The Mystery of the Gospel in Salvation, Sermon 8
Knowledge necessary to Salvation. SERMON VIII.
ACTS XVI.30.
And said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved?
I Shewed you, in the Forenoon, That the Sinner cannot possibly save himself, because he cannot merit any Thing at the Hands of God, by all that he can do, nor has he sufficient Strength, and Power, of his own, to perform the whole Will of God. Nevertheless it is absolutely necessary that the Sinner do something, in order to his own Salvation. I now proceed to a particular Consideration of what the Sinner must do; namely,
I. The perishing Sinner must know all that is necessary to his Salvation.
II. The perishing Sinner must reduce his Knowledge into Practice, and be ready to do all that he shall know to be his Duty. I shall offer some Things to the First of these, at this Time: viz.
I. The perishing Sinner must know all that i… necessary to his Salvation: all that is necessary for him to know. And, indeed, our Knowledge of the Things necessary unto Salvation, is to be laid in the Foundation, as of our Practice, so of our Hopes of being saved, proportionable to the Advantages, and Opportunities, which Persons have of coming at the Knowledge of them. Therefore our future Happiness is sometimes represented, in the Scriptures, as turning upon our Knowledge: as our Lord said, Joh. xvii.3. This is eternal Life, to know thee, the only true God, and Iesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. What therefore every Sinner has to do is, to take Pains to inform himself, that he may be acquainted with those Things which are necessary for him to know. Here then observe;
1. There are certain doctrinal Articles to be believed, and Duties to be performed, in order to the Sinner's Salvation. The Christian Religion, (and the Method of a Sinner's Salvation contained in it,) doth not consist of any uncertain Principles, or an indigested Heap of Articles, and Duties which a Man accidently stumbles upon, or which, casually come into his Mind; nor of such as are purely the Result of humane Invention, Inclination, or secular Interest; but it is a well digested Scheme, the Product of infinite Wisdom, and Understanding, and containeth in it certain, and established Articles, necessary to be believed by us, and plain Duties, necessary to be practised by us, and these in order to promote the highest, and noblest Ends that can be, the Glory, and Honour, of our great Maker, and our own everlasting Well-Being.
Thus, as Articles of our Faith, the Christian Religion containeth in it, the Doctrine of one, only, living, and true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, infinite, eternal, unchangeable, in his Being, Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Goodness, and Truth, the Maker, the Preserver, and the Ruler of the World. It containeth in it, the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, his being the only begotten Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the World, in the Fulness of Time, appearing in the humane Nature, and offering of himself unto the eternal Father, a Sacrifice, for the Sin of the World, rising from the Dead, on the third Day, ascending up into Heaven, and sitting at the right Hand of God, making continual Intercession for us; and that he will appear a second Time, as the great Judge of the World. It containeth in it, the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, as the principal Agent in the forming of the new Creature, as the Director and Leader, of us in the Paths of Righteousness, and the Bestower of all Comfort upon us. It containeth in it, the Doctrines of the Resurrection of the Dead, the final Judgment, and the everlasting Rewards, and Punishments, of the future World. And it containeth in it, the Doctrines of Regeneration, the Necessity of the New Birth, of Repentance, and an holy Life, and of the Word, Sabbaths, Sacraments, and Prayer, as the ordinary Means of producing Holiness of Life in us.
And as it containeth these Doctrinal Articles, most, if not all, necessary to be believed by us, so the Christian Religion consisteth of many Duties, to be performed by us, which may be all comprehended under that general Expression, of living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present World. It is the great Design of the Gospel of our Salvation to teach us these Articles of Faith, and bring us to the Practice of these Duties, and of all that are comprehended in them, and fairly reducible to them.
