Several Works, Work 2 · Part 2 (1 of 2)

Several Works · Work 2 · Part 2 (1 of 2)

p. 119Verſe 5.

While the Bridegroom tarryed they all ſlumbered and ſlept.

THe Coming of Chriſt is compared to the coming of a Bride-groom to take his Bride who cometh with the Virgins her Companions to meet him: Now theſe ſolemnities uſed to be performed at the beginning of the night: but here in the Protheſis of the ſimilitude, it ſeemeth (which was more then uſuall) he delayed until midnight, he came not at the time expected, and they were ready for his coming and going out to meet him. but he came at a time they looked not for him: when their waiting was at an end, they fell aſleep, and then the Cry goeth before him, behold he cometh. You have heard already who is the p. 120Bridegroom, Jeſus Chriſt: Here we have his coming, the delay of it, and the occaſion which the wickedneſs of ſome and the weakneſs of others took from hence to fall aſleep: It was abuſed for an occaſion to the fleſh. A double Note from the words, but of the firſt only at this time.

The Lord Jeſus doth delay his coming, foreign, I ſhall a little prove it by ſome Scriptures parallel, and Doct, 5.then open the terms, confirm it by Arguments, and apply it by uſe to our ſelves.

1. Then for the Scripture-proof, take that place where our Saviour ſtirreth up his diſciples to watch, they knew not what Met. 2…. 48.hour their Lord cometh, of which hereafter if the Lord will. Bleſſed is that ſervant which being ſet over the houſhold to give meat in due ſeaſon, ſhall be found ſo doing: but now if the wicked ſervant ſay in his heart my Lord delayeth his coming, foreign, and begin to beat his Fellow-ſervants, and eat and drink with the drunken, here you ſee there is a delay, and from hence this wicked ſervant takes encouragement to lay the reins upon the neck, & to run to all maner of exceſs, the very ſame you repeated by Luke, therefore it ſhall ſuffice to name that, I will Luke 12. 45.Luke 12:45add but one Scripture-more, which happily may be of more uſe then any of theſe to ſome perceiving judgements, for happily you will ſay this is but a bribed judgement of ſome wicked perſons bribed and blinded by their Luſts, indeed there is not ſuch a delay, which indeed is a great part true, for the delay is for the moſt part, to be meaſured by our weakneſs and ſhortneſs, as afterward will appear: yet ſomewhat there is of a delay, and that you ſhall find in the Apoſtle to the Theſſalonians, Let no man deceive you by any means; be not quickly removed, or ſhaken in 2 Theſ. 2. 2.2 Thess 2:2mind, or troubled, whether by Spirit, or by Word, or by Letter as from us, as the day of Chriſt is at hand, foreign: but there muſt firſt come a falling away, &c. which is fulfilled in the great Antichriſt the Pope who ſits in the Temple of God, as God, &c. Yet the other Apoſtle ſaith, the Judge ſtandeth at the door. foreign Grudge not one at another, complain Iames 5. 9.Jas 5:9not one of another: for the Judge is near at hand ready to judge you all for it, So ſin lyeth at the door, that is to ſay to be near at hand, It is no contradiction to that: that the day of the Lord p. 121Gen. 4. 7.Gen 4:7is not at hand: for that is the day wherein he hath appointed, wherein Ioſh. 5. 24. Acts 17. 31▪Josh 5:24Acts 17:31he will judge the world in righteouſneſs by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance to all men, in that he raiſed him up from the dead. If this judging which is near, is a temporal Chaſtiſement, he would lay upon them, as if when children are envying one another, quarrelling and grudging one at another, accuſing one another, and falling out one ſhould move them to forbear; and by this Argument, take heed your Father is at door with a rod in his hand, and he will judge you all: So he judgth the people that they might not be condemned with the world. I thought good to ſpeak thus far, leſt that ſeeming 1 Cor. 1…. 22.1 Cor 1:22contradiction might trouble any, ſo much for the proof. The ſecond thing will be to open the terms and

Firſt, What is meant by coming? the coming of Chriſt: This will open the particle of time in the firſt verſe, then ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened, &c. the ſame Key will open both. To omit then any other opinion of it, I underſtand it either of the coming of Chriſt to a particular ſoul, which is no ſooner ſeparated from the body, but cometh to judgement. Now Chriſt may be ſaid to come, he cometh to put the ſickle to ſuch as are ripe for it, he cometh to gather into his barn, if they be wheat, or elſe to burn them up with unquenchable fire. Or elſe, 2. And rather Col. 3. 4.Col 3:4of the day of Judgement, that great day and appearing of our Jeſus Chriſt, who is our life, when his people ſhall appear with him in glory: Eccleſ. 11. 3.Eccl 11:3which day will find many alive who ſhall then be changed, before they enter in with him, and which day will find doubtleſs many in deep ſecurity and formality to have their work to do. And for thoſe that are then dead, and ſhall be raiſed up, it will find them in that ſtate wherein they lay down in the duſt, either of faith or unbelief, and accordingly either they ſhall be ſhut out or admitted to the Marriage. And methinks this doom of our Saviour, I know you not which is parallel to that, Mat. 7. 23. Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I know you not: which ſurely doth agree to none, except it be at the day of death, or the day of judgement: for any other time I will not trouble you with any thing about: And ſo much for this firſt.

2. Now for the delaying: What is Jeſus Chriſt more backward then the Church to this union, that they go forth to meet him, and ſeem forward, and he delays his coming? for what will make p. 122more haſt then love? will it not bring him upon Eagles wings? yea, riding upon the clouds, and wings of the wind? and how are we to underſtand this of his delay of his coming? or what is he an idol-Chriſt, that is taken up in a journey, or any other buſineſs, as to forget his ſpouſe, and neglect her to come ſpeedily to make up the match, to bring her into his Fathers houſe, this were indeed agreeable to a poor finite forgetful Creature, but not to Jeſus Chriſt. Yea more then this: Is he not ſaid to come quickly in divers places? and how ſtands that with the delay of his coming? See that place in Luke in the Parable of the unjuſt judge, overcome with the widows importunity, though he neither cared for God, nor regarded man: yet becauſe of her importunity, he would avenge her of her adverſary, how much more God, who is love it ſelf, and tender of his people as the apple of his Deut. 32 27.Deut 32:27eye, who is moſt juſt, and moſt faithful, and who doth indeed fear the wrath of his adverſary after the manner of men, being tender of his people and of his own name, leſt he ſhould reproach his name, and that reproach with ruin fall upon his people, and Rev 6. 10.Rev 6:10beſides all this being importuned by them, as the ſouls under the Altar, crying continually, how long Lord, holy and true, wilt thou not avenge our blood upon the inhabitants of the Earth: why ſaith the Text, ſhall not God avenge his own Children which cry day and Luke 18. 7, 8.Luke 18:7Luke 18:8night to him, though he bear long with them, that is to ſay, with their enemie, I tell you, he will avenge them ſpeedily, foreign ſpeedily, in a trice, a moment, by and by, according to that of the Apoſtle, foreign Heb. 10. 37.Heb 10:37quantulumcunque how little ſoever, as little as may be, and he will not tarry. How hang theſe things together?

For the clearing of this, it is neceſſary to ſay ſomething: And firſt I will ſhew you, in what reſpect he is not ſaid to delay, or it is denied that he doth delay his coming; but it is ſhort, and quickly, and then 2. In what reſpect he is ſaid to delay his coming, and then come to the argumentss

2. Then he is not ſaid to delay his coming in reſpect of his own eternity, wherein all the differences of time are ſwallowed up and appear not at all, there is no time long, or ſhort in eternity, there is not prius, or poſterius there, and therefore the Apoſtle in this argument ſpeaks in this wiſe, know ſaith he to them that were ready to mock, becauſe it was ſo long before the promiſe p. 123of his coming was fulfilled for the glorious liberty of the Sons of God from under their iron yokes put upon them by their perſecutors: why ſaith he, God is not ſlack, as ſome count ſlackneſs or tardineſs, foreign, who reckon it according to Days, 2 Pet 3. 8.2 Pet 3:8and Months, and Years, and Ages,: no ſaith the Apoſtle, alas, a thouſand years are but as one day to the Lord to eternity, eternity doth not bid us with the unjuſt Steward, ſit down and write 50 for an 100 but a thouſand for one 366000 for one, for it is to one day, that a thouſand years are compared to in Pſal 90. 4.Ps 90:4eternity, and ſo one day as a thouſand years, it is as long as a thouſand years with him, which we cannot conceive of, becauſe we are not able to reach to eternity. Now if Sentence againſt an evil doer be deferred but a day, we count this a ſwift witneſs againſt ſuch a mans ſin: as in the day thou eateſt thereof, thou ſhalt Gen. 2. 17.Gen 2:17dye the death: but if it be a thouſand years, it is all one with God: So that though to us poor finite Creatures, who number actions according to days and months, it may ſeem a delay, yet to God it is not: for all times paſt, preſent, and to come, are preſent to him, it is but one eternal nunc or now, and therefore there is no delay foreign.in that reſpect.

2. Yet further there is no delay, but he cometh quickly, ſuddenly, very ſpeedily in another reſpect: Becauſe he doth not ſtay longer then the appointed time: Hab. 2. 3. the viſion is for an appointed time, it will not tarry: then we are ſaid to delay properly, when there is a time prefixed for ſuch a thing, and we keep not touch, but ſtay longer, this is properly delaying. Now you know there is a day appointed, wherein he will judge the world in righteouſneſs, Acts 11. 37. Mat. 24. 36.Acts 11:37Matt 24:36by the man whom he hath ordained, there is a a day & an hour which no man knoweth indeed, and therefore men but do proclaim their vanity in gueſsing at it; the times and ſeaſons it is not meet for us to know which the Father hath kept in his own power. Well then this day now he will not out-ſtay, not a day longer will he Acts 1. 7. Exod. 12. 41.Acts 1:7Exod 12:41ſtay; but come quickly, very ſpeedily, the very ſelf ſame day, as the very ſelf ſame day he came to deliver Iſrael, and to judge their Enemies. The people might indeed think it long whiles they were in bondage, groaning, that he delayed his comin, yet he did not, for if the day appointed before had The like may be ſaid of death and judgement. Iob 14 5.Job 14:5come ſooner, he had delivered them ſooner he keeps touch to a day.

p. 1243. He doth not delay his coming, that is to ſay, ſo as to omit the ſeaſon of it, for every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon, there is a ſeaſon to ſuffer the enemies of his Church to ride over their heads, and there is a ſeaſon to bring them under their feet again, and give them their necks to trample upon, there is a ſeaſon to permit them to eat up his people as they eat bread, and to make themſelves drunk with the blood of the Saints, and there is a ſeaſon to give them blood to drink, for they are worthy. You know if a man Pſal. 95. & Heb 4. 7.Ps 95Heb 4:7omit his ſeaſon for any thing, he may never have another, he is lookt upon as a ſlack negligent perſon, as now, he that puts off his gathering of harveſt from Summer to winter, ſo to day if you will hear his voice, there is a time limited, a ſeaſon of getting grace, which if omitted, and put off by delays, we ſhew much hardneſs of heart, and little wiſdom to think we ſhall do that to morrow, which we have not heart to to day, men think God is ſlack, when indeed he is onelyonly patient, and they are ignorant, and ſee it not; but for the ſeaſon he doth it moſt opportunely for his own glory, and the good and ſalvation of ſouls; as will appeare in the Arguments of the Doctrine. But I will not anticipate my ſelf.

