Here let me once more remember you of the resemblance of tasting . You know that Cookes which are busied in preparing of banquets , haue commonly as much feeling and seeing of the meates , as any other , and yet , there is none that eateth lesse of it then they ; their stomackes are so cloyed with the smell & taste thereof : so is it here ; it may come to passe , that the preacher , which dresseth and provideth the spirituall food , may eate least of it himselfe , & so labouring to saue others , himselfe may proue a reprobate . It hath beene thought , that some of them which built the Arke , were not saved in the Arke : but certaine it is , ( not only thought so ) certaine it is , that diverse spirituall builders of Christs Church , shall not be saved with the Church , They may by vs be taken for Gods sheepe , because they are kept in the same pastures , and folded in the same fold with vs ; they may by vs be taken for Gods sheepe , though indeed they be very Goates . There is a day to come , wherein the h h 2. Pet. 3.10 . heavens shal passe away with a noise , and the elements shall melt with heate , & the earth , with the workes that are therein shall be burnt vp : then may Demas alleage for himselfe his old and once-true religion , and Iudas for himselfe , his Apostleship : and many others for themselues , their prophecying in Christs name ; but al in vaine . For that iust Iudge will professe vnto them , i i Mat. 7.23 . Luk. 13.27 . I never knew you ; depart from me yee workers of iniquity . Presume wee not then , beloved in the Lord . Whosoever thinkes he standeth , may fall . O! worke we out our salvation with feare and trembling .

Having thus considered their markes , & finding that they haue beene once lightened , that they haue tasted of the heavenlie gift , that they haue beene made partakers of the holy Ghost , that they haue received the knowledge of the truth , that they heare the word , and receiue it , and receiue it forthwith , and receiue it forthwith with ioy ; examine we our selues by those notes , whether we are sowen in the Lords field , haue taken roote , haue growen to perfection , yea , or no. For if our righteousnesse exceede not theirs , their lot shall be as good as ours : if we be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , time-seruers , as wel as they , their backeslidings shal haue as easie a iudgement as ours : if we apply our religion and conscience to the present condition of things ; the change of this present condition , must worke in vs new religious , new consciences . And therefore would I counsell you , as Philadelphia is counselled , to hold that which you haue , that no man take your crownes , Revel. 3.11 . and as Sardi is counselled , to strengthen & confirme the things that remaine in you , that your workes might be fulfilled before the Lord , Revel. 3.2 . You are now in a race , and must runne , not only to pace the ground , or to make vp the number of runners , or to weary your bodies , or to spend your breathes , but you must runne to obtaine also ; such is the Apostles counsell : So run , that yee may obtaine , 1. Cor. 9.24 . There is no time of standing in this life , we must still forwardes . Some came into the vineyard at morning , & some at noone ; but none received any reward , but they which staide vntill night , Mat. 20.8 . Iacob prevailed not with God at his first wrastling : but when he had wrastled with him all night , Gen. 32.26 . It is not our praying for an howre can do vs good ; for we must pray continually , 1. Thess. 5.17 .

k k See my third sermon on Luk 9 pag. 56. Having a long time beene fed l l Lam. 4.5 . delicately and brought vp in scarlet , shall we now perish in the streets , shall we now imbrace the doung ? Having a long time had our heads of gold , shall we now ( to become like Nabuchadnezzars Image ) put on m m Dan. 2.33 . feet of clay ? Having long since begun in the spirit , shall we now end in the n n Gal 3.3 . , flesh ? So shall our last estate , be worse then our first : so shal we all this while haue runned in vaine . For he runnes in vaine , whosoever he be that runnes ( run he never so swiftly ) that sits him downe , or stands still before he comes to the goale . There is no time of standing or sitting still in this life ; we must still forwards . He that is righteous , let him be righteous still ; he that is holy , let him be holy still . Since we haue bin once lightned , since we haue bin tasters of the heavenly gift , since we haue bin partakers of the holy Ghost , since we haue beene receivers of the knowledge of the truth , such be we still : & thinke we , that every blessing of God bestowed vpon vs , is a further calling and provocation of God , as were his callings vpon Elias , 1. King . 19.4 , 5.

When God found Elias a daies o o 1. Kin. 19.4 . iourney in the wildernes sitting vnder a Iuniper tree , & sleeping , he called vpon him , saying , p p Vers. 5. vp and eate , and when he had found him a q q Vers 7. second time so sitting and sleeping , a second time also he called vpon him & said , vp , and eate , thou hast a great iourny to goe : and when he had travailed r r Vers. 8. forty daies and was lodged in a s s Vers. 9. caue , he called vpon him againe and said , what doest thou here , Elias ? at last he was brought forth to the t t Vers. 11. mount , & then also there came a u u Vers. 12. voice vnto him , and said , x x Vers. 13. What doest thou here Elias ? y y Vers. 15. Goe & returne by the wildernes vnto Damascus ; and do so , and so .

