earth Fly hand in hand to heaven Herbert Temple p. 66. 67 68. 5. The feasting day is another season Grace When we are brought into thâ— banquetting-house and the banner over â—â— is love Cant. 2. 4. Who that Table iâ— spread where Christ is the Feast as weâ— as the Inviter to it there it is that believers may arrive unto such a nick of communion with the Lord that is nearest oâ— kin to that fellowship which perfected Spirits which see him face to face havâ— with him Oh what a rellish hath thaâ— flesh which is meat indeed that bloud which is drink indeed John 6. When we behold how Christ hath suffered the curse for us and upon this our faith concludes from suffering it we shall be exempted how may our hearts rejoyce At this Table Christs Fulness is the entertainment He beholds none with a grudging look with an evil eye the more hungry we are the more welcome and sure not to be sent away empty Oh why will any feed on husks and despise this bread of God which giveth light unto the world Thus you see what are the special Seasons of the Day of Grace which not to lay hold upon is to be false to your selves and regardless of your chief advantage USE II. Of Caution There are three evils which I must warn you to beware of First Presume not upon the lasting of this Day of Grace Secondly Don't rashly conclude the Day of Grace is pass'd Thirdly Take heed of being strengthned and emboldened by the general practice to idle it all away 1. Presume not upon the lasting of this Day of Grace Presumption is a sin as common as unreasonable How many thousands are now despairing in Hell because of the vain hopes and false confidences which here on earth they entertained 'T is an ordinary delusion for the ungodly to imagine that either they have believed and repented already or that there will be time enough several years hence to do it and after they have deferred their main work long they are apt to defer it longer Tanquam semper victuri vivunt Sen. They live as if they were to live alwayes and as if the Day of Grace were not a day but a kind of eternity 'T is a notable passage of Gregory Hom. 12. in Evang If every one knew sayes he when he were to go out of this present world then he might more reasonably allot this part of his time for pleasure and that for repentance Sed qui poenitentiae veniam spopondit peccanti crastinum non promisit But he that promiseâ— pardon to them who repent of sin hath not engaged to give another day to them that go on in sin Let two things here be laid to heart 1. Presumption is the way to make the Day of Grace altogether unavailable Men will not seriously mind eternity while they think they have time enough before them Thou who reckonest upon many Sabbaths yet to come and upon many Sermons yet to be heard the present Sabbaths are lost and the present Sermons are little heeded less practised and thou thy self least of all profited 2. Presumption is the way to shorten this Day of Grace and to hasten the everlasting nights approach The evil servant that said in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming is threatned The Lord of that servant will come in a day that he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of much sooner then he was aware and cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matth. 24. 48 49 50 51. The rich man in the Gospel presumed upon many years but he had not many hours of his time remaining God called him Fool and said This night thy soul shall be required of thee If an earthly Master bid his servant go and work to day and he answer he will set about his work a week or a moneth hence how can the Master chuse but be provoked he justly turns that servant out of doors allowing him no longer time to tarry The Lord in like manner bids the Sons of men to work to day If they answer Many years hence 't is time enough How can he chuse but be incensed and his displeasure may cause the season of mercy to end suddenly Now that I may further strike at and startle this presumption I shall propose and answer one Case of Conscience When have sinners cause to fear that the Day of Grace is growing towards evening and ready to conclude with them To this I answer 1. One sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is long and unbewail'd unfruitfulness When they who have lived under the means of Grace are either empty Vines or bring forth fruit unto themselves when the Lord hath come not three years only but ten twenty thirty years together seeking fruit but hath found none and which is worst of all their barrenness is not their burthen 'T is to be feared that the axe will speedily be laid to the root that they will quickly be cut down and be made fuel for that fire that is unquenchable You have a notable Parable of a Vineyard planted in a very fruitful hill Isa 5. 'T was fenced the stones were gathered out but when grapes were expected behold nothing but leaves and wild grapes ver 4. But upon this God resolves to take away the hedge and his vineyard shall be eaten up to break the wall and it shall be trodden down he resolves to lay it waste it shall not be pruned nor digged there shall come up briars and thorns and the clouds are commanded to rain no rain upon it ver 5 6. You that have been long unfruitful and this hath never troubled you how soon may the clouds be commanded to rain no rain upon you how soon may the influences of heaven be altogether withheld from you how soon may barrenness be your punishment which is your sin the Lord in judgment resolving that never fruit shall grow upon you 2. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is great security The old world were thus secure when the Lord resolved the Holy Ghost should not much longer strive with them Great security was the forerunner of the Jews rejection They would not believe their sins were so heinous or that God was so much displeased with them they would not believe the Messiah who told them of their maladies and proffer'd to cure them And the Apostle tells us because of unbelief they were broken off Rom. 11. 20. And such security will go before the end of the world when the Day of Grace shall conclude with all and when time it self shall be no longer How far are secure souls from being in a secure state When they cry peace and safety how suddenly may trouble and destruction come upon them which they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3. 3. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an
THE Day of Grace In which the Chief of SINNERS MAY BE Turn'd and healed By Nathanael Vincent 2 Cor. 6. 2. Behold now is the accepted time Behold now is the day of salvation LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge next the Gate 1669. To the Reader 'T Is not at all improper to add a Treatise of the Day of Grace to a Discourse concerning Conversion This is the only time wherein he that turns will be accepted Oh therefore receive not the Grace of God in vain Though the sinner by his iniquity is removed far away from God the Gulph notwithstanding is not yet fixed We are cast out by Nature in a far Country indeed but this Country is not Hell though just upon the borders of Hell a return is possible unto our Fathers house and upon our return how joyfully shall we be embraced One principal reason why Time is so exceeding precious is because it contains the Day of Grace This present time though so very short is of greater value then an whole Eternity hereafter for then mercy will be out of reach and Reprobates unalterably concluded in sin and under the heavy load of divine vengeance and indignation This is the Day of thy gracious visitation Waste it not away in doing nothing or which is worse in doing wickedly for there is another day a coming which will be a day of darkness and of gloominess a day of distress and destruction if Grace and Salvation be neglected N. V. The Day of Grace Luke 19. 41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes THe time was now approaching in which our Lord was to make his Soul an offering for sin and to testifie his love to his Sheep by laying down his life to redeem theirs from death which by going astray they had deserved And Jerusalem is appointed the Stage on which Christ was to act the greatest part both of sorrow and affection Well might he cry out Behold ye that pass by Was ever Grief and Was ever Love like Mine Unto Jerusalem he comes most willingly though he soresaw the Cross and shame The Head was forward to suffer himself that hereby the sufferings of the Members might be prevented And according as it was foretold by the Prophet his approach is not with outward pomp and splendour but he is meek and lowly riding upon an Asses Foal Thus he that thought it not robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation and humbled himself to this end that we might be raised and exalted When he was just at the descent of the Mount of Olives the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoyce and to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen v. 37. They cry Hosanna to the Son of David and bless the King that cometh in the name of the Lord saying Peace in heaven and glory in the highest v. 38. Even through the darkest cloud of Christs Humiliation some beams and rayes of this Sun of Righteousness of this Lord of glory did break forth The Pharisees are offended at the Disciples acclamations and desire Jesus to rebuke them v. 39. Unto which unreasonable request of theirs he makes this reply That if these should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out v. 40. As if he had said My Person my Doctrine my Actions my Wonders are so evident that they who are not as stupid as the stoues themselves must needs be convinced At last he comes within view of Jerusalem and the sight of this faithless ungrateful and obstinate City where so many Prophets had been kill'd and which now it self was so near to desolation raises a sorrow in his sacred breast so that in the midst of his Disciples triumph he bursts out into tears saying If 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 Which words express how our Lord was affected towards Jerusalems Inhabitants His commiseration is very great and 't is joyned with a kind of exprobration or upbraiding of them he pitties their sad estate and upbraids their ignorance and folly in not minding the things which would have conduced to their peace and welfare The text may be thus divided 1. Our Saviour mourns When he came near he beheld and wept 2. The persons over whom The City of Jerusalem 3. The causes why and they are these 1. They know not no not they who had so much means of knowledge the things that belonged to their peace 2. They improved not but neglected Their day of visitation 3. This neglect and ignorance of theirs being wilful was punished with a greater degree of blindness Now they are hid from thine â—yes and that was a judgment most deplorable Beloved I am to speak-of the Day of Grade I wish you may all know the things which concern your peace else Jerusalems punishment may be also yours the day may be gone the lights of the Sanctuary may be put out and the things of your peace may be hid from your eyes I shall illustrate the words of the Text by this ensuing Commentary upon them And when he was come near he beheld the City The nearness of a miserable object does affect the sight and heart And as with his eyes he saw the City so by the eyes of Prophesie he saw the City besieged the enemy casting a trench about it and keeping it in on every side he foresaw how it would be laid even with the ground by Roman Armies and not so much as one stone left upon another And he wept over it These tears shewed the truth of his humane nature and how iniquity excepted he was in all things made like unto his brethren Our Lord could hunger and groan and weep and dye but sin indeed he could not Heb. 4. 