The Unbelievers Preparing for Christ, Treatise · Sermon 4
LUKE 19.42.
If thou … knowne as leaſt in this thy day the things belonging to thy ….
ACcording to our purpoſe we have proceeded thus farre in the point of preparation, wee have ſpoken of the five generall circumſtances thereof; the firſt whereof was this, the mercy of God is free; ſecondly, a man muſt will to receive Chriſt and grace before he ſhall have Chriſt and grace; thirdly, he that doth will Chriſt truly ſhall have Chriſt and ſalvation by him. Theſe three wee have handled out of the 22. of the Revelations the 17. The fourth was that a man by nature cannot receive Chriſt and grace, and that wee handled out of 1 Cor. 2.14. The fift was, howſoever a ſoule by nature cannot receive Chriſt and ſalvation, yet God will bring the ſoules of his to prize Chriſt, and approve of him, and bee willing to entertaine him, and then he will beſtow Chriſt and ſalvation upon them, this wee handled out of Ezek. 11.19. and in this worke of God in the preparing of a ſoule for himſelfe, there are two further circumſtances to be conſidered in regard of the time when God will doe this, and the firſt circumſtance is in regard of the meanes, the ſecond in regard of the men which are to bee wrought upon; and ſo wee have a trouble conſideration in regard of the time when God will thus prepare the ſoule of a poore ſinner for himſelfe; the firſt is in reſpect of the meanes, and that is this, when the Goſpel of life and ſalvation is ſent and revealed to a people and continued to a people, if ever God worke upon the hearts of men, if ever hee meanes to bring people to the knowledge of the things belonging to their peace, it is then when the Lord is pleaſed to ſend his faithfull Miniſters among them, & diſcover the meanes of life and ſalvation …nto them. The ſecond circumſtance is in regard of the men that God will work upon; ſome ſooner ſome later, ſome in their young and tender age, ſome in their middle age and in their ripe yeares, and ſome though very few in their old age, few are called when they are old, God calls ſome ſuch but very few, as wee ſhall heare hereafter. Wee will handle now the circumſtance of time in regard of the meanes, when God doth purpoſe good into a man, or towne, or a country, or a kingdome, namely when the Lord ſends his Goſpel among them & his faithfull Miniſters to diſcover the meanes of … unto them; and for this purpoſe I have this … Text. And firſt to make way for our ſelves and then to preſſe on unto the point, we muſt therefore underſtand that our Saviour Chriſt came in the laſt day of asking, as it were, to Ieruſalem, they had had many Prieſts to teach them, and many Prophets to exhort them, and a great many of means of life and ſalvation vouchſafed unto them; now when Chriſt was comming towards the city and ſaw it a far off, and fo… ſaw alſo the deſolation that ſhould come upon it his bowells yearned within him towards the people, and he mourned ſecretly within himſelfe, Oh theſe famous monuments and goodly buildings ſhall all be layd waſte, thou haſt had many Prieſts to adviſe thee, and many Prophets to inſtruct thee in the wayes of life, but now thoſe dayes are gone and paſt: Nay the great Prophet of the world Chriſt Ieſus is now come to woe thee to receive the things belonging to thy peace, and yet thy heart is hardned, and thou will not receive the things belonging to thy peace, and therefore now I will turne my preaching into mourning and ſighing; Oh Ieruſalem, Ieruſalem, that thou hadſt knowne at leaſt in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace, but now they are hidden from thine eyes, now thoſe golden dayes are gone, and the gate of mercy is ſhut, there is no more meanes of grace and ſalvation offered, the Goſpell ſhall never more be vouchſafed unto thee, and becauſe thou haſt rejected the meanes of ſalvation offered, they ſhall never more be granted: ſo that now here we have the paſſing peale of Ieruſalem by our Saviour, look as it is with a man that is carrying to be buried, his wife ſhee weepes, and his children they mourne, and his firiends they lament. So it is here, our Saviour he followes Ieruſalem to the grave as it were, and when hee could doe no more for it, then hee weepes and mournes over it, Oh that thou hadst knowne in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace; and the exhortation that here Chriſt preſſeth upon Ieruſalem, depends upon three circumſtances; the firſt is taken from the nature of the things offered her and revealed unto her, they were not matters of trifles, but they were things belonging to her peace, the ſecond is in regard of the time, at leaſt in this thy day, as who ſhould ſay, this is the laſt day of asking, the laſt time that ever theſe things ſhall bee offered unto thee, and therefore this ought to move thee to give entertainment to the exhortation of thy Saviour. The third is in regard of the perſon, Chriſt Ieſus requeſted this that might have commanded it, he intreats and requeſts it, nay with weeping, he doth beſeech thee to give way to this exhortation of his; all meanes ſhould have beene embraced, all opportunities ſhould have beene entertained, all Miniſters ſhould have beene heard, and regarded, but principally theſe things belonging to thy peace, eſpecially in this thy day … not to have beene rejected, thy Saviour above all other ſhould not have beene refuſed and con… ned, and then hee falls a weeping and then … mournes; Oh that thou hadſt knowne theſe things in this thy day, and then his heart even break…, … hee weepes againe, Oh but now they bee hidden from thine eyes, thou ſhalt never receive the like favour againe, the like opportunitie ſhall never hereafter bee offered. Wee will firſt handle the fir circumſtance, but before I can come to deliver the poin: plainely and nakedly, give mee leave a little to open the meaning of this word day, kn…w therefore thus much, that this word in phraſe of Scripture diſcovereth unto us that time, or that percell of time which God hath ſet out in his providence for any particular ſervice. As it was in the creation of the world when the Lord made all things, the Lord turned an houre glaſſe as it were, and ſet downe the time