,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,rev4 ,,john ,,wesley1 ,m4 ,a4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation has been standardized4 ,the concluding ,table of ,contents1 has been moved to the front of the book to make it more useable4 ,the author has used an asterisk 7997 to indicate passages he considers most worthy of attention4 ,the text occasionally shows quotations within quotations1 all set off by double quotes4 ,the inner quotations have been changed to single quotes for improved readability4 ,characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps4 ,non-printable characteristics have been given the following transliteration3 ,italic text3 -- text ,emphasized text -- text ,this book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling4 ,words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text4 ,these have been left unchanged unless indicated with a ,transcriber's ,note4 ,the symbol #8' indicates the description in parenthesis has been added to an illustration4 ,this may be needed if there is no caption or if the caption does not describe the image adequately4 ,footnotes are identified in the text with a number in brackets #b and have been accumulated in a single section at the end of the text4 ,all footnote anchors have been moved to the end of the reference passage for consistency4 ,transcriber's ,notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader4 ,these notes are identified in the text by a symbol1 and are accumulated in a single section at the end of the book4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,rev4 ,,john ,,wesley1 ,m4 ,a4 ,late ,fellow of ,lincoln-,college1 ,,oxford4 ,,volume ,i4 ,,bristol3 ,printed by ,,william ,,pine1 in ,wine-,street4 ,,mdcclxxi4 ,,the ,,contents ,of the ,,first ,,volume4 ,,sermons on several ,occasions4 ,,sermon ,i4 ,salvation by ,faith4 ,ephes4 ii4 #h4 ,by grace ye are saved through faith4 ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,the ,almost ,christian4 ,acts xxvi4 #bh4 ,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian4 ,,sermon ,,iii4 ,ephes4 v4 #ad4 ,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead1 and ,christ shall give thee light4 ,,sermon ,,iv4 ,scriptural ,christianity4 ,acts iv4 #ca4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,,sermon ,v4 ,justification by ,faith4 ,rom4 iv4 #e4 ,to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted to him for righteousness4 ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,the ,righteousness of ,faith4 ,rom4 x4 #e1 #f1 #g1 #h4 ,moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law1 that the man which doeth those things shall live by them4 ,but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise4 ,say not in thine heart1 who shall ascend into heaven8 ,that is1 to bring ,christ down from above3 ,or who shall descend into the deep8 ,that is1 to bring ,christ again from the dead4 ,but what saith it8 ,the word is nigh thee1 even in thy mouth and in thy heart2 that is the word of faith1 which we preach4 ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,mark i4 #ae4 ,the kingdom of ,god is at hand3 repent ye1 and believe the gospel4 ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,the ,first-,fruits of the ,spirit4 ,rom4 viii4 #a4 ,there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,the ,spirit of ,bondage and of ,adoption4 ,rom4 viii4 #ae4 ,ye have not received the ,spirit of bondage again unto fear3 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,,sermon ,x4 and ,,xi4 ,the ,witness of the ,spirit4 ,rom4 viii4 #af4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,,sermon ,,xii4 ,the ,witness of our own ,spirit4 #b ,cor4 i4 #ab4 ,this is our rejoicing1 the testimony of our conscience1 that in simplicity1 and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god2 we have had our conversation in the world4 ,,sermon ,,xiii4 ,on ,sin in ,believers4 #b ,cor4 v4 #ag4 ,if any man be in ,christ he is a new creature4 ,,sermon ,,xiv4 ,the ,repentance of ,believers4 ,mark i4 #ae4 ,repent and believe the gospel4 ,,sermon ,,xv4 ,the ,great ,assize4 ,rom4 xiv4 #aj4 ,we shall all stand before the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,,sermon ,,xvi4 ,the ,means of ,grace4 ,malachi iii4 #g4 ,ye are gone away from mine ordinances1 and have not kept them4 ,illustration3 7 decoration7 ,,sermons ,,on ,,several ,,occasions4 ,to the ,,reader4 #a4 ,i ,,have had a desire for several years1 if ,god should spare me a little longer1 to print in one collection1 all that ,i had before published in separate tracts4 7,i mean all the ,,prose1 except the ,notes on the ,bible1 the ,system of ,philosophy1 the ,christian ,library1 and the ,books which were designed for the use of ,kingswood ,school47 ,these ,i wanted to see printed together2 but on a better paper1 and with a little larger print than before4 #b4 ,i wanted to methodize these tracts1 to range them under proper heads1 placing those together which were on similar subjects1 and in such order1 that one might illustrate another4 ,this it is easy to see may be of use to the serious reader1 who will then readily observe1 that there is scarce any subject of importance1 either in practical or controversial divinity1 which is not treated of more or less1 either professedly or occasionally4 #c4 ,but a far more necessary work than that of methodizing was the correcting them4 ,the correcting barely the errors of the press1 is of much more consequence than ,i had conceived1 till ,i began to read them over with much more attention than ,i had done before4 ,these in many places were such as not only obscured1 but wholly destroyed the sense2 and frequently to such a degree1 that it would have been impossible for any but me to restore it1 neither could ,i do it myself in several places1 without long consideration2 the word inserted having little or no resemblance to that which ,i had used4 #d4 ,but as necessary as these corrections were1 there were others of a different kind1 which were more necessary still4 ,in revising what ,i had wrote on so many various subjects and occasions1 and for so long a course of years1 ,i found cause for not only rational or verbal corrections1 but frequently for correcting the sense also4 ,i am the more concerned to do this1 because none but myself has a right to do it4 ,accordingly ,i have altered many words or sentences2 many others ,i have omitted1 and in various parts ,i have added more or less as ,i judged the subject required3 ,so that in this edition1 ,i present to serious and candid men1 my last and maturest thoughts3 agreeable1 ,i hope1 to ,scripture1 ,reason1 and ,christian ,antiquity4 #e4 ,it may be needful to mention one thing more1 because it is a little out of the common way4 ,in the extract from ,milton's ,paradise ,lost1 and in that from ,dr4 ,young's ,night ,thoughts1 ,i placed a mark before those passages1 which ,i judged were most worthy of the reader's notice2 the same thing ,i have taken the liberty to do1 throughout the ensuing volumes3 ,many will be glad of such an help2 tho' still1 every man has a right to judge for himself1 particularly in matters of religion1 because every man must give an account of himself to ,god4 ,,john ,,wesley4 ,,march #agga4 ,,the ,,preface4 ,,the following ,sermons contain the substance of what ,i have been preaching1 for between eight and nine years last past4 ,during that time ,i have frequently spoken in public1 on every subject in the ensuing collection3 and ,i am not conscious1 that there is any one point of doctrine1 on which ,i am accustomed to speak in public1 which is not here1 incidentally1 if not professedly1 laid before every ,christian reader4 ,every serious man1 who peruses these1 will therefore see in the clearest manner1 what these doctrines are1 which ,i embrace and teach1 as the essentials of true religion4 #b4 ,but ,i am throughly sensible1 these are not proposed1 in such a manner as some may expect4 ,nothing here appears in an elaborate1 elegant or oratorical dress4 ,if it had been my desire or design to write thus1 my leisure would not permit4 ,but in truth ,i at present designed nothing less2 for ,i now write 7as ,i generally speak7 ad populum3 to the bulk of mankind1 to those who neither relish nor understand the art of speaking2 but who notwithstanding are competent judges of those truths1 which are necessary to present and future happiness4 ,i mention this1 that curious readers may spare themselves the labour1 of seeking for what they will not find4 #c4 ,i design plain truth for plain people4 ,therefore of set purpose ,i abstain from all nice and philosophical speculations1 from all perplext and intricate reasonings2 and as far as possible1 from even the shew of learning1 unless in sometimes citing the original scripture4 ,i labour to avoid all words which are not easy to be understood1 all which are not used in common life3 and in particular1 those kind of technical terms1 that so frequently occur in bodies of divinity1 those modes of speaking which men of reading are intimately acquainted with1 but which to common people are an unknown tongue4 ,yet ,i am not assured1 that ,i do not sometimes slide into them unawares3 it is so extremely natural to imagine1 that a word which is familiar to ourselves1 is so to all the world4 #d4 ,nay1 my design is1 in some sense to forget all that ever ,i have read in my life4 ,i mean to speak1 in the general1 as if ,i had never read one author1 antient or modern 7always excepting the inspired47 ,i am persuaded1 that on the one hand1 this may be a means of enabling me more clearly to express the sentiments of my heart1 while ,i simply follow the chain of my own thoughts1 without intangling myself with those of other men3 and that1 on the other1 ,i shall come with fewer weights upon my mind1 with less of prejudice and prepossession1 either to search for myself1 or to deliver to others1 the naked truths of the gospel4 #e4 ,to candid1 reasonable men1 ,i am not afraid to lay open what have been the inmost thoughts of my heart4 ,i have thought1 99 8,i am a creature of a day1 passing thro' life1 as an arrow thro' the air4 ,i am a spirit1 come from ,god1 and returning to ,god3 just hovering over the great gulph2 till a few moments hence1 ,i am no more seen2 ,i drop into an unchangeable eternity6 ,i want to know one thing1 the way to heaven3 how to land safe on that happy shore4 ,god himself has condescended to teach the way2 for this very end he came from heaven4 ,he hath written it down in a book4 ,o give me that book6 ,at any price1 give me the book of ,god6 ,i have it3 here is knowledge enough for me4 ,let me be ,homo unius libri4 ,here then ,i am1 far from the busy ways of men4 ,i sit down alone3 only ,god is here4 ,in his presence ,i open1 ,i read his book2 for this end1 to find the way to heaven4 ,is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what ,i read8 ,does any thing appear dark or intricate8 ,i lift up my heart to the ,father of lights4 8,lord1 is it not thy word1 ,if any man lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god8 ,thou givest liberally and upbraidest not4 ,thou hast said1 ,if any be willing to do thy will1 he shall know4 ,i am willing to do4 ,let me know thy will40 ,i then search after and consider parallel passages of scripture1 comparing spiritual things with spiritual4 ,i meditate thereon1 with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable4 ,if any doubt still remains1 ,i consult those who are experienced in the things of ,god3 and then1 the writings whereby being dead1 they yet speak4 ,and what ,i thus learn1 that ,i teach4 #f4 ,i have accordingly set down in the following ,sermons1 what ,i find in the ,bible concerning the way to heaven2 with a view to distinguish this way of ,god1 from all those which are the inventions of men4 ,i have endeavoured to describe the true1 the scriptural1 experimental religion1 so as to omit nothing which is a real part thereof1 and to add nothing thereto which is not4 ,and herein it is more especially my desire1 first1 to guard those who are just setting their faces toward heaven1 7and who having little acquaintance with the things of ,god1 are the more liable to be turned out of the way7 from formality1 from mere outside religion1 which has almost driven heart-religion out of the world3 and secondly1 to warn those who know the religion of the heart1 the faith which worketh by love1 lest at any time they make void the law thro' faith1 and so fall back into the snare of the devil4 #g4 ,by the advice and at the request of some of my friends1 ,i have prefixt to the other sermons contained in this volume1 three sermons of my own and one of my ,brother's1 preached before the ,university of ,oxford4 ,my design required some discourses on those heads4 ,and ,i preferred these before any others1 as being a stronger answer than any which can be drawn up now1 to those who have frequently asserted1 8,that we have changed our doctrine of late1 and do not preach now1 what we did some years ago40 ,any man of understanding may now judge for himself1 when he has compared the latter with the former sermons4 #h4 ,but some may say1 ,i have mistaken the way myself1 altho' ,i take upon me to teach it to others4 ,it is probable1 many will think this1 and it is very possible1 that ,i have4 ,but ,i trust1 whereinsoever ,i have mistaken1 my mind is open to conviction4 ,i sincerely desire to be better informed4 ,i say to ,god and man1 8,what ,i know not1 teach thou me60 #i4 99 ,are you persuaded1 you see more clearly than me8 ,it is not unlikely that you may4 ,then1 treat me1 as you would desire to be treated yourself upon a change of circumstances4 ,point me out a better way than ,i have yet known4 ,shew me it is so1 by plain proof of scripture4 ,and if ,i linger in the path ,i have been accustomed to tread1 and am therefore unwilling to leave1 labour with me a little1 take me by the hand1 and lead me as ,i am able to bear4 ,but be not displeased if ,i intreat you1 not to beat me down1 in order to quicken my pace3 ,i can go but feebly and slowly at best2 then1 ,i should not be able to go at all4 ,may ,i not request of you further1 not to give me hard names1 in order to bring me into the right way8 ,suppose ,i was ever so much in the wrong1 ,i doubt this would not set me right4 ,rather1 it would make me run so much the farther from you1 and so get more and more out of the way4 #aj4 99 ,nay1 perhaps1 if you are angry1 so shall ,i be too2 and then there will be small hopes of finding the truth4 ,if once anger arise1 7as ,homer somewhere expresses it7 this smoke will so dim the eyes of my soul1 that ,i shall be able to see nothing clearly4 ,for ,god's sake1 if it be possible to avoid it1 let us not provoke one another to wrath4 ,let us not kindle in each other this fire of hell2 much less1 blow it up into a flame4 ,if we could discern truth by that dreadful light1 would it not be loss rather than gain8 ,for how far is love1 even with many wrong opinions1 to be preferred before truth itself without love8 ,we may die without the knowledge of many truths1 and yet be carried into ,abraham's bosom4 ,but if we die without love1 what will knowledge avail8 ,just as much as it avails the devil and his angels6 ,the ,god of love forbid we should ever make the trial6 ,may he prepare us for the knowledge of all truth1 by filling our hearts with all his love1 and with all joy and peace in believing4 ,,sermon ,i4#a ,,salvation ,,by ,,faith4 ,,ephes4 ii4 #h4 ,by grace ye are saved through faith4 #a4 ,,all the blessings which ,god hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace1 bounty or favour3 his free1 undeserved favour2 favour altogether undeserved2 man having no claim to the least of his mercies4 ,it was free grace that formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into him a living soul1 and stamped on that soul the image of ,god1 and put all things under his feet4 ,the same free grace continues to us1 at this day1 life and breath1 and all things4 ,for there is nothing we are1 or have1 or do1 which can deserve the least thing at ,god's hand4 ,all our works thou1 ,o ,god1 hast wrought in us4 ,these1 therefore1 are so many more instances of free mercy4 ,and whatever righteousness may be found in man1 this is also the gift of ,god4 #b4 ,wherewithal then shall a sinful man atone for any the least of his sins8 ,with his own works8 ,no4 ,were they ever so many or holy1 they are not his own1 but ,god's4 ,but indeed they are all unholy and sinful themselves1 so that every one of them needs a fresh atonement4 ,only corrupt fruit grows on a corrupt tree4 ,and his heart is altogether corrupt and abominable2 being come short of the glory of ,god1 the glorious righteousness at first impress'd on his soul1 after the image of his great ,creator4 ,therefore1 having nothing1 neither righteousness nor works to plead1 his mouth is utterly stopt before ,god4 #c4 ,if then sinful men find favour with ,god1 it is grace upon grace4 ,if ,god vouchsafe still to pour fresh blessings upon us1 yea1 the greatest of all blessings1 salvation2 what can we say to these things1 but thanks be unto ,god for his unspeakable gift6 ,and thus it is4 ,herein ,god commendeth his love toward us1 in that while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died to save us4 ,by grace then are ye saved through faith4 ,grace is the source1 faith the condition1 of salvation4 ,now1 that we fall not short of the grace of ,god1 it concerns us carefully to enquire1 ,i4 ,what faith it is through which we are saved8 ,,ii4 ,what is the salvation which is through faith8 ,,iii4 ,how we may answer some objections4 ,i4 ,what faith it is through which we are saved8 #a4 ,and first1 ,it is not barely the faith of an ,heathen4 ,now ,god requireth of a ,heathen to believe1 ,that ,god is2 that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him2 and that he is to be sought by glorifying him as ,god1 by giving him thanks for all things2 and by a careful practice of moral virtue1 of justice1 mercy and truth toward their fellow creatures4 ,a ,greek or ,roman therefore1 yea1 a ,scythian or ,indian1 was without excuse if he did not believe thus much2 ,the being and attributes of ,god1 a future state of reward and punishment1 and the obligatory nature of moral virtue4 ,for this is barely the faith of a ,heathen4 #b4 ,nor1 #b;dly1 ,is it the faith of a devil1 tho' this goes much farther than that of a ,heathen4 ,for the devil believes1 not only1 that there is a wise and powerful ,god1 gracious to reward1 and just to punish2 but also1 that ,jesus is the son of ,god1 the ,christ1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,so we find him declaring1 in express terms1 ,luke iv4 #cd4 ,i know thee1 who thou art1 the holy one of ,god4 ,nor can we doubt but that unhappy spirit believes all those words1 which came out of the mouth of the holy one2 yea1 and whatsoever else was written by those holy men of old2 of two of whom he was compell'd to give that glorious testimony1 ,these men are the servants of the most high ,god1 who shew unto you the way of salvation4 ,thus much then the great enemy of ,god and man believes1 and trembles in believing1 that ,god was made manifest in the flesh1 that he will tread all enemies under his feet1 and that all scripture was given by inspiration of ,god4 ,thus far goeth the faith of a devil4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,the faith through which we are saved1 in that sense of the word which will hereafter be explained1 is not barely that which the apostles themselves had while ,christ was yet upon earth2 tho' they so believed on him as to leave all and follow him2 altho' they had then power to work miracles1 to heal all manner of sickness1 and all manner of disease2 yea1 they had then power and authority over all devils3 and which is beyond all this1 were sent by their master to preach the kingdom of ,god4 #d4 ,what faith is it then through which we are saved8 ,it may be answered1 first1 in general1 it is a faith in ,christ2 ,christ1 and ,god through ,christ1 are the proper objects of it4 ,herein therefore1 it is sufficiently1 absolutely1 distinguished from the faith either of ancient or modern ,heathens4 ,and from the faith of a devil1 it is fully distinguished by this1 it is not barely a speculative1 rational thing1 a cold1 lifeless assent1 a train of ideas in the head2 but also a disposition of the heart4 ,for thus saith the scripture1 ,with the heart1 man believeth unto righteousness4 ,and1 ,if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the ,lord ,jesus1 and shalt believe with thy heart1 that ,god hath raised him from the dead1 thou shalt be saved4 #e4 ,and herein does it differ from that faith which the apostles themselves had while our ,lord was on earth1 that it acknowledges the necessity and merit of his death1 and the power of his resurrection4 ,it acknowledges his death as the only sufficient means of redeeming man from death eternal2 and his resurrection as the restoration of us all to life and immortality3 inasmuch as he was delivered for our sins1 and rose again for our justification4 ,christian faith is then1 not only an assent to the whole gospel of ,christ1 but also a full reliance on the blood of ,christ1 a trust in the merits of his life1 death1 and resurrection2 a recumbency upon him as our atonement and our life2 as given for us1 and living in us2 and in consequence hereof1 a closing with him1 and cleaving to him1 as our wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,,ii4 ,what salvation it is1 which is through this faith1 is the second thing to be considered4 #a4 ,and first1 ,whatsoever else it imply1 it is a present salvation4 ,it is something attainable1 yea1 actually attained on earth1 by those who are partakers of this faith4 ,for thus saith the apostle to the believers at ,ephesus1 and in them to the believers of all ages1 not ye shall be 7tho' that also is true7 but ye are saved through faith4 #b4 ,ye are saved 7to comprize all in one word7 from sin4 ,this is the salvation which is through faith4 ,this is that great salvation foretold by the angel1 before ,god brought his first begotten into the world1 ,thou shalt call his name ,jesus1 for he shall save his people from their sins4 ,and neither here1 nor in other parts of holy writ1 is there any limitation or restriction4 ,all his people1 or1 as it is elsewhere express'd1 all that believe in him1 he will save from all their sins2 from original and actual1 past and present sin1 of the flesh and of the spirit4 ,through faith that is in him1 they are saved both from the guilt and from the power of it4 #c4 ,first from the guilt of all past sin4 ,for whereas all the world is guilty before ,god2 insomuch that should he be extreme to mark what is done amiss1 there is none that could abide it3 and whereas by the law is only the knowledge of sin1 but no deliverance from it2 so that by fulfilling the deeds of the law1 no flesh can be justified3 now the righteousness of ,god1 which is by faith of ,jesus ,christ1 is manifested unto all that believe4 ,now they are justified freely by his grace1 through the redemption that is in ,jesus ,christ4 ,him ,god hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood2 to declare his righteousness for 7or by7 the remission of the sins that are past4 ,now hath ,christ taken away the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us4 ,he hath blotted out the hand-writing that was against us1 taking it out of the way1 nailing it to his cross4 ,there is therefore no condemnation now1 to them who believe in ,christ ,jesus4 #d4 ,and being saved from guilt1 they are saved from fear4 ,not indeed from a filial fear of offending2 but from all servile fear1 from that fear which hath torment1 from fear of punishment1 from fear of the wrath of ,god2 whom they no longer regard as a severe master1 but as an indulgent father4 ,they have not received again the spirit of bondage2 but the spirit of adoption1 whereby they cry1 ,abba1 ,father3 the spirit itself also bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of ,god4 ,they are also saved from the fear1 tho' not from the possibility1 of falling away from the grace of ,god1 and coming short of the great and precious promises3 thus have they peace with ,god through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,they rejoice in hope of the glory of ,god4 ,and the love of ,god is shed abroad in their hearts1 through the ,holy ,ghost1 which is given unto them4 ,and hereby they are persuaded 7tho' perhaps not at all times1 nor with the same fulness of persuasion7 that neither death nor life1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 nor heighth nor depth1 nor any other creature1 shall be able to separate them from the love of ,god1 which is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 #e4 ,again1 through this faith they are saved from the power of sin1 as well as from the guilt of it4 ,so the apostle declares1 ,ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins1 and in him is no sin4 ,whosoever abideth in him sinneth not4 7chap4 iii4 #e1 c47 ,again1 ,little children1 let no man deceive you4,he that committeth sin is of the devil4,whosoever believeth is born of ,god4 ,and whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin1 for his seed remaineth in him3 and he cannot sin1 because he is born of ,god4 ,once more1 ,we know that whatsoever is born of ,god sinneth not3 but he that is begotten of ,god1 keepeth himself1 and that wicked one toucheth him not1 chap4 v4 #ah4 #f4 ,he that is by faith born of ,god1 sinneth not1 #a4 ,by any habitual sin3 for all habitual sin1 is sin reigning4 ,but sin cannot reign in any that believeth4 ,nor1 #b4 ,by any wilful sin1 for his will1 while he abideth in the faith1 is utterly set against all sin1 and abhorreth it as deadly poison4 ,nor1 #c4 ,by any sinful desire2 for he continually desireth the holy and perfect will of ,god2 and any unholy desire1 he by the grace of ,god stifleth in the birth4 ,nor1 #d4 ,doth he sin by infirmities1 whether in act1 word or thought4 ,for his infirmities have no concurrence of his will2 and without this they are not properly sins4 ,thus1 ,he that is born of ,god doth not commit sin4 ,and tho' he cannot say1 ,he hath not sinned1 yet now1 he sinneth not4 #g4 ,this then is the salvation which is through faith1 even in the present world3 a salvation from sin1 and the consequences of sin1 both often expressed in the word ,justification2 which1 taken in the largest sense1 implies1 a deliverance from guilt and punishment1 by the atonement of ,christ actually applied to the soul of the sinner now believing on him1 and a deliverance from the power of sin through ,christ formed in his heart4 ,so that he who is thus justified or saved by faith1 is indeed born again4 ,he is born again of the ,spirit unto a new life1 which is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,and as a new-born babe he gladly receives the sincere milk of the word1 and grows thereby3 going on in the might of the ,lord his ,god1 from faith to faith1 from grace to grace1 until at length he come unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ4 ,,iii4 ,the first usual objection to this is1 #a4 ,that 8to preach salvation or justification by faith only1 is to preach against holiness and good works40 ,to which a short answer might be given3 it would be so1 if we spake1 as some do1 of a faith which was separate from these4 ,but we speak of a faith which is not so1 but productive of all good works and all holiness4 #b4 ,but it may be of use to consider it more at large3 especially since it is no new objection1 but as old as ,st4 ,paul's time2 for even then it was asked1 ,do we not make void the law through faith8 ,we answer1 first1 all who preach not faith1 do manifestly make void the law2 either directly and grosly by limitations and comments1 that eat out all the spirit of the text3 or indirectly1 by not pointing out the only means whereby it is possible to perform it4 ,whereas1 secondly1 ,we establish the law2 both by shewing its full extent1 and spiritual meaning3 and by calling all to that living way1 whereby the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in them4 ,these1 while they trust in the blood of ,christ alone1 use all the ordinances which he hath appointed1 do all the good works which he had before prepared that they should walk therein1 and enjoy and manifest all holy and heavenly tempers1 even the same mind that was in ,christ ,jesus4 #c4 8,but does not preaching this faith lead men into pride80 ,we answer1 accidentally it may4 ,therefore ought every believer to be earnestly cautioned1 7in the words of the great apostle7 ,because of unbelief1 the first branches were broken off2 and thou standest by faith4 ,be not high-minded1 but fear4 ,if ,god spared not the natural branches1 take heed lest he spare not thee4 ,behold1 therefore the goodness and severity of ,god6 ,on them which fell1 severity3 but towards thee1 goodness3 if thou continue in his goodness2 otherwise thou also shalt be cut off4 ,and while he continues therein1 he will remember those words of ,st4 ,paul1 foreseeing and answering this very objection1 7,rom4 iii4 #bg47 ,where is boasting then8 ,it is excluded4 ,by what law8 ,of works8 ,nay2 but by the law of faith4 ,if a man were justified by his works1 he would have whereof to glory4 ,but there is no glorying for him1 that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 7,rom4 iv47 ,to the same effect are the words both preceding and following the text1 7,eph4 ii4 #d1 c47 ,god who is rich in mercy1even when we were dead in sins1 hath quickened us together with ,christ 7by grace ye are saved7that he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace1 in his kindness towards us through ,christ ,jesus4 ,for by grace ye are saved through faith4 ,and that not of yourselves4 ,of yourselves cometh neither your faith nor your salvation4 ,it is the gift of ,god2 the free1 undeserved gift1 the faith thro' which ye are saved1 as well as the salvation1 which he of his own good pleasure1 his mere favour1 annexes thereto4 ,that ye believe1 is one instance of his grace2 that believing ye are saved1 another4 ,not of works1 lest any man should boast4 ,for all our works1 all our righteousness1 which were before our believing1 merited nothing of ,god but condemnation4 ,so far were they from deserving faith2 which therefore1 whenever given1 is not of works4 ,neither is salvation of the works we do when we believe4 ,for it is then ,god that worketh in us4 ,and therefore1 that he giveth us a reward for what he himself worketh1 only commendeth the riches of his mercy1 but leaveth us nothing whereof to glory4 #d4 8,however1 may not the speaking thus of the mercy of ,god1 as saving or justifying freely by faith only1 encourage men in sin80 ,indeed it may and will2 many will continue in sin that grace may abound4 ,but their blood is upon their own head4 ,the goodness of ,god ought to lead them to repentance2 and so it will those who are sincere of heart4 ,when they know there is yet forgiveness with him1 they will cry aloud that he would blot out their sins also1 thro' faith which is in ,jesus4 ,and if they earnestly cry1 and faint not1 if they seek him in all the means he hath appointed1 if they refuse to be comforted till he come1 he will come and will tarry not4 ,and he can do much work in a short time4 ,many are the examples in the ,acts of the ,apostles1 of ,god's working this faith in men's hearts1 as quick as lightning falling from heaven4 ,so in the same hour that ,paul and ,silas began to preach1 the jailor repented1 believed1 and was baptized3 as were three thousand by ,st4 ,peter on the day of ,pentecost1 who all repented and believed at his first preaching4 ,and blessed be ,god1 there are now many living proofs1 that he is still thus mighty to save4 #e4 ,yet to the same truth1 placed in another view1 a quite contrary objection is made3 8,if a man cannot be saved by all that he can do1 this will drive men to despair40 ,true1 to despair of being saved by their own works1 their own merits or righteousness4 ,and so it ought2 for none can trust in the merits of ,christ1 till he has utterly renounced his own4 ,he that goeth about to establish his own righteousness1 cannot receive the righteousness of ,god4 ,the righteousness which is of faith cannot be given him1 while he trusteth in that which is of the law4 #f4 99 ,but this1 it is said1 is an uncomfortable doctrine4 ,the devil spoke like himself1 that is1 without either truth or shame1 when he dared to suggest to men that it is such4 ',tis the only comfortable one1 'tis very full of comfort1 to all self-destroyed1 self-condemned sinners4 ,that whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed3 that the same ,lord over all1 is rich unto all that call upon him3 here is comfort1 high as heaven1 stronger than death6 ,what6 ,mercy for all8 ,for ,zaccheus1 a public robber8 ,for ,mary ,magdalen1 a common harlot8 ,methinks ,i hear one say1 then ,i1 even ,i1 may hope for mercy6 ,and so thou mayest1 thou afflicted one1 whom none hath comforted6 ,god will not cast out thy prayer4 ,nay1 perhaps he may say the next hour1 ,be of good cheer1 thy sins are forgiven thee2 so forgiven that they shall reign over thee no more2 yea1 and that the ,holy ,spirit shall bear witness with thy spirit that thou art a child of ,god4 ,o glad tidings6 ,tidings of great joy1 which are sent unto all people4 ,ho1 every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the waters3 come ye and buy1 without money1 and without price4 ,whatsoever your sins be1 though red1 like crimson1 though more than the hairs of your head3 return ye unto the ,lord1 and he will have mercy upon you3 and to our ,god1 for he will abundantly pardon4 #g4 ,when no more objections occur1 then we are simply told1 that 8salvation by faith only1 ought not to be preached as the first doctrine1 or at least not to be preached to all40 ,but what saith the ,holy ,ghost8 ,other foundation can no man lay1 than that which is laid1 even ,jesus ,christ4 ,so then1 ,that whosoever believeth on him shall be saved1 is and must be the foundation of all our preaching2 that is1 must be preached first4 99 8,well1 but not to all40 ,to whom then are we not to preach it8 ,whom shall we except8 ,the poor8 ,nay1 they have a peculiar right to have the gospel preached unto them4 ,the unlearned8 ,no4 ,god hath revealed these things unto unlearned and ignorant men from the beginning4 ,the young8 ,by no means4 ,suffer these in any wise1 to come unto ,christ1 and forbid them not4 ,the sinners8 ,least of all4 ,he came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance4 ,why then1 if any1 we are to except the rich1 the learned1 the reputable1 the moral men4 ,and 'tis true1 they too often except themselves from hearing2 yet we must speak the words of our ,lord4 ,for thus the tenor of our commission runs1 ,go and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,if any man wrest it or any part of it to his destruction1 he must bear his own burden4 ,but still1 as the ,lord liveth1 whatsoever the ,lord saith unto us1 that we will speak4 #h4 ,at this time more especially will we speak1 ,that by grace ye are saved through faith3 because never was the maintaining this doctrine more seasonable than it is at this day4 ,nothing but this can effectually prevent the increase of the ,romish delusion among us4 ',tis endless to attack one by one1 all the errors of that church4 ,but salvation by faith strikes at the root1 and all fall at once where this is established4 ,it was this doctrine 7which our church justly calls the strong rock and foundation of the ,christian religion7 that first drove ,popery out of these kingdoms1 and 'tis this alone can keep it out4 ,nothing but this can give a check to that immorality1 which hath overspread the land as a flood4 ,can you empty the great deep1 drop by drop8 ,then you may reform us1 by dissuasives from particular vices4 ,but let the righteousness which is of ,god by faith be brought in1 and so shall its proud waves be stayed4 ,nothing but this can stop the mouths of those who glory in their shame1 and openly deny the ,lord that bought them4 ,they can talk as sublimely of the law1 as he that hath it written by ,god in his heart4 ,to hear them speak on this head1 might incline one to think1 they were not far from the kingdom of ,god4 ,but take them out of the law into the gospel2 begin with the righteousness of faith1 with ,christ1 the end of the law to every one that believeth3 and those who but now appeared almost1 if not altogether ,christians1 stand confess'd the sons of perdition2 as far from life and salvation 7,god be merciful unto them67 as the depth of hell from the height of heaven4 #i4 ,for this reason the adversary so rages1 whenever ,salvation by ,faith is declared to the world4 ,for this reason did he stir up earth and hell1 to destroy those who first preached it4 ,and for the same reason1 knowing that faith alone could overturn the foundations of his kingdom1 did he call forth all his forces1 and employ all his arts of lies and calumny1 to affright ,martin ,luther1 from reviving it4 ,nor can we wonder thereat2 for as that man of ,god observes1 ,how would it enrage a proud1 strong man armed1 to be stopt and set at nought by a little child1 coming against him with a reed in his hand8 ,especially1 when he knew that little child would surely overthrow him1 and tread him under foot4 ,even so1 ,lord ,jesus6 ,thus hath thy strength been ever made perfect in weakness6 ,go forth then1 thou little child1 that believest in him1 and his right-hand shall teach thee terrible things6 ,tho' thou art helpless and weak as an infant of days1 the strong man shall not be able to stand before thee4 ,thou shalt prevail over him1 and subdue him1 and overthrow him1 and trample him under thy feet4 ,thou shalt march on under the great captain of thy salvation1 conquering and to conquer1 until all thine enemies are destroyed1 and death is swallowed up in victory4 ,now thanks be to ,god which giveth us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to whom with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 be blessing and glory1 and wisdom1 and thanksgiving1 and honour1 and power1 and might1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,ii4#b ,,the ,,almost ,,christian4 ,,acts xxvi4 #bh4 ,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian4 ,,and many there are who go thus far3 ever since the ,christian religion was in the world1 there have been many in every age and nation1 who were almost persuaded to be ,christians4 ,but seeing it avails nothing before ,god1 to go only thus far1 it highly imports us to consider1 ,first1 ,what is implied in being almost1 ,secondly1 ,what1 in being altogether a ,christian4 ,i47 #a4 ,now1 in the being almost a ,christian is implied1 first ,heathen honesty4 ,no one1 ,i suppose1 will make any question of this2 especially1 since by ,heathen honesty here1 ,i mean1 not that which is recommended in the writings of their philosophers only1 but such as the common ,heathens expected of one another1 and many of them actually practised4 ,by the rules of this they were taught1 that they ought not to be unjust2 not to take away their neighbour's goods1 either by robbery or theft3 not to oppress the poor1 neither to use extortion toward any3 not to cheat or over-reach either the poor or rich1 in whatsoever commerce they had with them3 to defraud no man of his right1 and1 if it were possible1 to owe no man any thing4 #b4 ,again1 the common ,heathens allowed1 that some regard was to be paid to truth as well as to justice4 ,and accordingly1 they not only held him in abomination1 who was forsworn1 who called ,god to witness to a lie2 but him also1 who was known to be a slanderer of his neighbour1 who falsly accused any man4 ,and indeed little better did they esteem wilful liars of any sort1 accounting them the disgrace of human kind1 and the pests of society4 #c4 ,yet again1 there was a sort of love and assistance1 which they expected one from another4 ,they expected whatever assistance any one could give another1 without prejudice to himself4 ,and this they extended1 not only to those little offices of humanity1 which are performed without any expence or labour3 but likewise1 to the feeding the hungry1 if they had food to spare1 the clothing the naked1 with their own superfluous raiment2 and in general1 the giving to any that needed1 such things as they needed not themselves4 ,thus far 7in the lowest account of it7 ,heathen honesty went2 the first thing implied in the being almost a ,christian4 ,,ii47 #d4 ,a second thing implied in the being almost a ,christian1 is the having a form of ,godliness1 of that ,godliness which is prescribed in the gospel of ,christ3 the having the outside of a real ,christian4 ,accordingly1 the almost ,christian does nothing which the gospel forbids4 ,he taketh not the name of ,god in vain3 he blesseth and curseth not2 he sweareth not at all1 but his communication is yea1 yea2 nay1 nay4 ,he profanes not the day of the ,lord1 nor suffers it to be profaned1 even by the stranger that is within his gates4 ,he not only avoids all actual adultery1 fornication1 and uncleanness1 but every word or look1 that either directly or indirectly tends thereto3 nay1 and all idle words1 abstaining both from detraction1 backbiting1 tale-bearing1 evil-speaking1 and from all foolish talking and jesting1 1 a kind of virtue in the ,heathen moralist's account4 ,briefly1 from all conversation that is not good to the use of edifying1 and that consequently grieves the ,holy ,spirit of ,god1 whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption4 #e4 ,he abstains from wine wherein is excess1 from revellings and gluttony4 ,he avoids1 as much as in him lies1 all strife and contention1 continually endeavouring to live peaceably with all men4 ,and if he suffer wrong1 he avengeth not himself1 neither returns evil for evil4 ,he is no railer1 no brawler1 no scoffer1 either at the faults or infirmities of his neighbour4 ,he does not willingly wrong1 hurt1 or grieve any man2 but in all things acts and speaks by that plain rule1 ,whatsoever thou wouldst not he should do unto thee1 that do not thou to another4 #f4 ,and in doing good1 he does not confine himself to cheap and easy offices of kindness1 but labours and suffers for the profit of many1 that by all means he may help some4 ,in spite of toil or pain1 ,whatsoever his hand findeth to do1 he doeth it with his might3 whether it be for his friends1 or for his enemies2 for the evil1 or for the good4 ,for being not slothful in this1 or in any business1 as he hath opportunity he doth good1 all manner of good to all men2 and to their souls as well as their bodies4 ,he reproves the wicked1 instructs the ignorant1 confirms the wavering1 quickens the good1 and comforts the afflicted4 ,he labours to awaken those that sleep1 to lead those whom ,god hath already awakened1 to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness1 that they may wash therein and be clean2 and to stir up those who are saved through faith1 to adorn the gospel of ,christ in all things4 #g4 ,he that hath the form of godliness1 uses also the means of grace1 yea1 all of them1 and at all opportunities4 ,he constantly frequents the house of ,god2 and that not as the manner of some is1 who come into the presence of the ,most ,high1 either loaded with gold and costly apparel1 or in all the gaudy vanity of dress2 and either by their unseasonable civilities to each other1 or the impertinent gaiety of their behaviour1 disclaim all pretensions to the form1 as well as to the power of godliness4 ,would to ,god there were none even among ourselves who fall under the same condemnation2 who come into his house1 it may be1 gazing about1 or with all the signs of the most listless1 careless indifference1 tho' sometimes they may seem to use a prayer to ,god for his blessing on what they are entering upon2 who1 during that awful service1 are either asleep or reclined in the most convenient posture for it2 or1 as tho' they supposed ,god was asleep1 talking with one another1 or looking round1 as utterly void of employment4 ,neither let these be accused of the form of godliness4 ,no2 he who has even this1 behaves with seriousness and attention1 in every part of that solemn service4 ,more especially when he approaches the table of the ,lord1 it is not with a light or careless behaviour1 but with an air1 gesture and deportment1 which speaks nothing else1 but ,god be merciful to me a sinner4 #h4 ,to this if we add1 the constant use of family-prayer1 by those who are masters of families1 and the setting times apart for private addresses to ,god1 with a daily seriousness of behaviour3 he who uniformly practises this outward religion1 has the form of godliness4 ,there needs but one thing more in order to his being almost a ,christian1 and that is1 sincerity4 ,,iii47 #i4 ,by sincerity ,i mean1 a real1 inward principle of religion1 from whence these outward actions flow4 ,and indeed1 if we have not this1 we have not ,heathen honesty2 no1 not so much of it as will answer the demand of a ,heathen1 ,epicurean poet4 ,even this poor wretch1 in his sober intervals1 is able to testify ,oderunt peccare boni1 virtutis amore2 ,oderunt peccare mali1 formidine pn4#c ,so that if a man only abstains from doing evil1 in order to avoid punishment1 ,non pasces in cruce corvos1#d saith the ,pagan2 there1 ,thou hast thy reward4 ,but even he will not allow such a harmless man as this1 to be so much as a good ,heathen4 ,if then any man1 from the same motive1 viz4 to avoid punishment1 to avoid the loss of his friends1 or his gain1 or his reputation1 should not only abstain from doing evil1 but also do ever so much good1 yea1 and use all the means of grace3 yet we could not with any propriety say1 this man is even almost a ,christian4 ,if he has no better principle in his heart1 he is only a hypocrite altogether4 #aj4 ,sincerity therefore is necessarily implied in the being almost a ,christian3 a real design to serve ,god1 a hearty desire to do his will3 it is necessarily implied1 that a man have a sincere view of pleasing ,god in all things3 in all his conversation3 in all his actions3 in all he does1 or leaves undone4 ,this design1 if any man be almost a ,christian1 runs through the whole tenor of his life4 ,this is the moving principle1 both in his doing good1 his abstaining from evil1 and his using the ordinances of ,god4 #aa4 ,but here it will probably be enquired1 is it possible that any man living1 should go so far as this1 and nevertheless be only almost a ,christian8 ,what more than this can be implied1 in the being a ,christian altogether8 ,i answer1 first1 ,that it is possible to go thus far1 and yet be but almost a ,christian2 ,i learn not only from the oracles of ,god1 but also from the sure testimony of experience4 #ab4 ,brethren1 great is my boldness towards you in this behalf4 ,and forgive me this wrong1 if ,i declare my own folly upon the house-top1 for yours and the gospel's sake4 ,suffer me then to speak freely of myself1 even as of another man4 ,i am content to be abased1 so ye may be exalted1 and to be yet more vile1 for the glory of my ,lord4 #ac4 ,i did go thus far for many years1 as many of this place can testify3 using diligence to eschew all evil1 and to have a conscience void of offence3 redeeming the time1 buying up every opportunity of doing all good to all men2 constantly and carefully using all the public and all the private means of grace2 endeavouring after a steddy seriousness of behaviour1 at all times and in all places3 and ,god is my record1 before whom ,i stand1 doing all this in sincerity2 having a real design to serve ,god1 a hearty desire to do his will in all things1 to please him who had called me to fight the good fight1 and to lay hold of eternal life4 ,yet my own conscience beareth me witness in the ,holy ,ghost1 that all this time ,i was but almost a ,christian4 ,,ii4 ,if it be enquired1 what more than this is implied in the being altogether a ,christian8 ,i answer1 ,i47 #a4 ,first1 ,the love of ,god4 ,for thus saith his word1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god1 with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind1 and with all thy strength4 ,such a love is this1 as engrosses the whole heart1 as takes up all the affections1 as fills the entire capacity of the soul1 and employs the utmost extent of all its faculties4 ,he that thus loves the ,lord his ,god1 his spirit continually rejoiceth in ,god his ,saviour4 ,his delight is in the ,lord1 his ,lord and his all1 to whom in every thing he giveth thanks4 ,all his desire is unto ,god1 and to the remembrance of his name4 ,his heart is ever crying out1 ,whom have ,i in heaven but thee1 and there is none upon earth that ,i desire beside thee4 ,indeed1 what can he desire beside ,god8 ,not the world1 or the things of the world4 ,for he is crucified to the world1 and the world crucified to him4 ,he is crucified to the desire of the flesh1 the desire of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,yea1 he is dead to pride of every kind3 for love is not puffed up2 but he that dwelling in love1 dwelleth in ,god1 and ,god in him1 is less than nothing in his own eyes4 ,,ii47 #b4 ,the second thing implied in the being altogether a ,christian is1 the love of our neighbour4 ,for thus said our ,lord in the following words1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,if any man ask who is my neighbour1 we reply1 every man in the world2 every child of his1 who is the father of the spirits of all flesh4 ,nor may we in any wise except our enemies1 or the enemies of ,god and their own souls4 ,but every ,christian loveth these also as himself1 yea1 as ,christ loved us4 ,he that would more fully understand what manner of love this is1 may consider ,st4 ,paul's description of it4 ,it is long-suffering and kind3 it envieth not3 it is not rash or hasty in judging3 it is not puffed up1 but maketh him that loves1 the least1 the servant of all4 ,love doth not behave itself unseemly1 but becometh all things to all men4 ,she seeketh not her own1 but only the good of others1 that they may be saved4 ,love is not provoked4 ,it casteth out wrath1 which he who hath1 is wanting in love4 ,it thinketh no evil4 ,it rejoiceth not in iniquity1 but rejoiceth in the truth4 ,it covereth all things1 believeth all things1 hopeth all things1 endureth all things4 ,,iii47 #c4 ,there is yet one thing more that may be separately considered1 tho' it cannot actually be separate from the preceding1 which is implied in the being altogether a ,christian4 ,and that is the ground of all1 even faith4 ,very excellent things are spoken of this throughout the oracles of ,god4 ,every one1 saith the beloved disciple1 that believeth1 is born of ,god4 ,to as many as received him1 gave he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name4 ,and1 this is the victory that overcometh the world1 even our faith4 ,yea1 our ,lord himself declares1 ,he that believeth in the ,son hath everlasting life2 and cometh not into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4 #d4 ,but here let no man deceive his own soul4 8,it is diligently to be noted1 the faith which bringeth not forth repentance and love1 and all good works1 is not that right living faith1 but a dead and devilish one4 ,for even the devils believe1 that ,christ was born of a virgin1 that he wrought all kinds of miracles1 declaring himself very ,god3 that for our sakes he suffered a most painful death1 to redeem us from death everlasting3 that he rose again the third day3 that he ascended into heaven1 and sitteth at the right hand of the ,father1 and at the end of the world1 shall come again to judge both the quick and dead4 ,these articles of our faith the devils believe1 and so they believe all that is written in the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,and yet for all this faith1 they be but devils4 ,they remain still in their damnable estate1 lacking the very true ,christian faith40#e #e4 8,the right and true ,christian faith is 7to go on in the words of our own church7 not only to believe that holy scripture1 and the articles of our faith are true1 but also to have a sure trust and confidence1 to be saved from everlasting damnation by ,christ4 ,it is a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in ,god1 that by the merits of ,christ his sins are forgiven1 and he reconciled to the favour of ,god1whereof doth follow a loving heart1 to obey his commandments40 #f4 ,now whosoever has this faith1 which purifies the heart1 by the power of ,god1 who dwelleth therein1 from pride1 anger1 desire1 from all unrighteousness1 from all filthiness of flesh and spirit1 which fills it with love stronger than death1 both to ,god and to all mankind2 love that doth the works of ,god1 glorying to spend and to be spent for all men1 and that endureth with joy1 not only the reproach of ,christ1 the being mocked1 despised1 and hated of all men1 but whatsoever the wisdom of ,god permits the malice of men or devils to inflict2 whosoever has this faith1 thus working by love1 is not almost only1 but altogether a ,christian4 #g4 ,but who are the living witnesses of these things8 ,i beseech you1 brethren1 as in the presence of that ,god1 before whom hell and destruction are without a covering3 how much more the hearts of the children of men8 that each of you would ask his own heart1 8,am ,i of that number8 ,do ,i so far practise justice1 mercy and truth1 as even the rules of ,heathen honesty require8 ,if so1 have ,i the very outside of a ,christian8 ,the form of godliness8 ,do ,i abstain from evil1 from whatsoever is forbidden in the written word of ,god8 ,do ,i1 whatever good my hand findeth to do1 do it with my might8 ,do ,i seriously use all the ordinances of ,god at all opportunities8 ,and is all this done1 with a sincere design and desire to please ,god in all things80 #h4 ,are not many of you conscious1 that you never came thus far2 that you have not been even almost a ,christian8 ,that you have not come up to the standard of ,heathen honesty8 ,at least1 not to the form of ,christian godliness8 ,much less hath ,god seen sincerity in you1 a real design of pleasing him in all things4 ,you never so much as intended1 to devote all your words and works1 your business1 studies1 diversions1 to his glory4 ,you never even designed or desired1 that whatsoever you did1 should be done in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and1 as such1 should be a spiritual sacrifice1 acceptable to ,god through ,christ4 #i4 ,but supposing you had2 do good designs and good desires make a ,christian8 ,by no means1 unless they are brought to good effect4 8,hell is paved1 saith one1 with good intentions40 ,the great question of all then still remains4 ,is the love of ,god shed abroad in your heart8 ,can you cry out1 8,my ,god and my all80 ,do you desire nothing but him8 ,are you happy in ,god8 ,is he your glory1 your delight1 your crown of rejoicing8 ,and is this commandment written in your heart1 that he who loveth ,god love his brother also8 ,do you then love your neighbour as yourself8 ,do you love every man1 even your enemies1 even the enemies of ,god1 as your own soul8 ,as ,christ loved you8 ,yea1 dost thou believe that ,christ loved thee1 and gave himself for thee8 ,hast thou faith in his blood8 ,believest thou the ,lamb of ,god hath taken away thy sins1 and cast them as a stone into the depth of the sea8 ,that he hath blotted out the hand-writing that was against thee1 taking it out of the way1 nailing it to his cross8 ,hast thou indeed redemption through his blood1 even the remission of thy sins8 ,and doth his ,spirit bear witness with thy spirit1 that thou art a child of ,god8 #aj4 ,the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who now standeth in the midst of us1 knoweth that if any man die without this faith and this love1 good it were for him that he had never been born4 ,awake1 then1 thou that sleepest1 and call upon thy ,god3 call in the day when he may be found4 ,let him not rest1 till he make his goodness to pass before thee1 till he proclaim unto thee the name of the ,lord1 ,the ,lord1 the ,lord ,god1 merciful and gracious1 long-suffering1 and abundant in goodness and truth2 keeping mercy for thousands1 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin4 ,let no man persuade thee by vain words1 to rest short of this prize of thy high calling4 ,but cry unto him day and night1 who1 while we were without strength1 died for the ungodly1 until thou knowest in whom thou hast believed1 and canst say1 8,my ,lord and my ,god40 ,remember1 always to pray and not to faint1 till thou also canst lift up thy hand unto heaven1 and declare to him that liveth for ever and ever1 8,lord1 thou knowest all things1 thou knowest that ,i love thee40 #aa4 ,may we all thus experience what it is1 to be not almost only1 but altogether ,christians6 ,being justified freely by his grace1 through the redemption that is in ,jesus3 knowing we have peace with ,god through ,jesus ,christ3 rejoicing in hope of the glory of ,god1 and having the love of ,god shed abroad in our hearts1 by the ,holy ,ghost given unto us6 ,,sermon ,,iii4#f ,,ephes4 v4 #ad4 ,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead1 and ,christ shall give thee light4 ,,in discoursing on these words1 ,i shall1 with the help of ,god1 ,first1 ,describe the sleepers to whom they are spoken4 ,secondly1 ,enforce the exhortation1 ,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead4 ,and1 ,thirdly1 ,explain the promise made to such as do awake and arise2 ,christ shall give thee light4 ,i47 #a4 ,and first1 as to the sleepers here spoken to4 ,by sleep is signified the natural state of man3 that deep sleep of the soul into which the sin of ,adam hath cast all who spring from his loins2 that supineness1 indolence1 and stupidity1 that insensibility of his real condition1 wherein every man comes into the world1 and continues till the voice of ,god awakes him4 #b4 ,now they that sleep1 sleep in the night4 ,the state of nature is a state of utter darkness2 a state wherein darkness covers the earth1 and gross darkness the people4 ,the poor unawakened sinner1 how much knowledge soever he may have as to other things1 has no knowledge of himself3 in this respect1 he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know4 ,he knows not that he is a fallen spirit1 whose only business in the present world1 is to recover from his fall1 to regain that image of ,god wherein he was created4 ,he sees no necessity for the one thing needful1 even that inward universal change1 that birth from above 7figured out by baptism7 which is the beginning of that total renovation1 that sanctification of spirit1 soul and body1 without which no man shall see the ,lord4 99 #c4 ,full of all diseases as he is1 he fancies himself in perfect health3 fast bound in misery and iron1 he dreams that he is at liberty4 ,he says1 ,peace1 peace1 while the devil1 as a strong man armed1 is in full possession of his soul4 ,he sleeps on still1 and takes his rest1 tho' hell is moved from beneath to meet him2 tho' the pit1 from whence there is no return1 hath opened its mouth to swallow him up3 a fire is kindled around him1 yet he knoweth it not2 yea it burns him1 yet he lays it not to heart4 #d4 ,by one who sleeps we are therefore to understand 7and would to ,god we might all understand it67 ,a sinner satisfied in his sins2 contented to remain in his fallen state1 to live and die without the image of ,god3 one who is ignorant both of his disease1 and of the only remedy for it3 one who never was warned1 or never regarded the warning voice of ,god1 to flee from the wrath to come3 one that never yet saw he was in danger of hell-fire1 or cried out in the earnestness of his soul1 ,what must ,i do to be saved8 #e4 ,if this sleeper be not outwardly vicious1 his sleep is usually