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.
Though the command of Christ be express to search the Scriptures Jeh 5. 39. Though the Apostle Paul sayes Let th◠Word dwell in you richly Colos 3. 16. Though Timothy from his childhood wa◠admitted to and made acquainted with the Scriptures which made him wise t◠salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. Though Chrysostom with whom the other Fathers generally as to this particular agree doth tell us Hom. 9. in Epist ad Col. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That all evils are caused by the Scriptures ignorance Yet unto how many under Popery are the Scriptures denied It was thus in this our Land not many scores of years ago Romish darkness as thick here as in other places But now the Bushel is taken off from the Lamp of the Word all may be enlightned and directed by it which foolishly shut not their eyes against it You have the Word in your houses in your hands oh that it were in more heads and hearts You may daily have recourse to this Word for counsel for quickning and comfort and if you will but give up your selves to it that Promise shall assuredly be fulfilled Prov. 6. 22. When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee when thou awakest it shall talk with thee As the Word doth guide and guard them that entertain it so it talks with them it tells them of such things as draw forth their desires inflame their love put them upon labour and fill them with unspeakable joy 2. You have this Word opened and applied by the ministry of the Gospel Ministers are yet with you and that 's a great priviledge for with them Christ hath promised to be alwayes to the end of the world Matth. 28. ult 'T is their business to divide the Word and to give to every one his portion They foresee the storm and warn the wicked to turn and fly unto a place of refuge they encourage those who have true though but weak grace and shew how those Promises and Comforts which they hear of belong to them though they are so apt to thrust them away from themselves Ministers they do both bind and loose they bind the impenitent and unbelieving sinner under the curse under wrath and he is bound in Heaven for the sentence that the Gospel passes upon him is in Heaven ratified But if the impenitent soul is broken mourns for sin loaths it leaves it if the unbelieving sinner which before rejected Christ receives him then Ministers have commission to loose him whom before they bound and he is loosed in Heaven whom the Word declares justified to be sure the God of Heaven hath acquitted And truly Ministers bind with this design that afterwards they may loose they denounce threats that sinners being awakened and contrite they may apply the Promises These Ambassadours of Christ come and intreat you to be reconciled unto God and as they inform you upon what articles he will be at peace with you so they use many arguments to work upon your consciences and affections they will not let you alone in your vanity but Sabbath after Sabbath cry to you and tell you that when you rush into sin you rush into a battel and 't is against that great God who must needs be too hard for you Who ever fought with him and got any thing but blows wounds and death Who ever hardned himself against him and prospered Job 9. 4. They are ever commending Jesus Christ to you and declaring how able and how willing he is to save you and how certain you are to be damn'd without him And is it not a priviledge to be thus importuned for your own good to have blessedness and life in a manner obtruded and forc'd upon you Now Messengers of Peace are sent in this Day of Grace now glad tidings are brought that God is willing to be reconciled but when once you come to the Region of darkness below such tidings will never come to your ears more The greatness of this priviledge to enjoy the Word will further appear if the admirable effects of the Word of God are duly considered 1. The Word of God doth make the simple wise Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Those whom Satan before befool'd putting them off with husks instead of what is solid and satisfying are by the Word made too wise for this subtle Serpent Now they are undeceived and perceive how little fruit they have had of their evil works therefore they are ashamed of them and of their own folly in giving way to them The Word discovers the pearl of price to them and makes them wise Merchants they sell all to purchase it This wisdom which the Word infuses is not of this world nor of the Princes of this world which come to nought 1 Cor. 2. 6. The great ones of the earth may be prudent in chusing and ordering the means for the attaining of the end which they aim at but in the choice of their end they discover the greatest simplicity All that greatness and glory which they design and themselves also will come to nought Death will certainly and speedily contract all their honour and power and cover it with those two words Hic jacet Here it all lies buried But the wisdom which the Word imparts makes us to look higher at a better and more enduring substance at an inheritance which never fades away And the Word shews how by sanctification we may be prepared for that inheritance and those who are made meet to be so shall at length be made partakers of it While the Day of Grace lasteth thou mayst be made wise to salvation but if this be not improved in the greatness of thy folly thou shalt go astray and dye without instruction Prov. 5. 23. 2. This Word doth raise the dead to life That Voice Arise ye dead and come to Jesus must needs be powerful since upon it follows the first Resurrection John 5. 25. Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live At the hearing of this Word of God the Conscience which was before stupid is startled the heart that was all of stone becomes a heart of flesh it is tender and sensible it feels the weight of sin and of the curse and longs to be freed from both though before it matter'd neither A new principle of grace is put into the Soul whereby it is inclined towards God and acts for him The Lord is breathed after and there is a desire to please him now as there was formerly to please the flesh by fulfilling the lusts of it O dismal state to lye dead in sin to be senseless and unconcern'd under such a load But that 's a life indeed to be alive to God And while this day of salvation continues thou maist be questioned but if this be lost the second
death will be thy portion and then Life will be eternally farre from thee 3. This Word doth cleanse those defilements which nothing in the world can do away The Word of God is compared to fire and to an hammer as an hammer it breaks the rocky heart and then as fire it melts the heart and from its dross doth purifie it John 15. 3. Now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken to you In the Word as in a glass we may behold the abominable filthiness and vile ingratitude that is in sin and also the beauty of holiness is presented to our eye no wonder then if the former be abhorr'd the latter desired Besides the Word holds forth a Promise from the Lord himself to make the sinner clean and that from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit Ezek. 36. 25. 2 Cor. 7. 