A Second Guide to Heaven, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
The CONCLUSION.
UPon the whole, you cannot doubt of the certainty of this happiness; all your care and work is to see that you are Children, and espous'd to Christ, and you need not doubt of this salvation. But after all that hath been written to persuade you, unless God open your Eyes, change your Hearts, and undeceive you, you will follow your own vain imaginations, and be undone; therefore I and you too must turn to God in prayer, and earnestly beg his blessing and assistence, and all will be well. The Lord make it effectual to some Souls, and why should not you that are reading it, say, Lord, let it be so to my Soul, that I may not perish to all Eternity.
And above all, look to it, and be sure that you are really good, sound at Heart, and such as may be receiv'd to Glory. Though a Man is not so much concern'd and thoughtful, whether a shilling he takes be brass, yet is he careful that his Writings be right, and his Title to his Estate good, and his Life, when in danger, be sav'd. A Man puts all his Children and Servants out of the room, that he may not be disturb'd, when about his Writings and great settlements; lay aside all other matters and business, when this great work is in hand; and be not satisfied nor quiet, till you can truly say, Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I love thee, and you rejoyce in hope of the Glory to come: God hath done and said much, to secure this happiness for and to you; and should not you make it the solemn and whole business of your Lives, to secure this to your own Souls?
To shut up the whole, I may set before you many things of great concernment, that may be worthy your serious consideration and meditation, but should I reduce them to so many Topicks, the Book would increase upon me too much. I shall only address my self to all sorts of persons, and speak of many things useful, though of a different Nature, that some one thing or other may reach all persons of different constitutions and persuasions.
I could write much unto you, young ones and Children, and earnestly beg you, young Men and Women, to be wise in your young and tender years, to prevent this dreadful deceit and destruction. I have often despair'd of dealing with the Aged, the old weather-beaten sinner,Jer. 13.23. Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, then may ye also do good, which are accustomed to do evil. It seems heartless (but that God commands us to call upon all,) to speak to an hardn'd, unpenitent, ignorant sinner;Senem erudire & mortuum curare, idem est. when a Man hath travell'd all the day in a quite contrary way, to persuade him in the evening of his days, to turn about and begin quite a new course. Therefore in all my Ministry, my Heart was much carried out, and my bowels yearn'd towards young and tender ones, hoping some good might be done amongst them. You are now in your tender years, more pliable and yielding, more ready to hear; sin hath not made such a deep impression, nor had such a long possession; you have not so many wounds, bruises, and falls to be recover'd; you have not sinn'd against so much light, refus'd so many calls, as elder persons; God expects your younger years, and you must give an account for these years, and the works and words thereof. Rejoyce, O young Man,Eccles. 11, 9. and be merry, but know thou, that for these things, God will bring thee into judgement; therefore, remove sorrow, and prevent misery. Now is the acceptable time to the Lord, he delights in the first fruits, the young Pidgeons, and the young Lambs, he remembers the kindness of the youth. Usually such as begin betimes, are more eminent for grace and comforts than others. Those that are bred up to work and a calling from their infancy, lay up in store for old age; it's hard to be bound Apprentice at thirty, or forty, or fifty years old; whereas, train'd up to the work, it's nothing to you. Hard and strange to bring old people to pray, to hear with delight, and love the Word, and discourse of good things, that were never us'd to it. They can tell you old stories, that neither profit you nor themselves. How sweet will it be to live upon old experiences, to have a Stock and Treasure when old age comes?Psal. 71.5, 6, 7. David says, Thou art my hope, and my trust, from my youth, and thou wert then kind to me, in holding me up: Cast me not off in the time of old age, forsake me not, now my strength faileth me. Thou hast taught me from my youth, and I have declared, v. 17, 18.&c. Now also, when I am old and gray-headed, forsake me not. Time may come, when, with Hezekiah, thou can'st in prayer only chatter like a crane, and mourn like a Dove.
