that it was the Will of God that you should mind your Bodies more than your Souls and this Life more than that to come Why he hath bid you strive and run and fight and labour and care and seek and use Violence and all Diligence for the safety of your Souls and for the Life to come But where hath he bid you do so for your Bodies No he knew that you were prone to do too much for them and therefore he hath bid you Care not and labour not that is Do it as if you did it not and let your Care and Labour for earthly Things be none in comparison of that for heavenly Things You know God can as well maintain your Lives without your Care and Labour as save your Souls without it And yet you see he will not he doth not You must plough and sow and reap and thresh for all God's Love and Care of you and not say I will let all alone and trust God And must you not much more use diligence in much greater Things If you will trust God you must trust him in his own Way and in the use of his own Means The fourth Excuse I was never brought up to Learning I cannot so much as read nor did my Parents ever teach me any of these things but only set me about my worldly Business and provide Food and Raiment for me but never once told me that I had a Soul to save or lose and an everlasting Life to provide and prepare for and therefore I could not come to the Knowledg of them Answ The greater is their Sin who thus neglected you But this is no sufficient Excuse for you Heaven is not prepared for the Learned only nor will Christ ask you at Judgment whether you are good Scholars or not no nor so much as whether you could write or read But consider well Was not God's Word so plainly written that the Unlearned might understand it Did he not put it into the most familiar Stile though he knew it would be offensive to the proud Scholars of the World of purpose that he might fit it to the Capacities of the Ignorant And if you could not read yet tell me could not you have learned to read at 20 or 30 Years of Age if you had been but willing to bestow now and then an Hour to that end Or at least did you not live near some that could read and could you not have procured them to read to you or to help you and did you not hear these things read to you in the Congregation by the Minister or might have done if you would and if your Parents did neglect you in your Youth yet when you came to a fuller use of Reason and heard of the Matters of Salvation from God's Word did it not concern you to have looked to your selves and to have redeemed that time which you lost in your Youth by doubling your Diligence when you came to riper Years The Apostles gathered Churches among Heathens that never heard of Christ before and converted many thousand Souls that were never once told of a Saviour or the Way to Salvation till they had past a great part of their Lives If you loitered till the latter part of the Day it behoved you then to have bestirred your selves the more and not to say Through the Fault of my Parents I lost the beginning of my Life and therefore I will lose all they taught me not then and therefore I will not learn now Have you not seen some of your Neighbours who were as ill educated as your selves attain to much Knowledg afterwards by their Industry and why might not you have done so if you had been as industrious as they May not God and Conscience witness that it was because you cared not for Knowledg and would not be at pains to get it that you knew no more Speak truth Man in the Presence of thy Judg was thy Heart and Mind set upon it Didst thou pray daily for it to God Didst thou use all the means thou couldst to get it Didst thou attend diligently on the Word in publick and think of what thou heardst when thou camest home Didst thou go to the Minister or to others that could teach thee and intreat them to tell thee the Way to Salvation Or didst thou not rather carelesly neglect these Matters and hear a Sermon as a common tale even when the Minister was speaking of Heaven or of Hell It was not then thine unavoidable Ignorance but thy Negligence Yea further answer as in the Presence of God Didst tou obey so far as thou didst know Or didst thou not rather sin against that Knowledg which thou hadst Thou knewest that the Soul was better than the Body and everlasting Life more to be regarded than this transitory Life but didst thou regard it accordingly Thou sure knewest that God was better than the World and Heaven than Earth at least thou wast told of it but didst thou accordingly value him and love him more Thou knewest sure that there was no Salvation without Faith and Repentance and newness of Life and yet they were neglected In a word many a thousand Sins which were committed and Duties that were omitted against thy own Knowledg and Conscience will marr this Excuse The fifth Excuse I lived not under a powerful Minister to tell me of these things but where there was no preaching at all Answ And might you not have gone where a powâ—â—ful Minister was with a little pains Yea did not the very plain Word that you heard read tell you of these things and might you not have had a Bible your selves and found them there The sixth Excuse I was a Servant and had no time from my Labour to mind these matters I lived with an hard Master that required all his own Work of me but would allow me no time for the Service of God Or else I was a poor Man and had a great Charge to look after and with my hard Labour had much ado to live so that I had no time for heavenly things Answ 1. Who should be first served God or Man What should be first sought after Heaven or Earth Did not Christ tell thee One thing is necessary Luke 10. 41 42. Was it not as needful to see that you escape Damnation and get safe to Heaven when this Life is ended as to see that you had Food and Raiment for your selves and yours 2. Did you spend no time in Recreation nor Idleness nor vain talking why might not that at least have been spent about heavenly things 3. Could you have taken no time from your rest or eating or at other Intermissions Man's Body will not endure so great Labours as have no Intermission And why then might not Godliness have been your Ease and Recreation 4. Or might you not have minded these things ever when you were about your Labour if you had but a Heart to them 5. At least you might have
For Mat. 7. 22 23. Christ telleth us that Many will say to me in that Day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name have â—lone many wonderful Works And then will I profess to them I never knew you Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity And in Mat. 25. 11. the foolish Virgins cry Lord Lord open to us And ver 44. Then shall they also answer him saying Lord when â—aw we thee an hungred or thirst or a Stranger or Naked or Sick or in Prison and did not minister unto thee And vers 24 25. they fear not to cast some of the Causes of their neglect on God himself Then he which had received the one Talent came and said Lord I knew thou art an hard Man reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed and I was afraid and went and hid thy Talent in the Earth lo there thou hast that is thine It is clear then that Excuses they will be ready to make and their full Conviction will be in order after these Excuses at least as in their Minds if not in Words but what the particular Excuses will be we may partly know by these Scriptures which recite them and partly by hearing what the Ungodly do now say for themselves And because it is for their present Benefit that I now make mention of them that they may see the Vanity of all such Excuses I will mention them as I now meet with them in the Mouths of Sinners in our ordinary Discourse and these Excuses are of several sorts some by which they would justify their Estate some Excuses of particular Actions and that either in whole or in part some by which they would put by the Penalty though they confess the Sin some by which they lay the blame on other Men and in â—ome they would cast it upon God himself I must touch but some of them very briefly The first Excuse I am not guilty of these things which I am accused of I did love God above all and my Neighbour as my self I did use the World but for Necessity but God had my Heart Answ The All-seeing Judg doth know the contrary and he will make thy Conscience know it Look back Man upon thy Heart and Life How seldom and how neglectfully didst thou think of God how coldly didst thou worship him or make any mention of him how carelesly didst thou serve him and think much of all that thou didst therein Thou rather thoughtest that his Service was making more ado than needs and didst grudg at those that were more diligent than thy self but for the World how heartily and how constantly didst thou seek and serve it and yet wouldst thou now perswade the Judg that thou didst love God above all He will shew thee thy naked Heart and the Course of thy former Life which shall convince thee of the contrary The Second Excuse I lived not in any gross Sin but only in small Infirmities I was no Murderer or Adulterer or Fornicator or Thief nor did I deceive or wrong any or take any thing by violence Answ Was it not a gross Sin to love the World above God and to neglect Christ that died for thee and never to do him one Hour's hearty Service but meerly to seek thy carnal self and to live to thy Flesh God will open thine Eyes then and shew thee a thousand gross Sins which thou now forgettest or makest light of and it is not only gross Sin but all Sin great or small that deserveth the Wrath of God and will certainly bring thee under it for ever if thou have not part in Christ to relieve thee Wo to the Man that ever he was born that must answer in his own Name for his smallest Offences The third Excuse I did it ignorantly I knew not that there was so much required to my Salvation I thought less ado might have served the turn and that if I look'd to my Body God would take care of my Soul and that it was better to trust him what would become of me hereafter than to trouble my Mind so much about it Had I known better I would have done better Answ If you knew not better who was it long of but your self Did God hide these things from you Did he not tell them you in his Word as plainly as the Tongue of Man can speak That except you were regenerate and born again you should not enter into the Kingdom of God John 3. 3 5. That without Holiness none should see God Heb. 12. 14. That you must strive to enter in at the strait Gate for many shall seek to enter and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. That if you lived after the Flesh you should die and if by the Spirit you mortified the Deeds of the Body you should live Rom. 8. 13. That if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ the same is none of his Rom. 8. 9. And to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace Rom. 8. 9. That you must not lay up for your selves a Treasure on Earth where Rust and Moths do corrupt and Thieves break through and steal but must lay up for your selves a Treasure in Heaven where Rust and Moths do not corrupt nor Thieves break through and steal Mat. 6. 19 20. That you must seek first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof Mat. 6. 23. and not labour for the Food that perisheth but for the Food that endureth to everlasting Life which Christ would have given you John 6. 27. That if you be risen with Christ you must seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God and not the things that are on Earth Col. 3. 1 2 3. Yea your very Conversation should be in Heaven Phil. 3. 19 20 21. What say you Did not God tell you all this and much more and plainly tell it you Turn to your Bibles and see the Words and let them witness against you 2. And could you think with any Reason that your Souls being so much more precious than your Bodies you should yet do so much more for your Bodies than your Souls could you think all the Labour of your Lives little enough for a frail Body that must lie shortly in the Dirt and that your Immortal Souls should be no more regarded Could you think with any Reason that your Souls should do so much for a Life of a few Years continuance and do no more for a Life that shall have no end 3. And whereas you talk of trusting God with your Souls you did not trust him You did but on that Pretence carelesly disregard them If you trust God shew any Word of Promise that ever he gave you to trust upon that ever an impenitent carnal careless Person shall be saved No he hath told you enough to the contrary And could you think
