The Mystery of the Gospel in Salvation, Sermon 21
The Saint instructed, comforted, and counselled. SERMON XXI.
ACTS XVI.30.
And said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved?
THrough the merciful Help of God, I have, in Twenty several Discourses, gone through what I intended in the Doctrinal Handling of these Words, and under the general Doctrine, which was,
DOC. It is of the highest Concernment unto perishing Sinners to be very solicitous, what they must do to be saved,
Have, by Divine Assistance,
I. Shewed you, what it is to be saved;
II. Evidenced, that perishing Sinners may be saved;
III. Shewed you, that perishing Sinners must know, and practise, all that is necessary, in order to their Salvation; and
IV. Proved, that it is a Matter of the highest Concernment to them, and therefore they ought to be most seriously solicitous about it.
Having distinctly spoken to these several Heads, and made some brief Reflections, as we went along, upon the several Parts thereof, I shall now proceed, (by the same Divine Help) to the larger Improvement of the whole; (as I told you I should, the last Time I discoursed to you upon these Words,) in which I shall endeavour to apply, the Truths that have been delivered, more closely to the Conscience of every one, by a particular Address both to the Saint, and to the Sinner; under one or other of which Characters, every individual Person, in this Assembly, and through out the whole World, is comprised. I would to God, that ye were all the Lord's People, and that, not only in Profession, but, in Sincerity, and in Truth; but, alass! it is to be feared that there are many among us, who have never yet given up their Hearts, with their Names, to God in Christ; who remain, even to this Day, under the Power of Sin, and Lust, the World, and Devil; who are going on, in their Trespasses, unconcerned about their eternal State; and who never yet, with any seriousness, and solicitude of Mind, have made that Enquiry, what must we do to be saved? Though this be too much the Character of Mankind, in General, yet, I cannot but hope, and am verily perswaded, that there are some amongst us, devout Men, and Women not a few, who have felt the mighty Power of the Word, and Spirit, upon their Hearts, and have thereby been enlightened, and convinced, and have had produced in them a very great Solicitude, and Concern about the Salvation of their Souls, and are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and are constantly pursuing the Death of Sin, and the Encrease of Grace, in their Souls, that they may, as the devoted Servants of God, enjoy his Favour, and be happy in his Presence, in the heavenly World, through out eternal Ages. And therefore I shall now address myself, more particularly, to each of these, that I may give to every one their Portion in due Season.
The general IMPROVEMENT.
USE. I. Let me address myself to the Saint, and apply these Gospel Truths to the real Christian, who hath believed our Report, embraced the Lord Jesus Christ, and unfeignedly repented of all his Sins; who has truly, and joyfully experienced the Divine Workmanship upon his Soul, in a thorow Conversion unto God; and consequently, whose Salvation is already begun, and firmly secured to him, in the Covenant Promise of the unchangeable Jehovah. Unto such an one I have a Word of Instruction, of Comfort, and of Counsel, to offer in the Name of Jesus, and from his holy Oracles.
1. This Doctrine may serve to instruct the Saint, the real Christian, what dear Obligations he is brought under to the lovely Jesus, the great Saviour, to love, admire, and praise him forever. Thou, O Saint of God! knowest what Salvation meaneth; thou hast been made sensible of the Worth, and Excellency of it, by thy View of the Want of it, and thy happy Experience of the blessed Fruits of it. Thou, O holy Soul! hast been thorowly awakened unto a serious Solicitude, and earnest Concern of Mind, about thy own Salvation. Thou hast felt the Pangs of the New-Birth, and, by the Workmanship of the Divine Spirit upon thy Soul, and the Grace of God which is given to thee, by which thou art made a Saint, thou art turned out of the Paths of the Destroyer, and art walking in the Path Way of Life; the Prison Doors have been opened to thee, thy Bonds have been loosed, and thy Fetters taken off from thee; the Prey has been taken from the Mighty, and the lawful Captive of Hell has been delivered, and thou hast been plucked as a Brand out of the Burning; and now thou art entered upon the Possession of the first Fruits of thy Salvation, and partakest of the blessed Earnest, and Pledge, of it's final Perfection; thus thou art admitted to a Pisgah Sight of the Land of Promise, and all Heaven openeth before thee! For, Joh. iii.36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life. Thou hast sincerely accepted the offered Grace of the Gospel; thou hast heartily closed with Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, upon Gospel Terms, and believest in him with all thy Heart; thou art now made willing to part with all thy Sins, even the most dearly beloved of them, for Jesus's Sake, and truly mournest that thou art no more effectually delivered from the Power of thy corrupt Lusts, and vain Affections, and art continually maintaining an holy Combate against the Flesh, the World, and the Devil, striving for a more compleat, and perfect Victory over them; and the fervent Thirst of thy Soul is, that thou mightest perfect Holiness, in the Fear of God, that thou mightest become more like unto God, and Christ, and be enabled to do the Will of God, whilst thou art upon Earth, with that Exactness, Delight, and Constancy, as Angels do in Heaven. Thus Heaven is come down into thy Soul, and eternal Life beateth thick in every Part of thy renewed Mind; and thou hast the good Hope, through Grace, of ascending to the blessed Mansions of the upper World, which lie beyond Death, and the Grave, there to possess a State of perfect Purity, and Happiness, and that forever; which Hope is the Solace of thy Soul in the House of thy Pilgrimage, and a Treasure thou wouldest not part with for all this World.
