allowed to act as others of the same age with us and enjoy our Sports and Pleasures and fulfil our youthful Lusts and Desires when Age comes on then 't will be time enough to turn to God and make Provision for Eternity Ans 1. Early Conversion is very acceptable 'T is the Duty of them that are young to remember their Creatour in the dayes of their Youth Eccles 12. 1. And God is very much pleased when he is thus remembred A mark of Honour is put upon them that have been Converted betimes Joseph Josiah Timothy and others are upon sacred Record because when very young and tender they did fly from sin turn'd to God and fear'd him and by his Word became wise unto Salvation 2. Early Conversion is more easie 〈◊〉 grant Nature in the Young as well as Old is utterly averse from it but yet 't is certain that long continuance and custom in Sin does make it harder to be forsaken Therefore sayes the Prophet Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his Skin or a Leopard his Spots then may ye do good that are accustomed to do evil Evil Custom is a second evil Nature and doubles the Cords which hold and hinder the Sinner from Conversion They that turn while young have not such habits of sâ—â— to grapple with neither are evils so rooted in them as in those that are Older 3. Early Conversion prevents a great deal of Sin which impetuous Youth is apt to be defiled with When the Psalmist saies Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way Psal 119. 9. he plainly intimates that the way of the young man is naturally unclean and Nature being vigorous in him his Pollutions and Defilements exceedingly grow upon him But if he turn to God and take heed to himself according to the Words Direction and Command his Heart shall be made and kept pure his Vessel shall be possessed in Sanctification and Honour and though Youth be a dangerous Age the Grace of God shall be sufficient for preservation 4. You that are born of Christian Parents God has challenged a special interest in you from your very Infancy a The Scripture makes a difference between the Children of Christian Parents and the Children of Infidels and therefore that opinion which makes no difference between them must needs be an errour and contrary to the Scripture The Children of them that are Infidels are expresly said to be unclean but if the Parents or but one of them does believe the Children are affirmed to be holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. You are Holy to the Lord your faithful Parents as they gave themselves so they gave you their Seed unto their Lord to be peculiarly for his Use and Service Circumcision of Infants under the Law and baptizing them under the Gospel shews that obligations to Conversion are early and that the thing it self can never be too soon 5. You that are young and talk of having time enough remember that young ones may dye and often do and after death they are brought to judgment Eccles 11. 9. b Since feats of Youth must be brought into judgement what manner of persons ought young men to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness And if you dye before Converted you will dye in your Sins and the first death and second death will come together O young man consider that Childhood and youth are vanity the Thoughts and Counsels then are usually foolish and unreasonable Life is not to be reckoned upon for mans Life is but 〈◊〉 Vapour and Thine may be as a morning Cloud and as the early dew vanishing very quickly Therefore hasten thy flight from youthful lusts and turn to God without any further delay Obj. 4. Others do further Object That if once they are Converted they must biâ— an eternal farewell to all Delight and Pleasure and live a melancholick Life their eyes must alwaies be full of Tears and theiâ— breathing must be a continual sighing they must ever be complaining of their Hearts and lamenting the miscarriages of their Lives and unto Joy they must become perfect Strangers And by such sad apprehensions as these Satan sills the Hearts of thousands with a mighty Prejudice against Conversion But to this Objection I thus Answer Ans 1. Conversion only banishes the Pleasures that are sinful and to take Pleasure in Sin how unreasonable is it should it be counted a Pleasure to anger the Almighty to lay our selves under a Curse which none can bear without being extreamly wretched should it be counted a Pleasure to expose our selves to all sorts of Judgments and Calamities in this life to wound the Conscience to damn the Soul for ever Is there any ease in Hell are those Burnings become desirable and should Pleasure be taken in Sin which if still delighted in will certainly bring us to those Torments Lovers of sinful Pleasures understand not Pleasures All these kind of Delights are to be shunn'd for they have as it were an intoxicating and stupifying Poyson in the mouth and a mortal Sting in the tail of them 2. Conversion spiritualizes and hightens the Pleasures that are innocent and lawful He that keeps within the bounds that God has set him consults his own Peace When God is eyed and served in the abundance of all things there is the greater Joy in that abundance as is intimated Deut. 28. 47. When the Creatures are improved for God this is one way towards the Cure of that Vanity and Vexation that Sinners find in them To Eat and Drink and Recreate our selves to the Glory of God designing by these actions to be fitter for our Lords work and use this puts a very great sweetness into both our Food and Recreations and this sweetness the greatest Epicures and Sensualists taste not of 3. That Godly Sorrow which is so much cryed out against is not without a satisfaction Did ever any one that truly repented repent of his Repentance Impenitency will be found a most destructive Madness and will be repented of in Hell at farthest but Repentance never not in this World less at Death and least of all in Heaven 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Repentance unto Salvation not tâ— be repented of As God is pleased with thâ— Sacrifice of a broken and contrite Spirit sâ— the Heart that is broken may be glad oâ— this Contrition which is the work of a Coâ—forter and to find how God has changâ— the heart of stone into an heart of flesh 4. 'T is the greatest mistake in the World to think that turning to God is nothing else but turning sorrowful Care is taken that the grossest Offenders if truly Penitent should not be swallowed up of over much sorrow 2 Cor. 2. 7. The Mourners are pronounced blessed for they shall be Comforted They that sow in Tears shall reap in Joy The Kingdom of God is Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost as well as Righteousness Rom. 14. 17. and this Peace passes all
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory 1 Cor. 15. 53 54. 4. Will there be a Judgment 't is wonderful there should be so much security in them that hear of it 〈◊〉 Really the very mentioning of Christs Tribunal before which all must stand should make all Criminals to tremble If a Man were seized for a Crime that 's capital deserving Death by the Law of God and Man and being in Bolts and Fetters in Newgate he should be secure and unconcerned though the Sessious were at hand you would conclude him to be very stupid and inconsiderate What Sinner secure and shortly to be Judged O Drunkard Whoremonger Swearer Sabbath-breaker Covetous Worldling what secure and speedily to appear at the Judgment-seat of Christ who has said That they that do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God! Sin is folly security in Sin is the folly of that folly Take heed of Security 't is not I only but Christ himself also that gives you this necessary caution Luk. 21. 34 35 36. And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth Watch ye therefore and Pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. VSE II. By way of Counsel Two words of Counsel I would give this Congregation The one is more firmly to believe a Judgment and more frequently to think of it The other is Be sure in time to prepare for eternal Judgment 1. More firmly believe more frequently think of Judgment You have reason to believe it for the Judge is ordained and though neither Men nor Angels know the day yet the day is appointed Act. 17. 30 31. The time of this ignorance God winked at but now commands all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all in that he hath raised him from the dead The stronger your assent is unto this the more serious and often will be your Consideration of it To think of Judgment is proper for a Saint that he may be encouraged to fight the good fight of Faith and persevere in well doing to the end To think of Judgment is proper for a Wicked Man to awaken him and to make him with fear and trembling to work out his Salvation It 's proper for an Hypocrite to think of Judgment because then all Masks and Vizours will be pull'd off all shews will be at an end and naked Truth will appear at that day The Graves will be open'd and do ye think the whited painted Sepulchers will remain shut Oh! then all the concealed Pride and Filthiness and Selfishness and Sensuality and Injustice and earthliness of Professors will with all their aggravations be brought to light before Men and Angels Oh how many demure and serious Countenances that have been a covering to naughty Hearts will then be filled with Confusion 'T is proper for the Old to think of Judgment they have one foot in the Grave already and quickly the whole body must drop into it and the Spirit must return to God who gave it You also that are Young should think of Judgment have the youngest of you any assurance of your Lives Infants Children Youths do not many of them dye and step into Eternity and as you see them leave the World so certainly they appear before God and one way or other have their Doom Solomon tells you that Childhood and Youth are Vanity Would you that are Young be serious the Meditation of Judgment would conduce much to it Eccles 11. 9. Rejoyce O young Man in thy Youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes He says Rejoyce but speaks Ironically and means the quite contrary thou hast no reason at all to rejoyce whilst taken with things that are seen and whilst thou walkest in those evil ways which thy Heart naturally does like Then the Wise man speaks seriously But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgment If you ask me What are the Benefits that will accrue by a firm Belief and frequent Meditation of Judgment I thus Answer to this momentous Question 1. This will be a great Preservative against Temptation Look beyond the present advantage and delight that Sin boasts of and see as far as the Judgment-seat this is the way to silence the Tempter and to avoid his snare Would the Lyar dare to speak falsly if he considered that all Lyars shall be adjudged to the lake that burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21. 8. Would the Unclean Person dare to defile himself and run to the Harlots house if he did but believe and consider that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Improve Christs Cross and think of Christs Tribunal and this will cool and kill Corruptions and take away the force of your Temptations 2. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will cause you to use this World as not abusing it to make a good improvement of it You that have this World in great abundance and have the clearest and largest Estates do you think you are Proprietors of what you have Do you think 't is given or only lent you for a time You are only Stewards intrusted with that which is Gods and not yours and are accountable at the last day for all you have received What sad accounts will most give up of their Stewardship when they must be no longer Stewards Imprimis So much daily for Eating and Drinking to Self and not to the Glory of God. Item So much for brave Apparel that Pride might be maintained and gratified Item So much for making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Item So much for costly and vast Past-times a great deal of Wealth and much more precious Time being wasted together But unto good uses to maintain a Godly and laborious Ministry of the Gospel to the poor and needy given very little or nothing With what an Eye do you think that the Judge will look upon such accounts as these Think of Judgment that you may holily improve the unrighteous Mammon and Christ may say you have been Faithful Stewards even of worldly things 3. The Belief and Meditation of Judgment will make you exceeding diligent that you may be found of your Judge in peace without spot and blameless With what Seriousness and Fervency will he come