15. It was the desire of Christ to execute thâ— office which his Father had put him in which was to be a Gatherer and a Saviour of the lost Sheep of the house of Israel But when he perceived those Sheep transformed into Wolves ready to devour their own Shepherd peremptorily resolved to perish and to refuse the salvation which he brought them 't is no wonder if he did not hold his tears Saying If thou hadst known even thou There is a mixture of grief and indignation in Christ at the ignorance and perversness of miserable Jerusalem and this made his speech to be abrupt and imperfect Calvin translates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O si cognovisses Our Lord wishes that they had known what so highly and nearly concerned them But 't is plainly implied that they knew not and this is that of which the Prophet long ago complained Isa 1. 3. The Ox
only time for working Whatever therefore our hand finds to do weâ— should do it with our whole might The Painter gave a good reason why in his Piece he was so accurate In Immortalitatem pingo I paint for immortality intimating that the picture he made was to continue in view after he was dead and gone So we should say In Aeternitatem operamur Our dayes work is for Eternity therefore we dare not trifle The Church is likened unto a Vineyard and every one should be a labourer 3. The Season of Grace is called a Day in regard of the brevity and shortness of its continuance It cannot exceed the term of natural life and how short that is experience shews and the Scripture to affect us doth express by several notable similitudes Sayes the Apostle What is your life It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little while and then vanisheth away Jam. 4. 14. And Job 9. 25 26. Now my dayes are swifter then a post they flee away and see no good they are passed away as the ships of desire as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey How fast doth the Post ride how swiftly doth the Ship sail what haste doth the hungry Eagle make to the prey Such speed O man O woman thou art making towards another world The Day of Grace shortens as thy life shortens reflect upon the opportunities thou hast lost with grief condemn thy folly and be so wise as now to redeem time by doubled care and diligence And as this Day of Grace cannot exceed the bounds of life so it may come to a period before Long resisting of the Spirit and standing out against the means of Grace the Lord may and often doth punish by resolving his Spirit shall strive no longer and that to the working of Grace the means shall never be made effectual The accepted time is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not an Age but a Day and much of this day is gone already Now as the Traveller being straitned as to time makes the greater speed so should we in our Christian race we should lay aside the clogs of the world and the weights of sin that we may run with the greater freedom and patience Hebr. 12. 1. We may observe great difference in the dayes of the year very long they are in the midst of Summer in comparison with what they are in the depth of Winter And verily such an inequality there is between the day of grace which some have and which others do enjoy And what knowest thou O secure soul who reckonest upon a long season yet to come but that thy day of grace may prove as it were a winters day having not half so many hours as to others are allotted Rouze up thy self therefore and loose no more of that time which is so exceeding short at longest and may be so much shorter then thou imaginest 4. The Season of Grace is called a Day with relation to the night that is coming and when the night is come thy main work cannot be done if then it be undone and if it be undone thou thy self art undone for ever I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day sayes Christ the night cometh when no man can work John 9. 4. When the day of the righteous concludes they rest from their labour and their works follow them and though the night of death overspreads their earthly tabernacle yet their spirits are made perfect and 't is an everlasting day of glory with them And on the other side when the day of the wicked comes to a period either they are left under invincible blindness and deadness and obduration and how can they work then unless the works of darkness or else death finishes both the day of life and grace together and then 't will be too late to think of working for they will be bound hand and foot and thrown into outer darkness When you hear of a day of grace withall remember that the night and darknesâ— are hastning and if so for you to delay that great business for which this day iâ— afforded shews the worst and most pernicious imprudence Let me speak to you in the words of our Lord John 12 35. Yet a little while is the light witâ— you walk while ye have the light leâ—â— darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth In the second place I am to declare the priviledges of the Day of Grace These are Priviledges of inestimable value the loss of these and of the hopes that ever they will be again enjoyed is one thing which makes Hell so sad â— place A time of trade and thriving in the world a time of peace and plenty and outward prosperity though to be pray'd for and prized yet it is nothing near so much to be prized as the accepted time as the day of salvation The priviledges of the Day of Grace are these following 1. One is the enjoyment of the Word of God Because of this Israel of old was look'd upon as priviledg'd above the whole earth besides Psal 147. 10 20. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Judgments to the children of Israel he hath not dealt so with any nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them The Saints in Scripture whose eyes were more fully open and whose judgments were more clear to apprehend the worth of things what an estimate do they put upon the Word of God! What was David's judgment concerning it He sayes Psal 119. 103. How sweet are thy words unto my taste â—ea sweeter then honey to my mouth And ver 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver Indeed this whole Psalm may be called a Psalm of praise that is to say of the Word of God and David's judgment is not to be undervalued who is called a man after Gods own heart Holy Job esteemed this Word at an high rate when he made that profession it was vaâ—ued more then his necessary food Job 23. 12. Hence comes that Wisdom which the Topaz of Aethiopia cannot equal and the price whereof is above Rubies Now in the Day of Grace this Word is vouchsafed you both have it to search into it your selves and you have it opened and applied by the ministry of the Gospel 1. You may search into it your selves How many thousands under Antichristian bondage enjoy not this priviledge to have the Scriptures in a known tongue The Word is the Souls food Cruel Papists who deny the soul bread The Word is the Key which unlocks the Treasures both of Grace and Glory Cruel Papists who take away the Key of knowledge enter not themselves and hinder those that would The Word is the Souls weapon whereby the Wicked one is is overcome Cruel Papists who took this weapon out of its hand and so betrayed it into the hands of Satan
hinder thee 2. This Day of Grace is exceeding precious This is the very flower and cream of time What 's the reason the Psalmist begs the Lord would teach him to number his dayes aright Psal 90. 12. What 's the reason one Apostle exhorts See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time Eph. 5. 15 16. and another advises Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17. Surely these holy men saw more in time then most in the world are aware of they were sensible the present time contains the Day of Grace and that eternal Glory must now be got or lost for ever If there were no hope at all of being reconciled unto God of obtaining mercy and finding grace alass our time would be of no value But we may without prejudice to truth affirm that time is more precious then gold for now only Christ who is so precious is to be received now only the Soul which is so precious is to be secured The Apostle calls this the accepted time and the day of salvation If now we come the Lord will accept us and give his Son himself and freely all things to us and Salvation which since we are lost we so much need shall not be denied This Salvation is called Salvation of the Soul Heb. 10. 39. The better part the Jewel which the Destroyer principally aims at and designs to make his prey is secured This salvation also is affirmed to be great everlasting and salvation to the uttermost From the greatest evils the heirs of salvation are delivered everlastingly delivered and that good work which is begun in them shall be perfected to the uttermost and all of them shall stand in Glory as so many Monuments of Power and Mercy and Grace unto Eternity And is not the Day of Grace precious since a day of such salvation 3. This Day of Grace is a Day of Power Psal 110. 