The Sinners Hope, Sermon · Chapter 8
CAP. VIII.
The way readied for groſs ſinners to come over into a condition of Hope.
IF any ſoul be by all or any of theſe Motives ſtartled as if theſe words, that ſo neerly concern you, ſhould amongſt ſo many fall to the ground and none be moved by them, none be ſtirred in ſo great a congregation to look after their ſoules, I know not what to think it may ſignifie towards us. Theſe ſermons though by a worthleſſe Inſtrument, yet as the Lords meſſage will breed ſomething, either the converſion of ſome, or elſe ſome ſpeedy judgement on you for your impenitency, The removall of the Goſpell or the like, which the Lord forbid: but (if any (as I rather deſire and hope) do think of turning and ſince it is declared there is hopes if you turn, you think of ſo doing, and would know how you might partake of thoſe hopes; if you are of the mind, and would know the next way over to a changed ſtate what cours might be taken what is next to be done, that you might ſet about the work of ſalvation which you have hitherto neglected, if you would know how to begin, and go on towards a change. Take theſe directions.
Labour for ſufficient knowledge of the principles of Religion, this is neceſſarily to be laid, where it is not alreadie, as the firſt ſtep,Meanes How ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard; and what are they the better for hearing of him, if they get no knowledg by their hearing. My people are deſtroyed for lack of knowledg. If men be groſly Ignorant of thoſe principles,Hoſea. 4.6. which we take for granted in our preſſing of duty on them, how ſhould they ever frame to do any thing, Our Goſpell is hid to them that are loſt, and men can never be in a way to eſcape, as long as the Goſpel remains hid to them.2. Cor. 4.3. There are many were brought up in Ignorance, miſſed catechizing when they were young (the ſpecial time of learning) but it cannot be expected that God ſhould be bound to make abatement to us for our parents neglect towards us, we cannot think to ſkip learning the principles of Religion, becauſe the fitteſt time was neglected on our part for the attainment of the knowledge of them; If thou art never ſo old and art ignorant, thou muſt yet learn or thou canſt not be ſafe. Thou ſaieſt thou art an ignorant bodie, not book learned, wer't never catechized, &c. (beware you do not ſo by your children as your parents did by you) but alas to all this we can onlie ſay, why this is your loſſe, but not your excuſe, the more wrong you had done you, but you are not hereby diſcharged from a neceſſarie prerequiſite if you intend ſalvation. If thou be old Ignorant, thou muſt learn as old as thou art, Talk not of being too old to be Catechized, if thou needeſt it thou muſt have it. Thou art indeed too Old to be thus ſhamefully ignorant, but ſure if thou underſtandeſt thy danger thou ſhouldeſt not be too old to make haſt to begin now in what thou art ſo ſadlie caſt behind, and haſt loſt ſo much time in. To ſay thou art too old to be inſtructed, is as good as to ſay, thou art too old to be ſaved: For there is no way for ſalvation to thoſe that are groſly Ignorant of the main principles of Chriſtianity, ſecret things belong to the Lord,Deut. 29.29. but the things that are revealed to us and to our Children. It is obſerved that this Latter clauſe in the Heb. is written with ſome extraordinarie pricks,Aynſw. in loc. which the Jewiſh wrirers obſerve to ſignifie, that extraordinary and neceſſarie care ſhould be taken about the knowledge of what is revealed, and that whether poor or rich, young or old, care ſhould be taken that the knowledge of revealed things ſhould abound among them, and be tranſmitted to poſteritie. They are revealed and do belong to us, and notice muſt be taken of them by us, Since God in the riches of merciemercy and his condeſcention to us hath not kept al things ſecret from us, and ſo all to himſelf as he might have done, but conſulting our good hath mercifully revealed things to us without which we could never be happie, and never but by this revelation have come to the knowledg of; we ſhould not ſo far neglect this vaſt priviledg as to be ignorant of what we may thus be Inſtructed in; They belong to us. Our priviledge and dutie is to know the things that are revealed, It is ſad that many of you know not what is within you, what ſin is, not how full you are of it, and what Chriſt came for; nor what Miniſters work is in the world, and it is impoſſible you ſhould ever do better if you never know more