,the ,works of the ,reverend ,george ,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation has been standardized4 ,most of the abbreviations used to save space in printing have been expanded to the non-abbreviated form for easier reading4 ,the text is inconsistent in its usage of quotation marks4 ,the transcriber has attempted to make their use consistent throughout this work for improved readability4 ,characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps4 ,non-printable characteristics have been given the following ,italic text3 -- text ,this book was written in a period when many words had not become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 ,footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,transcriber's ,notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader4 ,these notes are identified by symbols in the text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which they appear4 ,,the ,,works ,,of ,,the ,,reverend ,,george ,,whitefield1 ,m4,a4 ,late of ,,pembroke-,,college1 ,,oxford1 ,and ,chaplain to the ,right ,honourable1 the ,countess of ,,huntingdon4 ,,containing ,all his ,,sermons and ,,tracts ,which have been already published3 ,,with ,a ,,select ,,collection of ,,letters1 ,written to his most intimate ,friends1 and ,persons of ,distinction1 in ,england1 ,scotland1 ,ireland1 and ,america1 from the ,year #agcd1 to #aggj1 including the whole ,period of his ,ministry4 ,,also ,some other ,,pieces on ,,important ,,subjects1 never before printed2 prepared by ,himself for the ,press4 ,to which is prefixed1 ,an ,,account of his ,,life1 ,compiled from his ,original ,,papers and ,,letters4 ,,volume ,,vi4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,,edward and ,,charles ,,dilly1 in the ,poultry2 and ,messrs4 ,,kincaid and ,,creech1 at ,edinburgh4 ,,mdcclxxii4 ,,contents4 ,the ,sermons marked with a 991 are now first published from the ,author's own ,manuscripts4 ,,sermon ,,xxxii4 ,a ,penitent ,heart1 the best ,new ,year's ,gift4 ,,luke xiii4 #c4 ,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4 ,,sermon ,,xxxiii4 ,the ,gospel ,supper4 ,,luke xiv4 #bb1 #bc1 #bd4 ,and the servant said1 ,lord1 it is done as thou hast commanded1 and yet there is room4 ,and the lord said unto the servant1 ,go out into the highways1 and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house may be filled4 ,for ,i say unto you1 that none of those men which were bidden1 shall taste of my supper4 ,,sermon ,,xxxiv4 ,the ,pharisee and ,publican4 ,,luke xviii4 #ad4 ,i tell you1 this man went down to his house justified rather than the other3 ,for every one that exalteth himself1 shall be abased2 and he that humbleth himself1 shall be exalted4 ,,sermon ,,xxxv4 ,the ,conversion of ,zaccheus4 ,,luke xix4 #i1 #aj4 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,this day is salvation come to this house2 forasmuch as he also is the ,son of ,abraham4 ,for the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,,sermon ,,xxxvi4 ,the ,marriage of ,cana4 ,,john ii4 #aa4 ,this beginning of miracles did ,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and manifested forth his glory2 and his disciples believed on him4 ,,sermon ,,xxxvii4 ,the ,duty of searching the ,scriptures4 ,,john v4 #ci4 ,search the ,scriptures4 ,,sermon ,,xxxviii4 ,the ,indwelling of the ,spirit1 the common ,privilege of all ,believers4 ,,john vii4 #cg1 #ch1 #ci4 ,in the last day1 that great day of the feast1 ,jesus stood and cried1 saying1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink4 ,he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath said1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4 ,but this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive4 ,,sermon ,,xxxix4 ,the ,resurrection of ,lazarus4 ,,john xi4 #dc1 #dd4 ,and when he had thus spoken1 he cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus come forth4 ,and he that was dead1 came forth1 bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths3 and his face was bound about with a napkin4 ,jesus saith unto them1 ,loose him1 and let him go4 ,,sermon ,,xl4 ,the ,holy ,spirit convincing the ,world of ,sin1 ,righteousness1 and ,judgment4 ,,john xvi4 #h4 ,and when he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,,sermon ,,xli4 ,saul's ,conversion4 ,,acts ix4 #bb4 ,but ,saul increased the more in strength1 and confounded the ,jews which dwelt at ,damascus1 proving that this is very ,christ4 ,,sermon ,,xlii4 ,marks of having received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,,acts xix4 #b4 ,have ye received the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8 ,,sermon ,,xliii4 ,the ,almost ,christian4 ,,acts xxvi4 #bh4 ,almost thou persuadest me to be a christian4 ,,sermon ,,xliv4 ,christ1 the ,believer's ,wisdom1 ,righteousness1 ,sanctification1 and ,redemption4 #a ,,corinthians i4 #cj4 ,but of him are ye in ,christ ,jesus1 who of ,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,,sermon ,,xlv4 ,the ,knowledge of ,jesus ,christ the best ,knowledge4 #a ,,corinthians ii4 #b4 ,i determined not to know any thing among you1 save ,jesus ,christ1 and him crucified4 ,,sermon ,,xlvi4 ,of ,justification by ,christ4 #a ,,corinthians vi4 #aa4 ,but ye are justified4 ,the whole verse is3 ,and such were some of you2 but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by the ,spirit of our ,god4 ,,sermon ,,xlvii4 ,the great ,duty of ,charity recommended4 #a ,,corinthians xiii4 #h4 ,charity never faileth4 ,,sermon ,,xlviii4 ,satan's ,devices4 #a ,,corinthians ii4 #aa4 ,lest ,satan should get an advantage over us2 for we are not ignorant of his devices4 ,,sermon ,,xlix4 ,on ,regeneration4 #b ,,corinthians v4 #ag4 ,if any man be in ,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,,sermon ,l4 ,christians1 ,temples of the living ,god4 #b ,,corinthians vi4 #af4 ,ye are the ,temple of the living ,god4 ,,sermon ,,li4 ,christ the only ,preservative against a ,reprobate ,spirit4 #b ,,corinthians xiii4 #e4 ,know ye not your ownselves1 how that ,jesus ,christ is in you1 except ye be ,reprobates4 ,,sermon ,,lii4 ,the heinous ,sin of ,drunkenness4 ,,ephesians v4 #ah4 ,be not drunk with wine1 wherein is excess2 but be filled with the ,spirit4 ,,sermon ,,liii4 ,the ,power of ,christ's ,resurrection4 ,,philippians iii4 #aj4 ,that ,i may know him1 and the power of his resurrection4 ,,sermon ,,liv4 ,intercession every ,christian's ,duty4 #a ,,thessalonians v4 #be4 ,brethren1 pray for us4 ,,sermon ,,lv4 ,persecution every ,christian's ,lot4 #b ,,timothy iii4 #ab4 ,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus1 shall suffer persecution4 ,,sermon ,,lvi4 ,an ,exhortation to the ,people of ,god not to be discouraged in their ,way1 by the ,scoffs and ,contempt of wicked ,men4 ,,hebrews iv4 #i4 ,there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of ,god4 ,,sermon ,,lvii4 ,preached before the ,governor and ,council1 and the ,house of ,assembly1 in ,georgia1 on ,january #bh1 #aggj4 ,,zechariah iv4 #aj4 ,for who hath despised the day of small things4 ,,sermon ,,lviii4 ,peter's ,denial of his ,,lord4 ,,matthew xxvi4 #ge4 ,and ,peter remembered the words of ,jesus1 which said unto him1 ,before the cock crow twice1 thou shalt deny me thrice3 and he went out1 and wept bitterly4 ,,sermon ,,lix4 ,the true ,way of beholding the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,,john i4 #ce1 #cf4 ,again1 the next ,day after1 ,john stood1 and two of his ,disciples2 and looking upon ,jesus as he walked1 he saith1 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,the two following sermons were added after the book had gone to press and were not included in the original ,table of ,contents ,,sermon ,,xxxii4 ,a ,penitent ,heart1 the best ,new ,year's ,gift4 ,,luke xiii4 #c4 ,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish4 ,,when we consider how heinous and aggravating our offences are1 in the sight of a just and holy ,,god1 that they bring down his wrath upon our heads1 and occasion us to live under his indignation2 how ought we thereby to be deterred from evil1 or at least engaged to study to repent thereof1 and not commit the same again2 but man is so thoughtless of an eternal state1 and has so little consideration of the welfare of his immortal soul1 that he can sin without any thought that he must give an account of his actions at the day of judgment2 or if he1 at times1 has any reflections on his behaviour1 they do not drive him to true repentance3 he may1 for a short time1 refrain from falling into some gross sins which he had lately committed2 but then1 when the temptation comes again with power1 he is carried away with the lust2 and thus he goes on promising and resolving1 and in breaking both his resolutions and his promises1 as fast almost as he has made them4 ,this is highly offensive to ,,god1 it is mocking of him4 ,my brethren1 when grace is given us to repent truly1 we shall turn wholly unto ,,god2 and let me beseech you to repent of your sins1 for the time is hastening when you will have neither time nor call to repent2 there is none in the grave1 whither we are going2 but do not be afraid1 for ,,god often receives the greatest sinner to mercy through the merits of ,,christ ,,jesus2 this magnifies the riches of his free grace2 and should be an encouragement for you1 who are great and notorious sinners1 to repent1 for he will have mercy upon you1 if you through ,,christ return unto him4 ,st4 ,paul was an eminent instance of this2 he speaks of himself as 8the chief of sinners10 and he declareth how ,,god shewed mercy unto him4 ,,christ loves to shew mercy unto sinners1 and if you repent1 he will have mercy upon you4 ,but as no word is more mistaken than that of repentance1 ,i shall ,i4 ,shew you what the nature of repentance is4 ,,ii4 ,consider the several parts and causes of repentance4 ,,iii4 ,i shall give you some reasons1 why repentance is necessary to salvation4 ,and ,,iv4 ,exhort all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to endeavour after repentance4 ,i4 ,repentance1 my brethren1 in the first place1 as to its nature1 is the carnal and corrupt disposition of men being changed into a renewed and sanctified disposition4 ,a man that has truly repented1 is truly regenerated3 it is a different word for one and the same thing2 the motley mixture of the beast and devil is gone2 there is1 as it were1 a new creation wrought in your hearts4 ,if your repentance is true1 you are renewed throughout1 both in soul and body2 your understandings are enlightened with the knowledge of ,,god1 and of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and your wills1 which were stubborn1 obstinate1 and hated all good1 are obedient and conformable to the will of ,,god4 ,indeed1 our deists tell us1 that man now has a free will to do good1 to love ,,god1 and to repent when he will2 but indeed1 there is no free will in any of you1 but to sin2 nay1 your free-will leads you so far1 that you would1 if possible1 pull ,,god from his throne4 ,this may1 perhaps1 offend the ,pharisees2 but 7it is the truth in ,,christ which ,i speak1 ,i lie not7 every man by his own natural will hates ,,god2 but when he is turned unto the ,,lord1 by evangelical repentance1 then his will is changed2 then your consciences1 now hardened and benumbed1 shall be quickened and awakened2 then your hard hearts shall be melted1 and your unruly affections shall be crucified4 ,thus1 by that repentance1 the whole soul will be changed1 you will have new inclinations1 new desires1 and new habits4 ,you may see how vile we are by nature1 that it requires so great a change to be made upon us1 to recover us from this state of sin1 and therefore the consideration of our dreadful state should make us earnest with ,,god to change our condition1 and that change1 true repentance implies2 therefore1 my brethren1 consider how hateful your ways are to ,,god1 while you continue in sin2 how abominable you are unto him1 while you run into evil3 you cannot be said to be christians while you are hating ,,christ1 and his people2 true repentance will entirely change you1 the biass of your souls will be changed1 then you will delight in ,,god1 in ,,christ1 in his law1 and in his people2 you will then believe that there is such a thing as inward feeling1 though now you may esteem it madness and enthusiasm2 you will not then be ashamed of becoming fools for ,,christ's sake2 you will not regard being scoffed at2 it is not then their pointing after you and crying1 8,here comes another troop of his followers10 will dismay you2 no1 your soul will abhor such proceedings1 the ways of ,,christ and his people will be your whole delight4 ,it is the nature of such repentance to make a change1 and the greatest change as can be made here in the soul4 ,thus you see what repentance implies in its own nature2 it denotes an abhorrence of all evil1 and a forsaking of it4 ,i shall now proceed ,secondly1 ,to shew you the parts of it1 and the causes concurring thereto4 ,the parts are1 sorrow1 hatred1 and an entire forsaking of sin4 ,our sorrow and grief for sin1 must not spring merely from a fear of wrath2 for if we have no other ground but that1 it proceeds from self-love1 and not from any love to ,,god2 and if love to ,,god is not the chief motive of your repentance1 your repentance is in vain1 and not to be esteemed true4 ,many1 in our days1 think their crying1 ,,god forgive me6 or1 ,,lord have mercy upon me6 or1 ,i am sorry for it6 is repentance1 and that ,,god will esteem it as such2 but1 indeed1 they are mistaken2 it is not the drawing near to ,,god with our lips1 while our hearts are far from him1 which he regards4 ,repentance does not come by fits and starts2 no1 it is one continued act of our lives2 for as we daily commit sin1 so we need a daily repentance before ,,god1 to obtain forgiveness for those sins we commit4 ,it is not your confessing yourselves to be sinners1 it is not knowing your condition to be sad and deplorable1 so long as you continue in your sins2 your care and endeavours should be1 to get the heart thoroughly affected therewith1 that you may feel yourselves to be lost and undone creatures1 for ,,christ came to save such as are lost2 and if you are enabled to groan under the weight and burden of your sins1 then ,,christ will ease you and give you rest4 ,and till you are thus sensible of your misery and lost condition1 you are a servant to sin and to your lusts1 under the bondage and command of ,satan1 doing his drudgery3 thou art under the curse of ,,god1 and liable to his judgment4 ,consider how dreadful thy state will be at death1 and after the day of judgment1 when thou wilt be exposed to such miseries which the ear hath not heard1 neither can the heart conceive1 and that to all eternity1 if you die impenitent4 ,but ,i hope better things of you1 my brethren1 though ,i thus speak1 and things which accompany salvation2 go to ,,god in prayer1 and be earnest with him1 that by his ,spirit he would convince you of your miserable condition by nature1 and make you truly sensible thereof4 ,o be humbled1 be humbled1 ,i beseech you1 for your sins4 ,having spent so many years in sinning1 what canst thou do less1 than be concerned to spend some hours in mourning and sorrowing for the same1 and be humbled before ,,god4 ,look back into your lives1 call to mind thy sins1 as many as possible thou canst1 the sins of thy youth1 as well as of thy riper years2 see how you have departed from a gracious ,father1 and wandered in the way of wickedness1 in which you have lost yourselves1 the favour of ,,god1 the comforts of his ,spirit1 and the peace of your own consciences2 then go and beg pardon of the ,,lord1 through the blood of the ,lamb1 for the evil thou hast committed1 and for the good thou hast omitted4 ,consider1 likewise1 the heinousness of thy sins2 see what very aggravating circumstances thy sins are attended with1 how you have abused the patience of ,,god1 which should have led you to repentance2 and when thou findest thy heart hard1 beg of ,,god to soften it1 cry mightily unto him1 and he will take away thy stony heart1 and give thee a heart of flesh4 ,resolve to leave all thy sinful lusts and pleasures2 renounce1 forsake1 and abhor thy old sinful course of life1 and serve ,,god in holiness and righteousness all the remaining part of life4 ,if you lament and bewail past sins1 and do not forsake them1 your repentance is in vain1 you are mocking of ,,god1 and deceiving your own soul2 you must put off the old man with his deeds1 before you can put on the new man1 ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,you1 therefore1 who have been swearers and cursers1 you1 who have been harlots and drunkards1 you1 who have been thieves and robbers1 you1 who have hitherto followed the sinful pleasures and diversions of life1 let me beseech you1 by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 that you would no longer continue therein1 but that you would forsake your evil ways1 and turn unto the ,,lord1 for he waiteth to be gracious unto you1 he is ready1 he is willing to pardon you of all your sins2 but do not expect ,,christ to pardon you of sin1 when you run into it1 and will not abstain from complying with the temptations2 but if you will be persuaded to abstain from evil and chuse the good1 to return unto the ,,lord1 and repent of your wickedness1 he hath promised he will abundantly pardon you1 he will heal your back-slidings1 and will love you freely4 ,resolve now this day to have done with your sins for ever2 let your old ways and you be separated2 you must resolve against it1 for there can be no true repentance without a resolution to forsake it4 ,resolve for ,,christ1 resolve against the devil and his works1 and go on fighting the ,,lord's battles against the devil and his emissaries2 attack him in the strongest holds he has1 fight him as men1 as christians1 and you will soon find him to be a coward2 resist him and he will fly from you4 ,resolve1 through grace1 to do this1 and your repentance is half done2 but then take care that you do not ground your resolutions on your own strength1 but in the strength of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 he is the way1 he is the truth1 and he is the life2 without his assistance you can do nothing1 but through his grace strengthening thee1 thou wilt be enabled do all things2 and the more thou art sensible of thy own weakness and inability1 the more ready ,,christ will be to help thee2 and what can all the men of the world do to thee when ,,christ is for thee8 thou wilt not regard what they say against thee1 for you will have the testimony of a good conscience4 ,resolve to cast thyself at the feet of ,,christ in subjection to him1 and throw thyself into the arms of ,,christ for salvation by him4 ,consider1 my dear brethren1 the many invitations he has given you to come unto him1 to be saved by him2 8,,god has laid on him the iniquity of us all40 ,o let me prevail with you1 above all things1 to make choice of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 resign yourselves unto him1 take him1 ,o take him1 upon his own terms1 and whosoever thou art1 how great a sinner soever you have been1 this evening1 in the name of the great ,,god1 do ,i offer ,,jesus ,,christ unto thee2 as thou valuest thy life and soul refuse him not1 but stir up thyself to accept of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 take him wholly as he is1 for he will be applied wholly unto you1 or else not at all4 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole wisdom1 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole righteousness1 ,,jesus ,,christ must be your whole sanctification1 or he will never be your eternal redemption4 ,what though you have been ever so wicked and profligate1 yet1 if you will now abandon your sins1 and turn unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 thou shalt have him given to thee1 and all thy sins shall be freely forgiven4 ,o why will you neglect the great work of your repentance8 do not defer the doing of it one day longer1 but to-day1 even now1 take that ,,christ who is freely offered to you4 ,now as to the causes hereof1 the first cause is ,,god2 he is the author1 8we are born of ,,god10 ,,god hath begotten us1 even ,,god1 the ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 it is he that stirs us up to will and to do of his own good pleasure3 and another cause is1 ,,god's free grace2 it is owing to the 8riches of his free grace10 my brethren1 that we have been prevented from going down to hell long ago2 it is because the compassions of the ,,lord fail not1 they are new every morning1 and fresh every evening4 ,sometimes the instruments are very unlikely3 a poor despised minister1 or member of ,,jesus ,,christ1 may1 by the power of ,,god1 be made an instrument in the hands of ,,god1 of bringing you to true evangelical repentance2 and this may be done to shew1 that the power is not in men1 but that it is entirely owing to the good pleasure of ,,god2 and if there has been any good done among many of you1 by preaching the word1 as ,i trust there has1 though it was preached in a field1 if ,,god has met and owned us1 and blessed his word1 though preached by an enthusiastic babbler1 a boy1 a madman2 ,i do rejoice1 yea1 and will rejoice1 let foes say what they will4 ,i shall now ,thirdly1 ,shew the reasons why repentance is necessary to salvation4 ,and this1 my brethren1 is plainly revealed to us in the word of ,,god1 8,the soul that does not repent and turn unto the ,,lord1 shall die in its sins1 and their blood shall be required at their own heads40 ,it is necessary1 as we have sinned1 we should repent2 for a holy ,,god could not1 nor ever can1 or will1 admit any thing that is unholy into his presence3 this is the beginning of grace in the soul2 there must be a change in heart and life1 before there can be a dwelling with a holy ,,god4 ,you cannot love sin and ,,god too1 you cannot love ,,god and mammon2 no unclean person can stand in the presence of ,,god1 it is contrary to the holiness of his nature2 there is a contrariety between the holy nature of ,,god1 and the unholy nature of carnal and unregenerate men4 ,what communication can there be between a sinless ,,god1 and creatures full of sin1 between a pure ,,god and impure creatures8 ,if you were to be admitted into heaven with your present tempers1 in your impenitent condition1 heaven itself would be a hell to you2 the songs of angels would be as enthusiasm1 and would be intolerable to you2 therefore you must have these tempers changed1 you must be holy1 as ,,god is3 he must be your ,,god here1 and you must be his people1 or you will never dwell together to all eternity4 ,if you hate the ways of ,,god1 and cannot spend an hour in his service1 how will you think to be easy1 to all eternity1 in singing praises to him that sits upon the throne1 and to the ,lamb for ever4 ,and this is to be the employment1 my brethren1 of all those who are admitted into this glorious place1 where neither sin nor sinner is admitted1 where no scoffer ever can come1 without repentance from his evil ways1 a turning unto ,,god1 and a cleaving unto him3 this must be done1 before any can be admitted into the glorious mansions of ,,god1 which are prepared for all that love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in sincerity and truth3 repent ye then of all your sins4 ,o my dear brethren1 it makes my blood run cold1 in thinking that any of you should not be admitted into the glorious mansions above4 ,o that it was in my power1 ,i would place all of you1 yea1 you my scoffing brethren1 and the greatest enemy ,i have on earth1 at the right-hand of ,,jesus2 but this ,i cannot do3 however1 ,i advise and exhort you1 with all love and tenderness1 to make ,,jesus your refuge2 fly to him for relief2 ,,jesus died to save such as you2 he is full of compassion2 and if you go to him1 as poor1 lost1 undone sinners1 ,,jesus will give you his spirit2 you shall live and reign1 and reign and live1 you shall love and live1 and live and love with this ,,jesus to all eternity4 ,i am1 ,fourthly1 to exhort all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to repent of all your sins1 and turn unto the ,,lord4 ,and ,i shall speak to each of you2 for you have either repented1 or you have not1 you are believers in ,,christ ,,jesus1 or unbelievers4 ,and first1 you who never have truly repented of your sins1 and never have truly forsaken your lusts1 be not offended if ,i speak plain to you2 for it is love1 love to your souls1 that constrains me to speak3 ,i shall lay before you your danger1 and the misery to which you are exposed1 while you remain impenitent in sin4 ,and ,o that this may be a means of making you fly to ,,christ for pardon and forgiveness4 ,while thy sins are not repented of1 thou art in danger of death1 and if you should die1 you would perish for ever4 ,there is no hope of any who live and die in their sins1 but that they will dwell with devils and damned spirits to all eternity4 ,and how do we know we shall live much longer3 we are not sure of seeing our own habitations this night in safety4 ,what mean ye then being at ease and pleasure while your sins are not pardoned4 ,as sure as ever the word of ,,god is true1 if you die in that condition1 you are shut out of all hope and mercy for ever1 and shall pass into easeless and endless misery4 ,what is all thy pleasures and diversions worth8 ,they last but for a moment1 they are of no worth1 and but of short continuance4 ,and sure it must be gross folly1 eagerly to pursue those sinful lusts and pleasures1 which war against the soul1 which tend to harden the heart1 and keep us from closing with the ,,lord ,,jesus2 indeed1 these are destructive of our peace here1 and without repentance1 will be of our peace hereafter4 ,o the folly and madness of this sensual world2 sure if there were nothing in sin but present slavery1 it would keep an ingenuous spirit from it4 ,but to do the devils drudgery6 and if we do that1 we shall have his wages1 which is eternal death and condemnation2 ,o consider this1 my guilty brethren1 you that think it no crime to swear1 whore1 drink1 or scoff and jeer at the people of ,,god2 consider how your voices will then be changed1 and you that counted their lives madness1 and their end without honour1 shall howl and lament at your own madness and folly1 that should bring you to so much woe and distress4 ,then you will lament and bemoan your own dreadful condition2 but it will be of no signification3 for he that is now your merciful ,saviour1 will then become your inexorable ,judge4 ,now he is easy to be entreated2 but then1 all your tears and prayers will be in vain3 for ,,god hath allotted to every man a day of grace1 a time of repentance1 which if he doth not improve1 but neglects and despises the means which are offered to him1 he cannot be saved4 ,consider1 therefore1 while you are going on in a course of sin and unrighteousness1 ,i beseech you1 my brethren1 to think of the consequence that will attend your thus mispending your precious time2 your souls are worth being concerned about3 for if you can enjoy all the pleasures and diversions of life1 at death you must leave them2 that will put an end to all your worldly concerns4 ,and will it not be very deplorable1 to have your good things here1 all your earthly1 sensual1 devilish pleasures1 which you have been so much taken up with1 all over3 and the thought for how trifling a concern thou hast lost eternal welfare1 will gnaw thy very soul4 ,thy wealth and grandeur will stand in no stead2 thou canst carry nothing of it into the other world3 then the consideration of thy uncharitableness to the poor1 and the ways thou didst take to obtain thy wealth1 will be a very hell unto thee4 ,now you enjoy the means of grace1 as the preaching of his word1 prayer1 and sacraments2 and ,,god has sent his ministers out into the fields and highways1 to invite1 to woo you to come in2 but they are tiresome to thee1 thou hadst rather be at thy pleasures3 ere long1 my brethren1 they will be over1 and you will be no more troubled with them2 but then thou wouldst give ten thousand worlds for one moment of that merciful time of grace which thou hast abused2 then you will cry for a drop of that precious blood which now you trample under your feet2 then you will wish for one more offer of mercy1 for ,,christ and his free grace to be offered to you again2 but your crying will be in vain3 for as you would not repent here1 ,,god will not give you an opportunity to repent hereafter3 if you would not in ,,christ's time1 you shall not in your own4 ,in what a dreadful condition will you then be8 ,what horror and astonishment will possess your souls8 ,then all thy lies and oaths1 thy scoffs and jeers at the people of ,,god1 all thy filthy and unclean thoughts and actions1 thy mispent time in balls1 plays1 and assemblies1 thy spending whole evenings at cards1 dice1 and masquerades1 thy frequenting of taverns and alehouses1 thy worldliness1 covetousness1 and thy uncharitableness1 will be brought at once to thy remembrance1 and at once charged upon thy guilty soul4 ,and how can you bear the thoughts of these things8 ,indeed ,i am full of compassion towards you1 to think that this should be the portion of any who now hear me4 ,these are truths1 though awful ones2 my brethren1 these are the truths of the gospel2 and if there was not a necessity for thus speaking1 ,i would willingly forbear3 for it is no pleasing subject to me1 any more than it is to you2 but it is my duty to shew you the dreadful consequences of continuing in sin4 ,i am only now acting the part of a skilful surgeon1 that searches a wound before he heals it3 ,i would shew you your danger first1 that deliverance may be the more readily accepted by you4 ,consider1 that however you may be for putting the evil day away from you1 and are now striving to hide your sins1 at the day of judgment there shall be a full discovery of all2 hidden things on that day shall be brought to light2 and after all thy sins have been revealed to the whole world1 then you must depart into everlasting fire in hell1 which will not be quenched night and day2 it will be without intermission1 without end4 ,o then1 what stupidity and senselessness hath possessed your hearts1 that you are not frighted from your sins4 ,the fear of ,nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace1 made men do any thing to avoid it2 and shall not an everlasting fire make men1 make you1 do any thing to avoid it8 ,o that this would awaken and cause you to humble yourselves for your sins1 and to beg pardon for them1 that you might find mercy in the ,,lord4 ,do not go away1 let not the devil hurry you away before the sermon is over2 but stay1 and you shall have a ,,jesus offered to you1 who has made full satisfaction for all your sins4 ,let me beseech you to cast away your transgressions1 to strive against sin1 to watch against it1 and to beg power and strength from ,,christ1 to keep down the power of those lusts that hurry you on in your sinful ways4 ,but if you will not do any of these things1 if you are resolved to sin on1 you must expect eternal death to be the consequence2 you must expect to be seized with horror and trembling1 with horror and amazement1 to hear the dreadful sentence of condemnation pronounced against you3 and then you will run and call upon the mountains to fall on you1 to hide you from the ,,lord1 and from the fierce anger of his wrath4 ,had you now a heart to turn from your sins unto the living ,,god1 by true and unfeigned repentance1 and to pray unto him for mercy1 in and through the merits of ,,jesus ,,christ1 there were hope2 but at the day of judgment1 thy prayers and tears will be of no signification2 they will be of no service to thee1 the ,judge will not be entreated by thee3 as you would not hearken to him when he called unto thee1 but despised both him and his ministers1 and would not leave your iniquities2 therefore1 on that day he will not be entreated1 notwithstanding all thy cries and tears2 for ,,god himself hath said1 8,because ,i have called1 and you refused2 ,i have stretched out my hand1 and no man regarded1 but ye have set at nought all my counsel1 and would have none of my reproof2 ,i will also laugh at your calamity1 and mock when your fear cometh as desolation1 and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind2 when distress and anguish cometh upon you1 then shall they call upon me1 but ,i will not answer1 they shall seek me early1 but they shall not find me40 ,now you may call this enthusiasm and madness2 but at that great day1 if you repent not of your sins here1 you will find1 by woeful experience1 that your own ways were madness indeed2 but ,,god forbid it should be left undone till then3 seek after the ,,lord while he is to be found2 call upon him while he is near1 and you shall find mercy3 repent this hour1 and ,,christ will joyfully receive you4 ,what say you8 ,must ,i go to my ,master1 and tell him you will not come unto him1 and will have none of his counsels8 ,no2 do not send me on so unhappy an errand3 ,i cannot1 ,i will not tell him any such thing4 ,shall not ,i rather tell him1 you are willing to repent and to be converted1 to become new men1 and take up a new course of life3 this is the only wise resolution you can make4 ,let me tell my ,master1 that you will come unto1 and will wait upon him3 for if you do not1 it will be your ruin in time1 and to eternity4 ,you will at death wish you had lived the life of the righteous1 that you might have died his death4 ,be advised then2 consider what is before you1 ,,christ and the world1 holiness and sin1 life and death3 choose now for yourselves2 let your choice be made immediately1 and let that choice be your dying choice4 ,if you would not chuse to die in your sins1 to die drunkards1 to die adulterers1 to die swearers and scoffers1 c4 live not out this night in the dreadful condition you are in4 ,some of you1 it may be1 may say1 ,you have not power1 you have no strength3 but have not you been wanting to yourselves in such things that were within your power8 ,have you not as much power to go to hear a sermon1 as to go into a playhouse1 or to a ball1 or masquerade8 ,you have as much power to read the ,bible1 as to read plays1 novels1 and romances2 and you can associate as well with the godly1 as with the wicked and prophane3 this is but an idle excuse1 my brethren1 to go on in your sins3 and if you will be found in the means of grace1 ,,christ hath promised he will give you strength4 ,while ,peter was preaching1 the ,holy ,ghost fell on all that heard the word3 how then should you be found in the way of your duty8 ,,jesus ,,christ will then give thee strength2 he will put his ,spirit within thee2 thou shalt find he will be thy wisdom1 thy righteousness1 thy sanctification1 and thy redemption4 ,do but try what a gracious1 a kind1 and loving ,master he is2 he will be a help to thee in all thy burdens3 and if the burden of sin is on thy soul1 go to him as weary and heavy laden1 and thou shalt find rest4 ,do not say1 that your sins are too many and too great to expect to find mercy3 ,no2 be they ever so many1 or ever so great1 the blood of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will cleanse you from all sins4 ,,god's grace1 my brethren1 is free1 rich1 and sovereign4 ,manassah was a great sinner1 and yet he was pardoned2 ,zaccheus was gone far from ,,god1 and went out to see ,,christ1 with no other view but to satisfy his curiosity2 and yet ,,jesus met him1 and brought salvation to his house4 ,manassah was an idolater and murderer1 yet he received mercy2 the other was an oppressor and extortioner1 who had gotten riches by fraud and deceit1 and by grinding the faces of the poor3 so did ,matthew too1 and yet they found mercy4 ,have you been blasphemers and persecutors of the saints and servants of ,,god8 ,so was ,st4 ,paul1 yet he received mercy3 ,have you been common harlots1 filthy and unclean persons8 so was ,mary ,magdalene1 and yet she received mercy3 ,hast thou been a thief8 the thief upon the cross found mercy4 ,i despair of none of you1 however vile and profligate you have been2 ,i say1 ,i despair of none of you1 especially when ,,god has had mercy on such a wretch as ,i am4 ,remember the poor ,publican1 how he found favour with ,,god1 when the proud1 self-conceited ,pharisee1 who1 puffed up with his own righteousness1 was rejected4 ,and if you will go to ,,jesus1 as the poor ,publican did1 under a sense of your own unworthiness1 you shall find favour as he did3 there is virtue enough in the blood of ,,jesus1 to pardon greater sinners than he has yet pardoned4 ,then be not discouraged1 but come unto ,,jesus1 and you will find him ready to help in all thy distresses1 to lead thee into all truth1 to bring thee from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,,god4 ,do not let the devil deceive you1 by telling you1 that then all your delights and pleasures will be over3 ,no2 this is so far from depriving you of all pleasure1 that it is an inlet unto unspeakable delights1 peculiar to all who are truly regenerated4 ,the new birth is the very beginning of a life of peace and comfort2 and the greatest pleasantness is to be found in the ways of holiness4 ,solomon1 who had experience of all other pleasures1 yet saith of the ways of godliness1 8,that all her ways are ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths are paths of peace40 ,then sure you will not let the devil deceive you2 it is all he wants1 it is that he aims at1 to make religion appear to be melancholy1 miserable1 and enthusiastic3 but let him say what he will1 give not ear to him1 regard him not1 for he always was and will be a liar4 ,what words1 what entreaties shall ,i use1 to make you come unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,the little love ,i have experienced since ,i have been brought from sin to ,,god1 is so great1 that ,i would not be in a natural state for ten thousand worlds2 and what ,i have felt is but little to what ,i hope to feel2 but that little love which ,i have experienced1 is a sufficient buoy against all the storms and tempests of this boisterous world3 and let men and devils do their worst1 ,i rejoice in the ,,lord ,,jesus1 yea1 and ,i will rejoice4 ,and ,o if you repent and come to ,,jesus1 ,i would rejoice on your accounts too2 and we should rejoice together to all eternity1 when once passed on the other side of the grave4 ,o come to ,,jesus4 ,the arms of ,,jesus ,,christ will embrace you2 he will wash away all your sins in his blood1 and will love you freely4 ,come1 ,i beseech you to come unto ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,o that my words would pierce to the very soul6 ,o that ,,jesus ,,christ was formed in you6 ,o that you would turn to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that he might have mercy upon you6 ,i would speak till midnight1 yea1 ,i would speak till ,i could speak no more1 so it might be a means to bring you to ,,jesus3 let the ,,lord ,,jesus but enter your souls1 and you shall find peace which the world can neither give nor take away4 ,there is mercy for the greatest sinner amongst you2 go unto the ,,lord as sinners1 helpless and undone without it1 and then you shall find comfort in your souls1 and be admitted at last amongst those who sing praises unto the ,,lord to all eternity4 ,now1 my brethren2 let me speak a word of exhortation to those of you1 who are already brought to the ,,lord ,,jesus1 who are born again1 who do belong to ,,god1 to whom it has been given to repent of your sins1 and are cleansed from their guilt2 and that is1 be thankful to ,,god for his mercies towards you4 ,o admire the grace of ,,god1 and bless his name for ever6 ,are you made alive in ,,christ ,,jesus8 ,is the life of ,,god begun in your souls1 and have you the evidence thereof8 ,be thankful for this unspeakable mercy to you3 never forget to speak of his mercy4 ,and as your life was formerly devoted to sin1 and to the pleasures of the world1 let it now be spent wholly in the ways of ,,god2 and ,o embrace every opportunity of doing and of receiving good4 ,whatsoever opportunity you have1 do it vigorously1 do it speedily1 do not defer it4 ,if thou seest one hurrying on to destruction1 use the utmost of thy endeavour to stop him in his course2 shew him the need he has of repentance1 and that without it he is lost for ever2 do not regard his despising of you2 still go on to shew him his danger3 and if thy friends mock and despise1 do not let that discourage you2 hold on1 hold out to the end1 so you shall have a crown which is immutable1 and that fadeth not away4 ,let the love of ,,jesus to you1 keep you also humble2 do not be high minded1 keep close unto the ,,lord1 observe the rules which the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ has given in his word1 and let not the instructions be lost which you are capable of giving4 ,o consider what reason you have to be thankful to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ for giving you that repentance you yourselves had need of3 a repentance which worketh by love4 ,now you find more pleasure in walking with ,,god one hour1 than in all your former carnal delights1 and all the pleasures of sin4 ,o6 the joy you feel in your own souls1 which all the men of this world1 and all the devils in hell1 though they were to combine together1 could not destroy4 ,then fear not their wrath or malice1 for through many tribulations we must enter into glory4 ,a few days1 or weeks1 or years more1 and then you will be beyond their reach1 you will be in the heavenly ,jerusalem2 there is all harmony and love1 there is all joy and delight2 there the weary soul is at rest4 ,now we have many enemies1 but at death they are all lost2 they cannot follow us beyond the grave3 and this is a great encouragement to us not to regard the scoffs and jeers of the men of this world4 ,o let the love of ,,jesus be in your thoughts continually4 ,it was his dying that brought you life2 it was his crucifixion that paid the satisfaction for your sins2 his death1 burial1 and resurrection that compleated the work2 and he is now in heaven1 interceding for you at the right-hand of his ,father4 ,and can you do too much for the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who has done so much for you8 ,his love to you is unfathomable4 ,o the height1 the depth1 the length and breadth of this love1 that brought the ,king of glory from his throne1 to die for such rebels as we are1 when we had acted so unkindly against him1 and deserved nothing but eternal damnation4 ,he came down and took our nature upon him2 he was made of flesh and dwelt among us2 he was put to death on our account2 he paid our ransom3 surely this should make us love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 should make us rejoice in him1 and not do as too many do1 and as we ourselves have too often1 crucify this ,,jesus afresh4 ,let us do all we can1 my dear brethren1 to honour him4 ,come1 all of you1 come1 and behold him stretched out for you2 see his hands and feet nailed to the cross4 ,o come1 come1 my brethren1 and nail your sins thereto2 come1 come and see his side pierced2 there is a fountain open for sin1 and for uncleanness3 ,o wash1 wash and be clean3 come and see his head crowned with thorns1 and all for you4 ,can you think of a panting1 bleeding1 dying ,,jesus1 and not be filled with pity towards him8 ,he underwent all this for you4 ,come unto him by faith2 lay hold on him3 there is mercy for every soul of you that will come unto him4 ,then do not delay2 fly unto the arms of this ,,jesus1 and you shall be made clean in his blood4 ,o what shall ,i say unto you to make you come to ,,jesus3 ,i have shewed you the dreadful consequence of not repenting of your sins3 and if after all ,i have said1 you are resolved to persist1 your blood will be required at your own heads2 but ,i hope better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation4 ,let me beg of you to pray in good earnest for the grace of repentance4 ,i may never see your faces again2 but at the day of judgment ,i will meet you3 there you will either bless ,,god that ever you were moved to repentance2 or else this sermon1 though in a field1 will be as a swift witness against you4 ,repent1 repent therefore1 my dear brethren1 as ,john the ,baptist1 and as our blessed ,redeemer himself earnestly exhorted1 and turn from your evil ways1 and the ,,lord will have mercy on you4 ,shew them1 ,o ,father1 wherein they have offended thee2 make them to see their own vileness1 and that they are lost and undone without true repentance2 and ,o give them that repentance1 we beseech of thee1 that they may turn from sin unto thee the living and true ,,god4 ,these things1 and whatever else thou seest needful for us1 we entreat that thou wouldst bestow upon us1 on account of what the dear ,,jesus ,,christ has done and suffered2 to whom1 with ,thyself1 and holy ,spirit1 three persons1 and one ,,god1 be ascribed1 as is most due1 all power1 glory1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now1 henceforth1 and for evermore1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxxiii4 ,the ,gospel ,supper4 ,,luke xiv4 #bb1 #bc1 #bd4 ,and the servant said1 ,lord1 it is done as thou hast commanded1 and yet there is room4 ,and the lord said unto the servant1 ,go out into the high-ways1 and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house may be filled4 ,for ,i say unto you1 that none of those men which were bidden1 shall taste of my supper4 ,,though here is a large and solemn assembly1 yet ,i suppose you are all convinced1 that you are not to live in this world always4 ,may ,i not take it for granted1 that even the most prophane amongst you1 do in your hearts believe1 what the sacred oracles have most clearly revealed1 8,that as it is appointed for all men once to die1 so after death comes the judgment80 ,yes1 ,i know you believe1 that nothing is more certain1 than that we are to 8appear before the judgment-seat of ,,christ1 to be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body1 whether they have been good1 or whether they have been evil40 ,and1 however hard the saying may seem to you at the first hearing1 yet ,i cannot help informing you1 that ,i am thoroughly persuaded1 as many will be driven from that judgment-seat1 with a 8,depart ye cursed into everlasting fire10 for pursuing things in themselves lawful1 out of a wrong principle1 and in too intense a degree2 as for drunkenness1 adultery1 fornication1 or any other gross enormity whatsoever4 ,bad as the world is1 blessed be ,,god1 there are great numbers yet left amongst us1 who either through the restraints of a religious education1 or self-love1 and outward reputation1 abstain from gross sin themselves1 and look with detestation and abhorrence upon others1 who indulge themselves in it4 ,but then1 through an over-eager pursuit after the things of sense and time1 their souls are insensibly lulled into a spiritual slumber1 and by degrees become as dead to ,,god1 and as deaf to all the gracious invitations of the gospel1 as the most abandoned prodigals4 ,it is remarkable1 therefore1 that our ,saviour1 knowing how desperately wicked and treacherous the heart of man was1 in this1 as well as other respects1 after he had cautioned his disciples1 and us in them1 to 8take heed that their hearts were not at any time overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness10 immediately adds1 8and the cares 7the immoderate anxious cares7 of this life40 ,for they are of a distracting1 intoxicating nature1 and soon overcharge and weigh down the hearts of the children of men4 ,to prevent or remedy this evil1 our ,,lord1 during the time of his tabernacling here below1 spake many parables1 but not one more pertinent1 not one1 in which the freeness of the gospel-call1 and the frivolous pretences men frame to excuse themselves from embracing it1 and the dreadful doom they incur by so doing1 are more displayed1 or set off in livelier colours1 than that to which the words of the text refer4 8,and the lord said unto the servant1 ,go out into the highways and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house may be filled3 ,for ,i say unto you1 that none of those that were bidden shall taste of my supper40 ,in order to have a clear view of the occasion1 scope1 and contents of the parable1 to which these words belong1 it is necessary for us to look back to the very beginning of this chapter4 8,and it came to pass1 as he went into the house of one of the chief pharisees to eat bread1 on the sabbath day1 that they watched him40 ,the person here spoken of1 as going into this ,pharisee's house1 is our blessed ,saviour4 ,for as he came eating and drinking1 agreeable to his character1 he was free1 courteous and affable to all2 and therefore though it was on the sabbath-day1 he accepted an invitation1 and went into the house of one of the chief ,pharisees to eat bread1 notwithstanding he knew the ,pharisees were his professed enemies1 and that they watched him1 hoping to find some occasion to upbraid him1 either for his discourse or behaviour4 ,if the ,pharisee into whose house our ,,lord went1 was one of this stamp1 his invitation bespeaks him to be a very ill man1 and may serve to teach us1 that much rancour and heart-enmity against ,,jesus ,,christ1 may be concealed and cloaked under a great and blazing profession of religion4 ,however1 our ,saviour was more than a match for all his enemies1 and by accepting this invitation1 hath warranted his ministers and disciples1 to comply with the like invitations1 and converse freely about the things of ,,god1 though those who invite them1 may not have real religion at heart4 ,for how knowest thou1 ,o man1 but thou mayest drop something1 that may benefit their souls1 and make them religious indeed8 ,and supposing they should watch thee1 watch thou unto prayer1 whilst thou art in their company1 and that same ,,jesus1 who went into this ,pharisee's house1 and was so faithful and edifying in his conversation when there1 will enable thee to go and do likewise4 ,that our ,,lord's conversation was not trifling1 but such as tended to the use of edifying1 and that he behaved among the guests as a faithful physician1 rather than as a careless1 indifferent companion1 is evident from the #gth verse of this chapter1 where we are told1 that 8he marked how they chose the chief rooms20 or1 to speak in our common way1 were desirous of sitting at the upper end of the table4 ,and whether we think of it or not1 the ,,lord ,,jesus takes notice of our behaviour1 even when we are going to sit down only at our common meals4 ,would to ,,god1 all that make a profession of real christianity1 considered this well6 ,religion then would not be so much confined to church1 or meeting1 but be brought home to our private houses1 and many needless unchristian compliments be prevented4 ,for 7with grief ,i speak it7 is it not too true1 that abundance of professors love1 and are too fond of the uppermost places in houses1 as well as synagogues8 ,this was what our ,,lord blamed in the guests where he now was4 ,he marked1 he took notice1 he looked before he spake 7as we should always do1 if we would speak to the purpose7 how they chose out the chief rooms4 ,therefore1 though they were rich in this world's goods1 and were none of his guests1 yet unwilling to suffer the least sin upon them1 or lose any opportunity of giving instruction1 he gave them a lecture upon humility1 saying unto them1 or directing his discourse to all in general1 though probably he spake to one in particular1 who sat near him1 and whom1 it may be1 he took notice of1 as more than ordinarily solicitous in choosing a chief room1 or couch1 on which they lay at meals1 after the custom of the ,romans2 8,when thou art bidden of any man to a wedding 7which seems to intimate that this was a wedding-feast7 sit not down in the highest room1 lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him2 and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee1 ,give this man place2 and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room4 ,but when thou art bidden1 go and sit down in the lowest room2 that when he that bade thee cometh1 he may say unto thee1 ,friend1 go up higher3 then shalt thou have worship 7or respect7 in the presence of them who sit at meat with thee40 ,o glorious example of faithfulness and love to souls6 ,how ought ministers especially1 to copy after their blessed ,master1 and1 with simplicity and godly sincerity1 mildly and opportunely rebuke the faults of the company they are in1 though superior to them in outward circumstances8 ,what rightly informed person1 after reading this passage1 can think they teach right and agreeable to the word of ,,god in this respect1 who say1 we must not1 at least need not1 reprove natural men8 ,surely such doctrine cometh not from above6 ,for are we not commanded1 in any wise1 to reprove our neighbour 7whether he be a child of ,,god or no7 and not to suffer sin upon him8 ,is it not more than probable1 that all these guests were natural men8 ,and yet our ,,lord reproved them4 ,help us then1 ,o ,saviour1 in this and every other instance of thy moral conduct1 to walk as thou hast set us an example6 ,neither did our ,,lord stop here2 but observing that none but the rich1 the mighty1 and the noble1 were called to the feast1 he took occasion also from thence1 to give even his host 7for the best return we make our friends for their kindness1 is to be faithful to their souls7 one of the chief ,pharisees1 a wholesome piece of advice4 8,then said he also to him that bade him1 when thou makest a dinner or a supper1 call not thy friends1 nor thy brethren1 neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich neighbours1 lest they also bid thee again1 and a recompence be made thee4 ,but when thou makest a feast1 call the poor1 the maimed1 the lame1 the blind1 and thou shalt be blessed2 for they cannot recompence thee3 ,for thou shalt be recompenced at the resurrection of the just60 ,thus did our ,,lord entertain the company4 ,words spoken in such due season1 how good are they6 ,would ,,christ's followers thus exert themselves1 and1 when in company1 begin some useful discourse for their great master1 they know not what good they might do1 and how many might be influenced1 by their good example1 to second them in it4 ,an instance of this we have in the #adth verse3 8,and when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things1 he said unto him1 ,blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of ,,god40 ,happy they who shall be recompenced at that resurrection of the just1 which thou hast been speaking of4 ,a very pertinent saying this6 every way suitable to persons sitting down to eat bread on earth1 which we should never do1 without talking of1 and longing for that time1 when we shall sit down and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven4 ,this opened to our ,,lord a fresh topic of conversation1 and occasioned the parable1 which is to be the more immediate subject of your present meditation4 ,as though he had said to the person that spoke last1 ,thou sayest right3 blessed are they indeed1 who shall sit down to eat bread in the kingdom of ,,god3 ,but alas6 most men1 especially you ,pharisees1 act as if you did not believe this2 and therefore he said unto him1 8,a certain man made a great supper1 and bade many20 by the certain man making a great supper1 we are to understand ,,god the ,father1 who has made provision for perishing souls1 by the obedience and death of his beloved ,son ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,this provision is here represented under the character of a supper1 because the ,cna or supper1 among the ancients1 was their grand meal3 ,men could never have made such provision for themselves1 or angels for them4 ,no1 our salvation is all from ,,god1 from the beginning to the end4 ,he made it1 and not we ourselves2 and it is wholly owing to the divine wisdom1 and not our own1 that we are become ,,god's people1 and the sheep of his pasture4 ,this provision for perishing souls1 may be justly called great1 because there is rich and ample provision made in the gospel for a great many souls4 ,for however ,,christ's flock may be but a little flock1 when asunder1 yet when they come all together1 they will be a multitude which no man can number4 ,and it is especially called great1 because it was purchased at so great a price1 the price of ,,christ's most precious blood4 ,and therefore1 when the apostle would exhort the christians to glorify ,,god in their souls and bodies1 he makes use of this glorious motive1 8,that they were bought with a price40 ,he does not say what price1 but barely a price1 emphatically so called2 as though all the prices in the world were nothing 7as indeed they are not7 when compared to this price of ,,christ's most precious blood4 ,for these reasons1 ,,jesus said in the parable1 8,a certain man made a great supper1 and bade many1 and sent his servant at supper-time1 to say to them that were bidden1 ,come1 for all things are now ready40 ,he bade many2 the eternal ,,god took the ,jews for his peculiar people1 under the ,mosaic dispensation2 and by types1 shadows1 and prophesies of the ,old ,testament1 invited them to partake of the glorious privileges of the gospel4 8,but at supper-time10 in the fulness of time1 which ,,god the ,father had decreed from eternity1 in the evening of the world 7for which reason the gospel times are called the last times7 8he sent his servant10 ,,christ his ,son1 here called his servant1 because acting as ,mediator he was inferior to the ,father2 therefore says the prophet ,isaiah1 8,behold my servant whom ,i have chosen30 8to say to them that were bidden10 to the professing ,jews1 called by ,st4 ,john1 8his own10 that is1 his peculiar professing peoplewith this message1 8,come20 repent and believe the gospel4 ,nothing is required on man's part1 but to come1 or accept of the gospel offer4 ,it is not according to the old covenant1 8,do and live20 but only 8come1 believe1 and thou shalt be saved40 ,all things are ready4 ,nothing is wanting on ,,god's part4 8,all things are now ready40 ,there seems to be a particular emphasis to be put upon ,,now1 implying1 this was an especial season of grace1 and ,,god was now exerting his last efforts1 to save lost man4 ,well then1 if the great ,,god be at so great an expence1 to make so great a supper1 for perishing creatures1 and sends so great a person as his own ,son1 in the form of a servant1 to invite them to come to it2 one would imagine1 that all who heard these glad tidings1 should readily say1 ,,lord1 lo we come4 ,but instead of this1 we are told1 8,they all1 7the greatest part of the ,jews7 with one consent began to make excuse40 ,conscience told them they ought to come1 and in all probability they had some faint desire to come2 and they had nothing1 as we hear of1 to object either against the person who prepared the supper1 or the person that invited them1 or the entertainment itself2 neither do we hear that they treated either with contempt1 as is the custom of too many in the days wherein we live4 ,in all probability1 they acknowledged all was very good1 and that it was kind in that certain man1 to send them such an invitation4 ,but being very busy1 and as they thought very lawfully engaged1 they begun to make excuse4 ,but the excuses they made1 rendered their refusal inexcusable4 8,the first said unto him1 ,i have bought a piece of ground1 and ,i must needs go and see it30 ,thou fool1 buy a piece of ground1 and then go see it6 ,a prudent man would have gone and seen the ground first1 and bought it afterwards4 ,why must he needs go8 ,at least1 why must he needs go now8 ,the land was his own1 could he not therefore have accepted the invitation to-day1 and gone and seen his estate1 or plantation1 on the morrow8 ,as he had bought it1 he need not fear losing his bargain1 by anothers buying it from him4 ,but notwithstanding all this1 there is a needs must for his going1 and therefore says he1 8,i pray thee1 have me excused10 and improve thy interest with thy master in my behalf4 ,this was a bad excuse4 ,the second was rather worse4 ,for what says the evangelist1 verse #ai8 8,and another said1 ,i have bought five yoke of oxen1 and ,i go to prove them30 ,one1 it seems1 had been buying an estate2 another1 cattle1 to stock an estate already bought2 and both equally foolish in making their bargains4 ,for this second had bought five yoke of oxen1 which must needs cost them a considerable sum1 perhaps all he had in the world1 and now he must go and prove them4 ,a wise dealer would have proved the oxen first1 and bought them afterwards3 ,but our ,saviour speaks this1 to shew us1 that we will trust one another1 nay ,i may add1 the devil himself1 more than we will trust ,,god4 ,the excuse which the third makes1 is worst of all4 8,i have married a wife1 and therefore ,i cannot come40 ,had he said1 ,i will not come1 he had spoken the real sentiments of his heart3 for it is not so much mens impotency1 as their want of a will1 and inclination1 that keeps them from the gospel-feast4 ,but why cannot he come8 ,he has 8married a wife40 ,has he so8 ,why then1 by all means he should come4 ,for the supper to which he was invited1 as it should seem1 was a wedding-supper1 and would have saved him the trouble of a nuptial entertainment4 ,it was a great supper1 and consequently there was provision enough for him1 and his bride too4 ,and it was made by a great man1 who sent out his servant to bid many1 so that he need not have doubted of meeting with a hearty welcome1 though he should bring his wife with him4 ,or supposing his wife was unwilling to come1 yet as the husband is the head of the wife1 he ought to have laid his commands on her1 to accompany him4 ,for we cannot do better for our yoke-fellows1 than to bring them to the gospel-feast4 ,or1 supposing after all1 she would not be prevailed upon1 he ought to have gone without her3 for 8those that have wives1 must be as though they had none20 and we must not let carnal affection get such an ascendancy over us1 as to be kept thereby from spiritual entertainments4 ,adam paid dear for hearkening to the voice of his wife3 and sometimes1 unless we forsake wives1 as well as houses and lands1 we cannot be the ,,lord's disciples4 ,this then was the reception the servant met with1 and such were the excuses1 and answers1 that were sent back4 ,and what was the consequence8 8,so that servant came 7no doubt with a sorrowful heart7 and shewed his ,,lord these things40 ,however little it be thought of1 yet ministers must shew the ,,lord1 what success their ministry meets with4 ,we must shew it to our ,,lord here4 ,we must spread the case before him in prayer4 ,we must shew it to our ,,lord hereafter1 before the general assembly of the whole world4 ,but how dreadful is it1 when ministers are obliged to go upon their knees1 crying1 8,o6 my leanness1 my leanness60 and ,elias-like1 to intercede as it were against those1 to whom they would not only have imparted the gospel1 but even their own lives4 ,it is a heart-breaking consideration4 ,but thus it must be2 8,the servant came and shewed the ,,lord these things20 so must we4 ,well1 and what says the ,,lord8 ,we are told1 verse #bast1 that 8the master of the house was angry80 ,not with the servant3 for though ,israel be not gathered1 yet shall ,,christ be glorious2 and faithful ministers shall be rewarded1 whether people obey the gospel or not4 8,we are a sweet savour unto ,,god1 whether the word be a savour of life unto life1 or a savour of death unto death40 ,the master of the house therefore was angry1 not with the servant1 but with these-worldly-minded1 pleasure-taking refusers of his gracious invitation2 who1 in all probability1 went to see and stock their estates1 and attend upon their brides1 not doubting1 but their excuses would be taken1 because they were lawfully employed4 ,and1 indeed1 in one sense1 their excuses were accepted4 ,for ,i do not hear that they were ever invited any more4 ,,god took them at their word1 though they would not take him at his4 ,they begged to be excused1 and they were excused1 as we shall see in the sequel of this parable4 ,let us not therefore harden our hearts1 as in the day of provocation2 8,now is the accepted time1 now is the day of salvation40 ,but must the feast want guests8 ,no1 if they cannot1 or will not come1 others shall1 and will4 ,the master of the house therefore being angry1 sent the servant upon a second errand4 8,go out quickly into the streets1 and lanes of the city1 and bring in hither the poor1 and the maimed1 and the halt1 and the blind40 ,every word bespeaks a spirit of resentment and importunity4 ,go out quickly1 make no delay1 dread no attempt or danger1 into the streets and lanes of the city1 and bring in hither1 not only call them1 but bring them in 7for the master here1 to encourage the servant1 assures him of success7 the poor1 and the maimed1 and the halt1 and the blind4 ,this was fulfilled1 when ,,jesus ,,christ1 after the gospel was rejected by the ,jews1 went and invited the ,gentiles1 and when the publicans and harlots took the kingdom of ,,god by a holy violence1 whilst the self-righteous scribes and ,pharisees rejected the kingdom of ,,god against themselves4 ,this was also a home reproof to the rich ,pharisee1 at whose house the ,,lord ,,jesus was1 as well as a cutting lesson to the other guests4 ,for our ,saviour would hereby shew them1 that ,,god took a quite different method from his host1 and was not above receiving the poor1 and halt1 and blind1 and maimed1 to the gospel supper1 though he had called none such to sit down at his table4 ,whether the guests resented it or not1 we are not told4 ,but if they were not quite blind1 both host and guests might easily see that the parable was spoken against them4 ,but to proceed1 ,the servant again returns1 but with a more pleasing answer than before1 8,lord1 it is done as thou hast commanded1 and yet there is room40 ,the words bespeak the servant to be full of joy at the thoughts of the success he had met with4 ,none can tell1 but those who experience it1 what comfort ministers have in seeing their labours blest4 8,now ,i live1 7says the apostle7 if you stand fast in the ,,lord4 ,ye are our joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the ,,lord ,,jesus40 8,lord1 it is done as thou hast commanded4 ,the poor1 and maimed1 and halt1 and blind1 have been called1 and have obeyed the summons1 and ,i have brought them with me2 yet1 ,,lord1 thy house1 and thy supper is so great1 there is room for more40 ,hereby he insinuated that he wanted to be employed again1 in calling more souls2 and the more we do1 the more may we do for ,,god3 8,to him that hath1 shall be given20 and present success is a great encouragement to future diligence4 ,such hints are pleasing to our ,saviour4 ,he delights to see his ministers ready for new work1 and waiting for fresh orders4 8,the ,,lord1 therefore1 we are told1 verse #bc1 said unto his servant1 7the same servant17 ,go out into the highways and hedges1 and compel them to come in1 that my house may be filled2 #bd4 ,for ,i say unto you1 that none of those who are bidden1 shall taste of my supper40 ,o cutting words to those that sat at meat1 if they had hearts to make the application6 ,but glad tidings of great joy to the publicans1 harlots1 and ,gentiles1 who were rejected by the proud ,pharisees1 as aliens to the commonwealth of ,israel1 and strangers to the covenant of promise6 ,this was fulfilled1 when our ,,lord sent the apostles1 not only into the streets and lanes of the city1 and places bordering upon ,jerusalem and ,judea2 but when he gave them a commission to go out into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature1 ,gentile as well as ,jew2 and not only gave them a command1 but blessed their labours with such success1 that three thousand were converted in one day4 ,and ,i am not without hopes that it will be still further fulfilled1 by the calling of some of you home this day3 ,for however this parable was spoken originally to the ,jews1 and upon a particular occasion1 as at a feast1 yet it is applicable to us1 and to our children1 and to as many as are afar off2 yea1 to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call4 ,it gives a sanction1 methinks1 to preaching in the fields1 and other places besides the synagogues2 and points out the reception the gospel meets with in these days1 in such a lively manner1 that one would think it had a particular reference to the present age4 ,for is it not too1 too plain1 that the gospel-offers1 and gospel-grace1 have been slighted1 and made light of1 by many professors of this generation8 ,we have been in the churches1 telling them1 again and again1 that ,,god has made a great supper 7and has invited many1 even them7 and sent us by his providence and his spirit1 8to say unto them that were bidden1 ,come1 for all things are now ready4 ,believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and you shall be saved40 ,but the generality of the laity have made light of it1 they have given us the hearing1 but are too busy in their farms and their merchandizes1 their marrying and giving in marriage1 to come and be blessed in the ,,lord of life4 ,we have told them1 again and again1 that we do not want them to hide themselves from the world1 but to teach them how they may live in1 and yet not be of it4 ,but all will not do4 ,many of the clergy also 7like the letter-learned ,scribes and ,pharisees in our ,saviour's time7 reject the kingdom of ,,god against themselves1 and deny us the use of the pulpits1 for no other reason but because we preach the doctrine of justification in the sight of ,,god by faith alone1 and invite sinners to come and taste of the gospel feast freely1 without money and without price4 ,whatever they may think1 we are persuaded1 the great master of the house is angry with them1 for being angry with us without a cause4 ,he therefore now1 by his providence1 bids us 8,go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city1 and bring in the poor1 and the maimed1 and the halt1 and the blind10 or call in the publicans and harlots1 the common cursers and swearers1 and sabbath-breakers1 and adulterers1 who1 perhaps1 never entered a church door1 or heard that ,,jesus ,,christ died for such sinners as they are4 ,we1 through grace1 have obeyed the command1 we have gone out1 though exposed to much contempt for so doing1 and1 blessed be ,,god1 our labour has not been in vain in the ,,lord4 ,for many have been made willing in the day of ,,god's power2 and1 we would speak it with humility1 we can go chearfully to our ,saviour1 and say1 8,it is done1 ,,lord1 as thou hast commanded1 and yet there is room40 ,he is therefore pleased1 in spite of all opposition from men or devils1 to continue1 and renew1 and enlarge our commission2 he hath sent us literally into the highways and hedges2 and1 ,i trust1 has given us a commission to compel sinners to come3 ,for1 could we speak with the tongues of men and angels1 yet if the ,,lord did not attend the word with his power1 and sweetly inclined men's wills to comply with the gospel-call1 we should be as a sounding brass1 or a tinkling cymbal4 ,but this we believe our ,saviour will do1 for his house must be filled3 every soul for whom he has shed his blood1 shall finally be saved1 8and all that the ,father hath given him1 shall come unto him1 and whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out40 ,this comforted our ,,lord1 when his gospel was rejected by the ,jews4 ,as though he had said1 ,well1 tho' you despise the offers of my grace1 yet ,i shall not shed my blood in vain2 for all that the ,father hath given me shall come unto me4 ,supported by this consideration1 ,i am not ashamed to come out this day into the highways and hedges1 and to confess that my business is to call the poor1 and the maimed1 and the halt1 and the blind1 self-condemned1 helpless sinners1 to the marriage-feast of the supper of the ,lamb4 ,my cry is1 ,come1 believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus2 throw yourselves at the footstool of his mercy1 and you shall be saved2 for all things are now ready4 ,,god the ,father is ready1 ,,god the ,son is ready1 ,,god the ,holy ,ghost is ready2 the blessed angels above are ready1 and the blessed saints below are ready1 to welcome you to the gospel-feast4 ,a perfect and everlasting righteousness is now wrought out by ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,god1 now1 upon honourable terms1 can acquit the guilty4 ,,god can now be just1 and yet justify the ungodly4 8,for he hath made ,,christ to be sin for us1 who knew no sin1 that we might be made the righteousness of ,,god in him40 ,the fatted calf is now killed1 and 8,,christ1 our passover1 is sacrificed for us40 ,come1 sinners1 and feed upon him in your hearts by faith1 with thanksgiving4 ,for ,,jesus ,,christ's sake1 do not with one consent begin to make excuse4 ,do not let a piece of ground1 five yoke of oxen1 or even a wife1 keep you from this great supper4 ,these you may enjoy1 as the gifts of ,,god1 and make use of them for the ,mediator's glory1 and yet be present at the gospel-feast4 ,true and undefiled religion does not take away1 but rather greatly enhances the comforts of life2 and our ,,lord did not pray that we should be taken out of the world1 but 8that we should be delivered from the evil of it40 ,o then that you would all1 with one consent1 say1 ,lo6 we come4 ,assure yourselves there is provision enough4 ,for it is a great supper4 ,in our ,father's house there is bread enough and to spare4 ,and though a great ,,god makes the supper1 yet he is as good and condescending as he is great4 ,though he be the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity1 yet he will dwell with the humble and contrite heart1 even with the man that trembleth at his word4 ,neither can you complain for want of room2 8for yet there is room4 ,in our ,father's house are many mansions40 ,if it was not so1 our ,saviour would have told us4 ,the grace of ,,christ is as rich1 as free1 and as powerful as ever4 ,he is 8the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,he is full of grace and truth1 and out of his fulness1 all that come to him may receive grace for grace4 ,he giveth liberally1 and upbraideth not4 ,he willeth not the death of a sinner1 but rather that he should believe and live4 ,come then1 all ye halt1 poor1 maimed1 and blind sinners2 take comfort1 the ,,lord ,,jesus has sent his servant to call you4 ,it is now supper-time1 and a day of uncommon grace4 ,the day may be far spent4 ,haste1 therefore1 and away to the supper of the ,lamb4 ,if you do not come1 ,i know the master will be angry4 ,and who can stand before him when he is angry8 8,harden not therefore your hearts1 as in the day of provocation1 as in the day of temptation in the wilderness40 ,do not provoke the ,,lord to say1 8,none of those that were bidden shall taste of my supper40 ,o dreadful words6 ,much more is implied in them than is expressed4 ,it is the same with that in the psalms1 8,i sware in my wrath1 that they should not enter into my rest40 ,and if you do not enter into ,,god's rest1 nor taste of ,,christ's supper1 you must lift up your eyes in torments1 where you will have no rest1 and must sup with the damned devils for ever more4 ,knowing therefore the terrors of the ,,lord1 we persuade you to haste away1 and make no more frivolous excuses4 ,for there is no excuse against believing4 ,perhaps you say1 ,you call to the halt1 and maimed1 and blind1 and poor4 ,but if we are halt1 and maimed1 how can we come8 ,if we are blind1 how can we see our way8 ,if we are poor1 how can we expect admission to so great a table8 ,ah6 ,happy are ye1 if you are sensible1 that you are halt and maimed4 ,for if you feel yourselves so1 and are lamenting it1 who knows but whilst ,i am speaking1 ,,god may send his ,spirit with the word1 and fetch you home8 ,though you are blind1 ,,jesus has eye salve to anoint you4 ,though you are poor1 yet you are welcome to this rich feast4 ,it cost ,,jesus ,,christ a great price1 but you shall have it gratis4 ,for such as you was it designed4 8,blessed are the poor in spirit1 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven40 ,rich1 self-righteous1 self-sufficient sinners1 ,i know1 will scorn both the feast and its great provider4 ,they have done so already1 therefore the ,,lord has sent us into the highways and hedges1 to bring such poor souls as you are in4 ,venture then1 my dear friends1 and honour ,,god1 by taking him at his word4 ,come to the marriage-feast4 ,believe me1 you will there partake of most delicious fare4 ,tell me1 ye that have been made to taste that the ,,lord is gracious1 will you not recommend this feast to all8 ,are you not1 whilst ,i am speaking1 ready to cry out1 ,come all ye that are without1 come ye1 obey the call1 for we have sat under the ,redeemer's shadow with great delight1 and his fruit has been pleasant to our taste4 ,whilst ,i am speaking1 does not the fire kindle1 do not your hearts burn with a desire that others may come and be blessed too8 ,if you are christians indeed1 ,i know you will be thus minded1 and the language of your hearts will be1 ,,lord1 whilst he is calling1 let thy ,spirit compel them to come in4 ,o that the ,,lord may say1 ,amen6 ,and why should we doubt8 ,surely our ,saviour will not let me complain this day that ,i have laboured in vain1 and spent my strength for nought4 ,methinks ,i see many desiring to come4 ,o how shall ,i compel you to come forwards4 ,i will not use fire or sword1 as the ,papists do1 by terribly perverting this text of scripture4 ,but ,i will tell you of the love of ,,god1 the love of ,,god in ,,christ1 and surely that must compel you1 that must constrain you1 whether you will or not4 ,sinners1 my heart is enlarged towards you4 ,i could fill my mouth with arguments4 ,consider the greatness of the ,,god who makes the supper4 ,consider the greatness of the price1 wherewith it was purchased4 ,consider the greatness of the provision made for you4 ,what would you have more8 ,consider ,,god's infinite condescension1 in calling you now1 when you might have been in hell1 8where the worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched40 ,and that you might be without excuse1 he has sent his servant into the highways and hedges to invite you there4 ,o that you tasted what ,i do now6 ,i am sure you would not want arguments to induce you to come in3 ,no1 you would fly to the gospel-feast1 as doves to the windows4 ,but1 poor souls6 many of you1 perhaps1 are not hungry4 ,you do not feel yourselves halt1 or maimed1 or blind1 and therefore you have no relish for this spiritual entertainment4 ,well1 be not angry with me for calling you2 be not offended if ,i weep over you1 because you know not the day of your visitation3 ,if ,i must appear in judgment as a swift witness against you1 ,i must4 ,but that thought chills my blood6 ,i cannot bear it2 ,i feel that ,i could lay down my life for you4 ,but ,i am not willing to go without you4 ,what say you1 my dear friends8 ,i would put the question to you once more1 ,will you taste of ,,christ's supper1 or will you not8 ,you shall all be welcome4 ,there is milk at this feast for babes1 as well as meat for strong men1 and for persons of riper years4 ,there is room and provision for high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another2 and our ,saviour will thank you for coming4 ,amazing condescension6 ,astonishing love6 ,the thought of it quite overcomes me4 ,help me1 help me1 ,o believers1 to bless and praise him4 ,and ,o6 that his love may excite us to come afresh to him1 as though we had never come before6 ,for1 though we have been often feasted1 yet our souls will starve1 unless we renew our acts of faith1 and throw ourselves1 as lost1 undone sinners1 continually at the feet of ,,christ4 ,feeding upon past experiences will not satisfy our souls1 any more than what we did eat yesterday will sustain our bodies to-day4 ,no1 believers must look for fresh influences of divine grace1 and beg of the ,,lord to water them every moment4 ,the parable therefore speaks to saints as well as sinners4 ,come ye to the marriage-feast2 you are as welcome now as ever4 ,and may ,,god set your souls a longing for that time when we shall sit down and eat bread in the kingdom of heaven6 ,there we shall have full draughts of divine love1 and enjoy the glorious ,emmanuel for ever more4 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxxiv4 ,the ,pharisee and ,publican4 ,,luke xviii4 #ad4 ,i tell you1 this man went down to his house justified rather than the other3 ,for every one that exalteth himself1 shall be abased1 and he that humbleth himself1 shall be exalted4 ,,though there be some who dare to deny the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and disbelieve the revelation he has been pleased to give us1 and thereby bring upon themselves swift destruction2 yet ,i would charitably hope there are but few if any such among you1 to whom ,i am now to preach the kingdom of ,,god4 ,was ,i to ask you1 how you expect to be justified in the sight of an offended ,,god8 ,i suppose you would answer1 only for the sake of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,but1 was ,i to come more home to your consciences1 ,i fear that most would make the ,,lord ,,jesus but in part their ,saviour1 and go about1 as it were1 to establish a righteousness of their own4 ,and this is not thinking contrary to the rules of christian charity3 for we are all self-righteous by nature2 it is as natural for us to turn to a covenant of works1 as for the sparks to fly upwards4 ,we have had so many legal and so few free-grace preachers1 for these many years1 that most professors now seem to be settled upon their lees1 and rather deserve the title of ,pharisees than christians4 ,thus it was with the generality of the people during the time of our ,,lord's public ministration3 and therefore1 in almost all his discourses1 he preached the gospel to poor sinners1 and denounced terrible woes against proud self-justiciaries4 ,the parable1 to which the words of the text belong1 looks both these ways3 ,for the evangelist informs us 7verse #i47 that our ,,lord 8spake it unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous1 and despised others40 ,and a notable parable it is2 a parable worthy of your most serious attention4 8,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear10 what ,,jesus ,,christ speaks to all visible professors in it4 ,verse #aj4 8,two men went up to the temple to pray 7and never two men of more opposite characters7 the one a ,pharisee and the other a ,publican40 ,the ,pharisees were the strictest sect among the ,jews4 8,i was of the strictest sect1 of the ,pharisees10 says ,paul4 ,they prayed often2 not only so1 but they made long prayers2 and1 that they might appear extraordinary devout1 they would pray at the corners of the street1 where two ways met1 that people going or coming1 both ways1 might see them4 8,they made broad 7as our ,,lord informs us7 the borders of their phylacteries10 they had pieces of parchment sown to their long robes1 on which some parts of the ,scripture were written1 that people might from thence infer1 that they were lovers of the law of ,,god4 ,they were so very punctual and exact in outward purifications1 that they washed at their going out and coming in4 ,they held the washing of pots1 brazen vessels and tables1 and many other such-like things they did4 ,they were very zealous for the traditions of the fathers1 and for the observation of the rites and ceremonies of the church1 notwithstanding they frequently made void the law of ,,god by their traditions4 ,and they were so exceedingly exact in the outward observation of the sabbath1 that they condemned our ,,lord for making a little clay with his spittle2 and called him a sinner1 and said1 he was not of ,,god1 because he had given sight to a man born blind1 on the sabbath-day4 ,for these reasons they were had in high veneration among the people1 who were sadly misled by these blind guides3 they had the uppermost places in the synagogues1 and greetings in the market-places 7which they loved dearly7 and were called of men1 ,rabbi2 in short1 they had such a reputation for piety1 that it became a proverb among the ,jews1 that1 if there were but two men saved1 the one of them must be a ,pharisee4 ,as for the ,publicans1 it was not so with them4 ,it seems they were sometimes ,jews1 or at least proselytes of the gate2 for we find one here coming up to the temple2 but for the generality1 ,i am apt to think they were ,gentiles2 for they were gatherers of the ,roman taxes1 and used to amass much wealth 7as appears by the confession of ,zaccheus1 one of the chief of them7 by wronging men with false accusations4 ,they were so universally infamous1 that our ,,lord himself tells his disciples1 8the excommunicated man should be to them as a heathen man1 or a ,publican40 ,and the ,pharisees thought it a sufficient impeachment of our ,,lord's character1 that he was a friend to ,publicans and sinners1 and went to sit down with them at meat4 ,but1 however they disagreed in other things1 they agreed in this1 that public worship is a duty incumbent upon all3 for they both came up to the temple4 ,the very heathens were observers of temple-worship4 ,we have very early notice of mens sacrificing to1 and calling upon the name of the ,,lord1 in the ,old ,testament2 and ,i find it no where contradicted in the ,new4 ,our ,,lord1 and his apostles1 went up to the temple2 and we are commanded by the apostle1 8not to forsake the assembling ourselves together10 as the manner of too many is in our days2 and such too1 as would have us think well of them1 though they seldom or never tread the courts of the ,,lord's house4 ,but1 though our devotions begin in our closets1 they must not end there4 ,and1 if people never shew their devotions abroad1 ,i must suspect they have little or none at home4 8,two men went up to the temple40 ,and what went they thither for8 ,not 7as multitudes amongst us do7 to make the house of ,,god a house of merchandize1 or turn it into a den of thieves2 much less to ridicule the preacher1 or disturb the congregation2 no1 they came to the temple1 says our ,,lord1 8to pray40 ,thither should the tribes of ,,god's spiritual ,israel go up1 to talk with1 and pour out their hearts before the mighty ,,god of ,jacob4 8,two men went up to the temple to pray40 ,i fear one of them forgot his errand4 ,i have often been at a loss what to call the ,pharisee's address2 it certainly does not deserve the name of a prayer3 he may rather be said to come to the temple to boast1 than to pray2 for ,i do not find one word of confession of his original guilt2 not one single petition for pardon of his past actual sins1 or for grace to help and assist him for the time to come3 he only brings to ,,god1 as it were1 a reckoning of his performances2 and does that1 which no flesh can justly do1 ,i mean1 glory in his presence4 ,verse #aa4 8,the ,pharisee stood1 and prayed thus with himself2 ,,god1 ,i thank thee that ,i am not as other men are1 extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 or even as this ,publican40 ,our ,,lord first takes notice of his posture2 8the ,pharisee stood10 he is not to be condemned for that2 for standing1 as well as kneeling1 is a proper posture for prayer4 8,when you stand praying10 says our ,,lord2 though sometimes our ,,lord kneeled1 nay1 lay flat on his face upon the ground2 his apostles also kneeled1 as we read in the ,acts1 which has made me wonder at some1 who are so bigotted to standing in family1 as well as public prayer1 that they will not kneel1 notwithstanding all kneel that are around them4 ,i fear there is something of the ,pharisee in this conduct4 ,kneeling and standing are indifferent1 if the knee of the soul be bent1 and the heart upright towards ,,god4 ,we should study not to be particular in indifferent things1 lest we offend weak minds4 ,what the ,pharisee is remarked for1 is his 8standing by himself30 for the words may be rendered1 he stood by himself1 upon some eminent place1 at the upper part of the temple1 near the ,holy of holies1 that the congregation might see what a devout man he was3 or it may be understood as we read it1 he prayed by himself1 or of himself1 out of his own heart2 he did not pray by form2 it was an extempore prayer3 for there are many ,pharisees that pray and preach too1 extempore4 ,i do not see why these may not be acquired1 as well as other arts and sciences4 ,a man1 with a good elocution1 ready turn of thought1 and good memory1 may repeat his own or other mens sermons1 and1 by the help of a ,wilkins or ,henry1 may pray seemingly excellently well1 and yet not have the least grain of true grace in his heart2 ,i speak this1 not to cry down extempore prayer1 or to discourage those dear souls who really pray by the spirit2 ,i only would hereby give a word of reproof to those who are so bigotted to extempore prayer1 that they condemn1 at least judge1 all that use forms1 as though not so holy and heavenly1 as others who pray without them4 ,alas6 this is wrong4 ,not every one that prays extempore is a spiritual1 nor every one that prays with a form1 a formal man4 ,let us not judge one another2 let not him that uses a form1 judge him that prays extempore1 on that account2 and let not him that prays extempore1 despise him who uses a form4 8,the ,pharisee stood1 and prayed thus by himself40 ,which may signify also praying inwardly in his heart2 for there is a way 7and that an excellent one too7 of praying when we cannot speak2 thus ,anna prayed1 when she spoke not aloud1 only her lips moved4 ,thus ,,god says to ,moses1 8,why criest thou80 when1 it is plain1 he did not speak a word4 ,this is what the apostle means by the 8spirit making intercession 7for believers7 with groanings which cannot be uttered40 ,for there are times when the soul is too big to speak2 when ,,god fills it as it were1 and overshadows it with his presence1 so that it can only fall down1 worship1 adore1 and lye in the dust before the ,,lord4 ,again1 there is a time when the soul is benumbed1 barren and dry1 and the believer has not a word to say to his heavenly ,father2 and then the heart only can speak4 ,and ,i mention this for the encouragement of weak christians1 who think they never are accepted but when they have a flow of words1 and fancy they do not please ,,god at the bottom1 for no other reason but because they do not please themselves4 ,such would do well to consider1 that ,,god knows the language of the heart1 and the mind of the spirit2 and that we make use of words1 not to inform ,,god1 but to affect ourselves4 ,whenever therefore any of you find yourselves in such a frame1 be not discouraged3 offer yourselves up in silence before ,,god1 as clay in the hands of the potter1 for him to write and stamp his own divine image upon your souls4 ,but ,i believe the ,pharisee knew nothing of this way of prayer3 he was self-righteous1 a stranger to the divine life2 and therefore either of the former explanations may be best put upon these words4 8,he stood1 and prayed thus with himself2 ,,god1 ,i thank thee that ,i am not as other men are1 extortioner1 unjust1 adulterer1 or even as this ,publican40 ,here is some appearance of devotion1 but it is only in appearance4 ,to thank ,,god that we are not extortioners1 unjust1 adulterers1 and as wicked in our practices as other men are1 is certainly meet1 right1 and our bounden duty3 for whatever degrees of goodness there may be in us1 more than in others1 it is owing to ,,god's restraining1 preventing1 and assisting grace4 ,we are all equally conceived and born in sin2 all are fallen short of the glory of ,,god1 and liable to all the curses and maledictions of the law2 so that 8he who glorieth1 must glory only in the ,,lord40 ,for none of us have any thing which we did not receive2 and whatever we have received1 we did not in the least merit it1 nor could we lay the least claim to it on any account whatever3 we are wholly indebted to free grace for all4 ,had the ,pharisee thought thus1 when he said1 8,,god1 ,i thank thee that ,i am not as other men are10 it would have been an excellent introduction to his prayer3 but he was a free-willer1 as well as self-righteous 7for he that is one must be the other7 and thought by his own power and strength1 he had kept himself from these vices4 ,and yet ,i do not see what reason he had to trust in himself that he was righteous1 merely because he was not an extortioner1 unjust1 adulterer2 for all this while he might be1 as he certainly was 7as is also every self-righteous person7 as proud as the devil4 ,but he not only boasts1 but lies before ,,god 7as all self-justiciaries will be found liars here or hereafter47 ,he thanks ,,god that he was not unjust3 but is it not an act of the highest injustice to rob ,,god of his prerogative8 is it not an act of injustice to judge our neighbour8 and yet of both these crimes this self-righteous vaunter is guilty4 8,even as this ,publican60 ,he seems to speak with the utmost disdain2 this ,publican6 ,perhaps he pointed at the poor man1 that others might treat him with the like contempt4 ,thou proud1 confident boaster1 what hadst thou to do with that poor ,publican8 supposing other ,publicans were unjust1 and extortioners1 did it therefore follow that he must be so8 or1 if he had been such a sinner1 how knowest thou but he has repented of those sins8 ,his coming up to the temple to pray1 is one good sign of a reformation at least4 ,thou art therefore inexcusable1 ,o ,pharisee1 who thus judgest the ,publican3 for thou that judgest him to be unjust1 art1 in the very act of judging1 unjust thyself3 thy sacrifice is only the sacrifice of a fool4 ,we have seen what the ,pharisee's negative goodness comes to2 ,i think1 nothing at all4 ,let us see how far his positive goodness extends2 for1 if we are truly religious1 we shall not only eschew evil1 but also do good3 8,i fast twice in the week1 ,i give tithes of all that ,i possess40 ,the ,pharisee is not here condemned for his fasting1 for fasting is a christian duty2 8when you fast10 says our ,,lord1 thereby taking it for granted that his disciples would fast4 ,and 8when the bridegroom shall be taken away1 then shall they fast in those days40 8,in fasting often10 says the apostle4 ,and all that would not be cast-aways1 will take care1 as their privilege1 without legal constraint1 to 8keep their bodies under1 and bring them into subjection40 ,the ,pharisee is only condemned for making a righteousness of his fasting1 and thinking that ,,god would accept him1 or that he was any better than his neighbours1 merely on account of his fasting3 this is what he was blamed for4 ,the ,pharisee was not to be discommended for fasting twice in a week2 ,i wish some christians would imitate him more in this3 but to depend on fasting in the least1 for his justification in the sight of ,,god1 was really abominable4 8,i give tithes of all that ,i possess40 ,he might as well have said1 ,i pay tithes4 ,but self-righteous people 7whatever they may say to the contrary7 think they give something to ,,god4 8,i give tithes of all that ,i possess30 ,i make conscience of giving tithes1 not only of all that the law requires1 but of my mint1 annise1 and cummin1 of all things whatsoever ,i possess2 this was well2 but to boast of such things1 or of fasting1 is pharisaical and devilish4 ,now then let us sum up all the righteousness of this boasting ,pharisee1 and see what little reason he had to trust in himself1 that he was righteous1 or to despise others4 ,he is not unjust 7but we have only his bare word for that1 ,i think ,i have proved the contrary27 he is no adulterer1 no extortioner2 he fasts twice in the week1 and gives tithes of all that he possesses2 and all this he might do1 and a great deal more1 and yet be a child of the devil3 for here is no mention made of his loving the ,,lord his ,,god with all his heart1 which was the 8first and great commandment of the law20 here is not a single syllable of inward religion2 and he was not a true ,jew1 who was only one outwardly4 ,it is only an outside piety at the best2 inwardly he is full of pride1 self-justification1 free-will and great uncharitableness4 ,were not the ,pharisees1 do you think1 highly offended at this character8 for they might easily know it was spoken against them4 ,and though1 perhaps1 some of you may be offended at me1 yet1 out of love1 ,i must tell you1 ,i fear this parable is spoken against many of you3 for are there not many of you1 who go up to the temple to pray1 with no better spirit than this ,pharisee did8 ,and because you fast1 it may be in the ,lent1 or every ,friday1 and because you do no body any harm1 receive the sacrament1 pay tithes1 and give an alms now and then2 you think that you are safe1 and trust in yourselves that you are righteous1 and inwardly despise those1 who do not come up to you in these outward duties8 this1 ,i am persuaded1 is the case of many of you1 though1 alas6 it is a desperate one1 as ,i shall endeavour to shew at the close of this discourse4 ,let us now take a view of the ,publican1 verse #ac4 8,and the ,publican standing afar off1 would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven1 but smote upon his breast1 saying1 ,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 8,the ,publican standing afar off30 ,perhaps in the outward court of the temple1 conscious to himself that he was not worthy to approach the ,holy of holies2 so conscious and so weighed down with a sense of his own unworthiness1 that he would not so much as lift up his eyes unto heaven1 which he knew was ,,god's throne4 ,poor heart6 what did he feel at this time6 none but returning ,publicans1 like himself1 can tell4 ,methinks ,i see him standing afar off1 pensive1 oppressed1 and even overwhelmed with sorrow2 sometimes he attempts to look up2 but then1 thinks he1 the heavens are unclean in ,,god's sight1 and the very angels are charged with folly2 how then shall such a wretch as ,i dare to lift up my guilty head6 ,and to shew that his heart was full of holy self-resentment1 and that he sorrowed after a godly sort1 he smote upon his breast2 the word in the original implies1 that he struck hard upon his breast3 he will lay the blame upon none but his own wicked heart4 ,he will not1 like unhumbled ,adam1 tacitly lay the fault of his vileness upon ,,god1 and say1 ,the passions which thou gavest me1 they deceived me1 and ,i sinned3 he is too penitent thus to reproach his ,maker2 he smites upon his breast1 his treacherous1 ungrateful1 desperately wicked breast2 a breast now ready to burst3 and at length1 out of the abundance of his heart1 ,i doubt not1 with many tears1 he at last cries out1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,not1 ,,god be merciful to yonder proud ,pharisee3 he found enough in himself to vent his resentment against1 without looking abroad upon others4 ,not1 ,,god be merciful to me a saint2 for he knew 8all his righteousnesses were but filthy rags40 ,not1 ,,god be merciful to such or such a one2 but1 ,,god be merciful to me1 even to me a sinner1 a sinner by birth1 a sinner in thought1 word1 and deed2 a sinner as to my person1 a sinner as to all my performances2 a sinner in whom is no health1 in whom dwelleth no good thing2 a sinner1 poor1 miserable1 blind and naked1 from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet1 full of wounds1 and bruises1 and putrifying sores2 a self-accused1 self-condemned sinner4 ,what think you8 would this ,publican have been offended if any minister had told him that he deserved to be damned8 would he have been angry1 if any one had told him1 that by nature he was half a devil and half a beast8 ,no3 he would have confessed a thousand hells to have been his due1 and that he was an earthly1 devilish sinner4 ,he felt now what a dreadful thing it was to depart from the living ,,god3 he felt that he was inexcusable every way2 that he could in nowise1 upon account of any thing in himself1 be justified in the sight of ,,god2 and therefore lays himself at the feet of sovereign mercy1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,here is no confidence in the flesh1 no plea fetched from fasting1 paying tithes1 or the performance of any other duty2 here is no boasting that he was not an extortioner1 unjust1 or an adulterer4 ,perhaps he had been guilty of all these crimes1 at least he knew he would have been guilty of all these1 had he been left to follow the devices and desires of his own heart2 and therefore1 with a broken and contrite spirit1 he cries out1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,this man came up to the temple to pray1 and he prayed indeed4 ,and a broken and contrite heart ,,god will not despise4 8,i tell you10 says our ,,lord1 ,i who lay in the bosom of the ,father from all eternity2 ,i who am ,,god1 and therefore know all things2 ,i who can neither deceive1 nor be deceived1 whose judgment is according to right2 ,i tell you1 whatever you may think of it1 or think of me for telling you so1 8this man10 this ,publican1 this despised1 sinful1 but broken-hearted man1 8went down to his house justified 7acquitted1 and looked upon as righteous in the sight of ,,god7 rather than the other40 ,let ,pharisees take heed that they do not pervert this text3 for when it is said1 8,this man went down to his house justified rather than the other10 our ,,lord does not mean that both were justified1 and that the ,publican had rather more justification than the ,pharisee3 but it implies1 either that the ,publican was actually justified1 but the ,pharisee was not2 or1 that the ,publican was in a better way to receive justification1 than the ,pharisee2 according to our ,,lord's saying1 8,the ,publicans and ,harlots enter into the kingdom of heaven before you40 ,that the ,pharisee was not justified is certain1 for 8,,god resisteth the proud20 and that the ,publican was at this time actually justified 7and perhaps went home with a sense of it in his heart7 we have great reason to infer from the latter part of the text1 8,for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased1 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 ,the parable therefore now speaks to all who hear me this day3 for that our ,,lord intended it for our learning1 is evident1 from his making such a general application2 8,for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased1 and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 ,the parable of the ,publican and ,pharisee1 is but as it were a glass1 wherein we may see the different disposition of all mankind2 for all mankind may be divided into two general classes4 ,either they trust wholly in themselves1 or in part1 that they are righteous1 and then they are ,pharisees2 or they have no confidence in the flesh1 are self-condemned sinners1 and then they come under the character of the ,publican just now described4 ,and we may add also1 that the different reception these men met with1 points out to us in lively colours1 the different treatment the self-justiciary and self-condemned criminal will meet with at the terrible day of judgment3 8,every one that exalts himself shall be abased1 but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 8,every one10 without exception1 young or old1 high or low1 rich or poor 7for ,,god is no respecter of persons7 8every one10 whosoever he be1 that exalteth himself1 and not free-grace2 every one that trusteth in himself that he is righteous1 that rests in his duties1 or thinks to join them with the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 for justification in the sight of ,,god1 though he be no adulterer1 no extortioner1 though he be not outwardly unjust1 nay1 though he fast twice in the week1 and gives tithes of all that he possesses2 yet shall he be abased in the sight of all good men who know him here1 and before men and angels1 and ,,god himself1 when ,,jesus ,,christ comes to appear in judgment hereafter4 ,how low1 none but the almighty ,,god can tell4 ,he shall be abased to live with devils1 and make his abode in the lowest hell for evermore4 ,hear this1 all ye self-justiciaries1 tremble1 and behold your doom6 a dreadful doom1 more dreadful than words can express1 or thought conceive6 ,if you refuse to humble yourselves1 after hearing this parable1 ,i call heaven and earth to witness against you this day1 that ,,god shall visit you with all his storms1 and pour all the vials of his wrath upon your rebellious heads2 you exalted yourselves here1 and ,,god shall abase you hereafter2 you are as proud as the devil1 and with devils shall you dwell to all eternity4 8,be not deceived1 ,,god is not mocked20 he sees your hearts1 he knows all things4 ,and1 notwithstanding you may come up to the temple to pray1 your prayers are turned into sin1 and you go down to your houses unjustified1 if you are self-justiciaries2 and do you know what it is to be unjustified8 why1 if you are unjustified1 the wrath of ,,god abideth upon you2 you are in your blood2 all the curses of the law belong to you3 cursed are you when you go out1 cursed are you when you come in2 cursed are your thoughts1 cursed are your words1 cursed are your deeds2 every thing you do1 say1 or think1 from morning to night1 is only one continued series of sin4 ,however highly you may be esteemed in the sight of men1 however you may be honoured with the uppermost seats in the synagogues1 in the church militant1 you will have no place in the church triumphant4 8,humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of ,,god30 pull down every self-righteous thought1 and every proud imagination1 that now exalteth itself against the perfect1 personal1 imputed righteousness of the dear ,,lord ,,jesus3 8,for he 7and he alone7 that humbleth himself shall be exalted40 ,he that humbleth himself1 whatever he be3 if1 instead of fasting twice in the week1 he has been drunk twice in the week2 if1 instead of giving tithes of all that he possesses1 he has cheated the minister of his tithes1 and the king of his taxes2 notwithstanding he be unjust1 an extortioner1 an adulterer1 nay1 notwithstanding the sins of all mankind center and unite in him2 yet1 if through grace1 like the ,publican1 he is enabled to humble himself1 he shall be exalted2 not in a temporal manner2 for christians must rather expect to be abased1 and to have their names cast out as evil1 and to lay down their lives for ,,christ ,,jesus in this world3 but he shall be exalted in a spiritual sense2 he shall be freely justified from all his sins by the blood of ,,jesus2 he shall have peace with ,,god1 a peace which passeth all understanding2 not only peace1 but joy in believing2 he shall be translated from the kingdom of ,satan1 to the kingdom of ,,god's dear ,son3 he shall dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in him3 he shall be one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ one with him3 he shall drink of divine pleasures1 as out of a river3 he shall be sanctified throughout in spirit1 soul and body2 in one word1 he shall be filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,thus shall the man that humbleth himself be exalted here2 but ,o1 how high shall he be exalted hereafter6 as high as the highest heavens1 even to the right-hand of ,,god3 there he shall sit1 happy both in soul and body1 and judge angels2 high1 out of the reach of all sin and trouble1 eternally secure from all danger of falling4 ,o sinners1 did you but know how highly ,,god intends to exalt those who humble themselves1 and believe in ,,jesus1 surely you would humble yourselves1 at least beg of ,,god to humble you2 for it is he that must strike the rock of your hearts1 and cause floods of contrite tears to flow therefrom4 ,o that ,,god would give this sermon such a commission1 as he once gave to the rod of ,moses6 ,i would strike you through and through with the rod of his word1 until each of you was brought to cry out with the poor ,publican1 8,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,what pleasant language would this be in the ears of the ,,lord of ,sabbaoth6 ,are there no poor sinners among you8 what1 are you all ,pharisees8 ,surely1 you cannot bear the thoughts of returning home unjustified2 can you8 what if a fit of the apoplexy should seize you1 and your souls be hurried away before the awful ,judge of quick and dead8 what will you do without ,,christ's righteousness8 