Three Treatises to Awaken Secure Sinners, Sermon 3 · Uses

Three Treatises to Awaken Secure Sinners · Sermon 3 · Uses

p. 288The Vſes.

Vſe 1. BEloved hearers, it was not to fill your fancies with news that God ſent me hither this day; not to tell you of matters that nothing concern you; nor by ſome terrible words to bring you to an hours amazement and no more; But it is to tell you of things that your eyes ſhall ſee, and to foretell you of your danger while it may be prevented; that your precious ſouls may be ſaved at the laſt, and you may ſtand before God with comfor at …thas day; But becauſe this will not be every mans caſe…, no nor the caſe of moſt, I muſt in the name of Chriſt deſire you to make this day an enquiry into your own ſouls, and as in the preſence of God let your hearts make anſwer to theſe few Queſtions which I ſhall propound and debate with you.

p. 289Qu. 1. Do you ſoundly Believe this Doctrine which I have preached to you? What ſay you Sirs? do you verily Believe it as a moſt certain Truth, that you and I, and all the world muſt ſtand at Gods barr and be Judged to Everlaſting Joy or Torment? I hope you do all in ſome ſort Believe this: but blame me not if I be jealous whether you ſoundly believe it, while, we ſee in the world ſo little of the effect of ſuch a Belief. I confeſs I am forced to think that there is more infidelity then faith among us, when I ſee mo… ungodlyneſs then godlyneſs among us. And I can hardly believe that man that will ſay or ſwear that he believeth theſe things, and yet liveth as careleſly and carnally as an Infidel. I know that no man can love to be damned; yea I know that every man that hath a reaſonable ſoul, hath naturally ſome love to him ſelf, and a fear of a danger which he verily apprehendeth; he therefore that liveth without all fear, I muſt think liveth without all apprehenſion of his danger. Cuſtom hath taught men to hold theſe things as the Opinion of the Country; but if men ſoundly believed them, ſurely we ſhould ſee ſtranger effects of ſuch a faith, then in the p. 290moſt we do ſee. Doth the ſleepy ſoul that liveth in ſecurity, and followeth this world as eagerly as if he had no greater matters to mind; that never once trembled at the thoughts of this great day, nor once asked his own ſoul in good ſadneſ…, My ſoul, How doſt thou think then to eſcape? I ſay, doth this man Believe that he is going to this Judgement? Well, Sirs, whether you beleve it or not, you will find it true; and believe it you muſt before you can be ſafe. For if you do not Believe it, you will never make ready. Let me therefore perſwade you in the fear of God to conſider, that it is a matter of undoubted Truth.

1. Conſider that it is the expreſs word of the God of Truth; revealed in Srip…ure as plainly as you can deſire. So that yon cannot be unbelieving without denying Gods Word, or giving him the lye, Mat 13, 38, 39. 40, 41, 42, 43, 49, 50. Mat. 25. throughout, Rom. 2. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16. and 1. 32. John. 5. 28, 29. The hour is coming in which all that are in the graves ſhall hear his voice, and ſhall come forth: they that have done good, unto the reſurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the Reſurrection of damnation, Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed to all men once to dye, and after this, the Judgement. Rom. 14. 9. l2. So then every one of us ſhall give Account of himſelf to God, Rev. 20. 12. And I p. 291ſaw the dead, ſmal and great ſtand before God: and the Books were opened and another book was opened, which is the Book of life; and the dead were Judged out of thoſe things which were written in the Book…, according to their works. Mat. 12. 36. 37. But I ſay unto you, that every idle word that men ſhall ſpeak they ſhall give account thereof at the day of Judgement: For by thy words thou ſhalt be Juſtified, and by thy Words thou ſhalt be condemned. Many more moſt expreſs Texts of Scripture do put the Truth of this Iudgement out of all queſtion to all that believe the Scripture, and will underſtand it. There is no place left for a Controverſie in the point: It is made as …ure to us as the Word of the living God can make it; And he that will queſtion that, what will he Believe? What ſay you Sirs! Dare you doubt of this which the God of Heaven hath ſo poſitively affirmed? I hope you dare not.

2. Conſider, it is a maſter part of your faith, if you are Chriſtians, and a fundamental Article of your Creed, that Chriſt ſhall come again to Iudge the quick and the dead. So that you muſt Believe it, or renounce your Chriſtianity, and then you renounce Chriſt and all the hopes of mercy that you have in him. Its impoſſible that you ſhould ſoundly Believe in Chriſt, and not believe his Iudgement and Life Everlaſting; becauſe as he came to bring p. 292Life and immortality to light in the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1. 10. ſo it was the end of his Incarnation, Death and Reſurrection, to bring you thither; and its part of his honour and office which he purchaſed with his blood, to be the Lord and Iudge of all the world, Rom. 14. 9. Joh. 5. 22. If therefore you believe not heartily this Iudgement; deal plainly and openly, and ſay you are Infidels, and caſt away the hypocritical vizor of Chriſtianity, and let us know you, and take you as you are.