the deepest of all3 whether he be of the ,laodicean spirit1 neither cold nor hot2 but a quiet1 rational1 inoffensive1 good-natured professor of the religion of his fathers2 or whether he be zealous and orthodox1 and after the most straitest sect of our religion1 live a ,pharisee2 that is1 according to the scriptural account1 one that justifies himself2 one that labours to establish his own righteousness1 as the ground of his acceptance with ,god4 #f4 ,this is he1 who having a form of godliness1 denies the power thereof2 yea1 and probably reviles it1 wheresoever it is found1 as mere extravagance and delusion4 ,meanwhile1 the wretched self-deceiver thanks ,god1 that he is not as other men are2 adulterers1 unjust1 extortioners3 no1 he doth no wrong to any man4 ,he fasts twice in the week1 uses all the means of grace1 is constant at church and sacrament3 yea1 and gives tithes of all that he has1 does all the good that he can3 touching the righteousness of the law1 he is blameless3 he wants nothing of godliness but the power2 nothing of religion1 but the spirit2 nothing of ,christianity1 but the truth and the life4 #g4 ,but know ye not1 that however highly esteemed among men1 such a ,christian as this may be1 he is an abomination in the sight of ,god1 and an heir of every woe1 which the ,son of ,god yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever1 denounces against ,scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites8 ,he hath made clean the outside of the cup and the platter1 but within is full of all filthiness4 ,an evil disease cleaveth still unto him1 so that his inward parts are very wickedness4 ,our ,lord fitly compares him to a painted sepulchre1 which appears beautiful without2 but nevertheless is full of dead mens bones1 and of all uncleanness4 ,the bones indeed are no longer dry2 the sinews and flesh are come upon them1 and the skin covers them above1 but there is no breath in them1 no ,spirit of the living ,god4 ,and if any man have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of his4 ,ye are ,christ's1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwell in you4 ,but if not1 ,god knoweth that ye abide in death1 even until now4 #h4 ,this is another character of the sleeper here spoken to4 ,he abides in death1 tho' he knows it not4 ,he is dead unto ,god1 dead in trespasses and sins4 ,for1 to be carnally minded is death4 ,even as it is written1 by one man sin entered into the world1 and death by sin3 and so death passed upon all men1 not only temporal death1 but likewise spiritual and eternal4 ,in that day that thou eatest 7said ,god to ,adam7 ,thou shalt surely die4 ,not bodily 7unless as he then became mortal7 but spiritually3 thou shalt lose the life of thy soul3 thou shalt die to ,god2 shalt be separated from him1 thy essential life and happiness4 #i4 ,thus first was dissolved the vital union of our soul with ,god3 insomuch that in the midst of natural life1 we are now in spiritual death4 ,and herein we remain till the second ,adam becomes a quickening spirit to us1 till he raises the dead1 the dead in sin1 in pleasure1 riches1 or honours4 ,but before any dead soul can live1 he hears 7hearkens to7 the voice of the ,son of ,god3 ,he is made sensible of his lost estate1 and receives the sentence of death in himself4 ,he knows himself to be dead while he liveth1 dead to ,god1 and all the things of ,god3 having no more power to perform the actions of a living ,christian1 than a dead body to perform the functions of a living man4 #aj4 ,and most certain it is1 that one dead in sin1 has not senses exercised to discern spiritual good and evil4 ,having eyes1 he sees not1 he hath ears and hears not4 ,he doth not taste and see that the ,lord is gracious4 ,he hath not seen ,god at any time1 nor heard his voice1 nor handled the word of life4 ,in vain is the name of ,jesus like ointment poured forth1 and all his garments smell of myrrh1 aloes and cassia4 ,the soul that sleepeth in death hath no perception of any objects of this kind4 ,his heart is past feeling1 and understandeth none of these things4 99 #aa4 ,and hence having no spiritual senses1 no inlets of spiritual knowledge1 the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god2 nay1 he is so far from receiving them1 that whatsoever is spiritually discerned is mere foolishness unto him4 ,he is not content with being utterly ignorant of spiritual things1 but he denies the very existence of them4 ,and spiritual sensation itself is to him1 the foolishness of folly4 ,how1 saith he1 can these things be8 ,how can any man know1 that he is alive to ,god8 ,even as you know1 that your body is now alive4 ,faith is the life of the soul3 and if ye have this life abiding in you1 ye want no marks to evidence it to yourself1 but that 1 that divine consciousness1 that witness of ,god1 which is more and greater than ten thousand human witnesses4 #ab4 ,if he doth not now bear witness with thy spirit1 that thou art a child of ,god1 ,o that he might convince thee1 thou poor unawakened sinner1 by his demonstration and power1 that thou art a child of the devil6 ,o that as ,i prophesy1 there might now be a noise and a shaking1 and may the bones come together1 bone to his bone4 ,then come from the four winds1 ,o breath1 and breathe on these slain1 that they may live6 ,and do not ye harden your hearts1 and resist the ,holy ,ghost1 who even now is come to convince you of sin1 because you believe not on the name of the only begotten ,son of ,god4 ,,ii47 #a4 99 ,wherefore1 ,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead4 ,god calleth thee now by my mouth2 and bids thee know thyself1 thou fallen spirit1 thy true state and only concern below4 ,what meanest thou1 ,o sleeper8 ,arise6 ,call upon thy ,god1 if so be thy ,god will think upon thee1 that thou perish not4 ,a mighty tempest is stirred up round about thee1 and thou art sinking into the depths of perdition1 the gulph of ,god's judgments4 ,if thou wouldst escape them1 cast thyself into them4 ,judge thyself1 and thou shalt not be judged of the ,lord4 #b4 ,awake1 awake6 ,stand up this moment1 lest thou drink at the ,lord's hand the cup of his fury4 ,stir up thyself to lay hold on the ,lord1 the ,lord thy righteousness1 mighty to save6 ,shake thyself from the dust4 ,at least1 let the earthquake of ,god's threatnings shake thee4 ,awake and cry out with the trembling gaoler1 ,what must ,i do to be saved8 ,and never rest1 till thou believest on the ,lord ,jesus1 with a faith which is his gift1 by the operation of his spirit4 #c4 99 ,if ,i speak to any one of you more than to another1 it is to thee1 who thinkest thyself unconcerned in this exhortation4 ,i have a message from ,god unto thee4 ,in his name1 ,i warn thee to flee from the wrath to come4 ,thou unholy soul1 see thy picture in condemn'd ,peter1 lying in the dark dungeon1 between the soldiers1 bound with two chains1 the keepers before the door keeping the prison4 ,the night is far spent1 the morning is at hand1 when thou art to be brought forth to execution4 ,and in these dreadful circumstances1 thou art fast asleep2 thou art fast asleep in the devil's arms1 on the brink of the pit1 in the jaws of everlasting destruction4 #d4 ,o may the angel of the ,lord come upon thee1 and the light shine into thy prison6 ,and mayst thou feel the stroke of an almighty hand1 raising thee with arise up quickly1 gird thyself1 and bind on thy sandals1 cast thy garments about thee1 and follow me4 #e4 99 ,awake1 thou everlasting spirit1 out of thy dream of worldly happiness4 ,did not ,god create thee for himself8 ,then1 thou canst not rest1 till thou restest in him4 ,return thou wanderer4 ,fly back to thy ark4 ,this is not thy home4 ,think not of building tabernacles here4 ,thou art but a stranger1 a sojourner upon earth3 ,a creature of a day1 but just launching out into an unchangeable state4 ,make haste4 ,eternity is at hand4 ,eternity depends on this moment4 ,an eternity of happiness1 or an eternity of misery6 #f4 ,in what state is thy soul8 ,was ,god1 while ,i am yet speaking1 to require it of thee1 art thou ready to meet death and judgment8 ,canst thou stand in his sight1 who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity8 ,art thou meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light8 ,hast thou fought a good fight and kept the faith8 ,hast thou secured the one thing needful8 ,hast thou recovered the image of ,god1 even righteousness and true holiness8 ,hast thou put off the old man and put on the new8 ,art thou cloathed upon with ,christ8 #g4 ,hast thou oil in thy lamp8 ,grace in thy heart8 ,dost thou love the ,lord thy ,god1 with all thy heart1 and with all thy mind1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy strength8 ,is that mind in thee1 which was also in ,christ ,jesus8 ,art thou a ,christian indeed8 ,that is1 a new creature8 ,are old things past away1 and all things become new8 #h4 ,art thou a partaker of the divine nature8 ,knowest thou not1 that ,christ is in thee1 except thou be reprobate8 ,knowest thou1 that ,god dwelleth in thee1 and thou in ,god1 by his ,spirit which he hath given thee8 ,knowest thou not1 that thy body is a temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 which thou hast of ,god8 ,hast thou the witness in thyself8 ,the earnest of thine inheritance8 ,hast thou received the ,holy ,ghostor dost thou start at the question1 not knowing whether there be any ,holy ,ghost8 #i4 ,if it offends thee1 be thou assured1 that thou neither art a ,christian1 nor desirest to be one4 ,nay1 thy very prayer is turned into sin2 and thou hast solemnly mocked ,god this very day1 by praying for the inspiration of his holy spirit1 when thou didst not believe there was any such thing to be received4 #aj4 99 ,yet on the authority of ,god's word and our own church1 ,i must repeat the question1 ,hast thou received the ,holy ,ghost8 ,if thou hast not1 thou art not yet a ,christian3 for a ,christian is a man1 that is anointed with the ,holy ,ghost1 and with power4 ,thou art not yet made a partaker of pure religion and undefiled4 ,dost thou know1 what religion is8 ,that it is1 a participation of the divine nature1 the life of ,god in the soul of man3 ,christ formed in the heart1 ,christ1 in thee1 the hope of glory3 happiness and holiness3 heaven begun upon earth3 a kingdom of ,god within thee3 not meat and drink1 no outward thing3 but righteousness and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost8 ,an everlasting kingdom brought into thy soul1 a peace of ,god1 that passeth all understanding2 a joy unspeakable and full of glory8 #aa4 ,knowest thou1 that in ,jesus ,christ1 neither circumcision availeth any thing1 nor uncircumcision2 but faith that worketh by love2 but a new creation8 ,seest thou the necessity of that inward change1 that spiritual birth1 that life from the dead8 ,that holiness8 ,and art thou throughly convinced1 that without it1 no man shall see the ,lord8 ,art thou labouring after it8 ,giving all diligence1 to make thy calling and election sure8 ,working out thy salvation with fear and trembling8 ,agonizing to enter in at the straight gate8 ,art thou in earnest about thy soul8 ,and1 canst thou tell the ,searcher of hearts1 ,thou1 ,o ,god1 art the thing that ,i long for6 ,lord1 thou knowest all things6 ,thou knowest that ,i would love thee6 #ab4 ,thou hopest to be savedbut what reason hast thou to give of the hope that is in thee8 ,is it because thou hast done no harm8 ,or1 because thou hast done much good8 ,or1 because thou art not like other men2 but wise1 or learned1 or honest and morally good8 ,esteemed of men1 and of a fair reputation8 ,alas1 all this will never bring thee to ,god4 ,it is in his account lighter than vanity4 ,dost thou know ,jesus ,christ whom he hath sent8 ,hath he taught thee1 that by grace we are saved through faith8 ,and that1 not of ourselves4 ,it is the gift of ,god3 not of works1 lest any man should boast4 ,hast thou received the faithful saying as the whole foundation of thy hope1 ,jesus ,christ came into the world to save sinners8 ,hast thou learned what that meaneth1 ,i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance8 ,i am not sent1 but to the lost sheep8 ,art thou 7he that heareth1 let him understand67 lost1 dead8 ,damned already8,dost thou know thy deserts8 ,dost thou feel thy wants8 ,art thou poor in spirit8 ,mourning for ,god and refusing to be comforted8 ,is the prodigal come to himself1 and well-content to be therefore thought beside himself1 by those who are still feeding upon the husks which he hath left8 ,art thou willing to live godly in ,christ ,jesus8 ,and dost thou therefore suffer persecution8 ,do men say all manner of evil against thee falsely1 for the ,son of man's sake8 #ac4 ,o1 that in all these questions ye may hear the voice that wakes the dead1 and feel that hammer of the word1 which breaketh the rocks in pieces6,if ye will hear his voice to day1 while it is called to day1 harden not your hearts4 ,now awake thou that sleepest in spiritual death1 that thou sleep not in death eternal6 ,feel thy lost estate1 and arise from the dead4 ,leave thine old companions in sin and death4 ,follow thou ,jesus1 and let the dead bury their dead4 ,save thyself from this untoward generation4 ,come out from among them1 and be thou separate1 and touch not the unclean thing1 and the ,lord shall receive thee1 ,christ shall give thee light4 ,,iii47 #a4 ,this promise ,i come1 lastly1 to explain4 ,and how encouraging a consideration is this1 that whosoever thou art who obeyest his call1 thou canst not seek his face in vain4 ,if thou even now awakest and arisest from the dead1 he hath bound himself to give thee light4 ,the ,lord shall give thee grace and glory2 the light of his grace here1 and the light of his glory1 when thou receivest the crown that fadeth not away4 ,thy light shall break forth as the morning1 and thy darkness be as the noon-day4 ,god who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 shall shine in thy heart2 to give the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,on them that fear the ,lord shall the sun of righteousness arise1 with healing in his wings4 ,and in that day it shall be said unto thee1 ,arise1 shine3 for thy light is come1 and the glory of the ,lord is risen upon thee4 ,for ,christ shall reveal himself in thee4 ,and he is the true light4 #b4 ,god is light1 and will give himself to every awakened sinner1 that waiteth for him3 and thou shalt then be a temple of the living ,god1 and ,christ shall dwell in thy heart by faith3 and being rooted and grounded in love1 thou shalt be able to comprehend with all saints1 what is the breadth1 and length1 and depth1 and heighth of that love of ,christ which passeth knowledge4 #c4 ,ye see your calling1 brethren4 ,we are call'd to be an habitation of ,god through his ,spirit3 and through his ,spirit dwelling in us1 to be saints here1 and partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,so exceeding great are the promises which are given unto us1 actually given unto us who believe4 ,for by faith we receive1 not the spirit of the world1 but the ,spirit which is of ,god1 the sum of all the promises1 that we may know the things that are freely given to us of ,god4 #d4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ is that great gift of ,god1 which at sundry times1 and in divers manners he hath promised to man1 and hath fully bestowed since the time that ,christ was glorified4 ,those ,promises before made to the fathers1 he hath thus fulfilled3 ,i will put my ,spirit within you1 and cause you to walk in my statutes#g4 ,i will pour water upon him that is thirsty1 and floods upon the dry ground3 ,i will pour my ,spirit upon thy seed1 and my blessing upon thine offspring#h4 #e4 ,ye may all be living witnesses of these things3 of remission of sins1 and the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,if thou canst believe1 all things are possible to him that believeth4 ,who among you is there1 that feareth the ,lord1 and yet walketh on in darkness1 and hath no light8 ,i ask thee in the name of ,jesus1 believest thou that his arm is not shortned at all8 ,that he is still mighty to save8 ,that he is the same yesterday1 to day1 and for ever8 ,that he hath now power1 on earth to forgive sins8 ,son1 be of good cheer2 thy sins are forgiven4 ,god for ,christ's sake hath forgiven thee4 ,receive this1 not as the word of man2 but as it is1 indeed1 the word of ,god2 and thou art justified freely through faith4 ,thou shalt be sanctified also through faith which is in ,jesus1 and shalt set to thy seal1 even thine1 that ,god hath given unto us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son4 #f4 ,men and brethren1 let me freely speak unto you2 and suffer ye the word of exhortation1 even from one the least esteemed in the church4 ,your conscience beareth you witness in the ,holy ,ghost1 that these things are so1 if so be ye have tasted that the ,lord is gracious4 ,this is eternal life1 to know the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom he hath sent4 ,this experimental knowledge1 and this alone1 is true ,christianity4 ,he is a ,christian1 who hath received the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,he is not a ,christian1 who hath not received him4 ,neither is it possible to have received him and not know it4 ,for at that day#i 7when he cometh1 saith our ,lord7 ye shall know1 that ,i am in my ,father1 and you in me1 and ,i in you4 ,this is that ,spirit of ,truth1 whom the world cannot receive1 because it seeth him not1 neither knoweth him4 ,but ye know him3 for he dwelleth with you1 and shall be in you4 #g4 ,the world cannot receive him1 but utterly reject the promise of the ,father1 contradicting and blaspheming4 ,but every spirit which confesseth not this1 is not of ,god4 ,yea1 this is that spirit of antichrist1 whereof ye have heard1 that it should come into the world1 and even now it is in the world4 99 ,he is antichrist whosoever denies the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 or that the indwelling ,spirit of ,god is the common privilege of all believers1 the blessing of the gospel1 the unspeakable gift1 the universal promise1 the criterion of a real ,christian4 #h4 ,it nothing helps them to say1 8,we do not deny the assistance of ,god's ,spirit2 but only this inspiration1 this receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 and being sensible of it4 ,it is only this feeling of the ,spirit1 this being moved by the ,spirit1 or filled with it1 which we deny to have any place in sound religion40 ,but in only denying this1 you deny the whole scriptures1 the whole truth and promise and testimony of ,god4 #i4 ,our own excellent church knows nothing of this devilish distinction3 but speaks plainly of feeling the ,spirit of ,christ#aj2 of being moved by the ,holy ,ghost#aa1 and knowing and feeling there is no other name than that of ,jesus#ab1 whereby we can receive life and salvation4 ,she teaches us all to pray for the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit#ac1 yea1 that we may be filled with the ,holy ,ghost#ad4 ,nay1 and every presbyter of hers1 professes to receive the ,holy ,ghost by the imposition of hands4 ,therefore to deny any of these1 is in effect1 to renounce the church of ,england1 as well as the whole ,christian revelation4 #aj4 ,but the wisdom of ,god was always foolishness with men4 ,no marvel then1 that the great mystery of the gospel1 should be now also hid from the wise and prudent1 as well as in the days of old2 that it should be almost universally denied1 ridiculed and exploded as mere frenzy3 and that all who dare avow it still1 are branded with the names of madmen and enthusiasts4 ,this is that falling away which was to come3 that general apostacy1 of all orders and degrees of men1 which we even now find to have overspread the earth4 ,run to and fro in the streets of ,jerusalem1 and see if ye can find a man2 a man that loveth the ,lord his ,god with all his heart1 and serveth him with all his strength8 ,how does our own land mourn 7that we look no farther7 under the overflowings of ungodliness8 ,what villanies of every kind are committed day by day2 yea1 too often with impunity1 by those who sin with a high hand1 and glory in their shame8 ,who can reckon up the oaths1 curses1 profaneness1 blasphemies1 the lying1 slandering1 evil-speaking1 the sabbath-breaking1 gluttony1 drunkenness1 revenge1 the whoredoms1 adulteries1 and various uncleanness1 the frauds1 injustice1 oppression1 extortion1 which overspread our land as a flood8 #aa4 99 ,and even among those who have kept themselves pure from these grosser abominations2 how much anger and pride1 how much sloth and idleness1 how much softness and effeminacy1 how much luxury and self-indulgence1 how much covetousness and ambition1 how much thirst of praise1 how much love of the world1 how much fear of man is to be found8 ,meanwhile1 how little of true religion8 ,for where is he that loveth either ,god or his neighbour1 as he hath given us commandment8 ,on the one hand are those1 who have not so much as the form of godliness3 on the other those who have the form only2 there stands the open1 there the painted sepulchre4 ,so that in very deed1 whosoever were earnestly to behold any publick gathering together of the people1 7,i fear1 those in our churches are not to be excepted7 might easily perceive1 that the one part were ,sadducees1 and the other ,pharisees3 the one having almost as little concern about religion1 as if there were no resurrection1 neither angel nor spirit2 and the other making it a mere lifeless form1 a dull round of external performances1 without either true faith1 or the love of ,god1 or joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 #ab4 ,would to ,god ,i could except us of this place4 ,brethren1 my heart's desire1 and prayer to ,god for you is1 that ye may be saved from this overflowing of ungodliness1 and that here may its proud waves be stay'd6 ,but is it so indeed8 ,god knoweth1 yea1 and our own conscience1 it is not4 ,ye have not kept yourselves pure4 ,corrupt are we also and abominable2 and few are there that understand any more1 few that worship ,god in spirit and in truth4 ,we too are a generation that set not our hearts aright1 and whose ,spirit cleaveth not stedfastly unto ,god3 ,he hath appointed us indeed to be the salt of the earth4 ,but if the salt have lost its savour1 it is thenceforth good for nothing1 but to be cast out1 and to be trodden under foot of men4 #ac4 ,and shall ,i not visit for these things1 saith the ,lord8 ,shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this8 ,yea1 we know not how soon he may say to the sword1 ,sword1 go through this land6 ,he hath given us long space to repent4 ,he lets us alone this year also3 but he warns and awakens us by thunder4 ,his judgments are abroad in the earth4 ,and we have all reason to expect that heaviest of all1 even that he should come unto us quickly1 and remove our candlestick out of its place1 except we repent and do the first works3 unless we return to the principles of the reformation1 the truth and simplicity of the gospel4 ,perhaps we are now resisting the last effort of divine grace to save us4 ,perhaps we have well nigh filled up the measure of our iniquities1 by rejecting the counsel of ,god against ourselves1 and calling out his messengers4 #ad4 ,o ,god1 in the midst of wrath remember mercy6 ,be glorified in our reformation1 not in our destruction4 ,let us hear the rod1 and him that appointed it4 ,now that thy judgments are abroad in the earth1 let the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness4 #ae4 ,my brethren1 it is high time for us1 to awake out of sleep2 before the great trumpet of the ,lord be blown1 and our land become a field of blood4 ,o may we speedily see the things that make for our peace1 before they are hid from our eyes6 ,turn thou us1 ,o good ,lord1 and let thine anger cease from us4 ,o ,lord1 look down from heaven1 behold and visit this vine2 and cause us to know the time of our visitation4 ,help us1 ,o ,god of our salvation1 for the glory of thy name2 ,o deliver us1 and be merciful to our sins1 for thy names sake4 ,and so will we not go back from thee3 ,o let us live1 and we shall call upon thy name4 ,turn us again1 ,o ,lord ,god of hosts1 shew the light of thy countenance1 and we shall be whole4 ,now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think1 according to the power that worketh in us1 unto him be glory in the church by ,christ ,jesus throughout all ages1 world without end4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,iv4#ae ,,scriptural ,,christianity4 ,acts iv4 #ca4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 #a4 ,,the same expression occurs in the second chapter1 where we read1 ,when the day of ,pentecost was fully come1 they were all 7the apostles1 with the women1 and the mother of ,jesus1 and his brethren7 with one accord in one place4 ,and suddenly there came a sound from heaven1 as of a rushing mighty wind4 ,and there appeared unto them cloven tongues1 like as of fire1 and it sat upon each of them4 ,and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,one immediate effect whereof was1 ,they began to speak with other tongues2 insomuch that both the ,parthians1 ,medes1 ,elamites1 and the other strangers who came together1 when this was noised abroad1 heard them speak1 in their several tongues1 the wonderful works of ,god4 #b4 ,in this chapter we read1 that when the apostles and brethren had been praying1 and praising ,god1 the place was shaken where they were assembled together1 and they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,not that we find any visible appearance here1 such as had been in the former instance3 nor are we informed that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost1 were then given to all or any of them2 such as the gifts of healing1 of working other miracles1 of prophecy1 of discerning spirits2 the speaking with divers kinds of tongues1 and the interpretation of tongues4 #c4 ,whether these gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were designed to remain in the church throughout all ages2 and whether or no they will be restored at the nearer approach of the restitution of all things1 are questions which it is not needful to decide4 ,but it is needful to observe this1 that even in the infancy of the church1 ,god divided them with a sparing hand4 ,were all even then prophets8 ,were all workers of miracles8 ,had all the gifts of healing8 ,did all speak with tongues8 ,no1 in no wise4 ,perhaps not one in a thousand4 ,probably none but the teachers in the church1 and only some of them4 ,it was therefore for a more excellent purpose than this1 that they were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 #d4 ,it was1 to give them 7what none can deny to be essential to all ,christians in all ages7 the mind which was in ,christ1 those holy fruits of the ,spirit1 which whosoever hath not1 is none of his3 to fill them with love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness3 to endue them with faith1 7perhaps it might be rendered1 fidelity7 with meekness and temperance3 to enable them to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts1 its passions and desires2 and1 in consequence of that inward change1 to fulfil all outward righteousness1 to walk as ,christ also walked1 in the work of faith1 the patience of hope1 the labour of love4 #e4 ,without busying ourselves then in curious1 needless enquiries1 touching those extraordinary gifts of the ,spirit1 let us take a nearer view of these his ordinary fruits2 which we are assured will remain throughout all ages3 of that great work of ,god among the children of men1 which we are used to express by one word1 ,christianity3 not as it implies a set of opinions1 a system of doctrines1 but as it refers to mens hearts and lives4 ,and this ,christianity it may be useful to consider under three distinct views4 ,i4 ,as beginning to exist in individuals4 ,,ii4 ,as spreading from one to another4 ,,iii4 ,as covering the earth4 ,i design to close these considerations with a plain practical application4 ,i4 ,and first1 let us consider ,christianity in its rise1 as beginning to exist in individuals4 ,suppose then one of those who heard the apostle ,peter preaching repentance and remission of sins1 was pricked to the heart1 was convinced of sin1 repented1 and then believed in ,jesus4 ,by this faith of the operation of ,god1 which was the very substance or subsistence of things hoped for1 the demonstrative evidence of invisible things1 he instantly received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby he now cried ,abba1 ,father6 ,now first it was that he could call ,jesus ,lord1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,spirit itself bearing witness with his spirit that he was a child of ,god4 ,now it was that he could truly say1 ,i live not1 but ,christ liveth in me2 and the life which ,i now live in the flesh1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me and gave himself for me4 #b4 ,this then was the very essence of his faith1 a divine #af of the love of ,god the ,father1 through the ,son of his love1 to him a sinner1 now accepted in the ,beloved4 ,and being justified by faith1 he had peace with ,god1 yea the peace of ,god ruling in his heart3 a peace1 which passing all understanding1 7 1 all barely rational conception7 kept his heart and mind from all doubt and fear1 through the knowledge of him in whom he had believed4 ,he could not therefore be afraid of any evil tidings2 for his heart stood fast believing in the ,lord4 ,he feared not what man could do unto him1 knowing the very hairs of his head were all numbered4 ,he feared not all the powers of darkness1 which ,god was daily bruising under his feet4 ,least of all was he afraid to die2 nay1 he desired to depart and be with ,christ2 who through death had destroyed him that had the power of death1 even the devil2 and delivered them who through fear of death1 were all their life-time1 till then1 subject to bondage4 #c4 ,his soul therefore magnified the ,lord1 and his spirit rejoiced in ,god his ,saviour4 ,he rejoiced in him with joy unspeakable1 who had reconciled him to ,god1 even the ,father3 in whom he had redemption through his blood1 the forgiveness of sins4 ,he rejoiced in that witness of ,god's ,spirit with his spirit1 that he was a child of ,god3 and more abundantly1 in hope of the glory of ,god1 in hope of the glorious image of ,god1 the full renewal of his soul in righteousness and true holiness2 and in hope of that crown of glory1 that inheritance incorruptible1 undefiled1 and that fadeth not away4 #d4 ,the love of ,god was also shed abroad in his heart1 by the ,holy ,ghost which was given unto him4 ,because he was a son1 ,god had sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into his heart1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,and that filial love of ,god was continually increased by the witness he had in himself1 of ,god's pardoning love to him1 by beholding what manner of love it was1 which the ,father had bestowed upon him1 that he should be called a child of ,god4 ,so that ,god was the desire of his eyes1 and the joy of his heart2 his portion in time and in eternity4 #e4 ,he that thus loved ,god1 could not but love his brother also2 and not in word only1 but in deed and in truth4 8,if ,god1 said he1 so loved us1 we ought also to love one another40 ,yea1 every soul of man1 as the mercy of ,god is over all his works4 ,agreeably hereto1 the affection of this lover of ,god1 embraced all mankind for his sake2 not excepting those whom he had never seen in the flesh1 or those of whom he knew nothing more than that they were the offspring of ,god2 for whose souls his ,son had died2 not excepting the evil and unthankful1 and least of all his enemies1 those who hated1 or persecuted1 or despitefully used him for his ,master's sake4 ,these had a peculiar place both in his heart and his prayers4 ,he loved them even as ,christ loved us4 #f4 ,and love is not puffed up4 ,it abases to the dust every soul wherein it dwells4 ,accordingly he was lowly of heart1 little1 mean1 and vile in his own eyes4 ,he neither sought nor received the praise of men1 but that which cometh of ,god only4 ,he was meek and long-suffering1 gentle to all1 and easy to be intreated4 ,faithfulness and truth never forsook him2 they were bound about his neck1 and wrote on the table of his heart4 ,by the same ,spirit he was enabled to be temperate in all things1 refraining his soul even as a weaned child4 ,he was crucified to the world1 and the world crucified to him3 superior to the desire of the flesh1 the desire of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,by the same almighty love was he saved1 both from passion and pride1 from lust and vanity1 from ambition and covetousness1 and from every temper which was not in ,christ4 #g4 ,it may be easily believed1 he who had this love in his heart1 would work no evil to his neighbour4 ,it was impossible for him1 knowingly and designedly1 to do harm to any man4 ,he was at the greatest distance from cruelty and wrong1 from any unjust or unkind action4 ,with the same care did he set a watch before his mouth1 and keep the door of his lips2 lest he should offend in tongue1 either against justice1 or against mercy or truth4 ,he put away all lying1 falshood and fraud2 neither was guile found in his mouth4 ,he spake evil of no man2 nor did an unkind word ever come out of his lips4 #h4 ,and as he was deeply sensible of the truth of that word1 without me ye can do nothing1 and consequently1 of the need he had to be water'd of ,god every moment2 so he continued daily in all the ordinances of ,god1 the stated channels of his grace to man4 ,in the apostles doctrine or teaching1 receiving that food of the soul with all readiness of heart1 in the breaking of bread1 which he found to be the communion of the body of ,christ1 and in the prayers and praises offered up by the great congregation4 ,and thus he daily grew in grace1 increasing in strength1 in the knowledge and love of ,god4 #i4 ,but it did not satisfy him1 barely to abstain from doing evil4 ,his soul was a-thirst to do good4 ,the language of his heart continually was1 ,my ,father worketh hitherto1 and ,i work4 ,my ,lord went about doing good2 and shall not ,i tread in his steps8 ,as he had opportunity therefore1 if he could do no good of a higher kind1 he fed the hungry1 clothed the naked1 helped the fatherless or stranger1 visited and assisted them that were sick or in prison4 ,he gave all his goods to feed the poor4 ,he rejoiced to labour or to suffer for them2 and wherein soever he might profit another1 there especially to deny himself4 ,he counted nothing too dear to part with for them1 as well remembring the word of his ,lord1 ,insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren1 ye have done it unto me4 #aj4 ,such was ,christianity in its rise4 ,such was a ,christian in ancient days4 ,such was every one of those1 who when they heard the threatnings of the chief priests and elders1 lift up their voice to ,god with one accord1 and were all filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the multitude of them that believed1 were of one heart and of one soul4 7,so did the love of him in whom they had believed1 constrain them to love one another47 ,neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own2 but they had all things common4 ,so fully were they crucified to the world1 and the world crucified to them4 ,and they continued stedfastly with one accord in the apostles doctrine1 and in the breaking of bread1 and in prayer4 ,and great grace was upon them all2 neither was there any among them that lacked3 for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them1 and brought the prices of the things that were sold1 and laid them down at the apostles feet2 and distribution was made unto every man1 according as he had need4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,let us take a view1 in the second place1 of this ,christianity1 as spreading from one to another1 and so gradually making its way into the world4 ,for such was the will of ,god concerning it1 who did not light a candle to put it under a bushel1 but that it might give light to all that were in the house4 ,and this our ,lord had declared to his first disciples1 ,ye are the salt of the earth1 the light of the world3 at the same time that he gave that general command1 ,let your light so shine before men1 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven4 #b4 ,and1 indeed1 supposing a few of these lovers of mankind1 to see the whole world lying in wickedness1 can we believe they would be unconcerned at the sight1 at the misery of those for whom their ,lord died8 ,would not their bowels yearn over them1 and their hearts melt away for very trouble8 ,could they then stand idle all the day long1 even were there no command from him whom they loved8 ,rather would they not labour1 by all possible means1 to pluck some of these brands out of the burning8 ,undoubtedly they would3 they would spare no pains to bring back whomsoever they could of those poor sheep that had gone astray1 to the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of their souls4 #c4 ,so the ,christians of old did4 ,they laboured1 having opportunity1 to do good unto all men1 warning them to flee from the wrath to come1 now1 now1 to escape the damnation of hell4 ,they declared1 ,the times of ignorance ,god winked at2 but now he calleth all men every where to repent4 ,they cried aloud1 ,turn ye1 turn ye from your evil ways2 so iniquity shall not be your ruin4 ,they reasoned with them of temperance and righteousness1 or justice1 of the virtues opposite to their reigning sins1 and of judgment to come1 of the wrath of ,god which would surely be executed on evil doers in that day when he should judge the world4 #d4 ,they endeavoured herein to speak to every man severally as he had need4 ,to the careless1 to those who lay unconcerned in darkness and in the shadow of death1 they thundered1 ,awake thou that sleepest2 arise from the dead1 and ,christ shall give thee light3 but to those who were already awakened out of sleep1 and groaning under a sense of the wrath of ,god1 their language was1 ,we have an ,advocate with the ,father2 he is the propitiation for our sins4 ,mean time those who had believed1 they provoked to love and to good works2 to patient continuance in well-doing2 and to abound more and more in that holiness1 without which no man can see the ,lord4 #e4 ,and their labour was not in vain in the ,lord4 ,his word ran and was glorified4 ,it grew mightily and prevailed4 ,but so much the more did offences prevail also4 ,the world in general were offended1 because they testified of it1 that the works thereof were evil4 ,the men of pleasure were offended1 not only because these men were made1 as it were1 to reprove their thoughts4 7,he professeth1 said they1 to have the knowledge of ,god3 he calleth himself the child of the ,lord3 his life is not like other mens2 his ways are of another fashion3 he abstaineth from our ways1 as from filthiness3 he maketh his boast1 that ,god is his ,father47 ,but much more1 because so many of their companions were taken away1 and would no more run with them to the same excess of riot4 ,the men of reputation were offended1 because1 as the gospel spread1 they declined in the esteem of the people2 and because many no longer dared to give them flattering titles1 or to pay man the homage due to ,god only4 ,the men of trade called one another together1 and said1 ,sirs1 ye know that by this craft we have our wealth4 ,but ye see and hear that these men have persuaded and turned away much people4 ,so that this our craft is in danger to be set at nought4 ,above all1 the men of religion1 so called1 the men of outside religion1 8the saints of the world10 were offended and ready at every opportunity to cry out1 ,men of ,israel1 help6 ,we have found these men6 ,pestilent fellows1 movers of sedition throughout the world4 ,these are the men that teach all men1 every where1 against the people1 and against the law4 #f4 ,thus it was that the heavens grew black with clouds1 and the storm gathered amain4 ,for the more ,christianity spread1 the more hurt was done1 in the account of those who received it not1 and the number increased of those who were more and more enraged at these men who thus turned the world upside down2 insomuch that more and more cried out1 ,away with such fellows from the earth2 it is not fit that they should live1 yea1 and sincerely believed1 that whosoever should kill them1 would do ,god service4 #g4 ,meanwhile they did not fail to cast out their name as evil3 so that this sect was every where spoken against4 ,men said all manner of evil of them1 even as had been done of the prophets that were before them4 ,and whatsoever any would affirm1 others would believe4 ,so that offences grew as the stars of heaven for multitude4 ,and hence arose1 at the time foreordain'd of the ,father1 persecution in all its forms4 ,some1 for a season1 suffered only shame and reproach2 some1 the spoiling of their goods2 some had trial of mocking and scourging2 some of bonds and imprisonment2 and others resisted unto blood4 #h4 ,now it was that the pillars of hell were shaken1 and the kingdom of ,god spread more and more4 ,sinners were every where turned from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god4 ,he gave his children such a mouth1 and such wisdom1 as all their adversaries could not resist4 ,and their lives were of equal force with their words4 ,but1 above all1 their sufferings spake to all the world4 ,they approved themselves the servants of ,god1 in afflictions1 in necessities2 in distresses2 in stripes1 in imprisonments1 in tumults1 in labours2 in perils in the sea1 in perils in the wilderness2 in weariness and painfulness1 in hunger and thirst1 in cold and nakedness4 ,and when having fought the good fight1 they were led as sheep to the slaughter1 and offered up on the sacrifice and service of their faith1 then the blood of each found a voice1 and the ,heathen owned1 ,he being dead1 yet speaketh4 #i4 ,thus did ,christianity spread itself in the earth4 ,but how soon did the tares appear with the wheat8 ,and the mystery of iniquity work as well as the mystery of godliness6 ,how soon did ,satan find a seat1 even in the temple of ,god6 ,till the woman fled into the wilderness1 and the faithful were again minished from the children of men4 ,here we tread a beaten path3 the still increasing corruptions of the succeeding generations1 have been largely described from time to time1 by those witnesses ,god raised up1 to shew that he had built his church upon a rock1 and the gates of hell should not wholly prevail against her4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,but shall we not see greater things than these8 ,yea1 greater than have been yet from the beginning of the world4 ,can ,satan cause the truth of ,god to fail1 or his promises to be of none effect8 ,if not1 the time will come1 when ,christianity will prevail over all1 and cover the earth4 ,let us stand a little1 and survey 7the third thing which was proposed7 this strange sight1 a ,christian world4 ,of this the prophets of old enquired and searched diligently3 of this the ,spirit which was in them testified1 ,it shall come to pass in the last days1 that the ,mountain of the ,lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains1 and shall be exalted above the hills1 and all nations shall flow unto it4 ,and they shall beat their swords into plough-shares1 and their spears into pruning-hooks4 ,nation shall not lift up sword against nation2 neither shall they learn war any more4 ,in that day there shall be a ,root of ,jesse1 which shall stand for an ensign of the people4 ,to it shall the ,gentiles seek1 and his rest shall be glorious4 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the ,lord shall set his hand again to recover the remnant of his people2 and he shall set up an ,ensign for the nations1 and shall assemble the outcasts of ,israel1 and gather together the dispersed of ,judah1 from the four corners of the earth4 ,the wolf shall then dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid3 and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together2 and a little child shall lead them4 ,they shall not hurt nor destroy1 saith the ,lord1 in all my holy mountain4 ,for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4 #b4 ,to the same effect are the words of the great apostle1 which it is evident have never yet been fulfilled4 ,hath ,god cast away his people8 ,god forbid4 ,but through their fall salvation is come to the ,gentiles4 ,and if the diminishing of them be the riches of the ,gentiles1 how much more their fulness8 ,for ,i would not1 brethren1 that ye should be ignorant of this mystery1,that blindness in part is happened to ,israel1 until the fulness of the ,gentiles be come in3 and so all ,israel shall be saved4 #c4 ,suppose now the fulness of time to be come1 and the prophecies to be accomplished1 what a prospect is this8 ,all is peace1 quietness1 and assurance for ever4 ,here is no din of arms1 no confused noise1 no garments rolled in blood4 ,destructions are come to a perpetual end3 wars are ceased from the earth4 ,neither are there any intestine jars remaining2 no brother rising up against brother2 no country or city divided against itself1 and tearing out its own bowels4 ,civil discord is at end for evermore1 and none is left either to destroy or hurt his neighbour4 ,here is no oppression to make even the wise man mad2 no extortion to grind the face of the poor2 no robbery or wrong2 no rapine or injustice2 for all are content with such things as they possess4 ,thus righteousness and peace have kissed each other2 they have taken root and filled the land3 righteousness flourishing out of the earth1 and peace looking down from heaven4 #d4 ,and with righteousness or justice1 mercy is also found4 ,the earth is no longer full of cruel habitations4 ,the ,lord hath destroyed both the blood-thirsty and malicious1 the envious and revengeful man4 ,were there any provocation1 there is none that now knoweth1 to return evil for evil3 but indeed there is none that doeth evil1 no not one2 for all are harmless as doves4 ,and being filled with peace and joy in believing1 and united in one body1 by one spirit1 they all love as brethren1 they are all of one heart and of one soul4 ,neither saith any of them1 that ought of the things which he possesseth is his own4 ,there is none among them that lacketh2 for every man loveth his neighbour as himself4 ,and all walk by one rule1 ,whatever ye would that men should do unto you1 even so do unto them4 #e4 ,it follows1 that no unkind word can ever be heard among them3 no strife of tongues1 no contention of any kind1 no railing or evil-speaking2 but every one opens his mouth with wisdom1 and in his tongue there is the law of kindness4 ,equally incapable are they of fraud or guile3 their love is without dissimulation3 their words are always the just expression of their thoughts1 opening a window into their breast1 that whosoever desires may look into their hearts1 and see that only love and ,god are there4 #f4 ,thus1 where the ,lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power and reigneth1 doth he subdue all things to himself2 cause every heart to overflow with love1 and fill every mouth with praise4 ,happy are the people that are in such a case2 yea1 blessed are the people who have the ,lord for their ,god4 ,arise1 shine1 7saith the ,lord7 for thy light is come1 and the glory of the ,lord is risen upon thee4 ,thou hast known that ,i the ,lord am thy ,saviour1 and thy ,redeemer1 the mighty ,god of ,jacob4 ,i have made thy officers peace1 and thy exacters righteousness4 ,violence shall no more be heard in thy land1 wasting nor destruction within thy borders3 but thou shalt call thy walls salvation1 and thy gates praise4 ,thy people are all righteous2 they shall inherit the land for ever3 the branch of my planting1 the work of my hands1 that ,i may be glorified4 ,the sun shall no more be thy light by day2 neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee3 but the ,lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light1 and thy ,god thy glory4 ,,iv4 ,having thus briefly considered ,christianity1 as beginning1 as going on1 and as covering the earth1 it remains only that ,i should close the whole with a plain practical application4 #a4 99 ,and first1 ,i would ask1 where does this ,christianity now exist8 ,where1 ,i pray1 do the ,christians live8 ,which is the country1 the inhabitants whereof are all thus filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,are all of one heart and of one soul8 ,cannot suffer one among them to lack any thing1 but continually give to every man as he hath need8 ,who one and all have the love of ,god filling their hearts1 and constraining them to love their neighbours as themselves8 ,who have all put on bowels of mercy1 humbleness of mind1 gentleness1 long-suffering8 ,who offend not in any kind1 either by word or deed1 against justice1 mercy1 or truth8 ,but in every point do unto all men1 as they would these should do unto them4 ,with what propriety can we term any a ,christian country1 which does not answer this description8 ,why then1 let us confess we have never yet seen a ,christian country upon earth4 #b4 ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the mercies of ,god1 if ye do account me a madman or a fool1 yet as a fool bear with me4 ,it is utterly needful that some one should use great plainness of speech towards you4 ,it is more especially needful at this time2 for who knoweth but it is the last8 ,who knoweth how soon the righteous ,judge may say1 ,i will no more be intreated for this people8 ,tho' ,noah1 ,daniel1 and ,job1 were in this land1 they should but deliver their own souls4 ,and who will use this plainness1 if ,i do not8 ,therefore ,i1 even ,i1 will speak4 ,and ,i adjure you1 by the living ,god1 that ye steel not your breasts against receiving a blessing at my hands4 ,do not say in your heart1 8,non persuadebis1 etiamsi persuaseris3 ,or1 in other words1 ,lord1 thou shalt not send1 by whom thou wilt send4 ,let me rather perish in my blood1 than be saved by this man60 #c4 ,brethren ,i am persuaded better things of you1 tho' ,i thus speak4 ,let me ask you then1 in tender love1 and in the spirit of meekness1 is this city a ,christian city8 ,is ,christianity1 ,scriptural ,christianity1 found here8 ,are we1 considered as a community of men1 so filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 as to enjoy in our hearts1 and shew forth in our lives1 the genuine fruits of that spirit8 ,are all the magistrates1 all heads and governors of colleges and halls1 and their respective societies1 7not to speak of the inhabitants of the town7 of one heart and one soul8 ,is the love of ,god shed abroad in our hearts8 ,are our tempers the same that were in him8 ,are our lives agreeable thereto8 ,are we holy as he who hath called us is holy1 in all manner of conversation8 #d4 ,i intreat you to observe1 that here are no peculiar notions now under consideration2 that the question moved is not concerning doubtful opinions1 of one kind or an other2 but concerning the undoubted1 fundamental branches 7if there be any such7 of our common ,christianity4 ,and for the decision thereof1 ,i appeal to your own conscience1 guided by the word of ,god4 ,he therefore that is not condemned by his own heart1 let him go free4 #e4 99 ,in the fear then1 and in the presence of the great ,god1 before whom both you and ,i shall shortly appear1 ,i pray you that are in authority over us1 whom ,i reverence for your office sake1 to consider1 7and not after the manner of dissemblers with ,god7 ,are you filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,are ye lively portraitures of him1 whom ye are appointed to represent among men8 ,i have said1 ye are ,gods1 ye magistrates and rulers2 ye are by office so nearly allied to the ,god of heaven6 ,in your several stations and degrees1 ye are to shew forth unto us the ,lord our governor4 ,are all the thoughts of your hearts1 all your tempers and desires1 suitable to your high calling8 ,are all your words like unto those which come out of the mouth of ,god8 ,is there in all your actions dignity and love8 ,a greatness which words cannot express1 which can flow only from an heart full of ,godand yet consistent with the character of man that is a worm1 and the son of man that is a worm6 #f4 99 ,ye venerable men1 who are more especially called to form the tender minds of youth1 to dispel thence the shades of ignorance and error1 and train them up to be wise unto salvation1 ,are you filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,with all those fruits of the ,spirit1 which your important office so indispensibly requires8 ,is your heart whole with ,god8 ,full of love and zeal to set up his kingdom on earth8 ,do you continually remind those under your care1 that the one rational end of all our studies1 is to know1 love1 and serve the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom he hath sent8 ,do you inculcate upon them1 day by day1 that love alone never faileth8 7,whereas1 whether there be tongues1 they shall fail1 or philosophical knowledge1 it shall vanish away37 and that without love1 all learning is but splendid ignorance1 pompous folly1 vexation of spirit4 ,has all you teach an actual tendency to the love of ,god1 and of all mankind for his sake8 ,have you an eye to this end in whatever you prescribe1 touching the kind1 the manner1 and the measure of their studies2 desiring and labouring1 that wherever the lot of these young soldiers of ,christ is cast1 they may be so many burning and shining lights1 adorning the gospel of ,christ in all things8 ,and permit me to ask1 ,do you put forth all your strength in the vast work you have undertaken8 ,do you labour herein with all your might8 ,exerting every faculty of your soul8 ,using every talent which ,god hath lent you1 and that to the uttermost of your power8 #g4 ,let it not be said1 that ,i speak here1 as if all under your care were intended to be clergymen4 ,not so3 ,i only speak as if they were all intended to be ,christians4 ,but what example is set them by us who enjoy the beneficence of our forefathers2 by fellows1 students1 scholars2 more especially those who are of some rank and eminence8 99 ,do ye1 brethren1 abound in the fruits of the spirit1 in lowliness of mind1 in self-denial and mortification1 in seriousness and composure of spirit1 in patience1 meekness1 sobriety1 temperance1 and in unwearied1 restless endeavours1 to do good1 in every kind1 unto all men3 to relieve their outward wants1 and to bring their souls to the true knowledge and love of ,god8 ,is this the general character of fellows of colleges8 ,i fear it is not4 ,rather1 have not pride and haughtiness of spirit1 impatience and peevishness1 sloth and indolence1 gluttony and sensuality1 and even a proverbial uselessness1 been objected to us1 perhaps not always by our enemies1 nor wholly without ground8 ,o that ,god would roll away this reproach from us1 that the very memory of it might perish for ever6 #h4 99 ,many of us are more immediately consecrated to ,god1 called to minister in holy things4 ,are we then patterns to the rest1 in word1 in conversation1 in charity2 in spirit1 in faith1 in purity8 ,is there written on our forehead and on our heart1 ,holiness to the ,lord8 ,from what motives did we enter upon this office8 ,was it indeed with a single eye to serve ,god1 trusting that we were inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 to take upon us this ministration1 for the promoting of his glory1 and the edifying of his people8 ,and have we clearly determined1 by ,god's grace1 to give ourselves wholly to this office8 ,do we forsake and set aside1 as much as in us lies1 all worldly cares and studies8 ,do we apply ourselves wholly to this one thing1 and draw all our cares and studies this way8 ,are we apt to teach8 ,are we taught of ,god1 that we may be able to teach others also8 ,do we know ,god8 ,do we know ,jesus ,christ8 ,hath ,god revealed his ,son in us8 ,and hath he made us able ministers of the new covenant8 ,where then are the seals of our apostleship8 ,who that were dead in trespasses and sins1 have been quickened by our word8 ,have we a burning zeal to save souls from death1 so that for their sake we often forget even to eat our bread8 ,do we speak plain1 by manifestation of the truth1 commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of ,god8 ,are we dead to the world and the things of the world1 laying up all our treasure in heaven8 ,do we lord over ,god's heritage8 ,or are we the least1 the servants of all8 ,when we bear the reproach of ,christ1 ,does it sit heavy upon us8 ,or do we rejoice therein8 ,when we are smitten on the one cheek1 ,do we resent it8 ,are we impatient of affronts8 ,or do we turn the other also3 not resisting the evil1 but overcoming evil with good8 ,have we a bitter zeal1 inciting us to strive sharply and passionately with them that are out of the way8 ,or is our zeal the flame of love1 so as to direct all our words with sweetness1 lowliness1 and meekness of wisdom8 #i4 ,once more1 what shall we say concerning the youth of this place8 ,have you either the form or the power of ,christian ,godliness8 ,are you humble1 teachable1 advisable2 or stubborn1 self-willed1 heady1 and high-minded8 ,are you obedient to your superiors as to parents8 ,or do you despise those to whom you owe the tenderest reverence8 ,are you diligent in your easy business1 pursuing your studies with all your strength8 ,do you redeem the time1 crowding as much work into every day as it can contain8 ,rather1 are ye not conscious to yourselves1 that you waste away day after day1 either in reading what has no tendency to ,christianity1 or in gaming1 or inyou know not what8 ,are you better managers of your fortune than of your time8 ,do you1 out of principle1 take care to owe no man any thing8 ,do you remember the ,sabbath-day to keep it holy2 to spend it in the more immediate worship of ,god8 ,when you are in his ,house1 ,do you consider that ,god is there8 ,do you behave1 as seeing ,him that is invisible8 ,do you know how to possess your bodies1 in sanctification and honour8 ,are not drunkenness and uncleanness found among you8 ,yea1 are there not of you1 who glory in their shame8 ,do not many of you take the name of ,god in vain1 perhaps habitually1 without either remorse or fear8 ,yea1 99 ,are there not a multitude of you that are forsworn8 ,i fear1 a swiftly-increasing multitude4 ,be not surprized1 brethren4 ,before ,god and this congregation2 ,i own myself to have been of that number2 solemnly swearing to observe all those customs1 which ,i then knew nothing of2 and those statutes1 which ,i did not so much as read over1 either then1 or for some years after4 ,what is perjury1 if this is not8 ,but if it be1 ,o what a weight of sin1 yea1 sin of no common dye1 lieth upon us6 ,and doth not the ,most ,high regard it8 #aj4 99 ,may it not be one of the consequences of this that so many of you are a generation of ,triflers8 ,triflers with ,god1 with one another1 and with your own souls8 ,for how few of you spend1 from one week to another1 a single hour in private prayer8 ,how few have any thought of ,god in the general tenor of your conversation8 ,who of you is1 in any degree1 acquainted with the work of his ,spirit1 his supernatural work in the souls of men8 ,can you bear1 unless now and then1 in a church1 any talk of the ,holy ,ghost8 ,would you not take it for granted1 if one began such a conversation1 that it was either ,hypocrisy or ,enthusiasm8 ,in the name of the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 ,i ask1 what religion are you of8 ,even the talk of ,christianity ye cannot1 will not bear4 ,o my brethren6 what a ,christian city is this8 ,it is time for thee1 ,lord1 to lay to thine hand6 #aa4 ,for indeed1 what probability1 what possibility rather1 7speaking after the manner of men7 is there that ,christianity1 ,scriptural ,christianity1 should be again the religion of this place8 ,that all orders of men among us should speak and live as men filled with the ,holy ,ghost8 ,by whom should this ,christianity be restored8 ,by those of you that are in authority8 ,are you convinced then1 that this is ,scriptural ,christianity8 ,are you desirous it should be restored8 ,and do ye not count your fortune1 liberty1 life1 dear unto yourselves1 so ye may be instrumental in the restoring it8 ,but suppose ye have this desire1 who hath any power proportioned to the effect8 ,perhaps some of you have made a few faint attempts1 but with how small success8 ,shall ,christianity then be restored by young1 unknown1 inconsiderable men8 ,i know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it4 ,would not some of you cry out1 8,young man1 in so doing thou reproachest us80 ,but there is no danger of your being put to the proof2 so hath iniquity overspread us like a flood4 ,whom then shall ,god send8 ,the famine1 the pestilence1 7the last messengers of ,god to a guilty land7 or the sword8 ,the armies of the ,romish aliens1 to reform us into our first love8 ,nay1 rather let us fall into thy hand1 ,o ,lord1 and let us not fall into the hand of man4 ,lord1 save or we perish6 ,take us out of the mire that we sink not6 ,o help us against these enemies1 for vain is the help of man4 ,unto thee all things are possible4 ,according to the greatness of thy power1 preserve thou those that are appointed to die2 and preserve us in the manner that seemeth to thee good2 not as we will1 but as thou wilt4 ,,sermon ,v4 ,,justification ,,by ,,faith4 ,,romans iv4 #e4 ,to him that worketh not1 but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly1 his faith is counted to him for righteousness4 #a4 ,,how a sinner may be justified before ,god1 the ,lord and judge of all1 is a question of no common importance1 to every child of man4 ,it contains the foundation of all our hope2 in as much as while we are at enmity with ,god1 there can be no true peace1 no solid joy1 either in time or in eternity4 ,what peace can there be1 while our own heart condemns us8 ,and much more1 he that is greater than our heart and knoweth all things8 ,what solid joy1 either in this world or that to come1 while the wrath of ,god abideth on us8 #b4 ,and yet how little hath this important question been understood8 ,what confused notions have many had concerning it8 ,indeed not only confused1 but often utterly false2 contrary to the truth1 as light to darkness3 notions absolutely inconsistent with the oracles of ,god1 and with the whole analogy of faith4 ,and hence1 erring concerning the very foundation1 they could not possibly build thereon3 at least1 not gold1 silver1 or precious stones1 which would endure when tried as by fire2 but only hay and stubble1 neither acceptable to ,god1 nor profitable to man4 #c4 ,in order to do justice1 as far as in me lies1 to the vast importance of the subject1 to save those that seek the truth in sincerity1 from vain jangling and strife of words1 to clear the confusedness of thought1 into which so many have already been led thereby1 and to give them true and just conceptions of this great mystery of godliness1 ,i shall endeavour to shew1 ,first1 ,what is the general ground of this whole doctrine of justification4 ,secondly1 ,what justification is4 ,thirdly1 ,who they are that are justified4 ,and1 ,fourthly1 ,on what terms they are justified4 ,i4 ,i am1 first1 to shew1 ,what is the general ground of this whole doctrine of justification4 #a4 ,in the image of ,god was man made1 holy as he that created him is holy2 merciful as the ,author of all is merciful1 perfect as his ,father in heaven is perfect4 ,as ,god is love1 so man dwelling in love1 dwelt in ,god1 and ,god in him4 ,god made him to be an image of his own eternity1 an incorruptible picture of the ,god of glory4 ,he was accordingly pure1 as ,god is pure1 from every spot of sin4 ,he knew not evil in any kind or degree1 but was inwardly and outwardly sinless and undefiled4 ,he loved the ,lord his ,god with all his heart1 and with all his mind and soul and strength4 #b4 ,to man thus upright and perfect1 ,god gave a perfect law1 to which he required full and perfect obedience4 ,he required full obedience in every point1 and this to be performed without any intermission1 from the moment man became a living soul1 till the time of his trial should be ended4 ,no allowance was made for any falling short4 ,as indeed there was no need of any2 man being altogether equal to the task assigned1 and thoroughly furnished for every good word and work4 #c4 ,to the entire law of love which was written in his heart 7against which perhaps he could not sin directly7 it seemed good to the sovereign wisdom of ,god1 to superadd one positive law3 ,thou shalt not eat of the fruit of the tree that groweth in the midst of the garden3 annexing that penalty thereto1 ,in the day thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die4 #d4 ,such then was the state of man in paradise4 ,by the free1 unmerited love of ,god1 he was holy and happy2 he knew1 loved1 enjoyed ,god1 which is 7in substance7 life everlasting4 ,and in this life of love1 he was to continue for ever1 if he continued to obey ,god in all things3 but if he disobeyed him in any1 he was to forfeit all4 ,in that day1 said ,god1 thou shalt surely die4 #e4 ,man did disobey ,god4 ,he ate of the tree1 of which ,god commanded him1 saying1 ,thou shalt not eat of it4 ,and in that day he was condemn'd1 by the righteous judgment of ,god4 ,then also the sentence whereof he was warned before1 began to take place upon him4 ,for the moment he tasted that fruit1 he died3 his soul died1 was separated from ,god2 separate from whom the soul has no more life1 than the body has when separate from the soul4 ,his body likewise became corruptible and mortal2 so that death then took hold on this also4 ,and being already dead in spirit1 dead to ,god1 dead in sin1 he hastened on to death everlasting2 to the destruction both of body and soul1 in the fire never to be quenched4 #f4 ,thus by one man1 sin entered into the world1 and death by sin4 ,and so death passed upon all men1 as being contained in him who was the common father and representative of us all4 ,thus through the offence of one1 all are dead1 dead to ,god1 dead in sin1 dwelling in a corruptible1 mortal body1 shortly to be dissolved1 and under the sentence of death eternal4 ,for as by one man's disobedience1 all were made sinners2 so by that offence of one1 judgment came upon all men to condemnation1 ,rom4 v4 #ab1 c4 #g4 ,in this state we were1 even all mankind1 when ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son1 to the end we might not perish but have everlasting life4 ,in the fulness of time1 he was made man1 another common head of mankind1 a second general parent and representative of the whole human race4 ,and as such it was that he bore our griefs1 the ,lord laying upon him the iniquities of us all4 ,then was he wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities4 ,he made his soul an offering for sin3 he poured out his blood for the transgressors3 he bare our sins in his own body on the tree1 that by his stripes we might be healed3 and by that one oblation of himself once offered1 he hath redeemed me and all mankind2 having thereby made a full1 perfect and sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction1 for the sins of the whole world4 #h4 ,in consideration of this1 that the ,son of ,god hath tasted death for every man1 ,god hath now reconciled the world to himself1 not imputing to them their former trespasses4 ,and thus1 as by the offence of one1 judgment came upon all men to condemnation1 even so by the righteousness of one1 the free gift came upon all men unto justification4 ,so that for the sake of his well-beloved ,son1 of what he hath done and suffered for us1 ,god now vouchsafes on one only condition 7which himself also enables us to perform7 both to remit the punishment due to our sins1 to reinstate us in his favour1 and to restore our dead souls to spiritual life1 as the earnest of life eternal4 #i4 ,this therefore is the general ground1 of the whole doctrine of justification4 ,by the sin of the first ,adam1 who was not only the father1 but likewise the representative of us all1 we all fell short of the favour of ,god3 we all became children of wrath3 or1 as the apostle expresses it1 judgment came upon all men to condemnation4 ,even so1 by the sacrifice for sin made by the second ,adam1 as the representative of us all1 ,god is so far reconciled to all the world1 that he hath given them a new covenant4 ,the plain condition whereof being once fulfilled1 there is no more condemnation for us1 but we are justified freely by his grace1 through the redemption that is in ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,but what is it to be justified8 ,what is justification8 ,this was the second thing which ,i proposed to shew4 ,and it is evident from what has been already observed1 that it is not1 the being made actually just and righteous4 ,this is sanctification3 which is indeed1 in some degree1 the immediate fruit of justification3 but nevertheless is a distinct gift of ,god1 and of a totally different nature4 ,the one implies1 what ,god does for us through his ,son2 the other what he works in us by his ,spirit4 ,so that altho' some rare instances maybe found1 wherein the term justified1 or justification1 is used in so wide a sense as to include sanctification also2 yet in general use1 they are sufficiently distinguished from each other1 both by ,st4 ,paul and the other inspired writers4 #b4 ,neither is that far-fetch'd conceit1 that justification is1 the clearing us from accusation1 particularly that of ,satan1 easily proveable from any clear text of holy writ4 ,in the whole scriptural account of this matter1 as above laid down1 neither that accuser nor his accusation appears to be at all taken in4 ,it cannot indeed be denied1 that he is the accuser of men1 emphatically so called4 ,but it does in no wise appear1 that the great apostle hath any reference to this1 more or less1 in all that he hath written touching justification1 either to the ,romans or the ,galatians4 #c4 ,it is also far easier to take for granted1 than to prove from any clear scripture-testimony1 that justification is1 the clearing us from the accusation brought against us by the law4 ,at least1 if this forced1 unnatural way of speaking1 mean either more or less than this1 that whereas we have transgressed the law of ,god1 and thereby deserved the damnation of hell1 ,god does not inflict on those who are justified1 the punishment which they had deserved4 #d4 99 ,least of all does justification imply1 that ,god is deceived in those whom he justifies2 that he thinks them to be what in fact they are not1 that he accounts them to be otherwise than they are4 ,it does by no means imply1 that ,god judges concerning us1 contrary to the real nature of things3 that he esteems us better than we really are1 or believes us righteous1 when we are unrighteous4 ,surely no4 ,the judgment of the all-wise ,god1 is always according to truth4 ,neither can it ever consist with his unerring wisdom1 to think that ,i am innocent1 to judge that ,i am righteous or holy1 because another is so4 ,he can no more in this manner confound me with ,christ1 than with ,david or ,abraham4 ,let any man to whom ,god hath given understanding1 weigh this without prejudice2 and he cannot but perceive1 that such a notion of justification1 is neither reconcileable to reason1 nor scripture4 #e4 ,the plain scriptural notion of justification is pardon1 the forgiveness of sins4 ,it is that act of ,god the ,father1 whereby for the sake of the propitiation made by the blood of his ,son1 he sheweth forth his righteousness 7or mercy7 by the remission of the sins that are past4 ,this is the easy1 natural account of it given by ,st4 ,paul1 throughout this whole epistle4 ,so he explains it himself1 more particularly in this1 and in the following chapter4 ,thus in the next verses but one to the text1 ,blessed are they1 saith he1 whose iniquities are forgiven1 and whose sins are covered3 blessed is the man to whom the ,lord will not impute sin4 ,to him that is justified or forgiven1 ,god will not impute sin to his condemnation4 ,he will not condemn him on that account1 either in this world or in that which is to come4 ,his sins1 all his past sins1 in thought1 word and deed1 are covered1 are blotted out3 shall not be remembered or mentioned against him1 any more than if they had not been4 ,god will not inflict on that sinner what he deserved to suffer1 because the ,son of his love hath suffered for him4 ,and from the time we are accepted through the ,beloved1 reconciled to ,god through his blood1 he loves and blesses and watches over us for good1 even as if we had never sinned4 ,indeed the apostle in one place seems to extend the meaning of the word much farther2 where he says1 ,not the hearers of the law1 but the doers of the law shall be justified4 ,here he appears to refer our justification1 to the sentence of the great day4 ,and so our ,lord himself unquestionably doth1 when he says1 ,by thy words thou shalt be justified3 proving thereby1 that for every idle word men shall speak1 they shall give an account in the day of judgment4 ,but perhaps we can hardly produce another instance1 of ,st4 ,paul's using the word in that distant sense4 ,in the general tenor of his writings1 it is evident he doth not4 ,and least of all in the text before us1 which undeniably speaks1 not of those who have already finished their course1 but of those who are now just setting out1 just beginning to run the race which is set before him4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,but this is the third thing which was to be considered1 namely1 who are they that are justified8 ,and the apostle tells us expresly1 the ungodly3 ,he1 that is1 ,god1 justifieth the ungodly3 the ungodly of every kind and degree1 and none but the ungodly4 ,as they that are righteous need no repentance1 so they need no forgiveness4 ,it is only sinners that have any occasion for pardon3 it is sin alone which admits of being forgiven4 ,forgiveness therefore has an immediate reference to sin1 and 7in this respect7 to nothing else4 ,it is our unrighteousness to which the pardoning ,god is merciful3 it is our iniquity which he remembereth no more4 #b4 ,this seems not to be at all considered by those who so vehemently contend1 that a man must be sanctified1 that is1 holy1 before he can be justified3 especially by such of them as affirm1 that universal holiness or obedience must precede justification 7unless they mean1 that justification at the last day1 which is wholly out of the present question7 so far from it1 that the very supposition1 is not only flatly impossible 7for where there is no love of ,god1 there is no holiness2 and there is no love of ,god1 but from a sense of his loving us7 but also grosly1 intrinsically absurd1 contradictory to itself4 ,for it is not a saint but a sinner that is forgiven1 and under the notion of a sinner4 ,god justifieth not the godly1 but the ungodly2 not those that are holy already1 but the unholy4 ,upon what condition he doth this1 will be considered quickly3 but whatever it is1 it cannot be holiness4 ,to assert this1 is to say1 the ,lamb of ,god takes away1 only those sins which were taken away before4 #c4 ,does then the good ,shepherd seek and save only those that are found already8 ,no4 ,he seeks and saves that which is lost4 ,he pardons those who need his pardoning mercy4 ,he saves from the guilt of sin 7and at the same time from the power7 sinners of every kind1 of every degree3 men who till then were altogether ungodly2 in whom the love of the ,father was not2 and consequently1 in whom dwelt no good thing1 no good or truly ,christian temper3 but all such as were evil and abominable1 pride1 anger1 love1 of the world1 the genuine fruits of that carnal mind1 which is enmity against ,god4 #d4 ,these who are sick1 the burden of whose sins is intolerable1 are they that need a physician2 these who are guilty1 who groan under the wrath of ,god1 are they that need a pardon4 ,these who are condemned already1 not only by ,god1 but also by their own conscience1 as by a thousand witnesses1 of all their ungodliness1 both in thought and word and work1 cry aloud for him that justifieth the ungodly1 through the redemption that is in ,jesus3 the ungodly and him that worketh not2 that worketh not before he is justified2 any thing that is good1 that is truly virtuous or holy1 but only evil continually4 ,for his heart is necessarily1 essentially evil1 till the love of ,god is shed abroad therein4 ,and while the tree is corrupt1 so are the fruits2 for an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit4 #e4 ,if it be objected1 8,nay1 but a man1 before he is justified1 may feed the hungry1 or clothe the naked2 and these are good works30 the answer is easy4 ,he may do these1 even before he is justified4 ,and these are1 in one sense1 good works2 they are good and profitable to men4 ,but it does not follow1 that they are1 strictly speaking1 good in themselves1 or good in the sight of ,god4 ,all truly good works 7to use the words of our church7 follow after justification4 ,and they are therefore good and acceptable to ,god in ,christ1 because they spring out of a true and living faith4 ,by a parity of reason1 all works done before justification1 are not good1 in the ,christian sense1 forasmuch as they spring not of faith in ,jesus ,christ 7tho' from some kind of faith in ,god they may spring7 yea rather1 for that they are not done1 as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done1 we doubt not 7how strange soever it may appear to some7 but they have the nature of sin4 #f4 ,perhaps those who doubt of this1 have not duly considered the weighty reason which is here assign'd1 why no works done before justification1 can be truly and properly good4 ,the argument plainly runs thus3 ,no works are good which are not done as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done3 ,but no works done before justification are done as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done3 ,therefore no works done before justification are good4 ,the first proposition is self-evident4 ,and the second1 that no works done before justification1 are done as ,god hath willed and commanded them to be done1 will appear equally plain and undeniable1 if we only consider ,god hath willed and commanded1 that all our works should be done in charity1 7 7 in love1 in that love to ,god1 which produces love to all mankind4 ,but none of our works can be done in this love1 while the love of the ,father 7of ,god as our ,father7 is not in us4 ,and this love cannot be in us1 till we receive the ,spirit of adoption1 crying in our hearts1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,if therefore ,god doth not justify the ungodly1 and him that 7in this sense7 worketh not1 then hath ,christ died in vain2 then notwithstanding his death1 can no flesh living be justified4 ,,iv4 #a4 ,but on what terms then is he justified1 who is altogether ungodly1 and till that time1 worketh not8 ,on one alone1 which is faith4 ,he believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly4 ,and he that believeth is not condemned3 ,yea1 he is passed from death unto life4 ,for the righteousness 7or mercy7 of ,god is by faith of ,jesus ,christ1 unto all and upon all them that believe3,whom ,god hath set forth for a propitiation1 through faith in his blood3 that he might be just1 and 7consistently with his justice7 the justifier of him which believeth in ,jesus3 therefore we conclude1 that a man is justified by faith1 without the deeds of the law3 without previous obedience to the moral law1 which indeed he could not till now perform4 ,that it is the moral law1 and that alone which is here intended1 appears evidently from the words that follow4 ,do we then make void the law through faith8 ,god forbid6 ,yea1 we establish the law4 ,what law do we establish by faith8 ,not the ritual law3 not the ceremonial law of ,moses4 ,in no wise2 but the great unchangeable law of love1 the holy love of ,god and of our neighbour4 #b4 99 ,faith in general is1 a divine1 supernatural 1 evidence or conviction of things not seen1 not discoverable by our bodily senses1 as being either past1 future or spiritual4 ,justifying faith implies1 not only a divine evidence or conviction1 that ,god was in ,christ1 reconciling the world unto himself but a sure trust and confidence1 that ,christ died for my sins1 that he loved me and gave himself for me4 ,and at what time soever a sinner thus believes1 be it in early childhood1 in the strength of his years1 or when he is old and hoary-hair'd1 ,god justifieth that ungodly one3 ,god for the sake of his ,son2 pardoneth and absolveth1 him who had in him till then no good thing4 ,repentance indeed ,god had given him before3 but that repentance was neither more nor less1 than a deep sense of the want of all good1 and the presence of all evil4 ,and whatever good he hath or doth from that hour1 when he first believes in ,god through ,christ1 faith does not find but bring4 ,this is the fruit of faith4 ,first the tree is good1 and then the fruit is good also4 #c4 ,i cannot describe the nature of this faith better1 than in the words of our own church4 8,the only instrument of salvation0 7whereof justification is one branch7 8is faith3 that is1 a sure trust and confidence1 that ,god both hath and will forgive our sins1 that he hath accepted us again into his favour1 for the merits of ,christ's death and passion4,but here we must take heed that we do not halt with ,god1 through an inconstant1 wavering faith4 ,peter coming to ,christ upon the water1 because he fainted in faith1 was in danger of drowning4 ,so we1 if we begin to waver or doubt1 it is to be feared1 that we should sink as ,peter did1 not into the water1 but into the bottomless pit of hell-fire40 ,second sermon on the passion4 8,therefore have a sure and constant faith1 not only that the death of ,christ is available for all the world1 but that he hath made a full and sufficient sacrifice for thee1 a perfect cleansing of thy sins1 so that thou mayst say with the apostle1 he loved thee and gave himself for thee4 ,for this is to make ,christ thine own1 and to apply his merits unto thyself40 ,sermon on the sacrament1 first part4 #d4 ,by affirming that this faith is the term or condition of justification1 ,i mean1 first1 that there is no justification without it4 ,he that believeth not is condemned already2 and so long as he believeth not1 that condemnation cannot be removed1 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him4 ,as there is no other name given under heaven than that of ,jesus of ,nazareth1 no other merit whereby a condemned sinner can ever be saved from the guilt of sin2 so there is no other way of obtaining a share in his merit1 than by faith in his name4 ,so that as long as we are without this faith1 we are strangers to the covenant of promise1 we are aliens from the common-wealth of ,israel1 and without ,god in the world4 ,whatsoever virtues 7so call'd7 a man may have 7,i speak of those unto whom the gospel is preached2 for what have ,i to judge them that are without87 whatsoever good works 7so accounted7 he may do1 it profiteth not2 he is still a child of wrath1 still under the curse1 till he believes in ,jesus4 #e4 99 ,faith therefore is the necessary condition of justification4 ,yea1 and the only necessary condition thereof4 ,this is the second point carefully to be observed2 that the very moment ,god giveth faith 7for it is the gift of ,god7 to the ungodly1 that worketh not1 that faith is counted to him for righteousness4 ,he hath no righteousness at all1 antecedent to this1 not so much as negative righteousness or innocence4 ,but faith is imputed to him for righteousness1 the very moment that he believeth4 ,not that ,god 7as was observed before7 thinketh him to be what he is not4 ,but as he made ,christ to be sin for us1 that is1 treated him as a sinner1 punishing him for our sins1 so he counteth us righteous1 from the time we believe in him3 that is1 he doth not punish us for our sins1 yea1 treats us as tho' we were guiltless and righteous4 #f4 ,surely the difficulty of assenting to this proposition1 that faith is the only condition of justification1 must arise from not understanding it4 ,we mean thereby thus much1 that it is the only thing without which none is justified2 the only thing that is immediately1 indispensably1 absolutely requisite in order to pardon4 ,as on the one hand1 tho' a man should have every thing else1 without faith1 yet he cannot be justified2 so on the other1 tho' he be supposed to want every thing else1 yet if he hath faith1 he cannot but be justified4 ,for suppose a sinner of any kind or degree1 in a full sense of his total ungodliness1 of his utter inability to think1 speak or do good1 and his absolute meetness for hell-fire3 suppose1 ,i say1 this sinner1 helpless and hopeless1 casts himself wholly on the mercy of ,god in ,christ 7which indeed he cannot do but by the grace of ,god7 who can doubt1 but he is forgiven in that moment8 ,who will affirm1 that any more is indispensably required1 before that sinner can be justified8 ,now if there ever was one such instance from the beginning of the world4 7,and have there not been1 and are there not ten thousand times ten thousand87 it plainly follows1 that faith is1 in the above sense1 the sole condition of justification4 #g4 ,it does not become poor1 guilty1 sinful worms1 who receive whatsoever blessings they enjoy1 7from the least drop of water that cools our tongue1 to the immense riches of glory in eternity7 of grace1 of mere favour1 and not of debt1 to ask of ,god the reasons of his conduct4 ,it is not meet for us to call him in question1 who giveth account to none of his ways2 to demand1 ,why didst thou make faith the condition1 the only condition of justification8 ,wherefore didst thou decree1 ,he that believeth1 and he only1 shall be saved8 ,this is the very point on which ,st4 ,paul so strongly insists in the ninth chapter of this epistle1 viz4 ,that the terms of pardon and acceptance must depend1 not on us1 but on him that calleth us3 that there is no unrighteousness with ,god1 in fixing his own terms1 not according to ours1 but his own good pleasure3 who may justly say1 ,i will have mercy on whom ,i will have mercy1 namely1 on him who believeth in ,jesus4 ,so then it is not of him that willeth1 or of him that runneth1 to chuse the condition on which he shall find acceptance2 but of ,god that sheweth mercy1 that accepteth none at all1 but of his own free love1 his unmerited goodness4 ,therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy1 viz4 on those who believe on the ,son of his love3 and whom he will1 that is1 those who believe not1 he hardeneth1 leaves at last to the hardness of their hearts4 #h4 ,one reason1 however1 we may humbly conceive1 of ,god's fixing this condition of justification1 ,if thou believest in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ thou shalt be saved1 was to hide pride from man4 ,pride had already destroyed the very angels of ,god1 had cast down a third part of the stars of heaven4 ,it was likewise in great measure owing to this1 when the tempter said1 ,ye shall be as ,gods1 that ,adam fell from his own stedfastness1 and brought sin and death into the world4 ,it was therefore an instance of wisdom worthy of ,god1 to appoint such a condition of reconciliation1 for him and all his posterity1 as might effectually humble1 might abase them to the dust4 ,and such is faith4 ,it is peculiarly fitted for this end4 ,for he that cometh unto ,god by this faith1 must fix his eye singly on his own wickedness1 on his guilt and helplessness1 without having the least regard to any supposed good in himself1 to any virtue or righteousness whatsoever4 ,he must come as a mere sinner inwardly and outwardly1 self-destroyed and self-condemned1 bringing nothing to ,god but ungodliness only1 pleading nothing of his own but sin and misery4 ,thus it is1 and thus alone1 when his mouth is stopped1 and he stands utterly guilty before ,god1 that he can look unto ,jesus1 as the whole and sole propitiation for his sins4 ,thus only can he be found in him1 and receive the righteousness which is of ,god by faith4 #i4 99 ,thou ungodly one1 who hearest or readest these words1 thou vile1 helpless1 miserable sinner1 ,i charge thee before ,god the judge of all1 go strait unto him1 with all thy ungodliness4 ,take heed thou destroy not thy own soul1 by pleading thy righteousness1 more or less4 ,go as altogether ungodly1 guilty1 lost1 destroyed1 deserving and dropping into hell3 and thou shalt then find favour in his sight1 and know that he justifieth the ungodly4 ,as such thou shalt be brought unto the blood of sprinkling1 as an undone1 helpless1 damned sinner4 ,thus look unto ,jesus6 ,there is the ,lamb of ,god1 who taketh away thy sins6 ,plead thou no works1 no righteousness of thine own6 ,no humility1 contrition1 sincerity4 ,in no wise4 ,that were1 in very deed1 to deny the ,lord that bought thee4 ,no1 ,plead thou singly1 the blood of the covenant1 the ransom paid for thy proud1 stubborn1 sinful soul4 ,who art thou1 that now seest and feelest both thine inward and outward ungodliness6 ,thou art the man6 ,i want thee for my ,lord4 ,i challenge thee for a child of ,god by faith4 ,the ,lord hath need of thee4 ,thou who feelest thou art just fit for hell1 art just fit to advance his glory3 the glory of his free grace1 justifying the ungodly and him that worketh not4 ,o come quickly4 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus2 and thou1 even thou art reconciled to ,god4 ,,sermon ,,vi4 ,,the ,,righteousness ,,of ,,faith4 ,,rom4 x4 #e1 #f1 #g1 #h4 ,moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law1 that the man which doeth those things shall live by them4 ,but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise4 ,say not in thine heart1 who shall ascend into heaven8 ,that is1 to bring ,christ down from above3 ,or who shall descend into the deep8 ,that is1 to bring ,christ again from the dead4 ,but what saith it8 ,the word is nigh thee1 even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith1 which we preach4 #a4 ,,the apostle does not here oppose the covenant given by ,moses1 to the covenant given by ,christ4 ,if we ever imagined this1 it was for want of observing1 that the latter1 as well as the former part of these words1 were spoken by ,moses himself1 to the people of ,israel1 and that1 concerning the covenant which then was4 7,deut4 xxx4 #aa1 #ab1 #ad47 ,but it is the covenant of grace1 which ,god through ,christ hath established with men in all ages1 7as well before1 and under the ,jewish dispensation1 as since ,god was manifest in the flesh7 which ,st4 ,paul here opposes to the covenant of works1 made with ,adam while in paradise2 but commonly supposed to be the only covenant which ,god had made with man1 particularly by those ,jews of whom the apostle writes4 #b4 ,of these it was that he so affectionately speaks1 in the beginning of this chapter4 ,my heart's desire and prayer to ,god for ,israel is1 that they may be saved4 ,for ,i bear them record1 that they have a zeal for ,god1 but not according to knowledge4 ,for they being ignorant of ,god's righteousness 7of the justification that flows from his mere grace and mercy1 freely forgiving our sins through the ,son of his love1 through the redemption which is in ,jesus7 and seeking to establish their own righteousness1 7their own holiness1 antecedent to faith in him that justifieth the ungodly1 as the ground of their pardon and acceptance7 have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of ,god1 and consequently seek death in the error of their life4 #c4 ,they were ignorant1 that ,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth1 that by the oblation of himself once offered1 he had put an end to the first law or covenant 7which indeed was not given by ,god to ,moses1 but to ,adam in his state of innocence7 the strict tenor whereof1 without any abatement was1 8,do this and live30 ,and at the same time purchased for us that better covenant1 8,believe and live20 believe and thou shalt be saved2 now saved both from the guilt and power of sin1 and1 of consequence1 from the wages of it4 #d4 ,and how many are equally ignorant now1 even among those who are called by the name of ,christ8 ,how many who have now a zeal for ,god1 yet have it not according to knowledge3 but are still seeking to establish their own righteousness1 as the ground of their pardon and acceptance2 and therefore vehemently refuse1 to submit themselves unto the righteousness of ,god8 ,surely my heart's desire1 and prayer to ,god for you1 brethren1 is1 that ye may be saved4 ,and in order to remove this grand stumbling-block out of your way1 ,i will endeavour to shew1 first1 ,what the righteousness is1 which is of the law1 and what the righteousness which is of faith2 ,secondly1 ,the folly of trusting in the righteousness of the law1 and the wisdom of submitting to that which is of faith4 ,i4 #a4 ,and1 first1 ,the righteousness which is of the law1 saith1 the man which doth these things1 shall live by them4 ,constantly and perfectly observe all these things to do them1 and then thou shalt live for ever4 ,this law or covenant 7usually called1 the covenant of works7 given by ,god to man in paradise1 required an obedience1 perfect in all its parts1 entire and wanting nothing1 as the condition of his eternal continuance1 in the holiness and happiness wherein he was created4 #b4 ,it required1 that man should fulfil all righteousness1 inward and outward1 negative and positive3 that he should not only abstain from every idle word1 and avoid every evil work1 but should keep every affection1 every desire1 every thought in obedience to the will of ,god4 ,that he should continue holy1 as he which had created him was holy1 both in heart and in all manner of conversation3 that he should be pure in heart1 even as ,god is pure2 perfect as his ,father in heaven was perfect3 that he should love the ,lord his ,god with all his heart1 with all his soul1 with all his mind1 and with all his strength3 that he should love every soul which ,god had made1 even as ,god had loved him3 that by this universal benevolence1 he should dwell in ,god 7who is love7 and ,god in him3 that he should serve the ,lord his ,god with all his strength1 and in all things singly aim at his glory4 #c4 ,these were the things which the righteousness of the law required1 that he who did them might live thereby4 ,but it farther required1 that this entire obedience to ,god1 this inward and outward holiness1 this conformity both of heart and life to his will1 should be perfect in degree4 ,no abatement1 no allowance could possibly be made1 for falling short in any degree1 as to any jot or tittle1 either of the outward or the inward law4 ,if every commandment relating to outward things was obeyed1 yet that was not sufficient1 unless every one was obeyed with all the strength1 in the highest measure1 and most perfect manner4 ,nor did it answer the demand of this covenant1 to love ,god with every power and faculty1 unless he were loved with the full capacity of each1 with the whole possibility of the soul4 #d4 ,one thing more was indispensably required by the righteousness of the law1 namely1 that this universal obedience1 this perfect holiness both of heart and life1 should be perfectly uninterrupted also1 should continue without any intermission1 from the moment wherein ,god created man1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life1 until the days of his trial should be ended1 and he should be confirmed in life everlasting4 #e4 ,the righteousness then which is of the law1 speaketh on this wise4 8,thou1 ,o man of ,god1 stand fast in love1 in the image of ,god wherein thou art made4 ,if thou wilt remain in life1 keep the commandments1 which are now written in thy heart4 ,love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart4 ,love as thyself every soul that he hath made4 ,desire nothing but ,god4 ,aim at ,god in every thought1 in every word and work4 ,swerve not in one motion of body or soul1 from him thy mark and the prize of thy high calling4 ,and let all that is in thee praise his holy name1 every power and faculty of thy soul1 in every kind1 in every degree1 and at every moment of thine existence4 ,this do1 and thou shalt live3 thy light shall shine1 thy love shall flame more and more1 till thou art received up into the house of ,god in the heavens1 to reign with him for ever and ever40 #f4 ,but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise3 say not in thine heart1 who shall ascend into heaven1 that is1 to bring down ,christ from above 7as tho' it were some impossible task1 which ,god required thee previously to perform1 in order to thine acceptance37 or1 who shall descend into the deep1 that is1 to bring up ,christ from the dead2 7as tho' that were still remaining to be done1 for the sake of which thou wert to be accepted47 ,but what saith it8 ,the word 7according to the tenor of which1 thou mayst now be accepted as an heir of life eternal7 is nigh thee1 even in thy mouth and in thy heart1 that is1 the word of faith1 which we preach3 the new covenant which ,god hath now established with sinful man1 through ,christ ,jesus4 #g4 ,by the righteousness which is of faith1 is meant1 that condition of justification 7and in consequence of present and final salvation1 if we endure therein unto the end7 which was given by ,god to fallen man1 through the merits and mediation of his only begotten ,son4 ,this was in part revealed to ,adam soon after his fall1 being contained in the original promise1 made to him and his seed1 concerning the seed of the woman1 who should bruise the serpent's head4#ag ,it was a little more clearly revealed to ,abraham1 by the angel of ,god from heaven1 saying1 ,by myself have ,i sworn1 saith the ,lord1 that in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed4#ah ,it was yet more fully made known to ,moses1 to ,david1 and to the prophets that followed3 and through them1 to many of the people of ,god1 in their respective generations4 ,but still the bulk even of these were ignorant of it2 and very few understood it clearly4 ,still life and immortality were not so brought to light to the ,jews of old1 as they are now unto us by the gospel4 #h4 ,now this covenant saith not to sinful man 8,perform unsinning obedience and live40 ,if this were the term1 he would have no more benefit by all which ,christ hath done and suffered for him1 than if he was required1 in order to life1 to ascend into heaven and bring down ,christ from above3 or to descend into the deep1 into the invisible world1 and bring up ,christ from the dead4 ,it doth not require any impossibility to be done2 7altho' to mere man1 what it requires would be impossible2 but not1 to man assisted by the ,spirit of ,god37 this were only1 to mock human weakness4 ,indeed1 strictly speaking1 the covenant of grace doth not require us1 to do any thing at all1 as absolutely and indispensably necessary in order to our justification3 but only1 to believe in him1 who1 for the sake of his ,son1 and the propitiation which he hath made1 justifieth the ungodly that worketh not1 and imputes his faith to him for righteousness4 ,even so ,abraham believed in the ,lord1 and he counted it to him for righteousness4#ai ,and he received the sign of circumcision1 a seal of the righteousness of faiththat he might be the father of all them that believethat righteousness might be imputed unto them also4#bj ,now it was not written for his sake alone1 that it 7i4 e4 faith7 was imputed to him4 ,but for us also1 to whom it shall be imputed 7to whom faith shall be imputed for righteousness1 shall stand in the stead of perfect obedience1 in order to our acceptance with ,god7 if we believe on him who raised up ,jesus our ,lord from the dead3 who was delivered to death for our offences1 and was raised again for our justification3#ba 8,for the assurance of the remission of our sins1 and of a second life to come to them that believe40 #i4 ,what saith then the covenant of forgiveness1 of unmerited love1 of pardoning mercy8 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,in the day thou believest1 thou shalt surely live4 ,thou shalt be restored to the favour of ,god2 and in his pleasure is life4 ,thou shalt be saved from the curse and from the wrath of ,god4 ,thou shalt be quickened from the death of sin1 into the life of righteousness4 ,and if thou endure to the end1 believing in ,jesus1 thou shalt never taste the second death1 but having suffered with thy ,lord1 shalt also live and reign with him for ever and ever4 #aj4 ,now this word is nigh thee4 ,this condition of life1 is plain1 easy1 always at hand4 ,it is in thy mouth and in thy heart1 through the operation of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the moment thou believest in thine heart in him1 whom ,god hath raised from the dead1 and confesseth with thy mouth the ,lord ,jesus1 as thy ,lord and thy ,god1 thou shalt be saved from condemnation1 from the guilt and punishment of thy former sins1 and shalt have power to serve ,god in true holiness1 all the remaining days of thy life4 #aa4 99 ,what is the difference then between the righteousness which is of the law1 and the righteousness which is of faith8 ,between the first covenant1 or the covenant of works1 and the second1 the covenant of grace8 ,the essential1 unchangeable difference is this3 the one supposes him to whom it is given1 to be already holy and happy1 created in the image and enjoying the favour of ,god2 and prescribes the condition whereon he may continue therein1 in love and joy1 life and immortality4 ,the other supposes him to whom it is given1 to be now unholy and unhappy2 fallen short of the glorious image of ,god1 having the wrath of ,god abiding on him1 and hastening through sin1 whereby his soul is dead1 to bodily death1 and death everlasting4 ,and to man in this state1 it prescribes the condition1 whereon he may regain the pearl he has lost3 may recover the favour1 and the image of ,god1 may retrieve the life of ,god in his soul1 and be restored to the knowledge and the love of ,god1 which is the beginning of life eternal4 #ab4 ,again1 the covenant of works1 in order to man's continuance in the favour of ,god1 in his knowledge and love1 in holiness and happiness1 required of perfect man1 a perfect and uninterrupted obedience1 to every point of the law of ,god4 ,whereas the covenant of grace1 in order to man's recovery1 of the favour and life of ,god1 requires only faith2 living faith in him1 who through ,god justifies him that obeyed not4 #ac4 99 ,yet again3 the covenant of works required of ,adam and all his children1 to pay the price themselves1 in consideration of which1 they were to receive all the future blessings of ,god4 ,but in the covenant of grace1 seeing we have nothing to pay1 ,god frankly forgives us all3 provided only1 that we believe in him1 who hath paid the price for us2 who hath given himself a propitiation for our sins1 for the sins of the whole world4 #ad4 ,thus the first covenant required what is now afar off from all the children of men2 namely1 unsinning obedience1 which is far from those who are conceived and born in sin4 ,whereas the second requires what is nigh at hand2 as tho' it should say1 ,thou art sin3 ,god is love4 ,thou by sin art fallen short of the glory of ,god2 yet there is mercy with him4 ,bring then all thy sins to the pardoning ,god1 and they shall vanish away as a cloud4 ,if thou wert not ungodly1 there would be no room for him to justify thee as ungodly4 ,but now draw near1 in full assurance of faith4 ,he speaketh1 and it is done4 ,fear not1 only believe2 for even the just ,god justifieth all that believe in ,jesus4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,these things considered1 it will be easy to shew1 as ,i proposed to do in the second place1 the folly of trusting in the righteousness which is of the law1 and the wisdom of submitting to the righteousness which is of faith4 ,the folly of those who still trust1 in the righteousness which is of the law1 the terms of which are1 ,do this and live1 may abundantly appear from thence4 ,they set out wrong4 ,their very first step is a fundamental mistake4 ,for before they can ever think of claiming any blessing on the terms of this covenant1 they must suppose themselves to be in his state1 with whom this covenant was made4 ,but how vain a supposition is this8 ,since it was made with ,adam in a state of innocence4 ,how weak therefore must that whole building be1 which stands on such a foundation8 ,and how foolish are they who thus build on the sand8 ,who seem never to have considered1 that the covenant of works was not given to man1 when he was dead in trespasses and sins1 but when he was alive to ,god1 when he knew no sin1 but was holy as ,god is holy3 who forget1 that it was never design'd for the recovery of the favour and life of ,god once lost1 but only for the continuance and increase thereof1 till it should be compleat in life everlasting4 #b4 ,neither do they consider1 who are thus seeking to establish their own righteousness which is of the law1 what manner of obedience or righteousness that is1 which the law indispensably requires4 ,it must be perfect and entire1 in every point1 or it answers not the demand of the law4 ,but which of you is able to perform such obedience8 ,or1 consequently1 to live thereby8 ,who among you fulfils every jot and tittle even of the outward commandments of ,god8 ,doing nothing1 great or small1 which ,god forbids8 ,leaving nothing undone which he enjoins8 ,speaking no idle word8 ,having your conversation always meet to minster grace to the hearers8 ,and whether you eat or drink1 or whatever you do1 doing all to the glory of ,god8 ,and how much less are you able to fulfil all the inward commandments of ,god8 ,those which require1 that every temper and motion of your soul should be holiness unto the ,lord8 ,are you able1 ,to love ,god with all your heart8 ,to love all mankind as your own soul8 ,to pray without ceasing8 ,in every thing to give thanks8 ,to have ,god always before you8 ,and to keep every affection1 desire and thought1 in obedience to his law8 #c4 ,you should farther consider1 that the righteousness of the law requires1 not only the obeying every command of ,god1 negative and positive1 internal and external1 but likewise in the perfect degree4 ,in every instance whatever1 the voice of the law is1 ,thou shalt serve the ,lord thy ,god with all thy strength4 ,it allows no abatement of any kind4 ,it excuses no defect4 ,it condemns every coming short of the full measure of obedience1 and immediately pronounces a curse on the offender4 ,it regards only the invariable rules of justice1 and faith1 8,i know not to shew mercy40 #d4 ,who then can appear before such a judge1 who is extreme to mark what is done amiss8 ,how weak are they who desire to be tried at the bar1 where no flesh living can be justified8 ,none of the offspring of ,adam4 ,for suppose we did now keep every commandment with all our strength3 yet one single breach which ever was1 utterly destroys our whole claim to life4 ,if we have ever offended1 in any one point1 this righteousness is at an end4 ,for the law condemns all who do not perform uninterrupted as well as perfect obedience4 ,so that according to the sentence of this1 for him who hath once sinned1 in any degree1 there remaineth only a fearful looking for of fiery indignation1 which shall devour the adversaries of ,god4 #e4 ,is it not then the very foolishness of folly1 for fallen man to seek life by this righteousness8 ,for man1 who was shapen in wickedness1 and in sin did his mother conceive him3 man1 who is by nature all earthly1 sensual1 devilish1 altogether corrupt and abominable3 in whom till he find grace1 dwelleth no good thing2 nay1 who cannot of himself think one good thought8 ,who is indeed all sin1 a mere lump of ungodliness1 and who commits sin in every breath he draws2 whose actual transgressions1 in word and deed1 are more in number than the hairs of his head6 ,what stupidity1 what senselesness must it be for such an unclean1 guilty1 helpless worm as this1 to dream of seeking acceptance by his own righteousness1 of living by the righteousness which is of the law8 #f4 ,now whatsoever considerations prove the folly of trusting in the righteousness which is of the law1 prove equally the wisdom of submitting to the righteousness which is of ,god by faith4 ,this were easy to be shewn with regard to each of the preceding considerations4 ,but to wave this1 the wisdom of the first step hereto1 the disclaiming our own righteousness1 plainly appears from hence1 that it is acting according to truth1 to the real nature of things4 ,for what is it more1 than to acknowledge with our heart as well as lips1 the true state wherein we are8 ,to acknowledge1 that we bring with us into the world1 a corrupt1 sinful nature2 more corrupt indeed than we can easily conceive1 or find words to express8 ,that hereby we are prone to all that is evil1 and averse from all that is good2 that we are full of pride1 self-will1 unruly passions1 foolish desires2 vile and inordinate affections2 lovers of the world1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,god8 ,that our lives have been no better than our hearts1 but many ways ungodly and unholy2 insomuch that our actual sins1 both in word and deed1 have been as the stars of heaven for multitude3 that on all these accounts1 we are displeasing to him1 who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity2 and deserve nothing from him1 but indignation and wrath and death1 the due wages of sin8 ,that we cannot by any of our righteousness1 7for indeed1 we have none at all7 nor by any of our works 7for they are as the tree from which they grow7 appease the wrath of ,god1 or avert the punishment we have justly deserved8 ,yea1 that1 if left to ourselves1 we shall only wax worse and worse1 sink deeper and deeper into sin1 offend ,god more and more1 both with our evil works and with the evil tempers of our carnal mind1 till we fill up the measure of our iniquities1 and bring upon ourselves swift destruction8 ,and is not this the very state wherein by nature we are8 ,to acknowledge this then1 both with our heart and lips1 that is1 to disclaim our own righteousness1 the righteousness which is of the law1 is to act according to the real nature of things1 and consequently is an instance of true wisdom4 #g4 ,the wisdom of submitting to the righteousness of faith1 appears farther from this consideration1 that it is the righteousness of ,god3 ,i mean here1 it is that method of reconciliation with ,god1 which hath been chose and established by ,god himself1 not only as he is the ,god of wisdom1 but as he is the sovereign ,lord of heaven and earth1 and of every creature which he hath made4 ,now1 as it is not meet for man to say unto ,god1 ,what dost thou8 ,as none who is not utterly void of understanding1 will contend with one that is mightier than he1 with him whose kingdom ruleth over all2 so it is true wisdom1 it is a mark of sound understanding1 to acquiesce in whatever he hath chosen1 to say in this1 as in all things1 8,it is the ,lord2 let him do what seemeth him good40 #h4 ,it may be farther considered1 that it was of mere grace1 of free love1 of undeserved mercy1 that ,god hath vouchsafed to sinful man1 any way of reconciliation with himself1 that we were not cut away from his hand1 and utterly blotted out of his remembrance4 ,therefore whatever method he is pleased to appoint1 of his tender mercy1 of his unmerited goodness1 whereby his enemies1 who have so deeply revolted from him1 so long and obstinately rebelled against him1 may still find favour in his sight1 it is doubtless our wisdom to accept with all thankfulness4 #i4 ,to mention but one consideration more4 ,it is wisdom to aim at the best end by the best means4 ,now the best end which any creature can pursue1 is happiness in ,god4 ,and the best end a fallen creature can pursue is1 the recovery of the favour and image of ,god4 ,but the best1 indeed the only means under heaven given to man1 whereby he may regain the favour of ,god1 which is better than life itself1 or the image of ,god1 which is the true life of the soul1 is the submitting to the righteousness which is of faith1 the believing in the only-begotten ,son of ,god4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,whosoever therefore thou art who desirest to be forgiven and reconciled to the favour of ,god2 do not say in thy heart1 8,i must first do this2 ,i must first conquer every sin2 break off every evil word and work1 and do all good to all men3 or1 ,i must first go to church1 receive the ,lord's supper1 hear more sermons1 and say more prayers40 ,alas1 my brother1 thou art clean gone out of the way1 thou art still ignorant of the righteousness of ,god1 and art seeking to establish thy own righteousness1 as the ground of thy reconciliation4 ,knowest thou not1 that thou canst do nothing but sin1 'till thou art reconciled to ,god8 ,wherefore then dost thou say1 ,i must do this and this first1 and then ,i shall believe4 ,nay1 but first believe4 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the propitiation for thy sins4 ,let this good foundation first be laid1 and then thou shall do all things well4 ,neither say in thy heart1 8,i can't be accepted yet1 because ,i am not good enough40 ,who is good enough8 ,who ever was8 ,to merit acceptance at ,god's hand's8 ,was ever any child of ,adam good enough for this8 ,or will any1 till the consummation of all things8 ,and as for thee1 thou art not good at all3 there dwelleth in thee no good thing4 ,and thou never wilt be1 till thou believe in ,jesus4 ,rather thou wilt find thyself worse and worse4 ,but is there any need of being worse1 in order to be accepted8 ,art thou not bad enough already8 ,indeed thou art1 and that ,god knoweth4 ,and thou thyself canst not deny it4 ,then delay not4 ,all things are now ready4 ,arise and wash away thy sins4 ,the fountain is open4 ,now is the time1 to wash thee white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,now he shall purge thee as with hyssop1 and thou shalt be clean2 he shall wash thee1 and thou shalt be whiter than snow4 #c4 ,do not say1 8,but ,i am not contrite enough3 ,i am not sensible enough of my sins40 ,i know it4 ,i would to ,god1 thou wert more sensible of them1 more contrite a thousand fold than thou art4 ,but do not stay for this4 ,it may be ,god will make thee so1 not before thou believest1 but by believing4 ,it may be1 thou wilt not weep much1 till thou lovest much1 because thou hast had much forgiven4 ,in the mean time1 look unto ,jesus4 ,behold how he loveth thee6 ,what could he have done more for thee which he hath not done8 8,o ,lamb of ,god1 was ever pain1 ,was ever love like thine60 ,look steddily upon him1 till he looks on thee1 and breaks thy hard heart4 ,then shall thy head be waters1 and thy eyes fountains of tears4 #d4 ,nor yet do thou say1 8,i must do something more1 before ,i come to ,christ40 ,i grant1 supposing thy ,lord should delay his coming1 it were meet and right to wait for his appearing1 in doing1 so far as thou hast power1 whatsoever he hath commanded thee4 ,but there is no necessity for making such a supposition4 ,how knowest thou that he will delay8 ,perhaps he will appear1 as the day-spring from on high1 before the morning-light4 ,o do not set him a time4 ,expect him every hour4 ,now1 he is nigh6 ,even at the door6 #e4 ,and to what end wouldst thou wait for more sincerity1 before thy sins are blotted out8 ,to make thee more worthy of the grace of ,god8 ,alas1 thou art still establishing thy own righteousness4 ,he will have mercy1 not because thou art worthy of it1 but because his compassions fail not3 not because thou art righteous2 but because ,jesus ,christ hath atoned for thy sins4 ,again1 if there be any thing good in sincerity1 why dost thou expect it1 before thou hast faith8 ,seeing faith itself is the only root of whatever is really good and holy4 ,above all1 how long wilt thou forget1 that whatsoever thou dost1 or whatsoever thou hast1 before thy sins are forgiven thee1 it avails nothing with ,god1 toward the procuring of thy forgiveness8 ,yea1 and that it must all be cast behind thy back1 trampled under foot1 made no account of1 or thou wilt never find favour in ,god's sight3 because until then thou canst not ask it1 as a mere sinner1 guilty1 lost1 undone1 having nothing to plead1 nothing to offer to ,god1 but only the merits of his well-beloved ,son1 who loved thee1 and gave himself for thee4 #f4 99 ,to conclude4 ,whosoever thou art1 ,o man1 who hast the sentence of death in thyself1 who feelest thyself a condemned sinner1 and hast the wrath of ,god abiding on thee3 unto thee saith the ,lord1 ,not1 do this2 perfectly obey all my commands and live3 but1 ,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,the word of faith is nigh unto thee2 now1 at this instant1 in the present moment1 and in thy present state1 sinner as thou art1 just as thou art1 believe the gospel3 and ,i will be merciful unto thy unrighteousness and thy iniquities will ,i remember no more4 ,,sermon ,,vii4 ,,mark i4 #ae4 ,the ,kingdom of ,god is at hand3 repent ye1 and believe the gospel4 ,,these words naturally lead us to consider1 first1 ,the nature of true religion1 here termed by our ,lord1 ,the kingdom of ,god1 which1 saith he1 is at hand3 and secondly1 ,the way thereto1 which he points out in those words1 ,repent ye1 and believe the gospel4 ,i4 #a4 ,we are1 first1 to consider1 ,the nature of true religion1 here term'd by our ,lord1 ,the kingdom of ,god4 ,the same expression the great apostle uses in his epistle to the ,romans1 where he likewise explains his ,lord's words1 saying1 ,the kingdom of ,god is not meat and drink2 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,chap4 xiv4 #ag4 #b4 ,the kingdom of ,god1 or true religion1 is not meat and drink4 ,it is well known1 that not only the unconverted ,jews1 but great numbers of those who had received the faith of ,christ1 were notwithstanding zealous of the law1 7,acts xxi4 #bj47 even the ceremonial law of ,moses4 ,whatsoever therefore they found written therein1 either concerning meat and drink-offerings1 or the distinction between clean and unclean meats1 they not only observed themselves1 but vehemently pressed the same1 even on those among the ,gentiles 7or ,heathens7 who were turned to ,god4 ,yea1 to such a degree1 that some of them taught1 wheresoever they came among them1 ,except ye be circumcised1 and keep the law1 7the whole ritual law7 ye cannot be saved1 ,acts xv4 #a1 #bd4 #c4 ,in opposition to these1 the apostle declares1 both here and in many other places1 that true religion does not consist in meat and drink1 or in any ritual observances3 nor indeed in any outward thing whatever1 in any thing exterior to the heart2 the whole substance thereof lying in righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 #d4 ,not in any outward thing2 such as forms or ceremonies1 even of the most excellent kind4 ,supposing these to be ever so decent and significant1 ever so expressive of inward things3 supposing them ever so helpful1 not only to the vulgar1 whose thought reaches little farther than their sight2 but even to men of understanding1 men of stronger capacities1 as doubtless they may sometimes be3 yea1 supposing them1 as in the case of the ,jews1 to be appointed by ,god himself2 yet even during the period of time wherein that appointment remains