And what shall we think of the words of our Lord Luke 6.21 Blessed are you that Weep and you that Mourn and woe to you that Laugh Now it is not to be supposed that so Good and so Merciful and so Gracious a Saviour as our Lord Jesus Christ is should envy to man any thing that could be to the Good and Welfare of his Nature But he knew how much the Carnal Joy and Mirth that is so common and so much valued among Men lavishes out those Thoughts and Spirits and that Time that should be laid out upon so serious and great things as Reconciliation to God Pardon of Sin Newness of Heart and Life and that Sorrow and Mourning and Weeping are prepared by God as fitted in their Nature to make us more Grave and Pondering of Things and that being Sanctified and in the Hand of his Grace are made use of to bring us home to himself For when men are under sadness finding the prints of the Wrath Justice and Displeasure of God upon them they enquire after the Reason Their sins as to Joseph's Brethren come to their Remembrance They are provoked to move to God by Humiliation Confession of Sin Prayer for Pardon Desire of his Grace and Spirit to enable them to Reform they enquire into his word how they may cleanse their way order their Conversation aright to please him they are moved to consider by these drops and Touches of Sorrow what that state of sorrow without Banks or Bounds or Bottom is where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth They are taken off from that Pride and Self-Conceit they find so little in all things here below and in this present State that they enquire for those better and greater Things that are Above and in Eternity When sorrow that disposes to strong and serious enquiries becomes sorrow after and according to God Oh! how excellently does it work How do men search Lam. 3.40 and try their ways that they may turn to God Now because of the Order that God hath plac'd sorrow in to all these great Effects therefore our Lord pronounc'd a Blessing upon Weeping and Mourning For else he loves our Joy when it is Spiritual he commands to Rejoyce in the Lord all way and again he says Rejoyce He spoke many great things John 15.11 that our Joy might be full that he might fill our Mouths with Laughter and our Tongues with Singing But our carnal our sensual Joys he knows are our Death and Destruction he knows we are in no better case in our prophane foolish sinful Laughter than they who are stung with the Tarantula and Dye Laughing Thus we have greatest reason in the midst of such Laughter to be Sorrowful and the end of that Mirth will be heaviness Thus it will be bitterness in the latter end therefore he warns us of it before and in greatest Love to us declares a Woe on such Laughter But now to conclude this particular The sorrow of the World How different a thing is it For tho it causes Thoughts and Enquiries yet it is only how to be rid of the Worldly Causes of Sorrow and it turns only to Worldly Remedies And it is very often in a rage at the causes it finds and when either the Remedies are not to be found or fail in their Success it is in a Rage and flies out too often against God and Providence and so it works Death It begins that Hatred of God that Blasphemy and Rage that is in Hell or if it does not thus it is a sullen despondent unactive state of Mind that shuts and seals up all Activity like the Night wherein no Man can Work John 9.4 and so goes down into utter Darkness It either sayâ— This evil is of the Lord 1 Kings 6.33 why should I wait any longer Or like Cain My Iniquities are greater than can be Forgiven and so hastens out from the Presence of God or it recoyls upon it self as Saul Achilophel Judas or the Heart under the Power of it Dies as a stone within it self as Nabals Heart died within him 1 Sam. 25.27 Thus it every way works Death because it hath nothing to do with him who is the Fountain of Life For the Being of God is infinitely happy and blessed and all light and lustre and in him is no Darkness at all of sorrow as not of Sin he therefore when sorrow is after him springs a Light into it that whereas the Dark and Black part arises from sin and the sinful Creature yet because it is after him it shall never set in the darkness of Death and Hâ—ll It receives from him as a Tincture of Holiness so a Tincture of Life a Ray and Beam of it It works Repentance unto Life and to Salvation and so it springs up aftâ—r into Joâ— in his Favour in the Light of his Countenance in the assurance of his Love But the Sorrow of the World is like a Night that no kind of Light at all Enlightens Like the Night Job Cursed it does not turn to the Light because it is not turn'd to God and so is a shade of Hell â—efore Hell it self a valley of the shaddow of Death and the horrors of it are the beginnings of the horrors of Hell As therefore Carnal Joys are sparks of our own kindling Esay 50. notwithstanding which we shall lye down in sorrow even so is sorrow not after God as a black shade of our own 4. The service of sorrow after God to Repentance unto Salvation is that it breaks and forces asunder that sinful Frame in our Hearts of sin and contrariety to God and to Holyness The very Natural Affection of sorrow loosens and Divides the Heart from that which is the Cause and occasion of such sorrow Because that great Self-love the force of that Law of Self-preservation is so strong upon us that seeing sorrow is an Affection that stands in an enmity to our Peace Comfort and Enjoyment and to our Life it self if it be extreme or too long continuing we therefore come off from what is the occasion or that gives reason to our sorrow though we had exceedingly lov'd it before This we find in all Cases and through the whole Nature of Things when therefore sin and loss of the favour of God because of it is made by the grace of God the just Reason and most sensible and prevailing reason of our sorrow It dissolves the Frame of sin in our Heart that had been before compact as the Adamant and as the neither Mill-stone Now this sorrow dividing and separating between sin and the Soul it brings forth that broken and contrite Heart that God will not despise Again This sorrow is a spiritual melting softning and dissolving Thing It separates the Soul every particle as it were from other so that it is supple soft and ready to tâ—ke any figure thaâ— God would have it take It brings the Soul to quick and lively sense which
security from Damnation but an assurance of a state of Life Glory and Blessedness For upon this very reason because God hath Sanctified Repentance to Difference and separate his Servants by from all the lost and perishing Repentance is so eminently call'd Repentance unto Salvation and Repentance unto Life For when the miserable and undone shall complain and endeavour to Impeach the Divine Justice with the Salvation of Sinners as great or greater than themselves Publicans and Harlots such as the Apostle speaks of 1 Cor. 6. When many sober moral Men both Heathens Jews and Christians are shut out from Heaven Salvation Life Matt. 8.11 and Happiness and fall into the Condemnation of Hell God justifies and Vindicates himself by the vast Distance between the one and the other Repentance hath made which as it should engage our Thoughts in deep search what kind of Repentance we have whether it can make such a Difference so it assures us there is a great excellency and Dignity in true Repentance when it shall be seen in the Glory of the Righteousness of Christ wherein it shall be display'd as in its chief Light Life and Lustre 3. There shall never be any cause the least cause to look back with sorrow or regret that we lost any of the pleasures of Sense or of this World or that we pass'd through the Severities or Rigors or Sadness of Repentance or that sorrow after God by which it was wrought And which expresses the Blessedness and Grace of this Repentance much more we shall not look back upon any of the Imperfections and impure Allays of it the Vacuities and Emptinesses of it that were not fill'd up now For it shall in every regard be filled up to the Highest Complement of Perfection because it is surrounded with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and Adorn'd with its Rays