Inquiry for a Suitable Return for Continued Life In and After Time of Plague, Part 2 · Section 14 – Section 15
SECT. XIV.
Queſtion Seventh.What conſiderations may be uſefull to ſtop the ſtreame of ſuch mens wickedneſs, that yet are waxing worſe and worſe?
BEcauſe I am loath to leave thee with a bare conviction, that thou art worſe than thou waſt wont to be; I ſhall add a few conſiderations to preſſe thee to put a ſtop unto thy ſinnings, hoping that though thou haſt gone far, yet thou mayſt return: while thou art out of Hell, thou art within our call, and within the reach of Exhortation and reproof. God hath called often to thee to return, and yet thou haſt not returned, but art going on unto deſtruction. The Son of God hath called to thee, and ſaid, How long wilt thou goe on in thy Rebellion againſt him that would redeem and ſave thy ſoul? he hath told thee, if thou doſt proceed thou muſt be damned, and ſaid, the Mercy of God will not ſave thee, and my Merits they will not, they ſhall not ſave thee, but if thou wilt return to God, and come to me, here is mercy for thee, here is pardon for thee, and I will give eternal life unto thee. The Spirit of God hath often moved upon thy heart, he hath been often knocking at thy doore, that thou wouldeſt open thy heart and let him in, and he would apply the blood of Chriſt unto thee, and he would fill thee with better joyes, and better pleaſures, and better comforts than thou ever foundeſt in the way of ſin. But hitherto thou haſt ſtopped thine ears, and ſtiffened thy neck, and hardened thy heart, and wouldeſt not hearken nor obey.
The Miniſters of God have often wooed thee and beſeeched thee with tears in their eyes, and ſorrow in their hearts, as if their happineſs had been wrapped up in thine, and as if they could not have gone to Heaven and been ſaved without thee: while patience waited upon thee, they have been earneſt with thee, and now at laſt one unworthy to preach the Goſpel, is a ſuiter to thy ſoul, that thou wouldeſt be divorced from thy ſin and be married unto Chriſt; as yet thou art out of hell, and art not yet reckoned among the dead, nor numbred amongſt the damned, as yet thou art not irrecoverably loſt, this day Chriſt is once more tendred to thee, in the name of God I once more offer thee pardon and eternall life, upon thy repenting of thy ſin, and turning unto God.
Oh that I could perſwade thee, or if I cannot, as indeed I cannot; oh that God would yet perſwade thee? If I might be ſerviceable to thy ſoule, oh how ſhould I rejoyce; if I did but know where thou doſt dwell, that haſt been wicked all thy dayes, and now art reading of theſe lines, having a purpoſe in thy heart to come to Chriſt, I would come to thee (as opportunity was offered) and beg upon my knees, that thou wouldeſt cheriſh thoſe purpoſes, and be perſwaded to what conduceth to thy eternall happineſs: if teares and prayers would do it, I would endeavour (though my heart is hard) to ſhed them for thee; if putting my hands, under thy feet, and ſtooping to the meaneſt office of love unto thy ſoule, would excite thee to let Chriſt into thy heart, how readily (by the grace of God) would I be willing to it.
I beſeech thee by the mercies of God, by the death of Chriſt, by the coming of our Lord, by the love thou beareſt to thy ſelf, as ever thou wouldeſt ſee the face of Chriſt with comfort, as ever thou wouldeſt eſcape the damnation of Hell, return at laſt, and though it be late, yet return at laſt. But if thou wilt not, let God be my witneſs, let as many as read theſe lines be my witneſſes, let thy own Conſcience be my witneſs, that thou haſt been asked, entreated, yea earneſtly entreated to reform, and mend, and turn to God. But in hopes that I may prevail, I beſeech thee in the fear of God, give in a ſober and deliberate anſwer unto theſe following Queſtions.
Firſt, Whether art thou going, while thou art waxing worſe and worſe? Doſt thou know that Hell is at the end of the way in which thou art daily walking? Doſt thou know, that if thou doſt proceed a little further, a little longer in this courſe, thou wilt be among the Devils, thoſe curſed Fiends of Hell? Or doſt thou know it, and yet wilt venture to dance about the brink of a bottomleſs pit? who hath bewitched thee? or what hath made thee mad, that thou ſeeſt thou art going unto Hell, and yet wilt venture on?
Secondly, Doſt thou believe the Scripture to be the Word of God, or doſt thou not? And are the threatnings contained therein, true, thinkeſt thou, or are they not? Wilt thou ſay they be falſe, or that they were found out by ſome Preciſians, or are the workings of ſome melancholly brain? or that they were found out by ſome Politician, to keep the world in awe? I would have thee know, that to thy eternal ſorrow thou ſhalt finde them all true, even to a tittle; and to thy everlaſting woe ſhalt know the truth of Gods Word: When thou art ſhrieking in the flames of Hell, and roaring hideouſly among the damned, becauſe of Gods eternal wrath; thou ſhalt be convinced, that the wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, that the Unbeliever ſhall be damned, and that it was true which thou waſt told, that without repentance there was no deliverance from eternal condemnation.
