upon the Conſciences of Men, that they are compel'd as it were to ſeek Relief, by confeſſing their Sins before God; and they find themſelves conſtrain'd to cry out of their ſad and wretched State before Men. When Samuel reproved Saul for not utterly deſtroying Amalek, tho' at firſt he endeavour'd to excuſe himſelf, yet when the Prophet declared to him that becauſe he had rejected the Word of the Lord, God had p. 49alſo rejected him from being King; being convicted in his Conſcience, he ſaid, I have ſinned, 2 Sam. 15.24. And now the Sinner is ſick of his Sin, and caſts it up. He can't now drink down Iniquity like Water with greedineſs and delight, as he did before; but rather abſtains from the outward Commiſſion of it, and formeth Reſolutions againſt it. If tempted, while the Spirit is thus ſtriving with him, it is as if you ſhould offer pleaſant Drink to a Man, and at the ſame Time aſſure him that there is Poiſon in the Cup He for the preſent at leſt, puts away Sin for Fear of Wrath, and turns from his wicked Companions. You may obſerve a viſible Alteration in him. While theſe ſtrong Convictions of the Spirit are upon him, he is reſtrain'd from the Commiſſion of Sin; but then if he is leſt to quench theſe good Motions, and the Spirit is provok'd to depart from him, and ceaſe ſtriving; we have his diſmal Caſe deſcribed, 2 Pet. 2.20,— 22.— If after they have eſcaped the Pollutions of the World thro' the Knowlege of the Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, they are again intangled therein, and overcome; the latter End is worſe with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteouſneſs, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb, The Dog is turned p. 50to his own Vomit again; and the Sow that was waſhed to her wallowing in the Mire O it is a dreadful Thing to Sin againſt ſuch Light, and ſtifle ſuch Convictions of the Spirit! Let ſuch as are favour'd with them take heed therefore, and beware of this moſt dangerous and provoking Evil.

5. In this Work the Spirit of God ſheweth Men the utter Inſufficiency of Creature-Comforts to afford Relief to their troubled Minds. While Men are ſecure in Sin, they are very prone to Promiſe themſelves Satisfaction in their outward Enjoyments, and ſo to be unconcern'd about obtaining the Favour of God. They ſpend their Days in Wealth, and in a Moment go down to the Grave. Therefore they ſay unto God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the Knowledge of thy Ways, Job 21.13, 14 The Riches and Pleaſures of this Life often divert Men's Minds from a ſerious Attention to the Calls of the Goſpel. When invited to partake of the rich Proviſion God had made for periſhing Sinners; They make Light of it, and go their Ways, one to his Farm, another to his Merchandiſe, Matth. 22.… They are ready to ſay with the rich Man Soul, thou haſt much Goods laid up for many Years; take, thine Eaſe, eat, drink and be merry, Luke 12.19. But now when the Spirit of God convinceth the Sinner of the periſhing Condition of his Soul, he ſays to him, The p. 51Fool, this Night thy Soul may be required of thee; you hang over the bottomleſs Pit by the ſlender Thread of a frail Life, and may before to Morrow lift up your Eyes in Torments. And when thus reprov'd of their Sin and Folly, their carnal Confidence and Satisfaction in Creatures are blaſted, and their Mirth is turned into Heavineſs. None of their worldly Enjoyments appear to them as they did before; they have loſt their Reliſh for them. For now they are convinced that theſe Things can't profit in the Day of Wrath, nor redeem them from Deſtruction. Yea, If they have gotten their earthly Poſſeſſions by unrighteous Practices, the Spirit of God ſheweth them that they have been treaſuring up Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath. And now they are ready to ſay, What ſhall it profit us, tho' we gain the whole World, and loſe our Souls? What good will theſe Things do us, if we muſt ſink down under the Weight of God's Wrath, and periſh forever in Hell? Alas! we ſhall be the more miſerable upon the Account of them, in the terrible Day of the Lord. And thus are they brought to realiſe it, that if they would find reſt for their Souls, they muſt ſeek better Things. And are convinced of the great Evil of ſeeking their Happineſs in Creatures, in oppoſition to God.

