A Call to the Unconverted, To the reader
To all unsanctified persons that shall read this Book; Especially of my Hearers in the Burrough and Parish of Kederminster.
Men and Brethren,
THE Eternal God that made you for a life Everlasting, and hath Redeemed you by his only Son, when you had lost it and your-selves, being mindful of you in your sin and misery, hath indited the Gospel and sealed it by his Spirit, and commanded his Ministers to preach it to the world, that pardon being … offered you, and Heaven b…ing …ot before you, he might call you off from your fleshly pleasures, and from following after this deceitfull world, and acquaint you with the life that you were Created and Redeemed for, before you are dead and past remedy. He sendeth not you Prophets or Apostles, t…at receive their message by immediate Revelation; but yet he calleth you by his ordinary Ministers, who are Commissioned by him to preach the same Gospel which Christ and his Apostles first delivered. The Lord standeth over you, and seeth how you forget him and your latter end, and how light you make of Everlasting things, as men that understand not what they have to do or suffer: He seeth how bold you are in sin, and how fearless of his threatnings, and how careless of your souls, and how the works of Infidels are in your lives, while the belief of Christians is in your mouths. He seeth the dreadful day at hand, when your sorrows will begin, and you must lament all this with fruitless cries in torment and desperation, and when the remembrance of your folly will tear your hearts, if true Conversion now prevent it not; in comparison of your sinful miserable souls, the Lord that better knows your case then you can know it, hath made it our duty to speak to you in his name, (2 Corinth. 5.19.) and to tell y…u plainly of your sin and misery, and what will be your end, and how sad a change you'l shortly see, if yet you go on a little longer. Having bought you at so dear a rate as the blood of his Son Iesus Christ, and made you so free and general a promise of pardon, and grace, and everlasting glory, he commandeth as to tender all this to you, as the gift of God, and to intreate you to consider of the necessity and worth of what he offereth. He seeth and pittieth you, while you are drowned in worldly cares and pleasures, and eagerly following childish toyes, and wasting that short and precious time for a thing of nought, in which you should make ready for an everlasting life: and therefore he hath commanded us to Call after you, and tell you, how you lose your labour, and are about to lose your souls, and to tell you what greater and better things you might certainly have, if you would hearken to his Call, (Isaiah 55 1, 2.3.) We believe and obey the voice of God; and come to you daily on his message, who hath charged us to preach and be instant with you in season and out of season, and to lift up our voice like a Trumpet, and shew you your transgressions and your sins, Isa. 58.1. 2 Tim. 4.1, 2. But, wo and alas! to the grief of our souls, and your own undoing, you stop your ears, you stiffen your necks, you harden your hearts, and break our hearts, and send us back to God with groans to tell him that we have done his message, but can do no good on you, nor scarcely get a sober hearing. O that our eyes were as a fountain of tears, that we might lament our ignorant careless people; that have Christ before them, and pardon, and life, and heaven before them, and have not hearts to know and value them! that might have Christ, and grace, and glory, as well as others, if it were not for their wilful negligence and contempt! O that the Lord would fill our hearts with more compassion to these miserable souls, that we might cast our selves even at their feet, and follow them to their houses, and speak to them with our bitter tears: For long have we preached to many of them as in vain; we study plainness to make them understand; and many of them will not understand us. We study serious piercing words, to make them feel, but they will not feel. If the Greatest mattter would work with them, we should awake them: If the sweetest things would work, we should entice them and win their hearts: if the most dreadful things would work, we should at least affright them from their wickedness; if Truth and Certainty would take with them, we should soon convince them: if the God that made them, and the Christ that bought them might be heard, the ease would soon be altered with them: if Scripture might be heard, we should soon prevail: if Reason, even the best and strongest Reason might be heard, we should not doubt but we should speedily convince them: if experience might be heard, even their own experience, and the experience of all the world, the matter would be mended. Yea if the Conscience within them might be heard, the case would be better with them then it is. But if nothing can be heard, w…at then shall we do for them! If the dreadfull God of Heaven be slighted, who then shall be regarded? If the inestimable Love and blood of a Redeemer be made light of, what then shall be valued? If Heaven have no desiderable Glory with them, and everlasting Ioys be nothing worth; If they can jest at Hell, and dance about the bottomless pit, and play with the consuming fire, and that when God and man do warn them of it; What shall we do for such souls as these?
