Serious Reflections on Time and Eternity, Title page – To the reader
SERIOUS REFLECTIONS ON TIME, AND ETERNITY. With ſome other Subjects, Moral and Divine. To which is prefix'd an Introduction concerning the firſt Day of the Year, how obſerved by the Jews, and may beſt be employed by a ſerious Chriſtian. By JOHN SHOWER. The ſecond Edition Corrected, and very much Enlarged.
LONDON: Printed for Joſeph Watts, at the Angel in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1689.
TO THE READER.
THE viſible Decay of Piety, and Evangelical Holineſs, is a common ſubject of Complaint: and hardly ever more juſtly than now, with reſpect to the Generality of Churches, and particular Chriſtians. All ſerious and conſidering Perſons muſt needs reckon themſelves obliged on that account both to Mourn and Fear. The cauſes of ſerious Mourning are too many, and too notorious, to be unobſerved by thoſe, who have any Knowledge of the preſent State of the Chriſtian Religion in Europe, even among the moſt Reformed. The general unacquaintedneſs with the Myſteries of the Goſpel; the Reproach of the ſolemn Aſſemblies by the Corruption of its Doctrines and Worſhip, and the diſhonour caſt upon its moſt ſacred Institutions; the late terrible Deſolations of the Temple and Sanctuary, and grievous ſufferings of our Brethren in many parts of the World; the ſhameful Apoſtacy of ſo many Thouſands from the Doctrine and Worſhip of the Goſpel, and other conſiderations of this kind, which might be named, do carry with them a loud call to Humiliation and Mourning.
But the Practical Degeneracy of Profeſſing Chriſtians unto Worldlineſs, Profaneſs, and Senſuality, doth not only afford matter of Lamentation for the preſent, but too much ground to Fear, that the bitterneſs of Death is not paſt; that God's Anger is not turned away, or his Controverſie ended with the Proteſtant Churches. And after we have known ſo many Thouſands to renounce and abjure their Religion in an Hour of Temptation, and ſee ſo many more (yea the far greateſt part,) in a preparedneſs to Revolt, on the like or leſſer Trials, by reaſon of their vicious Lives, (becauſe they receive not the Truth in the Love of it,) what can we reaſonably expect, but further Tokens of Divine Diſpleaſure?
And how little of any encouraging Proſpect is there, by the ſerious Reformation of Perſons, Families, and Churches to turn away his Wrath? Where are there any Symptoms of the Recovery of the Power of Godlineſs, from whence in our Age there is ſo undeniable a Declenſion? (and acknowledged by all Parties that there is ſo.) How little is to be ſeen of any ſuch thing, among thoſe who are moſt Forward and Zealous in eſpouſing the Reformed Intereſt? even ſuch as would be thought of all others to be moſt concerned for its Preſervation, and have ſuffered not a little for it?
The diſtreſſed caſe of our Brethren cannot but move our Bowels of Compaſſion, when we read or hear from time to time the Relation of the barbarous Proceedings of their Perſecutors. But the ſenſual wicked Lives of profeſſedly Reformed Chriſtians, is certainly a more dreadful object to be conſidered, and ought ſo to be regarded by us, as the Conſequences of it are much more to be feared, than of the fiercest Perſecution by open and avowed Enemies. For the Church of Chriſt never lost either Truth or Holineſs that way; it hath rather been a conſiderable outward Means, for the preſervation and encreaſe of Both. Though this cannot be ſaid, but the direct Contrary, concerning Proteſtants perſecuting one another for leſſer Differences.
The ſad Effects of it have been ſeen and felt to that degree, in weakning the common truly Chriſtian Intereſt among us, that now, if ever, there is a louder Call than ordinary to Forbearance, and Forgiveneſs, and Unity of Affection; that our Diviſions, with a revengeful, perſecuting Spirit, may not prove our Ruin.
