An AWAKENING CALL From the Eternal GOD, To the Unconverted.
I Have a Message from God to thee that didst never experience a New Birth, nor the power of Christs Resurrection, but are Dead in thy Sins to this day, how far soever thou hast gone in a refined form of Godliness to deceive the World, & the Saints, and thine own Soul; Evil is certainly determined [Page 4] against thee by the Lord, the day of thy Calamity is at hand, and the thing which shall come upon thee make hast Deut. [...]2.25. Destruction and Misery an [...] in thy wayes, and these lines are sent from the Lord to stop thee in thy desperate course: who can express how wonderfull thou shalt for ever triumph in the Riche [...] of Free Grace, if the Spirit of God ope [...] thine eyes, who are hastning on blind-fol [...] to the Damned with a Lie in thy righ [...] hand? I have endeavoured to shew the thine abominations, and the misery of thin [...] Estate; for many see they are great sinners, but are not convinced of sin, because they believe not in Christ, and that the [...] are undone Condemned sinners. Thou ar [...] a dying Man or Woman, and it may b [...] hast but a few Sands in thy Glass to ru [...] out, and then where wilt thou appear [...] Refuse not a Pardon now freely tendere [...] to thee without money or price; slight no [...] the blood of Christ, tread not underfoo [...] the Son of God, for then there remaine [...] no more Sacrifice for thy sins; quench n [...] the Spirits motions; for the time is a [...] hand when it will strive with thee n [...] more for ever. Awake thou that sleepes [...] and arise from the dead, and Christ sha [...] give thee light, Eph. 5.14. Reject not th [...] [Page 5] counsel of God against thy self: Be not a mocker, lest thy bands be made strong, Isa. 28.22. When that the Lord heretofore saw the wickedness of man was great, He destroyed the world by a deluge of Water: and Jesus Christ shall shortly be revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, to take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel. Although thou art in such a dead sleep, that no Created power can awaken thee; Yet is the Lord able by the exceeding greatness of his Power to say to thee, now thou art in thy Blood, Live, and he can make this a time of Love. Awake, awake O Arm of the Lord, as in the ancient days: Thou hast promised that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Joh. 5.25. If the Father hath given thee to Christ, thou shalt come to him, and he will in no wise cast thee out; but if he hath appointed thee to wrath, he will let thee alone in thy false peace, because he reserveth thee to the day of Judgment to be punished. Whether thou hear, or forbear, be it known that the Kingdom of God is come near unto thee.
1. Reflect upon thy hainous sins, thy heart is most desperately wicked, from [Page 6] hence proceed all thine evil Thoughts, thine Adulteries, thy Fornications, thy Murders, thy Thefts, thy Covetousness, thy Wickedness, thy Deceit, thy Lasciviousness, thine Evil Eye, thy Blasphemy, thy Pride, these defile thee, Mark 7.21, &c.
Because of these things the Wrath of God is coming upon thee, Eph. 6. Deceive not thine immortal Soul, thou which committest such things shalt not inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Co [...] 6.10. Which of Gods Righteous Laws hast thou not broken? God made man upright; but he hath sought out many inventions. Every imagination of the thoughts of thine heart is only evil continually, Gen. 6.5. Thy carnal mind is at enmity with God: Whilst thou art in the flesh thou canst not please God. There is no fear of God before thine eyes. Is it not a wonder of mercy, that God should not consume thee in a moment, for thy gross ignorance, and sloth, and stupidity, thy hardness of heart and unbelief, and for thy secret Abominations? Are not thy sins exceedingly aggravated? Are any sins like thine? Have not Gods Servants laboured & spent themselves in vain for thy Soul? Surely thou a [...] f [...] in into the hands of the living God, a [...] maye▪ well be a terror to thy self. [Page 7] I wonder not if thou fearest, left thy sins shall never be forgiven: but that thou art in danger of Eternal Condemnation, lest thou [...]alt drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured without mixture into the Cup of his indignation: lest thou shalt have the s [...]rer punishment, and livest under a fearful expectation of Judgment, and fiery indignation which shall devour thee: Repent therefore, before thou hast sinned till there be no remedy, 2 [...]hron. 32.16. Art thou not deaf to the joyful Sound of free Remission of sins by the blood of Christ proclaimed to thee? How shalt thou escape, who dost neglect so great Salvation▪ Take heed lest thou prove like the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it, and yet beareth Thorns and Bryars, and is rejected, and is nigh unto Cursing, whose end is to be Burned, Heb. 6.7, 8. Thou hast cause to fear continually, lest the Lord should say of thee as of the barren Fig-tree; Cut it down, why cumbreth it the Ground? Luk. 13.7.
