A47542:1191
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.
To talk of Conditional Purposes concerning Perseverance, saith Dr. Owen, are either impossible, implying Contradictions, or ludicrous, even to an unfitness for a Stage. See the 29th Verse, My Father that gave them me, is greater than all; and none can pluck them out of my Father's Hand.
My Father, as if Christ should say, is equally concerned with me about my Saints Preservation, and final Perseverance; and they are in his Hand, he hath put them into his own Power, and he is greater than all, he is greater than me as I am Mediator, tho as God I and my Father are one; tho he hath put them into my Hand, as I am Mediator and their Surety, yet he hath not let go his own hold of them, he will see not one of them be lost for whom I lay down my Life. If any would get them out of my Father's Hand, it ⟨p. 273⟩must be against his Will, his Purpose, his Decree, and they must do it by Force, by Violence, they must pluck them or rend them out of my Father's Hand: Mind the word pluck twice mentioned; Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand. Not that any are able to pluck them out of the Hand of Christ as Mediator: But our Saviour adds that, in this 29th Verse, as a farther Confirmation, and as an assurance of their safe standing. Who is too strong for Omnipotence it self? Can any bring his Counsel to nought, or destroy such that he holds in the Hand of his Eternal Decree, in the Hand of his Everlasting Love and Affection, and also in the Hand of his amazing, inconceivable and irresistible Power? That Enemy that will destroy one Saint, must be a Match for the Infinite God, and overcome him, and rob him of his chiefest Treasure, or of his precious Jewels. O who dares to say this can be done! Well then, assure your selves, that not one Sheep of Christ can perish: Sin must be stronger than God if it destroys one of the Elect; and Satan more mighty, greater in Power than God: which to think is Blasphemy. Why should our Saviour here add, My Father is greater than all, were it not to signify the impossibility of their perishing, or to show how impossible it is that any Enemy should destroy them?
My Father, as if Christ should say, is equally concerned with me about my Saints Perservation, and final Perseverance; and they are in his Hand, he hath put them into his own Power, and he is greater than all, he is greater than me as I am Mediator, tho as God I and my Father are one; tho he hath put them into my Hand, as I am Mediator and their Surety, yet he hath not let go his own hold of them, he will see not one of them be lost for whom I lay down my Life. If any would get them out of my Father's Hand, it ⟨p. 273⟩must be against his Will, his Purpose, his Decree, and they must do it by Force, by Violence, they must pluck them or rend them out of my Father's Hand: Mind the word pluck twice mentioned; Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand. Not that any are able to pluck them out of the Hand of Christ as Mediator: But our Saviour adds that, in this 29th Verse, as a farther Confirmation, and as an assurance of their safe standing. Who is too strong for Omnipotence it self? Can any bring his Counsel to nought, or destroy such that he holds in the Hand of his Eternal Decree, in the Hand of his Everlasting Love and Affection, and also in the Hand of his amazing, inconceivable and irresistable Power? That Enemy that will destroy one Saint, must be a Match for the Infinite God, and overcome him, and rob him of his chiefest Treasure, or of his precious Jewels. O who dares to say this can be done! Well then, assure your selves, that not one Sheep of Christ can perish: Sin must be stronger than God if it destroys one of the Elect; and Satan more mighty, greater in Power than God: which to think is Blasphemy. Why should our Saviour here add, My Father is greater than all, were it not to signify the impossibility of their perishing, or to shew how impossible it is that any Enemy should destroy them?
