Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 1 · Section 2
Come, let vsus returne vntounto the Lord.
Theſe words containing in them the effectuall conuerſion of a ſinner to God; ſhew withall, wherehence it proceedeth, namely, from affliction, and from the knowledge and feeling of our owne miſery. Let vsus returne (ſay they) and therefore it is a token they knew themſelues to hauehave gone aſtray, and that there was no true comfort to be found in thoſe pathes of ſinne, in which they walked: and howſoeuer before they thought well of their eſtate when they committed Idolatry, and made conſcience of no ſinne: yet, now (by the mercy of God) hauing got to the ſight of their ſinne, they call themſelues to remembrance, they ſee there is no ſound comfort, but onelyonly in the fauour of God: this is the matter that they debate amongſt themſelues, and conclude of this, To turne againe vntounto the Lord.
The Doctrine then which by the authority of the Doct. 5 Text is this: namely,A right vnderſtanding and a true acknowledgement of our own miſery, the firſt ſtep to Saluation. that there ought to bee in eueryevery one that deſireth eternall life and ſaluation, a right vnderſtanding, and a true acknowledgement of his owne wandring. And to this end, in the Word of God, the Lord there oftentimes cals vponupon men to conſider their wayes, to call their liues to account, that ſo they may attaine to the ſight of their own ſins. Know thy ſinnes, Ier. 3.13. Zeph. 2.1.2:O Ieruſalem: The like ſpeech is vſed by the Prophet Zephany, Fan your ſelues, Oh my people. Yea, the Prophet Ieremy doth oftentimes put vsus in mind of this duety,Lam. 3.40. Oh let vsus ſearch and try our wayes, and turne vntounto the Lord. Yea, common reaſon doth require the ſame, before a man can frame himſelfe to enter into a right courſe, hee muſt throughly bee reſolued and perſwaded within himſelfe, that he hath been miſtaken in his former courſe of life; for, why elſe ſhould this man alter his former courſe, if hee were not miſtaken: Reaſon it ſelfe will perſwade vsus to this: Yea, what meaned God in thoſe his variety of demands to our firſt Parent when hee had ſinned; but that God laboured to bring Adam to the ſight of his ſinne.Gen. 3. Where art thou? Who tolde thee that thou waſt naked? Haſt thou eaten of the tree? Dauid lay a long time in his ſinne,2. Sam. 11. and neuer ſought vntounto God for mercy: but being at laſt awakened by the reprehenſion of Nathan; hee ſought the Lord incontinently; yea, the Lord by the Prophet doth aſſigne this as a reaſon of all thoſe rebellions of the people of Iſrael, euen ignorance of their eſtate; ſaying, The Oxe knoweth his owner, and the Aſſe his Maſters cribbe: but Iſrael hath not knowne: Eſay. 1.3. Luk. 15. Eſay. 46.12. Pſal. 16.12.my people vnderſtand not. The Prodigal ſonne a true patterne for all ſinners; hee neuer ſeekes to his Father, till at laſt that Hee came to himſelfe: which is a token that he went farre aſtray, and was as it were in a ſwound of ſinne; but being a long while in a traunce, at laſt hee reuiued, and that his diſordered life vponupon his vnderſtanding thereof, he reformed, calling himſelfe to better remembrance, what kindneſſe he had in his Fathers houſe, & now what miſery he had brought vponupon himſelfe by his own wilfull diſobedience. I might eaſily multiply examples of this kind, but theſe may ſerue, to ſhew that the ſenſe & apprehenſiō of our own wandring from God, is the onelyonly way and meanes to bring vsus to God: And this was the happy condition of this people here, who being for a time intangled & inſnared in ſinne; It pleaſed the Lord by affliction to humble them, and to bring them to a true ſight of their wandring; that now they reſolue incontinently to turne vntounto the Lord.