God is meer madness 't is disobedience to the highest Soveraign 't is base ingratitude against the highest Kindness 't is in effect the charging the God of Grace and Truth with falshood and ill-will 't is a rejecting the best and safest Counsel and 't is the way to engage the great Jehovah to be much more an enemy by refusing to turn and be reconciled to Him. 4. Consider what the Lords design is in requiring you to become Converts He could glorifie his Truth and Righteousness and make his Power known in executing vengeance and in punishing you with everlasting Destruction but he chuses rather to magnifie his Mercy and Grace therefore he waits to be Gracious Isa 30. 18. and if he be exalted that he may shew Mercy his Mercy will be exceeding plenteous and glorious in the blessed Effects of it if you forsake your evil wayes and thoughts and turn to him In turning you to himself the Lord designs to demonstrate that his Grace can superabound where Sin never so much abounds he designs to shew forth the merit of his Sons blood and the Power of his Spirit he designs to new make what sin had marr'd and to produce Vessels of honour out of the corrupt masse of defiled Clay In short he does design to form you for himself that you may be most blessed for ever in himself and both here and eternally shew forth his Praises And what colour or shadow of Reason is there that you should walk contrary to such a God that you should thwart and oppose such gracious Designs by refusing to return 5. Turn ye Why wo'nt you Live Is Alsufficiency to be lookt upon as empty the chiefest good become evil in your Eyes Are you fallen out with the truest felicity as if it were not at all desirable Is the perfection of Happiness fear'd as if 't were Misery Is Heaven shunn'd as if 't were Hell and do you avoid the Path that leads to it that you may be sure never to come thither These are strange Interrogatories but they serve for Conviction that those who will not turn may be sensible they wrong their own Souls Prov. 8. 36. in contemning the tender of Eternal Life and Salvation 6. Turn ye Why will ye Dye Is the Guilt of Sin become a light matter the Wrath of the Almighty easie to be born do you make a mock of that which makes the whole Creation groan and travel in pain together Rom. 8. 22. Is it no longer fearful to fall into the hands of the Living God and has the second Death ceased to be terrible Are the Tears of the Damned dryed up Is their Sorrow turned into Joy Is the never-dying Worm to be hugg'd in your bosoms and everlasting Fire a thing to be play'd with Oh! What do you mean who will not turn Why do ye love Death Prov. 8. ult Why have ye the greatest hand in your own ruine Why are ye Devils to your selves Why do ye desperately rush on in Sin and in the end throw your selves down into everlasting Burnings 7. To perswade you to turn Consider Conversion is a thing that never was that never will be Repented of The Prophane in the other World at farthest repent they did not turn at all the Hypocrites repent they did not turn in truth but sincere Converts are glad they are so and see good reason still to continue so The Apostle tells us that the Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance Rom. 11. 29. when he effectually Calls any and gives Converting Grace to them it is such a Gift that God never repents of bestowing neither ever does he take it quite away again It is such a Gift as Man never repents he has received but has good cause to desire that God would perfect what concerns him and not forsake the work of his own hand Psal 138. ult 8. Conversion will make you great Blessings in the places where you live Converts are the Horse-men and Chariots of Israel because as so many Princes they have power with the God of Israel Solomon tells us that Righteousness exalts a Nation Prov. 14. 34. The more Converts to Righteousness there are the more the Nation is beholding to them but Obstinate Sinners are not only their own but the Nations greatest Enemies When Gods Anger has been exceedingly provoked so that he has doom'd a Nation to Destruction Conversion even in this Case will do a kindness Jer. 18. 7 8. At what instant I speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it If that Nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil way I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them Though England at this day has many Enemies whose Power and Policy is engaged against it yet it is chiefly endanger'd by its sins and wickedness A speedy and general Conversion to God would certainly be Englands security and establishment 9. If you are Converts in truth the News of it will be heard and known in Heaven and occasion Joy there Luk. 15. 10. I say unto you there is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one Sinner that repenteth The Angels did Sing at the Birth of a Saviour Glory be to God in the highest on Earth peace good Will towards Men and they rejoyce at the New-birth of all that are saved 10. Consider the vast difference that is between the End of Converts and those that dye Vnconverted They that are wise look not only at the begininng but to the end of things and they cannot think well of that which must needs end ill And Vnconverted Sinner dying is one of the saddest spectacles in the World he is leaving all his good things all his Consolation behind him he and his hopes dye together and whither does Death send him to the Bar of an Holy and Righteous God. 'T is a terrible Clause in the Statute of Dying After this the Judgment Heb. 9. 27. And how can the wicked Man who would live and did dye in his Sins be able to stand in Judgment Death comes to the Unconverted armed with a Sting with a Sting did I say nay the Stings are thousands and millions for every one of his Sins is a Sting in his Death and his Sins being more in number than the Stars of Heaven when Death seizes him how many Stings will pierce him and put him to Pain which will be Eternal If he dyes stupid 't is so much the worse for Hell being not fear'd or thought of when felt will be the more woful If he dyes in horrour alas the greatest Despair and Anguish on a Death-bed is no more to be compared with the Agonies of the Damned Spirits than a Whisper is to be compared with Thunder or the smallest Spark of fire is to be compared with those devouring Flames that in -66 did burn down London But on the other side how ends the Convert Death is a fall
Thus of the Righteous I am to speak also concerning the Wicked and as to these you must understand 1. All the works of wicked men will be brought into Judgment All their sinful Deeds will follow them to the Bar of God! they will rise with them and against them at that Day when a Sinner shall appear and all his Drunkenness his Whoredoms his unjust and cheating Actions all his evil Deeds of every fort shall surround and appear with him before the Holy and Righteous Judge How will he be amazed at the sight of all his Transgressions How will he tremble to hear how loud they cry for Vengeance upon him Not á deed of Darkness but then will be brought to light to his greater confusion 2. Not only the Works of the Wicked but their very Words shall all be accounted for The Judge himself speaks this very plainly Mat. 12. 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment By idle words may be meant words useless and unprofitable to the Speakers and to the Hearers or idle and vain according to the Hebrew use may signifie false deceitful lying God does hear all words at present Psal 139. 4. There is not a word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether And words which very much declare what most abounds in the Heart must be answered for at last And if unprofitable talk will then be condemned how sad will be the Case of all obscene and filthy Speakers of all egregious Lyars of all injurious Slanderers and Back-biters of all Blasphemers cursing cursed Swearers of all whose impious Tongues have made bold with the Blood and Wounds of God their Judge and instead of serious praying have most presumptuously called upon and dared God to Damn them 3. As the works and words so the Thoughts of wicked men shall be brought into Judgment Thoughts are Sins and need forgiveness and ought to be repented of Memorable is that which Simon Peter says to Simon Magus Act. 8. 22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee If these are not repented of and pardon'd alas these also must be charged upon Sinners vastly to the increasing of their punishment How innumerable are the Thousands of thousands the Millions of Millions of vain and wicked thoughts desires and lustings that have lodged in the Hearts of the ungodly The heart searcher sees every one of them and will make them know at the last day that he remembers all Proud and Self-conceited Thoughts and touring imaginations impure and lascivious Thoughts and inward boyling of Concupiscence insatiable Covetousness and eager projects for filthy gain the stirrings of Envy Malice Anger and Revenge the Judge will take notice of all for he knows what is in Man Joh. 2. 25. It will be a large Bill of Inditement where Deeds Words and Thoughts are all written down from first to last and not so much as â—ne forgotten The opening of the Book of Gods remembrance where all are recorded will be very amazing 4. The Sentence that will be past upon the wicked will be unconceivably full of horrour Mat. 25. 41. Then shall he say to them on the Left-hand Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devâ— and his Angels For Him who is the way to come to God to say Depart to depart from Christ the Sinners only Hope and Saviour to depart with a Curse to depart into Fire the Extremity of Torment to depart into everlasting Fire to be tormented without any intermission or end to be for ever in such evil and hateful Company as Devils and damned Angels this is woful beyond all utterance And this Sentence as soon as pass'd will be put in Execution Now indeed such is the patience of God Sentence against an evil work is not speedily Executed and therefore such is their Malignity and Ingratitude the Heart of the Sons of men is fully set in them to do Evil Eccles 8. 11. But at the great day as soon as the wicked are Sentenced they will be sent and forced to go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. ult the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 everlasting Punishment or Torment are remarkable for here it is necessarily imply'd that the wicked shall certainly be to Eternity that they may be Punished and Tormented to Eternity and they shall be sensible else it would not be Torment of the Punishment they undergo By eternal Destruction you are not to understand eternal Annihilation or being turned for ever into Nothing for if a wicked Man should altogether cease to be he must needs also cease to be punished For 't is no more a Punishment to be nothing to Eternity than it can be called a Punishment to have been nothing from Eternity Wicked men must be for ever and alas they must bear for ever the Lord's Vengeance and Indignation I speak thus terribly not without bowels of Compassion towards you I would fain fright you by telling you of Wrath and the Vengeance of eternal Fire that you may never never feel it In the Fourth place I am to demonstrate the certainty of this Judgment If Faith concerning it were but more strong what an Influence would it have upon the Hearts and Lives of them that do believe it The Arguments to prove a future Judgment are these 1. Are there not fears of this Judgment impress't even upon natural Conscience What 's the reason that when Men commit the most secret wickedness that is very unlikely to be known there is notwithstanding a dread upon their Spirits The true reason is Conscience tells them there is a God that sees what Man does not see and that he will judge and punish the wickedness of which Man takes no notice This Doctrine of a Judgment to come of future Rewards and Punishments is written in the Heart of Man by Nature and he is fain to offer great violence to his own Soul before he can wear off what is written there and tho a Sinner become ordinarily very Stupid and Atheistical yet the thoughts and fears of Judgment will sometimes in spight of him return upon him The Apostle speaks of Conscience bearing witness and Thoughts accusing and excusing and then presently speaks of the Day when God shall judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 15 16. Conscience judges at present and hints a future judgment 2. There is not such a Discrimination made in this World between the Righteous and the Wicked as is suitable to the difference that Grace has made between them Therefore there is a Day coming when there will be such a Discrimination Solomon tells us that in the course of Divine Providence at present no Man can know either Love or Hatred by all that is before him All things fall alike to all there is one Event to the Righteous and
to the Wicked to the good to the clean and to the unclean to him that Sacrificeth and him that Sacrificeth not as is the good so is the sinner and he that Sweareth as he that feareth an Oath Eccles 9. 1 2. Nay often times the worst of men have in this present Life the best on 't We read Luke 16. of a wicked Rich Man receiving his good things cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen and faring Sumptuously every day A poor Man ready to starve for Hunger was laid at this Rich Man's Gate his Body was full of sores and yet this Mans Soul was sanctified with Grace a good Man he was though here he received evil things since thus it is now there is a day coming when 't will be otherwise Job having spoken of the Prosperity of the Wicked in this World strongly argues that in the next World there will be a dreadful after-reckoning Job 21. 30. The Wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath This is the day I am speaking of a day of the revelation of the righteous Judgment of God Rom. 2. 5. Who then will render to every man according to his works to them that by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life but to them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile v. 6 7 8 9. 3. Christ hath Promised his Church that he will come again to Judgment and hath raised her hopes and expectations of his coming Rev. 3. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy Crown Heb. 10. 36. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry He thus speaks to his Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me I am indeed about to leave you but I go to prepare a place for you and assure your selves I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 1 5. Christ is the Amen the true and faithful Witness he will certainly be the Judge The Church will assuredly see him at last upon the great White Throne and her self safe and triumphant at his right hand When he comes how will he be glorified in his Saints and how will he be admired by all Believers in that Day 2 Thes 1. 10. 4. There are several things that are hastening Christs coming to Judgment The World grows old in Wickedness and all the Sins of the World have tongues to cry for the appearing of a Judge to pay their deserved Wages the World grows riper and riper for Vengeance dryer and dryer for that Fire that is to burn it The Church of Christ is also hastning Christs Appearing with their incessant Cryes Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. 20. The Spirit and the Bride say Come not only unto Sinners to come to Christ but unto Christ himself to appear that he may put an end both to Sin and Suffering That 's the longing and language of the Spouse Cant. 8. 14. Make haste my Beloved and be like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of spices And this is not the Voice only of the Church on Earth but they in Heaven wish for and intreat the same thing How long Lord holy and true is heard from the Souls under the Altar Rev. 6. 10. In the last Place I come to the Application I begin with Inferences from the Doctrine 1. If there will be a Day of Judgment hence I inferr that there is a present Providence Will the Lord judge all at last surely he observes all now The Lord Jesus would have all the Churches to know as well that he searches the Reins and Heart as that he will render to every man according to his Works Rev. 2. 23. Whether thy Eye be upon God or no his Eye is never off from thee 't is indeed in every place beholding the evil and the good What a foolish Creature hast thou reason to call thy self who considerest not in thy heart that God remembers all thy Wickedness Hos 7. 2. and Gods remembrance at last will rub up thine and what thou now forgettest will sadly be recalled to thy Mind 2. Shall all be Judged hence I inserr the Love of God to the Righteous and his hatred of Iniquity Not one righteous Man but shall be acquitted and received by the Judge not a righteous action or sincere intention but shall be rewarded It will be found at the last day that a Widdows Mite given with a Charitable spirit and according to the ability was a great deal in Gods Treasury and that a Cup of cold Water given to a Disciple in the Name of a Disciple was well taken and shall not go unrewarded Mat. 10. 42. And there has not been there is not a Wicked Man on Earth but his Sin that has been hunting and pursuing to overthrow him will then find him out Psal 11. 5 6. because the Lords Soul hates the workers of Iniquity therefore upon the wicked he will rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their Cup By fire and brimstone and tempest understand a suddain grievous surprizing and intolerable Punishment and by snares understand that they in Hell shall never be able to extricate themselves out of that Misery into which their Wickedness has brought them 3. If all shall be Judged hence I inserr the truth of the Doctrine of the Resurrection The whole Man has sinn'd the whole Man shall be judg'd and punished for sin Believers are sanctified both in Soul and Body therefore in Body and Soul they shall be gloryfied The Dead shall rise again all that are in the Graves shall hear the Voice of Christ and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of Life they that have done evil to the resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5. 28 29. The Grave is only a Prison for a time not a Body that is there that shall lye there always the same Body that was employed in the unfruitful works of darkness shall be raised by the Power of the righteous Judge to share in the demerited Punishment And the same Body of the Saints the Members of which were used as Instruments of Righteousness unto Holiness by Vertue of its Union with Christ shall rise again and be made like unto Christs glorious body according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3. 21. It is not another Body I grant that qualities are alter'd but the substance is the same therefore the Apostle does not stick to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortal shall put on immortality so
