The Pattern of Perfection Exhibited in Gods Image on Adam, Part 1 · Section 13
§. 13.
Epheſ. 5.16.
Redeeming the time, becauſe the daies are evill.
THis verſe ſhewes unto us the proof of a wiſe man, and one that doth truly take notice of all the occaſions of time, whereby he will redeem the time. Wiſe men will doe ſo.
In the verſe are two things to be conſidered.
1. A Dutie; and 2. the Reaſon of it.
1. The Dutie: Redeeme the time.
2. The Reaſon: Becauſe the dayes are evill, full of miſery and all abomination, and harder times will come in the laſt daies: ſo that all wiſe men ſhould ſtore up againſt an evill day.
To redeeme is to purchaſe, or to buy. The time, that is, a ſeaſon, not a diſtance of many houres, but a ſeaſon; and that is the convenience or meeting of many helps together. As winde and tide makes a ſeaſon to ſaile in: ſo when there is a faire day, and the ſun ſhines, tha'ts a ſeaſon of travelling. When there is no winde nor tide, there are indeed ſo many houres, but it is not a ſeaſon: ſo in the night, there are ſo many houres, but not a ſeaſon; no ſun-ſhine or light, and therefore not a fit time or ſeaſon for travelling: But that is a ſeaſon, when there are helps afforded of doing good.
2. What is it to redeeme the time? It is no where read, but it ſignifies thus much, To buy in the market, as tradeſmen do. So ſhould the children of God, while time, and meanes, and health, and life, and liberty is afforded unto them, ſtore themſelves with faith and ability againſt evill daies.
The Doctrine hence is this.
Doct. Improve gracious occaſions for good.It is a point of ſpirituall wiſedome to purchaſe the opportunities of grace and ſalvation at any rate.
Where helps are, there are opportunities of doing good.
For the further explication of this Doctrine, there are 3. queſtions to bee propounded.
1. What are the ſeaſons of grace and ſalvation.
2. What wee muſt part withall for them.
3. What courſe wee muſt take for to purchaſe them.
Queſt. 1. What are the opportunities of grace?
Opportunities of grace, what.Anſw. They are either generall, or ſpeciall. Generall are ſuch as men take in the time of their life; here is the time of working, here is the time of doing and getting: for, In the grave there is no wiſedome, nor counſell, Eccleſ. 9.10. and there is no hope neither; for as death leaves us, ſo ſhall judgement finde us.
Eccleſ. 3.2. There are ſpeciall opportunities for every buſineſs: a time to plow, and ſow, and reap: ſo there is a day of ſalvation, a day of grace.
Theſe ſeaſons may bee divided into three heads.
1. When we have matter to worke upon. Then is a ſeaſon, when God calls us to do good. Sometimes the Lord caſts us among the poore, that wee ſhould relieve them; the ignorant, that wee ſhould inſtruct them; the wicked, that wee ſhould reprove them. Sometimes the Lord lets us bee wronged, that is a time to uſe patience; and ſuffers us to be diſgraced, that is a time to uſe humility, and to trample all reproaches under feet.
2. Sometimes there are ſpeciall meanes of doing our ſelves good; as upon the Lords day, which is the market day for our ſoules, wherein God ſets out his wares to ſell, if men have hearts to come and buy; and ſuch are the Sacraments, and communion one with another. See how men do in worldly matters, ſo do you in ſpirituall: one man ſels cloth, another man corne: ſo ſhould Chriſtians: Thou ſhouldſt give thy brother a word of humiliation, he ſhould give thee a word of comfort, as thou ſtandeſt in need of the ſame.
3. When the Lord enlarges the hearts of his children, as hee doth many times, that is another opportunity; take hold of it: when the Lord ſtrikes, ſtrike thou; when the Lord moves, move thou. As when thou heareſt the Word, and art convicted by it, and thy heart begins to move; oh then, that's a ſeaſon. Make hay while the ſun ſhines: follow the blow, and breake thy heart, and humble thy ſoule; for that is a ſpeciall and a ſpiritual opportunity for good to thine own ſoul. Or ſometimes, when thou art in thine owne private chamber, and the door ſhut, and the candle out, and the curtaines drawne about thee, then call thou to minde thy ſinnes, and the many abominations thou haſt committed; oh then humble thy ſoul, and break thine heart, and bleſſe the Lord for that opportunity.
Queſt. 2. What muſt wee give for theſe opportunities of grace and ſalvation?
Anſw. With what wee muſt part for them.What will you beſtow? This is Gods market day; if you will bid like a chapman, you are like to have them. I will tell you what you muſt give, and I will ſet downe the price in three particulars.
