THE Lord Jesus Christ was on the Sabbath Day in­vited to eat Bread in the House of an eminent Pha­r [...]ee. Being there he did (as he always used to do) set himself to do good unto those with whom he had his Conversation. In the first place he heal'd a man that was [...]ick [Page 10] of the Dropsie; and then he gave wholsome Counsel unto those that were about him, which te [...]ded to promote the health and salvation of their Souls. He Exhorted them to Humility, and also to Charity and Liberality; and that they should extend their Charity not to Rich men only, that could do as much for them again; but unto such as were Poor and could never make them a­ny recompence: and he did assure them that if they did so (from a right, principle, & to a right end,) they should be recompensed at the Resurrection of the Just. Upon this one present uttered a saying very frequent among the Jewish Rabbies, namely, That they are Blessed who shall eat Bread in the Kingdom of God. They are blessed that shall have Com­munion with God, & with his Saints in the Resurrection world. Upon this mans thus saying, the Lord Jesus Christ took occasion to speak a Pa­rable [Page 11] concerning the Great Supper. By which he did intimate that notwith­standing they pretended an affection to the Kingdom of God, neverthe­less the wo [...]ld had a greater interest in their affections than that King­dom. For he shewed that many who were invited to the Great Supper, refused to come, and made Excuses for their so doing. The first had one Excuse, the second another, & the third another. Nevertheless, in this they all agreed to Excuse their not coming. When they were in­vited with one consent they made Ex­cuse. Their Excuses were specious and plausible, and yet unreasonable.

Now for the opening of this Pa­rable, By the Great Supper, Christ and [...] ▪ Benefits are intended: which are fitly called a Great Supper, no [...] only in respect of the Mult [...]tude of persons invited thereto, but in re­spect of the Greatness, the Excellen­ [...] of the Matter of the Fea [...]t▪ Christ [Page 12] and Eternal Life: and in respect of the Continuance thereof. We read Esther 1. 4. that A [...]asuerus the Em­peror of Persia, made a Feast for his Nobles and Princes, which continu­ed for the space of an Hundred and Fourscore Dayes. But this Great Supper has infinite Multitudes invited to it; Thousands yea Millions have been called to it. And the Feast will continue not for an hundred & fourscore Days, nor an hundred & fourscore Years, but through out the never ending Ages of Eternity. Therefore it may well be called a Great Supper. And as for the Person that did make this Feast, and so call unto it, we are to understand God Himself: Therefore in the Parable, Mat. 22. 2. 'tis said That a certain King did it, viz. the God and King of Heaven, the King Eternal. And as for the Servants that are said to [...] sent to call [...]nto this Great Sup­ [...]er, the Ministers of the Lord Jesus [Page 13] Christ are thereby meant. As for the Persons invited to this Great Supper, both Jews and Gentiles are intended, & not only the great ones but the meaner fort among them. Therefore it is said, Go-into the Streets of the City, and call them in, and it is said, Go into the High-ways and compel them to come in: By which the calling of the Gentiles might be signified. The Jews had the first offer of the Gospel made to them. Christ was Preached unto them before unto any other in the world; but few of them would ac­cept of him, few of them did believe, but with unreasonable Excuses did put off their coming to him.

DOCTRINE.

That when men are in the Gospel in­vited to come to Christ for Salvation, they are apt to delay & put it off with Unreasonable Excuses.

[Page 14]Two things are before us to be shewed.

1. What those Excuses are, and the Unreasonableness of them, whereby men put off their coming to Christ?

2. Whence is it that men are apt to make Excuses and Objections a­gainst Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Question 1. What are those Ex­cuses which men commonly make, & the Unreasonableness of them?

Answer 1. Men are are ap [...] to pretend that their coming to Christ will be prejudicial to their worldly and car­nal Interests. Thus here, three are mentioned as Excusing themselves: Two of them their excuse was, it would be prejudicial to their world­ly profit, the other because it would be prejudicial to his carnal sensual delights. Men are apt to think, that if they come to Christ they shall [Page 15] suffer as to their Outward estate. It may be they shall be Poor then. And indeed tho' the Lord Jesus Christ does not require that all his Disciples should actually part with whatever in the world they enjoy, nevertheless he requires that they be willing to do it when he shall put them upon it. Luk. 14. 32 He that will not forsake all that he has cannot be my Disciple. A man must be willing to forsake all the Com­forts that he has in the world, when ever Christ calls him to it, or he can't be his Disciple. Yet never­theless, this Excuse is very Unrea­sonable: For if a man should lose all that he has in the world and gain Christ instead of it, he would be no loser, but an infinite gainer. Eph. 3. 8. The Apostle there speaks of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ. If a man looses the world and gains Christ, he has unsearch­able Riches instead of that which he [Page 16] had in the world. And Mat 13. 45. we read of one that did sell all that he had that he might obtain the Pearl of great price. Christ is the Pearl of great price. Tho' a a man should part with all that he has in the world, if he gain that [...]earl he is no loser, but a great gain­er. No man loseth any thing for Christ, but Christ will make it up to him in this world; if not in tem­porals, then in spirituals which is far better. Mark. 10. 30. Who ever shall lose House or Land (said Christ) for my sake, and the Gospels, he shall receive an Hundred fold in this present life. He shall have more Grace given to him if he loses the world, and a little of that is more valuable than a great deal of the world. And he shall have more of inward heavenly Joy in his own soul. As the Chri­stian Hebrews when their goods were taken away from them on Christs account, took that affliction [Page 17] Joyfully. And much more will the Lord recompense them in the world to come. Therefore the Lord says, he shall have an hundred fold in this world, and Eternal Life in the world to come. Now that Eternal Life is of great worth and value, infinite­ly more than any thing of this world. Mat. 19. 21. Sayes Christ to one there, Follow thou me, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and follow me and thou shalt have treasure in Hea­ven. How great is that Treasure? how vast are those Riches? Eph. 1. 18. That you may understand the Riches of the Glory of the Inheritance. Riches of glory, a rich and glorious Inheritance. This men should have, if they came to Christ; and there­fore it is very unreasonable in them to object the profit of the world as their Excuse for their not coming to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Again, Others are apt to Excuse themselves by thinking they shall be [Page 18] deprived of their earthly Delights. That they shall never see pleasant Day more; that if they become se­rious Christians, then they must bid a farewel to all Pleasure in the world. But this is an Unreasona­ble Objection. For those pleasures which Christ calls his Disciples to renounce for ever, they are sinful ones, and last but for a season. Heb. 11. 25. The pleasures of Sin are but for a season. Yea and but for a very short season too. Eccl. 7. 6. They are like the crackling of Thorns. If Thorns be set on fire they make a crack­ling, but they are presently out. And such are the pleasures of Sin: And then they end in dismal sorrow. Prov. 14. 13. The end of that mirth is [...]eaviness. The pleasures of sin, the end of them will be heaviness. And the more delight any take therein the greater will their sorrow and misery be in another World. Rev. 18. 7. How much she hath glori­fied [Page 19] her self & lived deliciously, so much torment & sorrow give her. The more persons have indulged themselves in the wayes of sin, the greater torment shall be given to them in the world to come. Whereas if they hearken to Christ and come to him, they shall have better pleasures. Prov. 3. 17. All the wayes of wisdom are pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. They are pleasant, and in them are far greater pleasures than ever any did enjoy in the wayes of sin, Psal. 36. 8. Thou wilt make them to drink of the rivers of thy pleasures. Rivers of pleasures are to be en­joyed by those that come to Christ. And they are pleasures that shall last for ever and ever, Psal. 16. 11. At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Now then for men to refuse coming to Christ because they think they must never enjoy their pleasures any more, whereas those pleasures are but for a sea­son; [Page 20] and if they did come to Christ, they should enjoy better & greater and eternal Pleasures, for them on that account to Excuse themselves is most unreasonable.