1. The Day of Grace is a day of healing now thou mayst be purged and cured of thy spiritual plagues but if this season be neglected thou wilt dye of them 5. This Word doth afford such peace and joy as the creatures cannot yield Corn and Wine and Oyl cannot yield such true comfort Hark to David Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart In sensual mirth the heart is sad misgives and is unsatisfied but the Word makes the very heart joyful In the Word we may see at present the reconciled face of God the frowns and other signs of anger gone and it speaks plainly of fuller manifestations and infinitely greater pleasures which are reserved for hereafter and the lively hopes of these which are so near as well as sure and glorious may well make the heart to leap for joy 5. This Word is able to build up those who are converted and to bring them safe unto their Country 'T is a means to increase the grace which 't is a means to work As it is the incorruptible seed whereby we are regenerated and begotten again so it is the milk wherewith we grow and thrive in holiness Act. 20. 32. I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified I might add That even those whom the Word doth not savingly change yet it prevails upon many times a great way it brings them near to the Kingdom and 't is their own fault that they miss of it And seeing the Word of God hath such effects that the enjoyment of it is a great priviledge is without controversie 2. Another priviledge of the Day of Grace is the presence of the Spirit The Word and all other Ordinances without the Spirit are but like the carcass without the soul He makes the Word quick and powerful and sharper then a two-edged Sword which also would be found but a dead and inefficacious letter 'T is observed concerning the hotter Climates that when the Sun is up and begins to shine and scorch more vehemently there is also a wind arises to fan and cool the dwellers there else those Regions would be uninhabitable In like manner where the Sun of the Gospel shines there is the wind of the Spirit and these his gales how refreshing how powerful are they The accâ—sses of the Spirit are much to be observed and esteemed without his concurrence no advantage will be reaped by all the means of grace we use If the several operations of the Spirit are consider'd 't will be very evident what a priviledge of the Day of Grace this is to enjoy his presence 1. 'T is the work of the Spirit to convince Though the secure ones of the world had rather be let alone to sleep on and cannot endure to be jogged by conviction yet these convictions are great mercies What the Spirit doth convince the world of our Lord informs us John 16. 8. And when he is come he will reprove or convince the world of sin of righteousness and of judgment of sin because they believe not on me of righteousness because I go to the Father and ye see me no more of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged The Spirit convinces men of sin he shews the evil in it and the danger of it and among other sins that grand one of unbelief that is to say their rejecting Christ so long and slighting and refusing the remedy he proffers is in a special manner set home upon their hearts to their affliction and humbling He convinces likewise of righteousness as well as of sin He discovers the righteousness of Christ whereby all sin may be covered and this righteousness appears to be compleat and accepted because Christ is gone to his Father Christ undertook by his sufferings to satisfie for our offences and if the satisfaction had not been full he would never have been rid of the curse which sin being imputed to him was laid upon him neither would his righteous Father have suffered him to have sit down in the Throne with him But now since he is gone to his Father and set down in the Throne we may conclude he hath paid the utmost farthing of our debt and through him the Father is ready to shew grace and favour to us And if the conviction and sight of sin cast down the discovery of this righteousness may again revive 'T is a happiness to see our scores since we are shew'd a way how to have them all cross'd were it not for the sight of the one we should never mind the other Again the Spirit doth convince of Judgment By Judgment we may understand the condemnation of the impenitent and unbelieving who though they are convinced of sin continue in sin and though Christ be proffer'd still refuse to embrace him The Prince of this world is judged and condemned and shall these who sin against a remedy which the Devil never did escape No certainly God who spared not the Angels which sinned but cast them down to hell knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2 4 9. Or else by Judgment we may understand the Government and Kingdom of Jesus Christ All power is given to him and Judgment committed into his hand Satan the Prince of this world is already cast out and overcome And if he hath spoiled principalities and powers certainly all his foes will be made his footstool Well then it highly concerns all to submit unto the Scepter of Christ since else they will be dash'd in pieces by him And in this Day of Grace Christ is ready to pass by former rebellions if you now will become obedient to him 2. 'T is the work of the Spirit to renew 'T is a difficult matter to change an heart that is so unconceivably wicked as mans is and yet the Spirit doth effect this change he shews his mighty power in causing a vehement love to be turned into a
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
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
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
be spared a few years or moneths or weeks longer Oh call time again I never saw thy worth till now If I might be again recover'd and restored oh how often would I pray and how earnestly would I cry for mercy and grace how carefully would I hear and practise But this I should have done before 't is now too late to think and there he stops his thread is cut asunder his soul flyes away and leaves his body a clod of earth And now Brethren are your hearts still mastered 'T is to be hoped concerning the worst in this Congregation that their day is not quite gone but who knows whether this may not be the last hour and if now you will not your own spirits may be quickly required of you or Gods Spirit may depart from you You will wish at last as others have done that the day of salvation had been valued let it therefore be no more neglected 5. Consider If you will not improve the Day of Grace you can reasonably expect nothing but a day of wrath When mercy hath acted its part towards ungodly ones and being still refused makes its Exit then fury and indignation enters upon the stage but of that traged there will be no end Whole eternity will be taken up in feeling the effects of divine displeasure and in bewailing the loss of that Day of Grace wherein this anger might have been appeased I have done with the second Doctrine Doct. 3. The third follows To know in this Day of Grace the things which belong to our peace is our great happiness and wisdom If Jerusalem had been thus wise she would not have been as she was rejected If thou hadst known sayes Christ The defective speech is thus to be made up If the things of thy peace had been understood by thee O Jerusalem thy state would have been as happy as now 't is woful instead of being cut off thou wouldst have been still as near to God and as dear as ever instead of having his wrath poured out upon thee to the uttermost that mercy which hath been so often proffer'd had assuredly been bestowed if thou hadst not foolishly shut thy eyes so as not to see either the value or thy own need of mercy A text somewhat parallel to this we have Isai 48. 17 18. Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee â—o profit which leadeth thee by the way which thou shouldest go Oh that thou â—â—dst hearkened to my commandments â—hen had thy peace been as a river and thy â—ighteousness as the waves of the Sea In the prosecution of this Doctrine â— shall first open to you the nature of â—eace Secondly manifest what are the â—hings which belong to our peace Thirdly confirm the doctrine Fourthly apply it In the first place I am to open to you â—he nature of peace This is a subject no less profitable then pleasant Dulce nomen pacis the name of peace hath a sweet sound Peace implies a blessed conjunction between heaven and earth between the Creator and us his creatures and which follows hereupon a satisfaction and quietness in our hearts so that those disturbances and disorders which were caused by sin are becalmed and regulated The first of these namely Agreement with Heaven is the principally intended peace which Christ speaks of but the other namely Quietness within follows upon this and is the superstructure upon this foundation I shall therefore first explain the nature of Peace above and afterwards of Peace within 1. There is a Peace with God above When I speak of peace with God 't is supposed that by nature God and we are at variance and sin is the make-bate between God and man Sin is a thing that not only causes commotions and tumults here below therefore saith the Apostle From whence comes war and fightings among you comes it not hence even of your lusts that war in your members Jam. 4. 1. but it also sets Heaven and Earth at odds it so besots the potsherds of the earth that they venture to contend with him that is their Maker and who can easily dash them all in pieces Sin hath set us at a vast distance from God and is continually thrusting us further from him yet we may have peace if we will indeed return to him Though we have provoked him to be an enemy yet he is not such an enemy as is irreconcileable Hark what language he utters Isai 27. 4 5. Fury is not in me let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Peace with God is here promised God himself is ready to strengthen us that we may make peace with him and the more abundantly to encourage us he sayes Fury is not in me that is towards them who are willing to be reconciled and to rebel no more he is not at all furious but gracious and easie to be intreated though their awakened and fearful hearts are prone to imagine the Lord is made up all of anger This Peace with God several thingâ— are implied in it 1. Peace with God implies the removal of his wrath All sin is pardon'â— and done away in the bloud of Christ and guilt being cover'd the Lords anger ceases for sin is the only provocation to him See how these are joyned the forgiveness of sin and the taking away of wrath Psal 85. 2 3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah Thou hast takeâ— away all thy wrath thou hast turned thy self from the fierceness of thine anger The flaming sword is removed and the Lord sayes Draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you We read as of a Gulph fixed between God and damned spirits so of a middle wall of partition between God and unregenerate sinners the former namely the Gulph indeed cannot be passed thorow but the latter the middle wall may be broken down and 't is broken down when our peace is made His wrath abides on those that will not believe that refuse to be reconciled but his anger ceases towards them who believe and yield to him Thrice happy they who are eased of such a load as the wrath of God! Speak O ye troubled Consciences is not this anger your greatest trouble and that which makes the deepest wounds Speak O Hells Inhabitants is not divine wrath a punishment too heavy for you to bear is not this the weight which sinks you lowest in the bottomless pit Finally hear what Christ spake when he felt the displeasure of his Father My Soul sayes he is exceeding sorrowful even unto death Well may they rejoyce who through Jesus are freed from this displeasure 2. Peace with God implies an interest in his love His love is every whit as great towards those who are at peace with him as before his wrath was We may cease to be angry with another and yet
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
when we cherish those lusts that war against our own souls The Vipers off-spring do eat out the Vipers bowels and sinful lusts in like manner will destroy at last those in whom they are bred and foster'd Oh let us all be reconciled to our selves and not continue any longer the greatest accessories to our own misery I have shewed now what Peace is In the second place I am to manifest what are the things which belong unto our peace 'T is in the Gospel that these things are revealed which therefore is called the Gospel of Peace Rom. 10. 15. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Herein is contained an Embassage of reconciliation The God of peace proclaims to the world what an inclination he hath to be a friend and a Saviour to the children of men and informs them upon what articles a peace shall be made and established between him and them The Law of Nature is here silent the Heathens by the light of that could never find out the way how Divine Justice may be satisfied and an attonement for sin made Nay the written Law of God speaks not a word concerning it The Law teacheth our duty convinceth of transgression thunders out curses against transgressours and they would be left under the curse if the Gospel did not tell them how to be redeemed from it and how Grace and Mercy and Peace may be obtained There are three things which the Gospel reveals concerning our peace 1. Who is the Mediatour or Peace-maker Jesus Christ 2. What are the conditions of this Peace 3. How we may attain to an assurance of it 1. One thing which we must know concerning our peace is Who is the Mediatour or Peace-maker between God and men and he is Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5 6. For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time Here it was that Jerusalem was ignorant a cruclfied Messiah though his crucifixion was necessary to his making of our peace they hid their faces from and disesteemed Christ crucified was to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness but to them that are reconciled and saved he is the power of God and the wisdom of God Hence 't is that the Apostle resolves to know nothing besides him All things that are revealed in Scripture must be known with relation to Christ else our knowledge will be uncomfortable and without advantage What good will it do us to hear that God is gracious and merciful unless in Christ he be reconciled what good to be informed of heaven and glory unless Christ who hath the Key of David do open the door that we may enter What good to hear of the Promises unless in Christ they be Yea and Amen to the glory of God Finally what will it benefit us to hear of the priviledges of the Gospel unless through Christ we are admitted to them There is an excellency in the knowledge of Christ our Peace-maker in comparison of which the Apostle counted all things but loss and dung Phil. 3. 8. Christ Jesus is our Peace-maker by a threefold means His Satisfaction his Intercession and the communication of his benefits 1. Christ Jesus is our Peace maker by means of his satisfaction For the iniquity of his people was he smitten and the chastisement of their peace was laid upon him He was sent on purpose to be a propitiation 1 John 4. 