1. A man muſt part with all his ſinnes and corruptions; and a man may doe that upon as reaſonable termes as may be: for a mans ſins will never doe him good but hurt, and therefore he ought to forſake them.
2. (If it pleaſe God to ſet his commodities at ſo high a rate, then) wee muſt forſake all the comforts of this life, rather then loſe ſalvation. Not only pleaſures, and profits, and delights; but meate, drinke, and apparrell, if God will have his wares ſo deare. Wee muſt part with all kindred, friends, and all, yea, life it ſelf, if occaſion ſhould ſerve. But ſometimes the Lord is ſo mercifull, and the market goes at ſo low a rate, that a man may have both the comforts of this life, and the means of grace and ſalvation too: but if the Lord require theſe, then we muſt let all go. Phil. 3.7, 8. I count all things droſſe and dung, yea,foreign. dogs-meat, in compariſon of Chriſt. Wee muſt part with all for Chriſt, and bee willing to ſuffer for him, if God require. I count all dogs-meat, ſaith S. Paul, I count all theſe things nothing: A Phariſee of the Phariſees, a Jew, circumciſed the eighth day, yet I account all theſe but dung. Mat. 19.27. There when Chriſt called his Diſciples unto him, Peter ſaid, Maſter, we have left all, and have followed thee: What therefore ſhall bee to us? Hee anſwered, Yee that have followed mee in the regeneration, when the Sonne of man ſhall ſit upon the Throne of his glory, even yee ſhall ſit upon the twelve thrones, &c.
So that you that are content to part with all, houſe and land, ſilver and gold, friends and acquaintance, and follow Chriſt, in the regeneration, all things ſhall be reſtored unto you. Chriſt ſaith unto the young man, Follow me: I pray (ſaith he) ſuffer me to bury my Father: No, no (ſaith Chriſt) Let the dead bury their dead; but follow thou mee. So, when our hearts hang after commodity and profit, and wee are loath to part with them, which indeed are but dead commodities & dead profits: they ſay, they will heare and attend afterward: oh (I ſay) Let the dead burie their dead, attend thou here.
3. Wee ſhould beſtow the beſt of our labour, and our continuall endeavour about theſe things. Wee muſt not think that the Lord brings us up for nothing but to live as we liſt, and to ſpend our time about what we pleaſe; no, he will make us ſeek for mercy, and downe on our knees, and beg for it, and make us be glad that wee can have it too, and bee wonderfully thankfull for it. Phil. 3.13. One thing I doe, but leave all the reſt, forgetting that which is behind, and preſsing forward to that which is before, to the reward of the high calling in Jeſus Chriſt, if by any means I might attaine unto it.
Ob. Is this the price? Yes: But then ſome may object, and aske, May a man of himſelfe purchaſe ſalvation?
Anſ. No, no, nothing ſo: Man cannot deſerve it at the hands of God. No merchant can get a commodity, unleſſe hee layes downe ſomething for it: ſo it is here; unleſſe we part with ſin, and pleaſure, and the like, we cannot have theſe. And theſe are the rates that God hath ſet on his wares; & that's the reaſon why they are called purchaſing. As a man cannot have commodities unleſſe hee purchaſe them,foreign. unleſſe hee payes for them: juſt ſo it is here; wee cannot have theſe, unleſſe wee buy them at theſe rates that God hath ſet downe; and that is called purchaſing.
Now when wee come into the market,Rules for buying at Gods market. that wee may buy thoſe things wee want at the beſt hand, obſerve theſe foure rules (wee are all carefull to buy at the beſt hand, moſt care ought to be taken for the purchaſing of grace and ſalvation).
