is fit God should have the Glory of his own Gifts while you have the benefit and comfort of them This is the way to receive more To him that hath shall be given Sit down and consider seriously cast about in your Minds what shall I do to promote the Honour and Interest of that God who has done so much for me Can you form no Project for greater servicableness I will try if I can help you by and by in the mean time resolve to walk with God more humbly strictly and watchfully than ever yet you have done and joyfully to embrace every opportunity which it shall please God to put into your Hands to testify your Thankfulness by humble and self-denying Obedience 'T is true God needs not you you cannot be profitable unto him But it is as true that he expects all this from you as a due Expression of the Gratitude and Ingenuity of an honest Heart Tho you cannot profit him yet obedient you must be and besides Soveraign Authority you have many indearing Obligations thereto I will shew you presently that you need not want work but will endeavour first to fortify you against the difficulties of it Direct 4. Let Patience have its perfect work We have need of this Grace at every turn the Race set before us will never be finish'd nor scarce one step rightly taken without it Heb. 12.1 We must expect to meet with many Afflictions Psal 34.19 which cannot be born nor improved as they ought without patience Whether they be such as come more immediately from the Hand of God Shall we not be subject to the Father of Spirits and live Heb. 12.9 q. d. We must be subject our Lives lie on it To mutiny is mortal as one glosses upon the place It is the Lord let him do what seems good in his Eyes When God is glorifying himself in correcting us we must with Aaron hold our Peace Lev. 10.3 Be still and know that he is God Dumb and not open our Mouths because he does it If we be afflicted by the Pride or Malice of Men here again we have need of Patience that we fret not our selves because of Evil-doers nor entertain any peevish revengful Thoughts against them There 's more of Christianity in this than most Professors think of To be habitually disposed to bless those that curse us and to overcome Evil with Good And indeed we shall never be able to bear the Contradiction of Sinners without fainting in our Minds except we exercise Patience and eye the Example of Christ Heb. 12.2 3. Again are we assaulted by the Temptations of Satan we shall never conquer without Patience Moreover we have need of Patience to carry us through the religious Duties to which we are daily called Because our sluggish Hearts are still drawing back from Duty and are prone to grow weary of it and reluctate against it These Fruits of Righteousness will be blasted or miserably impaired if not brought forth with Patience Luke 8.15 So pronâ— are we to be weary of well-doing Lastly We have need of Patience that after we have done the Will of God we may receive the Promise Heb. 10.36 That we may wait God's time for our glorious Reward The wisest Man tells us Prov. 13.12 Hope deserred makes the Heart sick 'T is Patience therefore that must keep us from fainting O what need have we to pray That the Lord would direct our Hearts into the Love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ 2 Thess 3.5 Direct 5. Put on bowels of Compassion to the Souls of others Say not with Cain Am I my Brother's keeper nor yet think that Ministers only are obliged to promote the common Salvation Methinks you should be desirous to take as many along with you to Heaven as you can Are you not taught to pray That the Name of God may be â—allowed his Kingdom come and his Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven And must not these Prayers be seconded with sutable Endeayours in your places Striving to help on others will be a means to exercise and increase your own Graces and to advance your Comforts It will be a sign that you love Christ sincerely when you lay out your selves to promote his Interest And since God hath had Compassion upon you ought ye not to have some Compassion upon your Brethren I know the Devil will do his utmost to oppose you but you must be armed with Resolution and Patience There are more with you than against you When you meet with any that are buffeted with Temptations perplex'd with Doubts and Fears remember it might have been your own Case Labour therefore to administer Comfort to them by religious Conference Communication of Experiences and all other proper Means that fall in your way do not despise the meanest of them And then as for those that are in an unregenerate State how can you look upon them and not be deeply concerned for them The less they pity themselves the greater objects of your pity If the Children of Israel were obliged to be kind to Strangers and not to vex or oppress them because they themselves had been such in the Land of Egypt and therefore knew the Heart of a Stranger Exod. 23.9 Levit. 34. O then what reason have you to pity those that are in an unconverted Estate estranged from God! It was once your own Case you cannot but know what a dead dark disaffected thing the Heart of such a Person is how obdurate and senseless O think what they are doing and whither they are going if infinite Mercy do not prevent Happy you if you can help to save one Soul from Hell But let me urge this Point somewhat more distinctly 1. Begin with those that are under your special Care and Charge If these perish through your neglect look you to it their Blood will be required at your Hands Those of you that have Families think how much you have to do for God in them It may be some of you will say we keep up religious Exercises in our Houses viz. Praying Reading the Scriptures and Singing the Praises of God I answer thus far is well I wish more could say so too But this is not all that you have to do Children and Servants are to be dealt with plainly familiarly and tenderly by you with all the Skill and Application you can in order to the Salvation of their Souls I must not stay to give you particular Directions honest Hearts and a sincere desire to do their Souls good will soon put you in a way to do it 2. You have a great deal to do for the Souls of your Neighbours Are not many of them ignorant carnal and ungodly Can you contrive no way to be helpful to them Have you no particular Interest in some of them Have they no dependance upon you Are they under no special Obligations to you Why are not all these Advantages improved for God Can you see them