1. And now, O thou Child of God, and Heir of Salvation! From whence is it that thou art made a Partaker of so great, and distinguishing, a Favour of God unto thee, as to have eternal Life begun in thee, whilst thou art on this Side Heaven? Has thy own Purse purchased it, or thine own Arm effected it? Whence is it that thou hast derived thy New Nature, and thy blessed Hope? Does this spring from thy Corrupt Nature? Whence is it that thou art recovered from the Gates of Hell, and art admitted within the Gates of the New Ierusalem? Whence is it that thou art delivered from the Power of Sin, and Satan, and the World, over thee, and art brought, at length, to live a Divine Life; to act reasonably, and preserve the Peace of thy own Mind; to act religiously, and enjoy sweet Communion with the blessed God; to live vertuously, and become a Blessing to all about thee? Doth this Fruit grow in Nature's Garden? Whence is it that thou hast altered thy Nature, and the Course of thy Life, and hast turned thy Feet out of the dirty, and gloomy Way that leadeth to Hell, and art now bound for Heaven, the Land of Promise, and hast the Glory, and the Joys, of that delightful Country, already in thine Eye, and Heart? Say now; Is all of this from thy Self? Is it from the Wisdom of thine own Heart, and the might of thine own Hands, that thou hast gotten thee these Riches? Or, are there any among the mere Sons of Men to whom thou art beholden for the happy Change that is wrought in thee, and the blessed State thou art brought into? No: no: When thou wast in thy wretched forlorn Condition, under the Power of Sin, and a Sentence of Death, there was none, among all the Creatures of God, that could accomplish Deliverance for thee; when thou wast cast out to the loathing of thy Person, polluted, and perishing, in thy Blood, thou mightest have looked within thyself, and all Refuge would have failed thee, and have cried for Help to all the Creatures around thee, and there would have been none Eye to have pitied thee, nor any Arm to have succoured thee, none would have cared for thy Soul; none could have been able to have rescued thee from the Jaws of the devouring Pit, and to have brought thee into a State of Salvation. No: It is Jesus Christ, the mighty, and the only Saviour, whose Compassions have been moved towards thee, and whose right Arm alone hath wrought Salvation for thee; He looked and there was none to help, therefore he made bare his Arm, he travelled in the greatness of his Strength, and came with Garment died in Blood, mighty to save; by his Incarnation and Death he has rendered thy Salvation attainable, subdued the fierce Enemies that lay in the Way, appeased Divine Justice which was incensed against thee, and has begun the blessed Work in thy Soul, which shall be compleated in Glory, by his Holy Spirit which he hath given thee.
