Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 9 · Sermon 75
SERMON LXXV.
Of the time of turning unto God (viz.) preſently.
JER. 18. 11.
Return ye now every man from his evil way.
THe Prophets Commiſſion conſiſted of two parts, The firſt Inſtruction. The ſecond Exhortation. We are upon this latter, and in it are obſerved 1. The duty, Return; the nature of which hath been already diſcuſſed. 2. The time now, Return now. 3. The term from which, with the approprition of it, Every man from his evill way. 4. The extent alſo of it, From your evil doings. The next thing in our method to be handled is, the time when this duty muſt be ſet upon, and that is now Turn ye now.
From whence Obſerve, That Converſion or turning unto God, is a duty required at the preſent time. Thus in other places parallel in the margent, where this duty is often commanded; ſtill the time is prefixed now, Return ye now.
For opening of this neceſſary practical point, ConſiderMan is prone to put of the day of repentance.
Firſt, That it is a very prone inbred thing in a man to procraſtinate, and still to put off the day of repentance, and converſion to God. He reſolveth, and he purpoſeth, and he hopes in God to do it, and God gives him grace to do it, but he never ſets upon the work. Do but commune with your own hearts, and ſee if there be not ſomething or other ready alwaies to ſtiſle and kill thoſe purpoſes to return and ſo thou art alwaies delaying, and delaying, hoping for a time at laſt, till it may be thou falleſt into the grave, and ſo all thy hopes cut off. Now the cauſes of this delay to turn to God, may be ſeveral: Sometimes it may come from ſluggiſhneſſe and Cauſes of mens delays to turn to God. 1.idlneſſe: Even as the ſluggard hath a deſire to eat, but he tolleth himſelf on the bed, and ſaith, Yet a little ſleep, and a little ſlumber, and ſo he refuſeth to ſet his hand to work. Thus it is here, he deſireth to part with his corruptions, to ſin no more, but then he cryeth a little more eaſe; ſo much praying, ſo much hearing, ſo much humiliation, ſo much fervencie and violence is very tedious to him: The kingdome of heaven is to be got by violence, Mat. 11. 12. and the way to heaven, is ſtriving, runinng in a race, wreſtling and combating, all which the idle man will never doe.
A ſecond cauſe is, Dear, and exceſſive love to the luſts we live in, when we have at 2.the ſame time ſome conviction, and yet ſtrong corruptions. Conviction that it is high time for us to break off our ſins by repentance, and yet ſtrong corruptions do ſo entice us, and perſwade us, that we are not able to break theſe bonds, and caſt them aſunder, then converſion is delayed. Thus Agrippa was almoſt perſwaded to be a Chriſtian, Act. 26. 28. but yet his preſent luſts with-held him.
The third Cauſe of delay to turn unto God may be, the immoderate and exceſſive love, and cares of the things of this world. Thoſe are apt to ſurfet, and over-charge the 3.heart: this duſt got into the eye, is apt to blinde them. Thus the young man that ſeemed ſo forward, when he was bid to ſell all, could not bear that Doctrine, but went away very ſorrowful, Mat. 19. 22.
A fourth Cauſe, may be recovery out of ſome dangers, diſeaſes, or calamities that we were in. The Iſraelites often turned unto God, but they proved deceitful, they went 4.backward, as well as forward, and what was the matter? They would turn to God from violent fears that were upon them; they then cryed, and mourned, and prayed unto the Lord; but this fountain preſently dryed up when a ſun-ſhine day came. So that proſperity and freedom from trouble, makes a man pur off his reſolutions, as much as ever he put them on in times of adverſitie. Thus you ſee what are the cauſes that may make men uſe that Corvinumcras, as Auſtin calls it, The Crows note, Cras, to morrow, to morrow.
2. Conſider, that it is an high, and a very grievous ſin, for a man obſtinately and It is a grievous ſin to reſolve to turn to God, but not yet.formally to have this expreſſion, I will turn to God, but not yet. I ſay to have this formally, and not with attention to it, it argueth very great rebellion, for it ſuppoſeth light in thee; thou ſeeſt thy ſelf out of the way, thou ſeeſt thy ſelf undone, and wandring in waies to hell, yet thy rebellion againſt this light is ſo great and manifeſt, that thou wilt oppoſe it: beſides it argueth much contempt; for if thou didſt highly prize God, and his favours, thou wouldſt immediately forſake all other things, and cleave to him.