Here is instruction for vs , whether we bee entred into our way , or haue proceeded in it ; whether we be babes in Christ , or strong men ; whether carnall , or spirituall ; we must vp and eate , and strengthen our selues ; first with milke , and then with stronger meate ; we must vp & eate , we haue still a great iourny to goe , we must walke from light to light , from grace to grace , from vertue to vertue , from knowledge to knowledge : we must thinke that alwaies we heare a voice calling vs forward , vp ; thou haste a great iourney to go : what dost thou here , Elias ?

Excellent is that commendation given to the Church of Thyatira , Revel. 2.19 . I know thy workes , and thy loue , & thy service , and faith , and patience , and that thy last workes are more , then thy first . Here was no backesliding , but great encrease ; Shee was a true branch in that vine , which bare fruit , Iohn . 15.2 . Shee was purged , that shee might bring forth more fruit : shee grew vp dayly in Christ , and became better and better ; fuller of faith , fuller of loue , fuller of all good workes : and as a new borne babe shee coveted the sincere milke of the word , that shee might grow thereby : her last workes were more , then her first .

And the conclusion of the Epistle written to this Church , & of al the other Epistles written to the other sixe Churches , is this : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , not he , that draweth his sword , nor he , that fighteth the battles of the Lord , nor he , that spendeth his blood , much lesse he , that fainteth , that flyeth , that sleepeth , that standeth , or sitteth still , but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that overcommeth , shall z z Revel. 2.7 . eate of the tree of life , and of the a a Vets . 17. hidden Manna , shall receaue a white stone , shall be clothed in b b Rev. 3.5 . white aray , shall be made a c c Vers 12. pillar in Gods Temple , and sit with God himselfe in his d d Vers. 21. throne .

The summe of all this is : e e See my third Serm. on Luke 9. p. 57. not every one , but he onely , that endureth to the end shall be saved , Mat. 10.22 . Not every one , but he only which is faithfull vnto the death shall receaue the Crowne of life , Revel. 2.10 . Not every one , but such only as are marked in their forbeads with the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; with the note of perfection and perseverance , shall enter the inheritance of the blessed , Ezech. 9.4 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he that overcommeth , f f Rev. 2.11 . shall never be hurt of the second death .

Let the dogge returne to his vomit , and the sow to her wallowing in the mire ; but let vs ( like Abraham ) hold on our sacrifices till the evening , the last evening of our liues , and a full measure shall be measured vnto vs . If we are lightned , endeavour we to encrease this light in vs , if we haue a tast of the heavenly gift , cease we not to tast it still ; if we are made partakers of the holy Ghost , rest we not , but walk we from grace to grace ; if we haue receaued the knowledge of the truth , let vs hold it fast till our Lord Iesus come , & he will deliver vs from that houre of tentation , which shall come vpon all the world , to trie them that dwell vpon the earth . Thus much of the persons , who alone doe fall into this sinne . Now see we , with what mind this sinne is committed . For that is my second circumstance .

If we sinne willingly ] How desirously & with what consent of mind this sinne is committed , it appeareth partly in this place , by this word ( willingly ) and partly by those wordes , Heb. 6.6 . they crucifie againe vnto themselues the sonne of God , and make a mocke of him . They crucifie againe the sonne of God , that notes their envy and malice ; they crucifie him againe vnto themselues , that argues their willingnesse . Their consciences , & their hearts filled with envy and malice , doe make them with all willingnesse commit such abomination . This their willing mind to doe so ill , may arise from three of their conceits .

One is : that a man may repent when he will , and this perswasion they haue , because , Ezech. 18.21 . they find , that at what time soever a sinner shall returne from all his sinnes , that hee hath committed , and shall doe that which is lawfull and right , hee shall surely liue , and shall not die : all his transgressions that he hath committed , they shall not be mentioned vnto him ; but in his righteousnesse that he hath done , he shall liue . Here they may conceaue that late repentance is seldome true repentance , and iustly may they feare , lest that repentance which they frame to themselues when they are dying , die with them . The first lesson that Iohn Baptist taught , was Repent , for the kingdome of Heaven is at hand , Mat. 3.2 . The first lesson , that the Disciples taught , was Repent , for the kingdome of Heaven is at hand , Math. 10.7 . And the first lesson which Christ himselfe taught , was , Repent , too , for the kingdome of Heaven is at hand , Mat. 4.17 . Here is no posting over to the houre of death . Repentance must be first of all learned both by young , and old . It is not for a young man to say , I will repent ; for certainely could Iudas haue repented , when he had listed , he would never haue g g Mat. 27.5 . Act. 1.18 . hanged himselfe ; neither is it safe for an old man to say , I haue repented : he hath lived long enough to knowe that God is I am , and therefore is best pleased with I am : he little cares for , I was , or I will be .