and Perfections and the mighty Operations of the Spirit of Christ holds them fast in that very moment wherein his servants go out of this World He apprehends them he holds them in his mighty Hand and Arm to perfect them to the Mark both in their Repentance and in all other Graces 4. There shall be Everlasting Joy Rejoycing and Triumph in the Acceptance of our Repentance by Christ So that all truly Repenting Sinners shall say with everlasting Hallalujahs blessed be God who hath given us Repentance to the Acknowledging of the Truth whereby we recovered our selves from the snare of the Devil when we were taken Captive by him at his Will Blessed be God 2 Tim. 2.26 who hath granted us Repentance unto Life Blessed be the Lamb who hath loved and washed us from our sins and even our Repentance from sin in his own Blood that it might how ere Imperfect be accepted before him who sits on the Throne Blessed be he who as a Prince and Saviour hath given us Repentance and Remission of sins Revel 5.6 Blessed be the Eternal Spirit who as seven Spirits before the Throne hath Diffus'd his Graces and among them this Grace of Repentance as the Spirit of Grace and Supplication Blessed be the word of his Grace that held out Repentance in its whole Circumference and Center Blessed be God for all the Preachers and Ministers of Repentance and Blessed of God are our Spirits and all the Faculties God hath given them that Ministred each in their courses to this great Grace and exercise of Repentance Hallelujah for ever and ever Head 5th I come now to the Fifth and last Head in the Doctrine of Repentance that is to reduce the Discourse of the Scruples and Cases of Conscience concerning Repentance that have not yet fallen under any proper resolution to this great Doctrine as I have now laid it down Herein I shall propose only these three as necessary to be more fully Debated any other that have Represented themselves to my thoughts I have already laid in Provision for the satisfying them in the plain Doctrine of Repentance easing the scruples without express naming them Quer. 1. Whether Repentance wrought by sorrow after God be not either unnecessary seeing there is full satisfaction for sin and Redemption for it in the â—lood of Christ Or 2dly If it must be acknowledged necessary whether it does not derogate from the Freeness of Grace and the Fulness and Perfection of Redemption in that Blood and so entrench upon Faith alone in it Quer. 2. Whether our Repentance is not made subject to Human Judgment in two Cases 1. To the Judgment of Ministers or as men speak of the Church seeing so many expressions of Christ seem to suspect it there whose sins so ever you remit Matt. 16.19 c. 18.18 John 20.23 they are remitted and whose sins you retain they are retained 2. When our sins are Trespasses and Injuries against Men whether if they do not forgive us it be not a prejudice and Bar to Divsne Forgiveness yea though we have but griev'd scandaliz'd or especially drawn them into sin by our example or even sollicitation and temptation to sin seeing some Scriptures command us to Agree with our Adversaries c. To leave our gift before the Altar Matt. 5.23 24 c. 18.15 c. Answer 1. Sorrow for sin and Repentance are by no means to be look'd upon as separate from the Blood and Redemption of the Lord Jesus but as flowing from it and Ordain'd by God in the hand of the Mediator who truly gives it washes it in his own Blood and as the great High Priest Offers it with the Incense Oyntments and rich Perfumes of his own Holiness Righteousness and Purity He Promotes Advances and gives Grace of a continual Renewing of it And this is the true account of the room and place all Graces have in the Covenant of Grace so that though they are required of us as indispensable Duties and even as it were Conditions of the Covenant of Grace on our parts and we are spoken to in a way of Rational and Intellectual manner of Exhortations Counsels Reproofs Promises Threatnings yet these are all but instrumental Conveyances of the Efficacies of the Spirit of our great Melchisedec who blesses his People in turning them every one from their Iniquities Even from every one of their own Iniquities and makes up whatever is wanting in the severities or Powers of Holiness in Repentance by his own Sufferings and Obedience And thus the weight of the Covenant that shall never be found fault with because the Covenantees brake it is suspended upon him that is mighty the Nail fasten'd in a place so sure that the weight of not only Cups but Flagons Vessels of all Quantities both the Issue and the Off-spring rest secure upon him even to Eternity Esay 22.23 And thus Discoursing of Repentance it can be no derogation either in the sorrowing nor the Reforming Parts of it Answ 2. The Administration of the Church or of the Pastors or Elders who are also the Evangelical Bishops hath no other Power but of Ministry in the Declaring
our Saviour speaks in these Cases The things impossible with Men with God are possible Objection 3. But according to this state of the Case What should a Dying Man do that hath not yet repented Should he expect a Miracle or do nothing through despair Answer Have ye not read what David did when he was an hungry and had need He adventured over Laws and was blameless If any Man feel the necessities of a Soul perishing let him lay hold upon Mercy and Grace to help There is a Faith in this Case like the Faith of Miracles that removes Mountains and divides Seas He that can receive it let him receive it Mat. 19.12 But let every Man take heed how he falls into these Necessities For multitudes not having the right Faith like the Egyptians Essay this and are drowned Heb. 11.29 It is a very hard thing to distinguish between mirum and miraculum a Wonder and a Miracle so is it between a saving Faith and Repentance that may have wonderful effects through the Conviction of a Death-Bed and this true saving Faith this Faith of Miracles and for any thing I know Eternity only can make a Man safe concerning it and sure that he had it Doubtless many like Joab perish catching hold of the Horns of the Altar Objection 4. But what If Men having made a Profession of Religion have done many things religiously and soberly and yet through the prevalency of some Lusts it appears they have not truly repented May not the Conversation they have had with Religion so prepare things that their Repentance may be dispatched in the Instants of Death Answer 1. It is dreadful to consider how the unhappy pleas of some upon such kind of accounts recited by Christ are also rejected by him Many shall say in that day Lord Lord have we not eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets Luk. 13.26 c. In thy Name have we cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful Works Mat. 7.22 Yet he shall profess unto them I never knew you Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Besides all the Doubts already insisted upon such Men have made a Custom of deluding Religion and have great cause to fear they should do so at last God also is so provoked by such as have long tempted him proved him and seen his works and yet err from him in their hearts and do not know his ways that he comes to his oath against them Heb. 3.9 10. Answ 2. But lest this should discourage and suffocate all motions after God either in Life or at Death and they seem in as good condition that never mind Religion as those that do I add Any good thing found in Men either in their Life or Death though it have not the worthiness of Repentance to Salvation yet shall certainly have its reward in mitigations of Punishment which Consideration fully explained at the Day of Judgment will assoyl many of this sort of Doubts concerning the ways of God I believe those very early seekings of God notwithstanding which he is said to laugh at the Destruction of those from whom they come when they have first served the gloryings of Justice obtain lessenings of Pain as conquered Enemies after they have been led in Triumph to wait on the Conqueror's Glory may have even that Service recompensed with a more compassionate Captivity Answer 3. If there have been solidity and sincerity in any religious Exercises in the time