p. 52Which leads me to ſay,

6. When the Spirit of God convinceth Men of Sin, He exciteth them to ſeek Deliverance in the diligent uſe of the Means of Grace and Salvation. Now they find that nothing can give them Eaſe, while the Burden of Sin lieth heavy upon them, and accordingly they are concern'd to ſeek the Lord in the Ways of his own Appointment, if haply they may find him who alone is able to ſave them from Sin & Death. Before they might caſt; off Fear, and reſtrain Prayer; but now they cry for Mercy. Indeed the Force of Education and Cuſtom may prevail with Men to attend religious Duties, but then this is done in formality, and with little Concern about their Souls. Whereas when the holy Spirit cometh upon Men to convince them of their Sin and Danger, his Voice is like that Jonah 1.6. What meaneſt thou, O Sleeper? ariſe, call upon thy God, if ſo be that God will think upon us, that we periſh not. And when theſe Convictions are ſtrong upon them, they are ready to make that Inquiry with great Seriouſneſs, What muſt I do to be ſaved? Acts 16.30. And to ſay with them who were pricked in their Heart, Men and Brethren, What ſhall we do? And now it may be ſaid of them as of Saul. Behold, he prayeth, Acts 9.11 No doubt Saul having been a Phariſee, had made many Prayers before this; but now in anguiſh of Spirit we p. 53may ſuppoſe he was ready to ſay with the Publican, Lord be merciful to me a Sinner. The Whole need not the Phyſician; but when Sinners are made to feel the Smart of thoſe deadly Wounds which Sin hath given them, and at the ſame Time hear of a Saviour; they are preſſed in Spirit to ſeek to him, ſaying, Lord ſave me, or I periſh. Now they alſo attend to the preaching of the Word after another manner than before, finding that the Threatnings and Reproofs of God's Word belong to them, and being concern'd to flee from the Wrath to come. Their Fears urge them to mind the Duties of Religion, and to ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, leſt their Day of Grace ſhould end before they have obtain'd an Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt. For now they dread the Damnation of Hell.

7. The Spirit of God beats Men off from a carnal Dependance on their religious Duties, and ſheweth them that their Salvation muſt come from God alone.

