Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 2 · Sermon 3

Three Decades of Sermons · Decade 2 · Sermon 3

p. 45Iudgement and Mercy.

Set forth from Gen. 6. 3.

HAving diſpatcht thoſe two Particulars, according to my Serm. 3. at St. Mary's Oxon, Jan. 19. 1651. Three Reaſons of the Doctrine. Reaſ. 1. From the Text, becauſe man is fleſh.method propounded in the unfolding of this Text: In the third place, I am to enquire into the Grounds and …eaſons for the further confirmation of the Point. Amongſt many that may be given, I ſhall reduce the Reaſons of the Text into three Heads.

The firſt ſhall be drawn from the very reaſon in the Text, for that he alſo is fleſh. Man is corrupted by reaſon of ſin. Man was created, statu integro, in integrity and innocency, reſembling the Image of God in righteouſneſs and holineſs; but now ſtatu corrupto, by reaſon of Adams prevarication, he became depraved in the faculties of his ſoul, and all the members of his body, and they are become inſtruments unto wickedneſs. The Holy Ghoſt ſets forth ſinful man in a full Character, Pſal. 14. 1, 2, 3. The fool hath ſaid in his heart, there is no God, they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men, to ſee whether there p. 46were any that did underſtand and ſeek God: They are all gone aſide, they are become altogether filthy, there is none that doth good, no not one. Suppoſe we heard the Lord thus expoſtulating the caſe: Is this man? Is this he that I advanced to the higheſt rank of viſible Creatures? whom I created after mine own Image, whom I endowed with noble faculties, an underſtanding, the bright luminary of the ſoul to know his Maker, and a will to obey him: Is he now become fleſh, fleſhly in his imagination, fleſhly minded? Doth he walk after the fleſh, minding the things of the fleſh? Hath he thus turn'd Apoſtate, & rebell'd againſt his Lord and Maker? This charge being all very true, wherefore ſhould I have any more to do with him? wherefore ſhould my Spirit ſtrive with vile ſinful fleſh? Thus God might plead, and in judgement withdraw the ſtrivings of his holy Spirit: Betwixt the ſpirit and the fleſh, what agreement can there be? The Spirit will not thus be unequally yoaked; ſince man is become thus fleſhly, thus depraved, ſuch a degenerate Plant, ſo corrupt, its juſt with Gods ſpirit to ſtrive no longer with man.

By fleſh, in Scripture, is comprehended a Maſs of corruption, Apoſtoli verba docent haec duo affectuum genera eſse oppoſita. Quae ut intelligamus, conſtitutū fit, affectum carnis nihil aliud eſſe, quam uſum virium humanaru… ſemotâ gratiâ. Affectus autem ſpiritus eſt impulſus divini afflatus, & uſus gratiae Chriſti. Pet. Mart. in Loc.man in his worſt eſtate, Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the fleſh, doe minde the things of the fleſh: What is predicated of it, v. 6, 7, 8, 9. To be carnally minded is death, becauſe the carnal minde is enmity againſt God: So then, they that are in the fleſh cannot pleaſe God. And what an Antitheſis is there between fleſh and ſpirit, v. 13. For if ye live after the fleſh, ye ſhall die; but if ye, through the ſpirit, do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall live. The ſame diſproportion there is, as between death and life, heaven and hell, ſalvation and damnation: That God ſtrives with any, is a great mercy, that the Spirit waits knocking at our doors, when as he might knock us down dead: O great mercy! But when the Spirit ſtrives, and fleſh reſiſts its motions; the Spirit ſpends his ſacred breath, wooing us, and inviting us to do good unto our own ſouls, and the carnal minde bids defiance unto the Spirit of grace, when notwithſtanding all the beſeechings, wooings, and ſollicitations of the Spirit, the fleſh rebels, carnal men will not hearken to the voice of this ſpiritual Charmer, though he charm never ſo wiſely; what then remains but utter ruine and deſtruction, but that the Spirit ſhould leave ſtriving, and fall a deſtroying rebellious ſinners, and carnal minded perſons? This is one reaſon, He alſo is fleſh; the ſpiritual p. 47part that is obliterated, he hath degenerated from his original, hee is become corrup…d, he alſo is fleſh.