of Life whereby the Heart by the Grace of God is prepared for further Grace as very often Conversion is by degrees It is hopeful God may use Death as a Season of compleating his Work yet this is to be registred among the seldomer disposes of God and both those Preparations and the Complement of them is under the caution of our Saviour Strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you shall seek to enter and shall not be able Luke 13.24 Objection 5. Is it not at all times a great Folly to promise a to morrow to Repentance how long soever we may live after that to morrow because we daily harden through the deceitfulness of sin Is it not also always a curious Point and that requires a great jealousie over it whether our Hearts are at any time sincere in returns to God Is it not lastly always to be feared lest our to day the time of Grace slip from us Why then are the dangers placed so industriously upon this Repentance at Death Answer 1. First as concerning the time of Repentance It is to be acknowledged Every Man that is come to the strength and fixedness of his Understanding to the poize and inclination of his Will and Affections to the habit and custom of his Life and Actions and hath not determined for God hath great reason to fear lest as there is a deep print of the high hand of Nature upon his unconverted state so there should be a Seal of Justice also and this Doubt increases every day Notwithstanding this All Doubts and Scruples that have an appearance of insnaring and intangling the minds of Men with fears they begin too late are to be avoided if it be not so late that it is just now dark and their feet stumbling upon the dark mountains Jer. 13.16 And these things being written especially for the living Isa 38.19 who have in ordinary probability time to lose the danger is best placed here where it takes them every way By the way of Encouragement that the time is not yet past while they have the spaces of Life and of the Patience of God which is not a slackness of Justice but a designed Salvation By the way of Caution because they know not how soon they may be cast upon a Death-Bed and this Patience be at an end With Dying Men the case is otherwise who are already in the thickest of the Danger and must work themselves out in that moment or perish for ever without any Injury therefore to them the living are thus to be warned Isa 38.19 Further It is evident all delays of Repentance roll down hither however Men propose a stop yet hither the generality come at last So that in effect it is all one whether Men are disswaded from trusting to a Dying Repentance or from delaying their Repentance For if they are given to delay It comes to this They repent and die together But if a Man be afraid to venture Eternity upon his last Breath he will repent presently 2. For the difficulty of being sincere in Repentance I place it here because though every Man should by drawing the parallel lines of Delusion and mistake upon himself try his Repentance when ever it is yet these Errors fall in greatest numbers upon that point of Extremity and with least possibility of rectifying them But seeing there are at all times such deceits in this Case there is nothing so necessary as to repent
to Salvation It is a great and certain security against Ruin Damnation Perishing for ever 2. It shall not only be a security from Damnation but an assurance of a state of Life Glory Blessedness 3. There shall never be the least cause to Repent to look back with Sorrow or Regret that we have Repented For we shall find we have lost no good we have run upon no evil in having Repented 4. It shall give us Reason of everlasting Joy Rejoycing Triumph Blessing and Adoring God in Christ we have so by his grace Repented to Salvation 5. I will Reduce to the Doctrin of Repentance the sâ—ruples and Cases of Conscience that may arise concerning either the true Doctrinal State of it or the grace of or practise it self of repentance These are the heads I Propose by Divine Grace and Assistance to Discourse the Doctrin and grace of Repentance upon but I find it is in the first place necessary to give some short descriptions of the thing Repentance according to the very importance of the word and of the General Importance and Nature of the Notion or the thing it self The words us'd by the Spirit of God in the Old Testament are either that strict word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word that also signifies Consolating a mans self shewing after sin and offense reflected upon viz. with Gâ—ief and Trouble supposed the greatest consolation is recovery of a mans self by Repentance Or else it is a word that signifies Turning from what a man has bâ—en Turn'd and Posited and set himself â—o before On this Account we meet so often with the words of Turning in the Old Testament and being Converted and Turning in the New The most proper and strict words in the New Testament are either an After Care a Reflection with sorrow and sollicitousness upon what a man hath done with Trouble He did so and a care a caution not to do so any more for the time to come or an after-mind an after-wit an after understanding a transmentation a new Mind a new Heart and Spirit To speak of it therefore in the general Repentance is given by God as a mighty Spiritual Instrument or Engine in the hand of his Grace in the Arm of God made Bare by which the sinful Nature in every true Penitent is unhing'd uncenter'd from sin and corruption It is a return of the Soul home to it self after a Spiritual Phrensy and Madness The Prodigal is said to come to himself It is a return to its Fathers House after a long bewildred State This my Son was lost and is found But beyond all this it is a Spiritual Resurrection a return from Death to Life This my Son was Dead and is A Live Luke 15. And indeed as there is no notion of Scripure that is more suited to express the corrupt Nature of Man than Death so the first Threat Ran In the day thou eatest thereof Gen. 2.17 thou shalt dye the Deatb Death hy sin passed upon all Dead in Trespasses Rom. 5.12 Ephes 2.1 and sins Vniversal Death And so in the Levitical Law there was no greater uncleanness than the Touch of a Dead Body Accordingly when the Apostle Heb. 6. names Repentance among the grand Fundamentals or Principles of the Doctrin of Christ He calls it Repentance from Dead Works or Re-enstating the Soul in Life after sin or Works as Unclean and Loaâ—hsome as a Dead Body removed from the sight of the Living Or as a Dead Body was in the Eye of God under the Levitical Law This is the general Notion of Repentance but it may be further Explain'd in these three Particulars and yet in a general way 1. Repentance is an inward sincere habitual Change of the Heart and of the design and purpose and so of the outward Action and Course of Life and Conduct of a mans ways arising from an utter dislike of his former Counsel Purpose and Design and the course of Conversation Life and Action proceeding from it so that it becomes wholly New This is the generel Nature of Repentance as it looks to the government of a mans self and of his Actions Now this in Scripture and Evangelical Repentance is the change from sin to Holiness from a worldly state and conversation to an Heavenly and from the Creature to God and to Christ an utter dislike of and trouble at the former Regiment and steerage of a mans course so as utterly to forsake it and with sorrow shame and astonishment to say to his sinful ways so contrary to the Rules of Holiness Righteousness and Purity Get ye hence and what have I to do any more with you I will now guide my self by the word of my God and hate every false way Psal 119. This is that oâ— which Scripture is full every where the through amending she ways and doings which were not good the wicked man forsaketh his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and returns to the Lord Jerem. 