The Drunkards Character, Section 126
§ 126.
BUt see how many wayes God hath called thee,The severall wayes whereby God calls to repentance. how many meanes he hath used, that he might winne thee to repentance.
First, the holy Scriptures are, as it were, an Epistle sent unto thee from Heaven, and written by God himselfe, to invite and call thee to repentance: and therein Christ himselfe no lesse saith unto thee from Heaven, when thou art drinking, swearing, mocking, scoffing, deriding, enuying, hateing, opposing, and persecuting any that beleeve in him, then once he did to Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Iesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kicke against the prickes: for whatsoever the Spirit speaketh generally, or specially in the Word, is the voice of the whole Trinity, and intended particularly to thee, and to me, and to every man single, his case being the same: What▪ dost thou looke for Caine or Iudas to come out of Hell to warne thee? it is sufficient their sinne and punishment is written for thy learning.
But this is not all; for though he calls chiefely by his Word, yet he doth not call onelyonly by it; for never any thing happened unto thee in thy whole life, whether thou receivest benefits, or punishments; hearedst threatnings, exhortations, or promises, from any his Embassadors of the Ministery, but all, whether faire meanes, or foule, have beene sent from God, to invite and call thee to faith and repentance; He even therefore threatens Hell, (saith St. Chrysostome) that he may not punish thee by the same.
All Gods blessings are like so many suters, woing thee to repentance; yea, they put on even the formes of Clyents, and petition thee for repentance; his afflictions are Embassadors, sent to treat with thee about a league, which cannot be had without repentance; all the creatures of God, ordained for thy use, are so many silent Sermons, so many trumpets, that summon thee to repentance; in briefe, wherefore doth the Spirit of grace knock at the dore of thine heart, with such infinite checks, and holy motions, but that he would come in? and he will not come in, till repentance hath swept the house.
Why wast thou not with thy harlot, like Zimry in the armes of Cozby, smitten in the act of thy Adultery? Why was not thy soule and hers, sent coupled to the fire of torment, as your bodies were undevided in the flame of uncleannesse? While thy mouth is opened to sweare and blaspheme, why is it not instantly fild with fire and brimstone? When thou art dead drunke, why art thou suffered to wake againe alive, but this, God waites (as in the Parable of the Fig tree, Luk. 13.) another, and another yeare, to try whether thou wilt bring forth the fruit of repentance, and new obedience? yet presume not; for as when men give long day, they expect larger payment; so does God, or for default thereof, conferres a heavier doome; the first fellony may s…ape, in hope of amendment; but the second, much more the seventh, meetes with (as well it deserves) a halter.
Yea, of this be sure, if Gods long suffering workes no reformation, this silent Judge will at last speake home. The Elephant suffers many injuries from the inferiour beasts; but warre being too farre provoked, his revenge is more extreame, then his patience was remisse: and the higher the Axe is lifted up, the deeper it cuts.
But what doe I nominating particulars, when thou hast had more warnings, and invitations, then thou hast haires on thy head: Gods benefits offered thee in Christ (and they all solicit thee to repent) are without number, though thy sinnes strive with them, which shall be more. If thou couldest count the numberlesse number of creatures, they would not be answerable, to the number of his gifts; though the number of thine offences, which thou returnest in liew of them, are not much inferiour.
Not to enter into particulars, which were endlesse, but to give you the summe or epitomy of them; for I had rather presse you with weight, then oppresse you with number of Arguments. The Lord Christ hath not onelyonly ransomed thee from infinite evills here, and everlasting torments hereafter; but also purchased every good thing thou dost enjoy, whether for soule, or body, even to the very bread thou eatest, and that with the price of his owne precious blood; and, as if all this were too little, he reserveth for thee such pleasures at his right hand, as never entred into the heart of man to conceive; and to the end onelyonly, that thou shouldest serve, and set forth the praise of his Name, who hath done all this.
As he descended into Hell, that we might never come thither; so he ascended into Heaven, to prepare a place for us, which we have no right unto.
What should I say? If we looke inward, we finde our Creator's mercies; if we looke upward, his mercy reacheth unto the Heavens; if downeward, the earth is full of his goodnesse, and so is the broad Sea; if we looke about us, what is it that he hath not given us? Ayre, to breath in; Fire, to warme us; Water, to coole and cleanse us; Cloathes▪ to cover us; Foode, to nourish us; Fruits, to refresh us; yea, Delicates, to please us; Beasts, to serve us; Angells, to attend us; Heaven, to receive us; and, which is above all, his owne Sonne to redeeme us. whithersoever we turne our eyes we cannot looke besides his bounty.
O consider of these his mercies, you that forget God; and then, though there were no Hell, no punishment for sinne, yet you would not transgresse. Hast thou any braines, or heart to conceive what it is he hath bestowed, what thou hast received, what thou hast deserved? No surely, for if thou hadst braines, and wert a wise man, it would make thee mad, as Salomon speakes in another sense, Eccl. 7. 7. or if thou hadst a heart not like a stone, or an Adamant, the consideration of Gods love, and thy odious unthankefulnesse, would make it split and breake in peeces. But heare it againe.
First, thou wert created by him a man, and not a beast: in England, not in Aethiopia; in this cleare and bright time of the Gospell, not in the darkenesse of Paganisme, or Popery.
Secondly, thou wert redeemed out of Hell by his precious blood; he spared not himselfe, that his Father might spare thee. Oh thinke what flames the damned endure, which thou mayst escape, if thou wilt thy selfe; me thinkes this should melt a heart of Adamant.
Thirdly, he hath preserved thee here from manyfold dangers of body and soule.
Fourthly, he hath all thy life long plentifully and graciously blessed thee with many and manifold good things.
And lastly, promised thee not onelyonly felicity on earth, but in Heaven, if thou wilt serve him.