A47542:1448
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.
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;
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 Enlightnings 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 Enlightnings 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: Knowledg and Gifts without Grace will not satisfy them; they see the Vanity of the Creature, and the Fulness 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 Enlightnings Men may have, and yet not be savingly enlightned, 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 enlightned? They may have, or attain unto a great Change, but not a true and thorow 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.
APPLICATION.
1. O see what Light, what Spiritual Light you have received, and what Convictions you have had the experience of.
2. Which do you account the greatest Evil, Sin or Suffering, the Torture or Pain you feel, or the Sin you have committed? Do you groan most under the sense of Sin, and want of Holiness; or under the presages and fear of Hell and Damnation? May be you cry out, your State is sad; but what think you of your Sin which is the Cause of it?
3. Be exhorted to labour after true Spiritual Illuminations, and through Convictions of Sin.
3. Be exhorted to labour after true Spiritual Illuminations, and thorow Convictions of Sin.
Motives.
1. Sin will be your Pain and Sorrow, first or last, either here or hereafter.
2. Consider what a good and gracious God you have offended.
3. Without effectual Convictions, there will be no true Conversion; and where the first is indeed wrought, the last will follow; those that God kills in this respect, he will make alive.
4. Remember the Word never comes with Power, until Convictions come with Power, and also abide on the Soul and Conscience of the Sinner.
5. Consider that it is better to be broken in Mercy than in Judgment, better here than in Hell.
6. Remember that true and through Convictions tend to let out the Life or Power of your Sin; and consider also what Means of Convictions God is pleased to afford you.
6. Remember that true and thorow Convictions tend to let out the Life or Power of your Sin; and consider also what Means of Convictions God is pleased to afford you.
7. Sinner, Christ was wounded for thy Sin, look up to him; nothing breaks the Soul rightly, you have heard, but a sight of a broken and crucified Christ.
1I Have closed with the first Qualification or Attainment of these Persons spoken of in my Text; I shall now proceed to the Second, And have tasted of the Heavenly Gift.