2. The Knowledge of these Doctrines, and Duties, is necessary to our being saved. The Sinner's Salvation, (I am speaking of such as live under the Gospel,) turns upon his Belief of the Gospel Revelation, and his practising the Duties contained in it, so far as he has Opportunity, and Occasion, to attend them; because the Gospel Revelation is the full, and only, Discovery of the Divine Mind in what Way a Sinner may be saved: and this plainly telleth us, Mar. xvi.16. He that believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved: and, Rev. xxii.14. Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have Right to the Tree … Life.
But, unless the Sinner knoweth what the Gospel requireth him to believe, and do, how can he, either believe, or do it? Here, I do not mean▪ that it is necessary unto Savation, that every Person so know the great Doctrines of the Gospel▪ as to be able to unriddle all the Mysteries contained in them, or to be able to answer all the Objections, which crafty Men, who are subtle to deceive, may possibly propound to them; nor yet so to know all the Duties of Christianity, as to be nice Casuists in every possible Difficulty; but it is necessary to every one that would be saved, to be so far acquainted with the great, and main, Articles of the Christian Religion, as is requisite to his firm Belief of all that is essential to a true Believer; and with the great Duties of Christianity, as is sufficient to direct, and govern, his Heart, and Life, by the Rules of Piety, Justice, and Temperance. Thus far, I readily acknowledge, our Belief, (and Practice too,) is founded in our Knowledge, and what a Man knoweth nothing of, he cannot believe. But then, this does not necessarily intend any more than, that a Man be acquainted with the Proposition, to be believed, and understand the Terms of it; and it by no Means followeth, that a Man must understand the Essence, or Mode of Existence, of the Thing spoken of in the Proposition; or that he should understand the Ratio of the Truth, or Doctrine, contained in such Proposition, before he believeth the Proposition, which he fully understandeth. For Instance; I should have all imaginable Reason to believe the Truth of this Proposition, whose Terms I understand, That the Square of the longest Side of a Right-angled Triangle is equal to the Square of the two shorter Sides, when several Persons, of approved Integrity, and Skill in the Mathematicks, tell me it is so; though, at the same Time, I should be entirely ignorant of the Ratio of it, and be uncapable of understanding it, for want of a more thorow Acquaintance with the Mathematicks. Therefore, to lay this down for a Principle, that we are to believe nothing but what … understand, meaning thereby, that we must not only understand the Terms of the Proposition, but, have a clear Idea, of the Ratio, and Nature, of the Thing spoken of, is to lay down a very false Principle; and it sheweth the Weakness of those that assert it, as well as the Weakness of all the Structure they build upon it. It is an infallibly true Proposition, That God is; but where is the Master of Reason that understandeth what God is? It is an undoubted Proposition, which every Man firmly believeth respecting himself, I Exist; but where is the Man that thorowly knoweth his own Nature, or the Manner of his own existing? There are, and will be, Mysteries in Christianity, as well as in Nature, (let Men say what they will,) though the Words of the Revelation are perfectly well understood, and grammatically put together. And notwithstanding all the Mysteriousness that there may be in the Nature, Modus, or Ratio, of a Doctrine revealed from Heaven, yet this hindereth not, but that we are bound to believe such a Revelation, properly at…ested; and this is not to believe in empty Sounds, but to believe Truths, handed to our Minds by such Words, regularly connected, as are easy, and familiar to us; which is all the Way of believing that I know of.
Thus, I say, it is necessary that Sinners become acquainted with the essential Articles of the Christian Religion that they may believe them, and with it's Duties, that they may do them. For while Persons remain ignorant of the Doctrines, and Laws, of Christ, which contain the Way unto Salvation, how is it possible they should be saved? seeing they know not the Path-Way thereof. This, peculiarly, is that Knowledge, which, the Wise Man telleth us, Prov. xix.2. it is not good that the Soul be without.
