some measure also comes to conceive of the nature of grace he beginnes to see the excellencie of Faith and Repentance what it is to bee in a Christ what it is to want a Christ the man is become an apprehensive man saith God I will cause the house of Jsraell to know their abhominations It is not sufficient to come and heare the word and never attend it or consider of it But if God comes with it it will make the Drunkard know what it is to be drunke and the Dissembler what it is to deale fasly with God and his truth Job 36.9 Hee shewes them their workes and their transgressions God shewes a man his iniquities God shewes a man his pride his vanity of minde the judgements threatned the plague deserved Oh then The sinner saith this is my sinne and this is the punishment due to mee that is the Nature of my abhomination and that is the judgement of God for it Thus I say the Lord takes hold of a sinner And this is the first way by summons or Subpena If a sinner be secure God brings him to the word if then carelesse God makes him attend If ignorant he informs him As in a Law case The man is not onely attatched to appeare but when he appeares there is a declaration of the fact So the Lord shewes the soule what his sinnes are what neede there is of Christ grace faith and repentance which hee never knew of before Secondly Thus the Action being laid oh the sinfull heart invents marvellous strange shifts and evasions The day is appointed for the triall what Lawyer doth the Soule get to plead his Cause He sends for carnall reason as Pharaoh sent for the Magicians And when God hath opened his eyes and discovered his soule to his soule then he calls in I say the Magicians of carnall reason to plead against the word of God lest it should prevaile or his sins should lie so heavy upon him as to tire and weary him out of them First it excuseth the hainousnesse of sinne that the sin was not so great that though the Minister speake as if we were all Saints yet are we not all sinners who then shall goe unpunished we doe not looke to be saved by our selves or our workes but by Jesus Christ and he came to save Sinners It is but looking towards him and crying God mercie at last but saith the Minister we must be sanctified as well as saved Acts. 3. 26. God having raised up his Sonne Jesus sent him to blesse you in turning every one of you from his evill way That is blessednesse we must be reformed if conforted humbled if glorified What saith the Sinner must I forsake my evill waies we know no man can what need a man to be so precise and curious Thus with these and many other please carnal reason like a cunning Solicitour with the helpe of the Divell who will play the crafty Lawyer and what the one can invent and the other suggest will be surely pleaded to beate backe the power of the word And t is admirable to consider what contentions there are herein and how the wicked heart of man will out-bid all the meanes under heaven untill the spirit of God come in upon the soule and then as the wisedome of God informes a sinner so the spirit becoms the Advocate of God that wise and holy Spirit by the Ministery of the word convinceth the sinner John 16.8 And when he is come he will convince the world of sinne he will answer all the pleaes and arguments that the sinner can make 2. Cor. 10.4 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds Casting downe immaginations and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ when the soule cavills what needes all this adoe Shall not a man goe to Heaven unlesse he pray heare Sermons and sanctifie the Sabboth Then the Spirit of God convinces a man fully that he hath not a word to say against the evidence of truth hee gives up the day and saith I confesse I am the man these are my sinnes I must forsake these or perish nay I must forsake all my sinnes or else I forsake none I see I cannot be a good Christian and a swearer a proud vaine person a carelesse liver then a Heathen a prophane Atheist will be as good a Christian Thus the action being laide by Information and the sinner cast in the action by the Spirits conviction Then 3. Least the sinner now in this estate apprehending his sinnes and the hainousnesse of them and of his desperate forlorne estate thereby should sinke under his burthen the Lord lets in the manifestation of his goodnes into his soule and the Soule thinkes with it selfe how good is God in his providence to provide the meanes of grace to bring me under them to shew mee my wanderings Ah sinfull lost undone creature And yet the Gospell of grace and the word of grace invites me to mercie Oh Is it possible that such a foule as mine should be recovered That I am yet alive yet on this side hell yet enjoy these meanes Rom 2.4 The goodnesse of the Lord leadeth unto repentantance and it incourageth the sinner both to comfort and amendment doth the Lord vouchsafe mee these mercies why not my heart purged why not my corrupt Natures cleansed why Lord thou wast mercifull to Manasses who after all his wickednesse repented and received mercy 4. If yet the sinner shall turne this goodnesse of God into wantonnesse and pervert the meanes of grace unto by ends because he is yet in strength and health doth and will continue still in his sinnes