if you go out of the world unjustified1 you must remain so for ever4 ,o that you would humble yourselves6 then would the ,,lord exalt you2 it may be1 that1 whilst ,i am speaking1 the ,,lord might justify you freely by his grace4 ,i observed1 that perhaps the ,publican had a sense of his justification before he went from the temple1 and knew that his pardon was sealed in heaven3 and who knows but you may be thus exalted before you go home1 if you humble yourselves8 ,o what peace1 love and joy1 would you then feel in your hearts6 you would have a heaven upon earth4 ,o that ,i could hear any of you say 7as ,i once heard a poor sinner1 under my preaching1 cry out7 ,he is come1 ,he is come6 ,how would you then1 like him1 extol a precious1 a free-hearted ,,christ6 how would you magnify him for being such a friend to ,publicans and sinners8 greater love can no man shew1 than to lay down his life for a friend2 but ,,christ laid down his life for his enemies1 even for you1 if you are enabled to humble yourselves1 as the ,publican did4 ,sinners1 ,i know not how to leave off talking with you2 ,i would fill my mouth with arguments1 ,i would plead with you4 8,come1 let us reason together20 though your sins be as scarlet1 yet1 if you humble yourselves1 they shall be as white as snow4 ,one act of true faith in ,,christ1 justifies you for ever and ever2 he has not promised you what he cannot perform2 he is able to exalt you3 for ,,god hath exalted1 and given him a name above every name1 that at the name of ,,jesus every knee shall bow2 nay1 ,,god hath exalted him to be not only a ,prince1 but a ,saviour4 ,may he be a ,saviour to you6 and then ,i shall have reason to rejoice2 in the day of judgment1 that ,i have not preached in vain1 nor laboured in vain4 ,,sermon ,,xxxv4 ,the ,conversion of ,zaccheus4 ,,luke xix4 #i1 #aj4 ,and ,,jesus said unto him1 ,this day is salvation come to this house2 forasmuch as he also is the ,son of ,abraham4 ,for the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,,salvation1 every where through the whole scripture1 is said to be the free gift of ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,not only free1 because ,,god is a sovereign agent1 and therefore may withhold it from1 or confer it on1 whom he pleaseth2 but free1 because there is nothing to be found in man1 that can any way induce ,,god to be merciful unto him4 ,the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ is the sole cause of our finding favour in ,,god's sight3 this righteousness apprehended by faith 7which is also the gift of ,,god7 makes it our own2 and this faith1 if true1 will work by love4 ,these are parts of those glad tidings which are published in the gospel2 and of the certainty of them1 next to the express word of ,,god1 the experience of all such as have been saved1 is the best1 and1 as ,i take it1 the most undoubted proof4 ,that ,,god might teach us every way1 he has been pleased to leave upon record many instances of the power of his grace exerted in the salvation of several persons1 that we1 hearing how he dealt with them1 might from thence infer the manner we must expect to be dealt with ourselves1 and learn in what way we must look for salvation1 if we truly desire to be made partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light4 ,the conversion of the person referred to in the text1 ,i think1 will be of no small service to us in this matter1 if rightly improved4 ,i would hope1 most of you know who the person is1 to whom the ,,lord ,,jesus speaks2 it is the publican ,zaccheus1 to whose house the blessed ,,jesus said1 salvation came1 and whom he pronounces a ,son of ,abraham4 ,it is my design 7,,god helping7 to make some remarks upon his conversion recorded at large in the preceding verses1 and then to inforce the latter part of the text1 as an encouragement to poor undone sinners to come to ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,for the ,son of man is come1 to seek and to save that which was lost40 ,the evangelist ,luke introduces the account of this man's conversion thus1 verse #a4 8,and ,,jesus entered and passed through ,jericho40 ,the holy ,,jesus made it his business to go about doing good4 ,as the sun in the firmament is continually spreading his benign1 quickening1 and cheering influences over the natural2 so the ,son of righteousness arose with healing under his wings1 and was daily and hourly diffusing his gracious influences over the moral world4 ,the preceding chapter acquaints us of a notable miracle wrought by the holy ,,jesus1 on poor blind ,bartimeus2 and in this1 a greater presents itself to our consideration4 ,the evangelist would have us take particular notice of it2 for he introduces it with the word 8behold30 8and behold1 there was a man named ,zaccheus1 who was the chief among the ,publicans1 and he was rich40 ,well might the evangelist usher in the relation of this man's conversion with the word 8behold60 ,for1 according to human judgment1 how many unsurmountable obstacles lay in the way of it6 ,surely no one will say there was any fitness in ,zaccheus for salvation2 for we are told that he was a ,publican1 and therefore in all probability a notorious sinner4 ,the ,publicans were gatherers of the ,roman taxes2 they were infamous for their abominable extortion2 their very name therefore became so odious1 that we find the ,pharisees often reproached our ,,lord1 as very wicked1 because he was a friend unto and sat down to meat with them4 ,zaccheus then1 being a ,publican1 was no doubt a sinner2 and1 being chief among the ,publicans1 consequently was chief among sinners4 ,nay1 8he was rich40 ,one inspired apostle has told us1 that 8not many mighty1 not many noble are called40 ,another saith1 8,,god has chosen the poor of this world1 rich in faith40 ,and he who was the ,maker and ,redeemer of the apostles1 assures us1 8that it is easier for a camel1 7or cable-rope7 to go through the eye of a needle1 than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,let not therefore the rich glory in the multitude of their riches4 ,but rich as he was1 we are told1 verse #c4 that 8he sought to see ,,jesus40 ,a wonder indeed6 ,the common people heard our ,,lord gladly1 and the poor received the gospel4 ,the multitude1 the 1 the mob1 the people that knew not the law1 as the proud high-priests called them1 used to follow him on foot into the country2 and sometimes staid with him three days together to hear him preach3 ,but did the rich believe or attend on him8 ,no4 ,our ,,lord preached up the doctrine of the cross2 he preached too searching for them1 and therefore they counted him their enemy1 persecuted and spoke all manner of evil against him falsly4 ,let not the ministers of ,,christ marvel1 if they meet with the like treatment from the rich men of this wicked and adulterous generation4 ,i should think it no scandal 7supposing it true7 to hear it affirmed1 that none but the poor attended my ministry4 ,their souls are as precious to our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 as the souls of the greatest men4 ,they were the poor that attended him in the days of his flesh3 these are they whom he hath chosen to be rich in faith1 and to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven4 ,were the rich in this world's goods generally to speak well of me1 wo be unto me2 ,i should think it a dreadful sign that ,i was only a wolf in sheep's clothing1 that ,i spoke peace1 peace1 when there was no peace1 and prophesied smoother things than the gospel would allow of4 ,hear ye this1 ,o ye rich4 ,let who will dare to do it1 ,,god forbid that ,i should despise the poor2 in doing so1 ,i should reproach my ,maker4 ,the poor are dear to my soul2 ,i rejoice to see them fly to the doctrine of ,,christ1 like the doves to their windows4 ,i only pray1 that the poor who attend1 may be evangelized1 and turned into the spirit of the gospel3 if so1 8,blessed are ye2 for yours is the kingdom of heaven40 ,but we must return to ,zaccheus4 8,he sought to see ,,jesus40 ,that is good news4 ,i heartily wish ,i could say1 it was out of a good principle3 but1 without speaking contrary to that charity which hopes and believeth all things for the best1 we may say1 that the same principle drew him after ,,christ1 which now draws multitudes 7to speak plainly1 it may be multitudes of you7 to hear a particular preacher1 even curiosity3 for we are told1 that he came not to hear his doctrine1 but to view his person1 or1 to use the words of the evangelist1 8to see who he was40 ,our ,,lord's fame was now spread abroad through all ,jerusalem1 and all the country round about3 some said he was a good man2 others1 8,nay1 but he deceiveth the people40 ,and therefore curiosity drew out this rich ,publican ,zaccheus1 to see who this person was1 of whom he had heard such various accounts4 ,but it seems he could not conveniently get a sight of him for the press1 and because he was little of stature4 ,alas6 how many are kept from seeing ,,christ in glory1 by reason of the press6 ,i mean1 how many are ashamed of being singularly good1 and therefore follow a multitude to do evil1 because they have a press or throng of polite acquaintance6 ,and1 for fear of being set at nought by those with whom they used to sit at meat1 they deny the ,,lord of glory1 and are ashamed to confess him before men4 ,this base1 this servile fear of man1 is the bane of true christianity2 it brings a dreadful snare upon the soul1 and is the ruin of ten thousands3 for ,i am fully persuaded1 numbers are rationally convicted of gospel-truths2 but1 not being able to brook contempt1 they will not prosecute their convictions1 nor reduce them to practice4 ,happy those1 who in this respect1 like ,zaccheus1 are resolved to overcome all impediments that lie in their way to a sight of ,,christ3 for1 finding he could not see ,,christ because of the press and the littleness of his natural stature1 he did not smite upon his breast1 and depart1 saying1 8,it is in vain to seek after a sight of him any longer1 ,i can never attain unto it40 ,no1 finding he could not see ,,christ1 if he continued in the midst of1 8he ran before the multitude1 and climbed up into a sycamore-tree1 to see him2 for he was to pass that way40 ,there is no seeing ,,christ in ,glory1 unless we run before the multitude1 and are willing to be in the number of those despised few1 who take the kingdom of ,,god by violence4 ,the broad way1 in which so many go1 can never be that strait and narrow way which leads to life4 ,our ,,lord's flock was1 and always will be1 comparatively a little one3 and unless we dare to run before the multitude in a holy singularity1 and can rejoice in being accounted fools for ,,christ's sake1 we shall never see ,,jesus with comfort1 when he appears in glory4 ,from mentioning the sycamore-tree1 and considering the difficulty with which ,zaccheus must climb it1 we may farther learn1 that those who would see ,,christ1 must undergo other difficulties and hardships1 besides contempt4 ,zaccheus1 without doubt1 went through both4 ,did not many1 think you1 laugh at him as he ran along1 and in the language of ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 cry out1 8,how glorious did the rich ,zaccheus look to-day1 when1 forgetting the greatness of his station1 he ran before a pitiful1 giddy mob1 and climbed up a sycamore-tree1 to see an enthusiastic preacher60 ,but ,zaccheus cares not for all that2 his curiosity was strong3 if he could but see who ,,jesus was1 he did not value what scoffers said of him4 ,thus1 and much more will it be with all those who have an effectual desire to see ,,jesus in heaven3 they will go on from strength to strength1 break through every difficulty lying in their way1 and care not what men or devils say of or do unto them4 ,may the ,,lord make us all thus minded1 for his dear ,son's sake6 ,at length1 after taking much pains1 and going 7as we may well suppose7 through much contempt1 ,zaccheus has climbed the tree2 and there he sits1 as he thinks1 hid in the leaves of it1 and watching when he should see ,,jesus pass by3 8,for he was to pass by that way40 ,but sing1 ,o heavens1 and rejoice1 ,o earth6 ,praise1 magnify1 and adore sovereign1 electing1 free1 preventing love2 ,,jesus the everlasting ,,god1 the ,prince of peace1 who saw ,nathanael under the fig-tree1 and ,zaccheus from eternity1 now sees him in the sycamore-tree1 and calls him in time4 ,verse #e4 8,and when ,,jesus came to the place1 he looked up1 and saw him1 and said unto him1 ,zaccheus1 make haste and come down2 for this day ,i must abide at thy house40 ,amazing love6 ,well might ,luke usher in the account with 8behold60 ,it is worthy of our highest admiration4 ,when ,zaccheus thought of no such thing1 nay1 thought that ,,christ ,,jesus did not know him2 behold1 ,,christ does what we never hear he did before or after1 ,i mean1 invite himself to the house of ,zaccheus1 saying1 8,zaccheus1 make haste and come down2 for this day ,i must abide at thy house40 ,not pray let me abide1 but ,i must abide this day at thy house4 ,he also calls him by name1 as though he was well acquainted with him3 and indeed well he might2 for his name was written in the book of life1 he was one of those whom the ,father had given him from all eternity3 therefore he must abide at his house that day4 8,for whom he did predestinate1 them he also called40 ,here then1 as through a glass1 we may see the doctrine of free grace evidently exemplified before us4 ,here was no fitness in ,zaccheus4 ,he was a ,publican1 chief among the ,publicans2 not only so1 but rich1 and came to see ,,christ only out of curiosity3 but sovereign grace triumphs over all4 ,and if we do ,,god justice1 and are effectually wrought upon1 we must acknowledge there was no more fitness in us than in ,zaccheus2 and1 had not ,,christ prevented us by his call1 we had remained dead in trespasses and sins1 and alienated from the divine life1 even as others4 8,,jesus looked up1 and saw him1 and said unto him1 ,zaccheus1 make haste and come down2 for this day ,i must abide at thy house40 8,zacchues0 replaced with 8,zaccheus0 ,with what different emotions of heart may we suppose ,zaccheus received this invitation8 ,think you not that he was surprised to hear ,,jesus ,,christ call him by name1 and not only so1 but invite himself to his house8 ,surely1 thinks ,zaccheus1 ,i dream3 it cannot be2 how should he know me8 ,i never saw him before3 besides1 ,i shall undergo much contempt1 if ,i receive him under my roof4 ,thus1 ,i say1 we may suppose ,zaccheus thought within himself4 ,but what saith the scripture8 8,i will make a willing people in the day of my power40 ,with this outward call1 there went an efficacious power from ,,god1 which sweetly over-ruled his natural will3 and therefore1 verse #f4 8,he made haste1 and came down1 and received him joyfully20 not only into his house1 but also into his heart4 ,thus it is the great ,,god brings home his children4 ,he calls them by name1 by his word or providence2 he speaks to them also by his spirit4 ,hereby they are enabled to open their hearts1 and are made willing to receive the ,king of glory4 ,for ,zaccheus's sake1 let us not entirely condemn people that come under the word1 out of no better principle than curiosity4 ,who knows but ,,god may call them8 ,it is good to be where the ,,lord is passing by4 ,may all who are now present out of this principle1 hear the voice of the ,son of ,,god speaking to their souls1 and so hear that they may live6 ,not that men ought therefore to take encouragement to come out of curiosity4 ,for perhaps a thousand more1 at other times1 came to see ,,christ out of curiosity1 as well as ,zaccheus1 who were not effectually called by his grace4 ,i only mention this for the encouragement of my own soul1 and the consolation of ,,god's children1 who are too apt to be angry with those who do not attend on the word out of love to ,,god3 but let them alone4 ,brethren1 pray for them4 ,how do you know but ,,jesus ,,christ may speak to their hearts8 ,a few words from ,,christ1 applied by his spirit1 will save their souls4 8,zaccheus1 says ,,christ1 make haste and come down4 ,and he made haste1 and came down1 and received him joyfully40 ,i have observed1 in holy scripture1 how particularly it is remarked1 that persons rejoiced upon believing in ,,christ4 ,thus the converted ,eunuch went on his way rejoicing2 thus the ,jaylor rejoiced with his whole house2 thus ,zaccheus received ,,christ joyfully4 ,and well may those rejoice who receive ,,jesus ,,christ2 for with him they receive righteousness1 sanctification1 and eternal redemption4 ,many have brought up an ill report upon our good land1 and would fain persuade people that religion will make them melancholy mad4 ,so far from it1 that joy is one ingredient of the kingdom of ,,god in the heart of a believer2 8,the kingdom of ,,god is righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost40 ,to rejoice in the ,,lord1 is a gospel-duty4 8,rejoice in the ,,lord always1 and again ,i say1 rejoice40 ,and who can be so joyful1 as those who know that their pardon is sealed before they go hence and are no more seen8 ,the godly may1 but ,i cannot see how any ungodly men can1 rejoice3 they cannot be truly cheerful4 ,what if wicked men may sometimes have laughter amongst them8 ,it is only the laughter of fools2 in the midst of it there is heaviness3 ,at the best1 it is but like the crackling of thorns under a pot2 it makes a blaze1 but soon goes out4 ,but1 as for the godly1 it is not so with them2 their joy is solid and lasting4 ,as it is a joy that a stranger intermeddleth not with1 so it is a joy that no man taketh from them3 it is a joy in ,,god1 a 8joy unspeakable and full of glory40 ,it should seem that ,zaccheus was under soul-distress but a little while2 perhaps 7says ,guthrie1 in his book intituled1 ,the ,trial concerning a saving ,interest in ,christ7 not above a quarter of an hour4 ,i add1 perhaps not so long3 for1 as one observes1 sometimes the ,,lord ,,jesus delights to deliver speedily4 ,,god is a sovereign agent1 and works upon his children in their effectual calling1 according to the counsel of his eternal will4 ,it is with the spiritual1 as natural birth3 all women have not the like pangs2 all christians have not the like degree of conviction4 ,but all agree in this1 that all have ,,jesus ,,christ formed in their hearts3 and those who have not so many trials at first1 may be visited with the greater conflicts hereafter2 though they never come into bondage again1 after they have once received the spirit of adoption4 8,we have not1 7says ,paul7 received the spirit of bondage again unto fear40 ,we know not what ,zaccheus underwent before he died3 however1 this one thing ,i know1 he now believed in ,,christ1 and was justified1 or acquitted1 and looked upon as righteous in ,,god's sight1 though a ,publican1 chief among the ,publicans1 not many moments before4 ,and thus it is with all1 that1 like ,zaccheus1 receive ,,jesus ,,christ by faith into their hearts3 the very moment they find rest in him1 they are freely justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of ,moses2 8for by grace are we saved1 through faith1 and that not of ourselves1 it is the gift of ,,god40 ,say not within yourselves1 this is a licentious ,antinomian doctrine2 for this faith1 if true1 will work by love1 and be productive of the fruits of holiness4 ,see an instance in this convert ,zaccheus3 no sooner had he received ,,jesus ,,christ by faith into his heart1 but he evidences it by his works2 for1 verse #h4 we are told1 8,zaccheus stood forth1 and said unto the ,,lord1 ,behold1 ,,lord1 the half of my goods ,i give unto the poor2 and if ,i have taken any thing from any man by false accusation1 ,i restore him four-fold40 ,having believed on ,,jesus in his heart1 he now makes confession of him with his mouth to salvation4 8,zaccheus stood forth30 he was not ashamed1 but stood forth before his brother ,publicans2 for true faith casts out all servile1 sinful fear of man2 8and said1 ,behold1 ,,lord40 ,it is remarkable1 how readily people in scripture have owned the divinity of ,,christ immediately upon their conversion4 ,thus the woman at ,jacob's well2 8,is not this the ,,christ80 ,thus the man born blind2 8,,lord1 ,i believe2 and worshipped him40 ,thus ,zaccheus1 8,behold1 ,,lord40 ,an incontestable proof this to me1 that those who deny our ,,lord's divinity1 never effectually felt his power3 if they had1 they would not speak so lightly of him2 they would scorn to deny his eternal power and ,godhead4 8,zaccheus stood forth1 and said1 ,behold1 ,,lord1 the half of my goods ,i give to the poor2 and if ,i have taken any thing from any man by false accusation1 ,i restore him four-fold40 ,noble fruits of a true living faith in the ,,lord ,,jesus6 ,every word calls for our notice4 ,not some small1 not the tenth part1 but the half4 ,of what8 ,my goods2 things that were valuable4 ,my goods1 his own1 not another's4 ,i give3 not1 ,i will give when ,i die1 when ,i can keep them no longer2 but1 ,i give now1 even now4 ,zaccheus would be his own executor4 ,for whilst we have time we should do good4 ,but to whom would he give half of his goods8 ,not to the rich1 not to those who were already clothed in purple and fine linen1 of whom he might be recompensed again2 but to the poor1 the maimed1 the halt1 the blind1 from which he could expect no recompence till the resurrection of the dead4 8,i give to the poor40 ,but knowing that he must be just before he could be charitable1 and conscious to himself that in his public administrations he had wronged many persons1 he adds1 8,and if ,i have taken any thing from any man by false accusation1 ,i restore him four-fold40 ,hear ye this1 all ye that make no conscience of cheating the king of his taxes1 or of buying or selling run goods4 ,if ever ,,god gives you true faith1 you will never rest1 till1 like ,zaccheus1 you have made restitution to the utmost of your power4 ,i suppose1 before his conversion1 he thought it no harm to cheat thus1 no more than you may do now1 and pleased himself frequently1 to be sure1 that he got rich by doing so3 but now he is grieved for it at his heart2 he confesses his injustice before men1 and promises to make ample restitution4 ,go ye cheating ,publicans1 learn of ,zaccheus2 go away and do likewise4 ,if you do not make restitution here1 the ,,lord ,,jesus shall make you confess your sins before men and angels1 and condemn you for it1 when he comes in the glory of his ,father to judgment hereafter4 ,after all this1 with good reason might our ,,lord say unto him1 8,this day is salvation come to this house2 forasmuch as he also is the ,son of ,abraham20 not so much by a natural as by a spiritual birth4 ,he was made partaker of like precious faith with ,abraham3 like ,abraham he believed on the ,,lord1 and it was accounted to him for righteousness3 his faith1 like ,abraham's1 worked by love2 and ,i doubt not1 but he has been long since sitting in ,abraham's harbour4 ,and now1 are you not ashamed of yourselves1 who speak against the doctrines of grace1 especially that doctrine of being justified by faith alone1 as though it leaded to licentiousness8 ,what can be more unjust than such a charge8 ,is not the instance of ,zaccheus1 a sufficient proof to the contrary8 ,have ,i strained it to serve my own turn8 ,,god forbid4 ,to the best of my knowledge ,i have spoken the truth in sincerity1 and the truth as it is in ,,jesus4 ,i do affirm that we are saved by grace1 and that we are justified by faith alone3 but ,i do also affirm that faith must be evidenced by good works1 where there is an opportunity of performing them4 ,what therefore has been said of ,zaccheus1 may serve as a rule1 whereby all may judge whether they have faith or not4 ,you say you have faith2 but how do you prove it8 ,did you ever hear the ,,lord ,,jesus call you by name8 ,were you ever made to obey that call8 ,did you ever1 like ,zaccheus1 receive ,,jesus ,,christ joyfully into your hearts8 ,are you influenced by the faith you say you have1 to stand up and confess the ,,lord ,,jesus before men8 ,were you ever made willing to own1 and humble yourselves for1 your past offences8 ,does your faith work by love1 so that you conscientiously lay up1 according as ,,god has prospered you1 for the support of the poor8 ,do you give alms of all things that you possess8 ,and have you made due restitution to those you have wronged8 ,if so1 happy are ye2 salvation is come to your souls1 you are sons1 you are daughters of1 you shall shortly be everlastingly blessed with1 faithful ,abraham4 ,but1 if you are not thus minded1 do not deceive your own souls4 ,though you may talk of justification by faith1 like angels1 it will do you no good2 it will only increase your damnation4 ,you hold the truth1 but it is in unrighteousness3 your faith being without works1 is dead3 you have the devil1 not ,abraham1 for your father4 ,unless you get a faith of the heart1 a faith working by love1 with devils and damned spirits shall you dwell for evermore4 ,but it is time now to enforce the latter part of the text2 8,for the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost40 ,these words are spoken by our ,saviour in answer to some self-righteous ,pharisees1 who1 instead of rejoicing with the angels in heaven1 at the conversion of such a sinner1 murmured1 8,that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner40 ,to vindicate his conduct1 he tells them1 that this was an act agreeable to the design of his coming3 8,for the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost40 ,he might have said1 the ,son of ,,god4 ,but ,o the wonderful condescension of our ,redeemer6 ,he delights to stile himself the ,son of man4 ,he came not only to save1 but to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,he came to ,jericho to seek and save ,zaccheus2 for otherwise ,zaccheus would never have been saved by him4 ,but from whence came he8 ,even from heaven1 his dwelling-place1 to this lower earth1 this vale of tears1 to seek and save that which was lost2 or all that feel themselves lost1 and are willing1 like ,zaccheus1 to receive him into their hearts to save them2 with how great a salvation8 ,even from the guilt1 and also from the power of their sins2 to make them heirs of ,,god1 and joint heirs with himself1 and partakers of that glory which he enjoyed with the ,father before the world began4 ,thus will the ,son of man save that which is lost4 ,he was made the son of man1 on purpose that he might save them4 ,he had no other end but this in leaving his ,father's throne1 in obeying the moral law1 and hanging upon the cross3 all that was done and suffered1 merely to satisfy1 and procure a righteousness for poor1 lost1 undone sinners1 and that too without respect of persons4 8,that which was lost20 all of every nation and language1 that feel1 bewail1 and are truly desirous of being delivered from their lost state1 did the ,son of man come down to seek and to save3 for he is mighty1 not only so1 but willing1 to save to the uttermost all that come to ,,god through him4 ,he will in no wise cast them out3 for he is the same to-day1 as he was yesterday4 ,he comes now to sinners1 as well as formerly2 and1 ,i hope1 hath sent me out this day to seek1 and1 under him1 to bring home some of you1 the lost sheep of the house of ,israel4 ,what say you8 ,shall ,i go home rejoicing1 saying1 ,that many like sheep have went astray1 but they have now believed on ,,jesus ,,christ1 and so returned home to the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of their souls8 ,if the ,,lord would be pleased thus to prosper my handy-work1 ,i care not how many legalists and self-righteous pharisees murmur against me1 for offering salvation to the worst of sinners3 for ,i know the ,son of man came to seek and to save them2 and the ,,lord ,,jesus will now be a guest to the worst ,publican1 the vilest sinner that is amongst you1 if he does but believe on him4 ,make haste then1 ,o sinners1 make haste1 and come by faith to ,,christ4 ,then1 this day1 even this hour1 nay1 this moment1 if you believe1 ,,jesus ,,christ shall come and make his eternal abode in your hearts4 ,which of you is made willing to receive the ,king of glory8 ,which of you obeys the call1 as ,zaccheus did8 ,alas6 why do you stand still8 ,how know you1 whether ,,jesus ,,christ may ever call you again8 ,come then1 poor1 guilty sinners2 come away1 poor1 lost1 undone publicans3 make haste1 ,i say1 and come away to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the ,,lord condescends to invite himself to come under the filthy roofs of the houses of your souls4 ,do not be afraid of entertaining him2 he will fill you with all peace and joy in believing4 ,do not be ashamed to run before the multitude1 and to have all manner of evil spoke against you falsly for his sake3 one sight of ,,christ will make amends for all4 ,zaccheus was laughed at2 and all that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution4 ,but what of that8 ,zaccheus is now crowned in glory2 as you also shall shortly be1 if you believe on1 and are reproached for ,,christ's sake4 ,do not1 therefore1 put me off with frivolous excuses3 there's no excuse can be given for your not coming to ,,christ4 ,you are lost1 undone1 without him2 and if he is not glorified in your salvation1 he will be glorified in your destruction2 if he does not come and make his abode in your hearts1 you must take up an eternal abode with the devil and his angels4 ,o that the ,,lord would be pleased to pass by some of you at this time6 ,o that he may call you by his ,spirit1 and make you a willing people in this day of his power6 ,for ,i know my calling will not do1 unless he1 by his efficacious grace1 compel you to come in4 ,o that you once felt what it is to receive ,,jesus ,,christ into your hearts6 ,you would soon1 like ,zaccheus1 give him every thing4 ,you do not love ,,christ1 because you do not know him2 you do not come to him1 because you do not feel your want of him3 you are whole1 and not broken hearted2 you are not sick1 at least not sensible of your sickness2 and1 therefore1 no wonder you do not apply to ,,jesus ,,christ1 that great1 that almighty physician4 ,you do not feel yourselves lost1 and therefore do not seek to be found in ,,christ4 ,o that ,,god would wound you with the sword of his ,spirit1 and cause his arrows of conviction to stick deep in your hearts6 ,o that he would dart a ray of divine light into your souls6 ,for if you do not feel yourselves lost without ,,christ1 you are of all men most miserable3 your souls are dead2 you are not only an image of hell1 but in some degree hell itself3 you carry hell about with you1 and you know it not4 ,o that ,i could see some of you sensible of this1 and hear you cry out1 8,,lord1 break this hard heart2 ,,lord1 deliver me from the body of this death2 draw me1 ,,lord1 make me willing to come after thee2 ,i am lost2 ,,lord1 save me1 or ,i perish60 ,was this your case1 how soon would the ,,lord stretch forth his almighty hand1 and say1 ,be of good cheer1 it is ,i2 be not afraid8 ,what a wonderful calm would then possess your troubled souls6 ,your fellowship would then be with the ,father and the ,son3 your life would be hid with ,,christ in ,,god4 ,some of you1 ,i hope1 have experienced this1 and can say1 ,i was lost1 but ,i am found2 ,i was dead1 but am alive again3 the ,son of man came and sought me in the day of his power1 and saved my sinful soul4 ,and do you repent that you came to ,,christ8 ,has he not been a good master8 ,is not his presence sweet to your souls8 ,has he not been faithful to his promise8 ,and have you not found1 that even in doing and suffering for him1 there is an exceeding present great reward8 ,i am persuaded you will answer1 ,yes4 ,o then1 ye saints1 recommend and talk of the love of ,,christ to others1 and tell them1 ,o tell them what great things the ,,lord has done for you6 ,this may encourage others to come unto him4 ,and who knows but the ,,lord may make you fishers of men8 ,the story of ,zaccheus was left on record for this purpose4 ,no truly convicted soul1 after such an instance of divine grace has been laid before him1 need despair of mercy4 ,what if you are ,publicans8 ,was not ,zaccheus a ,publican8 ,what if you are chief among the ,publicans8 ,was not ,zaccheus likewise8 ,what if you are rich8 ,was not ,zaccheus rich also8 ,and yet almighty grace made him more than conqueror over all these hindrances4 ,all things are possible to ,,jesus ,,christ2 nothing is too hard for him3 he is the ,,lord almighty4 ,our mountains of sins must all fall before this great ,zerubbabel4 ,on him ,,god the ,father has laid the iniquities of all that shall believe on him2 and in his own body he bare them on the tree4 ,there1 there1 by faith1 ,o mourners in ,sion1 may you see your ,saviour hanging with arms stretched out1 and hear him1 as it were1 thus speaking to your souls2 8,behold how ,i have loved you6 ,behold my hands and my feet6 ,look1 look into my wounded side1 and see a heart flaming with love3 love stronger than death4 ,come into my arms1 ,o sinners1 come wash your spotted souls in my heart's blood4 ,see here is a fountain opened for all sin and all uncleanness6 ,see1 ,o guilty souls1 how the wrath of ,,god is now abiding upon you3 come1 haste away1 and hide yourselves in the clefts of my wounds2 for ,i am wounded for your transgressions2 ,i am dying that you may live for evermore4 ,behold1 as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 so am ,i here lifted up upon a tree4 ,see how ,i am become a curse for you3 the chastisement of your peace is upon me4 ,i am thus scourged1 thus wounded1 thus crucified1 that you by my stripes may be healed4 ,o look unto me1 all ye trembling sinners1 even to the ends of the earth6 ,look unto me by faith1 and you shall be saved3 for ,i came thus to be obedient even unto death1 that ,i might save that which was lost40 ,and what say you to this1 ,o sinners8 ,suppose you saw the ,king of glory dying1 and thus speaking to you2 would you believe on him8 ,no1 you would not1 unless you believe on him now3 for though he is dead1 he yet speaketh all this in the scripture2 nay1 in effect1 says all this in the words of the text1 8,the ,son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost40 ,do not therefore any longer crucify the ,,lord of glory4 ,bring those rebels1 your sins1 which will not have him to reign over them1 bring them out to him3 though you cannot slay them yourselves1 yet he will slay them for you4 ,the power of his death and resurrection is as great now as formerly4 ,make haste therefore1 make haste1 ,o ye publicans and sinners1 and give the dear ,,lord ,,jesus your hearts1 your whole hearts4 ,if you refuse to hearken to this call of the ,,lord1 remember your damnation will be just3 ,i am free from the blood of you all3 you must acquit my ,master and me at the terrible day of judgment4 ,o that you may know the things that belong to your everlasting peace1 before they are eternally hid from your eyes6 ,let all that love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in sincerity say1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xxxvi4 ,the ,marriage of ,cana4 ,,john ii4 #aa4 ,this beginning of miracles did ,,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and manifested forth his glory2 and his disciples believed on him4 ,i ,,have more than once had occasion to observe1 that the chief end ,st4 ,john had in view1 when he wrote his gospel1 was to prove the divinity of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that ,,word1 who not only was from everlasting with ,,god1 but also was really ,,god blessed for evermore against those arch-heretics ,ebion and ,corinthus1 whose pernicious principles too many follow in these last days4 ,for this purpose1 you may take notice1 that he is more particular than any other ,evangelist1 in relating our ,,lord's divine discourses1 as also the glorious miracles which he wrought1 not by a power derived from another1 like ,moses1 and other prophets1 but from a power inherent in himself4 ,the words of the text have a reference to a notable miracle which ,,christ performed1 and thereby gave proof of his eternal power and ,godhead4 8,this beginning of miracles did ,,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee1 and manifested forth his glory2 and his disciples believed on him40 ,the miracle here spoken of1 is that of our ,,lord's turning water into wine at a marriage feast4 ,i design1 at present1 by ,,god's help1 to make some observations on the circumstances and certainty of the miracle1 and then conclude with some practical instructions2 that you1 by hearing how ,,jesus ,,christ has shewed forth his glory1 may1 by the operation of ,,god's ,spirit upon your hearts1 with the disciples mentioned in the text1 be brought to believe on him4 ,first1 then1 ,i would make some observations on the miracle itself4 ,verse #a and #b4 8,and the third day there was a marriage in ,cana of ,galilee2 and the mother of ,,jesus was there4 ,and both ,,jesus was called1 and his disciples1 to the marriage40 ,by our ,,lord's being at a feast we may learn1 that feasting upon solemn occasions is not absolutely unlawful3 but then we must be exceeding careful at such seasons1 that the occasion be solemn1 and that we go not for the sake of eating and drinking1 but to edify one another in love4 ,feasting in any other manner1 ,i think absolutely unlawful for the followers of ,,jesus ,,christ3 because if we eat and drink out of any other view1 it cannot be to the glory of ,,god4 ,the ,son of man1 we know1 8came eating and drinking40 ,if a pharisee asked him to come to his house1 our ,,lord went1 and sat down with him4 ,but then we find his discourse was always such as tended to the use of edifying4 ,we may then1 no doubt1 go and do likewise4 ,we may observe farther1 that if our ,,lord was present at a marriage feast1 then1 to deny marriage to any order of men1 is certainly a 8doctrine of devils40 8,marriage 7says the ,apostle7 is honourable in all40 ,our ,,lord graced a marriage feast with his first public miracle4 ,it was an institution of ,,god himself1 even in paradise3 and therefore1 no doubt1 lawful for all christians1 even for those who are made perfect in holiness through the faith of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,but then1 we may learn the reason why we have so many unhappy marriages in the world2 it is because the parties concerned do not call ,,jesus ,,christ by prayer1 nor ask the advice of his true disciples when they are about to marry3 ,no2 ,,christ and religion are the last things that are consulted3 and no wonder then if matches of the devil's making 7as all such are1 which are contracted only on account of outward beauty1 or for filthy lucre's sake7 prove most miserable1 and grievous to be borne4 ,i cannot but dwell a little on this particular1 because ,i am persuaded the devil cannot lay a greater snare for young christians1 than to tempt them unequally to yoke themselves with unbelievers3 as are all who are not born again of ,,god4 ,this was the snare wherein the sons of ,,god were entangled before the flood1 and one great cause why ,god brought that flood upon the world4 ,for what says ,moses1 ,genesis vi4 #b1 #c4 8,the sons of ,,god 7the posterity of pious ,seth7 saw the daughters of men1 7or the posterity of wicked ,cain7 that they were fair1 7not that they were pious7 and they took them wives of all which they chose30 not which ,,god chose for them4 ,what follows8 8,and the ,,lord said1 ,my spirit shall not always strive with man1 for that he also is flesh20 that is1 even the few righteous souls being now grown carnal by their ungodly marriages1 the whole world was altogether become abominable1 and had made themselves vessels of wrath fitted for destruction4 ,i might instance farther1 the care the ancient patriarchs took to chuse wives for their children out of their own religious families2 and it was one great mark of ,esau's rebellion against his father1 that he took unto himself wives of the daughters of the ,canaanites1 who were strangers to the covenant of promise made unto his fathers4 ,but ,i forbear4 ,time will not permit me to enlarge here4 ,let it suffice to advise all1 whenever they enter into a marriage state1 to imitate the people of ,cana in ,galilee1 to call ,,christ to the marriage3 ,he certainty will hear and chuse for you2 and you will always find his choice to be the best4 ,he then will direct you to such yoke-fellows as shall be helps meet for you in the great work of your salvation1 and then he will also enable you to serve him without distraction1 and cause you to walk1 as ,zachary and ,elizabeth1 in all his commandments and ordinances blameless4 ,but to proceed4 ,who these persons were that called our ,,lord and his disciples to the marriage1 is not certain4 ,some 7because it is said1 that the mother of ,,jesus was there7 have supposed that they were related to the ,virgin1 and that therefore our ,,lord and his disciples were invited on her account4 ,however that be1 it should seem they were not very rich1 7for what had rich folks to do with a despised ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 and his mean followers87 because we find they were unfurnished with a sufficient quantity of wine for a large company1 and therefore1 8when they wanted wine1 the mother of ,,jesus10 having1 as it should seem by her applying to him so readily on this occasion1 even in his private life1 seen some instances of his miraculous power1 8saith unto him1 ,they have no wine40 ,she thought it sufficient only to inform him of the wants of the host1 knowing that he was as ready to give as she to ask4 ,in this light the blessed ,virgin's request appears to us at the first view2 but if we examine our ,,lord's answer1 we shall have reason to think there was something which was not right2 for ,,jesus saith unto her1 verse #d4 8,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee80 ,observe1 he calls her woman1 not mother2 to shew her1 that though she was his mother1 as he was man1 yet she was his creature1 as he was ,,god4 8,what have ,i to do with thee80 ,think you that ,i must work miracles at your bidding8 ,some have thought that she spoke as though she had an authority over him1 which was a proud motion1 and our ,,lord therefore checks her for it4 ,and if ,,jesus ,,christ would not turn a little water into wine1 whilst he was here on earth1 at her command1 how idolatrous is that church1 and how justly do we separate from her1 which prescribes forms1 wherein the ,virgin is desired to command her ,son to have compassion on us6 ,but notwithstanding the holy ,virgin was blameable in this respect1 yet she hath herein set rich and poor an example which it is your duty to follow4 ,you that are rich1 and live in cieled houses1 learn of her to go into the cottages of the poor2 your ,,lord was not above it1 and why should you8 ,and when you do visit them1 like the virgin-mother1 examine their wants2 and when you see they have no wine1 and are ready to perish with hunger1 shut not up your bowels of compassion1 but bless the ,,lord for putting it in your power to administer to their necessities4 ,believe me1 such visits would do you good4 ,you would learn then to be thankful that ,,god has given you bread enough1 and to spare4 ,and ,i am persuaded1 every mite that you bestow on feeding the hungry and cloathing the naked disciples of ,,jesus ,,christ1 will afford you more satisfaction at the hour of death1 and in the day of judgment1 than all the thousands squandered away in balls and assemblies1 and such-like entertainments4 ,you that are poor in this world's goods1 and thereby are disabled from helping1 yet you may learn from the ,virgin1 to pray for one another4 ,she could not turn the water into wine1 but she could entreat her son to do it3 and so may you2 and doubt not of the ,,lord's hearing you2 for ,,god has chosen the poor in this world1 rich in faith3 and by your fervent prayers1 you may draw down many a blessing on your poor fellow creatures4 ,o that ,i may ever be remembered by you before the throne of our dear ,,lord ,,jesus6 ,but what shall we say8 ,will our ,,lord entirely disregard this motion of his mother8 ,no2 though he check her with1 8,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee80 yet he intimates that he would do as she desired by-and-by3 8,mine hour is not yet come40 ,as though he had said1 ,the wine is almost1 but not quite out2 when they are come to an extremity1 and sensible of the want of my assistance1 then will ,i shew forth my glory1 that they may behold it1 and believe on me4 ,thus1 ,sirs1 hath our ,,lord been frequently pleased to deal with me1 and1 ,i doubt not1 with many of you also4 ,often1 often when ,i have found his presence as it were hidden from my soul1 and his comforts well nigh gone1 ,i have went unto him complaining that ,i had no visit and token of his love1 as usual4 ,sometimes he has seemed to turn a deaf ear to my request1 and as it were said1 8,what have ,i to do with thee80 which has made me go sorrowing all the day long2 so foolish was ,i1 and faithless before him3 for ,i have always found he loved me notwithstanding1 as he did ,lazarus1 though he stayed two days after he heard he was sick4 ,but when my hour of extremity has been come1 and my will broken1 then hath he lifted up the light of his blessed countenance afresh2 he has shewed forth his glory1 and made me ashamed for disbelieving him1 who often hath turned my water into wine4 ,be not then discouraged1 if the ,,lord does not immediately seem to regard the voice of your prayer1 when you cry unto him4 ,the holy ,virgin we find was not2 no1 she was convinced his time was the best time1 and therefore1 verse #e4 8saith unto the servants1 7,o that we could follow her advice67 whatsoever he saith unto you1 do it40 ,and now1 behold the hour is come1 when the eternal ,son of ,,god will shew forth his glory4 ,the circumstance of the miracle is very remarkable2 verse #f4 8,and there were set six water-pots of water1 after the manner of the purifying of the ,jews1 containing two or three firkins a-piece40 ,the manner of this purifying we have an account of in the other ,evangelists1 especially ,st4 ,mark1 who informs us1 that the pharisees1 and all the ,jews1 except they wash their hands oft1 eat not2 and when they come from the market1 except they wash they eat not4 ,this was a superstitious custom2 but1 however1 we may learn from it1 whenever we come in from conversing with those that are without1 to purify our hearts by self-examination and prayer2 for it is hard to go through the world1 and to be kept unspotted from it4 ,observe further1 verse #g4 8,,jesus saith unto them10 not to his own disciples1 but unto the servants of the house1 who were strangers to the holy ,,jesus1 and whom the virgin had before charged to do whatsoever he said unto them2 8,fill the water-pots with water4 ,and they filled them to the brim4 ,and he saith unto them1 draw out now1 and bear to the governor of the feast4 ,and they bear it40 ,how our ,,lord turned the water into wine we are not told4 ,what have we to do with that8 ,why should we desire to be wise above what is written8 ,it is sufficient for the manifestation of his glorious godhead1 that we are assured he did do it4 ,for we are told1 verse #i1 #aj4 8,when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine1 and knew not whence it was 7but the servants that drew the water knew7 the governor of the feast called the bridegroom1 and saith unto him1 every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine1 and when they have well drunk1 that which is worse2 but thou hast kept the good wine until now40 ,to explain this passage1 you must observe1 it was the custom of the ,jews1 nay even of the heathens themselves1 7to the shame of our christian baptized heathens be it spoken7 at their public feasts to chuse a governor1 who was to oversee and regulate the behaviour of the guests1 and to take care that all things were carried on with decency and order4 ,to this person then did the servants bear the wine2 and we may judge how rich it was by his commendation of it1 8,every man at the beginning1 c40 ,judge ye then1 whether ,,jesus did not shew forth his glory1 and whether you have not good reason1 like the disciples here mentioned1 to believe on him8 ,thus1 my brethren1 ,i have endeavoured to make some observations on the miracle itself4 ,but alas6 this is only the outward court thereof1 the veil is yet before our eyes2 turn that aside1 and we shall see such mysteries under it1 as will make our hearts to dance for joy1 and fill our mouths with praise for evermore6 ,but here ,i cannot help remarking what a sad inference one of our masters of ,israel1 in a printed sermon1 has lately drawn from this commendation of the bridegroom4 ,his words are these4 8,our blessed ,saviour came eating and drinking1 was present at weddings1 and other entertainments1 7though ,i hear of his being only at one27 nay1 at one of them 7which ,i suppose is that of which ,i am now discoursing7 worked a miracle to make wine1 when it is plain there had been more drank than was absolutely necessary for the support of nature1 and consequently something had been indulged to pleasure and chearfulness40 ,see ,dr4 ,trap's sermon against being righteous over-much1 page #ag4 ,i am sorry such words should come from the mouth and pen of a dignified clergyman of the ,church of ,england4 ,alas6 how is she fallen6 or at least1 in what danger must her tottering ark be1 when such unhallowed hands are stretched out to support it6 ,well may ,i bear patiently to be stiled a blasphemer1 and a setter forth of strange doctrines1 when my dear ,,lord ,,jesus is thus traduced2 and when those who pretend to preach in his name1 urge this example to patronize licentiousness and excess4 ,it is true 7as ,i observed at the beginning of this discourse7 our blessed ,saviour did come eating and drinking2 he was present at a wedding1 and other entertainments2 nay1 at one of them worked a miracle to make wine1 7you see ,i have been making some observations on it7 but then it is not plain there had been more wine drank than was absolutely necessary for the support of nature2 much less does it appear1 that something had been indulged to pleasure and chearfulness4 8charfulness0 replaced with 8chearfulness0 ,the governor does indeed say1 8,when men have well drunken10 but it no where appears that they were the men4 ,is it to be supposed1 that the most holy and unspotted ,lamb of ,,god1 who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil1 and who1 when at a ,pharisee's house1 took notice of even the gestures cf those with whom he sat at meat2 is it to be supposed1 that our dear ,redeemer1 whose constant practice it was to tell people they must deny themselves1 and take up their crosses daily2 who bid his disciples to take heed1 lest at any time their hearts might be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness2 can it be supposed1 that such a self-denying ,,jesus should now turn six large water-pots of water into the richest wine1 to encourage excess and drunkenness in persons1 who1 according to this writer1 had indulged to pleasure and chearfulness already8 ,had our ,,lord sat by1 and seen them indulge1 without telling them of it1 would it not be a sin8 ,but to insinuate he not only did this1 but also turned water into wine1 to increase that indulgence2 this is making ,,christ a minister of sin indeed4 ,what is this1 but using him like the ,pharisees of old1 who called him a glutton1 and a wine-bibber8 ,alas6 how may we expect our dear ,,lord's enemies will treat him1 when he is thus wounded in the house of his seeming friends8 ,sirs1 if you follow such doctrine as this1 you will not be righteous1 but ,i am persuaded you will be wicked over-much4 ,but ,,god forbid you should think our ,,lord behaved so much unlike himself in this matter4 ,no1 he had nobler ends in view1 when he wrought this miracle4 ,one1 the evangelist mentions in the words of the text1 8to shew forth his glory10 or to give a proof of his eternal power and godhead4 ,here seems to be an allusion to the appearance of ,,god in the tabernacle1 which this same evangelist takes notice of in his first chapter1 where he says1 8,the ,word 7,,jesus ,,christ7 was made flesh1 and dwelt 7or1 as it is rendered in the margin1 tabernacled7 amongst us40 ,our dear ,,lord1 though very ,,god of very ,,god1 and also most perfect and glorious in himself as man1 was pleased to throw a veil of flesh over this his great glory1 when he came to make his soul an offering for sin4 ,and that the world might know and believe in him as the ,saviour of all men1 he performed many miracles1 and this in particular2 for thus speaks the evangelist1 8,this first10 c4 ,this then was the chief design of our ,,lord's turning the water into wine4 ,but there are more which our ,,lord may be supposed to have had in view1 some of which ,i shall proceed to mention4 ,secondly1 he might do this to reward the host for calling him and his disciples to the marriage4 ,,jesus ,,christ will not be behind-hand with those who receive him or his followers1 for his name's sake4 ,those who thus honour him1 he will honour4 ,a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple1 shall in no wise lose its reward4 ,he will turn water into wine4 ,though those who abound in alms-deeds1 out of a true faith in1 and love for ,,jesus1 may seem as it were to throw their bread upon the waters1 yet they shall find it again after many days4 ,for they who give to the poor out of this principle1 lend unto the ,,lord2 and look1 whatsoever they lay out1 it shall be repaid them again4 ,even in this life1 ,,god often orders good measure pressed down and running over1 to be returned into his servants bosoms4 ,it is the same in spirituals4 ,to him that hath1 and improves what he hath1 for the sake of ,,christ and his disciples1 shall be given1 and he shall have abundance4 ,brethren1 ,i would not boast2 but1 to my master's honour and free grace be it spoken1 ,i can prove this to be true by happy experience4 ,when ,i have considered that ,i am a child1 and cannot speak1 and have seen so many of you come out into the wilderness to be fed1 ,i have often said within myself1 what can ,i do with my little stock of grace and knowledge among so great a multitude8 ,but1 at my ,,lord's command1 ,i have given you to eat of such spiritual food as ,i had1 and before ,i have done speaking1 have had my soul richly fed with the bread which cometh down from heaven4 ,thus shall it be done to all such who are willing to spend and be spent for ,,christ or his disciples2 for there is no respect of persons with ,,god4 ,thirdly1 ,our ,,lord's turning the water1 which was poured out so plentifully1 into wine1 is a sign of the plentiful pouring out of his ,spirit into the hearts of believers4 ,the holy ,spirit is in scripture compared unto wine2 and therefore the prophet calls us to buy wine as well as milk1 that is1 the spirit of love1 which fills and gladdens the soul as it were with new wine4 ,the apostle alludes to this1 when he bids the ,ephesians 8not to be drunk with wine1 wherein is excess1 but be filled with the ,spirit40 ,and our ,,lord shews us thus much by chusing wine2 to shew forth the strength and refreshment of his blood1 in the blessed sacrament4 ,i know these terms are unintelligible to natural men1 they can no more understand me1 than if ,i spake to them in an unknown tongue1 for they are only to be spiritually discerned4 ,to you then that are spiritual do ,i speak1 to you who are justified by faith1 and feel the blessed ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ working upon your hearts1 you can judge of what ,i say2 you have already 7,i am persuaded7 been as it were filled with new wine by the inspiration of his ,holy ,spirit4 ,but alas6 you have not yet had half your portion2 these are only earnests1 and in comparison but shadows of good things to come2 our ,,lord keeps his best wine for you till the last2 and though you have drank deep of it already1 yet he intends to give you more3 ,he will not leave you1 'till he has filled you to the brim1 'till you are ready to cry out1 ,,lord1 stay thine hand1 thy poor creatures can hold no more6 ,be not straitened in your own bowels1 since ,,jesus ,,christ is not straitened in his4 ,open your hearts as wide as ever you will1 the ,spirit of the ,,lord shall fill them4 ,,christ deals with true believers1 as ,elijah did with the poor woman1 whose oil increased1 to pay her husband's debts2 as long as she brought pitchers1 the oil continued4 ,it did not cease till she ceased bringing vessels to contain it4 ,my brethren1 our hearts are like those pitchers2 open them freely by faith1 and the oil of ,,god's free gift1 the oil of gladness1 the love of ,,god through ,,christ1 shall be continually pouring in2 for believers are to be filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,fourthly1 ,our ,,lord's turning water into wine1 and keeping the best until last1 may shew forth the glory of the latter days of his marriage feast with his church4 ,great things ,,god has done already1 whereat millions of saints have rejoiced1 and do yet rejoice4 ,great things ,,god is doing now1 but yet1 my brethren1 we shall see greater things than these4 ,it is meet1 right1 and our bounden duty1 to give thanks unto ,,god1 even the ,father2 for many righteous men have desired to see the things which we see1 and have not seen them2 and to hear the things which we hear1 and have not heard them4 ,but still there are more excellent things behind4 ,glorious things are spoken of these times1 8when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the ,,lord1 as the waters cover the sea40 ,there is a general expectation among the people of ,,god1 when the partition-wall between ,jew and ,gentile shall be broken down1 and all ,israel be saved4 ,happy those who live when ,,god does this4 ,they shall see ,satan1 like lightning1 fall from heaven4 ,they shall not weep1 as the ,jews did at the building of the second temple4 ,no1 they shall rejoice with exceeding great joy4 ,for all the former glory of the christian church shall be nothing in comparison of that glory which shall excel4 ,then shall they cry out with the governor of the feast1 8thou hast kept thy good wine until now60 ,fifthly1 and lastly1 ,this shews us the happiness of that blessed state1 when we shall all sit together at the marriage supper of the ,lamb1 and drink of the new wine in his eternal and glorious kingdom6 ,the rewards which ,,jesus ,,christ confers on his faithful servants1 and the comforts of his love wherewith he comforts them1 whilst pilgrims here on earth1 are often so exceeding great1 that was it not promised1 it were almost presumption for them to hope for any reward hereafter4 ,but1 my brethren1 all the manifestations of ,,god that we can possibly be favoured with here1 when compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us1 are no more than a drop of water when compared with an unbounded ocean4 ,though ,,christ frequently fills his saints even to the brim1 yet their corruptible bodies weigh down their souls1 and cause them to cry1 8,who shall deliver us from these bodies of death80 ,these earthly tabernacles can hold no more3 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 these earthly tabernacles are to be dissolved2 this corruptible is to put on incorruption2 this mortal is to put on immortality3 and when ,,god shall cause all his glory to pass before us1 then shall we cry out1 ,,lord1 thou hast kept thy good wine until now4 ,we have drank deeply of thy spirit2 we have heard glorious things spoken of this thy city1 ,o ,,god6 but we now find1 that not the half1 not the thousandth part hath been told us4 ,o the invisible realities of the world of faith6 ,eye hath not seen1 ear hath not heard1 neither hath it entered into the heart of the greatest saint to conceive how ,,christ will shew forth his glory there6 ,st4 ,paul1 who was carried up into the third heavens1 could give us little or no account of it4 ,and well he might notfor he heard and saw such things as is not possible for a man cloathed with flesh and blood to utter4 ,whilst ,i am thinking1 and only speaking of those things unto you1 ,i am almost carried beyond myself4 ,methinks1 ,i now receive some little foretastes of that new wine which ,i hope to drink with you in the heavenly kingdom for ever and ever4 ,and wherefore do you think ,i have been saying these things8 ,many1 perhaps1 may be ready to say1 ,to manifest thy own vain-glory4 ,but it is a small matter with me to be judged of man's judgment4 ,he that judgeth me is the ,,lord4 ,he knows that ,i have spoken of his miracle1 only for the same end for which he at first performed it1 and which ,i at first proposed1 that is1 8to shew forth his glory10 that you also may be brought to believe on him4 ,did ,i come to preach myself1 and not ,,christ ,,jesus my ,,lord1 ,i would come to you1 not in this plainness of speech1 but with the enticing words of man's wisdom4 ,did ,i desire to please natural men1 ,i need not preach here in the wilderness4 ,i hope my heart aims at nothing else1 than what our ,,lord's great fore-runner aimed at1 and which ought to be the business of every gospel minister1 that is1 to point out to you the ,god-man ,,christ ,,jesus4 8,behold then 7by faith behold7 the ,lamb of ,,god1 who taketh away the sins of the world40 ,look unto him1 and be saved4 ,you have heard how he manifested1 and will yet manifest his glory to true believers2 and why then1 ,o sinners1 will you not believe in him8 ,i say1 ,o sinners1 for now ,i have spoken to the saints1 ,i have many things to say to you4 ,and may ,,god give you all an hearing ear1 and an obedient heart6 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus who shewed forth his glory above #agjj years ago1 has made a marriage feast1 and offers to espouse all sinners to himself1 and to make them flesh of his flesh1 and bone of his bone4 ,he is willing to be united to you by one spirit4 ,in every age1 at sundry times1 and after divers manners1 he hath sent forth his servants1 and they had bidden many1 but yet1 my brethren1 there is room4 ,the ,,lord therefore now has given a commission in these last days to others of his servants1 even to compel poor sinners by the cords of love to come in4 ,for our master's house must and shall be filled4 ,he will not shed his precious blood in vain4 ,come then1 come to the marriage4 ,let this be the day of your espousals with ,,jesus ,,christ1 he is willing to receive you1 though other lords have had dominion over you4 ,come then to the marriage4 ,behold the oxen and fatlings are killed1 and all things are ready2 let me hear you say1 as ,rebecca did1 when they asked her1 whether she would go and be a wife to ,isaac2 ,o let me hear you say1 we will come4 ,indeed you will not repent it4 ,the ,,lord shall turn your water into wine4 ,he shall fill your souls with marrow and fatness1 and cause you to praise him with joyful lips4 ,do not say1 you are miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked1 and therefore ashamed to come1 for it is to such that this invitation is now sent4 ,the polite1 the rich1 the busy1 self-righteous ,pharisees of this generation have been bidden already1 but they have rejected the counsel of ,,god against themselves4 ,they are too deeply engaged in going1 one to his country house1 another to his merchandize4 ,they are so deeply wedded to the pomps and vanities of this wicked world1 that they1 as it were with one consent1 have made excuse4 ,and though they have been often called in their own synagogues1 yet all the return they make1 is to thrust us out1 and thereby in effect say1 they will not come4 ,but ,,god forbid1 my brethren1 that you should learn of them2 no1 since our ,,lord condescends to call first1 7because if left to yourselves you would never call after him7 let me beseech you to answer him1 as he answered for you1 when called upon by infinite offended justice to die for your sins1 8,lo6 ,i come to do thy will1 ,o ,,god60 ,what if you are miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked1 that is no excuse2 faith is the only wedding garment which ,,christ requires2 he does not call you because you already are1 but because he intends to make you saints4 ,it pities him to see you naked4 ,he wants to cover you with his righteousness4 ,in short1 he desires to shew forth his glory1 that is1 his free love through your faith in him4 ,not but that he will be glorified1 whether you believe in him or not2 for the infinitely free love of ,,jesus ,,christ will be ever the same1 whether you believe it1 and so receive it1 or the contrary4 ,but our ,,lord will not always send out his servants in vain1 to call you2 the time will come when he will say1 ,none of those which were bidden1 and would not come1 shall taste of my supper4 ,our ,,lord is a ,,god of justice1 as well as of love2 and if sinners will not take hold of his golden sceptre1 verily he will bruise them with his iron rod4 ,it is for your sakes1 ,o sinners1 and not his own1 that he thus condescends to invite you3 suffer him then to shew forth his glory1 even the glory of the exceeding riches of his free grace1 by believing on him1 8,for we are saved by grace through faith40 ,it was grace1 free grace1 that moved the ,father so to love the world1 as to 8give his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish1 but have everlasting life60 ,it was grace1 that made the ,son to come down and die4 ,it was grace1 free grace1 that moved the ,holy ,ghost to undertake to sanctify the elect people of ,,god3 and it was grace1 free grace1 that moved our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to send forth his ministers to call poor sinners this day4 ,let me not then1 my brethren1 go without my errand4 ,why will you not believe in him8 ,will the devil do such great and good things for you as ,,christ will8 ,no indeed1 he will not4 ,perhaps1 he may give you to drink at first of a little brutish pleasure2 but what will he give you to drink at last8 a cup of fury and of trembling2 a never-dying worm1 a self-condemning conscience1 and the bitter pains of eternal death4 ,but as for the servants of ,,jesus ,,christ1 it is not so with them4 ,no1 he keeps his best wine till the last4 ,and though he may cause you to drink of the brook in the way to heaven1 and of the cup of affliction1 yet he sweetens it with a sense of his goodness1 and makes it pleasant drink1 such as their souls do love4 ,i appeal to the experience of any saint here present1 7as ,i doubt not but there are many such in this field7 whether ,,christ has not proved faithful1 ever since you have been espoused to him8 ,has he not shewed forth his glory1 ever since you have believed on him8 ,and now1 sinners1 what have you to object8 ,i see you are all silent1 and well you may4 ,for if you will not be drawn by the cords of infinite and everlasting love1 what will draw you8 ,i could urge many terrors of the ,,lord to persuade you2 but if the love of ,,jesus ,,christ will not constrain you1 your case is desperate4 ,remember then this day ,i have invited all1 even the worst of sinners1 to be married to the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,if you perish1 remember you do not perish for lack of invitation4 ,you yourselves shall stand forth at the last day1 and ,i here give you a summons to meet me at the judgment seat of ,,christ1 and to clear both my master and me4 ,would weeping1 would tears prevail on you1 ,i could wish my head were waters1 and my eyes fountains of tears1 that ,i might weep out every argument1 and melt you into love4 ,would any thing ,i could do or suffer1 influence your hearts1 ,i think ,i could bear to pluck out my eyes1 or even to lay down my life for your sakes4 ,or was ,i sure to prevail on you by importunity1 ,i could continue my discourse till midnight1 ,i would wrestle with you even till the morning watch1 as ,jacob did with the angel1 and would not go away till ,i had overcome4 ,but such power belongeth only unto the ,,lord1 ,i can only invite2 it is ,he only can work in you both to will and to do after his good pleasure2 it is his property to take away the heart of stone1 and give you a heart of flesh2 it is his spirit that must convince you of unbelief1 and of the everlasting righteousness of his dear ,son2 it is ,he alone must give faith to apply his righteousness to your hearts2 it is ,he alone can give you a wedding garment1 and bring you to sit down and drink new wine in his kingdom4 ,as to spirituals we are quite dead1 and have no more power to turn to ,,god of ourselves1 than ,lazarus had to raise himself1 after he had lain stinking in the grave four days4 ,if thou canst go1 ,o man1 and breathe upon all the dry bones that lye in the graves1 and bid them live2 if thou canst take thy mantle and divide yonder river1 as ,elijah did the river ,jordan2 then will we believe thou hast a power to turn to ,,god of thyself3 ,but as thou must despair of the one1 so thou must despair of the other1 without ,,christ's quickening grace2 in him is thy only help2 fly to him then by faith2 say unto him1 as the poor leper did1 8,,lord1 if thou wilt10 thou canst make me willing2 and he will stretch forth the right-hand of his power to assist and relieve you3 ,he will sweetly guide you by his wisdom on earth1 and afterwards take you up to partake of his glory in heaven4 ,to his mercy therefore1 and ,almighty protection1 do ,i earnestly1 humbly1 and most affectionately commit you3 the ,,lord bless you and keep you2 the ,,lord lift up the light of his blessed countenance upon you1 and give you all peace and joy in believing1 now and for evermore6 ,,sermon ,,xxxvii4 ,the ,duty of searching the ,scriptures4 ,,john v4 #ci4 ,search the ,scriptures4 ,,when the ,sadducees came to our blessed ,,lord1 and put to him the question1 8whose wife that woman should be in the next life1 who had seven husbands in this10 he told them 8they erred1 not knowing the scriptures40 ,and if we would know whence all the errors1 that have over-spread the church of ,,christ1 first arose1 we should find that1 in a great measure1 they flowed from the same fountain1 ignorance of the word of ,,god4 ,our blessed ,,lord1 though he was the eternal ,,god1 yet as man1 he made the scriptures his constant rule and guide4 ,and therefore1 when he was asked by the lawyer1 which was the great commandment of the law1 he referred him to his ,bible for an answer1 8,what readest thou80 ,and thus1 when led by the ,spirit to be tempted by the devil1 he repelled all his assaults1 with 8it is written40 ,a sufficient confutation this1 of their opinion1 who say1 8the ,spirit only1 and not the ,spirit by the ,word1 is to be our rule of action40 ,if so1 our ,saviour1 who had the ,spirit without measure1 needed not always have referred to the written word4 ,but how few copy after the example of ,,christ8 ,how many are there who do not regard the word of ,,god at all1 but throw the sacred oracles aside1 as an antiquated book1 fit only for illiterate men8 8bot0 replaced with 8but0 ,such do greatly err1 not knowing what the scriptures are1 or for what they are designed4 ,i shall1 therefore1 ,first1 ,shew1 that it is every one's duty to search them4 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,lay down some directions for you1 to search them with advantage4 ,i4 ,i am to shew1 that it is every person's duty to search the ,scriptures4 ,by the ,scriptures1 ,i understand the law and the prophets1 and those books which have in all ages been accounted canonical1 and which make up that volume commonly called the ,bible4 8commmonly0 replaced with 8commonly0 ,these are emphatically stiled the ,scriptures1 and1 in one place1 the 8,scriptures of ,truth10 as though no other books deserved the name of true writings or scripture in comparison of them4 ,they are not of any private interpretation1 authority1 or invention1 but holy men of old wrote them1 as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the foundation of ,,god's revealing himself thus to mankind1 was our fall in ,adam1 and the necessity of our new birth in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,and if we search the scriptures as we ought1 we shall find the sum and substance1 the ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and end of them1 is to lead us to a knowledge of these two great truths4 ,all the threats1 promises and precepts1 all the exhortations and doctrines contained therein1 all the rites1 ceremonies and sacrifices appointed under the ,jewish law2 nay1 almost all the historical parts of holy scripture1 suppose our being fallen in ,adam1 and either point out to us a ,mediator to come1 or speak of him as already come in the flesh4 ,had man continued in a state of innocence1 he would not have needed an outward revelation1 because the law of ,,god was so deeply written in the tables of his heart4 ,but having eaten the forbidden fruit1 he incurred the displeasure of ,,god1 and lost the divine ,image1 and1 therefore1 without an external revelation1 could never tell how ,,god would be reconciled unto him1 or how he should be saved from the misery and darkness of his fallen nature4 ,that these truths are so1 ,i need not refer you to any other book1 than your own hearts4 ,for unless we are fallen creatures1 whence those abominable corruptions which daily arise in our hearts8 ,we could not come thus corrupt out of the hands of our ,maker1 because he being goodness itself could make nothing but what is like himself1 holy1 just1 and good4 ,and that we want to be delivered from these disorders of our nature1 is evident1 because we find an unwillingness within ourselves to own we are thus depraved1 and are always striving to appear to others of a quite different frame and temper of mind than what we are4 ,i appeal to the experience of the most learned disputer against divine revelation1 whether he does not find in himself1 that he is naturally proud1 angry1 revengeful1 and full of other passions contrary to the purity1 holiness1 and long-suffering of ,,god4 ,and is not this a demonstration that some way or other he is fallen from ,,god8 ,and ,i appeal also1 whether at the same time that he finds these hurtful lusts in his heart1 he does not strive to seem amiable1 courteous1 kind and affable2 and is not this a manifest proof1 that he is sensible he is miserable1 and wants1 he knows not how1 to be redeemed or delivered from it8 ,here then1 ,,god by his word steps in1 and opens to his view such a scene of divine love1 and infinite goodness in the holy scriptures1 that none but men1 of such corrupt and reprobate minds as our modern deists1 would shut their eyes against it4 ,what does ,,god in his written word do more or less1 than shew thee1 ,o man1 how thou art fallen into that blindness1 darkness1 and misery1 of which thou feelest and complainest8 ,and1 at the same time1 he points out the way to what thou desirest1 even how thou mayest be redeemed out of it by believing in1 and copying after the ,son of his love4 ,as ,i told you before1 so ,i tell you again1 upon these two truths rest all divine revelation4 ,it being given us for no other end1 but to shew us our misery1 and our happiness2 our fall and recovery2 or1 in one word1 after what manner we died in ,adam1 and how in ,,christ we may again be made alive4 ,hence then arises the necessity of searching the scriptures3 for since they are nothing else but the grand charter of our salvation1 the revelation of a covenant made by ,,god with men in ,,christ1 and a light to guide us into the way of peace2 it follows1 that all are obliged to read and search them1 because all are equally fallen from ,,god1 all equally stand in need of being informed how they must be restored to1 and again united with him4 ,how foolishly then do the disputing infidels of this generation act1 who are continually either calling for signs from heaven1 or seeking for outward evidence to prove the truth of divine revelation8 ,whereas1 what they so earnestly seek for is nigh unto1 nay1 within them4 ,for let them but consult their own hearts1 they cannot but feel what they want4 ,let them but consult the lively oracles of ,,god1 and they cannot but see a remedy revealed for all their wants1 and that the written word does as exactly answer the wants and desires of their hearts1 as face answers to face in the water4 ,where then is the scribe1 where is the wise1 where is the solidity of the reasoning of the disputers of this world8 ,has not ,,god revealed himself unto them1 as plain as their own hearts could wish8 ,and yet they require a sign3 but there shall no other sign be given them4 ,for if they believe not a revelation which is every way so suited to their wants1 neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead4 ,but this discourse is not designed so much for them that believe not1 as for them1 who both know and believe that the scriptures contain a revelation which came from ,,god1 and that it is their duty1 as being chief parties concerned1 not only to read but search them also4 ,i pass on1 therefore1 in the ,second place1 to lay down some directions1 how you may search them with advantage4 ,first1 ,have always in view1 the end for which the scriptures were written1 even to shew us the way of salvation1 by ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,search the scriptures10 says our blessed ,,lord1 8for they are they that testify of me40 ,look1 therefore1 always for ,,christ in the scripture4 ,he is the treasure hid in the field1 both of the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,in the ,old1 you will find him under prophesies1 types1 sacrifices1 and shadows2 in the ,new1 manifested in the flesh1 to become a propitiation for our sins as a ,priest1 and as a ,prophet to reveal the whole will of his heavenly ,father4 ,have ,,christ1 then1 always in view when you are reading the word of ,,god1 and this1 like the star in the east1 will guide you to the ,messiah1 will serve as a key to every thing that is obscure1 and unlock to you the wisdom and riches of all the mysteries of the kingdom of ,,god4 ,secondly1 ,search the scriptures with an humble child-like disposition4 ,for whosoever does not read them with this temper1 shall in no wise enter into the knowledge of the things contained in them4 ,for ,,god hides the sense of them1 from those that are wise and prudent in their own eyes1 and reveals them only to babes in ,,christ3 who think they know nothing yet as they ought to know2 who hunger and thirst after righteousness1 and humbly desire to be fed with the sincere milk of the word1 that they may grow thereby4 ,fancy yourselves1 therefore1 when you are searching the scriptures1 especially when you are reading the ,new ,testament1 to be with ,mary sitting at the feet of the holy ,,jesus2 and be as willing to learn what ,,god shall teach you1 as ,samuel was1 when he said1 8,speak1 ,,lord1 for thy servant heareth40 ,oh that the unbelievers would pull down every high thought and imagination that exalts itself against the revealed will of ,,god6 ,o that they would1 like new-born babes1 desire to be fed with the pure milk of the word6 then we should have them no longer scoffing at ,divine ,revelation1 nor would they read the ,bible any more with the same intent the ,philistines brought out ,sampson1 to make sport at it2 but they would see the divine image and superscription written upon every line4 ,they would hear ,,god speaking unto their souls by it1 and1 consequently1 be built up in the knowledge and fear of him1 who is the ,author thereof4 ,thirdly1 ,search the scriptures1 with a sincere intention to put in practice what you read4 ,a desire to do the will of ,,god is the only way to know it2 if any man will do my will1 says ,,jesus ,,christ1 8,he shall know of my doctrine1 whether it be of ,,god1 or whether ,i speak of myself40 ,as he also speaks in another place to his disciples1 8,to you1 7who are willing to practise your duty7 it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of ,,god1 but to those that are without1 7who only want to raise cavils against my doctrine7 all these things are spoken in parables1 that seeing they may see and not understand1 and hearing they may hear and not perceive40 ,for it is but just in ,,god to send those strong delusions1 that they may believe a lie1 and to conceal the knowledge of himself from all such as do not seek him with a single intention4 ,,jesus ,,christ is the same now1 as formerly1 to those who desire to know from his word1 who he is that they may believe on1 and live by2 and to him he will reveal himself as clearly as he did to the woman of ,samaria1 when he said1 8,i that speak to thee am he10 or as he did to the man that was born blind1 whom the ,jews had cast out for his name's sake1 8,he that talketh with thee1 is he40 ,but to those who consult his word with a desire neither to know him1 nor keep his commandments1 but either merely for their entertainment1 or to scoff at the simplicity of the manner in which he is revealed1 to those1 ,i say1 he never will reveal himself1 though they should search the scriptures to all eternity4 ,as he never would tell those whether he was the ,messiah or not1 who put that question to him either out of curiosity1 or that they might have whereof to accuse him4 ,fourthly1 ,in order to search the scriptures still more effectually1 make an application of every thing you read to your own hearts4 ,for whatever was written in the book of ,,god1 was written for our learning4 ,and what ,,christ said unto those aforetime1 we must look upon as spoken to us also3 for since the holy scriptures are nothing but a revelation from ,,god1 how fallen man is to be restored by ,,jesus ,,christ3 all the precepts1 threats1 and promises1 belong to us and to our children1 as well as to those1 to whom they were immediately made known4 ,thus the ,apostle1 when he tells us that he lived by the faith of the ,son of ,,god1 adds1 8who died and gave himself for me40 ,it is this application of ,,jesus ,,christ to our hearts1 that makes his redemption effectual to each of us4 ,and it is this application of all the doctrinal and historical parts of scripture1 when we are reading them over1 that must render them profitable to us1 as they were designed for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness1 and to make every child of ,,god perfect1 thoroughly furnished to every good work4 ,i dare appeal to the experience of every spiritual reader of holy writ1 whether or not1 if he consulted the word of ,,god in this manner1 he was not at all times and at all seasons1 as plainly directed how to act1 as though he had consulted the ,urim and ,thummim1 which was upon the high-priest's breast4 ,for this is the way ,,god now reveals himself to man3 not by making new revelations1 but by applying general things that are revealed already to every sincere reader's heart4 ,and this1 by the way1 answers an objection made by those who say1 8,the word of ,,god is not a perfect rule of action1 because it cannot direct us how to act or how to determine in particular cases1 or what place to go to1 when we are in doubt1 and therefore1 the ,spirit1 and not the word1 is to be our rule of action40 ,but this ,i deny1 and affirm on the contrary1 that ,,god at all times1 circumstances1 and places1 though never so minute1 never so particular1 will1 if we diligently seek the assistance of his ,holy ,spirit1 apply general things to our hearts1 and thereby1 to use the words of the holy ,,jesus1 will lead us into all truth1 and give us the particular assistance we want3 ,but this leads me to a ,fifth direction how to search the scriptures with profit3 ,labour to attain that ,spirit by which they were written4 ,for the natural man discerneth not the words of the ,spirit of ,,god1 because they are spiritually discerned2 the words that ,,christ hath spoken1 they are spirit1 and they are life1 and can be no more understood as to the true sense and meaning of them1 by the mere natural man1 than a person who never had learned a language can understand another speaking in it4 ,the scriptures1 therefore1 have not unfitly been compared1 by some1 to the cloud which went before the ,israelites1 they are dark and hard to be understood by the natural man1 as the cloud appeared dark to the ,egyptians2 but they are light1 they are life to christians indeed1 as that same cloud which seemed dark to ,pharaoh and his house1 appeared bright and altogether glorious to the ,israel of ,,god4 ,it was the want of the assistance of this ,spirit1 that made ,nicodemus1 a teacher of ,israel1 and a ruler of the ,jews1 so utterly ignorant in the doctrine of regeneration3 for being only a natural man1 he could not tell how that thing could be2 it was the want of this ,spirit that made our ,saviour's disciples1 though he so frequently conversed with them1 daily mistake the nature of the doctrines he delivered2 and it is because the natural veil is not taken off from their hearts1 that so many who now pretend to search the scriptures1 yet see no farther than into the bare letter of them1 and continue entire strangers to the spiritual meaning couched under every parable1 and contained in almost all the precepts of the book of ,,god4 ,indeed1 how should it be otherwise1 for ,,god being a spirit1 he cannot communicate himself any otherwise than in a spiritual manner to the hearts of men2 and consequently if we are strangers to his ,spirit1 we must continue strangers to his word1 because it is altogether like himself1 spiritual4 ,labour1 therefore1 earnestly for to attain this blessed ,spirit2 otherwise1 your understandings will never be opened to understand the scriptures aright3 and remember1 prayer is one of the most immediate means to get this ,holy ,spirit4 ,therefore1 ,sixthly1 ,let me advise you1 before you read the scriptures1 to pray1 that ,,christ1 according to his promise1 would send his ,spirit to guide you into all truth2 intersperse short ejaculations whilst you are engaged in reading2 pray over every word and verse1 if possible2 and when you close up the book1 most earnestly beseech ,,god1 that the words which you have read1 may be inwardly engrafted into your hearts1 and bring forth in you the fruits of a good life4 ,do this1 and you will1 with a holy violence1 draw down ,,god's ,holy ,spirit into your hearts2 you will experience his gracious influence1 and feel him enlightening1 quickening1 and inflaming your souls by the word of ,,god2 you will then not only read1 but mark1 learn1 and inwardly digest what you read3 and the word of ,,god will be meat indeed1 and drink indeed unto your souls2 you then will be as ,apollos was1 powerful in the scriptures2 be scribes ready instructed to the kingdom of ,,god1 and bring out of the good treasures of your heart1 things both from the ,old and ,new ,testament1 to entertain all you converse with4 ,one ,direction more1 which shall be the last1 ,seventhly1 ,read the scripture constantly1 or1 to use our ,saviour's expression in the text1 8search the scriptures20 dig in them as for hid treasure2 for here is a manifest allusion to those who dig in mines2 and our ,saviour would thereby teach us1 that we must take as much pains in constantly reading his word1 if we would grow wise thereby1 as those who dig for gold and silver4 ,the scriptures contain the deep things of ,,god1 and therefore1 can never be sufficiently searched into by a careless1 superficial1 cursory way of reading them1 but by an industrious1 close1 and humble application4 ,the ,psalmist makes it the characteristic of a good man1 that he 8meditates on ,,god's law day and night40 ,and 8this book of the law1 7says ,,god to ,joshua7 shall not go out of thy mouth1 but thou shalt meditate therein day and night20 for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous1 and thou shalt have good success4 ,search1 therefore1 the scriptures1 not only devoutly but daily1 for in them are the words of eternal life2 wait constantly at wisdom's gate1 and she will then1 and not till then1 display and lay open to you her heavenly treasures4 ,you that are rich1 are without excuse if you do not2 and you that are poor1 ought to take heed and improve that little time you have3 for by the scriptures you are to be acquitted1 and by the scriptures you are to be condemned at the last day4 ,but perhaps you have no taste for this despised book2 perhaps plays1 romances1 and books of polite entertainment1 suit your taste better3 if this be your case1 give me leave to tell you1 your taste is vitiated1 and unless corrected by the ,spirit and word of ,,god1 you shall never enter into his heavenly kingdom3 for unless you delight in ,,god here1 how will you be made meet to dwell with him hereafter4 ,is it a sin then1 you will say1 to read useless impertinent books2 ,i answer1 ,yes3 ,and that for the same reason1 as it is a sin to indulge useless conversation1 because both immediately tend to grieve and quench that ,spirit1 by which alone we can be sealed to the day of redemption4 ,you may reply1 ,how shall we know this8 ,why1 put in practice the precept in the text2 search the scripture in the manner that has been recommended1 and then you will be convinced of the danger1 sinfulness1 and unsatisfactoriness of reading any others than the book of ,,god1 or such as are wrote in the same spirit4 ,you will then say1 when ,i was a child1 and ignorant of the excellency of the word of ,,god1 ,i read what the world calls harmless books1 as other children in knowledge1 though old in years1 have done1 and still do2 but now ,i have tasted the good word of life1 and am come to a more perfect knowledge of ,,christ ,,jesus my ,,lord1 ,i put away these childish1 trifling things1 and am determined to read no other books but what lead me to a knowledge of myself and of ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,search1 therefore1 the scriptures1 my dear brethren2 taste and see how good the word of ,,god is1 and then you will never leave that heavenly manna1 that angel's food1 to feed on dry husks1 that light bread1 those trifling1 sinful compositions1 in which men of false taste delight themselves3 no1 you will then disdain such poor entertainment1 and blush that yourselves once were fond of it4 ,the word of ,,god will then be sweeter to you than honey1 and the honey-comb1 and dearer than gold and silver2 your souls by reading it1 will be filled as it were1 with marrow and fatness1 and your hearts insensibly moulded into the spirit of its blessed ,author4 ,in short1 you will be guided by ,,god's wisdom here1 and conducted by the light of his divine word into glory hereafter4 ,,sermon ,,xxxviii4 ,the ,indwelling of the ,spirit1 the common ,privilege of all ,believers4 ,,john vii4 #cg1 #ch1 #ci4 ,in the last day1 that great day of the feast1 ,,jesus stood and cried1 saying1 ,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me and drink4 ,he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath said1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4 ,but this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive4 ,,nothing has rendered the cross of ,,christ of less effect2 nothing has been a greater stumbling-block and rock of offence to weak minds1 than a supposition1 now current among us1 that most of what is contained in the gospel of ,,jesus ,,christ1 was designed only for our ,,lord's first and immediate followers1 and consequently calculated but for one or two hundred years4 ,accordingly1 many now read the life1 sufferings1 death1 and resurrection of ,,jesus ,,christ1 in the same manner as ,csar's ,commentaries1 or the ,conquests of ,alexander are read3 as things rather intended to afford matter for speculation1 than to be acted over again in and by us4 ,as this is true of the doctrines of the gospel in general1 so it is of the operation of ,,god's ,spirit upon the hearts of believers in particular2 for we no sooner mention the necessity of our receiving the ,holy ,ghost in these last days1 as well as formerly1 but we are looked upon by some1 as enthusiasts and madmen2 and by others1 represented as wilfully deceiving the people1 and undermining the established constitution of the church4 ,judge ye then1 whether it is not high time for the true ministers of ,,jesus ,,christ1 who have been made partakers of this heavenly gift1 to lift up their voices like a trumpet2 and if they would not have those souls perish1 for which the ,,lord ,,jesus has shed his precious blood1 to declare1 with all boldness1 that the ,holy ,spirit is the common privilege and portion of all believers in all ages2 and that we as well as the first christians1 must receive the ,holy ,ghost1 before we can be truly called the children of ,,god4 ,for this reason1 7and also that ,i might answer the design of our church in appointing the present festival7 ,i have chosen the words of the text4 ,whitsuntide4 ,they were spoken by ,,jesus ,,christ1 when he was at the feast of tabernacles4 ,our ,,lord attended on the temple-service in general1 and the festivals of the ,jewish church in particular4 ,the festival at which he was now present1 was that of the feast of tabernacles1 which the ,jews observed according to ,,god's appointment in commemoration of their living in tents4 ,at the last day of this feast1 it was customary for many pious people to fetch water from a certain place1 and bring it on their heads1 singing this anthem out of ,isaiah1 8,and with joy shall they draw water out of the wells of salvation40 ,our ,,lord observing this1 and it being his constant practice to spiritualize every thing he met with1 cries out1 8,if any man thirst1 let him come unto me1 7rather than unto that well7 and drink4 ,he that believeth on me1 as the scripture hath spoken1 7where it is said1 ,,god will make water to spring out of a dry rock1 and such-like7 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water40 ,and that we might know what our ,saviour meant by this living water1 the ,evangelist immediately adds1 8,but this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive40 ,the last words ,i shall chiefly insist on in the ensuing discourse3 ,and ,first1 ,i shall briefly shew1 what is meant by the word ,spirit4 ,secondly1 ,that this ,spirit is the common privilege of all believers4 ,thirdly1 ,i shall shew the reason on which this doctrine is founded4 ,and ,lastly1 ,conclude with a general exhortation to believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 whereby alone we can receive this ,spirit4 ,first1 ,i am to shew1 what is meant by the word ,spirit4 ,by the ,spirit1 is evidently to be understood the ,holy ,ghost1 the third person in the ever-blessed ,trinity1 consubstantial and co-eternal with the ,father and the ,son1 proceeding from1 yet equal to them both4 ,for1 to use the words of our ,church in this day's office1 that which we believe of the glory of the ,father1 the same we believe of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 without any difference or inequality4 8co-eternnl0 replaced with 8co-eternal0 ,thus1 says ,st4 ,john1 in his first epistle1 chapter v4 verse #g4 8,there are three that bare record in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 and these three are one40 ,and our ,,lord1 when he gave his ,apostles commission to go and teach all nations1 commanded them to baptize in the name of the ,holy ,ghost1 as well as of the ,father and the ,son4 ,and ,st4 ,peter1 ,acts v4 #c4 said to ,ananias1 8,why hath ,satan filled thine heart to lie to the ,holy ,ghost80 ,and verse #d4 he says1 8,thou hast not lied unto men1 but unto ,,god40 ,from all which passages1 it is plain1 that the ,holy ,ghost1 is truly and properly ,,god1 as well as the ,father and the ,son4 ,this is an unspeakable mystery1 but a mystery of ,,god's revealing1 and1 therefore1 to be assented to with our whole hearts3 seeing ,,god is not a man that he should lie1 nor the son of man that he should deceive4 ,i proceed1 ,secondly1 ,to prove that the ,holy ,ghost is the common privilege of all believers4 ,but1 here ,i would not be understood of so receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 as to enable us to work miracles1 or shew outward signs and wonders4 ,i allow our adversaries1 that to pretend to be inspired1 in this sense1 is being wise above what is written4 ,perhaps it cannot be proved1 that ,,god ever interposed in this extraordinary manner1 but when some new revelation was to be established1 as at the first settling of the ,mosaic and gospel dispensation3 and as for my own part1 ,i cannot but suspect the spirit of those who insist upon a repetition of such miracles at this time4 ,for the world being now become nominally christian1 7though1 ,,god knows1 little of the power is left among us7 there need not outward miracles1 but only an inward co-operation of the ,holy ,spirit with the word1 to prove that ,,jesus is the ,messiah which was to come into the world4 ,besides1 if it was possible for thee1 ,o man1 to have faith1 so as to be able to remove mountains1 or cast out devils2 nay1 couldst thou speak with the tongue of men and angels1 yea1 and bid the sun stand still in the midst of heaven2 what would all these gifts of the ,spirit avail thee1 without being made partaker of his sanctifying graces8 ,saul had the spirit of government for a while1 so as to become another man1 and yet probably was a cast-away4 ,and many1 who cast out devils in ,,christ's name1 at the last will be disowned by him4 ,if1 therefore1 thou hadst only the gifts1 and was destitute of the graces of the ,holy ,ghost1 they would only serve to lead thee with so much the more solemnity to hell4 ,here then we join issue with our adversaries1 and will readily grant1 that we are not in this sense to be inspired1 as were our ,,lord's first ,apostles4 ,but unless men have eyes which see not1 and ears that hear not1 how can they read the latter part of the text1 and not confess that the ,holy ,spirit1 in another sense1 is the common privilege of all believers1 even to the end of the world8 8,this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive40 ,observe1 he does not say1 they that believe on him for one or two ages1 but they that believe on him in general1 or1 at all times1 and in all places4 ,so that1 unless we can prove1 that ,st4 ,john was under a delusion when he wrote these words1 we must believe that even we also1 shall receive the ,holy ,ghost1 if we believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus with our whole hearts4 ,again1 our ,,lord1 just before his bitter passion1 when he was about to offer up his soul an offering for the sins of the elect world2 when his heart was most enlarged1 and he would undoubtedly demand the most excellent gift for his disciples1 prays1 8,that they all may be one1 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee2 that they also may be one in us1 ,i in them1 and thou in me1 that they may be made perfect in one20 that is1 that all his true followers might be united to him by his holy ,spirit1 by as real1 vital1 and mystical an union1 as there was between ,,jesus ,,christ and the ,father4 ,i say all his true followers2 for it is evident1 from our ,,lord's own words1 that he had us1 and all believers1 in view1 when he put up this prayer2 8,neither pray ,i for these alone1 but for them also which shall believe on me through their word20 so that1 unless we treat our ,,lord as the high priests did1 and count him a blasphemer1 we must confess1 that all who believe in ,,jesus ,,christ1 through the word1 or ministration of his servants1 are to be joined to ,,jesus ,,christ1 by being made partakers of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,a great noise hath been made of late1 about the word enthusiast1 and it has been cast upon the preachers of the gospel1 as a term of reproach2 but every christian1 in the proper sense of the word1 must be an enthusiast2 that is1 must be inspired of ,,god1 or have ,,god1 by his ,spirit1 in him4 ,st4 ,peter tells us1 8we have many great and precious promises1 that we may be made partakers of the divine nature20 our ,,lord prays1 8that we may be one1 as the ,father and he are one20 and our own church1 in conformity to these texts of ,scripture1 in her excellent communion-office1 tells us1 that those who receive the sacrament worthily1 8dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in them2 that they are one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ with them40 ,and yet1 christians must have their names cast out as evil1 and ministers in particular1 must be looked upon as deceivers of the people1 for affirming1 that we must be really united to ,,god1 by receiving the ,holy ,ghost4 ,be astonished1 ,o heavens1 at this6 ,indeed1 ,i will not say1 all our letter-learned preachers deny this doctrine in express words2 but however1 they do in effect2 for they talk professedly against inward feelings1 and say1 we may have ,,god's ,spirit without feeling it1 which is in reality to deny the thing itself4 ,and had ,i a mind to hinder the progress of the gospel1 and to establish the kingdom of darkness1 #a would go about1 telling people1 they might have the ,spirit of ,,god1 and yet not feel it4 ,but to return3 ,when our ,,lord was about to ascend to his ,father and our ,father1 to his ,,god and our ,,god1 he gave his apostles this commission1 8,go and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,and accordingly1 by authority of this commission1 we do teach and baptize in this1 and every age of the church4 ,and though we translate the words1 8baptizing them in the name20 yet1 as the name of ,,god1 in the ,,lord's prayer1 and several other places1 signifies his nature1 they might as well be translated thus1 8baptizing them into the nature of the ,father1 into the nature of the ,son1 and into the nature of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,consequently1 if we are all to be baptized into the nature of the ,holy ,ghost1 before our baptism be effectual to salvation1 it is evident1 that we all must actually receive the ,holy ,ghost1 and ere we can say1 we truly believe in ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,for no one can say1 that ,,jesus is my ,,lord1 but he that has thus received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,numbers of other texts might be quoted to make this doctrine1 if possible1 still more plain2 but ,i am astonished1 that any who call themselves members2 much more1 that many1 who are preachers in the church of ,england1 should dare so much as to open their lips against it4 ,and yet1 with grief ,i speak it1 ,,god is my ,judge1 persons of the established church seem more generally to be ignorant of it1 than any dissenters whatsoever4 ,but1 my dear brethren1 what have you been doing8 how often have your hearts given your lips the lye8 how often have you offered to ,,god the sacrifice of fools1 and had your prayers turned into sin1 if you approve of1 and use our church-liturgy1 and yet deny the ,holy ,spirit to be the portion of all believers8 ,in the daily absolution1 the minister exhorts the people to pray1 that 8,,god would grant them repentance1 and his ,holy ,spirit20 in the ,collect for ,christmas-day1 we beseech ,,god1 8that he would daily renew us by his ,holy ,spirit20 in the last week's ,collect1 we prayed that 8we may evermore rejoice in the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost20 and in the concluding prayer1 which we put up every day1 we pray1 not only that the grace of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and the love of ,,god1 but that 8the fellowship of the ,holy ,ghost0 may be with us all evermore4 ,but farther1 a solemn season1 to some1 is now approaching2 ,i mean the ,ember-days1 at the end of which1 all that are to be ordained to the office of a deacon1 are in the sight of ,,god1 and in the presence of the congregation1 to declare1 that 8they trust they are inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 to take upon them that administration20 and to those1 who are to be ordained priests1 the bishop is to repeat these solemn words1 8,receive thou the ,holy ,ghost1 now committed unto thee1 by the imposition of our hands40 ,and yet1 ,o that ,i had no reason to speak it1 many that use our forms1 and many who have witnessed this good confession1 yet dare to both talk and preach against the necessity of receiving the ,holy ,ghost now2 and not only so1 but cry out against those1 who do insist upon it1 as madmen1 enthusiasts1 schismatics1 and underminers of the established constitution4 ,but you are the schismatics1 you are the bane of the church of ,england1 who are always crying out1 8the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord20 and yet starve the people out of our communion1 by feeding them only with the dry husks of dead morality1 and not bringing out to them the fatted calf2 ,i mean1 the doctrines of the operations of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god4 ,but here is the misfortune2 many of us are not led by1 and therefore no wonder that we cannot talk feelingly of1 the ,holy ,ghost2 we subscribe to our articles1 and make them serve for a key to get into church-preferment1 and then preach contrary to those very articles to which we have subscribed4 ,far be it from me1 to charge all the clergy with this hateful hypocrisy2 no1 blessed be ,,god1 there are some left among us1 who dare maintain the doctrines of the ,reformation1 and preach the truth as it is in ,,jesus3 ,but ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lye not2 the generality of the clergy are fallen from our articles1 and do not speak agreeable to them1 or to the form of sound words delivered in the ,scriptures2 wo be unto such blind leaders of the blind6 how can you escape the damnation of hell8 ,it is not all your learning 7falsely so called7 it is not all your preferments can keep you from the just judgment of ,,god4 ,yet a little while1 and we shall all appear before the tribunal of ,,christ2 there1 there will ,i meet you2 there ,,jesus ,,christ1 the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls1 shall determine who are the false prophets1 who are the wolves in sheep's cloathing4 ,those who say1 that we must now receive and feel the ,holy ,ghost1 or those who exclaim against it1 as the doctrine of devils4 ,but ,i can no more2 it is an unpleasing task to censure any order of men1 especially those who are in the ministry2 nor would any thing excuse it but necessity3 that necessity which extorted from our ,,lord himself so many woes against the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 the letter-learned rulers and teachers of the ,jewish church2 and surely1 if ,i could bear to see people perish for lack of knowledge1 and yet be silent towards those who keep from them the key of true knowledge1 the very stones would cry out4 ,would we restore the church to its primitive dignity1 the only way is to live and preach the doctrine of ,,christ1 and the articles to which we have subscribed2 then we shall find the number of dissenters will daily decrease1 and the church of ,england become the joy of the whole earth4 ,i am1 in the ,third place1 to shew the reasonableness of this doctrine4 ,i say1 the reasonableness of this doctrine2 for however it may seem foolishness to the natural man1 yet to those1 who have tasted of the good word of life1 and have felt the power of the world to come1 it will appear to be founded on the highest reason2 and is capable1 to those who have eyes to see1 even of a demonstration2 ,i say of demonstration3 for it stands on this self-evident truth1 that we are fallen creatures1 or1 to use the scripture-expression1 8have all died in ,adam40 ,i know indeed1 it is now no uncommon thing amongst us1 to deny the doctrine of original sin1 as well as the divinity of ,,jesus ,,christ2 but it is incumbent on those who deny it1 first to disprove the authority of the holy ,scriptures2 if thou canst prove1 thou unbeliever1 that the book1 which we call ,the ,bible1 does not contain the lively oracles of ,,god2 if thou canst shew1 that holy men of old1 did not write this book1 as they were inwardly moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 then will we give up the doctrine of original sin2 but unless thou canst do this1 we must insist upon it1 that we are all conceived and born in sin2 if for no other1 yet for this one reason1 because that ,,god1 who cannot lye1 has told us so4 ,but what has light to do with darkness1 or polite infidels with the ,bible8 ,alas6 as they are strangers to the power1 so they are generally as great strangers to the word of ,,god4 ,and therefore1 if we will preach to them1 we must preach to and from the heart3 for talking in the language of scripture1 to them1 is but like talking in an unknown tongue4 ,tell me then1 ,o man1 whosoever thou art1 that deniest the doctrine of original sin1 if thy conscience be not seared as with a hot iron6 tell me1 if thou dost not find thyself1 by nature1 to be a motly mixture of brute and devil8 ,i know these terms will stir up the whole ,pharisee in thy heart2 but let not ,satan hurry thee hence2 stop a little1 and let us reason together2 dost thou not find1 that by nature thou art prone to pride8 otherwise1 wherefore art thou now offended8 ,again1 dost not thou find in thyself the seeds of malice1 revenge1 and all uncharitableness8 and what are these but the very tempers of the devil8 ,again1 do we not all by nature follow1 and suffer ourselves to be led by our natural appetites1 always looking downwards1 never looking upwards to that ,,god1 in whom we live1 move1 and have our being8 and what is this but the very nature of the beasts that perish8 ,out of thy own heart1 therefore1 will ,i oblige thee to confess1 what an inspired apostle has long since told us1 that 8the whole world 7by nature7 lies in the wicked one20 we are no better than those whom ,st4 ,jude calls 8brute beasts20 for we have tempers in us all by nature1 that prove to a demonstration1 that we are earthly1 sensual1 devilish4 ,and this will serve as another argument1 to prove the reality of the operations of the blessed ,spirit on the hearts of believers1 against those false professors1 who deny there is any such thing as influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 that may be felt4 ,for if they will grant that the devil worketh1 and so as to be felt in the hearts of the children of disobedience 7which they must grant1 unless they will give an apostle the lye7 where is the wonder that the good ,spirit should have the same power over those who are truly obedient to the faith of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,if it be true then1 that we are all by nature1 since the fall1 a mixture of brute and devil1 it is evident1 that we all must receive the ,holy ,ghost1 ere we can dwell with and enjoy ,,god4 ,when you read1 how the prodigal1 in the gospel1 was reduced to so low a condition1 as to eat husks with swine1 and how ,nebuchadnezzar was turned out1 to graze with oxen2 ,i am confident1 you pity their unhappy state4 ,and when you hear1 how ,,jesus ,,christ will say1 at the last day1 to all that are not born again of ,,god1 8,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels10 do not your hearts shrink within you1 with a secret horror8 ,and if creatures1 with only our degree of goodness1 cannot bear even the thoughts of dwelling with beasts or devils1 to whose nature we are so nearly allied1 how do we imagine ,,god1 who is infinite goodness1 and purity itself1 can dwell with us1 while we are partakers of both their natures8 we might as well think to reconcile heaven and hell4 ,when ,adam had eaten the forbidden fruit1 he fled and hid himself from ,,god2 why8 because he was naked2 he was alienated from the life of ,,god1 the due punishment of his disobedience4 ,now1 we are all by nature naked and void of ,,god1 as he was at that time1 and consequently1 until we are changed1 renewed1 and cloathed with a divine nature again1 we must fly from ,,god also4 ,hence then appears the reasonableness of our being obliged to receive the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,it is founded on the doctrine of original sin3 and1 therefore1 you will always find1 that those who talk against feeling the operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 very rarely1 or slightly at least1 mention our fall in ,adam2 no1 they refer ,st4 ,paul's account of the depravity of unbelievers1 only to those of old time4 ,whereas it is obvious1 on the contrary1 that we are all equally included under the guilt and consequences of our first parent's sin1 even as others2 and to use the language of our own church-article1 8bring into the world with us1 a corruption1 which renders us liable to ,,god's wrath1 and eternal damnation40 ,should ,i preach to you any other doctrine1 ,i should wrong my own soul2 ,i should be found a false witness towards ,,god and you2 and he that preaches any other doctrine1 howsoever dignified and distinguished1 shall bear his punishment1 whosoever he be4 ,from this plain reason then appears the necessity why we1 as well as the first apostles1 in this sense1 must receive the ,spirit of ,,god4 ,for the great work of sanctification1 or making us holy1 is particularly referred to the ,holy ,ghost2 therefore1 our ,,lord says1 8,unless a man be born of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,,jesus ,,christ came down to save us1 not only from the guilt1 but also from the power of sin3 and however often we have repeated our creed1 and told ,,god we believe in the ,holy ,ghost1 yet1 if we have not believed in him1 so as to be really united to ,,jesus ,,christ by him1 we have no more concord with ,,jesus ,,christ than ,belial himself4 ,and now1 my brethren1 what shall ,i say more8 tell me1 are not many of you offended at what has been said already8 do not some of you think1 though ,i mean well1 yet ,i have carried the point a little too far8 are not others ready to cry out1 if this be true1 who then can be saved8 is not this driving people into despair8 ,yes1 ,i ingenuously confess it is2 but into what despair8 a despair of mercy through ,,christ8 no1 ,,god forbid2 but a despair of living with ,,god without receiving the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and ,i would to ,,god1 that not only all you that hear me this day1 but that the whole world was filled with this despair4 ,believe me1 ,i have been doing no more than you allow your bodily physicians to do every day3 if you have a wound1 and are in earnest about a cure1 you bid the surgeon probe it to the very bottom2 and shall not the physician of your souls be allowed the same freedom8 ,what have ,i been doing but searching your natural wounds1 that ,i might convince you of your danger1 and put you upon applying to ,,jesus ,,christ for a remedy8 ,indeed ,i have dealt with you as gently as ,i could2 and now ,i have wounded1 ,i will attempt to heal you4 ,for ,i was in the ,last place1 to exhort you all to come to ,,jesus ,,christ by faith1 whereby you1 even you also1 shall receive the ,holy ,ghost4 8,for this spake he of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on him should receive40 ,this1 this is what ,i long to come to4 ,hitherto ,i have been preaching only the law2 but behold ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy4 ,if ,i have wounded you1 be not afraid2 behold1 ,i now bring a remedy for all your wounds4 ,notwithstanding you are sunk into the nature of the beast and devil1 yet1 if you truly believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 you shall receive the quickening ,spirit promised in the text1 and be restored to the glorious liberties of the sons of ,,god2 ,i say1 if you believe on ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,for by faith we are saved2 it is not of works1 lest any one should boast40 ,and1 however some men may say1 there is a fitness required in the creature1 and that we must have a righteousness of our own1 before we can lay hold on the righteousness of ,,christ2 yet1 if we believe the scripture1 salvation is the free gift of ,,god1 in ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord2 and whosoever believeth on him with his whole heart1 though his soul be as black as hell itself1 shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,behold then1 ,i stand up1 and cry out in this great day of the feast1 let every one that thirsteth come unto ,,jesus ,,christ and drink4 8,he that believeth on him1 out of his belly shall flow 7not only streams or rivulets1 but whole7 rivers of living water40 ,this ,i speak of the ,spirit1 which they that believe on ,,jesus shall certainly receive4 ,for ,,jesus ,,christ is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever2 he is the way1 the truth1 the resurrection1 and the life2 8whosoever believeth on him1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live40 ,there is no respect of persons with ,,jesus ,,christ2 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 may come to him with an humble confidence1 if they draw near by faith2 from him we may all receive grace upon grace2 for ,,jesus ,,christ is full of grace and truth1 and ready to save to the uttermost1 all that by a true faith turn unto him4 ,indeed1 the poor generally receive the gospel1 and 8,,god has chosen the poor in this world1 rich in faith40 ,but though not many mighty1 not many noble are called2 and though it be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle1 than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of ,,god1 yet1 even to you that are rich1 do ,i now freely offer salvation1 by ,,jesus ,,christ1 if you will renounce yourselves1 and come to ,,jesus ,,christ as poor sinners2 ,i say1 as poor sinners2 for the 8poor in spirit0 are only so blessed1 as to have a right to the kingdom of ,,god4 ,and ,,jesus ,,christ calls none to him1 but those who thirst after his righteousness1 and feel themselves weary1 and heavy laden with the burden of their sins4 ,,jesus ,,christ justifies the ungodly2 he came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance4 ,do not then say you are unworthy2 for this is a faithful and true saying1 and worthy of all men to be received1 8that ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world to save sinners20 and if you are the chief of sinners1 if you feel yourselves such1 verily ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world chiefly to save you4 ,when ,joseph was called out of the prison-house to ,pharaoh's court1 we are told1 that he staid some time to prepare himself2 but do you come with all your prison cloaths about you2 come poor1 and miserable1 and blind1 and naked1 as you are1 and ,,god the ,father shall receive you with open arms1 as was the returning prodigal4 ,he shall cover your nakedness with the best robe of his dear ,son's righteousness1 shall seal you with the signet of his ,spirit1 and feed you with the fatted calf1 even with the comforts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,o1 let there then be joy in heaven over some of you1 as believing2 let me not go back to my ,master1 and say1 ,,lord1 they will not believe my report4 ,harden no longer your hearts1 but open them wide1 and let the ,king of glory enter in2 believe me1 ,i am willing to go to prison or death for you2 but ,i am not willing to go to heaven without you4 ,the love of ,,jesus ,,christ constrains me to lift up my voice like a trumpet4 ,my heart is now full2 out of the abundance of the love which ,i have for your precious and immortal souls1 my mouth now speaketh2 and ,i could now not only continue my discourse until midnight1 but ,i could speak until ,i could speak no more4 ,and why should ,i despair of any8 no1 ,i can despair of no one1 when ,i consider ,,jesus ,,christ has had mercy on such a wretch as ,i am2 but the free grace of ,,christ prevented me2 he saw me in my blood1 he passed by me1 and said unto me1 ,live2 and the same grace which was sufficient for me1 is sufficient for you also2 behold1 the same blessed ,spirit is ready to breathe on all your dry bones1 if you will believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 whom ,,god has sent2 indeed1 you can never believe on1 or serve a better master1 one that is more mighty1 or more willing to save2 ,i can say1 the ,,lord ,,christ is gracious1 his yoke is easy1 his burden exceeding light2 after you have served him many years1 like the servants under the law1 was he willing to discharge you1 you would say1 we love our ,master1 and will not go from him4 ,come then1 my guilty brethren1 come and believe on the ,,lord that bought you with his precious blood2 look up by faith1 and see him whom you have pierced2 behold him bleeding1 panting1 dying6 behold him with arms stretched out ready to receive you all2 cry unto him as the penitent thief did1 ,,lord1 remember us now thou art in thy kingdom1 and he shall say to your souls1 shortly shall you be with me in paradise4 ,for those whom ,,christ justifies1 them he also glorifies1 even with that glory which he enjoyed with the ,father1 before the world began4 ,do not say1 ,i have bought a piece of ground1 and must needs go see it2 or ,i have bought a yoke of oxen1 and must needs go prove them2 or ,i have married a wife1 ,i am engaged in an eager pursuit after the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life1 and therefore cannot come4 ,do not fear having your name cast out as evil1 or being accounted a fool for ,,christ's sake2 yet a little while1 and you shall shine like the stars in the firmament for ever4 ,only believe1 and ,,jesus ,,christ shall be to you wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and eternal redemption2 your bodies shall be fashioned like unto his glorious body1 and your souls be partakers of all the fulness of ,,god4 8,pharoah0 replaced with 8,pharaoh0 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xxxix4 ,the ,resurrection of ,lazarus4 ,,john xi4 #dc1 #dd4 ,and when he had thus spoken1 he cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus come forth4 ,and he that was dead1 came forth1 bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths3 and his face was bound about with a napkin4 ,,jesus saith unto them1 ,loose him1 and let him go4 ,,when ,,jesus ,,christ1 the eternal ,word1 was pleased to make all things by the word of his power1 his last works were the best4 ,when he looked back upon1 and beheld the first products of his almighty power1 he pronounced them 8good20 but when that last1 that lovely creature man1 was formed1 he pronounced them 8very good40 ,so1 the same ,,jesus1 when he came to tabernacle among us1 and to begin and carry on a new and second creation1 though all his works were miracles of wonder1 and manifested forth the glory of his eternal ,godhead1 yet the nearer he came to the end of his public ministrations1 the greater and more noble did the miracles which he wrought appear4 ,the resurrection of ,lazarus1 that is to be the subject of the following discourse1 ,i think1 is a sufficient proof of this4 ,to an eye of sense1 it seems to be one of the greatest1 if not the very greatest miracle of all which our blessed ,lord performed4 ,when our ,saviour bid ,john's disciples go and tell their ,master what things they had seen and heard1 he commands them to inform him1 that by his divine power 8the dead were raised20 alluding no doubt to the ,ruler's daughter1 who was raised immediately after her decease2 and the ,widow's son1 who at the command of ,,jesus1 rose out of his coffin1 as they were carrying his corpse to the burial4 ,these were pregnant proofs1 that ,,jesus was indeed the ,messiah that was to come into the world4 ,but his raising of ,lazarus from the dead1 after he had lain four days dead1 and saw corruption1 is still1 if possible1 a greater miracle2 and consequently a stronger proof of his being the ,anointed1 the ,,christ of ,,god4 ,the evangelist ,john is very particular in giving us an account of this miracle2 even so particular1 as to spend a whole chapter in relating the circumstances which preceded1 attended1 and followed after it4 ,and as he was undoubtedly directed herein by the all-wise1 unerring ,spirit of ,,god1 does it not point out unto us1 that this miracle1 with all its respective circumstances1 calls for our particular and most serious meditation8 ,it appears to me in this light2 and therefore1 as the ,,lord shall be pleased to assist1 ,i shall go back to the beginning of this chapter1 follow the evangelist step by step1 and consider the particulars of this wonderous miracle1 make some practical observations as ,i go along1 and conclude with some suitable instructions and exhortations1 which will naturally arise from the body of the discourse4 ,the evangelist in the first verse1 makes mention of the sickness of ,lazarus4 8,now1 a certain man mas sick1 named ,lazarus of ,bethany1 the town of ,mary1 and her sister ,martha40 ,some think these sisters were very wealthy1 so as to own good part of the town1 or1 as the original word seems to imply1 the village4 ,but then it is probable the evangelist would have said the town of ,lazarus1 estates usually descending1 as with us1 in the male line3 it means therefore no more1 than that ,martha and ,mary lived in ,bethany4 ,the ,holy ,ghost pointing out to us hereby1 that nothing makes a town so worthy of a gracious soul's remark or esteem1 as its having many of ,,god's dear children for its inhabitants4 ,bethany1 though a little place1 is more famous because it was the town of ,martha and ,mary1 than if ,alexander had fought in it one of his greatest battles4 ,both these women loved ,,jesus in sincerity1 and were as good as they were great4 ,but ,mary1 though the younger sister1 seems to be the most eminent3 for the evangelist in the second verse1 speaks of her in a very distinguishing manner4 8,it was that ,mary1 7that never-to-be-forgotten ,mary7 which anointed the ,lord with ointment 7expensive as it was7 and wiped his feet1 7after she had washed them with tears of love7 with her hair10 even the hair of her head4 ,what notice is taken of this action6 ,with what an eulogy1 and in what a high strain of commendation is it here spoken of8 ,and such are the honours of all ,,god's saints4 ,though all our good works are not recorded as ,mary's are1 yet ,,god is not unmindful1 that he should forget our works of faith1 and labours which have proceeded of love4 ,every tear we shed1 every sigh we fetch1 every alms we give1 though it be only a cup of cold water1 are all recorded in the ,lamb's book of remembrance1 and shall be produced to our eternal honour1 and rewarded with a reward of grace1 though not of debt1 at the great and terrible day of the ,,lord4 8,i was an hungered1 and ye gave me meat1 ,i was thirsty1 and ye gave me drink1 naked1 and ye cloathed me1 sick and in prison1 and ye came unto me40 ,what reason have we then to be 8stedfast and unmoveable1 always abounding in the work of the ,,lord1 forasmuch as we are assured1 that our labours will not be in vain or forgotten by the ,,lord80 ,it was that ,mary that anointed the ,,lord with ointment1 and wiped his feet with her hair4 ,and what follows8 8,whose brother ,lazarus was sick40 ,so that being related to ,,christ1 or his disciples1 will not exempt persons from sickness4 ,in this life1 time and chance happen to all1 only with this material difference1 those afflictions which harden the obstinately impenitent1 soften and purify the heart of a true believer4 8,my son1 therefore despise not the chastening of the ,,lord 7on one hand71 nor faint when thou art rebuked of him 7on the other73 for whom the ,,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth40 ,,jesus loved ,lazarus1 and yet ,lazarus was sick4 ,and what do his sisters do for him now he is sick8 ,no doubt they applied to a physician1 for it is tempting ,,god to neglect making use of means for the recovery of our health1 when it is impaired4 ,but then they were not guilty of ,asa's crime1 8who sought to the physicians1 but not to the ,,lord40 ,no2 they knew the most skilful prescriptions would be of no effect1 unless attended with a blessing from ,,jesus the ,great and ,almighty ,physician2 and therefore his sisters sent unto him1 probably at the beginning of their brother's illness4 ,how unlike is their conduct1 to that of the generality of people1 especially the rich and great6 ,how unfashionable is it now-a-days for persons to send to ,,jesus in behalf of their sick relations6 ,it is so very uncustomary1 that in some places1 if a minister be sent for to a sick person1 it is a sad symptom that the patient is almost past hopes of recovery4 ,thus did not ,martha and her sister ,mary2 they sent unto ,,jesus1 though he was now beyond ,jordan1 7chapter x4 #dj47 where he abode1 or chiefly resided1 for some time4 ,hence it was that they knew where to send to him4 ,but what kind of message did they send8 ,a very humble and suitable one4 8,,lord1 ,behold1 he whom thou lovest is sick40 ,they might have said1 ,,lord1 he who loveth thee is sick4 ,but they knew1 that our love was not worth mentioning1 and that we love ,,jesus only because he first loved us4 ,besides1 here is no prescribing to our ,,lord what he should do1 or what means he should make use of4 ,they do not so much as say1 ,we pray thee to come1 or only speak the word1 and our sick brother shall be restored4 ,they simply tell ,,jesus the case1 knowing it was sufficient barely to lay it before an infinitely compassionate ,redeemer1 and leave it to him to act according to his own sovereign good-will and pleasure4 8,,lord1 ,behold he whom thou lovest is sick40 ,oh how sweet is it when the soul is brought to this6 ,and with what a holy confidence may we pray to1 and intercede with the holy ,,jesus1 when we have reason to hope1 that those we pray and intercede for1 are lovers of1 and are beloved of him6 ,for his eyes are in a peculiar manner over the righteous1 and his ears always open to their prayers4 ,this was their message1 and it soon reached ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and how does he receive it8 ,we are told1 verse #d4 8,when ,,jesus heard that1 7that he whom he loved was sick7 ,he said1 this sickness is not unto death1 but unto the glory of ,,god1 that the ,son of ,,god may be glorified thereby40 ,to whom these words were spoken is not certain4 ,in all probability1 ,,jesus spake them to the persons that delivered ,martha's and ,mary's message4 ,and if so1 it was no doubt a comfortable answer for the present1 though it must afterwards puzzle them as well as the disciples how to explain it1 when they found that ,lazarus was actually dead4 8,this sickness is not unto death10 not unto an abiding death1 because he intended to raise him again1 soon after his decease4 ,it is like that expression of our ,,lord in ,st4 ,mark1 8,the damsel is not dead1 but sleepeth20 which must not be understood in a literal1 but metaphorical sense4 ,and this and such-like instances1 ought to teach us to weigh carefully our blessed ,,lord's words1 and to wait for an explication of them1 by subsequent providences2 otherwise we shall be in danger of misapplying them1 and thereby bring our souls into unspeakable bondage4 8,this sickness is not unto death1 but unto the glory of ,,god1 that the ,son of ,,god may be glorified thereby40 ,this is the end both of the afflictions and the deaths of ,,god's people4 ,by all that happens to them he will be glorified one way or another1 and cause every thing to work together for their good4 ,and who then but would be content to be sick1 or willing to submit to death itself1 if so be the ,son of ,,god may be glorified thereby8 ,this answer1 no doubt1 proceeded from love4 ,for we are told1 ,verse #e4 that 8,,jesus loved ,martha and her sister1 and ,lazarus40 ,oh happy family6 ,three in it beloved of ,,jesus1 with a peculiar1 everlasting love4 8,very often it so happens1 7to use the words of the pious ,bishop ,beveridge7 that there is but one in a city1 and two in a country of this stamp40 ,but here are two sisters and a brother1 all lovers of1 and beloved by the glorious ,,jesus4 ,what shall we say to these things8 ,why1 that our ,saviour's grace is free and sovereign1 and he may do what he will with his own4 ,they who are thus so highly favoured as to have so many converted in one house1 ought to be doubly thankful6 ,such a blessing have not all his saints4 ,no2 many1 very many1 go mourning over their perverse and graceless relations all their lives long2 and find1 even to their dying day1 that their greatest foes are those of their own houshold4 ,surely these three relations lived a heaven upon earth4 ,for what can they want1 what could make them miserable1 who are assured of ,,jesu's love8 ,but surely if ,,jesus loves this dear little family1 the next news one might think we should hear1 would be1 that he went immediately and healed ,lazarus2 or at least cured him at a distance4 ,but instead of that1 we are told1 verse #f4 8,when he had heard that he was sick1 he abode two days still in the same place where he was40 ,a strange way this1 in the eye of natural reason1 of expressing love2 but not so strange in the eye of faith3 for the ,,lord ,,jesus very often sheweth his love1 by deferring to give immediate answers to our prayers4 ,hereby he tries our faith and patience1 and exercises all our passive graces4 ,we have a proof of this in the ,syrophenician woman1 upon whom the blessed ,,jesus frowned1 and spake roughly to at first1 only that he might afterwards turn unto her and say1 8,o woman1 great is thy faith40 ,let not those then who believe1 make too much haste2 or immediately in their hearts repine against the ,,lord1 because he may not answer their requests1 in their own time and way4 ,,god's time and way is best4 ,and we shall find it to be so in the end4 ,martha and ,mary experienced the truth of this1 though undoubtedly our ,,lord's seeming delay1 to come and heal their brother1 cost them great searchings of heart4 ,but will the ,,lord ,,jesus forget his dear ,lazarus1 whom his soul loveth8 8,can a woman forget her sucking child80 ,indeed she may2 but the ,,lord never faileth those that fear him4 ,neither is he slack concerning his promise1 as some men count slackness3 for his very delays are answers4 ,the vision is for an appointed time2 in the end it will speak and not lie4 ,though our ,,lord abode two days where he was1 to try the faith of these sisters1 yet after this1 he said unto his disciples1 verse #g4 8,let us go into ,judea again40 ,with what a holy familiarity does ,,jesus converse with his dear children6 ,our ,saviour seems to speak to his disciples1 as though he was only their brother1 and as it were upon a level with them2 8,let us go into ,judea again40 ,how gently1 according to what was predicted of him1 does he lead those that are with young6 ,,jesus very well knew the weakness of his disciples1 and also what a dangerous place ,judea was3 how gradually therefore does he make known unto them1 his design of going thither6 ,and how does he admit his disciples to expostulate with him on this account6 8,master1 say they1 the ,jews of late sought to stone thee1 and goest thou thither again80 ,they were amazed at our ,,lord's boldness1 and were ready to call it presumption2 as we generally are prone to censure and condemn other zealous and enterprizing persons1 as carrying matters too far2 it may be for no other reason1 if we examine the bottom of our hearts1 but because they go before1 and excel ourselves4 ,the disciples1 no doubt1 thought that they spoke out of love to their ,,lord1 and assuredly they did2 but what a deal of self-love was there mixed and blended with it8 ,they seem much concerned for their ,master1 but they were more concerned for themselves4 ,however ,,jesus overlooks their weakness1 and mildly replies1 verse #i1 and #aj4 8,are there not twelve hours in the day8 ,if any man walk in the day1 he stumbleth not1 because he seeth the light of the world2 but if any man walk in the night1 he stumbleth1 because there is no light in him40 ,as though our ,,lord had said1 ,my dear disciples1 ,i thank you for your care and concern for me4 ,judea is a dangerous place1 and what you say of the treatment ,i met with from its inhabitants1 is just and true3 but be not afraid of going there upon my account4 ,for as a man walketh safely twelve hours of the day1 because he walketh in the light3 so as long as the time appointed by my ,father for my public administration lasts1 ,i shall be as secure from the hands of my enemies1 as a man that walks in broad-day is secure from falling4 ,but as a man stumbleth if he walketh in the night1 so when the night of my passion cometh1 then1 but not till then1 shall ,i be given up into the hands of my spiteful foes4 ,oh what comfort have these words1 by the blessing of ,,god1 frequently brought to my soul6 ,how may all ,,christ's ministers strengthen themselves with this consideration1 that so long as ,,god hath work for them to do1 they are immortal6 ,and if after our work is over1 our ,,lord should call us to lay down our lives for the brethren1 and to seal the truth of our doctrine with our blood1 it would certainly be the highest honour that can be put upon us4 8,to you it is given not only to believe1 but also to suffer10 says the apostle to the ,philippians4 8,these things 7the evangelist tells us1 verse #aa47 said ,,jesus1 and after that1 7to satisfy them that he was not going into ,judea without a proper call7 he saith unto them1 ,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth40 ,our friend4 ,amazing6 ,for what is a friend8 ,as one's own soul4 ,how dear then1 and near are true believers to the most adorable ,,jesus6 8,our friend ,lazarus40 ,still more amazing6 ,here is condescension1 here is unparalleled familiarity indeed4 ,and what of him8 8,he sleepeth40 ,a figurative way of expression4 ,for what is death to the lovers of ,,jesus ,,christ1 but a sleep1 and a refreshing one too8 ,thus it is said of ,stephen when he died1 that 8he fell asleep40 ,,christ indeed died1 but believers only sleep4 ,and 8those that sleep in ,,jesus1 7says the scripture7 will ,,god bring with him40 8,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth40 ,for though he be dead1 ,i shall raise him from the grave so soon1 that his dying will be only like a person's taking a short sleep4 8,our friend ,lazarus sleepeth1 but ,i go that ,i may awake him out of sleep40 ,by this time1 one would imagine1 our ,,lord's disciples should have understood him3 ,but how unwilling are we to believe any thing that we do not like4 8,then said his disciples1 ,,lord1 if he sleep he shall do well40 ,oh fearful1 and slow of heart to believe6 ,how fain would they excuse themselves from going into ,judea1 for fear of a few stones6 ,by this way of talking1 how do they in effect impeach their blessed ,master's conduct1 and under a pretence of preserving his person1 foster1 and as it were plead for their own 7though perhaps undiscerned7 cowardice and unbelief8 ,that charity1 which hopeth and believeth all things for the best1 teacheth us to judge thus favourably of them4 ,for1 8,howbeit ,,jesus spake of his death3 they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep40 ,the great and compassionate ,high-priest knowing and remembering they were but dust1 throws a veil of love over their infirmity2 and at length1 verse #ad4 8,saith unto them plainly 7for if we wait on ,,jesus1 we shall know his will plainly1 one way or another7 ,lazarus is dead40 ,and even then1 lest they should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow1 he immediately adds1 verse #ae4 8,and ,i am glad for your sakes that ,i was not there1 to the intent ye may believe10 or have more faith1 or have that faith which you already possess increased and confirmed4 ,a plain proof this1 that all ,,jesu's delays to answer prayer1 are only to strengthen our faith4 8,nevertheless1 says our ,,lord1 let us go unto him40 ,this was a sufficient hint1 if they knew how to improve it1 that he intended to do something extraordinary1 though he would not tell them directly what he intended4 ,for the ,,lord ,,jesus will keep those whom he loves1 at his foot1 and dependant on him4 8,let us go unto him40 ,he still speaks as though they were his equals4 ,oh that ,christians in general1 ,oh that ministers in particular1 would learn of him their great exemplar1 to condescend to men of low degree6 ,well1 the secret is now out4 ,,jesus has said unto them plainly1 ,lazarus is dead4 ,and what reception does this melancholy news meet with8 ,with great condolance1 especially from ,thomas2 for verse #af4 8,then said ,thomas1 who is called ,didymus1 unto his fellow disciples1 let us also go and die with him20 i4 e4 according to some1 with ,lazarus1 with whom1 it may be1 ,thomas had contracted an intimate acquaintance4 ,but granting it was so2 shall ,i commend him for this passionate expression8 ,i commend him not4 ,surely he spake unadvisedly with his lips2 8,let us also go and die with him40 ,as though there was no comfort henceforward to be expected in the world1 now his friend ,lazarus was gone4 ,this was a great fault1 and yet a fault that many of ,,god's children run into daily1 by mourning for their deceased relations over-much1 like persons that have no hope4 ,but this infirmity ought not to be indulged4 ,for if our friends and dear relatives are dead1 ,,jesus1 that friend of sinners1 is not dead4 ,he will be better to us than seven sons1 and will abundantly supply the place of all creature-comforts4 ,but ,i am more inclined to think that the word him1 refers to ,,jesus his dear ,master2 and if so1 he is so far from being blamed1 that he spake like a good soldier of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,let us also go1 that we may die with him4 ,if our dear master will go into ,judea1 and hazard his precious life1 let us not any longer make such frivolous excuses1 but let us manfully accompany him2 and if the ,jews should not only be permitted to stone1 but also to kill him1 let us also go and die with him1 we cannot die in a better cause4 ,this was a speech worthy of a christian hero1 and ,thomas herein hath set us an example1 that we should follow his steps1 by exciting and provoking one another closely to adhere to the blessed ,,jesus1 especially when his cause and interest is in any immediate danger4 ,this exhortation1 it seems1 had a proper effect4 ,they all went1 and as far as we know1 chearfully accompanied their glorious ,master4 ,how their thoughts were exercised on the road1 we are not told4 ,but ,i am apt to believe they were a little discouraged when they came to ,bethany4 ,for 8,when ,,jesus came1 he found that ,lazarus had lien in the grave for four days already40 ,and what would it avail them1 to come so many miles only to see a dead man's tomb8 ,but how wisely were all things ordered by the blessed ,,jesus1 to manifest his glory in the most extraordinary manner1 that not only his disciples might have their faith confirmed1 but many also of the ,jews might believe on him4 ,this ,bethany1 it seems1 verse #ah4 8was nigh unto ,jerusalem1 about fifteen furlongs off20 or about two miles2 and ,martha and ,mary1 being what we may call people of fashion1 and devout likewise2 many of the devout1 and we may suppose many of the wealthy ,jews came from the metropolis1 as well as other adjacent places1 verse #ai4 to ,martha and ,mary2 not to pay an idle1 trifling1 but a serious1 profitable visit1 8to comfort them concerning their brother40 ,this was kind and neighbourly4 ,to weep with those that weep1 and to visit the afflicted in their distresses1 is one essential branch of true and undefiled religion4 ,and ,o how sweet is it when we visit surviving friends1 that we have reason to think that their departed relations died in the ,,lord6 ,and we can therefore give them comfort concerning them3 ,for 8blessed are the dead1 that die in the ,,lord1 even so saith the ,spirit1 for they rest from their labours40 ,this and such-like arguments1 no doubt1 these visitors made use of1 to comfort ,martha and ,mary4 ,and indeed they stood in much need of consolation4 ,for we have reason to suppose1 from our ,,lord's answer1 8,this sickness is not unto death1 but the glory of ,,god20 that they had entertained thoughts of the recovery of their brother4 ,but who can tell what these two holy souls must feel1 when they found their brother did not recover1 but was dead1 laid out1 and now stinking in the silent grave6 ,what hard thoughts1 without judging them1 may we suppose they entertained concerning ,,jesus6 ,think ye not that they were ready to cry out in the language of the prophet1 8,thou hast deceived us1 and we are deceived80 ,but man's extremity is ,,jesu's opportunity4 ,in the multitude of the sorrows that they had in their hearts1 the news of ,,christ's coming refreshes their souls4 ,somebody or another1 commendably officious1 privately informs ,martha of it4 8,who1 as soon as she heard that ,,jesus was come 7without making any apology to the company for her rudeness7 went and met him3 ,but ,mary sat still in the house40 ,but why so1 ,mary8 ,i thought thou hadst been most forward to attend on ,,jesus1 and thy sister ,martha more prone to be cumbered about the many things of this life4 ,why sittest thou still8 ,it may be the news was brought only privately to ,martha 7for it is plain from verse #cast1 that the ,jews who were in the house knew not of it27 and ,martha knowing how our ,,lord had chid her once1 was resolved he should have no reason on the same account to chide her any more2 therefore when the news was brought1 she would not so much as stay to inform her sister1 but went out to see whether it were true or not1 and if so1 as the eldest sister1 she would invite the blessed ,,jesus in4 ,how happy is it1 when ,,christ's reproofs for past neglects1 excite our future zeal to come out and meet him6 ,such reproofs are an excellent oil4 ,or1 it may be1 the news reached ,mary's ears1 as well as ,martha's1 but being overcome with sorrow1 she thought it too good news to be true1 and therefore sat still in the house4 ,o how careful ought believers to be1 to cherish and maintain1 even in the midst of tribulation1 a holy confidence and joy in ,,god6 ,for the joy of the ,,lord is a believer's strength4 ,whereas giving way to melancholy and unbelief1 raises gloom and vapours in the mind1 clouds the understanding1 clogs us in the way of duty1 and gives the enemy1 who loves to fish in troubled waters1 a very great advantage over us4 ,mary1 perhaps1 through the prevalence of this1 and being also naturally of a sedentary disposition1 8sat still in the house10 while her sister ,martha got the start of her1 and went out to meet ,,jesus4 ,and how does she accost him8 ,why1 in a language bespeaking the distress of a burdened and disordered mind4 ,for she said unto ,,jesus1 verse #ba1 8,,lord1 if thou hadst been here1 my brother had not died40 ,here is a mixture of faith and unbelief4 ,faith made her say1 8,,lord1 if thou hadst been here1 my brother had not died40 ,but unbelief made her confine ,,christ's power to his bodily presence4 ,besides1 here was a tacit accusation of the blessed ,,jesus of unkindness1 for not coming when they sent unto him the message1 8,,lord1 he whom thou lovest is sick40 ,once she charged ,,jesus with want of care2 8,,lord1 carest thou not1 that my sister hath left me to serve alone80 ,now she taxes him with want of kindness4 8,if thou hadst been here20 as much as to say1 if thou hadst been so kind as to have come when we sent for thee1 8my brother had not died20 and by saying thus1 she does as it were lay her brother's death to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,o how apt are even those whom ,,jesus loves in a peculiar manner1 to charge him foolishly6 ,how often does the enmity of our desperately wicked hearts rise against ,,christ1 when we are under the afflicting hand of his providence6 ,are not the very best of us frequently tempted1 in such circumstances1 to say within ourselves at least1 ,why does ,,god thus cruelly deal with us8 ,why did not he keep off this stroke1 seeing it was in his power to have prevented it8 ,how should we be ashamed and confounded before him upon this account8 ,how should we pray and labour to be delivered from this remaining enmity of the heart1 and long for that time1 when mortality shall be swallowed up of life1 and we shall never feel one single rising of heart1 against a good and gracious1 and all-wise and glorious ,redeemer1 any more8 ,however1 to do ,martha justice1 she pretty well recovers herself1 verse #bb4 8,but ,i know1 that even now1 whatsoever thou wilt ask of ,,god1 ,,god will give it to thee40 ,whether these words imply an actual belief of our ,,lord's divinity1 is not certain4 ,to me they do2 because we shall presently find1 that she did believe our ,,lord was the ,son of ,,god1 and the ,messiah which was to come into the world4 ,therefore when she said1 she knew that whatsoever he asked of ,,god1 ,,god would give it to him1 she may be understood as referring to ,,god the ,father1 under whom the ,,lord ,,jesus acted as ,mediator1 though equal to him in respect to his eternal glory and godhead4 ,this mystery we may well suppose her acquainted with1 because ,,jesus had been frequently preaching at her house1 and consequently1 had opened that mystery unto her4 ,o what a blessed thing must it be to have such a ,mediator6 such an high-priest and intercessor at the ,father's right-hand1 that whatever he asks the ,father in our behalf1 he will give unto us6 ,,jesus takes this kindly at ,martha's hand1 and passes over her infirmity4 ,for if the ,,lord was exact to mark every thing that we say or do amiss1 alas6 who could abide8 ,he only calmly says unto her1 verse #bc4 8,thy brother shall rise again40 ,glad tidings these of great joy4 ,this should comfort us concerning our deceased1 pious relations1 that ere long they shall rise again1 and soul and body be for ever with the ,,lord4 ,howbeit ,,jesus spake here of an immediate resurrection1 though he did not speak plainly3 ,for ,,christ loves to exercise the faith and patience of his disciples1 and frequently leaves them to find out his meaning by degrees4 ,it is best for us in our present state1 that it should be so4 ,in heaven it will be otherwise4 8,thy brother1 7says ,,christ to ,martha7 shall rise again40 ,she might immediately have replied1 ,when1 ,,lord8 ,but she fetches a circuit as it were1 and labours to find out the mind of ,,jesus by degrees4 8,i know1 says she1 that he shall rise again at the resurrection of the last day40 ,these words seem to imply1 that she had some distant thought of our ,,lord's design to raise her brother now1 and that she spoke thus only to draw our ,saviour to speak1 and tell her plainly whether he meant to do so or not4 ,those who are acquainted with ,,jesus1 are taught an holy art by the blessed ,spirit1 in dealing with their blessed master4 8,i know1 says she1 he shall rise again at the resurrection of the last day10 7a notable proof this1 by the way1 that the pious ,jews believed the resurrection of the body74 ,it is just the same as though she had said1 ,,lord1 dost thou mean that my brother shall rise again before that time8 ,our ,saviour wisely keeps off from giving her a direct answer1 but chuses rather to preach to her heart4 8,,jesus said unto her1 ,i am the resurrection and the life3 ,he that believeth in me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live40 ,on this ,martha's faith1 if in exercise1 might take hold4 ,o glorious words6 ,how encouraging to you poor sinners lying in your blood6 ,though you are dead in trespasses and sins1 and might justly be condemned to die the second death1 yet if you believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus you shall live4 ,he adds1 8,and whosoever believeth in me shall never die20 never die as to their souls1 never die eternally1 and consequently never finally fall away from ,,god4 ,this is an encouraging soul-comforting declaration for you1 ,o believers1 who are thus kept1 as it were1 in a garrison1 by the mighty power of ,,god1 through faith1 unto salvation6 8,believest thou this80 says ,,christ to ,martha1 verse #bf4 ,what avail all the many great and precious promises of the gospel1 unless they are applied and brought home in particular to each of our souls8 ,the word does not profit unless it is mixed with faith4 ,we therefore do well1 when we are reading ,,christ's words1 to put this question to ourselves2 ,o my soul1 believest thou this8 ,and well would it be for us1 if upon putting this question to ourselves1 we could with the same holy confidence1 and in the same delightful frame1 say with ,martha1 verse #bg4 8,yea1 ,,lord3 ,i believe that thou art the ,,christ1 the ,son of ,,god1 which should come into the world40 ,this ,i think is a direct confession of our ,,lord's divinity4 ,how full was her heart when she spoke these words6 ,i am persuaded it burnt within her4 ,what a divine warmth had she contracted by talking with ,,jesus6 ,how does she long that her sister might share in her holy joy6 ,for when she had so said1 verse #bh4 8she went away20 full of love1 no doubt1 and called ,mary her sister1 as all will labour to call their near relations1 who have felt the ,,lord ,,jesus to be the resurrection and the life themselves4 ,but ,martha took care1 in the midst of her zeal 7as we should always do7 to behave with prudence2 and therefore 8she called her sister secretly1 saying1 ,the master is come1 and calleth for thee40 ,the master is come4 ,she need say no more2 ,mary knew very well whom she meant4 ,for holy souls easily understand one another when talking of their master ,,jesus4 ,the divine ,herbert used to delight 7when speaking of ,,jesus7 to say1 8,my ,master20 perhaps he learned it of ,martha1 who said here1 8,the ,master is come1 and calleth for thee40 ,but what is this thou sayest1 ,martha8 ,the ,master is come1 and calleth for thee8 ,surely a woman of thy exalted piety will not tell a deliberate lie1 and in order to induce thy sister to come to ,,jesus1 acquaint her that ,,jesus called her1 when indeed he did not4 ,thou needest not put thyself to such an expence1 or do so much evil1 that good may come of it4 ,only mention ,,jesus to ,mary1 and let her know for a certainty that the ,master is indeed come1 and ,i am persuaded she will sit no longer4 ,martha no doubt knew1 and therefore ,i cannot judge her as some do1 as though in her haste she said what was not true4 ,for ,,jesus might bid her to call her sister1 though it be not directly mentioned in this chapter4 ,and it is very probable1 that our ,,lord did enquire after ,mary1 because she used to take such great delight in sitting at his feet1 and hearing the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth4 8,the ,master is come 7saith ,martha to her sister7 and calleth for thee40 ,and so say ,i to all poor sinners4 ,,jesus1 your ,,lord and ,master1 your ,prince and ,saviour1 is come1 come unto this lower world1 and is come this day in his word1 and by me1 who am less than the least of all his servants1 and calleth for you4 ,o that he may also come in the demonstration of the ,spirit1 and by his mighty power bow your stubborn hearts and wills to obey the call1 as holy ,mary did4 ,for we are told1 verse #bi4 8,when she heard that1 she rose quickly1 and came to ,,jesus40 ,sinners1 when will you do so8 ,or why do you not do so8 ,how know you whether ,,jesus will call for you any more1 before he calls you by death to judgment8 ,linger1 ,o linger no longer4 ,fly1 fly for your lives4 ,arise quickly1 and with ,mary come to ,,jesus4 ,she obeyed the call so very speedily1 that her haste was taken notice of by her visitors4 8,the ,jews then1 who were with her in the house1 and comforted her1 when they saw ,mary that she rose up hastily 7without any ceremony at all7 and went out1 followed her1 saying1 she goeth to the grave1 to weep there40 ,how wisely does our ,,lord permit and order all this1 to bring the ,jews out to behold the wonderful miracle that he was about to perform6 ,little did ,mary and the ,jews think for what end they were thus providentially led out4 ,but when ,,jesus hath work to be done1 he will bring souls to the place where he intends to call them1 in spite of men or devils4 ,but how does ,mary behave when she comes to ,,jesus8 ,we may be assured1 not without great humility4 ,no wonder then we are told1 verse #cb4 that 8when she saw him1 she immediately fell down at his feet 7a place ,mary had been used to1 and in an agony of grief1 says1 as her sister had done before her7 ,,lord1 if thou hadst been here1 my brother had not died40 ,poor ,mary6 ,her concern was great indeed4 ,though she was a holy woman1 she could not well bear the loss of her brother4 ,she knew very well1 that the world would miss him1 and no doubt he had been a kind and tender brother to her4 ,but ,i am afraid she was sinfully overcome with overmuch sorrow4 ,however1 had we been there1 the sight must have affected us4 ,it seems to have affected the visitors1 especially the blessed ,,jesus4 ,he1 instead of blaming her1 for her tacitly accusing him of unkindness1 and for not coming to her brother's relief1 pities and sympathizes both with ,mary and her weeping friends6 8,when ,,jesus saw her weep1 and the ,jews also weeping1 he groaned in his ,spirit1 and was troubled40 ,troubled3 ,not with any sinful perturbation we may be assured3 nothing of that nature could possibly be in his sinless soul4 ,and1 therefore1 some have judiciously enough compared the trouble our ,,lord now felt1 to some chrystal water shaken in a glass or bottle2 you may shake it1 but there will be no sediment3 it will be chrystal water still4 8,he groaned in his spirit40 ,i do not see why this may not be understood of his praying in the spirit1 which maketh intercession for the saints1 with 8groanings that cannot be uttered40 ,methinks ,i see the immaculate ,lamb of ,,god1 secretly1 but powerfully agonizing with his ,father2 his heart is big with sympathy6 ,at length1 out of the fulness of it1 he said1 verse #cd4 8,where have ye laid him8 ,they 7,i suppose ,mary and ,martha7 say unto him1 ,,lord1 come and see40 ,he came1 he saw1 8,he wept10 verse #ce4 ,it is put in a verse by itself1 that we might pause a while1 and ask1 why ,,jesus wept8 ,he wept1 to shew us1 that it was no sin to shed a tear of love and resignation at the grave of a deceased friend2 he wept1 to see what havock sin had made in the world1 and how it had reduced man1 who was originally little lower than the angels1 7by making him subject to death7 to a level with the beasts that perish3 but above all1 he wept at the foresight of the people's unbelief2 he wept1 to think how many then present1 would not only not believe on1 but would be hardened1 and have their prejudices increased more and more against him1 though he should raise ,lazarus from the dead before their eyes4 ,well then may ministers be excused1 who1 whilst they are preaching1 now and then drop a few tears1 at the consideration of their sermons being1 through the perverseness and unbelief of many of their audience1 a savour of death unto death1 instead of a savour of life unto life4 ,upon a like occasion ,,jesus wept4 ,what an affecting sight was here6 ,let us for a while suppose ourselves placed amidst these holy mourners2 let us imagine that we see the sepulchre just before us1 and the ,jews1 and ,mary1 and the blessed ,,jesus weeping round it4 ,surely1 the most obdurate of us all must drop a tear1 or at least be affected with the sight2 we find that it affected those who were really by-standers3 for then said the ,jews1 verse #cf4 8,behold1 how he loved him40 ,and did they say1 ,behold1 how he loved him1 when ,,jesus only shed a few tears over the grave of his departed ,lazarus8 ,come then1 ,o sinners1 and view ,,christ dying and pouring out his precious heart's blood for you upon an accursed tree1 and then surely you must needs cry out1 ,behold1 how he loved us6 ,but alas1 though all were affected1 yet1 it seems1 all were not well affected at seeing ,,jesus weep6 ,for we are told1 verse #cg4 that some of them said1 8,could not this man1 who opened the eyes of the blind1 have caused that even this man should not have died80 ,one would imagine1 that ,satan himself could scarce have uttered a more perverse speech3 every word is full of spite and rancour4 ,could not this man1 this fellow1 this deceiver1 who pretends to say1 that he opened the eyes of the blind1 have caused that this man1 whom he seems to love so1 should not have died8 ,is not this a sufficient proof that he is a cheat8 ,have we catched him at last8 ,is it likely that he really helped others1 when he could not help his own friend8,o how patient ought the servants of our ,,lord to be6 ,and how may they expect to be censured1 and have their good deeds questioned1 and lessened1 when their blessed ,master has been thus treated before them6 ,however1 ,,jesus will do good1 notwithstanding all these slights put upon him2 and therefore1 again groaning in himself1 8he cometh to the grave2 it was a cave1 7or vault1 as is customary in great families7 and a stone lay upon it2 ,,jesus said1 verse #ci4 ,take ye away the stone40 ,how gradually does our ,,lord proceed1 in order to engage the people's attention the more6 ,methinks ,i see them all eye1 all ear1 and eagerly waiting to see the issue of this affair4 ,but ,martha now returning with the rest of the company1 seems to have lost that good frame which she was in when she went to call her sister2 8,she saith unto him1 7verse #ci47 ,,lord1 by this time he stinketh3 for he hath been either dead or buried four days40 ,o the dismal effects of carnal reasoning6 ,how naturally do we fall into doubts and fears1 when we have not our eye simply directed to the blessed ,,jesus6 ,martha1 instead of looking up to him1 looks down into the grave1 and poring upon her brother's stinking corpse1 falls into a fit of unbelief3 8,by this time he stinketh20 and1 therefore1 a sight of him will only be offensive4 ,perhaps she might think our ,,lord only wanted to take a view of her brother ,lazarus2 ,,jesus1 therefore1 to give her yet a further hint1 that he intended to do something extraordinary1 saith unto her1 verse #dj4 8,said ,i not unto thee1 that if thou wouldst believe1 thou shouldst see the glory of ,,god80 ,our ,,lord speaks here with some degree of warmth3 for nothing displeases him more than the unbelief of his own disciples4 8,said ,i not unto thee1 if thou wouldst believe1 thou shouldst see the glory of ,,god80 ,when ,,christ first spoke these words unto her1 we are not told2 it might be1 this was part of their conversation upon another occasion some time before3 however1 he checks her openly for her unbelief now3 for those whom ,,jesus loves1 must expect to be rebuked sharply by him1 whenever they dishonour him by unbelief4 ,the reproof is taken4 ,without making any more objections1 8,they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid40 ,and now behold with what solemnity the holy ,,jesus prepares himself to execute his gracious design6 8,and ,,jesus lift up his eyes1 and said1 ,father1 ,i thank thee that thou hast heard me2 and ,i knew that thou hearest me always3 but because of the people which stand by1 ,i said it1 that they may believe that thou hast sent me40 ,who can express with what fervor and intenseness of spirit1 our glorious ,high-priest uttered these words6 ,they are a thanksgiving arising from an assurance that his ,father had heard him3 for ,,christ1 as ,mediator1 was inferior to the ,father4 8,i knew that thou hearest me always 7and so may every believer in his degree say too72 but because of the people which stand by1 ,i said it40,said what8 ,we do not hear that ,,jesus said any thing by way of prayer before2 and that is true1 if we mean vocally1 but mentally he did say something1 even when he groaned in the spirit once and again1 and was troubled4 ,there is a way of praying1 even when we do not1 and cannot speak4 8,why cryest thou10 said ,,god to ,moses2 though we do not hear that he spoke one single word3 but he cried in his heart4 ,and ,i observe this for the comfort of some weak1 but real christians1 who think they never pray1 unless they can have a great flow of words2 but this is a great mistake3 for we often pray best1 when we can speak least4 ,there are times when the heart is too big to speak3 and the spirit itself maketh intercession for the saints1 and that too according to the will of ,,god1 with groanings that cannot be uttered4 ,such was ,hannah's prayer for a son1 8,she spake not1 only her lips moved30 and such was our ,,lord's way of praying at this time4 ,and perhaps the soul is never in a better frame1 than when in a holy stillness1 and unspeakable serenity1 it can put itself as a blank in ,,jesus's hand1 for him to stamp on it just what he pleases4 ,and now the hour of our ,saviour's performing this long-expected miracle1 is come4 ,verse #dc4 8,when he thus had spoken1 he cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth40 ,with the word there went an irresistible power3 he spake1 and it was done3 he cried1 and behold1 8,he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave cloaths2 and his face was bound about with a napkin40 ,what a sight was here6 ,methinks ,i see surprize sit upon each spectator's face3 as the body rises1 their wonder rises too4 ,see how they gaze6 ,see how their looks bespeak the language of astonished hearts2 and all with a kind of silent1 but expressive oratory1 ready to say1 ,what manner of man is this8 ,surely this is the ,messiah that was to come into the world4 ,how did the hearts of ,martha and ,mary1 as we may very well suppose1 leap for joy6 ,how were they ashamed of themselves1 for charging ,,jesus foolishly1 and taxing him with unkindness1 for not coming to prevent their brother's dying6 ,it is true1 ,,christ suffered him to die1 but behold he is now alive again6 ,,jesus never denies us one thing1 but he intends to give us something better in the stead of it4 ,think you not that ,martha and ,mary were now the most officious to obey our blessed ,,lord's command1 8,loose him1 and let him go80 ,that same power that raised ,lazarus from the dead1 might have also taken the grave-cloaths from him3 but ,,jesus ,,christ never did1 and never will work a needless miracle4 ,others could unloose his grave-cloaths1 but ,,jesus alone could unloose the bands of death4 ,and now1 perhaps1 some may be ready to ask1 ,what news hath ,lazarus brought from the other world6 ,but stop1 ,o man1 thy vain curiosity6 ,it is forbidden1 and therefore useless knowledge4 ,the scriptures are silent concerning it4 ,why should we desire to be wise above what is written8 ,it becomes us rather to be wholly employed in adoring the gracious hand of that mighty ,redeemer who raised him from the dead1 and to see 7now we have heard the history7 what improvement we can make of such a remarkable and instructive transaction4 ,would to ,,god that my preaching upon the resurrection of ,lazarus to-day1 may have the same blessed effects upon you1 as the sight of it had upon some of the standers-by3 ,for we are told1 verse #de4 8,then many of the ,jews who came to ,mary1 and had seen the things which ,,jesus did1 believed on him40 ,a profitable visit this6 ,the best1 no doubt1 that they ever paid in their lives4 ,and this was in answer to our ,saviour's prayer1 8,but because of the people who stand by1 ,i said it1 that they may believe1 that thou hast sent me40 ,one would imagine1 that all who saw this miracle1 were induced thereby1 really to believe on him3 ,but alas6 ,i could almost say1 that ,i can tell you of a greater miracle than raising ,lazarus from the dead4 ,and what is that8 ,why1 that some of these very persons who were on the spot1 instead of believing on him1 8went their way to the ,pharisees1 and told them what ,,jesus had done40 verse #df4 ,it was so far from convincing them1 that it only excited their envy1 stirred up the whole hell of their self-righteous hearts1 and made them1 from that day forward1 8take counsel together10 to execute what they had long before designed1 to put the innocent ,,jesus to death4 ,see how busy they are1 verse #dg4 8,then gathered the chief priests and the ,pharisees a council1 and said1 ,what do we8 ,for this man doeth many miracles40 ,envy itself1 it seems1 could not deny that4 ,and need they say then1 8,what do we10 or what should we do8 ,believe in1 to be sure1 and submit to him2 take up the cross1 and follow him4 ,no2 on the contrary1 say they1 verse #dh4 8,if we let him thus alone1 7which they would not have done so long1 had not ,,god put a hook in the ,leviathan's jaws7 all men will believe on him40 ,and suppose they did8 ,then all men would be blessed indeed1 and have a title to true happiness4 ,no1 say they1 8then the ,romans shall come and take away both our place and nation40 ,but were not the ,romans come already8 ,were they not at this time tributaries to ,csar8 ,but they were afraid of the church as well as the state3 8,they will come and take away our place10 our place of worship3 and consequently1 they look upon ,,jesus ,,christ and his proceedings1 and adherents1 as dangerous both to church and state4 ,this hath been always the method of ,pharisees and high-priests1 when they have been taking counsel against the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and his dear anointed ones4 ,but they need not have been afraid on this account3 for our ,saviour's kingdom neither was1 nor is of this world2 and the only way to have preserved their place and nation1 was to have countenanced1 and as much as in them lay1 caused all to believe on ,,jesus4 ,how miserably were they out in their politics6 ,the death of ,,jesus1 which they thought would save1 was the grand cause of the utter destruction both of their place and nation3 ,and so will all politics formed against ,,christ and his gospel end at last in the destruction of those who contrived them4 ,o the desperate wickedness and treachery of man's deceitful heart6 ,where are the scribes1 where are the infidels1 where are the letter-learned disputers of this world1 who are daily calling for a repetition of miracles1 in order to confirm and evidence the truth of the christian religion8 ,surely if they believe not ,moses and the prophets1 neither would they believe1 though one rose from the dead4 ,here was one raised from the dead before many witnesses1 and yet all those witnesses did by no means believe on ,,jesus4 ,for divine faith is not wrought in the heart by moral persuasion 7though moral suasion is very often made use of as a means to convey it72 faith is the peculiar gift of ,,god3 no one can come to ,,jesus unless the ,father draw him3 and1 therefore1 that ,i may draw near the close of this discourse1 let me shut up all with a word of exhortation4 ,come1 ye dead1 ,christless1 unconverted sinners1 come and see the place where they laid the body of the deceased ,lazarus2 behold him laid out1 bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths1 locked up and stinking in a dark cave1 with a great stone placed on the top of it6 ,view him again and again2 go nearer to him2 be not afraid2 smell him1 ah6 how he stinketh4 ,stop there now1 pause a while2 and whilst thou art gazing upon the corpse of ,lazarus1 give me leave to tell thee with great plainness1 but greater love1 that this dead1 bound1 entombed1 stinking carcase1 is but a faint representation of thy poor soul in its natural state3 for1 whether thou believest it or not1 thy spirit which thou bearest about with thee1 sepulchred in flesh and blood1 is as literally dead to ,,god1 and as truly dead in trespasses and sins1 as the body of ,lazarus was in the cave4 ,was he bound hand and foot with grave-cloaths8 ,so art thou bound hand and foot with thy corruptions3 and as a stone was laid on the sepulchre1 so is there a stone of unbelief upon thy stupid heart4 ,perhaps thou hast lain in this state1 not only four days1 but many years1 stinking in ,,god's nostrils4 ,and1 what is still more affecting1 thou art as unable to raise thyself out of this loathsome1 dead state1 to a life of righteousness and true holiness1 as ever ,lazarus was to raise himself from the cave in which he lay so long4 ,thou mayest try the power of thy own boasted free-will1 and the force and energy of moral persuasion and rational arguments 7which1 without all doubt1 have their proper place in religion72 but all thy efforts1 exerted with never so much vigour1 will prove quite fruitless and abortive1 till that same ,,jesus1 who said1 8,take away the stone10 and cried1 8,lazarus1 come forth10 comes by his mighty power1 removes the stone of unbelief1 speaks life to thy dead soul1 looses thee from the fetters of thy sins and corruptions1 and by the influences of his blessed ,spirit1 enables thee to arise1 and to walk in the way of his holy commandments4 ,and ,o that he would now rend the heavens1 and come down amongst you6 ,o that there may be a stirring among the dry bones this day6 ,o that whilst ,i am speaking1 and saying1 8,dead sinners1 come forth10 a power1 an almighty power might accompany the word1 and cause you to emerge into new life6 ,if the ,,lord should vouchsafe me such a mercy1 and but one single soul in this great congregation1 should arise and shake himself from the dust of his natural state2 according to the present frame of my heart1 ,i should not care if preaching this sermon here in the fields1 was an occasion of hastening my death1 as raising ,lazarus hastened the death of my blessed ,master4 ,for methinks death1 in some respects1 is more tolerable1 than to see poor sinners day by day lying sepulchred1 dead and stinking in sin4 ,o that you saw how loathsome you are in the sight of ,,god1 whilst you continue in your natural state6 ,i believe you would not so contentedly hug your chains1 and refuse to be set at liberty4 ,methinks ,i see some of you affected at this part of my discourse4 ,what say you8 ,are there not some ready to complain1 alas6 we have some relations present1 who are so notoriously wicked1 that they not only hug their chains1 but make a mock of sin1 and stink not only in the sight of ,,god1 but man4 ,dear souls6 you are ready to urge this1 as a reason why ,,jesus will not raise them2 and think it hard1 perhaps1 that ,,jesus does not come1 in answer to your repeated groans and prayers1 to convert and save them4 ,but what ,,jesus said unto ,martha1 ,i say unto you1 8,believe1 and you shall see the glory of ,,god40 ,think it not a thing incredible1 that ,,god should raise their dead souls4 ,think not hard of ,,jesus for delaying an answer to your prayers3 assure yourselves he heareth you always4 ,and who knows1 but this day ,,jesus may visit some of your dear relations hearts1 upon whose account you have travailed in birth till ,,christ be formed in them8 ,you have already sympathized with ,martha and ,mary1 in their doubts and fears2 who knows but you may also be partakers of that joy which their souls experienced1 when they received their risen brother into their longing arms4 8travelled0 replaced with 8travailed0 ,o ,christless souls1 you do not know what grief your continuance in sin occasions to your godly relations6 ,you do not know how you grieve the heart of ,,jesus4 ,i beseech you give him no fresh cause to weep over you upon account of your unbelief3 let him not again groan in his spirit and be troubled4 ,behold how he has loved you1 even so as to lay down his life for you4 ,what could he do more8 ,i pray you1 therefore1 dead sinners1 come forth2 arise and sup with ,,jesus4 ,this was an honour conferred on ,lazarus1 and the same honour awaits you3 ,not that you shall sit down with him personally in this life1 as ,lazarus did2 but you shall sit down with him at the table of his ordinances1 especially at the table of the ,lord's-supper1 and ere long sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven4 ,happy1 thrice happy ye1 who are already raised from spiritual death1 and have an earnest of an infinitely better and more glorious resurrection in your hearts4 ,you know a little1 how delightful it must have been to ,martha and ,mary and ,lazarus1 to sit down with the blessed ,,jesus here below2 but how infinitely more delightful will it be1 to sit down1 not only with ,mary and ,martha1 but with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all your other dear brethren and sisters1 in the kingdom of heaven4 ,do you not long for that time1 when ,,jesus shall say unto you1 8,come up hither80 ,well6 blessed be ,,god1 yet a little while1 and that same ,,jesus1 who cried with a loud voice1 8,lazarus1 come forth20 shall with the same voice1 and with the same power1 speak unto all that are in their graves1 and they shall come forth4 ,that all who hear me this day may be then enabled to lift up their heads and rejoice1 that the day of their compleat redemption is indeed fully come1 may ,,jesus ,,christ grant1 for his infinite mercy's sake4 ,amen1 and ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xl4 ,the ,holy ,spirit convincing the ,world of ,sin1 ,righteousness1 and ,judgment4 ,,john xvi4 #h4 ,and when he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,,these words contain part of a gracious promise1 which the blessed ,,jesus was pleased to make to his weeping and sorrowful disciples4 ,the time was now drawing near1 in which the ,son of man was first to be lifted up on the cross1 and afterwards to heaven4 ,kind1 wondrous kind6 had this merciful ,high-priest been to his disciples1 during the time of his tabernacling amongst them4 ,he had compassion on their infirmities1 answered for them when assaulted by their enemies1 and set them right when out of the way1 either in principle or practice4 ,he neither called nor used them as servants1 but as friends2 and he revealed his secrets to them from time to time4 ,he opened their understandings1 that they might understand the scriptures2 explained to them the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of ,,god1 when he spoke to others in parables3 nay1 he became the servant of them all1 and even condescended to wash their feet4 ,the thoughts of parting with so dear and loving a ,master as this1 especially for a long season1 must needs affect them much4 ,when on a certain occasion he intended to be absent from them only for a night1 we are told1 he was obliged to constrain them to leave him2 no wonder then1 that when he now informed them he must entirely go away1 and that the ,pharisees in his absence should put them out of their synagogues1 and excommunicate them2 yea1 that the time should come1 that whosoever killed them1 would think they did ,,god service 7a prophecy1 one would imagine1 in an especial manner designed for the suffering ministers of this generation72 no wonder1 ,i say1 considering all this1 that we are told1 verse #f4 ,sorrow had filled their hearts3 8,because ,i have said these things unto you1 sorrow hath filled your hearts40 ,the expression is very emphatical2 their hearts were so full of concern1 that they were ready to burst4 ,in order1 therefore1 to reconcile them to this mournful dispensation1 our dear and compassionate ,redeemer shews them the necessity he lay under to leave them2 8,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth2 it is expedient for you that ,i go away30 ,as though he had said1 ,think not1 my dear disciples1 that ,i leave you out of anger3 no1 it is for your sakes1 for your profit1 that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 if ,i die not upon the cross for your sins1 and rise again for your justification1 and ascend into heaven to make intercession1 and plead my merits before my ,father's throne2 the ,comforter1 the ,holy ,ghost1 will not1 cannot come unto you2 but if ,i depart1 ,i will send him unto you4 ,and that they might know what he was to do1 8,when he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin1 and of righteousness1 and of judgment40 ,the person referred to in the words of the text1 is plainly the ,comforter1 the ,holy ,ghost2 and the promise was first made to our ,,lord's apostles4 ,but though it was primarily made to them1 and was literally and remarkably fulfilled at the day of ,pentecost1 when the ,holy ,ghost came down as a mighty rushing wind1 and also when three thousand were pricked to the heart by ,peter's preaching2 yet1 as the ,apostles were the representatives of the whole body of believers1 we must infer1 that this promise must be looked upon as spoken to us1 and to our children1 and to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call4 ,my design from these words1 is to shew the manner in which the ,holy ,ghost generally works upon the hearts of those1 who1 through grace1 are made vessels of mercy1 and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of ,,god's dear ,son4 ,i say1 generally3 ,for1 as ,,god is a sovereign agent1 his sacred ,spirit bloweth not only on whom1 but when and how it listeth4 ,therefore1 far be it from me to confine the ,almighty to one way of acting1 or say1 that all undergo an equal degree of conviction3 no1 there is a holy variety in ,,god's methods of calling home his elect4 ,but this we may affirm assuredly1 that1 wherever there is a work of true conviction and conversion wrought upon a sinner's heart1 the ,holy ,ghost1 whether by a greater or less degree of inward soul-trouble1 does that which our ,,lord ,,jesus told the disciples1 in the words of the text1 that he should do when he came4 ,if any of you ridicule inward religion1 or think there is no such thing as our feeling or receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 ,i fear my preaching will be quite foolishness to you1 and that you will understand me no more than if ,i spoke to you in an unknown tongue4 ,but as the promise in the text1 is made to the world1 and as ,i know it will be fulfilling till time shall be no more1 ,i shall proceed to explain the general way whereby the ,holy ,ghost works upon every converted sinner's heart2 and ,i hope that the ,,lord1 even whilst ,i am speaking1 will be pleased to fulfil it in many of your hearts4 8,and when he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment40 ,the word1 which we translate reprove1 ought to be rendred convince2 and in the original it implies a conviction by way of argumentation1 and coming with a power upon the mind equal to a demonstration4 ,a great many scoffers of these last days1 will ask such as they term pretenders to the ,spirit1 how they feel the ,spirit1 and how they know the ,spirit8 ,they might as well ask1 how they know1 and how they feel the sun when it shines upon the body8 ,for with equal power and demonstration does the ,spirit of ,,god work upon and convince the soul4 ,and1 ,first1 ,it convinces of sin2 and generally of some enormous sin1 the worst perhaps the convicted person ever was guilty of4 ,thus1 when our ,,lord was conversing with the woman of ,samaria1 he convinced her first of her adultery3 8,woman1 go call thy husband4 ,the woman answered1 and said1 ,i have no husband4 ,,jesus said unto her1 ,thou hast well said1 ,i have no husband3 for thou hast had five husbands1 and he whom thou now hast1 is not thy husband3 in this saidst thou truly40 ,with this there went such a powerful conviction of all her other actual sins1 that soon after1 8she left her waterpot1 and went her way into the city1 and saith to the men1 ,come1 and see a man that told me all things that ever ,i did3 is not this the ,,christ80 ,thus our ,,lord also dealt with the persecutor ,saul3 he convinced him first of the horrid sin of persecution2 8,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou me80 ,such a sense of all his other sins1 probably at the same time revived in his mind1 that immediately he died2 that is1 died to all his false confidences1 and was thrown into such an agony of soul1 that he continued three days1 and neither did eat nor drink4 ,this is the method the ,spirit of ,,god generally takes in dealing with sinners2 he first convinces them of some heinous actual sin1 and at the same time brings all their other sins into remembrance1 and as it were sets them in battle-array before them3 8,when he is come1 he will reprove the world of sin40 8remembrace0 replaced with 8remembrance0 ,and was it ever thus with you1 my dear hearers8 7,for ,i must question you as ,i go along1 because ,i intend1 by the ,divine help1 to preach not only to your heads1 but your hearts74 ,did the ,spirit of ,,god ever bring all your sins thus to remembrance1 and make you cry out to ,,god1 8,thou writest bitter things against me80 ,did your actual sins ever appear before you1 as though drawn in a map8 ,if not1 you have great reason 7unless you were sanctified from the womb7 to suspect that you are not convicted1 much more not converted1 and that the promise of the text was never yet fulfilled in your hearts4 ,farther3 ,when the ,comforter comes into a sinner's heart1 though it generally convinces the sinner of his actual sin first1 yet it leads him to see and bewail his original sin1 the fountain from which all these polluted streams do flow4 ,though every thing in the earth1 air1 and water2 every thing both without and within1 concur to prove the truth of that assertion in the scripture1 8in ,adam we all have died20 yet most are so hardened through the deceitfulness of sin1 that notwithstanding they may give an assent to the truth of the proposition in their heads1 yet they never felt it really in their hearts4 ,nay1 some in words professedly deny it1 though their works too1 too plainly prove them to be degenerate sons of a degenerate father4 ,but when the ,comforter1 the ,spirit of ,,god1 arrests a sinner1 and convinces him of sin1 all carnal reasoning against original corruption1 every proud and high imagination1 which exalteth itself against that doctrine1 is immediately thrown down2 and he is made to cry out1 8,who shall deliver me from the body of this death80 ,he now finds that concupiscence is sin2 and does not so much bewail his actual sins1 as the inward perverseness of his heart1 which he now finds not only to be an enemy to1 but also direct enmity against ,,god4 ,and did the ,comforter1 my dear friends1 ever come with such a convincing power as this into your hearts8 ,were you ever made to see and feel1 that in your flesh dwelleth no good thing2 that you are conceived and born in sin2 that you are by nature children of wrath2 that ,,god would be just if he damned you1 though you never committed an actual sin in your lives8 ,so often as you have been at church and sacrament1 did you ever feelingly confess1 that there was no health in you2 that the remembrance of your original and actual sins was grievous unto you1 and the burden of them intolerable8 ,if not1 you have been only offering to ,,god vain oblations2 you never yet prayed in your lives2 the ,comforter never yet came effectually into your souls3 consequently you are not in the faith properly so called2 no1 you are at present in a state of death and damnation4 ,again1 the ,comforter1 when he comes effectually to work upon a sinner1 not only convinces him of the sin of his nature1 and the sin of his life1 but also of the sin of his duties4 ,we all naturally are ,legalists1 thinking to be justified by the works of the law4 ,when somewhat awakened by the terrors of the ,,lord1 we immediately1 like the ,pharisees of old1 go about to establish our own righteousness1 and think we shall find acceptance with ,,god1 if we seek it with tears3 finding ourselves damned by nature and our actual sins1 we then think to recommend ourselves to ,,god by our duties1 and hope1 by our doings of one kind or another1 to inherit eternal life4 ,but1 whenever the ,comforter comes into the heart1 it convinces the soul of these false rests1 and makes the sinner to see that all his righteousnesses are but as filthy rags2 and that1 for the most pompous services1 he deserves no better a doom than that of the unprofitable servant1 8to be thrown into outer darkness1 where is weeping1 and wailing1 and gnashing of teeth40 ,and was this degree of conviction ever wrought in any of your souls8 ,did the ,comforter ever come into your hearts1 so as to make you sick of your duties1 as well as your sins8 ,were you ever1 with the great ,apostle of the ,gentiles1 made to abhor your own righteousness which is by the law1 and acknowledge that you deserve to be damned1 though you should give all your goods to feed the poor8 ,were you made to feel1 that your very repentance needed to be repented of1 and that every thing in yourselves is but dung and dross8 ,and that all the arguments you can fetch for mercy1 must be out of the heart and pure unmerited love of ,,god8 ,were you ever made to lye at the feet of sovereign ,grace1 and to say1 ,,lord1 if thou wilt1 thou mayest save me2 if not1 thou mayest justly damn me2 ,i have nothing to plead1 ,i can in no wise justify myself in thy sight2 my best performances1 ,i see1 will condemn me2 and all ,i have to depend upon is thy free grace8 ,what say you8 ,was this ever1 or is this now1 the habitual language of your hearts8 ,you have been frequently at the temple2 but did you ever approach it in the temper of the poor ,publican1 and1 after you have done all1 acknowledge that you have done nothing2 and1 upon a feeling experimental sense of your own unworthiness and sinfulness every way1 smite upon your breasts1 and say1 8,,god be merciful to us sinners80 ,if you never were thus minded1 the ,comforter never yet effectually came into your souls1 you are out of ,,christ2 and if ,,god should require your souls in that condition1 he would be no better to you than a consuming fire4 ,but there is a fourth sin1 of which the ,comforter1 when he comes1 convinces the soul1 and which alone 7it is very remarkable7 our ,,lord mentions1 as though it was the only sin worth mentioning2 for indeed it is the root of all other sins whatsoever3 it is the reigning as well as the damning sin of the world4 ,and what now do you imagine that sin may be8 ,it is that cursed sin1 that root of all other evils1 ,i mean the sin of unbelief4 ,says our ,,lord1 verse #i4 8,of sin1 because they believe not on me40 ,but does the christian world1 or any of you that hear me this day1 want the ,holy ,ghost to convince you of unbelief8 ,are there any infidels here8 ,yes1 7,o that ,i had not too great reason to think so67 ,i fear most are such3 not indeed such infidels as professedly deny the ,,lord that bought us 7though ,i fear too many even of such monsters are in every country72 but ,i mean such unbelievers1 that have no more faith in ,,christ than the devils themselves4 ,perhaps you may think you believe1 because you repeat the ,creed1 or subscribe to a ,confession of ,faith2 because you go to church or meeting1 receive the sacrament1 and are taken into full communion4 ,these are blessed privileges2 but all this may be done1 without our being true believers4 ,and ,i know not how to detect your false hypocritical faith better1 than by putting to you this question3 ,how long have you believed8 ,would not most of you say1 as long as we can remember2 we never did disbelieve8 ,then this is a certain sign that you have no true faith at all2 no1 not so much as a grain of mustard-seed3 for1 if you believe now1 7unless you were sanctified from your infancy1 which is the case of some7 you must know that there was a time in which you did not believe on the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and the ,holy ,ghost1 if ever you received it1 convinced you of this4 ,eternal truth has declared1 8,when he is come1 he will convince the world of sin1 because they believe not on me40 ,none of us believe by nature3 but after the ,holy ,ghost has convinced us of the sin of our natures1 and the sin of our lives and duties1 in order to convince us of our utter inability to save ourselves1 and that we must be beholden to ,,god1 as for every thing else1 so for faith 7without which it is impossible to please1 or be saved by ,,christ7 he convinces us also1 that we have no faith4 8,dost thou believe on the ,son of ,,god80 is the grand question which the ,holy ,ghost now puts to the soul3 at the same time he works with such power and demonstration1 that the soul sees1 and is obliged to confess1 that it has no faith4 ,this is a thing little thought of by most who call themselves believers4 ,they dream they are christians1 because they live in a christian country3 ,if they were born ,turks1 they would believe on ,mahomet2 for what is that which men commonly call faith1 but an outward consent to the established religion8 ,but do not you thus deceive your own selves2 true faith is quite another thing4 ,ask yourselves1 therefore1 whether or not the ,holy ,ghost ever powerfully convinced you of the sin of unbelief8 ,you are perhaps so devout 7you may imagine7 as to get a catalogue of sins2 which you look over1 and confess in a formal manner1 as often as you go to the holy sacrament3 but among all your sins1 did you ever once confess and bewail that damning sin of unbelief8 ,were you ever made to cry out1 8,,lord1 give me faith2 ,,lord1 give me to believe on thee2 ,o that ,i had faith6 ,o that ,i could believe60 ,if you never were thus distressed1 at least1 if you never saw and felt that you had no faith1 it is a certain sign that the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,comforter1 never came into and worked savingly upon your souls4 ,but is it not odd1 that the ,holy ,ghost should be called a ,comforter1 when it is plain1 by the experience of all ,,god's children1 that this work of conviction is usually attended with sore inward conflicts1 and a great deal of soul-trouble8 ,i answer1 ,the ,holy ,ghost may well be termed a ,comforter1 even in this work2 because it is the only way to1 and ends in1 true solid comfort4 ,blessed are they that are thus convicted by him1 for they shall be comforted4 ,nay1 not only so1 but there is present comfort1 even in the midst of these convictions3 the soul secretly rejoices in the sight of its own misery1 blesses ,,god for bringing it out of darkness into light1 and looks forward with a comfortable prospect of future deliverances1 knowing1 that1 8though sorrow may endure for a night1 joy will come in the morning40 ,thus it is that the ,holy ,ghost convinces the soul of sin4 ,and1 if so1 how wretchedly are they mistaken1 that blend the light of the ,spirit with the light of conscience1 as all such do1 who say1 that ,,christ lighteth every man that cometh into the world1 and that light1 if improved1 will bring us to ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,if such doctrine be true1 the promise in the text was needless3 our ,,lord's apostles had already that light2 the world hereafter to be convinced1 had that light2 and1 if that was sufficient to bring them to ,,christ1 why was it expedient that ,,christ should go away to heaven1 to send down the ,holy ,ghost to do this for them6 ,alas6 all have not this ,spirit3 it is the special gift of ,,god1 and1 without this special gift1 we can never come to ,,christ4 ,the light of conscience will accuse or convince us of any common sin2 but the light of natural conscience never did1 never will1 and never can1 convince of unbelief4 ,if it could1 how comes it to pass1 that not one of the heathens1 who improved the light of nature in such an eminent degree1 was ever convinced of unbelief8 ,no1 natural conscience cannot effect this2 it is the peculiar property of the ,holy ,ghost the ,comforter3 8,when he is come1 he will reprove 7or convince7 the world of sin1 of righteousness1 and judgment40 ,we have heard how he convinces of sin3 we come now to shew1 ,secondly1 ,what is the righteousness1 of which the ,comforter convinces the world4 ,by the word righteousness1 in some places of scripture1 we are to understand that common justice which we ought to practise between man and man2 as when ,paul is said to reason of temperance and righteousness before a trembling ,felix4 ,but here 7as in a multitude of other places in holy writ7 we are to understand by the word righteousness1 the active and passive obedience of the dear ,,lord ,,jesus2 even that perfect1 personal1 all-sufficient righteousness1 which he has wrought out for that world which the ,spirit is to convince4 8,of righteousness1 7says our ,,lord7 because ,i go to the ,father1 and ye see me no more40 ,this is one argument that the ,holy ,spirit makes use of to prove ,,christ's righteousness1 because he is gone to the ,father1 and we see him no more4 ,for1 had he not wrought out a sufficient righteousness1 the ,father would have sent him back1 as not having done what he undertook2 and we should have seen him again4 ,o the righteousness of ,,christ6 ,it so comforts my soul1 that ,i must be excused if ,i mention it in almost all my discourses4 ,i would not1 if ,i could help it1 have one sermon without it4 ,whatever infidels may object1 or ,arminians sophistically argue against an imputed righteousness2 yet whoever know themselves and ,,god1 must acknowledge1 that 8,,jesus ,,christ is the end of the law for righteousness1 7and perfect justification in the sight of ,,god7 to every one that believeth10 and that we are to be made the righteousness of ,,god in him4 ,this1 and this only1 a poor sinner can lay hold of1 as a sure anchor of his hope4 ,whatever other scheme of salvation men may lay1 ,i acknowledge ,i can see no other foundation whereon to build my hopes of salvation1 but on the rock of ,,christ's personal righteousness1 imputed to my soul4 ,many1 ,i believe1 have a rational conviction of1 and agree with me in this3 but rational convictions1 if rested in1 avail but little2 it must be a spiritual1 experimental conviction of the truth1 which is saving4 ,and therefore our ,,lord says1 when the ,holy ,ghost comes in the day of his power1 it convinces of this righteousness1 of the reality1 compleatness1 and sufficiency of it1 to save a poor sinner4 ,we have seen how the ,holy ,ghost convinces the sinner of the sin of his nature1 life1 duties1 and of the sin of unbelief2 and what then must the poor creature do8 ,he must1 he must inevitably despair1 if there be no hope but in himself4 ,when therefore the ,spirit has hunted the sinner out of all his false rests and hiding-places1 taken out the pitiful fig-leaves of his own works1 and driven him out of the trees of the garden 7his outward reformations7 and placed him naked before the bar of a sovereign1 holy1 just1 and sin-avenging ,,god2 then1 then it is1 when the soul1 having the sentence of death within itself because of unbelief1 has a sweet display of ,,christ's righteousness made to it by the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god4 ,here it is1 that he begins more immediately to act in the quality of a ,comforter1 and convinces the soul so powerfully of the reality and all-sufficiency of ,,christ's righteousness1 that the soul is immediately set a hungering and thirsting after it4 ,now the sinner begins to see1 that though he has destroyed himself1 yet in ,,christ is his help2 that1 though he has no righteousness of his own to recommend him1 there is a fulness of grace1 a fulness of truth1 a fulness of righteousness in the dear ,,lord ,,jesus1 which1 if once imputed to him1 will make him happy for ever and ever4 ,none can tell1 but those happy souls who have experienced it1 with what demonstration of the ,spirit this conviction comes4 ,o how amiable1 as well as all-sufficient1 does the blessed ,,jesus now appear6 ,with what new eyes does the soul now see the ,,lord its righteousness6 ,brethren1 it is unutterable4 ,if you were never thus convinced of ,,christ's righteousness in your own souls1 though you may believe it doctrinally1 it will avail you nothing1 if the ,comforter never came savingly into your souls1 then you are comfortless indeed4 ,but ,what will this righteousness avail1 if the soul has it not in possession8 ,thirdly1 ,the next thing therefore the ,comforter1 when he comes1 convinces the soul of1 is judgment4 ,by the word judgment1 ,i understand that well-grounded peace1 that settled judgment1 which the soul forms of itself1 when it is enabled by the ,spirit of ,,god to lay hold on ,,christ's righteousness1 which ,i believe it always does1 when convinced in the matter before-mentioned4 8,of judgment 7says our ,,lord7 because the ,prince of this world is judged20 the soul1 being enabled to lay hold on ,,christ's perfect righteousness by a lively faith1 has a conviction wrought in it by the ,holy ,spirit1 that the ,prince of this world is judged4 ,the soul being now justified by faith1 has peace with ,,god through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and can triumphantly say1 ,it is ,,christ that justifies me1 who is he that condemns me8 ,the strong man armed is now cast out2 my soul is in a true peace2 the ,prince of this world will come and accuse1 but he has now no share in me3 the blessed ,spirit which ,i have received1 and whereby ,i am enabled to apply ,,christ's righteousness to my poor soul1 powerfully convinces me of this3 why should ,i fear8 or of what shall ,i be afraid1 since ,,god's ,spirit witnesses with my spirit1 that ,i am a child of ,,god8 ,the ,,lord is ascended up on high2 he has led captivity captive2 he has received the ,holy ,ghost the ,comforter1 that best of gifts for men3 and that ,comforter is come into my heart3 he is faithful that hath promised3 ,i1 even ,i1 am powerfully1 rationally1 spiritually convicted of sin1 righteousness and judgment4 ,by this ,i know the ,prince of this world is judged4 ,thus1 ,i say1 may we suppose that soul to triumph1 in which the promise of the text is happily fulfilled4 ,and though1 at the beginning of this discourse1 ,i said1 most had never experienced any thing of this1 and that therefore this preaching must be foolishness to such2 yet ,i doubt not but there are some few happy souls1 who1 through grace1 have been enabled to follow me step by step2 and notwithstanding the ,holy ,ghost might not directly work in the same order as ,i have described1 and perhaps they cannot exactly say the time when1 yet they have a well-grounded confidence that the work is done1 and that they have really been convinced of sin1 righteousness and judgment in some way1 or at some time or another4 ,and now1 what shall ,i say to you8 ,o thank ,,god1 thank the ,,lord ,,jesus1 thank the ever-blessed ,trinity1 for this unspeakable gift3 for you would never have been thus highly favoured1 had not he who first spoke darkness into light1 loved you with an everlasting love1 and enlightened you by his ,holy ,spirit1 and that too1 not on account of any good thing foreseen in you1 but for his own name's sake4 ,be humble therefore1 ,o believers1 be humble3 look to the rock from whence you have been hewn3 extol free grace2 admire electing love1 which alone has made you to differ from the rest of your brethren4 ,has ,,god brought you into light8 ,walk as becometh children of light4 ,provoke not the ,holy ,spirit to depart from you3 for though he hath sealed you to the day of redemption1 and you know that the ,prince of this world is judged2 yet if you backslide1 grow luke-warm1 or forget your first love1 the ,,lord will visit your offences with the rod of affliction1 and your sin with spiritual scourges4 ,be not therefore high-minded1 but fear4 ,rejoice1 but let it be with trembling4 ,as the elect of ,,god1 put on1 not only humbleness of mind1 but bowels of compassion2 and pray1 ,o pray for your unconverted brethren6 ,help me1 help me now1 ,o children of ,,god1 and hold up my hands1 as ,aaron and ,hur once held up the hands of ,moses4 ,pray1 whilst ,i am preaching1 that the ,,lord may enable me to say1 ,this day is the promise in the text fulfilled in some poor sinners hearts4 ,cry mightily to ,,god1 and1 with the cords of holy violence1 pull down blessings on your neighbours heads4 ,,christ yet lives and reigns in heaven3 the residue of the ,spirit is yet in his hand1 and a plentiful effusion of it is promised in the latter days of the church4 ,and ,o that the ,holy ,ghost1 the blessed ,comforter1 would now come down1 and convince those that are ,christless amongst you1 of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment6 ,o that you were once made willing to be convinced6 ,but perhaps you had rather be filled with wine than with the ,spirit1 and are daily chasing that ,holy ,ghost from your souls4 ,what shall ,i say for you to ,,god8 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,what shall ,i say from ,,god to you8 ,why8 ,that 8,,god was in ,,christ reconciling the world unto himself30 ,therefore ,i beseech you1 as in ,,christ's stead1 be ye reconciled to ,,god4 ,do not go away contradicting and blaspheming4 ,i know ,satan would have you be gone4 ,many of you may be uneasy1 and are ready to cry out1 8,what a weariness is this60 ,but ,i will not let you go3 ,i have wrestled with ,,god for my hearers in private1 and ,i must wrestle with you here in public4 ,though of myself ,i can do nothing1 and you can no more by your own power come to and believe on ,,christ1 than ,lazarus could come forth from the grave2 yet who knows but ,,god may beget some of you again to a lively hope by this foolishness of preaching1 and that you may be some of that world1 which the ,comforter is to convince of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment8 ,poor ,christless souls6 do you know what a condition you are in8 ,why1 you are lying in the wicked one1 the devil2 he rules in you1 he walks and dwells in you1 unless you dwell in ,,christ1 and the ,comforter is come into your hearts4 ,and will you contentedly lie in that wicked one the devil8 ,what wages will he give you8 ,eternal death4 ,o that you would come to ,,christ6 ,the free gift of ,,god through him is eternal life4 ,he will accept of you even now1 if you will believe in him4 ,the ,comforter may yet come into your hearts1 even yours4 ,all that are now his living temples1 were once lying in the wicked one1 as well as you4 ,this blessed gift1 this ,holy ,ghost1 the blessed ,,jesus received even for the rebellious4 ,i see many of you affected3 but are your passions only a little wrought upon1 or are your souls really touched with a lively sense of the heinousness of your sins1 your want of faith1 and the preciousness of the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,if so1 ,i hope the ,,lord has been gracious1 and that the ,comforter is coming into your hearts4 ,do not stifle these convictions6 ,do not go away1 and straightway forget what manner of doctrine you have heard1 and thereby shew that these are only common workings of a few transient convictions1 floating upon the surface of your hearts4 ,beg of ,,god that you may be sincere 7for he alone can make you so7 and that you may indeed desire the promise of the text to be fulfilled in your souls4 ,who knows but the ,,lord may be gracious8 ,remember you have no plea but sovereign mercy2 but1 for your encouragement also1 remember it is the world1 such as you are1 to whom the ,comforter is to come1 and whom he is to convince3 wait therefore at wisdom's gates4 ,the bare probability of having a door of mercy opened1 is enough to keep you striving4 ,,christ ,,jesus came into the world to save sinners1 the chief of them3 you know not but he came to save you4 ,do not go and quarrel with ,,god's decrees1 and say1 if ,i am a reprobate1 ,i shall be damned2 if ,i am elected1 ,i shall be saved2 and therefore ,i will do nothing4 ,what have you to do with ,,god's decrees8 ,secret things belong to him2 it is your business to 8give all diligence to make your calling and election sure40 ,if there are but few who find the way that leads to life1 do you strive to be some of them3 you know not but you may be in the number of those few1 and that your striving may be the means which ,,god intends to bless1 to give you an entrance in4 ,if you do not act thus1 you are not sincere2 and1 if you do1 who knows but you may find mercy8 ,for though1 after you have done all that you can1 ,,god may justly cut you off1 yet never was a single person damned who did all that he could4 ,though therefore your hands are withered1 stretch them out2 though you are impotent1 sick1 and lame1 come1 lie at the pool4 ,who knows but by and by the ,,lord ,,jesus may have compassion on you1 and send the ,comforter to convince you of sin1 righteousness1 and of judgment8 ,he is a ,,god full of compassion and long-suffering1 otherwise you and ,i had been long since lifting up our eyes in torments4 ,but still he is patient with us6 duplicate word 8to0 removed ,o ,christless sinners1 you are alive1 and who knows but ,,god intends to bring you to repentance8 ,could my prayers or tears effect it1 you should have vollies of the one1 and floods of the other4 ,my heart is touched with a sense of your condition3 ,may our merciful ,high-priest now send down the ,comforter1 and make you sensible of it also6 ,o the love of ,,christ6 ,it constrains me yet to beseech you to come to him2 what do you reject1 if you reject ,,christ1 the ,,lord of glory6 ,sinners1 give the dear ,redeemer a lodging in your souls4 ,do not be ,bethshemites2 give ,,christ your hearts1 your whole hearts4 ,indeed he is worthy4 ,he made you1 and not you yourselves4 ,you are not your own2 give ,,christ then your bodies and souls1 which are his6 ,is it not enough to melt you down1 to think that the high and lofty ,one1 who inhabiteth eternity1 should condescend to invite you by his ministers8 ,how soon can he frown you to hell8 ,and how know you1 but he may1 this very instant1 if you do not hear his voice8 ,did any yet harden their hearts against ,,christ1 and prosper8 ,come then1 do not send me sorrowful away3 do not let me have reason to cry out1 ,o my leanness1 my leanness6 ,do not let me go weeping into my closet1 and say1 8,,lord1 they will not believe my report2 ,,lord1 ,i have called them1 and they will not answer2 ,i am unto them as a very pleasant song1 and as one that plays upon a pleasant instrument2 but their hearts are running after the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life40 ,would you be willing that ,i should give such an account of you1 or make such a prayer before ,,god8 ,and yet ,i must not only do so here1 but appear in judgment against you hereafter1 unless you will come to ,,christ4 ,once more therefore ,i intreat you to come4 ,what objections have you to make8 ,behold1 ,i stand here in the name of ,,god1 to answer all that you can offer4 ,but ,i know no one can come1 unless the ,father draw him3 ,i will therefore address me to my ,,god1 and intercede with him to send the ,comforter into your hearts4 ,o blessed ,,jesus1 who art a ,,god whose compassions fail not1 and in whom all the promises are yea and amen2 thou that sittest between the cherubims1 shew thyself amongst us4 ,let us now see thy outgoings6 ,o let us now taste that thou art gracious1 and reveal thy almighty arm6 ,get thyself the victory in these poor sinners hearts4 ,let not the word spoken prove like water spilt upon the ground4 ,send down1 send down1 ,o great ,high-priest1 the ,holy ,spirit1 to convince the world of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,so will we give thanks and praise to thee1 ,o ,father1 thee ,o ,son1 and thee ,o blessed ,spirit2 to whom1 as three ,persons1 but one ,,god1 be ascribed by angels and archangels1 by cherubims and seraphims1 and all the heavenly hosts1 all possible power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,amen1 ,amen1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xli4 ,saul's ,conversion4 ,,acts ix4 #bb4 ,but ,saul increased the more in strength1 and confounded the ,jews which dwelt at ,damascus1 proving that this is very ,,christ4 ,,it is an undoubted truth1 however paradoxical it may seem to natural men1 that 8whosoever will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,and therefore it is very remarkable1 that our blessed ,,lord1 in his glorious sermon on the mount1 after he had been pronouncing those blessed1 who were poor in spirit1 meek1 pure in heart1 and such like1 immediately adds 7and spends no less than three verses in this beatitude7 8,blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake40 ,no one ever was1 or ever will be endowed with the forementioned graces in any degree1 but he will be persecuted for it in a measure4 ,there is an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of the woman1 and the seed of the serpent4 ,and if we are not of the world1 but shew by our fruits that we are of the number of those whom ,,jesus ,,christ has chosen out of the world1 for that very reason the world will hate us4 ,as this is true of every particular christian1 so it is true of every christian church in general4 ,for some years past we have heard but little of a public persecution3 ,why8 ,because but little of the power of godliness has prevailed amongst all denominations4 ,the strong man armed has had full possession of most professors hearts1 and therefore he has let them rest in a false peace4 ,but we may assure ourselves1 when ,,jesus ,,christ begins to gather in his elect in any remarkable manner1 and opens an effectual door for preaching the everlasting gospel1 persecution will flame out1 and ,satan and his emissaries will do their utmost 7though all in vain7 to stop the work of ,,god4 ,thus it was in the first ages1 thus it is in our days1 and thus it will be1 till time shall be no more4 ,christians and christian churches must then expect enemies4 ,our chief concern should be1 to learn how to behave towards them in a christian manner3 ,for1 unless we take good heed to ourselves1 we shall imbitter our spirits1 and act unbecoming the followers of that ,,lord1 8who1 when he was reviled1 reviled not again2 when he suffered1 threatned not2 and1 as a lamb before his shearers is dumb1 so opened he not his mouth40 ,but what motive shall we make use of to bring ourselves to this blessed lamb-like temper8 ,next to the immediate operation of the ,holy ,spirit upon our hearts1 ,i know of no consideration more conducive to teach us long-suffering towards our most bitter persecutors1 than this1 8,that1 for all we know to the contrary1 some of those very persons1 who are now persecuting1 may be chosen from all eternity by ,,god1 and hereafter called in time1 to edify and build up the church of ,,christ40 ,the persecutor ,saul1 mentioned in the words of the text1 7and whose conversion1 ,,god willing1 ,i propose to treat on in the following discourse7 is a noble instance of this kind4 ,i say1 a persecutor1 and that a bloody one3 ,for see how he is introduced in the beginning of this chapter2 8,and ,saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of our ,,lord1 went unto the high priest1 and desired of him letters to ,damascus to the synagogues1 that if he found any of this way1 whether they were men or women1 he might bring them bound to ,jerusalem40 8,and ,saul yet breathing out40 ,this implies that he had been a persecutor before4 ,to prove which1 we need only look back to the #gth chapter1 where we shall find him so very remarkably active at ,stephen's death1 that 8the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet1 whose name was ,saul40 ,he seems1 though young1 to be in some authority4 ,perhaps1 for his zeal against the christians1 he was preferred in the church1 and was allowed to sit in the great council or ,sanhedrim3 ,for we are told1 chapter viii4 verse #a4 8,that ,saul was consenting unto his death20 and again1 at verse #c4 he is brought in as exceeding all in his opposition2 for thus speaks the evangelist1 8,as for ,saul1 he made havock of the church1 entring into every house1 and haling men and women1 committed them to prison40 ,one would have imagined1 that this should have satisfied1 at least abated the fury of this young zealot4 ,no3 being exceedingly mad against them1 as he himself informs ,agrippa1 and having made havock of all in ,jerusalem1 he now is resolved to persecute the disciples of the ,,lord1 even to strange cities2 and therefore yet breathing out threatnings4 8,breathing out40 ,the words are very emphatical1 and expressive of his bitter enmity4 ,it was as natural to him now to threaten the christians1 as it was for him to breathe3 he could scarce speak1 but it was some threatnings against them4 ,nay1 he not only breathed out threatnings1 but slaughters also 7and those who threaten1 would also slaughter1 if it were in their power7 against the disciples of the ,,lord4 ,insatiable therefore as hell1 finding he could not confute or stop the christians by force of argument1 he is resolved to do it by force of arms2 and therefore went to the high priest 7for there never was a persecution yet without a high priest at the head of it7 and desired of him letters1 issued out of his spiritual court1 to the synagogues or ecclesiastical courts at ,damascus1 giving him authority1 8that if he found any of this way1 whether they were men or women1 he might bring them bound unto ,jerusalem10 ,i suppose1 there to be arraigned and condemned in the high priest's court4 ,observe