3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power The Arm of the Lord is now revealed in making the report of the Gospel to be believed the same power is exerted in raising a sinner to the life of faith that was shewn in raising up Jesus our Lord from the dead Strong holds are pull'd down reasonings against Religion as if it were either absurd or intollerably burthensom are silenced Those lusts which before bare all the sway have a deadly wound which shall not be healed again Sins dominion is overthrown and the world is overcome 't is now under foot which used to have its seat in the very heart Thus believers find this day a day of power They are powerfully drawn to Jesus Christ and as powerfully upheld and supported by him And of this power the ungodly are not without some taste and experience Mighty convictions and restraints for a while they have but by degrees they grow stupid and get loose again and then fulfil their fleshly and their worldly lusts with the greater eagerness just as water being dam'd up when that restraint is taken away doth run with greater strength and speed for having been restrained 4. This Day of Grace it is but one when this is gone another is not to be expected In Nature there is a vicissitude of day and night even at midnight 't will not be many hours before the morning and the light return Soles occidere redire possunt but the night which follows after the Day of Grace is everlasting The abused light of the Gospel will be followed with that which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The blackness of darkness for ever Life indeed will return again at the general resurrection but another season of mercy will not be vouchsafed The Day of Grace is like the Dove which Noah sent the third time out of the Ark when once 't is flown away 't will return no more What mean the careless world to sport and play and sin away this golden season Every moment that slips by you is irrevocable and 't is but a little while and the whole stock will be spent of this accepted time Oh improve some of it at least before it be all gone If after death you were certain to be sent into the world again and to hear the joyful sound of the Gospel again and that the Lord again would try you and wait that he might be gracious then present carelessness were not altogether so much without apology But since immediately upon your dissolution you must go to your long your eternal home either of weal or wo oh let Eternity which is just at the door be provided for before this your day be ended Thus you have the Properties of the Day of Grace In the fourth place I am to lay down the Reasons why such a Day of Grace is granted Several reasons of this may be assigned 1. One shall be drawn from the Son's Incarnation and taking our nature on him Hence it comes to pass that unto man such kindness is expressed The Apostle sayes Verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. He was made in the likeness of men therefore mankind is the dearer to him There is a difference put between apostate Angels and fallen men I speak even of those that through their own wickedness and folly miss of salvation The reprobate Angels never had a remedy provided nor a Day of Grace afforded Christ assumed not their nature but as soon as ever they had sinned they fell like lightning suddenly in the twinkling of an eye from Heaven to Hell But man was not thus dealt with even those whom the Apostle calls Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction are yet endured with much long-suffering Rom. 9. 22. Their salvation is in it self really possible I say in it self though all things consider'd there is an impossibility of any other event then the destruction of sinners continuing in their rebellions and this real possibility of salvation will make them cast the whole blame of their perdition on themselves that the day of salvation was trifled away and the salvation of that day was neglected This matter may be made more obvious and plain by a similitude The Apostle Paul Acts 27. admonisheth the Centurion who was to conduct him to Rome that the voyage they were about to make would be with much damage and hurt not only of the lading and ship but also of their lives Who can deny that the tarrying in the Haven where they were and where they might have been in safeguard was in it self really possible and they could not reasonably lay the blame of their shipwrack on Gods decree and determination but upon their own rashness In like manner sinners are admonished that if they go on in wickedness 't will be to their hurt and eternal damage not only of their lives but also of their souls Who can deny that the abstaining from such and such sins
of and bring home again to the fold 2. No man ought to draw such a sad conclusion in reference to himself that the season of mercy is quite expired Though our election may be made sure yet reprobation is not presently to be discover'd Though upon thy comparing thy heart and life with the Word of God thou mayst know of a certainty thou hast no grace yet thou hast no warrant to say thou never shalt have any As filthy as thou have been washed as unholy as thou have been sanctified as guilty as thou have been justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. 3. When Satan pesters you with thoughts that there is no help remaining but the acceptable time is all slipt away rather hope the contrary for Satan is a liar and because he is so busie about you 't is a sign that he is afraid of loosing you if he knew certainly that your day of visitation were gone he would be sure of you and so he would be quiet â—nd not as he doth molest and trouble â—ou But for the further relief of those who are apt to discourage themselves and to damp their own endeavours after grace by thinking the day is ended and 't is now too late I shall do two things First Lay down some probable signs Secondly Some certain signs of this Day of Grace's continuance The probable signs of its continuance are these 1. When the heart is inclined to sit under powerful means who knows but by the word of faith which you attend upon the grace of faith may be wrought in you 2. When ever and anon the heart iâ— stirred and conscience awakened by the Spirit and the Lord doth not let yoâ— alone in your iniquities nor suffer you tâ— sleep quietly and undisturbedly the sleep of death 3. When those false grounds of hope which you have built upon are more and more discover'd when you are madâ— to perceive the vanity of confidence iâ— your selves or in your own righteousness and that 't is not enough to bâ— somewhat better then the worst are anâ— that the name of Christians signifies no thing unless you depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. Who knows but that being beaten off from insufficient bottoms you may at length be settled upon the right foundation Jesus Christ 4. When there is a great fear least the Day of Grace should be past 't is to be hoped that 't is not past Jerusalem in the text was far from any such fear Usually souls are left senseless when the Lord leaves them Of the old world and of Sodom 't is said They eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded they married and were given in marriage and minded nothing else but things of this nature though the floud was so near the one and fire ready to consume the other 5. When sinners are inquisitive what they shall do to be saved 't is probable at least that the day of salvation is not terminated but salvation is near and may be obtained if the terms on which 't is proffer'd are not quarrel'd at but submitted to as good and equal In the second place follow the certain signs that the Day of Grace is not yet concluded 1. This day is not pass'd when the Soul is for peace with God upon any conditions If this be the yielding frame and temper of thy heart certainly thou dost not only know but also art willing to do the things which belong unto thy peace If this be thy language Lord Doth a right eye offend thee it shall be pluckt out doth a right hand offend thee it shall be cut off Those sins that seem most sweet and necessary as long as thou hatest them that is sufficient to discommend them I am resolved to love them no longer Thou hast no reason to give up all for lost No no being thus made willing to cast away every transgression iniquity shall not be thy ruine as you may see Ezek. 18. 30. 2. This Day of Grace is not pass'd when the sinner sets open the door of his heart that Christ the Lord may enter That promise is most sure If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him and sup with him and he shall sup with me Rev. 3. 20. Christ complains of the Jews that They would not come to him that they might have life but if any are made willing to come the waters of life are open and none that desire shall be denied them Rev. 22. 17. Let him that is a thirst come and whoever will let him drink of the waters of life freely Doest thou know Christ Art thou acquainted with his Kingdom as well as his Priesthood and art thou willing to have his Kingdom set up in thy heart and thy very thoughts and affections brought into obedience and captivity Art thou willing thus to receive him Certainly thou shalt be received by him and have power to become a child of God Joh. 1. 12. 3. This Day of Grace is not pass'd if Grace be desired above all things in the world If the edge of thy appetite towards the things that perish is turn'd if the pearl of price be indeed of price in thy esteem if that be thy will and desire which is the will of God even thy sanctification surely the Spirit is so far from having left thee that he is in thee 'T is he who raises this hunger and thirst after righteousness which as it shall be satisfied so it argues thy estate blessed Maâ—th 5. 6. 5. This Day of Grace is not pass'd when the heart is grieved for the mispence of so much of this day and is willing to live the rest of it to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. If you judge that the time past of your life doth suffice nay more then suffice to have been foolish and disobedient to God and to have obey'd and served divers lusts and pleasures and if you resolve to dedicate the remainder of your lives in the flesh to the Lord that he may dispose of it certainly the Lord will accept both of your time and you Though you come in late so it be but presently into the Vineyard you shall receive a penny and diligence in your Masters work will be rewarded with your Masters joy 3. A third word of Caution is this Take heed of being strengthned and emboldned by the general practise to idle this Day of Grace away We read concerning Laish That the people dwelt careless after the manner of the Zidonians quiet and secure Judg. 18. 7. And truly this is the manner of most in the world careful possibly they are about many things but as to the main thing utterly careless Their tiâ—e is of little and their souls of less value in their judgments But that the humour and custom of the world may not be followed let these considerations be ponder'd by you 1. The most in
