SERMON XXXIV
SERM. XXXIV.
The Method ofGrace.
Chriſt inthe goſpel, is the light of the world; allthe nations oftheearth that want this light are benighted; and thoſe upon whom this light is riſen, have buta ſhort time under it : " Yet.
" a little while the light is with you:" and whatever patience God may exerciſe towards poor, ignorant ſouls, yet commonly he makes ſhort work with the deſpiſers of this light.
The lightofthe goſpel is a ſhining lamp, fed with golden oil ; God will notbe at the expence of ſuch a light for them thatdobut trifle with it.
The night is coming,whennomancan work.
There are many fad ſigns upon us of afetting fun, a night of darkneſs approaching ; manyburningandſhining lights are extinguiſhed, andmany put undera 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 willne ver come again, Ezek. xxiv. 13. How pathetical was that lamentation which Chriſt made over Jerufalem, Luke xix. 41,
42. " And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and 66 wept over it, ſaying, Ifthou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt
" in this thyday, the things which belong unto thy peace, but "nowthey are hid from thine eyes."
Chriſt is threatning thoſenationswith the removal ofhis goſpel prefence; 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 untoGod, " Depart from us, we defire not " the knowledge ofthy ways."
Chriſt will not tarry where he is not welcome ; who would, that hath any where elſe togo ?
Obey the light therefore, leſt God put it out in obfcure dark-. nefs.
SERMON XXXIV.
The blinding Policies of Satan opened, as the Cauſe of Unbelief, and Forerunner ofDestruction.
2 COR. iv. 3. 4. But ifourgospel be hid, it is hid to them that are loft ; inwhom theGod ofthis worldbath blinded the minds ofthem which believe not, left the light of the gloriousgospelof
Chrift, who is theimage ofGod,ShouldShine unto them.
T HE averſations of menfromJeſus Chriſt, their only re medy, is asmuch tobe admired aslamented; one would
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think the news of deliverance ſhould make the hearts of captives leap forjoy, the tidings ofa Saviour ſhould tranſport the heart ofa loſt tinner. Amanwould think a little rhetoric might perfuade the naked foul of afinner toputonthe rich robes of Chriſt's righteousness,which will coſt him nothing, but acceptance; or the periſhing, ſtarving finner to accept the breadof
Godwhich comethdown from heaven, andgiveth life unto the world.
This is the great deſign I have managed in this whole discourſe; the centre towhich all theſe lines are drawn; many arguments havebeen used,and many ways attempted to prevail withmen to apply and put on Chrift, and I am afraid, all too little.
I have but laboured in vain, andſpentmy ſtrength for nought; all theſe diſcourſes are but the beatingofthe air, and few, ifany, will be perfuaded tocome unto Chriſt, who isclearly opened, and freely offered inthe goſpel to them.
For alas ! while I amreaſoning, Satan is blinding theirmindswith falſe reafonings, and contrary persuaſions; the godof this worldturnsaway the ears, anddraws away the hearts of almoſt the whole world from Chriſt; " The godof this world hath blinded the " minds of them which believe not, left the lightofthe glorious
" goſpel of Chrift, who is the image ofGod, ſhould ſhineunto " them."
Satan is a great andjealous prince, and is well aware, thatfo many ofhis ſubjects as ſhall bebrought to fee the mifery of their condition, willnever endure to abide any longer in ſubjection tohim: itis therefore his great policy to put out their eyes, that he may fecure their fouls; todarken theirunderſtandings, that he maykeep his intereſt firm and entire in theirwills and affections : and this makes the effectual applicationof Chriſt fo great adifficulty, that, on the contrary, it is juſtmatter ofadmirationthat any foul isperfuaded and prevailedwith toquit the ſervice ofSatan, andcometo Chriſt. And therefore, in the last place, to discover the great difficulty of converfion, andthew you where it is that all our endeavours areobſtructed, fo thatwe can move the deſign no further, with all our labouring and ſtriving,reaſoning and perfuading ; as alſo, to mournover, and bewail the miferyof chriſtleſs andunregenerate fouls, with whom we must part, upon the faddeſt terras ; Ihave choſe this ſcripture, which is of a moſt awakeningnature, ifhaply the Lord, at last, may perfuade any foul to come over to Chriſt thereby.