But,

2. There are some who are so Un­reasonable as to Object, that they don't know whether Christ dyed for them or no, and then if they did come to him they should not partale of the Salvation purchased by him.

But to show you the Unreaso­nableness of this Excuse.

1. There, is merit enough in the Blood of Christ to save all the men in the world. 1 Joh. 2. 2. He is a propitiation for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole World. If all the men in the world should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, there needs no more to be done that God should become pro­pitious to them, than that which [Page 21] Jesus Christ has already done. His Blood is infinitely Meritorious; and it most needs be so, because of his being not Man only but [...] also. 1 Joh. 1. 7. The Blood [...] Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Inas-much as the Blood of Jesus Christ is the Blood of the Eternal Son of God, it cleanseth [...] all sin. There is an infinite value and efficacy in it. There is a super-abundant merit in the Blood of Christ. As the repenting Prodigal said, Luk. 15. 17. There is Bread enough in my Fathers House and to spare. Even so, there is Merit enough in the Death of Christ and to spare. As for all those thousands of Millions that perish to Eternity, I will say to you, there is not one of them all that does perish for want of a sufficiency of Merit in the Blood of Christ to save them, but because they do not come to him & believe on him. Therefore,

[Page 22]2. In the Gospel Christ and Sal­vation by him is offered unto all men. The offer of the Gospel is as Free and [...]iversal as possibly can be. Mark 16. 15. Go and Preach the Gospel to every Creature. Every man where the Gospel comes, has Christ and Salvation by him tendred unto him. Rev. 22. 17. Come whosoever will. What can be more Free or Universal than that invitation of the Gospel, Come whosoever will? And if they come they shall have Life? Heb. 5. 9. He is the author of eter­nal Salvation to all them that obey him. Let never so many obey him, he will be the author of Eternal Sal­vation to them. And there is not a man in the world, but a Minister of Christ may say to that Man, Do you believe on the Name of Jesus Christ and you shall never perish, but shall have Eternal Life, Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that [Page 23] whosoever does believe on him should not perish, but should have ever­lasting Life. In this there is a dif­ference between fallen Man and fal­len Angels. It may not be said un­to the fallen Angels, if you believe you shall be saved by Christ, if you will trust to him for Salvati­on you shall be saved by him. When Evil Spirits in possessed persons have entred into discourses with men, as oftentimes it hath been so, no man may say to one of them, If you will trust to Christ for Salvation, you may be saved. But now this may be said to Men, to every one with­out exception. So large, so univer­sal is the offer of the Gospel that the Children of men are made par­takers of. If a Prince should lay down a Price for the Redemption of a company of Slaves, declaring that whosoever will consent to be his Subjects, the price is laid down for them, how unreasonable [Page 24] would it be for any one of them to say, I don't know it was intended for me in particular: when the Prince their Redeemer said it was in­tended for all that would consent to be his faithful Subjects. So does the Lord Jesus Christ the Prince of Life say in the Gospel, I [...]aid down a Price to redeem the Slaves of Hell, and whosoever will sincerely con­sent to be my Subject, my faithful Servant, it is for him.

3. The way and the only way for a man to know whether Christ dyed for him in particular, is to believe on his Name. If any man, tho' a Re­probate should say Christ has not dyed for me, that man would sin in so saying; for then he would in­trude himself into that which is a Divine secret. Much more would an Elect Vessel, be guilty of sin, if he should say Christ has not dyed for me. D [...]t. 29. 29. Secret things belong to the Lord, and Revealed [Page 25] things belong to us. Whether Christ has dyed for such a man in particu­lar is a secret thing, known unto the Lord only, until by the fruits of it it doth appear. But that such a man ought to Believe on the Name of Jesus Christ: that he ought to come to Christ, and sub­mit to him is revealed. Then let him do what is revealed, and he may be sure Christ has dyed for him. Yea as sure of it, as if he were now in Heaven Gal. 2. 20. Sayes the Apostle, The life that I now live, is by the Faith on the Son of God, who gave himself for me. If a man has Faith in the Son of God, then he may know that Christ gave him­self for him in particular. This then is a very Unreasonable Ex­cuse for not coming to him.

3. There are others that to Ex­cuse themselves pretend they cannot Believe. (As one here in this Pa­rable [Page 26] said, I cannot come.) Pretend­ing they have not power to be­lieve: Does not Christ himself say, Joh. [...]6. 44. None can come to me except the Father draw him? And what would the Ministers of Christ have us do things impossible for us to do?

But to show the Unreasonableness of this Objection.

1. 'Tis mans own fault that he cannot come. They have made themselves unable to believe. How then will that Impotency Excuse them? It is true, that the Children of men are become impotent, mise­rable Creatures. Rom. 5. 6. They are without strength. But they have made themselves to be without strength. They have sinned away that power which once they had. As Sampson when he did hearken to Delilab, his strength departed from him, and he became weak. So Adam and we in him, hearkening [Page 27] to Satan, our Strength is departed from us, and we are become weak. Adam had power enough to do what­ever God required of him: There was nothing that God enjoyned on him, but he had power sufficient to do it. Eccles. 7. 29. God made man upright but they sought out many in­ventions. So God gave to man in his first-state sufficiency of Power to obey whatsoever he should enjoy [...] on him. But they have sinned away that power, and made themselves unable to do what once they could have done. If a Servant should make himself sick, and neglect doing his work that his Master hath set him about, and then pretend that he was sick, would that be a sufficient Excuse? When it might be said, You did wilfully make your self sick & weak. That would be no rational Excuse for him.

But,

2. Sinners would not believe if they [Page 28] could do it. They would not come to Christ if they had power to do it. Mat. 22. 2. Tis said, They would not come. It is not said, They could not come: Nay, but they would not come. If sinners would speak out and declare the whole truth, they must say, We neither can nor will come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Their Cannot is a most wilful Cannot. They had rather perish than go to Christ for Salvation. It is a dreadful word to be spoken, nevertheless 'tis a true one, That there is such op­position and enmity in the hearts of men against the holy Lord Jesus Christ, that they had rather be damned for ever than that Christ should save them. Therefore did Christ say to the Jews, Joh. 5. 40. Ye will not come unto me that you might have Life. They were told plainly and often enough, that if they did not come unto Christ they should dye in their sins. They were told o [...]ten [Page 29] enough, that if they did not come to Christ for Eternal Life, they should be sent down to the Tor­ments of Hell world without end. Yet for all this they would not come to him that they might have Life. That Unbelief which is the Damning sin of men that live under the Gospel, it is a wilful Unbelief. Joh. 3. 19. This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the world and men have loved Darkness rather than Light. That is the Damning sin under the Gospel, men love darkness. And when light is come to them, they shut their eyes and don't care for the light. It is plain that sin­ners will not come to Christ; that they have no mind to believe, in that they will not do what they can do. They will not do what they have power to do, in order to the obtaining of Faith. God in his Ward has given men directions what to do that so they may obtain [Page 30] Precious Faith in the Name of Christ, and such things [...] they can do if they would, but they will not, and therefore do they perish. Ma [...]. 23. 37. I would have gathered you under my wings (sayes Christ) but ye would not.

3. God does command no man in the world to believe by his own strength. Therefore this Objection this Excuse is unreasonable. When the Lord commanded Moses, Exod. 14. 1 [...]. saying Last up thy hand, take the Rod into [...]hine hand, lift it up over the Sea, and divide it. How unreaso­nable would it have been for Moses to have said, I divide the Sea! It is impossible, and therefore for him to have neglected to take the Rod into his hand and lift it up? So it is when God commands sinners to believe, and in order thereunto that they should do such and such things, and yet they will not do, it. I say the Lord requireth no man to [Page 31] believe by his own power, never­theless, there are three things that God commands every man to at­tend where the Gospel comes, and yet there are many that will not obey him.