It is to be fear'd that many who have been under Convictions, and ſo turned from open Impiety to ſome outward Reformation and Attendance on religious Duties, ſtop here, and never go out to Chriſt for Salvation. Our Lord aſſureth us that there are fooliſh Virgins in the viſible Church, that content themſelves with an outward Proſeſſion, without p. 54being concerne'd to obtain the Oil of ſaving Grace in their Hearts; and then fall aſleep in carnal Security, until they are awaked by the Midnight Cry, Go ye out to meet him. And then they are wholly at a loſs, finding the Door of Mercy ſhut againſt them. They cry, Lord, Lord, open to us; but He anſwereth, I know you not, Matth. 25. And therefore, when the Spirit of God is pleas'd to carry on his Work, he convinceth Men of the great Evil and Danger of their reſting here, without a ſaving Converſion to God, and Union with Chriſt by Faith. He ſheweth them more and more the Vileneſs of their own Hearts, and the abſolute Neceſſity of their being renewed in the Spirit of their Minds after the Image of God; that except they are born again, they can't ſee the Kingdom of God. And convinceth them that if they are ſaved after all, it muſt not be according to Works which they have done, but according to the free Grace and Mercy of God, thro' the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt. The Promiſe is not made to them that labour, and are heavy laden; but to them who being heavy laden with the Burden of their Sins, Go to Chriſt upon his moſt gracious Call and Invitation; Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. Matth. 11.28. And our Lord declareth, Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out, Joh. 6.37. Now we p. 55go to Chriſt in the Exerciſe of Faith. He that cometh to me ſhall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, ſhall never thirſt. 35. v. Nor is the Promiſe made to them that attend religious Duties meerly from a ſlaviſh Fear and dread of Wrath, and without any ſincere Regard to the Glory of God. Indeed, It is not Sin for Perſons while Unconverted, to pray to God, hear his Word, &c. No, Such Duties as theſe God requireth of them, and they are to be exhorted and encouraged to ſeek the Lord in theſe Ways of his Appointment, forasmuch as God has been often found of Men while in the diligent uſe of Means; but then they muſt be made ſenſible that they fail in the manner of their attending upon theſe religious Duties. Without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. And therefore, if Men depend on the Diſcharge of theſe religious Duties, instead of uſing them as Means to lead them to Chriſt that they may be juſtified and ſaved by Faith in him, they reſt on a ſandy Foundation which will certainly fail them. Accordingly when the Spirit of God carrieth on his Work, he reproveth this Phariſaic Pride, and convinceth Men of the great Evil of it: So that they dare not ſtand before God, as the Phariſee did, ſaying, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other Men are, Extortioners, Unjuſt, Adulterers, or even as this Publican. I faſt twice in the Week, I give p. 56Tithes of all I poſſeſs, Luke 18.12. No, but rather with the Publican, cry for Mercy, after all the Pains they have taken to ſeek the Lord in the Way of Duty. The Spirit of God ſheweth Men that except their Righteouſneſs ſhall exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, they ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. See Matth. 5.20. And maketh them ſenſible that notwithſtanding all their Labours in Duty and outward Reformations, God might damn them, ſhould he deal with them in a Way of ſtrict Juſtice; and that if they are ſaved, their Salvation muſt come from the Lord. And thus is the Way of the Lord prepared by the Spirit, that the Son of God may come into the Hearts of his choſen People, and give reſt to their weary Souls. Indeed this Work hath not a cauſal Virtue to produce ſaving Grace, as has been hinted. After all, there muſt be a ſaving Change wrought in all the Powers of the Soul by the Spirit of God, that we may receive Jeſus Chriſt upon the gracious Offer and Command of the Goſpel. We muſt have Jeſus Chriſt revealed to us, and have that Faith wrought in us by the Spirit, whereby we may cloſe with him on Goſpel-Terms; and that Repentance whereby we may turn from all Sin unto God. There muſt be ſuch Conviction of our Need of Righteouſneſs, and of the Perfection of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, as that we p. 57may depend on him entirely for Juſtification before God. And there muſt be ſuch a Conviction of Judgment, as that we may ſubmit to the Son of God as our Lord and Judge, ſaying, O Lord our God, other lords beſides thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name. Iſa. 26.13. O that this may be the happy Iſſue of the Spirit's ſtriving with elder and younger Perſons! And may none be left to reſiſt and quench his good Motions! Come, O Breath, and breathe upon theſe ſlain, that they may live!

APPLICATION.

