Several Works, Work 2 · Part 2 (2 of 2)

Several Works · Work 2 · Part 2 (2 of 2)

p. 1581. The Church then hath a Conſcience not altogether paſt feeling but in fome meaſure awakened: and then 2. The will and affections not altogether loſt and gone in ſuch a Condition. 1. Then the Conſcience that hath yet ſome ſtirring, and that will appear: becauſe, 1. The Church here knew the voice of her beloved even when ſhe was aſleep, when he came, and called to her my love, my dove, my undefiled open to me: She now knew the voice of Chriſt, ſo, many a drouſie ſoul that is ſlumbering and ſleeping, knoweth the hints and motions of the Spirit which he hath, p. 159but alas hath not power to obey: for ſleep hath ſo overcome them, ſecurity hath ſo ſeized upon them, that though they hear, yet they do not, as me thinks in that very buſineſs of Jehoſhai, which I have thought ſtrange of, when his Conſcience was awake, he would hear the voice of the Lord: in Micah, he 1 King. 22. 29.1 Kgs 22:29thought all the reſt of the Prophets of Baal were falſe, he would have the Word of the Lord from the mouth of a true Prophet; a man would have thought now he ſhould have done it preſently, being an upright hearted man alſo, no: yet if you read the text, you ſhall find he went with Ahab notwiſtanding: here he had a Conſcience awake plainly, but yet he did not obey: he was ſo far engaged now to Ahab, not only in affinity, but his word was out, and his honour at ſtake: and though Conſcience likely might check him for the thing, as well as put him on to enquire of a true Prophet, yet thoſe Luſts now, love to his own honour, and carnal intereſt, and affection laid him aſleep, he went up notwithſtanding, well this is the caſe in this place. Can we not many of us ſet our ſeals to this truth? how often in a fit of ſecurity have we had Convictions and Checks? we have heard the voice of Chriſt: open to me my love, let my word have roo… in thee, this thou doſt is not pleaſing to me; O why wilt thou ſhut me out, & deal ſo unkindly with me, & yet your perſons aſleep? though we hear many things, we heed them not much: but turn upon our beds, as the door upon the hinges, and cannot get off.

2. Conſcience is ſo awake uſually in the people of God, as to tell them they are aſleep, they have ſomewhat ſecretly whiſpering them in the ears, that they are not in the right way, they are ſlothful or ſluggiſh. David I think was in a deep a ſleep, as any that we read of, yet I can hardly think but David had this within him ſome grudgings and miſgivings, that all was not well with him at that time: But becauſe happily this may be common to them with Hopocrites except they be very faſt aſleep, indeed, therefore I will rather inſiſt upon the third.

3. I ſay uſually the People of God as they know they are aſleep, when they are aſleep, ſo they complain of it, they reſt not; ſo queſtionleſs ſinners do uſually, there is nothing diſturbeth them, ſo far as to complain of it: I ſleep ſaith the Church, but my heart is awake, it appeared the heart was awake indeed, becauſe ſhe complained of it, as a man that is droufre, and p. 160cannot keep his eyes open, he naps and nods it may be, and wakeneth again; or if he apprehend himſelf in danger, to have any preſſing buſineſs upon him: if he ſleep longer it is unquietly, his mind is troubled with the thing, and it wakes him often, and he wouldſhake it off, but cannot: laborioſius dormiunt quam vigilant: ſaith one, …o our Annot. So the Conſcience▪ might then when aſleep, laſh them: ſtir them up many times, tel them, they do amiſs, prick them for it, Nowan Hypocrite will hardly complain of his ſleepineſs, not in reality, …f it be a practice that may …et him off with men to be whining and complaining, he will complain happily more to men, then to the Lord; but this poor Creature that ſears the Lord: his ſleep, O it lieth like lead at his heart, he groans under it!

But then for the Will that alſo is awake in part, when a Child of God ſleepeth: It was ſo with Paul, the thing I would not, Rom. 7. 15. 19.Rom 7:15Rom 7:19that I do; this is moſt evident in their ſlumberings, they take a Nod, and then up again, and would …ake it on: they would rather be doing the will of the Lord, then thus lazing and ſleeping. But now many a Hypocrite a formal profeſſor; he ſleepeth, and he loveth to ſleep, whether he ſleep, or whether he wake uſually it is all one to him, whether lively, or dead, in the ſervice of God, ſo be it: he doth his task, for the manner of it, he heedeth it not much: but the Child of God would not ſleep, though he be overtaken with it, it is againſt his will.

Yet 2. I will not ſay, but the Will of a Child of God may be in fault ſometimes in part too, and how great a part is hard to ſay: as the Church ſhe lies ſleeping upon her bed, it appears her Will was too blame: for ſhe did as as I may ſay, ſet her ſelf to ſleep compoſed her ſelf, as men uſe to do that would ſleep, lye down, put off their cloaths, ſeparate themſelves from thoughts which might diſturb them, wink with the eyes, they would ſleep: ſo the Church here had put off her Clothes, and waſhed her feet, that was a cuſtom in the hot Countries. before they went to reſt, and lay upon the bed: Now by this it appears that ſhe was willing to ſleep: yea, when the Lord Jeſus called upon her to ariſe, ſee how many frivolous excuſes ſhe had, as if ſhe could not put on her Clothes again, and could not defile her feet again, as if it would be a defilement to her to come to Jeſus Chriſt: Some think it is meant of ſome declining from the doctrine of Juſtification p. 161by Chriſt only, She had waſhed her ſelf, and now to come to Chriſt only, would be a defiling of her. But happily it is only accommodated to the ſimilitude: A Boy when he is Ioth to riſe, how many excuſes will he have; he wants this, and that, and twenty things; ſo very ingenious are we, when the will ſetteth the underſtanding a work indeed, to find out excuſes: ſo the People of God how loth they are to come to it, through the hypocriſy of the heart: when God had rouſed David, he had a Pſal. 32.Ps 32mind to ſleep ſtill, he was loth to come to confeſs his ſin: but God would not let him alone, prickt him up, until he was ſo ſore galled and wounded, he cryeth out in the diſquietneſs of his ſoul, and yet would not up: I ſay the Children of God may be faulty in his will in a great part, yet afterward uſually it coſts them heart ſmart for it; as it did the Spouſe here, of which afterward. Now an Hypocrite his will is fully engaged uſually, though he may have ſome Convictions of Conſcience, yet the Will is to ſin: Yet a little ſleep, a little ſlumber, a little folding of the hands to ſleep, Prov. 4. 23.Prov 4:23he ſtriveth not againſt it, but yieldeth up to ſleep, and is againſt them who would awake him out of it, rather then againſt himſelf for ſleeping. And though a Child of God, that is but in part willing to ſleep, may at preſent not take it ſo well, until he be throughly awaked, of a man that ſhould rouſe him up, yet afterward he will count ſuch a man his greateſt friend: well then, here is the firſt thing, Hypocrites at the beſt their hearts are aſleep; as the Saints are not, but at the beſt they are lively, their Wills are-ſtirring: and the Saints at the worſt, their hearts are awake more or leſs, though the Hypocrites hearts be aſleep So then, the Hypocrites ſleep when he ſleepeth, is a through ſleep, ſenſes, and heart, and all, inward and outward and all: the Saints, their ſleep is but outward, they have ſomewhat alive within, the ſeed of God abideth within them, which keepeth them from ſuch a deadly ſleep. Hypocrites can ſleep no further then 1 Ioh. 3. 9.1 John 3:9they were awaked before, and that they do uſually altogether: now their hearts were never awaked throughly: but the Child of God doth not ſleep ſo far as he was awaked, that is to ſay, all that was awaked doth not fall aſleep again.

Secondly, Another Difference may be this; The one ſleepeth not, until he hath gotten the main work in ſome meaſure made ſure, gotten oyl in the veſſel: the wiſe Virgins would not ſleep until p. 162they had oyl in their veſſels; then happily they might think, though they ſhould nap a little, they had that Cruſe of oyl which would not fail, their Lamps would not go out in obſcure darkneſs, which yet was dangerous preſumption. But now the fooliſh Virgin ſleepeth, and ſoundly too, though ſhe had no oyl at all in the veſſel: Ah dear friends! that is a ſad ſign, when a man can fall faſt aſleep, and knoweth not but that he is in the hands of his enemy, and before he awakes, a ſword may be in his bowels; when men can give ſleep to their eyes, and ſlumber to their eye-lids, I mean, be as deep in ſecurity, and lazy, and liſtleſs as any, though they have no Chriſt in them the hope of glory, but in the gall of bitterneſs and bond of iniquity, this is a Hypocrite indeed. Now a Child of God happily may at the beginnings of Acts 2. 16.Acts 2:16grace nap and nod, and happily ſometimes fall aſleep, I will not ſay it cannot be ſo, but I think ordinarily it is not ſo: for you have it in the Scripture all along, when once thoſe in Acts 2. and the Jaylor were awaked, and ſaw where they were, even in their blood, did they ſleep again, until they had ſome aſſurance of their Conditions? No: O they run up and down as men in a trembling frame, O what ſhall we do? what ſhall we do? is there no hope for us? no healing by this Jeſus whom we wounded? no ſalvation by this Jeſus whom we have made away? and uſually, truly Brethren; I do think that as it is with ſin, the weaker it is when it ſtruggles for life, (as it is with all other things) and hath little life in it, is ready to dye, it ſtriveth and ſtrugleth ſo ſtrongly as if it were nothing but life, morſus morientium: ſo when life is little and weak, it is ſo earneſt for the increaſe of it ſelf, and ſtrengthening it ſelf, that it appears to be all life, and none more vigilant and lively uſually then young Chriſtians; their life is little and young, and therefore as young Children, they would▪ be alway at the breaſt. So it is here.

Thirdly, another difference may be this, that though both their ſleeping may be alike diſhonourable to Chriſt among men who take notice of it, yet the one is not ſo dangerous as the other: this followeth upon the former, which may indeed rather ſerve as to prick, to ſtir and rouſe up men then, as a foreign, to judge of our ſleeping. The Hypocrite maketh as glorious a profeſſion as the Saint, ſeemeth to be as active, and ſtirring, and vigilant as any, as who ſeemed more awake then Judas when he pleadeth for the p. 163poor, yet alas, God knew the bottom of the buſineſs: but I ſay, they making ſuch a profeſſion now when they fall aſleep, it is as much to the diſhonour of God, as if a real Saint do fall aſleep, as now for inſtance, ſuppoſe two, one wiſe, one fooliſh, they fall into ſome giddy opinion of the times, O let him that thinketh he ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall! or elſe both grow worldly, covetous, griping, or vain, indeed caſt off the ways of Gods worſhip, the great Apoſtacy of our times. Now I ſay, this is alike diſhonourable to God: but it is not alike dangerous, for the one he ſleepeth, and his ſleep proveth the ſleep of death, as the fooliſh Virgins did; for though they were rouſed with the Cry, Conſcience was a waked it may be, yet their hearts were never rouſed up out of their ſleep; they were dead-hearted from the beginning, and ſo they remained: they never did ariſe from the dead, that Chriſt might give them life: the one when he waketh, hath Ep heſ. 5. 14.neither oyl nor Lamp, neither reality nor profeſſion, the other hath both; though the Lamp want triming, there is not that lively expreſſion of Chriſt in their Converſations as ſhould be, and therefore the light needeth ſnuffing; the one hath the root under ground: but the other neither root, nor branches: ſo that you ſee there is a difference between the ſleeping of the Child of God, and the ſon of Satan, the wiſe, and the fooliſh Virgins.