10. Herein is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins Christ is said to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles unto God by the bloud of his Cross and to have slain the enmity thereby Corruptible things as silver and gold were insufficient but the bloud of Christ was a sufficient price for our redemption We may conceive such a kind of dialogue as this between Justice and Christ and Man who hath offended 1. Divine Justice thus begins Bring forth the Soul which hath sinned that it may dye A righteous Law hath been broken and 't is but righteous that the curse should be inflicted Here are not one or two but thousands of sins upon record Now therefore I am resolved to whet my glittering sword and my hand shall immediately take hold on vengeance and I 'll make the sinner know to his cost what 't is to provoke the Lord to jealousie 2. Christ answers Hold Justice stay thy hand those sins thou speakest of they are transferred unto another therefore the Soul must not dye that 's guilty of them The debt is great but I undertake to pay it all where thou art wronged it shall be put wholly on my account I am resolved to be the sinners Surety I am content to be made sin for him though I knew none though I never was my self in the least guilty 3. Unto this Justice replyes Then O thou Son of God I must sheath my sword in thy bowels I must wound and bruise and afflict thee where ever I find sin though but imputed I can't forâ—ear to punish it 4. Christ answers again Do Justice strike and spare not I am willing to be wounded that the sinners wounds may be closed and cured I am willing to dye that be may live I am willing to undergo the curse that he may receive the blessing even life for evermore 5. Upon this the sinner wonders and cryes out Oh love that passeth knowledge My Lord my Saviour since thou hast given thy life a ransom for me I am resolved to trust in thee and to lay the stress of my salvation on thee I expect and desire favour and pardon no other way then by thee who art both the Price and the Prince of Peace 2. Christ is our Peace-maker by means of his intercession As his satisfaction is one so his intercession is the other part of his Priestly office He seconds his sufferings by his intercession and we may be confident his intercession will be prevalent because of that love which his Father bears him and because by his sufferings he hath purchased whatever he intercedes for Christ the righteous is our Advocate with the Father 1 John 2. 1. He presents before his Father the compleatness of his satisfaction and how he hath endured the Cross and shame and drank off that whole Cup which his Father put into his hand and fulfilled all righteousness how he did and suffered all that was required of him and all this not for himself but us Whereupon the Father looks upon us with an eye of love he is pacified towards us and as he is Christs God and Father so he is ours too John 20. 17. Go tell my brethren I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Christ is our Peace-maker by the communication of his benefits He is made unto us
wisdom and then we see the way of reconciliation He is made unto us righteousness sin is no longer imputed and that quarrel which Justice had with us comes to an end He is made unto us sanctification and then the holiness of God ceases to be our enemy and we no longer hate that holiness there is a sweet agreement between our renewed nature and an holy God and his holy Law which he would have us walk according to They that are sanctified in Christ Jesus love God because of his holiness and they love the Word of God upon the same score Psal 119. 139 140. My zeal hath consumed mâ— because mine enemies have forgotten thy words Thy Word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it Finally Christ is made unto us redemption that 's a fourth benefit reckoned up by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. He makes us free indeed because he frees us from that which is slavery indeed he delivers us from the bondage of corruption and causes us to become the servants of God and righteousness Rom. 6. And now we are reconciled to Gods Soveraignty and Authority we own him as our Lord who as he hath right to rule us so 't is our honour our advancement our freedom to be ruled by him 2. As we must know who is our Peace-maker so what are the conditions of our peace 1. One condition is godly sorrow And as the Lord doth grant us peace so he himself doth work this and the other conditions of it If we will be reconciled we must mourn for our offending and provoking God to be an enemy The eye of the body can look every way but inward and shall the eye of our mind never look inward neither Were our hearts but more acquainted with themselves they would be more broken and contrite hearts How deeply is the Law of sin engraven there and this Law of sin forbids whatever the Law of God commands and commands whatever the Law of God forbids The most venemous creature is not more full of poyson then our hearts are full of enmity against the Lord and reprobateness to what is good This corruption of our nature is not a thing which hath layn dormant and idle no but as a Fountain perpetually sends forth water so from the heart proceed evils abundantly whereby the man is defiled 'T is difficult to reckon up the sins of one day or of one duty and how vast then is the total sum of our whole lives abominations Oh break hard heart for shame who hast so often broken the most equal laws and broken thorow so many obligations to obedience If thâ— offending God be made light of this will anger him more then all thy other offences 2. Another condition of our Peace is Believing When the Jaylour was under the sense of Gods anger and wrath and tortur'd with the fears of damnation and cry'd out What shall I do to be saved Paul and Silas made this answer Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 30 31. How much is faith preached up in the Gospel and unto Christ our faith is directed for 't is in him that God is well pleased and 't is through that beloved Son alone that he will be at peace and well pleased with us If we expect favour or mercy any other way but through Jesus that very expectation is sufficient to be an eternal impediment to our obtaining of either The Lord hath made Faith one great condition of our peace and salvation for two reasons 1. Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing all the glory redounds to God alone Mans boasting is utterly excluded The hand of faith is an empty hand it brings nothing along with it but it receives Christ and with him and from him freely all thâ—ngs Faith exalts Christ and abases the sinner and makes him see that he is wretched and miserable and poor and naked and that to Christ he must be beholding for every thing he must thank himself for nothing Man being thus reconciled and saved by believing his peace with God is lasting his salvation sure Rom. 4. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure Adam was at peace with God when first created but since the continuance of his peace depended upon the constancy of his obedience peace and life were soon lost by him But faith puts our peace and salvation in the hands of another in the hands of Christ he undertakes to be the finisher of our faith Heb. 12. 2. He hath promised to keep us from falling and to confirm us to the end 1 Cor. 1. 8. And the believer rests upon this word of promise which will never fail him That 's the second condition of peace believing 3. Another condition is Conversion with the whole heart to God How often doth the Spirit cry out Turn and liveâ— And though the Lord was bitterly provoked yet upon his peoples returning he promises to be pacified Jer. 3. 12. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say Return thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you for I am merciful saith the Lord and I will not keep anger for ever Our returning to him must be without delay without deceit we must not divide our hearts between him and sin between him and Mammon but we must consent to be wholly his and never to leave him any more but if through infirmity we do fall we must look unto the Lord to pity and pardon and heal and raise us To turn away from God so as not to return is inconsistent with peace Thus you know these things which are the conditions of your peace let me add Happy are ye if ye do them 3. It concerns us to know how we may attain to an assurance of Peace The soul indeed may be safe without this assurance but withall 't will be disconsolate Now 't is the Spirit who makes this discovery We read Rom. 14. 17. of peace and joy in the holy Ghost Peace and joy are the fruits of this blessed Comforter In Scripture the Saints are said to be sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption Ephes 4. 30. And their being thus sealed as it denotes their distinction from the rest of the world their being appropriated unto God and the value that is put upon them so it serves to confirm them in that perswasion That God is theirs and they are his There is indeed a privy Seal of his gracious Decree of which the Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his But afterwards when the Spirit works upon us we are sealed in a more discernable way Now the work and method of the Spirit in sealing and bringing those who are reconciled unto an assurance of peace I shall declare 1. The Spitit convinces us of
