the day requireth of them In the next place seeing the Time of the Gospel is such a lightsome Day let this serve to awaken the World that lyeth asleep in the darkness of Ignorance and Profaness And oh that I were now a Boanerges that I might with the Thunder and Lightning of this day rouze and startle such Sleepers out of their sloth and security wherein they are willing to lie down like those the Prophet speakes of Es 56.10 Loving to slumber miserably stupified with the Delusions of the Noone-day Devil scarcely so much as dreaming of their imminent danger till it comes upon them with the dreadfull Alarmes of Gods Insupportable Vengeance Look up O ye poor Creatures behold and see the Night is past and the Day is come the Morning is not onely spread upon the Mountains and the Day Star in his Course driving before it the shadowes of the Night but the Sun hath shined out in his full strength What Are you not ashamed thus to turne Day into Night and to lie snorting in your sinfull Security whiles so glorious a Light shineth round about you If you will still shut your Eyes let your Eares yet be open to that Gospel-Thunder clap Joh. 3.19 and let them tingle to heare it Joh. 3.19 This is the Condemnation the very damning Sin which sinkes men deepest into Hell that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light But let us a little take these sleepers apart one from another and proclaime before them the Day of the Lord. First you that are wilfully ignorant who know not nor will understand but take Pleasure to walke on in Darkness and will not see the Light very apt to learn how to carry on a Design to your Advantage in things of this World but starke fooles in the mystery of Godliness Consider Is this a time to be Ignorant when the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God hath shined out not in the vailed face of Moses as it did Yesterday but in the glorious face of Jesus Christ Is this day of the great things of God so illustriously visible to be despised Or is there such Comeliness and Beauty in the Black hue and prodigious feature of darkness that men should so much delight in it The times of former ignorance God was pleased to wink at but now he commands all men every where to repent Awake Awake therefore you that have hitherto despised knowledge Awake I say open your eyes now if ever you will see for if this Gospel which this day hath so demonstratively made known to the World be as a Hidden thing unto you it is an evident token of your everlasting perdition But if this Day doth produce such Terrour and prove so Dismal for those that are ignorant oh what a black Day is it like to be unto those that are Profane Let Swearers and Liars and Drunkards and Oppressours and unclean Adulterers and cruel Mockers and Despisers of Gospel-Ordinances with all the rest of that Rabble that lie down in the Lethargy of Sin tremble and be horribly afraid at the Apparitions of this Day Since you will not open your Eyes to see the Light of it you must and shall abide the evil that attends upon it The evil I say how strange soever it sounds in the eares of men unacquainted with God and his Word who think of this Day as if there were nothing but calmnes and serenity in it And truely to a Believer that walks in the light of it It is a day as hath been said of rich and abundant Grace A joyful day Mal. 4.2 To such as fear the Name of the Lord saith the Prophet Malachy shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings bringing in his rayes the cheerful and comfortable light of life that health and salvation which shall keep them safe in the midst of all dangers But will it shine forth thus alike unto all to those that serve God and to those that serve him not hear the Prophet in the words before-going proclaiming the contrary Behold let the world take notice of it the Day cometh that is Mal. 4.1 this very Day we now speak of as appeareth clearly by the context that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble You 'll say perhaps as those Scoffers did 2 Pet. 3 4. Where is the promise of his coming So where is the terrour of this day For since we are fallen asleep in our sins as you tell us we are safe and secure even in this day that you would have us believe to be so terrible we see no sorrow at all but thrive and prosper in the World according to our hearts desire and to morrow shall be as this day yea much more abundant But O poor deluded people is this indeed your presumption Wo unto you that ever you were born if you suffer this delusion to prevail upon you What Do you think to be safe in the day of the Lord's Vengeance Es 61.2 For whatsoever you vainly dream of it such it is to all obstinate impenitent sinners as it will appear more hereafter For the present let me expostulate the Case with you Are you indeed so safe from the evil of this day as you do pretend If you be Scelus tutum aliquis nemo securum tulit Sen. Hyp. Tuta esse scelera secura non possunt Bern. yet as one said surely you cannot be secure Or rather secure say I with another you may sometimes be but you can never be safe A miserable safety that is surrounded with so much danger And the security that you boast of is a sure token of your imminent Destruction 1 Thess 5.3 You may I confess prosper in the World and encrease in riches yea you may come in no misfortune like other folke nor be plagued like other men and yet notwithstanding this day of the Lord's Vengeance have a terrible influence upon you There is an Vltrix misericordia an avenging mercy giving freedome from trouble in Anger and Displeasure Solo auditu contremisco saith Holy Bernard sweetly I tremble at the very hearing of it God keep me from such mercy These blessings are beyond all wrath But what talke you of prosperity and security Did you never hear that God rains down snares here upon his enemies as well as fire and brimstone storme and tempest And that the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them What advantage then have you by these outward things wherein you so much pride your selves and applaud your own happiness When they shall be instrumental in bringing you to utter ruine In the mean time oh how doth the Soul lie scorching under the burning heat of this day Which though it be by some but little felt yet it is the forest judgment of all other for as the Lightning never pierceth more fiercely then when it melteth the sword and