7.3 Esay 55.7 Acts 3.26 James 4 8. Rom. 6.21 Christ blesses in Turning us every one from our Iniquities Cleanse your Hands you sinners and Purify your Hearts you double minded What profit had you in these things whereof you are now ashamed For the end of those things is Death 1 Cor. 6.11 such were some of you But now ye are washed c. 2. Repentance as it looks to an offended Person is full of sorrow that it hath offended moves earnestly to Pardon and Reconciliation and is ready to make use of any powerful Mediator in order to Reconciliation and desires ever after to please and to offend no more and herein the Affections are all mov'd according to the degrees of obligation Now in Scripture and Gospel Repentance the offending person the sinner hath â—o do with God the offended person in â—â—d through Christ and so bewails offence and moves earnestly to Pardon and Reconciliation with Gâ—d by the Mediation of Christ and with Christ â—or his own Names sake I beseech thee O Lord Take away the Iniquity of thy Servant Hos 14.3 â—ake away all Iniquities Receive us gâ—aciously And here also â—â—ises an ingenuous sorrow shame and confusion â—hat we have offended a God so Good so Holy so Wise so Tender and Compassionate a Father and despis'd so gracious and obliging a Redeemer David's Heart smâ—te him and he said to the Lord I have sinned in that I have done I have done very foolishly 2 Sam. 24.10 I was ashamed yea even confounded I smote on my thigh Jerem. 31.19 Ezra 9.6 becausâ— I did bear the Reproach of my youth We are ashamed and blush to lift up our Faces They shall under a spirit of Grace and melting sense of God Zach. 12.10 Job 34.31 Deuteron 31 6. 1 Tim. 1 15. look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn It is meet to be said to God If I have offended I will do so no more Oh foolish people and unwise do you ihus requite the
his own Immensity the whole latitude of our Nature without contracting it into the narrowness of a human Person by the great care he took That this Nature should not be dishonoured abused and torn by it self through that bitter Censoriousness Revenge and Contempt Men exercise upon one another even there where Christ is professed So would our Christianity that is now evil spoken of appear as it is in it self Acceptable to God and approved of Men if we could unite in those comprehensive Interests of Righteousness Peace Joy in the Holy-Ghost that substantial Christianity Those healing Wings of the Sun of Righteousness in the Rays of which our little differences about Meat and Drink would play up and down as smallest Motes of Human Frailty easily obtaining a mutual Pardon and that black and most abhorred Vapor of Irreligion be forced to dislodge at so Illustrious a Presence If there be any Interest to keep afoot these Divisions it is an Interest of Dishonour that dares not name it self it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is not barely to serve an Opinion much less the Lord Jesus but the Belly 3. But to return from whence I have digressed upon so great a Cause Lastly we may find in the very Notion of a Death-Bed Repentance enough to defend the seasonableness of this Discourse notwithstanding spreading Irreligion For it imports a design to Dye well and we see very Few and those Few deprived of the common Modesty and Sobriety of Mankind and who thereupon become an horrid Story but dye at least in a fair and calm Temper towards Religion Now if we join to this that of many Millions for one every one dies as he lives not only as the Tree falls so it lies but as it hath inclined along its growth so it falls How great is the necessity then of living well that we may dye well For this Death-Bed Repentance that rises and sets at the same time generally proves but a falling Star That Repentance only wheels orderly into a higher Orb that hath given proof it was a true Light by shining here for some considerable space A good Death receives Being from a holy Life else there is not such a thing in Nature no not in Grace except by Miracle of Grace Thus far I have made Apology for the Seasonableness of this Discourse In the Discourse it self I am not conscious of having wandred from the Vniversal Doctrin of Divines in this Point except it should seem too high a strain to place this Repentance when true among Miracles To justifie that I have the warrant of Sacred Story the Dying Convert which being the only Example of such a one in Holy Writ was in the days of the Messias that great Period of Miracles singled out upon that greatest occasion viz. To display the power of the dying Mediator to forgive Sins not only upon Earth but in his lowest Humiliation his very descent into Hell which argues it a very great Miracle Yet I have not trusted the weight of the Discourse to any thing that looks like a private Opinion but to most avowed Principles and have therefore reserved my particular Sense as the Conclusion of the whole I have only to add there is a National late Repentance as appears by the Vnsuccesfulness of that unparallell'd †2 Kings 23.26 and 24.3 4. Reformation of Josiah sincere indeed in him and of full Effect but not in the Body of the Jewish Nation as appeared by their Relapses under the following Kings and therefore notwithstanding that seeming Return the Lord turned not from the Fierceness of his Wrath wherewith his Anger was kindled against Judah for its guilt in the Sins of Manasseh which the Lord would not Pardon and therefore would not give a true Repentance of those Evils they had so long continued in against all the early Admonitions of the Prophets This is the just Parallel of a Death-Bed Repentance The due Application of all these Considerations to every one into whose hands they may fall is the earnest and affectionate Prayer of T. B. THE GENERAL INEFFICACY AND INSINCERITY OF A Death-bed Repentance c. Luk. 23.39 40 41 42 43. And one of the Malefactors that were hanged with him railed on him saying if thou be the Christ save thy self and us But the other answering said dost thou not fear God Seeing that thou art in the same condemnation And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this Man hath done nothing amiss And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise THE generality of Men that have been at all acquainted with the name of Repentance and understood in any Measure the importance and signification of the thing acknowledge it beyond all dispute necessary Yet they allow themselves a leisure for the Performance of it and such a leisure as swallows the whole time of Life and leaves only the last and lowest part of it for the discharge of so great a Business so that their Repentance if any at all falls out to be a Death-bed Repentance The inconveniencies of which are unexpressibly great because the lives of Men are left naked of that Holiness and Purity that should adorn them and all over blotted with Sin and Vanity Their Conversation wants that light of good Works that should shine before Men and glorifie God in Heaven Their Life is without form and void and darkness is upon the face of it And in the end they are cast upon the great Sea of Eternity as in a Vessel of Paper a thin and superficial Repentance It is therefore most necessary to use all means to shew the Insufficiency of this Refuge which most of those that live in common under the Profession of Christianity design while they live to fly to when betimes they dye To demolish this House upon the Sand that Men may not by hopes of shelter at it conceived long before hand be kept off from laying their Foundation upon a Rock which possibly they would do if these hopes were cut off And because this piece of Sacred Story hath been generally taken as an Instance of great Favour to a late Conversion not that it is indeed so but that it seems to be so let it be the Ground of the present Discourse For I observe Divines in their Doctrin concerning the danger of a Dying Repentance are careful to wrest out of the hand of presuming Imagination this Example and to allay the vain Confidence built upon it Indeed the Mistake of it is very fatal seeing if it be duly considered there is nothing more forcible against what it is pretended for than it It is true it is a Relation of a dying Man returning from great Sins to God but so circumstantiated so defended on all hands against Boldness upon it that
