Heaven Upon Earth, Sermon · Motives 3
III. HEAD OF MOTIVES.
The next Head of Motives to enforce this Exhortation, might be taken from the danger of not being acquainted with God. If you could live ſecurely without God, and be in a ſafe condition, though you ſtill remained a ſtranger to him, the buſineſs then were not ſo very conſiderable; if you could find any in Heaven that could do as much for you as God can, I ſhould not be ſo earneſt with you to get an intereſt in his favour; if you could by any means poſſible be everlaſtingly happy any other way, if without this Friend get to Heaven, and without his Alliance avoid utter ruine, I ſhould have had the leſs reaſon to uſe ſo much importunity; I might then poſſibly have ſpared my ſelf the trouble of ſpeaking theſe things, and you the trouble of hearing of them. But when I ſee and know that it is as much as their life and ſoule is worth, to ſlight and undervalue the Motions that I am now a making to you in Chriſts ſtead, how can I with any faithfulneſs and love to your ſouls hold my peace? How can I ſtand looking upon men and women that are about to murder their own ſouls, and forbear crying out? How can I endure to ſee poor Creatures running with all the ſpeed they can to that diſmal place, from whence there is no Redemption, and not endeavour to ſtop them? Would you have me ſo cruel to your ſouls; as not to tell that which doth infinitely concern their well-being? for, let me tell you, God will not ſtand neuter, he will be either for you, or againſt you; he is the Lord of Hoſts, and he will fight on one ſide or other. Now ſee to your matters, as the nature of them doth require. What do you think of having a God a gainſt you? if God be againſt you, who will be for you? There is no peace, ſaith my God, to the wicked. The ſafeſt conditions you can be in, while God is your enemy, is ſadly hazzardous; ſuch a one hangs by a twined thread over everlaſting flames; he ſtands upon the brink of that bottomleſs pit, and one ſhove, one ſlip, ſends him going for ever; he ſtands upon a pinacle, which one little blaſt may blow him off, and then where is the man to all Eternity? if he fall thence, there is no riſing again; if he once go into that other world, there is no recovery of him, if one would give a world to bring him back again. I ſay it again, if God be not your Friend, he will be your Enemy: and what do you think of ſuch an Enemy? It is but a word, a look, and they fall. Let me tell you, that except you ſpeedily humble your ſelves, you ſhall find that we do not make the danger greater then it is: according to his fear ſo is his wrath: you may know ſoon enough to your coſt, what the diſpleaſure of a God is, how dreadful his arrows, how ſharp his ſword. Not a man of them ſhall ſcape that will not accept of peace upon his tearms, and that quickly too. O that will be a ſad day, when God ſhall ſay, Bring them out and ſlay them before my face. If God be your enemy, who do you think will be your friend? To which of the Saints or Angels will you fly? where will you go for ſhelter againſt the ſtorm of that terrible one? what armour will defend you from the dint of his weapons? what in the world can ſtand that man in any ſtead that hath ſuch an Adverſary? eſpecially when he comes to give his definitiveſentence againſt him for high Treaſon. Dives may ſay, Father, and Abraham, Son: but what comfort for all that had the miſerable Child from his holy Father? doth he not in ſtead of cooling his tongue with a drop of water, lay more burning coals upon it, & if it be poſſible, make the heat of it greater: ſon, remember that thou in thy life time hadſt thy good things. Thus Abraham by putting him in mind what his condition was, makes him with the greater ſorrow to feel what it is. The memory of former joys under preſent ſorrows, make them ſting the more. Well then, if you would not hereafter reflect with an aking heart upon your loſt enjoyments, think with a ſerious and thankful heart of the preſent offers, that you may in Eternity reflect with joy upon your ſhort ſorrows in time. If you will not be acquainted with God, you ſhall be acquainted with the Devil, and know whoſe company is beſt by woful experience, If you will not believe his Word, you ſhall feel his Sword. If his kindneſs and goodneſs will not melt you, his power and juſtice ſhall break you; for be that now is ſo patient, will ere long roar like a Lyon, and tear in pieces, and there ſhall be none to deliver; he will break his ſtubborn enemies with a rod of iron, and daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſel. Thoſe that will not know his love, ſhall know ſomething elſe; I will not ſay what, for it is inexpreſſible. But only this remember, It is ſuch a God that you will have to deal with, before whom the mountains quake, and the hills remove out of their places, before whom the great Tyrants, of the world have fallen; and ſhall you ſtand? Where are all thoſe Giants? Where are the inhabitants of the old World? What is become of Nimrod that mighty hunter, and all his fellows? Where are all thoſe daring ſinners, that ſcorned to accept of a pardon, mercy and peace, and which had the courage to grapple with omnipotency it ſelf? who got the day? who had the worſt of it at laſt? and art thou ſtronger then they? is thy power greater, thy underſtanding deeper, thy Allyes more conſiderable then theirs? A fly may be too hard for Pharaoh; but Pharaoh can never be too hard for God. Becauſe judgement is not ſpeedily executed againſt thee, thou thinkeſt therefore it may be it is becauſe God cannot deal with thee, and upon this account thy heart is fully ſet in thee to do wickedly; but know thou, for all this that God will bring thee to judgement. Conſider this, that as far as it ſeems to be now, the winds may riſe, the clouds may gather of a ſudden, the Heavens may be overcaſt in a moment; and what will you do then? when Heaven and Earth ſhall be in a Flame; then you will be ſcraping acquaintance with God, then you will be glad to be owned by him, then you would willingly Chriſt ſhould take notice of you, and ſay, You bleſſed of my Father; then you will ſtand at the door and knock, and cry, and pray, and plead, and ſay, Lord, Lord, have I not been oft at thy houſe? have I not eat at thy table, and taught in thy name in our ſtreets? and yet thou ſhalt be dimiſſed with this ſhort and ſharp anſwer, Depart, I know you not. How do you like ſuch an anſwer as this is? how will you take it when you ſtand begging at the door for one crumb of mercy, one drop of Chriſts bloud, to be ſent away with a bitter ſcorn and denial, or elſe to be anſwered with ſilence? Whereas you were invited to the feaſt as well as thoſe that went in, and you would not hear, though God ſent meſſenger after meſſenger to ſetch you, you thought your oxen better company then your God, you took more pleaſure in your dogs, then in the hunting after thoſe nobler things. What do you think of ſuch expoſtulations as theſe? what replice can you make to theſe accuſations? ere long you will find theſe things realities; ere long all your friends will be dead and gone, and if they would help you, they cannot; your eſtate will be conſumed. your houſes will all be burnt, all your attendants, except care and fear, will ſhortly forſake you, your Gold and Silver will not ere long be worth a ruſh; and what will you do then? nay, the greateſt friends that you had will become your enemies. Little do you think, as kind as they ſeem to be, what your good fellows, the World, and the Devil will do againſt you; Little do you think how falſe your friends will prove when it comes to that, that they ſee that all is going? then they alſo will help forward your ruine. Thoſe that you durſt have truſted your life with, will accuſe you and help to caſt you. Thoſe which incouraged to ſin, will witneſs againſt for ſin. Your good Fellows, your Confederates in wickedneſs, your dear Friends, that you loved more then God, that you did not ſpare to venture your life and ſoul for. O it will make your heart ake to ſee ſuch come in againſt you, which you thought loved you ſo dearly! O to have a Wife, a Child, a Husband, an old Friend to come before the Judge, and to make known ſuch things as you hoped had been buried for ever. It will make your ears to tingle, to hear one crying our, Lord, if it had not been for him, I had turned and repented; it's long of him that I am in this woful condition; I was reſolved many a time and oft to ſeek after another world, and to provide for my ſoul, but he would not let me alone, when I began to be ſerious, he laughed and jeer'd me, and would never be at quiet till he had made me as bad