A Sermon of Judgment, Sermon · Part 8

A Sermon of Judgment · Sermon · Part 8

p. 41VIII. THE next point in our method, is, to ſhew you, What will be the Evidence of the Cauſe?

Anſw. There is a five fold Evidence among men▪ 1. When the fact is notorious. 2. The knowledge of an unſuſpected Competent p. 42Iudge. 3. The parties Confeſsion. 4. Witneſs. 5. Inſtruments and viſible effects of the action. All theſe Evidences will be at hand, and any one of them ſufficient for the conviction of the guilty perſon at that day.

1. As the ſins of all men; ſo the Impenitency and Rebellion of the wicked was notorious, or at leaſt will be then. For though ſome play the hypocrites and hide the matter from the world and themſelves, yet God ſhall open their hearts and former lives to themſelves, and to the view of all the world. He ſhall ſet their ſins in order before them ſo, that it ſhall be utterly in vain to deny or excuſe them▪ If any men will then think to make their cauſe as good to God as they can now do to us, that are not able to ſee their hearts▪ they will be foully miſtaken. Now they can ſay they have p. 34as good hearts as the beſt: then God will bring them out in the light; and ſhew them to themſelves and all the world, whether they were good or bad. Now they will face us down that they do truly Repent, and they obey God as well as they can, but God that knoweth the Deceivers, will then undeceive them. We cannot now make men acquainted with their own unſanctified hearts, nor convince them that have not true Faith, Repentance or Obedience; but God will convince them of it; They can find ſhifts and falſe anſwers to put off a Miniſter with; but God will not ſo be ſhifted off. Let us preach as plainly to them as we can and do all that ever we are able to acquaint them with the impenitency and unholyneſs of their own heart, and the neceſſity of a new heart and life, yet we cannot do p. 44it; but they will Believe whether we will or not, that the old heart will ſerve the turn; But how eaſily will God make them know the contrary? We plead with them in the dark; for though we have the candle of the Goſpel in our hands when we come to ſhew them their corruption, yet they ſhut their eyes, and are wilfully blind. But God will open their eyes whether they will or not, not by holy Illumination, but by forced conviction; and then he will plead with them as in the open light. See here thy own unholy ſoul, canſt thou now ſay thou didſt love me above all? canſt thou deny but thou didſt love this world before me? and ſerve thy fleſh and luſts, though I told thee if thou didſt ſo thou ſhouldſt dye? Look upon thy own heart now, and ſee whether it be a holy or an unholy heart; a ſpiritual or a fleſhly heart; a heavenly p. 45or an earthly heart? Look now upon all the courſe of thy life, and ſee whether thou didſt live to me, or to the world and thy fleſh? Oh how eaſily will God convince men then of the very ſins of their thoughts, and in their ſecret Cloſets, when they thought that no witneſs could have diſcloſed them! Therefore its ſaid, that the Books ſhall be opened, and the dead Iudged out of the books, Rev. 20.12. Dan. 7.10.

The ſecond Evidence will be the knowledge of the Judge. If the ſinner would not be convinced, yet it is ſufficient that the Judge knoweth the Cauſe; God needeth no further witneſs; he ſaw thee committing adultery in ſecret, lying, ſtealing, forſwearing in ſecret. If thou do not know thy own heart to be unholy, it is enough that God knoweth it. If you have the face to ſay, Lord, p. 46when did we ſee thee hungry? &c. Mat. 25.44. yet God will make good the charge againſt thee, and there needeth no more Teſtimony then his own. Can fooliſh ſinners think to lie hid or eſcape at that day, that will now ſin wilfully before their Judge? that know every day that their Judge is looking on them while they forget him, and give up themſelves to the world, and yet go on even under his eye, as if to his face they dared him to puniſh them?

3. The third Evidence will be, the ſinners Confeſſion. God will force their own Conſciences to witneſs againſt them, and their own tongues to confeſs the Accuſation. If they do at firſt excuſe it, he will leave them ſpeechleſs, yea and condemning themſelves before they have done.

Oh what a difference between p. 47their language now and then! Now we cannot tell them of their ſin and miſery, but they either tell us of our own faults, or bid us look to our ſelves, or deny or excuſe their fault, or make light of it; but then their own tongues ſhall confeſs them, and cry out of the wilful folly that they committed, and lay a heavyer charge upon them then we can now do. Now if we tell them that we are afraid they are unregenerate, and leaſt their hearts are not truly ſet upon God; they will tell us they hope to be ſaved with ſuch hearts as they have; But then, Oh how they will confeſs the folly and falſneſs of their own hearts! You may ſee a little of their caſe even in deſpairing ſinners on earth, how far they are from denying or excuſing their ſins. Judas crys out. I have ſinned in betraying Innocent blood, Mat. 27.4. out of p. 48their own mouth ſhall they be Judged. That very tongue that now excuſeth their ſin, will in their torments be their great Accuſer. For God will have it ſo to be.

