Two Treatises to Awaken Secure Sinners, Treatise 1 · Uses
The Vſes.
Vſe 1. Beloved Hearers, it was not to fill your Fancies with News that God ſent me hither this Day: nor to tell you of Matters that nothing concern you: nor by ſome terrible Words to bring you to an Hour's Amazement and no more: But it is to tell you of things that your Eyes ſhall ſee, and to foretel 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 Comfort at that Day. But becauſe this will not be every Man's 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 de…te with you.
Qu. 1. Do you ſoundly believe this Doctrine which I have …ached to you? What ſay you Sirs? Do you verily be…ve it as a moſt certain Truth, that you and I, and … the World muſt ſtand at God's Bar and be judged to everlaſting Joy or Torment? I hope you do all in ſome … 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 than …ith among us, when I ſee more Ungodlineſs than God…eſs among us: And I can hardly believe that Man …at will ſay or ſwear that he believeth theſe things, …d yet liveth as careleſly and carnally as an Infidel. I …ow that no Man can love to be damned; yea, I …ow that every Man that hath a reaſonable Soul, hath …turally ſome love to himſelf, and a fear of a Danger …hich he verily apprehendeth: he therefore that liveth …thout all fear, I muſt think liveth without all appre…nſion 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 ſtrange… Effects of ſuch a Faith, than in the moſt we do ſee. Doth the ſleepy Soul that liveth in Security, a… 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 Sadneſs, My Soul, How doſt thou think then to eſcape? I ſay, doth this Man believe that he is going to this Judgment? Well Sirs, whether you believe 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 Scripture as plainly as you can deſire. So that you cannot be unbelieving without denying God's Word, or giving him the Lie, Mat. 13. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 49, 50. Mat. 25. throughout, Rom. 2. 5, 6, 7, 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 die, and after this the Judgment. Rom. 14. 9, 12. So then every one of us ſhall give account of himſelf to God. Rev. 20. 12. And I ſaw the dead ſmall 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 Books 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 Judgment 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 Judgment out of all queſtion to all that believe the Scripture, and will underſtand it. There is no place left for a Controverſy in the Point: It is made as ſure 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 judg the quick …nd 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. It's impoſſible that you ſhould ſoundly believe in Chriſt, and not believe his Judgment and Life everlaſting: becauſe as he came to bring Life 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 it's part of his Honour and Office which he purchaſed with his Blood, to be the Lord and Judg of all the World, Rom. 14. 9. Joh. 5. 22. If therefore you believe not heartily this Judgment, deal plainly and openly, and ſay you are Infidels, and caſt away the hypocritical Vizor of Chriſtianity, and le… 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 undeniable natural Reaſon for it. (1.) God is the Righteous Governour of the World, and therefore muſt make a difference among his Subjcts, according to the Nature of their Ways: which ane ſee is not done here, where the Wicked proſper, and we Good are afflicted; therefore it muſt be hereafter. (2.) We ſee there is a Neceſſity that God ſhould make Promiſes and Threatnings of everlaſting Happineſs or Miſery, for the right Governing of the World: for we certainly perceive that no lower things will keep Men from deſtroying all humane Society, and living worſe than brute Beaſts; and if there be a Neceſſity of making ſuch Threats and Promiſes, then there is certainly a Neceſſity of fulfilling them. For God needeth no Lie or Means of deceiving, to rule the World.
2. And as we ſee it by Reaſon, ſo by certain Expe…rience, that this is diſcernable by the Light of Nature for all the World, or almoſt all do believe it. Ev… thoſe Nations where the Goſpel never came, and have nothing but what they have by Nature, even the moſt barbarous Indians acknowledg ſome Life after this and a Difference of Men according as they are here therefore you muſt believe thus much, or renounc… your common Reaſon and Humanity, as well as your Chriſtianity. Let me therefore perſwade you al… 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, O Man, thou art haſting to Judgment.