Theſe words come into the apostle's diſcourſe, byway of prolepsis; hehad been speaking, in the formerchapter, of the tranſcendentexcellencyofthegoſpel above the law, and, among other reſpects, he prefers it to the law inpoint of clearness.
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The Method of Grace.
The law was anobfcure andcloudy diſpenſation, there was a veil uponthe face ofMofes, andthe heartsof the people, that theycouldnotfee totheendofthatwhich isabolished; but uader the gofpel we all, with open face, behold, as in aglaſs, the gloryoftheLord.
Against this discourſe,the apoſtle foreſaw, andobviated this objection : ifyour goſpelbe ſo clear, what is the reaſon that many, who live under the miniſtration of it,
(andtheynoneofthe meaneſt,neither, for wisdom, and underſtanding) do yet ſee noglory,nor excellency in it ? To this he returns, in the words I have read, " If our goſpel be hid, it is
" hidtothem thatare loft,whoſe eyes the godofthis worldhath " blinded," &c. q. d. Itis true, multitudes there are, who fee noglory in Chriſt, or thegospel,but the fault is not ineither; but in the minds ofthem that believe not. The fun thines forth inits glory, but theblindſeenoglory in it; the fault is not in the fun, butintheeye.
Inthe wordsthemselveswe have three parts toconfider :
1.Adreadful, ſpiritualjudgment inflicted.
2. The wicked inſtrument by whom it is inflicted.
3. The politic manner inwhich hedoth it.
First, We have here a very dreadful, ſpiritualjudgment inflicted upon the fouls ofmen, viz. the hiding of the goſpel fromthem: ifour goſpel behid.
Fortheſe words, Ει 3 και εσι, are aconceffion, that ſo it is ; avery fad, butundeniable truth.
Manyare there who fee nobeauty in Chriſt, nor neceſſity of him; though both are fo plainly and evidently revealed in our gospel, " if our goſpel be hid:" It is called our gofpel, not as if St. Paul, and the other preachers of it, were the authors, and javentors of it; but our goſpel, becauſewe are the preachers, anddifpenfers of it.
We are put in truſtwith the goſpel, and though we preach it, inthe demonſtration of the Spirit, and ofpower, uſing all plainneſs ofſpeech tomake men underſtand it; yet it is hidfrommany, under our miniſtry : it is hid from their understandings, they fee no gloryin it; andhid from their hearts, thy fee no power in it.
Our goſpel, notwithstanding all our endeavours, is ahidden goſpel unto ſome; this is the foreft, and moſt dreadful judgment.
Secondly, We have here an account of that wicked inſtrument bywhom this judgment is inflicted, viz. Satan, called here (by a mimesis) the god of this world; not fimply and properly, but becauſe he challenges tohimselfthe honour of a god, rules over avaſt empire, andhath multitudes offouls, eventhe greater part ofthe world, in ſubjection, and blind obedience to hisgovernment.
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Thirdly, Here, alſo, we have an account ofthe politic manner ofthis government, how hemaintains his dominion among men, and keeps the world in quiet ſubjection to him; namely, byblinding the minds ofall them that believe not; putting out the eyes of all his fubjects, darkening that noble faculty, the mind, or underſtanding; the thinking, conſidering, and reaſoning power of the foul, which the philoſophers truly call το ηγεμονικον, the leading, anddirecting faculty: for itis tothe foul, what eyesare to thebody, and itis therefore called " the " eyes of the understanding," Eph. i. 18.
Theſe eyes Satan blinds, (i. e.) he darkens the mind, andunderſtanding, with ignoranee, and error; ſo that when mencome to fee, and conſider ſpiritual things, " they fee, indeed, but perceive not,"
Iſa. vi. 9, 10.
They have ſome general, confuſed notions, but no diſtinct, powerful, and effectual apprehenfions of thoſe things : andthis is the way, indeed, none like it, to bar mein effectually from Jeſus Chriſt, and hinder the application ofthe benefits of redemption to their ſouls.
It is true, the righteous God permits all this tobedonebySatan, upon thefouls ofmen; but whereſoever he finally prevails thus to blind them, it is, as the text ſpeaks, εν τοις απολλυμένοις, in them that are loft, or appointed ofGod unto perdition. The elect ofGod are all blindedfor atime, but Chriſt applieth unto them his eye-falve; effectually opens the eyes of their underſtandings, and recovers them thereby, out of Satan's power anddominion : but as for thofewho ſtill continue thusblinded, the ſymptoms and characters of eternal death, appear upon their fouls ; they are a company of loft men.