2. Reflect upon thy present dreadful Estate.
1. Thou art Condemned already, because thou believest not: John 3.18. Thou art reprieved a little only from Execution through the wonderful patience of God. [Page 8] Thou shalt not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on thee? Is this a state to rest in thus securely one moment longer? Give thy Conscience leave to speak
2. Thou hast no hopes; if thy breath was but but stopt, thy Case is desperite. Thou savest I hope to be saved by Jesus Christ; but the Lord saith. The Hypocrites hope shall perish, & shall be cut off, for what is his hope when God shall take away his Soul? Joh 27.3. The way of Peace thou hast not known; thou art without Christ, a Stranger to the Promises, without Hope, and without God in the world, Eph. 2 12.
3. Or which is worse and more dangerous, thou hast but Dead hopes Are thy hopes begotten by the power of Christ's Resurrection? Hath not a deceived heart turned thee aside, that thou canst not deliver thy Soul, nor say, is there not a lie in my right hand [...]sa. 44.20 The strong man armed keeps thee in a false Peace, Luk. 11 2 [...]. Thou sleepest whilest thy Damnation slumbereth not, but hasteth greatly. Thou a [...] like a man sleeping upon the top of a Ma [...] of a Ship; walk a little longer in the light of the sparks, which thou hast kindled, and then thou shalt have this at [Page 9] the hand of God, thou shalt lie down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11.
4. Thou art near Destruction, & oughtest to be under the continual expectation of inevitable misery coming upon thee. Thou hangest over the Flames of hell, only by the thred of thy life, if it were cut thou wouldest sink down presently into remediless misery. When thou liest down to sleep, who, knows but thou mayest awake with flames about thine ears. When the night comes, thou mayest say with an [...]king heart, now is my Damnation nearer thou it was in the morning. Thou that hast been often reproved, and still hardenest thy neck, shalt suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy, Prov. 29.1 [...] That word may well terrifie thee every night: Thou Fool this night shall thy Soul be required of thee, Luk. 12.20.
5. Thou knowest not how soon God may if He hath not already, clapt a secret Curse upon thee and sworn in His wrath, that thou shalt never enter into his rest, Heb. 3.11. Since thou art joyned to thine Idols, thou hast cause to fear, lest God hath said, Let him alone. He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; thou shalt sleep a perpetual s [...]p, and not awake, Isa. 51.57. In thy filthiness is lewdness, because [Page 10] I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee; thou shalt not mourn nor weep, but shalt pine away in thine iniquities, Ezek. 24.13, &c.
6. Thou mayest be reprieved from Hell for a further aggravation of thy sins, till thou hast filled up the measure of thine Iniquities. O fearful Estate▪ For a man to live only to he [...]p up fewel for his own Everlasting burnings, even treasures of wrath for the last day, Jam. 5.3.
7. The reason why God doth not strike thee dead in thy sins may be, because thou art reserved for greater Torments, that wrath may come upon thee to the uttermost. God could easily crush such a crawling Viper as thou art to peices in a moment; but he reserveth the wicked unto the day of Destruction; they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath, Job. 21. [...]. To this end and purpose mayest thou be raised up that God may shew his wrath, and make his power known, and therefore endures with much long-sufferings the Vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.
