thee with a price pay me downe thy sâ—lfe thy service which thou owest me I say Jesus Christ doth not onely thus bid thee poor sinner beleeve in him and come out of sin but he is ready to give thee his grace and strength to make payment A new heart will I give thee and a new spirit will I put into thee and therefore doe not say absolutely I cannot beleeve or I cannot come out of sin for Jesus Christ is ready to give thee thy thousand pounds thou owest him that thou mayst pay him out of his owne stock that thou mayst beleeve out of his treasury that thou mayst come out of sin by his grace and mercy The Lord Jesus offers his hand with thee to the work as Bernard tels us of Pope Eugenius that meeting with a poor but honest Bishop he secretly gave him certaine Jewels wherewith he might present him So Jesus Christ will give thee the Jewels of faith and repentance wherewith thou mayst present him If God did not furnish us we should have nothing wherewith to honour him The Father that gave thee Christ wil give thee faith to receive Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ that gave thee himselfe will give thee his spirit to draw thee to himselfe Ver. 4. How shall we know our opportunities I will lay downe but two things before you 1 Consult with the Lord as it is said of the children of Israel that when the Gibeonites deceived them with a wile and they spared their lives whom they should have destroyed the Text saith They asked not counsell at the mouth of the Lord Joshua 9. 14. they had an opportunity here put into their hands to destroy the Gibeonites but they missed it because they did not consult with the Lord do but compare the seventh veâ—se with the fourteenth and you shall see how right a man may gâ—esse of a thing sometimes and yet want a clear light and discovery of it because he doth not advise with the Lord in the seventh verse Said the men of Israel to the Hivites peradventure you dwell amongst us and how shall we make league with you here the Israelites did guesse aright it was past a peradventure for they did live among them and therefore could not make a league with them How right did they hiâ— how true was their conjecture Now the lock of opportunity was before them they might have laid hold upon it but they were in the darke and walkt in a cloud not knowing who the Gibeonites were because they asked not counsell at the mouth of the Lord that is by the high Priest putting on the breast-plate of judgement wherein was the Urim and Thummim so the reason why we know not our opportunities is because we consult not with the Lord as he is the maker of time so he is the revealer of time unto us Nay Gods will to worke at such a time is that which makes an opportunity as suppose a man in a curious Apple-tree or Plumb-tree your opportunity to gether and carry away fruit is when it is his will to shake the tree before or after is no opportunity you may walke and watch about the tree when he will shake downe the fruit but when he hath done shaking your opportunity is done So the Lord who is the husbandman of his Church he hath among all his other Joh. 15. 1. 1 Cor. 3. 9. trees planted the tree of time and he himselfe sits upon the top of the tree as the God of time the disposer of time and when it is his will to shake the tree then is your opportunity So that if you would know your opportunities you must consult with the Lord Lord when wilt thou shake thy tree when wilt thou drop downe the fruit that I may gather into my lap 2 If you would not loose any opportunity apprehend every one as Abraham by entertaining strangers entertained Angels unawares As a man that keeps an Inne by entertaining all travellers that come oftentimes entertaines a Noble-man or a Prince So if thou entertaine all opportunities that come thou shalt at last entertaine the noble opportunity the Angel opportunity the Prince of opportunities the Soul-saving opportunity a thousand to one thou shalt entertain Christ at last as the Inne at Bethlem that entertained all passengers entertained Christ himself there Sinners I told you before that God will at one hour or other come with a casting command one command that shall have the casting voice that if you obey not then mercy will shut up shop and trade with you no more but give you up for ever and therefore I say now if you would not loose any opportunity take every opportunity And now give my discourse leave to cast some beams of reflection upon that worthy Gentleman whom God hath taken from us 'T is our duty to speak something of him Though we bury his body yet 't is not fit we should bury his worth in a grave of silence and oblivion and truly my beloved I doe not thinke yee can bury the sweet remembrance of him Hee will live a long time after his death though he be dead yet he cannot dye his name cannot expire so soon Oh! that what good was in him might live after him to gives us example Hee was an exemplary patterne when hee 's laid in this grave hee 'l live above the grave the sweet smelling spices of his lovely life and conversation will imbalme him and keep him unperisht in your thoughts many years I need not blazon his coat of arms you may see them upon the sable hearse the worth of his descent or lustre of his family Et genus proavos quae not fecimus ipsi you did all honour him and know him Mr. Walcot of Walcot besides that he was honored with the office of Justice of Peace in his Country truly I thinke the office in some measure received honour from him for he adorned it with his vertues he moved in that sphear for many years together in which place both he and that worthy Gentleman And once a Member of the Parliament now with the Lord M. Rich More of Linley Esq whom for honors sake I cannot but revive and mention In which place I say you all know how they two uniting their beames together refreshed your countrey with the warmth of their influence executing Justice relieving the poor placing Orphans punishing offendors suppressing the prophanation of Sabbaths countenancing the godly supporting the course of godlinesse and religion honoring and backing the faithfull Ministers of God I well remember those times I speak but what yee all know He was also having interest in so many Churches as great an instrument I think as any in the Countrey to propagate the Gospell and preaching of the word That excellent man of God Mr. Pierson of Brompton Bryan had a large room in this Gentlemans heart and kindled that pious flame in him and when M. Pierson dyed this
beyond all time Thou hast sinned against him some years and so he hath lost his glory Pro. 19. 11. by thee for some years but if he pardon thee thou wilt glorify him wilt thou not for ever 3 What ever glory thou hast lost him he hath it all made up in Jesus Christ come in now then and serve him cheerfully in Christ doe more for him in a little time then thou hast done against him in a long time Object 8 But I have prayed long and waited a great while and the Lord doth not hear nor answer me and therefore my opportunity is past when God hath done hearing prayer the opportunity is past Answer This doth not argue that thine opportunity is gone but that God doth not answer thee as soon as thou askest Thine opportunity is not past but onely God takes his leasure to hear thee when he pleaseth the opportunity is not past but God makes thee stay a while before he answers the Lord doth not always time his answers to the swiftnesse of our expectations 2 Gods delayes should make thee set on him with greater strength and his putting thee off should make thee put on afresh with stronger violence as the cold weather makes the fire burne hotter so Gods slacknesse should make thee more hot and earnest in prayer and by an holy Antiperistasis be kindled from his coldnesse Thus 't is with the men of the world when Balak sent messengers unto Balaam to come unto him and curse the people Israel Balaam denyed him and sent him word back that God would not give him leave to come what then sayth the Text Balak sent againe certaine Princes more and more honorable then they so little is Balak discouraged Numb 22. 