feared or felt worse then outward pressures perils pains which are but bodily miseries and that but for a moment This sin not only the prophane world are guilty of but some of those that profess the Name of God Rebecah said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the Daughters of Heth Gen 27. 46. Rachel cryes out give me Children or else I dye Gen. 30. 1. Elisha being threatned by Jezabel said O Lord take away my life 1 Kings 19. 4. Jonah for the loss of a poor gourd said it s better for me to dye then to live and told God to his very face that he did well to be angry even unto death Jonah 4. 9. The Israelites when they wanted water wisht they had died in the wilderness These and the like wicked wishes are in the mouths of many poor ignorant discontented persons who long to be out of this wretched world Now by way of conviction I shall lay down these following particulars 1. What think you of these inward and soul-straits and conflicts with which Gods poor afflicted people are sadly exercis'd And were you but sensible of the guilt and weight of sin a wounded spirit the wrath of God and those everlasting burnings it would quickly swallow up your outward miseries though never so many This is evident in the example of the Jaylor who for the loss of his prisoners was so tormented that he would have kill'd himself before he was convinced of the dreadful state of his soul that was in danger of ruin Act. 16. 27 28 29 30. Then he fell and cried out Sirs what shall I do to be saved 2. To wish for death because of the evils attending this life is very wicked and dangerous interpretatively and in effect it is to wish your souls in hell Consider and mind this also that your present sorrowes crosses troubles of what kind or degree soever they be are the fruits of your ill-doings and fatless then you deserve for its a wonder you are not in hell and will you dare to be so audacious as to flye in the face of your faithful Creator when you should be deeply sensible of your horrible wickedness and humble under Gods hand and accepting of the punishment of your sinye should repent and turn to God take away the cause and the effect will cease 3. You can please and gratifie the Devil your deadly adversaty in nothing more you wish for death so doth the devil too if you are his now you must be his then his here and his for ever He waits and longs that your breath were gone your souls separated therefore he would have you poyson hang drown starve or stob your selves that you might be dead damn'd and burn'd with him in hell 4. Moreover if you were dead you would suddenly repent and change your mind and if it might be give the world to be alive again with all the wants pains and greif you now endure Had you but a peeping hole into hell to see and here what they endure you would confess your sins judge your selves and close with Christ before you dye that so you might not come into that dreadful place of torment Now that you may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly Let me ask you 1. What think you of the sting and bitterness of death when a man comes to dye Conscience being awakened roaring like a Lyon death the King of terrours standing by when the guilt of past-sins and loss of precious time will be as so many fiery darts and stinging scorpions biting and gnawing on the heart What think you it will be to dye unconverted to dye in a state of sin and wrath a Trator to God in a state of unbelief and impenitency the soul-damning sins to dye with an evil heart an accusing conscience self condemn'd cast in your own breast to dye which is worst of all 2. What think you of the sadness and amazing terrour of approaching judgment the second death when a man comes to take a dreadful view of the other world and begins to reflect and think Wherefore was I born what have I been doing are all these my sins O where shall I leave them or how shall I be rid of them now I am dying whither am I going what will be my company where shall be the place and how near am I to it what must I endure and how long how long and conscience will answer to all eternity misery without end This will amaze confound and overwhelm the soul with fear and perturbation when it sees that heaven is lost and that it must down down to the Region of darkness and company of Devils in that state of everlasting wo. The killing thoughts of which made a great man wish that he might live though bur the life of a Toad 3. What think you of the impartiality of the Judge that will not spare the guilty must and will Judge and sentence according to the fact and reward every man according to his works He would not spare the Angels that sinn'd but cast them down to hell 2 Pet. 2. 