Another reaſon may be, becauſe the Spirit is a moſt free agent. Reaſ. 2. Becauſe the Spirit is a moſt free Agent.This holy Spirit moveth when and where it pleaſeth. The Spirit of God is bound to none. The Spirit is not at our command and beck; yet vile man puts the Spirit of God to the condition of a ſlave: for ſo the Lord complains, Iſ. 42. 24. Thou haſt bought me no ſweet cane with mony, neither haſt thou filled me with the fat of thy ſacrifices, but thou haſt made me to ſerve with thy ſinnes; thou haſt wearied me with thine iniquities. It's more than the Spirit owes any of us to move once; he may move once, and may never move more; he may chuſe whether he will move at all: God now ſhootes warning-pieces; the Spirit woes you to come in and make your peace with God, to break off your ſins by Repentance, no longer to ſtand out in oppoſition unto Jeſus Chriſt, if you will not take warning, God may ſuddenly ſhoot his Murdering-pieces and deſtroy you. The Spirit cries, to day, to day, now is the accepted time, now is the foreign. 2 Cor. 6. 2.2 Cor 6:2day of ſalvation; if we accept not of this golden opportunitie, and now …e come not in and embrace this great ſalvation tendered, for ought we know the Spirit may be gone, and never make a further tender of grace unto us. Though the Spirit it ſelf is moſt free, and limits not, nor aſcribes to it ſelf when and where to work, but calls ſome ſooner, ſome later into the vineyard; yet the Spirit limits and preſcribes us a time of repentance: Again, he limiteth Heb. 4. 7.Heb 4:7a certain day, ſaying in David, To day, after ſo long a time, as it is ſaid, to day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. It's a common obſervation; He that hath promiſed time to the penitent, hath not promiſed a morrow for repentance: Wherefore wee are Qui poenitentibus promiſit veniam, diem non promiſit craſtinum. Gerr. Medit. Iſa. 55. 6. foreign. Antipat. Act. 24. 25.Isa 55:6Acts 24:25commanded, Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near: and Acts 17. 30. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men every where to repent. The Spirit now knocks by its motions, by the Word, by conviction of Conſcience, and invites you to come preſently to Jeſus Chriſt. When a Treatiſe of Happyneſſe was brought to Antipater, he anſwered, I am not at leiſure; a lamentable caſe not to be at leiſure to read a Treatiſe of Happyneſſe. Felix would hear Paul at a convenient time; we never read that he ſent for him any more. In proverbial ſpeeches we ſay, Strike whilſt the Iron is hot; When there is a fair gale hoyſt up thy ſayles; and delayes are dangerous. p. 48Shall we then neglect the preſent opportunity upon a preſumption of a future? Shall we preſume either of ſpace … grace, neither of them being in our power? God is not bound to give ſpace; he ſtruck Ʋzzah dead in the place for meddling with the Ark: It's ſaid, the 1 Chr. 13. 9.1 Chr 13:9Oxen ſtumbled: Ʋzzahs intention might be good, but a good intention cannot juſtifie a bad action: He invaded the Prieſts function; his work was to drive on the Oxen, not to touch the Ark. God ſtruck Ananias and Saphira dead for their hypocriſie: So often times God ſtrikes dead the Drunkard in his vomit, the Lyar, Swearer, Blaſphemer with the lye, oath, blaſphemy in each mans tongue. But ſuppoſe (which is uncertain) God gives thee ſpace, yet often times where he gives ſpace he denies grace, as it was ſaid of Jezabel, Rev. 2. 21. I gave her ſpace to repent of her fornication, but ſhe 2 Tim. 2. 25.2 Tim 2:25repented not. There is a peradventure put in, 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekneſſe inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure may give them repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth. My brethren, conſider in your moſt ſerious and compoſed thoughts, that we deal for life and immortality, and our negotiations are for the great things of Eternity: Shall we dally in ſuch weighty matters? Shall we procraſtinate our Repentance? And ſhall we ſtop our ears, bolt the doors of our hearts when the Spirit calls and knocks? In matters of worldly employments, what poſt-haſte, what expedition do men make? they fear delayes may much prejudice them: And ſhall we be thus wiſe for the world, and ſuch errand fooles for our ſoules? Shall we be penny-wiſe and pound-fooliſh? Shall we be ſo induſtrious to graſp the traſh and pelf of the world, and neglect our ſoules? Every ones ſoul being a precious jewel is more wo…th than the world in all its pomp and bravery. Let us lay hold on the golden ſeaſon of the preſent time, the time which the Spirit limits. If thou neglecteſt this day, for ought thou knoweſt, thou mayſt be in hell to morrow. Whilſt thou art dallying and delaying God may be a ſwearing in his wrath, that thou ſhalt never enter into his reſt.