1. God requires that they should not refuse and despise the Outward calls of his Word. Heb. 12. 25. Take [...]eed that ye refuse not him that speaks from Heaven. Yet they do and will refuse. Psal. 81▪ 11, My people would not hearken to me, they would none of me. They would not, they would not, (sayes God) no [...] they would not when the Lord called to them. So Prov. 1. 22. How long ye Scorn [...]s will you delight in Scorning? Can't men choose whether they will de­light in scorning or no▪ I called & ye refused, sayes the Wisdom of God: You set at nought my Counsels and despised my Reproofs. God does expect and require from men that they should neither in word n [...]r deed [Page 32] say, We will not do what thou com­mandest, and yet sinners will do thus, Jer. 2. 31. They said, We are Lords, we will come no more unto thee. No, we will not come to thee. They said so Practically however tho' not Verbally. Yet one time when the Prophet told them what God requi­red of them, Jer. 44. 16. they said, As for the Word which thou hast spo­ken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken to it. So it is with sinners when invited to come to Christ, they will not hearken to that word: And therefore to pretend Inability to come is a vain Ex­cuse.

2. God requires of sinners that they should not resist the Inward strivings of his holy Spirit. As that they should not refuse nor reject the Outward calls of his Word, so that they should not resist the Inward strivings of his Spirit: and yet this they do, and this they will do tho' they are [Page 33] Damned for it when they have done. 1 Thes. 5. 19. Quench not the Spirit says God. Ayo, but sinners when the Spirit of God has beg [...]n to kin­dle a holy fire in their hearts, they quench it, they put it out. Thus it was with the sinners of the old world, Gen. 6. 3. My Spirit shall not al­ways strive with Man. The Spirit of God had been striving with them. Righ­teous Noah Preached many power­ful Sermons unto them: that Preacher of Righteousness would sometimes startle and amaze their Consciences, but they rejected they resisted the Holy Spirit striving in that Ministry. So it was with the rebellious Children of Israel, Isa. 63. 10. They rebelled & vexed his Holy Spirit, therefore he be­came their Enemy. And so it was with their Children a long time af­ter them, Act. 7. 51. You staff-neck­ [...]d and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears, you do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost Sinners resist the Holy Ghost [Page 34] when he strives with them, & uses arguments to perswade them to come to Christ. Therefore their pre­ [...]n [...]ions that they cannot believe are vain, since they resist the moti­ons of his Spirit.

3. God requires one thing more, and that which they have power to do if they will, He requires that they should be earnest and diligent in the use of means for the obtaining of Faith. Joh. 6. 27. Labour for the Meat that endures to Eternal Life. And if we must labour for that, we must labour for Faith without which that is never to be obtained. Luk. 13. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait Gate. The gate of Faith is a strait gate, but very few enter in at it: Well, God requires men to strive that they may enter in at the strait gate. And that they should do such things as have a tendency to cause them to believe. There are such [Page 35] things, and sinners can practise them if they will.

As now,

Meditation and serious Consideration has a [...] tendency to cause men to come to Christ▪ If they would meditate on their undone conditi­on without Christ: If they would consider [...] the state, the mi­serable condition they are in, and the way they are walking in, what it is, and whether it will bring them at the last; it may be Serious Thoughts of that nature would end in their Conversion and Salvation. This they ought to do, Hag. 1. 5. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts consider your wayes. The Lord God of Hosts saith from Heaven to every sinner, Consider thy wayes, what thou ha [...]t done, whether thou art going, where this way will bring thee ere long. And God requires men to consi­der of Death and Judgment to come. Deut. 32. 29. Oh that they were wise [Page 36] that they would consider their latter [...]nd. This God requires of sinners, that they should sit down and con­sider of their latter end: Consi­der that Death is coming on them: Consider that after Death comes an Eternal Judgment. God requires sinners that they should think seri­ously of that Eternity to which they are going: That Eternity is before them in another world where they must quickly be. Eccl. 11. 8. Re­member the dayes of darkness for they are many. Remember Eternity, con­sider of Eternity, and where you must be when you go out of this world. This God requires of men. And that they should Meditate on the Lord Jesus Christ: that they should think of his being a suitable Savi­our for them: that they should Meditate on the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how he is alto­gether lovely. If they would do [...]o, it may be their Souls would be [Page 37] enamoured with him; it may be they would be perswaded to part with all for his sake, if they would but Meditate on Jesus Christ and on his Glory. But now Sinners will not do this, altho' they can do it if they will. For that Cogi­tative faculty, that power of think­ing that God has given to men makes them capable to think of Christ, of Eternity, and of another World, as well as of the vain things of this world. That power which God has given them enables them to do it if they would. But they will not. They suffer other kind of thoughts to lodge in their souls, Jer. 4. 14. Wash thine heart from wickedness O Jerusalem that thou may [...]st be saved: how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee: how long shall it be? Sinners suffer vain thoughts to lodge within them, but they will not suf­fer holy thoughts to lodge within them, they will not suffer thoughts [Page 38] of Christ and Eternity to lodge within them. Then shall they com­plain they are not able to believe, when they will not do the things that have a tendency to make them believe?

Once more,

God requires that men should Pray to him for Faith. For Faith is the gift of God, Eph. 2. 8. We are saved by Grace through Faith, & that not of our selves it is the Gift of God. That Faith that men have if a true Faith, 'tis the gift of God to them. Faith is of the Operation of God. Then God requires & ex­pects from men that they should pray to him for this gift; that they should go alone and Cry as for their lives and souls to God to give them Faith. They say they can't come to Christ except God draw them, then you ought to Pray to God that he would draw you. Cant. 1. 3. Draw me and I shall run after [...]. [Page 39] So ought sinners to pray to God that he would draw them to Christ. He will be enquired of by the House of Israel to do this thing for them. 'Twas said to the Woman of Sama­ria, If thou [...]adst asked he would have given thee living water. So God expects of sinners to ask Faith in Christ. We have instances of those that prayed for Faith, Mark. 9. 24. Lord help my Unbelief. So the Lord would have sinners come before him and complain of their Unbelief, & to Cry to God to help them a­gainst their Unbelief. The Apostles prayed for more Faith, Luk. 17. 5. Lord encrease our Faith say they. So sinners should go to God and should Pray to him, Lord give us Faith, and help us to lay hold on Christ. [...]ow our hearts to accept of him, as in the Gospel he is offered unto us. But this they will not do: Or if they do, it is in a formal careless manner, they are not in good ear­ne [...]t [Page 40] in Crying to God for Faith. Tell me if you can, where there is one Unbeliever in the world that does day and night Cry to God to help him to believe, that does Cry to God to give him saving Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am per­swaded there is not one such Un­believer in the World. Therefore how vain is it for an Unbeliever to say I cannot Believe, when he can pray to God for this Grace, but will not.

4. Another Excuse which some make it that they are Unworthy that Christ should accept of them, and therefore they will stay till they are better qua­lified and then offer themselves to Christ. Being so unworthy as they are, they think they may Excuse them­selves for the present.