1. We muſt runne betimes to the market, wee muſt take the day before us, wee muſt ſeek after the means of grace and ſalvation, and ſeek it in the firſt place. Wee muſt know that there is no buying, but in the market, and all men that need, repaire thither, and wee muſt riſe betimes in the morning, and be at the opening of the market. In the little countrey villages, you know, there are no markets, nor no commodities that wee need; if a man ſtands in need of a commodity, it is to bee had no where but in the market, thither he muſt repaire: juſt ſo it is here; In every town there is not faſting, and praying, and preaching, then you muſt goe where it is: ſo that if we have not means at home, wee muſt ſeek for them abroad. When Joſephs brethren wanted corn in the time of famine, they went to Joſeph their brother, for hee had laid up ſome for them: There is corne in Egypt, there is praying and preaching in ſuch a towne, there you may buy corne. Ye ſhould uſe all meanes, and take all paines to heare the Word; and though men ſcoffe at you, yet tell them that market-men muſt doe ſo. Dan. 12.4. Many ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall be encreaſed. 2 Chron. 11.16. It is ſaid there, that the people forſooke all, and went up to Jeruſalem to ſacrifice to God. Many times a man goes four, or five, or ſixe miles to a market: I confeſſe, a man might make a ſhift for a while without a market, by borrowing of his neighbours; but a man cannot live without a market long, no, not the beſt gentleman in the countrey: ſo a gracious heart cannot live without the Word. Mat. 24. The text ſaith, Whereſoever the dead carcaſſe is, thither the Eagles will reſort: ſo it is with the Saints of God; if there bee any Eagle-minded, they will reſort thither where Chriſt is taught, and there ſeeke for Chriſt, as the Eagles for the carcaſſe. If he be a dung-hill ſparrow, then he will be content to live among the flyes: ſuch men can live whether there bee any market or no; whether there bee faſting or praying, or no, they care not. Iſa. 2.3. The people there ſay, Come, let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Jacob, that hee may teach us of his waies. Each man calls his neighbour; Come, let us goe to the market, or to the faire: ſo ſhould the Saints of God; Come, let us goe unto the houſe of the Lord, unto mount Zion, &c. There are a generation that are content to have commodities cryed at their doores, & will not come out for them to buy them: oh, ſurely ſuch men never knew the want of grace.
As they muſt come to the market, ſo they muſt come with the firſt. Pro. 8.34. We muſt waite at the gate of Wiſdome: we ſhould bee with the formoſt in the towne, not ſtay, as many doe, till halfe Gods ſervice is paſt. Pſalm. 103.4. My ſoule (ſaith David) doth even waite untill the morning watch: ſo wee ſhould wait all opportunities to be firſt in the Church, and tarry till the laſt. When Peter was to come to Cornelius his houſe, Act. 10.24. before hee came, they were all there. A good huſband, or a wiſe merchant will goe betimes to the market, goe, and ſtand at the townes end, and ſee what good cattle comes in, and what good penny-worths may be bought; ſo that by this means he hath all the beſt before him, and ſeeing all the good penny-worths, will let none goe out of his hand. Oh that yee were as wiſe for your ſoules, as you are for your bodies, to come betimes! He that comes betimes, hath the chiefe, all the holy petitions, ſweet promiſes of the Goſpel, and uſes of inſtruction, admonition, reproofe and comfort: But for a man to come late, when the prayers are finiſhed, and the Miniſter hath tooke out his Text, and hath delivered ſuch points, and ſuch Doctrines, he loſes all the benefit of them; and why? he came after they were delivered: as when the dayes of Faſting were, wee came at the laſt duty, when as many ſweet prayers and heavenly petitions had been put up to the Lord; and what is the reaſon you got no benefit by them? oh, you loſt your market: you muſt ſeek to the means with the firſt.
2. When you are come to the market, you muſt attend upon it. You muſt beſtow your ſelves upon the meanes that God hath beſtowed upon you: you muſt come for ſome good end. A wiſe man, as hee comes to the market betimes, ſo when hee comes there, hee attends it: hee will not ſtand hanging about ſtalls, or ſlip into an ale-houſe, (yea rather, an hell-houſe;) but he will attend his buſineſſe, and ſee how the market goes, and obſerve the penny-worths; hee will ſee the choice things in the market, and will not let a good penny-worth paſſe his hands: ſo ſhould a good Chriſtian bee attentive, and liſten, & not ſuffer any choice thing to ſlip from him. You muſt attend the market; for your go upon life and death, upon ſalvation or damnation; therefore do not loſe your market. Rev. 3.2. Bee watchfull: let not a good penny-worth goe out of your hand, but hold it faſt. A wiſe merchant ſees a commodity, and layes hold on it, and will not let it goe; hee will cheapen it, and will not let it goe out of his hands for feare he ſhould loſe it: ſo, when the Word meets with you, hold it faſt; oh, that's my ſin (ſay,) and that belongs to me. Pro. 4.13 The text ſaith, Lay hold on inſtruction, let her not goe, keep her, for ſhee is thy life. Deale with it as men do many times with a commodity; if they ſet on it, they will have it whatever it coſt them. Oh that men were thus ſet upon Chriſt! that they would reſolve, hee ſhould bee theirs, whatſoever he coſt them! oh that our hearts were thus ſet upon the means! When the Lord hath ſhewed thee the neceſſity of them, and God hath revealed himſelfe, oh, I ſay, hold faſt there, let not that opportunity goe: it will be a marvellous folly if thou doſt, and it will deprive thine heart of much benefit; nay, thou maiſt loſe thy ſoule by ſuch dallying; when you have time and opportunity, and yet loſe it, ſure it is for want of attendance. Likewiſe, the children of God muſt pray privately, beſides this, for they have private ſins as well as other ſins. Attend not, looke not after temptations, but attend upon the means. Many men, when they come to market, wil fall about their homely occaſions; that which they ſhould doe at home, they doe in the market: juſt ſo it is here; when the Miniſter is preaching, then they are reading, or praying, or conferring; oh this is a ſinfull thing; you muſt doe your owne buſineſſe at home, and not neglect the opportunity before you.