give me more Is not the case quite contrary I have called and ye have refused I have siretched out my Hand and no Man regarded c. Prov. 1.24 What got he slothâ—ul Servant by saying I knew thee that thou art an hard Man Mat. 25 24. Did this excuse him for hiding his Lord's Money tho but one Talent in the Earth Let me make the Matter yet plainer by a familiar Comparison Suppose some great Prince or Nobleman famous for Bounty and Kindness to the distressed who beholding a forlorn helpless Creature miserable wretched poor and blind and naked and taking compassion on him should say to him Friend come to my Door I have fully supplied the Wants of many whose Circumstances were as bad as thine and I delight so to do Now tho in all this here be not a full direct Promise made to this poor Wretch yet would ye not take him for a mad Man who should make light of such an Intimation and Encouragement Poor Sinner thou art the Man so the Case stands between Christ and thee And because thou art blind he appoints his Servants to lead thee to him and this is the Errand upon which I am come this day do not say but that help was offered thee 8. Consider how little all that ever ye have done in Matters of Religion will avail you if ye go not through with the Work If ye be but almost perswaded to be Christians ye will be but almost sayed It may be ye expect great Matters from your frequent customary Attendance upon Gospel-Ordinances and your making a more strict Profession of Religion than many others do But O remember The Kingdom of God is not is Word but in Power 1 Cor. 4.20 Many will say in the great Day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thâ— Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils Mat. 7.22 which are greater things than ye can pretend to Yet will he profess unto them I never knew you Depart from me ye that work Iniquity Vers 23. The foolish Virgins had Lamps of Profession Mat. 25. but perished for want of Oil viz. true Grace In short aâ— that ever ye have done in the Service of God will prove but lost labour as to any saving Benefit except your Hearts be effectually wrought upon and turned to God as has been fully opened and proved already O consider this well have ye done and some of you suffered to many things in vain if it be yet in vain Gal 3 4. Yea hath so much labour been bestowed upon you in vain Chap. 4.11 So much Grace received in vain 2 Coâ— 6.1 O how bitter will the remembrance of these thing be one Day How will it pierce you to the very Heart to think alas is all my Profession Prayers Hearing c. come to this Namely the Hypocrites Reward It had been well for me that I had never known the way of Righteousness rather than to have rested thus in an outward shew of Religion Alas that I should be brought so nigh the Kingdom of God and yet fall short forever of it 9. Consider how long the Divine Patience hath born with you already Where had ye been before this Day but that ye have had to do with a God who is merciful and gracious and long-suffering How easily could he long since have taken your guilty Souls out of your Bodies and sent them into a place where the Evil of Sin and Danger of delaying Repentance are better known How have ye despised the Riches of his Goodness and Forbearance and Long-suffering Even that Goodness which leads you to Repentance Rom. 2.4 How many Instances have ye had of the Divine Benignity and Compassion towards you And yet how little Effect has all had upon you Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little and yet all has not prevailed with you to repent and turn to God Are ye not ashamed do ye not blush to think of your vile Ingratitude and Disingenuity towards him Do ye not tremble to consider what the Consequence of such Obstinacy is like to be Do ye imagin that the Spirit of God will always strive with the wilful Despisers of his Grace O remember lento gradu ad vindictam procedie ita divina c. Divine Wrath proceeds slowly to Vengeance but will compensate that slowness with the weight of it when it comes Laesa patientia fit furor As the Gospel-Dispensation is most spiritual so spiritual Judgments are more common to those who trifle under it than perhaps most Men consider But I proceed Direct 2. Follow on these Considerations till sutable Convictions arise from them and your Hearts be sensibly affected with them Think not that some general slighty superficial Thoughts about these things will serve the turn No no they are Matters of greater consequence than so they nearly concern you and therefore must be laid to Heart Urge them home upon your own Spirits apply them close they have a Work to do not only upon your Vnderstandings but upon your Wills Hearts and Affections It is not enough that ye acknowledg these things to be true but ye must press the Matter further if they be Truths they are weighty Truths indeed O labour to feel the weight of them that they may go to the quick apply them strictly and warmly to your own Souls It is says one a great part of a Christian's Skill and Duty to be