it is a foul and impure and shameful thing and as it is an Offence against the Holy and only Wife and gracious Majesty of God and as it brings Wrath and Ruine and Condemnation upon it contemplates considers and weighs those Reasons and thereby finds it self affected with sorrow and affliction as if it were after the manner of a broken Bone or bruised Flesh Thus we read of a broken and contrite Spirit and of those who are bruised in Spirit and grieved in Spirit and of a wounded and a troubled Spirit and of a sorrowful Spirit And this when it eyes God as a Father in Christ Gracious and Good and ready to be Reconcil'd and to forgive is a true godly Sorrow or a Sorrow after God For it is in the True Region of godly sorrow the Spirit and it hath the Right Sense and Affection even such an apprehension of God And such a Sorrow the Spirit communicates to the Body in which it dwells so as to make the Appearance of it Solemn Humble and Lowly It denies it those Ornaments or Refreshments that it self at other Times desires for it it bridles and curbs its own appetites and desires of pleasure and satisfaction in it it humbles it by Fasting it lays it in the Dust it keeps it waking it dissolves it into Tears and if it be very great as sometimes it dries up the Benign Juices of it and it carries all the Marks of the Spirit so affected And because these arise from a sorrow within after God God is pleased with them and accepts them as signs of such sorrow and calls for them 2. The Sicknesses or Wants or Pains or Notes of Disgrace that the Wise and Holy Providence of God sends sometimes upon the Body that make it an uneasie or a dishonourable Habitation of the Spirit These the Spirit takes Notice of with troublesome and unquiet thoughts the thoughts being in a Motion a Conflict and Agony if by the Grace of God they are guided to search the Causes of these Strokes on the Body and finds them to be an offended Justice a provoked and displeased Holiness upon the account of Sin and Iniquity and that it apprehends These are but the Beginnings of Sorrows and that they are Indications and Fore-bodes of Wrath to come and of further Judgments from Heaven even at the present upon both Body and Spirit if there be not that course taken of seeking Pardon and Reconcilement in Christ and turning from Iniquity These thoughts sanctified and conducted by God upon himself thus upon the occasion of outward affliction become that sorrow after God of which the Apostle speaks and often works that Repentance to salvation never to be Repented of Thus Scripture very often speaks of Outward Afflictions made serviceable to Conversion to returns to God Famine and Pestilence and War and Captivity in the Land of Enemies are Represented in the Prayer of Solomon as great Motives and even procuring and exciting Causes of Humiliation Bethinking our selves turning to the Lord. The Afflictions of Men are often spoken of by God and used as Arguments to such Resentments as call to Self-judging and so to reforming â—ven often not only in the Old but in the New Tectament We are Chasten'd of the Lord that we might not be condemned with the World Affliction yieldeth the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness to them who are exercised thereby 1 Cor. 11.31 Heb. 12.11 Both these Operations of godly sorrow seem to be Represented with a great Elegancy V. 14. and Holy Eloquence Job 33. the first when this Sorrow begins in the Spirit of a Man and Thoughts arising therein God speaks once and twice in a Dream in a Vision of the Night He opens the Ears of Men and sealeth their Instruction That he may withdraw Man from his purpose and hide Pride from Man He brings him to such Humiliation as keeps him from going on in his former purpose Again when sorrow begins in the Body v. 19. He a man any man upon whom the methods of God for Repentance are so laid is chasten'd with pain upon his Bed and the multitude of his Bones with strong Pain so that his Life abhorreth Bread and his Soul dainty meat his Flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen and his bones that were not seen stick out yea his Soul draweth near unto the Grave and his Life to the Destroyers if there be a Messenger with him an Interpreter one among a thousand to shew to man his uprightness then he is gracious unto him and saith deliver him from going down to the Pit I have found a Ransom his Flesh shall be fresher than a Childs He shall pray unto God and he will be Favourable unto him and he shall see his Face with Joy he will Render unto man his Righteousness And now this sorrow thus after God sanctified thus to have Respect to God and carried out after him is Counter distinguish'd it is most different from the sorrow of the World that worketh Death The sorrow that hath no higher spring than this World works Death that is however the Mind or the Body be Affected when it does not mount up to a consideration of God offended for sin when it does not seek pardon of him and Reconciliation to him in Christ when it only pores upon the things of this World and agitates it self about them it runs down into the dead Sea of Sorrow that weeping and wailing and gnashing of Teeth that is in Hell It is an Idolatrous Sorrow arising from an Heart deeply set on this World and glewed to it and so goes down into the Vault and Pit of eternal Sorrow It tends to the Death of the Body it brings down the Head to the Grave It tends to wear and grind bodily Nature to the Dust every such sorrow not after God that hath no tincture from him on it If it be not Antidoted by sorrow after God and by Repentance to Salvation It tends to eternal Death and is the Inlet unto it For it is certain all sorrow here that comes from Heaven ascends up to Heaven as Water ascends as high as its Spring But that which is of a terrene earthly Nature sinks down to the Center which is the neathermost Hell I come now to the second Head to shew the excellent use and service sorrow after God yeilds in this wise and holy preparation of it by God to that Repentance to salvation not to be Repented of 1 In that so great and principal an Affection of the Soul is given up to God It hath an use and a service to steer the Soul to God For the Affections are as the Rudder of the Soul as the Helm of it guided by the judgment as by a Pilot And these affections are all in a Linck and in a chain If any one of the principal Affections are mov'd that mighty Vessel of the whole Soul is turn'd this way or that way by a very small thing as it may seem
improve so remarkable a Providence upon the English Plantation in Jamaica which is therefore to be reputed a part of England it self and the so gentle and tender Admonition of that Motion of the Earth among our Selves as also on other Parts I would discourse them first as an Argument to Repentance and then that they are a Prediction of a great Change on the World 1. I first consider that of Jamaica which we must needs acknowledge a part of our Selves and therefore it is to be looked upon as England though beyond the Sea and so we are all equally therein concerned particularly that many of us had Interests and Relations that suffered in it we are therefore nearly concern'd and so are strongly called upon to Repentance by it and the more that it fell so particularly upon that Town or Port that bore the Ensigns of Sovereignty and Government called Port Royal that was the Key of the Island and Plantation the Port and Harbor the Seat of the Kings House and of the Houses of the most considerable Merchants and Traders and of the Defence and Strength of the Place by its Bastions and Fortifications 2. I consider that the Judgment bears a very great Resemblance to the Judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah For the Thunder and Lightning and Balls of Fire that came down from Heaven according to the most credible Accounts of Eye-witnesses though the Town was not that I have heard touched by the Fire carry the Signatures of Sodom's Judgment after a serene Rising of the Sun which must be by an Earthquake and Inundation for the Earthquake and Inundation was in the Suddenness and dreadful Desolation and Destruction that it made How like to that which turn'd Sodom into a Lake or Dead Sea to this day And herein what was short of Sodom's Judgment in the Fire was made up in the Dread of the Earthquake and so many about 2000 Persons perished