4. He doth not delay, as ſome men may count delays or ſlackneſs, as if he would never come, they are ready to think, becauſe judgement is not ſpeedily executed, …uſh the Lord ſeeth not, he regardeth Pſal. 94. 7.Ps 94:7not what they do, he watcheth not over their ſin, he will not bring them into judgement for theſe things, and ſo think he is juſt ſuch a one as themſelves: Why? becauſe when they are offended, happily except they take revenge when they are moved at the firſt they forget it afterwards, and never ſet themſelves in cold blood to it, though many mens malice is much more durable, a little tract of time will not do it out: though we ſhould go to ſchool as children in this reſpect, but I ſay If it be not preſently, we judge the Lord, and meaſure him by our own thoughts, if he hold his hands for any while, our hearts are fully ſet in us to do wickedly, we are ready to think he will not come at all to witneſs againſt our wickedneſs, or formality, and luke-warmneſs in his ways, but thus he will not delay. And ſo much for the Negative.

Secondly, then for the Affirmative, In what ſenſe he is ſaid to delay his coming, and

1. In reſpect of the long time between his firſt and ſecond coming, p. 125Eccl. 8. 7.Eccl 8:7his appearing it is long, enduring many ages and generations, many believers dying in faith, and not receiving this promiſe of his ſecond Heb. 11. 13. 1 Pet▪ 1. 11.Heb 11:131 Pet 1:11coming, as thoſe did, who were before his firſt coming, they lookt for him from age to age, and the Prophets ſearched what, and what manner of ſins thoſe were which they ſpake of, they did a little pierce into them, as much as they could, they might think it long that the promiſe made to Adam ſo many ages before, ſhould yet be unfulfilled: And ſo the coming of Chriſt the ſecond time, it is long between 1600 years already, but this is not ſo properly a delaying; but ſurely his delaying of his coming is to be underſtood according to our apprehenſions of it, and not according to his determinations who hath appointed the time, and ſtaies not a jot longer, and hath appointed it according to the Counſel of his own will with admirable wiſdom in the beſt ſeaſon.

2. Then he is ſaid or may be ſaid to delay his coming, becauſe our daies are ſhort, and we are ready to reckon upon it according to our daies; it is many daies indeed, and many years before he cometh to take a poor weary ſoul to himſelf, and becauſe he is poring upon the daies, and upon the years and moneths, therefore he thinketh it is very long, and tedious the delay; and therefore the Apoſtle doth meet with this covertly, in that of Peter, be not ignorant of this one thing, ſaith he, that one day is with the Lord as a thouſand years, and a thouſand years as one day; 2 Pet. 3. 8.2 Pet 3:8Alas, if we number by daies, which are ſhort and nothing, it Pſal. 90. 4.Ps 90:4will ſeem a delay indeed, but if we look upon eternity, wherein a thouſand years are but as a day, then it is but ſhort: but this is underſtood by the oppoſition it hath to that which went before, therefore the leſs of it here.

3. Becauſe of the ſhortneſs of our patience, alas it is very ſhort, the Apoſtle to the Hebrews doth exhort them to hold out againſt perſecutions, to hold faſt their confidence which hath recompence of reward. Alas, but it is tedious thus to run through fire and water, to have wave upon wave, and billow upon billow, why it is true ſaith the Apoſtle! But you have need of patience, that when you have done his will you might receive the promiſe, the promiſe of his coming, the apearing of Chriſt who is our life: Alas but can we endure it? O it is long! No ſaith the Apoſtle, for yet a little while, and he that ſhall come will come, do not think it long, p. 122think not he is ſlack, he will not tarry. O brethren, a man under a hard bondage, groaning as the Iſraelites did in Egypt, thinketh Heb. 10. 35, 36, 37. …ab. 2. 3. Pſalm 13 1. …v. 6. 10.Heb 10:35Heb 10:36Heb 10:37Ps 13:1every day ſeven until he be delivered, and therefore the Prophet exhorts them to wait for the viſion which was for an appointed time, it would not tarry, by the medicine you may gather the nature of the malady, it was impatience under their bondage and trouble, and therefore you find ſo many ſad complaints in the Pſalmiſt, how long Lord, &c. how long wilt thou forget me for ever, &c. and ſo the ſouls under the Altar, how long Lord, holy, and true, wilt thou not avenge our blood? And ſo under ſpiritual preſſures, ſuppoſe temptations from without, or inward preſſures, a body of ſin, and death, we are ready to cry out, how long Lord, how long? How did Job long for death, he had ſuch weariſom nights, and moneths of vanity, when God made him poſſeſs Iob 7. 3Job 7:3the iniquities of his youth. Well in this reſpect alſo he may be ſaid to delay, according to our apprehenſions.

4. In reſpect of the importunity of our deſires, as well as impatientcy under afflictions, this is an impatiency too, and might be a branch of the other, but a man that hath not that preſſure upon him, yet if he be deeply in love with Jeſus Chriſt, and with his appearing, O how importunate are his deſires after it, ſo that as Rom. 8. 19. Heb. 10. 36. Hab. 2 3.Rom 8:19Heb 10:36Hab 2:3the Apoſtle calls it, there is an foreign a looking out after it, with a neck or head ſtretched out, as a man that looks for a thing ſtirring up himſelf, ſtretcheth out his neck, lifteth up his head, that he may ſee as far as he can, looking many a wiſhly look after the thing he deſires, or perſon he deſires. The proverb is true in this caſe etiam celeritas in deſiderio mora eſt, And in this caſe now, a man is ready to think there is a delay when there is moſt ſwiftneſs, when God is a moſt ſwift witneſs for, or againſt ſuch a perſon, our deſires run before it uſually, and ſo it ſeemeth to Pſal. 63.Ps 63ſlack and come behind, O when ſhall I come and appear before him in Sion, Not only, Lord now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart, &c. but, O how long wilt thou thou keep me priſoner in this Tabernacle of clay! Now in all theſe reſpects, he may be ſaid to delay Acts 17. 13.Acts 17:13his coming, but ſo much for the opening of the Doctrine.

Now for the Arguments. I ſhall ſpeak a little to them. And the Firſt may be this. The time is appointed for his coming, he hath appointed a time wherein, &c. which he will not anticipate, ſo neither will he ſtay beyond it. the

p. 123Second ſhall be this, it is to excerciſe his peoples patience, to inure them to bear, patience works experience, and experience hope, the richer the patience is, the richer the experience is, and the nearer we come to a full aſſurance of hope, the riches of it, Now the exerciſe of patience the ſpirit breathing in it to his Iam 5. 11. Rev. 13. 10.Jas 5:11Rev 13:10people, is that whereby it groweth, and increaſeth with the increaſes of God, the patience of the Saints, is one of their greateſt exerciſes, and therefore the Lord takes much pains with his people to make this jewel in their Crown ſhine gloriouſly, Conſider the patience of Job, &c. behold here is the patience and faith of the Saints, and in another place it is uſhered in with a Behold.

Now, God will have our patience have its perfect work, be as long and as broad as the tryals are, And therefore he Luke 8. 15.Luke 8:15delaies his coming in that ſenſe as you have heard, this waiting for the reward after we have done the will of the Lord is harder then the other, of bringing forth fruit with patience. Another ground ſhall be;

3. That the meaſure of the ſufferings of Chriſt may be filled up in us, the Apoſtle is ſaid to fill up in his body the meaſure of the ſufferings of Chriſt, that is to ſay, there is a proportion of ſufferings, Col. 1. 24,Col 1:24for the body of Chriſt to undergo, and he in his body filled up his meaſure, in a great part, not as if they were more righteous, but his people being ſo nearly united to the head, as that they and he make one Chriſt, therefore the ſufferings of his people are called the ſufferings of Chriſt, now there is a means to be filled up, and this he will have filled, becauſe theſe leſs afflictions, which are but for a moment, they work out ſaith the Apoſtle, not meritoriouſly a far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory, he was made perfect through ſufferings, and ſo muſt his 2 Cor. 4. 17. Heb. 2. 10. Rom. 8. 17.2 Cor 4:17Heb 2:10Rom 8:17ſ…ns which he bringeth to glory be made perfect through ſufferings, and drink of the brook in the way, and ſo lift up their heads, ſuffer with him, and then be glorified with him, now if there were not ſuch a time as we count a delaying of his coming, there would be no room for this.

1. That the fulneſs of Chriſt may come in, for there is a fulneſs Eph. 1. 23.Eph 1:23of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle cals it, both of Jews and Gentiles, as the ſeveral members of his body make up the fulneſs of his body, and it is not compleat, if any of them be wanting, there is ſome of its perfection wanting, indeed it is a glorious honour he p. 1282 Pet. 3. 9. Rev. 6. 11.2 Pet 3:9Rev 6:11puts upon the Saints, and dear affections he ſheweth, and a near union, that he accounteth himſelf not perfect without them, until they be come in; ſo this is the anſwer the importunate cry of the ſouls under the Altar receive, how long Lord holy and true? doſt thou not avenge us, and judge our enemies? there were white robes given them, and it was ſaid to them they ſhould reſt yet for a little ſeaſon until their fellow-ſervants alſo, and their brethren alſo which ſhould be killed as they were, ſhould be fulfilled. If a man bid many gueſts to a Feaſt, they muſt ſtay until they all come to ſit down together. As Chriſt is imperfect, that is to ſay, without his fulneſs with his body, ſo is the ſoul in a ſort without its body; and as the Lord deſires the work of his hands, as Job ſpeaks, touching Iob 14. 15.Job 14:15the Reſurrection, thou ſhalt call, and I ſhall anſwer, &c. the ſoul may deſire alſo that work of his hands, to be re-united again in the Reſurrection, a pledge, and an earneſt whereof they have in heaven, not onelyonly Chriſt the head his glorious body, but Enoch and Elias. Now there may be much deſire happily for this coming of Chriſt, that this may be made up, but as the Apoſtle ſaith in another caſe, God hath provided a better thing for us, that they Heb. 11. 40.Heb 11:40without us ſhould not be made perfect, ſo they without the reſt, the fulneſs of Chriſt ſhould not be made ſo compleatly perfect. Well then, the fulneſs of Chriſt muſt come in, that day ſhall not come, until there be not one ſoul more to come in, which belongs to his fulneſs; that is the fourth. This reaſon indeed onelyonly concerneth the great day of Chriſt his coming.

5. To give time and ſpace to men to repent, and to work out their ſalvation in, I gave her ſpace to repent, ſaith the Lord to that woman, Rev. 2. 21.Rev 2:21and ſhe repented not. Whether we underſtand this of a mans particular day, or the great and general day, it is true; Why is not Sentence ſpeedily executed upon ſinners? Why is it! that they might repent, deſpiſeſt thou, ſaith the Apoſtle, the riches of his goodneſs, and long-ſuffering to thee, foreign, not knowing the goodneſs of God, his long-ſuffering hath his tendency in it to lead to repentance, Rom. 2. 4.Rom 2:4being given for that end, Mora ſponſi poenitentiae tempus eſt: Hilar▪ can. 27. So our Annot. So that this will leave ſinners without any excuſe. If there had not been ſuch a delay, they had had no time to repent, and they might have ſaid ſo for themſelves; but now they have no pretence, they ſhall be all of them foreign condemned of themſelves. And for the Saints and people of God, it is that they might have time, and ſpace to work out their ſalvation p. 129with fear and trembling, to work it out foreign Alas they muſt be converted and become as little children, or elſe they cannot Mat. 18. 3.Matt 18:3enter into the kingdom of heaven; now there is much induſtry, and pains required, to bring the heart to this meetneſs for heaven and therefore he delays his coming: As for inſtance. If a Bride-groom too ſoon come upon his ſpouſe, that he knoweth hath a houſe full of filthineſs, and naſty places to trim, and make handſom, and her ſelf to trim, and deck and adorn; he will ſtay a while, give her time to make all pure, and clean, and fit for him, and then he cometh, and this is another.

