and yet so fall as never to be recovered, or renewed again unto repentance. See also Luke 13.
Wouldst thou know how hard it is to go to heaven? Read Matthew 7:13, 14; Luke 13:24.
Wouldst thou know whether a man by nature be a friend to G.o.d, or an enemy? Then read Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21.
Wouldst thou know what, or who they are that shall go to heaven?
Then read John 3:3-7, and 2 Corinthians 5:17. Also, wouldst thou know what a sad thing it is for any to turn their backs upon the gospel of Jesus Christ? then read Hebrews 10:28, 29, and Mark 16:16.
Wouldst thou know what is the wages of sin? Then read Romans 6:23.
["The wages of sin is death."]
Wouldst thou know whither those do go that die unconverted to the faith of Christ? Then read Psalm 9:17, and Isaiah 14:9.
Reader, here might I spend many sheets of paper, yea, I might upon this subject write a very great book, but I shall now forbear, desiring thee to be very conversant in the Scriptures, "for they are they which testify of Jesus Christ" (John 5:39). The Bereans were counted n.o.ble upon this account: "These were more n.o.ble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily," &c. (Acts 17:11). But here let me give thee one caution, that is, have a care that thou do not satisfy thyself with a bare search of them, without a real application of him whom they testify of to thy soul, lest instead of faring the better for thy doing this work, thou dost fare a great deal the worse, and thy condemnation be very much heightened, in that though thou didst read so often the sad state of those that die in sin, and the glorious estate of them that close in with Christ, yet thou thyself shouldest be such a fool as to lose Jesus Christ, notwithstanding thy hearing, and reading so plentifully of him.
"They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
As if he should say, what need have they that one should be sent to them from the dead? Have they not Moses and the prophets? Hath not Moses told them the danger of living in sin? (Deut 27:15-26, 28:15-68, 29:18-22). Hath he not there told them, what a sad state those persons are in that deceive themselves with the deceit of their hearts, saying they shall have peace though they follow their sins, in these words: "And when he heareth the words of this curse, he blesseth himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I" go on, or "walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven."
Again, Did not Moses write of the Saviour that was to come afterwards into the world? (Deut 18:18). Nay, have not all the prophets from Samuel, with all those that follow after, prophesied, and foretold these things? Therefore what need have they that I should work such a miracle, as to send one from the dead unto them? "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
[Second.] From whence observe again, that G.o.d doth honour the writings of Moses and the prophets, as much, nay more, than if one should rise from the dead: "Should not a people seek unto their G.o.d?" What, seek "for the living among the dead? To the law, and to the testimony," saith G.o.d, "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa 8:19,20). And let me tell you plainly, I do believe that the devil knows this full well, which makes him labour to beget in the hearts of his disciples and followers light thoughts of them; and doth persuade them, that even a motion from their own beguiled conscience, or from his own wicked spirit, is to be observed and obeyed before them. When the very apostle of Jesus Christ, though he heard a voice from the excellent glory, saying, "This is my beloved Son,"
&c., yet writing to the churches, he commends, the writing of the prophets before it, saying, "We have also a more sure word of the prophets, to which ye do well to take heed," &c. (2 Peter 1:17-19).[38] Now if thou doubtest whether that place be meant the scriptures, the words of the prophets or no, read but the next verse, where he addeth for a certain confirmation thereof, these words, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of G.o.d spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
And therefore what a sad thing is it for those that go about to disown the Scriptures! I tell you, however they may slight them now, yet when they come into h.e.l.l, they will see their folly: "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
Further, who are they that are so tossed to and fro, with the several winds of doctrine that have been broached in these days, but such for the most part, as have had a light esteem of the scriptures; for the ground of error, as Christ saith, is because they know not them (Mark 12:24). And indeed, it is just with G.o.d to give them over to follow their own dark blinded consciences, to be led into errors, that they might be d.a.m.ned into h.e.l.l, who did not believe that the things contained in the Scripture were the truth, that they might be saved and go to heaven. I cannot well tell how to have done speaking for, and on the Scriptures"
side; only this I consider, a word is enough to the wise; and therefore I shall commit these things into the hands of them that are of G.o.d; and as for the rest, I shall say to them, rather than G.o.d will save them from h.e.l.l with the breach of his holy Word, if they had a thousand souls apiece, G.o.d would destroy them all; for "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).