3. Consider thine Enemies.
[Page 11]1. The Law Curseth thee, for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the Book of the Law to do them: It tells thee thou shalt surely Dye, Gal. 3.9. Ezek. 33.8. The Lord will rain snares upon thee in the fulness of thy sufficiency thou shalt be in straits, Job 20 22. All thy enjoyments are Cursed to thee. Read Deut. 28. Tremble thou secure sinner, for God is coming in the fire of his Jealousie to smite the Earth with a Curse to the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness, and Unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in Unrighteousness.
2. Death and Hell wait for thee; the whole Creation is burthened with such a Cumber-ground; the Sun to shine upon such a Dung-hill, and shortly the Heavens will reveal thy secret Iniquities, and the Earth will rise up against thee; this is thy [...]ortion from God, and the heritage appointed unto thee by God, Job. 20. [...]7, 29. Now consider this thou that forgetest God, lest He tear thee in pieces, and here be none to deliver, Psal. 40.22.
3. The Devil roars like a Lyon for his [...]rey to devour thee; when he accuseth [...]hee before God thou hast none to plead [...]y cause in Heaven; Consider with thy [Page 12] self, What shall I do in the day of Visitation, & in the desolation which shall come from far, to whom shall I flee for help, or where shall I leave my Glory? Isa. 10.3.
4. God is thy deadly Enemy: The face of the Lord is against thee. Can thy heart endure, or thy hands be strong in the day when God shall deal with thee? Ezek. 22.14. Who can stand before his indignation? And who can abide the fierceness of his anger? N [...]hum 1.6.
4. Consider thy future misery.
1. Thou must shortly Die, and then thy Time and day of Grace shall be no more. Thou shalt no more find then what thy Soul lusteth after, Apocal. 18.4.
2. Christ will come with ten thousands of his Saints to convince thee, who wilt not be awakened. The power and coming of the Lord Jesus in the Clouds will be most dreadful, when He shall come in His own, and in his Fathers Glory. The last Trumpet shall found, the Graves be opened, and the Sea, and Death, and Hell shall give up their Dead; then will Christ bring forth his Enemies, which would not that he should Reign over them: Then wilt thou Cry to the Rocks and Mountains, Fall on me and hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and [...]om the wrath of [Page 13] the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath [...] come, and who shall be able to stand? A [...]oc. 6.16, 17. But there will be no dark [...]ess nor shadow of death, where the work [...]rs of iniquity shall hide themselves, Job [...]4.22. The very hearing of these things might awaken the most desperate sinner in England.
3. Thou shalt be judged and a [...]g [...]d [...]t the Tribunal Seat of the Righteous G [...], where we must all appear, 2 Cor 5. [...] thou shalt have all thy secret s [...] [...]ipt [...] to thy Eternal shame. The time is [...] that Judgment must begin at the House [...] God, and if it first begin at us, [...] be the end of them that obey not [...] [...]el of God? And if the Right [...] [...] be saved, where shall the [...] and Sinners appear? 1 Pet. 4.17, 8 [...] that did once offer his Blood to thee, w [...]n [...] come to Judge and Condemn thee, [...] whose final Sentence there is no Appeal Then every faithful Sermon and Reproof will rise up in judgment against thee, and condemn thee. Thou wilt not agree with [...]hine Adversary quickly, before he deliver [...]hee to the Judge, Mat. 5.25. Thou wilt [...]ot hear the loving voice of Christ which [...]alleth thee, Come, for all things are now [...]eady, Luk. 14.17. But thou must hear [Page 14] that voice by constraint, Arise ye Dead, & come to Judgment. It would be thy grea [...] mercy, if the forethoughts of the terror o [...] that day might seize upon thy senseless Conscience where ever thou goest. Thy Judge stands at the door, and the coming of the Lord draws high: Awake therefore thou that sleepest, and prepare to meet the Lord in the air; Jesus Christ himself will pronounce that dreadful Sentence against thee, Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. What doleful out-cries will condemned Souls express for Mercy, or for a Reprieve then, that hate now to be Reformed, and Blaspheme the Spirit of Christ?