in force1 true religion does not principally consist therein2 nay1 strictly speaking1 not at all4 ,how much more must this hold concerning such rites and forms1 as are only of human appointment8 ,the religion of ,christ rises infinitely higher1 and lies immensely deeper than all these4 ,these are good in their place2 just so far as they are in fact subservient to true religion4 ,and it were superstition to object against them1 while they are applied only as occasional helps to human weakness4 ,but let no man carry them farther4 ,let no man dream1 that they have any intrinsick worth3 or that religion cannot subsist without them4 ,this were to make them an abomination to the ,lord4 #e4 ,the nature of religion is so far from consisting in these1 in forms of worship1 or rites and ceremonies1 that it does not properly consist in any outward actions1 of what kind soever4 ,it is true1 a man cannot have any religion1 who is guilty of vicious1 immoral actions2 or who does to others1 what he would not they should do to him1 if he were in the same circumstance4 ,and it is also true1 that he can have no real religion1 who knows to do good1 and doth it not4 ,yet may a man both abstain from outward evil1 and do good1 and still have no religion4 ,yea1 two persons may do the same outward work1 suppose1 feeding the hungry1 or cloathing the naked3 and1 mean time1 one of these may be truly religious1 and the other have no religion at all3 for the one may act from the love of ,god1 and the other from the love of praise4 ,so manifest it is2 that altho' true religion naturally leads to every good word and work1 yet the real nature thereof lies deeper still1 even in the hidden man of the heart4 #f4 ,i say1 of the heart4 ,for neither does religion consist in orthodoxy or right opinions2 which altho' they are not properly outward things1 are not in the heart1 but the understanding4 ,a man may be orthodox in every point2 he may not only espouse right opinions1 but zealously defend them against all opposers3 he may think justly concerning the incarnation of our ,lord1 concerning the ever blessed ,trinity1 and every other doctrine1 contained in the oracles of ,god3 ,he may assent to all the three creeds3 that called the apostles'1 the ,nicene1 and the ,athanasian3 and yet 'tis possible1 he may have no religion at all1 no more than a ,jew1 ,turk1 or ,pagan4 ,he may be almost as orthodox asthe devil2 7tho' indeed1 not altogether4 ,for every man errs in something2 whereas we can't well conceive him to hold any erroneous opinion7 and may all the while be as great a stranger as he1 to the religion of the heart4 #g4 ,this alone is religion1 truly so call'd3 this alone is in the sight of ,god of great price4 ,the apostle sums it all up in three particulars1 righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and first1 righteousness4 ,we cannot be at a loss concerning this1 if we remember the words of our ,lord describing the two grand branches thereof1 on which hang all the law and the prophets4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy mind1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy strength4#bb ,this is the first and great commandment1 the first and great branch of ,christian righteousness4 ,thou shalt delight thyself in the ,lord thy ,god2 thou shalt seek and find all happiness in him4 ,he shall be thy shield1 and thy exceeding great reward1 in time and in eternity4 ,all thy bones shall say1 ,whom have ,i in heaven but thee8 ,and there is none upon earth that ,i desire beside thee6 ,thou shalt hear1 and fulfil his word who saith1 ,my son1 give me thy heart4 ,and having given him thy heart1 thy inmost soul1 to reign there without a rival1 thou mayest well cry out1 in the fulness of thy heart1 ,i will love thee1 ,o ,lord1 my strength4 ,the ,lord is my strong rock and my defence3 my ,saviour1 my ,god1 and my might1 in whom ,i will trust2 my buckler1 the horn also of my salvation1 and my refuge4 #h4 ,and the second commandment is like unto this2 the second great branch of ,christian righteousness is closely and inseparably connected therewith1 even ,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,thou shalt love,thou shalt embrace with the most tender good-will1 the most earnest and cordial affection1 the most inflamed desires of preventing or removing all evil1 and of procuring for him every possible good4 ,thy neighbourthat is1 not only thy friend1 thy kinsman1 or thy acquaintance2 not only the virtuous1 the friendly1 him that loves thee1 that prevents or returns thy kindness2 but every child of man1 every human creature1 every soul which ,god hath made3 not excepting him whom thou never hast seen in the flesh1 whom thou knowest not either by face or name3 not excepting him whom thou knowest to be evil and unthankful1 him that still despightfully uses and persecutes thee4 ,him thou shalt love as thyself2 with the same invariable thirst after his happiness in every kind3 the same unwearied care to skreen him from whatever might grieve or hurt either his soul or body4 #i4 ,now is not this love the fulfilling of the law8 ,the sum of all ,christian righteousness8 ,of all inward righteousness2 for it necessarily implies bowels of mercies1 humbleness of mind 7seeing love is not puffed up7 gentleness1 meekness1 long-suffering1 7for love is not provoked but believeth1 hopeth1 endureth all things7 and of all outward righteousness2 for love worketh no evil to his neighbour1 either by word or deed4 ,it cannot willingly either hurt or grieve any one4 ,and it is zealous of good works4 ,every lover of mankind1 as he hath opportunity1 doth good unto all men2 being 7without partiality and without hypocrisy7 full of mercy and good fruits4 #aj4 ,but true religion1 or a heart right toward ,god and man1 implies happiness as well as holiness4 ,for it is not only righteousness1 but also peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,what peace8 ,the peace of ,god1 which ,god only can give and the world cannot take away3 the peace which passeth all understanding1 all 7barely7 rational conception2 being a supernatural sensation1 a divine taste of the powers of the world to come3 such as the natural man knoweth not1 how wise soever in the things of this world3 nor indeed can he know it1 in his present state1 because it is spiritually discerned4 ,it is a peace that banishes all doubt1 all painful uncertainty2 the ,spirit of ,god bearing witness with the spirit of a ,christian1 that he is a child of ,god4 ,and it banishes fear1 all such fear as hath torment2 the fear of the wrath of ,god1 the fear of hell1 the fear of the devil1 and in particular1 the fear of death3 he that hath the peace of ,god1 desiring 7if it were the will of ,god7 to depart and to be with ,christ4 #aa4 ,with this peace of ,god1 wherever it is fix'd in the soul1 there is also joy in the ,holy ,ghost3 joy wrought in the heart by the ,holy ,ghost1 by the ever blessed ,spirit of ,god4 ,he it is that worketh in us that calm1 humble rejoicing in ,god1 through ,christ ,jesus1 by whom we have now received the atonement1 1 the reconciliation with ,god2 and that enables us boldly to confirm the truth of the royal ,psalmist's declaration1 ,blessed is the man 7or rather happy7 whose unrighteousness is forgiven1 and whose sin is covered4 ,he it is that inspires the ,christian soul1 with that even1 solid joy1 which arises from the testimony of the ,spirit1 that he is a child of ,god2 and that gives him to rejoice with joy unspeakable1 in hope of the glory of ,god3 ,hope1 both of the glorious image of ,god1 which is in part and shall be fully revealed in him2 and of that crown of glory1 which fadeth not away1 reserved in heaven for him4 #ab4 ,this holiness and happiness joined in one1 are sometimes stiled in the inspired writings1 the kingdom of ,god1 7as by our ,lord in the text7 and sometimes1 the kingdom of heaven4 ,it is termed the kingdom of ,god1 because it is the immediate fruit of ,god's reigning in the soul4 ,so soon as ever he takes unto himself his mighty power1 and sets up his throne in our hearts1 they are instantly filled with this righteousness and peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is called the kingdom of heaven1 because it is 7in a degree7 heaven opened in the soul4 ,for whosoever they are that experience this1 they can aver1 before angels and men1 8,everlasting life is won3 ,glory is on earth begun30 ,according to the constant tenor of scripture1 which every where bears record1 ,god hath given unto us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son4 ,he that hath the ,son 7reigning in his heart7 hath life1 7even life everlasting7 #a ,john v4 #aa1 #ab4 ,for this is life eternal1 to know thee1 the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom thou has sent1 ,john xvii4 #c4 ,and they to whom this is given1 may confidently address ,god1 tho' they were in the midst of a fiery furnace1 8,thee,lord1 safe shielded by thy pow'r1 ,thee1 ,son of ,god1 ,jehovah1 we adore2 ,in form of man descending to appear3 ,to thee be ceaseless hallelujah's given4 ,praise1 as in heaven thy throne1 we offer here2 ,for where thy presence is display'd1 is heaven40 #ac4 ,and this kingdom of ,god or of heaven is at hand4 ,as these words were originally spoken1 they implied1 that the time was then fulfilled1 ,god being made manifest in the flesh1 when he would set-up his kingdom among men1 and reign in the hearts of his people4 ,and is not the time now fulfilled8 ,for lo6 saith he1 ,i am with you always1 you who preach remission of sins in my name1 even unto the end of the world4 7,matt4 xxviii4 #bj47 ,wheresoever therefore the gospel of ,christ is preached1 this his kingdom is nigh at hand4 ,it is not far from every one of you4 ,ye may this hour enter thereinto1 if so be ye hearken to his voice1 repent ye1 and believe the gospel4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,this is the way4 ,walk ye in it4 ,and first1 repent1 that is1 know yourselves4 ,this is the first repentance1 previous to faith2 even conviction1 or self-knowledge4 ,awake then thou that sleepest4 ,know thyself to be a sinner1 and what manner of sinner thou art4 ,know that corruption of thy inmost nature1 whereby thou art very far gone from original righteousness1 whereby the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit1 through that carnal mind which is enmity against ,god1 which is not subject to the law of ,god1 neither indeed can be4 ,know that thou art corrupted in every power1 in every faculty of thy soul2 that thou art totally corrupted in every one of these1 all the foundations being out of course4 ,the eyes of thine understanding are darkned1 so that they cannot discern ,god or the things of ,god4 ,the clouds of ignorance and error rest upon thee1 and cover thee with the shadow of death4 ,thou knowest nothing yet1 as thou oughtest to know1 neither ,god1 nor the world1 nor thyself4 ,thy will is no longer the will of ,god1 but is utterly perverse and distorted1 averse from all good1 from all which ,god loves1 and prone to all evil1 to every abomination which ,god hateth4 ,thy affections are alienated from ,god1 and scattered abroad over all the earth4 ,all thy passions1 both thy desires and aversions1 thy joys and sorrows1 thy hopes and fears1 are out of frame1 are either undue in their degree1 or placed on undue objects4 ,so that there is no soundness in thy soul2 but from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot 7to use the strong expression of the prophet7 there are only wounds and bruises and putrifying sores4 #b4 ,such is the inbred corruption of thy heart1 of thy very inmost nature4 ,and what manner of branches canst thou expect to grow1 from such an evil root8 ,hence springs unbelief1 ever departing from the living ,god3 ,saying1 8,who is the ,lord that ,i should serve him8 ,tush6 ,thou1 ,god1 carest not for it40 ,hence independence1 affecting to be like the ,most ,high2 hence pride in all its forms1 teaching thee to say1 8,i am rich1 and increased in goods1 and have need of nothing40 ,from this evil fountain flow forth the bitter streams of vanity1 thirst of praise2 ambition1 covetousness2 the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,from this arise anger1 hatred1 malice1 revenge1 envy1 jealousy1 evil-surmisings3 from this all the foolish and hurtful lusts1 that now pierce thee through with many sorrows1 and if not timely prevented1 will at length drown thy soul in everlasting perdition4 #c4 ,and what fruits can grow on such branches as these8 ,only such as are bitter and evil continually4 ,of pride cometh contention1 vain boasting1 seeking and receiving praise of men1 and so robbing ,god of that glory which he cannot give unto another4 ,of the lust of the flesh come gluttony or drunkenness1 luxury or sensuality3 fornication1 uncleanness1 variously defiling that body1 which was designed for a temple of the ,holy ,ghost3 of unbelief1 every evil word and work4 ,but the time would fail1 shouldst thou reckon up all2 all the idle words thou hast spoken1 provoking the ,most ,high1 grieving the ,holy ,one of ,israel3 all the evil works thou hast done1 either wholly evil in themselves1 or at least1 not done to the glory of ,god4 ,for thy actual sins are more than thou art able to express1 more than the hairs of thy head4 ,who can number the sands of the sea1 or the drops of rain1 or thy iniquities8 #d4 ,and knowest thou not1 that the wages of sin is death8 ,death not only temporal1 but eternal4 ,the soul that sinneth it shall die3 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 ,it shall die the second death4 ,this is the sentence1 to be punished with never-ending death1 with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power4 ,knowest thou not that every sinner1 2 not properly is in danger of hell-fire1 that expression is far too weak3 but rather1 is under the sentence of hell-fire1 doom'd already1 just dragging to execution4 ,thou art guilty of everlasting death4 ,it is the just reward of thy inward and outward wickedness4 ,it is just1 that the sentence should now take place4 ,dost thou see1 dost thou feel this8 ,art thou throughly convinced1 that thou deservest ,god's wrath and everlasting damnation8 ,would ,god do thee no wrong1 if he now commanded the earth to open and swallow thee up8 ,if thou wert now to go down quick into the pit1 into the fire that never shall be quenched8 ,if ,god hath given thee truly to repent1 thou hast a deep sense that these things are so2 and that it is of his mere mercy thou art not consumed1 swept away from the face of the earth4 #e4 ,and what wilt thou do to appease the wrath of ,god1 to atone for all thy sins1 and to escape the punishment thou hast so justly deserved8 ,alas1 thou canst do nothing3 nothing that will in any wise make amends to ,god1 for one evil work1 or word1 or thought4 ,if thou couldst now do all things well1 if from this very hour1 till thy soul should return to ,god1 thou couldst perform perfect uninterrupted obedience1 even this would not atone for what is past4 ,the not increasing thy debt would not discharge it4 ,it would still remain as great as ever4 ,yea1 the present and future obedience of all the men upon earth1 and all the angels in heaven1 would never make satisfaction to the justice of ,god for one single sin4 ,how vain then was the thought1 of atoning for thy own sins by any thing thou couldst do8 ,it costeth far more to redeem one soul1 than all mankind is able to pay4 ,so that were there no other help for a guilty sinner1 without doubt he must have perished everlastingly4 #f4 ,but suppose perfect obedience for the time to come1 could atone for the sins that are past1 this would profit thee nothing2 for thou art not able to perform it2 no1 not in any one point4 ,begin now4 ,make the trial4 ,shake off that outward sin that so easily besetteth thee4 ,thou canst not4 ,how then wilt thou change thy life from all evil to all good8 ,indeed1 it is impossible to be done1 unless first thy heart be changed4 ,for so long as the tree remains evil1 it cannot bring forth good fruit4 ,but art thou able to change thy own heart1 from all sin to all holiness8 ,to quicken a soul that is dead in sin8 ,dead to ,god and alive only to the world8 ,no more than thou art able to quicken a dead body1 to raise to life him that lieth in the grave4 ,yea1 thou art not able to quicken thy soul in any degree1 no more than to give any degree of life to the dead body4 ,thou canst do nothing more or less1 in this matter2 thou art utterly without strength4 ,to be deeply sensible of this1 how helpless thou art1 as well as how guilty and how sinful1 this is that repentance not to be repented of1 which is the fore-runner of the kingdom of ,god4 #g4 ,if to this lively conviction of thy inward and outward sins1 of thy utter guiltiness and helplessness1 there be added suitable affections sorrow of heart1 for having despised thy own mercies1 remorse and self-condemnation1 having the mouth stop'd1 shame to lift up thine eyes to heaven2 fear of the wrath of ,god abiding on thee1 of his curse hanging over thy head1 and of the fiery indignation ready to devour those who forget ,god1 and obey not our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 earnest desire to escape from that indignation1 to cease from evil and learn to do well3 then ,i say unto thee1 in the name of the ,lord1 thou art not far from the kingdom of ,god4 ,one step more and thou shalt enter in4 ,thou dost repent4 ,now1 believe the gospel4 #h4 ,the gospel 7that is1 good tidings1 good news for guilty1 helpless sinners7 in the largest sense of the word1 means1 the whole revelation made to men by ,jesus ,christ3 and sometimes the whole account of what our ,lord did and suffered1 while he tabernacled among men4 ,the substance of all is1 ,jesus ,christ came into the world to save sinners4 ,or1 ,god so loved the world1 that1 he gave his only begotten ,son1 to the end we might not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,or1 he was bruised for our transgressions1 he was wounded for our iniquities3 the chastisement of our peace was upon him1 and with his stripes we are healed4 #i4 ,believe this and the kingdom of ,god is thine4 ,by faith thou attainest the promise4 8,he pardoneth and absolveth all that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel40 ,as soon as ever ,god hath spoken to thy heart 8,be of good chear1 thy sins are forgiven thee10 his kingdom comes2 thou hast righteousness and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 #aj4 ,only beware thou do not deceive thy own soul1 with regard to the nature of this faith4 ,it is not 7as some have fondly conceived7 a bare assent to the truth of the bible1 of the articles of our creed1 or of all that is contained in the old and new testament4 ,the devils believe this1 as well as ,i or thou1 and yet they are devils still4 ,but it is1 over and above this1 a sure trust in the mercy of ,god through ,christ ,jesus4 ,it is a confidence in a pardoning ,god4 ,it is a divine evidence or conviction1 that ,god was in ,christ reconciling the world to himself1 not imputing to them their former trespasses3 and in particular1 that the ,son of ,god hath loved me and given himself for me3 and that ,i1 even ,i1 am now reconciled to ,god by the blood of the cross4 #aa4 ,dost thou thus believe8 ,then the peace of ,god is in thy heart1 and sorrow and sighing flee away4 ,thou art no longer in doubt of the love of ,god3 it is clear as the noon-day sun4 ,thou cryest out1 ,my song shall be always of the loving kindness of the ,lord3 with my mouth will ,i ever be telling of thy truth1 from one generation to another4 ,thou art no longer afraid of hell1 or death1 or him that had once the power of death1 the devil3 no1 nor painfully afraid of ,god himself2 only thou hast a tender1 filial fear of offending him4 ,dost thou believe8 ,then thy soul doth magnify the ,lord1 and thy spirit rejoiceth in ,god thy ,saviour4 ,thou rejoicest in that thou hast redemption thro' his blood1 even the forgiveness of sins4 ,thou rejoicest in that ,spirit of adoption1 which crieth in thy heart1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,thou rejoicest in a hope full of immortality1 in reaching forth unto the mark of the prize of thy high calling2 in an earnest expectation of all the good things which ,god hath prepared for them that love him4 #ab4 ,dost thou now believe8 ,then the love of ,god is now shed abroad in thy heart4 ,thou lovest him1 because he first loved us4 ,and because thou lovest ,god1 thou lovest thy brother also4 ,and being filled with love1 peace1 joy1 thou art also filled with long-suffering1 gentleness1 fidelity1 goodness1 meekness1 temperance1 and all the other fruits of the same ,spirit3 in a word1 with whatever dispositions are holy1 are heavenly or divine4 ,for while thou beholdest with open1 uncovered face1 7the veil now being taken away7 the glory of the ,lord1 his glorious love1 and the glorious image wherein thou wast created1 thou art changed into the same image1 from glory to glory1 by the ,spirit of the ,lord4 #ac4 ,this repentance1 this faith1 this peace1 joy1 love2 this change from glory to glory1 is what the wisdom of the world has voted to be madness1 mere enthusiasm1 utter distraction4 ,but thou1 ,o man of ,god1 regard them not3 be thou moved by none of these things4 ,thou knowest in whom thou hast believed4 ,see that no man take thy crown4 ,whereunto thou hast already attained hold fast2 and follow1 till thou attain all the great and precious promises4 ,and thou who hast not yet known him1 let not vain men make thee ashamed of the gospel of ,christ4 ,be thou in nothing terrified by those who speak evil of the things which they know not4 ,god will soon turn thy heaviness into joy4 ,o let not thy hands hang down4 ,yet a little longer1 and he will take away thy fears1 and give thee the spirit of a sound mind4 ,he is nigh that justifieth3 who is he that condemneth8 ,it is ,christ that died2 yea rather that rose again2 who is even now at the right-hand of ,god1 making intercession for thee4 ,now cast thyself on the ,lamb of ,god1 with all thy sins1 how many soever they be2 and an entrance shall now be ministred unto thee1 into the kingdom of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ6 ,,sermon ,,viii4 ,,the ,,first-,,fruits ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 ,,rom4 viii4 #a4 ,there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 #a4 ,,by them which are in ,christ ,jesus1 ,st4 ,paul evidently means1 those who truly believe in him3 those who being justified by faith1 have peace with ,god1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,they who thus believe do no longer walk after the flesh1 no longer follow the motions of corrupt nature3 but after the ,spirit3 both their thoughts1 words and works1 are under the direction of the blessed ,spirit of ,god4 #b4 ,there is therefore now no condemnation to these4 ,there is no condemnation to them from ,god3 for he hath justified them freely by his grace1 thro' the redemption that is in ,jesus4 ,he hath forgiven all their iniquities1 and blotted out all their sins4 ,and there is no condemnation to them from within3 for they have received1 not the spirit of the world1 but the ,spirit which is of ,god1 that they might know the things which are freely given to them of ,god3#bc ,which ,spirit beareth witness with their spirits1 that they are the children of ,god4 ,and to this is added1 the testimony of their conscience1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god1 they have had their conversation in the world4#bd #c4 ,but because this scripture has been so frequently misunderstood1 and that in so dangerous a manner1 because such multitudes of unlearned and unstable men1 7 1 men untaught of ,god1 and consequently unestablished in the truth which is after godliness7 have wrested it to their own destruction4 ,i propose to shew as clearly as ,i can1 first1 who those are which are in ,christ ,jesus1 and walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit2 and secondly1 how there is no condemnation to these4 ,i shall conclude with some practical inferences4 ,i4 #a4 ,first1 ,i am to shew1 who those are that are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,and are they not1 those who believe in his name8 ,those who are found in him1 not having their own righteousness1 but the righteousness which is of ,god by faith8 ,these1 who have redemption through his blood1 are properly said1 to be in him4 ,for they dwell in ,christ and ,christ in them4 ,they are joined unto the ,lord in one ,spirit4 ,they are ingrafted into him as branches into the vine4 ,they are united1 as members to their head2 in a manner which words cannot express1 nor could it before enter into their hearts to conceive4 #b4 ,now whosoever abideth in him1 sinneth not2 walketh not after the flesh4 ,the flesh1 in the usual language of ,st4 ,paul1 signifies corrupt nature4 ,in this sense1 he uses the word1 writing to the ,galatians4 ,the works of the flesh are manifest1 ,gal4 v4 #ai4 ,and a little before1 ,walk in the ,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfil the lust 7or desire7 of the flesh 7v4 #af47 ,to prove which1 namely1 that those who walk by the ,spirit1 do not fulfil the lust of the flesh1 he immediately adds1 for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit2 but the ,spirit lusteth against the flesh 7for these are contrary to each other7 that ye may not do the things which ye would4 ,so the words are literally translated1 7 1 7 ,not1 so that ye cannot do the things that ye would1 as if the flesh overcame the ,spirit3 a translation which hath not only nothing to do with the original text of the apostle1 but likewise makes his whole argument nothing worth1 yea1 asserts just the reverse of what he is proving4 #c4 ,they who are of ,christ1 who abide in him have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts4 ,they abstain from all those works of the flesh2 from adultery and fornication1 from uncleanness and lasciviousness2 from idolatry1 witchcraft1 hatred1 variance2 from emulations1 wrath1 strife1 sedition1 heresies1 envyings1 murders1 drunkenness1 revellings3 from every design1 and word and work1 to which the corruption of nature leads4 ,altho' they feel the root of bitterness in themselves1 yet are they endued with power from on high1 to trample it continually under foot1 so that it cannot spring up to trouble them3 insomuch that every fresh assault which they undergo1 only gives them fresh occasion of praise1 of crying out1 ,thanks be unto ,god1 who giveth us the victory1 thro' ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 #d4 ,they now walk after the ,spirit1 both in their hearts and lives4 ,they are taught of him to love ,god and their neighbour1 with a love which is as a well of water1 springing up into everlasting life4 ,and by him they are led into every holy desire1 into every divine and heavenly temper1 till every thought which arises in their heart1 is holiness unto the ,lord4 #e4 ,they who walk after the ,spirit1 are also led by him1 into all holiness of conversation4 ,their speech is always in grace1 seasoned with salt1 with the love and fear of ,god4 ,no corrupt communication comes out of their mouth1 but only that which is good2 that which is to the use of edifying1 which is meet to minister grace to the hearers4 ,and herein likewise do they exercise themselves day and night1 to do only the things which please ,god3 in all their outward behaviour to follow him1 who left us an example that we might tread in his steps3 in all their intercourse with their neighbour to walk in justice1 mercy and truth2 and whatsoever they do1 in every circumstance of life1 to do all to the glory of ,god4 #f4 ,these are they who indeed walk after the ,spirit4 ,being filled with faith and with the ,holy ,ghost1 they possess in their hearts1 and shew forth in their lives1 in the whole course of their words and actions1 the genuine fruits of the ,spirit of ,god1 namely1 love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 fidelity1 meekness1 temperance1 and whatsoever else is lovely or praise-worthy4 ,they adorn in all things the gospel of ,god our ,saviour2 and give full proof to all mankind1 that they are indeed actuated by the same ,spirit1 which raised up ,jesus from the dead4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,i proposed to shew1 in the second place1 ,how there is no condemnation to them1 which are thus in ,christ ,jesus1 and thus walk1 not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,and1 first1 ,to believers in ,christ1 walking thus1 there is no condemnation on account of their past sins4 ,god condemneth them not for any of these3 they are as tho' they had never been4 ,they are cast as a stone into the depth of the sea1 and he remembreth them no more4 ,god having set forth his ,son to be a propitiation for them1 thro' faith in his blood1 hath declared unto them his righteousness1 for the remission of the sins that are past4 ,he layeth therefore none of these to their charge2 their memorial is perished with them4 #b4 ,and there is no condemnation in their own breast2 no sense of guilt1 or dread of the wrath of ,god4 ,they have the witness in themselves2 they are conscious of their interest in the blood of sprinkling4 ,they have not received again the spirit of bondage unto fear1 unto doubt and racking uncertainty2 but they have received the ,spirit of adoption1 crying in their hearts1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,thus being justified by faith1 they have the peace of ,god ruling in their hearts3 flowing from a continual sense of his pardoning mercy1 and the answer of a good conscience toward ,god4 #c4 ,if it be said1 ,but sometimes a believer in ,christ1 may lose his sight of the mercy of ,god2 sometimes such darkness may fall upon him1 that he no longer sees him that is invisible1 no longer feels that witness in himself of his part in the atoning blood2 and then he is inwardly condemned1 he hath again the sentence of death in himself3 ,i answer1 supposing it so to be1 supposing him not to see the mercy of ,god1 then he is not a believer2 for faith implies light2 the light of ,god shining upon the soul4 ,so far therefore as any one loses this light1 he for the time loses his faith4 ,and no doubt a true believer in ,christ1 may lose the light of faith4 ,and so far as this is lost1 he may for a time fall again into condemnation4 ,but this is not the case of them who now are in ,christ ,jesus1 who now believe in his name4 ,for so long as they believe and walk after the ,spirit1 neither ,god condemns them nor their own heart4 #e4 ,they are not condemned1 ,secondly1 for any present sins1 for now transgressing the commandments of ,god4 ,for they do not transgress them8 ,they do not walk after the flesh but after the ,spirit4 ,this is the continual proof of their love of ,god1 that they keep his commandments3 even as ,st4 ,john bears witness1 ,whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin4 ,for his seed remaineth in him1 and he cannot sin1 because he is born of ,god3 he cannot1 so long as that seed of ,god1 that loving1 holy faith remaineth in him4 ,so long as he keepeth himself herein1 that wicked one toucheth him not4 ,now it is evident1 he is not condemned for the sins which he doth not commit at all4 ,they therefore who are thus led by the ,spirit1 are not under the law1 7,gal4 v4 #ah47 ,not under the curse or condemnation of it2 for it condemns none but those who break it4 ,thus1 that law of ,god1 ,thou shalt not steal1 condemns none but those who do steal4 ,thus1 ,remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy1 condemns those only who do not keep it holy4 ,but against the fruits of the ,spirit1 there is no law2 7v4 #bc47 as the apostle more largely declares1 in those memorable words of his former epistle to ,timothy4 ,we know1 that the law is good1 if a man use it lawfully2 knowing this1 7if while he uses the law of ,god1 in order either to convince or direct1 he know and remember this7 4 7,not1 that the law is not made for a righteous man2 but7 that the law does not lie against a righteous man3 7it has no force against him1 no power to condemn him7 but against the lawless and disobedient1 against the ungodly and sinners1 against the unholy and profaneaccording to the glorious gospel1 of the blessed ,god4 #a ,tim4 i4 #h1 #i1 #aa4 #f4 ,they are not condemned1 thirdly1 for inward sin1 even tho' it does now remain4 ,that the corruption of nature does still remain1 even in those who are the children of ,god by faith1 that they have in them the seeds of pride and vanity1 of anger1 lust and evil desire1 yea1 sin of every kind1 is too plain to be denied1 being matter of daily experience4 ,and on this account it is1 that ,st4 ,paul speaking to those1 whom he had just before witness'd to be in ,christ ,jesus#be1 to have been called of ,god into the fellowship 7or participation7 of his ,son ,jesus ,christ#bf1 yet declares1 ,brethren1 ,i could not speak unto you as unto spiritual1 but as unto carnal2 even as unto babes in ,christ 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #a47 ,babes in ,christ,so we see they were in ,christ2 they were believers in a low degree4 ,and yet how much of sin remained in them8 ,of that carnal mind1 which is not subject to the law of ,god8 #g4 ,and yet1 for all this1 they are not condemned4 ,although they feel the flesh1 the evil nature in them1 although they are more sensible day by day1 that their heart is deceitful and desperately wicked3 yet so long as they do not yield thereto1 so long as they give no place to the devil1 so long as they maintain a continual war1 with all sin1 with pride1 anger1 desire1 so that the flesh hath no dominion over them1 but they still walk after the ,spirit3 there is no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,god is well-pleased with their sincere1 tho' imperfect obedience3 and they have confidence toward ,god1 knowing they are his1 by the ,spirit which he hath given them4 #a ,john iii4 #bd4 #h4 ,nay1 fourthly1 altho' they are continually convinced of sin cleaving to all they do2 altho' they are conscious of not fulfilling the perfect law1 either in their thoughts1 or words1 or works2 altho' they know they do not love the ,lord their ,god1 with all their heart1 and mind1 and soul and strength2 altho' they feel more or less of pride or self-will1 stealing in and mixing with their best duties2 altho' even in their more immediate intercourse with ,god1 when they assemble themselves with the great congregation1 and when they pour out their souls in secret to him1 who seeth all the thoughts and intents of the heart1 they are continually ashamed of their wandring thoughts1 or of the deadness and dulness of their affections2 yet there is no condemnation to them still1 either from ,god or from their own heart4 ,the consideration of these manifold defects only gives them a deeper sense1 that they have always need of that blood of sprinkling1 which speaks for them in the ears of ,god1 and that ,advocate with the ,father who ever liveth1 to make intercession for them4 ,so far are these from driving them away from him1 in whom they have believed1 that they rather drive them the closer to him1 whom they feel the want of every moment4 ,and at the same time1 the deeper sense they have of this want1 the more earnest desire do they feel1 and the more diligent they are1 as they have received the ,lord ,jesus1 so to walk in him4 #i4 ,they are not condemned1 fifthly1 for sins of infirmity1 as they are usually called4 7,perhaps it were adviseable rather to call them infirmities1 that we may not seem to give any countenance to sin1 or to extenuate it in any degree1 by thus coupling it with infirmity4 ,but if we must retain so ambiguous and dangerous an expression7 by sins of infirmity ,i would mean1 such involuntary failings1 as the saying a thing we believe true1 tho' in fact it prove to be false2 or the hurting our neighbour1 without knowing or designing it2 perhaps when we design'd to do him good4 ,tho' these are deviations from the holy and acceptable and perfect will of ,god1 yet they are not properly sins1 nor do they bring any guilt on the conscience of them which are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,they separate not between ,god and them1 neither intercept the light of his countenance2 as being no ways inconsistent with their general character1 of walking not after the flesh but after the ,spirit4 #aj4 ,lastly1 ,there is no condemnation to them for any thing whatever which it is not in their power to help2 whether it be of an inward or outward nature1 and whether it be doing something1 or leaving something undone4 ,for instance3 the ,lord's supper is to be administered4 ,but you do not partake thereof4 ,why do you not2 you are confined by sickness4 ,therefore you cannot help omitting it3 and for the same reason1 you are not condemned4 ,there is no guilt2 because there is no choice4 ,as there is a willing mind1 it is accepted1 according to that a man hath1 not according to that he hath not4 #aa4 ,a believer indeed may sometimes be grieved1 because he cannot do what his soul longs for4 ,he may cry out1 when he is detain'd from worshipping ,god in the great congregation1 ,like as the hart panteth after the water-brooks1 so panteth my soul after thee1 ,o ,god4 ,my soul is athirst for ,god1 yea even for the living ,god3 when shall ,i come to appear in the presence of ,god8 ,he may earnestly desire 7only still saying in his heart1 not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt7 to go again with the multitude and bring them forth into the house of ,god4 ,but still1 if he cannot go1 he feels no condemnation1 no guilt1 no sense of ,god's displeasure3 but can chearfully yield up those desires1 with1 ,o my soul1 put thy trust in ,god3 for ,i will yet give him thanks1 who is the help of my countenance and my ,god4 #ab4 ,it is more difficult to determine concerning those which are usually stiled1 sins of surprize3 as when one who commonly in patience possesses his soul1 on a sudden and violent temptation1 speaks or acts in a manner not consistent with the royal law1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself4 ,perhaps it is not easy to fix a general rule1 concerning transgressions of this nature4 ,we cannot say1 either that men are1 or that they are not condemned1 for sins of surprize in general4 ,but it seems1 whenever a believer is by surprize over-taken in a fault1 there is more or less condemnation1 as there is more or less concurrence of his will4 ,in proportion as a sinful desire or word or action is more or less voluntary1 so we may conceive1 ,god is more or less displeased1 and there is more or less guilt upon the soul4 #ac4 ,but if so1 then there may be some sins of surprize1 which bring much guilt and condemnation4 ,for in some instances1 our being surprized is owing to some wilful and culpable neglect2 or to a sleepiness of soul which might have been prevented1 or shaken off before the temptation came4 ,a man may be previously warned either of ,god or man1 that trials and danger are at hand3 and yet may say in his heart1 ,a little more slumber1 a little more folding of the hands to rest4 ,now if such an one afterwards fall1 tho' unawares1 into the snare which he might have avoided2 that he fell unawares is no excuse3 he might have foreseen1 and have shuned the danger4 ,the falling even by surprize1 in such an instance as this1 is1 in effect1 a wilful sin2 and as such must expose the sinner to condemnation1 both from ,god and his own conscience4 #ad4 ,on the other hand1 there may be sudden assaults1 either from the world1 or the ,god of this world1 and frequently from our own evil hearts1 which we did not1 and hardly could foresee4 ,and by these even a believer1 while weak in faith1 may possibly be borne down1 suppose into a degree of anger1 or thinking evil of another1 with scarce any concurrence of his will4 ,now in such a case1 the jealous ,god would undoubtedly shew him that he had done foolishly4 ,he would be convinced of having swerved from the perfect law1 from the mind which was in ,christ1 and consequently grieved with a godly sorrow1 and lovingly ashamed before ,god4 ,yet need he not come into condemnation4 ,god layeth not folly to his charge1 but hath compassion upon him1 even as a ,father pitieth his own children4 ,and his heart condemneth him not2 in the midst of that sorrow and shame1 he can still say1 ,i will trust and not be afraid4 ,for the ,lord ,jehovah is my strength and my song2 he is also become my salvation4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,it remains only1 to draw some practical inferences from the preceding considerations4 ,and1 first1 ,if there be no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus1 and walk not after the flesh but after the ,spirit1 on account of their past sin3 then why art thou fearful1 ,o thou of little faith8 ,tho' thy sins were once more in number than the sand1 what is that to thee now thou art in ,christ ,jesus8 ,who shall lay any thing to the charge of ,god's elect8 ,it is ,god that justifieth3 who is he that condemneth8 ,all the sins thou hast committed from thy youth up1 until the hour when thou wast accepted in the ,beloved1 are driven away as chaff1 are gone1 are lost1 swallowed up1 remembered no more4 ,thou art now born of the ,spirit3 wilt thou be troubled or afraid for what is done before thou wert born8 ,away with thy fears6 ,thou art not called to fear2 but to the ,spirit of love and of a sound mind4 ,know thy calling4 ,rejoice in ,god thy ,saviour1 and give thanks to ,god thy ,father through him4 #b4 ,wilt thou say1 8,but ,i have again committed sin1 since ,i had redemption through his blood8 ,and therefore it is1 that ,i abhor myself1 and repent in dust and ashes40 ,it is meet thou shouldst abhor thyself2 and it is ,god who hath wrought thee to this self-same thing4 ,but dost thou now believe8 ,hath he again enabled thee to say1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth3 and the life which ,i now live1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god8 ,then that faith again cancels all that is past1 and there is no condemnation to thee4 ,at whatsoever time thou truly believest in the name of the ,son of ,god1 all thy sins antecedent to that hour1 vanish away as the morning dew4 ,now then1 ,stand thou fast in the liberty wherewith ,christ hath made thee free4 ,he hath once more made thee free from the power of sin1 as well as from the guilt and punishment of it4 ,o be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage6 ,neither the vile1 devilish bondage of sin2 of evil desires1 evil tempers1 or words1 or works1 the most grievous yoke on this side hell3 nor the bondage of slavish1 tormenting fear1 of guilt and self-condemnation4 #c4 ,but1 secondly3 ,do all they which abide in ,christ ,jesus1 walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit8 ,then we cannot but infer1 that whosoever now committeth sin1 hath no part or lot in this matter4 ,he is even now condemned by his own heart4 ,but if our heart condemn us1 if our own conscience beareth witness that we are guilty1 undoubtedly ,god doth3 for he is greater than our heart1 and knoweth all things2 so that we cannot deceive him1 if we can ourselves4 ,and think not to say1 8,i was justified once2 my sins were once forgiven me40 ,i know not that3 neither will ,i dispute whether they were or no4 ,perhaps1 at this distance of time1 'tis next to impossible to know with any tolerable degree of certainty1 whether that was a true1 genuine work of ,god1 or whether thou didst only deceive thy own soul4 ,but this ,i know with the utmost degree of certainty1 ,he that committeth sin is of the devil4 ,therefore thou art of thy father the devil4 ,it cannot be denied3 for the works of thy father thou dost4 ,o flatter not thyself with vain hopes4 ,say not to thy soul1 ,peace1 peace6 ,for there is no peace4 ,cry aloud6 ,cry unto ,god out of the deep2 if haply he may hear thy voice4 ,come unto him as at first1 as wretched and poor1 as sinful1 miserable1 blind and naked4 ,and beware thou suffer thy soul to take no rest1 till his pardoning love be again revealed1 till he heal thy backslidings1 and fill thee again with the faith that worketh by love4 #d4 ,thirdly1 ,is there no condemnation to them which walk after the ,spirit1 by reason of inward sin still remaining1 so long as they do not give way thereto2 nor by reason of sin cleaving to all they do8 ,then fret not thyself because of ungodliness1 tho' it still remain in thy heart4 ,repine not1 because thou still comest short of the glorious image of ,god3 nor yet1 because pride1 self-will1 or unbelief1 cleave to all thy words and works4 ,and be not afraid to know all the evil of thy heart1 to know thyself as also thou art known4 ,yea1 desire of ,god1 that thou mayst not think of thyself more highly than thou oughtest to think4 ,let thy continual prayer be1 8,shew me1 as my soul can bear1 ,the depth of inbred sin3 ,all the unbelief declare1 ,the pride that lurks within60 ,but when he heareth thy prayer1 and unveils thy heart1 when he shews thee throughly what spirit thou art of3 then beware that thy faith fail thee not1 that thou suffer not thy shield to be torn from thee4 ,be abased4 ,be humbled in the dust4 ,see thyself nothing1 less than nothing and vanity4 ,but still1 let not thy heart be troubled1 neither let it be afraid4 ,still hold fast1 8,i1 even ,i1 have an advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous4 ,and as the heavens are higher than the earth1 so is his love higher than even my sins40,therefore ,god is merciful to thee a sinner6 ,such a sinner as thou art6 ,god is love2 and ,christ hath died4 ,therefore the ,father himself loveth thee4 ,thou art his child4 ,therefore he will with-hold from thee no manner of thing that is good4 ,is it good1 that the whole body of sin1 which is now crucified in thee1 should be destroyed8 ,it shall be done4 ,thou shalt be cleansed from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit4 ,is it good that nothing should remain in thy heart1 but the pure love of ,god alone8 ,be of good chear6 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god1 with all thy heart and mind and soul and strength4 ,faithful is he that hath promised1 who also will do it4 ,it is thy part1 patiently to continue in the work of faith1 and in the labour of love3 and in chearful peace1 in humble confidence1 with calm and resigned1 and yet earnest expectation1 to wait till the zeal of the ,lord of ,hosts shall perform this4 #e4 ,fourthly1 ,if they that are in ,christ1 and walk after the ,spirit1 are not condemned for sins of infirmity1 as neither for involuntary failings1 nor for any thing whatever which they are not able to help3 then beware1 ,o thou that hast faith in his blood1 that ,satan herein gain no advantage over thee4 ,thou art still foolish and weak1 blind and ignorant3 more weak than any words can express1 more foolish than it can yet enter into thy heart to conceive1 knowing nothing yet as thou oughtest to know4 ,yet let not all thy weakness and folly1 or any fruit thereof1 which thou art not yet able to avoid1 shake thy faith1 thy filial trust in ,god1 or disturb thy peace or joy in the ,lord4 ,the rule which some give as to wilful sins1 and which in that case1 may perhaps be dangerous1 is undoubtedly wise and safe1 if it be applied only to the case of weakness and infirmities4 ,art thou fallen1 ,o man of ,god8 ,yet do not lie there1 fretting thyself and bemoaning thy weakness3 ,but meekly say1 ,lord1 ,i shall fall thus every moment1 unless thou uphold me with thy hand4 ,and then arise6 ,leap and walk4 ,go on thy way4 ,run with patience the race set before thee4 #f4 ,lastly1 since a believer need not come into condemnation1 even tho' he be surprized into what his soul abhors1 7suppose his being surprized is not owing to any carelessness or wilful neglect of his own37 if thou who believest1 art thus over-taken in a fault1 then grieve unto the ,lord2 it shall be a precious balm3 pour out thy heart before him1 and shew him of thy trouble4 ,and pray with all thy might to him who is touched with the feeling of thy infirmities1 that he would stablish and strengthen and settle thy soul1 and suffer thee to fall no more4 ,but still he condemneth thee not4 ,wherefore shouldst thou fear8 ,thou hast no need of any fear that hath torment4 ,thou shalt love him that lovest thee1 and it sufficeth3 more love will bring more strength4 ,and as soon as thou lovest him with all thy heart1 thou shall be perfect and entire1 lacking nothing4 ,wait in peace for that hour1 when the ,god of peace shall sanctify thee wholly1 so that thy whole spirit1 and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,,sermon ,,ix4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,bondage ,,and ,,of ,,adoption4 ,,romans viii4 #ae4 ,ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear3 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 #a4 ,,st4 ,paul here speaks to those who are the children of ,god by faith4 ,ye1 saith he1 who are indeed his children1 have drank into his ,spirit4 ,ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear4 ,but because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into your hearts4 ,ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 #b4 ,the spirit of bondage and fear is widely distant from this loving ,spirit of adoption4 ,those who are influenced only by slavish fear1 cannot be termed1 the sons of ,god4 ,yet some of them may be stiled his servants1 and are not far from the kingdom of heaven4 #c4 ,but it is to be feared1 the bulk of mankind1 yea1 of what is call'd ,the ,christian world1 have not attain'd even this2 but are still afar off1 neither is ,god in all their thoughts4 ,a few names may be found of those who love ,god3 a few more there are that fear him4 ,but the greater part have neither the fear of ,god before their eyes1 nor the love of ,god in their hearts4 #d4 ,perhaps most of you1 who by the mercy of ,god1 now partake of a better spirit1 may remember the time1 when ye were as they1 when ye were under the same condemnation4 ,but at first ye knew it not1 tho' ye were wallowing daily in your sins and in your blood3 till in due time ye received the spirit of fear 7ye received2 for this also is the gift of ,god37 and afterwards1 fear vanished away1 and the ,spirit of love filled your hearts4 #e4 ,one who is in the first state of mind1 without fear or love1 is in scripture term'd a natural man4 ,one who is under the spirit of bondage and fear is sometimes said to be under the law3 7altho' that expression more frequently signifies one1 who is under the ,jewish dispensation1 or who thinks himself obliged to observe all the rites and ceremonies of the ,jewish law47 ,but one who has exchanged the spirit of fear for the ,spirit of love1 is properly said1 to be under grace4 ,now because it highly imports us1 to know what spirit we are of1 ,i shall endeavour to point out distinctly1 first1 ,the state of a natural man1 secondly1 ,that of one who is under the law1 and thirdly1 of one who is under grace4 ,i4 #a4 ,and1 first1 the state of a natural man4 ,this the scripture represents as a state of sleep4 ,the voice of ,god to him is1 ,awake1 thou that sleepest4 ,for his soul is in a deep sleep4 ,his spiritual senses are not awake3 they discern neither spiritual good nor evil4 ,the eyes of his understanding are closed2 they are sealed together1 and see not4 ,clouds and darkness continually rest upon them2 for he lies in the valley of the shadow of death4 ,hence having no inlets for the knowledge of spiritual things1 all the avenues of his soul being shut up1 he is in gross1 stupid ignorance of whatever he is most concerned to know4 ,he is utterly ignorant of ,god1 knowing nothing concerning him as he ought to know4 ,he is totally a stranger to the law of ,god1 as to its true1 inward1 spiritual meaning4 ,he has no conception of that evangelical holiness1 without which no man shall see the ,lord2 nor of the happiness1 which they only find1 whose life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 #b4 99 ,and for this very reason1 because he is fast asleep1 he is1 in some sense1 at rest4 ,because he is blind1 he is also secure3 he saith1 ,tush1 there shall no harm happen unto me4 ,the darkness which covers him on every side1 keeps him in a kind of peace3 7so far as peace can consist with the works of the devil1 and with an earthly1 devilish mind47 ,he sees not that he stands on the edge of the pit2 therefore he fears it not4 ,he cannot tremble at the danger he does not know4 ,he has not understanding enough to fear4 ,why is it that he is in no dread of ,god8 ,because he is totally ignorant of him3 if not saying in his heart1 there is no ,god1 or1 that he sitteth on the circle of the heavens1 and humbleth not himself to behold the things which are done on earth2 yet satisfying himself as well1 to all ,epicurean intents and purposes1 by saying1 8,god is merciful30 confounding and swallowing up at once1 in that unweildy idea of mercy1 all his holiness and essential hatred of sin1 all his justice1 wisdom and truth4 ,he is in no dread of the vengeance denounced against those who obey not the blessed law of ,god1 because he understands it not4 ,he imagines the main point is1 to do thus1 to be outwardly blameless3 and sees not that it extends to every temper1 desire1 thought1 motion of the heart4 ,or he fancies1 that the obligation hereto is ceas'd2 that ,christ came to destroy the law and the prophets2 to save his people in1 not from their sins3 to bring them to heaven1 without holiness4 ,notwithstanding his own words1 ,not one jot or tittle of the law shall pass away1 till all things are fulfilled3 and1 ,not every one that saith unto me1 ,lord1 ,lord6 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven2 but he that doth the will of my ,father which is in heaven4 #c4 ,he is secure1 because he is utterly ignorant of himself4 ,hence he talks of 8repenting by and by20 he does not indeed exactly know when2 but some time or other before he dies3 taking it for granted1 that this is quite in his own power4 ,for what should hinder his doing it1 if he will8 ,if he does but once set a resolution1 no fear but he will make it good4 #d4 ,but this ignorance never so strongly glares1 as in those who are term'd1 men of learning4 ,if a natural man be one of these1 he can talk at large of his rational faculties3 of the freedom of his will1 and the absolute necessity of such freedom1 in order to constitute man a moral agent4 ,he reads and argues1 and proves to a demonstration1 that every man may do as he will2 may dispose his own heart to evil or good1 as it seems best in his own eyes4 ,thus the ,god of this world spreads a double veil of blindness over his heart1 lest by any means the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ should shine upon it4 #e4 ,from the same ignorance of himself and ,god there may sometimes arise in the natural man a kind of joy1 in congratulating himself1 upon his own wisdom and goodness4 ,and what the world calls joy1 he may often possess4 ,he may have pleasure in various kinds2 either in gratifying the desires of the flesh1 or the desire of the eye1 or the pride of life3 particularly if he has large possessions2 if he enjoy an affluent fortune4 ,then he may cloath himself in purple and fine linen1 and fare sumptuously every day4 ,and so long as he thus doth well unto himself1 men will doubtless speak good of him4 ,they will say1 he is a happy man3 for indeed this is the sum of worldly happiness3 to dress1 and visit1 and talk1 and eat1 and drink1 and rise up to play4 #f4 ,it is not surprizing1 if one in such circumstances as these1 dozed with the opiates of flattery and sin1 should imagine2 among his other waking dreams1 that he walks in great liberty4 ,how easily may he persuade himself1 that he is at liberty from all vulgar errors1 and from the prejudice of education1 judging exactly right1 and keeping clear of all extremes4 8,i am free 7may he say7 from all the enthusiasm of weak and narrow souls3 from superstition1 the disease of fools and cowards1 always righteous over much2 and from bigotry1 continually incident to those who have not a free and generous way of thinking40 ,and too sure it is1 that he is altogether free1 from the wisdom which cometh from above1 from holiness1 from the religion of the heart1 from the whole mind which was in ,christ4 #g4 ,for all this time1 he is the servant of sin4 ,he commits sin1 more or less1 day by day4 ,yet he is not troubled3 ,he 8is in no bondage20 7as some speak7 he feels no condemnation4 ,he contents himself1 7even tho' he should profess to believe that the ,christian revelation is of ,god7 with1 8,man is frail4 ,we are all weak4 ,every man has his infirmity40 ,perhaps he quotes scripture3 8,why1 does not ,solomon say1 #8,the righteous man falls into sin seven times a day8' ,and doubtless1 they are all hypocrites or enthusiasts who pretend to be better than their neighbours40 ,if at any time a serious thought fix upon him1 he stifles it as soon as possible1 with1 8,why should ,i fear1 since ,god is merciful1 and ,christ died for sinners80 ,thus he remains a willing servant of sin1 content with the bondage of corruption2 inwardly and outwardly unholy1 and satisfied therewith2 not only not conquering sin1 but not striving to conquer1 particularly that sin1 which doth so easily beset him4 #h4 ,such is the state of every natural man2 whether he be a gross1 scandalous transgressor1 or a more reputable and decent sinner1 having the form1 tho' not the power of godliness4 ,but how can such an one be convinced of sin8 ,how is he brought to repent8 ,to be under the law8 ,to receive the spirit of bondage unto fear8 ,this is the point which is next to be consider'd4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,by some awful providence1 or by his word applied with the demonstration of his ,spirit1 ,god touches the heart of him that lay asleep in darkness and in the shadow of death4 ,he is terribly shaken out of his sleep1 and awakes into a consciousness of his danger4 ,perhaps in a moment1 perhaps by degrees1 the eyes of his understanding are opened1 and now first 7the veil being in part removed7 discern the real state he is in4 ,horrid light breaks in upon his soul2 such light1 as may be conceived to gleam from the bottomless pit1 from the lowest deep1 from a lake of fire1 burning with brimstone4 ,he at last sees the loving1 the merciful ,god1 is also a consuming fire2 that he is a just ,god and a terrible1 rendering to every man according to his works1 entering into judgment with the ungodly for every idle word1 yea1 and for the imaginations of the heart4 ,he now clearly perceives1 that the great and holy ,god is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity3 that he is an avenger of every one who rebelleth against him1 and repayeth the wicked to his face2 and that it is a fearful thing1 to fall into the hands of the living ,god4 #c4 ,the inward1 spiritual meaning of the law of ,god now begins to glare upon him4 ,he perceives the commandment is exceeding broad1 and there is nothing hid from the light thereof4 ,he is convinced1 that every part of it relates not barely to outward sin or obedience1 but to what passes in the secret recesses of the soul1 which no eye but ,god's can penetrate4 ,if he now hears1 ,thou shalt not kill1 ,god speaks in thunder1 ,he that hateth his brother is a murtherer4 ,he that saith unto his brother1 ,thou fool1 is obnoxious to hell-fire4 ,if the law say1 ,thou shalt not commit adultery1 the voice of the ,lord sounds in his ears1 ,he that looketh on a woman1 to lust after her1 hath committed adultery with her already in his heart4 ,and thus in every point1 he feels the word of ,god quick and powerful1 sharper than a two-edged sword4 ,it pierces even to the dividing asunder of his soul and spirit1 his joints and marrow4 ,and so much the more1 because he is conscious to himself of having neglected so great salvation2 of having trodden under foot the ,son of ,god1 who would have saved him from his sins1 and counted the blood of the covenant an unholy1 a common1 unsanctifying thing4 #d4 ,and as he knows all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do1 so he sees himself1 naked1 stript of all the fig-leaves which he had sewed together1 of all his poor pretences to religion or virtue1 and his wretched excuses for sinning against ,god4 ,he now sees himself1 like the ancient sacrifices1 1 cleft in sunder1 as it were1 from the neck downward1 so that all within him stands confest4 ,his heart is bare1 and he sees it is all sin1 deceitful above all things1 desperately wicked2 that it is altogether corrupt and abominable1 more than it is possible for tongue to express3 that there dwelleth therein no good thing1 but unrighteousness and ungodliness only2 every motion thereof1 every temper and thought1 being only evil continually4 #e4 ,and he not only sees1 but feels in himself1 by an emotion of soul which he cannot describe1 that for the sins of his heart1 were his life without blame1 7which yet it is not1 and cannot be3 seeing an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit7 he deserves to be cast into the fire that never shall be quenched4 ,he feels1 that the wages1 the just reward of sin1 of his sin above all1 is death2 even the second death1 the death which dieth not1 the destruction of body and soul in hell4 #f4 99 ,here ends his pleasing dream1 his delusive rest1 his false peace1 his vain security4 ,his joy now vanishes as a cloud3 pleasures1 once loved delight no more4 ,they pall upon the taste2 he loaths the nauseous sweet2 he is weary to bear them4 ,the shadows of happiness flee away1 and sink into oblivion4 ,so that he is stript of all1 and wanders to and fro1 seeking rest1 but finding none4 #g4 ,the fumes of those opiates being now dispelled1 he feels the anguish of a wounded spirit4 ,he finds that sin let loose upon the soul 7whether it be pride1 anger1 or evil desire1 whether self-will1 malice1 envy1 revenge1 or any other7 is perfect misery4 ,he feels sorrow of heart for the blessings he has lost1 and the curse which is come upon him2 remorse for having thus destroyed himself1 and despised his own mercies2 fear1 from a lively sense of the wrath of ,god1 and of the consequences of his wrath2 of the punishment which he has justly deserved1 and which he sees hanging over his head2 fear of death1 as being to him the gate of hell1 the entrance of death eternal2 fear of the devil1 the executioner of the wrath and righteous vengeance of ,god2 fear of men1 who if they were able to kill his body1 would thereby plunge both body and soul into hell2 fear1 sometimes arising to such a height1 that the poor1 sinful1 guilty soul1 is terrified with every thing1 with nothing1 with shades1 with a leaf shaken of the wind4 ,yea sometimes it may even border upon distraction1 making a man drunken1 tho' not with wine1 suspending the exercise of the memory1 of the understanding1 of all the natural faculties4 ,sometimes it may approach to the very brink of despair3 so that he who trembles at the name of death1 may yet be ready to plunge into it every moment1 to chuse strangling rather than life4 ,well may such a man roar1 like him of old1 for the very disquietness of his heart4 ,well may he cry out1 ,the spirit of a man may sustain his infirmities2 but a wounded spirit who can bear8 #h4 ,now he truly desires to break loose from sin1 and begins to struggle with it4 ,but tho' he strive with all his might1 he cannot conquer2 sin is mightier than he4 ,he would fain escape2 but he is so fast in prison1 that he cannot get forth4 ,he resolves against sin1 but yet sins on3 he sees the snare1 and abhors1 and runs into it4 ,so much does his boasted reason avail6 ,only to inhance his guilt1 and increase his misery4 ,such is the freedom of his will6 ,free only to evil2 free to drink in iniquity like water2 to wander farther and farther from the living ,god1 and do more despight to the ,spirit of grace6 #i4 ,the more he strives1 wishes1 labours to be free1 the more does he feel his chains1 the grievous chains of sin1 wherewith ,satan binds and leads him captive at his will3 his servant he is1 tho' he repine ever so much2 tho' he rebel1 he cannot prevail4 ,he is still in bondage and fear1 by reason of sin3 generally1 of some outward sin to which he is peculiarly disposed1 either by nature1 custom or outward circumstances2 but always1 of some inward sin1 some evil temper or unholy affection4 ,and the more he frets against it1 the more it prevails2 he may bite1 but cannot break his chain4 ,thus he toils without end1 repenting and sinning1 and repenting and sinning again1 till at length the poor sinful1 helpless wretch is even at his wit's end1 and can barely groan1 ,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from the body of this death8 #aj4 99 ,this whole struggle of one who is under the law1 under the spirit of fear and bondage1 is beautifully described by the apostle in the foregoing chapter1 speaking in the person of an awaken'd man4 ,i 7saith he7 was alive without the law once1 ver4 #i4 ,i had much life1 wisdom1 strength and virtue2 so ,i thought3 but when the commandment came1 sin revived1 and ,i died4 ,when the commandment1 in its spiritual meaning1 came to my heart1 with the power of ,god1 my inbred sin was stirred up1 fretted1 inflamed1 and all my virtue died away4 ,and the commandment1 which was ordained to life1 ,i found to be unto death4 ,for sin1 taking occasion by the commandment1 deceived me1 and by it slew me1 ver4 #aj1 #aa4 ,it came upon me unawares1 slew all my hopes1 and plainly shewed1 in the midst of life ,i was in death4 ,wherefore the law is holy1 and the commandment holy1 and just and good1 ver4 #ab4 ,i no longer lay the blame on this1 but on the corruption of my own heart4 ,i acknowledge that the law is spiritual3 but ,i am carnal1 sold under sin1 ver4 #ad4 ,i now see both the spiritual nature of the law1 and my own carnal1 devilish heart2 sold under sin1 totally inslaved3 7like slaves bought with money1 who were absolutely at their master's disposal47 ,for that which ,i do1 ,i allow not2 for what ,i would1 ,i do not2 but what ,i hate1 that ,i do1 ver4 #ae4 ,such is the bondage under which ,i groan2 such the tyranny of my hard master4 ,to will is present with me1 but how to perform that which is good1 ,i find not4 ,for the good that ,i would1 ,i do not3 but the evil which ,i would not1 that ,i do1 ver4 #ah1 #ai4 ,i find a law1 an inward constraining power1 that when ,i would do good1 evil is present with me4 ,for ,i delight in 7or consent to7 the law of ,god1 after the inward man3 7ver4 #ba1 #bb47 ,in my mind3 7so the apostle explains himself in the words that immediately follow3 and so 1 the inward man1 is understood in all other ,greek writers47 ,but ,i see another law in my members1 another constraining power1 warring against the law of my mind1 or inward man1 and bringing me into captivity to the law1 or power1 of sin1 ver4 #bc1 dragging me as it were at my conqueror's chariot-wheels1 into the very thing which my soul abhors4 ,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from the body of this death6 ver4 #bd4 ,who shall deliver me from this helpless1 dying life3 from this bondage of sin and misery6 ,till this is done1 ,i myself 7or rather1 that ,i1 1 that man ,i am now personating7 with the mind1 or inward man1 serve the law of ,god2 my mind1 my conscience is on ,god's side3 but with the flesh2 with my body1 the law of sin1 ver4 #be1 being hurried away by a force ,i cannot resist4 #aa4 ,how lively a portraiture is this of one under the law6 ,one who feels the burthen he cannot shake off2 who pants after liberty1 power and love1 but is in fear and bondage still6 ,until the time that ,god answers the wretched man1 crying out1 ,who shall deliver me1 from this bondage of sin1 from this body of death8 ,the grace of ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ thy ,lord4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,then it is1 that this miserable bondage ends1 and he is no more under the law1 but under grace4 ,this state we are1 ,thirdly1 to consider1 the state of one who has found grace or favour1 in the sight of ,god1 even the ,father1 and who has the grace1 or power of the ,holy ,ghost1 reigning in his heart3 who has received1 in the language of the apostle1 the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby he now cries1 ,abba1 ,father6 #b4 ,he cried unto the ,lord in his trouble1 and ,god delivers him out of his distress4 ,his eyes are opened in quite another manner than before1 even to see a loving1 gracious ,god4 ,while he is calling1 ,i beseech thee shew me thy glory1 he hears a voice in his inmost soul1 ,i will make all my goodness pass before thee1 and ,i will proclaim the name of the ,lord3 ,i will be gracious to whom ,i will be gracious1 and ,i will shew mercy to whom ,i will shew mercy4 ,and it is not long before the ,lord descends in the cloud1 and proclaims the name of the ,lord4 ,then he sees1 7but not with eyes of flesh and blood7 ,the ,lord1 the ,lord ,god3 merciful and gracious1 long-suffering1 and abundant in goodness and truth3 keeping mercy for thousands1 and forgiving iniquities and transgression and sin4 #c4 ,heavenly1 healing light now breaks in upon his soul4 ,he looks on him whom he had pierced1 and ,god who out of darkness commanded light to shine1 shineth in his heart4 ,he sees the light of the glorious love of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,he hath a divine evidence of things not seen by sense1 even of the deep things of ,god2 more particularly of the love of ,god1 of his pardoning love to him that believes in ,jesus4 ,overpowered with the sight1 his whole soul cries out1 ,my ,lord1 and my ,god6 ,for he sees all his iniquities laid on him1 who bare them in his own body on the tree2 he beholds the ,lamb of ,god taking away his sins4 ,how clearly now does he discern1 that ,god was in ,christ1 reconciling the world unto himself6 ,making him sin for us who knew no sin1 that we might be made the righteousness of ,god through him6 ,and that he himself is reconciled to ,god1 by that blood of the covenant6 #d4 ,here end both the guilt and power of sin4 ,he can now say1 ,i am crucified with ,christ4 ,nevertheless ,i live3 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,and the life which ,i now live in the flesh1 even in this mortal body1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me and gave himself for me4 ,here end remorse and sorrow of heart1 and the anguish of a wounded spirit4 ,god turneth his heaviness into joy4 ,he made sore1 and now his hands bind up4 ,here ends also that bondage unto fear2 for his heart standeth fast1 believing in the ,lord4 ,he cannot fear any longer the wrath of ,god2 for he knows it is now turned away from him1 and looks upon him no more as an angry judge1 but as a loving father4 ,he cannot fear the devil1 knowing he has no power1 except it be given him from above4 ,he fears not hell1 being an heir of the kingdom of heaven2 consequently1 he has no fear of death2 by reason whereof he was in time past1 for so many years subject to bondage4 ,rather1 knowing that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved1 he hath a building of ,god1 a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens3 ,he groaneth earnestly1 desiring to be cloathed upon with that house which is from heaven4 ,he groans to shake off this house of earth1 that mortality may be swallowed up of life3 knowing that ,god hath wrought him for the self same thing2 who hath also given him the earnest of his ,spirit4 #e4 ,and where the ,spirit of the ,lord is1 there is liberty2 liberty not only from guilt and fear1 but from sin1 from that heaviest of all yokes1 that basest of all bondage4 ,his labour is not now in vain4 ,the snare is broken and he is delivered4 ,he not only strives1 but likewise prevails2 he not only fights1 but conquers also4 ,henceforth he doth not serve sin 7chap4 vi4 ver4 #f1 c47 ,he is dead unto sin and alive unto ,god4 ,sin doth not now reign1 even in his mortal body1 nor doth he obey it in the desires thereof4 ,he does not yield his members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin1 but as instruments of righteousness unto ,god4 ,for being now made free from sin1 he is become the servant of righteousness4 #f4 ,thus having peace with ,god1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 rejoicing in hope of the glory of ,god1 and having power over all sin1 over every evil desire1 and temper1 and word1 and work1 he is a living witness of the glorious liberty of the sons of ,god3 all of whom1 being partakers of like precious faith1 bear record with one voice1 ,we have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father6 #g4 ,it is this spirit which continually worketh in them1 both to will and to do of his good pleasure4 ,it is he that sheds the love of ,god abroad in their hearts1 and the love of all mankind2 thereby purifying their hearts from the love of the world1 from the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life4 ,it is by him they are delivered from anger and pride1 from all vile and inordinate affections4 ,in consequence1 they are delivered from evil words and works1 from all unholiness of conversation3 doing no evil to any child of man1 and being zealous of all good works4 #h4 99 ,to sum up all4 ,the natural man neither fears nor loves ,god2 one under the law1 fears2 one under grace1 loves him4 ,the first1 has no light in the things of ,god1 but walks in utter darkness2 the second sees the painful light of hell2 the third1 the joyous light of heaven4 ,he that sleeps in death1 has a false peace4 ,he that is awakened has no peace at all4 ,he that believes has true peace1 the peace of ,god filling and ruling his heart4 ,the heathen1 baptized or unbaptized1 hath a fancied liberty1 which is indeed licentiousness3 the ,jew 7or one under the ,jewish dispensation7 is in heavy1 grievous bondage3 the ,christian enjoys the true glorious liberty of the sons of ,god4 ,an unawakened child of the devil1 sins willingly3 ,one that is awakened sins unwillingly3 a child of ,god sinneth not1 but keepeth himself1 and the wicked one toucheth him not4 ,to conclude2 the natural man neither conquers nor fights2 the man under the law fights with sin1 but cannot conquer3 the man under grace fights and conquers1 yea is more than conqueror1 through him that loveth him4 ,,iv4 #a4 ,from this plain account of the three-fold state of man1 the natural1 the legal1 and the evangelical1 it appears1 that it is not sufficient1 to divide mankind1 into sincere1 and insincere4 ,a man may be sincere in any of these states2 not only when he has the ,spirit of adoption1 but while he has the spirit of bondage unto fear4 ,yea1 while he has neither this fear1 nor love4 ,for undoubtedly there may be sincere ,heathens1 as well as sincere ,jews or ,christians4 ,this circumstance then1 does by no means prove1 that a man is in a state of acceptance with ,god4 ,examine yourselves therefore1 not only whether ye are sincere1 but whether ye be in the faith4 ,examine narrowly2 for it imports you much4 ,what is the ruling principle in your soul8 ,is it the love of ,god8 ,is it the fear of ,god8 ,or is it neither one nor the other8 ,is it not rather the love of the world8 ,the love of pleasure8 or gain1 of ease1 or reputation8 ,if so1 you are not come so far as a ,jew4 ,you are but a ,heathen still4 ,have you heaven in your heart8 ,have you the ,spirit of adoption1 ever crying1 ,abba1 ,father8 ,or do you cry unto ,god1 as out of the belly of hell1 overwhelmed with sorrow and fear8 ,or are you a stranger to this whole affair1 and cannot imagine what ,i mean8 ,heathen1 pull off the mask4 ,thou hast never put on ,christ4 ,stand barefaced4 ,look up to heaven4 ,and own before him that liveth for ever and ever1 thou hast no part either among the sons or servants of ,god4 ,whosoever thou art1 dost thou commit sin1 or dost thou not8 ,if thou dost1 is it willingly or unwillingly8 ,in either case ,god hath told thee whose thou art1 ,he that committeth sin is of the devil4 ,if thou committest it willingly1 thou art his faithful servant4 ,he will not fail to reward thy labour4 ,if unwillingly1 still thou art his servant4 ,god deliver thee out of his hands6 ,art thou daily fighting against all sin8 ,and daily more than conqueror8 ,i acknowledge thee for a child of ,god4 ,o stand fast in thy glorious liberty4 ,art thou fighting1 but not conquering2 striving for the mastery1 but not able to attain8 ,then thou art not yet a believer in ,christ2 but follow on1 and thou shalt know the ,lord4 ,art thou not fighting at all1 but leading an easy1 indolent fashionable life8 ,o how hast thou dared to name the name of ,christ8 ,only to make it a reproach among the ,heathen8 ,awake thou sleeper6 ,call upon thy ,god3 before the deep swallow thee up4 #b4 ,perhaps one reason why so many think of themselves more highly than they ought to think1 why they do not discern what state they are in1 is1 because these several states of soul1 are often mingled together1 and in some measure meet1 in one and the same person4 ,thus experience shews1 that the legal state1 or state of fear1 is frequently mixt with the natural4 ,for few men are so fast asleep in sin1 but they are sometimes1 more or less awakened4 ,as the ,spirit of ,god does not wait for the call of man1 so at some times he will be heard4 ,he puts them in fear1 so that for a season1 at least1 the ,heathen know themselves to be but men4 ,they feel the burthen of sin1 and earnestly desire to flee from the wrath to come4 ,but not long4 ,they seldom suffer the arrows of conviction to go deep into their souls2 but quickly stifle the grace of ,god1 and return to their wallowing in the mire4 ,in like manner1 the evangelical state1 or state of love1 is frequently mixt with the legal4 ,for few of those who have the spirit of bondage and fear1 remain always without hope4 ,the wise and gracious ,god rarely suffers this2 for he remembreth that we are but dust4 ,and he willeth not that the flesh should fail before him1 or the spirit which he hath made4 ,therefore1 at such times as he seeth good1 he gives a dawning of light unto them that sit in darkness4 ,he causes a part of his goodness to pass before them1 and shews he is a ,god that heareth the prayer4 ,they see the promise which is by faith in ,christ ,jesus1 tho' it be yet afar off3 and hereby they are encouraged to run with patience the race which is set before them4 #c4 ,another reason why many deceive themselves1 is because they do not consider1 how far a man may go1 and yet be in a natural1 or at best a legal state4 ,a man may be of a compassionate and a benovelent temper1 he may be affable1 courteous1 generous1 friendly2 he may have some degree of meekness1 patience1 temperance1 and of many other moral virtues4 ,he may feel many desires of shaking off all vice1 and attaining higher degrees of virtue4 ,he may abstain from much evil2 perhaps from all that is grosly contrary to justice1 mercy or truth4 ,he may do much good1 may feed the hungry1 cloath the naked1 relieve the widow and fatherless4 ,he may attend publick worship1 use prayer in private1 read many books of devotion2 and yet for all this1 he may be a mere natural man1 knowing neither himself nor ,god2 equally a stranger to the ,spirit of fear and to that of love2 having neither repented nor believed the gospel4 ,but suppose there were added to all this1 a deep conviction of sin1 with much fear of the wrath of ,god2 vehement desires to cast off every sin1 and to fulfil all righteousness2 frequent rejoicing in hope1 and touches of love often glancing upon the soul2 yet neither do these prove a man to be under grace1 to have true1 living1 ,christian faith1 unless the ,spirit of adoption abide in his heart1 unless he can continually cry1 ,abba1 ,father6 #d4 ,beware then1 thou who art called by the name of ,christ1 that thou come not short of the mark of thy high calling4 ,beware thou rest not1 either in a natural state1 with too many that are accounted good ,christians3 or in a legal state1 wherein those who are highly esteemed of men1 are generally content to live and die4 ,nay1 but ,god hath prepared better things for thee1 if thou follow on till thou attain4 ,thou art not called to fear and tremble1 like devils1 but to rejoice and love1 like the angels of ,god4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god1 with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy mind1 and with all thy strength4 ,thou shalt rejoice evermore4 ,thou shalt pray without ceasing4 ,thou shalt in every thing give thanks4 ,thou shalt do the will of ,god on earth1 as it is done in heaven4 ,o prove thou what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of ,god4 ,now present thyself a living sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable to ,god4 ,whereunto thou hast already attained1 hold fast1 by reaching forth unto those things which are before2 until the ,god of peace make thee perfect in every good work1 working in thee that which is well-pleasing in his sight1 through ,jesus ,christ1 to whom be glory for ever and ever6 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,x4 ,,the ,,witness ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 ,,discourse ,i4 ,,rom4 viii4 #af4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 #a4 ,,how many vain men1 not understanding what they spake1 neither whereof they affirmed1 have wrested this scripture1 to the great loss1 if not the destruction1 of their souls8 ,how many have mistaken the voice of their own imagination1 for this witness of the ,spirit of ,god8 ,and thence idly presumed1 they were the children of ,god1 while they were doing the works of the devil8 ,these are truly and properly ,enthusiasts2 and indeed in the worst sense of the word4 ,but with what difficulty are they convinced thereof8 ,especially1 if they have drank deep into that spirit of error4 ,all endeavours to bring them to the knowledge of themselves1 they will then account fighting against ,god4 ,and that vehemence and impetuosity of spirit1 which they call contending earnestly for the faith1 sets them so far above all the usual methods of conviction1 that we may well say1 ,with men it is impossible4 #b4 ,who can then be surprized1 if many reasonable men1 seeing the dreadful effects of this delusion1 and labouring to keep at the utmost distance from it1 should sometimes lean toward another extreme8 ,if they are not forward to believe any who speak of having this witness1 concerning which others have so grievously erred8 ,if they are almost ready1 to set all down for ,enthusiasts1 who use the expressions which have been so terribly abused4 ,yea1 if they should question1 whether the witness or testimony here spoken of1 be the privilege of ordinary ,christians1 and not rather1 one of those extraordinary gifts1 which they suppose belonged only to the apostolic age4 #c4 ,but is there any necessity laid upon us1 of running either into one extreme or the other8 ,may we not steer a middle course8 ,keep a sufficient distance from that spirit of error and enthusiasm1 without denying the gift of ,god1 and giving up the great privilege of his children8 ,surely we may4 ,in order thereto1 let us consider1 in the presence and fear of ,god1 ,first1 ,what is this witness or testimony of our spirit8 ,what is the testimony of ,god's ,spirit8 ,and how does he bear witness with our ,spirit1 that we are the children of ,god8 ,secondly1 ,how is this joint testimony of ,god's ,spirit and our own1 clearly and solidly distinguished1 from the presumption of a natural mind2 and from the delusion of the devil8 ,i4 #a4 ,let us first consider1 what is the witness or testimony of our spirit4 ,but here ,i cannot but desire all those who are for swallowing up the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god1 in the rational testimony of our own spirit1 to observe1 that in this text the apostle is so far from speaking of the testimony of our own spirit only1 that it may be questioned1 whether he speaks of it at all8 ,whether he does not speak1 only of the testimony of ,god's ,spirit8 ,it does not appear1 but the original text may be fairly understood thus4 ,the apostle had just said1 in the preceding verse1 ,ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry ,abba1 ,father1 and immediately subjoins 7some copies read 7 1 4 ,which may be translated1 ,the same ,spirit beareth witness to our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god 7the preposition only denoting1 that he witnesses this at the same time that he enables us to cry ,abba1 ,father67 ,but ,i contend not2 seeing so many other texts1 with the experience of all real ,christians1 sufficiently evince1 that there is1 in every believer1 both the testimony of ,god's ,spirit1 and the testimony of his own1 that he is a child of ,god4 #b4 ,with regard to the latter1 the foundation thereof is laid in those numerous texts of scripture1 which describe the marks of the children of ,god1 and that so plain1 that he which runneth may read them4 ,these are also collected together1 and placed in the strongest light1 by many both antient and modern writers4 ,if any need farther light1 he may receive it by attending on the ministry of ,god's word2 by meditating thereon before ,god in secret1 and by conversing with those who have the knowledge of his ways4 ,and by the reason or understanding that ,god has given him 7which religion was designed not to extinguish1 but to perfect3 according to that of the apostle1 brethren1 be not children in understanding2 in malice 7or wickedness7 be ye children2 but in understanding be ye men1 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #bj47 ,every man applying those scriptural marks to himself1 may know1 whether he is a child of ,god4 ,thus if he know1 first1 as many as are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 into all holy tempers and actions1 they are the sons of ,god1 7for which he has the infallible assurance of holy writ27 secondly1 ,i am thus led by the ,spirit of ,god3 he will easily conclude1 therefore ,i am a son of ,god4 #c4 ,agreeable to this are all those plain declarations of ,st4 ,john in his first epistle1 ,hereby we know1 that we do know him1 if we keep his commandments1 chap4 ii4 ver4 #c4 ,whoso keepeth his word1 in him verily is the love of ,god perfected2 hereby know we1 that we are in him1 that we are indeed the children of ,god1 ver4 #e4 ,if ye know that he is righteous1 ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him1 ver4 #bi4 ,we know1 that we have passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren1 chap4 iii4 ver4 #d4 ,hereby we know that we are of the truth1 and shall assure our hearts before him1 ver4 #ah4 ,namely because we love one another1 not in word1 neither in tongue2 but in deed and in truth4 ,hereby know we1 that we dwell in him1 because he hath given us of his 7loving7 ,spirit1 chap4 iv4 #ac4 ,and1 ,hereby we know that he abideth in us1 by the 7obedient7 ,spirit which he hath given us1 chap4 iii4 #bd4 #d4 ,it is highly probable1 there never were any children of ,god1 from the beginning of the world unto this day1 who were farther advanced in the grace of ,god1 and the knowledge of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 than the apostle ,john at the time when he wrote these words1 and the ,fathers in ,christ to whom he wrote4 ,notwithstanding which1 it is evident1 both the apostle himself1 and all those pillars in ,god's temple1 were very far from despising these marks1 of their being the children of ,god2 and that they applied them to their own souls1 for the confirmation of their faith4 ,yet all this is no other than rational evidence2 the witness of our spirit1 our reason or understanding4 ,it all resolves into this3 those who have these marks1 are children of ,god4 ,but we have these marks3 therefore we are children of ,god4 #e4 ,but how does it appear1 that we have these marks8 ,this is a question which still remains4 ,how does it appear1 that we do love ,god and our neighbour8 ,and that we keep his commandments8 ,observe1 that the meaning of the question is1 ,how does it appear to ourselves8 7not to others47 ,i would ask him then that proposes this question1 how does it appear to you1 that you are alive8 ,and that you are now in ease and not in pain8 ,are you not immediately conscious of it8 ,by the same immediate consciousness you will know1 if your soul is alive to ,god3 if you are saved from the pain of proud wrath1 and have the ease of a meek and quiet spirit4 ,by the same means you cannot but perceive1 if you love1 rejoice1 and delight in ,god4 ,by the same1 you must be directly assured1 if you love your neighbour as yourself2 if you are kindly affectioned to all mankind1 and full of gentleness and long-suffering4 ,and with regard to the outward mark of the children of ,god1 which is 7according to ,st4 ,john7 the keeping his commandments1 you undoubtedly know in your own breast1 if1 by the grace of ,god1 it belongs to you4 ,your conscience informs you from day to day1 if you do not take the name of ,god within your lips1 unless with seriousness and devotion1 with reverence and godly fear3 if you remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy3 if you honour your father and mother2 if you do to all as you would they should do unto you3 if you possess your body in sanctification and honour2 and if whether you eat or drink1 you are temperate therein1 and do all to the glory of ,god4 #f4 ,now this is properly the testimony of our own spirit2 even the testimony of our own conscience1 that ,god hath given us to be holy of heart1 and holy in outward conversation4 ,it is a consciousness of our having received1 in and by the ,spirit of adoption1 the tempers mentioned in the word of ,god1 as belonging to his adopted children2 even1 a loving heart toward ,god and toward all mankind1 hanging with child-like confidence on ,god our father1 desiring nothing but him1 casting all our care upon him1 and embracing every child of man1 with earnest1 tender affection3 a consciousness1 that we are inwardly conformed1 by the ,spirit of ,god to the image of his ,son1 and that we walk before him in justice1 mercy and truth1 doing the things which are pleasing in his sight4 #g4 ,but what is that testimony of ,god's ,spirit1 which is super-added to and conjoined with this8 ,how does he bear witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god8 ,it is hard to find words in the language of men1 to explain the deep things of ,god4 ,indeed there are none that will adequately express1 what the children of ,god experience4 ,but perhaps one might say 7desiring any who are taught of ,god1 to correct1 to soften1 or strengthen the expression7 the testimony of the ,spirit1 is an inward impression on the soul1 whereby the ,spirit of ,god directly witnesses to my spirit1 that ,i am a child of ,god2 that ,jesus ,christ hath loved me1 and given himself for me3 that all my sins are blotted out1 and ,i1 even ,i1 am reconciled to ,god4 #h4 ,that this testimony of the ,spirit of ,god must needs1 in the very nature of things1 be antecedent to the testimony of our own spirit1 may appear from this single consideration4 ,we must be holy of heart and holy in life1 before we can be conscious that we are so2 before we can have the testimony of our spirit1 that we are inwardly and outwardly holy4 ,but we must love ,god1 before we can be holy at all2 this being the root of all holiness4 ,now we cannot love ,god1 till we know he loves us4 ,we love him1 because he first loved us4 ,and we cannot know his pardoning love to us1 till his ,spirit witnesses it to our spirit4 ,since therefore this testimony of his ,spirit must precede the love of ,god and all holiness1 of consequence it must precede our inward consciousness thereof1 or1 the testimony of our spirit concerning them4 #i4 ,then1 and not till then1 when the ,spirit of ,god beareth that witness to our spirit1 8,god hath loved thee1 and given his own ,son to be the propitiation for thy sins2 the ,son of ,god hath loved thee1 and hath washed thee from thy sins in his blood30 ,we love ,god1 because he first loved us1 and for his sake we love our brother also4 ,and of this we cannot but be conscious to ourselves3 we know the things that are freely given to us of ,god4 ,we know that we love ,god and keep his commandments4 ,and hereby also we know that we are of ,god4 ,this is that testimony of our own spirit2 which1 so long as we continue to love ,god and keep his commandments1 continues joined with the testimony of ,god's ,spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 #aj4 ,not that ,i would1 by any means1 be understood1 by any thing which has been spoken concerning it1 to exclude the operation of the ,spirit of ,god1 even from the testimony of our own spirit4 ,in no wise4 ,it is he that not only worketh in us every manner of thing that is good1 but also shines upon his own work1 and clearly shews what he has wrought4 ,accordingly this is spoken of by ,st4 ,paul1 as one great end of our receiving the ,spirit1 that we may know the things which are freely given to us of ,god3 that he may strengthen the testimony of our conscience1 touching our simplicity and godly sincerity1 and give us to discern in a fuller and stronger light1 that we now do the things which please him4 #aa4 ,should it still be enquired1 ,how does the ,spirit of ,god1 bear witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god1 so as to exclude all doubt1 and evince the reality of our sonship8 ,the answer is clear1 from what has been observed above4 ,and first1 as to the witness of our spirit4 ,the soul as intimately and evidently perceives1 when it loves1 delights1 and rejoices in ,god1 as when it loves and delights in any thing on earth4 ,and it can no more doubt1 whether it loves1 delights and rejoices1 or no1 than whether it exists1 or no4 ,if therefore this be just reasoning1 ,he that now loves ,god1 that delights and rejoices in him1 with an humble joy1 and holy delight1 and an obedient love1 is a child of ,god3 ,but ,i thus love1 delight1 and rejoice in ,god2 ,therefore ,i am a child of ,god3 ,then a ,christian can in no wise doubt1 of his being a child of ,god4 ,of the former proposition1 he has as full an assurance1 as he has that the scriptures are of ,god4 ,and of his thus loving ,god1 he has an inward proof1 which is nothing short of self-evidence4 ,thus the testimony of our own spirit is with the most intimate conviction manifested to our hearts2 in such a manner1 as beyond all reasonable doubt1 to evince the reality of our sonship4 #ab4 ,the manner how the divine testimony is manifested to the heart1 ,i do not take upon me to explain4 ,such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me2 ,i cannot attain unto it4 ,the wind bloweth3 and ,i hear the sound thereof4 ,but ,i cannot tell how it cometh1 or whither it goeth4 ,as no one knoweth the things of a man1 save the spirit of a man that is in him2 so the manner of the things of ,god knoweth no one1 save the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but the fact we know3 namely1 that the ,spirit of ,god does give a believer such a testimony of his adoption1 that while it is present to the soul1 he can no more doubt the reality of his sonship1 than he can doubt of the shining of the sun1 while he stands in the full blaze of his beams4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,how this joint testimony of ,god's ,spirit and our spirit1 may be clearly and solidly distinguished1 from the presumption of a natural mind1 and from the delusion of the devil1 is the next thing to be considered4 ,and it highly imports all who desire the salvation of ,god1 to consider it with the deepest attention1 as they would not deceive their own souls4 ,an error in this is generally observed to have the most fatal consequences3 the rather1 because he that errs seldom discovers his mistake1 till it is too late to remedy it4 #b4 ,and first1 how is this testimony to be distinguished from the presumption of a natural mind8 ,it is certain1 one who was never convinced of sin1 is always ready to flatter himself and to think of himself1 especially in spiritual things1 more highly than he ought to think4 ,and hence1 it is in no wise strange if one who is vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind1 when he hears of this privilege of true ,christians1 among whom he undoubtedly ranks himself1 should soon work himself up into a persuasion1 that he is already possest thereof4 ,such instances now abound in the world1 and have abounded in all ages4 ,how then may the real testimony of the ,spirit with our spirit1 be distinguished from this damning presumption8 #c4 ,i answer1 the holy scriptures abound with marks1 whereby the one may be distinguished from the other4 ,they describe in the plainest manner the circumstances which go before1 which accompany1 and which follow1 the true1 genuine testimony of the ,spirit of ,god with the spirit of a believer4 ,whoever carefully weighs and attends to these1 will not need to put darkness for light4 ,he will perceive so wide a difference with respect to all these1 between the real and the pretended witness of the ,spirit1 that there will be no danger1 ,i might say1 no possibility1 of confounding the one with the other4 #d4 ,by these1 one who vainly presumes on the gift of ,god1 might surely know1 if he really desired it1 that he hath been hitherto given up to a strong delusion1 and suffered to believe a lie4 ,for the scriptures lay down those clear1 obvious marks as preceding1 accompanying and following that gift1 which a little reflection would convince him1 beyond all doubt1 were never found in his soul4 ,for instance1 the scripture describes repentance1 or conviction of sin1 as constantly going before this witness of pardon4 ,so1 ,repent2 for the kingdom of heaven1 is at hand1 ,matt4 iii4 #b4 ,repent ye1 and believe the gospel1 ,mark i4 #ae4 ,repent1 and be baptized every one of you1 for the remission of sins1 ,acts ii4 #ch4 ,repent ye therefore and be converted1 that your sins may be blotted out1 chap4 iii4 #ai4 ,in conformity whereto our church also continually places repentance1 before pardon or the witness of it4 8,he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel40 8,almighty ,godhath promised forgiveness of sins to all them1 who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him40 ,but he is a stranger even to this repentance4 ,he hath never known a broken and a contrite heart4 ,the remembrance of his sins was never grievous unto him1 nor the burthen of them intolerable4 ,in repeating those words1 he never meant what he said2 he merely paid a compliment to ,god4 ,and were it only from the want of this previous work of ,god1 he hath too great reason to believe1 that he hath grasped a mere shadow1 and never yet known the real privilege of the sons of ,god4 #e4 ,again1 the scriptures describe the being born of ,god1 which must precede the witness that we are his children1 as a vast and mighty change1 a change from darkness to light1 as well as from the power of ,satan unto ,god3 as a passing from death unto life1 a resurrection from the dead4 ,thus the apostle to the ,ephesians2 you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins1 chap4 ii4 ver4 #a4 ,and again1 ,when we were dead in sins1 he hath quickened us together with ,christ2 and hath raised us up together1 and made us sit together1 in heavenly places1 in ,christ ,jesus1 ver4 #e1 #f4 ,but what knoweth he concerning whom we now speak1 of any such change as this8 ,he is altogether unacquainted with this whole matter4 ,this is a language which he does not understand4 ,he tells you1 8,he always was a ,christian4 ,he knows no time when he had need of such a change40 ,by this also1 if he give himself leave to think1 may he know1 that he is not born of the ,spirit3 that he has never yet known ,god2 but has mistaken the voice of nature for the voice of ,god4 #f4 ,but waving the consideration of whatever he has or has not experienced in time past2 by the present marks may we easily distinguish a child of ,god1 from a presumptuous self-deceiver4 ,the scriptures describe that joy in the ,lord which accompanies the witness of his ,spirit1 as an humble joy1 a joy that abases to the dust2 that makes a pardoned sinner cry out1 8,i am vile6 ,what am ,i or my father's house8,now mine eye seeth thee1 ,i abhor myself in dust and ashes80 ,and wherever lowliness is1 there is meekness1 patience1 gentleness1 long-suffering4 ,there is a soft yielding spirit2 a mildness and sweetness2 a tenderness of soul which words cannot express4 ,but do these fruits attend that supposed testimony of the ,spirit1 in a presumptuous man8 ,just the reverse4 ,the more confident he is of the favour of ,god1 the more is he lifted up4 ,the more does he exalt himself2 the more haughty and assuming is his whole behaviour4 ,the stronger witness he imagines himself to have1 the more overbearing is he to all around him2 the more incapable of receiving any reproof1 the more impatient of contradiction4 ,instead of being more meek1 and gentle1 and teachable1 more swift to hear1 and slow to speak1 he is more slow to hear and swift to speak1 more unready to learn of any one2 more fiery and vehement in his temper1 and eager in his conversation4 ,yea1 perhaps1 there will sometimes appear a kind of fierceness1 in his air1 his manner of speaking1 his whole deportment1 as if he were just going to take the matter out of ,god's hands1 and himself to devour the adversaries4 #g4 99 ,once more4 ,the scriptures teach1 this is the love of ,god 7the sure mark thereof7 that we keep his commandments1 #a ,john v4 #c4 ,and our ,lord himself saith1 he that keepeth my commandments1 he it is that loveth me1 ,john xiv4 #ba4 ,love rejoices to obey2 to do in every point1 whatever is acceptable to the ,beloved4 ,a true lover of ,god hastens to do his will on earth as it is done in heaven4 ,but is this the character of the presumptuous pretender to the love of ,god8 ,nay1 but his love gives him a liberty to disobey1 to break1 not to keep1 the commandments of ,god4 ,perhaps when he was in fear of the wrath of ,god1 he did labour to do his will4 ,but now looking on himself as not under the law1 he thinks he is no longer obliged to observe it4 ,he is therefore less zealous of good works1 less careful to abstain from evil2 less watchful over his own heart1 less jealous over his tongue4 ,he is less earnest to deny himself1 and to take up his cross daily4 ,in a word1 the whole form of his life is changed1 since he has fancied himself to be at liberty4 ,he is no longer exercising himself unto godliness2 wrestling not only with flesh and blood1 but with principalities and powers1 enduring hardships1 agonizing to enter in at the strait gate4 ,no2 he has found an easier way to heaven2 a broad1 smooth1 flowry path2 in which he can say to his soul1 8,soul1 take thy ease1 eat1 drink1 and be merry40 ,it follows with undeniable evidence1 that he has not the true testimony of his own spirit4 ,he cannot be conscious of having those marks which he hath not2 that lowliness1 meekness1 and obedience4 ,nor yet can the ,spirit of the ,god of truth bear witness to a lie2 or testify that he is a child of ,god1 when he is manifestly a child of the devil4 #h4 ,discover thyself1 thou poor self-deceiver6 ,thou who art confident of being a child of ,god1 thou who sayest1 8,i have the witness in myself10 and therefore defiest all thy enemies4 ,thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting2 even in the balance of the sanctuary4 ,the word of the ,lord hath tried thy soul1 and proved thee to be reprobate silver4 ,thou art not lowly of heart4 ,therefore thou hast not received the ,spirit of ,jesus unto this day4 ,thou art not gentle and meek2 therefore thy joy is nothing worth3 it is not joy in the ,lord4 ,thou dost not keep his commandments2 therefore thou lovest him not1 neither art thou partaker of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is consequently1 as certain and as evident1 as the oracles of ,god can make it1 his ,spirit doth not bear witness with thy ,spirit1 that thou art a child of ,god4 ,o cry unto him that the scales may fall off thine eyes1 that thou mayst know thyself as thou art known2 that thou mayst receive the sentence of death in thyself1 till thou hear the voice that raises the dead1 saying1 8,be of good cheer3 thy sins are forgiven2 thy faith hath made thee whole40 #i4 8,but how may one who has the real witness in himself distinguish it from presumption80 ,how1 ,i pray1 do you distinguish day from night8 ,how do you distinguish light from darkness8 ,or the light of a star1 or glimmering taper1 from the light of the noon-day sun8 ,is there not an inherent1 obvious1 essential difference between the one and the other8 ,and do you not immediately and directly perceive that difference1 provided your senses are rightly disposed8 ,in like manner1 there is an inherent1 essential difference between spiritual light and spiritual darkness3 and between the light wherewith the ,sun of righteousness shines upon our heart1 and that glimmering light1 which arises only from sparks of our own kindling4 ,and this difference also is immediately and directly perceived1 if our spiritual senses are rightly disposed4 #aj4 99 ,to require a more minute and philosophical account of the manner whereby we distinguish these1 and of the criteria1 or intrinsick marks1 whereby we know the voice of ,god1 is to make a demand which can never be answered2 no1 not by one who has the deepest knowledge of ,god4 ,suppose1 when ,paul answered before ,agrippa1 the wise ,roman had said1 8,thou talkest of hearing the voice of the ,son of ,god4 ,how dost thou know1 it was his voice8 ,by what criteria1 what intrinsick marks1 dost thou know the voice of ,god8 ,explain to me1 the manner of distinguishing this1 from a human or angelic voice40 ,can you believe1 the apostle himself would have once attempted to answer so idle a demand8 ,and yet doubtless the moment he heard that voice1 he knew it was the voice of ,god4 ,but how he knew this1 who is able to explain8 ,perhaps neither man nor angel4 #aa4 99 ,to come yet closer4 ,suppose ,god were now to speak to any soul1 8,thy sins are forgiven thee40 ,he must be willing1 that soul should know his voice2 otherwise he would speak in vain4 ,and he is able to effect this2 for whenever he wills1 to do is present with him4 ,and he does effect it4 ,that soul is absolutely assured1 8,this voice is the voice of ,god40 ,but yet he who hath that witness in himself1 cannot explain it to one who hath not4 ,nor indeed is it to be expected that he should4 ,were there any natural medium to prove1 or natural method to explain the things of ,god1 to unexperienced men2 then the natural man might discern and know the things of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,but this is utterly contrary to the assertion of the apostle1 that he cannot know them2 because they are spiritually discerned2 even by spiritual senses1 which the natural man hath not4 #ab4 8,but how shall ,i know1 that my spiritual senses are rightly disposed80 ,this also is a question of vast importance4 ,for if a man mistake in this1 he may run on in endless error and delusion4 8,and how am ,i assured1 that this is not my case2 and that ,i do not mistake the voice of the ,spirit80 ,even by the testimony of your own ,spirit2 by the answer of a good conscience toward ,god4 ,by the fruits which he hath wrought in your spirit you shall know the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,hereby you shall know1 that you are in no delusion1 that you have not deceived your own soul4 ,the immediate fruits of the ,spirit1 ruling in the heart1 are love1 joy1 peace2 bowels of mercies1 humbleness of mind1 meekness1 gentleness1 long-suffering4 ,and the outward fruits are1 the doing good to all men2 the doing no evil to any2 and the walking in the light2 a zealous1 uniform obedience to all the commandments of ,god4 #ac4 ,by the same fruits shall you distinguish this voice of ,god1 from any delusion of the devil4 ,that proud spirit cannot humble thee before ,god4 ,he neither can nor would soften thy heart1 and melt it first into earnest mourning after ,god1 and then into filial love4 ,it is not the adversary of ,god and man1 that enables thee to love thy neighbour2 or to put on meekness1 gentleness1 patience1 temperance1 and the whole armour of ,god4 ,he is not divided against himself1 or a destroyer of sin1 his own work4 ,no2 it is none but the ,son of ,god who cometh to destroy the works of the devil4 ,as surely therefore as holiness is of ,god1 and as sin is the work of the devil1 so surely the witness thou hast in thyself is not of ,satan1 but of ,god4 #ad4 ,well then mayst thou say1 ,thanks be unto ,god for his unspeakable gift6 ,thanks be unto ,god1 who giveth me to know in whom ,i have believed3 who hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into my heart1 crying1 ,abba1 ,father1 and even now bearing witness with my ,spirit1 that ,i am a child of ,god6 ,and see1 that not only thy lips1 but thy life shew forth his praise4 ,he hath marked thee for his own2 glorify him then in thy body and thy ,spirit which are his4 ,beloved1 if thou hast this hope in thyself1 purify thyself as he is pure4 ,while thou beholdest what manner of love the ,father hath given thee1 that thou shouldst be called a child of ,god3 cleanse thyself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god3 and let all thy thoughts1 words1 and works be a spiritual sacrifice1 holy1 acceptable to ,god through ,christ ,jesus6 ,,sermon ,,xi4 ,,the ,,witness ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 ,,discourse ,,ii4 ,,rom4 viii4 #af4 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,i4 #a4 ,,none who believes the scriptures to be the word of ,god1 can doubt the importance of such a truth as this3 a truth revealed therein1 not once only1 not obscurely1 not incidentally2 but frequently1 and that in express terms2 but solemnly and of set purpose1 as denoting one of the peculiar privileges of the children of ,god4 #b4 ,and it is the more necessary to explain and defend this truth1 because there is a danger on the right hand and on the left4 ,if we deny it1 there is a danger lest our religion degenerate into mere formality3 lest having a form of godliness1 we neglect1 if not deny the power of it4 ,if we allow it1 but do not understand what we allow1 we are liable to run into all the wildness of enthusiasm4 ,it is therefore needful in the highest degree1 to guard those who fear ,god from both these dangers1 by a scriptural and rational illustration and confirmation of this momentous truth4 #c4 ,it may seem1 something of this kind is the more needful1 because so little has been wrote on the subject with any clearness3 unless some discourses on the wrong side of the question1 which explain it quite away4 ,and it cannot be doubted1 but these were occasioned1 at least in great measure1 by the crude1 unscriptural1 irrational explication of others1 who knew not what they spake1 nor whereof they affirmed4 #d4 ,it more nearly concerns the ,methodists1 so called1 clearly to understand1 explain and defend this doctrine1 because it is one grand part of the testimony1 which ,god has given them to bear to all mankind4 ,it is by his peculiar blessing upon them in searching the scriptures1 confirmed by the experience of his children1 that this great evangelical truth has been recovered1 which had been for many years well nigh lost and forgotten4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,but what is the witness of the ,spirit8 ,the original word 1 may be rendered either1 7as it is in several places17 the witness1 or less ambiguously1 the testimony or the record3 so it is rendered in our translation1 #a ,john v4 #aa4 ,this is the record 7the testimony1 the sum of what ,god testifies in all the inspired writings7 that ,god hath given unto us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son4 ,the testimony now under consideration is given by the ,spirit of ,god to and with our spirit4 ,he is the person testifying4 ,what he testifies to us is1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,the immediate result of this testimony1 is the fruit of the ,spirit2 namely1 love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness4 ,and without these the testimony itself cannot continue4 ,for it is inevitably destroyed1 not only by the commission of any outward sin1 or the omission of known duty1 but by giving way to any inward sin3 in a word1 by whatever grieves the ,holy ,spirit of ,god4 #b4 ,i observed many years ago1 8,it is hard to find words in the language of men1 to explain the deep things of ,god4 ,indeed there are none that will adequately express1 what the ,spirit of ,god works in his children4 ,but perhaps one might say 7desiring any who are taught of ,god1 to correct1 soften or strengthen the expression7 ,by the testimony of the ,spirit ,i mean1 an inward impression of the soul1 whereby the ,spirit of ,god immediately and directly witnesses to my spirit1 that ,i am a child of ,god1 that ,jesus ,christ hath loved me1 and given himself for me4 ,that all my sins are blotted out1 and ,i1 even ,i am reconciled to ,god40 #c4 ,after twenty years further consideration1 ,i see no cause to retract any part of this4 ,neither do ,i conceive1 how any of these expressions may be altered1 so as to make them more intelligible4 ,i can only add1 that if any of the children of ,god will point out any other expressions1 which are more clear1 or more agreeable to the word of ,god1 ,i will readily lay these aside4 #d4 ,meantime let it be observed1 ,i do not mean hereby1 that the ,spirit of ,god testifies this by any outward voice3 no1 nor always by an inward voice1 altho' he may do this sometimes4 ,neither do ,i suppose1 that he always applies to the heart1 7tho' he often may7 one or more texts of scripture4 ,but he so works upon the soul by his immediate influence1 and by a strong1 tho' inexplicable operation1 that the stormy wind and troubled waves subside1 and there is a sweet calm3 the heart resting as in the arms of ,jesus1 and the sinner being clearly satisfied1 that ,god is reconciled1 that all his iniquities are forgiven1 and his sins covered4 #e4 ,now1 what is the matter of dispute concerning this8 ,not1 whether there be a witness or testimony of the ,spirit8 ,not1 whether the ,spirit does testify with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god8 ,none can deny this1 without flatly contradicting the scripture1 and charging a lie upon the ,god of truth4 ,therefore that there is a testimony of the ,spirit1 is acknowledged by all parties4 #f4 ,neither is it questioned1 whether there is an indirect witness or testimony1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,this is nearly1 if not exactly the same with the testimony of a good conscience towards ,god2 and is the result of reason1 or reflection on what we feel in our own souls4 ,strictly speaking1 it is a conclusion drawn partly from the word of ,god1 and partly from our own experience4 ,the word of ,god says1 every one who has the fruit of the ,spirit is a child of ,god4 ,experience1 or inward consciousness tells me1 that ,i have the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,and hence ,i rationally conclude1 therefore ,i am a child of ,god4 ,this is likewise allowed on all hands1 and so is no matter of controversy4 #g4 ,nor do we assert1 that there can be any real testimony of the ,spirit1 without the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,we assert1 on the contrary1 that the fruit of the ,spirit immediately springs from this testimony3 not always indeed in the same degree1 even when the testimony is first given4 ,and much less afterwards2 neither joy nor peace are always at one stay4 ,no1 nor love3 as neither is the testimony itself always equally strong and clear4 #h4 ,but the point in question is1 whether there be any direct testimony of the ,spirit at all8 ,whether there be any other testimony of the ,spirit1 than that which arises from a consciousness of the fruit8 ,,iii4 #a4 ,i believe there is1 because that is the plain1 natural meaning of the text1 the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 ,it is manifest1 here are two witnesses mentioned1 who together testify the same thing1 the ,spirit of ,god1 and our own spirit4 ,the late ,bishop of ,london in his sermon on this text1 seems astonished that any one can doubt of this1 which appears upon the very face of the words4 ,now1 8,the testimony of our own spirit1 says the ,bishop is one1 which is the consciousness of our own sincerity30 or1 to express the same thing a little more clearly1 the consciousness of the fruit of the ,spirit4 ,when our spirit is conscious of this1 of love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 it easily infers from these premises1 that we are the children of ,god4 #b4 ,it is true1 that great man supposes the other witness to be 8,the consciousness of our own good works40 ,this1 he affirms1 is the testimony of ,god's ,spirit4 ,but this is included in the testimony of our own spirit3 ,yea1 and in sincerity1 even according to the common sense of the word4 ,so the ,apostle4 ,our rejoicing is this1 the testimony of our conscience1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world3 where it is plain1 sincerity refers to our words and actions1 at least as much as to our inward dispositions4 ,so that this is not another witness1 but the very same that he mentioned before3 the consciousness of our good works being only one branch of the consciousness of our sincerity4 ,consequently here is only one witness still4 ,if therefore the text speaks of two witnesses1 one of these is not the consciousness of our good works1 neither of our sincerity3 all this being manifestly contained in the testimony of our spirit4 #c4 ,what then is the other witness8 ,this might easily be learned1 if the text itself were not sufficiently clear1 from the verse immediately preceding4 ,ye have received1 not the ,spirit of bondage1 but the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father4 ,it follows1 ,the ,spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit1 that we are the children of ,god4 #d4 ,this is farther explained by the parallel text1 ,gal4 iv4 #f4 ,because ye are sons1 ,god hath sent forth the ,spirit of his ,son into your hearts1 crying ,abba1 ,father4 ,is not this something immediate and direct1 not the result of reflection or argumentation8 ,does not this ,spirit cry ,abba1 ,father1 in our hearts1 the moment it is given8 ,antecedently to any reflection upon our sincerity1 yea1 to any reasoning whatsoever8 ,and is not this the plain1 natural sense of the words1 which strikes any one1 as soon as he hears them8 ,all these texts then1 in their most obvious meaning1 describe a direct testimony of the ,spirit4 #e4 ,that the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god1 must in the very nature of things1 be antecedent to the testimony of our own spirit1 may appear from this single consideration4 ,we must be holy in heart and life1 before we can be conscious that we are so4 ,but we must love ,god before we can be holy at all1 this being the root of all holiness4 ,now we cannot love ,god1 'till we know he loves us3 we love him1 because he first loved us4 ,and we cannot know his love to us1 'till his ,spirit witnesses it to our spirit4 ',till then we cannot believe it3 we cannot say1 the life which ,i now live1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave himself for me4 ,then1 only then we feel ,our interest in his blood1 ,and cry with joy unspeakable1 ,thou art my ,lord1 my ,god4 ,since therefore the testimony of his ,spirit