wherein every thing was made, God ſaid, let there bee light and there was light, and the evening and the morning was the firſt day, then God ſaid let there be a firmament and there was ſo, and the evening and the morning were the ſecond day; and here is the ſtoppe and ſtay that God maketh to the creature, as who ſhould ſay, as every thing hath a day wherein it was made, ſo every thing hath a day wherein it workes, and the Lord hath limited a certaine time to every action, that every creature is able to performe and which God requires of it, ſo that obſerve a mans day in generall, is nothing but the time of his life… beſides this, a day diſcovereth the paſſages of Gods providence and that ſpeciall nicke of opportunitie that God hath layd out for every particular act; as God hath appointed a day wherein anguiſh and greefe ſhall come upon us, and that is ſayd to bee the day of trouble, …all upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you ſaith the Pſalmiſt; there is a day of tryall alſo in the third of Hebr. 8. harden not your hearts as in the day of tryall or temptation in the Wilderneſſe, and there is a day of viſitation alſo, as wee may ſee in this Chapter, verſe 44. They ſhall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee, and they ſhall not leave in thee one ſtone upon another, becauſe thou knewſt not the day of thy viſitation; Ieruſalem was like a ſicke perſon, as indeede all ſinners are ſicke men; now the Lord Ieſus being the great Phyſition of the world, came to viſit Ieruſalem. When he ſent his balme from Gilead, the glad tidings of grace and ſalvation, then the Lord did viſit Ieruſalem for the healing, comforting and ſaving of her, and this was Ieruſalem day: So that then the day of a man is the time of his life, together with that parcell of time that God hath alotted him for every particular wor…e; and the day of a man which belongs to his viſitation, is that particular opportunitie wherein grace is offered, and ſalvation tendred unto him; as there is a day of trouble and a day of tryall, ſo in the third place there is a day of ſalvation and a day of viſitation, which is that particular ſeaſon wherein God ſends his faithfull meſſengers to diſpenſe the meanes of life and ſalvation unto a people. O that thou hadſt knowne, &. as if Chriſt ſhould have ſaid, O yee inhabitants of Ieruſalem, while the word of life laſteth, and the meanes of grace and ſalvation is continued unto you, this is your day, and this is the meaning of the word, every man hath his day more or leſſe as Ieruſalem had when the meanes of ſalvation were diſcovered unto it. The doctrine with which we will grapple is thus much, namely That while life is continued, & the meanes of grace & ſalvation afforded to a people, that is the ſeaſon wherein God meaneth to worke upon their hearts effectually that they may receive life and ſalvation. It is true when Corne failes God can ſend Manna from heaven; God can uſe extraordinary meanes to bring men to life and ſalvation and happineſſe, but men muſt not looke now for extraordinary converſions, they muſt not expect to be miraculouſly ſaved, as in former times ſome were, when the meanes of ſalvation was revealed onelyonly to the people of the Iewes; Rahab indeede and Iob that had not the meanes of ſalvatition ſo apparently revealed unto them; but had onelyonly …inckling of the happineſſe that God had wrought for his people; this wrought upon them and prevailed with their hearts, and by the power of the Almighty God brought them to the knowledge of the things belonging to ſalvation. But in the common courſe of God, if ever ſoule now be converted, it muſt be by the miniſtery of the word, that is our day, that is our time, that is the ſpeciall ſeaſon wherein God will vouchſafe to looke upon poore ſinners, and convert them unto himſelfe; if a man were not alive meanes would not profit him, and if a man were alive and had no meanes, hee could get no good neither; but when both theſe goe together, then is the time wherein God offereth life and ſalvation, then is the ſeaſon wherein God (if ever) will worke upon the ſoule of a ſinner to make him fit to entertaine things belonging to his peace. We muſt handle two parts in the point, firſt that a mans life is part of this ſeaſon; ſecondly that the meanes offered in that ſeaſon is the making up of the point, wee will prove both parts ſeverally, and then make uſes of them both together. Firſt wee will proove that the time of a mans life is part of the ſeaſon wherein God will worke effectually upon him for his everlaſting comfort,Eccleſ. 9.10. in the in the ninth of Eccleſiaſtes 10. there ſaith the wiſe man, Whatſoever thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with thy might, for there is no worke, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſedome in the grave whither thou goeſt; as though he had ſayd, if there be any thing that God requireth of thee, If there be any duty that ought to be diſcharged by the labour whilſt thou liveſt to doe it. And now be carefull to performe it, for when death ſhall cloſe thine eyes, and thy body returneth to the grave, then there is no more teaching, no more hearing, no more expecting of grace and mercy from God, and wee ſhall finde in courſe of Scripture, that a man ſhall receive according tot hat he hath done in the fleſh: while a man lives here he is in the time of trading, and the time after this life is the time of enjoying, in this life is the time of labouring, and the time to come is the time of rewarding; as our trading and labouring is here in this life, ſo ſhall our injoying and rewarding be hereafter in the life to come, A… … ſoweth ſo ſhall a man reape, Gal. 6.8. if hee ſow to the fleſh he ſhall reape to the fleſh,Gal. 6.8. if hee yeeld to the corruptions of his owne nature, and gives way thereunto, and be carried aſide thereby, hee ſhall have the wages of ſinne, but hee that is willing for to ſtoope to the Commandements of God, he that ſerves God here and walkes uprightly before him ſhall receive everlaſting life, and eternall happineſſe hereafter; and ſo much for the proofe of the firſt Point, after this life is once ended, there is no hope of life and ſalvation.