A second conceit of theirs , making their mind so willing to doe wickedly , is , that the best man that is hath seaven falls every day into grosse sinnes , and here they alleage that place , Prov. 24.16 . the righteous man falleth seaven times in a day , and riseth againe . But we may answer , that this place is to bee vnderstood of fals into afflictions and calamities , rather then of falls into actuall sinnes , and so makes little for their purpose .

Their third conceit is : that their small sinnes , or hidden sinnes are no sinnes , and that their greatest sinnes , wherein they liue & lie wallowing most dangerously , are but sinnes of infirmitie . And here they are perfit in the reckoning vp of Peters fal , Lots incest , Solomons Idolatrie , Noahs drunkennesse , Davids murther , Sarahs lie , Rebeccahs perswading her sonne Iacob to beguile his owne father , the theft of Onesimus , the many Concubines of the Patriarchs , and the like : they finde that the grace of God hath abounded aboue sinne in all these ; and why may it not abound aboue their sinnes also ? In this resolution they hold on their owne and proper walke . Impij in circuitu ambulant , Psal. 12.8 . the wicked haue their waies : but they are crooked , they are circular endlesse waies , they walke by compasse , not much vnlike their father the Divell , who testifieth of himselfe , that he had compassed the whole earth , Iob. 1.7 . they walke by compasse indeed , but never towards the marke , never towards the price , that is set before them . For how can they attaine thereto , as long as they goe thus wheeling about , to no purpose , like the turning of a mill ; which , when it hath laboured the whole day long , is found at night in the selfe same place , where it first began ? So these men in circuitu ambulant , they walke by compasse , and when the night shall come , their last night , the last houre of their liues , they shall bee found , not to haue proceeded one step forwards , except it be in wickednesse .

To this point I say , howsoever grace aboundeth aboue sin , yet accursed are they , yea ever cursed shall they bee , who doe sinne , that grace , and blessing may abound vnto them , Rom. 6.1 . we are forbidden to doe h h Rom. 3.8 . evill , where we certainely know that good may come thereof ; much lesse may wee make the grace of God a defence for our sinnes . This must bee our shield : there is no i i Rom. 8.1 . condemnation to the righteous , though hee fall many times a day ; but if any man shall sinne , presuming of Gods mercies , let such a one knowe that his damnation is iust ; and himselfe is like that theefe that stealeth , because hee seeth one among twentie pardoned by the Prince .