3. Conſider that it is a Truth that is known by the very light of nature, that there ſhall be a happineſs for the Righteous, and a miſery for the wicked after this life: which is evident.

1. In that we have undenyable natural reaſon for it. 1. God is the Righteous governor of the world, and therefore muſt make a difference among his Subjects, according to the nature of their wa…es; which we ſee is not done here, where the wicked Proſper, and the good are afflicted; therefore it muſt be heareafter.

2. We ſee there is a neceſſity that God ſhould make promiſes and threatnings of everlaſting hapineſs or miſery, for the right governing hf… the world; for we certainly perceive that no lower things will keep men from deſtroying all humane ſociety, and living worſe p. 292then bruit beaſts; and if there be a neceſſity of king ſuch threats and promiſes, then there is certainly a neceſsity of fullfilling them. For God needeth no lye or means of deceiving, to rule the world.

2. And as we ſee it by Reaſon, ſo by certain experience, that this is deſcernable by the light of nature, for all the world, or almoſt all, do believe it. Even thoſe nations where the Goſpel never came, and have nothing but what they have by nature: even the moſt barbarous Indian… acknowledge ſome life after this: and a difference of men according as they are here: Therefore you muſt believe thus much, or renounce your common Reaſon and humanity▪ as well as your Chriſtianity. Let me therefore perſwade you all in the fear of God to confirm your ſouls in the belief of this, as if you had heard Chriſt or an Angel from Heaven ſay to you, Oh man thou art haſting to Judgement.

p. 294Qu. 2. MY next Queſtion is, Whether you do ever ſoberly conſider of this great day? Sirs, do you uſe when you are alone to think with your ſelves, how certain and how dreadful it will be? how faſt it is coming on? and what you ſhall do? and what anſwer you mean to make at that day? …are your minds taken up with theſe conſiderations? Tell me, is it ſo, or not?

Alas Sirs! Is this a matter to be forgotten? Is not that man even worſe then mad, that is going to Gods Iudgement and never thinks of it? when if they were to be tryed for their lives at the next Aſſize, they would think of it, and think again, and caſt 100 times which way to eſcape. Methinks you Should rather forget to go to bed at night, or to eat your meat, or do your work, then forget ſo great a matter as this.

Truly, I have often in my ſerious thoughts been ready to wonder that men can think of almoſt any thing elſe, when they have ſo great a thing to think of. What! forget that which you muſt remember for ever! forget that which ſhould force remembrance, yea and doth force it with ſome, whether they will or p. 295not! A poor deſpairing ſoul cannot forg…t it: He thinks which way ever he goes he is ready to be Judged. Oh therefore Beloved, Fix theſe thoughts as deep in your hearts as thoughts can go. Oh be like that holy man, that thought which way ever he went, he heard the Trumpet ſound, and the voice of the Angel calling to the world, Ariſe ye dead, and come to Judgement. You have warning of it from God and man, to cauſe you to Remember it; do not then forget it. It will be a cold excuſe another day, Lord, I forgate this day, or elſe I might have been ready: you dare not ſure truſt to ſech excuſes.

p. 296Qu. 3. MY next Queſtion to you, is, How are you affected with the Conſideration of this day? Barely to think of it will not ſerve: To think of ſuch a day as this with a dull and ſenſleſs heart, is a ſign of fearful ſtupidity. Did the knees of King Belſhazzar knock together with trembling, when he ſaw the handwriting on the wall? Dan. 5. 6. How then ſhould thy heart be affected that ſeeth the hand-writing of God as a ſummons to his barr?

When I began to preach of theſe things long ago, I conſeſs the matters ſeemed to me ſo terrible, that I was afraid that people would have run out of their wi…s with fear; but a little experience ſhewed me, that many are like a dog that is bred up in a forge or furnace, that being uſed to it, can ſleep though the hammers are beating, and the fire and hot iron flaming about him, when another that had never ſeen it, would be amazed at the ſight. When men have heard us 7 years together; yea 20 years, to talk of a day of Judgement, and they ſee it not, nor feel any hurt, they think it is but talk, and begin to make nothing of it. This is their thanks to God for his patience: Becauſe his Sentence is p. 297not executed ſpeedily, therefore their hearts are ſet in them to do evil, Eccl. 8. 11. As if God were ſlack of his Promiſe, as ſome men Account ſlickneſs, 2 Pet 3. 9. When one day with him is as a 1000. years, and a 1000. years as one day. What if we tell you 20 years together that you muſt dye, will you not believe us, becauſe you have lived ſo long and ſeen no death comming?

Three or four things there be that ſhould bring any matter to the heart. 1. If it be a matter of exceeding weight. 2. If it concern not others only, but our ſelves. 3. If it be certain. 4. If neer.

All theſe things are here to be found, and therefore how ſhould your hearts be moved at the Conſideration of this great day!