how he speaks of the christians4 ,luke1 who wrote the ,acts1 calls them 8disciples of the ,,lord10 and ,saul stiles them 8,men and women of this way40 ,i doubt not but he represented them as a company of upstart enthusiasts1 that had lately gotten into a new method or way of living2 that would not be content with the temple-service1 but they must be righteous over-much1 and have their private meetings or conventicles1 and break bread1 as they called it1 from house to house1 to the great disturbance of the established clergy1 and to the utter subversion of all order and decency4 ,i do not hear that the high priest makes any objection3 no1 he was as willing to grant letters1 as ,saul was to ask them2 and wonderfully pleased within himself1 to find he had such an active zealot to employ against the christians4 ,well then1 a judicial process is immediately issued out1 with the high priest's seal affixed to it4 ,and now methinks ,i see the young persecutor finely equipped1 and pleasing himself with thoughts1 how triumphantly he should ride back with the 8men and women of this way10 dragging them after him to ,jerusalem4 ,what a condition may we imagine the poor disciples at ,damascus were in at this time6 ,no doubt they had heard of ,saul's imprisoning and making havock of the saints at ,jerusalem1 and we may well suppose they were apprised of his design against them4 ,i am persuaded this was a growing1 because a trying time with these dear people4 ,o how did they wrestle with ,,god in prayer1 beseeching him either to deliver them from1 or give them grace sufficient to enable them to bear up under1 the fury of their persecutors8 ,the high priest doubtless with the rest of his reverend brethren1 flattered themselves1 that they should now put an effectual stop to this growing heresy1 and waited with impatience for ,saul's return4 ,but 8,he that sitteth in heaven laughs them to scorn1 the ,,lord has them in derision40 ,and therefore1 verse #c4 8,as ,saul journeyed1 and came even near unto ,damascus10 perhaps to the very gates1 7our ,,lord permitting this1 to try the faith of his disciples1 and more conspicuously to baffle the designs of his enemies7 8suddenly 7at mid-day1 as he acquaints ,agrippa7 there shined round about him a light from heaven10 a light brighter than the sun2 8and he fell to the earth 7why not into hell87 and heard a voice saying unto him1 ,saul1 ,saul1 why persecutest thou me80 ,the word is doubled1 8,saul1 ,saul30 ,like that of our ,,lord to ,martha2 8,martha1 ,martha20 or the prophet1 8,o earth1 earth1 earth60 ,perhaps these words came like thunder to his soul4 ,that they were spoken audibly1 we are assured from verse #g4 8,his companions heard the voice40 ,our ,,lord now arrests the persecuting zealot1 calling him by name2 for the word never does us good1 till we find it spoken to us in particular4 8,saul1 ,saul1 ,why persecutest thou ,me80 ,put the emphasis upon the word why1 what evil have ,i done8 ,put it upon the word persecutest1 why persecutest8 ,i suppose ,saul thought he was not persecuting2 no1 he was only putting the laws of the ecclesiastical court into execution2 but ,,jesus1 whose eyes are as a flame of fire1 saw through the hypocrisy of his heart1 that1 notwithstanding his specious pretences1 all this proceeded from a persecuting spirit1 and secret enmity of heart against ,,god2 and therefore says1 8,why persecutest thou me80 ,put the emphasis upon the word me1 why persecutest thou me8 alas6 ,saul was not persecuting ,,christ1 was he8 he was only taking care to prevent innovations in the church1 and bringing a company of enthusiasts to justice1 who otherwise would overturn the established constitution4 ,but ,,jesus says1 8,why persecutest thou me80 ,for what is done to ,,christ's disciples1 he takes as done to himself1 whether it be good1 or whether it be evil4 ,he that touches ,,christ's disciples1 touches the apple of his eye2 and they who persecute the followers of our ,,lord1 would persecute our ,,lord himself1 was he again to come and tabernacle amongst us4 ,i do not find that ,saul gives any reason why he did persecute2 no1 he was struck dumb2 as every persecutor will be1 when ,,jesus ,,christ puts this same question to them at the terrible day of judgment4 ,but being pricked at the heart1 no doubt with a sense not only of this1 but of all his other offences against the great ,,god1 he said1 verse #e4 8,who art thou1 ,,lord80 ,see how soon ,,god can change the heart and voice of his most bitter enemies4 ,not many days ago1 ,saul was not only blaspheming ,,christ himself1 but1 as much as in him lay1 compelling others to blaspheme also3 but now1 he1 who before was an imposter1 is called ,lord2 8,who art thou1 ,,lord80 ,this admirably points out the way in which ,,god's ,spirit works upon the heart3 it first powerfully convinces of sin1 and of our damnable state2 and then puts us upon enquiring after ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,saul being struck to the ground1 or pricked to the heart1 cries out after ,,jesus1 8,who art thou1 ,,lord80 ,as many of you that were never so far made sensible of your damnable state1 as to be made feelingly to seek after ,,jesus ,,christ1 were never yet truly convicted by1 much less converted to1 ,,god4 ,may the ,,lord1 who struck ,saul1 effectually now strike all my christless hearers1 and set them upon enquiring after ,,jesus1 as their all in all6 ,saul said1 8,who art thou1 ,,lord8 ,and the ,,lord said1 ,i am ,,jesus1 whom thou persecutest40 ,never did any one enquire truly after ,,jesus ,,christ1 but ,,christ made a saving discovery of himself1 to his soul4 ,it should seem1 our ,,lord appeared to him in person2 for ,ananias1 afterwards1 says1 8,the ,,lord who appeared to thee in the way which thou camest20 though this may only imply ,,christ's meeting him in the way2 it is not much matter3 it is plain ,,christ here speaks to him1 and says1 8,i am ,,jesus1 whom thou persecutest40 ,it is remarkable1 how our ,,lord takes to himself the name of ,jesus2 for it is a name in which he delights3 ,i am ,,jesus1 a ,saviour of my people1 both from the guilt and power of their sins2 8a ,,jesus1 whom thou persecutest40 ,this seems to be spoken to convince ,saul more and more of his sin2 and ,i doubt not1 but every word was sharper than a two-edged sword1 and came like so many daggers to his heart2 ,o how did these words affect him6 a ,,jesus6 a ,saviour6 and yet ,i am persecuting him6 this strikes him with horror2 but then the word ,,jesus1 though he was a persecutor1 might give him some hope4 ,however1 our dear ,,lord1 to convince ,saul that he was to be saved by grace1 and that he was not afraid of his power and enmity1 tells him1 8,it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks40 ,as much as to say1 though he was persecuting1 yet he could not overthrow the church of ,,christ3 for he would sit as ,king upon his holy hill of ,zion2 the malice of men or devils should never be able to prevail against him4 ,verse #f4 8,and he1 trembling and astonished1 said1 ,,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do80 ,those1 who think ,saul had a discovery of ,,jesus made to his heart before1 think that this question is the result of his faith1 and that he now desires to know what he shall do1 out of gratitude1 for what the ,,lord had done for his soul2 in this sense it may be understood2 and ,i have made use of it as an instance to prove1 that faith will work by love2 but perhaps it may be more agreeable to the context1 if we suppose1 that ,saul had only some distant discovery of ,,christ made to him1 and not a full assurance of faith3 for we are told1 8he trembling and astonished10 trembling at the thoughts of his persecuting a ,,jesus1 and astonished at his own vileness1 and the infinite condescension of this ,,jesus1 cries out1 8,,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do80 ,persons under soul-trouble1 and sore conviction1 would be glad to do any thing1 or comply on any terms1 to get peace with ,,god4 8,arise1 7says our ,,lord7 and go into the city1 and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do40 ,see ,volume ,v4 ,sermon #bd4 ,and here we will leave ,saul a while1 and see what is become of his companions4 ,but what shall we say8 ,,god is a sovereign agent2 his sacred ,spirit bloweth when and where it listeth2 8he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy40 ,saul is taken1 but1 as far as we know to the contrary1 his fellow-travellers are left to perish in their sins3 for we are told1 verse #g4 8,that the men who journeyed with him stood1 indeed1 speechless1 and hearing a confused voice20 ,i say1 a confused voice1 for so the word signifies1 and must be so interpreted1 in order to reconcile it with chapter xxii4 verse #i4 where ,saul1 giving an account of these men1 tells ,agrippa1 8,they heard not the voice of him that spake to me40 ,they heard a voice1 a confused noise1 but not the articulate voice of him that spake to ,saul1 and therefore remained unconverted4 ,for what are all ordinances1 all1 even the most extraordinary dispensations of providence1 without ,,christ speaks to the soul in them8 ,thus it is now under the word preached3 many1 like ,saul's companions1 are sometimes so struck with the outgoings of ,,god appearing in the sanctuary1 that they even stand speechless2 they hear the preacher's voice1 but not the voice of the ,son of ,,god1 who1 perhaps1 at the same time is speaking effectually to many other hearts2 this ,i have known often2 and what shall we say to these things8 ,o the depth of the sovereignty of ,,god6 it is past finding out4 ,,lord1 ,i desire to adore what ,i cannot comprehend4 8,even so1 ,father1 for so it seemeth good in thy sight60 ,but to return to ,saul3 the ,,lord bids him 8arise and go into the city20 and we are told1 verse #h4 that 8,saul arose from the earth2 and when his eyes were opened1 7he was so overpowered with the greatness of the light that shone upon them1 that7 he saw no man2 but they led him by the hand1 and brought him into ,damascus10 that very city which was to be the place of his executing or imprisoning the disciples of the ,,lord4 8,and he was three days without sight1 and neither did eat nor drink40 ,but who can tell what horrors of conscience1 what convulsions of soul1 what deep and pungent convictions of sin he underwent during these three long days8 it was this took away his appetite 7for who can eat or drink when under a sense of the wrath of ,,god for sin87 and1 being to be greatly employed hereafter1 he must be greatly humbled now2 therefore1 the ,,lord leaves him three days groaning under the spirit of bondage1 and buffeted1 no doubt1 with the fiery darts of the devil1 that1 being tempted like unto his brethren1 he might be able hereafter to succour those that were tempted4 ,had ,saul applied to any of the blind guides of the ,jewish church1 under these circumstances1 they would have said1 he was mad1 or going besides himself2 as many carnal teachers and blind ,pharisees now deal with1 and so more and more distress1 poor souls labouring under awakening convictions of their damnable state4 ,but ,,god often at our first awakenings1 visits us with sore trials1 especially those who are1 like ,saul1 to shine in the church1 and to be used as instruments in bringing many sons to glory3 those who are to be highly exalted1 must first be deeply humbled2 and this ,i speak for the comfort of such1 who may be now groaning under the spirit of bondage1 and perhaps1 like ,saul1 can neither eat nor drink2 for ,i have generally observed1 that those who have had the deepest convictions1 have afterwards been favoured with the most precious communications1 and enjoyed most of the divine presence in their souls4 ,this was afterwards remarkably exemplified in ,saul1 who was three days without sight1 and neither did eat nor drink4 ,but will the ,,lord leave his poor servant in this distress8 no2 his ,,jesus 7though ,saul persecuted him7 promised 7and he will perform7 that 8it should be told him what he must do4 ,and there was a certain disciple at ,damascus1 named ,ananias2 and unto him1 said the ,,lord1 in a vision1 ,ananias2 and he said1 ,behold1 ,i am here1 ,,lord40 ,what a holy familiarity is there between ,,jesus ,,christ and regenerate souls6 ,ananias had been used to such love-visits1 and therefore knew the voice of his beloved4 ,the ,,lord says1 8,ananias20 ,ananias says1 8,behold1 ,i am here1 ,,lord40 ,thus it is that ,,christ now1 as well as formerly1 often talks with his children at sundry times and after divers manners1 as a man talketh with his friend4 ,but what has the ,,lord to say to ,ananias8 ,verse #aa4 8,and the ,,lord said unto him1 ,arise1 and go into the street1 which is called ,straight1 and enquire in the house of ,judas1 for one called ,saul of ,tarsus20 7,see here for your comfort1 ,o children of the most high ,,god1 what notice ,,jesus ,,christ takes of the street and the house where his own dear servants lodge7 8for behold1 he prayeth20 but why is this ushered in with the word behold8 what1 was it such a wonder1 to hear that ,saul was praying8 why1 ,saul was a ,pharisee1 and therefore1 no doubt1 fasted and made long prayers3 and1 since we are told that he profited above many of his equals1 ,i doubt not but he was taken notice of for his gift in prayer2 and yet it seems1 that before these three days1 ,saul never prayed in his life2 and why8 because1 before these three days1 he never felt himself a condemned creature3 he was alive in his own opinion1 because without a knowledge of the spiritual meaning of the law2 he felt not a want of1 and therefore1 before now1 cried not after a ,,jesus2 and consequently1 though he might have said or made a prayer 7as many ,pharisees do now-a-days7 he never prayed a prayer2 but now1 8behold6 he prayed indeed20 and this was urged as one reason why he was converted4 ,none of ,,god's children1 as one observes1 comes into the world still-born2 prayer is the very breath of the new creature3 and therefore1 if we are prayerless1 we are christless2 if we never had the spirit of supplication1 it is a sad sign that we never had the spirit of grace in our souls3 and you may be assured you never did pray1 unless you have felt yourselves sinners1 and seen the want of ,,jesus to be your ,saviour4 ,may the ,,lord1 whom ,i serve in the gospel of his dear ,son1 prick you all to the heart1 and may it be said of you all1 as it was of ,saul1 behold1 they pray6 ,the ,,lord goes on to encourage ,ananias to go to ,saul3 says he1 verse #ab4 8,for he hath seen in a vision a man named ,ananias1 coming in1 and putting his hand on him1 that he might receive his sight40 ,so that though ,,christ converted ,saul immediately by himself1 yet he will carry on the work1 thus begun1 by a minister4 ,happy they1 who under soul-troubles have such experienced guides1 and as well acquainted with ,,jesus ,,christ as ,ananias was3 you that have such1 make much of and be thankful for them2 and you who have them not1 trust in ,,god2 he will carry on his own work without them4 ,doubtless1 ,ananias was a good man2 but shall ,i commend him for his answer to our ,,lord8 ,i commend him not3 for says he1 verse #ac4 8,,lord1 ,i have heard by many of this man1 how much evil he hath done to thy saints at ,jerusalem3 ,and here1 he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name40 ,i fear this answer proceeded from some relicks of self-righteousness1 as well as infidelity1 that lay undiscovered in the heart of ,ananias4 8,arise1 7said our ,,lord7 and go into the street1 which is called ,straight1 and enquire in the house of ,judas1 for one called ,saul of ,tarsus2 for behold1 he prayeth60 ,one would think this was sufficient to satisfy him2 but says ,ananias1 8,,lord1 ,i have heard by many of this man 7he seems to speak of him with much contempt2 for even good men are apt to think too contemptuously of those who are yet in their sins7 how much evil he hath done to thy saints in ,jerusalem3 ,and here1 he hath authority from the chief priests1 to bind all that call upon thy name40 ,and what then1 ,ananias8 ,is any thing too hard for the ,,lord8 ,who made thee to differ8 ,could not he who converted thee1 convert him also8 ,surely ,ananias here forgets himself1 or perhaps fears1 lest this man1 who had authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon ,,christ's name1 should bind him also1 if he went unto him2 but the ,,lord silences all objections1 with a 8,go thy way1 for he is a chosen vessel unto me1 to bear my name before the ,gentiles1 and kings1 and the children of ,israel4 ,for ,i will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake40 ,here ,,god stops his mouth immediately1 by asserting his sovereignty1 and preaching to him the doctrine of election4 ,and the frequent conversion of notorious sinners to ,,god1 to me is one great proof1 amongst a thousand others1 of that precious1 but too much exploded and sadly misrepresented1 doctrine of ,,god's electing love2 for whence is it that such are taken1 whilst thousands1 not near so vile1 die senseless and stupid8 ,all the answer that can be given1 is1 they are chosen vessels2 8,go thy way1 7says ,,god7 for he is a chosen vessel unto me1 to bear my name before the ,gentiles1 and kings1 and the children of ,israel3 ,for ,i will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake40 ,observe what a close connection there is between doing and suffering for ,,christ4 ,if any of my brethren in the ministry are present1 let them hear what preferment we must expect1 if we are called out to work remarkably for ,,god3 not great prebendaries or bishopricks1 but great sufferings for our ,,lord's name sake2 these are the fruits of our labour3 and he that will not contentedly suffer great things for preaching ,,christ1 is not worthy of him4 ,suffering will be found to be the best preferment1 when we are called to give an account of our ministry at the great day4 ,i do not hear1 that ,ananias quarrelled with ,,god concerning the doctrine of election2 no1 7,o that all good men would1 in this1 learn of him67 8,he went his way1 and entered into the house2 and put his hands on him1 and said1 ,brother ,saul20 just now1 it was this man2 now it is brother ,saul3 it is no matter what a man has been1 if he be now a christian2 the same should be our brother1 our sister and mother2 ,,god blots out every convert's transgressions as with a thick cloud1 and so should we2 the more vile a man has been1 the more should we love him when believing in ,,christ1 because ,,christ will be more glorified on his behalf4 ,i doubt not1 but ,ananias was wonderfully delighted to hear that so remarkable a persecutor was brought home to ,,god3 ,i am persuaded he felt his soul immediately united to him by love1 and therefore addresses him not with1 thou persecutor1 thou murderer1 that camest to butcher me and my friends2 but1 8brother ,saul40 ,it is remarkable that the primitive christians much used the word brother and brethren2 ,i know it is a term now much in reproach2 but those who despise it1 ,i believe1 would be glad to be of our brotherhood1 when they see us sitting at the right-hand of the ,majesty on high4 8,brother ,saul1 the ,,lord 7even ,,jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest7 hath sent me1 that thou mightest receive thy sight1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost40 ,at this time1 we may suppose1 he laid his hands upon him4 ,see the consequences4 ,verse #ah4 8,immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales1 and he received sight forthwith20 not only bodily1 but spiritual sight2 he emerged as it were into a new world2 he saw1 and felt too1 things unutterable3 he felt a union of soul with ,,god2 he received the spirit of adoption2 he could now1 with a full assurance of faith1 cry1 8,abba1 ,father40 ,now was he filled with the ,holy ,ghost2 and had the love of ,,god shed abroad in his heart2 now were the days of his mourning ended2 now was ,,christ formed in his soul2 now he could give men and devils the challenge1 knowing that ,,christ had justified him2 now he saw the excellencies of ,,christ1 and esteemed him the fairest among ten thousand4 ,you only know how to sympathize with the apostle in his joy1 who1 after a long night of bondage1 have been set free by the ,spirit1 and have received joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,may all that are now mourning1 as ,saul was1 be comforted in like manner6 ,the scales are now removed from the eyes of ,saul's mind2 ,ananias has done that for him1 under ,,god3 he must now do another office1 baptize him1 and so receive him into the visible church of ,,christ2 a good proof to me of the necessity of baptism where it may be had3 for ,i find here1 as well as elsewhere1 that baptism is administered even to those who had received the ,holy ,ghost2 ,saul was convinced of this1 and therefore arose and was baptized2 and now it is time for him to recruit the outward man1 which1 by three days abstinence and spiritual conflicts1 had been much impaired3 we are therefore told1 7verse #ai47 8when he had received meat1 he was strengthened40 ,but ,o1 with what comfort did the apostle now eat his food6 ,i am sure it was with singleness1 ,i am persuaded also with gladness of heart2 and why8 he knew that he was reconciled to ,,god2 and1 for my own part1 did ,i not know how blind and flinty our hearts are by nature1 ,i should wonder how any one could eat even his common food with any satisfaction1 who has not some well-grounded hope of his being reconciled to ,,god4 ,our ,,lord intimates thus much to us3 for in his glorious prayer1 after he has taught us to pray for our daily bread1 immediately adds that petition1 8,forgive us our trespasses20 as though our daily bread would do us no service1 unless we were sensible of having the forgiveness of our sins4 ,to proceed3 ,saul hath received meat1 and is strengthened2 and whither will he go now8 to see the brethren2 8then was ,saul certain days with the disciples that were at ,damascus40 ,if we know and love ,,christ1 we shall also love and desire to be acquainted with the brethren of ,,christ3 we may generally know a man by his company4 ,and though all are not saints that associate with saints1 7for tares will be always springing up amongst the wheat till the time of harvest7 yet1 if we never keep company1 but are shy and ashamed of the despised children of ,,god1 it is a certain sign we have not yet experimentally learned ,,jesus1 or received him into our hearts4 ,my dear friends1 be not deceived2 if we are friends to the ,bridegroom1 we shall be friends to the children of the ,bridegroom4 ,saul1 as soon as he was filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 8was certain days with the disciples that were at ,damascus40 ,but who can tell what joy these disciples felt when ,saul came amongst them6 ,i suppose holy ,ananias introduced him4 ,methinks ,i see the once persecuting zealot1 when they came to salute him with a holy kiss1 throwing himself upon each of their necks1 weeping over them with floods of tears1 and saying1 8,o my brother1 ,o my sister1 ,can you forgive me8 ,can you give such a wretch as ,i the right-hand of fellowship1 who intended to drag you behind me bound unto ,jerusalem60 ,thus1 ,i say1 we may suppose ,saul addressed himself to his fellow-disciples2 and ,i doubt not but they were as ready to forgive and forget as ,ananias was1 and saluted him with the endearing title of 8brother ,saul40 ,lovely was this meeting2 so lovely1 that it seemed ,saul continued certain days with them1 to communicate experiences1 and to learn the way of ,,god more perfectly2 to pray for a blessing on his future ministry1 and to praise ,,christ ,,jesus for what he had done for their souls4 ,saul1 perhaps1 had sat certain years at the feet of ,gamaliel1 but undoubtedly learned more these certain days1 than he had learned before in all his life4 ,it pleases me to think how this great scholar is transformed by the renewing of his mind3 ,what a mighty change was here6 ,that so great a man as ,saul was1 both as to his station in life1 and internal qualifications1 and such a bitter enemy to the christians2 for him1 ,i say1 to go and be certain days with the people of this mad way1 and to sit quietly1 and be taught of illiterate men1 as many of these disciples we may be sure were2 what a substantial proof was this of the reality of his conversion6 ,what a hurry and confusion may we suppose the chief priests were now in6 ,i warrant they were ready to cry out1 ,what6 is he also deceived8 ,as for the common people1 who knew not the law1 and are accursed1 for them to be carried away1 is no such wonder2 but for a man bred up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 for such a scholar1 such an enemy to the cause as ,saul1 for him to be led away with a company of silly1 deceived men and women1 surely it is impossible3 we cannot believe it4 ,but ,saul soon convinces them of the reality of his becoming a fool for ,,christ's sake2 for straightway1 instead of going to deliver the letters from the high priests1 as they expected1 in order to bring the disciples that were at ,damascus bound to ,jerusalem1 8he preached ,,christ in the synagogues1 that he is the ,son of ,,god40 ,this was another proof of his being converted4 ,he not only conversed with christians in private1 but he preached ,,christ publicly in the synagogues3 especially1 he insisted on the divinity of our ,,lord1 proving1 notwithstanding his state of humiliation1 that he was really the ,son of ,,god4 ,but why did ,saul preach ,,christ thus8 ,because he had felt the power of ,,christ upon his own soul4 ,and here is the reason why ,,christ is so seldom preached1 and his divinity so slightly insisted on in our synagogues3 because the generality of those that pretend to preach him1 never felt a saving work of conversion upon their own souls4 ,how can they preach1 unless they are first taught of1 and then sent by ,,god8 ,saul did not preach ,,christ before he knew him2 no more should any one else4 ,an unconverted minister1 though he could speak with the tongues of men and angels1 will be but as a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal to those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual things4 ,ministers that are unconverted1 may talk and declaim of ,,christ1 and prove from books that he is the ,son of ,,god2 but they cannot preach with the demonstration of the ,spirit and with power1 unless they preach from experience1 and have had a proof of his divinity1 by a work of grace wrought upon their own souls4 ,,god forgive those1 who lay hands on an unconverted man1 knowing that he is such3 ,i would not do it for a thousand worlds4 ,,lord ,,jesus1 keep thy own faithful servants pure1 and let them not be partakers of other mens sins6 ,such an instance as was ,saul's conversion1 we may be assured1 must make a great deal of noise2 and1 therefore1 no wonder we are told1 verse #ba4 8,but all that heard him were amazed1 and said1 ,is not this he that destroyed them who called on this name in ,jerusalem1 and came hither for that intent1 that he might bring them bound to the chief priests40 ,thus it will be with all that appear publicly for ,,jesus ,,christ2 and it is as impossible for a true christian to be hid1 as a city built upon a hill4 ,brethren1 if you are faithful to1 you must be reproached and have remarks made on you for ,,christ2 especially if you have been remarkably wicked before your conversion4 ,your friends will say1 is not this he1 or she1 who a little while ago would run to as great an excess of riot and vanity as the worst of us all8 ,what has turned your brain8,or if you have been close1 false1 formal hypocrites1 as ,saul was1 they will wonder that you should be so deceived1 as to think you were not in a safe state before4 ,no doubt1 numbers were surprized to hear ,saul1 who was touching the law blameless1 affirm that he was in a damnable condition 7as in all probability he did7 a few days before4 ,brethren1 you must expect to meet with many such difficulties as these4 ,the scourge of the tongue1 is generally the first cross we are called to bear for the sake of ,,christ4 ,let not1 therefore1 this move you3 ,it did not intimidate1 no1 it rather encouraged ,saul3 says the text1 8,but ,saul increased the more in strength1 and confounded the ,jews who dwelt at ,damascus1 proving that this is very ,,christ40 ,opposition never yet did1 nor ever will hurt a sincere convert3 ,nothing like opposition to make the man of ,,god perfect4 ,none but a hireling1 who careth not for the sheep1 will be affrighted at the approach or barking of wolves4 ,,christ's ministers are as bold as lions3 it is not for such men as they to flee4 ,and therefore 7that ,i may draw towards a conclusion7 let the ministers and disciples of ,,christ learn from ,saul1 not to fear men or their revilings2 but1 like him1 increase in strength1 the more wicked men endeavour to weaken their hands4 ,we cannot be christians without being opposed3 no2 disciples in general must suffer2 ministers in particular must suffer great things4 ,but let not this move any of us from our stedfastness in the gospel3 ,he that stood by and strengthened ,saul1 will also stand by and strengthen us3 ,he is a ,,god mighty to save all that put their trust in him4 ,if we look up with an eye of faith1 we1 as well as the first martyr ,stephen1 may see ,,jesus standing at the right hand of ,,god1 ready to assist and protect us4 ,though the ,,lord's seat is in heaven1 yet he has respect to his saints in an especial manner1 when suffering here on earth3 then the ,spirit of ,,christ and of glory rests upon their souls4 ,and1 if ,i may speak my own experience1 8,i never enjoy more rich communications from ,,god1 than when despised and rejected of men for the sake of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,however little they may design it1 my enemies are my greatest friends4 ,what ,i most fear1 is a calm2 but the enmity which is in the hearts of natural men against ,,christ1 will not suffer them to be quiet long3 ,no2 as ,i hope the work of ,,god will increase1 so the rage of men and devils will increase also4 ,let us put on1 therefore1 the whole armour of ,,god3 let us not fear the face of men3 8,let us fear him only1 who can destroy both body and soul in hell30 ,i say unto you1 let us fear him alone4 ,you see how soon ,,god can stop the fury of his enemies4 ,you have just now heard of a proud1 powerful zealot stopt in his full career1 struck down to the earth with a light from heaven1 converted by the almighty power of efficacious grace1 and thereupon zealously promoting1 nay1 resolutely suffering for1 the faith1 which once with threatenings and slaughters he endeavoured to destroy4 ,let this teach us to pity and pray for our ,,lord's most inveterate enemies4 ,who knows1 but in answer thereunto1 our ,,lord may give them repentance unto life8 ,most think1 that ,,christ had respect to ,stephen's prayer1 when he converted ,saul4 ,perhaps for this reason ,,god suffers his adversaries to go on1 that his goodness and power may shine more bright in their conversion4 ,but let not the persecutors of ,,christ take encouragement from this to continue in their opposition4 ,remember1 though ,saul was converted1 yet the high-priest1 and ,saul's companions1 were left dead in trespasses and sins3 ,and1 if this should be your case1 you will of all men be most miserable3 for persecutors have the lowest place in hell4 ,and1 if ,saul was struck to the earth by a light from heaven1 how will you be able to stand before ,,jesus ,,christ1 when he comes in terrible majesty to take vengeance on all those who have persecuted his gospel8 ,then the question1 8,why persecutest thou me80 will cut you through and through4 ,the secret enmity of your hearts shall be then detected before men and angels1 and you shall be doomed to dwell in the blackness of darkness for evermore4 ,kiss the ,son1 therefore1 lest he be angry3 for even you may yet find mercy1 if you believe on the ,son of ,,god3 though you persecute him1 yet he will be your ,,jesus4 ,i cannot despair of any of you1 when ,i find a ,saul among the disciples at ,damascus4 ,what though your sins are as scarlet1 the blood of ,,christ shall wash them as white as snow4 ,having much to be forgiven1 despair not2 only believe1 and like ,saul1 of whom ,i have now been speaking1 love much4 ,he counted himself the chiefest sinner of all1 and therefore laboured more abundantly than all4 ,who is there among you fearing the ,,lord8 ,whose hearts hath the ,,lord now opened to hearken to the voice of his poor unworthy servant8 ,surely1 the ,,lord will not let me preach in vain4 ,who is the happy soul that is this day to be washed in the blood of the ,lamb8 ,will no poor sinner take encouragement from ,saul to come to ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,you are all thronging round1 but which of you will touch the ,,lord ,,jesus8 ,what a comfort will it be to ,saul1 and to your own souls1 when you meet him in heaven1 to tell him1 that hearing of his1 was a means1 under ,,god1 of your conversion6 ,doubtless it was written for the encouragement of all poor1 returning sinners2 he himself tells us so3 for 8in me ,,god shewed all long-suffering1 that ,i might be an example to them that should hereafter believe40 ,was ,saul here himself1 he would tell you so1 indeed he would2 but being dead1 by this account of his conversion he yet speaketh4 ,o that ,,god may speak by it to your hearts6 ,o that the arrows of ,,god might this day stick fast in your souls1 and you made to cry out1 8,who art thou1 ,,lord80 ,are there any such amongst you8 ,methinks ,i feel something of what this ,saul felt1 when he said1 8,i travail in birth again for you1 till ,,christ be formed again in your hearts40 ,o come1 come away to ,,jesus1 in whom ,saul believed2 and then ,i care not if the high-priests issue out never so many writs1 or injuriously drag me to a prison4 ,the thoughts of being instrumental in saving you1 will make me sing praises even at midnight3 ,and ,i know you will be my joy and crown of rejoicing1 when ,i am delivered from this earthly prison1 and meet you in the kingdom of ,,god hereafter4 ,now to ,,god1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xlii4 ,marks of having received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,,acts xix4 #b4 ,have ye received the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8 ,,two different significations have been given of these words4 ,some have supposed1 that the question here put1 is1 ,whether these disciples1 whom ,st4 ,paul found at ,ephesus1 had received the ,holy ,ghost by imposition of hands at confirmation8 ,others think1 these disciples had been already baptized into ,john's baptism2 which not being attended with an immediate effusion of the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,apostle here asks them1 ,whether they had received the ,holy ,ghost by being baptized into ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,and upon their answering in the negative1 he first baptized1 and then confirmed them in the name of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,which of these interpretations is the most true1 is neither easy nor very necessary to determine4 ,however1 as the words contain a most important enquiry1 without any reference to the context1 ,i shall from them1 ,first1 ,shew who the ,holy ,ghost here spoken of1 is2 and that we must all receive him1 before we can be stiled true believers4 ,secondly1 ,i shall lay down some scripture marks whereby we may know1 whether we have thus received the ,holy ,ghost or not4 ,and ,thirdly1 ,by way of conclusion1 address myself to several distinct classes of professors1 concerning the doctrine that shall have been delivered4 ,first1 ,i am to shew who the ,holy ,ghost spoken of in the text1 is2 and that we must all receive him before we can be stiled true believers4 duplicate word 8the0 removed ,by the ,holy ,ghost is plainly signified the ,holy ,spirit1 the third ,person in the ever-blessed ,trinity1 consubstantial and co-eternal with the ,father and the ,son1 proceeding from1 yet equal to them both4 ,he is emphatically called ,holy1 because infinitely holy in himself1 and the author and finisher of all holiness in us4 ,this blessed ,spirit1 who once moved on the face of the great deep2 who over-shadowed the blessed ,virgin before that holy child was born of her2 who descended in a bodily shape1 like a dove1 on our blessed ,,lord1 when he came up out of the water at his baptism2 and afterwards came down in fiery tongues on the heads of all his ,apostles at the day of ,pentecost3 this is the ,holy ,ghost1 who must move on the faces of our souls2 this power of the ,most ,high1 must come upon us1 and we must be baptized with his baptism and refining fire1 before we can be stiled true members of ,,christ's mystical body4 ,thus says the ,apostle ,paul1 8,know ye not that ,,jesus ,,christ is in you1 7that is1 by his ,spirit7 unless you are reprobates80 ,and1 8,if any man hath not the ,spirit of ,,christ1 he is none of his40 ,and again1 says ,st4 ,john1 8,we know that we are his1 by the ,spirit that he hath given us40 ,it is not1 indeed1 necessary that we should have the ,spirit now given in that miraculous manner1 in which he was at first given to our ,,lord's ,apostles1 by signs and wonders2 but it is absolutely necessary1 that we should receive the ,holy ,ghost in his sanctifying graces1 as really as they did3 and so will it continue to be till the end of the world4 ,for thus stands the case between ,,god and man3 ,,god at first made man upright1 or as the sacred ,penman expresses it1 8,in the image of ,,god made he man20 that is1 his soul was the very copy1 the transcript of the divine nature4 ,he1 who before1 by his almighty fiat1 spoke the world into being1 breathed into man the breath of spiritual life1 and his soul was adorned with a resemblance of the perfections of ,deity4 ,this was the finishing stroke of the creation3 the perfection both of the moral and material world4 ,and so near did man resemble his divine ,original1 that ,,god could not but rejoice and take pleasure in his own likeness3 ,and therefore we read1 that when ,,god had finished the inanimate and brutish part of the creation1 he looked upon it1 and beheld it was good2 but when that lovely1 ,god-like creature man was made1 behold it was very good4 ,happy1 unspeakably happy must man needs be1 when thus a partaker of the divine nature4 ,and thus might he have still continued1 had he continued holy4 ,but ,,god placed him in a state of probation1 with a free grant to eat of every tree in the garden of ,eden1 except the tree of knowledge of good and evil3 the day he should eat thereof1 he was surely to die2 that is1 not only to be subject to temporal1 but spiritual death2 and consequently1 to lose that divine image1 that spiritual life ,,god had not long since breathed into him1 and which was as much his happiness as his glory4 ,these1 one would imagine1 were easy conditions for a finite creature's happiness to depend on4 ,but man1 unhappy man1 being seduced by the devil1 and desiring1 like him1 to be equal with his ,maker1 did eat of the forbidden fruit2 and thereby became liable to that curse1 which the eternal ,,god1 who cannot lie1 had denounced against his disobedience4 ,accordingly we read1 that soon after ,adam had fallen1 he complained that he was naked2 naked1 not only as to his body1 but naked and destitute of those divine graces which before decked and beautified his soul4 ,the unhappy mutiny and disorder which the visible creation fell into1 the briars and thorns which now sprung up and overspread the earth1 were but poor emblems1 lifeless representations of that confusion and rebellion1 and those divers lusts and passions which sprung up in1 and quite overwhelmed the soul of man immediately after the fall4 ,alas6 he was now no longer the image of the invisible ,,god2 but as he had imitated the devil's sin1 he became as it were a partaker of the devil's nature1 and from an union with1 sunk into a state of direct enmity against ,,god4 ,now in this dreadful disordered condition1 are all of us brought into the world2 for as the root is1 such must the branches be4 ,accordingly we are told1 8,that ,adam begat a son in his own likeness20 or1 with the same corrupt nature which he himself had1 after he had eaten the forbidden fruit4 ,and experience as well as scripture proves1 that we also are altogether born in sin and corruption2 and therefore incapable1 whilst in such a state1 to hold communion with ,,god4 ,for as light cannot have communion with darkness1 so ,,god can have no communion with such polluted sons of ,belial4 ,here then appears the end and design why ,,christ was manifest in the flesh2 to put an end to these disorders1 and to restore us to that primitive dignity in which we were at first created4 ,accordingly he shed his precious blood to satisfy his ,father's justice for our sins2 and thereby also he procured for us the ,holy ,ghost1 who should once more re-instamp the divine image upon our hearts1 and make us capable of living with and enjoying the blessed ,,god4 ,this was the great end of our ,,lord's coming into the world2 nay1 this is the only end why the world itself is now kept in being4 ,for as soon as a sufficient number are sanctified out of it1 the heavens shall be wrapped up like a scroll1 the elements shall melt with fervent heat1 the earth1 and all that therein is1 shall be burnt up4 ,this sanctification of the ,spirit1 is that new birth mentioned by our blessed ,,lord to ,nicodemus1 8without which we cannot see the kingdom of ,,god40 ,this is what ,st4 ,paul calls being 8renewed in the spirit of our minds20 and it is the spring of that holiness1 without which no man shall see the ,,lord4 ,thus then1 it is undeniably certain1 we must receive the ,holy ,ghost ere we can be stiled true members of ,,christ's mystical body4 ,i come in the ,second place to lay down some scriptural marks1 whereby we may easily judge1 whether we have thus received the ,holy ,ghost or not4 ,and the ,first ,i shall mention1 is1 our having received a spirit of prayer and supplication2 for that always accompanies the spirit of grace4 ,no sooner was ,paul converted1 but 8behold he prayeth40 ,and this was urged as an argument1 to convince ,ananias that he was converted4 ,and ,,god's elect are also said to 8cry to him day and night40 ,and since one great work of the ,holy ,spirit is to convince us of sin1 and to set us upon seeking pardon and renewing grace1 through the all-sufficient merits of a crucified ,redeemer1 whosoever has felt the power of the world to come1 awakening him from his spiritual lethargy1 cannot but be always crying out1 8,,lord1 what wouldst thou have me to do80 ,or1 in the language of the importunate blind ,bartimeus1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy upon me40 ,the blessed ,,jesus1 as he received the ,holy ,ghost without measure1 so he evidenced it by nothing more1 than his frequent addresses at the throne of grace4 ,accordingly we read1 that he was often alone on the mountain praying2 that he rose a great while before day to pray3 nay1 that he spent whole nights in prayer4 ,and whosoever is made partaker of the same ,spirit with the holy ,,jesus1 will be of the same mind1 and delight in nothing so much1 as to 8draw nigh unto ,,god10 and lift up holy hands and hearts in frequent and devout prayer4 ,it must be confessed1 indeed1 that this spirit of supplication is often as it were sensibly lost1 and decays1 for some time1 even in those who have actually received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,through spiritual dryness and barrenness of soul1 they find in themselves a listlesness and backwardness to this duty of prayer2 but then they esteem it as their cross1 and still persevere in seeking ,,jesus1 though it be sorrowing3 and their hearts1 notwithstanding1 are fixed upon ,,god1 though they cannot exert their affections so strongly as usual1 on account of that spiritual deadness1 which ,,god1 for wise reasons1 has suffered to benumb their souls4 ,but as for the formal believer1 it is not so with him3 no2 he either prays not at all1 or if he does enter into his closet1 it is with reluctance1 out of custom1 or to satisfy the checks of his conscience4 ,whereas the true believer can no more live without prayer1 than without food day by day4 ,and he finds his soul as really and perceptibly fed by the one1 as his body is nourished and supported by the other4 ,a ,second scripture mark of our having received the ,holy ,ghost1 is1 ,not committing sin4 8,whosoever is born of ,,god1 7says ,st4 ,john7 sinneth not1 neither can he sin1 because his seed remaineth in him40 ,neither can he sin4 ,this expression does not imply the impossibility of a christian's sinning3 for we are told1 that 8in many things we offend all30 ,it only means thus much2 that a man who is really born again of ,,god1 doth not wilfully commit sin1 much less live in the habitual practice of it4 ,for how shall he that is dead to sin1 as every converted person is1 live any longer therein8 ,it is true1 a man that is born again of ,,god1 may1 through surprize1 or the violence of a temptation1 fall into an act of sin3 witness the adultery of ,david1 and ,peter's denial of his ,master4 ,but then1 like them1 he quickly rises again1 goes out from the world1 and weeps bitterly2 washes the guilt of sin away by the tears of a sincere repentance1 joined with faith in the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ2 takes double heed to his ways for the future1 and perfects holiness in the fear of ,,god4 ,the meaning of this expression of the ,apostle1 that 8a man who is born of ,,god1 cannot commit sin10 has been fitly illustrated1 by the example of a covetous worldling1 to the general bent of whose inclinations1 liberality and profuseness are directly opposite3 but if1 upon some unexpected1 sudden occasion1 he does play the prodigal1 he immediately repents him of his fault1 and returns with double care to his niggardliness again4 ,and so is every one that is born again3 to commit sin1 is as contrary to the habitual frame and tendency of his mind1 as generosity is to the inclinations of a miser2 but if at any time1 he is drawn into sin1 he immediately1 with double zeal1 returns to his duty1 and brings forth fruits meet for repentance4 ,whereas1 the unconverted sinner is quite dead in trespasses and sins3 or if he does abstain from gross acts of it1 through worldly selfish motives1 yet1 there is some right eye he will not pluck out2 some right-hand which he will not cut off2 some specious ,agag that he will not sacrifice for ,,god2 and thereby he is convinced that he is but a mere ,saul3 and consequently1 whatever pretensions he may make to the contrary1 he has not yet received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,a ,law's ,christian ,perfection4 ,third mark whereby we may know1 whether or not we have received the ,holy ,ghost1 is1 ,our conquest over the world4 8,for whosoever is born of ,,god1 7says the ,apostle7 overcometh the world40 ,by the world1 we are to understand1 as ,st4 ,john expresses it1 8all that is in the world1 the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life30 ,and by overcoming of it1 is meant1 our renouncing these1 so as not to follow or be led by them3 for whosoever is born from above1 has his affections set on things above3 he feels a divine attraction in his soul1 which forcibly draws his mind heavenwards2 and as the hart panteth after the water-brooks1 so doth it make his soul to long after the enjoyment of his ,,god4 ,not that he is so taken up with the affairs of another life1 as to neglect the business of this3 ,no2 a truly spiritual man dares not stand any day idle2 but then he takes care1 though he laboureth for the meat which perisheth1 first to secure that which endureth to everlasting life4 ,or1 if ,,god has exalted him above his brethren1 yet1 like ,moses1 ,joseph1 and ,daniel1 he1 notwithstanding1 looks upon himself as a stranger and pilgrim upon earth3 having received a principle of new life1 he walks by faith and not by sight2 and his hopes being full of immortality1 he can look on all things here below as vanity and vexation of spirit3 ,in short1 though he is in1 yet he is not of the world2 and as he was made for the enjoyment of ,,god1 so nothing but ,,god can satisfy his soul4 ,the ever-blessed ,,jesus was a perfect instance of overcoming the world4 ,for though he went about continually doing good1 and always lived as in a press and throng2 yet1 wherever he was1 his conversation tended heavenwards4 ,in like manner1 he that is joined to the ,,lord in one spirit1 will so order his thoughts1 words1 and actions1 that he will evidence to all1 that his conversation is in heaven4 ,on the contrary1 an unconverted man being of the earth1 is earthy2 and having no spiritual eye to discern spiritual things1 he is always seeking for happiness in this life1 where it never was1 will1 or can be found4 ,being not born again from above1 he is bowed down by a spirit of natural infirmity3 the serpent's curse becomes his choice1 and he eats of the dust of the earth all the days of his life4 ,a ,fourth scripture mark of our having received the ,holy ,ghost1 is1 ,our loving one another4 8,we know 7says ,st4 ,john7 we are passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren40 8,and by this 7says ,,christ himself7 shall all men know that ye are my disciples1 if ye have love one towards another40 ,love is the fulfilling of the gospel1 as well as of the law3 for 8,,god is love2 and whosoever dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,,god40 ,but by this love we are not to understand a softness and tenderness of mere nature1 or a love founded on worldly motives 7for this a natural man may have72 but a love of our brethren1 proceeding from love towards ,,god3 loving all men in general1 because of their relation to ,,god2 and loving good men in particular1 for the grace we see in them1 and because they love our ,,lord ,,jesus in sincerity4 ,this is christian charity1 and that new commandment which ,,christ gave to his disciples4 ,new1 not in its object1 but in the motive and example whereon it is founded1 even ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,this is that love which the primitive christians were so renowned for1 that it became a proverb1 ,see how these christians love one another4 ,and without this love1 though we should give all our goods to feed the poor1 and our bodies to be burnt1 it would profit us nothing4 ,further1 this love is not confined to any particular set of men1 but is impartial and catholic3 ,a love that embraces ,,god's image wherever it beholds it1 and that delights in nothing so much as to see ,,christ's kingdom come4 ,this is the love wherewith ,,jesus ,,christ loved mankind3 ,he loved all1 even the worst of men1 as appears by his weeping over the obstinately perverse2 but wherever he saw the least appearance of the divine likeness1 that soul he loved in particular4 ,thus we read1 that when he heard the young man say1 8,all these things have ,i kept from my youth10 that so far he loved him4 ,and when he saw any noble instance of faith1 though in a ,centurion and a ,syrophenician1 aliens to the commonwealth of ,israel1 how is he said to marvel at1 to rejoice in1 speak of1 and commend it8 ,so every spiritual disciple of ,,jesus ,,christ will cordially embrace all who worship ,,god in spirit and in truth1 however they may differ as to the appendages of religion1 and in things not essentially necessary to salvation4 ,i confess1 indeed1 that the heart of a natural man is not thus enlarged all at once2 and a person may really have received the ,holy ,ghost1 7as ,peter1 no doubt1 had when he was unwilling to go to ,cornelius7 though he be not arrived to this3 but then1 where a person is truly in ,,christ1 all narrowness of spirit decreases in him daily2 the partition wall of bigotry and party zeal is broken down more and more2 and the nearer he comes to heaven1 the more his heart is enlarged with that love1 which there will make no difference between any people1 nation1 or language1 but we shall all1 with one heart1 and one voice1 sing praises to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever4 ,but ,i hasten to a ,fifth scripture mark1 ,loving our enemies4 8,i say unto you1 7says ,,jesus ,,christ7 ,love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to those that hate you1 and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you40 ,and this duty of loving your enemies is so necessary1 that without it1 our righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 or even of ,publicans and sinners3 8,for if you do good to them only1 who do good to you1 what do you more than others80 ,what do you extraordinary8 8,do not even the ,publicans the same80 ,and these precepts our ,,lord confirmed by his own example2 when he wept over the bloody city2 when he suffered himself to be led as a sheep to the slaughter2 when he made that mild reply to the traytor ,judas1 8,judas1 betrayest thou the ,son of man with a kiss20 and more especially1 when in the agonies and pangs of death1 he prayed for his very murderers1 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do40 ,this is a difficult duty to the natural man2 but whosoever is made partaker of the promise of the ,spirit1 will find it practicable and easy3 for if we are born again of ,,god1 we must be like him1 and consequently delight to be perfect in this duty of doing good to our worst enemies in the same manner1 though not in the same degree as he is perfect3 ,he sends his rain on the evil and the good2 causeth his sun to shine on the just and unjust2 and more especially commended his love towards us1 that whilst we were his enemies1 he sent forth his ,son1 born of a woman1 made under the law1 that he might become a curse for us4 ,many other marks are scattered up and down the scriptures1 whereby we may know whether or not we have received the ,holy ,ghost3 such as1 8to be carnally minded1 is death1 but to be spiritually minded is life and peace40 8,now the fruits of the ,spirit are joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 meekness10 with a multitude of texts to the same purpose4 ,but as most1 if not all of them1 are comprehended in the duties already laid down1 ,i dare affirm1 whosoever upon an impartial examination1 can find the aforesaid marks on his soul1 may be as certain1 as though an angel was to tell him1 that his pardon is sealed in heaven4 ,as for my own part1 ,i had rather see these divine graces1 and this heavenly temper stamped upon my soul1 than to hear an angel from heaven saying unto me1 ,son1 be of good cheer1 thy sins are forgiven thee4 ,these are infallible witnesses2 these are ,emmanuel1 ,,god with and in us2 these make up that white stone1 which none knoweth1 saving he who hath receiveth it2 these are the earnests of the heavenly inheritance in our hearts3 ,in short1 these are glory begun1 and are that good thing1 that better part1 and which if you continue to stir up this gift of ,,god1 neither men nor devils shall ever be able to take from us4 ,i proceed1 as was proposed1 in the ,third place1 to make an application of the doctrine delivered1 to several distinct classes of professors4 ,and ,first1 ,i shall address myself to those who are dead in trespasses and sins4 ,and1 ,o how could ,i weep over you1 as our ,,lord wept over ,jerusalem6 ,for1 alas6 how distant must you be from ,,god8 ,what a prodigious work have you to finish1 who1 instead of praying day and night1 seldom or never pray at all8 ,and1 instead of being born again of ,,god1 so as not to commit sin1 are so deeply sunk into the nature of devils1 as to make a mock at it8 ,or1 instead of overcoming the world1 so as not to follow or be led by it1 are continually making provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof4 ,and1 instead of being endued with the god-like disposition of loving all men1 even your enemies1 have your hearts full of hatred1 malice1 and revenge1 and deride those who are the sincere followers of the lowly ,,jesus4 ,but think you1 ,o sinners1 that ,,god will admit such polluted wretches into his sight8 ,or should he admit you1 do you imagine you could take any pleasure in him8 ,no2 heaven itself would be no heaven to you2 the devilish dispositions which are in your hearts1 would render all the spiritual enjoyments of those blessed mansions1 ineffectual to make you happy4 ,to qualify you to be blissful partakers of that heavenly inheritance with the saints in light1 there is a meetness required3 to attain which1 ought to be the chief business of your lives4 ,it is true1 you1 as well as the righteous1 in one sense1 shall see ,,god2 7for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,,christ7 but you must see him once1 never to see him more4 ,for as you carry about in you the devil's image1 with devils you must dwell3 being of the same nature1 you must share the same doom4 8,repent1 therefore1 and be converted1 that your sins may be blotted out40 ,see that you receive the ,holy ,ghost1 before you go hence3 for otherwise1 how can you escape the damnation of hell8 ,secondly1 ,let me apply myself to those who deceive themselves with false hopes of salvation4 ,some1 through the influence of a good education1 or other providential restraints1 have not run into the same excess of riot with other men1 and they think they have no need to receive the ,holy ,ghost1 but flatter themselves that they are really born again4 ,but do you shew it by bringing forth the fruits of the ,spirit8 ,do you pray without ceasing8 ,do you not commit sin8 ,have you overcome the world8 ,and do you love your enemies1 and all mankind1 in the same manner1 as ,,jesus ,,christ loved them8 ,if these things1 brethren1 be in you and abound1 then may you have confidence towards ,,god2 but if not1 although you may be civilized1 yet you are not converted3 no1 you are yet in your sins4 ,the nature of the old ,adam still reigneth in your souls2 and unless the nature of the second ,adam be grafted in its room1 you can never see ,,god4 ,think not1 therefore1 to dress yourselves up in the ornaments of a good nature1 and civil education1 and say with ,agag1 8surely the bitterness of death is past30 for ,,god's justice1 notwithstanding that1 like ,samuel1 shall hew you to pieces4 ,however you may be highly esteemed in the sight of men1 yet1 in the sight of ,,god1 you are but like the apples of ,sodom1 dunghills covered over with snow1 mere whited sepulchres1 appearing a little beautiful without1 but inwardly full of corruption and of all uncleanness3 and consequently will be dismissed at the last day with a 8,verily1 ,i know you not40 ,but the word of ,,god is profitable for comfort as well as correction4 ,thirdly1 ,therefore ,i address myself to those who are under the drawings of the ,father1 and are exercised with the ,spirit of bondage1 and not finding the marks before mentioned1 are crying out1 ,who shall deliver us from the body of this death8 ,but fear not1 little flock2 for notwithstanding your present infant state of grace1 it shall be your ,father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom4 ,the grace of ,,god1 through ,,jesus ,,christ1 shall deliver you1 and give you what you thirst after3 ,he hath promised1 he will also do it4 ,ye shall receive the spirit of adoption1 that promise of the ,father1 if you faint not3 only persevere in seeking it2 and determine not to be at rest in your soul1 till you know and feel that you are thus born again from above1 and ,,god's ,spirit witnesseth with your spirits that you are the children of ,,god4 ,fourthly and ,lastly1 ,i address myself to those who have received the ,holy ,ghost in all his sanctifying graces1 and are almost ripe for glory4 ,hail1 happy saints6 for your heaven is begun on earth3 you have already received the first fruits of the ,spirit1 and are patiently waiting till that blessed change come1 when your harvest shall be compleat4 ,i see and admire you1 though1 alas6 at so great a distance from you3 your life1 ,i know1 is hid with ,,christ in ,,god4 ,you have comforts1 you have meat to eat1 which a sinful1 carnal1 ridiculing world knows nothing of4 ,,christ's yoke is now become easy to you1 and his burden light4 ,you have passed through the pangs of the new birth1 and now rejoice that ,,christ ,,jesus is spiritually formed in your hearts4 ,you know what it is to dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in you4 ,like ,jacob's ladder1 although your bodies are on earth1 yet your souls and hearts are in heaven3 and by your faith and constant recollection1 like the blessed angels1 you do always behold the face of your ,father which is in heaven4 ,i need not exhort you to press forward1 for you know that in walking in the ,spirit there is a great reward4 ,rather will ,i exhort you1 in patience to possess your souls yet a little while1 and ,,jesus ,,christ will deliver you from the burden of the flesh1 and an abundant entrance shall be administered to you1 into the eternal joy and uninterrupted felicity of his heavenly kingdom4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord3 ,to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 three ,persons and one ,,god1 be ascribed all honour1 power1 and glory1 for ever and ever4 ,,sermon ,,xliii4 ,the ,almost ,christian4 ,,acts xxvi4 #bh4 ,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian4 ,,these words contain the ingenuous confession of king ,agrippa2 which having some reference to1 it may not be improper to relate the substance of the preceding verses1 with which the words are so closely connected4 ,the chapter1 out of which the text is taken1 contains an admirable account which the great ,st4 ,paul gave of his wonderful conversion from ,judaism to ,christianity1 when he was called to make his defence before ,festus1 a ,gentile governor1 and king ,agrippa4 ,our blessed ,,lord had long since foretold1 that when the ,son of man should be lifted up1 8his disciples should be brought before kings and rulers1 for his name's sake1 for a testimony unto them40 ,and very good was the design of infinite wisdom in thus ordaining it2 for ,christianity being1 from the beginning1 a doctrine of the ,cross1 the princes and rulers of the earth thought themselves too high to be instructed by such mean teachers1 or too happy to be disturbed by such unwelcome truths2 and therefore would have always continued strangers to ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified1 had not the apostles1 by being arraigned before them1 gained opportunities of preaching to them 8,,jesus and the resurrection40 ,st4 ,paul knew full well that this was the main reason1 why his blessed ,master permitted his enemies at this time to arraign him at a public bar2 and therefore1 in compliance with the divine will1 thinks it not sufficient1 barely to make his defence1 but endeavours at the same time to convert his judges4 ,and this he did with such demonstration of the spirit1 and of power1 that ,festus1 unwilling to be convinced by the strongest evidence1 cries out with a loud voice1 8,paul1 much learning doth make thee mad40 ,to which the brave apostle 7like a true follower of the holy ,,jesus7 meekly replies1 8,i am not mad1 most noble ,festus1 but speak forth the words of truth and soberness40 ,but in all probability1 seeing king ,agrippa more affected with his discourse1 and observing in him an inclination to know the truth1 he applies himself more particularly to him4 8,the king knoweth of these things2 before whom also ,i speak freely2 for ,i am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him40 ,and then1 that if possible he might complete his wished-for conversion1 he with an inimitable strain of oratory1 addresses himself still more closely1 8,king ,agrippa1 believest thou the prophets8 ,i know that thou believest them40 ,at which the passions of the king began to work so strongly1 that he was obliged in open court1 to own himself affected by the prisoner's preaching1 and ingenuously to cry out1 8,paul1 almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian40 ,which words1 taken with the context1 afford us a lively representation of the different reception1 which the doctrine of ,,christ's ministers1 who come in the power and spirit of ,st4 ,paul1 meets with now-a-days in the minds of men4 ,for notwithstanding they1 like this great apostle1 8speak forth the words of truth and soberness20 and with such energy and power1 that all their adversaries cannot justly gainsay or resist2 yet1 too many1 with the noble ,festus before-mentioned1 being like him1 either too proud to be taught1 or too sensual1 too careless1 or too worldly-minded to live up to the doctrine1 in order to excuse themselves1 cry out1 that 8much learning1 much study1 or1 what is more unaccountable1 much piety1 hath made them mad40 ,and though1 blessed be ,,god6 all do not thus disbelieve our report2 yet amongst those who gladly receive the word1 and confess that we speak the words of truth and soberness1 there are so few1 who arrive at any higher degree of piety than that of ,agrippa1 or are any farther persuaded than to be almost ,christians1 that ,i cannot but think it highly necessary to warn my dear hearers of the danger of such a state4 ,and therefore1 from the words of the text1 shall endeavour to shew these three things3 ,first1 ,what is meant by an almost christian4 ,secondly1 ,what are the chief reasons1 why so many are no more than almost christians4 ,thirdly1 ,i shall consider the ineffectualness1 danger1 absurdity1 and uneasiness which attends those who are but almost christians2 and then conclude with a general exhortation1 to set all upon striving not only to be almost1 but altogether christians4 ,i4 ,and1 ,first1 ,i am to consider what is meant by an almost christian4 ,an almost christian1 if we consider him in respect to his duty to ,,god1 is one that halts between two opinions2 that wavers between ,,christ and the world2 that would reconcile ,,god and ,mammon1 light and darkness1 ,,christ and ,belial4 ,it is true1 he has an inclination to religion1 but then he is very cautious how he goes too far in it3 his false heart is always crying out1 ,spare thyself1 do thyself no harm4 ,he prays indeed1 that 8,,god's will may be done on earth1 as it is in heaven40 ,but notwithstanding1 he is very partial in his obedience1 and fondly hopes that ,,god will not be extreme to mark every thing that he wilfully does amiss2 though an inspired apostle has told him1 that 8he who offends in one point is guilty of all40 ,but chiefly1 he is one that depends much on outward ordinances1 and on that account looks upon himself as righteous1 and despises others2 though at the same time he is as great a stranger to the divine life as any other person whatsoever4 ,in short1 he is fond of the form1 but never experiences the power of godliness in his heart4 ,he goes on year after year1 attending on the means of grace1 but then1 like ,pharaoh's lean kine1 he is never the better1 but rather the worse for them4 ,if you consider him in respect to his neighbour1 he is one that is strictly just to all2 but then this does not proceed from any love to ,,god or regard to man1 but only through a principle of self-love3 because he knows dishonesty will spoil his reputation1 and consequently hinder his thriving in the world4 ,he is one that depends much upon being negatively good1 and contents himself with the consciousness of having done no one any harm2 though he reads in the gospel1 that 8the unprofitable servant was cast into outer darkness10 and the barren fig-tree was cursed and dried up from the roots1 not for bearing bad1 but no fruit4 ,he is no enemy to charitable contributions in public1 if not too frequently recommended3 but then he is unacquainted with the kind offices of visiting the sick and imprisoned1 cloathing the naked1 and relieving the hungry in a private manner4 ,he thinks that these things belong only to the clergy1 though his own false heart tells him1 that nothing but pride keeps him from exercising these acts of humility2 and that ,,jesus ,,christ1 in the #beth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew1 condemns persons to everlasting punishment1 not merely for being fornicators1 drunkards1 or extortioners1 but for neglecting these charitable offices1 8,when the ,son of man shall come in his glory1 he shall set the sheep on his right-hand1 and the goats on his left4 ,and then shall he say unto them on his left-hand1 depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels3 for ,i was an hungred1 and ye gave me no meat2 ,i was thirsty1 and ye gave me no drink2 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took me not in2 naked1 and ye cloathed me not2 sick and in prison1 and ye visited me not4 ,then shall they also say1 ,,lord1 when saw we thee an hungred1 or a-thirst1 or a stranger1 or naked1 or sick1 of in prison1 and did not minister unto thee8 ,then shall he answer them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these my brethren1 ye did it not unto me3 and these shall go away into everlasting punishment40 ,i thought proper to give you this whole passage of scripture at large1 because our ,saviour lays such a particular stress upon it2 and yet it is so little regarded1 that were we to judge by the practice of christians1 one should be tempted to think there were no such verses in the ,bible4 8hungary0 replaced with 8hungry0 ,but to proceed in the character of an almost christian3 ,if we consider him in respect of himself2 as we said he was strictly honest to his neighbour1 so he is likewise strictly sober in himself3 but then both his honesty and sobriety proceed from the same principle of a false self-love4 ,it is true1 he runs not into the same excess of riot with other men2 but then it is not out of obedience to the laws of ,,god1 but either because his constitution will not away with intemperance2 or rather because he is cautious of forfeiting his reputation1 or unfitting himself for temporal business4 ,but though he is so prudent as to avoid intemperance and excess1 for the reasons before-mentioned2 yet he always goes to the extremity of what is lawful4 ,it is true1 he is no drunkard2 but then he has no christian self-denial4 ,he cannot think our ,saviour to be so austere a ,master1 as to deny us to indulge ourselves in some particulars3 and so by this means he is destitute of a sense of true religion1 as much as if he lived in debauchery1 or any other crime whatever4 ,as to settling his principles as well as practice1 he is guided more by the world1 than by the word of ,,god3 for his part1 he cannot think the way to heaven so narrow as some would make it2 and therefore considers not so much what scripture requires1 as what such and such a good man does1 or what will best suit his own corrupt inclinations4 ,upon this account1 he is not only very cautious himself1 but likewise very careful of young converts1 whose faces are set heavenward2 and therefore is always acting the devil's part1 and bidding them spare themselves1 though they are doing no more than what the scripture strictly requires them to do3 ,the consequence of which is1 that 8he suffers not himself to enter into the kingdom of ,,god1 and those that are entering in he hinders40 ,thus lives the almost christian3 not that ,i can say1 ,i have fully described him to you2 but from these outlines and sketches of his character1 if your consciences have done their proper office1 and made a particular application of what has been said to your own hearts1 ,i cannot but fear that some of you may observe some features in his picture1 odious as it is1 too near resembling your own2 and therefore ,i cannot but hope1 that you will join with the apostle in the words immediately following the text1 and wish yourselves 8to be not only almost1 but altogether christians40 ,,ii4 ,i proceed to the second general thing proposed2 to consider the reasons why so many are no more than almost christians4 #a4 ,and the first reason ,i shall mention is1 because so many set out with false notions of religion2 though they live in a christian country1 yet they know not what christianity is4 ,this perhaps may be esteemed a hard saying1 but experience sadly evinces the truth of it2 for some place religion in being of this or that communion2 more in morality2 most in a round of duties1 and a model of performances2 and few1 very few acknowledge it to be1 what it really is1 a thorough inward change of nature1 a divine life1 a vital participation of ,,jesus ,,christ1 an union of the soul with ,,god2 which the apostle expresses by saying1 8,he that is joined to the ,,lord is one spirit40 ,hence it happens1 that so many1 even of the most knowing professors1 when you come to converse with them concerning the essence1 the life1 the soul of religion1 ,i mean our new birth in ,,jesus ,,christ1 confess themselves quite ignorant of the matter1 and cry out with ,nicodemus1 8,how can this thing be80 ,and no wonder then1 that so many are only almost christians1 when so many know not what christianity is3 no marvel1 that so many take up with the form1 when they are quite strangers to the power of godliness2 or content themselves with the shadow1 when they know so little about the substance of it4 ,and this is one cause why so many are almost1 and so few are altogether christians4 #b4 ,a second reason that may be assigned why so many are no more than almost christians1 is a servile fear of man3 multitudes there are and have been1 who1 though awakened to a sense of the divine life1 and have tasted and felt the powers of the world to come2 yet out of a base sinful fear of being counted singular1 or contemned by men1 have suffered all those good impressions to wear off4 ,it is true1 they have some esteem for ,,jesus ,,christ2 but then1 like ,nicodemus1 they would come to him only by night3 they are willing to serve him2 but then they would do it secretly1 for fear of the ,jews3 they have a mind to see ,,jesus1 but then they cannot come to him because of the press1 and for fear of being laughed at1 and ridiculed by these with whom they used to sit at meat4 ,but well did our ,saviour prophesy of such persons1 8,how can ye love me1 who receive honour one of another80 ,alas6 have they never read1 that 8the friendship of this world is enmity with ,,god20 and that our ,,lord himself has threatened1 8,whosoever shall be ashamed of me or of my words1 in this wicked and adulterous generation1 of him shall the ,son of man be ashamed1 when he cometh in the glory of his ,father and of his holy angels80 ,no wonder that so many are no more than almost christians1 since so many 8love the praise of men more than the honour which cometh of ,,god40 #c4 ,a third reason why so many are no more than almost christians1 is a reigning love of money4 ,this was the pitiable case of that forward young man in the gospel1 who came running to our blessed ,,lord1 and kneeling before him1 enquired 8what he must do to inherit eternal life20 to whom our blessed ,master replied1 8,thou knowest the commandments1 ,do not kill1 ,do not commit adultery1 ,do not steal30 ,to which the young man replied1 8,all these have ,i kept from my youth40 ,but when our ,,lord proceeded to tell him1 8,yet lackest thou one thing2 ,go sell all that thou hast1 and give to the poor2 he was grieved at that saying1 and went away sorrowful1 for he had great possessions60 ,poor youth6 he had a good mind to be a christian1 and to inherit eternal life1 but thought it too dear1 if it could be purchased at no less an expence than of his estate6 ,and thus many1 both young and old1 now-a-days1 come running to worship our blessed ,,lord in public1 and kneel before him in private1 and enquire at his gospel1 what they must do to inherit eternal life3 but when they find they must renounce the self-enjoyment of riches1 and forsake all in affection to follow him1 they cry1 8,the ,,lord pardon us in this thing6 ,we pray thee1 have us excused40 ,but is heaven so small a trifle in men's esteem1 as not to be worth a little gilded earth8 ,is eternal life so mean a purchase1 as not to deserve the temporary renunciation of a few transitory riches8 ,surely it is4 ,but however inconsistent such a behaviour may be1 this inordinate love of money is too evidently the common and fatal cause1 why so many are no more than almost christians4 #d4 ,nor is the love of pleasure a less uncommon1 or a less fatal cause why so many are no more than almost christians4 ,thousands and ten thousands there are1 who despise riches1 and would willingly be true disciples of ,,jesus ,,christ1 if parting with their money would make them so2 but when they are told that our blessed ,,lord has said1 8,whosoever will come after him must deny himself20 like the pitiable young man before-mentioned1 8they go away sorrowful30 for they have too great a love for sensual pleasures4 ,they will perhaps send for the ministers of ,,christ1 as ,herod did for ,john1 and hear them gladly3 but touch them in their ,herodias1 tell them they must part with such or such a darling pleasure2 and with wicked ,ahab they cry out1 8,hast thou found us1 ,o our enemy80 ,tell them of the necessity of mortification and self-denial1 and it is as difficult for them to hear1 as if you was to bid them 8cut off a right-hand1 or pluck out a right-eye40 ,they cannot think our blessed ,,lord requires so much at their hands1 though an inspired apostle has commanded us to 8mortify our members which are upon earth40 ,and who himself1 even after he had converted thousands1 and was very near arrived to the end of his race1 yet professed that it was his daily practice to 8keep under his body1 and bring it into subjection1 lest after he had preached to others1 he himself should be a cast-away60 ,but some men would be wiser than this great apostle1 and chalk out to us what they falsely imagine an easier way to happiness4 ,they would flatter us1 we may go to heaven without offering violence to our sensual appetites2 and enter into the strait gate without striving against our carnal inclinations4 ,and this is another reason why so many are only almost1 and not altogether christians4 #e4 ,the fifth and last reason ,i shall assign why so many are only almost christians1 is a fickleness and instability of temper4 ,it has been1 no doubt1 a misfortune that many a minister and sincere christian has met with1 to weep and wail over numbers of promising converts1 who seemingly began in the ,spirit1 but after a while fell away1 and basely ended in the flesh2 and this not for want of right notions in religion1 nor out of a servile fear of man1 nor from the love of money1 or of sensual pleasure1 but through an instability and fickleness of temper4 ,they looked upon religion merely for novelty1 as something which pleased them for a while2 but after their curiosity was satisfied1 they laid it aside again3 like the young man that came to see ,,jesus with a linen cloth about his naked body1 they have followed him for a season1 but when temptations came to take hold on them1 for want of a little more resolution1 they have been stripped of all their good intentions1 and fled away naked4 ,they at first1 like a tree planted by the water-side1 grew up and flourished for a while2 but having no root in themselves1 no inward principle of holiness and piety1 like ,jonah's gourd1 they were soon dried up and withered4 ,their good intentions are too like the violent motions of the animal spirits of a body newly beheaded1 which1 though impetuous1 are not lasting4 ,in short1 they set out well in their journey to heaven1 but finding the way either narrower or longer than they expected1 through an unsteadiness of temper1 they have made an eternal halt1 and so 8returned like the dog to his vomit1 or like the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire60 ,but ,i tremble to pronounce the fate of such unstable professors1 who having put their hands to the plough1 for want of a little more resolution1 shamefully look back4 ,how shall ,i repeat to them that dreadful threatening1 8if any man draw back1 my soul shall have no pleasure in him30 ,and again1 8,it is impossible 7that is1 exceeding difficult at least7 for those that have been once enlightened1 and have tasted of the heavenly gift1 and the powers of the world to come1 if they should fall away1 to be renewed again unto repentance40 ,but notwithstanding the gospel is so severe against apostates1 yet many that begun well1 through a fickleness of temper1 7,o that none of us here present may ever be such7 have been by this means of the number of those that turn back unto perdition4 ,and this is the fifth1 and the last reason ,i shall give1 why so many are only almost1 and not altogether christians4 ,,iii4 ,proceed we now to the third general thing proposed1 namely1 to consider the folly of being no more than an almost christian4 #a4 ,and the first proof ,i shall give of the folly of such a proceeding is1 that it is ineffectual to salvation4 ,it is true1 such men are almost good2 but almost to hit the mark1 is really to miss it4 ,,god requires us 8to love him with all our hearts1 with all our souls1 and with all our strength40 ,he loves us too well to admit any rival2 because1 so far as our hearts are empty of ,,god1 so far must they be unhappy4 ,the devil1 indeed1 like the false mother that came before ,solomon1 would have our hearts divided1 as she would have had the child2 but ,,god1 like the true mother1 will have all or none4 8,my ,son1 give me thy heart10 thy whole heart1 is the general call to all3 and if this be not done1 we never can expect the divine mercy4 ,persons may play the hypocrite2 but ,,god at the great day will strike them dead1 7as he did ,ananias and ,sapphira by the mouth of his servant ,peter7 for pretending to offer him all their hearts1 when they keep back from him the greatest part4 ,they may perhaps impose upon their fellow-creatures for a while2 but he that enabled ,elijah to cry out1 8,come in thou wife of ,jeroboam10 when she came disguised to enquire about her sick son1 will also discover them through their most artful dissimulations2 and if their hearts are not wholly with him1 appoint them their portion with hypocrites and unbelievers4 #b4 ,but1 secondly1 ,what renders an half-way-piety more inexcusable is1 that it is not only insufficient to our own salvation1 but also very prejudicial to that of others4 ,an almost christian is one of the most hurtful creatures in the world3 he is a wolf in sheep's cloathing3 he is one of those false prophets1 our blessed ,,lord bids us beware of in his sermon on the mount1 who would persuade men1 that the way to heaven is broader than it really is2 and thereby1 as it was observed before1 8enter not into the kingdom of ,,god themselves1 and those that are entering in they hinder40 ,these1 these are the men that turn the world into a lukewarm ,laodicean spirit2 that hang out false lights1 and so shipwreck unthinking benighted souls in their voyage to the haven of eternity4 ,these are they who are greater enemies to the cross of ,,christ1 than infidels themselves3 for of an unbeliever every one will be aware2 but an almost christian1 through his subtle hypocrisy1 draws away many after him2 and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation4 #c4 ,but1 thirdly1 ,as it is most prejudicial to ourselves and hurtful to others1 so it is the greatest instance of ingratitude we can express towards our ,,lord and ,master ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,for did he come down from heaven1 and shed his precious blood1 to purchase these hearts of ours1 and shall we only give him half of them8 ,o how can we say we love him1 when our hearts are not wholly with him8 ,how can we call him our ,saviour1 when we will not endeavour sincerely to approve ourselves to him1 and so let him see the travail of his soul1 and be satisfied6 ,had any of us purchased a slave at a most expensive rate1 and who was before involved in the utmost miseries and torments1 and so must have continued for ever1 had we shut up our bowels of compassion from him2 and was this slave afterwards to grow rebellious1 or deny giving us but half his service2 how1 how should we exclaim against his base ingratitude6 ,and yet this base ungrateful slave thou art1 ,o man1 who acknowledgest thyself to be redeemed from infinite unavoidable misery and punishment by the death of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and yet wilt not give thyself wholly to him4 ,but shall we deal with ,,god our ,maker in a manner we would not be dealt with by a man like ourselves8 ,,god forbid6 ,no4 ,suffer me1 therefore1 ,to add a word or two of exhortation to you1 to excite you to be not only almost1 but altogether christians4 ,o let us scorn all base and treacherous treatment of our ,king and ,saviour1 of our ,,god and ,creator4 ,let us not take some pains all our lives to go to heaven1 and yet plunge ourselves into hell at last4 ,let us give to ,,god our whole hearts1 and no longer halt between two opinions3 if the world be ,,god1 let us serve that2 if pleasure be a ,,god1 let us serve that2 but if the ,,lord he be ,,god1 let us1 ,o let us serve him alone4 ,alas6 why1 why should we stand out any longer8 ,why should we be so in love with slavery1 as not wholly to renounce the world1 the flesh1 and the devil1 which1 like so many spiritual chains1 bind down our souls1 and hinder them from flying up to ,,god4 ,alas6 what are we afraid of8 ,is not ,,god able to reward our entire obedience8 ,if he is1 as the almost christian's lame way of serving him1 seems to grant1 why then will we not serve him entirely8 ,for the same reason we do so much1 why do we not do more8 ,or do you think that being only half religious will make you happy1 but that going farther1 will render you miserable and uneasy8 ,alas6 this1 my brethren1 is delusion all over3 for what is it but this half piety1 this wavering between ,,god and the world1 that makes so many1 that are seemingly well disposed1 such utter strangers to the comforts of religion8 ,they chuse just so much of religion as will disturb them in their lusts1 and follow their lusts so far as to deprive themselves of the comforts of religion4 ,whereas on the contrary1 would they sincerely leave all in affection1 and give their hearts wholly to ,,god1 they would then 7and they cannot till then7 experience the unspeakable pleasure of having a mind at unity with itself1 and enjoy such a peace of ,,god1 which even in this life passes all understanding1 and which they were entire strangers to before4 ,it is true1 if we will devote ourselves entirely to ,,god1 we must meet with contempt2 but then it is because contempt is necessary to heal our pride4 ,we must renounce some sensual pleasures1 but then it is because those unfit us for spiritual ones1 which are infinitely better4 ,we must renounce the love of the world2 but then it is that we may be filled with the love of ,,god3 and when that has once enlarged our hearts1 we shall1 like ,jacob when he served for his beloved ,rachel1 think nothing too difficult to undergo1 no hardships too tedious to endure1 because of the love we shall then have for our dear ,redeemer4 ,thus easy1 thus delightful will be the ways of ,,god even in this life3 but when once we throw off these bodies1 and our souls are filled with all the fulness of ,,god1 ,o6 what heart can conceive1 what tongue can express1 with what unspeakable joy and consolation shall we then look back on our past sincere and hearty services4 ,think you then1 my dear hearers1 we shall repent we had done too much2 or rather think you not1 we shall be ashamed that we did no more2 and blush we were so backward to give up all to ,,god2 when he intended hereafter to give us himself8 ,let me therefore1 to conclude1 exhort you1 my brethren1 to have always before you the unspeakable happiness of enjoying ,,god4 ,and think withal1 that every degree of holiness you neglect1 every act of piety you omit1 is a jewel taken out of your crown1 a degree of blessedness lost in the vision of ,,god4 ,o6 do but always think and act thus1 and you will no longer be labouring to compound matters between ,,god and the world2 but1 on the contrary1 be daily endeavouring to give up yourselves more and more unto him2 you will be always watching1 always praying1 always aspiring after farther degrees of purity and love1 and consequently always preparing yourselves for a fuller sight and enjoyment of that ,,god1 in whose presence there is fulness of joy1 and at whose right-hand there are pleasures for ever more4 ,amen6 ,amen6 ,,sermon ,,xliv4 ,,christ the ,believer's ,wisdom1 ,righteousness1 ,sanctification1 and ,redemption4 #a ,,corinthians i4 #cj4 ,but of him are ye in ,,christ ,,jesus1 who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption4 ,,of all the verses in the book of ,,god1 this which ,i have now read to you1 is1 ,i believe1 one of the most comprehensive3 ,what glad tidings does it bring to believers6 what precious privileges are they herein invested with6 how are they here led to the fountain of them all1 ,i mean1 the love1 the everlasting love of ,,god the ,father6 8,of him are ye in ,,christ ,,jesus1 who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption40 ,without referring you to the context1 ,i shall from the words1 ,first1 ,point out to you the fountain1 from which all those blessings flow1 that the elect of ,,god partake of in ,,jesus ,,christ1 8who of ,,god is made unto us40 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,i shall consider what these blessings are1 8wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption40 ,first1 ,i would point out to you the fountain from which all those blessings flow1 that the elect of ,,god partake of in ,,jesus1 8who of ,,god is made unto us10 the ,father1 he it is who is spoken of here4 ,not as though ,,jesus ,,christ was not ,,god also2 but ,,god the ,father is the fountain of the ,deity2 and1 if we consider ,,jesus ,,christ acting as ,mediator1 ,,god the ,father is greater than he2 there was an eternal contract between the ,father and the ,son3 8,i have made a covenant with my chosen1 and ,i have sworn unto ,david my servant20 now ,david was a type of ,,christ1 with whom the ,father made a covenant1 that if he would obey and suffer1 and make himself a sacrifice for sin1 he should 8see his seed1 he should prolong his days1 and the pleasure of the ,,lord should prosper in his hands40 ,this compact our ,,lord refers to1 in that glorious prayer recorded in the #agth chapter of ,john2 and therefore he prays for1 or rather demands with a full assurance1 all that were given to him by the ,father3 8,father1 ,i will that they also whom thou hast given me1 be with me where ,i am40 ,for this same reason the apostle breaks out into praises of ,,god1 even the ,father of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 for he loved the elect with an everlasting love1 or1 as our ,,lord expresses it1 8before the foundation of the world20 and therefore1 to shew them to whom they were beholden for their salvation1 our ,,lord1 in the #beth of ,matthew1 represents himself1 saying1 8,come1 ye blessed children of my ,father1 receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world40 ,and thus1 in reply to the mother of ,zebedee's children1 he says1 8,it is not mine to give1 but it shall be given to them1 for whom it is prepared1 of the ,father40 ,the apostle therefore1 when here speaking of the christian's privileges1 lest they should sacrifice to their own drag1 or think their salvation was owing to their own faithfulness1 or improvement of their own free-will1 reminds them to look back on the everlasting love of ,,god the ,father2 8who of ,,god is made unto us1 c40 ,would to ,,god1 this point of doctrine was considered more1 and people were more studious of the covenant of redemption between the ,father and the ,son6 we should not then have so much disputing against the doctrine of election1 or hear it condemned 7even by good men7 as a doctrine of devils4 ,for my own part1 ,i cannot see how true humbleness of mind can be attained without a knowledge of it2 and though ,i will not say1 that every one who denies election is a bad man1 yet ,i will say1 with that sweet singer1 ,mr4 ,trail1 it is a very bad sign3 such a one1 whoever he be1 ,i think cannot truly know himself3 for1 if we deny election1 we must1 partly at least1 glory in ourselves2 but our redemption is so ordered1 that no flesh should glory in the divine presence2 and hence it is1 that the pride of man opposes this doctrine1 because according to this doctrine1 and no other1 8he that glories1 must glory only in the ,,lord40 ,but what shall ,i say8 ,election is a mystery that shines with such resplendent brightness1 that1 to make use of the words of one who has drank deeply of electing love1 it dazzles the weak eyes even of some of ,,god's dear children2 however1 though they know it not1 all the blessings they receive1 all the privileges they do or will enjoy1 through ,,jesus ,,christ1 flow from the everlasting love of ,,god the ,father3 8,but of him are you in ,,christ ,,jesus1 who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption40 ,secondly1 ,i come to shew what these blessings are1 which are here1 through ,,christ1 made over to the elect4 ,and #a4 ,first1 ,,christ is made to them wisdom2 but wherein does true wisdom consist8 ,was ,i to ask some of you1 perhaps you would say1 in indulging the lust of the flesh1 and saying to your souls1 eat1 drink1 and be merry2 but this is only the wisdom of brutes2 they have as good a gust and relish for sensual pleasures1 as the greatest epicure on earth4 ,others would tell me1 true wisdom consisted in adding house to house1 and field to field1 and calling lands after their own names2 but this cannot be true wisdom2 for riches often take to themselves wings1 and fly away1 like an eagle towards heaven4 ,even wisdom itself assures us1 8that a man's life doth not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses20 vanity1 vanity1 all these things are vanity2 for1 if riches leave not the owner1 the owners must soon leave them2 8for rich men must also die1 and leave their riches for others20 their riches cannot procure them redemption from the grave1 whither we are all hastening apace4 ,but perhaps you despise riches and pleasure1 and therefore place wisdom in the knowledge of books3 but it is possible for you to tell the numbers of the stars1 and call them all by their names1 and yet be mere fools2 learned men are not always wise2 nay1 our common learning1 so much cried up1 makes men only so many accomplished fools2 to keep you therefore no longer in suspense1 and withal to humble you1 ,i will send you to an heathen to school1 to learn what true wisdom is3 8,know thyself10 was a saying of one of the wise men of ,greece2 this is certainly true wisdom1 and this is that wisdom spoken of in the text1 and which ,,jesus ,,christ is made to all elect sinners2 they are made to know themselves1 so as not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think4 ,before they were darkness1 now they are light in the ,,lord2 and in that light they see their own darkness2 they now bewail themselves as fallen creatures by nature1 dead in trespasses and sins1 sons and heirs of hell1 and children of wrath2 they now see that all their righteousnesses are but as filthy rags2 that there is no health in their souls2 that they are poor and miserable1 blind and naked2 and that there is no name given under heaven1 whereby they can be saved1 but that of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,they see the necessity of closing with a ,saviour2 and behold the wisdom of ,,god in appointing him to be a ,saviour2 they are also made willing to accept of salvation upon our ,,lord's own terms1 and to receive him as their all in all3 thus ,,christ is made to them wisdom4 #b4 ,secondly1 ,righteousness4 8,who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness20 ,,christ's whole personal righteousness is made over to1 and accounted theirs4 ,being enabled to lay hold on ,,christ by faith1 ,,god the ,father blots out their transgressions1 as with a thick cloud2 their sins1 and their iniquities he remembers no more2 they are made the righteousness of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 8who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,in one sense1 ,,god now sees no sin in them2 the whole covenant of works is fulfilled in them2 they are actually justified1 acquitted1 and looked upon as righteous in the sight of ,,god2 they are perfectly accepted in the beloved2 they are compleat in him2 the flaming sword of ,,god's wrath1 which before moved every way1 is now removed1 and free access given to the tree of life2 they are enabled to reach out the arm of faith1 and pluck1 and live for evermore4 ,hence it is that the apostle1 under a sense of this blessed privilege1 breaks out into this triumphant language2 8,it is ,,christ that justifies1 who is he that condemns80 ,does sin condemn8 ,,christ's righteousness delivers believers from the guilt of it3 ,,christ is their ,saviour1 and is become a propitiation for their sins3 who therefore shall lay any thing to the charge of ,,god's elect8 ,does the law condemn8 ,by having ,,christ's righteousness imputed to them1 they are dead to the law1 as a covenant of works2 ,,christ has fulfilled it for them1 and in their stead4 ,does death threaten them8 they need not fear3 the sting of death is sin1 the strength of sin is the law2 but ,,god has given them the victory1 by imputing to them the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,and what a privilege is here6 ,well might the angels at the birth of ,,christ1 say to the humble shepherds1 8,behold1 ,i bring you glad tidings of great joy20 unto you that believe in ,,christ1 8a ,saviour is born40 ,and well may angels rejoice at the conversion of poor sinners3 for the ,,lord is their righteousness2 they have peace with ,,god1 through faith in ,,christ's blood1 and shall never enter into condemnation4 ,o believers6 7for this discourse is intended in a special manner for you7 lift up your heads2 8,rejoice in the ,,lord always2 again ,i say1 rejoice40 ,,christ is made to you of ,,god righteousness1 what then should you fear8 you are made the righteousness of ,,god in him2 you may be called1 8,the ,,lord our righteousness40 ,of what then should you be afraid8 what shall separate you henceforward1 from the love of ,,christ8 8shall tribulation1 or distress1 or persecution1 or famine1 or nakedness1 or peril1 or sword8 ,no1 ,i am persuaded1 neither death1 nor life1 nor angels1 nor principalities1 nor powers1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 nor height1 nor depth1 nor any other creature1 shall be able to separate you from the love of ,,god1 which is in ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord10 who of ,,god is made unto you righteousness4 ,this is a glorious privilege1 but this is only the beginning of the happiness of believers3 ,for #c4 ,thirdly1 ,,christ is not only made to them righteousness1 but sanctification2 by sanctification1 ,i do not mean a bare hypocritical attendance on outward ordinances1 though rightly-informed christians will think it their duty and privilege constantly to attend on all outward ordinances4 ,nor do ,i mean by sanctification1 a bare outward reformation1 and a few transient convictions1 or a little legal sorrow2 for all this an unsanctified man may have2 but1 by sanctification1 ,i mean a total renovation of the whole man2 by the righteousness of ,,christ1 believers become legally1 by sanctification they are made spiritually1 alive2 by one they are entitled to1 by the other they are made meet for1 glory4 ,they are sanctified1 therefore1 throughout1 in spirit1 soul and body4 ,their understandings1 which were before dark1 now become light in the ,,lord2 and their wills1 before contrary to1 now become one with1 the will of ,,god3 their affections are now set on things above2 their memory is now filled with divine things2 their natural consciences are now enlightened2 their members1 which were before instruments of uncleanness1 and of iniquity unto iniquity1 are now instruments of righteousness and true holiness2 in short1 they are new creatures2 8old things are passed away1 all things are become new10 in their hearts2 sin has now no longer dominion over them2 they are freed from the power1 though not the indwelling and being1 of it2 they are holy both in heart and life1 in all manner of conversation2 they are made partakers of a divine nature2 and from ,,jesus ,,christ1 they receive grace for grace2 and every grace that is in ,,christ1 is copied and transcribed into their souls2 they are transformed into his likeness2 he is formed within them2 they dwell in him1 and he in them2 they are led by the ,spirit1 and bring forth the fruits thereof2 they know that ,,christ is their ,emmanuel1 ,,god with and in them2 they are living temples of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and therefore1 being a holy habitation unto the ,,lord1 the whole trinity dwells and walks in them2 even here1 they sit together with ,,christ in heavenly places1 and are vitally united to him1 their head1 by a living faith2 their ,redeemer1 their ,maker1 is their husband2 they are flesh of his flesh1 bone of his bone2 they talk1 they walk with him1 as a man talketh and walketh with his friend2 in short1 they are one with ,,christ1 even as ,,jesus ,,christ and the ,father are one4 ,thus is ,,christ made to believers sanctification4 ,and ,o what a privilege is this6 to be changed from beasts into saints1 and from a devilish1 to be made partakers of a divine nature2 to be translated from the kingdom of ,satan1 into the kingdom of ,,god's dear ,son6 to put off the old man1 which is corrupt1 and to put on the new man1 which is created after ,,god1 in righteousness and true holiness4 ,o what an unspeakable blessing is this6 ,i almost stand amazed at the contemplation thereof4 ,well might the apostle exhort believers to rejoice in the ,,lord2 indeed they have reason always to rejoice1 yea1 to rejoice on a dying bed2 for the kingdom of ,,god is in them2 they are changed from glory to glory1 even by the ,spirit of the ,,lord3 well may this be a mystery to the natural1 for it is a mystery even to the spiritual man himself1 a mystery which he cannot fathom4 ,does it not often dazzle your eyes1 ,o ye children of ,,god1 to look at your own brightness1 when the candle of the ,,lord shines out1 and your ,redeemer lifts up the light of his blessed countenance upon your souls8 ,are not you astonished1 when you feel the love of ,,god shed abroad in your hearts1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 and ,,god holds out the golden sceptre of his mercy1 and bids you ask what you will1 and it shall be given you8 ,does not that peace of ,,god1 which keeps and rules your hearts1 surpass the utmost limits of your understandings8 and is not the joy you feel unspeakable8 is it not full of glory8 ,i am persuaded it is2 and in your secret communion1 when the ,,lord's love flows in upon your souls1 you are as it were swallowed up in1 or1 to use the apostle's phrase1 8filled with all the fulness of ,,god40 ,are not you ready to cry out with ,solomon1 8,and will the ,,lord1 indeed1 dwell thus with men60 ,how is it that we should be thus thy sons and daughters1 ,o ,,lord ,,god ,almighty6 ,if you are children of ,,god1 and know what it is to have fellowship with the ,father and the ,son2 if you walk by faith1 and not by sight2 ,i am assured this is frequently the language of your hearts4 ,but look forward1 and see an unbounded prospect of eternal happiness lying before thee1 ,o believer6 what thou hast already received1 are only the first-fruits1 like the cluster of grapes brought out of the land of ,canaan2 only an earnest and pledge of yet infinitely better things to come3 the harvest is to follow2 thy grace is hereafter to be swallowed up in glory4 ,thy great ,joshua1 and merciful high ,priest1 shall administer an abundant entrance to thee into the land of promise1 that rest which awaits the children of ,,god3 ,for ,,christ is not only made to believers1 wisdom1 righteousness1 and sanctification1 but also redemption4 ,but1 before we enter upon the explanation and contemplation of this privilege1 ,first1 ,learn hence the great mistake of those writers1 and clergy1 who1 notwithstanding they talk of sanctification and inward holiness 7as indeed sometimes they do1 though in a very loose and superficial manner7 yet they generally make it the cause1 whereas they should consider it as the effect1 of our justification4 8,of him are ye in ,,christ ,,jesus1 who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 7and then7 sanctification40 ,for ,,christ's righteousness1 or that which ,,christ has done in our stead without us1 is the sole cause of our acceptance in the sight of ,,god1 and of all holiness wrought in us3 to this1 and not to the light within1 or any thing wrought within1 should poor sinners seek for justification in the sight of ,,god3 for the sake of ,,christ's righteousness alone1 and not any thing wrought in us1 does ,,god look favourably upon us2 our sanctification at best1 in this life1 is not compleat3 though we are delivered from the power1 we are not freed from the in-being of sin2 but not only the dominion1 but the in-being of sin1 is forbidden by the perfect law of ,,god3 for it is not said1 thou shalt not give way to lust1 but1 8thou shalt not lust40 ,so that whilst the principle of lust remains in the least degree in our hearts1 though we are otherwise never so holy1 yet we cannot1 on account of that1 hope for acceptance with ,,god4 ,we must first1 therefore1 look for a righteousness without us1 even the righteousness of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 for this reason the apostle mentions it1 and puts it before sanctification in the words of the text4 ,and whosoever teacheth any other doctrine1 doth not preach the truth as it is in ,,jesus4 ,secondly1 ,from hence also1 the ,antinomians and formal hypocrites may be confuted1 who talk of ,,christ without1 but know nothing1 experimentally1 of a work of sanctification wrought within them4 ,whatever they may pretend to1 since ,,christ is not in them1 the ,,lord is not their righteousness1 and they have no well-grounded hope of glory3 for though sanctification is not the cause1 yet it is the effect of our acceptance with ,,god2 8,who of ,,god is made unto us righteousness and sanctification40 ,he therefore1 that is really in ,,christ1 is a new creature2 it is not going back to a covenant of works1 to look into our hearts1 and1 seeing that they are changed and renewed1 from thence form a comfortable and well-grounded assurance of the safety of our states3 no1 but this is what we are directed to in scripture2 by our bringing forth the fruits1 we are to judge whether or no we ever did truly partake of the ,spirit of ,,god4 8,we know1 7says ,john7 that we are passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren40 ,and however we may talk of ,,christ's righteousness1 and exclaim against legal preachers2 yet1 if we are not holy in heart and life1 if we are not sanctified and renewed by the ,spirit in our minds1 we are self-deceivers1 we are only formal hypocrites3 for we must not put asunder what ,,god has joined together2 we must keep the medium between the two extremes2 not insist so much on the one hand upon ,,christ without1 as to exclude ,,christ within1 as an evidence of our being his1 and as a preparation for future happiness2 nor1 on the other hand1 so depend on inherent righteousness or holiness wrought in us1 as to exclude the righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ without us4 ,but #d4 ,fourthly1 ,let us now go on1 and take a view of the other link1 or rather the end1 of the believer's golden chain of privileges1 redemption4 ,but we must look very high2 for the top of it1 like ,jacob's ladder1 reaches heaven1 where all believers will ascend1 and be placed at the right-hand of ,,god4 8,who of ,,god is made unto us1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption40 ,this is a golden chain indeed6 and1 what is best of all1 not one link can ever be broken asunder from another4 ,was there no other text in the book of ,,god1 this single one sufficiently proves the final perseverance of true believers3 for never