Chapter I: SUPPOSE I may take it for granted, that all of you, among whom I am (2)

Many will think these hard sayings: But I think it no breach of charity to affirm, that an _Arian_ or _Socinian_ cannot be a christian. The one would make us believe JESUS CHRIST is only a _created_ God, which is a self-contradiction: and the other would have us look on him only as a good man; and instead of owning his death to be an atonement for the sins of the world, would persuade us, that CHRIST died only to seal the truth of his doctrine with his blood. But if JESUS CHRIST be no more than a mere man, if he be not truly GOD, he was the vilest sinner that ever appeared in the world. For he accepted of divine adoration from the man who had been born blind, as we read _John_ ix. 38. “And he said, LORD I believe, and worshipped him.” Besides, if CHRIST be not properly GOD, our faith is vain, we are yet in our sins: for no created being, though of the highest order, could possibly merit any thing at GOD’s hands: it was our LORD’s divinity, that alone qualified him to take away the sins of the world; and therefore we hear St. _John_ pronouncing so positively, that “the Word (JESUS CHRIST) was not only with GOD, but was GOD.” For the like reason, St. _Paul_ says, “that he was in the form of GOD: That in him dwelt all the fulness of the godhead bodily.” Nay, JESUS CHRIST assumed ♦the title which GOD gave to himself, when he sent _Moses_ to deliver his people _Israel_. “Before _Abraham_ was, I AM.” And again, “I and my father are one.” Which last words, though our modern infidels would evade and wrest, as they do other scriptures, to their own damnation, yet it is evident that the _Jews_ understood our LORD, when he spake thus, as making himself equal with GOD; otherwise, why did they stone him as a blasphemer? And now, why should it be thought a breach of charity, to affirm, that those who deny the divinity of JESUS CHRIST, in the strictest sense of the word, cannot be christians? For they are greater infidels than the devils themselves, who confessed that they knew who he was, “even the holy one of GOD.” They not only believe, but, which is more than the unbelievers of this generation do, they tremble. And was it possible for arch-hereticks, to be released from their chains of darkness, under which (unless they altered their principles before they died) they are now reserved to the judgment of the great day, I am persuaded they would inform us, how hell had convinced them of the divinity of JESUS CHRIST, and that they would advise their followers to abhor their principles, lest they should come into the same place, and thereby increase each others torments.

♦ duplicate word “the” removed

But, _Secondly_, What think you of the manhood or incarnation of JESUS CHRIST? For CHRIST was not only GOD, but he was GOD and man in one person. Thus runs the text and context, “When the Pharisees were gathered together, JESUS asked them, saying, What think ye of CHRIST? Whose Son is he? They say unto him, The Son of _David_. How then, says our divine master, does _David_ in spirit call him LORD?” From which passage it is evident, that we do not think rightly of the person of JESUS CHRIST, unless we believe him to be perfect GOD and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

For it is on this account that he is called CHRIST, or the _anointed one_, who through his own voluntary offer was set apart by the father, and strengthened and qualified by the anointing or communication of the Holy Ghost, to be a mediator between Him and offending man.

The reason why the Son of GOD took upon him our nature, was, the fall of our first parents. I hope there is no one present so atheistical, as to think, that man made himself: no, it was GOD that made us, and not we ourselves. And I would willingly think, that no one is so blasphemous as to suppose, that if GOD did make us, he made us such creatures as we now find ourselves to be. For this would be giving GOD’s word the lie, which tells us, that “in the image of GOD (not in the image which we now bear on our souls) made he man.” As GOD made man, so GOD made him perfect. He placed him in the garden of _Eden_, and condescended to enter into a covenant with him, promising him eternal life, upon condition of unsinning obedience; and threatening eternal death, if he broke his law, and did eat the forbidden fruit.

Man did eat; and herein acting as our representative, thereby involved both himself and us in that curse, which GOD, the righteous judge, had said should be the consequence of his disobedience. But here begins that mystery of godliness, GOD manifested in the flesh. For (sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth!) the eternal Father, foreseeing how Satan would bruise the heel of man, had in his eternal counsel provided a means whereby he might bruise that accursed Serpent’s head. Man is permitted to fall, and become subject to death; but JESUS, the only begotten Son of GOD, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of light, very GOD of very GOD, offers to die to make an atonement for his transgression, and to fulfil all righteousness in his stead. And because it was impossible for him to do this as he was GOD, and yet since man had offended, it was necessary it should be done in the person of man; rather than we should perish, this everlasting GOD, this Prince of Peace, this Antient of Days, in the fulness of time, had a body prepared for him by the Holy Ghost, and became an infant. In this body he performed a compleat obedience to the law of GOD; whereby he, in our stead, fulfilled the covenant of works, and at last became subject to death, even death upon the cross; that as GOD he might satisfy, as man he might obey and suffer; and being GOD and man in one person, might once more procure a union between GOD and our souls.

