yet consider how near you are to the last day will you quite forsake him and never return to whom will you goe then for eternal life Go thy way then proud Prodigal to the Swine and to the husks wallow there and die if that be better then thy fathers house Ah sinner stay and consider what thou leavest look upon Christ see how he wooes thee see how near he drawes to thee see how he bemoanes thee see how grace reconciliation and salvation courts thee canst thou find in thy heart to let him go away from thy soul and canst thou not find in thy heart to close with him this day and that he may leave a blessing behind him will nothing prevaile with thee shall Christ intreat and shall We intreat and shall the sinner remain still as he was oh can any Heart stand out against Christ but an heart of Adamant can any Bowels not yearn when Christ's bowels yearn but bowels of brasse O would to God it might be that some poor wearied sinner among you would come and lay down his burden at Christs feet and change Masters the worst for the best sin and Satan for Christ and grace oh that some one of you among so many that have gone so farre and stood out so long would stop here and stand out no longer what an happy day would this day prove to thee poor soul if it may prove a day of thy peace and reconciliation a day of thy translation from the regions of sin and death and Consecration to the service of Christ A day of thy new birth O how much better would this day be then the day of thy first birth or if were a day of advancement to all earthly honours and dignity oh sinner wilt thou not yet yield Oh that in this thy day thou wouldst lay this to heart Use II. of Counsell and Perswasion Exhortation Must I part with you so without an earnest exhortation I cannot I may not why may I not hope to prevaile with some one or other in this Numerous Congregation this day it may be I shall never see your faces more in this place and 't is oddes to lay all you that now are here may not live to see another such day all together again the thred may be cut the life spilt as water on the ground which cannot be gathered up again many of us may be ere to morrow in another world How doth it concern us all this day to lay some foundation on which we may build our hopes of happinesse in the other world Give me leave to try in the name of Christ what I can do to perswade you that I may leave something with you that you may remember hereafter that a poor Minister of Christ did beseech you in his name that you would know and lay to heart the things belonging to your peace in this your day O would to God I might prevail with you for your own good I exhort you I beseech you I conjure you in the name of God and if I had tears at command I would intreat you weeping this That you every one of you this day would let all your sins goe but let not Christ go let not grace go let not this day passe away without your hearty and reall closing with Christ as ever you look for any good in and by Christ give him leave to banish your sins and to bear rule in your hearts and lives Note He must be thy Lord or else he will never be thy Saviour Improve this hour of visitation and be happy throw away that with loathing and indignation which hath kept thee so long from being fully perswaded to be altogether a Christian and be happy and if any of you feel the door of your hearts now opening to Christ Psal 24 7 8. lift them open wide that the King of Glory may come in that he may have full possession let him rule and raign there and thou wilt be an happy man These three things I would counsel you to performe within your hearts and resolutions ere you stirre hence To make an end of all your sins this day ere you sleep in an unfeigned repentance and God will speak peace to thee 2. To make up that happy match between Christ and thy soul by receiving Christ by Faith and resigning up thy self to Christ by hear-consent love and obedience Christ is ready now if thou be ready now oh do not give him the denial now he is so near thee and canst thou do any thing better than this than to match with Christ will any thing in the world be of such concernment to thee as this 3. To Resolve this day upon a godly life to make Religion thy chiefest care and businesse and if you find it now in your hearts to perform these three acts you may be sure your day is not lost Oh Sirs do this now as you tender your life and eternal happinesse do not put Christ off again with any excuse or denial but take your opportunity this hour of visitation and blesse God that you have it Is there never a poor lost sheep here will be fetcht home to the Lord this day shall not this days light bring home one Prodigal will you all go away and not any bodies soul be brought nearer to Christ nor one jot the more resolved then before Why then the Sermon is lost and the day is lost and God knowes whether we shall see another Sabbath or hear another Sermon with any profit to any purpose of good to our souls Oh that you who have not hitherto been at all perswaded would now you were almost resolved and you who are almost resolved would to God you were altogether perswaded to become the Lords 1. You young ones May one prevaile with you you are tender yet will you remember your Creatour Eccles 12.1 2. You men of age and strength have you yet considered your greater Concernment may you not be perswaded You are or should be wise and hearken to counsel you have reason Will you go away without yielding to be happy by embracing of Christ and devoting your selves to be truly Religious 3. You old men What say you to Christ now is it time for you to lay to heart the things of your peace and to look to your interest in Christ you have but little time before you surely you had best to make all sure and fast this day look to your Evidence for you have but a very little time to live ere your Sun be set oh that among these hundreds here this day some-one or other at least would be wonne to Christ that it might not be said Not one would yield to Christ nor close with him this day of so many that it may never be said those marbles and your hearts are of one make and temper How gladly would a servant that invites for Christ hear of though but one whose heart is opening and yielding to Christ that were but about to repent and believe how would he follow him with intreaties untill the match were fully made and concluded 'twixt Christ and his soul But I shall leave all with you that I have to perswade withall in these six Considerations for Conclusion 1. Consider What if you saw our blessed Lord Jesus drawing near you in mercy beholding and