And whatever Expectations we may and ought to have, from the unfulfilled Prophecies, of God's rebuilding Sion, in the latter days, and deſtroying her Enemies; (which we have no reaſon to queſtion but he will moſt gloriouſly effect, and ought daily to pray that he would haſten it, for his Names ſake:) yet can we never hope to ſee any thing conſiderable of that kind, in our Time, without a great Repentance and Reformation, and the more Plentiful pouring out of the H. Spirit for the healing of the Nations. I therefore wiſh that the confident expectations of a ſpeedy deliverance of the Church, may not divert us from the preſent Duty we are called to, as the proper appointed Means, to which God hath directed us for that end.
Before the deſtruction of Jeruſalem by Titus, what was it that did hinder the Jews from hearkning to the Voice of God and Man for their Preſervation; but this Preſumption, that at that time their Meſſiah would come and ſave 'em? And that Day of the Lord which is expected, (wherein he will plead the Controverſie of Zion againſt Babylon,) how Glorious ſoever it may be in the Iſſue, may be, 'tis likely it will be ſuch, as ſhall diſappoint our vain and fooliſh Hopes concerning it. God will throughly purge his Temple, and puniſh the Men that are at Eaſe, and ſetled on their Lees, and tread down the Outer-court of falſe Profeſſors. Therefore all ranks and degrees of Men ſhould be awakened to ſerious Repentance.
And are there any hopeful Beginnings of ſuch a Thing, within view? Is there any thing on Foot to be obſerved, like ſuch a retrieving of Goſpel Holineſs in the Hearts and Lives of Men? Doth not the Name and Thing grow more and more into Contempt every day? and who can tell how far it may proceed, to procure Judgment upon any particular Place or Country, that is guilty of ſo general, and provoking a Defection?
It concerns us therefore, every one to look to himſelf; to Repent, and do our firſt Works, and make our Peace with God, that we may be found within the ſmall number of thoſe, who ſhall be thought worthy to eſcape the almoſt Epidemical infection, and to ſtand before the Son of Man. On which Account, any thing that is likely to awaken Men to Conſideration of the great acknowledged Principles of Religion cannot be unſeaſonable. Yea, in ſuch a caſe the meaneſt, and weakeſt Endeavours may be of ſome uſe. The Subjects of the following Reflections are moſt of them of that kind, neceſſary to be attended to by all ſorts of Perſons; and ſo cannot be too often preſt, though in different Manners.
The uſefulneſs of the ſubject Matter, and the ſmalneſs of the Bulk, are two things which are wont to recommend a Book to moſt Readers. For which reaſon, I may Hope, this will be read by ſeveral, who ſuffer much better, (becauſe bigger,) books to lye by them neglected. Some may poſſibly give it the reading, as a New-years gift. And whoever ſhall be ſo far perſwaded by it as to ſet apart ſome Time in the beginning of the Year, for Self-examination, Confeſſion of ſin, Repentance, Thankſgiving, and ſolemn renewal of his Covenant with God, (which ſeveral of theſe Reflections may not only excite to, but are intended to direct and aſſiſt him in,) I am perſwaded he will thank me for putting him in mind (at leaſt,) of ſo ſeaſonable an Exerciſe. The greateſt part of theſe Meditations were begun on a New-years day, tho ſome others are thought fit to be inſerted, as tending to promote the ſame deſign. But knowing how much eaſier it is to ſtir up other Mens Devotion, than to command and keep alive my own; 'tis deſired that the moſt devout Thoughts contained in theſe Papers, may be looked upon as what the Author aims at, and would perſwade to, rather than what he hath already attained: as what he knows he ought to be and do, and doth ſeriouſly endeavour rather than what he is, and hath been: heartily lamenting wherein he hath been Faulty, or defective in ſuch duties, as theſe, and the like Reflections, do oblige to, and enforce upon All, who ſhall read them, and therefore much more upon himſelf.
That they were Penn'd at ſeveral times, and in occaſional Retirements for Spiritual Exerciſes, will, with the difference of the Subjects, be a ſufficient excuſe, that ſome are larger and others ſhorter, and that the Style is in ſome places more neglected than in others. If I may hereby render any Service to the Souls of Men, if any ſecure Sinner, any Self deceiving Hypocrite, or backſliding Chriſtian be hereby awakened, or any ſerious Believer's Devotion be quickned and advanced, I hope God will accept it. To his Bleſſing I humbly recommend it; for thoſe Ends.