4. Thou that wilt not be warned to flie to Christ, shall lie in the hottest flames of Hell. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah at the day of Judgment than for thee. Thou must go away into everlasting Punishment, when the Righteous shall go into Life eternal, Mat. 25. Thou shalt desire to die, but death shall flee from thee. Thou wouldest fain flie out of Gods hand, Job 27.22. but it will be impossible▪ Thou shalt be punished with everlasting Destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of [Page 15] his Power. Then shall the Righteous have dominion in this Morning, shining forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father; Who hath ears to hear, let him hear, Mat. 13.43 God will delight to glorifie his Attributes in thy Destruction. He will [...]augh at thy calamity, and mock when thy fear cometh: When thy fear cometh as desolation, and thy destruction cometh as a whirl-wind, when distress and anguish cometh upon thee, Prov. 1.26, — No heart can conceive, nor can the tongues of Men or Angels express what wrath the Eternal Righteous Almighty Lord God shall pour out upon a Vessel of wrath fitted for destruction. There shalt thou weep, and wail, and gnash thy teeth, where the worm of Conscience never dyeth, nor shall the fire be quenched. Art not thou yet awakened to Cry out, What shall I do to be saved from this dreadful wrath to come? Have I been writing to a Stock, or to a Stone, or to a Rock of Flint? Take heed [...]est these warnings come in Judgment to thee, that thou mayest be snared and broken, and taken, Isa 28.13. Be sure of this, thy sins will find thee out, Numb. 32.23.
Object. 1. Why do you thus affright poor [...]inners? Is not God merciful?
[Page 16] Ans Why dost then the [...] stand o [...] [...] the offers of mer [...]? The good [...] of God should lead thee to Repen [...] [...]. Though God is merciful, yet fo [...] [...] first Parents sin, judgment is com [...] upon all the world to Condemnation an [...] [...]e [...] that believeth not shall be Damned. S [...]ait is the gate, and narrow is the [...] leadeth to life, and few there be that s [...]n [...]. 7.14.
Object 2. I will never believe that [...] present [...] a [...]d [...]nl and damnabl [...]
Answ. [...] is not humane Writing but Gods Word, which i [...] here opened thi [...] [...] shall judge thee at the last day Joh. 12.18.
2. Y [...] believe not, because ye are no [...] [...] Sleep, saith Christ. It is a Prog [...] [...]ck of approaching wrath to reject th [...] Counsel of God against thy self: Rea [...] [...] 29.18, &c▪ [...]est th [...] should be [...] [...]g you, Man or Woman, o [...] Faculty, wh [...] be be [...]reth the words of this C [...]se, that bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall ha [...] peace, though I walk in the imagination [...] Drunkenness to th [...]st; [...] [...] him b [...]hen the [...]ng [...] Lord, & [...] [...]se, shall smoke again [...], and all the Curses that are writ [...] [...] shall lie upon him, and the Lor [...] [Page 17] shall blot out his Name from under Heaven Paul saith, The Election [...], but the rest were blinded. If our Gospel be hid, is [...]s hid to them that are lost, [...] whom [...]he god of this world blinds the man [...] them that belie [...] not, 2 Cor. 4.4. Beware therefore, lest that come upon thee which is spoken of in the Prophets; Behold ye [...], and wonder and perish, for I work a [...] in your dayes, which ye shall in no wise believe, though a ma [...] declare it unto you, A [...]t. [...]3.4 [...].41.
3. I can forever [...]e day [...]y Calamity at hand, w [...]e thou shalt feel what thou wilt not now believe, then thou shalt justifie me, and condemn thy self.