Here we ſee the maine cauſe, why there is ſo little Ʋſe. 1 faith and true repentance in the world, why men are no more humbled for their ſinnes, and doe not repent for them: poore ſoules, they know not that they doe euill: they eyther cannot,Lam. 3.40. or do not ſearch themſelues, they neuer call their hearts to account. Now then going on in ſecurity, ſeeing and fearing no danger; alas, how ſhould they repent? how ſhould they turne to God? for, if thou couldeſt ſee the miſery of thy ſoule, and thy wofull eſtate, by reaſon of ſinne, if thou couldeſt ſee the number and greatneſſe of thy ſinnes; Oh, thou wouldeſt euen tremble for feare: Oh, let this ſerue to help vsus forward in this moſt needfull point, the right iudging of our owne eſtate: let vsus not bee wilfully careleſſe herein: Wee all hauehave a hope that it is well with vsus. Oh let vsus looke to it, that this hope of ours make vsus not aſhamed: Rom. 5.5.there is no hurt got by the triall of our ſelues, onelyonly ſecurity is dangerous: many thouſands are now in hell, that in their life time thought nothing leſſe, till they came there. Oh then in the feare of God, let vsus looke to it: Wee are all trauellers in one of theſe two wayes, & we ſhall moſt certainely arriue at one of theſe two places; who would not now bee glad to know in which of theſe two he is, that if hee bee in the euill way, he may ſpedily come out of it: if he be in the right way, that he may continue his race with cheerefulneſſe? Well, this is the truth of this doubt, and I deliuer it vntounto you duplicate page duplicate page as the truth of God, that all which are partakers of life eternall, they are the heyres of grace and ſaluation: this is their firſt ſteppe vntounto it, the true ſight & vnderſtanding of their owne wandring; that they perceyue themſelues that they liue that courſe of life, the iſſue whereof muſt needs bee eternall death; and that they now ſtand and wonder at their owne folly & extreame madneſſe, and withall Gods infinite goodneſſe and patience, and would not bee in that caſe againe for all the world. Well then, marke this doctrine, doe not lightly paſſe it ouer, but eſteeme it as the bleſſed truth of God: that the ſight of our owne wandring, is the firſt ſteppe to eternall light and ſaluation. Well then, let me aske thee this queſtion, or rather demaund it of thy owne ſoule: Didſt thou euer ſee thy wofull miſery, the wretched eſtate wherin thou art by reaſon of ſinne: what a miſerable ſinner thou art, out of the fauour of God; yea, indeed in the ſtate of damnation? didſt thou euer finde thy ſelfe to ſtand in need of Gods mercy, and in extreame want of Chriſts bloud to ſaue thy ſoule: ſo as thou haſt euen with ſighes and teares intreated for the ſame at Gods hand, as for life and death? If thou haſt not found and felt theſe things in thee, in ſome meaſure, thy caſe then is dangerous and fearefull; thou didſt neuer as yet truely repent, the mercy of God belongs not vntounto thee.
Ʋſe. 2 We are then to count it a ſingular fauour of God, when he doth open a mans eyes to ſee his miſery, and to find himſelfe like a loſt ſheepe, to hauehave gone aſtray: this is the beginning of all grace, and true conuerſion vntounto God, to finde our ſelues empty of grace: And therefore this ſhould teach vsus to pray vntounto God, that hee would in mercy open our eyes that wee might ſee our ſinnes, and feele our miſery, and that wee may feele our ſelues to ſtand in extreame need of Gods mercy, and of eueryevery droppe of Chriſts bloud to ſaue our ſoules: and the contrary is a fearefull plague and iudgement of God, for men to lye and ſnort in ſinne without remorſe of conſcience, without the ſence and feeling of ſinne, or want of mercy. This Dauid, and the reſt of Gods ſeruants knew by wofull experience, that if they had dyed without repentance, they had periſhed. Of all diſeaſes, they are moſt dangerous that are leaſt felt, as a Lethargie, or dead palſie, or the like: ſo it is a moſt fearefull eſtate for any man to lie in ſinne without the feeling of it: for …at is a ſigne that the heart is hardned in ſinne. A m… that thinks hee is well ynough, will ſcorne the Phyſitian: ſo thoſe poore blind ſinners, that thinke they are well ynough, and feele no want of Gods mercy, of all men they are moſt to bee pittied, they bee in a moſt dangerous eſtate and condition. And therefore we ſee, that it is a great bleſſing of God to be told of our ſinnes, and to bee reproued for them; that ſo, ſeeing them, and the danger into which they hauehave plunged our poore ſoules, wee might ſeeke to God for mercy.
