Christs Love and Affection Towards Jerusalem, Chapter 14

Christs Love and Affection Towards Jerusalem · Chapter 14

p. 148CHAP. 14.

The day of grace wherein life and ſalvation is offered to men.

Chap. 14 YEE have heard the matter of Chriſts wiſh or complaint, it was ſaving knowledge that hee wiſhed to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and want of knowledge that he complained of; it remaines now to ſpeake of the circumſtances, whereby it is amplifyed, and therein firſt of the circumſtance of time, in thoſe words, at leaſt in this thy day.

It is no ſmall aggravation of the ſinne of Jeruſalem, that ſhe had continued ſo long in the neglect of her duty; God ſent his Prophets unto her long before, riſing up early, and ſending them, and ſhe made light of the things that concerned her peace, not onelyonly all the time that went before, but even untill this very day aaGerhard. com. in lo. Magna eſt Emphaſis in voce Diei, hoc enim vult dicere Chriſtꝰ, dies gratiae adhuc v…bis lucet, haec dies eſt ul ima occal…o, quae vobis ad ſalu… ē off…rtur. Hactenus aliquot annos …buiſtis, nunc pauculi dies reſtant, cito praete…labetur haec occaſio, niſi cupidè eam amplexamini.that Chriſt came unto her: yea and in that day too, which was the laſt day that any tendry of peace was to be offered unto her: and Chriſt ſpeaking to Jeruſalem of this time of mercy, he calls it in ſpeciall manner her Day bbIbid. Emphaticum etiā illud eſt, Indie tuo, id eſt, qui peculiariter tuus eſt, a Deo ad ſalutem tibi datus. Significat ergo adeſſe extremum tempus quod in ſalutem Hieroſolymae erat deſtinatum, illud ſi abſque fructu …labi ſineter, praedicit f…re, ut in poſterum ſalutis ja… ipſis penitus praecludati….: implying, that it was in much mercy afforded unto her, for the furtherance of her owne good; becauſe if yet at length ſhee would come in, at leaſt within the compaſſe of this day, there was mercy yet to be had, if it were ſought for; but if this day were once paſt, ſhee ſhould p. 149never come to enjoy the benefit of another day, but the night of eternall miſery would unavoydably fall upon her, becauſe ſhe would not know this day of her viſitation; ſo that the obſervation which I make hereupon is this:

Doct. 4 That the time and ſeaſon allotted to any for the getting of grace, and the procuring of ſalvation, it is in ſpeciall manner his Day; that is, a day afforded unto him, for the furtherance of his greateſt benefit and advantage, if hee know rightly how to husband and imploy it for his owne good. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of this Day, hee cals it, the Day of ſalvation cc2 Cor. 6.2.2 Cor 6:2; becauſe ſo long as this day doth continue, there is a doore of mercy ſtands open for the ſonnes of men, there is peace and reconciliation to be had, upon ſuch termes as are expreſſed in the New Covenant, if it be ſought for according to the will of God. Such a day was that in which Zacheus climbed up into a wild figtree, to behold Chriſt, and therefore Chriſt tels him in the former part of this Chapter, that hee might write downe that day in the Calender of his beſt and moſt happy dayes; a day that might upon ſpeciall reaſon, bee termed his day, becauſe this day ſalvation came to his houſe ddLuke 19.9.Luke 19:9: So God afforded to Iezabel a time and ſpace of repentanceeeRevel. 2.21.Rev 2:21, and that was her day, though ſhee had neither heart nor grace to make that good uſe of it for her owne advantage, that ſhee ought to have done, and might have done; and ſo that ſpace of time that God affords unto any for his owne ſpirituall advantage, that is his day, the totall ſumme whereof p. 150of may bee parcelled out into theſe particulars following.

1 The Lords day, which is as it were the market day, to make proviſion for the ſoule.

2 Such particular ſeaſons and opportunities, wherein occaſion is offered unto him, either of doing or receiving good.

3 The time of health and proſperity, wherein he is beſt able to lay out himſelfe for the compaſſing of thoſe things, which belong to his peace.

4 The golden time of youth, which is as it were, the morning, and firſt part of the day.

5 The time preſent, which is as it were the Noone-tide, or middle part of the day, comming betweene, and uniting together that which is paſt, and that which is to come.

6 The time of this life, which is, as it were, the Evening and cloſure of the day, beyond which it cannot extend it ſelfe.