Though the first Rise of all thy Happiness is from the pure Love, and Good-Will, flowing, from the Breast of the eternal Father, to his poor rebel Subjects, seduced from their Allegiance to him, by the powerful Craft of the infernal Spirit, the abandoned Enemy to the Divine Government; for he hath chosen us,—and predestinated us to the Adoption of Children,—according to the good Pleasure of his Will: Eph. i.4, 5. yet the full Accomplishment of all for thee resulteth from the Lord Jesus Christ; the Love in his Heart, and the Strength of his Arm, hath done all for thee; to him thou art entirely beholden, for all that thou already art possessed of, and all that thou hopest for. Behold! how he hath loved thee! Lo! How he hath loved thy Nature, (which probably beareth the nearest Resemblance to that Vehiculum Christi, that illustrious Form, in which the Son of God appeared among the Sons of the Morning, and afterwards to the Patriarchs of old;) so as, from Everlasting, from the Beginning, or ever the Earth was, to rejoice in the habitable Parts of the Earth, and to have his Delights with the Sons of Men; Prov. viii.23, 31. and in the Fulness of Time to take that Nature into an inseperable Union with himself, and become God manifest in Flesh! 1 Tim. iii.16. Behold! How he hath loved thee personally, called thee by Name, and chosen thee out of the World, taken thee near unto himself, put his Mark upon thee, and will love thee to the End! For thy Sake, he left the Delights of his Father's Court, and Bosom, descended from the pure Realms of ineffable Light, and Joy, laid aside his Robes of State, and made a visible Appearance in our mean lower World, tabernacling among Men, in the tattered, filthy Garments of Flesh, that he might teach thee the Way of Life, by the Heavenliness of his Doctrine, and the Purity of his Example, and all to win a Mortal's Love; to allure thee to Vertue, and Glory, by the Cords of Love, and Bands of a Man. For thy Sake, he became a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with Griefs, submitted himself to a State of Meanness, and Poverty, endured Reproach, and the Contradiction of Sinners, made himself of no Reputation, took upon him the Form of a Servant, humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross. Phil. ii.7, 8. Lo! how they reviled him, as a Glutton, and a Wine-Bibber, a Friend of Publicans, and Sinners, a Deceiver, and Impostor, and as acting by Power derived from Beelzebub the Prince of Devils! Behold the Man! clad in mock Robes of State, led about a Pageant in Derision, insulted by the Rabble, ridiculed by the very Scum of the World, buffetted, scourged, spit upon, and covered with a Load of the vilest Indignities! View him in his Agony, sweating great Drops of Blood! Behold him in the last Hours of his Life, that dismal Tragedy from which the Sun withdrew his Face! See him hanging, betwixt Earth and Heaven, upon a Cross, between two notorious Malefactors; the Blood trickling from his nailed Hands, and Feet, and flowing, in a full Stream, from his pierced Side; and in this doleful Posture, and with the most exquisite Pains, groaning, and dying, for thee! for thee, who had no Beauty, or Excellency, in thee! for thee, who was in a State of Enmity against him! Rom. v.8. While we were yet Sinners Christ died for us! Died, to purchase the Pardon of thy Sins, and procure for thee all that Grace, and Glory, which thou didst stand in need of! and thus, Heb. v.9. Being made perfect, or having finished what he had undertaken on thy Behalf, He became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him. So that thou art beholden entirely to Christ for thy Salvation, as the Effect of what he has done, and suffered for thee, Heb. ix.26. who has appeared once, in the End of the World, to put away Sin, by the Sacrifice of himself; by the which offering, he hath forever perfected them that are sanctified. Heb. x.14.
See then, O holy Soul! the mighty Obligations thou art brought under to the dear Jesus! All that thou art, and all that thou hopest for, as a Christian, and a Saint, thou art indebted to the Lord Jesus Christ for, who has merited all for thee, and bestowed all upon thee. Are thy Sins forgiven to thee? Eph. iv.32. God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven thee. Art thou delivered from the condemning Power of the Law? Gal. iii.13. It is Christ hath redeemed thee from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for thee. Art thou purified to the Love of God, and Obedience to, the Truth? Heb. ix.14. It is the Blood of Christ that purgeth thy Conscience from dead Works. Art thou numbered among the Children of God? Gal. iv.5. It is Christ that hath redeemed thee, that thou mightest receive the Adoption of Sons. And it is He, and He only, that hath merited the Grace of Acceptance for thee, that now the eternal Father, for the sake of what he has done, and suffered, for thee, will receive thee to the promised Mercy of eternal Life, as though thou hadst never offended him. Hence said the Apostle, Eph. i.6, 7. He hath made us accepted in the Beloved; in whom we have Redemption, through his Blood, the forgiveness of Sins.
