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
that sentence be pronounced Cut it down why cumbereth it the ground 4. Christs compassion towards them that perish is seen in wishing when for their obstinacy they are given over to themselves that they would have hearkened and â—beyed Thus he weeps and wishes that Jerusalem had known what they were â—gnorant of And Israel when for their â—eafness unto and refusing of God they â—ere given up to their own hearts lusts â—nd suffer'd to walk after their own â—ounsels the Lord wishes O that my peoâ—le had hearkened unto me and Israel had â—alked in my wayes Psal 81. 11 12 13. Those that perish will have no reason to â—omplain of Christ but of themselves he wanted not pitty but to themselves they were unmerciful But in the second place the compassion of our Lord is manifested and that principally to them that are saved they are called Vessels of mercy 1. Christ receives those he saves though they come home in rags The beggarliness of the Prodigal did not hinder his Father from running to him and embracing him Their emptiness of worth doth not stir up his hatred but his pitty Christ hath enough and to spare for them Sinners should not keep off from Christ because they cannot bring any grace of their own to commend them He can put comeliness upon those who by sin are never so much deformed When we come to our Lord we are over-spread with a leprosie iniquity is fitly called by that name and all our righteousness is as filthy rags now what mercy is it that he takes away our filthy garments and puts upon us the robe oâ— his own righteousness and from thaâ— worst sort of leprosie doth make uâ— clean 2. Christ makes reconciliation for the sins of those who are saved by him And considering what wo and misery sin unpardon'd exposes the children of men to 't is an act of mercy to make an atonement for it Heb. 2. 17. Wherefore in all thlngs it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people That load of guilt and wrath which else would sink them into the lowest Hell the Lord Jesus takes off from the Heirs of salvation 3. Christ heals the wounds which their spiritual enemies have made The good Samaritan had compassion upon the man that fell among thieves Luke 10. Our Lord finds us in a worse case what wounds have our lusts and Satan made in our spirits and truly they are incurable by any but this Physician When the fiery Serpents had stung the Israelites they looked unto the Brazen Serpent and looking they were healed presently That Brazen Serpent typified Jesus Christ and although Conscience be never so much sting yet He can expel the poyson and asswage the pain and anguish and make the Conscience first pure and after peaceable 4. Christ gives rest unto them that labour and are heavy laden Matth. 11. 28. Many are the burthens of believers but he commands them to cast all their burthens upon him and he promises to sustain them The curse of the Law is a burthen but Christ redeems them from the curse of the Law being himself made a curse for them Gal. 3. 13. They groan under the dominion of sin the bondage of corruption but the Son of God pulls down sins dominion and makes them free indeed Their poverty and emptiness causes them to sigh and complain but Christ Jesus unlocks his unsearchable riches which are superabundantly sufficient to replenish them And he that commands the rich in this world to be ready to distribute to be willing to communicate surely himself will in no wise be a Niggard of his spiritual Treasures 5. Christ succours those he saves in their temptation In the hour of temptation they very much need his pitty and aid and they have both Dido in Virgil spake thus to the Trojans who were cast upon her Coasts Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco I that have endured misery my self know how tâ— compassionate and succour the miserable Our Lord himself he had experience of temptations and he will relieve those that are assaulted as he was Hark to the Apostle Heb. 2. 18. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he knows how to succour them that are tempted He knows that believers enemies are above their match that sin and the world and the God of it would be too hard for them therefore his own Power doth rest upon them which brings them out of the field more then Conquerours The Application follows USE 1. If our Lord be so compassionate hereby Faith may be marveliously encouraged How safely and gladly may a Soul venture it self in the hands of such an one Those are unacquainted with his Bowels that entertain hard thoughts concerning him Why art thou cast down O desponding spirit Why art thou so much disquieted Why doest thou credit the unreasonable suggestions of the Wicked one Though he be the Father of lyes yet a greater lye he never tells then when he doth perswade thee that Christ is unwilling to receive them that see their need of him and long after him 1. If he weep over the obstinate do ye think he will be hard-hearted to the penitent If he stretch forth his hands all the day long to the disobedient and gainsaying will not his Arms be open to embrace the obedient and complying If he goes into the far Country to seek thee when he has inclined thy heart to come home will he shut the door against thee 2. Consider for the encouragement of faith That tâ—â—se compassions of Christ do far transcend and exceed all human mercies A Mothers bowels do yern especially towards her sucking Infant and yet even these are Marble compared with the bowels of Christ Hark how Zion is reproved for her hard surmises Isai 49. 