1 Firſt then, while thou haſt leave and liberty to come to the houſe of God, and to injoy the benefit of the publike aſſemblies, while the doore of the Sanctuary ſtands open for thee; that is thy day, a day ſet apart for the publike ſervice, and the ſolemne worſhip of God; a day which the Scripture it ſelfe dignifies with the title and prerogative of the Lords day ffRevel. 1.10.Rev 1:10, and therefore in a high degree and meaſure, ſacred and venerable, as all other things are, which by any ſuch ſpeciall and peculiar relation, are appropriated unto him, or termed his; a day that is ſtiled by the FathersggSee Biſhop of Ely in his Treatiſe of the Sabbath Day. part. 2. pag. 209. the Queene of dayes, and graced with many p. 151honourable Epithetes above other dayes, in regard of the end and occaſion for which it hath beene kept, and obſerved by the univerſall conſent of the whole Chriſtian Church, ever ſince the Apoſtles times; a day wherin there is ſpeciall proviſion made for thy ſoule; a day, wherein thou maiſt benefit and advantage thy ſelfe many wayes, by frequenting the Houſe of God, which is the place where his Honour dwelleth, by joyning with the Aſſembly in the publike prayers of the Church, which ever have beene, and deſervedly ought to bee greatly eſteemed of all Gods peoplehhSee A. Hild. in his Lectures on Iohn 4. pag. 115. & pag. 340 alias 353.John 4; by hearing the Word of God publikely read, and the minde and meaning of God publikely interpreted, and declared, for thy further edification and building up in the wayes of piety; and therefore ſpeciall care is to be had, and taken, at leaſt in this thy day, that thy ſoule may thrive and proſper by al theſe publike Ordinances; where God is in more ſpeciall manner preſent, and whereunto the promiſe of a bleſſing is more eſpecially made. Every day in the yeare is not the Faire day, nor every day in the week, the market day for thy ſoule, as this is; and therefore ſuffer it not to ſlip and paſſe away without any certaine profit and advantage made unto thy ſelfe, but husband it wiſely for thine owne good; be ſure to make thy markets out of it, before it be gone; not forſaking the fellowſhip and the Aſſemblies of the Church, as the manner of ſome is **Heb. 10.25.Heb 10:25, but carefully laying out thy ſelfe, and taking in thoſe precious Wares and Commodities, which there p. 152are vented, becauſe this is in ſpeciall manner thy day.

2 While there is any fit ſeaſon and opportunity, wherein occaſion is offered unto thee, either of doing good to others, or reaping good to thy ſelfe; that is thy day, a day that God hath put into thy hand, for thine owne good, if thou bee not wanting to thy ſelfe, in the well husbanding and improvement of it; & it is a day that wil not alwayes laſt; it muſt be laid hold on while it preſents it ſelfe; for if it be once gone, it cannot be called backe againe: and therefore the AncientsiiEraſm. Adag. tit. tempeſtiva. pag. 687. Fronte capillata, poſt eſt occaſio calva. they painted opportunitie with a hairy forehead, but bald behind; to ſignifie, that while a man hath it before him, he may lay hold on it; but if hee ſuffer it to ſlip away, hee cannot pull it back againe. And againe, ſeaſon and opportunity, it doth not onelyonly grace and beautifie the thing that is done, and make it like Apples of Gold, with pictures of Silver, as Solomon ſpeakeskkPro. 25.11.Prov 25:11; but alſo it doth facilitate and make eaſie the way, and paſſage that leads unto it: it is like the joynt in a member, as a learned PrelatellBiſhop Andrewes Sermō on Jer. 8.7 pag. 200. Cornel. lapid com. in Proverb. ca. 10.5. Aeſtas & meſſis eſt ſymbolum occaſionis, ſive temporis idonei ad rem bene gerendam; q. d. Qui arripit occaſionem rei conficiendae, dū illa ſeſe offert, ille ſapit; qui negligit, deſipit. Plin. l. 11. c. 6. & 10 Apes peragunt opus ſuum, non ſtatis diebus, ſed quoties coeli commoditas invitat: ita ſuo quaeque tempore capienda eſt occaſio.Jer 8:7 ſpeakes, Hee that hits on the joynt, may eaſily divide one part from another, but hee that miſſeth of that, either by falling ſhort, or going beyond it, he ſhall not doe it at all, or at leaſt, not without more paines, and greater difficulty. And therefore, whoſoever thou art that haſt a price in thy hand, which through thy good care and husbanding of it, may bee happily improved to the glory of God, the benefit of thy neighbour, or thine owne advantage; make account with thy p. 153ſelfe, that this is thy day. If thou haſt a bleſſing for the poore in hard times of want, this is thy day, wherein thou maiſt make thy ſelfe friends with the riches of iniquitie, that when thou ſhalt want, they may receive thee into everlaſting habitations mmLuke 16.9.Luke 16:9. If thou haſt the tongue of the learned, in ſuch places where much people periſh for want of knowledge, this is thy day, wherein thou maiſt miniſter a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary, and winne many ſoules to God, by doing the work of an Evangeliſt, preaching the Word, in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, making thy Miniſtery fully knowne. If thou haſt power and authority in thy hands, where wickedneſſe and prophaneneſſe are ſet on high, where piety and religion is trodden under foot, this is thy day, to lay out thy ſelfe for the reforming of all ſuch diſordered courſes, and the rectifying of things that are amiſſe. If thou fall into the company of ſuch as are wiſe and learned, able to informe thee in all needfull matters, and to give thee ſound direction, this is thy day, now to have all thy demands ſatisfied, thy doubts reſolved, and thy ſcruples removed.