The third Ʋſe of the Doctrine may be this; If ſo be the Ʋſe 3.people of God may thus ſleep; Then brethren, It may be a warning word to us all, to take heed of it, to avoid it, if it fall upon us, I mean the people of God, it will prove bitterneſs in the latter end. Do you believe this, that you are lyable as well as others to ſleep? that you have the ſeed within, you have thoſe Luſts, ſuch foul hearts, which with their ſteam, are in danger to benight you every morning, every day: do you believe this? and do you believe it is a part of folly, the folly of the wiſe Virgins, to ſleep? what need more to be ſaid to you concerning theſe things? will not you avoid that which you judge evil?

But becauſe we have to do with poor ſleepy Creatures, whoſe ſouls it may be are roady to drop aſleep, even when they are hearing this, let me a little ſot it on, the Lord make the impreſſion by his own ſpirit, and bore your ears, & ſeal inſtruction to all our hearts.

1. Then conſider brethren, that if once we fall aſleep, we loſe our p. 164diſcerning between good and evil in a great meaſure: the Saints that are of experience; they have their fenſes exerciſed to diſcern between Heb. 5. 14.Heb 5:14good and evil: you may happily wake in your ſleep, but your eyes are ſhut, brethren, and it is a wonder of mercy, if you do not daſh your ſelves to pieces upon this rock of offence, or that rock of offence, this ſtone of ſtumbling, &c. as men in their ſleep ſometimes will get up, and climb indeed to the top of the houſe, and are they not in great danger of breaking their necks? would you not pitty ſuch a man? O ſuch is the Condition of a Child of God that hath a ſleepy ſoul, a ſoul in a deep ſleep: thou wilt be ready to judge evil good; and good evil: Jonah his ſoul was Ionah 49.aſleep, that ſin of his laid him aſleep, though a good man: and do you not know how ſadly he miſſed it? I do well to be angry, yea even to the death: what could Gain almoſt have ſaid worſe then he did, in this fit? A man in a ſleep cannot diſcern light from darkneſs, neither of taſts, nor ſmels, all is one to him; when once Peter was aſleep, he could deny and forſwear the Lord-Jeſus: David in a ſleep he cannot diſcern between the chance of war▪ and down-right murther; between ſhewing kindneſs to his faithful ſervant, one of his worthies in Iſrael, and making his Neighbour drunk, a ſad Condition! Aſa in ſuch a time when he was aſleep, as appears clearly a little before, his 2 Chron. 16. 10.2 Chr 16:10ſaith was lively, and he could relie upon God for the ruin of the Ethiopians, Lybians, yet now he relies upon Benhadad, King of Syria; to help-him againſt the King of Iſrael, even Baſha he was aſleep ſure, that forſakes God to relie upon an enemy, and takes ſuch an evil Courſe to wiſh him to break his Covenant. Then the Lord ſent Hanani, the Prophet telling him plainly he had done very fooliſhly, he would not bear it; he would not be rouſed out of his ſleep, brought to repentance: Claps the Prophet in Priſon, oppreſſeth the people: O what will a man ſtick at, brethren, when he cannot diſcern between good and evil: where the ſenſes are cloſed? what will not a blind man run upon, and yet a good man alſo? and this leads to a ſecond.

2. When a man is once aſleep, alas brethren, the paſſages between head and heart, they are obſtructed, that nothing almoſt that he heareth will awake him. So David, when he was aſleep, you ſee how ſadly he carryed it; he went to the Ordinances queſtionleſs in the houſe of God from time to time, or likely he did ſo, p. 165and yet he lay in that condition for all that, alas the word of God ſunk not with him at all; you know you may call upon a ſleepy perſon that is faſt, many times, again and again, and and he anſwers not: or if it move him a little, or ſtir him, alas he underſtands it not, he heareth a ſound which troubles him, but he underſtands it not, and ſo returneth to his reſt again, this is the very caſe of a poor ſoul aſleep: you hear indeed, but as if you heard not; as a man that hath his mind taken up with another thing, he heareth, but he heedeth not: ſo a poor ſoul aſleep goeth from Ordinance to Ordinance, from Sermon to to Sermon, and heareth: but the word ſticks in the ear, it reacheth not the heart ordinarily, and is not this ſad, brethren? Who would willingly be in this Condition, that knoweth what it is to have a fellowſhip with God, heart-Communion with God in his Ordinances?

3. Another Motive may be this; The poor ſervice God is like to have from us then, when we are aſleep: ſome indeed he may have, but it will be ſo poor as if none at all: what kind of ſervice will that man do his Maſter, that is ready to drop aſleep every ſtep he goeth? as David, what ſervice did he do the Lord while he lay in that deep ſleep? alas, his mouth was ſtopped, he was not able to ſhew forth the praiſe of God, until he had opened it. And the reaſon is plain, becauſe the graces of the Spirit, though they be within us; it may be there is the root of the matter, there are the habits; yet we cannot exerciſe them; A man aſleep hath life, and he breatheth, but what Acts can he do which may advantage himſelf or others? how can a man pray, when he cannot act his faith, nor act his love, nor his zeal, and fervency of Spirit, but all are a ſleep? Ah what weak ſervice hath the Lord from many of us upon this account!

4. Another Conſideration ſhall be this: the unſeaſonableneſs of the thing; Every thing is beautified by the ſeaſon, and if it be Rom. 13. 13▪Rom 13:13out of ſeaſon it is uncomely: It is not a walking honeſtly, foreign honeſtly, or comely, to ſleep now: brethren, it is enough for …inners that are of the night, that never …aw the day-ſtar appear, nor the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe upon them, for them to lie ſleeping now, it is ſomething ſuitable; for they that ſleep, ſaith the Apoſtle, ſleep in the night, and they that are drunk are drunk in p. 166… Theſ. 5. 7.the night: the night was for ſleep naturally, and▪ therefore man goeth forth to labour, and to his work until the evening. So in Pſal. 104. 20.Ps 104:20ſpirituals, it is moſt unſuitable to ſleep in the day-time: brethren, if you believe you are of the day and not of the night, as the Apoſtle ſaith, We count him a Drone, a Lusk, or Lurden that ſhall ſleep in the day-time▪ It was David his fault to be upon the bed in the day-time▪ And ſo likely Iſ…boſheth except the Cuſtom of the place, being hot might excuſe it: Well then hath the Lord in in finite riches of grace brought thee out of the dark night, made it day with thee, when it is night with many families and poor ſouls about thee and wilt thou make it …ight by ſleeping? it is unſeaſonable, it is enough for them that are in darkneſs to ſleep.

Again, 2. Conſider, It is the time wherein you are called upon, to act for God, and for your own ſouls; It is not only the day, but the time for work: It is our harveſt brethren, wherein ſhould lay up, not for many years, as the fool in the Goſpel ſaid, but for eternity; treaſure up grace for eternity: lay up a good foundation for the time to come. O how richly laden are ſome of the Saints over others are, that have made a profeſſion of Chriſt as long as they live: what is the reaſon, why they have ſlept, while they ſhould have gathered? he that gathereth in Summer, is a wiſe ſon, but he that ſleepeth in harveſt is a ſon that cauſeth ſhame: there the one is oppoſed to the other: that ſoul will cloth himſelf Prov. 10. 5.Prov 10:5with ſhame and Confuſion one day, that ſleepeth in harveſt, in the time of labour: wherefore doth the Bridegroom tarry, but to give you ſpace to repent, to work out your ſalvation in: and inſtead of working, ſhall we ſleep out this time? and will it be Comfortable in the end? will it be comfortable, if inſtead of labouring in the vineyard, we ſleep all the heat of the day? what account ſhall we make, when we come to receive the recompence?

3. Yet more unſeaſonable it is alſo: If you conſider, that uſually the time of this falling aſleep is after a good while converſe, and walking with God, then men fall a napping, the wiſe virgins they had their oyl, and their Lamps burning, it is true, they had provided for the main, and it is likely went forth to meet him, but in the way, the nearer they came to their journeys end: for there muſt be ſome good competent time ſure, before p. 167they would conclude that the Bridegroom tarried, and then they lay aſide all, and fall aſleep; Remember that of the Apoſtle, knowing Rom. 13. 11.Rom 13:11the ſeaſon ſaith he, that now it is high time for you to awake, for now is your ſalvation nearer then when you believed: Now is the foreign to awake out of ſleep, now is ſalvation nearer. What is the meaning of this? the meaning is, now is the moſt unſeaſonable Phil 3. 13.Phil 3:13time of all other, for you to be aſleep: now you ſhould preſs hard forward: now juſt at your journies end, as a Traveller: or a man in a race, holds up his head all the way, and maketh ſpeed, and when he is near the journies end, and ſhould lay hold upon the goal, that then he ſhould ſit down and ſleep, this is unſeaſonable, and utterly unſafe, if he expect to obtain by his running: Ah brethren, ſure you would obtain, elſe why did you run: if you expected not a reward? Now may I not ſay with the Apoſtle, you did many of you run well: but who hindred you? how came it to paſs you dropt aſleep? or are you inclining to it? O take heed, it is not ſafe at the end of your race, the night is paſt, the day is come, or the night, the time of this ignorance: for our life is compared to the viſion of God in heaven, may well be compared to a night, and that to day: well this day is at hand, it is nearer, then when you began to believe: for that is the meaning of that Phraſe, as ſuch a King reigned, that is to ſay, began to raign, ordinarily in Scripture: Well then, it is utterly unſeaſonable, therefore let me beg of you brethren, and the Lord prevail with our hearts to take heed of it.

Fifthly, Another Conſideration ſhal be this that while you lay your ſelves to ſleco, you loſe God, and Chriſt, you loſe their preſence: Rev. 3. 20.Rev 3:20when the ſoul open to Jeſus Chriſt, he cometh in, and the father, and Holy Spirit with him, and they bring their dainties with them, and abundantly refreſh the ſoul with his love which is better then wine, and as long as the ſoul doth give him entertainment, and followeth to improve its Communion with him, he will ſ…ay▪ but truly brethren, if we ſleep, he will not then tarry, but he takes his leave, and leaveth us ſleeping; and alas before we are aware, we have loſt him, and know not where to find him. It was Sampſons caſe, alas his ſtrength was in the preſence of Iudg. 16. 19.Judg 16:19God with him, when he departed, he was as as another man, he lies down upon Dalilahs lap, and then he fals aſleep, and at laſt he was robbed of his ſtrength, God was departed from him, he p. 168he had many forewarnings, but he was bewitched with a Luſt, it did ſo impriſon his reaſon, that he could not ſee what he was to do: at laſt he wiſt not that God was departed from him, he went thinking to ſhake himſelf as at other times, but alas his ſtrength was gone. Ah brethren, if a man have a Dalilah, it is ſive to one, but ſooner, or later, it will lull him aſleep, and if it can but get him aſleep, it is eaſie to get away the Lords preſence from him, and he know it not, untill afterward.