sake For it is not only or principally for the Goodness of the Work considered in it self or the Good that is done by it to the Poor but it is as those Works did express our Faith and Love to Christ by doing him the most costly and hazardous Service that by Faith we could see Christ in a poor Beggar or a Prisoner and could love Christ in these better than our worldly Goods or Liberties which we must part with or hazard by the Works that are here mentioned 2. The Reasons why Christ will so publickly declare the personal Righteousness of Men to be the Reason or Cause of his justifying Sentence is because it is the Business of that Day not only to glorify God's meer Love and Mercy but eminently to glorify his remunerative Justice and not only to express his Love to the Elect as such but to express his Love to them as faithful and obedient and such as have denied all for Christ and loved God above all and to shew his Justice to Men and Faithfulness in fulfilling all his Promises and also his Holiness in the high Estimation of the Holiness of his People I shall express this in the Words of a Learned Divine Dr. Twiss against Mr. Cotton pag. 40. Was there no more in God's Intention when he elected some than the Manifestation of the Riches of his glorious Grace Did not God purpose also to manifest the Glory of his remunerative Justice Is it no undeniable that God will bestow Salvation on all his Elect of ripe Years by way of Reward and Crown of Righteousness which God the righteous Judg will give 2 Tim. 4. 2 Thess 1. It is great pity this is not considered as usually it is not especially for the momentous Consequence thereof in my Judgment So far he So much of the Sentence of Justification which shall be passed by Christ at Judgment upon the Righteous 2. We are next to consider of the Sentence of Condemnation which shall then by Christ be passed on the Unrighteous Which is delivered to us by Christ Mat. 25. in the same Order as the former The Sentence containeth 1. The Condemnation it self 2. The Reason or Cause of it The Condemnation expresseth the Misery which they are judged to 1. Generally in the Denomination Cursed 2. Particularly by Description of their cursed State To be cursed is to be a People destinated and adjudged to utter Unhappiness to all kind of Misery without remedy 2. Their cursed Condition is described in the next Words Depart from me into everlasting Fire prepared for the 〈◊〉 and his Angels 1. Depart From whom from the God that made them in his Image from the Redeemer that bought them by the Price of his Blood and offered to save them freely for all their Unworthiness and many a time intreated them to accept his Offer that their Souls might live From the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier and Comforter of the Faithful who strove with their Hearts till they quenched and expelled him O sad Departing who would not then choose rather to depart from all the Friends he had in the World and from any thing imaginable from his Life from himself if it were possible than from Christ Depart from what why from the Presence of the Judg from all farther Hopes of Salvation for ever from all possibility of ever being saved and living in the joyful Inheritance of the Righteous Depart Not from God's Essential Presence for that will be with them to their everlasting Misery but from the Presence of his Grace in that Measure as they enjoyed it Depart Not from your fleshly Pleasures and Honours and Profits of the World these were all gone and past already and there was no farther need to bid them depart from these Houses and Lands were gone Mirth and Recreations were gone Their sweet Morsels and Cups were gone All the Honour that Men could give them was gone before they were set at Christ's Bar to be judged But from all Expectations of ever enjoying these again or ever tasting their former Delights from these they must depart not from their Sin for that will go with them but the Liberty of committing that part of it which was sweet to them as Gluttony Drunkenness Whoredom Idleness and all Voluptuousness from these they must depart But this is consequential it is Christ and the Possibility of Salvation that they are sentenced to depart from But whither must they depart 1. Into Fire 2. Into that Fire which was prepared for the Devil and his Angels 3. Into everlasting Fire 1. Not into a purifying but a tormenting Fire Whether elementary or not whether properly or metaphorically called Fire let us not vainly trouble our selves to enquire It is enough to know that as Fire is one of the most grievous Tormentors of the Flesh so grievous will be those infernal Torments to the whole Man Soul and Body such as is most fitly represented to us under the Notion of Fire and of Burning It is easy for a secure unbelieving Soul to read and hear of it but Wo and ten thousand Woes to them that must endure it In this Life they had their good things when it went harder as to the Flesh with better Men but now they are tormented when the Godly are comforted as Luke 16. 25. 2. But why is it called a Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 1. What is this Devil that hath Angels 2. Who are his Angels 3. When was it prepared for them 4. Wat it not also prepared for wicked Men To these in order 1. It seems by many Passages in Scripture that there is an Order among Spirits both good and bad and that there is one Devil that is the Prince over the rest 2. It seems therefore that it 's the rest of the evil Spirits that are called his Angels And some think that the Wicked who served him in this Life shall be numbred with his Angels in the Life to come Indeed the Apostle calls him the God of this World 2 Cor. 4. 4. as is ordinarily judged by Expositors and the Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2. 2. And he calleth false seducing Teachers the Ministers of Satan 2 Cor. 11. 15. But that wicked Men are here meant as part of his Angels is not clear 3. If it be the Preparation of God's Purpose that is here meant then it was from Eternity but if it be any Commination of God as Ruler of the Angels then was this Fire prepared for them conditionally from the beginning of that Commination and was due to them at their Fall 4. It seems that the Reason why here is no mention of preparing Hell-fire for the Wicked but only for the Devils is not because indeed it was not prepared also for the Wicked but to note that it is the Torment which was first prepared for or assigned to the Devils thereby shewing the greatness of the Misery
Repentance when they have Consciences seared with an hot Iroâ— as the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 4. 2. no wonder then 〈◊〉 they be past feeling and working all Uncleanness wiâ— greediness do make light of Christ and everlasting Glâ—â—ry O that this were not the Case of too many of 〈◊〉 Hearers Had we but living Souls to speak to theâ— would hear and feel and not make light of what 〈◊〉 saâ— I know they are naturally alive but they 〈◊〉 spiritually dead as the Scripture witnesseth Ephes 2â— O if there were but one spark of the Life of Grace them the Doctrine of Salvation by Jesus Christ woâ— appear to them to be the weightiest Business in 〈◊〉 World O how confident should I be methinks to prevail with Men and to take them off this World and bring them to mind the Matter of another World if I spake but to Men that had Life and Sense and Reason but when we speak to Blocks and dead Men how should we be regarded O how sad a Case are these Souls in that are fallen under this fearful Judgment of sâ—iritual Madness and Deadness To have a blind 〈◊〉 and an hard Heart to be sottish and sensless 〈◊〉 â—4 12. John 12. 40. lest they should be converted and their Sins should be forgiven them 6. Christ and Salvation are made light of â—y the World because they are wholly enslaved to their Sense and taken up with lower things the Matters of another World are out of sight and so far from their Senses that they cannot regard them but present things are nearer them in their Eyes and in their Hands there must be a living Faith to prevail over Sense before Men can be so taken with things that are not seen though they have the Word of God for their Security as to neglect and let go things that are still before their Eyes Sense works with great Advantage and therefore doth much in resisting Faith where it is No wonder then if it carry all before it where there is no true and lively Faith to resist and to lead the Soul to higher things this Cause of making light of Christ and Salâ—ation is expressed here in my Text One went to his â—arm and another to his Merchandize Men have Houâ—es and Lands to look after they have Wife and Children to mind they have their Body and outward Estate â—o regard therefore they forget that they have a God 〈◊〉 Redeemer a Soul to mind these Matters of the World are still with them They see these but they 〈◊〉 not God nor Christ nor their Souls nor everlasting Glory These things are near at hand and therefore work â—aturally and so work forcibly but the other are thought â—n as a great way off and therefore too distant to work â—n their Affections or be at the present so much regarded by them Their Body hath Life and Sense and therefore if they want Meat or Drink or Clothes will feel their Want and tell them of it and give them no rest till their Wants be supplied and therefore they cannot make light of their bodily Necessities but their Souls in spiritual Respects are dead and therefore â—eel not their Wants but will let them alone in their greatest Necessities and be as quiet when they are starved and languishing to Destruction as if all were well and nothing ailed them And hereupon poor People are wholly taken up in providing for the Body as if they had nothing else to mind They have their Trades and Callings to follow and so much to do from Morning to Night that they can find no time for Matters of Salvation Christ would teach them but they have no leisure to hear him the Bible is before them but they cannot have while to read it A Minister is in the Town with them but they cannot have while to go to enquire of him what they should do to be saved And when they do hear their Hearts are so full of the World and carried away with these lower Matters that they cannot mind the things which they hear They are so full of the Thoughts and Desires and Cares of this World that there is no room to pour into them the Water of Life The Cares of the World do choak the Word and make it become unfruitful Matth. 13. 22. Men cannot serve two Masters God and Mammon but they will lean to the one and despise the other Matth. 6. 24. He that loveth the World the Love of the Father is not in him 1 Jeâ—â— 2. 15 16. Men cannot choose but set light by Christ and Salvation while they set so much by any thing on Earth It is that which is highly esteemed among Men is abominable in the Sight of God Luke 16. 15. O this is the Ruine of many thousand Souls It would grieve the Heart of any honest Christian to see how eagerly this vain World is followed everywhere and how little Men set by Christ and the World to come 〈◊〉 compare the Care that Men have for the World â—ith the Care of their Souls and the time that they â—y out on the World with that time they lay out â—r their Salvation To see how the World fills their â—ouths their Hands their Houses their Hearts â—â—d Christ hath little more than a bare Title to come 〈◊〉 their Company and hear no Discourse but of the â—orld to come into their Houses and hear and see noâ—â—ing but for the World as if this World would last â—r ever or would purchase them another When I â—k sometime the Ministers of the Gospel how their â—â—bours succeed they tell me People continue still the 〈◊〉 and give up themselves wholly to the World so that 〈◊〉 mind not what Ministers say to them nor will give any 〈◊〉 Entertainment to the Word and all because of the deludâ—g World And O that too many Ministers themselves â—d not make light of that Christ whom they preach â—eing drawn away with the Love of this World In a â—ord Men of a worldly Disposition do judg of things â—cording to worldly Advantages therefore Christ 〈◊〉 slighted Isa 53. 3. He is despised and rejected of Men 〈◊〉 hide their faces from him and esteem him not as seeâ—g no Beauty or Comeliness in him that they should desire â—n 7. Christ and Salvation are made light of because â—en do not soberly consider of the Truth and Weight of â—ese necessary things They suffer not their Minds 〈◊〉 long to dwell upon them till they procure a due â—steem and deeply affect their Heart did they beâ—â—eve them and not consider of them how should they â—ork O when Men have Reason given them to think â—nd consider of the things that most concern them â—nd yet they will not use it this causeth their Conâ—â—mpt 8. Christ and Salvation are made light of because â—en were never sensible of their Sin and Misery and exâ—â—am Necessity of Christ and his Salvation Their Eyes â—ere never opened to see themselves as they are nor their