4. The fourth Evididence will be the witneſs of others. Oh how many thouſand witneſſes might there be produced, were there need, to convince the guilty ſoul at that day!

1. All the Miniſters of Chriſt that ever preached to them, or warned them, will be ſufficient witneſſes againſt them: we muſt needs teſtifie that we preached to them the truth of the Goſpel, and they would not believe it. We preached to them the goodneſs of God, yet they ſet not their hearts upon him▪ we ſhewed them their ſin, and they were not humbled. We told them of the danger of an unregenerate ſtate, p. 49and they did not regard us: we acquainted them with the Abſolute Neceſſity of holineſs, but they made light of all: We let them know the deceitfulneſs of their hearts, and the need of a cloſe and faithful examination, but they would not beſtow an hour in ſuch a work; nor ſcarce once be afraid of being miſtaken and miſcarrying. We let them know the vanity of this world, and yet they would not forſake it, no not for Chriſt and the hopes of glory: We told them of the everlaſting felicity they might attain, but they would not ſet themſelves to ſeek it.

What we ſhall think of it then, the Lord knows; but ſurely it ſeemeth now to us a matter of very ſad conſideration, that we muſt be brought in as witneſſes againſt the ſouls of our neighbors and friends in the fleſh. Thoſe whom p. 50we now unfeignedly love, and would do any thing that we were able to do for their good, whoſe well fare is dearer to us then all worldly enjoyments: Alas, that we muſt be forced to teſtifie to their faces for their condemnation! Ah Lord, with what a heart muſt a poor Miniſter ſtudy, when he conſidereth this, that all the words that he is ſtudying muſt be brought in for a witneſs againſt many of his hearers! with what a heart muſt a Miniſter Preach, when he remembreth that all the words that he is ſpeaking muſt condemn many, if not moſt of his hearers! Do we deſire this ſad fruit of our Labours? No: we may ſay with the Prophet, Jer. 17.16. I have not deſired the woful day, thou knoweſt: No, if we deſired it, we would not do ſo much to prevent it: we would not ſtudy, and preach, and pray, p. 51and intreat men, that if it were poſſible we might not be put on ſuch a task▪ And doubtleſs it ſhould make every honeſt Miniſter ſtudy hard, and pray hard, and intreat hard, and ſtoop low to men, and be earneſt with men in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, that if it may be, they may not be the condemners of their peoples ſouls. But if men will not hear, and there be no remedy, who can help it? Chriſt himſelf came not into the world to condemn men, but to ſave them, and yet he will condemn thoſe that will not yield to his ſaving work: …od takes no pleaſure in the death of a ſinner, but rather that he repent, and return, and live, Ezek. 18.23.32. and yet he will rejoyce over thoſe to do them hurt, and deſtroy them that will not return, Deut. 28.63. And if we muſt be put on ſuch work, he will make us; p. 52like-minded. The holy Ghoſt tels us, that the Saints ſhall Judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2, 3. and if they muſt Judge, they will Judge as God Judgeth; you cannot blame us for it ſinners: we now warn you of it before hand, and if you wil not prevent it blame not us, but your ſelves. Alas! we are not our own Maſters. As we now ſpeak not to you in our own names, ſo then we may not do what we liſt our ſelves, or if we might, our wills will be as Gods will. God will make us Judge you, & witneſs againſt you: Can we abſolve you, when the righteous God will condemn you? when God is againſt you, whoſe ſide would you have us be of? We muſt be either againſt God or you. And can you think that we ſhould be for any one againſt our Maker and Redeemer? We muſt either condemn the Sentence of Jeſus p. 53Chriſt, or condemn you: and is not there more reaſon to condemn you then him? can we have any mercy on you, when he that made you will not ſave you, and he that formed you, will ſhew you no mercy? Iſa. 27.11. Yea when he that dyed for you, will condemn you, ſhall we be more merciful then God? But alas▪ If we ſhould be ſo fooliſh and unjuſt, what good would it do you? If we would be falſe witneſſes and partial Judges, it would not ſave you; we are not Juſtified if we Abſolve our ſelves, 1 Cor. 4.4. how unable then ſhall we be againſt Gods Sentence to Juſtifie you? If all the world ſhould ſay, you were holy and penitent, when God knows you were unholy and impenitent; it will do you no good. You pray every day that his will may be done, and it will be done: It will be done upon p. 54you, becauſe it was not done by you. What would you have us ſay, if God ask us, Did you tell this ſinner of the need of Chriſt, of the glory of the world to come, and the vanity of this? Should we lie, and ſay we did not? what ſhould we ſay if he ask us, Did not you tell them the miſery of their natural ſtate; and what