A Man, indeed, may know a great Deal, may be well read in the Doctrines, and Duties, of Christianity, and yet not be saved after all; because, it is possible, he may act contrary to his Light and Knowledge. But if he remain entirely ignorant of the Way of Salvation, if he knoweth not what he must do to be saved, how then can he be saved? If the Understanding be not informed, and enlightned, how shall the Man act any otherwise than as the Brute Creature, by external Force, and Impulse? Or how shall the rational Mind be directed to the proper Object, or right Manner, of it's religious Worship, and Adoration? Nay, how shall the Hands, and Feet, be guided unto any vertuous Action? That is, without Knowledge the Man acteth blindly, and in the Dark, and can never offer unto God a reasonable Service. Hence said our Saviour, Matth. vi.23. If thine Eye be evil, thy whole Body shall be full of Darkness; if, therefore, the Light that is in thee be Darkness, how great is th… Darkness? Men may be in the Light, and it prove their Condemnation, because they act contrary to the Light which they have; but if they are in total Darkness, if the Light that is in them b… Darkness, and that through their own Default, because they shut their Eyes, and act as if they were in the Dark, how can they possibly escape Condemnation? Yet a little while, (said Christ) the Light is with you; walk while ye have the Light, lest Darkness come upon you; for he, that walketh in Darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth; While ye have the Light believe in the Light, that ye may be the Children of the Light. Joh. xii.35, 36. And the Apostle Iohn said, 1 Joh. i.6. If we say we have Fellowship with him, and walk in Darkness, (the Darkness of Ignorance, and Sin,) we lie, and do not the Truth. He will but deceive himself with vain Hopes of Salvation, who is in the Dark about the Way leading thereto; which is generally the Case of the Heathen World, who, tho' they have some Hope, or rather Notion, of a future Happiness, yet, are destitute of Gospel Light, which alone sheweth the Way to it.
It is not to be wondered at to see Men do amiss, who know no better. If they are Strangers to the true God, how shall they serve him? If they are in Ignorance by what Means to appease his Anger, how shall they be at Peace with him, and reap the Benefits of his Friendship? If they know not Jesus Christ, but are utter Strangers to his Person, Offices, and Benefits, how shall they believe in him, and be saved by him? Hence we find so great a Stress laid, in the Scripture, upon Knowledge, that our Renovation is said to be in Knowledge; Col. iii.10. and they, that take away the Key of Knowledge, are said, Luk. xi.52. to hinder Men from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven: and it is given as the Reason, why the Iewish World did not receive, and believe, on Christ, Joh. i.10. because the World knew him not. Whilst Persons know not their Duty, how can they possibly perform it? It is a reasonable Service which God requireth of us, and not what we stumble upon by Chance. The ignorant Soul is evidently perishing, and his Condition is hopeless, at present, because his Ignorance hinders his doing any Thing towards his own Salvation. Therefore the Prophet observes, Isa. lix.8. The Way of Peace they know not, and there is no Iudgment in their goings; they have made them crooked Paths, whosoever goeth therein shall not know Peace. So that it is necessary that Sinners be acquainted with the great Fundamental Doctrines, and Duties, of the Christian Religion, in order to their being saved. And therefore,
3. The Sinner must take Pains to inform himself in the Knowledge of those Doctrines, and Duties. Since there are various Doctrines to be believed, and Duties to be performed, in the Christian Life, and the Knowledge of these is necessary to our Faith, and Practice, because, without the Knowledge of them, we can neither believe the one, nor practice the other, therefore, this is what the perishing Sinner, who is advantaged with the glad Tidings of the Possibility of Salvation, has firstly to do, namely, to be at some Pains with himself, to inform his Mind, that he may know what those Doctrines, and Duties, are, which are necessary for him to believe, and do. For, this Knowledge is not born with any Man, nor does he bring into the World with him any natural Light, which is sufficient, of itself, as he groweth up to Years of Understanding, to discover these Things unto him; though he bringeth with him a Capacity to receive the Light, when it is objected to him, and the Clouds, and Dust, that surround him, are removed. It may be truly said, to every Man, that has any Knowledge of these Divine Things, as Christ sai… to Peter, with Respect to one of the essential Articles of our Faith, Matth. xvi.17. Flesh, and Blood, hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in Heaven. For the Things that are necessary unto Salvation are spiritual, and heavenly, and so only spiritually discerned, by the Revelation of the Gospel, and the Assistance of the Spirit of God: for the natural Man, says the Apostle, 1 Cor. ii.14. receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God, for they are Foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Something, indeed, of the Knowledge of God, and the Duties of Morality, may be discovered by the Light of natural Reason, and Conscience; but the great, and peculiar, Doctrines of the Gospel, and how to worship God acceptably, and even the moral Law, in the full Extent of it, as enlarged, and explained, and refined, by the great, and only, Saviour of the World, turn purely upon Revelation: tho' some, who have the Advantage of Revelation, are ready vainly to imagine, that their own Reason is sufficient for all the fine Discoveries, which that Revelation has helped them to.
