The Great Concern, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Wherein ſinners are convinced of their ſin and folly in their neglect of this concern, with ſix weighty Pleas or Arguments, to ſet home this Conviction, and awaken them to their work.
ANd is this indeed a concern of ſo much weight and moment to us? Then how great is their folly, and what enemies are they to their own ſouls▪ who live in the neglect of this great buſineſs and concern? (which the moſt of men do) God is pleaſed to ſpare, ye… wonderfully to ſpare them for dayes, for weeks, for months, for years together and that for this very end, that they ſhould make themſelves ready, and ſet all right in the matters of their ſouls, againſt a dying hour comes: but woe, and alas for them! This they mind not, this they concern not themſelves about, but do live in a total neglect thereof; than which what greater folly can they be guilty of? Pray mind what God himſelf ſpeaks in this caſe, Deut. 32.28, 29. Where he ſaith concerning Iſrael, they were a Nation void of counſel, nor was there any underſtanding in them: And what then? O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this; that they would conſider their latter end. Obſerve here two things atteſted and verified by God himſelf. (Firſt) that 'tis a point of the higheſt wiſdom the Sons of men are capable of, ſeriouſly to conſider their latter end, that is, to prepare for death, to ſet all things right in the matters of their ſouls, ſo as that things may iſſue well with them at laſt, and they may go off the Stage of this World with comfort. (Secondly) that not to do this, is a point of the greateſt folly? It doth evidently argue men to be void of counſel, and all true underſtanding: It would have been their wiſdom to have conſidered their latter end; and their not doing of it, argued them to be guilty of notorious folly: Theſe things, you may ſee, God himſelf atteſts and verifies here. And, my Beloved, what greater folly can there be, than for a man to live in the neglect of that which is of ſo much weight and importance for him to mind, as this is? Surely the greater the concern is, the greater muſt our folly be in the neglect thereof: yet this is the folly that the moſt of men are guilty of; they mind not their latter end, their dying hour; at leaſt not ſo, as to make a timely proviſion for it: God lets them live many years, and perhaps they rejoyce in them all; but they forget the dayes of darkneſs, which are many: They regard not the ſtate of their ſouls, nor how things ſtand between God and them, in reference to another World: And O that this were not the folly of too many of us, who profeſs the belief of another life, a future ſtate: We live and enjoy good, but we put far from us the evil day, as thoſe are ſaid to do Amos 6.3. God ſpares us time after time; but no proviſion do we make for a dying hour. O how many of us have never yet ſet any thing right in the matters of our ſouls, any thing in order, againſt the time comes, when we are to go hence, and be no more; that have ſcarce ever had yet one ſerious thought of Death, Judgment, or Eternity, nor made the leaſt tittle of proviſion for them? And what ſhall I ſay to ſuch? I would (if God ſaw good) awaken them out of their folly, and convince them of it: In order to which, I would plead a little with them in five or ſix particulars.
1. Muſt we not all go hence? Solomon tells us, there is a time to be born, and a time to die, Eccl. 3.2. And the one is as ſure as the other; as ſure as we have had a time to be born, ſo ſure we ſhall have a time to die; and the living know it: The living know, that they ſhall die, (ſaith Solomon) Eccl. 9.5. Indeed they may well know it: for not only the experience of between five and ſix thouſand years tells them ſo; but it is what is appointed, what is infallibly determined by the unchangeable Law, and Degree of Heaven, Heb. 9.27. nor can any thing whatever exempt us from the ſtroak of Death.
1. Youthful ſtrength and vigour can't do it: For young men die, as well as old; ſtrong men die, as well as weak. One dieth in his full ſtrength, (ſaith the Holy Ghoſt) being wholly at eaſe and quiet; his breaſts are full of milk, and his bones are moiſtned with marrow, Job 21.23, 24.
2. Worldly pomp and greatneſs can't do it: For great men die, as well as mean men; rich men die, as well as poor men. Where is the Houſe of the Prince? (ſaith the Holy Ghoſt) Anſwer is made, He ſhall be brought to the Grave, and ſhall remain in the Tomb, the clods of the Valley ſhall be ſweet unto him, and every man ſhall draw after him, as there is innumerable before him, Job 21.28, 32, 33. So in the 49 Pſalm 16, 17, 18, 19. Be not thou afraid, when one is made rìch, when the Glory of his Houſe is increaſed: For when he dieth, he ſhall carry nothing away, his glory ſhall not deſcend after him; though while he lived, he bleſſed his ſoul, and the like; he ſhall go to the generation of his Fathers, he ſhall never ſee light.