as by that newly sober published Account before nam'd appears A Shade of the Place and of the Parts on which the Earthquake had greatest Power is given in it From hence then I argue 1. That it is not to be ascrib'd to natural Causes any other way than as the supreme Counsel and Being hath all Causes in his Hand and at his Dispose If it had been only an Earthquake and Inundation there had appeared less of God and of his Supream Dominion But when there was a Correspondence and as it were Intelligence between Heaven and Earth and Sea above and below It leads us to consider Him Who does whatever he pleases in Heaven and in Earth and in all Deep Places He causeth the Vapors to ascend from the Earth He maketh Lightnings for the Rain He bringeth the Wind out of his Treasures Psal 135.6 7. Were not Men resolved as Pharaoh to stand up like Rock against God they must needs acknowledge Him in this The Works of God his Judgment on Sodom of old is an Ensample to all After Ages How much more This so upon our own Times on whom the Ends of the World are come though we had no share in it but it was upon another People How much more when so upon our Selves though in another Climate 2. I consider as a further Argument to Repentance herein that great Scripture Amos 4.6 That it comes upon this Nation in a Train and Connexion of Judgments all within less than half the Age of a Man at Moses's Computation Or 70 Years Psal 90.10 The Pestilence and Dreadful Plague in the Year 1665. The Fire on this City in 1666. The several Intestine Commotions and Wars abroad And now it is come to this Judgment though but on some of us yet it was but so upon Israel v. 11. I have overthrown some of you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah And this is the last till God come to a Judgment so great he would not name Therefore will I do Thus or this unto thee Therefore prepare to meet thy God Oh Israel in his severest Judgment if thou return not And so according to the general course of the Word and Dealings of God especially with a People under such a clearness of Divine Revelation as we are It must needs be whether Men will Hear or Forbear It must end in utter Destruction if upon this we do not Return to God according I say to the General Rules and Standards of his Word 3. That great Admonition of our Saviour's is an utter Prohibition of our sheltring our selves under such an Imagination that they were greater Sinners than we are for he hath solemnly denounced That whoever does not Repent shall not only Perish but shall Perish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in like manner with those who have Perish'd by extraordinary and most eminent and remarkable Judgments Luc. 13.3 5. So that without Repentance we are always under the Impendency the hanging over of so great Judgments upon us as came indeed upon the Jews in the Roman Desolations soon after and must upon this Nation according to ordinary Rules and Standards of the Word and Providence of God as I have said But if not seeing that Word of Christ shall be true that we shall likewise perish if we do not Repent We must be raised to that Greatest Earthquake Thunder and Lightning and the Dreadful Tempest the Snares Fire and Brimstone God will then Rain and the Horrible Tempest that shall be the Portion of every wicked and impenitent Person 's Cup Psal 11.6 at that Time that Day that shall burn as an Oven and consume the Wicked Root and Branch at that Battel of the Great Day of God Almighty in the Valley of Jehosaphat and Armageddon when he will go through and burn up all together What Cause have we therefore to look diligently we may be found of him in Peace at that Day and not in a State of War of that War that is a War in Righteousness or a War of Just and Righteous Judgment in the Day of Judgment 4. I observe from so many Persons taken away so suddenly in Jamaica How great an Argument it makes against Trust to a Death-Bed-Repentance when the very Possibilities of a Death-Bed to Repent upon may be so snatch'd from us and therefore with how great Force and Evidence and with what a just Timousness the Observations on these Providences There and Here are to be adjusted to these Discourses on the general necessity of Repentance and the great Hazard of committing our selves to the Adventure of a Death-Bed-Repentance when so suddenly Providence that is as in a Course of Earthquakes and hath given us such Warnings may take us away living and if we Repent not in his Wrath. 5. As between those two Dispensations of Providence the Dreadful Earthquake in Jamaica and that here I consider with what a Goodness and yet with a Faithfulness to move to Repentance God hath shewn us both the Tenderness and the Skill of his Hand in the Motion of the Earth we were
against the old one beyond hope of Pardon whence Men generally receive this Recompence that Conscience is put into amuse having nothing at present to say against it And had this been the top of his Case that it had been thus could it have been saving Nay that it might possibly have been thus though indeed it had been otherwise yet this very liableness to such a mistake had unspeakably abated the rational Security and safety of his Condition so that there had remained good cause for Conscience to have mistrusted which way his Condition would have fallen to Eternity 3. The Third thing therefore that gave him and gives to all Ages undoubted Testimony of the Truth of his Conversion is the immediate attestation to that Truth and Sincerity of it This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Now that Repentance which enters into Heaven that passes into Paradise not hinder'd by those flaming Cherubs of Divine Truth that which is within the Door before the Master of the House is risen up and hath shut it to Luke 13.25 that is true Repentance and prosperous and successful how late soever But to know that it is true when it is so late needs a Voice from Heaven or something proportional to it to verifie it as is after to be urged The last thing I take notice of in this Repentance is the unparallellable Circumstance of time wherein it was accepted 1. It was in the time of a publick act of mercy to the World Joh. 3.16 God was in love to Mankind giving his only begotten Son Eph. 5.25 Christ was giving himself at this time Therefore that there should be an Instance and Monument of this Mercy seem'd condecent to so great and solemn a time 2. This Penitent stood close to that Sacrifice that was offering it self up to God He stood within the Savour the Odor the Incense of it That Sacrifice that purchases men from a vain conversation 1 Pet. 18. that draws down all the Blessings of Salvation that therefore the force of it should reach so near it self is not strange I know no nearness of place signifies at all How many saw his Miracles heard him Preach look'd upon him Dying without benefit yet was his Presence also as he pleased full of Divine effects That therefore there should be an experiment of so great a Balsom just as it was preparing was most suitable 3. It was in the time that Christ was triumphing over Principalities and Powers and making a shew of them openly upon the very Cross * Vicem versam reddidit Christus Diabolo quemadmodum Diabolus depravando hominem abstulerat de Paradiso sic Christus latronem confitentem erueret de inferno Ille de interdicto ligno praesumentem decepit Iste pendentem de poenali ligno redemit Aug. Serm. 122. De Temp. That he should bear off in the Field the prey taken out of the mouth of the proud Foe was very agreeable to the expectation so great a Conqueror raises Colos 2.15 But whoever considers the Thief on the other side not converted or saved will find Cause to observe The Salvation of Christ doth not sweep the World but is rarelier vouchsafed than we think That a man may die without going to Heaven That the mercy of the Gospel is most arbitrary and sovereign chusing and leaving That it depends not on humane Expectation or any Superstitious phancies that have been raised about the Cross of Christ for so much appears by one only taken here the other left though upon the Cross together with Christ and near him in the great and mediatory Act who that considers will