perfect hatred Sin which was lov'd better then the soul better then salvation the heart by the Spirit is turn'd against it and how earnest are the cries that it may not reign no nor live any longer And Holiness against which there was a very strong though unreasonable antipathy is now hungred and thirsted after there is a tide which runs upwards contrary to the former stream which ran downward The Lord hath those affections which before sin and the world commanded The desart is become as Sharon and in the ruines which corruption hath made there is a Temple for the Spirit of God to dwell in The Day of Grace is the only time to be made new creatures in Now thy earthly heart may be made heavenly thy impure heart cleansed thy mind which was vain carnal enmity against God may be made serious and to approve and subject it self to the Law of God 3. 'T is the work of the Spirit to guide They who are the children of God are lead by him and 't is in the way everlasting that he leads them they are directed into such a path as will certainly bring them to the everlasting enjoyment of the Eternal God Neither doth he only guide but strengthen the Spirit puts might into their inner man and makes them to hold on their way till they come to the blessed end of it We have all like sheep gone astray we have turned every one to his own way Isa 53. 6. But in this Day of Grace the Spirit is near to chalk out a path in which we cannot miss of happiness and to help us over all the stumbling blocks and difficulties which are cast in our way The Spirit doth also comfort as well as strengthen He sheds abroad the sense of the love oâ— God into the heart and such a joy issues from this sense of love that tribulation cannot turn into sorrow 4. Many of them that perish have experience while this Day of Grace continues of the Spirits workings The Spiriâ— doth use a kind of holy violence to hinder them from pulling down vengeance upon themselves Thus he did strive with the old world in the day of their visitation 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20. Christ was quickned by the Spirit by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison which sometime were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah This place is wrested and may seem difficult but the meaning is plainly this That Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost by which Holy Ghost accompanying the ministry of the ancient Patriarks he preached unto the impenitent sinners of the old world whose spirits are now imprisoned in hell because â—n their life time they were disobedient â—o the Spirits voice all the while the â—ong suffering of God did wait upon â—hem Thus the Spirit likewise did â—trive with the children of Israel but â—hey rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit of God Isai 63. 10. 'T is not an unusual â—hing for the Spirit to enlighten and aâ—aken the Conscience to clap chains and â—etters upon corruption for a while that â—â— breaks not forth as formerly to conâ—â—rain unto a frequent performance of duty But the Soul hankers after its beloved lusts and vanities grows weary of the Spirits restraint grudges the time and pains which duty takes up and wishes that the Spirit would go away and accordingly the Holy Ghost departs from him However this is true that the Spirit works much and would more were he not resisted That 's the second priviledge of the Day of Grace the presence of the Spirit 3. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is liberty to come to the Throne of Grace All flesh is now invited to the Hearer of Prayers and their prayers shall be regarded if they no longer regard iniquity 1. The Lord now is near and may bâ— found Isai 55. 6. His merciful nature inclines him to come to the help of them that need it As he is near to give theâ— that grace which they cry for so to givâ— them grace to cry after a right manner We cannot so much as come that wâ— may be help'd unless we are help'd tâ— come The Lord is within hearing oâ— all that call who ever sought him seriâ—usly and sought in vain He is so neaâ— as to hear our very whisper'd supplications and to take notice of the inward groanings of our spirits Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee But some may object Doth not the Scripture say that the Lord and his salvation are far from the wicked and therefore wicked ones have no encouragement to come to him Well But if the wicked man doth cry that he may be renewed and that his wickedness both as to the guilt and practise may be put far away from him then the Lord will draw near immediately 2. God is not only in this day of grace willing to be found but he seeks after us John 4. 23. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Fervent prayer is delightful musick in his ears Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy counâ—enance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely The Lord is pleased to see us gather about him and to hear us cry for this and that and the other mercy since his mercies are so great a multitude that he hath enough and enough for all Nay the Lord himself doth seek to us and beseech us to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. And if he intreat us to accept of mercy shall not we speed in our intreaties for the obtaining of it 3. The promise which God hath made may now be pleaded This is the time to lay hold upon his Covenant Lord thou hast promised to blot out iniquity as a cloud oh when shall this cloud be scatter'd that I may walk in the light of thy countenance Thou hast promised a new heart when shall this heart of mine be changed when shall it burn with love to thee and indignation against sin which doth offend thee Lord Thou hast promised to take away the heart of stone and to transform the adamant into flesh oh why am I so hard and stupid why since I have sinned so much should I sorrow so little Again Thou hast promised to make me clean Lord when oh when will it once be Thus may we urge the Promises and he that made them will give us cause to adore his faithfulness The worst of men the chief of sinners may urge the promise of a new heart and of washing from filthiness as long as they seek unto the God of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. and are so far wrought upon as to desire to be sanctified
quake at him and the hills melt and the earth is burnt at his presence yea the world and all that dwell therein who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him Surely that heart is worse then rocky which doth not tremble before him 4. He can engage all the creatures against you He is the Maker and also the great Commander of the Host of Heaven and Earth The Angels are ready press'd for his service and to do his will all the Devils are at his beck and forward to be the Executioners when he hath pass'd an angry sentence The Thunder and the Lightning say unto him Here we are The stormy Wind doth fulfill his words Nay the smallest and most inconsiderable creatures he can render dreadful and tame the proudest by them And since he is Jehova Exercituum the Lord of such Armies Oh do not enter into battel with him 5. He hath access unto your very spirits and can wound and fill your souls with horrour When the Lord impressed his anger upon the heart of Judas how restless was he though a covetous man he flings away his silver that would not ease him his life is a burthen and with his own hands he puts an end to it A wounded spirit who can bear and wounds there the Lord can give you 6. His power will reach his enemies in the next world Nay then his hand will be heaviest of all God will lay on load upon his adversaries and not in the least spare them His patience will then be at an end his goodness totally and eternally withdrawn and how low then will his vengeance weigh them down Such an enemy the Lord is and this is one argument to perswade you to peace 2. Be mindful of the dependance you have upon him In him you live and move and have your being and if he should withdraw his visitation your life would presently conclude and vanish And is it safe or a wise part in you to provoke that God to be your enemy in whose hand your breath is and who can take it out of your nostrils when he pleaseth He can loose the silver cord he can break the golden bowl and require your souls at your hands without giving you an hours or a minutes warning Whosoever you fall out with methinks you should get and keep in with God for 't is his patience and mercy which keeps you out of the grave and hell of both which by reason of sin you are in great danger 3. The condescension and stooping of God is admirably great in beseeching such as you to be reconciled And shall he intreat in vain Shall the malefactour be beseeched to accept of a pardon and refuse it That is a text that should work upon the most refractory 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God What is it come to this doth God beseech and Christ pray that we who are so mean and so vile would be friends and shall we continue rebels O earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord for the impenitent then the earth or stones are much more stupid To slight the proffer of mercy and to disobey the command to come for it is both a fault and a folly inexcusable but to be deaf to intreaties is worst of all this goes nearest unto God when his condescension and kindness is disregarded and abused and upon this abuse the greater contempt and anger and hatred must needs follow 4. Consider what kind of friend the Lord is I might be large in describing his excellencies which they who are acquainted with him see and admire Three things at present I shall mention 1. God is such a friend whose love is transcendent That sweet name which is as an oyntment poured forth he calls himself by The God of love and peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. Nay he is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love in the abstract 1 John 4. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Whatever returns of love we make those returns fall infinitely short of the love of God from whence they come Indeed it is as possible to equal him in strength in wisdom or any other of his perfections as to equal him in love Oh let this love of God be as a loadstone to draw yours and as a whetstone to sharpen it 2. God is such a friend whose fulness can never be exhausted The Sun although it hath shined ever since the Creation yet 't is as full of light as ever it was And though the Lord hath supplyed the wants of all them whom he hath made his friends from the beginning yet his stock and store is not at all diminished His wisdom is never posed in their greatest difficulties when believers know not what to do and their eyes are unto him he knows what to do for them His power can raise them out of the lowest deep his all-sufficiency can give to the uttermost of their desires nay exceedingly more then it hath entred into their hearts to desire or conceive Who in his wits would not leave a vain world and deceitful lusts to come to such a friend as God hath alwayes shewed himself to be 3. God is such a friend as will last when all other friends fail He is the Lord who changes not He can as soon cease to be as cease to be faithful and the faithfulness of God towards his friends will make them also faithful he will not turn away from them and he will hold them fast that they shall not depart from him The Lord is most constant the Ordinances of the Sun and Moon and Stars are not so immutable as the Promises he hath made Men of low degree are vanity men of high degree are a lye Psal 62. 9. But God is true Wealth may take wings and fly away prosperity may vanish so as to be forgotten flesh and heart may fail but the Lord will be a friend and a portion for ever Oh consent to be reconciled since such a friend hereby will be gained 5. Consider If God be at peace with you he will shield you from all other adversaries he will wrest those weapons out of your own hands whereby you endeavoured your own destruction he will give a deaths wound to sin that it shall not be your death And though the world and the God of the world fight against you they shall not be able to prevail Nay their very enmity shall befriend you and God will turn to good what they do mean for evil 'T is admirable to consider how the adversaries of the Lords people though they have the intension of enemies yet are forced to act like friends and do a kindness unto Saints by those means whereby they thought to have injured and