3. Humane wiſdom and policy can't do it; for wiſe men die, as well as fools. So Pſal. 49.10. Wiſe men die, likewiſe the Fool; yea, in many reſpects, Wiſe men die as the Fool, Eccl. 2.16. Pray, what is become of all the wiſe men, and great Politicians that have lived in former Ages? Truly the clods of the Valley cover them.
4. Spiritual gifts and graces can't do it: For good men die, as well as bad; holy men, as well as wicked men: The righteous man periſheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, Iſa. 57.1.
5. Eminency of place and ſervice can't do it. Your Fathers, where are they? And the Prophets, do they live for ever? Zach. 1.5. What higher place, than to be a Prophet, to be an Ambaſſadour for God? and yet ſuch die. Nothing (you ſee) can exempt us from death's ſtrokes: Why then ſhould we neglect to prepare for it? I will cloſe this Head with a ſaying I have read in one of the Ancients; What among humane affairs, ſaith he, is more certain than death? What more uncertain than the hour of death? Death compaſſionates not poverty; it reverences not either the greatneſs, it ſpares no Sex, no Manners, no Age; only it ſeems to come in at the gate upon old men; but craftily it ſteals in upon young ones.
2. Does not death haſten upon us all? As we muſt all die, ſo death haſtens apace upon us: Every ſtep we take is a ſtep towards death and the grave: So we find, Eccl. 9.10. Our whole life is (as one well obſerves upon that place) nothing elſe, but a journey towards Death and the Grave; whether we ſleep or wake, eat or drink, trade or travel, pray or play, we are ſtill haſtening to the Grave: A dying hour haſtens upon us all; and how faſt (pray) does it haſten upon us? Faſter than a Weavers Shuttle does to the end of the Web: My dayes (ſaith Job) are ſwifter than a Weavers Shuttle, Job 7.6. How faſt does it haſten upon us? As faſt as, yea faſter than a Poſt haſtens to the end of his Stage, or a ſwift Ship to the Harbour, under the advantage of Wind and Tide, or the ſwift flying Eagle to the prey. My dayes are ſwifter than a Poſt (ſaith Job) they flee away, they ſee no good: They are paſſed away, as the ſwift Ships; as the Eagle haſteneth to the prey, Job 9.25, 26. How faſt does it haſten upon us? So faſt, as that for ought we know, it will be upon us, before we ſee the light of another day. Thou fool, this night thy ſoul ſhall be required of thee, Luke 10.20. How faſt does it haſten upon us? So faſt, as that for ought we know, it may be upon us the next hour, yea the next moment: They ſpend their dayes in mirth, and in a moment go down to the grave, Job 21.13. To be ſure it will be upon us ſpeedily, and it may be upon us ſuddenly. I pray, conſider, what are we? And what is our life? Wind: Job 7.7. O remember, that my life is wind, an hands breadth, Pſalm 39.5. Behold thou haſt made my dayes as an hands-breadth; mine Age is as nothing before thee: a declining ſhadow, Pſalm 102.11. My dayes are like a ſhadow that declineth, and I am withered like Graſs: A Flower of the Field which is withered, and gone with the Wind: As for man, his dayes are as Graſs, as a Flower of the Field, the Wind paſſeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof knoweth it no more, Pſalm 103.15, 16. And again, All fleſh is Graſs, and the goodlineſs thereof as the Flower of the Field, the Graſs withereth, the Flower fadeth; becauſe the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: Surely the people is graſs, Iſa. 40.6, 7. Vanity, and a ſhadow: Man is like to vanity, his dayes are as a ſhadow that paſſeth away, Pſalm 144.4. A vapour which appeareth for a little ſeaſon, and is gone, James 4.14. O how ſoon may one, or another, or all of us, be among the dead? How ſoon may death approach us?