Application Consider then with your selves O poor People ready to perish Is not this a great and and notable day And can you now be able to endure the Coming of the Lord Mal. 3.2 Now as the Prophet saith when he appeares as a Refiner's fire and as Fullers sope that is to cast out all dross and filth out of his Church when as the Baptist saith He comes with his Fan in his hand Mat. 3.12 that is The preaching of his Gospel in the Ministery of his servants whereby as with a purging blast he will throughly cleanse his floor gathering his wheat into his granary but burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire Can your hearts endure or your hands be strong in the day wherein the Lord thus deals with you How much better were it for you to awaken your selves out of your sinful security and to walk in the light of this day then to have the Thunder and Lightning of it flash into your Souls with the pledges and first-fruits of everlasting burnings What meanest thou O steeper said the ship-master unto Jonas when the Sea wrought and roared for his prey So now when you are in such apparent hazard may it not be very well said unto you what mean you sleepers Will you go away in a sleep and be swallowed up for ever in the bottomless sea of Gods wrath and fury What mean you thus carelesly to lie down in sin when you should walk before the Lord in the light of the living Is this a time think you to say with the Sluggard Pro. 16.10 Yet a little sleepe a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleepe when dreadful danger is so neare and ready to fall upon you as an armed man Awake therefore I say you that are ignorant Be not still brutish for lack of understanding when God hath sent out his Light and his truth to leade you and guide you do not you refuse any longer to follow it If in the things of this World you can as occasion is offered manifest some skill and dexterity promoting carnal interests and negotiating your affairs to your best advantage will you not be without excuse if in those things that concern the everlasting estate of your Souls you be foolish and ignorant even as beasts before the Lord O remember that you have Souls souls more precious then all the world which should be cared for as well as your Bodies And what is both the Ornament and the Nourishment of a Soul but that knowledge which this day would enlighten it with Alas consider Is it not a shame that all the labour of a man should be for his mouth as the wise Preacher once said Eccles 6.7 and his Soul in the mean time which denominates the man distinguishing him from other Creatures that are inferiour unto him to be altogether Vnsatisfied Awake therefore and get Wisdom now while it is to be had which is the principal Pro. 8.7 And will all your gettings and above all get understanding Awake also you that are profane Let the swearer awake lest God also swear in his wrath that he shall never see the light of this day unless it be to his horrour and amazement Let the swinish drunkard that makes a swill-tub of his body and his soul a trough for the Devil to bouze in let him I say awake out of his intemperance for it is the eleventh hour of the day and if he continue until night he shall be inflamed with the cup of Gods fury which is full of mixture that is Ps 75.8 of curses that are written for eternity against impenitent sinners Let adulterers and unclean persons awake out of their filthiness They shall else be thrown into a bed of shame and the day shall un cover their nakedness to the loathing of their persons in the sight of God and his holy Angels Let the merciless oppressour awake that grindes the faces of the poor with a heart more hard then the nether mil-stone let him I say awake betimes and break off his sin by repentance undoing heavy burdens and letting the oppressed go free otherwise the Arrow of Gods indignation that now flieth by day shall surely find him out and peirce him-thorough with a wound incurable In a word let the fraudulent Deceiver the voluptuous Epicure the atheistical Scoffer the greedy Mammonist and the Idolatrous Rimmonist I mean the Superstitious Romanist with all other of that Cimmerian crew children of darkness who are this day fast asleep in their sins rouze up themselves and be awakened Alas poor creatures what mean you Will you I say again go away in a sleep De tenebris ad tenebras from the inner darknes of your minds swallowed up in ignorance and profaness to the outer darkness of Gods everlasting displeasure Shall the terrible lightning of this day blast your souls till there be no remedy What mean you sleepers Awake awake it is now time that you should arise from sleep yea the time is almost past Now is salvation nearer then when you first believed Rons 13.11 that is when you first gave up your names to Christ to be his Disciples and now is damnation nearer then when you first were threatned To conclude be confident what ever Satan may suggest unto you or what ever vain imagination your own foolish and deceitful hearts have entertained concerning this day be assured I say of this it will bring you no better tidings then what I have here proclaimed in your ears unless you awake you will certainly perish Albeit you lie sleeping in sin yet your damnation as the Apostle saith slumbreth not for the day light keeps it awake 2 Pet. 2.3 and not onely so but provokes it with greater and greater rigour to fall upon you But I will hope better things of you Who will not disdainfully reject what is here offered unto you yea such things as accompany salvation because the light of this day naturally bodes that which is good unto the world whereas the judgment that comes along with it is but accidental mercy being now in her prime beautified with an evangelical lustre and rejoycing against judgment With this hope we shall terminate this first Point viz the Denomination of the Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to day as it is rendred in the Text according to our third Interpretation That which comes next to be considered is what is here predicated of that Time viz. Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same to Day THE same now as yesterday the same which he was from the beginning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id prorsus as he told the Jewes when they demanded of him saying Who art thou Joh. 8.25 That which he was from the beginning viz the Prophet Priest and King of his Church he is the same now in the time of the Gospel Other foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3.11 saith the Apostle then that that is laid
