A47542:1434
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.
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.
1. In respect of Convictions of Sin: Evangelical Illuminations 1of the Spirit, discover to the Soul its fearful State; not only that Sin is of a hateful Nature, but that he is condemned as a Person dead in Law, and trembles at the sight and sense thereof, not knowing but that the Sentence may be suddenly executed upon him: They were pricked in the Heart, and cried out, Men and Brethren, 2what shall we do? It was their Sin that made them cry out. But pray observe, that the sight and sense of Sin never breaks the Heart throughly and kindly, till the Soul sees the pardoning Grace of God in Christ. Show a Condemned Malefactor a Pardon from his Prince, (that was hardened before under the Sense of the Severity of the Law) O then he is melted and wounded, Goodness and Mercy overcomes him; so it is with a poor Sinner, when he sees God's Love and Grace in Christ; or a bleeding Christ, who has born the Punishment due to him for his Offences: then he is kindly broken, and mourns that ever he grieved or offended God; They shall look unto him whom they have pierced, and shall 3mourn: It was Jesus that you have crucified, the Lord of Life and Glory, whom God hath made both Lord and Christ.
1. In respect of Convictions of Sin: Evangelical Illuminations 1of the Spirit, discover to the Soul its fearful State; not only that Sin is of a hateful Nature, but that he is condemned as a Person dead in Law, and trembles at the sight and sense thereof, not knowing but that the Sentence may be suddenly executed upon him: They were pricked in the Heart, and cried out, Men and Brethren, 2what shall we do? It was their Sin that made them cry out. But pray observe, that the sight and sense of Sin never breaks the Heart throughly and kindly, till the Soul sees the pardoning Grace of God in Christ. Shew a Condemned Malefactor a Pardon from his Prince, (that was hardned before under the Sense of the Severity of the Law) O then he is melted and wounded, Goodness and Mercy overcomes him; so it is with a poor Sinner, when he sees God's Love and Grace in Christ; or a bleeding Christ, who has born the Punishment due to him for his Offences: then he is kindly broken, and mourns that ever he grieved or offended God; They shall look unto him whom they have pierced, and shall
2. Common Convictions reach only to some Sins, perhaps scandalous Sins; they chiefly, if not only, torment the Conscience, under some awakening Providence, or under the preaching of Wrath and Judgment; And as he reasoned of Righteousness, Temperance, 1and Judgment to come, Felix trembled. Doubtless Felix lived in some gross Sin, and now his Conscience was awakened, and terrified him for those Evils, he hearing of the Judgment to come. But special Illuminations in Convictions, cause the Soul to see all its Sins, its secret Sins, yea, Heart-Evils: Come, see a Man which 2told me all things that ever I did; Is not this the Christ? Christ's Word laid all the Evils of the Heart open to her sight. I was, faith David shapen in Iniquity; and in Sin did my Mother conceive 3me. All Sin afflicts the Soul, Original Sin as well as Actual Sin.
3. Common Convictions make a Person sensible of the Punishment of Sin, and to feel the Wrath of God which is due unto him: My Punishment is greater than I can bear, saith Cain. But special Illuminations under Convictions make the Soul to groan under the Filth and Pollution of Sin; They shall loath themselves for 1the Evils they have committed. But when is that? Even when they see that I am (saith the Lord) pacified towards them: And ye 2shall remember your Ways, and all your Doings wherein you have been defiled, and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight. Hence Job cries out, I abhor my self, and repent in Dust and Ashes. Moreover, 3upon this respect it was that David compared his Sin and Pollution to a loathsome Disease. The one cries out, that he has offended an angry God; this is the Nature of legal Convictions, such would fain get out of God's Hands, he flies from him: But the other cries out, I have grieved a Good and Gracious God, and he flies to him, as the Prodigal did to his loving and compassionate Father.
3. Common Convictions make a Person sensible of the Punishment of Sin, and to feel the Wrath of God which is due unto him: My Punishment is greater than I can bear, saith Cain. But special Illuminations under Convictions make the Soul to groan under the Filth and Pollution of Sin; They shall loath themselves for 1the Evils they have committed. But when is that? Even when they see that I am (saith the Lord) pucified towards them: And ye 2shall remember your Ways, and all your Doings wherein you have been defiled, and ye shall loath your selves in your own sight. Hence Job cries out, I abhor my self, and repent in Dust and Ashes. Moreover, 3upon this respect it was that David compared his Sin and Pollution to a loathsom Disease. The one cries out, that he has offended an angry God; this is the Nature of legal Convictions, such would fain get out of God's Hands, he flies from him: But the other cries out, I have grieved a Good and Gracious God, and he flies to him, as the Prodigal did to his loving and compassionate Father.
4. Common Illuminations in Convictions, lay the Soul half dead, he sees he is Wounded; but special Illuminations of the Spirit, discover the Soul is quite Dead: When the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. The one discovers that the Person 1is a Sinner, but not in a helpless State; for though he sees he is undone by his Sin and Disobedience, yet he thinks he may rise by his Duties and Obedience: But a Person truly enlightened, sees he must have a Principle of Life infused, before he can rise, live, or act; and that all his own Righteousness he hath, or is capable of obtaining, is but as Dung and Filthiness in his sight.