sin and misery of our worthlesness and weakness and bows our hearts to a submission to the righteousness of Christ and draws us to a closure with him 2. The Spirit sanctifies and cleanses us from the filthiness in which we wallowed and causes us to yield obedience to the commands of God Ezek. 36. 27. 3. The Spirit doth more and more stir up and increase the grace which he he hath wrought so that the actings of faith and love and hope and zeal are the more strong and sensible 4. The Spirit doth discover the truth of these graces letting us see that our hearts do prize Christ and breath after God and after a greater degree of likeness to him as the Saints in Scripture have done before us 5. Then peace and joy follows But here we must understand that this peace is twofold First more weak mixed and imperfect Secondly more ravishing glorious and triumphant 1. There is a peace more weak mixed and imperfect which is for our support and encouragement and this is common with believers when they stir up themselves and seek the Lord with their whole desire as they did 2 Chron. 15. 15. Seldom is a duty performed with our heart and might but some degree of peace and satisfaction follows the Spirit giving some intimation and raising a secret hope that God through Christ doth accept of us Oh who would not labour since there is such peace and rest attends it 2. There is a peace more ravishing glorious and triumphing How brightly doth the light of Gods countenance then shine upon us How sweet is that love the sense of which the Spirit sheds abroad in the heart Rom. 5. 5. What confidence have we then in God! How do we admire the richness of his grace how low are we in our own eyes being astonished that such vile creatures should be so advanced How do we then despise the worlds delights and the pleasures of sin How forward are we to obey and to walk in all Ordinances blameless How undaunted at danger and at death which will but increase our pleasures sending us much nearer to the Lord then here we are capable of approaching Thus 't is by the Spirit that peace is spoken to us and if we would attain to this peace we must heed the Spirits counsels we must readily close with his motions we must gladly accept of his help and assistance we must give up our selves unto his guidance In the third place follow the reasons of the Doctrine Why to know the things of our peace is our great happiness and wisdom The reasons are these 1. Because a true knowledge of these things will be practical and industrious It will very much affect the heart and quicken diligence in seeking peace before it be too late A right understanding of it will hinder a business of such eternal consequence from being any longer neglected by us 2. Because of the evil which unavoidably follows if of the things which concern our peace we are ignorant The ignorant soul is wretchedly careless it matters not whether God be a friend or foe â—s if his loving kindness were not to be â—alued as if his wrath were not to be â—eared and at last the soul misses of merâ—y which it doth not regard and falls â—uddenly and irrecoverably into the pit â—f destruction which it dreams not of â—or endeavours to prevent Now follows the Application USE I. Of Instruction There are two great lessons which we may learn from this Doctrine 1. One lesson is this That believers are the wisest and happiest souls for the things of their peace are understood by them Those things which are hid from the prudent of the world are unto these discover'd I know they are accounted children aâ—â— babes by the carnally minded but in the end they will be found to have had â—â— all others the greatest foresight the faithest reach the truest understanding Matth. 11. 25 26. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hâ—â— hid these things from the wise and prâ—dent and hast revealed them unto babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thâ— sight Peace is a thing which all seek after but most are mistaken in judging whaâ— is peace and are wofully deceived in thâ— way to it Only the believer hits righâ— for he is lead by a Guide that leads onlâ— into truth 'T is indeed found by experience thaâ— endeavours are used to blind and deceive the believer himself but he is too wise to be put off with peace and happiness only in shew Many things do proffer peace to him 1. Pleasures do use this charming language What is it O man which thou seekest for Is it quiet and satisfaction 〈…〉 taste the sweetness which gratifying thy senses will afford Is it not fine â— gâ—â—â—ter in silk and silver bravely to be â—lothed in purple and fine linnen and to presumptuously and deliciously every day Who are more free from care and trouble â—â—en those who chaunt to the sound of the â—â—ol who drink wine in bowls who eat limbs out of the flock and calves out of â—â—e midst of the stall and after lay them down upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches Come come away with needless scruples indulge unto thy appetite please thy senses whatever thy eys desire withhold not from them and quench thy longing flame in Dalilah's â—â—braces Unto this the believing soul replyes Death is climbing up at the windows the Judge standeth before the door Eternity is just at hand and O all ye sensual pleasures can you last any longer then a short season Where is the Glutton that fared deliciously that had as much as heart could wish Is he not tormented in the flames Oh deceitful pleasures which cheat men of eternal joys and drill them along to endless torments 2. Wealth and worldly greatness do also make big offers Wouldst thou O Man have peace then seek a great estate joyn house to house and field to field let thy coffers be cram'd with silver and gold endeavour to be somebody in the world Doest thou not know how many eyes how much respect riches and honour will draw after thee Let this be thy aim to live iâ— plenty and esteem and to leave a name behind thee Unto this also the believing soul answers To expect peace and contentation from worldly abundance is as absurd as tâ— hope to sleep quietly in a bed of thorns Who ever attained to greater earthly glory then Solomon whose treasures did ever more abound yet he himself disgraces aâ—â— his own wealth and honour by calling them Vanity and vexation of spirit 3. At last the Lord calls to the Believer and thus speaks to him Is it happiness O man which thou art searching after Look unto me who am the God of love and peace The creatures have but empty breasts are but broken cisterus but I have store of living waters to quench