Secondly, together with our lives wee muſt alſo have the meanes of grace continued unto us for the making up of that ſeaſon wherein God will, if ever, fit us and prepare us for mercy, I meane by the meanes of grace the preaching of the Goſpell, for this was one part of Ieruſalems day here ſpoken of; and therefore this is the ſecond part of every mans day, namely, when we have the glad tidings of the Goſpell vouchſafed unto us;2 Cor. 6.2. in 2. Cor. 6.2. the Apoſtle doth conclude that when the meanes of life and ſalvation is afforded, this is the time of ſalvation, he laieth his finger, as it were, upon the ſeaſon of life and happineſſe, for he ſaith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of ſalvation have I ſuccoured thee? now ſome may ſay, when is this time of ſalvation? The Apoſtle doth particularly make this good in the words following, now ſaith hee, behold is the accepted time, behold now is the day of ſalvation. Now while the Lord is pleaſed to vouchſafe the meanes of grace and ſalvation to you, and to ſend the Doctrine of ſalvation among you; why, now is the time accepted, now is the day of your ſalvation,Luke 19.9. and therefore Luke 19.9. Zacheus when hee had a ſtrong deſire to ſee Chriſt, and to meete with the Lord Ieſus, and could not by reaſon of the preaſe, hee gets him out of the croud, and came before into a Sycamore tree, that ſo hee might the better behold him; but before Zacheus could ſee Chriſt, Chriſt ſaw him, and calleth to him, Make haſte Zacheus and come downe, for to day I muſt abide at thy houſe, and Zacheus made haſte and came downe joyfully; and then the Lord Ieſus when hee came with him to his houſe ſaid unto him, this day is ſalvation come unto this houſe, why? becauſe this day hee was made the ſonne of Abraham, as wee may ſee in the words following, this day it pleaſed Chriſt to bring that deſire of Zacheus unto ſome perfection; & this was the day of Zacheus: while then the Word is revealed, and while the meanes of happineſſe is laid open, while God makes a tender of grace and ſalvation to a ſoule, this is the day of every mans ſalvation: ſo then wee have the proofe of the point plaine out of Scripture, namely, that while life and the meanes laſt, that is the ſeaſon that God hath appointed and ſet apart to doe good to the ſoules of thoſe whom hee meaneth to convert unto himſelfe.
The next thing to be conſidered is the reaſon of this how it commeth to be thus, that the time of a mans life, and the time wherein God vouchſafeth the meanes, that this is the time wherein God offereth ſalvation to a poore ſoule; and wee will lay downe the reaſons of both parts ſeverally. Firſt, concerning the time of a mans life; and the reaſon of this is, becauſe when this crazie frame of ours beginnes to be diſſolved, then comes Gods definitive ſentence, Gods definitive verdict then paſſes upon a man, God then paſſeth a ſentence upon a …an which hee never meaneth to recall; a man at the time of his death, when death cloſeth a mans eyes, hee is then either everlaſtingly happy, or elſe everlaſtingly miſerable; there is then afterwards no alteration to be expected, Heb. 9.27. There, ſaith the Text,Heb. 9 27. it is appointed for all men once to die, but after that comes judgement; as death leaves a man, ſo judgement findes a man, hee doth not ſay after death comes amendment, after death comes repentance, after death comes Purgatory; no, no, this is a dreame of the Papiſts, they thinke that a man may after death be in trouble a while, and be in Purgatorie, and then be brought out by the treaſure of the Church: but alas, this is a vaine dreame to inlarge the Popes coffers, and to make the Popes Kitchin hot, as Divines uſe to ſay, that ſo the Pope may have a great deale of money: they ſay, if a man have le… never ſo wicked a life, if yet he will beſtow ſuch a legacie upon the Popes holineſſe, though hee have beene in Purgatory a great while, hee ſhall yet by the treaſure of the Church be releaſed, but this is a fond, fooliſh, ſottiſh dreame, the caſe is plaine enough after death judgement comes next, a man ſhall either goe into everlaſting happineſſe, or elſe into everlaſting confuſion; there is no third place for a ſoule to goe unto, but a man muſt either goe to hell for ever or to heaven for ever; every man that is ſaved, is ſaved by Chriſt, Ioh. 3.36.Ioh. 3.36. He that beleeveth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that beleeveth not the Sonne ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him: ſo then now if a man beleeve in Chriſt hee is perfectly ſaved, if he beleeve not in Chriſt hee is p…fectly damned, Ioh. 3.18.Ioh. 3.18. Hee that beleeveth on him is not condemned, but hee that beleeveth not is condemned already, that is, hee hath one foote in hell as it were, hee is now in the gall of bitterneſſe, and if hee liveth thus, and endeth his dayes in this condition, hee ſhall as ſurely be damned and goe to hell, as if hee were there already. All that beleeve in Chriſt are fully ſaved, and therefore to heaven they muſt goe … if they beleeve not in Chriſt; they are as ſurely damned, and therefore to hell they muſt go▪ ſo the… the caſe is cleare, the ſentence of God is fir… and the virdict that God paſſeth upon a … ſinner at thet time of death is moſt certaine, there is no repealing of the ſentence, there is no recalling of the verdict, and this is the reaſon why the time of a mans life is the ſeaſon wherein … man ſhall receive grace and ſalvation if ever hee receive it.
The ſecond thing to be prooved is this, why the meanes of ſalvation makes up the opportunitie wherein God meaneth to ſave poore ſinners if … they be converted, and wee ſhall obſerve that the ground of this lieth in the very nature of a ſeaſon; if wee aske what makes a ſeaſon of grace? I anſwer that it will appeare that only the revelation of the Will of God in the Goſpell maketh this ſeaſon; Know therefore thus much, that to make up the ſeaſon for any thing; there is not onelyonly required a continuance of time, but alſo a ſupply of all thoſe helpes that may be uſefull and needefull for the accompliſhment of any worke in that ſeaſon; As for example, imagine the dayes and the nights were of an equal longth, ſo many houres in the one, ſo many houres in the other, yet this continuance of time doth not make an opportunitie barely; for a man to walke in the night though there be as many houres in the night as in the day, becauſe the houres doe not make on opportunitie for a man to walke in, but the meanes that are needefull for this action, for when the Sunne ſhines ſo that a man may ſee his way, and avoid dangers and inconveniences, this is the time wherein a man hath a fit opportunitie to walke in, ſo ſaith our Saviour, If a man walkes in the night he ſtumbleth, but if he walke in the day then he ſtumbl…s not, becauſe hee ſeeth where he goeth; ſo that the continuance of time doth no make up an opportunitie, but a ſupply alſo of all helpes and ſufficiencie needefull for the performance of any action in this time. Looke as it is with men when they goe to faile, when there is winde and tide for their purpoſe, this is the fitteſt opportunitie for them to take ſhippe in: now in a calme day there may be as many houres, as much continuance of time as in a day when there is winde and tide ſerving for their turne; but this cannot be ſaid to be a ſeaſon for them to goe to ſea in, but when they have winde and weather to carry them, and tide to convey them, this is a ſit opportunitie for them to take ſhip in: ſo when the Goſpell is revealed, when the meanes of grace is offered to any people, then there is a powerfull concurrence of all ſufficiencie and helpe every way to procure that good which is wanting to the ſoule, and which is neceſſary for the ſoule for the attaining of happineſſe here and hereafter; and therefore this is the ſeaſon wherein men ſhall be converted and receive ſalvation if ever they ſhall be made partakers of it; and therefore it is ſaid of the Word, that it is able to ſave the ſoules of men, though a man were never ſo weak, yet this Word of the Goſpell is able to make him ſtrong, though he were never ſo proud, never ſo ſturdie, yet this word is able to humble him, though he were never ſo full of unbeliefe, yet this Word is able to worke faith in him, though hee were a damned man, yet thus is the onelyonly meanes to bring him to ſalvation. Now then this I reaſon out of the former arguments, they that enjoy that continuance of time wherein they have all meanes neceſſary to procure life and ſalvation; they have the … wherein life and ſalvation is to be obtained; … they that have life continued and the meanes of the Goſpell revealed and vouch ſafed unto them, … have all meanes and helpes whereby grace and … vation may be procured unto them, and … they enjoy the fitteſt ſeaſon wherein God doth meane t… do good unto their ſoules. The life of the Doctrine is behind, that lieth in the application of the Point.