to the Throne of Grace that has the Judgment-seat also in his Eye How will he hear and practise that remembers he must be called to an account how he has done both He will take care to be ready whensoever his Lord calls and that whensoever his Lord comes he may find him doing the Work he set him about and so doing it as He commands 2. The other word of Counsel is this Be sure in time to prepare for Eternal Judgment Do this seriously do it presently and as your main business That you may prepare indeed 1. Be Accusers and Judges of your selves take notice of your Sins with Grief with Hatred and holy Indignation accuse your selves of them before God with self-loathing and self-abhorrency Look down by Faith into the lowest Hell and see the terrible but righteous Severity that is shewn there against obstinate workers of Iniquity then look up to God and judge your selves in his sight acknowledging that you have deserved one of the hottest places in that Lake of Fire Acknowledge he would be clear in the forest judgment he should pronounce upon you and that He would be justified tho you should be damn'd eternally Psal 51. 4. This judging of your selves is the way to prevent Condemnation with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. 2. If you would be prepared for Judgment believe in Jesus that you may be justified before God at present Receive Christ who is offer'd in the Gospel rely upon his Obedience and Sufferings for justifiâ—ation of life And being justified by Faith you shall â—ave Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15. 1. Being justified by his Bloud you shall â—e Saved from wrath through him Rom. 5. 9. What does ponere obicem put a Bar before Hell Gate and hinder us from falling into that place of Woe The Cross of Christ that 's the Bar you are to place your Confidence in Christ Crucified If justified by him now he will ratifie the justification at the last day and you shall not be condemned then Rom. 8. 33 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is God that justifieth Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen again who is at the Right Hand of God and maketh Intercession for us 3. Would you be prepared for Judgment Repent and be converted let your minds be changed and turn to God with your whole Heart This is the way indeed to stand before him Acts 3. 19. Repent and be converted that your Sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The Apostle looks as far as the last day Blotting out of Sins is Christ's absolving and acquitting them from all Trespasses The time of refreshing is that great day of compleat and glorious Redemption when all that are Christs shall lift up their Heads with Joy Repent and be converts in Truth if you would have that a day of refreshing and not of confusion Walk after the Flesh no longer but after the Spirit then you need not be afraid of Condemnation your being guided by his Spirit will shew you are in Christ and safe in Him Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace USE III. Of Terrour to the ungodly the Hypocrite and the Vnbelievers Christ will judge them all and they may tremble to think what kind of judgment they shall have what sharp and piercing words are those which declare before-hand what will be their Doom Mat. 23. 33. Ye Serpents ye Generation of Vipers how can ye escape the Damnation of Hell That I may if it be possible awaken such I would lay before them these terrifying considerations 1. When they appear at Christ's Bar all their secret wickedness will be made known How many will then be found what they were not in the least suspected Thy secret wantonness and Self-pollutions thy secret injustice and defrauding thy secret abominations of all kinds will then be as visible to every Eye as if written in Capital Letters with the brightest Sun-beam And what sname and confusion will cover the wicked Mans Face they that are impudent and cannot blush now how will they be confounded then The truth is as the Prophet Daniel speaks They will rise to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. 2. At the day of Judgment it will be too late and in vain for the wicked to pray and cry for Mercy they will find the Lord eternally removed from the Throne of Grace and to their Terrour behold him on the Judgment Seat. If the Ungodly roar out then Lord pity Lord pardon Lord send us not away into that flaming Furnace that we see before us it will be altogether in vain But 't is not in vain to cry thus now Oh seek the Lord while he may be found and call ye upon him whilst he is near Isa 55. 6. 3. It will add to the Terrour of the Wicked That the Sentence of Condemnation is pronounced by the Only Saviour The merciful and faithful High Priest that now is so forward to make Reconciliation for Siâ— that is so ready to give rest to them that labour 〈◊〉 are heavy laden The Man Christ Jesus will have no pity at all no compassion towards the Reprobate Children of Men but deal with them as with the Apostate Angels whose Nature he never took upon him The only Peace-maker will himself be so incensed and full of Wrath as not to be intreated not to be appeased The Sentence of Eternal Death and enduring everlasting Burnings will be confounding but 't will add to the Confusion that a Redeemer does pronounce it 4. After the Judge has pass'd the Sentence Conscience will pronounce it over again and will be a Judge to the Wicked always condemning them Conscience will be filled with unspeakable remorse it will continually be upbraiding them with their madness and folly in keeping their Sins and losing their Souls and will ever be telling them that the Lords ways towards them are equal but their own ways according to which they are judged have been unequal and full of Iniquity Ezek. 18. 29 30. The Conscience of Sinners will side with their Judge against them It will tell the most wretched among the Damned that they cannot complain of God or of the least injury he has done them all that they suffer they suffer justly and what they suffer they have brought upon themselves The horrible and perpetual remorse of Conscience will prove that the Worm never dies that does torment them 5. When Sinners come to be condemn'd at the last day how many things will rise up in judgment against them pray mind this and minding tremble and trembling turn to God this very instant Thousands of Mercies will come and as it were
the flesh Christ has the highest room in every true Converts Heart he counts all things loss that Christ may be gained Phil. 3. 8. And 't is but reason that Christ should be best loved by him whose love to him is greatest and most beneficial and who is altogether lovely Cant. 5. 〈◊〉 Vbi amor ibi oculus where the Love is the Eye is Christ being loved the Convert's eye of Faith is set also upon him and he stayes on Jesus the Author and finisher of his Faith that he may be preserved in a state of Grace and strengthned unto all continuance and perseverance in well doing Let senseless Souls that are without knowledge and experience call this Resting a Lolling on Christ notwithstanding their Ignorance and Blasphemy the Members of the true Church will according as the Holy Ghost by wise Solomon expresses it lean upon their Beloved Cant. 8. 5. in their passage through the Wildernâ—ss of this World that they may be conducted and brought safe unto the heavenly and incorruptible Inheritance Thus much of Conversion with reference to Jesus the Mediatour Sixthly and Lastly Conversion may be considered with reference to the Word of God This Word is the way into which every true Convert turns Psal 119. 59 60. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments The Converts Eye is turned to look into this Word of God his Ear is turned to hearken to it his Feet are turned to walk according to it and his very Heart is turned to love it As 't is natural to new born Babes to desire the Mothers or Nurses Milk so 't is spiritually natural to them that are Regenerate and Converted to desire the Word of God 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1. The Converts natural enmity against the Word of God is cured he neither with the Jews counts the Gospel a stumbling-block and matter of offence nor with the Greeks does he esteem it foolishness he does not look upon the Mysteries of the Word as absurd nor upon the strictest Rules as unreasonable He owns the Authority of God in his Word and acknowledges his Wisdom and Goodness in giving such a Testimony of his Will upon record as is so faithful and worthy of all acceptation 2. The Convert approves the whole of the Word of God He prizes Truth and is afraid of Error for there are damnable Errors in Judgment as well as damnable Immoralities in Practice They that are led away with the Errour of the wicked do wrest the Scriptures and that is not without danger of Destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16 17. The Convert sees a need of threatnings to deter him from Sin and to keep his flesh in awe that it become not head-strong against the Spirit He likes the Commands as well as â—he Promises and is perswaded 't is a priviledge to work for God as well as an encouragement that his labour shall not be 〈◊〉 vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. He concludes whatever God has spoken is spoken for his good therefore dislikes nothing he has â—id The Apostle consented to the goodness of the Law and was troubled that so much evil was present with him which â—indred that exact obedience he desired 〈◊〉 yield Rom. 7. 16 21. And the Psamist â—eaks fully Psal 119. 128. I esteem all by Commandments concerning all things to be â—ght and I hate every false way 3. The Convert performs the word of God â—to the end his Faith is not temporary â—or his obedience forced by a present fear â—nishing away as soon as ever the danâ—r is apprehended to be over The righâ—ousness that is as the morning cloud is hyâ—critical and unacceptable The truly â—ghteous man holds on his way and waxes â—onger and stronger Job 17. 9. The entrance of the word gives that light and strength to the Convert as heartens him to go on the more he obeys the greateâ— cause and reason he sees to be still more obedient the greater progress he makes iâ— his course the nearer he comes to the prize the glory of that prize makes him press forward and run the faster Thus have I opened the Nature oâ— Conversion Much is included in it Happy those that have felt what I have spoken But what a Mulâ—itude of Professorâ— are excluded out of the number of sincerâ— Converts To how many a Man may Conscience say Thou hast no part nâ— experience in this matter thy heart is not rigâ— with God. Thy beloved lusts thy idolizâ— gain and pleasures thy unreasonable self-confidence have hindred thy coming to Christ tâ— turning to God and obeying his Word to thâ— day In the third place I am to tell you whaâ— are the Properties of Conversion Here shall observe several things concerning iâ— which will help you the better to understand it and may serve for a trial whethâ— you are indeed converted 1. Conversion is both a duty and a previledge Conscience should take notice oâ— and with authority and vehemency urge â—he Sinner to the duty and the Heart â—hould be forward to Conversion since it 〈◊〉 such a Priviledge The Gospel calls all that hear it to turn to God and layes them under an obligation to do it And Conversion being a Submission to the whole Will of God it is the summ of all the duties which he requires Turning to God is a consenting to do and suffer whatever he commands and continuing a Convert is a standing perfect with â—n evangelical perfection which is Sinceriâ— and compleat in all the Will of God Col. 4. 12. And as the Convert does his duty so the doing of it is beneficial to himself Is it not a priviledge and every â—ay for his truest interest to be near God â—o be received into his favour and to be under the blessed influence of his powerful and special Grace 'T was good counsel that â—liphaz gave though he gave it to a better man than himself Job 22. 21. Acquaint â—ow thy self with him and he explains that by returning to the Almighty and be 〈◊〉 peace thereby good shall come to thee 2. Conversion meets with great oppositiâ— What in the whole World is oppoâ—d more The Children of men go by â—roves in the broad way that leads to Destruction and they can't endure that any should part company if any begin to make a stand and run not with them to the same excess of riot they think it strange and their tongues speak evil of them 1 Pet. 4. 4. if they do not make them feel the violence of their hands also But if Earth is troubled when any are converted Hell is much more moved when a Sinner turns Satan loses an House where he dwelt and an Heart which was a Throne where he reigned And for that proud spirit to lose a vassal nay to be forced to flee from him as the promise is he shall upon resistance Jam. 4.