not tremble to think of one left in his sins falling down into Hell from such a Heaven as Christ in his great Act of Redemption And although it may be truly said it was the fault and negligence and obstinacy of the Unconverted Malefactor that he did not use aright the Grace offered or the Light vouchsafed him yet it doth not alleviate the danger for it still remains very uncertain to whom God will give a Heart to use Opportunities aright though they have them from God with an equal Liberality as those that do so improve them But indeed the Supremacy of Grace is here very much acknowledged by all that a Ray of the Divinity of Christ with infinite kindness smote his Soul * Nova insolita quaedam divinae virtutis efficacia in exemplum omnibus seculis memorabile c. Grot. In locum I infer nothing from that increase the Evangelist Matth. c. 27.44 gives the Miracle That he was Converted after he had joined with the other Malefactor in reproaching Christ Because †Hieron In locum some Interpreters question it Upon the whole then of this Example let Men that would be befriended by a Dying Repentance examine whether these things found in this Example are like to meet upon them I will not say till there be a time Beneficium multis modis insigne non temere trahendi in consequentias exempli Grot. In locum a fulness of time wherein Christ shall again die for Sinners such a Repentance is not to be expected but I may safely say he that in the Observation of this Example trusts himself to a Dying Repentance should startle his Presumption with this Interrogation Will there ever be such a Conjunction as was here again while the World endures I come now to the last Head of down-right Arguments against committing our Eternal State to a Death-Bed Repentance 1. It is against all the Prudence and Providence of a Man seeing no Man knows what kind of Death he shall die whether it will afford him the possibilities of Repenting How many die suddenly and in so short a Breath that they have not time to desire Mercy in general How many of Apoplexies seizing upon the very Top of Sense at first Many by Phrensies have no rational Motions of themselves innumerable Accidents and oft-times made dreadful by the Wickedness wherewith they have been accompanied have snatch'd away Men in a Moment Such are taken away living and in his wrath before the Pots can feel the Thorns Psal 58.9 before ever those hasty flames of Motion towards God blown up for such an Extremity can be raised Such are taken in the very manner without so much time as to put off the Every-Day Habit of Sin like those that were carried out dead in their Coats Lev. 10.5 And though from the ordinary manner of Dying we may hope for the warning ordinarily given yet we see others surprized who have had the same reasons of Hope with our selves We cannot then without madness trust our selves to accident or boast our selves of to morrow of which we know not what is within it Prov. 27.1 seeing the future is wholy concealed from us They that make a Covenant with death and are at an agreement with Hell meet with nothing but Perfidiousness when the overflowing
solid Floor and Pavement to move upon such a Bed to rest upon Upon this Earth is the whole Vegetative Nature both nourished and supported as in a Nursery even from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hysop that grows in the Wall Hereon have all the Great Buildings the Palaces Castles Towers multiplied into Cities and Towns their Foundations Now seeing all these have their Order their Quiet their Safety by the steddiness of the Earth whenever it is moved there is an immediate Shatter Confusion Disorder Desolation an Amaze a Horror upon all Creatures of Sense and especially of Reason an Affrightment and Terror upon Nature it self because hereby the great Laws and Sanctions of Creation and Providence are violated For concerning the Earth God spake and it was done he commanded and it stood fast Psal 33.9 3. The Earth is stuff'd with variety of Matter Humours and Vapors in its Bowels Fire Water Vapor Air Minerals Sulphur Piceous Matter Now it self is so made as to lye close and to lye still every clod of Earth compacts it self and would lye in as little room as it can It is heavy and sluggish and unapt to move whereas all the rest of its Inmates are for Motion and Action some of them of very earnest and vigorous Motion and for Propagation and Enlargement of themselves The Earth will not move but on some great violence and force so when those working and active Parts find they are fettered and imprisoned and cramp'd they grow furious and outragious and rend and tear every thing to make and force their way and all on the sudden and at once very often for being either gather'd together in great Caverns and Hollows of the Earth their Room grows too strait and little and so they are forc'd to transplant themselves or having as one may say very often a Spirit of Contradiction one to another they fall into Feuds and Wars one with another and they that are overcome and fall under the Mastery of others are forc'd and driven and made to fly out with great violence and the very same thing may fall out in divers lesser Veins and Tubular Passages or Pipes in the Earth where though the Stores of these Vapors or Mineral Spirits are lesser yet if it be in many of them together the Contest may be very great and the Fury very discomposing to the Earth Thus there are within the Earth those Bombs and Mortars those Cannon and Ordnance those Battering Rams and Engines those Mines oft sprung and natural Gun-powder and fiery Bullets those lesser Screwed Guns all which are the Ammunition of Nature or rather of the God of Nature Thus when they are discharg'd and let off it is with great Noise Dread and Astonishment and oftentimes Destruction to the Inhabitants of the Earth Who almost hath not heard of Aetna and Vesuvius and other the Mountains spouting Fire in several Parts of the World And as there are such constant known and open Eruptions in Nature so are there secret sudden and extemporary ones And thus in the Heavens over us there are like Contests and Collisions falling and clapping of Clouds Thunders Lightnings fiery Meteors and flaming Balls and these often corresponding and as it were holding Intelligence with the same in Earth And these are certainly often Causes one of another by the Tone or Link of Air being broken and the Elastic Force or Spring of it flying this way and that way as lately in Jamaica according to the most prudent Accounts from thence Every thing then must needs be torn and havock'd as those Motions hurry this way or that way Persons Animal Creatures and Things at such times And as these are in the World of Nature so are they in the Political World when Nations or People are too full for their Place and transplant themselves by forcing into other Nations when Wars those great Disputes of Nations arise when People or Armies fall into Mutiny these are Political Earthquakes and when Men are oppressed in Religion by domineering Superstition and Laws of Vniformity and imposing on the Consciences and Faith of Men There are Religious Earthquakes The Psalmist puts them altogether Psal 65.7 8. Which setteth fast the Mountains being girded with Power which stillest the noise of the Seas the noise of their Waves and the multitude of the People This God does in Mercy when he keeps all quiet but there are Times when all these being in Hubbub and Mutiny the Mountains shake and roar together with the Seas and Waves and the Multitude of People in their Strivings who are therein emphatically called the Mobile that They that dwell in the uttermost Parts are afraid of these Tokens thus from one end of Nations or even of the World to another there arise dreadful Fears at the Tokens of God unhinging the World called therefore Prodigies and Portents For what Interest God hath in these shall be spoken in the next Particular I only observe further There are in the Little World by the wrestling of contrary Humours in the Bodies of Men such Spoutings of Fire as in Fevers such Deluges of Water as in Dropsies such Earthquakes in violent Diseases such sulphureous Vapors in horrid Melancholies or Fits or in the