must precede the love of ,god and all holiness1 of consequence it must precede our consciousness thereof4 #f4 ,and here properly comes in1 to confirm this scriptural doctrine1 the experience of the children of ,god3 the experience not of two or three1 not of a few1 but of a great multitude which no man can number4 ,it has been confirmed1 both in this and in all ages by a cloud of living and dying witnesses4 ,it is confirmed by your experience and mine4 ,the ,spirit itself bore witness to my spirit1 that ,i was a child of ,god1 gave me an evidence hereof1 and ,i immediately cried1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,and this ,i did1 7and so did you7 before ,i reflected on1 or was conscious of any fruit of the ,spirit4 ,it was from this testimony received1 that love1 joy1 peace1 and the whole fruit of the ,spirit flowed4 ,first ,i heard1 ,thy sins are forgiven6 ,accepted thou art6 ,i listened1 and heaven ,sprung up in my heart4 #g4 ,but this is confirmed1 not only by the experience of the children of ,god1 thousands of whom can declare1 that they never did know themselves to be in the favour of ,god1 'till it was directly witnessed to them by his ,spirit3 but by all those who are convinced of sin1 who feel the wrath of ,god abiding on them4 ,these cannot be satisfied with any thing less than a direct testimony from his ,spirit1 that he is merciful to their unrighteousness1 and remembers their sins and iniquities no more4 ,tell any of these1 8,you are to know you are a child1 by reflecting on what he has wrought in you1 on your love1 joy and peace30 and will he not immediately reply1 by all this ,i know1 ,i am a child of the devil4 ,i have no more love to ,god than the devil has3 my carnal mind is enmity against ,god4 ,i have no joy in the ,holy ,ghost3 my soul is sorrowful even unto death4 ,i have no peace3 my heart is a troubled sea3 ,i am all storm and tempest4 ,and which way can these souls possibly be comforted1 but by a divine testimony1 7not that they are good1 or sincere1 or conformable to the scripture in heart and life1 but7 that ,god justifieth the ungodly3 him that 'till the moment he is justified1 is all ungodly1 void of all true holiness8 ,him that worketh not1 that worketh nothing that is truly good1 'till he is conscious that he is accepted1 not for any works of righteousness which he hath done1 but by the mere1 free mercy of ,god8 ,wholly and solely for what the ,son of ,god hath done and suffered for him8 ,and can it be any otherwise1 if a man is justified by faith1 without the works of the law8 ,if so1 what inward or outward goodness can he be conscious of1 antecedent to his justification8 ,nay1 is not the having nothing to pay1 that is1 the being conscious that there dwelleth in us no good thing1 neither inward nor outward goodness1 essentially1 indispensably necessary1 before we can be justified freely1 thro' the redemption that is in ,jesus ,christ8 ,was ever any man justified since his coming into the world1 or can any man ever be justified1 'till he is brought to that point1 8,i give up every plea1 beside ,lord1 ,i am damned,but thou hast died60 #h4 ,every one therefore who denies the existence of such a testimony1 does in effect deny justification by faith4 ,it follows1 that either he never experienced this1 either he never was justified1 or that he has forgotten1 7as ,st4 ,peter speaks17 1 the purification from his former sins1 the experience he then had himself1 the manner wherein ,god wrought in his own soul1 when his former sins were blotted out4 #i4 ,and the experience even of the children of the world1 here confirms that of the children of ,god4 ,many of these have a desire to please ,god3 some of them take much pains to please him4 ,but do they not1 one and all1 count it the highest absurdity1 for any to talk of 8knowing his sins are forgiven80 ,which of them even pretends to any such thing8 ,and yet many of them are conscious of their own sincerity4 ,many of them undoubtedly have1 in a degree1 the testimony of their own spirit1 a consciousness of their own uprightness4 ,but this brings them no consciousness1 that they are forgiven1 no knowledge that they are the children of ,god4 ,yea1 the more sincere they are1 the more uneasy they generally are1 for want of knowing it3 plainly shewing that this cannot be known1 in a satisfactory manner1 by the bare testimony of our own spirit1 without ,god's directly testifying1 that we are his children4 ,,iv4 ,but abundance of objections have been made to this2 the chief of which it may be well to consider4 #a4 ,it is objected first1 8,experience is not sufficient1 to prove a doctrine which is not founded on scripture40 ,this is undoubtedly true2 and it is an important truth2 but it does not affect the present question4 ,for it has been shewn1 that this doctrine is founded on scripture4 ,therefore experience is properly alledged to confirm it4 #b4 8,but madmen1 ,french prophets and enthusiasts of every kind have imagined they experienced this witness40 ,they have so4 ,and perhaps not a few of them did1 although they did not retain it long4 ,but if they did not1 this is no proof at all1 that others have not experienced it3 as a madman's imagining himself a king1 does not prove1 that there are no real kings4 8,nay many who pleaded strongly for this1 have utterly decried the bible40 ,perhaps so2 but this was no necessary consequence3 thousands plead for it1 who have the highest esteem for the bible4 8,yea1 but many have fatally deceived themselves hereby1 and got above all conviction40 ,and yet a scriptural doctrine is no worse1 tho' men abuse it to their own destruction4 #c4 8,but ,i lay it down as an undoubted truth1 the fruit of the ,spirit is the witness of the ,spirit40 ,not undoubted2 thousands doubt of1 yea flatly deny it3 but to let that pass4 8,if this witness be sufficient1 there is no need of any other4 ,but it is sufficient1 unless in one of these cases1 #a4 ,the total absence of the fruit of the ,spirit40 ,and this is the case1 when the direct witness is first given3 #b4 8,the not perceiving it4 ,but to contend for it in this case1 is to contend for being in the favour of ,god1 and not knowing it40 ,true1 not knowing it at that time any otherwise1 than by the testimony which is given for that end4 ,and this we do contend for3 we contend1 that the direct witness may shine clear1 even while the indirect one is under a cloud4 #d4 ,it is objected1 secondly1 8,the design of the witness contended for1 is to prove that the profession we make is genuine4 ,but it does not prove this40 ,i answer1 the proving this1 is not the design of it4 ,it is antecedent to our making any profession at all1 but that of being lost1 undone1 guilty1 helpless sinners4 ,it is designed to assure those to whom it is given1 that they are the children of ,god2 that they are justified freely by his grace1 thro' the redemption that is in ,jesus ,christ4 ,and this does not suppose1 that their preceeding thoughts1 words and actions1 are conformable to the rule of scripture4 ,it supposes quite the reverse1 namely1 ,that they are sinners all over1 sinners both in heart and life4 ,were it otherwise1 ,god would justify the godly2 and their own works would be counted to them for righteousness4 ,and ,i cannot but fear that a supposition of our being justified by works1 is at the root of all their objections4 ,for who ever cordially believes1 that ,god imputes to all that are justified1 righteousness without works1 will find no difficulty in allowing the witness of his ,spirit1 preceding the fruit of it4 #e4 ,it is objected1 thirdly1 8,one evangelist says1 your heavenly ,father will give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask him4 ,the other evangelist calls the same thing good gifts2 abundantly demonstrating1 that the ,spirit's way of bearing witness1 is by giving good gifts40 ,nay1 here is nothing at all about bearing witness1 either in one text1 or the other4 ,therefore 'till this demonstration is better demonstrated1 ,i let it stand as it is4 #f4 ,it is objected1 fourthly1 8,the scripture says1 the tree is known by its fruits4 ,prove all things4 ,try the spirits4 ,examine yourselves40 ,most true3 therefore let every man who believes he hath the witness in himself1 try whether it be of ,god2 if the fruit follow1 it is1 otherwise it is not4 ,for certainly the tree is known by its fruit3 ,hereby we prove1 if it be of ,god4 8,but the direct witness is never referred to in the book of ,god40 ,not as standing alone1 not as a single witness1 but as connected with the other3 ,as giving a joint testimony1 testifying with our spirit1 that we are children of ,god4 ,and who is able to prove1 that it is not thus referred to1 in this very scripture1 ,examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith3 prove your ownselves4 ,know ye not yourselves1 that ,jesus ,christ is in you8 ,it is by no means clear1 that they did not know this1 by a direct as well as a remote witness4 ,how is it proved1 that they did not know it1 first1 by an inward consciousness1 and then by love1 joy and peace8 #g4 8,but the testimony arising from the internal and external change1 is constantly referred to in the bible40 ,it is so4 ,and we constantly refer thereto1 to confirm the testimony of the ,spirit4 8,nay1 all the marks you have given1 whereby to distinguish the operations of ,god's ,spirit from delusion1 refer to the change wrought in us and upon us40 ,this likewise is undoubtedly true4 #h4 ,it is objected1 fifthly1 that 8,the direct witness of the ,spirit1 does not secure us from the greatest delusion4 ,and is that a witness fit to be trusted1 whose testimony cannot be depended on8 ,that is forced to fly to something else1 to prove what it asserts80 ,i answer4 ,to secure us from all delusion1 ,god gives us two witnesses that we are his children4 ,and this they testify conjointly4 ,therefore what ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder4 ,and while they are joined1 we cannot be deluded3 their testimony can be depended on4 ,they are fit to be trusted in the highest degree1 and need nothing else to prove what they assert4 8,nay1 the direct witness only asserts1 but does not prove any thing40 ,by two witnesses shall every word be established4 ,and when the ,spirit witnesses with our ,spirit1 as ,god designs it to do1 then it fully proves that we are children of ,god4 #i4 ,it is objected1 sixthly1 8,you own the change wrought is a sufficient testimony1 unless in the case of severe trials1 such as that of our ,saviour upon the cross4 ,but none of us can be tried in that manner40 ,but you or ,i may be tried in such a manner1 and so may any other child of ,god1 that it will be impossible for us to keep our filial confidence in ,god1 without the direct witness of his ,spirit4 #aj4 ,it is objected1 lastly1 8,the greatest contenders for it1 are some of the proudest and most uncharitable of men40 ,perhaps some of the hottest contenders for it1 are both proud and uncharitable4 ,but many of the firmest contenders for it1 are eminently meek and lowly in heart3 and indeed in all other respects also1 ,true followers of their lamb-like ,lord4 ,the preceding objections are the most considerable that ,i have heard1 and ,i believe contain the strength of the cause4 ,yet ,i apprehend whoever calmly and impartially considers those objections and the answers together1 will easily see1 that they do not destroy1 no1 nor weaken the evidence of that great truth1 that the ,spirit of ,god does directly1 as well as indirectly testify1 that we are children of ,god4 ,v4 #a4 ,the sum of all is this4 ,the testimony of the ,spirit is an inward impression on the souls of believers1 whereby the ,spirit of ,god directly testifies to their spirit1 that they are children of ,god4 ,and it is not questioned1 whether there is a testimony of the ,spirit8 ,but whether there is any direct testimony8 ,whether there is any other than that which arises from a consciousness of the fruit of the ,spirit8 ,we believe there is3 because this is the plain natural meaning of the text1 illustrated both by the preceding words1 and by the parallel passage in the epistle to the ,galatians3 because1 in the nature of the thing1 the testimony must precede the fruit which springs from it1 and because this plain meaning of the word of ,god is confirmed by the experience of innumerable children of ,god3 yea1 and by the experience of all who are convinced of sin1 who can never rest1 'till they have a direct witness3 and even of the children of the world1 who not having the witness in themselves1 one and all declare1 none can know his sins forgiven4 #b4 ,and whereas it is objected1 that experience is not sufficient to prove a doctrine unsupported by scripture3 that madmen and enthusiasts of every kind1 have imagined such a witness3 that the design of that witness is to prove our profession genuine1 which design it does not answer3 that the scripture says1 ,the tree is known by its fruit2 examine yourselves2 prove your ownselves2 and mean time the direct witness is never referred to in all the book of ,god3 that it does not secure us from the greatest delusions3 and1 lastly1 that the change wrought in us is a sufficient testimony1 unless in such trials as ,christ alone suffered4 ,we answer1 #a4 ,experience is sufficient to confirm a doctrine1 which is grounded on scripture3 #b4 ,tho' many fancy they experience what they do not1 this is no prejudice to real experience3 #c4 ,the design of that witness is1 to assure us we are children of ,god4 ,and this design it does answer4 #d4 ,the true witness of the ,spirit is known by its fruit1 love1 peace1 joy2 not indeed preceding1 but following it3 #e4 ,it cannot be proved1 that the direct1 as well as the indirect witness1 is not referred to in that very text1 ,know ye not your ownselves that ,jesus ,christ is in you8 #f4 ,the ,spirit of ,god witnessing with our spirit does secure us from all delusion3 and1 lastly1 we are all liable to trials1 wherein the testimony of our own spirit is not sufficient2 wherein nothing less than the direct testimony of ,god's ,spirit can assure us that we are his children4 #c4 ,two inferences may be drawn from the whole4 ,the first1 let none ever presume to rest1 in any supposed testimony of the ,spirit1 which is separate from the fruit of it4 ,if the ,spirit of ,god does really testify that we are children of ,god1 the immediate consequence will be the fruit of the ,spirit1 even1 love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 fidelity1 meekness1 temperance4 ,and however this fruit may be clouded for a while1 during the time of strong temptation1 so that it does not appear to the tempted person1 while ,satan is sifting him as wheat1 yet the substantial part of it remains1 even under the thickest cloud4 ,it is true1 joy in the ,holy ,ghost may be withdrawn1 during the hour of trial4 ,yea1 the soul may be exceeding sorrowful1 while the hour and power of darkness continue4 ,but even this is generally restored with increase1 till we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 #d4 ,the second inference is1 let none rest in any supposed fruit of the ,spirit without the witness4 ,there may be foretastes of joy1 of peace1 of love1 and those not delusive1 but really from ,god1 long before we have the witness in ourselves1 before the ,spirit of ,god witnesses with our spirits1 that we have redemption in the blood of ,jesus1 even the forgiveness of sins4 ,yea there may be a degree of long-suffering1 of gentleness1 of fidelity1 meekness1 temperance1 7not a shadow thereof1 but a real degree1 by the preventing grace of ,god7 before we are accepted in the ,beloved1 and consequently before we have a testimony of our acceptance4 ,but it is by no means advisable to rest here2 it is at the peril of our souls if we do4 ,if we are wise we shall be continually crying to ,god1 until his ,spirit cry in our heart1 ,abba1 ,father6 ,this is the privilege of all the children of ,god1 and without this we can never be assured that we are his children4 ,without this we cannot retain a steddy peace1 nor avoid perplexing doubts and fears4 ,but when we have once received this ,spirit of adoption1 this peace which passes all understanding1 and which expells all painful doubt and fear1 will keep our hearts and minds in ,christ ,jesus4 ,and when this has brought forth its genuine fruit1 all inward and outward holiness1 it is undoubtedly the will of him that calleth us1 to give us always what he has once given4 ,so that there is no need1 that we should ever more be deprived1 of either the testimony of ,god's ,spirit1 or the testimony of our own1 the consciousness of our walking in all righteousness and true holiness4 ,,newry1 ,april #d1 #agfg4 ,,sermon ,,xii4 ,,the ,,witness ,,of ,,our ,,own ,,spirit4 #b ,,cor4 i4 #ab4 ,this is our rejoicing1 the testimony of our conscience1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god1 we have had our conversation in the world4 #a4 ,,such is the voice of every true believer in ,christ1 so long as he abides in faith and love4 ,he that followeth me1 saith our ,lord1 walketh not in darkness3 ,and while he hath the light1 he rejoiceth therein4 ,as he hath received the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 so he walketh in him4 ,and while he walketh in him1 the exhortation of the apostle takes place in his soul day by day1 ,rejoice in the ,lord always1 and again ,i say1 rejoice4 #b4 ,but that we may not build our house upon the sand1 7lest when the rains descend1 and the winds blow1 and the floods arise and beat upon it1 it fall1 and great be the fall thereof7 ,i intend1 in the following discourse1 to shew1 what is the nature and ground of a ,christian's joy4 ,we know1 in general1 ,it is that happy peace1 that calm satisfaction of spirit1 which arises from such a testimony of his conscience1 as is here described by the apostle4 ,but in order to understand this the more throughly1 it will be requisite to weigh all his words3 whence will easily appear1 both what we are to understand by conscience1 and what1 by the testimony thereof2 and also1 how he that hath this testimony rejoiceth evermore4 #c4 ,and1 first1 what are we to understand by conscience8 ,what is the meaning of this word that is in every one's mouth8 ,one would imagine1 it was an exceeding difficult thing1 to discover this1 when we consider1 how large and numerous volumes have been from time to time wrote on this subject3 and how all the treasures of ancient and modern learning have been ransack'd1 in order to explain it4 ,and yet it is to be fear'd1 it has not received much light from all those elaborate enquiries4 ,rather1 have not most of those writers puzzled the cause2 darkening counsel by words without knowledge2 perplexing a subject1 plain in itself1 and easy to be understood8 ,for set aside but hard words1 and every man of an honest heart will soon understand the thing4 #d4 ,god has made us thinking beings1 capable of perceiving what is present1 and of reflecting or looking back on what is past4 ,in particular1 we are capable of perceiving1 whatsoever passes in our own hearts or lives2 of knowing whatsoever we feel or do2 and that either while it passes1 or when it is past4 ,this we mean when we say1 man is a conscious being3 he hath a consciousness or inward perception both of things present and past relating to himself1 of his own tempers and outward behaviour4 ,but what we usually term conscience1 implies1 somewhat more than this4 ,it is not barely1 the knowledge of our present1 or the remembrance of our preceding life4 ,to remember1 to bear witness either of past or present things1 is only one1 and the least office of conscience4 ,its main business is to excuse or accuse1 to approve or disapprove1 to acquit or condemn4 #e4 ,some late writers indeed have given a new name to this1 and have chose to stile it1 a moral sense4 ,but the old word seems preferable to the new1 were it only on this account1 that it is more common and familiar among men1 and therefore easier to be understood4 ,and to ,christians it is undeniably preferable on another account also2 namely1 because it is scriptural2 because it is the word which the wisdom of ,god hath chose to use in the inspired writings4 ,and according to the meaning wherein it is generally used there1 particularly in the epistles of ,st4 ,paul1 we may understand by conscience1 a faculty or power1 implanted by ,god in every soul that comes into the world1 of perceiving what is right or wrong in his own heart or life1 in his tempers1 thoughts1 words and actions4 #f4 ,but what is the rule whereby men are to judge of right and wrong8 ,whereby their conscience is to be directed8 ,the rule of ,heathens1 7as the apostle teaches elsewhere7 is the law written in their hearts4 ,these1 saith he1 not having the 7outward7 law1 are a law unto themselves3 who shew the work of the law 7that which the outward law prescribes7 written in their heart1 by the finger of ,god2 their conscience also bearing witness1 whether they walk by this rule1 or not2 and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing1 or even excusing1 acquitting1 defending them1 7 7 ,rom4 ii4 #ad1 #ae4 ,but the ,christian rule of right and wrong is the word of ,god1 the writings of the ,old and ,new ,testament3 all that the prophets and holy men of old wrote1 as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost3 all that scripture which was given by inspiration of ,god1 and which is indeed profitable for doctrine1 or teaching the whole will of ,god2 for reproof of what is contrary thereto2 for correction of error1 and for instruction 7or training us up7 in righteousness1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #af4 ,this is a lantern unto a ,christian's feet1 and a light in all his paths4 ,this alone he receives as his rule of right or wrong1 of whatever is really good or evil4 ,he esteems nothing good1 but what is here enjoined1 either directly or by plain consequence4 ,he accounts nothing evil but what is here forbidden1 either in terms1 or by undeniable inference4 ,whatever the scripture neither forbids nor enjoins1 7either directly1 or by plain consequence7 he believes to be of an indifferent nature1 to be in itself neither good nor evil3 this being the whole and sole outward rule1 whereby his conscience is to be directed in all things4 #g4 ,and if it be directed thereby in fact1 then hath he the answer of a good conscience toward ,god4 ,a good conscience is what is elsewhere termed by the apostle1 a conscience void of offence4 ,so1 what he at one time expresses thus1 ,i have lived in all good conscience before ,god until this day1 ,acts xxiii4 #a4 he denotes at another1 by that expression1 ,herein do ,i exercise myself1 to have always a conscience void of offence toward ,god and toward man1 ch4 xxiv4 #af4 ,now in order to this1 there is absolutely required1 first1 a right understanding of the word of ,god1 of his holy and acceptable and perfect will concerning us1 as it is revealed therein4 ,for it is impossible we should walk by a rule1 if we do not know what it means4 ,there is1 secondly1 required 7which how few have attained87 a true knowledge of ourselves3 a knowledge both of our hearts and lives1 of our inward tempers and outward conversation3 seeing1 if we know them not1 it is not possible that we should compare them with our rule4 ,there is required1 thirdly1 an agreement of our hearts and lives1 of our tempers and conversation1 of our thoughts and words and works with that rule1 with the written word of ,god4 ,for without this1 if we have any conscience at all1 it can be only an evil conscience4 ,there is1 fourthly1 required1 an inward perception1 of this agreement with our rule4 ,and this habitual perception1 this inward consciousness itself1 is properly a good conscience2 or 7in the other phrase of the apostle7 a conscience void of offence1 toward ,god and toward man4 #h4 ,but whoever desires to have a conscience thus void of offence1 let him see that he lay the right foundation4 ,let him remember1 other foundation of this can no man lay1 than that which is laid1 even ,jesus ,christ4 ,and let him also be mindful1 that no man buildeth on him but by a living faith2 that no man is a partaker of ,christ1 until he can clearly testify1 ,the life which ,i now live1 ,i live by faith in the ,son of ,god2 in him who is now revealed in my heart2 who loved me1 and gave himself for me4 ,faith alone is that evidence1 that conviction1 that demonstration of things invisible1 whereby the eyes of our understanding being opened1 and divine light poured in upon them1 we see the wondrous things of ,god's law1 the excellency and purity of it2 the height and depth and length and breadth thereof1 and of every commandment contained therein4 ,it is by faith1 that beholding the light of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 we perceive1 as in a glass1 all that is in ourselves1 yea1 the inmost motions of our souls4 ,and by this alone can that blessed love of ,god be shed abroad in our hearts1 which enables us so to love one another as ,christ loved us4 ,by this1 is that gracious promise fulfilled1 unto all the ,israel of ,god1 ,i will put my laws into their minds1 and write 7or engrave7 them in their hearts1 ,heb4 viii4 #aj4 ,hereby producing in their souls1 an entire agreement with his holy and perfect law1 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of ,christ4 ,and as an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit1 so a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit4 ,as the heart therefore of a believer1 so likewise his life is thoroughly conformed to the rule of ,god's commandments4 ,in a consciousness whereof1 he can give glory to ,god1 and say1 with the apostle1 ,this is our rejoicing1 the testimony of our conscience1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity1 not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god1 we have had our conversation in the world4 #i4 ,we have had our conversation4 ,the apostle in the original1 expresses this by one single word 774 ,but the meaning thereof is exceeding broad1 taking in our whole deportment1 yea1 every inward as well as outward circumstance1 whether relating to our soul or body4 ,it includes every motion of our heart1 of our tongue1 of our hands and bodily members4 ,it extends to all our actions and words2 to the employment of all our powers and faculties2 to the manner of using every talent we have received1 with respect either to ,god or man4 #aj4 ,we have had our conversation in the world2 even in the world of the ungodly3 not only among the children of ,god 7that were1 comparatively1 a little thing37 but among the children of the devil1 among those that lie in wickedness1 1 in the wicked one4 99 ,what a world is this6 ,how throughly impregnated with the spirit it continually breathes6 ,as our ,god is good and doth good1 so the ,god of this world1 and all his children1 are evil1 and do evil1 7so far as they are suffered7 to all the children of ,god4 ,like their father1 they are always lying in wait1 or walking about1 seeking whom they may devour3 using fraud or force1 secret wiles or open violence1 to destroy those who are not of the world3 continually warring against our souls1 and by old or new weapons and devices of every kind1 labouring to bring them back into the snare of the devil1 into the broad road that leadeth to destruction4 #aa4 ,we have had our whole conversation in such a world1 in simplicity and godly sincerity4 ,first1 in simplicity4 ,this is what our ,lord recommends1 under the name of a single eye4 ,the light of the body1 saith he1 is the eye4 ,if therefore thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light4 ,the meaning whereof is this4 ,what the eye is to the body1 that the intention is1 to all the words and actions4 ,if therefore this eye of thy soul be single1 all thy actions and conversation1 shall be full of light1 of the light of heaven2 of love and peace and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,we are then simple of heart1 when the eye of our mind is singly fixt on ,god3 when in all things we aim at ,god alone1 as our ,god1 our portion1 our strength1 our happiness1 our exceeding great reward1 our all1 in time and eternity4 ,this is simplicity2 when a steddy view1 a single intention of promoting his glory1 of doing and suffering his blessed will1 runs thro' our whole soul1 fills all our heart1 and is the constant spring of all our thoughts1 desires and purposes4 #ab4 ,we have had our conversation in the world1 secondly1 in godly sincerity4 ,the difference between simplicity and sincerity seems to be chiefly this3 simplicity regards the intention itself1 sincerity1 the execution of it4 ,and this sincerity relates not barely to our words1 but to our whole conversation1 as described above4 ,it is not here to be understood in that narrow sense1 wherein ,st4 ,paul himself sometimes uses it1 for speaking the truth1 or abstaining from guile1 from craft and dissimulation4 ,but in a more extensive meaning1 as actually hitting the mark which we aim at by simplicity4 ,accordingly it implies in this place1 that we do in fact speak and do all to the glory of ,god2 that all our words are not only pointed at this1 but actually conducive thereto2 that all our actions flow on in an even stream1 uniformly subservient to this great end3 and that in our whole lives1 we are moving strait toward ,god1 and that continually2 walking steddily on in the highway of holiness1 in the paths of justice1 mercy and truth4 #ac4 ,this sincerity is termed by the apostle1 godly sincerity1 or the sincerity of ,god1 7 17 to prevent our mistaking or confounding it with the sincerity of the ,heathens3 7for they had also a kind of sincerity among them1 for which they professed no small veneration7 likewise to denote the object and end of this1 as of every ,christian virtue2 seeing whatever does not ultimately tend to ,god1 sinks among the beggarly elements of the world4 ,by styling it1 the sincerity of ,god1 he also points out the author of it1 the ,father of lights1 from whom every good and perfect gift descendeth3 which is still more clearly declared in the following words1 ,not with fleshly wisdom1 but by the grace of ,god4 #ad4 ,not with fleshly wisdom4 ,as if he had said1 ,we cannot thus converse in the world1 by thy natural strength or understanding1 neither by any naturally-acquired knowledge or wisdom4 ,we cannot gain this simplicity1 or practise this sincerity1 by the force either of good sense1 good nature1 or good breeding4 ,it overshoots all our native courage and resolution1 as well as all our precepts of philosophy4 ,the power of custom is not able to train us up to this1 nor the most exquisite rules of human education4 ,neither could ,i ,paul ever attain hereto1 notwithstanding all the advantages ,i enjoyed1 so long as ,i was in the flesh1 in my natural state1 and pursued it only by fleshly1 natural wisdom4 ,and yet surely1 if any man could1 ,paul himself might have attained thereto by that wisdom4 ,for we can hardly conceive any1 who was more highly favoured with all the gifts both of nature and education4 ,besides his natural abilities1 probably not inferior to those of any person then upon the earth1 he had all the benefits of learning1 studying at the university of ,tarsus1 afterwards brought up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 the person of the greatest account both for knowledge and integrity1 that was then in the whole ,jewish nation4 ,and he had all the possible advantages of religious education1 being a ,pharisee1 the son of a ,pharisee1 trained up in the very straitest sect or profession1 distinguished from all others by a more eminent strictness4 ,and herein he had profited above many others1 who were his equals in years1 being more abundantly zealous of whatever he thought would please ,god1 and as touching the righteousness of the law blameless4 ,but it could not be1 that he should hereby attain this simplicity and godly sincerity4 ,it was all but lost labour2 in a deep1 piercing sense of which he was at length constrained to cry out1 ,the things which were gain to me1 those ,i counted loss for ,christ4 ,yea doubtless1 and ,i count all things but loss1 for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus my ,lord4 ,phil4 iii4 #g1 #h4 #ae4 ,it could not be that ever he should attain to this1 but by the excellent knowledge of ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord3 or by the grace of ,god2 another expression of nearly the same import4 ,by the grace of ,god is sometimes to be understood1 that free love1 that unmerited mercy1 by which ,i a sinner1 thro' the merits of ,christ1 am now reconciled to ,god4 ,but in this place it rather means1 that power of ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 which worketh in us both to will and to do1 of his good pleasure4 ,as soon as ever the grace of ,god1 in the former sense1 his pardoning love is manifested to our soul1 the grace of ,god1 in the latter sense1 the power of his ,spirit1 takes place therein4 ,and now we can perform1 thro' ,god1 what to man was impossible4 ,now we can order our conversation aright4 ,we can do all things in the light and power of that love1 thro' ,christ which strengtheneth us4 ,we now have the testimony of our conscience1 which we could never have by fleshly wisdom1 that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in the world4 #af4 ,this is properly the ground of a ,christian's joy4 ,we may now therefore readily conceive1 how he that hath this testimony in himself1 rejoiceth evermore4 ,my soul1 may he say1 doth magnify the ,lord1 and my spirit rejoiceth in ,god my ,saviour4 ,i rejoice in him1 who of his own unmerited love1 of his own free and tender mercy1 hath called me into this state of salvation1 wherein thro' his power ,i now stand4 ,i rejoice because his ,spirit beareth witness to my spirit1 that ,i am bought with the blood of the ,lamb1 and that believing in him1 8,i am a member of ,christ1 a child of ,god1 and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven40 ,i rejoice because the sense of ,god's love to me1 hath by the same ,spirit wrought in me to love him1 and to love for his sake every child of man1 every soul that he hath made4 ,i rejoice1 because he gives me to feel in myself the mind that was in ,christ3 simplicity1 a single eye to him1 in every motion of my heart2 power always to fix the loving eye of my soul on him who loved me1 and gave himself for me1 to aim at him alone1 at his glorious will1 in all ,i think or speak or do3 purity1 desiring nothing more but ,god1 crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts1 setting my affections on things above1 not on things of the earth3 holiness1 a recovery of the image of ,god1 a renewal of soul after his likeness3 and godly sincerity1 directing all my words and works1 so as to conduce to his glory4 ,in this ,i likewise rejoice1 yea and will rejoice1 because my conscience beareth me witness in the ,holy ,ghost1 by the light he continually pours in upon it1 that ,i walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ,i am called3 that ,i abstain from all appearance of evil1 fleeing from sin as from the face of a serpent2 that as ,i have opportunity1 ,i do all possible good1 in every kind1 to all men2 that ,i follow my ,lord in all my steps1 and do what is acceptable in his sight4 ,i rejoice because ,i both see and feel1 through the inspiration of ,god's holy ,spirit1 that all my works are wrought in him1 yea and that it is he who worketh all my works in me4 ,i rejoice in seeing1 thro' the light of ,god which shines in my heart1 that ,i have power to walk in his ways1 and that thro' his grace1 ,i turn not therefrom1 to the right hand or to the left4 #ag4 ,such is the ground and the nature of that joy1 whereby an adult ,christian rejoiceth evermore4 ,and from all this we may easily infer1 first1 ,that this is not a natural joy4 ,it does not arise from any natural cause3 not from any sudden flow of spirits4 ,this may give a transient start of joy4 ,but the ,christian rejoiceth always4 ,it cannot be owing to bodily health or ease2 to strength and soundness of constitution4 ,for it is equally strong in sickness and pain2 yea perhaps far stronger than before4 ,many ,christians have never experienced any joy1 to be compared with that which then filled their soul1 when the body was well nigh worn out with pain1 or consumed away with pining sickness4 ,least of all can it be ascribed to outward prosperity1 to the favour of men1 or plenty of worldly goods4 ,for then chiefly1 when their faith has been tried as with fire1 by all manner of outward afflictions1 have the children of ,god rejoiced in him1 whom unseen they loved1 even with joy unspeakable4 ,and never surely did men rejoice like those1 who were used as the filth and off-scouring of the world2 who wandered to and fro1 being in want of all things2 in hunger1 in cold1 in nakedness3 who had trials1 not only of cruel mockings1 but moreover of bonds and imprisonments3 ,yea1 who at last counted not their lives dear unto themselves1 so they might finish their course with joy4 #ah4 99 ,from the preceding considerations1 we may1 secondly1 infer1 ,that the joy of a ,christian does not arise from any blindness of conscience1 from his not being able to discern good from evil4 ,so far from it1 that he was an utter stranger to this joy1 till the eyes of his understanding were opened6 ,that he knew it not1 until he had spiritual senses1 fitted to discern spiritual good and evil4 ,and now the eye of his soul waxeth not dim4 ,he was never so sharp-sighted before4 ,he has so quick a perception of the smallest things1 as is quite amazing to the natural man4 ,as a mote is visible in the sun-beam1 so to him who is walking in the light1 in the beams of the uncreated ,sun1 every mote of sin is visible4 ,nor does he close the eyes of his conscience any more4 ,that sleep is departed from him4 ,his soul is always broad awake3 no more slumber or folding of the hands to rest6 ,he is always standing on the tower1 and hearkning what his ,lord will say concerning him3 and always rejoicing in this very thing1 in seeing him that is invisible4 #ai4 99 ,neither does the joy of a ,christian arise1 thirdly1 from any dulness or callousness of conscience4 ,a kind of joy1 it is true1 may arise from this1 in those whose foolish hearts are darkened2 whose heart is callous1 unfeeling1 dull of sense2 and consequently1 without spiritual understanding4 ,because of their senseless1 unfeeling hearts1 they may rejoice even in committing sin3 ,and this they may probably call liberty6 which is indeed mere drunkenness of soul3 a fatal numbness of spirit1 the stupid insensibility of a seared conscience4 ,on the contrary1 a ,christian has the most exquisite sensibility2 such as he could not have conceived before4 ,he never had such a tenderness of conscience as he has had1 since the love of ,god has reigned in his heart4 ,and this also is his glory and joy2 that ,god hath heard his daily prayer4 8,o that my tender soul might fly ,the first1 abhorr'd approach of ill3 ,quick1 as the apple of an eye ,the slightest touch of sin to feel40 #bj4 ,to conclude4 ,christian joy1 is joy in obedience3 joy in loving ,god and keeping his commandments4 ,and yet not in keeping them1 as if we were thereby to fulfil the terms of the covenant of works2 as if by any works or righteousness of ours1 we were to procure pardon and acceptance with ,god4 ,not so3 we are already pardoned and accepted1 through the mercy of ,god in ,christ ,jesus,not as if we were by our own obedience to procure life1 life from the death of sin4 ,this also we have already through the grace of ,god4 ,us hath he quickened1 who were dead in sin4 ,and now we are alive to ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,but we rejoice in walking1 according to the covenant of grace1 in holy love and happy obedience4 ,we rejoice in knowing1 ,that being justified through his grace1 we have not received that grace of ,god in vain2 ,that ,god having freely 7not for the sake of our willing or running1 but through the blood of the ,lamb7 reconciled us to himself1 we run in the strength which he hath given us1 the way of his commandments4 ,he hath girded us with strength unto the war1 and we gladly fight the good fight of faith4 ,we rejoice1 through him who liveth in our hearts by faith1 to lay hold of eternal life4 ,this is our rejoicing3 that as our father worketh hitherto1 so 7not by our own might or wisdom1 but through the power of his ,spirit freely given in ,christ ,jesus7 we also work the works of ,god4 ,and may he work in us1 whatsoever is well-pleasing in his sight6 ,to whom be the praise for ever and ever6 ,it may easily be observed1 that the preceding discourse1 describes the experience of those that are strong in faith4 ,but hereby those that are weak in faith may be discouraged3 to prevent which the following discourse may be of use4 ,,sermon ,,xiii4 ,,on ,,sin ,,in ,,believers4 #b ,,cor4 v4 #ag4 ,if any man be in ,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,i4 #a4 ,,is there then sin in him that is in ,christ8 ,does sin remain in one that believes in him8 ,is there any sin in them that are born of ,god1 or are they wholly delivered from it8 ,let no one imagine this to be a question of mere curiosity3 or that it is of little importance whether it be determined one way or the other4 ,rather it is a point of the utmost moment1 to every serious ,christian3 the resolving of which very nearly concerns both his present and eternal happiness4 #b4 ,and yet ,i do not know1 that ever it was controverted in the primitive church4 ,indeed there was no room for disputing concerning it1 as all ,christians were agreed4 ,and so far as ,i have ever observed1 the whole body of antient ,christians who have left us any thing in writing1 declare with one voice1 that even believers in ,christ1 till they are strong in the ,lord and in the power of his might1 have need to wrestle with flesh and blood1 with an evil nature1 as well as with principalities and powers4 #c4 ,and herein our own church1 7as indeed in most points7 exactly copies after the primitive2 declaring 7in her ninth article7 8,original sin is the corruption of the nature of every man whereby man is in his own nature inclined to evil1 so that the flesh lusteth contrary to the ,spirit4 ,and this infection of nature doth remain1 yea1 in them that are regenerated2 whereby the lust of the flesh called in greek 1 is not subject to the law of ,god4 ,and altho' there is no condemnation for them that believe1 yet this lust hath of itself the nature of sin40 #d4 ,the same testimony is given by all other churches3 not only by the ,greek and ,romish church1 but by every reformed church in ,europe1 of whatever denomination4 ,indeed some of these seem to carry the thing too far3 so describing the corruption of heart in a believer1 as scarce to allow that he has dominion over it1 but1 rather is in bondage thereto4 ,and by this means they leave hardly any distinction1 between a believer and an unbeliever4 #e4 ,to avoid this extreme1 many well-meaning men1 particularly those under the direction of the late count ,zinzendorf1 ran into another2 affirming1 that 8,all true believers1 are not only saved from the dominion of sin1 but from the being of inward as well as outward sin1 so that it no longer1 remains in them4 ,and from them1 about twenty years ago many of our countrymen imbibed the same opinion1 that even the corruption of nature is no more1 in those who believe in ,christ4 #f4 ,it is true1 that when the ,germans were pressed upon this head1 they soon allowed1 7many of them at least7 that 8sin did still remain in the flesh1 but not in the heart of a believer40 ,and after a time1 when the absurdity of this was shewn1 they fairly gave up the point3 allowing1 that sin did still remain1 though not reign in him that is born of ,god4 #g4 ,but the ,english who had received it from them 7some directly1 some at second or third hand7 were not so easily prevailed upon1 to part with a favourite opinion4 ,and even when the generality of them were convinced it was utterly indefensible1 a few could not be persuaded to give it up1 but maintain it to this day4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,for the sake of these who really fear ,god and desire to know the truth as it in ,jesus1 it may not be amiss1 to consider the point with calmness and impartiality4 ,in doing this1 ,i use indifferently the words regenerate1 justified or believers3 since tho' they have not precisely the same meaning1 7the first implying an inward1 actual change1 the second a relative one1 and the third1 the means whereby both the one and the other are wrought37 yet they come to one and the same thing2 as every one that believes is both justified and born of ,god4 #b4 ,by sin ,i here understand inward sin3 any sinful temper1 passion or affection3 such as pride1 self-will1 love of the world1 in any kind or degree3 such as lust1 anger1 peevishness2 any disposition1 contrary to the mind which was in ,christ4 #c4 ,the question is not1 concerning outward sin3 whether a child of ,god commits sin or no8 ,we all agree and earnestly maintain1 ,he that committeth sin is of the devil4 ,we agree1 whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin4 ,neither do we now enquire whether inward sin will always remain in the children of ,god8 ,whether sin will continue in the soul1 as long as it continues in the body8 ,nor yet do we enquire1 whether a justified person1 may relapse either into inward or outward sin8 ,but simply this1 ,is a justified or regenerate man freed from all sin1 as soon as he is justified8 ,is there then no sin in his heart8 ,nor ever after1 unless he fall from grace8 #d4 ,we allow1 that the state of a justified person is inexpressibly great and glorious4 ,he is born again not of blood1 nor of the flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but of ,god4 ,he is a child of ,god1 a member of ,christ1 an heir of the kingdom of heaven4 ,the peace of ,god which passeth all understanding1 keepeth his heart and mind in ,christ ,jesus4 ,his very body is a temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 and an habitation of ,god through the ,spirit4 ,he is created anew in ,christ ,jesus3 ,he is washed1 he is sanctified4 ,his heart is purified by faith2 he is cleansed from the corruption that is in the world4 ,the love of ,god is shed abroad in his heart by the ,holy ,ghost which is given unto him4 ,and so long as he walketh in love 7which he may always do7 he worships ,god in ,spirit and in truth4 ,he keepeth the commandments of ,god1 and doth those things1 that are pleasing in his sight3 ,so exercising himself as to have a conscience void of offence1 toward ,god and toward man4 ,and he has power both over outward and inward sin1 even from the moment he is justified4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,but was he not then freed from all sin1 so that there is no sin in his heart8 ,i cannot say this3 ,i cannot believe it3 because ,st4 ,paul1 says the contrary4 ,he is speaking to believers1 and describing the state of believers in general1 when he says1 ,the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh3 these are contrary the one to the other4 ,gal4 v4 #ag4 ,nothing can be more express4 ,the apostle here directly affirms1 that the flesh1 evil nature1 opposes the ,spirit1 even in believers2 that even in the regenerate1 there are two principles1 contrary the one to the other4 #b4 ,again4 ,when he writes to the believers at ,corinth1 to those who were sanctified in ,christ ,jesus1 #a ,cor4 i4 #b4 he says1 ,i brethren1 could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal1 as unto babes in ,christ,ye are yet carnal3 for whereas there is among you envying and strife1 are ye not carnal8 ch4 iii4 ver4 #ac4 ,now here the apostle speaks unto those who were unquestionably believers1 whom in the same breath he stiles his brethren in ,christ1 as being still in a measure carnal4 ,he affirms1 there was envying 7an evil temper7 occasioning strife among them1 and yet does not give the least intimation1 that they had lost their faith4 ,nay1 he manifestly declares1 they had not2 for then they would not have been babes in ,christ4 ,and 7what is most remarkable of all7 he speaks of being carnal and babes in ,christ1 as one and the same thing3 plainly shewing that every believer 7is in a degree7 carnal1 while he is only a babe in ,christ4 #c4 ,indeed this grand point1 that there are two contrary principles in believers1 nature and grace1 the flesh and the ,spirit1 runs through all the epistles of ,st4 ,paul1 yea through all the holy scriptures3 almost all the directions and exhortations therein1 are founded on this supposition3 pointing at wrong tempers or practices in those1 who are notwithstanding acknowledged by the inspired writers to be believers4 ,and they are continually exhorted to fight with and conquer these1 by the power of the faith which was in them4 #d4 ,and who can doubt1 but there was faith in the angel of the church of ,ephesus1 when our ,lord said to him1 ,i know thy works1 and thy labour1 and thy patience1 thou hast patience1 and for my name's sake hast laboured and hast not fainted4 ,rev4 ii4 #b1 #c1 #d4 ,but was there meantime no sin in his heart8 ,yea1 or ,christ would not have added1 nevertheless ,i have somewhat against thee1 because thou hast left thy first love4 ,this was a real sin which ,god saw in his heart 7of which accordingly he is exhorted to repent47 ,and yet we have no authority to say1 that even then he had no faith4 #e4 ,nay1 the angel of the church at ,pergamos also1 is exhorted to repent1 which implies sin1 tho' our ,lord expresly says1 thou hast not denied my faith1 ver4 #ac1 #af4 ,and to the angel of the church in ,sardis1 he says1 strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die4 ,the good which remained was ready to die2 but was not actually dead1 chap4 iii4 #b4 ,so there was still a spark of faith even in him2 which he is accordingly commanded to hold fast4 ,ver4 #c4 #f4 ,once more4 ,when the apostle exhorts believers1 to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit1 7#b ,cor4 viii4 #a47 he plainly teaches1 that those believers were not yet cleansed therefrom4 ,will you answer1 8he that abstains from all appearance of evil1 does ipso facto cleanse himself from all filthiness40 ,not in any wise4 ,for instance3 a man reviles me4 ,i feel resentment1 which is filthiness of spirit4 ,yet ,i say not a word4 ,here ,i abstain from all appearance of evil4 ,but this does not cleanse me from that filthiness of spirit1 as ,i experience to my sorrow4 #g4 ,and as this position1 ,there is no sin in a believer1 no carnal mind1 no bent to back-sliding1 is thus contrary to the word of ,god1 so it is to the experience of his children4 ,these continually feel an heart bent to back-sliding1 a natural tendency to evil2 a proneness to depart from ,god1 and cleave to the things of earth4 ,they are daily sensible of sin remaining in their heart1 pride1 self-will1 unbelief3 and of sin cleaving to all they speak and do1 even their best actions1 and holiest duties4 ,yet at the same time they know that they are of ,god2 they cannot doubt of it for a moment4 ,they feel his ,spirit clearly witnessing with their spirit1 that they are the children of ,god4 ,they rejoice in ,god through ,christ ,jesus1 by whom they have now received the atonement4 ,so that they are equally assured1 that sin is in them1 and that ,christ is in them the hope of glory4 #h4 8,but can ,christ be in the same heart where sin is80 ,undoubtedly he can4 ,otherwise it never could be saved therefrom4 ,where the sickness is1 there is the physician1 ,carrying on his work within1 ,striving 'till he cast out sin4 ,christ indeed cannot reign1 where sin reigns3 neither will he dwell where any sin is allowed4 ,but he is and dwells in the heart of every believer1 who is fighting against all sin2 although it be not yet purified1 according to the purification of the sanctuary4 #i4 ,it has been observed before1 that the opposite doctrine1 8that there is no sin in believers10 is quite new in the church of ,christ3 that it was never heard of for seventeen hundred years1 never 'till it was discovered by ,count ,zinzendorf4 ,i do not remember to have seen the least intimation of it1 either in any antient or modern writer3 unless perhaps in some of the wild1 ranting ,antinomians4 ,and these likewise say and unsay1 acknowledging1 there is sin in their flesh1 although no sin in their heart4 ,but whatever doctrine is new must be wrong3 for the old religion is the only true one4 ,and no doctrine can be right1 unless it is the very same which was from the beginning4 #aj4 ,one argument more against this new1 unscriptural doctrine1 may be drawn from the dreadful consequences of it4 ,one says1 8,i felt anger to-day40 ,must ,i reply1 then you have no faith8 ,another says1 8,i know what you advise is good4 ,but my will is quite averse to it40 ,must ,i tell him1 8,then you are an unbeliever1 under the wrath and the curse of ,god80 ,what will be the natural consequence of this8 ,why1 if he believe what ,i say1 his soul will not only be grieved and wounded1 but perhaps utterly destroyed3 ,inasmuch as he will cast away that confidence1 which hath great recompence of reward4 ,and having cast away his shield1 how shall he quench the fiery darts of the wicked one8 ,how shall he overcome the world8 ,seeing this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith4 ,he stands disarmed in the midst of his enemies1 open to all their assaults4 ,what wonder then if he be utterly overthrown2 if they take him captive at their will8 ,yea1 if he fall from one wickedness to another1 and never see good any more8,i cannot therefore by any means receive this assertion1 that there is no sin in a believer from the moment he is justified2 first1 because it is contrary to the whole tenor of scripture2 secondly1 because it is contrary to the experience of the children of ,god4 ,thirdly1 because it is absolutely new1 never heard of in the world 'till yesterday2 and lastly1 because it is naturally attended with the most fatal consequences2 not only grieving those whom ,god hath not grieved1 but perhaps dragging them into everlasting perdition4 ,,iv4 #a4 ,however1 let us give a fair hearing to the chief arguments1 of those who endeavour to support it4 ,and it is1 first1 from scripture they attempt to prove1 that there is no sin in a believer4 ,they argue thus4 8,the scripture says1 every believer is born of ,god1 is clean1 is holy1 is sanctified2 is pure in heart1 has a new heart1 is a temple of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,now1 as that which is born of the flesh is flesh1 is altogether evil1 so that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit1 is altogether good4 ,again2 a man cannot be clean1 sanctified1 holy1 and at the same time unclean1 unsanctified1 unholy4 ,he cannot be pure and impure1 or have a new and an old heart together4 ,neither can his soul be unholy1 while it is a temple of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,i have put this objection as strong as possible1 that its full weight may appear4 ,let us now examine it1 part by part4 ,and #a 8,that which is born of the ,spirit1 is spirit1 is altogether good40 ,i allow the text1 but not the comment4 ,for the text affirms this1 and no more1 ,that every man who is born of the ,spirit1 is a spiritual man4 ,he is so4 ,but so he may be and yet not be altogether spiritual4 ,the ,christians at ,corinth were spiritual men4 ,else they had been no ,christians at all4 ,and yet they were not altogether spiritual4 ,they were still 7in part7 carnal4 8,but they were fallen from grace40 ,st4 ,paul says no4 ,they were even then babes in ,christ4 #b4 8,but a man cannot be clean1 sanctified1 holy1 and at the same time unclean1 unsanctified1 unholy40 ,indeed he may4 ,so the ,corinthians were4 ,ye are washed1 says the apostle1 ye are sanctified3 namely1 cleansed from fornication1 idolatry1 drunkenness1 and all other outward sin1 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #i1 #aj1 #aa47 ,and yet at the same time1 in another sense of the word1 they were unsanctified3 they were not washed1 not inwardly cleansed from envy1 evil-surmising1 partiality4 8,but sure they had not a new heart1 and an old heart together40 ,it is most sure1 they had4 ,for at that very time1 their hearts were truly1 yet not entirely renewed4 ,their carnal mind was nailed to the cross4 ,yet it was not wholly destroyed4 8,but could they be unholy1 while they were temples of the ,holy ,ghost80 ,yes1 that they were temples of the ,holy ,ghost1 is certain4 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #ai47 ,and it is equally certain1 they were1 in some degree carnal1 that is1 unholy4 #b4 8,however1 there is one scripture more1 which will put the matter out of question4 ,if any man be 7a believer7 in ,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,old things are past away3 behold all things are become new1 #b ,cor4 v4 #ag4 ,now1 certainly a man cannot be a new creature and an old creature at once40 ,yes1 he may4 ,he may be partly renewed1 which was the very case of those at ,corinth4 ,they were doubtless renewed in the spirit of their mind1 or they could not have been so much as babes in ,christ4 ,yet they had not the whole mind which was in ,christ1 for they envied one another4 8,but it is said expresly1 old things are past away3 all things are become new40 ,but we must not so interpret the apostle's words1 as to make him contradict himself4 ,and if we will make him consistent with himself1 the plain meaning of the words is this4 ,his old judgment 7concerning justification1 holiness1 happiness1 indeed concerning the things of ,god in general7 is now past away4 ,so are his old desires1 designs1 affections1 tempers1 and conversation4 ,all these are undeniably become new1 greatly changed from what they were4 ,and yet though they are new1 they are not wholly new4 ,still he feels1 to his sorrow and shame1 remains of the old man1 too manifest taints of his former tempers and affections1 though they cannot gain any advantage over him1 as long as he watches unto prayer4 #c4 ,this whole argument1 8,if he is clean1 he is clean10 8if he is holy1 he is holy20 7and twenty more expressions of the same kind1 may easily be heaped together7 is really no better than playing upon words3 it is the fallacy of arguing from a particular to a general2 of inferring a general conclusion1 from particular premisses4 ,propose the sentence entire1 and it runs thus3 8,if he is holy at all1 he is holy altogether40 ,that does not follow3 every babe in ,christ is holy1 and yet not altogether so4 ,he is saved from sin2 yet not intirely3 it remains though it does not reign4 ,if you think it does not remain 7in babes at least1 whatever be the case with young men1 or fathers7 you certainly have not considered the height and depth and length and breadth of the law of ,god2 even the law of love1 laid down by ,st4 ,paul in the thirteenth of ,corinthians and that every 1 disconformity to1 or deviation from this law1 is sin4 ,now is there no disconformity to this in the heart or life of a believer8 ,what may be in an adult ,christian is another question4 ,but what a stranger must he be to human nature1 who can possibly imagine1 that this is the case with every babe in ,christ8 #d4 8,but believers walk after the ,spirit4#bg ,rom4 viii4 #a4 and the ,spirit of ,god dwells in them1 consequently they are delivered from the guilt1 the power1 or in one word1 the being of sin40 ,these are coupled together1 as if they were the same thing4 ,but they are not the same thing4 ,the guilt is one thing1 the power another1 and the being yet another4 ,that believers are delivered from the guilt and power of sin we allow2 that they are delivered from the being of it we deny4 ,nor does it in any wise follow from