4. not Adam but cast him out of paradise and set a flaming word against him neither will he spare any impenitent sinner in the day of his wrath justice obliges him to justifie the righteous and condemn the wicked 4. What think you of the impossibility of having any appeal There will be no Moses to mediate no mediator to plead no Daniel Noah or Job to intercede or to stand in the gap not an Intercessor in Earth or Heaven to be found to speak a word There can be no appeal to God his Calls and Councels have been refused his Interest opposed his Enemies countenanced his laws violated his Anger will burn like fire No appeal to Jesus Christ his Government hath been slighted his Grace and Person rejected or to the Holy Ghost he hath been quencht and greived or to angels or Saints all will be against you 5. Whar think you of the resignation of soul and body to the executioner and tormentor the red dragon 't is sad to see a poor malefactor committed to the Jaylor or Hangman but O how much more dreadful will it be for ever-living souls in the face of men and Angels to be delivered into the hands of that raging roaring Lyon the Devil When God the righteous Judge shall say in sight of the whole world here are the men that brak my Statutes prophaned my Sabbaths that hated my Saints that served the Devil in the satisfying their Lusts the open and professed Adversaries to my Name and Interest that would not though I often intreated them come at my call accept of my love receive my Son or endure a life of holiness or by any means be drawn and perswaded to think of and prepare for death and judgement though they had time and opportunity enough Now take them devil and away to hell with them for my soul abhors them Thy Covenant servants
'T is now an accepted time a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. A time to accept or a time to be accepted a golden and glorious time indeed Behold now there is a broad and clear way to the Mercy seat the flaming sword is gone the partition wall is down all Bars and Gates are removed an Act of indempnity is proclaim'd and there is a free admission for all to come and be saved pardons are ready Isa 55. 6 7. Isa 45. Sinners your dear Lord Jesus the great Peace-maker is now an impotant Suitor unto your perishing souls namely an inviting knocking waiting promising Christ Prov. 22. 9. 4. Isa 65. 2. Math. 11. 28. Rev. 3. 20. Cant. 5. 2. John 6. 36. The treasures of grace are opened and offered to sale upon easie terms without money and without price Isa 55. 1. Rev. 3. 17. O make speed and come make the purchase buy the pearl of price that 's better then Rubies and you shall have a treasure in heaven The favour of Gods precious blood white raiment tryed gold and the eternal life of your never dying souls is worth the having Consider also that now the Holy Ghost calls and offers his assistance to close the bargain to tye the marriage knot between Christ and Souls Heb. 3. If you lose this opportunity you may never have the like The Spirit and the Bride say come Rev. last 17. 5. The time of the Sabbath or Lords day must be redeemed we must have a specially care of sanctifying that day it being the Sabbath of the Lord our God This golden day from morning to night must be spent in the service and worship of our Lord either in publick private or secret duties and no part of it must be lost Take no liberty upon that day for frothy vain and unprofitable discourse or recreations or to ride buy sell or work This dreadful God provoking sin of Sabbath-breaking is a sin in fashion hundreds in this Nation serve the Devil more upon the Lords day then on other dayes Then men are at leisure to serve the Devil and satisfie their lusts to go to the Ale-house or to exercise themselves in sports and pastimes O that Magistrates Ministers Masters of Families and Parents would look to it Neh. 13. 17. The Lord of the Sabbath commandeth thee that thou and thy Son thy Daughter thy man servant and all within thy gate keep that day holy The Sabbath is called a holy convocation Lev. 23. 2. and the Lord of the day is an infinitely holy just and jealous God The Sabbath heretofore was called Regina dierum the Queen of days in the New Testament it is called the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. a day in which we commemorate the greatest mercy viz. the glorious Resurrection of our crucified Lord and that which the purest Christians in the purest times did carefully observe In the Primitive times a serious and strict observation of the Lords day was a trial or badge of Christianity When the question was propounded Servasti Dominicum hast thou kept the Lords day the answer was turn'd Christianus sum intermittare non possum I am a Christian and cannot intermit it It was a saying of an eminent Divine that he would judge of a mans Religion according to the reverence and care he had of keeping the Sabbath Christians you are to keep your Lords rest and perform the holy duties of his worship chearfully reverently spiritually Joh. 4. 