could not prevail We intreated them to lay all other Businesses aside a little while in the World and to enquire by the Direction of the Word of God what would become of them in the World to come and judg themselves before God came to judg them seeing they had the Law and Rule of Judgment before them but their Minds were blinded and their Hearts were hardned and the Profit and Pleasure and Honour of thâ— World did either stop their Ears for quickly steal away the Hearts so that we could never get them to a sober Consideration nor ever win their Hearts to God This will be the Witness that many a hundred Ministers of the Gospel must give in against the Souls oâ— their People at that Day Alas that ever you shoulâ— cast this upon us For the Lord's sake Sirs pity youâ— poor Teachers if you pity not your selves We haâ— rather go 1000 Miles for you we had rather be scorneâ— and abused for your sakes we had rather lay our Hands under your Feet and beseech you on our Knees with Tears were we able than be put on such Work as this It iâ— you that will do it if it be done We had rather follow you from House to House and teach and exhort youâ— if you will but hear us and accept of our Exhortation Your Souls are pretious in our Eyes for we know they were so in the Eyes of Christ and therefore we arâ— loth to see this Day we were once in your Case and therefore know what it is to be blind and careless and carnal as you are and therefore would fain obtain your Deliverance But if you will not hear but we must accuse you and we must condemn you the Lord judg between you and us For we can witness that iâ— was full sore against our Wills We have been faulty indeed in doing no more for you and not following you with restless Importunity the Good Lord forgive us but yet we have not betrayed you by silence 2. All those that fear God that have lived amongâ—â— ungodly Men will also be sufficient Witnesses against them Alas they must be put upon the same Work which is very unpleasant to their Thoughts as Ministerâ— are They must witness before the Lord that they did as Friends and Neighbours admonish them thaâ— they gave them a good Example and endeavoured to walk in Holiness before them But alas the most did but mock them and call them Puritans and precise Fools and they made more ado than needs for theiâ— â—â—lvation They must be forced to restify Lord we â—ould fain have drawn them with us to hear the Word â—nd to read it and to pray in their Families and to â—â—nctify the holy Day and take such happy Opportuâ—ities for their Souls but we could not get them to 〈◊〉 we did in our Places what we were able to â—â—ve them the Example of a godly Conversatiâ—n and they did but deride us they were reaâ—â—er to mark every slip of our Lives and to observe â—ll our Infirmities and catch at any Accusation that was against us than to follow us in any Work of holy â—bedience or Care for their everlasting Peace The â—ord knows it is a most heavy thing to consider now that â—oor Neighbours must be fain to come in against those â—hey love so dearly and by their Testimony to judg â—hem to Perdition O heavy Case to think of that Master must witness against his own Servant Yea Husband against his own Wife and a Wife against â—er Husband yea Parents against their own Children â—nd say Lord I taught them thy Word but they would â—ot learn I told them what would come on it if they â—eturned not to thee I brought them to Sermons and 〈◊〉 prayed with them and for them I frequently â—inded them of these everlasting Things and of â—his dreadful Day which they now see But youthâ—ul Lusts and the Temptations of the Flesh and the Devil led them away and I could never get them â—hroughly and soundly to lay it to their Hearts O â—ou that are Parents and Friends and Neighbours â—n the Fear of God bestir you now that you may not â—e put to this at that Day of Judgment O give them â—o rest take no nay of them till you have perswaded â—heir Hearts from this World to God lest you be put â—o be their Condemners It must be now that you must prevent it or else never now while you are with them while you and they are in the Flesh together which will be but a little while Can you but now prevail with them all will be well and you may meet them â—oyfully before the Lord. 3. Another Witness that will testify against the Ungodly at that Day will be their sinful Companions those that drew them into Sin or were drawn by them or joined with them in it O little do poor Drunkards think when they sit merrily in an Ale-house that one of them must bear witness against another and condemn one another If they thought of this methinks it should make them have less Delight in that Company those that now join with you in Wickedness shall then be forced to witness I confess Lord I did hear him sweat and curse I heard him deride those that feared the Lord and make a Jest of a holy Life I saw him in the Ale-house when he should be hearing the Word of God or reading or calling upon God and preparing for this Day I joined with him in fleshly Delights in abusing thy Creature and our own Bodies Sinners look your Companions in the Face the next time you are with them and remember this that I now say that those Men shall give in Evidence against you that now are your Associates in all your Mirth Little thinketh the Fornicator and lustful Wanton that their sinful Mates must then bear Witness of that which they thought the Dark had concealed and tell their Shame before all the World But this must be the Fruit of Sin It 's meet that they who encouraged one another in Sin should condemn one another for it And marvel not at it for they shall be forced to it whether they will or no Light will not then be hid They may think to have some case to their Consciences by accusing and condemning others When Adam is questioned for his Sin he presently accuseth the Woman Gen. 3. 12. when Judas his Conscience was awakned he runs to the Pharisees with the Money that drew him to it and they cast it back in his own Face See thou to il what is that to us Mat. 27. 4 5 6. O the cold Comfort that Sinners will have at that Day and the little I leasure that they will find in remembring their evil Ways Now when a Foruicator or a Worldling or a merry voluptuous Man is grown old and cannot act all his Sin again he takes Pleasure in remembring and telling others of his former Folly what he once was and what he
to him that died for them and rose again Rom. 14. 9. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Mat. 28. 18 19 20. 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. You will then understand that you were not your own but were bought with a Price and therefore should have glorified him that bought you with your Bodies and Spirits because they were his 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. This one Aggravation of your Sin will make you doubly and remedilesly miserable that you trod under foot the Son of God and counted the Blood of the Covenant wherewith you were sanctified an unholy thing Heb. 10. 26 27 28 29. and crucified to your selves the Son of God afresh and put him to open Shame Heb. 6. 5 6. 3. Moreover all the personal Mercies which they received will be so many Evidences for the Condemnation of the Ungodly The very Earth that bore them and yielded them its Fruits while they themselves are unfruitful to God The Air which they breathed in the Food which nourish'd them the Clothes which cover'd them the Houses which they dwelt in the Beasts that laboured for them and all the Creatures that died for their Use All these may rise up against them to their Condemnation And the Judg may thus expostulate with them Did all these Mercies deserve no more Thanks Should you not have served him that so liberally maintained you God thought not all these too good for you and did you think your Hearts and Services too good for him He served yours with the weary Labours of your fellow-Creatures and should you have grudged to bear his easy Yoak They were your Slaves and Drudges and you refused to be his free Servants and his Sons They suffered Death to feed your Bodies and you would not suffer the short Forbearance of a little forbidden fleshly Pleasure for the sake of him that made you and redeemed you O how many thousand Mercies of God will then be reviewed by those that neglected them to the Horror of their Souls when they shall be upbraided by the Judg with their base Requital All the Deliverances from Sickness and from Danger all the Honours and Privileges and other Commodities which so much contented them will then be God's Evidences to shame them and confound them On this Supposition doth the Apostle reprove such Rom. 2. 4 5 6. Despisest thou the Riches of his Goodness and Forbearance and Long-suffering not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance But after thy hardness and impenitent Heart treasurest up unto thy self Wrath against the Day of Wrath and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God who will render to every Man according to his Deeds 4. Moreover all the Means which God used for the Recovery of Sinners in the Day of their Visitation will rise up against impenitent Souls in Judgment to their Condemnation You can hear Sermons carelesly and sleepily now but O that you would consider how the Review of them will then awake you You now make light of the Warnings of God and Man and of all the wholesom Advice that is given you but God will not then make light of your Contempt O what cutting Questions will they be to the Hearts of the Ungodly when all the means that were used for their Good are brought to their Remembrance on one side and the Temprations that drew them to Sin on the other Side and the Lord shall plead his Cause with their Consciences and say Was I so hard a Master or was my Work so unreasonable or was my Wages so contemptible that no Perswasions could draw you into my Service Was Satan so good a Master or was his Work so honest and profitable or was his Wages so desirable that you would be so easily perswaded to do as he would have you Was there more perswading Reason in his Allurements and Deceits than in all my holy Words and all the powerful Sermons that you heard or all the faithful Admonitions you received or all the good Examples of the Righteous or in all the Works of God which you beheld Was not a Reason fetch'd from the Love of God from the Evil of Sin the Blood of Christ the Judgment to come the Glory promised the Torments threatned as forcible with you and as good in your Eyes to draw you to Holiness as a Reason from a little fleshly Delight or worldly Gain to draw you to be unholy In the Name of God Sinners I intreat you to bethink your selves in time how you will sufficiently answer such Questions as these You should have seen God in every Creature that you beheld and have read your Duty in all his Works what can you look upon above you or below you or round about you which might not have shewed you so much of the Wisdom and Goodness and Greatness of your Maker as should have convinced you that it was your Duty to be devoted to his Will and yet you have his written Word that speaks plainer than all these and will you despise them all will you not see so great a Light will you not hear so loud and constant Calls shall God and his Ministers speak in vain And can you think that you shall not hear of this again and pay for it one Day you have the Bible and other good Books by you why do you not read them You have Ministers at hand why do you not go to them and earnestly ask them Sirs What must I do to be saved and intreat them to teach you the Way to Life You have some Neighbours that fear God why do you not go to them and take their good Advice and imitate them in the Fear of God and in a holy Diligence for your Souls Now is the time for you to bestir your selves Life and Death are before you You have Gales of Grace to further your Voyage There are more for you than against you God will help you his Spirit will help you his Ministers will help you every good Christian will help you the Angels themselves will help you if you will resolvedly set your selves to the Work and yet will you not stir Patience is waiting on you Mercies are enticing you Scourges are driving you Judgment stayeth for you The Lights of God stand burning by you to direct you And yet will you not stir but lie in â—â—arkness And do you think you shall not hear of this Do you think this will not one Day cost you dear IX The ninth part of our Work is to shew you â—hat are those frivolous Excuses by which the Vnrighteous may then indeavour their Defence Having already shewed you what the Defence must be that must be sufficient to our Justification If any first demand Whether the Evidence of their Sin will not so overwhelm the Sinner that he will be speechless and past excuse I answer Before God hath done with him he will be so but it seems at first his clark Understanding and partial corrupted Conscience will set him upon a vain Defence