delaies his repentance Repentance will be soone enough hereafter That the wisedome of God groweth almost resolved to forsake him because all the wayes thereof for the sinners reformation are neglected The goodnesse of God is resolved to incourage him no more because despised yet the patience of God commeth in and when the Lord is even leaving the sinner and Justice taking hold of vengeance the blessed patience of God steps in and pleades and enters a new succor It intreates the Lord to stay one yeare longer When the Lord came three yeares to the Figetree Luke 13.7 and found no fruit Cut it downe saith the Lord nay stay Lord saith the Keeper of the Vineyeard another yeare it may beare So that Gods patience prevailes that God doth not yet proceede in justice and execute judgement Hos 11.8 9. How shall I give thee up O Ephraim how shall I deliver thee Israell how shall I makethee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zebeim mine hart is turned within mee my repentings are kindled together I will not execute the fiercenesse of mine anger c. See how patience pleades for a poore creature Oh Lord this poore sinner hath delayed but he will
there be none to deliver you Ah the good Spirit of God ah the goodnesse of God his patience his long sufferance Everie one of these comes in and enters an action against the soule these that should refresh my soule relinquish it nay they aggravate my anguish and torment Job 14. 16 17. For now thou numbrest my steps dost thou not watch over my sinne My transgressions are sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine-iniquitie Remember such a time what thou didst and how I did forbeare but I will forbeare no longer and at last Justice with a full swindge brings in all the bonds and all recknings all those exhortations that have beene slighted reproofes scorned meanes of grace enjoyed and not bettered by and those antient multiplyed and great transgressions these all will breake the back of mountains and rocks are not able to beare off the billowes of the wrath thus kindled and thus the soule is in prison and under execution and there like to lie and rot and perish Yet againe and at last cast after the wrath of God hath thus arrested the soule and the justice and truth and mercie and patience and the forbearance of God hath laid action upon action upon the soule and the soule is in execution everlasting ruine being ready to seize on it then mercy bayles the sinner even the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and undertakes that the soule shall appeare or mercie will satisfy for him so the sinner is yet reprived Mercy gets the day when a sinner comes out of the horror of conscience and the devourings of justice Oh the bowells of mercy Oh the mercy of a Father the bloud of a Christ the comfort of the Spirit calls the soule out of prison Oh turne why will ye dye Ezek. 18.13 Remember the knocks and horrors of conscience the beginnings of hell they all come and mourne over a sinner Oh ye Drunkard turne be drunke no more come to mee and be saved so to the proud prophane rebellious and malicious sinners why will ye yet oppose God and so ever be confounded by him why will ye goe to hell O ye sinfull sonnes of men Come to me and I will pardon your sinnes Come to me and I will satisfie and pay all your debts saith Gods Spirit I will subdue crush all your Rebellions Oh this this is the last time Now observe if ye come in receive all the good offered If ye now be a servant to the Lord your God all your former iniquities shall be pardoned old arrerages shall not be laid to your charge By me saith Christ beleeve and ye shall be justifyed from all things Act. 13.39 Now observe this is the last stroke the last period the suit is at an end if you entertaine mercy to pardon ye the bloud of Christ to satisfie for you the motions of the Spirit to quicken you T is well if not now what can be looked for but fire from Heaven to destroy Gods Adversaries Thus you see how God strives and wrastles hard before he brings men to repentance and salvation The upshot of all is this the Lord finding a sinner carelesse and secure by his word gives him notice of his waies when he hath the word he makes him attend attending awakens and informes him The sinner seeing his Estate begines to wrangle with God then God convinces him when convinced least hee should sit downe in dispaire comforts him and being incouraged the sinner againe groweth carelesse and delaies the time God waites he abuseth Gods patience and yet his long sufferance indureth and yet not work effectually then God is put to it with a strong hand layes hold on a sinner and sets his wrath to arrest a sinner and Justice binds him over to judgement yet at last Mercy comes in offers grace pardon of sins and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ This is the pursuit of the Law-Case The Reasons why God strives with sinners thus are briefely First that he might expresse and glorifie his attribute of Mercy and that the world might know it rejoyce in it Secondly that he might leave the world without excuse that if they goe downe to the bottomlesse pit they must thanke themselves But to come to the Vses We see what God doth how he striveth with a sinner for