that That day should not come before such and such things which he there mentions were first come to pass He feared not it seems lest he should give occasion of a carnal security to presumptuous sinners as it is here objected to us by his writing of the protraction of the great day but leaves that to their peril who will pervert his words and turn them to such a sinister sense declaring the minde of God clearly without casting such scruples as these Objectors have causlesly devised to stop the current of this Doctrine And this may be a sufficient warrant unto us to speak freely of that which the Scripture holds out unto us in this particular not regarding what wicked persons deluded by the devil may suggest unto themselves thereby And yet as Calvin well observeth upon the place Neither doth this word of the Apostle about the deferring of the great day contradict other Scriptures which speak of it as being at hand Instat enim saith he Dei respectu apud quem mille anni sunt tanquam dies unus It is at hand in Gods account with whom a thousand years are but as one day though to us it may seem long being lengthened out for many generations unto the time appointed of the Father that so the great work of God in this world decreed from Eternity might be fully finished In fine Whatsoever is or can be objected against this doctrine we may safely conclude it to be of no force But for it self it shall stand and prove infallibly a victorious truth in the Church because Jesus Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Same yesterday to day and for ever Let all therefore that wish well unto Sion lay it close to their hearts that they may now more then ever seeing the time approacheth lay out their utmost strength and zeal in the promoting thereof praying earnestly constantly unto God that this ancient beloved people may once again finde grace in his sight casting away those sins which may probably be a hinderance to the bringing on of this glorious work And amongst them all let us abandon the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Romish Synagogue which will certainly be a very great obstacle to the Jews conversion though God will also in his own time make this great mountain of opposition to become a plain Thus I say should this doctrine be promoted by us and whatsoever else Divine Providence may put into our hands to do in order to such an excellent end O let us do it with all our might It is doubtless a most Catholike doctrine as tending to an universal Union under Christ our Head it is the most noble and Divine doctrine next unto that of the great work of eternal Salvation wrought by Christ that is revealed unto us in the Gospel and it is most advantageous to us Gentiles of all other Doctrines therefore we should promote it It is that which openeth to the Church the bottomless and inexhaustible treasures of the Wisdome and Knowledge of God to look with admiration as the Apostle did into the depth thereof And though neither men nor Angels can be able of themselves in this or any else of the Arcana Coeli the counsels of the most High to know the minde of God yet since as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2.16 We have the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2.16 who is in the bosome of the Father and hath declared him unto us we may with confidence make our boast and speak of that which he hath revealed And because God hath an absolute Sovereignty over all his creatures not bound unto them with any Popish or Pelagian thongs of Necessity Congruity or Condignity but is free to do what he please by the liberty of his own will to cast off the Jews and receive the Gentiles in their stead and restore the Jews again to his grace and favour that both Jews and Gentiles may together rejoyce in his Salvation For of him and through him and to him are all things Let us therefore with the Apostle applaud and magnifie him saying To him be glory for ever Amen FINIS An ALPHABETICAL TABLE A. ADam's standing in the state of Innocency was longer then it is commonly conceived to be Page 105 Adeption or progressive agitation of the Creatures not the original or primary efficient cause of their continuance p 53 Abuses of the late Times detected p 223 Afflictions are ordained and ordered by God p 80 Ages before us not to be despised p. 166 Ambitious persons enemies to Christ's Sovereignty p. 76 A Story of Amphilochius p. 22 Of Alphonsus the Atheistical King of Spain p. 74 Anabaptists great enemies to the Church p. 270 How and wherein the Angels shall be employed in the great day p. 90 What Antiquity in print of Religion is to be regarded p. 169 Arianism an abominable Heresie p. 12 Arius his death by the just hand of God p. 35 Consulting with Astrolegers about future events unlawful p. 72 A notable saying of Augustus Caesar p. 81 B. Of the nature of Bees in having a Government p 58 The Believers Roâ—k p. 81 Blaspemy of Socinus p. 26 Blaspemy of Paul Beast p. 38 Blaspheming Hereticks must not go unpunished ibid. Of bowing at the Name of Jesus See the word Jesus Of bowing at the entrance into and departure from the Congregation p. 235 C. How Cain was cast out of the Church p. 147 Of Ceremonies p. 234 Cerinthus an enemy to Jesus Christ p. 34 Though Christ be the first begotten of every Creature it followeth not that he is therefore a Creature p. 16 Christ hath raised up our nature to the highest elevation p. 32 Jesus Christ is the first begotten intellect in reference to the Angelical Nature p. 17 Jesus Christ is the first-begotten reason in order to the rational ibid Christ is to be honoured in the hearing of his Word p. 28 Christ is the bringer forth of every Creature p. 18 Christ giveth the earth to whom soever he will p. 50 In what sense Jesus Christ is Creatour p. 42 Christ is the Preserver of all p. 52 Christ will restore all things p. 82 The form of a servant in Christ did not obliterate the form of God p. 20 Christ is to be worshipped with divine adoration p. 21 Christ a Prophet from the beginning p. 136 Christ a King from the beginning p. 138 Christ a Priest from the beginning p. 149 Christ the Same to his Church in this day of the Gospel which he was yesterday to the Fathers of old p. 212 Christ will be the Same to his Church for ever p. 273 What manner of change there shall be of the Heavens c. at the last day p. 98 The Church shall be continued to the end of the World p. 275 The folly of ignorant people in imputing all extraordinary tempests to conjuring p. 73 Contemplation of God through the Creatures p. 48 Covetous persons enemies to Jesus Christ p. 76 Of the late
