The Mystery of the Gospel in Salvation, Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
ACTS XVI.30.
And said, Sirs, What must I do to be saved?
I AM upon arguing the Possibility of the Sinner's Salvation, from the great End of the Incarnation and Death of Jesus Christ; and have observed, that the great End of Christ's appearing, and Death, was to be a spiritual Saviour. I now go on to say,
2. The Death of Christ was a proper Sacrifice. It was an expiatory Sacrifice, offered to his ete…nal Father, in our Room, and Stead, to make Atonement for our Sins, to take away our Guilt, and reconcile us unto God, by the Blood of the Cross. The whole Law, and Intention, of Sacrifices, was attended, and fully answered, in his Death. He, who was perfectly innocent, was slain, and that not for himself, but on the Behalf of those that were guilty; and was offered up unto God, and the Virtue of his Death is pleadable, with God for the Remission of Sins, and the divine Acceptance. Isa. liii.5, 6. He was wounded for our Transgressions, he was bruised for our Iniquities;— and the Lord hath laid on him the Iniquity of us all. 1 Pet. iii.18. Christ hath once suffered for Sins; the Iust for the Unjust; that he might bring us to God. Rom. iv.25. He was delivered for our Offences, and was raised again for our Iustification. Eph. v.2. Christ hath given himself for us, an Offering, and a Sacrifice to God. Heb. ix.12. By his own Blood, he entred in once into the holy Place, having obtained eternal Redemption for us. From all which it is plainly evident, that Christ died, not merely as an Example of Patience, and Resignation, to the Will of God, but, as our Substitute, who therein suffered the Penalty due unto us for our Sins, and so his Death was a proper Sacrifice of Atonement. He took Part in the same Flesh, and Blood, with us, …hat he might come into a Capacity of dying, and that so that Nature, which had offended God, might suffer; and he tasted Death for every Man, Heb. ii.9. But forasmuch as it was not possible for him to be holden of Death, because of his own perfect Innocency, and the divine Power he was invested withal, therefore he is risen for our Justification: By his Resurrection from the Dead, giving us utmost Assurance, that he hath compleatly answered all the Demands of the Law, and Justice, of God; and that therefore we, through him, may now be justified before the Tribunal of God, without any, the least, Impeachment of his Justice, and Holiness; and that now He (Christ) is able to save unto the uttermost, all that come unto God by him; seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them. Heb. vii.25.
3. From hence we may argue, that it is very evident, there is a Possibility that every Sinner, who has the Gospel preached to him, may be saved; and that if we consider, both, for whom Christ died; and the efficacious Extent of the Virtue of his Death.
1. Let us consider a little for whom they were that Jesus Christ died. Surely, he was not at the Pains of dying for those, who had no Sin chargeable upon them, and who therefore were in no Danger, whose State, and Condition, was already safe, and their Happiness secure. For such needed no Sacrifice of Atonement, and therefore no Saviour. But we are told, Matth. xviii.11. The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. They were the poor, lost, undone Sinners, whom Christ came to save; and therefore such as we are. He did not come to save righteous Persons, who had never offended the infinitely holy God; but guilty Sinners, who had provoked the divine Anger, and were liable to the Wrath, and Curse of God. Hence Christ himself said, Matth. ix.12, 13. They that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick: I am not come to call the Righteous, but Sinners, to Repentance. So that they are Sinners, whom Christ died for, and came to save; Sinners indefinitely, that is, any Sinner, and every Sinner, that will accept of Salvation by him: Not the more ordinary, and less offensive Sinners only, but all Sorts of Sinners, and such as seem to bid the fairest to be utterly lost, and undone, by the Number and Aggravation, of their Sins, yet, even such as these, while on this Side Death, and Hell, and capable Subjects of Mercy, may possibly be eternally saved. And therefore Christ will reject no one Soul that cometh to him for Salvation. He hath said, Joh. vi.37. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.
