perfect hatred Sin which was lov'd better then the soul better then salvation the heart by the Spirit is turn'd against it and how earnest are the cries that it may not reign no nor live any longer And Holiness against which there was a very strong though unreasonable antipathy is now hungred and thirsted after there is a tide which runs upwards contrary to the former stream which ran downward The Lord hath those affections which before sin and the world commanded The desart is become as Sharon and in the ruines which corruption hath made there is a Temple for the Spirit of God to dwell in The Day of Grace is the only time to be made new creatures in Now thy earthly heart may be made heavenly thy impure heart cleansed thy mind which was vain carnal enmity against God may be made serious and to approve and subject it self to the Law of God 3. 'T is the work of the Spirit to guide They who are the children of God are lead by him and 't is in the way everlasting that he leads them they are directed into such a path as will certainly bring them to the everlasting enjoyment of the Eternal God Neither doth he only guide but strengthen the Spirit puts might into their inner man and makes them to hold on their way till they come to the blessed end of it We have all like sheep gone astray we have turned every one to his own way Isa 53. 6. But in this Day of Grace the Spirit is near to chalk out a path in which we cannot miss of happiness and to help us over all the stumbling blocks and difficulties which are cast in our way The Spirit doth also comfort as well as strengthen He sheds abroad the sense of the love oâ— God into the heart and such a joy issues from this sense of love that tribulation cannot turn into sorrow 4. Many of them that perish have experience while this Day of Grace continues of the Spirits workings The Spiriâ— doth use a kind of holy violence to hinder them from pulling down vengeance upon themselves Thus he did strive with the old world in the day of their visitation 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20. Christ was quickned by the Spirit by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison which sometime were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah This place is wrested and may seem difficult but the meaning is plainly this That Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost by which Holy Ghost accompanying the ministry of the ancient Patriarks he preached unto the impenitent sinners of the old world whose spirits are now imprisoned in hell because â—n their life time they were disobedient â—o the Spirits voice all the while the â—ong suffering of God did wait upon â—hem Thus the Spirit likewise did â—trive with the children of Israel but â—hey rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit of God Isai 63. 10. 'T is not an unusual â—hing for the Spirit to enlighten and aâ—aken the Conscience to clap chains and â—etters upon corruption for a while that â—â— breaks not forth as formerly to conâ—â—rain unto a frequent performance of duty But the Soul hankers after its beloved lusts and vanities grows weary of the Spirits restraint grudges the time and pains which duty takes up and wishes that the Spirit would go away and accordingly the Holy Ghost departs from him However this is true that the Spirit works much and would more were he not resisted That 's the second priviledge of the Day of Grace the presence of the Spirit 3. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is liberty to come to the Throne of Grace All flesh is now invited to the Hearer of Prayers and their prayers shall be regarded if they no longer regard iniquity 1. The Lord now is near and may bâ— found Isai 55. 6. His merciful nature inclines him to come to the help of them that need it As he is near to give theâ— that grace which they cry for so to givâ— them grace to cry after a right manner We cannot so much as come that wâ— may be help'd unless we are help'd tâ— come The Lord is within hearing oâ— all that call who ever sought him seriâ—usly and sought in vain He is so neaâ— as to hear our very whisper'd supplications and to take notice of the inward groanings of our spirits Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee But some may object Doth not the Scripture say that the Lord and his salvation are far from the wicked and therefore wicked ones have no encouragement to come to him Well But if the wicked man doth cry that he may be renewed and that his wickedness both as to the guilt and practise may be put far away from him then the Lord will draw near immediately 2. God is not only in this day of grace willing to be found but he seeks after us John 4. 23. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Fervent prayer is delightful musick in his ears Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy counâ—enance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely The Lord is pleased to see us gather about him and to hear us cry for this and that and the other mercy since his mercies are so great a multitude that he hath enough and enough for all Nay the Lord himself doth seek to us and beseech us to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. And if he intreat us to accept of mercy shall not we speed in our intreaties for the obtaining of it 3. The promise which God hath made may now be pleaded This is the time to lay hold upon his Covenant Lord thou hast promised to blot out iniquity as a cloud oh when shall this cloud be scatter'd that I may walk in the light of thy countenance Thou hast promised a new heart when shall this heart of mine be changed when shall it burn with love to thee and indignation against sin which doth offend thee Lord Thou hast promised to take away the heart of stone and to transform the adamant into flesh oh why am I so hard and stupid why since I have sinned so much should I sorrow so little Again Thou hast promised to make me clean Lord when oh when will it once be Thus may we urge the Promises and he that made them will give us cause to adore his faithfulness The worst of men the chief of sinners may urge the promise of a new heart and of washing from filthiness as long as they seek unto the God of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. and are so far wrought upon as to desire to be sanctified