And as Christ hath merited all for thee, so it is he that bestoweth all upon thee. It is he, the dear Redeemer, that has first purchased the Holy Spirit, and then sent him down into thy Heart, to dwell in thee, and to lead thee, and to work all thy Works in, and for, thee; without whom thou couldest neither believe, nor repent, neither receive Christ, nor enjoy any saving Benefit from him. Thus he told his Disciples, when he was about to take his personal leave of them, Joh. xvi.7. It is expedient for you, that I go away; for if I go not away the Comforter wil… not come unto you; but, if I depart, I will send him unto you. It is he that hath sent the Holy Spirit into your Heart, to be in you the Sanctifier, and Comforter, to cause all Grace, and Comfort, to abound towards you. Joh. i.16. Of his Fulness it is that you receive and Grace for Grace. The Father, hath communicated all Grace to the Son, the Spirit being given to him without Measure, that through his Hands, as our great Mediator, all might flow down unto his People, answerable to their various Necessities; and therefore there is not the least Spark of true Grace in thy Soul, but what thou hast received from Christ. (Compare, Psal. lxviii.18. with Eph. iv.8.) He ascended up on high, and received Gifts for Men, that he might give Gifts to Men. As a Prince, and Saviour, he giveth Repentance, and Remission of Sins; and, by the Workmanship of his Spirit in thy Soul, it is, that the Grace of Faith is produced in thee, whereby thou realizest invisible Things, layest hold on them, and receivest them as thy Portion, and Inheritance. It is he that helpeth thee to lean upon him, as thy Beloved, to cast all thy Care upon him, and to commit thy Soul to him, as the Lord God of Truth, who hath redeemed thee, with an assured Hope, that he is both able, and willing, to keep, what thou hast committed to him, against that Day. And having purchased Heaven for thee, at the Price of his own most precious Blood, he taketh thee by the Hand, to hasten thy lingering Steps, and to conduct thee in the Way thither, and finally to bring thee, as a Son, or Daughter, to eternal Glory.
2. Say now, O devout Soul! art thou not infinitely indebted to the dear Redeemer? Has he not layed thee under the most strong, and powerful Obligations, to love, and prise, to admire, and praise, and glorify him forever?
How oughtest thou to love the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity, and Truth, and to value, and prise him above the dearest Enjoyments of this World, and be ready to part with any Thing, and every Thing, Estate, and Friends, and Name, and Life itself, for him, who has not thought it too much to lay down his Life for thee? Is there any Object, in the World, so amiable, and lovely, and so worthy of thy Love, as the Lord Jesus Christ is, in himself? Whose Beauty shall attract thy Love, if not that of the Son of God, in Union to the most perfect Man, of the exactest Form, the sweetest Temper, and Heir of all Things! View him in his increated Excellencies, as the only begotten Son of God, and see how the Perfections of the Deity shine forth in him, in their full Lustre. View him as our Immanuel, God manifest in Flesh, and behold the Fullness of the God-head dwelling in him; Col. ii.9. fairer than the Children of Men, and anointed with the Oyl of Gladness above his Fellows, Psal. xlv.2, 7. and say of this Jesus, he is the chiefest among Ten Thousands, and altogether lovely. And is he not most worthy of thy highest Love and Affection, for what he has done for thee? Great Acts of Kindness demand proportional Returns of Love, and Gratitude. And has he not loved thee, and died for thee, that he might wash away thy Sins in his own Blood? Rev. i.5. Oh! let this Love of Christ constrain thee to love him, to give him the best Room in thy Heart, and to determine with thyself to know, and love, and prise, nothing so much as Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Couldest thou have acted up to the dignity of thy Nature, as a rational intelligent Being, if Christ, the Second Adam, had not appeared for thy Help, to recover thee from the Apostacy of the first, and derive a New Nature to thee? Or couldst thou have possibly possessed thy own Mind, in any tollerable Peace, and Serenity, and have been calm, and easy, within, when thy Affairs, without thee, have been attended with many, and great, Difficulties, if he had not spoken Peace to thee, and said, Joh. xiv.27. Peace I leave with you, my Peace give I unto you; not as the World giveth, give I unto you; let not your Heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid: xv.11. These Things have I spoken to you, that my Ioy might remain in you, and that your Ioy might be full? Or couldest thou have looked, beyond this World, with a joyful Prospect of an happy Deliverance from the exquisite, and endless Torments, which shall unavoidably seize upon those, who live irreligiously, and act unreasonably; or with any good Hope of having thy Nature perfected, and thy Happiness compleated, in the better World, if Christ had not delivered thee from the Wrath to come; 1 Thess. 