2. If we consider the efficacious Extent of the Virtue of the Death of Christ, we shall see the Ground of Hope, given to every Sinner, that possibly he may be saved. For the Virtue of the Death of Christ is of sufficient … all Sorts, and Degrees of Sins, … tinged as Scarlet, or Crimson. 1 Joh. … …lood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth from a… Sin: Not from some Sins only, and those of lesser Guilt, but from all Sin, though of ever so deep a Stain. Therefore it is represented, Zech. xiii.1. as a Fountain opened, for Sin, and for Uncleanness: As a Fountain, there is a sufficient Fulness in it; it is a Fountain opened, to which every one may repair; for Sin, and Uncleanness, for every Kind, and Degree of Sins. So that the most profligate, and notorious Sinners, Sinners as infamous, and detestable, as a ravening Publican, or a common Prostitute, may wash therein and be clean. This Christ gives us Assurance of, when he said to the Pharisees, Matth. xxi.31. Publicans, and Harlots, go into the Kingdom of God, before you. The very worst of Sinners, by becoming the Followers of Jesus, partake of the Benefits of his Death, before the less offensive Pharisee, who refuses to own, and submit to him.
The Virtue of Christ's Death is founded in the Dignity of his Person, and in the Father's Appointment of him to the high Office of a Saviour; and therefore must be equal to all that the Father demandeth, in Way of Satisfaction, to repair the Injury done, unto him, by Sin. And that the Death of Christ was every Way equal to the Demands of the Father, is abundantly evident, from his, the Father, releasing Jesus out of the Prison of the Grave, by a glorious, triumphant Resurrection. Hence therefore the Merits of the Death of Christ are sufficient to extend, in the full Efficacy of them, to one Sinner, as well as to another, to Sinners of every Denomination, yea, to the very chief of Sinners: Which made the Apostle say, 1 Tim. i.15. Iesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners, of whom I am chief. So that Christ, by dying, has broken asunder the Bars of the Pi… ▪ and procured Liberty for the lawful Captives of Hell, and has unbarred the Gates of Heaven, and made it possible for the greatest, and vilest of Sinners, to have a free Admittance into that Kingdom of God.
Since therefore it is the great End of the Incarnation, and Death, of the Son of God, to save Sinners, and that of every Sort, and the Merits of his Death are efficaciously extensive to the most enormous Offender, this shews, it is possible, that thou, O Sinner, mayst be saved, by him; Christ is able to subdue thy Corruptions, to forgive thy Sins, to redeem thee from Death, and Hell, and to bring thee to Heaven. None are excluded from the Benefits of the Merits of the Death of Christ, … those that exclude themselves, by their turning their Back upon him, and refusing to accept … offered Salvation.
3. It is very evident, from the whole Tenor of the Gospel-Offer, that there is a Possibility that per…shing Sinners may be saved. The Design of the Grace of God, and the Gift of Christ, as a Saviour, to a sinful World, would, perhaps, have been all ineffectual, and to no Purpose, if it had not pleased God to make known unto the World, that he had entertained Thoughts of Mercy towards sinful Man, and provided a Saviour for him; and made the Tender of Salvation to us, in and by him. Now this is the general Scope, and Intendment, of the divine Revelation, contained i… our Bible, to make known to us the divine everlasting Purposes of Mercy to lost Sinners, and shew us the Method, which God, in his infinite Wisdom, and Goodness, has fixed upon, in which to rec…ver a perishing World from their wretched, miserable Condition, into a State of Peace, and Friendship with himself, and, consequently, unto compleat, and endless Happiness; and, herewithal, to make the Offer, of Pardon, and Grace, and Life, to every Sinner where the Gospel is preached. Thus the glad Tydings was, first, published to Adam, by God himself, and in him to all the World, in that grand Foundation Promise, of the Seed of the Woman bruising the Head of the Serpent, Gen. iii.15. In the Faith of this, the ancient Patriarchs lived upon the Expectation of the Saviour, and Deliverer; and, doubtless, the traditionary Account of this, laid the Foundation of all the World's hoping for the pardoning Mercy of God. Upon the Birth of …he promised Seed of the Woman; into the World, the joyful News was published, by a Chorus of the heavenly Hosts; and ever since, in various Ways, down unto our Time, there has been an open Publication, and Offer, of Salvation, by Jesus Christ; by Jesus himself, and then by his immediate Apostles, and by the succeeding Ministers of the Gospel; and the like Publication, and Offer, will continue to be made, even to the End of the World. And this clearly shews the Possibility that perishing Sinners may be saved. For do but consider,