3. What infinite mercy is it, that God has ſpared us thus long, and ſtill does ſpare us to ſet all things right, to make all ready for a dying hour? O (my Beloved) how great is the ſparing mercy of God towards us? We have had ſome forty, ſome fifty, ſome ſixty years in the World; and ſtill God ſpares us; ſtill he lets us live, and enjoy good: and why all this? (think you) ſmely to ſet things right in our ſouls, to make ready for a dying hour, and ſhall we yet neglect it? God forbid. O Sirs, think a little, I beſeech you, with your ſelves; how long ſince the Grave might have ſwallowed us up, and the Bottomleſs Pit have ſhut its mouth upon us: How long ſince might time and dayes have been at an end with us, and our ſouls ſtated in a miſerable Eternity? But ſtill God ſpares us, and we are yet in the Land of the Living, with a door of mercy and grace yet open unto us; at leaſt a poſſibility left us of knowing the things of our peace in our day, of making proviſion for Death and Eternity: And O what mercy is this! I would fain a little quicken both you and my ſelf by this conſideration: And in order thereunto, let me plead a little particularly with you.
1. Conſider how long God hath ſpared, and does ſpare you; beyond what he does, and has, thouſands and ten thouſands of others: God does not ſpare all at that rate, which he has ſpared, and does ſtill ſpare us: Alas! How many thouſands are there now free among the dead, who came into being long ſince we did? Their Glaſs is run, their Sun is ſet, their day is over, their hopes and expectations are all at an end, their ſouls, are ſtated in an eternal condition, a condition that will admit of neither change nor period for ever; and yet we are ſpared ſtill: They came into the World long after us, and are gone into Eternity long before us: Yea, how many are there, that never arrived to the one half of thoſe years that we have arrived unto? their Sun has ſet in the morning: How many of us have out-lived our yoke-fellows, our children, our ſervants, our friends, and acquaintance? And yet we ſtand our ground: and all this that we might prepare for a dying hour: This patience of God ſhould lead us to repentance, Rom. 2.5. And O that it might ſo do!
2. Conſider how much we have provoked God, and what advantage we have given him in Juſtice againſt us: I would fay here, as Chriſt ſpeaks in another caſe, Luke 13. begin. Suppoſe ye, that thoſe Galileans, whoſe blood Pilate mingled with their Sacrifices, were ſinners above all the Galileans, becauſe they ſuffered ſuch things? I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: Or thoſe eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siloah fell, and ſlew them; think ye, they were ſinners above all the men that dwelt in Jeruſalem? I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh. So ſay I here, ſuppoſe ye, that thoſe that are gone down to the gates of the grave, and the bars of death, before us, were greater ſinners than we? I tell you nay, but except we repent, we muſt all likewiſe periſh: We have ſinned as well as they, and poſſibly, in many regards, more than they: To be ſure, we have all over and over deſerved long ſince to have been covered with the ſhadow of the Night of eternal darkneſs: O how has the patience of God been tried, and his long-ſufferings put to it by us! What a burden have we been to his Soul! Some of us have cauſe to think, that we have been as great a burden to God, as moſt that ever lived: How juſtly may the bleſſed God complain of many of us: That we have made him to ſerve with our ſins, and wearied him with our iniquities, as he did of them of old? Iſa. 43.24. that we have broke his heart with our whoriſh heart, whereby we have departed from him, Ezek. 6.9. that our ſins have preſſed him down, as a Cart is preſſed that is full of Sheaves, Amos 2.13. Alas! Alas! How have we wallowed in our pollutions, and acted out the enmity and rebellion of our natures againſt him! How have we rejected his Word, reſiſted his Spirit, deſpiſed his Grace, trampled upon his Son, refuſed many and many an offer of love, and many a ſweet Call, and bleſſed invitation, to come to the Marriage-ſupper of the Lamb? And yet that he ſhould ſtill ſpare us: O what mercy is this! In the 1 Pet. 3.20. we read, that the long-ſuffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah: And truly, my Beloved, it waits as much in our dayes, our provocations being as many, and as high againſt him, as theirs of that Generation were. O Sirs, why are we not in Hell? Why are we not ſealed and ſhut up among the damned? Why have we one Call more, one offer more, one ſeaſon of Grace more? Verily 'tis all rich Mercy: O that it might lead us to Repentance.