3. Wee muſt lay aſide, yea, lay by thoſe that are the beſt commodities, and moſt neceſſary. Wee ſee Tradeſ-men need many things; but thoſe things that are moſt profitable and neceſſary, they will be ſure to have; and if their purſe will reach and hold out, they will buy other things afterward. Hee will buy bread now on the one ſide, and cloth on the other ſide: bread hee muſt have for his family to feed them, and cloth hee muſt have to cloath them; and if his money will hold out, then haply hee will buy ſome lace, or a rattle for his child: So I ſay, you have the choyce of all favours, and of all mercies; now provide that which is moſt neceſſary; Firſt ſeek the Kingdome of God, and the righteouſneſſe thereof, Mat. 6.33. This is the maine thing: it is of neceſſity that the ſoule ſhould be ſaved. What is here meant by the Kingdome of God? Some ſay, It is the kingdome of glory; others, the kingdome of grace: but how can a man ſeek the kingdome of glory, but firſt hee muſt have the kingdome of grace before that of glory? And how ſhall a man attaine to this? The Lord hath vouchſafed it to none, but to thoſe that do ſeek it in his ordinances; it is to bee had by the preaching of the Goſpel of grace. Was there ever any man ordinarily converted, but by the Word of God?Rom. 10.17. for Faith comes by hearing, &c. This Word is the word of the Kingdome; firſt ſeeke that by which faith is bred, by which Chriſts righteouſneſſe is made ours; make this ſure to thy ſoule: for this is that you cannot be without; this is that which David deſired, Pſ. 27.4. This is that I will require, Lord, (ſaith hee) that I may dwell in the houſe of the Lord, and ſee thy face in the beauty of holineſſe. You make little of the preaching of the Goſpel, and never regard it; but David was glad of it: O Lord (ſaith hee) One thing I have deſired, whether I have health or no, life or no, I care not, but one thing (Lord) I crave, that I may ſee thy face in the beauty, &c. For this did Chriſt commend Mary; Martha,Lu. 10.42. Martha, thou art cumbred about many things, and much buſineſſe, but Mary hath choſen the better part; that ſhall never be taken from her. Whether is the ſoule better then the body? A child of God will ſay, The ſoule is beſt. Whether is prayer better then profit, heaven better then earth? if prayer and heaven bee the better, then let the earth ſtay, let commodity ſtay, let profit ſtay, let heaven and ſalvation be ſerved firſt. This daſhes the dreames of many men, that will not ſtir out of their ſhops. though they may well bee ſpared; will rather loſe the Word of God, then loſe the profit of ſix pence. Oh ſee now, come, and lay theſe things together, and ſee the difference between them.
Ob. But ſome will ſay, they will have them; but lay them by yet, and afterward they will bargaine.