wisdom and then we see the way of reconciliation He is made unto us righteousness sin is no longer imputed and that quarrel which Justice had with us comes to an end He is made unto us sanctification and then the holiness of God ceases to be our enemy and we no longer hate that holiness there is a sweet agreement between our renewed nature and an holy God and his holy Law which he would have us walk according to They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus love God because of his holiness and they love the Word of God upon the same score Psal 119. 139 140. My zeal hath consumed mâ— because mine enemies have forgotten thy words Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Finally Christ is made unto us redemption that 's a fourth benefit reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. He makes us free indeed because he frees us from that which is slavery indeed he delivers us from the bondage of corruption and causes us to become the servants of God and righteousness Rom. 6. And now we are reconciled to Gods Soveraignty and Authority we own him as our Lord who as he hath right to rule us so 't is our honour our advancement our freedom to be ruled by him 2. As we must know who is our Peace-maker so what are the conditions of our peace 1. One condition is godly sorrow And as the Lord doth grant us peace so he himself doth work this and the other conditions of it If we will be reconciled we must mourn for our offending and provoking God to be an enemy The eye of the body can look every way but inward and shall the eye of our mind never look inward neither Were our hearts but more acquainted with themselves they would be more broken and contrite hearts How deeply is the Law of sin engraven there and this Law of sin forbids whatever the Law of God commands and commands whatever the Law of God forbids The most venemous creature is not more full of poyson then our hearts are full of enmity against the Lord and reprobateness to what is good This corruption of our nature is not a thing which hath layn dormant and idle no but as a Fountain perpetually sends forth water so from the heart proceed evils abundantly whereby the man is defiled 'T is difficult to reckon up the sins of one day or of one duty and how vast then is the total sum of our whole lives abominations Oh break hard heart for shame who hast so often broken the most equal laws and broken thorow so many obligations to obedience If thâ— offending God be made light of this will anger him more then all thy other offences 2. Another condition of our Peace is Believing When the Jaylour was under the sense of Gods anger and wrath and tortur'd with the fears of damnation and cry'd out What shall I do to be saved Paul and Silas made this answer Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. How much is faith preached up in the Gospel and unto Christ our faith is directed for 't is in him that God is well pleased and 't is through that beloved Son alone that he will be at peace and well pleased with us If we expect favour or mercy any other way but through Jesus that very expectation is sufficient to be an eternal impediment to our obtaining of either The Lord hath made Faith one great condition of our peace and salvation for two reasons 1. Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing all the glory redounds to God alone Mans boasting is utterly excluded The hand of faith is an empty hand it brings nothing along with it but it receives Christ and with him and from him freely all thâ—ngs Faith exalts Christ and abases the sinner and makes him see that he is wretched and miserable and poor and naked and that to Christ he must be beholding for every thing he must thank himself for nothing Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing his peace with God is lasting his salvation sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure Adam was at peace with God when first created but since the continuance of his peace depended upon the constancy of his obedience peace and life were soon lost by him But faith puts our peace and salvation in the hands of another in the hands of Christ he undertakes to be the finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. He hath promised to keep us from falling and to confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1. 