15. with one refusall that he sent so much the stronger message More Princes and more honorable ah that we could be so importunate for our good and with our God! a denyall doth but whet the desires of vehement Suitors Why are yee faint in spirituall things when yee are not denyed but delayed doth God put the off send up more prayers and more honorable againe to him 3 And therefore when after much seeking thou meetest not with peace and assurance do not say thine opportunity is past but rather say thine opportunity is not yet come or thine Heb. 10. 37. opportunity is yet to come For yet a little time and he that shall come will come and will not tarry How shall I know mine opportunity is yet to come How shall I know mine opportunity is yet to come Hab. 2. 1. 1 When thou livest in expectation when thou standest upon thy watch tower to see what he will say unto thee 2 When thou waitest in the use of means when thou wilt not leave the use of means when thou stickest by the poole of Bethesda as the lame man did that had a disease eight and thirty years there he came to be healed but he was still prevented because when he was going downe into the water another alwayes stept downe before him yet there he stayed he knew there was the place and means of healing and from thence he would not goe if he would lye any where he would lye there and was his opportunity lost though he had waited long and been put by often this is the very doubt No surely Christ visits him at last there he waited in the use of meanes and rather then fail he shall be healed without means 3 When the Fig-tree blossomes then thine opportunity is yet to come nay 't is at hand when any blossomes of goodnesse any buds and beginnings of a worke appear any breathings of soul in thee after Christ then thine opportunity is at hand as Christ said Learne a Parable of the Fig-tree when his Matth. 24. 32. branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves know that Summer is nigh and therefore cherish every blossome of grace though never so tender in thee Let not a May-frost nip them Be yee lift up yee everlasting doores and the King of glory shall come in When your doors your souls begin to lift up themselves ever so little after Christ the King of glory is comming in Object 9 But you bid us take the opportunity and come in now to Jesus Christ and beleeve in him and repent and come out of sin alas you bid us doe what we cannot doe we cannot beleeve nor repent nor come out of sin or come to Jesus Christ of our selves Answ 1 You are to beleeve that you cannot beleeve of your selfe or repent of your selfe or come out of sin by your own strength and you are not therefore the farther from Christ in that you are so farr from your selves nay you are neerer to Jesus Christ The farther you goe out of your selves and out of your owne strength the neerer you are gone to Jesus Christ when you seriously and feelingly say that you cannot beleeve of your selves This is the first seed of faith I say to beleeve that you cannot beleeve of your selves is the first seed of faith you must first beleeve your owne weaknesse that you may have power from Christ to beleeve in Christ Is there ever a poor soul then in this Congregation that cryes out I cannot come out of sin of my selfe this is the first worke and step unto Jesus Christ to receive strength from him to come out of sin dost thou say thou canst not come out of sin of thy self Now thou art the farther from thy selfe and the neerer to Jesus Christ They whom Christ helps he makes them first see themselves helplesse Jesus Christ gives strength to them whom he makes to see their owne nothingnesse they that say they cannot beleeve Jesus Christ is in the way to make them beleeve They that say Lord I cannot overcome my sin Jesus Christ becomes 2 Cor. 12. 9. their Conquerour for them thy nothingnesse shall set out his power for my strength saith he is made perfect in weaknes 2 And againe whereas thou sayest I bid thee doe what thou canst not doe thou canst not repent nor come out of sin of thy selfe I answer and tell thee God offers his hand with thee to the worke he does not onely offer thee worke to doe but he offers his hand with thee to the worke while he bids thee beleeve his hand shall be with thee to make thee beleeve This is the excellency and kindnesse of the Covenant of grace when the Gospel bids thee leave sin it puts in thee a new nature that is contrary to sin to hate it more then hell If a man to whom thou owest so much bid thee pay him a thousand pounds and give thee the thousand pounds in thy hand to pay him now it is easie Jesus Christ in the Gospel does not onely say to thee pay me what thou owest mee I am thy Saviour beleeve in me I come downe from heaven to dye for thee come out of sin to serve me I bought
opinion alwayes pleaded on the other side that it was for the good of the Romane Common-wealth that Carthage should stand At last Cato on a day brought a green Fig into the Senate among them and told them that this Fig was growing in Carthage but three dayes agoe and thereby warned them that a Navy might within three dayes arrive from Carthage and lay fiege to their City When they heard this The neernesse of the danger made such impression on their thoughts that whereas before they could never be won upon to assent now they voted not to give over till they leveld Carthage to the ground And shall not eternity affect us the neernesse of it write deep Characters of feare and care upon our hearts Within three dayes and death may lay siege to our City to our Soul beware of evill at hand of death at hand of Judgement at hand Thou Fool saith Christ This night thy Soule shall be required of thee ah then let us Act betimes let not the night take us in a night let not the night of Death take us in a night of sin and security then we shall have a double night at once upon us 3 Opportunities are very precious Every one according to the objects they lay out for value their opportunities ther 's no Prince or great person in the world hath more Clients and attendants then opportunity hath All sorts Court her and wait with humblest service on her The Husbandman waits opportunity to plow and sow and reap The Tradesman attends opportunity to make his bargains at lowest rate and sell off his wares at highest price The Ambitious man stands at the door of opportunity to raise himselfe All but fools according to their occasions runne out to meet and bow the knee to opportunity and shall not the dearest opportunities be precious to us shall we not take the best opportunity by the hand Opportunity to gaine the most precious things is the most precious opportunity opportunity to get the best treasures is the best opportunity Godlinesse is great gaine Heaven is the highest advancement The Soule is the Crowne and Master-piece of man surely then the opportunity to get and save these should be counted precious opportunity All things here that are of the world are but nothings but Idols and shadows of the best things and an Idol is nothing Time is 1 Cor. 8. 4. Tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Idol of Eternity and things Temporall but the Idol of things Eternall Our estate and our dayes here are but an Idol Ther 's no divinity nor immortality in them but God is an absolute and eternall Being the spring of all Divine satisfactions They that live in him live at an high rate and live for ever How can he complaine to want light that lives in the midst of the Sun How can he complaine of Thirst out of whose belly flow rivers of living water Surely then opportunity to injoy God is the most precious opportunity John 7. 