with the Mammon of Unrighteousness and ventured all his Hope in this Vessel And now he findeth the Wisdom of that Choice in a rich Return God made him so wise a Merchant as to sell all for this Pearl of greatest Price and therefore now he shall find the Gain As there is no other true Happiness but God in Glory so is there nothing more sutable and welcome to the true Believer O how welcome will the Face of that God be whom he loved sought longed and waited for How welcome will that Kingdom be which he lived in hope of which he parted with all for and suffered for in the Flesh How glad will he be to see the blessed Face of his Redeemer who by his manifold Grace hath brought him unto this I leave the believing Soul to think of it and to make it the daily matter of his delightful Meditation what an unconceivable Joy in one Moment will this Sentence of Christ will fill his Soul with Undoubtedly it is now quite past our Comprehension though our imperfect Forethoughts of it may well make our Lives a continual Feast Were it but our Justification from the Accusations of Satan who would have us condemned either as Sinners in general or as impenitent unbelieving Rebels against him that redeemed us in special it would lift up the Heads of the Saints in that Day After all the Fears of our own Hearts and the slanderous Accusations of Satan and the World That we were either impenitent Infidels or Hypocrites Christ will then justify us and pronounce us righteous So much for the Condition to which they are judged 2. The Reason or Cause of this Justification of the Saints is given us both 1. In a general Denomination and 2. In a particular Description 1. In general it is because they were righteous as is evident Mat. 25. 6. The Righteous shall go into Life everlasting And indeed it is the Business of every just Judg to justify the Righteous and condemn the Unrighteous And shall not the Judg of all the Earth judg righteously Gen. 18. 25. God makes Men righteous before he judges them so and judgeth them righteous because they are so He that abominateth that Man who saith to the Righteous Thou art wicked or to the Wicked Thou art righteous who justifieth the Wicked and condemneth the Righteous will certainly never do so himself Indeed he will justify them that are Sinners but not against the Accusation that they are Sinners but against the Accusation that they are guilty of Punishment for Sin but that is because he first made them just and so justifiable by pardoning their Sin through the Blood of Christ And it 's true also that he will justify those that were wicked but not those that are wicked but Judgment findeth them as Death leaveth them and he will not take them for wicked that are sanctified and cleansed of their former Wickedness So that Christ will first pardon them before he justify them against the Charge of being Sinners in general and he will first give Men Faith Repentance and new Obedience before he will justify them against the Charge of being Impenitent Infidels or Hypocrites and consequently â—mpardoned and doubly guilty of Damnation This twofold Righteousness he will first give Men and so constiture them just before he will declare it and sentence them just 2. The Reason of the Sentence particularly described is from their Faith and Love to Christ expressed in their Obedience Self-denial and forsaking all for him For I was hungry and ye fed me I was thirsty and ye gave me daink I was a Stranger and ye took me in naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came to me Verily I say unto you inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Mat. 25. 35 to 41. Here is 1. The causal Conjuction for 2. And the Cause or Reason it self Concerning both which observe 1. How it is that Man's Obedience and Self-denial is the Reason and Cause of his Justification 2. Why it is that God will have the Reason or Cause thus declared in the Sentence For the first observe that it 's one thing to give a Reason of the Sentence and another thing to express the Cause of the Benefit given us by the Promise and judged to us by the Sentence Man's Obedience was no proper Cause why God did in this Life give Pardon of Sin to us or a Right to Glory much less of his giving Christ to die for us And therefore as to our constitutive Justification at our Conversion we must not say or think that God doth justify us for or because of any Works of our Obedience legal or evangelical But when God hath so justified us when he comes to give a Reason of his Sentence in Judgment he may and will fetch that Reason partly from our Obedience or our Performance of the Conditions of the new Covenant For as in this Life we had a Righteousness consisting in free Pardon of all Sin through the Blood of Christ and a Righteousness consisting in our personal Performance of the Conditions of the Promise which giveth that Pardon and continueth it to us so at Judgment we shall accordingly be justified And as our evangelical personal Righteousness commonly called inherent was at first only in our Faith and Repentance and Disposition to obey but afterward in our actual sincere Obedience in which Sense we are constitutively justified or made righteous here by our Works in James his sense James 2. 24. so accordingly a double Reason will be assigned of our sentential Justification one from our Pardon by Christ's Blood and Merits which will prove our Right to Impunity and to Glory the other from our own Faith and holy Obedience which will prove our Right to that Pardon through Christ and to the free Gift of a Right to Glory and To this last is to be pleaded in Subordination to the former For Christ is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. He therefore that will be saved must have a Christ to save him as the Author and an Obedience to that Christ as the Condition of that Salvation and consequently both must be declared in the Judgment The Reason why the Judg doth mention our good Works rather than our believing may be because those holy self-denying Expressions of Faith and Love to Christ do contain or certainly imply Faith in them as the Life of the Tree is in the Fruit but Faith doth contain our Works of Obedience but only as their Cause The Works also are a Part of the personal Righteousness which is to be enquired after that is we shall not be judged righteous meerly because we have believed but also because we have added to our Faith Vertue and have improved our Talents and have loved Christ to the hazard of all for his
must die wiâ—â— you not believe us because you have lived so long and seen no Death coming Three or Four things there be that should bring any Matter to the Heart 1. If it be a Matter or exceeding Weight 2. If it concern not others only but our selves 3. If it be certain 4. If near All these things are here to be sound and therefore how should your Hearts be moved at the Consideration of this great Day 1. What Matter can be mentioned with the Tongue of Man of greater moment For the poor Creture to stand before his Maker and Redeemer to be judged to everlasting Joy or Torment Alas all the Matters of this World are Plays and Toys and Dreams to this Matters of Profit or Disprofit are nothing to it Matterâ— of Credit or Discredit are unworthy to be named with it Matters of temporal Life or Death are nothing to it We may see the poor brute Beasts go every Day to the Slaughter and we make no great matter of it though their Life be as dear to them as ours to us To be judged to an everlasting Death or Torment this is the great Danger that one would think should shake the stoutest Heart to consider it and awake the dullest Sinner to prevent it 2. It 's a Matter the concerneth every one of yourâ—selves and every Man or Woman that ever lived upon the Earth or ever shall do I am not speaking to you 〈◊〉 the Affairs of some far Country that are nothing to you but only to marvel at which you never saw not ever shall do no it is thy own self Man or Woman that hearest me this Day that shalt as surely appear before the Judgment-seat of Christ as the Lord liveth and as he is true and faithful and that is as sure as thou livest on this Earth or as the Heaven is over thee That Man that heareth all this with the most careless blockish Heart shall be awakened and stand with the rest at that Day that Man that never thought of it but spent his time in worldly Matters shall leave all and there appear that Man that will not believe these things to be true but make a Jest ofthem shall see and feel that he would not believe and he also shall be there the Godly that waited in Hope for that Day as the Day of their full Deliverance and Coronation they shall be there those that have lain in the Dust these 5000 Years shall rise again and all stand there Hearer whoever thou art believe it thou maist better think to live without Meat to see without Light to escape Death and abide for ever on Earth than to keep away from that Appearance Willing or unwilling thou shalt be there And should not a Matter then that so concerneth thy self go near thy Heart and awake thee from thy Security 3. That it is a Matter of unquestionable Certainty I have partly shewed you already and more would do if I were preaching to known Infidels If the careless World had any just Reason to think it were uncertain their Carelesness were more excusable Methinks a Man should be affected withthat which he is certain shall come to pass in a manner as if it were now in doing 1 Thess 5. 2. Ye perfectly know that the Day of the Lord so cometh c. saith the Apostle 4. This day is not only certain but it is near and therefore should affect you the more I confess if it were never so far off yet seeing it will come at last it should be carefully regarded But when the Judg is at the Door James 5. 9. and we are almost at the Bar and it is so short a time to this Assize what Soul that is not dead will be secure Alas Sirs what is a little time when it is gone how quickly shall you and I be all in another World and our Souls receive their particular Judgment and so wait till the Body be raised and judged to the same Condition It is not 100 Years in all likelihood till every Soul of us shall be in Heaven or Hell and it 's like not half or a quarter of that time but it will be so with the greater part of us and what is a Year or two or 100 how speedily is it come how many a Soul that is now in Heaven or Hell within 100 Years dwelt in the Places that you now dwell in and sat in the Seats you now sit in And now their time is past what is it Alas how quickly will it be so with us You know not when you go to Bed but you may be judged by the next Morning or when you rise but you may be judged before Night but certainly you know that shortly it will be and should not this then be laid to Heart Yea the general Judgment will not be long For certainly we live in the End of the World Qu. 4. My next Question is Whether are you ready for his dreadful Judgment when it comes or not Seeing it your selves then must be tried I think it concerns you to see that you be prepared How often hath Christ warned us in the Gospel that we be always ready because we know not the day or Hour of his coming Matth. 24. 44 42. and 25. 13 1 Thess 5. 6. and told us hos sad a time it will be to those that are unready Mat. 25. 11 12. Did Men but well know what a Meeting and Greeting there will be between Christ and an unready Soul it would sure startle them and make them look about them What say you beloved Hearers are you ready for Judgment or are you not Methinks a Man that knoweth he shall be judged should ask himself the question every day of his Life am I ready to give up my Account to God Do not you use to ask this of your own Hearts unless you be careless whether you be saved or damned methinks you should and ask it seriously Qu. But who be they that are ready how shall I know whether I be ready or not Answ There is a twofold Readiness 1. When you are in a safe Cafe 2. When you are in a comfortable Cafe in regard of that Day The latter is very desiraeble but the frist is of absolute Necessity this therefore is it that you must principally enquire after In general all those and only those are ready for Judgment who shall be justified and saved and not condemned when Judgment corâ—es they that have a good Cause in a Gospel-sense It may be known before hand who these are for Christ judgeth as I told you by his Law And therefore find out whom it is that the Law of Grace doth justify or condemn and you may certainly know whom the Judg will justify or conemn for he judgeth righteously If you further ask me who these are remember that I told you before that every Man that is personally righteous by fulfilling the Conditions of Salvation in the Gospel shall be saved