The uſes of the Point are three, If it be ſo that while life is continued, and the Goſpell preached; this is the time wherein God meanes if ever to ſhew mercy to the ſoule of a poore ſinner: then in the firſt place, it is a ground of inſtruction to every ſoule here preſent, to teach us how thankefull wee ought to be unto the Lord that enjoy yet theſe liberties in the land of the living, to acknowledge Gods goodneſſe towards us, and take notice of his mercifull dealing with us, that yet we live thorough him, and that yet wee may receive grace and merciemercy from him by the meanes of ſalvation that hee hath appointed; it is a mervellous high and happy priviledge that wee may enjoy the light of the Goſpell, that a man was borne in ſuch a time, in the laſt age of the world, in ſuch a place, in this kingdome, wherein the way of life and ſalvation is ſo fully, ſo plainely, nay, ſo powerfully made knowne to the ſoules of men, as the whole world enjoyes not the like, that we have the day of ſalvation to trade in for the good and comfort of our ſoules, that wee have the day before us wherein wee may walke in thoſe wayes whereby comfort may be derived unto us, that the Sunne of the Goſpell ſhines full in our faces, and is not yet ſet, and that as wee live in the earth, ſo we injoy the meanes of a better life, that ſo wee may be with, God, when wee ſhall goe hence and be no more ſeene. The antient people of God did obſerve Gods goodneſſe herein, the Scripture ſaith, that Abraham ſaw this day a farre of and rejoyced, he ſaw the day wherein Chriſt ſhould come into the world, and when the meanes of ſalvation ſhould be offered and revealed, thoſe things were laced up in types & figures in Abrahams time, but when God revealed the day of Chriſt Ieſus unto Abraham, hee by faith beleeved it, hee ſaw it afarre of and rejoyced: nay, good old Simeon when hee ſaw this accompliſhed when he ſaw Chriſt was borne, and had him in his armes, then he deſired to live no longer, but bleſſed God and ſaid, Now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace according to thy Word, for mine eyes have ſeene thy ſalvation which thou haſt prepared before the face of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles; and the glory of thy people Iſrael; when he ſaw the meanes of ſalvation diſcovered and declared, his heart was ſo raviſhed with the delight he tooke therein, that he did deſire to depart out of this life, that he might be with Chriſt in a better life: it is true that while we live in this world we ſhall have many troubles, while we continue in this vale of miſery, wee ſhall have many vexations, but this is the comfort of a man that hee hath the voice of the Goſpell ſounding in the eares of him, and the Spirit behind him crying after him, This is the good and ancient way walke in it; if a man that were to travell by night had but the Moone, or the light of the Starres to direct him in his journey, this would be very comfortable unto him, but if hee had a lampe or a torch carried before him hee would thinke this a marvellous comfort, but if a man that hath a journey to take, hath the Sunne ſhining cleare above him, this will greatly cheare the heart of a poore travellour, though his journey be tedious, and the way be foule; why yet hee will ſay it is faire above head, and I have day enough before mee, and therefore I care not: So it ought to be with every Chriſtian man living; wee are all travellers here below, wee are all bound for heaven, though a man finde rough wayes and cold weather, though a man have many troubles, many diſgraces caſt upon his perſon, many reproches put upon his name, yet this may be his comfort there is day enough before a man, it is faire weather above head, the preaching of the Word may cheere a man, and the meanes of life and happineſſe may comfort a man that walkes in the way unto ſalvation; in 1 Pet. 1.…0. the Te…t ſaith, that the antient Prophets enquired and ſought diligently when Chriſt ſhould come, when the means of ſalvation ſhould be revealed, of which ſalvation,… Pet. 1.10. ſaith the text, the Prophets have enquired and ſearched diligently, who propheſied of the grace that ſhould come, &c. all the antient Fathers before enjoyed onelyonly the Mooneſhine and the Starre-light of the Goſpell, and therfore in the 2 Pet. 1.19. The Apoſtle ſaith,2 Pet. 1.19. We have alſo a more ſure Word of propheſie, whereunto you doe well that you take heede as unto a light that ſhineth in a darke place untill the day dawne and the day-ſtarre ariſe in your hearts; as who ſhould ſay, when Chriſt came, when the Goſpell was revealed, the Sonne of righteouſneſſe did then clearely appeare, if they that expected thoſe things onelyonly were thankefull for them, then what ſhould we be that enjoy theſe helpes, for the cheering of us, helping of us, and comforting of us in the wayes of ſalvation; it is a ſpeech of the Prophet David, Give me underſtanding that I may live: it is an obſervation of holy men out of this place, that a man doth not live becauſe he growth, a tree doth ſo, a man doth not live becauſe hee feeles and ſees and heares, and hath the ſenſible facultie, the beaſts doe ſo, a man doth not live becauſe hee reaſons, the devills doe ſo; but give mee underſtanding that I may live: wee live not as holy men unleſſe we underſtand the wayes of God, unleſſe wee know the things belonging to our peace, here … hereafter; we live not becauſe we are wiſe, for the devill is wiſer than any man living; but give me underſtanding that I may live, that I may underſtand the things of God; this is the wiſedome of it Chriſtian whereby hee ſhall come to … eternall happineſſe: many in the Eaſt parts of the work… worſhip the devill, they never ſo much as heard … thing of Chriſt Ieſus, and the glad … Goſpell, and therefore is it not a wonder … that God hath continued us untill this time, wherein the meanes of ſalvation are ſo fully re… led? You that are going on in the roade way … deſtruction, all you that are in a naturall eſtate, … God ſhould plucke you out of the land of the living, what ſhould become of your poore ſoules, it is a great