Verse 30.--"And he said, Nay, Father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent."
The verse before, you know, as I told you, it was part of an answer to such as lose their souls; so it is a vindication of the Scriptures of Moses and the prophets, "They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them."
Now this verse is an answer to what was said in the former; and such an one as hath in it a rejection of the former answer. "Nay, father Abraham." Nay, saith he, do not say so, do not put them off with this; send one from the dead, and then there will be some hopes. It is true thou speakest of the Scripture, of Moses and the prophets, and sayest, "let them hear them"; but these things are not so well as I could wish, I had rather thou wouldst send one from the dead. In these words therefore, Nay, father Abraham, there is a repulse given; nay, let it not be so; nay, I do not like of that answer. Hear Moses and the prophets, nay. The same expression is used by Christ, Luke 13:2, 3. Think you that they upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, were sinners above others? "I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
So here, Nay, father Abraham, &c.
By this word Nay, therefore, is signified a rejecting the first answer.
Now observe, I pray you, the reason why he says Nay, is, because G.o.d doth put over all those that will be saved, to observe and receive the truth contained in Scripture, and believe that. To have a high esteem of them, and to love and search them, as Christ saith, "Search the Scriptures," for "they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). But the d.a.m.ned say, Nay; as if he had said, This is the thing. To be short, my brethren are unbelievers, and do not regard the Word of G.o.d. I know it by myself, for when I was in the world, it was so with me; many a good sermon did I hear, many a time was I admonished, desired, entreated, beseeched, threatened, forewarned of what I now suffer; but alas! I was ignorant, self-conceited, surly, obstinate, and rebellious. Many a time the preacher told h.e.l.l would be my portion, the devil would wreck his malice on me; G.o.d would pour on me his sore displeasure; but he had as good have preached to the stock, to the post, to the stones I trod on; his words rang in mine ears, but I kept them from mine heart. I remember he alleged many a Scripture, but those I valued not; the Scriptures, thought I, what are they? A dead letter, a little ink and paper, of three or four shillings"
price.[39] Alas! What is the Scripture? Give me a ballad, a news-book, George on horseback, or Bevis of Southampton; give me some book that teaches curious arts, that tells of old fables;[40]
but for the holy Scriptures I cared not. And as it was with me then, so it is with my brethren now, we were all of one spirit, loved all the same sins, slighted all the same counsels, promises, encouragements and threatenings of the Scriptures; and they are still, as I left them, still in unbelief, still provoking G.o.d, and rejecting good counsel, so hardened in their ways, so bent to follow sin, that let the Scriptures be showed to them daily, let the messengers of Christ preach till their hearts ache, till they fall down dead with preaching, they will rather trample it under foot, and swine-like rend them, than close in with those gentle and blessed proffers of the gospel.
"Nay, father Abraham, but if one should rise from the dead, they would repent." Though they have Moses and the prophets, the Scriptures, they will not repent and close in with Jesus Christ, though the Scriptures do witness against them. If therefore there be any good done to them, they must have it another way. I think, saith he, it would work much on them "if one should rise from the dead." And this truth indeed is so evident, that unG.o.dly ones have a light esteem of the Scriptures, that it needs not many strong arguments to prove it, being so evidently manifested by their every day"s practice, both in words and actions, almost in all things they say and do. Yet for the satisfaction of the reader, I shall show you by a scripture or two, though I might show many, that this was and is true, with the generality of the world. See the words of Nehemiah in his 9th chapter concerning the children of Israel, who though the Lord offered them mercy upon mercy, as it is from verse 19-25, yet verse 26, saith he, "Nevertheless they were disobedient" for all thy goodness towards them, "and rebelled against thee." But how? "And cast thy law behind their backs; slew thy prophets which testified against them, to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations."
