A Divine Message to the Elect Soul, Sermon 3

A Divine Message to the Elect Soul · Sermon 3

THE DANGER of deferring REPENTANCE, DISCOƲERED In a Sermon preached at Maidſtone in Kent, Septem. 25. 1629.

By that Reverend and faithfull Miniſter of the Word, WILLIAM FENNER, B.D. Sometime Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and late Parſon of Rochford in Eſſex.

London, Printed by T.R. and E.M. for J.S.

p. 59A SERMON OF M^r. WILLIAM FENNERS at Maidſtone, Septem. 25. 1629.

PROV. 1.28.

Then ſhall they call upon me, but I will not anſwer: they ſhall ſeek me early, but they ſhall not find me.

THere is a good Engliſh Proverb amongſt us, that he that neglects the occaſion, the occaſion will neglect him. Solomon wiſely begins his Proverbs with it: for he bringeth in the Wiſdom of his Father in theſe five particulars: 1firſt, making a generall Proclamation in the 20 verſe, Wiſdome crieth without, ſhee uttereth her vice in the ſtreets. He compareth God unto a Crier that goeth up and down the City from ſtreet to ſtreet, and from doore to doore, crying his commodity, even the richeſt that ever was, which is a Chriſt, p. 60a Chriſt for redemption, a Chriſt for ſanctification, a Chriſt to enlighten thoſe that walk in darkneſſe, and in the ſhadow of death. Ho, every one that thirſteth, here is a Chriſt for you.

2Secondly, here is a mercifull reprehenſion, in the 22. verſe, O yee fooliſh, how long will yee love fooliſhneſſe, and yee ſcorners take pleaſure in ſcorning? Fooliſh indeed to be without Chriſt: fooliſh to be without grace, fooliſh to chafer away our ſouls for ſin. How long yee ſcorners will yee take pleaſure in ſcorning? will you ſtill perſiſt in your wickedneſſe, and never have done with your ſins? will you never turn back again, but damne your ſouls for ever? O yee fooliſh, how long will you love fooliſhneſſe?

3Thirdly, here is a gracious exhortation in the 23. verſe: turn you at my correction: lo, I will poure out my mind unto you, and make you to underſtand my words. As if he ſhould ſay, Do you not ſee how you are going apace to confuſion; and that the way you take, leadeth unto deſtruction? turn ye therefore, turn ye back again, for there is a Chriſt behind you: O turn ye; for if ye go on in your ſins, you periſh for ever.

4Fourthly, here is a yearning promiſe made unto the world, in the end of the 23. verſe; Lo, I will poure out my ſpirit upon you, and cauſe you to underſtand my words. As if he ſhould ſay, return back again with me, and you ſhall have better welcome then you can poſſibly have, if you go on in your ſins: the Devill will never let you gain ſo much by your living in your luſts, as you ſhall do by p. 61repentance for them, and forſaking of them. For behold, I will poure out my ſpirit upon you, whereby you ſhall be far greater gainers, then you ſhall be by your ſins.

5Fifthly, here is a grievous threatning againſt the world, even all thoſe that have loytered out the day of grace. As time and tyde ſtayes for no man, no more doth the day of grace: Becauſe I have called, and you refuſed; I have exhorted, but you have not regarded; I have denounced judgements againſt you for your ſins, but you have harned your hearts; now a day of woe and miſery ſhall come upon you, a time of vengeance and deſolation ſhall over-take you; there will a day come wherein there will be weeping, and crying MercieMercy (Lord) mercy; but I tell you beforehand what you ſhall truſt to: let this be your leſſon, now I call, and you will not hear; now I ſtretch out my hands, but you will not regard: you ſhall ſeek… me early, but you ſhall not find me: and ſhall crie, but you ſhall not be heard.

The words are a thunderclap againſt all thoſe that procraſtinate their repentance, and returning home unto God, wherein note, 1firſt, the parties themſelves that do prolong this time of grace, they: that is, they who when God cals on them, will not hear; when God invites them by his mercies, patience, and forbearance, by his Miniſters and ſervants, by his corrections and judgements, by all fair means and foul means, yet withſtand the means of grace: they are the men, they ſhall call, but God will not anſwer.

p. 622Secondly, here is their ſeeking after God; they ſhall call upon me.

3Thirdly, here is their earneſt and diligent ſeeking unto God; they ſhall not onelyonly call, but ſeek to, and not onelyonly ſeek, but ſeek as to labour to find: nay they ſhall ſeek me early▪ even ſtrive to goe about it with all haſte, and flie to repentance, but they ſhall not find me.

4Fourthly, here is the unſeaſonableneſſe of the time of their ſeeking, then: that is a demonſtrative, then; even a time which the Lord points at: as if he ſhould ſay, you ſhall ſee then theſe men will be of another mind, then they will be glad to be converted then they will be glad to come out of their ſins, then they will be glad to get grace, and ſeek reconciliation with God: but alas! they ſaw not this then, but God foreſaw it well enough; then ſhall they call, but I will not anſwer, they ſhall ſeek me early, but they ſhall not finde me.

5Laſtly, here is the fruſtration of their hope, which hath two things in it. Firſt, in regard of their ſelves, in regard of the ſlaw of their ſeeking, it being not aright. Secondly, in regard of the …uſtice of God, who rewards every man according to his works. But I will not hear them. Whence obſerve this point of Doctrine.

Dect. 1 Thoſe that will not hear God when he calleth them; God will not hear them, when they call upon him. Thoſe that will not hear the Lord when he calleth upon them by the miniſtery of his Word, and voice of his Spirit, the Lord will p. 63not hear them, when in their miſery they call upon him.

Thus the Lord dealt with the people in Ezekiels dayes; the Lord called them to repentance and obedience: but when they ſtood out, and neglected the opportunity of grace, and ſeaſons of converſion, ſee how God deals with them: though they cry in mine eares with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them (ſaith the Lord.) When men have gone beyond the time of Gods merciemercy, and out-rowed the tide of Gods forbearance, and will not return, the Lord ſets it down with himſelf, that his wrath ſhall return upon them, he will no longer forbear: they had a time wherein the Lord did pitie them, and offered grace and merciemercy unto them, but they neglecting this ſeaſon, and withſtanding this proffer of grace, God reſolves with himſelf they ſhall never have it again. There was a time wherein God did pitie them, but now he will not pitie them any more; twenty five yeers he called unto them▪ and ſought to bring them home; but becauſe they ſtood out and refuſed, the Lord ſaith, I will love Ephraim no more.