Arteries and Sinews as in Gouts and Rheumatisms in those Arthritical Pains in the strait and close Tubes of the Body such Swimmings of the Head as resemble what hath been spoken of in the outer World but above all in Consciences 4. Let all these things be trac'd as much as they can to their natural Causes yet Scripture ascribes all to God Psal 148.8 Fire Hail Snow Vapor all fulfil his Word He worketh his Signs and Wonders among the Armies of Heaven and the Inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand for all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing in such a Case Dan. 4.35 except he pleases to stay it himself or can say to him What dost thou As if they should say What dost thou mean who hast made Heaven and Earth and preservest it to put it into these Disorders But he gives no Account of his matters in these Things And seeing he holds all natural Causes in his hand and ballances them every moment what is it to say All these Things have their proper Causes but to say in true sense that God does all These for all Nature is indeed Miracle constant and as we say in ordinary But God indeed does in more lofty Style and Elegancies and Eloquences of Language assume to himself the Government of these affrightful Motions in Heaven or Earth Thunders Lightnings Earthquakes throughout Scripture as if they were immediately done by his own hand as if he took this Globe of Earth and Sea which he hath Hung upon nothing and shook it out of its place or as if he immediately shot off his great Pieces either in the Bowels of the Earth or in the Skies or sprung a Mine in the Earth And it must needs be so if
all natural voluntary and fortuitous as we Poreblind think them Causes work in and out of his hand For if in the Killing King Ahab a man drew a Bow at a venture or as in the Margin out of the Hebrew In his Simplicity without Design without Aim and yet it was directed to Ahab as by God's immediate Hand to fulfil his Word upon him How much more are all natural Causes directed by him 1 Kings 22.34 And those Things which he knows will with such extraordinary Amazes change the World he ascribes them more emphatically to Himself His Thunder his Lightnings I shake Heaven and Earth Let us then consider Why God does thus disorder Nature And I shall instance in these following Reasons 1. That when we see these Contests and Jars in Nature we may adore and praise the infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness of God who keeps All so much in Peace and Quiet For as great Engines or Machines that have various and cross Wheels and curious Works in them it requires as great Art to harmonize them at first so great care to keep them in order and as vast Armies call for the highest Spirit Wisdom and Conduct of the Generalissimo as Men speak to inspire them with Order Peace Regular Action in their several Stations so it is said of God Job 25.2 Dominion and Fear are with him He maketh Peace in his high and in his Deep Places also Is there any number of his Armies All which he yet keeps in Peace as he pleases Oh therefore that as in that Song of Praise Psal 107. Men considering All these Things well would make it ‖ Glory to God the Foot of every Thing Oh that Men would praise the Lord for his wonderful Works to the Children of Men For we see by a little what great Things he can do Whoso therefore is wise and will observe these Things even he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord. For indeed That on which the Pride and Prophaneness and Insolency of Men is grounded is That God will still from Time to Time keep Things in the Quiet and Peace he generally does And if he does not they fall down into Death and Ruine immediately in his doing otherwise He therefore shews sometimes by such Disorders what he always does how he exercises Long-suffering Loving kindness in the Earth for if he did otherwise Nature would be always cracking in pieces and if it were so What could the greatest Monarchs say to it Would they stay his hand or would they render him a Recompence for not doing as they think he should and ought to do Their Recompence he would speedily return upon their own heads God therefore shews How all the World is bound and beholden to him by shewing at such Times what he can do without any Controul and yet does not and what he does in maintaining Order and Peace when none can compell him to it if He did not please to do so 2. Men loath what they have constantly as if it were no Argument for fear of God as if God were tied to do so but think at least such Wonders of extraordinary Power which they do not see every day would like one from the Dead move to Repentance But even this depends on Grace That he may give Witnesses and Demonstrations of his Wrath Justice and Power to either as he pleases punish and execute Judgment from Heaven or move to Repentance For as he gives Fruitful Times and Seasons that he might not leave himself without witness of his Goodness leading to Repentance so of his Wrath and Justice to necessitate Men that way For all these Things Preach Repentance and Reformation aloud and for that End I have thus superadded to the Discourse of Repentance 3. That God may give notice of any great Changes he will make in the World that are near at hand and which within any little Time he will make in it he gives Warning by Earthquakes and other unusual Things For so in spight of all that can be said to the contrary God hath generally usher'd in any great Changes he hath made in the World by such Signs and Wonders in Heaven and Shakings of the Earth beneath and therefore with great Right he cloaths his Denunciations and Threats of such great Judgments in such Language of Thunder and Lightnings and Earthquakes A very remarkable Instance we have of this in the Prophet Amos. When God was about as it were to Ride a Circuit in Judgment upon the Nations for Three Transgressions and for Four even upon each single Nation or People Amos dates his Prophecy two Years before the Earthquake in the Days of Uzziah Amos 1.1 How general that was is not known to us But there is plain importance God first began to give notice of his Judgments by Amos his Prophecy in his two first Chapters That not prevailing to Repentance he gave a loud Alarm by the Earthquake which it is most probable was as general as those Nations threatned by Amos. Then follows the Judgment it self on the several People nam'd and executed by the Assyrian and Babylonian Conquests And why was there a mention of the Earthquake two Years after if God had not pleased to give that Intimation that an Earthquake was a fit Forerunner of that Judiciary Progress that follows in those two Chapters of Amos so our Lord Matt. 24. makes Earthquakes in Divers Places the certain Forerunners of the Desolations of Jerusalem 4. The Lord Jehovah is pleased to suffer Earthquakes because he hath determined upon this one Earthquake wherein he will shake not only the Earth but the Heaven also a great Earthquake such as hath not been since men were upon earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great wherein every Island shall flee away and the Mountains shall not be found Revel 16.18.20 And of this God foretold Hagg. 2.6 Yet once I will shake Heaven and Earth c. And in this Text Yet once more I shake not only the Earth but the Heaven also Where though the Apostle opposes the once more to the shaking of the Earth at Mount Sinai because that was to his present purpose yet it leaves room for that most sagacious Interpretation of Dr. Burnet in the forenamed Discourses That it is oppos'd to the shaking not only the Earth but the Heaven also in and by the Flood for in that he says once more it supposes that not only the Earth but the Heaven had been shaken before And when could that be but in the Flood the on purpose-Type of this as appears by what that excellent Person hath said on 2 Pet. 3. Although This shall be greater and to far greater purpose in the new Heaven and the new Earth to perfection Whereas That Flood brought forth a Heaven and Earth for the worse and Men grew as and more wicked but here Righteousness shall dwell and This shall be the greatest since Man was on Earth This is the Time of Trouble