3. Conſider how ſad it had been with us; had the Lord taken that advantage againſt us, which we have over and over given him. Suppoſe (my Beloved) God had not ſpared us, but had cut us off, as he might long ſince; what now had been become of us? And where now had we been? Had you died of ſuch and ſuch a ſickneſs you have been in, when poſſibly a ſentence of Death was paſſed upon you, both by your ſelves and others, and there was really but a ſtep between death and you; where and how miſerable had you now been? Had you not been now in the flames, eternally ſeparated from God and Chriſt? Being Godleſs and Chriſtleſs: Have you not now cauſe to fear you had been in as irrecoverable a condition, as the Devils themſelves are in, ſealed up under wrath and condemnation, paſt all hopes and poſſibility of mercy for ever? Whither had I gone (ſaith Auſtin) if then (ſpeaking of the time that he was in his ſins) I had gone hence? Whither had I gone, but into the flames, and into eternal torments, anſwerable to my ſins? May not we ſay the like? But bleſſed be God, it is yet time and ſeaſon with me and you; we are ſpared to this hour, that we might provide for death and Eternity. O Sirs, ſuppoſe you or I were now among the damned; ſuppoſe we were, as they are, ſealed up under wrath, and ſeparated from God, left under an utter impoſſibility of ever ſeeing his face; how ſad then would our condition be? Why, thus it might have been with us: O what mercy then is it that God has ſpared us, and doth-ſpare us as he does? And how ſhould it awaken us to our work?
4. Conſider, how much more ſad it may, and will yet be with us, in caſe we provide not for a dying hour: Truly, the longer God ſpares us, if we anſwer not his end in his ſparing mercy, the more miſerable ſhall we be for ever. It will be ſad to periſh at all; but it will be doubly ſad to periſh under the long-ſuffering of God, under the abuſe of much goodneſs, and long patience. O to have many dayes, and many years patience and goodneſs come in to witneſs againſt a man at laſt; how ſad will this be! Think of, and ſeriouſly lay to heart that Scripture, Rom. 2.4, 5. Deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and long-ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardneſs, and impenitent heart, treaſureſt up to thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous Judgment of God. Every day which God in his patience affords us, if we be not led to repentance, is a day of treaſuring up wrath, heaping up to our ſelves wrath againſt the day of wrath, when wrath ſhall come upon us to the uttermoſt: Well, think then what a mercy it is, that God ſpares you as he does; and what an Obligation this ſparing mercy of his is upon you, to ſet all things right in the matters of your ſouls againſt a dying hour comes.
4. Are you ſure that thoſe helps and advantages which now you enjoy, to further you in your work, will alwayes laſt and be injoyed by you. Suppoſe (my Beloved) that God ſhould yet ſpare you, and prolong your dayes in the Land of the Living: Yet O how ſoon may all your helps and advantages, to further you in this great Work, be withdrawn from you: Now, bleſſed be God, you injoy many bleſſed helps and advantages for your furtherance in this great Work; but how quickly may they all be gone?
1. How ſoon may the Reproofs, the Counſels, the Holy Examples of your godly Friends, Miniſters, and Relations, be withdrawn from you? now you injoy the loving Reproofs, the wholeſome Counſels, the Holy Examples of ſuch and ſuch Friends and Relations; one reproves you for ſin, another quickens you to duty; one dehorts you from the World, and carnal pleaſure; another perſwades you to cloſe with Chriſt, and walk with God, to purſue after Heaven, and eternal life; one wooes and beſeeches you, another charges and commands you to labour to know God, and to live to him, to provide for another life; and they all ſhew you the path of Life; they tread the way to Heaven in your ſight: All which are great helps and advantages to further you in this Great Concern of yours: But how ſoon may all theſe be withdrawn? thy Friends, thy Miniſters, thy Relations will ſpeedily be lodged in the duſt, and thou ſhalt never have a word of reproof, a word of counſel, a word of quickning, a word of encouragement, or a pattern of faith and holineſs ſet before thee, by them any more for ever, which would be a dreadful thing: Now thy godly Father, Mother, Yoke-fellow, Maſter, Friend, and Acquaintance, is plying thee with counſels and inſtructions, for the good of thy Soul; to morrow, it may be, he or ſhe goes down to the Gates of the Grave; and then no more of this for ever.