would become of them if they were not made new? would you have us lye to God, and ſay we did not? Why if we did not, your blood will be required at our hands, Ezek. 33.6. and 3.18. and would you have us bring your blood upon our own heads by a lye? Yea, and to do you no good, when we know that lyes will not prevail with God? No, no, ſinners; We muſt unavoidably, teſtifie to the confuſion of your faces. If …od ask us, we muſt bear witneſs againſt you, and ſay; Lord, we did what we could p. 55according to our weak abilities, to reclaim them: Indeed our own thoughts of everlaſting things were ſo low, and our own hearts ſo dull; that we muſt confeſs we did not follow them ſo cloſe, nor ſpeak ſo earneſtly as we ſhould have done: we did not cry ſo loud, nor lift up our voice as a Trumpet to awaken them, (Iſa 58.1.) we confeſs we did not ſpeak to them with ſuch melting compaſſion, and with ſuch ſtreams of tears beſeech them to regard, as a matter of ſuch great concernment ſhould have been spoken with; We did not fall on our knees to them, and ſo earneſtly begg of them for the Lords ſake, to have mercy upon their own ſouls▪ as we ſhould have done. But yet we told them the Meſſage of God: and we ſtudyed to ſpeak it to them as plainly and as peircingly as we could. Fain we would have convinced them of their ſin and miſery, but p. 56we could not: Fain we would have drawn them to the admiration of Chriſt, but they made light of it, Mat. 22.5. We would fain have brought them to the contempt of this vain world, and to ſet their mind on the world to come. but we could not: Some compaſſion thou knoweſt Lord we had to their ſouls▪ many a weeping or groaning hour we have had in ſecret, becauſe they would not hear & obey; and ſome ſad complaints we have made over them in publike: We told them that they muſt ſhortly dye and come to Judgement, and that this world would deceive them, and leave them in the duſt; we told them that the time was at hand when nothing but Chriſt would do them good, and nothing but the favour of God would he ſufficient for their happineſs; but we could never get them to lay it to heart. Many a time did we intreat them to think ſoberly of this life, p. 57and the life to come, and to compare them together with the Faith▪ of Chriſtians, and the reaſon of men; but they would not do it: many a time did we intreat them, but to take now and then an hour in ſecret to conſider who made them, and for what he made them, and why they were ſent into this world; and what their buſineſs here is; and whether they are going, and how it wil go with them at their latter end; But we could never get moſt of them to spend one hour in ſerious thoughts of theſe weighty matters. Many a time did we intreat them to try whether they were Regenerate or not? whether Chriſt and his Spirit were in them, or not? Whether their ſouls were brought back to God by Sanctification? but they would not try: We did beſeech them to make ſure work▪ and not leave ſuch a matter as everlaſting Joy or Torment to a bold and mad p. 58adventure: but we could not prevail: We intreated them to lay all other buſineſſes aſide a little while in the world, and to enquire by the direction of the word of God, what would become of them in the world to come; and to Judge themſelves before God came to Judge them, ſeeing they had the Law and the rule of Judgement before them: but their minds were blinded, and their hearts were hardned and the profit, and pleaſure, and honour of this world did e…ther ſtop their ears, or quickly ſteal away their hearts, ſo that we could never get them to a ſober conſideration, nor ever win their hearts to God.

This will be the witneſs that many a hundred Miniſters of the Goſpel muſt give in againſt the ſouls of their people at that day. Alas, that ever you ſhould caſt this upon us! For the Lords ſake, Sirs, pitty your poor Teachers, if you p. 59pitty not your ſelves. We had rather go a 1000. miles for you; we had rather be ſcorned and abuſed for your ſakes: we had rather lay our hands under your fe…t, and beſeech you on our knees with tears were we able, then be put on ſuch a work as this. It is you that will do it if it be done▪ We had rather follow you from houſe to houſe, and teach and exhort you, if you will but hear us, and accept of our exhortation. Your ſouls a…e precious in our eyes, for we know they were ſo in the eyes of Chriſt, and therefore we are loth to ſee this day; we were once in your caſe, and therefore know what it is to be blind, and careleſs▪ and carnal as you are, and therefore would fain obtain your Deliverance. But if you will not hear, but we muſt accuſe you and we muſt condemn you; The Lord Judge between p. 60you and us; For he can witneſs that it was full ſore againſt our wills. We have been▪ faulty indeed in doing no more for you, and not following you with reſtleſs Importunity; (the Good Lord forgive us;) but yet we have not betrayed you by ſilence.