8. And the believer rests upon this word of promise which will never fail him That 's the second condition of peace believing 3. Another condition is Conversion with the whole heart to God How often doth the Spirit cry out Turn and liveâ— And though the Lord was bitterly provoked yet upon his peoples returning he promises to be pacified Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Our returning to him must be without delay without deceit we must not divide our hearts between him and sin between him and Mammon but we must consent to be wholly his and never to leave him any more but if through infirmity we do fall we must look unto the Lord to pity and pardon and heal and raise us To turn away from God so as not to return is inconsistent with peace Thus you know these things which are the conditions of your peace let me add Happy are ye if ye do them 3. It concerns us to know how we may attain to an assurance of Peace The soul indeed may be safe without this assurance but withall 't will be disconsolate Now 't is the Spirit who makes this discovery We read Rom. 14. 17. of peace and joy in the holy Ghost Peace and joy are the fruits of this blessed Comforter In Scripture the Saints are said to be sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. And their being thus sealed as it denotes their distinction from the rest of the world their being appropriated unto God and the value that is put upon them so it serves to confirm them in that perswasion That God is theirs and they are his There is indeed a privy Seal of his gracious Decree of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his But afterwards when the Spirit works upon us we are sealed in a more discernable way Now the work and method of the Spirit in sealing and bringing those who are reconciled unto an assurance of peace I shall declare 1. The Spitit convinces us of
end is unlamented indifferency whether or no it do continue If you are of an indifferent spirit whether you enjoy the light or it be put out in obscurity whether you hear the publishers of glad tidings or whether their mouths be stopp'd there is reason to be afraid the Lord is about to divest you of those priviledges which you know not how to value If you look upon spiritual darkness as no plague which is infinitely worse then that of Egypt if you esteem the famine of the Word which is worse then a famine of bread or a thirst of water Amos 8. 11. no such great judgment as long as from temporal judgments you are exempted this is a most wretched temper of soul and the Lord must needs be angry when the greatest mercies and favours are slighted and what punishment more probable or equal then to be deprived of them 4. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is contradicting and persecuting of the Lords Messengers We read Matth. 22. of a Marriage feast prepared servants are sent forth to invite many to the Marriage some who were invited took those servants and intreatthem spightfully Could the King which made this Supper bear this No he was wrath and did destroy these persecutors and none of them were permitted to partake of those good things he had provided and once proffer'd to them That is a dreadful text 2 Chron. 36. 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and there was no remedy The Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel the multitude flock to hear them when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy and spake against the Apostles doctrine but the Apostles seeing them reject ' the Gospel and them in such a way make this reply It was needful that the Word of God should be first spoken unto you but since you put it from you you shall not be troubled with it lo we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 45 46. and then to the Gentiles did the light arise and shine forth and the Jews were left under darkness Another sign the Day of Grace is near an end if not quite ended is obstinacy in some opinions which are damnable When fundamental truths are denied when all means used to reclaim and turn the erroneous through prejudiâ—e do but confirm and harden them how near to desperate is their case When the Lord sends strong delusions to any and they believe a lye oh 't is to be feared he intends their ruine and that their judgment will not linger will not flumber long 2 Thes 2. 11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Errour may extinguish the light of the Gospel and cause the Ordinances of God to be slighted the Word to be cast aside and the Spirit to depart and leave sinners to the seduction of Satan and the imagination of their dark and foolish hearts Let me therefore speak to you in the words of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3. 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being lead away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 6. Another fatal sign that the Day of Grace is near its period is an habit of back-sliding Hark how the Lord upbraids his people with this and after they are told of their desperate state Jer. 8. 4 5. Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall they turn away and not return why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back with a perpetual backsliding And then it follows ver 20 21 22 The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am black astonishment hath taken hold upon me Is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physician there why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recover'd There are many Professours who sometimes look Sion-ward and have some common work upon them but after do draw back and by often doing so contract such a scaredness that they make light of doing so They do possibly under some awakenings confess their sins but quickly return to the commission of them again they are convinced 't is their duty and yet they will not be perswaded to do the work of the Lord vigorously they are convinced of such and such sins and yet they will not be disswaded from following after them They may have a form of godliness but they will not be brought under the power of godliness nor give their consent to be sincerely and thorowly sanctified Divers motions and proffers of assistance they have had from the Spirit but all in vain they are bent upon backsliding Surely then they have just ground to fear that sentence is ready to be if not already pronounced Ezek. 24. 13. Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee Thus concerning the Signs when the Day of Grace is declining and drawing towards night Presumptuous soul if thou findest in thy self any of these signs oh startle exceedingly at the discovery and before the last hour of the day be ended enter into and labour to purpose in the Lords Vineyard 2. A second word of Caution is this Don't rashly conclude the Day of Grace is pass'd and that the Sun is already set upon you This is an extreme contrary to that of presumptuous ones which tempted and troubled spirits are very prone to run into They are ready to takeup Jobs complaint only with some sad variations Oh that I were as in moneths past as in the dayes when God would have preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and by his light I might have been deliver'd from the power of darkness The Almighty was then with me he call'd upon me to turn and was ready upon my turning to hear my calling to him But now I cry and he doth not hear me I stand up and he regards me not I have so bitterly provoked him to leave me that I am afraid he is now gone for ever Three things are here to be consider'd 1. No man can certainly conclude concerning another that his day is pass'd If we consult the Scripture we shall find those that have gone far in wickedness at last reclaimed therefore we should not despair of the worst Indeed the pride and stubbornness of the ungodly makes us fear that all our labour will be in vain yet we speak still and exhort and reprove with all long-suffering 2 Tim. 4. 2. because with God all things are possible and those sheep that are gone much astray seemingly past reach he can lay hold
sin and misery of our worthlesness and weakness and bows our hearts to a submission to the righteousness of Christ and draws us to a closure with him 2. The Spirit sanctifies and cleanses us from the filthiness in which we wallowed and causes us to yield obedience to the commands of God Ezek. 36. 27. 3. The Spirit doth more and more stir up and increase the grace which he he hath wrought so that the actings of faith and love and hope and zeal are the more strong and sensible 4. The Spirit doth discover the truth of these graces letting us see that our hearts do prize Christ and breath after God and after a greater degree of likeness to him as the Saints in Scripture have done before us 5. Then peace and joy follows But here we must understand that this peace is twofold First more weak mixed and imperfect Secondly more ravishing glorious and triumphant 1. There is a peace more weak mixed and imperfect which is for our support and encouragement and this is common with believers when they stir up themselves and seek the Lord with their whole desire as they did 2 Chron. 15. 15. Seldom is a duty performed with our heart and might but some degree of peace and satisfaction follows the Spirit giving some intimation and raising a secret hope that God through Christ doth accept of us Oh who would not labour since there is such peace and rest attends it 2. There is a peace more ravishing glorious and triumphing How brightly doth the light of Gods countenance then shine upon us How sweet is that love the sense of which the Spirit sheds abroad in the heart Rom. 5. 5. What confidence have we then in God! How do we admire the richness of his grace how low are we in our own eyes being astonished that such vile creatures should be so advanced How do we then despise the worlds delights and the pleasures of sin How forward are we to obey and to walk in all Ordinances blameless How undaunted at danger and at death which will but increase our pleasures sending us much nearer to the Lord then here we are capable of approaching Thus 't is by the Spirit that peace is spoken to us and if we would attain to this peace we must heed the Spirits counsels we must readily close with his motions we must gladly accept of his help and assistance we must give up our selves unto his guidance In the third place follow the reasons of the Doctrine Why to know the things of our peace is our great happiness and wisdom The reasons are these 1. Because a true knowledge of these things will be practical and industrious It will very much affect the heart and quicken diligence in seeking peace before it be too late A right understanding of it will hinder a business of such eternal consequence from being any longer neglected by us 2. Because of the evil which unavoidably follows if of the things which concern our peace we are ignorant The ignorant soul is wretchedly careless it matters not whether God be a friend or foe â—s if his loving kindness were not to be â—alued as if his wrath were not to be â—eared and at last the soul misses of merâ—y which it doth not regard and falls â—uddenly and irrecoverably into the pit â—f destruction which it dreams not of â—or endeavours to prevent Now follows the Application USE I. Of Instruction There are two great lessons which we may learn from this Doctrine 1. One lesson is this That believers are the wisest and happiest souls for the things of their peace are understood by them Those things which are hid from the prudent of the world are unto these discover'd I know they are accounted children aâ—â— babes by the carnally minded but in the end they will be found to have had â—â— all others the greatest foresight the faithest reach the truest understanding Matth. 