weeping over you would you leave him would you slight him no you would not Why then do not now 2. Consider Can you do better then close with Christ this day or if you will not now when do you intend Oh surely you will do worse if you do not this and if you do this now you cannot do better 3. Consider Is it fit you should wait and begge and cry henceforth after Christ or that He should after you Who will be the losers who will have the worst of it If you lose grace and salvation how will you get this again or such another 4. Consider Are the things belonging to your peace worth the looking after or not Alas what will you do when you are undone 5. Consider what if you were certainly perswaded that the next time you slighted grace intreating and closed with sinne tempting that God would withdraw his mercy and clap damnation on thee and never look on thee more for good would you then slight what now is offered 6. Consider if this were the last day you had to live the last Sermon you had to heare and shortly to go to the other world would you put off the mercies of this day How can you tell but that to morrow or very shortly you must be sent for to the other world arrested by death that spares no body Why then pretious soules be perswaded now once for all to lay to heart this day the things that belong to your peace before they be hid from your eyes The Lord set it home that you may be wise and happie Oh what will it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your own souls FINIS
CHRISTS GRACIOUS INTENTIONS OF Peace and Mercy towards sinners freely tendred TOGETHER With the necessity of observing the season and accepting the offer of Peace and Reconciliation while it may be attained Evidenced in a Sermon at St. Pauls London Martii 3. 1661. From Luke 19. verse 41 42. By Rich. Parr D. D. Pastor of Camerwell Heb. 2 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold now is the accepted time Behold now is the day of Salvation .. Qui voluntatem Dei spreverunt invitantem Voluntatem Dei sentient vindicantem Aug. London Printed for Nathanael Brook and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Angel in Corn-Hill 1661. TO THE READER I Have no Design in publishing this Sermon but Thy good that readest it When I preached at Saint Pauls the Text put me in mind of Jerusalem and the sad aspect it had on London made me the more earnest and particular in the application It had hen the Lot as all publique Discourses have to be censured as mens humours and apprehensions are which are various and they judge of things for the most part as they affect But with some among those many present then this Sermon had successe and acceptance To the Truths in the Doctrines some bore Testimony and others were convinced And I am sure it concerned every one as well as any one And now Reader you see I make the Dedication to none but thee because none but he that will vouchsafe the serious perusall is capable of it I beg not Patronage from any body but if the Truths therein and the Cause in hand and honest Intentions cannot secure it and justifie its walk abroad let it fall and if it fall into thy hand heart and practice it cannot be lost The Designe of this Sermon was at preaching and now is in publishing To let every one know as well as London 1. How gracious the Lord Jesus is toward poor sinners And how ill he takes it to be slighted in his offers of grace and Termes of peace and reconciliation when sinners most need it And 2. To give warning from the Lord That you let not slip your season and day of grace and saving mercy while you may have it Alas how ill must it go with that soul when the day is lost as to it and the mercifull offer withdrawn And truly were it not a matter of the highest concernment in the whole world that herein is treated of I would not have let it gone beyond that Numerous Congregation where 't was preached But considering that deliberate Reading and serious Consideration may much improve the use more then hasty Preaching I am at length prevailed withall by some devout soules importunity to let it come forth without any more or lesse than what was delivered except what it got or lost in the presse which I must not own And now if the opening and applying these two dostrines may he acceptable to the Reader The first manifesting Christs reall free and most gracious intentions toward sinners in designing their conversion and eternall salvation most heartily most passionately most powerfully and fully on his part This is clearely proved And then the second which evidenceth the necessity of improving the mercy in due time by accepting the offer and complying with Christs demands on his own terms in the day of grace as it is the greatest concernment in the world to every one that makes any reckoning whether he be saved or damned eternally If those Two Points which are here discussed will draw the Reader on to the perusall with an honest heart and that he thinks them of any moment let him read on and consider If not then lay the Sermon by and despise thy mercies lose thy day cast away thy soul lye down in sorrow and lament thy irreparable and unrecoverable losse But if Thou hast a mind to be happy indeed and saved eternally Then whether thou read any more of this or not let me prevaile with thee as thou valuest thy eternall State delay no longer put not off again any more the intreaties of Christ and the offers made thee in the Gospel and brought to thee in the name of the Lord Jesus by them who are intrusted with the conditions of Reconciliation and are treating with you in the Ministery to this end and calling upon you to accept in time what may do you good for ever And doe not ah doe not put Christ and his Ministers to say of thee and mourn over thee with an O that thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong to thy peace But now they are hid from thine eyes Know therefore thy day embrace Grace while tendred make up thy peace with God while it may be made lay in for thy interest by Christ lay up treasure in Heaven Let not Christ go force him not away from thy Soul as the Jewes did from their City but close with him cleave to him stedfastly take him for thy Saviour and for thy Lord leave him not and he will never leave thee comfortlesse let thy sinnes go cast them all away this day let not one day passe away again without thy hearty closing with Christ let him rule in thee and over thee improve the day of visitation and be happy resolve upon a godly life make Religion thy chiefest care and the glory of God and his free grace in the salvation of thy precious soul thy aime and ultimate