a good Preacher to himself There is more in this than most Christians are aware of or use to practise this is a lawful and a gainful way of Preaching No Body here can make question of thy Call nor deny thee a Licence nor silence thee if thou silence not thy self Imitate the most powerful Preacher and plead with thy own Soul as he is wont to do with his Hearers Mr. Baxter Tho such Considerations may wound pierce or gall you for the present 't is so much the better ye must be wounded that ye may be healed ye must be broken that ye may be bound up The truth is ye have wounded your selves already and so much the worse by how much ye are less sensible of it your putrified Ulcers must be search'd to the bottom if ever ye expect a thorow Cure Your sluggish Hearts must be awakened to purpose ye have slept too long O labour to be deeply convinced of your past folly till ye groan under the weight of that Guilt which ye have contracted Remember ye are ruined to all Intents and Purposes if your Guilt be not removed and therefore your present Case is not to be rested in There is yet hope for you but no time to trifle in Therefore Direct 3. 'T is highly necessary that ye now come to some besitting Resolution in the case In general that ye resolve to do your utmost to put your spiritual Concerns into a better posture And that henceforth ye will strive earnestly to enter in at the strait Gate And
up thâ— measure of their Sins and so making themselves ripâ— for Ruin Treasuring up Wrath against the Day of VVratâ—â— Rom. 25. So God by his Grace qualifies and prepareâ— his People for Heaven enabling and habitnating theâ—â— to those spiritual Desires and Endeavours which arâ—â—â— suted thereto Vers 9. Wherefore we labour thâ—â— whether present or absent we may be accepted of him Phil. 2.13 He worketh in them both to will and to 〈◊〉 of his good Pleasure A Work so great that it emulaâ—â— even Creation it self insomuch that the Persons thâ—â— wrought upon are new Creatures as vers 17. of thâ—â— Chapter If any Man be in Christ he is a new Creaturâ—â— not in point of Essence or Faculties but of new Qualâ—ties and Dispositions wherewith they are endued Anâ— thus we must be wrought for this self same thing Hence Believers as such are called God's Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Ephes 2.10 His Building raised and framed by him for an habitation of God through the Spirit Vers 22. His Husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 Being cultivated by him to bring forth that Fruit unto Holiness the end whereof is Everlasting Life Rom. 6.22 Thus they are the work of his Hands Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Isa 60.21 Ch. 61.3 So these Vessels of Mercy are prepared for Glory Rom. 8.23 Made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 Well set or rightly disposâ—d for the Kingdom of God As the word signifies Luke 9.62 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And this it is which the Text principally aims at wherein you may observe several things 1. That great work whereof the Apostle here speaks as a thing already done He that hath wrought c. 2. The Author of this Work viz. The Blessed God himself 3. The Subjects or Persons upon whom it was wrought Namely the Apostle himself and other Gospel-Ministers Vs yet not so as to exclude any other Persons who had obtained like precious Faith with them 2 Pet. 1.1 Or that had believed through their Word Joh. 17.20 See the foregoing Chapter vers 14. as also Chap. 1.21 us with you 4. The end and design of this great Work namely to fit them for Heaven giving them a Temper suted thereto and causing them to long after it 5. The necessity of this great Work as may be gathered from the Relation which these words bear to the Context And more especially by the word now or bur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which connects this Verse with the fore-going q. d. we know that the Heavenly Inheritance shall be ours And we earnestly desire to be there vers 1 2. c. But then it must be remembred that we are wrought for this self-same thing otherwise our Hopes were presumptuous our Confidence meer self-deceit According to which plain Exposition this little Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is big enough to exclude all from Heaven who are not in some measure thus wrought for it And now 't is obvious that many points of Doctrine might easily be drawn from these words thus opened and divided But I will mention no more than one which I design to insist upon and to it all the rest may be reduced Doct. There 's no coming to Heaven till we be wrought or prepared for it by the Power of Divine Grace In handling this Point three things must be distinctly spoken to I. The Explication of it or what it means II. The Proof of it or how it appears III. The Use and Improvement of it or what may be deduced from it either to inform our Judgments or to direct and regulate our Practice As to the first of these I shall proceed as follows 1. To give you some general Account of the Heavenly Felicity for which we must be prepared 2. Set before you a more distinct and large Explication of that great Work of Grace whereby the Souls of Believers are fitted for Glory Without some competent Knowledg of the End we are not like to understand the Means And except we enquire into yea and chuse the Way we shall never come to enjoy the blessed End CHAP. II. Some general Account of the Heavenly Felicity to which are subjoyned some short Hints how unfit we are by Nature for that blessed State and how we came to be so 'T IS not to be thought strange that our Conceptions fall exceeding short and our Expressions yet shorter when we come to discourse concerning that Glory which is within the Vail Who can at this distance