The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Of Carnal Security in Virgin Churches.
SECT. I.
Matth. 25. 5. Whilst the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
IN this Parable were noted two things; First, The Churches preparation to meet Christ from vers. 1. to 5.
Secondly, The Bridegrooms coming out to meet them, from vers. 5. to 12.
In this second part, which now we are to open, three things are to be attended unto;
1. The delay of Christs coming, or the long-suffering of Christ before he come, vers. 5.
2. The preparation he makes for his coming, a little before it, from verse 6. to vers. 10. by an awakening cry, which makes all the Virgins look about them.
3. The coming it self; where those that were ready, were with ioy let in; and those that were unready were with shame shut out.
1. The delay of Christs coming.
Whence note First, What happened in the interim of his delay, and that is Carnal Security, expressed and set out from the lowest and highest degree of it. 1. They Slumbered; i. e. fell a nodding or winking, as the word most properly signifies. 2. They Slept; i. e. now they were buried in their sleep, overcome by it.
Secondly, Upon whom these sleeps and slumbers fell; and that is, They All slumbered and slept; i. e. though for a time they were both awake, yet good and bad, wise and foolish fell into this senceless and stupid, dull and dead, sluggish and sleepy condition.
Observ. I. That in the last days Carnal Security either is or will be the univers…l sin of Virgin Churches.
Observ. II. That Carnal Security falls by degrees upon the hearts of men.
Observ. III. That the spirit of sloath and security is the last sin that befals the people of God.
Observ. IV. That Christs tarrying from the Churches, is the general occasion of all security in the Churches; or the not coming of the Bridegroom when the Saints expect him, is the general cause of that security which doth befall them.
SECT. II.
Observ. I. THat in the last days Carnal Secutrity either is or will be the universal …in of Virgin Churches: When the Churches are purged from the gross pollutions of the world, and Antichristian fornications and bondage, then either there is or will be general Security: For these Virgins, when they first made profession of their Virginity by their burning lamps, were for a time all awakened, but at last they all slumbered and slept: This is the temper of the body of the Churches.
Matth. 24. 38. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man.
Luk. 18. 8. When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith in the earth? i. e. an awakening faith.
Hence the Lord forewarns his people of this, Deut. 6. 12. When thou comest to such a land, beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God.
Quest. But what is this their general Security?
Answ. Look as it is in our ordinary sleep, so it is in this general Security: There are these six things in it.
1. A man forgets his business, his work he was about, or is to be exercised about; so in a carnal security, men forget the Lord, his works, and his will; that which we most think of while we be awake, we least think of indeed when we be asleep: Take a man awakened indeed, O then the worst remember the Lord and his Covenant, Psal. 78. 47. But when asleep, the Lord and his errand is least thought of; and hence security is exprest by forgetting God, Psal. 50. 21. And hence Ierusalems security was in this, they remembred not their latter end.
2. A man in sleep fears no evill until it be upon him, awakening of him; so this is another ingredient into carnal security, though sin lies upon them, they fea… not till evil comes; as Ioseph … brethren, though warning is given them, they fear not: Like them in the days of Noah and Lot. And hence Iob 21. 9. their houses are free from fear; the misery for the same sin is lighted upon another; yet the secure soul fears not, as in Belshazar, Dan. 5. 22.
3. In sleep all the sences are bound up, the outward sences especially, the eye watcheth not, the ear hears not, the tongue tastes not, the body feels not; to this is an ingredient of carnal security, it binds up all the sences, as it did the Prophet Ionah his in the storm; when misery was upon him, he heard not, he saw not, he felt not; so when misery, outward or spiritual, is upon a man, he that had quick sences before, his eye sees not, watcheth not; Christians neglect their watchfulness for their friends, the Lord, and his Spirit, and coming; no… watch against their enemies that daily besiege them; the ear hears not the voice of the Ministry, the voyce of Providences, the voyce of the spirit within; the soul smels not, tastes not the sweet of any promise, any Ordinance, no nor of the grace of the Lord himself; hence it commends them nor; nay the soul feels nothing, no evil, no good the Lord doth him; that look as the Lord there said, Isa. 29. 9, 10. The Lord hath poured upon you a spirit of sleep, and hath closed your eyes; so the Lord closeth up all the sences, that a man is now stupid, when he is fallen asleep in security.