did ,,god yet justify a man1 whom he did not sanctify2 nor sanctify one1 whom he did not compleatly redeem and glorify2 no2 as for ,,god1 his way1 his work1 is perfect2 he always carried on and finished the work he begun2 thus it was in the first1 so it is in the new creation2 when ,,god says1 8,let there be light10 there is light1 that shines more and more unto the perfect day1 when believers enter into their eternal rest1 as ,,god entered into his4 ,those whom ,,god has justified1 he has in effect glorified3 for as a man's worthiness was not the cause of ,,god's giving him ,,christ's righteousness1 so neither shall his unworthiness be a cause of his taking it away2 ,,god's gifts and callings are without repentance2 and ,i cannot think1 they are clear in the notion of ,,christ's righteousness1 who deny the final perseverance of the saints2 ,i fear1 they understand justification in that low sense1 which ,i understood it in a few years ago1 as implying no more than remission of sins3 but it not only signifies remission of sins past1 but also a fderal right to all good things to come4 ,if ,,god has given us his only ,son1 how shall he not with him freely give us all things8 ,therefore1 the apostle1 after he says1 8,who of ,,god is made unto us righteousness10 does not say1 perhaps he may be made to us sanctification and redemption2 but1 8he is made30 for there is an eternal1 indissoluble connection between these blessed privileges4 ,as the obedience of ,,christ is imputed to believers1 so his perseverance in that obedience is to be imputed to them also3 and it argues great ignorance of the covenant of grace and redemption1 to object against it4 ,by the word redemption1 we are to understand1 not only a compleat deliverance from all evil1 but also a full enjoyment of all good both in body and soul3 ,i say1 both in body and soul2 for the ,,lord is also for the body2 the bodies of the saints in this life are temples of the ,holy ,ghost2 ,,god makes a covenant with the dust of believers2 after death1 though worms destroy them1 yet1 even in their flesh shall they see ,,god4 ,i fear1 indeed1 there are some ,sadducees in our days1 or at least heretics1 who say1 either1 that there is no resurrection of the body1 or that the resurrection is past already1 namely1 in our regeneration3 ,hence it is1 that our ,,lord's coming in the flesh1 at the day of judgment1 is denied2 and consequently1 we must throw aside the sacrament of the ,,lord's supper4 ,for why should we remember the ,,lord's death until he comes to judgment1 when he is already come to judge our hearts1 and will not come a second time8 but all this is only the reasoning of unlearned1 unstable men1 who certainly know not what they say1 nor whereof they affirm4 ,that we must follow our ,,lord in the regeneration1 be partakers of a new birth1 and that ,,christ must come into our hearts1 we freely confess2 and we hope1 when speaking of these things1 we speak no more than what we know and feel3 but then it is plain1 that ,,jesus ,,christ will come1 hereafter1 to judgment1 and that he ascended into heaven with the body which he had here on earth2 for says he1 after his resurrection1 8,handle me1 and see2 a spirit has not flesh and bones1 as you see me have40 ,and it is plain1 that ,,christ's resurrection was an earnest of ours3 for says the apostle1 8,,christ is risen from the dead1 and become the first-fruits of them that sleep20 and as in ,adam all die1 and are subject to mortality2 so all that are in ,,christ1 the second ,adam1 who represented believers as their fderal head1 shall certainly be made alive1 or rise again with their bodies at the last day4 ,here then1 ,o believers6 is one1 though the lowest1 degree of that redemption which you are to be partakers of hereafter2 ,i mean1 the redemption of your bodies3 for this corruptible must put on incorruption1 this mortal must put on immortality4 ,your bodies1 as well as souls1 were given to ,,jesus ,,christ by the ,father2 they have been companions in watching1 and fasting1 and praying3 your bodies therefore1 as well as souls1 shall ,,jesus ,,christ raise up at the last day4 ,fear not1 therefore1 ,o believers1 to look into the grave2 for to you it is no other than a consecrated dormitory1 where your bodies shall sleep quietly until the morning of the resurrection2 when the voice of the archangel shall sound1 and the trump of ,,god give the general alarm1 8,arise ye dead1 and come to judgment20 earth1 air1 fire1 water1 shall give up your scattered atoms1 and both in body and soul shall you be ever with the ,,lord4 ,i doubt not1 but many of you are groaning under crazy bodies1 and complain often that the mortal body weighs down the immortal soul2 at least this is my case2 but let us have a little patience1 and we shall be delivered from our earthly prisons2 ere long1 these tabernacles of clay shall be dissolved1 and we shall be clothed with our house which is from heaven2 hereafter1 our bodies shall be spiritualized1 and shall be so far from hindering our souls through weakness1 that they shall become strong2 so strong1 as to bear up under an exceeding and eternal weight of glory2 others again may have deformed bodies1 emaciated also with sickness1 and worn out with labour and age2 but wait a little1 until your blessed change by death comes2 then your bodies shall be renewed and made glorious1 like unto ,,christ's glorious body3 of which we may form some faint idea1 from the account given us of our ,,lord's transfiguration on the mount1 when it is said1 8,his raiment became bright and glistering1 and his face brighter than the sun40 ,well then may a believer break out in the apostle's triumphant language1 8,o death1 where is thy sting6 ,o grave1 where is thy victory60 ,but what is the redemption of the body1 in comparison of the redemption of the better part1 our souls8 ,i must1 therefore1 say to you believers1 as the angel said to ,john1 8,come up higher10 and let us take as clear a view as we can1 at such a distance1 of the redemption ,,christ has purchased for1 and will shortly put you in actual possession of4 ,already you are justified1 already you are sanctified1 and thereby freed from the guilt and dominion of sin3 but1 as ,i have observed1 the being and indwelling of sin yet remains in you2 ,,god sees it proper to leave some ,amalekites in the land1 to keep his ,israel in action4 ,the most perfect christian1 ,i am persuaded1 must agree1 according to one of our articles1 8,that the corruption of nature remains even in the regenerate2 that the flesh lusteth always against the spirit1 and the spirit against the flesh40 ,so that believers cannot do things for ,,god with that perfection they desire2 this grieves their righteous souls day by day1 and1 with the holy apostle1 makes them cry out1 8,who shall deliver us from the body of this death60 ,i thank ,,god1 our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ will1 but not compleatly before the day of our dissolution2 then will the very being of sin be destroyed1 and an eternal stop put to inbred1 indwelling corruption4 ,and is not this a great redemption8 ,i am sure believers esteem it so3 for there is nothing grieves the heart of a child of ,,god so much1 as the remains of indwelling sin4 ,again1 believers are often in heaviness through manifold temptations2 ,,god sees that it is needful and good for them so to be2 and though they may be highly favoured1 and wrapt up in communion with ,,god1 even to the third heavens2 yet a messenger of ,satan is often sent to buffet them1 lest they should be puffed up with the abundance of revelations4 ,but be not weary1 be not faint in your minds3 the time of your compleat redemption draweth nigh4 ,in heaven the wicked one shall cease from troubling you1 and your weary souls shall enjoy an everlasting rest2 his fiery darts cannot reach those blissful regions3 ,satan will never come any more to appear with1 disturb1 or accuse the sons of ,,god1 when once the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ shuts the door4 ,your righteous souls are now grieved1 day by day1 at the ungodly conversation of the wicked2 tares now grow up among the wheat2 wolves come in sheeps clothing3 but the redemption spoken of in the text1 will free your souls from all anxiety on these accounts2 hereafter you shall enjoy a perfect communion of saints2 nothing that is unholy or unsanctified shall enter into the ,holy of holies1 which is prepared for you above3 this1 and all manner of evil whatsoever1 you shall be delivered from1 when your redemption is hereafter made compleat in heaven2 not only so1 but you shall enter into the full enjoyment of all good4 ,it is true1 all saints will not have the same degree of happiness1 but all will be as happy as their hearts can desire4 ,believers1 you shall judge the evil1 and familiarly converse with good1 angels3 you shall sit down with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 and all the spirits of just men made perfect2 and1 to sum up all your happiness in one word1 you shall see ,,god the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 and1 by seeing ,,god1 be more and more like unto him1 and pass from glory to glory1 even to all eternity4 ,but ,i must stop3 the glories of the upper world croud in so fast upon my soul1 that ,i am lost in the contemplation of them4 ,brethren1 the redemption spoken of is unutterable2 we cannot here find it out2 eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 nor has it entered into the hearts of the most holy men living1 to conceive how great it is4 ,was ,i to entertain you whole ages with an account of it1 when you come to heaven1 you must say1 with the ,queen of ,sheba1 8,not half1 no1 not one thousandth part was told us40 ,all we can do here1 is to go upon mount ,pisgah1 and by the eye of faith1 take a distant view of the promised land3 ,we may see it1 as ,abraham did ,,christ1 afar off1 and rejoice in it2 but here we only know in part4 ,blessed be ,,god1 there is a time coming1 when we shall know ,,god1 even as we are known1 and ,,god be all in all4 ,,lord ,,jesus1 accomplish the number of thine elect6 ,,lord ,,jesus1 hasten thy kingdom6 ,and now1 where are the scoffers of these last days1 who count the lives of christians to be madness1 and their end to be without honour8 ,unhappy men6 you know not what you do4 ,were your eyes open1 and had you senses to discern spiritual things1 you would not speak all manner of evil against the children of ,,god1 but you would esteem them as the excellent ones of the earth1 and envy their happiness3 your souls would hunger and thirst after it3 you also would become fools for ,,christ's sake4 ,you boast of wisdom2 so did the philosophers of ,corinth3 but your wisdom is the foolishness of folly in the sight of ,,god4 ,what will your wisdom avail you1 if it does not make you wise unto salvation8 ,can you1 with all your wisdom1 propose a more consistent scheme to build your hopes of salvation on1 than what has been now laid before you8 ,can you1 with all the strength of natural reason1 find out a better way of acceptance with ,,god1 than by the righteousness of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,is it right to think your own works can in any measure deserve or procure it8 ,if not1 ,why will you not believe in him8 ,why will you not submit to his righteousness8 ,can you deny that you are fallen creatures8 ,do not you find that you are full of disorders1 and that these disorders make you unhappy8 ,do not you find that you cannot change your own hearts8 ,have you not resolved many and many a time1 and have not your corruptions yet dominion over you8 ,are you not bond-slaves to your lusts1 and led captive by the devil at his will8 ,why then will you not come to ,,christ for sanctification8 ,do you not desire to die the death of the righteous1 and that your future state may be like theirs8 ,i am persuaded you cannot bear the thoughts of being annihilated1 much less of being miserable for ever4 ,whatever you may pretend1 if you speak truth1 you must confess1 that conscience breaks in upon you in your more sober intervals whether you will or not1 and even constrains you to believe1 that hell is no painted fire4 ,and why then will you not come to ,,christ8 ,he alone can procure you everlasting redemption4 ,haste1 haste away to him1 poor beguiled sinners4 ,you lack wisdom2 ask it of ,,christ4 ,who knows but he may give it you8 ,he is able3 for he is the wisdom of the ,father2 he is that wisdom which was from everlasting4 ,you have no righteousness2 away1 therefore1 to ,,christ3 8,he is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,you are unholy2 flee to the ,,lord ,,jesus3 ,he is full of grace and truth2 and of his fulness all may receive that believe in him4 ,you are afraid to die2 let this drive you to ,,christ3 ,he has the keys of death and hell2 in him is plenteous redemption2 he alone can open the door which leads to everlasting life4 ,let not1 therefore1 the deceived reasoner boast any longer of his pretended reason4 ,whatever you may think1 it is the most unreasonable thing in the world1 not to believe on ,,jesus ,,christ1 whom ,,god hath sent4 ,why1 why will you die8 why will you not come unto him1 that you may have life8 8,ho6 every one that thirsteth1 come unto the waters of life and drink freely3 come1 buy without money and without price40 ,were these blessed privileges in the text to be purchased with money1 you might say1 ,we are poor1 and cannot buy3 or1 were they to be conferred only on sinners of such a rank or degree1 then you might say1 ,how can such sinners as we expect to be so highly favoured8 ,but they are to be freely given of ,,god to the worst of sinners4 8,to us10 says the ,apostle2 to me a persecutor1 to you ,corinthians1 who were 8unclean1 drunkards1 covetous persons1 idolaters40 ,therefore1 each poor sinner may say then1 ,why not unto me8 ,has ,,christ but one blessing8 ,what if he has blessed millions already1 by turning them away from their iniquities2 yet1 he still continues the same3 he lives for ever to make intercession1 and therefore will bless you1 even you also4 ,though1 ,esau like1 you have been prophane1 and hitherto despised your heavenly ,father's birth-right2 even now1 if you believe1 8,,christ will be made to you of ,,god1 wisdom1 righteousness1 sanctification1 and redemption40 ,but ,i must turn again to believers1 for whose instruction1 as ,i observed before1 this discourse was particularly intended4 ,you see1 brethren1 partakers of the heavenly calling1 what great blessings are treasured up for you in ,,jesus ,,christ your head1 and what you are entitled to by believing on his name4 ,take heed1 therefore1 that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called4 ,think often how highly you are favoured2 and remember1 you have not chosen ,,christ1 but ,,christ hath chosen you4 ,put on 7as the elect of ,,god7 humbleness of mind1 and glory1 but let it be only in the ,,lord3 for you have nothing but what you have received of ,,god4 ,by nature ye were as foolish1 as legal1 as unholy1 and in as damnable a condition as others4 ,be pitiful1 therefore1 be courteous2 and1 as sanctification is a progressive work1 beware of thinking you have already attained4 ,let him that is holy1 be holy still2 knowing1 that he who is most pure in heart1 shall hereafter enjoy the clearest vision of ,,god4 ,let indwelling sin be your daily burden2 and not only bewail and lament1 but see that you subdue it daily by the power of divine grace2 and look up to ,,jesus continually to be the finisher1 as well as author of your faith4 ,build not on your own faithfulness1 but on ,,god's unchangeablness4 ,take heed of thinking you stand by the power of your own freewill4 ,the everlasting love of ,,god the ,father1 must be your only hope and consolation3 let this support you under all trials4 ,remember that ,,god's gifts and callings are without repentance2 that ,,christ having once loved you1 will love you to the end4 ,let this constrain you to obedience1 and make you long and look for that blessed time1 when he shall not only be your wisdom1 and righteousness1 and sanctification1 but also compleat and everlasting redemption4 ,glory be to ,,god in the highest6 ,,sermon ,,xlv4 ,the ,knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ the best ,knowledge4 #a ,,corinthians ii4 #b4 ,i determined not to know any thing among you1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified4 ,,the persons to whom these words were written1 were the members of the church of ,corinth2 who1 as appears by the foregoing chapter1 were not only divided into different sects1 by one saying1 8,i am of ,paul1 and another1 ,i am of ,apollos20 but also had many amongst them1 who were so full of the wisdom of this world1 and so wise in their own eyes1 that they set at nought the simplicity of the gospel1 and accounted the ,apostle's preaching foolishness4 ,never had the ,apostle more need of the wisdom of the serpent1 mingled with the innocency of the dove1 than now4 ,what is the sum of all his wisdom8 he tells them1 in the words of the text1 8,i determined not to know any thing amongst you1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,a resolution this1 worthy of the great ,st4 ,paul2 and no less worthy1 no less necessary for every minister1 and every disciple of ,,christ1 to make always1 even unto the end of the world4 ,in the following discourse1 ,i shall1 ,first1 ,explain what is meant by 8not knowing any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,secondly1 ,give some reasons why every christian should determine not to know any thing else4 ,and ,thirdly1 ,conclude with a general exhortation to put this determination into practice4 ,first1 ,i am to explain what is meant by 8not knowing any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,by ,,jesus ,,christ1 we are to understand the eternal ,son of ,,god4 ,he is called ,,jesus1 a ,saviour1 because he was to save us from the guilt and power of our sins2 and1 like ,joshua1 by whom he was remarkably typified1 to lead ,,god's spiritual ,israel through the wilderness of this world1 to the heavenly ,canaan1 the promised inheritance of the children of ,,god4 ,he is called ,christ1 which signifies anointed1 because he was anointed by the ,holy ,ghost at his baptism1 to be a prophet to instruct1 a priest to make an atonement for1 and a king to govern and protect his church4 ,and he was crucified1 or hung 7,o stupendous love67 till he was dead upon the cross1 that he might become a curse for us3 for it is written1 8,cursed is every man that hangeth upon a tree40 ,the foundation or first cause of his suffering1 was our fall in ,adam2 in whom1 as the living oracles of ,,god declare1 8,we all died20 his sin was imputed to us all4 ,it pleased ,,god1 after he had spoken the world into being1 to create man after his own divine image1 to breathe into him the breath of life1 and to place him as our representative in the garden of ,eden4 ,but he being left to his own free will1 did eat of the forbidden fruit1 notwithstanding ,,god had told him1 8,the day in which he eat thereof1 he should surely die20 and thereby he1 with his whole posterity1 in whose name he acted1 became liable to the wrath of ,,god1 and sunk into a spiritual death4 ,but behold the goodness1 as well as the severity of ,,god6 ,for no sooner had man been convicted as a sinner1 but lo6 a ,saviour is revealed to him1 under the character of the seed of the woman3 the merits of whose sacrifice were then immediately to take place1 and who should1 in the fulness of time1 by suffering death1 satisfy for the guilt we had contracted2 by obeying the whole moral law1 work out for us an everlasting righteousness2 and by becoming a principle of new life in us1 destroy the power of the devil1 and thereby restore us to a better state than that in which we were at first created4 ,this is the plain scriptural account of that mystery of godliness1 ,,god manifested in the flesh2 and to this our own hearts1 unless blinded by the god of this world1 cannot but yield an immediate assent4 ,for1 let us but search our own hearts1 and ask ourselves1 if we could create our own children1 whether or not we would not create them with a less mixture of good and evil1 than we find in ourselves8 ,supposing ,,god then only to have our goodness1 he could not1 at first1 make us so sinful1 so polluted as we are4 ,but supposing him to be as he is1 infinitely good1 or goodness itself1 then it is absolutely impossible that he should create any thing but what is like himself1 perfect1 entire1 lacking nothing4 ,man then could not come out of the hands of his ,maker1 so miserably blind and naked1 with such a mixture of the beast and devil1 as he finds now in himself1 but must have fallen from what he was2 and as it does not suit with the goodness and justness of ,,god1 to punish the whole race of mankind with these disorders merely for nothing2 and since men bring these disorders into the world with them2 it follows1 that as they could not sin themselves1 being yet unborn1 some other man's sin must have been imputed to them2 from whence1 as from a fountain1 all these evils flow4 ,i know this doctrine of our original sin1 or fall in ,adam1 is esteemed foolishness by the wise disputer of this world1 who will reply1 ,how does it suit the goodness of ,,god1 to impute one man's sin to an innocent posterity8 ,but has it not been proved to a demonstration1 that it is so8 ,and therefore1 supposing we cannot reconcile it to our shallow comprehensions1 that is no argument at all3 for if it appears that ,,god has done a thing1 we may be sure it is right1 whether we can see the reasons for it or not4 ,but this is entirely cleared up by what was said before1 that no sooner was the sin imputed1 but a ,,christ was revealed2 and this ,,christ1 this ,,god incarnate1 who was conceived by the ,holy ,ghost1 that he might be freed from the guilt of our original sin2 who was born of the ,virgin ,mary1 that he might be the seed of the woman only2 who suffered under ,pontius ,pilate1 a ,gentile governor1 to fulfil these prophecies1 which signified what death he should die3 ,this same ,,jesus1 who was crucified in weakness1 but raised in power1 is that divine person1 that ,emmanuel1 that ,,god with us1 whom we preach1 in whom ye believe1 and whom alone the ,apostle1 in the text1 was determined to know4 ,by which word know1 we are not to understand a bare historical knowledge2 for to know that ,,christ was crucified by his enemies at ,jerusalem1 in this manner only1 will do us no more service1 than to know that ,csar was butchered by his friends at ,rome2 but the word know1 means to know1 so as to approve of him2 as when ,,christ says1 8,verily1 ,i know you not20 ,i know you not1 so as to approve of you4 ,it signifies to know him1 so as to embrace him in all his offices2 to take him to be our prophet1 priest1 and king2 so as to give up ourselves wholly to be instructed1 saved1 and governed by him4 ,it implies an experimental knowledge of his crucifixion1 so as to feel the power of it1 and to be crucified unto the world1 as the ,apostle explains himself in the epistle to the ,philippians1 where he says1 8,i count all things but dung and dross1 that ,i might know him1 and the power of his resurrection40 ,this knowledge the ,apostle was so swallowed up in1 that he was determined not to know any thing else2 he was resolved to make that his only study1 the governing principle of his life1 the point and end in which all his thoughts1 words1 and actions1 should center4 ,secondly1 ,i pass on to give some reasons why every christian should1 with the ,apostle1 determine 8not to know any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,first1 ,without this1 our persons will not be accepted in the sight of ,,god4 8,this 7and consequently this only7 is life eternal1 to know thee1 the only true ,,god1 and ,,jesus ,,christ1 whom thou hast sent40 ,as also ,st4 ,peter says1 8,there is now no other name given under heaven1 whereby we can be saved1 but that of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,some1 indeed1 may please themselves in knowing the world1 others boast themselves in the knowledge of a multitude of languages2 but could we speak with the tongue of men and angels1 or did we know the number of the stars1 and could call them all by their names1 yet1 without this experimental knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified1 it would profit us nothing4 ,the former1 indeed1 may procure us a little honour1 which cometh of man2 but the latter only can render us acceptable in the sight of ,,god3 for1 if we are ignorant of ,,christ1 ,,god will be to us a consuming fire4 ,,christ is the way1 the truth1 and the life2 8,no one cometh to the ,father1 but through him20 8,he is the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world20 and none ever were1 or ever will be received up into glory1 but by an experimental application of his merits to their hearts4 ,we might as well think to rebuild the tower of ,babel1 or reach heaven with our hands1 as to imagine we could enter therein by any other door1 than that of the knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,other knowledge may make you wise in your own eyes1 and puff you up2 but this alone edifieth1 and maketh wise unto salvation4 ,as the meanest christian1 if he knows but this1 though he know nothing else1 will be accepted2 so the greatest master in ,israel1 the most letter-learned teacher1 without this1 will be rejected4 ,his philosophy is mere nonsense1 his wisdom mere foolishness in the sight of ,,god4 ,the author of the words now before us1 was a remarkable instance of this2 never1 perhaps1 was a greater scholar1 in all what the world calls fine learning1 than he3 for he was bred up at the feet of ,gamaliel1 and profited in the knowledge of books1 as well as in the ,jewish religion1 above many of his equals1 as appears by the language1 rhetoric1 and spirit of his writings2 and yet1 when he came to know what it was to be a christian1 8,he accounted all things but loss1 so he might win ,,christ40 ,and1 though he was now at ,corinth1 that seat of polite learning1 yet he was absolutely determined not to know any thing1 or to make nothing his study1 but what taught him to know ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified4 ,hence then1 appears the folly of those who spend their whole lives in heaping up other knowledge2 and1 instead of searching the scriptures1 which testify of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and are alone able to make them wise unto salvation1 disquiet themselves in a pursuit after the knowledge of such things1 as when known1 concern them no more1 than to know that a bird dropped a feather upon one of the ,pyrenean mountains4 ,hence it is1 that so many1 who profess themselves wise1 because they can dispute of the causes and effects1 the moral fitness and unfitness of things1 appear mere fools in the things of ,,god2 so that when you come to converse with them about the great work of redemption wrought out for us by ,,jesus ,,christ1 and of his being a propitiation for our sins1 a fulfiller of the covenant of works1 and a principle of new life to our souls1 they are quite ignorant of the whole matter2 and prove1 to a demonstration1 that1 with all their learning1 they know nothing yet1 as they ought to know4 ,but1 alas6 how must it surprize a man1 when the ,most ,high is about to take away his soul1 to think that he has passed for a wise man1 and a learned disputer in this world1 and yet is left destitute of that knowledge which alone can make him appear with boldness before the judgment-seat of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,how must it grieve him1 in a future state1 to see others1 whom he despised as illiterate men1 because they experimentally knew ,,christ1 and him crucified1 exalted to the right-hand of ,,god2 and himself1 with all his fine accomplishments1 because he knew every thing1 perhaps1 but ,,christ1 thrust down into hell8 ,well might the ,apostle1 in a holy triumph1 cry out1 8,where is the wise8 ,where is the scribe8 ,where is the disputer of this world80 ,for1 ,,god will then make foolish the wisdom of this world1 and bring to nought the wisdom of those who were so knowing in their own eyes4 ,i have made this digression from the main point before us1 not to condemn or decry human literature1 but to shew1 that it ought to be used only in subordination to divine2 and that a christian1 if the ,holy ,spirit guided the pen of the ,apostle1 when he wrote this epistle1 ought to study no books1 but such as lead him to a farther knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified4 ,and there is the more reason for this1 because of the great mischief the contrary practice has done to the church of ,,god3 for1 what was it but this learning1 or rather this ignorance1 that kept so many of the ,scribes and ,pharisees from the saving knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,and what is it1 but this human wisdom1 this science1 falsely so called1 that blinds the understanding1 and corrupts the hearts of so many modern unbelievers1 and makes them unwilling to submit to the righteousness which is of ,,god by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus8 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,without this knowledge our performances1 as well as persons1 will not be acceptable in the sight of ,,god4 8,through faith10 says the ,apostle1 that is1 through a lively faith in a ,mediator to come1 8,abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than ,cain40 ,and it is through a like faith1 or an experimental knowledge of the same divine ,mediator1 that our sacrifices of prayer1 praise1 and thanksgivings1 come up as an incense before the throne of grace4 ,two persons may go up to the temple to pray2 but he only will return home justified1 who1 in the language of our collects1 sincerely offers up his prayers through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,for it is this great atonement1 this all-sufficient sacrifice1 which alone can give us boldness to approach with our prayers to the ,holy of ,holies3 and he that presumes to go without this1 acts ,korah's crime over again2 offers unto ,,god strange fire1 and1 consequently1 will be rejected by him4 ,farther1 as our devotions to ,,god will not1 so neither1 without this knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ1 will our acts of charity to men be accepted by him4 ,for did we give all our goods to feed the poor1 and yet were destitute of this knowledge1 it would profit us nothing4 ,this our blessed ,,lord himself intimates in the xxvth of ,matthew1 where he tells those who had been rich in good works1 8,that inasmuch as they did it unto one of the least of his brethren1 they did it unto him40 ,from whence we may plainly infer1 that it is seeing ,,christ in his members1 and doing good to them out of an experimental knowledge of his love to us1 that alone will render our alms-deeds rewardable at the last day4 ,lastly1 ,as neither our acts of piety nor charity1 so neither will our civil nor moral actions be acceptable to ,,god1 without this experimental knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,our modern pretenders to reason1 indeed1 set up another principle to act from2 they talk1 ,i know not what1 ,of doing moral and civil duties of life1 from the moral fitness and unfitness of things4 ,but such men are blind1 however they may pretend to see2 and going thus about to establish their own righteousness1 are utterly ignorant of the righteousness which is of ,,god by faith in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,for though we grant that morality is a substantial part of christianity1 and that ,,christ came not to destroy1 or take off the moral law1 as a rule of action1 but to explain1 and so fulfil it2 yet we affirm1 that our moral and civil actions are now no farther acceptable in the sight of ,,god the ,father1 than as they proceed from the principle of a new nature1 and an experimental knowledge of1 or vital faith in his dear ,son4 ,the death of ,,jesus ,,christ has turned our whole lives into one continued sacrifice2 and whether we eat or drink1 whether we pray to ,,god1 or do any thing to man1 it must all be done out of a love for1 and knowledge of him who died and rose again1 to render all1 even our most ordinary deeds1 acceptable in the sight of ,,god4 ,if we live by this principle1 if ,,christ be the ,alpha and ,omega of all our actions1 then our least are acceptable sacrifices2 but if this principle be wanting1 our most pompous services avail nothing3 we are but spiritual idolaters2 we sacrifice to our own net2 we make an idol of ourselves1 by making ourselves1 and not ,,christ1 the end of our actions3 and1 therefore1 such actions are so far from being accepted by ,,god1 that1 according to the language of one of the ,articles of our ,church1 8,we doubt not but they have the nature of sin1 because they spring not from an experimental faith in1 and knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,were we not fallen creatures1 we might then act1 perhaps1 from other principles2 but since we are fallen from ,,god in ,adam1 and are restored again only by the obedience and death of ,,jesus ,,christ1 the face of things is entirely changed1 and all we think1 speak1 or do1 is only accepted in and through him4 ,justly1 therefore1 may ,i1 in the ,third and ,last place1 ,exhort you to put the ,apostle's resolution in practice1 and beseech you1 with him1 to determine1 8,not to know any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,i say1 determine2 for unless you sit down first1 and count the cost1 and from a well-grounded conviction of the excellency of this1 above all other knowledge whatsoever1 resolve to make this your chief study1 your only end1 your one thing needful1 every frivolous temptation will draw you aside from the pursuit after it4 ,your friends and carnal acquaintance1 and1 above all1 your grand adversary the devil1 will be persuading you to determine not to know any thing1 but how to lay up goods for many years1 and to get a knowledge and taste of the pomps and vanities of this wicked world2 but do you determine not to follow1 or be led by them2 and the more they persuade you to know other things1 the more do you 8determine not to know any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,for1 this knowledge never faileth2 but whether they be riches1 they shall fail2 whether they be pomps1 they shall cease2 whether they be vanities1 they shall fade away3 but the knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified1 abideth for ever4 ,whatever1 therefore1 you are ignorant of1 be not ignorant of this4 ,if you know ,,christ1 and him crucified1 you know enough to make you happy1 supposing you know nothing else2 and without this1 all your other knowledge cannot keep you from being everlastingly miserable4 ,value not then1 the contempt of friends1 which you must necessarily meet with upon your open profession to act according to this determination4 ,for your ,master1 whose you are1 was despised before you2 and all that will know nothing else but ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified1 must1 in some degree or other1 suffer persecution4 ,it is necessary that offences should come1 to try what is in our hearts1 and whether we will be faithful soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ or not4 ,dare ye then to confess our blessed ,master before men1 and to shine as lights in the world1 amidst a crooked and perverse generation8 ,let us not be content with following him afar off2 for then we shall1 as ,peter did1 soon deny him2 but let us be altogether christians1 and let our speech1 and all our actions declare to the world whose disciples we are1 and that we have indeed 8determined not to know any thing1 save ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified40 ,then1 well will it be with us1 and happy1 unspeakably happy shall we be1 even here2 and what is infinitely better1 when others that despised us1 shall be calling for the mountains to fall on them1 and the hills to cover them1 we shall be exalted to sit down on the right-hand of ,,god1 and shine as the sun in the firmament1 in the kingdom of our most adorable ,redeemer1 for ever and ever4 ,which ,,god of his ,infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xlvi4 ,of ,justification by ,,christ4 #a ,,corinthians vi4 #aa4 ,but ye are justified4 ,the whole verse is3 ,and such were some of you2 but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and by the ,spirit of our ,,god4 ,,it has been objected by some1 who dissent from1 nay1 ,i may add1 by others also1 who actually are friends to the present ecclesiastical establishment1 that the ministers of the ,church of ,england preach themselves1 and not ,,christ ,,jesus the ,,lord2 that they entertain their people with lectures of mere morality1 without declaring to them the glad tidings of salvation by ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,how well grounded such an objection may be1 is not my business to enquire3 ,all ,i shall say at present to the point is1 that whenever such a grand objection is urged against the whole body of the clergy in general1 every honest minister of ,,jesus ,,christ should do his utmost to cut off all manner of occasion1 from those who desire an occasion to take offence at us2 that so by hearing us continually sounding forth the word of truth1 and declaring with all boldness and assurance of faith1 8that there is no other name given under heaven1 whereby they can be saved1 but that of ,,jesus ,,christ10 they may be ashamed of this their same confident boasting against us4 ,it was an eye to this objection1 joined with the agreeableness and delightfulness of the subject 7for who can but delight to talk of that which the blessed angels desire to look into87 that induces me to discourse a little on that great and fundamental article of our faith2 namely1 our being freely justified by the precious blood of ,,jesus ,,christ4 8,but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and by the ,spirit of our ,,god40 ,the words beginning with the particle but1 have plainly a reference to something before2 it may not therefore be improper1 before ,i descend to particulars1 to consider the words as they stand in relation to the context4 ,the apostle1 in the verses immediately foregoing1 had been reckoning up many notorious sins1 drunkenness1 adultery1 fornication1 and such like1 the commission of which1 without a true and hearty repentance1 he tells the ,corinthians1 would entirely shut them out of the kingdom of ,,god4 ,but then1 lest they should1 on the one hand1 grow spiritually proud by seeing themselves differ from their unconverted brethren1 and therefore be tempted to set them at nought1 and say with the self-conceited hypocrite in the prophet1 8,come not nigh me1 for ,i am holier than thou20 or1 on the other hand1 by looking back on the multitude of their past offences1 should be apt to think their sins were too many and grievous to be forgiven3 he first1 in order to keep them humble1 reminds them of their sad state before conversion1 telling them in plain terms1 8such 7or as it might be read1 these things7 were some of you20 not only one1 but all that sad catalogue of vices ,i have been drawing up1 some of you were once guilty of2 but then1 at the same time1 to preserve them from despair1 behold he brings them glad tidings of great joy3 8,but ye are washed2 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and by the ,spirit of our ,,god40 ,the former part of this text1 our being sanctified1 ,i have in some measure treated of already2 ,i would now enlarge on our being freely justified by the precious obedience and death of ,,jesus ,,christ3 8,but ye are justified in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,from which words ,i shall consider three things2 ,first1 ,what is meant by the word justified4 ,secondly1 ,i shall endeavour to prove that all mankind in general1 and every individual person in particular1 stands in need of being justified4 ,thirdly1 ,that there is no possibility of obtaining this justification1 which we so much want1 but by the all-perfect obedience1 and precious death of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,first1 ,i am to consider what is meant by the word justified4 8,but ye are justified10 says the apostle2 which is1 as though he had said1 you have your sins forgiven1 and are looked upon by ,,god as though you never had offended him at all3 for that is the meaning of the word justified1 in almost all the passages of holy scripture where this word is mentioned4 ,thus1 when this same apostle writes to the ,romans1 he tells them1 that 8whom ,,god called1 those he also justified30 ,and that this word justified1 implies a blotting out of all our transgressions1 is manifest from what follows1 8them he also glorified10 which could not be if a justified person was not looked upon by ,,god1 as though he never had offended him at all4 ,and again1 speaking of ,abraham's faith1 he tells them1 that 8,abraham believed on ,him that justifies the ungodly10 who acquits and clears the ungodly man2 for it is a law-term1 and alludes to a judge acquitting an accused criminal of the thing laid to his charge4 ,which expression the apostle himself explains by a quotation out of the ,psalms3 8,blessed is the man to whom the ,,lord imputeth no sin40 ,from all which proofs1 and many others that might be urged1 it is evident1 that by being justified1 we are to understand1 being so acquitted in the sight of ,,god as to be looked upon as though we never had offended him at all4 ,and in this sense we are to understand that article1 which we profess to believe in our creed1 when each of us declare in his own person1 ,i believe the forgiveness of sins4 ,this leads me to the ,second thing proposed1 to prove that all mankind in general1 and every individual person in particular1 stands in need of being justified4 ,and indeed the apostle supposes this in the words of the text3 8,but ye are justified10 thereby implying that the ,corinthians 7and consequently all mankind1 there being no difference1 as will be shewn hereafter7 stood in need of being justified4 ,but not to rest in bare suppositions1 in my farther enlargement on this head1 ,i shall endeavour to prove1 that we all stand in need of being justified on account of the sin of our natures1 and the sin of our lives4 #a4 ,first1 ,i affirm that we all stand in need of being justified1 on account of the sin of our natures3 for we are all chargeable with original sin1 or the sin of our first parents4 ,which1 though a proposition that may be denied by a self-justifying infidel1 who 8will not come to ,,christ that he may have life20 yet can never be denied by any one who believes that ,st4 ,paul's epistles were written by divine inspiration2 where we are told1 that 8in ,adam all died20 that is1 ,adam's sin was imputed to all3 and lest we should forget to make a particular application1 it is added in another place1 8that there is none that doeth good 7that is1 by nature7 no1 not one3 ,that we are all gone out of the way1 7of original righteousness7 and are by nature the children of wrath40 ,and even ,david1 who was a man after ,,god's own heart1 and1 if any one could1 might surely plead an exemption from this universal corruption1 yet he confesses1 that 8he was shapen in iniquity1 and that in sin did his mother conceive him40 ,and1 to mention but one text more1 as immediately applicable to the present purpose1 ,st4 ,paul1 in his epistle to the ,romans1 says1 that 8,death came upon all men1 for the disobedience of one1 namely1 of ,adam1 even upon those1 7that is1 little children7 who had not sinned after the similitude of ,adam's transgression20 who had not been guilty of actual sin1 and therefore could not be punished with temporal death 7which came into the world1 as this same apostle elsewhere informs us1 only by sin7 had not the disobedience of our first parents been imputed to them4 ,so that what has been said in this point seems to be excellently summed up in that article of our church1 where she declares1 that 8,original sin standeth not in the following of ,adam1 but it is the fault and corruption of every man1 that naturally is engendered of the offspring of ,adam2 whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness1 and is of his own nature inclined to evil1 so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit2 and therefore in every person born into this world1 it deserveth ,,god's wrath and damnation40 ,i have been more particular in treating of this point1 because it is the very foundation of the christian religion3 ,for ,i am verily persuaded1 that it is nothing but a want of being well grounded in the doctrine of original sin1 and of the helpless1 nay1 ,i may say1 damnable condition1 each of us comes into the world in1 that makes so many infidels oppose1 and so many who call themselves christians1 so very lukewarm in their love and affections to ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,it is this1 and ,i could almost say1 this only1 that makes infidelity abound among us so much as it does4 ,for1 alas6 we are mistaken if we imagine that men now commence or continue infidels1 and set up corrupted reason in opposition to divine revelation merely for want of evidence1 7for ,i believe it might easily be proved1 that a modern unbeliever is the most credulous creature living27 no1 it is only for want of an humble mind1 of a sense of their original depravity1 and a willingness to own themselves so depraved1 that makes them so obstinately shut their eyes against the light of the glorious gospel of ,,christ4 ,whereas1 on the contrary1 were they but once pricked to the heart with a due and lively sense of their natural corruption and liableness to condemnation1 we should have them no more scoffing at divine revelation1 and looking on it as an idle tale2 but they would cry out with the trembling jaylor1 8,what shall ,i do to be saved80 ,it was an error in this fundamental point1 that made so many resist the evidence the ,son of ,,god himself gave of his divine mission1 when he tabernacled amongst us4 ,every word he spake1 every action he did1 every miracle he wrought1 proved that he came from ,,god4 ,and why then did so many harden their hearts1 and would not believe his report8 ,why1 he himself informs us1 8,they will not come unto me that they may have life30 ,they will obstinately stand out against those means ,,god had appointed for their salvation3 ,and ,st4 ,paul tells us1 8that if the gospel be hid1 it is hid to them that are lost2 in whom the ,,god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,,christ1 who is the image of ,,god1 should shine upon them40 #b ,corinthians iv4 #c1 #d4 ,if it be asked1 how it suits with the divine goodness1 to impute the guilt of one man's sin1 to an innocent posterity8 ,i should think it sufficient to make use of the apostle's words3 8,nay1 but ,o man1 who art thou that repliest against ,,god8 ,shall the thing formed say to him that formed it1 why hast thou made me thus80 ,but to come to a more direct reply3 ,persons would do well to consider that in the first covenant ,,god made with man1 ,adam acted as a public person1 as the common representative of all mankind1 and consequently we must stand or fall with him4 ,had he continued in his obedience1 and not eaten the forbidden fruit1 the benefits of that obedience would doubtless have been imputed to us3 ,but since he did not persist in it1 but broke the covenant made with him1 and us in him2 who dares charge the righteous ,judge of all the earth with injustice for imputing that to us also8 ,i proceed1 ,secondly1 ,to prove that we stand in need of being justified1 on account of the sin of our lives4 ,that ,,god1 as he made man1 has a right to demand his obedience1 ,i suppose is a truth no one will deny3 that he hath also given us both a natural and a written law1 whereby we are to be judged1 cannot be questioned by any one who believes ,st4 ,paul's epistle to the ,romans to be of divine authority3 ,for in it we are told of a law written in the heart1 and a law given by ,moses2 and that each of us hath broken these laws1 is too evident from our sad and frequent experience4 ,accordingly the holy scriptures inform us that 8there is no man which liveth and sinneth not20 that 8in many things we offend all20 that 8if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves10 and such like4 ,and if we are thus offenders against ,,god1 it follows1 that we stand in need of forgiveness for thus offending ,him2 unless we suppose ,,god to enact laws1 and at the same time not care whether they are obeyed or no2 which is as absurd as to suppose that a prince should establish laws for the proper government of his country1 and yet let every violator of them come off with impunity4 ,but ,,god has not dealt so foolishly with his creatures3 no1 as he gave us a law1 he demands our obedience to that law1 and has obliged us universally and perseveringly to obey it1 under no less a penalty than incurring his curse and eternal death for every breach of it3 ,for thus speaks the scripture2 8,cursed is he that continueth not in all things that are written in the law to do them20 as the scripture also speaketh in another place1 8,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die40 ,now it has already been proved1 that we have all of us sinned2 and therefore1 unless some means can be found to satisfy ,,god's justice1 we must perish eternally4 ,let us then stand a while1 and see in what a deplorable condition each of us comes into the world1 and still continues1 till we are translated into a state of grace4 ,for surely nothing can well be supposed more deplorable1 than to be born under the curse of ,,god2 to be charged with original guilt2 and not only so1 but to be convicted as actual breakers of ,,god's law1 the least breach of which justly deserves eternal damnation4 ,surely this can be but a melancholy prospect to view ourselves in1 and must put us upon contriving some means whereby we may satisfy and appease our offended judge4 ,but what must those means be8 ,shall we repent8 ,alas6 there is not one word of repentance mentioned in the first covenant3 8,the day that thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die40 ,so that1 if ,,god be true1 unless there be some way found out to satisfy divine justice1 we must perish2 and there is no room left for us to expect a change of mind in ,,god1 though we should seek it with tears4 ,well then1 if repentance will not do1 shall we plead the law of works8 ,alas6 8,by the law shall no man living be justified3 for by the law comes the knowledge of ,sin40 ,it is that which convicts and condemns1 and therefore can by no means justify us2 and 8all our righteousnesses 7says the prophet7 are but as filthy rags40 ,wherewith then shall we come before the ,,lord1 and bow down before the most high ,,god8 ,shall we come before ,him with calves of a year old1 with thousands of rams1 or ten thousands of rivers of oil8 ,alas6 ,,god has shewed thee1 ,o man1 that this will not avail3 ,for he hath declared1 8,i will take no bullock out of thy house1 nor he-goat out of thy fold3 for all the beasts of the forests are mine1 and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills40 ,will the ,,lord then be pleased to accept our first-born for our transgression1 the fruit of our bodies for the sin of our souls8 ,even this will not purchase our pardon3 for he hath declared that 8the children shall not bear the iniquities of their parents40 ,besides1 they are sinners1 and therefore1 being under the same condemnation1 equally stand in need of forgiveness with ourselves4 ,they are impure1 and will the ,,lord accept the blind and lame for sacrifice8 ,shall some angel then1 or archangel1 undertake to fulfill the covenant which we have broken1 and make atonement for us8 ,alas6 they are only creatures1 though creatures of the highest order2 and therefore are obliged to obey ,,god as well as we2 and after they have done all1 must say they have done no more than what was their duty to do4 ,and supposing it was possible for them to die1 yet how could the death of a finite creature satisfy an infinitely offended justice8 ,o wretched men that we are6 ,who shall deliver us8 ,i thank ,,god1 our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,which naturally leads me to the ,third thing proposed1 which was to endeavour to prove1 that there is no possibility of obtaining this justification1 which we so much want1 but by the all-perfect obedience and precious death of ,,jesus ,,christ1 8,but ye are justified in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,but this having been in some measure proved by what has been said under the foregoing head1 wherein ,i have shewn that neither our repentance1 righteousness1 nor sacrifice1 no not the obedience and death of angels themselves1 could possibly procure justification for us1 nothing remains for me to do under this head1 but to shew that ,,jesus ,,christ has procured it for us4 ,and here ,i shall still have recourse 8to the law and to the testimony40 ,for after all the most subtle disputations on either side1 nothing but the lively oracles of ,,god can give us any satisfaction in this momentous point3 it being such an inconceivable mystery1 that the eternal only-begotten ,son of ,,god should die for sinful man1 that we durst not have presumed so much as to have thought of it1 had not ,,god revealed it in his holy word4 ,it is true1 reason may shew us the wound1 but revelation only can lead us to the means of our cure4 ,and though the method ,,god has been pleased to take to make us happy1 may be to the infidel a stumbling-block1 and to the wise opiniator and disputer of this world1 foolishness2 yet wisdom1 that is1 the dispensation of our redemption1 will be justified1 approved of1 and submitted to1 by all her truly wise and holy children1 by every sincere and upright christian4 ,but to come more directly to the point before us4 ,two things1 as was before observed1 we wanted1 in order to be at peace with ,,god4 #a4 ,to be freed from the guilt of the sin of our nature4 #b4 ,from the sin of our lives4 ,and both these 7thanks be to ,,god for this unspeakable gift7 are secured to believers by the obedience and death of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,for what says the scripture8 #a4 ,as to the first1 it informs us1 that 8as by the disobedience of one man1 7or by one transgression1 namely1 that of ,adam7 many were made sinners2 so by the obedience of one1 ,,jesus ,,christ 7therein including his passive as well as active obedience7 many were made righteous40 ,and again1 8,as by the disobedience of one man1 judgment came upon all men unto condemnation20 or all men were condemned on having ,adam's sin imputed to them2 8so by the obedience of one1 that is1 ,,jesus ,,christ1 the free gift of pardon and peace came upon all men1 7all sorts of men7 unto justification of life40 ,i say all sorts of men2 for the apostle in this chapter is only drawing a parallel between the first and second ,adam in this respect1 that they acted both as representatives2 and as the posterity of ,adam had his sin imputed to them1 so those for whom ,,christ died1 and whose representative he is1 shall have his merits imputed to them also4 ,whoever run the parallel farther1 in order to prove universal redemption 7whatever arguments they may draw for the proof of it from other passages of scripture17 if they would draw one from this for that purpose1 ,i think they stretch their line of interpretation beyond the limits of scripture4 #b4 ,pardon for the sin of our lives was another thing1 which we wanted to have secured to us1 before we could be at peace with ,,god4 ,and this the holy scriptures inform us1 is abundantly done by the death of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the evangelical prophet foretold that the promised ,redeemer should be 8wounded for our transgressions1 and bruised for our iniquities2 that the chastisement of our peace should be upon him2 and that by his stripes we should be healed10 ,isaiah liii4 #f4 ,the angels at his birth said1 that he should 8save his people from their sins40 ,and ,st4 ,paul declares1 that 8this is a faithful saying1 and worthy of all acceptation1 that ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world to save sinners40 ,and here in the words of the text1 8,such 7or1 as ,i observed before1 these things7 were some of you2 but ye are washed1 c40 and again1 8,,jesus ,,christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,and1 to shew us that none but ,,jesus ,,christ can do all this1 the apostle ,st4 ,peter says1 8,neither is their salvation in any other2 for there is no other name under heaven given among men1 whereby we must be saved10 but the name of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,how ,,god will be pleased to deal with the ,gentiles1 who yet sit in darkness and under the shadow of death1 and upon whom the sun of righteousness never yet arose1 is not for us to enquire4 8,what have we to do to judge those that are without80 ,to ,,god's mercy let us recommend them1 and wait for a solution of this and every other difficult point1 till the great day of accounts1 when all ,,god's dispensations1 both of providence and grace1 will be fully cleared up by methods to us1 as yet unknown1 because unrevealed4 ,however1 this we know1 that the judge of all the earth will1 most assuredly1 do right4 ,but it is time for me to draw towards a conclusion4 ,i have now1 brethren1 by the blessing of ,,god1 discoursed on the words of the text in the method ,i proposed4 ,many useful inferences might be drawn from what has been delivered2 but as ,i have detained you1 ,i fear1 too long already1 permit me only to make a reflection or two on what has been said1 and ,i have done4 ,if then we are freely justified by the death and obedience of ,,jesus ,,christ1 let us here pause a while2 and as before we have reflected on the misery of a fallen1 let us now turn aside and see the happiness of the believing1 soul4 ,but alas6 how am ,i lost to think that ,,god the ,father1 when we were in a state of enmity and rebellion against ,him1 should notwithstanding yearn in his bowels towards us his fallen1 his apostate creatures3 ,and because nothing but an infinite ransom could satisfy an infinitely offended justice1 that should send his only and dear ,son ,,jesus ,,christ 7who is ,,god1 blessed for ever1 and who had lain in his bosom from all eternity7 to fulfil the covenant of works1 and die a cursed1 painful1 ignominious death1 for us and for our salvation6 who can avoid crying out1 at the consideration of this mystery of godliness4 8,oh the depth of the riches of ,,god's love0 to us his wretched1 miserable and undone creatures6 8,how unsearchable is his mercy1 and his ways past finding out60 ,now know we of a truth1 ,o ,,god1 that thou hast loved us1 8since thou hast not with-held thy ,son1 thine only ,son ,,jesus ,,christ10 from thus doing and dying for us4 ,but as we admire the ,father sending1 let us likewise humbly and thankfully adore the ,son coming1 when sent to die for man4 ,but ,o6 what thoughts can conceive1 what words express the infinite greatness of that unparalleled love1 which engaged the ,son of ,,god to come down from the mansions of his ,father's glory to obey and die for sinful man6 ,the ,jews1 when he only shed a tear at poor ,lazarus's funeral1 said1 8,behold how he loved him40 ,how much more justly then may we cry out1 ,behold how he loved us6 ,when he not only fulfilled the whole moral law1 but did not spare to shed his own most precious blood for us4 ,and can any poor truly-convicted sinner1 after this1 despair of mercy8 ,what1 can they see their ,saviour hanging on a tree1 with arms stretched out ready to embrace them1 and yet1 on their truly believing on him1 doubt of finding acceptance with him8 ,no1 away with all such dishonourable1 desponding thoughts4 ,look on his hands1 bored with pins of iron2 look on his side1 pierced with a cruel spear1 to let loose the sluices of his blood1 and open a fountain for sin1 and for all uncleanness2 and then despair of mercy if you can6 ,no1 only believe in ,him1 and then1 though you have crucified him afresh1 yet will he abundantly pardon you2 8though your sins be as scarlet1 yet shall they be as wool2 though deeper than crimson1 yet shall they be whiter than snow40 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,xlvii4 ,the great ,duty of ,charity recommended4 #a ,,corinthians xiii4 #h4 ,charity never faileth4 ,,nothing is more valuable and commendable1 and yet1 not one duty is less practised1 than that of charity4 ,we often pretend concern and pity for the misery and distress of our fellow-creatures1 but yet we seldom commiserate their condition so much as to relieve them according to our abilities2 but unless we assist them with what they may stand in need of1 for the body1 as well as for the soul1 all our wishes are no more than words of no value or regard1 and are not to be esteemed or regarded3 for when we hear of any deplorable circumstance1 in which our fellow-creatures are involved1 be they friends or enemies2 it is our duty1 as christians1 to assist them to the utmost of our power4 ,indeed1 we are not1 my brethren1 to hurt ourselves or our families2 this is not that charity which is so much recommended by ,st4 ,paul2 no1 but if we are any ways capable of relieving them without injuring either ourselves1 or families1 then it is our duty to do it2 and this never faileth1 where it proceeds from a right end1 and with a right view4 ,st4 ,paul had been shewing1 in the preceding chapter1 that spiritual gifts were divers2 that ,,god had disposed of one blessing to one1 and another to another2 and though there was a diversity of blessings1 ,,god did not bestow them to one person1 but gave to one a blessing which he denied to another1 and gave a blessing1 or a gift to the other which might make him as eminent in one way1 as the other's gift made him so in another3 but though there are these divers spiritual gifts1 they are all given for some wise end1 even to profit withal1 and to that end they are thus diversly bestowed4 ,we are not1 on the one hand1 to hide those gifts which ,,god has given us3 neither are we1 on the other1 to be so lavish of them1 as to spend them upon our lusts and pleasures1 to satisfy our sensual appetites1 but they are to be used for the glory of ,,god1 and the good of immortal souls4 ,after he had particularly illustrated this1 he comes to shew1 that all gifts1 however great they may be in themselves1 are of no value unless we have charity1 as you may see particularly1 by considering from the beginning of this chapter4 ,but before ,i go any further1 ,i shall inform you what the apostle means by charity2 and that is1 ,,love2 if there is true love1 there will be charity2 there will be an endeavour to assist1 help1 and relieve according to that ability wherewith ,,god has blessed us3 and1 since this is so much recommended by the apostle1 let us see how valuable this charity is1 and how commendable in all those who pursue it4 ,i shall1 ,i4 ,consider this blessing as relating to the bodies of men4 ,,ii4 ,i shall shew how much more valuable it is1 when relating to the souls of men4 ,,iii4 ,shall shew you when your charity is of the right kind4 ,,iv4 ,why this charity1 or the grace of love1 never faileth4 ,v4 ,shall conclude all1 with an exhortation to high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to be found in the constant practice of this valuable and commendable duty4 ,first1 ,i shall consider this duty1 as relating to the bodies of men4 ,and1 #a4 ,o that the rich would consider how praise-worthy this duty is1 in helping their fellow-creatures6 ,we were created to be a help to each other2 ,,god has made no one so independent as not to need the assistance of another2 the richest and most powerful man upon the face of this earth1 needs the help and assistance of those who are around him2 and though he may be great to-day1 a thousand accidents may make him as low to-morrow2 he that is rolling in plenty to-day1 may be in as much scarcity to-morrow4 ,if our rich men would be more charitable to their poor friends and neighbours1 it would be a means of recommending them to the favour of others1 if ,providence should frown upon them2 but alas1 our great men had much rather spend their money in a playhouse1 at a ball1 an assembly1 or a masquerade1 than relieve a poor distressed servant of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,they had rather spend their estates on their hawks and hounds1 on their whores1 and earthly1 sensual1 devilish pleasures1 than comfort1 nourish1 or relieve one of their distressed fellow-creatures4 ,what difference is there between the king on the throne1 and the beggar on the dunghill1 when ,,god demands their breaths8 ,there is no difference2 my brethren1 in the grave1 nor will there be any at the day of judgment4 ,you will not be excused because you have had a great estate1 a fine house1 and lived in all the pleasures that earth could afford you2 no1 these things will be one means of your condemnation2 neither will you be judged according to the largeness of your estate1 but according to the use you have made of it4 ,now1 you may think nothing but of your pleasures and delights1 of living in ease and plenty1 and never consider how many thousands of your fellow-creatures would rejoice at what you are making waste of1 and setting no account by4 ,let me beseech you1 my rich brethren1 to consider the poor of the world1 and how commendable and praise-worthy it is to relieve those who are distressed4 ,consider1 how pleasing this is to ,,god1 how delightful it is to man1 and how many prayers you will have put up for your welfare1 by those persons whom you relieve2 and let this be a consideration to spare a little out of the abundance wherewith ,,god has blessed you1 or the relief of his poor4 ,he could have placed you in their low condition1 and they in your high state2 it is only his good pleasure that has thus made the difference1 and shall not this make you remember your distressed fellow-creatures8 ,let me beseech you to consider1 which will stand you best at the day of judgment1 so much money expended at a horse-race1 at a cockpit1 at a play or masquerade1 or so much given for the relief of your fellow-creatures1 and for the distressed members of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i beseech you1 that you would consider how valuable and commendable this duty is3 do not be angry at my thus exhorting you to that duty1 which is so much recommended by ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 and by all his apostles3 ,i speak particularly to you1 my rich brethren1 to intreat you to consider those that are poor in this world1 and help them from time to time1 as their necessity calls for it4 ,consider1 that there is a curse denounced against the riches of those1 who do not thus do good with them2 namely1 8,go to now you rich men1 weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you2 your riches are corrupted1 your garments are moth-eaten1 your gold and silver is cankered1 and the rust of them shall be a witness against you1 and shall eat your flesh1 as it were fire2 ye have heaped your treasure together for the last day40 ,you see the dreadful woe pronounced against all those who hoard up the abundance of the things of this life1 without relieving the distresses of those who are in want thereof3 and the apostle ,james goes on also to speak against those who have acquired estates by fraud1 as too many have in these days4 8,behold the hire of the labourers1 which have reaped down your fields1 which is by you kept back by fraud1 crieth2 and the cries of them who have reaped1 are entered into the ears of the ,,lord ,,god of ,sabbaoth4 ,ye have lived in pleasure on the earth1 and been wanton2 ye have nourished your hearts1 as in a day of slaughter40 ,thus1 if you go on to live after the lust of the flesh1 to pamper your bellies1 and make them a ,god1 while the poor all round you are starving1 ,,god will make these things a witness against you1 which shall be as a worm to your souls1 and gnaw your consciences to all eternity2 therefore1 let me once more recommend charity unto the bodies of men1 and beseech you to remember what the blessed ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ has promised unto those who thus love his members1 that 8as they have done it to the least of his members1 they have done it unto him40 ,i am not now speaking for myself2 ,i am not recommending my little flock in ,georgia to you2 then you might say1 as many wantonly do1 that ,i wanted the money for myself2 no1 my brethren1 ,i am now recommending the poor of this land to you1 your poor neighbours1 poor friends1 yea1 your poor enemies2 they are whom ,i am now speaking for2 and when ,i see so many starving in the streets1 and almost naked1 my bowels are moved with pity and concern1 to consider1 that many in whose power it is1 to lend their assisting hand1 should shut up their bowels of compassion1 and will not relieve their fellow-creatures1 though in the most deplorable condition for the want thereof4 ,as ,i have thus recommended charity particularly to the rich among you2 so now ,i would1 #b4 ,secondly1 ,recommend this to another set of people among us1 who1 instead of being the most forward in acts of charity1 are commonly the most backward2 ,i mean the clergy of this land4 ,good ,,god6 how amazing is the consideration1 that those1 whom ,,god has called out to labour in spiritual things1 should be so backward in this duty1 as fatal experience teacheth4 ,our clergy 7that is the generality thereof7 are only seeking after preferment1 running up and down1 to obtain one benefice after another2 and to heap up an estate1 either to spend on the pleasures of life1 or to gratify their sensual appetites1 while the poor of their flock are forgotten2 nay1 worse1 they are scorned1 hated1 and disdained4 ,i am not now1 my brethren1 speaking of all the clergy2 no1 blessed be ,,god1 there are some among them1 who abhor such proceedings1 and are willing to relieve the necessitous2 but ,,god knows1 these are but very few1 while many take no thought of the poor among them4 ,they can visit the rich and the great1 but the poor they cannot bear in their sight2 they are forgetful1 wilfully forgetful of the poor members of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,they have gone out of the old paths1 and turned into a new polite way1 but which is not warranted in the word of ,,god3 they are sunk into a fine way of acting2 but as fine as it is1 it was not the practice of the apostles1 or of the christians in any age of the church3 for they visited and relieved the poor among them2 but how rare is this among us1 how seldom do we find charity in a clergyman8 ,it is with grief ,i speak these things1 but woful experience is a witness to the truth thereof3 and if all the clergy of this land were here1 ,i would tell them boldly1 that they did not keep in the ways of charity1 but were remiss in their duty2 instead of 8selling all and giving to the poor10 they will not sell any thing1 nor give at all to the poor4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,i would exhort you who are poor1 to be charitable to one another4 ,though you may not have money1 or the things of this life1 to bestow upon one another2 yet you may assist them1 by comforting1 and advising them not to be discouraged though they are low in the world2 or in sickness you may help them according as you have time or ability3 do not be unkind to one another3 do not grieve1 or vex1 or be angry with each other2 for this is giving the world an advantage over you4 ,and if ,,god stirs up any to relieve you1 do not make an ill use of what his providence1 by the hands of some christian1 hath bestowed upon you3 be always humble and wait on ,,god2 do not murmur or repine1 if you see any relieved and you are not2 still wait on the ,,lord1 and help one another1 according to your abilities1 from time to time4 ,having shewed you how valuable this is to the bodies of men1 ,i now proceed1 ,secondly1 ,to shew you how much more valuable this charity is1 when it extends to the souls of men4 ,and is not the soul more valuable than the body8 ,it would be of no advantage1 but an infinite disadvantage1 to obtain all the world1 if we were to lose our souls4 ,the soul is of infinite value1 and of infinite concern1 and1 therefore1 we should extend our charity whenever we see it needful1 and likewise should reprove1 rebuke1 and exhort with all godliness and love4 ,we should1 my dear brethren1 use all means and opportunities for the salvation of our own souls1 and of the souls of others4 ,we may have a great deal of charity and concern for the bodies of our fellow-creatures1 when we have no thought1 or concern1 for their immortal souls3 ,but ,o how sad is it1 to have thought for a mortal1 but not for the immortal part2 to have charity for the body of our fellow-creatures1 while we have no concern for their immortal souls2 it may be1 we help them to ruin them1 but have no concern in the saving of them4 ,you may love to spend a merry evening1 to go to a play1 or a horse-race1 with them2 but on the other hand1 you cannot bear the thoughts of going to a sermon1 or a religious society1 with them2 no1 you would sing the songs of the drunkard1 but you will not sing hymns1 with them2 this is not polite enough1 this is unbecoming a gentleman of taste1 unfashionable1 and only practised among a parcel of enthusiasts and madmen4 ,thus1 you will be so uncharitable as to join hand in hand with those who are hastening to their own damnation1 while you will not be so charitable as to assist them in being brought from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,,god4 ,but this1 this1 my dear brethren1 is the greatest charity1 as can be1 to save a soul from death3 this is of far greater advantage1 than relieving the body of a fellow-creature3 for the most miserable object as could be1 death would deliver it from all4 ,but death1 to those who are not born again1 would be so far from being a release from all misery1 that it would be an inlet to all torment1 and that to all eternity4 ,therefore1 we should assist1 as much as possible1 to keep a soul from falling into the hands of ,satan3 for he is the grand enemy of souls4 ,how should this excite you to watch over your own and others souls8 for unless you are earnest with ,,god1 ,satan will be too hard for you4 ,surely1 it is the greatest charity to watch over one another's words and actions1 that we may forewarn each other when danger is nigh1 or when the enemy of souls approaches4 ,and if you have once known the value of your own souls1 and know what it is to be snatched as brands out of the burning fire1 you will be solicitous that others may be brought out of the same state4 ,it is not the leading of a moral life1 being honest1 and paying every man his just due2 this is not a proof of your being in a state of grace1 or of being born again1 and renewed in the spirit of your minds3 ,no1 you may die honest1 just1 charitable1 and yet not be in a state of salvation4 ,it is not the preaching of that morality1 which most of our pulpits now bring forth1 that is sufficient to bring you from sin unto ,,god4 ,i saw you willing to learn1 and yet were ignorant of the necessity of being born again1 regenerated1 of having all old things done away1 and all things becoming new in your souls3 ,i could not bear1 my brethren1 to see you in the highway to destruction1 and none to bring you back4 ,it was love to your souls1 it was a desire to see ,,christ formed in you1 which brought me into the fields1 the highways1 and hedges1 to preach unto you ,,jesus1 a crucified ,,jesus as dying for you4 ,it was charity1 indeed it was charity to your souls1 which has exposed me to the present ill treatment of my letter-learned brethren4 ,therefore1 let me advise you to be charitable to the souls of one another2 that is1 by advising them with all love and tenderness1 to follow after ,,christ1 and the things which belong to their immortal peace1 before they be for ever hid from their eyes4 ,i now proceed1 in the ,third place1 to shew when your charity is of the right kind4 ,and here1 my brethren1 ,i shall shew1 ,first1 ,when it is not2 and1 ,secondly1 ,when it is of the right kind4 #a4 ,first1 ,your charity is not of the right kind1 when it proceeds from worldly views or ends4 ,if it is to be seen of men1 to receive any advantage from them1 to be esteemed1 or to gain a reputation in the world2 or if you have any pride in it1 and expect to reap benefit from ,,god merely for it2 if all1 or each of these is the end of your charity1 then it is all in vain2 your charity does not proceed from a right end1 but you are hereby deceiving your own souls4 ,if you give an alms purely to be observed by man1 or as expecting favour from ,,god1 merely on the account thereof1 then you have not the glory of ,,god1 or the benefit of your fellow-creatures at heart1 but merely yourself3 this1 this is not charity4 ,nor1 ,secondly1 ,is that true charity1 when we give any thing to our fellow-creatures purely to indulge them in vice3 this is so far from being charity1 that it is a sin1 both against ,,god1 and against our fellow-creatures4 ,and yet1 this is as common1 as it is sinful1 to carry our friends1 under a specious pretence of charity1 to one or the other entertainment1 with no other view1 but to make them guilty of excess4 ,hereby you are guilty of a double sin3 we are not to sin ourselves1 much less should we endeavour to make another sin likewise4 ,but1 ,thirdly1 ,our charity comes from a right end1 when it proceeds from love to ,,god1 and for the welfare both of the body and soul of our fellow-creatures4 ,when this is the sole end of relieving our distressed fellow-creatures1 then our charity comes from a right end1 and we may expect to reap advantage by it3 this is the charity which is pleasing to ,,god4 ,,god is well pleased1 when all our actions proceed from love1 love to himself1 and love to immortal souls4 ,consider1 my dear brethren1 that it was love for souls1 that brought the blessed ,,jesus down from the bosom of his ,father2 that made him1 who was equal in power and glory1 to come and take upon him our nature2 that caused the ,,lord of life to die the painful1 ignominious1 and accursed death of the cross4 ,it was love to immortal souls1 that brought this blessed ,,jesus among us4 ,and ,o that we might hence consider how great the value of souls was and is3 it was that which made ,,jesus to bleed1 pant1 and die4 ,and surely souls must be of infinite worth1 which made the ,lamb of ,,god to die so shameful a death4 ,and shall not this make you have a true value for souls8 ,it is of the greatest worth3 and this1 this is the greatest charity1 when it comes from love to ,,god1 and from love to souls4 ,this will be a charity1 the satisfaction of which will last to all eternity4 ,o that this may make you have so much regard for the value of souls1 as not to neglect all opportunities for the doing of them good3 here is something worth having charity for1 because they remain to all eternity4 ,therefore1 let me earnestly beseech you both to consider the worth of immortal souls1 and let your charity extend to them1 that by your advice and admonition1 you may be an instrument1 in the hands of ,,god1 in bringing souls to the ,,lord ,,jesus4 ,i am in the next place to consider1 ,fourthly1 ,why this charity1 or grace of love never faileth4 ,and it never faileth in respect of its proceeding from an unchangeable ,,god4 ,we are not to understand1 that our charity is always the same3 ,no1 there may1 and frequently are1 ebbs and flowings2 but still it never totally faileth3 ,no1 the grace of love remaineth for ever4 ,there is1 and will be1 a charity to all who have erred and run astray from ,,god4 ,we cannot be easy to see souls in the highway to destruction1 and not use our utmost endeavour to bring them back from sin1 and shew them the dreadful consequence of running into evil4 ,christians cannot bear to see those souls for whom ,,christ died1 perish for want of knowledge3 and if they see any of the bodies of their fellow-creatures in want1 they will do the utmost in their power to relieve them4 ,charity will never fail1 among those who have a true love to the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and know the value of souls3 they will be charitable to those who are in distress4 ,and thus you see1 that true charity1 if it proceeds from a right end1 never faileth4 ,i now proceed1 my brethren1 in the ,last place1 to exhort all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to practice this valuable and commendable duty of charity4 ,it is not rolling in your coaches1 taking your pleasure1 and not considering the miseries of your fellow-creatures1 that is commendable or praise-worthy2 but the relieving your distressed poor fellow-creatures1 is valuable and praise-worthy wherever it is found4 ,but alas6 how very few of our gay and polite gentlemen consider their poor friends2 rather they despise1 and do not regard them4 ,they can indulge themselves in the follies of life1 and had much rather spend their estates in lusts and pleasures1 while the poor all round them are not thought worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock4 ,if you have an abundance of the things of this world1 then you are esteemed as companions for the polite and gay in life2 but if you are poor1 then you must not expect to find any favour1 but be hated1 or not thought fit for company or conversation3 and if you have an abundance of the things of this life1 and do not want any assistance1 then you have many ready to help you4 ,my dear brethren1 ,i do not doubt but your own experience is a proof of my assertions2 as also1 that if any come into distress1 then those1 who promised to give relief1 quite forget what they promise1 and will despise1 because ,providence has frowned4 ,but this is not acting like those who are bound for the heavenly ,jerusalem2 thus our hearts and our actions give our lips the lie3 for if we profess the name of ,,christ1 and do not depart from all iniquity1 we are not those1 who are worthy of being esteemed christians indeed4 ,for1 if we have not charity1 we are not christians3 charity is the great duty of christians3 and where is our christianity1 if we want charity8 ,therefore1 let me beseech you to exercise charity to your distressed fellow-creatures4 ,indeed1 my dear brethren1 this is truly commendable1 truly valuable2 and therefore1 ,i beseech you1 in the bowels of tender mercy to ,,christ1 to consider his poor distressed members2 exercise1 exercise1 ,i beseech you1 this charity3 if you have no compassion1 you are not true disciples of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,i humbly beg you to consider those who want relief1 and are really destitute1 and relieve them according to your abilities4 ,consider1 that the more favourable ,providence has been to you1 it should make you the more earnest and solicitous to relieve those whom you may find in distress3 it is of the utmost consequence1 what is well pleasing to your fellow-creatures1 and doing your duty to ,,god4 ,when you are called from hence1 then all riches and grandeur will be over2 the grave will make no distinction2 great estates will be of no signification in the other world2 and if you have made a bad use of the talent which ,,god hath put into your hands1 it will be only an aggravation of your condemnation at the great day of account1 when ,,god shall come to demand your souls1 and to call you to an account1 for the use to which you have put the abundance of the things of this life4 ,to conclude1 let me once more beseech each of you to act according to the circumstances of life1 which ,,god1 in his rich and free mercy1 has given you4 ,if you were sensible of the great consequences which would attend your acting in this charitable manner1 and considered it as a proof of your love to ,,god1 the loving his members2 you could not be uncharitable in your tempers1 nor fail to relieve any of your distressed fellow creatures4 ,consider how easy it is for many of you1 by putting your mites together1 to help one who is in distress2 and how can you tell1 but that the little you give1 may be the means of bringing one from distress into flourishing circumstances2 and then1 if there is a true spirit of a christian in them1 they can never be sufficiently thankful to ,,god the author1 and to you as the instrument1 in being so great a friend to them in their melancholy circumstances3 consider also1 once more1 how much better your account will be at the day of judgment1 and what peace of conscience you will enjoy4 ,how satisfactory must be the thought of having relieved the widow and the fatherless8 ,this is recommended by the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and has been practised in all ages of the church3 and therefore1 my brethren1 be ye now found in the practice of this duty4 ,i have been the larger upon this1 because our enemies say we deny all moral actions2 but1 blessed be ,,god1 they speak against us without cause3 we highly value them2 but we say1 that faith in ,,christ1 the love of ,,god1 and being born again1 are of infinite more worth2 but you cannot be true christians without having charity to your fellow-creatures1 be they friends or enemies1 if in distress4 ,and1 therefore1 exert yourselves in this duty1 as is commanded by the blessed ,,jesus3 and if you have true charity1 you shall live and reign with him for ever4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 ,,god the ,son1 and ,,god the ,holy ,ghost1 be all honour1 power1 glory1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 both now and for evermore4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xlviii4 ,satan's ,devices4 #b ,,corinthians ii4 #aa4 ,lest ,satan should get an advantage over us2 for we are not ignorant of his devices4 ,,the occasion of these words was as follows3 ,in the church of ,corinth there was an unhappy person1 who had committed such incest1 as was not so much as named among the ,gentiles1 in taking his father's wife2 but either on account of his wealth1 power1 or some such reasons1 like many notorious offenders now-adays1 he had not been exposed to the censures of the church4 ,st4 ,paul1 therefore1 in his first epistle1 severely chides them for this neglect of discipline1 and commands them1 8in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 when they were gathered together1 to deliver such a one1 whoever he was1 to ,satan1 for the destruction of the flesh1 that his ,spirit might be saved in the day of the ,,lord20 that is1 they should solemnly excommunicate him2 which was then commonly attended with some bodily disease4 ,the ,corinthians1 being obedient to the ,apostle1 as dear children1 no sooner received this reproof1 but they submitted to it1 and cast the offending party out of the church4 ,but whilst they were endeavouring to amend one fault1 they unhappily ran into another2 and as they formerly had been too mild and remiss1 so now they behaved towards him with too much severity and resentment4 ,the ,apostle1 therefore1 in this chapter1 reproves this1 and tells them1 that 8sufficient to the offender's shame1 was the punishment which had been inflicted of many30 that he had now suffered enough2 and that1 therefore1 lest he should be tempted to say with ,cain1 8,my punishment is greater than ,i can bear20 or to use the ,apostle's own words1 8,lest he should be swallowed up with over-much sorrow20 they ought1 now he had given proof of his repentance1 to forgive him1 to confirm their love towards him1 and so restore him in the spirit of meekness2 8,lest ,satan1 7to whose buffetings he was now given1 by tempting him to despair7 should get an advantage over us30 and so1 by representing you as merciless and cruel1 cause that holy name to be blasphemed1 by which you are called2 8for we are not ignorant of his devices30 we know very well how many subtle ways he has to draw aside and beguile unguarded unthinking men4 ,thus then1 stand the words in relation to the context2 but as ,satan has many devices1 and as his quiver is full of other poisonous darts1 besides those which he shoots at us to drive us to despair1 ,i shall1 in the following discourse1 ,first1 ,briefly observe who we are to understand by ,satan4 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,point out to you1 what are the chief devices he generally makes use of1 to draw off converts from ,,christ1 and also prescribe some remedies against them4 ,first1 ,who are we to understand by ,satan8 ,the word ,satan1 in its original signification1 means an adversary2 and in its general acceptation1 is made use of1 to point out to us the chief of the devils1 who1 for striving to be as ,,god1 was cast down from heaven1 and is now permitted1 8with the rest of his spiritual wickednesses in high places1 to walk up and down1 seeking whom he may devour40 ,we hear of him immediately after the creation1 when in the shape of a serpent1 he lay in wait to deceive our first parents4 ,he is called ,satan1 in the book of ,job1 where we are told1 that 8when the sons of ,,god came to present themselves before the ,,lord1 ,satan also came amongst them40 ,as the scripture also speaketh in the book of ,chronicles2 8and ,satan moved ,david to number the people40 ,in the ,new ,testament he goes under different denominations2 sometimes he is called the evil ,one1 because he is evil in himself1 and tempts us to evil4 ,sometimes1 8the ,prince of the power of the air20 and1 8the ,spirit that now ruleth in the children of disobedience20 because he resides chiefly in the air1 and through the whole world3 and all that are not born of ,,god1 are said to lie in him4 ,he is an enemy to ,,god and goodness2 he is a hater of all truth3 ,why else did he slander ,,god in paradise8 ,why did he tell ,eve1 8,you shall not surely die80 ,and why did he promise to give all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glories of them1 to ,,jesus ,,christ1 if he would fall down and worship him8 ,he is full of malice1 envy1 and revenge2 for what other motives could induce him to molest innocent man in paradise8 ,and why is he still so restless in his attempts to destroy us1 who have done him no wrong8 ,he is a being of great power1 as appears in his being able to act on the imagination of our blessed ,,lord1 so as to represent to him all the kingdoms of the world1 and the glories of them1 in a moment of time4 ,as also in carrying his sacred body through the air up to a pinacle of the temple2 and his driving a herd of swine so furiously into the deep4 ,nay1 so great is his might1 that1 ,i doubt not1 was ,,god to let him use his full strength1 but he could turn the earth upside down1 or pull the sun from its orb4 ,but what he is most remarkable for is1 his subtlety3 for not having power given him from above1 to take us by force1 he is obliged to wait for opportunities to betray us1 and to catch us by guile4 ,he1 therefore1 made use of the serpent1 which was subtle above all the beasts of the field1 in order to tempt our first parents2 and accordingly he is said1 in the ,new ,testament1 8,to lie in wait to deceive20 and1 in the words of the text1 the ,apostle says1 8,we are not ignorant of his devices20 thereby implying1 that we are more in danger of being seduced by his policy1 than over-borne by his power4 ,from this short description of ,satan1 we may easily judge whose children they are1 who love to make a lie1 who speak evil of1 and slander their neighbour1 and whose hearts are full of pride1 subtlety1 malice1 envy1 revenge1 and all uncharitableness4 ,surely they have ,satan for their father3 for the tempers of ,satan they know1 and the works of ,satan they do4 ,but were they to see either themselves1 or ,satan as he is1 they could not but be terrified at their own likeness1 and abhor themselves in dust and ashes4 ,but1 the justice of ,,god in suffering us to be tempted1 is vindicated from the following considerations3 ,that we are here in a state of disorder2 ,that he has promised not to suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear2 and not only so1 but to him that overcometh he will give a crown of life4 ,the holy angels themselves1 it should seem1 were once put to a trial whether they would be faithful or not4 ,the first ,adam was tempted1 even in paradise4 ,and ,,jesus ,,christ1 that second ,adam1 though he was a son1 yet was carried1 as our representative1 by the ,holy ,spirit1 into the wilderness1 to be tempted of the devil4 ,and there is not one single saint in paradise1 amongst the goodly fellowship of the prophets1 the glorious company of the apostles1 the noble army of martyrs1 and the spirits of just men made perfect1 who1 when on earth1 was not assaulted by the fiery darts of that wicked one1 the devil4 ,what then has been the common lot of all ,,god's children1 and of the angels1 nay1 of the eternal ,son of ,,god himself1 we must not think to be exempted from3 ,no1 it is sufficient if we are made perfect through temptations1 as they were4 ,and1 therefore1 since we cannot but be tempted1 unless we could unmake human nature1 instead of repining at our condition1 we should rather be enquiring1 at what time of our lives ,satan most violently assaults us8 ,and what those devices are1 which he commonly makes use of1 in order to 8get an advantage over us80 ,as to the first question1 what time of life8 ,i answer1 we must expect to be tempted by him1 in some degree or other1 all our lives long4,for this life being a continual warfare1 we must never expect to have rest from our spiritual adversary the devil1 or to say1 our combat with him is finished1 'till1 with our blessed master1 we bow down our heads1 and give up the ghost4 ,but since the time of our conversion1 or first entring upon the spiritual life1 is the most critical time at which he1 for the most part1 violently besets us1 as well knowing1 if he can prevent our setting out1 he can lead us captive at his will2 and since the wise son of ,sirach particularly warns us1 when we are going to serve the ,,lord1 to prepare our souls for temptation1 ,i shall1 in answer to the other question1 pass on to the ,second general thing proposed2 and point out those devices1 which ,satan generally makes use of at our first conversion1 in order to get an advantage over us4 ,but let me observe to you1 that whatsoever shall be delivered in the following discourse is only designed for such as have actually entered upon the divine life2 and not for carnal almost ,christians1 who have the form of godliness1 but never yet felt the power of it in their hearts4 ,this being premised1 ,the ,first device ,i shall mention1 which ,satan makes use of1 is1 to drive us to despair4 ,when ,,god the ,father awakens a sinner by the terrors of the law1 and by his ,holy ,spirit convinceth him of sin1 in order to lead him to ,,christ1 and shew him the necessity of a ,redeemer2 then ,satan generally strikes in1 and aggravates those convictions to such a degree1 as to make the sinner doubt of finding mercy thro' the ,mediator4 ,thus1 in all his temptations of the ,holy ,,jesus1 he chiefly aimed to make him question1 whether he was the ,son of ,,god8 8,if thou be the ,son of ,,god10 do so and so4 ,with many such desponding thoughts1 no doubt1 he filled the heart of the great ,st4 ,paul1 when he continued three days1 neither eating bread nor drinking water2 and therefore he speaks by experience1 when he says1 in the words of the text1 8,we are not ignorant of his devices10 that he would endeavour to drive the incestuous person to despair4 ,but let not any of you be influenced by him1 to despair of finding mercy4 ,for it is not the greatness or number of our crimes1 but impenitence and unbelief1 that will prove our ruin3 ,no1 were our sins more in number than the hairs of our head1 or of a deeper die than the brightest scarlet2 yet the merits of the death of ,,jesus ,,christ are infinitely greater1 and faith in his blood shall make them white as snow4 ,answer always1 therefore1 his despairing suggestions1 as your ,blessed ,,lord did1 with an 8,it is written40 ,tell him1 you know that your ,redeemer liveth1 ever to make intercession for you2 that the ,,lord hath received from him double for all your crimes3 ,and tho' you have sinned much1 that is no reason why you should despair1 but only why you should love much1 having so much forgiven4 ,a ,second device that ,satan generally makes use of1 to get an advantage over young converts1 is1 to tempt them to presume1 or to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think4 ,when a person has for some little time tasted the good word of life1 and felt the powers of the world to come1 he is commonly 7as indeed well he may7 most highly transported with that sudden change he finds in himself4 ,but then1 ,satan will not be wanting1 at such a time1 to puff him up with a high conceit of his own attainments1 as if he was some great person2 and will tempt him to set at nought his brethren1 as though he was holier than they4 ,take heed therefore1 and let us beware of this device of our spiritual adversary2 for as before honour is humility1 so a haughty spirit generally goes before a fall2 and ,,god is obliged1 when under such circumstances1 to send us some humbling visitation1 or permit us to fall1 as he did ,peter1 into some grievous sin1 that we may learn not to be too high minded4 ,to check therefore all suggestions to spiritual pride1 let us consider1 that we did not apprehend ,,christ1 but were apprehended of him4 ,that we have nothing but what we have received4 ,that the free grace of ,,god has alone made the difference between us and others2 and1 was ,,god to leave us to the deceitfulness of our own hearts but one moment1 we should become weak and wicked1 like other men4 ,we should farther consider1 that being proud of grace1 is the most ready way to lose it4 8,for ,,god resisteth the proud1 and giveth more grace only to the humble40 ,and were we endowed with the perfections of the seraphim2 yet if we were proud of those perfections1 they would but render us more accomplished devils4 ,above all1 we should pray earnestly to ,almighty ,,god1 that we may learn of ,,jesus ,,christ1 to be lowly in heart4 ,that his grace1 through the subtlety and deceivableness of ,satan1 may not be our poison4 ,but that we may always think soberly of ourselves1 as we ought to think4 ,a ,third device ,i shall mention1 which ,satan generally makes use of1 8to get an advantage over us10 is to tempt us to uneasiness1 and to have hard thoughts of ,,god1 when we are dead and barren in prayer4 ,though this is a term not understood by the natural man1 yet1 whosoever there are amongst you1 who have passed through the pangs of the new birth1 they know full well what ,i mean1 when ,i talk of deadness and dryness in prayer4 ,and1 ,i doubt not1 but many of you1 amongst whom ,i am now preaching the kingdom of ,,god1 are at this very time labouring under it4 ,for1 when persons are first awakened to the divine life1 because grace is weak and nature strong1 ,,god is often pleased to vouchsafe them some extraordinary illuminations of his ,holy ,spirit2 but when they are grown to be more perfect men in ,,christ1 then he frequently seems to leave them to themselves2 and not only so1 but permits a horrible deadness and dread to overwhelm them2 at which times ,satan will not be wanting to vex and tempt them to impatience1 to the great discomfort of their souls4 ,but be not afraid2 for this is no more than your blessed ,redeemer1 that ,spotless ,lamb of ,,god1 has undergone before you3 witness his bitter agony in the garden1 when his soul was exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death4 ,when he sweat great drops of blood1 falling on the ground2 when the sense of the ,divinity was drawn from him2 and ,satan1 in all probability1 was permitted to set all his terrors in array before him4 ,rejoice1 therefore1 my brethren1 when you fall into the like circumstances2 as knowing1 that you are therein partakers of the sufferings of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,consider1 that it is necessary such inward trials should come1 to wean us from the immoderate love of sensible devotion1 and teach us to follow ,,christ1 not merely for his loaves1 but out of a principle of love and obedience4 ,in patience1 therefore1 possess your souls1 and be not terrified by ,satan's suggestions4 ,still persevere in seeking ,,jesus in the use of means1 though it be sorrowing2 and though through barrenness of soul1 you may go mourning all the day long4 ,consider that the spouse is with you1 though behind the curtain2 as he was with ,mary1 at the sepulchre1 though she knew it not4 ,that he has withdrawn but for a little while1 to make his next visit more welcome4 ,that though he may now seem to frown and look back on you1 as he did on the ,syrophenician woman2 yet if you1 like her1 or blind ,bartimeus1 cry out so much the more earnestly1 8,,jesus1 thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on us20 he will be made known unto you again1 either in the temple1 by breaking of bread1 or some other way4 ,but amongst all the devices that ,satan makes use of1 8to get an advantage over us10 there is none in which he is more successful1 or by which he grieves the children of ,,god worse1 than a ,fourth device ,i am going to mention1 his troubling you with blasphemous1 profane1 unbelieving thoughts2 and sometimes to such a degree1 that they are as tormenting as the rack4 ,some indeed are apt to impute all such evil thoughts to a disorder of body4 ,but those who know any thing of the spiritual life1 can inform you1 with greater certainty1 that for the generality1 they proceed from that wicked one1 the devil2 who1 no doubt1 has power given him from above1 as well now as formerly1 to disorder the body1 as he did ,job's1 that he may1 with the more secrecy and success1 work upon1 ruffle and torment the soul4 ,you that have felt his fiery darts1 can subscribe to the truth of this1 and by fatal experience can tell1 how often he has bid you1 8curse ,,god and die10 and darted into your thoughts a thousand blasphemous suggestions1 even in your most secret and solemn retirements2 the bare looking back on which makes your very hearts to tremble1 ,i appeal to your own consciences2 ,have not some of you1 when you have been lifting up holy hands in prayer1 been pestered with such a crowd of the most horrid insinuations1 that you have been often tempted to rise off from your knees1 and been made to believe your prayers were an abomination to the ,,lord8 ,nay1 when1 with the rest of your christian brethren1 you have crouded round the holy table1 and taken the sacred symbols of ,,christ's most blessed body and blood into your hands1 instead of remembring the death of your ,saviour1 have you not been employed in driving out evil thoughts1 as ,abraham was in driving away the birds1 that came to devour his sacrifice2 and thereby have been terrified1 lest you have eat and drank your own damnation8 8consciencies0 replaced with 8consciences0 ,but marvel not1 as though some strange thing happened unto you2 for this has been the common lot of all ,,god's children4 ,we read1 even in ,job's time1 8,that when the sons of ,,god came to appear before their ,maker1 7at public worship7 ,satan also came amongst them10 to disturb their devotions4 ,and think not that ,,god is angry with you for these distracting1 though ever so blasphemous thoughts3 ,no1 he knows it is not you1 but ,satan working in you2 and therefore1 notwithstanding he may be displeased with1 and certainly will punish him2 yet he will both pity and reward you4 ,and though it be difficult to make persons in your circumstances to believe so2 yet ,i doubt not but you are more acceptable to ,,god1 when performing your holy duties in the midst of such involuntary distractions1 than when you are wrapped up by devotion1 as it were1 into the third heavens2 for you are then suffering1 as well as doing the will of ,,god at the same time2 and1 like ,nehemiah's servants at the building of the temple1 are holding a trowel in one hand1 and a sword in the other4 ,be not driven from the use of any ordinance whatever1 on account of those abominable suggestions2 for then you let ,satan get his desired advantage over you2 it being his chief design1 by these thoughts1 to make you fall out with the means of grace2 and to tempt you to believe1 you do not please ,,god1 for no other reason1 than because you do not please yourselves4 ,rather persevere in the use of the holy communion especially1 and all other means whatever2 and when these temptations have wrought that resignation in you1 for which they were permitted1 ,,god will visit you with fresh tokens of his love1 as he met ,abraham1 when he returned from the slaughter of the five kings2 and will send an angel from heaven1 as he did to his ,son1 on purpose to strengthen you4 ,hitherto we have only observed such devices as ,satan makes use of immediately by himself2 but there is a ,fifth ,i shall mention1 which is not the least1 tempting us by our carnal friends and relations4 ,this is one of the most common1 as well as most artful devices he makes use of1 to draw young converts from ,,god2 for when he cannot prevail over them by himself1 he will try what he can do by the influence and mediation of others4 ,thus he tempted ,eve1 that she might tempt ,adam4 ,thus he stirred up ,job's wife1 to bid him 8,curse ,,god and die40 ,and thus he made use of ,peter's tongue1 to persuade our blessed ,,lord 8to spare himself10 and thereby decline those sufferings1 by which alone we could be preserved from suffering the vengeance of eternal fire4 ,and thus1 in these last days1 he often stirs up our most powerful friends and dearest intimates1 to dissuade us from going in that narrow way1 which alone leadeth unto life eternal4 ,but our blessed ,,lord has furnished us with a sufficient answer to all such suggestions4 8,get you behind me1 my adversaries20 for otherwise they will be an offence unto you2 and the only reason why they give such advice is1 because they 8savour not the things that be of ,,god1 but the things that be of men40 ,whoever1 therefore1 among you are resolved to serve the ,,lord1 prepare your souls for many such temptations as these2 for it is necessary that such offences should come1 to try your sincerity1 to teach us to cease from man1 and to see if we will forsake all to follow ,,christ4 ,indeed our modernisers of christianity would persuade us1 that the gospel was calculated only for about two hundred years2 and that now there is no need of hating father and mother1 or of being persecuted for the sake of ,,christ and his gospel4 ,but such persons err1 not knowing the scriptures1 and the power of godliness in their hearts2 for whosoever receives the love of ,,god in the truth of it1 will find1 that ,,christ came to send not peace1 but a sword upon earth1 as much now as ever4 ,that the father-in-law shall be against the daughter-in-law1 in these latter1 as well as in the primitive times2 and that if we will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 we must1 as then1 so now1 from carnal friends and relations1 suffer persecution4 ,but the devil hath a ,sixth device1 which is as dangerous as any of the former1 by not tempting us at all1 or rather1 by withdrawing himself for a while1 in order to come upon us at an hour when we think not of it4 ,thus it is said1 that he left ,,jesus ,,christ only for a season2 and our blessed ,,lord has bid us to watch and pray always1 that we enter not into temptation2 thereby implying1 that ,satan1 whether we think of it or not1 is always seeking how he may devour us4 ,if we would therefore behave like good soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ1 we must be always upon our guard1 and never pretend to lay down our spiritual weapons of prayer and watching1 till our warfare is accomplished by death2 for if we do1 our spiritual ,amalek will quickly prevail against us4 ,what if he has left us8 it is only for a season2 yet a little while1 and1 like a roaring lion1 with double fury1 he will break out upon us again4 ,so great a coward as the devil is1 he seldom leaves us at the first onset4 ,as he