as himſelf; he carried me from the Ale-houſe to the Tavern, from thence to a Play-houſe, from a Play-houſe to a Whore-houſe, from thence to the High-way, from thence to the Gaol, from the Gaol to the Gallows, and from thence I came hither; and I may thank him for all this. O how will men look when they ſee the beſt friends that they had, come in thus againſt them! this 'tis to truſt to faithleſs friends; this 'tis to make light of acquaintance with God. Your Gold and Silver will be a witneſs againſt you, and will eat your fleſh as with a canker; your Children, Relations good and bad, will ſpeak bitter things againſt you; your own Family, will curſe you, and ſay, Lord, we never heard any thing of God, except in an Oath from his mouth; we never heard any thing of Religion, except it were in deriſion of it in his Family; and thoſe of us that were a little ſerious, and began to think of our ſouls, he would ſnib and brow-beat, and never give us a kind look till we did as he did; nay, the Devil who now doth ſo much flatter ſinners, and make them believe that he is ſo much their friend, will then ſhew himſelf; he will then be as cruel as he now ſeems kind; he that now tempts to ſin ſo impetuouſly, will hereafter accuſe for ſin violently, and torment for ſin unmercifully. The people of God which weep over ſinners, and pray for them, and wiſh them well with their ſouls, will then ſee juſtice executed upon their neareſt Relations, without the leaſt ſorrow; nay, they alſo will come in againſt them too, and ſay, Lord I told them of this woful day, O Lord thou knoweſt I forewarned them of that which is now come to paſs, I pleaded with them with all the compaſſion that I could, and they ſcorned my pitty, they would not pity themſelves, but made light of that glory which they are going from, and of that Hell that they are going to; and now, O Lord, thou art juſt and righteous, that thou haſt thus judged them. This will be the language of thoſe that are your beſt friends; the people of God they will be your enemies one day, if you will not now mind the making of your peace with God; they muſt and will, be on Gods ſide againſt all the World, they muſt and will take part with their Friend, and clear him when he judges, and juſtifie him when he condemns you. O that you that are now ſtrangers to God, would but conſider of theſe things! O that you would but think what this battel may be, where the combatants are ſo unequal. Stand ſtill O Sun in the valley of Ajalom, till the Lord have avenged him of his enemies: Muſter your ſelves. Oye ſtars, and fight in your courſes againſt thoſe miſerable ſinners, that have waged a war againſt their Maker; plant your mighty Cannons, ſhoot down huge Hailſtones, Arrows of fire, and hot Thunderbolts? O how do the wounded fall? how many are the ſlains of the Lord, multitudes, multitudes in the valley of Deciſion, for the day of the Lord is terrible. Behold Gods enemies falling by thouſands, behold the garments rouling in blood, hear the prancing of his terrible ones, the mountains are covered with Horſes and Chariots of fire. Gods Souldiers run from one place to another with their flaming Swords in their hands, Arm'd with the juſtice of God, jealouſie, power and indignation! O the dreadful ſlaughter that is made. Millions, millions fall, there are not able to ſtand, not one of them can lift up his hand, their hearts fail them, paleneſs and trembling hath ſeized upon the ſtouteſt of them all. The bow of the Lord is ſtrong: from the blood of the ſlain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of the Lord turneth not back, the ſword of the Almighty returns not empty? How do the mighty Ones, fall in the midſt of this battell! A hot, battell indeed in which none ſcape? Who is he that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Boſrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, and travelling in the greatneſs of his ſtrength, the Lord of Hoſts is his Name. Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth the wine-fat? I have troden the wine-preſs alone, and of the people there was none with me? For I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood ſhall be ſprinkled upon my garments, and I will ſtain all my raiment, for the day of Vengeance is in my Heart, and the year of my Redeemed is come. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their ſtrength to the Earth, the band of the Lord ſhall be known, the power of the mighty Jehovah ſhall be felt, and his indignation towards his Enemies, For behold he will come with fire, and with chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire: For by fire, and by his ſword will he plead with all fleſh: and the ſlain of the Lord ſhall be many, and the Saints ſhall go forth and look upon the Carcaſſes of the men that have tranſgreſſed againſt me: for their worm ſhall not dye, neither ſhall their fire be quenched, and they ſhall be an abhorring unto all fleſh. Upon the wicked he ſhall rain ſnares, fire and brimſtone, and horrible tempeſt. This ſhall be the portion of their Cup! This 'tis to fight againſt God! This 'tis to defie the Lord of Hoſt! This 'tis to refuſe a peace that would have been ſo unſpeakably advantagious! To ſpeak a little plainer, this is all that ſinners are like to get by their ſtanding it out againſt the tenders of Grace and Mercy. And are you ſtill deſirous to engage in this dreadful war? Will you ſtill bid defiance to the Almighty, and make nothing of ſuch things as you have heard of? Is the loſs of your blood, the loſs of your Soul, your utter undoing for ever, no great matter with you? Well then, go on bold ſinner, Arm thy ſelf Cap-a-pee, gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, get thy ſhield and buckler ready, prepare to meet thy God: Go up, O thou valiant Warrior, and let's ſee thy valour, behold thy enemy hath taken the field; go up, and look thy God in the face if thou dareſt; come ſhew thy ſelf a mark for God, and turn not thy back like a coward, venture upon the mouth of the Cannon, ruſh upon the thick boſſes of Gods buckler, if you long to periſh everlaſtingly. You have heard what the war will coſt you, and as you like it now, do. And what do you laugh at all this? well then, go on, but be it upon your peril, your blood be upon your own Soul: As for me I could not have ſaid much more then I have, to diſſwade you from this deſperate enterpriſe; I foreſee what a caſe you will be in, when you are in the heat of the battell, and I deſire to weep in ſecret for thee, as one that will moſt certainly be undon, if thou doſt not ſpeedily alter thy mind, wherefore my loyns are filled with pain, pangs have taken hold upon me as the pangs of a woman that travelleth, I am bowed down at the thoughts of thy miſery, I am diſmayed at the ſeeing of thy deſtruction. The ſinner ventures for all this! He is marched into the field! Set a watch-man; let him declare what he ſeeth. Who meets that furious wretch? A Lyon, a lyon roareth, he is torn in pieces, and none can ſave him, he is gon, he is gon! he is gon for ever! and who may the mad man thank for all this? Who could help it? He would venture though he was told as much. Well then, ſee whats like to befall the enemies of God: You hear what is like to be the condition of all them that will not be aquainted with God, Firſt, or Laſt, you likewiſe may behold what a caſe you your ſelf ſhall be in ere it be long, except you do ſpeedily repent of your folly, and meet your adverſary in the way, and humble your ſelf before the mighty Jehovah; ſpeak quickly? What will you do? Turn, or Burn; Repent, or Dye. Yet you do but hear, you do not feel; but thouſands, and millions feel what the diſpleaſure of God is, what the breach of his Covenant is, and what effects of a war with the Lord of Hoſts is. O be wiſe by their falls, let their deſtruction be your inſtruction, take heed what you do, leſt you be the next that God ſhall deal with as an enemy: As yet God offers to be Friends with you; but whether God will do as much to morrow as he doth to day, I do not know. I tell you but ſo, it's hard putting it to the venture. Remember you had large proffers of Grace, and pardon made to you, God hath ſent us to let you know his will and pleaſure, and we demand of you from him to give us your anſwer ſpeedily. And what can't you yet reſolve? Is it ſo difficult a buſineſs to determine what to fix upon? O fooliſh people, and unwiſe? O unſpeakable madneſs! How juſt muſt their condemnation needs be, who are offered ſalvation ſo often, and refuſe it? who are ſo oft told of damnation, and yet run into it? in a word, who might have God for their Friend, and had rather have him for their enemy.