these texts4 ,a man may have the ,spirit of ,god dwelling in him1 and may walk after the ,spirit1 tho' he still feels the flesh lusting against the ,spirit4 #e4 8,but the church is the body of ,christ1 ,col4 i4 #bd4 ,this implies1 that its members are washed from all filthiness4 ,otherwise it will follow1 that ,christ and ,belial are incorporated with each other40 ,nay1 it will not follow from hence1 8,those who are the mystical body of ,christ1 still feel the flesh lusting against the ,spirit10 that ,christ has any fellowship with the devil1 or with that sin which he enables them to resist and overcome4 #f4 8,but are not ,christians come to the heavenly ,jerusalem1 where nothing defiled can enter80 ,heb4 xii4 #bb4 ,yes2 and to an innumerable company of angels1 and to the spirits of just men made perfect3 that is1 ,earth and heaven all agree2 ,all his one great family4 ,and they are likewise holy and undefiled1 while they walk after the ,spirit3 although sensible1 there is another principle in them1 and that these are contrary to each other4 #g4 8,but ,christians are reconciled to ,god4 ,now this could not be1 if any of the carnal mind remained3 for this is enmity against ,god4 ,consequently no reconciliation can be effected1 but by its total destruction40 ,we are reconciled to ,god thro' the blood of the ,cross4 ,and in that moment1 the the corruption of nature1 which is enmity with ,god1 is put under our feet4 ,the flesh has no more dominion over us4 ,but it still exists3 ,and it is still in its nature enmity with ,god1 lusting against his ,spirit4 #h4 8,but they that are ,christ's have crucified the flesh1 with its affections and lusts40 ,gal4 v4 #bd4 ,they have so3 yet it remains in them still1 and often struggles to break from the cross4 8,nay1 but they have put off the old man with his deeds40 ,col4 iii4 #i4 ,they have3 and in the sense above described1 old things are passed away2 all things are become new4 ,an hundred texts may be cited to the same effect4 ,and they will all admit of the same answer4 8,but to say all in one word1 ,christ gave himself for the church1 thatit might be holy and without blemish40 ,eph4 v4 #be1 #bg4 ,and so it will be in the end3 but it never was yet from the beginning to this day4 #i4 8,but let experience speak4 ,all who are justified do at that time find an absolute freedom from all sin40 ,that ,i doubt3 ,but if they do1 do they find it ever after8 ,else you gain nothing4 8,if they do not1 it is their own fault40 ,that remains to be proved4 #aj4 8,but1 in the very nature of things1 can a man have pride in him1 and not be proud8 ,anger1 and yet not be angry80 ,a man may have pride in him1 may think of himself in some particulars above what he ought to think1 7and so be proud in that particular7 and yet not be a proud man1 in his general character4 ,he may have anger in him1 yea and a strong propensity to furious anger1 without giving way to it4 8,but can anger and pride be in that heart1 where only meekness and humility are felt60 ,no3 but some pride and anger may be in that heart1 where there is much humility and meekness4 8,it avails not to say1 these tempers are there1 but they do not reign4 ,for sin cannot1 in any kind or degree1 exist where it does not reign4 ,for guilt and power1 are essential properties of sin4 ,therefore where one of them is1 all must be40 ,strange indeed6 8,sin cannot in any kind or degree1 exist where it does not reign80 ,absolutely contrary this to all experience1 all scripture1 all common sense4 ,resentment of an affront is sin4 ,it is 1 disconformity to the law of love4 ,this has existed in me a thousand times4 ,yet it did not1 and does not reign4 8,but guilt and power are essential properties of sin3 therefore where one is1 all must be40 ,no4 ,in the instance before us1 if the resentment ,i feel is not yielded to1 even for a moment1 there is no guilt at all1 no condemnation from ,god upon that account4 ,and in this case1 it has no power3 though it lusteth against the ,spirit it cannot prevail4 ,here therefore1 as in ten thousand instances1 there is sin1 without either guilt or power4 #aa4 8,but the supposing sin in a believer is pregnant with every thing frightful and discouraging4 ,it implies the contending with a power1 that has the possession of our strength1 maintains his usurpation of our hearts1 and there prosecutes the war in defiance of our ,redeemer40 ,not so4 ,the supposing sin is in us1 does not imply1 that it has the possession of our strength4 ,no more than a man crucified has the possession of those that crucify him4 ,as little does it imply1 that sin 8maintains its usurpation of our hearts40 ,the usurper is dethroned4 ,he remains indeed where he once reigned2 but remains in chains4 ,so that he does1 in some sense 8prosecute the war10 yet he grows weaker and weaker3 while the believer goes on from strength to strength1 conquering and to conquer4 #ab4 8,i am not satisfied yet4 ,he that has sin in him1 is a slave to sin4 ,therefore you suppose a man to be justified1 while he is a slave to sin4 ,now if you allow1 men may be justified1 while they have pride1 anger or unbelief in them2 nay if you aver1 ,these are 7at least1 for a time7 in all that are justified3 what wonder that we have so many proud1 angry1 unbelieving believers80 ,i do not suppose any man who is justified1 is a slave to sin4 ,yet ,i do suppose1 sin remains 7at least for a time7 in all that are justified4 8,but if sin remains in a believer1 he is a sinful man3 if pride1 for instance1 then he is proud3 if self-will1 then he is self-willed2 if unbelief1 then he is an unbeliever2 consequently1 no believer at all4 ,how then does he differ from unbelievers1 from unregenerate men80 ,this is still mere playing upon words4 ,it means no more than1 if there is sin1 pride1 self-will in him1 thenthere is sin1 pride1 self-will4 ,and this nobody can deny4 ,in that sense then he is proud or self-willed4 ,but he is not proud or self-willed in the same sense1 that unbelievers are1 that is1 governed by pride or self-will4 ,herein he differs from unregenerate men4 ,they obey sin2 he does not4 ,flesh is in them both4 ,but they walk after the flesh3 ,he walks after the ,spirit4 8,but how can unbelief be in a believer80 ,that word has two meanings4 ,it means either no faith1 or little faith2 either the absence of faith1 or the weakness of it4 ,in the former sense1 unbelief is not in a believer3 in the latter1 it is in all babes4 ,their faith is commonly mixt with doubt or fear1 that is 7in the latter sense7 with unbelief4 ,why are ye fearful1 says our ,lord1 ,o ye of little faith4 ,again1 ,o thou of little faith1 wherefore didst thou doubt8 ,you see here was unbelief in believers3 little faith and much unbelief4 #ac4 8,but this doctrine1 that sin remains in a believer1 that a man may be in the favour of ,god1 while he has sin in his heart1 certainly tends to encourage men in sin40 ,understand the proposition right1 and no such consequence follows4 ,a man may be in ,god's favour tho' he feel sin2 but not if he yields to it4 ,having sin does not forfeit the favour of ,god2 giving way to sin1 does4 ,though the flesh in you lust against the spirit1 you may still be a child of ,god4 ,but if you walk after the flesh1 you are a child of the devil4 ,now1 this doctrine does not incourage to obey sin1 but to resist it with all our might4 ,v4 #a4 ,the sum of all is this4 ,there are in every person1 even after he is justified1 two contrary principles1 nature and grace1 termed by ,st4 ,paul1 the flesh and the ,spirit4 ,hence altho' even babes in ,christ are sanctified1 yet it is only in part4 ,in a degree1 according to the measure of their faith1 they are spiritual3 yet in a degree1 they are carnal4 ,accordingly1 believers are continually exhorted to watch against the flesh1 as well as the world and the devil4 ,and to this agrees the constant experience of the children of ,god4 ,while they feel this witness in themselves1 they feel a will not wholly resigned to the will of ,god4 ,they know they are in him1 and yet find an heart ready to depart from him1 a proneness to evil in many instances1 and a backwardness to that which is good4 ,the contrary doctrine is wholly new2 never heard of in the church of ,christ1 from the time of his coming into the world1 'till the time of count ,zinzendorf4 ,and it is attended with the most fatal consequences4 ,it cuts off all watching against our evil nature1 against the ,delilah1 which we are told is gone1 tho' she is still lying in our bosom4 ,it tears away the shield of weak believers1 deprives them of their faith1 and so leaves them exposed to all the assaults of the world1 the flesh and the devil4 #b4 ,let us therefore hold fast the sound doctrine1 once delivered to the saints1 and delivered down by them with the written word1 to all succeeding generations3 that altho' we are renewed1 cleansed1 purified1 sanctified1 the moment we truly believe in ,christ1 yet we are not1 then renewed1 cleansed1 purified altogether3 but the flesh1 the evil nature still remains 7though subdued7 and wars against the ,spirit4 ,so much the more1 let us use all diligence1 in fighting the good fight of faith4 ,so much the more earnestly let us watch and pray1 against the enemy within4 ,the more carefully let us take to ourselves1 and put on the whole armour of ,god3 that although we wrestle1 both with flesh and blood1 and with principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places1 we may be able to withstand in the evil day1 and having done all1 to stand4 ,,sermon ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,repentance ,,of ,,believers4 ,,mark i4 #ae4 ,repent and believe the gospel4 #a4 ,,it is generally supposed1 that repentance and faith are only the gate of religion2 that they are necessary only at the beginning of our ,christian course1 when we are setting out in the way to the kingdom4 ,and this may seem to be confirmed by the great apostle1 where exhorting the ,hebrew ,christians1 to go on to perfection1 he teaches them to leave these first principles of the doctrine of ,christ2 not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward ,god3 which must at least mean1 that they should comparatively leave these1 that at first took up all their thoughts1 in order to press forward toward the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus4 #b4 ,and this is undoubtedly true1 that there is a repentance and a faith1 which are more especially necessary at the beginning3 a repentance which is a conviction of our utter sinfulness1 and guiltiness1 and helplessness3 and which precedes our receiving that kingdom of ,god1 which our ,lord observes is within us2 and a faith1 whereby we receive that kingdom1 even righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 #c4 ,but notwithstanding this1 there is also a repentance and a faith1 7taking the words in another sense1 a sense not quite the same1 nor yet entirely different17 which are requisite after we have believed the gospel3 yea1 and in every subsequent stage of our ,christian course1 or we cannot run the race which is set before us4 ,and this repentance and faith are full as necessary1 in order to our continuance and growth in grace1 as the former faith and repentance were1 in order to our entring into the kingdom of ,god4 ,but in what sense are we to repent and believe1 after we are justified8 ,this is an important question1 and worthy of being considered with the utmost attention4 ,i4 ,and first1 ,in what sense are we to repent8 #a4 ,repentance frequently means1 an inward change1 a change of mind from sin to holiness4 ,but we now speak of it in a quite different sense1 as it is one kind of self-knowledge1 the knowing ourselves sinners1 yea guilty1 helpless sinners1 even tho' we know we are children of ,god4 #b4 ,indeed when we first know this1 when we first find redemption in the blood of ,jesus1 when the love of ,god is first shed abroad in our hearts and his kingdom set up therein1 it is natural to suppose that we are no longer sinners1 that all our sins are not only covered but destroyed4 ,as we do not then feel any evil in our hearts1 we readily imagine1 none is there4 ,nay some well-meaning men have imagined this1 not only at that time1 but ever after3 having persuaded themselves1 that when they were justified1 they were entirely sanctified4 ,yea1 they have laid it down as a general rule1 in spite of scripture1 reason1 and experience4 ,these sincerely believe and earnestly maintain1 that all sin is destroyed when we are justified1 and that there is no sin in the heart of a believer1 but that it is altogether clean from that moment4 ,but tho' we readily acknowledge1 he that believeth is born of ,god1 and he that is born of ,god doth not commit sin3 yet we cannot allow1 that he does not feel it within3 it does not reign1 but it does remain4 ,and a conviction of the sin which remains in our heart1 is one great branch of the repentance we are now speaking of4 #c4 ,for it is seldom long1 before he who imagined all sin was gone1 feels there is still pride in his heart4 ,he is convinced1 both that in many respects he has thought of himself more highly than he ought to think1 and that he has taken to himself the praise of something he had received1 and gloried in it as though he had not received it4 ,and yet he knows1 he is in the favour of ,god4 ,he cannot and ought not to cast away his confidence4 ,the ,spirit still witnesses with his ,spirit1 that he is a child of ,god4 #d4 ,nor is it long before he feels self-will in his heart1 even a will contrary to the will of ,god4 ,a will every man must inevitably have1 as long as he has an understanding4 ,this is an essential part of human nature1 indeed of the nature of every intelligent being4 ,our blessed ,lord himself had a will as a man3 otherwise he had not been a man4 ,but his human will was invariably subject to the will of his ,father4 ,at all times1 and on all occasions1 even in the deepest affliction1 he could say1 ,not as ,i will1 but as thou wilt4 ,but this is not the case at all times1 even with a true believer in ,christ4 ,he frequently finds his will more or less exalting itself against the will of ,god4 ,he wills something because it is pleasing to nature1 which is not pleasing to ,god4 ,and he nills 7is averse from7 something because it is painful to nature1 which is the will of ,god concerning him4 ,indeed 7suppose he continues in the faith7 he fights against it with all his might4 ,but this very thing implies1 that it really exists1 and that he is conscious of it4 #e4 ,now self-will1 as well as pride1 is a species of idolatry3 and both are directly contrary to the love of ,god4 ,the same observation may be made1 concerning the love of the world4 ,but this likewise even true believers are liable to feel in themselves2 and every one of them does feel it1 more or less1 sooner or later1 in one branch or another4 ,it is true1 when he first passes from death unto life1 he desires nothing more but ,god4 ,he can truly say1 ,all my desire is unto thee1 and unto the remembrance of thy name4 ,whom have ,i in heaven but thee1 and there is none upon earth that ,i desire beside thee6 ,but it is not so always4 ,in process of time he will feel again1 7tho' perhaps only for a few moments7 either the desire of the flesh1 or the desire of the eye1 or the pride of life4 ,nay1 if he does not continually watch and pray1 he may find lust reviving1 yea1 and thrusting sore at him that he may fall1 'till he has scarce any strength left in him4 ,he may feel the assaults of inordinate affection1 yea a strong propensity to love the creature more than the ,creator3 whether it be a child1 a parent1 an husband or wife1 or the friend that is as his own soul4 ,he may feel in a thousand various ways1 a desire of earthly things or pleasures4 ,in the same proportion he will forget ,god1 not seeking his happiness in him1 and consequently being a lover of pleasure more than a lover of ,god4 #f4 ,if he does not keep himself every moment1 he will again feel the desire of the eye1 the desire of gratifying his imagination1 with something great1 or beautiful1 or uncommon4 ,in how many ways does this desire assault the soul8 ,perhaps with regard to the poorest trifles1 such as dress1 or furniture3 things never designed to satisfy the appetite of an immortal spirit4 ,yet how natural is it for us1 even after we have tasted of the powers of the world to come1 to sink again into these foolish1 low desires of things1 that perish in the using8 ,how hard is it1 even for those1 who know in whom they have believed1 to conquer but one branch of the desire of the eye1 curiosity8 ,constantly to trample it under their feet8 ,to desire nothing1 merely because it is new8 #g4 ,and how hard is it even for the children of ,god wholly to conquer the pride of life8 ,st4 ,john seems to mean by this nearly the same with what the world terms the sense of honour4 ,this is no other than a desire of and delight in the honour that cometh of men3 a desire and love of praise1 and 7which is always joined with it7 a proportionable fear of dispraise4 ,nearly allied to this is evil shame3 the being ashamed of that wherein we ought to glory4 ,and this is seldom divided from the fear of man1 which brings a thousand snares upon the soul4 ,now where is he even among those that seem strong in faith1 who does not find in himself a degree of all these evil tempers8 ,so that even these are but in part crucified to the world3 for the evil root still remains in their heart4 #h4 ,and do we not feel other tempers1 which are as contrary to the love of our neighbour1 as these are to the love of ,god8 ,the love of our neighbour thinketh no evil3 do not we find any thing of the kind8 ,do we never find any jealousies1 any evil surmisings1 any groundless or unreasonable suspicions8 ,he that is clear in these respects1 let him cast the first stone at his neighbour4 ,who does not sometimes feel other tempers or inward motions1 which he knows are contrary to brotherly love8 ,if nothing of malice1 hatred or bitterness1 is there no touch of envy8 ,particularly toward those who enjoy some 7real or supposed7 good1 which we desire1 but cannot attain8 ,do we never find any degree of resentment1 when we are injured or affronted8 ,especially by those whom we peculiarly loved1 and whom we had most laboured to help or oblige4 ,does injustice or ingratitude never excite in us any desire of revenge8 ,any desire of returning evil for evil1 instead of overcoming evil with good8 ,this also shews1 how much is still in our heart1 which is contrary to the love of our neighbour4 #i4 ,covetousness in every kind and degree is certainly as contrary to this as to the love of ,god4 ,whether 1 the love of money1 which is too frequently the root of all evils1 or 1 literally1 a desire of having more1 or increasing in substance4 ,and how few even of the real children of ,god1 are entirely free from both8 ,indeed one great man1 ,martin ,luther used to say1 he 8,never had any covetousness in him1 7not only in his converted state1 but7 ever since he was born40 ,but if so1 ,i would not scruple to say1 he was the only man born of a woman1 7except him that was ,god as well as man7 who had not1 who was born without it4 ,nay1 ,i believe1 never was any one born of ,god1 that lived any considerable time after1 who did not feel more or less of it many times1 especially in the latter sense4 ,we may therefore set it down as an undoubted truth1 that covetousness1 together with pride1 and self-will and anger remain in the hearts even of them that are justified4 #aj4 ,it is their experiencing this which has inclined so many serious persons1 to understand the latter part of the seventh chapter to the ,romans1 not of them that are under the law1 that are convinced of sin1 which is undoubtedly the meaning of the apostle1 but of them that are under grace1 that are justified freely through the redemption that is in ,christ4 ,and it is most certain1 they are thus far right3 there does still remain even in them that are justified1 a mind which is in some measure carnal2 7so the apostle tells even the believers at ,corinth1 ,ye are carnal37 an heart bent to backsliding1 still ever ready to depart from the living ,god3 a propensity to pride1 self-will1 anger1 revenge1 love of the world1 yea and all evil2 a root of bitterness1 which if the restraint were taken off for a moment1 would instantly spring up3 yea1 such a depth of corruption1 as without clear light from ,god1 we cannot possibly conceive4 ,and a conviction of all this sin remaining in their hearts1 is the repentance which belongs to them that are justified4 #aa4 ,but we should likewise be convinced1 that as sin remains in our hearts1 so it cleaves to all our words and actions4 ,indeed it is to be feared that many of our words are more than mixt with sin2 that they are sinful all together2 for such undoubtedly is all uncharitable conversation3 all which does not spring from brotherly love1 all which does not agree with that golden rule1 ,what ye would that others should do to you1 even so do unto them4 ,of this kind is all backbiting1 all tale-bearing1 all whispering1 all evil-speaking2 that is1 repeating the faults of absent persons3 for none would have others repeat his faults when he is absent4 ,now how few are there1 even among believers1 who are in no degree guilty of this8 ,who steddily observe the good1 old rule1 8,of the dead and the absentnothing but good40 ,and suppose they do1 do they likewise abstain from unprofitable conversation8 ,yet all this is unquestionably sinful1 and grieves the holy ,spirit of ,god4 ,yea1 and for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account in the day of judgment4 #ab4 ,but let it be supposed1 that they continually watch and pray1 and so do not enter into this temptation2 that they constantly set a watch before their mouth1 and keep the door of their lips3 suppose they exercise themselves herein1 that all their conversation may be in grace seasoned with salt1 and meet to minister grace to the hearers3 yet do they not daily slide into useless discourse1 notwithstanding all their caution8 ,and even when they endeavour to speak for ,god1 are their words pure1 free from unholy mixtures8 ,do they find nothing wrong in their very intention8 ,do they speak merely to please ,god1 and not partly to please themselves8 ,is it wholly1 to do the will of ,god1 and not their own will also8 ,or1 if they begin with a single eye1 do they go on looking unto ,jesus1 and talking with him all the time they are talking with their neighbour8 ,when they are reproving sin1 do they feel no anger or unkind temper to the sinner8 ,when they are instructing the ignorant1 do they not find any pride1 any self-preference8 ,when they are comforting the afflicted1 or provoking one another to love and to good works1 do they never perceive any inward self-commendation1 8,now you have spoke well80 ,or any vanity1 a desire that others should think so1 and esteem them on the account8 ,in some or all of these respects1 how much sin cleaves to the best conversation even of believers8 ,the conviction of which is another branch of the repentance which belongs to them that are justified4 #ac4 ,and how much sin1 if their conscience is throughly awake1 may they find cleaving to their actions also8 ,nay1 are there not many of these1 which though they are such as the world would not condemn1 yet cannot be commended1 no nor excused1 if we judge by the word of ,god8 ,are there not many of their actions1 which they themselves know1 are not to the glory of ,god8 ,many1 wherein they did not even aim at this1 which were not undertaken with an eye to ,god8 ,and of those that were1 are there not many1 wherein their eye is not singly fixt on ,god8 ,wherein they are doing their own will1 at least as much as his1 and seeking to please themselves as much1 if not more than to please ,god8 ,and while they are endeavouring to do good to their neighbour1 do they not feel wrong tempers of various kinds8 ,hence their good actions1 so called1 are far from being strictly such1 being polluted with such a mixture of evil6 ,such are their works of mercy6 ,and is there not the same mixture in their works of piety8 ,while they are hearing the word which is able to save their souls1 do they not frequently find such thoughts1 as make them afraid1 lest it should turn to their condemnation1 rather than their salvation8 ,is it not often the same case1 while they are endeavouring to offer up their prayers to ,god1 whether in public1 or private8 ,nay1 while they are engaged in the most solemn service4 ,even while they are at the table of the ,lord1 what manner of thoughts arise in them8 ,are not their hearts sometimes wandering to the ends of the earth1 sometimes filled with such imaginations1 as make them fear1 lest all their sacrifice should be an abomination to the ,lord4 ,so that they are more ashamed of their best duties1 than they were once of their worst sins4 #ad4 ,again4 ,how many sins of omission are they chargeable with8 ,we know the words of the apostle1 ,to him that knoweth to do good1 and doth it not1 to him it is sin4 ,but do they not know a thousand instances1 wherein they might have done good1 to enemies1 to strangers1 to their brethren1 either with regard to their bodies or their souls1 and they did it not8 ,how many omissions have they been guilty of1 in their duty toward ,god8 ,how many opportunities of communicating1 of hearing his word1 of public or private prayer have they neglected8 ,so great reason had even that holy man archbishop ,usher1 after all his labours for ,god1 to cry out1 almost1 with his dying breath1 8,lord1 forgive me my sins of omission40 #ae4 ,but besides these outward omissions1 may they not find in themselves1 inward defects without number8 ,defects of every kind3 they have not the love1 the fear1 the confidence they ought to have toward ,god4 ,they have not the love which is due to their neighbour1 to every child of man3 no1 nor even that which is due to their brethren1 to every child of ,god2 whether those that are at a distance from them1 or those with whom they are immediately connected4 ,they have no holy temper in the degree they ought3 they are defective in every thing3 in a deep consciousness of which they are ready to cry out with ,mr4 de ,renty1 8,i am a ground all overrun with thorns30 or with ,job1 ,i am vile3 ,i abhor myself1 and repent as in dust and ashes4 #af4 ,a conviction of their guiltiness is another branch of that repentance which belongs to the children of ,god4 ,but this is cautiously to be understood1 and in a peculiar sense4 ,for it is certain1 there is no condemnation for them that are in ,christ ,jesus1 that believe in him1 and in the power of that faith1 walk not after the flesh but after the ,spirit4 ,yet can they no more bear the strict justice of ,god now than before they believed4 ,this pronounces them to be still worthy of death1 on all the preceding accounts4 ,and it would absolutely condemn them thereto1 were it not for the atoning blood4 ,therefore they are throughly convinced1 that they still deserve punishment1 altho' it is hereby turned aside from them4 ,but here there are extremes on one hand and on the other1 and few steer clear of them4 ,most men strike on one or the other1 either thinking themselves condemned1 when they are not1 or thinking they deserve to be acquitted4 ,nay1 the truth lies between3 they still deserve1 strictly speaking1 only the damnation of hell4 ,but what they deserve does not come upon them1 because they have an ,advocate with the ,father4 ,his life and death and intercession still interpose between them and condemnation4 #ag4 ,a conviction of their utter helplesness1 is yet another branch of this repentance4 ,i mean hereby two things2 #a4 ,that they are no more able now of themselves to think one good thought1 to form one good desire1 to speak one good word1 or do one good work1 than before they were justified3 that they have still no kind or degree of strength of their own1 no power either to do good or resist evil3 no ability to conquer or even withstand1 the world1 the devil1 or their own evil nature4 ,they can1 it is certain1 do all these things2 but it is not by their own strength4 ,they have power to overcome all these enemies2 for sin hath no more dominion over them4 ,but it is not from nature1 either in whole or in part3 it is the mere gift of ,god4 ,nor is it given all at once1 as if they had a stock laid up for many years2 but from moment to moment4 #ah4 ,by this helplesness ,i mean1 secondly1 an absolute inability to deliver ourselves1 from that guiltiness or desert of punishment whereof we are still conscious3 yea1 and an inability to remove by all the grace we have1 7to say nothing of our natural powers7 either the pride1 self-will1 love of the world1 anger1 and general proneness to depart from ,god1 which we experimentally know to remain in the heart1 even of them that are regenerate2 or the evil which in spite of all our endeavours1 cleaves to all our words and actions4 ,add to this1 an utter inability wholly to avoid uncharitable1 and much more1 unprofitable conversation3 ,add1 an inability to avoid sins of omission1 or to supply the numberless defects we are convinced of1 especially the want of love and other right tempers1 both to ,god and man4 #ai4 ,if any man is not satisfied of this1 if any believes that whoever is justified1 is able to remove these sins out of his heart and life1 let him make the experiment4 ,let him try1 whether by the grace he has already received1 he can expel pride1 self-will1 or inbred sin in general4 ,let him try1 whether he can cleanse his words and actions from all mixture of evil3 whether he can avoid all uncharitable and unprofitable conversation1 with all sins of omission2 and lastly1 whether he can supply the numberless defects which he still finds in himself4 ,let him not be discouraged by one or two experiments1 but repeat the trial again and again4 ,and the longer he tries1 the more deeply will he be convinced of his utter helplesness in all these respects4 #bj4 ,indeed this is so evident a truth1 that well nigh all the children of ,god scattered abroad1 however they differ in other points1 yet generally agree in this1 that although we may by the ,spirit mortify the deeds of the body1 resist and conquer both outward and inward sin1 although we may weaken our enemies day by day1 yet we cannot drive them out4 ,by all the grace which is given at justification1 we cannot extirpate them4 ,though we watch and pray ever so much1 we cannot wholly cleanse either our hearts or hands4 ,most sure we cannot1 till it shall please our ,lord1 to speak to our hearts again1 to 8,speak the second time be clean40 ,and then only the leprosy is cleansed4 ,then only the evil root1 the carnal mind is destroyed1 and inbred sin subsists no more4 ,but if there be no such second change1 if there be no instantaneous deliverance after justification1 if there be none but a gradual work of ,god1 7that there is a gradual work none denies7 then we must be content1 as well as we can1 to remain full of sin till death4 ,and if so1 we must remain guilty till death1 continually deserving punishment4 ,for it is impossible1 the guilt or desert of punishment should be removed from us1 as long as all this sin remains in our heart1 and cleaves to our words and actions4 ,nay1 in rigorous justice1 all we think1 and speak1 and act1 continually increases it4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,in this sense1 we are to repent1 after we are justified4 ,and till we do so1 we can go no farther4 ,for till we are sensible1 of our disease1 it admits of no cure4 ,but supposing we do thus repent1 then are we called to believe the gospel4 #b4 ,and this also is to be understood in a peculiar sense1 different from that1 wherein we believed in order to justification4 ,believe the glad tidings of great salvation1 which ,god hath prepared for all people4 ,believe that he who is the brightness of his ,father's glory1 the express image of his person1 is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto ,god through him4 ,he is able to save you from all the sin that still remains in your heart4 ,he is able to save you from all the sin that cleaves to all your words and actions4 ,he is able to save you from sins of omission1 and to supply whatever is wanting in you4 ,it is true1 this is impossible with man2 but with ,god-,man all things are possible4 ,for what can be too hard for him1 who hath all power in heaven and in earth8 ,indeed his bare power to do this1 is not a sufficient foundation for our faith1 that he will do it1 that he will thus exert his power1 unless he hath promised it4 ,but this he has done3 he has promised it over and over1 in the strongest terms4 ,he has given us these exceeding great and precious promises1 both in the ,old and the ,new ,testament4 ,so we read in the law1 in the most ancient part of the oracles of ,god1 ,the ,lord thy ,god will circumcise thy heart1 and the heart of thy seed1 to love the ,lord thy ,god1 with all thy heart and with all thy soul1 ,deut4 xxx4 #f4 ,so in the ,psalms1 ,he shall redeem ,israel 7the ,israel of ,god7 from all his sins1 so in the ,prophet3 ,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean3 from all your filthiness and from all your idols will ,i cleanse you,and ,i will put my ,spirit within you and ye shall keep my judgments and do them4 ,i will also save you from all your uncleannesses1 ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #be1 c4 ,so likewise in the ,new ,testament4 ,blessed be the ,lord ,god of ,israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people4 ,and hath raised up an horn of salvation for usto perform the oath which he swore to our father ,abraham1 that he would grant unto us1 that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies1 should serve him without fear1 in holiness and righteousness before him1 all the days of our life1 ,luke i4 #fh1 c4 #c4 ,you have therefore good reason to believe1 he is not only able1 but willing to do this1 to cleanse you from all your filthiness of flesh and spirit1 to save you from all your uncleannesses4 ,this is the thing which you now long for3 this is the faith which you now particularly need1 namely1 that the great ,physician1 the lover of my soul1 is willing to make me clean4 ,but is he willing to do this to-morrow or to-day8 ,let him answer for himself4 ,to day1 if ye will hear my voice1 harden not your hearts4 ,if you put it off till to-morrow1 you harden your hearts3 you refuse to hear his voice4 ,believe therefore that he is willing to save you to-day4 ,he is willing to save you now4 ,behold1 now is the accepted time4 ,he now saith1 ,be thou clean6 ,only believe2 and you also will immediately find1 all things are possible to him that believeth4 #d4 ,continue to believe in him that loved thee1 and gave himself for thee1 that bore all thy sins in his own body on the tree1 and he saveth thee from all condemnation1 by his blood continually applied4 ,thus it is that we continue in a justified state4 ,and when we go on from faith to faith1 when we have faith to be cleansed from indwelling sin1 to be saved from all our uncleannesses1 we are likewise saved from all that guilt1 that desert of punishment1 which we felt before4 ,so that then we may say not only ,every moment1 ,lord1 ,i want ,the merit of thy death3 ,but likewise1 in the full assurance of faith1 ,every moment1 ,lord1 ,i have ,the merit of thy death6 ,for by that faith in his life1 death and intercession for us1 renewed from moment to moment1 we are every whit clean1 and there is not only now no condemnation for us1 but no such desert of punishment as was before1 the ,lord cleansing both our hearts and lives4 #e4 ,by the same faith1 we feel the power of ,christ every moment resting upon us1 whereby alone we are what we are1 whereby we are enabled to continue in spiritual life1 and without which1 notwithstanding all our present holiness1 we should be devils the next moment4 ,but as long as we retain our faith in him1 we draw water out of the wells of salvation4 ,leaning on our ,beloved1 even ,christ in us the hope of glory1 who dwelleth in our hearts by faith1 who likewise is ever interceding for us at the right hand of ,god1 we receive help from him to think1 and speak1 and act what is acceptable in his sight4 ,thus does he prevent them that believe in all their doings1 and further them with his continual help1 so that all their designs1 conversations and actions1 are 8begun1 continued and ended in him40 ,thus doth he 8cleanse the thoughts of their hearts1 by the inspiration of his holy ,spirit1 that they may perfectly love him1 and worthily magnify his holy name40 #f4 ,thus it is1 that in the children of ,god1 repentance and faith exactly answer each other4 ,by repentance we feel the sin remaining in our hearts1 and cleaving to our words and actions4 ,by faith we receive the power of ,god in ,christ1 purifying our hearts and cleansing our hands4 ,by repentance we are still sensible that we deserve punishment for all our tempers and words and actions4 ,by faith we are conscious1 that our ,advocate with the ,father is continually pleading for us1 and thereby continually turning aside all condemnation and punishment from us4 ,by repentance we have an abiding conviction1 that there is no help in us4 ,by faith we receive not only mercy1 but grace to help in every time of need4 ,repentance disclaims the very possibility of any other help4 ,faith accepts all the help we stand in need of1 from him that hath all power in heaven and earth4 ,repentance says1 ,without him ,i can do nothing3 faith says1 ,i can do all things through ,christ strengthening me4 ,through him ,i cannot only overcome1 but expel all the enemies of my soul4 ,through him ,i can love the ,lord my ,god1 with all my heart1 mind1 soul and strength3 yea and walk in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of my life4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,from what has been said we may easily learn the mischievousness of that opinion1 that we are wholly sanctified when we are justified3 that our hearts are then cleansed from all sin4 ,it is true1 we are then delivered 7as was observed before7 from the dominion of outward sin3 and at the same time the power of inward sin is so broken1 that we need no longer follow or be led by it4 ,but it is by no means true1 that inward sin is then totally destroyed1 that the root of pride1 self-will1 anger1 love of the world is then taken out of the heart1 or that the carnal mind and the heart bent to backsliding are entirely extirpated4 ,and to suppose the contrary is not1 as some may think an innocent1 harmless mistake4 ,no3 it does immense harm2 it entirely blocks up the way to any farther change4 ,for it is manifest1 they that are whole do not need a physician1 but they that are sick4 ,if therefore we think we are quite made whole already1 there is no room to seek any farther healing4 ,on this supposition it is absurd to expect a farther deliverance from sin1 whether gradual or instantaneous4 #b4 ,on the contrary1 a deep conviction that we are not yet whole1 that our hearts are not fully purified1 that there is yet in us a carnal mind1 which is still in its nature enmity against ,god2 that a whole body of sin remains in our heart1 weakened indeed1 but not destroyed1 shews beyond all possibility of doubt1 the absolute necessity of a farther change4 ,we allow1 that at the very moment of justification1 we are born again3 in that instant we experience that inward change1 from darkness into marvellous light2 from the image of the brute and the devil1 into the image of ,god1 from the earthly1 sensual1 devilish mind1 to the mind which was in ,christ ,jesus4 ,but are we then entirely changed8 ,are we wholly transformed into the image of him that created us8 ,far from it3 we still retain a depth of sin3 and it is the consciousness of this1 which constrains us to groan for a full deliverance1 to him that is mighty to save4 ,hence it is1 that those believers who are not convinced of the deep corruption of their hearts1 or but slightly and as it were notionally convinced1 have little concern about entire sanctification4 ,they may possibly hold the opinion1 that such a thing is to be1 either at death1 or some time1 they know not when1 before it4 ,but they have no great uneasiness for the want of it1 and no great hunger or thirst after it4 ,they cannot1 until they know themselves better1 until they repent in the sense above described1 until ,god unveils the inbred monster's face1 and shews them the real state of their souls4 ,then only1 when they feel the burden1 will they groan for deliverance from it4 ,then and not till then will they cry out1 in the agony of their soul1 ,break off the yoke of inbred sin ,and fully set my spirit free6 ,i cannot rest1 till pure within1 ,till ,i am wholly lost in thee6 #c4 ,we may learn from hence1 secondly1 that a deep conviction of our demerit after we are accepted1 7which in one sense may be termed guilt7 is absolutely necessary1 in order to our seeing the true value of the atoning blood2 in order to our feeling that we need this as much1 after we are justified1 as ever we did before4 ,without this conviction we cannot but account the blood of the covenant as a common thing1 something of which we have not now any great need1 seeing all our past sins are blotted out4 ,yea1 but if both our hearts and lives are thus unclean1 there is a kind of guilt which we are contracting every moment1 and which of consequence would every moment expose us to fresh condemnation1 but that ,he ever lives above1 ,for us to intercede1 ,his all-atoning love1 ,his precious blood to plead4 ,it is this repentance and the faith intimately connected with it1 which are expressed in those strong lines4 8,i sin in every breath ,i draw1 ,nor do thy will1 nor keep thy law ,on earth as angels do above3 ,but still the fountain open stands1 ,washes my feet1 my heart1 my hands1 ,till ,i am perfected in love40 #d4 ,we may observe1 thirdly1 a deep conviction of our utter helplessness1 of our total inability to retain any thing we have received1 much more to deliver ourselves from the world of iniquity remaining both in our hearts and lives1 teaches us truly to live upon ,christ by faith1 not only as our priest1 but as our king4 ,hereby we are brought to 8magnify him0 indeed1 to 8give him all the glory of his grace10 to 8make him a whole ,christ1 an entire ,saviour10 and truly to 8set the crown upon his head40 ,these excellent words1 as they have frequently been used1 have little or no meaning4 ,but they are fulfilled in a strong and a deep sense1 when we thus1 as it were1 go out of ourselves1 in order to be swallowed up in him2 when we sink into nothing1 that he may be all in all4 ,then his almighty grace having abolished every high thing which exalted itself against him1 every temper1 and thought1 and word1 and work is brought to the obedience of ,christ4 ,,londonderry1 ,april #bd1 #agfg4 ,,sermon ,,xv4#bh ,,the ,,great ,,assize3 ,,rom4 xiv4 #aj4 ,we shall all stand before the judgment seat of ,christ4 #a4 ,,how many circumstances concur1 to raise the awfulness of the present solemnity8 ,the general concourse of people of every age1 sex1 rank and condition of life1 willingly or unwillingly gathered together1 not only from the neighbouring but from distant parts6 ,criminals1 speedily to be brought forth1 and having no way to escape3 officers waiting in their various posts1 to execute the orders which shall be given3 and the ,representative of our ,gracious ,sovereign1 whom we so highly reverence1 and honour4 ,the occasion likewise of this assembly1 adds not a little to the solemnity of it3 to hear and determine causes of every kind1 some of which are of the most important nature3 on which depends no less than life or death2 death1 that uncovers the face of eternity6 ,it was doubtless in order to increase the serious sense of these things1 and not in the minds of the vulgar only1 that the wisdom of our forefathers did not disdain to appoint even several minute circumstances of this solemnity4 ,for these also1 by means of the eye or ear1 may more deeply affect the heart4 ,and when viewed in this light1 trumpets1 staves1 apparel1 are no longer trifling or insignificant1 but subservient in their kind and degree to the most valuable ends of society4 #b4 ,but as awful as this solemnity is1 one far more awful is at hand4 ,for yet a little while1 and we shall all stand before the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,for as ,i live1 saith the ,lord1 every knee shall bow to me1 and every tongue shall confess to ,god4 ,and in that day1 every one of us shall give account of himself to ,god4 #c4 ,had all men a deep sense of this1 how effectually would it secure the interests of society8 ,for what more forcible motive can be conceived1 to the practice of genuine morality8 to a steddy pursuit of solid virtue8 an uniform walking in justice1 mercy1 and truth8 ,what could strengthen our hands in all that is good1 and deter us from all evil1 like a strong conviction of this1 the ,judge standeth at the door3 and we are shortly to stand before him8 #d4 ,it may not therefore be improper1 or unsuitable to the design of the present assembly1 to consider1 ,i4 ,the chief circumstances which will precede our standing before the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,,ii4 ,the judgment itself1 and1 ,,iii4 ,a few of the circumstances which will follow it4 ,i4 ,let us1 in the first place1 consider the chief circumstances which will precede our standing before the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,and #ast1 ,god will shew signs in the earth beneath3#bi particularly he will arise to shake terribly the earth4 ,the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard1 and shall be removed like a cottage4 ,there shall be earthquakes#cj not in divers only1 but in all places3 not in one only1 or a few1 but in every part of the habitable world3 even such as were not1 since men were upon the earth1 so mighty earthquakes and so great4 ,in one of these every island shall flee away1 and the mountains will not be found4#ca ,meantime all the waters of the terraqueous globe will feel the violence of those concussions3 the sea and waves roaring1#cb with such an agitation as had never been known before1 since the hour that the fountains of the great deep were broken up1 to destroy the earth which then stood out of the water and in the water4 ,the air will be all storm and tempest1 full of dark vapours and pillars of smoak2#cc resounding with thunder from pole to pole1 and torn with ten thousand lightnings4 ,but the commotion will not stop in the region of the air3 the powers of heaven also shall be shaken4#cd ,there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars2 those fixt1 as well as those that move round them4 ,the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood1 before the great and the terrible day of the ,lord come4#ce ,the stars shall withdraw their shining1#cf yea and fall from heaven1 being thrown out of their orbits4 ,and then shall be heard the universal shout#cg from all the companies of heaven1 followed by the voice of the arch-angel1 proclaiming the approach of the ,son of ,god and man1 and the trumpet of ,god1 sounding an alarm to all that sleep in the dust of the earth4 ,in consequence of this all the graves shall open1 and the bodies of men arise4 ,the sea also shall give up the dead which are therein1#ch and every one shall rise with his own body3 his own in substance1 although so changed in its properties1 as we cannot now conceive4 ,for this corruptible will then put on incorruption1 and this mortal put on immortality4#ci ,yea1 death and hades1 the invisible world shall deliver up the dead that are in them4 ,so that all who ever lived and died since ,god created man1 shall be raised incorruptible and immortal4 #b4 ,at the same time the ,son of man shall send forth his angels over all the earth1 and they shall gather his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other4#dj ,and the ,lord himself shall come with clouds1 in his own glory1 and the glory of his ,father1 with ten thousand of his saints1 even myriads of angels1 and shall sit upon the throne of his glory4 ,and before him shall be gathered all nations1 and he shall separate them one from another1 and shall set the sheep1 the good1 on his right hand1 and the goats1 the wicked1 upon the left4#da ,concerning this general assembly it is1 that the beloved disciple speaks thus3 ,i saw the dead1 all that had been dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god4 ,and the books were opened 7a figurative expression1 plainly referring to the manner of proceeding among men7 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works4#db ,,ii4 ,these are the chief circumstances which are recorded in the oracles of ,god1 as preceding the general judgment4 ,we are secondly1 to consider the judgment itself1 so far as it hath pleased ,god to reveal it4 #a4 ,the person by whom ,god will judge the world is his only begotten ,son whose goings forth are from everlasting1 who is ,god over all1 blessed for ever4 ,unto him1 being the out-beaming of his ,father's glory1 the express image of his person1#dc the ,father hath committed all judgment1 because he is the ,son of man3#dd because tho' he was in the form of ,god1 and thought it not robbery to be equal with ,god1 yet he emptied himself1 taking upon him the form of a servant1 being made in the likeness of men4#de ,yea1 because being found in fashion as a man1 he humbled himself yet farther1 becoming obedient unto death1 even the death of the cross4 ,wherefore ,god hath highly exalted him1 even in his human nature1 and ordained him as man to try the children of men1 to be the judge both of the quick and dead2 both of those who shall be found alive at his coming1 and of those who were before gathered to their fathers4 #b4 ,the time1 termed by the prophet1 the great and the terrible day1 is usually in scripture stiled the day of the ,lord4 ,the space from the creation of man upon the earth to the end of all things1 is the day of the sons of men3 the time that is now passing over us1 is properly our day4 ,when this is ended1 the day of the ,lord will begin4 ,but who can say1 how long it will continue8 ,with the ,lord one day is as a thousand years1 and a thousand years as one day4#df ,and from this very expression some of the ancient fathers drew that inference1 that1 what is commonly called1 the day of judgment1 would be indeed a thousand years4 ,and it seems they did not go beyond the truth3 nay1 probably they did not come up to it4 ,for if we consider the number of persons who are to be judged1 and of actions which are to be enquired into1 it does not appear1 that a thousand years will suffice for the transactions of that day4 ,so that it may not improbably comprise several thousand years4 ,but ,god shall reveal this also in its season4 #c4 ,with regard to the place where mankind will be judged1 we have no explicit account in scripture4 ,an eminent writer 7but not he alone2 many have been of the same opinion7 supposes it will be on earth1 where the works were done1 according to which they shall be judged1 and that ,god will in order thereto employ the angels of his strength1 8,to smooth and lengthen out the boundless space1 ,and spread an area for all human race40 ,but perhaps it is more agreeable to our ,lord's own account1 of his coming in the clouds1 to suppose it will be above the earth1 if not 8twice a planetary height40 ,and this supposition is not a little favoured1 by what ,st4 ,paul writes to the ,thessalonians4 ,the dead in ,christ shall rise first4 ,then we who remain alive1 shall be caught up together with them1 in the clouds1#dg to meet the ,lord in the air4 ,so that it seems most probable1 the great white throne1 will be high exalted above the earth4 #d4 ,the persons to be judged1 who can count any more than the drops of rain1 or the sands of the sea8 ,i beheld1 saith ,st4 ,john1 a great multitude which no man can number1 clothed with white robes1 and palms in their hands4 ,how immense then must be the total multitude1 of all nations1 and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues8 ,of all that have sprung from the loins of ,adam1 since the world began1 till time shall be no more8 ,if we admit the common supposition1 which seems no ways absurd1 that the earth bears at any one time1 no less than four hundred millions1 of living souls1 men women and children3 what a congregation must all those generations make1 who have succeeded each other for seven thousand years8 8,great ,xerxes world in arms1 proud ,cann's host1 ,they all are here3 and here they all are lost4 ,their numbers swell to be discerned in vain2 ,lost as a drop in the unbounded main40 99 ,every man1 every woman1 every infant of days that ever breathed the vital air1 will then hear the voice of the ,son of ,god1 and start into life1 and appear before him4 ,and this seems to be the natural import of that expression1 the dead1 small and great3 all universally1 all without exception1 all of every age1 sex or degree2 all that ever lived and died1 or underwent such a change as will be equivalent with death4 ,for long before that day the phantom of human greatness disappears and sinks into nothing4 ,even in the moment of death1 that vanishes away4 ,who is rich or great in the grave8 #e4 ,and every man shall there give an account of his own works1 yea1 a full and true account1 of all that he ever did while in the body1 whether it was good or evil4 ,o what a scene will then be disclosed1 in the sight of angels and men6 ,while1 not the fabled ,radamanthus1 but the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 who knoweth all things in heaven and earth1 ,castigatque auditque dolos2 subigitque fateri ,qu quis apud superos1 furto ltatus inani1 ,distulit in seram commissa piacula mortem4 ,nor will all the actions alone of every child of man1 be then brought to open view1 but all their words3 seeing every idle word which men shall speak1 they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment4#dh ,so that by thy words as well as works1 thou shalt be justified2 or by thy words thou shalt be condemned4 ,will not ,god then bring to light every circumstance also1 that accompanied every word or action1 and if not altered the nature1 yet lessened or increased the goodness or badness of them8 ,and how easy is this to him1 who is about our bed and about our path1 and spieth out all our ways8 ,we know1 the darkness is no darkness to him1 but the night shineth as the day4 #f4 ,yea1 he will bring to light not the hidden works of darkness only1 but the very thoughts and intents of the hearts4 ,and what marvel8 ,for he searcheth the reins1 and understandeth all our thoughts4 ,all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do4 ,hell and destruction are before him without a covering4 ,how much more the hearts of the children of men8 #g4 ,and in that day shall be discovered every inward working of every human soul3 every appetite1 passion1 inclination1 affection1 with the various combinations of them1 with every temper and disposition that constitute the whole complex character of each individual4 ,so shall it be clearly and infallibly seen1 who was righteous1 and who unrighteous2 and in what degree every action1 or person1 or character was either good or evil4 #h4 ,then the king will say to them upon his right-hand1 ,come ye blessed of my ,father4 ,for ,i was hungry and ye gave me meat1 thirsty and ye gave me drink1 ,i was a stranger and ye took me in1 naked and ye cloathed me4 ,in like manner1 all the good they did upon earth1 will be recited before men and angels3 whatsoever they had done either in word or deed1 in the name1 or for the sake1 of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,all their good desires1 intentions1 thoughts1 all their holy dispositions1 will also be then remembered2 and it will appear1 that though they were unknown or forgotten among men1 yet ,god noted them in his book4 ,all their sufferings likewise for the name of ,jesus1 and for the testimony of a good conscience will be displayed1 unto their praise from the righteous ,judge1 their honour before saints and angels1 and the increase of that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory4 #i4 ,but will their evil deeds too 7since if we take in his whole life1 there is not a man on earth that liveth and sinneth not7 will these be remembered in that day1 and mentioned in the great congregation8 ,many believe they will not1 and ask1 8,would not this imply1 that their sufferings were not at an end1 even when life ended8 ,seeing they would still have1 sorrow1 and shame and confusion of face to endure80 ,they ask farther1 how can this be reconciled with ,god's declaration by the prophet4 ,if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed1 and keep all my statutes1 and do that which is lawful and right2 all his transactions that he hath committed1 they shall not be once mentioned unto him4#di ,how is it consistent with the promise which ,god has made1 to all who accept of the gospel-covenant1 ,i will forgive their iniquities1 and remember their sin no more8#ej ,or as the apostle expresses it1 ,i will be merciful to their unrighteousness1 and their sins and iniquities will ,i remember no more8#ea #aj4 99 ,it may be answered1 it is apparently and absolutely necessary1 for the full display of the glory of ,god1 for the clear and perfect manifestation of his wisdom1 justice1 power and mercy toward the heirs of salvation1 that all the circumstances of their life should be placed in open view1 together with all their tempers1 and all the desires1 thoughts and intents of their hearts4 ,otherwise how would it appear out of what a depth of sin and misery the grace of ,god had delivered them8 ,and1 indeed1 if the whole lives of all the children of men were not manifestly discovered1 the whole amazing contexture of ,divine ,providence could not be manifested3 nor should we yet be able in a thousand instances1 ,to 8justify the ways of ,god to man40 ,unless our ,lord's words were fulfilled in their utmost sense1 without any restriction or limitation1 there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed1 or hid that shall not be known1#eb abundance of ,god's dispensations under the sun would still appear without their reasons4 ,and then only when ,god hath brought to light all the hidden things of darkness1 whosoever were the actors therein1 will it be seen that wise and good were all his ways3 that he saw through the thick cloud1 and governed all things by the wise counsel of his own will3 that nothing was left to chance or the caprice of men1 but ,god disposed all strongly and sweetly1 and wrought all into one connected chain of justice1 mercy1 and truth4 #aa4 ,and in the discovery of the divine perfections1 the righteous will rejoice with joy unspeakable2 far from feeling any painful sorrow or shame1 for any of those past transgressions1 which were long since blotted out as a cloud1 washed away by the blood of the ,lamb4 ,it will be abundantly sufficient for them1 that all the transgressions which they had committed1 shall not be once mentioned unto them1 to their disadvantage2 that their sins and transgressions and iniquities shall be remembered no more1 to their condemnation4 ,this is the plain meaning of the promise3 and this all the children of ,god shall find true1 to their everlasting comfort4 #ab4 ,after the righteous are judged1 the ,king will turn to them upon his left hand1 and they shall also be judged1 every man according to his works4 ,but not only their outward works will be brought into the account1 but all the evil words which they have ever spoken2 yea1 all the evil desires1 affections1 tempers1 which have or have had1 a place in their souls1 and all the evil thoughts or designs which were ever cherished