t In uni/no religionem habeat, sed in actibus Jingat.
; . . thai quod reprehendebat, agebat quod arguebat, quod cidpabat adorabat.
SERM. XXXIII. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 4-1-9
tate him into ruin. You may know much more than others, but if ever you come to heaven, it must be in the same way of faith and obedience, mortification, and self-denial, in which the weakest Christian comes thither; whatever knowledge you have, to be sure you have no wisdom, if you expect salvation upon any other, or easier terms than the most illiterate Christian finds it. It was a sad observation of the father, Surgunt indocti, et rapiunt caelum ; the unlearned rise, and take heaven. What a pity is it that men of such excellent parts should be enslaved to their lusts ! that ever it should be said, Sapientis sapienter descendant in Gehennam ; their learning doth but hang in their light, it doth but blind them in spiritual things, and prepareth them for greater misery.
Inf. 4. Hence also it follows, that the xvork of conversion is a very difficult work ; the soul is scarcely half won to Christ, when Satan is cast out of the understanding by illumination. The devil hath deeply intrenched himself, and strongly fortified every faculty of the soul against Christ ; the understanding, indeed, is the first entrance into the soul, and out of that faculty he is oftentimes cast by light and conviction, which seems to make a great change upon a man : now he becomes a professor, now he takes up the duties of reli- gion, and parses up and down the world for a convert ; but, alas, alas ! all the while Satan keeps the fort-royal, the heart and will are in his own possession ; and this is a work of more difficulty : the weapons of that warfare must indeed be mighty through God, which do not only cast down imaginations, but bring every thought of the heart into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. While the heart stands out, though the understanding be taken in, the soul remains in Satan's possession; it is a greater work, (and we daily find it so,) to win one heart than to convince twenty understandings.
Inf. 5. Hence also we may learn what strength and power there is in the lusts of metis hearts, which are able to bear dozen so strong convictions of the conscience before them. That is a great truth, though a very sad one, Eccl. viii. 11. " The heart of the sons of " men is fully set in them to do evil." O how common is it every day, and in every place to see men hazarding their souls to satisfy their lusts ! Every man, saith the prophet, " turneth to his course, " as the horse rusheth into the battle." The horse is a very fierce and warlike creature; and when his courage is roused by the sounds of drums and trumpets and shouts of armies, he breaks headlong into the ranks of armed men, though death is before him. Such boisterous and headlong lusts are found in many enlightened per- sons, though their consciences represent damnation before them ; onward they will rush, though God be lost, and a precious soul undone for ever.
450 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SERM. XXXIII.
Inf. 6. To conclude, As ever you -will avoid the deepest guilt, and escape the heaviest condemnation, open your hearts to obey and prac- tise whatsoever God hath opened your understandings and con- sciences to receive of his revealed will ; obey the light of the gospel, while you have opportunity to enjoy it : this was the great counsel given by Christ, John xii. 35, 36. " Yet a little while the light is u with you, walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon vou." The manifestation of Christ in the gospel, is the light of the world; all the nations of the earth that want this light are benighted; and those upon whom this light is risen, have but a short time under it ; " Yet a little while the light is with you :" and whatever pa- tience God may exercise towards poor ignorant souls, yet common- ly he makes short work with the despisers of this light. The light of the gospel is a shining lamp, fed with golden oil ; God will not be at the expence for such a light for them that do but trifle with it. The night is coming when no man can work. There are many sad signs upon us of a setting sun, a night of darkness ap- proaching ; many burning and shining lights are extinguished, and mmy put under a bushel ; your work is great, your time short, this is the only space you have for repentance, Rev. ii. 21. If this opportunity of salvation be lost it will never come again, Ezek. xxiv. 13. How pathetical was that lamentation which Christ made over Jerusalem, Luke xix. 41, 42. "And when he was come near, " he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, " even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto Ci thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes." Christ is threatening those nations with the removal of his gospel presence ; he hath found but cold entertainment among us : England hath been unkind to Christ ; many thousands there are that rebel against the light, that say unto God, " Depart from us, we desire not the " knowledge of thy ways." Christ will not tarry where he is not welcome ; who would, that hath any where else to go ? Obey the light therefore, lest God put it out in obscure darkness.
SEEM. XXXIV. THE METHOD OF GRACE.
The blinding Policies of Satan opened, as the cause of Un- belief, and Forerunner of Destruction.
But if our gosjicl be hid, it is hid to them that are lost ; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, test the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.