A47542:1424
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.
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.
4. He adds that in their Preservation in their happy State, the Faithfulness of God: God is not unrighteous to forget your Work of Faith, &c. which comprehends his Covenant and Promise to them; which for their farther Comfort, he enlargeth upon, ver. 13 to ver. 19. to which he subjoins the Promise and Oath of God made to all that are sincere Believers, or Heirs of the Promise.
But to proceed, to speak to those five Qualifications or Attainments of the Perso she speaks of in our Text, who may fall away and finally perish for ever.
First, The first is their being once enlightened. They might be instructed in the Doctrine of the Gospel beyond many, or be illuminated, not only by learning the literal Knowledge of the Gospel, as Men learn Philosophy, but also may attain to some supernatural Light by the common Illuminations of the Spirit; and may understand ⟨p. 325⟩many profound Mysteries of the Gospel: yet remember, Knowledge puffeth up; they might have knowing Heads, but graceless Hearts. Note from hence,
First, The first is their being once enlightned. They might be instructed in the Doctrine of the Gospel beyond many, or be illuminated, not only by learning the literal Knowledg of the Gospel, as Men learn Philosophy, but also may attain to some supernatural Light by the common Illuminations of the Spirit; and may understand ⟨p. 325⟩many profound Mysteries of the Gospel: yet remember, Knowledg puffeth up; they might have knowing Heads, but graceless Hearts. Note from hence,
Doct. 2. That it is a high Privilege and an Attainment for Men to be enlightened with the Knowledge of the Gospel; yet nevertheless Men may attain to much Light therein, and yet not be savingly enlightened, but may finally fall away and perish notwithstanding at last. First, I shall show you what the common Illuminations of the Spirit are that Men may fall from. Secondly, Shall show you what the saving and special Illuminations of the Spirit are, and how they differ.
Doct. 2. That it is a high Privilege and an Attainment for Men to be enlightned with the Knowledg of the Gospel; yet nevertheless Men may attain to much Light therein, and yet not be savingly enlightned, but may finally fall away and perish notwithstanding at last. First, I shall shew you what the common Illuminations of the Spirit are that Men may fall from. Secondly, Shall shew you what the saving and special Illuminations of the Spirit are, and how they differ.
1. As to the horrid Guilt thereof, as it exposeth the Soul to God's Wrath: Thus was Judas enlightened, his Conscience was convinced that he had betrayed the Innocent Blood: Thus also Felix was enlightened under Paul's preaching.
1. As to the horrid Guilt thereof, as it exposeth the Soul to God's Wrath: Thus was Judas enlightned, his Conscience was convinced that he had betrayed the Innocent Blood: Thus also Felix was enlightned under Paul's preaching.
2. From these Convictions they may also with much horror confess their Sins: Cain, Judas, and many others did this.
3. From these Illuminations and Convictions, they may reform their Lives, and do many things, like as Herod did upon his hearing John the Baptist.
4. Nay, common Illuminations may discover to the Sinner much of that Evil that there is in Sin, that God abhorreth it, and that it is contrary to his Nature, as well as a violation of his Holy Law; and this Light they may receive, from what God declares concerning Sin, and of his abhorrence of it in his Word, as also by those fearful Judgments which he inflicteth upon, and pronounceth against such that sin, live in Sin, and make a Trade of it. Likewise by the Knowledge they may attain concerning Christ's suffering for Sin, and by the Punishment of the Damned in Hell; and no doubt but the Devils know the great Evil of Sin in all these respects.
4. Nay, common Illuminations may discover to the Sinner much of that Evil that there is in Sin, that God abhorreth it, and that it is contrary to his Nature, as well as a violation of his Holy Law; and this Light they may receive, from what God declares concerning Sin, and of his abhorrence of it in his Word, as also by those fearful Judgments which he inflicteth upon, and pronounceth against such that sin, live in Sin, and make a Trade of it. Likewise by the Knowledg they may attain concerning Christ's suffering for Sin, and by the Punishment of the Damned in Hell; and no doubt but the Devils know the great Evil of Sin in all these respects.
But pray observe, that although these Persons may know that Sin is against God, contrary to his Holy Nature, and that he doth abhor it; yet this Light and Knowledge they have, never brings them to loath and abhor it in themselves because of the evil Nature of it, and as it is against God.
But pray observe, that although these Persons may know that Sin is against God, contrary to his Holy Nature, and that he doth abhor it; yet this Light and Knowledg they have, never brings them to loath and abhor it in themselves because of the evil Nature of it, and as it is against God.