followed our blessed ,,lord with one temptation after another1 so will he treat his servants4 ,and the reason why he does not renew his attacks1 is sometimes1 because ,,god knows we are yet weak and unable to bear them1 sometimes1 because our grand adversary thinks to beset us at a more convenient season4 ,watch carefully therefore over thy heart1 ,o christian2 and whenever thou perceivest thyself to be falling into a spiritual slumber1 say to it1 as ,,christ to his disciples1 8,arise 7my soul7 why sleepest thou80 ,awake1 awake2 put on strength1 watch and pray1 or otherwise the ,philistines will be upon thee1 and lead thee whither thou wouldst not4 ,alas6 ,is this life a time to lie down and slumber in8 ,arise1 and call upon thy ,,god2 thy spiritual enemy is not dead1 but lurketh in some secret place1 seeking a convenient opportunity how he may betray thee4 ,if thou ceasest to strive with him1 thou ceasest to be a friend of ,,god2 thou ceasest to go in that narrow way which leadeth unto life4 ,thus have ,i endeavoured to point out to you some of those devices1 that ,satan generally makes use of 8to get an advantage over us20 many others there are1 no doubt1 which he often uses4 ,but these1 on account of my youth and want of experience1 ,i cannot yet apprise you of2 they who have been listed for many years in their master's service1 and fought under his banner against our spiritual ,amalek1 are able to discover more of his artifices2 and1 being tempted in all things1 like unto their brethren1 can1 in all things1 advise and succour those that are tempted4 ,in the mean while1 let me exhort my young fellow-soldiers1 who1 like myself1 are but just entring the field1 and for whose sake this was written1 not to be discouraged at the fiery trial wherewith they must be tried1 if they would be found faithful servants of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,you see1 my dearly beloved brethren1 by what has been delivered1 that our way through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly ,canaan1 is beset with thorns1 and that there are sons of ,anak to be grappled with1 ere you can possess the promised land4 ,but let not these1 like so many false spies1 discourage you from going up to fight the ,,lord's battles1 but say with ,caleb and ,joshua1 8,nay1 but we will go up1 for we are able to conquer them40 ,,jesus ,,christ1 that great captain of our salvation1 has in our stead1 and as our representative1 baffled the grand enemy of mankind1 and we have nothing to do1 but manfully to fight under his banner1 and to go on from conquering to conquer4 ,our glory does not consist in being exempted from1 but in enduring temptations4 8,blessed is the man1 7says the apostle7 that endureth temptation20 and again1 8,brethren1 count it all joy1 when you fall into divers temptations30 ,and in that perfect form our blessed ,,lord has prescribed to us1 we are taught to pray1 not so much to be delivered from all temptation1 as 8from the evil0 of it4 ,whilst we are on this side eternity1 it must needs be that temptations come2 and1 no doubt1 8,satan has desired to have all of us1 to sift us as wheat40 ,but wherefore should we fear8 ,for he that is for us1 is by far more powerful1 than all that are against us4 ,,jesus ,,christ1 our great ,high-priest1 is exalted to the right hand of ,,god1 and there sitteth to make intercession for us1 that our faith fail not4 ,since then ,,christ is praying1 whom should we fear8 ,and since he has promised to make us more than conquerors1 of whom should we be afraid8 ,no1 though an host of devils are set in array against us1 let us not be afraid2 though there should rise up the hottest persecution against us1 yet let us put our trust in ,,god4 ,what though ,satan1 and the rest of his apostate spirits1 are powerful1 when compared with us2 yet1 if put in competition with the ,almighty1 they are as weak as the meanest worms4 ,,god has them all reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day4 ,so far as he permits them1 they shall go1 but no farther2 and where he pleases1 there shall their proud malicious designs be stayed4 ,we read in the gospel1 that though a legion of them possessed one man1 yet they could not destroy him2 nor could they so much as enter into a swine1 without first having leave given them from above4 ,it is true1 we often find they foil us1 when we are assaulted by them2 but let us be strong1 and very couragious2 for1 though they bruise our heels1 we shall1 at length1 bruise their heads4 ,yet a little while1 and he that shall come1 will come2 and then we shall see all our spiritual enemies put under our feet4 ,what if they do come out against us1 like so many great ,goliahs2 yet1 if we can go forth1 as the stripling ,david1 in the name and strength of the ,,lord of hosts1 we may say1 ,o ,satan1 where is thy power8 ,o fallen spirits1 where is your victory8 ,once more therefore1 and to conclude2 let us be strong1 and very couragious1 and let us put on the whole armour of ,,god1 that we may be able to stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one4 ,let us renounce ourselves1 and the world1 and then we shall take away the armour in which he trusteth1 and he will find nothing in us for his temptations to work upon4 ,we shall then prevent his malicious designs2 and being willing to suffer ourselves1 shall need less sufferings to be sent us from above4 ,let us have our loins girt about with truth2 and for an helmet1 the hope of salvation2 8praying always with all manner of supplication40 ,above all things1 8,let us take the sword of the spirit1 which is the word of ,,god10 and 8the shield of faith10 looking always to ,,jesus1 the author and finisher of our faith1 who for the joy that was set before him1 endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and is now sat down at the right hand of ,,god4 ,to which happy place1 may ,,god of his infinite mercy translate us all1 through our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,to whom1 with the ,father1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 three persons and one eternal ,,god1 be all honour and glory1 now and for evermore4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,xlix4 ,on ,regeneration4 #b ,,corinthians v4 #ag4 ,if any man be in ,,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,,the doctrine of our regeneration1 or new birth in ,,christ ,,jesus1 though one of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy religion2 though so plainly and often pressed on us in sacred writ1 8that he who runs may read20 nay though it is the very hinge on which the salvation of each of us turns1 and a point too in which all sincere christians1 of every denomination1 agree2 yet it is so seldom considered1 and so little experimentally understood by the generality of professors1 that were we to judge of the truth of it1 by the experience of most who call themselves christians1 we should be apt to imagine they had 8not so much as heard0 whether there be any such thing as regeneration or not4 ,it is true1 men for the most part are orthodox in the common articles of their creed2 they believe 8there is but one ,,god1 and one ,mediator between ,,god and men1 even the man ,,christ ,,jesus20 and that there is no other name given under heaven1 whereby they can be saved1 besides his3 ,but then tell them1 they must be regenerated1 they must be born again1 they must be renewed in the very spirit1 in the inmost faculties of their minds1 ere they can truly call ,,christ1 8,lord1 ,lord10 or have an evidence that they have any share in the merits of his precious blood2 and they are ready to cry out with ,nicodemus1 8,how can these things be80 ,or with the ,athenians1 on another occasion1 8,what will this babler say8 he seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange doctrines20 because we preach unto them ,,christ1 and the new-birth4 ,that ,i may therefore contribute my mite towards curing the fatal mistake of such persons1 who would thus put asunder what ,,god has inseparably joined together1 and vainly think they are justified by ,,christ1 or have their sins forgiven1 and his perfect obedience imputed to them1 when they are not sanctified1 have not their natures changed1 and made holy1 ,i shall beg leave to enlarge on the words of the text in the following manner3 ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to explain what is meant by being in ,,christ3 8,if any man be in ,,christ40 ,secondly1 ,what we are to understand by being a new creature3 8,if any man be in ,,christ he is a new creature40 ,thirdly1 ,i shall produce some arguments to make good the apostle's assertion4 ,and ,fourthly1 ,i shall draw some inferences from what may be delivered1 and then conclude with a word or two of exhortation4 ,first1 ,i am to endeavour to explain what is meant by this expression in the text1 8,if any man be in ,,christ40 ,now a person may be said to be in ,,christ two ways4 ,first1 ,only by an outward profession4 ,and in this sense1 every one that is called a christian1 or baptized into ,,christ's church1 may be said to be in ,,christ4 ,but that this is not the sole meaning of the apostle's phrase before us1 is evident1 because then1 every one that names the name of ,,christ1 or is baptized into his visible church1 would be a new creature4 ,which is notoriously false1 it being too plain1 beyond all contradiction1 that comparatively but few of those that are 8born of water10 are 8born of the ,spirit0 likewise2 to use another spiritual way of speaking1 many are baptized with water1 which were never baptized with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,to be in ,,christ therefore1 in the full import of the word1 must certainly mean something more than a bare outward profession1 or being called after his name4 ,for1 as this same apostle tells us1 8,all are not ,israelites that are of ,israel10 so when applied to christianity1 all are not real christians that are nominally such4 ,nay1 this is so far from being the case1 that our blessed ,,lord himself informs us1 that many who have prophesied or preached in his name1 and in his name cast out devils1 and done many wonderful works1 shall notwithstanding be dismissed at the last day1 with 8depart from me1 ,i know you not1 ye workers of iniquity40 ,it remains therefore1 that this expression1 8if any man be in ,,christ10 must be understood in a ,second and closer signification1 to be in him so as to partake of the benefits of his sufferings4 ,to be in him not only by an outward profession1 but by an inward change and purity of heart1 and cohabitation of his holy spirit4 ,to be in him1 so as to be mystically united to him by a true and lively faith1 and thereby to receive spiritual virtue from him1 as the members of the natural body do from the head1 or the branches from the vine4 ,to be in him in such a manner as the apostle1 speaking of himself1 acquaints us he knew a person was1 8,i knew a man in ,,christ10 a true christian2 or1 as he himself desires to be in ,,christ1 when he wishes1 in his epistle to the ,philippians1 that he might be found in him4 missing article 8a0 inserted ,this is undoubtedly the proper meaning of the apostle's expression in the words of the text2 so that what he says in his epistle to the ,romans about circumcision1 may very well be applied to the present subject2 that he is not a real christian who is only one outwardly2 nor is that true baptism1 which is only outward in the flesh4 ,but he is a true christian1 who is one inwardly1 whose baptism is that of the heart1 in the spirit1 and not merely in the water1 whose praise is not of man but of ,,god4 ,or1 as he speaketh in another place1 8,neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing 7of itself7 but a new creature40 ,which amounts to what he here declares in the verse now under consideration1 that if any man be truly and properly in ,,christ1 he is a new creature4 ,which brings me to shew1 ,secondly1 ,what we are to understand by being a new creature4 ,and here it is evident at the first view1 that this expression is not to be so explained as though there was a physical change required to be made in us2 or as though we were to be reduced to our primitive nothings1 and then created and formed again4 ,for1 supposing we were1 as ,nicodemus ignorantly imagined1 to enter a 8second time into our mother's womb1 and be born10 alas6 what would it contribute towards rendering us spiritually new creatures8 ,since 8that which was born of the flesh would be flesh still20 we should be the same carnal persons as ever1 being derived from carnal parents1 and consequently receiving the seeds of all manner of sin and corruption from them4 ,no1 it only means1 that we must be so altered as to the qualities and tempers of our minds1 that we must entirely forget what manner of persons we once were4 ,as it may be said of a piece of gold1 that was once in the ore1 after it has been cleansed1 purified and polished1 that it is a new piece of gold2 as it may be said of a bright glass that has been covered over with filth1 when it is wiped1 and so become transparent and clear1 that it is a new glass3 ,or1 as it might be said of ,naaman1 when he recovered of his leprosy1 and his flesh returned unto him like the flesh of a young child1 that he was a new man2 so our souls1 though still the same as to essence1 yet are so purged1 purified and cleansed from their natural dross1 filth and leprosy1 by the blessed influences of the ,holy ,spirit1 that they may be properly said to be made anew4 ,how this glorious change is wrought in the soul1 cannot easily be explained3 ,for no one knows the ways of the ,spirit1 save the ,spirit of ,,god himself4 ,not that this ought to be any argument against this doctrine2 for1 as our blessed ,,lord observed to ,nicodemus1 when he was discoursing on this very subject1 8,the wind bloweth where it listeth1 and thou hearest the sound thereof1 but knowest not whence it cometh1 and whither it goeth20 and if we are told of natural things1 and we understand them not1 how much less ought we to wonder1 if we cannot immediately account for the invisible workings of the ,holy ,spirit8 ,the truth of the matter is this3 the doctrine of our regeneration1 or new birth in ,,christ ,,jesus1 is hard to be understood by the natural man4 ,but that there is really such a thing1 and that each of us must be spiritually born again1 ,i shall endeavour to shew under my ,third general head1 in which ,i was to produce some arguments to make good the apostle's assertion4 ,and here one would think it sufficient to affirm1 ,first1 ,that ,,god himself1 in his holy word1 hath told us so4 ,many texts might be produced out of the ,old ,testament to prove this point1 and indeed1 one would wonder how ,nicodemus1 who was a teacher in ,israel1 and who was therefore to instruct the people in the spiritual meaning of the law1 should be so ignorant of this grand article1 as we find he really was1 by his asking our blessed ,,lord1 when he was pressing on him this topic1 ,how can these things be8 ,surely1 he could not forget how often the ,psalmist had begged of ,,god1 to make him 8a new heart10 and 8to renew a right spirit within him20 as likewise1 how frequently the prophets had warned the people to make them 8new hearts10 and new minds1 and so turn unto the ,,lord their ,,god4 ,but not to mention these and such like texts out of the ,old ,testament1 this doctrine is so often and plainly repeated in the ,new1 that1 as ,i observed before1 he who runs may read4 ,for what says the great ,prophet and ,instructor of the world himself3 8,except a man 7every one that is naturally the offspring of ,adam7 be born again of water and the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,and lest we should be apt to slight this assertion1 and ,nicodemus-like1 reject the doctrine1 because we cannot immediately explain 8,how this thing can be20 our blessed ,master therefore affirms it1 as it were1 by an oath1 8,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you10 or1 as it may be read1 ,i the ,amen2 ,i1 who am truth itself1 say unto you1 that it is the unalterable appointment of my heavenly ,father1 that 8unless a man be born again1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,agreeable to this1 are those many passages we meet with in the epistles1 where we are commanded to be 8renewed in the ,spirit10 or1 which was before explained1 in the inmost faculties of our minds2 to 8put off the ,old ,man1 which is corrupt2 and to put on the ,new ,man1 which is created after ,,god1 in righteousness and true holiness20 that 8old things must pass away1 and that all things must become new20 that we are to be 8saved by the washing of regeneration1 and the renewing of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,or1 methinks1 was there no other passage to be produced besides the words of the text1 it would be full enough1 since the apostle therein positively affirms1 that 8,if any man be in ,,christ1 he is a new creature40 ,now1 what can be understood by all these different terms of being born again1 of putting off the ,old ,man1 and putting on the ,new1 of being renewed in the spirit of our minds1 and becoming new creatures2 but that christianity requires a thorough1 real inward change of heart8 ,do we think these1 and such-like forms of speaking1 are mere metaphors1 words of a bare sound1 without any real solid signification8 ,indeed1 it is to be feared1 some men would have them interpreted so2 but alas6 unhappy men6 they are not to be envied in their metaphorical interpretation3 it will be well1 if they do not interpret themselves out of their salvation4 ,multitudes of other texts might be produced to confirm this same truth2 but those already quoted are so plain and convincing1 that one would imagine no one should deny it2 were we not told1 there are some1 8who having eyes1 see not1 and ears1 hear not1 and that will not understand with their hearts1 or hear with their ears1 lest they should be converted1 and ,,christ should heal them40 ,but ,i proceed to a ,second argument2 and that shall be taken from the purity of ,god1 and the present corrupt and polluted state of man4 ,,god is described in holy scripture 7and ,i speak to those who profess to know the scripture7 as a ,spirit2 as a being of such infinite sanctity1 as to be of 8purer eyes than to behold iniquity20 as to be so transcendently holy1 that it is said 8the very heavens are not clean in his sight2 and the angels themselves he chargeth with folly40 ,on the other hand1 man is described 7and every regenerate person will find it true by his own experience7 as a creature altogether 8conceived and born in sin20 as having 8no good thing dwelling in him20 as being 8carnal1 sold under sin20 nay1 as having 8a mind which is at enmity with ,,god10 and such-like4 ,and since there is such an infinite disparity1 can any one conceive how a filthy1 corrupted1 polluted wretch can dwell with an infinitely pure and holy ,,god1 before he is changed1 and rendered1 in some measure1 like him8 ,can he1 who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity1 dwell with it8 ,can he1 in whose sight the heavens are not clean1 delight to dwell with uncleanness itself8 ,no1 we might as well suppose light to have communion with darkness1 or ,,christ to have concord with ,belial4 ,but ,i pass on to a ,third argument1 which shall be founded on the consideration of the nature of that happiness ,,god has prepared for those that unfeignedly love him4 ,to enter indeed on a minute and particular description of heaven1 would be vain and presumptuous1 since we are told that 8eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive1 the things that are there prepared0 for the sincere followers of the holy ,,jesus1 even in this life1 much less in that which is to come4 ,however1 this we may venture to affirm in general1 that as ,,god is a ,spirit1 so the happiness he has laid up for his people is spiritual likewise2 and consequently1 unless our carnal minds are changed1 and spiritualized1 we can never be made meet to partake of that inheritance with the saints in light4 ,it is true1 we may flatter ourselves1 that1 supposing we continue in our natural corrupt estate1 and carry all our lusts along with us1 we should1 notwithstanding1 relish heaven1 was ,,god to admit us therein4 ,and so we might1 was it a ,mahometan paradise1 wherein we were to take our full swing in sensual delights4 ,but since its joys are only spiritual1 and no unclean thing can possibly enter those blessed mansions1 there is an absolute necessity of our being changed1 and undergoing a total renovation of our depraved natures1 before we can have any taste or relish of those heavenly pleasures4 ,it is1 doubtless1 for this reason1 that the apostle declares it to be the irrevocable decree of the ,almighty1 that 8without holiness1 7without being made pure by regeneration1 and having the image of ,,god thereby reinstamped upon the soul7 no man shall see the ,,lord40 ,and it is very observable1 that our divine ,master1 in the famous passage before referred to1 concerning the absolute necessity of regeneration1 does not say1 ,unless a man be born again1 he shall not1 but 8unless a man be born again1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,,god40 ,it is founded in the very nature of things1 that unless we have dispositions wrought in us suitable to the objects that are to entertain us1 we can take no manner of complacency or satisfaction in them4 ,for instance2 what delight can the most harmonious music afford to a deaf1 or what pleasure can the most excellent picture give to a blind man8 ,can a tasteless palate relish the richest dainties1 or a filthy swine be pleased with the finest garden of flowers8 ,no3 and what reason can be assigned for it8 ,an answer is ready2 because they have neither of them any tempers of mind correspondent or agreeable to what they are to be diverted with4 ,and thus it is with the soul hereafter3 for death makes no more alteration in the soul1 than as it inlarges its faculties1 and makes it capable of receiving deeper impressions either of pleasure or pain4 ,if it delighted to converse with ,,god here1 it will be transported with the sight of his glorious ,majesty hereafter4 ,if it was pleased with the communion of saints on earth1 it will be infinitely more so with the communion and society of holy angels1 and the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven4 ,but if the opposite of all this be true1 we may assure ourselves the soul could not be happy1 was ,,god himself to admit it 7which he never will do7 into the regions of the blessed4 ,but it is time for me to hasten to the 8decreee0 replaced with 8decree0 ,fourth argument1 because ,,christ's redemption will not be complete in us1 unless we are new creatures4 ,if we reflect indeed on the first and chief end of our blessed ,,lord's coming1 we shall find it was to be a propitiation for our sins1 to give his life a ransom for many4 ,but then1 if the benefits of our dear ,redeemer's death were to extend no farther than barely to procure forgiveness of our sins1 we should have as little reason to rejoice in it1 as a poor condemned criminal that is ready to perish by some fatal disease1 would have in receiving a pardon from his judge4 ,for christians would do well to consider1 that there is not only a legal hinderance to our happiness1 as we are breakers of ,,god's law1 but also a moral impurity in our natures1 which renders us incapable of enjoying heaven 7as hath been already proved7 till some mighty change have been wrought in us4 ,it is necessary therefore1 in order to make ,,christ's redemption compleat1 that we should have a grant of ,,god's holy ,spirit to change our natures1 and so prepare us for the enjoyment of that happiness our ,saviour has purchased by his precious blood4 ,accordingly the holy scriptures inform us1 that whom ,,christ justifies1 or whose sins he forgives1 and to whom he imputes his perfect obedience1 those he also sanctifies1 purifies and cleanses1 and totally changeth their corrupted natures4 ,as the scripture also speaketh in another place1 8,,christ is to us justification1 sanctification1 and then redemption40 ,but1 ,fourthly1 ,proceed we now to the next general thing proposed1 to draw some inferences from what has been delivered4 ,and1 ,first1 ,if he that is in ,,christ be a new creature1 this may serve as a reproof for those who rest in a bare performance of outward duties1 without perceiving any real inward change of heart4 ,we may observe a great many persons to be very punctual in the regular returns of public and private prayer1 as likewise of receiving the holy communion1 and perhaps now and then too in keeping a fast4 ,but here is the misfortune1 they rest barely in the use of the means1 and think all is over1 when they have thus complied with those sacred institutions2 whereas1 were they rightly informed1 they would consider1 that all the instituted means of grace1 as prayer1 fasting1 hearing and reading the word of ,,god1 receiving the blessed sacrament1 and such-like1 are no farther serviceable to us1 than as they are found to make us inwardly better1 and to carry on the spiritual life in the soul4 ,it is true1 they are means2 but then they are only means2 they are part1 but not the whole of religion3 for if so1 who more religious than the ,pharisee8 ,he fasted twice in the week1 and gave tythes of all that he possessed1 and yet was not justified1 as our ,saviour himself informs us1 in the sight of ,,god4 ,you perhaps1 like the ,pharisee1 may fast often1 and make long prayers2 you may1 with ,herod1 hear good sermons gladly4 ,but yet1 if you continue vain and trifling1 immoral or worldly-minded1 and differ from the rest of your neighbours barely in going to church1 or in complying with some outward performances1 are you better than they8 ,no1 in no wise2 you are by far much worse2 for if you use them1 and at the same time abuse them1 you thereby encourage others to think there is nothing in them1 and therefore must expect to receive the greater damnation4 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,if he that is in ,,christ be a new creature1 then this may check the groundless presumption of another class of professors1 who rest in the attainment of some moral virtues1 and falsely imagine they are good christians1 if they are just in their dealings1 temperate in their diet1 and do no hurt or violence to any man4 ,but if this was all that is requisite to make us christians1 why might not the heathens of old be good christians1 who were remarkable for these virtues8 or ,st4 ,paul before his conversion1 who tells us1 that he lived in all good conscience8 but we find he renounces all dependance on works of this nature1 and only desires to be found in ,,christ1 and to know the power of his resurrection1 or have an experimental proof of receiving the ,holy ,ghost1 purchased for him by the death1 and ensured and applied to him by the resurrection of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the sum of the matter is this3 christianity includes morality1 as grace does reason2 but if we are only mere ,moralists1 if we are not inwardly wrought upon1 and changed by the powerful operations of the ,holy ,spirit1 and our moral actions1 proceed from a principle of a new nature1 however we may call ourselves christians1 we shall be found naked at the great day1 and in the number of those1 who have neither ,,christ's righteousness imputed to them for their justification in the sight1 nor holiness enough in their souls as the consequence of that1 in order to make them meet for the enjoyment1 of ,,god4 ,nor1 ,thirdly1 ,will this doctrine less condemn those1 who rest in a partial amendment of themselves1 without experiencing a thorough1 real1 inward change of heart4 ,a little acquaintance with the world will furnish us with instances1 of no small number of persons1 who1 perhaps1 were before openly profane2 but seeing the ill consequences of their vices1 and the many worldly inconveniencies it has reduced them to1 on a sudden1 as it were1 grow civilized2 and thereupon flatter themselves that they are very religious1 because they differ a little from their former selves1 and are not so scandalously wicked as once they were3 whereas1 at the same time1 they shall have some secret darling sin or other1 some beloved ,dalilah or ,herodias1 which they will not part with2 some hidden lust1 which they will not mortify2 some vicious habit1 which they will not take pains to root out4 ,but wouldst thou know1 ,o vain man6 whoever thou art1 what the ,,lord thy ,,god requires of thee8 thou must be informed1 that nothing short of a thorough sound conversion will fit thee for the kingdom of heaven4 ,it is not enough to turn from profaneness to civility2 but thou must turn from civility to godliness4 ,not only some1 but 8all things must become new0 in thy soul4 ,it will profit thee but little to do many things1 if yet some one thing thou lackest4 ,in short1 thou must not only be an almost1 but altogether a new creature1 or in vain thou boasteth that thou art a christian4 ,fourthly1 ,if he that is in ,,christ be a new creature1 then this may be prescribed as an infallible rule for every person of whatever denomination1 age1 degree or quality1 to judge himself by2 this being the only solid foundation1 whereon we can build a well-grounded assurance of pardon1 peace1 and happiness4 ,we may indeed depend on the broken reed of an external profession2 we may think we are good enough1 if we lead such sober1 honest1 moral lives1 as many heathens did4 ,we may imagine we are in a safe condition1 if we attend on the public offices of religion1 and are constant in the duties of our closets4 ,but unless all these tend to reform our lives1 and change our hearts1 and are only used as so many channels of divine grace2 as ,i told you before1 so ,i tell you again1 christianity will profit you nothing4 ,let each of us therefore seriously put this question to our hearts3 ,have we received the ,holy ,ghost since we believed8 ,are we new creatures in ,,christ1 or no8 ,at least1 if we are not so yet1 is it our daily endeavour to become such8 ,do we constantly and conscientiously use all the means of grace required thereto8 ,do we fast1 watch and pray8 ,do we1 not lazily seek1 but laboriously strive to enter in at the strait gate8 ,in short1 do we renounce our own righteousness1 take up our crosses and follow ,,christ8 ,if so1 we are in that narrow way which leads to life2 the good seed is sown in our hearts1 and will1 if duly watered and nourished by a regular persevering use of all the means of grace1 grow up to eternal life4 ,but on the contrary1 if we have only heard1 and know not experimentally1 whether there be any ,holy ,ghost2 if we are strangers to fasting1 watching and prayer1 and all the other spiritual exercises of devotion2 if we are content to go in the broad way1 merely because we see most other people do so1 without once reflecting whether it be the right one or not2 in short1 if we are strangers1 nay enemies to the cross of ,,christ1 by lives of worldly-mindedness1 and sensual pleasure1 and thereby make others think1 that christianity is but an empty name1 a bare formal profession2 if this be the case1 ,i say1 ,,christ is as yet dead in vain1 to us2 we are under the guilt of our sins2 and are unacquainted with a true and thorough conversion4 ,but beloved1 ,i am persuaded better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation1 though ,i thus speak2 ,i would humbly hope that you are sincerely persuaded1 that he who hath not the ,spirit of ,,christ is none of his2 and that1 unless the ,spirit1 which raised ,,jesus from the dead1 dwell in you here1 neither will your mortal bodies be quickened by the same ,spirit to dwell with him hereafter4 ,let me therefore 7as was proposed in the last place7 earnestly exhort you1 in the name of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 to act suitable to those convictions1 and to live as christians1 that are commanded in holy writ1 to 8put off their former conversation concerning the ,old ,man1 and to put on the ,new ,man1 which is created after ,,god in righteousness and true holiness40 ,it must be owned indeed1 that this is a great and difficult work2 but1 blessed be ,,god1 it is not impossible4 ,many thousands of happy souls have been assisted by a divine power to bring it about1 and why should we despair of success8 ,is ,,god's hand shortened1 that it cannot save8 ,was he the ,,god of our ,fathers1 is he not the ,,god of their children also8 ,yes1 doubtless1 of their children also4 ,it is a task likewise1 that will put us to some pain2 it will oblige us to part with some lust1 to break with some friend1 to mortify some beloved passion1 which may be exceeding dear to us1 and perhaps as hard to leave1 as to cut off a right-hand1 or pluck out a right-eye4 ,but what of all this8 ,will not the being made a real living member of ,,christ1 a child of ,,god1 and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven1 abundantly make amends for all this trouble8 ,undoubtedly it will4 ,the setting about and carrying on this great and necessary work1 perhaps may1 nay assuredly will expose us also to the ridicule of the unthinking part of mankind1 who will wonder1 that we run not into the same excess of riot with themselves2 and because we deny our sinful appetites1 and are not conformed to this world1 being commanded in scripture to do the one1 and to have our conversation in heaven1 in opposition to the other1 they may count our lives folly1 and our end to be without honour4 ,but will not the being numbered among the saints1 and shining as the stars for ever and ever1 be a more than sufficient recompense for all the ridicule1 calumny1 or reproach1 we can possibly meet with here8 ,indeed1 was there no other reward attended a thorough conversion1 but that peace of ,,god1 which is the unavoidable consequence of it1 and which1 even in this life1 8passeth all understanding10 we should have great reason to rejoice4 ,but when we consider1 that this is the least of those mercies ,,god has prepared for those that are in ,,christ1 and become new creatures2 that1 this is but the beginning of an eternal succession of pleasures2 that the day of our deaths1 which the unconverted1 unrenewed sinner must so much dread1 will be1 as it were1 but the first day of our new births1 and open to us an everlasting scene of happiness and comfort2 in short1 if we remember1 that they who are regenerate and born again1 have a real title to all the glorious promises of the gospel1 and are infallibly certain of being as happy1 both here and hereafter1 as an all-wise1 all-gracious1 all-powerful ,,god can make them2 methinks1 every one that has but the least concern for the salvation of his precious and immortal soul1 having such promises1 such an hope1 such an eternity of happiness set before him1 should never cease watching1 praying1 and striving1 till he find a real1 inward1 saving change wrought in his heart1 and thereby doth know of a truth1 that he dwells in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in him2 that he is a new creature1 therefore a child of ,,god2 that he is already an inheritor1 and will ere long be an actual possessor of the kingdom of heaven4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,to whom1 c4 ,,sermon ,l4 ,christians1 ,temples of the living ,,god4 #b ,,corinthians vi4 #af4 ,ye are the ,temple of the living ,god4 ,,isaiah1 speaking of the glory of gospel days1 said1 8,men have not heard nor perceived by the ear1 neither hath the eye seen1 ,o ,,god1 besides thee1 what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him40 ,chapter lxiv4 #d4 ,could a world lying in the wicked one1 be really convinced of this1 they would need no other motive to induce them to renounce themselves1 take up their cross1 and follow ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and had believers this truth always deeply impressed upon their souls1 they could not but abstain from every evil1 be continually aspiring after every good2 and in a word1 use all diligence to walk worthy of ,him who hath called them to his kingdom and glory4 ,if ,i mistake not1 that is the end purposed by the apostle ,paul1 in the words of the text1 8,ye are the temple of the living ,,god40 ,words originally directed to the church of ,corinth1 but which equally belong to us1 and to our children1 and to as many as the ,,lord our ,,god shall call4 ,to give you the true meaning of1 and then practically to improve them1 shall be my endeavour in the following discourse4 ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to give you the true meaning of these words1 8,ye are the temple of the living ,,god40 ,the expression undoubtedly is metaphorical1 or figurative3 but under the metaphor1 something real1 and of infinite importance1 is to be understood4 ,and there seems to be a manifest allusion1 not only to what we call temples or churches in general1 but to the ,jewish temple in particular4 ,i trust1 that but few1 if any here1 need be informed1 that the preparations for this edifice were exceedingly grand1 that it was modelled and built by a divine order1 and when compleated1 was separated from common uses1 and dedicated to the service of the incomprehensible ,jehovah1 with the utmost solemnity4 ,it is thus that christians are 8the temple of the living ,,god10 of ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 they who once held a consultation to create1 are all equally concerned in making preparations for1 and effectually bringing about the redemption of man4 ,the ,father creates1 the ,son redeems1 and the ,holy ,ghost sanctifies all the elect people of ,,god4 ,being loved from eternity1 they are effectually called in time1 they are chosen out of the world1 and not only by an external formal dedication at baptism1 or at the ,,lord's supper1 but by a free1 voluntary1 unconstrained oblation1 they devote themselves1 spirit1 soul1 and body1 to the entire service of ,him1 who hath loved and given himself for them4 ,this is true and undefiled religion before ,,god our heavenly ,father3 ,this is the real christian's reasonable service1 or1 as some think the word imports1 this is the service required of us in the word of ,,god4 ,it implies no less than a total renunciation of the world2 in short1 turns the christian's whole life into one continued sacrifice of love to ,,god2 so that1 8whether he eats or drinks1 he does all to his glory40 ,not that ,i would hereby insinuate1 that to be christians1 or to keep to the words of our text1 in order to be temples of the living ,,god1 we must become hermits1 or shut ourselves up in nunneries or cloysters2 this be far from me6 ,no4 ,the religion1 which this bible in my hand prescribes1 is a social religion1 a religion equally practicable by high and low1 rich and poor1 and which absolutely requires a due discharge of all relative duties1 in whatsoever state of life ,,god shall be pleased to place and continue us4 ,that some1 in all ages of the church1 have literally separated themselves from the world1 and from a sincere desire to save their souls1 and attain higher degrees of christian perfection1 have wholly devoted themselves to solitude and retirement1 is what ,i make no doubt of4 ,but then such a zeal is in no wise according to knowledge2 for private christians1 as well as ministers1 are said to be 8the salt of the earth1 and the lights of the world10 and are commanded to 8let their light shine before men40 ,but how can this be done1 if we shut ourselves up1 and thereby entirely exclude ourselves from all manner of conversation with the world8 ,or supposing we could take the wings of the morning1 and fly into the most distant and desolate parts of the earth1 what would this avail us1 unless we could agree with a wicked heart and wicked tempter not to pursue and molest us there8 ,so far should we be from thus getting ease and comfort1 that ,i believe we should on the contrary soon find by our experience the truth of what a hermit himself once told me1 that a tree which stands by itself1 is most exposed and liable to the strongest blasts4 ,when our ,saviour was to be tempted by the devil1 he was led by the ,spirit into the wilderness4 ,how contrary this to their practice1 who go into a wilderness to avoid temptation6 ,surely such are unmindful of the petition put up for us by our blessed ,,lord1 8,father1 ,i pray not that thou wouldst take them out of the world1 but that thou wouldst keep them from the evil40 ,this then is to be a christian indeed2 to be in the world1 and yet not of it2 to have our hands1 according to our respective stations in life1 employed on earth1 and our hearts at the same time fixed on things above4 ,then1 indeed1 are we 8temples of the living ,,god10 when with a humble boldness1 we can say with a great and good soldier of ,,jesus ,,christ1 we are the same in the parlour1 as we are in the closet2 and can at night throw off our cares1 as we throw off our cloaths2 and being at peace with the world1 ourselves1 and ,,god1 are indifferent whether we sleep or die4 ,farther1 the ,jewish temple was a house of prayer4 8,my house 7says the ,great ,,god7 shall be called a house of prayer30 and implies that the hearts of true believers are the seats of prayer4 ,for this end was it built1 and adorned with such furniture4 ,solomon1 in that admirable prayer which he put up to ,,god at the dedication of the temple1 saith1 8,hearken therefore unto the supplication of thy servant1 and of thy people ,israel1 which they shall make towards this place40 ,and hence ,i suppose it was that ,daniel1 that man greatly beloved1 in the time of captivity1 8prayed as aforetime three times a day with his face towards the temple40 ,and what was said of the first1 our ,,lord applies to the second temple1 8,my house shall be called a house of prayer40 ,on this account also1 true believers may be stiled1 8the temple of the living ,,god40 ,for being wholly devoted and dedicated to ,,god1 even a ,,god in ,,christ1 their heart becomes the seats of prayer1 from whence1 as so many living altars1 a perpetual sacrifice of prayer and praise 7like unto1 tho' infinitely superior to the perpetual oblation under the ,mosaic dispensation7 is continually ascending1 and offered up1 to the ,father of ,mercies1 the ,,god of all ,consolations4 ,such1 and such only1 who thus worship ,,god in the temple of their hearts1 can truly be said to be made priests unto ,,god1 or be stiled a royal priesthood2 such1 and such only1 can truly be stiled1 8the temple of the living ,,god10 because such only pray to him1 as one expresses it1 in the temple of their hearts1 and consequently worship him in spirit and in truth4 ,let no one say that such a devotion is impracticable1 or at least only practicable by a few1 and those such who have nothing to do with the common affairs of life2 for this is the common duty and privilege of all true christians4 8,to pray without ceasing10 and 8to rejoice in the ,,lord always10 are precepts equally obligatory on all that name the name of ,,christ4 ,and though it must be owned1 that it is hard for persons that are immersed in the world1 to serve the ,,lord without distraction2 and though we must confess1 that the lamp of devotion1 even in the best of saints1 sometimes burns too dimly1 yet those who are the temple of the living ,,god1 find prayer to be their very element3 ,and when those who make this objection1 once come to love prayer1 as some unhappy men love swearing1 they will find no more difficulty in praying to1 and praising ,,god always1 than these unhappy creatures do in cursing and swearing always4 ,what hath been advanced1 is far from being a state peculiar to persons wholly retired from the world4 ,my brethren1 the love of ,,god is all in all4 ,when once possessed of this1 as we certainly must be1 if we are 8the temple of the living ,,god10 meditation1 prayer1 praise1 and other spiritual exercises1 become habitual and delightful4 ,when once touched with this divine magnet1 for ever after the soul feels a divine attraction1 and continually turns to its centre1 ,,god2 and if diverted therefrom1 by any sudden or violent temptation1 yet when that obstruction is removed1 like as a needle touched by a loadstone when your finger is taken away1 turns to its rest1 its centre1 its ,,god1 its ,all1 again4 ,the ,jewish temple was also a place where the ,great ,jehovah was pleased in a more immediate manner to reside4 ,hence1 he is said to put and record his name there1 and to sit or dwell between the cherubims2 and when ,solomon first dedicated it1 we are told1 8the house was filled with a cloud1 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud1 for the glory of the ,,lord had filled the house40 ,and wherefore all this amazing manifestation of the ,divine ,glory8 ,even for this1 ,o man1 to shew thee how the ,high and ,lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 would make believers hearts his living temple1 and dwell and make his abode in all those that tremble at his word4 ,to this1 the apostle more particularly alludes in the words immediately following our text2 for having called the ,corinthians 8the temple of the living ,,god10 he adds1 8as ,,god hath said1 ,i will dwell in them1 and ,i will walk in them1 and ,i will be their ,,god1 and they shall be my people40 ,strange and strong expressions these6 ,but strange and strong as they are1 must be experienced by all who are indeed 8the temple of the living ,,god40 ,for they are said1 to be 8chosen to be a holy habitation through the ,spirit2 to dwell in ,,god1 and ,,god in them2 to have the witness in themselves1 and to have ,,god's ,spirit witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of ,,god40 ,which expressions import no more or less1 than that prayer of our ,,lord which he put up for his church and people a little before his bitter passion1 8,that they may be one1 even as we are one1 ,i in them1 and thou in me1 that they may be made perfect in one30 ,this glorious passage our church adopts in her excellent communion office1 and is so far from thinking that this was only the privilege of the apostles1 that she asserts in the strongest terms1 that it is the privilege of every worthy communicant4 ,for then 7says she7 if we receive the sacrament worthily1 we are one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ is one with us2 we dwell in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in us4 ,and what is it1 but that inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 which we pray for in the beginning of that office1 and that fellowship of the ,holy ,ghost1 which the minister1 in the conclusion of every day's public prayer1 entreats the ,,lord to be with us all evermore8 ,brethren1 the time would fail me to mention all the scriptures1 and the various branches of our liturgy1 articles1 and homilies1 that speak of this inestimable blessing1 the indwelling of the blessed ,spirit1 whereby we do indeed become1 8the temples of the living ,,god40 ,if you have eyes that see1 or ears that hear1 you may view it almost in every page of the lively oracles1 and every part of those offices1 which some of you daily use1 and hear read to you1 in the public worship of ,almighty ,,god4 ,in asserting therefore this doctrine1 we do not vent the whimsies of a disordered brain1 and heated imagination2 neither do we broach any new doctrines1 or set up the peculiar opinions of any particular sect or denomination of christians whatsoever2 but we speak the words of truth and soberness1 we shew you the right and good old way1 even that1 in which the articles of all the reformed churches1 and all sincere christians of all parties1 however differing in other respects1 do universally agree4 ,we are now insisting upon a point1 which may properly be termed the christian shibboleth1 something which is the grand criterion of our most holy religion2 and on account of which1 the holy ,ignatius1 one of the first fathers of the church1 was used to stile himself a bearer of ,,god1 and the people to whom he wrote1 bearers of ,,god3 ,for this1 as it is recorded of him1 he was arraigned before ,trajan1 who imperiously said1 ,where is this man1 that says1 he carries ,,god about with him4 ,with an humble boldness he answered1 ,i am he1 and then quoted the passage in the text 8,ye are the temple of the living ,,god2 as ,,god hath said1 ,i will dwell in them1 and walk in them1 and ,i will be their ,,god1 and they shall be my people40 ,upon this1 to cure him of his enthusiasm1 he was condemned to be devoured by lions4 ,blessed be ,,god6 we are not in danger of being called before such persecuting ,trajans now3 under our present mild and happy administration1 the scourge of the tongue is all that they can legally lash us with4 ,but if permitted to go farther1 we need not be ashamed of witnessing this good confession4 ,suffering grace will be given for suffering times2 and if1 like ,ignatius1 we are bearers of ,,god1 we also shall be enabled to say with him1 when led to the devouring lions1 ,now ,i begin to be a disciple of ,,christ4 ,but it is time for me1 ,secondly1 ,to make some practical improvement of what has been delivered4 ,you have heard in what sense it is that real christians are 8the temple of the living ,,god40 ,shall ,i ask1 ,believe ye these things8 ,i know and am persuaded that some of you do indeed believe them1 not because ,i have told you1 but because you yourselves have experienced the same4 ,i congratulate you from my inmost soul4 ,o that your hearts may be in tune this day to 8magnify the ,,lord10 and your spirits prepared to 8rejoice in ,,god your ,saviour40 ,like the ,virgin ,mary1 you are highly favoured1 and from henceforth all the generations of ,,god's people shall call you blessed4 ,you can call ,,christ1 ,lord1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 and thereby have an internal1 as well as external evidence of the divinity1 both of his person1 and of his holy word4 ,you can now prove that despised book1 emphatically called ,the ,scriptures1 doth contain the perfect and acceptable will of ,,god4 ,you have found the second ,adam to be a quickening spirit2 ,he hath raised you from death to life4 ,and being thus taught1 and born of ,,god1 however unlearned in other respects1 you can say1 8,is not this the ,,christ80 ,o ineffable blessing6 inconceivable privilege6 ,,god's spirit witnesseth with your spirits1 that you are the children of ,,god4 ,when you think of this1 are you not ready to cry out with the beloved disciple1 8,what manner of love is this1 that we should be called the children of ,,god60 ,i believe that holy man was in an extasy when he wrote these words2 and tho' he has been in heaven so long1 yet his extatic surprize is but now beginning1 and will be but as beginning through the ages of eternity4 ,thus shall it be with all you likewise1 whom the high and lofty ,one1 that inhabiteth eternity1 hath made his living temples4 ,for ,he hath sealed you to the day of redemption1 and hath given you the earnest of your future inheritance4 ,his eyes and heart shall therefore be upon you continually3 and in spite of all opposition from men or devils1 the top-stone of this spiritual building shall be brought forth1 and you shall shout ,grace1 grace unto it3 your bodies shall be fashioned like unto the ,redeemer's glorious body1 and your souls1 in which 7,o infinite condescension67 ,he now delights to dwell1 shall be filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,you shall then go no more out2 you shall then no more need the light of the sun or the light of the moon1 for the ,,lord himself will be your temple1 and the ,lamb in the midst thereof shall be your glory4 ,dearly beloved in the ,,lord1 what say you to these things8 ,do not your hearts burn within you whilst thinking of these deep1 but glorious truths of ,,god4 ,whilst ,i am musing1 and speaking of them1 methinks a fire kindles even in this cold1 icy heart of mine3 ,o what shall we render unto the ,,lord for all these mercies6 ,surely ,he hath done great things for us3 ,how great is his goodness1 and his bounty6 ,o the heighth1 the depth1 the length1 and the breadth of the love of ,,god6 ,surely it passeth knowledge4 ,o for humility6 and a soul-abasing1 ,,god-exalting sense of these things6 ,when the blessed virgin went into the hill country1 to pay a visit to her cousin ,elizabeth1 amazed at such a favour1 she cried out1 8,whence is it that the mother of my ,,lord vouchsafes to come to me80 ,and when the great ,jehovah filled the temple with his glory1 out of the abundance of his heart1 king ,solomon burst forth into this pathetic exclamation1 8,but will ,,god in very deed dwell with men on the earth80 ,with how much greater astonishment ought we to say1 ,and will the ,,lord himself in very deed come to us8 ,will the high and lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 dwell in1 and make our earthly hearts his living temples8 ,my brethren1 whence is this8 ,from any fitness in us foreseen8 ,no1 ,i know you disclaim such an unbecoming thought4 ,was it then from the improvement of our own free-will8 ,no1 ,i am persuaded you will not thus debase the riches of ,,god's free grace4 ,are you not all ready to say1 ,not unto us1 not unto us1 but unto thy free1 thy unmerited1 thy sovereign1 distinguishing love and mercy1 ,o ,,lord1 be all the glory4 ,it is this1 and this alone1 hath made the difference between us and others4 ,we have nothing but what is freely given us from above3 if we love ,,god1 it is because ,,god first loved us4 ,let us look then unto the rock from whence we have been hewn1 and the hole of the pit from whence we have been digged4 ,and if there be any consolation in ,,christ1 if any comfort of love1 if any fellowship of the spirit1 if any bowels and mercies1 let us study and strive to walk as becometh those who are made the temples of the living ,,god1 or1 as the apostle elsewhere expresseth himself1 8a holy temple unto the ,,lord40 ,what manner of persons ought such to be in all holy conversation and godliness8 ,how holily and how purely should we live6 ,as our apostle argues in another place1 8,for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness8 ,what communion hath light with darkness8 ,or what concord hath ,,christ with ,belial80 ,shall those who are temples of the living ,,god1 suffer themselves to be dens of thieves and cages of unclean birds8 ,shall vain unchaste thoughts be suffered to dwell within them8 much less shall any thing that is impure be conceived or acted by them8 ,shall we provoke the ,,lord to jealousy8 ,,god forbid6 ,we all know with what distinguished ardor our blessed ,redeemer purged an earthly temple2 a zeal for his father's house even eat him up3 with what a holy vehemence did he overturn the tables of the money-changers1 and scourge the buyers and sellers out before him6 ,why8 ,they made his father's house a house of merchandise3 they had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves4 8spirituaul0 replaced with 8spiritual0 ,o my brethren1 how often have you and ,i been guilty of this great evil8 ,how often have the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 and the pride of life1 insensibly stolen away our hearts from ,,god8 ,once they were indeed houses of prayer2 faith1 hope1 love1 peace1 joy1 and all the other fruits of the blessed ,spirit lodged within them2 but now1 ,o now1 it may be1 thieves and robbers4 ,hinc ill lachrym4 ,hence those hidings of ,,god's face1 that dryness1 and deadness1 and barrenness of soul1 those wearisome nights and days1 which many of us have felt from time to time1 and have been made to groan under4 ,hence those dolorous and heart-breaking complaints1 8,o that ,i knew where ,i might find him6 ,o that it was with me as in days of old1 when the candle of the ,,lord shone bright upon my soul60 ,hence those domestic trials1 those personal losses and disappointments3 and to this perhaps some of us may add1 hence all those public rebukes with which we have been visited3 they are all only as so many scourges of small cords in the loving ,redeemer's hands1 to scourge the buyers and sellers out of the temple of our hearts4 ,o that we may know the rod and who hath appointed it6 ,he hath chastised us with whips3 may we be wise1 and by a more close and circumspect walk prevent his chastising us in time to come with scorpions6 ,but who is sufficient for this thing8 ,none but thou1 ,o ,,lord1 to whom alone all hearts are open1 all desires known1 and from whom no secrets are hidden6 ,cleanse thou therefore the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy blessed ,spirit1 that henceforward we may more perfectly love thee1 and more worthily magnify thy holy name6 ,but are not some of you ready to object1 and to fear1 that the ,,lord hath forgotten to be gracious1 that he hath shut up his loving kindness in displeasure1 and that he will be no more entreated8 ,thus the psalmist once thought1 when visited for his backslidings with ,,god's heavy hand4 ,but he acknowledged this to be his infirmity2 and whether you think of it or no1 ,i tell you1 this is your infirmity4 ,o ye dejected1 desponding1 distrustful souls1 hear ye the word of the ,,lord1 and call to mind his wonderful declarations of old to his people4 8,i1 even ,i am ,he that blotteth out thy transgressions3 for a small moment have ,i forsaken thee1 but with everlasting mercies will ,i gather thee4 ,can a woman forget her sucking child8 ,yes she may1 but the ,,lord will not forget you1 ,o ye of little faith1 ,for as a father pitieth his own children1 so doth the ,,lord pity them that fear him4 ,how shall ,i give thee up1 ,o ,ephraim8 ,how shall ,i make thee as ,admah8 ,how shall ,i set thee as ,zeboim80 ,and what is the result of all these interrogations8 8,my repentings are kindled together3 ,i will not return to execute the fierceness of my anger against ,ephraim3 for ,i am ,,god1 and not man40 ,and is not the language of all these endearing passages1 like that of ,joseph to his self-convicted1 troubled brethren8 8,come near to me40 ,o that it may be said of you1 as it is said of them1 8,and they came near unto him40 ,then should you find by happy experience1 that the ,,lord1 the ,,lord ,,god1 merciful and gracious1 is indeed slow to anger and of great kindness1 and repenteth him of the evil4 ,who knows but he may come down this day1 this hour1 nay this moment1 and suddenly revisit the temple of your hearts8 ,who knows but he may revive his work in your precious souls1 cause you to return to your first love1 help you to do your first works1 and even exceed your hopes1 and cause the glory of this second visitation even to surpass that glory which filled your hearts1 in that happy1 never to be forgotten day1 in which he first vouchsafed to make you his living temples8 ,even so1 ,father1 let it seem good in thy sight6 ,but the improvement of our subject must not end here4 ,hitherto ,i have been giving bread to the children2 and it is my meat and drink so to do3 but must nothing be said to those of you who are without8 ,i mean to such who cannot yet say1 that they are 8the temple of the living ,,god40 ,and ,o how great1 put you all together1 may the number of you be3 by far1 in all probability1 the greatest part of this auditory4 ,say not ,i am uncharitable2 the ,,god of truth1 hath said it1 8,strait is the gate1 and narrow is the way1 which leadeth unto life1 and few there be that find it40 ,suffer me to speak plainly to you1 my brethren2 you have heard what has been said upon the words of our text1 and what must be wrought in us1 ere we can truly say that we are 8the temple of the living ,,god40 ,is it so with you8 ,are ye separated from the world and worldly tempers8 ,are your hearts become houses of prayer8 ,doth the ,spirit of ,,god dwell in your souls8 and whether you eat or drink1 or whatsoever you do1 as to the habitual bent of your minds1 do you do all to the glory of ,,god8 ,these are short1 but plain1 and let me tell you very important questions4 ,what answer can you make to them8 ,say not1 8,go thy way1 and at a more convenient season ,i will call for thee40 ,i will not1 ,i must not suffer you to put me off so2 ,i demand an answer in the name of the ,,lord of ,hosts4 ,what say ye8 ,methinks1 ,i hear you say1 8,we have been dedicated to ,,god in baptism1 we go to church or meeting1 we say our prayers1 repeat our creeds1 or have subscribed the articles1 and the confession of faith2 we are quite orthodox1 and great friends to the doctrines of grace2 we do no body any harm1 we are honest moral people1 we are church-members1 we keep up family-prayer1 and constantly go to the table of the ,,lord40 ,all these things are good in their places4 ,but thus far1 nay much farther may you go1 and yet be far from the kingdom of ,,god4 ,the unprofitable servant did no one any harm2 and the foolish virgins had a lamp of an outward profession1 and went up even to heaven's gate1 calling ,,christ1 8,lord1 ,lord40 ,these things may make you whited sepulchres1 but not 8the temples of the living ,,god40 ,alas6 ,alas6 one thing you yet lack1 the one chief thing1 and without which all is nothing2 ,i mean the indwelling of ,,god's blessed ,spirit1 without which you can never become 8the temples of the living ,,god40 8churc-hmembers0 replaced with 8church-members0 ,awake therefore1 ye deceived formalists1 awake2 who1 vainly puffed up with your model of performances1 boastingly cry out1 8,the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord1 the temple of the ,,lord are we40 ,awake1 ye outward-court worshippers3 ye are building on a sandy foundation3 take heed lest you also go to hell by the very door of heaven4 ,behold1 and remember1 ,i have told you before4 ,and as for you who have done none of these things1 who instead of making an outward profession of religion1 have as it were renounced your baptism1 proclaim your sin like ,sodom1 and wilfully and daringly live as without ,,god in the world2 ,i ask you1 how can you think to escape1 if you persist in neglecting such a great salvation4 ,verily1 ,i should utterly despair of your ever attaining the blessed privilege of being temples of the living ,,god1 did ,i not hear of thousands1 who through the grace of ,,god have been translated from a like state of darkness into his marvellous light4 ,such1 says the apostle ,paul1 writing to these very ,corinthians who were now ,,god's living temples1 7drunkards1 whoremongers1 adulterers1 and such like7 8such were some of you4 ,but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and by the ,spirit of our ,,god40 ,o that the same blessed ,spirit may this day vouchsafe to come and pluck you also as brands out of the burning6 ,behold1 ,i warn you to flee from the wrath to come4 ,go home1 and meditate on these things2 and think whether it is not infinitely better1 even here1 to be temples of the living ,,god1 than to be bond-slaves to every brutish lust1 and to be led captive by the devil at his will4 ,the ,,lord ,,jesus can1 and if you fly to him for refuge1 he will set your souls at liberty4 ,he hath led captivity captive1 he hath ascended up on high1 on purpose to receive this gift of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god for men1 8even for the rebellious10 that he might dwell in your hearts by faith here1 and thereby prepare you to dwell with ,him and all the heavenly host in his kingdom hereafter4 ,that this may be the happy lot of you all1 may ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 for the sake of his dear ,son ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord2 to whom with the ,father1 and the blessed ,spirit1 three persons1 but one ,,god1 be ascribed all power1 might1 majesty1 and dominion1 now and for evermore4 ,amen6 and ,amen6 ,,sermon ,,li4 ,,christ the only ,preservative against a ,reprobate ,spirit4 #b ,,corinthians xiii4 #e4 ,know ye not your ownselves1 how that ,,jesus ,,christ is in you1 except ye be ,reprobates4 ,,the doctrines of the gospel are doctrines of peace1 and they bring comfort to all who believe in them2 they are not like the law given by ,moses1 which consisted of troublesome and painful ceremonies2 neither do they carry with them that terror which the law did2 as1 8cursed is every one who continueth not to do all things which are written in the book of the law30 ,if you were to keep the whole law1 and break but in one point1 you are guilty of the breach of all4 ,the law denounces threatnings against all who do not conform to her strict commands2 but the gospel is a declaration of grace1 peace and mercy2 here you have an account of the blood of ,,christ1 blood which speaketh better things than that of ,abel2 for ,abel's blood cried aloud for vengeance1 vengeance3 ,but ,,jesus ,,christ's crieth mercy1 mercy1 mercy upon the guilty sinner4 ,if he comes to ,,christ1 confesses and forsakes his sin1 then ,,jesus will have mercy upon him3 ,and if1 my brethren1 you are but sensible of your sins1 convinced of your iniquities1 and feel yourselves lost1 undone sinners1 and come and tell ,,christ of your lost condition1 you will soon find how ready he is to help you2 he will give you his spirit2 and if you have his spirit you cannot be reprobates3 you will find his spirit to be quickening and refreshing2 not like the spirit of the world1 a spirit of reproach1 envy1 and all uncharitableness4 ,most of your own experiences will confirm the truth hereof2 for are not you reproached and slandered1 and does not the world say all manner of evil against you1 merely because you follow ,,jesus ,,christ2 because you will not go to the same excess of riot with them8 ,while they are singing the songs of the drunkard1 you are singing psalms and hymns3 while they are at a playhouse1 you are hearing a sermon3 while they are drinking1 revelling and mispending their precious time1 and hastening on their own destruction1 you are reading1 praying1 meditating1 and working out your salvation with fear and trembling4 ,this is matter enough for a world to reproach you2 you are not polite and fashionable enough for them4 ,if you will live godly1 you must suffer persecution2 you must not expect to go through this world without being persecuted and reviled4 ,if you were of the world1 the world would love you2 for it always loves its own2 but if you are not of the world1 it will hate you2 it has done so in all ages1 it never loved any but those who were pleased with its vanities and allurements4 ,it has been the death of many a lover of ,,jesus1 merely because they have loved him3 ,and1 therefore1 my brethren1 do not be surprized if you meet with a fiery trial1 for all those things will be a means of sending you to your master the sooner4 ,the spirit of the world is hatred2 that of ,,christ is love3 the spirit of the world is vexation2 that of ,,christ is pleasure3 the spirit of the world is sorrow2 that of ,,christ is joy3 the spirit of the world is evil1 and that of ,,christ is good3 the spirit of the world will never satisfy us1 but ,,christ's spirit is all satisfaction3 the spirit of the world is misery2 that of ,,christ is ease4 ,in one word1 the spirit of the world has nothing lasting2 but the spirit of ,,christ is durable1 and will last through an eternity of ages3 the spirit of ,,christ will remove every difficulty1 satisfy every doubt1 and be a means of bringing you to himself1 to live with him for ever and ever4 ,from the words of my text1 ,i shall shew you1 ,i4 ,the necessity of receiving the spirit of ,,christ4 ,,ii4 ,who ,,christ is1 whose spirit you are to receive1 ,and then ,shall conclude with an exhortation to all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 to come unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 and to beg that you may receive his spirit1 so that you may not be reprobates4 ,first1 ,i am to shew you the necessity there is of receiving the spirit of ,,christ4 ,and here1 my brethren1 it will be necessary to consider you as in your first state2 that is1 when ,,god first created ,adam1 and placed him in the garden of ,eden1 and gave him a privilege of eating of all the trees in the garden1 except the tree of knowledge of good and evil1 which stood in the midst thereof4 ,our first parents had not been long in this state of innocence1 before they fell from it1 they broke the divine commands1 and involved all their posterity in guilt2 for as ,adam was our representative1 so we were to stand or fall in him2 and as he was our fderal head1 his falling involved all our race under the power of death1 for death came into the world by sin2 and we all became liable to the eternal punishment due from ,,god1 for man's disobedience to the divine command4 ,now as man had sinned1 and a satisfaction was demanded1 it was impossible for a finite creature to satisfy him1 who was a ,,god of so strict purity as not to behold iniquity3 ,and man by the justice of ,,god would have been sent down into the pit1 which was prepared of old for the devil and his angels2 but when justice was going to pass the irrevocable sentence1 then the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ came and offered himself a ransom for poor sinners4 ,here was admirable condescension of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ6 that he who was in the bosom of his father1 should come down from all that glory1 to die for such rebels as you and ,i are1 who if it lay in our power1 would pull the ,almighty from his throne3 ,now can you think that if there was no need of ,,christ's death1 can you think that if there could have been any other ransom found1 whereby poor sinners might have been saved1 ,,god would not have spared his only begotten ,son1 and not have delivered him up for all that believe in him8 ,this1 my brethren1 ,i think proves to a demonstration1 that it was necessary for ,,christ to die3 ,but consider1 it will be of no service to know that ,,christ died for sinners1 if you do not accept of his spirit1 that you may be sanctified1 and fitted for the reception of that ,,jesus1 who died for all those who believe in him4 ,the sin of your nature1 your original sin1 is sufficient to sink you into torments1 of which there will be no end2 therefore unless you receive the spirit of ,,christ you are reprobates1 and you cannot be saved3 ,nothing short of the blood of ,,jesus applied to your souls1 will make you happy to all eternity3 ,then1 seeing this is so absolutely necessary1 that you cannot be saved without having received the spirit of ,,christ1 but that ye are reprobates1 do not rest contented 'till you have good hopes1 through grace1 that the good work is begun in your souls2 that you have received a pardon for your sins2 that ,,christ came down from heaven1 died1 and made satisfaction for your sins4 ,don't flatter yourselves that a little morality will be sufficient to save you2 that going to church1 or prayers1 and sacrament1 and doing all the duties of religion in an external manner1 will ever carry you to heaven2 no1 you must have grace in your hearts2 there must be a change of the whole man4 ,you must be born again1 and become new creatures1 and have the spirit of ,,christ within you3 ,and until you have that spirit of ,,christ1 however you may think to the contrary1 and please yourselves in your own imagination1 ,i say1 you are no better than reprobates4 ,you may content yourselves with leading civil1 outward decent lives1 but what will that avail you1 unless you have the spirit of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ in your hearts3 ,his kingdom must be set up in your souls2 there must be the life of ,,god in the soul of man1 else you belong not to the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and until you belong to him1 you are reprobates4 ,this may seem as enthusiasm to some of you1 but if it is so1 it is what the apostle ,paul taught2 and therefore1 my brethren1 they are the words of truth4 ,i beseech you1 in the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 not to despise these words1 as if they do not concern you1 but were only calculated for the first ages of christianity1 and1 therefore1 of no signification3 ,if you think thus1 you are wronging your own souls2 for whatever is written1 was written for you in these times1 as well as for the christians in the first ages of the church4 ,for the case stands thus between ,,god and man3 ,,god1 at first1 made man upright1 or1 as the sacred penman expresses it1 8,in the image of ,,god made he man20 his soul was the very copy1 the transcript of the divine nature4 ,he who had1 by his almighty power1 spoken the world into being1 breathed into man the breath of spiritual life2 and his soul became adorned with purity and perfection4 ,this was the finishing stroke of the creation2 the perfection both of the moral and material world2 and it so resembled the divine ,original1 that ,,god could not but rejoice and take pleasure in his own likeness3 ,therefore1 we read1 that when ,,god had finished the inanimate and brutish part of the creation1 8he looked1 and behold it was good40 ,but when that lovely1 god-like creature man was made1 8behold it was very good40 ,happy1 unspeakably happy1 to be thus partaker of a divine ,nature2 and thus man might have continued still1 had he continued holy2 but ,,god placed him in a state of probation1 with a free grant to eat of every tree in the garden1 except the tree of knowledge of good and evil4 ,the day he did eat thereof he was not only to become subject to temporal1 but spiritual death2 and so lose that divine image1 that spiritual life which ,,god had breathed into him1 and which was as much his happiness as his glory4 ,but man1 unhappy man1 being seduced by the devil1 did eat of the forbidden fruit1 and thereby became liable to that curse which the eternal ,,god had pronounced on him for his disobedience4 ,and we read1 that soon after ,adam was fallen1 he complained that he was naked2 naked1 not only as to his body1 but naked and destitute of those divine graces which before beautified his soul4 ,an unhappy mutiny and disorder then fell upon this world2 those briars and thorns which now spring up and overspread the earth1 were but poor emblems1 lifeless representations of that confusion and rebellion which sprung up in1 and overwhelmed1 the soul of man1 immediately after the fall4 ,he now sunk into the temper of a beast and devil4 ,in this dreadful and disordered condition are all of us brought into the world3 ,we are told1 my brethren1 that 8,adam had a son in his own likeness10 or with the same corrupt nature which he himself had sunk into1 after eating the forbidden fruit3 ,and experience1 as well as scripture1 proves1 that we are altogether born in sin1 and1 therefore1 uncapable1 whilst in such a state1 to have communion with ,,god4 ,for as light cannot have communion with darkness1 so ,,god can have no communion with such polluted sons of ,belial4 ,here1 here1 appears the great and glorious end1 why ,,christ was manifest in the flesh1 to put an end to these disorders1 and to restore us unto the favour of ,,god4 ,he came down from heaven and shed his precious blood upon the cross1 to satisfy the divine justice of his ,father1 for our sins2 and so1 he purchased this ,holy ,ghost1 who must once more re-stamp the divine image on our hearts1 and make us capable of living with1 and enjoying of ,,god4 ,we must be renewed by the spirit of ,,god2 he must dwell in us before we can be new creatures1 and be freed from a reprobate spirit3 the spirit of ,,christ must bring us home unto that fold where all his sheep are1 and implant his grace in our hearts1 and take from us that spirit of sin which reigns in us3 ,and till this is rooted out of our hearts1 however we may flatter ourselves with being good christians1 because we are good moralists1 and lead civil1 moral1 decent lives1 yet if we live and die1 my brethren1 in this way1 we are only flattering ourselves into hell4 ,i think ,i have proved1 to a demonstration1 the necessity there is of receiving the spirit of ,,christ4 ,i now come to shew you1 ,secondly1 ,who ,,christ is1 whose spirit you are to receive4 ,my brethren1 ,,jesus ,,christ is co-equal1 co-essential1 co-eternal1 and consubstantial with the ,father1 very ,,god of very ,,god2 and as there was not a moment of time in which ,,god the ,father was not1 so there was not a moment of time in which ,,god the ,son was not4 ,arians and ,socinians deny this godhead of ,,christ1 and esteem him only as a creature3 ,the ,arians look on him as a titular ,deity1 as a created and subordinate ,god2 but1 if they would humbly search the scriptures they would find divine homage paid to ,,christ4 ,he is called ,,god in scripture1 particularly when the great evangelical ,prophet says1 8,he shall be called the mighty ,,god1 the everlasting ,father1 and the government shall be upon his shoulders30 ,and ,,jesus ,,christ himself says1 that he is 8the ,alpha and ,omega20 and that 8the world was made by him30 ,but though this be ever so plain1 our gay airy sparks of this age will not believe the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ to be equal with his ,father1 and that for no other reason1 but because it is a fashionable and polite doctrine to deny his divinity1 and esteem him only as a created ,god4 ,our ,socinians do not go so far2 they look upon ,,christ only to be a good man sent from ,,god1 to shew the people the way they should go1 on their forsaking of ,judaism2 that he was to be also an example to the world1 and that his death was only to prove the truth of his doctrines4 ,many of those who call themselves members1 yea1 teachers of the church of ,england1 have got into this polite scheme4 ,good ,,god6 my very soul shudders at the thoughts of the consequence that will attend such a belief4 ,o my brethren1 do not think so dishonourably of the ,,lord who bought you2 of the ,,jesus who died for you3 he must be all in all unto your souls1 if ever you are saved by him3 ,,christ must be your active1 as well as passive obedience2 his righteousness must be imputed to you4 ,the doctrine of ,,christ's righteousness being imputed1 is a comfortable1 a desirable doctrine to all real christians3 ,and to you1 sinners1 who are enquiring what you must do to be saved8 how uncomfortable would it be to tell you1 by your own good works1 when1 perhaps1 you have never done one good work in all your lives3 ,this would be driving you to despair indeed2 no1 8believe in the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ and you shall be saved20 come to the ,,lord ,,jesus by faith1 and he shall receive you4 ,he is able and willing to save you4 ,this second person in the ,trinity1 who is ,god-man1 the mediator of the new covenant2 he1 my brethren1 hath virtue enough1 in his blood1 to atone for the sins of millions of worlds3 ,as man he died1 he was crucified1 nailed to1 and pierced on the accursed tree3 ,this was the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ for you2 and will you then have low and dishonourable thoughts of ,,jesus ,,christ1 after his having done so much for you8 ,o my dear brethren1 don't be so polite as to deny the ,deity of ,,christ2 though you may be counted fools in the eye of the world1 yet in ,,god's account1 you shall be esteemed wise1 wise for salvation4 ,you may now be looked upon as fools and madmen1 as a parcel of rabble1 and1 in a short time1 fit for ,bedlam4 ,they may say you are going to undermine the established church2 but ,,god1 who knows the secrets of all hearts1 knows our innocency2 and ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not1 ,i should rejoice to see all the world adhere to her articles2 ,i should rejoice to see the teachers1 the ministers of the church of ,england1 preach up those very articles they have subscribed to2 but those ministers who do preach them up1 they esteem as madmen1 and look on them1 as the off-scouring of the earth1 unfit for company and conversation4 ,the evil things they say of me1 blessed be ,,god1 are without foundation2 ,i am a friend to the church homilies2 ,i am a friend to her liturgy1 and if they did not thrust me out of their churches1 ,i would read it every day4 ,my brethren1 ,i am not for limiting the spirit of ,,god1 but am for uniting all in the bonds of love2 ,i love all that love the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 ,this will make more christians1 than will the spirit of persecution4 ,the ,pharisees may think it madness to mention persecution in a christian country1 but the spirit of persecution resides in many3 their will is as great1 but blessed be ,,god1 they want the power2 if they had that1 my brethren1 fire and faggot is what we must expect1 for the devil's temple is shaken4 ,many are coming unto ,,jesus1 ,i hope many of you are already come1 and many more coming2 this must make ,satan rage1 to see his kingdom weakened2 he will stir up all his malice against the people of ,,god4 ,we must expect1 that a suffering time will certainly come2 it is now hastening on1 it is ripening a-pace2 then it will be proved1 to a demonstration1 whether you are hypocrites or not2 for suffering times are always trying times4 ,o my brethren1 do not be afraid of a little reproach1 but look on it as a fore-runner of what will be the attendant upon it3 ,therefore let me1 by way of application1 ,exhort all of you1 high and low1 rich and poor1 one with another1 to come unto the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 that he may give you strength to undergo whatsoever he1 in his wisdom1 calls you to4 ,come1 come1 my brethren1 to ,,jesus ,,christ1 and he will give you grace1 which will make you willing and ready to suffer all things for ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,it is not being pointed at2 it is not being despised and looked on as mad1 and a deluded people3 ,alas6 what does this signify to a soul who has ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,do not be afraid to confess the blessed ,,jesus2 dare to be singularly good3 ,don't be afraid of singing of hymns1 or of meeting together to build each other up in the ways of the ,,lord3 ,shine ye as lights in the world amidst a crooked and perverse generation4 ,it is necessary that offences should come1 to try what is in our hearts1 and whether we will be faithful soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ or not3 ,be not content with following ,,christ afar off1 for then we shall1 as ,peter did1 soon deny him2 but let us be altogether christians4 ,let our speech and all our actions declare to the whole world1 whose disciples we are1 and that we have determined to know nothing but ,,jesus ,,christ1 and him crucified4 ,o then1 then1 will it be well with us1 happy1 unspeakably happy1 shall we be1 even here2 and what is infinitely better1 when others that despised us shall be calling for the mountains to fall on them1 and the hills to cover them1 we shall be exalted to sit down on the right hand of ,,god1 and shine as the sun in the firmament1 and live for ever with our ,redeemer4 ,and will not this be a sufficient recompence for all the sufferings you have undergone here8 ,therefore1 do not strive to have the greatness1 the riches1 the honour1 and pleasures of this world1 but strive to have ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,your friends and carnal acquaintance1 and1 above all1 your grand adversary the devil1 will be persuading you not to have ,,christ until you are grown old2 he would have you lay up goods for many years2 to see plays1 play at cards2 go to balls1 and masquerades2 and to make you the more willing1 to draw you in1 he calls sinful pleasures1 innocent diversions4 ,a late learned ,rabbi of our church1 told the people1 in a sermon1 which ,i myself heard1 that if people went to church of a ,sunday1 and said the prayers while there1 that it was no harm1 neither would ,,god count it a sin1 to take their recreation1 after the service of the church was over3 ,but ,i say1 my brethren1 and the command of ,,god says so too1 that the whole sabbath must be kept holy2 and that as ,,god has allowed you six days for yourselves1 to do the duties in those several stations wherein ,providence has placed you1 he expects you should give him one day to himself2 and will you waste that sabbath which should be spent in gathering provisions for your souls8 ,,god forbid6 ,you had ten thousand times better be ignorant of all the polite diversions of the age1 than to be ignorant of the spirit of ,,christ's being within you1 and that it must be1 before you are new creatures1 and are in ,,christ2 and if you have not an interest in ,,christ1 you are lost1 your damnation is hastening on4 8,he that believeth shall be saved1 and he that believeth not shall be damned40 ,if you stand out against ,,christ1 you are fighting against yourselves4 ,o come unto him1 do not stay to bring good works with you1 for they will be of no service2 all your works will never carry you to heaven1 they will never pardon one sin1 nor give you the least comfort in a dying hour2 if you have nothing more than your own works to recommend you to ,,god1 they will not prevent your sinking into that eternal abyss1 where there is no bottom4 ,but come unto ,,christ1 and he will give you that righteousness which will stand you in good account at the great day of the ,,lord1 when he shall come to take notice of them that love him1 and of those who have the wedding garment on4 ,let all your actions spring from the love of ,,jesus2 let him be the ,alpha and ,omega of all your actions2 then1 my brethren1 our indifferent ones are acceptable sacrifices2 but if this principle be wanting1 our most pompous services avail nothing2 we are only spiritual idolaters3 we sacrifice to our own net1 and make an idol of ourselves1 by making ourselves1 and not ,,christ1 the spring of our actions2 and therefore1 my brethren1 such actions are so far from being accepted by ,,god1 that according to the language of one of the articles of our church1 8,we doubt not but that they have the nature of sin1 because they spring not from an experimental faith in1 and knowledge of ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,were we not fallen creatures1 we might then act upon other principles2 but since we are fallen in ,adam1 and are restored again only by the death of ,,jesus ,,christ1 the face of things is intirely changed1 and all we think1 speak1 or do1 is only accepted in and through him1 ,therefore1 my brethren1 ,i beseech you1 in the bowels of love and compassion1 that you would come unto ,,jesus3 ,do not go away scoffing1 offended1 or blaspheming4 ,indeed1 all ,i say is in love to your souls2 and if ,i could be but an instrument of bringing you to ,,jesus ,,christ1 if you were to be never so much exalted1 ,i should not envy1 but rejoice in your happiness3 ,if ,i was to make up the last of the train of the companions of the blessed ,,jesus1 it would rejoice me to see you above me in glory4 ,i do not speak out of a false humility1 a pretended sanctity2 no1 ,,god is my judge1 ,i speak the truth in ,,christ1 ,i lie not1 ,i would willingly go to prison1 or to death for you1 so ,i could but bring one soul from the devil's strong holds1 into the salvation which is by ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,come then unto ,,christ every one that hears me this night2 ,i offer ,,jesus ,,christ1 pardon1 and salvation to all you1 who will accept thereof4 ,come1 ,o ye drunkards1 lay aside your cups1 drink no more to excess2 come and drink of the water which ,,christ will give you1 and then you will thirst no more3 come1 ,o ye thieves2 let him that has stolen1 steal no more1 but fly unto ,,christ and he will receive you4 ,come unto him1 ,o ye harlots2 lay aside your lusts and turn unto the ,,lord1 and he will have mercy upon you1 he will cleanse you of all your sins1 and wash you in his blood4 ,come1 all ye liars2 come1 all ye ,pharisees2 come1 all ye fornicators1 adulterers1 swearers1 and blasphemers1 come to ,,christ1 and he will take away all your filth1 he will cleanse you from your pollution1 and your sins shall be done away4 ,come1 come1 my guilty brethren2 ,i beseech you for ,,christ's sake1 and for your immortal soul's sake1 to come unto ,,christ3 ,do not let me knock at the door of your hearts in vain1 but open and let the ,king of ,glory in1 and he will dwell with you1 he will come and sup with you this night2 this hour1 this moment he is ready to receive you1 therefore come unto him4 ,do not consult with flesh and blood1 let not the world hinder you from coming to the ,,lord of life3 ,what are a few transitory pleasures of this life worth8 ,they are not worth your having1 but ,,jesus ,,christ is a pearl of great price1 he is worth the laying out all you have1 to buy4 ,and if you are under afflictions1 fly not to company to divert you1 neither read what the world calls harmless books2 they only tend to harden the heart1 and to keep you from closing with the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,when ,i was a child1 yea1 when ,i came to riper years1 ,,god knows1 it is with grief ,i speak it1 when ignorant of the excellency of the word of ,,god1 ,i read as many of these harmless books as any one2 but now ,i have tasted the good word of life1 and am come to a more perfect knowledge of ,,christ ,,jesus my ,,lord2 ,i put away these childish1 trifling things1 and am determined to read no other books but what lead me to a knowledge of myself1 and ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,methinks ,i could speak till midnight unto you1 my brethren2 ,i am full of love towards you2 let me beseech you to fly to ,,christ for succour3 8,now is the accepted time1 now is the day of salvation20 therefore delay not1 but strive to enter in at the strait gate2 do not go the broad way of the polite world1 but choose to suffer affliction with the people of ,,god1 rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season3 ,you will have a reward afterwards1 that will make amends for all the taunts1 jeers1 and calamities you may undergo here4 ,and will not the presence of ,,christ be a sufficient reward for all you have suffered for his name's sake8 ,why will you not accept of the ,,lord of glory8 ,do not say you have not heard of ,,christ1 for he is now offered to you1 and you will not accept of him2 do not blame my master1 he is willing to save you1 if you will but lay hold on him by faith2 and if you do not1 your blood will be required of your own heads4 ,but ,i hope that you will not let the blood of ,,jesus be shed in vain1 and that you will not let my preaching be of no signification4 ,would you have me go and tell my master1 you will not come1 and that ,i have spent my strength in vain2 ,i cannot bear to carry so unpleasing a message unto him1 ,i would not1 indeed1 ,i would not be a swift witness against any of you at the great day of accounts2 but if you will refuse these gracious invitations1 and not accept of them1 ,i must do it3 and will it not move your tender hearts to see your friends taken up into heaven1 and you yourselves thrust down into hell8 ,but ,i hope better things of most of you1 even that you will turn unto the ,,lord of love1 the ,,jesus who died for you1 that in the day when he shall come to take his people to the mansions of everlasting rest1 you may hear his voice1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 enter into the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world40 ,and that we may all enter into that glory1 do thou1 ,o ,,jesus1 prepare us1 by thy grace2 give us thy spirit2 and may our hearts be united to thee3 ,may the word that has now been spoken1 take deep root in thy people's hearts1 that it may spring up and bring forth fruit1 in some thirty1 in some forty1 and in some an hundred fold2 do thou preserve them while in this life from all evil1 and keep them from falling1 and at last present them faultless before thy ,father1 when thou comest to judge the world1 that where thou art1 they may be also4 ,grant this1 ,o ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 with whatever else thou seest needful for us1 both at this time and for evermore4 ,now to ,,god the ,father1 ,,god the ,son1 and ,,god the ,holy ,ghost1 be ascribed all honour1 power1 glory1 might1 majesty and dominion1 both now and for evermore1 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,lii4 ,the heinous ,sin of ,drunkenness4 ,,ephesians v4 #ah4 ,be not drunk with ,wine1 wherein is ,excess2 but be filed with the ,spirit4 ,,the persons to whom these words were written1 were the inhabitants of ,ephesus1 as we are told in the ,acts1 had been worshippers of the great goddess ,diana1 and1 in all probability1 worshipped the ,god ,bacchus also2 at the celebration of whose festivals1 it was always customary1 nay1 part of their religion1 to get drunk2 as though there was no other way to please their ,god1 but by turning themselves into brutes4 8worshipppers0 replaced with 8worshippers0 ,the apostle therefore in this chapter1 amongst many other precepts more especially applicable to them1 lays down this in the text2 and exhorts them1 as they had now1 by the free grace of ,,god1 been turned from heathenish darkness to the light of the gospel1 to walk as children of light1 and no longer make it part of their religion or practice to be 8drunk with wine1 wherein is excess20 but1 on the contrary1 strive to 8be filled with the ,spirit0 of that ,saviour1 after whose name they were called1 and whose religion taught them to abstain from a filthy sin1 and to live soberly as they ought to live4 ,the world being now christian1 and the doctrines of the gospel every where received1 one would imagine1 there should be no reason for repeating the precept now before us4 ,but alas1 christians6 ,i mean christians falsely so called1 are led captive by all sin in general1 and by this of drunkenness in particular2 that was ,st4 ,paul to rise again from the dead1 he might be tempted to think most of us were turned back to the worship of dumb idols2 had set up temples in honour of ,bacchus2 and made it part of our religion1 as the ,ephesians did of theirs1 8to be drunk with wine1 wherein is excess40 ,some of our civil magistrates have not been wanting to use the power given them from above1 for the punishment and restraint of such evil doings2 and ,i wish it could be said this plague of drinking1 by what they have done1 had been stayed amongst us4 ,but alas6 though their labour1 we trust1 has not been altogether in vain in the ,,lord1 yet thousands1 and ,i could almost say ten thousands1 fall daily at our right-hand1 by this sin of drunkenness1 in our streets2 nay1 men seem to have made a covenant with hell1 and though the power of the civil magistrate is exerted against them1 nay1 though they cannot but daily see the companions of their riot hourly1 by this sin1 brought to the grave1 yet 8they will rise up early to follow strong drink1 and cry1 ,to-morrow shall be as to-day1 and so much the more abundantly2 when we awake1 we will seek it yet again40 ,it is high time therefore1 for thy ministers1 ,o ,,god1 to lift up their voices like a trumpet2 and since human threats cannot prevail1 to set before them the terrors of the ,,lord1 and try if these will not persuade them to cease from the evil of their doings4 ,but alas6 how shall ,i address myself to them8 ,i fear excess of drinking has made them such mere ,nabals1 that there is no speaking to them4 ,and many of ,,god's servants have toiled all their life-time in dissuading them from this sin of drunkenness1 yet they will not forbear4 ,however1 at thy command1 ,i will speak also1 though they be a rebellious house4 ,magnify thy strength1 ,o ,,lord1 in my weakness1 and grant that ,i may speak with such demonstration of the ,spirit1 and power1 that from henceforward they may cease to act so unwisely1 and this sin of drunkenness may not be their ruin4 ,believe me1 ye unhappy men of ,belial1 7for such1 alas6 this sin has made you7 it is not without the strongest reasons1 as well as utmost concern for your precious and immortal souls1 that ,i now conjure you1 in the ,apostle's words1 8,not to be drunk with wine1 or any other liquor1 wherein is excess40 ,for1 ,first1 ,drunkenness is a sin which must be highly displeasing to ,,god2 because it is an abuse of his good creatures4 ,when ,,god first made man1 and had breathed into him the breath of life1 he gave him dominion over the works of his hands2 and every herb bearing seed1 and every tree1 in which was the fruit of a tree yielding seed1 to him was given for meat3 but when ,adam had tasted the forbidden fruit1 which was the only restraint laid upon him1 he forfeited this privilege1 and had no right1 after he had disobeyed his ,creator1 to the use of any one of the creatures4 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 this charter1 as well as all other privileges1 is restored to us by the death of the second ,adam1 our ,,lord and ,master ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,of every beast of the field1 every fish of the sea1 and whatsoever flieth in the air1 or moveth on the face of the earth1 that is fit for food1 8we may freely eat10 without scruple take and eat2 but then1 with this limitation1 that we use them moderately4 ,for ,,god1 by the death of ,,jesus1 has given no man license to be intemperate2 but1 on the contrary1 has laid us under the strongest obligations to live soberly1 as well as godly1 in this present world4 ,but the drunkard1 despising the goodness and bounty of ,,god1 in restoring to us what we had so justly forfeited1 turns his grace into wantonness2 and as though the creature was not of itself enough subject to vanity1 by being cursed for our sake1 he abuses it still more1 by making it administer to his lusts2 and turns that wine which was intended to make glad his heart1 into a deadly poison4 ,but thinkest thou1 ,o drunkard1 whosoever thou art1 thou shalt escape the righteous judgment of ,,god8 ,no1 the time will shortly come that thou must be no longer steward1 and then the ,sovereign ,,lord of all the earth will reckon with thee for thus wasting his goods4 ,alas6 wilt thou then wrest scripture any longer to thy own damnation8 ,and because ,,jesus ,,christ turned water into wine at the marriage-feast1 to supply the wants of his indigent host1 say1 that it is therefore meet to make merry1 and be drunken4 ,no1 thou shalt be silent before him2 and know1 that though thou hast encouraged thyself in drunkenness by such-like arguments1 yet for all these things ,,god will bring thee into judgment4 ,but1 ,secondly1 ,what makes drunkenness more exceedingly sinful1 is1 that a man1 by falling into it1 sinneth against his own body4 ,when the apostle would dissuade the ,corinthians from fornication1 he urges this as an argument1 8,flee fornication1 brethren2 for he that committeth fornication1 sinneth against his own body40 ,and may not ,i as justly cry out1 ,flee drunkenness1 my brethren1 since he that committeth that crime1 sinneth against his own body8 ,for1 from whence come so many diseases and distempers in your bodies8 ,come they not from hence1 even from your intemperance in drinking8 ,who hath pains in the head8 ,who hath rottenness in the bones8 ,who hath redness of eyes8 ,he that tarries long at the wine1 he that rises early to seek new wine4 ,how many walking skeletons have you seen1 whose bodies were once exceeding fair to look upon1 fat and well-favoured2 but1 by this sin of drinking1 how has their beauty departed from them1 and how have they been permitted to walk to and fro upon the earth1 as though ,,god intended to set them up1 as he did ,lot's wife1 for monuments of his justice1 that others might learn not to get drunk8 ,nay1 ,i appeal to yourselves3 are not many1 for this cause1 even now sickly among you8 ,and have not many of your companions1 whom you once saw so flourishing1 like green bay trees1 been brought by it with sorrow to their graves8 ,we might1 perhaps1 think ourselves hardly dealt with by ,,god1 was he to send us1 as he did the royal ,psalmist1 to choose one plague out of three1 whereby we should be destroyed4 ,but had the ,almighty decreed to cut off man from the face of the earth1 and to shorten his days1 he could not well send a more effectual plague1 than to permit men1 as they pleased1 to over-charge themselves with drunkenness2 for though it be a slow1 yet it is a certain poison4 ,and if the sword has slain its thousands1 drunkenness has slain its ten thousands4 ,and will not this alarm you1 ,o ye transgressors8 ,will not this persuade you to spare yourselves1 and to do your bodies no harm8 ,what1 have you lost the first principles of human nature1 the fundamental law of self-preservation8 ,you seem to have a great fondness for your bodies2 why1 otherwise1 to gratify the inordinate appetites1 do you drink to excess8 ,but surely1 if you truly loved them1 you would not thus destroy them2 and was there no other argument to be urged against drunkenness1 the consideration that it will destroy those lives you are so fond of1 one would imagine1 should be sufficient4 ,i know1 indeed1 that it is a common answer1 which drunkards make to those1 who1 out of love1 would pull them as firebrands out of the fire1 we are no body's enemy but our own4 ,but this1 instead of being an excuse for1 is an aggravation of their guilt3 for 7not to mention that the drunkenness of one man has cloathed many a family with rags1 and that it is scarce possible for a person to be drunk1 without tempting his neighbour also7 not to mention these1 and many other ill consequences1 which would prove such an excuse to be entirely false3 yet what is dearer to a man than himself8 ,and if he himself be lost1 what would all the whole world avail him8 ,but how wilt thou stand1 ,o man1 before the judgment-seat of ,,christ1 and make such an excuse1 when thou shalt be arraigned before him as a self-murderer8 ,will it then be sufficient1 thinkest thou1 to say1 ,i was no man's enemy but my own8 ,no2 ,,god will then tell thee1 that thou oughtest to have glorified him with thy spirit1 and with thy body1 which were his2 and since thou hast1 by intemperance1 destroyed thy body1 he will destroy both thy body and soul in hell4 ,but1 ,thirdly1 ,what renders drunkenness more inexcusable1 is1 that it robs a man of his reason4 ,reason is the glory of a man2 the chief thing whereby ,,god has made us to differ from the brute creation4 ,and our modern unbelievers have exalted it to such a high degree1 as even to set it in opposition to revelation1 and so deny the ,,lord that bought them4 ,but though1 in doing this1 they greatly err1 and whilst they profess themselves wise1 become real fools2 yet we must acknowledge1 that reason is the candle of the ,,lord1 and whosoever puts it out1 shall bear his punishment1 whosoever he be4 ,but yet1 this the drunkard does4 ,nebuchadnezzar's curse he makes his choice1 his reason departeth from him2 and then what is he better than a brute8 ,the very heathen kings were so sensible of this1 that1 in order to deter their young princes from drinking1 they used to make their slaves get drunk1 and be exposed before them4 ,and didst thou but see thine own picture1 ,o drunkard1 when1 after having drowned thy reason1 thou staggerest to and fro1 like one of the fools in ,israel1 and seest thy very companions making songs upon thee1 surely thou wouldst not return to thy vomit again1 but abhor thyself in dust and ashes6 ,when ,david1 in a holy ecstacy1 was dancing before the ark1 ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 despised him in her heart2 and when he came home1 she said1 8,how glorious was the king of ,israel to-day1 who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the hand-maids of his servants1 as one of the vain fellows shamelesly uncovereth himself40 ,but may not every one that meets a drunkard1 more justly say1 ,how glorious does he1 that was made a little lower than the angels1 look to-day1 when1 unmindful of his dignity1 he has by drinking robbed himself of his reason1 and reduced himself to a level with the beasts that perish4 ,but what if ,,god1 in the midst of one of these drunken fits1 should arrest thee by death1 and say unto thee1 8,thou fool1 this moment shall thy soul be required of thee40 ,o6 how wouldst thou appear in those filthy garments before that ,,god1 in whose sight the heavens are not clean4 ,and how knowest thou1 ,o man1 but this may be thy lot8 ,hast thou not known many summoned at such an unguarded hour8 and what assurance hast thou1 that thou shalt not be the next8 ,because ,,god has forborn thee so long1 thinkest thou he will forbear always8 ,no1 this is rather a sign that he will come at an hour thou lookest not for him2 and since his goodness and long-suffering has not led thee to repentance1 he will cut thee down1 and not permit thee to cumber the ground any longer4 ,consider this then1 all ye that count it a pleasure to turn yourselves into brutes1 lest ,,god pluck you away by a sudden death1 and there be none to deliver you4 ,fourthly1 ,there is a farther aggravation of this crime1 that it is an inlet to1 and forerunner of many other sins2 for it seldom comes alone4 ,we may say of drunkenness1 as ,solomon does of strife1 that it is like the letting out of water2 for we know not what will be the end thereof4 ,its name is ,legion2 behold a troop of sins cometh after it4 ,and1 for my own part1 when ,i see a drunkard1 with the holy ,prophet1 when he looked in ,hazael's face1 ,i can hardly forbear weeping1 to consider how many vices he may fall into1 ere he comes to himself again4 ,what horrid incest did righteous ,lot commit with his own daughters1 when they had made him drunk8 ,and1 ,i doubt not1 but there are many amongst you1 who have committed such crimes when you have deprived yourselves of your reason by drinking1 that were you to hear of them1 your heart1 like ,nabal's1 after he was told how he had abused ,david when he was drunk1 would die within you4 ,and1 had any one told you1 when you were sober1 that you would have been guilty of such crimes1 you would have cried out1 with ,hazael before-mentioned1 8,are thy servants so many dogs1 that they should do thus80 ,but no marvel that drunkards commit such crimes2 for drunkenness drives the ,holy ,spirit from them2 they become mere machines for the devil to work up to what he pleases2 he enters into them1 as he entered into the herd of swine2 and no wonder if they then commit all uncleanness1 and any other crime1 with greediness4 ,but this leads me to a ,fifth consideration1 which highly aggravates the sin of drunkenness1 it separates the ,holy ,spirit from us4 ,it is to be hoped1 that no one here present need be informed1 that before we can be assured we are christians indeed1 we must receive the ,holy ,ghost1 must be born again from above1 and have the ,spirit of ,,god witnessing with our spirits1 that we are the sons of ,,god4 ,this1 this alone is true christianity2 and without the cohabitation of this blessed ,spirit in our hearts1 our righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 and we shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of ,,god4 ,but now1 drunkards do in effect bid this blessed ,spirit to depart from them3 for what has he to do with such filthy swine8 ,they have no lot or share in the ,spirit of the ,son of ,david4 ,they have chased him out of their hearts1 by defiling his temple2 ,i mean their bodies4 ,and he can no more hold communion with them1 than light can have communion with darkness1 or ,,christ have concord with ,belial4 ,the apostle1 therefore1 in the words of the text1 exhorts the ,ephesians1 8not to be drunk with wine1 wherein is excess1 but to be filled with the ,spirit20 thereby implying1 that drunkenness and the ,spirit of ,,god could never dwell in the same heart4 ,and in another epistle1 he bids them to avoid unprofitable conversation1 as a thing which grieved the ,holy ,spirit3 whereby alone they could be sealed to the day of redemption4 ,and if unprofitable conversation grieves the ,holy ,spirit1 at what an infinite distance must drunkenness drive him from the hearts of men8 ,o that you were wise6 that you would consider what a dreadful thing it is to have the ,spirit of the living ,,god depart from you6 for1 assure yourselves1 if you live without him1 you will live without ,,god in the world4 ,you are in the same miserable forlorn condition as ,saul was1 when an evil spirit of the ,,lord came upon him2 and you are only so many vessels of wrath fitted for destruction4 ,but this brings me to a ,sixth reason against the sin of drunkenness2 it absolutely unfits a man for the enjoyment of ,,god