persons putting them upon this Blasphemy that they poor worms are as well and as truly God as Jesus Christ And why Because they have their Being in God Act. 17.28 are partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and are one with Christ John 17.21.22 c. Now if this were admitted what a sordid profession would Christianity be What in time would become of Satisfaction for Sin Imputation of Righteousness the Purity Dignity Royalty of the Blood of God How ridiculous and contemptible would the pretended terrour of the great Day seem unto the World For a Contest might possibly arise who should be the chief Judge at that time and according to the person and quality of the Judge so would the Judgment be But to these deluded ones we may well say as Moses did to Korah and his Complices Num. 16.9 10. Seemeth it a small thing unto you that God hath separated you Numb 16.9 10. and brought you near unto himself but you will seek the Priesthood also What is it nothing to be as you pretend your selves to be advanced to the knowledge of the true God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord to have the Image of God consisting in Righteousness and true Holiness 2 Pet. 1.4 to be repaired and renewed in you which is the participation of the Divine Nature but that you will aspire like the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 to be equal with God speaking after the language of him who said in his heart I will ascend into Heaven Es 14.13 14. I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will sit upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North. I will ascend above the heights of the Clouds I will be like the most High Is the iniquity of our first Parents too little for you from which we are not cleansed until this day but that you will rise up and rebel against the Lord even after the same manner as they did What have you been coeternal with Jesus Christ and immutable like unto him Can ye say You are the same yesterday to day and for ever Where were you then Job 38.4 when God laid the foundations of the earth Declare if you have understanding When he prepared the Heavens when he set a compass upon the face of the Depth when he established the Clouds above when he strenghned the Fountains of the Deep Were you then by him Pro. 8.27 as one brought up with him rejoycing alwaies before him Have you known the mind of the Lord Or have you been his Counsellours Were you joyn'd in Commission with Jesus Christ to be his Co-agents in the great Work of Redemption Es 63.3 Did you help to tread the Wine-press in the discomfiting of his Enemies Or to establish a Church so as the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it Look then now on every one that is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked in their place hide them in the dust together and bind their faces in secret Then will I confess to you that you are free from those Delusions that are charged upon you and unjustly tax'd with Blasphemy whereof otherwise you cannot but be deeply guilty But enough of this The other Project of Hell which is now on foot against Jesus Christ in these our daies is to level him with poor dust and ashes not allowing him a preheminence above the sons of men unless it be such as hath been devised by the Devil for the more close conveyance of his inveterate malice I do not say it is an Egg lately hatch'd by that Cockatrice for it is of an old brood and did exceedingly infest the Church in former times as hath been said before but though it was smitten through and through with the two-edged Sword of Gods word yet there are now again sprung up new Heads of that old monstrous and malicious Hydra who with the faces of Sodom and Gomorah dare publickly tell us that our great Redeemer of whom we make our boast is no other then a meer man I am prone to believe that such as love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity do find their hearts shivering within them at the very mentioning of this horrid Blasphemy but behold yet greater Abominations What an amazement must it be to all the Churches of Christ to read or hear that In A. B. his Exposition of the 17th Chap. of S. John which I have read of Socinus In the reciting whereof there may be some doubt as one said in another case whether you should be desired to open or to stop your ears the speech being so horrible as it is a wonderful patience of God that the Earth opened not her mouth to swallow him up quick yea it may seem strange that the dumb and dead paper did not stand up refusing to take that Ink wherewith such an abominable Blasphemy should be either printed or written which is expressed in these words viz. This Doctrine of Christs Deity is so absurd that the Christian World will one day be ashamed of it and that the word Trinity may be in time as much abhorred as Transubstantiation and the Mass What shall we say to this but as the Angel spake to the Devil Increpet Dominus Es 6.1.3.5.8 John 12.40 41. Psal 102.19 22 23.26 27. Heb. 1.10 11 12. Let the Lord rebuke them whosoever they be that have their Tongues thus set on fire of Hell against Christ and his Glory The Apostle tells us Phil. 2.6 That being in the form of God he counted it no robbery to be equal with God Yet these wretches do in effect say that he is a Thief and a Robber if he shall lay claim to such an equality What Is he the great Jehovah Eternal and Immutable the same yesterday to day and for ever and all this while but a meer man Could a meer man be able to wade into the vast Ocean of the wrath of the Almighty and not be swallowed up everlastingly therein Could he be able to enter into a Plea with Divine Justice and put her to a Non-suit To undertake by his own Righteousness to justifie so many Myriads of Saints and not find to his shame his covering infinitely too narrow to hide the deformities of so great a multitude To encounter with Death and Hell and overcome them in their own Den Surely we must needs say with him in the Gospel If this man were not of God Nay If this man were not God he could do nothing nothing I mean in these great noble and glorious Atchievements For admit that he was perfect in himself both in his birth and in his life the power of the most High when it came upon the Virgin in her Conception stopping up the Current of original sin that it could not pollute him and his own proper power preserving him all his life-time from the least spot of any actual sin yet alas wherein could this single