Thirdly, By their being in the Father's Hand, may be meant Jesus Christ, who is called the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God; 1because by and through him, God exerts his Power, or his Strength to save; or the Glory of his Power is manifested, as well as of all his other Attributes. Sin seemed to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People, because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence, to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holiness; but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness; and thereby so too, that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory: Father, glorify thy Name, saith 2Christ. Then came a Voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it: Thy Name, that is, however thou art made known, or glorify all thy Glorious Attributes. Almighty Power was seen in creating the World; and also as it wrought in conjunction with Divine Justice, it shone forth in casting the Angels out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradise; as also in the Flames of Sodom: And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness, it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea. But the Strength and ⟨p. 274⟩Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour, as all are united and in conjunction together, and meet in sweet Harmony, as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ; so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Christ is the first-born of every Creature: 3And as the First born is the Strength of the Parent, so is Christ the Strength of God. The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being, that were scattered (as it were) in the Creation, are all united and gathered in Christ; that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke, or as so united are very strong, so God in Christ shines forth, as having all his Glorious Perfections united in one; and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father's Hand, and so that none can pluck them out, God hereby appearing in his united Strength. And thus Christ may be said to be, that Branch that God hath made 4
O what a Hand is the Hand of God in Christ! Who can pull one Soul out of the Father's Hand, or out of Christ, who is the Father's Hand of Power to save all his Elect? Believers are in Christ's Hand, and Christ is the Father's Hand, yea the Father's Right Hand: the Power and Glory of all the Divine Attributes are united together in Christ; herein they show the Perfection of their Strength, and are all exerted in the Salvation of every Believer; therefore it is impossible one of them should perish. In the uniting of all the Attributes of God together doth the strength of God appear to save. And in this respect Believers are in God's Hand, God is concerned to see the Salvation of his People perfected by Christ as Mediator; who is, as so considered, his Right Hand, or the Greatness of his Power, or the Perfection of his Power and Strength.
O what a Hand is the Hand of God in Christ! Who can pull one Soul out of the Father's Hand, or out of Christ, who is the Father's Hand of Power to save all his Elect? Believers are in Christ's Hand, and Christ is the Father's Hand, yea the Father's Right Hand: the Power and Glory of all the Divine Attributes are united together in Christ; herein they shew the Perfection of their Strength, and are all exerted in the Salvation of every Believer; therefore it is impossible one of them should perish. In the uniting of all the Attributes of God together doth the strength of God appear to save. And in this respect Believers are in God's Hand, God is concerned to see the Salvation of his People perfected by Christ as Mediator; who is, as so considered, his Right Hand, or the Greatness of his Power, or the Perfection of his Power and Strength.
Secondly, To proceed; as they are in the Father's Hand, so he hath, you heard, put them into Christ's Hand as their great Sponsor, Mediator and Surety; and that before the World began, in that Covenant and Blessed Compact the Father and Son entered into, in order to the Eternal Salvation of all his Saints: And the Holy God hath fixed on such Ways and Means, and in such manner, that the Thing designed cannot miscarry. Men indeed may miss of their Ends they aim at; but what is directly in the Hand of God, ⟨p. 275⟩and is put by him into the Hand of his Son, to effect and finally to accomplish, shall never miscarry, it being, as I have told you, done according to his Eternal Counsel. God's Absolute Purpose shall stand, let it be what it will; much more that Grand Purpose and Design of his, of saving all true Believers by Jesus Christ.
First, There is a proof of it already as to Matter of Fact: Many thousands of the Souls of his Elect are gone to Heaven, in spite of Sin, Hell, Death, World and Devils.
First, There is a proof of it already as to Matter of Fact: Many thousands of the Souls of his Elect are gone to Heaven, in spight of Sin, Hell, Death, World and Devils.
Secondly, In the Salvation of Believers by Christ, all Interests concerned are secured. (1.) God is Just, and herein he declares his Justice with a Witness. And, (2.) Yet the Sinner is justified. (3.) Vengeance hath to the full took hold of Sin. And yet, (4.) Mercy is magnified to the highest Degree in saving the Sinner: Justice is satisfied, and yet the Sinner is forgiven. (5.) The Law of God hath its full and just Sanction; and the Violence offered to it is retrieved. (6.) And Jesus Christ who did all this, in beholding his Seed and Fruit of his Soul, and their Eternal Blessedness secured for ever, is well pleased and fully satisfied.
Thirdly, The way of accomplishing this Design, is such as will certainly compass the End, Divine Power being engaged in it, which resteth not in the least on the Concourse or Compliance of any frustrable Instruments; nay every Attribute being hereby magnified, they join hand in hand for the effecting of it.