2. All thoſe that fear God, that have lived among ungodly men, will alſo be ſufficient witneſſes againſt them. Alas! they muſt be put upon that ſame work which is very unpleaſant to their thoughts, as Miniſters are: They muſt witneſs before the Lord, that they did as friends and neighbors admoniſh them: that they gave them a good example, and endeavoured to walk in holyneſs before them; but alas! the moſt did but mock them, and call them Puritans and preciſe fools, and thought they made more ado p. 61then needs for their ſalvation: They muſt be forced to teſtifie, [Lord we would fain have drawn them with us to hear the word, and to read it, and to pray in their families, and to ſanctifie thy holy day, and take ſuch happy Opportunities for their ſouls; But we could not get them to it; we did in our places what we were able, to give them the Example of a Godly Converſation, and they did but deride us; they were readier to mark every ſlip of our lives, and to obſerve all our Infirmities, and catch at any Accuſation that was againſt us▪ then to follow us in any work of holy obedience, or care for our everlaſting peace;] The …ord knows it is a moſt heavy thing to conſider now, that poor neighbors muſt be fain to come in againſt thoſe that they love ſo dearly and by their Teſtimony to Judge them p. 62to perdition▪ Oh heavy caſe to think of, that a maſter muſt witneſs againſt his own ſervant. Yea a husband againſt his own wife, and a wife againſt her husband; yea parents againſt their own children, and ſay, [Lord, I taught them thy word, but they would not learn. I told them what would come on it, if they returned not to thee; I brought them to Sermons, and I prayed with them and for them. I frequently▪ minded them of theſe everlaſting things▪ and of this dreadful day▪ which now they ſee. But youthful luſts and the temptations of the fleſh and the Devil led them away, and I could never get them throughly and ſoundly to lay it to their hearts▪] Oh you that are parents, and friends, and neighbors, in the fear of God beſtir you now▪ that you may not be put to this at the day of Judgement▪ p. 63Oh give them no reſt take no nay of them till you have perſwaded their heart from this▪ world to God, leſt you be put to be their condemners: It muſt be now that you muſt prevent it, or elſe never; now while you are with them, while you and they are in the fleſh together, which will be but a little while: Can you but now prevail with them, all will be well, and you may▪ meet them Joyfully before the Lord.

3. Another witneſs that will teſtifie againſt the ungodly at that day, will be their ſinful companions; thoſe that drew them into ſin, or were drawn by them, or joyned with them in it. Oh little do poor drunkards think, when they ſit merrily in an Ale-houſe, that one of them muſt bear witneſs againſt another, and condemn one another▪ If they thought of p. 64this, me thinks it ſhould make them have leſs delight in that company: Thoſe that now joyn with you in wickedneſs, ſhall then be forced to witneſs, [I confeſs Lord I did hear him ſwear and curſe; I heard him deride thoſe that feared the Lord, and make a jeſt of a holy life: I ſaw him in the Ale-houſe when he ſhould be hearing the Word of God, or reading, or calling upon God, and preparing for this day: I joyned with him in fleſhly delights, in abuſing thy creature and our own bodies.] Sinners; look your companions in the face the next time you are with them, and remember this that I now ſay; that thoſe men ſhall give in Evidence againſt you, that now are your aſſociates in all your mirth: Little thinketh the fornicator and luſtful wanton, that their ſinful mates muſt then bear p. 65witneſs of that which they thought the dark had concealed, and tell their ſhame before all the world. But this muſt be the fruit of ſin. Its meet that they who encouraged one another in ſin, ſhould condemn one another for it. And marvail not at it; for they ſhall be forced to it whether they will or no; Light will not then be hid: They may think to have ſome eaſe to their conſciences, by accuſing and condemning others. When Adam is queſtioned for his ſin, he preſently accuſeth the woman, Gen. 3.12. when Judas his conſcience was awakened, he runs to the Phariſees with the money that drew him to it, and they caſt it back in his own face, and ſay, See thou to it, what is that to us? Mat. …7.4, 5, 6. Oh the cold comfort that ſinners will have in one another at that day! and the little pleaſure that they p. 66will find in remembring their evil waies! Now when a fornicator or a worldling, or a merry voluptuous man is grown old, and cannot act all his ſin again, he takes pleaſure in rem…mbring and telling others of his former folly; what he once was; and what he did; and the merry hours that he had; but then when ſinners are come to themſelves a little more, they will remember and tell one another of theſe things with another heart. Oh that they did but know now how theſe things will then affect them▪

4. Another witneſs that will then riſe up againſt them, will be the very Devils that tempted them: They that did purpoſely draw them to ſin, that they might draw them to Torment for ſin: They can witneſs that you harkned to their Temptations, when p. 67you would not harken to Gods Exhortations; They can witneſs that you obeyed them in working Iniquity. But becauſe you may think the Accuſers Teſtimony is not to be taken, I will not ſtand on this. Though it is not nothing, where God knoweth it to be true.