38. Your Importunity hath setcht out this Sermon of Opportunity from me and I have given you here more then I preach't the time being too narrow to deliver all at once and therefore I was faine to omit many things in the Pulpit which I had in my papers The Spirit of the Lord Preach it all over againe to our hearts I commend you to the Lord Who am Yours most deeply obliged to Honour and Serve you Tho. Froysell Clunne Octob. 8. 1651. To his highly HONORED Mr. John Walcott of WALCOT Esquire SIR In publishing this Sermon Preached at your Fathers Funerall I could not but publish your Name to it or it to your Name you beeing so neer to him for Every Child is the Father multiplied He loved you dearly for his and your owne sake I cannot but love and honour you highly This Sermon was Preached for him but it was Preached to you and therefore God looks that it should worke upon you For at that time you had two Preachers at once Preaching to you the Preacher in the Coffin and the Preacher in the Pulpit He preacht to you that you must dye This Sermon preach't to you how you must live His Death preach't to you that time will be gone This Sermon Preacheth to you how you should improve your time As Death is the way to eternall life so an holy life is the way to an happy death Your Good Father dyed old and you may dye young as God writes some mens life in words at length so sometimes God is pleased to write in short-hand and cut a long life into a small Monosyllable and therefore turne and winde your present stock of time to the best and grow rich in grace upon it Remember 1 You cannot begin too soon to serve Jesus Christ One may begin too late but he can never begin too soon to serve Christ Where should the Flower of your Age grow but in the Garden of his service Bp. Hall It is the Policy of the Devill to discourage Early holinesse He that goes out betimes in the morning is more like to dispatch his Journey than he that lingers till the day be spent 2 You can never doe too much for Jesus Christ Religion know sno a Religio non potest habere excessum secundum quantitatem absolu am potest tamen habere excessum secundum quantitatem proportionis prout scilicet in cultu divino fit aliquid quod fieri non debet Aqui. 22ae q. 92. a 1. ad 3. excesse you cannot savour too much of holinesse as there be some persons that cannot beare the smell of Muske and sweet perfumes it fils their brains and makes them sick so Hypocrites and they are Hypocrites that cannot abide the smell of holy precisenesse and the sent of strictnesse Paul bids us be servent in spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is seething hot serving the Lord Quinon zelat non amat He that hath not zeale for Christ hath not love to Christ True zeale is a Seal of our Election Strictnesse and exactnesse is the beauty and lustre of Religion I say you cannot doe too much for Jesus Christ be hath done so much for us And what doth Christ require of you but he did the same for you Is hee not upon equall termes with you Nay before hand with you If he cals you to bear the Crosse for him did he not bear a greater Crosse for you Grace puts no limits to Holinesse Sus non potest ferre rosas amaracum Franz Plin. Rom. 12. 11. Iracundi sunt qui amant Lucian in dial Merc. Maij Finis appetitio non habet limites defini o Aristot Finis praescribit media sed ipsi fini non praescribitur Eccl. 7. 29. Gen. 1. 26. He that makes God his End thinks he can never have enough of God or bee too holy for God And though his actions of Holinesse and his forwardnesse in them over-run his Credit or
over-throw his Estate yet he cares not repents not for 't is not his End to preserve himselfe but to serve Jesus Christ upon him selfe 3 Holinesse is no upstart Vunder which notion the world lookes upon it as if precisenesse in Religion were a new fashion taken up and put on by some but of late No Holinesse was the first Suite that ever was put upon the back of mans nature 'T is elder then Sin 'T is the first borne God made man Righteous 'T is more naturall to man to be righteous Sin is against nature T is a defect of nature It came as I may say of the wrong side of the Hedge a meer Bastard God is not the Parent of it it hath nothing of God in it 't was the Devil that begat it upon mans nature and therefore 't is of a later Edition then grace Grace was when sin was not Let us make man saith God in our Image after our likenesse You see Grace is of a most ancient house of the highest antiquity and therfore if any thing will it will ennoble you 4 And that you may be beated into zeale for Jesus Christ Live in the Scripture fire as the Salamander they say lives in the fire so doo you live in the Scripture as your Element It will scorch you into en holy love to Jesus Christ No book becomes your hand like the Bible It made David wiser then his Teachers 'T is this Book that makes Preachers and this Booke is the best Preacher This Booke will preach to you in your Chamber By this Booke all Preachers and Hearers must be judged at the last day This Booke will expound to you that hidden Booke that is within you your Conscience The Booke of Conscience is a secret and intricate piece very few are well read in it most deceived by it but this Booke of Scripture I say this Booke will discover it and shew you all the Errata in it it will search your very heart and tell all its secrets to you nay this Book will tell out Gods heart to you and his minde concerning you cc Ego odi libros meos saepe opto eos interire quod metuo ne morentur lectores abducant a lectione ipsius Scripturae quae sola omnis sapientiae fons est c. Luther hated his owne Bookes and saith hee I often wish they were all lost fearing least they should hold Readers in delay and take them off from reading Scripture Ierome gives a strange narrative of himselfe how he was dragged to the Tribunall because he had read Cicero more greedily then he did the Scripture Being asked of my condition saith he I answered I was a Christian Thou lyest saith the Judge Ciceronianus es non Christianus Thou art a Ciceronian not a Christian for where thy Treasure is ther 's thy heart also Presently saith he I was put to silence and had not a word to say and among the stripes for he had commanded me to be beaten I was scorched more with the fire of Conscience considering with my self that Verse In the Grave who will give thee thanks Then I began to crâ— Have Psalm 6. mercy upon me O Lord have mercy upon me This voice sounded loud amidst the scourgings At last they that stood by casting themselves downe at the Presidents knees prayed him that he would pardon my youth and give place of Repentance to my Errour Then he requiring punishment if at any time I read heathen Books I who in such a case would have promised greater matters began to sweare deeply saying Lord If at any time I should read those secular Books I have denyed thee And so upon this Oath he was dismissed And he addes moreover Neither was this a sleep or a vaine dreame with which we are often deluded Witnesse that Tribunall before which I lay witnesse that severe judgement which I trembled at that I pray God I never fall again into such examination by torment I confesse I had my shoulders black and blew and felt the blowes after my sleep and have since read Gods word with such endeavour as I never read before any humane writings Thus far Saint Jerome Now let this passage awake you and all of us Let us lay aside the sublimest curiosities of mans witt all Volumnes for Scripture And all imployment for Heaven Wing your haste you have the flourishing plumes of Age upon you How farre might you fly and soar up quite to an heaven of experience and communion with Jesus Christ if you would loose no time I say if you would loose no time I hope you will not I pray you may not For you may see in this Sermon That opportunity is an unvaluable Treasure and yet a transient Treasure it carrieth lasting things along with it and yet it selfe lasts not stayes not with us You may see in this Sermon what great things you may loose if you loose your opprotunity you may loose your selfe if you loose your opportunitie God hath set you upon the higher ground above many in the world Act highly for him Lay up a Rich stock of Grace within you that you may have an heart to act for him in publick I wish you prosperity here felicity hereafter Accept t his Dedication from him who doth and shall ever rest Your real Servant in CHRIST JESVS THO. FROYSEL CLUN Octob. 