Qu. 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 than mad, that is going to God's Judgment, and never thinks of it? when if they were to be tried 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, than 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 not! A poor deſpairing Soul cannot forget it: He thinks which way ever he goes he is ready to be judged. O therefore Beloved, fix theſe Thoughts as deep in your Hearts as Thoughts can go. O 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 Judgment. 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 forgat this Day, or elſe I …ight have been ready: you dare not ſure truſt to ſuch Excuſes.
Qu. 3. My next Queſtion to you is, How are you …ffected 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 Hand-writing on the Wall? Dan. 5. 6. How then ſhould thy Heart be afffected that ſeeth the Hand-writing of God as a Summons to his Bar?
When I began to preach of theſe things long ago, confeſs the Matters ſeemed to me ſo terrible, that I was afraid that People would have run out of their Wits 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 Hmmers 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 Judgment, 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 not executed ſpeedily, therefore their Hearts are ſet in them to do evil, Eccleſ. 8. 11. As if God were ſlack of his Promiſe, as ſome Men accoun… Slackneſs, 2 Pet. 3. 9. when one Day with him is as … 1000 Years, and a 1000 Years as one Day. What … we tell you 20 Years together that you muſt die, wi… you not believe us, becauſe you have lived ſo long, and ſeen no Death coming?
Three or Four things there be that ſhould bring any Matter to the Heart. 1. If it be a Matter or exceeding Weight. 2. If it concern not others only, but our ſelves. 3. If it be certain. 4. If near.
All theſe things are here to be ſound, 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 Creture to ſtand before his Maker and Redeemer, to be judged to everlaſting Joy or Torment? Alas! all the Matters of this World are Plays, and Toys, and Dreams to this; Matters of Profit or Diſprofit are nothing to it, Matter… of Credit or Diſcredit are unworthy to be named with it; Matters of temporal Life or Death are nothing to it. We may ſee the poor brute Beaſts go every Day to the Slaughter, and we make no great matter of it, though their Life be as dear 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 ſtouteſt Heart to conſider it, and awake the dulleſt Sinner to prevent it.
2. It's a Matter the 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 … the Affairs of ſome far Country that are nothing to you but only to marvel at; which you never ſaw, not ever ſhall do: no, it is thy own ſelf, Man or Woman that heareſt me this Day, that ſhalt as ſurely appear before the Judgment-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 ofthem, ſhall ſee and feel that he would not believe, and he alſo ſhall be there; the Godly that waited in Hope for that Day, as the Day of their full Deliverance and Coronation, they ſhall be there; thoſe that have lain in the Duſt theſe 5000 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, than 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 near 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 withthat which he is certain ſhall come to paſs, in a manner as if it were now in doing, 1 Theſſ. 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 near; 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 Judg is at the Door, James 5. 9. and we are almoſt at the Bar, 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 another World, and our Souls receive their particular Judgment, and ſo wait till the Body be raiſed and judged to the ſame Condition? It is not 100 Years in all likelihood, till every Soul of us ſhall be in Heaven or Hell: and it's 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 100? how ſpeedily is it come? how many a Soul that is now in Heaven or Hell, within 100 Years dwelt in the Places that you now dwell in, and ſat 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 Judgment will not be long: For certainly we live in the End of the World.
Qu. 4. My next Queſtion is, Whether are you ready for his dreadful Judgment when it comes, or not? Seeing it 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 always ready, becauſe we know not the day or Hour of his coming? Matth. 24. 44, 42. and 25. 13 1 Theſſ. 5. 6. and told us hos 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 Judgment, or are you not? Methinks 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, methinks 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 you are in a ſafe Cafe. 2. When you are in a comfortable Cafe, in regard of that Day. The latter is very desiraeble, but the friſt is of abſolute Neceſſity: this therefore is it that you muſt principally enquire after.
In general, all thoſe, and only thoſe are ready for Judgment, who ſhall be juſtified and ſaved, and not condemned when Judgment cor…es; 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 juſtify or condemn, and you may certainly know whom the Judg will juſtify or conemn; 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 foun 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 is 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 Heart and Life, and loveth the Way of godlineſs which he hated, and hateth the Way of Sin which he loved, and is become throughly 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 Man's Reſ…auration and 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, event to juſtify him, and ſanctify and guide him, and bring him at laſt to everlaſting Glory; that Soul ſhall be juſtified at Judgment: 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 condemmd, Mar. 16. 16.