Thirdly, The way of accomplishing this Design, is such as will certainly compass the End, Divine Power being ingaged in it, which resteth not in the least on the Concourse or Compliance of any frustrable Instruments; nay every Attribute being hereby magnified, they join hand in hand for the effecting of it.
Fourthly, No Power can supersede God's Decree, nor obstruct Jesus Christ in his completing the Whole of his Work: I will work, and who shall let? And again it is said, He shall bring forth 1Judgment unto Victory. He shall not fail nor be discouraged: The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hand. And seeing then that the Final Accomplishment of the Salvation of every Believer is put into Christ's Hand, for a farther Demonstration how this tends to secure them all from Danger, and to preserve them to Eternal Life,
Fourthly, No Power can supersede God's Decree, nor obstruct Jesus Christ in his compleating the Whole of his Work: I will work, and who shall let? And again it is said, He shall bring forth 1Judgment unto Victory. He shall not fail nor be discouraged: The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hand. And seeing then that the Final Accomplishment of the Salvation of every Believer is put into Christ's Hand, for a farther Demonstration how this tends to secure them all from Danger, and to preserve them to Eternal Life,
Take here a short Induction of Particulars.
1. Consider the Nature of that Covenant, by virtue of which all the Elect are put into Christ's Hand: It is a Covenant made and entered into by the Son as Mediator with the Father; not only to redeem and purchase Life for them, and to infuse Life in them, but to preserve them in a State of Life, so that none of God's Covenant-Children ⟨p. 276⟩might depart from him any more for ever, which the first Covenant failed in; and therefore God found fault with that or rather with them with whom it was made, who failed in continuing their Obedience thereunto, but sinned, and fell from God. Now say I, God to prevent the like again, hath entered into a New Covenant with his Son for us, which is so well ordered in all things, and sure, as that not one Soul shall ever eternally miscarry that is comprehended therein. O remember that this Covenant was the Result of Infinite Wisdom, as well as it resulted from inconceivable Love and Goodness in God; and it was to frustrate and destroy the Works of the Devil for ever, so that he might never have Cause to insult over the Majesty of God, in getting out of his Hand one Soul that he designed in his Eternal Counsel to make happy, and save for ever.
2. Consider, Jesus Christ to this End, in this Covenant, hath took all that the Father gave unto him into his Hand as their Surety. Pray consider, all Believers are thus in the Hand of Christ: Hence he is called the Surety of a better Covenant. He is their great Sponsor; 1if any be lost, he must answer for them. Let me read that Text in 1 Kings 20. I shall only allude to it to clear up this Matter the better to weak Capacities; Thy Servant went out into the midst of the Battle, and behold, a Man turned aside, and brought a Man unto 2me, and said, Keep this Man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy Life go for his Life. I know this was spoken by the Prophet parabolically, yet it may serve to show you the Nature of Suretyship, where one engageth for another, or for others. Thus Judah became Surety to his Father for Benjamin; I will be Surety for him; of my Hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto 3thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. Reuben also became Surety for Benjamin; And Reuben spake unto his 4Father, saying, Slay my two Sons if I bring him not to thee, and deliver him into thy Hand. This was more indeed than was required of him, or that his Father Jacob could accept of without Sin, had he failed. But O see the Nature of Suretyship; Jesus Christ hath taken all his Saints into his Hand, as their Surety to the Father; and God hath accepted him in this Case, and looks for them all at his Hand; the Father substituted him, not to be a Shepherd only, but a Surety also.
