1. What if Christ himself in person were now amongst you, and preaching to you, and telling you with his own mouth, that these alleged grounds of thy hopes of Heaven, and redemption by his blood, were not sound nor warrantable, wouldst thou after this hope thou art redeemed, and shalt be saved? If Christ were visibly present, and you should hear him with your own ears telling you, that the Drunkard is a captive to the Devil, & shall not be saved; would you say, No, we are not in bondage to the Devil, or our sins, and therefore will hope we are redeemed and shall be saved? Wouldst thou believe Christ himself? or wouldst thou not? If thou wouldst not, how shall I hope thou wilt hearken to my words? If thou sayest thou wouldst believe him, why then wilt thou not believe what Christ hath indeed already spoken, and left recorded in his Word? The same Doctrine that Christ preached in person in the world, is faithfully recorded in the Gospel. In his Sermon that he preached on the Mount, he tells you, that Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.20. And doth the righteousness of gross sinners, yea or close hypocrites, either exceed the righteousness ⟨p. 116⟩of the Pharisees and the Scribes, who walked so strictly, that many would have judged, if but two men should be saved the Scribe should be one and the Pharisee another? What Christ's Doctrines was, see again Luk. 13.3.5. Mark 16.16. Mat. 18.3. And yet when Christ tells you, "Except ye repent, ye shall perish;" and except ye believe, ye shall be damned; and except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God; you do remain captives still; and do you not repent, nor believe, nor are converted, and yet will you hope you are freemen, and shall be saved? The truth is, if you do not believe Christ's Ministers preaching Christ's own words, neither would you believe Christ himself, Luk. 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me; not to hear is to despise, and whom do you despise when you do not hear and obey the Doctrine preached according to the Scripture? is it poor mortal men? No but you despise Christ, and God himself.
1. What if Christ himself in person were now amongst you, and preaching to you, and telling you with his own mouth, that these alledged grounds of thy hopes of Heaven, and redemption by his blood, were not sound nor warrantable, wouldst thou after this hope thou art redeemed, and shalt be saved? If Christ were visibly present, and you should hear him with your own ears telling you, that the Drunkard is a captive to the Devil, & shall not be saved; would you say, No, we are not in bondage to the Devil, or our sins, and therefore will hope we are redeemed and shall be saved? Wouldst thou believe Christ himself? or wouldst thou not? If thou wouldst not, how shall I hope thou wilt hearken to my words? If thou sayest thou wouldst believe him, why then wilt thou not believe what Christ hath indeed already spoken, and left recorded in his Word? The same Doctrine that Christ preached in person in the world, is faithfully recorded in the Gospel. In his Sermon that he preached on the Mount, he tells you, that Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven, Mat. 5.20. And doth the righteousness of gross sinners, yea or close hypocrites, either exceed the righteousness ⟨p. 116⟩of the Pharisees and the Scribes, who walked so strictly, that many would have judged, if but two men should be saved the Scribe should be one and the Pharisee another? What Christ's Doctrines was, see again Luk. 13.3.5. Mark 16.16. Mat. 18.3. And yet when Christ tells you, "Except ye repent, ye shall perish;" and except ye believe, ye shall be damned; and except ye be converted, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God; you do remain captives still; and do you not repent, nor believe, nor are converted, and yet will you hope you are freemen, and shall be saved? The truth is, if you do not believe Christ's Ministers preaching Christ's own words, neither would you believe Christ himself, Luk. 10.16. He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me; not to hear is to despise, and whom do you despise when you do not hear and obey the Doctrine preached according to the Scripture? is it poor mortal men? No but you despise Christ, and God himself.