USE 1. Let us Inquire into the State of our Souls; particularly, Whether we have had the Experience of this Work of the Spirit. Has the Holy Spirit convinced us of our Sin and Miſery by the Fall, ſo that we have been made ſenſible of our loſt periſhing State as we are the Children of the firſt Adam, in whom all die? It's true, there may be conſiderable Variety as to the Degree of the Spirit's Operation. Some may have greater Terror, and of longer Continuance than others, as we before obſerved. But then, We have Reaſon to conclude that the Spirit of God is a Spirit of Bondage unto Fear, to every unconverted Perſon grown to Years of Underſtanding and Judgment, before He p. 58is a Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption. And therefore ſuch as are confident of their being in a State of Salvation, without a Conviction of Sin, and painful Senſe of the defiling and deſtroying Evil of it is; have juſt Reaſon to fear that they deceive themſelves. Our Saviour declareth to the Laodiceans, who were puff'd up with a proud and falſe Conceit of themſelves, that they were wretched, and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked; before He counſels them to come to him for Gold tried in the Fire, that they might be enriched with ſaving Grace more precious than Gold, &c. Rev. 3.17, 18. Let us then examine and try ourſelves, whether we have ever felt the Burden of our Sins too heavy for us to bear, and been made ſenſible of the vile Corruption of our Hearts; ſo as to cry to God for Deliverance, being convinced that nothing ſhort of his Almighty Power and Grace can ſave us. And here, ſuppoſing the Caſe, that ſome of you were converted while very Young, yet it is incumbent on you to inquire, whether you have ſuch a ſpiritual Sight of the Evil of Sin, as to be in bitterneſs upon the Account of it, and to be excited to work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling. This is plain, That the beſt of Men in this imperfect State have reaſon to cry out, Lord, Help our Unbelief! And to groan out that Complaint, O wretched Man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from p. 59the Body of this Death! Rom. 7.24. And when they have indulged themſelves for any Time in carnal Security, or fallen into ſcandalous Sins, the Spirit of God has ſo withdrawn from them, that they have been brought into great Perplexity, and could have no ſolid Peace till renewed to Repentance. This was David's Caſe, Pſal 51. And Peter's, Luke 22.61, 62. Agreably, our Saviour ſaid to him, When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, Luke 22.32. Indeed that God who hath begun a good Work in true Converts, will perform it until the Day of Jeſus Chriſt. However, even theſe may need a further and more thorow Converſion from particular Ways of ſinning, that they may be in a next Diſpoſition to attend the Duties and enjoy the Bleſſings of Chriſt's Kingdom, after a comfortable manner, Matth. 18.3. Surely then, there's weighty Reaſon why we ſhould all of us look into the State of our Souls, and inquire what Convictions we have experienced, and what hath been the Iſſue of them. And after all, we ſhould make that Prayer, Search me O God, and know my Heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And ſee if there be any wicked Way in me, and lead me in the Way everlaſting, Pſal. 139.23, 24.

USE 2. Are the Convictions of the Spirit ſo ſharp and pungent ſometimes? How dreadful p. 60muſt it be then to fall under the vindictive Wrath of God in Hell forever?

Do Sinners now while there is Hope, fear and tremble before the Lord when he thus reproveth them for Sin? Are they pricked to the Heart, and ſometimes ready to cry out under the heavy Load of Sin, A wounded Spirit who can bear? Certainly then the Torments of Hell will be altogether intolerable; where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched. Hell is a bottomleſs Pit, in which the damned ſink down in everlaſting Deſpair, without the leaſt gleam of Hope, while the Wrath of God is poured out upon them to the uttermoſt. The Childreen of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into outer Darkneſs: there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth. Matth. 8.12 Can you not bear the Spirit's Convictions, when he ſets home the Threatnings of God's Word upon your Conſciences? How will you then be able to hear that Sentence pronounc'd by your Lord and Judge; Depart from me ye curſed into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels; and then to have it executed upon you. O you will be utterly conſumed with Terror!

USE 3. Let ſuch as have their Hearts hardened from the Fear of God, aſk the Holy Spirit to convince them of their Sin and Danger, before it be too late.

p. 61O let the Terrors of the Lord rouſe you! Open your Eyes, conſider your hainous Iniquity in hardning your Hearts againſt God at ſuch a Time as this, and behold your extream Danger of periſhing in your Sins. For who hath hardened himſelf againſt God, and hath proſpered? O let that awful Word ſink down into your Ears, and into your Hearts! He that being often reproved, hardneth his Neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without Remedy. Prov. 29.1. Amazing Stupidity! You can't but hear others complaining of an hard Heart, and deſiring Prayers that God would take away the ſtony Heart and give an Heart of Fleſh, tender and quick to receive the Impreſſions of God's Word and Spirit. And are you ſtill unconcern'd? How dangerous a Symptom is this? What a deadly Lethargy has ſeiz'd your Souls? And how great is the Danger that you will never awake, till you lift up your Eyes in Torments? Are you not nigh to that dreadful Curſe? He which is Filthy, let him be filt by ſtill. Do not conclude that God will, but be greatly afraid leſt he ſhould utterly forſake you. Deprecate that fearful Judgment, and cry to God to deliver you from it; acknowledging that God would be juſtified ſhould he thus ſpeak againſt you, and be clear ſhould he thus judge you. God hath given them the Spirit of Slumber, Eyes that they ſhould not ſee, & Ears they ſhould not hear, p. 62Rom. 11.8 And let your ſad Experience teach you that it is not in Men nor outward Means to convince you of Sin and awaken you out of your carnal Security, unleſs the Spirit accompany theſe Means, & apply them to your Souls. And accordingly, Mourn bitterly becauſe you have reſiſted and vexed the good Spirit of God, and take heed you proceed no further, to do deſpite to the Spirit of Grace; and ſo live only to fill up the meaſure of your Sins, and to ripen for a much ſorer Puniſhment, than many others who periſh, ſhall endure. O thou infinitely powerful and gracious God! with whom all Things are poſſible, do thou awaken them, and pluck them as Brands out of the Fire.