mercy that God doth yet vouchſafe life unto you, but that you may heare the Word, and enjoy the meanes of ſalvation, what a comfort is this: A Plowman if hee hath but a fit opportunitie of ſowing, plowing, or reaping, hee is thankefull for it, and hee ought ſo to be, for it is a great goodneſſe of God to afford unto him ſeaſonable weather to ſow and gather in the fruits of the earth; in the time here of late when by reaſon of unſeaſonableneſſe of weather, famine was feared, and yet God gave a ſeaſonable time afterwards to ripen & gather the fruits of the earth, I appeale to your owne conſciences did not this cōfort you, did not this cheare you? Nay, could not people come and be thankefull to God for ſuch bleſſings, and ſay it was a good ſeaſon God be bleſſed, Gods name be praiſed for it? Was this ſuch a goodly ſeaſon wherein you might fill your barnes full of corne, and your purſes full of money? Why then, had we eyes to ſee and hearts to conceive what is that ſeaſon, that bleſſed ſeaſon of ſalvation, thoſe good dayes that have paſſed over our heads, wherein many have injoyed the opportunitie and meanes of ſalvation twentie, thirtie, yea fortie yeares; Oh bleſſed ſeaſon, the Sunne never ſaw the like, nay the whole world wonders at this marvellous mercy that the Lord hath vouchſafed to us in this Land. Shall we enjoy all theſe bleſſings, and yet not be thankefull for them, and priſe them as we ought, and walke worthy of them as we might; Oh let it not be ſo with us, but you that can be thankefull for a plentifull harveſt when you may gather money into your coffers; oh be thankefull, be thankefull for the meanes of ſalvation vouchſafed unto you whereby you may fill your ſoules full of comfort; and therefore goe your wayes in ſecret, and be thankefull to God that you live, and if you have received grace, bleſſe God that ever you ſaw that day, if you have not received grace, yet bleſſe God that yet you breathe, and that you may ſeeke unto him and waite upon him in the uſe of the meanes, that ſo you may receive mercy and ſalvation from him: bleſſe God that thou haſt the Sunne-ſhine of the Goſpell ſhining in thy face, that thou haſt the day before thee that thou mayſt trade therein and receive comfort thereby.
Secondly, is it ſo that while life laſts, and the meanes of ſalvation is continued and vouchſafed unto us, that this is our day, that this is the ſeaſon wherein God will ſhew mercy unto us; what uſe then will you make of this for the preſent, what will you ſay, and what will you now perſwade your hearts unto, why, me thinkes every man anſwers, and every mans ſoule ecchoeth againe, ſurely if this be the time, if this be the ſeaſon, let us take it then, ſince the Lord offereth this, and continueth this, we ought then to be intreated in the name of the Lord Ieſus to take this opportunitie, and not omit any ſeaſon wherein the Lord calleth upon us, that ſo wee may obtaine the end of our hopes, the deſire of our ſoules, even ſalvation hereafter; Redeeme the time becauſe the dayes are evill, ſaith the Apoſtle, that is, becauſe the time is now, therefore take the opportunitie; it is the uſe that the Apoſtle makes, While yee have time doe good unto all men, then much more to our ſoules; if we muſt doe good to our neighbours, then much more to that poore ſoule of ours that is miſerably oppreſſed with ſinne, that is in a dainned and curſed eſtate. Oh but there are many arguments whereby Satan laboureth to defeate this truth, and many ſhiftes the ſoule hath to put off this that hath beene ſpoken; give me leave a little to wipe away thoſe carnall conceits and cavills. The firſt is this, the ſoule will be ready to ſay, I confeſſe it is true indeede, that when the opportunitie is we ſhould take it, but that may be hereafter, who knoweth whither this be my time or no, my opportunitie or no? I anſwer with the Apoſtle Paul, while I am ſpeaking, and you are hearing, while we are all living, now is the time,2 Cor. 6.2. now is the ſeaſon, it is in 2 Cor. 6.2. the Text ſaith; I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in a day of ſalvation have I ſuccoured thee, behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of ſalvation. Whilſt Miniſters are calling upon you, and you are living, though they cannot give you grace, nor you of your ſelves receive grace, yet wee have the promiſe in the accepted time God will heare us, even now while I am ſpeaking and you are hearing, this the very day of ſalvation, and therefore let us not turne the deafe eare upon the Lord, but while opportunity is affoorded, let us make uſe of it, while the Lord is pleaſed to continue opportunities unto us, let us embrace them, hee that never heard, let him heare now, hee that never prayed, let him pray now, it is now high time to awake out of that curſed ſecuritie wherein wee have a long time lien, the Lord is come neare unto us even to the very next doore, Chriſt Ieſus is calling, and merciemercy is intreating, and wiſedome is even hoarſe with crying after us, there is nothing but a heart wanting, mercy is offered, we ought therefore to entertaine it, the meanes of ſalvation are revealed, therefore we ought for to embrace them, Cant. 2.10.Cant. 2.10. there ſaith the Text, My beloved ſpake and ſaid unto me, Riſe up my love, my faire one and come away, for the winter is paſt, and the raine is over and gone, the flowers appeare on the earth, and the time of the ſinging of birds is come, and the voyce of the turtle is heard in our Land; thus God ſpeaketh to you this day, thoſe words are made good to every ſoule that heareth me this day, God calleth to every poore ſinner; the Church was then in miſery, and ſo the Lord ſpeaketh to every poore ſoule, thou art in the grave of thy ſinnes, ariſe my love, my dove, the time of perſecution is paſt, and the voyce of the turtle is yet heard, the Miniſters of God are preaching to us, and wooing of us, and ſaying, the Spring time of grace is now preſent. The Lord ſaith unto us as to the Church there, riſe and come out of thoſe ſinnefull courſes wherein you are; he pluckes the adulterer out of his leud practiſes, and hee calls the proud man out of his wicked courſes, and the covetous man out of his counting houſe, and from the things here below and bids them come unto the houſe of the Lord, that he may ſpeake comfort and conſolation to their ſoules, the Lord doth even ſtrive with us, and labours every way to plucke us out of our baſe and ſinnefull courſes, the Lord dealeth with us,Ezeck. 