1. What matter can be mentioned with the Tongue of man of greater moment? For the poor creature to ſtand before his Maker and Redeemer, to be Judged to everlaſting Joy or Torment? Alas! all the matters of this world are playes, and toyes, and dreams to this; Matters of profit or diſprofit are nothing to it; Matters of credit or diſcredit are unworthy to be named with it; Matters of temporal life or death are nothing to it. We ſee the poor brui… beaſts go every day to the ſlaughter, and we make no great matre… of it, though their p. 298life be as deer to them as ours to us. To be Judged to an Everlaſting death or torment; this is the great danger, that one would think ſhould ſhake the ſtou…eſt heart to conſider it, and awake the dulleſt ſinner to prevent it.

2. Its a matter that concerneth every one of your ſelves, and every man or woman that ever lived upon the earth, or ever ſhall do; I am not ſpeaking to you of the affairs of ſome far Countrey, that are nothing to you but only to marvail at; which you never ſaw, nor ever ſhall do; no; It is thy own ſelf man or woman that heareſt me this day, that ſhalt as ſurely appear before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, as the Lord liveth, and as he is true and faithful; and that is as ſure as thou liveſt on this earth, or as the heaven is over thee. That man that heareth all this with the moſt careleſs blockiſh heart, ſhall be awakened and ſtand with the reſt at that day; that man that never thought of it, but ſpent his time in worldly matters, ſhall leave all and there appear; that man that will not believe theſe things to be true, but make a jeſt of them, ſhall ſee and feel what he would not Believe, a…d he al…o ſhall be there; The godly that waited in hope for that day, as the day of their …ull D…l…verance & Coronation …hey ſhall be there. Thoſe that have lain in the duſt theſe p. 2995000. years, ſhall riſe again, and all ſtand there. Hearer, whoever thou art, believe it, thou maiſt better think to live without meat▪ to ſee without light, to eſcape death, and abide for ever on earth, then to keep away from that Appearance. Willing or unwilling, thou ſhalt be there. And ſhould not a matter then that ſo concerneth thy ſelf, go neer to thy heart, and awake thee from thy ſecurity?

3. That it is a matter of unqueſtionable certainty, I have partly ſhewed you already, and more would do if I were preaching to known Infidels. If the careleſs world had any juſt reaſon to think it were uncertain, their careleſneſs were more excuſable. Methinks a man ſhould be affected with that which he is certain ſhall come to paſs, in a manner as if it were now in doing. … Theſ. 5. 2. Ye perfectly know that the day of the Lord ſo cometh, &c. ſaith the Apoſtle.

4. This day is not only certain, but it is ne…r; and therefore ſhould affect you the more. I confeſs, if it were never ſo far off, yet ſeeing it will come at laſt, It ſhould be carefully regarded: But when the Judge is at the door, Jam. 5. 9. and we are almoſt at the barr, and it is ſo ſhort a time to this aſſize, what ſoul that is not dead will be ſecure?

Alas. Sirs! what is a little time when it is gone? how quickly ſhall you and I be all in p. 300another world, and our ſouls recieve their particular Judgement, and ſo wait till the body be raiſed and judged to ſame Condition? It is not a 100. years in all likelyhood, till every ſoul of us ſhall be in heaven or hell: and its like, not half or a quarter of that time, but it will be ſo with the greater part of us: and what is a year or two, or a 100? how ſpeedily is it come? how many a ſoul that is now in heaven or hell, within a 1000 years dwelt in the places that you now dwel in, and ſate in the ſeats you now ſit in? And now their time is paſt, what is it? Alas; how quickly will it be ſo with us? You know not when you go to bed, but you may be Judged by the next morning: or when you riſe, but you may be Judged before night: but certainly you know that ſhortly it will be; and ſhould not this then be laid to heart? Yea the General Judgement wil lt no be long: For certainly we live in the end of world.

p. 301Qu. 4. MY next Queſtion is, Whether are you ready for this dreadful Judgement when it comes, or not? Seeing it is your ſelves then muſt be tried, I think it concerns you to ſee that you be prepared. How often hath Chriſt warned us in the Goſpel, that we be alwaies ready; becauſe we know not the day or hour of his coming? Mat. 24. 44. 42. and 25. 13. 1 Theſ. 5. 6. and told us how ſad a time it will be to thoſe that are unready? Mat. 25. 11, 12. Did men but well know what a meeting and greeting there will be between Chriſt and an unready ſoul, it would ſure ſtartle them, and make them look about them. What ſay you Beloved Hearers, are you ready for Judgement, or are you not! Me thinks a man that knoweth he ſhall be Judged, ſhould ask himſelf the Queſtion every day of his life; Am I ready to give up my Account to God! Do not you uſe to ask this of your own hearts? unleſs you be careleſs whether you be ſaved or damned, me thinks you ſhould, and ask it ſeriouſly.

