A47542:1167
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the…
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. The first Effect of Christ's Death in the Soul, is Life; Life is infused: And if thou hast a vital Principle in thee, thou wilt cry out under the Sense of thy Sin. Thrust a Sword into a dead Man's Bowels, and he will not stir nor cry out. Sin is in wicked Men, like a Sword in the Sides of such as are dead; but as soon as Life is infused, there will be Sense, and a crying out. Now when they heard this they were pricked in the Heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, What shall we do? Some of 1these had been the Murderers of the Lord of Life and Glory, yet they found Mercy.
2dly. Another Effect is this, viz. You will perceive a mighty Famine in your Soul, as it was with the Prodigal Son; all your old Hopes of Heaven will be gone, Poverty of Spirit will overtake you: An awakened wounded Sinner despairs of all Supplies or Help in himself; he is distressed with pinching Hunger, and so flies home to his Father: (1.) Yet may not get Power over Sin presently. (2.) But O he trembles at the Thoughts of God's Justice, by beholding the Spear in Christ's Side. (3.) He throws down his Weapons as being conquered and overcome, and resolves to do as the four Lepers did, 2 Kings 7. 3, 4, 8, 9. (4.) He sees nothing but Death if he abides where he is, and believes not: And if he returns to his old Course, he sees he must die; and therefore ventures to throw his Soul upon Christ, or ventures himself on Christ, and lies at the Feet of Christ, and says, If I perish, I perish, I can but die; and if he will pardon me, heal me, and have compassion on me, I shall live. O Sinners, that you could but do thus.
2dly. Another Effect is this, viz. You will perceive a mighty Famine in your Soul, as it was with the Prodigal Son; all your old Hopes of Heaven will be gone, Poverty of Spirit will overtake you: An awakned wounded Sinner despairs of all Supplies or Help in himself; he is distressed with pinching Hunger, and so flies home to his Father: (1.) Yet may not get Power over Sin presently. (2.) But O he trembles at the Thoughts of God's Justice, by beholding the Spear in Christ's Side. (3.) He throws down his Weapons as being conquered and overcome, and resolves to do as the four Lepers did,