1. Why is it that the great God condescends to use Means with Sinners, to bring them to Salvation? Why does he not let them alone, …o walk on in their own Way, to grope in the dark for what they want, and to sport themselves in the Light of the Sparks of their own Kindling, 'till they lie down in Sorrow? Why does he proclaim Liberty to the Captive, and the Opening of the Prison-Doors unto them that are bound? Why, does he tell them of a Saviour, and a mighty One, provided for them; and shew them in what Way they may obtain Salvation by him? Why does he send his Ministers, in his Name, to make the Offer of Salvation to them; to woo, and entreat Sinners that they would be reconciled unto God? Why does he send his Holy Spirit, in and wi…h the Preaching of the Gospel, to move upon the Hearts of Sinners, and convince them of their Sin, and Misery, and their Need of a Saviour, and to perswade them to accept of Jesus Christ, and all his saving Benefits? Why, I say, is God at all this Cost, and Pains, with poor despicable Sinners▪But to this very End, and Purpose, that he might open their Eyes, and turn them from Darkness, to Light, and from the Power of Satan, unto God; that they may receive the Forgiveness of Sins, and an Inheritance among them that are sanctified, by Faith that i… in me; said Christ, Acts xxvi.18. And Paul informs us, 1 Tim. ii.4. That God would have al… Men to be saved, and come to the Knowledge of the Truth.
As for those to whom Salvation is not possible, the Wisdom of God useth no such Means; he taketh no Pains with them; he sendeth no Gospel, and its Ministry to them; nor is it reasonable to expect that he should. The Devils, and damned Spirits, are beyond a Possibility of Salvation; and therefore Christ, and Grace, and Heaven, are never preached, and offered, unto them. Though Christ a Saviour, by his Word, and Spirit, was once preached unto many of those Spirits that are now in Prison, yet he never was preached to them in Prison, nor ever will be. Would they give ever so much, were it in their Power, to give it, that they might have but so much as one Offer of Pardon, and Life, made unto them, they never shall hear so much as one Sermon of the Possibility of their Salvation preached unto them, throughout all Eternity.
But to perishing Sinners, while they are in this World, is this Grace given, that the unsearchable Riches of Christ are preached, and God is graciously making the most free, and full, Offer of Salvation, by Jesus Christ, to them. He has given full Commission to his Ministers, to say to every Sinner, Luk. ii.10, 11. Behold I bring you good Tydings of great Ioy,— unto you is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord: Acts xiii.38. Be it known unto you, therefore, Men, and Brethren, that through this Man, is preached unto you the Forgiveness of Sins.
2. The Offer of the Gospel is universally extensive to every individual Sinner that heareth it. The Commission runneth in these Terms, Mark xvi.15, 16. Go ye, into all the World, and preach the Gospel to every Creature; he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved. Every Creature, that is, every Child of Adam, wheresoever the Word of this Salvation is sent. There is no Man exempted out of the Proclamation of a general Pardon, but such as except themselves, by their own wilful Refusal to come up to the Terms proposed; that is, those that will not accept the Offer. The Proclamation runneth in the most general Expressions that can be; Isa. lv.1, 2. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the Waters; and he that hath no Money, come ye, buy, and eat, yea, come, buy Wine, and Milk, without Money, and without Price;— incline your Ear, and come unto me, hear, and your Soul shall live. Isa. xlv.22. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the Ends of the Earth. Rev. xxii. Whosoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely. For Christ gave himself a Ransom for all, 1 Tim. ii.6. And this is the Will of him that sent me, (said Christ) that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting Life, John vi.40. So that there is no Limitation of the Offer of Salvation, to this or that particular Person only, but every Sinner, under the Gospel, has Salvation set before him, and graciously tendered to him, and shall assuredly be welcome, if he will but be so wise for himself, as to come and partake thereof, that he may live forever.