12.3. as he did with Iſrael, Ezeck. 12.3. there ſaith the Text, Prepare thou ſonne of man thee ſtuffe for removing, and remove by day in their ſight, and thou ſhalt remove from thy place to another place, it may be they will conſider though they be a rebellious people, as if hee had ſaid, it may be when all theſe meanes are uſed, it may be at laſt they will be perſwaded and performe that which I require of them, it is a lively patterne of Gods ſpeciall providence over us in this Land, God hath not dealt thus with other Nations, hee hath paſſed by other people, and hath let the Goſpell abide among us, the ſound of the Goſpell, an inkeling of it hath beene in other countries, but hee hath commanded the Goſpell to abide with us twentie, thirtie, fortie, ſixtie yeares, wee have yet the Goſpell among us, we are yet in peace and proſperitie, we enjoy thoſe liberties that thouſands of our poore brethren want and would attaine unto: many have had ſome meanes, but wee have had all meanes, we have had famine for to affright us, the Plague to awaken us, and peace to cheere us, nay the Goſpell and meanes of ſalvation are ſtill continued to us, the Lord ſaith, preach ſtill, continue ſtill calling, and ſtill crying to the people of England, that ſo if it be poſſible their proud hearts may be humbled, their ſturdy hearts may be ſoftned, their unregenerate hearts may be converted and their ſoules may be ſaved.
The ſecond cavill is this, the ſoule may ſay though the opportunity be now preſent, yet there is time enough, the day is long enough; for the anſwer hereof I will goe no further then the Text ſaith, O that thou hadſt knowne the things belonging to thy peace in this thy day, but now they are hidden from thine eyes. The day of a mans life is very uncertaine, no man knoweth how long he ſhall live, who knoweth not what our lives are, bubbles, and vapours and flowers, how ſoone are the bubbles downe, how ſoone are the vapours vaniſht, how ſoone doe the flowers fade, nay many of us are in our middle age, nay ſome of us are in our old age, wee have one foote already in the grave, and how ſoone may theſe flowers wither, how ſoone may theſe men returne unto the earth, and then what will become of all their expectations. It is good ſaith the wiſe man to injoy the preſent time while life and ſtrength continue; young men will bee ready to ſay, I will take my owne content now, and hereafter I will returne unto the Lord, I will gather the flower while it is greene and while I am young, I will not ſpend my dayes in mourning, I will not breake my heart with ſighing and ſorrowing for my ſinnes, but when I grow crooked and aged, and ſit at home, then I will repent and … unto the Lord and become a new man; thoſe young men ſay unto repentance as Felix did to Paul, go thy wayes now, I will heare thee another time, ſo ſay they to repentance, hereafter when there comes a convenient time I will repe…t, I will be holy and obedient, and turne over a new leafe, and become a new man; but now let me make uſe of the treaſurie of my youth, and becauſe I am in the ſtrength of my yeares, therefore I will follow my pleaſures; O foole, O foole, I ſay unto thee as Chriſt did to the rich man in the Goſpell, this night thy ſoule may be taken from thee, and then what will become of thy thoughts, plots, and plojects, thy bed may become thy grave, and then what will become of thy poore ſoule, the divells may drag it into hell. It was the word of the rich man when he had filled his barnes full of goods, and his purſe full of money, then he ſaith unto his ſoule, Soule take thy reſt, thou haſt goods layd up for many yeares; take thy cups ſaith the drunkard, take thy whore ſaith the adulterer. Oh foole this night the divell may hale thy ſoule into everlaſting confuſion, how knoweſt thou but that ſentence may bee given upon thee which was given upon him, and then there will be no repentance in the grave. But bee it ſo that thy life may continue which is very uncertaine, though thy day continue, yet the day of grace happily will not continue, that is but a minute of the particular time of thy day, if God take away the light of the Goſpell, thou mayſt die ſo hunger and thirſt, and never come to the like mercies, never receive the like incouragements, thou that heretofore haſt deſpiſed a faithfull Miniſter, it may bee thou ſhalt never ſee the face of a good Miniſter more hereafter, and then what ſhall become of all thy faire hopes and goodly expectations; Oh then when the market is done thou wilt come too late to buy ſalvation, thou ſhalt never receive thoſe benefits and meanes of grace and ſalvation againe which thou haſt neglected. Nay conſider that this which I have ſpoken may be the caſe of any one in this congregation, every man hath his day, I gave her a time to repent ſaith the Lord of wicked Ieſabel, but ſhee would not, the Lord would have plucked her out of her bed of downe, and from the armes of her lovers into a bed of ſorrow, ſhee hath now paine for her pleaſure and ſorrow for her jollitie, who knoweth but this may be my day and thy day, and every particular mans day. When the word of God comes home to the ſoule of a man, and the Lord is pleaſed to knocke at the conſcience of a poore ſinner, he may then breake out into admiration, and ſay, is it thus? is the Lord ſo compaſſionate that notwithſtanding all my rebellions hee is ſtill pleaſed to ſtrive with mee, nay to mourne over me, as hee did over Ieruſalem, O that thou hadst knowne at leaſt in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace, many mercies hath the Lord let into my ſoule to allute me, many judgements to terrifie me, many promiſes to perſwade me, and hath uſed all meanes poſſible to bring mee to a better life, no mercy equalls