1.10. and consecrated, and opened, a new, and living Way into the Holiest, by his Blood? Heb. x.19, 20. Couldest thou have acted like a Man, and have lived like a Christian, and have enjoyed the good Hope thereof, if it had not been for the most compassionate Saviour, to whom thou art beholden for all? How much then, O thou redeemed of the Lord! doest thou owe thyself, thy very self, and all that thou hast, unto the incarnate Son of God? How oughtest thou to prise, and value, and love him, with the most vehement Flame of Affection, such as no Waters shall be able to quench, nor any Floods to drown? 1 Pet. ii.7. Unto you that believe, he is precious. One Christ should be of more Worth to thee, than all this World; because he has done more for thee, than the whole World has done, or can do. How oughtest thou, then, to be filled with admiring Thoughts of his wondrous Love to thee, to triumph in his Praise, to abound in Thankfulness to him, to delight in Fellowship with him, to value his Image wheresoever thou beholdest it, zealously to assert his Cause, strenuously to defend his Interest, and to consecrate thyself, thy wholeself, most entirely, with the most co…ial voluntariness, with the greatest Ardency of Affection, and with the most delightful Chearfulness, unto his Service forever; resolving with thyself to do all that thou canst to promote the Honour of his Name? Say then, with the admiring Apostle, Phil. iii.7.8. What Things were gain to me, I counted Loss, for Christ; yea, doubtless, I count all Things but Loss, for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus, my Lord. But I may not dwell upon the delightful Meditation; I pass therefore to say,
2. This Doctrine speaks a Word of Comfort unto the true Christian. Hast thou, in good Earnest, been seriously solicitous about the Salvation of thy own Soul? And, under the great Concern of thy Mind, what thou shouldest do to be saved, hast thou betaken thyself to the only Saviour? And, by the Grace of God assisting of thee, hast thou laid hold upon the Salvation offered in the Gospel? Doest thou not only assent unto the Truth of the Gospel Revelation, but art thou satisfied with the Method which God, in his infinite Wisdom, and Love, has fixed upon, to accomplish thy Salvation, by the Incarnation, Obedience, and Death, of his dearly beloved Son? And, doest thou now heartily consent, that this Jesus shall be thy Saviour, in all his mediatorial Offices? And, in the Faith of what Christ has done, and suffered, for thee, doest thou commit thy precious and immortal Soul into his saving Hands, venturing thy everlasting Concerns in his Keeping? Does the Faith of the Son of God purify thy Heart, and Life? Does it make thee careful to mortify thy Corruptions, and to lead a new, and an holy Life, in Obedience to all the known Commands of God? Does it put thee upon Endeavours to honour God, by worshiping of him, and him only, in Spirit, and in Truth, in all the Ways of his Appointment, in publick, and in private? Art thou very careful to exemplify the Divine Love, flaming in thy Soul, by thy Love, and Beneficence, unto thy Fellow-Creatures, by doing all the good you can, to all about you, both to their Bodies, and to their Souls, carefully avoiding all that would be hurtful, and injurious, to their Persons, Names, or Interest? In short; do you abound in Works of Piety, and Mercy, in Righteousness, and Charity, in Temperance, and Patience, in Meekness, and humbleness of Mind, in Chastity, and Sobriety? Then art thou one of them that shall be saved; the evident Tokens of Salvation are found upon thee; yea, thou art already saved; the great, and good Work is begun in thy Soul; and unto thee belongeth the Consolations of God, which are not small. Unto you I am sent, with that reviving Message, Isa. xl.1, 2. Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People, saith your God; speak ye comfortably unto them; cry unto them that — their Iniquity is pardoned. And, for thy Comfort, remember,
1. That good Work which is begun in thee shall certainly be compleated. It is a Well of Water that shall never fail, but spring up unto everlasting Life. For he, who hath begun the good Work in thee, will perform it, unto the Day of Iesus Christ, Phil. i.6. The Seeds of Divine Grace, sown in thy Heart, are immortal, incorruptible, and, having sprung up, and brought forth Fruits, will endure until they are perfectly ripened in Glory. The Divine Life, that is formed in thee, like the Author of it, abideth forever. No Floods of Temptation shall be able to extinguish it. No Storm, from the fiery Blasts of the evil One, shall be able to overthrow it. Thy Foundation is sure, and immoveable, the Rock of Ages, the Rock of everlasting Strength. Though thou fallest, yet thou shalt arise, and thy God shall be thy Light about thee. Thy very Lusts, which are so much a Burden to thee, shall not prove utterly too hard for thee; but thou