Qu. But who be they that are ready? how ſhall I know whether I be ready or not?

Anſw. There is a twofold readineſs. 1. When p. 302you are in a ſafe caſe. 2. When you are in a comfortable caſe, in regard of that day. The latter is very deſirable, but the firſt is of abſolute neceſſity: this therefore is it that you muſt principally enquire after.

In General, all thoſe, and only thoſe are ready for Judgement, who ſhall be juſtified and ſaved, and not condemned when Judgement comes; They that have a good cauſe in a Goſpel ſenſe. It may be known before hand who theſe are; for Chriſt Judgeth, as I told you, by his Law. And therefore find out whom it is that the Law of grace doth juſtifie or condemn, and you may certainly know whom the Judge will Juſtifie or condemn; for he Judgeth righteouſly.

If you further ask me who theſe are; remember that I told you before that every man that is perſonally righteous by fulfilling the Conditions of Salvation in the Goſpel, ſhall be ſaved; and he that is found unrighteous, as having not fulfilled them, ſhall periſh at that day,

Qu. Who are thoſe?

Anſw. I will tell you them in a few words, leſt you ſhould forget, becauſe it it a matter that your Salvation or Damnation dependeth upon.

1. The ſoul that unfeignedly repenteth of his former ſinful courſe, and turneth from it in p. 303heart and life, and loveth the way of godlineſs which he hate…, and hateth the way of ſin which he loved, and is become thoroughly a New Creature, being born again and ſanctified by the Spirit of Chriſt, ſhall be Juſtified: but all others ſhall certainly be condemned.

Good news to repenting converted ſinners: but ſad to Impenitent, and him that knows not what this means.

2. That ſoul that feeling his miſery under ſin and the power of Satan, and the wrath of God, doth believe what Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for mans reſtauration & Salvation, and thankfully accepteth him as his only Saviour and Lord, on the terms that he is offered in the Goſpel, and to thoſe ends, even to Juſtifie him, and ſanctifie and guide him, and bring him at laſt to everlaſting glory; that ſoul ſhall be Juſtified at Judgement: and he that doth not, ſhall be condemned.

Or in ſhort, in Scripture phraſe, He that believeth ſhall be ſaved, and he that believeth not ſhall be condemned, Mar. 16. 16.

3. The ſoul that hath had ſo much knowledge of the goodneſs of God, and his love to man in Creation, Redemption, and the following mercies, and hath had ſo much conviction of the vanity of all creatures, as thereupon to Love God more then all things below, ſo that p. 304he hath the cheifeſt room in the heart, and is preferred before all creatures ordinarily in a time of tryal: that ſoul ſhall be Juſtified at Judgement and all others ſhall be condemned.

4. That ſoul that is ſo apprehenſive of the abſolute Soveraignty of God as Creator and Redeemer, and of the Righteouſneſs of his Law, and the Goodneſs of his holy way, as that he is firmly Reſolved to obey him before all others, and doth accordingly give up himſelf to ſtudy his will, of purpoſe that he may obey it, and doth walk in theſe holy waies, and hath ſo far mortified the fleſh, and ſubdued the world and the Devil, that the Authority and Word of God can do more with him, then any other; and doth ordinarily prevail againſt all the perſwaſion and intereſt of the fleſh, ſo that the main ſcope and bent of the heart and life is ſtill for God; and when he ſinneth, he riſeth again by true Repentance; I ſay that ſoul, and that only, ſhall be Juſtified in Judgement, and be ſaved.

5. That ſoul that hath ſuch Believing thoughts of the life to come, that he taketh the promiſed bleſſedneſs for his portion, and is reſolved to venture all elſe upon it, and in hope of his glory, doth ſe… light comparatively by all things in this world, and waiteth for it as the end of this life, chooſing any ſuffering that p. 305God ſhall call him to, rather then to loſe his hopes of that felicity, and thus perſevereth to the end: I ſay that ſoul, and none but that,ſhall be juſtified in Judgement, and eſcape Damnation.

In theſe five marks I have told you truly and briefly, who ſhall be Juſtified and ſaved, and who ſhall be condemned at the day of Judgement. And if you would have them all in five words, they are but the Description of theſe five Graces, Repentance, Faith, Love, Obedience, Hope.

But though I have laid theſe cloſe together for your uſe, yet leſt you ſhould think that in ſo weighty a caſe I am too ſhort in the proof of what I ſo determine of; I will tell you in the expreſs words of many Scripture Texts, who ſhall be Juſtified, and who ſhall be condemned.