And now, What think you of this love of CHRIST? Do not you think it was wondrous great? Especially when you consider, that we were CHRIST’s bitter enemies, and that he would have been infinitely happy in himself, notwithstanding we had perished for ever. Whatever you may think of it, I know the blessed angels, who are not so much concerned in this mystery of godliness as we, think most highly of it. They do, they will desire to look into, and admire it, through all eternity. Why, why O ye sinners, will you not think of this love of CHRIST? Surely it must melt down the most hardened heart. Whilst I am speaking, the thought of this infinite and condescending love fires and warms my soul. I could dwell on it for ever. But it is expedient for you, that I should ask you another question concerning JESUS CHRIST.

_Thirdly_, What think you about being justified by CHRIST? I believe I can answer for some of you: for many, I fear, think to be justified or looked upon as righteous in GOD’s sight, without JESUS CHRIST. But such will find themselves dreadfully mistaken: for out of CHRIST, “GOD is a consuming fire.” Others satisfy themselves, with believing that CHRIST was GOD and man, and that he came into the world to save sinners in general; whereas, their chief concern ought to be, how they may be assured that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save them in particular. “The life that I now live in the flesh, (says the Apostle) is by faith of the Son of GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Observe, _for me_: it is this immediate application of JESUS CHRIST to our own hearts, that renders his merits effectual to our eternal salvation. An unapplied CHRIST will do us no service at all. Others there are who go still farther: for they think that JESUS CHRIST is God-man; that he is to be applied to their hearts; and that they can be justified in GOD’s sight, only in or through him: but then they make him only in part a saviour: They are for doing what they can themselves, and then JESUS CHRIST is to make up the deficiencies of their righteousness. This is the sum and substance of our modern divinity. And was it possible for me to know the thoughts of most that hear me this day, I believe they would tell me, this was the scheme they had laid, and perhaps depended on for some years, for their eternal salvation. Is it not then high time, my brethren, for you to entertain quite different thoughts concerning justification by JESUS CHRIST? For if you think thus, you are in the case of those unhappy _Jews_, who went about to establish their own righteousness, and would not submit to, and consequently missed of that righteousness which is of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. What think you then, if I tell you, that you are to be justified freely through faith in JESUS CHRIST, without any regard to any work or fitness foreseen in us at all? For salvation is the free gift of GOD. I know no fitness in man, but a fitness to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for ever. Our righteousnesses, in GOD’s sight, are but as filthy rags: he cannot away with them. Our holiness, if we have any, is not the cause, but the effect of our justification in GOD’s sight. “We love GOD, because he first loved us.” We must not come to GOD as the proud Pharisee did, bringing in as it were a reckoning of our services; we must come in the temper and language of the poor Publican, smiting upon our breasts, and saying, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner:” for JESUS CHRIST justifies us whilst we are ungodly. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. The poor in spirit only, they who are willing to go out of themselves, and rely wholly on the righteousness of another, are so blessed as to be members of his kingdom. The righteousness, the whole righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, is to be imputed to us, instead of our own: “For we are not under the law, but under grace: and to as many as walk after this rule, peace be on them:” for they, and they only are the true _Israel_ of GOD. In the great work of man’s redemption, boasting is entirely excluded: which could not be, if only one of our works was to be joined with the merits of CHRIST. Our salvation is all of GOD, from the beginning to the end: it is not of works, lest any man should boast: man has no hand in it: it is CHRIST who is to be made to us of GOD the Father, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and eternal redemption. His active as well as his passive obedience, is to be applied to poor sinners. He has fulfilled all righteousness in our stead, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in him. All we have to do, is to lay hold on this righteousness by faith: and the very moment we do apprehend it by a lively faith, that very moment we may be assured, that the blood of JESUS CHRIST has cleansed us from all sin: “For the promise is to us and to our children, and to as many as the LORD our GOD shall call.” If we and our whole houses believe, we shall be saved as well as the Jaylor and his house: for the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST is an everlasting, as well as a perfect righteousness. It is as effectual to all who believe in him now, as formerly; and so it will be, till time shall be no more. Search the scriptures, as the _Bereans_ did, and see whether these things are not so. Search St. _Paul_’s epistles to the _Romans_ and _Galatians_, and there you will find this doctrine so plainly taught you, that, unless you have eyes and see not, he that runs may read. Search the _Eleventh Article_ of our Church: “We are accounted righteous before GOD, only for the merits of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST by faith, and not for our own works or deservings.”