Doct. That the understandings of all unbelivers are blinded by Satan's policies, in order to their everlasting perdition.
Four things muſt be opened in the doctrinal part of this point.
First, What the blinding oftheunderſtanding, orhiding of thegoſpelfrom the understanding, is.
Secondly, I halldemonſtrate, thatthe underſtandings ofmapyare thus blinded, andthe goſpel hiddenfrom them.
Thirdly, I shall ſhew what policies Satan uſes toblind the minds ofmen.
Fourthly, That this blindness isthe foreſt judgment, and in order to mens everlasting perdition.
Fifthly, And then apply the whole.
First, We shall enquire what the blinding of the mind, or hiding the goſpel from it, is. Two forts of men are thus blinded in the world.
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1. Thoſe that want the means of illumination .
2. Thoſe that havethe means, butare denied the bleſſing andefficacyofthem.
The former is the caſe ofthe Pagan world, who are inmidnightdarkneſs, forwantof the goſpel. The latter is thecafe of the Chriſtian world. The greatest part of them that live withinthe foundofthegospel, beingblindedbythegod ofthis world, Iſa. vii. 9, 10."Andhe said,Go, and tellthis people;
" hear ye, indeed, but underſtandnot; and feeye, indeed, but " perceive not : Make the heart of this people fat, and make
" their ears heavy; and ſhut their eyes, left they fee with their " eyes, and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their
"heart, and convert, and be healed."
Thus, when the Sun ofrighteousness actually aroſe in theworld, it is ſaid, Johni. 5.
"The light (hinedindarkneſs, but thedarkneſs comprehended " it not." So we may ſay ofall that lightwhichis inthe underſtanding of all unbelievers, what Job ſpeaks of the grave,
Jobx. 22. " That the light there is as darkness."
But more particularly, to open the nature ofthis ſpiritualblindness, I will thewyou, 1. What it isnotoppoſedunto.
2. What it is oppoſed unto.
1. Let us examine what ſpiritualblindness, or the hiding the goſpel from the minds of men, is not oppoſedunto: and we ſhall find, First, That it is not oppoſed unto natural wisdom; a man may be of an acute and clear underſtanding ; eagle-eyed, to difcernthe mysteries of nature, and yet the goſpel maybehidden fromhim whowere more ſagacious, and quick-fighted, in natural things, than the Heathen Philoſophers, renowned for wisdom in their generation? yetuntothem the goſpel was but foolishness, 1 Cor. i. 20, 21.
St. Auguſtine confeſſeth, that beforehis converfion, he was filled with offence, and contempt ofthe fimplicity of the gospel. Dedignabar effeparvulus, faith he, Iſcornedto become a child again. And that greatBradwardine, the profound doctor, who was learned, usque adstuporem, even toa wonder ; profeſſed, that when he firſt read
Paul's epiſtles, hedeſpiſedthem,becauſehefound not in them, metaphyficum igenium, thoſe metaphyſical notions which he expected. Upon this account it was, that Chriſt brake forth into that pathetical gratulation ofhis Father's love tothe elect, Mat.
Ki . 25. " At that time Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid, I thank thee,O " Father, Lordofheavenandearth; becauſe thou hasthid theſe
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" things from thewife andprudent, andhaſt revealedthem untobabes."
Secondly, It is not oppoſed to all light, andknowledge, in fpiritual truths. A man may have a true underſtanding of the ſcriptures, give an orthodox expoſition ofthem, and enlighten theminds ofothers by them; andyet the gospel may be hiddenfrom himself, Mat. vii. 22. "Manywillsayunto me in that " day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name ?"
So, Rom. ii. 19. "And art confident that thou thyſelf art a " guide of the blind, a light to them that fit in darkness," &c.
Amanmay thew others theway to Chrift, and falvation, whilft both are hid from himself.
Thirdly,It is notoppoſed to all kind ofinfluences upon the affections ; for, itis poſſible, the gospel may touch the affections themſelves, and cauſe ſome fweet motions and raptures in them; and yet be an hidden goſpel to the foul, Heb. vi. 5, 9.