The third reaſon, and the laſt, that I ſhall name ſhall be drawn Reaſ. 3. Drawn from the rule of divine Juſtice.from the rule of divine juſtice. It's moſt juſt when people neglect Gods limited time for God to allow them no more time, when people ſquander out Gods ſeaſons and miſpend their choice opportunities, it ſtands with juſtice to deny any further opportunity. When the ſeaſon is paſt, it is like an Arrow out of the Bow, like a p. 49ſwift ſtream, not to be called back. Theres a dreadfull judgement threatned, Prov: 1. 24. becauſe I have called and ye have refuſed, I have ſtretched out my hands, and no man regarded, therefore I will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear commeth. God uſually payes ſinners in their own coyn, and puniſheth them by way of retaliation; As appears in Adonibezeks confeſſion, who ſaid, Threeſcore and ten Kings having their thumbs and great toes cut off gathered Judg. 1. 7…Judg 1:7thered their meat under my table, as I have done ſo hath God requited me. God puniſheth number with number, according to the number of their cities ſo were their gods. Jer. 2. 28. Where are thy Gods which thou haſt made thee? let them ariſe if they can ſave thee in the time Jerem. 2. 28.Jer 2:28of thy trouble, for according to the number of thy cities, ſ… are thy gods, O Judah. And the Lord numbred them out to the ſword, and left them few in number. God puniſheth choice with cho…e; they choſe new gods, and the Lord in judgement left them to their choice, and in their extremities bade them goe to their gods, and ſee whether they would deliver them. The Lord puniſhed contrariety with contrariety; If ye will not be reformed by theſe things, Lev. 26. 23. 24.Lev 26:23Lev 26:24but will walk contrary unto me, then will I alſo walk contrary to you, and puniſh you yet ſeven times for your ſinns. And when we refuſe to hearken to him when he calls, he will refuſe to hearken to us in our greateſt extremities when we call upon him. It's a broken, but a very pathetical ſpeech of Chriſt to Jeruſalem, O that thou hadſt Luke 19. 4….Luke 19:4known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. There is a Critical day ſet down; there is a dreadfull judgement upon thoſe that brought not the Lords offering in its ſeaſon: The man that is clean, and is Numb. 9. 13.Num 9:13not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Paſſeover, even the ſame ſoul ſhall be cut off from his people, becauſe he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed ſeaſon, that man ſhall bear his ſinne. The old world gave no heed to Noahs Preaching, they neglected the time that God allowed them for repentance. No mo…e time was Matth. 25. 10 foreign.Matt 25:10allowed, when that was once expired, a deluge overwhelmed them. The five fooliſh Virgins ſl…mbred and ſlept, when they ſhould have been preparing of their lamps, they went to buy oyle, and in their abſence Chriſt came and perpetually ſhut them out. Eſau ſought Heb. 12. 17. …enedictionem illam exquiſiſſ…t. Beza.Heb 12:17the Bleſſing carefully with rears, yet hee was rejected, hee came when it was too late: How many miſchiefs befall men for neglecting their opportunities? All theſe conſiderations ſhould p. 50be as ſo many warning-pieces unto us, and as ſo many prevalent incentives to cheriſh the whiſpers of the Spirit, to take the benefit of the ſeaſon: Now whilſt the Lord bids us, ſeek his face, our hearts muſt eccho back, Thy face, Lord, we will ſeek. Let us hearken to the motions of the Spirit, and the checks of our conſcience, let us make much of the Spirit, let us take heed of quenching and grieving of the holy Spirit whereby we are ſealed unto the day of redemption. An Angel ſwears in the Revelations, There ſhal be no more time. How ſoon Revel. 10. 6. …Rev 10:6time may ceaſe, & the Spirit ceaſe working, we cannot tel, and time may be ſwallowed up in Eternity. And therefore take this Caution as a word ſpoken in due ſeaſon: Beware of ſadding the Spirit, drive him not away from you; for once having a repulſe, for ought you know, he may come no more.