shalt, anon, see thy Desire on those thine Enemies, and obtain a compleat Victory over them; yea, the Time is hastening, when thou shalt see those Egyptian Taskmasters, which held thee under cruel Bondage, no more again forever. For faithful is he that hath called you, who also will do it. 1 Thes. v.24. The Perseverance of the Saints i… not only a comfortable Doctrine, but a very great Excitement unto all Holiness, whatever may be suggested of it's Tendency to indulge spiritual Sloth, and Dissoluteness of Manners; and he that findeth himself emboldened to neglect his Duty, especially Prayer, and Watchfulness, upon Pretence of his being a Convert, and there is no fear of his falling away, may very justly suspect, that all his Hopes of a Work of Grace in him, have hitherto been but mere Presumptions. For wherever there is a real Work of Grace, in any Soul, that Soul will but be the more quickened to Duty, and the Thoughts of his Perseverance will stimulate him to greater Diligence, and Fidelity. What Soldiers fight so manfully, intrepidly, incessantly, and resolutely, as those that follow a victorious General, under whose Conduct they may be sure of Success? The Apostle well says, 2 Tim. iv.18. The Lord shall deliver me from every evil Work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly Kingdom. These whom God will preserve to his heavenly Kingdom, he will also deliver from every evil Work, that they shall not be too hard for them.
2. Thy Sins, and thine Iniquities, shall all be forgiven to thee. Though thy Transgressions have been many, and great, more in Number than the Sands and the Pile of them hath reached to the very Heavens, yet they shall all be washed away, in the Blood of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the Sin of the World; not one of them all shall ever be brought into Remembrance, and articled against thee, to condemn thee. So says the Apostle, Rom. viii.33, 34. Who shall lay any Thing unto the Charge of God's Elect? it is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, is risen again; who is even at the right Hand of God, and also maketh Intercession for us. So that the Law itself, which thou hast many a Time broken, shall not be able to condemn thee, for thou art not under the Law, but under Grace. Rom. vi.14. Satan the great Adversary, and Accuser of the Brethren, will in vain clamour against thee; he is a bafled Enemy, and will be bruised under thy Feet. Rom. xvi.20. Thy own Conscience, which has been Witness to … thy Crimes, shall be purged from dead Works, and witness to thy Sincerity. 2 Cor. i.12. And the awful Justice of God, though accompanied with his strictest Holiness, will assuredly acquit thee; and because he is just, therefore will he be the Iustifier of him which believeth in Iesus. Rom. iii.26. So that there is none in Heaven, Earth, or Hell, that will, or can, condemn thee; and that because Christ, in whom thou believest, has died, risen again from the Dead, and interceedeth for thee.
3. Fear not, then, O holy Soul, there shall no Evil befal thee. Thou art delivered from the Evil of Suffering, because from the greater Evil of Sin, which is the procuring Cause of all Sufferings. Though thou must meet with Afflictions, whilst thou art in this Vale of Tears, yet, these are not worthy the Name of Sufferings; and this is thy Comfort under them all, that they are all included in the the Covenant of thy God, and Father, who in great Wisdom, and Love, appointeth them for thee, if need be, in Measure, not to hurt thee, but to do thee good in the latter End; and has said, Rom. viii.28. All Things shall work together for good, to them that love God. Art thou poor, and despised? yet, thou art rich in Faith, and Heir of a Kingdom. Art thou called to bear the Cross, in Bereavments, Losses, Disappointments? Why, they are but the common, and beaten Rode unto the Crown. And none of these Things shall be able to separate thee, from the Love of God, which is in Christ Iesus, our Lord. v. 39.
Yea; This is thy Comfort, that thou hast nothing to fear in Death itself, which is disarmed of it's Sting, and cannot hurt thee. Thou mayst now look Death in the Face, with Calmness, and an easy Countenance, and take a View of all the Terrors of it, gastly as they are, with an holy Composure of Mind; and though thou mayst feel some Reluctance at the Thoughts of the Parting of Soul, and Body, two such near, and intimate Friends, yet, mayst thou take Comfort in this, that their Separation will be but for a while, and in order to a joyful, happy, and endless Meeting. For thy Saviour, by dying, has conquered him that had the Power of Death, and delivered thee from the Bondage thou wast subject to, through the Fear of Death: Heb. ii.14, 15. and has given thee full Assurance, Hos. xiii.14. that he will ransom thee from the Power of the Grave, and that the last Enemy, which is Death, shall be destroyed. 1 Cor. xv.26. So that thou mayest now sing the Song of Triumph, v. 55. O Death, where is thy Sting! O Grave, where is thy Victory?
