Inf. 1. If the opening of the heart to Christ be the great and di- rect intention and end of the gospel, How are tlieij deceived thai bless themselves in the attainment of some lesser end and intentions of the gospel, whilst the great end (the effectual persuasion of the will to Christ) 19 not at all effected upon them. There are some collateral strokes, some by-effects as I may call them, which the gospel hath upon men. It would pity a wise considerate man to see how poor souls hug themselves with a conceited happiness in these lesser things, whilst they still stick fast in the state of unregeneracy. I would fain undeceive such mistaken wretches who bow down under the power of self-deceit, and that in so great and important a point, in which their eternal salvation is concerned. There be two things which are exceeding apt to deceive men in this matter ; viz. 1. Partial convictions on the understanding. ^. Transient motions upon the affections.
In these two things multitudes deceive themselves, as if the whole design of the gospel were accomplished upon them therein. (1.) Partial convictions upon the understanding ; light and knowledge breaking into the mind, producing orthodoxy of judgment ; this seems to be the effectual opening of the understanding to Christ, though alas ! to this day they never saw sin in its vileness, much less their own special sin ; nor Christ in his suitableness and neces- sity. People that live under the gospel can hardly avoid the im- provement of their understandings by the light that shines upon them : knowledge grows, parts thrive ; these enable them to dis- course and defend the points of religion excellently. Yea, it may be from the strength of these gifts, they can pray with commend- able variety and largeness of expression : these things beget applause from men, and confidence in yourselves, whilst all the while no saving influences are shed down to quicken, change, and spiritualize the heart. (2.) There ai-e transient motions and touches of the gospel upon the affections, which give some men their melting pangs and moods now and then under the word, though it never settles into a spiritual frame, an habitual |ieavenliness of tem}>er ; of such the apostle speaks, Heb. vi. 5. And this is the more dangerous, be- cause they BOW seejn to have attained all that is essential to religion, or necessary to salvation. For when unto the light of their under- fctandings there shall be added melting affections, a man now seems
to l)e complete in all that the gospel requires to the being and con- stitution of a Christian, as a great divine speaks * : for thus poor souls are apt to reason ; If I had only light in my mind, and never found any meltings of my affections, I might suspect myself justly to be an hypocrite ; but there are times when my aff'ectionfty as well as my understanding, seem to feel the power of the gospel. And yet these things may l^ where the heart never effectually opens to Christ ; all this may be but a morning dew, an early cloud, that vanisheth away ; as is plain in John's hearers, John v. 35. and in Paul's hearers. Gal. i. 14, 15. For except the convictions upon tlie understanding |je particular and effectual, and the motions upon the affections settled to a heavenly habit and temper, the man is but where he was before as to the real state and condition of his soul. Were thy understanding so convinced of the evil nature and dreadful consequences of sin, and thy affections and will thereupon so effectually determined to choose and embrace the Lord Jesus, upon a considerate and thorough examination of his own terms and articles propounded in the gospel; then thou mightest con- chide tlie great design of it were accomplished upon thy soul: but to rest in general convictions and transient affections without this is but to mock and deceive thy own soul. Alas ! this comes not home to the main end of the gospel.
Inf. 2. Leai-n Jh-om hence the i^odi^ous stubbornness and hard^ ness of' the hearts of men living daily under the gospel, which still resist it,, though it bear upon them in part ofit^
You have heard how all its commands, promises, threatenings, and examples, bear directly and jointly upon the hearts of sinners to get open the will to Christ ; and yet how few are there, comparatively, that obey and answer this great design of it ! all these are like hea- ven's great artillery planted against the unbelief and stubbornness of the hearts of men, to batter down their carnal reasonings, over- throw their vain hopes, and open a fair passage for Christ into their souls. 2 Cor, X. 4, 5. " For the weapons of our warfare are not ** carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong- " holds, casting down imaginations, and every thing that exalts it- '* self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity " every thought to the obedience of Christ.'' If a mount be raised, and many cannon planted thereon, and all played against the wall of a ^ort, thousands of shots made, and yet no breach, not one stone moved out of its place, you will say, that is a strong wall in- deed. Beloved, God hath, as I may say, raised a mount in the gospel, planted the great ordnance of heaven upon it, discharged many dreadful vollies of threatenings ; nay, he hath as it were,
* Mr. A. Burgess in his Spiritual Refining.
come under the wails of the unbelieving soul, with terms of grace and mercy, and 3'^et no opening ; O prodigious obstinacy ! " We " have piped unto you, but ye have not danced : we have mourn-* " ed unto you, but ye have not lamented,'' Matth. xi. 1 7. Nei- ther the sweet airs of gospel-grace, nor the dreadful thunders of the law, make any impression upon you. O what an obdurate rock is the heart by nature ! Certainly, every Christian may see enough in others, and find enough in himself, without the help of other books to confute the Arminian doctrine, which so extols and flatters the nature of man. It is as possible to make an im- pression with your finger upon a wall of brass, as for the best ser- mon in the world, in its ovm strength, to make an effectual saving impression upon a sinner's will.