3. I would farther observe, The Divine Sinc… rity in the Offer of Salvation. Dissimulation and Hypocrisy, are far from God; for he is a God of Truth, and without Iniquity; just, and right, is he, Deut. xxxii.4. And therefore as he maketh the Offer of Salvation, universally, unto all Men, without Exception, so he is most hearty, and sincere, in the Tenders of Pardon, and Grace, and Life, to every poor Sinner. Why else does he make the Offer? Why beseech Sinners every where to accept it? Why does he wait upon them with so much Patience, being unwilling to take a Denial? And that there may be no Room left for any, even the greatest of Sinners, to doubt, or call in Question, the Sincerity, and Willingness of God, that he should partake of the Gospel-Salvation, the great God has been pleased to condescend to our Weakness, and Frailty, in giving to us the highest Confirmation of his Uprightness, and sincerely honest Intention, by adding his Oath to his Word, in these strong Terms, Ezek. xxxiii.11. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way, and live; turn ye, turn ye, from your evil Ways; for why will ye die. Thus by two immutable Things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, the Word, and Oath, of God, we may have strong Consolation, all imaginable Encouragement, in our flying for Refuge to lay hold on the Hope set before us. So that the Offers of the Gospel do most clearly and fully evidence to us, the Possibility there is, that perishing Sinners may be saved; and that every particular Person, to whom this Gospel is preached, may be as welcome to come, and accept of this Salvation, as if he were, therein, mentioned by Name. Oh! if I could but see any Instances, of as vile Sinners as I am, that have partook of Salvation, perhaps, may some be ready to say, This would indeed encourage me to think that it will not be in vain for me to seek after it. Wherefore,
4. Lastly; Let us now take a View of the Instances, that are left us upon sacred Record, of Sinners, great, and vile Sinners, being saved; and this will farther confirm to us the Truth of the Proposition, the Possibility that perishing Sinners may obtain Salvation; that Sinners of all Sorts, who yet have a Day of Grace, and Patience, lengthened out to them, may obtain the Pardon of their Sins, and the Salvation of their Souls, even all that Salvation set before them in the Gospel. Here, the Time would fail me to mention, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and Samuel, and David, and the Prophets, the Apostles also, and the holy Disciples of our Lord, recorded both in the Old, and New Testament, who were all of them guilty Sinners, and some of them very great Ones, and yet they found Mercy with God, and partook of his Salvation. Yea, the Time would fail me to take Notice of the many notorious Sinners, spoken of in the sacred Pages, who afterwards became the Heirs of Salvation; as Manasseh, and Rahab, and Mary Magdalene, and the rest of them. I shall therefore content myself, with some Touches upon the two famous Instances which my Text particularly relates to, namely, the Person speaking, and the Person spoken to.
First· Observe, who was the Person that spoke; who cried out in the Text, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? Was it not the Iaylor, at Philippi? Now it is very apparent that this Person, not only was one of the common Herd of Sinners among the Philippians, as a gross Idolater, and doubtles…, wallowed in impure Lusts, whose God was their Belly, and whose Glory was in their Shame, and who minded only earthly Things; but he was a very great Sinner, from the Account we have of his personal Behaviour. For, beside his Crime, in readily receiving the faithful Servants of Christ into a Prison, (if he were not concerned in the first … of the Rabble upon them,) and that for no other Cause, but their preaching the Gospel of Christ, and shewing unto Men the true Way of Salvation, by the only Redeemer, whom God had appointed for that very End; which he (the Iaylor) ought by no Means to have done, if he had known it, as probably he did, because by this he partook of their Crime, who unjustly committed them; I say, beside this, he sufficiently manifested his Hatred, and Malice, and persecuting Spirit, against those holy Servants of God, by thrusting them into the Dungeon, and making their Feet fast in the Stocks, Acts xvi.24. Hereby he plainly discovered his Enmity to the Cross of Christ, the Cruelty of his Temper, and the inward Rancor of his Mind against those holy Men, by inflicting upon them, a Punishment of his own devising, very distinct, from, and far exceeding, the Orders he had received from his Superiors, who only charged him to keep them safely, v. 23; that is, to keep a strict Watch and Guard over them, that they might be brought out upon Trial, when demanded: Whereas, a Dungeon, and the Stocks, are distinct Punishments themselves, and very different from a close Confinement. Moreover, he was guilty of Self-Murder, in the Sight of God; and that not only by harbouring the Thought, and Intention in his Heart, but in prosecuting that his Intention, by an overt Act, v. 27. He drew out his Sword, and would have killed himself, if those very Men of God, whom he had greatly abused, had not prevented him. This was such a plain Proof of the Fierceness, and Cruelty, of the Man, his unbridled, and insupportable Anger, and Rage, and of his real, murderous Design, as, in some Cases, would have amounted to a legal Proof of Murder against him, in an humane Court of Judicature, which trieth, not the Hearts, but the Actions, of Men: And therefore much more rendered him guilty before that God, who knoweth all the Secrets of the Heart, and passeth Judgment upon them, as well as upon the outward Actions of the Children of Men. But if this be looked upon as the Effort of a sudd…n Passion, which threw him into this Frame of Mind, then it only proves that he was so vile a Creature, as to be ready, upon every Temptation, to commit the most flagitious, and monstrous Crimes.
