Salvation by Grace Through Faith, Sermon 7
SERMON VII. Thoſe who neglect this Great Salvation muſt inevitably periſh.
HEBREWS II. 3.
HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, if we neglect ſo great Salvation?
THE moſt generous Medicines, if they do not anſwer the End for which they were adminiſtred, often exaſperate the Diſeaſe, and render the Circumſtances of the Patient more dangerous: In like Manner, the Goſpel, which is deſigned to reſtore Mankind to ſpiritual Health, if it does not produce the deſired Effect, is attended with the moſt prejudicial Conſequences. If the Methods of Divine Grace are deſpiſed they involve us in aggravated Guilt, and end in irrecoverable Miſery. The Puniſhment of Infidels, who enjoy the Light of Revelation, will be infinitely more terrible than that which ſhall be inflicted on uninſtructed Pagans. THE SON OF GOD, whom they deſpiſe, no longer reſides upon Earth in a State of Poverty and Meanneſs; but is aſcended above the viſible Heavens, and ſways the Sceptre of the Univerſe. The once deſpiſed GALILEAN is ſeated on a Throne of Light, Angels proſtrate themſelves at His Feet, and Devils tremble at the Terrors of His Wrath. He has Crowns of Glory to reward His faithful Subjects, and a glittering Sword to deſtroy His implacable Enemies.
THEREFORE, we find the Miſery of the wicked was never painted in more terrible Colours, than by that divine Meſſenger, who came not to condemn the World, but that the World through Him might be ſaved. The Apoſtles, who imitated their bleſſed Maſter, perſwaded Men, by the Terrors of the Lord not to receive the Grace of God in Vain.
THE inſpired Author in my Text, repreſents thoſe who neglect the great Salvation, as condemned to inevitable Deſtruction.—How ſhall we Eſcape, &c. Theſe Words are an Inference from the Severity which attended the legal Diſpenſation. If the Word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, and every Tranſgreſſion and Diſobedience received a juſt Recompence of Reward, how ſhall we eſcape, &c.—The Reaſoning is concluſive—the Threatning it contains ſhould inſpire us with awful Fear, leſt it be executed upon us. The Law pronounced Sentence of Death upon the preſumptuous Tranſgreſſor: The Man who violated the Sanctity of the Sabbath was immediately ſtoned: Many Thouſand Iſraelites were deſtroyed in one Day for their idolatrous Practices. The Apoſtle aſſures us, that ſeverer Puniſhments are appointed for the profane Deſpiſers of the Goſpel —How ſhall they eſcape—This Method of Expreſſion declares, that to eſcape is a vain Expectation—an impoſſible Attempt.
THOSE who neglect the great Salvation of the Goſpel muſt inevitably periſh.—To evidence this, I ſhall ſhow—This is the Sentence pronounced upon them by impartial Juſtice— God has Power to execute this Sentence— Mercy has provided no Way of Relief.
FIRST, THE Sentence of inevitable Deſtruction is pronounced upon the Deſpiſers of the Goſpel by the Juſtice of God.
IT is the poſitive Determination of the ſupreme and uncontroulable Sovereign of the World—He that believeth not ſhall be damned. This Sentence is fixed in the immutable Decree of God, and will be executed in the appointed Time. By Sin Man is become an Enemy to God, and if he perſiſts in his Rebellion, Juſtice muſt triumph in his final Deſtruction. God beholds his unhappy Offspring with Pity; He propoſes Terms of Peace; He ſends his Ambaſſadors to proclaim the glad Tidings to a guilty World: Aſtoniſhing Love!—Is it not daring Impiety to refuſe the great God an Hearing?—Is it not inexcuſable Inſolence to reject his Propoſals?—This is the Practice of Multitudes—They preſumptuouſly deſpiſe his Grace:—This is plainly to declare, that they value not his Friendſhip, nor fear the Terrors of his Wrath.—It is fit ſuch obſtinate Rebels ſhould abide by the Conſequence of their own Choice.—They judge themſelves unworthy of Life eternal, and are juſtly condemned to ſuffer the Pains of eternal Death.