8. 1651. JOHN XII VIII For the Poore alwayes yee have with you but me yee have not alwayes Mee-thinks I see a sad concourse of people before me this day and truly who can be here and not bee sad A great man and a good man is fallen this day He lived amiable and dyed desirable I am perswaded you could all finde in your hearts to wish him into life againe but that you are loath to displease God Wee must submit and kisse the hand of providence in the death of our dearest Friends and Saints We are now to performe our last office to him wee have brought him from his house to his house I meane his grave which must house him up till the great day of the Resurrection Eccles 12. 5 You see what Death doth it plucks up the tree by the roots the Cedar as well as the Shrub To day we are green within a little while we are not seen Stay but a few dayes and such a day as this will be thy day And therefore that we may make a serious and spirituall use of this occasion turne your eye and cast your thoughts upon the words of my Text. For the poore ye have alwayes with you but me yee have not alwayes These words are the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and they are an Apology or Defence which he makes for a poor Saint who having done a good worke an act of love to Jesus Christ was censured for it 1 The worke which was done you shall see in the third ver Then tooke Mary a pound of ointment of Spikenard very costly
and annointed the feet of Jesus And wiped his feet with her hair and the House was filled with the odour of the ointment Observe Observation 1 The dear Saints are full of love to Jesus Christ 2 Love will spare no cost the Saints will spend the Spikenard of their credit and the oyle of their life upon Jesus Christ where we dearly love Christ nothing is too dear for him 2 You shall finde this worke of love ecclipsed and censured in th 4th ver Then saith one of his Disciples Judas Iscariot Simons Son which should betray him Why was not this sold for three hundred pence and given to the poore Observation There is no action so good but some or other will be quarrelling with it and finde some fault in it The best actions are capable of censure and disallowance The noblest actions may have a scarre of reproach and censure put upon them And this he said saith the 6. verse not that he cared for the poor but because he was a Thiefe and had the bag and bare what was put therein Observation Avarice wants not beautifull pretences Hypocrites carry foul sins under a fair vail 3 Now follows Christs Apology and Defence of her v. 7. Then said Jesus Let her alo ne Observation Jesus Christ will take his Saints part and plead their cause â—hil nocet caâ—uniator si te 〈◊〉 tua opera proâ—t Deus Ferus against the wicked The Lord Christ pleads and justifies her action by two arguments 1 The one Argument from the end of the action The honour of Jesus Christ ver 7. Against the day of my burying hath she kept this That is yee doe willingly allow sweet balmes and rich perfumes for the dead Now I am within a little of death Behold this woman hath herein reached beyond your conceit she hath done this as her last office toward my buriall I hope you will affoord me those solemnities of honour which are given to others at their buriall now against the day of my Buriall hath she kept this 2 The other Argument of defence he takes from the opportunity of it she hath now an opportunity to shew me kindnesse â—aesens pro fuâ—o ut infra â—h 16. 10. â—at 28. 20. which within a little while will be taken from her For the poor alwayes you have with you but me yee have not alwayes and therefore let her shew me kindnesse while she may Yee have not me alwayes with you that is yee shall not have me alwayes with you Indeed I am with you alway even unto the end of the world in respect of my divine presence but me yee have not alwayes with you in respect of my humane presence Six dayes hence I dye and goe to Heaven I goe quite away from you and you shall neither seeme nor have me againe among you to performe any such offices of respect to me and therefore as for this action she doth well to take the opportunity which will be taken from her Observe and 't is the point I shall discourse of at this time The Doctrine There is an opportunity for good which if we neglect we may never have the like againe And therefore Marke rendreth it thus for you have the poore Mark 14. 7. with you alwayes and whensoever you will you may doe them good i. e. at any time but me saith Christ yee have not alwayes That is you shall never want the opportunity of shewing kindnesse to the poor for yee shall never want poor among you the poor that want you shall not want among you they shall always dwell among you some poor or other as objects of your Charity but you cannot always performe service to me in my body for you shall not have mee always in this visible forme and presence with you And therefore be not angry with this woman in that whilst I am present in body shee hath done this service to my body The houre is comming you shall wish to doe the like but cannot The opportunity will be Luke 17. 22. gone when I am gone ye shall desire to see one of the dayes of the Son of man and ye shall not see it And therefore I say Docemur hoc verbo ut non cessemus bene operari quandocunque et quamdiu occasionem habemus non enim semper id poterimus Ferus in Loc. There is an opportunity of good which if we neglect we may never have the like againe Time and opportunity differ Time is the duration or succession of hours days or years opportunity is a concurrence of all other helps with time to crowne your desires and give birth to your designes opportunity is a meeting of time and means together to effect the end when time and the means are married and lodged together they beget opportunity What opportunity is Occasionem pars Temporis habens in sed alicuius rei idoneam fuciendi aut non faciendi opportunitâ—tem Cicero lib. 1. de invent As the Marriner that intends a voyage Riggs his Ship lyeth ready in the Haven and waits the winde his time is all the time he stayes there His opportunity is when time and tide and winde and all other accommodations meet together to send him away If you would speak with a man upon such a day your time is any hour in the day but your opportunity to speak with him is when he is at home and can be at leisure and will afford 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tempus spatium temporis in genere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vero opportunitas Rei gerendae quam Terentius articulum vocat Pasor in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 55. 6. you his company When all these claspe together that 's your opportunity So suppose thy businesse be-to speake with God and seek him for grace or comfort thy time to speake with God is all thy life time but thy opportunity to speak with God is when he is at home and can be found when he gives thee a heart to speak to him and hath a heart to speak with thee and therefore saith the Prophet Seek yee the Lord while he may be found call yee upon him while he is neer when all these are twisted together that 's the thread of thine opportunity Time without opportunity is like a body without the Soule a dead thing and meer inanimate carcasse and as the body is left without the Soul so is time many times left without her opportunity So that time may stay when opportunity is lost time may be present when opportunity Is past the tree of time may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stand when the leaves of opportunity are dropt of The stump of time may stick fast in the root when the branches of opportunity are cut down the head of time may stand when the golden haires of opportunity are fallen off when opportunitie is gone the head of time is bald And therefore I say that there is an opportunity for