Thus you see , with what minde this sinne is committed , the heart is full of envy , full of malice , and the minde in all willingnesse assenteth . But do not Gods children , having received the knowledge of the truth , sinne also willingly ? If they do , how then is it , that they are freed , from this sinne , for which there remaineth no more sacrifice ? This doubt will be cleare if we doe but consider this one position : The childe of God though he cannot fall finally in the end , nor vtterly at any time , may notwithstanding fall grievously , may fall dangerously . First , by his default the graces of God may be lessened in him : and therefore hath S. Paule exhorted the Thessalonians not to quench the spirit , 1. Thess. 5.19 . & the Ephesians , not to grieue the holy spirit of God , Ephes. 4.30 . By his default then the graces of God may be lessened in him ; yea , they may be so buried in him for a time , as that he may be like a man in a trance , who both by his owne sense , and by the iudgement of the Physitian is taken for dead . Hither may you referre the estate of Peter , of David , and of others , whom I haue already mentioned vnto you . Secondly , he may fall againe into the same sinne after repentance ; and this may wee learne of Paule praying the Corinthians in Christes steed , that they would be k k 2. Cor. 5.20 reconciled to God ; who indeed were reconciled to God before . Thirdly , he may sin presumptuously , that is , he may sinne wittingly , willingly & wilfully . Against this David praied vnto the LORD , Psal. 19.13 . keepe thy servaunt from presumptuous sinnes ; that he was in danger of them appeareth by the words following , let them not reigne over me . Lastly , he may sinne desperately ; and this is a fearefull sinne : he may despaire of Gods mercies for a time , as the incestuous man was like to doe , as S. Paule sheweth , when he saith , comfort him , lest he be swallowed vp of overmuch heavines , 2. Cor. 2.7 . So , true is one part of our former position , the childe of God may fall grievously , may fal dangerously . For he may quench the spirit within him , after repentance he may sinne againe ; he may sin presumptuously , he may sinne desperatly . The childe of God may fall grievously , may fall dangerously , yet cannot fall finally in the end , nor vtterly at any time . The reason hereof is this : after that he is sanctified , he receiveth from God an other speciall grace , you may call it corroboration , the strengthning power of Christ . Hence is it that Paul praieth for the Ephesians , that they may be strengthened in the inner man , Ephes. 3.16 . and for the Colossians , that they might be strengthened with the glorious power of Christ , Coloss. 1.11 . and of himselfe he saith , that he is able to doe al things through the power of Christ , that strengtheneth him , Philip. 4.13 . This corroboration , this strengthening power is that , that raiseth vp the children of God as oft , as they are fallen . DAVID in the anguish of his soule may say ; I am cast out of thy sight , O Lord , Psal. 31.22 . Marke how this strengthning power lifteth him vp : first , it maketh him confesse that he spake that in hast ; and then it putteth into his minde a Veruntamen , a particle of better grace , wherewith he correcteth his hasty speech ; Veruntamen audisti vocem deprecationum mearum , cum vociferarer ad te . I said in my hast , I am cast out of thy sight , YET thou hardest the voice of my praier , when I cryed vnto thee . And in the same Psalme verse 12. he vseth those harsh words , iarring very vnpleasantly in his owne eares , & striking out of tune ; I am forgotten , as a dead man out of minde ; I am like a broken vessel . And here see , how this strengthning power helps him with a verò , a note of better sound : Ego verò in te confido , IEHOVA , dicens , Deus meus es . I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde , I am like a broken vessell ; BVT l l Psal. 11.14 , I trusted in thee , O LORD ; I said , thou art my God . When Ionas had beene cast into the bottome m m Ion. 2.3 . in the middest of the Sea , and the floods had compassed him about , when all the surges , and all the waues had past over him ; then ( looking on his former disobedience ) he said , I am cast away out of thy sight , O Lord , Ion. 2.4 . and here also this strengthning power revived Ionas spirits with a Veruntamen and an Attamen , words of comfort ; Veruntamen pergam intueri in templum sanctitatis tuae ; Attamen eduxisti à corruptione vitam meam , IEHOVA Deus mi. I said , I am cast away out of thy sight , O Lord ; n n Vers. 4. YET will I looke againe toward thy holy temple : The o o Vers. 5. waters compassed me about vnto the soule , the depth cloased me round about , and the weedes were wrapt about mine head ; p p Vers. 6. I went downe to the bottome of the mountaines : the earth with her barres was about me for ever ; q q Vers. 7. YET hast thou brought vp my life from the pit , O LORD my God .

One hath noted vpon this place , that if it were not ( for Attamen , verò , and veruntamen , but , yet , notwithstanding , and such like comforting particles , our hearts might quake within vs , to see such passions in the Saints of God . But it is the Lords property , ever to send a gracious raine vpon his inheritance , to refresh it , when it is weary , Psal. 68.9 . and true it is that Hosea saith , though we looke for a day or two , as if we were dead and forlorne , yet r r Hos 6.2 . after those two daies , he will reviue vs , and the thirde day he will raise vs vp , and we shall liue in his sight . So true is the other part of our former position , the childe of God cannot fall finally in the end , nor vtterly at any time . For God hath blessed his children with repentant hearts : And ever blessed shall they be , that are so blessed by the Lord .

For he hath made a decree with himselfe , it belongeth to the new Testament , it is ratified by the death of the Testator ; it is witnessed by three in heaven , & by three in earth , & never shal it be altered ; and this is the DECREE ? At what time soever a sinner , s s Ezech. 18.21 whosoever he be shall repent him of his sinnes , whatsoever they be , and shall doe iudgement and iustice , he shall surely liue , he shall not die . If he truely repent of his wickednes he neede not be troubled , either by the vexations of this wretched life , or by the horror of conscience , or by the malice of many foes , be they men or Devils ; and if Devils , be they seaven in one , a legion in an other , all the principalities , all the powers of darknesse in the third ; for he shall be assured to haue forgiuenes ; & therefore I say againe : At what time soever , a sinner , whosoever he be , shall repent him of his sinnes , whatsoever they be , and shall doe iudgement and iustice , he shall not die .

Hitherto haue you seene , how willingly this sinne is committed , and how Gods children , though sinning also willingly are freed from it . In the third place must I speake of the sinne it selfe .