While the Iewes enjoyed the light of the Goſpell, and had the perſon of Chriſt himſelfe amongſt them, that was their day; Chriſt knew it was not to continue long, and therefore hee applies himſelfe to the worke of their converſion, while it was day; nnIohn. 9.4.John 9:4I muſt worke the worke of him that ſent me while it is day ooHemin com in loc. Diem vocat in genere tempus lucentis Evangel…i, & ſicuti dies ſunt alii aliis clariores; ita aliis temporibus clarior eſt lux Evangelii, aliis obſcurior; meritò igitur clariſſimus dies judicandum eſt illud tempus, quo ipſe Dominus hic in terra corporaliter verſatus eſt.: and it was a great fault in the Jewes, that having had ſo many p. 154ſignes, fore-ſhewing the comming of Chriſt, yet for all this they did not know, or diſcerne him, at leaſt in this day of their Viſitation; they were skilfull enough in any other matters, as Chriſt himſelfe tels them; the more ſhame for them, that they were ſo blinde and ignorant in taking notice of this day. ppLuke 12.54.Luke 12:54When yee ſee a Cloud riſe out of the Weſt, ſtraight way yee ſay a ſhowre commeth, and ſo it is; and when yee ſee the South winde blow, yee ſay that it will be hot, and it commeth to paſſe: Hypocrites, yee can diſcerne the face of the earth, and the skie, but why diſcerne yee not this time? Why doe yee not learne to know, that this is your day?

3 While thou art in health, and in thy full ſtrength, while thy hands are ſtrong to labour, and thy bones full of marrow; while the face of the heavens is cleare over thy head, and the Sun of proſperity ſhines upon thee, that is thy day; a day allotted unto thee for this end and purpoſe, that now thou mighteſt lay up ſtore of proviſion againſt the evill day; that now thou mighteſt gather for thy ſelfe that which might be ſtead thee in time of need, that ſo thou mighteſt not have grace to ſeeke, and comfort to ſeeke, when thou haſt occaſion to make uſe of it; like the fooliſh Virgins, which had their oyle to ſeeke when they had occaſion to ſpend it. The ſilly Ant or Piſmire hath this providence planted in her by the inſtinct of nature, to know her day, and to apply her ſelfe for the gathering of her ſtore, and the making of her proviſion in that her day; qqPro. 6.8.Prov 6:8Shee prepareth her meate in the Summer, and gathereth her food in harveſt: p. 155Goe to the Piſmire, O thou Sluggard, that ſleep'ſt out the beſt part of this day, and miſ-ſpendeſt the reſt waſtefully, in the purſuite of vanity; Behold her wayes, and be wiſe; learne from her to know, that the ſpring-time of thy health, and the ſummer of proſperity, that is thy day rrBaſil. Homil. 9. Hexam. Formica temporis hyberni pabulū aeſtate ſedulò ſibi condit; et non, quod hyemis incommoda nondū adſunt, otioſa tempus traducit: ſed inceſſabili quodam, intentoque ſtudio legendi ſemina tantiſper incumbit, dum ſufficien alimentum in cellulis ſibi recondat.; a day, wherein health and ſtrength concurre, and even ſtrive together to make thee fit for labour and imployment, that thou mayeſt now make thy proviſion, and lay up for thy ſelfe, before the hard time of Winter come upon thee; that thou mayeſt now gather a ſtocke of grace and comfort, before the time of ſpending come; the day of ſickneſſe and infirmity, the day of trouble and adverſity, that is a day of ſpending, not of gathering: all the ſtore and proviſion thou haſt laid up before, will bee little enough at that day; if it were more than it is, it would not bee too much, there will be need of all, and uſe for all. Therefore now, while ſtrength and ability ſerves, as the Poet ſpakeſſDum vires annique ſinunt, tolerate laborem. Ovid., fit it is that thou ſhould lay forth thy ſelfe in this thy day.

