1III. And seeing you are so near to the Judgment of God, where your Soul must receive its final sentence, it is high time now to judge your self, and know what state your Soul is in? whether in a state of Justification, or of Damnation. For this may be certainly known if you are willing. And first you must know who they be whom Christ will justify, and whom he will condemn: And this the Word of God will tell you: For he will judge them by that Word. 2In a word [All those whom Christ will justify and save, are made new creatures by the renewing work of the Holy Ghost: Their eyes are opened to see the vanity of this world, and the certainty and excellency of the Glory of Heaven; and to see the odiousness of sin, and the goodness of a holy life, and to believe that Christ is the only Saviour, to cleanse them from their sins, and bring them to that Glory. And therefore they forsake the sinful pleasures of the flesh, and set their hearts on the everlasting blessedness, and seek it before all things, and lamenting and hating their former sins, they give up themselves sincerely, to their God and Father, their Saviour, and their Sanctifier, to be taught and ruled, justified, sanctified, and saved by him;3 resolving whatever it cost the flesh, to stand to this choice and Covenant to the death.] This is the case of all that Christ will justify and save: The rest who never were thus renewed and sanctified, will be condemned, as sure as the Gospel is true. Therefore let it be speedily your work, to try whether this be your case or not? Have you been thus enlightened, convinced, and renewed, to believe in Christ, and the life to come, and to give up your self in a faithful Covenant to God your Father, your Saviour, and your Sanctifier? to hate your sin, and to live and love a holy life, in mortifying the flesh, and seeking Heaven before the world? If this be not your case, I should but flatter and deceive you to tell you of any hope of being saved, till you are thus renewed and justified. Never imagine a lye to quiet you, till help is past. No one that is unregenerate or unholy, shall ever dwell with God. Yet you may be saved, if yet you will be truly converted and sanctified: But without this, assuredly there is no hope.
1III. And seeing you are so neer to the Judgment of God, where your Soul must receive its final sentence, it is high time now to judge your self, and know what state your Soul is in? whether in a state of Justification, or of Damnation. For this may be certainly known if you are willing. And first you must know who they be whom Christ will justifie, and whom he will condemn: And this the Word of God will tell you: For he will judge them by that Word. 2In a word [All those whom Christ will justifie and save, are made new creatures by the renewing work of the Holy Ghost: Their eyes are opened to see the vanity of this world, and the certainty and excellency of the Glory of Heaven; and to see the odiousness of sin, and the goodness of a holy life, and to believe that Christ is the only Saviour, to cleanse them from their sins, and bring them to that Glory. And therefore they forsake the sinful pleasures of the flesh, and set their hearts on the everlasting blessedness, and seek it before all things, and lamenting and hating their former sins, they give up themselves sincerely, to their God and Father, their Saviour, and their Sanctifier, to be taught and ruled, justified, sanctified, and saved by him;3 resolving whatever it cost the flesh, to stand to this choice and Covenant to the death.] This is the case of all that Christ will justifie and save: The rest who never were thus renewed and sanctified, will be condemned, as sure as the Gospel is true. Therefore let it be speedily your work, to try whether this be your case or not? Have you been thus enlightened, convinced, and renewed, to believe in Christ, and the life to come, and to give up your self in a faithful Covenant to God your Father, your Saviour, and your Sanctifier? to hate your sin, and to live and love a holy life, in mortifying the flesh, and seeking Heaven before the world? If this be not your case, I should but flatter and deceive you to tell you of any hope of being saved, till you are thus renewed and justified. Never imagine a lye to quiet you, till help is past. No one that is unregenerate or unholy, shall ever dwell with God. Yet you may be saved, if yet you will be truly converted and sanctified: But without this, assuredly there is no hope.
- 11 Cor. 11.31. 2 Cor. 13.5. Pet. 1.10.
- 2John 3.3, 5. 2 Cor. 5.17. Ephes. 1.18. Joh. 3.16, 19. Gal. 5.24. Rom. 8.9. Mat. 6.21, 33. Mat. 28.20. Heb. 12.14.
- 3Rev. 2.7, 10. Prov. 11.7. Job 8.13, 14.