HAD divine Goodneſs ſignified his Intention to mitigate the Sentence of his righteous Law, or grant a temporary Suſpenſion of the deſerved Puniſhment, it muſt have been acknowledged a Favor, and ought to be received with Gratitude:—But He proclaims complete Deliverance to the Captives of Hell—A Deliverance not to be purchaſed by us, but thankfully received.— This contains a Freedom from all the Miſeries we feel or fear—A perfect and perpetual Enjoyment of every deſirable Good.—Now, muſt not they periſh, who are unwilling to be ſaved?—Should not they remain under Guilt, who refuſe the Offer of a Pardon?
MEN may pleaſe themſelves with ungrounded Surmiſes; but God will not ſuffer his Laws to be violated—His Grace abuſed—His Juſtice inſulted—His Glory eclipſed, that obſtinate Tranſgreſſors may eſcape with Impunity.
SECONDLY, IF impartial Juſtice pronounces the Sentence, the ſovereign Ruler has Power to put it in Execution.
THIS none can diſpute who believe the Exiſtence of a God. He who made the World by a Command, can deſtroy it in a Moment with a Frown. His Power is ſupreme and independent: Nothing can alter his Purpoſes, or reſiſt the Execution of his Will: His Smiles diffuſe Life and Joy through all the Inhabitants of Heaven: His wrathful Preſence fills the Regions of Hell with Darkneſs, Terror and Deſpair.
MEN often eſcape the Stroke of human Juſtice, by Art and Addreſs: They may fly from the Power of the mighty Monarchs of the Earth, and find a Retreat beyond the Limits of their Juriſdiction: Death always removes us out of their Reach; the Effects of their Anger cannot enter the Repoſitory of the Grave:— But whither ſhall we flee from God! To what Part of the Univerſe can we eſcape and be free from his Arreſts! Death itſelf conveys us into his immediate Preſence, and delivers us up, the helpleſs Victims of his Vengeance.
IF indeed the Diſſolution of the Body was the Deſtruction of the Soul, we might neglect the Salvation of the Goſpel, and eſcape all future Puniſhment: But to ſuppoſe this, is to contradict the Voice of Reaſon, the Teſtimony of Conſcience, the unerring Orcles of Truth. That the Soul of Man is immortal, is a Doctrine of natural and revealed Religion.—The ancient Philoſophers were inſpired with this Hope.— Jeſus Chriſt hath confirmed it by expreſs Declarations and aſtoniſhing Miracles. The Soul is not formed of the Duſt, but immediately derived from the Great Father of Spirits. The Body is a beautiful Fabrick, finiſhed with conſummate Art; but animated, directed and moved by the immortal Mind: The Body is compoſed of different Parts, and may be deſtroyed by innumerable Accidents; but the Soul is a ſimple uncompounded Subſtance, not liable to a Diſſolution. Theſe are ſtrong Preſumptions in Favor of this important Truth.— But that which Reaſon pronounces probable, revealed Religion declares to be certain. The Syſtem of the Goſpel is built on this Foundation: They who deny it not only reject the Religion of Jeſus, but are Enemies to the Peace and good Order of civil Society.—They oppoſe thoſe Sentiments which are common to all, except the moſt abandoned of the human Race, and level themſelves with the Beaſts that periſh. Not only the Philoſophers of Rome and Athens, but Barbarians and Scythians, will riſe up againſt them and condemn them.
IF the Soul exiſts in a future State, it perceives and acts, for theſe are eſſential to its Nature; and therefore it is capable of Rewards and Puniſhments. The God of Truth aſſures us, that when the Body deſcends into the Duſt, the Soul returns to God that gave it.—To God—to triumph in his Love, or to experience the Effects of his ſevere Diſpleaſure:—While thoſe who embrace the great Salvation, enter into the Joy of their Lord, they who deſpiſe and neglect it muſt ſuffer eternal Deſtruction from the Preſence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power.—If the Juſtice of God hath pronounced Sentence againſt them—if He has Power to execute this Sentence—there can be no Hope of Eſcape, except ſome Method is appointed for their Deliverance. This brings me to ſay,
THIRDLY, MERCY hath provided no Way of Relief for thoſe who neglect this Salvation.