knows his owner and the Ass his Masters crib but Israel doth not know my people do not consider 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eveâ— thou this is very emphatical As if Christ should have said O thou Jerusalem who hast enjoyed so many means and mercies and hast slighted and abused them all notwithstanding all former folly and unkindness to God to thy self I wish that even thou wouldst at last have open'd thy eyes and ears and become wise unto thy own salvation At least in this thy day That was a day of special visitation God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets in that day spake unto them by his Son And although many Messengers and Servantâ— which were sent had been despised and persecuted to the death by them yet at least the Son should have been reverenced This was their day a time in which they might have been accepted a day in which salvation was brought near to them The things which belong unto thy peace Peace according to the Hebrew phrase does imply all the parts of happâ—ness the principal whereof does certainly lie in being reconciled to and enjoying God But the way of peace and reconciliation namely Justification by faith in Jesus they knew not An humbled Messiah who was to make mens peace by the bloud of his cross Col. 1. 20. they hid their faces from and esteemed him not Being puffed up with their own righteousness and external priviledges and prerogatives they would not submit unto the righteousness of faith which is revealed in the Gospel But now they are hid from thy eyes Christ here sets forth the spiritual judgment which they lay under and likewise removes the scandal and offence which his infirm Disciples might be apt to take because Jerusalem did reject him They had long refused to look unto the Lord that they might be saved and now God sends them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear and hearts that they should never understand This is a very sore and yet usual punishment when men receive the grace of God in vain and are resolved to walk contrary to the light which shines about them The Text does yield several points of Doctrine First Jesus Christ is exceeding full of pity and compassion His weeping here over Jerusalem shews how kindly affectioned he was towards them and is towards others in misery Secondly The Lord does grant unto sinners a day of grace in which pardon and life are proffer'd to them and may be obtained by them If thou hadst known in this thy day Thirdly To know in this day of grace the things which belong to our peace is our great happiness and wisdom If Jerusalem had been so wise her ruine would have been prevented Fourthly When sinners will not see they are smitten many times with spiritual blindness and the things of their peace are in a way of judgment hid from them Fifthly Souls being thus left under darkness their state is wretched and deplorable Our Lord with tears laments this sad condition of Jerusalem Doct. 1. The first Doctrine is this That Jesus Christ is exceeding full of pity and compassion The tears which he shed prove this and if tears will not satisfie a little after you may behold him shedding of his blood This compassion of Christ extends it self to them that perish as well as unto those he saves To them that perish his compassion is seen in four things 1. In causing the Light whereby he is discovered to shine upon them 'T is a mercy that the lost are told of a Saviour that they are informed how sin hath caused their misery and Christ is sufficient to cure it Nay herein 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tender mercy appears that the Day-spring from on high does visit them that sit in darkness which can guide their feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 78 79. They need not say Who shall ascend into heaven to understand the means of fallen mans recovery The word is nigh which can give a sufficient information 'T was the great advantage of the Jews that to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 1 2. But now those Oracles are pronounced more fully and plainly and to enjoy them is the priviledge of such as in a Land of light have their lot given them It was great mercy towards Capernaum that she was lifted up to Heaven that such words were spoken that such works were done in her and because she improved not the mercy how does our Lord upbraid her 2. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in calling and inviting them to come to him The Marriage-feast is prepared and the servants are sent into the high-wayes to invite all to come and partake of it Matth. 22. Wisdom cryeth without she uttereth her voice in the streets she cryeth in the chief places of concourse How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and scorners delight in scorning and fools hate knowledge turn ye at my reproof c. Prov. 1. 20 21 22. And Prov. 9. 2 3 4 5 6. we read Wisdom hath killed her beasts she hath mingled her wine and furnished her table she hath sent forth her maidens she cryeth upon the highest places of the City Whoso is simple let him turn in hither as for him that wanteth understanding she saith unto him come eat of my bread and drink of my wine which I have mingled forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding Thus sinners are called after and though dogs yet the same bread which is prepared for the children is proffer'd to them the same inestimable benefits of Christ as pardon peace grace glory are tendred to them which believers have accepted of with the same eye-salve their eyes shall be annointed with the same tried gold they shall be enriched with the same white rayment all their nakedness shall be covered if they will but come and close with Jesus 3. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in waiting long that he may be gracious he knocks at the door and he stands knocking there Rev. 3 20. He stands till his head is filled with dew and his locks with the drops of the night He sees how Satan hath admission at his pleasure and unto Mammon at first approach the door is set wide open to receive him but against Christ 't is lock'd and bolted and yet his love and patience overcomes these indignities and he waits still to see if at last sinners will consult their own good and entertain him Christ by his Spirit strives long checking them from sin moving them to duty demonstrating the reasonableness of conversion and obedience the danger of continuance in their provocations Christ does not go away at the first repulse nor curse the Fig-tree for the first years unfruitfulness but he digs about it and dungs it and expects a great while before
that sentence be pronounced Cut it down why cumbereth it the ground 4. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in wishing when for their obstinacy they are given over to themselves that they would have hearkened and â—beyed Thus he weeps and wishes that Jerusalem had known what they were â—gnorant of And Israel when for their â—eafness unto and refusing of God they â—ere given up to their own hearts lusts â—nd suffer'd to walk after their own â—ounsels the Lord wishes O that my peoâ—le had hearkened unto me and Israel had â—alked in my wayes Psal 81. 11 12 13. Those that perish will have no reason to â—omplain of Christ but of themselves he wanted not pitty but to themselves they were unmerciful But in the second place the compassion of our Lord is manifested and that principally to them that are saved they are called Vessels of mercy 1. Christ receives those he saves though they come home in rags The beggarliness of the Prodigal did not hinder his Father from running to him and embracing him Their emptiness of worth doth not stir up his hatred but his pitty Christ hath enough and to spare for them Sinners should not keep off from Christ because they cannot bring any grace of their own to commend them He can put comeliness upon those who by sin are never so much deformed When we come to our Lord we are over-spread with a leprosie iniquity is fitly called by that name and all our righteousness is as filthy rags now what mercy is it that he takes away our filthy garments and puts upon us the robe oâ— his own righteousness and from thaâ— worst sort of leprosie doth make uâ— clean 2. Christ makes reconciliation for the sins of those who are saved by him And considering what wo and misery sin unpardon'd exposes the children of men to 't is an act of mercy to make an atonement for it Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore in all thlngs it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people That load of guilt and wrath which else would sink them into the lowest Hell the Lord Jesus takes off from the Heirs of salvation 3. Christ heals the wounds which their spiritual enemies have made The good Samaritan had compassion upon the man that fell among thieves Luke 10. Our Lord finds us in a worse case what wounds have our lusts and Satan made in our spirits and truly they are incurable by any but this Physician When the fiery Serpents had stung the Israelites they looked unto the Brazen Serpent and looking they were healed presently That Brazen Serpent typified Jesus Christ and although Conscience be never so much sting yet He can expel the poyson and asswage the pain and anguish and make the Conscience first pure and after peaceable 4. Christ gives rest unto them that labour and are heavy laden Matth. 11. 