4. As thou hast no Evil to fear, so thou shalt not want any good Thing. Thy Redeemer is strong, and mighty, the Lord of Hosts is his Name, and he will assuredly perform that which shall be good for thee. With what Strength does the Apostle argue? Rom. viii.32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, also, freely give us all Things? What will a God of infinite Goodness withhold from them on whom he bestows his well beloved Son?
Shalt thou want any temporal good Thing? No; thy heavenly Father knoweth what you stand in need of, and hath made all over unto thee, in his everlasting, and well ordered Covenant; so that, of Things present, …ll are yours, 1 Cor. iii.22. and shall certainly be conferred upon you, so far as they shall be good for you; and surely, thou canst not, in Reason, desire more: So that thou canst say, Psal. xxiii.1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He will sufficiently provide for thee, yea, bestow an Abundance upon thee; if he seeth that to be best for thee. However, the least Measure of earthly Enjoyments, which he may see Cause to alot unto thee, shall be made, truly, a Blessing to thee, answer to all the Ends of the present Life, and afford thee more Comfort; than the greatest Revenue of many Wicked. Psal. xxxvii.16.
Art thou but a Brother of low Degree, in Grace? and dost thou feel thy Wants, and Weaknesses, and mourn because of them, and earnestly thirsteth after greater Measures of Grace? This is thy Comfort, that he, who dealeth forth▪ to every one, their Measure of Grace, severally, as he seeth meet▪ will strengthen, and encrease, thy Grace, so as to make it answerable unto thy Day, to the various Duties, and Trials, he appointeth for thee, and will cause all Grace, needful, to abound unto thee; for he hath said, 2 Cor. xii.9. My Grace shall be sufficient for thee.
In a Word: thou shalt more certainly be brought to heavenly Glory, hereafter. The everlasting Mercies of the heavenly World are thy Portion, which thy heavenly Father hath reserved for thee, and thy Saviour is gone before to take Possession of, on thy Behalf: and assured thee, Rev. iii.21. He that overcometh shall sit down, with him, in his Throne, even as he overcame, and set down, with his Father, in his Throne.
Oh! what abundant Consolation, then, belongeth to thee, thou Child of God, and Heir of Salvation! and shouldest thou not, now, mightily encourage thyself, hereby, to go on singing in the Ways of the Lord, rejoicing in Hope of the Glory of God? But I pass on to a third Head, viz.
3. This Doctrine, also, affordeth a Word of Counsel unto the serious Christian. And it is, in short, this; Know thyself, and live up to thy Character. Know thyself to be a Man, a rational, and understanding Agent, capable of seeing into the Reason of thy own Actions, and of giving an Account of them; and scorn to stoop to the Meannesses, that are below thy Nature, and bring thee upon the Level with the Brutes around thee; and suffer not thyself to be governed by low Appetites, and Passions, but by Reason, in all that thou doest. Know thyself to be but a frail, mortal, dying Man, who must, e're long, leave this World, and all the Enjoyments of it, and pass into the World of Spirits, and appear before thy Judge, and render to him an impartial Account, of all that thou hast done in the Body; and let the Thoughts hereof moderate thy bodily Appetites, and influence thy Conduct, that when thy Account cometh to be audited, thou mayest receive the Approbation of thy Master, and he may, then, say to thee, well done good, and faithful Servant. And know thyself to be a Christian; one raised out of the Dregs of the Apostacy, who partakest of a new, and Divine Nature, being born of God, redeemed by the precious Blood of the Son of God, and inhabited by the Spirit of God, and under an Oath of Fealty, to do no wicked, and base Thing, to be true to thy God, and to observe all his holy Commandments; and be exceeding careful, not to allow thyself in any Thing, that shall be dishonourable to thy Descent, and slur the Lustre of thy Name. Abhor every mean, and dirty Thing, as unbecoming a Man, and much more unworthy thy Profession, thy Relation, thy present Enjoyments, and thy vaster Hopes. Remember,
1. Thou hast been at the Pains of a Process of Repentance. Thou hast felt the Smart of the Wounds, which Sin has given to thy Soul; it has cost thee many a Sigh, and Groan, and Tear, and thou hast been in Distress, and Agony, of Soul, to get these Wounds healed, and to have the Breach, between God, and thy Soul, made up again. And wilt thou not, then, dread what has been so painful, and grievous, to thee? Wilt thou be so unwise, as to have any Thing to do, with that which thou hast paid so dear for already? Wilt thou foolishly give new Wounds to thy Soul, and aggravate thy old Sores, and procure to thyself greater Smart than, it may be, thou hast ever yet groaned under? Or is it nothing to thee, to provoke thy heavenly Father, thy best Friend, to turn away his Face from thee, and leave thee, full of Horror, to grope in the Dark, and lament thy forsaken Condition? Though thou canst not fall from Grace, totally, and finally, yet, be not high minded, but fear, lest, by thy Falls, thou shouldest procure to thyself such broken Bones, as shall make thee to go halt, and mourning, all thy Days after.