destroyed them Just as Joseph's brethren when they would hinder his promotion sold their brother into Egypt where he arrived to that honour which being foretold was the matter of their envy 6. Gods late dispensations in a way of judgment do call upon you aloud to sue for peace He hath displayed his Flag of Defiance and the Motto of it hath been Peste Ferro Flamma By Plague and Sword and Fire By all these the Lord hath been fighting with us and our sins and rebelling against him is the ground of the quarrel The Sword was drawn which devoured flesh and dyed red the Sea with bloud The Quiver was opened and out flew the Arrows of the Pestilence and what slaughter did those Arrows make Heaps upon heaps the Destroyer kill'd many thousand went down to the Chambers of Death We were ready to conclude when the Plague was over that God had done with us but we were mistaken A Fire was kindled in his wrath which the strongest the stateliest buildings could not stand against How did the flames roar what havock did they make In three dayes space London was no more like it self then the dead bones which have lay'n in the grave for several years are like unto the man when he was alive and in his greatest strength and beauty When these effects of his displeasure are look'd upon with a considerate eye who can doubt that God was angry and how little hath been done to appease his wrath 'T is high time to beg for mercy and to abandon whatever is a bar in Mercy 's way Oh that London oh that England would know the things that belong to their peace We are not brought so low but we may be brought lower if we provoke the Lord to continue still an enemy 7. Consider as yet there is a possibility of being reconciled to God His Arms are open and stretched forth if you will but cast your selves into them If the most wicked will but forsake their wayes and thoughts and return to the Lord he will have mercy upon them and though sin hath abounded he will abundantly pardon Isai 55. 7. Oh what would the damned give that mercy were but possible to be obtained 'T is great mercy that you have not sinn'd your selves beyond the reach of mercy But if the favour of God and peace with him be neglected how quickly may you be concluded under sin and wrath and your salvation become as impossible as is the salvation of those who are in Hell I hope by this time your ears will be readily open to hearken to some Directions how you may have your peace with God made The Directions are these 1. Be sensible of and bewail that enmity which is between God and you You have unnaturally rebelled and risen up against your Father that made you Those members which he formed you have yielded as weapons of unrighteousness those powers which he hath indued your souls with you have employed sinfully You have dishonoured him in your bodies and spirits whereas you should have glorified him in both You are unjustly and unreasonably the Lords enemies what hath he done to deserve your hatred for which of his kindnesses do you fight against him But the Lord is justly an enemy to you because your transgressions against him have been so many and so mighty That you should have hearts alienated from such a God so holy and gracious and to whom you owe all that you are and have it should make your hearts break and melt within you and that you have engaged this God against you should be esteemed an evil and a bitter thing Jer. 2. 19. 2. Let your cryes be strong for peace Resolve never to give over till he whom you have provoked to be your enemy is become your friend If you would have an interest in the favour of God that favour must be intreated and that with your whole heart Psal 119. 58. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be merciful to me according unto thy word The condemned prisoner at the bar if there be hopes of speeding how doth he implore the Judges mercy The beggar who is ready to starve for hunger how doth he make a noise Bread bread for the Lords sake bread And you have more cause to cry for peace with God for if you live and dye enemies you are everlastingly undone And to hearten you to prayer let that Scripture be consider'd Psal 86. 5. For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee 3. The mediation of Jesus Christ must be used The Apostle tells us That Christ came and preached to them which were far off and to them which were nigh Ephes 2. 12. that is both to the Jews and Gentiles And that peace which he preached by his bloud he purchased The bloud of Christ hath a voice which voice is loud and peace is the thing which his bloud cryes for You must expect peace no other way but by the bloud of the Cross Believe that this bloud of Christ the eternal Son of God is sufficient to make an atonement for your sin and being encouraged by the proffers and promises which he hath made in the Gospel be sure to trust in him to be your Advocate with the Father and he will not fail to mediate your peace who ever believed on him and was confounded Christ is styled the Prince of Peace Isai 9. 6. which shews that he hath an uncontroulable power to make peace when and for whom he pleases 4. Let the design of God in the Gospel be consider'd as matter of encouragement which design is to reconcile the world unto himself 2 Cor. 5 19. God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses to them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation One great thing which keeps â—en off from God is an unbelieving fear that â—â— is aversâ— from peace rather forward to take vengâ—anâ—â— upon the sinner then ready to forgive his sin But have they who entertain such fears ever look'd into the Gospel If the Lord were so forward to kill and destroy why hath he provided a City of refuge why did he refuse to spare his Son why doth he proclaim himself a God abundant in loving kindness goodness and truth who hath mercy for thousands and forgives iniquity transgression and sin The more firmly you are perswaded of his kindness and compassions the sooner you will yield to him 5. Lay hold upon the Lords own strength if you would have your peace made Consult the forecited place Isai 27. 5. Or let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me and he shall make peace with me Though by the strength of the Lord we may understand Christ Jesus who is called the Power of God and the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. Yet I rather think the Holy Ghost doth intimate to us in that place that unless
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
and sense of the love of God will have the greater influence because it usually finds us in sorrow doubting whether ever favour will be extended towards such as we fearing we are cast-awayes Now when in this doleful darkness the light of Gods countenance is lifted up and he shews his reconciled face oh how do our affections work towards him The Prodigal who came home with a sad and doubtful mind when he found himself in his Fathers armes when he saw thaâ— so long absence and great exorbitancies had not extinguish'd his Fathers love surely the workings of his love towards his Father again were beyond expression 2. Assurance of peace will fill you with joy and wonder You will admire to see how the case is altered with you a while ago you were strangers now friends and favourites a while ago you had not obtained mercy but now you have obtained mercy a while ago dead in sin but now you have attained to the first resurrection and so are some of those happy ones over whom the second death hath no power a while ago the children of wrath and sons of death now adopted the children of God and the heirs of glory Well may your hearts rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you This joy is not like that of the carnal and ungodly 't is built upon a surer foundation affliction cannot damp it and the thoughts of death and judgment which quite spoil the mirth of the wicked will but highten and increase it it being an earnest of that fulness of joy which after dissolution will be entred into 3. Assurance of peace will mightily engage you unto thankfulness This is one reason certainly why David is called a man after the heart of God because he was so much in praise And assurance will make you abound in thanksgiving Unbelieving doubts and fears cause us to be possessed with a dumb devil so that though our receipts are vast our returns are small We misconstrue mercies and say they are common to hypocrites and that they are given in anger to us and will serve only to increase both our sin and punishment But when we know that our peace is made we shall also know our interest in those blessings which are peculiar to Gods chosen ones and as for outward mercies they will be very much sweetned because coming not only from the hand but from the heart of God and hereupon we shall be the more forward to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name Heb. 13. 