3. The Soul that hath had ſo much Knowledg 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 than all things below, so that he haththe chiefest room in the Hearts, and is preferred before all Creatures ordinarily in a time of trial; that Soul ſhall be juſtified at Judgment, 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 Ways, 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 than any other, and doth ordinarily prevail againſt all the Perwaſion 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 the only, ſhall be juſtified in Judgment, 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 this Glory, doth ſet light comparatively by all things in this World, and waiteth for it as the End of the Life, chooſing any ſuffering that God ſhall call him to, rather than to loſe his hopes of the Felicity, and tus perſervereth to the End: I ſay, that Soul, and none but that ſhall be juſtified in Judgand 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 Judgment. 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, you left 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. Luke 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. John 3. 15, 16, 17, 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 into the World, and Men loved Darkneſs rather than Light, becauſe their deeds were evil. John. 5. 28, 29. The Hout is coming, in which that are in the Graves ſhall hear his Voice, and ſhall come forth; they that have done good to the Reſurrection of Life, and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation. Mar. 25. 30. Caſt the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkneſs, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth. Luke 19. 27. But thoſe mine Enemies which would not that I ſhould reign over them, bring hither and ſlay them before me. Mat. 22. 12, 13. Friend, how cameſt thou in hither, not having on a Wedding-Gar…ent? And he was ſpeechleſs. Then ſaid the King to the Se…ants, 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 of Heaven; but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven. Heb. 5. 6. He is become the Author of eternal 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 die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify 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. 18. 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 reap Life Everlasting. Mat. 6. 21. For where your Treaſure is, there will 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 God's Word, how you may know whether you are ready for Judgment, which is the fourth thing that I would adviſe you to enquire after.
O Sirs, what ſhift do you make to keep your Souls from continual Terrors, as long as you remain unready for Judgment? 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 Judgment is ſo near, and you are ſo unready? But I ſhall proceed to my next Queſtion.
Qu. 5. And in the laſt place, to thoſe of you that are not yet ready, nor in a Condition wherein you may be ſafe at that Day; my Queſtion is, How are you reſlved to prepare for Judgmet 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 prepare for ſo great a Day? methinks you ſhould be now paſt all Demurs, Delays, or farther Doubtings about ſuch a Buſineſs; aud by the Conſideration of what I have ſaid already, you ſhould be fully reſolved to loſe no more time, but preſently awake, and ſet upon the Work. Methinks 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 as we are truly 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 Judgment.
The firſt Direction is this, See that your Souls be ſincrely eſtabliſhed in the Belief of this Judgment and everlaſting Life: For if you do not ſoundly believe it, you will not seriouſly prepare for it. If you have the Judgment 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 your Unbelief by Wilfulneſs or Unreaſonableneſs; uſe God's Means to overcome it, and ſhut not your Eyes againſt the Light, and then try the Iſſue, Heb. 3. 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
The ſecond Direction. Labour diligently to have a ſound Vnderſtanding of the Nature of the Laws and Judgment of God. On what Terms it is that he dealeth with Mankind: and on what Terms he will judg 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 Judgment. Study the Scripture therefore, and mark who they be the God promiſeth to ſave, and who they be that he threatneth to condemn. For according to that Word will the Judgment 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 the 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 this 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 the Preparation for your laſt Day: And take that time as loſt which doth nothing to this end.
The fourth Direction. Vſe frequently to think of the Certainty, Nearneſs 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 the ſight, the Heart will be apt to grow hardned and secure. And do not think of it ſlightly, 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 of their Sin and Miſery, that muſt then … them ſo heavy, as to be preſſed by them into the internal 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 near thy Hands, that nothing but thy neglecting, or wilful refuſing it, can deprive thee of the Benefit. Settle thy Soul in this Belief.