And yet, after all this Wickedness, this poor, wretched, miserable Creature was converted, and saved; for, he believed in God, and was baptized, v. 33, 34. That is, he believed in that God whom the Apostle made known to him, and he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Apostle preached to him, he believed the Word of God, which Paul had declared to him, and accordingly made Profession of his Faith, and Obedience to the Son of God, by being baptized into his Name.
Secondly; The other Instance I would take Notice of is that of the Person spoken to, in my Text, particularly the Apostle Paul, to whom, with Silas, the Iaylor cried out, Sirs, What must I do to be saved? This same Paul, while he wore the Name of Saul, was a very great, and notorious Sinner. Though he made his Boast, that, touching the Righteousness of the Law, he was blameless; having been a strenuous Asserter, and fond Practicer, of the Rites, and Ceremonies, of the Iewish Church, yet, nevertheless, upon examining his open Conduct, we shall find, that he had been impious to God, and very injurious to Man; which he afterwards acknowledged, when he said of himself, 1 Tim. i.13. Who was, before, a Blasphemer, a Persecutor, and injurious. As a Blasphemer, he was full of Malignity against Christ, and his Doctrines, every where speaking against them, casting all imaginable Contempt, and Reproach upon them, and not content with his own Revilings, and Blasphemies, he pleased himself with the base, and mean Gratification, of exciting, and even compelling others to blaspheme, Acts xxiv.11. As a Persecutor, he was an hot-headed, furious, bigotted, Iewish Zealot; and so madly set was he upon the cutting, or drawing all Men to his own Size, that he meanly craved Power, and Authority, from the chief Priest, Acts ix.2. to execute the vilest Office that could be, a busy Pursevant, and lawless Cutthroat, that he might vent his Rage upon the poor Christians, and persecute Men for Conscience Sake: And he carried …his implacable Spirit with him wherever he went, Acts xxii.4. Persecuting this Way unto the Death, and delivering into Prison, both Men, and Women; so that he spared neither Age, nor Sex, but imprisoned, and beat, in every Synagogue, them that believed, v. 19; And when they were put to Death, gave his Voice against them; and, being exceedingly mad against them, persecuted them even unto strange Cities, Acts xxvi.10, 11.
And how injurious was he in all this? Thus to lord it over the Estates, and Persons, and Lives, and Consciences, of his honest Neighbours, who could not go his Lengths, and conform to his Rites and Ceremonies. What Right had he to possess, or imbezzle, the Estates of his dissenting Neighbours? Who could give him Power over their Persons, and Lives, that did not agree with him in the Form, and Modes of Worship? 'Tis an amazing Guilt to take away the Liberty, and Lives, of Men, that are otherwise honest, and good Subjects, as though they had forfeited the common Rights of Mankind, and their very Being, merely because they differ from others in their Faith, or dissent from them in the Circumstantials of Religion, while yet they may agree with them in the Essentials. This is at once to get into the Throne of God, and give Law to Conscience, and to strip the human Nature of its truest Glory, as reasonable, and religious, and put out that Candle of the Lord, which he hath lighted up in the Breast of every Man. Yet thus was Saul a ravening Wolf, devouring the Sheep of Christ, and a vile Murderer, while he vainly thought he did God good Service.