4. The next head of Motives, by which I might inforce this duty of acquaintance with God, may be taken from the examples of them which made all the Friends they can to get acquainted with God. Behold a cloud of witneſſes, which do all with one conſent ſpeak high in the commendation of this Friend, that I am perſwading you all that I can to be acquainted with. Are you wiſer then all your neighbours, is the ignorant objection of ſome that would take it very heinouſly, if we ſhould call them fools, when we put them upon a ſerious diligence in purſuit of the beſt things? Why, let me retort this objection upon themſelves, are you wiſer then Enoch and Noah? have you more underſtanding then Abraham, Iſaac and Jacoh? Have you more wit then David? Are you wiſer then Heman, Daniel, and many others of thoſe brave worthies, which were the wonders of the world, the Non-ſuches of their age, and a pattern to future Generations? This was the greateſt piece of their wiſdom to walk with God, this was the beſt of their policy to get ſo potent an Allie; this ſpake them to be men of a deeper reach, and a larger underſtanding then others, becauſe they made it their buſineſs to get acquainted with God, and thus to make their intereſt as large as Heaven, and their peace and proſperity as ſure as the oath of a God could make it. Do you think that all theſe men were miſtaken? did their wiſdom lie only in a prudent management of their worldly affairs to their beſt advantage? what then, did they mean ſome of them to leave all that they had ſo chearfully upon the command of God? dare you ſay that they prized the favour of God at too high a rate? as for their parts, they thought they could never value ſuch a friend as God too much. What elſe was the meaning of their longing, panting, and breathing after him? Why elſe are they ſo glad of his company, his preſence? How loath were they to do any thing that might be in the leaſt diſpleaſing to him? What bitter moans did they make, if he did but withdraw a while, if he did but a little abſent himſelf from them? how wonderful deſirous were they of enjoying communion with him? how earneſt to live in his houſe for ever? Dare you ſay that there were all fools and mad men for refuſing the embraces of this preſent world, for ſlghting its ſmiles, and undervaluing its greateſt kindneſſes, and chooſing that favour of God, though with the ſcorns and reproaches of the world, rather then to hazard his anger, whoſe wrath burns to the bottom of Hell. Behold, what a glorious company of theſe ſtand upon mount Zion with Harps in their hands, with thoſe hundred and forty and four thouſand, and the Lamb with an innumerable multitude of all Nations, People, and Languages. Why all theſe were of the Friends and Acquaintance of God, or elſe they had never had thoſe Crowns, Robes, and Palms in their hands. Now, why ſhould not our ſouls be as dear to us as theirs were to them? Will not Heaven be as good for us as them? is it not as needful for us to get a friend of God, as them? Will not God do as much for us as them, if we will but do as they did, walk with him. The truth of it is, the number of them which are ſaved is but few, in compariſon of the multitudes of them which know not God, and go the broad way; yet for all that, take them abſolutely, they are abundance; ſo many that the Scripture ſaith they are innumerable. Do but read over the Hiſtory of ſome of their Lives, turn over the holy Records, look ſometimes into thoſe Sacred Chronicles, and behold how chearfully they ſerved God, how actively they followed the Lamb whereſoever he goes, through thick and thin. Hear what their language is now they are got home fafe, now Chriſt hath brought them to glory, and they are at their Friends houſe. What do they talk of? what is their diſcourſe about? do they complain what a ſad journey they had of it through a howling wilderneſs, after they had paſſed the Red Sea, through a thouſand ſorrows and trials? do they ſay that now they are at their journeys end they are weary, and wiſh they had never taken ſo long and tedious a journey? do they not rather ſpeak the quite contrary, and that if it were to go again they would do it with far more ſpeed and chearfulneſs then they did? Liſſen, hark, methinks I hear them from the walls of the New Jeruſalem, crying out, Come away, come away, fall on bravely, follow your buſineſs gallantly but a little while longer, and the City is your own; fetch your ſcaling ladders, run up apace, mount the rampiers, fear nothing though the Devil play his Artillery upon them, yet it is but powder, he ſhall never give you a mortal would; reſiſt him and he will flee, and the field is yours; the Spoil, the Crown, the Honour will pay for your pains, bloud, and danger. Fall on brave ſouls, fall on; the valianter you be, the more ſafe you are. Methinks I hear thoſe noble Saints encouraging of you to get acquaintance with God, and ſaying to you that are yet afar off, come near, Come away poor ſouls, come away, what do you mean thus to delay? O little do you think what a friend we now find of God; it was but a little, a very little that was told us of the excellency of Chriſt, and the glories of this place, to what we experience; It was no falſe report that we heard when we was upon earth, of the happineſs of Heaven: O here's a prize worth the running for; a Kingdom, a Crown worth the fighting for, an Eſtate worth the looking after. We have not now our ſtint; we are not dieted with thoſe Spiritual Dainties, we have not now and then a ſip, a draught, a bit in a corner, but we are at the fountain, we are daily feaſted with infinite pleaſures, our hearts are full, brim full, they run over, we ſwim in an ocean of ſpiritual enjoyments; theſe things are beyond your capacity now to underſtand. Were we to live upon earth again, and did we know what we do now know, we ſhould ever pine with our earneſt longing for God, the living God, to be in his immediate preſence, and to be at that angelical work of praiſing, ſerving, and loving him for ever. Wherefore brethren, let us encourage one another, Come let us go up to the houſe of the Lord; his dwelling is in Salem, his palace is upon mount Zion. Why ſhould not we go on as merrily in the paths of Wiſdom, as the wicked in the road of Hell? How do the Devils Champions encourage and hearten one another up? How do they laugh, ſing and roar, as if their life were the only life; for ſhame let's tell them they lye in their teeth. Who hath the beſt company, they or we? the Patriarchs and Prophets, the Apoſtles and thouſands of Martyrs are gone finging before ſome of our dear Relations, Fathers, Brethren and Siſters are newly welcomed by Chriſt to his Fathers houſe; and they are bleſſing that rich mercy that hath conducted them to ſuch a place, to ſuch a friend! we have many thouſands of Saints Militant that are going along with us as faſt as they can, and God himſelf will bear us company, and why do we yet linger? O that we were upon the wing! O that our ſouls were like the Chariots of Aminadab! O that the Lord would ſtrengthen poor ſhort-winded Creatures? O that we could run and not be weary, and walk and not faint! O that we might have now and then a hearty meal, and that in the ſtrength of them we could travel to the mount of God! O that that acquaintance might now be happily begun, which may never have an end! O that God would viſit us oft, and get into our hearts? O that he that gave thoſe Worthies in former times ſo much grace, would pour out of the ſame grace in abundance upon our ſouls! O that he would ſhed abroad his love in our hearts! O that we could maintain a conſtant intercourſe with him here, till we come to a perfect enjoyment of him in glory hereafter! O that we may ſee thy face, thy bleſſed face by faith! O that thou wouldeſt cauſe thy glory to paſs before us! O that thy marvellous loving kindneſs might be made known to a company of poor Creatures of us, whoſe deſire is to fear thee, who would fain love thee with the ſtrength of our ſouls! O bleſſed are they that love thee, that are beloved by thee!.
5. I might alſo inſiſt upon another Head of Motives, which is named in the Text, which is this, Acquaint now thy ſelf with him, and thou ſhalt be at peace. Though there be nothing but War on every ſide, you ſhall have peace. This peace of God, whatſoever you may think of it, is unſpeakably advantagious; the benefits that would accrue to a ſoul upon this peace are infinite; It is a peace that paſſeth all under ſtanding. When we have this peace concluded, we may drive a brave Trade without deſturbance for the richeſt Commodities. If we were thus acquainted with God, we ſhall have ſuch a peace as that we may laugh at the ſhaking of the ſpear, and not be much diſturbed when we hear of dreadfull things abroad in the World. He that is acquainted with God may ſafely venture up and down, he hath Gods paſs, a ſtrong man of war for his convoy, he hath ſuch powerful allies that he need not fear; as long as he is at peace with God, he is ſure not to be quite overcome by man. He is at peace with himſelf, when the Aire ecchoes with Drums and Trumpets, and the roaring of Guns, a muſick that pleaſeth the Devils Ear; He may ſtill rejoyce, becauſe he hath a bird within, which ſings ſweetly; there is a harmony between his will and Gods, a harmony between his heart and his mouth. This is no ſuch contemptable thing, and if you knew what a wounded Spirit, a fire in the boſom is, you would ſay ſo. This peace that ſuch a one hath, is a wel-grounded peace; not ſuch a one as is built upon ignorance, and hardneſs of heart; but ſuch a peace as reſults from the ſence of the pardon of ſin, and reconciliation with God, through the blood of Chriſt; That blood of Chriſt hath waſhed his conſcience from dead works. Sins he had, and hath, but ſome of them he ſees lying dead like the Egyptians upon the ſhore, others ſtriving for life, with a deaths wound upon them; and though he have enemies ſtill living, yet they are ſuch as ſhall never have the abſolute dominion over him: as long as the great quarrel between him and God is at an end, all is well enough, the Law hath nothing againſt him, all his accuſers are ſilenced; Chriſt hath fulfilled and ſatisfied the Law for him; The great Creator hath given a full and general acquittance, all debts are diſcharged for him, and therefore the man hath little reaſon to trouble his head much with cares and fears; now he may go up and down any where, and not fear the Senjeant, his noble ſurery hath paid that vaſt debt, he hath laid down the ten thouſand Talents upon the Nail, ſo that the man is at peace with God, he is alſo at peace with all the Creatures in the world, from the glorious Angels that are in Heaven, to the meaneſt inſect or plant; they are ſo far from doing him any real harm, that they all are ſervants to the Friends of God, they all ſtand ready to oppoſe their Enemies; and thoſe of them that are mortal are ready to lay down their lives for one that ſtands thus related to God. For when any enters into Covenant with God, God alſo makes a Covenant for them with the beaſts of the field. Great peace have they that love Gods law, and nothing ſhall offend them; ſuch a one is at peace with death and the grave. We read of ſome profane Monſters that made a Covenant with death, and were at an agreement with Hell: but this Covenant will ſoon be broken, becauſe he that hath the keys of death and Hell, the power of life and death, never ſubſcribed to the Articles of their agreement. But now the godly man hath a Friend that hath made a Covenant for him, a firm Covenant with death, and Hell, ſo that none of them ſhall ever do him the leaſt wrong. As for death, Chriſt hath took out it's ſting; as for the grave, Chriſt hath ſpiced, and ſeaſon'd it, it's Power is maſter'd, it's Terribleneſs is taken away! it's now no priſon, Chriſt hath opened the doors of it, and now it is but a Chamber of repoſe, a bed to reſt in; and he that hath already opened this door, when it was bolted, barr'd and double-locked, can and will ere long open it again, and awaken his from their ſleep; and is this inconſiderable? Is not ſuch a peace as this is, deſireable? Who that is well in his wits, would not be glad to be in ſo ſecure a condition as this peace will put him in? And who are like to have the benefit of this peace, but the Friends of God! O therefore if you value your own peace, if you would be undiſturbed from ſtorms without, & Heart-quakes within: If you would have all the Creatures it Heaven and Earth, at peace with you: If you would have Death unſtung, and the Grave a Chamber, and not a Priſon, why then, get acquainted with God, and you ſhall be at peace.