2. Call to Mind thy peculiar Advantages. Thou art recovered to thy right Mind, art brought out of Darkness, into marvellous Light; thou hast been priviledged with a Spirit of Discerning, and hast seen more into the deep Things of God, than others, and knowest the Hope of his Calling, and the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints, and hast the Divine Paraclete for thy Guide, and Comforter; Oh! then, see to it that you walk, not in Darkness, but as a Child of Light. Put on the whole Armour of Righteousness, and make no Provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof, lest Darkness overtake you, and you stumble, and fall. Walk in the Light, while you have the Light with you; and let all thy Actions be brought to the Light, that thy Deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Joh. iii.21.
3. Thou hast put on Christ Jesus, the Lord, in thy Profession, and in thy serious Dedication of thyself unto him, to be his Servant; thou believest that he hath died for thy Offences, and risen again for thy Justification; and wilt thou not, then, walk in him, and be a Follower of him? Wilt thou allow, and cherish, what Christ died to save thee from? Is this thy Kindness to thy best Friend? Wilt thou enter into a Conspiracy, with those that have been the Betrayers, and Murderers, of thy Lord? Or, can it be pleasing to thee, to do any Thing that is offensive, and affronting to him, on whom thy Faith, thy Love, thy Hope, thy all, is placed? Oh! that having received Christ Iesus, the Lord, you would be careful to walk in him; Col. ii.6, 7. walk in his Spirit, walk in his Strength, walk in his Steps; rooted, and built up in him, and stablished in the Faith, as ye have been taught. Ye have escaped the Corruption that is in the World, through Lust; Oh! be not again entangled therein, and defiled thereby, but keep yourselves pure, and unspotted, from the World; and let the Life of Christ be the Pattern, and Incentive, of your godly Conversation, and the Death of Christ, the crucifixion of Sin in you, that you may adorn the Doctrine of God your Saviour, in all Things.
4. And, O holy Soul, art thou not one bound for Heaven? Is not thy Hope, and thy Treasure, and thy Heart there? Oh! then, seek not thy Rest, and Satisfaction, in the Things of this World; but live above the World. Col. iii.1. Being risen with Christ, seek those Things which are above, where Christ is, at the Right Hand of God. Let your Eye be fixed upon unseen eternal Things, your Mind intent, and your diligent Care, and Labour, employed upon them. Be patient under all Afflictions, content in every Condition; endure Hardness, as good Soldiers of Jesus Christ; and be not weary in Well-doing, knowing you shall certainly reap, if ye faint not, and that none of the Sufferings of the present Time are worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed. Suffer not the Hopes, or Fears, of this World, to influence you to the doing of any Thing that is impious towards God, or unrighteous towards your Neighbour; but remember who, and what, thou art, whom thou derivest from, and what thou art born to; and let the lively Sense of the Dignity of thy New Nature, and the Largeness of thy future Hopes, animate thee to a sober, a righteous, and a godly Conversation; that, as the Apostle directs, Phil. ii.15. You may be blameless, and harmless, the Sons of God, without Rebuke, in the Midst of a crooked, and perverse Nation; among whom ye shine as Lights, in the World.
Having thus, instructed, comforted, and counselled, the real Christian, I should now proceed to address the Sinner, but must leave it at present.