24. If ever you think to celebrate an eternal Sabbath with God in glory be careful of this duty To enforce it consider 1. How strictly the holy God imposeth it and to what end it is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy Exod. 20. 8. This blessed day for communion with God is to be premeditated upon before it cometh therefore in the evening before the Sabbath let all your necessary occasions be done up that you may have nothing but what becometh the work of that day Be like David's good man Ps 112. 5. ordering your affairs with discretion especially your Spiritual affairs If you expected the company of some worthy friend would you be found in a sluttish posture or sweeping and cleansing your houses on that day and all out of order On the Lords day you should vehemently expect the approach and presence of the King of glory therefore make all ready to entertain him 2. Remember the excellent Epithetes and Titles of this blessed day it is called a High day a Holy day the holy of the Lord honourable Isa 58. 13. Therefore let it be redeemed lose no more Sabbaths 3. Consider the blessings and soul benefits of that day if it be rightly observed It is your Lords Market day in the which you have the precious Oyl the Golden Mines and treasures of grace opened that day There are spiritual dainties for your hungry souls to which you are by Christ invited that day Isa 54. 1. The Holy Ghost doth breath and blow that day by the secret and sweet gales whereof Saints mount up toward Heaven The great God comes down and gracious souls ascend that day Rev. 1. 10. And the Eunuchs that keep Gods Sabbaths have the promise of a name in his house for ever Isa 56. 4 5. I might add the severe threatnings and Gods signal judgements upon the prophaners of the Sabbath or Lords day The man that was found gathering sticks upon the Sabbath by an immediate command from God was stoned to death Numb 15. 32 34 35 36. How time must be redeemed 1. By taking and improving all opportunities for the glorifying of God 2. By laying hold on the present time and now a day of grace for settling and securing your everlasting state 3. By improving the present means of grace for your speedy growth in grace 4. By doing all the good you can to others while you may 5. By labouring to keep up constant communion with God in holy duties 6. By improving every providence and outward cross for inward and spiritual advantages 7. By casting up your accounts every day that you may make even with God 8. By labouring to order every days work in reference to your last day that having finished you work you may be fit to leave this World 1. By taking and improving all occasions for the glorifying of God Dear Christians this is your Fathers business and the great Errand for which you had your being You were born and new born to serve the interest of the holy and blessed God in the World this is that glorious end for which you should spend your strength and time and lay out your selves to the very utmost That which is the chief end of your life viz. to display and propagate Gods glory in the World must not be neglected other things are infinitely inferiour and must be subordinated unto this For the thoughts and designs of serving the Interest of your Lord is that which you must be always driving on in this evil
World God expects it Thou shalt have no other God before me Exod. 20. 3. God will be exalted in the heart and in our life too I will be glorified saith the Lord before all the people Lev. 10. 3. One way or other the great Creatour will have glory by all his creatures God made all things for himself the world to be a visible and wonderful declaration of excellent glory so that it is due debt Psal 29. 1 2. Psal 96. 8. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name To walk with God in our whole course to design his glory is the prime mark of our Saint-ship and sincerity This is the white in the mark we should aim at the thing we should pursue resolutely vigorously with all our might Whether we Pray or Preach or read or hear or celebrate Sabbaths or converse exhort or reprove or indeed buy sell plow sow eat drink let it not be done for the World or the interest of the flesh We should have such a high esteem of God and such strong desires and strong affections to him that the pleasing praising and magnifying of of God in all our ways might be our main endeavour Christians you are chosen out of the World to be Gods witnesses if you do not appear for God his honour and interest none will All saith the holy Apostle seek their own Phil. 2. 21. but you are to deny and keep under self which is directly opposite to the honour of your God Wicked men are bold and resolute in a way of sin to bear up the interest of the Prince of darkness and will not you be as active for the interest of your Lord The Martyrs would rather dye then dishonour God who burning with zeal to Gods glory would glorifie him in the very fire God hath made you honourable Isa 43. 