6. The next head of Motives, I might take from theſe words, Thereby good ſhall come unto you. Acquaint your ſelf with him, and be at peace, and thereby good ſhall come unto you. But I ſhall here be but brief. Think of what you will that is good for you, and if you are acquainted with God, you ſhall have it for asking for; or that which is far better than that which you deſire: For the Lord God is a Sun, & a Shield, he will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them which walk uprightly; that is, from thoſe that are acquainted with him. All his ways are mercy and truth, to ſuch as be in covenant with him, and all ſhall work together for good, to them that love him. Inlarge thy deſires as wide as the Heavens, requeſt what you will, ask never ſo much, and you ſhall have it; And what would you have more? If it be the good of proſit that you deſire; What greater gain than Godlineſs? Who can give ſuch rewards to his ſervants as God? Who will give greater portions to his children than this Father? Who is like to thrive better than he, who hath ſuch a vaſt ſtock, ſuch a great Trade, ſuch quick and great returns, and above all ſuch a Partner? O that thoſe that are all for profit and gain, that cry out, what advantage ſhall it be to me, if I ſerve God? and what profit to me, if I am acquainted with him? O that ſuch would but do that which will be moſt for their profit, I would deſire no more of them than this. O that they would but try what a gainful Trade Religion in it's power is … The greateſt Merchants that ever walked the Exchange, if they be not acquainted with God, and have not Chriſt for their Factor, are but Pedlars to the Saint. One that is acquainted with God, gets more in one Hour, in one Prayer, at one Sermon, in one Meditation, then all the rich men of the world are worth, put all their eſtates together: One receives his peace, the other his pounds; the one hath by way of return a great deal of troubleſome Lumber, the other his Box of precious Pearls, and a Jewel of an infinite value. O little doth the laborious worldling think what poor and ſmall gains his are, when he gets moſt, to what this Spiritual Merchant gets; he would not fell what he gets ſometimes in one morning, for all the riches of both the Indies. He trades in ſuch Commodities which will not ſuffer dammage upon the Sea; his Veſſel is light and ſtrong, the Maſter of it never made a looſing voyage. All his wares are unvaluable; and though his ſhip be in many a dreadful ſtorm, though ſometimes ſhe be becalm'd, though it be long before ſhe return; yet as long as ſhe hath ſuch Proviſions within, ſuch a Pilot, ſuch Anchors, ſhe can't miſcarry, ſhe will come into the Harbour Richly Laden: The world will not believe this, but I am ſure there is never a man breathing, but will ſooner ſay, that no gain is like the gain of Chriſt and Glory. One return from Heaven, one anſwer of Prayer, one ſmile from God, one look of love, the head of one Goliah, the death of one Sin, one Soul brought home to Chriſt, one drooping ſoul comforted, is a greater mercy (for all the ignorant world make nothing of ſuch things as theſe) than to be inveſted with the greateſt Honours, than to be poſſeſſed of all the Riches, than to enjoy all the Pleaſures that the whole world can afford. But O, were mens eyes opened, were men within ſight of thoſe devouring Flames, then they would believe that a Chriſt were worth the having; Grace a Pearl that cannot be overvalued, and that no Trade was comparable to a Spiritual Merchant, no Art like that, by which one may turn every thing into Gold. But if it be the good of pleaſure you look more after; can there be greater pleaſures than thoſe which are in the preſence of God? Can there be any greater pleaſures, than to rejoyce in God, and to be made welcome by him, than to drink Flagons of that excellent Liquour, which is better than wine? Can there be better Muſick, than to hear ſo many Millions of ſweet Voyces ſinging Halelujahs! O there's a Confort! There's Melody indeed! If you deſire that other good, the good of Honeſty, a rare accompliſhment, perfection of Grace, purity of Soul; wherewithal ſhall a young man chooſe his ways, but by taking heed thereto, according to his word. Well then, lay all theſe Motives together, and let's ſee whether they will any whit prevail. If the nature of the perſon with whom I would fain have you acquainted, if all theſe admirable qualities that are in him (if I may ſo call them) may ſignifie any thing, if all thoſe glorious effects of acquaintance with God. weigh any thing with you, one would think by this time you ſhould be well reſolved. If the danger of not being acquainted with God, may make you afraid of ſtanding it out; if good or evil, if peace or war, if life or death, If all this be as much as nothing, what then is ſomething? If the frequent pleading of mercy, if the blood of Chriſt have any voice, if the expoſtulations of his Embaſſadors may be heard, Why ſhould you not then be perſwaded? If all this will not move you, what can we ſay more? If we could ſhew you Heaven, and the glories of another world, could we let you ſee the Face of Chriſt, could we any way in the world reach you hearts, and perſwade you by any means to mind the things of Eternal peace, we would do it with all our hearts. If we were ſure to get you with us, and to bring you acquainted with God, we could willingly come begging on our bare knees to you, and beſeech you to be reconciled to God. We ſee that diſmal day a coming, and are grieved to think, what a ſad taking you will be in then; we know the caſe will then be altered with them, which will not be perſwaded to be reconciled to God. O what a woful condition will they be in, which have heard or read theſe Sermons, and yet for all that, would not mind the looking after acquaintance with God! How will ſuch wiſh that they had never been born, or that they had their being in ſome of the dark ſavage corners of the world, where they might never have heard of the Doctrine of Reconciliation, being acquainted with God, and union with Chriſt, peace with their offended Maker, rather than having heard of theſe things to make light of them! O to hear of ſuch a friend, and to have him for an enemy; to hear of Peace, and to chooſe War; to hear of Heaven, and go to Hell, this is ſad indeed. It would have been far better for ſuch, that they had never known the ways of God, than after they have known them, to go in the ways of Folly. O that men and women had but ſuch ſerious thoughts of theſe things as they will have ere long! O that they would but believe Heaven, and Hell, and Eternity to be ſuch Realities as ſhortly they will! O that mens hearts were but affected with things, as they will be when their ſouls are juſt a going, or a little after they are in another world! But O the miſerable condition of the world! O the lamentable ſtate of Profeſſors, that make no more of the favour of diſpleaſure of God! Nay, may I not ſay, O the folly of the Children of God themſelves, that are no more in Gods Company, when they know they may be ſo welcome, when they have raſted ſo oft of his kindneſs, when they were made ſo much of the laſt time that they gave him a viſit. Are not men in a deep ſleep, that they do not hear? Are they not blind, that they do not ſee? Are they not ignorant, fooliſh, and mad, that they do not underſtand their intereſt any better? It is not without good reaſon, that the Spirit of God doth ſo, oft cry out upon ſinners for their folly; the Scripture ſaith not in vain, That there is none that hath underſtanding, no not one. No wonder that they which have but half a cure ſee men like trees, that thoſe which never hall a through work, do not prize Chriſt. O but that thoſe which have been brought nigh by Grace, who were ſometimes afar off, that ſuch ſhould be ſo much ſtrangers; for thoſe that have met with ſuch kind entertainment at his houſe, for theſe to keep off ſo, to come ſo ſeldom, for them which have fed ſo high at the Kings Table, to ſall to their Traſh, their Husks, this is a ſhame indeed; as if the Devil kept a better houſe than God. Chriſtians, doth God deſerve this at your hands? How unkindly do you think he takes this from you? What will the world ſay? Look how his own acquaintance deſpiſe him? How will the Devil inſult? O how do the hearts of your fellow Chriſtians ake, to ſee how ſtrange your carriage is? How do they tremble to think, what if that fine Houſe be built upon the Sand? Chriſtians, you which ſeldom or complementally viſit God, bethink your ſelves well what you do, when you begin to be cold in your affections to this Friend; remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your firſt works; remember what entertainment you have ſometimes had at Gods Houſe; forget not all his Kindneſſes; of all the Creatures in the world, you have no cauſe to carry your ſelves ſo towards God. I tell you again, the World ſtands by, and looks on, to ſee what there is in you more than in others; they mark your lives more than you are aware of, it may be: Wherefore look to your ſelves, take heed how you carry your ſelves before them. O why ſhould they ſee your faces pale, when you may feed ſo highly? O ſhew them by your countenance, that you feed upon wholſome food! O let your breath ſmell ſweet, let your diſcourſe be more ſavoury of the things of God! Labour to maintain a ſweet, conſtant, unintermitted intercourſe with God, to walk with him. O little do you think what you looſe by your coming ſo ſeldom to this Friend. I appeal to your own experience; was not that diſh you eat laſt at his Table ſweet? And what do you think that God doth not ſtill keep as good a Houſe as he did? Do you believe that he hath ſpent all his beſt Wines? Can that Fountain ever be emptied? Is there not Bread and good Chear enough in your Fathers houſe? Believe it, God hath other kind of Entertainment, richer Chear, better Fare ſtill to make you welcome with, if you would not be ſo ſtrange, if you will but come oftener to him. As for Chriſtians, methinks I need not uſe ſo many words to perſwade you, methinks