2. How ſoon may the Word and Ordinances of God, which you now enjoy, be withdrawn from you? Now you enjoy the Word and Ordinances of God, you go from Ordinance to Ordinance; you have line upon line, precept upon precept, as it is Iſa. 28.10. Yea, let me tell you, you ſee and hear thoſe things, which many Prophets and righteous men have deſired to ſee, and hear; but ſaw, and heard them not, Matth. 13.16. O how is Light and immortality brought to light to you? How is the Way of Salvation made plain and manifeſt before you? What glorious diſcoveries? What bleſſed revelations? What ſweet and frequent tenders of Chriſt are made to you? How freely are you called to the Marriage-ſupper of the Lamb? How lovingly does Chriſt invite you to himſelf? How kindly does he ſtand knocking at the Door of your ſouls? O (my Beloved) I may now ſay to you, as Paul to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 6.2. Behold! Now is the accepted time, now is the day of Salvation. O what helps and advantages are theſe? But how ſoon may they all be gone? How ſoon may the Word of God be withdrawn? How ſoon may your light be put out, and your ſouls left in darkneſs, not knowing whither to go? Remember that word of Chriſt, and lay it to heart, John 12.35. Yet a little while is the light with you, walk while ye have the light; leaſt darkneſs come upon you; and he that walketh in darkneſs, knoweth not whither he goeth. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the Children of the light. It is a great queſtion, whether we may not loſe Goſpel-Ordinances and all; and where are we then?
3. How ſoon may the motions and ſtrivings of the Spirit of God be withdrawn from you? Now you have the motions and ſtrivings of the Spirit of God in you, and with you; he moves upon the face of the waters in your ſouls; he moves and ſtrives in and by the Word, and Ordinances; Mercies, and afflictions; now you have enlightening, and then you have quickening influences from him; now he ſhews you your work, and then he tenders you his aſſiſtance; now he diſcovers the odiouſneſs of ſin to you, and then he diſplays the beauty, ſweetneſs, and excellency of Chriſt and holineſs before you: But alas! How ſoon may all this be at an end? Think of that terrible word, Gen. 6.3. My Spirit ſhall no more ſtrive with man. God may poſſibly the next day, yea the next hour, ſay to his Spirit concerning one or another of us, let him alone, ſtrive no more with him, move no more in him, convince him no more, perſwade him no more, draw and allure him no more; he is addicted to his luſts, and to this World, let him alone; he has no mind to Heaven, no deſire to make any proviſion for another World, let them alone; he is unwilling to ſee beyond time to eternity; he is given to his carnal pleaſures, let him alone; he has a reſiſting, gain-ſaying ſpirit, let him alone. O how ſoon theſe, and all other helps and advantages, you now enjoy, may be withdrawn, who knows? You have all theſe together in one Scripture, which I deſire you to lay to heart, Luke 19.41, 42. When he was come near, he beheld the City (ſpeaking of Jeruſalem) and wept over it, ſaying, If thou hadſt known, even thou at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. They had had a day, they did injoy the things of their peace; they might and ſhould have improved their day, and the things of their peace, by ſecuring their eternal ſtate: But they neglected it, and now all theſe are withdrawn from them; which cauſed the Lord of Glory, the Joy of the whole Earth, to weep over them; ſo woful, miſerable, and deplorable he ſaw their condition to be: and how ſad will it be with you, if once Chriſt ſhould come to ſay over you that diſmal word, now they are hid from your eyes.
5. Is it an eaſie matter (think you) to ſet things right in your ſouls and to make all things ready for a dying hour? Suppoſe (my Beloved) that you ſhould live yet many days, and withall, your helps and advantages for the good of your ſouls ſhould be continued to you, yet is it an eaſie work which you have to do; and ſhall you have time and days to ſpare? Believe it, Sirs, all will be little enough to ſet things right, to make things ready for a dying hour. Pray conſider with me theſe few things, as to this.
1. Conſider in what a woful diſorder all things are at preſent with you, and how utterly unready for a dying hour: I will give you the Scripture ſtate of your caſe; you are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, under whole loads and mountains of ſcarlet, crimſon guilt; without Chriſt, without hope, without God in the world; alienated, and enemies in your minds, by wicked works; yea, enmity it ſelf againſt God and Chriſt; full of ſin both within and without, and nothing but ſin, having no good dwelling in you; void of all grace, all true ſpiritual life; under the power and predominancy of luſt; ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, and carried Captive by the Devil at his will: Cloſely glued to, and deeply in love with this World: ignorant of God, and of the great Myſtery of the Father, and of Chriſt; at leaſt having no ſaving knowledge of them: No ſavour of Heaven, no reliſh of ſpiritual things in your ſouls; wallowing in your blood and gore, being filthy and abominable; to every good work reprobate: the heart ſtrongly averſe from God, and all good, and vigorouſly bent to ſin and vanity: nothing of Heaven within; but full of Hell, full of the Spirit and Image of the Devil; under the Law of Sin; ſtrangers to the Law of Grace; no Union with Chriſt; no Oyl in the Veſſel; poor, miſerable, blind, and naked; at moſt having but the form, and denying the power of godlineſs. This is your condition: O what diſorders are theſe! And what an unready poſture are you in for Death and Eternity?
