V. Without this all that God hath done. and suffered

will be (as to you) ix vain, John xii. 8. Titus 1. 14. that is, it will no way avail you to salvation. Many urge this as sufficient ground for their hopes, that Christ died for sinners: but I must tell you, Christ never died to save impenitent and unconverted sinners, (so continuing,) 2 Tim. ii. 9. A great divine was wont, in his private dealings with souls, to ask two questions; 1. What hath Christ done for you? 2.» What hath Christ wrought in you? Without the ap-
572 THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION.
plication of the spirit in regeneration, we can have no Saving interest in the benefits of redemption. I tell you from the Lord, Christ himself cannot save you if you go on in this state. . .
1. It were against his trust. The mediator is the servant of the Fathér, Isa. xlii. 1. shows his commis- sion from him, and acts in his name. Now Christ would quite cross his Father's glory, his greatest trust, if he should save men in their sins, for this were to Overturn all his counsels, and to offer violence to all his attributes. ji het or ae
First, To overturn all his counsels: of which this is the order, that men should be brought through sancti- fication to salvation. If thou canst repeal the law of God's immutable counsel, or corrupt him whom the Father hath sealed, to go directly against his commis- sion, then, and not otherwise, mayest thou get to hea- ven in this condition. To hope that Christ will save thee while unconverted, is to hope that God will fal- sify his trust. Be assured, Christ will save none in a way contrary to his Father's will. |
Secondly, Zo offer violence to all his attributes. 1. Zo his justice, for the righteousness of God's judg- ment lies im rendermg to all according to their works. Now should men sow to the flesh, and yet of the Spirit reap everlasting life, where were the glory of divine Justice, since it would be given to the wick- ed according to the work of the righteous? 2. 70 his holiness. If God should not only save sinners, but save them in their sins, his holiness would be exceedingly defaced. It would be offering extreme violence to. the infinite purity of the divine nature, to have such to dwell with him. If holy David would not endure such in his house, no nor in his sight, Psal. ‘ci. 3, 7. can we think God will? 3. Zo his veracity: for God hath declared from heaven, that if any shall say, he shall have peace, though he shalt go on in the imagination of his heart, his wrath shall smoke against that man. That they (only) that confess and forsake their sins shall find mercy, Prov. xxviii. 13. That they that shall enter into his hill must be of clean
vHE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION: 373.
hands, and of a pure heart, Psal. xxiv. 3, 4. Where were God’s truth, if notwithstanding all this he should bring men to salvation without conversion? O desperate sinner, that darest to hope that Christ will put the lie upon his Father, and nullify his word to save thee! 4. To his wisdom: for this were to throw away the choicest of mercies on them that would not value them, nor were any way suited to them. First, they would not value them: the unsanctified sinner puts but little price upon God's great sal- -yation. Now would it stand with wisdom to force pardon and life upon those that would give no thanks for them ? '
Secondly, They are no way surted to them. The divine wisdom is seén in suiting things to each other, the means to the end, the quality of the gift to the capacity of the receiver. Now, if Christ should bring the unregenerated sinner to heaven, he could take no more felicity there than a beast, if you should bring him into a beautiful room to the society of learned men and a well furnished table ; whereas the poor thing had — much rather be grazing with his fellow-brutes. Alas, what would an unsanctified creature do in heaven? He could take no content there, because nothing suits him. The place doth not suit him, he would be quite out of his element, as a fish out of water. The company doth not suit him. What communion hath darkness with light? Corruption with perfection? The: employment doth not suit him: the anthems of. heaven. fit not his mouth, suit not his ear. Canst thou charm thy beast with music? Or, wilt thou bring him to thy organ, and expect that he should keep time with the tuneful choir?
5. To his immutability, to his omnisciency or omnipo- tency; for this is enrolled in the decrees of the court above, that none but the pure in heart shall ever see God. This is laid up with him, and sealed among his trea- sures. Now, if Christ yet bring any to heaven uncon- verted, either he must get them in without his Father's knowledge, (and then where is his omnisciency?) Or
574 TWE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION.
against his will, (and then where were his omnipo- tency ?) Or he must change his will, (and then where were his immutability ?) wees
Sinner, wilt thou not give up thy vain hope of be- ing saved in this condition? Shall the earth be. for- saken for thee? Or the rocks moved out of their place? Job xviii. 4. May I not much more reason so with thee? Shall the laws of heaven be reversed for thee? Shall the everlasting foundations be over- turned? Shall Christ put out the eye of his Father's omnisciency, or shorten the arm of his eternal power, for thee? Shall divine Justice be violated for thee? or the glory of his holiness be blemished ?—O the impossibility, absurdity, blasphemy, that is in such a confidence! To think Christ will ever save thee in this condition, is to make thy Saviour to be- come a sinner, and to do more wrong to the infinite Majesty than all the devils in hell ever did or could do; and yet wilt thou not give up such a blasphe- mous hope? ih ches) anti