Beloved, there is a double day, a white day, and a black day; there is a day of ſalvation; Iſa. 49.9 this is the day in the which the Lord ſaid to the priſoners, Come forth: and to thoſe that lie in their ſins, repent and beleeve. Now if any man will come forth and humble his ſoul before the Lord, let him come and welcome, for it is a day of ſalvation. But there is another day of p. 64damnation, which is a dark day, a black and a duskie day, wherein the Lord will viſit the ſins of the world, and revenge the quarrell of his Covenant. Hoſ. 9.7, The day of viſitation is come, yea the day of recompence; the people ſhall know it; the Prophet is a foole, and the ſpirituall man is mad. Beloved, we are fools, and all the ſpirituall men under heaven are mad, that lay not this day to heart. For the day of the Lord is a day of viſitation, and all the world ſhall rue it, though now men ſleepe in ſecurity. If once mercy be rejected, and God turn away his eare from a man, then grace ſhall be no more, the doore of life ſhall for ever be ſhut up againſt him: and when once this day comes, he hath loſt his own peace, and deprived himſelf of eternall happineſſe.

Reaſ 1 Now there are three reaſons of this point; the firſt is the law of retaliation, of rendring like for like, which is the juſteſt law that can be made with man, for to give unto every man according to his works, to make him take ſuch as he brings, (as the Heathen call it) to give a man quid for quo. Now if God call upon thee, and thou wilt not hear; it is righteouſneſſe with God, yea equity with God (that is more) that when thou calleſt on him, he ſhould not heare thee. For thus runs the tenor of Gods Word, Prov. 28.9 He that turns away his eare from hearing the Law▪ even his prayers ſhall be abominable. He that turns away his eare from Gods Law, God wi…l turn away his eare from his prayer. He that turns, it is ſpoken in the preſent tenſe, that p. 65is, he that now turns away his eare, his prayer ſhall be abominable (in the future tenſe) that is, the Lord marks what maſter or ſervant, what father or mother, what husband or wife, what man or woman it is, that turns away the eare of his head, or the eare of his heart, from hearing his will, and obeying of his Commandments, the Lord takes ſpeciall notice of it, and ſets it down in his Calender, and records it in his Memoriall; keeping a ſtrict account thereof: as if God ſhould ſay, Well, is it ſo? I now call, and will not this man or that woman anſwer? Do I now ſtretch out my hands, and will not they take care to obey me? Well, let them alone (ſaith God) there is a day coming, that I ſhall be a hearing of them; times of ſorrow and miſery will take hold of them, and then they in their afflictions will cry unto me, but I will not hear; they will begge for mercy, but I will not regard: they will ſeek me early, but they ſhall not find me.

It was one of the Articles of high Treaſon brought in againſt Cardinall Woolſey, that he had the pox, and a ſtinking breath, and yet durſt come into the Kings preſence: So it will be an Article againſt thee of high treaſon before the King of heaven, if thou come into his preſence with the ſtinking breath of thy ſins, living in thy luſts, and wallowing in thy ſilthineſſe, all thy prayers are but as ſo many ſtinking breaths in the noſtrils of the Lord, and every duty that thou performeſt unto the Lord, ſhall be as ſo many Articles of high treaſon againſt thee, for to condemne thee, p. 66becauſe thou liveſt in rebellion, and a Traitour againſt God.

His prayer ſhall be abominable: he doth not ſay, I will turn away mine eare from hearing his prayer, which turns away his eare from hearing my Law, (that is the true expoſition of the words) no, like for like is ſometimes in juſtice: for if a man ſhould ſtrike a Magiſtrate a box on the eare, it were not juſtice for him to give him another: for it is a greater ſin to ſtrike a Magiſtrate, then any other common perſon; and therfore a greater puniſhment the Law requireth: So God doth not ſay, he will turn away his eare from hearing his prayer, but will ſerve him in a worſe kind, he will count it abominable, yea abomination, (in the abſtract) it ſhall be loathſome, yea loathſomneſſe it ſelf in the worſt manner. Galat. 6. As a man ſoweth, ſo ſhall he reap: if thou ſowe ſparingly, thou ſhalt reap ſparingly: if thou ſowe a dull eare to Gods Word, thou ſhalt reap a dull eare from God to thy prayer: for God will reward every man according to his works.

Reaſ 2 Secondly, becauſe of the time of Gods attributes: both mercy and juſtice have their ſeaſon in this life; and when merciemercy hath acted her part, then commeth juſtice upon the ſtage, and acteth her part; ſo that God will have his attributes manifeſted to all the ſons of men, yea to the face of the whole world. There is no market, nor Fayre day that laſteth alwayes: if the countrey will not come in, the Tradeſmen will put p. 67up their wares, and be gone: but if they come in time, they may have a peniworth: otherwiſe if they come too late, they will find none. For the Merchant will not alwayes dwell in tents, but away he goeth, and will not ſtay for them. Beloved, Gods ſtanding is now open, and his ſhop ſet wide unto the ſons of men; if men will not come in, cheapen and by without money, whiles God offers his wares, he will put them up and be gone. For the Merchant will not loſe his wares, which he ſhould do, if he ſhould alwayes remain in the open ayre with them; if he alwayes continue in the fields expecting cuſtomers, his wares would ſpoyl and rot. So it is with God, how many ſweet counſels doth he loſe? how many ſweet exhortations? how many bleſſed Sermons, and holy Sacraments, and Sabbaths, doth he loſe? how many checks of conſcience? how many dayes of grace, and motions of his ſpirit have been ſquandred away in vain? do you think that God wil loſe all theſe; and let them rot upon the ſtall, with ſtaying for you? No, no: the day of grace and merciemercy will have an end, and grace and merciemercy will have an end; and then the day of wrath and vengeance will ſtep up. To day if you will hear his voice, then barden not your hearts: then they hardened their hearts, and would not be led by Gods mercies to forſake their ſins; Therefore he ſwa…e in his wrath that they ſhould never enter into his reſt. If it be ſo with you as it was with Iſrael in the wilderneſſe, in the day of temptation, you do not p. 68know but that your ſinnes may now begin to pluck vengeance upon you. I tell you, if you harden your hearts this day, you do not know but this very day the Lord may clap an oath upon your heads, that you ſhall never enter into his reſt. For one and the ſelfe-ſame occaſion laſts not alwayes: as every day is not a Market day, nor every week in the yeare a Faire week, nor every ſeaſon in the yeare a time of Spring or harveſt; ſo every day of a mans life may not claime to be the day of grace. Therefore if a man fore-ſlow it, now he fore-ſloweth his own happineſſe, and putteth off his owne peace for ever.