and he that is foun unrighteous as having not fulfilled them shall perish at that Day Qu. Who are those Answ I will tell you them in a few Words lest you should forget because it is a Matter that your Salvation or Damnation dependeth upon 1. The Soul that unfeignedly repenteth of his former sinful Course and turneth from it in Heart and Life and loveth the Way of godliness which he hated and hateth the Way of Sin which he loved and is become throughly a new Creature being born again and sanctified by the Spirit of Christ shall be justified but all others shall certainly be condemned Good News to repenting converted Sinners but sad to impenitent and him that knows not what this means 2. That Soul that feeling his Misery under Sin and the Power of Satan and the Wrath of God doth believe what Christ hath done and suffered for Man's Resâ—auration and Salvation and thankfully accepteth him as his only Saviour and Lord on the Terms that he is offered in the Gospel and to those Ends event to justify him and sanctify and guide him and bring him at last to everlasting Glory that Soul shall be justified at Judgment and he that doth not shall be condemned Or in short in Scripture-phrase He that believeth shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be condemmd Mar. 16. 16. 3. The Soul that hath had so much Knowledg of the Goodness of God and his Love to Man in Creation Redemption and the following Mercies and hath had so much Conviction of the Vanity of all Creatures as thereupon to love God more than all things below so that he haththe chiefest room in the Hearts and is preferred before all Creatures ordinarily in a time of trial that Soul shall be justified at Judgment and all others shall be condemned 4. That Soul that is so apprehensive of the absolute Soveraignty of God as Creator and Redeemer and of the Righteousness of his Law and the Goodness of his holy Way as that he is firmly resolved to obey him before all others and doth accordingly give up himself to study his Will of purpose that he may obey it and doth walk in these holy Ways and hath so far mortified the Flesh and subdued the World and the Devil that the Authority and Word of God can do more with him than any other and doth ordinarily prevail against all the Perwasion and Interest of the Flesh so that the main Scope and Bent of the Heart and Life is still for God and when he sinneth he riseth again by true Repentance I say that Soul and the only shall be justified in Judgment and be saved 5. That Soul that hath such believing Thoughts of the life to come that he taketh the promised Blessedness for his Portion and is resolved to venture all else upon it and in hope of this Glory doth set light comparatively by all things in this World and waiteth for it as the End of the Life choosing any suffering that God shall call him to rather than to lose his hopes of the Felicity and tus perservereth to the End I say that Soul and none but that shall be justified in Judgand escape Damnation In these five Marks I have told you truly and briefly who shall be justified and saved and who shall be condemned at the Day of Judgment And if you would have them all in five Words they are but the Description of these five Graces Repentance Faith Love Obedience Hope But though I have laid these close together for your use you left you should think that in so weighty a Case I am too short in the Proof of what I so determine of I will tell you in the express Words of many Scripture-Texts who shall be justified and who shall be condemned John 3. 3. Except a Man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Heb. 12. 14. Without Holiness none shall see God Luke 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Acts 26. 18. I send thee to open their Eyes and turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among the sanctified by Faith that is in me John 3. 15 16 17 18 19. Whoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life he that believeth on him is not condemned he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather than Light because their deeds were evil John 5. 28 29. The Hout is coming in which that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation Mar. 25. 30. Cast the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Luke 19. 27. But those mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Mat. 22. 12 13. Friend how camest thou in hither not having on a Wedding-Garâ—ent And he was speechless Then said the King to the Seâ—â—ants bind him Hand and Foot and take him away and cast him into outer Darkness c. Mat. 5. 20. For I say unto you that except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Heb. 5. 6. He is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in by the Gate into the City Rom. 8. 1 13. There is then no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 9. If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Gal. 5. 18. But if ye be led of the Spirit ye are not under the Law Gal. 6. 7 8. Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting Mat. 6. 21. For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also Read Psal 1. and many other Texts to this purpose of which some are cited in my Directions for Peace of Conscience Dir. 11. p. 115 116. And thus I have told you from God's Word how you may
know whether you are ready for Judgment which is the fourth thing that I would advise you to enquire after O Sirs what shift do you make to keep your Souls from continual Terrors as long as you remain unready for Judgment How do you keep the Thoughts of it out of your Mind that they do not break your Sleep and meet you in your Business and haunt you every way you go while Judgment is so near and you are so unready But I shall proceed to my next Question Qu. 5. And in the last place to those of you that are not yet ready nor in a Condition wherein you may be safe at that Day my Question is How are you reslved to prepare for Judgmet for the time to come Will you do no more than you have done hitherto Or will you now set your selves with all your Might to prepare for so great a Day methinks you should be now past all Demurs Delays or farther Doubtings about such a Business aud by the Consideration of what I have said already you should be fully resolved to lose no more time but presently awake and set upon the Work Methinks you should all say We will do any thing that the Lord shall direct us to do rather then we will be unready for this final Doom O that there were but such Hearts in you that you were truly willing to follow the gracious Guidance of the Lord and to use but those sweet and reasonable Means which he hath prescribed you in his Word that you may be ready for that Day Alas it is no hard matter for me to tell you or my self what it is that we must do if we will be happy and it is no very hard matter to do it so far as we are truly willing but the Difficulty is to be truly and throughly willing to this Work If I shall tell you what you must do for Preparation shall I not lose my Labour Will you resolve and promise in the Strength of Grace that you will faithfully and speedily endeavour to practise it whoever shall gainsay it Upon hope of this I will set you down some brief Directions which you must follow if ever you will with Comfort look the Lord Jesus in the Face at the Hour of Death or in the Day of Judgment The first Direction is this See that your Souls be sincrely established in the Belief of this Judgment and everlasting Life For if you do not soundly believe it you will not seriously prepare for it If you have the Judgment and Belief of an Infidel you cannot have the Heart or the Life of a Christian Unbelief shuts out the most of the World from Heaven see that it do not so by you If you say you cannot believe what you would I answer Feed not your Unbelief by Wilfulness or Unreasonableness use God's Means to overcome it and shut not your Eyes against the Light and then try the Issue Heb. 3. 12 13 15 16 17 18 19. The second Direction Labour diligently to have a sound Vnderstanding of the Nature of the Laws and Judgment of God On what Terms it is that he dealeth with Mankind and on what Terms he will judg them to Life or Death and what the Reward and Punishment is For if you know not the Law by which you must be judged you cannot know how to prepare for the Judgment Study the Scripture therefore and mark who they be the God promiseth to save and who they be that he threatneth to condemn For according to that Word will the Judgment pass The third Direction See that you take it as the very Business of your Lives to make ready for that Day Understand that you have no other Business in the World but what doth necessarily depend on this What else have you to do but to provide for everlasting and to use Means to sustain your own Bodies and others of purpose for this Work till it be happily done Live therefore as Men that make this the main Scope and Care of their Lives and let all things else come in but on the by Remember every Morning when you awake that you must spend that Day in Preparation for your Account and that God doth give it you for that end When you go to Bed examine your Hearts what you have done that Day in the Preparation for your last Day And take that time as lost which doth nothing to this end The fourth Direction Vse frequently to think of the Certainty Nearness and Dreadfulness of that Day to keep Life in your Affections and Endeavours lest by Inconsiderateness your Souls grow stupid and negligent Otherwise because it is out of the sight the Heart will be apt to grow hardned and secure And do not think of it slightly as a common thing but purposely set your selves to think of it that it may rouze you up to such Affections and Endeavours as in some measure are answerable to the Nature of the thing The fifth Direction Labour to have a lively Feeling on thy Heart of the Evil and Weight of that Sin which thou art guilty of and of the Misery into which it hath brought thee and would further bring thee if thou be not delivered and so to feel the Need of a Deliverer This must prepare thee to partake of Christ now and if thou partake not of him now thou canst not be saved by him then It is these Souls that now make light of their Sin and Misery that must then 〈◊〉 them so heavy as to be pressed by them into the internal Flames And those that now feel little need of a Saviour they shall then have none to save them when they feel their Need. The sixth Direction Vnderstand and believe the sufficiency of that Ransom and Satisfaction to Justice which Christ hath made for thy Sins and for the World and how freely and universally it is offered in the Gospel Thy Sin is not uncurable or unpardonable nor thy Misery remediless God hath provided a Remedy in his Son Christ and brought it so near thy Hands that nothing but thy neglecting or wilful refusing it can deprive thee of the Benefit Settle thy Soul in this Belief The seventh Direction Vnderstand and believe that for all Christ's Satisfaction there is an absolute Necessity of â—ound Faith and Repentance to be in thy own self before thou canst be a Member of him or be pardoned adopted or justified by his Blood He died not for final Infidelity and Impenitency as predominant in any-Soul As the Law of his Father which occasioned his Suffering required perfect Obedience or Suffering So his own Law which he hath made for the Conveyance of his Benefits doth require yet true Faith and Repentance of Men themselves before they shall be pardoned by him and sincere Obedience and Perseverance before they shall be glorified The eight Direction Rest not therefore in an unrenewed unsanctified State that is till this Faith and Repentance be wrought on thy own