If thou art not now awakened in mercy the time hastens when the [...]ost ob [...]urate [...]nner shall certainly be awakened in judgment, either at the hou [...] [...] or i [...] furthest at his Arraignment before Gods Tribunal. Were Co [...]ah and his Company secure when the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them a [...], when they went down alive into the Pi [...], [...] Earth closed upon them, when all [...] that were round about them fled at th [...] [...] of th [...]? Numb. 16.32, 33, 34. D [...] [...] [...] zars security end, when [...] his Idolatry, Excess and [...] Alarm'd the same hou [...] [...] [Page 18] upon the Wall, when his Countenance was changed, and his Knees smote one against another, and he was slain the same Night, D [...]. 5.
It is impossible to continue long in this stupid frame of Heart, when thou art judged and condemned to suffer the vengeance of Eternal Fire, shalt thou then be [...] and senseless? No, no; there is no security amongst the Demand It is revealed from Heaven there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.
4. Dost thou thus provoke the Lord to jealousie, art thou stronger than He? God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who hath hardened his heart against Him, and hath prospered? Joh 9.4. There is no wisdom, nor understanding against the Lord. Prov. 21.30. If therefore thou wilt not search the Scriptures, nor hear the voice of God, nor cry for the Spirit to convince thee of thy unbelief; and to put forth the exceeding greatness of his power to make thee willing to come as as an ungodly lost sinner to Christ? If the Kingdom of Heaven do not suffer violence, if thou dost not press into it and take it by force; I thee testify to thee from the God of heaven, that the door of mercy will shortly be shut, thou shalt hereafter stand without, [Page 19] and cry dolefully, Lord, Lord, open to me: But He will answer with a frown; Verily I know you not. Mat. 25.11.
Object. 3. But I am admitted into Church-fellowship, and enjoy Previledges.
Answ. Let Sinners & Hypocrites in Sion fear; for God is come to search Jerusalem with Candles. Do not therefore deceive thine own Soul, thou mayest have a Name to live, and yet be dead; thou mayest be united to a Gospel Church and yet perish for want of Union to Christ. Remember Judas and tremble▪ Remember the five Foolish Virgins walking with the Wise in all their sufferings, neither suspected by the Wise, nor by themselves, till that Cry at midnight, The Bridegroom comes, go ye out to meet him, Mat. 25.6. Many ruine their Souls by resting upon unsound Evidences. Thou self deceived Hypocrite, Hell beneath will be moved for thee at thy coming▪ all they shall speak and say to thee, Art thou become weak as we? How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, son of the Morning, for thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God, I will be like the most High, yet thou shalt be brought down to Hell. Isa. 14 10. &c.
[Page 20]Object. 4. I have Saving Graces, as Faith, Repentance, Holiness, Zeal, &c.
Answ. Doth not the very prophane world say, that they believe and repent? An awakening Ministry, slavish fears of Hell, godly Education, or legal Principles, carry many far in these dayes, who shall shortly be weighed in the ballance, and be sound too light. Thou mayest receive the Word with joy, and believe for a while, Luk. 8.13. Thou mayest be in Christ, as a withered Branch is in the Vine. Thou mayest sink under the sense of Wrath with Cam. Thou mayest cast of thy sins with abhorrency under the racking of Conscience, and yet lick up thy nauseous Vomit again, 2 Pet. 2.20, &c. The Unclean spirit may go out of thee, and yet return with seven worse spirits, Luk. 11.24. Thou mayest vehemently long to die the Death of the Righteous, and that thy last end may be like his; and yet be undone for ever. Take heed therefore of Building without a sure Foundation Thou mayest be admired for thy strict Conversation, whilest thou only goest about to establish thine own Righteousness, being ignorant of Gods Righteousness of Faith, Rom. 10.3. Thou mayest suffer the loss or all things, [Page 21] and yet for want of Love, thy sufferings profit thee nothing, 1 Cor. 13.3.
Object. 5. I have been deeply wounded, and have had peace since.
Answ. Every wound and conviction is not the saving work of Gods Spirit, nor all healing, from the Peace of God through Union with Christ by a Faith of the operation of God, not thy concomitant joy always from a true sence of Gods love. Many compass themselves about with sparks of their own kindling, who never knew the Grace of God in truth, nor the witness of the true Spirit.