[John. 3. 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, Heb. 12. 14. Without holineſs none ſhall ſee God. Luk. 13. 3, 5. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. Acts 26. 18. I ſend thee to open their eyes and turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and an Inheritance among the ſanctified by Faith that is in me. Joh. 3. 15, 16. p. 30617, 18, 19. Whoever believeth in him ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting life: he that believeth on him, is not condemned; he that believeth not, is condemned already, becauſe he hath not Believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God: and this is the condemnation, that light is come in to the world, and men loved darkneſs rather then light, becauſe their deeds were evil, John. 5. 28, 29. The hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves ſhal hear his voice & ſhall come forth, they that have done good to the Reſurrect on of life, and they that have done evil to the Reſurrection of damnation. Mat. 25. 30. Caſt the unprofitable ſervant into outer darkneſs, there ſhal be weeping & gnaſhing of Teeth, Lu. 19 27. But thoſe mine enimies which would not that I ſhould raign over them, bring hither and ſlay them before me, Mat 22. 12. 13. Friend, how cameſt thou in hither, not having on a wedding gatment? And he was ſpeechleſs. Then ſaid the King to the ſervants: Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and caſt him into outer darkneſs, &c. Mat. 5. 20. For I ſay unto you, that except your Righteouſneſs exceed the Righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, ye ſhall in no wiſe enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Mat. 7. 21. Not every one that ſaith, Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the Kingdom p. 307of Heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Heb. 5. 6. He is become the Author of eternall ſalvation to all them that obey him. Rev. 22. 14. Bleſſed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the Gate into the City. Rom. 8. 1. 13. There is then no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, that walk not after the fleſh, but after the Spirit. For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall dye: but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live, Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. Gal. 5. l8. But if ye be Led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law. Gal. 6. 7. 8. Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatſoever a man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reap: for he that ſoweth to the fleſh▪ ſhall of the fleſh reap Corruption: but he that ſoweth to the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit read life Everlaſting. Matth. 6. 21. For where your Treaſure, is there wil your heart be alſo,] Read Pſal. 1. and many other Texts to this purpoſe, of which ſome are cited in my Directions for Peace of Conſcience: Dir. 11. p. 115. 116.

And thus I have told you from Gods Word, how you may know whether you are ready for Judgement; which is the p. 308fourth thing that I would adviſe you to enquire after.

O Sirs, what ſhift do you make to keep your ſouls from Continual Terrours, as you as long remain unready for Judgement? How do you keep the Thoughts of it out of your mind, that they do not break your ſleep and meet you in your buſineſs, and haunt you every way you go, while Judgement is ſo neer, and you are ſo unready? But I ſhall proceed to say next Queſtion.

p. 309Qu. 5 AND in the laſt place, to thoſe of you that are not yet Ready, nor in a Condition wherein you may ſafe at that day ' my Queſtion is, How are you reſolved to prepare for Judgement for the time to come? Will you do no more than you have done hitherto? Or will you now ſet your ſelves with all your might, to make preparation for ſo great a day? me thinks you ſhould be now paſt all demurs, delays, or further doubtings about ſuch a buſineſs; and by the conſideration of what I have ſaid already, you ſhould be fully Reſolved to loſe no more time, but preſently to awake, and …e… upon the work. Me thinks you ſhould all ſay, We will do any thing that the Lord ſhall Direct us to do, rather then we will be unready for this final doom! O that there were but ſuch hearts in you, that you were truly willing to follow the gracious Guidance of the Lord, and to uſe but thoſe ſweet and reaſonable means which he hath preſcribed you in his Word, that you may be ready for that day! Alas, it is no hard matter for me to tell you, or my ſelf, what it is that we muſt do, if we will be happy; and it is no very hard matter to Do it, ſo far ar we are p. 310truly willing; but the difficulty is to be truly and throughly willing to this work. If I ſhall tell you what you muſt do for preparation, ſhall I not loſe my labour? Will you resolve and promiſe in the ſtrength of Grace, that you will faithfully and ſpeedily endeavour to practiſe it, whoever ſhall gainſay it? Upon hope of this, I will ſet you down ſome brief Directions, which you muſt follow, if ever you will with comfort look the Lord Jeſus in the face at the hour of Death, or in the Day of Iudgement.

p. 311THE firſt Direction is this, See that your ſouls be ſincerely eſtabliſhed in the Belief of this Judgement and everlaſting life: For if you do not ſoundly believe it, you will not ſeriouſly prepare for it. If you have the Judgement and belief of an Infidel, you cannot have the Heart or the Life of a Chriſtian. Unbelief ſhuts out the moſt of the world from heaven; ſee that it do not ſo by you! If you ſay, You cannot Believe what you would: I anſwer, Feed not yor …belie… by wilfulneſs, or unreaſonableneſs; Uſe Gods means to overcome it, and ſhut not your eyes againſt he light, and then try the iſſues; Heb. 3. 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

THE ſecond Direction. Labour diligently to have a ſound underſtanding of the nature of the Laws and Judgement of God. On what terms it is that he dealeth with mankinde: and on what terms he will Judge them to Life or Death: and what the Reward and puniſhment is. For if you know not the Law by which you muſt be Judged, you cannot know how to prepare for the Judgement. Study the Scripture p. 312therefore, and mark who they be that God promiſeth to ſave, and who they be that he threatneth to Condemn. For according to that Word will the Judgement paſs.