2. Consider, Jesus Christ to this End, in this Covenant, hath took all that the Father gave unto him into his Hand as their Surety. Pray consider, all Believers are thus in the Hand of Christ: Hence he is called the Surety of a better Covenant. He is their great Sponsor; 1if any be lost, he must answer for them. Let me read that Text in
3. And let it be considered, that Jesus Christ became not our Surety to pay our Debts, or to satisfy for our Sins which we stood charged with before our Conversion, but also for all our Sins after ⟨p. 277⟩we believe: his Blood was a plenary Satisfaction for all; so that Christ says (as it were) to the Father, as Judah to Jacob, I thy Servant am become Surety for these, and every one of these that thou hast given to me; and if I bring them not to thee, and set them not before thee in Heaven, then let me bear the blame for ever. Or he may say, as Paul speaketh concerning his Son Onesimus; If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on my Account. 1I Paul have written it with my own Hand, I will repay it, &c. Thus Christ may say, Father, charge the Sins, the Debts that my Saints have, and shall commit, to me, I will be accountable for them: And indeed he hath already done it, once for all; and not only so, but to bring them all to Heaven, and this in a most high and sublime Covenant and Holy Compact he made with the Father before the World began: therefore not one Soul of them can perish.
4. Consider also, that in pursuit of this Covenant and Suretyship, Jesus Christ hath suffered Death, spilt his own precious Blood, which the Father doth accept of as their full Discharge: and shall any once suppose that one Soul of his People for whom he thus struck Hands and died for, and took into his Care and Charge, shall eternally miscarry?
4. Consider also, that in pursuit of this Covenant and Suretiship, Jesus Christ hath suffered Death, spilt his own precious Blood, which the Father doth accept of as their full Discharge: and shall any once suppose that one Soul of his People for whom he thus struck Hands and died for, and took into his Care and Charge, shall eternally miscarry?
5. Consider, that as they are in Christ's Hands, and he hath suffered Death for them, and in their stead, so also, that the Merits of his Blood might become effectual to them, he is every ways fitted, endowed and qualified with all things whatsoever that is necessary, in order to his actual Discharge of this great Trust he hath taken upon him. (1.) He hath received the Spirit without measure, to the end he might have that and all Grace that is needful, to communicate to every one of his Saints as he sees necessary for them; and it is laid up in his Hand, not given all at once to them; but they shall have all their Wants supplied according to his Riches in Glory. (2.) He hath Wisdom enough also, for he is Wisdom it self.1 (3.) He is clothed with Power also; he is a Saviour, a great One: Pray hear what he himself saith; I that speak in Righteousness, 2mighty to save. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth, 3&c. He cannot fail for want of Power as Mediator, let the States or Straits of any Soul of his, be what they will, or of any that rely upon him or come unto him; Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him. Nay, and this Power is 4given to him to this very end, namely, not only to quicken and renew them, but also to perfect Holiness in them, and to bring ⟨p. 278⟩them to Heaven at last: As thou hast given him Power over all Flesh, that he should give Eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him.5
5. Consider, that as they are in Christ's Hands, and he hath suffered Death for them, and in their stead, so also, that the Merits of his Blood might become effectual to them, he is every ways fitted, endowed and qualified with all things whatsoever that is necessary, in order to his actual Discharge of this great Trust he hath taken upon him. (1.) He hath received the Spirit without measure, to the end he might have that and all Grace that is needful, to communicate to every one of his Saints as he sees necessary for them; and it is laid up in his Hand, not given all at once to them; but they shall have all their Wants supplied according to his Riches in Glory. (2.) He hath Wisdom enough also, for he is Wisdom it self.
6. Consider the strict Charge the Father hath given to Christ, as he hath put all Believers into his Hand. (1.) A Charge to redeem them; he laid down his Life as the Father commanded him. (2.) See that in Isa. 49. 9. That thou mayst say to the Prisoners, Go forth; and to them that are in Darkness, Show your selves. He had a Charge to call his Elect out of the Grave of Sin, and to knock off their Fetters, to open their Eyes, and to heal their Wounds. (3.) He hath a Charge to lead them: For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them, even by the Spring of the Waters shall he guide 1them. Christ hath the Conduct of these redeemed Captives, which we have fully proved by his being called a Shepherd. (4.) He hath received a Charge to receive all the Father hath given him; and those that come unto him, he saith, he will in no 2wise cast out. And this he doth not only out of his own Affections and B. wells to all such poor Sinners, but also as in discharge of his Office as all are put into his Hand. (5.) He hath received also a Charge to perfect that good Work that he hath begun in them: The bruised Reed shall he not break, 3and the smoking Flax shall he not quench, till he hath brought forth Judgment unto Victory. He will carry on that Work in the Soul till it i completed; He shall do this, saith the Father, this is part of his Work and Office which he hath accepted of: And our Saviour takes notice of this thing as his Father's Will and Charge given unto him; And this is the Father's Will that sent me, that of 4all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last Day. My Father sent me to cherish and take care of the poorest and weakest Soul that he hath given me, and to see that none of them be lost; I must, as if he should say, strengthen their Faith, subdue their Corruptions, and never leave them till I present them all before my Father, without Spot, at the last Day. (6) He must give an Account of them also at the last Day, and he will present them all without Blame before the Father, in Love, and say, Behold, here am I, and the Children which thou gavest me, none of them are lost.