5. The very Angels of God alſo may be witneſſes againſt the wicked: Therefore are we adviſed in Scripture, not to ſin before them, Eccl. 5.6. 1 Cor. 11.10. 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee before the Elect Angels, &c. They can teſtifie that they would have been miniſtring Spirits for their good, when the wicked rather choſe to be ſlaves to the Spirit of malitiouſneſs. The holy Angels of God do many a time ſtand by you when▪ you are ſinning▪ They ſee you, when you ſee not them. They are employed by God in ſome p. 68ſort for your good, as well as we: And as it is the grief of Miniſters, that their labors ſucceed not, ſo may we ſuppoſe that according to their ſtate and nature it is theirs. For they that Rejoyce in heaven at the Converſion of one ſinner, may be ſaid to ſorrow, or to loſe thoſe joyes, when you refuſe to be converted. Theſe noble Spirits, theſe Holy and Glorious attendants of Chriſt, that ſhall wait upon him to Judgement, will be Witneſſes againſt Rebellious ſinners, to their Confu…ion. Sirs, you have all in you naturally a fear of Spirits, and inviſible powers: Fear them aright: leaſt hearkening to the deceiving Spirits, and refuſing the help of the Angels of God, and wilfully ſinning before their faces, you ſhould cauſe them at that day, to the terrour of your ſouls, to ſtand forth as witneſſes againſt you, p. 69to your Condemnation.

6. Conſcience it ſelf will be a moſt effectual witneſs againſt the wicked at that day. I before told you it will be a Diſcerner, and force them to a Confeſſion: But a further office it hath, even to witneſs againſt them. If none elſe in the world had known of their ſecret ſins, conſcience will ſay, I was acquainted with them.

7. The Spirit of Chriſt can witneſs againſt the ungodly, that he oft moved them to Repent and Return, and they rejected his motions: that he ſpoke to their hearts in ſecret, and oft ſet in with the Miniſter, and often minded them of their caſe, and perſwaded them to God; but they reſiſted, quenched and grieved the Spirit, Act. 7.51. As the Spirit witneſſeth with the Spirits of the righteous that they are the children of God, Rom. 8.16. ſo doth p. 70he witneſs with the conſcience of the wicked, that they were children of Rebellion, and therefore are juſtly children of wrath. This Spirit will not alway ſtrive with men; at laſt being vexed, it will prove their enemy, and riſe up againſt them, Gen. 6.3. Iſa. 63.10. If you will needs Grieve it now, it will Grieve you then. Were it not a Spirit of Grace, and were it not free mercy that it came to offer you, the Repulſe would not have been ſo condemning▪ nor the witneſs of this Spirit againſt you ſo heavy at the laſt. But it was the Spirit of Jeſus, that came with recovering Grace, which you reſiſted: And though the wages of every ſin is death, yet you will find that it will coſt you ſomewhat more to Reject this ſalvation, than to break the Creators Law of works Kindneſs, and ſuch Kindneſs, will not be rejected at eaſie rates.

p. 71Many a good motion is now made by the Spirit to the Heart of a ſinner, which he doth not …o much as once obſe…ve; and therefore doth not now Remember them. But then they ſhall be brought to his Remembrance with a witneſs. Many a thouſand ſecret motions to Repentance, to Faith, to a Holy Life, will be Then ſet before the eyes of the poor, unpardoned, trembling ſinner, which he had quite forgotten: And the Spirit of God ſhall teſtifie to his Confuſion, [At ſuch a Sermon I perſwaded thy heart to Repent, and thou wouldeſt not; At ſuch a time I ſhewed thee the evil of thy ſin, and perſwaded thee to have forſaken it, but thou wouldeſt not; I minded thee in thy ſecret thoughts, of the neerneſs of Judgement, and the Certainty and VVeight of everlaſting things, of p. 72the need of Chriſt, and faith, and holyneſs, and of the Danger of ſinning: but thou didſt drown all my motions in the cares and pleaſures of the world▪ Thou harkenedſt rather to the Devil than to me: The ſenſual inclinations of thy fleſh did prevail againſt the ſtrongeſt Arguments that I uſed: Though I ſhewed thee Reaſons, undenyable Reaſons, from thy Creator, from thy Redeemer, from nature, from grace, from heaven, and from hell, yet all would not ſo much as ſtop thee, much leſs turn thee, but thou wouldeſt go on; Thou wouldeſt follow thy fleſh, and now let it pay thee the wages of thy folly; Thou wouldeſt be thy ovvn guide, and take thine ovvn Courſe▪ and novv take vvhat thou getteſt by it.]