Isa. 38.3.How comfortable then will it be, to look back and say, Lord, remember how I have walk'd before thee with a perfect and upright Heart! The truth is, it's dangerous running on in these deceits in youth; it's much if ever they are recover'd again; I will not, I dare not, determine it. Others, that never heard of Christ and rich Grace, may towards the end of their days, as the Thief on the Cross, be call'd at last. One on a deathbed told me with great sorrow and anguish, as the Soul was going out of the body, I had convictions in my younger years, and lost them, and could never recover them again. Now is a time of leisure, you are not plung'd in the cares, and labours, and snares of the World; now you had need be more watchful, because is is a time of stronger temptations; flee youthful lusts;2 Tim. 2.22. you are apt to be more confident and secure, and farthest off from death and danger, and promise your selves long Life and prosperity, and think 'twil be time enough hereafter; do not thus flatter your selves, are you afraid of being rich and happy betimes? is it not as good and necessary to love and praise God now, as in old age? are you too young to be Holy, Humble, and Heavenly? are you sure to live to old age? how many die in their younger years? A good young man dying, said, How sad had it been with me now, if I had left my great work to doing till old age. What if whilst you are thus slumbring and sleeping in security,Matth. 25. beg. the Bride-groom should come, and the door should be shut, and you have no Oyl of Grace in your Heart? Should your days continue, the day of Grace may be gone, you may lose precious advantages for your Souls, Heavenly Calls, and able Ministers; your Sun may set at noon; it may be you may never hear more so many awak'ning truths, if you lose these; God may take away the means of Grace, but will never take away the Grace got by the means; but should you hear as many more blessed truths, and gracious invitations, and wholsome counsels; you may not have the strivings of the spirit; and you are as likely, nay more, to sin away them, as you do these: If you think you shall be better hereafter, observe your Parents, or other aged persons, and see whether they be not as worldly, sensual, and slothful, in Heavenly work, and as far from Death and Judgement, in their thoughts and preparation, as you. God would have you seek first his Kingdom, and remember your Creatour in your youth, and he knows what is best; this is the business of your whole lives. Why should God and Heaven have only the dry bones, and dim eyes, and staggering limbs, and feeble knees;Ubi consumpsisti furfurem, ibi farinam. and sin and vanity have the flower, the strength and marrow? Take heed of those sins now, that will rot your bones, and make your Souls roar in old age, if you live so long.
You that are Aged and Fathers, will you yet hear and be wise? you have one foot in the Grave, and the other in Hell, and both in Sin; have you liv'd all these days destroying your selves, and heaping up wrath against the day of wrath? have you been quite out of the way; and are weakness and decays coming upon you, gray hairs here and there? do you perceive it? why may you not yet be wise? some came at the 11th. hour, and were receiv'd and rewarded. Away with your old courses, customs, and sins, and say yet, why should I not yet turn and live? When Sin and the World call for more of thy time, say, have you not had enough and too much already? I have but a little left, and if I give you this, you have all, and then I am utterly undone. Well, yet you are in the land of the Living: It is not your old, and great, and many sins, will hinder Mercy, but impenitency, want of tenderness, and brokenness, and this you must beg of God.
You that are Great, and Rich, and Mighty, will you be convinc'd, that your greatest Portion in this World is but poor, base, and beggarly, to what I offer you? Can a Man be poorer than Death will make him, stript of all? When a covetous greedy wretch cries out at last, What, World, wilt thou not afford me a Corner, a Chamber, a Closet, a Dungeon, a little Bread and Water? no, kick him out of doors, cast him into the Grave, let him stink and rot, and leave all here to others.
Ay, but I have rose early, gone to bed late, eat the bread of sorrow and carefulness; I have desir'd thy favour, fear'd thine anger, World, more than the wrath of God. I have admir'd thy favourites, though I could not reach to it my self, I have worship'd the rising Sun; and I have despis'd thy poor, ragged, miserable Mourners; I have run, and rid, sweat, and pinch'd my bowels, wearied out my limbs, and all to get a little of thee: Nay, I have slighted God, neglected his Word and Work; when I should have been at prayer in the Morning for my Soul, I have hearken'd to thy call, and run abroad to my field, or to my shop, or to my games, seeking for thy pleasure and profit, and have preferr'd it above Godliness; and I have tir'd my self about thy work all the day, so that I have neglected God and my Soul at night; I have laught at, and despis'd those in my Heart, that did mind reading and prayer, &c. when I was getting mony, &c. and now God hath forsaken me and is angry, my Conscience galls and terrifies me, and wilt thou also cast me off? Yes, away with him, the place that knew him shall know him no more.
