312 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II.
Christ such a common thing as to be so cast away upon the lusts of men? Besides, when should he make an end of dying? They who have once neglected the gospel may do so upon a second trial, nay, undoubtedly would do so, and thence should Christ often die, often be offered, and all still in vain. Neither hath God any other son to send to die for sinners; he sent his only-begotten Son once for all, and he that believeth not on him must perish for ever. In vain, then, will all men’s expectations be from such a mercy as there is nothing to open a door unto, nor to make way for its exercise. Nay, this mercy is a mere figment of secure sinners; there is no such thing in God. All the mercy and grace that God hath for his crea- tures is engaged in gospel salvation; and if that be despised, in vain shall men look for any other. (8.) Neither is there any word spoken concerning any such relief or remedy for gospel neglecters. Pardon being provided for transgressions of the law, instantly it is promised, and the whole Scripture is written for the manifestation of it; but as for a provision of mercy for them that despise the gospel, where is any one word recorded concerning it? Nay, doth not the Serip- ture in all places fully and plainly witness against it? “He that believeth not shall be damned.” “There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” “ He that believeth not, the wrath of God abideth on him.” And will men yet feed themselves with hopes of mercy whilst they neglect the gospel? Well fare them who, being not able to se- cure sinners against this light and evidence of the want of any re- lief reserved for them, have carried the whole matter behind the curtain, and invented a purgatory for them, to help them when they are gone from hence, and cannot return to complain of them by whom they were deceived. But this also, as all other reliefs, will prove a broken reed to them that lean on it; for they who neglect the gospel must perish, and that eternally, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Thirdly, Then all hopes of escaping must arise from hence, that he whose right it is, and on whom it is incumbent to take ven- geance on them that neglect the gospel, will not be able so to do, or at least not to such a degree as to render it so fearful as is pretended., This need not much be insisted on. It is God with whom men have to do in this matter. And they who allow his being cannot deny him to be omnipotent and eternal. Now what cannot he do who isso? It will at length be found to be “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” There is unto wicked men the same everlasting cause of being and punishment. The same hand that upholds them shall afflict them, and that for ever. What his righteousness requires, his power and wrath shall _ execute unto the uttermost, so that there will be no escaping. And
these are the holy foundations on which all gospel threatenings and
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comminations are built; which will all of them take place and be accomplished with no less certainty than the promises themselves.
Now, from all that hath been spoken unto this provosition, we may learn,—
1. To admire the riches of the grace of God, which hath provided so great salvation for poor sinners. Such and so great as it is, we stood in need of it. Nothing could be abated without our eternal ruin. But when divine wisdom, goodness, love, grace, and mercy, shall set themselves at work, what will they not accomplish? And the effect of them doth the Scripture set forth in these expressions: * So God loved the world;” “God commendeth his love unto us;” “ Greater love hath no man than this;” “ Riches of grace;” “ 'Trea- sures of wisdom;” “ Exceeding greatness of power;” and the like. In this will God be glorified and admired unto all eternity. And in the contemplation hereof are we to be exercised here and here- after; and thereby may we grow up into the image of God in Christ, 2 Cor. iii. 18. Which way soever we look, whatever we consider in it, here is that which will entertain our souls with delight and satis- faction. The eternal counsel of God, the person of Christ, his mediation and grace, the promises of the gospel, the evil and wrath we are freed from, the redemption and glory purchased for us, the privileges we are admitted unto a participation of, the consolations and joys of the Spirit, the communion with God that we are called unto,—how glorious are they in the eyes of believers! or assuredly at all times they ought so to be. How can we enough bewail that vanity, whence it is that the mind suffereth itself to be possessed and filled with other things! Alas, what are they, if compared with the excellency of this love of God in Christ Jesus! Here lies our treasure, here lies our inheritance; why should not our hearts be here also?. Were our minds fixed on these things as they ought, how would the glory of them cast out our cares, subdue our fears, sweeten our afflictions and persecutions, and take off our affections from the fading, perishing things of this world, and make us in every condition rejoice in the hope of the glory that shall be revealed! And, indeed, we lose the sweetness of the life of faith, the benefit of our profession, the reward that is in believing, and are made a scorn to the world and a prey unto temptations, because we dwell not enough in the contemplation of this great salvation. To stir us up, then, hereunto we may consider,—(1.) The eacellency of the things themselves that are proposed unto our meditations. They are the great, the deep, the hidden things of the wisdom and grace of God. Men justify themselves in spending their time and specu- lations about the things of nature: and indeed such employment is better and more noble than what the generality of men do exercise themselves about; for some seldom raise their thoughts above the