Poor ſinners, I beſeech you in the fear of God, the next time p. 73you have any ſuch motions from the Spirit of God, to Repent, and Believe, and Break off your ſins, and the Occaſions of them, conſider then what a mercy is ſet before you; and how it will confound you at the day of Judgement, to have all theſe motions brought in againſt you, and that the Spirit of Grace it ſelf ſhould be your Condemner! Alas, that men ſhould chooſe their own Deſtruction, and wilfully chooſe it! and that the foreknowledge of theſe things ſhould not move them to relent.

So much concerning the witneſs that will be brought in againſt the ſinner.

5. The fifth Evidence that will be given in againſt the ſinner, will be, The Inſtruments and Effects. You know among men, if a man be found murthered by the highway, and you are found ſtanding p. 74by him with a bloody ſword in your hand; eſpecially if there were a former diſſention between you, it will be an Evidence that will prove a ſtrong preſumption, that you were the Murderer: But if the fact be certain by other Evidence, then many ſuch things may be brought for aggravation of the fault.

So a twofold Evidence will be brought againſt the ſinner from theſe things. One to prove him guilty of the fact: the other to Aggravate the fault, and prove that his ſin was very great.

For the former. 1. The very creatures which ſinners abuſed to ſin, may be brought in againſt them to their Conviction and Condemnation. For though theſe creatures ſhall be conſumed with the laſt deſtroying Fire, which ſhall conſume all the world, yet they ſhall have a Being in the p. 75memory of the ſinner (an eſſe Cognitum.) The very Wine or Ale, or other liquor which was abuſed to drunkenneſs, may witneſs aga…nſt the Drunkard. The ſweet morſels by which the Glutton did pleaſe his Appetite, and all the good creatures of God which he luxuriouſly devou…ed, may witneſs againſt him, Luke 16.19, 25. He that fared deliciouſly every day in this life, was told by Abrah…m when he was dead, and his ſoul in Hell, [Remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and likewiſe Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.] Though their ſweet morſels and cups are paſt, and gone, yet muſt they be Remembred at Judgement and in Hell. [Remember, Son] ſaith Abraham: Yea, and Remember he muſt, whether he will or no: Long was the Glutton p. 76in ſinning, and many a pleaſant bit did he taſte: and ſo many Evidences of his ſin will lie againſt him, and the ſweetneſs will then be turned into gall.

The very cloathing, and ornaments by which Proud perſons did manifeſt their Pride, will be ſufficient Evidence againſt them▪ as his being cloathed in Purple and fine linnen, is mentioned, Luk. 16.19.

The very lands, and goods and houſes of worldlings, will be an Evidence againſt them: Their Gold and Silver, which the covetous do now prefer before the everlaſting Riches with Chriſt, will be an Evidence againſt them, Jam. 5.1, 2, 3, 4. Go to now, ye Rich men, weep and howl for your miſeries that ſhall come upon you. Your Riches are corrupted, and your Garments moath-eaten; Your Gold and Silver is cankered, and p. 77the Ruſt of them ſhall be a Witneſs againſt you, and ſhall eat your fleſh, as it were fire; Ye have heaped Treaſure together for the Laſt daies. Behold the hire of the Labourers, which have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cryeth; and the cryes of them which have reaped, are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in Pleaſure on the Earth, and been wanton; Ye have nouriſhed your hearts as in a day of ſlaughter. Oh that worldlings would well conſid…r this one Text; and therein obſerve, whether a life of earthly pleaſure, and fulneſs, of worldly Glory, and Gallantry, be as deſirable as they imagine▪ and to what Time, and Purpoſe they now lay up their Treaſures; and how they muſt hear of theſe Things hereafter; and what effect the review of their Jovial daies will have p. 78upon their miſerable condemned ſouls.