But now let us turn to the bright Part of the Character of this wonderful Man, and behold! notwithstanding all the Fury, and Madness, the Impiety, and Unrighteousness, we have seen him guilty of, even this notoriously wicked Saul became an eminently holy Paul; the Wolf is turned into a Lamb, and the grand Enemy of Christ, and common Pest of his Neighbours, at length, is made a real Convert, a glorious Instance of the sovereign, and rich, and powerful, Grace of God, a zealous Preacher of that Jesus, and a bold Defender, and warm Cherisher of those Christians, whom but a little before, he so furiously persecuted. We have a particular Account of the extraordinary Manner of his Conversion, in the Ninth Chapter of the Acts: While he was yet breathing out Threatning, and Slaughter, against the Disciples of the Lord, and was approached, in his Zeal, near to Damascus, the designed Seat of his Action, Acts ix.3, 4, 5, 6. Suddenly there shined round about him a Light from Heaven; and he fell to the Earth, and heard a Voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou Lord? And the Lord said unto him, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest: And he trembling, and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do! After which we find Christ saying of him to Ananias, v. 15. He is a chosen Vessel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Israel. And now, how fervent a Preacher of Christ did he become? At Ierusalem, and every where, among Iews, and Gentiles, he proved that Jesus was, indeed, the Christ, the ancient promised Messiah; and travelled far, and wide, by Sea, and Land, and with many Arguments, exhorted, and perswaded Men, to turn from their Vanities, to the living God; and though he had been brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel, and was well read in all the Learning of the Iews, yet he determined to know nothing, save Iesus Christ, and him crucified, 1 Cor. ii.2. Yea, he counted all but Loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus, Phil. iii.8. And so unwearied was he in his Labours, in the Gospel, that he could say, even when he was humbly acknowledging himself as nothing, 1 Cor. xv.10. I laboured more abundantly than they all.
How surprising also were the Sufferings of this great, and good Man, in that very Cause of Christ for which he had formerly made so many Sufferers? He was no sooner entered upon the Work of the Gospel Ministry, but they laid wait for him, and sought to kill him; and throughout all his Travels, we find Bonds, and Afflictions abide him, at Ierusalem, at Lystra, at Iconium, at Philippi, &c. so that he could give this Account of himself, 2 Cor. xi.23. In Labours more abundant, in Stripes above Measure, in Prisons more frequent, in Death oft; of the Iews five Times received I forty Stripes, save one; thrice was I beaten with Rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered Shipwreck, a Night, and a Day, I have been in the Deep, &c. And yet none of these Things moved him, nor did he count his Life dear to him, so that he might finish his Course with Joy, and the Ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus.
Since then we plainly see, in such remarkable Instances, that some of the greatest, and chiefest of Sinners, have been converted, and saved, this strongly argues the Possibility there is, that any, and every other Sinner may, in like Manner, experience the regenerating Grace of God, and be saved. The Apostle Paul takes Notice of his own Conversion, as an illustrious Specimen, Encouragement, and Earnest, of what other Sinners might possibly obtain. 1 Tim. i.16. For this Cause, (said he) I obtained Mercy, that, in me, Iesus Christ might, first, shew forth all Longsuffering, for a Pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him, to Life everlasting. This is a mighty Encouragement to every Sinner, let his past Crimes be what they will, to hope, that he is not out of the Reach of Mercy, and to strive that, if by any Means, he also may be converted, and saved, by Faith in Jesus Christ; seeing that, in this great Apostle, he has such a clear Evidence, and Instance, of the Possibility of his own Salvation.
These Things may suffice to confirm the Second Head, and shew the Possibility of perishing Sinners being saved. I should now go on to the Third general Head, viz.
To shew you, that perishing Sinners must know, and Practise, all that is necessary in Order to their Salvation; or, there is something to be done, by them, that they may be saved. But I choose to close the present Discourse with a few brief Reflections.
USE 1. Oh! How much is the Grace of our God to be forever admired by us! Is there a Possibility that perishing Sinners may be saved; and thou, O poor Sinner, among them? Is God ready, and willing to confer his Grace upon thee; to pardon all thy Sins, and bring thee safe to Heaven? And will thou not then shout forth Grace! Grace! Grace! unto our good God, that he has had such Thoughts of Kindness towards thee?