But if thou doſt believe this Word to be true, what aileth thee then to live as thou doſt? that thou acteſt quite contrary to what is contained in the Word of God? Doth not the Word of God in a thouſand places cry down ſin, and preſs to holineſs? doth it not tell thee, the drunkard, the covetous, the unbelieving, the lyar, ſhall be damned? If thou never didſt obſerve ſuch places, take thy Bible and turn unto them. 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Rev. 21.8. Heb. 12.14. Gal. 5.20. to 25. Col. 3.5, 6. Eph. 5.5, 6. Mar. 16.16. Mat. 18.3. Luk. 13.3, 5. Canſt thou read and believe theſe Scriptures to be true, and yet goe on in the practice of thoſe things that the eternal, holy God doth forbid upon pain of eternal torments? Wilt thou be worſe than thy very beaſt, which thou canſt not force into the fire when he ſeeth it before him. Shall I call out thy Neighbours to behold a dreadful ſight, viz. A man that knowes he is in the way to Hell, and yet will goe on.
Thirdly, With what face or heart canſt thou hope (as thou doſt) that God will pardon thy ſin, or ſave thy ſoul, while thou perſiſteſt in thy wickedneſs, and encreaſeſt therein? Shew me an inſtance of any one man in all the Word of God, that was pardoned and ſaved, who repented not, and I will be thy ſlave for ever. I know, great ſinners have been ſaved; and I know, thoſe that have gone far have obtained mercy: Manaſſeh did, 2 Chron. 33.12, 13. Mary Magdalene did, Luk. 7. But then they turned unto God. Canſt thou ſay, there is any one now in Heaven that did not repent, and believe before he dyed? or doſt thou think that thou ſhalt be the only man?
Fourthly, Whom doſt thou ſet thy ſelf againſt? Or who is it that thou doſt provoke? whoſe anger and indignation art thou daily kindling againſt thy ſelf? What art thou, that thus doſt ſin? or what is God againſt whom thou ſinneſt? doſt thou know thy ſelf, and thine own weakneſs? And doſt thou know God, and his Almighty power? art thou any better than chaffe before the winde of Gods wrath? art thou, any better than ſtubble before a conſuming Fire? canſt thou make thy party good againſt God? Then why doſt thou take thy bed, when he layeth his finger light upon thee? or why doſt thou complain and art ſo reſtleſs under the pain of the tooth-ache? why doſt thou roar ſo much under the pain in thy bowels? and why doſt thou groan, when he makes thee ſick? why art thou ſick, and why wilt thou dye, if thou canſt contend with God? But if thou canſt not, poor Worm, thou canſt not; why then wilt thou proceed and increaſe thy wickedneſs more and more, to provoke him more and more?
Fifthly, How canſt thou call thy ſelf a Chriſtian, while thou daily increaſeſt in thy ſin againſt God and Chriſt. Chriſtians have their denomination from Chriſt, becauſe they follow his ſteps, and own him for their Lord and Maſter: Chriſt was holy, and ſo is every true Chriſtian; Chriſt hated ſin, and ſo doth every true Chriſtian; Chriſt did the will of his Father, and thou art doing the will of the Fleſh and of the Devil. That which conſiſteth of a head of one kinde, and members of another, is monſtrous. If any creature had the head of a man, and the members were the members of a beaſt, it would be monſtrous. Chriſt is an holy head, and all his members united unto him are holy members; therefore thou art none of them: Take it as thou wilt, thou art not a Chriſtian, that ſhould not be thy Appellation; thou art more rightly called a ſinner, a Childe of the Devil.
Sixthly, How canſt thou goe unto thy Prayers and yet go on in thy ſin, and come to the Word preached, and hear drunkenneſs reproved, and go away and be drunk? How canſt thou ſit in thy Pew, and hear the Miniſter from God tell thee, the drunkard ſhall be damned, and all thy Neighbours know thee for a drunkard, and yet hold up thy head? Where is thy ſhame? art thou become impudent? where is thy fear of God and his Word? art thou utterly hardened? where is thy Conſcience? is it quite ſeared?
Seventhly, Doſt thou think that God will never call thee to an account? Doſt thou think that time will alwayes laſt? doſt thou think thy ſoul ſhall live for ever, and yet do that which will bring thee to an eternity of miſery? and expoſe thy ſelf for a little momentany pleaſure unto eternal torments? Thus I have ſet before thee theſe Conſiderations, whereby thou mayſt be brought to bethink thy ſelf, and at laſt enquire, What would you have me to doe? I anſwer thee:
1. Make a ſtand and pauſe a little with thy ſelf, whether it be not ſo with thee or no? and labour to convince thy ſelf of the hainouſneſs of thy ſins, in making ſuch an increaſe and growth in ſin.