then you do. Levi did turn many from iniquity, how was that?Mal. 2.6.7. Why the Prieſts lips keep knowledge and they ſhould ſeeke knowledge at his mouth, for he is the meſſenger of the Lord of hoſts. Miniſters then turn men from ſin, when people ſeeke knowledge at their mouth, when men inquire of them for the knowledge of the Lord, and do deſire and are willing to be inſtructed by them, we have it in theſe parts in our hearts, and have propoſals of it, to indeavour your perſonall inſtruction, for the curing of your bloudie ſoul-killing ignorance, and one would think the ſtop ſhould not be in you, if we are willing to put our ſelves on the paines. If you intend ſalvation, You will heartilie embrace it for there is no other way to ſalvation. If a man ſhould have followed a trade, wherein he is gotten behind, and finds he cannot ſubſiſt, feeles himſelf broken and undone, and one comes and tells him, there is ſuch an emploiment men live finely on, there is much gain and little hazard, though ſome paines, and if he fell into that way, he might recover his ruins, he might ſupply his neceſſities, and live plenteouſly, would he not hearken to it? But then this would be an objection, I know not the myſterie of the trade, I was not an apprentice to it; and know not how to ſet about it, but if one ſhould tel him that there is ſuch a one would teach him all, inſtruct him in everie particular, ſure if the ſtick was not in the friend that ſhould doe the courteſie, it ſhould never ſtick at the partie that needs, but he would gladly imbrace the motion and without delay ſet upon the matter which ſo much concerns him. This is the caſe of many ignorant ſoules, it is eaſie for You to ſee, that in the way You are in You can never ſubſiſt, If you ſaw your own condition you might eaſilie be aware of it, that this life will never hold, this way will not ſerve the turn, The way of Sin will undo you, You can never be quiet while You drive this trade, every Sermon will fright you, (as wo to us,) if we ſpeak any comfort to him that goes on in his wicked way, be it knowne to You, it is againſt our will and beſides our commiſſion and intention, if You have any thing from us, in this ſtate You are in to miniſter comfort unto You. You might fear like a broken tradſeman every creature might arreſt You for Hell, You are in a ſad condition for death, that in theſe ſicklie times, may come within theſe 3. Or 4, daies. You can never be quiet as long as this life laſts that You live in. O that you might feele your ſelves utterlie broken of of the trade of ſin, that you would go on no longer in it. Well then there is a courſe will ſerve you, many live pretiouſlie of it, many thrive, (the only thriving trade, the only happie life in the world) and that is the way of holineſs, here is all the advantage, ſweetneſs, convenience in this way that is immaginable, none ever were ruined or brake of this trade that ever were perfect Maſters of it. There is ſuch a common ſtock to trade on that it is impoſſible for thee to fail or break in this. This way would helpe all your old ſcores, a Chriſt would ſupplie all neceſſities, and lay in bleſſedly for the time to come. But now may ſuch a poor creature ſay, I, but I was not born to this priviledge, not brought up to this courſe, I know not how to frame to it, It is a way I cannot skill of; I beleive thee. Thou knoweſt not the manner of the God of the land, 2 Kings. 17.(as the Lions made the Samaritanes feele they did not;) well now Miniſters are ſent on purpoſe to teach you, they are willing to do it, Offer to doe it, enquire of the Law at their mouth, they are the meſſengers of the Lord of Hoſts, for this very purpoſe. They ſay Come unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord: If any one ſhould be appointed on purpoſe, to teach all that were broken of other trades, the myſterie of the gainfulleſt trade in the towne, would it not be counted a great priviledge, and could that Officerwant either love or cuſtome? Surely This if you knew your need, was a thing to be greatly rejoiced in by You, and we ſhould be glad or be ſo imploied, and have cauſe to be glad of the Offer, all ſides would be pleaſed, If mens eies were but opened, ſure if things were rightly weighed the ſtick in perſonall Inſtruction would not be on the peoples ſide. But this is your firſt ſtep, for any of you that are not come yet unto it, you muſt labour for knowledg. The knowledge of principles muſt be had in rich and poor, of all ſorts, and Sexes, where ſalvation is expected.