end and lay to heart the things belonging to thy peace Read the rest and consider all and God blesse it to thee Thy friend and Servant in the faith of Jesus R. P. Luk. 19.41 42. And when he was come neer he beheld the City and wept over it Sayings If thou had'st known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace But now they are hid from thine eyes THis Scripture readd is a narrative about our blessed Lord Christ both of what Hee did and what Hee said in the day of his flesh a little before his departure hence to his Glory again And I hope the reading of the Text hath already prepared your attention and may the opening of it and Application affect your hearts The story is Sad in the Letter weeping and lamentation but more Dolefull in the Event It ends with a deplorable reflexion of misery upon the Jews for refusing their mercy together with their King and Saviour Christ meant them all good but they would not have it they would have none of his good things Christ wept over them and sought them with tears they cared not they regarded not He intreated them again and again but no Importunity nor love nor mercy could win them all is cast away upon them They refused and by refusing grieved the heart of Christ and undid themselves for ever they lost their day and lost their peace and lost their souls God had sent
unto them his Servants the Prophets formerly to treat with them about the things of their Peace and Eternall happiness things of the greatest concernment imaginable but all is one to them they were taken up with other imployments And because the servants of the high God were so Importunate these were violent they did not only slight the message but they beat the Prophets and abused them and killed them 'T is often the lot of those who come in the name of the Lord on Heavenly Errands to be most slighted and most abused so then so now Now Christ himself appears the Saviour of the World in Person from the bosome of Glory and Hee comes with tenders of the riche'st mercies and dearest love that ever was heard of draws neer bespeaks their acceptance but alas the saddest story that ever was told Hee the King of Glory is rejected too His offers slighted as wel as his servants The Jews will be Jews still they 'l have none of Christ neither no peace from him no redemption nor reconciliation by him We will not say they have this man to reign over us Vers 14. Poor wretches Did you know whom did you know what yee refused You will not have Christ and with him Grace and Salvation Why you shall not then Heaven shall not be forced upon you against your wills remember that I would but you would not Here is the price of your Redemption and Salvation brought home and laid at your doors freely and fully but if you will not open and stretch forth your hand to lay hold on it while 't is here at hand some others will hereafter be glad of what you refuse you shall go without it and when I am gone and the door of mercy and grace is shut against you you may knock but in vain You will then wish Oh that we could but see one of the daies of the Son of man Luk. 17.22 and ye shall not see it For now they are hid from thine eyes This is the cutting Sentence this is the saddest part of the story for the hardness of their hearts Christ was grieved knowing well enough what would come of it And when he saw them so indeed Hee wept and said If thou had'st known even thou in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid Now though there be a winning oratory in every accent of this Text in every motion and in every expression and Oh how powerfull was it and lively when Christ himself acted and said it who did as never man did and spake as never man spake Yet because these things were done and spoken at a distance from us a good while agoe in the Letter of the Text Dum narrat Scriptura gestum prodit Mysteriū c. I shall let that alone and consider it in the mystery of this Text and so much as belongs to us I shall apply These outward actions of Christs Body and words of his mouth are but so many expressions and notices by which men might perceive the heart of Christ towards sinners all as well as those us as well as them for Christ hath the same heart still in Heaven that he had on Earth He is brim-full of love pitty and compassion and men on earth have the same disposition still as they had alwaies sinning alwaies resisting and except the Lord prevail with us by his Word and Spirit in the day of his mercy we shall miss our happiness as they did theirs Do not say or think that then was then and now is now as though there were and are severall Dispensations and severall Administrations touching the means and manner of Conversion No Christ was then and Christ is now then in in the flesh now in the Spirit and Ministery Christ spake to them himself He speaks to you by us See 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christs stead be yereconciled unto God Which is the very same thing the Text imports that as Christ did treat with them about their Reconciliation and Salvation So we with you in his Name beseech and intreat you in this your day to lay to heart to know the things of your peace And if you do not hear us and yeild but do as they did Slight Resist and Disobey it will be your sad case as it was theirs Mercy will be hid from your eyes and Salvation from your souls as much as if Christ himself were now speaking to you and weeping over you and bleeding before your eyes Luk. 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me By this time Sirs you easily perceive what the design of your Monitor is this day with you from this deportment and this saying of our Saviour recorded in the Text. 