this, no goodneſſe is to be compared with this, thus take notice of the mercies of God towards you, and go aſide and make good uſe of thoſe good motions that God by his Spirit ſhall ſuggeſt into your ſoules; and if the Lord hath almoſt perſwaded thee to be a Chriſtian, oh then make much of thoſe bleſſed motions, and beginne to be a new man preſently! oh, goe home and ſay, if God doe thus ſtrive and ſtruggle with me in particular, then reſolve and ſay this is my day, if there be any ſoule here preſent that it hath pleaſed God thus to move, oh know and conſider that this is thy particular time, thy particular ſeaſon, ſay and remember that ſuch a time thou hadſt a faire offer, it may be he that now moves and perſwades thee, and intreats thee to come to everlaſting life and happineſſe, it may be hee will never looke after thee more. And now what remaineth more, when a man reſolves that this is his day, and that now the Lord comes neare unto him, but even then preſently to breake off all impediments, and leape over all blockes that lie in his way, and reſolve thenceforward to bid adue to all his corruptions; hee ſhould conſider with himſelfe and ſay, ſeeing the Lord doth even mourningly ſtrive with me for my good, then I will never attend more to thoſe luſts, I will never yeeld more to thoſe occaſions that have gotten the maſtery over me, I would wiſh every poore ſoule, to take up this reſolution, to give a bill of divorcement to his ſinnes, and never to ſee the face of his corruptions any more; to doe this now will be a very hard thing, I know it, and experience proves it, your luſts will cleave to you and hang about you, you would be loath to part with your old corruptions, old friends that have beene of old acquaintance, for theſe to be ſhaken off on a ſudden, this will be very grievous: S. Auſtin ſpeaking of his converſion confeſſeth this, his ſinnes did hang about him, and he was loath to leave them, and forſake them, he was often perſwaded by the motions of Gods Spirit to returne from his wicked courſes, and become a new man, but hee was loath to part with his beloved luſts, and therefore thought hee might have time enough to repent afterwards, but at length hee tooke up this reſolution to breake through all impediments, and brake out into thoſe words, Why not to day Lord, why not to day, hee had dallied too often, and deferred too long, and therefore now hee reſolved to goe thorough ſtitch in this caſe, he reſolved to doe ſo, and kept his reſolution. Why do, you as he did, and ſay, why not to day Lord, why not to day; you could be content on your death beds to be drunke no more, why cannot you as well to day reſolve to be ſober; the adulterer when he lies upon his death bed wil not endure ſo much as to look upon his Quene, why ſhould hee not as well abſtaine from this baſe ſinne to day, wee know not whether the meanes may be taken from us, or wee from the meanes, and therefore when the Lord ſaith, My face ſeeke you, anſwer againe and ſay, thy face Lord will we ſeeke.
But there are yet ſome ſhifts ſtill behind which muſt be anſwered; the heart will yet be ready further to reply, ſuppoſe God call and I refuſe, may I not heare this call againe hereafter? I anſwer, take heede of that, for the text ſaith here, they are now hidden from thine eyes, yee are not Authours and Patrons of this grace, yee are not givers of this mercy, it is of Gods free love to offer mercy and ſalvation unto you, and therefore eſpecially take heed of this conceit; he that offereth grace unto thee now, if thou refuſeſt it, may chance never to give it thee hereafter, though thou greatly deſireſt it, and earneſtly ſeekeſt after it; he that now holdeth out a golden Scepter to entertaine thee, may afterwards have an iron rod to breake thee in pieces if thou doſt not accept his kinde offer and come in unto him, he that now doth perſwade thee to receive mercy at his hands while hee offers it, that God hereafter may ſeale up thy heart in ſtupidneſſe and benummedneſſe for ever, if thou doſt not embrace it; that Spirit which now ſtrives with thee may never ſtrive more, that Spirit may never worke upon thee more, and then when the gate is ſhut you may knocke till your heart ake, as the fooliſh Virgins did, and yet never get in, you may then howle, and crie, and call, and knocke, and yet with Eſa… you ſhall not obtaine a bleſſing, though you ſeeke it even with teares; but the Lord will anſwer, Depart from mee yee workers of iniquitie, I know you not; it will be juſt with God to take away thoſe holy motions of his bleſſed Spirit which you have ſlighted, to take away that mercy which you have deſpiſed, take heede that doe not befall you which ſhall befall all deſpiſers of grace and ſalvation, Pro. 1.24. there ſaith the text, Becauſe I have called and yee have refuſed,Pro. 1.24. becauſe I ſtretched out my hand and none would regard, but ye have deſpiſed all my counſelle, and yee would none of my correction: I will alſo laugh at your deſtruction, and mocke when your feare commeth; when your feare commeth like ſudden deſolation, and your deſtruction as a whirlewind. There was a time when the Lord called to all deſpiſers of grace and refuſers of merciemercy, how long and how often, but they that would not heare, the time will come, when the Lord will ſay, I will laugh at your deſtruction; when a poore ſinnefull creature at the day of judgement ſhall come before the Lord of glory, the devill drawing him, and then the Lord ſhall laugh at him, and ſay, how often have I ſent unto you, and called upon you, and you would not heare nor regard me? Behold men and Angels, this is the man, this is hee that contemned my Word, and ſlighted the meanes of ſalvation, and therefore laugh at him, mocke at his deſtruction: Oh what will become of that man then when the Lord of mercy ſhall not onelyonly take mercy from him, when the God of goodneſſe ſhall not onelyonly take goodneſſe from him, but ſhall laugh at his confuſion, and ſhall rejoyce when hee executes his judgements upon this man to his everlaſting deſtruction; and therefore I beſeech you take heede of this dangerous conceit.