Excellent is that annotation of Gregory on Job 27.9. Will God heare his cry when trouble commeth upon him? Beloved, now Gods patience is troubled, wilt not thou repent? Now Gods Spirit is troubled, wilt not thou obey? Now Gods Juſtice is troubled, wilt thou not relent? Now Gods Word is troubled, wilt thou refuſe to hearken? Will God heare his cry? He ſpeaketh interrogatively, as if he ſhould ſay, Art thou ſo mad, ſo vaine, ſo fooliſh, to promiſe to thy ſelfe being an hypocrite, that God will hear thy prayer? Oh no, then juſtice cometh to take place.

Reaſ 3 Thirdly, it is Gods uſe to doe ſo in other things, even upon the contempt of temporall bleſſings; and therefore much more in matters of grace and ſalvation. Thus God promiſed to give Iſrael the Land of Canaan, Num. 12.22. but p. 69the text ſaith, They tempted God ten times, that is, (as ſome Expoſitors expound it) many times; or (as others) ten ſeverall times. But what ever the meaning of the text be, certainly it was very many times; ſo long, til at laſt he ſware in his wrath that they ſhould never enter into his reſt. Beloved, though there be many a hot ſwearer that regards not an oath; yet certainly if the Lord ſweare, we may beleeve him: the Word of God is as ſtrong as oaths: if he ſay it upon his word, wee are bound to beleeve it: how much more then, when he confirmes it with an oath? Therefore if the Lord ſweare thou ſhalt not, how dareſt thou, how canſt thou hope or think ever to enter into his reſt? This was almoſt fourty yeares before he died, that the Lord made this oath againſt them: and God knowes how many thouſands of them fel ſhort, not only of the land of Canaan, but alſo of the Kingdome of heaven.

So God took Iſmael an hundred and ſeventeen yeares before he died: twenty yeares God offered him grace and repentance, but he would not take warning; a mocker he was, and a mocker he would be: for he mocked Iſaac when he was a child of ſix yeares old; and no meanes would reclaim him, before he heard the voice, Caſt out the bond-woman and her ſonne: Out with him, (ſaith God) for he ſhall never be heire with my ſonne: this was an hundred and ſeventeen years before Iſmaels death.

And ſo God took Saul, five and thirty, or ſix and thirty yeares before he died, according to p. 70Joſephus Chronology, (if it bee true); howſoever, hee took him divers yeares before his death: for ſo the Scripture makes it plain, 1. Sam. 15.20. The ſtrength of Iſrael will not lie, nor repent: for he is not a man that hee ſhould repent. Therefore becauſe thou haſt rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord alſo hath rejected thee from being a King. And do not think that thou by thy prayers, and crying God merciemercy, canſt ever alter him: for his councell is immutable, and hee is ſtrong in his decree, and cannot change. Hitherto Grace and MercieMercy have been offered thee, which if thou hadſt embraced, thou mightſt have found mercy from the Lord, and the Kingdome ſhould have been eſtabliſhed and confirmed unto thee: but now it is too late: for the ſtrength of Iſrael cannot lie.

God took Eſau fiftie yeares before his death: for ſo long he lived, after he ſought the bleſſing with teares: but he was a hunting when God was a calling: he was following his prophaneneſſe when God was wooing him to repentance. At laſt when he called for repentance, and ſought it earneſtly, yea his ſoule was carefull for to get it; yet he could never obtaine it, though hee ſought it earneſtly with teares fiftie yeares before he died.

Now if the Lord ſo ſeverely puniſh contempt of temporall bleſſings, O how will he puniſh the contempt of proffers of grace and ſalvation! I tell you God will be more ſtrict in revenging of this ſinne, then of any other ſinne: p. 71he will come with Martiall law againſt all thoſe that contemne his Goſpell, Joh. 3.18. He that beleeveth not, is condemned already. Doth Chriſt preach repentance and ſalvation, and the Kingdome of God; and wilt thou not repent and beleeve? Martiall Law (beloved) martiall Law, hang him up; for he is condemned already. Even like a ſouldier that rebels againſt his General, & forſakes his Colours, they doe not caſt him into priſon, and ſtay for the Aſſizes, or Seſſions, but give him Martiall Law, even hang him up: So if the Lord ſound his Goſpell in thine eares, and offers thee conditions of peace, knocking at the doore of thy heart by his Spirit, and thou refuſe to open to him, thou art condemned already: for the Strength of Iſrael cannot lie, nor repent. Oh therefore take heed now whiles his word ſounds in thine eares, while his Spirit ſecretly whiſpers in thy heart to thee, open to him, for elſe thou art condemned for ever.