God has been pleased graciously to condescend to our Weakness, and made a full, and clear, Revelation of all that is necessary to be known by us, in order to our Salvation: He sent his Prophets, in ancient Times, fully commissioned with Authority from him, to declare his Mind, and Will, unto his People; and, in the latter Days, hath spoken to us by his Son, who lay in the Bosom of the Father, and was perfectly acquainted with all the Divine Counsels of Peace, whom he hath sent to teach, and instruct, Sinners, in the Way of Life, as well as to die for them. And Jesus Christ hath been faithful, in the House of God, as a Son, personally declaring what he had received of the Father; and hath commissioned, and inspired with his Spirit, his holy Apostles after him, to make such farther Discoveries, of the Mind of God, as were necessary to compleat the Canon of the Scripture, and render it a perfect Rule of Faith, and Manners. Farther also, Jesus Christ hath commissioned a standing Order of Men, whom he has promised to be with to the End of the World, Matth. xxviii.19, 20. to go, and disciple all Nations,— teaching them to observe all Things▪ whatsoever he hath commanded. And, I trust, we can appeal to our People, and say, with the great Apostle Paul, Acts xx.20. We have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you; and that we have not shunned to declare unto you all the Counsel of God. v. 27.
But though, it hath pleased God to make the clearest Revelation of what he requireth of us, and his Ministers should be ever so faithful in instructing their People, what that Revelation is, and in their best Endeavours to enforce, not by Violence, but by Reason, and Persuasion, the Belief, and Practice, of it; yet, if Persons will not, themselves, be at any Pains, to improve the Helps and Advantages, God has favoured them with, that they may come to the Knowledge of the Truth, as it is in Jesus, they will, after all, remain in Ignorance, and perish among them that are lost. If, therefore, perishing Sinners would be saved, they must thirst after this Knowledge, and Endeavour, in all proper Ways, to enlighten their Minds, that they may know the Things which are freely given us of God.
To this End, they must daily read the Word of God, and search the Scriptures, which contain the whole of the divine Revelation, that they may see with their own Eyes, and found their Faith, and Practice, upon the Word of God, and not the Creeds, and Commandments, of Men, nor the uncertain Impulses of their own Minds. Thus God's People of old, were commanded, Deut. xi.18, 19. ye shall lay up these my Words in your Heart, and in your Soul, and bind them for a Sign upon your Hand; and you shall teach them your Children, &c. And the Bereans are commended, Acts xvii.11. In that they searched the Scriptures daily, whether those Things were so.
But beside this, they must also attend upon the Word preached, and so wait at the Posts of Wisdom's Gate, and hear, that they may receive Instruction in the Words of Life; for Faith cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God, Rom. x.17.
To these they must add their frequent, and serious Meditation upon the Word read, and heard; call to mind the Truths that have been handed to them, and weigh well the Doctrines, and Duties, that have been taught them, that, by ruminating upon them, they may the bet…er digest them, and see more of the Nature, Excellency, and Necessity, of them, and may have them ever ready at hand to influence them in the Whole of their Conduct and Behaviour.