6. That the meaſure of ſin and ſinners may be filled up, there is a fulneſs of Satan as well as of Chriſt, a fulneſs of ſin as well as Gen. 15. 16.Gen 15:16of holineſs, you know he would not give Canaan a type of heaven, to his people Iſrael, becauſe the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full, he could not give them Canaan but he muſt deſtroy them, and therefore he would firſt have their meaſure full, their Ephah full, and then ſink them with a talent of lead. So here there is a fulneſs of Satans kingdom, a fulneſs of ſin, upon which when he cometh, he will come to pour out the fulneſs of his wrath, and to tread them down in his fury for ever; therefore he ſtays a while until they have filled up their meaſure. He did not caſt the Jews out of ſight, until they had filled up their meaſure, by perſecuting of the truth, and the Saints, which is a wonderfully filling ſin indeed, that quickly fills the bag to the mouth, and then it is ſealed they perſecuted the truth, that they might fill up the meaſure of their ſins always; and then you ſee he came againſt them, Now when all the veſſels of wrath are formed, and they are fitted to deſtruction, then he cometh as to receive his bride, ſo to ſlay his enemies with a flaming ſword, and furious indignation, that would not 1 Theſ. 2. 16.1 Thess 2:16cloſe with him. This another.

7. That the promiſes may be fulfilled, which are many of them yet to come, and to be fulfilled, as the prophecy of Babylons falling, the tenth part of the City, even Rome, which ſome judicious compute to be juſt the tenth part of what formerly it was. The ruine of Antichriſt, the bringing in of the Jews the ſeed of Abraham his friend, from all corners of the world whether they are driven through his diſpleaſure, and the fulfilling thoſe many glorious things which are ſpoken of the City of God, the new Jeruſalem which cometh down from heaven, which many of the Saints do p. 130expect, yet to be fulfilled when Satan ſhall be bound for a thouſand years, ſurely a tittle of this word ſhall not fall to the ground, not Pſal. 87. 3.Ps 87:3the word of promiſe, heaven and earth may fall, but this word of God cannot fall, it muſt be fulfilled. The Lord Jeſus will be contented, to be without his fulneſs until then, and the glory of that fulneſs until then; and therefore for this cauſe, his coming ſhall Pſal. 40.Ps 40be delayed, he came once out of heaven with much readineſs, Lo I come, I come, though to dye, to loſe his life, his peace, his comfort, the ſavour of his father; rather then the propheſies ſhould not be fulfilled as we have it often, that it might be fulfilled, &c. He will be without his bride in fulneſs for a time, and they muſt be without him in fulneſs for a time until the reſt of the propheſies be fulfilled. O how he glorifieth his word above all his Name.

8. Laſtly, Happily to edge our deſires after the day, you know the withholding of a deſirable thing for a time, doth much draw out the deſires, as the drawing away the bait from the fiſh, draweth it after it, and truly all the ways the Lord takes with us are little enough to put us on to deſire that day. But ſo much for the confirmation of the Doctrine, before it was ſaid, therefore it ſeemed long, becauſe we deſired it importunately: Now therefore we deſire it becauſe it ſeemeth long, and ſo our deſires after his appearing do feed themſelves, by adding this oyl to the flame, even the length of the tarrying, which doth partly ariſe from themſelves: ſo ſome things are mutually cauſes one of another, as the Ice reſolveth it ſelf into water, and again the water into Ice; the vapours aſcending into Clowds; and the Clowds into vapours again, after they are emptyed upon the earth. So▪

The Uſe of the Doctrine ſhall be firſt by way of reproof, to convince us of ſin, in abuſing this truth, which nothing is more Ʋſe 1.ordinary among men, they dare not utter it with their mouths, but this they ſpeak in their hearts, the Lord delays his coming, and Mat. 24. 48, 49Matt 24:48Matt 24:49therefore they begin to eat and drink with the drunken, to beat their fellow-ſervants, they will neither work themſelves, nor let others work that would; Mark how the Evangeliſt brands ſuch a man, calling him an evil ſervant, or an hypocrite, and indeed brethren, It is not as if there were any thing in the nature of a delay, to work ſuch a careleſneſs in us, for if he came more ſpeedily, what is the language, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall dye, p. 1311 Cor. 15. …2.1 Cor 15:2whether he be a ſwift witneſs againſt men, or whether he tarry, all is one; if he do not ſpeedily execute the Sentence which is paſt upon men, evil doers, their hearts are fully ſet in them to do wickedly; and if he do threaten to come ſpeedily, and avenge himſelf Eccleſ. 8. 11.Eccl 8:11upon them, let us eat and drink, for to morrow, &c. forgetting the after-clap, that after death cometh judgement, do not then pretend brethren this for your ſelves, and lay the fault upon God as Adam did, and all the ſons of Adam are ready to do. Say not Heb. 9. 27.Heb 9:27then, If God had threatened, as he did Niniveh, Yet forty days and Niniveh ſhall be overthrown, yet forty days and thou ſhalt come to judgement, ſinner thou wouldſt have repented as well as they did: no: but as Abraham ſpeaks to the rich man in the parable, if they will not believe Moſes and the Prophets, they will not believe though one roſe from the dead. So in this caſe, if thou wilt Iona… 3. 5.Jonah 3:5not repent and believe, though the coming of Chriſt, do tarry a while; I will be bold to ſay thou wouldſt not repent if thou ſhouldeſt know that within forty days, or forty hours, thy ſoul ſhould be taken from thee, the fool in the Goſpel, when he thought he had many years before him, and goods laid up for them, he nouriſhed his heart as in a day of ſlaughter, and when it was told him, that this night his ſoul ſhould be taken from him, do you think the fool had ſo much wiſdom to repent, we read it not, nor do I ſee any cauſe to think it.Luke 12. 19.Luke 12:19

A ſecond ſort, which are to be reproved or convinced of ſin; are 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4. Iſa. 29. 1. 42 Pet 3:32 Pet 3:4Isa 29:1Isa 29:4ſuch as mock at the coming of Chriſt. It is a prophecy of the laſt days, in the laſt days there ſhall come ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts, ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming, for ſince the fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were ſince the beginning of the world; That theſe are the laſt days, if we had no o her Verſe 22.Argument, the impudence of many now adays denyinng reſur ection and judgement, and any ſuch things as theſe are, are too clear a proof of it, Obſerve, Where is the promiſe of his coming, a promiſe to the people of Chriſt, for he cometh to give them the Crown of righteouſneſs, having fought their fight, and finiſhed their courſe, &c. but a threatning to the ſinners of the world, as that the ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head. Well, you tell us of a glorious appearing of Chriſt, but where is it? we ſee no alteration, all things continue as they were, there is no ſign of ſuch a coming, O what wretched Athieſm is in the p. 132heart brethren, that becauſe the hand of God doth not preſently ſeize upon us, therefore we make a mock at it, thinking there is no ſuch thing, O this unbelief is the ground of all departing from God, do not your actions proclaim this, that you expect not his coming, you rather make a mock at it, you make ſo light a matter of ſin, of the moſt horrid ſins:

Yea ſome that ſeem not to Queſtion his coming (though I think that is the ground of it, their ſecret unbelief that there will be any ſuch, or no) they do even provoke the Lord, and pluck him out of his place, they challenge the God of heaven that ſay, Let him make ſpeed, and haſten his work that we may ſee it, and let the Iſa. 5. 19.Isa 5:19counſel of the holy one draw nigh and come, that we may know it, that we may feel it, for we fear it not, this is the language of the men, that declare their ſin like Sodom, heed it not, ſtout-hearted ſinners, that ſet God at defyance, bid him do his worſt, they will abide all that cometh, rather then they will part with their luſts, wherein they walk as the Apoſtle hath it; they would fain ſee who ſhall controul them, who ſhould cut their Cart-ropes, and Pſal. 12. 4.Ps 12:4Cords of vanity, wherewith they draw iniquity, and toyl, and tear themſelves like horſes in the drudgery of ſin, Well I will ſpeak Iſa. 5. 18.Isa 5:18a word or two to all theſe, it is a terrible one indeed, the Lord give us trembling hearts at it.

Firſt, However long it ſeems to ſtay, it will come before thou art ready for it, and for all this gallantry of ſpirit that ſinners cloath themſelvs with, the ſtouteſt-hearted ſinner that heareth this word when that cometh ſhall quake and tremble. What cared Belſhazzar for the God of Iſrael, he thought it was nothing, to carouſe in the veſſels of the Sanctuary; but you ſee, with two or three words writing, what an Agony it wrought him into, Amos 5. 18. You deſire the day of the Lord, poor creatures, you do not know the day of the Lord is darkneſs and not light, your hearts will dye within you like ſtones, when it cometh upon you: Obſerve it brethren, uſually thoſe that are the moſt ſtout-hearted, in ſetting the Lord at defiance: are moſt dejected when it cometh; I, will the Atheiſt ſay, if this were true, that this day would ever come, it were ſomething, but we ſee no appearance of it.

Why Brethren, are you ſuch Atheiſts? I hope there is none ſuch here, but will own the Scriptures to be the word of the living p. 133God, and how often have you it there written, he hath Acts 17. 31.Acts 17:31appointed a day wherein he will judge the world by Jeſus Chriſt: and God is not ſlack as men count ſlackneſs, as ſome count it, as if he would never come; believe it, believe it Sinners, your judgement lingers not, and your damnation ſlumbereth not, but travels as faſt as you do, and it will meet you one day, and ſeize upon you. O if God ſhould ſend ſuch a hand to write upon the wall of the Taverns, where men are carouzing, &c. mene mene, thou art weighed, &c. this night ſhall thy ſoul, &c. Deut. 5. 5. He that believeth not theſe things is an Atheiſt▪ indeed, worſe then the Devil himſelf, who believeth and trembleth, James 2. 19.

But me thinks reaſon it ſelf ſhould evince it, and teach us, that the firſt Principle of all things made himſelf the end of all things: He that is firſt muſt alſo be the laſt; and therefore ſuch as would not ſerve that end, and honour God here, he will honour himſelf upon them; he muſt needs be righteous, and give every one according to his works; Now Sinners do not receive according to their works many times here, but they are lively and grow old, and are mighty in power, their ſeed are eſtabliſhed before them, &c As it is in that place of Job, their houſes are ſafe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them, they have no changes, and therefore they fear not God; they ſpend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave; that is to ſay, without any tedious ſickneſs, Iob 21 7, 8….Job 21:7Job 21:8ſuch as Job had, and therefore they encourage themſelves in their evil ways; they ſay, what profit is there if we ſhould pray unto him, we proſper as well as any, who is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him? Let him depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of his ways, whereas a Job, a Paul that are upright, fearing God, eſchewing evil, exerciſing themſelves to keep a conſcience void of offence toward God, and toward men: they ſhall be plagued every morning; God ſhall take them by the neck and ſhake them to pieces, and pour out their gall upon the ground, and break them Pſal. 73. 14. Iob 21. 30.Ps 73:14Job 21:30with breach upon breach. Now brethren, if Sinners were not reſerved to a day of judgement and deſtruction, that they ſhould he brought forth to the day of wrath, how would the Lord be righteous and juſt? it is a righteous thing with God to render tribulation to them that trouble you …but to you that are troubled, reſt with us. Again,