Thirdly, By their being in the Father's Hand, may be meant Jesus Christ, who is called the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God; 1because by and through him, God exerts his Power, or his Strength to save; or the Glory of his Power is manifested, as well as of all his other Attributes. Sin seem'd to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People, because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence, to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holiness; but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness; and thereby so too, that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory: Father, glorify thy Name, saith 2Christ. Then came a Voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it: Thy Name, that is, however thou art made known, or glorify all thy Glorious Attributes. Almighty Power was seen in creating the World; and also as it wrought in conjuction with Divine Justice, it shone forth in casting the Angels out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradise; as also in the Flames of Sodom: And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness, it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea. But the Strength and ⟨p. 274⟩Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour, as all are united and in conjunction together, and meet in sweet Harmony, as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ; so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Christ is the first-born of every Creature: 3And as the First born is the Strength of the Parent, so is Christ the Strength of God. The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being, that were scattered (as it were) in the Creation, are all united and gathered in Christ; that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke, or as so united are very strong, so God in Christ shines forth, as having all his Glorious Perfections united in one; and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father's Hand, and so that none can pluck them out, God hereby appearing in his united Strength. And thus Christ may be said to be, that Branch that God hath made 4strong for himself. And again, The Man of thy right Hand, the Son of Man whom thou hast made strong for thy self, in whom thou shewest the greatness of thy Power to save, or to manifest his Almighty Power by.
6. Consider the strict Charge the Father hath given to Christ, as he hath put all Believers into his Hand. (1.) A Charge to redeem them; he laid down his Life as the Father commanded him. (2.) See that in Isa. 49. 9. That thou mayst say to the Prisoners, Go forth; and to them that are in Darkness, Shew your selves. He had a Charge to call his Elect out of the Grave of Sin, and to knock off their Fetters, to open their Eyes, and to heal their Wounds. (3.) He hath a Charge to lead them: For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them, even by the Spring of the Waters shall he guide 1them. Christ hath the Conduct of these redeemed Captives, which we have fully proved by his being called a Shepherd. (4.) He hath received a Charge to receive all the Father hath given him; and those that come unto him, he saith, he will in no 2wise cast out. And this he doth not only out of his own Affections and B. wels to all such poor Sinners, but also as in discharge of his Office as all are put into his Hand. (5.) He hath received also a Charge to perfect that good Work that he hath begun in them: The bruised Reea shall he not break, 3and the smoaking Flax shall he not quench, till he hath brought forth Judgment unto Victory. He will carry on that Work in the Soul till it i compleated; He shall do this, saith the Father, this is part of his Work and Office which he hath accepted of: And our Saviour takes notice of this thing as his Father's Will and Charge given unto him; And this is the Father's Will that sent me, that of 4all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last Day. My Father sent me to cherish and take care of the poorest and weakest Soul that he hath given me, and to see that none of them be lost; I must, as if he should say, strengthen their Faith, subdue their Corruptions, and never leave them till I present them all before my Father, without Spot, at the last Day. (6) He must give an Account of them also at the last Day, and he will present them all without Blame before the Father, in Love, and say, Behold, here am I, and the Children which thou gavest me, none of them are lost.