14 15. But Zion hath said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb Yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee How unwilling is a Mother to bring forth Children for the Murtherer And much more unwilling is this Saviour that any Soul which is desirous to be sanctified and saved should become the Devils prey 3. Consider His compassions are joyned with such a fulness that there is nothing miserable sinners need but out of this fulness they may have abundant supply Our Lord hath power as well as pitty why then should we not trust in him and go to him at all times since his power shews him so able and his pitty proves him so willing to relieve and save USE II. Since Christ is so compassionate surely 't is unreasonable to quarrel at and refuse to submit unto his yoak The yoak of such a merciful one must needs be granted an easie yoak and his burthen a light burthen Matth.
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
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
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
not have any great affection for him But where the Lord turns away his wrath the stream of his love doth run amain The time of our reconcilation and returning is called a time of love And this love is the more to be admired because it finds us in our bloud which makes us deserve loathing it finds no beauty no comeliness at all in us but what it puts upon us The Apostle speaks of rich mercy and great love which the reconciled have an interest in Ephes 2. 4 5. But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved This love of God is exceeding liberal it sets open his fulness which is so all-sufficient and we may come and take what we need at pleasure And as they who are at peace with God have an interest in his love so this love doth enkindle love in them to him again The unreasonable enmity of their hearts against God is cured the soul lifts up it self to God Psal 25. 1. which before very unreasonably doated upon the world and much more unreasonably upon its own lusts 3. Peace with God implies the establishment of a sure and everlasting Covenant between him and us As the Lord makes this Covenant so he makes over himself in this Covenant He becomes ours and he takes us for his own Ezek. 16 8. Nâ—w when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakedness yea I sware unto thee and entred into Covenant with thee and thou becamest mine This Covenant is styled the Covenant of peace The Lord being once a friend will never become an enemy he will be merciful to the unrighteousness of them that are in Covenant with him and as he hath engaged not to leave and forsake them so he hath promised to put his love and fear into their hearts that they shall not leave and forsake him they are apt to be unstedfast 't is well they have to do with a God that is faithful and changeth not to this is owing their perseverance and their blessedness That 's a sweet place Isai 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Oh that our hearts were but set to study this Covenant of our God! How precious how sutable are the Promises of it We are guilty defiled troubled weak and lost creatures but in this Covenant Pardon the Spirit Peace strengthening Grace and eternal Salvation are made over And he that hath promised can as easily perform as promise Nay Christ hath confirmed this Covenant by his death so that it cannot be altered Our Lord at his death engaged his Father to be a Friend unto all that did or should believe in him and therefore that he will be a sure and never failing Friend may securely be built upon 4. Peace with God implies his taking us into a new and near relation to himself He makes us his Children and surely then we shall abide in his house for ever He not only sayes I will be a God to you but also I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. Well may we wonder with the Apostle 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! Those who are at peace with God are espoused unto Jesus Christ unto such a Bill of divorce shall never be given And as Christ becomes their Husband and God their Father so they consent to carry it like Children to love and fear the Lord in a child-like manner to follow fully and hard after him they are willing to be faithful unto Christ and to be subject unto his commands which are far from being grievous 5. Peace with God implies freedom of access to him Those who proudly harden themselves in sin the Lord beholds them afar off but he is nigh to those whose peace is made such are invited not only to come but to come with boldness to the Throne