Thirdly, Remember this, Thou deſpiſ… the riohes and long ſuffering p. 1342 Theſ. 1▪ 6.2 Thess 1:6of God, not knowing that this goodneſs leads thee to repentance: Rom. 2. 4.Rom 2:4It hath a tendency thereto; God is not ſlack, but is long-ſuffering to us, not willing any ſhould periſh, he waits to be gracious; 1 Pet. 3. 9.1 Pet 3:9Sinners, he giveth you ſpace to repent; though he tell you not how long that ſpace ſhall continue, that while it is called to day you might hearken to his voice; Now inſtead of turning to the Heb. 4. 7.Heb 4:7Lord, you deſpiſe this his patience; let him wait upon whom he pleaſeth, you deſire him not to wait upon you; but let the day of the Lord come that you may ſee it; becauſe you proſper, and your breſts are full of milk, and your bones watered with marrow, Iob 21. 24.Job 21:24as it is in the Original; you make a ſcoff at the judgements of God, and mock at all his terrors, as if nothing concerning you: What is this but not only to break the yoke of Chriſt and his Cords of obeiſance, but the Cords of a man, and of love, Hoſ. 11. 4.Hos 11:4wherewith he draweth ſinners towards Repentance? it followeth in the text, that ſuch men treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath, after their own hardneſs and impenitent heart: let them put off the day of judgement as well as they can, they do treaſure Rom. 2.Rom 2up wrath againſt the day of wrath, treaſures of wrath are abundance: he ſtores up treaſures as we do ſin: God ſeals up ſuch mens ſins among his treaſures indeed; you fill up many bags, and apace, as a few great ſtones will fill a bag over little ſtones will do; nothing heightens your ſins more then this, the deſpiſing the goodneſs, and patience, and forbearance of God, riches and treaſures of goodneſs and long-ſuffering, abuſed and perverted to a wrong end, to encourage your hearts to ſtrengthen your hands to ſin: Swell the treaſures of the diſpleaſure which hangs over your heads every moment. Ah dear friends, that God would give ſome poor hard-hearted Sinner a trembling heart at this word, I doubt it is ſome of our caſes; do you know what you do, Sinners? you heap up ſin, they are gon over your head, I, that is not al, you treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath; that day, when all the treaſures ſhall be broken open, the Sluces opened, and the tyde of ſtreaming vengeance ſhall carry away poor ſinners to that bottomleſs gulf; O who may abide this day! No,

Nor do not think, You ſhall have worſe then other men, and you hope not ſo bad; you never yet ſinned as ſome others have done; you bleſs God you are no Drunkards, nor Extortioners; p. 135you never ſinned as Sodom, nor as Gomorrhah; ſuppoſe ſo, Yet it may be more: tolerable for them, then for many of us, who ſhall deſpiſe this long-ſuffering of God, and the riches of his goodneſs to us. The Lord of that ſervant that encourageth himſelf to ſin, upon his Lord his delaying his coming, he will come in a day when he looks not for him, and he will divide him aſunder: Mat 24. 49, …0.Matt 24:49Either rend his ſoul from his body whether he will or no, this night ſhall thy ſoul be taken from thee; Sinners are not willing to part with the…r ſouls, and no marvel when they behold hell from beneath moved for them. Or elſe he will ſeparate them from himſelf, and the Congregation of his people for ever; they ſhall not ſtand in the Congregation of his people, though here they were Pſal. 1. ….Ps 1mixed together; Or elſe he will bring upon him the moſt exquiſite tormenting evils, as men ſawn aſunder, or as Agag, or as they, Dan. 3. 29. So in the Evangeliſt, And give him his portion with Hypocrites, as ſome gloſs it; they are the free-holders of hell, the loweſt place they have; for ſimulata ſanctitas duplex iniquitas: and therefore they ſhall receive double, even according to their deeds. See brethren, we may be his ſervants in name and profeſsion, and he may commit to us the Stewards office alſo, and if this be our own end (a ſad word for us as well as for you, for looſe, and contentious, and ungodly Miniſters) and yet notwiſtanding periſh with deepeſt deſtruction, if we deſpiſe this long-ſuffering toward us.

3. Again, It reproveth ſuch as of prophaneſs of their ſpirits, upon every ſlight occaſion will be calling upon God to judge them; appealing to him, nothing more ordinary in prophane mens mouths then this, the Lord judge them. Yea more fearful indeed, ſo fearful that I hardly think the Devil himſelf would ſo ſpeak, for they believe and tremble that God would damn them: calling for that day upon every little vexation, when men ſuſpect them or cenſure them for any thing they would clear themſelves, and to that end uſe ſuch fearful imprecations as theſe. Ah, wo be to them that ſay, let the day of the Lord come, what if the Lord ſhould take ſuch men at their word, and put an end to his long-ſuffering, and ſay, Well judge thee I will, this hour thy ſoul ſhall be taken from thee, would they not be in an other Note? you need not call for it; it will come faſt enough.

4. It reproveth ſuch as out of a conceit, they have of their own p. 136innocency, they will be calling for that day: Job himſelf was blame-worthy Iob 23. 3, 4, 5.Job 23:3Job 23:4Job 23:5that he preſſeth ſo much upon this: O that I might come to him, where I might find him, that I might come even to his ſeat, I would order my cauſe before him, and fill my mouth with arguments: I would hear the words which he would anſwer me, and underſtand what he would ſay unto me. And ſo again Chap. 13. Withdraw thine hand far from me, and let not thy dread make me afraid; then call thou, and I will anſwer thee: charge upon me what thou canſt of wickedneſs or prophaneſs, and I will clear my ſelf; or let me ſpeak, and anſwer thou me: let me be the Plaintiff ſaying out the ſad condition of my ſoul, and do thou anſwer me; Iob 13. 22.Job 13:22juſtifie thy proceedings with me. Though he did well to retain his integrity, and juſtifie that before men, yet it was too much boldneſs to offer to enter into judgement with God, and ſo earneſtly to deſire that day. Alas brethren! when he ſhall bring to light the depths of our hearts that we never ſaw, who ſhall ſtand before him at his coming, thus to lay us open, if he enter into judgement with us indeed?

5. It reproveth another ſort, and thoſe are they, that when their Conſciences are a little galled, happily by the Word, or ſome other way, they are ready to cry out for the day of the Lord; they think mans judgement and mans day is very hard and harſh, and hope to be relieved by this day of Jeſus Chriſt; doth the 1 Cor. 4. 5.1 Cor 4:5Lord make his Miniſters ſometimes ſons of thunder? and is not he the Father, the God of thunders? then is your day brethren, ſo dreadful that you cannot bear it, if while he ſitteth to purge as a refiners fire, you be ſcorched with that, ſo that you cannot abide the day of his coming; do you think to help your ſelves by putting yourſelves upon the everlaſting burnings? It is true, …er. 23. 92.the word of God is a fire, and if it get into a ſinners Conſcience, it will ſcorch and burn, and make the ſoul even f…y again; but what is this to the flaming vengeance wherewith the Lord Jeſus ſhall be clothed, when he appeareth and his coming is? you Heb. 4. 1…. and as an edged ſword.Heb 4:1think we handle you roughly ſometimes, and you ſhall find more tender uſage from the Lord Jeſus; O he is more merciful, full of bowels, indeed he is ſo, infinitely more merciful: but you will find him to be infinitely juſt as well as merciful: Sinners, he hath a Go ye Curſed, as well as Come ye bleſſed, to pronounce, he will handle you more weightily then Creatures can, if you be not p. 137ready for his appearing; If you cannot bear the ſmoke of the, bottomleſs pit, over which you are held it may be ſometimes, will it be a mending your condition to leap out of the ſmoke into Heb. 10 31.Heb 10:31the fire? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; therefore it may ſerve to reprove ſuch as would haſten this day of the Lord, and yet can have no hope the Lord knoweth in the Evil day.

The next Ʋſe ſhall be then to ſtir us up every one to wait for this Ʋſe 2.day, this coming of Jeſus Chriſt, ſpecially the people of God: You that hope for mercy in that day, as he prayeth for the houſe of Oneſiphorus; what ſhould we do, but wait for it? Yet indeed it may reach the Condition of all, whether good or bad. If he delay 2 Tim. 1. 16.2 Tim 1:16his coming, then wait for his coming; OnelyOnly the waiting of the people of God is ſomewhat of a different nature; And therefore let me ſpeak a little diſtinctly to the waiting of the Saints of God for that day, wrerein there are two or three things included as ſeveral branches of this duty.

1. There muſt be a love and deſire to this coming of Jeſus Chriſt, and this preſuppoſeth that that day, and the coming of it will be good to the people of God; for we cannot love or deſire, or will any thing evil under the formality of evil, be a good day, a day of tranſcendent gladneſs of heart, when the Bride ſhall be taken by the Bridegroom, preſented to his father without ſpot or Eph. 5. 27.Eph 5:27wrinkle or any ſuch thing; when there ſhall never be any eſtrangement between the Lord Jeſus and the ſoul any more, never any withdrawing, any clouding, any diſturbance of peace any more: will not this be a good day, when our grace ſhall be all glory? then ſhall we appear with him in glory? And therefore Job ſpeaks Col. 3. 4. Iob. 19. 27.Col 3:4Job 19:27after this manner: I know that my redeemer liveth, &c. in my fleſh I ſhall ſee God whom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine eyes ſhall behold, and not another, therefore it is the ſame body by the which, and not a new one which never had union with the ſoul before; though my reins be conſumed within me, ſo we read it, that is to ſay, though inwards as well as outwards are conſumed in the grave, yet I ſhall ſee him; but though is not in the Original, and therefore it may be read without, my reins are conſum'd within me: the reins are the ſ… of the deſires, therefore I have ſuch deſires after that day, that even my reins are ſpent in them, and p. 138conſumed by them, this is going forth to meet him indeed: It is not every Chriſtian that can deſire this, but ſuch as are ready for his appearing whereof afterwards. But then Secondly,

2. In this waiting there is an Act of faith alſo to be put forth, caſt not away your confidence that believe there will be ſuch a day, Hab. 2. 4.Hab 2:4it is certain though it be future, though we ſee it not, yet becauſe he hath ſaid it, therefore believe it: and if we ſo believe, we ſhall not make haſt, that is to ſay, more haſt then is meet, preſs hard forward toward the Mark, Phil. 3. 13. 14. we ought to do, but we ſhould not take any indirect courſe to bring our ſelves to it ſo much the ſooner, as ſome by a diſpatching themſelves under Iſa. 28. 16.Isa 28:16a temptation when faith is overwhelmed, or elſe by ſuch cruel macerating of the body to beat it down, that the frame of it ſhould be quickly be diſſolved; though we ſhould be weary of the body of ſin, and we cannot well be weary of it, yet faith now ſhould eye that glorious liberty of the ſons of God, and it maketh it preſent: It is the ſubſtance of things hoped for: it giveth it a being already, and therefore this alſo is implied in this waiting. Heb. 11. 1.Heb 11:1And then

3. In this waiting brethren, for his appearing which is proper to the Saints, there is a patient continuance in the waiting, a patient continuance in well-doing the Apoſtle mentioneth, there ſhould Rom. 2. 7.Rom 2:7be deſires, not a fit and ſtart, but a Continuance in them, and ſo a drawing out the acting of faith, believing that day will come which ſhall put an end to all our fightings without, and terrors within, when we have need of patience when we have done Heb. 10. 37.Heb 10:37all that we might receive the recompence, the promiſe of temptation, whether inward, or outward; our patience is put to it very ſore, yea and in a fit of raviſhment with Chriſt; then we would have no delay, but in heaven we would be even that very moment, and thoſe holy, flames are ſweet: but yet if the Lord ſee it good for Paul to continue in the Body, and he muſt yet undergo more for Chriſt before he come to raign with him: why he is ſatisfied, and ſo ought we to wait patiently for this his appearing. The Virgins waited it ſhould ſeem, and were forward and ready, but their patience held not out as it ſhould: therefore labour for this. But then

Secondly, For the waiting of Sinners. Wait for this day, for it will it come though it be delayed, and you know not how ſoon p. 139it will come upon you. Now your waiting muſt be of another ſort.

1. With fear and trembling, that which a man fears he expecteth in ſome ſort as well as what he hopeth for: O that this dreadful ſound were but in the ears of Sinners wherever they went, there is a day coming, which will pay for all your pleaſures of ſin, when God ſhall pluck your ſweet morſels out of your belly, and turn your ſtolen waters, and bread eaten in ſecret, which were pleaſant and ſweet to you, into the poyſon of Aſps. O do not ſay, you are at an agreement with hell, and with the grave: for alas that agreement ſhall Iſa 28. 15.Isa 28:15be broken, the grave ſhall receive you, and reſerve you for this day of wrath, and then give you up, it will not hide you from the wrath of the Lamb, hell will open for you: Faelix trembled, when Paul diſputed of righteouſneſs, and temperance, Acts 24▪ 25.Acts 24:25and judgement to come; this day of Chriſts coming how terrible will it be to fooliſh Virgins? O that all ſuch would tremble before the Lord: fear it, fear it, it is coming upon you, it lingers not, he is not ſlack!