Once more in the name of the God of Heaven, I shall do the M…ssage to you which he had commanded us, and leave it in these standing lines to convert your or condemn you; to change you, or to rise up in Iudgement against you, and to be a witness to your faces, that once you had a serious Call to Turn. Hear all you that are the drudges of the world, and the servants of the flesh and Satan! That spend your daies in looking after prosperity on earth: and drow… your consciences in drinking, and gluttony, and idleness, and foolish sports; and know you sin, and yet will sin, as if you set God at defiance, and bid him do his worst and spare not! Hearken all you that mind not God, and have no heart to holy things, and feel no savour in the Word or Worship of the Lord, or in the thoughts or mention of eternal life! that are careless of your immortal souls, and never bestowed one hour in enquiring, wha… case they are in, whether sanctified or unsanctified, and whether you are ready to appear before the Lord! Hearken all you that by sinning in the light, have sinned your selves into Atheism and Infidelity, and do not believe the Word of God. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear the Gratious and yet Dreadful Call of God! His eye is all this while upon you. Your sins are registred, and you shall surely hear of them all again: God keepeth the Book now; and he will write it all out upon your Consciences with his terrors: and then you also shall keep it your selves. O Sinners, that you knew but what you are doing! and who you are all this while offending! The Sun it self is darkness before the glory of that Majesty which you daily abuse and carelesly provoke The sinning Angels were not able to stand before him, but were cast down to be tormented Devils. And dare such silly worms as you, so fearlesly offend, and set your selves against your Maker! O that you did but a little know, what a case that wretched soul is in, that hath engaged the Living God against him! The word of his mouth that made thee can unmake thee: the frown of his face will cut thee off, and cast thee out into utter darkness. How eager are the Devils to be doing with thee that have tempted thee▪ and do but wait for th… word from God, to take and use thee as their own? and then in a moment thou wilt be in Hell. If God be against thee, all things are against thee: this world is but thy prison, for all that thou so lovest it: thou art but reserved in it to the day of wrath (Job 21.30) Thy Iudge is coming, thy soul is even going. Yet a little while, and thy friends shall say of thee, He is dead! and thou shalt see the things that now thou didst despise, and feel that which, now thou wilt not believe. Death will bring such an Argument as thou canst not answer; An Argument that shall effectually confute thy Cavils against the word and ways of God, and all thy self-conceited dotages. And then how soon will thy mind be changed? Then be an unbeliever if thou canst; stand then to all thy former words which thou wast wont to utter against the Scriptures, or against a holy and a heavenly life. Make good that cause then before the Lord, which thou wast wont to plead against thy Teachers, and against the people that feared God. Then stand to thy old opinions, and contemptuous thoughts of the diligence of the Saints: Make ready now thy strongest Reasons, and stand up then before the Iudge, and plead, like a man, for thy fleshly, thy unworldly, and ungodly life. But know that thou must have one to plead with that will not be outfaced by thee, nor so easily put off as we thy fellow Creatu…es. O poor deceived wretched soul! there is nothing but a slender vail of flesh betwixt thee and that amazing sight, which will quickly silence thee, and turn thy tune, and make thee of another mind! As soon as Death hath draw this curtain, thou shalt see that which will quickly leave thee speechless. And how quickly will that day and hour come? When thou hast had but a few more merry hours, and but a few more pleasant draughts and morsels, and a little more of the honours or riches of the world, thy portion will be spent, and thy pleasures ended and all is then gone that thou settest thy heart upon; of all that thou soldst thy Saviour and Salvation for, there's nothing left, but the heavy reckoning. As a thief, that sits merrily drinking the money in an Ale-house which he hath stoln, when men are riding in post haste to apprehend him; so is it with you. While you are drowned in cares or fleshly pleasures, and making merry with your own shame, death is coming in post haste to seize upon you, and carry your souls to such a place and state, as now you little know or think of. Suppose when you are hold and busie in your sin, that a messenger were but coming post from London to apprehend you, and take away your lives: though you saw him not, yet if you knew that he was coming, it would marr your mirth, and you would be thinking of the haste he makes, and hearkning when he knocked as your door: O that you could but see what haste death makes, though yet it have not overtaken you! No post so swift! No messenger more sure! As sure as the Sun will be with you in the morning, though it hath many thousands, and hundred thousand miles to go in the night; so sure will death be quickly with you, and then where is your sport and pleasure! then will you jest and brave it out! Then will you jear at them that warned you? Then is it better to be a Believing Saint, or a sensual Worldling? And then whose shall all those things be that you have gathered? (Luke 12.19, 20, 21.) Do you not observe that dayes and weeks are quickly gone; and nights and mornings come apace and speed…ly succeed each other? You sleep; but your damnation slumbereth not: You linger; but your judgment this long time lingreth not: (2 Pet. 2.3, 4, 5.) to which you are reserved for punishment (2 Pet. 2.8, 9.) O that you were wise to understand this, and that you did consider your latter end! Deut. 32.29. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear the Call of God in this day of his salvation.