15. 4. Assurance of peace will quicken you to duty and make you stedfast in obedience With what forwardness will you pray when you know you shall be heard with what willingness will you engage in other Ordinances when you know that God will meet with you in them When you attend upon the ministry of the Word the Lord himself hath engaged to be your instructer when you come to the table he will certainly make you welcome and will be not only the inviter but the feast likewise Your expectations may be justly raised and you shall not be ashamed of them What encouragement doth this afford Add also when you know that you are reconciled to God and have had a sight and taste how good and gracious he is you will cleave to him with the fuller purpose of heart you will find so much sweetness in him that all the delights of sin and the world which Satan doth so much magnifie in his temptations will be but cheap and mean in comparison 5. Assurance of peace will set you above the fears of affliction and of death Then you will be able to make application of that supporting truth unto your selves That all chastisements are from love â—â—d tend unto your holiness and profit â—eb 12. 6 10. and this will keep you from fainting and dismayedness of Spirit Nay death it self will rather be desired then feared when you know it will admit you into the Lords presence from whom while in the body you are absent when you know that as soon as this earthly house of your tabernacle shall be dissolved you shall have a building of God â—n house not made with hands eternal in â—he heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. USE IV. Of Direction how peace may be kept and maintained 1. Let not your hearts be lifted up with pride after the Lord hath manifested himself to you Pride is a great enemy to peace God revives and comforts the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite ones Isai 57. 15. Those who observe the workings of their own souls shall find after Gods manifesting himself that pride is commonly one of the first sins which assaults them The Apostle after the abundance of revelations was in great danger of being exalted above measure therefore the messenger of Satan is sent to buffet him that this self-exalting might be prevented Oh do not think highly of your selves do not censure and undervalue others the more low you are in your own eyes your joy and peace will be the more abiding 2. Be watchful even against little sins These will dead the heart and grieve the Spirit causing him to suspend his sweet influences and make way for greater Little sins have their peculiar aggravations How inexcusable are we when we stand with God about a small matter and refuse to do a little for him Mispence of a little time a little excess in using of the creatures a little frothiness of mind the smaller stirrings of pride and passion and such like which are more commonly to be found in professors you must beware of else these lesser sins to your cost and sorrow will be found great enough to interrupt and break your peace 3. Especially take heed of gross transgressions which waste the Conscience When David would needs feed upon forbidden pleasures he lost his peace and the joy of Gods salvation Psal 51. Grosser falls do break the bones and raise a new storm in the Conscience where before a calm was By these you will not only cause the Lords enemies to reproach religion but also your own hearts to reproach you Oh therefore cry Vphold me continually with thy free Spirit and keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins 4. Do the work of the Lord diligently God doth most constantly manifest himself to those who most constantly seek and search for him with their whole heart Jer. 29. 13. Never offer unto God a sacrifice but let it have sound inwards The Psalmist tells us That the Lords countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11. ult When we are sincere and serve him with our whole soul then he shews his face and in his looks we may read his love and through Christ his accepting of us 5. Let your design in begging the continuance of peace be this that hereby you may be encouraged to do more for God and to cleave the closer to him Aim at his
glory as well as your own satisfaction in this matter Lord I desire a continued assurance of thy love but 't is that I may love thee more and be more zealous for thine honour and labour in thy work with greater life and vigour 6. Let it be your dayly practise to walk with God Be not religious only by fits this argues an heart much distempered Here I shall give a directory how to walk every day 1. When your eyes are first open lift them up to God let your hearts be well seasoned with holy thoughts and affections they will be in the better frame all the day 2. Allot some time for secret prayer and searching of the Scripture twice every day at least And servants which are not masters of their own time if they cannot so conveniently pray at one time should be sure to catch hold of another opportunity 3. Let not meditation be omitted One quarter of an hour at least in thinking upon some truth the hearing or reading of which hath a little moved you or which doth most concern you may be well spared 4. Be serious in family duties walk in in the house with a perfect heart and conscienciously do the duties of your places and relations because the word stands much upon these and hereby Religion is adorned 5. Accustom your selves to thoughts of God and let your desires be frequently ascending towards him 6. In worldly business remember Conscience is to be kept void of offence take heed of injustice defrauding over-reaching 7. Let not the world when it flows into your hands insinuate it self into your hearts 8. Study to excell in those things which may make Religion amiable in the eyes of the world as meekness humility contentedness with your condition charitableness quietness refusing to backbite and defame any 9. Be vigilant against the sin which doth most easily beset you the sin of your constitution the sin of your calling the sin which heretofore did bear the greatest sway in you 10. Resist temptation at the first appearing of it start back from Satans baits as one would do who is ready to tread upon a Serpent 11. Let not Christian liberty degenerate into carnal licentiousness use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh remember you are the Disciples of the crucified Jesus and so in your walking there must be not an enmity but a sutableness to his Cross 12. Bad company abstain from and be not intimate with lukewarm