A47542:258
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.
8. Tremble all ye Hypocrites, whose Hearts condemn you for harbouring some Sin or another in your bosoms, who are not what you seem to be, but strive to cover your vileness under a cloak of a visible Profession: Fearfulness will soon surprise you: Who amongst us shall dwell with devouring fire? 1who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning? Hell is that place that is prepared for Hypocrites and Unbelievers: It seems by the 2word of our Blessed Saviour, that they above all are in a dangerous Estate, and shall not escape eternal burning.3
8. Tremble all ye Hypocrites, whose Hearts condemn you for harbouring some Sin or another in your bosoms, who are not what you seem to be, but strive to cover your vileness under a cloak of a visible Profession: Fearfulness will soon surprize you: Who amongst us shall dwell with devouring fire? 1who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning? Hell is that place that is prepared for Hypocrites and Vnbelievers: It seems by the 2word of our Blessed Saviour, that they above all are in a dangerous Estate, and shall not escape eternal burning.3
9. Tremble ye Apostates, ye who have backsliden from God. O fear, lest God let out his Wrath upon you here, and it burn within you, whilst you are alive in the body; and if it prove a final Apostasy, Woe be to you as ever you were born! then there remains no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries.
9. Tremble ye Apostates, ye who have backsliden from God. O fear, lest God let out his Wrath upon you here, and it burn within you, whilst you are alive in the body; and if it prove a final Apostacy, Wo be to you as ever you were born! then there remains no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and fiery indignation that shall devour the adversaries.
Exhort. O Repent, Repent, haste to Christ, believe on him.1
1. Motive. The God of mercy exercises much Patience towards poor Sinners, O how doth he wait, O how willing is he they should be saved, and not come into the place of Torment.
2. He tells you what your End will be, if you believe not, if you accept not his Son, fly not for Refuge to take hold of Jesus Christ; if ye believe not in Christ, ye shall dye in your sins; that is, you shall be damned for ever: He that believeth and is baptized 1shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. He sets out the Torments of the damned by the most amazing figures, 2to move upon mens Spirits, and work upon their Minds, so that they being deterred form evil Practices may flee from the Wrath 3to come, by laying hold on the hope set before them; he gives warning before he strikes, tells you of your danger; Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish; he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see Life, but the 4Wrath of God abideth on him; the wicked shall be turned into Hell, 5with all the Nations that forget God: You may know how it will ⟨p. 69⟩go with you at the last day, if you hear but Gods warning-pieces in his Word: Know ye not the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom 6of God? Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor effeminate Persons, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor Thieves, nor Drunkards, nor Extortioners; &c. Compared with Rev. 21. 8.
3. God calls, nay cries to you sinners, O ye simple ones, why 1will ye love simplicity, and fools hate knowledge! turn ye at my reproof, and behold I will pour out my spirit upon you, &c.
4. He gives sinners time and space to repent, or a day of Grace. O now unexcusable will he leave every ungodly man at the last day! their destruction shall appear to be of themselves; be sure God will be clear when he judges, none shall have any thing to charge him with, all mouths shall be stopped. The man That wanted the Wedding-Garment was speechless.
5. God hath sent his Son to die for Sinners: God so loved the 1world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
6. He sends his Ministers to call you, to invite you, who tell you all things are now ready: Sinners, will your sinful Honours, 1Riches or Pleasures, make a reparation for the loss of a Christ, the loss of Heaven, and loss of your own souls? Take two or three Directions. 1. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven first, before all things. 2. Take notice, this is the day of your Visitation, know now the 2things that belong to your peace, before they are hid from your Eyes: Behold now is the accepted time, &c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee, and before Conscience is feared, or let out against thee, to tear thee into pieces. 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace, and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death, even everlasting burnings, therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence; know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity, and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one choose the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day, and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year? much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incur the fiery. Indignation of God for ever.