28. Many are the burthens of believers but he commands them to cast all their burthens upon him and he promises to sustain them The curse of the Law is a burthen but Christ redeems them from the curse of the Law being himself made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. They groan under the dominion of sin the bondage of corruption but the Son of God pulls down sins dominion and makes them free indeed Their poverty and emptiness causes them to sigh and complain but Christ Jesus unlocks his unsearchable riches which are superabundantly sufficient to replenish them And he that commands the rich in this world to be ready to distribute to be willing to communicate surely himself will in no wise be a Niggard of his spiritual Treasures 5. Christ succours those he saves in their temptation In the hour of temptation they very much need his pitty and aid and they have both Dido in Virgil spake thus to the Trojans who were cast upon her Coasts Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco I that have endured misery my self know how tâ— compassionate and succour the miserable Our Lord himself he had experience of temptations and he will relieve those that are assaulted as he was Hark to the Apostle Heb. 2. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he knows how to succour them that are tempted He knows that believers enemies are above their match that sin and the world and the God of it would be too hard for them therefore his own Power doth rest upon them which brings them out of the field more then Conquerours The Application follows USE 1. If our Lord be so compassionate hereby Faith may be marveliously encouraged How safely and gladly may a Soul venture it self in the hands of such an one Those are unacquainted with his Bowels that entertain hard thoughts concerning him Why art thou cast down O desponding spirit Why art thou so much disquieted Why doest thou credit the unreasonable suggestions of the Wicked one Though he be the Father of lyes yet a greater lye he never tells then when he doth perswade thee that Christ is unwilling to receive them that see their need of him and long after him 1. If he weep over the obstinate do ye think he will be hard-hearted to the penitent If he stretch forth his hands all the day long to the disobedient and gainsaying will not his Arms be open to embrace the obedient and complying If he goes into the far Country to seek thee when he has inclined thy heart to come home will he shut the door against thee 2. Consider for the encouragement of faith That tâ—â—se compassions of Christ do far transcend and exceed all human mercies A Mothers bowels do yern especially towards her sucking Infant and yet even these are Marble compared with the bowels of Christ Hark how Zion is reproved for her hard surmises Isai 49. 14 15. But Zion hath said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb Yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee How unwilling is a Mother to bring forth Children for the Murtherer And much more unwilling is this Saviour that any Soul which is desirous to be sanctified and saved should become the Devils prey 3. Consider His compassions are joyned with such a fulness that there is nothing miserable sinners need but out of this fulness they may have abundant supply Our Lord hath power as well as pitty why then should we not trust in him and go to him at all times since his power shews him so able and his pitty proves him so willing to relieve and save USE II. Since Christ is so compassionate surely 't is unreasonable to quarrel at and refuse to submit unto his yoak The yoak of such a merciful one must needs be granted an easie yoak and his burthen a light burthen Matth.
11. 30. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Marriage And as the Wives subjection unto a tender and indulgent Husband is sweet and pleasant so and much more pleasant is the Believers subjection unto Christ Ungodly ones are strangely prejudiced against the Scepter and Government of Jesus but indeed 't is without cause they say We will not have this Lord to reign over us 'T is a mercy to be translated into his Kingdom for then you are freed from other Lords which are so imperious so cruel and will reward with death all the service which you do for them All the precepts of Christ are for your profit and he forbids you nothing but what he sees will hâ—rm you Methinks at the reading of this the most stubborn should yield and say We stood out against the Lord of life but 't was upon a mistake we did not think his service was so near a kin to freedom we once imagined his commands grievous therefore we cast them behind our backs but now we are resolved to obey no other since they are to be esteemed above gold nay the finest gold and are sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb USE III. Since our Lord is so merciful let me perswade you to the imitation of him put on as the elect of God bowels of mercies Among the company of blessed ones the merciful are numbred for they shall obtain mercy Matth. 5. 7. Your own souls and the souls of others should be the special objects of your pitty Let your own souls be wept over because guilty of so much sin and because by such prodigious defilements rendered so much unlike unto an holy God 'T was a saying of a Father Flebam merituram Didonem me mortuum non flebam I wept when I read the story of Dido about to kill her self but my own condition though quite dead in sin I bewailed not Look into your selves and you may behold matter enough for mourning fresh guilt and stains added to what were before here be liberal of your sorrow where 't is so very well deserved The souls of others too should have a share in your compassion Oh weep over kindred neighbours that still are ignorant aliens enemies and wish and pray that they may know the things which belong to their peace before they are hid from their eyes Thus of the first Doctrine Doct. 2. The second follows That the Lord does grant unto sinners a Day of Grace in which pardon and life are proffer'd to them and may be obtained by them If thou hadst known in this thy day This day we read of Heb. 3. 7 8. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Now Gods voice is heard and that heart is both wicked and foolish which hardens it self See also 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then as workers together with him beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in the day of salvation have I succour'd thee Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Those words I have heard thee in a time accepted in the day of salvation have I succour'd thee are spoken by God the Father unto Christ his Son Christ himself had in some sense a Day of Grace in which the Father was well pleased with him in which the Sacrifice which he offered up once for the sins of all was accepted in which his strong cryes for himself that he might be carried through the difficult work of Mans Redemption were heard and accordingly he was succour'd and enabled to work out a compleat salvation for the children of men And hence it comes to pass that unto them also a day of grace is granted in which they may be accepted and salvation is brought near them that they may lay hold upon it My work in the handling of this truth will be First to shew upon what account the Season of Grace is called a Day Secondly to declare what are the priviledges of this Day of Grace Thirdly to lay down the properties of it Fourthly I shall give some reasons why such a day is granted And then conclude with the Application First Upon what account the Season of Grace is called a Day 1. The Season of Grace is called a Day in regard of the light that then shines The Sun of Righteousness is risen and this Day is made by that Suns shining Light from the Gospel springs up unto them which else would have sat in darkness and in the region and shadow of death Matth. 4. 16. By this light things are discover'd which were hid from Ages and Generations Gods eternal counsel to glorifie his Grace in the pardon adoption cleansing and saving of men that have all sinn'd and thereby come short of his glory is by this light made manifest The light of Nature is but weak and dim and cannot make it day it gives such a discovery both of God and sin as is sufficient to leave those that sin against God without excuse Rom. 1. 20. But the way how enemies may be reconciled it cannot shew Nay because the first Covenant ran thus Do this and live the light of Nature doth strongly incline us to put a confidence in our own works then which nothing is more contrary to the Gospel of the Grace of God But though the Light of Nature be apt to lead out of the way as well as imperfect the Light of the Gospel is sufficient All that are now in glory made use of this Guide in their passage through the world David Psal 19. doth make a comparison between the Light of Nature and that of the Word From the Heavens Firmament Sun and Moon and other Creatures something of the Glory of God may be discover'd but then after he adds The Law of the Lord is perfect as if he had said From the Word shines forth a greater light then from the Sun and Moon and Stars a light which guides infallibly to the Light that 's everlasting And this Light is one thing which makes the Day the text speaks of 2. The Season of Grace is called a Day in that it is design'd for working When the day comes though the beasts gather themselves and lay them down in their dens yet man arises and goes forth to his work and labour till the evening Psal 104. 22 23. In like manner this day of the Gospel though they who are brutish lay them down in the bed of ease and fall asleep in carnal security yet such as have the understanding of men will go forth unto their work and labour and surely they who have lusts to mortifie a world to overcome a devil to resist and souls to save have work enough to do Why stand ye here all the day idle sayes our Lord in the Parable Matth. 20. 6. Spiritual sloth is now unseasonable and unreasonable Now is the time and the