You that are poor, and low, and despis'd in the World, methinks you should hearken, and be glad with these offers, and warnings, and counsels. You are poor here, but you may be rich in faith and Heirs of a Kingdom,Jam. 2.5. It's sad, that you who can't expect much in this World, should deceive your selves, and lose Mercy in the other World too. Poor and wicked is a sad sight.
Could I persuade the Wise and the Learned, the Polititian and the Scholar, to take heed of this dangerous mistake and undoing? The Scripture tells you,1 Cor. Ch. 1, 2. not many Wise in this World are Wise to Salvation; and Christ says, these things are hid from the Wise and Prudent, and reveal'd to such as are but Babes in knowledge, to you; it tells you, that these things are foolishness to those Wise, and that they must become fools, before they can be Wise. To see a man elaborate in his studies; searching Books, Arts, and Sciences, and into the nature of things, and not search into your own Hearts and Lives; knowing many, most things, and not know the one thing needful. Do you believe that plain distich to be true?
Si Christum discis, nihil est si caetera nescis,
Si Christum nescis, nihil est si caetera discis.
Paul was a Learned Man, and he counted all his Learning, and other Accomplishments, but dung and dogs-meat, to this excellent knowledge.
You, that have been bred up ignorantly, and have but little knowledge, may you come to Christ and the Word, and see whether you may not yet learn and understand. A man that is very poor must work the harder.
Such as are under great Temptations, in wicked Families, in bad Callings, you had need look to your selves; you that in Trading are apt to cheat others, take heed of wronging your selves; it is dangerous living in places where is Swearing, Cursing, Drinking, Revelling, no fear of God, nor praying to him; you had need look to your thatchy Hearts, when sparkes fly out of your Neighbours mouth, soon catch fire; take heed of all Temptations, all occasions of sin; as to wantonness, take heed of wanton dalliances, filthy communication, unclean actions, of secrecy and privacy; the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and if you live after the Flesh you must die;Ro. 8. beg. to be carnally minded is Death; come not near her door; if you are tempted by idle company to drunkenness and idleness; think, these are Soul-destroyers, avoid, come not near, them, as you would save your Lives.
Are you of bad dispositions, hasty tempers, inclin'd to passion and wrath? take the more heed,Jam. 3. watch your lips, the tongue is an unruly Member, set on fire of Hell. Are you apt to belch out rash speeches against others? think, this will most hurt and wound my self: Take heed of wrath, and malice, evil-speaking, back-biting, censuring, you wound your Neighbours Name, and your own Souls.
Are you backward to good, dead and slothful, and careless? think, this ease is but for a little while; if I will not sow now, I can't reap hereafter; if I will not run, I can't obtain. Shall others pray, and hear, and repent, and seek Heaven, and obtain it, and I lose Heaven for want of asking? is not such glory worthy praying for? then, surely it's worth nothing. What have I to do of greater concernment? up and be doing for the Lords sake; say, I have been idle and lazy too long: I have struggl'd enough for the World, I see what that can do for me; I have labour'd for that which is not bread, and doth not satisfie, and I will now incline mine ears to God, and hear, that my Soul may live. Say as those Lepers, 2 Kings, 7. Why sit we here until we die? if we will go to the World, there is the Famine that all perish, and we shall die there, and if we sit still here in our sins, we die also; now therefore, come and let us fall into the hands of God, if he save us alive we shall live, and if he cast us off and kill us, we shall but die. Let us turn to the Lord, who knows, but that he may have Mercy on us.
Are you full of troubles and crosses, losses and disappointments, great crosses in your Children by their wickedness, or loss by Death? are you in debt, and great want? go to God for this soul-saving Mercy, this will ease and relieve.
Are you melancholy, sad and dejected, full of fears and doubts, fear Death, fear Gods anger, your sins lye heavy? come weary and heavy laden to Christ, and see whether you cannot find rest for your Souls.