Soul and thou be truly broken off from thy former sinsul Course and from all things in this World and art dedicated devoted and resigned unto God Seeing this Change must be made and these Graces must be had or thou must certainly perish in the Fear of God see that thou give no ease to thy Mind till thou art thus changed Be content with nothing till this be done Delay not another Day How canst thou live merrily or sleep quietly in such a Condition as if thou shouldst die in it thou shouldst perish for ever Especially when thou art every Hour uncertain whether thou shalt see another Hour and not be presently snatch'd away by Death Methinks while thou art in so sad a Case which way ever thou art going or whatever thou art doing it should still come into thy Thoughts O what if I should die before I be regenerate and have part in Christ The ninth Direction Let it be the daily Care of thy Soul to mortify thy fleshly Desires and overcome this World and live as in a continual Conflict with Satan which will not be ended till thy Life do end If any thing destroy thee by drawing away thy Heart from God it will be thy carnal Self thy fleshly Desires and the Allurements of this World which is the Matter that they feed upon This therefore must be the earnest Work of thy Life to subdue this Flesh and set light by this World and resist the Devil that by these would destroy thee It is the common Case of miserable Hypocrites that at first they list themselves under Christ as for a Fight but they presently forget their State and Work and when they are once in their own Conceit regenerate they think themselves so safe that there is no farther Danger and thereupon they do lay down their Arms and take that which they miscall their Christian Liberty and indulge and please that Flesh whch they promised to mortify and close with the World which they promised to contemn and so give up themselves to the Devil whom they promised to fight against If once you apprehend that all your Religion lieth in meer Believing that all shall go well with you and that the Bitterness of Death is past and in a forbearance of some disgraceful Sins and being much in the Exercise of your Gifts and in external Ways of Duty and giving God a cheap and plausible Obedience in those things only which the Flesh can spare you are then faln into that deceitful Hypocrisy which will as surely condemn you as open Profaneness if you get not out of it You must live as in a Fight or you cannot overcome You must live loose from all things in this World if you will be ready for another You must not live after the Flesh but mortify it by the Spirit if you would not die but live for ever Rom. 8. 13. These things are not indifferent but of flat Necessity The tenth Direction Do all your Works as Men that must be judged for them It is not enough at least in point of Duty and Comfort that you judg this Preparation in general to be the main Business of your Lives but you should also order your particular Actions by these Thoughts and measure them by their Respects to this approaching Day Before you venture on them enquire whether they will bear weight in Judgment and be sweet or bitter when they are brought to Trial both for Matter and Manner this must be observed O that you would remember this when Temptations are upon you when you are tempted to give up your Minds to the World and drown your selves in earthly Cares Will you bethink you soberly whether you would hear of this at Judgment and whether the World will be then as sweet as now and whether this be the best Preparation for your Trial When you are tempted to be drunk or to spend your precious time in Ale-houses or vain unprofitable Company or at Cards or Dice or any sinful or needless Sports bethink you then whether this will be comfortable at the reckoning and whether time be no more worth to one that is so near Eternity and must make so strict an Account of his Hours and whether there be not many better Works before you in which you might spend your time to your greater Advantage and to your greater Comfort when it comes to a review When you are tempted to Wantonness Fernication or any other fleshly Intemperance bethink you soberly with what Face these Actions will appear at Judgment and whether they will be then pleasant or displeasant to you So when you are tempted to neglect the daily Worshipping of God in your Families and the catechising and teaching of your Children or Servants especially on the Lord's Day bethink your selves then what account you will give of this to Christ when he that entrusted you with the Care of your Children and Servants shall call you to a reckoning for the Performance of that Trust The like must be remembred in the very manner of our Duties How diligently should a Minister study how earnestly should he perswade how unweariedly should he bear all Oppositions and ungrateful Returns and how carefully should he watch over each particular Soul of his Charge as far as is possible when he remember that he must shortly be accountable for all in Judgment and how importunate should we all be with Sinners for their Conversion when we consider that we our selves also must shortly be judged Can a Man be cold and dead in Prayer that hath any true Apprehension of that Judgment upon his Mind where he must be accountable for all his Prayers and Performances O remember and seriously remember when you stand before the Minister to hear the Word and when you are on your Knees to God in Prayer in what a manner that same Person even your selves must shortly stand at the Bar of the dreadful God! Did these Thoughts get throughly to Mens Hearts they would awaken them out of their sleepy Devotions and acquaint them that it is a serious Business to be a Christian How careful should we be of our Thoughts and Words if we believingly remembred that we must be accountable for them all How carefully should we consider what we do with our Riches and with all that God giveth us and how much more largely should we expend it for his Service in Works of Piety and Charity if we believingly remembred that we must be judged according to what we have done and give account of every Talent that we receive Certainly the believing Consideration of Judgment might make us all better Christians than we are and keep our Lives in a more innocent and profitable Frame The eleventh Direction As you will certainly renew your Failings in this Life so be sure that you daily renew your Repentance and fly daily to Christ for a renewed Pardon that no Sin may leave its sting in your Souls It is not your first Pardon that
and the meaning is that the World is invited by the Gospel to come in and partake of Christ and Salvation which comprehendeth both Pardon Justification and Right to Salvation and all other Privileges of the Members of Christ The Invitation is God's Offer of Christ and Salvation in the Gospel the Servants that invite them are the Preachers of the Gospel who are sent forth by God to that end the Preparation for the Feast there mentioned is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the enacting of a Law of Grace and opening 〈◊〉 Way for revolting Sinners to return to God There is a mention of sending second Messengers because Goâ— useth not to take the first Denial but to exercise his Patience till Sinners are obstinate The first Persons invited are the Jews upon their obstinate Refusal they are sentenced to Punishment and the Gentiles are invited and not only invited but by powerful Preaching and Miracles and effectual Grace compelled that is infallibly prevailed with to come in The Number of them is so great that the House is filled with the Guests many come sincerely not only looking at the Pleasure of the Feast that is at the Pardon of Sin and Deliverance from the Wrath of God but also at the Honour of the Marriage that is of the Redeemer and their Profession by giving up themselves to an holy Conversation but some come in only for the Feast that is Justification by Christ having not the Wedding-garment of sound Resolution for Obedience in their Life and looking only at themselves in believing and not to the Glory of their Redeemer and these are sentenced to everlasting Misery and speed as ill as those that came not in at all seeing a Faith that will not work is but like that of the Devil and they that look to be pardoned and saved by it are mistaken as James sheweth ch 2. 24. The Words of my Text contain a Narration of the ill Entertainment that the Gospel findeth with many to whom it is sent even after a first and second Invitation They make light of it and are taken up with other things Though it be the Jews that were first guilty they have too many followers among us Gentiles to this Day Doct. For all the wonderful Love and Mercy that God hath manifested in giving his Son to be the Redeemer of the World and which the Son hath manifested in redeeming them by his Blood for all his full Preparation by being a sufficient Sacrifice for the Sins of all for all his personal Excellencies and that full and glorious Salvation that he hath procured and for all his free Offers of these and frequent and earnest Invitation of Sinners yet many do make light of all this and prefer their worldly Enjoyments before it The ordinary Entertainment of all is by Contempt Not that all do so or that all continue to do so who were once guilty of it for God hath his Chosen whom he will compel to come in But till the Spirit of Grace overpower the dead and obstinate Hearts of Men they hear the Gospel as a common Story and the great Matters contained in it go not to the Heart The Method in which I shall handle this Doctrine is this 1. I shall shew you what it is that Men make light of 2. What this Sin of making light of it is 3. The Cause of the Sin 4. The Use of the Doctrine 1. The thing that carnal Hearers make light of is 1. The Doctrine of the Gospel it self which they hear regardlesly 2. The Benefits offered them therein which are 1. Christ himself 2. The Benefits which he giveth Concerning Christ himself the Gospel 1. Declareth his Person and Nature and the great things that he hath done and suffered for Man his redeeming him from the Wrath of God by his Blood and procuring a Grant of Salvation with himself Furthermore the same Gospel maketh an Offer of Christ to Sinners that if they will accept him on his easy and reasonable Terms he will be their Saviour the Physician of their Souls their Husband and their Head 2. The Benefits that he offereth them are these 1. That with these blessed Relations to him himself and Interest in him they shall have the Pardon of all their Sins past and be saved from God's Wrath and be set in a sure way of obtaining a Pardon for all the Sins that they shall commit hereafter so they do but obey sincerely and turn not again unto the Rebellion of their Unregeneracy 2. They shall have the Spirit to become their Guide and Sanctifier and to dwell iâ— their Souls and help them against their Enemies and conform them more and more to his Image and heal their Diseases and bring them back to God 3. They shall have Right to everlasting Glory when this Life is ended and shall be raised up thereto at the last besides many excellent Privileges in the Way in Means Preservation and Provision and the Foretaste of what they shall enjoy hereafter all these Benefits the Gospel offereth to them that will have Christ on his reasonable Terms The Sum of all is in 1 John 5. 11 12. This is the Record that God hath given us eternal Life and this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life and he that hath not the Son hath not Life II. What this Sin of making light of the Gospel is 1. To make light of the Gospel is to take no great heed to what is spoken as if it were not a certain Truth or else were a Matter that little concerned them or as if God had not written these things for them 2. When the Gospel doth not affect Men or go to their Hearts but though they seem to attend to what is said yet Men are not awakened by it from their Security nor doth it work in any measure such holy Passion in their Souls as Matters of such everlasting Consequence should do this is making light of the Gospel of Salvation When we tell Men what Christ hath done and suffered for their Souls and it scarce moveth them We tell them of keen and cutting Truths but nothing will pierce them we can make them hear but we cannot make them feel our Words take up in the Porch of their Ears and Fancies but will not enter into the inward Parts as if we spake to Men that had â—o Hearts or Feeling this is a making light of Christ â—nd Salvation Acts 28. 26 27. Hearing ye shall hear â—nd shall not understand seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive For the Heart of this People is waxen gross and their Ears are dull of hearing their Eyes â—re closed c. 3. When Men have no high Estimation of Christ and Salvation but whatsoever they may say with their Tongues or dreamingly and speculatively believe yet â—n their serious and practical Thoughts they have a higher Estimation of the Matters of this World than â—hey have of Christ and the Salvation that he