Sixtly, Another Argument ſhal be not only that, not only when He may ſpeak once, yea twice, yet man regardeth it not, Iob 33. The Diſciples were reproved time after time.Job 33we fall aſleep, we not only loſe the Lord Jeſus, and the preſence of his Spirit, but we then ſhall keep him out alſo, the ſenſes are locke up. A Servant faſt aſleep, when his Maſter cometh home, he may knock long enough before he open to him: why? alas he is aſleep, herein indeed is the exceeding riches of his grace, that though we grieve him by our ſlighting of his preſence, and Communications of himſelf to us, ſo as to fall aſleep in the midſt of them, that he will abide no longer, yet his heart yearns toward us, and his Love perſwadeth him to return again to the ſoul, and he will try again, if we will let him in, but we are aſleep: Behold I ſtand at the door, and knock: it is wonderful indeed, that he ſhould do ſo, but ſo he doth, and how long doth he ſtand at ſome of our hearts, when we by a ſleepy ſpirit grieved him away? how long doth he tarry, before we open? you ſee, in the Caſe of the Church, I ſleep, but my heart waketh: open to me, Cant. 5. 2.Song 5:2my love, my dove, my undeſiled: how ſweet compellations he uſeth? though thou haſt ſhut me out like a kind love, yet my love open to me, my Locks are wet with the dew of the night; much he endures before we open, and do but obſerve, when ſhe knew it to be his voice, yet ſhe hath many excuſes: I have put off my Coat, &c. and all this while he ſtays, but what unkind dealing is this? when by his word he knocks, alas, it ſinketh not, any further then the ear, there it dyeth: knocks by the voice of his Spirit, and by rods, and afflictions, ſometimes, and yet we keep him out, M…a 6. 9.this is the ſixth.

Seventhly, When we fall aſleep, we little know how longwe ſhall lie in that Condition, therefore take heed of it: O when David fell into that ſleep, how long did he lie in it▪ nine months at leaſt, and he might have lain nine years, except the Lord had taken a more then ordinary courſe with him; So the Patriarchs; how p. 169long did they lie in their ſleep, and their Conſciences neve… awaked until their affliction? this is clear in the very caſe of the Church in the Canticles; how long did he call, and call again, and wait upon her, and yet ſhe is not awaked? a little ſtirred ſhe is, but alas lies down again, as a man half awaked, until at laſt, he was preſſed to come nearer to her, to put his hand in at the hole-of the Lock, and then at laſt ſhe got off her bed with much ado. Firſt, He was fain to come nearer to her, with ſome inward touch and offer of his grace offering, as I may ſay, with his hand to open the bolts wherewith her heart was bolted againſt him: and then ſhe waked, and not before; you ſee theſe virgins here ſlept until the Cry came, and how long they ſlept, who can tell? O it is a ſad thing brethren, to be ſo long without Communion and Fellowſhip with the Lord Jeſus; to be ſo long under weakneſs and inability to exerciſe our graces, that we can do nothing but poor weak ſervice: ſo long to keep out Jeſus Chriſt, and when do we know that he will come ſo near to us, as throughly to awake us, what if he ſhould never do it, until our dying day? what a ſad end would that be!

Eighthly, Remember this brethren; though you may think of caſe in ſuch a Condition of ſleeping, it will be no caſe to you, but trouble: for uſually, what is the r…aſon we unbend our bows, looſe the Cords? we think we may have eaſe, take on more eaſily and fairly for heaven then we have done, now the main part of our work is done: we have gotten the oyl in our veſſels, and a little aſſurance it may be of his love, therefore now we may take our eaſe, and ſo fall aſleep; believe it brethren, it will be a little caſe to you, and it will appear, if you conſider theſe two or three things.

1. While you are in that ſleep, if you be believers indeed, you will not have eaſe: what diſtempered ſleeps do men ſleep, that are in continual fear? or that ſhould not ſleep, and know they ſhould not ſleep, it will hazard their lives: is their ſleep ſweet ordinarily? ſurely no: when a man ſleepeth, and in his ſleep is terrified with dreams, how unquiet is he? truly a believer, he never ſleepeth heart, and all; if he did, it were ſomewhat like: now a Hypocrite doth, he ſleepeth heart, and all: that is firſt aſleep, that never was awake, and therefore he may take more pleaſure. But alas the Child of God all the while he is off from p. 170Chriſt, and the enjoyment of him, he is like a ſtone from its center, like an Iron pluckt from the Loadſtone, that hath yet a …ingering towards him, will not reſt until it return to him again, ſo it is not quiet altogether; therefore of all men the people of God are the verieſt fools, when they give way to ſin, or lie Pſal. 85. 8.Ps 85:8down upon the lap of ſinful delights, and fall aſleep; becauſe they have a ſtill principle within them, which is kept awake; a ſeed of God which ſtill interrupteth them, and they cannot take their fill of delight, nor reſt in ſin; therefore to them it is returning to folly, when once peace is ſpoken to them. I appeal to the experiences of all the Saints, whether when they are in a ſleepy frame, a fit of ſecurity hath ſeized upon them, the preſence of Chriſt is departed, whether they have that reſt and quiet in their ſpirits: it is an uncomfortable condition to them.

2. Becauſe uſually when his people are in ſuch a Condition, the Lord is ſain to take ſome violent courſe with them, more then he would to awake them; ſo that not only their ſleep is troubleſom, but their awaking is alſo ſad to them. Here, there is a Cry made, whether it be by the voice of the word lifted up, terrible threatnings! Or whether the voice of his rod which cryeth: it is terrible, it is not a ſtill voice happily will do it; but it muſt be ſomething that will make both our ears to tingle, as it was in Elias 1 Sam. 3. 11.1 Sam 3:11caſe; poor man he was aſleep, a Luſt had ſo beſotted him, that is to ſay, his carnal affection to his Children; he honoured them above God, that love devoured his love, and eat up his zeal for God, and the Lord warns him, ſendeth a Prophet to him, and tels him what he was like to truſt to, he had ſet his Conſcience a little to work before: ſo far as to reprove them: But if nothing elſe will do it, awake him throughly, What then? I will do a thing that ſhall make both the ears of him that heareth it, tingle; It ſhall awaken him, and awaken others; the boring of the ear may coſt us ſomething he will give us an alarm, a ſtrong one at leaſt, if he do not beat up our Quarters, where we lie lurking. And you that are ſouldiers, and have been in this Condition, hath it been comfortable to you when you have been ſo beaten up? I think not, ſure: O what hurrying then, and terrour is upon every man, when he is ſo ſurprized! So nothing elſe would do to the Brethren of Joſeph, and therefore God brought them into that diſtraction they were never awaked until now. If men p. 171will not awake with calling, we uſe to take them, and ſhake them, and uſe them more hardly. The Lord cals brethren, you have the voice of the Turtle, the joyful ſound of the Goſpel among you: If we awake not, what will he do? he will take you by the Neck, and ſhake you awake: and truly brethren, the Lords ſhakings are terrible ſhakings; he will ſhake the ſoul into a trembling and aſtoniſhment. What was the reaſon that the Lord followed Jonah with a ſtorm? he was aſleep, his Conſcience and Soul aſleep, Ionah 1.Jonah 1and no eaſie means would awake him; the Lord was fain to let looſe his hand upon him, and by a terrible tempeſt to awake him; ſure I am, this will not be comfortable.

3. Afterwards, It will not be quietneſs nor reſt to your ſouls, the Diſciples you ſee, when they had ſlept, their ſleep had ſo many Mark 14. 40.Mark 14:40reproofs: how were they aſhamed of what they had done? they wiſt not what to anſwer him, were fain to hang the head; It is a diſqu…eting to a mans ſpirit, to be covered with ſhame and confuſion; O when ſhall he come, and upbraid the ſoul with his ſlothfulneſs! What, is this thy love to me now? is this thy kindneſs to thy friend? is this thy faith and zeal for me, that thou haſt fallen aſleep, and ſlept ſo long as thou haſt done? was my Love and my Communion no more worth? is this the eſteem thou putteſt upon it, to fall aſleep in the midſt of it? will you have a word to ſay to Jeſus Chriſt now in ſuch a caſe? will it not be confuſion to us? O brethren, It may be, we may bear the ſhame, and reproof of ſuch a ſleeping fit upon our backs all our days. Beſides, can it chuſe but be a very great diſtraction to us, that when we are awaked, and ſlept out our time, and ſee then that now Chriſt is at hand, the day of his coming is here, and we have our work to do in a great part, our Lamps to trim, will not this be a diſtraction to us? if we do eſcape the deſtruction of that day, when a ſervant that hath a houſe to make ready, ſleepeth away his time, and by and by tidings come, his Maſter is at hand, and the houſe is unready to receive him. O what a hurry and confuſion and diſtraction is he in then, and what fruit hath he then of his ſleeping? it ends in bitterneſs, and trouble, and diſeaſe, and therefore Brethren, as we tender our peace, our Comfort, take heed of ſleeping.

Alas you will ſay, what ſhould we do to keep our ſelves from this ſleeping▪ ſince it is ſo dangerous? I ſhall propound a few … to you.

p. 1721. Then take heed of the beginnings of declinings. Ariſtotle reports, the Lyons of Syria bring forth the firſt year five whelps, the next, four, the next, three, and ſo on, until they come to a barrenneſs; like Mandrobulus in Lucian, who offered to his god the firſt year gold, the ſecond, ſilver, and the third, nothing; See Trap upon Mat. 24. 13. If we would avoid ſleeping, we muſt take heed of ſlumbering, of heavineſs, of any thing inclining to it; Do you not mind whether your Love be as hot in prayer, as fervent as heretofore? if there be a rebatement of it, fear it; you are going to ſleep; Obſerve your ſelves brethren, Is not your Love grown much colder, then it was, becauſe iniquity doth abound? ſo that you have prejudices ſo many, love is eaten Mat. 24. 12.Matt 24:12out! O that the Lord would help you to look to it at the beginning!

2. Take heed of compoſing, or ſetling your ſelves too eaſily, this will provoke to ſleep; O do not put off your Garments, with the ſpouſe! Men that would not ſleep, will hardly put off their Clothes, nor lay themſelves upon a bed. Not as if Saints did loſe the habits of holineſs or grace; But the Acts, the outward garments they may ſay aſide, and ſo ſetle themſelves to ſleep: It is vain for a man to hope to be kept waking in ſuch a caſe: O take heed of loving eaſe, wo be to the n that are at eaſe in Sion, Brethren! If you be any thing acquainted with the times, or your own hearts, you will find enough to exerciſe you.

Keep in Action; acts diſpel the vapors which perſwade ſleep: O brethren, time ſhall come, when we ſhall have our graces continually in act; why ſhould we not breath after this, even upon earth: get as near to it as we can.

