Beloved hearers, the office that God bath called us to, is by
declaring the glory of his grace, to help under Christ to the saving
of men's souls, I hope you think not that I come hither to-day on
any other errand. The Lord knows I had not set a foot out of doors
but in hope to succeed in this work for your souls. I have
considered, and often considered, what is the matter that so many
thousands should perish when God hath done so much for their
salvation; and I find this that is mentioned in my text is the
cause. It is one of the wonders of the world, that when God hath so
loved the world as to send his Son, and Christ hath made a
satisfaction by his death sufficient for them all and offereth the
benefits of it so freely to them, even without money or price, that
yet the most of the world should perish; yea, the most of those
that are thus called by his word! Why, here is the reason, when
Christ hath done all this, men make light of it. God hath showed
that he is not unwilling; and Christ hath showed that he is not
unwilling that men should be restored to God's favor and be saved;
but men are actually unwilling themselves. God takes not pleasure
in the death of sinners, but rather that they return and live. But
men take such pleasure in sin that they will die before they will
return. The Lord Jesus was content to be their Physician, and hath
provided them a sufficient plaster of his own blood: but if men make
light of it, and will not apply it, what wonder if they perish after
all? The Scripture giveth us the reason of their perdition. This,
sad experience tells us, the most of the world is guilty of. It is
a most lamentable thing to see how most men do spend their care,
their time, their pains, for known vanities, while God and glory are
cast aside; that he who is all should seem to them as nothing, and
that which is nothing should seem to them as good as all; that God
should set mankind in such a race where heaven or hell is their
certain end, and that they should sit down, and loiter, or run after
the childish toys of the world, and so much forget the prize that
they should run for. Were it but possible for one of us to see the
whole of this business as the all-seeing God doth; to see at one
view both heaven and hell, which men are so near; and see what most
men in the world are minding, and what they are doing every day, it
would be the saddest sight that could be imagined. Oh how should we
marvel at their madness, and lament their self-delusion! Oh poor
distracted world! what is it you run after? and what is it that
you neglect? If God had never told them what they were sent into
the world to do, or whither they are going, or what was before them
in another world, then they had been excusable; but he hath told
them over and over, till they were weary of it. Had he left it
doubtful, there had been some excuse; but it is his sealed word, and
they profess to believe it, and would take it ill of us if we should
question whether they do believe it or not.
Beloved, I come not to accuse any of you particularly of this crime;
but seeing it is the commonest cause of men's destruction, I suppose
you will judge it the fittest matter for our inquiry, and deserving
our greatest care for the cure, To which end I shall, 1. Endeavor
the conviction of the guilty, 2. Shall give them such considerations
as may tend to humble and reform them. 3. I shall conclude with
such direction as may help them that are willing to escape the
destroying power of this sin. And for the first, consider:--
1. It is the case of most sinners to think themselves freest from
those sins that they are most enslaved to; and one reason why we
cannot reform them, is because we cannot convince them of their
guilt. It is the nature of sin so far to blind and befool the
sinner, that he knoweth not what he doth, but thinketh he is free
from it when it reigneth in him, or when he is committing it; it
bringeth men to be so much unacquainted with themselves that they
know not what they think, or what they mean and intend, nor what
they love or hate, much less what they are habituated and
disposed to. They are alive to sin, and dead to all the reason,
consideration, and resolution that should recover them, as if it
were only by their sinning that we must know they are alive. May
I hope that you that hear me to-day are but willing to know the
truth of your case, and then I shall be encouraged to proceed to
an inquiry. God will judge impartially; why should not we do so?
Let me, therefore, by these following questions, try whether none
of you are slighters of Christ and your own salvation. And follow
me, I beseech you, by putting them close to your own hearts, and
faithfully answering them.
1. Things that men highly value will be remembered; they will be
matter of their freest and sweetest thoughts. This is a known
case.
Do not those then make light of Christ and salvation that think of
them so seldom and coldly in comparison of other things? Follow thy
own heart, man, and observe what it daily runneth after; and then
judge whether it make not light of Christ.
We cannot persuade men to one hour's sober consideration what they
should do for an interest in Christ, or in thankfulness for his
love, and yet they will not believe that they make light of him.
2. Things that we highly value will be matter of our discourse; the
judgment and heart will command the tongue. Freely and
delightfully will our speech run after them. This also is a known
case.
Do not those men make light of Christ and salvation that shun the
mention of his name, unless it be in a vain or sinful use? Those
that love not the company where Christ and salvation is much talked
of, but think it troublesome, precise discourse; that had rather
hear some merry jests, or idle tales, or talk of their riches or
business in the world? When you may follow them from morning to
night, and scarce have a savory word of Christ; but, perhaps, some
slight and weary mention of him sometimes; judge whether these make
not light of Christ and salvation. How seriously do they talk of the
world and speak vanity! but how heartlessly do they make mention of
Christ and salvation!