2. In order hereto you muſt labour to believe it, it is an Article of our faith: we profeſs the reſurrection of the dead, which is either to life or condemnation: and thou that liveſt in ſin, canſt expect Ioh 5. 29.John 5:29no other but a reſurrection to Condemnation. But alas! men do not believe this; Devils are afraid of that day to which they are reſerved in chains of darkneſs, when they ſhall have their full cup given them to drink. Ah dear friends! that the Lord would ſingle out ſuch as he would perſwade this day from the terrors of the Lord, to fly-from this wrath to come, to 2 Cor. 5. 11.2 Cor 5:11make ready for this day that is a coming: wherewith I ſhall wind up all, I ſhall ſay to this doctrine. The laſt word therefore is of

Exhortation, ſince Jeſus Chriſt doth delay his coming, That we Ʋſe laſt.would make good uſe of the time: he giveth us time and ſpace to repent. The people of God they have need to make uſe of this time: have we not work enough to do, before we can expect to be glorified with him? how many of us have a world of iniquity Rev. 2. 23.Rev 2:23to ſubdue? how far are we from being as little children in malice and humility, ſuch we muſt become, our Courſe is far from being finiſhed. O brethren, Jeſus Chriſt will adopt us to himſelf, and p. 140we by the Spirit are to do it, that we may be meet ſpouſes to him, then it will appear that we deſire his coming indeed, if we lay out all your might to prepare for it; if the heart be …luttiſh, and ſo we let it lie, if we neglect our ornaments, are careleſs, put them not on, be not decking our ſelves, how can we ſay, we love his appearing, even the appearing of the Bride-groom?

But then 2. How much more have Sinners to do? It is true, he delays his coming, and ſo he hath a great while in reſpect of thee: how many years hath he waited upon thee to be gracious to thee, and yet thou are where thou waſt at firſt? Ah dear friends! if Jeſus Chriſt find you that profeſs his name in your blood at that day, what will become of you? Will you have time to repent, if you repent not? it will not be the time of love, but of diſpleaſure: it had been better for you, you had never had ſuch warning: O do not deſpiſe the riches of his goodneſs, and long-ſufferings towards you: O conſider your ways, and the Condition of your ſouls at the laſt, and turn to the Lord your God with all your hearts, and not feignedly cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt; get oyl into your Lamps, and into your veſſels, for why will ye die, why ſhould that day come upon you before you are ready for it? O make haſt Brethren, you are this day warned to fly, that is to ſay, with all ſpeed to haſte away from the wrath to come: for judgement lingers not, it will not ſtay beyond the appointed time, even your own appointed time, for the number of your moneths are with God, Iob 14.Job 14it will not ſtay a jot longer; now you do not know whether this may be the day, the night, this Sabbath the laſt, this warning the laſt: therefore lay hold upon the opportunity. O that the Lord Jeſus would ſeize but upon ſome of our hearts, that we might make a good Ʋſe of this delay! And O bleſs his name, and let us all admire his goodneſs to us, that he doth delay his coming, that we have time and ſpace to repent, to work out our ſalvation in, and that until all the fulneſs of Chriſt be come in. It is his long-ſuffering, not willing we ſhould periſh, but come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3. 9.2 Pet 3:9O that we were thus wiſe, that we could thus conſider our latter end. But ſo much for this Doctrine.

THEY ALL SLƲMBRED AND SLEPT. Here I ſay, you have the occaſion which the fleſh took from the delay or carrying p. 141Ʋerſe 5.of Chriſt to ſlumber, and ſleep all of them, both wiſe and fooliſh. Some have underſtood it of the ſleep of death, that they al dyed, good as well as bad, but this cannot be ſo, for it is not true, underſtand the coming of Chriſt which way you will, If for his coming to the univerſal judgement; it is not true, for all ſhall not ſleep, but ſome 1 Cor. 15. 51▪1 Cor 15:51ſhall be changed as the Apoſtle hath it. If we underſtand it of his particular coming, to ſummon us to appear before him: It is leſs true, for when the ſummons cometh, it is before we dye. Death indeed is his Meſſenger, or Serjeant; and therefore they are not dead, before he cometh to fetch them, beſides it is not ſo uſual to ſet forth death by a double expreſſion, of ſlumbring and ſleeping, but rather ſleeping onelyonly. Beſides this ſlumbring, and Mark 13. 35, 36.Mark 13:35Mark 13:36ſleeping here, is noted as a failing in the wiſe virgins as well as the fooliſh, if I underſtand it aright, for it is the privation of that watchfulneſs, which is injoyned, and wherewithall is wound up in the cloſe, and by this parable he ſheweth us the ſad inconveniences of ſleeping and ſlumbring, and the incidency of it to us; and therefore exhorts us to watch. Now ſure, to dye is not any fault, when we are called to it, but an appointment of God for us to dye, to ſubmit to which, to be willing to which is a grace, and not a ſin. Again, in this parable there ſeemeth to be ſome time for the getting of oyl, or at leaſt for them to uſe ſome endeavours to get it though it be in vain, which may be indeeed after a ſummons to death, there may be ſome little time which a hypocrite may think to improve to get grace, though it proſper not, but after death, there remaineth nothing but judgement. The particular firſt, and afterward the general.

The time of their ſleeping is conſiderable indeed, and that is it ſeemeth to be juſt a little before their Lord cometh, the L. Jeſus, for it was the cry that wakened them, Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Whether we look upon this coming of Chriſt to be his laſt and general coming, & ſo underſtand the ten Virgins collectively for al the viſible Church, then found on earth; it is conſiderable that they ſhall generally be found ſleeping, you know how the Evangeliſt ſetteth forth in the former chapter, wherein the Diſciples ask him when thoſe things ſhall be, and what ſhall be the ſigns of his coming, and of the end of the world. When Jeruſalem ſhould be deſtroyed, when he would come gloriouſly by his Spirit, and word prevailing p. 144Mat. 24. 3.Matt 24:3over the world, ſuddainly like lightning paſſing from one end to the other, as ſome underſtand that. Or whether we make that coming of Chriſt, and the end of the world all one; It ſhould ſeem this is to be referred to the anſwer, to the third, the end of the world, as it was in the days of Noah, they were eating and drinking, and never minded, were careleſs, and aſleep, until the world was in a flood about them; note here, in the end they ſhall be aſleep, alike ſecure and drowſie, and as little look for the end of the world until all be on a flame about their ears. And Satans letting looſe after Rev. 20. 7.Rev 20:7the thouſand years being impriſoned, ſeemeth to ſpeak ſad work he will make among men, immediately before the laſt end. Or if we underſtand it diſtributively of each Saint, as ſometimes in the ſame Scripture the H. Ghoſt ſpeaks of the Church collectively and diſtributively Cant. 1. 4.Song 1:4draw me, we wil run after thee, ſo here the Virgins, they all ſlumbred and ſlept, and ſo they might do, if they did it ſingly, near the time of his approach to each of them to take them to himſelf for ever, or ſeparate them from himſelf for ever, which is the caſe of the fooliſh virgins. I ſay it is alike conſiderable, and may give us ground of a note of obſervation by and by. It is true indeed ſome underſtand that in the beginning they went forth to meet the Bridegroom, by a Prolepſis, or Anticipation, as if they did not go forth at all to meet him until after the cry was made, but I cannot ſee the reaſon of it. They would have it, that Chriſtians are very apt to be ſleepy in the beginnings of their faith, and work of faith which indeed may be ſo: but methinks that doth not ſo well ſuit with the time of firſt-love, which the Scripture often mentioneth, men are uſually moſt forward then, and moſt watchful and wakeful then. Nor do I know any inconvenience but Rev. 2. 4.Rev 2:4they might ſleep in the way in their journey going forth to meet the Bridegroom; and methinks the tarrying of the Bridegroom being interpoſed between their ſetting forth towards him, and their ſleep doth plainly argue it, if we may argue from theſe things, but they will argue as much for the one way as for the other; ſo that I would rather take it thus.

And however it be, that with particular circumſtance be not to be too much ſtrained, when we have the ſcope of the Parable, yet remember that this we are now upon is the main thing, if I underſtand it aright, for this ſleeping here is the privation of that watching which is a duty ſo often and ſo much preſſed upon the Diſciples p. 145in the former chapter, and this and many other places, and this appears to be the ſcope by our Saviours winding up all in that Exhortation, therefore watch, for ye know not what …our he will come, the fooliſh virgins and wiſe, both were too fooliſh in this, when he tarryed they ſlept, and while they ſlept he came; and what prejudice it was to them afterward, likely you may hear more fully; therefore ſaith our Saviour watch. Therefore, this if I do inſiſt a little upon it, I hope it will not be amiſs, it being the ſcope of the Parable.

They all ſlumbred and ſlept, here it will not be amiſs for the further opening the words to tell you What kind of ſleep this is, and the degrees of it; for the kind, you muſt know brethen, we are As Gen. 15. fell upon Abraham. Mat. 26. 40.Gen 15Matt 26:40not ſpeaking of a bodily ſleep, whether ordinary, or extraordinary, from a natural, or a ſupernatural cauſe ſuch deep ſleep as fell upon ſome, though the Diſciples were much blamed for their ſleeping, when they ſhould have watched, and prayed; I take it their natural ſleep was not there conſidered, but as an effect of their ſpiritual ſleep; their ſouls were aſleep, and thence they ſlept when they ſhould have been praying, to have been a comfort to Chriſt in that his Agouy: but we are now to ſpeak of a ſpiritual ſleep, the ſleep of the ſoul. Indeed the ſoul conſidered as a ſpiritual being, in its natural capacity, properly never ſleepeth, but the body: It is never weary of its actings, but the body is; which it uſeth as its inſtrument, as it never groweth old, ſo it never groweth ſleepy; and therefore we do not conſider the ſoul neither in a natural capacity, onelyonly as it is a ſpiritual being, but in a ſupernatural capacity, that is to ſay, as it hath ſome divine qualities put upon it, whereby it acts and works towards God, and towards Chriſt, as natural Agents act by their qualities, the fire by its heat, ſo the ſoul by its faith, and by its love, and by its humility. So then, we are here conſidering not a naked ſoul, but a ſoul as it hath either in reality or elſe in appearance put on Chriſt for righteouſneſs, and for holineſs, is raiſed up from that death in ſin, to a li…e of grace or love to God. Now this ſoul ſo conſidered alas ſometimes it fals aſleep. So much for the kind of ſleep.1 Cor. 1. 30…1 Cor 1:30

For the degrees of the ſleep, here they are two foreign two words, and of two ſignifications, as indeed our own Engliſh words do plainly diſtinguiſh, you know to ſlumber, is much leſs then to ſleep in our experience of it, to ſlumber, is when a p. 144man onelyonly doth nap or nod, he is not faſt aſleep as it were, between ſleeping and waking, a little thing waketh him; now he is awake, and then is napping again, but not ſo faſt as to have the ſenſes altogether ſealed up, as in a ſleep; then it is otherwiſe, there muſt be much ado to wake a man, when he is in ſuch a ſleep. So it is in this caſe, This ſpiriritual ſleep, there are degrees, a napping, and nodding; now aſleep and then awake again, we are neither awake nor aſleep, there are interruptions ſucceſſively in our ſleeping and waking: But when a man is aſleep, he goeth on away with it, continueth ſo great a while, ſleep hath ſeized upon him, lockt him, and ſealed up, and made him ſure as I may ſay, which what it is, ſhall farther be opened by and by, onelyonly here let us take up the Doctrinal Obſervations from the words, which ſhall be onelyonly theſe two.

