A47542:1297
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.
5. The Decree of Election considered absolutely in it self, without respect had unto its Effects, is no part of God's revealed Will; that is, it is not revealed, that this Man is, and that Man is not Elected: This therefore can be made neither Argument nor Objection, about any thing wherein Faith and Obedience are concerned.
6. The Sovereign and ever-to-be-adored Grace and distinguishing Love of God, is laid down in the Word of God, to be the greatest Motive to Holiness imaginable: Who maketh thee to differ from another? O that God should open my Eyes, call me by his 1Grace! may a Believer say, Shall I sin against him, because his Grace so abounds to me? God forbid. If God hath elected me, I may live in Sin, walk as I list, is the Language rather of a Devil than of a Man, much less of a Saint. I speak the more to this, because I would show you that are Believers, what Improvement you ought to make of God's Free Grace and Love to you: Put on therefore (as the Elect of God, Holy and Beloved) Bowels of Mercies, 2Kindness, Humbleness of Mind, Meekness, Long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. And as Moses said, Consider what great things God hath done for you.
6. The Sovereign and ever-to-be-adored Grace and distinguishing Love of God, is laid down in the Word of God, to be the greatest Motive to Holiness imaginable: Who maketh thee to differ from another? O that God should open my Eyes, call me by his 1Grace! may a Believer say, Shall I sin against him, because his Grace so abounds to me? God forbid. If God hath elected me, I may live in Sin, walk as I list, is the Language rather of a Devil than of a Man, much less of a Saint. I speak the more to this, because I would shew you that are Believers, what Improvement you ought to make of God's Free Grace and Love to you: Put on therefore (as the Elect of God, Holy and Beloved) Bowels of Mercies, 2Kindness, Humbleness of Mind, Meekness, Long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another. And as Moses said, Consider what great things God hath done for you.
Object. 4. If I shall persevere to the End, what need is there of those Take-heeds in the Scripture? Why are we bid to watch, and take heed lest we fall?
Answ. This is all one with the former, besides I answered it largely when I first entered upon my Work; but yet let me add a word or two further.
Answ. This is all one with the former, besides I answered it largely when I first entred upon my Work; but yet let me add a word or two further.
1. A Child of God may sin and fall grievously, and greatly dishonour God, and bring Reproach on the Gospel, which may tend to grieve some, and harden others; nay, he may lose his Comfort and Joy of God's Salvation, therefore hath need to watch. Satan is a strong, a vigilant and cunning Enemy: O see what Reasons you have from thence to watch and pray.
2. If you grow careless, carnal, or indifferent in the Matters of Religion, it may be a sign that your Hearts are not right with God: Many of the Members of the Churches to whom the Epistles were directed, were no more than Professors; and if so, they were liable to fall away and perish for ever.
Object. 5. But same Branches in the Vine may bear no Fruit, but may be cut off and wither, &c.
Answ. I have also fully answered this Objection already; see the Argument taken from our Union with Christ: There is a twofold being in Christ, an External being in him by a Profession, and a true Spiritual being in him.
Object. 6. If Christ died not for all, what ground have I to believe he died for me?
Answ. 1. What doth it signify to believe Christ died for all, unless thou findest the Effects of his Death in thee? Many thousands shall perish, notwithstanding Christ died for them in their Judgment that make this Objection, yea the generality of them for whom he died; therefore unless all were saved, what Encouragement is there to believe from hence?
2. He that believes, shall be saved: If thou therefore dost believe, thou shalt be saved. Is not this a better Ground of Faith, than that of Christ's dying for all?
3. A bare believing that Christ died for all, I have proved is no Ground of thy Interest in his Death, for that may be without any Fruits or gracious Effects.
4. Thou hast the same Ground to believe as any have, or as such had who do now believe before they did believe; or as they had once, who now are in Heaven.
5. Christ died for the chiefest of Sinners; and the Promises of Mercy upon believing, are made to the vilest Sinners on Earth.
6. Great and black Sinners have found Mercy, and are now in Heaven, even some of them that put Christ to Death; And is here not Ground of Faith and Hope for thee?
7. Remember, that if thou believest not, but dost continue in thy Sin and Rebellion against God, thou shalt be certainly damned, thy rejecting of Christ will have that Effect at last upon all Unbelievers.1
