E R. 2,3,41 44 le to the F ,E B R E W s, t. It is juff andequal that fuch perfons should be detiroyed ; whence the linter/ ce concerning them isfodecrçtary and abtolute. He sIzibe1ieoeih not j sll be damned, Mari& r6. t6. And the HolyGholtfuppofeth this cafe fo clear evident and undeniable, that he refers the proceedings ofGod therein unto the judgment of finners themfelves, Hé. to. 29. And theywho are judged on this, account at the fait day will beffeeeh- lefi, havenothing to reply,nothing to complain oC And thefnrence denounced againft them will appear unto all tobe righteous, r. Becaufe they deffife an overture ofa treaty about Peace andReconciliation between God and their fouls. There is bynature an enmity between God and them, a flute and condition whereby themfelves alone would be lofers, and that for ever. God who hath no needofthem, nor their obedience or friendthip, tenders them a Treaty upon terms of peace. What greater coudefcenfion love or grace could be conceived or delred ? This is tendred in the Gofpel, zCor. 5. 19. Nowwhat greater indignity can be offered unto him, than toreel bis tenders, without fo muchas an enquiry after what his terms are, as the molt do to whom the Gofpel is preached ? Is not this plainly to tell him, that theydeffife his love, fcorn hisoffers ofReconciliation, and fear not in the lean what hecan do unto them ? And is it not jsJf that fuch perfons fhould befitted with the fruit oftbeir own ways? Let men deal thus with their Rulers whom they have provoked, thathave power over them, and fee howit will fare with them. Neitherwill God be mocked, not thail his grace always be defpifed. When men thall fee and learn by woful experience what pitiful poor worms they are, and have force beams of the Greatnefs Majefìy and Glory ofGod (hiring upon them, how will they be filled withfhame, and forced to fubfcribe to the righteoufnefs of their own Condemnation for refutinghis treatyand terms of Peace. 2. Theft termscontain falvation. Men inthe negledi ofthem negledt and refufe their ownfalvation : andcan any man perilh more juffly than they who refufe tobe faved ? IfGod's Terms hadbeen great, hard, and difficult, yet confidering bywhom they were propofed, andto whom, there wasall the reafon in the world why they fhould be accepted ; and theirdeftruótion would be juft that fhould not endeavour to preferve them unto the utmoft. But now it is life and falvation that he tenders, on whofe tie- glee hecomplains,that menwill not come unto him that they might have life. Certainly there can be no want ofrighteoufnefs in the ruine offuch perfons. But, 3. That which the Apolile principally builds theRigbteoufnefl and inevitablenee of the defrudtion ofGape/ neglecters upon, is the greatneflofehe falvation tendered unto them; How(hall we efcape if we negleil fo great falvation ? How it is Co, and wherein . the greatnefs and excellency ofit doll?conffthath been before declared. Such and fo great it is, that there is nothing which a firmer can fear orfujJlr, but it will deliver him from it; nothing that a creature candelire but it will bring him to the polfetlion ofit. And ifthis be deffifèd, is it not righteous that men fhould petal ? If weknow not, yet God knows how to fee a value upon this great Etfed of Love, Wifdom and Grace, and how to proportion punilhment unto its contempt. The truth is, God alone is able fuffrciently to revenge the greatnefi of this fm and indignity done unto him. Wehave before (hewed how meet it was that the eranfgrelfionofthe Law (hould be punifhed with punilhment eternal ; and yet the Law had provided no re- lief for any in diftrefs or mifery, only taking menas it found them, in the fail place it obedience of them, and then promifed a reward. And a good holy and righteous Law itwas, both in itsCommands and in its Promifes andThreatnings. It foundmen in agoodeftate, andpromifed them abetter on their obedience ; wherein if theyfailed, it tbreatnedthem with the lofs oftheir prefent condition, and allo with the fuperaddition ofeternal ruine. And in all this it was a clear effedt of the sigh- teoufnefs holinefs and faithfulnefs ofGod. But the Gofpel finds mm in quite another ¡fate and condition, in a condition of mifry and'mine, helplefs and hopelefs, and is providedon purpofe both for theirprefent relief, and future everlafting happinefs. And (hall they efcape by whomit is defpifed ? Is it not juil and equal that it fhould prove afavour ofdeath unto death unto them? Is it meet that Godjhouldbemocked, his Grace bedefpifed, his Jutlice violated, his Glory loft, all, thatfitment may go unpu- nifhed ? Let them think fo whilft theypleafe, God thinketh otherwife, all the angels in Heaven think otherwife, all the Saints from the beginning of the world unto the endof it thinkotherwife, and will glorifie God to eternity for the righteoufnefs of his judgments on them that obey not the Gofpel. But, Secondly, Suppofe the dellru4tion ofthefeperfons be in it fell eighteour,'yet there may
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