2. Conſider how great a thing it is to be ready for Death, ready indeed, and to have all things ſet right, and in order, againſt a dying hour comes; and how much is requiſite in order thereunto. 'Tis a great ſaying of an holy man: No one (ſaith he) can joyfully welcom Death, but he that has been long compoſing his Spirit, and making ready for it. O my (beloved) to be indeed ready to quit the World, to go into the Divine Preſence, the great, the holy, glorious preſence of God; to be ready to enter upon the Beatifical Viſion, to poſſeſs a Manſion in the Father's Houſe, to joyn with an heavenly Hoſt of Angels, and Spirits of juſt men made perpect, in eternal praiſing, admiring, and adoring of Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt: Believe it, this is a great thing, and great things are requiſite thereunto: This calls for a near Union with Chriſt, a firm peace with God, clear Evidences for Heaven; for much grace and holineſs, much heavenlineſs and ſpirituality of mind, much weanedneſs from this World, much holy deadneſs to ſin, ſelf, and the Creature, much Victory over Corruption, much Soul-cleanſing: much purity of heart and affections, much diligence and faithfulneſs in Duties: And (my Beloved) are theſe little things, or things eaſie to be accompliſhed and attained unto? O Sirs! The Scripture ſpeaking of theſe things, calls upon us to ſtrive, Luke 13.24. to give all diligence in the purſuit of them, 2 Pet. 1.5, 10. To manage and diſpatch them with fear and trembling, Phil. 2.12. All which tells us, that they are great things, and not eaſily to be accompliſhed and attained unto: Therefore we had need look after this, and neglect no longer.
3. Conſider what lets and hinderances, difficulties and oppoſitions you muſt expect to meet withall in your minding and managing this Work: Not only is the Work it ſelf great; but you muſt alſo expect many lets and hindrances, much difficulty and oppoſition in the managing of it: You muſt expect lets and oppoſitions, from the Devil, he is the Enemy of Souls; and you muſt expect, that he will make uſe of all his wiles, methods, and devices, all his craft and cunning, all his Artifices; and that he will ſtir up all his wrath and malice againſt you: he is your Enemy, and he is a ſubtil Enemy, a potent Enemy, an indefatigable Enemy, an Enemy that always goes about, ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. You muſt expect lets and oppoſitions from the World too; from the men of the world, from the things of the world, from the ſmiles of the world, from the frowns of the world. The world is your Enemy, as well as the Devil: So much is intimated, 1. Joh. 5.4. and you muſt expect oppoſition from it: The men of the world will diſcourage you; the things of the world will divert you; the troubles of the world will mightily depreſs you; the enjoyments of the world will miſerably enſnare and entangle you: The world is of a marvellous bewitching, enſnaring and entangling nature: it is indeed oppoſite to God, and all goodneſs; and ſo to the whole intereſt of our ſouls. The friendſhip of the world is enmity to God, Jam. 1.4. The world will plead for, and take up your time, your ſtrength, your thoughts. O… the hinderance that the World is to thouſands, and ten thouſands, in the work of their ſouls; truly this ruines multitudes for ever: This ruined him we read of Matth. 19.32. And ſaith Paul, Demas hath farſaken us, having embraced this preſent World, 2 Tim. 4.10.
