A47542:741
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.
2. The Cause of those Evils, or grievous Falls that some Christians have and do sustain, are from Satan; who is not only a malicious Enemy, but a strong and cruel Enemy also: Hence called, A roaring Lion, going about and seeking whom he may devour. 1He is very diligent to observe the natural Inclinations of all Christians, and watcheth the fittest Opportunity to make his Onsets: As when David neglected the proper Work and Business God by his Providence called him unto, The time when Kings go forth to battle, 2he sent Job, and tarried at home himself; and then the Enemy set upon him; he being a walking on the Roof of his House, spied a Woman washing her self, which produced his fearful Fall. Let Christians take heed they are not out of such Employment that God calls them to, and not put an Opportunity into Satan's Hand, by excess of Eating, Drinking, or Idleness, or by gadding or gazing Abroad, like Dinah, Jacob's Daughter; and beware how they neglect any spiritual Duty, in the way of which God hath promised to keep our Souls.
2. The Cause of those Evils, or grievous Falls that some Christians have and do sustain, are from Satan; who is not only a malicious Enemy, but a strong and cruel Enemy also: Hence called, A roaring Lion, going about and seeking whom he may devour. 1He is very diligent to observe the natural Inclinations of all Christians, and watcheth the fittest Opportunity to make his Onsets: As when David neglected the proper Work and Business God by his Providence called him unto, The time when Kings go forth to battel, 2he sent Jo•b, and tarried at home himself; and then the Enemy set upon him; he being a walking on the Roof of his House, spied a Woman washing her self, which produced his fearful Fall. Let Christians take heed they are not out of such Employment that God calls them to, and not put an Opportunity into Satan's Hand, by excess of Eating, Drinking, or Idleness, or by gadding or gazing Abroad, like Dinah, Jacob's Daughter; and beware how they neglect any spiritual Duty, in the way of which God hath promised to keep our Souls.
3. The Falls of the Saints may be occasioned by reason of the weakness of their Grace: Faith may be but small, or not in Exercise and so the Hope and Trust of the Soul may fa•l. If the Anchor hath not good and firm hold, but should slip, the Ship is in danger; so it is here, Hope is the Anchor of the Soul, it should be therefore both sure and steadfast: O ye of little Faith, wherefore did you doubt? Christians are in no small danger if their Faith be 1not strong: Faith is the Shield by which we should quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked. The Apostle alludes to those violent 2Temptations, by which Satan strives to inflame Mens Lusts; but right skill to use the Shield of Faith, will soon quench all those Darts of Temptations. A Shield is to defend every part of the Body, and will, if rightly used. So by Faith a Christian is enabled, ⟨p. 166⟩when in the true Exercise thereof, to preserve his whole Soul from Evil; but let this Shield go, and Satan quickly prevails: If Satan can persuade a Man there is no such Evil in Sin as God's Word declares, or that it is no great matter, 'tis no wonder he is overcome.
3. The Falls of the Saints may be occasioned by reason of the weakness of their Grace: Faith may be but small, or not in Exercise and so the Hope and Trust of the Soul may fa•l. If the Anchor hath not good and firm hold, but should slip, the Ship is in danger; so it is here, Hope is the Anchor of the Soul, it should be therefore both sure and stedfast: O ye of little Faith, wherefore did you doubt? Christians are in no small danger if their Faith be 1not strong: Faith is the Shield by which we should quench all the siery Darts of the Wicked. The Apostle alludes to those violent 2Temptations, by which Satan strives to enflame Mens Lusts; but right skill to use the Shield of Faith, will soon quench all those Darts of Temptations. A Shield is to desend every part of the Body, and will, if rightly used. So by Faith a Christian is enabled,
4. They sometimes fall, by reason of their own fleshly Confidence, or trusting in their own Strength: Though all deny thee, yet will not I. Nay, Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, 1yet I will not deny thee. O how dangerous a thing is it to glory in our own Abilities, or trust in Self-confidence! What little knowledge have we of our own Hearts! It was but a few Hours after this, but Peter denied our Saviour, and swore he did not know him. When Men have not their whole dependence on the Grace and Power of God, he oft-times leaves them, that they may see without him they can do nothing: And whenever God withdraws his Divine Assistance from a Person, or leaves him to himself, he falls immediately as Peter did.