his everlasting wellfare and we see what the poore soule doth strive with God for his owne eternall ruine that the great Greatour that was happy before all worlds and will be glorified if he should suffer thousand millions of us to perish and go down to hell should strive with a pooresinfull creature t is admirable First we see and let us stand amazed and wonder at the admirable goodnesse the riches of the kindnesse of the Lord together with the depth of the stubbornnesse rebellion and evill of the soule how strong in wickednesse to strive with the God of Heaven nay seemeth as we say with reverence to get the better The Lord teacheth and he will not heare the Lord convinceth and he will not yeeld the Lord is good to him and he despiseth him the Lord is patient and he abuseth it God beares long and he contemnes were it not that God is just as well as patient the sinner would overcome God but God will not have his patience alwayes wronged But yet observe the basenesse and depth of the wretchednesse of mans heart that nothing will do him good foule is the Leaper that all the water in the sea will not wash Great are the spots that nothing wil cleanse or take off what state is that body in that no diet will nourish no phisicke cure Death must needs appeare in his face it is thy estate and mine Let us goe home and reason with our selves in secret Good Lord what a heart have I Is there such an heart in hell The Divell never had that patience to strive with them that mercy to cure them the good Spirit of God to strive with them Oh! the Lord hath called and revealed himselfe to me yea found me when I sought him not nay caused me to see mine abominations made me to see the wickednesse of my waies yet oh the secret grudges of my heart that it bore to Religion How did I taunt the professours thereof and loathed the profession therof it selfe yee are one of those holy ones what shall I be so precise yet the Spirit of God did not leave me but laid hold on me surprized me in my bed and followed me wheresoever I went yet I opposed all did winde away from the power of the truth grieved the good Spirit of God good Lord what a heart have I and good reason hast thou to be ashamed of such a base heart A poore worme sinful dust and ashes a shadow a miserable hell-hound to grapple with the Almightie thus to strive against mercy patience and not to be tumbled into the bottomlesse pit of hell T is admirable unspeakable
mercies on the one hand inviting thee justice on the other side threatning comforts of minde and horrors of conscience Oh at last heare and be perswaded to let the suite fall Oh especially yee ancient sinners notwithstanding all this yet to be an ancient Drunkard an old blacke mouthed swearer an ancient Adulterer an old gray headed sinner setled in wickednesse the father naught and the sonne naught ah vile wretches the bane of all goodnesse The Lord hath striven forty fifty sixty years together and doe you not thinke the Lord was admirably patient Now now let the word of the Lord prevaile and the Councell of Gods poore servants take place with you for your eternall good Thinke with your selves what shall I stand out in law with God shall I still resist his grace Goe into a corner and sigh and sorrow bewaile your selves ah miserable Creatures that we are how have we behaved our selves all our life time to God ah those cords of mercie that would not draw us those powerfull perswassions those keene reproofes those forcible exhortations and those bestowed and continued with much goodnesse and long sufferance and we not bettered by any of them to this very day why then it is high time poore wretches to lay downe the suite to renounce it and to yeeld to the word of God and not a word more Give up the day to the worke of Gods grace and the power of his Spirit as Job Job 39.37 38. though he held out long untill the Lord schooled him out of the whirlwinde shewed him his Glory and Power and Jobs vilenesse and nothingnesse Then he cries out I am vile what shal I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth once saith he have I spoken but I will answer no more So all of yee say that heare the word of God this day and perswade one another Say we have beene Brethren in wickednesse but now we will submit we will no longer deferre well then be incouraged The Lord strives with you nay hee promiseth you if you will at last yeeld whatsoever hath been formerly amisse shall bee pardoned whatsoever is or shall bee wanting shall be supplied why will yee yet contend Did ever any resist the Lord and prosper Oh yee have freinds or estates and yee beare your selves upon these and the like stayes these and all such are but broken staies Where are all the enemies of God where is stouthearted and stiffe-necked Pharaoh Hee would not let the people of God goe c. His body was drowned in the sea and his soule is roaring in hell unlesse God was more infinitely mercifull then we can conceive What became of proud Nebuchadnezar that exalted himselfe to the Heaven he was brought as low as Hell How doth God many times slay the drunkard and cut off the sinner on a suddaine And good Lord what are become of their soules Therefore let everie man consider no man can resist God and prosper either