You muſt expect lets and hinderances alſo from your own hearts; yea, from them above all others: The heart (the Holy Ghoſt tells us) is deceitful above all things, and diſperately wicked, Jer. 17.9. And who of us does at all obſerve it, and the workings of it, does not find it to be ſo? Now it will openly oppoſe you then it will ſecretly ſeduce and enſnare you: Now it will carry you off, and draw you back from God and Duty, Hebr. 3.12. then it will turn you aſide to ſin and vanity, Iſai. 44.20. Now it will divert you from Duty, then it will make you dead and ſlothful in Duty: 'Tis indeed wholly ſet againſt all that is good; and it has a thouſand wayes to hinder you in your Great Work; and you muſt expect, that it will do its utmoſt to hinder you; This is a cloſe Enemy, it is alwayes at hand; there is no end of its oppoſition, till life it ſelf ends. One of the Ancients (I remember) breaks out into a ſad exclamation againſt his own heart thus: My heart (ſaith he) is a wicked heart, a vain heart, a roving, a wandring heart: My mind is exceeding light, wonderful unconſtant, a vagabond, and a fugitive; it changes it ſelf into all ſhapes, it will, and it will not; 'tis like a leaf, moved and carried about with the wind: My vain and importunate heart hales me now to the Market, and then to ſtrifes and brawlings; now to feaſting, and then to impure luſts; now the fleſh is inflamed with ſordid titillations, then the mind is defiled with filthy cogitations. And who of us may not make the ſame complaint? yea, ſuch is the enmity and oppoſition of our own hearts againſt Heaven, and the things of Heaven, that many times when we moſt reſolve, and ſet our ſelves to follow God, and to purſue the work of our ſouls, then they ſet us moſt back. It was a great ſpeech of that ſame Father: This (ſayes he) is my daily exerciſe, with my whole ſtrength I bend to thee, and would mount up to God and Heaven; but by how much the more ſtrongly I endeavour to come up to thee, by ſo much the more powerfully I am caſt into the earth, into my ſelf, and even under my ſelf, captivated to my luſts. And ſo 'tis often with us: Lets then and oppoſitions muſt be expected by us on all hands; and we had need therefore the more to awaken to our work. 'Tis true, if you will ingage in good earneſt in the work of your ſouls, your helps and incouragements will be greater, than your l…ts and diſcouragements; you will have more with you, then againſt you: You will have God with you, and Chriſt with you, and the Comforter with you, and all the Graces of the Covenant with you; be incouraged therefore to ſet upon Soul-work. Now lay all theſe things together, and ſee if it be an eaſie matter to make ready for a dying hour; and if it be not, why ſhould we neglect? Why ſhould we delay any longer?
6. How terrible will death be to you! And what a dreadful change will it make with you, in caſe you ſtill neglect to make ready for it! Suppoſe (my Beloved) you go on in the neglect of this Great Concern, putting far from you the evil day; what (think you) will the iſſue of it be? will not death be moſt terrible to you, when you ſhall be called to conflict with it? Will it not make a dreadful change with you? Surely it will. Death to an unready ſoul, what will it be? It will be the period of all his mercies, of all his comforts, of all his hopes: For ſuch an one receives all his good things in this life, before death comes, Luke 16.25. It will be the ſending of him to his own place; the cutting him down as fewel for everlaſting burnings: It will be (as a worthy Divine ſpeaks) the taking up of a Draw-bridge, and the pulling up of the Flood-gates of Gods eternal wrath, to let in the deluge of it upon his ſoul for ever: It will be a change to him; but what change will it be? Surely a very ſad one.
1. A change from Earth to Hell: And is not this a ſad Change? The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all that forget God, Pſalm. 19.17. And we read of the rich man (who was unready for death) that being dead, he was in Hell, Luke 22.23.
2. A change from Light to Darkneſs: and is not that a ſad change? The Holy Ghoſt ſpeaking of ſuch an one, tells us; God ſhall drive him out of light into darkneſs, and chaſe him out of the world, Job. 18.18. Here wicked men enjoy the light of Creature comforts, but God will drive them out of theſe, into the darkneſs of Eternal miſery, into utter darkneſs, Mat. 25.30. into blackneſs of darkneſs, Jude 13.
3. A change from pleaſure to pain, from delight to torment: a ſad change it is, from pleaſure and delight in ſin, to pain and torment for ſin, Luke 16.23. Here the ſoul ſports himſelf in the pleaſures and delights of ſin, and he thinks he can never have enough; but then there will be an end of all thoſe pleaſures and delights, and nothing but pain, and torment, and vexation will ſucceed them.
4. A change from the offers of Grace, to the Revelations of Wrath: Shall thy loving kindneſs be declared in the grave, or thy faithfulneſs in deſtruction (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) in that 88 Pſal. 11. True in the 1 Pet. 3.19, 20. we read of Chriſt's preaching by his Spirit to the Spirits in Priſon, that is, to Souls in Hell: But mark, when was it that he preach'd to them? not when in priſon, but in the days of Noah, when they lived in the world. There is never an offer of grace and love made to ſouls in the Grave; while life laſts, the ſoul hears the joyful ſound: And O the ſweet offers, the gracious tenders, the loving invitations, that are made to him of Chriſt, of Grace, of Eternal Life and Love! O the wooings, the meltings, the entreatings, the allurings of Divine Love to and over the ſoul! but when death comes, farewell all theſe, farewell all the ſweet offers of Chriſt, and all the bleſſed motions of the Spirit; then there's nothing but wrath reveiled, and wrath ſhall come on the neglecting ſoul to the uttermoſt.