O careless sinners, that you did but know the Love that you unthankfully neglect, and the preciousness of the blood of Christ which you despise! O that you did but know the Riches of the Gospel! Oh that you did but know, a little know, the certainty, and the glory, and blessedness of that everlasting life, which now you will not set your hearts upon, nor be perswaded first and diligently to seek! (Heb. 11.6. & 12.28. Matth. 6.33.) Did you but know the endless Life with God which, you now neglect, how quickly would you cast away your sin: how quickly would you change your mind and life, your course and company, and turn the stream of your affections, and lay out your care another way? How resolutely would you scorn to yield to such temptations as now deceive you and carry you away? How zealously would you bestir your selves for that most blessed life? How earnest would you be with God in Prayer? How diligent in hearing, and learning, and enquiring? How serious in meditating on the Laws of God? (Psal. 1.2.) How fearful of sinning in thought, word, or deed? and how careful to please God, and grow in Holiness? O what a changed people you would be! And why should not the certain Word of God be believed by you, and prevail with you, which openeth to you these glorious and eternal things?
Yea let me tell you, that even here on earth, you little know the difference between the Life which you refuse, and the Life which you choose? The Sanctified are conversing with God, when you dare scarce think of him, and when you are conversing but with earth and flesh. Their Conversation is in heaven, when you are utter strangers to it, and your belly is your God, and you are minding earthly things, Phil. 3.18, 19.20. They are seeking after the face of God, when you seek for nothing higher then this world. They are busily laying out for an endless life, where they shall be equal with the Angels, (Luke 20.36.) when you take up with a shadow, and a transitory thing of nought. How low and base is your earthly, fleshly, sinful life, in comparison of the noble spiritual life of true Believers? Many a time have I looked on such men with grief and pitty, to see them trudge about the world and spend their lives, and care, and labour, for nothing but a little food and rayment, or a little fading pelf, or fleshly pleasure, or aiery honours, as if they had no higher things to mind. What difference is there between the lives of these men, and of the beasts that perish, that spend their time in working, and eating, and living but that they may live? You taste not of the inward heavenly pleasures which Believers taste and live upon. I had rather have a little of their comforts, which the fore-thoughts of their Heavenly inheritance doth afford them, though I had all their Scorns and Sufferings with it, then to have all your pleasures and treacherous Prosperity: I would not have one of your secret gripes and pangs of conscience, and dark and dreadfull thoughts of death, and the Life to come, for all that ever the world hath done for you, or all …hat you can reasonably hope that it should do. If I were in your Vnconverted Carnal state, and knew but what I know, and believed but what I now believe, methinks my life would be a foretaste of Hell: How oft should I be thinking of the Terrours of the Lord, and of the dismal day that's hasting on! Sure Death and Hell would be still before me: I should think of them by day, and dream of them by night; I should lie down in fear, and rise in fear, and live in fear, lest death should come before I were Converted. I should have small felicity in any thing that I possessed; and little pleasure in any company, and a little joy in any thing in the world; as long as I knew my se…f to be under the Curse and wrath of God. I should be still afraid of hearing that voice, Luke 12.20 [Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee.] And that fearfull sentence would be written upon my conscience, Isa. 48.22. and 57.21. [There is no Peace saith my God, to the wicked.] O poor sinners! it is a joyfuller life then this that you might live, if you were but willing, but truly willing to hearken to Christ and come home to God. You might then draw near to God with boldness and call him your Father, and comfortably trust him with your souls and bodies. If you look upon Promises, you may say, they are all mine. If upon the curse, you may say, [From this I am delivered!] When you read the Law, you may see what you are saved from: when you read the Gospel, you may see him that Redeemed you, and see the course of his Love, and holy Life, and sufferings, and trace him in his temptations, tears and blood, in the work of your salvation: You may see death conquered, and Heaven opened, and your Resurrection and Glorification provided for in the Resurrection and Glorification of your Lord. If you look on the Saints, you may say, [They are my Brethren and Companions.] If on the unsanctified, you may rejoyce to think that you are saved from that state. If you look upon the heavens, the Sun, and Moon, and Stars innumerable, you may think and say, [My Fathers face is infinitely more glorious: Its higher matters that he hath prepared for his Saints: Yonder is but the outward Court of Heaven. The blessedness that he hath promised me is so much higher, that flesh and blood cannot behold it.] If you think of the grave, you may remember that the Glorified Spirit, a Living Head, and a Loving Father, have all so near Relation to your dust, that it cannot be forgotten or neglected, but will more certainly revive, then the plants and flowers in the spring; because that the soul is still alive that is the Root of the Body, and Christ is alive that is the Root of both. Even death, which is the King of fears, may be remembred and entertained with joy; as being the day of your deliverance from the remnants of sin and sorrow, and the day which you believed, and hoped, and wa…ted for, when you shall see the blessed things which you had heard of, and shall find by present joyful experience, what it was to choose the better part, and to be a sincere believing Saint. What say you sirs, is not this a more delightfull life to be assured of Salvation, and ready to die, then to live as the ungodly that have their hearts overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day comes upon them unawares? Luke 21.34, …6. Might you not live a comfortable life, if once you were made the Heirs of Heaven, and sure to be saved when you leave the world? O look about you then, and think what you do, and cast not away such hopes as these for very nothing. The flesh and world can give you no such Hopes or Comforts.