Come let vsus returne vntounto the Lord. Hitherto we hauehave ſpoken of their exhortation and godly counſell one to another. Come let vsus, &c, Before we leaue the words to come to the reaſons of their exhortation. There is one thing more which I may not omit, and that is the time of their repentance, when they ſhould make this their returne vntounto God, and that is preſently, without any delay: for the word here vſed doth ſignifie a Tenſe or Time that is preſent. Doct. 6
From whence wee gather another point of Doctrine; namely,Men muſt deferre no time, but repent out of hand. that we muſt not ſtand to debate in the motions of the Spirit, but preſently to proceed to execution. Indeed, in worldly buſineſſe of good deliberation comes no harme; but it is a point of wiſedome to deliberate before a man determine of any thing: But in ſpirituall matters it is dangerous; and therefore ſayth the Prophet,Eſay. 55.6.7. Seeke the Lord while hee may bee found, Call yee vponupon him while hee is neere; let the wicked forſake his wayes, and the vnrighteous his owne imaginations, and returne vntounto the Lord, and hee will hauehave mercy vponupon vsus, and to our God, for hee is very ready to forgiue. Pſal. 119.60.I made haſte (ſayth the Prophet Dauid) and I delayed not to keepe thy commandements. And it was a thing commendable in Peter and Andrew, Mat. 4.20. Luk. 19.6. Gal. 6.10.that when Chriſt called them, they left their Nets ſtraightway, and followed him … And when Chriſt called Zacheus, hee came downe haſtily from the Figge-tree, and receyued Chriſt ioyfully. While yee hauehave time (ſayth the Apoſtle) let vsus doe good vntounto all men, Heb. 3.7. Eccl. 5, 7. Act. 8.36. & 10.33.but specially vntounto them that are of the houſhold of faith. And againe, To day if yee will heare his voyce, harden not your hearts. Now, as this Chriſtian duety is to bee obſerued in the performance of any holy duety: ſo eſpecially in the worke of repentance, we muſt neuer debate the matter with fleſh and bloud; for then wee ſhall neuer proceed to execution: but whenſoeuer God ſhall worke in any of vsus a godly purpoſe to forſake our ſins, of all things in the world, wee muſt now take heed of delayes; for ſuch is the policy of Sathan, and ſuch is the deceitfulneſſe of our owne hearts, that they will cauſe vsus to neglect it. And this ought ſo much the more to haſten our returne vntounto the Lord, becauſe many are dead and gone, which in their life time purpoſed to returne vntounto God, and to breake off their ſinnes, which were preuented by death, and neuer performed the ſame. Yea, although thou diddeſt know that thou ſhouldeſt liue long, yet oughteſt thou to repent ſoone: for then is thy repentance moſt acceptable to God, when thou doeſt offer it in the prime of thy youth, and in the flower of thy age. In the ſacrifices of the Lord,Deu. 15.21. Mal. 1. Pro. 1. Mat. 25.11. they were commanded to offer a Male of a yeare olde, withou ſpot and blemiſh, and they that offered the blinde and the lame, were reproued. How then ſhould the Lord accept of thy crooked ſacrifice of olde age, which is as lame and blind before God, and the Lord doth ſeldome accept of