Anſw. But deferre not the time: Now, what will you give for them? Me thinks I heare mens ſoules ſay, O mercy, mercy is worth a thouſand worlds. Oh, what availes it to be rich and miſerable? honourable and accurſed? You little ones, what ſay you? Do not you wiſh for mercy? O mercy, mercy; without mercy we are for ever wretched; oh, it is mercy that wee live, and are not ſent quick to hell. But now, will you buy it? you ſhall have it cheape enough. What will you give? (Now wee come to the maine) You muſt give as the market goes, and on Gods termes, for you muſt not thinke that God will ſave you with wiſhing: Oh, no, no, he will not. But now, Will you buy them? Then bid faire: you muſt part with all your ſinnes; away with the proud heart, and away with the world and the pleaſures thereof. Now ſee how the world replyes. Firſt young ones reply, We have no wit, nor underſtanding; well, you muſt beleeve, elſe you muſt periſh. The old man ſayes, I am weake and feeble; well, you muſt get faith, or elſe you muſt periſh too. Now you know the price of it, you muſt provide to pay it. Mat. 13.44. There it is ſaid, The wiſe merchant, when he found the pearl, went and ſold all that he had to buy it: That was a great price. Thou muſt ſell all to buy this: if thy luſt bee as deare to thee as thine eye, thou muſt part with it; if thou haſt a proud heart, thou muſt downe with it; if a man have a faire eſtate, and ſo many hundreds, and ſuch lands, and ſuch and ſuch wares in his ſhop, if God require it, hee muſt part with it all. The drunkard muſt part with his cups, and the whoremonger with his queans: unleſſe yee doe part with theſe, ye cannot have Chriſt; this is the price of it. Returne to me an anſwer whether you will have it, or no, that I may returne an anſwer to the Lord, that hee may preſerve it for you. See that of Judas, Acts 12.24. He would rather have the 30 pence; yea, he would betray his Lord for it, and he had it: but hee came againe with horrour of conſcience, and threw it away, and threw away himſelfe too; for hee went and hang'd himſelfe, and now hangs in hell for ever. It is an eaſie matter for a man to tell over his money, but not ſo eaſie to make the heart willing to part with it: but if you will not part with it now, there will come a time at the day of death, and then the covetous man will ſay, Here, take my money that I have got by oppreſſion; and the drunkard will ſay, Here, take my cups. Then (I ſay) now part with them; be wiſe merchants, part with them now, and the match is made: Then now reſolve. Is it mercy (ſaith the ſoule)? then it is enough, Lord take all, though I never ſee a good day more: if it be mercy, then Lord take all; my God I will have, my God I muſt have: ſo that now the decree is ſet downe, what ever it coſt I will have it, Act. 11.23. and now I ſee the commodity is faire, and the offer is kind. As a merchant, if he have a great ſtock, ſome in corne, ſome in houſhold-ſtuffe, and land, and cattell, if he ſees a bargaine, he will ſell all that hee hath; yea, leave himſelfe neither ſhoppe nor houſe, and all to buy this purchaſe: ſo I beſeech you, play the wiſe men; here 's a deale of time ſpent in eating and drinking, and ſleeping, and recreating, and apparrelling, and company-keeping, and bowling, and vaine things: Play now the wiſe men, now God muſt have time, prayer muſt have time, and now a ſtubborne heart will aske a great deale of time to batter down; many a ſigh, and many a tear, and many a prayer; now no more apparrell then will ſerve the turne, &c. What a deale of tricking and trimming there is for the body! It might fare well with the ſoule, if it were but ſerved as our ſinkes are many times: what waſhing and ſcouring have they? Away with this tricking and trimming▪ if you doe not leave it, it will coſt the ſetting on, if God require more then this. Be wiſe for your ſoules; if you have not time enough, then put off your pleaſure, nay, and put off the world too, nay, put off friends, put off all, ſell all. No marvell indeed, though many men ſay, I marvell how ſuch a man lives, and runs up and downe ſo much: oh, let them know, there is a purchaſe in hand that will well requite both his paines and coſt. Doe not then ſtand higling with God, and break off for a little odd money. For many ſay, I would ſerve God, but my friends will forſake me; and I would come to Gods houſe on the week day, but the boyes in the ſtreete would laugh at me. I ſay, why will you dodge with God in this manner? Wil your friends ſave you? When you lie on your death-beds, and your conſciences accuſe you, and you cry out, Now friends ſave mee: they cannot; for they may periſh, and you too. Oh, away with this dallying with God. What if your Landlord frowne on you? what if your father forſake you? Reſolve thus. What though I have the frowne of men? I have the favour of God. What though the world be gone? yet heaven is my comfort; happineſs, that's not gone: Then ſay, I'll dodge no longer with God. Saint Auguſtine ſtuck faſt to his corruptions, yet To morrow Lord, and to morrow hee would leave them, and yet he prayed againſt them, and at laſt hee read the place in the Romans, Lay aſide chambering and wantonneſſe, &c. and then he ſaid, Why not to day Lord? and ſo ſtrooke through the bargaine. You ſee the commodity, if you will have it, ſpeake: if you have it not, you may go away, and repent you of it as long as you live. Now I pray you anſwer me; Will you have grace? will you have ſalvation? and will you buy this, and give as the market goes? tell mee, doe not delay while to morrow. Why not to day? O let your ſoules anſwer and ſay, Yea, Lord, to day. Take all, onelyonly ſave my ſoule. Come what will come, I'll have it. Then now the buſineſſe is ended, the bargain is made; go and take the condition; it is yours.