4. They sometimes fall, by reason of their own fleshly Confidence, or trusting in their own Strength: Though all deny thee, yet will not I. Nay, Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, 1yet I will not deny thee. O how dangerous a thing is it to glory in our own Abilities, or trust in Self-confidence! What little knowledg have we of our own Hearts! It was but a few Hours after this, but Peter denied our Saviour, and swore he did not know him. When Men have not their whole dependance on the Grace and Power of God, he oft-times leaves them, that they may see without him they can do nothing: And whenever God withdraws his Divine Assistance from a Person, or leaves him to himself, he falls immediately as Peter did.
5. The Falls of the Saints, may be through the Ensnarements and Vain-glory of this wicked World. Hezekiah fell this way; his Heart was lifted up with Pride in beholding all his Glory and Riches, which he showed to the Princes of the King of Babylon, in a vain-glorious manner: He showed them all the House of his precious things, the Silver, and the Gold, and the Spices, and the precious Ointments, 1and all the House of his Armour, and all that was found in his Treasures; there was nothing in his House, nor in all his Dominions, that Hezekiah showed them not. This was his Sin and Fall; this provoked God against him: And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear 2the Word of the Lord. Behold, the Days come, that all that is in thine House, and that which thy Fathers have laid up in Store to this Day, shall be carried into Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy Sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon.
5. The Falls of the Saints, may be through the Ensnarements and Vain-glory of this wicked World. Hezekiah fell this way; his Heart was lifted up with Pride in beholding all his Glory and Riches, which he shewed to the Princes of the King of Babylon, in a vain-glorious manner: He shewed them all the House of his precious things, the Silver, and the Gold, and the Spices, and the precious Ointments, 1and all the House of his Armour, and all that was found in his Treasures; there was nothing in his House, nor in all his Dominions, that Hezekiah shewed them not. This was his Sin and Fall; this provoked God against him: And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear 2the Word of the Lord. Behold, the Days come, that all that is in thine House, and that which thy Fathers have laid up in Store to this Day, shall be carried into Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy Sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon.
6. Sometimes they fall by the Subtlety of Deceivers, who lie in wait to corrupt their Minds, and poison their Souls with their abominable Errors. Hence the Apostle Peter cautions the Saints, to take heed, lest they being led away by the Error of the Wicked, fall from 1their own steadfastness.
6. Sometimes they fall by the Subtilty of Deceivers, who lie in wait to corrupt their Minds, and poison their Souls with their abominable Errors. Hence the Apostle Peter cautions the Saints, to take heed, lest they being led away by the Error of the Wicked, fall from 1their own stedfastness.
7. Many times they fall through slavish Fear, in the Time of Persecution. Many gracious Christians have wanted Courage in that Hour, and have been prevailed with too far to a sinful Compliance ⟨p. 167⟩with the Lusts and Wills of their Adversaries, by reason of their cruel Threats and bloody Edicts; who have nevertheless afterwards been restored again by Repentance, as Peter was.
8. Some fall through their Remissness in Duty, or being off their Watch. There is no great fear of falling, if Christians always stand with their Swords in their Hands, and having all their Armour on; Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, 1watching thereunto with all Perseverance. The Witch told the wicked Person (as the Story goes) that employed her to do Mischief to a godly Neighbour of his, That she could not touch him, because he was always either Reading, Praying, or Meditating, or to that effect. No Evil, no Sin nor Devil need that Man fear, that is always careful in the true and faithful discharge of his Duty to God. If we are asleep, or slothful, 'tis no marvel that Satan prevails, and wounds our Souls. How easy was it for the Philistines to cut off Sampson's Hair, and bind him, when he was asleep? or Jael to strike a Nail through Sisera's Head, he being asleep?2
8. Some fall through their Remisness in Duty, or being off their Watch. There is no great fear of falling, if Christians always stand with their Swords in their Hands, and having all their Armour on; Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, 1watching thereunto with all Perseverance. The VVitch told the wicked Person (as the Story goes) that employed her to do Mischief to a godly Neighbour of his, That she could not touch him, because he was always either Reading, Praying, or Meditating, or to that effect. No Evil, no Sin nor Devil need that Man fear, that is always careful in the true and faithful discharge of his Duty to God. If we are asleep, or slothful, 'tis no marvel that Satan prevails, and wounds our Souls. How easy was it for the Philistines to cut off Sampson's Hair, and bind him, when he was asleep? or Jael to strike a Nail through Sisera's Head, he being asleep?2
9. And lastly, They may sometimes also fall, by having a greater dependence on that Grace they have already received, or on the Grace that is in them, than on that Grace which is in Christ Jesus; we stand not by virtue of that Grace that is in our Cisterns, but by the Grace that is in God's Fountain: When the Grace already received fails us, that Grace that is in Christ shall supply us, if we by Faith depend upon him; Thou therefore, my Son, be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. How is that done? Why, 1to have our whole dependence upon Christ, who as he is our Head and Mediator, hath received the Spirit without measure, to the end he might communicate thereof to all his Members: 'Tis of his 2Fullness that all we receive, and Grace for Grace. But it is not all let out at one time, we have not all our Riches put into our own Hands; No, no, God will not trust it in our own keeping, but it is put into the Hands, or committed to the keeping of our Blessed Trustee, who will give forth Grace unto us as we want it: But my God shall supply all your Need, according to his Riches in Glory, 3by Christ Jesus. Some poor Saints can't live longer than they see their own Wells are full of Water; they live more, alas, by Sense than by Faith: but if all their Hope and Comfort lies in the Grace they have already received, 'tis no wonder if they soon fall, as being worsted. Let us make some Improvement of this.