THE third Direction. See that you take it as the very buſineſs of your Lives, to make ready for that day. Underſtand that you have no other buſineſs in this world, but what doth neceſſarily depend on this. What elſe have you to do, but to provide for everlaſting? and to uſe means to ſuſtain your own bodies and others of purpoſe for his work, till it be happily done … Live therefore as men that make this the main ſcope and care of their Lives; and let all things elſe come in but on the by. Remember every morning when you awake, that you muſt ſpend that day in preparation for your Account, and that God doth give it you for that end. When you go to bed, examine your hearts, what you have done that day in preparation for your laſt Day: And take that time as loſt which doth nothing to this end.

p. 313THe fourth Direction. Vſe frequently to think of the Certainty, neerneſs and dreadfulneſs of that day, to keep Life in your Affections and Endeavours; leſt by Inconſiderateneſs your ſouls grow ſtupid and negligent. Otherwiſe, becauſe it is out of ſight, the heart will be apt to grow hardened and ſecure. And do not think of it ſleightly as a common thing, but purpoſely ſet your ſelves to think of it, that it may rouze you up to ſuch Affections and Endeavours as in ſome meaſure are anſwerable to the nature of the thing.

THE fifth Direction. Labour to have a lively feeling on thy heart, of the evil and weight of that ſin which thou art guilty of, and of the miſery into which it hath brought thee, and would further bring thee if thou be not delivered, and ſo to feel the need of a Deliverer. This muſt prepare thee to partake of Chriſt now; and if thou partake not of him now, thou canſt not be ſaved by him Then. It is theſe ſouls that now make light p. 314of their ſin and miſery, that muſt then feel them ſo heavy, as to be preſſed by them into the infernal flames. And thoſe that now feel little need of a Saviour, they ſhall then have none to ſave them, when they feel their need.

THE ſixth Direction. Vnderſtand and Believe the ſufficiency of that Ranſom and Satisfaction to Juſtice, which Chriſt hath made for thy ſins▪ and for the world, and how freely and univerſally it is offered in the Goſpel. Thy ſin is not uncurable or unpardonable, nor thy miſery remedileſs; God hath provided a remedy in his Son Chriſt, and brought it ſo neer thy hands, that nothing but thy neglecting, or wilful refuſing it, can deprive thee of the Benefit. Settle thy ſoul in this belief.

p. 315THE ſeventh Direction. Vnderſtand and Believe, that for all Chriſts ſatisfaction, there is an Abſolute Neceſſity of ſound Faith and Repentancte to be in thy own ſelf, before thou canſt be a Member of him, or be Pardoned, Adopted, or Juſtified by his blood. He dyed not for final Infidel…ty and Impenitency, as predominant in any ſoul. As the Law of his Father which occaſioned his ſuffering: required perfect Obedience, or ſuffering: So his own Law, which he hath made for the conveyance of his Benefits, doth require yet true Faith and Repentance of men themſelves, before they ſhall be pardoned by him; and ſincere Obedience and Perſeverance, before they ſhall be glorified.

p. 316THE eighth Direction. Reſt not therefore in an unrenewed, unſanctified ſtate; that is, till this Faith and Repentance be wrought on thy own ſoul, and thou be truly broken of from thy former ſinful courſe, and from all things in this world; and art Dedicated, Devoted and Reſigned unto God. Seeing this change muſt be made, and theſe graces muſt be had, or thou muſt certainly periſh: in the fear of God, ſee that thou give no eaſe to thy mind till thou art thus changed. Be content with nothing till this be done. Delay not another day. How canſt thou live merrily, or ſleep quietly in ſuch a Condition, as if thou ſhouldſt dye in it, thou ſhouldſt periſh for ever? Eſpecially when thou art every hour uncertain whether thou ſhalt ſee another hour, and not be preſently ſnatch away by death? Methinks while thou art in ſo ſad a caſe, which way ever thou art going, or what ever thou art doing, it ſhould ſtill come into thy thoughts, Oh what if I ſhould Dye before I be Regenerate, and have part in Chriſt!