And besides all the misery that you bring upon your selves, you are the troublers of others as long as you are Vnconverted. You trouble Magistrates to rule you by their Laws. You trouble Ministers by resisting the light and guidance which they offer you: Your sin and misery is the greatest grief and trouble to them in the world. You trouble the Common-wealth, and draw the Iudgements of God upon us: Its you that most disturb the holy peace and order of the Churches, and hinder our Vnion and Reformation, and are the shame and trouble of the Churches where you intrude, and of the places where you are. Ah Lord! How heavy and sad a case is this, that even in England where the Gospel doth abound, above any other Nation in the world, where Teaching is so plain and common, and all the helps we can desire are at hand; when the sword hath been hewing us, and Iudgement hath run as a fire through the Land; when deliverances have relieved us, and so many admirable mercies have engaged us to God and to the Gospel, and an holy life, that yet after all this, our Cities, and Towns, and Countries should abound with multitudes of unsanctified men, and swarm with so much sensuality as everywhere to our grief we see. One would have thought that after all this Light, and all this experience, and all these Iudgements and Mercies of God, the people of this Nation should have joyned together as one man to Turn to the Lord; and should have come to their godly Teachers, and lamented all their former sin, and desired him to joyn with them in publike Humiliation, to confess them openly, and beg pardon of them from the Lord; and should have craved his Instruction for the time to come, and be glad to be Ruled by the Spirit within, and the Ministers of Christ without, according to the Word of God. One would think that after such Reason and Scripture evidence as they hear, and after all these means and mercies, there should not be an ungodly perso… lest among us, nor a worldling, o… a drunkard, or a hater of Reformation, or an enemy to holiness be found in all our Towns or Countreys. If we be not all agreed about some Ceremo…ies or Forms of Government, one would think that before this, We should have been all agreed to live a holy and heavenly l…fe, in obedience to God, his word and Ministers, and in Love and Peace with one another. But alas, how far are our people from this course! most of them in most places do set their hearts on earthly things, and seek not first the Kingdom of God, and the righteou…ne…s hereof; but look at holines… as a needless thing: Their Families are prayerless, or else a few hea…tl…ss l…feless words must serve instead of hearty fervent daily prayers: their children are not taught the knowledge of Christ, and the Covenant of Grace, nor brought up in the nurture of the Lord, though they fa…sly promised all this in their Baptism. They instruct not their servants in the matters of salvation, but so their work be done they care not. There are more oaths and …n…ses and ribbald or railing speeches in their families, then gracious words that tend to edification. How few are the Families that fear the Lord and enquire at his Word and Ministers, how they should live, and what they should do, and are willing to be taught and ruled, and that heartily look after everlasting Life? And those few that God hath made so happy, are commonly the by-word of their neighbours; when we see some live in drunkenness, and some in pride and worldliness, and most of them have little care of their salvation; though the cause be gross and past all controversie, yet will they hardly be convinced of their misery, and more hardly recovered and reformed: But when we have done all that we are able to save them from their sins, we leave the most of them as we find them. And if according to the Law of God, we cast them out of the Communion of the Church, when they have obstinately rejected all our admonitions, they rage at us as if we were their enemies, and their hearts are filled with malice against us; and they will sooner set themselves against the Lord, and his Laws and Church, and Ministers, then against their deadly si…s. This is the dolefull case of England. We have Magistrates that countenance the ways of Godliness; and a happy opportunity for Vnity and Reformation is before us, and faithfull Ministers long to see the right ordering of the Church▪ and of the Ordinances of God; but the power of sin in our people doth frustrate almost all. Nowhere almost can a faithfull Minister set up the unquestionable Discipline of Christ, or put back the most scandalous impenitent sinners from the Communion of the Church, and participation of the Sacraments, but the most of the people rail at them, and revise them; as if these ignorant careless souls were wiser then their teachers, or then God himself; and fitter to rule the Church then they. And thus in the day of our visitation, when God calls upon us to Reform his Church, though Magistrates seem willing, and faithful Ministers are willing, yet are the multitude of the people still unwilling, and sin hath so blinded them and hardned their hearts, that even in these days of Light and Grace, they are the obstinate enemies of Light and Grace, and will not be brought by the Calls of God, to see their folly, and know what is for their good. O that the people of England knew at least in this their day the things that belong unto their peace, before they are hid from their eyes! Luke 19.42.