the world are blind As Moses speaks they are void of counsel neither have they any understanding in them they are not wise to consider their latter end Deut. 32. 28 29. nor the worth of that gracious season in which alone preparation can be made for it And shall we write after the Coppies which a company of fools set us Shall we follow the blind that quickly will fall into the ditch and have not eyes to see their danger 2. The most are unbelieving a froward generation children in whom there is no faith and from this root of infidelity doth spring their prodigallity of the day of Grace Did they indeed believe that death will not make an end of them but that after this is finished another life will follow either of the greatest joy or of as great sorrow and that joy or sorrow in the next world will be their lot according as the present season is or is not improved certainly they would be more sparing of that which is so precious Oh the secret paganisme that is in the hearts of multitudes they live as if Eternity were a fiction and Hell a fable but will it be thought a fable when they feel the tortures of it And what shall we tread in the steps of such Infidels No we are to follow not the unbelief but the faith of others Heb. 13. 7. Whose faith follow considering the end of theâ—r conversation 3. Are not many who are such spend-thrifts of this Day of Grace self-condemned How often doth Conscience reproach them for their spiritual sloth and 't is very unreasonable to go in that way which they themselves do frequently condemn themselves for Idleness is is a sin which leaves behind it a great deal of regret and dissatisfaction in the heart 't is common for the slothful to hear a voice behind them saying Time is a treasure that ought not to be thus foolishly and to no purpose wasted USE III. Of Exhortation Let me perswade all to a serious improvement of this day of their gracious visitation The Arguments to prevail are these 1. This day is continually passing Your glass is running every moment whether you sleep or wake are in company or alone are vain or serious do pray or sin it never stands still And when once your glass is run 't will never be turn'd again but taken down immediately Your dayes are but an hand-breadth and whether of this hand-breadth there be an inch remaining is a question Time is not unfitly pictur'd with wings because it flies so fast away and bald behind because you cannot catch hold of it to pull it back The best part of this day is usually at first if we seek unto the Almighty betimes Job 8. 5. we are the more sure to find him and this should engage you to a more speedy trading with this precious talent 2. You all must be reckoned with how you have husbanded this gracious season Oh what a case will the slothful soul be in when death gives him a summons and he hears that word Render an account of thy stewardship for thou mayst be no longer steward Conscience must needs very much amaze the sinner when it shall before the Judge bring in such Indictments as these against him So much of this day of savation was spent in immoderate recreations So much in carnal and ungodly company So much in eager pursuing after the deceitful riches and pleasures of this world So much in making provision for the flesh that the vile and base lusts of it might be fulfilled So much in proud and towring imaginations So much in amorous and filthy musings So much in vain and rotten communication So much in Taverns and Ale-houses and in the Harlots habitations So much in tricking and adorning the body And Christ and the soul were all the mean while neglected and forgotten Often ask thy self this question Do I spend my Day of Grace after such a manner as I may account for it at last with comfort Such thoughts would make you serious 3. Let the diligence of the earthly minded in improving the worlds day shame you out of your idleness in this day of salvation If the greedy tradesman hears of an excellent bâ—rgâ—m what madness doth he count it to neglect the season wherein he may have it He that is covetous of preferment 't is no sooner offer'd then accepted Oh say such We must catch occasion by the fore-lock we may never have the like again Alas that men should be so wise in trifles and such fools in the greatest matters Now is the time of preferment you may be advanced to the dignity of Children and Heirs of God Now is the time to grow rich towards God to lay up such a treasure ' that will never fail that none can take away from you 4. Let the apprehensions which others have of this Day of Grace be consider'd by you Here I shall bring several Speakers upon the Stage delivering what their judgments and thoughts are 1. Hearken to the awakened Soul whose eyes are newly forced open by the Spirit Surely I am more brutish then any I have not the understanding of a man Many years I have liv'd and as many I have lust in sin and folly A treasure I have been entrusted with but I have been cheated of it by a deceitful heart a deceitful world and a subtle Serpent I remember opportunities have followed thick one upon another of getting grace but none were laid hold upon There was nothing I slighted more then that which least of all deserv'd my slighting Oh that my past dayes could be again recall'd they should be spent after another fashion But instead of that what cause have I to fear that the Lord may allow no more time since that which he hath allowed hath been so unprofitably consumed 2. Hearken to the serious Christian How great a work have I to do and how short a time to do it in How vast is eternity which depends upon this moment Lord the world is not worth my time and pains in comparison of thy self and that Grace and Glory which thou hast revealed Now is the time to fly from the vengeance of eternal fire and to gain the life that 's â—verlasting and to scape the one and gain the other shall be my lifes main business 3. Hearken to a rouzed sinner just going out of the world Oh! my head doth ake my heart is sick my eyes are dim my breath is short a general trembling seises on me and all do shew that this earthly house of my tabernacle is upon the point of being dissolved And must I now be forced away O my soul to what place art thou removing Hark! I hear a dreadful sound within Conscience speaks language full of horrour Alas Is the sentence now past Cut down the tree that brought forth none but evil fruit Must I go presently to the Bar of God who have nothing but provoked him all my dayes May I not
11. 30. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Marriage And as the Wives subjection unto a tender and indulgent Husband is sweet and pleasant so and much more pleasant is the Believers subjection unto Christ Ungodly ones are strangely prejudiced against the Scepter and Government of Jesus but indeed 't is without cause they say We will not have this Lord to reign over us 'T is a mercy to be translated into his Kingdom for then you are freed from other Lords which are so imperious so cruel and will reward with death all the service which you do for them All the precepts of Christ are for your profit and he forbids you nothing but what he sees will hâ—rm you Methinks at the reading of this the most stubborn should yield and say We stood out against the Lord of life but 't was upon a mistake we did not think his service was so near a kin to freedom we once imagined his commands grievous therefore we cast them behind our backs but now we are resolved to obey no other since they are to be esteemed above gold nay the finest gold and are sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb USE III. Since our Lord is so merciful let me perswade you to the imitation of him put on as the elect of God bowels of mercies Among the company of blessed ones the merciful are numbred for they shall obtain mercy Matth. 5. 7. Your own souls and the souls of others should be the special objects of your pitty Let your own souls be wept over because guilty of so much sin and because by such prodigious defilements rendered so much unlike unto an holy God 'T was a saying of a Father Flebam merituram Didonem me mortuum non flebam I wept when I read the story of Dido about to kill her self but my own condition though quite dead in sin I bewailed not Look into your selves and you may behold matter enough for mourning fresh guilt and stains added to what were before here be liberal of your sorrow where 't is so very well deserved The souls of others too should have a share in your compassion Oh weep over kindred neighbours that still are ignorant aliens enemies and wish and pray that they may know the things which belong to their peace before they are hid from their eyes Thus of the first Doctrine Doct. 2. The second follows That the Lord does grant unto sinners a Day of Grace in which pardon and life are proffer'd to them and may be obtained by them If thou hadst known in this thy day This day we read of Heb. 3. 7 8. Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Now Gods voice is heard and that heart is both wicked and foolish which hardens it self See also 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. We then as workers together with him beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain for he saith I have heard thee in a time accepted in the day of salvation have I succour'd thee Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation Those words I have heard thee in a time accepted in the day of salvation have I succour'd thee are spoken by God the Father unto Christ his Son Christ himself had in some sense a Day of Grace in which the Father was well pleased with him in which the Sacrifice which he offered up once for the sins of all was accepted in which his strong cryes for himself that he might be carried through the difficult work of Mans Redemption were heard and accordingly he was succour'd and enabled to work out a compleat salvation for the children of men And hence it comes to pass that unto them also a day of grace is granted in which they may be accepted and salvation is brought near them that they may lay hold upon it My work in the handling of this truth will be First to shew upon what account the Season of Grace is called a Day Secondly to declare what are the priviledges of this Day of Grace Thirdly to lay down the properties of it Fourthly I shall give some reasons why such a day is granted And then conclude with the Application First Upon what account the Season of Grace is called a Day 1. The Season of Grace is called a Day in regard of the light that then shines The Sun of Righteousness is risen and this Day is made by that Suns shining Light from the Gospel springs up unto them which else would have sat in darkness and in the region and shadow of death Matth. 4. 16. By this light things are discover'd which were hid from Ages and Generations Gods eternal counsel to glorifie his Grace in the pardon adoption cleansing and saving of men that have all sinn'd and thereby come short of his glory is by this light made manifest The light of Nature is but weak and dim and cannot make it day it gives such a discovery both of God and sin as is sufficient to leave those that sin against God without excuse Rom. 1. 20. But the way how enemies may be reconciled it cannot shew Nay because the first Covenant ran thus Do this and live the light of Nature doth strongly incline us to put a confidence in our own works then which nothing is more contrary to the Gospel of the Grace of God But though the Light of Nature be apt to lead out of the way as well as imperfect the Light of the Gospel is sufficient All that are now in glory made use of this Guide in their passage through the world David Psal 19. doth make a comparison between the Light of Nature and that of the Word From the Heavens Firmament Sun and Moon and other Creatures something of the Glory of God may be discover'd but then after he adds The Law of the Lord is perfect as if he had said From the Word shines forth a greater light then from the Sun and Moon and Stars a light which guides infallibly to the Light that 's everlasting And this Light is one thing which makes the Day the text speaks of 2. The Season of Grace is called a Day in that it is design'd for working When the day comes though the beasts gather themselves and lay them down in their dens yet man arises and goes forth to his work and labour till the evening Psal 104. 22 23. In like manner this day of the Gospel though they who are brutish lay them down in the bed of ease and fall asleep in carnal security yet such as have the understanding of men will go forth unto their work and labour and surely they who have lusts to mortifie a world to overcome a devil to resist and souls to save have work enough to do Why stand ye here all the day idle sayes our Lord in the Parable Matth. 20. 6. Spiritual sloth is now unseasonable and unreasonable Now is the time and the
perfect hatred Sin which was lov'd better then the soul better then salvation the heart by the Spirit is turn'd against it and how earnest are the cries that it may not reign no nor live any longer And Holiness against which there was a very strong though unreasonable antipathy is now hungred and thirsted after there is a tide which runs upwards contrary to the former stream which ran downward The Lord hath those affections which before sin and the world commanded The desart is become as Sharon and in the ruines which corruption hath made there is a Temple for the Spirit of God to dwell in The Day of Grace is the only time to be made new creatures in Now thy earthly heart may be made heavenly thy impure heart cleansed thy mind which was vain carnal enmity against God may be made serious and to approve and subject it self to the Law of God 3. 'T is the work of the Spirit to guide They who are the children of God are lead by him and 't is in the way everlasting that he leads them they are directed into such a path as will certainly bring them to the everlasting enjoyment of the Eternal God Neither doth he only guide but strengthen the Spirit puts might into their inner man and makes them to hold on their way till they come to the blessed end of it We have all like sheep gone astray we have turned every one to his own way Isa 53. 6. But in this Day of Grace the Spirit is near to chalk out a path in which we cannot miss of happiness and to help us over all the stumbling blocks and difficulties which are cast in our way The Spirit doth also comfort as well as strengthen He sheds abroad the sense of the love oâ— God into the heart and such a joy issues from this sense of love that tribulation cannot turn into sorrow 4. Many of them that perish have experience while this Day of Grace continues of the Spirits workings The Spiriâ— doth use a kind of holy violence to hinder them from pulling down vengeance upon themselves Thus he did strive with the old world in the day of their visitation 1 Pet. 3. 18 19 20. Christ was quickned by the Spirit by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison which sometime were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah This place is wrested and may seem difficult but the meaning is plainly this That Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost by which Holy Ghost accompanying the ministry of the ancient Patriarks he preached unto the impenitent sinners of the old world whose spirits are now imprisoned in hell because â—n their life time they were disobedient â—o the Spirits voice all the while the â—ong suffering of God did wait upon â—hem Thus the Spirit likewise did â—trive with the children of Israel but â—hey rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit of God Isai 63. 10. 'T is not an unusual â—hing for the Spirit to enlighten and aâ—aken the Conscience to clap chains and â—etters upon corruption for a while that â—â— breaks not forth as formerly to conâ—â—rain unto a frequent performance of duty But the Soul hankers after its beloved lusts and vanities grows weary of the Spirits restraint grudges the time and pains which duty takes up and wishes that the Spirit would go away and accordingly the Holy Ghost departs from him However this is true that the Spirit works much and would more were he not resisted That 's the second priviledge of the Day of Grace the presence of the Spirit 3. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is liberty to come to the Throne of Grace All flesh is now invited to the Hearer of Prayers and their prayers shall be regarded if they no longer regard iniquity 1. The Lord now is near and may bâ— found Isai 55. 6. His merciful nature inclines him to come to the help of them that need it As he is near to give theâ— that grace which they cry for so to givâ— them grace to cry after a right manner We cannot so much as come that wâ— may be help'd unless we are help'd tâ— come The Lord is within hearing oâ— all that call who ever sought him seriâ—usly and sought in vain He is so neaâ— as to hear our very whisper'd supplications and to take notice of the inward groanings of our spirits Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee But some may object Doth not the Scripture say that the Lord and his salvation are far from the wicked and therefore wicked ones have no encouragement to come to him Well But if the wicked man doth cry that he may be renewed and that his wickedness both as to the guilt and practise may be put far away from him then the Lord will draw near immediately 2. God is not only in this day of grace willing to be found but he seeks after us John 4. 23. The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Fervent prayer is delightful musick in his ears Cant. 2. 14. O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy counâ—enance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely The Lord is pleased to see us gather about him and to hear us cry for this and that and the other mercy since his mercies are so great a multitude that he hath enough and enough for all Nay the Lord himself doth seek to us and beseech us to be reconciled 2 Cor. 5. 20. And if he intreat us to accept of mercy shall not we speed in our intreaties for the obtaining of it 3. The promise which God hath made may now be pleaded This is the time to lay hold upon his Covenant Lord thou hast promised to blot out iniquity as a cloud oh when shall this cloud be scatter'd that I may walk in the light of thy countenance Thou hast promised a new heart when shall this heart of mine be changed when shall it burn with love to thee and indignation against sin which doth offend thee Lord Thou hast promised to take away the heart of stone and to transform the adamant into flesh oh why am I so hard and stupid why since I have sinned so much should I sorrow so little Again Thou hast promised to make me clean Lord when oh when will it once be Thus may we urge the Promises and he that made them will give us cause to adore his faithfulness The worst of men the chief of sinners may urge the promise of a new heart and of washing from filthiness as long as they seek unto the God of Israel to do this for them Ezek. 36. 37. and are so far wrought upon as to desire to be sanctified