This doctrine of our free justification by faith in CHRIST JESUS, however censured and evil spoken of by our present Masters of _Israel_, was highly esteemed by our wise fore-fathers: for in the subsequent words of the forementioned article, it is called a most _wholesome doctrine_, and very full of comfort: and so it is to all that are weary and heavy laden, and are truly willing to find rest in JESUS CHRIST.

This is gospel, this is glad tidings of great joy to all that feel themselves poor, lost, undone, damned sinners. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come unto the waters of life, and drink freely; come and buy without money and without price.” Behold a fountain opened in your Saviour’s side, for sin and for all uncleanness. “Look unto him whom you have pierced:” look unto him by faith, and verily you shall be saved, though you came here only to ridicule and blaspheme, and never thought of GOD or of CHRIST before.

Not that you must think GOD will save you because, or on account of your faith; for faith is a work, and then you would be justified for your works: but when I tell you, we are to be justified by faith, I mean that faith is the instrument whereby the sinner applies or brings home the redemption of JESUS CHRIST to his heart. And to whomsoever GOD gives such a faith, (for it is the free gift of GOD) he may lift up his head with boldness, he need not fear; he is a spiritual son of our spiritual _David_; he is passed from death to life, he shall never come into condemnation. This is the gospel which we preach. If any man or angel preach any other gospel, than this of our being freely justified through faith in CHRIST JESUS, we have the authority of the greatest Apostle, to pronounce him accursed.

And now, my brethren, what think you of this foolishness of preaching? To you that have tasted the good word of life, who have been enlightened to see the riches of GOD’s free grace in CHRIST JESUS, I am persuaded it is precious, and has distilled like the dew into your souls. And O that all were like-minded! But I am afraid, numbers are ready to go away contradicting and blaspheming. Tell me, are there not many of you saying within yourselves, “This is a licentious doctrine; this preacher is opening a door for encouragement in sin.” But this does not surprize me at all, it is a stale, antiquated objection, as old as the doctrine of justification itself; and (which by the way is not much to the credit of those who urge it now) it was made by an infidel. St. _Paul_, in his epistle to the _Romans_, after he had, in the first five chapters, demonstrably proved the doctrine of justification by faith alone; in the sixth, brings in an unbeliever saying, “Shall we continue in sin then, that grace may abound?” But as he rejected such an inference with a “GOD forbid!” so do I: for the faith which we preach, is not a dead speculative faith, an assenting to things credible, as credible, as it is commonly defined: it is not a faith of the head only, but a faith of the heart. It is a living principle wrought in the soul, by the Spirit of the ever-living GOD, convincing the sinner of his lost, undone condition by nature; enabling him to apply and lay hold on the perfect righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, freely offered him in the gospel, and continually exciting him, out of a principle of love and gratitude, to shew forth that faith, by abounding in every good word and work. This is the sum and substance of the doctrine that has been delivered. And if this be a licentious doctrine, judge ye. No, my brethren, this is not destroying, but teaching you how to do good works, from a proper principle. For to use the words of our Church in another of her Articles, “Works done before the grace of CHRIST, and the inspiration of the Spirit, are not pleasant to GOD, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in JESUS CHRIST; rather, for that they are not done as GOD has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin.” So that they who bid you do, and then live, are just as wise as those who would persuade you to build a beautiful magnificent house, without laying a foundation.

It is true, the doctrine of our free justification by faith in CHRIST JESUS, like other gospel truths, may and will be abused by men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith; but they who receive the truth of GOD in the love of it, will always be shewing their faith by their works. For this reason, St. _Paul_, after he had told the _Ephesians_, “By grace they were saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast,” immediately adds, “For we are his workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS unto good works.” And in his epistle to _Titus_, having given him directions to tell the people they were justified by grace, directly subjoins, chapter iii. verse 8. “I will that you affirm constantly, that they who have believed in GOD might be careful to maintain good works.” Agreeable to this, we are told in our Twelfth Article, “That albeit good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of GOD’s judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to GOD in CHRIST; and do spring necessarily out of a true and lively faith, insomuch, that a lively faith may be as evidently known by them, as a tree discerned by the fruit.”

What would I give, that this Article was duly understood and preached by all that have subscribed to it! The ark of the LORD would not then be driven into the wilderness, nor would so many persons dissent from the Church of _England_. For I am fully persuaded, that it is not so much on account of rites and ceremonies, as our not preaching the truth as it is in JESUS, that so many have been obliged to go and seek for food elsewhere. Did not we fall from our established doctrines, few, comparatively speaking, would fall from the Established Church. Where CHRIST is preached, though it be in a church or on a common, dissenters of all denominations have, and do most freely come. But if our clergy will preach only the law, and not shew the way of salvation by faith in CHRIST JESUS, the charge of schism at the day of judgment, I fear, will chiefly lye at their door. The true sheep of CHRIST know the voice of CHRIST’s true shepherds, and strangers they will not hear.