O f…ol…sh miserable souls! (Gal. 3.1.) who hath bewitched your minds into such madness, and your hearts into such a deadness, that you should be such mortal enemies to your selves, and go on so obstinately towards damnation, that neither the word of God, nor the perswasions of men can change your minds, or hold your hands, or stop you till you are past remedy! Well, sinner…! this life will not last alwayes, this patience will not wait up…n you still. Do not think that you shall abuse your Maker and Redeemer, and serve his enemies, a…d debase your souls, and trouble the world, and wrong the Church, and reproach the godly, and grieve your Teachers, and hinder reformation, and all this upon free cost. You know not yet what this must cost you; but you must shortly know, when the righteous God shall take you in hand, who will handle you in another manner then the sharpest Magistrates, or the plainest dealing Pastors did, unless you prevent the everlasting torments by a sound conversion, and i… speedy obeying of the Call of God. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear, while mercy hath a voice to Call!
One desperate Objection (which I have after touched, but with too much brevity) I find sticks close to the hearts of many ungodly men. They think that God doth not so much care what men think or say, or do, as we perswade them, and therefore they care so little themselves. For the convincing of such Atheistical men as these, I shall propound these following Question,
1. Dost thou think God careth whether thou be a man or not? If not, Who made thee, and preserveth thee? If he do then sure he careth whether thou behave thy self as a man. No man is so foolish as to make any instrument, or build an house, or a ship, and not to care when he hath done, whether it be good for the use he made it for? Do not for shame then impute such folly to the God of Wisdom, as if he made so noble a creature as man, and endowed him with such noble faculties, and all for nothing; and careth not what becometh of him when he hath done. Why should God give thee a mind that can know him; and a heart that can love him, if he cared not whether thou know him, and love him or not? Do you not see that in the course of …ature every thing is fitted to its use? The beasts know not God, nor are capable of loving him, beca…se they were made for no such use; but thy capacity shews that thou wast made for God, and for a life to come.
2. Dost thou think that God is everywhere present, and infinite, and Al-sufficient? If not, thou dost not believe that he is God; And it is u…re…sonable to imagine that God hath made a world that is greater and more extensive or comprehensive then himself: for none can communicate more then he hath. But if thou a…t forced to confess that God is everywhere, and as sufficient for every single m…n as if he had never another creature to regard, you must need… confess then that he is not careless of the hearts and wayes of the Sons of men: For they are things that are still before his eyes. It is base and blasphemous thoughts of God, as if he were limited, absent or insufficient, that makes men think him so regardless of their hearts and ways.
3. Dost thou think that God careth what becomes of thy body? Whether thou be sick or well? whether thou live or die? If not, then how comest thou by thy life, and health, and mercies? If they come from any other fountain-tell us from whence; Is it not to God that thou prayest for life and health? Darest thou say to him, I will not depend upon thee? I will not be beholden to thee for the life and mercies of another day? If so, then thou art a blinded Atheist. But if thou think God cares for thy body, canst thou think he cares not more for thy soul? If he must regard to furnish thee with mercies, he will sure have a regard whether thou Love and Live to him that gave them.
4. Dost thou believe that God is the Governour of the world or not? If not, then there can be no rightfull Government. For as no Iustice of Peace can have Power but from the Soveraign, so no Soveraign can have power but from God, nor be a lawful Governour but under him. And then all the world would be turned into confusion. But if thou must needs confess that God is the Governour of the world, what an unwise, unrighteous Governour wouldst thou make him, if thou think that he regardeth not the hearts and ways of those whom he doth govern? This still is but to deny him to be God.
5. If God do not care so much what is in our hearts, or what we do, Why then would he make a Law for our hearts, and words, and ways? Would he command us that which he doth not care for? Would be so strictly forb…d us sin, if he were indifferent, whether we sin or no? Would he promise eternal life to the holy and obedient, if he care not whether we be holy and obedient or no? would he threaten Hell to all that are ungodly, if he care not whether we were godly or not? Darest thou say that the Almighty Holy God is fain to rule the world by a Lie, and to deceive men into obedience? Yea the very Law of nature it self doth contain not only precepts of our duty, but the Hopes and fears of a Life to come, w…thout which the world could not be governed! And certainly they are no deceits, by which are infinite Wisdom, and Power, and Goodness doth govern the world.
6. If God did not much regard our hearts and lives, why doth he make all the world to be our Servants? Doth he give us Sun, and Moon, and Stars, the earth and all the creatures to attend us, and serve us with their lives and virtues, and yet doth he not care for our hearts or service? This is as foolish as to say, that he hath made all the world in vain, and careth not for it now he hath made it.
7. If he cared not for the frame of our hearts and lives, he would not have sent his Son to Redeem us, and to cleanse us from all iniquity, and sanctifie us a peculiar people to himself, Tit. 2.14. Surely the price that was paid for sinners, and the wonderful design of God in our Redemption, doth shew that he makes not light of sin, and that he is wonderfully in love with holiness.