More ADVICE to Sinners under Convictions, to prevent their miscarrying in Conversion.
Quest. 2. I Beseech you, since my present condition is so dreadful, as Gods Word reveals it, tell me if there be any hopes for such a Sinner, and what course I must take?
Answ, When the Keeper of the Prison asked Paul and Silas, Sirs, What must I do, to be saved? They said, Bel [...]eve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shal [...] be saved, and thy house, Act. 16, 30, 31. Therefore immediately under the means of Grace, [Page 22] wait for the Spirit to draw thee by the Gospel. Thou wilt there hear that Christ hath Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law, being made a Curse for us, Gal. 3.13. God hath sent forth His Son made under the Law, to Redeem them that were under the Law. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have Everlasting Life, Joh. 3. Go not therefore about to Establish thine own Righteousness, for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness, to every one that believes, Rom. 10.3. Thou wilt there here the joyful Sound, that the chiefest of sinners have believed, and are saved; and that it is not the highest aggravation of th [...] sins, nor thy present accursed state [...]all hinder thee from Mercy, if thou art made willing in the day of Gods power, to come out of thy sins and self to Jesus Christ. The Lord will Pardon abundantly, Isa. 55. The Grace of Christ doth superabound; He hath gifts for the Rebellious, Psal. 68.16. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am Chief, (saith Paul) 1 T [...]. [...] 15. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, saith CHRIST, Joh. 6.37. [Page 23] Therefore don't take a desperate course, because thou thinkest no sins are like thine; for the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.7. God doth justifie sinners freely by his Grace, through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 3.24. Let it overcome thy heart to consider how freely Christ proclaimed himself to sinners when he dwelt among us, Joh. 7. when he stood and Cryed, If any thirst, let him come unto me, and drink: His precious blood is more able to justifie, than thy crying sins are to condemn thee. Come, saith Chri [...] to thee, for all things are now ready. The Spirit saith Come, & the Bride saith Come, and let him that heareth say Come; and let him that is athirst Come, & whosoever will, let him take of the water of Life freely, Apocal: 22.17. There is Righteousness in Christ to cover thee, & Faith to receive it too. God will have mercy on them that have not obtained mercy, and maketh them his people, which were not his people. Hos. 2.25. Christ is exalted to give Repentance, and why not to thee that needest it? Hath not Christ ca [...] and waited long till his Locks were wet w [...] Dew? Poor condemned sinner! How canst thou chuse but be overcome with his Love, who still beseecheth them [Page 24] to be reconciled, though he could glorifie himself in thy destruction. 2 Cor. 5 20. If God would shew thee a little of the love of his heart, and of the heart of Christ to sinners, it would dissolve thy frozen heart, and make thee admi [...] it, that there should be forgiveness of the greatest has still for so a vile a wre [...] Cry in secret to God, that thou mayest know what it is to find me [...]cy, since he delighteth in mercy. W [...]n Christ was here upon E [...]h, see what a winning Sermon he Preached to Publicans and Sinners, Luk. 15. When he insinuated unto them their lost estate, and that he was come to seek, and save them and to encourage returning Prodigals, who is ready to fear there is no mercy for them; He shews them though they are far off, his Bowels shall [...] towards them, and he will run to them leaping [...] Mountains to embrace them. [...]ine thee there is as much love [...]owe [...]s in the [...] of Christ now he is ascended as when he was upon the Earth. Though thou art a Scorner at Christs Spirit, yet saith the Lord, How long [...] with a delight [...] your scor [...] ing, [...] you at mysterious, behold I will [...] Spirit up [...] [...]o [...], Prov. 1.23. Thu [...] do thou [...]ake [...] [...]o the a [...]ing and ravi [...] ing voice of Christ, [...] thou art overcom [...] [Page 25] with his love, and art compelled and necessitated to come in, Luk. 14.23.
Quest. I have had some convictions, but I fear no through Conversion. I f [...]d [...] called, but few are chosen: what to [...] can you give me, that I may not miscarry for ever?