DIVINE Compaſſion hath inſtituted a Way of Recovery;—this they reject;—the Conſequence is, they are deprived of all Hope, and muſt periſh without Remedy.—After Man had violated the Law, the Grace of the Goſpel was revealed:—Otherwiſe the Mercy of God muſt have been forever concealed; the moſt illuſtrious Triumphs of unlimited Goodneſs could never have been diſplayed. The Sufferings and Sacrifice of the Son of God in the Room of condemned Man, was the higheſt Evidence of the Divine Benevolence, and will be celebrated with Tranſports of Gratitude, through unceaſing Ages.—But if this Love is undervalued, if Mercy is inſolently deſpiſed, and the great Sacrifice for Sin rejected; there remains no Reſource; the Criminal is placed beyond all poſſibility of Pardon.—To what Sanctuary will he fly? The Law pronounces the terrible Sentence, Juſtice demands immediate Execution, and inſulted Mercy increaſes the Severity of the Puniſhment.
SHALL Chriſt again deſcend from the Throne of Glory, and Tabernacle in Fleſh? Shall the Prince of Life again ſubmit to the Stroke of Death; that the Deſpiſers of His Merits and Righteouſneſs may be ſaved? No.—The Scriptures poſitively aſſure us, that henceforth He dieth no more; He hath finiſhed his Work, and they who believe not muſt periſh forever.
NOW is the accepted Time; but Death finiſhes the Day of Grace. When this Event takes Place, Repentance will be impoſſible— God inexorable—the Miſery of the Wicked extreme and eternal. I proceed to the
APPLICATION of this Subject.
I. WHAT Multitudes deceive themſelves with ungrounded Hopes of Salvation!— Aſk them, do you expect to be ſaved?—They anſwer without Heſitation—Yes.—Upon what Foundation is your Expectation built?—Is the Salvation revealed in the Goſpel the moſt deſirable Bleſſing in their Eſteem?—No.—They have a greater Affection to the Pomps and Pleaſures of this Life.—Do they ſeek after an Intereſt in this Salvation with unremitting Diligence?—No.—They ſpend their Days i… worldly Cares and Diverſions.—Have they received Power from on High, to mortify their deareſt Luſts?—No.—They go on ſecurely in the prohibited Paths of Vice.—Do they aſpire after that Holineſs, without which the Scripture declares no Man ſhall enter into the New Jeruſalem?—No.—This would lay too ſevere a Reſtraint on their Nature, and deprive them of their chiefeſt Joys.—What Reaſon have you then to hope for future Happineſs?—You flatter yourſelves that God is merciful, and will not be ſo ſtrict as He is repreſented in his Word.
AH fatal Deluſion!—prodigious Folly!— Would you venture your Eſtate or Reputation on chimerical Hopes, deſtitute of all Foundation either in Reaſon or Scripture?—If there was any other Diſpenſation of Grace, beſides that which is revealed in the Goſpel—If there was any other Sacrifice for Sin, than that which the Son of God finiſhed on the Croſs— If there was any other Way to Heaven, than that which is traced out by the Precepts and and Example of our bleſſed Savior—there might be ſome Foundation for Hope: But if there is no other Name given under Heaven by which Men can be ſaved but the Name of Jeſus;—if none are accepted at the ſupreme Tribunal, but through his all ſufficient Righteouſneſs;—if the everlaſting State of Mankind muſt be determined according to the Goſpel;— then your Expectations of future Happineſs are an imaginary Dream: In the End you die a Fool, and muſt lie down in everlaſting Sorrow.
DO you diſpute this? Then you raſe the Foundations of Religion and treat the Goſpel as if it was a cunningly deviſed Fable—Do you believe Moſes and the Prophets, Chriſt and his Apoſtles?—I truſt, without paying a Compliment to my Hearers, I may addreſs them as St. Paul did King Agrippa—I know that you believe.—What then remains, but that you bow to the Authority of divine Revelation, and receive the moſt myſterious Doctrines with humble Submiſſion.