Theſe things premiſed, now let us conſider why we ought to take the preſent Now, not to put off, no not a day, an hour, not this moment; and there was never Why men ſhould turn to God preſently. 1.any duty had ſuch reaſons for it. As
Firſt, The vanity and uncertainty of a mans life is ſo obvious a reaſon, That it is ſtrange every one doth not reſolve, Now will I forſake my accuſtomed ſins, I will do it now. The ſhortneſſe of our daies is frequently agrravated by the Scripture, therefore we ſhould apply our hearts to wiſedom, we ſhould not look ſo much to this moment, as provide for eternity: Who art thou then, O mortal man that doth yet put off thy repentance? who hath given thee ſecurity for to morrow? why doſt thou not take the Holy Ghoſts councel? To day, and while it is called to day, hear his voice, Pſalm 95. 7. Oh duſt and aſhes, Why art thou not afraid of being blown away with every breath of Gods diſpleaſure? In wordly matters you are careful to make every thing ſure; you know not what will fall out, it is good to be certain; and in heavenly things, there you content your ſelves with any probabilities. The Pſalmiſt gives a convincing Epithet, Pſal. 4. O ye mortal men, how long will you love vanity. Let us then beſeech thee who art entangled in thy luſts by that body of death thou beareſt about with thee, by the conſideration of that ſentence of death paſt upon every one, the execution whereof may be this night, ſo that thou never maiſt hear this Exhortation more, by the conſideration of the grave into which thou art falling, that thou wouldſt no longer put off, but turn from thy ſins. Oh ſay, contrary to thoſe Epicures, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall dye: Let us pray, and return unto the Lord, for to morrow we ſhall dye.
Secondly, Turn now, becauſe the day of Grace and ſalvation offered unto thee, is as uncertain in continuance as thy life. Thus the Apoſtle, Behold, now is the time acceptable, 2.now is the day of Salvation, 2. Cor. 6. 2. therefore receive not the grace of God in vain: and our Saviour, Work while ye have day, for the night is coming, and no man can then work, John 9. 4. If a black night for Ordinances and the Miniſtry ſhould be coming upon you, the ſun and the ſtars be turned into bloud: Oh then, whither wilt thou run? and what wilt thou do? gather the Manna therefore while it falls; come in while the door of Grace ſtands open: take heed of being like Eſau, coming too late for a bleſſing, like Saul, that cannot have God anſwer him any way, by Urim, or Thummim, or any other manner: The Prophet Jeremiah might well ſay, Return ye now; for ſhortly captivity, or the ſword will deprive you of all means of grace: How diligent is the husbandman to take the ſeaſon for ſowing, the tradeſman his ſeaſon for buying and ſelling! but for our ſouls we are not wiſe: We ſay not, Oh my ſoul, now if ever let this ſermon pierce thee, now if ever let this exhortation prevail with thee. Oh unwiſe men, go and learn of the bruitiſh Creatures, they are ſo wiſe as to lay up their ſtore in ſummer againſt winter: and thus it ought to be with thee; if there may come a ſad time of famine for the Ordinances, and the means of Grace, do thou as Joſeph, who laid up proviſion for that time of ſcarcitie. Now while God calls, do thou ſay, here, Lord, I am.
Thirdly, Therefore turn now from your evill waies, becauſe the longer you put off, the more you hinder your peace and happineſſe. All the time ſpent in ſin is loſt time, it muſt be all redeemed again as the Apoſtle exhorts, Thou art an hinderer of thy peace and comfort all the while thou art labouring in the way of ſin, thou art with the Prodigal feeding on husks, when thou mighſt have a fatted calf; thou art eating onions when Manna may be gathered: What are the pleaſures of ſin, to the enjoyment of God, the peace of a good Conſcience, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt? How wilt thou try out when once ſet at liberty from this priſon, Now I begin to live, Now I begin to have happineſſe, now I begin to have pleaſure, but never till now? Thou wilt finde a damage, and a loſſe which cannot be repaired, but by that happineſſe in Jeſus Chriſt: So then bethink thy ſelf, What a loſer am I, exchanging dirt for gold? It is my own advantage and happineſſe, if I betake my ſelf to God immediately.
Fourthly Therefore turn to God, becauſe the longer thou putſt off, the greater difficulty it will be to leave thy ſins. At laſt Converſion will be every day more remote then at firſt; for the difficulty will ariſe ſeveral waies, here will more then a three-fold cord be to be broken.
For 1. It will be more hard, becauſe ſin is every day hardening of a mans heart 1.more: Now all hardneſſe of heart makes turning to God more difficult: wax is ſooner melted then cold Iron: Therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, To day if you will hear, harden not your hearts, Pſal. 95. implying that every delay doth freez the ſoul, and make it more benummed: if thou art not fit to day, thou wilt be leſſe fit then to morrow: and hence it is why men rooted in ſin, and inveterate in old cuſtomary iniquities, do ſeldom change their black ſkins: the beginnings of a wound are to be healed; if you let it rankle and canker, then that groweth incurable at laſt. Oh then take up betimes; while there are any relentings, any meltings, go preſently to God: If thou getteſt cold after this heat, then thy diſeaſe will be more mortall.