4. Buy not onelyonly for time preſent, but for future times. If thou heareſt the Word of God now, then ſtore for thy ſoule. Let this day bee a day of reconciliation; and then you may ſay, at ſuch a day the Lord afforded you grace, and you bargained, and that the Lord knowes it: Keepe that by you, that when Sathan tempteth you, and ſaith unto you, Have you any grace? you may recall this, and ſay, I provided ſuch a day againſt ſuch a queſtion, and I remember the time, place, and ſtone I ſtood on, and the Miniſter that ſpake, and the Lord is my witneſſe. Oh ſtore up: it is the part of a wiſe man ſo to doe. Iſa. 42.23. Who attends, that hee may heare for afterward? Joh. 16.4. Theſe things (ſaith Chriſt) I ſpeake unto you, that in the time to come yee may remember them. So yee ſee the opportunities of grace, the market day for it; then go home cheared, and, having gotten grace, keepe it by you. Hee that was content to ſell all, hee had the pearle. This will cheare you, to ſell all to get Chriſt, and keepe him by you.
In the laſt place: When the match is made; then in all other things you doe, you muſt change the property of them: you muſt now trade for grace, uſe the world as if you uſed it not, and you muſt not live to your ſelves, but to God; you muſt trade for God, and walke with God. You ſee how you muſt beſtow your labour and paines, elſe heaven will not bee had. If you aske the maner how you muſt ſeek theſe things; it muſt be in the firſt place: Come to the market betimes, and ſee the choyce, and buy the beſt upon any termes, and ſtore up for the time to come; and then buy other things. You muſt ſeeek grace in the firſt place: when you are at the meanes, you muſt beſtow your heart on the means; and when you have ſeene the bargaines, lay aſide thoſe that are more neceſſary, and then part with all to have them; and thus ſtore up for the future.
And Laſtly, Uſe all outward means no otherwiſe then to help you forward to ſpeed.
To proceed; Now wee muſt retaine in our callings three things.
1. Wee muſt uſe them ſo, that they muſt give way to ſpirituall things. I would not have tradeſ-men ſo ſet to their callings, as that they will give no liberty for prayer, and for hearing of the Word of God. Let commodity, let profit go to the wall, rather then to let prayer and the Word to fall, and to be neglected. Firſt ſeek the Kingdome of God: As any man will doe, if there come two men to him, if the one be better then the other, he will bid the other ſtand by till his betters be ſerved: ſo it is here, God is better then commodity, then profit; then let God be ſerved firſt, let dutie be performed firſt.
2. We muſt ſo uſe our callings, as that we may bee the better fitted to perform more duty to God. It is very fit wee ſhould have ſome taſt of God in our daily imployments, that we may thereby be the better fitted for his ſervice. As a man takes a cup of ſack before ſupper, not that he makes a meale of it, but to make way for his meale: juſt ſo, we ſhould have our hearts more enlarged by it to performe our duties, every way to take notice of Gods favour and kindneſſe towards us.
3. We muſt keep heavenly minds in earthly or worldly occaſions; and that is a marvelous hard thing, & this is the reaſon that the Saints of God being ſnatcht away by ſo many worldly occaſions, and ſo many buſineſſes, that their hearts many times come to be deaded and dulled. But a man ſhould uſe them no further, but that his heart may bee enlarged to God. Looke what good wee finde in our trade, let us bee led by that to ſee what goodneſſe is in God, who is the fountaine of all good. When we ſee that great good, and the commoditie that comes in to us, then let us ſee the riches of God: and ſeeing this is ſo good, what ſhould wee think of the goodneſſe of God? Let us ſee his goodneſſe in it; for unleſſe the Lord ſmile on us, what avails it for us to bee rich? what, to be rich and to be damned? this is very pitifull.
But what is the reaſon men are ſo backward in buying theſe things? how ſhall wee doe to bring men to bid like chapmen? The reaſon to perſwade them may bee taken from two grounds.
1. The excellency of the commodity.
2. The time wee have to purchaſe it.
I. To make the firſt plaine,The excellency of the cōmodity to be bought. theſe three arguments are to be taken from the commoditie.
1. Becauſe the meanes of grace and ſalvation is a thing of as great excellencie and price as can bee; therefore in reaſon wee ſhould lay downe a price for them. For the better the commodity is, all wiſe men will lay down anſwerably. The price of ſalvation is a great price; becauſe there is nothing better that is or can be deſired. Pro. 4.7. Wiſdome is a precious thing, but above all things get underſtanding. The world, honours, pleaſures may be got; but Wiſedome is beſt of all, therefore get that firſt. For all the things here below are vaine things, becauſe they are lying vanities; but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Pet. 1.25. and that will make us endure for ever too, if wee are humbled by it. The Word of the Lord will ſtand by us, for it is an immortall Word, and it will make us immortall alſo: it will ſtand ſo by us, as it will make us live for ever, and it will cheare our ſoules when nothing in the world will. Phil. 2.13. Wee muſt work out our ſalvation with fear and trembling: Now the manner how wee ſhall doe this, is not by making our ſelves rich in this world, and getting the things thereof, but by getting grace, that it may goe well with us: this is the maine thing that wee may get the love of God, to get our ſoules to be humbled and caſt down. Now, if this bee the beſt, (as it is) then in all reaſon, it requires the greateſt price. Is it ſo, that the Word of God will endure for ever, will ſtand by you and ſave you? then if you give a price for any thing, give moſt for that.