p. 317THE ninth Direction. Let it be the daily care of thy ſoul, to mortifie thy fleſhly deſires, and overcome this world; and live as in a continual Conflict With Satan, which Will not be ended till thy life do end. If any thing deſtroy thee by drawing away thy heart from God, it will be thy carnal ſelf, thy fleſhly deſires, and the allurements of this world, which is the matter that they feed upon. This therefore muſt be the earneſt work of thy life, to ſubdue this fleſh, and ſet light by this world, and reſiſt the Devil, that by theſe would deſtroy thee. It is the common caſe of miſerable hypocrites, that at firſt they liſt themſelves under Chriſt as for a fight, but they preſently forget their ſtate and work; and when they are once in their own conceit Regenerate, they think themſelves ſo ſafe, that there is no further danger; and thereupon they do lay down their Arms and take that which they miſcall, their Chriſtian Liberty, and indulge and pleaſe that fl…ſh which they promiſed to mortifie, and cloſe with the world which they promiſed to contemn, and ſo give up themſelves to the Devil, whom they promiſed p. 318to fight againſt. If once you apprehend all your Religion lieth in meer Believing, that all ſhall go well with you, and that the bitterneſſ of death is paſt, and in a forbearance of ſome diſgraceful ſins, and being much in the Exerciſe of your Gifts, and in external wayes of Duty, and giving God a Cheap and plauſible obedience in thoſe things only which the Fleſh can ſpare; you are then faln into that deceitful hypocriſie, which will as ſurely condemn you, as open prophaneſs, if you get not out of it. You muſt live as in a fight, or you cannot overcome. You muſt live looſe from all things in this world, if you will be ready for another. You muſt not live after the fleſh, but mortifie it by the Spirit, if you would not dye, but live for ever, Rom. 8. 13. Theſe things are not indifferent, but of flat neceſſity.

THE tenth Direction. Do all your works as men that muſt be judged for them. It is not enough (at leaſt in point of Duty and Comfort) that you Judge this preparation in General to be the main buſineſs of your live…, but you ſhould alſo order p. 319your particular Actions by theſe Thoughts, and meaſure them by their Reſpects to this approaching Day. Before you venture on them, enquire whether they will bear weight in Judgement, and be ſweet or bitter when they are brought to tryal? Both for matter and manner, this muſt be obſerved. Oh that you would Remember this when Temptations are upon you. When you are Tempted to give up your minds to the world, and drown your ſelves in earthly cares, will you bethink you ſoberly whether you would hear of this at Judgement? and whether the world will be then as ſweet as now? and whether this be the beſt preparation for your Tryal: When you are Tempted to be Drunk, or to ſpend your precious time in Alehouſes, or vain unprofitable company, or at Cards or Dice, or any ſinful or needleſs ſports; bethink you then, Whether this will be comfortable at the Reckoning? and whether time be no more worth to one that is ſo neer eternity, and muſt make ſo ſtrict an account of his Hours? and whether there be not many better works before you, in which you might ſpend your time to your greater advantage, and to your greater comfort when it comes to a Review? When you p. 320are tempted to wantonneſe, fornication, or any other fleſhly intemperance, bethink you ſoberly, with what face theſe Actions will appear at Judgement, and whether they will be then pleaſant or diſpleaſant to you? So when you are tempted to neglect the daily worshipping of God in your families, and the Catechizing and Teaching of your children or ſervants, eſpecially on the Lords Day, bethink your ſelves then, what account you will give of this to Chriſt, when he that entruſted you with the care of your children and ſervants, ſhall call you to a reckoning for the performance of that truſt?

The like muſt be Remembred in the very manner of our Duties. How diligently ſhould a Miniſter ſtudy? how earneſtly ſhould he perſwade? how unwearyedly ſhould he bear all oppoſitions and ungrateful returns? and how carefully ſhould he watch over each particular ſoul of his charge (as far as is poſſible) when he Remembers that he muſt ſhortly be Accountable for all in Judgement? And how importunate ſhould we all be with ſinners for their Converſion, when we conſider that themſelves alſo muſt ſhortly be Judg…d? Can a man be cold and dead in prayer, that hath any p. 321true apprehenſion of that Judgement upon his mind, where he muſt be accountable for all his prayers and performances? O Remember, and ſeriouſly Remember, when you ſtand before the Miniſter to hear the word, and when you are on your knees to God in prayer, in what a manner that ſame perſon, even your ſelves muſt ſhortly ſtand at the Barr of the dreadful God! Did theſe thoughts get throughly to mens hearts, they would waken them out of their ſleepy Devotions, and acquaint them that it is a ſerious buſineſs to be a Chriſtian. How careful ſhould we be of our thoughts and words, if we believingly remembred that we muſt be accountable for them all! How carefully ſhould we conſider what we do with our Riches, and with all that God giveth us, and how much more largely ſhould we expend it for his ſervice in works of Piety and Charity, if we believingly remembred that we muſt be Judged according to what we have done, and give account of every Talent that we receive? Certainly the believing conſideration of Iudgement, might make us all better Chriſtians then we are, and keep our lives in a more innocent and profitable frame.

p. 322THE eleventh Direction. As you will certainly renew your failings in this life, ſo be ſure that you daily renew your Repentance and fly daily to Chriſt for a renewed pardon, that no ſin may leave its ſting in your ſouls. It is not your firſt pardon that will ſerve the turn for your latter ſins. Not that you muſt Purpoſe to ſin, and Purpoſe to repent when you have done, as a Remedy: for that is an hypocritical and wicked purpoſe of repenting, which is made a means to maintain us in our ſins; But ſin muſt be avoided as far as we can; and Repentance and Faith in the blood of Chriſt muſt remedy that which we could not avoid. The righteouſneſs of pardon in Chriſts blood is uſeful to us only ſo far as we are ſinners; and cometh in where our Imperfect Inherent Righteouſneſs doth come ſhort; but muſt not be purpoſely choſen before innocency: I mean, we muſt rather chooſe, as far as we can, to obey and be innocent, than to ſin and be pardoned, if we were ſure of pardon.