2. The Note of attention Behold is used and again repeated and the instant of time Now is also ' twice mentioned God is pleased Now to Call it concerns Man in point of Duty Wisdom and Safety Now to Turn When the Holy Ghost sayes To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. He plainly signifies that no Sinner in the World when he hears the Gospel Call should deferr his Conversion so much as one Day longer When the Psalmist turned He made haste and delayed not Psal 119. 60. which shewed that he turn'd indeed To make haste in Conversion is to resemble a Condemn'd Man who hastes to take out a proffer'd Pardon because every moment he is in danger of having the Sentence past upon him put in Execution 't is to resemble a Man that makes haste out of a City that is all in Flames 7. Conversion that is true is without any deceitful Reservations The sincere Convert has not an Heart and an Heart he does not divide it between God and Mammon between Christ and Belial between Grace and Sin but consents to be wholly the Lords and at the Lords command and dispose That Conversion which is not with the whole Heart is but a feigned Conversion Jer. 3. 10. He that turns in truth does not thus capitulate with God. Such and such sins I will cast away but some I resolve to keep and live in still because my Constitution strongly inclines me to them because I have much Wealth by them and take much Pleasure in them such and such Commands I will observe but some Precepts are too strict for me and these I will cast behind my back I am willing to suffer a little for Christ some reproach some loss I am content to undergo but I must be excused from Obedience when I am called to lose all that I have in the World and my Life too Commands thus to suffer are hard sayings who can hear them These reserves argue reigning and damnable Hypocrisie The sound Convert is perswaded that God requires no more but what is just and equal and really for the good of them that are to obey hereupon without any limitation or exception he sayes Lord Let thy Will be done by me in me and upon me for thy Will is my Sanctification and whatever thou command'st me to do or suffer my Obeeience whether active or passive will turn to thy Glory to my own Comfort and Salvation 8. Conversion is an inward thing Rom. 2. 29. He is a Jew that is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of Men but of God. There is that in Conversion which the eyes of those that are about us cannot see but 't is apparent to Him that searches the heart and tries the reins and has pleasure in uprightness Converting Grace reaches the inward parts pierces into the very Soul and there the greatest change is wrought there is a new light in the Mind and Conscience there is a new bent and disposition in the Heart the Soul has Wisdom put into it that before was foolish becomes true to God and to it self that before was false and unfaithful unto both there is a spiritual mysterious Life in the Soul which before was dead and this Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. He whose religion lies all in the outside he may look like a Convert but never was Converted Colour and Form he may have but he wants depth and substance The Heathen World saw a necessity of inward Religion One says that God is Purâ mente colendus To be Worshipped with a pure Mind Another sayes Compositum jus fasque animo sanctosque recessus Mentis c. Honesty and uprightness of Heart and a moral Life is more pleasing to God than the costliest Sacrifices 9. Conversion though an inward thing yet shews it self visibly in an answerable Conversation Grace is an active Principle and where 't is wrought in the Heart 't will have an apparent influence upon the outward man 1 Joh. 3. 7. Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous As the Apostle sayes Shew me thy Faith by thy VVorks so may I say Shew me thy Conversion to God by thy godly Conversation If the Heart be turned Grace will shew it self in the Eyes by looks that are humble and modest a Covenant being made with them that they turn away from beholding Vanity Grace will breath out at the lips in Prayer Praises holy and edifying Communications And the Tongue will be laid under the law of Love and Kindness Grace will tye up the Hands from being employed in the unfruitful works of darkness but active they shall be in deeds of Righteousness and open and liberal in acts of Charity and Mercy Grace will hinder the Feet from running to evil the Path shall be ponder'd and the VVayes stâ—all be established 10. Conversion is gradual We read in Scripture of different degrees of Grace All Converts are not of the same Age Strength and Stature The Apostle speaks of little Children of young Men and of Fathers 1 Joh. 2. 12 13. The little Child has as truly the Nature and all the Parts of a Man as he that is grown up unto full maturity but the grown Mans Parts and Members are much stronger than those of the other The young Convert has all the Parts of the new Creature he is renewed in the whole Man after the Image of God though he be not wholly but only in part renewed And 't is the Work of God who has begun this good VVork of renovation by degrees to perfect it The weakest Converts that are true are not disregarded Mat. 12. 20. A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench 'till he send forth judgment unto Victory The bruised reed signifies the Converts great Infirmity the smoaking flax the noysom mixture of much Sin with that little Grace he has received yet that Grace is not though small despised but cherished and increased and hereby our Lord shews himself the true Messiah a Saviour to the uttermost Thus Judgment is brought forth to Victory and Truth The strongest Converts are still to grow stronger There is some remaining Sin in the best of Saints which they are still to be turning from and purging out neither are any of them come so near or become so like to God but they may be much nearer and liker to him At first breaking of the Day there is much darkness with the light but by degrees the light increases prevails against and expels the darkness An apt Similitude to Illustrate the matter in hand and to shew how that Conversion is by degrees compleated Prov. 4. 18. The path of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day 11. Conversion may be known to be
wicked wayes that are full of trouble at present and end in trouble that is endless How unreasonable is it to entertain a Hope that will be cut off a Trust that will prove like a spiders webb Job 8. 14. Thou that art resolved not to turn from sin and yet hopest all will be well with thee thou mayest as well quaff off a draught of the deadliest Poyson and refusing an Antidote hope 't will not hurt thee thou may'st as well throw thy self into the fiercest Flame and hope 't will not burn thee Poor distracted self-deceiving Soul as certainly as God and his Word are true so certainly thy Hopes are vain and thy self miserable 7. He that will not be Converted he hearkens to a Destroyer that hates him designs to deceive him with dying and lying Vanities he believes him that is most false and trusts himself under the Power of a Murtherer but he is deaf to a Redeemer he slights the offer both of Grace and Glory and will not come to him though for his coming he may have Life and that eternal 8. He that will not be Converted he dares the Power and Justice of God to do their worst against him The Potsherd is fearless of the Iron rod that can so easily dash it all to pieces the dried Stubble is fearless of the devouring Flame When a Sinner is deaf and obstinate against Gods Call to turn the Language of that stubbornness is plainly this That he despises the riches of his Goodness that he fears not his sorest and eternal Vengeance Alas alas how has Sin turn'd this World into a meer Bedlam the Words the Actions of most declare they are beside themselves but nothing more argues the prevalency and mischievousness of the Madness than refusing to be turned Thou that thus refusest it had been good for thee thou hadst never been Called Capernaum's hearing of Christ and Heaven and contemning both made her Case worse than that of Sodom Mat. 11. 23 24. What our Lord said to him that betray'd him that may I say to every one that is resolved still to reject Him and Converting Grace It were good for thee that thou hadst never been born and better to have been born in the darkest place of the whole Earth than in this place where the joyful sound is heard and the light of the Gospel shines VSE III. If Conversion be of such absolute Necessity Learn the Inexcusableness of them who have been almost perswaded to be Converts to God and yet afterward return again to Wickedness and Folly. Great Pains have been taken with many that perish to have prevented their ruine Messengers have been sent both to warn and wooe them that Wrath might be escaped and a Saviour accepted Christ himself has come has stood and knock'd at the door and his Spirit has striven that he might prevail to have it opened and sometimes the Convictions have been so strong the evil of Sin so apparent the necessity of Christ so evident and the reasonableness of Conversion so undenyable that Sinners have been even almost upon the Point of turning But alas some beloved Lust some Idol some sinful Gain or Pleasure some selfish respect and Interest has been the Impediment unto a thorough Conversion and with the neglect of Christ grieving of his Spirit Conscience has dropt asleep again the Judgment has been clouded and the Will has been fixt and settled in its evil purpose Now the Inexcusableness of the Sin and Folly of such as have been near Conversion but never are indeed Converted I shall thus manifest 1. They offer great Violence to Conscience for Conscience in them has been awakened and told them roundly of their evil wayes and doings that have not been good it has often press'd them to turn to God and reproached them because of their backwardness to do it Conscience has upbraided them with the unfruitfulness of the works of darkness Rom. 6. 21. and has told them that sin has nothing but deceived them all along and will certainly damn them in the conclusion if they go on still in their Trespasses What Apology can be made for that Sinner that is resolved to persist in his pernicious way notwithstanding so clear a light that shines and shews the destruction at the end of it notwithstanding such admonitions from Conscience a Monitor within his own breast 2. They that are only almost Converted in a special manner resist and vex the Spirit of God. Conviction is the Spirits work and when a Sinner though Convinced how ill 't is to lâ—â—â—o is resolved at last to remain a Sinner still this is a Grief and Vexation to the Holy Ghost Does that Spirit follow after the workers of Iniquity in the broad way and tell them how much it does concern them to turn out of it before their steps do quite take hold of Hell Does he come and visit them in the far Countrey and tell them they must needs perish if they abide there but they may have a sure and joyful Welcome and be satisfied with Bread if they come home to their Fathers house Luk. 15. Do they begin to yield and go some steps towards Home but then become deaf to the Spirits Motions and run back again and that into the farthest part of the far Countrey Do they upon the whole matter preferr the Husks before Bread and chuse to starve for Hunger What Excuse can be brought for such Obstinacy But here by the way it may be demanded Can any resist the Spirit of the Almighty Is not his Operation too strong for Creatures to withstand I Answer If God should put forth his Power no Creature indeed could resist him but he is a free Agent his Will tempers his Works and gives Gage to his Power putting forth so much as he pleases and no more And thus Sinners may and do resist him and his Spirit and hereby exceedingly heighten their Provocations Act. 7. 51. 3. They that are only almost Converted do Sin against their own experience they have known and seen that Sin is an evil and a bitter thing they have tasted the Wormwood and the Gall and perceived how deceitful its pretences unto Pleasure are they have felt the intolerable smart of those wounds which Sin has made in their Consciences Oh what an heavy burthen has Sin been found Now after all this to become stupid again and to make a mock of Sin and to return with the Dog to the Vomit and with the Swine that was washed unto her wallowing in the mire 2 Pet. 2 ult justly is the last state of such worse than the beginning 4. They that are only almost Converted bring great reproach upon Religion they really undermine Religion by seeming to espouse the interest of it and afterwards apostatizing and deserting it Those that are almost Converts are judged to be Converts altogether and look like the Followers of Christ When therefore they are either allured or affrighted away from him 't is not without
a very great affront offered to Him for 't is in effect to say that they have tried both Christ and Sin and upon trial they judge Sin to be the best Master of the two Thus in a sense they crucifie the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6. 6. They value Him no more than if he had been a Deceiver and justly put to a Death that was so Ignominious and while they say Not Christ but our Pride not Christ but the World not Christ but our Lusts shall rule us and have our Hearts they but too much resemble the Jews crying out Not this Man but Barabbas though that Man was Jesus and Barabbas was a Robber 5. They that are only almost Converts harden the Hearts and strengthen the hands of the profane in their wickedness When such perceive these who they thought were turned Saints returning again to their old sins this makes them more resolute in Sins service and more unalterably fixt in their evil way These half Converts when they totally fall away from all Profession of Religionâ— how do they advance Satans Kingdom and establish the Throne of the Prince of Darkness 6. What poor things are those that hiâ—der the almost Converted from becoming Converts altogether Relapsing is styled folly Psal 85. 8. What Wisdom can there be in departing from God Is the Ease the Honour the Pleasure the Wealth which Sin and Mammon bragg of comparable to the Grace of God or the Glory that will follow Death will certainly prove the World a Trifle the Worldling a Beggar and he that has forsaken God for the Worlds sake to be altogether void of understanding Suppose a Convert stript naked of all as Job was upon the Dunghil he is as having nothing but yet he does possess all things 2 Cor. 6. 10. Suppose the almost Convert is never so great a gainer by his backsliding he is as having much but he does possess nothing 7. They that are only almost Converted come very near Heaven and yet miss of it they come near the Port and yet are Shipwrack't It was a torment to the Rich man in Hell to see Heaven afar off though he had liv'd a sensual Life and never minded Heaven But how sad will it be to the almost Converts to remember that once they were in a fair way to Heaven and not far off from that Kingdom and if they had but parted with one or two more Sins if they had but taken a little more pains and had been constant in their diligence if they had but consented to some few more Conditions which were but very reasonable God would have been theirs Christ theirs and Heaven theirs for over But their Lusts befool'd them the old Serpent beguiled them and they themselves held fast deceit and refused to return in Truth Jer. 8. 5. VSE IV. Of Exhortation unto all Vnconverted Sinners to hearken consider and turn to God. You that have been long deaf at last hear the call from Heaven you that have been long in darkness at last admit and comprehena the Light which â—hines about you You that have hitherto â—een dead in Sin be attentive and obedient to the Voice of the Son of God and live O ye Atheists that profess to know God but in works deny him O ye Covetous and Unrighteous that will be rich if you can though it be by unjust waies and will venture the losing of your precious Souls for the sake of a little perishing Treasure O ye intemperate and unclean that are bewitched with present Delights and fear not eternal Torments O all ye workers of iniquity of what sorts of what sizes soever Turn ye turn ye from your evil waies unto the true and living God who is the God of Mercy Peace and Grace and Love. He himself does really and seriously and earnestly call you as well as Man who is his Messenger Arguments are not wanting in themselves really of great strength to perswade Oh that the Spirit of God would set an Edge upon them and make them strong to you that your Consciences may yield to the force of them and your Hearts may be willingly captivated into a sincere and saving compliance with them 1. 