in heaven1 and exposes him to his eternal wrath4 ,to see and enjoy ,,god1 and to be like the blessed angels2 always beholding the face of our heavenly ,father1 in the glories of his kingdom1 is such an unspeakable happiness1 that even wicked men1 though they will not live the life of the righteous1 cannot but wish their future state to be like his4 ,but think you1 ,o ye drunkards1 that you shall ever be partakers of this inheritance with the saints in light8 ,do you flatter yourselves1 that you1 who have made them often the subject of your drunken songs1 shall now be exalted to sing with them the heavenly songs of ,sion8 ,no1 as by drunkenness you have made your hearts cages of unclean birds1 with impure and unclean spirits must you dwell4 ,a burning ,tophet1 kindled by ,,god's wrath1 is prepared for your reception1 where you must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire1 and in vain cry out for a drop of water to cool your tongues4 ,indeed you shall drink1 but it shall be a cup of ,,god's fury3 for in the hand of the ,,lord there will be a cup of fury1 it will be full mixed2 and as for the dregs thereof1 all the drunkards of the land shall suck them out4 ,but perhaps you may not believe this report4 ,these words may be looked upon by you as idle tales1 and ,i may seem to you as ,lot did to his sons-in-law1 when he came to warn them to get up out of ,sodom1 8as one that mocketh40 ,but if you believe not me1 believe eternal truth itself1 which has positively declared1 that no drunkard shall ever enter into his kingdom4 ,and ,i call heaven and earth to witness against you this day1 that as surely as the ,,lord rained fire and brimstone1 as soon as ,lot went out of ,sodom1 so surely will ,,god cast you into a lake of fire and brimstone1 when he shall come to take vengeance on them that know not ,,god1 and have not obeyed the gospel of our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,behold then ,i have told you before2 remember1 that you this day were informed what the end of drunkenness would be4 ,and ,i summon you1 in the name of that ,,god whom ,i serve1 to meet me at the judgment-seat of ,,christ1 that you may acquit both my ,master and me2 and confess1 with your own mouths1 that your damnation was of yourselves1 and that we are free from the blood of you all4 ,but1 ,,lord1 has no one believed our report8 ,wilt thou suffer so many words to be spoken in vain1 if it be yet in vain8 ,no1 methinks ,i see some pricked to the heart1 and ready to cry out1 in the language of ,david to ,abigail1 8,blessed be the ,,lord ,,god of ,israel1 which sent thee this day to speak unto us40 ,for surely1 unless he had sent thee1 this sin of drunkenness had been our ruin3 but now1 since we find whither it will lead us1 we are resolved to drink no liquor to excess while the world stands1 lest we should be tormented in the flames of hell4 ,but alas6 how shall we be delivered from the power of this sin8 ,can the ,ethiopian change his skin1 or the leopard his spots8 ,so hard1 almost1 will it be for you who have been accustomed to be intemperate1 to learn to live sober4 ,but do not despair2 for what is impossible with man1 is possible with ,,god4 ,of whom then should you seek for succour1 but of him your ,,lord8 ,who1 though for this sin of drunkenness1 he might justly turn away his face from you2 yet observe1 ,first1 ,if you pour out your hearts before him in daily prayer1 and ask assistance from above1 it may be ,,god will endue you with power from on high1 and make you more than conquerors through ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,had you kept up communion with him in prayer1 you would not so long1 by drunkenness1 have had communion with devils4 ,but1 like the ,prodigal1 you have desired to be your own masters2 you have lived without prayer1 depended on your own strength2 and now see1 alas6 on what a broken reed you have leaned4 ,how soon have you made yourselves like the beasts that have no understanding8 ,but turn ye1 turn ye from your evil ways4 ,come to him with the repenting ,prodigal1 saying1 8,father we have sinned20 we beseech thee1 let not this sin of drunkenness have any longer dominion over us4 ,lay hold on ,,christ by faith1 and lo6 it shall happen to you even as you will4 ,a ,second means ,i would recommend to you1 in order to get the better of drunkenness1 is to avoid evil company3 ,for it is the evil communication of wicked men1 that has drawn many thousands into this sin1 and so corrupted their good manners4 ,but you may say1 ,if ,i leave my companions1 ,i must expect contempt3 for they will certainly despise me for being singular4 ,and thinkest thou1 ,o man1 ever to enter in at the strait gate by a true conversion1 without being had in derision of them that are round about thee8 ,no2 though thou mayst be despised1 and not go to heaven1 yet thou canst not go to heaven without being despised3 8,for the friendship of the world is enmity with ,,god40 ,and they that are born after the flesh1 will persecute those that are born after the ,spirit4 ,let not1 therefore1 a servile fear of being despised by a man that shall die1 hinder thy turning unto the living ,,god4 ,for what is a little contempt8 ,it is but a vapour which vanisheth away1 and cometh not again4 ,better be derided by a few companions here1 than be made ashamed before men and angels hereafter4 ,better be the song of a few drunkards on earth1 than dwell with them1 where they will be eternally reproaching and cursing each other in hell4 ,yet a little while1 and they themselves shall praise thy doings2 and shall say1 ,we1 fools1 counted his leaving us to be folly1 and his end to be without honour3 but now is he numbered among the sons of ,,god1 and his lot among the saints6 duplicate word 8of0 removed ,but ,i hasten to lay down a ,third means for those who would overcome the sin of drunkenness1 to enter upon a life of strict self-denial and mortification3 for this kind of sin goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting4 ,it is true1 this may seem a difficult task2 but then1 we must thank ourselves for it2 for had we begun sooner1 our work would have been the easier4 ,and even now1 if you will but strive1 the yoke of mortification will grow lighter and lighter every day4 ,and now1 by way of conclusion1 ,i cannot but exhort all persons1 high and low1 rich and poor1 to practise a strict self-denial in eating and drinking4 ,for though 8the kingdom of ,,god consists not in meats and drinks10 yet an abstemious use of ,,god's good creatures1 greatly promotes the spiritual life4 ,and perhaps there are more destroyed by living in a regular sensuality1 than even by the very sin ,i have now been warning you of4 ,i know indeed1 that many1 who are only almost christians1 and who seek1 but do not strive to enter into the kingdom of ,,god1 urge a text of scripture to justify their indulgence1 saying1 that 8it is not what entereth into the man defileth the man40 ,and so we grant1 when taken moderately2 but then they should consider1 that it is possible1 nay1 it is proved by daily experience1 that a person may eat and drink so much as not to hurt his body1 and yet do infinite prejudice to his soul3 for self-indulgence lulls the soul into a spiritual slumber1 as well as direct intemperance2 and though the latter may expose us to more contempt among men1 yet the former1 if continued in1 will as certainly shut us out from the presence of ,,god4 ,st4 ,paul knew this full well2 and therefore1 though he was the spiritual father of thousands1 and was near upon finishing his course1 yet he says1 it was his daily practice to 8keep his body under1 and bring it into subjection1 lest after he had preached to others1 he himself should be a cast-away10 or disapproved of1 or do something that might make him an offence or stumbling-block to any of ,,god's children3 for of his own1 and all other saints final perseverance1 he makes no doubt1 as is evident from many of his epistles2 and the word bears this sense1 #b ,corinthians xiii4 #e4 and sundry other places4 ,but why urge ,i the apostle's example1 to excite you to a strict temperance in eating and drinking8 ,rather let me exhort you only to put in practice the latter part of the text1 to labour to 8be filled with the ,spirit of ,,god10 and then you will no longer search the scriptures to find arguments for self-indulgence2 but you will deal sincerely with yourselves1 and eat and drink no more at any time1 than what is consistent with the strictest precepts of the gospel4 ,o beg of ,,god1 that you may see1 how you are fallen in ,adam1 and the necessity of being renewed1 ere you can be happy1 by the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ6 ,let us beseech him to enlighten us to see the treachery of our corrupt hearts1 and how pure and holy these bodies ought to be1 that they ought to be living temples of the ,holy ,ghost1 and then we shall shew ourselves men4 ,and being made temples of the ,holy ,ghost1 by his dwelling in our bodies here1 though after death1 worms may destroy them1 yet shall they be raised by the same ,spirit at the general resurrection of the last day1 to be fashioned like unto ,,christ's glorious body hereafter4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 c4 ,,sermon ,,liii4 ,the ,power of ,,christ's ,resurrection4 ,,philippians iii4 #aj4 ,that ,i may know ,him1 and the ,power of his ,resurrection4 ,,the apostle1 in the verses before the text1 had been cautioning the ,philippians to 8beware of the concision10 ,judaizing teachers1 who endeavoured to subvert them from the simplicity of the gospel1 by telling them1 they still ought to be subject to circumcision1 and all the other ordinances of ,moses4 ,and that they might not think he spoke out of prejudice1 and condemned their tenets1 because he himself was a stranger to the ,jewish dispensation1 he acquaints them1 that if any other man thought he had whereof he might trust in the flesh1 or seek to be justified by the outward privileges of the ,jews1 he had more3 ,for he was 8circumcised the eighth day2 of the stock of ,israel 7not a proselyte1 but a native ,israelite72 of the tribe of ,benjamin 7the tribe which adhered to ,judah when the others revolted72 an ,hebrew of the ,hebrews 7a ,jew both on the father's and mother's side72 and as touching the law1 a ,pharisee10 the strictest sect amongst all ,israel4 ,to shew that he was no ,gallio in religion1 through his great1 though misguided zeal1 he had persecuted the church of ,,christ2 and 8as touching the righteousness of the law 7as far as the ,pharisees exposition of it went1 he was7 blameless10 and had kept it from his youth4 ,but1 when it pleased ,,god1 who separated him from his mother's womb1 to reveal his ,son in him1 8,what things were gain to me10 7he says7 those privileges ,i boasted myself in1 and fought to be justified by1 8,i counted loss for ,,christ40 ,and that they might not think he repented that he had done so1 he tells them1 he was now more confirmed than ever in his judgment4 ,for1 says he1 8yea doubtless 7the expression in the original rises with a holy triumph7 and ,i do count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,,christ ,,jesus my ,,lord40 ,and that they might not object that he said1 and did not1 he acquaints them1 he had given proofs of the sincerity of these professions1 because for the sake of them1 he had suffered the loss of all his worldly things1 and still was willing to do more2 for1 8,i count them but dung 7no more than offals thrown out to dogs7 so that ,i may win1 7or have a saving interest in7 ,,christ1 and be found in him 7as the manslayer in the city of refuge7 not having my own righteousness which is of the law1 7not depending on having ,abraham for my father1 or on any works of righteousness which ,i have done1 either to atone or serve as a balance for my evil deeds7 but that which is through the faith of ,,christ1 the righteousness which is of ,,god by faith10 a righteousness of ,,god's appointing1 and which will be imputed to me1 if ,i believe in ,,christ1 8that ,i may know him1 and the power of his resurrection20 that ,i may have an experimental knowledge of the efficacy of his resurrection1 by feeling the influences of his blessed ,spirit on my soul4 ,in which words two things are implied4 ,first1 ,that ,,jesus ,,christ did rise from the dead4 ,secondly1 ,that it highly concerns us to know the power of his rising again4 ,accordingly1 in the following discourse ,i shall endeavour to shew1 ,first1 ,that ,,christ is risen indeed from the dead2 and that it was necessary for him so to do2 and1 ,secondly1 ,that it highly concerns us to know and experience the power of his resurrection4 ,first1 ,,christ is indeed risen4 ,that ,,jesus should rise from the dead was absolutely necessary2 #a4 ,first1 ,on his own account4 ,he had often appealed to this as the last and most convincing proof he would give them that he was the true ,messiah1 8,there shall no other sign be given you1 than the sign of the prophet ,jonas40 ,and again1 8,destroy this temple of my body1 and in three days ,i will build it up40 ,which words his enemies remembered1 and urged it as an argument1 to induce ,pilate to grant them a watch1 to prevent his being stolen out of the grave4 8,we know that deceiver said1 whilst he was yet alive1 after three days ,i will rise again40 ,so that had he not risen again1 they might have justly said1 we know that this man was an impostor4 #b4 ,secondly1 ,it was necessary on our account4 7says the apostle7 for our justification20 or that the debt we owed to ,,god for our sins1 might be fully satisfied and discharged4 ,it had pleased the ,father 7for ever adored be his infinite love and free grace7 to wound his only ,son for our transgressions1 and to arrest and confine him in the prison of the grave1 as our surety for the guilt we had contracted by setting at nought his commandments4 ,now had ,,christ continued always in the grave1 we could have had no more assurance that our sins were satisfied for1 than any common debtor can have of his creditor's being satisfied1 whilst his surety is kept confined4 ,but he being released from the power of death1 we are thereby assured1 that with his sacrifice ,,god was well pleased1 that our atonement was finished on the cross1 and that he hath made a full1 perfect1 and sufficient sacrifice1 oblation1 and satisfaction for the sins of the world4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,it was necessary that our ,,lord ,,jesus should rise again from the dead1 to assure us of the certainty of the resurrection of our own bodies4 ,the doctrine of the resurrection of the body was entirely exploded and set at nought among the ,gentiles1 as appears from the ,athenians mocking at1 and calling ,st4 ,paul 8a babbler and a setter forth of strange doctrines10 when he preached to them ,,jesus1 and the resurrection4 ,and though it was believed by most of the ,jews1 as is evident from many passages of scripture1 yet not by all2 the whole sect of the ,sadducees denied it4 ,but the resurrection of ,,jesus ,,christ put it out of dispute4 ,for as he acted as our representative1 if he our head be risen1 then must we also1 who are his members1 rise with him4 ,and as in the first ,adam we all died1 even so in him our second ,adam we must all1 in this sense1 be made alive4 ,as it was necessary1 upon these accounts1 that our blessed ,,lord should rise from the dead2 so it is plain beyond contradiction1 that he did4 ,never was any matter of fact better attested2 never were more precautions made use of to prevent a cheat4 ,he was buried in a sepulchre1 hewn out of a rock1 so that it could not be said that any digged under1 and conveyed him away4 ,it was a sepulchre also wherein never man before was laid2 so that if any body did rise from thence1 it must be the body of ,,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,besides1 the sepulchre was sealed2 a great stone rolled over the mouth of it2 and a band of soldiers 7consisting not of friends1 but of his professed enemies7 was set to guard it4 ,and as for his disciples coming by night and stealing him away1 it was altogether improbable3 ,for it was not long since1 that they had all forsaken him1 and they were the most backward in believing his resurrection4 ,and supposing it was true1 that they came whilst the soldiers slept2 yet the soldiers must be cast into a deep sleep indeed1 that the rolling away so great a stone did not awake some of them4 ,and our blessed ,,lord's afterwards appearing at sundry times1 and in divers manners1 to his disciples1 as when they were assembled together1 when they were walking to ,emmaus1 when they were fishing2 nay1 and condescending to shew them his hands and feet1 and his appearing to above five hundred brethren at once1 put the truth of his resurrection out of all dispute4 ,indeed1 there is one objection that may be made against what has been said1 that the books wherein these facts are recorded were written by his disciples4 ,and who more proper persons than those who were eye-witnesses of what they related1 and eat and drank with him after his resurrection8 8,but they were illiterate and ignorant men40 ,yet as good witnesses of a plain matter of fact1 as the most learned masters in ,israel4 ,nay1 this rendered them more proper witnesses4 ,for being plain men1 they were therefore less to be suspected of telling or making a lye1 particularly1 since they laid down their lives for a testimony of the truth of it4 ,we read indeed of ,jacob's telling a lie1 though he was a plain man1 in order to get his father's blessing4 ,but it was never heard since the world began1 that any man1 much less a whole set of men1 died martyrs1 for the sake of an untruth1 when they themselves were to reap no advantage from it4 ,no1 this single circumstance proves them to be ,israelites indeed1 in whom was no guile4 ,and the wonderful success ,,god gave to their ministry afterwards1 when three thousand were converted by one sermon2 and twelve poor fishermen1 in a very short time enabled to be more than conquerors over all the opposition men or devils could make1 was as plain a demonstration1 that ,,christ was risen1 according to their gospel1 as that a divine power1 at the sound of a few ram's horns1 caused the walls of ,jericho to fall down4 ,but what need we any farther witnesses8 ,believe you the resurrection of our blessed ,,lord8 ,i know that you believe it1 as your gathering together on this first day of the week in the courts of the ,,lord's house abundantly testifies4 ,what concerns us most to be assured of1 and which is the ,second thing ,i was to speak to1 is1 ,whether we have experimentally known the power of his resurrection2 that is1 ,whether or not we have received the ,holy ,ghost1 and by his powerful operations on our hearts have been raised from the death of sin1 to a life of righteousness and true holiness4 ,it was this1 the great apostle was chiefly desirous to know4 ,the resurrection of ,,christ's body he was satisfied would avail him nothing1 unless he experienced the power of it in raising his dead soul4 ,for another1 and that a chief end of our blessed ,,lord's rising from the dead1 was to enter heaven as our representative1 and to send down the ,holy ,ghost to apply that redemption he had finished on the cross1 to our hearts1 by working an entire change in them4 ,without this1 ,,christ would have died in vain4 ,for it would have done us no service to have had his outward righteousness imputed to us1 unless we had an inward inherent righteousness wrought in us4 ,because1 being altogether conceived and born in sin1 and consequently unfit to hold communion with an infinitely pure and holy ,,god1 we cannot possibly be made meet to see or enjoy him1 till a thorough renovation has passed upon our hearts4 ,without this1 we leave out the ,holy ,ghost in the great work of our redemption4 ,but as we were made by the joint concurrence and consultation of the blessed trinity2 and as we were baptized in their name1 so must all of them concur in our salvation3 ,as the ,father made1 and the ,son redeemed1 so must the ,holy ,ghost sanctify and seal us1 or otherwise we have believed in vain4 ,this then is what the apostle means by the 8,power of ,,christ's resurrection10 and this is what we are as much concerned experimentally to know1 as that ,he rose at all4 ,without this1 though we may be moralists1 though we may be civilized1 good-natured people1 yet we are no christians4 ,for he is not a true christian1 who is only one outwardly2 nor have we therefore a right1 because we daily profess to believe that ,,christ rose again the third day from the dead4 ,but he is a true christian who is one inwardly2 and then only can we be stiled true believers1 when we not only profess to believe1 but have felt the power of our blessed ,,lord's rising from the dead1 by being quickened and raised by his ,spirit1 when dead in trespasses and sins1 to a thorough newness both of heart and life4 ,the devils themselves cannot but believe the doctrine of the resurrection1 and tremble2 but yet they continue devils1 because the benefits of this resurrection have not been applied to them1 nor have they received a renovating power from it1 to change and put off their diabolical nature4 ,and so1 unless we not only profess to know1 but also feel that ,,christ is risen indeed1 by being born again from above1 we shall be as far from the kingdom of ,,god as they3 our faith will be as ineffectual as the faith of devils4 ,nothing has done more harm to the christian world1 nothing has rendered the cross of ,,christ of less effect1 than a vain supposition1 that religion is something without us4 ,whereas we should consider1 that every thing that ,,christ did outwardly1 must be done over again in our souls2 or otherwise1 the believing there was such a divine person once on earth1 who triumphed over hell and the grave1 will profit us no more1 than believing there was once such a person as ,alexander1 who conquered the world4 ,as ,,christ was born of the ,virgin's womb1 so must he be spiritually formed in our hearts4 ,as he died for sin1 so must we die to sin4 ,and as he rose again from the dead1 so must we also rise to a divine life4 ,none but those who have followed him in this regeneration1 or new-birth1 shall sit on thrones as approvers of his sentence1 when he shall come in terrible majesty to judge the twelve tribes of ,israel4 ,it is true1 as for the outward work of our redemption1 it was a transient act1 and was certainly finished on the cross1 but the application of that redemption to our hearts1 is a work that will continue always1 even unto the end of the world4 ,so long as there is an elect man breathing on the earth1 who is naturally engendred of the offspring of the first ,adam1 so long must the quickning spirit1 which was purchased by the resurrection of the second ,adam1 that ,,lord from heaven1 be breathing upon his soul4 ,for though we may exist by ,,christ1 yet we cannot be said to exist in him1 till we are united to him by one spirit1 and enter into a new state of things1 as certainly as he entered into a new state of things1 after that he rose from the dead4 ,we may throng and crowd round about ,,christ1 and call him 8,lord1 ,lord10 when we come to worship before his footstool2 but we have not effectually touched him1 till by a lively faith in his resurrection1 we perceive a divine virtue coming out of him1 to renew and purify our souls4 ,how greatly then do they err who rest in a bare historical faith of our ,saviour's resurrection1 and look only for external proofs to evidence it8 ,whereas were we the most learned disputers of this world1 and could speak of the certainty of this fact with the tongue of men and angels1 yet without this inward testimony of it in our hearts1 though we might convince others1 yet we should never be saved by it ourselves4 ,for we are but dead men1 we are like so many carcases wrapt up in grave cloaths1 till that same ,,jesus who called ,lazarus from his tomb1 and at whose own resurrection many that slept arose1 doth raise us also by his quickening ,spirit from our natural death1 in which we have so long lain1 to a holy and heavenly life4 ,we might think ourselves happy1 if we had seen the ,holy ,,jesus after ,he was risen from the dead1 and our hands had handled that ,,lord of life4 ,but more happy are they who have not seen him1 and yet having felt the power of his resurrection1 therefore believe in him4 ,for many saw our divine master1 who were not saved by him2 but whosoever has thus felt the power of his resurrection1 has the earnest of his inheritance in his heart1 he has passed from death to life1 and shall never fall into final condemnation4 ,i am very sensible that this is foolishness to the natural man1 as were many such like truths to our ,,lord's own disciples1 when only weak in faith1 before he rose again4 ,but when these natural men1 like them1 have fully felt the power of his resurrection1 they will then own that this doctrine is from ,,god1 and say with the ,samaritans1 8,now we believe not because of thy saying10 for we ourselves have experienced it in our hearts4 ,and ,o that all unbelievers1 all letter-learned masters of ,israel1 who now look upon the doctrine of the power of ,,christ's resurrection1 or our new birth1 as an idle tale1 and condemn the preachers of it as enthusiasts and madmen1 did but thus feel the power of it in their souls1 they would no longer ask1 how this thing could be8 ,but they would be convinced of it1 as much as ,thomas was1 when he saw the ,,lord's ,,christ2 and like him1 when ,,jesus bid him reach out his hands and thrust them into his side1 in a holy confusion they would cry out1 8,my ,,lord and my ,,god60 ,but how shall an unbeliever1 how shall the formal christian come thus to 8know ,,christ1 and the power of his resurrection80 ,,god1 who cannot lye1 has told us1 8,i am the resurrection and the life1 whosoever liveth and believeth in me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live40 ,again1 says the apostle1 8,by faith we are saved1 and that not of ourselves1 it is the gift of ,,god40 ,this1 this is the way1 walk in it4 ,believe1 and you shall live in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in you2 you shall be one with ,,christ1 and ,,christ one with you4 ,but without this1 your outward goodness and professions will avail you nothing4 ,but then1 by this faith we are not to understand a dead speculative faith1 a faith in the head2 but a living principle wrought in the heart by the powerful operations of the ,holy ,ghost1 a faith that will enable us to overcome the world1 and forsake all in affection for ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,for thus speaks our blessed ,master1 8,unless a man forsake all that he hath1 he cannot be my disciple40 8blesser0 replaced with 8blessed0 ,and so the apostle1 in the words immediately following the text1 says1 8being made conformable to his death20 thereby implying1 that we cannot know the power of ,,christ's resurrection1 unless we are made conformable to him in his death4 ,if we can reconcile light and darkness1 heaven and hell1 then we may hope to know the power of ,,christ's resurrection without dying to ourselves and the world4 ,but till we can do this1 we might as well expect that ,,christ will have concord with ,belial4 ,for there is such a contrariety between the spirit of this world1 and the ,spirit of ,,jesus ,,christ1 that he who will be at friendship with the one1 must be at enmity with the other3 8,we cannot serve ,,god and mammon40 ,this may1 indeed1 seem a hard saying2 and many1 with the young man in the gospel1 may be tempted to go away sorrowful3 ,but wherefore should this offend them8 ,for what is all that is in the world1 the lust of the eye1 the lust of the flesh1 and the pride of life1 but vanity and vexation of spirit8 ,,god is love2 and therefore1 could our own wills1 or the world1 have made us happy1 he never would have sent his own dear ,son ,,jesus ,,christ to die and rise again1 to deliver us from the power of them4 ,but because they only torment1 and cannot satisfy1 therefore ,,god bids us to renounce them4 ,had any one persuaded profane ,esau not to lose so glorious a privilege1 merely for the sake of gratifying a present corrupt inclination1 when he saw him about to sell his birth-right for a little red pottage1 would not one think that man to have been ,esau's friend8 ,and just thus stands the case between ,,god and us4 ,by the death and resurrection of ,,jesus ,,christ1 we are new-born to an heavenly inheritance amongst all them which are sanctified2 but our own corrupt wills1 would tempt us to sell this glorious birth-right for the vanities of the world1 which1 like ,esau's red pottage1 may please us for a while1 but will soon be taken away from us4 ,,god knows this1 and therefore rather bids us renounce them for a season1 than for the short enjoyment of them lose the privilege of that glorious birth-right1 to which1 by knowing the power of the resurrection of ,,jesus ,,christ1 we are entitled4 ,o the depth of the riches and excellency of christianity6 ,well might the great ,st4 ,paul count all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of it4 ,well might he desire so ardently to know ,,jesus1 and the power of his resurrection4 ,for even on this side eternity it raises us above the world1 and makes us to sit in heavenly places in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,well might that glorious company of worthies1 recorded in the ,holy scriptures1 supported with a deep sense of their heavenly calling1 despise the pleasures and profits of this life1 and wander about in sheep-skins1 and goat-skins1 in dens and caves of the earth1 being destitute1 afflicted1 tormented4 ,and ,o that we were all like minded6 that we felt the power of ,,christ's resurrection as they did6 ,how should we then 8count all things as dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord60 ,how should we then recover our primitive dignity1 trample the earth under our feet1 and with our souls be continually gasping after ,,god8 ,and what hinders but we may be thus minded8 ,is ,,jesus ,,christ1 our great ,high ,priest1 altered from what he was8 ,no1 8he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and for ever40 ,and though he is exalted to the right-hand of ,,god1 yet he is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,the power of his resurrection is as great now as formerly1 and the ,holy ,spirit1 which was assured to us by his resurrection1 as ready and able to quicken us who are dead in trespasses and sins1 as any saint that ever lived4 ,let us but cry1 and that instantly1 to ,him that is mighty and able to save2 let us1 in sincerity and truth1 without secretly keeping back the least part1 renounce ourselves and the world2 then we shall be christians indeed4 ,and though the world may call us out1 and separate from our company1 yet ,,jesus ,,christ will walk with1 and abide in us4 ,and at the general resurrection of the last day1 when the voice of the archangel and trump of ,,god shall bid the sea and the graves to give up their dead1 and all nations shall appear before him1 then will he confess us before his ,father and the holy angels1 and we shall receive that invitation which he shall then pronounce to all who love and fear him1 8,come1 ye blessed children of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world40 ,grant this1 ,o ,father1 for thy dear ,son's sake1 ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord2 to whom1 with ,thee and the ,holy ,ghost1 c4 ,,sermon ,,liv4 ,intercession every ,christian's ,duty4 #a ,,thessalonians v4 #be4 ,brethren1 pray for us4 ,,if we enquire1 why there is so little love to be found amongst christians1 why the very characteristic1 by which every one should know that we are disciples of the holy ,,jesus1 is almost banished out of the christian world1 we shall find it1 in a great measure1 owing to a neglect or superficial performance of that excellent part of prayer1 intercession1 or imploring the divine grace and mercy in behalf of others4 ,some forget this duty of praying for others1 because they seldom remember to pray for themselves3 and even those who are constant in praying to their ,father who is in heaven1 are often so selfish in their addresses to the throne of grace1 that they do not enlarge their petitions for the welfare of their fellow christians as they ought2 and thereby fall short of attaining that christian charity1 that unfeigned love to their brethren1 which their sacred profession obliges them to aspire after1 and without which1 though they should bestow all their goods to feed the poor1 and even give their bodies to be burned1 yet it would profit them nothing4 ,since these things are so1 ,i shall from the words of the text 7though originally intended to be more confined7 endeavour to shew1 ,i4 ,first1 ,that it is every christian's duty to pray for others1 as well as for himself4 ,,ii4 ,secondly1 ,shew1 whom we ought to pray for1 and in what manner we should do it4 ,and1 ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 ,i shall offer some motives to excite all christians to abound in this great duty of intercession4 ,i4 ,first1 ,i shall endeavour to shew1 ,that it is every christian's duty to pray for others1 as well as for himself4 ,now prayer is a duty founded on natural religion2 the very heathens never neglected it1 though many christian heathens amongst us do3 and it is so essential to christianity1 that you might as reasonably expect to find a living man without breath1 as a true christian without the spirit of prayer and supplication4 ,thus1 no sooner was ,st4 ,paul converted1 but 8behold he prayeth10 saith the ,,lord ,almighty4 ,and thus will it be with every child of ,,god1 as soon as he becomes such3 prayer being truly called1 ,the natural cry of the newborn soul4 ,for in the heart of every true believer there is a heavenly tendency1 a divine attraction1 which as sensibly draws him to converse with ,,god1 as the load-stone attracts the needle4 ,a deep sense of their own weakness1 and of ,,christ's fulness2 a strong conviction of their natural corruption1 and of the necessity of renewing grace2 will not let them rest from crying day and night to their ,almighty ,redeemer1 that the divine image1 which they lost in ,adam1 may through his all-powerful mediation1 and the sanctifying operations of his blessed spirit1 be begun1 carried on1 and fully perfected both in their souls and bodies4 ,thus earnest1 thus importunate1 are all sincere christians in praying for themselves3 but then1 not having so lively1 lasting1 and deep a sense of the wants of their christian brethren1 they are for the most part too remiss and defective in their prayers for them4 ,whereas1 was the love of ,,god shed abroad in our hearts1 and did we love our neighbour in that manner1 in which the ,son of ,,god our ,saviour loved us1 and according to his command and example1 we could not but be as importunate for their spiritual and temporal welfare1 as for our own2 and as earnestly desire and endeavour that others should share in the benefits of the death and passion of ,,jesus ,,christ1 as we ourselves4 ,let not any one think1 that this is an uncommon degree of charity2 an high pitch of perfection1 to which not every one can attain3 for1 if we are all commanded to 8love our neighbour 7that is every man7 even as ourselves10 nay to 8lay down our lives for the brethren20 then1 it is the duty of all to pray for their neighbours as much as for themselves1 and by all possible acts and expressions of love and affection towards them1 at all times1 to shew their readiness even to lay down their lives for them1 if ever it should please ,,god to call them to it4 ,our blessed ,saviour1 as 8he hath set us an example1 that we should follow his steps0 in every thing else1 so hath he more especially in this3 for in that divine1 that perfect and inimitable prayer 7recorded in the xviith of ,st4 ,john7 which he put up just before his passion1 we find but few petitions for his own1 though many for his disciples welfare3 and in that perfect form which he has been pleased to prescribe us1 we are taught to say1 not ,my1 but 8,our ,father10 thereby to put us in mind1 that1 whenever we approach the throne of grace1 we ought to pray not for ourselves alone1 but for all our brethren in ,,christ4 ,intercession then is certainly a duty incumbent upon all christians4 ,,ii4 ,whom we are to intercede for1 and how this duty is to be performed1 comes next to be considered4 #a4 ,and first1 our intercession must be universal4 8,i will1 7says the apostle7 that prayers1 supplications and intercessions be made for all men40 ,for as ,,god's mercy is over all his works1 as ,,jesus ,,christ died to redeem a people out of all nations and languages2 so we should pray1 that 8all men may come to the knowledge of the truth1 and be saved40 ,many precious promises are made in holy writ1 that the gospel shall be published through the whole world1 that 8the earth shall be covered with the knowledge of the ,,lord1 as the waters cover the sea30 and therefore it is our duty not to confine our petitions to our own nation2 but to pray that all those nations1 who now sit in darkness and in the shadow of death1 may have the glorious gospel shine out upon them1 as well as upon us4 ,but you need not that any man should teach you this1 since ye yourselves are taught of ,,god1 and of ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 to pray1 that his kingdom may come2 part of the meaning of which petition is1 that 8,,god's ways may be known upon earth1 and his saving health among all nations40 #b4 ,next to the praying for all men1 we should1 according to ,st4 ,paul's rule1 pray for ,kings2 particularly for our present sovereign ,king ,george1 and all that are put in authority under him3 that we may lead quiet lives1 in all godliness and honesty4 ,for1 if we consider how heavy the burden of government is1 and how much the welfare of any people depends on the zeal and godly conversation of those that have the rule over them3 if we set before us the many dangers and difficulties1 to which governors by their station are exposed1 and the continual temptations they lie under to luxury and self-indulgence2 we shall not only pity1 but pray for them3 that he who preserved ,esther1 ,david1 and ,josiah1 8unspotted from the world10 amidst the grandeur of a court1 and gave success to their designs1 would also preserve them holy and unblameable1 and prosper all the works of their hands upon them4 ,but #c4 ,thirdly1 you ought1 in a more especial manner1 to pray for those1 whom 8the ,holy ,ghost hath made ,overseers over you40 ,this is what ,st4 ,paul begs1 again and again1 of the churches to whom he writes3 ,says he in the text1 8,brethren1 pray for us20 and again1 in his epistle to the ,ephesians1 8praying always1 with all manner of supplication2 and for me also1 that ,i may open my mouth boldly1 to declare the mystery of the gospel40 ,and in another place1 to express his earnestness in this request1 and the great importance of their prayers for him1 he bids the church 8strive1 7or1 as the original word signifies1 be in an agony7 together with him in their prayers40 ,and surely1 if the great ,st4 ,paul1 that chosen vessel1 that favourite of heaven1 needed the most importunate prayers of his christian converts2 much more do the ordinary ministers of the gospel stand in need of the intercession of their respective flocks4 ,and ,i cannot but in a more especial manner insist upon this branch of your duty1 because it is a matter of such importance3 for1 no doubt1 much good is frequently withheld from many1 by reason of their neglecting to pray for their ministers1 and which they would have received1 had they prayed for them as they ought4 ,not to mention1 that people often complain of the want of diligent and faithful pastors4 ,but how do they deserve good pastors1 who will not earnestly pray to ,,god for such8 ,if we will not pray to the ,,lord of the harvest1 can it be expected he will send forth labourers into his harvest8 ,besides1 what ingratitude is it1 not to pray for your ministers6 ,for shall they watch and labour in the word and doctrine for you1 and your salvation1 and shall not you pray for them in return8 ,if any bestow favours on your bodies1 you think it right1 meet1 and your bounden duty1 to pray for them2 and shall not they be remembered in your prayers1 who daily feed and nourish your souls8 ,add to all this1 that praying for your ministers1 will be a manifest proof of your believing1 that though ,paul plant1 and ,apollos water1 yet it is ,,god alone who giveth the increase4 ,and you will also find it the best means you can use1 to promote your own welfare2 because ,,god1 in answer to your prayers1 may impart a double portion of his holy spirit to them1 whereby they will be qualified to deal out to you larger measures of knowledge in spiritual things1 and be enabled more skilfully to divide the word of truth4 ,would men but constantly observe this direction1 and when their ministers are praying in their name to ,,god1 humbly beseech him to perform all their petitions3 or1 when they are speaking in ,,god's name to them1 pray that the ,holy ,ghost may fall on all them that hear the word2 we should find a more visible good effect of their doctrine1 and a greater mutual love between ministers and their people4 ,for ministers hands would then be held up by the people's intercessions1 and the people will never dare to villify or traduce those who are the constant subjects of their prayers4 #d4 ,next to our ministers1 our friends claim a place in our intercessions2 but then we should not content ourselves with praying in general terms for them1 but suit our prayers to their particular circumstances4 ,when ,miriam was afflicted with a leprosy from ,,god1 ,moses cried and said1 8,,lord1 heal her40 ,and when the nobleman came to apply to ,,jesus ,,christ1 in behalf of his child1 he said1 8,,lord1 my little daughter lieth at the point of death1 ,i pray thee to come and heal her40 ,in like manner1 when our friends are under any afflicting circumstances1 we should endeavour to pray for them1 with a particular regard to those circumstances4 ,for instance1 is a friend sick8 we should pray1 that if it be ,,god's good pleasure1 it may not be unto death2 but if otherwise1 that he would give him grace so to take his visitation1 that1 after this painful life ended1 he may dwell with him in life everlasting4 ,is a friend in doubt in an important matter8 we should lay his case before ,,god1 as ,moses did that of the daughters of ,zelophehad1 and pray1 that ,,god's ,holy ,spirit may lead him into all truth1 and give all seasonable direction4 ,is he in want8 we should pray1 that his faith may never fail1 and that in ,,god's due time he may be relieved4 ,and in all other cases1 we should not pray for our friends only in generals1 but suit our petitions to their particular sufferings and afflictions2 for otherwise1 we may never ask perhaps for the things our friends most want4 ,it must be confessed1 that such a procedure will oblige some often to break from the forms they use2 but if we accustom ourselves to it1 and have a deep sense of what we ask for1 the most illiterate christian will not want proper words to express themselves4 ,we have many noble instances in holy scripture of the success of this kind of particular intercession2 but none more remarkable than that of ,abraham's servant1 in the book of ,genesis1 who being sent to seek a wife for his son ,isaac1 prayed in a most particular manner in his behalf4 ,and the sequel of the story informs us1 how remarkably his prayer was answered4 ,and did christians now pray for their friends in the same particular manner1 and with the same faith as ,abraham's servant did for his master2 they would1 no doubt1 in many instances1 receive as visible answers1 and have as much reason to bless ,,god for them1 as he had4 ,but #e4 ,as we ought thus to intercede for our friends1 so in like manner must we also pray for our enemies4 8,bless them that curse you1 7says ,,jesus ,,christ7 and pray for them that despitefully use you1 and persecute you40 ,which commands he enforced in the strongest manner by his own example3 in the very agonies and pangs of death1 he prayed even for his murderers1 8,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do60 ,this1 it must needs be confessed1 is a difficult duty1 yet not impracticable1 to those who have renounced the things of this present life1 7from an inordinate love of which all enmities arise7 and who knowing the terrible woes denounced against those who offend ,,christ's little ones1 can1 out of real pity1 and a sense of their danger1 pray for those by whom such offences come4 #f4 ,lastly1 and to conclude this head1 we should intercede for all that are any ways afflicted in mind1 body1 or estate2 for all who desire1 and stand in need of our prayers1 and for all who do not pray for themselves4 ,and ,oh6 that all who hear me1 would set apart some time every day for the due performance of this most necessary duty6 ,in order to which1 ,i shall now proceed1 ,,iii4 ,to shew the advantages1 and offer some considerations to excite you to the practice of daily intercession4 ,and #a4 ,first1 ,it will fill your hearts with love one to another4 ,he that every day heartily intercedes at the throne of grace for all mankind1 cannot but in a short time be filled with love and charity to all3 and the frequent exercise of his love in this manner1 will insensibly enlarge his heart1 and make him partaker of that exceeding abundance of it which is in ,,christ ,,jesus our ,,lord6 ,envy1 malice1 revenge1 and such like hellish tempers1 can never long harbour in a gracious intercessor's breast2 but he will be filled with joy1 peace1 meekness1 long-suffering1 and all other graces of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,by frequently laying his neighbour's wants before ,,god1 he will be touched with a fellow-feeling of them2 he will rejoice with those that do rejoice1 and weep with those that weep4 ,every blessing bestowed on others1 instead of exciting envy in him1 will be looked on as an answer to his particular intercession1 and fill his soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 ,abound therefore in acts of general and particular intercessions2 and when you hear of your neighbour's faults1 instead of relating them to1 and exposing them before others1 lay them in secret before ,,god1 and beg of him to correct and amend them4 ,when you hear of a notorious sinner1 instead of thinking you do well to be angry1 beg of ,,jesus ,,christ to convert1 and make him a monument of his free grace2 you cannot imagine what a blessed alteration this practice will make in your heart1 and how much you will increase day by day in the spirit of love and meekness towards all mankind6 ,but farther1 to excite you to the constant practice of this duty of intercession1 consider the many instances in holy scripture1 of the power and efficacy of it4 ,great and excellent things are there recorded as the effects of this divine employ4 ,it has stopped plagues1 it has opened and shut heaven2 and has frequently turned away ,,god's fury from his people4 ,how was ,abimelech's house freed from the disease ,,god sent amongst them1 at the intercession of ,abraham6 ,when 8,phineas stood up and prayed10 how soon did the plague cease6 ,when ,daniel humbled and afflicted his soul1 and interceded for the ,,lord's inheritance1 how quickly was an angel dispatched to tell him1 8his prayer was heard60 ,and1 to mention but one instance more1 how does ,,god own himself as it were overcome with the importunity of ,moses1 when he was interceding for his idolatrous people1 8,let me alone10 says ,,god6 ,this sufficiently shews1 ,i could almost say1 the omnipotency of intercession1 and how we may1 like ,jacob1 wrestle with ,,god1 and by an holy violence prevail both for ourselves and others4 ,and no doubt it is owing to the secret and prevailing intercessions of the few righteous souls who still remain among us1 that ,,god has yet spared this miserably sinful nation3 for were there not some such faithful ones1 like ,moses1 left to stand in the gap1 we should soon be destroyed1 even as was ,sodom1 and reduced to ashes like unto ,gomorrah4 ,but1 to stir you up yet farther to this exercise of intercession1 consider1 that in all probability1 it is the frequent employment even of the glorified saints3 for though they are delivered from the burden of the flesh1 and restored to the glorious liberty of the sons of ,,god1 yet as their happiness cannot be perfectly consummated 'till the resurrection of the last day1 when all their brethren will be glorified with them1 we cannot but think they are often importunate in beseeching our heavenly ,father1 shortly to accomplish the number of his elect1 and to hasten his kingdom4 ,and shall not we1 who are on earth1 be often exercised in this divine employ with the glorious company of the spirits of just men made perfect8 ,since our happiness is so much to consist in the communion of saints in the church triumphant above1 shall we not frequently intercede for the church militant here below2 and earnestly beg1 that we may all be one1 even as the ,holy ,,jesus and his ,father are one1 that we may also be made perfect in one8 ,to provoke you to this great work and labour of love1 remember1 that it is the never ceasing employment of the holy and highly exalted ,,jesus himself1 who sits at the right hand of ,,god1 to hear all our prayers1 and to make continual intercession for us6 ,so that he who is constantly employed in interceding for others1 is doing that on earth1 which the eternal ,son of ,,god is always doing in heaven4 ,imagine therefore1 when you are lifting up holy hands in prayer for one another1 that you see the heavens opened1 and the ,son of ,,god in all his glory1 as the great high-priest of your salvation1 pleading for you the all-sufficient merit of his sacrifice before the throne of his heavenly ,father6 ,join then your intercessions with his1 and beseech him1 that they may1 through him1 come up as incense1 and be received as a sweet-smelling savour1 acceptable in the light of ,,god6 ,this imagination will strengthen your faith1 excite a holy earnestness in your prayers1 and make you wrestle with ,,god1 as ,jacob did1 when he saw him face to face1 and his life was preserved2 as ,abraham1 when he pleaded for ,sodom2 and as ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 when he prayed1 being in an agony1 so much the more earnestly the night before his bitter passion4 ,and now1 brethren1 what shall ,i say more1 since you are taught of ,,jesus ,,christ himself1 to abound in love1 and in this good work of praying one for another4 ,though ever so mean1 though as poor as ,lazarus1 you will then become benefactors to all mankind2 thousands1 and twenty times ten thousands1 will then be blessed for your sakes6 and after you have employed a few years in this divine exercise here1 you will be translated to that happy place1 where you have so often wished others might be advanced2 and be exalted to sit at the right hand of our ,all-powerful1 ,all-prevailing ,intercessor1 in the kingdom of his heavenly ,father hereafter4 ,however1 ,i cannot but in an especial manner press this upon you now1 because all ye1 amongst whom ,i have now been preaching1 in all probability will see me no more3 for ,i am now going 7,i trust under the conduct of ,,god's most ,holy ,spirit7 from you1 knowing not what shall befal me3 ,i need therefore your most importunate intercessions1 that nothing may move me from my duty1 and that ,i may not 8count even my life dear unto myself1 so that ,i may finish my course with joy1 and the ministry ,i have received of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 to testify the gospel of the grace of ,,god60 ,whilst ,i have been here1 to the best of my knowledge1 ,i have not failed to declare unto you the whole will of ,,god3 and though my preaching may have been a savour of death unto death to some2 yet ,i trust it has been also a savour of life unto life to others2 and therefore ,i earnestly hope that those will not fail to remember me in their prayers4 ,as for my own part1 the many unmerited kindnesses ,i have received from you1 will not suffer me to forget you3 out of the deep1 therefore1 ,i trust shall my cry come unto ,,god2 and whilst the winds and storms are blowing over me1 unto the ,,lord will ,i make my supplication for you4 ,for it is but a little while1 and 8we must all appear before the judgment seat of ,,christ20 where ,i must give a strict account of the doctrine ,i have preached1 and you of your improvement under it4 ,and ,o that ,i may never be called out as a swift witness1 against any of those1 for whose salvation ,i have sincerely1 though too faintly1 longed and laboured6 ,it is true1 ,i have been censured by some as acting out of sinister and selfish views2 8but it is a small matter with me to be judged by man's judgment20 ,i hope my eye is single2 but ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the mercies of ,,god in ,,christ ,,jesus1 pray that it may be more so6 and that ,i may increase with the increase of grace in the knowledge and love of ,,god through ,,jesus ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,and now1 brethren1 what shall ,i say more8 ,i could wish to continue my discourse much longer2 for ,i can never fully express the desire of my soul towards you6 ,finally1 therefore1 brethren1 8whatsoever things are holy1 whatsoever things are pure1 whatsoever things are honest1 whatsoever things are of good report3 if there be any consolation in ,,christ1 if any fellowship of the spirit10 if any hopes of our appearing to the comfort of each other at the awful tribunal of ,,jesus ,,christ1 8think of the things that you have heard10 and of those which your pastors have declared1 and will yet declare unto you2 and continue under their ministry to 8work out your own salvation with fear and trembling30 so that whether ,i should never see you any more1 or whether it shall please ,,god to bring me back again at any time1 ,i may always have the satisfaction of knowing that your conversation is such 8as becometh the gospel of ,,christ40 ,i almost persuade myself1 that ,i could willingly suffer all things1 so that it might any ways promote the salvation of your precious and immortal souls2 and ,i beseech you1 as my last request1 8obey them that have the rule over you in the ,,lord20 and be always ready to attend on their ministry1 as it is your bounden duty4 ,think not that ,i desire to have myself exalted at the expence of another's character2 but rather think this1 not to have any man's person too much in admiration2 but esteem all your ministers highly in love1 as they justly deserve for their work's sake4 ,and now1 8brethren1 ,i commend you to ,,god1 and to the word of his grace1 which is able to build you up1 and give you an inheritance amongst all them that are sanctified40 ,may ,,god reward you for all your works of faith1 and labours of love1 and make you to abound more and more in every good word and work towards all men4 ,may he truly convert all that have been convinced1 and awaken all that are dead in trespasses and sins6 ,may he confirm all that are wavering6 ,and may you all go on from one degree of grace unto another1 till you arrive unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,,christ2 and thereby be made meet to stand before that ,,god1 8in whose presence is the fulness of joy1 and at whose right-hand there are pleasures for evermore60 ,amen6 ,amen6 ,,sermon ,,lv4 ,persecution every ,christian's ,lot4 #b ,,timothy iii4 #ab4 ,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer ,persecution4 ,,when our ,,lord was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant1 and to go about preaching the kingdom of ,,god2 he took all opportunities in public1 and more especially in private1 to caution his disciples against seeking great things for themselves1 and also to forewarn them of the many distresses1 afflictions and persecutions1 which they must expect to endure for his name's sake4 ,the great apostle ,paul therefore1 the author of this epistle1 in this1 as in all other things1 following the steps of his blessed ,master1 takes particular care1 among other apostolical admonitions1 to warn young ,timothy of the difficulties he must expect to meet with in the course of his ministry3 8,this know also1 that in the last days perilous times shall come4 ,for men shall be lovers of their ownselves1 covetous1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,,god2 having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof3 from such turn away4 ,for of this sort are they who creep into houses1 and lead captive silly women laden with sins1 led away with divers lusts1 ever learning1 and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth4 ,now1 as ,jannes and ,jambres 7two of the ,egyptian magicians7 withstood ,moses 7by working sham miracles7 so do they also resist the truth2 and 7notwithstanding they keep up the form of religion7 are men of corrupt minds1 reprobate concerning the faith40 ,but1 in order to keep him from sinking under their opposition1 he tells him1 that though ,,god1 for wise ends1 permitted these false teachers1 as he did the magicians1 to oppose for some time1 yet they should now proceed no farther3 8,for their folly 7says he7 shall be made manifest unto all men1 as theirs 7the ,magicians7 also was10 when they could not stand before ,moses because of the boil2 for the boil was upon the ,magicians1 as well as upon all the ,egyptians4 ,and then1 to encourage ,timothy yet the more1 he propounds to him his own example2 8,but thou hast fully known my doctrine1 manner of life1 purpose1 faith1 long-suffering1 charity1 patience1 persecutions1 afflictions1 which came unto me at ,antioch1 at ,iconium1 at ,lystra2 what persecutions ,i endured2 but out of them all the ,,lord delivered me40 ,and then1 lest ,timothy might think that this was only the particular case of ,paul1 says he1 in the words of the text1 8,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,the words1 without considering them as they stand in relation to the context1 contain an important truth1 that persecution is the common lot of every godly man4 ,this is a hard saying1 ,how few can bear it8 ,i trust ,,god1 in the following discourse1 will enable me to make it good1 by shewing1 ,i4 ,what it is to live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,,ii4 ,the different kinds of persecution to which they1 who live godly1 are exposed4 ,,iii4 ,why it is1 that godly men must expect to suffer persecution4 ,lastly1 ,we shall apply the whole4 #a4 ,first1 ,let us consider what it is to live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,this supposes1 that we are made the righteousness of ,,god in ,,christ1 that we are born again1 and are one with ,,christ by a living faith1 and a vital union1 even as ,,jesus ,,christ and the ,father are ,one4 ,unless we are thus converted1 and transformed by the renewing of our minds1 we cannot properly be said to be in ,,christ1 much less to live godly in him4 ,to be in ,,christ merely by baptism1 and an outward profession1 is not to be in ,him in the strict sense of the word3 no2 8,they that are in ,,christ1 are new creatures2 old things are passed away1 and all things are become new0 in their hearts4 ,their life is hid with ,,christ in ,,god2 their souls daily feed on the invisible realities of another world4 ,to 8live godly in ,,christ10 is to make the divine will1 and not our own1 the sole principle of all our thoughts1 words1 and actions2 so that1 8whether we eat or drink1 or whatsoever we do1 we do all to the glory of ,,god40 ,those who live godly in ,,christ1 may not so much be said to live1 as ,,christ to live in them3 ,he is their ,alpha and ,omega1 their first and last1 their beginning and end4 ,they are led by his ,spirit1 as a child is led by the hand of its father2 and are willing to follow the ,lamb whithersoever he leads them4 ,they hear1 know1 and obey his voice4 ,their affections are set on things above2 their hopes are full of immortality2 their citizenship is in heaven4 ,being born again of ,,god1 they habitually live to1 and daily walk with1 ,,god4 ,they are pure in heart2 and1 from a principle of faith in ,,christ1 are holy in all manner of conversation and godliness4 ,this is to 8live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus30 and hence we may easily learn1 why so few suffer persecution8 ,because1 so few live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,you may live formally in ,,christ1 you may attend on outward duties2 you may live morally in ,,christ1 you may 7as they term it7 do no one any harm1 and avoid persecution3 but they 8that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 #b4 ,secondly1 ,what is the meaning of the word ,persecution1 and how many kinds there are of it1 ,i come now to consider4 ,the word ,persecution1 is derived from a ,greek word signifying to pursue1 and generally implies pursuing a person for the sake of his goodness1 or ,,god's good-will to him4 ,the ,first kind of it1 is that of the ,heart4 ,we have an early example of this in that wicked one ,cain1 who1 because the ,,lord had respect to ,abel and his offering1 and not to him and his offering1 was very wroth1 his countenance fell1 and at length he cruelly slew his envied brother4 ,thus the ,pharisees hated and persecuted our ,,lord long before they laid hold on him3 and our ,,lord mentions being inwardly hated of men1 as one kind of ,persecution his disciples were to undergo4 ,this heart-enmity 7if ,i may so term it7 is the root of all other kinds of ,persecution1 and is1 in some degree or other1 to be found in the soul of every unregenerated man2 and numbers are guilty of this persecution1 who never have it in their power to persecute any other way4 ,nay1 numbers would actually put in practice all other degrees of persecution1 was not the name of ,persecution become odious amongst mankind1 and did they not hereby run the hazard of losing their reputation4 ,alas6 how many at the great day1 whom we know not now1 will be convicted and condemned1 that all their life harboured a secret evil-will against ,zion6 ,they may now screen it before men2 but ,,god seeth the enmity of their hearts1 and will judge them as ,persecutors at the great and terrible day of judgment4 ,a duplicate word 8have0 removed ,second degree of ,persecution is that of the tongue2 8out of the abundance of the heart1 the mouth speaketh40 ,many1 ,i suppose1 think it no harm to shoot out arrows1 even bitter words1 against the disciples of the ,,lord3 they scatter their firebrands1 arrows and death1 saying1 8,are we not in sport80 ,but1 however they may esteem it1 in ,,god's account evil-speaking is a high degree of ,persecution4 ,thus ,ishmael's mocking ,isaac1 is termed persecuting him4 8,blessed are ye 7says our ,,lord7 when men shall revile you and persecute you1 and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake40 ,from whence we may gather1 that reviling1 and speaking all manner of evil for ,,christ's sake1 is a high degree of persecution4 ,for 8a good name1 7says the wise man7 is better than precious ointment10 and1 to many1 is dearer than life itself4 ,it is a great breach of the sixth commandment1 to slander any one2 but to speak evil of and slander the disciples of ,,christ1 merely because they are his disciples1 must be highly provoking in the sight of ,,god2 and such who are guilty of it 7without repentance7 will find that ,,jesus ,,christ will call them to an account1 and punish them for all their ungodly and hard speeches in a lake of fire and brimstone4 ,this shall be their portion to drink4 ,the ,third and last kind of ,persecution1 is that which expresses itself in actions3 as when wicked men separate the children of ,,god from their company2 8,blessed are ye1 7says our ,,lord7 when they shall separate you from their company30 or expose them to church-censures4 8,they shall put you out of their synagogues20 threatening and prohibiting them from making an open profession of his religion or worship2 or interdicting ministers for preaching his word1 as the high-priests threatened the apostles1 and 8forbad them any more to speak in the name of ,,jesus20 and ,paul breathed out threatenings and slaughters against the disciples of the ,,lord3 or when they call them into courts2 8,you shall be called before governors10 says our ,,lord3 or when they fine1 imprison1 or punish them1 by confiscation of goods1 cruel scourging1 and1 lastly1 death itself4 ,it would be impossible to enumerate in what various shapes persecution has appeared4 ,it is a many-headed monster1 cruel as the grave1 insatiable as hell2 and1 what is worse1 it generally appears under the cloak of religion4 ,but1 cruel1 insatiable1 and horrid as it is1 they that live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 must expect to suffer and encounter with it in all its forms4 8generallly0 replaced with 8generally0 ,this is what we are to make good under our next general head4 #c4 ,thirdly1 ,why is it that godly men must expert to suffer persecution8 ,and1 ,first1 ,this appears from the whole tenor of our ,,lord's doctrine4 ,we will begin with his divine sermon on the mount4 8,blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake2 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven40 ,so that1 if our ,,lord spoke truth1 we are not so blessed as to have an interest in the kingdom of heaven1 unless we are or have been persecuted for righteousness sake4 ,nay1 our ,,lord 7it is remarkable7 employs three verses in this beatitude1 and only one in each of the others2 not only to shew that it was a thing which men 7as men7 are unwilling to believe1 but also the necessary consequence of it upon our being christians4 ,this is likewise evident from all those passages1 wherein our ,,lord informs us1 that he came upon the earth1 8not to send peace1 but a sword20 and that the father-in-law should be against the mother-in-law1 and a man's foes should be those of his own houshold4 ,passages1 which though confined by false prophets to the first1 ,i am persuaded will be verified by the experience of all true christians in this1 and every age of the church4 ,it would be endless to recount all the places1 wherein our ,,lord forewarns his disciples1 that they should be called before rulers1 and thrust out of synagogues1 nay1 that the time would come1 wherein men should think they did ,,god service to kill them4 ,for this reason he so frequently declared1 that 8unless a man forsake all that he had1 and even hated life itself1 he could not be his disciple40 ,and therefore it is worthy our observation1 that in the remarkable passage1 wherein our ,,lord makes such an extensive promise to those who left all for him1 he cautiously inserts persecution4 8,and ,,jesus answered and said1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 there is no man that hath left house1 or brethren1 or sisters1 or father1 or mother1 or wife1 or children1 or lands1 for my sake and the gospel's1 but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time2 houses and brethren1 and sisters and mothers1 and children and lands1 with persecutions2 7the word is in the plural number1 including all kinds of persecution7 and in the world to come eternal life40 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear what ,,christ says in all these passages1 and then confess1 that all who will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus shall suffer persecution4 ,as this is proved from our ,,lord's doctrine1 so it is no less evident from his life4 ,follow him from the manger to the cross1 and see whether any persecution was like that which the ,son of ,,god1 the ,,lord of glory1 underwent whilst here on earth4 ,how was he hated by wicked men8 ,how often would that hatred have excited them to lay hold of him1 had it not been for fear of the people8 ,how was he reviled1 counted and called a ,blasphemer1 a ,wine-bibber1 a ,samaritan1 nay1 a ,devil1 and1 in one word1 had all manner of evil spoken against him falsely8 ,what contradiction of sinners did he endure against himself8 ,how did men separate from his company1 and were ashamed to walk with him openly8 insomuch that he once said to his own disciples1 8,will you also go away80 ,again1 ,how was he stoned1 thrust out of the synagogues1 arraigned as a deceiver of the people1 a seditious and pestilent fellow1 an enemy to ,csar1 and as such scourged1 blind-folded1 spit upon1 and at length condemned1 and nailed to an accursed tree8 ,thus was the ,master persecuted1 thus did the ,,lord suffer2 and the servant is not above his ,master1 nor the disciple above his ,lord3 8,if they have persecuted me1 they will also persecute you10 says the blessed ,,jesus4 ,and again1 8,every man that is perfect 7a true christian7 must be as his ,master10 or suffer as he did4 ,for in all these things our ,,lord has set us an example1 that we should follow his steps3 and therefore1 far be it that any1 who live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 should henceforward expect to escape suffering persecution4 ,but farther3 not only our ,,lord's example1 but the example of all the saints that ever lived1 evidently demonstrates the truth of the apostle's assertion in the text4 ,how soon was ,abel made a martyr for his religion8 ,how was ,isaac mocked by the son of the bond-woman8 ,and what a large catalogue of suffering ,old ,testament saints1 have we recorded in the xith chapter of the ,hebrews6 ,read the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and see how the first christians were threatened1 stoned1 imprisoned1 scourged1 and persecuted even unto death4 ,examine ,church ,history in after-ages1 and you will find the murder of the innocents by ,herod1 was but an earnest of the innocent blood which should be shed for the sake of ,,jesus4 ,examine the experience of saints now living on earth2 and1 if it were possible to consult the spirits of just men made perfect1 ,i am persuaded each would concur with the apostle in asserting1 that 8all who will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,how can it be otherwise in the very nature of things8 ,ever since the fall1 there has been an irreconcileable enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent4 ,wicked men hate ,,god1 and therefore cannot but hate those who are like him3 they hate to be reformed1 and therefore must hate and persecute those1 who1 by a contrary behaviour1 testify of them1 that their deeds are evil4 ,besides1 pride of heart leads men to persecute the servants of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,if they commend them1 they are afraid of being asked1 ,why do not you follow them8 ,and therefore because they dare not imitate1 though they may sometimes be even forced to approve their way1 yet pride and envy make them turn persecutors4 ,hence it is1 that as it was formerly1 so it is now1 and so will it be to the end of time2 8,he that is born after the flesh1 7the natural man1 does and7 will persecute him that is born after the ,spirit10 the regenerate man4 ,because christians are not of the world1 but ,,christ hath chosen them out of the world1 therefore the world will hate them4 ,if it be objected against this doctrine1 that we now live in a christian world1 and therefore must not expect such persecution as formerly2 ,i answer1 ,all are not christians that are called so2 and1 till the heart is changed1 the enmity against ,,god 7which is the root of all persecution7 remains3 and consequently christians1 falsely so called1 will persecute as well as others4 ,i observed therefore1 in the beginning of this discourse1 that ,paul mentions those that had a form of religion1 as persons of whom ,timothy had need be chiefly aware3 for1 as our ,,lord and his apostles were mostly persecuted by their countrymen the ,jews1 so we must expect the like usage from the ,formalists of our own nation1 the ,pharisees1 who seem to be religious4 ,the most horrid and barbarous persecutions have been carried on by those who have called themselves ,christians2 witness the days of queen ,mary2 and the fines1 banishments and imprisonments of the children of ,,god in the last century1 and the bitter1 irreconcileable hatred that appears in thousands who call themselves ,christians1 even in the present days wherein we live4 ,persons1 who argue against persecution1 are not sufficiently sensible of the bitter enmity of the heart of every unregenerate man against ,,god4 ,for my own part1 ,i am so far from wondering that christians are persecuted1 that ,i wonder our streets do not run with the blood of the saints3 was mens power equal to their wills1 such a horrid spectacle would soon appear4 ,but1 ,persecution is necessary in respect to the godly themselves4 ,if we have not all manner of evil spoken of us1 how can we know whether we seek only that honour which cometh from above8 ,if we have no persecutors1 how can our passive graces be kept in exercise8 ,how can many christian precepts be put into practice8 ,how can we love1 pray for1 and do good to1 those who despitefully use us8 ,how can we overcome evil with good8 ,in short1 how can we know we love ,,god better than life itself8 ,paul was sensible of all this1 and therefore so positively and peremptorily asserts1 that 8all who will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,not that ,i affirm1 all are persecuted in a like degree4 ,no3 this would be contrary both to scripture and experience4 ,but though all christians are not really called to suffer every kind of persecution1 yet all christians are liable thereto3 and notwithstanding some may live in more peaceful times of the church than others1 yet all christians1 in all ages1 will find by their own experience1 that1 whether they act in a private or public capacity1 they must1 in some degree or other1 suffer persecution4 ,here then ,i would pause1 and1 lastly1 by way of application1 exhort all persons1 ,first1 ,to stand a while and examine themselves4 ,for1 by what has been said1 you may gather one mark1 whereby you may judge whether you are christians or not4 ,were you ever persecuted for righteousness sake8 ,if not1 you never yet lived godly in ,,christ our ,,lord4 ,whatever you may say to the contrary1 the inspired apostle1 in the words of the text 7the truth of which1 ,i think1 ,i have sufficiently proved7 positively asserts1 that all who will live godly in ,him1 shall suffer persecution4 ,not that all who are persecuted are real christians2 for many sometimes suffer1 and are persecuted1 on other accounts than for righteousness sake4 ,the great question therefore is1 ,whether you were ever persecuted for living godly8 ,you may boast of your great prudence and sagacity 7and indeed these are excellent things7 and glory because you have not run such lengths1 and made yourselves so singular1 and liable to such contempt1 as some others have4 ,but1 alas6 this is not a mark of your being of a ,christian1 but of a ,laodicean spirit1 neither hot nor cold1 and fit only to be spewed out of the mouth of ,,god4 ,that which you call prudence1 is often1 only cowardice1 dreadful hypocrisy1 pride of heart1 which makes you dread contempt1 and afraid to give up your reputation for ,,god4 ,you are ashamed of ,,christ and his gospel2 and in all probability1 was he to appear a second time upon earth1 in words1 as well as works1 you would deny him4 ,awake therefore1 all ye that live only formally in ,,christ ,,jesus1 and no longer seek that honour which cometh of man4 ,i do not desire to court you1 but ,i intreat you to live godly1 and fear not contempt for the sake of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,beg of ,,god to give you his ,holy ,spirit1 that you may see through1 and discover the latent hypocrisy of your hearts1 and no longer deceive your own souls4 ,remember you cannot reconcile two irreconcileable differences1 ,,god and ,mammon1 the friendship of this world with the favour of ,,god4 ,know you not who hath told you1 that 8the friendship of this world is enmity with ,,god80 ,if therefore you are in friendship with the world1 notwithstanding all your specious pretences to piety1 you are at enmity with ,,god3 you are only heart-hypocrites2 and1 8,what is the hope of the hypocrite1 when ,,god shall take away his soul80 ,let the words of the text sound an alarm in your ears2 ,o let them sink deep into your hearts2 8,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,secondly1 ,from the words of the text1 ,i would take occasion to speak to those1 who are about to lift themselves under the banner of ,,christ's cross4 ,what say you8 ,are you resolved to live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 notwithstanding the consequence will be1 that you must suffer persecution8 ,you are beginning to build2 but have you taken our ,,lord's advice1 to 8sit down first and count the cost80 ,have you well weighed with yourselves that weighty declaration1 8,he that loveth father or mother more than ,me1 is not worthy of ,me20 and again1 8,unless a man forsake all that he hath he cannot be my disciple80 ,perhaps some of you have great possessions2 will not you go away sorrowful1 if ,,christ should require you to sell all that you have6 ,others of you again may be kinsmen1 or some way related1 or under obligations1 to the high-priests1 or other great personages1 who may be persecuting the church of ,,christ3 ,what say you8 ,will you1 with ,moses1 8rather chuse to suffer affliction with the people of ,,god1 than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season80 ,perhaps you may say1 my friends will not oppose me4 ,that is more than you know3 in all probability your chief enemies will be those of your own household4 ,if therefore they should oppose you1 are you willing naked to follow a naked ,,christ8 and to wander about in sheep-skins and goats-skins1 in dens and caves of the earth1 being afflicted1 destitute1 tormented1 rather than not be ,,christ's disciples8 ,you are now all following with zeal1 as ,ruth and ,orpah did ,naomi1 and may weep under the word2 but are not your tears crocodiles tears8 ,and1 when difficulties come1 will you not go back from following your ,,lord1 as ,orpah departed from following ,naomi8 ,have you really the root of grace in your hearts8 or1 are you only stony-ground hearers8 ,you receive the word with joy2 but1 when persecution arises because of the word1 will you not be immediately offended8 ,be not angry with me for putting these questions to you4 ,i am jealous over you1 but it is with a godly jealousy3 for1 alas6 how many have put their hands to the plough1 and afterwards have shamefully looked back8 ,i only deal with you1 as our ,,lord did with the person that said1 8,,lord1 ,i will follow thee whithersoever thou wilt40 8,the foxes have holes1 and the birds of the air have nests1 but the son of man1 7says he7 hath not where to lay his head40 ,what say you8 ,are you willing to endure hardness1 and thereby approve yourselves good soldiers of ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,you now come on foot out of the towns and villages to hear the word1 and receive me as a messenger of ,,god3 but will you not by and by cry out1 ,away with him1 away with him2 it is not fit such a fellow should live upon the earth8 ,perhaps some of you1 like ,hazael1 may say1 8,are we dogs1 that we should do this80 ,but1 alas6 ,i have met with many unhappy souls1 who have drawn back unto perdition1 and have afterwards accounted me their enemy1 for dealing faithfully with them2 though once1 if it were possible1 they would have plucked out their own eyes1 and have given them unto me4 ,sit down therefore1 ,i beseech you1 and seriously count the cost1 and ask yourselves again and again1 whether you count all things but dung and dross1 and are willing to suffer the loss of all things1 so that you may win ,,christ1 and be found in him3 for you may assure yourselves1 the apostle hath not spoken in vain1 8,all that will live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 shall suffer persecution40 ,thirdly1 ,the text speaks to you that are patiently suffering for the truth's sake3 8,rejoice1 and be exceeding glad2 great shall be your reward in heaven40 ,for to you it is given1 not only to believe1 but also to suffer1 and perhaps remarkably too1 for the sake of ,,jesus6 ,this is a mark of your discipleship1 an evidence that you do live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,fear not1 therefore1 neither be dismayed4 ,o be not weary and faint in your minds6 ,,jesus1 your ,,lord1 your life1 cometh1 and his reward is with him4 ,though all men forsake you1 yet will not he3 no2 the ,spirit of ,,christ and of glory shall rest upon you4 ,in patience therefore possess your souls4 ,sanctify the ,,lord ,,god in your hearts4 ,be in nothing terrified by your adversaries3 on their part ,,christ is evil spoken of2 on your part he is glorified4 ,be not ashamed of your glory1 since others can glory in their shame4 ,think it not strange concerning the fiery trial1 wherewith you are or may be tried4 ,the ,devil rages1 knowing that he hath but a short time to reign4 ,he or his emissaries have no more power than what is given them from above3 ,,god sets them their bounds1 which they cannot pass2 and the very hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,fear not2 no one shall set upon you to hurt you1 without your heavenly ,father's knowledge4 ,do your earthly friends and parents forsake you8 ,are you cast out of the synagogues8 ,the ,,lord shall reveal himself to you1 as to the man that was born blind8 ,,jesus ,,christ shall take you up4 ,if they carry you to prison1 and load you with chains1 so that the iron enter into your souls1 even there shall ,,christ send an angel from heaven to strengthen you1 and enable you1 with ,paul and ,silas1 to 8sing praises at midnight40 ,are you threatened to be thrown into a den of lions1 or cast into a burning fiery furnace1 because you will not bow down and worship the beast8 ,fear not2 the ,,god1 whom you serve1 is able to deliver you3 or1 if he should suffer the flames to devour your bodies1 they would only serve1 as so many fiery chariots1 to carry your souls to ,,god4 ,thus it was with the martyrs of old2 so that one1 when he was burning1 cried out1 8,come1 you ,papists1 if you want a miracle1 here1 behold one6 ,this bed of flames is to me a bed of down40 ,thus it was with almost all that suffered in former times3 for ,,jesus1 notwithstanding he withdrew his own divinity from himself1 yet has always lifted up the light of his countenance upon the souls of suffering saints4 8,fear not therefore those that can kill the body1 and after that have no more that they can do2 but fear ,him only1 who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell40 ,dare1 dare to live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 though you suffer all manner of persecution4 ,but1 ,fourthly1 ,are there any true ministers of ,,jesus ,,christ here8 ,you will not be offended if ,i tell you1 that the words of the text are1 in an especial manner1 applicable to you4 ,paul wrote them to ,timothy2 and we1 of all men1 that live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 must expect to suffer the severest persecution4 ,satan will endeavour to bruise our heels1 let who will escape3 and it has been the general way of ,,god's providence1 in times of persecution1 to permit the shepherds first to be smitten1 before the sheep are scattered4 ,let us not therefore shew that we are only hirelings1 who care not for the sheep2 but1 like the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls1 let us readily lay down our lives for the sheep4 ,whilst others are boasting of their great preferments1 let us rather glory in our great afflictions and persecutions for the sake of ,,christ4 ,paul rejoiced that he suffered afflictions and persecutions at ,iconium and ,lystra3 out of all1 the ,,lord delivered him2 out of all1 the ,,lord will deliver us1 and cause us hereafter to sit down with him on thrones1 when he comes to judge the twelve tribes of ,israel4 ,i could proceed2 but ,i am conscious1 in this part of my discourse1 ,i ought more particularly to speak to myself1 knowing that ,satan has desired to have me1 that he may sift me as wheat4 ,without a spirit of prophecy1 we may easily discern the signs of the times4 ,persecution is even at the doors3 the tabernacle of the ,,lord is already driven into the wilderness3 the ark of the ,,lord is fallen into the unhallowed hands of uncircumcised ,philistines4 ,they have long since put us out of their synagogues1 and high-priests have been calling on civil magistrates to exert their authority against the disciples of the ,,lord4 ,men in power have been breathing out threatenings3 we may easily guess what will follow1 imprisonment and slaughter4 ,the storm has been gathering some time2 it must break shortly4 ,perhaps it may fall on me first4 ,brethren therefore1 whether in the ministry or not1 ,i beseech you1 8pray for me10 that ,i may never suffer justly1 as an evil-doer1 but only for righteousness sake4 ,o pray that ,i may not deny my ,,lord in any wise1 but that ,i may joyfully follow him1 both to prison and to death1 if he is pleased to call me to seal his truths with my blood4 ,be not ashamed of ,,christ1 or of his gospel1 though ,i should become a prisoner of the ,,lord4 ,though ,i am bound1 the word of ,,god will not be bound3 no2 an open1 an effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting gospel1 and men or devils shall never be able to prevail against it4 ,only pray1 that1 whether it be in life or death1 ,,christ may be glorified in me3 then ,i shall rejoice1 yea1 and will rejoice4 ,and now1 to whom shall ,i address myself next8 ,fifthly1 ,to those1 who persecute their neighbours for living godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,but1 what shall ,i say to you8 ,howl and weep for the miseries that shall come upon you3 for a little while the ,,lord permits you to ride over the heads of his people2 but1 by and by1 death will arrest you1 judgment will find you1 and ,,jesus ,,christ shall put a question to you1 which will strike you dumb1 ,why persecuted you ,me8 ,you may plead your laws and your canons1 and pretend what you do is out of zeal for ,,god2 but ,,god shall discover the cursed hypocrisy and serpentine enmity of your hearts1 and give you over to the tormentors4 ,it is well1 if in this life ,,god does not send some mark upon you4 ,he pleaded the cause of ,naboth1 when innocently condemned for blaspheming ,,god and the king2 and our ,,lord sent forth his armies1 and destroyed the city of those who killed the prophets1 and stoned them that were sent unto them4 ,if you have a mind therefore to fill up the measure of your iniquities1 go on1 persecute and despise the disciples of the ,,lord3 but know1 8that for all these things1 ,,god shall bring you into judgment40 ,nay1 those you now persecute1 shall be in part your judges1 and sit on the right-hand of the ,majesty on high1 whilst you are dragged by infernal spirits into a lake that burneth with fire and brimstone1 and the smoke of your torment shall be ascending up for ever and ever4 ,lay down therefore1 ye rebels1 your arms against the most high ,,god1 and no longer persecute those who live godly in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,the ,,lord will plead1 the ,,lord will avenge1 their cause4 ,you may be permitted to bruise their heels1 yet in the end they shall bruise your accursed heads4 ,i speak not this1 as though ,i were afraid of you2 for ,i know in whom ,i have believed3 only out of pure love ,i warn you1 and because ,i know not but ,,jesus ,,christ may make some of you vessels of mercy1 and snatch you1 even you persecutors1 as fire-brands out of the fire4 ,,jesus ,,christ came into the world to save sinners1 even persecutors1 the worst of sinners3 his righteousness is sufficient for them2 his ,spirit is able to purify and change their hearts4 ,he once converted ,saul3 may the same ,,god magnify his power1 in converting all those who are causing the godly in ,,christ ,,jesus1 as much as in them lies1 to suffer persecution6 ,the ,,lord be with you all4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,lvi4 ,an ,exhortation to the ,people of ,,god not to be discouraged in their ,way1 by the ,scoffs and ,contempt of wicked ,men4 ,,hebrews iv4 #i4 ,there remaineth therefore a ,rest to the ,people of ,,god4 ,,when we consider the persecutions they are exposed to1 who live righteously and godly in this present world2 it is amazing to consider1 that the people of this generation should be so fond of a name to live1 while they are in effect dead4 ,the people of ,,god are to expect little else but troubles and trials while they are in this world2 common experience is a contradiction to my text1 that there is a rest to the people of ,,god2 but the author of the ,hebrews1 when speaking of this rest1 did not mean that they should have a rest here4 ,no2 he too well knew that the people of ,,god1 all who would seek and serve the ,,lord ,,jesus1 must be despised1 hated1 scoffed1 slandered1 and evil intreated2 but the time was hastening when they should have a perfect rest3 there is a rest laid up for them1 and this is an encouragement for you1 my brethren1 to hold on1 and hold out your way rejoicing2 after death there will be a rest for ever2 at judgment1 you shall be taken up to dwell with the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ2 and there1 you shall be for ever exempted from sin2 you shall rest from all manner of sorrow1 and be no more troubled with the temptations of ,satan4 ,now1 you can set about nothing for the glory of ,,god1 or for your own soul's welfare1 but the devil is dissuading you from it1 or distracting you in it1 or discouraging you after it4 ,here we are scoffed and derided2 as the world hated the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 so will it hate you3 but be not discouraged1 though we are here the scorn and off-scouring of all things2 and are as a gazing stock to men and angels4 ,though they put us out of their synagogues1 cast out our name as evil1 and look on us as persons unfit for their company2 yet1 in that rest which is prepared for you1 my brethren1 we shall then be gazed at for our glory1 and they shut out of the assembly of the saints1 and separated from us1 whether they will or no2 unless the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 by his free1 rich1 and sovereign grace1 brings them unto himself4 ,the letter-learned ,scribes and ,pharisees of this day1 look on us as madmen and enthusiasts2 but though they make so much noise about the word enthusiast1 it means no more than this1 one in ,,god2 and what christian can say1 he is not in ,,god1 and ,,god in him8 ,and if this is to be an enthusiast1 ,,god grant ,i may be more and more so2 if we being in ,,christ1 and ,,christ in us1 makes us enthusiasts1 ,i would to ,,god we were all more and more enthusiasts4 ,they now think it strange1 that we run not with them into all excess of riot1 and because we will not go to the devil's diversions with them1 therefore they speak evil of us4 ,we cannot now go along the street1 but every one is pointing out his finger with scorn1 and cries1 ,here comes another of his followers2 what6 you are become one of his disciples too6 ,but there is a rest which will be a complete deliverance for you4 ,let none of these things move you2 for1 though you are thus treated here1 consider1 you shall in heaven have no discouraging company1 nor any but what will be an assistance to you2 you will have no scoffer there1 all will be ready to join with heart and voice in your everlasting joy and praises4 ,you will not be counted enthusiasts1 madmen1 and rabble1 in that rest which remaineth for the people of ,,god4 ,therefore1 possess your souls in patience2 account it matter of joy when you fall into tribulation2 ,,god1 in his own time1 will deliver us2 let not their hindering us from preaching in the church1 be any discouragement2 do not shrink1 and draw back1 because of opposition2 be not ashamed of your work or master2 but hold fast your integrity4 ,you must expect to go through evil report1 and good report2 fear not the violence of unreasonable men2 let them hate you1 and cast you out for the ,,lord's sake1 behold he shall appear to your joy1 and they shall be ashamed3 therefore hold on1 and hold out to the end4 ,be stedfast and patient1 and bear the troubles of the world2 if you are the people of ,,god1 there is a rest provided for you1 which you shall certainly obtain4 ,i shall not speak unto you1 ,pharisees1 this morning1 nor to any1 except to you who have experienced the pangs of the new-birth1 or are at present under them1 and who know what it is to love the ,,lord ,,jesus in sincerity and truth3 do not be discouraged1 or think hard of the ways of ,,god1 my dear brethren1 because you are not loved by the men of this world2 if you were of the world it would love you2 it would then be pleased with your company2 it would not thrust you from a tavern1 or an alehouse2 it would not dislike you for singing the songs of the drunkard1 or for going to plays1 balls1 or other polite and fashionable entertainments1 as they are called2 no1 these the children of the world like2 but if you will sing hymns and psalms1 and go to hear what ,,god hath to say unto your souls1 and spend your time in reading1 praying1 and frequenting religious assemblies1 then it is that they dislike you1 and thrust you out of their company1 as unworthy thereof2 but let none of these things move you1 for the rest which ,,jesus ,,christ hath prepared for you1 is an ample recompence for all you may meet with here4 ,this rest is the fruit of the blood of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ3 ,o how will it fill our souls with love1 to think that through the streams of this blood1 we have overcome the violence of the world1 and the snares of the devil4 ,my dear brethren1 be not discouraged at the treatment you meet with here1 but let it be a means to stir you up to advance in the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who hath prepared a rest for you4 ,can you consider1 what ,,christ has done and suffered for you1 and have your hearts stupified with vile and senseless pleasures8 ,can you hear of a panting1 bleeding1 dying ,,jesus1 and yet be dull and unaffected8 ,was there any sorrow like unto his sorrow8 and all this1 he underwent to save you1 who were vile1 and polluted1 and by nature1 since the fall1 a motly mixture of the beast and devil4 ,,jesus ,,christ1 by dying upon the cross1 intended to take away the devil and beast from your heart1 and to prepare it for himself to dwell in4 ,think of the love of this your ,jesus1 and then1 will a little reproach and scorn move you8 sure it will not4 ,i hope better things of you1 and things that accompany salvation4 ,o think with what pleasing astonishment you will see the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 when he comes to take you to his rest3 now his heart is open to us2 but our hearts are shut against him2 then1 then1 his heart shall be open1 and ours shall be so too4 ,o my brethren1 how will your love be increased8 ,with what raptures will you see the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ8 ,therefore1 undergo a few reproaches here patiently1 and revile not again4 ,let them say what they please of me1 the reproaches1 scorns1 and contempt of this world1 will no ways hurt me1 but will recoil upon their own heads2 leave it to the ,,lord1 who knows what is best for you and me3 do not question his love2 he will be with you2 only do you1 who have tasted the ,,lord to be gracious1 follow hard after him4 ,and now1 let me speak a word unto you1 who have not yet experienced the love of ,,christ to your souls1 but are waiting for his appearance4 ,i shall be but very short1 because ,i would not break in upon the duties of the day4 ,i shall speak unto you a word of invitation2 even1 to wait still on the ,,lord2 do not forsake him1 though he may not answer your petitions at once or twice seeking unto him2 hold on1 do not leave seeking him1 and you shall have an answer of peace2 remember the poor man who was lame1 and had lain at the pool of ,bethesda thirty-eight years for relief1 yet at last he found that it was worth waiting for1 he obtained his desire4 ,and if you are but zealous for the ,,lord1 and seek unto ,,jesus1 if your zeal be according to godliness1 and you pray unto him for his ,spirit1 you shall certainly have an answer of peace2 you shall find it is good to seek unto the ,,lord1 you will be adopted into his family1 and by his spirit be enabled to cry1 8,abba1 ,father40 ,o then do not leave1 but be continually waiting at wisdom's gate1 and you shall find all her ways to be ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths are peace2 then1 you shall find that it is worth waiting on the ,,lord ,,jesus2 and when you have got his ,spirit within you1 all the power of men or devils cannot make you forsake the ways of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,if you do but once taste of his pardoning love1 it will be so delightful unto you1 that you will cry for more and more thereof2 you will be as full as you can hold1 and still not be satisfied2 you will desire more and more of this love of ,,jesus1 you will hunger and thirst1 and hunger and thirst again1 and never be satisfied till you come to that rest which is prepared for the people of ,,god1 where all hungering and thirsting will cease1 and will be turned into songs and hallelujahs1 and that for ever and ever4 ,as many of you as design to partake of the emblems of the body and blood of our dying ,,lord1 examine well yourselves1 lest by eating and drinking unworthily1 you eat and drink damnation unto yourselves3 remember the dying love of your dying ,,lord1 and eat and drink in commemoration thereof2 do not let the world keep you from partaking hereof2 and when you have eaten and drank1 do not go away and run into the world2 let the world see that you have been with ,,jesus2 give them no room to speak unseemly1 they do that enough without occasion2 but how would they rejoice if they had just reason4 ,look well then unto your paths1 that you do not slip2 remember that all your faults are magnified1 and that all your little slips are laid upon me2 therefore1 look well unto your ways1 your words1 your actions1 that they may silence gainsayers2 let them see that we have the presence of ,,god with us1 and that there has been good done by field-preaching4 ,let me exhort you once more to consider the love of the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,o do not forget his love4 ,consider1 ,i beseech you1 how great it has been unto you1 and do not slight this his grace1 the riches1 the love1 the kindness of your dear ,redeemer1 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ1 who hath prepared this eternal rest for you2 he also laid down his life for your sakes3 what great love was here6 that while you were enemies to the ,,lord of glory1 he died for you1 to redeem you from sin1 from hell and wrath1 that you might live and reign with him1 world without end4 ,the ,lamb that died1 and was buried1 is now risen and exalted1 and sits on the right-hand of ,,god the ,father2 and when he shall come to judge all the world1 then1 my brethren1 it will be seen whether we have deserved the usage the world has given us2 then it will be known who are the true followers of the ,,lord ,,jesus1 and who are madmen and fools2 but1 may it be determined in this world1 that we and our present enemies may enter into that rest which ,,god hath prepared for those that love him4 ,which ,,god of his infinite mercy grant6 ,my brethren1 let not these few words of exhortation be forgotten1 but lay them up in your hearts1 and remember they must be called over another day4 ,i should have enlarged1 but the duties of the day obliged me to forbear4 ,now1 to ,,god the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 be all power1 c4 ,,sermon ,,lvii4 ,preached before the ,governor1 and ,council1 and the ,house of ,assembly1 in1 ,georgia1 on ,january #bh1 #aggj4 ,,zechariah iv4 #aj4 ,for who hath despised the ,day of ,small ,things8 ,,men1 brethren1 and fathers1 at sundry times and in divers manners1 ,,god spake to the fathers by the prophets1 before he spoke to us in these last days by his ,son4 ,and as ,,god is a sovereign agent1 and his sacred ,spirit bloweth when and where it listeth1 surely he may reveal and make known his will to his creatures1 when1 where1 and how he pleaseth2 8and who shall say unto him1 what doest thou80 ,indeed1 this seems to be one reason1 to display his sovereignty1 why he chose1 before the canon of scripture was settled1 to make known his mind in such various methods1 and to such a variety of his servants and messengers4 ,hence it is1 that we hear1 he talked with ,abraham as 8a man talketh with a friend40 ,to ,moses he spoke 8face to face40 ,to others by 8dreams in the night10 or by 8visions0 impressed strongly on their imaginations4 ,this seems to be frequently the happy lot of the favourite evangelical prophet ,zechariah1 ,i call him evangelical prophet1 because his predictions1 however they pointed at some approaching or immediate event1 ultimately terminated in ,him1 who is the ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the end of all the lively oracles of ,,god4 ,the chapter from which our text is selected1 among many other passages1 is a striking proof of this3 ,an angel1 that had been more than once sent to him on former occasions1 appears again to him1 and by way of vision1 and 8waked him1 7to use his own words7 as a man that is wakened out of his sleep40 ,prophets1 and the greatest servants of ,,god1 need waking sometimes out of their drowsy frames4 ,methinks ,i see this man of ,,god darting out of his sleep1 and being all attention3 the angel asked him1 8what seeth thou80 ,he answers1 8,i have looked1 and behold1 a candlestick all of gold10 an emblem of the church of ,,god1 8with a bowl upon the top of it1 and seven lamps thereon1 and seven pipes to the seven lamps1 which were upon the top thereof20 implying1 that the church1 however reduced to the lowest ebb1 should be preserved1 be kept supplied1 and shining1 through the invisible1 but not less real1 because invisible aids and operations of the blessed ,spirit of ,,god4 ,the occasion of such an extraordinary vision1 if we compare this passage with the second chapter of the ,prophecy of the prophet ,haggai1 seems to be this3 ,it was now near eighteen years since the ,jewish people had been delivered from their long and grievous ,babylonish captivity2 and being so long deprived of their temple and its worship1 which fabric had been rased even to the ground1 one would have imagined1 that immediately upon their return1 they should have postponed all private works1 and with their united strength have first set about rebuilding that once stately and magnificent structure4 ,but they1 like too many christians of a like lukewarm stamp1 though all acknowledged that this church-work was a necessary work1 yet put themselves and others off1 with this godly pretence1 8,the time is not come1 the time that the ,,lord's house should be built40 ,the time is not come6 what1 not in eighteen years6 for so long had they now been returned from their state of bondage3 and pray1 why was not the time come8 ,the prophet ,haggai tells them2 their whole time was so taken up in building for themselves cieled houses1 that they had no time left to build an habitation for their great and glorious ,benefactor1 the mighty ,,god of ,jacob4 ,this ingratitude must not be passed by unpunished4 ,omniscience observes2 ,omnipotence resents it6 ,and that they might read their sin in their punishment1 as they thought it best to get rich1 and secure houses and lands and estates for themselves1 before they set about unnecessary church-work1 the prophet tells them1 8,you have sown much1 but bring in little3 ye eat1 but ye have not enough3 ye drink1 but ye are not filled with drink3 ye clothe you1 but there is none warm3 and he that earneth wages1 earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes40 ,still he goes on thundering and lightening1 8,ye looked for much1 and lo it came to little3 and when ye brought it home1 7pleasing yourselves with your fine crops7 ,i did blow upon it3 why8 saith the ,,lord of ,hosts2 because of mine house that is waste1 and ye run every man unto his own house40 ,a thundering sermon this6 delivered not only to the common people1 but also unto1 and in the presence of 8,zerubbabel1 the son of ,shaealtiel1 governor of ,judah1 and to ,joshua1 the son of ,josedech the high-priest4 ,the prophet's report is believed2 and the arm of the ,,lord was revealed4 ,zerubbabel1 the son of ,shaealtiel1 and ,joshua1 the ,son of ,josedech1 7,o happy times when church and state are thus combined7 with all the remnant of the people1 obeyed the voice of the ,,lord their ,,god1 and the words of ,haggai the prophet40 ,the spirit of ,zerubbabel1 and of ,joshua1 and the spirits of all the remnant of the people were stirred up1 and they immediately came1 disregarding1 as it were1 their own private buildings1 8and did work in the house of the ,,lord of ,hosts their ,,god40 ,for a while1 they proceeded with vigour2 the foundation of the house is laid1 and the superstructure raised to some considerable height3 but whether this fit of hot zeal soon cooled1 as is too common1 or the people were discouraged by the false representations of their enemies1 which perhaps met with too favourable a reception at the court of ,darius2 it so happened1 that the hearts of the magistrates and ministers of the people waxed faint2 and an awful chasm intervened1 between the finishing and laying the foundation of this promising and glorious work4 ,upon this1 another prophet1 even ,zechariah1 7who with ,haggai had been joint sufferer in the captivity7 is sent to lift up the hands that hang down1 to strengthen the feeble knees1 and by the foregoing instructive vision1 to reanimate ,joshua and the people in general1 and the heart of ,zerubbabel1 the son of ,shealtiel1 in particular1 maugre all discouragements1 either from inveterate enemies1 or from timid unstable friends1 or all other obstacles whatsoever4 ,if ,haggai thunders1 ,zechariah's message is as lightening4 8,this is the word of the ,,lord unto ,zerubbabel1 saying1 ,not by might1 nor by power1 7not by barely human power or policy7 but by my spirit1 saith the ,,lord of ,hosts3 ,who art thou1 ,o great mountain8 7thou ,sanballat and thy associates1 who have been so long crying out1 what mean these feeble ,jews8 however great1 formidable1 and seemingly insurmountable7 before ,zerubbabel thou shalt 7not only be lowered and rendered more accessible1 but7 become a plain20 thy very opposition shall1 in the end1 promote the work1 and help to expedite that very building1 which thou intendest to put a stop to1 and destroy4 ,and lest ,zerubbabel1 through unbelief and outward opposition1 or for want of more bodily strength1 should think this would be a work of time1 and that he should not live to see it compleated in his days1 8,the word of the ,,lord came to ,zechariah1 saying1 ,the hands of ,zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house2 his hands also shall finish it1 and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings1 crying1 ,grace1 grace unto it40 ,grace6 grace6 unto it3 a double acclamation1 to shew1 that out of the abundance of their hearts1 their mouth spake2 and this with shoutings and crying from all quarters4 ,even their enemies should see the hand and providence of ,,god in the beginning1 continuance1 and ending of this seemingly improbable and impracticable work2 so that they should be constrained to cry1 8,grace unto it10 and wish both the work and the builders much prosperity3 ,but as for its friends1 they should be so transported with heart-felt joy in the reflection upon the signal providences which had attended them through the whole process1 that they would shout and cry1 8,grace1 grace unto it30 or1 ,this is nothing but the ,,lord's doing2 ,,god prosper and bless this work more and more1 and make it a place where his free grace and glory may be abundantly displayed4 ,then by a beautiful and pungent sarcasm1 