Are you in good Families, under lively means of Grace; have the Bible and good Books? prize and improve all; while the Sun shines, while the day lasts; now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.
Are you Parents? watch over your Childrens Souls, pray for them, instruct, teach, reprove, persuade them; many labour for their Childrens bodies; be mostly concern'd, that your Children be not undone and lost Eternally.
Are you Children? be obedient, tractable; honour thy Father and Mother, that it may be well with you. It's dangerous sinning this way, it will fall on your own heads in this Life.
There have been many remarkable instances of Gods hand against Children in this Life, that have despis'd and disobey'd their Parents; but were it not now, all these sins hurt the offendor most, and will deeply wound at last. Are you Masters and Mistresses? do not domineer and insult, and wrong your Servants, knowing that you have a Master in Heaven; wrong them not in their Wages, nor work, their cries come up to God; oppress not the poor, not hirelings, nor needy; your account is coming, and wrath on your Souls. Jam. 5.1, 2. Weep and houl, ye rich Men, (one would think that belong'd to the poor, sick, and miserable,) no, weep you for your miseries that shall come upon you; look not so strictly and eagerly after them and their work, as to neglect your selves and your work. There is none here to call you to an account.
Are you Magistrates and Governours? how exact, and vigilant, and wise, should you be?
Are you Ministers? what a great account must you give for your selves, and the Souls committed to your charge? If the Watchman sleep, it's worse than another, that should give warning, and prevent fire or an enemy; if the Fountain be poyson'd or corrupt, how the streams? what great guilt to destroy so many? A Lawyer offends, that neglects his care, and makes false settlement, and undoes his Client; a Physician that neglects his Patient, and prescribes Poyson for Physick, and kills the Body; but a Minister much more, that neglects Souls, and gives Scorpions for Fish, and Serpents for Bread. O the price of Souls!
A Physician could scarce earn his Pay or Livelyhood, that only read a Lecture once a week in a Parish or a publick place, and learnedly discours'd of the nature of a Feavor, a Consumption, or Apoplexy, shew'd the causes, the symptomes, and the cure; the people would be unwilling to give him an 100 l. per Annum, nor account themselves much benefited by him, unless he came to their Houses, enquir'd into their Distempers, felt their Pulses, found how their Head ak'd, or Bowels, grip'd, apply'd suitable Medicines, see that they took it, and observ'd the result. The truth is, a Physician would be starv'd for all his plush Coat; and a Lawyer, for all his great House, if they did not study, and were careful and successful, persons would give them nothing. But a Minister, Preach or not Preach, see his people or live an 100 Miles off, and laugh at them, goes to the Law for his Tythes; feeds himself though the people starves; but such wretches starve, wound, and destroy themselves most. What a charge is given, 2 Tim. 4. beg. be instant in season, out of season. Paul, woe is me if I Preach not the Gospel. He doth not glory, I have a better Parsonage, but I have labour'd more than them all.
How many useful Inferences may be drawn from the whole?
Then they are not the wise and happy, that the World account so, but whom God accounts so. A man may be rich, and yet miserably poor; living and lively, and yet dreadfully dying; high and honourable, and yet base and vile; wise and learned, and yet a very fool; confident and presumptious, and yet on the brink of Destruction.
Then, no wonder good men are so cautious and wary, so fearful and enquiring, doubting and sinking, you can't blame them, they are afraid of being undone: Let them search and try, pray and cry, run and fight, it's for their Lives. You blame not the Worldlings, for their care and diligence, their wisdom and labour; they are accounted wise, and take their Seasons; they do not neglect Sowing till they should Reap; no, rise at Night to Plow, when they should sleep.
Blame not good men, if they take all the best Seasons, it's their wisdom, their safety, their happiness, that they take their younger years, greedily catch after all seasons of Grace; take the time, when they have strength, and their Hearts best in frame.
No wonder they prize that Company, those Ministers best, that will help them against this deceit; glad to have the most searching, awakening Word, willing that the Word should search the bottom of the Wound, though it puts them to pain and smarting.
