A47542:1258
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.
1. Can it stand consistent with his Wisdom, to suffer his own Eternal Counsel to be frustrated? Or hath any Man the true Grace of God, and yet not as the Result of God's Purpose from Eternity? If so, how comes it to pass that Paul tells the Saints, That they were saved, and called with an holy Calling; not according to our Works, but according to his own Purpose and Grace, which was 1given us in Christ before the World began? Can it stand consistent with Divine Wisdom, to let Satan insult over God himself, and boast after this manner; Thou hast sent thy Son to die for these Persons; thou hast renewed them by thy Grace, and made them thy own Children, and espoused them to thy own Son, and this according to the greatness of thy Love and thy Purpose, before all Worlds; and didst it also to destroy and bring to nought my Design and laborious Work in seeking to devour them; but see how thou art defeated and frustrated in all thou hast done: I have tempted them to Sin, I have again deceived their Souls, and set thee against them; and thy Design in saving of these, is by me made of none effect; I have turned those Saints into Swine, and robbed them of all that Grace and rich Treasure thou gavest to them, notwithstanding thou hadst put them into the Hand of thy own Son to preserve and keep?
2. Can it stand consistent with his tender Love, to leave his Saints in the midst of so many cruel Enemies, who are unable to save themselves (as poor Babes of two or ten Days old) out of their Hands, and yet suffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces, whilst he stands by and looks on; and yet they are such that are his own Children, begotten and born of him by his Spirit? Or shall his Love be so great in begetting Grace, or in infusing Grace, and no more Love showed in keeping and preserving that Grace in their Souls? What! purchase such Riches for them by the Blood of his Son, and let them be robbed of it all in a Moment?
2. Can it stand consistent with his tender Love, to leave his Saints in the midst of so many cruel Enemies, who are unable to save themselves (as poor Babes of two or ten Days old) out of their Hands, and yet suffer them by Sin and Satan to be torn to pieces, whilst he stands by and looks on; and yet they are such that are his own Children, begotten and born of him by his Spirit? Or shall his Love be so great in begetting Grace, or in infusing Grace, and no more Love shewed in keeping and preserving that Grace in their Souls? What! purchase such Riches for them by the Blood of his Son, and let them be robbed of it all in a Moment?
3. Can it stand consistent with the Faithfulness of God, who hath said, I will help thee, I will uphold thee by the right Hand of my Righteousness; and I will not suffer thee to be tempted above what thou art able, &c. The Work I have begun in thee, I will perform to ⟨p. 292⟩the Day of Christ; and as thy Day is, thy Strength shall be; and yet notwithstanding all this, will leave them, and let their Grace wither and come to nothing, and Sin and Temptations be too hard and strong for them, and so cast them off for ever?
4. Can it stand consistent with his Holiness, to let his precious Grace, which is an Impression of his own Image and Likeness in the Soul, be blotted, blurred and defaced for ever; this Likeness being a Likeness unto him in that most high and beloved Perfection of his Nature, viz. his Holiness, which Work on the Soul is curiously wrought by his own Spirit, and more valued by him, than ten thousand Worlds; will he, I say, neglect that which is so dear and like unto him, and suffer it to be crushed under the Foot of filthy Corruption by the Lusts of his implacable Enemy?
4. Can it stand consistent with his Holiness, to let his precious Grace, which is an Impression of his own Image and Likeness in the Soul, be blotted, blurr'd and defaced for ever; this Likeness being a Likeness unto him in that most high and beloved Perfection of his Nature, viz. his Holiness, which Work on the Soul is curiously wrought by his own Spirit, and more valued by him, than ten thousand Worlds; will he, I say, neglect that which is so dear and like unto him, and suffer it to be crush'd under the Foot of filthy Corruption by the Lusts of his implacable Enemy?