thou must overcome God or be confounded by him Consider also the longer ye stand out with God the harder to agree the suite and remember this yee strong ones A Law suite at the first might happily be ended for a small summe or nothing but if it proceede the charges of suite many times growes to be greater then the debt Aâ—â— thinke of this also ye ancient sinners gray-headed swearers constant secret opposers of God and goodnesse But forget it not I say againe yee young ones little ones goeing on in a way of sinning If yee doe not agree betimes with God God will recover his charges he will not lose all those exhortations reproofes his patience goodnesse loving kindnesse the mercie and bloud of Christ Christ paid deare for these ye make nothing of the abuse of all these but Christ paid for everie Sermon not profitted by everie intimation of Spirit slighted everie mercie not improved Oh this is able to undoe any man Oh poore people be wise in time especially I say ye young ones your reckoning is not yet so heavy if now ye get a hear to yeeld to the Councells and Reproofes of God to submit and come in your sinnes shall be pardoned your persons accepted and your soules eternally saved if not thou must pay charges answer for all the patience long sufferance and goodnesse of God And consider now even this day the Lord holdeth out the Golden Scepter of grace and if ye yet returne to him ye shall be accepted of him it may be the last time you shall have an offer of mercie How soone may Death seize on thy body and then Judgement overtake thy soule this may be the last day of thy living much more of thy hearing the word If ye now accept all arrerages shall be forgotten God will lay downe his suite all his anger and displeasure will be laid aside He will put up all if yee entertaine his mercie and imbrace Christ This may be the last offer And doth the Lord offer mercie after all the stubbornesse of the heart after all unprofitablenesse after all the neglect of all the meanes of grace after all thy drunkennesse and prophanesse hypocrisie after all thy sinnes and wickednesse Yes then heare what the Lord saith Are ye content to forsake these yes Then the Lord will not forsake you if ye will entertaine the Lord above all these he will entertaine you if ye lay downe your lusts and corruptions he will imbrace you for ever in the everlasting Armes of mercie Say answer and let every mans conscience answer that I may returne my message Me thinkes none of you should be so senselesse so unreasonable so desperately wretched as to stand out Good Lord shall all my evills be pardoned if I be content to receive Christ and his mercie will the Lord Jesus never leave me if I be content to leave my sinnes Good Lord take all my sins and throw them in a bottom lesse pit let me never see them againe I will never more strive against thy word Let thy word reveale my sins and subdue my sinfull soule Let that good Spirit of thine come in and rule this heart of mine Now the businesse is at an end all controversies cease when therefore occasions shall come temptations renew corruptions stirre Goe to God and for ever remember this daies resolution and let the Lord take place in thy heart and he will preserve thee to serve him here and eternally to be saved hereafter I should proceede to the third and fourth Doctrins but I am prevented by the time I will onely name them in one and so conclude Though God strives long with sinners he gives them a long time of repentance ye see the old world an hundred and twenty yeares and every knock in the Arke a Sermon of repentance yet after the long abuse of Gods mercie and patience the large time of repentance and unfruitfullnesse under all the meanes of grace The Lord ceaseth to strive with sinners anie more he takes
presently there is hue and crie up by the Father or the Master He is an undone man or an undone woman then there is labouring by all meanes possible to stifle the worke of grace in the heart Thus when God striveth to pluck men out of their sinnes they continue in sinne and so subject themselves to eternall punishment therfore may the contention grow marvellous great God striveth and sinne and Satan strive and man holds it out to the last As appeares Math. 23.37 O Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that were sent to thee c. there is the businesse and marke how often would I have gathered you c. and you would not The Father would draw men to his Sonne to be faved but John 5.4 ye will not come unto me that ye may be saved whilst our Saviour thus strives with the cords of mercie to draw men to salvation they labour to withdraw themselves from him and to plundge themselves into damnation Act. 18.5 6. Paul strengthened with the spirit convinced them boldly and by strength of Argument laid hold upon their understandings proving that Jesus was the Christ But they came as in pitcht battell against that Doctrine of life and salvation they did gainsay and blaspheme it the word in the originall signifies They planted forces in order and came in battell array against those blessed truthes he delivered and in other places of the Acts when Paul revealed the truth part joyned with the Apostles part with the Jewes some were convinced others gainsayed