Take notice then, that God doth commonly give men a day, and no man or Angel doth know how long this day laſteth. To ſome it laſteth to their laſt gaſp; to ſome, to their old age; and to ſome, it is cut off in their childhood. God gave the Angels a day, the which becauſe they neglected, they are reſerved in chains of darkneſſe untill the great judgement day. God gave Cain a day, Geneſ. 4. During all the time of this day, though Cain ſinned again and again, and went on in his ſinnes a great while, yet he heard nothing but a ſtill voice, If thou do well Cain, ſhalt thou not p. 72be accepted? but if thou doſt ill, ſinne lieth at the doore. But when no meanes will prevaile, but Cain will go on adding ſinne to ſinne, and murder unto all the reſt of his ſinnes, and ſo let go the ſeaſon of mercy, the Lords tells him from heaven, that the day of grace is paſt, the gate of mercy is ſhut againſt thee: for thou art now accurſed from the earth. As if the Lord ſhould ſay, Before I gave thee a day of ſalvation, and offered thee mercy, but thou wouldſt not accept of it; but now I have clapt a curſe upon thy ſoul, that thou ſhalt never claw off. So God gave Nineveh a day to repent, Jona. 3. Yet forty dayes and Nineveh ſhall be deſtroyed. God gave the Figtree a day, even three yeares, before he would have it cut down. God gave the old World a day of an hundred and twenty yeares; during this time God ſent unto them Noah, a Preacher of righteouſnes, to call upon them to repent, and ſo ſet it down alſo, that his Spirit ſhall not alwayes ſtrive with man, but his time ſhall be an hundred and twenty yeares: yet one writes, that the Lord cut off twenty of the hundred and twenty yeares, becauſe of their iniquities, which were ſo grievous, and provoked him ſo much, that they haſted him to come before he would have done. In all this ſpace if they had repented, they ſhould have found mercy from the Lord: but when this time was gone, and the day of grace was out, the Deluge came in upon them, and God by his judgments overthrew the whole World.

Object. You my ask me when this day or ſeaſon of grace doth end, or ceaſe.

p. 73Anſw. I anſwer, that neither men nor Angels can tell; but this I ſay, it may be yet this day of grace laſteth unto thee, now it may bee God ſpeaketh whom to thy ſoul, now it may be God warms thy heart, and givs thee good purpoſes & reſolutions: now it may be the Lord Jeſus paſſeth by thee in a good thought and deſire; lay hold on it, for thy day may ceaſe this very night, for ought thou knoweſt. Luke 17.22. The time ſhall come (ſaith Chriſt) when you ſhall deſire to ſee one of the dayes of the Sonne of man, and ſhall not ſee it. Now is the day of Chriſt upon you, now is Chriſt offering and preaching himſelf to you: but if you let this day paſſe, thou mayſt deſire to have one of the drops of that bloud that hath been offered to thee, and yet never have it: thou mayſt deſire to feele one rap of that Spirit that hath knockt at thy heart, and yet goe without it: thou maiſt intreat for one dram of that mercy that hath been offered, and thou haſt rejected, but it ſhall never be granted to thee: God may clap that fearfull ſentence upon thee, Now henceforth never grow fruit more on thee, never repentance come into thy heart more. If now thou wilt not repent and be converted, the Lord may ſet it down in his decree from this day forward, that thou mayſt fumble about thy ſinnes, but ſhalt never get victory over them: thou mayeſt ever bee mourning for thy corruptions, but never mourne aright for them: thou mayeſt blunder about repentance, but never doe the work.

p. 74Ezekiel 24.23. You ſhall not mourne nor weep, but you ſhall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one towards another. There is many a ſoule for contemning of God, and not taking up repentance while they may have it, this plague of God is come upon them, that they are ever repenting, and are never able to repent, ever poring upon their ſinnes, but never able to come out of them; they pray and pray againſt them, but their prayers moulder away under them: for they ſhall pine away for their iniquities. What is the reaſon? he ſhoweth in the 13. verſe: Becauſe I would have purged thee, and thou waſt not purged, thou ſhalt not be purged any more. Becauſe I gave thee line upon line, precept upon precept, motion upon motion, Sacrament upon Sacrament, Sabbath upon Sabbath, and Ordinance upon Ordinance, becauſe I uſed all fair meanes and foul meanes, I awaked thy conſcience, and ſtirred up the motions of grace in thee; but becauſe I would have cleanſed thee, and thou waſt not cleanſed, thou ſhalt never be cleanſed. A fearfull ſentence it is, if mens hearts were ſoundly opened to conſider rightly of it.

And as there is a perſonall day, ſo there is a nationall day; if the Nation turne unto God during that time, then that nation ſhall find mercy; but if they neglect that day, then God will hide thoſe things from their eyes that belong to their peace, as Chriſt ſaith of Jeruſalem, Luke 19.42. O Jeruſalem, if that thou hadſt known in this thy day, thoſe things that did belong to thy peace! but now p. 75they are hid from thine eyes: in this thy day; if thou hadſt known it during that day, it had been happy for thee; but now the day of grace is gone, the Lord hath concealed it from thee, and thou ſhalt never perceive it any more.

Some mens day of grace God endeth even in their very childhood; therefore if there be any little ones, any children here in this congregation, that are of age to know what belongs unto an exhortation, to them I ſpeak, that they take heed how they rebell againſt the commandment of a father or a mother, or maſter, againſt the teaching of Gods Word, for though you be children, yet God may inflict judgements upon your heads; for not only the day of grace, but alſo the day of life may be cut off from children, as 2 Kings 2.24. Four and twenty children were torn in peeces for mocking the Lords Prophet. Some mens day of grace is not ſhut up untill their youth, ſome not untill their old age, ſome not untill they are a dying; and if they refuſe then, they are alike, yea ſure to periſh for ever; I know the day of grace may have ſeveral returns, but at laſt Gods Exchequer will be finally ſhut up.

Object. May not a man be called at the eleventh or twelfth hour of the day? The day of grace laſteth alwayes; and doth not the Apoſtle call the day of life the day of grace? 2 Cor. 6.2.