11. 25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hâ—â— hid these things from the wise and prâ—dent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thâ— sight Peace is a thing which all seek after but most are mistaken in judging whaâ— is peace and are wofully deceived in thâ— way to it Only the believer hits righâ— for he is lead by a Guide that leads onlâ— into truth 'T is indeed found by experience thaâ— endeavours are used to blind and deceive the believer himself but he is too wise to be put off with peace and happiness only in shew Many things do proffer peace to him 1. Pleasures do use this charming language What is it O man which thou seekest for Is it quiet and satisfaction 〈…〉 taste the sweetness which gratifying thy senses will afford Is it not fine â— gâ—â—â—ter in silk and silver bravely to be â—lothed in purple and fine linnen and to presumptuously and deliciously every day Who are more free from care and trouble â—â—en those who chaunt to the sound of the â—â—ol who drink wine in bowls who eat limbs out of the flock and calves out of â—â—e midst of the stall and after lay them down upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches Come come away with needless scruples indulge unto thy appetite please thy senses whatever thy eys desire withhold not from them and quench thy longing flame in Dalilah's â—â—braces Unto this the believing soul replyes Death is climbing up at the windows the Judge standeth before the door Eternity is just at hand and O all ye sensual pleasures can you last any longer then a short season Where is the Glutton that fared deliciously that had as much as heart could wish Is he not tormented in the flames Oh deceitful pleasures which cheat men of eternal joys and drill them along to endless torments 2. Wealth and worldly greatness do also make big offers Wouldst thou O Man have peace then seek a great estate joyn house to house and field to field let thy coffers be cram'd with silver and gold endeavour to be somebody in the world Doest thou not know how many eyes how much respect riches and honour will draw after thee Let this be thy aim to live iâ— plenty and esteem and to leave a name behind thee Unto this also the believing soul answers To expect peace and contentation from worldly abundance is as absurd as tâ— hope to sleep quietly in a bed of thorns Who ever attained to greater earthly glory then Solomon whose treasures did ever more abound yet he himself disgraces aâ—â— his own wealth and honour by calling them Vanity and vexation of spirit 3. At last the Lord calls to the Believer and thus speaks to him Is it happiness O man which thou art searching after Look unto me who am the God of love and peace The creatures have but empty breasts are but broken cisterus but I have store of living waters to quench
glory as well as your own satisfaction in this matter Lord I desire a continued assurance of thy love but 't is that I may love thee more and be more zealous for thine honour and labour in thy work with greater life and vigour 6. Let it be your dayly practise to walk with God Be not religious only by fits this argues an heart much distempered Here I shall give a directory how to walk every day 1. When your eyes are first open lift them up to God let your hearts be well seasoned with holy thoughts and affections they will be in the better frame all the day 2. Allot some time for secret prayer and searching of the Scripture twice every day at least And servants which are not masters of their own time if they cannot so conveniently pray at one time should be sure to catch hold of another opportunity 3. Let not meditation be omitted One quarter of an hour at least in thinking upon some truth the hearing or reading of which hath a little moved you or which doth most concern you may be well spared 4. Be serious in family duties walk in in the house with a perfect heart and conscienciously do the duties of your places and relations because the word stands much upon these and hereby Religion is adorned 5. Accustom your selves to thoughts of God and let your desires be frequently ascending towards him 6. In worldly business remember Conscience is to be kept void of offence take heed of injustice defrauding over-reaching 7. Let not the world when it flows into your hands insinuate it self into your hearts 8. Study to excell in those things which may make Religion amiable in the eyes of the world as meekness humility contentedness with your condition charitableness quietness refusing to backbite and defame any 9. Be vigilant against the sin which doth most easily beset you the sin of your constitution the sin of your calling the sin which heretofore did bear the greatest sway in you 10. Resist temptation at the first appearing of it start back from Satans baits as one would do who is ready to tread upon a Serpent 11. Let not Christian liberty degenerate into carnal licentiousness use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh remember you are the Disciples of the crucified Jesus and so in your walking there must be not an enmity but a sutableness to his Cross 12. Bad company abstain from and be not intimate with lukewarm professours