professours when necessitated to be with them be jealous over your selves never sinfully comply with but rather reprove them 13. Design to get ground upon some sin or other every day every day let some progress be made in the work of mortification 14. Observe providences and get the good of them let losses and crosses wean you from the world let afflictions imbitter sin and let mercies indear the Father of them 15. Rest not in Ordinances but consider you must be reckoned with how you have improved them If in these you neither meet with God nor miss him 't is a bad sign 16. Keep a watch before the door of your lips oaths falshood vanity filthiness your communication must be free from Be also swift to hear and slow to speak for in multitude of words there wanteth not sin 17. If you fall lye not where you are fallen cry immediately for pardon and healing let the wound while green be cured before it fester 18. Have daily recourse to Christ to cover the sins of daily incursion you have as much need of daily pardon as you have of dayly bread 19. Live as Strangers and Pilgrims look upon the World as your Inn and Heaven as your Home and act as within view of Death and Judgment and Eternity 20. At evening reflect how you have spent the day An Heathen of old gave this notable advice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus Englished Never let sleep which senses tyes At any night close up thine eyes Before the actions of the day Thou thrice and seriously doest weigh Where have I sinn'd what have I done What duty have I let alone If you would walk after this manner how perfect might your peace be and how much might your passage be sweetned through this vale of tears I have done with the third Doctrine I shall be very brief in the two which remain Doct. 4. The fourth Doctrine is this That when sinners will not see they are smitten many times with spiritual blindness and the things of their peace are in a way of judgment hid from them The Lord hides the things of their peace from them several wayes 1. He causes his Spirit to withdraw 'T is the Spirits work to enlighten dark understandings but if the Spirit be gone how great must the darkness be 2. The Lord gives men up to the perverse reasonings and counsels of their own hearts and then a thousand absurdities will by the carnal mind be imagined in the doctrine which is according to godliness and how burthensome will the practise of godliness be made to appear 3. The Lord permits Satan to blind them and by his means their hatred of light and of the works of light is very much augmented and hereupon either more abominable prophaneness or strong delusions follow 4. The Lord in his providence causes several things to happen which sinners stumble at and by which they are more confirmed in their prejudices against the Word and in their infidelity The righteous are suffer'd sometimes to fall into sin and many times into great distress The wicked often prosper in the world and live and dye in a false peace And upon this the ungodly are more darkned and hardned 5. In all this the Lord acts as a Judge and intends to punish their refusing to be enlightned and yet he is not the Author of sin He is light 1 John 1. 5. and no darkness can come from him All ignorance and mistake is from corrupted nature being wrought upon by the Prince of darkness Neither is the justice of God to be quarrelled at for dealing thus with them that reject illumination 1. The merit of their sin is great Nescire est ignorantis nolle scire est superbiae there is abundance of pride in them that are unwilling to be informed and a great love to evil deeds and also mighty ingratitude for light is a very great priviledge 2. This punishment is very sutable What more equal then that those who would not be enlightned by the Spirit of the Lord and directed into the paths of peace should be suffered to be beguiled by Satan and their own spirits and so be misguided and lost for ever Vse 1. Take heed of sinning against the light for fear it be put out in obscurity The clearer the light shines the more it aggravates the works of darkness Let not the lusts of your hearts be cherished and fulfilled lest the light of your heads be
hereby extinguished Vse 2. Do not unwarrantably surmise that the things of your peace are in judgment hid from you All blindness is not judicial If thou wouldst fain know the will of God and do it God upon thy asking will give wisdom liberally without upbraiding Jam. 1. He will not fail by his Spirit to instruct thee who hath made thee thus willing to be instructed Doct. 5. The last Doctrine follows When souls are left under darkness their state is wretched and deplorable Consider with such 1. God is extreamly angry When he punisheth sin with sin he is most of all displeased and truly he cannot punish it with a worse evil then it self is In temporal judgments 't is to be hoped the Lord aims at our reformation and amendment but when he gives up any to blindness of mind and a reprobate sense 't is a sign his love and mercy have done with them As by the Spirit of God believers are sealed up to the day of redemption so by the spirit of flumber the unbelievers are sealed up to the day of destruction 2. With such Satan doth what he pleases he leads them along and how little do they perceive whither they are going how do means make them worse how bold are they in sin how quickly are they like to fill up the measure of their iniquity and grow rotten ripe for vengeance and when that vengeance overtakes them then they will weep over themselves as Christ doth over Jerusalem and too late lament their own misery when 't will be impossible to have it removed Vse 1. Earnestly intreat that this may never be yours which was the punishment of Jerusalem And if you would not lye under the like plague you must not be guilty of the like sin namely rejecting Christ and the Gospel of peace Vse 2. Pitty those who tread in Jerusalems steps and provoke the Lord to close their eyes tell them of their danger which they themselves do not perceive awaken them out of their Lethargie if it be possible before it become past remedy Vse 3. If the Lord when others are blinded is become both light and salvation to any of you break out into praise The light is marvellous which you are called to and marvellous should be your joy You have that eye-salve with which few eyes are annointed you have that Spirit which the world doth not receive You were born blind as well as others but a miracle of grace hath been wrought upon you the vail is taken off and you see the Lord and your interest in him how should all that is within you bless him This present light wherewith you are visited is as it were the dawning of the day of glory and a certain forerunner of the light that 's everlasting THE END ERRATA The First Part. PAge 5. line 13. for Him read Me p. 7. l. 20. for deadful r. dreadful p. 10. l. 11. f. nelp r. help p. 12. l. 22. f. hepless r. helpless p. 22. l. 17. del to be p. 41. l. 5 f. de r. be p. 46. l 12. f. wayes r. wages p. 86. l. 6. f. vow r. voice The Second Part. PAge 4. line 16. for know read knew p. 5. l. 19. f. eyes r. eye p. 15 l. 7 f. thlngs r. things p. 16. l. 1. f sting r. stung p. 33. l. 4. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 35. l. 15. f. vanity r. iniquity p. 38. l. 26. f questioned r quickned p. 43. l. 13. f. sit r. sat p 60 l. 16. f. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 69. l. 27. f. lethurgy r. lethargie p. 74 l. 16. f. deep r. sleep p 80. l. 9. after not r. rest p. 107 l. 23. f mastered r. unaffected p. 128. l 7. f. cruclfied r. crucified p. 149. l. 7. f. should r. shall p. 151. l. 15. f. Nehem. r Nahum
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