Anſw. Is it true, the Lord calleth men at the eleventh and twelfth hour; but yet, look and you ſhall ſee in the twentieth of Matthew, that they p. 76were not called at the firſt houre, nor at the ſecond nor third houre, nor at the ſixth and ninth houre, i. he doth not ſay he found the ſame men that he found at the firſt, and third, ſixth and ninth houres, but he ſaw others ſtanding idle: No, thoſe that were called at the firſt houre, came in at the firſt houre; and they that were called at the third houre, came in at the third houre; and they that were called at the ſixth and ninth houre, came in at the ſixth and ninth houre. Well, doth God call thee in thy childhood, in thy youth, or in thy middle age, now at the firſt or ſixth, or ninth houre, now come in and labour in Gods Vineyard, and worke out your ſalvation with feare and trembling, and make uſe of the ſeaſon of grace, now whiles it is upon you: for if thou be called the firſt houre, the ſixth is for another, and not for thee; if thou be called the ſixth houre, the ninth houre is for others and not for thee; if thou be called the ninth houre, the eleventh houre is for others and not for thee; The Text ſaith, He came and found others ſtanding idle in the market place, and ſaid unto them, Why ſtand yee here idle? And they ſay unto him, No man hath hired us; as if they ſhould ſay, We never had any means of ſalvation, we have had no Miniſters to preach unto us; but now God calls upon thee to come in, this is thy houre, look unto it. If God call thee, ſee thou come in, whether it be at the firſt or third houre, at the ſix or ninth houre, leſt the Lord in his wrath clap bardneſſe of heart upon thy ſoul.

p. 77Object. But you will ſay, that the day of life, and the day of grace are parallel'd and likened one to another; and therefore there is hope ſo long as a man remaines in the Congregation of the living.

Anſw. I anſwer, it is true indeed, that the day of grace laſteth ſo long as the day of life: 1. In regard of others, for others are ſo to eſteeme of it, the Miniſter is to look to his people, as to a people to be converted as long as they live.

2. In regard of a mans owne ſelfe, he is ſo bound to beleeve, for the commandment of faith ſtandeth in force on a man, ſo long as he liveth, and therefore infidelity and deſpaire ceaſe not to be ſins, till a man is actually in hell; when he is in hell, then they are no ſins, becauſe then he is not commanded to beleeve, but are part of the puniſhment of the damned; but whilſt a man lives it is a ſinne, for men are now bound to lay hold upon Chriſt and to beleeve, at what houre of their life ſoever.

3. It may be ſaid to laſt all a mans life long, becauſe it is bounded within the compaſſe of life: for no man hath a day of grace after this life.

But what is the meaning of all thoſe Scriptures which ſhow how God doth deliver up men unto the Spirit of giddineſſe, and unto the Spirit of ſlumber? And what means the hardning of mens hearts, and ſearing of mens conſciences, but only to ſhow that the day of grace may end unto a particular man, ten, twenty, thirty, nay forty yeeres before his death.

p. 781. Becauſe God may harden a mans heart, Jerem. 13.10. and deale with them as with Iſrael in the Rock, ſo ſhut up their hearts, that they ſhall never melt at any Sermon, never be wrought upon by any judgement, God having cloſed them up in a rocky heart, that he ſaith of them, Can the Blockmore change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? then may they do good that are accuſtomed to do evill. The blackneſſe of the Blackmore is only in the out-ſide of the skin, yet all the Art under the heavens cannot blot it out: So if once hardneſſe poſſeſſe thy ſoule, all the preaching of the Miniſters, and all the means of grace in the world can never bring it unto that frame and temper, as to make it melt under the hand of God; I tell thee, thou that uſeſt to come unto Sermons day after day, and refuſeſt to repent, living ſtill in thy ſinnes, there is no hammer nor beetle in the world more hard then thy heart: as thoſe men and women that ſit under the preaching of the Word, and hear the doctrine of life, like raine from above, beating and knocking on their conſciences, and on their hearts, to awaken them out of their ſinnes, and yet notwitſtanding will not repent at laſt, they prove to be deafe Adders, that ſtop their eares againſt the Word, charme the Charmer never ſo wiſely.

2. God may ſeare mens conſciences; Doth thy conſcience tell thee that thou art a lukewarmling, and wilt thou not be reformed? Doth thy conſcience tell thee that thy prayers and all p. 79thy religion is rotten and unſound, and that thy repentance is hypocriticall and naught; and that for all thy vaine hopes, thou art but a diſſembler, and yet remaineſt in thy ſinnes, and wilt thou not be bettered hereby? Take heed; for that man that runns on in ſinne againſt the voice of his own conſcience, that man ſinnes the ſinne of Saul, 1 Sam. 13.8. God bid him ſtay ſeven dayes untill Samuel came: Saul ſtayes full ſeven dayes within one houre; at laſt his luſt began to bawl: What? ſhall I ſtay for a Prophet thus long? Stay, ſayes his conſcience; Why? (ſayes Saul) I waited for him ſo long, even ſeven dayes lacking but one houre. Stay (ſaith God to his conſcience) for the Word of God bids thee ſtay ſo long: he ſtayed one day, and two dayes, and ſix dayes, and ſeven dayes but one houre; Stay (ſaith his conſcience:) no, hee would not; but I forced my ſelfe, (ſaith the Text) as if hee ſhould ſay, I hardened my heart to do it, though the word of the Lord, & my own conſcience bid me ſtay and not do it, yet I forced my ſelfe to do it: What was this mans ſinne! Was it his offering of Sacrifice, and calling upon God by prayer? No, the Lord commands us to call upon him in time of diſtreſſe; and being commanded, it was lawfull. Was it his ſinne to meddle with the Prieſts office? No: for he did but appoint the Sacrifice, the Prieſt offered it. What? was it the breaking of one houres time? No: for he had ſinned more againſt God then ſo: but this was his ſinne, that he went againſt his own conſcience, p. 80when God ſtood in the way, when conſcience ſtood in the way; conſcience ſaid ſtay, but he would not ſtay: God bid him ſtay, but he would not ſtay. And this is the ſinne of many thouſands amongſts us; mens conſciences tel them that they muſt not be drunkards, mens conſciences tell them that they muſt not be worldlings, they muſt not be ſwearers, they muſt not be luke-warme profeſſors, they muſt pray better then they do, and have other faith then yet they have, if ever they meane to be ſaved; wilt thou yet againſt thy conſcience force thy ſelfe to go on in thy ſins from day to day, and never be reformed? take heed leſt the Lord be provoked to ſet thy ſun upon thy head, and ſhut up thy heart, and tonclude thy eternall deſtruction.