2. As the meanes of grace is beſt, and of greateſt worth; ſo it is moſt neceſſary for us. What is the reaſon that men buy commodities? Becauſe they have need of them; as if a man ſhould ſay, This I muſt have, and I have need of it. Gold is better then ſilver, and pearls then both; but bread is beſt of all, for all theſe muſt be left for it: a poor man will part with ſilver and gold, and all for bread, for that he muſt have. Now, there is nothing ſo neceſſary as for the ſoule to be ſaved; for if a man want any thing elſe, hee may make a ſhift; if he be poor, haply his friends be rich, and they will relieve him well; but if the ſoule have ſinned, and is become miſerable by reaſon of ſin, oh what hope, what help but only from God! Therefore that is moſt needfull: without it the ſoule is ſtarved & famiſh'd: And what though you have mony? yet your ſoul may periſh, and goe downe to hell. What's that to the ſoul for a man to bee rich, or what is that to the ſoule to have the perſon applauded, and have abundance of all things, and the poore ſoule is ſtarved and famiſh'd, and wants all things? Me thinks I heare your ſoules cry out, The body, that's cloathed, the houſe filled, and the ſhop, that's ſtored; oh, ſayes the ſoule, I ſhall bee damned; all is provided for, only I ſhall ſmart for it, I ſhall pay for all, I ſhall goe to hell for it. I beſeech you think of it. The time will come when you will prize mercy, and cry out for it. When thou lieſt on thy death bed, when thou art breathing out thy laſt breath, then one dram of mercy Lord, and then one dram of faith Lord; then it wil be worth a world to thee. Mat. 23. It is ſaid there, the fooliſh Virgins cry out, Wee have no oyl, oh, lend us ſome; oh then, Lord, open unto us. One day the poor ſoule will have need of mercy. You ſee that it is moſt neceſſary, then buy it, leſt you bee forced to borrow and cannot have it. So then there is but one needfull thing, Luk. 11. ult. It is not of neceſſity to be rich, it is not of neceſſity to be honourable; but oh, this is of neceſſity, that thy ſins ſhould bee pardoned, thy perſon accepted, and thy ſoule ſaved.
3. Here is a point of great chriſtian policy, for in getting of grace and ſalvation, you ſhall get all other commodity with it, and all other good things. It is the beſt husbandry to buy that which will bring in moſt good. For all outward comforts and contentments that this life can afford, they come all in this. As, a man that ſees ſuch a tree, and ſuch an acre of ground, if it likes him, he will not go to buy that, but he will buy the Lordſhip, and then all the trees are his, and all the ground is his. So, this is our miſery, we ſtand puddling our ſelves here for a little honour, and for a little riches: go (I ſay) and buy the Lordſhip, and then all will be made ſure unto thee. Pro 3.14, 15, 16. Get wiſdome, for life and honour are on her right hand, and riches and pleaſure are on her left hand, &c. Firſt ſeek the kingdome of heaven, and all other things ſhall bee caſt in upon you. So that a good man compares all this outward commoditie to pack thred & paper, which if a man goes into a ſhop, and buyes wares, he ſhall have into the bargaine for nothing. So here, get once grace, and then all things elſe you ſhall have into the bargaine: for Godlineſſe is great gain: it hath the promiſe of this life, and that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4. You may ſit and ſing Care away; for all is yours, heaven is yours, the earth is yours. It is a marvellous folly in men, who take a wrong courſe to thrive. If you would bee rich, then Conſider your owne wayes, and your hearts, and turne unto the Lord; Hag. 1.16.for that is the way. It is not all the policie, and the carping and caring in the world that will make a man rich; for the Lord hath a veine of vengeance to waſte this mans eſtate, and a ſecret plague to plague another mans wealth: So now conſider your waies. Conſider, how that when you were careleſſe of God, then the Lord cruſh'd all you did. Where are mens hearts, thus to waite upon, and to follow God? I ſay, where are mens hearts? if grace bee the beſt good, then labour herein.