Men uſe to mend the High-wayes in Summer, when they are faireſt, and all little enough, to make them paſſeable in Winter; Ioſeph had this providence and forecaſt with himttGen. 41.Gen 41, to ſtore himſelfe, and lay up before-hand, in the yeares of plenty, becauſe hee knew that was his day, for the making of his proviſion againſt the enſuing years of famine, and therefore hee layes up heapes, like the ſands of the ſea, without number or meaſure; becauſe he foreſaw there would come a time of p. 156ſpending, that would conſume, and eate up all the proviſion that he could poſſibly make, though it were never ſo much: even ſo it ſhould be with thee; the dayes of health and proſperity, thoſe are the yeares of plenty, that is thy day; a day of gathering and laying up proviſion for thy ſoule; when weakneſſe and infirmities, troubles and adverſity come upon thee, thoſe are the yeares of famine, that is a day of ſpending; and all the proviſion thou haſt made and laid up before, will be little enough to beare the expence, and ſupply the wants of this day.

4 While thou art in the flower of thy youth, while the day begins to dawne upon thee, while thy yeares are yet greene, and doe but even now begin to bloſſome and bud forth, that is thy day; a day, wherein to ſow that ſeed which may yeeld a crop at harveſt, in time to come; a day that hath a great influence into the whole life and converſationuuCorn. a Lap in Eccleſ. 25.5. Iuventus ſuos mores ſive probos, ſive improbos tranſmittit et tranſcribit in ſeniū.Sir 25:5; a day, which if it be well ordered by good education, and piouſly imployed in ſeeking after the beſt things; it may prove ſuch a ſeaſoning, as will make all the reſt of thy dayes to reliſh of it; as the veſſell that long taſts of that liquor, which is firſt put and powred into it. As the Arrow is directed and ſent forth at firſt, ſo it commonly flies all the way, under, over, or beſides the Marke; but ſeldome hits the Marke, unleſſe it bee levelled aright in the hand; even ſo the day of youth, that is as it were, the morning and beginning of thy time, where the day of thy life firſt begins to put forth it ſelfe: the greateſt part of this day is yet p. 157in thine owne hand; if it be carefully looked unto in due time, before it be too late, it may be improved and laid forth to thy great advantage; but if it be once out of thy hand, then thou haſt no more power over it: even as it is with a bowle, or a ſtone, while it remaines in thy hand, it is in thy power to caſt it this way, or that way, or which way thou pleaſeſt; but when it is once out of thy hand, then it is no more in thy power to diſpoſe and order, to alter and change the courſe and carriage of it; ſo it is with this day of youth, &c.