Observe, 1. They sinned against mercy. And then, 2. They slighted the law, or Word of G.o.d. 3. They slew the prophets that declared it unto them. 4. The Lord counts it a great provocation. See Hebrews 3:10-19; Zechariah 7:11, 12. "But they refused to hearken," saith he, there of the wicked, "and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear" the law. "Yea, they made their hearts" hard as "an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent" unto them "in his Spirit by the former prophets," &c.
Mark, I pray you, here is also, (1.) A refusing to hearken to the words of the prophets. (2.) That they might so do, they stopped their ears. (3.) If anything was to be done, they pulled away their shoulder. (4.) To effect his, they labour to make their hearts hard as an adamant stone. (5.) And all this, lest they should hear and close in with Jesus, and live, and be delivered from the wrath to come. All which things do hold out an unwillingness to submit to, and embrace the words of G.o.d, and so Jesus Christ which is testified of by them. Many other scriptures I might bring in for confirmation of the thing, as that in Amos 7:12, 13; also 1 Samuel 2:24, 25; 2 Chronicles 25:15, 16; Jeremiah 7:23-28, 16:12.
Read also seriously that saying in 2 Chronicles 36:15, where he saith, "And the Lord G.o.d of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, because he had compa.s.sion on his people, and on his dwelling-place." And did they make them welcome?
No, but they mocked the messengers of G.o.d, and despised his words.
And was that all? No, they "misused his prophets." How long?
"Until the wrath of the Lord arose against them. Till there was no remedy." See also Jeremiah 29:19, 25:3-7; Luke 11:49.
And besides, the conversion of almost all men doth bear witness to the same, both religious and profane persons, in that they daily neglect, reject, and turn their backs upon the plain testimony of the Scriptures. As,
First. Take the THREATENINGS laid down in holy writ, and how are they disregarded? There are but a few places in the Bible but there are threatenings against one sinner or other; against drunkards, swearers, liars, proud persons, strumpets, wh.o.r.emongers, covetous, railers, extortioners, thieves, lazy persons. In a word, all manner of sins are reproved, and without faith in the Lord Jesus, there is a sore punishment to be executed on the committers of them; and all this made mention of in the Scriptures.
But for all this, how thick, and by heaps, do these wretches walk up and down our streets?[41] Do but go into the alehouses, and you shall see almost every room besprinkled with them, so foaming out their own shame, that it is enough to make the heart of a saint to tremble, insomuch that they would not be bound to have society with them any long while for all the world. For as the ways of the G.o.dly are not liked of by the wicked, even so the ways of the wicked "are an abomination to the just" (Prov 29:27; Psa 120:5,6).
1. The Scripture says, "Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD"
(Jer 17:5).
And yet how many poor souls are there in the world, that stand in so much awe and dread of men, and do so highly esteem their favour, that they will rather venture their souls in the hands of the devil with their favour, than they will fly to Jesus Christ for the salvation of their souls? Nay, though they be convinced in their souls, that the way is the way of G.o.d; yet how do they labour to stifle conviction, and turn their ears away from the truth, and all because they will not lose the favour of an opposite neighbour? O! I dare not for my master, my brother, my landlord, I shall lose his favour, his house of work, and so decay my calling.
O, saith another, I would willingly go in this way, but for my father, he chides and tells me he will not stand my friend when I come to want; I shall never enjoy a pennyworth of his goods; he will disinherit me. And I dare not, saith another, for my husband, for he will be a railing, and tells me he will turn me out of doors, he will beat me, and cut off my legs. But I tell you, if any of these, or any other things be so prevalent with thee now, as to keep thee from seeking after Christ in his ways, they will also be so prevalent with G.o.d against thee, as to make him cast off thy soul, because thou didst rather trust man than G.o.d; and delight in the embracing of man rather than in the favour of the Lord.[42]
2. Again, the Scripture saith, "He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov 29:1). Yet many are so far from turning, though they have been convinced of their wretched state a hundred times, that when convictions or trouble for sin comes on their consciences, they go on still in the same manner resisting and choking the same, though remediless destruction be hard at their heels.