The fourth ſhift is this, if all will not work upon the ſoule, then it falls upon this, is it ſo that grace and merciemercy being neglected they ſhall never be obtained, why then it takes up this concluſion, if I never have grace and mercy, then I can live without it; oh foole if there were any creature of this diſtemper in this congregation, I may ſpeake terrible things unto that ſoule, when a man is brought to this paſſe that he cares not what becomes of his ſoule, when hee ſayes what matter is it if I have not grace, is this ſuch a loſſe? When a ſoule is come to this, oh then he is in a miſerable cōdition, in a woefull lamentable eſtate: is it no matter to be ſaved, is it no matter to be comforted, is it no matter to be glorified eternally, what matter is it to loſe grace? Nay what availeth it to live frolickely here and miſerably hereafter? What matter is it to neglect grace here, and to be deprived of glory hereafter, is this no matter? Let me ſay to you, as the man of God did to his ſervant,2 Kings 5.26. 2 King. 5.26. Is this a time to take money and receive garments and olives, and vineyards and ſheepe and oxen? So ſay I, is this a time to live frolickely and merrily? Is this a time for a man to follow curſed companions, and embrace ſinnefull corruptions, is this a time for a man to follow the world, and the vanities thereof, and in the meane time neglect the meanes of life and ſalvation? No, no, know it is the day of God, the day of grace, our ſoules lie at pawne, if theſe opportunities be omitted, woe and griefe and paine, and wormewood will be upon that man by whom they be neglected, he that deſpiſeth theſe meanes here ſhall live miſerably hereafter, everlaſting happineſſe and glory depends upon this opportunitie; tell not me it is a day of marchandiſe, and you muſt provide for your families, I tell you it is a day of ſalvation, haſt thou time to provide for thy houſe and familie, and not for thy ſoule and for thy ever laſting happineſſe. So then gather up all briefely and the ſcope will be this, it is now the moſt opportune time, and therefore the fitteſt, it is the day of ſalvation & therefore the ſhorteſt, it is the day of viſitation and therefore the greateſt commoditie, the opportunity is the fitteſt, the day is the ſhorteſt, the commoditie the greateſt, and what remaineth now, but that the Lord will worke this upon your ſoules, that he which ſpake this to Ieruſalem whilſt he lived on earth, may ſpeake the ſame to you though now in glory, and perſwade your hearts to entertaine this opportunitie to make uſe of this day and embrace this commoditie.
But if all meanes will not perſwade men hereunto, then the laſt uſe is an uſe of exhortation unto us all, to pitty the caſe of ſuch men, and to ſhew remorſe for the deſolation of thoſe that neglect the meanes of their ſalvation. If wee cannot perſwade you, yet give us leave to mourne for you, if our perſwaſions will not take place in your ſoules, yet I hope you will give us leave to goe in ſecret, and let our eyes droppe downe teares for the miſerable deſolation that will fall upon thoſe that neglect the meanes of life and happineſſe: you muſt not thinke to paſſe thorough Purgatory, you muſt not thinke to goe to heaven whither you will or no; me thinks I ſee a poore creature that ſlighted mercy & ſalvation when it was offered unto him; me thinkes I ſee that ſoule lying upon his death bed, light is departing from his eyes, & his ſoule is departing from his body, his body is a burthen to him in regard of his diſeaſe, and his conſcience a hell unto him in regard of his ſinnes, oh the name of a Miniſter, of a Church, they are all as bills of inditements comming againſt the ſoule of this man, me thinkes I heare ſuch a man ſay at his laſt gaſpe, the day is gone, the gate is ſhut, and now it is too late to enter; and thus the ſoule departs from the body, the body to the grave, and the ſoule to hell: Oh what bitter and wofull lamentations will that ſoule make when it comes in hell! Oh the golden time that I have ſeene and not regarded, oh the gracious opportunities of ſalvation that my eyes have beheld, and yet I neglected! Oh the mercy and grace and goodneſſe of God that have been offered unto me, and I have contemned and trampled under my feet, and therfore now muſt be tormented with the devil & his angels from ever laſting to everlaſting, on the Lord give us hearts to take notice of theſe things. If we cannot doe what good we would to men, yet let us lament their miſerable conditions; wives mourne for your husbands, parents mourne for your children, and ſay the Lord hath offered the meanes of ſalvation both profitable and comfortable, yet my husband heares not, my child receives not theſe meanes, why then mourne and lament oh my poore husband, oh my child, thou mighteſt have had grace, but now it is taken from thee, thou hadſt the offer of ſalvation, and now perhaps it ſhall never again be tendered to thee; but if mercy cannot prevaile with you, nor the voyce of the Miniſters take place in you, yet let the ſaftie and comfort of your owne ſoules, move you to make much of the opportunities and meanes of grace and ſalvation. Let every maſter of a family goe home and reſolve and ſay, this is my day Lord, this very day may be my day, and thy day, the laſt day that ever I ſhal ſpeak, the laſt day that you ſhall ever heare. If I were now breathing out my laſt breath, I would breath our this legacie to all Chriſtians which I leave behinde me, This is the accepted time, this is the day of ſalvation: He that hath an eare to heare, let him now heare, he that never had a heart, let him now have a heart to embrace theſe things, whilſt grace and ſalvation is offered unto him, let him entertaine this offer. It doth mee good to conſider if the ſoule of a man would but receive mercy and grace now while it is offered him this day, what comfort he may have for ever, both here and hereafter, he might then ſay, this day I received comfort, I was never humbled before, but this day I was humbled, I could never before receive any mercy, but this day I received it, this was a good day to me. Oh if men would but be exhorted to take the opportunity while it laſts, and entertaine the meanes of grace and ſalvation while they are offered: Oh what comfort might men gaine hereby, then at the laſt day they ſhould receive an everlaſting crowne of glory, they ſhould then receive the fruits of their labours even the ſalvation of their ſoules. Let us all therefore as wee love our owne ſoules be exhorted, to entertaine the things of grace here, that wee may obtaine the things of glory hereafter.