'T is to let you know that you may in time consider how gracious the Lord Jesus is toward sinners and how ill he takes it if this mercy be despised when offered And to give you warning from the Lord that you let not slip the opportunity for then it must go ill with your souls you will be the loosers Christ may loose the Honor of your Conversion but you will loose the happiness of Reconciliation and Salvation The business we have in hand is of highest concernment life and death are laid before us this day Oh that you would in this your day consider the things which belong unto your peace before they be hid from your eyes I have two Doctrines ready from this Text to serve up this design unto you The first to evidence Christs reall and gracious intentions towards sinners The second to evidence the Necessity of Improving the mercy in due time by accepting the offer and complying with Christs demands on the day of grace as it is the greatest concernment in the world to us Then next and what we have else to do is to comply with grace and mercy and reduce all to practice this very day without any more delay or Procrastination and this wil be urged in the Application And that we may with lesse difficulty believe th truths propounded and without haesitation consent and imbrace the mercy offered Let us together review the expressions in the text and then we may perceive the mind and meaning of our blessed Lord by what he hath done and by what he hath said to evidence to us what desire he hath that poor sinners should partake of that he graciously offereth and so make peace and so make happy And while we descant upon the words think with your selves they are as much to you as any others Jerusalem the City then London now as great as rich as sinfull as wicked Christ in person there in Spirit here Christ was near to them as near to us he beheld that City and beholds this he sought them and intreated them and he seeks us and beseecheth us They had an
opportunity to be happy so have we And surely if there can be any thing or way to expresse an infinite love a tender care a most hearty longing desire of the salvation of sinners it is here implyed He drew near and beheld and wept He the Lord of life full of grace and full of pity and full of power to help poor sinners to pardon to redeem to sanctifie to save Near he was ready for it they come not out to him he comes up to them brings salvation to their door 't was Christs love and sinners misery that brought him so near Beheld looked wistly on the City he saw the stately structures the rich ornaments the soft rayments the numerous multitudes their outward flourish and gaiety of Religious professions and withall he saw their manners too and theirinside 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in a mirrour what they had been what they were then for frame of Spirit and what would come to passe if not prevented in time Wept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was broken with grief he shed tears he wept Quest But why did Christ sorrow and grieve and weep Answ Not that the City was so richly laden with outward blessings Christ grudged not their plenty nor their peace if they would have been good they might have been great and rich without offence but he was grieved for them that they were so poor so blind so naked in spirituall things they had prosperous bodies but starved soules very politique and very proud but very fools and unwise about the unum necessarium He shed his teares over them because they shed none for themselves they remembred not their past sins nor heeded their present opportunity nor foresaw nor believed their future miseries they laid none of these things to heart but wilfully refused their recovery they cared not for all these things nor for Reconciliation nor pardon nor deliverance nor Christ nor grace they trusted in their own strength riches wisdom priviledges with the form of godlinesse but as for reconciliation by Christ inward holinesse conversion and the power of christianity these things they looked not after Hence it was that Christ wept for the hardnesse of their hearts and inconsideratenesse Alas how too too like those are the men of this present world after all the care and paines with them so they may be and so they may have what they would for outwards what care they How little are they concerned for soul-saving things and is not this for a lamentation and weeping Again Christ beheld the City and wept over it Christ had them in present view together with their present prosperity their intolerable blindness hardnesse unbelief and stupendious supine neglect of the means of their recovery on this very day which was their last day of grace And this was matter of sadnesse Secondly And he had in prospect their future ruine and destruction and this drew tears from the Lord of life he would but they would not he would have given them grace and pardon and prevented their ruine but they would not he would have healed and saved them from that day but they would not Hence it is that Christ wept both for their present hardnesse and future destruction Alas Christ wept not so much for the destruction and downfall of those stately Buildings he could have raised such ones and better God could quickly have made them as rich again though they had lost all by fire and pillage but alas alas they refused and rejected such a Lord and Saviour such grace and rich salvation which God had not the like to give them again they might have lived as happily any where else where Christ and salvation were to be had but where could they find another Saviour and another such day when these were finally lost Wept over it saying His love to them would not let him depart so but pleads again with them he 'le try again whether his language can yet prevaile seeing his tears cannot for this once he bespeaks them pathetically why poor soules you are now upon the point of making or marring you may be happy this day and for ever after oh how happy may you be and blessed And if you mark it his speech is like that of a most tender parent beholding a beloved child wounded to death by his own hand and wallowing in his blood and would not be helped but rejects the means of recovery grief gives not passage to words oh how doth Christ grieve over these wilfull miserable sinners and weeping saith scarce can he speak for sorrow bemoanes them perishing with broken words interrupted with sighs and groans Hadst thou but known even thou So bad as thou hast been yet even thou after all thy unkindnesse to me thy contempt thy stubbornnesse thy sin and thy folly thy insolent carriage toward my Ministers and messengers yet after all this thy wickedesse and abuse of my patience and long-sufferance O yet yet after all if thou hast in this thy day laid all these things to heart and considered who it is that now weeps over thee that now speaks to thee who it is and what this day is freely offered thee if thou wouldst lay to heart and imbrace yet the things belonging to thy peace while I am now speaking in this last hour of this thy day this is thy day Hic dies est tuus wherein yet thou mayest lay the foundation of happinesse and partake of those things which are matters of the highest concernment ten thousand times more worth then all the pleasures the honours the riches of this world put all together And if thou come in before this day be closed up with night ere this Sun be set upon thee and this light withdrawn from thine eyes O happy mayst thou be But if thou wilt not Acts 17.31 in this thy