make known our requests unto him and to receive instruction and benedictions from him what a priviledge is it peculiar to this day to finde the Lord Jesus Christ in his Regal and Pontifical attire walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks that is in the assemblies of his people breathing upon them with his spirit and insinuating himself kindly into their hearts by his word and Sacraments Are not the goings of the Lord the Lord I say our God and our King in his Sanctuary worthy to be traced by us especially when the savour of his Oyntments doth so spread it self that it is sensibly to be discerned What do not the words of God do good to those that walk uprightly Shall God all the day long from the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same stretch out his hands unto us filled with the choicest of his blessings that ever he did hold out to the Children of men And shall not we put forth our hands to receive them Is it nothing to have Satan fall down like Lightning before us in the powerful dispensations of Gospel-Ordinances O how happy were we if we knew our Happiness But since I am fallen upon a serious expostulation in this case suffer me I beseech you good brethren that belong unto this Congregation to bring it home to your Consciences by a particular application and without offense bee that speech which is intended not to offend but onely to affect with a clear Truth Yesterday it is like if there had been a Sermon in this place here would have been a full Congregation To day also it appeareth our Assembly is greater then it was wont to be upon these dayes yet yesterday and to day and all our dayes what do we that are your Ministers but work the work of him that sent us preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all Whence is it then that our Message is despised That the holy and divine Ordinance of preaching is so much sleighted by your absenting your selves upon such dayes of the week wherein Ministers come freely to impart unto you some spiritual gift such as they have received from the Lord If indeed we did preach any other Gospel then that which the Church of God hath received from the beginning or any other Jesus then him who is the same yesterday to day and for ever ye might have just cause to despise our ministery and to hold us accursed But when we bring unto you no other doctrine of salvation then that which hath been professed and maintained by the Church of God in all Ages sealed and confirmed by the bloud of Martyres yea by the bloud of God himself accompanied also with the mighty operations of the spirit of God to the conversion and salvation of multitudes that hear it how can you without contracting unto your selves an extraordinary guilt in the sight of God refuse as you do to resort to this place at such times when this word is faithfully preached having no lawful lett to hinder you and to keep you from it Do you not hereby openly proclaim unto the world that you have no care of your souls what becomes of them whether they sink or swim whether they saved or damned Pro. 15.32 He that refuseth instruction saith Solomon despiseth his own soul Nay is it not a plain demonstration of too great an impiety as that you care not for God himself that you regard him not fear him not nourishing in your hearts a secret atheism and enmity against him Where there is not a desire of the knowledge of Gods waies there is questionless a slender account made of the majesty of God and a secret if not an open separation from him To this purpose saith Job They that desire not the knowledge of his waies say unto him in their hearts depart from us Nay more Job 21.14 To refuse to hear the word preached when we may and God offereth it unto us at such a time I say to have no minde to it no love to it but disdainfully to turn our backs upon it is a greater sin according to the judgment of Christ himself then the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah Hear what he saith Matth. 10.14.15 And what he speaketh there to his Disciples Matth 10.14.15 he speaks to all his servants lawfully called to the work of the ministery into whatsoever City you enter and they receive you not shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment then for that City Weâ—l be assured of it when all 's done and the time of reckoning shall come This will be found to be a very great sin It will not boot thee then poor man to say I have been careful to celebrate the commemoration of my Saviours Nativity at the usual time of the year no no thy observation of this Ecclesiastical Constitution will not by ten thousand talents counterpoize thy great sin in disobeying the commandment of thy God by so frequent refusing to hear him as thou doest at other time of the year when he speaks unto thee in the ministery of his word Whereas therefore you will do this from which I will not disswade you Do not leave the other undone which God hath so expresly commanded should be done but to day hear his voice and harden not your hearts There are sundry other Ordinances which the children of the day might here be exhorted to walk in But it will not be expedient now to insist upon them all severally onely let the Sacraments which are together with the word the prime Ordinances of this day have that regard which is due unto them The Lord we know hath commanded that we should walk in them For as he said of old under the Law Lev. 18.4 So hath he in effect spoken it again and again in the Gospel concerning his Sacraments especially Levit. 18.4 ye shall keep mine Ordinances to walk therein I am the Lord your God Observe It is not said to talk and discourse of them onely as the manner of some is now-a-daies much less to keep them closed up and confined within those narrow limits which our late upstart Anabaptistical Projectors have devised with whom there hath been too much tampering and compliancy even almost to the irrepairable ruine of that whole Evangelical Institute under which we have hitherto prospered but to walk in them that is to use them both for our incorporation into his Church and our corroboration in it Since then the Lord hath commanded us this service we had not best stand arguing still about the administration of it and in the mean time leave it quite undone But let Ministers and People look to it betimes least the anger of the Lord smoke yet more and more against them for their disobedience Thus much for that which concerns the children of the day and what
