SERM.
XVIII.

[Matt. 19.
25.]

[Matt. 25.

41; John 5.29.]

Let no christian therefore say, as Christ's disciple once did, WHO CAN BE SAVED? Every christian, every sinner, every man, to whom this word of salvation is preached, may be saved, if he will strive to work out his salvation with a concern answerable to what he is to gain or lose by it.

The misery of it is, christians are apt to say, WHO CAN BE SAVED? And yet live as if it were the easiest thing in the world; as if there were no manner of hazard; as if every body would be saved of course. This shews the corruption of our nature with a witness; and this corrupt nature must be mended, as ever we hope to be saved.

Indeed, we are all sinners. But our greatest danger does not lie in that, because we have a certain remedy at hand; but our great danger lies, in our not sufficiently considering the danger of sin, and in our rejecting the only remedy; in not considering, that this life is given, and continued to us, for no other end, but that we may every one of us work out our own salvation.

For this life is indeed a state of trial; and it concerns every one of us, as much as his soul is worth, to take care how he spends this short life; forasmuch as God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, when every man will receive a sentence according to his works done in the body, that is, in this life. By which sentence, they that have DONE GOOD, who have been zealous of good works, shall go into LIFE EVERLASTING; and they that have DONE EVIL, and have not repented of the evil they have done, shall go into EVERLASTING FIRE.

Dreadful sentence indeed to all such as will not close with the salvation offered them by Jesus Christ; who will not consider and take pains, and do good now, that they may escape the bitter pains of eternal death! But a comfortable sentence to such whose life is full of good works; who try and judge themselves now; and who endeavour to prevent the judgment of God by a sincere repentance.

And now, good christians, what can I add more, than to exhort and to beseech you, that you take care, that no seducing spirit beguile you of your reward, by leading you into error. That no profane person, or instrument of that seducing spirit, of which there are but too many amongst us, do weaken your

faith, or laugh you out of your hopes of heaven. That no loose and debauched persons, who are slaves of that evil spirit, do by their pestilent examples make you as wicked as themselves, and fit only for the society of devils when you die. And lastly, that your own corrupt hearts do not betray you into an indifference for your souls, and for the things that concern your eternal welfare.

15.]

And may the Blessed Jesus Christ, who came into the world [1 Tim. 1. to save sinners, may He enable all of us so to live, that, when we come to die, we may be numbered with His saints in glory

everlasting. Amen.

SERMON XIX.

ALL PLEAS AND EXCUSES FOR LIVING IN IGNORANCE AND SIN MADE VOID BY GOD, IN MAKING HIS WILL AND PURPOSES KNOWN IN THE GOSPEL.

JOHN XV. 22.

But now they have no cloak [or, excuse] for their sin.

Ir is most natural for people, when they have done amiss, to lay the blame any where but on themselves; and it is as natural, when they would follow their inclinations against their conscience, to hope that God will accept of what excuse they can make.

Our first parents did so. The man blamed the woman; the woman blamed the serpent; when the fault was plainly in themselves and accordingly they were both punished, notwithstanding their apology.

:

It was just so with the people of the Jews. They had impatiently expected the Messiah, whom God had promised by His Prophets from the beginning of the world. When the Messiah came, they utterly rejected Him, though He had most undeniable proofs of His being sent from God; particularly His doctrine, which was most worthy of God, and His miracles, which were such as none other ever had done. To these Jesus Christ appeals, and declares, that after this "they had no cloak for their sin." That such as should reject Him, and the gracious message He brought them from God, whatever they had to say for themselves, they would be punished as most wicked opposers of God's good will towards them.

Now, as inexcusable as these people were in denying their Lord and Saviour, notwithstanding the abundant proofs of

His authority, it will appear, that this is the very case of all such christians as profess to know God, but in works deny [Tit. 1. 16.] Him; that men are as apt now, as ever they were, and with as little reason, to offer excuses for those sins which they commit against the light of nature and the laws of God; but that this sentence of Jesus Christ, "they have now no cloak for their sin," is as righteous and true against us, if we obey not the Gospel, as ever it was against the Jews, who crucified the Son of God; and we shall as certainly be punished (whatever we can say for ourselves) as ever they were.

Now, that this may appear with all the plainness that a matter of this importance should do, and may more sensibly affect all our hearts, I shall first lay before you such excuses as men are apt to offer for their living in ignorance and sin: and then I shall endeavour to satisfy you, that God has most effectually made void all pretences and pleas whatever, by making His will and purposes known to us, after so gracious and convincing a manner. And then it will appear, whether we can have any cloak for sin,-any that can hide us from the wrath of God revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteous- [Rom. 1. ness of men.

I. And first, I shall lay before you such pleas and excuses as men usually offer for their living in ignorance and sin.

It is certain, no man chooses to live in sin on purpose to displease God. It is as sure, that few people think they shall die in their sins unrepented of, and that they shall have eternal torments for their portion. But here is the case: we are but too apt, through the corruption of nature, to be very fond of many things, which God (knowing they would hurt us) has forbidden us, upon pain of His everlasting displeasure. His everlasting displeasure we cannot think of without horror: neither can we, without some trouble and pains, deny ourselves, or do what God has commanded us.

We have therefore found out some excuses, which, for the present, serve to make our minds easy, though we live in a careless neglect of God's commands, and consequently of our o:en salvation.

For example:

First; There are people who think, that if they have not faith, it is for want of sufficient evidence; and that they are

18.]

SERM. not bound to obey the Gospel, till they confess they have reason to do so.

XIX.

Secondly; There are others who excuse themselves upon the account of worldly business, which takes up most of their thoughts and time.

Thirdly; And there are very many who doubt not but that their want of capacity to know their duty, will excuse their not doing it.

Fourthly; It is often said, that temptations are so many, and the difficulties of religion so great, that an allowance must be made, or few would be saved.

Lastly; If no other excuse will do, people are most apt to shelter themselves under the mercy of God, and hope (through His goodness) all will be well with them at last.

Now, it is most certain, that none of these (and these are the most common excuses) will save us from the wrath of [1Pet.4.17.] God, if we obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Acts 26. 22.]

I. And first, they that would make the want of faith a cloak for their disobedience, are either such as pretend they want evidence to convince them of the truth of the Gospel; or they are such as complain they want a degree of faith sufficient to incline their hearts to obedience.

The first are such as are by Jesus Christ Himself condemned in this place. They would not, and they pretended they could not, believe "that He was sent from God;" they despised His message; they would not receive His doctrine; they gave no heed to His miracles; nor would they have patience, or be at the pains, to see whether this was He whom the Prophets did say should come. In short, they could not say what would convince them, if neither a doctrine worthy of God, nor works which none but God could do, were not sufficient. Jesus Christ therefore, without giving them more proofs, or the sign they demanded, positively pronounces their judgment in these words, "now they have no cloak for their sin."

And truly, it is to little purpose to argue with unbelievers of this sort, where the fault is not the want of evidence, but the want of an heart disposed to receive it. And, therefore, the Spirit of God is never solicitous to prove such things as all people ought to know, and may know, if it is not their