USE 4. Let ſuch as have received the Spirit of God as a Spirit of Conviction, cheriſh His Motions, and cry to God more earneſtly for His Spirit, as a Spirit of Regeneration and Adoption.

Tho' I have ſpoken to you more largely in the former Diſcourſe; yet I can't forbear farther to adviſe and direct you. Do not reſt here, but be encouraged the more earneſtly to ſeek the Things which accompany Salvation. It is hopeful that this Work is brought nigh to the Birth; cry to God for Strength, that it may be brought forth with the Shouting of Grace unto it. And if your Diſtreſs ſhould now increaſe, do not faint p. 63but rather cry with the Pſalmiſt, The Troubles of my Heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my Diſtreſſes, Pſal. 25.17 It may be the New-Birth will quickly follow, to your unſpeakable Joy. But then you muſt be ſenſible that this can't be by any Might or Power of your own; but only by the Spirit of the Lord of hoſts. Look above your ſelf then and all Creatures unto the Lord, that you may be ſaved. And let it encourage you, that this Work is in the Hands of the good Spirit of God, who delighteth in Holineſs; and may be call'd the Holy Spirit in Scripture, partly becauſe it is his Work to renew God's People in the Spirit of their Minds, after the Image of God which conſiſts in Knowledge, Righteouſneſs and Holineſs: That it is in the Hands of the Almighty Spirit of God, who can convert you more eaſily than you can ſpeak a Word. Surely nothing is to be deſpair'd of, while this divine Spirit is working upon your Hearts. O ſeek the more earneſtly then to that God who is able to do for you above all you can ask or think! And now ſtrive even as in an Agony, that you may enter in at the ſtrait Gate of a ſaving Converſion. Why may it not be this Night? Why may there not be a ſaving Union between Chriſt and your Souls even Now? Come, All Things are ready. O God! Do thou draw them; for there is no Man can come to the Son, except the Father draw p. 64him. We wait for thee, more than they that Watch for the Morning. May the Power of the Lord be preſent to heal the broken in Heart, & bind up their Wounds! May there be Joy in Heaven over many repenting Sinners! And may the Mourners in Zion have the Oil of Joy given them for Mourning, and the Garment of Praiſe for the Spirit of Heavineſs.

USE 5. Let ſuch as have receive'd the holy Spirit, as a Spirit of Adoption, Praiſe the God of all Grace, and walk humbly with him.