5. Can it stand consistent with the Honour of God's most Sovereign Majesty, to let Grace be destroyed and come to nothing in the Soul, whose End in all he doth is principally to advance his own Glory? What is it, I pray you, that tends more to bring Honour to God in the World, than that Grace which he hath infused into the Hearts of his People? If Sin brings the greatest Dishonour to him, then certainly Grace brings the greatest Honour to him, which strives to root out and utterly to destroy Sin, so that God and Jesus Christ might reign alone in the Soul. If a King hath but one special Favourite that asserts and maintains his Right, and seeks to uphold his Throne, be sure he will, if possible, preserve him, and suffer none to undermine and supplant that Favourite, so as to root him out of the Kingdom.
Thirdly, In regard had to Jesus Christ, who is the Purchaser and 1immediate Author of Grace, I further argue; Grace shall at last become Victorious, or never finally be suppressed in the Hearts of Believers.
1. Christ by his Death purchased that Grace which every true Christian is possessed of: He died to redeem us from all Iniquity, and 1to purify unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. It is upon the Account of his Death, as the Effects of his Death, the Spirit and the Graces of the Spirit are shed abroad in our Hearts: Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted, and having received 2of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which you see and hear. Certainly if he purchased us, and Grace for us, when we were his Enemies, he will preserve it in us since we are actually now reconciled to him. Shall he be at the expense ⟨p. 293⟩of his Blood to buy it, (as one notes) and spare his Power to secure it?3
1. Christ by his Death purchased that Grace which every true Christian is possessed of: He died to redeem us from all Iniquity, and 1to purify unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. It is upon the Account of his Death, as the Effects of his Death, the Spirit and the Graces of the Spirit are shed abroad in our Hearts: Therefore being by the right Hand of God exalted, and having received 2of the Father the Promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which you see and hear. Certainly if he purchased us, and Grace for us, when we were his Enemies, he will preserve it in us since we are actually now reconciled to him. Shall he be at the expence ⟨p. 293⟩of his Blood to buy it, (as one notes) and spare his Power to secure it?3
2. Christ was manifest to take away Sin, to dispossess Satan, and will he let Satan take Possession again? He came to destroy the 1Works of the Devil? And what are Satan's Works but Sin? Will not Christ accomplish that which he came into the World to do?
3. He is called the Author and Finisher of our Faith: If this be so, we may assure our selves he will perfect it; he that begins 1it, will end it; he hath not left it to another after he hath begun the Work of Faith, to finish it: No, no, he still keeps it in his own Hand, and he will see it done.
4. It is for the Honour of Christ, that Grace lives and is strengthened in his People: Wherefore also we pray for you, that our God would account you worthy of this Calling, and fulfil all the good Pleasure of his Will, and the Work of Faith with Power. Part of the good Pleasure of the Will of God had been fulfilled in them; they were called, justified, adopted, and the Work of Sanctification was begun; and Paul prays, that with Power it might be completed, and then shows us how it tends to the Glory of Christ to have this done; That the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be 1glorified, and you in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, the Glory of Christ, and the final Salvation of the Saints, are wrapped up together; Grace tends to Christ's Glory here, and to his Eternal Praise and Glory hereafter.
4. It is for the Honour of Christ, that Grace lives and is strengthened in his People: Wherefore also we pray for you, that our God would account you worthy of this Calling, and fulfil all the good Pleasure of his Will, and the Work of Faith with Power. Part of the good Pleasure of the Will of God had been fulfilled in them; they were called, justified, adopted, and the Work of Sanctification was begun; and Paul prays, that with Power it might be compleated, and then shews us how it tends to the Glory of Christ to have this done; That the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be 1glorified, and you in him according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, the Glory of Christ, and the final Salvation of the Saints, are wrap'd up together; Grace tends to Christ's Glory here, and to his Eternal Praise and Glory hereafter.
5. Jesus Christ's Work, now he is in Heaven, is to intercede 1for his Saints: And be sure as he prayed when on Earth that the Faith of his Peters might not fail, so he makes the like Intercession for them in Heaven. Hence the Intercession of Christ is part of the Saints Holy Triumph, in that of Romans 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who also maketh Intercession for us.
