The True Way to the Tree of Life, Part · Section 19
XIX. Direction.
TUrn now unto God in Christ (O Natural man) by repenting: Come now unto Iesus Christ, and apply him by believing: Delay not, tarry not, but make all speed, all present speed, in thy life, in thy health, in thy youth, this day rather then to morrow, as ever thou desirest to make sur… of life and eternal salvation by Christ Iesus. Eccl. 12. 1. Heb. 3. 7, 8, 13, 15. 2 Cor. 6. 2.
To incline thee forcibly hereunto, consider seriously,
1. God calls for the early sacrifices and services to be performed to him. As, The firstfruits of the Ground, The first-fruits of Dough, the firstfruits of all Fruit-trees, Neh. 10. 35, 36, 37. The Firstlings of Beasts, Exod, 13. 1, 2. The First-born of man, Exod. 13. 1, 2. The First-fruits of thy dayes: Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, Eccl. 12. 1. The first-fruits of thy study, care, diligence, affections, &c. First seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, Mat. 6. 33. And wilt thou put off God with the last? with the dross and dregs of all?
2. Gods Elect have come in to Christ, repented and converted speedily immediately upon Gods call; and dost thou still stand off, after so many calls and invitations? The Apostles immediately upon Christs call came to him and followed him, Mat. 4. 18. to 23. The sinful Woman presently relented upon Christs preaching that sweet Sermon, Mat. 11. 28, 29, 30. (her History is thoughtnSee Chemnit. Harm. Evaingel. cap. 57 in ratione ordinis. next in order to succeed those words) Luke 7. 37, &c. Zacheus the Publican was presently converted upon Christs coming to him, Luke 19. 6. to 11. The Thief upon the Cross, (who possibly never saw or heard Christ before) was immediately converted, and assured that that day he should be with Christ in Paradise, Luke 23. 41, 42, 43. Cornelius and his Company were gained to Christ, as Peter was uttering his Sermon, Acts 10. 44, &c. The Ethiopian Eunuch, upon Philip's preaching, instantly believed and was baptized, Acts 8. 35, &c. At one Sermon of Peter 3000 were brought home to Christ, and added to the Church, Acts 2. 36, 37, &c. The Hearers of the Apostles were speedily converted, about 5000, Acts 4. 4. Saul upon Christs call instantly believed and repented, so thatxMissus est ad Gentes, ex Latrone Pastor, ex Lupo Ovis. Aug. de Temp. Serm. 74. p. 747. D. Tom. 10. Basil. 1569. of a Wolf he became a Lamb, of a Persecutor a Preacher of Christ and of his Gospel, Acts 9. 3, 4, &c. 19, 20, &c. At Paul's preaching Lydia's heart was presently opened to entertain Christ, Acts 16. 14. The Jaylor presently believed upon the preaching of Paul and Silas, Acts 16. 30, &c. The Ephesians, after they heard the Word of Truth, speedily converted to God, Eph. 1. 13, 14, 15. with Acts 19. 17, 18, 19, 20. The Thessalonians, upon Paul's entring in unto them with the Gospel, turned from Idols to serve the living God, 1 Thes. 1. 4, 5, 9. and 2. 1. And what shall I say more? The Colossians believed and were converted speedily. yNon est procrastinandum auditoribus vangelii, sed ex quo di praedicatur, …os oportet & credere, & fructus proferre. Heb. 3. 8 Jo. Daven. Exposit, ad Coloss. 1. 6.the Gospel bringing forth fruit in them, from the very day they heard it, Col. 1. 4, 5, 6. Now this Catalogue of early Repenters shall rise up in judgement against thee, and condemn thee for thy delay.
3. The present time is of all other the very fittest time in the world for thee, and for every one, to turn from sin by repenting, and close with Christ by believing. For, … God saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, Heb. 3. 7, 8. 13. 15. and 4. 7. And dost thou, with the Devil, zSan… diaboli vox est quae dicit, Da peccato quod praesens est, Deo & Evangelio quod futurum est, peccato florem aetatis, Evangelio reliquias. Jo. Baren. Exposit. in Ep. ad Col. 1. 6. p. 40.say, Tomorrow? 2. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2. Hereafter may be the un-acceptable time, the day of damnation. 3. Now, God may be found, is near: hereafter God may be afar off, and may not be found, Isa. 55. 6, 7. 4. The present time is the time of mercy: God holds out to the sinner his white Flag, his golden Scepter of many precious Promises. The future time may be the time of judgement, and he may hold forth the red and black Flags of blood and death, Prov. 1. 24. to 32. Isa. 65. 12. and 66. 4. I…. 7. 13. 5. The present time is only thine. Time past is irrevocably gone. Time to come may never come to thee. The rich fool, that promised himself many years, had not many hours to live; that night his soul was taken from him, Luke 12. 20. And then, if that prove thy condition, what will become of thy impenitent; hardned, unbelieving, and Christless soul?