3. Take heed of putting off the day of the coming of Jeſus Chriſt, that ſeemeth …ere to be the immediate cauſe of the Virgins ſlumber and ſleeping; while the Bridegroom tarryed, they Iob. 29. …8. Pſal. 3…. 6.Job 29:8Ps 3:6thought they might have time enough likely, they might take a nap… unbend a little, if we would avoid ſleeping, labour to keep freſh that upon our ſpirits, the appearing of the Lord Jeſus, a love of that appearing, and a fear of an unſuitableneſs to that appearing when it ſhall be; O brethren, that we could once attain to Jobs pitch to wait for our change every day; all the dayes of … ▪ …4. 14.our appointed time! I doubt, ſome of us can ſcarce ſay that we …ait for it any day, we put it off, and therefore no marvel if we p. 173ſleep. It is that which is preſent which muſt affect us, ſuch is our Conſtitution: things though never ſo certain, and though never ſo deſirable on the one hand, or never ſo dreadful on the other, yet they affect not, except they be preſent, ſome way, or other; preſent in our thoughts, in our expectations, preſent to our faith, which is the evidence of things hoped for: as once King James ſaid, ſuch a man Preacheth, as if hell were at his back, ready to ſwallow him up, that will keep a man awake; either the joy of heaven ſet before us, and as I may ſay continually preſent, the coming of Chriſt, Or elſe, the terrors of everlaſting burnings, the immediate Conſequent of this day: O who can ſleep that hath the coming of the Lord freſh upon his ſpirit!

4. Take heed of Pride and ſelf-confidence; You ſee brethren, that hath laid the very Watchmen, themſelves aſleep, the three chief, Apoſtles. If Sampſon had not reſted upon his own ſtrength, would he when he had ſo many warnings, have committed himſelf again, to the Lap of his Dalilah? ſurely no.

5. In the next place, take heed of exceſs in the uſe of lawful things: O ſaith our Saviour, take heed your hearts be over-charged Luke 21. 34.Luke 21:34with ſurfetting, or drunkenneſs, and the cares of this life, that will quickly lay a man to ſleep! You know the thorny ground went far, and yet though it endured Perſecution, and the Cup of trembling could not carry away the ſoul, the Cup of delights in the world, it laid them aſleep; the Sun did not burn them, but the 1 Cor. 7. 29.1 Cor 7:29thorn choakt them: Licitis perimus juvenes, the time is ſhort ſaith the Apoſtle, it is rowled up, as a Mariner near his port rowleth up his ſails, or as a piece of cloth rowled up; one turn more; and we are turned into the grave; What then? It remaineth, that they that buy, be as if they poſſeſſed not, and they that have inheritances by Lot alſo, be as if they enjoyed them not; they that have wives, as if they had none; for the faſhion of this world, the Scheme, the Mathematick figure of this world paſſeth away. Was it not this which caſt Solomon into ſuch a ſleep? He offended by women, though the wiſeſt King. So Mat. 24. 37. They eat, they they drank, foreign, as ſome obſerve; It is a word uſed moſt properly of beaſts, living ſenſually in the delights of the ſleſh; they feed themſelves without fear, as the Apoſtle Jude hath it, out of meaſure, and ſo in time, there is a ſeaſon for all things, &c. make not proviſion for the ſleſh, &c. O that there were p. 174Rom. 13. 1… ▪Rom 13:1more ſobriety brethren, and moderation among us, appearing among us: there would not be ſo much ſleeping.

6. Take heed of any ſin unrepented of, of continuing in it; for ſurely that will damp the ſoul, and caſt it into a ſleepe, as you ſee in the cafe of Jonas, David, the brethren of Joſeph: O ſpecially of ſuch ſins, as ſtupifie, and ſeal, and harden, ſins of a high hand, and againſt light, againſt mercy with a high hand, theſe are dangerous.

7. Be often ſtirring up your ſelves, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks to Timothy, ſtir up the grace of God that is in thee, the gift in thee, as fire under the aſhes; A man that is drouſie, had need to ſhake himſelf, as Sampſon did. Ah brethren, there is a carnal mind in 1 Tim. 1. 6.1 Tim 1:6us all, which is death, it deadens all that is good within us; And except we do often ſtir up our ſelves, labour to keep upon our hearts ſome quickning Conſiderations, to preſs them home, to hold them to the ſoul, we ſhall, do what we can, we ſhall ſleep, or at leaſt ſlumber: And beg with David, O quicken me according to thy word! Alas, life is his, and all quickning and renewing grace is his; therefore we ſhould lye much before him for this mercy, if we would not ſleep indeed. So much for this Uſe.

The next Ʋſe of the Doctrine ſhall be an awakening word. It Ʋſe 4.may be brethren, many of us that have this word alas, are aſleep, and had need to be ſhaken, and O that the Lord would even do it for us! Alas, It is not our word will do it, it dyeth in the Ear, and goeth no further, as a bullet whoſe force is ſpent dyeth, reacheth not the mark, except the Lord add an Almighty force to it, it will do nothing. But I ſhall endeavour alittle this work by offering ſome conſiderations to you. You that lye upon your beds.

1. Remember, in the firſt place that if Jeſus Chriſt come, while you are in this ſleep, you will be found unready, what do you think that a ſleeping, will put your hearts into frame, to meet the Lord Jeſus with? Surely no: One of theſe two things will befal you, either your works will be quite undone, you will have your grace to get, when you ſhould enter into glory, or never; Or elſe if you have it not to get, you will not have it in its brightneſs, and luſtre, as Ornaments upon you; ready to open to him, to enter with him; either your Lamps will be out, or elſe they will be to trim, when you ſhould enter; O that the Lord would inforce p. 175this Argument, and his own exhortation! Luke 12. 35. Stand ready therefore, with your loyns girded, and your Lamps burning, wayting for his coming, that you may be ready? Do you think this can be comfortable to you?

2. Do but conſider ſeriouſly, what danger we are in when we ſleep, when we give ſleep to our eys, and ſettle our ſelves to it, when we ſtrive not againſt it.

Firſt, The Philiſtims will be upon us, as they were upon poor Sampſon; If Satan, and our hearts can but ſing us aſleep, then Iudg. 16. 19.Judg 16:19the Philiſtims are upon us, as they were upon him, and at laſt you ſee how ſadly they deſtroyed him; you ſee what danger Saul was in when he was aſleep; David might have taken his life from him. And Siſera by a poor woman periſhed, when aſleep. And 1 Sam. 26▪ 7.1 Sam 26:7ſo Iſhboſh…th, when aſleep. Surely brethren, the devil never lulls us aſleep, believe it, but he hath ſome deſperate deſign upon us, which he cannot do when we are awake. What danger were the Diſciples in, when they were ſleeping when they ſhould have Iudg 4. 26.Judg 4:26prayed? they were juſt entring upon the pikes, and they were aſleep; and ſee what fearful work there was, they were all ſcattered from him: and Peter, how fearfully he denyed him! Could Satan think you ever have brought Lot to that wickedneſs, if he had not been faſt, in a deep ſleep? It was ſtrange ſleepineſs in him to drink ſo much of the wine; Exceſs overthrew him. Surely brethren, if ever there were an hour of temptation, this is one; If it might be tolerable at any other time, yet not at this: for hell is broke looſe, the devil is come down, and hath great wrath, becauſe his time is ſhort: O how he hunts after poor ſouls, and who are ſo like to be drowned as poor creatures aſleep!

Secondly, Then God uſually doth for ſake a ſoul, if he fall aſleep; As you ſee in the Canticles her beloved was gone, he wayted upon her a great while, ſhe would not awake; when ſhe got up, he was gone: O what a ſad caſe was Saul in, When God had forſaken him, anſwered him not by Ʋrim, or Thummim, and the Philiſtims were upon him, it made him out of his wits almoſt! Ah dear friends If the Lord being provoked by our unkindneſs, giving our ſelves 1 Sam. 28. 6.1 Sam 28:6to ſleep, do let looſe ſin, this or that luſt upon us to worry us. And himſelf depart, and ſtand, and ſee, what the latter end will be; this will be ſad, thou cryeſt to him, he will not hear; but is as one aſleep to thee, becauſe thou waſt as one aſleep to him. O what will you do in this day!

p. 176Thirdly, Then he is leaſt able to act grace, when he hath moſt need of it; becauſe the ſpirit is withdrawn from him: Jeſus Chriſt is departed from him, he cannot reſiſt a ſleeping, he hath no ſtrength. A weak woman may drive a nayl through the Temples of a moſt valiant General then. O what advantage hath Satan againſt us, and ſin againſt us! The leaſt temptation then, … too hard for us, we have no ſtrength to reſiſt, come what will come, we are naked to receive the thruſt; And but that the Lord ſtays the hand of Satan, that it ſhall not reach the heart; how quickly would he give ſuch ſleeping ſouls their deadly wound!

3, Conſider yet further, how we put the Lord Jeſus to it, to prick us, and ſtir us up leſt we ſhould lye ſleeping, and ſleep the ſleep of death. They ſay the Eagle will prick and beat her yong ones, out of the Neſt; elſe they would be lazy and ſleep there. Well ſurely brethren, If love, and ſweetneſs will not do it, gall and vinegar muſt: awakened we muſt be, for ſure we cannot go to heaven in a ſleep; and how terrible will it be, if we put him to it thus to teach us by terrible things in righteouſneſs and mercy? It is Pſal. 65. 5.Ps 65:5faithfulneſs and mercy to us, he will be at the pains with us. And then brethren, let me but add this only.

When the Lord Jeſus ſhall deal thus with us, we that now are ſo faſt aſleep, we may ſleep then; if we could there will come ſuch a day upon us ſurely, if the Lord do not in tender compaſſions awaken us before hand. It is a bitter ironical reproof, the Diſciples had need of ſuch ſharpneſs in the reproof, for milder words would not do: ſleep on now, ſaith our Saviour, it is enough, what did our Saviour allow them to ſleep? ſurely nothing leſs, Mat. 26. 45.Matt 26:45ſpecially all this time; for that his next words are, ariſe, let us go hence, behold, they are at hand, who betray me, why then they could, have little liſt or leaſure to ſleep; but our Saviour doth with a holy mocking of them, (as I may ſay) Well, you have been ſleeping all this while, now take your reſt, now ſleep if you can, now you ſhall have your hearts ſo full of cares and fears, and be ſobeſet with temptations, you ſhall have little liſt to ſleep. A righteous hand upon them for their ſluggiſhneſs; as the young man, rejoyce O young man in thy youth, &c. and let thine heart chear thee, but remember Eccleſ. 11. 9.Eccl 11:9for all this, God will bring thee to judgement. Well brethren, as light as you may make of this, you that love ſleep, and give your ſelves to ſecurity, when this day cometh upon you p. 177it will make your hearts ach. The Lord perſwade us of it; I deſire not the woful day to any of you, but rather that you may eſcape.

Again, Another Ʋſe of the Point may be, then for ſuch as are kept through the Almighty grace from this ſleeping; it may be, when others are ſleeping about thee, one in this corner, another in that, thou art lively, thy graces are kept in vigor, thy ſweet communion with Chriſt maintained: O how much, how infinitly art thou engaged to the Lord Jeſus? magnifie his grace; How many conſiderations here, might be heaped up, to heigthen your prayſes, that the high prayſes of God might be in your hearts and, mouths. As

1. To conſider; Its meerly free mercy that maketh this difference between thee, and the moſt ſluggiſh Profeſſor, moſt ſlothful ſleepy Profeſſor. For it is not ſurely brethren, becauſe they have improved the grace which thou haſt received, better then others have done; it may be, others have received more grace, and walked as diligently as thy ſelf, and yet notwithſtanding left to ſome fearful fall, to ſtupifie, or deaden them aſleep. O magnifie his grace, that thou art thus far kept again!