And when there occurreth any reasonable Difficulty to them, in any Article of Faith, or any practical Duty, it would be Prudence in them to have Recourse to such as may be more knowing than themselves, especially to their Ministers, not dogmatically to determine their Faith, or enjoin their Commands upon them, but to open to them the Scriptures, enlighten their Minds, and explain their Difficulties, that they may be enabled, themselves, to see their Way more clearly.
To all of which they must add their fervent Prayers to the Father of Lights, that he would please to cause a divine Light to shine into them, and give them Understanding, that they might know the Way in which they should walk, that they may live and keep the Word of God; saying, with the Psalmist, Ps. cxix.18, 19. Open tha… mine Eyes, that I may behold wondrous Things out of thy Law; I am a S…ranger in the Earth, hide not thy Commandments fr…m me.
For all of these, (which I have but now hin…ed at, and shall have Occasion to speak more largely to hereafter,) are proper, appointed, Means of coming at the Knowledge of those Things which are necessary to be known, in order to Salvation. And these are what the Sinner can do; he can read, and hear, and meditate, and ask Advice, and pray to God; and these he must do, or he will neglect the Means of Salvation; and if he continue ignorant, and, at last, perish for lack of Vision, it will be a wilful Ignorance, in him, and his Destruction will be from himself. This is the Direction, and Encouragement, of the Wise Man, Prov. ii. ini…. My Son if thou wilt receive my Words, and hide my Commandments with thee, so that thou incline thine Ear unto Wisdom, and appliest thine Heart unto Understanding; yea, if thou cryest after Knowledge, and liftest up thy Voice for Understanding, if thou seekest her as Silver, and searchest for her, as for hid Treasures; then shall thou understand the Fear of the Lord, and find the Knowledge of GOD.
This, then, is the first Thing the perishing Sinner has to do, in order to his being saved, namely, to get his Mind well informed, by a diligent Use, and Improvement, of all proper Means, that he may know what is necessary to be known by him.
From what has been said, upon this Head, we may learn these Things, viz.
USE. 1. That a Man cannot, regularly hope to be saved in all Religions.
There are some Things necessary to be known, and done, in order to Salvation; and unless those necessary Things are to be found in all Religions, (which they are not, because some of them, at least, depend upon Revelation, which some Religions, in the World, are wholly destitute of,) a Man cannot be saved in all Religions; because he cannot know, and do, all that is necessary to Salvation: and because these necessary Things are peculiar to the Christian Religion, therefore, there is no Salvation, that we know of, but in, and by, That only; and of Consequence no Man can regularly hope to be saved, in any other Religion. The Doctrines of the Christian Religion are certain, and invariable; The Canon is compleated by Inspiration from God; and what has so come from God no Man may alter, add to it, or diminish from it. The Duties of Christianity are the same, thro'out all Generations, and incumbent upon all Persons, in like Circumstances; and therefore were not intended for one Sett of Men that call themselves Christians, and not for another; and it is in the Knowledge of these Doctrines, and Practice of these Duties, that God has been pleased to let the World know, that Salvation is attainable; and he has not informed us of any other Method of Men's being saved. Therefore we may safely conclude, that we know of no Salvation, attainable by any Man, but in the Christian Religion; because Salvation does not necessarily result from the Divine Nature, but is a free Act of the Divine Good-Pleasure. Hence, let Men be of what Religion they will, and appear externally very Devout towards God, and Just towards Man, yet, if the Doctrines they embrace, are not Christian, but Pagan, or Mahometan, or Iewish, and if the Duties they perform are not such as are required of them in the Christian Religion, and done by them upon the Foundations of that Religion; yea, suppose a Sect, that are called Christians, who yet hold those Tenets, and do those Things for Duties, which are truly contrary to, or subversive of, the Christian Religion; all their apparent Devotion, and exemplary Justice, will not avail them to Salvation, that we know of. That is, as far as we are capable of forming any Judgment, a Man cannot be saved in all Religions, nor regularly hope for it.