day accept of thy recovery but put it off and refuse it still as thou hast done O then another day will come non tuus not thine for mercy but a day of vengeance Gods day of punishment wherein thou shalt pay most dearly for all thy folly a long day of Eternity of Lamentation of mourning of anguish and torment without remedy for that thou hast lost thy day and that mercy intended and most seriously offered to thee So much for explanation of so much of this text which we are sure belongs unto us Pray God the latter clause that killing parting blow which doom'd that people to their deserved losse But now are they hid from thine eyes may never passe on any soul here present Whose ears can hear that sentence without Tingling whose heart can consider this and not tremble But now are they hid from thine eyes This was long a coming on them but it came surely at last mercy removed from them misery came upon them From this carriage of our blessed Lord Jesus toward those sinful people wherein he expressed so much care so much love toward them while recoverable and so
much pity and commiseration when lost and undone This first OBSERVATION is most evident and shall be resolved into this infallible doctrine of saving truth most certain and most acceptable That God who is the lover of soules and the giver of grace doth really in and by Christ wish the conversion and salvation of sinful men and doth not design nor delight in their sinning nor destruction This truth is a genuine deduction from the text and needs no further proof then it s own Evidence 't is as certain as good and as true as the goodnesse faithfulnesse and gracious nature of God can make it and that is Eternally true no man need doubt of this who will believe any thing worthy of God Yet for further Evidence that no poor soul among you may retain any hard or unkind thoughts of God or reserve your sins and neglect your endeavours upon any suspition of an Invincible necessity of continuing in a state of sinning by a secret decree Inferring an inevitable obligation to Sinne and Damnation but rather conclude not against the holy and gracious God but your selves that if you continue in your Rebellion and Sin and be at last cast into hell that 't is long of your selves your own wilfulnesse doth procure it Because you refuse the grace offered and to obey when called and denied subjection unto the Lord Jesus and resisted the motions of Gods Spirit and despised admonition and slighted the means God hath appointed for thy Instruction Conviction and Conversion Hence conclude a sinners destruction is from Himself God disclaimes it he is full of mercy and he is ready to shew his good will to pardon poor sinners when penitent and to receive them when they come and to go forth to meet the vilest prodigal at the first step homeward See how God hath declared himself this way so plainly and so freely and so fully to guard this truth in the doctrine from the least Imputation and to open a Door of hope for poor sinking despondent penitents to relieve them and incourage them in their returning to him homeward Ezek. 33.11 say unto them As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evill wayes why will ye dye and if God doth not mean in good earnest and design the conversion and salvation of poor sinners What mean those so often and serious invitations Matth. 11.28 why doth Christ say he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 6.37 and why doth he upbraid them Ye will not come to me that ye might have life Joh. 5.40 and Jerusalem Matth. 23.37 How often would I have gathered you and Isai 1.2 3. why doth he wish sinners had harkned to his voyce Psal 81.13 14. If God did not desire it why doth he lay such strict commands upon pain of his high displeasure To believe and Repent and turn that they may live What means Gods pleading and arguing with sinners but to convince them What was the end of hrists undertaking for the world but that by him men might be saved he tasted death for every man Jo. 3.16 17. Heb. 2.9 and to convince all men throughly of Gods good will and pleasure and that there is no dissimulation in the Lord as touching this matter He hath converted and saved some of every nation of every sort of every degree as great sinners as was to shew that he excludes none from mercy that come unto Christ and believe and turn from sinning to holy living And consider how the Lord fits all means and useth all expressions to effect what he really intends trying with their hearts informing their mindes inclineing their wills stirring up their affections to reform their lives that they may be saved And if God did not in good earnest intend that men should be left without excuse why did he send his Son into the world but to save sinners to call them to repentance and to save them that were lost and his Spirit to raise those fallen and his word to guide unto Salvation why doth he continue the Means why doth he send forth his Ministers and servants to Invite to the supper of the Lamb why doth he furnish them with severall gifts and put such arguments into their mouthes to convince and perswarde and such zeal and fervency into their Prayers and power and life into their Sermons and Indefatigablenesse into their studies and Labours and such Courage into their Spirits that no reproaches nor menaces nor denials makes them give out Line upon Line Sermon on Sermon and though they often times see little successe in all their labours and pains with sinners yet again and again cast their net and sow their good seed doth not all this shew that God would lose none of your precious souls but that you should all come to the knowledge of the truth that you might be saved Why doth he in his gracious providence open the doores of the Sanctuary for all comers and send labourers into his harvest and gives us dayes of meeting to consult with God and treat about the great affairs of our soules and here to woo us with the cords of a man the bands of love if he did not love us what need all this adoe to prevaile with men even by dispensations so suitable to Rationall soules were it not that God doth delight in and desire the conversion of poor sinners and would not have us misse our Day of acceptation with the Lord Again can you tell what is the meaning of all those secret convictions and touches of conscience all those crosses and afflictions and a thousand divine Arts God useth but that God doth leave no way untryed to weane and to tame worldlings and refractory sinners to bring them home what could I have done for my vine-yard Isai 5. So that 't is beyond all dispute that God is serious and willing and that he is not the cause of any mans sin or perdition or doth he desire it either through want of love pity or supply of grace or that any secret Decree doth put any barre to mans Conversion primarily and of absolute Determination untill all means and mercies be contemned and all motions and touches of heart be stifled and resisted surely if God meant to damn men within the call and line of the Gospel upon the account meerly of absolute Dominion he need not he would not deal as he doth in this gracious manner no God hath determined in his word that if sinners will stand out and go on in a way of contradiction to his Lawes and will they shall fall upon the edge and be cut asunder with their own weapon and perish by their own iniquity and after all God will be justified in their destruction and sinners that will not lay to heart the things of their peace in the day wherein God is stretching