If the tree doe not bud, and bloſſome, and bring forth fruit in the ſpring, it is commonly dead all the yeare, becauſe the winter is no ſeaſon for ſuch matters; and though it be not alwaies ſo with thoſe rationall trees which God hath planted in the Vineyard of the Church, yet experience ſhewes, that often and many a time it falls out ſo to be: for as the ſonne of Syrach obſerves,uuEccleſ. 25.5.Sir 25:5 If thou haſt gathered nothing in thy youth, what canſt thou finde in thy age xxMi…um eſt, quod artē bene vivendi in juvē tute non addiſcimꝰ, cum artes alias a teneris arripianꝰ: praecipitur filiis Iſrael ut manè Manna colligerent. Exo. 16.21 Pona…t. in Ecclas. 25.5.Exod 16:21? and therefore the more it concernes thee to lay forth thy ſelfe upon the beſt employments in this thy day. Age is the time wherein thou art to ſolace thy ſelfe, with the remembrance of thy fore-paſt life, wherein thou art to feed upon the comforts that thy former courſes yeeld unto thee, wherein thou art to gather the crop and harveſt of thy former endevours. When age comes upon thee, it is not then a time to ſeeke, but to enjoy comfort, as he ſpeakesyyEraſ. Adag pa. 204 Quaere adoleſcens, utere ſenex; juvent parandum, ſeni utendum.. It is not then a time to ſow, but to reape: the feed muſt be ſowne in youth, that is reaped in age zzCaſſian. colla. 2. cap. 13. Divitiae ſenum non ſunt canitie capitis, ſed induſtria juventutis, & praeteritorū laborū ſtipendus meciendae. S. Cyp. Vt fructꝰ in arbore non invenitur, in qua flos priùs nō apparuerit: ita ſenectutis honorem non conſequetur, qui in adoleſcentia animum diſciplinae exercitatione non excoluerit.. In p. 158the old Law, God required the firſt fruits for his offeringaaLevit. 23.10Lev 23:10, and the offering up of that did ſanctifie all the reſt: that is, whereas by the ceremoniall law the Iſraelites might not eate the fruits of the earth, while they were prophane; and they were accounted prophane, till they were hallowed, by offering up the firſt fruits: but when this oblation was once made, then by vertue of it, the reſt of the harveſt was bleſſed unto them, ſo that they might comfortably uſe and enjoy the ſame: even ſo God requires the morning of this day; as well as the evening.bbEccleſ. 12.1.Eccl 12:1 Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth. And againe,ccMat. 6.33.Matt 6:33 Seeke ye firſt the Kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe, &c. Yea God requires the beginning of this day, that the end may be made more happy by it: and the conſecrating of the firſt part of this day to God, doth not onelyonly prepare and make way for a bleſſing, (that ſuch a happy and hopefull beginning may in the remaining part of it be ſeconded with proceedings ſuitable thereunto) but is alſo a meanes to procure a bleſsing upon all the reſt.

5. While it is called to day, while time and occaſion is preſent with thee, that is thy day; a day wherein the door of grace ſtands open for thee; a day wherein mercy may be had, if it be ſought for; but if the ſeeking of it be poſted and put off from this day, thou knoweſt not what another day may bring forth: the day that is paſt, is gone and cannot be re-called: the day that is to come, is uncertaine, and cannot be promiſed: onelyonly the preſent day, that is thy day, if thou haſt a heart and p. 159grace to make uſe of it for thine own advantage.ddHeb. 3.15.Heb 3:15 To day if ye will heare his voice, harden not your hearts. And againe,ee2 Cor. 6.2.2 Cor 6:2 Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of ſalvation. It is every mans deſire, and indeed, a part of his wiſdome to ſeeke unto God, in a time, and a day when hee may be found, to call upon him in the day of ſalvation, to make his prayer unto him, at ſuch a ſeaſon, when it may find acceptance with him. Now if thou wouldſt know what time that is, the Apoſtle here reſolves thee, Behold, now is the acceptable time: behold, now is the day of ſalvation. There is many a good motion loſt, many a good purpoſe withers and dies, and comes to nothing, becauſe it is not preſently followed, but delayed and put off from day to day.

When S. Paul diſcourſed before Felix the Governor, of righteouſneſſe, temperance, and the judgement to come ffActs 24.25.Acts 24:25, Felix begun to be touched with it; he felt ſome impreſſion made upon him, and ſome ſtirring affections working within him; but for the preſent hee puts off all with this ſaying, Goe thy way for this time, and when I have convenient leiſure I will call for thee. He neglects the preſent opportunity, and ſaid he would finde a more convenient time for it; but he that ſaid it, never found a time to doe it. So when God gives thee a day for the preſent, wherein to work out thy ſalvation with feare and trembling, and thou neglecteſt to doe it in this thy day, building thy ſelfe upon the execution of a future day; it is but juſt with God to keep thee from ever ſeeing that day, p. 160by cutting thee off before ever that day come: for there is no time thine, but the preſent time, no day thine, but the preſent day gg…onart. com in Eccleſ. c. 5. v. 8. pag. 81. Totum vitae noſtrae ſpatium eſt unū hodiè, cujus una pars jam pertranſiit, quantula ſuperſit neſcimꝰ, cras nullum hic habemus.Eccl 5:8: and therefore to entertaine thoughts of ſeeking God hereafter, this is not wiſely to apply thy ſelfe unto him in thy day. And indeed it is the policy of Sathan, as the FathershhS. Baſil. Hom. 13 ad pop. Noſce immici dolos, &c. hodiernum tempus nobis furatur aſtutè, & ſpem facit craſtini, poſtquā craſtinū venerit, rurſus malus diviſor, ſibi hodiernum, craſtinū verò Deo petit: Nazian. orat. in S. bap. Da mihi id quod nūc fluit temporis, futurū Deo, &c wel obſerve, the better to deceive men, and ſteale away from them the preſent time, to feed them with hopes and promiſes of time to come, ſaying, Let me have this day, and God ſhall have to morrow, which in effect is as much as if he ſhould ſay, Give me the prime and flower of thy dayes, and let God have the dregs. And therefore God, as it were of ſet purpoſe to meet with this deceit, takes order for the preſent day: iiHeb. 3.13.Heb 3:13Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day: for as Saint Auguſtine kkAug. tract. 33. in Ioh. & de util. poenit. c. ult. Semper expectas, & de miſericordia Dei tibi plurimū polliceris, quaſi illi qui tibi per poenitentiā promiſitindulgentiā, promiſerit etiā longiorē vitā.ſaith well, he that hath promiſed favour and mercy unto thee, upon what day ſoever thou doſt returne unto him, hath not promiſed to prolong thy life till that day come; and therefore to prevent all hazards and uncertainties, there is no better meanes than to lay hold upon the preſent time, becauſe that onelyonly is thy day.