2dly. They also by these common Illuminations, may come to know that God is Man's chiefest Good: The Heathen found this out by the Light of Nature, considering in themselves that nothing in this World could satisfy the Soul, &c. But these Persons attain unto a farther Sight and Knowledge of it, by the Word, in a supernatural manner; but yet remember that the Light they have, never leadeth them to make choice of God as their chiefest Good and only Happiness.
2dly. They also by these common Illuminations, may come to know that God is Man's chiefest Good: The Heathen found this out by the Light of Nature, considering in themselves that nothing in this World could satisfy the Soul, &c. But these Persons attain unto a farther Sight and Knowledg of it, by the Word, in a supernatural manner; but yet remember that the Light they have, never leadeth them to make choice of God as their chiefest Good and only Happiness.
3dly. They may attain unto the Knowledge of all the great and essential Principles of the Christian Religion, and be able to dispute and contend for them also, against Opposers; nay, may be able Preachers of that Holy Doctrine: Have we not prophesied in thy 1Name? &c. No doubt but Judas was a great Preacher as well as Peter. Yet observe, and note it well, they may be utter Strangers to that Grace, Faith, Love and Regeneration, which they may open, explain, and press upon others.
3dly. They may attain unto the Knowledg of all the great and essential Principles of the Christian Religion, and be able to dispute and contend for them also, against Opposers; nay, may be able Preachers of that Holy Doctrine: Have we not prophesied in thy 1Name? &c. No doubt but Judas was a great Preacher as well as Peter. Yet observe, and note it well, they may be utter Strangers to that Grace, Faith, Love and Regeneration, which they may open, explain, and press upon others.
4thly. They may know that Christ is a most blessed and precious Object; but yet never experienced him to be precious above all things to themselves.
5thly They may know the True Church, and also know what is required of Persons in order to their becoming Members thereof, namely, Repentance, Faith and Baptism: Nay, and they may have some kind of Repentance; Judas repented: Also they may believe; Simon believed: They may have a common Faith, the Faith of Credence, or an Historical Faith; believe the Report of the Gospel and Revelation of Christ, and the Sum of the Christian Religion; nay, believe or receive the Word with some sort of Joy, Mat. 13. 20. Moreover, they may be baptized and received into the Church, and be looked upon to be true Believers: But because these things are daily opened to you, I shall not enlarge further upon them: You that have that excellent Book, called, The Almost Christian, may see how far a Man may go and be but a false Professor. O take heed you rest not on any External Knowledge or Revelation of Divine Things. You can talk of Religion, dispute for those great Points of Faith; you know Truth from Error; and so you may, and yet perish for ever. Moreover consider, that all Convictions that end not in Regeneration, or in true Conversion, or that change not the Heart and Life, will avail you nothing.
5thly They may know the True Church, and also know what is required of Persons in order to their becoming Members thereof, namely, Repentance, Faith and Baptism: Nay, and they may have some kind of Repentance; Judas repented: Also they may believe; Simon believed: They may have a common Faith, the Faith of Credence, or an Historical Faith; believe the Report of the Gospel and Revelation of Christ, and the Sum of the Christian Religion; nay, believe or receive the Word with some sort of Joy, Mat. 13. 20. Moreover, they may be baptized and received into the Church, and be look'd upon to be true Believers: But because these things are daily opened to you, I shall not enlarge further upon them: You that have that excellent Book, called, The Almost Christian, may see how far a Man may go and be but a false Professor. O take heed you rest not on any External Knowledg or Revelation of Divine Things. You can talk of Religion, dispute for those great Points of Faith; you know Truth from Error; and so you may, and yet perish for ever. Moreover consider, that all Convictions that end not in Regeneration, or in true Conversion, or that change not the Heart and Life, will avail you nothing.
Secondly, I shall show you the Nature of True Illuminations, and how the one differs from the other: it appears by what the Holy ⟨p. 327⟩Ghost intimates here and in other places, as well as by all our Experiences, that Light or Illumination is the first thing God doth create in the Souls of all that are renewed; and if it be but a common Light, the Work that flows therefrom will be but a common Work of the Spirit; and if that Light that is in Men be Darkness, how great is that Darkness!1
Secondly, I shall shew you the Nature of True Illuminations, and how the one differs from the other: it appears by what the Holy ⟨p. 327⟩Ghost intimates here and in other places, as well as by all our Experiences, that Light or Illumination is the first thing God doth create in the Souls of all that are renewed; and if it be but a common Light, the Work that flows therefrom will be but a common Work of the Spirit; and if that Light that is in Men be Darkness, how great is that Darkness!1
Now as touching the special and saving Illuminations of the Spirit, they differ from the common.