9. And lastly, They may sometimes also fall, by having a greater dependance on that Grace they have already received, or on the Grace that is in them, than on that Grace which is in Christ Jesus; we stand not by virtue of that Grace that is in our Cisterns, but by the Grace that is in God's Fountain: When the Grace already received fails us, that Grace that is in Christ shall supply us, if we by Faith depend upon him; Thou therefore, my Son, be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. How is that done? Why, 1to have our whole dependance upon Christ, who as he is our Head and Mediator, hath received the Spirit without measure, to the end he might communicate thereof to all his Members: 'Tis of his
APPLICATION.
First. From hence we may infer, what the Reason is we have so many Cautions, or Take-heeds, in the Holy Scriptures, and anticipate a grand Objection that is brought against the Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance: No marvel that we have so many Warnings given us, seeing our Danger is so great, or that the Saints may fall so foully. Watch and pray always. What I say unto 1one, I say unto all, Watch. Watch ye, stand fast in the Faith, quit your selves like Men, be strong. Be sober, and watch unto Prayer. But let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. Take heed unto your selves. *And again, Only take heed, and keep thy Soul diligently, &c. †Take heed, and beware of Covetousness. Again, Take heed that no Man deceive you, &c. Take heed, behold, I have told you all things, &c. He that thinketh he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. Take heed, Brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Unbelief, in departing from the living God. And a multitude more of like Cautions.
First. From hence we may infer, what the Reason is we have so many Cautions, or Take-heeds, in the Holy Scriptures, and anticipate a grand Objection that is brought against the Doctrine of the Saints final Perseverance: No marvel that we have so many Warnings given us, seeing our Danger is so great, or that the Saints may fall so foully. Watch and pray always. What I say unto 1one, I say unto all, Watch. Watch ye, stand fast in the Faith, quit your selves like Men, be strong. Be sober, and watch unto Prayer. But let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. Take heed unto your selves. *And again, Only take heed, and keep thy Soul diligently, &c. †Take heed, and beware of Covetousness. Again, Take heed that no Man deceive you, &c. Take heed, behold, I have told you all things, &c. He that thinketh he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. Take heed, Brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Vnbelief, in departing from the living God. And a multitude more of like Cautions.
2dly. There is another Reason also for these Take-heeds.
1. Because the Evil of the Sins of God's People are so great, God is grievously dishonoured by the Falls and gross Enormities of his Saints. How did David's Sin provoke God, and cause the Enemy to blaspheme him and despise his holy Israel! They are as Wounds he receives in the House of his Friend. Hence he cries out, O do not this abominable thing which I hate.1
2. The Sins and Falls of God's People, hinder the spreading and blessed Promulgation of the Gospel. It makes the Souls of those who stand fast to mourn, and the Hearts of the Wicked to rejoice, and to insult over them who always watch for their halting.
3dly. Another Reason of these Cautions may be, because there are many false Professors in Churches who may fall finally: therefore from these and other Reasons it appears.
1. That there may be great need of, and good reason wherefore, God gives such Cautions in his Word, though his Elect Ones cannot fall finally.
2. We may also infer from hence, that the Reason why some fall quite away, is, because their Hearts were never upright with God.