hurteth not the scabberd so is the wrath of God never more incensed then when he punisheth the soul and spares the body Look then into thy soul O poor Sinner and see what this day doth there bring forth either an obduration upon thy heart or an inflammation upon thy Conscience O how is the heart sometimes hardened in sin Made more and more obstinate and perverse against the Lord Yea and that which aggravates the misery it is by that very means whereby the Saints are renewed and made happy in their Conformity to God in righteousness and true holiness for as the heat of the Sun softeneth wax and hardeneth clay both at the same time so hath the light of this day its several operations upon the Godly and Ungodly according to their several Capacities and dispositions The one it brings into an humble frame fit for such impressions as the spirit of God will fix upon them The other are thereby made more and more refractory and inflexible in their sin till they be ripe for destruction And is not this a great terrour unto men that that which might have been for their wealth to enrich them with grace and glory should become unto them an occasion of falling into extream miserie Sometimes again the Conscience of an impenitent sinner is set all on fire by the light of this day and put into such a flame that nothing can quench it yea the more illuminations it hath of the glimpses of that glorious grace which is now revealed the more violent flashes of God's glittering sword do withall break in upon it to the amazing of the soul with terrours that are inextricable and unexpressible A black cloud of Witnesses might be produced that have found this true by too lamentable experience Not as if this light did naturally bring forth such sad effects but wheresoever it shineth being mighty to prevail if it be resisted wo unto them that make the opposition it comes I say like Lightning with greater Violence and where it meets with such combustible stuff as a reprobate Spirit it proves through the just judgement of God a devouring fire True it is that even the most holy and faithful servants of God may sometimes for want of a due observation of this day have terrible apprehensions of it The light of it may seem to go altogether retrograde unto them and the illuminations thereof may also turn into dreadful inflammation upon their Consciences But yet because they are the Children of the Day The healing which is under the wings of that Sun that giveth light unto it shall surely have a comfortable influence upon them And the anointing which they have from the Holy one shall be as an eye-salve whereby they may see the light more clearly and a preservative likewise so to keep them as that the promise shall in this sense be made good unto them Though they walk through the fire they shall not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon them Es 43.2 Es 43.2 Impii autem non sic non sic said the Psalmist in a certain place As for the Ungodly Ps 1.4 it is not nor never shall be so with them For the Prophet as I told you before puts the difference even there where he speakes of that healing that shall come upon those that fear the Lord The day saith he cometh that shall burn as an Oven Mal. 4. â— and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble c. In an Oven or furnace there is no Healing nor escaping but burning and consuming of all that is within the compass of it especially if it be dry stubble so is this day to all Ungodly persons a Magormissabib a terrour round about And to apply the Words of the Prophet Amos to our present purpose for they have a measure that will reach unto it Amos 5.18 The day of the Lord is darkness and not light as much as to say You are much mistaken if such as you think to meet with any light of consolation in this day so long as you continue in your rebellion against the Lord rather you will finde it tobe with you as if a man did flee from a Lion and a Bear met him or went into the House and lean'd his hand on the Wall and a Serpent bit him Amos 5.19 If you have escaped from a Lion the Lion of the Gospel because possibly he is of so noble a nature that he hath not pursued his prey This day will send out a Bear even the terrour of the Law to meet you that shall rend and tear without mercy But if neither of these can overtake you when you enter into the Grave and think to be at rest a Serpent an immortal Worme shall bite and sting you without any remedy Where are now all your glorious boastings of this day of the Lord As that your Lot is fallen unto you in such a pleasant time wherein you need not doubt you say of Gods mercy but hope to be saved as you often swear it too and come to heaven at last as soon as others For why you know this day salvation is come into the World Jesus Christ died for sinners and such you know your selves to be Let Preachers therefore say what they will we fear nothing say you though we do perhaps live in sin as who is there that liveth and sinneth not Yet we will hope howsoever that all shall be well in the end Alas Alas miserable people your expectation will be frustrated and all your hopes vanish away like the spiders Web. Do you not see what a dreadful day is come upon you You look for peace saith the Prophet but behold trouble and for a time of healing but no good comes Even the very Ordinances of this day Jer. 4.19 which are sweeter then Honey to those that live in Gods fear are unto you so long as you abide in your profaness no better then poison You have been baptised with water whereby you are distinguished from those that are without God in the World But if your Souls lie still wallowing in the pollutions of sin it shall be more tolerable for Infidels and Pagans at the day of judgement then for you When you come to the Lord's Table to which you may pretend a right because you outwardly profess the faith of Christ Crucified neither are you to be repelled from it untill you be juridically cast out But when you come O what a woful hazard do you run I need not tell it you in any other words then those the Apostle useth You eate and drink your own Damnation The Word also when you hear it proves not onely a dead but a deadly Letter sent unto you from Heaven to pronounce your Condemnation yea all the Exhortations Admonitions Convictions Reprehensions that you meet with from Ministers from friends from enemies from your own Consciences bring forth no better fruit then to sink