Now the Intercession of Christ hath great Power and Prevalency in it, in order to our final Perseverance in Grace. 1. Because he pleads continually with God the Virtue of his own Merits: what he hath purchased for us, he intercedes for; but he purchased Grace for us, and he prays for the final continuation of it in us; therefore it shall abide in us to the End. 2. By his Intercession, he prevails with God that we may be delivered from all our Spiritual Enemies, that they may never have ⟨p. 294⟩Power over us, of whom Sin is the chief: That which Christ intercedes for, he is heard and accepted in; but he intercedes that we may be kept and delivered from the Power and eternal Punishment of Sin, therefore Sin shall never have Power to condemn us. 3. He intercedes that our Prayers may be heard, and that we may be helped to pray; and part of our Prayer is that Sin may not have Power over us to condemn us; therefore Sin never shall so condemn us, because Christ causes our Prayers, with the Incense of his own Intercession, to come up as a sweet Savour in the Nostrils of God. 4. Christ intercedes that all our Sins may be pardoned and covered: If any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. He 1carries this Cause for us in the Court of Heaven; therefore our Sins shall never work our Ruin. 5. It is by his Intercession we come to the Throne of Grace with boldness; Christ our Friend and High Priest appearing 2evermore in the Presence of God for us. 6. And also it is through Christ's Intercession that all our Good Works and Holy Services are accepted of God.
So much shall serve to the tenth and last Argument; And from hence I argue,
If Grace, though never so weak, shall be victorious; if Grace be 1such a Blessed Principle, such a Spark that Sin nor Satan can't quench, such a Seed that no Enemy can get out of the Ground of our Hearts; if Grace through the Spirit is Life, Eternal Life in the Soul; if Grace be the Darling of Heaven, hath such great and Almighty Allies; if the whole Trinity sate in Council about the Birth of Grace, or the Way of its infusion into the Soul; if it be the Gift of the Father's Free Love, and a part of his Holy Nature; if it be wrought in us to show forth his Praise; if Grace be God's great and glorious Workmanship; if the Power of God be engaged to preserve it in us; if God hath promised to maintain its Life in us; if it cannot stand consistent with God's Wisdom, Love, Faithfulness and Holiness, to let it be totally overcome and vanquished in the Souls of his Elect; if Christ purchased Grace for us; if he was manifest to take away Sin; if Christ be the Author and Finisher of Grace in the Soul; if the Life of Grace tends so much to the Honour of Christ; if Christ's Work now in Heaven is to intercede for the continuation of Grace in us, that it may never fail in the Seed or Habit of it; Then no true Believer can fall so from Grace, as eternally to ⟨p. 295⟩perish. But all this is true; therefore no Believer can so fall from Grace as eternally to perish.
If Grace, though never so weak, shall be victorious; if Grace be 1such a Blessed Principle, such a Spark that Sin nor Satan can't quench, such a Seed that no Enemy can get out of the Ground of our Hearts; if Grace through the Spirit is Life, Eternal Life in the Soul; if Grace be the Darling of Heaven, hath such great and Almighty Allies; if the whole Trinity sate in Council about the Birth of Grace, or the Way of its infusion into the Soul; if it be the Gift of the Father's Free Love, and a part of his Holy Nature; if it be wrought in us to shew forth his Praise; if Grace be God's great and glorious Workmanship; if the Power of God be engaged to preserve it in us; if God hath promised to maintain its Life in us; if it cannot stand consistent with God's Wisdom, Love, Faithfulness and Holiness, to let it be totally overcome and vanquished in the Souls of his Elect; if Christ purchased Grace for us; if he was manifest to take away Sin; if Christ be the Author and Finisher of Grace in the Soul; if the Life of Grace tends so much to the Honour of Christ; if Christ's Work now in Heaven is to interceed for the continuation of Grace in us, that it may never fail in the Seed or Habit of it; Then no true Believer can fall so from Grace, as eternally to
APPLICATION.
First, Of Information.