And th… have diſpatch'd three Heads propounded of my Method: I have aſſerted the truth of the point from Scripture …e…timonies, plainly evidencing the greatneſſe of the Judgement when the Spirit of God departs from, and will ſtrive no longer with a people. I have ſhewed how many wayes the Spirit uſually ſtrives with a people, I have given in the reaſons for the confirmation of the point. In the next place it remains that I ſhould reduce al home unto point of Practiſe, by way of Uſe and particular Application.

This Doctrine affords ſix ſpecial Uſes: For Information, Exhortation, Reprehenſion, Examination, Direction, and Conſolation.

In the firſt place, this ſerves for Information; what a dreadfull Ʋſe 1. For Information.judgement lyes heavy upon any perſon whatſoever, with whom Gods Spirit will ſtrive no longer. Was it not an heavy judgement when Gods Spirit left Saul, and an evil ſpirit was ſent to torment him? Was it not an heavy caſe, and dreadfull, when the Philiſtines made war upon him, and the Lord was departed from him: And Samuel ſaid to Saul, why haſt thou diſquieted me to bring me up? 1 Sam. 28 151 Sam 28:15And Saul anſwered, I am ſore diſtreſſed, for the Philiſtines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and anſwereth me no more, neither by Prophets, nor by dreames, therefore I have called thee, &c. When Gods Spirit quite leaves a ſoul, then the evil ſpirit takes poſſeſſion of it. Satan entred into Judas his heart, and ſet him on work to betray Chriſt; and when conſcience gave him a bang, and made him throw down the mony, he felt Hell-fire flaſhing in him, and betook himſelf to a deſperate remedy, to be his own executioner. So I have read of Julian after he had departed from God, p. 51and turn'd Apoſtate, he had in his conſcience more blows and butcherings. Plures ictus & laniatus.At laſt, when a dart hit him, and gave him his fatal wound, no man knowing from whence that dart came (for it was a ſignal blow from heaven, and was indeed the immediate hand of God) at laſt he confeſt, Thou haſt overcome, O Galilean, thou haſt overcome.Viciſti, Galilaee, vicisti.

Now a little to ſet forth the greatneſſe of the judgement upon thoſe with whom Gods Spirit will ſtrive no longer, Ile repreſent it you in theſe enſuing aggravations.