Answ. Besides what is written in my Advice to sinners, which I shall have reference to; take these Directions.
1. Work out thy Salvation with fo [...] and trembling. Cherish the God [...] of coming to the Birth without streng [...] [...] be brought forth: beware lest thy con [...] [...]ons die and come to nothing; rest not in ease without healing through the sprinking of Christs Blood.
2 Rest not in legal horrour, short of Godly sorrow: Dig deep that thou ma [...]st build upon a Rock. If God turn thine eyes inward, and shew thee what an open Sepulchre full of deadly poyson thou art, thou wilt justifie God though He should spurn thee into Hell immediately; and wilt wonder what hath held the hand of revengeful Justice from consuming thee long since. The Lord will not crush under his feet such a Prisoner of the Earth, Lam. 3.34. [Page 26] Nor will he condemn thee that dost thus justifie him, and condemn thy self, and liest at his feet longing to be found in Christ: Wait therefore for the Spirits conviction of sin, because thou believest not on Jesus Christ, Joh. 16.8, 9. When the Comforter is come, he will reprove the world of sin, because they believe not on me, (i. e.) shall convince them of this sin chiefly, the Spirit doth aggravate this sin of Unbelief, where he cometh to work with power savingly. This is promised in the latter dayes, that the chiefest of sinners shall look upon Christ whom they have pierced, and mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only Son, Zech. 12.10.
3. Long insatiably to be found in Christ, not having thine own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but the Righteousness which is through the Faith of Christ, Phil. 3· Never expect to be healed by the Law: but through the Righteousness of Christ without the deeds of the Law: for the Law can only wound thee, and give thee the knowledge of sin, Rom. 3.20, and there it leaves thee in a helpless & perishing condition; it only works wrath, and Curseth thee, and Judgeth and Condemneth thee. It is very usual with troubled [Page 27] Souls to run to their Duties, or Tears, or Purposes to sin no more in their own strength, instead of looking to Christ who was made sin for them who knew no [...]in; that they may be made the Righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21. They should come without money as sinners to Christ whom it pleased the Father to [...]ruise, Isa. 53. Christ hath finished transgression and made an end of sins, and made reconciliation for iniquity, and brought in everlasting Righteousness, Dan. 9.24. Herein Christs Embassadors need to be [...]aithfully warned, when they press duties [...]pon awakened Sinners, to teach them to [...]ook for Justification by Faith, without the deeds of the Law, lest they make a Generation of self-righteous Hypocrites, in [...]end of sound Believers. Maledicta si [...] [...]nis doctrina, vita, [...], qua cona [...] [...]ge aut ope [...]bus pa [...] s [...]tam coram De [...] [...]utheri Anathema.
4. Therefore if thou wouldest [...]e accept [...]d of Christ, come as Ungodly, as Un [...]ghteous unto him, who dyed for sinners [...] such, and findeth them dead in sins when [...]e comes to call them. The work of the [...]aw is only to convince us that we are Un [...]odly, Dead in sins, having no Righteousness, nor Strength. If thou wouldst not [Page 28] be rejected and prove a Pharisee, come a [...] a sinner, helpless and hopeless. Thoug [...] th [...] feelest thy self dead, senseless, asleep [...] though thou knewest not that tho [...] a [...] wretched, and miserable, and poor, & bl [...]d, and naked; yet saith Christ, I counsel thee to buy of me Gold & white Raiment, that thou mayest be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, Apoc. 3.27, 28. Instead of refusing Christ by infidelity, upon apprehensions [...] unworthiness, or the want of this, or th [...] other work of the Law, qualification, o [...] preparation, thou shouldest rather wo [...] der that there should be Justification b [...] Free Grace tendered to such a Rebel; tha [...] thou being an Enemy should'st be commanded and invited to come to Christ.