6. He sends his Ministers to call you, to invite you, who tell you all things are now ready: Sinners, will your sinful Honours, 1Riches or Pleasures, make a reparation for the loss of a Christ, the loss of Heaven, and loss of your own souls? Take two or three Directions. 1. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven first, before all things. 2. Take notice, this is the day of your Visitation, know now the 2things that belong to your peace, before they are hid from your Eyes: Behold now is the accepted time, &c. 3. Close with Christ whilst the Spirit strives with thee, and before Conscience is feared, or let out against thee, to tear thee into pieces. 4. Attend carefully upon the means of Grace, and know assuredly that the Wages of Sin is eternal Death, even everlasting burnings, therefore renounce it with the greatest abhorrence; know all the Pleasures and Honours of this Life are but the Elements of carnal felicity, and according to the Judgment of Reason and sense would any one chuse the enjoyment of the greatest Pleasures for a day, and afterwards be satisfied to suffer the most exquisite Torments for a year? much more folly and madness it is for momentary brutish delights to incurr the fiery. Indignation of God for ever.
1. One word to you that are Believers, and I have done. 1O bless God for Jesus Christ, who has born the wrath of God for ⟨p. 70⟩you, and in your stead, that you might never see the bitterness of it, even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come.2
1. One word to you that are Believers, and I have done. 1O bless God for Jesus Christ, who has born the wrath of God for ⟨p. 70⟩you, and in your stead, that you might never seel the bitterness of it, even Jesus who delivered us from wrath to come.2
2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God: We love him, because he first loved us: It was his Love that overcame you. The mere fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men, tho' it may stop them in their way, and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof, yet does not, cannot renew their Nature, regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives; that Religion that is the mere effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle, even legal, wavering and inconstant; yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner, and in some sense prepare for Grace: When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath, and the fear of Hell has made a breach, Divine Grace enters, but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections, (as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical, free and voluntary, from the entire consent of the Soul) and are abiding.
2. Admire the distinguishing Grace and special Love of God: We love him, because he first loved us: It was his Love that overcame you. The meer fear of Hell is not sufficient to Convert the Souls of men, tho' it may stop them in their way, and prevent great Abominations in the gross acts thereof, yet does not, cannot renew their Nature, regenerate and make holy their hearts and lives; that Religion that is the meer effect of fear will be according to the nature of its principle, even legal, wavering and inconstant; yet the fear of Hell may awaken the sinner, and in some sence prepare for Grace: When the Soul is stormed by the terror of Wrath, and the fear of Hell has made a breach, Divine Grace enters, but it is the Love of God and hopes of Heaven that works spiritual affections, (as the Obedience that flows therefrom is Evangelical, free and voluntary, from the entire consent of the Soul) and are abiding.
3. Be content with your Condition, tho' poor in this World, remember Lazarus, how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's? O do not envy the wicked that are Rich, they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell, which they with greedy covetous minds heap up. I remember a Passage which is related in History: A General with an Army passing through another Princes Country, gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belonged to the Inhabitants; but nevertheless one Soldier as they were upon their March, stole a Bunch of Grapes, which the General being informed of, gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death; as he was going to Execution, he fell a eating his Grapes, and some Persons looking greedily on him, he observing them, said, Do not envy me my Grapes, for they cost me dear, they cost me my Life.
3. Be content with your Condition, tho' poor in this World, remember Lazarus, how much better was his state than the Rich Glutton's? O do not envy the wicked that are Rich, they will pay dear for their Wealth when they come to Hell, which they with greedy covetous minds heap up. I remember a Passage which is related in History: A General with an Army passing through another Princes Countrey, gave strict Order that no Person should offer to touch the least thing which belong'd to the Inhabitants; but nevertheless one Souldier as they were upon their March, stole a Bunch of Grapes, which the General being informed of, gave Order that he should immediately be put to Death; as he was going to Execution, he fell a eating his Grapes, and some Persons looking greedily on him, he observing them, said, Do not envy me my Grapes, for they cost me dear, they cost me my Life.
4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ, and prefer the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World; let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace, Gifts, Knowledge, &c. and in all you act and do in his Service, be, that you may advance his Glory.
4. Let it appear to all that you do love Jesus Christ, and preferr the honour of God and his interest above all things in this World; let the main end and design of your Souls in desiring Grace, Gifts, Knowledge, &c. and in all you act and do in his Service, be, that you may advance his Glory.
Sirs, the time is near when it will be known who are Christs Wheat, true Christians, and who are not; but let all that are but Chaff tremble, for Hell is prepared for them: He will gather the Wheat into his garner, but the Chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
FINIS.
THE BLESSEDNESS OF Christ's Sheep: OR, No final Falling from a State of true Grace. DEMONSTRATED, In Several SERMONS, lately Preached, and now for general Good Published. Wherein all the grand Objections usually brought against the Saints final Perseverance, are fully answered.