But if theſe three things may conſiſt with ſpiritual blindneſs, untowhat then is itoppoſed ? To which I anſwer, that ſpiritual blindneſs ſtands only oppoſed untothat ſaving manifeſtation of Jesus Chriſt in the goſpel, by the Spirit, whereby the foul is regenerated, and effectually changed, by a real converfion untoGod : Wherever thegoſpelthus comes, in the demonftration ofthe Spirit, and ofpower; producingſuch an effect as this in the foul; it is no longer anhidden goſpel tothat foul, though ſuch perſons donot ſee clearly allthat glory which is revealed by the goſpel; though they know but in part, and fee darkly, as through a glaſs ; yet the eyes of theirunderſtandings are opened, and the things whichbelong to their peace are not hidden from them .
Secondly, But though thisbe the happiness ofſome men, yet it is demonftrable, that the eyes of many are blinded by the Godofthis world, and the goſpel is anhiddengoſpel fromthem; for, First,Many that live under the goſpelare ſoentirely ſwallowedupin the affairs ofthis world, that they allow themselves no time to ponder the great concernment of their fouls in the world tocome; andjudge you, whatever the gifts and knowledgeoftheſe men are, whether the god of this worldhath not blinded their eyes.
Ifit were not ſo, itwere impoſſible that ever they ſhouldthus waſte the moſt precious opportunities of falvation, upon which their everlasting well-beingdepends, and ſpend time, at the door of eternity, about trifles which ſo little concern them.
Yet this isthe case ofthe greateſt number that go under the Chriſtian name. The earth hath opened her
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mouth and ſwallowed up their own time,thoughts, ſtudies, and ſtrength, as it did the bodies of Corah and his accomplices.
The firſt, thefreeſt, yea, the whole oftheir time, is devoted to 2the fervice ofthe world; for even at that very time, when they preſent their bodies before the Lord, in the duties of his worſhip, their hearts arewandering after vanities, and" going
" after their covetouſneſs," Ezek. xliii. 31. Judge whether the godof this world hathblinded theſe menor no,who can ſee fo much beauty in the world, but none in Chriſt, and put an abſolute neceſſity upon the vanities of this world, but none-upontheir own falvation.
Ifthisbe not ſpiritual blindness, what is?
Secondly, The great ftillneſs, andquietness ofmens confciences, underthe moſt rouzing, and awakening truths of thegofpel, plainly proves that the god ofthis world hath blinded their eyes.
For, did men fee, and apprehend the dangerous conditionthey are in, as the word reprefents it; nothing in the world would quiet thembutChriſt. As soon as mens eyes come to be opened, thenext enquiry they make, is, " What ſhall we do to " beſaved?" Itis not poſſible, thata man ſhouldhang over hell, feeChrift, and the hopes offalvation going, and thedayofpatienceending, and yet be quiet. O! itcannotbe, that confcienceſhould let them be quiet in ſuch a cafe, if itwerenotblinded and ſtupified ; but whilst thegod ofthis world, " that ſtrong
" man armed, keepeth the houſe, all his goods are in peace,"
Luke xi . 2 r .
Ifonce your eyes were opened by conviction, a manmay then ſay, be quiet if you can ; fit ſtill, and let the hopes, andſeaſons of falvation, paſs quietly away, if you can.
Suppoſe oneſhouldcome into thecongregation, and whiſper but ſuch a word as this in your ears, your child is fallen into the fire, and is adying, ſince you came fromhome ; will itbe in thepower of all friends you have, to quiet you, and make you fit ſtill after fuch an information ? much less when a man apprehendshisown soul inimmediatedanger of everlasting burnings.
Thirdly, The ſtrong confidences, and preſumptuous hopes menhave of ſalvation, whilst they remaininthe ſtate of nature, and unregeneracy, plainly ſhew their minds to be blindedby the policy of Satan.
This preſumption is one of thoſe wapaλογισμοί, falſe reaſonings, by which Satan deludes the underſtanding, as the apostle calls them, James i. 22.
Itis the cunning fophiftry ofthe devil, fathered by ſelf-love, Prov. xxi.
2. " Every way of aman is right in hisown eyes," and partly
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by felf-ignorance, Rev. iii. 17. " Thou ſaidſt I am rich, and " have need of nothing, andknoweſt not that thou art poor."
You have no fears, no doubts, no caſe to propound that con . cerns your future ſtate ; and why fo ? but becauſe you have no ſight; your confciences are quieted, becauſe your eyes are blinded.