good which if we neglect we may never have the like againe And this I will shew you in two things 1 There is an opportunity of receiving good which if we neglect we may never have the like againe 2 There is an opportunity of doing good which if we neglect we may never have the like againe There is an opportunity to get and an opportunity to act an opportunity to lay up and an opportunity to lay out spiritual treasures which if we neglect we may never have the like again 1 I say there is an opportunity of receiving good which if we neglect may be we shall never have the like againe 1. Sometimes there is an opportunity to beget faith in us which if we neglect we may never have the like againe as you Esai 7. 10 11 12. may see in Esai And the Lord spake againe unto Ahaz saying Ask thee a signe of the Lord thy God aske it either in the depth beneath or in the height above But Ahaz said I will not aske neither will I tempt the Lord. Ask a Signe where thou wilt where thou thinkest it may be the greatest miracle and give thee the greatest satisfaction either in the depth or in the height on earth or in heaven Ah what an opportunity had Ahaz here offered to inspire him with faith A miracle where he would and what he would for the Prophet a Ratio signi autem quod certe magnum enim Regi Achas relinquitur libera quan velit esse habere sive in supremis sive in infernis Sam. Bohl in Isai prescribes not what signe Ahaz should ask lest haply the truth of the miracle might be suspected but leaves it to the Kings owne option and free choice whether he will have it towards the depth or height in earth or heaven if earth were too low for a miracle to heigh then his faith he should have one as high as heaven Ah sweet opportunity ah strong opportunity to worke such a faith in Ahaz as to trust God for ever here was an opportunity for him to try God to put the word of God to an experience and ah what scope had he Aske a Signe in earth or Heaven where thou wilt and what thou wilt I will not grudgeâ—t any thing to mount thy faith beyond the Region of feare and doubting to make thee and my people Israel beleeve in me thy faith shall want for nothing to support it God gave him leave to be his owne Carver As when a great friend comes to your house you entertain him in this Language Sir command all that 's here aske what you 'l have 't is yours So did God be speak Ahaz all that 's in heaven or earth is for this minute at thy service the choicest miracle that heaven or earth can yeeld to banquet thy faith command it 't is thine what a rich table of opportunity did God spread for him What variety of dishes a sign from Heaven or earth did the Lord set before him to entertaine and feast his faith Thus doth God condescend to sinners when they will not come up to him he comes downe to them This was kindnes enough to strike the fire of Faith out of the hardest flint Ah what an opportunity was here lost and once lost 't was lost for ever we read not that the like was ever offered Ahaz any more but he grew worse when men despise Gods opportunities they grow worse and worse So againe you have another sad instance in the second of Kings where Elisha prophecied in a time of scarcity Thus saith 2 Kin. 7. 1. 2. the Lord tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flowre be sold for a Shekel and two measures of barley for a shekel in the gate of Samaria then a Lord on whose hand the King leaned answered the man of God and said Behold If the Lord would make windows in heaven might this thing be and he said Behold Thou shalt see it with thine eyes but shalt not eat thereof And see this verified And the King gave the Lord on whose hand he leaned the charge of the Vers 17. gate and the people trod upon him in the gate and he dyed as the man of God had sayd He seeth the plenty for conviction of his unbelief but he dyeth and tastes it not as a punishment of his unbeliefe 2. Sometimes an opportunity of repentance and so of receiving pardon is given to a man which if he neglect he may never have the like againe Such an opportunity Judas had Judas had conceived a plot in the wombe of his intention to betray Jesus Christ and form'd it up into a conspiracy with the Pharisees to deliver him to them yet Jesus Christ gives him an opportunity once more to repent and recall himselfe before it be too late Verily I say unto you one of you shall betray me He that dippeth Mat. 26. 21. 23 24. his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me The Son of man goeth as it is written but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had not been borne Ah Judas What a thunder-clap is here sent from heaven to awake thee what a warning-piece goeth off to scare thy soule out of sin 'T was a providence thou shouldst sit at table once more with Christ to heare something fall from his lipps that might melt thy heart Ah what an opportunity hadst thou now put into thine hand to repent and retract thy purpose for the Lord Jesus doth discover his sin and doth disswade him from his sin 1 He doth discover the Sin But not the person yet I say He doth discover the sin one of you shall betray me the Lord Jesus discovers the sin that he might recover the sinner He shewed him his sin that he might not sin he shewed him his sin before hand that he might not sin underhand he did strike the sin that he might open a veine of confession in Judas and make him bleed kindly Ah what an opportunity was here for Judas to confesse and be forgiven 2 But he doth not discover the person yet he doth not name him that he might not shame him he opens the sin but not the person that he might thaw him and not harden him that he might winne him but not irritate and provoke him Jesus is yet tender of his credit how much more of his Soul what an heavenly dew of opportunity drops it self upon Judas to moysten his heart In like manner what an opportunity hast thou O Sinner to repent when God shall reprove thy secret Adulteries and unjust dealings and hypocrisie in a Sermon and not discover yet 2 He doth disswade him from his sin by two arguments By Love and Terrour 1 By Love He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me which words were not spoken to discover Judas by this signe
but to aggravate his sin as if he should say my fellow-commoner one of my familiar friends that eats of the same dish with me shall betray me And here Christ endeavours to melt the heart of Judas and cause him to forbeare by an argument fetcht from all the kindnesse and intimacy that had been so long between them what my friend my familiar who doth not onely sit at the same Table with me but eat of the same dish with me will he betray me will that hand that hath been with me in the same dish dip and dye it selfe into a Crimson colour in my blood he disswades him by love by the law of love and friendship 2 He disswades him by Terror The Son of man goes as it is written Mat. 26. 