8. If God did not regard our hearts and lives, he would not have made it the office of his Ministers, to call us daily to Repentance and an holy life; Nor commanded them to make such a stir with sinners to win them unto God; He would not have appointed all his Ordinances, publick and private also to this end. Doth God command all this ado, for a thing that he regards not?
9. Nor would he punish the world with Hell hereafter, or so many dreadful judgements here, as thousands feel, if he cared not what they think or do? Methinks men that are so often groaning under his rod, should feel that he looks after their hearts and wayes.
10. And how can the Holy Ghost be our Sanctifier, if God be so indifferent whether we be clean or unclean? Dare you think that the Holy Ghost doth take upon him a needless work?
11. Methinks you might perceive even in the malice of the Tempter, that God is holy, and hateth iniquity, and his Word is true that telleth us of the eternal punishment of sin. This Scripture tells us of the Angels fall, and that many of them are become Devils by their sin, and are malicious enemies of mans salvation. And do you not easily perceive it to be true? How come they else to be such importunate Tempters of men: which we feel, alas, by too much experience? Or if this evidence be not palpable enough to convince the Infidel, How come they to make so many bargains with Conjurers and Witches, to draw them from God and Salvation, as they have done? How come they to appear in terrible shapes to so many as they have done, and still upon designs that declare their own dejected base Condition, and their enmity to God and man, and their eager desire to engage men in a way of sin? If any Infidel will not believe that really there have been Witches and Apparitions, and consequently that there are Devils who are miserable and malicious spirits; who by sin are cast out of the favour of God, and would draw men into their miserable case, let them come and reason the case with me, and I shall quickly tell them of so many, sure undenyable instances, and give them so much proof of the truth of it, as shall leave them nothing to say against it, …less they will still say, [We will not believe.] Yea so much, as that I will not be beholden to the vilest Atheist or Infidel to believe it, if he will not quite renounce his Reason, but give it leave to see the Light.
12. Lastly, if yet you think that God (the Soveraign Ruler of the world, that is everywhere present and preserveth all) doth care so little what men are, or what they do, whether they are holy or unholy, obedient or disobedient to his Laws, then methinks that you your selves, and all the rest of your fellow-creatures should little care. Two Questions therefore I must here propound to you. 1. Do not you care what men say of you, or do to you? Are you contented that men slander you and abase you, or set your houses or Towns on fire, or destroy your cattle, or wives and children, and imprison, wound or kill your selves? If you will make a great matter of what men say or do against you, can you be so mad (for it is no better) as to think that the Omnipotent, Holy God should little regard what's said or done against himself, and against h…s servants, and that by such silly worms as men, that are his workmanship? Did not selfishness make you blind and partial, you would know, that one sin against God, deserves more punishment, then ten thousand thousand times as much, against such silly things as you. Do you make no matter of difference between a bad servant and a good? an obedient, and a disobedient child? a Son that would lay down his life for you, and a Son that longs for your death that he may have your Lands? between a faithful friend and a deadly enemy? If you do not, you are not men but something else in humane shape. If you do, then you are somewhat worse then men, if yet you would have the Blessed God to make no great difference between those that love him above all the world, and those that regard him not; between the Holy and unholy soul.
And 2. I would ask you, Whether you would have the Rulers of the world to take no care what men say or do, or would you not? If not, then you would have all the world turned loose, and you would have every man that is poorer then you, have leave to rob you: and every man that hateth you, have leave to beat you or to kill you: and every man that liketh your house, or lands, or goods, or cattle, to have leave to take them from you; and every man to defile your wives or daughters that hath a mind to it? And so we should see whether it is that Infidelity leads men. But if you like not this, then you are most unreasonable, if you would have Magistrates to be regardful of mens actions, and not God. If Magistrates must hang men for wronging you, and the Eternal Majesty must not punish them for wronging him, and breaking his Laws, which is infinitely a greater matter. As if you would have a Constable punish men, and the King or Iudge to have no regard of it. For Kings are under God, as Constables are under Kings; and a thousandfold lower.
The truth is, wicked men are fallen so far from God to themselves, that they are as gods to themselves, in their own esteem, and besides themselves they know no God: and therefore any wrong that is done against them, or any good that is done for them, they would have regarded; but the wrong and disobedience that is against God, they would have nothing made of. And they have such narrow blasphemous thoughts of God, as if he were a finite creature like themselves, that can be but in one place at once; that makes them so blaspheme his Providence, and think he minds not Good or Evil, and will not reward the godly or punish the ungodly; but …ere like the Idols of the Heathen, that have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, and hands without an executive power. But when the Memorial Book of God is opened, which is written for them that fear the Lord, and think upon his name, and when the Lord shall say of them, These are mine, as he is making up his Iewels, and spareth them as … man spareth his Son that serveth him, then shall (those Infidels) …turn (to their wits) and the righteous shall return from their fears and sufferings, and shall discern between the Righteous and the Wicked, between those that served God, and those that served him not, Mal. 3.16 17, 18.