2. Frequent the means diligently. Be diligent at them and in them. If you would doe well lie at the poole ſide ſtill, lie in the way Chriſt walks in, It is both a good ſigne and a good meanes of doing well. It is ſaid,Pro. 8.34. Jo. 20.24. when Chriſt came to his diſciples Thomas was not there when he came; and you find, Thomas that could not beleive unleſs he ſaw, he was now away when he might have ſeen, And ſo he was behind in his Faith, to the reſt of the Apoſtles and all was becauſe Thomas was away when Chriſt came. The way not to miſs of Chriſt when he comes, is not to be away at any time when he could have come. Hanna departed not from the Temple, and David deſired that he might dwell in the Houſe of the Lord, Lu. 2.37. Pſa. 27.4.not as if there were any Manſions in the Temple for any to live in, but it is only to ſigniſie their conſtancie in attendance on the meanes, they were never away when any good thing was ſtirring, when any thing was to be done in the Temple and ſo were as conſtant as if they had dwelt there. It is good to be one of the Temple dwellers, to be away from no opportunitie, that thou cannot excuſe it to God himſelf, for it may be thy part may be dealt when thou art away, the Angell may trouble the waters and thou not readie, ſomething that nearly concerns thee may be likeliſt to be ſpoken, when thou art away. Some think when a Miniſter may aime at the curing of a particular ſoul, or God may direct him to what may be ſutable thereunto, that the Devill may know by our notes, or otherwiſe, and prevent the mans coming to the meanes at that time, when this thing is diſcourſed of that was ſo fit for him. However, to make ſure, wait upon God at all opportunities; For this is the way thy healing muſt come, and none knows by what Sermon it muſt be done. Frequent all opportunities thou canſt poſſibly for faith, that is a good ſure way. Men ought not by the late Acts, to travell on the Sabboth day or do any thing like a breach of thoſe Laws unleſs their excuſe be ſuch as is to be allowed by a Juſtice of the peace; doe you have a care how you pretend any Excuſe for ſuch neglect, that will not be allowed by God himſelf the royall author of the Law and the ſearcher of all hearts. And ſo for opportunities on other daies, redeem time for them, approve thy heart to God that no neceſſitie but what he will allow be pretended or practiſed upon to neglect a Sermon at any time, when it might be heard, God may do the more Good at ſome one Sermon then all: but that may be the Sermon thou maieſt be tempted to paſſe by, and that good may not come by that one, but for thy diligent and conſcientious attendance upon all, The life of thy ſoule may be wrapt up in the due management of one, and thou knoweſt not which, opportunity.
3. When God touches you at a Sermon, if ever you do well you muſt get into ſecret. Take notice how the pulſe of conſcience beats, let not the word have ſcope upon you, ty it not juſt to the time of hearing, walke with it alone, and let it have further conference with you, let it have time to ſettle and ſoake in upon you, to water the very root of your ſoules, and not be like water ſpilt upon the ground, many are the highway hearers amongſt us, the word is but ſcatte-upon them, not received and kept at all by them. The Divell catcheth or taketh the word out of their hearts. For it was never in, it was but entring and is by this careleſneſs oft put by,Reverend Mr. Hilderſham. as one ſaies pretiouſly we give advantage to Satan to ſteale, as the looſe laying of our goods doth to our ſervants to become thieve. It is noted that the diſciples were never the ſtronger in their faith notwithſtanding the miracle and it is becauſe they had not conſidered it.Mar. 6.52. Many at Church are like ſives in the water as full as they can hold, and when out have juſt nothing, men would count it a great judgment and be ſenſible enough of it in their temporall eſtate to get much and to put it into a bottomleſs purſe, but with many it is thus in the matter of their ſoules buſineſſe, in hearing the word they have little abiding with them after Sermons and that for want of digeſting the word by ſecret meditation after hearing. Chriſt after ſome parables aſked his Diſciples If they underſtood all thoſe things, Mat 13.51your work begins when ours end, we have all the ſcene in publick, but yet it is in the nature of a Treatie and Parley with you; and you are in ſecret to thinke of and to return an anſwer to, what we propoſe to you. There is but one part of the work done here, the other part is to be done by you. And it is not for nothing that you have ſoe much time beſides what is ſpent on a Sabbath in publike, and if this other part of your worke be faithfully done there will be no time too much or to ſpare. Conſider what I have ſaid (ſaies Paul to Timothy) and the Lord give thee underſtanding in all things. 