The people of God which are wiſe to ſalvation, as well as fooliſh Doct. 1.formal profeſſors are lyable to ſlumber, and ſleep, the beſt men and women are lyable to it.

That the Saints may fall into ſlumbering and ſleeping, when they 2.had moſt need to be awake, as you ſee in this caſe. Happily I may handle them diſtinctly, if I ſee it may not be too tedious.

For the firſt, that the beſt of the Saints, ſuch as are wiſe to ſalvation, yet may ſlumber and ſleep, I think there needeth not much to be ſaid by way of confirmation, you ſee this is plainly the heart of the Parable we have in hand, or elſe I know not what it is; Jonah you know he was faſt aſleep in the ſide of the ſhip, it was bodily Ionah 1. 5.Jonah 1:5ſleep indeed, but it was an effect of this ſpiritual ſleep that was upon him, his graces were now ſleeping, his fear of God, againſt whom he had ſinned in running away from him, and his ſelf-denyal, theſe were aſleep, and made him ſo ſecure, that though they were in a ſtorm he feared it not, as a drunkard that ſleepeth upon the top of a Maſt, in greateſt danger, and ſeeth it not, nor ſo much as dreameth of it, and it is thought by ſome alſo that Zech. 9. 1.Zech 9:1Zachary that good Prophet who had ſo many viſions from the Lord, that he was drowſie and ſleepy notwithſtanding, more then was meet, his mind as well as his body, but there ſhall be no queſtion made of the Diſciples, they were the beſt of men then alive, they were firſt choſen out of the world, the world is a wilderneſs p. 145they were as a garden incloſed; therefore the beſt conſidered in reſpect of others, and yet you find how often our Saviour endeavours to ſtir them up to watchfulneſs; What I ſay to you, I ſay to all; watch, watch and pray. And how much in theſe chapters, ſurely it argues they were lyable to ſleep, they were prone to it, elſe that leſſon would not have rung ſo much in their ears. Or would David have come over ſo often with that, quicken me O Lord according to thy word, quicken me according to thy word; but that he found himſelf going, napping and nodding. But if we will Pſal. 119. 25, 37. & 40.Ps 119:25Ps 119:37Ps 119:40go to the Chriſtian of Chriſtians, the flower in the garden incloſed, there were three Diſciples that were favourites, it ſeemeth that the Lord Jeſus took with him as witneſſes of his transfiguration before, and now to his paſſion and Agony; yet notwithſtanding, theſe favourites, when they ſhould watch with Chriſt, they fall aſleep, their ſouls were aſleep in a great part; and therefore their Mat. 26. 40.Matt 26:40bodies alſo were aſleep. However our Saviour ſaith, the ſpirit is willing, but the fleſh is weak; the ſpirit is in part weak, and unwilling; elſe if perfect, it would have kept them awake, there is a willingneſs, and unwillingneſs; and for an act the unwillingneſs Ioh. 21. 18.John 21:18may prevail againſt the willingneſs, as in this caſe: Peter ſhould be carryed whether he would not, and yet ſure he would; there his willingneſs prevailed: but I will not ſtand any longer, onelyonly note you here brethren: one thing farther is this; that they fell aſleep the ſecond time, and the third time after they had been reproved for it again and again, and that ſharply that they had nothing to ſay; they knew not what to ſay, ſaith the Evangeliſt, and yet they fell to it again; if theſe were ſo apt to fall aſleep, ſure then much more ſuch poor weaklings as we are in compariſon of them.

Well then, if any one further enquire, What this ſlumbring and ſleeping is;

By ſlumber and ſleep, I underſtand brethren the unbending the bow of our ſouls, as ſleep is a ceſſation of the animal actions of a Mark 14. 40.Mark 14:40living creature, by the obſtructon of the animal ſpirits, by the abundance of vapours ordinarily, there are ſome other caſes, but this is not ſo much for our purpoſe. Slumbring is when there is a little ſhorter failing, or ceſſation of the actions of a living creature, when the ſenſes are binding, as I may ſay, but they break through it, and ſo awaken the perſon doth; there is a double p. 146principle in man, in every child of God I mean; there is a corrupt and regenerate part, there is fleſh and ſpirit, as you have it in that of our Saviour, the ſpirit is willing, but the fleſh is weak; the fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh; this fleſh, this corrupt part we may not unfitly brethren reſemble to the vapours, Rom. 7. Pſal. 5. …7.Rom 7Ps 5:7that continually ariſe from the ſtomach toward the head. And the Spirit to the Nerves, the inſtruments of action, the graces of the ſpirit are the nerves of the ſpirit indeed: and by ſome of them, as by the nerves the continual ſupplies of grace, and fulneſs of Chriſt the head, where the fulneſs of the animal ſpirits are, is communicated to all the parts, to the ſtrengthening of all graces, that is to ſay by our faith. Now this being ſo, I take it then a man ſlumbers, and ſleeps, When his corrupt part doth either with a leſs, or a thicker ſteam of luſts ſeize upon (as I may ſay) and hinder the graces of the ſpirit from doing their work, from acting, ſpecially that grace of faith which indeed doth derive from the head Jeſus Chriſt, the ſpirits lively influences; therefore not unfitly is corruption compared to wet mooriſh places, a mooriſh …enniſh heart that is full of ſuch corruption, or a body full of ſuch humors you know is much more ſleepy then another.

Well then to bring it to an iſſue, when ſin ſo fully prevails over us, as to damp the graces of the ſpirit, either for a ſhorter time, it being quickly diſpelled, there is a ſlumbring, or for a longer time, there is Rom. 8. ….Rom 8a ſleeping; aliquando bonus dormit at Homerus. So that brethren when ever we are called to act any grace of the ſpirit, and we do it not, though it be but for an act, that is as I may ſay a ſlumbring though you may quickly recover your ſelves; If it be for more Ioh. …0. 25.acts, or continue any time, it is a ſleep. Thomas his faith was aſleep, he would not believe, his unbelief prevailed much, ſeized upon his faith, bound it as I may ſay; and ſo ignorance and blindneſs prevailing over the underſtanding. But for faith, methinks that is plain, When the ſon of man cometh, whether it be to that general day, or any particular day of avenging his people, ſhall be find faith upon the earth? faith in act to believe this, alas people will be aſleep, their faith ſurprized: and ſo for love, which is another Luke. 18. 8. Rev. 2. 4.Luke 18:8Rev 2:4grace, it is propheſied of the latter times, the love of many ſhall wax cold: the Church of Eph…ſus had loſt her firſt love, ſhe was fallen aſleep, this is the active grace, faith works by it, now this action ceaſed; as in a man aſleep, his members languiſh, and p. 147hang down, and are not fit for any action, ſo their love waxed cold. And ſo when inſtead of a holy vigilancy there creepeth a ſecurity on a people, which is a main ingredient into this ſpiritual ſleep, as the virgins here, they were all ſecure, they looked not for the coming of Jeſus Chriſt. And ſo when inſtead of a fervency of ſpirit in ſerving God: a deadneſs, a dulneſs creepeth upon Rom. 12. 11.Rom 12:11men, they pray as if they prayed not, if it be but for an act, it is ſlumbering; now they are dead, and then they are lively it may be next time, and then they are dead again; this is ſlumbering, napping and nodding: Now they can act their faith, and then they cannot; now they can avoid this ſin and that, and then they cannot; but are overtaken by it, this is ſlumbring: and alas brethren, are we not all of us lyable to this? Yea, it may be theſe things ſeize upon us more violently, we not onelyonly offend in many Iam. 3. 2.Jas 3:2things, but continually lying ſecure, continue in ſuch a dull liſtleſs frame, little or no actings or ſtrivings of faith, or love, or fervency, or wayting for Jeſus Chriſt, and his appearing, this is ſleeping. Well, I wiſh we had not too general, and too good proof of it by our own experience.

You have had already in this part of the diſcourſe, the general reaſon of this ſleepineſs of the Saints reſpecting our ſelves, and that is the foreign, a ſeed of that Poppy-ſeed which lays us ſo often aſleep, a filthy heart, ſtreaming continually filthy groſs vapours, which clog and ſeize upon our graces, and hold them priſoners as I may ſay for a time, that we cannot act them: But I will a little more particularly deſcend to ſpeak to ſome caſes.

Not to ſpeak of that vindicative hand of God upon ſome, when in vindicative juſtice he ſendeth upon men a ſpirit of ſlumber, and of ſleep; for I hardly think that is competent to the Saints, though Rom. 11. 8.Rom 11:8to hypocrites, it may; yet thoſe are not they, I am mainly to ſpeak to in this diſcourſe, but of other cauſes, And

Firſt, A cauſe of it may be this, ſloathfulneſs it caſts men into a deep ſleep: It is ſo in naturals, and it is ſo in ſpirituals; a ſloathful Prov. 19. 15.Prov 19:15man, that will not labour, the vapours gather, and becloud, and bemiſt him, that he cannot break through them, but they ſeize upon his ſenſes, and hold him priſoner a great while, and if he be ſtirred, yet a little ſleep, a little ſlumber, a little folding of Prov. 24. 33.Prov 24:33the hands to ſleep, that is the ſlothful mans guiſe, and as the door turns upon the hinges up and down, ſo the ſlothful man doth p. 148upon his bed, Labour and pains taking, it diſpels the vapours, ſcatters them, and ſo they clear up, ſo it is here: a ſloathful ſpirit is the immediate forerunner of this ſleep; therefore the Apoſtle exhorts them, not ſloathful in buſineſs, fervent in ſpirit, ſerving Rom. 12. 11.Rom 12:11the Lord. And you ſhall finde brethren, when he that had one talent given him, he improved it not; the Lord calls him a wicked, and ſloathful ſervant: Alas, his ſoul was aſleep, and his talent laid toſleep in a Napkin; well this is one cauſe, if we have opportunities in our hands to do good, and we do it not, as the Apoſtle Mat. 25. 26, 30Matt 25:26Matt 25:30exhorts us to do; we are ſloathful. A man that is idle, ſhall have very much ado to keep himſelf from ſleeping; a wonder Iudg. 4. 21.Judg 4:21brethren, if we be not all aſleep, we have ſo many opportunities to do good, ſuch talents put into-our hands, ſome of us, moſt of us, and yet do ſo little with them.

Secondly, Another cauſe of ſleeping may be wearyneſs, you know the ſleep of the labouring man is ſweet; ſo you ſee Siſera, after he 2. Theſ. 3. 13.2 Thess 3:13was toyled and ſpent with his fighting and flight, he was ready to lye down to ſleep preſently▪ ſo brethren, it is in this caſe, when we have run a while in the race that is ſet before us, or fought againſt our corruptions, toyled hard; if we ſit down when weary we are aſleep preſently; O ſaith the Apoſtle, be not weary of well-doing, if you be, you will fall aſleep! this we find in the caſe of them in the Hebrews, they were haraſed and perſecuted grievouſly, their faith and patience, were even tyred out, alas their hands therefore were weak, and knees were feeble, their members began to languiſh, and ſleep to ſeize upon them. Sometimes when we toyl all night, and take nothing, we ſpend, and are ſpent, we are apt to be weary brethren, and then it is two to one but we fall aſleep; Heb. 12. 12.Heb 12:12That is another cauſe of this ſleep.