Object. Suppoſe I go on in my ſinnes, and follow my wicked courſes now; what if I ſeek him hereafter, and humble my ſoule before him with faſting and prayer, and when I lie upon my death-bed, I ſend a ticket unto my Miniſter to pray for me, will all this do me no good?

Anſw. Surely no, (ſaith God, Jerem. 15.1.) Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before me, yet my affections could not be toward this people: caſt them out of my ſight. Doſt thou lie ſick upon thy death-bed? were Samuel, Job, or Daniel the Miniſter of thy Pariſh, and thou ſhouldſt ſend thy ticket unto them, deſiring them to remember thee in their prayers; if Noah ſtood in the Pulpit, and Job and Daniel were here before the Lord for to plead for thee, yet he would not hear thee.

p. 81Object. But, ſuppoſe I humble my ſelf by faſting and prayer, will not God hear that.

Anſw. No if thou neglect the day of grace. Jer. 14.12. when they faſt. I will not hear them: and when they offer oblations, I will not accept their cry: but I will conſume them by the ſword, by famine, and by peſtilence. You may ſet up your faſtings, prayers, and humiliations, you may lament and mourne, and pine away your ſelves in your ſins; but it is not all your prayers and faſtings, it is not all your lamentation and mourning, that will do you good, ſo long as the counſell of the Lord is rejected. Becauſe I called, and ye would not anſwer; therefore you ſhall call, but I will not hear: they thought that the Lords eares would alwayes be open, and that when they called the Lord would have anſwered▪ and that the day of grace would ever remain; but God ſaith, I will not hear them: they would never have ſought if they thought the Lord would not hear them, but all their ſeeking was in vain.

Object. You will ſay, at what time ſoever a ſinner repenteth he ſhall have mercy.

Anſw. It is true, if thou repent from the bottome of thy heart, but thou maieſt come with many a degree of repentance, and yet never repent whileſt thou liveſt: if thou repent from thy heart, and root out thy ſins, then God will put away thy ſins; but thou maieſt go on in repentance and calling upon God, and performing many duties of Religion, and yet be hardned; look how much Religion will ſtand with ſelf-love, ſo much thou p. 82maieſt have after the day of grace is gone. Selfe-love may make a man flie to prayer, and run after Sermons, and go on in many holy duties, and give over many ſins; look how far ſelf-love may drive thee unto holy duties, ſo far thou maiſt go, and yet notwithſtanding remaine hardned. O therefore let us not delay, nor put off the time of grace, nor let go ſalvation while it may be had; then ſhall they call, but I will not anſwer: he doth not ſet down when this time is; it may be it is now, it may be not this ſeven yeers, it may be not till thy death.

Doct. 2 Doctr. It may be, this very day, even this very Sermon, this very houre may be thy day that art now in thy ſinnes, that if thou repent not at this very one Sermon▪ thou neglecteſt eternall life for ever; loſe the benefit of this Sermon at this time, and thou maieſt loſe eternall ſalvation, and never have it more. The thiefe that robd this day, how doth he know but this one robbery may bring him to the gallows? So the man that ſins this day, how doth he know but that this very dayes work may bring him to hell? Deut. 32.35. To God belongs vengeance: their feete ſhall ſlide in due time. Therefore if a man ſin againſt him, he may ſtand to day, and to morrow, and many dayes; but when the due time comes, even the time which God hath ſet, then up goes his heels, he ſhall ſlide and break his neck: thy houre-glaſſe runs in heaven, and thou ſeeſt not when the ſand comes to the bottome, but when tis out, then down thou goeſt to hell for ever.

p. 83There was one reſolved to kill Julius Caeſar ſuch a day; the night before, a friend ſent him a letter to acquaint him with it: but being at ſupper, and buſie, I will not look upon it now, (ſaith he) to morrow is a new day. The next day when he ſhould have read his letter, he was ſtabd; Whence this Proverb came in Greece, To morrow is a new day. God ſends thee a letter and a meſſage from heaven to day; hear his voice to day, repent and come out of your ſins, or for ever to hell; to day be converted and ſanctified, or for ever be hardned. Doſt thou refuſe to bearken to day, and putteſt it off untill to morrow? it may be to morrow may be a day of Gods wrath, and then thou maieſt be hardned, ſeared, and bound over unto the great day of Gods vengeance: to morrow God may ſet the decree upon thy ſoul, that thou ſhalt never repent. Therefore if thou refuſe this, thou refuſeſt all; for what knoweſt thou, but this very day may be thy day?

Reaſ 1 The reaſon is, becauſe Gods patience is in his own breſt; and who can tell how long it will laſt? Haſt thou Momus his glaſſe-window, to look into Gods ſecret counſell? haſt thou a keyhole to look into Gods treaſurie? canſt thou ſtand on tiptoe, to look over Gods ſhoulder, to look into Gods decree, to ſee how long his patience will laſt? It may be God hath ſuffered thee till this day, thou art guilty of ten thouſand ſinnes, and yet he is patient towards thee; God hath ſtayed thus long for thee, that haſt ſworne p. 84I know not how many oaths, God hath born thus long with thee that haſt told I know not how many lies, prophaned I know not how many Sabbaths contemned I know not how many ordinances, and ſleighted I know not how many judgements, yet Gods patience is in his own breſt, it is the long ſufferance of God. Thou mayeſt ſay, I would fain have it to morrow, and this ſeven yeers, but alas, it is his long ſufferance and not thine: and how doſt thou know when he will conclude it? it may be this day as well as to morrow. Joel 2.13. Rent your hearts, and not your garments, (ſaith the Prophet) for the Lord he is gracious, and mercifull. This word [for] hath a great deal of force in it: Firſt, It is a deſcriptivum [for:] for he is gracious and a mercifull God: therefore rent thy heart, and let thy ſoul burſt within thee, that thou haſt ſinned againſt him: for he is a mercifull God, and it may be he will pardon all thy ſins, and heal all thy rebellions committed againſt him.

Secondly, it is an upbraiding [for:] upbraiding thee for thy ſins: rent thy heart therefore, why? he is a patient God; wilt thou goe on in thy ſins againſt ſuch a patient God? and rebel againſt ſuch a loving Father▪ that hath loved thee with ſo much compaſſion? Rent thy heart, for he is patient.