2 Tim. 2.7.This carnall worldly talke after Sermons ſpoiles all, a Miniſter may come after and ſay, where he heares no word of the Sermon mentioned, Alas here will be no anſwer for me, It will be a great while before ſuch talk as this is wil bring a Sermon to the heart, or that men ſhould ever profit by Sermons that do on this manner. The Miniſter ſpeaks in publick and then we break off, and now it is at you, what ſay you? Many complain of bad memories, (The truth is, it may be it is not without cauſe,) but yet if you cannot remember all, or ſo much as you would doe labour to take good notice of what did moſt touch you in a Sermon, let that word ſpeaks with you again, He ſitteth alone and keepeth ſilence, when the word drives you into a corner to conſider of things in ſecret, there is more hopes by farre concerning you. If the word once wound thee that it ſingles thee out from the heard, there is hopes thou mayeſt be hunted downe as Naomi ſaid of Boaz? Ruth. 3.18.The man will not be at reſt till he hath finiſhed the thing this day. But as long as you can heard together after a Sermon, the work will never forward with you: was ever happy match made without private conference to get acquaintance and to ſettle the affections; we liſten to hear the voice of the Bridgroom with you under the canopy,Dr. Hamonds notion on Jo. 3.29. this would make us rejoyce indeed. Alas Chriſtians we do not preach before you but to you. It is not for you after a Sermon to ſay, what we have ſaid, or done or how, but what you intend to doe, we preach not for approbation but for an Anſwer. What availeth it us to have you cry us up here and curſe us in Hell, you might find ſomething elſe to do after a Sermon more proper and immediate work for you, then to ſay what you think of the Miniſter. The woman thought ſhe had obliged Chriſt much by giving ſo large a teſtimony of his doctrine,Luke. 11.27.28. as to ſay: Bleſſed is the Womb that bare thee, and the Paps that gave thee ſuck. And ſhe ſaid no more then what was true and juſt for Chriſt, yet he returnes her an anſwer wherein he inſinuates what would better have becommed her to looke after, Bleſſed are they that hear the word of God and keepe it. The pooreſt Sermon that you can hear, hath more in it I doubt then you will doe, The Sermon that is not worth your writing, will be worth your accounting for. It is good if the word be repeated in your houſes, but it never workes till it ſingles you out and gets you into your cloſets. Make uſe therefore of this direction, obſerve wherein God ſtrikes you at a Sermon, and take good notice of it.
4. If one ſin be diſcovered, ſearch to the bottome of it. There is a neſt within whe e this is at the mouth, ſome one ſin is diſcovered to thee, which thou art checked for and convinced of, but it is not a matter of one ſin that thou art to deal in; If this was the word that was ſo bad, or this the action that was ſo unreaſonable, what is the heart within that bred and brought forth this word and action;Mat. 12 34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. There is worſe within all along. O what an heart haſt thou that would ſend forth ſuch an unclean filthy word; what an heart haſt thou that would let thee lye! What an heart haſt thou, that would let thee ſin thus quietly! live thus long without duties! let thee do on this faſhion and let thee ſleepe quietly at night after all; Paul when God opened his eies, he ſaw the Law was ſpirituall but he was carnall, Rom. 7.14ſold under ſin, a ſad thing when a man ſees this true of himſelf, (as it is ſaid in this ſcripture famous Mr. Dod firſt ſaw himſelf) this every ſin thou art convinced of may be driven up into,Mr. Cla…k in the life of Mr. Dod. & the work never goes on to purpoſe til it be ſo: alas no ſin lies ſingle an a carnal hart. This one thou ſeeſt, but it hath fellows, labour to find the reſt out.
By one ſin labour to find out the ſin and diſeaſe of nature, or thou wilt never be throughly cured.
5. Beg of God to humb le thee and to change thy heart, move now thou art doing, for a totall change. They that are in Chriſt muſt be new creatures, Old things are paſt away, 2. Cor. 5.17.all things are become new. Reſolve upon it, the Old heart will never do better the Old heart will not ſerve, thou canſt never get through to Heaven with the Old Heart: A man that will repair an Old ruinous houſe, he knows not what he enters on, he may be at more charges, and it neither handſome, nor. ſafe, but ſtill ſome peice out of Order, a meet patcht buſineſſe for a while. It were better to pull down the Old one, and build all new: never think to leave only, ſuch and ſuch a ſin; but beg of God to put another principle into your heart, and you will find your ſelf more eaſy for Duties and your ſtanding will be much more likely.Jer. 31.32 33 That promiſe of God giving a new heart and a new ſpirit, and, writing the Law in the Heart. Lay that upon thy heart, and beg of God to work it on thee or thou canſt never make any thing of it. God hath promiſed upon your turning at his reproofe,Prov. 1.23 to powre forth his ſpirit upon you. Move for that or you do nothing.