you that know how ſweet his company is, ſhould deſire to be never out of it. Chriſtians, I tell you plainly, if you ever expect true peace in your life, and true joy and comfort at death, it's your only way to keep cloſe to God, viſit him oft by ſecret Prayer and other kind of Duties, and then you ſhall ever and anon meet with that which will ſweeten your greateſt diligence, and abundantly make amends for your pains. Knock at his door, ask for him, and reſolve to ſtay tili he come; though he come not at the firſt, ſecond, or third knocking, yet I am ſure he is within, and will come at laſt, if you will but wait; and when you have once again met with him, O let him not go, but tell him ſeriouſly that you can't bear his abſence, he ſhall be your God and Friend living and dying, death it ſelf ſhall not part you. Go alſo and tell your Friends, you have found him whom your ſoul loves, that you have met with Jeſus, and ſee if you can get them to come out and ſee him, bid them to taſte and ſee how good the Lord is; commend him all you can to your poor Chriſt-leſs Friends. But you are not the perſons that I intended to ſpeak to, only thus a little by the by, that I may a little warm my own heart and yours, in this great duty of maintaining an intimate cloſe converſe and acquaintance with God. But my buſineſs is to go out into the High ways and Hedges, and to invite poor wandring ſtrangers that have nothing to live upon themſelves, and that do not know what a noble open houſe God keeps, that never taſted of his kindneſs in Chriſt, to come to this Royal Feaſt, and to Eat their fill of ſuch food as they can never eat too much of, never be ſurfeited with. Ʋuto you, O men, I call, and my voice is unto the ſons of men. O ye ſimple ones, underſtand wiſdom, and ye fools, he ye of an underſtanding heart, Prov. 8.4, 5. Hear O ye deaf, and ſee O blind: let the dead hear the voice of God, and live. Then hear what I have been ſpeaking of: I have almoſt done my meſſage, conſider well of theſe things, as you tender the diſpleaſure of God, as you value your Souls, be ſerious; remember what it is, that I have been diſcourſing to you about, Read it over again, and ſtudy on it; Read and Pray, Pray and Read, and turn this exhortation into Prayer; take with you words, and ſay: O that this might be the Sermon that might bring me acquainted with God! O that this might be the man that might bring me to ſome knowledg of Chriſt! O that this might be the happy day wherein a Match may be concluded between my ſoul, and the precious Jeſus! But alas, alas, where are the hearts that are thus ſmitten? Where are the Souls that are any white taken with this infinite Beauty? How few have any real love or good-will for Chriſt? O who hath believed our report, and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? Though I and many hundreds more, have been pleading thus with ſinners; though ſome of the Embaſſadors of peace weep bitterly, that their meſſage is no more kindly entertained, though their publick Preaching be followed with private Prayers and ſecret Groans; though they expoſtulate the caſe with poor refractory Creatures, with all the earneſtneſs that they can for their lives, though we uſe the moſt powerful arguments that we can, and deliver them with all the vehemency, ſeriouſneſs and compaſſion that we can for our Souls; Yet how are the greateſt part of our hearers unconcerned? Is not a great part of our Auditory as ſtupid and ſenceleſs, as the very ſtones they tread on? The more is our ſorrow; we fear as to the moſt of them that hear us, what we ſpeak, is loſt. It may be they may be a little affected juſt at the hearing, or for an hour or two; but O that theſe truths might have a lively, and abiding impreſſion on mens hearts! I fear, O that they were cauſeleſs fears! I fear that moſt of you that have heard of theſe things will go away, and quickly forget what, weighty things you have heard; perhaps ſome of you may ſay, the man was very earneſt, and ſome of his Expreſſions were piercing. O Friends, I hope it is not your commendation that I deſire? O that I may with a ſingle heart, reſpect Gods glory! I ſay again, I would not be pleaſed with your praiſe, nor would I fear your diſpraiſe; it's your Souls I want, and may but I manage my great work in this ſucceſsfully, and ſee you acquainted with God, before I leave you for ever, I hope I ſhould be contented to be trod in the dirt. O that my heart may not deceive me! O that my compaſſion to your ſouls were greater, a thouſand times greater! O that I could never ſpeak to you of ſuch things as theſe without tears. I muſt again, and again, profeſs I am aſhamed of my heart, that it is no more ſenſible of theſe weighty affairs! But O mighty and glorious God, if thou pleaſeſt, thou canſt out of the mouth of a Babe and Suckling, ordain ſtrength! O that thou wouldeſt make the worm Jacob to threſh Mountains! O that thou wouldeſt make me of the moſt unworthy and weakeſt inſtrument, in that bonourable Service of bringing home ſome Souls to thy ſelf. O if but any one Soul, if but one Soul that was eſtranged from God, might by theſe lines be brought acquainted with him, if I might prevail with any other ſtubborn Enemy to lay down his weapons, and be Friends with him, I ſhould think my pains well beſtowed, though (if that will make you to regard it ever the more) this work hath coſt me many an hours ſtudy, and it hath been interrupted with many bodily diſtempers, groans and ſorrows, fears and ſighs. Yet if after all my travel, I may hear of any Children born of God; if I may meet but one ſoul the better for it, by it brought to Glory, I ſhall have abundant cauſe to bleſſe my God, and to rejoyce that my labour hath not been in vain in the Lord. But if I might have more, I ſhould have more cauſe to adore infinite Goodneſs, and rich Grace! O my dear Friends! O precious and immortal Souls! What ſhall I ſay to you? What ſhall I do for you? O did you but know how hardly I fetch my breath at this time, did you but ſee what a crazy Creature he is that writes to you; did you but know how faint he hath been ſometimes in ſpeaking to you, you would go nigh to pitty him. O pitty your ſelves! O pitty your own Souls, that ere long muſt be turned naked out of your Bodies, and hear the expoſtulations of a dying man that would gladly live with you in everlaſting glory, and meet you all among the Friends of the Bridegroom, that I may ſee you among the Sons of God, in your great meeting, when the Father ſhall ſend his Servants the Angels to fetch all his children home to his own houſe. O pitty your Souls, & let not all my pains be loſt, trample not under your feet the blood of the Covenant, neither count it a common thing, remember that the ſlighting of Chriſt is a dangerous thing, the loſs of his favour, and the loſs of your ſoul, muſt go together? O how ſhall I leave you? How ſhall I part with you, ſhall I go before my work is done? What ſhall I ſay more? What arguments ſhall I further make uſe of? O that I knew what to ſay, that I might prevail! And are you ſtill reſolved to put me off with frivolous excuſes? Can you put off your conſciences thus? Are you ſtill contented to be Aliens and Strangers? If you are, know this, that I muſt leave theſe lines to bear witneſs againſt you; Remember this, that you were told of theſe things again and again. Thoſe that can forget Sermons here, ſhall remember them hereafter; if you be not the better for this diſcourſe, you will curſe the day that ever you heard it; it will be a cutting reflection, when another day you ſhall ſay to your own Soul, at ſuch a time, ſuch a one did beſeech me in Chriſts ſtead to be reconciled to God, and I would not: Curſed man that I was! I made nothing of all the offers of Grace and Mercy, I made little account of theſe intollerable Torments which now make me to gnaſh my teeth. Hear, O unhappy Creature, that art yet alive, Be not ye paſt hope! O that thou mayeſt ſee thy ſad ſtate before it be quite paſt remedy! O let me take up a lamentation for thee, as one whoſe condition is beyond expreſſion deplorable! O that I could ſpeak as affectionately to you as one did lately, who ſpent his ſtrength and life amongſt you all, viz. That I can neither eat nor drink, nor ſleep quietly, whilſt I think of the danger that precious Souls run every moment, while they are unacquainted with God! O that mine eyes were waters, and my head a fountain of Tears, that I might weep day and night for poor Chriſt-leſs Creatures, that laugh and are as cheerful as if no danger were near them, whereas that diſmal day approaches apace, wherein they muſt bid an everlaſting farewel to all their pleaſures, and lie down for ever under the ſcalding wrath of an angry God! O ſtand aſtoniſhed O Heavens, and wonder O Earth! Here's a man that had rather be a Beaſt than a man, a Devil than a Saint, that prefers Hell before Heaven, that loves Death and hates Life; Here's a man that makes nothing of going to Hell, Damnation is a thing that he jeſts with; 'tis but damning, he ſaith: But damning! Is that ſo light a thing, a thing to be laughed at? Well, if that damning be nothing, never complain of it, when you feel it: If it be nothing, never groan nor bite your tongue, nor gnaſh your teeth for it: If Heaven, and your Soul, the favour of God, eternal happineſs, be ſuch ſmall matters, never complain for the loſs of them. Well then, belike you are pleaſed very well with your choice, and you do chooſe rather to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin, for a moment, than the pleaſures of Holineſs, which laſt for ever. There ſtands a ſinner that hears all this, and frets and foameth at the hearing of it; it's a torture to his Soul to be within the ſound of ſuch Truths? Why, act like one in his wits: If the hearing of Hell and damnation be ſo troubleſome, what will the feeling of it be thinkeſt thou? But that I may, if poſſible, prevail, I ſhall leave a few ſerious queſtions with you, which I charge you in the preſence of God, ſeriouſly to conſider of, and to give a wiſe anſwer to theſe following Queſtions.