Hearts soundly humbled in the Sense of their Condition if this were done they would soon be broughâ— to value a Saviour A truly broken Heart can no moâ— make light of Christ and Salvation than a hungrâ— Man of his Food or a sick Man of the Means thâ— would give him case but till then our Woâ—â— cannot have Access to their Hearts While 〈◊〉 and Misery is made light of Christ and Salvatiâ—â— will be made light of but when these are perceivâ— an intolerable Burden then nothing will serve the 〈◊〉 but Christ Till Men be truly humbled they 〈◊〉 venture Christ and Salvation for a Lust for a litâ— worldly Gain even for less than nothing but whâ— God hath illuminated them and broken their Heaâ— then they would give a World for a Christ then thâ— must have Christ or they die all things then are Loss 〈◊〉 Dung to them in regard of the excellent Knowledg of 〈◊〉 Phil. 3. 8. When they are once pricked in their Hearâ— for Sin and Misery then they cry out Men and Brethâ— what shall we do Acts 2. 37. When they are awakeâ—â—ed by God's Judgments as the poor Jaylor 〈◊〉 16. 29. then they cry out Sirs what shall I do to 〈◊〉 saved This is the Reason why God will bring Men 〈◊〉 low by Humiliation before he bring them to Salvatâ—â—â— 9. Men take occasion to make light of Christ 〈◊〉 the Commonness of the Gospel because they do hear 〈◊〉 it every Day the frequency is an Occasion to dull thâ— Affections I say an Occasion for it is no just Cauâ— Were it a Rarity it might take more with them 〈◊〉 now if they hear a Minister preach nothing but thâ— saving Truths they say We have these every Day the make not light of their Bread or Drink their Heaâ— or Life because they possess them every day they maâ— not light of the Sun because it shineth every day least they should not for the Mercy is the greater 〈◊〉 Christ and Salvation are made light of because thâ— heaâ— of them often This is say they a good plain 〈◊〉 Seâ—mon Peaâ—ls are trod in the dirt where they are 〈◊〉 they loath this dry Manna Prov. 27. 7. The â—ull Soul loaths the Hony-comb but to the Hungry Soul â—very bitter thing is sweet 10. Christ and Salvation are made light of because of this disjunctive Presumption either that he is sure enough theirs already and God that is so merciful and â—hrist that hath suffâ—red so much for them is surely resolved to save them or else it may easily be obtained at â—ny time if it be not yet so A conceited Facility to â—ave a part in Christ and Salvation at any time doth occasion Men to make light of them It is true that Grace is free and the Offer is universal according to â—he extent of the preaching of the Gospel and it is â—rue that Men may have Christ when they will that is when they are willing to have him on his Terms but he that hath promised thee Christ if thou be willing hath not promised to make thee willing and if thou art not willing now how canst thou think thou shalt be willing hereafter If thou canst make thine own Heart willing why is it not done now Can you do it better when Sin hath more hardned it and God may have given thee over to thy felf O Sinners you might do much though you are not able of your selves to come in if you would now subject your selves to the working of the Spirit and set in while the Gales of Grace continue But did you know what a hard and impossible thing it is to be so much as willing to have Christ and Grace when the Heart is given over to it self and the Spirit hath withdrawn its former Invitations you would not be so confident of your own Strength to believe and repent nor would you make light of Christ upon such foolish Confidence If indeed it be so easy a Matter as you imagine for a Sinner to believe and repent at any time how comes it to pass that it is done by so few but most of the World do perish in their Impenitency when they have all the Helps and Means that we can afford them It is true the thing is very reasonable and easy in it self to a pure Nature but while Man is blind and dead these things are in a sort impossible to him which are never so easy to others It is the easiest and sweetest Life in the World to a gracious Soul to live in the Love of God and the delightful Thoughts of the Life to come where all their Hope and Happiness lieth But to worldly carnal Hearts it is as easy to remove a Mountain as to bring them to this However these Men are their own Condemners for 〈◊〉 they think it so easy a Matter to repent and believe and so to have Christ and Right to Salvation then have they no excuse for neglecting this which they thought so easy O wretched impenitent Soul what mean you to say when God shall ask you Why did you not repent and love your Redeemer above the World when you thought it 〈◊〉 easy that you could do it at any time IV. Vse 1. We come now to the Application And hence you may be informed of the Blindness and Folly of all carnal Men how contemptible are their Judgments that think Christ and Salvation contemptible and how littlâ— Reason there is why any should be moved by them or discouraged by any of their Scorns or Contradictions How shall we sooner know a Man to be a Fool than if he knows no difference between Dung and Gold Is there such a thing as madness in the Word if that Man be not mad that sets light by Christ and his own Salvation while he daily toils for the Dung of the Earth And yet what pity is it to see that a Company of poor ignorant Souls will be ashamed of Godliness if such Men as these do but deride them Or will think hardly of a holy Life if such as these do speak against it Hearers if you see any set light by Christ and Salvation do you set light by that Man's Wit and by his Words and hear the Reproaches of a holy Life as you would hear the Words of a Mad-man not with regard but with a Compassion of his Misery Vse 2. What wonder if we and our preaching be despised and the best Ministers complain of ill success when the Ministry of the Apostles themselves did succeed no better What wonder if for all that we can say or do our Hearers still set light by Christ and their own Salvation when the Apostles Hearers did the same They that did second their Doctrines by Miracles If any Men could have shaken and torn in pieces the Hearts of Sinners they could have done it If any could have laid them at their Feet and made them all cry out as some What shall we do it would have been they You may
see then that it is not meerly for want of good Preachers that Men make light of Christ and Salvation the first News of such a thing as the Pardon of Sin and the Hopes of Glory and the Danger of everlasting Misery would turn the Hearts of Men within them if they were as tractable in spiritual Matters as in temporal But alas it is far otherwise It must not seem any strange thing nor must it too much discourage the Preachers of the Gospel if when they have said all that they can devise to say to win the Hearts of Men to Christ the most do still slight him and while they bow the Knee to him and honour him with their Lips do yet set so light by him in their Hearts as to prefer every fleshly Pleasure or Commodity before him It will be thus with many let us be glad that it is not thus with all Vse 3. But for closer Application Seeing this is the great condemning Sin before we enquire after it into the Hearts of our Hearers it beseems us to begin at home and see that we who are Preachers of the Gospel be not guilty of it our selves The Lord forbid that they that have undertaken the sacred Office of revealing the Excellencies of Christ to the World should make light of him themselves and slight that Salvation which they do daily preach The Lord knows we are all of us so low in our Estimation of Christ and do this great Work so negligently that we have cause to be ashamed of our best Sermons but should this Sin prevail in us we were the most miserable of all Men. Brethren I love not Censoriousness yet dare not befriend so vile a Sin in my self or others under pretence of avoiding it especially when there is so great Necessity that it should be healed first in them that make it their Work to heal it in others O that there were no cause to complain that Christ and Salvation are made light of by the Preachers of it But 1. Do not the negligent Studies of some speak it out 2. Doth not their dead and drowsy Preaching declare it Do not they make light of the Doctrine they preach that do it as if they were half asleep and feel not what they speak themselves 3. Doth not the Carelesness of some Mens private Endeavours discover it What do they for Souls how slightly do they reprove Sin how little do they when they are out of the Pulpit for the saving of Mens Souls 4. Doth not the continued Neglect of those things wherein the Interest of Christ consisteth discover it 1. The Churches Purity and Reformation 2. It s Unity 5. Doth not the covetous and worldly Lives of too many discover it losing Advantages for Mens Souls for a little Gain to themselves and most of this is because Men are Preachers before they are Christians and tell Men of that which they never felt themselves Of all Men on Earth there are few that are in so sad a Condition as such Ministers and if indeed they do believe that Scripture which they preach methinks it should be terrible to them in their studying and preaching it Vse 4. Beloved Hearers the Office that God hath called us to is by declaring the Glory of his Grace to help under Christ to the saving of Mens Souls I hope you think not that I come hither to Day on any other Errand The Lord knows I had not set a Foot out of Doors but in hope to succeed in this Work for your Souls I have considered and often considered what is the matter that so many thousands should perish when God hath done so much for their Salvation and I find this that is mentioned in my Text is the Cause It is one of the Wonders of the World that when God hathso loved the World as to send his Son aud Christ hath made a Satisfaction by his Death sufficient for them all and offereth the Benefits of it so freely to them even without Money or Price that yet the most of the World should perish yea the most of those that are thus called by his Word Why here is the Reason when Christ hath done all this Men make light of it God hath shewed that he is not unwilling and Christ hath shewed that he is not unwilling that Men should be restored to God's Favour and be saved but Men are actually unwilling themselves God takes not pleasure in the Death of Sinners but rather that they return and live Ezek. 33. 11. But Men take such pleasure in Sin that they will die before they will return The Lord Jesus was content to be their Physician and hath provided them a sufficient Plaister of his own Blood but if Men make light of it and will not apply it what wonder if they perish after all This Scripture giveth us the Reason of their Perdition This sad Experience tells us the most of the World is guilty of It is a most lamentable thing to see how most Men do spend their Care their Time their Pains for known Vanities while God and Glory are cast aside That he who is all should seem to them as nothing and that which is nothing should seem to them as good as all that God should set Mankind in such a Race where Heaven or Hell is their certain End and that they should sit down and loiter or run after the childish Toys of the World and so much forget the Prize that they should run for Were it but possible for one of us to see the whole of this Business as the All-seeing God doth to see at one View both Heaven and Hell which Men are so near and see what most Men in the World are minding and what they are doing every Day it would be the saddest sight that could be imagined O how should we marvel at their Madness and lament their Self-delusion O poor distracted World what is it that you run after and what is it that you neglect If God had never told them what they were sent into the Word to do or whither they were going or what was before them in another World then they had been excusable but he hath told them over and over till they were weary of it Had he left it doubtful there had been some excuse but it is his sealed Word and they profess to believe it and would take it ill of us if we should question whether they do believe it or not Beloved I come not to accuse any of you particularly of this Crime but seeing it is the commonest Cause of Mens Destruction I suppose you will judg it the fittest Matter for our Enquiry and deserving our greatest Care for the Cure To which end I shall 1. Endeavour the Conviction of the Guilty 2. Shall give them such Considerations as may tend to humble and reform them 3. I shall conclude with such Direction as may help them that are willing to escape the destroying Power of this Sin And