2. To conſider, How much miſery and ſin, thou doſt hereby avoid? the loſs of Jeſus Chriſt, and his preſence, &c. O it is unſpeakable! for what ſin, what temptation, will not take with a poor ſoul, when he is in this drouſie condition? As Lot in his ſleep, what would he not do? the ſoul aſleep, and in ſecurity, what would he not do? the things that now the ſoul abhors the thought of them, if thou hadſt been left to ſuch a ſleep as this is, thou wouldſt have made nothing of, as wel as others; as you ſee in the fearful example of many apoſtatizing Profeſſors in theſe days, that have walked very ſtrictly before, which ſurely, as it ſhould miniſter matter of holy fear and trembling to us; ſo of great prayſes to the Lord. And then the miſery to awaken us, to put us to thoſe diſtractions, which have been already ſpoken to. Beſides,

3. To conſider, What great advantage thou haſt now above many others. Thou haſt the preſence of God which others want, thou haſt the light of his countenance, thou haſt many a ſweet communion with him, which others want, being left to this ſleepy condition, p. 178they have ſlept away their harveſt; thou art kept awake to gather in the Summer. O how rich in grace may ſuch a ſoul grow, if he do but know his ſeaſon and opportunity! and are not theſe great matters of praiſe?

Again in the next place; then brethren if we be ſo apt to Ʋſe 6.ſleep; Let us conſider one another, to provoke, to ſtir up, ſuffer not one another to ſleep: Indeed brethren, ſo far as we are defective in this duty of love one to another, ſo far we our ſelves are aſleep. O be ye followers of Jeſus Chriſt, and be full of love, as he was, he cometh to his Diſciples, and findeth them faſt aſleep; what doth he do, let them alone, or refuſe Communion with them? no: he ſtirreth them up, giveth them a reproof to provoke them, and he doth it again, and again, and again; And ſo in the caſe of Peter, he did you know, look upon him, otherwiſe what had become of him? ſo he would not let Jonas, or David go in their Conditions, but ſendeth a Prophet to one, and ſendeth a ſtorm after the other to awake him, and afterward cometh himſelf. And ſo the Church in the Canticles, ſee how he cals upon her there, and afterward cometh nearer; O Brethren, that I might be counted worthy this day to ſpeak one word home to ſome poor ſleeping ſoul to awaken you; either a word of love, or a word of terror! I have ſpoken both, but will you remember this as a duty? Doubtleſs we have occaſions before us every where; do we not know many lazy, ſleepy Chriſtians? do we not judge them to be ſo? where are our bowels towards them? why do we not ſhake them, do our endeavour, would we not be ſorry to ſee them forſaken of Chriſt altogether as to their ſenſe, and ſadly lamenting after him? would we not be ſorry to ſee them battered and bruiſed with the temptations of Satan, in this ſleepy condition? are they not in danger? ſhall we ſee them lie as a prey juſt ready for the Devils mouth, and not endeavour to ſtir them up to remove that drowfie frame from them? the Lord help us brethren ſuch as are more wakeful among us; for I believe ſome there are, that the Lord hath magnified his grace towards exceedingly in this reſpect. O how can you improve your mercy better then thus; by ſtirring up others, that they may enjoy the ſame ſweetneſs in Communion, and cloſe fellowſhip with the Lord, as your ſelves do! But thus much for this Uſe alſo.

p. 179Ʋſe 7. Then, Let us be tender in judging one anothers Condition; Ʋſe 7.judge not a mans ſtate by the preſent frame that is upon him; Come into a Garden in Winter, and there is no appearance of any flowers, the roots are within the ground, ſhall we conclude therefore, there are none? no; ſo in this caſe, there may be a ſleeping habit of grace though it be not in act, the ſoul is not able to act it for the preſent. As the wiſe Virgins, (though it was a part of folly for the wiſe Virgins to ſleep) yet we may not without great wrong to them, and the grace of Chriſt in them, call them fooliſh Virgins; there is a vaſt difference between them. If a man ſhould have made a judgment of David in his backſliding; what would he have thought of him? or of the Diſciples, when they were ſo heavy at ſuch a time as that was; and that, after they had been reproved for it, and ſtirred up, again and again, we would have judged likely; O ſure it would prove a deadly Lethargy, or there were ſcarce any hope concerning them! O no, ſaith our Saviour, though he reproved them ſharply, yet ſome ſugar he mixed with the vinegar, the Spirit indeed is willing, but the Fleſh is weak; he did not unſaint them, becauſe of Mat. 26 4…Matt 26:4their ſleepineſs; no more ſhould we; And indeed brethren, the difficulty is ſo great to diſtinguiſh between a ſleep, and death in ſin ſometimes, that we had need to ſuſpend, and be exceeding tender in judging. Phyſicians themſelves have much ado ſometimes to diſcern whether there be life in the body, they are much put to it, and yet it appears there is life, therefore let us be tender in judging, leave it to him who can diſcern whether the life be within them yea, or no.

Laſtly, A word of Comfort to the poor people of God, that Ʋſe 8.alas find themſelves very apt to fall aſleep, and ſhake themſelves with Sampſon, again and again, and yet are apt to lie down upon the lap of a Dalilah again: they know not what to think of themſelves, whether they can be alive to God, having hearts ſo deſperately ſleepy. Yea, it may be, though they have loſt the ſweet ſmelling preſence of Jeſus Chriſt many times by their ſleeping, yet they have ſlept again, and cannot keep themſelves awake; his ſmiles have been many times turned into ſharp rebukes, their honey into gall, and ſometimes by terrible things in righteouſneſs, p. 180they have been awaked, and yet they are ſleeping again: ſometimes they have been confounded and aſhamed, and have had nothing to ſay when the Lord hath rebuked them, and yet they are aſleep again? O what can I think of ſuch a Condition as this! I do believe the Cloſets of ſome poor Creatures, can bear witneſs to many a ſad complaint of this kind. Well I anſwer to this,

Far be it from me brethren, to ſow pillows under any mans Arm-holes, or to make a bed for any to ſleep upon: the Lord forbid, there ſhould be a heart ſo wicked, as to make ſuch an uſe of what is to be ſaid to ſuch poor diſcouraged ſouls! We are in a ſtrait indeed, we cannot give a Saint their portion, but the wicked are ſnatching at that, nor the wicked their portion, but the Saints are catching at that; ſpecially diſcouraged hearts, and many times applying all to themſelves that never was intended for them. But if any dare abuſe it, be it upon them; I muſt ſpeak a word of refreſhing to poor ſouls, that are even wear…ed with a lazy ſleepy heart.

1. Then remember this; That it is poſſible for a man or woman that is truly in the ſtate of grace, yet to be overtaken with ſleep; therefore it is a Concluſion without any good premiſes, that ſure thou art no Child of God, no wiſe Virgin, becauſe thou art ſo often ſlumbering, and ſometimes faſt aſleep; As carnally ſecure Creatures do deceive themſelves, foreign concluding becauſe the wiſe Virgins ſlept, therefore they are wiſe Virgins, …ames 1. 22.though they ſleep; ſo on the other hand, do the people of God deceive themſelves by a like falſe reaſoning, concluding they are fooliſh Virgins certainly, becauſe they ſleep. All are not wiſe that were aſleep, for ſome were fooliſh; and therefore the carnal creature may ſleep the ſleep of the fooliſh; all were not fooliſh that were aſleep, and therefore thou mayſt be a wiſe Virgin, and yet overtaken with ſleep: they both agree in▪ ſleeping, or ſlumbering; it is common both to wiſe and fooliſh, therefore thou canſt not make it a diſtinguiſhing, or differencing note of thy Condition which is common to both ſorts; Only the degrees and circumſtances, the antecedents and concomitants of this ſleep, are thoſe which diſtinguiſh, as you have heard, and I hope, remember, the wiſe if they ſleep, uſually get oyl into their veſſels firſt, they ſleep, but they ſleep by candle-light, they ſuffer not their Lamps to go out, they ſleep, but their p. 181hearts weak, &c. Well, it is poſſible though thou ſleep, thou maiſt be a wiſe virgin.

2. How knoweſt thou, thou ſleepeſt? and how cometh it to paſs that it is a burthen to thee? Thou complaineſt of it, and to ſuch onelyonly we ſpeak brethren, I muſt tell you ſuch as yield not up to it, ſuch as love not ſleep, but it is tedious to them; but whence is this? Surely it is, becauſe thy heart is awake, as the ſpouſe ſaith, this is not a total ſleep: O thou haſt cauſe to bleſs the Lord that he hath kept ſo much as thy heart awake, that ſleep hath not ſeized upon all; If once the heart be aſleep all is gone, therefore be thankful for that, that there is any thing kept awake, thy Will, thy Affections.

3. I, you will ſay, if I could ſee my heart is awake it were ſomething, but my hear ſure is aſleep, my confidence doth not much trouble me for it, my will hath been to blame; for I have even ſetled my ſelf to ſleep, thrown my ſelf upon my bed of ſecurity, ſhut the windows, winked with my eys, put off my cloaths, I have ſlighted and neglected thoſe acts of holineſs from time to time, of worſhip, or which ſhould have been as my garments upon me; therefore ſure I am willing to ſleep: yea more, he hath often ſtirred and moved by his ſpirit to awake me, and I have drowſed and turned like a door upon the hinges, with the ſluggard ready to cry a little ſleep, a little ſlumber, a little folding of the hands to ſleep. O ſure my heart is aſleep as well as my ſelf! I I cannot ſay with the Church, I ſleep but my heart waketh; O what ſhall I ſay, or what ſhall I do? I anſwer, however it may be thy Will hath been in fault, and aſleep in part, if it be not awaken in a good part, how comeſt thou to be thus ſenſible of thy ſleeping, and ſlugg ſhneſs of it, what mean all thoſe ſad and lamentable moanes thou makeſt to the Lord in ſecret, if thou be not ſenſible of it? I hope it is ſo with ſome of us; Are we not then ſenſible? O ſure the Will is not altogether aſleep! yea the prevailing part is awake.