of Grace and mercy and grace to help shall not be denied them Heb. 4. ult They may without discouragement approach to God and tell him of their temptations He is ready to succour them they may tell him of their weakness he is ready to strengthen them with might in their inward man they may tell him of the distempers which they are burthen'd with he is ready to heal them they may spread their desires before him he is ready to fulfil the desire of the humble Psal 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear And as the Soul whose peace is made hath freedom of access to God so God hath freedom of access unto the soul When Christ knocks the heart opens when the Spirit moves he doth prevail when God comes to dwell the heart yields it self to be his Temple and habitation and how much hereby is the soul dignified and advanced The sinner is no longer foolishly stubborn he denies the Lord nothing when he requires his heart his desire his love none of these shall be kept back any longer from him 6. Peace with God implies fellowship and communion with him There is a kind of a commonness between God and them that are reconciled to him whatever is in God is theirs because God is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11. 16. They have an interest and propriety in his Power and Wisdom and Mercy and fulness and they are sensible of the blessed effects of these and other of the Lords Attributes God having given them himself what will he refuse to communicate He is ever manifesting himself and bestowing those blessings upon them which Aliens never do receive He deals not towards them with a sparing hand the promise runs thus Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it Psal 81. 10. And this is certain that the more open our mouths are the more open will the hand of God be Thus you see what Peace above what Peace with God is In the next place I am to speak of Peace within 'T is natural to man to be his own enemy and tormentor He that was possessed with unclean spirits 't is said no man could bind him no not with chains but he was in the Tombs and Mountains crying and cutting himself with stones Mar. 5. 5. In like manner a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the power of the Air worketh will not be bound will not be hindred from doing his soul harm those cords of restraint that the Word casts upon him he breaks asunder and casts away he is
quake at him and the hills melt and the earth is burnt at his presence yea the world and all that dwell therein who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger his fury is poured out like fire and the rocks are thrown down by him Surely that heart is worse then rocky which doth not tremble before him 4. He can engage all the creatures against you He is the Maker and also the great Commander of the Host of Heaven and Earth The Angels are ready press'd for his service and to do his will all the Devils are at his beck and forward to be the Executioners when he hath pass'd an angry sentence The Thunder and the Lightning say unto him Here we are The stormy Wind doth fulfill his words Nay the smallest and most inconsiderable creatures he can render dreadful and tame the proudest by them And since he is Jehova Exercituum the Lord of such Armies Oh do not enter into battel with him 5. He hath access unto your very spirits and can wound and fill your souls with horrour When the Lord impressed his anger upon the heart of Judas how restless was he though a covetous man he flings away his silver that would not ease him his life is a burthen and with his own hands he puts an end to it A wounded spirit who can bear and wounds there the Lord can give you 6. His power will reach his enemies in the next world Nay then his hand will be heaviest of all God will lay on load upon his adversaries and not in the least spare them His patience will then be at an end his goodness totally and eternally withdrawn and how low then will his vengeance weigh them down Such an enemy the Lord is and this is one argument to perswade you to peace 2. Be mindful of the dependance you have upon him In him you live and move and have your being and if he should withdraw his visitation your life would presently conclude and vanish And is it safe or a wise part in you to provoke that God to be your enemy in whose hand your breath is and who can take it out of your nostrils when he pleaseth He can loose the silver cord he can break the golden bowl and require your souls at your hands without giving you an hours or a minutes warning Whosoever you fall out with methinks you should get and keep in with God for 't is his patience and mercy which keeps you out of the grave and hell of both which by reason of sin you are in great danger 3. The condescension and stooping of God is admirably great in beseeching such as you to be reconciled And shall he intreat in vain Shall the malefactour be beseeched to accept of a pardon and refuse it That is a text that should work upon the most refractory 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now then we are Embassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God What is it come to this doth God beseech and Christ pray that we who are so mean and so vile would be friends and shall we continue rebels O earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord for the impenitent then the earth or stones are much more stupid To slight the proffer of mercy and to disobey the command to come for it is both a fault and a folly inexcusable but to be deaf to intreaties is worst of all this goes nearest unto God when his condescension and kindness is disregarded and abused and upon this abuse the greater contempt and anger and hatred must needs follow 4. Consider what kind of friend the Lord is I might be large in describing his excellencies which they who are acquainted with him see and admire Three things at present I shall mention 1. God is such a friend whose love is transcendent That sweet name which is as an oyntment poured forth he calls himself by The God of love and peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. Nay he is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love in the abstract 1 John 4. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Whatever returns of love we make those returns fall infinitely short of the love of God from whence they come Indeed it is as possible to equal him in strength in wisdom or any other of his perfections as to equal him in love Oh let this love of God be as a loadstone to draw yours and as a whetstone to sharpen it 2. God is such a friend whose fulness can never be exhausted The Sun although it hath shined ever since the Creation yet 't is as full of light as ever it was And though the Lord hath supplyed the wants of all them whom he hath made his friends from the beginning yet his stock and store is not at all diminished His wisdom is never posed in their greatest difficulties when believers know not what to do and their eyes are unto him he knows what to do for them His power can raise them out of the lowest deep his all-sufficiency can give to the uttermost of their desires nay exceedingly more then it hath entred into their hearts to desire or conceive Who in his wits would not leave a vain world and deceitful lusts to come to such a friend as God hath alwayes shewed himself to be 3. God is such a friend as will last when all other friends fail He is the Lord who changes not He can as soon cease to be as cease to be faithful and the faithfulness of God towards his friends will make them also faithful he will not turn away from them and he will hold them fast that they shall not depart from him The Lord is most constant the Ordinances of the Sun and Moon and Stars are not so immutable as the Promises he hath made Men of low degree are vanity men of high degree are a lye Psal 62. 9. But God is true Wealth may take wings and fly away prosperity may vanish so as to be forgotten flesh and heart may fail but the Lord will be a friend and a portion for ever Oh consent to be reconciled since such a friend hereby will be gained 5. Consider If God be at peace with you he will shield you from all other adversaries he will wrest those weapons out of your own hands whereby you endeavoured your own destruction he will give a deaths wound to sin that it shall not be your death And though the world and the God of the world fight against you they shall not be able to prevail Nay their very enmity shall befriend you and God will turn to good what they do mean for evil 'T is admirable to consider how the adversaries of the Lords people though they have the intension of enemies yet are forced to act like friends and do a kindness unto Saints by those means whereby they thought to have injured and
God doth draw us to himself by his own strength we shall never close with him but still continue at a distance and enmity Your neck is so much like an iron sinew that a less strength then that of God is insufficient to bow it to his yoak Desire therefore that this arm may be revealed whereby your naturally stubborn spirits may be made tractable and obedient 6. Resolve to cover and keep nothing whereby the Lord hath been provoked He that covereth his sins shall not prosper And as sin which is the cause of war must be forsaken so you must leave the tents of Rebels you must shake off your acquaintance with them that are the Lords profess'd enemies and become companions of those that fear him USE III. Of Advice to those whose peace is made Endeavour after an assurance of it Be restless while it may be question'd whether God be your friend or whether he be your foe His favour is a thing of so great value of such sweetness and will have so great an influence as that it better deserves to be ensured then those things of the world uncertainty about which doth so much torture the worldly minded Here I shall first Lay down some signs of that peace which is true Secondly Some arguments to perswade believers to endeavour after an assurance of peace The Signs are these 1. True peace follows after contrition and trouble for sin Thou art at peace but wast thou ever troubled if not 't were well if thy peace were gone and trouble in the room of it Thou art troubled at thy temporal losses and when thy expectation from the creatures is frustrated affliction also is troublesom and acknowledg'd an evil but were thine eyes open to see the evil of sin was thy heart ever troubled for it If guilt be made light of if future punishment be not thought on nor feared if thou art unsensible that sin is a plague and 't is not noysom to thee if thy offending of God be the smallest matter of a thousand as long as thou feelest nothing of his hand certainly thou wast never broken and so thy peace is not thy priviledg but thy punishment Christ was annointed to bind up the broken-hearted and to comfort thâ—se who first have mourned Isai 61. 