4. Delays in this case are very dangerous. For, 1. While Repentance is delayed, iniquity is daily increased, and sin multiplied. Such go on still in their trespasses, Psal. 168. 21. 2. While Repentance is delayed, the heart will be daily more and more hardned through the deceitfulness of sin, Heb. 3. 13. 3. The more the heart is hardned, the more impossible it will be for the sinner to repent, Rom. 2. 5. 4. Late and long-delayed Repentance is seldom true, alwayes difficult. Unfit to day, more unfit to morrow. aQui non est bodie, …ras minnus aptus erit.Long festering and rankling Sores are hardly cured, if curable at all. True Repentance indeed is never too late, but late Repentance is seldom true. Late Repenters do not so much forsake sin, as sin forsakes them. 5. While Repentance is delay'd, the sinner treasureth up unto himself the greater pile of wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgement of God, Rom. 2. 5.
5. Thy life is short; but Believing and Repenting are a great and long work. He that hath much work to do, a long journey to go, had need to neglect no time, but to be up early and doing.
For, What is thy life?bVita vapor, ventus, flatus, f…os, fabula, foenum, &c. A vanishing vapour, Iam. 4. 14. A wind that passeth, Iob. 7. 7. A blast, or puff of breath, Isa. 2. 22. A flower, flourishing and fading, Psal. 103. 15, 16. A tale told, Psal. 90. 9. Grass, now growing, now withering, Psal. 103. 15. A flood, still flowing away, never returning, Psal. 90. 5. As yesterday, when it is past, Psal. 90. 4. An hand-breadth, Psal. 39. 5. A watch in the night, but three hours long, Psal. 90. 4. A shadow, Iob 14. 2. A sleep, Psal. 90. 5. An image, or show, Psal. 39. 6. Nothing, and altogether vanity, Psal. 39. 5.
Now, Believing and Repenting are great and long works. None can believe or repent, but such as are regenerate by the Spirit of God, Iohn 1. 12, 13. By Believing we must know Christ savingly, Isa. 53. 11. Iob. 17. 3. Must assent to Gods Record touching Christ fully, Ioh. 3. 33. 1 Ioh. 5. 11, 12. Must embrace the Promises, and accept Christ in the Promises, Heb. 11. 13. Iohn 1. 12. Must purifie the heart, Acts 15. 9. Must conquer the world, 1 Iohn 5. 4. Must quench the fiery darts of the Devil, Eph. 6. 16. And must live by it upon Christ continually, Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 2. 20. Are these easie things? Repentance turns from darkness to light, from the Power of Satan to God, Acts 26. 18. Tends continually to mortifie and crucifie sin, Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5. And to perfect holiness in Gods fear, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Tit. 2. 12, 13.
6. Death is most certain, that it will come, Heb. 9. 27. Sam. 14. 14. Psal. 49. 6, 7, 8, 9. and 89. 98. Most uncertain when, where, or how it will come; whether in youth, man-hood, or old age; in the evening, midnight, Cock-crowing, or day-break watch, Mark 13. 35. Therefore seeing thou knowest not the year, day, nor hour of thy death, thou hast need to be prepared for it every day, every hour. So true is that Verse;
Mors certa est, incerta dies, hora agnita nulli;
Extremam quare quamlibet esse puta.cJoh. Gerhard. in Huzin. Evangel. cap. 162. p. 226. Genevae 1645.
I may thus English it;
Frail Man; most certain is thy death,
Uncertain is the day,
None knows the hour of his last breath;
Then look for it alway.
In this respect Angustine'sdDiem ultimum suum quisque salubricer cogitet. Misericordia Dei est, quia nescit homo quando moriatur. Latet ultimus dies, ut observentur omnes dies: Aug. Homil. 13. p 441. B. Tom. 10. Basil. 1569. Advice is very good;—Let every one wholesomely think of his last day. It is Gods mercy that man knows not when he shall die. Man's last day is concealed from him, that every day may be observed by him. What Housholder is there, that being certainly informed that such a week or such a night, thieves will assault his house, but at what hour is wholly uncertain, will not prepare and watch every night, lest his house be broken thorow and robbed? Or, what condemned Malefactor, being assured that in a short time he shall certainly die, on what day he is wholly uncertain, but will make it his serious work to prepare for his death, that he may die penitently? And wilt no… thou, O sinful mortal Soul, who knowest thy death is certain, the time when uncertain, endeavour by speedy and sincere Repentance and Faith, to prepare for dying well?