and resisted See then how a poore sinner breakes all the cords of grace and mercie as Psalm 2.3 when there the wicked combine against Christ say they Let us breake his Bonds assunder and cast his Cords from us Gods Counsells Commands Reproofes c. are the cords they breake the threatnings of the word the checkes of Conscience all the tyes of mercie they snappe in peices they breake all and wilfully withdraw themselvs from salvation we neede no more witnesses to cast this cause wofull experience daily produces too many all difficulty rests in the Explication of this And therin observe three things First I will discover how God drawes and strives with the sinner what a deale of doe it is to bring a sinner to everlasting life Secondly the reason why God doth so strive Thirdly Application hereof First how doth the Lord strive The good Spirit of the Lord followes a Suit himselfe against a sinner and pleades a Law-Case with him I doe confesse the dealing of God is marveillous strange herein and I ingeniously acknowledge I want both skill and heart to set forth the pleadings of God herein But he is onely able to speake for himselfe and by his gratious assistance wee shall observe to you such pleaes as God affords in Scripture how the Lord hath dealt herein To the point then How the Lord pleades and strives with a sinner I referre to two heads 1. By way of perswasion 2. By way of constraint and compulsion Wherein we shall observe all the cords of mercie and bondes of compassion First striving and if those doe not prevaile execution of punishment terrours and a strong hand pursues a sinner in mercie and at last if all faile mercy overcomes the sinner wherein see God first discovers the matter in controversie Proceedes to execution and by repreive at last prevailes by mercy over judgement Touching the first part and of the pleaes of mercy in scripture we must referre our observation hereof to foure heads First As in a suite of Law before there can be a day of Heareing the Party is summoned to answer So the Lord having a Controversie with a sinner the Lord summons the sinner into his Court the Lord causeth a Writ to issue out to attach a sinfull Creature that lieth snorting in his sins and securely posts to destruction one that never saw his miserie and wants and never sought for mercy and supply Salvation being the furthest end of his thoughts and the least part of his care Now the Lord doth bring this about in his providence by bringing them to the word and therein mercifully making knowne the sinners estate before ever he imagined thereof Jsa 65.5 I was found of them that sought mee not Hence in ordinarie experience many a poore sinfull creature hath beene accidentally cast into such a Towne or into a good familie and the Lord comes upon him on a suddaine when he never dreamed of life and grace As many a soule in the acknowledgment of Gods mercy and providence breakes out in this wonder Oh that I should be brought into such a place such a familie and meete with such opportunities when I dreamed of it as little as of doomes day and desired nothing more then mischeife that God should stop me in the way to Hell See that of Saul when he was running to Damascus ah saith he I will take these Puritaines in their Conventicles a light shin'd suddenly from Heaven and almost tumbled him downe into Hell Even such a kinde of light is let into the soule not that we must expect a miracle or a new thing but when the word is brought home to the understanding the soule will thinke those strange things such as hee never heard or thought of And if the finner growes carelesse and will not attend God calls upon the soule and drawes the minde to attend holds the light to the eye and brings the Word so evident to the soule that it cannot evade Ezek. 16.2 Sonne of man cause the Children of Jsraell to know their abominations The Prophet 1 Kings 21.20 having a Message to Ahab after his great wickednesse see how the sight of the Prophet startles him and makes him snarle Hast thou founde mee out Oh mine Enemy saith Ahab The worde findes a man out and drawes the minde to attend it The soule would be carelesse and secure will not heare not attend The Lord knockes as the doore of the soule findes him out behinde the Pillor awakens him asleepe in his Pue finds him out his sinnes and discovers his abominations The Lord comes home to the soule and tells him thou art the man that hath sinned and thou shalt bee plagued God deales like a Wrastler first catches hold then comes in and at last throwes a man upon his back makes him yeeld and confesse I am the man Thus the Lord causeth the minde to attende the word The Lord tells the Drunkard that the Alehouse is not the way to Heaven and the Adulterour that his way leads to perdition brings them to the word and causeth them to attend thereto And further the Soule attending the word and being ignorant and knowing no good the Lord informes a sinner and sets up a light of wisedome in his minde to conceive of the nature of sinne whereby he hath provoked God He that yet never knew what sinne was now it stares him in his face and he beholds it with amazement and in