give any other than a very imperfect Account of that fulness of Joy which is in the Presence of God and those everlasting Pleasures which are at his Right Hand Psal 16.11 Yet are we not left wholly in the dark neither somewhat of Heaven may be known and therefore should diligently be enquired after while we are here on Earth all cannot till we come thither At present we have some Revelation of it both objective and subjective viz. so far as is sutable to our present State 'T is revealed to us Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 'T is revealed in us true Believers have the foretasts of it in those Exercises of Grace which lead to it Tho it doth not yet fully appear what we shall be yet in part it doth For we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 Tho out Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 Yet nor so as if nothing of it could be known but rather that it might be more earnestly searched after Even as in him are bid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg Chap. 2.3 compared with Prov. 2.2 3 4. See also 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard c. but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit vers 12. that we might know thâ— things that are freely given to us of God Well then it is a great advantage that we have â— Map of the Holy Land a Description of the New Jâ—rusalem set before us in the Sacred Records And yeâ— greater if we taste the Sweetness and feel the Power of those Gospel Discoveries in our own Spirits But then those that do so can hardly make others understand these grateful Relishes The Joys of Believen are such as Strangers intermeddle not with cannot be rightly apprehended but by inward vital Sense and Experience known only to them that have them Wordâ— can but saintly expâ—ess them for they are unspeak able 1 Pet. 1.8 How much more inexpressible must those Pleasures be which in Heaven are grown up to fuiâ— perfection Therefore as to what is unrevealed let us waitâ—â— while it cannot be long time runs fast on Eternity is almost upon us The Concerns of our Souls are in safe Hands Our Eyes as one observes are in our glorified Head Jesu Christ He knows for us what
better Frame 'T is past doubt that true Grace tends in its own Nature to heal all the Diseases of the Soul to rectify all its Faculties and Powers and so the Passions and Affections amongst the rest That is to take them off from wrong Objects to moderate their Excesses to turn them into a right Channel nor are these tendencies fruitless the Effect is in part accomplisht So far as this great Change takes place and prevails in the Soul the Affections of Love Desire Joy Delight Hatred Sorrow Fear and the rest will be moving towards their proper Objects and Ends. We shall hate and abhor what is displeasing to God mourn that we have so often offended earnestly desire to be accepted with him and to enjoy more of him hunger and thirst after Righteousness And therefore we shall strive to love God more seelingly and so to rejoice and delight in him and tho many Impediments and Difficulties arise in our way yet still Grace will be tending to these things And we are greatly wanting to our selves if we do not daily endeavour to stir up the Grace of God that is in us that all the Powers of our Souls may be quickened more and more in their Motions by it If we stay till our Affections stir of themselves we may wait long enough 'T is our part actively to concur with and by that gracious Help which is afforded us in order to the quâ—ckening and spiritualizing of them and bringing them more under the command of the Will till at length they be accustom'd and inured to move more naturally freely and strongly Heaven-ward Nor must we faint or be discouraged tho we find our Hearts sluggish and averse to such work as this We must persist in duty notwithstanding this Indisposition And wait for God's Help in his own way Yea we must cast our selves into his Arms tho he may seem as it were to shut up himself from our Prayers and to withhold the sweet Influences of his Grace It may be he withdraws to see how we will take it shall we not lament and follow so much the harder after him what tho we have not sensible Comfort let us stay our selves on him and against Hope believe in Hope Rom. 4.18 Duties are sweet when recovered out of the Hand of Temptations and Difficulties we are bound but God is free What you want as to the seeling of Affection make out in deep and rational Resolutions for God and ye will get ground even while ye think ye lose it 5. Even the Body it self must be sanctified that is presented or devoted unto God and used for him This is the Will of God that every one of us possess his Vessel in Sanctification 1 Thess 4.3 4. That Sin reign not in our Mortal Body but that we yield our Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto God Rom. 6.12 13. Our Bodies are for the Lord they are Members of Christ c. 1 Cor. 6.13 15. Temples of the Holy-Ghost vers 19. The Body must be used as a Servant to the Soul and both employed in the Service of God 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit which are God's 'T is true indeed that bodily Exercise profiteth little without or in comparison of that which is spiritual 1 Tim. 4.8 To bow the Knee while our Spirits remain stubborn and unbroken To lift up our Eyes Heaven-ward if our Souls be not also lifted up To draw nigh to God with our Lips when our Hearts are far from him is an Addition of Hypocrisy to all the rest of our Iniquity But on the other hand 't is as true that if our Souls be for God our Bodies will be subservient to them and their Members accordingly used by them The Eyes will be opened to behold the wonderful Discoveries which he hath made of himself in his Works