Fourthly,Thetriflingofmen, withtheduties ofreligion, plainly discovers theblinding power of Satan upon their minds and underſtandings, elſe they would never play, anddally with the ferious, and folemn ordinances ofGod, at that rate theydo ; if their eyes were once opened, theywouldbe in earnest in prayer, and apply themselves with the cloſeſt attention ofmind to hearing the gofpel.
There are two forts ofthoughts aboutany fubject of meditation. Some think at adiſtance, and others think cloſe to the ſubject.
Neverdo thoughts ofmen come fo cloſe to Chriſt, to heaven, and to hell, as they do immediately upon their illumination. When John's miniſtry enlightened the peoples minds, it is faid,Matth.xi. 12. " From the days ofJohn
" the Baptift until now, thekingdom ofheaven ſuffereth vio- " lence, and the violent take itby force."
Surely theſe men weremore ingood earnest, thatwould receive no repulſe, take no denial, but even force themselves through all difficulties into heaven; and ſo would it be withyou.
Ifthe godof this world had not blindedyour minds,you wouldnever praywith ſo much unconcernedneſs, nor hearwith ſomuchnegligence, and carelefneſs ; pray, as ifyou prayed not, and hear as ifyou heard not.
It is with many ofyour hearts, as it was with Ariftotle, who after aquaint oration made before him, was askedhow he liked it ; truly, faid he, Ididnothear it; for I wasthinking allthe while of another matter.
Fifthly, This alſo is a plain evidence, that the god of this world hath blindedmany mens eyes among us, for that they fear not to commit great fins, to avoid ſmall hazards and troubles, which all the world could never perfuade them to do, ifthey were not hood-winkedby the god of this world.
Those that have ſeen fin, as fin, in the glaſs ofGod's law, " will chuſe as " Mofes did, to ſuffer any afflictionwith the people ofGod, ra- " ther than enjoy the pleaſures of fin, which are but for a fea- " fon," Heb. xi . 25.
Thoſe thathaveſeen, and felt the evil of fininthedeep troubles oftheir ſpirits for it, will account all reproaches, all loffes, all fufferings from men, tobebutasnothing to the burthen of fin.
Sixthly, The pride, andſelf-conceitedneſs ofmanythousands, who profeſs Chriſtianity,plainly ſhew their minds to beblinded
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by thefophistry ofSatan, and that theydo not underſtandthemſelves, and the woful ſtate of their own fouls.
Those that fee God in the clearest light, abhor themſelves in the deepest humility, Ifa. vi. 5. John xliii. 5. If ever the Lord had effectuallyopened your eyes, Įby a clear diſcovery of your ſtate by nature, andthecourseofyour life, under the efficacyandinfluence ofcontinual temptations, and corruptions, how would your plumes fall? None in the world would rate you lower, than you your. ſelves would.
By all which it appears, that multitudes are blindedby the god of this world.
Thirdly, In the third place, we are to conſider, what policies Satanuſeth toblind the minds of them thatbelieve not, and we ſhall find there are three forts ofpolicies practiſed by the god ofthis world uponthe minds andunderſtandings of men, which hedarkens, by 1. Hindering the reception ofgoſpel-light,
2. Obſtructing the efficacy of it whenreceived.
3.Making misapplication of it to other purpoſes.
It is a great policy in Satan, toblind the understandings of men, byhindering, and preventing the reception ofgofpel-light, which hedoth eſpecially theſe five ways ;
First, By tempting the diſpenſers ofthegoſpel todarkenthe truths thereof, in thedeliveringofthem, to ſhoot over the heads oftheir hearers, inloftylanguage, and terms ofart, ſo that commonunderſtandings can give no account, when the fermon is done,whatapreacher would have; but, however, commendhim for a good ſcholar, andan excellent orator.
I make no doubt but the devil is very bufy with miniſters in their ſtudies, temptingthem, by the pride of their own hearts, togratify his deſign herein; he teaches them how to paint the glaſs, that he might keep out the light.