Another Objection I find most common in the mouths of the ungodly, especially of late years. They say, [We can do nothing without God; We cannot have grace if God will not give it us: and if he will, we shall quickly Turn: If he have not predestinated us, and will not Turn us, how can we Turn our selves or be saved? It is not in him that wills, nor in h…m that runs;] And thus they think they are excused.
I have answered this formerly, and in this book; but let me now say this much. 1. Though you cannot cure your selves, you can hurt and poison your selves. Its God that must sanctifie your hearts; but who corrupted them? Will you wilfully take Poison because you cannot cure your selves? Me think you should the more forbear it. You should the more take heed of sinning, if you cannot mend what sin doth marr. 2. Though you cannot be converted without the special Grace of God, yet you must know that God giveth this Grace in the use of his holy means which he hath appointed to that end; and common grace may enable you to forbear your gross sinning (as to the outward act) and to use those means. Can you truly say that you do as much as you are able to do? Are you not able to go by an Ale-house door, or to shut your mouths and keep out the drink; or to forbear the company that hardneth you in sin? Are you not able to go to hear the word, and think of what you heard when you come home, and to consider with your selves of your own condition, and of everlasting things? Are you not able to read good Books from day to day, at least on the Lords day, and to convers… with those that fear the Lord? You cannot say that you have done what you were able. 3. And therefore you must know that you can forfeit the Grace and help of God by your wilful sinning or negligence, though you cannot without Grace turn to God. If you will not do what you can, its just with God to deny you that grace by which you might do more. 4. And for Gods Decrees, you must know that they separate not the end and means, but tie them together. God never decreed to save any but the sanctified, nor to damn any but the unsanctified. God doth as truly Decree from everlasting whether your Land this year shall be barren or fruitful, and just how long you shall live in the world, as he hath Decreed whether you shall be saved or not. And yet you would think that man but a fool that would forbear plowing and sowing, and say, If God have Decreed that my ground shall bear corn, it will bear it, whether I plough and sow or not. If God have decreed that I shall live, I shall live, whether I eat or not; but if he have not, it is not eating that will keep me alive. Do you know how to answer such a man, or do you not? If you do, then you know how to answer your selves; for the case is alike▪ Gods Decree is as peremptory about your bodies, as your souls. If you do not, then try first these conclusions upon your bodies, before you venture to try them on your souls: see first whether God will keep you alive without food or rayment, and whether he will give you corn without tillage and labour, and whether he will bring you to your journeys and without your travel or carriage: and if you speed well in this, then try whether he will bring you to heaven without your diligent use of means, and sit down and say, we cannot sanctifie our selves.
And for the point of Free-will which you harp so long upon, Divines are not so much disagreed about it, as you imagine. Augustine as well as Pelagius, Calvin as well as Arminius, the Dominicans as well as the Iesuits, all do generally maintain that man hath Free-will; but the Orthodox say, that Free-will is corrupted and disposed to evil. Epiphanius condemned Origen for saying that man had lost the image of God, and makes it a point of Heresie. And yet one may truly say, that man hath lost Gods image, and another may truly say that he hath not lost it. For there is a twofold image of God on man; the one is Natural, and that is, Our Reason and Free-will, and this is not lost. The other is Qualitative and Ethical, and this is our Holiness, and this is lost, and by Grace restored; No man of brains denyeth that man hath a will that's Naturally free; Its free from violence, and its a self determining Principle. But it is not free from evil Dispositions. It is Habitually averse to God and Holiness, and enclined to earthly fleshly things. It is enslaved by a sinful byas. This no man me thinks that it a Christian should deny; and of the Aged, I see not how an Infidel can deny it. Alas, we easily confess to you, that you have not this Spiritual Moral-Free will, which is but your right Inclination, and your Habitual Willingness it self. If you had a will that were freed from wicked Inclinations, I had no need to write such Books a… this to perswade you to be willing in a case which your own salvation lyeth on. To the grief of our souls, we perceive after all our preaching and perswasions, that the ungodly have not this spiritual free wil. But this is nothing, but your willingness it self, & inclination to be willing, and therefore the want of it is so far from excusing you, that the more you want it (that is, the more you are wilful in sin) the worse you are, and the sorer will be your punishment. And our preaching and perswasion, and your Hearing and Considering, are the appointed means it get this Moral power or Freedom, that is, to make you truly willing.