Thirdly, Another Cauſe may be the falſe queſtions which men make, the miſtaking of things, a man miſtaking the day for the night; he ſlumbers it may be, and thinketh it is night; or the day is not at hand he ſleepeth; this is clear I think in the preſent caſe; What made the virgins thus to give ſleep to their eys, and ſlumber to their eye-lids? they thought their Lord would not come yet, he delayed his coming, and likely they thought he would do ſo ſtill; and therefore thought they might ſleep, or elſe atleaſt they might think, while he delayed his coming, it was no great matter whether they ſlept or waked, it would be of little availment to p. 149them; and therefore they even laid them down formally to ſleep; O how eaſily are we lulled aſleep with ſuch miſtakes as theſe! now how Mat. 25.Matt 25falſe was this in the mean time, for there is much to be done while he tarryes, to wayt for him; to have our lights burning, our lamps trimmed, our ornaments ready, to wait for him until he come; for we ſhall be paid for our wayting, as well as for our our working, Luke 12. 35, 36, 37.Luke 12:35Luke 12:36Luke 12:37and then we ſhould be ready to open to him whenever he comes: this another.

Fourthly, Another cauſe or occaſion at leaſt of this ſleeping, what is it but a letting down our fear and care; if we ſerved the L. continually with a holy trembling as the Pſalmiſt cals upon us, we ſhould hardly ſleep, a man that hath a trembling heart, ſleep paſſeth from his eys; or a man that hath his head f…ll of cares, and his heart alſo; they will keep him waking: ſo Jacob, his Gen. 31. 40.Gen 31:40ſleep departed from his eys: O the care he had of Labans ſheep! he ſlept not, Ah how far ſhort are many of us, that have the charge of the ſlock of Chriſt, purchaſed with his precious blood, for we ſleep, & let the Wolves come, ſleep, and let the envious man ſow tares. Paul, O how watchful a man washe, how diligent? he warned them Act 26. 31. 2 Cor. 11. 28.Acts 26:312 Cor 11:28night and day with tears; what was the matter? O the care of all the Churches were upon him. Why brethren, we have every one the care of our own ſouls; yea and of one anothers, we ought to watch over one another, & tender one another; to walk fearfully leſt we be ſtumbling-blocks one to another, hurt one another; we are our brothers keepers, and if we have this care upon us lively of our own ſouls and others, it will keep us waking: The rich mans abundance will not ſuffer him to ſleep, Eccleſ. 5. 12.Eccl 5:12he is afraid of loſing it; a man that hath a great charge about him, and walks through woods and dangerous places, he is afraid of every one he meeteth, leſt he be robbed, he will hardly ſleep: O you have precious ſouls to loſe brethren! And ſome of you have grace to loſe; which may in part be loſt in its own nature, it is looſeable; being but a creature depending continually upon a divine ſupply, as the Ray upon the Sun: If there be now ſuch a care as this, it will keep the ſoul awake; but now if we grow confident and bold, and do not fear alway; we are then falling aſleep: ſo it is, ſee it plainly in the Diſciples that went with Chriſt into the garden, to behold his Agony, they were wonderfully heavy aſleep; the ſoul was aſleep, their graces were not upon p. 150the wing, what was the matter? if you mind it, they were the men that above all others had been moſt confident and ſecure, and had expreſſed it before; Peter ſaid, that though all men ſhould deny him he would not: and when our Saviour told him, he ſhould deny him, he was ſo blinded with his confidence now, that he Mat. 26. 33, 34 38.Matt 26:33Matt 26:34would not believe Jeſus Chriſt, but rather believed himſelf, and his own folly; he ſaid he would rather dye for him, then deny him: Well, when it cometh to the pinch, he falls aſleep; Ah Peter, ſleepeſt thou, thou of all other men, methinks ſhouldſt have waked with me, wilt thou dye with me, and yet cannot wake but fall aſleep? not one hour wake with me, thou, ſuch a confident man; Ma…k 14. 37.and yet when it cometh to the pinch, fall aſleep? And the two ſons of Zebedeus with him, they were very confident, they would ſit on the right and left hand of Chriſt in his kingdom, Why can you drink of the cup I am to drink of? Yea ſay they, we can: and be Ma… 20. 20, 21 22.baptized with the baptiſm I am baptized with? yea, they could. Now thoſe are the men above others that are aſleep: Who can tell, but if ſome other of the Diſciples that had been lower in their own thoughts, and had walkt more tremblingly before him, but they might have waked when thoſe ſlept? This another.

Fifthly, Stupifying the head, the ſenſes, with ſome injury, it will lay a man aſleep, yea more then ordinarily, into a ſwoun, ſo that he feels nothing; as for inſtance, let a man have a great blow upon his head, it ſtonyeth him, he fals aſleep under it, he can feel nothing; now his ſenſes are lockt up, as if in a dead ſleep; it is ſo here, a great ſin brethren, it ſtupifies a mans conſcience, it maketh him paſt feeling for the preſent in a manner; we would hardly think it, it may be we would think that men are rather apt to fall aſleep, that have none of thoſe great ſins, but onelyonly of an ordinary nature; they are apt to ſlumber, and that great ſins 2 Sam. 12.2 Sam 12would rather awaken men, and ſtir mens Conſciences; indeed it may be they may put a man to ſome more torment a little at preſent, but afterward they do ſtupifie; the deceitfulneſs of ſin maketh hard, as the Apoſtle ſaith, ſpecially if it lye unrepented of a while; do you not ſee how David lay in a dead ſleep a great while, upon that his fall, in the matter of Ʋriah, all his ſenſes Pſal. 52. 15.Ps 52:15cloſed up, he could not open his mouth to ſpeak to God; O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth ſhall ſhew forth thy praiſe: And ſo p. 151Jonah his ſin was very great, running away from God to Tarſhiſh, when he ſent him to Niniveh, and who more ſleepy then he in the veſſel? up, why ſleepeſt thou, thou ſleeper, ſaid they; alas the poor Mariners lookt upon themſelves as loſt men, he feared nothing, he was aſleep, Conſcience aſleep, Soul aſleep, Fear aſleep, he was benummed with that great blow he had given his ſoul, he was more ſleepy, and heavy then natural men themſelves; their Conſciences were ſooner awaked by the hand of God then his was, a fearful condition. Now be not miſtaken brethren, I mean not by great ſins, only ſuch as are groſs in our own account, but the greatneſs of a ſin lies in the liking of it; indeed if there be a liking or love to a greater ſin, it maketh it ſo much the greater; but if there be a leſs ſin, it maketh it very great, even greater then the act of another ſin, that for the act is greater then it.

Sixthly, Another Cauſe you know is ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, Exceſs in the uſe of the creatures, we uſe to ſay, loaden bellies, leaden heels, the bellies being full, the bones would have reſt; It is ſo in nature, and ſo it is with the ſoul: Lot, when he was drunk, he fell aſleep, and ſlept ſo deeply, that his daughters played the Gen▪ 9. 33.Gen 9:33harlots with him, and knew nothing neither when they roſe, nor when they lay down; truly brethren, the drunkenneſs of the mind caſts men aſleep, if a man be drunk with erroneous principles of looſneſs, it caſts him into a ſleep, preſently the head is giddy with it; but chiefly if a man be drunk with paſſions, or drink, or ſurfet of the delights of the creature, abuſing the world in uſing of it, this was the ſleep of the old world, they never dreamed of the flood, they believed it not at all: Why? they eat, they drink, Luke 17. 26, 27.Luke 17:26Luke 17:27they marryed, they gave in marriage. There is no Copulative between the words in the Text, which they call an Aſyndeton, as if there were no diſtance of time between one and the other; they made it their work and buſineſs to give themſelves to theſe things. And ſo it will be at the laſt day, when Chriſt ſhall come; This is the ſleeping then ſurely, in a great meaſure, this day came upon the fooliſh virgins, yea, and wiſe too unawares; and why might not this be a great part of their ſleeping, or a Cauſe of it, they thought now they had made ſure of the main work, they might give themſelves a little more liberty then before, and might buſie themſelves in the world as well as others, and ſo were exceſſively p. 152taken up with it, and then the day of the Lord cometh unawares. Therefore our Saviour giveth this caution, take heed Luke▪ 12. 34.Luke 12:34your hearts at any time be not overcharged with ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you at unawares. Alas men are too buſie in the world to mind the coming of Jeſus Chriſt, or to wayt for him, they are drunk; and therefore fall aſleep, drunk with delights, with love to theſe things, care about them, they have more then their load as we ſay of men drunk, and therefore they ſleep. I wiſh this were not the ſin of the Saints themſelves.

Seventhly, Another Cauſe may be the company of ſleepy ones, this may be the caſe, at leaſt to ſome, and it is not unlikely but the fooliſh virgins, and wiſe walking together; the fooliſh might give ſuch an example, and the wiſe not wiſe enough to avoid: but would ſleep for company, and ſo it is ſtill in the viſible Church becauſe iniquity ſhall abound, the love of many ſhall wax cold, ſome Mat. 24. 12.Matt 24:12think this may be hinted in that place, but ſure it is that examples are very potent, plus vivitur exemplis, ſpecially if a perſon be in repute, a man of name or renown among the Saints, a brother or a ſiſter, whoſe praiſe is in the Churches if ſuch a one as this ſhall grow earthly and carnal, and that carnality and earthlineſs, damp the ſoul, and bring a deadneſs upon the graces, why how many wil be ready to think they may ſure let the rayns as looſe as they, and Gal. 2. 14.Gal 2:14may ſeek after the world as well as they. Peters example you ſee, when he diſſen bled, what a force it had; thou compelleſt the Gentiles to live as as do the Jews, by his example he did it when the Jews came down from Jeruſalem; therefore David complains indeed Pſal. … 20. ….Ps 20of the example of wicked wo is me, &c. And ſo Iſaiah complains w… is me, I dwell among a people of uncircumciſed lips, and I am ſuch my ſelf; and they help it forward, but indeed the examples o▪ looſe, and cold, and ſleepy Profeſſors are more miſchievous, eſpecially …am. 6. 5.if they have been more lively, and inſenſibly decline, and decay, becauſe, we have the leſs ſuſpicion of them; and therefore they are notable quench-coals indeed. This is another ground.

Eighthly, And the laſt I ſhall ſpeak to ſhall be this, from all the former, When the Lord his holy ſpirit is grieved by all theſe, he withdraweth his ſpirit, and then we fall faſt aſleep, and alas if a man be waked out of a dead ſleep, except there be one watching by him, or one that hath a Lethargical diſtemper apt to prevail p. 153upon him, except he hath ſome to ſit by him to keep him awake, he falls aſleep; and ſuch pains is the holy Spirit at, ſitting up with us to keep us awake; Now if we do grieve him, and he depart from us, preſently deep ſleep fals upon us like an armed man, and we cannot reſiſt, ſo the Diſciples had grieved the ſpirit of God by their ſelf-confidence, nothing more; and therefore he leaveth them: well, he will ſee what the end of this their truſting in lyes will do, and he letteth them fall again, and again, and you ſee how woful ſleepy and drowſie they were, they could not watch one hour, they fell aſleep again and again, three times after another, though they were ſharply reproved for it, they were prickt, and provoked to awake, but it would not do; alas, the Spirit was withdrawn from them: Thus much ſhall ſerve for the Arguments.

For the Uſe then brethren in the firſt place, May it not Ʋſe 1.ſerve to humble us, ſurely this is one end of Gods leaving his people to ſuch a drowſie frame, that they may be humbled; as it was in the caſe of his Diſciples, he would make them know how weak they were, if he did but depart from them, as confident as they were; how ſhould we be aſhamed of our ſelves? as a ſervant when he ſleepeth, when he ſhould be about his buſineſs, and is reproved for it; alas, he is confounded, he hath nothing to ſay for himſelf, ſo the Diſciples, they wiſt not what to ſay, ſaith the Text, What, are you now ſaith our Saviour, aſleep? now, when it is a time to exerciſe your graces, and to pray if ever you will pray, are you now aſleep? He that ſleepeth in harveſt, is a ſon Ma…k 14. 40.that cauſeth ſhame to himſelf and others, it is a time of work, and to be lazing and drowſing upon the bed, it is a very ſhameful thing indeed.