death will be thy portion and then Life will be eternally farre from thee 3. This Word doth cleanse those defilements which nothing in the world can do away The Word of God is compared to fire and to an hammer as an hammer it breaks the rocky heart and then as fire it melts the heart and from its dross doth purifie it John 15. 3. Now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken to you In the Word as in a glass we may behold the abominable filthiness and vile ingratitude that is in sin and also the beauty of holiness is presented to our eye no wonder then if the former be abhorr'd the latter desired Besides the Word holds forth a Promise from the Lord himself to make the sinner clean and that from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit Ezek. 36. 25. 2 Cor. 7. 1. The Day of Grace is a day of healing now thou mayst be purged and cured of thy spiritual plagues but if this season be neglected thou wilt dye of them 5. This Word doth afford such peace and joy as the creatures cannot yield Corn and Wine and Oyl cannot yield such true comfort Hark to David Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart In sensual mirth the heart is sad misgives and is unsatisfied but the Word makes the very heart joyful In the Word we may see at present the reconciled face of God the frowns and other signs of anger gone and it speaks plainly of fuller manifestations and infinitely greater pleasures which are reserved for hereafter and the lively hopes of these which are so near as well as sure and glorious may well make the heart to leap for joy 5. This Word is able to build up those who are converted and to bring them safe unto their Country 'T is a means to increase the grace which 't is a means to work As it is the incorruptible seed whereby we are regenerated and begotten again so it is the milk wherewith we grow and thrive in holiness Act. 20. 32. I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified I might add That even those whom the Word doth not savingly change yet it prevails upon many times a great way it brings them near to the Kingdom and 't is their own fault that they miss of it And seeing the Word of God hath such effects that the enjoyment of it is a great priviledge is without controversie 2. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is the presence of the Spirit The Word and all other Ordinances without the Spirit are but like the carcass without the soul He makes the Word quick and powerful and sharper then a two-edged Sword which also would be found but a dead and inefficacious letter 'T is observed concerning the hotter Climates that when the Sun is up and begins to shine and scorch more vehemently there is also a wind arises to fan and cool the dwellers there else those Regions would be uninhabitable In like manner where the Sun of the Gospel shines there is the wind of the Spirit and these his gales how refreshing how powerful are they The accâ—sses of the Spirit are much to be observed and esteemed without his concurrence no advantage will be reaped by all the means of grace we use If the several operations of the Spirit are consider'd 't will be very evident what a priviledge of the Day of Grace this is to enjoy his presence 1. 'T is the work of the Spirit to convince Though the secure ones of the world had rather be let alone to sleep on and cannot endure to be jogged by conviction yet these convictions are great mercies What the Spirit doth convince the world of our Lord informs us John 16. 8. And when he is come he will reprove or convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not on me of righteousness because I go to the Father and ye see me no more of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged The Spirit convinces men of sin he shews the evil in it and the danger of it and among other sins that grand one of unbelief that is to say their rejecting Christ so long and slighting and refusing the remedy he proffers is in a special manner set home upon their hearts to their affliction and humbling He convinces likewise of righteousness as well as of sin He discovers the righteousness of Christ whereby all sin may be covered and this righteousness appears to be compleat and accepted because Christ is gone to his Father Christ undertook by his sufferings to satisfie for our offences and if the satisfaction had not been full he would never have been rid of the curse which sin being imputed to him was laid upon him neither would his righteous Father have suffered him to have sit down in the Throne with him But now since he is gone to his Father and set down in the Throne we may conclude he hath paid the utmost farthing of our debt and through him the Father is ready to shew grace and favour to us And if the conviction and sight of sin cast down the discovery of this righteousness may again revive 'T is a happiness to see our scores since we are shew'd a way how to have them all cross'd were it not for the sight of the one we should never mind the other Again the Spirit doth convince of Judgment By Judgment we may understand the condemnation of the impenitent and unbelieving who though they are convinced of sin continue in sin and though Christ be proffer'd still refuse to embrace him The Prince of this world is judged and condemned and shall these who sin against a remedy which the Devil never did escape No certainly God who spared not the Angels which sinned but cast them down to hell knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2 4 9. Or else by Judgment we may understand the Government and Kingdom of Jesus Christ All power is given to him and Judgment committed into his hand Satan the Prince of this world is already cast out and overcome And if he hath spoiled principalities and powers certainly all his foes will be made his footstool Well then it highly concerns all to submit unto the Scepter of Christ since else they will be dash'd in pieces by him And in this Day of Grace Christ is ready to pass by former rebellions if you now will become obedient to him 2. 'T is the work of the Spirit to renew 'T is a difficult matter to change an heart that is so unconceivably wicked as mans is and yet the Spirit doth effect this change he shews his mighty power in causing a vehement love to be turned into a
the whole Covenant shall be made good to them if their unbelief of Gods power and truth be not an hinderance 4. Now in this Day of Grace the great High-priest stands ready to intercede for us Never any sincerely begg'd for pardon and for grace but Christ pray'd that Prayer over again and a gracious return was made to it The Spirit also is ready to help infirmities to fill our hearts with such desires as shall be surely satisfied and truly we have to do with a God who of the best things which are most needful most desirable is alwayes most liberal Now are the mollia fandi tempora the times to speak and speed but when this gracious season is gone ah then the loudest cries will be in vain God will hear Christ will intercede the Spirit help no more 4. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That now the way is open to the Kingdom As you may come to the Throne of Grace so 't is possible to get into the Throne of Glory Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Our Lord doth stand as it were with a Crown of Life in his hand and sayes Believe in me and continue faithful to the death and this Crown shall be put upon your heads The Kingdom is offered and the sure way to the Kingdom is revealed Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel that is such a blessed and glorious life as will never by death have a period and if you cease to do evil learn to do well and patiently continue in well-doing this eternal life shall assuredly be given you The foolish Virgins had a Day oâ— Grace as well as the wise The Bridegroom came and the door was open iâ— they had been ready they might have entred but having lost the opportunity they knocked at last but it was too late the door was shut and they were sent away with I know you not Matth. 25. We read of a Ladder that reached from earth to heaven now there is a possibility of climbing up thither But there is no Ladder that reaches from hell to heaven If this present day of salvation be lost salvation it self also will be lost for ever 5. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That during this season the state of the wicked is not unalterable 'T is true the Holy Ghost expresly sayes that impenitent and unbelieving ones are condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. Sentence of condemnation is past but it may be repealed if they at last are brought to mourn for their rejecting of a Saviour and with their hearts believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God the consequent of this faith will be freedom from condemnation 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 There was condemnation heretofore to them as well as to others but now there is none for they are in Christ and shew it by renouncing the lusts and works of the flesh and giving themselves up to the Spirits guidance They whom sin hath set at a great distance from Christ are called to come to him and while this Day of Grace lasts that word holds good I will in no wise cast out But when this day is done then 't will be I will in no wise receive The Lamb himself then will be full of wrath and that 's dreadful The Lamb can pacifie the anger of God but who can appease the Lambs anger When the only Reconciler is himself irreconcileable when the only Intercessour is inexorable when the only Saviour punisheth with everlasting destruction what hope of help remains then But as yet 't is possible for Rebels to obtain a pardon and to be made children Though thou hast sinn'd thy self near to hell yet thou hast not sinn'd thy self into hell Though sin hath abounded if thou art brought by the entring of the Law to a sence how thy offences have abounded Grace will much more abound Rom. 5. 20. The Lord hath turn'd and chang'd as bad as the worst of you and that which hath been done may be done again since his hand is as mighty to save and his Grace as free as ever I have done with the priviledges of this Day of Grace In the third place follow the properties of it which are these 1. This Day of Grace is uncertain as to its duration 't is more uncertain then the day of life for that may end before this doth Nay the Day of Grace may be past while the very means of Grace continue The acceptable time was pass'd with the Jews when the Prophet was sent to preach among them Hark what a sad Commission he had Isa 6. 9 10. Go make the heart of this people fat make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed 'T is dreadful when the Word shall make the ear more deaf and the Light the eye more blind and awakening means the heart more gross and stupid The Sons of Eli had outstood their day and yet after this their Father admonishes them and endeavours to reclaim them They were lascivious and made themselves vile and Eli said 'T is no good report I hear of you my sons ye make the Lords people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them When Drunkards Sorcerers Liars Whoremongers Worldlings are reproved often and will not hearken who knows but the season of mercy may be ended and the Lord intends to slay them to damn them And if at the hearing of this they are unconcern'd there is greater cause to fear though we cannot absolutely conclude that 't is so indeed The day of grace is uncertain the means of grace may be before you are aware removed The golden Candlestick doth not stand so fast in any place as that 't is impossible it should be took away Tremble at that threatning uttered to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent And although Ordinances remain a blessing may be withheld from them Thou doest not know but every call may be the last time of asking and Christ may for ever after hold his peace and therefore presently give consent to be espoused to him thou dost not know but that every motion of the Spirit may have his last striving with thee and if thou still resistest the Spirit may take his leave and say Foolish Soul go on in sin go on to hell I will not strive any more to