2. We may from hence see, that it is very unsafe trusting to this Principle, That a Man shall be saved, by living up to the Light, and Knowledge, which he has. For I do not know, no… have I any solid Foundation to build such a Conclusion upon, That any Man shall be saved, who liveth up to his natural Light, (supposing such a Thing,) while he is wholly destitute of Revelation; because all the possible Ways of Salvation, that we can know of, must be included in a Divine Revelation, and not inferred from the Nature of God; (as I have formerly shewed.) Much less then can it be safe for any, who have a Divine Revelation in their Hands, to choose to follow the Dictates of their own Reason, without any Regard had to that Revelation. For, though, I doubt not, where there is a sincere Willingness to know, and do, according to what the Christian Religion requireth, God will graciously accept, according to that a Man hath, and not according to that … hath not, 2 Cor. viii.12. yet, he that hath the Mean…, and Opportunity, of knowing, and doing, better, and, for Want of a due Improvement of them, liveth in the Disbelief of any essential Article, and Neglect of any of the great Duties, of the Christian Religion, can have no good Grounds to hope that he shall be saved: because the Belief of those Articles, and Practice of those Duties, are necessary, to Salvation, according to the Gospel Dispensation; and all the Ignorance such an one can pretend to is wilful. Luk. xii.48. He that knew … (his Lord's Will,) and did commit Things worthy … Stripes, shall be beaten with few Stripes; compared with him who sinneth directly against Light, and Knowledge.
3. We may from hence learn, how justly they will miss of Salvation who will not be at the Pains to inform themselves, in what is necessary for them to know. For, they must make light of Salvation, indeed, who, though they hear of the Excellency, and Possibility, of it, yet, do not think it to be worth their while to be at any Pains, to acquaint themselves with what is necessary for them to know, that they may be saved. Surely, nothing can be more Just, than that they should go without the Benefits of it, who do not esteem it worth their having. The Apostle said, 2 Cor. iv.3, 4. If our Gospel he hid, it is hid unto them that are lost; in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of the invisible God, should shine into them. This is true, not only of those Nations, who never had the Gospel preached to them, but of those, who, though they live where the Gospel is preached, yet, remain in gross Ignorance, thro' the Blindness of their Minds, the Prejudice of various Lusts, and their wilful neglect. For the Gospel, or Methods of Salvation, by Jesus Christ, are as truly hid from them, who will not endeavour to acquaint themselves with them, as from those who do not enjoy them: As those are in Darkness, who shut their Eyes against the Light, as truly as those who have not the Light shining upon them. And this wilful Ignorance will be so far from an Excuse for them, another Day, how…ver they may think themselves excused by it now, as that it will greatly aggravate their Condemnation; because, they enjoyed the Means of Knowledge, but refused to improve them. They will not only, as certainly miss of Salvation as the Pagan World, but, their Punishment will be so much the greater, because their Ignorance was affected; which argueth a very high Degree of Slight, and Contempt, cast upon the offered Mercy of God. Hence it was, that our blessed Saviour said, John iii.19. This is the Condemnation, (this in a peculiar Manner is the aggravated Condemnation,) that Light is come into the World, but Men love Darkness, rather than Light, because their Deeds are evil.