O that the Lord would lay this as a Plaiſter upon our Souls, as many as are drowſie, or have been drowſie, or ſleepy, to hold the Plaiſter on; though it be a ſmarting plaiſter, yet better it is for us to have ſome ſmart, then to dye of the Lethargy, better be cupped and ſcarified, and anything: Ah, when God cures ſin by ſin, it is a ſmarting cure, like the curing of a poyſoned wound, with more poyſon, or fetching out of fire with more fire, wherein the ſevereneſs of the Phyſician appeareth, and his love to us, who had rather we ſhould ſmart then dye; well, be humbled for p. 154what we have done, if this work be ſome ſmart unto us, our many ſleepy Sermons, Prayers, ſloathfulneſs, ſecurity, we have been; and it is well if we be not upon our beds now, this very day, if our ſouls be not aſleep: If you be, the Lord humble you for it, as he humbled his own Diſciples, that this may be your care.

But not onelyonly ſo, But let us all take notice of, and be humbled for our great proneneſs to ſlumber, and ſleep. Water the root brethren: If we be awake, and have not lately been overtaken, yet remember we have the root within us, water that with our tears, be humbled before the Lord for it, yea labour we to walk continually humble before the Lord for the ſight and ſenſe of it; it will appear how apt we are to fall aſleep, if we conſider that whatever our condition is, we are apt to it. For a proſperous ſtate, this is like a rocking, and ſinging to the ſoul; how quickly did the Church fall aſleep in Conſtantine his days, in his lap, and the child in the mothers lap, Outward proſperity, inward proſperity. Was not David ſlumbring when he ſaid, I ſhall never be moved; and ſo Iob. 29 18. Pſal. 30 6.Job 29:18Ps 30:6Iob, I ſaid I ſhould dye in my neſt; what not onelyonly when he had an outward flouriſhing condition, but when he had ſuch a ſtrength of grace, as to inable him to do much for God, to walk uprightly with him, to be fruitful in good works, then, I ſhall dye in my neſt, I ſhall multiply my days as the ſand, he was even going then: O this is matter of humbling indeed brethren, that when we ſhould be putting forth the fruits of his love unto our ſouls, we ſhould drop aſleep!

But then a man would think this is more natural now, to fall aſleep in the Sun ſhine, and in the midſt of the ſweet refreſhings of the ſpirit of God, as muſick and delightful things, which do mulcere, they do perſwade ſleep, if we have not ſomewhat to keep awake. But a man would think now that an …our of trouble and affliction (except it be ſo great as to ſtupifie it) ſhould rather Pſal 77. 3.Ps 77:3keep a man awaking, as the Pſalmiſt, thou holdſt me waking, ſaith he, in the night: Now the Diſciples, they were in an hour of temptation, and a great grief, and trouble, and though they knew now their Lord was ready to depart from them, and now Luke 22. 45.Luke 22:45entering upon his agony: yet alas how dead, and lumpiſh were they? they fell aſleep: though there may be ſome natural cauſe for grief of the ſoul, to make the body heavy, as it ſeemeth to be rendered as a reaſon; for they were ſad, they were heavy with grief. p. 155Yet methinks this ſhould ſo much the more have quickned their ſpirits; But alas brethren, we are even ſo prone to ſleep, that if the ſpirit of the Lord do not watch with us continually to keep us awake, we ſhall ſleep, if it be on the top of a Maſt: Little dream men! And this is the caſe of us all, as you ſee in Ionas; O that this were much upon us, that God would humble us for this, the very inclination of our hearts to ſlumber, and ſleep, and lazineſs, whereby he is robbed of his glory, and our ſouls much of our comfort, and the profit we might gain, as will afterward appear.

A little further to amplifie this Uſe: Surely brethren, It is matter of great mourning to look upon the ſad effects of mens ſleeping among us, look without us, look within us, look into the Church, look into our Families, look into our own hearts, and do you not finde brethren, that generally there hath been a ſleeping, O Prov. 24. 30.Prov 24:30the Lord reprove us for it, and ſhame us out of it, as he did his own Diſciples! Is not the Church of Chriſt, the Vineyard of the Lover-run with Weeds, with Nettles, and Hemlocks, and poyſonous weeds which do even kil the good plants? When was the face of this field, the Church of Chriſt in England and Ireland, ſo over-grown with ſuch weeds, when was there ſuch a face of things? It is true, it is not long ſince the Wilde-Boars of the Wood did waſt, Pſal. 80. 13.Ps 80:13and ſuch as would have pluckt, and rooted it up, and laid it waſte, had not the Lord wounded them; but now, how doth it ſwarm with little Foxes that ſpoyl the Vines, which have tender grapes; and is there much difference between plucking up a Corn field by Caut. 2. 15.the roots, and letting it be over-grown with weeds unto chaoking! How cometh this to paſs? Surely brethren, the reaſon is becauſe we have ſlept, While men ſlept the enemy did this: Magiſtrates, who are the keepers of the Lord his Vineyard, they have ſlept ſurely, the good Lord pardon it, and open their eys, they have not kept the Vineyard, but expoſed it to the evil man to do what he would in it: they have drunk in that unſound principle many of them, that they have nothing to do about the Church and Kingdom of Chriſt; and this like a poyſon of Poppy or Opium, Cant. 1. 6.…Song 1:6hath laid them faſt aſleep as to this; if God had not watched over his Vineyard, better then men that have the charge of it, what had become of it before this? Were it not a ſad thing think you for a nurſing father to have no more care of his Charge, then to p. 156let any one who would come into the Nurſery, go in and out, and bring what poyſon he would with him, and give it when, or to whom he pleaſed; would this be a diſcharge of his duty? this Iſa. 49. 23.Isa 49:23is a ſad nurſing. Well, ſure I am, Magiſtrates are Nurſing fathers, and ought to be ſo, and if it be not their duty as much to hinder the poyſoning, as to further the feeding of the Church, I do not underſtand. Well, they have ſlept, they have not kept the Vineyards of the Lord.

For Miniſters, they have ſlept alſo ſurely, they have not been ſo diligent, they have not ſeen afar off when the evil hath been coming, Mat. 13. 25.Matt 13:25and given warning of it; O how did Paul warn the people day and night with tears! for he knew that after his departure Act. 20. 31.Acts 20:31grievous Wolves would come in; where hath there been almoſt, ſuch a ſpirit as this of Paul? doubtleſs brethren, there have been ſome who have ſtood in the watch-Tower, and have ſeen theſe things and have blown the Trumpet. O but there hath not been that tenderneſs of doing of it, it hath not been done in that lively manner as it ſhould be, it may be if there had been more mourning in ſecret then for theſe things, if they would not hear, it might have been otherwiſe.

And have not the people of God been to blame, are not they the remembrancers of God as well as his Miniſters, yea that make mention Iſa. 62. 6.Isa 62:6of the Lord, or are his remembrancers, and have not they ſlept, while men ſlept, the enemy hath done this, Indeed we are apt to eye the miſcarriages of others, and impute the ſad condition of the Churches to this perſon, and that perſon, to the male adminiſtration Ier. 8. 6.Jer 8:6of Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, and ſurely they are not excuſable before the Lord, but all this while we forget to ſmite upon our thighs, and cry out, Ah what have we done? that the Vineyard of the Lord Ieſus is thus overgrown with weeds; have we not given the Lord reſt? he would have us give him no reſt, we have let him alone, that is to ſay, we have not even wearyed him with our complaints, our ſighs, and tears, and groans, and prayers of faith; whence doth deliverance come uſually but from the prayers of ſuch as are Princes with God, it may be ſometimes we pray a little, and ſometimes are affected with it; but we fall aſleep again, and give the Lord reſt, hath not he the hearts of Magiſtrates in his hands, and cannot he turn them as the Rivers of water, whitherſoever he will? and ſo the hearts of Miniſters, can p. 157he not giuegive them ſuch a ſpirit, as day and night to warn the people with tears: O ſurely, if we did ſpeak leſs to men, then ſometimes we do happily, and more to God, it might do better. But then the Prayers of Faith are wanting, we are ready to deſpond; our hands hang down when our hopes are not lively, and therefore no marvel if iniquity abound and prevail: ſurely brethren, there is a general ſleeping among us.

The ſad effects in our own Families: what ſad work is there many times, and all for want of watching? Parents aſleep, Maſters aſleep, act not their Faith in Prayer: for their in a relations, it may be, and therefore they miſcarry many of them manner. But to come nearer, Alas brethren in our own ſouls, what a ſtrang temper are we in many times, not fit for any thing! O how doth Corruption grow upon us as pride, and paſſion, and Earthlineſs, and what is the reaſon? we ſleep, but though we ſleep, Satan never ſleepeth? O how doth he watch ſuch an opportunity to water his plants in our hearts when we are aſleep? alas, can we tell how often brethren, we have loſt our frame of heart when the Lord hath humbled, and melted, and enlarged our ſouls, Our Wine is quickly turned into water again, and we know not how we loſt it: Surely brethren, we were aſleep, and then what ſad Lamentings there are after the Lord again, till we come to our ſelves? Well, the Lord make us ſenſible of it, both for our own ſouls, and for the Churches of Chriſt: If the Lord Ieſus ſhould come to us brethren, as he did to his Diſciples, now and reprove us, and ask us; what are ye all aſleep, could ye not watch with me one little while? How comes it to paſs that your Churches, your Families, your hearts are ſo choakt with tares and weeds? What could we anſwer him, ſhould we have a word to ſay for our ſelves? well the Lord affect our hearts with it: ſo much for this Ʋſe.

The next uſe of the point ſhall be a diſtinguiſhing word between Ʋſe 2.the ſleep of Formaliſts, ſinners, and the ſleep which is incident to the Saints, the people of God: the wiſe Virgins ſlept their ſleep, and the fooliſh theirs: and however in the expreſſion there ſeems to be no difference, yet there is a difference ſure between them to be found; for it may be, this may trouble ſome poor ſouls; who may think becauſe they ſleep, therefore they are ſurely of the p. 158fooliſh Virgins: And others may be emboldned, and their hands ſtrengthened: What the beſt ſleep as well as others, therefore though this be my Condition, yet all ſhall be well: I would therefore add a word, or two to this.

Firſt, Then remember this: Sinners at the beſt, and Hypocrites at the beſt, their hearts are aſleep, and the Saints at the worſt, their hearts are awake; indeed in naturals we uſe to ſay, when a perſon is ready to drop aſleep, his heart is aſleep already, but it is not ſo in Spirituals with the people of God: Judas when he was at the beſt that ever he was, before he diſcovered his covetouſneſs in the buſineſs of the poor, he was unſound at the heart, his heart was dead, indeed it is a dead ſleep that is upon their hearts; and yet he walkt up and down, as men in a deep ſleep ſometimes will do in a ſtrange manner, but his heart was aſleep; Now Peter he he fell aſleep too in the matter of his denial of Chriſt, but his heart was awake: though the ſenſes were cloſed up for a time, yet when the Son of righteouſneſs broke forth upon him, lookt upon him, you ſee he preſently waked; ſo the Church, I ſleep, but my heart wakes; in the deepeſt ſleep of the Church of Chriſt, the heart is Cant. 5. 2.Song 5:2awake, there are divers apprehenſions of this; Some underſtand it thus, I ſleep, but my heart wakes, that is to ſay, Chriſt, who is as the heart to the Church, the ſeal of life, and vital ſpirits, he wakes, or elſe taking the Church Collectively, ſhe ſleepeth, but the heart waketh, that is to ſay, ſhe may miſcarry in ſome leſſer matters as External, but in the main, the fundamentals, the heart of religion, in that ſhe never fals altogether. But we ſhall ſpeak to it as it reſpects particular perſons as wel as the general, as doubtleſs it doth: I ſleep, but my heart waketh: the Church was Lazy, and drouſie, ſlumbred and ſlept, but yet not ſo: but that the heart was awake, it was not a dead ſleep, and this will appear if we conſider two or three things.