mercie Let us see into the depth of our misery and weepe if we had a fountaine of sorrow See there is a Drunkard God hath opened his eies and he is become an holy gracious Christian Looke here upon a wretched Adulterer yet a wonder of mercie Doth he that goeth into an harlot ever returne yet the Lord hath pardoned all his abominations Beholdest thou thy selfe to stand still like a horse in a Mill as vaine as vile as carelesse and wicked as ever Oh wonder at Gods goodnesse and be ashamed and confounded at thy desperate case and wretchednesse Vse 2 Behold from hence the condemnation of the wicked to be marvellous just they have their owne desires as deserts they are damned because they will be damned perish because they will perish It is strange to observe the madnes of men to strive to goe downe to hell they take Post-horse to everlastlasting destruction strive who shall goe first They strive who shall be most vaine malicious gainsay the truth oppose God and goodnesse well the Lord hath striven with you and you have striven against him and ye will goe to hell and then that patience that hath striven with you will stop every one of your mouthes when the body shall lie downe in the dust and the soule be roareing in the bottomlesse pit Now ye have your owne desires you have worne your owne Garland ye would be proude and stubborne loose and prophane contemning all meanes of Reformation now ye have your belly full of sinning Prov. 30.31 The Lord will satisfy them with their owne wayes and fill them full of their owne devices As who should say yee shall have your owne hearts content ye would have none of his Councell ye despised all his reproofe and ye will despise the word oppose the Minister scorne God to his face despight his Spirit resist the worke of the Lord shift put off and put backe the Authority of the truth and the power of grace well when ye are full low in the bottomlesse pit then ye shall have elbow roome enough liberty and time to be full of all evill for ever to sinne against and blaspheme God for ever and just will God be in his Judgments Vse 3 The third use is of reproofe Doth God strive with sinners for their good and salvation what shall we thinke of them that strive with men for their hurt and ruine either God must be blamed for dealing so or they condemned for standing in opposition with God judge you I will say nothing The Lord strives he useth mercie justice goodnes all means to draw sinners to him and so to be saved and these endeavour by all meanes threatning taunts councells and examples to withdraw men from God his waies and service certainly either God is to be blamed for dealing so or they to be condemned in their mischiefes They are the Divells Captaines and give presse money nay his Brokers if a wife childe or servant or neighbour begines to looke towards Heaven then the husband frownes the Master chides the freind forsakes Oh lay your hands on your hearts the divell if incarnate could doe no more Oh know not only that thine owne sinnes shall condemne thee but the bloud of your wives children and servants Oh brethren I beseech you heare feare and tremble Acts 15.8 9. The text saith that Paul came to the Iland and found the Deputy of the Iland desirous to heare the word of God Paul would have brought him to the faith and Elimas would have drawne him from the faith marke what Paul said in the tenth verse thou childe of the devill because Elimas would not goe to hell himselfe alone he drawes others and Paul comes with fire and thundring as it were Oh child of the Divell O Enemy of all righteousnesse The Adulterer is an enemy to chastity the Drunkard to sobernesse the unjust man is an enemy to justice but they that strive to hinder any man from God are enemies to all righteousnesse But you will say you would have prayed but my husband would not let me I would have gone to Church but my Master would not let me this will not serve the turne it will be no plea for you to say Masters hinder you Mat. 23.15 Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees that compasse Sea and Land to make a Proselyte and when hee is so made you make him twofold more the childe of the Devill then your selves To be the children of the Devill that is bade enough in conscience but you are twice more the child of the Divell if you hinder any from God if you sinne you shall goe to hell but they that occasion others to sinne shall be twice more the children of hell then you Oh then feare and labour everie one to amend one another Vse 4 For exhortation Doth the Lord so strive and use all meanes to draw us to him doth God doe so Then doe you so also wheresoever thou goest doe thou strive to perswade men and draw them from evill Heb. 3.13 Exhorting one another daily Imitate God and Christ they strive with poore sinners for their good doe thou so strive with men yea though they strive against thee Thou hast a wicked father a prophane mother pray for them thy freinds and kindred are opposers of God and his worship exhort them if thou seest for the present little hopes of amendment continue thy prayers for them thou prayest once pray againe it may be God will heare when a man is laid in his grave yet his stock of prayers remaines and goes forward and shall doe till doomes day what a sweete comfort will this be to them that doe good to others you