Queſt. 1. Are thoſe things which you have heard, true, or are they not? Doth not the Scriptures ſpeak the ſame things which I do? Dare you ſay that the word of Truth is Falſe? Do but open the Bible, dip where you will, what is that you read there? Is it not ſomething that hath a tendency to what I have been teaching of? O that you would but give your ſelves the trouble of ſearching the Scriptures, to ſee whether theſe things are ſo. To what purpoſe do you think ſhould we ſpend our breath? To what purpoſe ſhould we follow you with ſuch exhortations, if we had not ſome grounds for what we ſay? If there be no ſuch thing in the word of God, why then do you not ſay ſo? Why, do you not ſhew us it, if there be ſuch a place that ſaith; there is no need of repentance, that mans condition is ſaſe enough already, and that he may do well enough, though he be never reconciled to God? Do you think that we take delight in vexing men and women? Do you conceive that it pleaſeth us to diſpleaſe you, and to get your hatred? Do you not believe that a great many of us, if it might conſiſt with Gods honour and your welfare, had not far rather be excuſed? Can any man imagine that ſo many thouſands of Prophets, Apoſtles, and Miniſters, in ſuch diſtant ages, and in ſuch diſtant places, ſhould all agree in this, to impoſe a falſity upon the world? Would any man be ſo mad as to invent ſuch things as theſe. which are ſo contrary to mens diſpoſitions, if he had not abundant warrant from God himſelf? Is it poſſible that men ſhould make ſuch complaint, and ſhed ſo many tears, and be in ſuch agonies about theſe things, if there were nothing at all in them? Are all the experiences of ſo many thouſands of Saints, but meer fancies? Speak Chriſtian, ſpeak, What do you ſay to this? Are all thy joys, thy anſwers of Prayers, thoſe ſweet diſhes that thou haſt ſometimes fed upon, but dreams? Doth not thy very blood ſtir in thee, at the very putting ſuch a queſtion to thee? Canſt thou not ſay, that thou haſt ſeen, that thou haſt felt, and that thou haſt known undoubtedly, that Spiritual things are realities, the greateſt realities in the world, and that thou haſt been as much affected with them as ever thou wert with the things of ſenſe? Let me, the meaneſt of ten thouſand, tell the ſtiffeſt Athieſt in the world, that I have ſeen theſe things ſo realized, that I ſhall ſooner believe that I am turned to a ſtone, or am dead, then believe that Spirituals are nullities and fancies. I am confident if there be any credit to be given to both eyes, and ears, then theſe things are true; and had you ſeen but what I have ſeen in dying Saints, and heard what I have heard, you would eaſily have been convinced, that there is ſomething in communion with God, ſomething in ſpiritual Joys. I am ſure, if there be any truth in the Scriptures, if the word of God be true, if Chriſt and the Apoſtles were not all miſtaken, then theſe things are true. If I ſhould tell you a buſineſs that did concern your Houſe, or your Children, or Body, or any worldly thing whatever, upon my own perſonal knowledg, would you not readily aſſent to what I ſay? I am perſwaded you would be far from ſuſpecting the truth of what I affirmed; I am ready to think, that there is none of you all that think that I dare tell you that which is falſe. O then, Why will you not believe me in a buſineſs of ſar greater conſequence? And if you ask me to what purpoſe do I ſpend ſo much time for nothing? What need I ſpeak at this rate? What will I make Infidels of you all? What do I think that you are ſuch Atheiſts, as not to believe that the word of God is true? Well then, you your ſelves are witneſſes that the word of God is true, and that you do believe all that is contained in it, and by rational inferences deduced from it: I ſhall therefore take it for granted, that you give your aſſent to theſe things, if you be Chriſtians in profeſſion, your very Name ſpeaks as much. Now my next Queſtion ſhall be this.
Queſt. 2. Are theſe things of weight and importance, or are they not? You hear that they are matters that concern your eternal life or death, Soul affairs; and are not theſe matters of the greateſt conſequence? If acquaintance with God, the happineſs or miſery of a Soul, your making or undoing for ever, be inconſiderable things, What then are great things? Is it a matter of greater importance, to loſe the ſight of a laſcivious Play? Is it an affair of greater weight to have the frowns of a wanton miſtriſs, or the frown of a God? You ſaid even now, that the word of God was true, if you will ſtand to that, I deſire no more; How is it written? Read a verſe or two, turn to Matthew 5.20. Except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, you ſhall in no caſe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: And John 3.3. Except a man be born agian, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God. And God will pour out his wrath upon the Heathen, and upon the Families that call not upon his Name. Doth not the Scripture ſay, that is the one thing neceſſary? Are not theſe things called by the Lord Chriſt, the weightier things? Mat. 23.23. I hope you will not ſay, that God is miſtaken, and that the Scripture ſpeaks more of theſe matters than needs: What are you gone from your word ſo ſoon; did you not ſay that the word of God was true, and are you now of another mind, becauſe you find that it requires more ſtrictneſs, you are willing to ſubmit to? But are you aſhamed of that, and are you convinced of this alſo, that the Doctrine of Reconciliation, Acquaintance, and Peace with God, are affairs of the higheſt importance in the world? And do you indeed believe this? and, will you ſtand to it? well then, my next Queſtion ſhall be this.
Queſt. 3. What do you mean then to mind ſuch things as you acknowledge to be moſt unqueſtionably true, and of the greateſt conſequence, with ſo much indifferency and coldneſs? what reaſon have you then for your ſtrange neglect in your proſecuting of them? what, ſay they are the greateſt things in the world, and will you ſay they are leaſt to be looked after? Is it any Prudence and Wiſdom to be very ſerious about trifles, and to triflle about the moſt ſerious things? Are Heaven, the love of God, and the like, by your own confeſſion the moſt weighty, and will you make light of them? O folly and Hyprocriſie! Out of thy own mouth thou ſhalt be condemned. Doſt know that Heaven and Hell are before you? doſt thou know that the one is unſpeakably glorious, and the other unſpeakably dreadful? and yet for all this doſt thou ſtand demurring which of theſe thou ſhouldeſt chooſe? and dareſt thou for all this venture on in a way which leads to the region of Eternal Darkneſs? and though thoſe that know the way better then you, and ſee you ride on ſo haſtily and merrily, call after you with earneſtneſs, yet doſt thou ſtill turn thy back upon them? Conſider whether you act in theſe affairs, like one that is well in his wits. Is God the beſt friend in the world, and yet his kindneſs leaſt to be regarded? Man, what haſt thou to ſay for thy ſelf? O What bruits, and how irrational are men in their ſpiritual matters! how do they contradict themſelves! how do they ſay one thing, and do the quite contrary! O let me in a word or two renew my Expoſtulation with them which are loath to be accounted fools! What reaſon haſt thou to undervalue the favour of God ſo as you do? what reaſon have you thus fooliſhly to caſt away your ſelves, and to ſlight acquaintance with your Maker? Let me plead with you in the language of a Reverend Divine (R. B.) of our own. Look up your beſt and ſtrongeſt Reaſons; and if you ſee a man put his hand into the fire till it burn off, you'l marvel at it: but this is a thing that a man may have reaſon for, as Biſhop Cranmer had when he burnt off his hand for ſubſcribing to Popery. If you ſee a man cut off a Leg or an Arm, it's a ſad ſight; but this is a thing that a man may have good reaſon for, as many a man doth it to ſave his life. If you ſee a man give his body to be burnt to aſhes, and to be tormented with Strappado's and Racks, and refuſe deliverance when it is offered: this is a hard caſe to fleſh and bloud, but this a man may have good reaſon for, as you ſee in Heb. 11.33, 34, 35, 36. and as many an hundred Martyrs have done. But for a man to forſake the Lord that made him, for a man to run into the fire of Hell when he is told of it, and intreated to turn that he might be ſaved; this is a thing that can have no reaſon in it, that is reaſon indeed, to juſtifie or excuſe it. For Heaven will pay for the loſs of any thing that we can loſe to get it, or for any labour that we beſtow for it; but nothing can pay for the loſs of Heaven. Read on in Mr. R. B's. Call to the Ʋnconverted, pag. 169. Do you ſtill believe the Word of God to be true, and the things contained in it to be the moſt weighty, and yet will you ſtill paſs them over, as if there were nothing at all in them?