But this is tho' a seemingly hum­ble, a really proud Excuse. The meaning is that sinners would: have [Page 41] [...]ome works of their own to com­mend them to the Lords acceptance, something of t [...]eir own that should deserve that Christ should receive them. Whenas we must come to Christ like poor Beggars that have nothing in the world to recommend us to him, but only Sin and Guilt and Misery, that so Christ may de­liver us from it. Nor will he re­fuse to accept of such if indeed they come unto him. As we read concerning David, 1 Sam. 22. 2. That if any [...]ere in distress and in debt they came to David, and he be­came a Captain over them. So sin­ners that are infinitely in debt and distressed if they come to the Lord Jesus Christ he will be to them the Captain of their Salvation. There­fore he does invite Poor as well as Rich, them▪ that have nothing to offer to him, yet that they should come to him. Isa. 55. 1. Come with­out Money and without Price. Such [Page 42] as are so poor as that they have neither Money nor Monies worth, the Lord sayes to them Come, come, come. And thus in this Parable, we see that Christ invites the most worthless ones to come to the great Supper, Luk. 14. 21. Go into the Lanes and Streets of the City, and bring in the Poor, the Maimed, and the Halt, and the Blind▪ 23. ver. Go into the High-wayes, to the Hedges and compel them to come in. Chri [...]ts Salvation is altogether free, Rev. 22. 17. Whosoever will let him come and take freely of the Waters of Life. Christ will not Sell his Blood, and he will not Sell his Salvation, but he gives it freely. And as for such as have a real sense of their own Un­wo [...]thiness, they are not the less welcome to Christ on that account, but rather the more acceptable to him. As we see in the Centurion Mat. 8. 8. I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my Roof. The [Page 43] Lord did highly accept of this man that had a deep sense of his own Unworthiness. So the woman of Canaan, Christ did intimate to her that she [...] a Dog, and not [...] of the Childrens Bread, Mat. 15. 26. It is not meet to cast the Childrens Bread to Dogs: Truth Lord (sayes she) but Dogs may eat of the crumbs that fall from their Masters Table. Doest thou say I am a Dog, true Lord I confess I am so, but may I not have a crumb notwithstanding that? There is no way to have any thing of real worth, but by coming to the Lord Jesus Christ for it. We must be beholden to him for it [...] Rev. 3. 17, 18. Thou art Poor, Wr [...] ­ched, Naked, I counsel thee to [...] Gold of me that thou mayest be [...]. If we would have Spiritual▪ Riche [...], if we would have [...]old, we must go unto Christ for it all.

5. Despairing sinners are apt to Ex­cus [...] [Page 44] themselves from coming to Christ's because of the greatness of their sins. Because they have been grievous sinners they are afraid to come.

But this is the most unreasonable Excuse that possibly can be. It is just as if a man should say, I am ve­ry sick, and therefore am afraid to go to the Physician. The more sin­ful any have been, the more con­cerned are they to go to Christ. Yea, to make ha [...]t unto him, Mat. 9. 12, 13 The Sick need a Physician: I came to call Sinners, sayes Christ. They that have Sin-sick-souls they need a Christ, and are concerned to make ha [...]t to Him who is the great Phy­sician of Souls, that they may be Healed. And the Lord Jesus Christ is so wonderfully, Gracious, is that He does invite the greatest of Sin­ners. Not only such as have been guilty of lesser Evils, but the most wicked in the world where the Gos­pel comes, Christ invites them, to [Page 45] come to him, believe on him, and trust in him for Salvation, Isa. 46. [...]2. Hearken to me you that are stou­hearted, and that are far from Righ­teousness. So in the Parable, Mat. 22. 10. Good & Bad were invited. Not only the Good but the Bad. There are some sinners compared with others, may have the name of Good given to them. Such as have been Civil and Moral in their Conversation they are good, com­pared with such as have been scan­d [...]lou [...]ly wicked. But the Bad, the most vile profligate sinners are in­vited to come to Him for Salvati­on. Nor did the Lord Jesus Christ ever refuse any that came to Him, on the account of their having been gui [...]ty of great sins. No, the Pub­licans were received by Him, tho' they had been notorious Sinners. In Luk. 7. [...]7 we read of a woman that had been a sinner, an abomina­ble sinner, yet when she did wash [Page 46] the Feet of Christ with her tears, notwithstanding her great sins, He did graciously accept of her, and her sins which were many were for­given. So then Christ does not re­fuse any on that account. Nay as for the worst of sinners, He declares that He came into the World to save such, 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac­ceptation, that Jesus Christ came to save the chief of Sinners. Then He will not refuse such as they are, if they do indeed come unto Him & believe on Him. Only He expects that they should be willing to be delivered from the dominion of sin, as well as from the damnation of it. Mat. 1. 21 He saves is people from their sins And there is one consideration that may answer this and all other Excuses that can be made against believing, it is this, The God of Heaven does command men to believe, 1 Joh. 3 23 This is His commandment that ye believe in the Name of His Son Jesus [Page 47] Christ. Would it not be a very strange thing to hear a man say, May I dare to do what the Great GOD commands me to do? For a man to say, shall I not presume if I do that which God positively requires me to do? And yet so it is when any one does say, shall I not presume if I go to Christ for Salvation, or may I dare to believe?

Quest. 2. Whence is it then that Sinners are so apt to Excuse and Delay their coming to Christ?

For Answer,

1. It is from that Ignorance which is in them. There is a double ig­norance which does keep men from closing with the Lord Jesus Christ. First, They are ignorant of them­selves, they know not how sinful they are. They are not sensible of that exceeding Guiltiness that is up­on [Page 48] on them. Especially if they have been kept from gross scandalous Sins, they are apt to think all is well with them, and that they have no such need of a Saviour as indeed they have. Thus it was with Paul before his Conversion, Rom. 7. 9 I was alive without the Law, but the Commandment came, Sin revived and I dyed. He thought himself a­live, that he was in the way unto Eternal Life. Before his Conver­sion he lived very blamele [...]ly, he was a Pharisee and a strict one too. But when the Commandment, when the Law was set home on his Conscience in the power and spiri­tual Nature of it, then he saw him­self a thousand times more guilty and sinful than once he apprehended. Then I Dyed, (sayes he) he saw himself a Dead and and a Damned Creature, and was e'ne ready to dye away with the terrible sight of his sins. And Sinners are ignorant [Page 49] of their Misery, Rev. [...]. 17. Thou knowest not that thou art Miserable. A man that is very sick if he does not know it, he will not go to the Physician. So it is with sinners, Mat. 9. 12. The whole have no need of a Physician. The Pharisees thought themselves to be whole, and righte­ous enough without a Christ, and therefore they came not to him, Joh. 9. 41. You say we see, therefore your Sin remains They were under Spiritual blindness and other mi­series, which they needed a Christ to save them from, but they knew it not; therefore their sin did re­main.

Again,

Secondly, Sinners are ignorant of Christ, therefore they come not to him, Joh. 1, 10, 11. He was in the world and the world knew him not; He came to his own and they received him not. They knew him not, and therefore received him not. If a [Page 50] man should have a Jewel offered to him of never so great value, if he is ignorant of its worth, he will not much regard the offer. So here, Christ is the most precious Jewel that ever was offered to any man, He is better than Rubies: But sin­ners don't know the worth of a Christ, if they did they would not reject him, but count it the greatest happiness might they have an interest in him. Psal. 9. 10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee. They that know the worth of a Christ will believe on him. It was therefore said to the woman of Sa­maria, Joh. 4. 10 If thou hadst known the gift of God, thou wouldest have ask­ed. But as long as sinners do not know Christ, it is not to be wondred at if they do not come to him for Salvation. The man that was born blind but had his eyes opened, when 'twas said to him, Joh. 9. 35. Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Re­plyed, [Page 51] Who is He that I may believe on him? If men do not know who and what manner of one Christ is, they will not believe on him. Sin­ners are ignorant of the Righteous­ness of Christ, and therefore do not desire to be made partakers of it. Rom. 10. 3 Be [...]ng ignorant of Gods Righteousness they did not submit to it. And they are ignorant of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although they have the Scrip­tures which set forth the Glory of Christ, for all that they remain ig­norant of it. Act. 13. 27 They knew him not, nor the voice of the Prophet▪ that were read to them every Sabbath Day. The Jews in their Meeting-houses had the Scripture read and expounded to them every Sabbath Day. Those Scriptures declared the Glory of Christ, yet they knew him not. If men were really ap­prehensive of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, they would not reject [Page 52] him, 1 Cor. 2. 8 If they had known Him they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory.