6. While thou art in the land of the living, and art not yet lodged in the region of darkneſſe, that is thy day; and it is the utmoſt bounds, beyond which this day cannot be extended: if grace and mercy be not ſought and obtained within the compaſſe of this day, it is loſt for ever; becauſe after this day ended, there never comes a new day to trade and trafficke for theſe commodities; the p. 161day of this life onelyonly is the day of merchandiſe, as the learned obſervellS. Ephre. tract. de …. ort. …o. 1. Nemo finitis nundinis mercaturam exe… cet, &c Similiter Epictot. apud Arrian l 2. ca. 14. Menand. apud Stob. Serm. 122. Nazian. tetra…. …9. When that is once expired, there is no more gaines to be made in this ſpirituall negotiation; theſe kinde of wares are neither ſaleable, nor vendible after this life; when the Fayre is ended, there is no more dealing in ſuch commodities as are vented there onelyonly; when the garland is beſtowed, there is no more ſtriving for it: when the field is wholly loſt, without hope of recovery, there is no further uſe of Warlike preparations; they which are dead, they reſt from their labours, and their works follow them mmRev. 14.13.Rev 14:13. When this day of life endeth, their courſe is finiſhed nn2 Tim. 4.7.2 Tim 4:7. And there is no more to be done, they are then at the end of their journey, and have no farther to travell, as it was with the Iſraelites, when God rained Manna from heaven, it was to be gatheredooExod. 16.26.Exod 16:26 onelyonly on the ſixe dayes, not on the ſeventh; becauſe that day was the Sabbath, which is a day of reſt; even ſo the ſpirituall Manna of faith, repentance, and other graces, is to be gathered onelyonly in the ſixe dayes of this life; the time after this life, it is a Sabbath, a time of reſt, wherein there is no more work to be done, by which it is poſſible for a man to further and procure his own ſalvation; the time of the ſpirituall warfare, it is onelyonly the time of this life; when that time endeth, there is no more fighting in that battell, becauſe then the victory is either won or loſt for ever.

When the tree is cut downe, it yeelds no more fruit; no man gathers grapes from the branches p. 162that are lopped off from the Vine; for the branch cannot beare fruit of it ſelfe, except it abide in the vine ppIohn 15.4.John 15:4; even ſo it is with men; thoſe reaſonable trees which God hath planted in the Vineyard of his Church, when they are once cut downe by death, there is no more fruit growes upon them, which hath the promiſe of ſalvation made unto it: the day of grace, and the day of this life are of an equall extent, they begin and end together; when the ſunne of this life ſetteth, the doore of grace and mercy is ſhut up, & ſhall be opened no more; as the tree falls, ſo it lyes; as death leaves thee, ſo judgement finds thee; all that can be done for the procuring of thy peace, it muſt be within the compaſſe of this thy day. If thy adverſary be not quickly agreed withall, while thou art with him in the way, there is no compoſition to be made afterward; if thou get not oyle in thy lampe before the Bridegroome come, there is no buying or borrowing of it at that day; ſuch as are ready ſhall enter with him into the mariage chamber; but he will not ſtay for any that hath his proviſion then to make: if thou getteſt not into the ſtate of grace, before the doore of grace be ſhut, there is no hope of entrance afterward, becauſe that time falls not within the compaſſe of this thy day.