p. 323THE twelfth Direction. In this vigilant, obedient, penitent courſe, with confidence upon God as a Father, Reſt upon the Promiſe o… Acceptance and Remiſſion through the Merits and Interceſſion of him that Redeemed you; Look up in hope to the Glory that is before you, and believe that God will make good his Word, and the patient expectation of the righteous ſhall not be in vain. Cheerfully hold on in the work that you have begun: and as you ſerve a better matter than you did before your change, ſo ſerve him with more willingneſs, gladneſs and delight. Do not entertain hard Thoughts of him, or of his ſervice, but rejoyce in your unſpeakable happineſs of being admitted into his family and favour through Chriſt. Do not ſerve him in drooping dejection and diſcouragement, but with Love, and Ioy, and filial fear. Keep in the Communion of his Saints, where he is cheerfully and faithfully praiſed and honoured, and where is the greateſt viſible ſimilitude of heaven upon earth; eſpecially in the celebration of the Sacrament of Chriſts Supper, where he p. 324ſeals up a Renewed pardon in his blood, and where unanimouſly we keep the Remembrance of his Death until he come. Do not caſt your ſelves out of the Communion of the Saints, from whom to be caſt out by juſt Cenſure and Excluſion, is a dreadful emblem and fore-runner of the Iudgement to come, where the ungodly ſhall be caſt out of the preſence of Chriſt and his Saints for ever.

I have now finiſhed the Directions, which I tender to you for your preparation for the Day of the Lord; and withall my whole Diſcourſe on this weighty point. What effect all this ſhall have upon your hearts, the Lord knows; it is not in my power to determine. If you are ſo far blinded and hardened by ſin and Satan, as to make light of all this, or coldly to commend the Doctrine, while you go on to the end in your carnal worldly condition as before; I can ſay no more, but tell thee again, that Iudgement is neer, when thou wilt bitterly bewail all this too late. And among all the reſt of the Evidence that comes in againſt thee, this book wil be one, which ſhall teſtifie to thy face before Angels, and men, that thou waſt told of that Day, and intreated to prepare.

But if the Lord ſhall ſhew thee ſo much mercy as to open thy eyes, and break in p. 325upon thy heart, and by ſober Conſideration turn it to himſelf, and cauſe thee faithfully to take the warning that hath here been given thee, and to obey theſe Directions, I dare aſſure thee from the word of the Lord, that this Iudgement which will be ſo dreadful to the ungodly, and the beginning of their endleſs terror and miſery, will be as joyful, to thee, and the beginning of thy glory: The Saviour that thou haſt believed in, and ſincerely obeyed, will not condemn thee. Pſal. 1. 5, 6. Rom. 8. 1. Iohn 3. 16. It is part of his buſineſs to Iuſtifie thee before the world, and to glorifie his merits, his Kingly power, his holyneſs, and his rewarding Iuſtice in thy Abſolution and Salvation. He will account it a righteous thing to recompence Tribulation to thy Troublers, and Reſt to thy ſelf; when the Lord Ieſus ſhall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power: Even then ſhall he come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe, in that day; Even becauſe his ſervants Teſtimony, and his Spirits among them was p. 326believed, 2. Theſ. 1. 6, 7, 8 9, 10. That day will be the great marriage or the Lamb, and the Reception of thee, and all the Saints into the glory of thy beloved, to which they had a Right at their firſt Conſent and Contract upon earth: And when the Bridegroom comes, thou who art Ready ſhalt go in to the Marriage: when the door ſhall be ſhut againſt the ſleepy negligent world; and though they Cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, they ſhall be repulſed with a Verily I know you not, Mat. 25. 10, 11, 12, 13. For this day which others fear, maiſt thou long, and hope, and pray, and wait, and comfort thy ſelf in all troubles with the remembrance of it, 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56. 57, 58. 1 Theſ. 4. 17, 18. If thou were …ady to be offered to death for Chriſt, or when the time of thy departing is at hand, thou maiſt look back on the good fight which thou haſt ſought, and on the courſe which thou haſt finiſhed, and on the Faith which thou haſt kept, and maiſt confidently conclude, that henceforth there is laid up for thee a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which The Lord the Righteous Judge ſhall give thee at that day: and not to thee only, but unto all them alſo that Love his Appearing, 2 Tim. 4. 6, 7, 8. Even ſo, Come Lord Jeſus, Rev. 22. 20.

FINIS.

End of the text · Richard Baxter, Three Treatises to Awaken Secure Sinners (1656)