it? Nay, it is rather moſt iuſt with God, that at the laſt hee ſhould reiect vsus and our prayers, who hauehave before contemned him in the ſtrength of our yeares, when that God did cry and call vntounto vsus. Oh what yelling and crying wil there bee at the laſt, Lord, Lord, open vntounto vsus. When that heauy Depart from mee yee curſed, I know you not, ſhall bee their portion. Oh that men were wiſe, then would they conſider their latter end. Let vsus looke vntounto the practiſe of men in temporall affayres, and learne to bee wiſe. What makes the husbandman to breake his ſleepe, to riſe vp ſo earely, and to bee ſo diligent in plowing, digging, and ſowing? Aske him, and hee will tell thee, the ſeaſon requires it, and the time loſt, cannot bee redeemed: And ſhall wee thinke that wee hauehave repentance at commaund? no, no, thou mayeſt ſeeke it at laſt, euen with teares,Heb. 12.17. as Eſau did, and yet goe without it, if thou omitteſt the ſeaſon & time, when God doth now offer the ſame vntounto thee. Let this that hath bin ſpoken, ſerue for the confirmation of the euerlaſting truth of this Doctrine; that men muſt defer no time to repent, & to turn vntounto the Lord. Now let vsus ſee ſome reaſons that may enforce the ſame.
The firſt reaſon ſhewing the neceſſity of timely repentance,Reaſons to ſhew the neceſſity of timely repentance. may bee taken from the great vncertainty of mans life, if hee omit the preſent occaſion when it is offered: for God doth call home from his worke, ſome in the morning, ſome at noone, and ſome at night: For, as his Labourers enter into his Vineyard; ſo they goe out, that is, in ſuch manner, and at ſuch howres;Mat. 20.1.2.&c. ſome dye in the dawning of their life, paſſing (as it were) from one graue to another; ſome dye in their youth, as in the third howre; ſome at middle age, and ſome ſtay vntill the euening of mans yeares, that is, old age; yet more before ten, then after threeſcore.Luk. 12.20. Gen. 6. That rich man in the Goſpell that promiſed vntounto himſelfe many yeares to come, had in a moment of time, his ſoule taken from him. The old world neuer thought themſelues more freer, or ſurer from vengeance, then when they were eating & drinking,Luk. 17.27. marrying wiues, &c. But then did the iudgements of God ouertake them: The morning was fayre when Lot went out of Sodom, Gen. 19.23.and yet, before night lay Sodom in aſhes. Herod was well when he beganne his Oration to the people; but by and by after,Act. 12.23. 1. Theſ. 5.3. the Angell of the Lord ſtroke him, that hee was eaten vp of worms, and ſo gaue vp the Ghoſt. What then is our life, and how vaine and falſe is our hope of long life? Shall any ſay with Agag, Surely, the bitterneſſe of death is paſt, 1. Sam. 15.32becauſe wee dye not ſo ſoone as others; when wee heare a ſolemne knell, we ſay, ſome body is departed: and why ſhould we not thinke, that the feet of them who carryed out that body, is at the dore to carry vsus out alſo?Act. 5.9. ſo that, if wee deferre our repentance but one day, yea, but one houre, we hauehave no warrant to aſſure vsus that wee can repent the next, but that the Lord may preuent vsus by death, and ſo we periſh.