the whole Covenant shall be made good to them if their unbelief of Gods power and truth be not an hinderance 4. Now in this Day of Grace the great High-priest stands ready to intercede for us Never any sincerely begg'd for pardon and for grace but Christ pray'd that Prayer over again and a gracious return was made to it The Spirit also is ready to help infirmities to fill our hearts with such desires as shall be surely satisfied and truly we have to do with a God who of the best things which are most needful most desirable is alwayes most liberal Now are the mollia fandi tempora the times to speak and speed but when this gracious season is gone ah then the loudest cries will be in vain God will hear Christ will intercede the Spirit help no more 4. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That now the way is open to the Kingdom As you may come to the Throne of Grace so 't is possible to get into the Throne of Glory Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne Our Lord doth stand as it were with a Crown of Life in his hand and sayes Believe in me and continue faithful to the death and this Crown shall be put upon your heads The Kingdom is offered and the sure way to the Kingdom is revealed Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Gospel that is such a blessed and glorious life as will never by death have a period and if you cease to do evil learn to do well and patiently continue in well-doing this eternal life shall assuredly be given you The foolish Virgins had a Day oâ— Grace as well as the wise The Bridegroom came and the door was open iâ— they had been ready they might have entred but having lost the opportunity they knocked at last but it was too late the door was shut and they were sent away with I know you not Matth. 25. We read of a Ladder that reached from earth to heaven now there is a possibility of climbing up thither But there is no Ladder that reaches from hell to heaven If this present day of salvation be lost salvation it self also will be lost for ever 5. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is this That during this season the state of the wicked is not unalterable 'T is true the Holy Ghost expresly sayes that impenitent and unbelieving ones are condemn'd already Joh. 3. 18. Sentence of condemnation is past but it may be repealed if they at last are brought to mourn for their rejecting of a Saviour and with their hearts believe in the Name of the only begotten Son of God the consequent of this faith will be freedom from condemnation Rom. 8. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit There was condemnation heretofore to them as well as to others but now there is none for they are in Christ and shew it by renouncing the lusts and works of the flesh and giving themselves up to the Spirits guidance They whom sin hath set at a great distance from Christ are called to come to him and while this Day of Grace lasts that word holds good I will in no wise cast out But when this day is done then 't will be I will in no wise receive The Lamb himself then will be full of wrath and that 's dreadful The Lamb can pacifie the anger of God but who can appease the Lambs anger When the only Reconciler is himself irreconcileable when the only Intercessour is inexorable when the only Saviour punisheth with everlasting destruction what hope of help remains then But as yet 't is possible for Rebels to obtain a pardon and to be made children Though thou hast sinn'd thy self near to hell yet thou hast not sinn'd thy self into hell Though sin hath abounded if thou art brought by the entring of the Law to a sence how thy offences have abounded Grace will much more abound Rom. 5. 20. The Lord hath turn'd and chang'd as bad as the worst of you and that which hath been done may be done again since his hand is as mighty to save and his Grace as free as ever I have done with the priviledges of this Day of Grace In the third place follow the properties of it which are these 1. This Day of Grace is uncertain as to its duration 't is more uncertain then the day of life for that may end before this doth Nay the Day of Grace may be past while the very means of Grace continue The acceptable time was pass'd with the Jews when the Prophet was sent to preach among them Hark what a sad Commission he had Isa 6. 9 10. Go make the heart of this people fat make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and convert and be healed 'T is dreadful when the Word shall make the ear more deaf and the Light the eye more blind and awakening means the heart more gross and stupid The Sons of Eli had outstood their day and yet after this their Father admonishes them and endeavours to reclaim them They were lascivious and made themselves vile and Eli said 'T is no good report I hear of you my sons ye make the Lords people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them When Drunkards Sorcerers Liars Whoremongers Worldlings are reproved often and will not hearken who knows but the season of mercy may be ended and the Lord intends to slay them to damn them And if at the hearing of this they are unconcern'd there is greater cause to fear though we cannot absolutely conclude that 't is so indeed The day of grace is uncertain the means of grace may be before you are aware removed The golden Candlestick doth not stand so fast in any place as that 't is impossible it should be took away Tremble at that threatning uttered to the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 5. I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent And although Ordinances remain a blessing may be withheld from them Thou doest not know but every call may be the last time of asking and Christ may for ever after hold his peace and therefore presently give consent to be espoused to him thou dost not know but that every motion of the Spirit may have his last striving with thee and if thou still resistest the Spirit may take his leave and say Foolish Soul go on in sin go on to hell I will not strive any more to
is really possible therefore Gods decree is not to be blamed which brings no coaction upon the will of man but mans own perversness if he is wrack'd and miscarries to eternity We read of the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appearing Tit. 3. 4. The Son of God was manifested in the flesh of man and upon this score it is that light comes into the world and shines even upon those dark souls that are unwilling to comprehend it and salvation is proffer'd also unto them that refuse to embrace it 2. A Day of Grace is granted that the power of God may be known His power is much spoken of in the Gospel and believers feel the wonderful effects of that power We are inform'd of a twofold Creation the first and the second the old and the new In the first Creation the power of God was glorious indeed iâ— making the world out of nothing but here as there was nothing to help so there was nothing to resist this power oâ— God But in the new Creation in making new creatures there is a great opposition and resistance met withall and how glorious is the power of God that overcomes it What wonders are wrought in this day of Grace by the hand of the Lord He not only sayes Let there be light where darkness is but where darkness is loved He not only sayes Arise to them that are dead but to them that are unwilling to be raised Indisposition and opposition likewise are to be found in sinners when the Lord first comes to work upon them The Bullock cannot endure the yoak though hereby its life is lengthened for the beast that works not is fatted immediately for the slaughter A sinner is likened to a bullock unaccustomed to the yoak Jer. 31. 18. he discovers a great reluctancy and unwillingness to yield now in turning such an one with whose corruption and lusts Satan joyns to hinder conversion the power of God is the more to be admired 3. A Day of Grace is granted for the manifestation of divine goodness and mercy The Lord is said to delight in mercy Mic. 7. 18. therefore he allows a day in which mercy may be had and now it is to be obtained or never It is not small mercy that raises the sons of men out of those depths of misery into which they are fallen Great is thy mercy towards me saith the Psalmist and the greatness of it is demonstrated for thou hast redeemed my soul out of the lowest hell And if the unworthiness of man be duly considered the freeness of this mercy is to be admired as much as the abundance of it Mercy is free as well as plenteous 't is expressed not only above desert but without desert nay contrary to desert therefore according to that ancient Fathers phrase 't is Omni modo gratuita free every way Hence it is that Saints have used that as an argument to obtain mercy which oâ—â— would have thought should have quite discouraged them from entertaining any hopes of it namely the greatness of sin Psal 25. 11. For thy Name sake pardon my iniquity for it is great as if he had said Lord I know 't is thy design in this day of grace to manifest and to magnifie thy mercy and the greatness of my sin will serve to set thy mercy higher the richness and freeness of it will be the more wondred at because shewn to a gross transgressour Mercy nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abundant mercy is expressed in justifying the ungodly in quickening the dead and begetting them again to a lively hope 1 Pet. 1. 3. And this is the only season if it be not now laid hold on it will be clean gone for ever 4. A Day of Grace is granted that the Lords long-suffering and forbearance may be wondred at He is an eye-witness of all the wickedness that is done against him he hates all the sin he sees and can easily take vengeance upon the committers of it he stands not in the least need of any of them and yet he spares them and that a great while Oh how great is the stock of his patience Lord what is man that thou doest forbear him so long since thou canst so easily crush him How comes it to pass that thou doest call after him to benefit him since thou canst not be benefited by him and notwithstanding many provocations art unwilling he should perish Oh wonderful patience that will leave the abusers of it without any the least apology and that will be matter of everlasting marvel to those who hereby are lead unto repentance 5. A Day of Grace is granted that the righteousness of the Lord in those severities which are shew'd upon the impenitent and unbelieving may be the more evident and undeniable He will be justified when he speaks though never so amazing a sentence be utter'd by him he will be clear when he is judged Sinners who had a day of Grace and lost it an acknowledgment will be extorted from them that they are justly punished with the loss of endless blessedness which they frequently heard of and as often slighted When God shall thus plead with the Impenitent at his Bar Did not I give you a day as well as others Did not I call and you refuse Did not I stretch forth my hand and you disregarded me Did not I give you counsels and reproofs and you set them all at naught And thereupon shall bid them depart away never to see his face more How will all the Saints and Angels approve of the Sentence and cry Righteous art thou O Lord because thou hast thus judged and the impenitent will not have one syllable to say against it Now I descend to the Application And I shall begin with some Consectaries that may be drawn from the Doctrine 1. In this Day of Grace to sleep is very improper Let us not sleep as do others sayes the Apostle but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breast-plate of faith and love 1 Thes 5. 6 7 8. How long wilt thou sleep O sluggish Conscience when wilt thou awake shall nothing force thine eyes open The enemies of our salvation are far from sleeping they ply their business to bring about our ruine and shall not we awake for our own security How can we watch unless we are awake and if we are not vigilant how certain are we to be devoured by the roaring Lion Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light and light being given to see withall see that thou walk circumspectly The Sun of Righteousness is up and shining therefore we should be up and doing Sloth in this mid-day of the Gospel is unsutable as well as dangerous the Apostle therefore cautions against it Heb. 6. 12. That ye be not
slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises The Lethurgy of the Conscience is a sore malady when the sinners heart is ever and anon ready to drop asleep notwithstanding all the means which are used to rouze it But though threatenings though judgments will not awaken some that are seized upon by the spirit of slumber yet I 'll tell you what will do it The sight of an angry sin-revenging Judge upon the Tribunal the seeing and feeling of the torments of Hell will awaken them that are most fast asleep in sin What wilt thou sleep upon the pits brink Usually sinners fear least when because of the nearness of evil they have most reason to be afraid 2. How much besides themselves are they whose whole employment is the works of darkness in this day time The Apostle exhorts us to cast off the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light Rom. 13. 12. Light is a kind of armour for the light making a discovery of sins deceitfulness the heart is hereby arm'd against temptation but because most do love their evil deeds therefore they hate the â—ight which doth discover and reprâ—ve them Alas that such bad work as the service of Satan and divers lusts is should have so many hands to it The works of wickedness are rightly termed the works of darkness the actors of them fly the light for when they are seen they cause shame and from God who is light they hinder us allowance of these and fellowship with him are inconsistent moreover unto outer darkness these works have a most certain tendency Now shall a Day of Grace be consumed in sins drudgery This was given as a day of salvation and shall we in it work out our own condemnation Shall it be spent in making sure of Hell and treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath When the Lord doth grant us a day to make our peace shall we give this day to Satan and do nothing but by wicked works more alienate our selves and make the wall of separation higher If the season that was allotted for the obtaining of mercy be abused only to the aggravating of sin and augmenting of misery this will argue you guilty of such a folly and madness as must be confess'd beyond hyperbole 3. What cause is there of thankfulness for such a Day of Grace The Israelitish servants prized the year of Jubilee and much more should we this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 acceptable year of the Lord. Liberty and freedom from our spiritual bondage is now offer'd and may be obtain'd if you will not let sin and Satan boar your ears as it were if you say not as most do We love these masters and we will not leave them The greatness of our obligation to thankfulness for this Day of Grace will be further evident if these things are weighed 1. The light doth shine more clearly in this our day then it did of old The ancient Jewish Church enjoyed but the dawning or at most the early morning of this Day of Grace but we the noontide of it many shadows of good things to come they had whereby those things were obscurely represented but we have under the Gospel the substance exhibited and the shadows are flown away Moses the great Prophet of the Jews had a vail upon his face to signifie that his was a more dark dispensation but we all saith the Apostle with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of God are ebanged into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. Christ is now more fully discover'd his sweet offices more explain'd and his precious benefits more gloriously displayed 2. We ought to be thankful that this our day hath so long lasted The Lord long ago might have given us up to a reprobate mind nay fetter'd us in chains of darkness because of our hating knowledge and holding the truth in unrighteousness 'T is a wonder that having sinned so much against the light we have not sinn'd the light away I read that at Joshua's request the Sun stood still in the Firmament and hasted not to go down for an whole day Josh 10. 13. And have not we had experience of the like miracle of Grace Hath not the Sun of Righteousness stopt his course not hasting to go down How long hath Christ stood waiting and still he stands proffering both light and life and light and life shall be given to them that understand the value of such offers 3. Especially we have cause to praise if this Day of Grace hath been effectual and we have been made the children of light and of the day Most even in this Day of Grace are blinded by the God of this world the Gospel is to them an hidden Gospel but if the Lord who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined into our hearts and hath called us out of darkness into his marvelloas light sure we have abundant reason to shew forth his praises 1 Pet. 2. 9. If he had not enlightened our eyes we should have slept the deep of death as well as others Was there not a time when we did not see either our sin or our extream danger Was there not a time when we were as unsensible of the worth of souls and of our need of Jesus as the most careless ones Oh wonderful love that he hath made the difference and distinguished us from others that hath illuminated and converted us when others are suffer'd still to run on blindfold towards ruine 4. Since such a day of Grace is granted the special seasons of it should be improved The whole is precious but some seasons are more golden and to be esteemed at an higher rate 1. The Season of Youth This is the fittest time to sow the seed of Grace that it may bring forth the fruit of life and glory The journey towards the new Jerusalem is long the distance which sin hath set us at from our Creatour is great therefore to be setting forth betimes is a great part of wisdom The Lord doth take it well when in our youthful dayes we make choice of him Samuel Obadiah Josiah Timothy have a commendation given them that they knew and loved and feared God betimes that they abstained from and despised those lusts and vanities with which youth most commonly is ensnared and defiled The time of youth is a time of strength vigour and activity then you will either do much for God or much against him In the service of such a Master as the Lord is how well will your strength be employed Activeness will here become you Early remembrance of God will prevent abundance of sin which might cause bitterness many years after Thou writest bitter things against me sayes Job and causest me to possess the iniquities of my youth Job 15. 26. and it will have great influence to your stedfastness with God all your dayes
Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit Testa diu odorem Horat. Epist 2. ad Lollium The cask retains the scent of that a long time after which was first put into it when 't was new And in like manner if youthful years are season'd with grace the gray hairs will be found in the way of righteousness Prov. 12. 6. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Add also that in the time of youth sin is more easily pluck'd up because it hath not taken such deep root Age and custom will make evil like the spots of the Leopard and the blackness of the Aethiopians which no water can wash away Augustine in his Confessions l. 8. c. 5. doth make this acknowledgment Ex voluntate perversâ facta est libido dum servitur libidini facta est consuetudo dum consuetudini non resistitur facta est necessitas From a perverse corrupted will flow evil desires while evil desires are fulfilled sin ripens into custom while custom is not resisted there follows a kind of necessity and unalterableness in simming Oh therefore withstand sin betimes use the same policy in reference to your lusts which the Egyptians would have used towards Israel they feared lest the Israelites when grown might be too hard for them therefore they endeavoured in their weak infancy to destroy them To see young faces set towards Sion the way thither being diligently enquired after to behold children turn Souldiers in the spiritual warfare fighting under Christs Ensign making the Tempter flee from them taking Heaven by storm and violence what a brave sight is it 2. The Season of Health is another season to be improved Then the body is a more fit instrument to serve the soul in the Lords service The time of sickness is most commonly a time of spending therefore in health you should be treasuring up good store of Grace Now you may attend upon the publick Ordinances you may come to Gods House and sit down at his Table but sickness will deprive you of such opportunities Now you should be labouring for Grace and trying your grace that you may not be deceived with what is but counterfeit You should be so wise as to foresee the evil day of affliction and infirmity a coming and beg beforehand for such a measure of faith as may make you stand such a measure of patience and submission that there may not be the least repining thought against God but whatever your trials are that you may not faint but acquiesce in the wisdome