3. Again thou hast heard say, "Except a man be born again," "he cannot enter into the kingdom of G.o.d" (John 3:3-7). And yet thou goest on in a natural state, an unregenerate condition; nay, thou dost resolve never to turn nor be changed, though h.e.l.l be appointed on purpose to swallow up such (Isa 14:9). "The wicked shall be turned into h.e.l.l, and all the nations that forget G.o.d" (Psa 9:17).
4. Again, the Scripture saith plainly that he that loveth and maketh a lie shall have his part "in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev 21:8,27). And yet thou art so far from dreading it, that it is thy delight to jest and jeer, and lie for a penny, or twopence, or sixpence, again. And also if thou canst make the rest of thy companions merry, by telling things that are false, of them that are better than thyself, thou dost not care a straw. Or if thou hearest a lie from, or of another, thou wilt tell it, and swear to the truth of it, O miserable!
5. Thou hast heard and read, that "He that believeth not shall be d.a.m.ned" (Mark 16:16). And that "all men have not faith" (2 Thess 3:2). And yet thou dost so much disregard these things, that it is like thou didst scarce ever so much as examine seriously whether thou wast in the faith or no; but dost content thyself with the hypocrite"s hope, which at the last G.o.d will cut off, and count it not better than the spider"s web (Job 8:13,14), or the house that is builded on the sands (Luke 6:49). Nay, thou peradventure dost flatter thyself, and thinkest that thy faith is as good as the best of them all; when, alas, poor soul, thou mayest have no saving faith at all; which thou hast not, if thou be not born again, and made a new creature (2 Cor 2:17).
6. Thou hast heard, that he that neglects G.o.d"s great salvation shall never escape his great d.a.m.nation (Heb 2:3, compared with Luke 14:24, and Rev 14:19,20). And yet when thou art invited, intreated, and beseeched to come in, thou wilt make any excuse to serve the turn (Luke 14:17,18; Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 5:19,20). Nay, thou wilt be so wicked as to put off Christ time after time, notwithstanding he is so freely proffered to thee; a little ground, a few oxen, a farm, a wife, a twopenny matter, a play; nay, the fear of a mock, a scoff or a jeer, is of greater weight to draw thee back, than the salvation of thy soul to draw thee forward.
7. And thou hast heard, that whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of G.o.d (James 4:4). But thou regardest not these things, but contrariwise; rather than thou wilt be out of the friendship and favour of this world, thou wilt sin against thine own conscience, and get thyself into favour by fawning and flattering of the world. Yea, rather than thou wilt go without it, thou wilt dissemble, lie, backbite thy neighbour, and an hundred other tricks thou wilt have.
8. You have heard that the day of judgment is near, in which you and I, all of us, must appear before the tribunal of Jesus Christ, and there be made to give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead; even of all that ever we did, yea, of all our sins in thought, word, and deed, and shall certainly be d.a.m.ned for them too, if we close not in with our Lord Jesus Christ, and what he hath done and suffered for eternal life; and that not notionally or traditionally, but really and savingly, in the power, and by the operation of the Spirit, through faith (Eccl 11:9, 12:14; Acts 10:42, 17:30,31; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12). "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before G.o.d; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books." There is the book of the creatures, the book of conscience, the book of the Lord"s remembrance, the book of the law, the book of the gospel (Rom 1:20, compare with Rom 2:12,15; Rev 6:17; John 12:48).[43] Then "he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep on the right hand, but the goats on his left" (Matt 25:30-32). "And shall say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed" (v 34). But to the other, go, or "Depart, ye cursed" (v 41). Yet, notwithstanding the Scriptures do so plainly and plentifully speak of these things, alas! who is there that is weaned from the world, and from their sins and pleasures, to fly from the wrath to come? (Matt 3:7).