Especially considering; That after death, this work of Repenting and Believing hath no place, no such work is to be done in the grave, Eccl. 9. 10. There, thine heart can send forth no sighs, thine eye no tears, thy tongue no confession, &c. in reference to thy sins. There, there, is no knowledge, assent, or application of Faith to be exerted in reference to the Promises, or Christ. But as the Tree falls, so it lyes unalterably towards Heaven or Hell. As soon as a man dies, there is a great gulf fixed, so that there's no altering of his present condition, from better to worse, or from worse to better. Luke 16. 26.
7. Finally, O Natural man, Repent now, believe in Christ now, or never. 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2. Heb. 3. 7. to 16. Isa. 55. 7. Eccl. 9. 10.
(1.) Now embrace the acceptable time, now close with the day of salvation, or never. 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2. For, when the acceptable time is out, when the day of salvation is ended, thou canst expect no acceptation from God any more, no salvation for evermore. Prov. 1. 24. to verse 33.
(2.) Now believe in Christ, and repent according to the tenour of the Gospel, and Ordinances of Christ, continued unto thee, Mark 1. 15. Luke 24. 47. or never. For, if the Gospel be taken from thee, or thou from the Gospel, how canst thou repent? How canst thou believe?
(3.) Now entertain Christs sweetest …nvitations and offers of Grace, with all affectionateness and readiness of mind; or never. Mat. 11. 28, 29, 30. Iohn 3. 15, 16, 17. and 6. 37, 38, 39, 40, 50, 51, &c. and 7. 37, 38, 39.
For, Christ will not be alwayes inviting the obstinate, alwayes offering Grace to them that do reject it. The Guests that were bidden to the Marriage of the Kings Son, (i. e. of Christ with the Elect) and rejected the invitation, were invited no more. Mat. 22. 2, 3. and 8. with Luke 14. 16. to 25.
(4.) Now open the door of thine heart unto Christ, while he stands at the door patiently, and knocks importunately, by his Word, by his Rod, by his Spirit, &c. Rev. 3. 20. or never. For, if Christ be still sleighted and repulsed, so that he being weary of standing and knocking, finally depart, he will wait no more, he will knock no more, much less come in unto thee, and sup with thee, &c.
(5.) Now, while thou art in the land of the living, believe, repent, turn to God, work out thy salvation, &c. or never. For if Death surprize thee, if the Grave shut her mouth upon thee, all these works will cease for ever. Eccl. 9. 10.
(6.) Now, like a wise Virgin, furnish thy Lamp of Christian Profession with the oyl of true Grace, that, when Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom, shall come to the solemn marriage with his Church, thou maist go forth to meet the Bridegroom; or never. Mat. 25. 1. to 14. For if thou, like a foolish Virgin, hast thine oyl to provide when the Bridegroom shall come, They that are ready shall enter in with him, and the door will be for ever shut against thee, though thou knockest and cryest, Lord open, with the greatest importunity. Mat. 25. 10, 11, 12. Then if thou beest once shut out of Heaven, thou art shut out for ever; if once thou art cast out into Hell, thou art shut up in it for ever.
(7) Finally, Now give all possible diligence to enter in at the strait Gate, to attain eternal life by Christ, and to make thy Calling and Election sure; while thou art here on earth, while thou art in this present world under the heavenly deaws of the Gospel, Mat. 13. 44, 45, 46. Luk. 13. 24. Phil. 2. 12. 2 Pet 1. 5. to 12. before thine immortal Soul be implunged into the intollerable and everlasting torments of Hell-fire, Luk. 16. 23, 24, 28. Mat. 25. 46. Or never. For if once thou art cast out into the Lake of Fire, there is no mercy, no mitigation of torment, no repenting, no possibility of reconcilement with God, &c. And thence is no hopes of Redemption or Recovery. Oh if the damned in Hell, could by any tears or importunities obtain liberty, though but for a few months, weeks or dayes, to be on Earth again, how diligently would they strive to enter in at the strait gate, Luk. 13. 24. How zealously would they attend upon the preaching of the Gospel! How religiously would they sanctifie the sabbath! how devoutly would they pray! Once more offer Christ unto us; Once more touch our hearts and Consciences; Once more enlighten us, let us partake of the Holy Ghost, taste the good word of God, and the Powers of the world to come. Heb. 6. 4, 5. Once more open the gate of mercy, &c. How deeply with sighs and tears would they lament their sins day and night. How would they endeavour to believe in Christ, repent and obey, yea to do or suffer any thing, that they might come no more into that place of torment. But all such hopes are for ever dasht. They had their time and season for all these things, which they neglected and lost, and now shall never enjoy more, so long as Heaven is Heaven, and Hell Hell.
O that all these things could be seriously thought upon, before it be too late! But when must it be? NOW or NEVER.