4. Remember this for thy comfort, If thou canſt not ſee clearly, as happily under diſtemper, thou canſt not, neither thy heart be aſleep, or awake yet the Lord Jeſus knoweth it, and he will acknowledge it; Mat. 25.Matt 25O, he is ſtrict to mark what is good, if but a little ſpark in much ſmoak, or under much aſhes, when to all mens thinking the life is gone, he ſeeth there is ſomewhat alive, and awake p. 182within, a Seed of God within, and he will take notice of it, for the comfort of his poor people; If ever in any example, we would have thought men had ſlept, will, and all; we would have thought ſo of the Diſciples, that notable example, that being ſo often ſhakt with ſuch ſharp, and ſhameful rebukes; yet they Mat. 26.Matt 26ſhould forth with be aſleep again, as if they had not …heeded Jeſus Chriſt at all, yet at laſt when they came to themſelves and could ſleep no longer, for the enemies were upon them: Now ſleep if you can, leſt this ſhould too ſorely aſſail them, that they had ſlept ſo ſoundly under ſuch awaking means as they had, and be ſwallowed up of to much grief. O ſaith our Saviour, the ſpirit indeed is willing but the fleſh is weak! he knew their Conſciences would be ready to load them, and Satan would help forward their overwhelming grief, they wiſt not what to ſay to him, nor for themſelves; and therefore our Saviour himſelf letteth them know that there was ſome willingneſs within them, the ſpirit was willing, but the fleſh was weak, and that he took notice of it, and accepted according to what they had, and not according to what they had not, where there 2▪ Cor. 8. 12.2 Cor 8:12is a willing mind. O here is comfort indeed, to have to do with ſuch a Maſter, ſuch a father, ſuch a Bridegroom, as both knoweth, and that little willingneſs that is in ſincerity in his peoples hearts not to ſleep, though they themſelves could not ſay ſo, he puts an anſwer into their mouths, to Satans accuſing, and the ſmitings of their own hearts, and a plea in their mouths to himſelf, to prevail with him for pity, and ſparing of them!

Remember this, that though ſleep and ſlumber, and many woful interruptions are in thy ſervice of God, yet remember Jeſus Chriſt he hath ſerved without any ſuch ſlumbrings, and ſuch imperfections, and this is thine, he will render unto man, if he do acknowledge to God he hath ſinned, that is to ſay freely, feelingly, faithfully acknowledge Iob 33. 26.Job 33:26it. Ah brethren, it was a time of prayer, and a duty for the Diſciples to pray, when our Saviour prayed; but they were all aſleep! if now their righteouſneſs, peace, and ſalvation had depended upon themſelves, where had it been? or if Jeſus Chriſt had ſlept as well as they, where had it been? but he was wreſtling, and praying for himſelf, and for them in himſelf, at that time he never was heavy in his prayers, he never fell aſleep, nor ſlumbred neither, with this ſpiritual ſlumber, he fulfilled all righteouſneſs to a tittle. O then remember this brethren, this muſt p. 183be the ground of our grace, and comfort, you muſt have it in another, and not in your ſelves. And magnifie this rich grace of God in Jeſus Chriſt, that hath laid up for ſuch poor ſleeping ſinners, ſuch a watchful Ordinance.

6. Another word may be this, though it be true, in thy ſleep thou art in great danger, as you heard before, which indeed is enough to alarm us continually; yet if we do ſtrive and ſtir up our ſelves, a…d yet are overcome, though ſore againſt our wills; and ſo are in danger of ſome deadly blow, are weak, and feeble, and the leaſt temptation may ſmite us to the ground, much more then dreadful temptations; and without all queſtion, Satan never lulls us aſleep, but he hath a deſign upon us, to take away our life, our God, our Chriſt, our peace, our comfort, our ſtrength from us; Yea to ſmite us to the ground at once, and ſmite us no more. As 1 Sam. 26. 8.1 Sam 26:8Abiſhai ſaid to David, and as he begged he might have leave, ſo doth the Devil even beg; O how fain he would have leave to ſmite us then, as he moved the Lord againſt Job, ſo continually this accuſer, and enemy whoſe work it is to devour! O when he findeth ſuch a prey, how edged is his appetite, but remember this for thy comfort, and ſay not, ſurely Satan will ſmite me to the heart at one time or another, poor trembling ſoul, the Lord that keepeth Iſrael, and watcheth them, he never ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth! Indeed Pſal. 121. 4.Ps 121:4if the Lord had ſlept, as we are apt to think he doth when he with-holds from us his quickening, or comforting preſence for a time, and were apt to cry out as I may ſay to awake him, yet he never ſleepeth, he watcheth and wards many a ſecret thruſt, and blow, that when we are aſleep, poor creatures we cannot be aware of, and though thou mayeſt grieve him by a ſloathful ſpirit, and he may make thee ſmart other ways for it, yet ſurely he wi…l not give up the life of dear Saints, the price of this life of his dear dear Son, to the will of Satan; No, they were bought at too dear a rate.

7. Again, O what a comfort it is to a child of God, that he hath to do with ſuch a Chriſt, ſuch a Bridegroom, the wiſe Virgins belong to, are eſpouſed to, as when they do ſleep, is willing to take ſo much pains to awaken them! This indeed it ſhould grieve us ſo much the more; that we ſhould put him to it, yet it is a comfort, and no weak one neither, that he is willing to be at ſuh pains, with us; to Cant. 5.Song 5awake us. How long doth he ſtand at the door and knock, before p. 184they will open, they lye aſleep ſtill, he cals them with the ſweeteſt compellations, My love, my dove, my undefiled, O thou dear and precious ſoul, it is I thy dear Saviour, It is I whom thy ſoul loveth, wilt thou riſe, and open to me! I am wet with the dew of the night, canſt thou finde in thy heart to put me to ſtand without, and indu…e the cold and the injuries of the night, and weather, and keep me out of thy heart the place which I have choſen for my habitation, and wherein is all my delight? O what workings of his bowels are here, one would think this were enough to awaken! No, yet ſhe ſhifts, and maketh excuſes, and very frivolous ones, as people will, when they are not very willing of a thing; Well, now a man would have thought, the Lord Jeſus might have been juſtly grieved ſo as to depart, and leave her ſleeping. No, ſaith the Text, He came nearer, and put his hand in at the hole of the door, Poor ſouls, he ſ…eth that the ſpirit is willing, the fleſh is weak, that is to ſay, So far as carnal, we are weak, the ſtrength of the fleſh, maketh us weak and nothing elſe will do; therefore he is fain to come and take her by the heart, to touch her heart, to begin to unbolt the door himſelf: he cometh in ſome nearer, ſweeter, powerful breathings of his ſpirit within, that now ſhe is overcome and riſeth, he would never let her alone, until he had awaked her. O this is his courſe, he continually holds with poor ſouls in the like condition, …onnot many a ſoul in this Congregation, ſeal to this truth! I believe they can brethren, though ſome of us happily have not known it. Now it is true brethren, it is meet the ſpouſe ſhould ſmart a little, for this her wretched ſleepineſs, for her ſlighting of his call, and ſhutting him out, it is meet ſhe ſhould now, when awake follow him, and not finde him for a while, it coſt her ſomething; and infinite rich mercy that he would ever be found of her again: alas brethren, it was more grief to Jeſus Chriſt to behold his poor ſpouſe going up and down mourning after him, then it was to her to follow him; and therefore that was a part of his pains: and after all this love, he muſt himſelf awake poor ſoul, if that will not awake it; as ſometimes it will not, or at leaſt ſo much as he holdeth out will not awaken? why then happily he ſeeth it neceſſary to follow Jonas with a ſtorm, put him into the belly of hell, do you think this was any delight to him? Surely no, to hear the cry of his poor people that was in the belly of hell, or out of the deep wherein they ſink, out of the Dungeon p. 185where he caſts them to awake them: Surely no, and ſo for David his condition, he was ſo heavy in a ſleep his bones muſt be broken, &c. Is this any delight to him? no: ſurely brethren it is a grief to Jeſus Chriſt, and a part of his pains which we put him to, rather then he ſhould loſe our ſouls: but here is the comfort, he will be at much pains to awaken us.

8. And laſtly, It may be now thou art heavy, and ſleepy, and napping, at every turn, there is a time when thou waſt more diligent more wakeful, couldſt ſerve the Lord with more inſtance and intention of mind, and O, thou recounteſt that, as a happy time, and thy ſadneſs and miſery, thou haſt loſt that frame of heart! O, how far art thou from it! Well, remember this, that the Lord he doth remember the love of thy …ſpouſals, the kindneſs of thy youth, which ſome expound of their kindneſs to God in the Ier. 2. 2.Jer 2:2wilderneſs; which if it be ſo, as divers underſtand it, then it is the more conſiderable; When thou followedſt me in the wilderneſs, how did they follow him, was it not with murmurings and rebellion every foot almoſt, yet God remembreth this, even the love and affection ſhewed in following him through ſuch an uncouth place. O what a depth of bowels are here to cover, and forget all their rebellion, and to remember their love! or elſe, I remember the love, I ſhewed to thee then; however it be, we may make uſe of it; for what great love doth the Lord ſhew then in giving a heart to love him, and follow hard after him, not to ſlumber and ſleep, for love will keep awake, it being full of ſolicitous fear? Who are we ſaith 1 Chron. 29.1 Chr 29David, that we ſhould have a heart to offer ſo willingly? The Lord will remember this, which it may be the preſent ſenſe of thy ſleeping, and ſloathfulneſs hath blotted out of thy remembrance, it is before the Lord.

9. One more, and that is this. He will likely by this heavineſs, and ſloathfulneſs of thine, take occaſion to do thee good by it, cure and heal thee: for will not the ſhame and ſorrow which he caſts upon a ſoul for ſleeping, keep him more awake for time to come? When once they were awaked, as with the Diſciples, they ſhould have little liſt to ſleep afterward. Or elſe happily, hereby he would heal the pride and ſelf-confidence which thou art full of, and then which nothing more grieveth him I know thou wouldſt count it the greateſt favor, and wouldſt be willing to undergo ſome ſmart; yea much, ſo be thou mightſt be delivered from thoſe grieving p. 186evils of thine own ſoul, it is the excellency of that heavenly Phyſician, to cure ſleep with ſleep, poyſon with poyſon, ſin with ſin, though it may be matter of ſadneſs to us, to put him to it, to grieve himſelf ſo much with us.

And for the general condition of the Church, and people of God, It is matter of mourning indeed, that there is ſuch a general ſleeping, and ſuch ſad effects of it every where; Magiſtrates, Miniſters and People, they all ſleep; and let the envious man do what he will in many places. Here is the comfort, that he that keepeth Iſrael never ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth. By this means our temptations are increaſed indeed, for falſe. Teachers they are a temptation, and a ſhrewd one too, and how dangerous, when we are aſleep. Yet remember he that permitteth it, he never ſleepeth. Ah brethren! If the Lord had not kept the Vineyard, better then men have done, what had become of it? long ago it had been a Wilderneſs and deſolation. Doth he not ſee the deſigns of Satan and Antichriſt, and all their fetches and ſlights to wind in themſelves at the back door? and doth he not laugh them to ſcorn, the Lord ſhall have them in deriſion? If men will not take the little Foxes that ſpoyl the grapes, he will in his own time; and they will finde it moſt fearful to fall into the hands of God. He hath long ſince Iob. 18. 10, 11.Job 18:10Job 18:11ſet the bounds of the ſea, which check the prowd waves thereof, though a man would wonder, when he beholds the mighty mountains, and ſwelling ſurges of the ſea, that it ſhould not overflow all, but the poor light looſe ſand, and plain ground, he maketh a check to it, hitherto ſhall ye go and no farther. Can we ſufficiently wonder that the earth ſhould be founded upon nothing but onelyonly his word of command? Well, He hath ſaid he will make manifeſt their folly to all men, and they ſhall proceed no farther; and though he ſeem to ſleep ſometime; becauſe his 2 Tim. 3. 9.2 Tim 3:9people give him reſt concerning theſe things, yet ſurely he doth wake, he never ſlumbers nor ſleepeth, and he will not permit theſe things further, then he will work his own glory, and his peoples good out of them. O therefore give him no reſt, you that are his remembrancers, keep not ſilence until the Lord make it appear to all the world that he did not ſlumber nor ſleep, until he awake as a Gyant refreſhed with wine, and ſpeak, and command all theſe tongues that ſpeak lyes in his name, into an everlaſting ſilence! Amen.

p. 187The next Doctrine ſhall be this:Doctr.