2. The Reason why sinners do not come to Christ when invited, It is because they love him not. No man will choose to be a Scholar to a Master that he hates. Sinners are so far from loving the Lord Je­sus Christ, as that they do indeed hate him. Joh. 3. 20 He that hates the light does not come to the light. Christ is that light which sinners hate, therefore they do not nor will come unto him. It is a sad word to be spoken, but alas a true one, That men by Nature are haters of God, and therefore will not believe on him who is the Son of God. This reason Christ gives why the Jews did not believe on him, Joh. 5. 42. You will not come unto me that ye may have life: You have not the love of God in you. They hated God & [Page 53] therefore would not come unto the Lord Jesus Christ. He that hates God the Father, hates the Lord Je­sus Christ who is the Son of God also, and must needs do so because he is so like unto his Father. Joh▪ 15. 24. They have hated me and my Father, sayes Christ. He that hates the one will hate the other. He that hates Christ will hate God even the Father, and he that hates God the Father will hate Jesus Christ too. Wherefore Christ speaking concern­ing those Jews the [...] were invited to come to him, but did not, nor would they come, sayes Their Soul loathed me, Zech. 11. 8. Because Christ is holy therefore the unholy hearts of men do not love him. As the E­vil Spirit once said in a po [...]e [...]ed Man, What have we to do with thee thou holy one of God? M [...]. 1. 24. So it is with sinners, Christ is the Holy one of God, & therefore they don't desire to have to do with him. [Page 54] He is too holy for them. They would willingly have a Christ that should save them from Hell and yet allow them to live in their sins: such a Christ would please them. But Christ is He who is Holy, and will not allow men to continue sin­ning against God. Hence they hate him, Joh 7. 7. The world hates me (sayes Christ) because I testify of it that the works of it are evil:

3. Sinners Excuse & Delay their coming to Christ because their hearts [...] set upon those things which are in­consistent with Believing and Accept­ing him according to the terms of the Gospel. Three things the Gospel requires men to part withal▪ but their Hearts are set on them and they will not let them go.

1. There is their own Righteousness, men must be willing to renounce that. Mat. 16. 24. If a man will be my [Page 55] Disciple he must deny himself. He must deny his Natural self and his Righteous self, which is the hardest piece of self-denyal in the world. They that think it is not so, do not know what it is to deny Righteous self. Adam was to have been sa­ved by a Righteousness of his own, and all his Children desire to be saved in the same way. Isa. 57. 10 Thou hast found the life in thy hands. Thats what men exceedingly de­ [...]ire, they would have life by their own hands; they would obtain Eternal Life by some Works or Righteous­ness of their own. Sinners are loth to go a begging to Christ, to be beholden to another for life and for salvation their proud hearts cannot comply with that. They would rather with some works of their own purchase Salvation. A Learned Papist (but a Prou [...]one) said, If God would give him Heaven Gratis he would not accept of it on [Page 56] those terms. He would do something that should deserve it first. To be saved by ones own Righteousness & by the Righteousness of Christ are inconsistent, they stand in direct op­position the one to the other. Men doate on their own Righteousness, they Idolize that, therefore will not come to Christ for his, Rom. 10. 3. Going about to establish their own Righteousness they submitted not to the Righteousness of God. That then keeps them from coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, and closing with him as offered in the Gospel.

[...]. The Hearts of men are exceed­ingly set on the World: therefore it is that they refuse the invitations of the Gospel. Thus Mat. 22. 5 when they were invited to the great Supper, one went to his Farm, and another to his Merchandise, and made light of that invitation. Wherefore is it that men make light of the Gospel [Page 57] offer? It is because the Farm or Merchandise has their hearts. If they could have Christ & the world too, it would please them. If they were sure of gaining the world by coming to Christ, they would say as a famous Pagan once did, [...] me a good rich Bishoprick and I will turn Christian. But Christ promises nothing of that Nature, but the con­trary, and sayes, If any will come to him and be his Disciples, they must look for Poverty, Crosses and Afflictions in the world. And that if they do any service for him, or suffer for his sake, they must look for their Recompence not in this, but in another World. Now when they heir of this, they fly off from CHRIST, and don't care to come to him on such terms as these are. One made a very fair profes­sion, Lord (sayes he [...]to Christ) I will follow thee whither soever thou [...], Mat. 8▪ 19. Sayes Christ to him, [Page 58] The Son of Man ha [...] not where to lay his head. If thou wilt follow me, it may be thou shalt not have an House to put thine head in, but must be a poor man all thy dayes. Then you hear no more of him. Another came to Christ praying an Answer to the greatest Case of Conscience that could be pro­pounded, Namely, What he must do to obtain Eternal Life? Christ to try the man, bid him sell all that he had, and give to the Poor, and tells him he should have Treasures in Heaven. But 'tis said, Mat. 19. 22 He went away sorrowful for he had great Possessions. Those possessions kept him from closing with Christ on the terms of the Gospel. If men are resolved to have the World whatever comes on it, they will not come to Christ. If a man is resolved that he will have worldly Honours, 'tis impossible he should be a Believer on Christ, Joh. 5. 44. [Page 59] How can you Believe that receive Honour one from another? So if men be resolved to have the Riches and Pleasures of the Earth, then they will not come to Christ; No, they remain in a state of Enmity against Him, Jam. 4. 4. Do ye not know that the Friendship of the world is Enmity a­gainst God, and that if a man be a Friend of the world, he will be an [...] of God. So then he remains an Enemy of Christ.

3. The Hearts of men are set upon their sins. They love Sin, they take pleasure in Unrighteousness: There are sinners that take delight in no­thing so much as in sinning against the blessed God. Prov. 4. 16 They can't sleep except they cause some to fall. They are set upon sinning, and causing others to sin. Now Christ sayes, if they come to Him they must be willing to part with all their sins. He sayes away with your sins [Page 60] forever, if you come to me for Sal­vation. Ezek 18. 31 Cast away your Transgressions, why will you die? So does Christ say, Part with your sins, or else you will die, Mat. 5. 29. Pluck out thy right Eye, Cut off thy right Hand if it does offend thee. The sins of men are as dear to them as life or limbs, or what is most dear. Many a man that has a pleasurable lust he is accustomed to and he had as liev have his Right Eye plucked out as to be divorced from that Lust. A vile Drunkard was per [...]waded to leave his Drunken­ness for fear of losing his eyes, he replyed, I had rather part with my Eyes than not be Drunk sometimes. Thus are sinners in love & in league with their sins, and therefore they will not come to Christ to be de­livered from them.

4. Satan does all that possibly he can [...] keep men from coming to the Lord [Page 61] Jesus Christ. He hates Christ with an implacable hatred. The Serpent hates the seed of the Woman more than any thing in the world. He knowes that Christ has wounded him to death, having destroyed his King­dom, and bruised his Head, and therefore he hates Him, 1 Joh. 3 8 For this purpose wa [...] the Son of God manifested to destroy the works o [...] the Devil. Sin and Death are the works of the Devil. Christ has delivered from Sin and from Death those tha [...] believe on Him: Therefore does the Devil hate Him. Men shall never hear of Christ if he can hinder it. 1 Thes. 2. 18 I would have come un­to you, and if he had you may be sure he would have Preached Christ, but Sa [...]an [...]indred. A people shall never have a Minister that will Preach Christ unto them, if Satan can hin­der it. And he does hinder it some­times by evil suggestions of his own. He put it into the heart of Juda [...] [Page 62] to betray Christ. So he puts it in­to the hearts of sinners to take up Prejudices against believing on Christ. And sometimes he does it by wicked Instruments. When Paul Preached the Gospel to Sergius the Deputy, Elimas sought to turn him from the Faith, Act. 13. 10 said the Apostle, Thou Child of the Devil, will you not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord. It was from the Devil. And the truth is, the Devil had rather men should do any thing in the world, than they should believe in Jesus Christ. It is true, he would not have men to Pray, to observe the Sabbath, to reform their Evil wayes, yet he had rather they should do all this, than go to Christ. It is a thing known that the Devil has in Humane shape appeared to men, and (to serve a Cursed design) given them good Counsel. In this Land a Daemon appeared to an Indian, and advised him to leave off Dr [...]nken­ness, [Page 63] to Pray to God, hear Sermons, and observe the Sabbath Day: The Indian did so, and continued to do thus for several Years. At last the Daemon advised him to kill himself, and told him he should rise again within three dayes. The miserable wretch did kill himself, and so was ruined Body and Soul. But it was observed that this Demon said not one word of Christ to him▪ never exhorted him to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Devil knows that the Salvation of men depends on this thing above all others; that if they believe in Christ they shall have Eternal Life. But he knows also that tho' they Hear, Pray, and keep the Sabbath, if they do not believe on Christ they never will be saved. Therefore above all things, Satan sets himself to hinder men from believing on, and coming to Christ for Life and Salvation.