5. A change from fair probabilities to utter impoſſibilities of life and ſalvation; a ſad change ſtill: Now is the accepted time, now is the day of ſalvation; now, and not hereafter, 2 Cor. 6.2. Now there is a fair probability for the worſt of ſinners to be ſaved, if they will look after Salvation, and mind their Eternal Concerns, Chriſt is both able and willing to ſave: to ſave was the end of his coming into the world, and of all he did and ſuffered here, 1 Tim. 1.15. Now they are beſought and entreated to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. but when death comes, that changes theſe fair Probabilities into utter impoſſibilities of life and ſalvation: Therefore mark, Now (ſays the Apoſtle) is the day of ſalvation; that is, now while life laſts, and while the Goſpel is preached.
6. A change from hope to deſpair; a ſad change indeed. We read, that the hopes of the Hypocrite ſhall periſh, Job. 8.13. and that the expectation of the wicked ſhall periſh, Prov. 10.28. Whether men be open ſinners, or cloſe hypocrites, their hopes at laſt ſhall all fail, and turn into deſpair, deſpair of ever ſeeing God, or enjoying the leaſt tittle or Iota of good for ever.
Thus death will be terrible to you, and make a dreadful change with you, in caſe you neglect to make ready for its coming; 'twill affright you as bad as the hand-writing upon the wall did that proud King, Dan. 5.5, 6. Which made his countenance change, his thoughts to trouble him, and the joynts of his loyns duplicate page duplicate page to be loſed, and his knees to ſmite one againſt another. O when death comes, and thou ſhalt be found unready, how will thy countenance change, thy joynts be loſed, thy thoughts troubled, and thy heart tremble within thee? In a word, I would ſay to you as the Prophet ſpake of old, Iſa. 10.3. What will you do in the day of viſitation, and whither will you flee for help? When death comes, what will you do? which way will you look? will there be any hope, any help, any refuge for your ſouls to flee unto? Alas! there will be none. Wilt thou then run to the mercies of God, and cry Lord, Lord? Alas! it will be in vain: he will then ſay unto you, Depart from me, I know you not, Mat. 25.11, 12. Wilt thou then labour to get grace and pardon? Alas! it will be too late; then the door will be ſhut againſt thee, Mat. 25.10. Wilt thou then deſire others to ſpare thee ſome of their Oyl? Alas! that will be a vain thing; they will tell thee, they have but enough for themſelves, Mat. 25.9. Wilt thou then plead thy gifts, parts, and ſervices for Chriſt? Alas! it will be to no purpoſe, unleſs thou haſt done the main work, notwithſtanding all thy gifts and ſervices, he will ſend thee away with the workers of iniquity, Mat. 7.22.23. Wilt thou call upon the Rocks and Mountains to cover thee, and hide thee from the wrath of him that ſits upon the Throne? Alas! it wil be in vain, Rev. 6. latter end. O ſinner! when thou ſhalt ſee thy ſelf launching out into the great Ocean of Eternity, and God ſhall, as it were ſay to thee by the Mouth of thy own Conſcience; Well now, time and days are at an end with you, and will never dawn more, what haſt thou done for thy Soul? What proviſion haſt thou made for another world? Is Chriſt thine? haſt thou gotten thy ſins pardoned? and the like. When it ſhall be thus (I ſay) what wilt thou then do and whither wilt thou then look? how wilt thou then cry out, Undone, undone, I am loſt for ever, my day is ended, and my work is ſtill to do? woe is me! what a God, a Chriſt, a Heaven, a Bleſſedneſs, a Glory, have I wilfully and fooliſhly loſt? truly thou, and ſuch as thou, are the only perſons whoſe death will be truly lamentable. I remember a ſaying I have read in one of the Ancients: They (ſaith he) are to be bewailed in their death, whom the Devils drag away to the torments of the Infernal Pit, not they whom the holy Angels do conduct to the joys of Paradiſe, they are to be bewailed, who after death are by the Devils turned into Hell; and not they, who by the Angels are placed or ſet down in Heaven. O that theſe things might convince you of your folly, and awaken your ſouls; and that ſo, as yet to know the things of your peace in your day, and the time of your viſitation.