and in his Word The Ears to hear the Instructions of Wisdom The Lips to praise and magnify Him and by spiritual Discourse to edify others feed many and minister Grace to the Hearers Therefore tho our Hearts must be first look'd at in the Service of God Yet care must also be taken that our Words and Deportment be also sutable and becoming because outward Worship is expressive of that which is inward and reflects back again upon the Heart it self As Habits are strengthened and increased by the Acts which flow from them so are internal Affections by correspondent Expressions and Behaviour in Duty Tho we must not so cry up and magnify the Externals of Worship as to overlook the inward Life and Soul of it as Hypocrites who love to be seen of Men are wont to do So on the other Hand we ought not to pretend our good Meanings or Spirituality in Divine Worship to excuse us from befitting Gestures or outward Demeanour therein Nor must we be forward to judg and censure others as if they were meer Ceremonious Hypocrires because they seem to put Religion into a more fine or formal dress than we our selves have been used to In short let us neither be rude nor antick in Matters of this Nature but let the Frame of our Spirits as also our Words and Gestures be reverent grave and serious lest we be found guilty of prophaning holy things God is to be worshipped by the whole Man Thus ye see that our intellectual and sensitive Faculties yea and our Bodies too must according to their several Capacities be all sanctified and devoted unto God Which is fully comprehended in those Words of the Apostle 1 Thess 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly And I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOVL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Thus much for the first Head viz. That this great Change consists in turning unto the Lord from whom we have so deeply revolted II. Since it is only in and through Jesus Christ that God is reconcilable to fallen Man 't is highly necessary that we have a due regard to him in this Matter Joh. 14.6 No Man cometh unto the Father but by me So vers 19. of this Chapter God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself Neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 As God himself is our ultimate End so Jesus Christ is the principal means and way to bring us to that End The Will of God is so fully declared in this Point viz. That we can have no access to the Father but by the Son that it would be insolent daring Presumâ—ption for us to attempt it any other way Never think of approaching the Presence of God transacting with him presenting your selves or services to him or of expecting any Favour from him but in and through Christ Joh. 5.23 He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him 'T is therefore requisite that we set an high value upon this great Mediatour that we dearly love him and sincerely commit our selves to
Righteous Governour and ungratefully abuse the Riches of his Mercy and Goodness They tread under-foot the Son of God and will not that he should reign over them and therefore are justly accounted Enemies and must expect to be treated accordingly Luk. 19.27 But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me They do despite unto the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 And in all this they prefidiously break their baptismal Covenant wherein they were solemnly devoted to God the Father Son and Holy Ghost And withal they wilfully destroy themselves and wrong their own Souls But that brings me to the other Consideration An unregenerate State is a miserable State How should it he otherwise Can a Man harden himself against God and prosper No no Such Persons are under the Wrath and Indignation of the Almighty an Abomination to him he is of purer Eyes than to behold them His holy Law is armed with most dreadful Curses and Threatnings against them God shall wound the Head of his Enemies and the hairy Scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his Trespasses Psal 68.21 They are Slaves of Satan led Captive by him at his Will who employs them in treasuring up unto themselves Wrath against the Day of Wrath Even the Offers of Gospel-Grace which are daily made to them as they aggravate their Sin will also make their Condemnation heavier Thus that which was designed for their Good becomes the savour of Death unto Death unto them What shall I say They are Heirs of Hell condemned already in Point of Law tho Judgment has not yet passed the final Sentence They are not sure of being spared an hour longer One would think this should make them ill at ease till the Affairs of their Souls be in a better posture 'T is wonderful to think what shift they make to avoid the Anticipations of Hell in their own Breasts Put all this together and then tell me whether it be not a miserable State Psal 50.22 Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tare you in pieces and there be none to deliver 2. Think next what great things God himself has done in order to your deliverance from this sinful miserable State Tho your Transâ—ressions be many and heinous he has provided a Ransom for you the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin Tho your Natures be exceedingly corrupted his Holy Spirit is able and ready to help and heal you if ye do not willfully resist and grieve him Prov. 1.23 Turn ye â—t my Reproof behold I will pouâ— out my Spirit unto you Tho your spiritual Enemies â—e strong â—ubâ—â—â— and maâ—â—gnant they cannot destroy you unless ye oâ—stinately side with them The Standing Office of the Minisâ—â—y is appointed to treat with you in order to your Reconciliation and Peace with Gâ—d 2 Cor. 5.20 Notwithstanding all the Affronts ye have done to the â—iviâ—e