Secondly, if wee ſlip the oportunity of well doing, when God doth offer the ſame vntounto vsus, we ſhall bee more vnapt and vnfit afterwards; whileſt the waxe is plyable, it is the fitteſt time to ſet on the ſeale, whereas if it coole againe, it will then hardly receiue any impreſſion: Euen ſo, if our hearts euer beginne to ſoften and to yeeld, if wee now reſiſt the ſpirit of God, and the worke of grace, we ſhall hardly hauehave the like oportunity againe, as at the firſt. And therefore that which Salomon exhorteth in the caſe of vowes, is to bee practiſed of all holy purpoſes and good deſires.Eccl. 5.3. Wee muſt not deferre, nor bee flacke to performe them. And this hath beene carefully practiſed of the godly;Pſal. 119.60. Dauid ſayth of himſelfe, I hauehave conſidered my wayes, and turned my feet into thy teſtimonies: I made haſ…, Luk. 19.6. Act. 8.36.and prolonged not the time to keep thy commandements. Dauid doth not take any dayes with God, like a bad debter day after day, and keepe none of them; but whatſoeuer good duty hee had purpoſed in his heart, he would preſently performe the ſame. Zacheus came downe haſtely, and receyued Chriſt ioyfully. The Eunuch being inſtructed in the ſauing knowledge of his ſaluation, by the preaching of Philip; ſo ſoone as euer he name where water was, hee would be baptized, land receiue the Seale of grace: and as this care is to bee had of eueryevery Chriſtian in the performance of all holy duties, ſo eſpecially, in the worke of repentance; becauſe the longer a man doth put off his repentance, the harder will it bee for him to performe the ſame at laſt.Ier. 13.23. Can the Blacke-More change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? Then may they do good, that hauehave beene accuſtomed to doe euill. The Prophet doth account it as a thing almoſt impoſſible, for a man that hath a long time continued in ſinne, to leaue the ſame, and to become a good man at the laſt. Oh when ſinne growes vp with a man, it will grow at the laſt to bee ſo inward with him, as his deareſt friend, and being ſo long acquainted together, and bred in the bone, they will handly part, or out of the fleſh. Oh that men would conſider this, that the cuſtome of ſinne cauſeth a hardning in ſinne: for ſo ſayth the Apoſtle;Rom. 2.5. Thou, after thine hardneſſe, and heart that cannot repent, heapeſt vntounto thy ſelfe, wrath againſt the day of wrath; And that cuſtome will adde to nature, & turne ſinne vntounto nature, that a man can bee no more without it, then his naturall food. This is the danger that thoſe are in, that defer their repentance, the harder is their recouery at the laſt.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, and laſtly, all our ſeruice whatſoeuer, is onelyonly due vntounto the Lord, our ſelues, our ſoules, and bodies, and all that wee hauehave, the Lord doth iuſtly challenge vntounto himſelfe: Wee are deliuered out of the hands of our enemies, that wee might ſerue God In righteouſneſſe and holineſſe all the dayes of our life. Luke. 1.57. 1. Cor. 6.20.And againe, the Apoſtle ſayth, Yee are bought with a price, therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your spirit, for they are God. So that God muſt hauehave all, we may not take ſo much as one houre, no, not ſo much as a minute of an houre, to beſtow the ſame vponupon the world, the fleſh,Tit. 2.11.12. or the Deuill. Excellent is that place to Titus, The grace of God that bringeth ſaluation vntounto all men, hath appeared, and teacheth vsus that wee ſhould deny vngodlineſſe and would by luſts, and that wee ſhould liue ſoberly and righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world. The meaning is, that the doctrine of ſaluation is preached vntounto all, not to embolden men in ſinne, but to vrge them to lay aſide all prophaneſſe, and to renounce their owne luſts, and to hauehave their fruit in holineſſe, as they hope to hauehave the end euerlaſting life. And to theſe may be added that of the Apoſtle Peter, 1. Pet. 1.17.Paſſe the time of your dwelling here in feare, knowing that we were redeemed, not with corruptible things, &c. And therefore, in all theſe reſpects; you ſee, wee muſt immediately, without any further delay, apply our hearts to wiſdome, to ſeeke thoſe things which doe concerne the glory of God onelyonly, and to take no more care for the fleſh, to fulfill the luſts thereof. So that nothing is to bee preferred before the Lord, but the Lord before all things: ſo that our repentance is not to bee deferred any time; but the works thereof are to be done out of hand, that ſo God may hauehave his due and right, in being ſerued, and obeyed before all things, as hee ought to be.