2. When thou art convinced thus, urge it upon thy heart till thou feeleſt it begin to melt, and to be diſſolved in thy breaſt. Uſe thy Reaſon for thy ſouls good, after this manner: Oh God hath been good to me, and I have been wicked againſt God; God was alwayes good to me, and I have been alwayes evil againſt God; God multiplyed his mercy upon me, and I multiplyed my ſins againſt God; if he had not given me bread to eat, I had dyed with hunger; and if he had not given me drink, I had periſhed with thirſt; but what he gave me for my nouriſhment I have abuſed to gluttony and drunkenneſs; I have fought againſt God with his own mercy, and made his goodneſs an encouragement to me in my wickedneſs: He lengthened out his mercy, and I did lengthen out mine iniquity; Oh what rich grace and patience is this, that I am not in Hell! Oh this was long-ſuffering indeed, to bear ſo long with ſuch a Swearer and Drunkard as I have been; and when the dreadfull Plague hath taken away my Companions in ſin, yet I am left behinde; Oh that it may be, that I may repent and turn to God! Woe is me! I have been damning of my precious ſoul, and have ſpent my dayes hitherto in diſhonouring of a good and patient God.
3. Then reſolve with thy ſelf, that by the grace of God thou wilt forſake and leave thoſe practiſes, and wilt no longer continue in thy wickedneſſe; ſay, Now I ſee this is not my Way to happineſs; ſwearing, and lying, and drunkenneſs, is not my way to the Kingdom of God: The Devil hath deceived me, and my Companions have deceived me, and my own wicked heart hath beguiled me; I will, by the grace of God, I will do ſo no more; I am reſolved I will do ſo no more: And write down thy Reſolution, that thou mayeſt have it under thine own hand, that ſuch a day thou didſt reſolve to do ſo no more.
4. Beg of God that thou mayſt be deeply humbled for what thou haſt already done, and labour that thy ſorrow may be proportionable to what thy ſins have been.
5. Make haſte to Chriſt, and take him and receive him for thy Lord and Saviour, and ſubmit to him upon his Goſpel-terms, as willing he ſhould rule thee, as ever thou waſt for ſin to rule thee.
6. Then endeavour to be as good as thou haſt been bad, as holy as thou haſt been wicked, as eminent for piety, as thou haſt been exemplary for iniquity; ſpeak for Holineſſe as much as ever thou didſt ſpeak againſt it; and love the wayes of God as much as thou waſt wont to hate them, and by perſevering ſo to doe, thou ſhalt finde great mercy will be ſhewn to thee, who haſt been ſo great a ſinner.
SECT. XV.
Corollaries from the firſt part of this Direction.NOw I will draw ſome Corollaries from this firſt branch of this Direction, and ſo paſs on unto the ſecond. Is it the Nature of ſin to make men worſe and worſe? and do wicked men uſually wax worſe and worſe? Then learn,
1. The evil that there is in ſin: There is a depth in the evil of ſin that cannot be fathomed, and a length in the evil of ſin that cannot be meaſured; that is very bad that makes men ſo in every condition, as grace is very good that turneth every thing for the beſt to them to whom it is infuſed.
2. Learn that wicked men are never from under a curſe: Let their condition be what it will, proſperity is a curſe unto them, adverſity is a curſe, and deliverances are in wrath. When they do increaſe in riches, they do increaſe in ſin; envy not the proſperity of the wicked.
3. Learn the bottomleſs depth of iniquity in a wicked mans heart: He was bad twenty years ago; he was a grief to all the godly in the Town and Pariſh where he lived, but yet he is many times worſe than before.
4. Learn what abundance of guilt an old ſinner goes with to his grave when he comes to dye: He was bad when he was born, and worſe while he lived, and worſt of all when he is to dye.
5. Learn the equity of Gods Juſtice in puniſhing a wicked man with eternal torments for ſins committed in time: For he ſinned more and more as long as he lived, and if he had lived longer, he would have ſinned longer; and if he had lived for ever, he would have ſinned for ever.
6. Learn the over-ruling providence of God: that ſetteth bounds to wicked mens ſins; if he did not reſtrain them, they would be worſe, and do worſe than they do.
7. Learn, that natural men by the improvement of common grace, or the means of grace, cannot work themſelves into a state of grace, nor of themſelves that are bad, make themſelves to be good; for we have ſhewed, that without the ſpeciall and irreſiſtible operations of the Spirit of God, wicked men grow worſe under the Adminiſtrations of the Goſpel.
8. The folly of delays and procraſtinations of repentance and turning unto God: Wicked men think they can repent when they will, and though they have no heart to turn to God for the preſent, yet they will hereafter; but he that is not diſpoſed to turn to God and repent to day, will finde his heart more indiſpoſed to morrow, and the longer they put it off, the more unwilling and unable they will be to do it hereafter. We have heard we muſt not be worſe, now let us ſee we muſt be better, and that is the ſecond part of this firſt Direction.