4. In sleep there is a cessation from speaking and motion: there a man keeps silence and lies still; so in carnal security, the spirit of prayer is silent, Isa. 64. 7. Psal. 32. 1, 2, 3. David calls it a keeping of silence; up, why sleepest thou? seek to thy God, say the Mariners; indeed men may talk in their sleep, so men may pray in their deep security, yet not throughly awakened: And there is a lying still, no progress; so in carnal security the soul stands at a stay, goes not backward, grows not worse, but goes not forward; such a one is compared to the door on the hinge.
5. In sleep the sences being stupified, and motion ceased, a man falls a dreaming; some dreams he forgets, some he remembers, and in his sleep fully and firmly believes them; so in carnal security, now a mans… mind dreams of that which is not, and of that which never shall be; a mans mind is grown vain, and full of fancies and dreams; those things which never entered into Gods thoughts, something a man dreams of the Lord that this is his will and mind, which is not; of the world, that it is a goodly thing; of things to come which shall never be.
6. In deep sleep, though a man be awakened, yet he presently is overcome by his sleep again; so that is another ingredient into spiritual slumber; sleepiness is predominant over his watchfulness; and thus it was with the Disciples in the garden, they slept; the Lord came once and twice, and awakens them, yet they slept till temptation surprized them; scarce any Christian so secure in the chambers of Christ, but he hath some knocks of conscience, some cries of the Ministry, some woundings from the Lord, and they do awake him, but yet he falls to sleep again.
SECT. III.
WE shall now shew the Reasons why Virgin Churches in the last days are or will be overcome by security.
First, Because that in Virgin Churches there are the strongest provocations to this sin:Reason. 1. Which are chiefly three.
1. Rest and places of peace, and freedom from hard bondage; Iacob may sleep with his stone under his head, but much more easily under his own Vine and Figtrees. A man may be secure in the times of trouble, but much more in times of peace, when we have our beds made soft for us, and easie pillows. Friends can boldly desire us to rest, where there is lodgings for us: The world thrusts us out of lodging: While the prick is at the brest the Nightingale awakes and sings, but when that is taken away it sleeps in the day. In times of persecution Paul is preaching till midnight, and the Lord is remembred in the songs, and sighs, and prayers of the night-season; but in times of peace, peace like Iaels milk and butter stupifies all the sences, though destruction be near; Hence Deut. 6. 12. Then forget not the Lord. Do you think that Noah in the Ark, when the waters swelled above the mountains, was secure? no, but when the waters ceased, and he had his Vineyard planted, now he sleeps in his drunkenness, because he knew not the strength of wine. In the Virgin-Church, where this sleep is, we suppose this freedom from evil.
2. Because there men are most free from inward pain; for where there is much grief and pain, there's no rest, though all the house about be still; but when the house is still, and the body well, now tis hard but there may be rest; Whiles the Christian doth live under Antichristian pollution, his Conscience hath no rest, and hence 'tis awake there; here (saith the soul) I want the Ordinances of God, Oh that I had them! Here I see sin and wickedness abounding, that my childe is like to be poisoned therewith; here are such and such superstitions that my Conscience cannot bear: Hence Conscience is kept waking. But in Virgin-Churches, where the house is swept of these, now Conscience is quiet and at rest; now I have got a Levite into my house, God is now blessing me, &c. Now Conscience hath laid down its burthen, it falls down to sleep; now they cry, The Temple of the Lord,
3. Because in such Churches there is most aptitude in men to spiritual fulness, viz. plenty of the means; there is all the Ordinances; in this mountain, Isa. 25. 1. Gods feast is made, and fulness of spiritual gifts and graces, because they have now escaped the pollutions of the world, conquered the enmity of the world; now have come to a good measure of grace, and conquered the way of their enemies, got the better of them; hence, as the Israelites made peace with the Canaanites, not when they were too strong but too weak for them: So now the Soul comes to be at rest, to lay down its Warfare, and to yield to a truce, to a league to his lusts and distempers for a time. When men are kept short of food, now they awake; so when the Word of the Lord and his Ordinances be rare and precious, and hard to finde, now a Christian can trudge after them; but when men are full, now they desire rest; so 'tis here.