Patiencâ— God still waits to be gracious to you Tho ye little deserve â—o be thus treated 't is yet put to your choice that ye may be happy if â—e will be holy A Throne of Grace is ereâ—â—ed for your encouâ—â—â—â—ment God hath swoâ—n by himself that he delâ—gâ—â—s noâ—â—n your Ruin and Destruction buâ—â—â—â—her that ye should repeâ—t and live He condescends in a way of â—â—â—creâ— and Forgiveness to reason the Case with you Turn 〈◊〉 turn ye why will ye die Cease to dâ— evil â—â—â—â—n to 〈◊〉 well Come now and let 〈◊〉 reason together saith the Lord tho your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Sâ—â—w tho they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wool Isa 1.16 17 18. In a word Matters are brought so far in order to your Recovery that nothing but your own Wilfulness and final Impenitency can be your ruin 3. And now consider what it is that God expects from you in compliance with the Methods of his Grace viz. That from a deep sense of your past Folly and a belleving Apprehension of his Mercy and Goodness in Christ ye do sincerely turn unto him through this great Mediator and then all 's your own Are not these Terms highly reasonable Are they not full of rich Grace and Benignity Can ye imagin that Divine Mercy should stoop lower Would ye be saved from Wrath while ye resolve to persist in your Enmity against God What then would become of his Holiness and Purity of his Truth his Government his inflexiâ—le Justice and Righteousness Would ye have an Interest in Christ while ye wilfully reject him Would ye be saved by his Blood without being sanctified by his Spirit and governed by his Law Or would ye have the Graces and Comforts of the Holy-Ghost while ye are still quenching and resisting his Influences In short can ye tell what ye would have Think well of it and ye will find either that you Desires are utterly immodest and unreasonable or eâ—se that he is ready to grant them 4. Consider also how many Millions are got safe to Heaven who were once at as great a distance from it as you The Saints now in Glory were by nature Children of Wrath as well as others besides the Guilt of many actual Transgressions How long did many of them stand it out against the Calls of Divine Grace as ye have done but at last they yeilded and so escaped Methinks this Consideration should animate and encourage you yea and even enflame you with a generous Ambition oâ— attaining the same Happiness Have so many poor Sinner found Mercy why then stand ye looking one upon another as if ye could not find your hands Are ye content to pine away in your Iniquities Oâ— up and be doing and the Lord in great Mercy be with you 5. Consider how little the World or Flesh signify to counter ballance the ruin of your immortal Souls What would it profit a Man if he should gain the whole World c. Ye are grosly ignorant of the nature and capacities of your own Souls if ye think that terrene or sensual Delights and Enjoyments will satisfy them Isa 55.2 c. What tho the Flesh should be abundantly provided for and fair deliciously every day ye will still find something within you that is not filled And so in the fulness of your sufficiency ye will be in straits Job 20.22 And besides Creature-enjoyments are uncertain as well as insufficient They may be taken from you ye must be taken from them Will it be any Relief to your miserable Souls in another World to remember the fleshly Prosperity and Ease ye had in this Will your Possessions Spâ—rt and Jollity follow you into Eternity Or will not the remembrance of them rather cut you to the very Heart When being doom'd to everlasting disconsolate Darkness ye shall not be able to forget how foolishly ye destroy'd your selves for meer Trifles O consider this and do not hazzard your Souls for a thing of nought How fast are ye posting continually
fleshly Prosperity and Ease Search after those Sins which do most easily beset you those Corruptions which do most frequently foil you and single them out to run them down Spare them not but deal with them as Samuel with Agag hew them in pieces before the Lord. Fortify your selves with Arguments against them keep a strict watch go not to the utmost extent of your Christian Liberty resist the first stirrings of them the least tendencies towards them Prov. 30.32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thy self or if thou hast thought evil lay thine Hand upon thy Mouth Avoid as much as possible the occasions of Sin especially of your beloved Sins Habituate your selves to frequent serious Thoughts of the Presence of God Set the Lord always before you Psal 16.8 2. Make not a light Matter of the least decays in Grace or Tendencies toward backsliding What tho it should be granted that a regenerate Person cannot or rather shall not Jer. 32.40 fall away finally yet it is past all Doubt that such an one may fall very fouly so as to grieve the Holy Spirit to wound his own Conscience to blemish his Profession and to obscure his Evidences ' And is not all this sad enough Moreover 't is certain Men usually decline by degrees and therefore the least Degrees or Tendencies thereto are not to be slighted If therefore you find that Conscience begins to grow less tender than formerly it was if Sin sit lighter and the sense of remaining Corruption is less grievous to you than heretofore If you grow more customacy and careless in religious Duties and less regardful to keep up the Life of holy Communion with God in Christ If you can more easily let slip spiritual Opportunities and find less relish and sweetness in them than formerly if the Interest of the the World and Flesh begin to grow more prevalent with you and you are ready to phancy that 't is good to be here while in the mean time your Thoughts of Heaven grow cold and languid