2. The very circumſtances of Time, Place, and the like, may Evidence againſt a ſinner to his Condemnation. The drunkard ſhall Remember, In ſuch an Ale-houſe I was ſo oft drunk, and in ſuch a Tavern I vvaſted my time; The Adulterer and Fornicator ſhall Remember the very Time, the Place, the Room, the Bed, vvhere they committed vvickedneſs. The Thief and Deceiver vvill Remember the Time, Place, the perſons they wronged, and the Things which they robbed or deceived them of. The worldling will Remember the buſineſs which he preferred before the ſervice of God; the worldly matters which had more of his heart than his Maker and Redeemer had: the work which he was doing when he ſhould have been p. 79Praying, or Reading, or Catechizing his Family, or thinking ſoberly of his latter end. A thouſand of theſe will then come into his mind, and be as ſo many Evidences againſt him to his Condemnation.

3. The very effects alſo of mens ſins will be an Evidence againſt them. The wife and children of a Drunkard are Impoveriſhed by his ſin: His family and the neighborhod is diſquieted by him. Theſe will be ſo many Evidences againſt him. So will the abuſe of his own Reaſon: The enticing of others to the ſame ſin, and hardening them by his example.

One covetous unmerciful Landlord doth keep a hundred, or many hundred perſons or families in ſo great neceſſities, and care and labour, that they are tempted by it to overpaſs the ſervice p. 80of God, as having ſcarce time for it, or any room for it in their troubled thoughts; All theſe miſerable families, and perſons, and all the ſouls that are undone by this Temptation, will be ſo many Evidences againſt ſuch Oppreſſors.

Yea, the poor whom they have neglected to relieve, when they might; the ſick whom they have neglected to viſit, when they might, will all witneſs then againſt the unmerciful, Matth. 25.

The many ignorant, worldly, careleſs ſinners▪, that have periſhed under an idle, unfaithful Miniſter, will be ſo many witneſſes againſt him to his Condemnation! They may then cry out againſt him to his face, [I was ignorant Lord, and he never did ſo much as teach me, catechize me, nor tell me of theſe Things; I was careleſs, and p. 81minded he world, and he let me go on quietly, and was as careleſs and worldly as I, and never plainly and faithfully warned me, to waken me from my ſecurity.] And ſo their blood will be required at his hands, though themſelves alſo ſhall periſh in their ſin, Ezek. 33.7, 8.

2. And as theſe Evidences will convince men of ſin, ſo there are many more which will convince them of the Greatneſs of their ſin. And theſe are ſo many that it would too much lengthen my diſcourſe to ſtand on them. A few I ſhall briefly touch.

1. The very mercy of God in Creating men, in giving and continuing their Being to them, will be an Evidence for the Aggravation of their ſin againſt him. What? will you abuſe him, by whom it is that you are men? will you ſpeak to his diſhonor, p. 82that giveth you your ſpeech? will will you live to his diſhonour who giveth you your Lives? will you wrong him by his own creatures? and neglect him without whom you cannot ſubſiſt?

2. The Redemption of men by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, will be an evidence to the exceeding Aggravation of their ſins. You ſinned againſt the Lord that bought you▪ 2 Pet. 2.1. When the Feaſt was prepared, and all things were Ready, you made light of it, and found excuſes, and would not come, Mat. 22.4, 5, 6. Luk. 14.17, 18. Muſt Chriſt Redeem you by ſo dear a price from ſin and miſery, and yet will you continue the ſervants of ſin, and prefer your ſlavery before your freedom, and chooſe to be Satans drudges, rather then to be the ſervants of God? The ſorrows and ſufferings that Chriſt underwent for you, p. 83will then prove the increaſe of your own ſorrows. As a neglected Redeemer, it is that he will condemn you. And then you would be glad that it were but true Doctrine, that Chriſt never d…ed for you, that you might not be condemned for refuſing a Redeemer, and ſinning againſt him that ſhed his blood for you. How deeply will his wounds then wound your conſciences! You will then Remember, that to this end he both d…ed, roſe, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the Dead and the Living? And that he therefore dyed for all, that they which live, ſhould not henceforth live to themſelves, but to him that dyed for them, and roſe again; Rom. 14.9. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. 1 Pet. 1.17, 18. You will then underſtand that you were not your own, but were bought with a price, and p. 84therefore ſhould have glorified him that Bought you, with your Bodies and Spirits, becauſe they were His, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. This one Aggravation of your ſin will make you doubly and remedileſly miſerable, that you Trod under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith you were ſanctified, an unholy thing, Heb. 10.26, 27, 28, 29. and crucified to your ſelves the Son of God a freſh, and put him to open ſhame, Heb. 6.5, 6.