24. of him but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had not been born where observe 1 The Lord Jesus Christ be wayles not himself but Judas even whilst he threatens Judas he pities Judas woe unto that man by wom the Son of man is betrayed 2 He doth not yet unmaske and disclose Judas he carries the person yet in the clouds he doth not as yet say in individuo Woe to thee O Judas but speaks still in the general Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betraied the individual discovery of Judas comes in afterwards and here Jesus Christ does with this threatning way-lay Judas to make him retreat b Paena predicitur ut quem pudor non vicerat corrigant denunciata supplicia Hieronim in cap. 26. Mat. seeking his salvation It had been good for that man if he had not been borne as if he had said if nothing else yet will if nothing that hath been said yet can recall the Traytor from his purpose of sinning yet let this one thing bespeak him and turne his heart quite about his owne safety his owne fearfull condition which will follow upon his sin let that put a stop to his progresse Woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had not been borne Here the door of opportunity stood open to Judas and Jesus Christ stood in the door to invite Judas but he had not an heart to goe in and the opportunity was presently shut against him and he never had the like againe he goes away and becomes his own Executioner Judas betrayes Christ and after betrayes himselfe when Christ called him he would not repent kindly and now he meets with an unkind repentance that Swallows him up in the gulph of despaire 3 A man may have an opportunity given him to save his life and so by consequent to save his soule which if he neglects he may never have the like againe I will give you two Gen. 19. 12 13 14. sad instances the one is Lots children in Sodome Then the men said unto Lot whom hast thou yet here either Son in Law or thy sons or thy daughters or what soever thou hast in the City bring it out of this place for we will destroy this place because the cry of them is great before the Lord and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it Note The Saints are so neer to God that he will save those that are neer to them for their sakes God would be a friend to Lots friends a father to his children And Lot went out and spake unto his sons in law which married his daughters and said Vp get yee out of this place for the Lord will destroy this City Behold here 's their opportunity an opportunity to save their lives from fire and brimstone and for ought I know their soules from the fire of hell O golden opportunity for a mans life is his Treasure an opportunity to save ones life is the life of all opportunities and therefore poore Lot goeth to them Grace doth not extinguish nature he flyeth upon wings of love to them and tels them he warnes them like a Prophet and bespeaks them like a Father but what say they he seemed as one that mocked to his sons in Law and so he leaves them for his time was short and now their opportunity is gone and they are gone too Farewell now you are all dead men and women God first raines downe the golden drops of opportunity upon them to save their lives which they neglect and presently he raines downe showres of fire and brimstone on them and takes away their lives 1. Kings 22. 4 5 7 8 17. 28. Another instance is Ahab in the first of the Kings Wilt thou goe with me to battel to Ramoth Gilead and Jehoshaphat said to the King of I Israel I am as thou art my people as thy people my horses as thy horses and Jehoshaphat said unto the King of Israel enquire I pray thee at the word of the Lord to day And Jehoshaphat said is there not here a Prophet of the Lord besides that we might enquire of him And the King of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat There is yet one man Michaiah the son of Imlah by whom we may enquire of the Lord but I hate him for he doth not prophecie good concerning me but evill And Jehoshaphat said Let not the King say so And he said I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a Sheapheard and the Lord said these have no Master let them returne every to his house in peace And Michaiah said if thou returne at all in peace the Lord hath not spoken by me Here was his opportunity to save his life but goe he will his opportunity expires and his life too for he never returnes alive againe for a certaine man drew a Bow at a venture and Verse 34. smote the King of Israel between the joynts of the harnesse wherefore he said unto the driver of his Chariot Turne thine hand and carry me out of the Host for I am wounded certaine man drew a bow at a venture the man shot the Arrow but God aimed it the man shot at a venture but God leveld it at Ahab the man shot at he knew not who but Ahab in the whole Army was Gods marks-man Carry me away saith Ahab out of the Host for I am wounded Oh Ahab What thinkest thou now of Gods opportunities What saist thou now of Micaihas words I am wounded saith Ahab I beleeve thee and the losse of thine opportunity wounds thee more ther 's death wounds in thy Soule as well as in thy body 4 When an hypocrite will not obey Gods expresse command he may lose his heart and his restraining grace for ever after when a man loves a sin better then Gods command God leaves him to his sin When a man gives up himselfe to a lust God finds a time to give him up also and sets him a going faster he opens the sluces and puls downe the bankes that the mans lust may run in
and to his houshold and he beleived in God saith the Text with all his Act. 16. 34. houshold 6 So when a Minister hath interests in the hearts of a people let him improve it and look to it for he knows not how soon the tide may turne and he never have the like opportunity 2 Tim. 4. 23. againe 7 Rich men You that are in prosperity and have your sayles fil'd with gales of wealth you have opportunities to honour God which others have not and which if you neglect you may suddenly never have the like againe 1 You have wherewith to maintaine and encourage the Gospel to give to the Saints and truly it is the highest advance of riches to make riches an instrument to advance religion Oh then honour God with thy substance lay out for God and his Gospel least the Lord thou knowest not how soon send a North-wind to blow upon thee and freez up thy wealth and then thou mayest never have the like tide of opportunity againe 2 Besides you have greater opportunities for hearing the word and praying in your secret closets then poor men have who live upon the sweat of their brows you may be praying when the poor must be labouring for their living you may be meditating whilst they must be getting their bread If then you rich ones see poor men that are necessitated to work hard for a meane living more lively more frequent and abundant in duties then your selves are know now you walke not by rule where much is given much is required and to whom God hath given much of them he asks the more who are happier they that are in the Kitchin or they that attend upon the Prince Ah you rich and great persons this is a high favour and transcendent honour that God hath freed you from inferiour drudgery to imploy you in more noble services in the Court while others must serve their occasions you that have fulnesse of the world you have fulnesse of time to injoy the Kings presence and wait upon Christs person in holy duties and therefore know that you should be more with God then others Holinesse is your trade and your closets are your shops and every day is a Sabbath day to you Take your opportunities that may be enough for one which is too little for another where God gives much opportunities they must doe much for God 8 A man may have an opportunity to suffer for Christ which if he nglect he may never have the like againe To suffer for Christ is honorable God will not put this honour upon every one he puts this honour upon his vessels of honour he gives grace to a man and casts him into a vessel of silver or gold and then throws him into the fire to melt and suffer for his name The metal of that Christian must be silver or gold that can suffer for Christ a vessel of wood throw him into the fire his hoops will fly off hee 'l breake asunder and never hold out The three children that were cast into the fiery furnace what glorious mould and metall were they made of Had they not taken the opportunity to suffer for God they might never have met with such a one againe 1. For what a spreading same and glory of God did their sufferings scatter over all the world God is acknowledge and adored by Nebuchadnezzar a Decree is made that every People Nation and Language which speake amisse against the God of Shadrach Mesback and Abednego shall be cut Dan. 3. 