Observe, my dear brethren, the words of the Article, “Good works are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification.” How then can they precede, or be any way the cause of it? Our persons must be justified, before our performances can be accepted. GOD had respect to _Abel_ before he had respect to his offering: and therefore the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST must be freely imputed to, and apprehended by us through faith, before we can offer an acceptable sacrifice to GOD: for out of CHRIST, as I hinted before, GOD is a consuming fire: and whatsoever is not of faith in CHRIST, is sin.

That people mistake the doctrine of free justification, I believe, is partly owing to their not rightly considering the different persons to whom St. _Paul_ and St. _James_ wrote in their epistles; as also the different kind of justification each of them writes about. The former asserts in line upon line, argument upon argument, “That we are justified by faith alone:” The latter put this question, “Was not _Abraham_ justified by works?” From whence many, not considering the different views of these holy men, and the different persons they wrote to, have blended and joined faith and works, in order to justify us in the sight of GOD. But this is a capital mistake; for St. _Paul_ was writing to the _Jewish_ proselytes, who sought righteousness by the works, not of the ceremonial only, but of the moral law. In contradistinction to that, he tells them, they were to look for justification in GOD’s sight, only by the perfect righteousness of JESUS CHRIST apprehended by faith. St. _James_ had a different set of people to deal with; such who abused the doctrines of free justification, and thought they should be saved (as numbers among us do now) upon their barely professing to believe on JESUS CHRIST. These the holy Apostle endeavours wisely to convince, that such a faith was only a dead and false faith; and therefore, it behoved all who would be blessed with faithful _Abraham_, to shew forth their faith by their works, as he did: “For was not _Abraham_ justified by works?” Did he not prove that his faith was a true justifying faith, by its being productive of good works? From whence it is plain, that St. _James_ is talking of a declarative justification before men; shew me, demonstrate, evidence to me, that thou hast a true faith, by thy works: Whereas, St. _Paul_ is talking only of our being justified in the sight of GOD; and thus he proves, that _Abraham_, as we also are to be, was justified before ever the moral or ceremonial law was given to the _Jews_: for it is written, “_Abraham_ believed in the LORD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Take the substance of what has been said on this head, in the few following words. Every man that is saved, is justified three ways: _First_, _meritoriously_, by the death of JESUS CHRIST: “It is the blood of JESUS CHRIST alone that cleanses us from all sin.” _Secondly_, _instrumentally_, by faith: faith is the means or instrument whereby the merits of JESUS CHRIST are applied to the sinner’s heart: “Ye are all the children of GOD by faith in CHRIST JESUS.” _Thirdly_, we are justified _declaratively_; namely, by good works: good works declare and prove to the world, that our faith is a true saving faith. “Was not _Abraham_ justified by works?” And again, “Shew me thy faith by thy works.”

It may not be improper to illustrate this doctrine by an example or two. I suppose no one will pretend to say, that there was any fitness for salvation in _Zaccheus_ the publican, when he came to see JESUS out of no better principle, than that whereby perhaps thousands are led to hear me preach; I mean, curiosity: but JESUS CHRIST prevented and called him by his free grace, and sweetly, but irresistibly inclined him to obey that call; as, I pray GOD, he may influence all you that come only to see who the preacher is. _Zaccheus_ received our LORD joyfully into his house, and at the same time by faith received him into his heart: _Zaccheus_ was then freely justified in the sight of GOD. But behold the immediate fruits of that justification! He stands forth in the midst, and as before he had believed in his heart, he now makes confession with his mouth to salvation: “Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I give unto the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him four-fold.” And thus it will be with thee, O believer, as soon as ever GOD’s dear Son is revealed in thee by a living faith; thou wilt have no rest in thy spirit, till out of love and gratitude for what GOD has done for thy soul, thou shewest forth thy faith by thy works.

Again, I suppose every body will grant there was no fitness for salvation in the persecutor _Saul_; no more than there is in those persecuting zealots of these last days, who are already breathing out threatenings, and, if in their power, would breathe out slaughter also, against the disciples of the LORD.

Now our LORD, we know, freely prevented him by his grace, (and O that he would thus effectually call the persecutors of this generation) and by a light from heaven struck him to the ground. At the same time, by his Spirit, he pricked him to the heart, convinced him of sin, and caused him to cry out, “Who art thou, LORD?” CHRIST replies, “I am JESUS whom thou persecutest.” Faith then was instantaneously given to him, and behold, immediately _Saul_ cries out, “LORD, what wouldst thou have me to do?” And so will every poor soul that believes on the LORD JESUS with his whole heart. He will be always asking, LORD, what shall I do for thee? LORD, what wouldst thou have me to do? Not to justify himself, but only to evidence the sincerity of his love and thankfulness to his all-merciful High-priest, for plucking him as a firebrand out of the fire.