out his hands in mercy then the in day of Retribution and account they shall not have one word to say either by way of excuse for themselves or blame on God they shall not be able to say they would but God would not but this they shall be forc't to confesse God would Christ would his Ministers would but alas I would not Quest And hence you have an answer ready to that question Quest How comes it to passe if God be so desirous of mans conversion and salvation that so many are damned 'T is easily resolved that is Answ 't is long of themselves they do not come unto Christ they will not come to me Jo. 5.40 they did not they do not they will not believe repent and obey the Gospel in time they either refuse the offer lose their day or perform not the conditions in the Covenant of mercy and grace indispenfibly required to salvation the means are comprehended and conditions on mans part established by Gods will as the end is If sinners will decline the way or go contrary to the rule they may not in reason expect the end Men would be saved by grace but men will not be ruled by graces Tit. 2.11 12. there is the summe of all Gods free grace and mans whole duty must go together 'T is true works perfect in defective and intire as under the first demands of God are not now our conditions here is our cannot Indeed but what the Gospel requires and grace effects this is your Condition And if we believe not repent not effectually and live not a sanctified life holy just sober chast charitable we act against Gods will and forfeit our interest in Christ purchase and redemption and wilfully and foolishly throw away our souls and so perish eternally for God hath said Ezek. 18.21 Ezek. 18.21.30.32 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes he shall surely live he shall not dye he shall save his soul alive because he considereth ver 30. Repent and turn your selves so iniquity shall not be your ruine for ver 32. I have no pleasure in the death of him that Dieth that is damned saith the Lord God wherefore turn ye and live There is a quaint distinction found out by some body I cannot well tell any use there is of it unless it be to reconcile some mens Doctrines and their Applications while they tell them in Thesi one thing and in Hypothesi another and if the distinction had never been it had never been wanted 't is this That according to Gods declared will God would have sinners come to repentance and faith and holinesse and be saved but he hath a secret will by which he would not have them either do so or be saved Though he speaks sinners fairly and presseth them earnestly yet he wills no such matter but their damnation and decreed this without respect to sin ere the men had sinned Alas what a fine representation doth this make of the tâ—ue God How much is God and man beholding to this distinction Why what is it lesse then to render the glorious God so to be as no honest fair dealing man would be accounted i. e. to speak one thing and mean another to shew much love yet intend much hatred No certainly God means what he speaks and if any man perish as thousands do â—is not because they were forc't to damnation but because they chose it that is they will not be saved in Gods own way and God hath decreed for he hath declared that no man shall be saved but he that believeth in his Son and obeyeth him in his heart and life 1 Jo. 5.11 Mark 16.16 Jo. 3. ult Mark 16.16 And methinks this plain dealing with men answers best the glory of Gods power and justice grace and mercy And if any will say that the glory of Gods justice is seen in the damnation of sinners I say so too and of that glory God will have a great deal for there are but a few will be saved and what will become of the rest then Well let alone let secret things belong to God 't is his Prerogative to reserve that to Himself Deut. 29. which we are not fit to know but those things that are revealed belong to us and this that we speak of is such and then we may safely conclude what we have in the doctrine delivered But would you know the REASONS why God is so abundantly gracious to poor sinners that deserve no such things from him The Reason of this a founded in Gods own nature and will Reason the foundation is in Himself the motive from himself his free and liberal grace we are only the subjects of misery and objects of pity no worth or comelinesse in us that wallow in our blood and filth Ezek 16. Ps 145.8 9 he will shew himself first thâ—s way in mercy because he will shew mercy he is good to all his mercy is over all his works and you may spell the reason from the Text-Letters of his name Exod 34.6 The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gracious long-suffering and abundant in goodnesse and truth keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin And now who shall ask again why doth God do thus seeing God is not bound to give a reason of his doings is it not enough for us poor worthlesse dust that God hath revealed himself to be thus Yet secondly 2. Reas you shall find the fountain of this stream of love pity and mercy in Christ Jesus Eph. 3.11 12. 2 Tit. 1.15 Heb. 2.9 Jo. 3.16 Eph. 3.11 12. according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord and 2 Tim. 1.9 10. according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began and his coming into the world was to execute this purpose 1 Tim. 2.15 he tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 God so loved the world that he sent his own Son into the world that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life Jo. 3.10 Christ the foundation of this love and grace and the executioner of this purpose and decree For the Sonne of man is come to save that which was lost that is Mankinde Matth. 18.11 Matth. 18.11 And he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 2 Pet. 3.9 this is reason enough aske no farther So that now Sirs you have the first point proved make no question of it but believe it assuredly and give God the praise of his free grace and admire the greatnesse of his goodnesse toward the children of men And consider withall the great patience and long-sufferance and forbearance of our gracious God flowing from this his rich goodesse to thee poor sinner in Christ as the Emanations from that fountain Rom 2.4 which on