when necessitated to be with them be jealous over your selves never sinfully comply with but rather reprove them 13. Design to get ground upon some sin or other every day every day let some progress be made in the work of mortification 14. Observe providences and get the good of them let losses and crosses wean you from the world let afflictions imbitter sin and let mercies indear the Father of them 15. Rest not in Ordinances but consider you must be reckoned with how you have improved them If in these you neither meet with God nor miss him 't is a bad sign 16. Keep a watch before the door of your lips oaths falshood vanity filthiness your communication must be free from Be also swift to hear and slow to speak for in multitude of words there wanteth not sin 17. If you fall lye not where you are fallen cry immediately for pardon and healing let the wound while green be cured before it fester 18. Have daily recourse to Christ to cover the sins of daily incursion you have as much need of daily pardon as you have of dayly bread 19. Live as Strangers and Pilgrims look upon the World as your Inn and Heaven as your Home and act as within view of Death and Judgment and Eternity 20. At evening reflect how you have spent the day An Heathen of old gave this notable advice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus Englished Never let sleep which senses tyes At any night close up thine eyes Before the actions of the day Thou thrice and seriously doest weigh Where have I sinn'd what have I done What duty have I let alone If you would walk after this manner how perfect might your peace be and how much might your passage be sweetned through this vale of tears I have done with the third Doctrine I shall be very brief in the two which remain Doct. 4. The fourth Doctrine is this That when sinners will not see they are smitten many times with spiritual blindness and the things of their peace are in a way of judgment hid from them The Lord hides the things of their peace from them several wayes 1. He causes his Spirit to withdraw 'T is the Spirits work to enlighten dark understandings but if the Spirit be gone how great must the darkness be 2. The Lord gives men up to the perverse reasonings and counsels of their own hearts and then a thousand absurdities will by the carnal mind be imagined in the doctrine which is according to godliness and how burthensome will the practise of godliness be made to appear 3. The Lord permits Satan to blind them and by his means their hatred of light and of the works of light is very much augmented and hereupon either more abominable prophaneness or strong delusions follow 4. The Lord in his providence causes several things to happen which sinners stumble at and by which they are more confirmed in their prejudices against the Word and in their infidelity The righteous are suffer'd sometimes to fall into sin and many times into great distress The wicked often prosper in the world and live and dye in a false peace And upon this the ungodly are more darkned and hardned 5. In all this the Lord acts as a Judge and intends to punish their refusing to be enlightned and yet he is not the Author of sin He is light 1 John 1. 5. and no darkness can come from him All ignorance and mistake is from corrupted nature being wrought upon by the Prince of darkness Neither is the justice of God to be quarrelled at for dealing thus with them that reject illumination 1. The merit of their sin is great Nescire est ignorantis nolle scire est superbiae there is abundance of pride in them that are unwilling to be informed and a great love to evil deeds and also mighty ingratitude for light is a very great priviledge 2. This punishment is very sutable What more equal then that those who would not be enlightned by the Spirit of the Lord and directed into the paths of peace should be suffered to be beguiled by Satan and their own spirits and so be misguided and lost for ever Vse 1. Take heed of sinning against the light for fear it be put out in obscurity The clearer the light shines the more it aggravates the works of darkness Let not the lusts of your hearts be cherished and fulfilled lest the light of your heads be
the whole Covenant shall be made good to them if their unbelief of Gods power and truth be not an hinderance 4. Now in this Day of Grace the great High-priest stands ready to intercede for us Never any sincerely begg'd for pardon and for grace but Christ pray'd that Prayer over again and a gracious return was made to it The Spirit also is ready to help infirmities to fill our hearts with such desires as shall be surely satisfied and truly we have to do with a God who of the best things which are most needful most desirable is alwayes most liberal Now are the mollia fandi tempora the times to speak and speed but when this gracious season is gone ah then the loudest cries will be in vain God will hear Christ will intercede the Spirit help no more 4. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That now the way is open to the Kingdom As you may come to the Throne of Grace so 't is possible to get into the Throne of Glory Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Our Lord doth stand as it were with a Crown of Life in his hand and sayes Believe in me and continue faithful to the death and this Crown shall be put upon your heads The Kingdom is offered and the sure way to the Kingdom is revealed Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel that is such a blessed and glorious life as will never by death have a period and if you cease to do evil learn to do well and patiently continue in well-doing this eternal life shall assuredly be given you The foolish Virgins had a Day oâ— Grace as well as the wise The Bridegroom came and the door was open iâ— they had been ready they might have entred but having lost the opportunity they knocked at last but it was too late the door was shut and they were sent away with I know you not Matth. 