II. Secondly,Time to purchaſe it, is but ſhort. See the opportunity that God gives us to get grace. From whence we may draw two reaſons. One from the ſhortneſſe of our life: and the other from the ſhortneſſe of the meanes of grace and ſalvation, by reaſon of our unprofitableneſſe. It is our wiſedome to ſtrike while the iron is hot; the means of grace and ſalvation is ſhort, and hee that dies without grace ſhall never be ſaved. Conſider of it, this may bee the laſt time that I ever ſhall ſpeake, or you ſhall heare: for the Lord may take away our lives, or the meanes from us. Therefore while you have time, imploy your time; for there is a great deale paſt, and that's gone, and cannot bee recalled againe; ſo that's none of ours: then for the time to come, that's none of ours, for we cannot tel whether we ſhall live or no; therefore onelyonly the time preſent is ours. Heare therefore while you have time and means: the offer of grace is tendered: Oh turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die! But ſee what became of it; the Lord offers commodity, but 'tis not worth the buying amongſt ſome What ſaith the Text, Mat. 23.37. Oh Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, how often would I have gathered you as an hen doth her chickens, but (ſaith the Text) ye would not! O let us not ſtand out with God, leſt hee leave ſuch an heavie doome upon us, as hee did on Jeruſalem. Now your houſe is left unto you deſolate. How often would I have received you, and you would not! O then I ſay, take heed that the Lord doth not ſay to us, O England, how often would I, but you would not! Ye care not now for teaching, yee will have no inſtruction: Well, you ſhall not, (ſaith God to Jeruſalem), you ſhall never ſee my face more till you can prize it; yea, till you ſay, Bleſſed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord, Hoſanna in the higheſt. So the Lord may ſay unto us, Oh ye have refuſed mercy; but yee will cry and houle, and never ſhall have mercy more. How doſt thou know this, oh man, whether ever thou ſhalt have the offer of mercy againe? You may never have any more offer. Luk. 19 41. Chriſt ſtood over Jeruſalem and wept, Oh (ſaith hee) that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are hidden from thine eyes; now they are taken away becauſe ye would not. They may have the Word, but ſhall finde no good in it. Oh that is the doom of all dooms, when the Lord curſes his bleſſings, when the Lord gives a man up to the hardneſſe of his own heart, and to the blindneſſe of his owne eyes! Who knowes but the Lord may ſpeake to ſome of us now, and that hee will never offer nor worke again? Pro. 1.27. They ſhall call and cry, but I will not anſwer them, ſaith the Lord. Who knowes, but that this may bee thy lot? This may bee thy ſhare. Is there any one whoſe ſoule ſtirres within him, and ſayes, Oh the precious means of ſalvation that I have had! how kindely did the Lord come, and I had almoſt yeelded, and yet withſtood the Lord! Is there any that hath been thus? I charge thee take heed leſt the Lord ſet it down upon thy forehead, Wel, grace hath been offered, and it hath been refuſed, it ſhall never be offered more; My Sabbaths they have had, but they profaned them; well, they ſhall never ſee Sabbath more: of all plagues, there is none like to this. O fearfull, that the Word ſhould never work more; and They ſhall cry, but I will not anſwer! Pro. 1.24. A man were better to be torn in pieces with wild horſes, then to hear that voice: Wiſdome ſaith there, I will laugh at your deſtruction. When a man is in perplexity, and the Lord ſhould ſee him, and laugh at him in his miſery, and ſhould ſay, This is he that heard the Word and oppoſed it, this is the man; come and behold him, O Angels, come and rejoyce at his deſtruction; this is he, let him be accurſed; this is hee that deſpiſed all meanes, therefore ſend him downe quick into utter darkneſſe: then ye will know what it is to oppoſe grace. Time may come, that thou wouldeſt pray, and thou mayeſt have no heart; or if thou doſt, the time may come when God will not hear thee. Oh, I withſtood all means, and therefore with what heart can I doe any thing! Oh that ye would but think on this; thou mayſt ſeek, and ſeek, and ſeek often, and that with tears, and yet mayſt have the repulſe. Deut. 1.41. The people of Iſrael began to murmure againſt the Lord, Would to God wee had dyed in Egypt. The Lord heard them, and made a ſolemne vow, that they ſhould never enter into the land of Canaan. Deut. 1.45. Then they returned and wept, and prayed, but the Lord heard them not. Therefore take heed how yee oppoſe grace and ſalvation: I beſeech you, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt his ſake think of it. How many offers of grace have wee had, and then have ſaid, wee would labour that our hearts might bee enlarged towards God, and wee would be more holy? wee have had many Sabbaths, how little have wee profited by them? If God ſhut the Iſraelites out of Canaan for the refuſing of one offer; feare God, I ſay, feare and ſtand agaſt. Seeing it is ſo, it is the part of wiſe men to take the offer of grace and ſalvation whileſt it is offered to them.