1. and those who have true rest given them were first weary and heavy laden 2. True peace is the fruit of the lips Isai 57. 9. I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is far off and to him that is near Peace is called the fruit of the lips partly because 't is obtained by prayer partly because 't is grounded upon the Gospel which is preached to us Where true peace is there hath been a crying and lifting up the voice for it Oh what importunities have been used that the Lord would cease to be an adversary what wrestlings for his favour and friendship This peace hath been valued above all the world and the soul hath been contented to do any thing to be any thing so it may be at peace with God True peace is likewise grounded upon the word 't is a peace not of our own but of the Lords speaking Psal 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace to his people and to his Saints but let them not turn again to folly And when he speaks peace who then can make trouble The word discovers the marks and characters of such as are indeed reconciled unto God and become his children that they prize the Lord Jesus above all 1 Pet. 2. 7. that they hunger and thirst after holiness and righteousness Matth. 5. 6. that they love and fear and are desirous to follow their Father Ephes 5. 1. And the Spirit by the Word doth work these gracious qualities and inclinations in our hearts and discovers that he hath wrought them and so we come to conclude that we are indeed reconciled 3. True peace is joyned with the spiritual combat The Spirit lusts against the flesh in all those who are reconciled unto God There is a war with sin where-ever there is a peace with God If any of our lusts which are both the Lords enemies and our own too are winked at and provision is made for them that they may be fulfilled we plainly shew we are still alienated from him But if the remainders of corruption if that evil which is present with us be our burthen and makes us cry out O wretched as we are Rom. 7. 24. and we would esteem it one of the greatest happinesses to be eased of that sin that dwells in us this shews evidently that with our minds we serve the Law of God that we are in Christ Jesus and there is no condemnation to us Rom. 7. 25. and 8. 1. I grant that in a wicked man there may be a combat between his will and his conscience Conscience may check and reproach him for what his will hath a strong propension towards But the combat between the flesh and Spirit is another thing Here the very heart and will is renewed holiness is longed after sin not only because of its guilt but because of its filth a burthen and the heart is desirous that conscience were more awakened that it might exercise greater power and cause a greater restraint from what is evil whereas the desire of unrenewed ones is that conscience when troubled may be husht asleep that so sin may be committed without any remorse 4. True peace is inconsistent with careless walking A Child of God who hath attained unto peace if he grows loose and begins to live at random presently his peace withers and conscience grudges and is unsatisfied especially if temptation to sin that hath more of presumption doth prevail Canst thou omit thy duty canst thou be proud and peevish canst thou be excessive in thy recreations canst thou be unwatchful over thy heart and words and wayes and yet thy peace not at all abate Assure thy self thy peace is but a meer delusion The quicknings of the Spirit may be without the comforts but never the comforts without the quicknings If thou grievest the Spirit by thy lukewarmness and formality to withdraw his assistance and to leave thee under deadness and thy peace still remains that peace is not the Spirits fruit but thy own hearts presumption Thus of the signs of peace Now follows the arguments to perswade unto endeavours after assurance that your peace is made 1. Assurance of peace will inflame your hearts with love How will the fire kindle and your hearts burn within you when you perceive that you even you in particular have an interest in that love which passes knowledge that God hath had thoughts of kindness and mercy towards you before the foundation of the world was laid and that as his love is from everlasting so to everlasting it will endure 1 John 4. 19. We love him sayes the Apostle because he first loved us And this manifestation