'T is wonderful Grace that you have leave to turn Do we read that this was ever allowed to the Apostate Angels was there a door of hope ever open'd to them after they had departed from God was there any space or place for Repentance granted them or Liberty to return with intimation of a readiness to receive them The Scripture sayes that God spared not the Angels that sinn'd but cast them down to Hell and deliver'd them into Chains of Darkness to be reserved unto Judgment 2 Pet. 2. 4. Oh 't was a dreadful fall from the highest Heaven to the lowest Hell eternal Punishment followed Sin at the heels and not the least mention of any season of Grace afforded them Nothing done nothing spoken in order to their return and recovery Admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 kindness of God and good will towards Man that when the fallen Angels were suffered to lye where they fell He should be permitted nay so earnestly solicited to return though fallen also by his iniquity 2. 'T is wonderful Patience that after the refusing so many calls you should be called to turn still God shews himself rich in goodness and forbearance and long-suffering Rom. 2. 4. else he had ceased Calling long ago and come to a resolution that the unjust should be unjust still and that those who would not be purged should never be purged till his fury took hold on them Ezek. 24. 13. If a merciful Prince offer Pardon to a condemn'd Malefactor once if a ransom be tender'd once for the Redemption of a Captive the Malefactor the Captive ought to acknowledge it an Act of much Grace And if the first offer were not accepted every one would be ready to say t were just the Malefactor should dye and the Captive remain under bondage ever after Astonishing Patience that God should call not once or twice only but thousands of times and yet to this day continue Calling that Christ should stand many years knocking at the door and though the door be kept fast shut against him yet he is not gone away but while I am speaking may be knocking again at this very instant Foolish Heart at last be so wise as to open and bewail thy folly in being so averse to give admission to the Lord of Life and Author of Salvation 3. Consider who 't is that calls you to turn Oh refuse not rebell not for 't is the Glorious and blessed God who calls you to yielding and submission None so great none so good as he He protests by his Life he has no Pleasure in your Death therefore He himself bids you turn and cast away every Transgression and assures you iniquity shall not be your ruine Ezek. 18. 30 31. For man to refuse to hearken unto
shine To turn with the whole Heart is for the whole to turn excellent for the whole to be secured Be never satisfied till you perceive that God has your love which is indeed the leading and commanding Affection If Sin if Mammons Pleasures and Wealth have still your love your professing your selves Converts is all but feigned kindness and you provoke the Lord to jealousiè Give unto God your Love which he calls for in the first and great Commandment or else you give him nothing if your love be given him you will not deny him any thing And if as yet you can't shew your love by delighting in God because of your doubts and the darkness of your state shew your love by desiring after God whose loving kindness is better than Life whose Alsufficiency is enough and enough and infinitely more than enough for you But here 's the difficulty How shall the Heart of Man be brought unto the love of God The Stream of the affections runs naturally and violently downwards and how shall the tide be turned how shall the love be carried quite contrary to the bent of Nature Certainly this must be the doing of the God of all Grace The Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God 2 Thes 3. 5. Put up this Petition for your selves 'T is an encouraging Scripture Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul that thou mayest live apply it improve it and if you grudge your love to every thing else and are continually offering it to God and above all things in the World desire to love him and to be beloved of him Love is already wrought the acts of it appear and you shall by degrees love more sensibly and the stronger the love the more sound the Conversion 10. Deceive not your selves with faint wishes and half-willingness to be Converted I grant that the desire of Grace is Grace but if there be not Truth in the desire the Truth of Grace can't be concluded from it A lazy wish to be Converted where there is a prevailing resolution to connive at and continue in Sin what does it signifie but that the Heart is not right with God notwithstanding some feeble good inclinations towards him Our Lord commands his Followers to strive to enter in at the strait gate because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Many hereafter shall seek and expect admission into Heaven who shall be excluded because they would not strive they would not use an holy violence to take that Kingdom Many over hastily conclude they are Converted because there is some little inclination to what is good though a stronger inclination to what is evil without check does bear the sway in them In spiritual as well as natural lukewarmness there is some mixture of heat as well as a prevalency of cold Can water be called hot where heat is least and cold is most Can the Heart be said to be turned to God which is least inclined towards him and most strongly and resolvedly bent towards Sin and Vanity Oh take heed of Sloth and Idleness Sloth is that which has brought many a Conviction to nothing you can hardly name a greater Impediment of Conversion Upon thousands of Professors Tombs this may be written Here lye those who have undone themselves by Slothfulness and miss'd of Grace and Glory because they would take Pains for neither If you would be Conveâ—â—s indeed abandon Idleness let your very Hearts be in every Duty your Souls and the strength of them the fervency of your Spirits in every Ordinance of God Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business especially not in the main business servent in Spirit serving the Lord. Satisfie not your selves in a customary and formal using of the means of Grace but look to this that life and warmth and strength and Grace be indeed conveyed to you in them 11. Would you be Converts indeed look much into another World confine not your sight and thoughts to the things of time and sense but take the Perspective of the Word of God that to the eye of your Faith things unseen may become evident Heb. 11. â— Time is so short a thing that you may easily and quickly see to the end of it and yet concerning this short Time it may be said that Now you must be turn'd or Never At the end of Time Death stands thousands feel his stroke every day before your eyes and how soon may you feel his deadly Dart and return to the dust out of which we were all taken where 's the Man that upon good ground can say He is sure to live a Year a Month a VVeek a Day to an end Just behind Death is Judgment and at the Bar of God who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart what will a shew of Grace and of Conversion signifie At that Bar all the Children of Men must receive their final and unalterable Doom from that Tribunal there can be no Appeal to another there is no higher Judge than he who shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. The Sentence which he will Pronounce will stand good and firm for ever and 't will be a Sentence either to eternal Glory or everlasting Flames And know that Conversion now will make the Discrimination then only Converts will stand in Judgment only those that sincerely â—urn'd to God in this World will be received into his Joy and Kingdom in the other World. But as for the Unconverted who would not turn from Sin they shall without any Pity or hopes of any according as they were threatned and have justly deserved be turned into Hell and there will be no remedy You are all posting away from hence and shall shortly hear the Word and be seen your selves no more A serious belief and consideration of the eternal Joyes and eternal Woes of another World would have a mighty Influence upon the very worst of you to make you of another of a better Mind VSE VI. Of Consolation unto Converts There is a Consolation that has a Woe joyn'd with it VVoe to you rich Men for ye have received your Consolation The Wicked and the Hypocrite have their Peace and Joy but their Peace is false and their Joy but for a moment but the Converts Comfort is styled both strong and everlasting Consolation Here I shall first give you the Converts Character and then lay down the Grounds of his Comfort and indeed true Comfort belongs to none in the World but true Converts Though I have spoken a great deal already to shew who are Converted yet I shall add these Signs following 1. Converts chuse God for their Portron rather than the World Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said
and his former offences and affronts be they what they will shall not be an Impediment nay the former refusing to turn though it was never so long shall be past by The proclaiming of thiâ— accepted time should be lookt upon as glad tidings indeed 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then 〈◊〉 workers together with Him beseech you also that ye receive not the Grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in a day of Salvation I have succoured thee Christ himself in the days of his flesh was heard was succoured was carried by the power of his Godhead through the whole work of Mans Redemption Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of Salvation This day of Salvation is the fruit of a Saviours Obedience and Sufferings in his day Now those that have sold themselves to commit Iniquity and are under the bondage of Corruption may recover their liberty those that had lost the incorruptible and undefiled Inheritance may be re-instated and again possessed of it Now the Lord is neer to them that seek him and ready to be found and if the wicked forsake their ways and thoughts and return to Him he assures them he will have mercy and pardon so abundantly as shall exceed their conceptions and the manner and wayes of mens shewing Mercy one to another as the Heaven is high above the Earth Isa 55. 6 7 8. 5. In the Word of God there are Instances and Examples of very great Sinners who have been converted and saved How great are the Acts of Grace which have been done by the God of all Grace and comfort Stand forth O David guilty of Adultery and Murther first defiling the Wife and then killing the Husband afterwards Stand forth O thou great Apostle Peter who wast so confident in thy self that thou shouldest abide the sorest Trial but didst so basely shrink and once twice thrice and with Cursing and Swearing didst deny thy Lord Stand forth ye Corinthian Saints who were Fornicators Idolaters Adulterers effeminate abusers of your selves with Mankind who were thieves covetous drunkards revilers extortioners 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. And all of you proclaim That the Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with Faith and love which is in Christ Jesus as the Apostle Paul speaks who himself had obtained Mercy although he had been a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious 1 Tim. 1. 13 14. Setting aside the unpardonable Sin against the Holy Ghost and final Impenitency and Unbelief for ought I know Heaven can shew as great Sinners as Hell who notwithstanding all their guilt and filthiness were washed sanctified justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God and now their Holiness is perfected in Glory This is an encouragement to the worst of men to hope if they return to God they shall not be rejected Nay suppose there should be now a greater Transgressour than ever yet obtained Mercy it would not be impossible for such an One to obtain Mercy for Divine Grace and Mercy have not yet done their very uttermost 6. The Word of God discovers Sinners weakness and where that Strength is without which turning to God will never be That Grace which brings Man to God to Heaven must come from the God of Heaven Can man arise from the Dead till the Voice of the Lord which is powerful say Awake thou that sleepest Can any come to God but by his Son Jesus can any come to Christ but those whom the Father drawes Joh. 6. 44. God Works to Will He Works to do and he does the one and the other freely of his own good Pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Sinners are then encouraged to seek unto God to do both for them And He can easily take away the Heart of Stone and give a new Heart and a new Spirit and cause those who before neglected now to turn into the way of Salvation and to work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 7. I might also add that the Word of God shuts the Kingdom of Heaven against â—hose that are resolved to continue Vnconvertâ—d Nothing but Indignation and Wrath Tribulation and Anguish is thundred out â—gainst them that will continue in their evil doing that will not be gathered by a Saviour that will not be made clean by his Sanctifying Spirit Nay the Word concludes them under greater misery and â—ooms them to a severer Damnation who are called to turn and yet refuse Mat. 11. 23. Thou Capernaum that are exalted unto Heaven who hast Heaven offer'd and such advantages of getting thither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall not only go to Hell but be brought down with force and fury to one of the hottest and lowest places there It â—hall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorâ—ah in the day of Judgment than for Thee Such kind of threats may help to cure the spiritual Lethargy and to make Sinners â—fraid of remaining Unconverted You see what it is in the Word that has a tendency to Conversion In the second Place I am to demonstrate the Aptitude and fitness of the Word to be such a means of Conversion What has been spoken already is in part a Demonstration of it but this fitness of the Word may be further made evident 1. The Word is a Light which shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1. 19. and therefore 't is a proper means to turn men from darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God. The Word discovers what the Prince of darkness studiously endeavours to conceal Ignorance and Infidelity are the Pillars of Satans Kingdom he takes much pains to blind the Minds of the Unbelievers that the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God may not shine into them 2 Cor. 4. 4. This light gives a true and faithful representation of Sin as the most hateful and hurtful thing in the whole World of Satan also as the most subtle false envious malicious Deceiver and Murtherer of the Sons nay of the very Souls of men The Word reveals the Devils grand secret that the Broad way is the high Road to Ruine which has been trod by all the Damned Hell at the end of this way becomes naked by the Word of God which the Lying Spirit would not have at all to be credited or so much as thought on till Sinners find themselves thrown into it and there without any hope of Release and Remedy 2. The Word is a Perspective glass which brings things afar off near to the eye that so the Heart may be the more affected It shews that the whole of Time from the very first to the very last is but short if compared with Eternity and how the end of all things is at hand 1 Pet. 4. 7. and the Oath will at length be sworn That there shall be time no longer Scoffers indeed who walk after their own lusts do say Where is the Promise of our Lords coming They