Perhaps many self-righteous persons amongst you, may flatter yourselves, that you are not so wicked as either _Zaccheus_ or _Saul_ was, and consequently there is a greater fitness for salvation in you than in them. But if you think thus, indeed you think more highly of yourselves than you ought to think: for by nature we are all alike, all equally fallen short of the glory of GOD, all equally dead in trespasses and sins, and there needs the same almighty power to be exerted in converting any one of the most sober, good-natured, moral persons here present, as there was in converting the publican _Zaccheus_, or that notorious persecutor _Saul_. And was it possible for you to ascend into the highest heaven, and to enquire of the spirits of just men made perfect, I am persuaded they would tell you this doctrine is from GOD. But we have a more sure word of prophecy, to which we do well to give heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place. My brethren, the word is nigh you; search the scriptures; beg of GOD to make you willing to be saved in this day of his power: for it is not flesh and blood, but the Spirit of JESUS CHRIST, that alone can reveal these things unto you.

_Fourthly_ and _Lastly_, What think you of JESUS CHRIST being formed within you? For whom CHRIST justifies, them he also sanctifies. Although he finds, yet he does not leave us unholy. A true christian may not so properly be said to live, as JESUS CHRIST to live in him. For they only that are led by the Spirit of CHRIST, are the true sons of GOD.

As I observed before, so I tell you again, the faith which we preach is not a dead, but a lively active faith wrought in the soul, working a thorough change, by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the whole man: and unless CHRIST be thus in you, notwithstanding you may be orthodox as to the foregoing principles, notwithstanding you may have good desires, and attend constantly on the means of grace; yet, in St. _Paul_’s opinion, you are out of a state of salvation. “Know you not, (says that Apostle to the _Corinthians_, a church famous for its gifts above any church under heaven) that CHRIST is in you, (by his Spirit) unless you are reprobates?”

For CHRIST came not only to save us from the guilt, but from the power of our sins: till he has done this, however he may be a Saviour to others, we can have no assurance or well-grounded hope, that he has saved us: for it is by receiving his blessed Spirit into our hearts, and feeling him witnessing with our spirits, that we are the sons of GOD, that we can be certified of our being sealed to the day of redemption.

This is a great mystery; but I speak of CHRIST and the new-birth. Marvel not at my asking you, what you think about CHRIST being formed within you? For either GOD must change his nature, or we ours. For as in _Adam_ we all have spiritually died, so all that are effectually saved by CHRIST, must in CHRIST be spiritually made alive. His only end in dying and rising again, and interceding for us now in heaven, is to redeem us from the misery of our fallen nature, and, by the operation of his blessed Spirit, to make us meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light. None but those that thus are changed by his grace here, shall appear with him in glory hereafter.

Examine yourselves, therefore, my brethren, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves; and think it not sufficient to say in your creed, I believe in JESUS CHRIST: many say so, who do not believe, who are reprobates, and yet in a state of death. You take GOD’s name in vain, when you call him Father, and your prayers are turned into sin, unless you believe in CHRIST, so as to have your life hid with him in GOD, and to receive life and nourishment from him, as branches do from the vine.

I know, indeed, the men of this generation deny there is any such thing as feeling CHRIST within them; but alas! to what a dreadful condition would such reduce us, even to the state of the abandoned heathen, who, St. _Paul_ tells us, “were past feeling.” The Apostle prays, that the _Ephesians_ may abound in all knowledge and spiritual understanding, or as it might be rendered, spiritual sensation. And in the office for the visitation of the sick, the minister prays, that the LORD may make the sick person know and feel, that there is no other name under heaven given unto men, in whom and through whom they may receive health and salvation, but only the name of our LORD JESUS. For there is a spiritual, as well as a corporeal feeling; and though this is not communicated to us in a sensible manner, as outward objects affect our senses, yet it is as real as any sensible or visible sensation, and may be as truly felt and discerned by the soul, as any impression from without can be felt by the body. All who are born again of GOD, know that I lie not.

What think you, Sirs, did _Naaman_ feel, when he was cured of his leprosy? Did the woman feel virtue coming out of JESUS CHRIST, when she touched the hem of his garment, and was cured of her bloody issue? So surely mayst thou feel, O believer, when JESUS CHRIST dwelleth in thy heart. I pray GOD to make you all know and feel this, ere you depart hence.