4. Because in Virgin-Churches, there men are most apt to be overtaken with weariness; A man that never walkt on in a holy way, may at first setting out delight in Christ; but after he hath done walking in it, now he is apt to faint; especially, if he sows much, and reaps for the present but little. And hence Gal. 6. 9. You shall reap in due season, if you faint not: Now in Virgin-Churches, these Virgins are such persons as have begun to make a profession, and have made a fair progress; O how difficult now is it not to be weary! it's strange to see what short spirits after the Lord, what large after the Creatures vve have.
II. Because they are the more easily overcome by this sin,Reason. 2. than by any other.
1. Because it's a sin which a man least foresees or fears: The Apostle saith, They that are drunk, and that sleep, sleep in the nigh; and yet here men sleep in the open light; Why so? Men see it not, men know it not; sleep steals upon a man: It's lawful to sleep; carnal security arises chiefly from the use of lawful things, on which a mans heart and thoughts are spent; they eate, drank, gave in marriage, they could see no hurt therein. When a man is had before Councels, now a man fears to sin, he knows he shall be tempted unto sin; but when the Lord brings the shoulder from under such burdens, now to fear out Tables, our Beds, our Wives, our Children, our Callings, our Professions and the snares of these, Oh it is exceeding hard!
2. Because Security is so sweet a sin; O sleep is sweet; meat is sweet, but men may be soon full of that; but when sleep comes, many hours are little enough to entertain that: Some …ins are sweet for a time, as a short meal and away; but sloth is a sweeter sin than any else besides. Let a Christian ask his heart, when he can take no content in Pots, or loose company, or Queans, and can find none in the Lord, yet this will give him ease, viz. his sloth: When he is weary of the Wold, and of vvalking vvith God also, yet sloth is his delight; and hence he crys, A little more slumb…r and sleep, untill destruction c…mes as an armed man: Prov. 6. 9, 10.When a man delights not in his Wife, Children, Riches, Honors, yet is he sometimes contentedly svvallovved up vvith his sleep and rest.
3. Because Sa…an doth make his strongest forces ready alvvay to bring a man first into this in; because this makes vvay for the entrance of all sin and misery; no people so happy as the Israelit…s, vvhile they vvere awakened and up with God; no misery could hurt them, Ier. 2. 1, …, 3. but when they forgot him, all misery came in; While the strong man keeps the Palace, his goods be at peace; it's his care to keep men secure and still.
SECT. IV.
LEt us therefore now examine whether this sin be not out sin in this Country,Vse. 1. if it be not begun among us; if we be not sleeping, yet are we not slumbering? if we are not Virgin-Churches, why have we the name of it? if we be Virgin-Churches, then make search if this be not our sin; we have all our beds and lodgings provided, the Lord hath made them easie to us; We never looked for such d…ys in New-England, the Lord hath freed us from the pain and anguish of our Consciences; we have Ordinances to the full, Sermons too long, and Lectures too many, and private meetings too frequent, a large profession many have made, but are you not yet weary? if weary, not sleepy, not slumbering? it may be on you before you are aware, and you not know it; and when so it is, it may be so sweet that you may be loth to see it, that so you may forsake it. Let me knock again, is it not so? Let me come to every mans bed side, and ask your consciences.
3. Have you not forgot your God, and forgot your work also? the business for which you made this great undertaking? Psal. 106. 12. When they were saved from the Sea they soon forgat the Lord: Hath not the Lord by a stretchedout arm brought thee and thine through seas and dangers, and delivered you wonderfully? are not all his kindnesses forgotten? all your promises forgotten? When the Lord had brought the Isra…lites out of their captivity, and some hopeful beginnings were, they came for the Temple; the dust was precious, but Gods hosue did lie waste, Hag. 1. 5, 6. Consider your ways; no man prospered scarce in his estate; God did blow upon their corn because they forgat their end. What was your end of coming hither? the Ordinances of God, the presence of God; and oh one day there better than a thousand elsewhere; hath it been so? No, but as it is vers. 9. Every man turns to his own house: Every man for himself, to their own house, lot, accommodation, provision for children; and in the mean while the Lords house lies waste, you build not up that; the Souls of thy Brethren in Church-fellowship, yea, of thy family are not built up; the Lords house is despised now; and it's like the Schools of the Prophets, and much more. Oh thought we, if we had such priviledges, how would we improve them! but when we have them, have we the same thoughts? do we not forget them, like men that come to a place for gold, and find it not without digging, they fall to l…de their ship with wood or coal, that which it will bear.
