Three Godly Sermons

p. 1THE VVRATH of God against SINNERS.

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungodlinesse and unrighteousnesse of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousnesse.

IN the fore going verses, the holy Apostle, by way of Preface; prepareth way for 〈…〉 truth that hee would p. 2deliver, and the doctrine he purposed to dispence of, and that all cavils might be removed; and that the Word of God might take deeper root and better acceptance, he◊ uses these three particulars; and first hee cleares the authority of his challenge, hee came not before hee was sent of God, and therefore being called, it concerned him, and was his duty to do good.

He discovers the tendernesse of his love, and his marvellous readinesse to do them good, in the 12, 13, and 14 verses. It was a de◊ the Apostle ought the R◊ ◊ans, therefore hee oug◊ to pay it; and now way b◊ ing made, he comes to 〈…〉 p. 3◊aine point, that is, That a ◊an is not justified by doing, ◊ut by beleeving, and this ◊e confirmeth; first by the ◊estimony of Scripture, that 〈…〉 man is justified by faith, and ◊ot by workes, ye shall live ◊y faith.

Secondly, by force of Argument, and that after this ◊anner; If all men by the ◊orkes of the Law, cannot ◊unne the wrath of God, ◊en a man cannot be saved ◊y the workes of the Law. This hee propounds in the words of the Text, and pro◊ecutes it in the Chapter following, and affirmes that nei◊er of them can be saved by ◊e works of the Law.

First, In the Text observe ◊ese two particulars: first, p. 4the dealing of wicked m◊ with the truth of God, th◊ hold the truth of God in u◊ righteousnesse.

Secondly, Gods deali◊ with them, they dealt roug◊ ly with the truth, they la◊ violent hands on it, and G◊ he deales as rigorously wi◊ them.

And the reason w◊ they hold downe the trut◊ is, because of some lust◊ their soules that is belo◊ of them.

Secondly, The Apo◊ shewes against whom G◊ wrath commeth.

Thirdly, The universal◊ in these words All. G◊ doth not deale partially, 〈…〉 all that misprison the tr◊ in unrighteousnesse s◊ p. 5have the wrath of God de◊ounced against them.

p. 5Fourthly, The place from whence it shall come, (from ◊eaven.)

First, we are here to know what is meant by truth: For ◊e better understanding of ◊e Text: Truth carries two ◊ings with it.

First, The rule of righteousnesse, which is that ho◊age and obedience we owe ◊nto God; and this rule of ◊◊ghteousnesse is the most ◊xcellent rule that is.

Secondly, Truth carrieth 〈…〉 it selfe, the efficacy and ◊ower of truth, and therefore ◊e Apostle Paul sharply ◊proves Peter, Gal. 2.14. ◊rse; that though he ob◊ved the Gospel in the p. 4maine, yet he did not walke with a straight foot.

Secondly, What is meant by holding the truth of God in unrighteousnesse.

To hold the truth of God in unrighteousnesse, is by a kind of violence, and strong hand to hinder the operation and passage of it, that the Word cannot performe that worke which otherwise it would in the hearts of them to whom it is sent.

Thirdly, What is mean◊ by the word unrighteousnesse.

In some places it signifies◊ sinne that is committed against the second Table onely; but here in this place 〈…〉 implies all sinful distempers and corruptions of heart, an◊ p. 7this word (in) unrighteousnesse, It carries the cause and authority, as when a man sayes, stop such a man in my name.

1 Doct. The truth of God is operative.

2 Doct. That wicked men are enemies to the Word of God.

3 Doct. That the corruptions of mens hearts, is the cause of the hinderance of the word. But I will draw them all into one.

Doct. That carnall and corrupt hearts hinder the power of the truth from working upon them, or prevailing with them, as much as in them lies.

It is true, that truth is powerfull, and will prevaile; 〈…〉 p. 8when he sends his truth to worke upon any corrupt◊ heart, he doth not stand to aske our wils, whether we will receive or not, but hee will make it effec◊uall; hee will shake off all oppositions, and he will drive all before him; but let the Lord do what he will, yet the carnall heart will resist and stand out, and as much as in him lies, labour to keep out the Word; Rom. 2.14, 15. Though Heathens be strangers from the life of God, and from the Covenant of Grace; yet this little remainder of the Law of God in their hearts, which remaines will be a working in them; so that murder and uncleannesse, they will punish with death.

p. 9The truth is discovered ◊ree wayes.

First, when a man is about 〈…〉 commit any sinne, as to ◊eale, &c. his conscience wil ◊mite him; and so in other ◊innes.

Secondly, the power and efficacy of God may be observed in the Creation, yet ◊he darknesse of mens eyes, ◊r the foggishnesse of their understandings, do interpose themselves.

Thirdly, by truth, is meant the preaching of the Word, when the truth is never so ◊pparant, and prooffes never ◊o pregnant, and arguments never so invincible, yet their hearts will not yeeld, nor ◊onsent, when the light of ◊he Gospel is plainly dispensed p. 10and promulgated, the◊ must needs be a marveilo◊ light, and yet men will no◊ yeeld to it, (as Paul and Barnabas) the word they taught, the Jewes put it away, whe◊ it gripes the heart, and begins to worke effectually▪ then they vomit it up againe◊ Act. 7.57. Yee stiff-necked in heart, yee doe alwayes resist the Holy Ghost, as your Fathers did, so doe yee. Gen. 19.9. so the Sodomites did to Lot▪ when the old and the young were gathered about th◊ house, and would have the◊ out; and when Lot said, I pray you, my brethren, doe not so wickedly. Stand back, say they, we will doe worse with the◊ then with them: As they did to Lot, so you doe to Gods p. 11Ministers, when Gods Messengers come and intreat you; O brethren, do not so wickedly profane the Sabbath, and curse instead of praying; be not so malicious against the wayes of God, take heed of persecuting the servants of God, Stand backe, say they, we will doe worse; and thus they take up armes against the blessed truth of God, when it comes to pull them off from their cursed practises, &c.