let them hear them And after 't is answered further If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16. 27 -31 A Sinner whose Heart is all Adamant and Sermon-proof the terrours of the Lord don't affright him the inestimable Treasures of the Gospel don't take him the Mediatours Vengeance for neglecting great Salvation is not at all dreaded Suppose a command should be given to unlock the gates of Hell and a damned Spirit that has been for some time tortur'd in the slames there and was once well known to this stupid Sinner should at Midnight appear to him and the Curtains being drawn aside and that Soul out of the midst of fire with a ghastly horrour in its looks should thus speak to Him Awake hard-hearted Wretch awake awake What sleep and lye secure in Sin that art in danger of dying in Sin every moment VVhat take thine ease who art so near to endless pain and Torment Thy time has both Feet and VVings and is with great haste both running and flying away from thee and as thy time in Sin and folly spends so thou daily and hourly approache◠nearer to a miserable Eternity Thy Judgment lingers not thy Damnation does not slumber while thou refusest to awake to Righteousness Once I made a mock of Sin as much as thou dost was mad to destroy my self as thou art I made a meer Jest of Hell but now I know I feel and wo wo is me I shall to my Sorrow feel for ever what 't is to be damn'd in earnest Sin 's thy worst Enemy Oh cast it away before it undoe thee past remedy Divine wrath and jealousie is in the other World found a hotter and heavier thing than ever could be conceived in this 'T is really a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But I have leave to stay no longer be sure to take this warning I have given thee I must again to the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where there are no such things as Help or Hope or Happiness but Pain and Misery are extream and endless Suppose I say a damned Soul should speak such language to a Sinner that has all along been deaf to the call of the Word and resisted the Spirit of the Lord he might perhaps be exceedingly amazed and possibly be frighted out of his VVits but he would not be scared out of his Sins nor ever by such an Apparition alone be turned unto God. If Gods own Word will not make thee a Convert O Sinner thy disease is obstinate against the likeliest remedy and what means will 5. The Word is a Means which Thousands and Millions in the VVorld never were so much Priviledg'd as to enjoy An Hallelujah is justly deserved and expected from the People of God of old because he shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments to the Children of Israel whereas He had not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they had not known them Psal 147. 19 20. How great a part of the World is Satans Common how little comparatively is so much as the visible Inclosure of our Lord Jesus It is the observation of a Learned man that if the World were divided into thirty parts Nineteen would be found still Pagan six Mahometan and but five Christian take in all of all Perswasions But alas how much darkness is there even in Nations that are called Christian Ignorance is affected the Word of God and the Knowledg of it is taken away though the Scripture says that for lack of it people are destroyed Hos 4. 6. How Happy would you be that in this City enjoy the light of the Word of Truth if you would but thankfully and fruitfully improve it It is as it were Noon day with you whereas in other places it is but a dark down and in most parts of the Earth a black midnight In the fourth place I am to tell you whence this Means the Word of God comes to be effectual to Conversion 'T is made effectual by the Power of God and this Power he exerts by his own Spirit 1 Thes 1. 5. Our Gospel came not unto you in word only but in Power also and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance the wonderful effects of Divine Power wrought by the Holy Ghost in the Preaching of the Gospel was an Evidence and Assurance that this Gospel is not the Word of Man but of God Himself Now the manner of the Spirits working when he makes the Word effectual to Conversion I shall declare in these particulars 1. The Spirit impresses upon the Sinners Heart the Divine Authority of this Word 'T is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. When the Lord Himself is eyed and own'd in his Word then it shews it self mighty If the Messengers and Publishers of the Word only are regarded and there is not a looking beyond them they being but earthen vessels the Word though a Treasure will be trampled under foot But when Sinners are Converted the Spirit makes it evident that the Word is really of God. The demonstration of this is styled the demonstration of the Spirit He does demonstrate the Words divine Authority several wayes By Signs and VVonders wrought for its Confirmation Heb. 2. 4. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will. That these Miracles were done 't is plain for the Word of God pretending to Miracles done so openly so often by and upon so many persons in the midst of cunning and malicious Adversaries who were watchful enough to have espied the deceit if there had been any if such Miracles really had never been wrought this Word and the Religion it teaches would never have been received Our Lord Jesus though the Son of God when upon Earth was humbled in the form of a Servant yet affirms himself to be the Saviour of the VVorld preaches a Doctrine contrary to Flesh and Blood tells all that will be his Disciples they must deny themselves and forsake all that is dear to them in this World whenever they are called to it for the sake of a Treasure and Kingdom in Heaven And often he appeals to his working Miracles as a Confirmation of his Doctrine that it was from Heaven Now if such Miracles had never been wrought the Imposture would have been so apparent that the Christian Faith would never have been embraced by any of common sense and understanding And 't is evident also that these Miracles were done by the power of God. Wonders indeed were wrought by the Egyptian Magicians but outvied by greater Wonders effected by Moses Gods Servant These Miracles were beyond the Power and Ability of second Causes Who could make the blind to see and the deaf to hear and the lame to walk but that God who formed the Eye
near to the Holy and Righteous Jehovah without a Mediator And if he be considered in this Mediator there is all possible Encouragement to turn to him 5. The Spirit as by the Word he works Faith in Christ so by the same Word he causes the Sinner to yield himself to God He that was before stout-hearted and far from Righteousness now throws down his Weapons of Rebellion and submitting cries for Mercy he dares not still rush on in Sin as the Horse into the Battel he is made sensible that there is no contending with the Almighty that none ever hardned themselves against him and prosper'd Job 9. 4. Therefore he bows and yields least he be broke and ruin'd And as the Power of Gods anger makes the Sinner afraid of remaining Unconverted so he is most strongly induced to turn by the Spirits effectual discovery of Gods Alsufficiency Mercy Loving-kindness He sees plainly it can never be well with him while at a distance from God and that in Him and in his Favour is really his Life and Happiness Thus the poor Prodigal was afraid of continuing in the far Country least he should there perish for hunger and he came homâ— to his Fathers house because there was bread enough and to spare Luke 15. 17. I come in the last place to the Application I begin with some Inferences that may be drawn from this Doctrine 1. If the Word of God be the great means of Conversion hence I infer that this Word is a great Priviledge The giving us the Light and Influence of the Sun and Moon and Stars is acknowleged to be the needful Bounty of the God of Heaven but the vouchsafing of the Word speaks a more peculiar favour and is a means to convey a far greater benefit In this Word of God there is a general Proclamation a Proclamation of a general pardon of all offenders against the highest Majesty and that upon the most equal terms that they prize this favour make use of his Sons mediation to obtain it and consent by Sin willingly to wrong their own Souls no more This Word carries in it a Proclamation to open the prison-doors to unloose the bonds and fetters to grant liberty unto all those that are weary of the bondage of corruption and that are willing to become the Lords Free men this Word is an Invitation to all sensible Souls that perceive they have spent their labour for that which is not bread to come for the bread of God which comes down from Heaven and which giveth life unto the World Joh. 6. 33. O the tender mercy of God in vouchsafing his Word to any When the Light of this Word shines it finds Sinners in Darkness imployed in the works of darkness hastning towards the blackness of darkness for ever and it doth give them the knowledge of Salvation by the remission of Sin and guide their feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 77 78 79. Those are glorious times indeed that is indeed a Golden age when the Word of God is heard by every ear when Labourers are many and Faithful and are hard at work for God for Christ for Souls when saving Knowledge doth fill all the corners of a Land Happy happy is that People that is in such a case if they do but rightly improve their priviledge for this Word doth direct them to walk in the Light of Gods Countenance 2. Hence I inferr how inexcusable they are that remain Vnconverted still under the Word of God which is the great Means of Conversion The Light of Nature leaves those that glorisie not God as God without excuse Rom. 1. 21. But the Light of the Word doth much more take away all Apology from them that neglect it They that are not Converted to God when they hear this Word neglect to trade with one of the choicest Talents that any of the Children of Men can be entrusted with To pass over the whole Volume and Book of Nature to take no notice of God in it though every Creature be designed as a Remembrancer of Him to pass by the works of Providence and not hereby to be brought to the Fear of and Faith in God who exerciseth loving kindness and Judgment in the Earth Nothing can be said to defend it But for a Sinner a lost Sinner a miserable Sinner that is ready every Moment to fall into Hell for this Man to hear the Gospel of Christ to have Pardon so fully and freely offered to him and yet to be deaf to the offer to refuse to turn to the Lord though hereby he will live for ever this doth argue a far more exceeding and excessive madness What can the Unconverted Sinner plead for himself that he doth not turn Can he say that he hath not been warned to flee from the wrath to come Alas the Almightys anger and indignation hath often been pealed in his ear How often hath he heard Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given to him Isa 3 11. Can he say that he hath not been called to turn No such matter Wisdom hath cried aloud cryed vehemently How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof Prov. 1. 22 23. Again can the Sinner plead that he hath not had encouragement to turn to God No no the God of Heaven the God of Truth hath solemnly protested by his own Life that he hath no pleasure in the Sinners death but had rather that he should turn and live Hear O Heaven Hearken O Earth and judge whether the Sinner that is called to turn to God and won't does not deserve to dy in his iniquities 3. If the Word of God is the great means of Conversion hence I inferr that the Removal of the VVord is a very sore Judgment How sore I wish that England may never feel by sad experience A Famine of Bread is affirmed to be worse than the Plague of Pestilence worse than the Sword of VVar though Plague and Sword are very terrible but a Famine of the VVord of God is the worst sort of Famine and it is threatned as a punishment which is an indication of far greater wrath Amos 8. 11. It shall come to pass in those days saith the Lord God that I will send a Famine in the land not a Famine of Bread nor a thirst for water but a Famine of hearing the VVord of the Lord. The Antithesis here between these two Famines doth heighten the severity of the punishment A Famine of the VVord is a punishment that is Spiritual so much the more hurtful because it reaches the Spirits of Men so much the more hurtful by how much the Soul is more precious than the Body Ay but may some one say what great harm is there if there should come such a Famine I will tell you To have the VVord of God removed it is to have
I done with all the Doctrines but yet I have not done with you Words of instruction Solomon compares to Nayls Eccles 12. 11. I shall add a few strokes more to drive them home How can I with patience see any of you secure in Sin still fast asleep Under Satans power and upon the bottomless pits brink And every moment in danger of tumbling down into it Though some of you make light of Hell and more light of Sin that does deserve it yet I foresee how you will change your minds when once you feel what 't is to be there and I would fain prevent your going thither What shall I say how shall I do to prevail with you to become willing to a sincere Conversion and so escape eternal Misery and Confusion Once more I cry as loud and earnestly as I am able Tâ—rn ye Turn ye O ye youngest that are here turn to God Your whole time is short enough to provide for Eternity begin early to redeem it Can you be too soon safe and happy safe in being under the Wing of Christ happy in having the Lord to be your God and Father Oh ye Children become Converts Christ is ready to embrace you in his Arms and bless you I should not at all fear the Gospels going if I could behold much of the Work of Regeneration among the young generation O ye oldest Sinâ—rs Turn to God the door of Mercy is not quite shut though you have lived so long in Sin 'till you have one foot in the Grave Admirable Mystery and Miracle of Grace when those are in a spiritual sense New Born who were old both in Years and Wickedness Turn ye O you that have most Righteousness of your own for your Righteousness is filthy raggs and you have Sin enough to ruine you Turn ye O you that have been guilty of the greatest Transgressions for in the Lord is superabâ—ndant Grace enough and enough to save you If you will not Turn you gratifie the evil One the Enemy of your Salvation you Consent to be his Slavis and Prey and chuse rather to dwell with him in Torment than with the Lord in Glory If you will not turn you are Sâ—lâ—-haters not Accessariâ—s only but Principals in the Murthering of your own Souls It was a true saying of Salvian Nemo nobis Crâ—â—â—â—ior nobis none more Cruel none so cruel to sinful Man as he is to himself The very Prince of the Devils has not so great an hand in his Destruction If you will not turn immediately this very day hour moment it may quickly be too late Abused Mercy may go away for ever and God may now at last foreit who has long waited to be gracious The Axe before another Sabbath may be laid to the root of the Tree which bears nothing but the Grapes of Sodom and the Clustâ—s of Gomorrah A Sentence may be pronounced from Heaven Hâ—w down such a strange and degenerate Plant and cast it into fiâ—e unquenchable But if at last you see with with your Eyes and hear with your eaâ—s and understand with your hearts and turn to the Lord the Father will receive you with open arms of love and kindness his tenderest Bowels will be troubled for you and sure Mercies shall be yours Tâ— Lord Jesus will see of the travel of his Soul to his Satisfaction rejoycing that Children of Regeneration are born into his Church whâ— shall be Heirs of Glory The Comforter who was grieved and vexed at your resistance will be much pleased to see you yield and will delight to dwell in you and to fill you both with Grace and Peace Converting Grace whenever wrought on Earth causes a Neâ— Triumph above in Glory The Thrones Dominions the Cherubim the Seraphim that are there will sing a New Song of Praiâ— they will give glory to God in the Highest when more Sinners are begotten again to a lively Hope they will ascribe Blessing and Honour to the Lamb when more Souls are redeemed by his Blood. Have I been speaking unto Stocks and Stones or unto those who have Senses Souls and Reason If you will not turn that you may be saved I must confess 't were well if you had no Souls to lose for ever It was a Custom among the Ancient Romans to keep dead Bodies above ground several dayes and often to cry in their ears with a loud Voice to see if they were dead indeed And these were called Corpora conclamata Bodies that had been cryed unto in vain and then they were carried to their Burial May not your Souls O unconverted Sinners be called Animae conclamatae Souls that have been often cryed unto to turn and live But if you still refuse 't is a sign you are very dead indeed and you may quickly be buried in the fiery Tophet out of which you shall never rise more But alas all Pleadings Intreaties Arguments will be to little purpose unless there come a convincing Light a converting Power from above Cachedram habet in coelo qui corda docet in terrâ He has his Chair in Heaven who teaches hearts on Earth Oh that the glorious Spirit would come and breath upon the dead dry bones and inspire a Life that may never end That he would cause All even the most hardned and dead in sin to become Alive to God and have their fruit unto holiness that the end may be everlasting Life Let God arise and let his enemies be scatter'd Let Sin Satan and Mammon be forced to flee before Him that all Hearts possest by them may now submit to Him When the tongues of Men and Angels cannot prevail one powerful word from God can convert a multitude of Souls though they have been never so disobedient and gainsaying If the Lord will fill his Sanctuary with his Glory it will be to all unconverted Ones that are here the place of their new Birth and the very Gate of Heaven FINIS A WARNING GIVEN TO Secure Sinners TO Prepare for Judgment TO Flee from Wrath to Come AND Turn from All Sin BUT Especially the Sin which does most easily beset them By NATHANAEL VINCENT M. A. Minister of the Gospel Ezek. 33. 7. O Son of Man I have set thee a Watchman unto the house of Israel therefore thou shalt hear the Word at my Mouth and warn them from Me. LICENSED March 17th 1688. LONDON Printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheap-side near Mercers-Chappel 1688. THE Epistle to the READER Reader WHen I Preached these following Sermons I had not the least thought of Publishing them They were taken from my Mouth by a dexterous and nimble hand that wrote almost every Word I utter'd I was very much sollicited to Print them and the Notes being written out fair and brought to me I have look'd them over and now they are presented to thee with a sincere Design that they may be beneficial to thee and not without Hope they will be so