with that which would hinder them from Christ and they will not do it They are called but to give God his own and to resign all to his Will and let go the Profits and Pleasures of this World when they must let go either Christ or them and they will not They think this too dear a Bargain and say they cannot spare these things they must hold their Credit with Men they must look to their Estates how shall they live else they must have their Pleasure whatsoever becomes of Christ and Salvation As if they could live without Christ better than without these as if they were afraid of being Losers by Christ or could make a saving Match by losing their Souls to gain the World Christ hath told us over and over that if we will not forsake all for him we cannot be his Disciples Luke 14. 33. Far are these Men from forsaking all and yet will needs think that they are his Disciples indeed 7. That which Men highly esteem they would help their Friend 's to as well as themselves Do not those Men make light of Christ and Salvation that can take so much care to leave their Children Portions in the World and do so little to help them to Heaven that provide outward Necessaries so carefully for their Families but do so little to the saving of their Souls Their neglected Children and Friends will witness that either Christ or their Childrens Souls or both were made light of 8. That which Men highly esteem they will so diligently seek after that you may see it in the success if it be a Matter within their reach You may see how many make light of Christ by the little Knowledg they have of him and the little Communion with him and Communication from him and the little yea none of his special Graces in them Alas how many Ministers can speak it to the Sorrow of their Hearts that many of their People know almost nothing of Christ though they hear of him daily nor know they what they must do to be saved If we ask them an account of these things they answer as if they understood not what we say to them and tell us they are no Scholars and therefore think they are excusable for their Ignorance O if these Men had not made light of Christ and their Salvation but had bestowed but half so much Pains to know and enjoy him as they have done to understand the Matters of their Trades and Callings in the World they would not have been so ignorant as they are they make light of these things and therefore will not be at the Pains to study or learn them When Men that can learn the hardest Trade in a few Years have not learned a Catechism nor how to understand their Creed under twenty or thirty Years Preaching nor cannot abide to be questioned about such things doth not this shew that they have slighted them in their Hearts How will these Despisers of Christ and Salvation be able one Day to look him in the Face and to give an account of these Neglects Thus much I have spoken in order to your Conviction Do not some of your Consciences by this time smite you and say I am the Man that have made light of my Salvation If they do not it is because you make light of it still for all that is said to you But because if it be the Will of the Lord I would fain have this damning Distemper cured and am loth to leave you in such a desperate Condition if I knew how to remedy â—it I will give you some Considerations which may â—â—move you if you be Men of Reason and Understanding to look better about you and I beseech you weigh them and make use of them as we go and lay open your Hearts to the Work of Grace and sadly bethink you what a Case you are in if you prove such as make light of Christ Consider 1. Thou makest light of him that made not light of thee who didst deserve it Thou wasâ— worthy of nothing but Contempt As a Man what art thou but a Worm to God As a Sinner thou art far viler than a Toad yet Christ was so far from making light of thee and thâ— Happiness that he came down into the Flesh and lived a â—ife of Suffering and offered himself a Sacrifice to the Justice which thou hadst provoked that thy miserable Soul might have a Remedy It is no less than Miracles of Love and Mercy that he hath shewed to us and yet shall we slight them after all Angels admire them whom they less concern 1 Pet. 1. 12. and shall redeemed Sinners make light of them What barbarous yea devilish yea worse than devilish Ingratitude is this the Devils never had a Saviour offered them but thou hast and dost thou yet make light of him 2. Consider the Work of Man's Salvation by Jesus Christ is the Master-piece of all the Works of God wherein he would have his Love and Mercy to be magnified As the Creation declareth his Goodness and Power so doth Redemption his Goodness and Mercy he hath contrived the very Frame of his Worship so that it shall much consist in the magnifying of this Work and after all this will you make light of it His Name is Wonderful Isa 9. 6. He did the Work that none could do John 15. 24. Greater Love could none shew than this John 15. 13. How great was the Evil and Misery that he delivered us from the Good procured for us all are Wonders from his Birth to his Ascension from our new Birth to our Glorification all are Wonders of matchless Mercy And yet do you make light of them 3 You make light of Matters of greatest Excellency and Moment in the World you know not what it is that you slight had you well known you could not have done it As Christ said to the Woman of Samaria John 4. 10. hadst thou known who it is that speaketh to thee thou wouldst have asked of him the Waters of Life had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. So had you known what Christ is you would not have made light of him Had you been one Day in Heaven and but seen what they possess and seen also what miserable Souls must endure that are shut out you would never sure have made so light of Christ again O Sirs it is no Trifles or jesting Matters that the Gospel speaks of I must needs profess to you that when I have the most serious Thoughts of these things my self I am ready to marvel that such amazing Matters do not overwhelm the Souls of Men that the Greatness of the Subject doth not so overmatch our Understandings and Affections as even to drive Men beside themselves but that God hath always somewhat allayed it by the distance much more that Men should be so blockish as to make light of them O Lord that Men did but know what
everlasting Glory and everlasting Torments are would they then hear us as they do would they read and think of these things as they do I profess I have been ready to wonder when I have heard such weighty things delivered how People can forbear crying out in the Congregation much more how they can rest till they have gone to their Ministers and learned what they should do to be saved that this great Business might be put out of doubt O that Heaven and Hell should work no more on Men O that Everlastingness should work no more O how can you forbear when you are alone to think with your selves what it is to be everlastingly in Joy or in Torment I wonder that such Thoughts do not break your Sleep and that they come not in your mind when you are about your Labour I wonder how you can almost do any thing else How you can have any Quietness in your Minds How you can eat or drink or rest till you have got some Ground of everlasting Consolations Is that a Man or a Corps that is not affected with Matters of this Moment that can be readier to sleep than to tremble when he heareth how he must stand at the Bar of God! Is that a Man or a Clod of Clay that can rise and lie down without being deeply affected with his everlasting Estate that can follow his worldly Business and make nothing of the great Business of Salvation or Damnation and that when they know it is hard at hand Truly Sirs when I think of the Weight of the Matter I wonder at the very best of God's Saints upon Earth that they are no better and do no more in so weighty a Case I wonder at those whom the World accounteth more holy than needs and scorns for making too much ado that they can put off Christ and their Souls with so little that they pour not out their Souls in every Supplication that they are not more taken up with God that their Thoughts be not more serious in preparation for their Account I wonder that they be not an hundred times more strict in their Lives and more laborious and unwearied in striving for the Crown than they are And for my self as I am ashamed of my dull and careless Heart and of my slow and unprofitable Course of Life so the Lord knows I am ashamed of every Sermon that I preach when I think what I have been speaking of and who sent me and that Mens Salvation or Damnation is so much concerned in it I am ready to tremble lest God should judg me as a Slighter of his Truth and the Souls of Men and lest in the best Sermon I should be guilty of their Blood Methinks we should not speak a Word to Men in Matters of such Consequence without Tears or the greatest Earnestness that possibly we can were not we too much guilty of the Sin which we reprove it would be so Whether we are alone or in Company methinks our End and such an End should still be in our Mind and as before our Eyes and we should sooner forget any thing and set light by any thing or by all things than by this Consider 4. Who is it that sends this weighty Message to you Is it not God himself Shall the God of Heaven speak and Men make light of it You would not slight the Voice of an Angel or a Prince 5. Whose Salvation is it that you make light of Is it not your own Are you no more near or dear to your selves than to make light of your own Happiness or Misery Why Sirs do you not care whether you be saved or damned Is Self-love lost Are you turned your own Enemies As he that slighteth his Meat doth slight his Life so if you slight Christ whatsoever you may think you will find it was your own Salvation that you slighted Hear what he saith Prov. 8. 36. All they that hate me love Death 6. Your Sin is greater in that you profess to believe the Gospel which you make so light of For a professed Infidel to do it that believes not that ever Christ died or rose again or doth not believe that there is an Heaven or Hell this were no such marvel but for you that make it your Creed and your very Religion and call your selves Christians and have been baptized into this Faith and seemed to stand to it this is the Wonder and hath no Excuse What! believe that you shall live in endless Joy or Torment and yet make no more of it to escape Torment and obtain that Joy What! believe that God will shortly judg you and yet make no more Preparation for it Either say plainly I am no Christian I do not believe these wonderful things I will believe nothing but what I see or else let your Hearts be affected with your Belief and live as you say you do believe What do you think when you repeat the Creed and mention Christ's Judgment and everlasting Life 7. What are these things you set so much by as to prefer them before Christ and the saving of your Souls Have you found a better Friend a greater and surer Happiness than this Good Lord what Dung is it that Men make so much of while they set so light by everlasting Glory What Toys are they that they are daily taken up with while Matters of Life and Death are neglected Why Sirs if you had every one a Kingdom in your Hopes what were it in comparison of the everlasting Kingdom I cannot but look upon all the Glory and Dignity of this World Lands and Lordships Crowns and Kingdoms even as on some brainsick beggarly Fellow that borroweth fine Clothes and plays the Part of a King or a Lord for an Hour on a Stage and then comes down and the Sport is ended and they are Beggars again Were it not for God's Interest in the Authority of Magistrates or for the Service they might do him I should judg no better of them For as to their own Glory it is but a Smoak what matter is it whether you live poor or rich unless it were a greater Matter to die rich than it is You know well enough that Death levels all what Matter is it at Judgment whether you be to answer for the Life of a rich Man or a poor Man Is Dives then any better than Lazarus O that Men knew what a poor deceiving Shadow they grasp at while they let go the everlasting Substance The strongest and richest and most volupâ—uous Sinners do but lay in fuel for their Sorrows while they think they are gathering together a Treasure Alas they are asleep and dream that they are happy but when they awake what a Change will they find Their Crown is made of Thorns their Pleasure hath such a Sting as will stick in the Heart through all Eternity except unfeigned Repentance do prevent it O how sadly will these Wretches be convinced ere long what a foolish