2. Therefore it is more difficult if thou delay, becauſe to thy naturall hardneſſe 2.thou wilt add adventitious, and acquiſite, Every man naturally hath a ſtone upon his heart, and grace muſt remove that in converſion; but when thou haſt refuſed often to come at Gods call, then there is a ſecond, and a third, yea many ſtones laid upon thee while thou art buried in the grave of thy ſins; Oh then, wo be unto thee who doſt make thy condition worſe at laſt, then at firſt. Who knoweth if thou hadſt regarded the firſt impreſſions, and motions of Gods ſpirit, but that thy condition had been more hopeful? Oh take heed of proving bankrupt in the way of ſin; then the more thou ſpendeſt, the likelier to be caſt into that dungeon out of which there can be no redemption. Take heed then of adding hardneſſe to that which is inbred in thee: Thou haſt enough to preſſe thee into the loweſt ſea; thou needeſt not have more milſtones hung about thy neck.
3. It is therefore more difficult, becauſe the judgement of God is more terrible to ſuch in a ſpiritual manner. The Lord hath ſpirituall judgements, as well as 3.temporall; and although we grone and complain more under bodily miſeries, yet theſe ſpiritual have the greateſt danger; and of all ſpiritual ones, this of hardneſſe of heart is the moſt grievous, as by the Prophet appeareth, Eſai. 6. Go and make their hearts fat, their eyes blinde. Oh then fear the longer thou putſt off, leſt God will ſmite thee with more ſtupidity, more ſenſleſneſſe, and ſo at laſt thou f…ll into an hopeleſſe condition, that all means uſed for recovery, do make thy ſickneſſe more deſperate.
4. Therefore it is more difficult if thou delayeſt, becauſe the divel hath thereby IV.got the ſtronger poſſeſſion on thee; for every man hath either God and his ſpirit dwelling in him, whereby he becomes a lively Temple, and his houſe, and ſo all things are according to his government, or elſe the Divel he hath a full poſſeſſion of him; but now his hold in thee is ſtronger and ſtonger, as thou delayſt, and therefore it will be the more hard to caſt him out, when he hath had ſo many years poſſeſſion. The divels that poſſeſſed the man from the womb up, could not be caſt out but by ſome extraordinary way. The divel was in Judas his heart long before, yet ſaith the Scripture, The Divel entered into his heart, John 13. 27. How is that? was he not before there? Yes, but now more then ever; he had ſinned more, and reſiſted the grace of Chriſt more, and therefore God gave him up to the greater power of the Divel: And thus it will be with thee; the more thou putſt off, the more thou delayeſt, the greater Tyranny and raign will Satan have over thee.
Fifthly, Therefore turn now to God, becauſe the ſooner thou goeſt to him, the more ſervice and honour thou wilt bring to him. Suppoſe a man be called at the twelfth 5.hour, yet how little can he do for God before night? Alas thou haſt lived a long while in the ſervice of ſin and ſatan, and thou needeſt even Methuſalems age to do God ſervice, for all the diſlervice and diſhonour thou haſt done him. Paul becauſe he had been very active for the Divel, and ſo laboured more then many of his equals in pulling down the Church; therefore when once converted, ſee how he rejoyceth as a gyant to run his race, and he laboureth afterward more then all to build the Church. Oh then think the greateſt honour thou art capable of, is to do the Lords work: Angels rejoyce in this; and all the while thou art in the courſe of ſin, then thou art doing the Divels ſervice: Although now there be no greater delight to thee, then fulfilling the luſts of the fleſh, yet when thou art once turned to God, thou wilt labour abundantly in the work of God, and it will be an heavy trouble to thee that thou haſt been an enemy ſo long to God, and promoted the work of his adverſary. Therefore get betime into the vine-yard of the Lord, and ſo thou wilt have time to do him the more ſervice.