I acknowledge, a proper, grave, andcomely ſtile, befits the lips of Christ's ambaſſadors; they would not be rude, and careleſs in their language, or method. But this affectation ofgreat ſwelling words of vanity, is but too like the proud
Gnoſtics, whom the apoſtle is ſuppoſed totax for this evil, Jude, ver. 16. " This is to darken counſel, by words without " knowledge," Job xxxi. 2. To amuſe, andbemiſt poor igno. rant fouls, andnullifythedeſign ofpreaching ; for everythingis accounted fo far good, as it is good to the end it is ordained for. A fword, that hath an hilt of gold, ſet thick with diamonds, is nogood ſword, if it hath no edge to cut, or want agoodback to followhomethe ſtroke. O that the minifters
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ofChriſt would chuſe rather * found, than great words, ſuch as areapt to piercethe heart, ratherthan fuch as tickle the fancy ; and let people beware of furthering the deſign of Satan against their own fouls, inputting atemptationupontheir miniſters, by deſpiſing plain preaching. The more popular, plain, and intelligible our difcourſes are, ſo much the more probable they are to be fucceſsful ; that is the moſt excellentoratory, thatperfuades men to Chrift.
Secondly, Satan hinders the acceſs oflight to the underſtandings ofmen, by employing theirmindsabout impertinentthings, whilethey are attending upon the ordinances ofGod; thus he temptedthem in Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32. " And they come unto
" thee as the people cometh, and they fitbefore thee, as my people; and they hearthy words, but they willnot do them;
" for with their mouth they ſhew much love, but their heart " goeth after their covetouſneſs. And lo! thou art unto them
" as avery lovely fong of one that hatha pleasant voice."
The modulation ofthe prophet's voicewas very pleaſing totheir ears, but mean while their fancies, and thoughts were wandring after their lufts, their hearts were full of earthly projects.
Thirdly, Satan binders the acceſs oflight to theunderſtand. ings ofmen, by raiſing objections, and picking quarrels with the word, on purpoſe to shake its authority, and hinder the afſſent ofthe underſtanding to it, and fo the word makes no more impreſſion than a fable, or a romancewould do. And never didthis deſign ofSatan obtain more than in this atheiſtical age, whereinthe main pillars andfoundation of religion are ſhaken in the minds of multitudes.
The devil hath perfuaded many, that thegoſpel is but a cuaningly deviſed fable ; fabula Chriſti, as thatblafphemingpopecalled it; that miniſters muſt ſay ſomething to get a living. Thatheaven and hell are but fancies, or at moſt, things of greatuncertainty, and doubtful credit. This beingonce obtained, the door ofthe foul is ſhut against truth.
And this deſign ofSatanhath profpered the more inthis generation, by the corrupt doctrines of ſeducing ſpirits, " Which 66 haveoverthrownthe faith ofſome," 2 Tim . ii, 18. And partly from the ſcandalous lives of looſe and vain profeffors, the gofpel hath been brought into contempt ; but eſpeciallyby Satan's artificial improvement of the corrupt natures of men, in an age wherein confcience hath been so much debauched, and Atheifin thereby ſpread as agangrene inthe body politic.
*Theywho ſpeak in a popular, plain, and ſimple manner, are the beſt inſtructors ofthepeople, Bucholtz.
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The Method of Grace.
Fourthly, Satan hinders the acceſs of light, by helping erroneous minds todraw falſe concluſions, andperverſe inferences fromthegreat and precious truths of the goſpel; and thereby bringing themunder prejudiceand contempt: Thus he aſſiſts theerrors ofmens minds about the doctrine of election ; when heeitherperfuades them, that it is an unreasonable doctrine, andnotworthy ofcredit, thatGod ſhould chuſe ſome, and refuſe others every way as good as thoſe he hath choſen; or ifthere beanycertainty in that doctrine, then inen maythrow the reins upon the neck of theirlufts, andlive at what rate they lift. For ifGodhave choſen them to ſalvation, their wickedneſs ſhall not hinderit; and it he have appointed them untowrath, their diligence and felf-denial cannot prevent it.
Thus the doctrine of freegrace is by the like ſophiſtry ofSatan turned into laſciviouſneſs.
If grace abound, men may fin the more freely; and the ſhortneſs of our time upon earth, which in its own nature awakens all men to diligence, is, by thefubtilty ofSatan, turned to aquite contrary purpoſe, " Let
" us eat anddrink, for to-morrow we die."
Fifthly, Satan darkens the minds of men, and ſhuts them up againſt the light, by blowing them up with pride, and felf-conceitedneſs, perfuadingthem that they know all theſe things already,andcauſing them tocontemn the mostweighty andprecious truths ofGod, as trite and vulgar notions.