purpose is lengthened out unto thee to lead to Repentance and Reformation as a testimony of that reality in Gods heart that he willeth our salvation and not our destruction Therefore sinners oh let not this grace and favour be abused despise it not accept it with all readinesse put not off the intreaties of the Lord do not say of grace reconciliation reformation go for this time and come again lest you never hear more of it but it be hid quite from your eyes but while a prize is put into your hand but your heart to it why should you be fools And this brings us to a second OBSERVATION Now in the next place as this doctrin from the Text hath opened a door of hope to poor sinners upon their thoughts of returning to God so as the Smoaking flax may not be quenched nor the bruised reed be quite broken but may receive flame and strength from the breath of mercy and power of God So I must shut the door of presumption upon loose and carelesse livers for such there are that make no other use of Gods grace and favour but to abuse it by making it serve their continuance in sin i. e. No man may rest in Gods mercy in a way of sinning no more then despaire in a way of repenting That men may neither depend on their free-will to be saved when they please as though they would command grace at pleasure or be saved on their own account and that men may not dare to put off or delay their opportunities but take their day and in it lay to heart the things which belong unto their peace before it be hid from their eyes for when once he day is gone and that grace tendred to thee is retired to be bosome of Christ it will be too late too late Therefore this Text gives us a doctrine of Caution and Premunition thus That if sinners would be partakers of the mercy so really intended 2. Doct. and things which belong unto their peace mercifully offered they must in due time lay to heart in the day of visitation imbrace the offers close with Christ Repent and turn from their sins and serve and love the Lord Jesus heartily or else they shall have none uf it you lose your day you lose your mercy you lose your soules Hadst thou known in this thy day c. but now They are hid from thine eyes This Item and Caution in the Text is as clear and evident as the other Christ wept for the hardnesse of their hearts while recoverable and our Lord bemoaned them for their misery when past recovery they had their day once and lost that day and 't was hid from their eyes for ever after God hath and doth really intend mercy and as seriously doth he tender it some time or other and to all without exception if sinners had eyes to see it and hearts to consider it when offered but God hath set boundaries and limits to the time so long will I wait to be gracious All the day long have I stretched out my hands to a gain-saying people God will visit thy soul man must wait and observe our times are in Gods hand we have not the command of our time nor grace God disposes of both when therefore it is called Thy day it is meant of a certain time which God hath appointed thee to come in and receive the mercy and to improve the talent but no man must hence peremptorily conclude that he may chuse his time when he pleaseth and set his day and limit God to such periods of his life though he were sure to live so long alas if men could command grace and salvation when they please what fine doings would there be in the world how would sinners make God serve with their sins and wait on them even to their death-bed and then to serve their turn at last with salvation per saltum Therefore God hath given us a day to manifest his goodnesse and love and hath limited this to Hic and Nunc to shew his wisdom and prerogative God limits us we must not limit him if while God gives us a day we come in then 't is ours but if we come not to the dole that day and close with the offer then 't is lost to us yesterday was but is not now ours and to morrow may be again but not certain Before we were born we were not a day we had not And when we are dead and the talent of lead seals up our grave we have no more day for this work Eccles 9.10 see Eccles 9.10 So Joh. walk while you have the light that is as the holy Ghost saith to day while it is day if you will hear his voyce harden not your hearts Heb. 3. And Saint Paul preaching to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 6.1 2. beseecheth them 2 Cor. 6.1 2. that they receive not the grace of God in vain that is that they put not off the offer or delay the receiving but presseth them to close with the mercy now for now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation And to this doth well agree that passage in Rom. 12.11 and with the first and second verses of the same Chapter Be not slothfull but fervent in spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 serving the Lord as our Translation renders it but Origen saith that some copies have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 serving the time that is taking the opportunity misse not your day there is a time when God may be found by sinners and there is a day when God will not be found Isai 55.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near Though God in mercy strives with men in this Iife yet he saith My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6.3 no not alwayes in this life the day of grace may be lost before thy life be lost yea long before a man comes on his deathbed There are some sort of sinners with whom the Lord will have no more to do in a way of mercy will move them no more the meanes nor any Sermon shall work upon them it may be they have slighted and resisted so long that now in judgement they are hardened and given up as the Israelites after forty yeares so long was their day and when they had provoked so long 't is said Psal 81.11 12. My people would not harken my people would none of me so I gave them up unto their hearts lusts and leaves them it with an oh Oh that my people had harkned to me and the next we hear of was that God sware they should not enter into his rest Psal 95.11 You have heard of Esau Heb. 12.16 17. whose sir name to this day is The prophane he had a fair opportunity for his fathers blessing but either his little esteem of it neglect while it might have been gotten or his presumption that any time he