3. The things that we highly value we would secure the possession
of, and, therefore, would take any convenient course to have all
doubts and fears about them well resolved. Do not those men then
make light of Christ and salvation that have lived twenty or
thirty years in uncertainty whether they have any part in these
or not, and yet never seek out for the right resolution of their
doubts? Are all that hear me this day certain they shall be
saved? Oh that they were! Oh, had you not made light of
salvation, you could not so easily bear such doubting of it; you
could not rest till you had made it sure, or done your best to
make it sure. Have you nobody to inquire of, that might help you
in such a work? Why, you have ministers that are purposely
appointed to that office. Have you gone to them, and told them
the doubtfulness of your case, and asked their help in the
judging of your condition? Alas, ministers may sit in their
studies from one year to another, before ten persons among a
thousand will come to them on such an errand! Do not these make
light of Christ and salvation? When the Gospel pierceth the heart
indeed, they cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do to be
saved?" Trembling and astonished, Paul cries out, "Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?" And so did the convinced Jews to
Peter. But when hear we such questions?
4. The things that we value do deeply affect us, and some motions
will be in the heart according to our estimation of them. O sirs,
if men made not light of these things, what working would there be
in the hearts of all our hearers! What strange affections would it
raise in them to hear of the matters of the world to come! How
would their hearts melt before the power of the Gospel! What sorrow
would be wrought in the discovery of their sins! What astonishment
at the consideration of their misery! What unspeakable joy at the
glad tidings of salvation by the blood of Christ! What resolution
would be raised in them upon the discovery of their duty! Oh what
hearers should we have, if it were not for this sin! Whereas, now
we are liker to weary them, or preach them asleep with matters of
this unspeakable moment. We talk to them of Christ and salvation
till we make their heads ache; little would one think by their
careless carriage that they heard and regarded what we said, or
thought we spoke at all to them.
5. Our estimation of things will be seen in the diligence of our
endeavors. That which we highliest value, we shall think no pains
too great to obtain. Do not those men then make light of Christ
and salvation that think all too much that they do for them; that
murmur at his service, and think it too grievous for them to
endure? that ask of his service as Judas of the ointment, What
need this waste? Cannot men be saved without so much ado? This is
more ado than needs. For the world they will labor all the day,
and all their lives; but for Christ and salvation they are afraid
of doing too much. Let us preach to them as long as we will, we
cannot bring them to relish or resolve upon a life of holiness.
Follow them to their houses, and you shall not hear them read a
chapter, nor call upon God with their families once a day; nor will
they allow him that one day in seven which he hath separated to his
service. But pleasure, or worldly business, or idleness, must have a
part. And many of them are so far hardened as to reproach them that
will not be as mad as themselves. And is not Christ worth the
seeking? Is not everlasting salvation worth more than all this? Doth
not that soul make light of all these that thinks his ease more worth
than they? Let but common sense judge.
6. That which we most highly value, we think we cannot buy too dear:
Christ and salvation are freely given, and yet the most of men go
without them because they cannot enjoy the world and them together.
They are called but to part with that which would hinder them from
Christ, and they will not do it. They are called but to give God
his own, and to resign all to his will, and let go the profits and
pleasures of this world when they must let go either Christ or them,
and they will not. They think this too dear a bargain, and say they
cannot spare these things; they must hold their credit with men;
they must look to their estates: how shall they live else? They
must have their pleasure, whatsoever becomes of Christ and
salvation: as if they could live without Christ better than without
these: as if they were afraid of being losers by Christ or could
make a saving match by losing their souls to gain the world. Christ
hath told us over and over that if we will not forsake all for him
we cannot be his disciples. Far are these men from forsaking all,
and yet will needs think that they are his disciples indeed.
7. That which men highly esteem, they would help their friends to as
well as themselves. Do not those men make light of Christ and
salvation that can take so much care to leave their children
portions in the world, and do so little to help them to heaven?
that provide outward necessaries so carefully for their families,
but do so little to the saving of their souls? Their neglected
children and friends will witness that either Christ, or their
children's souls, or both, were made light of.
8. That which men highly esteem, they will so diligently seek after
that you may see it in the success, if it be a matter within
their reach. You may see how many make light of Christ, by the
little knowledge they have of him, and the little communion with
him, and communication from him; and the little, yea, none of his
special grace in them. Alas! how many ministers can speak it to
the sorrow of their hearts, that many of their people know almost
nothing of Christ, though they hear of him daily! Nor know they
what they must do to be saved: if we ask them an account of these
things, they answer as if they understood not what we say to
them, and tell us they are no scholars, and therefore think they
are excusable for their ignorance. Oh if these men had not made
light of Christ and their salvation, but had bestowed but half as
much pains to know and enjoy him as they have done to understand
the matters of their trades and callings in the world, they would
not have been so ignorant as they are: they make light of these
things, and therefore will not be at the pains to study or learn
them. When men that can learn the hardest trade in a few years
have not learned a catechism, nor how to understand their creed,
under twenty or thirty years' preaching, nor can abide to be
questioned about such things, doth not this show that they have
slighted them in their hearts? How will these despisers of Christ
and salvation be able one day to look him in the face, and to
give an account of these neglects?