5. Let the threatnings against Unbelie [...] awaken thee not to dare to refuse Chri [...] offered to thee. It is a most hainous, dreadful sin▪ to make light of one tender of fre [...] Pardon of sins by the blood of Christ, whic [...] the Devils never had; for this sin w [...] Jesus Christ are long break through t [...] Clouds, in flaming Fire, with his Ho [...] Angels, 2 Tre [...]. 1.
6. [...]ear Unbelief chiefly, Heb. 3.1 [...] Many awakened persons are troubled wi [...] groundless fears, lest there is no re [...]i [...] [Page 29] on for such abominable wretches; they fear that such hard, filthy, secure sinners shall not be accepted. Fear lest thou shouldest refuse Christ, or not welcome him: Fear lest a Promise being left thee of entring into rest, thou shouldest seem to come short of it through Unbelief, Heb. 4.
Object. You know not what a wretch I have been: I cannot but fear, that my hainous sins will ruine me?
Answ. If thy Conscience oft smites thee with tormenting fears, that thy Uncleanness, Self-pollution, Glutton [...], Passion, Pride, or Covetousness, or the like, will be thy ruine; there is a great sin, which is Unbelief; they not coming to Christ, nor welcoming the glad tidings of free Remission of sins by Christs Blood, for the chiefest sinners with all acceptation. It is this Soul-damning-sin, thou hast most cause to fear; It is he only that believeth not the Son, that shall not see life, Joh 3.36.
7. Be assured it is not Presumption, but thy Duty to believe, though thou apprehendest thy self to be the chiefest of sinners: for God will account himself glorified by thy believing in hope against hope, Rom. 4.20.
[Page 30]Object. Why do you put me thus upon Believing since you grant I have no power?
Answ. Because the Lord causeth His Commands to come with Almighty power upon his Elect, and doth convey his Spirit and Strength in the use of his instituted Ordinances, 1 Thes [...] 1 4, 5.
8 Destroy not thy precious Soul, by mending Mortification before Regeneration. There is no Communion before Union: First make the Tree good and its Fruit will be good, Mat. 12▪ 33. Many persons know they must perform this and the other Duty; this and the other Grace they want; & set upon the work in their own Strength, and are alwayes Learning; many shall thus seek and shall not be able. If thou would [...]st not miss the narrow way here, then seek to be first planted into Christ by the power of his Resurrection, and then let thy Faith work by Love abundantly. Mr. Co [...] observes upon the A [...]ocal. that the Romish Priest in their Doctrine, like the [...]ou [...]s, do sting the Conscience with the Law, and heal the wound by urging upon persons External works of Mortification, being ignorant of the Doctrine of Justification by Faith, without the Deeds of the Law.
[Page 31]Let Christs Ministers beware of putting awakened sinners preposterously first upon Works before Faith, and to bring forth good Fruit, before they press them to look for a Principle by their Union with Christ through the teachings of God. This is to put a man upon Building a Superstructure without a Foundation; I fear many thousands perish by such Preaching: Consult Dr. Owen of Mortification.
9. Especially beware of resting short of Union with Christ. There is a glorious and mysterious Union with God manifest in the Flesh by the Spirit. When Christ bethroth's a sinner to Himself forever in Righteousness; and in loving-kindness, & in judgment, and in faithfulness, then shall he know the Lord, Hos. 2.19. Then is Christs Prayer answered, That they all may be one, as th [...], Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one [...]n Ʋ [...], Joh. 17. It is he that hath th [...] on, hath life, & he that hath not the Son hath not life, but the wrath of God abideth on him: The vilest wretches will love Christs benefits, especially when they come to die. The Sound Believer falls in love with CHRIST Himself. Thou must be cut out of the Olive-tree [Page 32] which is wild by Nature, by the hand of God, and graffed contrary to Nature into the good Olive-tree, else Christ will not own thee as his Member, but thou wilt wither as a rotten Branch, and be gathered of Men, and cast into the Fire, John 10. Thou must eat Christ's Flesh, and drink His Blood, else thou canst have no Spiritual Life in thee. Joh. 6.