Queſt. 4. My next Queſtion that I ſhall propound to you, and deſire your ſerious and ſpeedy anſwer to, is this, Do you believe that you can find a better friend then God? can you mend your ſelf any where elſe? is there in Heaven or Earth any that can do as much for you as God can? is there any one that can take you off when you come to be accuſed for High Treaſon againſt the King of Heaven, and to be arraigned before that juſt Judge? have you got that which will quit your coſt in getting of it, and countervail the loſs of a Soul? what is it that ſtill hath an intereſt in your heart, that is thought to be an equal competitor with God for your deareſt love? If it be indeed that which will ſhield you from the arreſts of Death, and the wrath of the Almighty; if it be that which can ſhelter you from the ſtorm of his diſpleaſure; if it be that which will do you as much good as Heaven, and make you as happy as God can; why then I have little to ſay; make your beſt of it. But conſider well what you do firſt, be ſure that you be not miſtaken, have not many thought as you think, and have found their miſtake when it was too late?
Queſt. 5. Do you think that this world will laſt always with you? do you not believe that ere long you muſt die, and your ſoul appear before God, and by him be ſentenced to its everlaſting ſtate? where is all the glory of thoſe great Monarchs which deſpiſed God, and oppreſſed his people? what is become of all their pomp? which of them that flouriſhed three thouſand years ago ſtand alive now in glory? and are you better then they? ſhall the worms which have made a prey of them, ſpare you? is Death more favourable now a days, then he was before? is not the world ſtill as it was, but vanity? is not all fleſh ſtill but graſs, and the beauty of it as a flower that is cut down and withereth ſuddenly? Well then, this being granted, that nothing is more certain then Death, and that it is appointed for all men once to die; would you not then be glad of ſomething that will ſtand you inſtead after death, a Friend in another world? why then do you not ſpeedily get acquainted with him who alone can befriend you in that dreadful hour?
Queſt. 6. What do you think will become of you, if after all this you go on in your old ways? what will become of you do you think if you ſhould die without the knowledge of God? what hopes hath you of life in peace, if you bid defiance to the Lord of life, and contemn the Prince of peace? how ſhall you eſcape if you neglect ſo great ſalvation? what do you think that thoſe which did once as you do now, ſlight Chriſt, and never look after Reconciliation with God, are now a doing in another world? what would you do in this caſe? ſhould one come to you either out of Heaven, or out of Hell, how wonderfully do you think you ſhould be affected with the Narration which they would give you of the affairs of the inviſible world? why then will you not now be affected with what we ſay? for aſſure your ſelves, whatever you may think, our teſtimony is as true, and hath a better foundation of credit, then if one ſhould tell you he came from the dead, and ſpeak to you of theſe things.
Queſt. 7. Another Queſtion I would propound to you, is this; Are you willing to bear the diſpleaſure of God? can you undergo the weight of that wrath which made his back to ake, who was mighty to do and ſuffer? can you with any patience hear that dreadful word pronounced by the mouth of that Judg, which will ſee to the execution of his ſentence, Depart from me ye curſed unto everlaſting torment; Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, for I know you not? Can you endure without any trouble that ſcalding hot wrath which is abundantly more painful then Fire and Brimſtone, more intolerable then to be ſhut up in a burning fiery Furnace, or to be boyled in a Caldron of melted Lead, or whatſoever torments the wit of men or Devils can invent? Can you with any patience bear the Stone, Gout, Toothach, Chollick, or ſome ſuch diſtempers of body which laſt but for a while? O how long do you think the time when you are in that condition? how do you toſs and tumble? what lamentable moan do you make? do not you think you can't be too much pitied in that condition? how then will you be able to lie down in thoſe torments, the leaſt drop of which is abundantly more painful then the greateſt torment that ever you felt in your life? If theſe ſeem dreadful to you, why do you not go the way to avoid them? which is by getting an intereſt in him who hath the Keys of Hell at his gridle; for there is no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus, to them that are brought into a ſtate of Reconciliation and Acquaintance with God by his Son our Mediatour.
Queſt. 8. Are you contented to loſe everlaſting happineſs? Can you willingly ſee Abraham, and Iſaac, and Jacob, and a great many from all the quarters of the world, to ſit down in the Kingdom of Heaven, and your ſelves caſt out? how do you like to have thoſe which you ſcorned to look upon, to be ſet at the Table at the Feaſt, and your ſelf ſhut out wich the Dogs? would you not be glad to have a word of comfort ſpoke to you, when your ſoul is juſt a taking its leave of your body? would you not be glad then to be be conveyed by the bleſſed Angels into the preſence of God, and to be crowned with an immortal and glorious Crown? would it do you any harm to be perfect in holineſs and happineſs when you die? would you not be glad to be ſaved when others ſhall be damned? In a word, do you not deſire to be rejoycing and praiſing of God in endleſs pleaſures, when others ſhall be weeping & curſing of God in endleſs torments? why then do not you live the lives of the righteous, if you would die their deaths, and have your latter end like theirs? if you would be glorious and happy for ever, why do you not endeavour to be holy and ſpiritual in time? if you would have God your Friend in another world, what do you mean that you labour no more to be acquainted with him in this world?
Queſt. 9. How would you take it at any mans hands, to be ſerved as you ſerve God? Suppoſe you ſhould take up a poor Child that came to your door to beg, that had ſcarce a rag to cover his nakedneſs, nor a morſel of bread to put into his mouth, and no where to hide his head; Suppoſe you ſhould ſtrip this poor begger of his rags and cloath him in very good apparel, and take him into your own houſe, and take as much care of him, as if he were your own child: ſuppoſe after this you ſhould bid him do you ſome ſmall piece of ſervice, and he in ſtead of it ſhould ſay, Comand your man, and do your work your ſelf; and in ſtead of anſwering your kindneſs, ſhould offer you the greateſt abuſe in the world, and afterwards conſpire with a company of Rogues to rob & murther you, how would you like this? ſhould you think that ſuch a fellow as this did not deſerve a halter rather then your favour? But now, if after this you ſhould ſend after this ungrateful wretch, and tell him, that you are willing to forget all that is paſt, and to receive him into the greateſt favour, and never to caſt his former wickedneſs in his teeth; how would you take it at his hands, if he ſhould ſtand I know not how long diſputing whether he ſhould accept of your kindneſs or no, whether he ſhould chooſe the Gaol and Gallows, or your Houſe? but if after all this you ſhould ſend meſſenger after meſſenger, and offer to give him all that you have in the World, and to beſtow your only Daughter upon him, and to ſettle preſently a great Eſtate upon him with her; how would you take it if this vile ungrateful beggar ſhould put you off a great while together with ſome poor excuſe or other? how would you like it if he ſhould make light of all your offers, and tell you he thanks you for nothing, and ſhould undervalue your kindneſs? Would you not ſoon reſolve not to trouble your ſelf any longer with ſuch an unthankful monſter? would you not let him take his courſe, and not much pity him, if he afterwards ſee the difference ſerence between a Fathers houſe and a Gaol, between Liberty and a Priſon, between Riches, Glory and Pleaſure, and Poverty, Diſhonour and Sorrows? would you not bid him never expect kindneſs more at your hands; but ſeeing he would not be ruled, to take what follows? What do you ſay, would you not do thus? I am perſwaded you would. But ſhould I unriddle this Parable, who do you think would be condemned? your own mouth would accuſe you, and you would be your own Judg. Thou art that man that haſt dealt thus diſingeniouſly with God, thou art that beggar to whom the Lord hath ſhewed much kindneſs, and offered more; he hath ſent meſſenger after meſſenger, and at laſt he hath ſent his Son to invite thee to his own houſe, and he offers to make you as happy as Heaven, Glory and happineſs it ſelf can make you, and you ſtand ſtill demurring, and add one delay to another, and are far from that grateful and ſeedy compliance which the nature of the thing doth require; and in ſtead of coming at Gods call, and a thankful owning of his marvellous kindneſs, how baſely doſt thou prefer thy company, thy luſt before him, and offer the moſt intollerable affronts to his Majeſty, and make nothing of his unparal'd goodneſs, and continueſt in open rebellion againſt him? What then haſt thou to ſay for thy ſelf, why God ſhould not with a juſt abhorrency caſt thee off for ever? But now that God ſhould ſtill offer thee as high as ever, & (in ſtead of doing as I have ſaid, and as you your ſelf would have done in caſe of a leſs contempt) ſtill follow you with ſuch a gracious propoſal as this is, that I now make unto you; is it not a miracle of mercy, a prodigy of kindneſs?
