Warning Given to Secure Sinners to Prepare for Judgment, Title page – To the reader
A WARNING GIVEN TO Secure Sinners, TO Prepare for Judgment, TO Flee from Wrath to Come, AND Turn from All Sin; BUT Eſpecially the Sin which does moſt eaſily beſet them.
By NATHANAEL VINCENT, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Ezek. 33. 7. O Son of Man, I have ſet thee a Watchman unto the houſe of Iſrael, therefore thou ſhalt hear the Word at my Mouth, and warn them from Me.
LICENSED,
March 17th. 1688.
LONDON, Printed by J. Aſtwood for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheap-ſide, near Mercers-Chappel. 1688.
THE Epiſtle to the READER.
Reader!
WHen I Preached theſe following Sermons, I had not the leaſt thought of Publiſhing them: They were taken from my Mouth by a dexterous and nimble hand that wrote almoſt every Word I utter'd: I was very much ſollicited to Print them; and the Notes being written out fair, and brought to me, I have look'd them over, and now they are preſented to thee, with a ſincere Deſign that they may be beneficial to thee, and not without Hope they will be ſo. The Subjects here handled are awakening; and in this ſecure Age, what need is there of ſtartling Sermons! At this day in England, there is work enough for many a Boanerges, for ten thouſand Sons of Thunder.
The guilt and defilement of Sin, proves it to be Mans greateſt Enemy; but becauſe it ſtupifies and hardens thoſe that have been guilty of it, it is likely the more effectually to deſtroy them; for the Diſeaſe not being felt, the Remedy is neglected. A ſpiritual Lethargy is the general Diſtemper, moſt continue faſt aſleep in Sin, till Hell wakes them, but then it is too late. Though Chriſt has the Key of Hell, that Saviour releaſes none that once are thrown into it. Miſerable World, becauſe it lies in Wickedneſs! more miſerable, becauſe it apprehends not how miſerable its Wickedneſs has made it! becauſe it fears not, it endeavours not to eſcape Eternal Miſery!
Oh dreadful Day of God that's coming! when all Apoſtate Angels that are now in Chains of Darkneſs, ſhall be brought forth and judged, and dealt with as the Enemtes of God and Man: Theſe Principalities and Powers will be overpowr'd, and utterly unable to avoid the ſeverity of their Righteous and Almighty Judge: How much evil have they done, and ſtill they are doing more! of what Woe and Torment are they capable!
And all thoſe of the Children of Men who have been led Captive by Satan at his Pleaſure, that have reſolved rather to be deſtroyed themſelves, than that the works of the Devil ſhould be deſtroyed in them, 'tis juſt that they ſhould, but how ſad will it be for them, to ſhare in Torment with him! Sin will have a very bad end; all that are gone into another World, are ſenſible of it, though few in this World perceive it. When the Servants of Sin have received their Wages, which is Death; then they will know to their ſorrow, what kind of Maſter they have ſerved, and what Pains they fooliſhly took for that Miſery, which they ſhould have taken Pains to have prevented.
Reader!
Be wiſe, believe and fear, and take the Watchman's Warning: The Sword in the Hand of the living Eternal God will give a dreadful and a deadly Blow; to fall under his Vengeance will be fearful; and thy Blood lying upon thy own Head, it will lye very heavy, and upon this will follow everlaſting heavines and anguiſh. Oh fear the Wrath to come before 'tis come, and fly from Sin, nnd come to God by Jeſus Chriſt, a Saviour both from Sin and Wrath, and a Saviour to the uttermoſt. Better Counſel than this cannot be taken by thy ſelf, or given by any to thee.
N. V.