4. Common Illuminations in Convictions, lay the Soul half dead, he sees he is Wounded; but special Illuminations of the Spirit, discover the Soul is quite Dead: When the Commandment came, Sin revived, and I died. The one discovers that the Person 1is a Sinner, but not in a helpless State; for though he sees he is undone by his Sin and Disobedience, yet he thinks he may rise by his Duties and Obedience: But a Person truly enlightned, sees he must have a Principle of Life infused, before he can rise, live, or act; and that all his own Righteousness he hath, or is capable of obtaining, is but as Dung and Filthiness in his sight.
5. Common Illuminations cause a Man to see Sin, as it is a great Evil against himself; I have killed a Man to my hurt, saith one of this sort: But special Illuminations discover Sin to be the greatest Evil, as it is against God: the one may know that God hates Sin, but the other is brought to hate it himself, and because God hates it: Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done 1this Evil in thy sight. O saith a poor Believer, what have I done? I have contemned, despised, and spit in the very Face of God; the one is afraid of God, but the other fears God; the one is afraid of him because of his Justice, the other feareth God because of his Goodness; They shall fear the Lord and his Goodness; or shall fear and worship God in Christ, because of his Goodness, 2Grace and Mercy.
6. Common Illuminations give a Person a sense of Death and Wrath due to Sin; but special Illuminations give a Man a sense and an effecting sight of the Death of Christ, and of that Wrath and Curse he hath born for him in his stead: Legal Convictions discovered only to them under the Law (who saw no further) that the Life of the poor Beasts went for Sin; but Evangelical Convictions show that nothing can atone for our Sins, and satisfy God's Justice, but the Life of the Son of God, not the Blood of Bulls or Lambs; no, it must be the Blood of the Lamb of God.
6. Common Illuminations give a Person a sense of Death and Wrath due to Sin; but special Illuminations give a Man a sense and an effecting sight of the Death of Christ, and of that Wrath and Curse he hath born for him in his stead: Legal Convictions discovered only to them under the Law (who saw no further) that the Life of the poor Beasts went for Sin; but Evangelical Convictions shew that nothing can atone for our Sins, and satisfy God's Justice, but the Life of the Son of God, not the Blood of Bulls or Lambs; no, it must be the Blood of the Lamb of God.
7. Common Illuminations are a Man's Torment and Affliction, and fain he would be eased and freed of them, and of the smart thereby; but the special ones tend to make a Man fear that he is not troubled enough, he would be searched thoroughly: Search me, 1and know my Heart; try me, and know my Thoughts; see if there be any evil Way in me. O lance my Soul, Lord lay open my Sore, let me not be slightly healed: The one would fain shake the Trouble off, he thinks it is enough, nay, too much; the other would have it lie faster on: O let not my Sore be skinned over. The Devils cried, Why dost thou torment us before the Time? So unsound Persons would not be tormented; but Conscience hath got hold of them, and they cannot get out of its Hand. But one truly enlightened, saith, with David, I will be sorry for my Sin; I choose it, I desire it: The one desires to be freed from the Effects of Sin, from the Pain and Punishment thereof; but the other cries out to be delivered from the Sin, which is the Cause of all Pain and Punishment: The one is like the Swine, who likes not the Whip, yet loves the Mire; they like not the Lash of the Law, but hate to come under the Yoke of the Gospel: The one cries out for a Plaster to ease his Conscience, may be he is willing to let some Boughs and Twigs be lopped off; but the other would have the Axe laid to the Root of the Tree; he would have the Body of Sin, as well as the Branches, to be destroyed; he is for cutting off the right Hand, Lusts of Profit, and for pulling out the right Eye, Lusts of Pleasure: The unsound Soul is, like Saul, for sparing some of the Fat of the Cattle, and Agag the King, I mean his chief and beloved Lusts; but a sincere Christian is for yielding up all to the Sword of the Spirit.
7. Common Illuminations are a Man's Torment and Affliction, and fain he would be eased and freed of them, and of the smart thereby; but the special ones tend to make a Man fear that he is not troubled enough, he would be searched thorowly: Search me, 1and know my Heart; try me, and know my Thoughts; see if there be any evil Way in me. O lance my Soul, Lord lay open my Sore, let me not be slightly healed: The one would fain shake the Trouble off, he thinks it is enough, nay, too much; the other would have it lie faster on: O let not my Sore be skinned over. The Devils cried, Why dost thou torment us before the Time? So unsound Persons would not be tormented; but Conscience hath got hold of them, and they cannot get out of its Hand. But one truly enlightned, saith, with David, I will be sorry for my Sin; I chuse it, I desire it: The one desires to be freed from the Effects of Sin, from the Pain and Punishment thereof; but the other cries out to be delivered from the Sin, which is the Cause of all Pain and Punishment: The one is like the Swine, who likes not the Whip, yet loves the Mire; they like not the Lash of the Law, but hate to come under the Yoke of the Gospel: The one cries out for a Plaister to ease his Conscience, may be he is willing to let some Boughs and Twigs be lop'd off; but the other would have the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree; he would have the Body of Sin, as well as the Branches, to be destroyed; he is for cutting off the right Hand, Lusts of Profit, and for pulling out the right Eye, Lusts of Pleasure: The unsound Soul is, like Saul, for sparing some of the Fat of the Cattel, and Agag the King, I mean his chief and beloved Lusts; but a sincere Christian is for yielding up all to the Sword of the Spirit.
