1 COR. 6. 11.
THE first words of the Text cause us to look back to the Verses before it. The Apostle in the beginning of the Chapter, reproveth a sinfull and unwarrantable practice among the Corinthians of going to Law one with another. Not that it is absolutely a sinne to demand our right before a Magistrate; as the Anabaptists would inset from hence; for then the Apostle would not have permitted them to use such judicial decisions among themselvs, to which he directs them; but the grounds of this prohibition are, partly because they impleaded one another before Heathen Magistrates; and so Christianity was made a reproach; partly they wanted a preparation of mind to suffer wrong, rather than sinfully contest in inferior matters; partly because they did wrong, and were full of injurious carriages, and that to their brethren: from which wickednesse he deterreth them by that thireatning; Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of heaven? and to confirm this the more, he layeth down a more generall proposition, enumerating severall kinds of sinnes; and least they should think their Christian faith would save them, though they had wicked lives, he adviseth them, not to erre, or, be not deceived, either by false Teachers, broaching such Doctrines, or by their own corrupt hearts, suggesting such false delusions: He doth also dehort them from such wickednesse, because that was their course of life formerly, while unconverted, but now they are washed and sanctified. Before I come to the main scope I intend out of these words, (which is to explain the nature of converting grace, under the notion of Washing and Sanctifying,) let me consider that Phrase, verse 9. Be not deceived, and the beginning of this verse 11. And such were some of you. For the former, although it was as plain as the Sun-shine at Noon-day, that all who live in grosse sins should be damned, yet there were Corinthians who deceived their own souls, thinking they might be saved, although they lived in all prophanenesse. Therefore to prevent this the Apostle saith, Be not deceived. C[…] useth such a Preface, Luke 21. 8. and Paul, Gal. 6. 7. James also 1. 16. when they are to speak that thing, which unknown, or unobserved, would bring a man much evill; and truely there cannot be a greater cause to prefix such an Antidote than in this matter of the Text: For how notoriously universall is this contagious and infectious Principle, that the profession of the truth of Christ, and a generall formall invocation upon his Name will bring a man to heaven, though his life be nothing but a preparation for hell. Learned men say, that Simon Magus taught this Doctrine, That a bare profession of faith, without a reformation of mens lives, is enough to salvation: whether this be mens Doctrine, or opinion, I know not; to be sure, its too much their practice; and it may justly be thought, as Austin did, that one main reason, why James doth so much prefer good works, and a godly life, informing that faith alone without these did not justifie was, because some corrupted and perverted these places in Pauls Epistles, where he sets up faith as the onely instrument of justification.
Observ. Obs. That men are very prone generally to deceive themselves in this, that though they live wickedly, yet they shall dye happily, and be saved gloriously. Though they have lived enemies and adversaries to God, yet they think to have the Kingdome of glory, as children and heirs of God. O monstrous folly and madnesse to imagine such things! But what is more frequently acted in the whole world than this? Is not prophanenesse and impiety as common among us as dirt in the high-way, or weeds in Summer; yet which one of these men, that live in such wayes, doth not promise himself heaven? So that if we could remove this pillar, that so many lean upon, I see no obstruction, or impediment in their way to salvation. If our hearers were driven out of this refuge, and were convinced; this is but a delusion, and it will doe them no good, how many would come to us as they did to John Baptist, What shall we doe to be saved?
For the further pressing of this point, it is worth the consideration What are those causes that make men of great impieties thus foolishly perswaded; and first, Non-attendance to the Scripture; not observing the threatnings and curses so peremptorily delivered there against all ungodliness. Men judge of their salvation,1 and have hopes according to the principles of the world, and humane perswasions: They think God like themselves, as the Psalmist saith, Psal. 50. They do not go to be informed out of the Word, how it will be with them at the latter end. Oh know then, though thy own heart, and though all the men in the world should acquit thee, yet that is nothing, as long as the Word bindeth thee fast in those chains of condemnation. Thou therefore that livest in all grosse prophanenesse, promising thy self heaven and happinesse, look into the Scripture and tremble, take the Bible and read, see if that doe not make it as impossible for thee a prophane man, abiding so without Repentance and Reformation, to be saved, as it is for fire to be without heat, or the Sun without light: Who would think, that thou who readest and hearest so much every day, should be thus deceived? Know ye not, saith the Apostle, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of heaven? Know ye not! Is there any such a Babe, or an Infant in Christianity that is not acquainted with this? Come then and hear the Conclusion of all, let the Scripture at last put the period to thy vain hopes: unlesse thou hast a new Bible, or new Scriptures, there can be no incouragement; for this which we read to you, & out of which we preach to you every day, makes it one main busines thereof to perswade the wicked it shall goe ill with him. Oh then say, Here is no hope for me such a sinner, here is no incouragement till I become another man. They are the bewitchings, and deceitfulnesse of my own ignorant corrupt heart, that telleth me of other things.