Did not the Almighty, at first, form us noble Creatures, holy and upright? and had he not an undoubted Right to all our Services? Yet, instead of serving our God, have we not rebelled against him, and rebelled against our own Reason, and brought Misery, and Ruin, upon ourselves? Might not God justly say of us, as of his People of old, Hos. xiii.9. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self? Yet, after all our Rebellions, and all our Self-Destructions, is there a Possibility that we may be delivered from this Death? May we yet be numbered amongst the Children of God, and Heirs of Salvation, in the heavenly World?
Is all our H…lp to be found in God himself, whom we have so greatly offended? Has he, in infinite Wisdom, and Goodness, contrived the whole Design, and by his mighty Power effected it, in such a Way as is to the Astonishment of Men, and Angels? Could we merit this Favour at the Hands of God, when we were so deeply guilty before him, and so fixed in our Enmity against him? Or doth God forbear to execute his Threatning upon us, because he feareth us, or hopeth for any Reward from us?
Has such Favour been shewed to fallen Angels, as to offer unto them Terms of Pardon, and Salvation? Hath not God chosen to pass them by, and suffer them to remain Devils, fixed in their Enmity against him, and under unavoidable Damnation?
But to thee, O perishing Sinner, hath he opened the Treasures of his Grace, discovered the tender Compassions of his yearning Bowels; and, in his distinguishing Love, sent his own Son to die for thee, and, even now, standeth at the Door of thy Soul, with outstretched Arms, inviting thy Return to him, that, of an Heir of Death, and Hell, thou mightest be made an Heir of Life, and Glory?
Oh! How oughtest thou, then, to see, and admire, and praise, this marvellous Grace of God▪ manifested to thee? and to be encouraged, from the Prospect of it, to resolve, from this Time, to return to thy first Husband, the God that made thee, and cleave unto him forever? And has any Sinner, here, tasted that the Lord is gracious, and perceived the Sweets of the Divine Loving-kindness, in renewing, and pardoning of him? How ought such a Soul, in an holy Transport of Thankfulness, and Praise, to say with holy Paul, Eph. i.6, 7. It is to the Praise of the Glory of his Grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved; in whom we have Redemption, through his Blood, the Forgiveness of our Sins, according to the Riches of his Grace.
2. Hence see, That no Sinner has any just Reason to despair of Mercy. There is a Possibility of perishing Sinners being saved; The Grace of God, the Death of Christ, the Offers of the Gospel, the many Instances on sacred Record, all plainly declare this; and therefore thou, O Sinner, whoever thou art, mayest possibly share in this B…essedness. Art thou particularly excluded, by Name, from the Offers of Salvation? Search the Scriptures, see; where doest thou find the Exception? No; no; Thou art as certainly included within the Compass of offered Mercy, as if thou wert expresly mentioned.
Art thou utterly unworthy that God should shew such Favour to thee, as to forgive thy Sins, renew thy Nature, and save thee? why; so were all that ever have been saved before thee.
Hast thou been a very great Sinner? Have thy Sins been greatly multiplied, and highly aggravated? and art thou affraid that there is no Room, for thee, in the pardoning, saving Mercy, of our God? why; have thy Sins exceed Lot's, and Noah's, and David's, or Manasseh's, and Peter's, or Paul's, and the Iaylor's? Whose Sins were against greater Light, and stronger Bonds, and more provoking, than some of the Saints recorded in the holy Scriptures? Let thy Sins be what they will, red like Scarlet, and deep dyed as Crimson, yet the Grace of God, and the Blood of Christ, are sufficient to cleanse thee from them all. Isa. i.18. Come now▪ let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your Sins be as Scarlet, they shall be as white as Snow; though they be red like Crimson, they shall be as Wool.
Take, therefore, the Encouragement, O Sinner, which the Possibility of thy being saved giveth thee, and hearken not to the Temptations of the Devil, or Suggestions of thy own Heart, to slight the Kindness of God unto thee, to despair of his Mercy, or turn the Grace of God into Wantonness, but be up, and doing, and the Lord be with thee.