When God takes away his Spirit, he uſually takes away his Ordinances. Whilſt the Palladium remain'd with the Trojans, they Aggrav. 1. When God takes away his Spirit, he uſually takes away his Ordinances.thought themſelves ſecure. The Jews put great confidence in the Ark, they fet the Ark, and went to battle with it againſt the Philiſtines, and afterwards cryed up, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord: Herein they were ſuperſtitious, they f…iled in putting too much confidence in the Temple: They were Idolaters, and followed Baal and Aſhtaroth, and thought the Ark would ſecure them. The Ark would no more ſhelter prophane, idolatrous people, than the horns of the Altar would ſecure and ſhelter a Murtherer: Yet queſtionleſſe the Ark of Gods preſence was a very great mercy and priviledge. The Ark was kept away twenty yeares, and they thought it long, and the Text ſaith, all the houſe of Iſrael lamented after the Lord. The ſad report of the loſſe of the Ark, brake Elies heart firſt, and he fell down backward and his neck brake: He heard 1 Sam. 7. 2.1 Sam 7:2of the death of his ſonnes, their death went near, but the loſſe of the Ark went nearer: and Phinehas his wife named the child I…habod, ſaying, the glory is departed from Iſrael, becauſe the Ark of God was taken. She fell in travel upon that ſad news, and dyed preſently. 1 Sam. 4. 18, 21, 22.1 Sam 4:181 Sam 4:211 Sam 4:22The taking away Miniſters, Ordinances, Sabbaths, are dreadfull judgements upon a people: This the Prophet Amos foretels of; Behold the daies come, ſaith the Lord, that I will ſend a famine in the Amos 8. 11.Amos 8:11land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirſt for water, but of hearing the word of the Lord. And Chriſt himſelf threarens, The kingdom of Matth. 21. 43.Matt 21:43God ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And theſe judgements God oftentimes inflicts upon thoſe that contemne his Ordinances, and often …imes cauſeth a people to know the worth of them, by the want of them.Aggrav. 2. God will not ſuffer his Spirit to wo…ke in the Ordinances.

Or ſecondly, if God continue his Ordinances, and a people ſtill reſiſt the ſtrivings of his Spirit; this is another aggravation, that the Lord wil not ſuffer his Spirit to work in the Ordinances. What's p. 52the Word without the Spirit but a dead letter? The Word is the ſeed, it is the Spirit that quickens it. Now when God denieth his Spirit in an Ordinance, and people hear onelyonly a bare ſound, which goeth in at one ear, and out of another, and reap no profit, and are never a whit wrought upon by an Ordinance, this is a lamentable condition. Enthuſiaſts cry up the Spirit, and cry down the Word. Formaliſts cry up the Word, they keep their Church well (that's their own phraſe) but they regard not the workings of the Spirit. This is Argumentum à bene conjunctis ad male diviſa. We have no warrant to leave the bright ſhining light of the Word, and to follow a wild rambling light of our own. The Spirit works by the Word, and tyes us to the rule. New deviſed lights may Levit. 10. 2,Lev 10:2meet with the ſame judgement as Nadab and Abihu met withall for offering ſtrange fire unto the Lord. Neither may we (as Formaliſts doe) reſt in our comming to, and hearing of Ordinances; we muſt examine the working of Gods Spirit upon our ſoules: When God gives quickning Ordinances, let us pray for the energetical effectual working of Gods Spirit. Deadneſſe of Spirit (ſaith Mr. Greenham) is the grave of ſpiritual graces. Between a lazy and a fervent performer of duties, you may ſee the difference, Greenham.2 Kings 4. 31, 32, 33, 34. Gehazi went on in a careleſſe formall manner, and layd his ſtaffe upon the child, but there was neither voice nor hearing: But when Eliſha put his eyes upon the childs eyes, and his mouth on the childs mouth, the fleſh of the child waxed warm. O beware of ſlighting, or reſiſ…ing the …pirit in an Ordinance, leſt in judgement God may give thee a bare Ordinance, or reſting contented with a bare outſide formall ſervice, without any lively workings of the Spirit upon thine heart, and that will be but as a carkaſſe when the ſoul is gone.