25. We read of a Ladder that reached from earth to heaven now there is a possibility of climbing up thither But there is no Ladder that reaches from hell to heaven If this present day of salvation be lost salvation it self also will be lost for ever 5. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That during this season the state of the wicked is not unalterable 'T is true the Holy Ghost expresly sayes that impenitent and unbelieving ones are condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. Sentence of condemnation is past but it may be repealed if they at last are brought to mourn for their rejecting of a Saviour and with their hearts believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God the consequent of this faith will be freedom from condemnation Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit There was condemnation heretofore to them as well as to others but now there is none for they are in Christ and shew it by renouncing the lusts and works of the flesh and giving themselves up to the Spirits guidance They whom sin hath set at a great distance from Christ are called to come to him and while this Day of Grace lasts that word holds good I will in no wise cast out But when this day is done then 't will be I will in no wise receive The Lamb himself then will be full of wrath and that 's dreadful The Lamb can pacifie the anger of God but who can appease the Lambs anger When the only Reconciler is himself irreconcileable when the only Intercessour is inexorable when the only Saviour punisheth with everlasting destruction what hope of help remains then But as yet 't is possible for Rebels to obtain a pardon and to be made children Though thou hast sinn'd thy self near to hell yet thou hast not sinn'd thy self into hell Though sin hath abounded if thou art brought by the entring of the Law to a sence how thy offences have abounded Grace will much more abound Rom. 5. 20. The Lord hath turn'd and chang'd as bad as the worst of you and that which hath been done may be done again since his hand is as mighty to save and his Grace as free as ever I have done with the priviledges of this Day of Grace In the third place follow the properties of it which are these 1. This Day of Grace is uncertain as to its duration 't is more uncertain then the day of life for that may end before this doth Nay the Day of Grace may be past while the very means of Grace continue The acceptable time was pass'd with the Jews when the Prophet was sent to preach among them Hark what a sad Commission he had Isa 6. 9 10. Go make the heart of this people fat make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed 'T is dreadful when the Word shall make the ear more deaf and the Light the eye more blind and awakening means the heart more gross and stupid The Sons of Eli had outstood their day and yet after this their Father admonishes them and endeavours to reclaim them They were lascivious and made themselves vile and Eli said 'T is no good report I hear of you my sons ye make the Lords people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them When Drunkards Sorcerers Liars Whoremongers Worldlings are reproved often and will not hearken who knows but the season of mercy may be ended and the Lord intends to slay them to damn them And if at the hearing of this they are unconcern'd there is greater cause to fear though we cannot absolutely conclude that 't is so indeed The day of grace is uncertain the means of grace may be before you are aware removed The golden Candlestick doth not stand so fast in any place as that 't is impossible it should be took away Tremble at that threatning uttered to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent And although Ordinances remain a blessing may be withheld from them Thou doest not know but every call may be the last time of asking and Christ may for ever after hold his peace and therefore presently give consent to be espoused to him thou dost not know but that every motion of the Spirit may have his last striving with thee and if thou still resistest the Spirit may take his leave and say Foolish Soul go on in sin go on to hell I will not strive any more to
hinder thee 2. This Day of Grace is exceeding precious This is the very flower and cream of time What 's the reason the Psalmist begs the Lord would teach him to number his dayes aright Psal 90. 12. What 's the reason one Apostle exhorts See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time Eph. 5. 15 16. and another advises Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. Surely these holy men saw more in time then most in the world are aware of they were sensible the present time contains the Day of Grace and that eternal Glory must now be got or lost for ever If there were no hope at all of being reconciled unto God of obtaining mercy and finding grace alass our time would be of no value But we may without prejudice to truth affirm that time is more precious then gold for now only Christ who is so precious is to be received now only the Soul which is so precious is to be secured The Apostle calls this the accepted time and the day of salvation If now we come the Lord will accept us and give his Son himself and freely all things to us and Salvation which since we are lost we so much need shall not be denied This Salvation is called Salvation of the Soul Heb. 10. 