28 29. in pieces Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said blessed be the God of Shadrack Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angel and delivered his servents that trusted in him and have changed the Kings word and yeelded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any God except their own God Therefore I make a Decree that every People Nation or Language which speake any thing amisse against the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego shall be cut in pieces and their houses shall be made a dunghill because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort Here Gods glory shines out of their sufferings even enemies acknowledge none like Israels God Here they found a most glorious opportunity to honour God which if they had lost they might never have had the like againe had they lost this opportunity God had lost his glory 2 To honour themselves for 1 They were no sooner in the fire but they met with Jesus Dan. 3. 24. 25. Christ there Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was astonied and rose up in haste and spake and said unto his Counsellors Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire they answered and said unto the King True O King He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the forme of the fourth is like the Son of God They were but three that were cast into the fire but Nebuchadnezzar saw foure there And the forme of the Fourth was like the Son of God Whether it were Jesus Christ the naturall Son of God or an Angel who are called the Sons of God here was Verse 28. Job 1. 6. a great honour the Angels of the Lord are present with the Saints in their sufferings and Jesus Christ is present with the Saints in their sufferings When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow Isai 43. 2. thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle on thee Angels company and Christs company is a wondrous honour We count it a great honour to have Princes to be our companions the Saints in their sufferings have Princes for their companions Jesus Christ and his Angels and thy suffering time is opportunity to enjoy the company of these Princes and great ones 2 It was an honour to them that God should worke such Vers 27. a noble miracle for them as to stop the mouth of the fire that it could not burn them And the Princes Governours and Captains and the Kings Counsellors being gathered together saw these men upon whose bodies the fire had no power nor was an haire of their heads singed neither were their coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them Ah wonderfull So did God honour his servants the fire still retained its property of burning and yet could not burne them the power and c Impossibile est propria perfecta vel ad momentum temporis suis subjectis seperari Keckerman log lib. 1. Nam si urendi vis ab igne esset sublata miraculum planè nullum a Deo fai. Editum quid enim miraculi sit eam rem non urere quae non possit urere Non ergò in tollendâ ab igne urendi facultate miraculum consistebat sed in eo quod cum vim urendi
even in the very Sermon time whilst Christ was preaching to them they were delivered up to hardnesse of heart 7 In a word to passe by Jesus Christ carrieth with it the most surpassing wrath to disrespect the offer of mercy Heb. 2. 3. ushers in the greatest misery How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation That is you shall not escape so you shall not passe with an ordinary doome upon you Sinners opportunity attends you Christ is yours if you'I have him the Lord Jesus is at your service if you will imbrace him God sends up and downe the world to offer Salvation hence that phrase my salvation is gone forth Mercy wayts on you and kneels to you and does obeysance to your souls when you are running from it mercy runs after you to catch you and imbrace you Ah how long hath free-grace stood at your doors waiting your leisure when you would let her in yet she cals and knocks againe you may yet be saved but if you will goe on still and disrespect mercy it brings the greatest misery The greatest severity goes along with the Gospel greatest severity goes along with the greatest mercy The Gospel is the greatest mercy that ever saluted the world and there 's the greatest severity with the Gospel that ever came with any mercy into the world Men shall be deeper in hell because heaven was offered them and they would not All they suffer here is but typicall of the wrath to come here they but sip of the top of Gods cup there they must drink the dreggs though it be eternity to the bottome a Sodomite in Hell shall fare better then the refuser of Jesus Christ See the 10. Mat. 14 15. verses and Whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words when you depart out of that house or City shake off the dust of your feet Verily I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodome and Gomorah in the day of Judgement then for that City Is not here the greatest severity with the greatest mercy So againe in Mat. 11. 21 22. Woe unto thee Corazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sydon they would have repented long agoe in Sackcloth and ashes but I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sydon at the day of Judgement then for you Is not here the greatest severity going along with the greatest mercy God can better bear any thing then the contempt of his free grace in the offers of mercy More yet When the Gospel began to be preached faith the Text Now is the Axe laid to the root of the Tree Jesus Christ Matth. 3. 10. comes with his Basket and his Axe his Basket togather fruit his Axe to cut downe the tree if it will not bear fruit and is not here the greatest severity with the greatest mercy If there were a sword on Moses thigh there is an Axe in Christs hand Now is the Axe laid to the root of the tree Now that is your opportunity is Now if you passe by this now you are gone for ought I can tell you are chopt off presently Neglect not the present Now least yee be cut off for ever 8 Consider sin is your dishonour it doth f Mundiliaenim necessaria est ad hoc quod mens Deo applicetur quià mens Humana inquinatur ex hoc quod inferioribus rebus conjungitur sicut quaelibet Res ex immix-tione pejoris sordescit ut argen turn ex immixtione plumbi Aquia sum 22ae q. 81. ar 8 cup. degrade you The vesture of mans nature is base and beggarly since it was patched with sin It is a debasing of the gold to marry it with any mettal of a courser birth so 't is a dishonour to man to match his golden nature so God at first made it holy and righteous I say to match thy golden nature to base-borne drosse to low-borne sin which derives its pedigree from hell None but Jesus Christ is a fit match for the soule of man take the opportunity then and make choice of Jesus Christ Espouse thy soul to him and keep the marriage knot inviolate with him Rom. 7. 4. 