O my brethren, my heart is enlarged towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden, but powerful presence of CHRIST, whilst I am preaching to you. Indeed it is sweet, it is exceedingly comfortable. All the harm I wish you, who without cause are my enemies, is, that you felt the like. Believe me, though it would be hell to my soul, to return to a natural state again, yet I would willingly change states with you for a little while, that you might know what it is to have CHRIST dwelling in your hearts by faith. Do not turn your backs; do not let the devil hurry you away: be not afraid of convictions; do not think worse of the doctrine, because preached without the church walls. Our LORD, in the days of his flesh, preached on a mount, in a ship, and a field; and I am persuaded, many have felt his gracious presence here. Indeed we speak what we know. Do not reject the kingdom of GOD against yourselves: be so wise as to receive our witness. I cannot, I will not let you go; stay a little, let us reason together. However lightly you may esteem your souls, I know our LORD has set an unspeakable value on them. He thought them worthy of his most precious blood. I beseech you, therefore, O sinners, be ye reconciled to GOD. I hope you do not fear being accepted in the beloved. Behold, he calleth you; behold, he prevents and follows you with his mercy, and hath sent forth his servants into the highways and hedges, to compel you to come in. Remember then, that at such an hour of such a day, in such a year, in this place, you were all told what you ought to think concerning JESUS CHRIST. If you now perish, it will not be for lack of knowledge: I am free from the blood of you all. You cannot say I have been preaching damnation to you; you cannot say I have, like legal preachers, been requiring you to make brick without straw. I have not bidden you to make yourselves saints, and then come to GOD; but I have offered you salvation on as cheap terms as you can desire. I have offered you CHRIST’s whole wisdom, CHRIST’s whole righteousness, CHRIST’s whole sanctification and eternal redemption, if you will but believe on him. If you say, you cannot believe, you say right; for faith, as well as every other blessing, is the gift of GOD: but then wait upon GOD, and who knows but he may have mercy on thee? Why do we not entertain more loving thoughts of CHRIST? Or do you think he will have mercy on others, and not on you? But are you not sinners? And did not JESUS CHRIST come into the world to save sinners? If you say you are the chief of sinners; I answer, that will be no hindrance to your salvation, indeed it will not, if you lay hold on him by faith. Read the Evangelists, and see how kindly he behaved to his disciples who fled from and denied him: “Go tell my brethren,” says he. He did not say, Go tell those traitors; but, “Go tell my brethren, and _Peter_:” as though he had said, Go tell my brethren in general, and poor _Peter_ in particular, “that I am risen;” O comfort his poor drooping heart, tell him I am reconciled to him; bid him weep no more so bitterly: for though with oaths and curses he thrice denied me, yet I have died for his sins, I am risen again for his justification: I freely forgive him all. Thus slow to anger, and of great kindness, was our all-merciful High-priest. And do you think he has changed his nature, and forgets poor sinners, now he is exalted to the right-hand of GOD? No, he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, and sitteth there only to make intercession for us. Come then, ye harlots, Come ye publicans, come ye most abandoned of sinners, come and believe on JESUS CHRIST. Though the whole world despise you and cast you out, yet he will not disdain to take you up. O amazing, O infinitely condescending love! even you, he will not be ashamed to call his brethren. How will you escape if you neglect such a glorious offer of salvation? What would the damned spirits, now in the prison of hell, give, if CHRIST was so freely offered to their souls? And why are not we lifting up our eyes in torments? Does any one out of this great multitude dare say, he does not deserve damnation? If not, why are we left, and others taken away by death? What is this but an instance of GOD’s free grace, and a sign of his good will towards us? Let GOD’s goodness lead us to repentance! O let there be joy in heaven over some of you repenting! Though we are in a field, I am persuaded the blessed angels are hovering now around us, and do long, “as the hart panteth after the water-brooks,” to sing an anthem at your conversion. Blessed be GOD, I hope their joy will be fulfilled. An awful silence appears amongst us. I have good hope that the words which the LORD has enabled me to speak in your ears this day, have not altogether fallen to the ground. Your tears and deep attention, are an evidence, that the LORD GOD is amongst us of a truth. Come, ye Pharisees, come and see, in spite of your satanical rage and fury, the LORD JESUS is getting himself the victory. And brethren, I speak the truth in CHRIST, I lie not, if one soul of you, by the blessing of GOD, be brought to think savingly of JESUS CHRIST this day, I care not if my enemies were permitted to carry me to prison, and put my feet fast in the stocks, as soon as I have delivered this sermon. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to GOD is, that you may be saved. For this cause I follow my Master without the camp. I care not how much of his sacred reproach I bear, so that some of you be converted from the errors of your ways. I rejoice, yea and I will rejoice. Ye men, ye devils, do your worst: the LORD who sent, will support me. And when CHRIST, who is our life, and whom I have now been preaching, shall appear, I also, together with his despised little ones, shall appear with him in glory. And then, what will you think of CHRIST? I know what you will think of him. You will then think him to be the fairest among ten thousand: You will then think and feel him to be a just and sin-avenging judge. Be ye then persuaded to kiss him lest he be angry, and so you be banished for ever from the presence of the LORD. Behold, I come to you as the angel did to _Lot_. Flee, flee, for your lives; haste, linger no longer in your spiritual _Sodom_, for otherwise you will be eternally destroyed. Numbers, no doubt, there are amongst you, that may regard me no more than _Lot_’s sons-in-law regarded him. I am persuaded I seem to some of you as one that mocketh: but I speak the truth in CHRIST, I lie not; as sure as fire and brimstone was rained from the LORD out of heaven, to destroy _Sodom_ and _Gomorrah_, so surely, at the great day, shall the vials of GOD’s wrath be poured on you, if you do not think seriously of, and act agreeable to the gospel of the LORD’s CHRIST. Behold, I have told you before; and I pray GOD, all you that forget him may seriously think of what has been said, before he pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