Hath God revealed his Son in and to you, by giving you his Spirit to convince you of his Righteonſneſs, and to enable you to believe in him to the ſaving of your Souls? Is the Love of God thus ſhed abroad in your Hearts, by the Holy Ghoſt? Is Chriſt thus formed in you? Hail, you are highly favoured, the Lord is with you, and you are bleſſed. Fleſh and Blood have not revealed the Son of God unto you, but the Father which is in Heaven. Let your Souls then magnify the Lord, and your Spirits rejoice in God your Saviour. Give Glory to God, and ſay each one of you after Chriſt, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, becauſe thou haſt hid theſe Things from the Wiſe and Prudent, and haſt revealed them unto Babes. Even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight, Matth, 11.25, 26. And then look to p. 65the Foundation of your Joy, that it be laid in deep Repentance. Bleſſed are they that mourn, for they ſhall be comforted. Look to it that your Joy be an humble holy Joy, and ſuch as ſhall be your Strength in running the Way of God's Commandments. Of true Joy it is ſaid, The Joy of the Lord is your Strength. Neh 8.10. Let it be as Oyl to the Wheels of your Obedience, and let your Hearts be lift up in the Ways of God, while you happily find that the Ways of Wiſdom are Ways of pleaſantneſs, and all her Paths Peace. Say with the Apoſtle Paul, Our rejoicing is this, the Teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in Simplicity & godly Sincerity, not with fleſhly Wiſdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our Converſation in the World, 2 Cor. 1.12. O take heed, beware of Pride and carnal Security! Serve the Lord with Fear, and rejoice with trembling. And when God hath ſpoken Peace, turn not again to Folly. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed to the Day of Redemption; but walk in him, and you ſhall not fulfil the Luſts of the Fleſh. Do not boaſt as if your Work was done, and your Warfare accompliſhed; but rather expect to meet with Temptations, and put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be able to ſtand againſt the Wiles of the Devil. Think it not ſtrange, if God ſhould hide his Face, after you have had the Light of his p. 66Countenance lifted up upon you. This is no other Trial than what many of God's Children have endured. Be encouraged then to hear and obey that Word, Iſa 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the Voice of his Servant, that walketh in Darkneſs, and hath no Light? let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. Hope in God, and wait patiently for him, till he ſhall cauſe light to ariſe again unto you. And let none of theſe Things move you, neither count your Lives dear, that you may finiſh your Courſe with Joy.

To conclude, Let us with humble Thankfulneſs behold that remarkable Work of Grace which I truſt God is carrying on in this Town, and other Places; and be encouraged to ſeek the Lord more earneſtly, that His Kingdom may come with Power by the more plentiful Effuſions of his Holy Spirit; and that the Lord would rebuke Satan in all his Attempts to hinder or reproach this Work, and bruiſe him under our Feet. Let us bleſs God for His Spirit & Grace manifeſted in & with His Servants that have preached the Goſpel among us, and for the great Succeſs which has attended their painful Labours. However, Let us not have Men's Perſons in Admiration becauſe of Advantage; but remember that Word, So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth: but God that giveth the increaſe, 1 Cor. 3.7. And accordingly, Let p. 67the Glory be given to the God of all Grace. And my Brethren, I apprehend we ſhould reflect upon it as a Fault and Infirmity, that tho' you had ſuch repeated Opportunities of hearing thoſe worthy Perſons, that yet one and another Aſſembly hath been crowded in ſuch a manner, as even to make Diſturbance on the Lord's-Day, while others have been in a conſiderable Degree left deſtitute. Finally Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free Courſe and be glorified. And let the ſtated Proviſion of God's Houſe be duely valued by you. Let your Zeal for the Ordinances continue, and be manifeſted in your conſtant and diligent Attendance on the publick Worſhip, in an eſpecial Manner on the Lord's-Day. And when you wait upon God in the uſe of the Means of Grace, always bear in Mind thoſe Words, I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to Profit, Iſa. 58.17. And let that Apoſtolical Exhortation be duely regarded by you, We beſeech you Brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniſh you; And to eſteem them very highly in Love for their Works ſake. And be at Peace among your ſelves. 1 Theſ. 5.12, 13. The more there is of mutual Eſteem and Love between Miniſters and their People, the fairer Proſpect is there of the Succeſs of their Miniſtry. And the more concern'd p. 68we are to ſtudy the Things which make for Peace, the more likely ſhall we be to edify one another. When Brethren dwell together in unity, God commandeth the Bleſſing on Zion, See Pſal. 133. Let us then avoid all unchriſtian Heats and Animoſities, all raſh judging and cenſuring one another: And in oppoſition to this, let all unite their beſt Endeavours, in their ſeveral Places, to promote the great Intereſt of pure and undefiled Religion; that Chriſt may increaſe, and his Kingdom flouriſh among us. And may it pleaſe the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt to bleſs you and all his People by fulfilling that good Word, Ezek. 39.29. Neither will I hide my Face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the Houſe of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord God. And bleſſed be his glorious Name forever, and let the whole Earth be filled with his Glory; Amen, and Amen!