6. Make choice of good company, The very Heathen could ſay. How can he be a good man that doth not hate bad company? Pſa. 119.115David ſaies. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity. For I will keep the commandements of my God. I have work to doe which I cannot do in your company: Therefore depart from me.Acts. 9.26. Paul as ſoone as he was converted aſſayed to joine himſelfe to the people of God ſtill wherever he came.
Let thoſe that fear thee turn in unto me, Pſa. 119.79.63.and I am a companion of all thoſe that fear thee. This is the way to do well, good company if the motion be weak will ripen, nouriſh, and help it on. Bad company, if it be ſtrong are able to ſmother it. He muſt be a ſtrong Chriſtian indeed that looſes nothing in bad company. It was Chryſoſtomes ſaying, that bad company after a Sermon was like turning Savine into a Garden as ſoon as it was made, and Dr. Preſtons that ill company after a good Motion is like continuall dropping on a firebrand. Alas, filthie, frothie, worldly, wicked talke, (and wicked men have no better for us) corrupt the ſoul, and may make you the worſe for it a great while. (And woe to you by the way, when godly men cannot keep company with, you for fear of infection, cannot be with you but they loſe by you) if you would do well, join your ſelves to thoſe that fear God. Many never get over this temptation; ſtartled they are, but they know not now to forſake their Old companions; If they croſſed them, and they were faln out, they could avoid them: but it is hard to forſake any whom we are not wholly faln out with; and as hard it is to fall out with them for Gods ſake, or elſe you might ſoon be out with them, we can do that for a luſts ſake, which we know not how to do for Gods ſake. But make thou this ſtep further, thou wilt find much advantage from it, have no needleſs familiarity with them that are wicked: Intimate ſocietie with wicked men, is hardlie conſiſtent with the practiſe of Grace. Our Saviour tells us, we muſt hate Father, and Mother, and Brother, and Friends, for Chriſts ſake, Lu. 14.26.Therefore this ſhould not ſeeme ſtrange or grievous unto thee to forſake a wicked aſſociate, who is but Obtruded upon thee by the Devill on purpoſe to keep poſſeſſion for him and to be a ſnare to thee: good companie is both a mark and a meanes of thy being a good man, the man may be known by his companion both to himſelf and others, that is not known exactlie by any thing remarkable as from himſelf;Dignoſcitur ſocio qui non cognoſ cuur exſe. And ſo a man that ſhall pretend he loves not the Alehouſe, nor loves not drink, but company drawes him, to me it is as odious to love drunken company as to love drink, for what can he love ſuch company for! It is one luſt to love drink, another to love companie, That he loves to ſin by, theſe to ſin with, He ſatisfies his fleſhly appetite with that and his carnall fancy and delight with theſe. But if ſuch a man do not perfectly know his own ſtate, let him look on his company, and ſee if he know what they are, and then he may know himſelf. And therefore I would put theſe companions amongſt his marks, and ſigns to try his ſtate by, And ſay theſe drunken idle companions are the marks of the preſent damnable eſtate of this mans ſoul. For whatever wickedneſs there is in any of them, the lively habits of it are in his ſoul. He is of the ſame kind, it is likeneſſe that makes perſons love. There is a good likeing, or no diſliking of thoſe vileneſſes, the worſt amongſt them, or you could not out of choice affect their company. One may know your temper that ſuch as theſe can be endured by you, & upon the early motion of changing your courſe, you muſt change your company or it will not be: you can not keep your old company, and go on this way, nor lightly take better company and not be much furthered in it.