Notwithstanding the Scripture saith also that heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away, rather than one jot, or one t.i.ttle of the word shall fail, "till all be fulfilled," they are so certain (Luke 21:33; Matt 5:18).
[Second PROMISES.] But leaving the threatenings, let us come to THE PROMISES, and speak somewhat of them, and you may see how light men make of them, and how little they set by them, notwithstanding the mouth of the Lord hath spoken them. As
1. "Turn," ye fools, ye scorners, ye simple ones, "at my reproof"; and "behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you" (Prov 1:23). And yet persons had rather be in their foolishness and scorning still, and had rather embrace some filthy l.u.s.t, than the holy, undefiled, and blessed Spirit of Christ, through the promise, though by it, as many as receive it, "are sealed unto the day of redemption"
(Eph 4:30), and although he that lives and dies without it, is none of Christ"s (Rom 8:9).
2. G.o.d hath said, if thou do but come to him in Christ, "Though your sins be as" red as "scarlet, they shall be as white as snow"; and he will by no means cast thee away. Compare Isaiah 1:18 with John 6:37. Yet poor souls will not come to Christ that they might have life (John 5:40), but rather after their hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of G.o.d (Rom 2:5).
3. Christ Jesus hath said in the Word of truth that if any man will serve and follow him, where he is, "there shall also his servant be" (John 12:26). But yet poor souls choose rather to follow sin, Satan, and the world, though their companions be the devils and d.a.m.ned souls for ever (Matt 25:41).
4. He hath also said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of G.o.d, and all"
other "things shall be added." But let whoso will seek after the kingdom of heaven first for them; for they will take the first time, while time serves to get the things of this life. And if it be so, that they must needs seek after heaven, or else be d.a.m.ned, they will stay till they have more leisure, or till they can better attend to it; or till they have other things handsome about them, or till they are older; when they have little else to do, or when they come to be sick, and to die. Then, Lord, have mercy upon them! though it be ten thousand to one but they perish for ever.
For commonly the Lord hath this way to deal with such sinners, who put him off when he is striving with them, either to laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh (Prov 1:26,28). Or else send them to the G.o.ds they have served, which are the devils (Judg 10:13,14). Go to the G.o.ds you have served, and "let them deliver you," saith he; compare this with John 8:44.
5. He hath said, "There is no man that forsaketh father, or mother, wife, or children, or lands, for his sake and the gospel"s, but shall have a hundred fold in this world, with persecution, and in the world to come life everlasting" (Mark 10:29,30).
But men, for the most part, are so far off from believing the certainty of this, that they will scarce lose the earning of a penny to hear the Word of G.o.d, the gospel of salvation. Nay, they will neither go themselves, nor suffer others to go, if they can help it, without threatening to do them a mischief, if it lie in their way. Nay, further, many are so far from parting from any worldly gain for Christ"s sake, and the gospel"s, that they are still striving, by hook and by crook, as we say, by swearing, lying, cozening, stealing, covetousness, extortion, oppression, forgery, bribery, flattery, or any other way to get more, thou they get together with these, death, wrath, d.a.m.nation, h.e.l.l, the devil, and all the plagues that G.o.d can pour upon them. And if any do not run with them to the same excess of riot, but rather for all their threats will be so bold and careless, as they call it, as to follow the ways of G.o.d; if they can do no more, yet they will whet their tongues like a sword to wound them, and do them the greatest mischief they can, both in speaking against them to neighbours, to wives, to husbands, to landlords, and raising false reports of them. But let such take heed lest they be in such a state, and woeful condition as he was in, who said, in vexation and anguish of soul, One drop of cold water to cool my tongue.
Thus might I add many things out of the holy Writ, both threatenings and promises, besides those heavenly counsels, loving reproofs, free invitations to all sorts of sinners, both old and young, rich and poor, bond and free, wise and unwise. All which have been, now are, and is to be feared, as long as this world lasts, will be trampled under the feet of those swine, I call them not men, who will continue in the same. But take a review of some of them:--