turning to the insulting enemies1 he utters the spirited interrogation in my text1 8,who hath despised the day of small things80 ,who are you1 that vauntingly said1 what can these feeble ,jews do1 pretending to lay the foundation of a house which they never will have money1 or strength1 or power to finish8 ,or1 who are you1 ,o timorous1 short-sighted1 doubting1 though well-meaning people1 who1 through unbelief1 were discouraged at the small beginnings and feebleness of the attempt to build a second temple8 ,and1 because you thought it could not come up to the magnificence of the first1 therefore were discouraged from so much as beginning to build a second at all8 ,a close instructive question this2 a question1 implying1 that whenever ,,god intends to bring about any great thing1 he generally begins with a day of small things4 ,as a proof of this1 ,i will not lead you so far back1 as to the beginning of time1 when the ,everlasting 8,i ,,am0 spoke all things into existence1 by his almighty fiat2 and out of a confused chaos1 8without form and void10 produced a world worthy of a ,,god to create1 and of his favourite creature man1 his vicegerent and representative here below1 to inhabit1 and enjoy in it both himself and his ,,god4 ,and yet1 though the heavens declare his glory1 and the firmament sheweth his handy work1 though there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard1 and their line is gone out through all the earth2 and by a dumb1 yet persuasive language1 proves the hand that made them to be divine2 yet there have been1 and are now1 such fools in the world1 as to 8say in their hearts1 ,there is no ,,god20 or so wise1 as by their wisdom1 not to know ,,god1 or own his divine image to be stamped on that book1 wherein these grand things are recorded1 and that in such legible characters1 that he who runs may read4 ,neither will ,i divert your attention1 honoured fathers1 to the histories of ,greece and ,rome1 or any of the great kingdoms and renowned monarchies1 which constitute so great a part of ancient history2 but whose beginnings were very small1 7witness ,romulus's ditch7 their progress as remarkably great1 and their declension and downfal1 when arrived at their appointed zenith1 as sudden1 unexpected1 and marvellous4 ,these make the chief subjects of the learning of our schools2 though they make but a mean figure in sacred history1 and would not perhaps have been mentioned at all1 had they not been1 in some measure1 connected with the history of ,,god's people1 which is the grand subject of that much despised book1 emphatically called1 ,the ,scriptures4 ,whoever hath a mind to inform himself of the one1 may read ,rollin's ,ancient ,history1 and whoever would see the connection with the other1 may consult the learned ,prideaux's admirable and judicious connection4 ,books which1 ,i hope1 will be strenuously recommended1 and carefully studied1 when this present infant institution gathers more strength1 and grows up into a seat of learning4 ,i can hardly forbear mentioning the small beginnings of ,great ,britain1 now so distinguished for liberty1 opulence and renown2 and the rise and rapid progress of the ,american colonies1 which promises to be one of the most opulent and powerful empires in the world4 ,but my present views1 and the honours done this infant institution this day1 and the words of my text1 as well as the feelings of my own heart1 and ,i trust1 of the hearts of all that hear me1 lead me to confine your meditations to the history of ,,god's own peculiar people1 which for the simplicity and sublimity of its language1 the veracity of its author1 and the importance and wonders of the facts therein recorded1 if weighed in a proper balance1 hath not its equal under the sun4 ,and yet1 though ,,god himself hath become an author among us1 we will not condescend to give his book one thorough reading4 ,be astonished1 ,o heavens1 at this6 ,who would have thought that from one1 even from ,abraham1 and from so small a beginning1 as the emigration of a single private family1 called out of a land wholly given to idolatry1 to be sojourners and pilgrims in a strange land2 who would have thought1 that from a man1 who for a long season was written childless1 a man whose first possession in this strange land1 was by purchasing a burying place for his wife1 and in whose grave one might have imagined he would have buried all future expectations2 who would have thought1 that from this very man and woman1 according to the course of nature1 both as good as dead1 should descend a numerous offspring like unto the stars of heaven for multitude1 and as the sand which is upon the sea shore innumerable8 ,nay1 who would have imagined1 that against all probability1 and in all human appearance impossible1 a kingdom should arise8 ,behold a poor captive slave1 even ,joseph1 who was cruelly separated from his brethren1 became second in ,pharaoh's kingdom3 he was sent before to work out a great deliverance1 and to introduce a family which should take root1 deep root downwards and bear fruit upwards1 and fill the land4 ,how could it enter into the heart of man to conceive1 that when oppressed by a king1 who knew not ,joseph1 though they were the best1 most loyal1 industrious subjects this king had1 when an edict was issued forth as impolitic as cruel1 7since the safety and glory of all kingdoms chiefly consist in the number of its inhabitants7 that an outcast1 helpless infant should be taken1 and bred up in all the learning of the ,egyptians1 and in that very court from which1 and by that very tyrant from whom the edict came1 and that the deliverer should be nurtured to be king in ,jeshurun8 ,but time as well as strength would fail me1 was ,i to give you a detail of all the important particulars respecting ,,god's peculiar people2 as their miraculous support in the wilderness1 the events which took place while they were under a divine theocracy1 and during their settlement in ,canaan to the time of their return from ,babylon1 and from thence to the destruction of their second temple1 c4 by the ,romans4 ,indeed1 considering to whom ,i am speaking1 persons conversant in the sacred and profane history1 ,i have mentioned these things only to stir up your minds by way of remembrance4 ,but if we descend from the ,jewish1 to the ,christian ra1 we shall find1 that its commencement was1 in the eyes of the world1 a 8day of small things0 indeed4 ,our blessed ,,lord compares the beginning of its progress in the world1 to a grain of mustard-seed1 which though the smallest of all seeds when sown1 soon becomes a great tree1 and so spread1 that the 8birds of the air10 or a multitude of every nation1 language and tongue1 came and lodged in its branches3 and its inward progress in the believers heart1 ,,christ likens to a little leaven which a woman hid in three measures of meal4 ,how both the ,jewish and ,christian dispensations have been1 and even to this day are despised1 by the wise disputers of this world1 on this very account1 is manifest to all who read the lively oracles with a becoming attention4 ,what ridicule1 obloquy1 and inveterate opposition christianity meets with1 in this our day1 not only from the open deist1 but from formal professors1 is too evident to every truly pious soul4 ,and what opposition the kingdom of grace meets with in the heart1 is well known by all those who are experimentally acquainted with their hearts3 they know1 to their sorrow1 what the great apostle of the ,gentiles means1 by 8the ,spirit striving against the flesh1 and the flesh against the ,spirit40 ,but the sacred ,oracles1 and the histories of all ages acquaint us1 that ,,god brings about the greatest thing1 not only by small and unlikely means1 but by ways and means directly opposite to the carnal reasonings of unthinking men3 he chuses things that be not1 to bring to nought those which are4 ,how did christianity spread and flourish1 by one1 who was despised and rejected of men1 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief1 and who expired on a cross8 he was despised and rejected1 not merely by the vulgar and illiterate1 but the ,rabbies and ,masters of ,israel1 the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 who by the ,jewish churchmen were held too in so high a reputation for their outward sanctity1 that it became a common proverb1 8,if only two went to heaven1 the one would be a ,scribe1 and the other a ,pharisee40 ,yet there were they who endeavoured to silence the voice of all his miracles and heavenly doctrine with1 8,is not this the ,carpenter's son80 ,nay1 8,he is mad1 why hear you him8 he hath a devil1 and calleth out devils by ,beelzebub the prince of the devils40 ,and their despite not only followed him to1 but after death1 and when in his grave4 8,we remember 7said they7 that this deceiver said1 after three days ,i will rise again2 command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure20 but1 maugre all your impotent precautions1 in sealing the stone1 and setting a watch1 he burst the bars of death asunder1 and1 according to his repeated predictions1 proved himself to be the ,son of ,,god with power1 by rising the third day from the dead4 ,and afterwards1 in presence of great multitudes1 was he received up into glory2 as a proof thereof1 he sent down the ,holy ,ghost1 7on the mission of whom he pawned all his credit with his disciples7 in such an instantaneous1 amazing manner1 as one would imagine1 should have forced and compelled all who saw it to own1 that this was indeed the finger of ,,god4 ,and yet how was this grand transaction treated8 with the utmost contempt3 when instantaneously the apostles commenced orators and linguists1 and with a divine profusion spoke of the wonderful things of ,,god2 8these men 7said some7 are full of new wine40 ,and yet by these men1 mean fishermen1 illiterate men1 idiots1 in the opinion of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 and notwithstanding all the opposition of earth and hell1 and that too only by the foolishness of preaching1 did this grain of mustard-seed grow up1 till thousands1 ten thousands of thousands1 a multitude which no man can number1 out of every nation1 language and people1 came and lodged under the branches of it4 ,neither shall it rest here2 whatever dark parenthesis may intervene1 we are assured1 that being still watered by the same divine hand1 it shall take deeper and deeper root downward1 and bear more and more fruit upward1 till the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the ,,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4 ,who shall live when ,,god doth this8 ,hasten ,o ,,lord that blessed time6 ,o let this thy kingdom come6 ,come1 not only by the external preaching of the gospel in the world1 but by its renovating1 heart-renewing1 soul-transforming power1 to awakened sinners6 ,for want of this1 alas6 alas6 though we understood all mysteries1 could speak with the tongues of men and angels1 we should be only like sounding brass1 or so many tinkling cymbals4 ,and yet1 what a 8day of small things0 is the first implantation of the seed of divine life in the soul of man8 ,well might our ,,lord1 who alone is the author and finisher of our faith1 compare it to a little leaven1 which a woman took1 and hid in three measures of meal1 till the whole was leavened4 ,low similies1 mean comparisons these1 in the eyes of those1 who having eyes1 see not2 who having ears1 hear not2 whose heart1 being waxed gross1 cannot1 will not understand6 ,to such1 it is despicable1 mysterious1 and unintelligible in its description2 and1 if possible1 infinitely more so1 when made effectual by the power of ,,god1 to the salvation of any individual soul4 ,for the wisdom of ,,god will always be foolishness to natural men4 ,as it was formerly1 so it is now2 they who are born after the flesh1 will persecute those that are born after the spirit3 the disciple must be as his master3 they that will live godly in him2 they that live most godly in him1 must1 shall suffer persecution4 ,this is so interwoven in the very nature and existence of the gospel1 that our ,,lord makes it one part of the beatitudes1 in that blessed sermon which he preached1 when1 to use the words of my old familiar friend the seraphic ,hervey1 a mount was his pulpit1 and the heavens his sounding board4 ,a part1 which1 like others of the same nature1 ,i believe1 will be little relished by such who are always clamouring against those few highly favoured souls1 who dare stand up and preach the doctrine of justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ1 and are reproached with not preaching1 like their master1 ,morality1 as they term it1 in his glorious sermon on the mount3 for did we more preach1 and more live it1 we should soon find all manner of evil would be spoken against us for ,,christ's sake4 ,but shall this hinder the progress1 the growth1 and consummation8 and shall the christian therefore be dismayed and discouraged8 ,,god forbid6 ,on the contrary1 the weakest believer may1 and ought1 to rejoice and be exceeding glad4 ,and why8 for a very good reason2 because1 he that hath begun the good work1 hath engaged also to finish it2 though ,,christ found him as black as hell1 he shall present him1 and every individual purchased with his blood1 without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing1 before the ,divine ,presence4 ,o glorious prospect6 how will the saints triumph1 and the sons of ,,god then shout for joy8 ,if they shouted when ,,god said1 8,let there be light1 and there was light20 and if there is joy in heaven over one sinner only that repenteth1 how will the heavenly arches echo and rebound with praise1 when all the redeemed of the ,,lord shall appear together1 and the ,son of ,,god shall say1 8of all these that thou hast given to me1 have ,i lost nothing40 ,on the contrary1 what weeping1 wailing1 and gnashing of teeth will there be1 not only amongst the devil and his angels1 but amongst the fearful and unbelieving1 when they see that all the hellish temptations and devices1 instead of destroying1 were over-ruled to the furtherance of the gospel in general1 and to the increase and growth of grace in every individual believer in particular4 ,and how will despisers then behold and wonder and perish1 when they shall be obliged to say1 8we fools counted their lives madness1 and their end to be without honour2 but how are they numbered among the children of ,,god1 and how happy is their lot among the saints60 ,but whither am ,i going8 ,pardon me1 my dear hearers1 if you think this to be a digression from my main point4 ,it is true1 whilst ,i am musing1 the fire begins to kindle3 ,i am flying1 but not so high1 ,i trust1 as to lose sight of my main subject4 ,and yet1 after meditating and talking of the rise and progress of the gospel of the kingdom1 ,i shall find it somewhat difficult to descend so low1 as to entertain you with the small beginnings of this infant colony1 and of the ,orphan-house1 in which ,i am now preaching4 ,but ,i should judge myself inexcusable on this occasion1 if ,i did not detain you a little longer1 in taking a transient view of the traces of divine ,providence1 in the rise and progress of the colony in general1 and the institution of this ,orphan-house in particular4 ,children yet unborn1 ,i trust1 will have occasion to bless ,,god for both4 ,the very design of this settlement1 as charity inclines us to hope all things1 was1 that it might be an ,asylum1 and a place of business1 for as many as were in distress2 for foreigners1 as well as natives2 for ,jews and ,gentiles4 ,on ,february #a1 a day1 the memory of which1 ,i think1 should still be perpetuated1 the first embarkation was made with forty-five ,english families2 men1 who had once lived well in their native country1 and who1 with many persecuted ,saltzburghers1 headed by a good old soldier of ,,jesus lately deceased1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,boltzius1 came to find a refuge here4 ,they came1 they saw1 they laboured1 and endeavoured to settle2 but by an essential1 though well-meant defect1 in the very beginning of the settlement1 too well known by some now present1 and too long1 and too much felt to bear repeating1 prohibiting the importation and use of negroes1 c4 their numbers gradually diminished1 and matters were brought to so low an ebb1 that the whole colony became a proverb of reproach4 ,about this time1 in the year #agcg1 being previously stirred up thereto by a strong impulse1 which ,i could by no means resist1 ,i came here1 after the example of my worthy and reverend friends1 ,messieurs ,john and ,charles ,wesley1 and ,mr4 ,ingham1 who1 with the most disinterested views1 had come hither to serve the colony1 by endeavouring to convert the ,indians4 ,i came rejoicing to serve the colony also1 and to become your willing servant for ,,christ's sake4 ,my friend and father1 good ,bishop ,benson1 encouraged me1 though my brethren and kinsmen after the flesh1 as well as religious friends1 opposed it4 ,i came1 and ,i saw 7you will not be offended with me to speak the truth7 the nakedness of the land4 ,gladly did ,i distribute about the four hundred pounds sterling1 which ,i had collected in ,england1 among my poor parishioners4 ,the necessity and propriety of erecting an ,orphan-house1 was mentioned and recommended before my first embarkation4 ,but thinking it a matter of too great importance to be set about unwarily1 ,i deferred the farther prosecution of this laudable design till my return to ,england in the year #agch1 for to have priests orders4 ,miserable was the condition of many grown persons1 as well as children1 whom ,i left behind4 ,their cause ,i endeavoured to plead1 immediately upon my arrival2 but being denied the churches1 in which ,i had the year before collected many hundreds for the ,london charity-schools1 ,i endeavoured to plead their cause in the fields4 ,the people threw in their mites most willingly2 once or twice1 ,i think1 twenty-two pounds were collected in copper2 the alms were accompanied with many prayers1 and which1 as ,i told them1 laid1 ,i am persuaded1 a blessed foundation to the future charitable superstructure4 ,in a short time1 though plucked as it were out of the fire1 the collections and charitable contributions amounted to more than a one thousand pounds sterling4 ,with that ,i reimbarked1 taking ,philadelphia in my way1 and upon my second arrival1 found the spot fixed upon2 but1 alas6 who can describe the low estate to which it was reduced6 the whole country almost was left desolate1 and the metropolis ,savannah1 was but like a cottage in a vineyard1 or as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers4 ,many orphans1 whose parents had been taken from them by the distresses that naturally attend new settlements1 were dispersed here and there in a very forlorn helpless condition2 my bowels yearned towards them1 and1 animated by the example of the great ,professor ,franck1 previous to bringing them here1 ,i hired a house1 furnished an infirmary1 employed all that were capable of employment1 and in a few weeks walked to the house of ,,god with a large family of above sixty orphans1 and others in as bad a condition4 ,on ,march #be1 #agdj1 in full assurance of faith1 ,i laid the foundation of this house2 and in the year following1 brought in my orphan family1 who1 with the workmen1 now made up the number of one hundred and fifty3 by the money which was expended on these1 the remaining few were kept in the colony1 and were enabled to pay the debts they owed2 so that in a representation made to the ,house of ,commons1 by some1 who for very good reasons wanted the constitution of the colony altered2 they declared1 that the very existence of the colony was in a great measure1 if not totally1 owing to the building and supporting of the ,orphan ,house4 ,finding the care of such a family1 incompatible with the care due to a parish1 upon giving previous warning to the then trustees1 ,i gave up the living of ,savannah1 which without fee or reward ,i had voluntarily taken upon me3 ,i then ranged through the northern colonies1 and afterwards once more returned home4 ,what calumny1 what loads of reproach1 ,i for many years was called to undergo1 in thus turning beggar for a family1 few here present need to be informed2 a family1 utterly unconnected by any ties of nature2 a family1 not only to be maintained with food1 but cloathed and educated also1 and that too in the dearest part of his ,majesty's dominions1 on a pine barren1 and in a colony where the use of negroes was totally denied2 this appeared so very improbable1 that all beholders looked daily for its decline and annihilation4 ,but1 blessed be ,,god1 the building advanced and flourished1 and the wished-for period is now come2 after having supported the family for thirty-two years1 by a change of constitution and the smiles of government1 with liberal donations from the northern1 and especially the adjacent provinces1 the same hands that laid the foundation1 are now called to finish it1 by making an addition of a seat of learning1 the whole products and profits of which1 are to go towards the increase of the fund1 as at the beginning1 for destitute orphans1 or such youths as may be called of ,,god to the sacred ministry of his gospel4 ,i need not call on any here1 to cry1 8,grace1 grace1 unto it40 ,for on the utmost scrutiny of the intention of those employed1 and considering the various exercises they have been called to undergo1 and the opposition the building hath every where met with1 we may justly say1 8not by might1 nor by power1 but by thy ,spirit1 ,o ,,lord10 hath this work been carried on thus far2 it is his doing1 let it be marvellous in our eyes4 ,with humble gratitude1 therefore1 would we now set up our ,ebenezer1 and say1 8,hitherto thou1 ,,lord1 hast helped us20 and wherefore should we doubt1 but that he1 who hath thus far helped1 will continue to help1 when the weary heads of the first founders and present helpers1 are laid in the silent grave4 ,i am very well aware1 what an invidious task it must be to a person in my circumstances1 thus to speak on an affair in which he hath been so much concerned4 ,some may perhaps think1 ,i am become a fool in thus glorying4 ,but as ,i am now1 blessed be ,,god1 in the decline of life1 and as1 in all probability1 ,i shall never be present to celebrate another anniversary1 ,i thought it best to be a little more explicit1 that if ,i have spoken any thing but truth1 ,i may be confronted2 and if not1 that future ages1 and future successors1 may see with what a purity of intention1 and what various interpositions of ,providence1 the work was begun1 and hath been carried on to its present height4 ,it was the reading of a like account1 written by the late ,professor ,franck1 that encouraged me3 who knows but hereafter1 the reading something of a similar nature1 may encourage others to begin and carry on a like work elsewhere8 ,i have said its present height1 for ,i would humbly hope1 that this is1 comparatively speaking1 only a 8day of small things10 only the dawn of brighter scenes4 ,private genius's and individuals1 as well as collective bodies1 have1 like the human body1 the nonage1 puerile1 juvenile estate1 before they arrive at their zenith1 and their lives as gradually they decline4 ,but yet ,i would hope1 that both the province and ,bethesda are but in their puerile or juvenile state4 ,and long1 long may they increase1 and make large strides1 till they arrive at a glorious zenith6 ,i mean not merely in trade1 merchandise1 and opulence1 7though ,i would be far from secluding them from the province1 and would be thankful for the advances it hath already made7 but a zenith of glorious gospel blessings1 without which1 all outward emoluments are less than nothing1 or as the small dust of the balance3 8,for what shall it profit a man1 if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul40 ,who can imagine1 that the prophet ,zechariah would be sent to strengthen the hands of ,zerubbabel1 in building and laying the foundation of the temple1 if that temple was not to be frequented with worshippers that worshipped the ,father in spirit and in truth4 ,the most gaudy fabrics1 stately temples1 new moon sabbaths1 and solemn assemblies1 are only solemn mockeries ,,god cannot away with4 ,this ,,god hath shewn by the destruction of both the first and second temples4 ,what is become of the seven churches of ,asia8 ,how are all their golden candlesticks overthrown8 8,,god is a ,spirit1 and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth40 ,and no longer do ,i expect that this house will flourish1 than when the power of religion is encouraged and promoted1 and the persons educated here1 prosecute their studies1 not only to be great scholars1 but good saints4 ,blessed be ,,god6 ,i can say with ,professor ,franck1 that it is in a great measure owing to the disinterested spirit of my first fellow-helpers1 as well as those who are now employed1 that the building hath reached to its present height4 ,this ,i am bound to speak1 not only in honour to those who are now with ,,god1 but those at present before me4 ,nor dare ,i conclude1 without offering to ,your ,excellency1 our pepper corn of acknowledgment for the countenance you have always shewn ,bethesda's institution1 and the honour you did us last year1 in laying the first brick of yonder wings3 in thus doing1 you have honoured ,bethesda's ,,god4 ,may he long delight to honour you here on earth6 and after a life spent to his glory1 and your country's good1 may he honour you to all eternity1 in placing you at ,,christ's right-hand in the kingdom above6 ,next to your ,excellency1 my dear ,mr4 ,president1 ,i must beg your acceptance both of thanks and congratulation on the annual return of this festival4 ,for you was not only my dear familiar friend1 and first fellow-traveller in this infant province2 but you was directed by ,providence to this spot1 laid the second brick of this house1 watched1 prayed1 and wrought for the family's good3 ,a witness of innumerable trials1 partner of my joys and griefs2 you will have now the pleasure of seeing the ,orphan-house a fruitful bough1 its branches running over the wall4 ,for this1 no doubt1 ,,god hath smiled upon and blessed you1 in a manner we could not expect1 much less design2 and may he continue to bless you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,look to the rock from whence you have been hewn1 and may your children never be ashamed1 that their father left his native country1 and married a real christian1 born again under this roof4 ,may ,bethesda's ,,god grant this may be the happy portion of your children1 and children's children6 ,gentlemen of his ,majesty's council1 ,mr4 ,speaker1 and you members of the ,general ,assembly1 many thanks are owing to you1 for your late address to his ,excellency in favour of ,bethesda4 ,your joint recommendation of it1 when ,i was last here1 which1 though in some measure through the bigotry of some1 for the present is rendered abortive1 by their wanting to have it confined to a party1 yet ,i trust the event will prove that every thing shall be over-ruled to the furtherance of the work4 ,here ,i repeat1 what ,i have often declared1 that as far as lies in my power before and after my decease1 ,bethesda shall be always on a broad bottom4 ,all denominations have freely given2 all denominations1 all the continent1 ,,god being my helper1 shall receive benefit from it4 ,may ,bethesda's ,,god bless you all6 in your private as well as public capacity2 and as you are honoured to be the representatives of a now flourishing increasing people3 may you be directed in all your ways6 ,may truth1 justice1 religion1 and piety be established amongst you through all generations6 ,lastly1 ,my reverend brethren1 and you inhabitants of the colony1 accept unfeigned thanks for the honour done me1 in letting us see you at ,bethesda this day4 ,you1 ,sir1 for the sermon preached here last year4 ,tell it in ,germany1 tell my great1 good friend1 ,professor ,franck1 that ,bethesda's ,,god1 is a ,,god whose mercy endureth for ever4 ,o let us have your earnest prayers6 encourage your people not to 8despise the day of small things40 ,what hath ,,god wrought8 ,from its infancy1 this colony hath been blessed with many faithful gospel ministers3 ,o that this may be a nursery to many more6 ,this hath been the case of the ,new ,england ,college for almost a century1 and why not the ,orphan-house ,academy at ,georgia8 ,men1 brethren1 fathers1 as many of you1 whether inhabitants or strangers1 who have honoured this day with your presence1 give us the additional blessings of your prayers4 ,and ,o that ,bethesda's ,,god may make this day1 though but a day of small things1 productive of great things to the souls of all amongst whom ,i have been now preaching the kingdom of ,,god4 ,a great and good day will it be indeed1 if ,,jesus ,,christ1 our great ,zerubbabel1 should1 by the power of the eternal ,spirit1 bless any thing that hath now been said1 to cause every mountain of difficulty1 that lies in the way of your conversion1 to become a plain4 ,and what art thou1 ,o great mountain1 whether the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 or the pride of life1 sin1 or self-righteousness8 ,before our ,bethesda's ,,god1 thou shalt become a plain4 ,brethren1 my heart is enlarged towards you3 it is written1 blessed be ,,god that it is written1 8,in the name of ,,jesus every knee shall bow1 whether things in heaven1 or things in earth1 or things under the earth40 ,o that we may be made a willing people in the day of his power6 ,look1 look unto him1 all ye that are placed in these ends of the earth4 ,this house hath often been an house of ,,god1 a gate of heaven1 to some of your fathers4 ,may it be a house of ,,god1 a gate of heaven1 to the children also6 ,come unto him1 all ye that are weary and heavy laden1 he will give you rest2 rest from the guilt1 rest from the power1 rest from the punishment of sin2 rest from the fear of divine judgments here1 rest with himself eternally hereafter4 ,fear not1 though the beginnings are but small1 ,,christ will not despise the day of small things4 ,a bruised reed will he not break1 and the smoaking flax will he not quench1 until he bring forth judgment unto victory4 ,his hands that laid the foundation1 also shall finish it3 yet a little while and the top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting1 and men and angels join in crying 8,grace6 ,grace6 unto it40 ,that all present may be in this happy number1 may ,,god of his infinite mercy grant1 through ,,jesus our ,,lord4 ,,sermon ,,lviii4 ,peter's ,denial of his ,,lord4 ,,matthew xxvi4 #ge4 ,and ,peter remembered the words of ,jesus1 which said unto him1 ,before the cock crow twice1 thou shalt deny me thrice3 and he went out1 and wept bitterly4 ,the two following ,sermons came to hand after the others were in the press4 ,,biography1 as one observes1 is the best history2 or1 in other words1 writing or reading the lives of great and good men1 is one of the most profitable and delightful kinds of history we can entertain ourselves with4 ,for hereby we are convinced1 that ,wisdom's ways are indeed ways of pleasantness2 and being proved to be practicable by men of like passions with ourselves1 we are insensibly allured to follow them as they followed ,christ1 and encouraged to run with patience the race set before us4 ,this1 one would hope1 is the grand end proposed by all such who undertake to draw the characters1 or hand down to posterity the remarkable transactions of persons who have shone as lights in the church of ,,god4 ,many have done worthily in this respect2 and for this their labour of love1 thousands as yet unborn1 shall rise and call them blessed4 ,but without detracting any thing from their due praise1 ,i cannot help observing1 that in most of the lives that ,i have had an opportunity of perusing1 there seems to be one deficiency1 ,i could almost say1 common to them all4 ,it is this3 ,the writers of them seldom or never mention the blemishes or falls of those whose characters they exhibit4 ,they emblazon their good1 without so much as hinting at any of their bad qualities4 ,in short1 they paint them blameless1 and by not mentioning any of their foibles1 or the sins that did most easily beset them1 they make them1 as it were1 equal to the angels of ,,god1 or rather to the ,son of ,,god himself1 of whom alone it can truly be said1 8,that he was without sin40 ,such a method1 7however well meant1 because we are more prone to imitate others vices than their virtues7 to speak in the softest terms1 is not according to the pattern shewn us in the mount4 ,the scriptures set us a different copy4 ,in those lively oracles1 as in a well-drawn picture1 we have both shade and light2 and at the same time as they paint out to us1 in the most striking manner1 the graces for which the holy men of old were most eminent1 they also1 with an equally impartial hand1 expose to public view1 not only the common infirmities1 but even some of the most dreadful falls1 with all their aggravating circumstances1 of some of the greatest men of ,,god that ever did1 or will live1 till time itself shall be no more4 ,one of these is to be the mournful subject of our present meditation4 ,procul ite profani6 ,let all profane persons keep at an awful distance3 ,we are going to tread on holy ground4 ,i set an hedge about it in the name of the living ,,god4 ,come not too nigh the mount1 lest that which was written for your learning1 through your own perverse abuse of it1 should prove unto you a further occasion of falling4 ,if any should enquire1 8,why all this caution80 ,i answer1 8,we are about to discourse on the ,apostle ,peter's shameful denial of his and our blessed ,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ40 ,a passage recorded by all the evangelists1 ,st4 ,mark himself not excepted1 who is supposed to have been emanuensis to ,st4 ,peter1 and to have taken his gospel from ,peter's own mouth4 ,a proof this1 not only of the impartiality of the sacred writers1 but also that the ,holy ,ghost intended that this awful story should1 in an especial manner1 be recorded for our learning1 on whom the ends of the world are come4 ,but though all the evangelists are very explicit in relating this perfidious and wicked act1 yet we shall chiefly confine ourselves1 at present1 to the account given us of it in this xxvith chapter of ,st4 ,matthew1 and1 for method sake1 purpose to consider1 ,first1 ,the steps that led to this great man's fall4 ,secondly1 ,the fall itself4 ,and1 ,thirdly1 ,his recovery from it1 mentioned in the text3 8,and ,peter remembered the words of ,,jesus1 which said unto him1 ,before the cock crow1 thou shalt deny me thrice4 ,and he went out and wept bitterly40 ,but before we proceed to the prosecution of these points2 it may be proper to premise1 that we take it for granted the ,apostle ,peter1 before his fall1 was certainly a converted man4 ,this is controverted by some4 ,for what reason1 is best known to themselves4 ,the scriptures evidently leave us no room to dispute it4 ,one passage may suffice for a proof4 8,blessed art thou1 ,simon ,bar ,jonah 7said the glorious ,emmanuel to ,peter1 when he witnessed that good confession1 ,thou art ,,christ1 the ,son of the living ,,god72 for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee1 but my ,father which is in heaven40 ,not content with this1 he adds1 8,thou art ,peter1 and upon this rock will ,i build my church1 and the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against it30 ,words that carry with them the strongest presumption1 not only that ,peter was a converted man1 but that he had some eminent place to be assigned him in the kingdom of grace4 ,for our ,lord pronounces him blessed3 8,blessed art thou1 ,simon ,bar ,jonah30 and gives him a reason for it2 8,for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee1 but my heavenly ,father40 ,so that ,peter called ,,christ ,lord by the ,holy ,ghost1 which none but a converted person can do4 ,and further1 8,upon this rock1 says ,,christ1 will ,i build my church20 which1 whether it be understood of his confession of ,,christ's divinity1 or his being afterwards to be employed in first preaching the gospel to the ,gentiles1 seems to denote some peculiar favour and honour assigned to1 and hereafter to be conferred upon him4 ,it is true1 indeed1 the same all-seeing ,redeemer1 when afterwards he forewarned him of his fall1 subjoined this particular command2 8,and when thou art converted1 strengthen thy brethren40 ,but this only implies1 that his fall would be so exceeding great1 that his recovery out of it would be1 as it were1 a second conversion4 ,the steps that led to this terrible disaster1 come now more particularly to be considered4 ,in order to be informed of these1 7as ,i take it for granted you have brought your ,bibles with you7 ,i must beg you to look back to the #cc;d verse of this chapter1 where we shall find1 that spiritual pride1 and a too great dependence on a stock of grace already received1 was one of the first steps discernible in this ,apostle's denial of his ,,lord,the blessed ,,jesus1 knowing all things that should befal him1 after the solemn institution and celebration of his last supper1 gave his disciples this tremendous warning1 backed with a scripture prediction3 8,all ye 7verse #ca47 shall be offended because of me this night2 for it is written1 ,i will smite the shepherd1 and the sheep shall be scattered40 ,a warning1 one would imagine1 terrible enough to have struck them all dumb1 at least to have filled them with a holy jealousy of their own desperately wicked and deceitful hearts4 ,but what says our ,apostle8 ,he 7verse #cc47 answered and said1 8,though all men shall be offended because of thee1 yet will ,i never be offended40 ,poor ,peter6 ,how unlike thy former self1 when at thy first calling1 thou criedst out1 8,depart from me1 for ,i am a sinful man1 ,o ,,lord40 ,alas6 he now thinks his mountain is so strong1 that it never could be moved4 8,though all men should be offended because of thee1 yet will ,i never be offended40 ,o these egotisms6 ,how frequently are they used by1 but how little do they become such frail creatures as we are6 8,yet will ,i never be offended20 so far from being offended this night1 that ,i will never1 at any time1 or in any place1 be offended because of thee4 ,no wonder1 after hearing this1 that the holy ,,jesus said unto him1 7verse #cd47 8,verily ,i say unto thee1 that this night1 before the cock crow1 thou shalt1 or will deny me thrice30 7for ,,christ's predicting his fall1 laid him under no necessity of falling74 ,surely ,peter will now retract6 ,nothing less4 ,on the contrary1 depending too much on the sincerity of his intentions1 and his present good frame1 he said unto his ,master1 7verse #ce47 8,though ,i should die with thee1 yet will ,i not deny thee40 ,as though he should have said1 8,die with thee ,i may2 to die with or for thee1 ,i am ready3 but to deny thee1 ,i dare not4 ,deny thee in any wise1 ,i cannot1 and neither will ,i4 ,is thy servant a dog1 a devil1 that he should do this80 ,stop1 ,peter2 whither art thou going8 ,where is thy present warm zeal carrying thee8 ,what6 wilt thou give the ,,god of truth the lie8 ,i begin to tremble for thee4 ,such self-confidence and spiritual pride1 generally go before a fall4 ,but to proceed4 ,spiritual sloth1 as well as spiritual pride1 helped to throw this ,apostle down4 ,the sun1 that glorious ,sun of righteousness1 was now about to enter into his last eclipse4 ,satan1 who had left him for a season1 or1 till the season of his passion1 is now to be permitted to bruise his heel again4 ,this is his hour1 and now the powers of darkness summon and exert their strongest and united efforts4 ,a hymn is a prelude to his dreadful passion4 ,from the communion-table1 the ,saviour retires to the garden4 ,an horrible dread1 and inexpressible load of sorrow begins to overwhelm and weigh down his innocent soul4 ,his body can scarcely sustain it4 ,see how he faulters6 ,see how his hands hang down1 and his knees wax feeble under the amazing pressure6 ,he is afflicted and oppressed indeed4 ,see1 see1 ,o my soul1 how he sweats6 ,but what is that which ,i see8 ,blooddrops of bloodgreat drops of blood falling to the ground4 ,alas1 was ever sorrow like unto this sorrow6 ,hark6 what is that ,i hear8 ,o dolorous complaint8 8,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me40 ,hark6 he speaks again4 ,amazing6 the ,creator complains to the creature1 8,my soul is exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death3 tarry you here and watch with me40 ,and now he retires once more4 ,but see how his agony increases,hark6 how he prays1 and that too yet more earnestly3 8,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me40 ,and will his heavenly ,father leave him comfortless8 ,no4,an angel 7happy1 highly-favoured angel67 is sent from heaven to strengthen him4 ,but where is ,peter all this while8 ,we are told that the holy ,,jesus took him1 with ,james and ,john1 into the garden4 ,surely he will not leave his ,,lord in such deep distress6 ,what is he doing8 ,i blush to answer4 ,alas6 he is sleeping3 nay1 though awakened once by his agonizing ,,lord1 with a 8,simon ,peter1 sleepest thou8 what6 couldest thou not watch with me one hour80 yet his eyes1 notwithstanding his profession of constancy and care1 are heavy with sleep4 ,,lord1 what is man6 ,after hearing all this1 we need not be surprized at the account given us1 7verse #eh47 of another step to his fall1 viz4 ,his following ,,jesus afar off4 8,but ,peter1 says the ,evangelists1 followed him afar off40 ,the ,redeemer's agony was now over1 8and behold the hour is at hand1 when he is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners40 ,he warns his sleepy disciples of it1 and1 acting like himself1 goes out to meet the threatening storm4 8,arise1 said he let us go3 behold6 he that betrayeth me is at hand40 ,judas1 one of the twelve that eat of his bread1 performs the hellish task1 and lifts up his heel against him4 ,he says1 ,hail1 ,master6 kisses and then betrays him4 ,for this was the sign agreed on1 8,whomsoever ,i shall kiss1 the same is he1 hold him fast40 ,they knew the watch-word1 and1 like so many roaring lions1 seize on their unresisting prey4 ,this rouses ,peter4 ,out of an honest1 but misguided zeal1 he draws his sword1 and cuts off the ,high-priest's servant's ear4 ,the blessed ,,jesus heals the one1 reproves the other2 and1 according to ,isaiah's prophecy1 is contentedly led as a lamb to the slaughter4 ,peter's heat is soon cooled1 and instead of adhering to his ,,lord1 or saying1 as might justly be expected1 8,whither thou goest1 ,i will go2 whithersoever they lead thee1 they shall lead me also30 ,alas6 alas6 he followed him afar off4 ,observe1 he does not deny his ,,lord all at once4 ,no4 ,satan leads us on by degrees into great sins1 and will not suffer us to be very bad immediately4 ,peter at first follows afar off3 he skulks behind1 and keeps on purpose at a distance1 lest he should be accounted one of his followers4 ,o ,peter1 ,peter1 did ,i not know how prone my own deceitful heart is to go astray from the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of our souls1 ,i should now begin to say1 ,fie upon thee1 fie upon thee4 ,hadst thou kept close to thy ,,lord1 thou mightest have been sheltered safely under his almighty wings2 but how canst thou avoid falling1 and that foully too1 when thou beginnest thus to be ashamed of thy glorious master8 ,but this is not all4 ,for we are not only informed that he followed ,,jesus afar off1 but that 8,he went into the ,high ,priest's palace 7verse #eh47 and sat with the servants40 ,so that keeping bad company was another step that led to his great fall4 ,oh ,peter6 my blood begins now almost to run cold within me4 ,i tremble for thee more than ever4 ,what canst thou propose to thyself1 or what bad thing may we not expect to hear of thee1 when sitting in such sorry company8 ,i had much rather have heard that thou hadst fled with thy other cowardly brethren4 ,thou sittest among thy master's professed enemies to see the end4 ,whatever becomes of him1 ,i dread to hear what the end of all this gradual backsliding will be1 in respect to thy own soul4 ,well6 the blessed ,,jesus is now at the bar4 ,omnipotence suffers itself to be arraigned1 and he who set bounds to the sea which it cannot pass1 is content to be bound1 and that as a criminal1 by the work of his own hands4 ,false witnesses rise up against him1 and lay to his charge things that he knew not4 8,this fellow1 say they1 7verse #fa47 said1 ,i am able to destroy the temple of ,,god1 and to build it in three days40 ,and what reply doth the innocent ,,jesus make8 ,none at all4 ,not only because they all knew that it was a malicious slander1 but because he stood as our representative4 ,he1 therefore1 held his peace1 and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb1 so this immaculate ,lamb of ,,god opened not his mouth4 ,at length1 being adjured thereto by the ,high priest in the name of the living ,,god1 he confesses himself to be the ,,christ1 the son of the ,blessed2 and lets the imperious ,sanhedrim know1 that however contemptible his appearance might be now1 yet they should hereafter see him sitting on the right hand of power1 and coming in the clouds of heaven4 ,and does not this strike terror into his accusers and judges8 ,by no means4 ,the haughty ,high-,priest rises in disdain1 hypocritically rends his cloaths1 urging this as a reason1 8,he hath spoken blasphemy2 what further need have we of witnesses80 ,was ever indignity1 like this indignity1 put on thee1 thou most adorable ,mediator6 ,which shall ,i marvel at most1 the ,high-,priest's impudence1 or thy patience8 ,both1 doubtless1 are unparalleled4 ,and yet1 alas6 a further trial awaits our suffering ,,lord4 ,for whilst the master is thus arraigned1 insulted1 and causelesly condemned at the bar within1 ,satan is no less busy in wounding him through ,peter's side1 who was sitting in the palace without4 ,peter1 indeed1 thinks to sit there undiscovered2 but a damsel comes to him1 7verse #fi7 saying1 8,thou also wast with ,,jesus of ,galilee40 ,and what then8 ,was that high treason8 ,or rather was it not the highest honour8 ,peter1 what sayest thou8 ,alas1 7verse #gj7 8,he denied before them all1 saying1 ,i know not what thou sayest40 ,know not what thou sayest1 ,peter8 her words were plain enough1 8,thou also was with ,,jesus of ,nazareth40 ,can any words be plainer8 ,to deny this1 in the least1 was bad1 but to deny this before them all1 who could so easily confront thee1 proves thee to be falling indeed4 ,call him now no longer ,peter1 but call him ,ichabod3 for the glory of the ,,lord is departing from him4 ,however1 as yet there is hope concerning him4 ,for1 conscious1 as it were1 of his guilt 7verse #ga7 8,he went out into the porch40 ,satan pursues him4 ,for when a saint begins to fall1 his hellish language is1 ,down with him1 down with him1 even to the ground4 ,another damsel1 therefore1 is put in ,peter's way1 who1 upon seeing him1 says1 not unto ,peter himself1 but to them that were there1 7verse #ga7 8,this fellow was also with ,,jesus of ,nazareth40 ,she speaks the same language with her sister scoffer1 and with those who accused the blessed ,,jesus at the bar4 ,doubtless1 our modern scoffers are related to them1 for they use the same dialect every day when speaking of ,,christ1 or those that1 through grace1 dare to own and confess him before men4 ,but here would ,i stop and feign be excused from relating to this great assembly ,peter's answer4 ,oh tell it not in ,gath1 publish it not in the streets of ,askelon6 ,but we must not be wise above what is written4 ,the ,holy ,spirit hath left it upon record1 and proclaimed it by four ,evangelists upon the house-top1 and1 therefore1 ,i am constrained to tell you1 that again 7verse #gb47 8,he denied with an oath1 ,i do not know the man40 ,what6 an ,apostle swear8 ,was it not enough barely to deny the damsel's assertion1 but he must deny it with an oath8 ,perhaps1 it was a crime he never was guilty of before4 ,surely1 the way of sin is down-hill4 ,one step leads to another4 ,at first he only denied what was said to him1 by a kind of equivocation1 8,i know not what thou sayest40 ,now he grows bolder1 and denies with an oath1 8,i know not the man40 ,what1 ,peter6 ,know not the man8 ,that glorious ,god-man ,,christ ,,jesus thy ,,lord8 ,what6 not know ,him1 who called thee from the poor occupation of catching fish1 to make thee an ,apostle and a fisher of men8 ,what6 not know ,him1 who bad thee come to him upon the waters1 and ,him who with his own almighty arm saved thee from drowning1 when thou wast answering thy name ,cephas1 and sinking like a stone8 ,what6 not know ,him1 with whom thou hast so intimately conversed for three years last past1 who1 so lately pronounced thee blessed1 washed thy feet1 gave thee a new name1 and took thee to ,mount ,tabor1 where he displayed before thee his excellent glory1 which made thee cry out1 ,it is good for us to be here8 ,what6 hast thou forgot all this1 ,peter8 ,surely1 it is high time for the cock to crow4 ,hark6 ,the cock does crow1 not only once1 but twice2 but all in vain4 ,fallen as this great man is1 he must still fall lower4 ,satan is now about to give him the last and most fatal thrust4 ,he hath his quiver full of deadly arrows1 and hath always instruments at hand1 the weakest of which will foil the strongest ,apostle when left to himself1 8,after a while 7verse #gc7 came unto him they that stood by1 and said unto ,peter1 ,surely1 thou also wast one of them1 for thy speech betrayeth thee40 ,as though they had said1 8,how canst thou have the impudence to say thou knowest not the man1 when thy very language and manner of speaking betrays thy being even one of his followers80 ,what says ,peter now8 ,can he withstand this glaring evidence8 ,yes1 he not only denies it with a single oath1 but 7,oh1 how shall ,i speak it67 he 8began to curse and to swear10 and with a whole volly of execrable expressions1 striving to act the bravado1 he persists in saying 7verse #gd7 8,i know not the man40 ,and now1 ,satan1 thou hast gained thy point4 ,a great man1 through too much self-confidence1 spiritual pride1 spiritual sloth1 and too great intimacy with some of thy children1 is fallen indeed6 ,thou hast sifted him with a witness4 ,but is he fallen1 never to rise again8 ,is ,peter sunk too low for free grace ever to raise him up8 ,will the ,redeemer suffer his truth to fail2 or shall the prayer put up for him before he was led into temptation1 viz4 that his faith should not fail1 remain unanswered8 ,no1 all the promises in ,,christ ,,jesus are all yea and all ,amen2 and having loved his own1 he loves them unto the end4 ,the enemy hath broke in upon ,peter like a flood1 but the almighty ,redeemer will now lift up his standard against him1 and deliver his captive servant4 ,immediately1 7verse #gd7 upon this last denial of his ,,lord1 8the cock crew40 ,and what is most of all 7nay1 without which the cock might have crowed ten thousand times7 another ,evangelist tells us1 that 8the ,,lord turned1 and looked upon ,peter10 ,oh amazing condescension6 ,oh unparalleled instance of endearing love6 ,our ,lord was now upon a trial for his life4 ,fat bulls of ,bashan were surrounding him on every side4 ,yet the same love1 that in the night in which he was betrayed1 would not permit him to forget his disciples in general1 would not1 though he was himself now arraigned at the bar1 suffer him to forget his poor fallen ,apostle in particular4 8,the ,,lord1 therefore1 turned1 and looked upon ,peter40 ,but who besides ,peter1 and souls like him recovering from their backslidings1 can tell the language of that look8 ,doubtless1 it carried with it an 8,et tu ,peter8 ,and art thou there ,peter8 ,is it not enough for me to be falsely accused1 and condemned by my enemies1 but ,i must be wounded also in the house of my friends6 ,is it not sufficient that ,judas betrays me1 but thou must add to my grief by denying me8 ,deny me too with an oath1 nay1 with oaths and curses deny that ever thou knewest me8 ,is this thy kindness to thy friend8 ,alas6 ,what is become of thy boasted professions now8 ,art thou the man that didst so solemnly declare1 that though thou shouldst die with me1 thou wouldst not deny me in any wise8 ,yes1 ,thou art the man40 ,this1 and much more of the same kind1 we may well suppose was the real language of that convincing1 heart-piercing look1 which the ,,lord ,,jesus at this time gave his fallen ,peter4 ,amazing6 ,he looks him into contrition2 whereas had he rewarded him according to his iniquity1 he might have looked him into hell4 ,rejoice with me1 therefore1 my dear hearers4 ,this straying sheep1 through the tender mercies of the compassionate shepherd and bishop of our souls1 by this look is brought back to the fold again4 8,and ,peter1 says our text1 remembered the words of ,,jesus1 which said unto him1 ,before the cock crow10 i4 e4 at the time emphatically called the cock-crowing1 which was about three in the morning1 8thou shalt deny me thrice4 ,and he went out40 7,the word seems to import1 that he threw himself out with a holy violence7 8and wept bitterly40 ,st4 ,mark only says1 8,and when he thought thereon1 he wept40 ,for being an amanuensis to ,st4 ,peter1 though explicit in the account of his fall1 he is very sparing in mentioning his repentance4 ,unless we suppose that ,st4 ,mark would insinuate that whenever ,peter reflected on his fall1 he always wept for ever after4 ,however that be1 he wept bitterly now4 ,methinks1 ,i see him wringing his hands1 rending his garments1 stamping on the ground1 and with the self-condemned publican smiting upon his ungrateful breast4 ,see how it heaves6 ,oh what piteous sighs and groans are those which come from the very bottom of his heart6 ,alas6 ,it is too big to speak4 ,but his tears1 his briny1 bitter1 repenting tears plainly bespeak this to be the language of his awakened soul4 8,alas6 ,where have ,i been8 ,on the devil's ground4 ,with whom have ,i been conversing8 ,the devil's children4 ,what is this that ,i have done8 ,denied the ,,lord of glory1 with oaths and curses denied that ever ,i knew him4 ,and now whither shall ,i go8 ,or where shall ,i hide my guilty head8 ,i have sinned against light4 ,i have sinned against repeated tokens of his dear distinguishing and heavenly love4 ,i have sinned against repeated warnings1 resolutions1 promises and vows4 ,i have sinned openly in the face of the sun1 in the presence of my master's enemies1 and thereby have caused his name to be blasphemed4 ,how can ,i think of being suffered to behold the face of1 much less to be employed by1 the ever-blessed ,,jesus any more8 ,o ,peter1 thou hast undone thyself4 ,justly mayst thou be thrown aside like a broken vessel4 ,,god be merciful to me a sinner40 ,and is this the language of thy tears1 ,o ,peter8 ,blessed art thou still then1 thou ,simon ,bar ,jonah4 ,these tears1 and this holy resentment against thyself1 bespeak thee to be a holy mourner4 ,yet a little while1 and thou shalt be comforted with a 8,go tell his brethren and ,peter1 that he is risen20 and with a 8,simon son of ,jonah1 lovest thou me8 ,then feed my lambs40 ,and where is now thy boasting1 ,o ,satan8 ,or what hast thou gained by foiling this favourite of heaven8 ,thou didst desire to have him4 ,thy request was granted4 ,thou hast sifted him as wheat4 ,but dost thou imagine the all-prevailing ,mediator will suffer thee to pluck him out of his hands8 ,no4 ,,jesus hath prayed for him1 and therefore ,peter's faith shall not finally fail4 ,rejoice not then over him1 ,o thou enemy of souls6 ,for though he has fallen1 yet see how he begins to rise again4 ,though at the present he sits in darkness1 yet1 ere long1 the glory of the ,,lord shall shine around him4 ,where then are those ,sons of ,belial1 those perverse disputers of this world1 and yet1 if possible1 more perverse perverters of the ,word of ,,god8 ,dare any of you now go away1 saying within yourselves1 8,who can blame us for a little equivocating1 or a little innocent lying1 cursing1 and swearing8 ,was not ,peter1 the great ,apostle ,peter1 guilty of all these80 ,yes he was1 but with this difference1 he fell through surprize1 and but once1 you1 perhaps1 sin wilfully and habitually4 ,fall he did1 and that dreadfully too2 but if his fall was dreadful1 his repentence was as sincere and lasting4 ,ere long you shall see this same ,peter1 boldly owning his ,,lord before the whole ,jewish ,sanhedrim1 and rejoicing that he was counted worthy to suffer for his great name's sake4 ,ere long you shall hear of an angel's being sent to bring him out of prison1 and at last sealing his blessed doctrine with his blood4 ,go ye then1 and entreat the ,,lord to look you into a godly sorrow1 and see that with ,peter you bring forth fruits meet for repentance2 or as the ,,lord ,,god liveth1 in whose name ,i speak1 and in whose presence we now stand1 you1 with all your carnal reasonings and wilful wrestings of the word of ,,god1 shall1 ere long1 be thrust down to the nethermost hell4 ,but why should ,i waste my time in reasoning with men of such perverse minds8 ,to you who do1 from your hearts1 believe on ,,jesus of ,nazareth1 and who1 in reality1 are the children of the most ,high ,,god1 the mournful passage we are now upon1 does1 in a more immediate manner1 call me to address myself4 ,you1 ,i am persuaded1 on hearing of ,peter's fall1 and the ,,lord's turning and looking upon him1 ,will not draw this abominable inference1 8,let us sin then1 that grace may abound40 ,no4 ,i know you detest it from your inmost souls2 and if it was proper to speak1 would to a man cry out1 8,god forbid40 ,your hearts1 ,i would humbly hope1 are rather employed in silent ejaculation to the holy ,,jesus1 saying within yourselves1 8,oh1 that he would this day look down from heaven1 the habitation of his holiness1 and cause1 out of these rocky hearts1 floods of repenting tears to flow40 ,i will readily join with you in this necessary request4 ,for1 alas6 we are all guilty concerning this thing1 viz4 ,of denying our ,,lord1 as well as ,peter4 ,some of us1 perhaps1 have not so openly with oaths and curses denied that ever we knew him4 ,but then1 though we have in words owned1 yet in works and practice1 it may be1 we have habitually denied him4 ,for how often have we been sleeping1 when we ought to have been watching8 ,and how often have we been warming and indulging our bodies1 when we should have been in our closets warming our hearts in prayer8 ,how often have we needlessly left the communion of saints1 and as needlessly put ourselves into the way of1 and too intimately conversed with open and unconverted sinners1 or at least1 with those who we had reason to think were enemies to the cross of ,,christ8 ,how often have we been drowsy when hearing the word of ,,god8 ,nay1 how often have we been stupid1 and even as dead as stones1 at the table of the ,,lord1 when ,,christ has been evidently set forth crucified before us8 ,how often have we been so foolish as to trust our hearts1 and instead of trusting the ,,lord1 have leaned on the broken reed of our own understandings8 ,how often have we been puffed up with spiritual pride1 and confidently boasted of our graces1 as though we had not received them8 ,and oh1 how often have we shamefully followed our ,,lord afar off8 ,and notwithstanding he may have manifested himself to us as he doth not to the world2 notwithstanding he may have taken us on the mount of ordinances1 given us to see his glory1 led us into his banqueting-house1 and let his banner over us be love2 notwithstanding our repeated vows that we would never leave him1 never forsake him2 yet how often have we1 as it were1 been ashamed of him1 and his glorious ,gospel1 and given our ,,lord occasion1 times without number1 to complain in that cutting language1 8,these wounds have ,i received in the house of my friends80 ,and now which of us shall throw the first stone at ,peter8 ,behold1 he has been placed in the midst of us this day4 ,my brethren1 why stand we like statues8 ,i say1 let him that is without this sin of denying the ,,lord ,,jesus1 cast the first stone4 ,but with what face of justice can we do this1 being guilty in many respects equally1 and in some even more guilty than ,peter himself8 ,rather let us turn the edge of our resentment against ourselves1 and imitating ,peter in his repentance1 as we have undoubtedly too much imitated him in his crime1 let us go out from a wicked1 noisy1 and deluding world1 and weep bitterly4 ,who knows but the ,,lord may return and leave a blessing behind him8 ,for this end was this instance of human frailty and divine condescension recorded4 ,in him the ,redeemer shewed all this long-suffering1 that we1 notwithstanding our manifold backslidings1 might be kept from despair4 ,true1 we have sinned1 but though we have sinned against light and love1 yet we have still an advocate with the ,father1 even ,,jesus ,,christ the righteous1 whose precious blood can1 and1 if applied to our souls by a living faith1 will certainly cleanse us both from the guilt and power of all our sins4 ,it was this which washed away the stain of this foul and dreadful fall from ,peter's heart4 ,he quickly rose1 and was as speedily restored to his blessed master's favour again4 8,go tell his brethren and ,peter10 said the angel1 8that he goeth before you into ,galilee40 ,there shall you see him4 ,they did see him4 ,and what said ,,jesus unto him8 ,he renewed his commission1 and bid him 8feed his sheep and lambs40 ,accordingly we hear not only of his preaching1 but of his being honoured so to preach1 that three thousand were converted in one day4 ,and is not the ,,lord ,,jesus the same now as he was yesterday8 ,yes1 he is1 and will continue the same for ever4 ,we have his own royal word for it1 that he will heal our backslidings1 and love us freely4 ,let us return then unto the ,,lord1 from whom we have revolted4 ,he is long-suffering1 slow to anger1 and soon repenteth him of the evil which we provoke him to send upon us4 ,but oh let us not return again to folly1 but carefully watch and pray against spiritual pride1 spiritual sloth1 and self-indulgence1 from whence all our evils flow4 ,young preachers1 to you in an especial manner are these words of exhortation sent4 ,of all people in the world1 you had need watch most against spiritual pride4 ,it is a fly that often spoils your whole pot of ointment4 ,this made aged ,paul so careful to warn ,timothy not to lay hands upon novices1 lest1 says he1 8being puffed up with pride1 they fall into the condemnation of the devil40 ,how many awful instances have we had of this in various places within these few years last past8 ,young men1 therefore1 ,i exhort you to be humble4 ,for ,,christ's sake1 for your own souls sake1 for the sake of the church of ,,god which he hath purchased with his own blood1 pray without ceasing that you may be cloathed with humility4 ,take care of carrying too high sail4 ,popularity is a dangerous sea1 and nothing but the special and almighty grace of ,,god can keep you from oversetting in it4 ,mark the rocks against which others have made shipwreck1 and beg of the ,,lord ,,jesus night and day1 to help you to steer such a course as to avoid and keep clear of them3 he alone can preserve you4 ,satan envies the honour put upon you2 he has a particular enmity against those whom he sees the ,redeemer making use of4 ,he knows your weak sides1 and will desire to have you1 as he desired to have ,peter1 that he may sift you as wheat4 ,watch1 therefore1 and pray always1 that you may not fall in an hour of temptation4 ,if ,peter could not stand when left to himself1 what are we8 ,have any from among ourselves of late given proofs of this8 ,nay1 have any that once appeared boldly for our ,,lord1 and seemed ready to follow him to prison or to death1 have any such1 ,i say1 been permitted not only to follow him afar off1 but shamefully and openly to disown and deny both him and his people8 ,let us not marvel as though some strange thing happened unto us1 but let us search the scriptures4 ,many such instances are recorded there2 and we know who hath forewarned us to expect them now4 8,it must needs be1 says the unerring1 all-seeing ,,jesus1 that offences come4 ,let us not therefore be high-minded1 but fear2 and let him that standeth take heed lest he fall40 ,brethren1 pray for them4 ,who knows but they may yet rise1 and the locks at present cut off1 grow again8 ,who knows but the cock may yet crow1 ,,jesus may yet look1 and such grievous backsliders1 being as it were reconverted1 may appear more zealous than ever in strengthening their brethren8 ,when shall this once be8 8,we wait for thy salvation1 ,o ,,lord3 make no long tarrying1 ,o our ,,god60 ,in the mean while1 let none of us be discouraged1 ,,god will take care of his own cause4 ,the ,redeemer hath declared1 that the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against his church3 and1 therefore1 though the ark may totter1 he can keep it from falling2 and though driven for a while into the ,philistine's country1 he assuredly can bring it back4 ,he that healed the wound imprudently given by ,peter to the ear of the ,high ,priest's servant1 he can and will heal all wounds1 and repair all breaches that have been occasioned either by the backslidings1 or unguarded conduit of those whom he vouchsafes to employ4 8,out of the eater shall come forth meat1 and out of the strong shall come forth sweetness40 ,the wicked1 no doubt1 rejoiced when they heard of ,peter's fall1 and in all probability frequently vented their spleen in saying1 8,here is religion for you6 ,here is a pretty family of reformers1 and setters forth of new doctrines4 ,one of them hath betrayed his master with a kiss1 and another with oaths and curses denied that ever he knew him3 if this be the beginning1 what will the end of their boasted reformation be80 ,what will the end of it be8 ,ye fools6 ,i have an answer ready3 ,,christ shall be glorified1 ,satan and all his emissaries confounded1 and a multitude of souls out of every nation1 language1 and tongue1 redeemed and finally saved4 ,oh what a ,,christ have we6 ,courage then1 my brethren1 courage6 ,i beat to arms again in the name of the ,,lord of hosts4 ,let us not quit the field of battle1 but in the strength of our once crucified1 but now exalted ,,jesus1 renew the combat4 8,he is faithful who hath promised not only to make us conquerors1 but more than conquerors through his love40 ,yet a little while1 and our warfare shall be accomplished1 death will put an end to all4 ,a wicked world1 a wicked heart1 a wicked devil shall then cease from troubling us1 and our weary souls shall never be so much as tempted to deny our blessed ,,lord any more4 ,where is ,peter now8 ,yonder he sits1 not weeping bitterly1 but rejoicing in ,,god his ,saviour1 on a throne of never-fading glory4 ,to ,him1 at whose right hand he is now sitting1 and who alone is able to keep us from falling1 and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy2 to ,him the only wise ,,god our ,saviour1 be glory1 majesty1 dominion1 and power1 both now and ever4 ,amen4 ,,sermon ,,lix4 ,the true ,way of beholding the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,,john i4 #ce1 #cf4 ,again1 the next ,day after1 ,john stood1 and two of his ,disciples2 and looking upon ,jesus as he walked1 he saith1 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,,glorious words these6 ,before we set about the opening and enforcing them1 permit me to introduce myself in the language of ,paul to ,king ,agrippa1 8,would to ,,god that both my own heart1 and likewise the hearts of all that hear me this day1 may not only be almost1 but altogether in such a divine frame1 as ,i am persuaded the heart of that man of ,,god was who first uttered these words60 ,i need not tell you his name2 our text tells us1 it was ,john2 emphatically called ,john the ,baptist1 because he was sent to baptize with water unto repentance1 in order to prepare his hearers for the further baptism of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he was a ,boanerges1 a son of thunder4 ,he came in the spirit and power of ,elias1 and thereby soon rendered himself so exceedingly popular1 that not only ,jerusalem1 all ,judea1 and all the regions round about ,jordan1 flocked to hear him preach1 but even some of the ,jewish ,sanhedrim began to doubt1 whether he was not the ,messiah himself4 ,accordingly we are told in this chapter1 8,that they sent priests and levites from ,jerusalem ask him1 ,who art thou8 ,what sayest thou of thyself80 ,a most commodious opportunity this1 had he any thing in view but his master's glory and the good of souls1 for ,john to have set up for himself4 ,he might have said1 8,si populus vult decipi1 decipiatur2 if people will be deceived1 let them2 ,i will impose on their credulity1 and let them look upon me as the ,messiah20 ,but scorning any such sinister and base ends1 8,he confessed1 and denied not1 but confessed1 ,i am not the ,,christ40 ,the ,evangelist expresses himself in a very peculiar manner1 8,he confessed1 and denied not1 but confessed20 implying that he took more than ordinary pains to rectify their mistake1 and guard them against thinking more highly of him than they ought to think3 nay1 impatient1 as it were1 of the least appearance of any such thing1 he speaks of himself in the most diminutive terms1 acknowledges that he was unworthy even of carrying his blessed master's shoes1 and seizes the very first opportunity that offered itself to point him out in person to the people4 ,the next day 7verse #bi47 ,john seeth ,,jesus coming unto him1 and upon seeing him1 immediately cries out1 8,behold the ,lamb of ,,god30 8,gaze not on1 nor let your views terminate in me1 but look to and behold the ,lamb of ,,god which taketh away the sin of the world40 ,thus ,john spoke in public2 and to prove that he acted the same consistent part in private1 our text informs us1 that1 8,again1 the next day after1 ,john stood1 and two of his disciples10 who like other newly awakened souls1 having their master's person too much in admiration1 he labours to divert their views also from himself to ,,christ1 and that too in the very same language4 8,for looking upon ,,jesus as he walked1 he saith1 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god40 ,thus does this disinterested1 honest-hearted baptist1 unweariedly and repeatedly recommend the ,,lord ,,jesus1 under the same endearing character of the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,it shall be our business in the following discourse1 ,first1 ,to shew you why it is that ,,jesus ,,christ is stiled the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,and1 ,secondly1 ,what we are to understand by beholding him1 ,way will then be made for a word of application4 ,and first1 ,why is ,,jesus stiled the ,,lamb of ,,god8 ,i presume one reason that may be assigned for it may be drawn from the account we have given us of his most amazing and unparalleled meekness4 ,a ,lamb1 you all know1 is one of the most pacific creatures in the world4 ,when we would describe1 or point out a person of a peaceable disposition1 we say such a one is as quiet as a ,lamb4 ,but what is the meekness of any person1 even ,moses himself1 nay1 of all the saints that ever lived1 put them all together1 in comparison of the meekness of the blessed ,,jesus8 ,to prove this1 ,i might refer you to his whole life1 which was one continued meek and patient enduring of contradiction of sinners against himself2 but if you want me to specify particular instances1 only take a walk with me to ,gethsemane's garden2 there you will see the traitor ,judas at the head of a troop of ruffians1 accosting his glorious ,,lord with a ,hail master6 then kissing him1 and then betraying him4 ,but what says the ,prince of peace8 ,only1 8,friend1 wherefore art thou come8 ,judas1 betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss80 ,but how does this same ,,jesus behave after he was apprehended8 ,even in the same meek manner3 for when his warm-hearted disciple ,peter1 through a misguided zeal1 had cut off the ,high ,priest's servant's ear1 ,suffer ye1 said the holy ,,jesus1 thus far4 ,in all probability these words were addressed by our ,,lord to the officers who had tied his hands behind him4 ,as though he had said1 8,be pleased to unloose me1 whilst ,i cure that poor man's ear1 which my too forward disciple hath imprudently cut off1 and then you shall bind me again40 ,was ever reply1 was there ever meekness like unto this thy meekness1 ,o thou blessed ,,lamb of ,,god6 ,well did ,isaiah prophecy concerning thee1 8,that thou shouldst be led as a lamb to the slaughter10 which goes as willingly to the shambles1 as to the pasture3 and as justly might thy forerunner call upon sinners to behold thee under the pacific character of the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,help us1 holy ,,jesus1 to come at thy invitation1 and to learn of thee1 who gavest such amazing evidences of thy being meek and lowly in heart6 then1 and not 'till then1 shall we find true rest in our souls4 ,but further1 the dear ,,lord ,,jesus may properly be called a ,,lamb1 or ,the ,,lamb1 by way of emphasis1 not only in allusion to the ,lamb that was offered under the law morning and evening1 but more especially because he was typified by the paschal lamb4 ,hence he is stiled1 by that prince of preachers ,st4 ,paul1 ,,christ our passover2 and in allusion to the same1 the ,apostle ,peter tells us1 8,that we are not redeemed with corruptible things1 as silver and gold1 from our vain conversation1 but with the precious blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 as of a ,lamb without blemish and without spot40 ,this was an indispensable requisite to be found in the paschal lamb4 ,it was to be a lamb without blemish4 ,a proper type of him who knew no sin1 but was spotlessly holy1 harmless1 and altogether undefiled in heart1 lip1 and life4 ,indeed1 if we consider him as having the chastisement of our peace1 and the iniquities of us all laid upon him by way of imputation1 he was1 as some divines express it1 the greatest sinner that ever was3 and we should esteem him to be such in reality1 were we to judge of his innocence by the abusive and barbarous treatment that he met with whilst tabernacling on earth4 ,but1 notwithstanding all this1 he was without sin1 and therefore could boldly and truly give men and devils the challenge1 and say1 8,which of you convinceth me of sin80 ,the prince of this world cometh1 but shall find nothing in me4 ,there was no corruption in the heart of this immaculate ,,lamb of ,,god for ,satan's temptations to lay hold on3 ,but this properly belongeth only to him3 for any of his followers1 though arrived at the highest pitch of christian perfection1 much less for young converts1 mere novices in the things of ,,god1 to presume that they either have1 or ever shall1 while on this side eternity1 arrive at such a sinless state1 argues such an ignorance of the spiritual extent of the moral law1 of the true interpretation of ,,god's word1 of the universal experience of ,,god's people in all ages1 as well as of the remaining unmortified corruptions of their own desperately wicked and deceitful hearts1 that ,i dare venture to tell the preachers and abettors of any such doctrine1 however knowing they may be in other respects1 that they know not the true nature of gospel-holiness1 nor the ,,compleatness ,,of ,a ,,believer',s ,,standing ,,in ,,the ,,unspotted ,,imputed ,,righteousness ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ1 as they ought to know1 or as ,i trust they themselves1 through divine grace1 will be made to know before they die4 ,surely it is high time to awake out of this delusive dream6 ,pardon this short1 7would to ,,god there was no occasion of adding7 though too necessary a digression4 ,but to proceed4 ,the paschal lamb was further typical of ,,christ1 its great antitype1 in that it was to be killed in the evening1 and afterwards roasted with fire4 ,so ,,christ1 our passover1 was sacrificed for us in the evening of the world2 only with this material difference1 the paschal lamb was first slain1 and then roasted2 whereas the holy ,,jesus1 the spotless ,,lamb of ,,god1 was burnt and roasted in the fire of his ,father's wrath before he actually expired upon the cross4 ,to satisfy you of this1 if you can bear to be spectators of such an awful tragedy1 as ,i desired you just now to go with me to the entrance1 so ,i must now entreat you to venture a little further into the same garden1 ,butstop,what is that we see8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god1 undergoing the most direful tortures of vindictive wrath6 ,of the people1 even of his disciples1 there is none with him4 ,alas6 was ever sorrow like unto that sorrow1 wherewith his innocent soul was afflicted in this day of his ,father's fierce anger8 ,before he entered into this bitter passion1 out of the fulness of his heart1 he said1 8,now is my soul troubled40 ,but how is it troubled now6 his agony bespeaks it to be exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death4 ,it extorts sweat1 yea1 a bloody sweat4 ,his face1 his hands1 his garments1 are all over stained with blood4 ,it extorts strong cryings and many tears4 ,see how the incarnate deity lies prostrate before his ,father1 who now laid on him the iniquities of us all4 ,see how he agonizes in prayer6 ,hark6 ,again and again he addresses his ,father with an 8,if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me60 ,tell me1 ye blessed angels1 tell me1 ,gabriel 7or whatsoever thou art called1 who wast sent from heaven in this important hour1 to strengthen our agonizing ,,lord7 tell me1 if ye can1 what ,,christ endured in this dark and doleful night2 and tell me1 tell me what you yourselves felt when you heard this same ,god-man1 whilst expiring on the accursed tree1 breaking forth into that dolorous1 unheard-of expostulation1 8,my ,,god1 my ,,god1 why1 or how hast thou forsaken me80 ,were you not all struck dumb8 ,and did not an universal awful silence fill heaven itself1 when ,,god the ,father said unto his sword1 8,sword1 smite thy fellow80 ,well might nature put on its sable weeds2 well might the rocks rend1 to shew their sympathy with a suffering ,saviour3 and well might the sun withdraw its light1 as though it was shocked and confounded to see its maker suffer4 ,but our hearts are harder than rocks1 or otherwise they would now break1 and our souls more stupid than any part of the inanimate creation1 or they would even now1 in some degree1 at least1 sympathize with a crucified ,redeemer2 who for us men1 and for our salvation1 was thus roasted1 as it were1 in the fire of his ,father's wrath1 and therefore fitly stiled the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,but further4 ,the paschal lamb was typical of ,,christ our passover in another respect4 ,for as the blood of the lamb1 after it was slain1 was sprinkled upon the door-posts of the ,israelites houses1 so the blood of ,,jesus ,,christ1 shed for the sins of the world1 is to be applied to1 and by faith sprinkled upon the hearts of the true ,israel of ,,god4 ,and as the destroying angel had no power to execute vengeance on1 or hurt those whose door-posts were thus sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb1 so in the great and terrible day of the ,,lord1 he shall be prohibited both from destroying or hurting true believers1 who by a living faith in the blood of ,,jesus1 have their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience4 ,hence the blood of ,,christ is called 8,the blood of sprinkling40 ,and lastly1 ,as the lamb under the law was feasted upon by ,,god's people1 after it was slain1 so believers under the gospel by faith feast upon a crucified ,redeemer4 ,,christ1 our passover1 says the apostle1 is sacrificed for us1 therefore let us keep the feast1 not barely upon an ,easter-day1 but all the year round4 ,for the just1 i4 e4 truly justified souls1 live by faith1 and find1 by happy experience1 that in a spiritual sense ,,christ's flesh is meat indeed1 and his blood drink indeed2 and therefore believing on him is stiled 8,eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the son of man40 ,agreeable to this1 in our communion office1 the minister1 when he gives the bread to the communicants1 is directed to make use of these affecting words1 8,take and eat this in remembrance that ,,christ died for thee1 and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving40 ,may all who give1 and all that receive that bread1 feel the meaning of this form of sound words experimentally1 and powerfully pressed home upon their souls6 ,then indeed1 but not till then1 may they expect to take this holy sacrament to their comfort4 ,upon all these accounts then1 well might the ,baptist recommend the holy ,,jesus under the significant character of the ,lamb4 ,and with equal propriety might he be called the ,,lamb of ,,god1 not only because he was a ,lamb of ,,god the ,father's providing1 but because he was co-equal1 co-essential with the ,father3 8,the ,word that was with ,,god1 the ,word that was ,,god10 even ,,god over all1 ,,god blessed for evermore4 ,for ever adored be the triune ,,god for this great mystery of godliness1 ,,god manifest in the flesh6 ,o may it be continually marvellous in our eyes6 ,o make us1 thou altogether lovely ,redeemer1 like-minded with thy blessed angels1 that with them we may always so eagerly1 and so perseveringly desire to look into it1 that neither the lust of the flesh1 the lust of the eye1 or pride of life1 may ever in the least divert us from beholding thee6 ,what this beholding him imports1 comes next to be considered1 under our second general head4 ,and here ,i take it for granted1 that it cannot imply a beholding the ,,lord ,,jesus in person with our bodily eyes4 ,it is true1 indeed1 when ,john called upon the people and his disciples to behold the ,,lamb of ,,god1 they were thus highly favoured3 and we are apt to say within ourselves1 ,blessed are the eyes which saw what they saw2 and so undoubtedly they were4 ,but had their views terminated only in beholding his person1 or knowing him barely according to the flesh1 they might notwithstanding have died in their sins1 and been condemned to depart from him into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels4,our ,,lord himself hath told us1 that there will be many who will plead that they eat and drank in his presence1 and heard him preach in their streets1 to whom he will say1 8,verily ,i know you not40 ,a true beholding of the ,,lamb of ,,god1 must therefore necessarily import something more2 and what can that be but a beholding him with an eye of faith8 ,this is what the ,old ,testament saints were invited to1 when the glorious ,redeemer called upon them in those emphatic terms1 8,behold me1 behold me20 and again1 8,look unto me1 all the ends of the earth40 ,this our ,,lord in another place terms1 believing on him3 8,blessed are they which have not seen me1 and yet have believed30 not barely as the result of a mere rational conviction1 which is no more than an historical faith1 but as the consequence of a true spiritual conviction of our being every way undone1 and liable to eternal condemnation without him4 ,this is believing on him with the heart1 and is sometimes expressed by coming to1 receiving1 and trusting in him3 different expressions1 but all importing one and the self same thing4 8,i wound1 and ,i heal40 ,that is the method the ,holy ,ghost takes1 and that is the pattern gospel ministers must follow in preaching him4 ,from any other1 though prescribed to us by an angel from heaven1 good ,,lord1 deliver us6 ,but secondly4 ,by beholding the ,,lamb of ,,god1 we are to understand not only looking to him so as to trust him for the pardon of our sins1 but beholding him so as to have our hearts broke with a true and godly sorrow for having crucified and slain him by them4 ,for thus speaks the ,,lord by the mouth of the ,prophet ,zechariah1 8,they shall look upon him whom they have pierced1 and they shall mourn for him1 as one that mourneth for an only son1 and shall be in bitterness for him1 as one that is in bitterness for his first-born40 ,this prediction was in some degree fulfilled immediately after the descent of the ,holy ,ghost1 in the days of ,pentecost1 when so many being pricked to the heart1 were made to look to1 believe on1 and lament over a pierced ,,jesus4 ,but it will be continually fulfilling in the experience of every true beholder of the ,,lamb of ,,god1 till time shall be no more4 ,true faith1 at the same time as it opens the heart to receive ,,christ1 melts and dissolves it into tears of godly sorrow1 for having betrayed and crucified him4 ,such were the tears of ,mary1 when she washed the feet of her sin-forgiving ,,lord4 ,they flowed from a sense of pardoning love4 ,she loved much1 having much forgiven her4 ,and though she knew the ,,lord had forgiven her1 yet she could not forgive herself4 ,hinc ill lachrym4 ,hence those repenting tears3 they proceeded from love3 sorrow1 flowing from any other principle1 is not a godly1 but a legal sorrow1 which the most abandoned wretch may have without the least degree of saving grace4 ,thus we hear of a ,judas his repenting1 and of an ,esau crying out with an exceeding bitter cry2 but the one all the while was a prophane person1 and the other immediately went and hanged himself4 ,and why8 ,their sorrow was only extorted by a fear of hell1 and a despairing sense of impending ruin4 ,it is true1 a godly sorrow may1 and ,i believe generally does1 begin with something of this nature2 but then it does not end there4 ,through want of a due consideration of this1 it is to be feared1 many seeming converts have taken up with a few legal convictions1 which never ended in savingly and truly beholding the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,may none here present1 by a half-way repentance1 and hypocritical sorrow for sin1 add to the unhappy number6 ,but this is not all4 ,a scriptural beholding of the ,,lamb of ,,god1 denotes not only such a relying on ,,christ for pardon of sin1 as is attended with a truly godly sorrow for it1 but such a believing on him1 as is productive of a holy life1 and a universal chearful observance of all his divine commands4 ,when the two disciples mentioned in our text1 heard ,john speak1 we are told that they followed him1 viz4 the ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,and if ,,god hath given us an hearing ear1 when called upon to behold the ,,lamb of ,,god1 we shall certainly have an obedient heart1 and follow him in the way of holy obedience4 ,but then it will be an obedience flowing from love3 ,a working not for1 but from life4 ,not out of a servile fear of being damned1 but from a grateful sense of having received the beginning of salvation in our hearts4 ,and this is what the ,apostle calls 8faith working by love40 ,many1 ,i know1 censure and look upon us as troublers of ,israel1 for preaching up the doctrine of justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,we own the charge4 ,we do preach1 and hope shall continue to preach it1 till we can preach no more4 ,luther stiles it1 ,articulus stantis aut cadentis ecclesi2 the article by which the church must stand or fall3 and in the ninth article of our own church1 it is termed1 a most wholesome doctrine4 ,take away this1 and you take away the only solid foundation upon which a truly weary and heavy-laden sinner can possibly build his hopes of pardon and acceptance in the sight of a holy and sin-avenging ,,god4 ,but why this outcry against the doctrine of justification by faith alone8 ,they say this doctrine destroys good works4 ,but do we1 by preaching this doctrine1 make void the law of ,,god8 ,no3 ,we thereby establish the law4 ,for1 though faith alone justifies1 yet1 as the good old ,puritans used to observe1 ,that faith which is alone1 justifieth not4 ,agreeable to this1 speaketh the #abth article of our ,church4 8,albeit that good works1 which are the fruits of faith1 and follow after justification1 cannot put away our sins1 and endure the severity of ,,god's judgment1 yet are they pleasing and acceptable to ,,god in ,,christ1 and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith1 insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by the fruit40 ,they1 therefore1 who object against our insisting upon justification by faith alone1 as destructive of morality1 not only betray great ignorance of the articles of our ,church1 and of ,,god's word1 but give too great reason to suspect1 that they never experienced the blessed influence of a true and lively faith in their own hearts4 ,for true and undefiled religion1 is nothing more or less1 than a universal morality1 founded upon the love of ,,god and faith in ,,christ ,,jesus4 ,and a true beholding him as pierced for our sins1 will1 in its own nature1 sweetly compel us to cry out1 8,what shall we render unto the ,,lord80 ,it was this1 that1 perhaps1 in a quarter of an hour1 made that covetous worldling ,zaccheus1 give half of his goods to the poor2 it was this1 that all of a sudden made the ,jailor wash the stripes of those whom he had but a little before thrust into an inward prison2 it was this that caused ,lydia1 whose heart the ,,lord had opened1 so freely to open her house to entertain the ,apostles2 and it was this that excited the ,apostles themselves in general1 and ,st4 ,paul in particular1 to bid adieu to worldly honours1 to glory in nothing but the cross of ,,christ1 and to fly like an arch-angel from pole to pole1 publishing the blessed and everlasting gospel4 8,the love of ,,christ1 said he1 constraineth us40 ,preaching faith in this manner1 seems to me the only scriptural way of preaching ,,christ3 and by this means we shall steer a middle course between two dangerous extremes4 ,for to insist only upon morality and good works1 and not lay a true lively faith1 as a foundation whereon they are to be built1 7as it is to be feared too many do7 is to act like ,pharaoh's task-masters1 and bid people make brick without shewing them where to get straw4 8,my soul1 come not thou into their secret60 ,on the other hand1 to call upon people to believe in1 and behold the ,,lamb of ,,god1 and at the same time not exhort them to maintain good works1 as an evidence and fruit of their beholding him1 is the way to turn the grace of ,,god into lasciviousness4 ,and therefore1 however evangelical such preachers may seem in their own eyes1 yet if the writings of ,moses and the ,prophets1 of our ,,lord and his ,apostles1 are to be our judges1 they do not rightly divide the word of truth4 8,to their assembly1 mine honour1 be not thou united60 8were0 replaced with 8where0 ,once more4 ,a true beholding of the ,,lamb of ,,god1 implies such a beholding him1 as will transform us into his divine likeness4 ,this will be the effect of our seeing him as he is in heaven2 and this1 in its degree1 will always be the consequence of our beholding him with an eye of a true and lively faith on earth4 ,when ,moses came down from mount ,horeb1 where he had been conversing with ,,god1 we are told1 that his face shone2 and if we have been upon the mount of ordinances beholding by faith the blessed ,,lamb of ,,god1 though our faces will not shine1 yet our hearts will be moulded into his blessed image4 ,this is what the ,apostle ,paul terms1 in one place1 8,being transformed by the renewing of our minds20 and in another1 8,passing from glory to glory1 even by the ,spirit of the ,,lord40 ,all manifestations1 of whatever kind or degree1 if not attended with this transforming and truly sanctifying influence1 are unprofitable1 delusive1 or merely imaginary4 ,balaam could call himself the man whose eyes were open1 and the man who had seen the visions of the ,almighty1 and yet he was a poor worldling all the while4 ,he loved the wages of unrighteousness1 though forced by ,,god not to receive them4 ,hence we may easily and rationally account for the falling away of some1 and it may be the final apostacy of many others1 who in the late religious stir1 7as some are pleased to call it7 seemed to be uncommonly gifted1 and to be lifted up1 as it were1 to the third heaven4 ,satan being sensible that the ,holy ,spirit of ,,god was working a great work upon the earth1 turns himself into an angel of light1 introduces his extraordinaries1 and thereby mimics ,,god's true work now1 as the magicians were once permitted to mimic the real miracles of ,moses formerly4 ,such counterfeits1 those who are not ignorant of ,satan's devices1 ought from time to time to add all diligence to search out and detect2 but after the utmost caution imaginable1 ,i believe we shall find the saying of a very zealous ,reformer 7who thought1 at his first coming out1 that he should convert the whole world7 to be too true1 viz4 8,that old ,satan will be1 in many cases1 too hard for young ,melancthon40 ,satan is an old practitioner1 and we1 comparatively speaking1 but novices2 and therefore no wonder1 that we sometimes mistake his extraordinaries1 for the powerful operations of the ,holy ,spirit2 or look upon those1 at least for a while1 who are only stony-ground hearers1 and have received the word with joy1 as though they were truly converted to1 and had by a living1 soul-transforming faith1 beheld the ,,lamb of ,,god4 ,such mistakes may serve to make us more cautious4 ,but to condemn a work in the lump1 as merely delusive and diabolical1 or roundly to affirm1 that all the pretended subjects of it have taken up only with an ideal ,,christ1 because some have mistaken imaginations for the true spiritual manifestation of ,,god's love to their hearts1 discovers such an ignorance of scripture1 of ,satan's devices1 and the accounts given us of past revivals in all ages1 that if one did not know the dreadful blindness of a bigotted sectarian zeal1 and what a proneness there is in the best of men1 to condemn every thing that doth not come just in their own way1 we should think it morally impossible that good men should run such lengths as some have done of late1 in censuring what ,i think may be called1 amidst all the infirmities and weaknesses that have attended it1 ,a great and glorious work of a ,,god4 ,but it is time for me to draw nearer to a conclusion4 ,we have now then1 my dear hearers1 done with the doctrinal part of our text2 in opening of which1 that we might deal with you as rational creatures1 we have endeavoured calmly1 and in the fear of ,,god1 to address ourselves to your understandings3 but the hardest work is yet behind1 namely1 to affect and warm your hearts4 ,this ,i take to be the very life of preaching3 for man is a compound creature1 made up of affections1 as well as understanding2 and1 consequently1 without addressing both1 we only do our work by halves4 ,it is true1 every one hath his proper gift1 and some excel in making use of a proper method to inform the judgment1 whilst others are more eminent for exciting the passions4 ,both are beautiful in their season2 and both ought and will be used by all who have warm hearts1 as well as clear heads4 ,moses and the ,prophets1 ,,christ and his ,apostles1 dealt much in exhortations1 as well as in opening and explaining the weighty matters of the law4 ,and if we are taught by the same ,spirit1 we shall1 like them1 bring light and heat with us1 when called to speak of1 and enforce the things which concern the kingdom of ,,god4 ,without a proper mixture of these1 however a preacher may acquire the character1 in the letter-learned and polite world1 of being a calm and cool reasoner2 yet he never will be looked upon by those whose senses are exercised to discern spiritual things1 as a truly evangelical and christian orator4,and surely if a minister's heart is ever warm1 it ought to be so in a more especial manner1 when calling on a blind and drowsy world1 to behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,o6 that my tongue was at this time touched with a coal from his altar4 ,o6 that my cold and frozen heart 7for ,i must again repeat the wish ,i put up at the beginning of this discourse7 was in the same blessed and divine frame1 as we have reason to believe the holy ,baptist was favoured with1 when he called upon his disciples and the people1 so repeatedly1 to behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,but to whom shall ,i apply myself first8 ,or with what language shall ,i address you1 when pressing you to the same important thing8 ,will my brethren in the ministry suffer a word of exhortation from one who is less than the least of them all8 ,does not the practice of this fervent harbinger and fore-runner of the ,son of ,,god1 naturally lead me to it8 ,for did he so unweariedly recommend the ,,lord ,,jesus8 ,did he take such care to preach not himself1 but ,,christ ,,jesus his ,lord8 ,and shall not we make this same ,,jesus the ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and end of all our discourses8 ,did he take such pains to debase himself1 exalt his ,,lord1 and evidence to the world that he was disinterested1 and sought not his own glory1 but the glory of him whose fore-runner he was8 ,and shall we not go and do likewise8 ,to prepare the ,redeemer's way before him1 by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just1 and to proclaim a coming ,saviour1 ,john esteemed his highest honour4 ,this is an employ worthy angels4 ,they thought themselves highly favoured1 when sent to give notice of the ,mediator's birth to some humble shepherds4 ,and ,i hope ,i am speaking to some1 who had rather be employed in such an errand1 than be ambassadors to the greatest monarchs on earth4 ,go on then1 my brethren1 or rather fathers1 as it becomes such a one as ,i to call you4 ,ye angels of the churches1 ye stewards of the mysteries of ,,god1 go on in the name and strength of the everlasting ,i ,,am4 ,preach ,,christ1 and him crucified2 continue to preach him3 be instant in season and out of season2 and though you should be called to suffer for so doing1 fear not1 but rather rejoice1 and be exceeding glad3 great will be your reward in heaven2 for so persecuted they ,john the ,baptist1 and others that have been employed in calling upon sinners to behold the ,lamb of ,,god before you4 ,are any here present who are entrusted with the care of youth that are intended for the ministry8 ,my text warns me not to leave you out in this address4 ,john directed his disciples to behold the ,lamb of ,,god3 and ought not such1 who have the oversight of those who are hereafter to be employed in the same divine work as ,john was1 to make it one main part of their daily endeavours1 to bring their pupils to a true1 experimental1 and saving acquaintance with the ever-blessed ,lamb of ,,god8 ,this may be done without leaving any one necessary branch of true knowledge and useful learning undone4 ,a neglect of this important point hath been1 and it is to be feared even now is1 the bane of the christian church4 ,for1 if young men's minds are from year to year wholly engaged in studying the heathen mythology1 instead of being shewn the beauties of the ,new ,testament2 if they are taught to delight more in reading ,csar's ,commentaries1 or the exploits of an ,alexander1 than to admire the miracles of ,jesus of ,nazareth2 if they are directed to employ themselves more in giving an account of ,homer's battles1 than of the important war between ,michael and the ,dragon2 if it is esteemed a greater excellency to be engaged in studying the folds of a ,roman garment1 than to enquire into the various turnings and windings of their own corrupt hearts3 if these1 and such-like trifling things1 are recommended to their daily study1 and the glorious doctrines of the gospel1 such as regeneration1 justification1 c4 wholly neglected1 or superficially spoken of1 is it any wonder1 that so many ignorantly strike their heads against the pulpit1 or appear when put into it1 more like heathen philosophers or ,roman orators1 than gospel preachers1 though without half the clearness and sound reasoning of the one1 or a thousandth part of the true pathos and unaffected eloquence of the other8 ,the recommending and enforcing the practical study of the doctrines and example of the blessed ,,jesus1 seems to me to be the only remedy for this great1 not to say growing evil4 ,and therefore1 ,i beg leave in the next place to address myself to those who are now actually engaged in the study of divinity1 and are desirous of being prepared according to the preparation of the sanctuary1 for the great and solemn work of calling upon sinners1 to behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,when ,john the ,baptist was thus employed1 he took care to allure the people1 that he himself was well acquainted with that ,,christ4 8,i saw1 said he1 and bear record1 that this is the ,son of ,,god40 ,and doth not this at least intimate to you1 young students1 that above all things you should study to get an experimental acquaintance with the ,,lord ,,jesus in your own hearts1 before you attempt to recommend him to the choice of others8 ,then1 having believed1 you will speak2 speak not as mere dead1 formal1 letter-learned scribes1 but as men having authority4 ,you will then1 like ,john the ,baptist1 be the voice of one crying2 you will lift up your voices like trumpets2 you will preach not with the enticing words of man's wisdom1 but with the demonstration of the spirit and of power4 ,this1 with a moderate share of useful learning1 which is quite necessary in its place1 will enable you to do wonders4 ,vallies shall be filled up1 mountains shall be brought low1 and a highway made1 through your instrumentality1 into sinners hearts1 by the blessed and all-powerful operations of the ,spirit of the everliving ,,god4 ,such a method1 perhaps1 may render your preaching a little unfashionable1 but it is the only way to render it useful1 and truly evangelical4 ,take the ,apostle ,paul for your ensample4 ,he was a great scholar1 as well as a great saint2 and1 if called to it1 could have fought the learned world with their own weapons2 but he chose to fight only with the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,,god4 ,and even1 when preaching at so polite a place as ,corinth1 determined to know nothing among them1 but ,,jesus ,,christ and him crucified4 ,he too1 like another ,john1 made it his constant1 uninterrupted employ to beseech poor sinners to behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,may that mind be in you1 which was also in him6 ,but do not the words of our text lead me to address all in general1 as well as tutors and their pupils in particular8 ,yes3 to you1 even to as many as hear me this day1 whether high or low1 rich or poor1 young or old1 one with another1 may a word of exhortation naturally be directed4 ,it was to the people1 as well as to his disciples1 that ,john1 when he saw ,,jesus coming unto him1 spoke those endearing words1 8,behold the ,lamb of ,,god40 ,i therefore call upon you all in the same language1 and for the same reason2 for it is ,he1 and ,he alone1 that taketh away the sins of the world4 ,it is this that you all stand in need of1 whether you know it or not4 ,you are all stung by that old and crooked serpent the devil4 8,therefore1 as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so was the ,son of ,man lifted up1 that whosoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have everlasting life40 ,o then behold him1 behold him6 ,look unto him1 all ye ends of the earth1 even ye upon whom the ends of the world are come1 and be ye saved4 ,some of you1 ,i trust1 through grace1 have already been enabled to do this4 ,o come1 come1 ,i beseech you1 and repeat the blessed look3 for this is the christian's grand catholicon1 the sovereign remedy for all the remaining diseases of his soul4 ,are ye tempted8 ,behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 8,he was tempted in all things like as we are10 that he might be able experimentally to sympathize with1 and succour those that are tempted4 ,are ye deserted1 and bewailing an absent ,,god8 ,behold the ,lamb of ,,god4 ,he once complained1 and that too to his own creatures1 8,my soul is exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death20 ,he once cried out1 and that to his heavenly ,father1 8,my ,,god1 my ,,god1 why hast thou forsaken me40 ,are ye poor8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god3 ,he had not where to lay his head4 ,are ye betrayed and forsaken by friends8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god3 ,he was betrayed by ,judas1 denied by ,peter1 and when apprehended1 all forsook him and fled4 ,are you blackened and maligned by enemies8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god3 ,he was accounted a mad-man1 a deceiver1 nay1 a ,beelzebub1 the very chief of the devils4 ,are ye afraid of death1 or dying8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god3 ,he hath taken away the sting of that king of terrors1 and came to deliver those1 who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage4 ,doubt ye whether ye shall hold out to the end8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god2 8,he is the ,author and finisher of our faith20 and having loved his own1 he loved them even unto the end4 ,do ye want more grace1 either to mortify remaining corruption1 or to enable you to bring forth more fruit unto ,,god8 ,behold the ,,lamb of ,,god3 8,out of his fulness we may all receive1 and that too1 even grace for grace20 grace upon grace1 grace to beget more grace1 even till we are filled with all the fulness of ,,god4 ,o ye believers1 my heart is enlarged towards you2 look to1 and live much on the blessed ,,jesus2 and then you will live to1 and act for him more and more4 ,be thankful for what you have received1 but be looking out continually for fresh discoveries of his love1 and fresh incomes of heavenly grace1 till you are called to behold this ,,lamb of ,,god in glory3 that time1 blessed be ,,god1 will shortly come4 ,though worms destroy our bodies1 yet in our flesh we shall see our ,,god2 not as we do now1 through a glass darkly1 but face to face3 see him as he is3 and what is yet better1 be growing up more and more into his divine likeness1 through the endless ages of eternity4 ,but as for ungodly and obstinate unbelievers that die in their sins1 it shall not be so with them4 ,behold him indeed you shall2 behold him you must2 8,for yet a little while1 and we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,,christ40 ,but ,o6 how shall ,i speak it8 ,you must behold him once1 never to behold him any more6 ,behold him1 not so much as the ,,lamb of ,,god1 as the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 and hear him roaring out that dreadful sentence1 8,depart1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,o think of this1 all ye that have hitherto neglected to behold this ,,lamb of ,,god by faith1 so shall unbelief not prove your final ruin4 ,to you1 even to you ,i once more call4 ,blessed be ,,god1 the door of mercy is not yet shut2 the day of grace is not yet over2 look unto him1 and you shall yet be saved3 his heart is open1 and his arms stretched out ready to receive you4 ,o that he would rend the heavens and come down amongst you2 and as he had once compassion upon a poor woman1 that was bowed down with the spirit of infirmity1 lo eighteen years6 ,o that he would repeat that all-powerful command1 8,be ye loosed from your infirmity10 and enable every unconverted sinner to look up to1 and behold the ,,lamb of ,,god6 ,however1 if you will not come to him that you might have life1 ,,god forbid that ,i should cease to pray for you4 ,o ,,lord ,,god most holy1 ,o ,,lord ,,god most mighty1 ,o holy and merciful ,saviour1 thou most worthy ,judge eternal1 by thine agony and bloody sweat1 by thy cross and passion1 by thy precious death and burial1 by thy glorious resurrection and ascension1 and by the coming of the ,holy ,ghost1 we humbly entreat thee to help all such to take the warning that has now been given them6 ,o help them to behold thee by faith here1 that so no pains of hell may fall from thee whenever they are summoned to appear before thy awful tribunal hereafter6 ,i am persuaded all that love the ,,lord ,,jesus in sincerity1 will say1 ,amen6 ,even so1 ,,lord ,,jesus6 ,amen6 and ,amen6 ,,finis4