therefore that goe in companies and assemblies with others strive to draw them on in goodnesse by exhortations and sometimes by reproofes that if it be possible you may prevaile with their hearts to come in and take mercie 2. Tim. 2.25 26. Lastly therefore what remaines Oh that I could follow Gods suite be intreated and exhorted in the Lord Doth the Lord strive with you what should you doe but yeeld to the Lord Strive no more against him contend no further with the Almighty Let this advise be acceptable and the Lord make it powerfull to you The Lord hath a great suite many yeare it hath lasted a Chauncerie suite it hath lasted ten twenty forty yeares Oh ye of ancient yeares with reverence to yeares be perswaded to the feare of the Lord. Oh ye young ones blesse God that ye have not so long resisted the worke of Gods grace and withstood his patience The Lord hath an old controversie with you from your first birth to this present That of David Oh God from my youth I have depended upon thee Oh what Sabboths hast thou enjoyed what Sermons hast thou heard what sweete opportunities for thy soul have beene afforded thee Oh the blessed motions of the good Spirit of God how hath God sent and sued to thee pursued and followed thee
should be saved by Christ yet how many of us have refused these glorious profers of grace and unspeakable loving kindnes offered to our soules How many Markets for the buying of Spirituall foode hath the Lord vouchsafed unto us and yet stil we have come empty away Let us now look back confider how many Sermons we have heard how many times we have received the Sacrament and there renued our covenants with the Lord how many motions Gods Spirit hath made at our hearts to repent and returne when we have bin hearing of the word and likewise in our private meditation saying unto our soules why will ye dye yet sinfull wretches that we are have we not flighted these motious and cast them behinde our backs as though they did not concerne us let us now look backe upon all slightings of grace and mercy offered unto us and say with Pharaohs Butler Gen. 41.5 I will call to remembrance my faults this day and let our souls be deeply humbled under the remembrance therof before the Lord. Use 2 For instruction it teacheth us that the life of a Christian is not an idle but a laborious life that will cost a man much paines and travell if he will indeavour for to be sincere in his profession and walke uprightly with the Lord in an holy conversation watching all seasons and readily imbracing all opportunities as he ought to doe that so whatsoever he doth may rend to Gods glory and to the good of his Church and people Use 3 For incouragement seeing God doth now vouchsafe unto us so many glorious seasons opportunities which if improved might be to the eternall welfare of our soules now to step in that we may be cured even while the Angell is moving in the waters of the Sanctuary for so long as the Gospell is preached unto us and tenders of mercie offered so long our season of grace doth last we should therefore now take these opportunities by the forelocke for we know not how soone they may be removed from us or we from them and when the dore is once shut though with the foolish virgins we may knock yet it shlal not be opened unto us and for our helpe herein we should remember the former directions and likewise learne so to order and overlooke all our businesses that we may be able to allot to every imployment a proportionable time and we must alwayes take especiall care that our duty to our neighbour never justly out that homage and service that we owe unto our God we must therefore never over-charge our spirits with multiplicitie of worldly businesses but keepe our souls in such a frame that we may be able when ever we goe to converse with God in nny holy ordinance to set aside all worldly occassions that neither our hearts nor our thoughts may run out upon them Use 4 For direction we should therefore labour to prevent the time in getting aforehand with it saich David Psal 119. 148. Mine eyes prevent the night-watches to meditate in thy word He was more earnest in the Study of Gods word then they that kept the Watch were in their Charge and Psal 63.6 When I remember thee on my bedde and meditate on thee in the night-watches He got up before his Nobles when others were asleepe he was awake so that he had performed his duty to God before any State matters were brought before him before his thoughts were scattered upon the Affaires of his Kingdome he is a good President in this for all of us to imitate Lastly we should learn how to cut off all unnessary expence of time if it be sinfull to spend that time which should be for spirituall imployment in worldly businesses which in themselves are lawfull if seasonable discarged how much more sinfull is it to spend it in sinfull sports and pleasures we should therefore learne how to redeeme the time out of the hands of our lusts and corruptions which have too long imployed many precious houres and glorious opportunities in such services as doe directly tend to the eternall ruine of our immortall soules even now whilst it is called to day least the Lord sweare in his wrath that our soules shall never enter into his rest FINIS