Hence 'tis, they are more afraid of the least sin, than the greatest suffering; that they cannot, dare not, do as others, though reproach'd, scorn'd, persecuted; they think it strange, but these know, there is great danger in the least sin, it wounds to the Heart, and wounds Eternally.
Therefore these prize pardoning Mercy, Free-Grace, Jesus Christ, and wonderfully extoll and exalt it; they can't enough glory in Jesus Christ, and him Crucified, as their Saviour.
Therefore are they so contented with the least allowance, and the greatest troubles. These things are not my portion, nor these losses my Hell. Strike Lord, strike,Feri, Domine, feri, &c. Luther. my sins are pardon'd, Isa. 33.24. they shall not say they are sick, he doth not say, they are not sick; but they shall not regard it; why? their iniquities are forgiven.
Therefore are they often so willing to die, long to be dissolv'd, because they know, it's far better.
If so many be deceiv'd, and the danger so great, then salvation-work is not easie, trifling, common work, as the most make it. Certainly it's hard to escape all the dangerous snares, there is somewhat to take with these wicked Hearts; we can't enough watch against our selves, and bewail our own deceitful Hearts. No wonder, good men so much bewail their evil Natures; there is a snare in every thing, in our meat, and drink, and sleep, in our prayers and hearing, in our converse and solitude, when lifted up, proud; when cast down, murmur; when far off from Death, severe; when draw nigh, overwhelm'd and confounded. The Devil knows how to bait for every temper, he knows your constitutions; if proud, he sets before you your abilities, your esteem in the World, and it may be more than it is, and your good works; if covetous, he proposes gain, and much increase this and that way, and it may be upon others; if melancholly, he will drive to sadness and despair; if chearful, to wantonness and gayety; if alone, he tempts to vain thoughts; if in company, to vain discourse; if your enemies before you, provoke you to hate or hurt them; if your friends, to love them over much, to flatter and applaud them; if you are lazy, and slothful, and careless about Religion, keep you from Prayer, hearing or reading; if you are inclin'd to hear or pray, tempt you to formality and coldness, or to hypocrisie and vain-glory: Are you careless, presumptious, and confident of your spiritual condition? he says, all is well, never fear; are you fearful and doubting? he tells you there is no hope, no help for you. Thus the adversary useth all means to destroy, and we close in with all his Temptations, and hurt our selves.
Now you hear a Sermon but once a week, read a Chapter now and then, meet with good company, and discourse seldom; but these tempters and temptations are with you lying down and rising up, in all places, company, and conditions.
Learn hence, that it is an unspeakable mercy, astonishing goodness, the mighty power and wisdom of God, if a Soul be sav'd and deliver'd. Heaven is but enough to admire, praise and magnifie this distinguishing Grace and Goodness. When a Soul shall see at last, how she escap'd such a dangerous snare; deliver'd this and that way, and when escape from every Temptation.
The Lord only knows how, quid, quando, quomodo; what is the best means, time, and way, to deliver the Godly out of Temptation?
On the other hand, how sad and doleful the condition of every wicked Man, every lost Soul, that runs on to destruction; he knows also how to reserve the unjust to the day of Judgement, to be punish'd.2 Pet. 2.9.
He keeps them, maintains and feeds them,Servare. the wicked eat of his bounty, breath in his Air; enjoy the Light of his Sun, Moon, and Stars.
He preserves them,Praeservare. from many evils and dangers here, from many sore Diseases, and when sick, restores them; when wounded, heals them. He preserves them long as the old World, till Noah was in the Ark; he appointed how many days they should eat and drink, how many Marriages: So did he as to Sodom, that very Morning the Sun shin'd forth as formerly, till he did rain Fire and Brimstone. This sinners account a favour.
ReservareBut all this while, he doth but reserve them for to be punish'd, to be destroy'd; not to be pitied, pardon'd, honour'd, and sav'd; but as Prisoners in a Goal, in Chains, kept close, safe, and fast, till they are brought forth to Judgement, and to Destruction.
Reckon then upon nothing you have or enjoy, or you seem to have, or hope to be, unless you can upon good grounds hope that you are the Children of God, and can rejoyce in hope of the Glory to come; and if so, envy not the prosperity of the wicked, nor bewail your own condition, though seemingly never so poor and miserable, at the present.