9 Come in quickly take the opportunity to come in presently to Jesus Christ least your sins before you are aware ripen too fast and you be cut downe you know not how soon Sins g De uno peccato enim in aliud ex una turpitudine stuhitiâ in aliam ruerant Ita Aetas parentumpejor avis tulit Hos nequiore mox daturos progeniem vitiosiorem Neque tantum a peccato ad peccatum sed ab errore stuhitiâ ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad insaniam et corruptionem mentis ac rationis Eversionem proceditur Cocceius ad 2 Tim. 3. multiply one sin will shortly multiply into many they are like circles in a pond one circle begets another so doth one sin beget another a lesser begets a greater as in a case of staires one staire is a step to another so every sin is a staire to helpe up to higher and worse sins It is wonderfull to behold the great flames bred out of small sparks of sin how one sin hatched a greater sin is like a whirl-pool which first sucks in one part and then another and never desists untill it drawes in and plungeth the wholebody 10. man may performe duties of Religion after his day of grace is set upon him you thinke that as long as a man performes duties and doth many good things his day of grace is not past My beloved òbserve me A man may come to Church performe religious duties doe many good things have many meltings upon his heart after his day of grace is past and gone as Saul went on in duties of Religion aswell after Samuel had pronounced the Lords doom upon him as before How many times was he offering sacrifice to the Lord after the Prophet had told him that he was a man rejected How many good speeches came from him what meltings some time fell in upon his soule as if there were hopes of him and yet a lost man his opportunities of Jesus Christ Vse 2 My second use shall be to set out unto you the excellency and Majesty of Gods opportunities that you may stand in awe and reverence of them and by no means slight them or neglect them Mysteries are dreadfull we honor them There are mysteries Mysteria tremenda in Gods opportunities My beloved there are these three characters of mysterie and excellency engraven upon Gods opportunities It may be some may thinke of and adde more but I at present observe three characters of mysterie and excellency upon Gods opportunities First they are easie Secondly they are sudden and unexspected Thirdly sometimes they come beside our 1 First Gods opportunities are easie they bring great matters to birth with easie travell they bring hard
before how perplexed was his state think you a man drowned and not drowned devoured but not digested alive but yet as dead ah what a dying soul had he in the living Fish expecting every minute the fearefull dissolution of his Soul from his body for he was under horror of conscience now lying on him for his sin and dreadfull conflict of Spirit as if God had forsaken him and given sentence on him for you shall read some such were his expressions Thou hast cast me into the deep that is the Jonah 2. 3 4. Sea then I said I am cast out of thy sight my Soul fainted within me Here Jonah thought his opportunity was gone but the Whale brings him safe to the shore the Whales belly was a place of safety a sanctuary to him had not the Whale received him he might have been drowned for he could not swim to the shore Ah thou poor dejected soul know that God can be angry and yet love thee he can throw thee into the belly of despaire and make thee live in it as the child doth in the wombe The Mothers belly is the Babes Sanctuary the child lyes safe in the womb so shalt thou lye safe in the belly of despair God will make the belly or womb of despair to travel in birth till thou art delivered and therefore doe as Jonah did beleeve in the midst of despaire pray unto the Lord cry unto him out of the whales belly Out of the belly of hell saith Jonah 2. 2. Jonah I cryed and thou heardest my voice Ah blessed word God will hear thee when thou art at the worst if thou couldst pray in hell and repent in hell wert thou in hell if thou couldst beleeve there God would hear thee there a sweet word to a despairing soule Jonah in the Whales belly said Yet I will look againe toward thy holy Temple God will give thee leave to look up to him though thou art in the bottome of destruction I am cast out of thy sight said Jonah yet I will looke againe toward thy holy Temple A soul is never so forsaken of God but he may look up to his God though thou art cast out of his sight yet he will give thee leave to look upon him ah thou for saken soul a look from thee will pierce his bosom a mournfull look from the child wounds the breast of the angry father though the child dares not send out a word yet a mournfull and longing look conquers his Fathers heart Art thou forsaken of God yet thine opportunity is not gone dart a look upon him if thou canst not pray to him yet look upon him God lookes to see whether thou wilt look upon him he waits to be gracious Isa 30. 18. thou waitest to be comforted he waits to comfort thee 5 Mans extremity is Gods opportunity when thou art most ready to perish then is God most ready to save God ordinarily doth not save in danger but in extremity of danger when 't is at the worst with thee then 't is Gods opportunity to help thee as the woman that had the bloody issue her extremity was Christs opportunity She had a wasting disease upon her and time added to it twelve long years had she withered and languished under it besides the tediousnesse her disease must needs get head by continuance yet more to mend the matter poverty which is another disease was super-added to her sicknesse she had spent all that she had upon Physicians her extremity now swels great she hath two evils at once upon her two unsuffererable evils though she were sick yet her wealth as long as she had it would have maintained and succoured her in her sicknesse but now want doth pinch her no lesse then her distemper and helps to make her perfectly miserable she is now perfectly miserable weak and sick and nothing to refresh her in her weaknesse had she spent all and gained her health it had been well enough but alas she hath beggered her selfe undone her state and her body never the better her mony was wasted not her disease Now her extremity is at the height what then her extremity is Christs opportunity when her case is most desparate she is healed 1 Kings 17. â— If I can but touch the hemme of his garment I shall be whole So the widdow of Sarepta Elijah sent to her by God to be sustained by her when he comes he sustaines her she is sustained by him for when he comes and asks her food bring me I pray thee a morsell of bread in thine hand she tells him as the Lord thy God liveth I have not a Cake but an handfull of meal in a barrell and a little oyle in a Cruise and behold I am gathering two sticks that I may goe in and dresse it for me and my Son that we may eat it and dye She was now upon the borders of extremity It was high time for the Lord to send the Prophet to her for poor Soul she was now making her last meal after one meane morsell she was yeelding her selfe over to death she was now going to eat her last that she might dye and what then truly her extremity was Gods opportunity Feare not said Elijah to her goe and doe as thou hast said make me a little Cake first and bring it to me and after make for thee and thy son for thus saith the Lord God of Israel the Barrel of meal shall not waste neither shall the Cruise of oyle faile untill the day that the Lord sendeth raine upon the earth What a showre of comfort was here she was going to eat her last and dye and God sends the Prophet to her to provide for her the whole famine How opportunely doth God provide succour to our distresses It is his glory to helpe at a pinch to begin where wee have given over that his mercy may be so much the more welcome by how much it is the lesse look't for 6 Though I have lost time yet say Lord thou hast not lost time thou wert before all time and canst set time yet before me My losse of time doth not put thee to a losse Object 7 But wil God be a looser by me I have lost him abundance of glory which I might have done him had I improved my opportunities In my loosing my opportunities God hath lost a great deal of his glory Answer God will be content to sit downe by the losse if thou wilt but come in now Oh transcendent mercy he will loose a great part of his glory rather then loose thy soul for he knows he can bear the losse better then thou canst 2 What he looseth of his glory by the one way he gaines another way in pardoning of thee he counts it his glory to pardon thee as the Holy Ghost saith It is a mans glory to passe over a transgression In pardoning the sins thou hast lived in for a time he will gaine glory to himselfe