IN the former part of this Chapter we have the History of the two first Mon that ever were Born into the World, viz. Can and Abel. Abel the Younger [Page 80] Brother was a very pious Man One that [...]eared God, and that trusted in him for Eternal Life, through the promised Saviour: Which he testified by the Sacrifice he offered to the Lord; and at last he died a Martyr. [...] who was the first man that ever was born, made himself to be the First-born of the Devil. He Sacrificed without Faith, & was angry at God because He did not accept him. He regarded not the [...] which the Lord gave him, but envied and at last murder­ed his Brother because his Brothers works were righteous. So that well might the Apostle say, 1 Joh 3. 12. That Cain was of he wicked one. And when an heavy Doom was passed on him, he reverthel [...]ss did persevere in his Sin. He was far from r [...]pent­ing or praying for the Pardon of his great iniquity; but went from one sin to another, and fell yet further into the Condemnation of [Page 81] the Devil▪ As we see in the words be­fore us to [...]e insisted on Which some take to be words of Complaint and Murmuring against God, saying that his Punishment was greater than he deserved. But others take the words to be words of Despair. The [...] word Nasa translated to Bear, signifies also to Forgive. And according to the Seventy Greek in­terpreters they run thus, My Fault is greater than it can be forgiven to me. My Sin (sayes he) is so great that God Himself can't never for­give it. And in so saying he did exceedingly sin. One of the An­cients observes, that Cain in saying that his Iniquity was greater than could be forgiven, was guilty of a greater sin than when he mur­dered his own Brother. It was surely an heinous [...]n in him.

Wherefore the DOCTRINE be­fore us, is, [Page 82] That for Men to Despair of Forgive­ness because their Iniquities have been Great, is a great Evil.

For the clearing of the Truth before us.

First, Something may be men­tioned for the Demonstration of it.

Secondly, We shall enquire whe­ther such as belong to God may not fall into the sin of Despair?

For the Demonstration of the Doctrine now to be insisted on.

1. It is evident in that in Despair there is a Blasphemous Reflection on the Glorious Name of God. It is a disowning and a denying of his Glo­rio [...]s Attributes. It is a denying of his Omnipotency. God can do every thing; the doing whereof does argue or require power. And in the forgiveness of sin power is [Page 83] required. Therefore when Moses prayed for the Children of Israel that their sin might be forgiven them, he said, Numb. 14. 17. Let the Power of my Lard be great. q. d. The greatness of thy power is [...]hewn in forgiving great Sins. But Despair makes the Omnipotent God to be no better than Impotent sinful Men. To forgive sin is an act of Omnipotent Goodness. Despair robs God of this Glory. Men are apt to judge of God by themselves. Because they are not able to for­give very great wrongs, they are apt to think that God can't do so neither: but this the Lord reproves, Isa. 55. 8, 9. My wayes are not as your wayes, but as the Heavens are higher than the Earth so are my wayes higher than your wayes. I'll forgive great injuries to my Name, sa [...]e [...] the Lord, tho' you can't do the like: you may not judge of me by your selves, who can't forgive such [Page 84] offences: But my wayes are above yours. Thus to speak concerning God, thus to deny his Omnipotent Power, is to speak against him, it is to blaspheme his Name, Psal. 78. 19. They spake against God saying, can God prepare a Table? So when any say, Can God forgive so great a Sinner? Can God pardon so great Sins as mine are? This is to speak against Him. Again, Despair is di­rectly against the Grace and Mercy of God. In which Attributes his Divine Glory does most eminently shine forth. When God proclaim­ed his Name before Moses, Exod 34. 6, 7 He said, I am the Lord, Gracious and Merciful, L [...]g-suffering, abundant in Goodness and Truth, keep­ing Mercy for Thousands, forgiving Iniquity, Transgression and Sin. Some have observed that in the Procla­mation of Gods Name, there are no less than thirteen Attributes men­tion [...]d [Page 85] which relate to his Mercy, and only one to his Justice. God counts that especially as his Glory, Epe [...]. 1. 12. That we may be to the Praise of his Glory. His Grace his Mercy is his Glory. Now by De [...] ­pair men leave to God but a little of this Glory. They limit the Mer­cy of God. To limit God is a great Evil. Psal▪ 78. 41. They limited the Holy One of Israel. To limit his Power or his Mercy is a great Evil. Yet so do they that Despair. They set bounds to the infinite Mercy of God. They say there is but a lit­tle Mercy in God: Only Mercy e­nough to pardon lesser sins, but not the greatest. Men thereby say there is more of Evil in a finite Creature, than there is of Goodness in the Infinite God: than which blasphemy nothing more untrue can be spoken. Rom. 5. 20. Where Sin abounds Grace much more abound. But Despair sayes, Si [...] does abound more than [Page 86] the Grace of God. Yea and in this sin, there is a blasphemous re­flection on the Truth of God as well as on his Power and Mercy, as if there were no. Truth in those gracious Promises which God hath made un­to repenting believing Sinners. God in his Word has said that the great­est sinners in the world, if they will truly repent and turn to him shall be forgiven, Isa. 1. 18. Wash you make you clean, cease to do evil, learn to do well, though your sins be as Scarlet they shall become white as Snow, then red like Crimson, they shall be a Wool. God sayes that the horride [...] bloodiest Sinners in the world shall have a full forgiveness of all their sins if they turn to him. But Despair sayes, that is not true. God in his Word sayes, they that have been guilty of many sins as well as great ones, if they do truly repent and turn to God in Jesus Christ, shall have their many sins [Page 87] forgiven to them. Isa. 55. 7. Let the Wicked forsake his war, and the Unrighteous man his thoughts, and re­turn to the Lord, he will have mercy, to our God and he will abundantly par­don. He will multiply to pardon. They that have been guilty of ma­ny sins shall find there are more Pardons with God to bestow on them, than they have committed sins. And they that have committed the same sins many Times over, yet God, sayes in his Word, if they will repent and believe on Jesus Christ they shall be forgiven. A Drunkard that has been Drunk an hundred times and more. An Un­clean person that has been guilty many a time, if he repents God will forgive him. Jer. 3. 1. Tho' thou [...]st played the Harl [...]t with many Lo­vers, yet Return. Yea, [...]nd He has promised that they who have been guilty of grievous [...], that have returned to those [...] which for [Page 88] a time they had forsaken, upon true Repentance after all shall be Pardon­ed Jer. 3. 12. Return ye Back­sliding Children, and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you. Now Despair sayes, there is no truth in these Promises. It is then a great Evil.