hinder thee 2. This Day of Grace is exceeding precious This is the very flower and cream of time What 's the reason the Psalmist begs the Lord would teach him to number his dayes aright Psal 90. 12. What 's the reason one Apostle exhorts See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time Eph. 5. 15 16. and another advises Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. Surely these holy men saw more in time then most in the world are aware of they were sensible the present time contains the Day of Grace and that eternal Glory must now be got or lost for ever If there were no hope at all of being reconciled unto God of obtaining mercy and finding grace alass our time would be of no value But we may without prejudice to truth affirm that time is more precious then gold for now only Christ who is so precious is to be received now only the Soul which is so precious is to be secured The Apostle calls this the accepted time and the day of salvation If now we come the Lord will accept us and give his Son himself and freely all things to us and Salvation which since we are lost we so much need shall not be denied This Salvation is called Salvation of the Soul Heb. 10. 39. The better part the Jewel which the Destroyer principally aims at and designs to make his prey is secured This salvation also is affirmed to be great everlasting and salvation to the uttermost From the greatest evils the heirs of salvation are delivered everlastingly delivered and that good work which is begun in them shall be perfected to the uttermost and all of them shall stand in Glory as so many Monuments of Power and Mercy and Grace unto Eternity And is not the Day of Grace precious since a day of such salvation 3. This Day of Grace is a Day of Power Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Arm of the Lord is now revealed in making the report of the Gospel to be believed the same power is exerted in raising a sinner to the life of faith that was shewn in raising up Jesus our Lord from the dead Strong holds are pull'd down reasonings against Religion as if it were either absurd or intollerably burthensom are silenced Those lusts which before bare all the sway have a deadly wound which shall not be healed again Sins dominion is overthrown and the world is overcome 't is now under foot which used to have its seat in the very heart Thus believers find this day a day of power They are powerfully drawn to Jesus Christ and as powerfully upheld and supported by him And of this power the ungodly are not without some taste and experience Mighty convictions and restraints for a while they have but by degrees they grow stupid and get loose again and then fulfil their fleshly and their worldly lusts with the greater eagerness just as water being dam'd up when that restraint is taken away doth run with greater strength and speed for having been restrained 4. This Day of Grace it is but one when this is gone another is not to be expected In Nature there is a vicissitude of day and night even at midnight 't will not be many hours before the morning and the light return Soles occidere redire possunt but the night which follows after the Day of Grace is everlasting The abused light of the Gospel will be followed with that which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The blackness of darkness for ever Life indeed will return again at the general resurrection but another season of mercy will not be vouchsafed The Day of Grace is like the Dove which Noah sent the third time out of the Ark when once 't is flown away 't will return no more What mean the careless world to sport and play and sin away this golden season Every moment that slips by you is irrevocable and 't is but a little while and the whole stock will be spent of this accepted time Oh improve some of it at least before it be all gone If after death you were certain to be sent into the world again and to hear the joyful sound of the Gospel again and that the Lord again would try you and wait that he might be gracious then present carelessness were not altogether so much without apology But since immediately upon your dissolution you must go to your long your eternal home either of weal or wo oh let Eternity which is just at the door be provided for before this your day be ended Thus you have the Properties of the Day of Grace In the fourth place I am to lay down the Reasons why such a Day of Grace is granted Several reasons of this may be assigned 1. One shall be drawn from the Son's Incarnation and taking our nature on him Hence it comes to pass that unto man such kindness is expressed The Apostle sayes Verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. He was made in the likeness of men therefore mankind is the dearer to him There is a difference put between apostate Angels and fallen men I speak even of those that through their own wickedness and folly miss of salvation The reprobate Angels never had a remedy provided nor a Day of Grace afforded Christ assumed not their nature but as soon as ever they had sinned they fell like lightning suddenly in the twinkling of an eye from Heaven to Hell But man was not thus dealt with even those whom the Apostle calls Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are yet endured with much long-suffering Rom. 9. 22. Their salvation is in it self really possible I say in it self though all things consider'd there is an impossibility of any other event then the destruction of sinners continuing in their rebellions and this real possibility of salvation will make them cast the whole blame of their perdition on themselves that the day of salvation was trifled away and the salvation of that day was neglected This matter may be made more obvious and plain by a similitude The Apostle Paul Acts 27. admonisheth the Centurion who was to conduct him to Rome that the voyage they were about to make would be with much damage and hurt not only of the lading and ship but also of their lives Who can deny that the tarrying in the Haven where they were and where they might have been in safeguard was in it self really possible and they could not reasonably lay the blame of their shipwrack on Gods decree and determination but upon their own rashness In like manner sinners are admonished that if they go on in wickedness 't will be to their hurt and eternal damage not only of their lives but also of their souls Who can deny that the abstaining from such and such sins
is really possible therefore Gods decree is not to be blamed which brings no coaction upon the will of man but mans own perversness if he is wrack'd and miscarries to eternity We read of the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appearing Tit. 3. 4. The Son of God was manifested in the flesh of man and upon this score it is that light comes into the world and shines even upon those dark souls that are unwilling to comprehend it and salvation is proffer'd also unto them that refuse to embrace it 2. A Day of Grace is granted that the power of God may be known His power is much spoken of in the Gospel and believers feel the wonderful effects of that power We are inform'd of a twofold Creation the first and the second the old and the new In the first Creation the power of God was glorious indeed iâ— making the world out of nothing but here as there was nothing to help so there was nothing to resist this power oâ— God But in the new Creation in making new creatures there is a great opposition and resistance met withall and how glorious is the power of God that overcomes it What wonders are wrought in this day of Grace by the hand of the Lord He not only sayes Let there be light where darkness is but where darkness is loved He not only sayes Arise to them that are dead but to them that are unwilling to be raised Indisposition and opposition likewise are to be found in sinners when the Lord first comes to work upon them The Bullock cannot endure the yoak though hereby its life is lengthened for the beast that works not is fatted immediately for the slaughter A sinner is likened to a bullock unaccustomed to the yoak Jer. 31. 18. he discovers a great reluctancy and unwillingness to yield now in turning such an one with whose corruption and lusts Satan joyns to hinder conversion the power of God is the more to be admired 3. A Day of Grace is granted for the manifestation of divine goodness and mercy The Lord is said to delight in mercy Mic. 7. 18. therefore he allows a day in which mercy may be had and now it is to be obtained or never It is not small mercy that raises the sons of men out of those depths of misery into which they are fallen Great is thy mercy towards me saith the Psalmist and the greatness of it is demonstrated for thou hast redeemed my soul out of the lowest hell And if the unworthiness of man be duly considered the freeness of this mercy is to be admired as much as the abundance of it Mercy is free as well as plenteous 't is expressed not only above desert but without desert nay contrary to desert therefore according to that ancient Fathers phrase 't is Omni modo gratuita free every way Hence it is that Saints have used that as an argument to obtain mercy which oâ—â— would have thought should have quite discouraged them from entertaining any hopes of it namely the greatness of sin Psal 25. 11. For thy Name sake pardon my iniquity for it is great as if he had said Lord I know 't is thy design in this day of grace to manifest and to magnifie thy mercy and the greatness of my sin will serve to set thy mercy higher the richness and freeness of it will be the more wondred at because shewn to a gross transgressour Mercy nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abundant mercy is expressed in justifying the ungodly in quickening the dead and begetting them again to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. And this is the only season if it be not now laid hold on it will be clean gone for ever 4. A Day of Grace is granted that the Lords long-suffering and forbearance may be wondred at He is an eye-witness of all the wickedness that is done against him he hates all the sin he sees and can easily take vengeance upon the committers of it he stands not in the least need of any of them and yet he spares them and that a great while Oh how great is the stock of his patience Lord what is man that thou doest forbear him so long since thou canst so easily crush him How comes it to pass that thou doest call after him to benefit him since thou canst not be benefited by him and notwithstanding many provocations art unwilling he should perish Oh wonderful patience that will leave the abusers of it without any the least apology and that will be matter of everlasting marvel to those who hereby are lead unto repentance 5. A Day of Grace is granted that the righteousness of the Lord in those severities which are shew'd upon the impenitent and unbelieving may be the more evident and undeniable He will be justified when he speaks though never so amazing a sentence be utter'd by him he will be clear when he is judged Sinners who had a day of Grace and lost it an acknowledgment will be extorted from them that they are justly punished with the loss of endless blessedness which they frequently heard of and as often slighted When God shall thus plead with the Impenitent at his Bar Did not I give you a day as well as others Did not I call and you refuse Did not I stretch forth my hand and you disregarded me Did not I give you counsels and reproofs and you set them all at naught And thereupon shall bid them depart away never to see his face more How will all the Saints and Angels approve of the Sentence and cry Righteous art thou O Lord because thou hast thus judged and the impenitent will not have one syllable to say against it Now I descend to the Application And I shall begin with some Consectaries that may be drawn from the Doctrine 1. In this Day of Grace to sleep is very improper Let us not sleep as do others sayes the Apostle but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breast-plate of faith and love 1 Thes 5. 