by faith in Christ Repentance from dead works Eccles 9.10 and holy living or else he shall never now or never while grace and the man live together in this present world so long there is hope but when grace is gone and thou art driven hence to thy long home thy day is lost and the poor sinner irrecoverable You had best consider in time what hour of the day 't is with you Note what is the date of thy life how many daies and years can each of you reckon you can tell how long you have lived and enjoied the means of grace but can you tell how long you shall live in this world or under the discipline of grace with a win-able heart You can neither command time or grace but you may in time accept the grace offered It may be some that are here present this day before the Lord can say with joy and thankfulness They had their day and knew it the Angel moved and they stept in their hearts were touched and they yielded the offer was made and they accepted Christ was near and they embraced him they stood not out but closed with him in the day of his power they were made willing and now Christ is theirs Psal 110.3 and they are Christs they love him heartilie and hate sin perfectlie and live holilie lift up your heads pretious soules and be thankful you have not lost your day you are happie now and in a fair way to heaven and if you continue in faith and love of Jesus and grow in grace you shall be for ever happie in glorie when you have finished your course It may be some others are here standing some young some aged with whom Gods Ministers have been treating and Gods Spirit striving formerlie and they have stood out untill now Who knows but that they have bin reserved for such a time as this now another prize is put into your hand this may be to them the acceptable time a day of reconciliation and peace a day you have now which thousands who now lay under wrath and final despaire would prize above Mountains of gold and Rocks of Rubies if they had once again such an opportunitie as this it may be God hath determined that hitherto to this day thou shalt come and grace and mercie shall wait on thee now but no farther Christ may be passing on by thee now Note and looks on thee and gives a secret touch and bids thee Come away after him and leave thy sins and follow him and saith as to Zacheus I will come to thy house and bring salvation this day Oh if there be any such among you who is touched at heart this minute let him not quench the spirit nor reject the motion let him take this opportunitie and make up the match now even now in this place ere he stirre hence and then he may conclude he hath not lost his day but whatever he hath been before yet now he may be be a converted man a pardoned man an happie man in this his day of visitation if he lay it now to heart and consider it It may be there are others here with whom there is no prevailing no mercie moves them no teares melts them no intreaties winne them no promises allure them in whom the custome of sin hath worne off the sense of sinne and miserie to whom nothing but the world and pleasures and sin is of any account to whom the Riches and treasures of grace and glories of heaven are accounted poor and mean and foolish things Such there may be here now who have had some impressions on them of good but now worn out again those who it may be were once almost perswaded but now again altogether as obstinate as ever who can make a mock of sin and scoffe of Religion who can laugh or sleep at a Sermon of life and death and scorn reproof and defie God to his face and are growing worse and worse filthie and more filthie and what may be thought of such Have they lost their day Alas Answ for such we know not what God will do with them yet but those are sad notices of men given over this we say Many dais they have lost many mercies have they abused many offers have they rejected many motions have they quenched much patience have they wronged and trulie if there be any day yet for them left but the day which they cannot avoid the day wherein God will judge the world all obstinate impenitent sinners to eternal flames they had best look to it that they may take it when it comes lest if that passe away too and be hid from their eyes also and they not converted in that day neither then must they lie down in sorrow saying Oh that I had but known but now it is hid from mine eyes I shall never see the day of salvation for I would not know nor lay to heart the day of visitation oh sinners think on this Note and trie your tempers and consider how long alreadie you have refused will you not henceforth from this time crie unto the Lord if peradventure he may yet be gracious to thee if thou return after thou hast done all these things even then turn turn unto the Lord Jer. 3.4 even now and put all out of doubt close now with Christ cast away your sins and the question will be best resolved by your practice So much toward resolving the quaerie as far as God hath given us any hints about particular times or seasons of getting or losing a mans interest in peace and reconciliation by Christ offered in a day During a mans life Now I know there are some would make a quick answer to to this demand and enough to gratifie the humours of many loose and vain persons but not at all to satisfie a sober soul that thinks of another world Tush say they What trouble you your self about these niceties take your pleasure now while you may and take your time of repentance at leisure a little time will do that work do you not remember that At what time soever And the Thief on the Crosse Answ Indeed here is a rare Example Answ and a short halfe-sentence which men abuse to their undoing I could answer this at large but this I onlie say now to you that have not debauch'd your Reason and lost Consideration When any of you can dispatch the whole dutie of man the All of Faith and Repentance and new Obedience in a trice and on your death-bed and can be assured withall that you shall have then time enough and grace enough and will enough and strength enough to perform all then you may deferre untill your dying day but untill this be made sure to you be not so foolish as to cast away your soules upon such desperate attempts and impossibilities And for the Thief when any of you or any bodie else you know can have the like opportunitie