Now to GOD the Father, &c.

SERMON XXV.

The wise and foolish Virgins.

MATTHEW xxv. 13.

_Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of man cometh._

THE apostle _Paul_, in his epistle to the _Hebrews_, informs us, “That it is appointed for all men once to die; after that is the judgment.” And I think, if any consideration be sufficient to awaken a sleeping drowsy world, it must be this, That there will be a day wherein these heavens shall be wrapt up like a scroll, this element melt with fervent heat, the earth and all things therein be burnt up, and every soul, of every nation and language, summoned to appear before the dreadful tribunal of the righteous Judge of quick and dead, to receive rewards and punishments, according to the deeds done in their bodies. The great apostle just mentioned, when brought before _Felix_, could think of no better means to convert that sinful man, than to reason of temperance, righteousness, and more especially of a judgment to come. The first might in some measure affect, but, I am persuaded, it was the last consideration, a judgment to come, that made him to tremble: and so bad as the world is now grown, yet there are few have their consciences so far seared, as to deny that there will be a reckoning hereafter. The promiscuous dispensations of providence in this life, wherein we see good men afflicted, destitute, tormented, and the wicked permitted triumphantly to ride over their heads, has been always looked upon as an indisputable argument, by the generality of men, that there will be a day in which GOD will judge the world in righteousness, and administer equity unto his people. Some indeed are so bold as to deny it, while they are engaged in the pursuit of the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. But follow them to their death-beds, ask them, when their souls are ready to launch into eternity, what they then think of a judgment to come? and they will tell you, they dare not give their consciences the lie any longer. They feel a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation in their hearts. Since then these things are so, does it not highly concern each of us, my brethren, before we come on a bed of sickness, seriously to examine how the account stands between GOD and our souls, and how it will fare with us in that day? As for the openly prophane, the drunkard, the whoremonger, the adulterer, and such-like, there is no doubt of what will become of them; without repentance they shall never enter into the kingdom of GOD and his CHRIST: no; their damnation slumbereth not; a burning fiery _Tophet_, kindled by the fury of GOD’s eternal wrath, is prepared for their reception, wherein they must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Nor is there the least doubt of the state of true believers. For though they are despised and rejected of natural men, yet being born again of GOD, they are heirs of GOD, and joint heirs with CHRIST. They have the earnest of the promised inheritance in their hearts, and are assured, that a new and living way is made open for them, into the holy of holies, by the blood of JESUS CHRIST, into which an abundant entrance shall be administered to them at the great day of account. The only question is, what will become of the _almost Christian_, one that is content to go, as he thinks, in a middle way to heaven, without being prophane on the one hand, or, as he falsly imagines, righteous over-much on the other? Many there are in every congregation, and consequently some here present, of this stamp. And what is worst of all, it is more easy to convince the most notorious publicans and sinners of their being out of a state of salvation, than any of these. Notwithstanding, if JESUS CHRIST may be our judge, they shall as certainly be rejected and disowned by him at the last day, as though they lived in open defiance of all his laws. For what says our LORD in the parable of which the words of the text are a conclusion, and which I intend to make the subject of my present discourse. “Then,” at the day of judgment, which he had been discoursing of in the foregoing, and prosecutes in this chapter, “shall the kingdom of heaven, (the state of professors in the gospel church) be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” In which words, is a manifest allusion to a custom prevailing in our LORD’s time among the _Jews_ at marriage solemnities, which were generally at night, and at which it was customary for the persons of the bride-chamber to go out in procession, with many lights, to meet the bridegroom. By the _bridegroom_, you are here to understand JESUS CHRIST. The church, i. e. true believers, are his _spouse_; he is united to them by one spirit, even in this life; but the solemnizing of these sacred nuptials, is reserved till the day of judgment, when he shall come to take them home to himself, and present them before men and angels, as his purchase, to his Father, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. By the ten virgins we are to understand, the professors of christianity in general. All are called virgins, because all are called to be saints. Whosoever names the name of CHRIST, is obliged by that very profession to depart from all iniquity. But the pure and chaste in heart, are the only persons that will be so blessed as to see GOD. As CHRIST was born of a virgin, so he can dwell in none but virgin souls, made pure and holy by the cohabitation of his holy Spirit. What says the apostle? “All are not _Israelites_ that are of _Israel_,” all are not christians that are called after the name of CHRIST: No, says our LORD, in the 2d verse, “Five of those virgins were wise,” true believers, “and five were foolish,” formal hypocrites. But why are five said to be wise, and the other five foolish? Hear what our LORD says in the following verses; “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” They that were foolish took their lamps of an outward profession. They would go to church, say over several manuals of prayers, come perhaps into a field to hear a sermon, give at a collection, and receive the sacrament constantly, nay, oftner than once a month. But then here lay the mistake; they had no oil in their lamps, no principle of grace, no living faith in their hearts, without which, though we should give all our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burnt, it would profit us nothing. In short, they were exact, nay, perhaps superstitious bigots as to the form, but all the while they were strangers to, and, in effect, denied the power of godliness in their hearts. They would go to church, but at the same time, think it no harm to go to a ball or an assembly, notwithstanding they promised at their baptism, to renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. They were so exceedingly fearful of being righteous over-much, that they would even persecute those that were truly devout, if they attempted to go a step farther than themselves. In one word, they never effectually felt the power of the world to come. They thought they might be christians without so much inward feeling, and therefore, notwithstanding their high pretensions, had only a name to live.