6 7 8. How long wilt thou sleep O sluggish Conscience when wilt thou awake shall nothing force thine eyes open The enemies of our salvation are far from sleeping they ply their business to bring about our ruine and shall not we awake for our own security How can we watch unless we are awake and if we are not vigilant how certain are we to be devoured by the roaring Lion Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light and light being given to see withall see that thou walk circumspectly The Sun of Righteousness is up and shining therefore we should be up and doing Sloth in this mid-day of the Gospel is unsutable as well as dangerous the Apostle therefore cautions against it Heb. 6. 12. That ye be not
end is unlamented indifferency whether or no it do continue If you are of an indifferent spirit whether you enjoy the light or it be put out in obscurity whether you hear the publishers of glad tidings or whether their mouths be stopp'd there is reason to be afraid the Lord is about to divest you of those priviledges which you know not how to value If you look upon spiritual darkness as no plague which is infinitely worse then that of Egypt if you esteem the famine of the Word which is worse then a famine of bread or a thirst of water Amos 8. 11. no such great judgment as long as from temporal judgments you are exempted this is a most wretched temper of soul and the Lord must needs be angry when the greatest mercies and favours are slighted and what punishment more probable or equal then to be deprived of them 4. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is contradicting and persecuting of the Lords Messengers We read Matth. 22. of a Marriage feast prepared servants are sent forth to invite many to the Marriage some who were invited took those servants and intreatthem spightfully Could the King which made this Supper bear this No he was wrath and did destroy these persecutors and none of them were permitted to partake of those good things he had provided and once proffer'd to them That is a dreadful text 2 Chron. 36. 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and there was no remedy The Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel the multitude flock to hear them when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy and spake against the Apostles doctrine but the Apostles seeing them reject ' the Gospel and them in such a way make this reply It was needful that the Word of God should be first spoken unto you but since you put it from you you shall not be troubled with it lo we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 45 46. and then to the Gentiles did the light arise and shine forth and the Jews were left under darkness Another sign the Day of Grace is near an end if not quite ended is obstinacy in some opinions which are damnable When fundamental truths are denied when all means used to reclaim and turn the erroneous through prejudiâ—e do but confirm and harden them how near to desperate is their case When the Lord sends strong delusions to any and they believe a lye oh 't is to be feared he intends their ruine and that their judgment will not linger will not flumber long 2 Thes 2. 11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Errour may extinguish the light of the Gospel and cause the Ordinances of God to be slighted the Word to be cast aside and the Spirit to depart and leave sinners to the seduction of Satan and the imagination of their dark and foolish hearts Let me therefore speak to you in the words of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3. 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being lead away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 6. Another fatal sign that the Day of Grace is near its period is an habit of back-sliding Hark how the Lord upbraids his people with this and after they are told of their desperate state Jer. 8. 4 5. Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall they turn away and not return why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back with a perpetual backsliding And then it follows ver 20 21 22 The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am black astonishment hath taken hold upon me Is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physician there why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recover'd There are many Professours who sometimes look Sion-ward and have some common work upon them but after do draw back and by often doing so contract such a scaredness that they make light of doing so They do possibly under some awakenings confess their sins but quickly return to the commission of them again they are convinced 't is their duty and yet they will not be perswaded to do the work of the Lord vigorously they are convinced of such and such sins and yet they will not be disswaded from following after them They may have a form of godliness but they will not be brought under the power of godliness nor give their consent to be sincerely and thorowly sanctified Divers motions and proffers of assistance they have had from the Spirit but all in vain they are bent upon backsliding Surely then they have just ground to fear that sentence is ready to be if not already pronounced Ezek. 24. 13. Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee Thus concerning the Signs when the Day of Grace is declining and drawing towards night Presumptuous soul if thou findest in thy self any of these signs oh startle exceedingly at the discovery and before the last hour of the day be ended enter into and labour to purpose in the Lords Vineyard 2. A second word of Caution is this Don't rashly conclude the Day of Grace is pass'd and that the Sun is already set upon you This is an extreme contrary to that of presumptuous ones which tempted and troubled spirits are very prone to run into They are ready to takeup Jobs complaint only with some sad variations Oh that I were as in moneths past as in the dayes when God would have preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and by his light I might have been deliver'd from the power of darkness The Almighty was then with me he call'd upon me to turn and was ready upon my turning to hear my calling to him But now I cry and he doth not hear me I stand up and he regards me not I have so bitterly provoked him to leave me that I am afraid he is now gone for ever Three things are here to be consider'd 1. No man can certainly conclude concerning another that his day is pass'd If we consult the Scripture we shall find those that have gone far in wickedness at last reclaimed therefore we should not despair of the worst Indeed the pride and stubbornness of the ungodly makes us fear that all our labour will be in vain yet we speak still and exhort and reprove with all long-suffering 2 Tim. 4. 2. because with God all things are possible and those sheep that are gone much astray seemingly past reach he can lay hold
be spared a few years or moneths or weeks longer Oh call time again I never saw thy worth till now If I might be again recover'd and restored oh how often would I pray and how earnestly would I cry for mercy and grace how carefully would I hear and practise But this I should have done before 't is now too late to think and there he stops his thread is cut asunder his soul flyes away and leaves his body a clod of earth And now Brethren are your hearts still mastered 'T is to be hoped concerning the worst in this Congregation that their day is not quite gone but who knows whether this may not be the last hour and if now you will not your own spirits may be quickly required of you or Gods Spirit may depart from you You will wish at last as others have done that the day of salvation had been valued let it therefore be no more neglected 5. Consider If you will not improve the Day of Grace you can reasonably expect nothing but a day of wrath When mercy hath acted its part towards ungodly ones and being still refused makes its Exit then fury and indignation enters upon the stage but of that traged there will be no end Whole eternity will be taken up in feeling the effects of divine displeasure and in bewailing the loss of that Day of Grace wherein this anger might have been appeased I have done with the second Doctrine Doct. 3. The third follows To know in this Day of Grace the things which belong to our peace is our great happiness and wisdom If Jerusalem had been thus wise she would not have been as she was rejected If thou hadst known sayes Christ The defective speech is thus to be made up If the things of thy peace had been understood by thee O Jerusalem thy state would have been as happy as now 't is woful instead of being cut off thou wouldst have been still as near to God and as dear as ever instead of having his wrath poured out upon thee to the uttermost that mercy which hath been so often proffer'd had assuredly been bestowed if thou hadst not foolishly shut thy eyes so as not to see either the value or thy own need of mercy A text somewhat parallel to this we have Isai 48. 17 18. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee â—o profit which leadeth thee by the way which thou shouldest go Oh that thou â—â—dst hearkened to my commandments â—hen had thy peace been as a river and thy â—ighteousness as the waves of the Sea In the prosecution of this Doctrine â— shall first open to you the nature of â—eace Secondly manifest what are the â—hings which belong to our peace Thirdly confirm the doctrine Fourthly apply it In the first place I am to open to you â—he nature of peace This is a subject no less profitable then pleasant Dulce nomen pacis the name of peace hath a sweet sound Peace implies a blessed conjunction between heaven and earth between the Creator and us his creatures and which follows hereupon a satisfaction and quietness in our hearts so that those disturbances and disorders which were caused by sin are becalmed and regulated The first of these namely Agreement with Heaven is the principally intended peace which Christ speaks of but the other namely Quietness within follows upon this and is the superstructure upon this foundation I shall therefore first explain the nature of Peace above and afterwards of Peace within 1. There is a Peace with God above When I speak of peace with God 't is supposed that by nature God and we are at variance and sin is the make-bate between God and man Sin is a thing that not only causes commotions and tumults here below therefore saith the Apostle From whence comes war and fightings among you comes it not hence even of your lusts that war in your members Jam. 4. 1. but it also sets Heaven and Earth at odds it so besots the potsherds of the earth that they venture to contend with him that is their Maker and who can easily dash them all in pieces Sin hath set us at a vast distance from God and is continually thrusting us further from him yet we may have peace if we will indeed return to him Though we have provoked him to be an enemy yet he is not such an enemy as is irreconcileable Hark what language he utters Isai 27. 4 5. Fury is not in me let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Peace with God is here promised God himself is ready to strengthen us that we may make peace with him and the more abundantly to encourage us he sayes Fury is not in me that is towards them who are willing to be reconciled and to rebel no more he is not at all furious but gracious and easie to be intreated though their awakened and fearful hearts are prone to imagine the Lord is made up all of anger This Peace with God several thingâ— are implied in it 1. Peace with God implies the removal of his wrath All sin is pardon'â— and done away in the bloud of Christ and guilt being cover'd the Lords anger ceases for sin is the only provocation to him See how these are joyned the forgiveness of sin and the taking away of wrath Psal 85. 2 3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah Thou hast takeâ— away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger The flaming sword is removed and the Lord sayes Draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you We read as of a Gulph fixed between God and damned spirits so of a middle wall of partition between God and unregenerate sinners the former namely the Gulph indeed cannot be passed thorow but the latter the middle wall may be broken down and 't is broken down when our peace is made His wrath abides on those that will not believe that refuse to be reconciled but his anger ceases towards them who believe and yield to him Thrice happy they who are eased of such a load as the wrath of God! Speak O ye troubled Consciences is not this anger your greatest trouble and that which makes the deepest wounds Speak O Hells Inhabitants is not divine wrath a punishment too heavy for you to bear is not this the weight which sinks you lowest in the bottomless pit Finally hear what Christ spake when he felt the displeasure of his Father My Soul sayes he is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Well may they rejoyce who through Jesus are freed from this displeasure 2. Peace with God implies an interest in his love His love is every whit as great towards those who are at peace with him as before his wrath was We may cease to be angry with another and yet
not have any great affection for him But where the Lord turns away his wrath the stream of his love doth run amain The time of our reconcilation and returning is called a time of love And this love is the more to be admired because it finds us in our bloud which makes us deserve loathing it finds no beauty no comeliness at all in us but what it puts upon us The Apostle speaks of rich mercy and great love which the reconciled have an interest in Ephes 2. 4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved This love of God is exceeding liberal it sets open his fulness which is so all-sufficient and we may come and take what we need at pleasure And as they who are at peace with God have an interest in his love so this love doth enkindle love in them to him again The unreasonable enmity of their hearts against God is cured the soul lifts up it self to God Psal 25. 1. which before very unreasonably doated upon the world and much more unreasonably upon its own lusts 3. Peace with God implies the establishment of a sure and everlasting Covenant between him and us As the Lord makes this Covenant so he makes over himself in this Covenant He becomes ours and he takes us for his own Ezek. 16 8. Nâ—w when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness yea I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine This Covenant is styled the Covenant of peace The Lord being once a friend will never become an enemy he will be merciful to the unrighteousness of them that are in Covenant with him and as he hath engaged not to leave and forsake them so he hath promised to put his love and fear into their hearts that they shall not leave and forsake him they are apt to be unstedfast 't is well they have to do with a God that is faithful and changeth not to this is owing their perseverance and their blessedness That 's a sweet place Isai 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Oh that our hearts were but set to study this Covenant of our God! How precious how sutable are the Promises of it We are guilty defiled troubled weak and lost creatures but in this Covenant Pardon the Spirit Peace strengthening Grace and eternal Salvation are made over And he that hath promised can as easily perform as promise Nay Christ hath confirmed this Covenant by his death so that it cannot be altered Our Lord at his death engaged his Father to be a Friend unto all that did or should believe in him and therefore that he will be a sure and never failing Friend may securely be built upon 4. Peace with God implies his taking us into a new and near relation to himself He makes us his Children and surely then we shall abide in his house for ever He not only sayes I will be a God to you but also I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. Well may we wonder with the Apostle 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Those who are at peace with God are espoused unto Jesus Christ unto such a Bill of divorce shall never be given And as Christ becomes their Husband and God their Father so they consent to carry it like Children to love and fear the Lord in a child-like manner to follow fully and hard after him they are willing to be faithful unto Christ and to be subject unto his commands which are far from being grievous 5. Peace with God implies freedom of access to him Those who proudly harden themselves in sin the Lord beholds them afar off but he is nigh to those whose peace is made such are invited not only to come but to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and mercy and grace to help shall not be denied them Heb. 4. ult They may without discouragement approach to God and tell him of their temptations He is ready to succour them they may tell him of their weakness he is ready to strengthen them with might in their inward man they may tell him of the distempers which they are burthen'd with he is ready to heal them they may spread their desires before him he is ready to fulfil the desire of the humble Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear And as the Soul whose peace is made hath freedom of access to God so God hath freedom of access unto the soul When Christ knocks the heart opens when the Spirit moves he doth prevail when God comes to dwell the heart yields it self to be his Temple and habitation and how much hereby is the soul dignified and advanced The sinner is no longer foolishly stubborn he denies the Lord nothing when he requires his heart his desire his love none of these shall be kept back any longer from him 6. Peace with God implies fellowship and communion with him There is a kind of a commonness between God and them that are reconciled to him whatever is in God is theirs because God is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11. 16. They have an interest and propriety in his Power and Wisdom and Mercy and fulness and they are sensible of the blessed effects of these and other of the Lords Attributes God having given them himself what will he refuse to communicate He is ever manifesting himself and bestowing those blessings upon them which Aliens never do receive He deals not towards them with a sparing hand the promise runs thus Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81. 10. And this is certain that the more open our mouths are the more open will the hand of God be Thus you see what Peace above what Peace with God is In the next place I am to speak of Peace within 'T is natural to man to be his own enemy and tormentor He that was possessed with unclean spirits 't is said no man could bind him no not with chains but he was in the Tombs and Mountains crying and cutting himself with stones Mar. 5. 5. In like manner a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the power of the Air worketh will not be bound will not be hindred from doing his soul harm those cords of restraint that the Word casts upon him he breaks asunder and casts away he is