4. being Kings and Priests and inrolled you amongst the first born that are written in Heaven You have a place in his heart and a name in his house you are vessels of honour and shall be honoured that we might be to the glory of his grace Your everlasting Father hath mark'd you and set his stamp and seal upon you and put a principle of life within you that we might love him and live unto him The man that refus'd to bear up his deceased brothers name Deut. 25. 9. was to have his face spit on in the face of the Congregation But shame and everlasting contempt will be upon their faces that will not stand up for the honour of the holy God Dan. 12. 2. Christians 't is the sin that reflects dishonour on Gods name therefore allow it not in your selves and prevent it what you can in others Redeem your time and redeem Gods glory your days are evil and you have but a few days for this work do it and God will own you and advance you to a Kingdom Beloved in the Lord though you differ in other things agree in this to glorifie God on Earth that you may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God Rom. 15. 5. Every one that 's godly crying out with holy David Psal 34. 3. O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Name together 1 Cor. 10. 32. John 14. Ephes 1. 6. As many as are perfect will be thus minded Psal 3. 2. By laying hold upon the present time or now-day of grace for the setling and securing your everlasting state or blessed Eternity Your souls concerns are the greatest yea of infinite moment and the things of Eternity claim a superiority If you purpose to do your souls good you must first seek the Kingdom of God Matth. 6. 33. and take the Kingdom of heaven with violence Matth. 11. 12. Let me dye the death of the righteous or a Lord have mercy on me when you come to dye will not do Numb 23. 10. Mat 25. 11. And know sinner it must be done in this thy day now or never Luke 16. 49. While the door of grace is open before the Bridge be drawn and Mercy gone Isa 55. 6. This must be done 1. By complying with the present call of the Gospel in closing immediately with Jesus Christ and in giving and resigning your selves wholly unto him This is that one thing necessary that must be done speedily to secure your souls to provide for their everlasting welfare Therefore do not procrastinate or delay it for a World 'T is thy grand affair that must make thee or marr thee to Eternity He that believes shall be saved he that believes not is condemned already John 3. 36. John 8. 24. John 1. 12. If you do not now embrace the Lord Jesus upon the great and glorious terms of the Gospel you will as certainly be damn'd as if you were in Hell amongst Devils already 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Heb. 2. 3. and 3. 18. You that want Christ will you welcome Christ saying with thy soul Come in thou blessed of the Lord enter thou King of Glory Psal 24. 7. Thine is the Kingdom take the Throne sit upon the chiefest Chariot take up thy lodging in my heart for ever and suffer not the dead Child to lye in the place of the living Child a dead World and damnable lusts where my Lord should lodge O blessed day and happy hour in which the Heir of Heaven and perishing Sinners meet and are married Here 's a match for you Will you renounce all others Sin the devil and carnal Companions and joyn your self to the Prince of Life Speak the word and the work is done open the door and he will certainly come in and take up his abode for ever All that the Father hath given him shall come to him and him that cometh he will in no wise cast out John 6. 37. Rev. 3. 23. Isa 26. 13. Isa 44. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Acts 16. 30. 2. By repenting without delay This is the second great work in which you must make speed for untill this be done you are in danger every moment of dropping down to Hell Remember the sad story of the woman who when her house was on fire had her Child burned while she was saving some of her goods Sinners your danger is great your opportunities are flying fly you as fast Let me say to thee as the Angel to Lot Gen. 19. 16 17. when in danger of being burned Escape for thy life stay not lest thou be consumed The life and salvation of thy soul cannot be secured without this Acts 11. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Luke 13. 3. Therefore labour to know the plague of thy heart 1 Kings 8. 38. and plow up the fallow ground sow in tears and set about it this instant before this day be ended this Sermon ended lest it should be said of thee as of that woman Jezabel Rev. 2. 21. I gave her space to repent and she repented not and so Gods fury fury come forth like fire and burn and none can quench it Jer. 4. 3 4. 3. By making