you deeper into Hell Your continued rejecting of that rich and abundant grace that is freely and frequently tendred unto you sets you every day at a further distance from God gives the devil more hold-fast of you adds more fewel unto your Tophet making your torment hereafter the more insupportable O what a day then is this wherein men treasure up wrath against the day of wrath A most deplorable estate yet this is the Lot of all impenitent Sinners If any should yet enquire how it comes to pass that this inevitable misery falls upon these wretched kind of people that we have been speaking of I must answer There are two things which the Holy Ghost in Scripture doth plainly present unto us as the grounds and causes thereof First the sin of such persons is found out by the light of this day Secondly Their sin doth find out them When sin is found out Gods anger is enkindled when sin findes out the sinner his anger is then put in Execution The first of these will justifie God in his severest judgements against sin wheresoever it appears The second will convince the sinner of the deceitfulness of sin and of his folly in entangling himself with that which will be his utter undoing But let us consider these severally First I say their sin is made manifest by the light of this day and their Iniquity found to be hateful yea more hateful then the sin of yesterday All things saith the Apostle that are reproved are made manifest by the light and the clearer the light is the more Ugly doth a Deformity seeme in the eyes of all that look upon it Now it is that sin is become exceeding sinful that is hath gotten more strength to do mischief then formerly it was wont to do putting more malignity and perversness into the hearts of men then ever and affronting the Almighty with the greatest impudence despising those means which Divine Wisdom hath found out for the suppressing of it Now it appears in its proper colours insomuch that as our Saviour said It is inexcuseable Joh. 15.22 there being no Cloak of a carnal Apology large enough to cover it When sin then shews it self in this manner who can lay any thing to the charge of God or censure his righteous proceedings against it True it is Profane and Godless wretches do what they can to keep their sin close Pro. 28.13 that it may not be seen But they shall not prosper saith Solomon that is their projects will fail them For why The day opens all the secrets of mens hearts the light of it comes with such a mighty penetration that no corner of the Soul can escape it whatsoever lust and corruption lurketh therein it findes it out All the palliations and tergiversations of sinful men All their tricks and evasions their winding and turning things upside down their crafty contrivances to hide their wickedness are now laid Naked Heb. 4.13 and openly dissected before the eyes of God with whom they have to do Yea now is preparation made for the discoveries of the great day Rom. 2.16 for according to the light of this day shall that judgement also be And herein will that of the Psalmist be verified Ps 19 2. Day unto day uttereth speech This day will make known unto that day whatsoever sin hath been acted in it unrepented of And this now this I say is that which fretts the hearts of secure sinners that their sins which they would have lie hid and be forgotten should be thus found out and brought to light to their shame and confusion Hence comes their rage and madness against the light that they could even wish many times the Sun out of his Orb and the bright beames of Divine Truthes swallowed up in perpetual darkness rather then their sins which they love better then their Souls should be thus disturbed and discovered All which considered how righteous is God in his Anger against sin when it is found out and made manifest by the Light Secondly when sin is found out by the light of this day unless the sinner then followes the light to find out a Saviour to save him from his sins to whom it would certainly lead him if he would diligently observe it his sins will surely find out him and fall upon him with all the curses that are written in the Law wherein as the Apostle saith The strength of sin lieth and without which it could be of no force at all to produce no nor to pronounce the least Condemnation 1 Cor. 15.56 That execrable League which hath been made with sin will betray the sinner and bring him under the power of it whether he will or no. Thine own wickedness saith the Prophet shall correct thee Jer. 2.19 and thy back-slidings shall reprove thee The pride of Israel doth testifie to his face saith the Prophet Hosea Hos 5.5 Behold here how sin which for a while seemes pleasant to the sinner and promiseth to bring him much delight and contentment how it will in time slare him in the face and prove both a witness against him and his Executioner You have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out Num 32.23 said Moses once to the two Tribes and the half Num. 32.23 which may very well be applyed to all profane persons this day In which words the Holy Ghost seems to allude unto dogs hunting greedily after their prey untill they have found it For so it is with sin somtimes it is like a Bandog that lyeth at the door of the Soul not suffering any thing that good is to enter there as some interpret that place Gen. 4 7. Sometimes it is like a Bloud-hound that pursues the sinner and wil not leave till it hath caught him by the Throat and rent the Caule of the Heart with desperation and this pursuite is the more like to speed because it is in the day wherin the light is a furtherance unto it So that the sinner shall at last in effect say to his sin as Ahab did to Elias Hast thou found me O mine Enemy And cry out in the Devils Language Art thou come to torment me before the time Undoubtedly whensoever God letteth sin loose upon the soul either to stupifie and harden the heart or to sting the conscience with that venome which this day accidentally and by the just judgement of God for the despite cast upon the light of it puâ—s into it it is the bitterest Enemy of all other wherein nevertheless the sinner doth but reap the fruit of his own folly and is filled with his own devices in nourishing such a Viper in his bosome that will bring all this mischief upon him Thus may ignorant and profane people see what a wofull day is come upon them since they will not walk in the light of it they lose themselves in most deplorable darkness Let us conclude this use with some Application