3. Hence see, That, if any of you miss of Salvation, the Fault will be intirely your own. It is possible you may, great Sinners as you are, after all your repeated Transgressions, and often Refusal of the offered Mercy of God, yet, 'tis possible, you may be converted, and pardoned, and eternally saved. If, therefore, any of you, at last, come short of the Rest remaining for the People of God, where will the Blame of all lie, but at your own Doors? God has entertained the graciou… Design of saving you; He has sent his Son into the World, to purchase Salvation for you; He makes the free, and full, Tender of Salvation to you; He sends his Ministers, a… Embassadors for Christ, to court you into a Compliance with his offered Grace; He sets before you the Instances of other Sinners, great, and vile, as yourselves, who have sought, and obtained Salvation; and, moreover, sends down his Holy Spirit to accompany the preaching of his Word, and assist you in working out your own Salvation: so that if, after all this Cost, and Pains, you miss of Salvation, you will have none to blame, but yourselves. Christ will say to you, as to the unbelieving Iews, in his Day, Joh. v.40. Ye will not come unto me, that ye may have Life. If you perish, it will be because you will not do, what you can do, to promote, and secure, your own Salvation, and not because yo… cannot save yourselves. So that God, and his Throne, will be faultless forever, in your eternal Damnation; and your Blood, the Blood of your Souls, will be upon your own Heads. Oh! what a terrible Aggravation will this be, of the Misery of every impenitent Sinner, that perisheth from under the Gospel, to think, when he shall come into the Place of Torment, that he has brought all of this Misery upon himself; and, Fool that he was, when he might, he would not be saved from it!
4. Oh! Let this, now, be the hearty Cry of every Soul, here present, what must I do to be saved? It is yet possible, O Sinner, through the tender Mercy of the most High, that thou mayest be saved. It is yet a Day of Grace with thee; God is waiting upon thee, with much Patience; but no Man alive can say, how long this Possibility will last. It is certain, that when once Death hath done it's Office upon thee, and fetched thy Soul, out of thy Body, to appear before thy Judge, it will be no longer possible for thee to make thy Peace with God, if thou hast not done it before. The present Time, in this World, is thy only working Time; if once this Day be over with thee, the Night of Death will put and End to thy Labour, and all thy Advantages, and Opportunities, will be lost, and gone forever. Hence the Preacher advised, Eccl. ix.10. Whatsoever thy Hand findeth to do, do it with thy Might; for there is no Work, — in the Grave, whither thou goest. If thou shouldest foolishly neglect to mind thy eternal Interest, and to do all that is proper for thee to do for thy Salvation, until Death, and Judgment, overtake thee, it will be in vain for thee, then, to cry, Oh! what must I do to be saved! Thou mayest then, indeed, be forced to roar out▪ Oh! I am lost! I am undone! I am damned! but thou wilt not be able to do any thing to deliver thyself from the Place of Torment: it will be all too late for thee, then, to seek the Blessing, though thou shouldest be ever so much in an Agony, and shed ever so many Tears about it.
And who is there of you can tell, how soon, or suddenly, Death may come upon him, and seal up his Hands from this important Work? A few Years, yea, a few Days, nay, a few Minutes, for ought thou canst tell, may finish thy Course of Probation, and irrecoverably fix thee in the State of Retribution. Thou mayest be dead, and damned, before to Morrow: and it may properly be said to thee, as Michal to David, 1 Sam. xix.11. If thou save not thy self to Night, to Morrow thou shalt be slain.
Oh! Then, let no Sinner be unconcerned about so important an Affair, lest he sadly repent his Folly, when it shall be too late to correct his Error; but now, while he may, let it be the serious Enquiry of every Soul, What must I do to be saved? And diligently set yourselves to the immediate Performance, of all that is necessary for you to do, in Order thereunto. Now is God's Time, Oh, let it be yours also, lest it should be no longer possible for you to obtain Mercy. I conclude, at present, with those awful Words, Heb. iii.15, 18. While it is said, to Day if ye will hear his Voice, …arden not your Hearts, as in the Provocation: — to whom swear he that they should not enter into his Rest? but to them that believed not.