The vſe of this Doctrine ſerueth to reproue thoſe Vſe. 1 that are negligent in the performance of this duety, who hauehave had many good purpoſes in their hearts; but for want of timely proſecuting of them, alas, they hauehave proued but as the morning cloud,Hoſ. 6.4. quickly diſperſed. I hauehave knowne many, that while they hauehave beene vnderunder the Miniſtery of the Word, hauehave beene touched with ſorrow for their ſinnes, their conſciences being conuinced, and for the time preſent they hauehave purpoſed to forſake them.Act. 26.28. So that as Agrippa ſayde to Paul, Thou haſt almoſt perſwaded me to be a Chriſtian: So, they hauehave almoſt beene perſwaded to a better courſe: but alas, how ſodainely it hath been forgotten, it may appeare by their falling into the ſame ſinne againe; for, ſo ſoone as they hauehave beene out of the Church, they remember it no more, but returne to their former courſes; As the dogge to the vomite. 2. Pet. 2.22.Others againe, when the hand of God hath been vponupon them by ſickneſſe, loſſe of goods, &c. and when their conſciences hauehave beene (as it were) vponupon the Racke, they hauehave then made vowes vntounto God, and promiſed reformation of life, that they will neuer doe as they hauehave done, but that they would become new men, and walke more carefully and conſcionably then euer they did before: but as ſoone as euer the Lord hath remoued the rod, and ſet them at liberty, they neuer remember it more. And herein they deale with the Lord, as the people of Iſrael did, who,Pſal. 78.33. when God brought any iudgement or calamity vponupon them, then preſently they returned, and ſought God earely; but when the iudgement of God was remoued, they ſtarted aſide like a broken bow. Then the ſwearer maketh, great proteſtation to leaue his ſwearing, the drunkard his drunkenneſſe, the whoremaſter his whoredome, &c. But if the Lord reſtore them to their health againe, they fall a freſh to their ſinnes againe, which they made ſhew to hauehave forſaken. Oh then, let vsus not deferre the time of our repentance, but ſo ſoone as euer we heare our ſinnes reproued, and the iudgements of God threatned againſt them, that our conſciences are conuinced: Oh let vsus then with ſpeed addreſſe our ſelues to performe it. If we ſhould heare of a man, that hauing committed treaſon againſt his Prince, and for the ſame ſhould die, vnleſſe he would ſeeke to pacifie his wrath, and to ſtay the execution againſt himſelfe, that would deferre it from time to time, and make light account of it; would not all men condemne him, and ſay, hee were worthy to die? Well, this is the folly, or rather extreame madnes of many a poore ſoule, who, though they know how to aſſwage the anger of God that is kindled againſt them for their ſinnes; yet deferre the ſame, and put it off from time to time. And herein the Deuill deales with men like a racking Vſurer, who is wont to giuegive day after day of payment vntounto a man, vntill at laſt hee winde his inheritance into his hand: Euen ſo doth the Deuill deale with ſinners, hee doth harden them on ſtill from day to day in their ſinnes, vntill at the laſt hee hath gotten them into his owne inheritance, and made them partakers of eternall darkeneſſe with himſelfe for euer. Oh, let vsus not then giuegive place to the Deuill, and ſtrangle our good motions by prophaneſſe; but let vsus immediately proſecute them, that they may worke the good effect of grace in vsus.