The word cannotbe received without meekness, and humility, of mind, Jam. i. 21. Pial. xxv. 8, 9. and pride is the nurse of ignorance,
1 Tim. vi. 4. 1 Cor. viii. 7.
The devil is aware of this, and therefore blows up the pride, and conceitedness ofmenshearts, allthat he can : And this temptation of his generally prevails wherever it meets with aknowinghead, matched with a graceleſs, and unfanctified heart. And thus we ſee by what wiles and policies, Satan keeps out the light, and prevents the acceſs of itto the minds ofmen.
But ifhe miſs hisdeſignhere, andtruth gets intothe mind, Then Secondly, He labours to obſtruct the efficacy, andoperationof thelight; and though it do ſhine into the underſtanding, yet itſhall be imprisonedthere; and ſend down no converting in- -fluences upon the will, and affections : And thisdeſign hepromotes, and manages divers ways.
First, By haſtening to quench convictions betimes, and nip them inthebud.
Satanknows howdangerous athing itis, and deſtructive to his intereſt, to fuffer convictions to continue long; and therefore it is faid ofhim, Mat. xiii. 19.Whenany
The Method of Grace.
SERM. XXXIV.
" oneheareth the wordofthe kingdom, and underſtandeth it " not,thencomeththewickedone,andcatchethaway that which was fown inhis heart."
Satan iscompared inthis ſcripture to the fowlsinthe air, which pickup the feed before it take any rootinthe earth. Thedevil is veryjealousofthis, and therefore labours all he can todeſtroy the word before it comes to operateupon the heart ; which he doth ſometimes bythe cares of the world, and ſometimesbyvaincompanions, who prove mere quench coals untothe beginning convictions.
One finnerdettroyeth much good.
Secondly, No ſoonerdoth the god of this world obſerve the light oftruth begin to operateupon the heart, but he obſtructeth that deſign by procrastinations and delays, which delude andbaffle convinced fouls; he perfuades them ifthey will alter their courſe, it will be time enough hereafter, whenſuch encumbrances and troubles, in the world, are over; ifheprevail here,
'tis athouſand toonebut the work miſcarries.
Jam. i. 13, 14.
Ifthe hearer ofthe word be not adoer (i. e.) a preſent doer, while the impreſſions of it are freſh upon the foul, he dothbut deceive himself.
For it is with the heart, as it is with melted wax, ifthe feal be clapped to itpreſently, it will receivea fair impreffion ; but if itbe letalone,but for a little while, you can makenone atall ; it was therefore David's great care and wiſdom toſet about the work of religion under, the firſt impetus, or vigorous motion of his heart and affections.
Pfal. cxix. 60. " Г " made hafte, and delayed not tokeep thy commandments."
Multitudes of fouls have periſhedby theſe delays.
It is a temp. tation incidentto all that are under beginning convictions, eſpecially young perſons, whom the devil perfuades that it were nobetterthan madneſs inthem to abridge, anddeny themſelves fomuchdelight, andpleaſure, andſteep theiryouthful thoughts infuchamelancholy ſubject as religion is.
Thirdly, If all this willnotdo, but convictions ſtill continue togetground inthe conscience, then he endeavours, to ſcare, and fright them out of their convictions, by repreſenting to them the inward terrors, troubles, anddeſpairs intowhich they are about to plunge themselves, andthat hencearth they muft never expect a pleasant day, orcomfortable hour. Thus doth theGod ofthis worldblind the minds ofthem that believe not, both by hinderingthe acceſs of lightto the mind, and the influence ofitupon theheart.
Thirdly, There isyetone policy ofSatan to keep fouls in darkness, andthat is,by the miſapplication oftruth; perfuading them, that whatsoever they read, or hear of the miſery,
SERM. XXXIV.
The Method of Grace.
anddanger of chriſtleſs, and unregenerate perſons, doth not in the leaft touch or concern them, but the more notorious andprophane part ofthe world; andby this policy he blinds theminds ofallciviland moral perſons. Thus the " Pharifces
" truſted in themſelves thattheywererighteous, and deſpiſed o- " thers."
And ſo the Laodiceans thought themſelves rich, and encreased with goods; this is, in a very fafe and good condition*. Now there are divers things notably improved by Satan's policy, in order to theſe miſapplications oftruth. As,
First, The freedom oftheir lives from the moſt groſs pollutions ofthe world.
Mat. xix. 20. " All theſe things have I kept from myyouth up." A civil, ſober courſe oflife is a most effectual blindbeforetheeyesofmanyaman'sconfcience.