in their hearts4 ,the joyful sentence of acquital will then be pronounced upon those upon the right hand3 the dreadful sentence of condemnation upon those on the left3 both of which must remain fixt and unmoveable1 as the throne of ,god4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,we may1 in the third place1 consider a few of the circumstances which will follow the general judgment4 ,and the first is the execution of the sentence pronounced on the evil and on the good4 ,these shall go away into eternal punishment1 and the righteous into life eternal4 ,it should be observed1 it is the very same word which is used1 both in the former and the latter clause3 it follows1 that either the punishment lasts for ever1 or the reward too will come to an end4 ,no1 never1 unless ,god could come to an end1 or his mercy and truth could fail4 ,then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun1 in the kingdom of their father1 and shall drink of those rivers of pleasure which are at ,god's right hand for evermore4 ,but here all description falls short2 all human language fails6 only one who is caught up into the third heaven1 can have a just conception of it4 ,but even such an one cannot express what he hath seen3 these things it is not possible for man to utter4 ,the wicked1 meantime1 shall be turned into hell1 even all the people that forget ,god4 ,they will be punished with everlasting destruction1 from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power4 ,they will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone1 originally prepared for the devil and his angels2 where they will gnaw their tongues for anguish and pain1 they will curse ,god and look upward3 there the dogs of hell1 pride1 malice1 revenge1 rage1 horror1 despair continually devour them4 ,there they have no rest1 day or night1 but the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever4 ,for their worm dieth not1 and their fire is not quenched4 #b4 ,then the heavens will be shriveled up as a parchment scroll1 and pass away with a great noise3 they will flee from the face of him that sitteth on the throne1 and there will be found no place for them4#ec ,the very manner of their passing away is disclosed to us by the apostle ,peter3 in the day of ,god1 the heavens being on fire1 shall be dissolved4#ed 99 ,the whole beautiful fabric will be overthrown by that raging element1 the connection of all its parts destroyed1 and every atom torn asunder from the others4 ,by the same the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up4#ee ,the enormous works of nature1 the everlasting hills1 mountains that have defied the rage of time1 and stood unmoved so many thousand years1 will sink down in fiery ruin4 ,how much less will the works of art1 though of the most durable kind1 the utmost efforts of human industry1 tombs1 pillars1 triumphal arches1 castles1 pyramids1 be able to withstand the flaming conqueror4 ,all1 all will die1 perish1 vanish away1 like a dream when one awaketh8 #c4 99 ,it has indeed been imagined by some great and good men1 that as it requires that same almighty power1 to annihilate things as to create1 to speak into nothing or out of nothing3 so no part of1 no atom in the universe1 will be totally or finally destroyed4 ,rather1 they suppose1 that as the last operation of fire1 which we have yet been able to observe1 is to reduce into glass what by a smaller force it had reduced to ashes3 so in the day ,god hath ordained1 the whole earth1 if not the material heavens also1 will undergo this change1 after which the fire can have no farther power over them4 ,and they believe this is intimated by that expression in the ,revelation made to ,st4 ,john1 ,before the throne there was a sea of glass1 like unto chrystal4#ef ,we cannot now either affirm or deny this3 but we shall know hereafter4 #d4 99 ,if it be enquired by the scoffers1 the minute philosophers1 how can these things be8 ,whence should come such an immense quantity of fire as would consume the heavens and the whole terraqueous globe8 ,we would beg leave1 first1 to remind them that this difficulty is not peculiar to the ,christian system4 ,the same opinion almost universally obtained among the unbigoted ,heathens4 ,so one of those celebrated free-thinkers speaks1 according to the generally received sentiment2 ,esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur1 affore tempus1 ,quo mare1 quo tellus1 correptaque regia cli ,ardeat1 mundi moles operosa laboret4 ,but1 secondly1 it is easy to answer1 even from our slight and superficial acquaintance with natural things1 that there are abundant magazines of fire ready prepared1 and treasured up against the day of the ,lord4 ,how soon may a comet1 commissioned by him1 travel down from the most distant parts of the universe8 ,and were it to fix upon the earth1 in its return from the sun1 when it is some thousand times hotter than a red-hot cannon-ball1 who does not see what must be the immediate consequence8 ,but1 not to ascend so high as the ethereal heavens1 might not the same lightnings which give shine to the world1 if commanded by the ,lord of nature1 give ruin and utter destruction8 ,or1 to go no farther than the globe itself3 who knows what huge reservoirs of liquid fire are from age to age contained in the bowels of the earth8 tna1 ,hecla1 ,vesuvius1 and all the other vulcanoes that belch out flames and coals of fire1 what are they1 but so many proofs and mouths of those fiery furnaces8 ,and at the same time so many evidences1 that ,god hath in readiness wherewith to fulfil his word4 ,yea1 were we to observe no more than the surface of the earth1 and the things that surround us on every side1 it is most certain 7as a thousand experiments prove1 beyond all possibility of denial7 that we ourselves1 our whole bodies are full of fire1 as well as every thing round about us4 ,is it not easy1 to make this ethereal fire visible even to the naked eye8 ,and so produce thereby the very same effects on combustible matter1 which are produced by culinary fire8 ,needs there then any more1 than for ,god to unloose that secret chain1 whereby this irresistible agent is now bound down1 and lies quiescent in every particle of matter8 ,and how soon would it tear the universal frame in pieces1 and involve all in one common ruin8 #e4 ,there is one circumstance more which will follow the judgment1 that deserves our serious consideration4 ,we look1 says the apostle1 according to his promise1 for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness4#eg ,the promise stands in the prophecy of ,isaiah1 ,behold ,i create new heavens and a new earth4 ,and the former shall not be remembered3#eh so great shall the glory of the latter be4 ,these ,st4 ,john did behold in the visions of ,god4 ,i saw1 saith he1 a new heaven and a new earth1 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away4#ei ,and only righteousness dwelt therein4 ,accordingly he adds1 and ,i heard a great voice from the third heaven1 saying1 ,behold the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them and be their ,god4#fj ,of necessity therefore they will all be happy3 ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes1 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying2 neither shall there be any more pain4#fa ,there shall be no more curse2 but they shall see his face1#fb shall have the nearest access to1 and thence the highest resemblance of him4 ,this is the strongest expression in the language of scripture to denote the most perfect happiness4 ,and his name shall be on their foreheads4 ,they shall be openly acknowledged as ,god's own property3 and his glorious nature shall most visibly shine forth in them4 ,and there shall be no night there1 and they need no candle1 neither light of the sun3 for the ,lord ,god giveth them light1 and they shall reign for ever and ever4 ,,iv4 ,it remains only1 to apply the preceding considerations to all who are here before ,god4 ,and are we not directly led so to do1 by the present solemnity1 which so naturally points us to that day1 when the ,lord will judge the world in righteousness8 ,this therefore1 by reminding us of that more awful season1 may furnish many lessons of instruction4 ,a few of these ,i may be permitted just to touch on4 ,may ,god write them on all our hearts6 #a4 99 ,and1 first1 how beautiful are the feet of those who are sent by the wise and gracious providence of ,god1 to execute justice on earth1 to defend the injured1 and punish the wrong-doer6 ,are they not the ministers of ,god to us for good1 the grand supporters of the public tranquility1 the patrons of innocence and virtue1 the great security of all our temporal blessings8 ,and does not every one of these represent not only an earthly prince1 but the ,judge of the earth8 ,him whose name is written upon his thigh1 ,king of kings and ,lord of lords6 ,o that all these sons of the right hand of the ,most ,high1 may be holy as he is holy6 ,wise with the wisdom that sitteth by his throne1 like him who is the eternal ,wisdom of the ,father6 ,no respecters of persons1 as he is none2 but rendering to every man according to his works3 like him inflexibly1 inexorably just1 though pitiful and of tender mercy3 so shall they be terrible indeed to them that do evil1 as not bearing the sword in vain4 ,so shall the laws of our land have their full use and due honour1 and the throne of our ,king be still established in righteousness4 #b4 99 ,ye truly honourable men1 whom ,god and the king have commissioned1 in a lower degree to administer justice3 may not ye be compared to those ministering spirits who will attend the ,judge coming in the clouds8 ,may you1 like them1 burn with love to ,god and man6 ,may you love righteousness and hate iniquity6 ,may ye all minister in your several spheres 7such honour hath ,god given you also67 to them that shall be heirs of salvation1 and to the glory of your great ,sovereign6 ,may ye remain the establishers of peace1 the blessing and ornaments of your country1 the protectors of a guilty land1 the guardian angels of all that are round about you6 #c4 ,you1 whose office it is to execute what is given you in charge by him before whom you stand2 how nearly are you concerned to resemble those1 that stand before the face of the ,son of man8 ,those servants of his that do his pleasure1 and hearken to the voice of his words4 ,does it not highly import you1 to be as uncorrupt as them8 ,to approve yourselves the servants of ,god8 ,to do justly and love mercy2 to do to all as ye would they should do to you8 ,so shall that great ,judge1 under whose eye you continually stand1 say to you also1 ,well done1 good and faithful servants3 enter ye into the joy of your ,lord6 #d4 ,suffer me to add a few words to all of you who are at this day present before the ,lord4 ,should not you bear it in your minds all the day long1 that a more awful day is coming8 ,a large assembly this6 ,but what is it to that which every eye will then behold1 the general assembly of all the children of men that ever lived on the face of the whole earth6 ,a few will stand at the judgment seat this day1 to be judged touching what shall be laid to their charge4 ,and they are now reserved in prison1 perhaps in chains1 till they are brought forth to be tried and sentenced4 ,but we shall all1 ,i that speak and you that hear1 stand at the judgment seat of ,christ4 ,and we are now reserved on this earth1 which is not our home1 in this prison of flesh and blood1 perhaps many of us in chains of darkness too1 till we are ordered to be brought forth4 ,here a man is questioned concerning one or two facts1 which he is supposed to have committed4 ,there we are to give an account of all our works1 from the cradle to the grave2 of all our words1 of all our desires and tempers1 all the thoughts and intents of our hearts3 of all the use we have made of our various talents1 whether of mind1 body or fortune1 till ,god said1 ,give an account of thy stewardship2 for thou mayst be no longer steward4 ,in this court1 it is possible some who are guilty1 may escape for want of evidence4 ,but there is no want of evidence in that court4 ,all men with whom you had the most secret intercourse1 who were privy to all your designs and actions are ready before your face4 ,so are all the spirits of darkness1 who inspired evil designs1 and assisted in the execution of them4 ,so are all the angels of ,god1 those eyes of the ,lord1 that run to and fro over all the earth1 who watched over your soul1 and laboured for your good1 so far as you would permit4 ,so is your own conscience1 a thousand witnesses in one1 now no more capable of being either blinded or silenced1 but constrained to know and to speak the naked truth1 touching all your thoughts and words and actions4 ,and is conscience as a thousand witnesses8 ,yea1 but ,god is as a thousand consciences6 ,o who can stand before the face of the great ,god1 even our ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,see1 see6 ,he cometh6 ,he maketh the clouds his chariots6 ,he rideth upon the wings of the wind6 ,a devouring fire goeth before him1 and after him a flame burneth6 ,see1 he sitteth upon his throne1 cloathed with light as with a garment1 arrayed with majesty and honour6 ,behold his eyes are as a flame of fire1 his voice as the sound of many waters6 ,how will ye escape8 ,will ye call to the mountains to fall on you1 the rocks to cover you8 ,alas1 the mountains themselves1 the rocks1 the earth1 the heavens1 are just ready to flee away6 ,can ye prevent the sentence8 ,wherewith8 ,with all the substance of thy house1 with thousands of gold and silver8 ,blind wretch6 ,thou camest naked from thy mother's womb1 and more naked into eternity4 ,hear the ,lord1 the ,judge6 ,come ye blessed of my ,father6 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world4 ,joyful sound6 ,how widely different from that voice1 which echoes through the expanse of heaven1 ,depart1 ye cursed into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels6 ,and who is he1 that can prevent or retard the full execution of either sentence8 ,vain hope6 ,lo1 hell is moved from beneath1 to receive those who are ripe for destruction6 ,and the everlasting doors lift up their heads1 that the heirs of glory may come in6 #e4 ,what manner of persons then ought we to be1 in all holy conversation and godliness8 ,we know it cannot be long1 before the ,lord will descend with the voice of the archangel1 and the trumpet of ,god2 when every one of us shall appear before him1 and give account of his own works4 ,wherefore1 beloved1 seeing ye look for these things1 seeing ye know1 ,he will come and will not tarry1 be diligent that ye may be found of him1 in peace1 without spot and blameless4 ,why should ye not8 ,why should one of you be found1 on the left hand1 at his appearing8 ,he willeth not that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance2 by repentance to faith in a bleeding ,lord2 by faith to spotless love1 to the full image of ,god renewed in the heart1 and producing all holiness of conversation4 ,can you doubt of this1 when you remember1 the ,judge of all1 is likewise the ,saviour of all8 ,hath he not bought you with his own blood1 that ye might not perish1 but have everlasting life8 ,o make proof of his mercy rather than his justice6 ,of his love rather than the thunder of his power6 ,he is not far from every one of us3 and he is now come1 not to condemn1 but to save the world4 ,he standeth in the midst6 ,sinner doth he not now1 even now knock at the door of thy heart8 ,o that thou mayst know1 at least in this thy day1 the things that belong unto thy peace6 ,o that ye may now give yourselves to him who gave himself for you1 in humble faith1 in holy1 active1 patient love6 ,so shall ye rejoice with exceeding joy in his day1 when he cometh in the clouds of heaven4 ,,sermon ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,means ,,of ,,grace4 ,,malachi iii4 #g4 ,ye are gone away from mine ordinances1 and have not kept them4 ,i4 #a4 ,,but are there any ordinances now1 since life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel8 ,are there under the ,christian dispensation1 any means ordained of ,god1 as the usual channels of his grace8 ,this question could never have been proposed1 in the apostolical church1 unless by one who openly avowed himself to be a ,heathen2 the whole body of ,christians being agreed1 that ,christ had ordained certain outward means1 for conveying his grace into the souls of men4 ,their constant practice set this beyond all dispute2 for so long as all that believed were together1 and had all things common1 7,acts ii4 #dd47 they continued stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles1 and in the breaking of bread and in prayers1 ver4 #dd4 #b4 ,but in process of time1 when the love of many waxed cold1 some began to mistake the means for the end1 and to place religion1 rather in doing those outward works1 than in a heart renewed after the image of ,god4 ,they forgot1 that the end of every commandment is love1 out of a pure heart1 with faith unfeigned3 the loving the ,lord their ,god with all their heart1 and their neighbour as themselves2 and the being purified from pride1 anger1 and evil desire1 by a faith of the operation of ,god4 ,others seemed to imagine1 that though religion did not principally consist in these outward means1 yet there was something in them wherewith ,god was well pleased1 something that would still make them acceptable in his sight1 though they were not exact in the weightier matters of the law1 in justice1 mercy1 and the love of ,god4 #c4 ,it is evident1 in those who abused them thus1 they did not conduce to the end for which they were ordained4 ,rather1 the things which should have been for their health1 were to them an occasion of falling4 ,they were so far from receiving any blessing therein1 that they only drew down a curse upon their head3 so far from growing more heavenly in heart and life1 that they were twofold more the children of hell than before4 ,others clearly perceiving1 that these means did not convey the grace of ,god to those children of the devil1 began from this particular case to draw a general conclusion4 8,that they were not means of conveying the grace of ,god40 #d4 ,yet the number of those who abused the ordinances of ,god1 was far greater than of those who despised them1 till certain men arose1 not only of great understanding1 7sometimes joined with considerable learning7 but who likewise appeared to be men of love1 experimentally acquainted with true1 inward religion4 ,some of these were burning and shining lights1 persons famous in their generations1 and such as had well deserved of the church of ,christ1 for standing in the gap against the overflowings of ungodliness4 ,it cannot be supposed1 that these holy and venerable men1 intended any more at first1 than to shew that outward religion is nothing worth1 without the religion of the heart3 that ,god is a spirit1 and they who worship him1 must worship him in spirit and in truth3 that therefore external worship is lost labour1 without a heart devoted to ,god3 that the outward ordinances of ,god then profit much1 when they advance inward holiness1 but when they advance it not1 are unprofitable and void1 are lighter than vanity3 yea1 that when they are used1 as it were1 in the place of this1 they are an utter abomination to the ,lord4 #e4 ,yet it is not strange1 if some of these1 being strongly convinced1 of that horrid profanation of the ordinances of ,god1 which had spread itself over the whole church1 and well nigh driven true religion out of the world2 in their fervent zeal for the glory of ,god1 and the recovery of souls from that fatal delusion1 spake as if outward religion were absolutely nothing1 as if it had no place in the religion of ,christ4 ,it is not surprising at all1 if they should not always have expressed themselves with sufficient caution4 ,so that unwary hearers may believe1 they condemned all outward means1 as altogether unprofitable2 and as not designed of ,god to be the ordinary channels of conveying his grace into the souls of men4 ,nay1 it is not impossible1 some of these holy men did at length themselves fall into this opinion3 in particular1 those who1 not by choice1 but by the providence of ,god1 were cut off from all these ordinances3 perhaps wandering up and down1 having no certain abiding-place1 or dwelling in dens and caves of the earth4 ,these experiencing the grace of ,god in themselves1 though they were deprived of all outward means1 might infer1 that the same grace would be given to them1 who of set purpose abstained from them4 #f4 ,and experience shews1 how easily this notion spreads1 and insinuates itself into the minds of men3 especially of those who are throughly awakened out of the sleep of death1 and begin to feel the weight of their sins1 a burthen too heavy to be borne4 ,these are usually impatient of their present state1 and trying every way to escape from it4 ,they are always ready to catch at any new thing1 any new proposal of ease or happiness4 ,they have probably tried most outward means1 and found no ease in them3 it may be1 more and more of remorse and fear and sorrow and condemnation4 ,it is easy therefore to persuade these1 that it is better for them to abstain from all those means4 ,they are already weary of striving 7as it seems7 in vain1 of labouring in the fire3 and are therefore glad of any pretence to cast aside that1 wherein their soul has no pleasure2 to give over the painful strife1 and sink down into an indolent inactivity4 ,,ii4 #a4 ,in the following discourse1 ,i propose to examine at large1 whether there are any means of grace8 ,by means of grace ,i understand1 outward signs1 words or actions1 ordained of ,god1 and appointed for this end1 to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men1 preventing1 justifying or sanctifying grace4 ,i use this expression1 8means of grace10 because ,i know none better1 and because it has been generally used in the ,christian church for many ages3 in particular1 by our own church1 which directs us to bless ,god1 both for the 8means of grace and hopes of glory20 and teaches us that a sacrament is 8an outward sign of inward grace1 and a means whereby we receive the same40 ,the chief of these means are prayer1 whether in secret1 or with the great congregation2 searching the scriptures 7which implies reading1 hearing and meditating thereon7 and receiving the ,lord's supper1 eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of him2 and these we believe to be ordained of ,god1 as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men4 #b4 ,but we allow1 that the whole value of the means depends on their actual subservience to the end of religion2 that consequently all these means1 when separate from the end1 are less than nothing and vanity2 that if they do not actually conduce to the knowledge and love of ,god1 they are not acceptable in his sight2 yea1 rather1 they are an abomination before him2 a stink in his nostrils2 he is weary to bear them3 above all1 if they are used as a kind of commutation for the religion they were designed to subserve4 ,it is not easy to find words for the enormous folly and wickedness1 of thus turning ,god's arms against himself2 of keeping ,christianity out of the heart by those very means1 which were ordained for the bringing it in4 #c4 ,we allow likewise1 that all outward means whatever1 if separate from the ,spirit of ,god1 cannot profit at all1 cannot conduce in any degree either to the knowledge or love of ,god4 ,without controversy1 the help that is done upon earth1 he doth it himself4 ,it is he alone1 who by his own almighty power1 worketh in us what is pleasing in his sight4 ,and all outward things1 unless he work in them and by them1 are mere weak and beggarly elements4 ,whosoever therefore imagines1 there is any intrinsick power1 in any means whatsoever1 does greatly err1 not knowing the scriptures1 neither the power of ,god4 ,we know that there is no inherent power1 in the words that are spoken in prayer2 in the letter of scripture read1 the sound thereof heard1 or the bread and wine received in the ,lord's supper3 but that it is ,god alone who is the giver of every good gift1 the author of all grace2 that the whole power is of him1 whereby through any of these1 there is any blessing conveyed to our soul4 ,we know likewise1 that he is able to give the same grace1 tho' there were no means on the face of the earth4 ,in this sense we may affirm1 that 8with regard to ,god1 there is no such thing as means30 seeing he is equally able to work whatsoever pleaseth him1 by any1 or by none at all4 #d4 ,we allow farther1 that the use of all means whatever1 will never atone for one sin2 that it is the blood of ,christ alone1 whereby any sinner can be reconciled to ,god2 there being no other propitiation for our sins1 no other fountain for sin and uncleanness4 ,every believer in ,christ is deeply convinced1 that there is no merit1 but in him3 that there is no merit in any of his own works2 not in uttering the prayer1 or searching the scripture1 or hearing the word of ,god1 or eating of that bread and drinking of that cup4 ,so that if no more be intended by the expression some have used1 8,christ is the only means of grace10 than this1 that he is the only meritorious cause of it1 it cannot be gain-said by any who know the grace of ,god4 #e4 ,yet once more4 ,we allow 7though it is a melancholy truth7 that a large proportion of those who are called ,christians1 do to this day abuse the means of grace1 to the destruction of their souls4 ,this is doubtless the case with all those who rest content1 in the form of godliness without the power4 ,either they fondly presume1 they are ,christians already1 because they do thus and thus2 although ,christ was never yet revealed in their hearts1 nor the love of ,god shed abroad therein3 or else they suppose1 they shall infallibly be so1 barely because they use these means3 idly dreaming 7though perhaps hardly conscious thereof7 either that there is some kind of power therein1 whereby sooner or later 7they know not when7 they shall certainly be made holy3 or that there is a sort of merit in using them1 which will surely move ,god to give them holiness1 or accept them without it4 #f4 ,so little do they understand that great foundation of the whole ,christian building1 99 ,by grace ye are saved4 ,ye are saved from your sins1 from the guilt and power thereof1 ye are restored to the favour and image of ,god1 not for any works1 merits or deservings of yours1 but by the free grace1 the mere mercy of ,god1 through the merits of his well-beloved ,son4 ,ye are thus saved1 not by any power1 wisdom or strength1 which is in you1 or in any other creature3 but merely through the grace or power of the ,holy ,ghost1 which worketh all in all4 #g4 ,but the main question remains4 ,we know this salvation is the gift and the work of ,god4 ,but how1 7may one say1 who is convinced he hath it not7 may ,i attain thereto8 ,if you say1 8,believe1 and thou shalt be saved30 he answers1 ,true2 but how shall ,i believe8 ,you reply1 ,wait upon ,god4,well4 ,but how am ,i to wait8 ,in the means of grace1 or out of them8 ,am ,i to wait for the grace of ,god which bringeth salvation1 by using these means1 or by laying them aside8 #h4 ,it cannot possibly be conceived1 that the word of ,god should give no direction in so important a point3 or that the ,son of ,god1 who came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation1 should have left us undetermined with regard to a question1 wherein our salvation is so nearly concerned4 ,and in fact1 he hath not left us undetermined2 he hath shewn us the way wherein we should go4 ,we have only to consult the oracles of ,god1 to inquire what is written there8 ,and if we simply abide by their decision1 there can no possible doubt remain4 ,,iii4 #a4 ,according to this1 according to the decision of holy writ1 all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it1 in the means which he hath ordained2 in using1 not in laying them aside4 ,and first3 all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it in the way of prayer4 ,this is the express direction of our ,lord himself4 ,in his sermon upon the mount1 after explaining at large wherein religion consists1 and describing the main branches of it1 he adds1 ,ask and it shall be given you1 seek and ye shall find1 knock and it shall be opened unto you4 ,for every one that asketh receiveth1 and he that seeketh findeth2 and to him that knocketh1 it shall be opened4 7,matt4 vii4 #g1 #h47 ,here we are in the plainest manner directed to ask1 in order to1 or as a means of receiving2 to seek in order to find1 the grace of ,god1 the pearl of great price2 and to knock1 to continue asking and seeking1 if we would enter into his kingdom4 #b4 ,that no doubt might remain1 our ,lord labours this point in a more peculiar manner4 ,he appeals to every man's own heart4 ,what man is there of you1 who if his son ask bread1 will give him a stone8 ,or if he ask a fish1 will he give him a serpent8 ,if ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your ,father which is in heaven1 the ,father of angels and men1 the ,father of the spirits of all flesh1 give good things to them that ask him8 ver4 #i1 #aj1 #aa4 ,or1 as he expresses himself on another occasion1 including all good things in one1 ,how much more shall your heavenly ,father give the holy ,spirit to them that ask him8 ,luke xi4 #ac4 ,it should be particularly observed here1 that the persons directed to ask1 had not then received the holy ,spirit4 ,nevertheless our ,lord directs them to use this means1 and promises that it should be effectual2 that upon asking they should receive the holy ,spirit1 from him whose mercy is over all his works4 #c4 ,the absolute necessity of using this means if we would receive any gift from ,god1 yet farther appears from that remarkable passage which immediately precedes these words3 ,and he said unto them 7whom he had just been teaching1 how to pray7 which of you shall have a friend1 and shall go unto him at midnight1 and shall say unto him1 ,friend1 lend me three loavesand he from within shall answer1 ,trouble me not,i cannot rise and give thee3 ,i say unto you1 though he will not rise and give him1 because he is his friend1 yet because of his importunity he will rise1 and give him as many as he needeth4 ,and ,i say unto you1 ,ask and it shall be given you1 ,luke xi4 #e1 #g1 #h1 #i4 ,though he will not give him1 because he is his friend1 yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth4 ,how could our blessed ,lord more plainly declare1 that we may receive of ,god1 by this means1 by importunately asking1 what otherwise we should not receive at all6 #d4 ,he spake also another parable to this end1 that men ought always to pray1 and not to faint1 till through this means they should receive of ,god1 whatsoever petition they asked of him4 ,there was in a city a judge which feared not ,god1 neither regarded man4 ,and there was a widow in that city1 and she came unto him1 saying1 ,avenge me of my adversary4 ,and he would not for a while2 but afterwards he said with himself1 ,though ,i fear not ,god1 nor regard man1 yet because this widow troubleth me ,i will avenge her1 lest by her continual coming she weary me4 ,luke xviii4 #a-d4 ,the application of this our ,lord himself hath made4 ,hear what the unjust judge saith6 ,because she continues to ask1 because she will take no denial1 therefore ,i will avenge her4 ,and shall not ,god avenge his own elect1 which cry day and night unto him8 ,i tell you he will avenge them speedilyif they pray and faint not4 #e4 ,a direction equally full and express1 to wait for the blessings of ,god in private prayer1 together with a positive promise1 that by this means we shall obtain the request of our lips1 he hath given us in those well-known words3 ,enter into thy closet1 and when thou hast shut thy door1 pray to thy ,father which is in secret1 and thy ,father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly1 ,matt4 vi4 #f4 #f4 ,if it be possible for any direction to be more clear1 it is that which ,god hath given us by the apostle1 with regard to prayer of every kind1 publick or private1 and the blessing annext thereto4 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 that giveth to all men liberally1 7if they ask2 otherwise ye have not1 because ye ask not1 ,jam4 iv4 #b47 and upbraideth not1 and it shall be given him1 ch4 i4 #e4 ,if it be objected1 8,but this is no direction to unbelievers2 to them who know not the pardoning grace of ,god3 for the apostle adds1 but let him ask in faith3 otherwise1 let him not think that he shall receive any thing of the ,lord40 ,i answer the meaning of the word faith in this place1 is fixed by the apostle himself1 7as if it were on purpose to obviate this objection7 in the words immediately following3 ,let him ask in faith1 nothing wavering1 nothing doubting 4 ,not doubting but ,god heareth his prayer1 and will fulfil the desire of his heart4 ,the gross1 blasphemous absurdity of supposing faith in this place to be taken in the full ,christian meaning1 appears hence3 it is supposing the ,holy ,ghost to direct a man who knows he has not this faith 7which is here termed wisdom7 to ask it of ,god1 with a positive promise that it shall be given him2 and then immediately to subjoin1 that it shall not be given him1 unless he have it before he asks for it6 ,but who can bear such a supposition8 ,from this scripture1 therefore1 as well as those cited above we must infer1 that all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it in the way of prayer4 #g4 ,secondly1 all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it in searching the scriptures4 ,our ,lord's direction with regard to the use of this means1 is likewise plain and clear4 ,search the scriptures1 saith he to the unbelieving ,jews1for they testify of me1 ,john v4 #ci4 ,and for this very end did he direct them to search the scriptures1 that they might believe in him4 ,the objection1 8,that this is not a command1 but only an assertion1 that they did search the scriptures10 is shamelessly false4 ,i desire those who urge it1 to let us know1 how a command can be more clearly expressed1 than in those terms1 4 ,it is as peremptory as so many words can make it4 ,and what a blessing from ,god attends the use of this means1 appears from what is recorded concerning the ,bereans2 who after hearing ,st4 ,paul1 searched the scriptures daily1 whether those things were so8 ,therefore many of them believed3 found the grace of ,god1 in the way which he had ordained4 ,acts xvii4 #ab1 #ac4 ,it is probable1 indeed1 that in some of those who had received the word with all readiness of mind1 faith came 7as the same apostle speaks7 by hearing1 and was only confirmed by reading the scriptures4 ,but it was observed above1 that under the general term of searching the scriptures1 both hearing1 reading1 and meditating1 are contained4 #h4 ,and that this is a means whereby ,god not only gives1 but also confirms and increases true wisdom1 we learn from the words of ,st4 ,paul to ,timothy3 ,from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures1 which are able to make thee wise unto salvation1 thro' faith which is in ,christ ,jesus1 #b ,tim4 iii4 #ae4 ,the same truth 7namely1 that this is the great means ,god has ordained for conveying his manifold grace to man7 is delivered1 in the fullest manner that can be conceived1 in the words which immediately follow3 ,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god2 7consequently1 all scripture is infallibly true27 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness3 to the end that the man of ,god may be perfect1 throughly furnished unto all good works1 ver4 #af1 #ag4 #i4 ,it should be observed1 that this is spoken primarily and directly1 of the scriptures which ,timothy had known from a child2 which must have been those of the ,old ,testament1 for the ,new was not then wrote4 ,how far then was ,st4 ,paul 7though he was not a whit behind the very chief of the apostles1 nor therefore1 ,i presume1 behind any man now upon earth7 from making light of the ,old ,testament6 ,behold this1 lest ye one day wonder and perish1 ye who make so small account of one half of the oracles of ,god6 ,yea1 and that half of which the ,holy ,ghost expresly declares1 that it is profitable1 as a means ordained of ,god1 for this very thing1 for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness3 to the end the man of ,god may be perfect1 throughly furnished unto all good works4 #aj4 ,nor is this profitable only for the men of ,god1 for those who walk already in the light of his countenance2 but also for those who are yet in darkness1 seeking him whom they know not4 ,thus ,st4 ,peter1 ,we have also a more sure word of prophecy3 literally1 and we have the prophetic word more sure3 4 ,confirmed by our being eye witnesses of his ,majesty1 and hearing the voice which came from the excellent glory unto which 7prophetic word2 so he stiles the holy scriptures7 ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the day dawn1 and the day-star arise in your hearts1 #b ,pet4 i4 #ai4 ,let all1 therefore1 who desire that day to dawn upon their hearts1 wait for it in searching the scriptures4 #aa4 ,thirdly1 ,all who desire an increase of the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it in partaking of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,for this also is a direction himself hath given4 ,the same night in which he was betrayed1 he took bread1 and brake it1 and said1 take1 eat3 this is my body1 7that is1 the sacred sign of my body7 this do in remembrance of me4 ,likewise1 he took the cup1 saying1 this cup is the new testament1 or covenant1 in my blood1 7the sacred sign of that covenant17 this do yein remembrance of me4 ,for as often as ye eat this bread1 and drink this cup1 ye do shew forth the ,lord's death till he come1 #a ,cor4 xi4 #bc1 c4 ,ye openly exhibit the same1 by these visible signs1 before ,god1 and angels1 and men4 ,ye manifest your solemn remembrance of his death1 till he cometh in the clouds of heaven4 ,only let a man first examine himself1 whether he understand the nature and design of this holy institution1 and whether he really desire to be himself made conformable to the death of ,christ3 and so1 nothing doubting1 let him eat of that bread1 and drink of that cup1 ver4 #bh4 ,here then the direction first given by our ,lord1 is expresly repeated by the apostle4 ,let him eat2 let him drink3 7 both in the imperative mood47 ,words not implying a bare permission only1 but a clear1 explicit command2 a command to all those who either already are filled with peace and joy in believing1 or can truly say1 8,the remembrance of our sins is grievous unto us1 the burden of them is intolerable40 #ab4 ,and that this is also an ordinary stated means of receiving the grace of ,god1 is evident from those words of the apostle1 which occur in the preceding chapter8 ,the cup of blessing which we bless1 is it not the communion1 or communication1 of the blood of ,christ8 ,the bread which we break1 is it not the communion of the body of ,christ8 7#a ,cor4 x4 #af47 ,is not the eating of that bread1 and the drinking of that cup the outward1 visible means whereby ,god conveys into our souls all that spiritual grace1 that righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost1 which were purchased by the body of ,christ once broken1 and the blood of ,christ once shed for us8 ,let all1 therefore who truly desire the grace of ,god1 eat of that bread and drink of that cup4 ,,iv4 #a4 ,but as plainly as ,god hath pointed out the way1 wherein he will be inquired after1 innumerable are the objections which men1 wise in their own eyes1 have from time to time raised against it4 ,it may be needful to consider a few of these2 not because they are of weight in themselves1 but because they have so often been used1 especially of late years1 to turn the lame out of the way2 yea1 to trouble and subvert those who did run well1 while ,satan appeared as an angel of light4 ,the first and chief of these is1 8,you cannot use these means 7as you call them7 without trusting in them40 ,i pray1 where is this written8 ,i expect you should shew me plain scripture for your assertion4 ,otherwise ,i dare not receive it3 because ,i am not convinced1 that you are wiser than ,god4 ,if it really had been as you assert1 it is certain ,christ must have known it4 ,and if he had known it1 he would surely have warned us1 he would have revealed it long ago4 ,therefore because he has not1 because there is no tittle of this in the whole revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i am as fully assured your assertion is false1 as that this revelation is of ,god4 8,however1 leave them off for a short time1 to see whether you trusted in them or no40 ,so ,i am to disobey ,god1 in order to know1 whether ,i trust in obeying him6 ,and do you avow this advice8 ,do you deliberately teach1 to do evil1 that good may come8 ,o tremble at the sentence of ,god against such teachers6 ,their damnation is just4 8,nay1 if you are troubled1 when you leave them off1 it is plain1 you trusted in them40 ,by no means4 ,if ,i am troubled when ,i wilfully disobey ,god1 it is plain his ,spirit is still striving with me4 ,but if ,i am not troubled at wilful sin1 it is plain1 ,i am given up to a reprobate mind4 ,but what do you mean by 8,trusting in them80 ,looking for the blessing of ,god therein8 ,believing1 that if ,i wait in this way ,i shall attain1 what otherwise ,i should not8 ,so ,i do4 ,and so ,i will1 ,god being my helper1 even to my life's end4 ,by the grace of ,god1 ,i will thus trust in them1 till the day of my death2 that is1 ,i will believe1 that whatever1 ,god hath promised1 he is faithful also to perform4 ,and seeing he hath promised to bless me in this way1 ,i trust it shall be according to his word4 #b4 ,it has been1 secondly1 objected1 8,this is seeking salvation by works40 ,do you know the meaning of the expression you use8 ,what is1 8,seeking salvation by works80 ,in the writings of ,st4 ,paul1 it means1 either seeking to be saved1 by observing the ritual works of the ,mosaic law1 or expecting salvation for the sake of our own works1 by the merit of our own righteousness4 ,but how is either of these implied1 in my waiting in the way ,god has ordained2 and expecting that he will meet me there1 because he has promised so to do8 ,i do expect1 that he will fulfil his word1 that he will meet and bless me in this way4 ,yet not for the sake of any works which ,i have done1 nor for the merit of my righteousness3 ,but merely through the merits and sufferings and love of his ,son1 in whom he is always well-pleased4 #c4 ,it has been vehemently objected1 ,thirdly1 that ,christ is the only means of grace4 ,i answer1 this is mere playing upon words4 ,explain your term1 and the objection vanishes away4 ,when we say1 8,prayer is a means of grace10 we understand1 a channel through which the grace of ,god is conveyed4 ,when you say1 8,christ is the means of grace10 you understand1 the sole price and purchaser of it3 or1 that no man cometh unto the ,father1 but thro' him4 ,and who denies it8 ,but this is utterly wide of the question4 #d4 8,but does not the scripture 7it has been objected1 fourthly7 direct us to wait for salvation8 ,does not ,david say1 ,my soul waiteth upon ,god3 for of him cometh my salvation8 ,and does not ,isaiah teach us the same thing1 saying1 ,o ,lord1 we have waited for thee80 ,all this cannot be denied4 ,seeing it is the gift of ,god1 we are undoubtedly to wait on him for salvation4 ,but how shall we wait8 ,if ,god himself has appointed a way1 can you find a better way of waiting for him8 ,but1 that he hath appointed a way1 hath been shewn at large1 and also what that way is4 ,the very words of the prophet which you cite1 put this out of all question4 ,for the whole sentence runs thus2 ,in the way of thy judgments1 or ordinances1 ,o ,lord1 have we waited for thee4 7,isaiah xxvi4 #h47 ,and in the very same way did ,david wait1 as his own words abundantly testify3 ,i have waited for thy saving health1 ,o ,lord1 and have kept thy law1 teach me1 ,o ,lord1 the way of thy statutes1 and ,i shall keep it unto the end4 #e4 8,yea1 say some1 but ,god has appointed another way1 ,stand still and see the salvation of ,god40 ,let us examine the scriptures to which you refer4 ,the first of them1 with the context1 runs thus3 ,and when ,pharaoh drew nigh1 the children of ,israel lift up their eyesand they were sore afraid4 ,and they said unto ,moses1 because there were no graves in ,egypt1 hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness8 ,and ,moses said unto the people1 fear ye not3 stand still1 and see the salvation of the ,lord4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 speak unto the children of ,israel1 that they go forward4 ,but lift thou up thy rod1 and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it4 ,and the children of ,israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea1 ,exod4 xiv4 #aj1 c4 ,this was the salvation of ,god1 which they stood still to see1 by marching forward with all their might6 ,the other passage wherein this expression occurs1 stands thus4 ,there came some that told ,jehoshaphat saying1 ,there cometh a great multitude against thee1 from beyond the sea4 ,and ,jehoshaphat feared1 and set himself to seek the ,lord1 and proclaimed a fast throughout all ,judah4 ,and ,judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the ,lord1 even out of all the cities they came to seek the ,lord4 ,and ,jehoshaphat stood in the congregation1 in the house of the ,lord,then upon ,jahaziel came the ,spirit of the ,lord4,and he said,be not dismayed by reason of this great multitude,to-morrow go ye down against them2 ye shall not need to fight in this battle4 ,set yourselves3 stand ye still1 and see the salvation of the ,lord,and they arose early in the morning and went forth4 ,and when they began to sing and to praise1 the ,lord set ambushments against the children of ,moab1 ,ammon1 and ,mount ,sierand every one helped to destroy another1 #b ,chron4 xx4 #b1 c4 ,such was the salvation which the children of ,judah saw4 ,but how does all this prove1 that we ought not to wait for the grace of ,god1 in the means which he hath ordained8 #f4 ,i shall mention but one objection more1 which indeed does not properly belong to this head4 ,nevertheless1 because it has been so frequently urged1 ,i may not wholly pass it by4 8,does not ,st4 ,paul say1 ,if ye be dead with ,christ1 why are ye subject to ordinances8 ,col4 ii4 #bj4 ,therefore a ,christian1 one that is dead with ,christ1 need not use the ordinances any more40 ,so you say1 8,if ,i am a ,christian1 ,i am not subject to the ordinances of ,christ60 ,surely1 by the absurdity of this1 you must see at the first glance1 that the ordinances here mentioned cannot be the ordinances of ,christ6 ,that they must needs be the ,jewish ordinances1 to which it is certain1 a ,christian is no longer subject4 ,and the same undeniably appears from the words immediately following1 ,touch not1 taste not1 handle notall evidently referring to the antient ordinances of the ,jewish law4 ,so that this objection is the weakest of all4 ,and in spight of all1 that great truth must stand unshaken1 that all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it1 in the means which he hath ordained4 ,v4 #a4 ,but this being allowed1 that all who desire the grace of ,god1 are to wait for it in the means he hath ordained3 it may still be enquired how those means should be used1 both as to the order1 and the manner of using them8 ,with regard to the former1 we may observe1 there is a kind of order1 wherein ,god himself is generally pleased1 to use these means1 in bringing a sinner to salvation4 ,a stupid1 senseless wretch is going on in his own way1 not having ,god in all his thoughts1 when ,god comes upon him unawares1 perhaps by an awakening sermon or conversation1 perhaps by some awful providence2 or it may be by an immediate stroke of his convincing ,spirit1 without any outward means at all4 ,having now a desire to flee from the wrath to come1 he purposely goes to hear1 how it may be done4 ,if he finds a preacher who speaks to the heart1 he is amazed1 and begins searching the scriptures1 whether these things are so8 ,the more he hears and reads1 the more convinced he is2 and the more he meditates thereon1 day and night4 ,perhaps he finds some other book1 which explains and inforces what he has heard and read in scripture4 ,and by all these means1 the arrows of conviction sink deeper into his soul4 ,he begins also to talk of the things of ,god1 which are ever uppermost in his thoughts3 yea1 and to talk with ,god1 to pray to him1 although through fear and shame1 he scarce knows what to say4 ,but whether he can speak or no1 he cannot but pray1 were it only in groans which cannot be uttered4 ,yet being in doubt1 whether the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity will regard such a sinner as him1 he wants to pray with those who know ,god1 with the faithful1 in the great congregation4 ,but here he observes others go up to the table of the ,lord4 ,he considers1 ,christ has said1 8,do this60 ,how is it1 that ,i do not8 ,i am too great a sinner4 ,i am not fit4 ,i am not worthy4 ,after struggling with these scruples awhile1 he breaks through4 ,and thus he continues in ,god's way1 in hearing1 reading1 meditating1 praying1 and partaking of the ,lord's supper1 till ,god1 in the manner that pleases him1 speaks to his heart1 ,thy faith hath saved thee6 ,go in peace6 #b4 ,by observing this order of ,god1 we may learn what means to recommend to any particular soul4 ,if any of these will reach a stupid1 careless sinner1 it is probably hearing or conversation4 ,to such therefore we might recommend these1 if he has ever any thought about salvation4 ,to one who begins to feel the weight of his sins1 not only hearing the word of ,god1 but reading it too1 and perhaps other serious books1 may be a means of deeper conviction4 ,may you not advise him also1 to meditate on what he reads1 that it may have its full force upon his heart8 ,yea1 and to speak thereof and not be ashamed1 particularly among those who walk in the same path4 ,when trouble and heaviness take hold upon him1 should you not then earnestly exhort him1 to pour out his soul before ,god8 ,always to pray and not to faint8 ,and when he feels the worthlessness of his own prayers1 are you not to work together with ,god1 and remind him of going up into the house of the ,lord1 and praying with all them that fear him8 ,but if he does this1 the dying word of his ,lord1 will soon be brought to his remembrance3 a plain intimation1 that this is the time1 when we should second the motions of the blessed ,spirit4 ,and thus may we lead him step by step1 through all the means which ,god has ordained2 not according to our own will1 but just as the providence and the ,spirit of ,god go before and open the way4 #c4 99 ,yet as we find no command in holy writ1 for any particular order to be observed herein1 so neither do the providence and the ,spirit of ,god1 adhere to any without variation3 but the means into which different men are led1 and in which they find the blessing of ,god1 are varied1 transposed and combined together1 a thousand different ways4 ,yet still our wisdom is1 to follow the leadings of his providence and his ,spirit3 to be guided herein 7more especially as to the means wherein we ourselves seek the grace of ,god7 partly by his outward providence1 giving us the opportunity of using sometimes one means1 sometimes another3 partly by our experience1 which it is whereby his free ,spirit is pleased most to work in our heart4 ,and in the mean time1 the sure and general rule for all who groan for the salvation of ,god1 is this1 whenever opportunity serves1 use all the means which ,god has ordained4 ,for who knows1 in which ,god will meet thee1 with the grace that bringeth salvation8 #d4 ,as to the manner of using them1 whereon indeed it wholly depends1 whether they should convey any grace at all to the user1 it behoves us1 first1 always to retain a lively sense1 that ,god is above all means4 ,have a care therefore of limiting the ,almighty4 ,he doth whatsoever and whensoever it pleaseth him4 ,he can convey his grace1 either in or out of any of the means which he hath appointed4 ,perhaps he will4 ,who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 ,or who hath been his counsellor8 ,look then every moment for his appearing6 ,be it at the hour you are employed in his ordinances2 or before1 or after that hour4 ,or when you are hindered therefrom4 ,he is not hindered4 ,he is always ready3 always able1 always willing to save4 ,it is the ,lord1 let him do what seemeth him good6 ,secondly1 ,before you use any means1 let it be deeply imprest on your soul1 8,there is no power in this4 ,it is in itself a poor1 dead1 empty thing3 separate from ,god2 it is a dry leaf1 a shadow4 ,neither is there any merit in my using this2 nothing intrinsically pleasing to ,god1 nothing whereby ,i deserve any favour at his hands1 no1 not a drop of water to cool my tongue4 ,but because ,god bids1 therefore ,i do2 because he directs me to wait in this way1 therefore here ,i wait for his free mercy1 whereof cometh my salvation4 ,settle this in your heart1 that the opus operatum1 the mere work done profiteth nothing3 that there is no power to save1 but in the ,spirit of ,god2 no merit1 but in the blood of ,christ3 that consequently1 even what ,god ordains1 conveys no grace to the soul1 if you trust not in him alone4 ,on the other hand1 he that does truly trust in him1 cannot fall short of the grace of ,god1 even tho' he were cut off from every outward ordinance1 tho' he were shut up in the center of the earth4 99 ,thirdly1 ,in using all means1 seek ,god alone4 ,in and thro' every outward thing1 look singly to the power of his ,spirit1 and the merits of his ,son4 ,beware you do not stick in the work itself2 if you do1 it is all lost labour4 ,nothing short of ,god can satisfy your soul4 ,therefore eye him1 in all1 thro' all1 and above all4 ,remember also1 to use all means1 as means3 as ordained1 not for their own sake1 but in order to the renewal of your soul in righteousness and true holiness4 ,if therefore they actually tend to this1 well4 ,but if not1 they are dung and dross4 ,lastly1 ,after you have used any of these1 take care1 how you value yourself thereon3 how you congratulate yourself1 as having done some great thing4 ,this is turning all into poison4 ,think1 8,if ,god was not there1 what does this avail8 ,have ,i not been adding sin to sin8 ,how long6 ,o ,lord6 ,save or ,i perish6 ,o lay not this sin to my charge60 ,if ,god was there1 if his love flowed into your heart1 you have forgot1 as it were1 the outward work4 ,you see1 you know1 you feel1 ,god is all in all4 ,be abased4 ,sink down before him4 ,give him all the praise4 ,let ,god in all things be glorified through ,christ ,jesus4 ,let all your bones cry out1 ,my song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the ,lord3 with my mouth will ,i ever be telling of thy truth1 from one generation to another6 ,the ,end of the ,,first ,,volume4 ,footnotes4 #a - ,preached at ,st4 ,mary's1 ,oxford1 before the ,university1 ,june #ah1 #agch4 #b - ,preached at ,st4 ,mary's1 ,oxford1 before the ,university1 ,july #be1 #agda4 #c - ,good men avoid sin from the love of virtue2 ,wicked men avoid sin from a fear of punishment4 #d - ,thou shalt not be hang'd4 #e - ,homily on the salvation of man4 #f - ,preached on ,sunday1 ,april #d1 #agdb1 before the ,university of ,oxford1 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,charles ,wesley4 #g - ,ezek4 xxxvi4 #bg4 #h - ,isaiah xliv4 #c4 #i - ,john xiv4 #bj4 #aj - ,art4 #ag4 #aa - ,office of consecrating ,priests4 #ab - ,visitation of the sick4 #ac - ,collect before the holy communion4 #ad - ,order of confirmation4 #ae - ,preached at ,st4 ,mary's1 ,oxford1 before the ,university1 ,august #bd1 #agdd4 #af - ,evidence or conviction4 #ag - ,gen4 iii4 #ae4 #ah - ,gen4 xxii4 #ae1 #ah4 #ai - ,gen4 xv4 #f4 #bj - ,rom4 iv4 #aa4 #ba - ,ver4 #bc1 #bd1 #be4 #bb - ,mark xii4 #cj4 #bc - #a ,cor4 ii4 #ab4 #bd - #b ,cor4 i4 #ab4 #be - #a ,cor4 i4 #b4 #bf - ,ver4 #i4 #bg - ,what follows for some pages is an answer to a paper published in the ,christian's ,magazine1 p4 #egg-ehb4 ,i am surprized ,mr4 ,dodd should give such a paper a place in his ,magazine1 which is directly contrary to our ninth article4 #bh - ,preached at the ,assizes held before the ,honourable ,sir ,edward ,clive1 ,knight1 one of the ,judges of his ,majesty's ,court of ,common-,pleas2 in ,st4 ,paul's ,church1 ,bedford3 on ,friday1 ,march #aj1 #ageh4 #bi - ,acts ii4 #ai4 #cj - ,luke xxi4 #aa4 #ca - ,rev4 xvi4 #bj4 #cb - ,luke xxi4 #be4 #cc - ,joel ii4 #cj4 #cd - ,luke xxi4 #be1 #bf4 #ce - ,joel ii4 #c4 #cf - ,joel iii4 #ae4 #cg - #a ,thess4 iv4 #af4 #ch - ,rev4 xx4 #ac4 #ci - #a ,cor4 xv4 #ec4 #dj - ,matt4 xxiv4 #ca4 #da - ,matt4 xxv4 #ca1 c4 #db - ,rev4 xx4 #ab4 #dc - ,heb4 i4 #b4 #dd - ,john v4 #bb1 #bg4 #de - ,phil4 ii4 #f1 #g4 #df - #b ,pet4 iii4 #h4 #dg - #a ,thess4 iv4 #af1 #ag4 #dh - ,matt4 xii4 #cf1 #cg4 #di - ,ezek4 xviii4 #ba1 #bb4 #ej - ,jer4 xxxi4 #cd4 #ea - ,heb4 viii4 #ab4 #eb - ,matt4 x4 #bf4 #ec - ,rev4 xx4 #aa4 #ed - #b ,pet4 iii4 #ab4 #ee - ,ibid4 v4 #aj4 #ef - ,chap4 iv4 #f4 #eg - v4 #ac4 #eh - c4 lxv4 #ag4 #ei - ,rev4 xxi4 #a4 #fj - v4 #c4 #fa - v4 #d4 #fb - c4 xxii4 #c1 #d4 ,transcriber's ,notes4 ,the following corrections have been made in the text3 ,page #aa3 ,sentence starting3 ,i have thought1444 - ,ending quote not shown in text4 78,i am a creature7 ,page #bc3 ,sentence starting3 #a4 ,that 8to preach salvation4444 - #8#b4' replaced with #8#a4' 7#a4 ,that 8to preach salvation7 ,page #dd3 ,sentence starting3 ,hast thou indeed 4444 - #8redemptition' replaced with #8redemption' 7indeed redemption through his blood7 ,page #eb3 ,sentence starting3 ,awake and cry out4444 - #8goaler' replaced with #8gaoler' 7with the trembling gaoler17 ,page #aai3 ,sentence starting3 ,no abatement1 no allowance4444 - #8title' replaced with #8tittle' 7as to any jot or tittle17 ,page #acc3 ,sentence starting3 ,then shall thy head4444 - #8he' replaced with #8be' 7thy head be waters17 ,page #aei3 ,sentence starting3 #e4 ,they are not condemned4444 - ,paragragh numeral #8#d' skipped4 ,page #agi3 ,sentence starting3 #c4 ,the inward1 spiritual meaning4444 - ,paragragh numeral #8#b' skipped4 7#c4 ,the inward1 spiritual meaning7 ,page #aij3 ,sentence starting3 ,to conclude2 the natural man4444 - #8conquerer' replaced with #8conqueror' 7than conqueror1 through him7 ,page #bch3 ,sentence starting3 ,to remember1 to bear witness4444 - duplicated word removed #8or' 7to approve or disapprove7 ,page #bed3 ,sentence starting3 4444 - #8' replaced with #8' 7 7 ,page #bed3 ,sentence starting3 #e4 ,to avoid this extreme1444 - ,ending quote not shown in text4 78,all true believers17 ,page #bfb3 ,sentence starting3 ,yea1 if he fall from one wickedness4444 - missing #8is' inserted in text 7because it is contrary7 ,page #bfh3 ,sentence starting3 8,but can anger and pride4444 - #8were' replaced with #8where' 7where only meekness and humility are felt67 ,page #cjb3 ,quote starting3 in the form of ,god1444 - #8likness' replaced with #8likeness' 7made in the likeness of men7 ,page #cbj3 ,sentence starting3 ,how widely different from4444 - #8ecchoes' replaced with #8echoes' 7which echoes through the expanse7 ,page #cch3 ,sentence starting3 ,let him eat2 let him4444 - #8' replaced with #8' 7 both in the imperative mood47 ,page #cda3 ,sentence starting3 ,i do expect1 that4444 - #8be' replaced with #8he' 7that he will meet and bless7 ,page #cdh3 ,sentence starting3 ,secondly1 ,before you use4444 - ,ending quote not shown in text4 78,there is no power7 ,footnote #ei3 - #8xx' replaced with #8xxi' 7,rev4 xxi4 #a47