Here we are taught, that if we hauehave hitherto fayled Vſe. 2 in the performance of this Chriſtian duety of repentance, that we deferre the ſame now no longer, but while it is called to day, to ſpend the time of our being here in the practiſe of it; and indeed the end of all our endeauours while we liue ſhould bee this,Luke. 13.5. to gette a roome in the Kingdome of God, which wee can neuer hauehave without repentance, and he which omitteth the preſent occaſion when it is offered, can neuer repent. This made our Sauiour to weepe for Ieruſalem, Luk. 19.42.and ſay; Oh if thou haddeſt knowne at the leaſt in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace! And againe, Shee knew not the time of her Ʋiſitation. Now then if thy conſcience tell thee, that thou haſt not yet repented, and that thou art not yet a liuely member of Ieſus Chriſt; Oh delay no longer, no, not one minute of an houre, but with all ſpeed repent, and turn vntounto God, & bring forth the fruits worthy amendment of life, that thou mayeſt hauehave comfort when the houre of death,Gen. 22.3. or the day of iudgement ſhall be. And as Abraham roſe vp earely in the morning to ſacrifice his deareſt ſonne, which made much for the commendations of Abraham, that hee went about the commandement of the Lord ſo cheerefully: ſo doe thou likewiſe; it is not thy ſonne that thou art to ſacrifice, but thy ſinne, which otherwiſe will cut the throat of thy ſoule. Oh riſe vp earely with Abraham, deferre no time; this ſhall bee the beſt ſacrifice that euer we offered vp vntounto God. Now all of vsus doe confeſſe, that ſinne is to be left, and that God is to bee ſerued of vsus, but wee cannot accord of the time when to beginne this worthy worke. I remember the report of the Prophet againſt the people that neglected the reedifying of the Temple,Hag. 1.2. This people (ſayth he) ſay, that the time is not yet come, that the Lords houſe ſhould bee builded. So many thinke it is not yet time for them to looke to heauenward: Youth muſt hauehave a Spirit, and the pleaſures of the fleſh muſt firſt he taſted; We muſt firſt goe take our leaue of our friends, and then we will follow Chriſt. We may ſafely aduenture our young yeares, and when we are old,Reu. 2.24. and going out of the world, then we will retire our ſelues; let God beare with vsus a little, and yet a little, and in time wee will repent: This is indeed the very Deepeneſſe of Sathan. But the time is preſent that we muſt lay hold on, to turn to the Lord. Did euer any whom we read of in the Scripture, feeling the piercing power of Gods ſpirit, ſmiting vponupon their hearts, indent with the Lord, and ſay ſo, that God would bee pleaſed to let them continue in their ſinne a monethmonth or two, or a yeare, that then they would leaue their ſinne, and ſerue the Lord in new obedience? No, no, I neuer read of any that did thus couenant with the Lord, but preſently as God did ſmite them, ſo they were humbled, and were conuerted; they deferred not the time, but imbraced the truth from God without delay. Oh lay this to heart, & the Lord giuegive you a right vnderſtanding in al things, that this day, wherein I now ſpeake vntounto you, may be the day of your Conuerſion vntounto the Lord, and for the which hereafter you may reioyce for euermore. It was too late for the fooliſh Virgins to knocke, and to cry,Mat. 25. Luk. 16. Lord, Lord, open vntounto vsus, when the gate was ſhut againſt them, the gate of repentance, and the gate of mercy: And it was too late for the Glutton to cry for one droppe of water to coole his flaming tongue, which in his life time refuſed to giuegive one dramme of comfort to poore Lazarus. Oh, remember your ſelues betimes, bleſſe the name of God that you hauehave not been preuented with death in the time of your ignorance and blindneſſe, as many hauehave been before you; It is the greateſt mercy that men can enioy, that the ſunne of death hath not yet ſet vponupon them, but that they may yet repent, Oh ſeeke the Lord while hee may be found, and call vponupon him while hee is neere; while yee hauehave light walke in the light, leaſt darkeneſſe come vponupon you: make no couenant with your ſinnes, but vtterly renounce them for euer. And albeit they ſay to thee, as the Deuils ſayd to Chriſt, Why doeſt thou torment vsus before the time? Yet hearken not vntounto them, for the time is already come, if not paſt already: for indeed, we ſhould hauehave repented long ago in ſackcloth and aſhes, if we had done as we ought to hauehave done: but ſeeing we hauehave ſpent ſo much time in the ſeruice of ſinne, and of Sathan, how carefull ſhould we bee now to redeeme the time, and to defetre no day nor houre longer? but while the word is ſounding in our eares, let vsus be conuerted vntounto the Lord, that wee may liue in his ſight.