and your Desires or Longings to be with Christ do abate If you find it thus with you you had need bestir your selves in good earnest to recover your first Love and to strengthen the things which remain and are ready to die Otherwise you little know how far the Spirit of God may be provoked and what considerable Degrees both of Grace and Comfort may quickly be lost I need not tell you that Satan will do his worst to hinder you in your way to Heaven your own Corruptions and the Snares of the World will get Ground upon you You had need row hard against the Stream which of it self will carry you back if you press not forward Noâ— progredi erit regredi 3. Labour to grow in due proportion as to the several parts of Holiness and Duty The beauty of Holiness as of every thing else consisteth much in the due symmetry and proportion of the several parts of it Labour to exercise each Grace and Duty in its proper Order and Place so that one may not interfere with nor exclude another See that your Judgments be well settled as to the great Principles of Religion that your belief of them be firm deep and solid To this end labour to study and digest well the Articles of the Creed let your Thoughts dwell much upon them that you may understand the right meaning and due improvment of every Article Take care also that your Wills and Affections be full-fraught with becoming Resolutions and Inclinations that the Purposes and Desires of your Souls be rightly ordered and placed To this end study well the Lords Prayer both as to the matter and order of the seâ—eral Petitions and endeavour to form and settle the Inclinations and Tendencies of your Souls accordingly Especially that the Glory of God be first and last in all your desires highest in your esteem and all things else desired in full Subserviency thereto Here lies the Life of Religion and this we should be still contending and striving to raise our Hearts more towards that they may move more naturally easily and delightfully therein that God's Interest may be of all others the nearest and dearest to us And then for the direction of your Practice labour to understand the true sense and extent of the ten Commandments to see the Amiableness Righteousness and Perfection of the Divine Law that you may heartily approve thereof love it and live accordingly Delighting in the Law of God after the inner Man Rom. 7.22 The whole Frame of Christian Principles Graces and Duties is beyond measure lovely in the harmonious connexion of the several parts thereof Labour therefore that this Frame may be more and more deeply imprinted upon your Hearts and expressed in your Lives That ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing Jam. 1.4 If you be maimed in one part all the rest will fare the worse for that Remember Integrity is the Glory of a Christian viz. that no part be lacking 2 Cor. 7.1 Perfecting Holiness in the fear of God That is let us see that no part of Holiness be wanting in us and that we be not wanting to any part of Holiness but still pressing forward towards Perfection even in degrees Take care for example that your Zeal be guided by Knowledg lest it set all on Fire and prove mischievous to your selves and others or at best no better than an Ignis fatuus And again let your Knowledg be improved into holy Zeal and Fervency that you be not luke-warm or indifferent in Matters of Religion which most justly challenge our whole Hearts Rev. 3 1â— 16. Let godly Sorrow Repentance and Humiliation for Sin be so exercised as not to exclude humble Confidence in the Mercy of God spiritual Joy c. Again if God give you a large share of Assurance and Comfort do not therefore think your selves above the fore-mentioned humbling Exercises which will be a means to preserve your Purity and Peace Moreover let not the Duties of the first and second Table justle out each other but let both be duly and carefully observed in the several Branches of them Think it not enough to be just and upright or as they call it morally honest in your dealings with Men except you be also serious hearty and sincere in the Service of God and in the devotedness of your Souls to him And again think not that any Worship of Service you perform to God will be accepted while second-Table-duties are wilfully neglected It is the design of Religion to make us better and more useful in every Relation and Capacity wherein we stand 1 Pet. 2.16 17. 2 Pet. 1.5 c. Tit. 2.12 We are enjoined to live SOBERLY RIGHTEOVSLY and GODLY in this present World viz. We must be Sober in the Government of our Senses Appetites Affections c. Righteous in our dealings with Men doing to others as we would that they should do to us Godly in the Tendency and Inclination of
perishing by Multitudes round about you and not once open your Mouths to help them Is this to love your Neighbours as your selves 3. In a word I tell you 't is your duty to take all opportunities wherever you come or with whomsoever you converse to do good to Souls I do not mean that sacred Things should be exposed by rashness indiscretion or imprudent management nor Pearls cast before Swine who will turn again and rent you But one thing I will tell you as bad as the World is the Names of Holiness Justice Purity Religion c. are still honourable among Men and the contrary Vices are accounted odious No Man would be look'd upon as an impious profane unrighteous Villian Now this gives you some advantage and a willing Mind may find many ooportunities to bring in good Discourse and that in such a way as the woâ—st of Men should scarce dare to contradict it There is somewhat in serious Religion which commands Awe and Reverence even from them that hate it Herod feared John the Baptist knowing that he was a just Man and an holy Mark 6.20 As for those that