Secondly, It is the policy of Satan topreventconvictions by conviction : I mean effectual convictions, by convictions, that havebeen ineffectual, and are now vanished away.
Thus the troubles that ſome perſons have been under, muſt paſs for their
converfion, though the temperof theirheartbe the ſame itwas :
Their ineffectual troubles are made uſe ofby thedevil toblind them inthe trueknowledge, and apprehenſionoftheircondition.
For theſe men andwomencanſpeak of the troubles they have had for fin, andthe many tears they have ſhedfor it; whereby thorough conviction is effectuallyprevented.
Thirdly, Gifts, and knowledge are improved by thepolicy ofSatan, against the true knowledge ofJesus Chrift, and our own eſtateby nature. As conviction, is improvedby Satan's policy againſt conviction, ſo is knowledge against knowledge.
This was the cafe of them in Rom. ii. 17, 18. " Thou art " called a Jew, and reſteſt inthe law, and makeſt thy boast of 66 God, and knoweſt his will, and approveſt the things thatare
" excellent; being inſtructed out ofthe law, andartconfident " that thou thyself art aguide to theblind," &c.
Andthis is the temptation, anddelusion ofknowing perfons, whoare fo far frombeingblindin their own account, that theyaccount themſelves the guides oftheblind: Yet whoblinder than fuchmen?
Fourthly, External reformation isimproved by the policy of Satanagainst true ſpiritual reformation, and paſſes currentup and down the world for converfion; though it ſerves only to ſtrengthen Satan's intereſt in the foul, Matth. xii.44. and for want ofa real change ofheart, doth but encreaſe their fin and miſery, 2 Pet. ii. 20.
This is the generation that is pure in theirown eyes, andyet are not washedfrom their filthineſs.
*See myTouchſtone ofSincerity upon Rev. iii. 17, 18 .
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The cleannessoftheir hands blindsthem in discovering thefoulness of their hearts.
Fifthly, The policy of Satan improves diligence in ſome duties, against the convictions of other duties.
The external duties of religion, as hearing, praying, faſting, against the great duties ofrepenting andbelieving.
This was their cafe, Ifa.lviii.
2, 3. " Yet they feek me daily, and delight to know my ways, " as a nation that did righteouſneſs, and forſook not the ordi- " nances of their God. They ask of me the ordinances of ju- " ſtice, they take delight in approaching toGod.
Wherefore " have we faſted, ſay they, and thou ſeeſt not ? Wherefore " have we afflicted our souls, and thou takeſt no knowledge ?"
Thus duty is improved againſt duty, the externals against the internals of religion,and multitudes are blinded this way.
Sixthly, The policy of Satanimproves zeal againſt zeal ; and thereby blinds a great part of the world: he allows men to be zealous againſt a falſe religion, if thereby he may prevent them from being zealous in the true religion. He diverts their zeal against their own ſins, by ſpending it againſt other mens. Thus
Paulwas once blinded by his own zeal for the law, Acts xxii.
3. Andmany men, at this day, fatisfythemselves in theirown zeal against the corruptions ofGod's worſhip, and the ſuperſtitions of others, who never felt the power of true religion upon their own hearts ; adangerous blind of Satan.
Seventhly, The policy of Satan improves the eſteem and reſpect men have from the people ofGod, against their great duty and intereſt to become ſuch themſelves, Rev. iii. 1. " Thou
" haſt a name that thou liveſt, but thou art dead."
It is enough tomany men that they obtain acceptation among the faints, though they be none of that number ; the good opinion ofothers, begets and confirms their goodopinion ofthemselves.
Eightly, The policyofSatanimprovesfoundness ofjudgment, againſt ſoundness of heart. An orthodox head, against an orthodox heart and life; dogmatical faith, againstjuſtifying faith.
This was the caſe of them before-mentioned, Rom. ii. 18, 19.
Men fatisfy themselves, that they havea foundunderstanding, though, at the fame time, theyhave a very rotten heart.
It is enough for them that their heads are regular, though their hearts and lives be very irregular.
Ninthly, The policy ofSatan improves thebleſſings ofGod, against thebleſſings ofGod,blindingusbythe bleſſings ofprovidence, ſo as not to difcern the want of ſpiritual bleſſings ; perfuadingmen that the ſmiles ofprovidence, intheirprofperity, ſucceſs, andthriving deſigns inthe world, aregood eviden