3. Moreover; All the perſonal mercies which they received, will be ſo many Evidences for the condemnation of the ungodly. The very earth that bore them, and yielded them its fruits, while they themſelves were unfruitful to God: The Aire which they breathed in: the food which nouriſhed them▪ the cloaths which p. 85covered them, the houſes which they dwelt in, the beaſts that laboured for them, and all the creatures that dyed for their uſe: All theſe may riſe up againſt them to their condemnation. And the Judge may thus expoſtulate with them, [Did all theſe mercies deſerve no more Thanks? ſhould you not have ſerved him that ſo liberally maintained you? God thought not all theſe too good for you, and did you think your hearts and ſervices too good for him? He ſerved you with the weary labours of your fellow-creatures: and ſhould you have grudged to bear his eaſie Yoak? They were your ſlaves and drudges, and you refuſed to be his free ſervants and his ſons? They ſuffered Death to feed your Bodies, and you would not ſuffer the ſhort forbearance of a little forbidden fleſhly pleaſure, for the ſake of p. 86him that made you and redeemed you.]

Oh how many thouſand mercies of God will then be reviewed by thoſe that neglected them to the horrour of their ſouls, when they ſhall be upbraided by the Judge with their baſe requital! All the deliverances from ſickneſs and from danger; all the honours, and priviledges, and other commodities, which ſo much contented them, will then be Gods Evidences to ſhame them and confound them. On this ſuppoſition doth the Apoſtle reprove ſuch, Rom. 2.4▪ 5, 6. Deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and long ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to Repentance? But after thy hardneſs and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous p. 87Judgement of God, who will render to every man according to his Deeds.

4. Moreover, All the means which God uſed for the Recovery of ſinners in the day of their viſitation, will riſe up againſt the Impenitent ſouls, in Judgement to their condemnation. You can hear Sermons careleſsly and ſleepily now; but O that you would conſider, how the review of them will then awake you! You now make light of the warnings of God and man, and of all the wholſom advice that is given you: but God will not then make light of your contempt. Oh what cutting Queſtions will they be to the hearts of the ungodly, when all the means that were uſed for their good, are brought to their remembrance on one ſide, and the temptations that drew them to ſin on the other ſide, and the Lord ſhall plead his p. 88cauſe with their conſciences, and ſay, [Was I ſo hard a Maſter, or was my work ſo unreaſonable, or was my wages ſo contemptible, that no perſwaſions could draw you into my ſervice? was Satan ſo good a Maſter, or was his work ſo honeſt and profitable, or was his wages ſo deſirable, that you would be ſo eaſily perſwaded to do as he would have you? Was there more perſwading Reaſon in his allurements and deceits, then in all my holy words, and all the powerful Sermons that you heard, or all the faithful admonitions you received, or all the good examples of the righteous, or in all the works of God which you beheld? Was not a reaſon fetcht from the love of God, from the evil of ſin, the blood of Chriſt, the Judgement to come, the glory promiſed, the torments threatned, as forcible with you; and as p. 89good in your eyes, to draw you to holineſs, as a Reaſon from a little fleſhly delight, or worldly gain, to draw you to be unholy?]

In the name of God, ſinners, I intreat you to bethink your ſelves in time, how you will ſufficiently anſwer ſuch Queſtions as theſe. You ſhould have ſeen God in every creature that you beheld, and have read your duty in all his works; what can you look upon above you, or below you, or round about you, which might not have ſhewed you ſo much of the wiſdom, and goodneſs, and greatneſs of your Maker, as ſhould have convinced you that it was your duty to be Devoted to his will? And yet you have his written word that ſpeaks plainer then all theſe? And will you deſpiſe them all? will you not ſee ſo great a Light? will you not hear ſo p. 90loud and conſtant calls? ſhall God, and his Miniſters ſpeak in vain? And can you think that you ſhall not hear of this again, and pay for it one day? You have the Bible, and other good books by you: why do you not read them? You have Miniſters at hand▪ why do you not go to them▪ and earneſtly ask them▪ Sir, What muſt I do to be ſaved? and entreate them to teach you the way to life; You have ſome neighbors that fear God: why do you not go to them, and take their good advice, and imitate them in the fear of God, and in a holy diligence for your ſouls? Now is the time for you to beſtir your ſelves; Life and Death are are before you. You have gales of Grace to further your voyage: There are more for you then againſt you. God will help you: his Spirit will help you: his p. 91Miniſters will help you: every good Chriſtian will help you; the Angels themſelves will help you, if you will but reſolvedly ſet your ſelves to the work; And yet will you not ſtir? Patience is waiting on you; Mercies are enticing you; Scourges are driving you; Judgement ſtayeth for you; the Lights of God ſtand burning by you to direct you; And yet will you not ſtir, but lie in darkneſs? And do you think you ſhall not hear of this? Do you think this will not one day coſt you dear?