39. The better part the Jewel which the Destroyer principally aims at and designs to make his prey is secured This salvation also is affirmed to be great everlasting and salvation to the uttermost From the greatest evils the heirs of salvation are delivered everlastingly delivered and that good work which is begun in them shall be perfected to the uttermost and all of them shall stand in Glory as so many Monuments of Power and Mercy and Grace unto Eternity And is not the Day of Grace precious since a day of such salvation 3. This Day of Grace is a Day of Power Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Arm of the Lord is now revealed in making the report of the Gospel to be believed the same power is exerted in raising a sinner to the life of faith that was shewn in raising up Jesus our Lord from the dead Strong holds are pull'd down reasonings against Religion as if it were either absurd or intollerably burthensom are silenced Those lusts which before bare all the sway have a deadly wound which shall not be healed again Sins dominion is overthrown and the world is overcome 't is now under foot which used to have its seat in the very heart Thus believers find this day a day of power They are powerfully drawn to Jesus Christ and as powerfully upheld and supported by him And of this power the ungodly are not without some taste and experience Mighty convictions and restraints for a while they have but by degrees they grow stupid and get loose again and then fulfil their fleshly and their worldly lusts with the greater eagerness just as water being dam'd up when that restraint is taken away doth run with greater strength and speed for having been restrained 4. This Day of Grace it is but one when this is gone another is not to be expected In Nature there is a vicissitude of day and night even at midnight 't will not be many hours before the morning and the light return Soles occidere redire possunt but the night which follows after the Day of Grace is everlasting The abused light of the Gospel will be followed with that which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The blackness of darkness for ever Life indeed will return again at the general resurrection but another season of mercy will not be vouchsafed The Day of Grace is like the Dove which Noah sent the third time out of the Ark when once 't is flown away 't will return no more What mean the careless world to sport and play and sin away this golden season Every moment that slips by you is irrevocable and 't is but a little while and the whole stock will be spent of this accepted time Oh improve some of it at least before it be all gone If after death you were certain to be sent into the world again and to hear the joyful sound of the Gospel again and that the Lord again would try you and wait that he might be gracious then present carelessness were not altogether so much without apology But since immediately upon your dissolution you must go to your long your eternal home either of weal or wo oh let Eternity which is just at the door be provided for before this your day be ended Thus you have the Properties of the Day of Grace In the fourth place I am to lay down the Reasons why such a Day of Grace is granted Several reasons of this may be assigned 1. One shall be drawn from the Son's Incarnation and taking our nature on him Hence it comes to pass that unto man such kindness is expressed The Apostle sayes Verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. He was made in the likeness of men therefore mankind is the dearer to him There is a difference put between apostate Angels and fallen men I speak even of those that through their own wickedness and folly miss of salvation The reprobate Angels never had a remedy provided nor a Day of Grace afforded Christ assumed not their nature but as soon as ever they had sinned they fell like lightning suddenly in the twinkling of an eye from Heaven to Hell But man was not thus dealt with even those whom the Apostle calls Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are yet endured with much long-suffering Rom. 9. 22. Their salvation is in it self really possible I say in it self though all things consider'd there is an impossibility of any other event then the destruction of sinners continuing in their rebellions and this real possibility of salvation will make them cast the whole blame of their perdition on themselves that the day of salvation was trifled away and the salvation of that day was neglected This matter may be made more obvious and plain by a similitude The Apostle Paul Acts 27. admonisheth the Centurion who was to conduct him to Rome that the voyage they were about to make would be with much damage and hurt not only of the lading and ship but also of their lives Who can deny that the tarrying in the Haven where they were and where they might have been in safeguard was in it self really possible and they could not reasonably lay the blame of their shipwrack on Gods decree and determination but upon their own rashness In like manner sinners are admonished that if they go on in wickedness 't will be to their hurt and eternal damage not only of their lives but also of their souls Who can deny that the abstaining from such and such sins