are civilized or moralized as some speak the difficulty is next to nothing to bring in some edifying Discourse among them and to leave some good savour behind you Christians should be the Salt of the Earth Mat. 5.13 And to let them know that the Life of Religion is somewhat more than they seem to place it in Can you not gently and prudently reprove the Sins of others where you think it may do good I know that this is a Duty that goes as much against the Grain as almost any but the Scripture is plain Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thine Heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer Sin to the upon him Or as the words may be rendered that thou bear not Sin for him you make your selves Partakers with other Men in their Sins if you endeavour not to prevent them In short God will own those that own him and stand up for his Cause and if that be not enough see where you can find a better Patron Moreover as for those that are poor and low in the World you might make way for doing good to their Souls by shewing Kindness to their Bodies if you thought it worth the while to be at any expence for the interest of Christ in the World I say no more than this if it were possible that Grief could have any place in Heaven this sure would be the matter of it to remember how little we had done for God on Earth Direct 6. Be much in the exercise of those Graces and Duties which tend most directly Heaven-ward and are nearest a kin to that blessed State This is the way to make you ripe for Glory You need not stay for all of Heaven till you come thither there are great Foretasts of it to be enjoyed on Earth if you be not wanting to your selves You may feast your Souls upon the Provisions which Christ hath made for your present support and more especially upon those discoveries which he has given you of the Glory intended for you and you have need so to do lest you faint by the way I may say to you as the Angel to Elijah 1. King 19.7 Arise and eat because the Journey is too great for thee 1. Live by Faith upon the great Promises of the Gospel whereby the Heavenly Glory is made sure unto true Believers realize those Promises there remaineth a Rest for the People of God Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord c. If any Man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my Servant be If any Man serve me him will my Father honour These are the true Sayings of God Rev. 19.9 How comes it to pass that they are no more considered and lived upon What tho at present we have not the satisfaction of immediate intuition know ye not that Faith is to be instead of sight till we come to Heaven Heb. 11.1 But alas how apt are we to take up with some dark dreaming confused Notions and Thoughts instead of the lively Exercise of such a Faith 2. Labour to stir up in your selves earnest Longings after this blessed State How can we say we love our Lord if our Hearâ—s be not with him Should we not set our Affections on things above where Christ sitteth on the right Hand of God Col. 3.1 2. Ouâ— Lord is there our Inheritance is there many of our Friends and Acquaintance are gone before how ill doth it become us to suffer our Hearts to flag as if we were indifferent whether we followed them or no Surely we should groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven 2 Cor. 5.2 Do but observe how eager and intent Worldlings are upon empty Vanities things that cannot profit And shall we be so cold and heartless in the Tendencies of our Souls towards that Happiness which is solid and substantial Were our Hearts more set upon Heaven it would put Life and Savour into all our Duties it would support us under Afflictions and enable us to baffle Temptations it would be an Evidence of our Sincerity and raise us above the slavish Fears of Death But I proceed 3. Be much in the exercise of a lively well grounded Hope Faith presents the heavenly Glory to the view of the Soul Desire reacheth forth towards it Hope lays hold upon it To this we are begotten again 1 Pet. 1.3 By this we are saved Rom. 8.24 See first that your Hopes be rightly grounded and then that they be duly exercised 4. And now it is time that your Souls should be affected with spiritual Joy Faith and Hope must both contribute to this Thus we read of Joy in believing and of rejoicing in Hope Read Psal 32.11 Phil. 4.4 1 Thess 5.16 You are over and over commanded to rejoice 't is not left to you as a Matter indifferent 'T is as truly a Duty in its place as Godly Sorrow Humiliation and Repentance are in theirs And 't is more noble as appertaining to the primitive and principal Part of Holiness whereas the other belong to the medicinal healing part thereof 5. Above all things strive to keep up the Warmth and Vigour of holy Love to God and your Redeemer Let every other Grace do its part to promote this Labour still to get nearer to God more inward with him and that your Hearts may move more naturally towards him God is Love Direct 7. Observe narrowly the Temper and Behaviour of those Persons who seem ripest for Heaven and take them for your Examples Converse much with such He that walketh with the Wise shall be wise In such you may observe manifold Appearances of those inward gracious Principles by which they are acted In them you may observe great Humility and Condescension toward such as are their Inferiours Great tenderness for the Honour and Interest of God in the World Great delight in making mention familiarly of those that are gone to Heaven before them An excellent composure of Gravity and Chearfulness a weighty Seriousness and Warmth in the Duties of Gods holy Worship In a word you may see plainly enough whither they are going and how beautiful a thing Holiness is thus growing up towards its Perfection FINIS