Be sure to hold on, and hold out to your Death;Gal. 6.9, 10. be not weary in well-doing, and you shall reap, if you faint not: And the nearer you come to the Grave, the more hasten homeward; look for, and hasten to the coming of your Lord. Said a good man, when dissuaded in old age, not to spend himself so much in his goodworks, said he, shall I lessen my pace, when I am so near home? There is much in that, Blessed is that Servant, whom, when his Lord he cometh, shall find well-doing. I know persons make a great a-do about the dying words of Men and Women; O! they died like a lamb, but how did they live, like swine and dogs? one cries, pluck up a good Heart, man, alas! he hath none to pluck up.
Another says, call upon God: Alas! said a sinner under agonies to me, how dare you speak to God for me, that have been all my days so vile? I foresaw all this wrath and misery long ago; I call'd my Soul to an account, and told it all this, how't would be; O! that I could be a warning to all others; if God will damn, cast me off, he is just and righteous, I have nothing to say; if he will save me, 'twil be unspeakable Mercy. I know all send for a Minister to speak comfortably to the dying, good or bad. A Physician may tell them, the Patient is thus and thus sick, and when dangerous; but a Minister must say, all is well, chear up. But God bids us say only to the Righteous, it shall be well with them, and to the wicked, woe; and Christ says, if the house be worthy, peace shall abide, and if not, go away.
It is not in the power of all the Angels in Heaven, nor the best Ministers on earth, to speak peace to a wicked man dying; There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; Isa. 57. last.but he is like the troubl'd Sea, restless, and casting out mire, and filth of sin, and shame, and sorrow. What shall we say to one, that hath liv'd in sensuality, pride, and wantonness, in drunkenness, and intemperance, in neglect of God and all that is good, in contempt of his word and works, that hath serv'd the Devil, his Lusts, and the World, all his days, that never pray'd one quarter of an hour heartily, nor read the Word with any delight? shall we say to such a one, well done, good and faithful servant, you have been abounding in the work of the Lord, you have fought a good fight, you have pray'd without ceasing, you have been faithful to God, to your Neighbours and your own Soul? would the person believe us, or rather think we jear him? Ay, but he is penitent and very sorry for his sins, and cries to God for Mercy. It's well, if it be sincere; you, his friends, are willing to believe so, so you are that he will live again, though he be just dying, he must not be told of it; but is it any token that I have a great love and kindness for you, because I run under your roof for shelter, when a dreadful storm is ready to swallow me up? All I shall say, is, that I have found some to appearance near Death, very penitent and good, full of hearty resolutions and promises, that have recover'd, and turn'd as bad, or worse than before; as strength came, so corruptions grew; that I have very little charity for a Death-bed Repentance.
I know the Thief on the Cross is the grand and only instance made use of, not to bring to Repentance, but to keep men from it till that very time, and that hath brought many a Thief to the Gallows. That was an extraordinary instance; he was wonderfully wrought upon, and chang'd: To own a Christ upon the Cross, when others were buffeting, and spitting on his blessed face, upbraiding, and saying, save thy self; and at this time to reprove his fellow Thief, to confess his own fault; to acknowledge and own Christ to be Lord, to own him to be a Saviour of the World, that was dying himself, a cruel, and cursed, and shameful Death; to own him as one that could save such a a great, vile, and cursed Sinner as he was, that men would not save; nay, to own a Kingdom, a Crown, for him that was nail'd to the Cross; and that he was willing to go and be with him, for all that shame and contempt; besides you can't expect such an instance, the Saviour of the World would shew now at his Death, that he was a Saviour of Sinners, and would carry one with him from the Cross to his Crown. The other Thief was not sav'd by him, though he died on the other side, so near Christ. It's likely, this may be his first call, you have refus'd many. The reasons why persons are so willing to plead this way, is, because they would have this World while they can, and pass into Heaven at last. Do not thus deceive, and flatter, and destroy your selves.