2. In Despair there is a great re­flection on Jesus Christ the Son of God and Saviour of the World. It sayes Jesus Christ is but a little Saviour, whereas He is a Saviour, and a Great one, Isa. 63. 1. He is mighty to save. Despair sayes of Christ that He is a Physician that can cure only lesser diseases and not the great­est Whereas he is able to cure the most Diseased Soul in the world. As no Bodily Disease could stand before his power, Mat. 4. 23. He healed all manner of Sicknesses, and all manner of Diseases. That was to signify that he Healeth all manner of Soul Diseases: And that he has [Page 89] obtain'd Forgiveness for all manner of Sins that men are guilty of. We find in the Gospel, some diseased Twelve, others Eighteen, others Thirty Eight Years, yet Christ did heal them; thereby declaring, that Souls which have been a long time under the Guilt of sin may through him hope for Forgiveness. And that the most Chronical, the most laveterate Soul-diseases may be and shall be healed by him. But Despair sayes otherwise. Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save to the uttermost. No, sayes Despair but he is not. Tho' a Sinner has destroyed himself to the uttermost; though he has damn'd his own Soul a Million times over, yet Christ is able to save him. Des­pair then is a reflection on the Me­rit of the Death and Blood of Christ, as though that Blood could make atonement for lesser offences, but not for great ones: Whereas the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the [Page 90] Son of God, cleanseth from all sin, 1 Joh. 1. 7. Let the sins be never so many, never so great, that Blood cleanseth from them all. There is more of Merit in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, than there has been of Demerit in the greatest Sin that ever was committed in the world. Adams sin was in some respects the greatest that ever was, for that has brought ruine on thou­sands of millions of Immortal Souls, yet the Merit of the Death of Christ, has exceeded the Demerit of that great Offence Rom. 5▪ 17. If by one Death came, how much more shall they that receive abundance of Grace, & the gift of Righteousness reign in Life, by Jesus Christ. Much more sayes the Apostle. The Disobedience of Adam destroyed Souls, much more does the Obedience of Christ save the Souls that believe on him. God has been pleased more, and honoured more by the Death of Christ, than [Page 91] he has been displeased and disho­noured by all the sins of all the Men in the world. But Despair de­nies this. And it reflects on the Veracity of Christ, as tho' [...] pro­mised more than he either would or could perform. Christ sayes, who­ever comes to him He will accept of them and save them, Joh▪ 6. 37. Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. But the Despairing▪ sinner sayes, though I should go to Christ he would [...] me out. So then 'tis a great Evil.

4. Despair proce [...]d▪ from Evil Cau­s [...]s. That▪s another thing that [...]ets forth the Evil of it.

1. It proceeds from Satan. 'Tis [...] that makes men Despair. Pre­sumption and Despair both proceed from the Devil. First he Tempts sinners to commit very great sins, and when they have done so, then he tells them their sin is greater [Page 92] than can be forgiven. Thus in Cain, the Wicked one perswaded him to murder his Brother, and when he had done so, he told him that now his Sin was so great, as that it was Unpardonable. Who is it that says to sinners, their sins are greater than can be forgiven? God does not say so. And Ungodly sinners tho' they are wont to tempt one another to Presumptuous sins, yet they don't use to tempt one another to Despair. It remains then that it is Satan which tempts persons to Desperation. So he tells sinners it is too soon to Repent, and when they have delay'd their Repentance for a long time, then if they begin to have a serious thought of turn­ing to God, he sayes now it is too late. First that it was too soon, & then that 'tis too late. This he does that so he may discourage from Returning to God, and from Pray­ing for Pardoning mercy.

[Page 93]2. Despair proceeds from groundless and sinful Fears. Especially there are three things which Despairing Sinners are afraid of, without any just ground.

1. Lest the Day of Grace is past with them. But why should any say so, or think so? Sayes the Lord, Isa. 40, 27. Why sayest thou O Jacob? Why speakest thou O Israel, my judg­ment is passed over from my God? Why should any one say the Day of Grace is past? God will look on me no more! Whereas there is not any one here this day, that can say that his Revealed Day of Grace is gone and passed away. As for the Secret Inward Day of Grace that continues so long as the Holy Spirit strives with the Soul. Such fears as these not amounting to Des­pair oftentimes are attended with the strivings of the Holy Spirit of God. Hence the Apostle speaks of the Spirit of Bondage to Fear, Rom. [Page 94] 8. 15. Poor sinful Creatures are in great Bondage, because they are full of Fear. God sanctifies such Fears to his Elect, in order to their Conversion. As for the Revealed Day of Grace, that continues so long as men enjoy the Outward means of Grace, and have the Gos­pel Preached to them, which is the Gospel of the Grace of God. Isa. 65. 2. I have stretched out my hand all the day long. There is no man that lives under the Gospel, but God offers to him the Pardon of his Sins, and the Salvation of his Soul, if he will indeed believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And unto such the Revealed Day of Grace continues so long as the Day of Life Indeed after Life is ended, the Day of Grace is at an end. No more Sermons, no more tenders of Mercy, no more calls to Repen­tance after that. Therefore Des­peration must needs be in such mi­serable [Page 95] Souls as dye in their sins, Isa. 38. 18. They that go down to the Pit cannot hope for thy Truth. But while Life lasts there is hope, Eccl. 9. 4 To him that is joyned to the living there is hope. Hope that he may obtain the forgiveness of Sin, and the Eternal salvation of his Soul.

2. Despairing Sinners are afraid that God from all Eternity has Re­probated them to Damnation. But who is this that darkens Counsel by words without Knowledge? Who told thee that thou art a Re­probate? God never told thee so. It must needs be Satan then, and will you believe him? Learned Bezn wrote a Judicious Treatise, con­cerning Divine Reprobation. It so happened that a man who read that Book [...] himself a Re­probate, fell into Despair, and de­ [...]royed himself. And thereupon Popish writers, and some others [Page 96] have taken occasion to blaspheme the Doctrine of Reprobation, as if it tended to drive men to Despair. But there is no cause for that Pre­destination is a Divine secret, known to no Man or Angel, to none but God alone. Therefore for men to conclude that they are Reproba­ted is an high offence to God, Rom. 11. 34 Who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his Coun­sellor? Who was by him when he wrote the Book of Life, to see whose Names were enrolled there, and whose left out? As God said to Job, Job, 38. 17 Have the gates of Death been opened to thee, or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of Death? So has the Book of Death been opened to thee, that thou shouldest know who are appointed to Wrath, and not unto Salvation? No, it has not For any man to say that another is a Reprobate would be a great sin. But for him [Page 97] to say that he himself is so, would be a greater sin. A man may know his Election by giving diligence to make his Calling sure. If he know that he is Effectually Called, he may be assured of his Election. But no man can know his Reprobation, ex­cept in one case which is rare, viz. if he hath committed the Unpar­donable Sin.

Therefore,

3. Another groundless Fear which is the cause of Despair in some, is that they have been guilty of the Sin a­gainst the Holy Ghost, which shall ne­ver be forgiven neither in this world, nor in that which is to come. But that is a groundless Fear in any one that has any fear about it. There are many that are perplexed left they have been guilty of the Sin against the Holy Ghost, of whom it is certain that they never did, nor never shall commit that sin. Many pious Souls especially when in the [Page 98] Pangs of the New-birth, are thus Tempted. Young Converts are fre­quently disturbed with fears of that nature. But the reason of it is they are ignorant of the nature of that Sin. The sin against the Holy Ghost is a knowing and melicio [...]s blas­pheming the operations of the Ho­ly Spirit of God. Whoever has been guilty of that sin, has mali­ciously blasphemed that which in his Conscience he did believe was the work of Gods Spirit. There is cause to conclude that the Pha­ri [...]ees were some of them guilty of that sin. When the Lord Jesus Christ did by the power [...] [...]he Ho­ly Spirit of God cast out Devils, the Pharisees blasphemously said He did it by the Devil. They knew in their Co [...]sciences, they were fully convinced of it, that▪ what Christ did was by the Holy Spirit, yet they most maliciously said, it was by the Devil. On that occasion [Page 99] Christ said, that the Blasphemy a­gainst the Holy Ghost should never be forgiven, Mat. 12. 32. But con­sider the Characters of those that have been guilty of the Unpar­donable Sin, and then say whether [...] have been guilty of it or no.