2. Have we not shaken off all fear almost of sin and misery? Go to the Ant thou sluggard, she fears and provides against a winter: Do not men think that we have fled too far for the cro…s to finde us, or as if the Temple of the Lord was such a Den as no Foxes or Wolves could follow us into? especially when there are causes of fear, when War is proclaimed, and the causes known, and yet they are never feared: How many men have the hand-writing of death in their Consciences against them! this they confess is naught, they have lived careless, sluggish, and have had some sence of it, yet no awakening fear of the terror of the Lord; when a Prince is nigh us, now to commit a little lewdness is great wickedness: where is the man that trembles at the nearness of God to us? when a breach is made, then fear enemies. Divisions and breaches go before falls of Churches; where is that spirit of Iehosaphat, that feared and proclaimed a fast? When God hath begun to smite, what cause is there to fear! We have been hurt, and yet not laid it to heart; the Lion roars, shall not the people fear? I believe we should not have had those Pequot furies upon us, but God saw we began to sleep: Where is the man that, with Paul, knows the terror of the Lord, and hence perswades men? when the enemy is ever about us, there is always cause of fear, and yet we fear but now and then.
3. Are not our sences bound up? look upon men in their fields and conversings, buyings and sellings; where is a daily, weekly watchfulness over our thoughts and tongues? Look to mens closets, do men there call themselves to account? can they finde leisure or need of it? are not mens eyes closed up, that the glory of God in the Scripture is a sealed thing? Men have eyes but see not; are not mens ears sealed up? Some Sermons men can sleep them out; mans voyce is heard, but not the voyce of the Son of God: Oh how many men are there that become quite Sermon-proof now adays! Are not men blockish, dull, senceless, heavy under all means! they taste not, smell not, whereas elsewhere, O how lively and spiritual are they!
4. Is not the spirit of Prayer, that lamp going out in the Church of God? the blessedness of all flourishing Plantations in the world began by means of that, and shall not continue but as it continues; and if ever cause to seek for prosperity of Plantations, these have need. If God should take away this generation of Magistracy and Ministery, what would this despised Country do? and what would become of your children? then no Schools for them, when no Gospel left among them; then every mans sword shall be against his brother, and God spreading the place with darkness, which through his presence is made light; what little hope of a happy generation after us, when many among us scarce know how to reach their children manners? How apt are we, like to those Asian Churches, to fall into those very sins which overwhelmed them, and ruined them? how many fall off, and in time break forth, that it would make men sick to hear of their pranks? what place more open to temptations of persecution and worldly delusion? go up and down the Plantations, where is the man that lays things to heart? who hath the condition of the Country written upon his heart, and presenting it before the Lord, rather than his own good? Oh men are silent because asleep! How do sins run thorough men as water thorough a mill, and men regard it not? what means, what deliverances have we had! but oh what little thankfulness? 2. Do we make progress; nay, is not out shadow gone back? I sleep, but my heart waketh; it should be so, but it is not so indeed.
5. Have we not fallen a dreaming here? what meaneth else the delusions of mens brains? what a swarm of strange opinions, which (like flies) have gone to the sores of mens heads and hearts, and these are believed also? and more dreams men have that are never spoken; every man hath some drunken conceit that rocks him asleep; dreams are quite contrary to the truths. What meaneth these, if men are not sleeping? First, Drunken dreams of the world. Secondly, golden dreams of grace; that these things advance grace which indeed destroy grace; that there is no grace in the Saints, no grace in Christ, no humane Nature, no promise to evidence grace; no Law to be a Rule to them that have received grace: Who would think that ever any should so fall by a simple woman? But if this be not general; yet look how do men begin to dream concerning the world? scarce a man but finds want, or is well; if he wants, Oh then, if I had such a lot about me, such an estate, how well then were I? and è contra, They that have it, and now they take their rest: Take heed, saith the Lord, your hearts be not overcome with cares; So say I to you.
6. Doth not the Lord oft awaken us, yet we fall to sleep again? the Lord awakened us by the Pequot Hornet, yet what use is there made of that? doth not the Lord oft meet us in an Ordinance, but he is soon lost and gone again? Is there a man that hath not had his cross since he came hither, as loss in cattel and estate, a dear Husband, Childe, Wife dead? a sore and sharp sickness, &c. he hath been exercised with, &c. but do we not sleep still? if it be not thus, it will come; fear it for time to come; but if it be thus, then I say no more, but know it, you are in your enemies hand; and in such an enemies hand, that if you mourn not under it, will open the door either to the entrance of some gross sin and temptation, or for some heavy and sudden wrath. It's sufficient for me this day to shew you where your hurt lyeth.