Well, Sirs, I have but three requests to you, and I have done. First, that you will seriously read over this small Treatise: (and if you have such as need it in your Families, that you would read it over and over to them: and if those that fear God would go now and then to their ignorant neighbours, and read …his or some other Book to them of …his subject, they might be a mean… of winning of souls.) If we cannot intreate so small a Labour of men for their own salvation, as to read such short Instructions as these, they set little by themselves, and will most justly perish. Secondly, when you have read over this Book, I would intreate you to go alone, and ponder a little what you have read, and bethink you, as in the sight of God, whether it be not true, and do not neerly touch your souls, and whether it be not time for you to look about you. And also I intreate you, that you will upon your knees beseech the Lord that he will open your eyes to understand the truth, and turn your hearts to the Love of God, and beg of him all that saving grace that you have so long neglected, and follow it on from day to day, till your hearts be changed. And withall that you will go to your Pastors (that are set over you to take care of the health and safety of your souls, as Physitians do for the health of your bodies) and desire them to direct you what course to take, and acquaint them with your spiritual estate, that you may have the benefit of their Advice, and Ministerial help. Or if you have not a faithful Pastor at home, make use of some other, in so great a need. Thirdly, When by Reading, Consideration, Prayer and Ministerial Advice, you are once acquainted with your sin and misery, with your Duty and Remedy, delay not, but presently forsake your sinful company and courses, and turn to God, and obey his Call. A… you love your souls, take heed that you go not on against so loud a Call of God, and against your own knowledge and consciences, lest it go worse with you in the day of Iudgement, then with Sodom and Gomorrah. Enquire of God, as a man that is willing to know the truth, and not to be a wilful C…eater of his soul. Search the holy Scriptures daily, and see whether these things be so or not: try impartially whether it be safer to trust to Heaven or Earth, and whether it be better follow God or man, the Spirit, or the flesh, and better live in Holiness, or sin; and whether an unsanctified estate be safe for you to abide in one day longer. And when you have found out which is best, Resolve accordingly, and make your choice without any more ado. If you will be true to your own souls, and do not love everlasting torments, I beseech you as from the Lord, that you will but take this reasonable advices. O what happy Towns and Countreys, and what a happy nation might we have, if we could but perswade our neighbours to agree to such a necessary motion! What joyful men would all faithful: Ministers be, if they could but see their people truly heavenly and holy! This would be the Vnity, the Peace, the Safety, the glory of our Churches: the happiness of our neighbours, and the comfort of our souls. Then how comfortably should we preach Absolution and Peace to you? and deliver the Sacraments which are the Seals of Peace to you? And with what Love and Ioy might we live among you? At your death-bed, how boldly might we comfort and encourage your departing souls? and at your Burial, how comfortably might we leave you in the grave, in expectation to meet your souls in heaven, and to see your bodies raised to that glory?
But if still the most of you will go on in a careless, ignorant, fleshly, wordly, or unholy life, and all our desires and labours cannot so far prevail as to keep you from the wilful damning of your selves, we must then imitate our Lord, who delighteth himself in those few that are his jewels, and in the little Flock that shall receive the Kingdom, when the most shall reap the misery which they sowed. In nature excellent things are few: The world hath not many Suns or Moons: Its but a little of the earth that's gold or silver. Princes and Nobles are but a small part of the Sons of men. And it is no great number that are Learned, Iudicious or wise here in the world; And therefore if the gate being strait, and the way narrow, there be but few that find salvation, yet God will have his glory and pleasure in those few. And when Christ shall come with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ, his coming will to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all true believers, 2 Thes. 1.7, 8, 9, 10.
And for the rest, as God the Father vouchsafed to create them, and God the Son disdained not to bear the penalty of their sins upon the cross, and did not judge such suffering vain, though he knew that by refusing the Sanctification of the Holy Ghost, they would finally destroy themselves; so we that are his Ministers, though these be not gathered, judge not our labour wholly lost (see Isa 49 5.)
Reader, I have done with thee (when thou hast perused this Book) but sin hath not yet done with thee (even those that thou thoughtest had been forgotten long ago) and Satan hath not yet done with thee (though now he be out of sight;) and God hath not yet done with thee, because thou wilt not be perswaded to have done with the deadly reigning sin. I have written thee this perswasive, as one that is going into another world, where the things are seen that here I speak of; and as one that knoweth thou must be shortly there thy self. As ever thou wilt meet me with Comfort before the Lord that made us, as ever thou wilt escape the everlasting plagues prepared for the final neglecters of salvation, and for all that are not sanctified by the Holy Ghost, and love not the communion of the Saints, as members of the Holy Catholick Church, and as ever thou hopest to see the face of Christ thy Iudge, and of the Majesty of the Father, with Peace and Comfort, and to be received into glory, when thou art turned naked out of this world, I beseech thee, I charge thee, to hear and obey the Call of God, and Resolvedly to Turn, that thou maist Live. But if thou Wilt not, even when thou hast no true Reason for it, but Because thou wilt not: I summon thee to answer' it before the Lord, and require thee there to bear me witness that I gave thee warning; and that thou wast not condemned for want of a Call to Turn and Live, but because thou wouldst not believe it, and obey it: which also must be the Testimony of
Thy serious Monitor Rich. Baxter. Decemb. 11. 1657.