Thirdly, it is a comforting and incouraging [for:] rent thy heart for there is incouragement for thee to repent, give over thy ſins, and go to the throne of grace. For there is much p. 85merciemercy to welcome thee, and great patience for to bid thee come home, and abundance of grace for to incourage thee: therefore rent thy heart and come home unto the Lord, for he is patient and long-ſuffering.

Fourthly, it is a forewarning [for:] rent your hearts, for the Lord is gracious and mercifull, ſlow to anger, and of great kindneſſe; yet his merciemercy laſteth, yet his patience endureth, yet hee hath all his attributes, and yet he is pleaſed to manifeſt the ſame, ſtill tendring grace and merciemercy unto thee. Oh turn unto him, while theſe endure, or elſe thou ſhalt periſh for ever.

Fifthly, it is a threatning [for;] now he is gracious, now he is mercifull, but his mercy will end, his patience will end, and then if thou haſt not rent thy heart before, it will be too late then. Therefore as ever thou loveſt thine own ſoule, now rent thy heart and turn unto God.

It is Gods own proclamation; The Lord the Lord, ſlow to anger, and of great merciemercy, forgiving iniquity and ſin. Yea what man ſoever it be, that humbles his ſoule before him he ſhall find grace and merciemercy with him; yea abundance of merciemercy, pardoning iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſinne; yea any thing: Let but a ſoul come proſtrate before him, humbling his ſoule, he will pardon his ſin. But as it followeth in the words; He will by no means clear the guiltie; if notwithſtanding all Gods patience and merciemercy, thou go on in thy ſins, the Lord will never forgive thee, but will viſit thy ſinnes upon thee unto the third and p. 86fourth generations, becauſe thou haſt withſtood the day of grace. Beloved, men run on in their ſins, as if ſo be an Angel from heaven ſhould cry unto them and tell them, yet God will be good unto them, yet God will ſhow them merciemercy, and forbear them. Beloved, let your conſciences anſwer, if you ever heard the Lord God ſay to any of you, thus long I will forbear you. No, Gods patience is in his own breaſt, and therefore no man knows how long it will laſt.

Reaſ 2 A ſecond reaſon is, becauſe Gods patience giveth no marks or inklings of it, before it ends: commonly when God ſtrikes a man with death, he giveth ſome ſignes of warnings of it before, as ſickneſſe, and pains, and gray hairs, and many ſorrowes, &c. Now becauſe thy life is in Gods hands, thou careſt not for it, but ventureſt to go on in thy ſinnes, hoping to have ſome warning, though thouſands be cut off without it; but the day of grace may come to an end, and yet thou never have any inkling or warning of it before-hand: commonly when God ſtrikes a man with death, he tells him of it before-hand by aches and pains, as if the Lord ſhould ſay, Now thou ſhalt die, now will I take thee out of the world. But when the Lord taketh away the day of grace from a man, though the ſpirituall man may take ſome notice of it, yet there is no ſenſible apparition of it, but after the day of grace is ſet upon a man, he may be as ſtrong and luſtie as before, he may come to Church as well after as before, performe religious duties, and do many good p. 87things, as well after as before; as Saul went on in duties of Religion, as well after Samuel had pronounced the Lords doome upon him; how many times was he offering ſacrifice unto the Lord after the Prophet told him, that he was a man rejected? how many good ſpeeches came from him? as when Samuel met him, he ſalutes him with theſe words; Bleſſed be thou of the Lord, I pray thee turn again with me, that I may worſhip the Lord. A man would have thought that Saul had been a good convert. No, no, before all this his judgement and doome was ſet upon him; God ſteals upon him and ſaies nothing; he claps his plague upon their ſouls, and holds his peace.

Iſa. 42.14. I have a long time held my peace, I have been ſtill, and refrained my ſelfe; now will I cry like a travelling woman, I will deſtroy, and devoure at once. The Lord ſhews here how he deals with men, they go on in their ſins, but the Lord holds his peace; they provoke him every day, but the Lord refraines his anger: but now all at once his wrath breaketh forth upon them. Pſal. 64.7. God will ſhoot an arrow at them ſuddenly, their ſtroke ſhall be at once. The Lord ſuddenly ſhoots a ſwift arrow at thee; no ſooner it is ſhot, but it enters into thy bowels. When the Lord comes upon a man; he comes ſuddenly; when he ends the day of grace upon him, he doth it ſuddenly. He ended the day of grace on the Scribes and Phariſees even in the very Sermon time, while Chriſt was preaching unto them, they were delivered p. 88up to hardneſſe of heart: ſo many were delivered up to hardneſſe of heart in the time of Hoſea's prophecie, Hoſ. 4.17. Ephraim is joyned to idols; let him alone (ſaith God,) as if he ſhould ſay, Sermon, let him alone; Preacher, let him alone; Sirrit, let him alone; Chriſt, let him alone; Beloved, if we ſtand out againſt God, and reject the day of grace, the Lord may ſay. Word, let ſuch a man alone, and never convert him; Chriſt, let ſuch a man alone, and never redeem him; Spirit▪ let ſuch a man alone, and never ſanctifie him; Sacraments, let ſuch a man alone, and never ſeal up any comforts unto him: a fearfull ſigne that men are come to this houre, do we not ſee that men come to the Word, and the Word lets them alone in their ſins? do not men come to the Sacrament, and the Sacrament leaves them ſtill in their filthineſſe? men come unto good duties, but good duties let them alone, and do them no good: and this is the condition of many thouſands in the world. Therefore oh think upon this you that have made a league with your ſins, and an agreement with hell: hear this delivered to you this day, that the day of grace may be ended, and God may come and clap his curſe upon men, and never give them any inkling of it at all.