SECT. V.
HEnce see the reason why men are worse in Virgin-Churches, than inUse 2. polluted places, and why it is so generally; Because here are more temptations to make them all slumber and sleep; here their beds are made soft, here the storms are past, here they are under the shadow, and out of the sun, and security opens the door for an enemy: No wonder if the City be taken though never so strong, if it grow once secure: no wonder if the world be entred, and men are grown more worldly; and if Satan be entred, and men grow more passionate than ever before; no wonder a mans work be neglected, if he be asleep, Ordinances more slighted than ever before: Never shall you see Security fall upon a man alone, but it brings its train with it; when the Husbandmen sleep, tares will be sown, and when the Disciples sleep, temptations will enter; This is that which the Lord testifies of his people, Ier. 2. 2, 3, 4. I remember what thou didst in times of streights, in a land not sown; every one that touched you did offend; but in the seventh and eighth verses, when brought to a plentiful Country, they did not so much as say, Where is the Lord that hath done this for us! But yet the Lord questions his people for this, What iniquity have you found in me? which question you cannot answer without grief here, or confusion another, day. You that are the Lords, often have heard this complaint (for this may be your condition as well as Noah's and Lot's) but now see the cause of it, how hard to awake on hour? how hard to walk with God one day? short awakenings you have, but long sleeps (this may be your condition for a time) but you cannot continue so for ever if you are the Lords. But if you do continue so, especially without bemoaning this unto the Lord, 'tis a question whether ever there was that oyl in your vessel, which others have, when not only a mans acts grow worse, but the very spirit of a man degenerates; when not only the leaves of the Vine fall, but the Vine it self groweth degenerate, and hence continueth so; this is a sore evidence of a woful state, Ier. 2. 20, 21. When the yoke was upon thy nick, thou saidst, Thou wo…l…st not transgress; but the Lord hath broken thy …ands; and now thou art becom a strange Vine: Remember, it will be an heavy indictment against thee, to be good in Mesheck, but base in Sion; to be then worst when the Lord is best.
Use 3. Hence see one reason why the Lord pursueth many a Soul with inward terrors and outward sorrows. Those that are fast asleep, because soft speechs cannot awaken them, hence we lay our hands upon them, and sometimes knock them, because this is the way to awaken them, and then they hear; so the Word and Spirit speak to a man, but such soft still winds rock them asleep rather than awaken them; hence the Lord layeth his iron hands upon a man, and knocks by blows, and now when affliction is upon you, now you can hear; When as the winds and water were ready to tear the ship in pieces, now they enquire, Why were they sent? And the lot fell upon Ionah, who was then sleeping; it is easie to awaken out of natural sleep, but very hard out of spiritual security: All the terrors of God on Ionah within and without are little enough; but at last he could hear, and run on his errand. Psal. 30. 6, 7. Why did God hide his face from David? he said in prosperity he should not be moved; this was the reason of it; the Lord sees you have need of it; seldom shall one see an awakening Christian without inward temptations and terrors, or outward sorrows: Oh consider then if the Lord do meet with thee! consider thy own security thou hast been in, or art apt to fall into! This is the sin you must enquire after and finde out; and do not account it hard, though long, though bitter; for never greater misery than for the Lord to say Sleep on; it is one of the heaviest Judgements, for the Lord to let a man go on in a secure condition without blows; mark therefore unto the end of those blows, to be throughly awakend by them: For sometimes when the Lord sends them, a man (if they be not very bitter, if he hath any rest) lays them not to heart, Isa. 42. 25. Fire burnt about him; and in this Country I know not what curse befalls men; peace makes men secure, and sorow makes men discontented, and sunk, and discouraged, which may be for a fit in a Saint; but to continue so, this is that Ahab: Oh when as thou feelest the blow, look now that thou dost awaken, and be thankfull for it, that you met with that you did never reckon upon, viz. to be frighted out of security thereby.
SECT. VI.