We are apt to ſleep, when we had moſt need to be awake. This is raiſed from the circumſtance of time, or the ſeaſon, if I may call an unſeaſonable time a ſeaſon; when they-ſlept, it was juſt before the cry came, which ſummoned them to meet the Bride-groom coming, and wakened them at once. The Propoſition is univerſal you ſee, the ſubject is univerſal, and ſo is the predicate: for the ſubject, the Saints, the real Saints are apt to ſleep, the Text it ſelf proveth it beyond contradiction; for it is ſpoken of the wiſe virgins, which is comprehenſive of all the Church of Chriſt, except the fooliſh; the fooliſh they ſlept, and no marvel, but all the queſtion would be of the wiſe, ſpecially at ſuch a time as this: but the Parable plainly holds it out, they all ſlumbred and ſlept, and if they did it actually, ſure there was an aptitude, a diſpoſition to it; I know none can plead exemption, except they can be of the Church of Chriſt; and yet not come under the notion of fooliſh or wiſe Virgins. But the difficulty, and indeed all that will be worth the time to prove, will be the univerſality of the Predicate, they are apt to ſleep, when they had moſt need to wake; that is to ſay, whenſoever they had more need to awake, then at another time, then they are apt to ſleep. This I know not how to prove better, then by an Induction of particulars, here is one in the Text, and there is the like aptitude found of their ſleeping at all other times of need; therefore we conclude it ſo general, that they are apt to ſleep, when they had moſt need to awake.

For this time in the Text, I think hardly any will queſtion it: for men to be ſleeping when they ſhould be making ready, and ſtand ready for the appearing of their Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Is to be ſleeping when they have greateſt need to be awake: the carnal mind indeed will be ready to ſing a requiem to it ſelf, and ſay it is no matter, ſo we have but a warning a little before he come, that we may have time to trim our Lamps before he come, though we be found ſleeping; but ſurely brethren the ſpiritual part will judge otherwiſe, that there is great need to be waking at the latter end of the race, when they ſhould lay hold on eternal life; Now Rom. 13. 11.Rom 13:11is high time, ſaith the Apoſtle, to awake, your ſalvation is nearer. If ever there be need to have our ornaments on, our graces in a p. 188lively frame, and much in act; then is the time, if ever men would run in a race, towards the latter end of it is the time to ſpur hardeſt; it is a needful time, then it is a time of acting grace of ſpending grace, of uſing all you have, you ſhall have exerciſe enough likely for it; and therefore then to have our graces to trim and fu…biſh up, as it will be if we ſleep: ſurely this is to ſleep in a moſt needful time, and yet this, the Saints are yet apt to brethren: how many do we ſee growing more heavy, and dull, leſs life, and vigour, and power to act their graces then before?

2. Again, another time of greateſt need to be awake, is when there are the choiceſt communications of Chriſt to the ſoul, to be had, that is awake and ready to receive them, every one ſure will conclude this is a time of greateſt need; for if we ſleep out ſuch a ſeaſon as that, what may we loſe! It may be that which we ſhall never have opportunity to have again while we live: So the Diſciples, when they ſhould have beheld Chriſt in his glory, he was praying, and took up his Diſciples, thoſe three favourites to pray with him, well he was praying, and as he prayed, the faſhion of his countenance was altered, and his rayment was white and Luke 9. 32.Luke 9:32gliſtering, and two men; Elias and Moſes talked with him, but Peter and they that were with him, were heavy with ſleep, and when they were awake, they ſaw his glory, &c. But how much of this fight did they loſe before they were awake? O Prayer is a ſpecial duty, and how doth the heart drowſe for the moſt part, when it ſhould come to it! and when doth the Lord uſually reveal more of his glory; when doth he uſually make more of it to paſs by a poor ſoul, or company of his people, then in their praying? therefore if at any time they had need to be awake, this is the time; but you ſee brethren, they themſelves were aſleep that were the choice of the Diſciples, and what they loſt, they were not like to recover, they were not like to ſee ſuch a ſight again: ſo much of his glory again. And truly brethren, ordinary experience teacheth us, ſome of us I believe, that in the ſpecial Ordinances of grace wherein Jeſus Chriſt is held out Crucifyed, held out in his lovelineſs and glory; there our hearts are moſt apt to he aſleep and drowſie, and much ado, to keep them up to any thing. How many are we, ſometimes in Prayer, get but off the legs, and we are lively enough for any thing elſe, when there is moſt need, we are apt to ſleep.

p. 1893. After the greateſt diſcoveries of grace, and of Chriſt to a ſoul, after the moſt melting, warming Communion, and fellowſhip with Chriſt. As now after this tranfiguration when they had ſeen this glory paſſing by them, a man would have thought this ſhould have raviſhed them ſo, as to have kept them awake; Yea, after they had the Supper in the iuſtitution, and no queſtion, brethren, but there was a preſence anſwerable to the Inſtitution, and for the honour of the Inſtitutor; as when himſelf was baptized, the Spirit came upon him; O ſure, if the bodily preſence were there, the ſpiritual would not be wanting! he would exalt that New Teſtament-Ordinance, or ſeal above the other; and not likely, but he would do ſo, that the Diſciples might even take notice, that he was leaving the one, and taking up the other inſtead of it. At the Dedication of the Tabernacle, and of the Temple, the glory of God filled them, and I cannot believe, but there was a wonderful, glorious preſence at the Dedication of this Ordinance, if I may call it ſo; well then, after ſuch diſcoveries of Chriſt, brethren ſuch warnings, to lie down and ſleep, how dangerous is it to catch cold after ſuch a heat? how will it grieve the Lord to ſee ſo much grace laid out in vain upon us in a great part, if we be ſleeping ſo quickly again? And it appears, that Peter he had his Love, and faith much heigthned, but here was the miſtake he reſted too much upon it, upon what he had received: O ſaith, he, though all men forſake thee, I will not deny thee, &c! Yet alas you ſee, when he ſhould have prayed with Chriſt, and ſo the reſt, there in his agony in the Garden, he fals aſleep again, and again, and again: ſo dead aſleep, nothing would keep him waking. O how prone are the beſt of men to ſleep, when we had moſt need to wake! after the richeſt diſcoveries of Chriſt, when we had moſt need to be moſt lively, to improve the grace we have received, to return love for love, even then, we fall aſleep, the Diſciples, as eminent as any, did it, ſure then, they were apt to it; And if they, then, ſurely then any of the Saints are apt to it now.

4. Another time of great need of waking for the Saint is the hour of temptation, when that cometh upon them; If ever Soldiers had need to be awake, it is, when the enemy is upon them, when they are beſieged, when they are ready to ſwallow them up. What need had Sampſon to have been awake, when the Philiſtins p. 190Iudg. 1. 6.Judg 1:6were upon him; and he had experience of it, again, and again, and yet you ſee how ſecurely he ſlept? And ſo the Diſciples, it was the hour and power of darkneſs that now was come upon them, and if ever they would be awake, now was the time. Our Saviour alſo warns them of their danger; O watch, and pray, leſt Luke 22. 53. Mar. 14. 38Luke 22:53Mark 14:38ye enter into temptation; you never were in ſuch danger as now; you are beſet with temptations, will you be in danger of reproach for my names ſake, even by and by; your enemies are ev…n upon you already, re…dy to apprehend me, and yet notwithſtanding all this danger, they ſlept moſt ſecurely; ſurely no man will deny, but the hour of temptation is one of the dreadfulleſt times to watch, or be awake; have we not found it by ſad experience? have we not had exerciſes of faith in ſuch an hour? for all the ſtrength of our Patience, and ſubmiſſion to his will, exerciſe for all our love, and all our graces, and is not this a needful time then to have them ready at hand to us, and if we had not, how ſadly ſhould we have been foyled, and God diſhonoured? yea, hath it not been ſo with many of us in ſuch an hour? we have fallen, been wounded, wounded his Name, and our own names, and our own ſouls, and all, becauſe we were aſleep? ſure, if any other, this is a needful time: and yet truly, this is ſo ordinary, that when doth an hour of temptation come upon the people of God, that it findeth them waking, ſtanding with loins girt with ſtrength, ready to receive it? we are uſually moſt ſleepy at ſuch a time.

5. After we have fallen by our former ſleeping, then there is great need of being awake; for alas brethren, the deceitfulneſs of ſin is ſuch, that except it be preſently repented of, and confeſſed, it hardens the heart, and ſo long we continue in a grieving condition to the Lord; Therefore there is need to be awake; and yet uſually after falling, we are apt to ſleep; and how long we ſhould ſleep, if we were left to this ſleeping evil, we know not. Peter had his fall: O what need had he quickly to have repented! but poor ſoul he was aſleep, and therefore inſtead of repenting, he acts the ſame ſin over, and over again, and in a more fearful manner; If he had been awake at firſt, he had not committed that ſin likely; if he had been then awake, he had not then repeated it, but he goeth on, being in a ſleep; Ah it was high time to awake him! for who knoweth what he would have done, if the p. 191Lord Jeſus had not lookt upon him. And ſo David, O what need had he to have been awaked after his adultery, that his 2 Sam. 12.2 Sam 12hard heart might not have been more hardened, and his ſoul expoſed to more thruſts and wounds, and Gods Name more diſhonoured; but alas, he is faſt aſleep! And ſo the caſe of Jonah, he had avoided that ſad diſtemper of madneſs and paſſion, if he had been awake; but it ſeemeth though he had been in the belly of hell, he was not throughly awaked from his former ſleep, in his former rebellion, and therefore he rebels yet more, and more, now I ſay, after ſin, we are apt to be aſleep, when we had moſt need to be awake. It is ſad brethren, to conſider what a frame the hearts of Gods own people will be in ſometimes; and what guil there is? as in David, that they will not confeſs their ſin, Pſal. 32.Ps 32when God hath diſcovered their folly in part, but will cloak, and ſhift, and excuſe, and neſtle themſelves to ſleep again, when they are a little awaked; O when had they more need to repent, to rouſe themſelves? for when are they more expoſed to the rage of Satan? and yet then they ſleep.