7. Fall upon the preſent work. The ſin you are convinced of, labour to begin in ſtriving againſt that very ſin,Eph. 4.26. and the duty you have neglected; now ſet about it. Put away lying, and let him that hath ſtoln ſteal no more, lie no more, ſwear no more, be idle no more, drink no more, neglect duty no more, you muſt begin with ſomewhat let it appear you are changed by forſaking theſe ſins at preſent that are next, and ſo forward every ſin that you meet with. Try the aſſiſtance which God will give you in oppoſing theſe ſins that are next at hand. Suffer not thy ſelf in any ſin thou meeteſt, becauſe thou haſt a greater to overcome, the ſpoyl of this may ſtrengthen thy Force againſt that Other, but be doing, gathering up Forces, clearing the coaſt as you goe, how low ſoever you take up at firſt be doing till greater buſineſſe comes. This may be but little but it may begin a great deal and ſo be a great thing: looſe not thy heart in expectation of ſome one adverſary, but try the next idle thought Or cuſtomary bad word, Or family duty, Or inſtructing thy Children, enter with the next thou meeteſt, And ſo
8. Delay not your reſolutions. This is the Devils laſt caſt, when he ſees he can carry it no other way, he will get you to delay your changing a while. But beware of this thing, the device is to get thee off the preſent heat that is on thy Soul, and then the matter would dy in thee; We are not ignorant of his devices, If thou art reſolved Make haſt and delay not to keep his Commandements, Pſa. 119, 59, 60Let the dead bury the dead, ſaies Chriſt but follow thou me. Before that ſhould hinder thy following Chriſt,Mat. 8.22. let the dead lie unburied till the dead could do it. Chriſt and the ſoul muſt be ſaved firſt. No buſineſs comparable to this buſineſs,Lu. 5 27. whatever it is, it muſt give place to this. Matthew as ſoone as Chriſt ſpoke to him, to follow him, He roſe and left all to follow him. Alas doe not think of repenting, and not of repenting now. Doe not ſay when ſuch an affliction is over, ſuch a wordly buſineſs diſpatched I will mend. No this is not the way ſet upon the duty in the firſt place, this is the way to have thy worldly buſineſs eaſilyeſt, and beſt expedited for thee. Doe not ſay thou art too young? thou may happen never live to be Old. A young man may have a ſhort life, and eternall damnation. And therefore looke about you, delay not,Pſa. …5.8 G…n. …2.3. To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Abraham got up early in the morning though it was to ſacrifice his deareſt and only Son, and is the day farr on before thou can be got forward to the altar with thy darling luſt doth ſpend thy time as the Levite did for the firſt days, ſpend the morning ſo long till it be too late to goe that night.Jud. 19.5. to 10. Thou muſt break through all delays: Better go early in the morning then late at night. May thy heart ſay to thee as was hinted to the Levite, Let the duty alone to night it is but a peice of a day, begin a week with it. Take up theſe things when thou mayeſt have a full time to conſider them. Alas beware of the deſign, there wil be as much to hinder to morrow as is to day, And therefore it is better to go late to night then late to morrow night, for ſtill the refreſhment in the morning muſt put it late if thou ſtayeſt till another morning. Thou muſt never think to embrace Chriſt, if thou wilt do it at ſuch a time when nothing elſe ſhall offer it ſelfe to be entertained beſide. Thou muſt break through ſome difficulties, make ſome other matters, ſtay to ſhew thy ſincere preferring Chriſt above all, delay it now, Thou ſhalt have as much in the way the next day, and thy heart leſſe diſpoſed to ſtand for it. The deſign is to looſe and put off the preſent heat, and then a ſmall occaſion will do well enough with thee, And therefore oh that while thou lingereſt as Lot did when he was to go out of Sodom, Gen. 19.6.the Angell of the Lord would lay his hand on thee (the Lord being merciful to thee) and lead thee out of this wretched condition before the fire and brimſtone be about thy ears.
I have now done with what I ſhall ſay at this time to the unconverted ſinner, I have ſaid what the Lord hath ſtored me with, both by way of motive and direction for the recovering of thee that yet there might be ſome hopes of thee. I ſhall ſay no more at preſent, thou haſt the ſame things now tranſmitted to thee that thou mayeſt look over them again and again, and conſider of them. It may be you and I may live to deal of this buſineſs again in other words to the ſame purpoſe, but ſalvation can be had upon no other terms but your converſion. And if after all that is ſaid nothing abide with thee, God knows where and how ſad Our laſt parting may be, But I muſt needs pray and hope that God wil ſave you from your Lot, (according to Pſ. 49.14 15.) as judging your impenitent ſtate an hopeleſs, a deſperate, and wretched eſtate. If your delights in the world hinder theſe ſerious thoughts of yours, and ſtrengthen your impenitency, I muſt needs pray as the Pſalmiſt,Pſa. 17.13. Deliver me, O Lord, from the men of this World who have a few vaniſhing ſmoaking trifles for their Portion in this life, and have a dreadful portion of Fire and wrath remaining for them in the life to come. We have thus done with the improvement of this poynt to the ungodly, in all the 3 heads forementioned.