Queſt. 10. And now what will you do? Will you ſtill for all this go on in your contempt of God? Will you ſtill refuſe to know him, and never mind acquaintance with him? Will you ſtill be indifferent whether you have God for your Friend, or your enemy? Now you have been tendred ſuch a match, will you make another choice, will you beſtow your heart ſomewhere elſe? And when you have don that, dare you ſtand to your choice, and ſay, that you have don very wiſely in refuſing God, and in imbracing this preſent world? Will you maintain it at the day of judgement, that you have don well to refuſe acquaintance with himſelf, and to run the hazard of his diſpleaſure? But you will not, you ſay, trouble your head with ſuch melancholly fancies as theſe are; they are enough to put a man beſides his wits; you hope to do as well as others, and ſo long you care not. Well then, it ſeems you are reſolved; though, let me tell you, if you are contented to fare as moſt ſhall fare at laſt, you muſt be contented to be damned; for the Scripture is exceeding clear in this, that the number of thoſe that go to Heaven, is a very ſmall number; and if you will not take my word for it, (for indeed I would not that you ſhould take my word, nor any mans breathing without warrant from Gods word, in things of ſo high a nature) look into the Scripture, and at your leiſure, ponder a while upon theſe following Texts, Luke 13.23, 24. Then ſaid one unto him, Lord, are there few that ſhall be ſaved? And he ſaid unto them, Strive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, for many I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able, Mat. 20.16. Many are called, but few are choſen. And Luke 12.32. Chriſt ſaith, his flock is a little flock. And the Church complains of the fewneſs of her number in this Language. Mic. 7.1. Wo is me, for I am as when they have gathered the ſummer-fruits. I might heap up abundance of Scriptures, of the ſame nature, all which ſpeak this to us; that it is not ſo common a thing to go to Heaven as moſt people reckon upon. But yet if thou be reſolved, come what will come, not to change your mind; if after ſo many warnings, and pleadings, you ſtill continue of this judgement; I muſt ſpeak a dreadful word. Your blood be upon your own Soul. I have blown the Trumpet, I have don what in me lies to convince thee of thy dangerous ſtate. while thou art a ſtranger to God, and to bring thee to a ſpeedy acquaintance with him; but thou haſt after many and many a tender given in this anſwer, that as for God thou doſt not deſire to be acquainted with him; as for your marching with his Son, it's that which thou careſt not for hearing of, except thou mighteſt have his eſtate without his Soveraignty; thou wilt not have him for thy husband, except he will let thee do as thou liſt, and run a whoring from him when thou pleaſeſt; Thou wilt not have Heaven, except thou mayſt have it without holineſs; and as for the invitations of God, thou ſtill makeſt light of them, neither promiſes nor threatnings ſignifie much with you. Well then, when you find by woful experience what you have don, know whom you muſt lay all the blame on. I call Heaven and Earth to record, and you your ſelves are witneſſes, that I have with all the pity and earneſtneſs that I could for my ſoul told you of theſe great things: but you think the flattering offers that the Devil makes to be more advantagious then thoſe which God makes, and his ſervice to be preferred before the ſervice of Chriſt, and the friendſhip of the world to be eſteemed before the friendſhip of God; and the pleaſures of ſin, which are but for a ſeaſon, you value before thoſe rivers of pleaſures which are at the right hand of God for evermore. Now, if you continue in this mind, blame not me if you miſcarry for ever; you muſt whether you will or no ſtand to your choice. Do not ſay but you were told of theſe things; this is not the firſt time by many, but it may be the laſt that you may ever hear for all that I know. Remember you were once well offered. Do you think that God will always bare with ſuch unworthy abuſes? ſhall Gods Juſtice never be righted? yes, yes, be not deceived, flighted kindneſſes will coſt dear at laſt. What have you yet to ſay for your ſelf? do you think that I mean you any hurt by all this? except you count Salvation a wrong, and kindneſs it ſelf an injury. But if all this will not do, go then and make the beſt thou canſt of all thy Friends; let us ſee how well, and how long they will entertain thee: ere a few dayes it may be, ſhall be at an end, we ſhall hear how you like your choice; when they ſhall turn you out of doors, and tell you plainly, they can do nothing for you, you muſt ſhift as well as you can, as for them, they can't provide for themſelves, much leſs for you. And then let's ſee who hath made the beſt choice, he that is acquainted with God, and choſen him for his Friend, or he that hath taken the world for his friend? Let's ſee who will do moſt for their friends, when a time of trial comes. When Heaven and Earth are all in a Flame, when the Trumpet is ſounding, when the Judge and his Attendants, Chriſt and all his holy Angels, are coming, when the Priſons the Graves are opened, and the Priſoners are brought forth, then let's ſee who will have the chearfulleſt countenance, he that holdeth up his hand at the bar, or they that ſit upon the bench with the Judge: for know you not that the Saints, the Friends of the Judge, ſhall ſit with him when he judgeth the world? We ſhall know when the ſtorm riſeth whoſe houſe was beſt, that which was built upon the ſand, or that which was built upon the rock. O that people were now of the ſame mind that they will be of at the day of Judgement! O that they would conſider, that if they will not now be at leiſure to think of theſe things, they ſhall be at leiſure to repent of them hereafter. Do not talk of ſcorns, and reproaches, and ſuffering, what, do you think that Heaven will not make amends for all that? which is moſt to be feared, the ſcorns of God, or the ſcorns of men? which will do you muſt hurt, mans contempt, or Gods? where is the man that will be laughed out of a great eſtate? becauſe a fool ſaith, that a Jewel is not worth the taking up, will you therefore never ſtoop to take it up? The truth of it is, if you intend to make any thing of your Profeſſion, you muſt be willing to be counted a fool, and a mad man: but you muſt remember, it is by thoſe that are ſo themſelves. O be not affrighted from your duty by the talk of the rabble. If the thing be evil, let the vice of it ſcare you; but if it be good, let not the fear of them which are very incompetent judges in ſuch a caſe divert you from it. Do you think that ſuch poor excuſes will be taken at the day of Judgement? What do you intend to ſay to God then? Lord, I would have laboured to have known thee, I would have taken ſome care of my ſoul, and I would have taken ſome pains about the things of Eternity, but that I ſaw that almoſt every one that did with any ſeriouſneſs look after ſuch matters, were ſcorned, laughed at, &c. When I had had got into the company of thoſe that were godly, and I had half a mind to go with them to Heaven, then my friends fell a jeering of me, and ask'd me whether I meaned to be mad to undo my ſelf to turn Puritane and Phanatick? Do you, I ſay, believe that ſuch a plea will ſtop the mouth of the Judge, and keep him from pronouncing the ſentence againſt you? will this hold the hands of Juſtice? will the thoughts of this quench or cool theſe dreadful flames? Be better adviſed, O be better adviſed for your ſouls ſake, and conſider how ſuch creatures will befool themſelves, Who would upon ſuch a trifle part with Heaven? that would be laughed out of Glory, and jeered into Hell? Is your mind yet altered? have you any thoughts or reſolutions to look after your ſoul and acquaintance with God? Are there none of you all that ask by this time, what ſhall I do to be acquainted with God? are there none of you that begin to think that it is high time to look out for a Friend in a time of need? have I all this while been bearing the air, and laboured in vain? ſhall I leave you all as I ſound you? God forbid. Methinks I hear ſome poor ſouls crying out by this time, O that I had but ſuch a Friend that would bring me acquainted with God! O that I had but a ſaving knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt! O that I did but underſtand what it means to have Communion with the Father and the Son, through the Spirit! I ſee my ſelf undone and loſt for ever, except I have an Intereſt in this Friend. O who will bring me to him? How ſhall I get acquainted with him? O that is a ſweet language! That's a very good queſtion, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? but do you ſpeak in ſober ſadneſs? do you ſpeak in jeſt or in earneſt? If any one would give you advice and direction, would you follow it in ſpite of all the oppoſition of Hell? What do you ſay, will you labour to keep exactly to thoſe Directions that ſhall be given? if you will, I do not queſtion but that you and God will be acquainted before you die. But, O let not me take a great deal of pains and all to little purpoſe, as to you; do not now ſerve me as the Jews did Jeremiah, come and ask Counſel of God, and take the Devils. But in hopes that ſome poor ſouls may in good earneſt deſire Directions with an intent to follow them, I ſhall give them as follows.