And now, Sirs, let me pause a while, and in the name of GOD, whom I endeavour to serve in the gospel of his dear Son, give me leave to ask one question. Whilst I have been drawing, though in miniature, the character of these foolish virgins, have not many of your consciences made the application, and with a small, still, though articulate voice, said, Thou man, thou woman, art one of those foolish virgins, for thy sentiments and practice agree thereto? Stifle not, but rather encourage these convictions; and who knows, but that ♦the LORD who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him faithfully, may so work upon you even by this foolishness of preaching, as to make you wise virgins before you return home?

♦ insert missing word “the”

What they were you shall know immediately: “But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” Observe, the wise, the true believers, had their lamps as well as the foolish virgins; for christianity does not require us to cast off all outward forms; we may use forms, and yet not be formal: for instance, it is possible to worship GOD in a set form of prayer, and yet worship him in spirit and in truth. And therefore, brethren, let us not judge one another. The wise virgins had their lamps; herein did not lie the difference between them and the foolish, that one worshipped GOD with a form, and the other did not: No: as the Pharisee and Publican went up to the temple to pray, so these wise and foolish virgins might go to the same place of worship, and sit under the same ministry; but then the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps; they kept up the form, but did not rest in it; their words in prayer were the language of their hearts, and they were no strangers to inward feelings; they were not afraid of searching doctrines, nor affronted when ministers told them they deserved to be damned; they were not self-righteous, but were willing that JESUS CHRIST should have all the glory of their salvation; they were convinced that the merits of JESUS CHRIST were to be apprehended only by faith; but yet were they as careful to maintain good works, as though they were to be justified by them: in short, their obedience flowed from love and gratitude, and was chearful, constant, uniform, universal, like that obedience which the holy angels pay our Father in heaven.

Here then let me exhort you to pause again; and if any of you can faithfully apply these characters to your hearts, give GOD the glory, and take the comfort to your own souls; you are not false but true believers. JESUS CHRIST has been made of GOD to you wisdom, even that wisdom, whereby you shall be made wise unto salvation. GOD sees a difference between you and foolish virgins, if natural men will not. You need not be uneasy, though one chance and fate in this life may happen to you both. I say, one chance and fate; for, verse 5. “while the bridegroom tarried,” in the space of time which passed between our LORD’s ascension and his coming again to judgment, “they all slumbered and slept.” The wise as well as foolish died, for dust we are, and to dust we must return. It is no reflection at all upon the divine goodness, that believers, as well as hypocrites, must pass through the valley of the shadow of death; for CHRIST has taken away the sting of death, so that we need fear no evil. It is to them a passage to everlasting life: death is only terrible to those who have no hope, because they live without faith in the world. Whosoever there are amongst you, that have received the first-fruits of the spirit, I am persuaded you are ready to cry out, we would not live here always, we long to be dissolved, that we may be with JESUS CHRIST; and though worms must destroy our bodies as well as others, yet we are content, being assured that our Redeemer liveth, that he will stand at the latter days upon the earth, and that in our flesh we shall see GOD.