Reaſ 3 A third reaſon is, becauſe God reckons upon every houre, if God kept not a ſtrict account of time, how many Sermons▪ you have had, how many mercies you have injoyed, how many croſſes he hath warned you by: if God kept not a p. 89true tale and account of every houres time; you might rub on many dayes, and moneths, and yeers, and ſpend much time in fulfilling of your luſts; but God keepeth a reckoning of theſe things, yea of every houre, and of every minute. Acts 17.30. The times of ignorance God regarded not; but now he admoniſheth all men to repent. Alas, when men live in their ſins through blindneſſe and ignorance, and know not God, the Lord takes no ſuch ſtrict notice of them, but lets them go on longer and longer; but when the Lord ſends them his Word and Goſpel, and affords them the means of grace, he doth the more ſtrictly look unto them, and takes the more exact account of them; before they had the means of grace, the Lord winked at them, and did not ſo narrowly watch them: but looked over mens igonrance, (as the originall hath it) but now God ſends his Word and Goſpel, he admoniſheth all men to repent, he winks at never an houre, but ſets down how oft thou haſt had exhortation from thy Miniſter, how often thou haſt had warning by ſickneſſe and aflictions, how often thou haſt had checks from thine owne conſcience, how many admonitions thou haſt had from thy friends, how many times thou haſt had the ſound of the Goſpel to ſound in thy eares to bring thee home unto God, John 2.7.11. This is the firſt beginning of miracles that Jeſus did. John 4.58. This is the ſecond miracle that Jeſus did, ſaith the Text, God ſets down this, is the firſt, this is the ſecond time: This is the ſecond Epiſtle I wrote to p. 90you, ſaith Paul. Oh this is the third time I wrote unto you, 2 Cor. 13. that when I come I will not ſpare: ſo God ſets it downe in his catalogue, this is the firſt time that I have warned this man, this is the ſecond time, this is the third time, that when I come I will not ſpare; the Lord accounts how long he hath ſought unto thee, and intreated thee by his mercies, how long he hath allured thee by his word, how long he hath warned thee by his judgements, how oft he hath ſmote thy heart with fears, and thy conſcience with terrors. Now if for all this thou wilt not return, juſt is it with God to caſt thee down to hell for ever.

Reaſ 4 The fourth Reaſon, and laſt: it is a wonder that the day of grace is not ended already, and that thou art not now in hell. When a thing in this kind is looked for to be done, it is a wonder that it is not done: It is a wonderfull merciemercy of God unto this Kingdome that yet the day of grace is continued amongſt us, in regard of our long fear and expectation of the contrary. For from the higheſt to the loweſt we have highly revolted more and more, & provoked God to his very face. What contempt of Gods word? what neglect of Gods Ordinances? what prophanation of Gods Sabbaths? what ſcoffing and deriding of Gods ſervants? how doth wickedneſſe and prophaneſſe ſtand up in the higheſt roome, climb up into the higheſt chambers? But as a whore condemned to die being with child, is repreived for a time, untill her child be brought forth: ſo this p. 91Land hath gone a whoring from God, yet ſo long as God hath ſome children to be brought forth, which are not yet come unto the birth, he lets his grace and Goſpel continue untill theſe children be brought forth. Therefore now (beloved) if we ſtick at the birth and come not forth, a hundred to one but we ſhall miſcarry.

When Chriſt comes firſt to thy ſoule, he witneſſeth grace and mercy to thee, if thou wilt repent and amend; yea he witneſſeth forgiveneſſe of ſins, redemption and ſalvation, if thou wilt beleeve; but if not, he will be a ſwift witneſſe againſt thee, Malachi 3.5. if thou continue and goeſt on in thy ſins: Agree with thine adverſary, while thou art in the way quickly, Matth. 5.25. Now God is in the way with thee, Chriſt and his Spirit are in the way with thee; thou needeſt not now ſay, who ſhall go up to heaven and bring downe the Spirit to thee; Chriſts Spirit is now knocking at thy heart, and now God offers his mercy to thee, now thou art in the way, now he calls unto thee to accept of his merciemercy, now hee commands thee to take Chriſt, now hear him caling to thy heart, now he tenders grace unto thee, imbrace it: now receive Chriſt and make up thy peace with him: remember the ſaying of the Apoſtle, 2 Corinth. 13.5. Examine your ſelves whether you be in the faith; prove your ſelves. Know you not your own ſelves, how that Jeſus Chriſt is in you except you be reprobates? As if the Aſtoſtle ſhould ſay, I have been an Apoſtle to you this yeer and half, I have preached thus and thus long p. 92unto you, I have wrote one Epiſtle to you to reforme thoſe abuſes that were among you, and now I write this ſecond Epiſtle, to declare the whole will and counſell of God to you. Now caſt up your reckoning, examine your ſelves, and make up your account: ſee if you have gained Chriſt. O, I have Chriſt, (ſaith one) I have Chriſt, (ſaith another.) I, but prove it, ſaith the Apoſtle, and try your ſelves: know ye not that by this time Chriſt is in you, or elſe you be reprobates? As if he ſhould ſay, if yet Chriſt be not in you, and grace wrought in your hearts, if yet you lie feſtring in your ſins, and go on in your wicked wayes, it is to be feared you are reprobates: either you or we are reprobates, you for not obeying, or wee for not delivering the truth of God unto you: But I truſt that ye ſhall know that we are not reprobates: verſe 6. God forbid that this word ſhould be ever ſpoken unto any ſoule in this Congregation: but this let mee ſay, is there any man here that goes on in his luſts, and in his carnall courſe of life, in pride, ſecurity, hardneſſe of heart, and impenitencie, that hath not the ſoundneſſe of grace? he hath a fearfull ſigne and brand of a reprobate, whoſe conſcience is ſtifled: it is a fearfull ſigne, if he be not a reprobate before God, yet he is one that is not approved, but for the preſent in a wretched and miſerable condition. Now is the time of grace wherein God hath ſpoken to your ſouls, remember that vengeance that is coming towards you if it be rejected; now the Lords fatlings p. 93are ready; his Oxen, and Sheep are ſlain, and laid upon the board; Chriſt is ſacrificed, and his blood is ſhed, and the grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is tendered to you; you that have grace, get more grace; you that have no grace, get grace and Chriſt, and take heed of neglecting any opportunity of grace, for that may come unto thee in one hour, that will never come againe.

FINIS.