Sixthly, The ſooner thou turneſt to God, thou wilt prevent the more ſin, and ſo the 6.more ſhame and trouble of heart. Thoſe that have gone far in the waies of wickedneſſe, they have the greater falls, and ſo their broken bones put them into the more pains e're they can be healed. Oh what a deal of peace would Manaſſes, and Mary Magdalen have enjoyed, if they had been converted in their younger years! So if Paul had been betimes drawen home unto God, he had not had all that trouble and grief of ſpirit for perſecuting the Church of God. Thoſe that are aged women, they ſay, have the ſorer and more dangerous travails, if they had never any Children before: and thus they have the more difficult converſions, the greater anguiſh and pain of Conſcience, who have lived long in ſin, and committed great ones. Hence is that, Remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth: and it is good to bear the yoke in the youth; ſo it is here, it is good to feel the bitterneſſe of ſin betimes; it is good in our younger years to feel how ſad a thing it is to diſpleaſe God; this advantage hath early converſion. So then, let young ones hearken to ſermons, let them attend to what the Miniſters of God exhort; for converſion doth not onelyonly belong to the old, but to the young; yea commonly converſion is ſooner wrought upon the younger ſort of people, for they have not reſiſted the grace of God ſo much, they have not provoked God to give them up to their own hearts luſts and deſires, as many aged perſons have.
Seventhly, Suppoſe thy converſion and turning to God for the future, were not onelyonly poſſible, but ſure; if it were infallibly revealed to thee, that God would before 7.thy death make himſelf known in a gracious manner to thee, yet how unfit is old age, or a diſeaſed ſick body to turn to God? When thou haſt given the Divel all thy ſervice, and power, and ſtrength, then to give a Carkaſſe to God it is unſeemly; like thoſe Heathens that keep the honey to themſelves, and offer the wax to their Gods: ſay then to thy ſelf, as the Prophet in another caſe concerning thoſe that offered blinde, and ſame Sacrifices to God: Offer it now to thy rulers, and governours, ſee if they will accept of it: And thus it is here, thy lame, diſeaſed, infirm ſervice, How fit is it for God, when it is not fit for any man? The command is, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy ſoul, with all thy minde, and with all thy ſtrength: if this be required of thee, then it is moſt unworthy and diſhonourable dealing, to put off God to thy feeble age.
Eighthly, Conſider the nature of ſin, what it is, and thou muſt needs ſay, There is no way, but preſently to go out of it. It is the poyſon of the ſoul, and that is not to be 8.kept long in the body: It is the bloody wounding of it, and thou muſt not let it lye long in this bleeding: it is the meer mercy of God that ſin doth not give a damning ſtab and blow to thee, to undo thee to all eternity. Why then wilt thou ſtay for an hour, for a moment in this eſtate? Who would abide long in a place, where fire is ready to burn and conſume all before it? Yet this is thy condition; it was Lots great ſtupiditie, that when fire and brimſtone was ready to rain from heaven upon him, he would not go out till the Angel came and pulled him out, The Lord being mercifull to him, ſaith the Text, Geneſ, 19. 16. And thus it is here, our ſottiſhneſs, and ſtupidity is ſo great, that although heaven above be againſt us, and hell beneath ready to devour us, yet we think not of converſion to Him.
Ninthly, If ſo be thou wouldſt ever turn to God at all, then why not now? Do not deceive, and delude thy own ſoul; if ever thou wilt part from thy luſts, begin preſently, 9.for what can be more neceſſary? Commonly this is our method, that we will do the neceſſary things in the firſt place; we wil firſt provide for our lives, before we do for ornaments; Nature teacheth us to do that which hath the greateſt neceſſity: now then what is more neceſſary then to turn to God? if this be not done, thy ſins are upon thee, thy luſts will overwhelm thee, thy damnation is ſure and unavoidable. Turn now unto God, becauſe it is moſt neceſſary: one thing is needful: neither riches, honour, or any advantages are like to this. Beſides, if ever thou wilt turn to God, do it now, for there can be no reaſon hereafter, which will not be much more now. Is ſin of a terrible damning nature, then it is ſo now? Doth Gods anger belong to ſin, ſo it doth now? Is God alſo to be loved, and choſen before all things? then now as well as at any time hereafter. Thy comforts will be greater, thy honour more, thy ſervice to God more; therefore return now unto God.
Uſe of Exhortation, to be perſwaded to this duty, Return now, ſet immediately upon the work, Why ſhould Gods work be done laſt of all? Oh think rather I will turn unto God, and that preſently, becauſe I may dye before I think of it. If I dye before I have ſetled ſuch and ſuch worldly buſineſſes, there is nothing but a temporal loſſe; but if I dye before I have ſetled the peace of my ſoul, then I am eternally undone. Oh how many have been ſurprized by Gods ſtroke, before ever they thought of it: then they cry out, Lord, spare me one year longer, Lord, give me space once more; I am not ready to dye, I have not quitted my ſins; Oh if I dye now, I ſhall dye and be damned in them. Come then and take the good counſel of the Prophet, Do it now; are your hearts yielding and conſenting? you will have the comfort of ſincerity, if you turn to God while in your health and ſtrength; whereas when fear and danger works upon thee, then ſtill thou wilt doubt of thy integrity in what thou doſt.