The Subjects here handled are awakening and in this secure Age what need is there of startling Sermons At this day in England there is work enough for many a Boanerges for ten thousand Sons of Thunder The guilt and defilement of Sin proves it to be Mans greatest Enemy but because it stupifies and hardens those that have been guilty of it it is likely the more effectually to destroy them for the Disease not being felt the Remedy is neglected A spiritual Lethargy is the general Distemper most continue fast asleep in Sin till Hell wakes them but then it is too late Though Christ has the Key of Hell that Saviour releases none that once are thrown into it Miserable World because it lies in Wickedness more miserable because it apprehends not how miserable its Wickedness has made it because it fears not is endeavours not to escape Eternal Misery Oh dreadful Day of God that 's coming when all Apostate Angels that are now in Chains of Darkness shall be brought forth and judged and dealt with as the Enemies of God and Man These Principalities and Powers â—ill be overpowr'd and â—tteâ—ly 〈◊〉 to avoid the seâ—erity of their Righteous and Almighty Judge How much evil have they done and still they are doing more of what Woe and Torment are they capable And all those of the Children of Men who have been led Captive by Satan at his Pleasure that have resolved rather to be destroyed themselves than that the works of the Devil should be destroyed in them 't is just that they should but how sad will it be for them to share in Torment with 〈◊〉 Sin will have a very bad end all that are gone into another World are sensible of it though few iâ— this World perceive it When the Servants of Sin 〈◊〉 received their Wages which is Death then they will know to their sorrow what kind of Master they 〈◊〉 served and what Pains they foolishly took for thaâ— Misery which they should have taken Pains to have prevented Reader Be wise believe and fear and take the Watchman's Warning The Sword in the Hand of the living Eternal God will give a dreadful and â— deadly Blow to fall under his Vengeance will be fearâ—ul and thy Blood lying upon thy own Head it will lye very heavy and upon this will follow everlasting heaviness and anguish Oh fear the Wrath to come before 't is come and fly from Sin â—nd 〈◊〉 to God by Jesus Christ a Saviour both from Sin and Wrath and a Saviour to the uttermost Better Counsel than this cannot be taken by thy self â—â— given by any to thee ROM XIV 10. latter part We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ I Have been lately Discoursing concerning Conversion The Digression I make this day is subservient to my great Design which is the Conversion and Salvation of this Assembly It infinitely concerns yoâ— all to turn to God for quickly you will have a Summons to come unto his Bar and how soon that Summons may be given who can tell Those that least think on 't and least care to be provided and ready for it perhaps may have it soonest and if the Converts themselves as the Scripture tells us are scarcely saved Oh where shall the Unconverted and the Sinner appear I wish that I may Preach and you may Hear as those who do really believe we shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ The Apostle in these words speaks enough one would think to startle the most stupid Conscience to make the most secure like Felix to tremble to awaken even those that are dead in Sins and Trespasses Let me tell you the Deâ—â—â—â— themselves are none of them Atheists and Infidels they all believe this Text and the thoughts of Judgment make them treâ—ble therefore if â—ny Sinner remains fearless and unsenâ—â—â—â—â— he 〈…〉 this respect out sin the very Apostaâ—â—â—â—gâ—â—â— There are three things observable in the Words 1. Here is a Judgment Seat the most glorious that ever was the last that ever will be from this Tribunal there can be no Appeal unto any other the Sentence whether of Absolution or Condemnation that will here be pass'â— will â—ever be revers'd but stand firm unto Eternity 2. You are told who is to be the Judge he is the Lord Jesus Christ We read of 〈…〉 Appearing of Christ his first and 〈…〉 â—â—pearing He came at first in the 〈◊〉 oâ— a â—â—â—vant he was to be made Sin and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Sin and a Curse for us He gave 〈◊〉 for â—â— that he might redeem us from all Inâ—â—â—â—ty and if he had given other and less than himself it would not have satisfied The Churches Sins could be done away by no lower a Priest than Christ the greatest and highest of all and the Priest was fain himself to be and that a most voluntary Sacrifice He appear'd at first to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself but when he comes the second time to Judge the World he will appear after another kind of manner From the beginning of the World there hath not been such a sight as there will be at the end of it The Lord Jesus will come with a Power which none can withstand with great Glory which will â—â—ll the Saints with Joy for they shall appear in glory with hiâ— but will be exceedingly amazing and confounding to all those who were the Enemies of his Kingdom 3. Herâ— are the 〈◊〉 that are to stand before this â—â—dgâ— if you â—â—â— Who are they I Answer by another Question What â—â— where are the Persons that shall be exempted All from the begiâ—â—ing of the World to the end of it All from the first Man that was made unto the last of his â—osterity that shall be born must stand before Christ the Lord that from his Mouth they may receive their final and eternal Doom There is a great difference between standing before the Judgment Seat and standing in Judgment the forâ—â—â— implies being made to appear at the â—ribunal the laâ—ter implies being Acquitted there The Psalmist tells us That â—â—e ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righ◠〈◊〉 Psâ—l 1. â— yet all of these shall be forced to appear at the Bar of God there they 〈◊〉 â—tand trembling expecting the terrible Sentence of Condemnation And Oh what a â—ideous Oâ—â—â—â—â— â—â—â—ll the whole multitude of Wicked and Reprobate â—â—es make when without hope of Mercy they are adjudged to endleâ—â— Misery 〈◊〉 The Doctrine I raise from the Words is this All shall be Judged by Christ at the great Day As certainly as you are all here so certainly at that day you shall appear at his Judgment Seat â—â—ath is not more certain nay 't is not so certain as Judgment The Apostle tells us that all shall not â—ye for some shall be Changed but even these that are changed though they scapâ— the Grave they shall stand at the Tribunal and give account of
themselves unto God. This Doctrine concerning Judgment was Preached early in the World we find 't was Published before the Flood of Noah as you may see Jude v. 14 15. where you have the summe of a Sermon but a very terrible one Preached by Enoch the seventh 〈◊〉 Adam Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all 〈◊〉 to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all the hard speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Under the Mosaical Dispensation the Children of Israel heard the same Doctrine That great Prince and Preacher Solomon thus concludes his Book of Ecclesiastes having displayed the Creatures Vanity having taught Man his Interest and Duty To fear God and to keep his Commandments he closes with these words Chap. 12. ult God will bring every worâ— into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil And how plainly does the Apostle Paul speak to the same purpose 2 Cor. 5. 10 11. For we must all appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men. In the handling of this Doctrine this is the Method I shall observe First I shall Discourse concerning Him that is to be the Judge Secondly I shall speak concerning the Persons that are to be judged Thirdly Concerning the things that shall be brought into Judgment Fourthly I shall demonstrate the Certainty of this Judgment And then in the lest Place make Application In the first Place I am to Discourse concerning the Judge and the Text plainly tells us that the Judge is Christ The Father I grant is said to judge 1 Peâ— 1. 17. If ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sâ—journing here in fear Yet it is said in another place The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son Joh. 5. 22. How shall these Scriptures â—e reconciled The reconciliation is easie thus the Father judges because the Authority of Judging belongs to him because he does Consent unto the Sons Judgment and has ordained him to Judge the World in Righteousness the truth is the Father Judges all but 't is mediately by Jesus Christ And yet in another sense the Father judges not because Christ the Son the second Person in the Godhead alone was incarâ—ate and manifested in the Flesh and He alone will visibly Judge the World at the great approaching Day These four things may be observed concerning Christ the Judge He is a Saviour to the uttermost He is the Only Saviour He is Lord of all And as such a Lord he will come with a â—â—st glorious Attendance 1. Christ the Judge is a Saviour to the uttermost and really at the Judgment-day he will compleat the Churches Salvation he began it here in this World and still is carrying it on but the last day will be the day in which he will put his last Hand to this Work and make it perfect Heb. â— 28. Christ wâ—◠〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 tâ—â—ear the sins of many and unto them that lâ—â—k 〈◊〉 him shall he appear the second time without sin 〈◊〉 Salvation then Salvation shall be cons 〈…〉 the whole of it shall be wrought nothing oâ— Sin or the sad effects of it shall remain nothing that shall cause the least frown in the Face 〈◊〉 God to eternity Death will be swallowed 〈◊〉 in Victory the whole Man will be glorious anâ— immortal Christ will then have compleated his whole Design upon all his Saints and Members he will have made them as holy and happy aâ— he did intend to make them he will indeed prâ—sent his Church a glorious Church not having sâ— or wrinkle or any such thing but it shall be all holy and its Beauty without the least 〈◊〉 Eph. 5. 27. 2. Christ the Judge is the Only Saviour therefore those that are Condemn'd by Him 〈…〉 vain for them to expect Salvation from any 〈◊〉 Christ is the only Foundation-stone on which all that build shall stand other Builders are foolish and build upon the sand and what they build will fall and great will be the fall of it They that are not interested in the Lord Jesus by Faith that are not Justified by his Blood who besides can save them from Wrath those whose Iniquities are not done away by his offering up oâ— himself without spot to God there can be found no other Sacrifice for their sins but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery indignatioâ— that shall devour the Adversaries And how dreadful will it be to be Sentenced to Death and 〈…〉 by the only Author of Salvation and Life they that by his Mouth shall be doom'd â—o eternal Destruction that Destruction will be made ten thousand times the sorer by eternal Desperation Alas what Hope can be left when the Lamb of God who alone can take away Sin shall â—e so full of Wrath as for ever to reject and cast away the Sinner 3. Christ the Judge is Lord of all this is a truth that the Tongue of an Angel did Proclaim Luk. 2. 11. a truth that every Tongue should confess Phil. 2. 11. that every Heart ought to believe and which the most unbelieving and obstiâ—aâ—â— at last shall be made to know Christ hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh this Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19. 1â— He has all Power in his hand things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth are subâ—ect to him Those that are wise do willingly â—ow before him and they who will not bow â—e can easily break and dash them to pieces A mighty Lord Christ is at whose Command Death shall deliver again all that for so many years he had imprisoned in the Grave he has indeed the Key of Death and Hell too Rev. 1. 1â— both are under his Power at his Command also the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Eartâ—â—lso and the works therein shall be burnt up There is no dealing with this Judge by way of resistance it concerns us all to be diligent that â—e may be sound of him in peace without spot and blameless â— Pet. 3. 10 14. 4. Christ the Judge will come with a 〈◊〉 glorious Attendance How awakening to the Worâ— will the Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trâ—mp of God be Christ will appear with a light sâ—â— above the brightness of the Sun not a Member of his but shall shine like that glorious Luminary Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shâ—â—â— as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father And what a spectacle will all the Saints together be as so many millions of Suns shining at Once