Again, why do, you trifle, and are most careless, that little time you spend in Heavenly work. God allows you much time about the World, six days in seven, and the seventh the World hath usually; and if you pray or read, then dead, dull, sleepy; alive about the World all day, work and talk, and not weary nor complain. Should a man allow his servant all the day for his eating and drinking, and his own work, only require an hour in the day for his proper and immediate service, he must needs be highly offended to find him sleeping and trifling then? God allows you much time, almost all the day and night for your eating, and drinking, and sleeping, and worldly works, and delights; and will you, dare you, trifle that little short hour in a day at your prayers?
Methinks, I am loth to believe you unresolv'd and quiet in your lost undone condition; I leave it to you to debate the business with your own Souls. Say, I have lost much time already, never to be recall'd; I have but a little time more to enjoy what now I seem to have in Possession.
I have but a little time more to debate the business, and to resolve, whether I shall be sav'd or perish. Death is at hand, and that is the trap-door, that will let me into Heaven or Hell. Many of my friends and acquaintance are gone already; I see good and bad men hasten away, Heaven and Hell fill apace every day; when they are gone, you hear no more of them, and therefore are secure.
May I not do this Heavenly work, and enjoy as much as I do of the World still? Either this is true, that there is such an happiness or misery, or not? if it be not true, I see not but such as pray, as mediate, and walk circumspectly, live as comfortably as we do, that neglect all this Heavenly work, and run into sin, and on this account, they are in as happy condition as we; but if this be true, woe, woe to me that ever I was born; 'twould have been well for me that I had been a Toad, a Dog, and could perish as they; better have the Heart of a Swine, than of a man, and not love God. My Horse, and my Ox and Sheep, will rise up in Judgement against me, they work and serve me, seem delighted and thankful, when I bring them Fodder and own them;Isa. 1.3. but I forget my Lord and Maker, that feeds and maintains me: The Ground brings forth Grass and Corn after Rain and Sun-shine, but I am barren and unfruitful, and bear briars and thornes under so many fruitful showers. Alas! alas! what have I done? what will become of me? What account can I give for Sermons or good Books, and good examples; good Bread, and Drink, and Meat, and have been unthankful and ungrateful? How may I sit down and mourn alone, and refuse to be comforted? I am undone, I am lost, I am certainly hastning a-pace to Eternal Destruction. Well, is it impossible, that I may yet recover, is their no hope, no help, for such a lost sinner as I am? Did not Christ come to seek and save that which was lost? why should I not turn and live? O, that yet I may be accepted. God calls me, Christ intreats me. This Treatise is now sent me, to persuade, and intreat me to turn to the Lord, and seek for Mercy and live. I come, Lord, at thy call and command, I cast away my Rebellious Arms; I give up my self to thy Government. Lord, yet imploy me and make use of me in thy service; I will never more depart from Thee; put thy fear in my Heart to this end, and never leave nor forsake me.
To Conclude all, it can't be exprest nor thought, how happy and blessed the Soul shall be that shall be sav'd. I have spoken somewhat, but alas! the half can't be exprest nor understood; we know as little of the other World, as a Child in the Cradle of this World. I have but cloath'd the Christian in Rags, how will they appear in their shining Robes?Cambden on Queen Elizabeth. One says, praise is but the tribute of Man, true worth is the gift of God. I have been astonisht to read some Expressions, as that, John 17. after many excellent Prayers for them, and loving compellations of them, he Concludes, and shuts up all at last, Father, that they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the World may believe thou hast sent me. v. 22.foreign. And the Glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one. Again, v. 23. I in you, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that the World may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. v. 24. Father, I will, let them also whom thou hast given me, be with me, where I am, that they may behold my Glory. Again, v. last. That the Life wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them. They are words we can't understand, till we come to Heaven; I can't open them. Phil. 3.21. Who shall change our vile Body, and make it like unto his Glorious Body.
1 John, 3.1, 2. Behold, what manner of love hath the Father bestowed on us, that we should be called the Sons of God: We know not how great and wonderful; ay, but the World don't see so much in it, nor doth it yet appear, but when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is: What that is, I must leave to the great day.
Blessed, a Thousand times Blessed are those that are thus Wonderfully, Gloriously, and Eternally Sav'd.