and grace of him by whom you are chastized Beg also beforehand for a sense of his Love and when you see the rod in your Fathers hand none of the stripes will be intollerable Let health be thus improved And to perswade you consider that what you do in the day of health will be more upon choice and not upon force and consequently your sincerity will be the more evident whereas if you are forced to seek the Lord by his smiting of you whether your hearts are right may be suspected 3. The Season of spiritual Plenty should also be with care and diligence improved When heavenly Manna falls so thick about your habitations shall none at all be gathered When so much seed is sown shall the Fowls of the Air be suffered to take all away or if you do receive this seed shall it be choaked by the world and bring forth no fruit to perfection Let every one in this Assembly think thus with himself How many scores of Sermons have been preached to me how many warnings have I had how many reproofs have been given me how often have I been exhorted to obedience how many prayers have I joyned in But what fruit have I to shew of all What grace have I gotten what lust have I got the mastery over Where 's the faith the love the zeal the holiness and humility which might have been attained if these means of grace had been as they ought to have been improved Ordinances in abundance are now enjoyed shall they be but prices in the hands of fools Where the Lord gives so much to be sure he will require the more Oh lament your pass'd non-proficiency and for the future let your whole heart be in every duty be most earnestly desirous to get something from God every time you draw near to him You neglect your own interest when you do his work negligently Ordinances are the pipes through which grace is conveyed to thirsty souls there is never a duty you engage in wherein this truth should not be considered and believed In this duty God can give me that which is of greater worth then the whole world and hereupon you would not in Ordinances themselves but obtain the benefit of them 4. The Lords day is another special Season of the Day of Grace let it not be prophaned but husbanded to the best advantage They who keep holy the Sabbath day and find the Lord owning that sanctification of his day by sanctifying and quickning and refreshing their hearts upon it as they are clearly convinced so they are glad the Sabbath iâ— moral they would not it should be otherwise 'T is but reasonable they should give the Lord one day in seven and no day is so much their own so much for their spiritual which is the truest gain as this which they give to him It may not only be called the Lords day but the Souls day likewise Worldly thoughts and pleasures and employments which on other dayes are allowed be now forbidden that the Soul with greater intension may be respected and provision made for it Now Gods mouth is open he speaks to us his ear is open we may speak to him and if we hear and obey his voice he will not fail to hear and grant our requests The priviledge of enjoying Sabbaths one of our English Poets doth no less piously then ingeniously set â—orth O day most calm most bright The fruit of this the next worlds bud Th' endorsment of supreme delight Writ by a friend and with his bloud The couch of time cares balm and bay The week were dark but for thy light Thy torch doth shew the way Man had straight forward gone To endless death but thou dost pull And turn us round to look on one Whom if we were not very dull We could not chuse but look on still Since there is no place so alone The which he doth not fill Sabbaths the Pillars are On which Heavens Palace arched lies The other dayes fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities They are the fruitful beds and borderâ— In Gods rich Garden that is bare Which parts their ranks and orders Thou art a day of mirth And where the week dayes trail â—â— ground Thy flight is higher as thy birth O let me take thee at the bound Leaping with thee from seven to seven Till that we both being toss'd from
end is unlamented indifferency whether or no it do continue If you are of an indifferent spirit whether you enjoy the light or it be put out in obscurity whether you hear the publishers of glad tidings or whether their mouths be stopp'd there is reason to be afraid the Lord is about to divest you of those priviledges which you know not how to value If you look upon spiritual darkness as no plague which is infinitely worse then that of Egypt if you esteem the famine of the Word which is worse then a famine of bread or a thirst of water Amos 8. 11. no such great judgment as long as from temporal judgments you are exempted this is a most wretched temper of soul and the Lord must needs be angry when the greatest mercies and favours are slighted and what punishment more probable or equal then to be deprived of them 4. Another sign that the Day of Grace is near an end is contradicting and persecuting of the Lords Messengers We read Matth. 22. of a Marriage feast prepared servants are sent forth to invite many to the Marriage some who were invited took those servants and intreatthem spightfully Could the King which made this Supper bear this No he was wrath and did destroy these persecutors and none of them were permitted to partake of those good things he had provided and once proffer'd to them That is a dreadful text 2 Chron. 36. 16. But they mocked the Messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people and there was no remedy The Apostles Barnabas and Paul preached the Gospel the multitude flock to hear them when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy and spake against the Apostles doctrine but the Apostles seeing them reject ' the Gospel and them in such a way make this reply It was needful that the Word of God should be first spoken unto you but since you put it from you you shall not be troubled with it lo we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 45 46. and then to the Gentiles did the light arise and shine forth and the Jews were left under darkness Another sign the Day of Grace is near an end if not quite ended is obstinacy in some opinions which are damnable When fundamental truths are denied when all means used to reclaim and turn the erroneous through prejudiâ—e do but confirm and harden them how near to desperate is their case When the Lord sends strong delusions to any and they believe a lye oh 't is to be feared he intends their ruine and that their judgment will not linger will not flumber long 2 Thes 2. 11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Errour may extinguish the light of the Gospel and cause the Ordinances of God to be slighted the Word to be cast aside and the Spirit to depart and leave sinners to the seduction of Satan and the imagination of their dark and foolish hearts Let me therefore speak to you in the words of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3. 17. Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being lead away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness 6. Another fatal sign that the Day of Grace is near its period is an habit of back-sliding Hark how the Lord upbraids his people with this and after they are told of their desperate state Jer. 8. 4 5. Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall they turn away and not return why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back with a perpetual backsliding And then it follows ver 20 21 22 The Harvest is past the Summer is ended and we are not saved For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am black astonishment hath taken hold upon me Is there no balm in Gilead is there no Physician there why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recover'd There are many Professours who sometimes look Sion-ward and have some common work upon them but after do draw back and by often doing so contract such a scaredness that they make light of doing so They do possibly under some awakenings confess their sins but quickly return to the commission of them again they are convinced 't is their duty and yet they will not be perswaded to do the work of the Lord vigorously they are convinced of such and such sins and yet they will not be disswaded from following after them They may have a form of godliness but they will not be brought under the power of godliness nor give their consent to be sincerely and thorowly sanctified Divers motions and proffers of assistance they have had from the Spirit but all in vain they are bent upon backsliding Surely then they have just ground to fear that sentence is ready to be if not already pronounced Ezek. 24. 13. Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee Thus concerning the Signs when the Day of Grace is declining and drawing towards night Presumptuous soul if thou findest in thy self any of these signs oh startle exceedingly at the discovery and before the last hour of the day be ended enter into and labour to purpose in the Lords Vineyard 2. A second word of Caution is this Don't rashly conclude the Day of Grace is pass'd and that the Sun is already set upon you This is an extreme contrary to that of presumptuous ones which tempted and troubled spirits are very prone to run into They are ready to takeup Jobs complaint only with some sad variations Oh that I were as in moneths past as in the dayes when God would have preserved me when his candle shined upon my head and by his light I might have been deliver'd from the power of darkness The Almighty was then with me he call'd upon me to turn and was ready upon my turning to hear my calling to him But now I cry and he doth not hear me I stand up and he regards me not I have so bitterly provoked him to leave me that I am afraid he is now gone for ever Three things are here to be consider'd 1. No man can certainly conclude concerning another that his day is pass'd If we consult the Scripture we shall find those that have gone far in wickedness at last reclaimed therefore we should not despair of the worst Indeed the pride and stubbornness of the ungodly makes us fear that all our labour will be in vain yet we speak still and exhort and reprove with all long-suffering 2 Tim. 4. 2. because with God all things are possible and those sheep that are gone much astray seemingly past reach he can lay hold