The ſeventh Direction. Vnderſtand and believe, that for all Chriſt's Satisfaction, there is an abſolute Neceſſity of …ound Faith and Repentance to be in thy own ſelf, before thou canſt be a Member of him, or be pardoned, adopted or juſtified by his Blood. He died not for final Infidelity 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.
The eight 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 off from thy former ſinſul 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 die 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'd away by Death. Methinks while thou art in ſo ſad a Caſe, which way ever thou art going, or whatever thou art doing, it ſhould ſtill come into thy Thoughts, O what if I ſhould die before I be regenerate, and have part in Chriſt!
The ninth Direction. Let it be the daily Care of thy Soul, to mortify 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 farther Danger; and thereupon they do lay down their Arms, and take that which they miſcall their Chriſtian Liberty, and indulge and pleaſe that Fleſh whch they promiſed to mortify, and cloſe with the World which they promiſed to contemn, and ſo give up themſelves to the Devil, whom they promiſed to fight againſt. If once you apprehend that 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 Ways 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 Hypocriſy, which will as ſurely condemn you, as open Profaneneſs, 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 mortify it by the Spirit, if you would not die, 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 judg this Preparation in general to be the main Buſineſs of your Lives, but you ſhould alſo order your 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 Judgment, and be ſweet or bitter when they are brought to Trial; both for Matter and Manner, this muſt be obſerved. O 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 Judgment, and whether the World will be then as ſweet as now, and whether this be the beſt Preparation for your Trial? When you are tempted to be drunk, or to ſpend your precious time in Ale-houſes, 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 near 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 are tempted to Wantonneſs, Fernication, or any other fleſhly Intemperance, bethink you ſoberly, with what Face theſe Actions will appear at Judgment, 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 catechiſing and teaching of your Children or Servants, eſpecially on the Lord's 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 unweariedly 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 remember that he muſt ſhortly be accountable for all in Judgment? and how importunate ſhould we all be with Sinners for their Converſion, when we conſider that we our ſelves alſo muſt ſhortly be judged? Can a Man be cold and dead in Prayer, that hath any true Apprehenſion of that Judgment 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 Bar of the dreadful God! Did theſe Thoughts get throughly to Mens Hearts, they would awaken 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 Judgment, might make us all better Chriſtians than we are, and keep our Lives in a more innocent and profitable Frame.
The 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 Chriſt's 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.
The twelfth Direction. In this vigilant, obedient, penitent Courſe, with Confidence upon God as a Father, reſt upon the Promiſe of 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. Chearfully hold on in the Work that you have begun: and as you ſerve a better Maſter 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 rejoice 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 chearfully and faithfully praiſed and honoured, and where is the greateſt viſible Similitude of Heaven upon Earth; eſpecially in the Celebration of the Sacrament of Chriſt's Supper, where he ſeals 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 Judgment 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 withal 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 hardned 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 Judgment is near, when thou wilt bitterly bewail all this too late. And among all the reſt of the Evidence that comes in againſt thee, this Book will be one which ſhall teſtify 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 upon thy Heart, and by ſober Conſideration turn it to himſelf, and cauſe thee faithfully to take the Warning that hath been give thee, and to obey theſe Directions, I dare aſſure thee from the Word of the Lord, that this judgment which will be ſo dreadful to the Ungodly, and the Beginning of their endleſs Terrour 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. John 3. 16. It is part of his Buſineſs to juſtify thee before the World, and to glorify his Merits, his Kingly Power, his Holineſs, and his rewarding Juſtice in thy Abſolution and Salvation. He will account it a righteous thing to recompenſe Tribulation to thy Troublers, and Reſt to thy ſelf; when the Lord Jeſus 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 Jeſus 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 believed, 2 Theſſ. 1. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. That Day will be the great Marriage of 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 into 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, mayeſt 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 Theſſ. 4. 17, 18. If thou wert ready to be offered to Death for Chriſt, or when the time of thy Departing is at hand, thou mayeſt look back on the good Fight which thou haſt fought, and on the Courſe which thou haſt finiſhed, and on the Faith which then haſt kept, and mayeſt confidently conclude, that henceforth there is laid up for thee a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the Righteous Judg 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.