4. Hence learn, That it is your great Duty, and the first Thing you have to do, in order to your Salvation, to be at Pains to inform yourselves of all that is necessary to be known. This is what nearly concerns you; and should stir you up to do what you can, that your Minds may be instructed in all necessary Truths; (Especially those of you who are very much interrupted, the greatest Part of the Year, by your being upon the Waters, should the more diligently improve this recess of the Winter, to gain the Knowledge of spiritual and divine Things;) and put you upon begging it of God, to make your speculative Knowledge to become a saving Illumination, through the Influences of his Holy Spirit, and that he would give you a spiritual Understanding in the Mysteries of his Kingdom. And need have you to take Pains to inform yourselves better, because it is to be feared, that many among us, and through out the Christian World, notwithstanding all the Labour that is bestowed upon them, and though they are taught better, yet through their Heedlessness, and Neglect duely to improve the Means they enjoy, remain in great Ignorance of the Doctrines, and Duties, of the Christian Life, to this very Day: and it may be said to such, as the Apostle to some of the Hebrews, Heb. v.12. When for the Time ye ought to be Teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God; being Babes, and unskilful in the Word of Righteousness. I charitably perswade myself, that many Persons would do better if they knew better: they would not allow themselves in such ill Things, as they do, to the Dishonour of God, and the Injury of their Neighbour, were it not that the loose Education they have had, and their Prejudice in Favour of Self, blind their Eyes, that they … not see that they do very wrong Things; and so their Ignorance is very much the Cause of their ill Manners. But then such their Ignorance is very much their own Fault, when a little close thinking, and examining of the Rule, would shew them their Mistake, and correct their Errors.
Well then; have you any serious Thoughts of being saved? Do you hope that God, for Christ his Sake, will pardon all your Sins? Do you expect to go to Heaven when you die, and leave this World? And will you not then be at some Pains to know the Way thither? Will you not endeavour to acquaint yourselves with what you must believe, and do, in order to your Interest in Christ, and Salvation by him? Will you not be more constant, and attentive, in your reading, and hearing, the Word of God? Will you not more accustom yourselves to frequent, and serious, Meditation, on spiritual, and divine Things? Will you not consult your Teachers, and meekly submit to their faithful Instructions? Will you not, from this Time, be more constant, and fervent, in Prayer to God, to enlighten your Minds, and shew you the Path of Life, and cause you to walk in it? Believe it; if you neglect these Things, your Ignorance of God, and Religion, will be no Excuse to you, in the great Day of Account; however any may palliate their Crimes, and silence the Clamors of their own Consciences, and stop the Mouths of their Neighbours, by this vain Pretence, now. Hence, you may observe the great God saying, concerning his antient People, Isa. xxvii.11. It is a People of no Understanding; therefore he that made them will not have Mer… on them, and he that formed them will shew them no Favour.
God has been at the Pains, not only, to give you the common Understandings of Men, but, to bring his Word home to you, to put it into your Hands, that it may be as a Lamp unto your Feet, and a Light unto your Path, and therein has plainly told you, what you must do to be saved; He has shewed you what is the good Way you should walk in, and warned you of the Danger of all evil, and sinful Ways, that you may avoid them▪ and he has sent his Servants, his Ministers, rising early, and sending them, even from your Youth up, to take you by the Hand, and lead you in the Way wherein you should go. Thus God has done his Part, and the Means are plainly before you, and within your Power.
But if, after all, you will not do your own Part, and improve the Means you enjoy; if you will cast the Word of God behind your Backs, and absent yourselves from the House of God; or will not mind what you read, and hear, nor ask it of God to seal Instruction to you; know it for certain, that it will be a wilful Ignorance in you, if, under all these Means, you should remain Strangers to the Things of your Peace; and if, at last, it should be said of any of you, as of God's professing People of old, Hos. iv.6. My People are destroyed for lack of Knowledge, you will be found to be Self-Destroyers; and have no Body to blame but your own selves, because you rejected Knowledge, and despised Instruction. And, Oh! how sadly will you mourn, at the last? when thy Flesh, and thy Body, are consumed: and thou shall say, How have I hated Instruction, and my Heart despised Reproof, and have not obeyed the Voice of my Teachers, nor enclined mine Ear to them that instructed me? Think therefore, seriously, of those awful Words of our Saviour, (with which I now conclude,) Joh. xv.22. If I had not come, and spoken to them, they had not had Sin; but now they have no Cloak for their Sin.