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie for that is not a blindness in the mind onely but a spiritual obduration overspreading the whole soul whereby they are become utterly unsensible of their sin and misery And thus we finde the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred before verse 7. by Beza and others reliqui occaluerunt that is the rest were hardened or covered all over with a brawny thickness Thus also is it written of them Act. 28.27 The heart of this people is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes have they closed least they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts c. For why God hath given them in his just displeasure saith the Apostle verse 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A slothful spirit a spirit that luls them asleep in their sin leading them in the dark or as the word may imply A spirit that pierceth them through railing them fast to their infidelity pricking their eyes that they should not see and boring their ears that they should not hear unto this day Hence it is that they obstinately reject all means of their conversion they blaspheme Christ in their Synagogues and whensoever any mention is made of him they cry out Deleatur nâ—men ejus let his name be forgotten and then spit thrice upon the ground in detestation of him they inure their Children from their Child-hood to curse the Lord Jesus and the blessed Virgin his Mother and if any do undertake to refute their errours out of the word they presently stop their ears refusing to hear c. Thereby verifying the Word of the Apostle 2 Cor. 3.15 2 Cor. 3.15 even unto this day when Moses is read the Vaâ—l is upon their Heart In a word as the same Apostle summeth up their wickedness in another place They killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets 1 Thess 2.15.10 and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men Forbidding to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sins alway for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost Surely a very fearful and sore judgement it is that is fallen upon this people And what should we do in this day wherein the avenging hand of God lieth so heavy upon them Should we now forget the brotherly-Covenant and with Edom insult over them in the day of their calamity Obad. v. 12 speaking proudly in the day of their distress That be far from us Rather let us for our humiliation consider so long as they are under so severe a lash of Gods just indignation we that are sinners of the Gentiles shall still have a taste given us of the cup of Gods anger none of all our Churches must look to be delivered from their present troubles they must and shall be still haunted with a spirit of division among themselves and with persecution from the Devil and his Anti-Christ For loe the Lord hath begun to bring evil upon his people and upon the City which is called by his name and should we be utterly unpunished Thus argueth the Apostle Saint Peter 1 Pet. 4.17 18 Whose words we may make use of to this purpose When God had begun to cast off the Jews for of them it is probable the Apostle in this place is especially mindful because otherwise the order which he there observeth that God used in bringing his people under his rod before he poured out his fury upon his enemies was no new or strange matter but had been of old He thus writeth 1 Pet. 4.17 18. The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us that is the Jews for these Epistles were written to them whether it be those amongst us that profess the faith or the generality of our Nation that deny it what shall the end be of them viz. the Gentiles who obey not the Gospel of God that is Who when they have received it are not easie to be perswaded by it but are refractory and unruly under it as we all are to this very day And if the righteous such were all the Jews whiles they continued the house of God scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner of the Gentiles appear Whether this be the proper sense of the place or no I will not contend but will leave it to consideration nevertheless our argumentation cannot be refelled if the green tree suffer in this manner shall the dry tree escape If the children the dearly beloved of Gods soul be thus severely punished shall we in the mean time that were strangers reckoned no better then dogs feeding under our Masters table bee without chastisement especially when now grace hath abounded towards us there are with us also even with us sins against the Lord our God The consideration hereof may I say teach us to walk humbly and should put us to our prayers yea to earnest importunities that God would be pleased once again to look upon his antient people with an eye of compassion and the rather should we be willing hereunto because there is hope in Israel concerning this thing for behold here the unspeakable goodness of God in a mystery made manifest by this scripture of the Apostle according to the commandment of the everlasting God this obduration which is upon Israel is but in part till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in Observe first It is but in part that they are thus hardened 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In part I say not as if the Jews for the generality had not wholly rejected the grace of God for alas the judgment written in that respect is as it hath been said before come upon them to the uttermost the whole way of God for their salvation being hidden from their eyes but it is in part How because all the Nation hath not fallen under this judgement say some so Saint Austin Ex parte dixit quia non omnes excoecati sunt He saith in part because all are not hardened Epist 59. Tom. 10. Molli locutione significare vellet plurimos non omnes aut non omnino Grotius Ambr. Tom. 5. But if this were the meaning wherein lay the mystery For it was manifest by the Apostle himself and sundry others with him that there was a remnant of Believers among the Jews in those dayes according to the election of grace Rather therefore I conceive with Saint Ambrose He saith in part because this obduration was to be but for a time so that this restriction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not set by the Apostle as Calvin and others would have it to temper the asperity of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so as to be an extenuation of their sin for that appears still to be exceeding sinful but it referreth to Gods decreed boundary for the time of the worlds continuance implying that