But notwithſtanding all this that hath been ſayd, it is ſtrange to ſee, how men imbolden themſelues in their ſinnes, vnderunder this pretence, that God is mercifull, and that therefore they may repent as their leyſure; becauſe God is a God of mercy, he will forgiue vsus whenſoeuer we ſhall repent, and turne to him. It is true indeed, that God is a God of mercy, and his mercies are ouer all his works: Pſal 145.And therefore if men would make a right vſe thereof, the mercy of God ſhould lead them to repentance; for ſo ſayth the Apoſtle,Rom. 2.4. Gal. 5.22. Despiſeſt thou the riches of his bountifulneſſe and patience, and long ſuffering, not knowing that the bountifulneſſe of God ſhould lead thee to repentance? but as he is mercifull, ſo is he iuſt, and the longer that God in mercy expecteth thy amendment, ſo much the more grieuouſly will he puniſh thee,E…od. 20. Pſal. 18.26. Pro. ….34. & 28. if thou neglect it: look in the ſecond commandement, how the Lord doth there threaten To viſite the iniquities of the Fathers vponupon their children vntounto the third and fourth generation of ſuch as hate him; Yea, the Lord threatneth obſtinate ſinners, that hee will not regard them when they ſeeke vntounto him; Then ſhall they call vponupon mee, but I will not anſwere, they ſhall ſeeke mee earely, but they ſhall not find me, becauſe they hated knowledge, and did not chooſe the feare of the Lord. So that wee ſee that all hope is taken away from preſumptuous ſinners, that God ſhould euer receiue them into fauour at laſt; ſeeing that the Lord there threatneth, that he will then be ſo far from pittying them, as that hee will euen laugh at their deſtruction. Oh, happy then is he that ſinneth leaſt, next he, that returneth vntounto God ſooneſt; but moſt wofull is the eſtate of him,Heb. 10.26. Heb. 12.17. that with Ieroboam hath ſold himſelfe to worke wickedneſſe in the ſight of the Lord, that hath quenched the good motions of the ſpirit, that hath denyed the power of ſaluation, they hauehave deſpiſed the ſpirit of grace: Alas, alas, though at the laſt, ſuch a one ſhould ſeeke the bleſſing with teares, they can find no place to repentance: Oh, what a fearefull and lamentable eſtate is this for a man to bee thus left vntounto himſelfe, giuen vp to Sathan, and to be forſaken of God for euer! From this eſtate, the Lord for his mercy ſake keepe vsus. But notwithſtanding all this, will ſome ſay, That the theefe vponupon the Croſſe, at the laſt gaſpe was receyued to mercy, who had ſpent all the courſe of his life in ſinne; why then may not I likewiſe hope for the ſame mercy in the end? But alas, one Swallow makes not a ſummer, and of one example, where a precept is wanting, nothing is concluded. The Lord in mercy hath left one extraordinary example of his mercy, that men at the laſt gaſpe, might not altogether deſpayre, and but one, that no man might preſume. Now, would not all men condemne him of meere fooliſhneſſe, that would goe about to ſpurre his Aſſe till hee ſpeake, becauſe Balams Aſſe ſpake? It is farre greater madneſſe in any man to harten himſelfe in his ſinne by one mans example. Were it not a ſafe courſe to follow the example of Dauid, Peter, Paul, Zacheus, Cornelius, &c. who, ſo ſoone as God did touch their hearts with a ſight of their ſins, preſently returned vntounto the Lord by repentance; then that wee ſhould preſume by the example of one, and ſo miſſe of ſaluation, as many thouſands hauehave done before vsus. Wherefore, to conclude this point, let no conceit in the world, nor perſwaſion whatſoeuer, hinder vsus from a preſent conuerſion vntounto God, but out of hand, while it is called To day, let vsus turne vntounto him.