A47542:1449
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.
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.
1. By the Heavenly Gift, some understand the Heavenly Doctrine: 1In that sense it may be true, for Herod had some kind of Taste of the Heavenly Doctrine, which John the Baptist preached; he heard him gladly, or with Joy. As the Baptism of John is said to be from Heaven, so all the Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel may be said to be but one entire Heavenly Gift.
1. By the Heavenly Gift, some understand the Heavenly Doctrine: 1In that sense it may be true, for Herod had some kind of Taste of the Heavenly Doctrine, which John the Baptist preached; he heard him gladly, or with Joy. As the Baptism of John is said to be from Heaven, so all the Truths and Ordinances of the Gospel may be said to be but one intire Heavenly Gift.