Of Exhortation, Use 4.TO watch over one another, by exhorting one another while it is called to day, Heb. 3. 13. Let both the Watchmen and Members of Churches do this; for this is one means appointed by the Lord to preserve the soul from sleeping, 1 Thes. 5. 1, 5, 6. Exhorting one another; as it is in Cities, when the Watch is apt to sleep, they have their companies that are passing up and down the walls the greatest part of the night, and so they are kept waking; and we shall finde, that as it is in a Town where men are all asleep, one Bell-man, one waking Christian will keep life, and spirit, and the power of godliness in many; and when he sleeps, all are fast. Nothing in the world brings security sooner upon men than sleepy company: Officers of Churches watch not over members, nor they one over another, exhorting and crying one unto another to their work, while it is called to day: Oh then let every man get up, and fall to this work of mutual exhorting! go and visit one another, go and speak oft to one another; and if thou be a childe of the light, see that thou endure not thy fellow servants to sleep in the open day in one duty or another. Know, if God stirs thee, thou wilt awaken others, 2 Cor. 5. 10. We knowing the terrors of the Lord perswade men.
2. Consider thy labor cannot be in vain here; the best mettalled horse needs spurs; others are asleep.
You will say if I knew such a sin I would speak, but I dare not.
Answ. It is the case of all the Virgins, they have need of it, Iude 23. Some save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, Matth. 3.
3. Consider this is one part of your Warfare, to keep your watch whereby you may be made conquerors; You complain you have many sins and temptations arising and prevailing; never do they usually prevail, but when you are secure; first the Watch is taken, and then the City is suddenly taken; now look as Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 6, 7. he hath finished his course, and fought his fight, and now expects the crown; how can you end your days in peace, that cannot in some measure finde and feel this? The Church is the City of the living God, this is taken, and every man in it, unless you be watchful, and exhort one another daily, while it is called to day: And that I may not speak in the clouds,
4. Their sin will be yours.
First, Labor to know the state of thy Brethren whom thou art to exhort; what their sleepy neglects be, and sins are; it may be thou hast known one hath been very humble, tender, affected under Ordinances, made many fair shews and promises of growing, and thriving, and sensibly complaining of his own vileness, and now he is in a silent sleep; Dost thou know this, and wilt not speak a word to awaken him, for whom Christ shed his blood, who it may be will do thee as good a …urn, and make many a prayer for thee? …arnabas when he saw the grace of God, Acts 11. 23.exhorted them with full purpose of heart to cleave unto him; much more should you when you see grace dying, 2 Thes. 3. 11. Paul heard that some were idle, them he exhorts to work; what good might one word do?
Secondly, if you do not know, enquire with a spirit of much love, how it is with them;1 Sam. 17. 16. as David of his Brethren when they were gone into the fields; do you not decline, do you not stand still? how have you found your heart since last Sermon,Christians are to give up accounts one to another of their gains and losses. Sabbath, Fast, Affliction? have you got any ground against that sin you complained of last year? &c. Suppose you cannot do this to all, yet why not to some? Suppose you have no other place than when you meet them in the fields, do it there, Iude 20. Build up your selves, &c. Now here a man must know the height, how high they are built already, how can they lay their stones else? It is one of the heavey curses of God upon the Idol. Shepherd, He shall not visit the hidden, nor seek the young, Zach. 11. 16.
Thirdly, If thou knowest nothing from them, then relate thy own condition, this is a most lovely provocation, and exhortation unto another frame, for one great cause that hardeneth men in their security, is because they see no such living Christianity in the world: But when they do, now (Zach. 8…) many shall take hold of the skirt of a Iew, for they shall say God is with you; Agrippa was almost perswaded and awakened when he heard Paul relate his conversion; although there be many impostors in the world that do so, Tell me, are all things in peace with you? the Devil is in you then: What? hast no temptations? yet many; Dost not observe how they prevail? yes; dost never get strength against them? yes; hast no good days after them? yes, much peace and life, and presence of God! Hath the Lord given these talents to thee to be hid in a Napkin, this treasure to keep and not to spend? who knows but that the speaking of these may awaken others? these temptations, and this condition is mine, these sins I find he makes a great matter of them; Lord what will become of me that am hardned under them? this peace they finde, my Soul is a stranger to it; Conscience will work thus: Women should speak thus to women, and men to men; others were provoked by the example of the Corinthians, to help others; so there is a provoking power here.