and their Lord in the heighth of Glory at the head of them He will be revealed also with his mighty Angels these excellent Spirits at his Command ministred unto his Members on Earth and they will wait upon the Head at the day of his appearing and his Kingdom There is much Work for the Angels to do at the Worlds end they are compared to Reapers that are safely to gather the Wheat and to bind the Tares in bundles for the fire Mat. 13. 41 42. The Son of Maâ— shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather ouâ— of his Kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth The greatest Train of Nobility and Courtiers that attend at the Coronation of the highest Emperour on Earth are but a poor shew to an â—â—â—â—merable Company of Angels for all in Heaven will be with Christ at Judgment to do him honour who is indoed the Head of all Principality and Power Thus of the Judge In the second Place I am to speak of the Persons that are to be judged The Text takes in All therefore none shall be exempted and none in a vain and foolish imagination should exempt themselves It will be a general Assize at which all the Sons and Daughters of Adam shall appear 1. The highest and greatest of Men will be brought to Judgment Death makes bold with them as well as others and enters the stateliest Palaces the strongest Forts as well as the Cottages of the meanest The Rulers and Conquerors of the World that caused Terror in the land of the living yet they are made to bear the shame of their Weakness and Mortality they are brought down to the Pit their Swords are laid under their Heads their Hands being able to hold them no longer Ezek. 32. 27. And if Death is not afraid to seize them surely Christ will not be afraid to Judge them This mighty Lord regards not the persons of Princes nor the rich more than the poor Job 34. 19. I have said ye are Gods speaking to the great Ones of the World but ye shall dye like Men Psal 82. 7. Princes are greater Worms other Men are lesser but all must call Corruption Father and when they come to stand before Christâ—â—ar foregoing earthly Dignity will be insignificant all must stand upon even ground And truly those great Ones of the World that have abused their Power and by a bad example drawn many to Sin and to Hell after them their greatness will but Increase their Account and Misery 2. As the greatest so the Meanest must be brought â— Judgment though there is never so vast a mulâ—tude God takes notice of them all now and â—onâ— of them must think to escape in a crowd then The Apostle speaks plainly of Individualâ—â—â—â— Rom. 14. 12. So then every one of us shall give â—â—count of himself to God Those that live most private and retired are under Gods continual Inspection they that are of the lowest rank and quality whom there are that disdain so much as to look upon yet God sees them The Sâ—â— shines upon a Mole-hill as well as upon a Mountain upon a Shrub as well as upon a Cedar upon a Fly as well as upon an Emperor and truly the All-seeing Eye of God beholds the â—oâ—â— well as the high and there is not any one of them all but shall be made to render an account â— all his doings 3. Righteous Ones must stand before Christs Judgment-seat All his Members must appear before Him their Head but shall be dealt with after different manner from others Grace and Lâ—â— makes a difference now but how highly magnified will the Grace of Christ be in the differenâ— it makes at that Day to sind Mercy of the Lâ—â— in that day which the Apostle Prays Onesiphâ—â— might find 2 Tim. 1. 18. when the greatest â—â—â— of the World shall with a strong hand the â—â— being deaf to all their cryes be turned into everlasting fire this is great Mercy indeed great the Heaven is high above the Earth The Righteous shall appear but they shall be set at thâ— Lords right hand to shew his peculiar Favourâ— them and they shall joyfully own what â—â— Hand has done for them Christs Appearing â—â— be glorious and so will be the appearing of â—â— Saints then 't will be understood what ' tâ—â—â— be a Saint Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our â— shall appear than shall ye also appear with him iâ— Glory A Question is here started by some Whether the Sins of the Righteous shall be then made known The Scripture plainly tells us That when the Sins of such come to be sought for there shall be none and that they shall not be found none of them shall be imputed or laid to their charge none shall be so discover'd in Judgment as to rise up in Judgment against them to Condemn them But since there will such a light shine at that day that will make all things manifest both good and evil suppose the Iniquities of the Righteous should be made known to the whole Creation such will be their Purity such will be their Blessedness and Joy that there will not be the least room for shame or sorrow at the discovery But when all the Sins that have been Forgiven and Purged shall be revealed others as well as themselves will be filled with Wonder at the Blood of Jesus and the powerful Grace of God. 4 As the Righteous so the Wicked must stand before Christs Bar they would fain not come â—â—ither but there is an irresistible Power to force them The Malefactor who is Condemned for Murther Rape or Treason would fain decline â—he Judges View he is Self-condemn'd and therefore fears the Judges Sentence but the â—aoler the Officers compel him to the Bar where â—udgment is given against him to take away his â—ife Wicked Men will be horribly afraid to â—ake their Appearance before the Lord Jesus â—hose Salvation they have slighted whose Kingdom and Government they would by no means submit unto they will wish that their Bodies might sleep eternally in their Graves and never have such a Resurrection which will be only to Damnation they will wish rather to be turned into Nothing than to be turned into Hell they will call to the Rocks and the Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the Wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6. 16. But will they nill they they must appear at his Seat and see him Eye to Eye though his Eye will be as a flame of Fire to terrifie them That just Indignation that sparkles from Christs looks how will it amaze them Rev. 1. 7. Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him even so Amen the thing is certain 5. They that never heard Christs Gospel
shall be brought to Judgment He is to Judge the Church and the whole World in Righteousness The State of those that are without the Gospel is set forth as very sad in Scripture they are said to be without Christ being aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and strangers to the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World Eph. 2. 12. Yet it seems to me an unwarrantable boldness to pronounce them all lost since for ought we know God may help some of them to be faithful in that little he has given them but however be it or be it not so their Case is so dangerous that we should be concerned very much for them at present and Pray that God would make known his saving health among them The Apostle tells us what will 〈◊〉 the Rule of Christ's proceedings with the Heathen that never heard of the glad-tydings of Salvation they shall be judged according to the Law and Light of Nature Rom. 2. 12. As many as have sinned without Law shall also perish without Law and as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law for not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified 6. They that have enjoyed the Gospel and the means of Grace shall be brought to Judgment and of all persons that are to be judged these have largest account to give and the most Talents to answer for A poor Heathen he has but one Talent the dim Light of nature but thou that enjoyest the Gospel hast two if not five Talents to improve And where much is given will not much also be required you that hear Christ Preached had need to look to it that you sincerely obey him now and that you may stand before him at last for if you fall in Judgment you will fall very low Damnation will be great and extraordinary where great Salvation has been neglected Heb. 2. 3. Our Lord Jesus plainly intimates that there are degrees of Torment in the place of future punishment there is a blacker Darkness and a Darkness not quite so dimal there is a cooler and an hotter Hell. Who are those that shall be thrown into the hottest Hell of all Truly those who heard the Gospel and were called to repent and believe but would do neither Mat. 11. 21 â—2 23 24. Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee â—ethsaida for if the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have Repented long ago in Sack-cloath and Ashes but I say to you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of Judgment than for you And thou Capernaum that art exalted unto Heaven shalt be cast down to Hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained to this day But I say to you it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the Day of Judgment than for Thee In the third place I am to speak of the things which will be brought into Judgment and that both with respect to the Righteous and with respect to the Wicked I begin with the Righteous and concerning these you must know 1. Their Sincerity at the day of Judgment will be made apparent All the Sincerity that has been on Earth will then be own'd and approved every one shall have an Euge a Commendation that has been a good and faithful Servant Mat. 25. 21 23. The Apostle prays for the Philippians Châ— 1. 10. that they might be Sincere and without offencâ— till the day of Christ Sincerity will signifie much in that Day None will pass for sincere but those that are so Not one that has been sincere but shall be accepted and rewarded Faithful ones may now possibly he loaded with Reproaches from without and with Censures from within thâ— Church but at the great Day all will be wipeâ— off 1 Cor. 4. 5. Judge nothing before the time untâ— the Lord do come who both will bring to light tâ— hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Hearts and then shall every Man haâ— praise of God. How many that have been highâ— esteemed among Men will be discovered then to have been unsound at Heart and that the World and Self did act and rule them tho their Tongues did speak for God and tho they made a Splendid Profession that they were his Servants And how many that have been hardly thought of by Men will Christ at that day confess before his Father and the Angels their Censurers at the same time being ashamed and confounded 2. There will Cognizance be taken of all the good works of the Righteous These will follow them into another World Rev. 14. 13. The Apostle that he might encourage Believers unto diligence tells them Heb. 6. 10. God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of love which ye have shewed towards his Name Good works are rewardable tho they are not Meritorious there is no proportion between the work and the reward but the reward infinitely exceeds for God himself is the reward of the Saints and All in all that are in Heaven There is no intrinsick worth in good works to deserve Heaven but God has promised Heaven and eternal Life and is Righteous in bestowing it but still it must be acknowledged his free Gift and given through Jesus Christ Indeed Mat. 25. 35 40. mention is made only of works of Charity and Mercy I was an Hungred and ye gave me Meat Thirsty and ye gave me Drink I was a Stranger and ye took me in I was Naked and ye cloathed me Sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came to me From hence you are to learn how acceptable such works as these are and you should be stirr'd up to abound in them but other works are not excluded for afterwards our Lord does only mention the mercilesness and uncharitable Omissions of the wicked and yet 't is plain from other Scriptures that their other Sins will be punished their not knowing God their disobedience to the Gospel of Christ 2 Thess 1. 8. 3. The Sentence which will be past upon them will be a Sentence of Absolution they shall be absolved and acquitted openly before Men and Angels All their Sins will be forgotten and buried there will be an eternal deliverance from the Curse With what Admiration Joy and Triumph will they hear Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Mat. 25. 34. What a Kingdom is that that never shall be moved What a Crown is that that is incorruptible What gladness will fill their Hearts when the Crown of Life is put upon their Heads The Sentence being pronounced presently 't will be done according to this Sentence possession will be taken of the glorious Inheritance they shall enter into life Eternal Mat. 25. 46.
greatest strength and prevalency This in Scripture is called the sweet Sin in which the greatest delight is taken compared to a sweet Morsel under the Tongue Job 20. 12 13. Tho wickedness is sweet in his Mouth tho he hide it under his Tongue tho he spare it and forsake it not yet at last it proves extremely bitter deadly as the very Gall of Asps within him 3. There are some in whom several Sins are so Predominant that 't is hard to determine which is most Master Some have so hot an Anger and so hot and furious a Lust that you cannot so easily judge which of these is hottest Nay in some Sins that seem very contrary one to another yet in several respects they will both prevail Many a Man is liberal and profuse as to his Ornaments and Cloathing he spends freely in the Sumptuous furnishing of his Table Hand and Purse are open if he be in Riotous Company Yet if you ask this Man but for a little to a good use Tell him that the Members of Christ are many of them very needy and that he who gives to the Poor lends unto the Lord here he is strongely Covetous and close Fisted These things premised I shall discover the Master Sin. 1. That is a Master Sin unto which the Constitution 〈…〉 strongly incline They that are of a Sanguine Comâ—â—â—xion are inclined to Lasciviousness Voluptuoâ—â—nâ—ss and an aiery frothiness of Spirit which is a great hinderance unto serious Impressions In the 〈◊〉 Passion and Anger are apt to prevail and to hurry them to revengeful words and Actions not considering what injury they do to others and how much more to themselves The Melancholick are prone to Envy Malice Discontent The 〈…〉 tick unto Stupidity Carelesness and Sloth Now Satan takes notice of the Complexion fails with the Stream of it and suits his Bait to it and hereby has very great advantage Tho no sin has the Dominion in Believers for they are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. yet the Complexion Sin is apt sometimes to master even them also therefore they had need to be watchful against it and to take great care and pains to mortify it The Apostle Paul observes his own Constitution and makes conscience of keeping under his Body that his Temperament might not be his Temptation 1 Cor. 9. ult I keep under my Body and bring it into subjection lest by any means when I have Preached unto others I my self should be a cast-away 2. That is a Master-sin unto which your Callings and Conditions make you most liable They that trade in the World how apt are they through the Corruption of their own Hearts to defraud and over-reach to get immoderate and dishonest gain hence that strict Prohibition 1 Thes 4. 6. Let no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter knowing that the Lord is the Avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified How apt are they to venture upon the Sin of Lying and Equivocation for advantage and they teach and command their Servants and Children to follow their pernicious Examples as if Earthly gain were so considerable that 't is no great matter how many Souls are lost for the sake of it They that are Rich in this World are prone to be high-minded and to trust in uncertain Riches 1 Tim. 6. 17. to withhold the Hire from the poor Labourers to live in wantonness and pleasure Jam. 5. 1 2 3. to be full and deny God and say Who is the Lord They that are poor in the World are prone to Steal all unjust dealing is Stealing an unjust action makes a Man a Thief in Gods account and to take the Name of God in vain Prov. 30. 9. 3. That is a Master-sin which the Sinner is most unwilling should be brought to light and cannot bear to be reproved for We read Joh. 3. 20. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but of all others he cannot endure to be reproved for the Sin that easily besets him and that he loves most He tramples the Pearl of reproof under his Feet and is ready to turn again and rend the reprover John the Baptist was a burning and a shining Light. Herod the King heard him some of his Exhortaions and Doctrines went down with Herod and produced a partial Reformation At length the Baptist comes home and strikes at the Master Sin tells Herod of his Herodias and that it was not lawful for him to have his Brothers Wife This was not to be born the King counted the Prophet too bold to meddle with his beloved Lust. He hears him no longer he suffers him to Preach to others no longer He first puts him into Prison and afterwards puts him to Death and thus was this burning and shining Light extinguished Mar. 6. 17 27. 4. The Master Sin Conscience when awakened by distress is very apt to accuse the Sinner of and furiously to fly in his face for Conscience though it sleeps in a Calm usually awakes in a Storm when Death-threatning Affliction lies hard upon the Sinner and he looks beyond Death unto Judgment and into Eternity then Conscience speaks plainly rebukes boldly and especially the master-Master-Sin makes it very clamorous Envy was a Sin Predominant in Josephs Brethren they could not bear the thoughts of his future advancement they sold him for a Slave to prevent his being exalted over them as was presignified by his Dreams Many years after God calls for a Famine upon the Land down go these Brethren into Egypt to buy Food there Joseph seizes them deals hardly with them and they are in great Distress Conscience now awakes with great terrour flies in their Faces and their envy and cruel dealing with Joseph their Brother comes to remembrance with great anguish and trouble Gen. 42. 21 22. They said one to another We are verily guilty concerning our Brother in that we saw the anguish of his Soul when he besought us and we would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us therefore behold also is his blood required Conscience does Comment upon Affliction and has its terrible glosses These blows are given thee for thy secret filthiness for thy intemperance for thy injustice for thy earthlâ—mindedness for thy doing the Work of God Heartlesly and negligently Observe what Conscience now says for the Master Sin it takes special notice of 5. That is a Master Sin which when the Sinner is almost perswaded to be a Convert hinders him from being a Convert â—ltogether That Jacob might have Corn he was contented that ten of his Sons should go and fetcht it but how loath was he to let Benjamin go When a Sinner is convinced of the necessity of Conversion he may consent to part with two or three or ten Sins but that which is most beloved he huggs still that Sin and he must never part When the Soul is ready to