6. Another time, when we had greateſt need to be awake, we are apt to ſleep, and that is, when we ſhould be a comfort and refreſhing to others in their troubles and ſorrows. Surely our Saviour took his Diſciples up into the garden, that they might pray with him and for themſelves; and to have been with them Mat. 26.Matt 26praying, would have been a little comfort to him: therefore he came ſtill, after he had been ſtrongly wreſtling, a while ſtriving in prayer, even to an agony, to them he came as I may ſay, to have refreſhed himſelf; as it was the Apoſtles joy, and comfort 3 Ioh. 4. 1 Theſ. 3. 8.3 John 1:41 Thess 3:8to ſee his Children in the Goſpel to walk ſtedfaſtly with God and keep the faith; now we live, if ye ſtand faſt; ſo it would have been a comfort to Chriſt at this time; but alas, all comfort forſakes him, he cometh again, and again, and findeth them ſleeping; he ſweat that bloody ſweat, and inſtead of wiping it away, they laid more load upon him to increaſe it. O miſerable Companions in affliction were they, miſerable Comforters were they, they were aſleep. Truly ſo it is with us brethren, when we ſhould comfort one another with the comforts we have had of God, we have them to ſeek, we have nothing to ſay; Or when by our lively converſation; and ſtanding faſt, and being eſtabliſhed …n the preſent truth, in theſe backſliding days, to the comfort p. 192and joy of them that Chriſt hath ſet over us; we are ſleeping, and our foot ſliding, into this, and that falſe way, and this is another great time of need. But I hope enough hath been ſaid, many more particulars might be produced; I doubt not, to ſhew that it is a like, in other caſes of greateſt need, we are apt to fall aſleep.

The Reaſons are from the deſperate deceitfulneſs of ſin, and our hearts, and the cunning, and malice of Satan, to do us moſt hurt, &c.

Firſt Application, Then ſure there is no ſuch thing as perfection Ʋſe. 1.in this life, as ſome would have it, if we be thus prone to ſleep, and when we had moſt need to be awake; yea rather it argues great imperfection, even in the beſt of the Saints that have a heart ſo untoward, and apt to be in the worſt frame, when it Phil. 3. 13.Phil 3:13ſhould be in the beſt. To be out of frame at any time, to be ſleeping at any time, argues imperfection, and weakneſs, and wearineſs, and therefore the Angels are called Watchers, wherein they approach nearer to the glorious perfection of God, who never ſlumbreth, nor ſleepeth; but to be out of frame then, when of Dan. 4. 17.Dan 4:17all other times, we had moſt need to be in …rame, ſheweth we are far from perfection; that Corruption is ſtrong and cunning, and the Devil without, knoweth how to improve it to our great diſadvantage, either unbefitting us for doing good when opportunity is offered, or for receiving Good, when the heart of the Lord is moſt widely opened.

This ſhould be matter of deep humiliation to us all, that we are ſo apt to ſleep, when we have moſt need to be awake. The other Ʋſe 2.Doctrine gave us a humbling word, but this much more: If we conſider theſe two things.

1. The more grace we have received, the worſe we grow, turn the grace of Chriſt into wantonneſs; for uſually at the firſt, when the ſoul is awaked out of its dead ſleep, O how hard it followeth Pſal. 132. 4.Ps 132:4after God, it giveth no ſleep to its eyes, nor ſlumber to his eye-lids! until he find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob in the ſoul. Well, it is true, the Lord hath done ſomething for that poor ſoul; he hath opened his eyes to ſee the want of Chriſt, and touched his heart ſo, that now he p. 193followeth him, and cannot but follow him; this is unſpeakable mercy. But now when the Lord hath done much more for the ſoul, hath poured upon it his Spirit, given the oyl of gladneſs, as well as of grace, that then it ſhould fall aſleep; the more engagements of Love the Lord Jeſus lays upon the ſoul, the more li…tleſs, the more lazy it ſhould grow? The Apoſtle took it unkindly, and well he might, the more he loved them, the leſs he 2 Cor. 12. 15.2 Cor 12:15was beloved; and this could not but ſhame them, if they had any ingenuity; and may not the Lord Jeſus take it as unkindly, that the more he loveth us, the leſs he ſhould be loved of us, as his love groweth hotteſt, our love ſhould grow coldeſt! O for a ſpiritual ingenuity, that we might lie down in ſhame before the Lord continually for this; O what ungodly hearts, &c. and how unkind, may poor creatures be, and are they, who have received greateſt kindneſs from him? Paul labored more abundantly, becauſe grace bad more abounded toward him, then others. We are prone to it, if we be not left to it; the more grace we … Cor. 15. 10.have received, the more liſtleſs to grow, which ariſeth no… from the nature of grace, but from ſelf-confidence, and reſting in our receivings, which lays us faſt aſleep; a man that hath one talent, improveth it; but he that hath ten, lays it to ſleep, &c.

2. What a ſhame is it for us, that when we have moſt need to act our grace, we have the leaſt uſe of it; for what was grace given us for brethren, but for action, not to lie idle, and ruſt for want of uſing, but to exerciſe it for his glory, our own comfort, and others good; Now how do we fall ſhort of theſe ends, when we cannot uſe it in our greateſt need, is in thoſe times before mentioned; how would a man be aſhamed, that is, or ſhould be a man of his hands, and when there is not ſuch need, he can ſence and uſe his hands exactly to defend himſelf, or offend his enemy; but when he cometh to it indeed, that his life is in danger, he is in a deep ſleep, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, and none of the men of might find their hands. A man is very rational at all other times, only Pſal. 76. 5.Ps 76:5at a pinch, when he hath more then ordinary need of it, he is a very child, and can do nothing, this is a great ſhame. The Saints that have received much grace, and therefore ſhould act ſtrongly for God, what a ſhame is it, that when temptation cometh, or when any more then ordinary occaſion to exerciſe p. 194their grace, they are like Children ſleeping in their Cradles, can do nothing.

Then, If this be ſo; Let us learn never to truſt our hearts, when they at the beſt, in their higheſt frame, moſt ſpiritual, moſt enlarged; Ʋſe 3.Alas, they are like a deceitful Bow, it ſeemeth firm, until you come to draw it; but when you have need of it, draw it, it will deceive you, fall aſunder; he that truſtoth in his own heart, is a fool, ſaith the wiſe man; and who more likely to know then Prov. 28. 36.Prov 28:36he, who beſide the Spirit whereby he ſpake, had had experience what a ſad thing that ſelf-confidence and ſecurity had been? how fatal it had proved to himſelf? be ſure brethren, if there be any time more then another that we need our hearts to be preſent, or graces to be in act, they will be aſleep; our corrupt part will cloud them, and bear them down. Do but obſerve it, if it be but to watch one hour with Chriſt in an holy duty, as prayer, or the like: It is ſtrange, but it is true, our hearts will be leſs preſent then, then at any thing elſe; Let the duty be done, or before it begin, and you ſhall not be troubled with ſuch a ſtream of vain, and impertinent, if not ſinful thoughts, but once go about this duty; and O how do they thruſt upon the ſoul? and how lively ſometimes, (when there is not ſo much need) are the affections? and how dull, and flat are they then? therefore truſt not any frame you have at any time received; for indeed it will prove a broken reed, even grace it ſelf, if you lean upon it, it will fail you, and pierce you alſo.

Then what need had we brethren, to ply the Throne of grace, to ſit down by the fountain, and fulneſs of life, and quickning influence, Ʋſe 4.even Jeſus Chriſt. David did even when he was at the beſt frame, as in penning the 119. Pſalm: when do we find more flaming affections towards God, and Heaven, and his Law, and Worſhip, ſo ſtrong as to break through all oppoſitions of men, and Satan, and Corruption? and yet how ſenſible was he of his falling flat, even in the midſt of ſuch a rapture? O quicken thou me, quicken thou me according to thy Word, ſaith he; alas this vigor will not continue, except thou ſupply it with continual refreſhing, and renewing of ſtrength. And ſo in that place, O that thou wouldſt keep this upon the imagination of the thoughts p. 1951 …. 29.of their hearts for ever; alas, elſe he knew if there were a like occaſion for a free ſpirit in the ſervice of God, and his Temple, it would be far from them. O therefore ply the throne of grace brethren, live by the faith of the Son of God: Faith will draw water out of the wels of ſalvation.

And O what need had we to keep in with the Spirit of grace, leſt he leave us in a time of need! It is true, when we aprrehend a danger, or an hour of temptation coming, and the ſoul be any thing awake, O then, what mean it will make for the preſence of Eph. 4. 30.Eph 4:30the Spirit? but brethren, he deals with us, as we deal with him; If when we have peace, and a calm, and in our ordinary waking we ſlight him, and ſit looſe to him, believe it, in our time of greateſt need he may juſtly ſtand at a diſtance from us, and let us ſee what our own ſtrength is, and what can we do without him? O therefore, let us take heed of grieving this holy Spirit, which is that Spirit that watcheth with us to keep us awake, leſt if he withdraw, we fall aſleep, when of all other times we had moſt need to be awake.

Fifthly, Then what have ſome of the people of God to bleſs him for, and to rejoyce in the Lord, for that he hath kept them awake, Ʋſe 5.ſpecially in the time of need? it is double, and treble mercy. You heard before it is matter of great praiſes to be kept awake ordinarily. But in an hour of temptation to be kept awake, watching and praying; ſo that when others have entred into temptation, thou haſt been delivered: O what mercy is this, and whence is it that the Lord doth ſo highly favour thee more then others of his people? So when he hath in his Ordinances ſometimes been, as I may ſay, transfigured before us, and when others have been aſleep, have ſeen nothing of it at all, or very little; thou haſt been kept awake all the while. O that we could tell how to ſet a price upon ſuch a mercy as this? how ſad a loſs would it have been, if thou hadſt ſlept away ſuch a ſeaſon as others have done? that haply thou mighteſt never have ſeen again? what had the Diſciples loſt, if Jeſus Chriſt had ſuffered them to ſleep all the while of his transfiguration? ſomewhat they ſaw of it, and by that they ſaw they might gather the better what they had loſt; it may be thou haſt loſt ſomething in ſuch a time by ſleeping a while, but hath he awaked thee to ſee the reſt? Oh that p. 196God would help to prize our mercies, to bleſs and magnifie him for it.

Sixthly, in the laſt place then, if we find our ſelves growing ſecure, and ſlumbring and ſleeping, ſuſpect there is an hour of great Ʋſe 6.need to watch, to be awake, at hand. Either the day of our appearing before the Lord Jeſus, which is a time of greateſt need, and if Satan can but get us aſleep againſt that day, he knoweth in likelihood we may ſet in a cloud, which will be diſhonour to Chriſt, diſcomfort to his poor people; or elſe ſome hour of temptation is coming, and his deſign is now to lull us aſleep, that he may the more deeply wound us, take his aim better, where to hit us, and if he might have his will, to ſmite us once for all. O ſuſpect, if Dalilah ſpread her lap for us; If the delights of the world do open their boſom for us to lye in, and begin to ſing ſweetly in Iudg. 16.Judg 16our ears, and charm us? O take heed, rouſe up your ſelves with Sampſon, before hand, as he did it afterward ſtill, until he was taken indeed, the Lord being departed from him, a ſad end of his ſleeping. But ſuſpect there is ſome deſign in hand upon us, the aym is to get away God and Chriſt from us, our peace, our holy frame from us, to bring the Philiſtims upon us. Or elſe that there is ſome glorious manifeſtation of God towards us in his Ordinances, he is about to cauſe his glory to paſs by, and the envious man and our wretched hearts would ſain rob us of it; therefore ſuſpect our ſelves, if we finde we are growing thus ſleepy, that there is ſome time of need neer at hand for our waking, for we are exceeding apt to ſleep, when we have moſt need to wake. But ſo much for this Doctrine.