Fourthly, If this prevail not, speak often to them, of the sins of others; in condemning others you condemn them; and this will make them look about them; view the fields, and shew them the tares that are grown up by security; and laying down these sins you strike at the root of theirs; It may be, you cannot tell certainly, Acts 2. 40. The Lord made this one means to awaken a Belshazzer, Dan. 5. 22. God turned thy Father into a beast, &c. to live in the woods, yet thou humbledst not thy self, &c. How many Professors doth God deal so withal?
Fifthly, Enter into Covenant and brotherly promise to exhort one another, as David and Ionathan; If any hurt be toward David, Ionathan will speak of it, 1 Sam. 20. Some may in Church-fellowship be more nearly knit than others, to call one another to account, to tell one another their fears, to know of one another their progress. Canst not give an account to man? how wilt thou give an account to God of it? I am perswaded many a man lies smoothered to death by means of this. Canst not come to the light of a candle? Oh how then canst thou appear before the light of the Sun.
Sixthly, Provoke one another to frequency in Ordinances, Heb. 10. 23, 24. and therein consider one another; dost see thy Brother in doubts or complaints call him to pray with thee; dost see things go ill in Churches, and men bite the bit? call to fasting and prayer, three or four together, as Paul, when he saw the ship sinking, then he exhorted them, Act. 27. 22. Especially when you see danger near mens hearts, ready to be lost in the World: In these times suppose only two, or three, or four should go and pray one half hour together, and tell one another their wants, now help here; in our times it hath been so, one living Christian helps others dying.
But yet how is this neglected, as if men were resolved not only to dye sleeping themselves but to let others sleep also? No, you will say, not my self; yet it may be in your family it is so, and before the Lord.
What art alive to God and family, where thou canst do but little common good, and art dead to thy Brother? it is made a sad sign of a man forsaken of God, if when he thinks he shall sleep his last, and be damned himself, yet he would have others damned also. Tell me, would you have all New England lye in security as well as your selves? No! do you not desire it when you use not the means that prevent it; and that is mutual exhortation; Oh therefore do it; Ministers may preach, and every man sleep still, unless some awake and rouse up the rest (as some, when others are abed and fast asleep) that lye a dreaming: Some there be, that though Doomsday were to morrow, they would sleep; Oh therefore let me perswade some one or two to fall to his work, lest their security prove your undoing; therefore speak oft one to another, forsake not your assembling, visit one another, pray one for another, warning one another, that you may awake with the Lord one hour.
SECT. VII.
LEt every man not only exhort his brother,Use 5. but fear this himself; You have a race to run, many enemies to conquer, sleep not lest you fall short, sleep not lest you be taken captive: lest in exhorting others, your selves proves Reptobates: I will not tell you what I fear, but Luk. 21. take heed lest your hearts be overcome; be not drunk with some delight, be not filled with vain cares; Hence, prevent it, as Noah moved with fear made an Ark.
First, Set a high price upon those awakenings and revivings of heart that God sometimes giveth you; I am sure you finde these sometimes. A man that hath nothing to lose, will sleep with his doors open in the night; when a man hath a treasure he will be watchful to keep it; all security comes from an undervaluing of the Spirit of grace, and its presence among us, Prov. 4. 13. keep her, for it is thy life; and when it is lost, what are you but dead?
Secondly, Consider thy continual danger; if enemies be at the gates, all the Town is watching; one would not think the depth of security that is in a careless heart, Psal. 30. 6. I said I should never be moved; he had good days and a thankful heart; then God did hide his face: A man would think Sampson should awake when the Philistines are upon him; but here Devils be upon thee, 1 Pet. 5. 10. If all be well now, yet remember evil days; would you know when? even then when men say peace.
Thirdly, Know the work you have to do, and make it your main business; when men have weighty business of the world in hand, they cannot sleep in their beds; and as the wicked, Prov. 4. 16. They sleep not without doing mischief; and so 'tis their main work.
Fourthly, Call thy self to account daily, let not thy Soul long go on without reflecting, What do I do? Harts and Hawks kept from sleep lose their wildeness, but they must be constantly tended and kept watching: So consider the account you must give to God, 2 Cor. 5. 9. with 11. Hence Hag. 1. 5. Sins were upon them, and they repented not; miseries, and those were not removed; because they considered not their ways, especially before the great Tribunal of God. I am perswaded the reason why men walk in their sleep, and go dreaming up and down the world, is this, they consider not, nor reflect upon themselves to any purpose; what do I? whether go I? no Sermons awaken, you consider not of them.