One Character of such a person is, that he has an implacable Hatred of the Holy Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. [...]. 6. They can't be renewed by Re­pentance, for they have Crucified the Son of God afresh. They that have committed the Unpardonable sin, if it were possible for them to do it, they would Crucify the Son of God again. They contemn the Doctrine of Salvation by the Blood of Christ. They trample under foot the Son of God, and count the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. Heb. 10. 29.

Again, Such as have been guilty of this sin are bitter Persecutors of those that have the image of God [Page 100] appearing in them. It has been thought by Divines, that Saul was guilty of the great Transgression. Now he had a most bitter hatred of those that did in a peculiar manner belong to God. 1 Sam. 22. 17. Slay the Priests of the Lord. They are the Lords Priests therefore Slay them. He therein shewed his spite against God, who had preferred David a­bove him. So it is with those that commit the Unpardonable sin. They can't come at God, and therefore will shew all the spite they can a­gainst his Faithful Servants.

Two things I may venture to say,

1. They that are afraid lest they have committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost, it is certain they never did commit it. If they had they would never be troubled on that acount: For it would be matter of pleasure to them; as it is with the Devil: All manner of sin is pleasant to [Page 101] him. The Devil is not troubled that he has been guilty of any one sin. So they that have committed the Sin against the Holy Ghost are not sorry for what they have done. And I may venture to say,

2. That there is not one here in this Assembly that has been guilty of that Sin. For if you had, you would not be here attending on the Word of God. They that commit that sin do as, Heb. 10. 25 Forsake the assembly of the Saints. They then that do attend the Assemblies of Gods People, that prize his Ordi­nances, that hear the Word of his Gospel with delight, have not been left to that sin. So then that is a groundless Fear.

4. Despair has Evil Effects. As it proceeds from Evil Causes, so it produces Evil Effects. There are sad Consequen [...]es of it.

[Page 102]1. It does cause Men to be like Sa­tan: Fallen Men to be like the fallen Angels. The Devil is the most Des­pairing Spirit that ever was [...] He knowes that he shall be Damned at the great Day. There is a Scrip­ture which the Devil and all his An­gels cannot hear, nor read, nor think or without horror and trembling, namely that which is expressive of the Sentence which the son of God will pass on all the Reprobate would at the Last day, Mat. 25. 41 Christ will then say, [...] into Everlasting Fire, Prepared for the De­vil and his Angels. The Devil and all his Angels know most certainly, that they must endure Ever lasting Fire after the great Day [...]. There was a company of De­vils that fell a roaring when Christ came near them, and said, Mat. 8. 29 Art thou come to [...] be­fore the time? They know that there is a time when they shall be in [Page 103] horrible Torment, much greater than they are in at this day. The fallen Angels are reserved in Ever­lasting Chains of Darkness for the Judgment of the great Day. They know that they shall never get out of those Chains, which the great God has bound them in. They never had an offer of Grace, and they know they never shall. They forever Despair of it. So then Despair is from the Spirit of dark­ness, and makes men resemble him.

2. It is the cause of very much Sin. It makes men guilty of sins of Omission. Hence they neglect Du­ty. They neglect Prayer and will do so if they Despair. If they Des­pair they will not go to Christ for Salvation. No man will attempt to do that which he believes is [...]t [...]er­ly in vain to endeavour. No man will be diligent in pursuing after Salvation when he utterly Despairs [Page 104] of obtaining it. And it causes men to be guilty of other great Sins, Jer. 2. 25. Thou sayest there is no Hope. What then follows? We have loved Strangers and after them we will go. When sinners say, there is no Hope, then they give themselves over to their Lusts, and say, after my Sins I will go. There is no hope of the Pardon of them, therefore I will sin more and more. We have an instance of it in Saul, he Des­paired, And what did he do? He goes to the Witch of Endor, and at last murders himself. And did not Despairing Judas do the like?

Thus have we seen the Doctrine proved. Before we proceed to the Application of it, something may be spoken in Answer to this En­quiry, viz.

Whether may those that are not as Cain was Reprobates, but the Elect of God fall into the Sin of D [...]air?

[Page 105]Take the Answer in Three Con­clusions.

THE Disciples came to Christ privately, as He sat on Mount Ol vet, pray­ing His Resolution of [Page 126] three Enquiries, concerning which they were solicitous. This the E­vangelist takes notice of in the third Verse of the precedeing Chapter.

1. When should the Temple be de­stroyed? That Christ had given them occasion to make enquiry about: For in his last Sermon that he Preach­ed in Jerusalem, he plainly told them that their House, mean­ing the Temple, should be left utterly Desolate: And when the Disciples shewed him the wonderful Stones in that Edifice, admiring the greatness of them, the Lord said, Not one of these Stones shall be left on another. Now they en­qui [...]ed when this thing should be? We have the Answer to that En­quiry from the Third to the Twen­ty-fourth Verse, in the preceding Chapter.

2. They enquire concerning the Signs of his coming, viz. His Providential [Page 127] coming to take vengeance on the Jen­ish Nation? The Answer to that is from the Twenty-fourth Verse of the former to the Thirty-first of this Chapter.

3. They enquire when shall be the End of the World? That end of the world which shall be at the Uni­versal Judgment? [...]o that enquiry Christ answers from the Thirty-first Verse of this Chapter to the end of it. In which we have an illustrious. Description of the Great Day of Judgment; alleding to the Supreme Court of Judicature among the Jews, from which there was no ap­peal The Sanbedrim which was at first instituted by Divine directi­on, did consist of Seventy Judges, besides Moses who was the chief. These Judges sat in the form of a Se­micircle. The Praesident sat in the middle; next on his right hand was the Vice-President, whom the Jews [...], Ah Beth Din, The Father of [Page 128] the House of Judgment. This gives light to those words which [...] has written concerning the Day of Judgment, where he says that Thrones, that is Seats of Judicature were pitch­ed down. And he speaks of the Ancient of Dayes. This also helps to understand that Scripture. Mat. 26. 64. where Christ sayes, That they should see the Son of Man stand­ing at the Right hand of Power; Al­luding to that Supreme Court of Ju­dicature among the Jews. He that was in Power and Dignity next to the Praesident, sat at his right hand. And there were two Clerks in that Court; one of them did stand at the right hand of the Judge, and he did write down the Votes for Absolution: The other stood at his left hand, & wrote down the Votes for Condemnation. Thus did God order it to be, that there might be a lively Representation of the Day of Judgment; when all m [...]n [Page 129] must appear before the Son of God, and either be Absolved or Condemned by him. This Day of Judgment is set forth from three particulars.

1. A Separation: There will be a Separation made between the Righ­teous & the Wicked. The Righteous are noted by the Sheep on the right hand; the Wicked by the Goats on the left hand.

2. A Sentence that then shall be passed on all the Men in the world, or that ever shall be. As for the Righ­teous it will be said to them, Come ye Blessed [...] the Kingdom pre­pared for you: As for the Wicked it shall be said to them, Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire.

3. There is here noted the Execu­tion of that Sentence. That is in the Verse before us. And altho' the Sentence shall be passed first on the Righteous, nevertheless the Execu­tion will be first on the Wicked. These shall go away into Everlasting [Page 130] Punishment: It will certainly affect the Righteous inexpressibly, and cause them to admire the Grace of God, and to praise his Name to Eternity, when they shall see such ter­rible Execution done to all the Wicked in the world, and them­selves not only to be delivered from that Punishment, but to have Life, and Life Eternal too given to them.

The words afford us this Doctrine, Viz.

That every Man in the World is going into Eternity.

There are three Propositions be­fore us.