8. Common Enlightenings work Terror, which may be at last drive the Soul further from God; as it is said of Cain, He went 1out from the Presence of the Lord: But special and saving Convictions, ⟨p. 330⟩cause the Soul to draw nearer to God in Jesus Christ: The one is like a Slave under the Rod, fain would get away from his Master; the other is like a Child under the Rod, that desires to see and behold his Father's reconciled Face and Favour. The common Illuminations wound, but the Soul sees not the Way of Cure, nor will he bear the Instrument which would let out the Life and Power of Sin, but perhaps catches up some thing or another to apply to his Sore, may be his changed Life, his Duties and good Deeds: from hence he hopes that his State is good, he being as he thinks not the Man he once was. But as he who is under special Illuminations, comes to be wounded, by beholding a bleeding Saviour, which is the alone way of Cure; so he chiefly desires that Faith, that Grace which will destroy the Life and Power of all Sin, and thoroughly cleanse and purify his Soul. Brethren, the Spirit of a Sinner may be torn into pieces by legal Terror, the Heart of Stone may be broken, and yet no Heart of Flesh be given; the Ground may be ploughed up in part, yet the Seed of Grace not sown in the Heart: Sensuality, saith one, may be kept down by a Spirit of Bondage, when it is not cast out by the Spirit of Adoption: They have the Law to convince them, but not Grace to renew them; it is not being once enlightened that is sufficient, unless truly enlightened; it is not great Knowledge, unless it be sanctified; it is not the fair Fruit of Reformation, nor Oil in the Lamp of the outward Life and visible Profession of Religion; it is not your seeming pious Duties nor legal Convictions that discover you to be a true Christian: no, nothing short of Union with Christ, and Faith that works by Love, avails any thing. 2Neither Circumcision, nor Uncircumcision, but a new Creature.
8. Common Enlightnings work Terror, which may be at last drive the Soul further from God; as it is said of Cain, He went 1out from the Presence of the Lord: But special and saving Convictions,
9. Common or Legal Illuminations doubtless flow from a sense of God's Power, who is able to punish and reward the Creature according to his Work; not that they would be like God, but can't alas get out of the Hand of God: But true spiritual Enlightenings rise from a sense of God's Holiness, by beholding the Excellency of it, and seeing a necessity of a Conformity thereunto; the Convictions of the one at the best is at a stay, they do not grow, however they never terminate in Conversion; the Effect cannot exceed the Cause, they only tend to reform the Life, and oft-times such return with the Dog to his Vomit again: but the Path of the Just, in spiritual Convictions, is as a shining Light that 1shineth more and more to a perfect Day. Spiritual Enlightenings lead the Soul to Christ; the Spirit in them doth not only convince ⟨p. 331⟩of Sin, but also of Righteousness; such see all their old Props and Supports to fail them: 'tis Christ now, and none but Christ; the World is nothing to them, a Name is of no worth to them: Knowledge and Gifts without Grace will not satisfy them; they see the Vanity of the Creature, and the Fullness of the Mediator. Christ is the chiefest of ten thousand to all such: Others may see some things Christ hath purchased that may affect them; but these see an Excellency in his Person; To you that believe, he is precious. 2He is an Honour, or honourable: Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee. These 3have their Eyes opened to see the Nature of God, the Holiness of the Law, the Weakness of the Creature, the Sinfulness of Sin, and the Sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Others are convinced of many Sins, and of some degree of Evil in Sin; but these see that Sin is exceeding sinful, and that no Sin is so odious as the Sin of Unbelief, in which respects common Convictions fail. Now considering what Enlightenings Men may have, and yet not be savingly enlightened, what little reason is there for any to conclude, that the Persons in our Text were sanctified, holy, and true Christians, because the Holy Ghost says they were once enlightened? They may have, or attain unto a great Change, but not a true and through Change;
and they may be such who arrive to Light in spiritual Things above thousands, nay, may be, exceed many true Christians in Knowledge, Abilities, Gifts, and in their Lives and Conversations too, in some respects, and may not doubt of the Goodness of their State, nay and may suffer for Religion, yea give their Bodies to be burned, and yet be destitute of saving Grace, 1or of true Love to God, and therefore not self-condemned Hypocrites, whose Hearts condemn them, and yet be far from the State of sincere and renewed Christians.
and they may be such who arrive to Light in spiritual Things above thousands, nay, may be, exceed many true Christians in Knowledg, Abilities, Gifts, and in their Lives and Conversations too, in some respects, and may not doubt of the Goodness of their State, nay and may suffer for Religion, yea give their Bodies to be burned, and yet be destitute of saving Grace, 1or of true Love to God, and therefore not self-condemned Hypocrites, whose Hearts condemn them, and yet be far from the State of sincere and renewed Christians.