IF our corrupt Reaſon is to be advanced to the infallible Chair, and the Articles of Religion are to be explained according to it's Dictates, many of it's ſublimeſt Truths will be pronounced falſe, and it's ſelf-denying Precepts accommodated to the Genius of a degenerate Age.
MEN of Pleaſure cannot conceive that God will be ſo ſevere, as to puniſh them for the Gratification of their ſenſual Appetites and Inclinations:—I, my Brethren, if I only conſult my Reaſon, cannot conceive that He ſhould be ſo indulgent to his guilty Creatures, as daily Experience evidences He is—Nothing can be more incredible to our finite Reaſon, than that the Monarch of the Univerſe ſhould ſend his Son to give his Life a Ranſom for his rebellious Subjects—That the immaculate Jeſus ſhould bear the Puniſhment of our Sins in his own Body on the Tree:—That He ſhould be wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, bruiſed for our Iniquities, and the Chaſtiſement of our Peace be upon Him.—But God ſpeaks, let every mortal Ear attend; let human Reaſon be ſilent, and devoutly acknowledge it's Incapacity to comprehend the Depths of the divine Counſels.— My Faith adores this myſterious Love—my Heart acquieſces with Joy in the ſalutary Truth —I receive it as a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation.
BUT why ſhould it be eſteemed unreaſonable, that Men who obſtinately perſiſt in their Crimes, ſhould reap the Fruit of their own Doings? What more equitable, than that they who will not accept of Mercy, ſhould fall by the Sword of Juſtice?
EVERY inlightened Mind, inſtead of complaining of the Severity of God, will adore his Patience to a revolted World. While Sinners continue in Arms of Rebellion againſt Him, He viſits them every Morning with his refreſhing Light, provides for them every Day with paternal Care, ſhowers down Bleſſings upon them with an unſparing Hand.—Why do not the Thunders of Heaven deſtroy thoſe inſolent Mortals, who defy their Omnipotent Maker! Why does not the Earth open it's Mouth and tranſmit to unquenchable Flames thoſe andacious Rebels, who will not ſubmit to the Government of of the King of Kings! It is becauſe his Ways are not as our Ways, neither his Thoughts as our Thoughts—He is long-ſuffering to us ward, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould be brought to Repentance.
II. HOW greatly is it to be lamented, that the Bulk of Mankind pay ſo little Attention to that which ought to engage their principal Concern!
LET us view the Conduct of Men: How careleſsly do they ſpend their Time, in the Fatigues of Buſineſs, or the Purſuit of Pleaſure! They diſſipate their Thoughts upon a thouſand Objects, and live without Retirement or Reflexion.—They contemplate theſe viſible Heavens and meaſure the Magnitude, and calculate the Diſtance of the Stars; but give themſelves no Concern to ſecure an Entrance into the Heaven of Heavens, the Habitation of God's favorite People.—They deſcend into the Depths of the Earth, to diſcover the Treaſures which are concealed in it's Boſom; but never ſeriouſly prepare for that deciſive Hour, when they ſhall have no more Connection with this material Syſtem, but become Inhabitants of the inviſible World of Spirits —Borne on the Wings of Ambition or Avarice, they fly from Pole to Pole, in Search of that Wealth and Honor which vaniſheth in a Moment; but profanely deſpiſe that Honor which comes from God—thoſe Treaſures which would inrich them forever.
THIS careleſs and ſenſual Courſe of Life might perhaps admit of ſome Excuſe, if attended with no hurtful Conſequences; but ſince it is inconſiſtent with all regular Hopes of Salvation; ſince, if not awakned out of it, we remain the Children of Wrath; every conſiderate Mind muſt condemn Sinners of this Order, as the greateſt of Madmen.