wisdom and then we see the way of reconciliation He is made unto us righteousness sin is no longer imputed and that quarrel which Justice had with us comes to an end He is made unto us sanctification and then the holiness of God ceases to be our enemy and we no longer hate that holiness there is a sweet agreement between our renewed nature and an holy God and his holy Law which he would have us walk according to They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus love God because of his holiness and they love the Word of God upon the same score Psal 119. 139 140. My zeal hath consumed mâ— because mine enemies have forgotten thy words Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Finally Christ is made unto us redemption that 's a fourth benefit reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. He makes us free indeed because he frees us from that which is slavery indeed he delivers us from the bondage of corruption and causes us to become the servants of God and righteousness Rom. 6. And now we are reconciled to Gods Soveraignty and Authority we own him as our Lord who as he hath right to rule us so 't is our honour our advancement our freedom to be ruled by him 2. As we must know who is our Peace-maker so what are the conditions of our peace 1. One condition is godly sorrow And as the Lord doth grant us peace so he himself doth work this and the other conditions of it If we will be reconciled we must mourn for our offending and provoking God to be an enemy The eye of the body can look every way but inward and shall the eye of our mind never look inward neither Were our hearts but more acquainted with themselves they would be more broken and contrite hearts How deeply is the Law of sin engraven there and this Law of sin forbids whatever the Law of God commands and commands whatever the Law of God forbids The most venemous creature is not more full of poyson then our hearts are full of enmity against the Lord and reprobateness to what is good This corruption of our nature is not a thing which hath layn dormant and idle no but as a Fountain perpetually sends forth water so from the heart proceed evils abundantly whereby the man is defiled 'T is difficult to reckon up the sins of one day or of one duty and how vast then is the total sum of our whole lives abominations Oh break hard heart for shame who hast so often broken the most equal laws and broken thorow so many obligations to obedience If thâ— offending God be made light of this will anger him more then all thy other offences 2. Another condition of our Peace is Believing When the Jaylour was under the sense of Gods anger and wrath and tortur'd with the fears of damnation and cry'd out What shall I do to be saved Paul and Silas made this answer Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. How much is faith preached up in the Gospel and unto Christ our faith is directed for 't is in him that God is well pleased and 't is through that beloved Son alone that he will be at peace and well pleased with us If we expect favour or mercy any other way but through Jesus that very expectation is sufficient to be an eternal impediment to our obtaining of either The Lord hath made Faith one great condition of our peace and salvation for two reasons 1. Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing all the glory redounds to God alone Mans boasting is utterly excluded The hand of faith is an empty hand it brings nothing along with it but it receives Christ and with him and from him freely all thâ—ngs Faith exalts Christ and abases the sinner and makes him see that he is wretched and miserable and poor and naked and that to Christ he must be beholding for every thing he must thank himself for nothing Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing his peace with God is lasting his salvation sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure Adam was at peace with God when first created but since the continuance of his peace depended upon the constancy of his obedience peace and life were soon lost by him But faith puts our peace and salvation in the hands of another in the hands of Christ he undertakes to be the finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. He hath promised to keep us from falling and to confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1. 8. And the believer rests upon this word of promise which will never fail him That 's the second condition of peace believing 3. Another condition is Conversion with the whole heart to God How often doth the Spirit cry out Turn and liveâ— And though the Lord was bitterly provoked yet upon his peoples returning he promises to be pacified Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Our returning to him must be without delay without deceit we must not divide our hearts between him and sin between him and Mammon but we must consent to be wholly his and never to leave him any more but if through infirmity we do fall we must look unto the Lord to pity and pardon and heal and raise us To turn away from God so as not to return is inconsistent with peace Thus you know these things which are the conditions of your peace let me add Happy are ye if ye do them 3. It concerns us to know how we may attain to an assurance of Peace The soul indeed may be safe without this assurance but withall 't will be disconsolate Now 't is the Spirit who makes this discovery We read Rom. 14. 17. of peace and joy in the holy Ghost Peace and joy are the fruits of this blessed Comforter In Scripture the Saints are said to be sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. And their being thus sealed as it denotes their distinction from the rest of the world their being appropriated unto God and the value that is put upon them so it serves to confirm them in that perswasion That God is theirs and they are his There is indeed a privy Seal of his gracious Decree of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his But afterwards when the Spirit works upon us we are sealed in a more discernable way Now the work and method of the Spirit in sealing and bringing those who are reconciled unto an assurance of peace I shall declare 1. The Spitit convinces us of
destroyed them Just as Joseph's brethren when they would hinder his promotion sold their brother into Egypt where he arrived to that honour which being foretold was the matter of their envy 6. Gods late dispensations in a way of judgment do call upon you aloud to sue for peace He hath displayed his Flag of Defiance and the Motto of it hath been Peste Ferro Flamma By Plague and Sword and Fire By all these the Lord hath been fighting with us and our sins and rebelling against him is the ground of the quarrel The Sword was drawn which devoured flesh and dyed red the Sea with bloud The Quiver was opened and out flew the Arrows of the Pestilence and what slaughter did those Arrows make Heaps upon heaps the Destroyer kill'd many thousand went down to the Chambers of Death We were ready to conclude when the Plague was over that God had done with us but we were mistaken A Fire was kindled in his wrath which the strongest the stateliest buildings could not stand against How did the flames roar what havock did they make In three dayes space London was no more like it self then the dead bones which have lay'n in the grave for several years are like unto the man when he was alive and in his greatest strength and beauty When these effects of his displeasure are look'd upon with a considerate eye who can doubt that God was angry and how little hath been done to appease his wrath 'T is high time to beg for mercy and to abandon whatever is a bar in Mercy 's way Oh that London oh that England would know the things that belong to their peace We are not brought so low but we may be brought lower if we provoke the Lord to continue still an enemy 7. Consider as yet there is a possibility of being reconciled to God His Arms are open and stretched forth if you will but cast your selves into them If the most wicked will but forsake their wayes and thoughts and return to the Lord he will have mercy upon them and though sin hath abounded he will abundantly pardon Isai 55. 7. Oh what would the damned give that mercy were but possible to be obtained 'T is great mercy that you have not sinn'd your selves beyond the reach of mercy But if the favour of God and peace with him be neglected how quickly may you be concluded under sin and wrath and your salvation become as impossible as is the salvation of those who are in Hell I hope by this time your ears will be readily open to hearken to some Directions how you may have your peace with God made The Directions are these 1. Be sensible of and bewail that enmity which is between God and you You have unnaturally rebelled and risen up against your Father that made you Those members which he formed you have yielded as weapons of unrighteousness those powers which he hath indued your souls with you have employed sinfully You have dishonoured him in your bodies and spirits whereas you should have glorified him in both You are unjustly and unreasonably the Lords enemies what hath he done to deserve your hatred for which of his kindnesses do you fight against him But the Lord is justly an enemy to you because your transgressions against him have been so many and so mighty That you should have hearts alienated from such a God so holy and gracious and to whom you owe all that you are and have it should make your hearts break and melt within you and that you have engaged this God against you should be esteemed an evil and a bitter thing Jer. 2. 19. 2. Let your cryes be strong for peace Resolve never to give over till he whom you have provoked to be your enemy is become your friend If you would have an interest in the favour of God that favour must be intreated and that with your whole heart Psal 119. 58. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be merciful to me according unto thy word The condemned prisoner at the bar if there be hopes of speeding how doth he implore the Judges mercy The beggar who is ready to starve for hunger how doth he make a noise Bread bread for the Lords sake bread And you have more cause to cry for peace with God for if you live and dye enemies you are everlastingly undone And to hearten you to prayer let that Scripture be consider'd Psal 86. 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 3. The mediation of Jesus Christ must be used The Apostle tells us That Christ came and preached to them which were far off and to them which were nigh Ephes 2. 12. that is both to the Jews and Gentiles And that peace which he preached by his bloud he purchased The bloud of Christ hath a voice which voice is loud and peace is the thing which his bloud cryes for You must expect peace no other way but by the bloud of the Cross Believe that this bloud of Christ the eternal Son of God is sufficient to make an atonement for your sin and being encouraged by the proffers and promises which he hath made in the Gospel be sure to trust in him to be your Advocate with the Father and he will not fail to mediate your peace who ever believed on him and was confounded Christ is styled the Prince of Peace Isai 9. 6. which shews that he hath an uncontroulable power to make peace when and for whom he pleases 4. Let the design of God in the Gospel be consider'd as matter of encouragement which design is to reconcile the world unto himself 2 Cor. 5 19. God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation One great thing which keeps â—en off from God is an unbelieving fear that â—â— is aversâ— from peace rather forward to take vengâ—anâ—â— upon the sinner then ready to forgive his sin But have they who entertain such fears ever look'd into the Gospel If the Lord were so forward to kill and destroy why hath he provided a City of refuge why did he refuse to spare his Son why doth he proclaim himself a God abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth who hath mercy for thousands and forgives iniquity transgression and sin The more firmly you are perswaded of his kindness and compassions the sooner you will yield to him 5. Lay hold upon the Lords own strength if you would have your peace made Consult the forecited place Isai 27. 5. Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Though by the strength of the Lord we may understand Christ Jesus who is called the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Yet I rather think the Holy Ghost doth intimate to us in that place that unless