WHAT would you think of a Priſoner confined in Chains, who knew the Day of his Trial was approaching, that Sentence of Death was ready to be pronounced upon him; and when once pronounced could never be recalled, but would certainly be executed:—If in this melancholy Situation he was aſſured that a Way of Eſcape was provided:—But inſtead of improving the Opportunity afforded him, he diſregarded the Meſſage, and ſpent his Time in Sports and Diverſion, till the fatal Hour arrive which excludes all Hopes forever!— Would not every impartial Obſerver pronounce his Conduct the Extremity of Madneſs?
THIS is but a faint Image of the Madneſs which poſſeſſes the Hearts of ſecure Sinners.— As much as the Puniſhment of Hell is to be dreaded above the momentary Miſeries of this Life, ſo much greater is the Folly of thoſe who neglect the Day of their Viſitation.
THEIR Folly will be ſtill more manifeſt if we conſider—what Motives induce them to ſo fatal a Procedure.—Motives ſo mean and contemptible, that it is aſtoniſhing they have any Influence upon Men endowed with the Powers of Reaſon and Reflection. The true Happineſs of our Nature is ſacrificed for a few ſordid Delights, which become inſipid by Cuſtom, are impaired by the Infirmities of Age, and will certainly be loſt in Death.
DOUBTLESS the Angels of Light are aſtoniſhed at the Stupidity of Men, who for a painted Toy—a little Heap of glittering Duſt —or a ſenſual Pleaſure, which they enjoy in common with their kindred Brutes, part with Heaven and it's unceaſing Joys, expoſe themſelves to Hell, and all it's dark and deſpairing Horrors. In the mean time, in perfect Conſiſtence with the Hopes of eternal Happineſs, we might enjoy every rational Pleaſure. The Enjoyments of this World, when regulated by the Precepts of Religion, are attended with peculiar Sweetneſs—We review them without Reproach—and receive them as Earneſts of ſuperior Joys.
III. LET us then be perſwaded to renounce this inconſiderate Conduct, and with unfainting Vigor and Reſolution purſue thoſe Bleſſings which conſtitute our Happineſs in Time and Eternity.
HAVE you hitherto neglected to walk in the Way that leads to Life?—Have you ſpent your Time in thoſe Things which the wiſe Solomon pronouces Vanity of Vanities?—Have you to this Day been inattentive to the great Concern of a rational and immortal Being?—
YET, O indulgent Goodneſs!—Yet you live:—You hear the Voice of a compaſſionate God, inviting you to return unto Him. He addreſſes you as He did his ungrateful People in the Days of old. How ſhall I give thee up Ephraim! How ſhall I deliver thee Iſrael! My Heart is turned within me, my Repentings are kindled together.
ATTEND, O my Brethren, to the heavenly Voice; it ſpeaks particularly to you who are in the Morning of Life, the flouriſhing Bloom of Youth: This is the nobleſt Opportunity you will ever enjoy, to lay a ſure Foundation for future Safety. Your Hearts are not prepoſſeſſed with the diſtracting Cares of Life, nor your Conſciences rendered inſenſible by inveterate Habits of Vice. Nature is now in her Prime, and Grace is more frequently beſtowed upon young Perſons, then on thoſe who are grown old in Sin.
BUT in what Language ſhall I addreſs thoſe who are bowed down under the Weight of Years and Infirmities—and are grown gray in the Service of Satan?—Muſt I ſay your Day is paſt—your Doom irreverſible?—God forbid that I ſhould be ſent on ſo terrible a Meſſage. —Your Caſe is dangerous, but not deſperate: Through the Patience of Heaven, you are yet commanded to ſeek the Lord while He may be found: Let your vaniſhing Breath be employed in conſtant and ardent Prayer to that Being who not only permits you to live in this World but invites you to draw near to the Throne of His Grace. In a few Days more your Doom will be fixed: Hope, the Relief of the Miſerable, will forſake you forever.
MAY a gracious God convince you of your dangerous Situation, and excite you to fly for Deliverance to Him, whom God hath exalted to be a Prince and a Savior, to give Repentance and Remiſſion of Sins! To Him be Glory forever and ever. AMEN.