When people drive away Gods Spirit and will not regard its ſtrivings Aggrav. 3. God gives over thoſe that reſiſt his Spirit unto a ſpirit of deluſion.then God gives them over in judgement to a ſpirit of deluſion. 2 Theſ. 2. 11. For this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions that they ſhall believe a lye. VVhen Miniſtery, the Lords-day, and other Sabbath-Ordinances are trampled under feet, when the plain infallible rule of the Scriptures is laid aſide, when ſome flatter themſelves with high ſwelling conceits of their own gifts, upon pretence of a Light within them, Dreams and Revelations, then God in judgement gives them over to a ſpirit of deluſion. The Devil works upon their fancies, and puffs them up with pride, and p. 53their pride ſwels them and burſts them. Beware of Pride, and above all Pride of ſpiritual Pride. Beware of itching eares after novel Doctrines. Upon pretence of new truths many ſuck in antiquated, long ſince explo…ed …rrours. And if it be an errour (though I take it not ſo) yet account it an errour of love, I adviſe, eſpecially young beginners, to beware of Scepticiſm, & high-ſlown curioſities in the ſtudy of divinity. It's a ground of experience, Scepticiſm Rom. 14. 1. Quod ſi obſervaſſent Scholaſtici non tot… ſpinoſas & ſalebroſas ne dicā impi…s & ſacrilegas quaeſtiones in eorn̄ libris habere. mus. P. Mart. Aggrav. 4. God gives thoſe over to a hard heart, who reſiſt the motions of the Spirit.Rom 14:1frequently produceth Hereſie, & …ere…e terminatesin Atheiſme, and my counſel is grounded upon the known rule; Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not in doubtfull diſputat…ons. Would Schoolmen (ſaith Pet. Martyr) had obſerved this Scripture. Study Fundamentals, & get a Body of Divinity in your heads and hearts, before you venture upon Polemicals. Be well provided and furniſhed with weapons from the Principles of Divinity, before you grapple with gain-ſayers.

A fourth and laſt aggravation I ſhall mention is this; when Gods Spirit hath ſtroven long, knockt and waited, and is abuſed and reſiſted, then God gives over ſuch perſons to an hard heart, and a reprobate mind: And an hard heart and a reprobate mind is an hell upon earth. Iſa. 6. 9, 10. Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but underſtand not, and ſee ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and ſhut their eyes, leſt they ſee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and underſtand with their hearts, and convert and be healed. It's cited by all the four Evangeliſts, and in the Acts of the Apoſtles, and the Epiſtle to the Romans, by ſuch frequent repetition of the ſelf-ſame thing, aggravating the greatneſſe of the judgement. It's accounted the grand curſe of the Goſpel, Joh. 9. 39. For judgement am I come into this John 9. 39.John 9:39world, that they which ſee not might ſee, and that they which ſee might be made blind. When men have been a long time under the ſound of the Goſpel, and the Spirit hath moved and woed, beſeeching us to amend our lives, and walk in an holy obedience and conformity to the will of God; and yet we ſtand out, and bid defiance to the Spirit of Grace, then it is juſt for God to ſay, hard heart, ſeize upon ſuch a one, reprobate ſenſe, take hold of another, let them be Sermon-proof, and Judgement-proof, let them remain inſenſible, let their conſciences be cauterized. O wha… a fearfull judgement is this, as the Apoſtle mentions! But after thy hardneſſe Ro…. 2. 5.and impenitent heart treaſureſt up unto thy ſelf wrath againſt the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. May theſe aggravations make deep impreſſions upon all our ſpirits, and make us fear and tremble any more to withſtand the ſweet motions and whiſpers of the Spirit of God.

A ſecond uſe is for Exhortation: I entreat, beſeech, exhort, conjure Ʋſe 2. For Exhortation.you by all the motions of the Spirit, by all the tenders of mercies, patience, and long-ſuffering of God, that you would take heed of quenching, reſiſting, ſadding the holy Spirit of God, but cheriſh, embrace, make much of all the ſtrivings of the Spirit of God with your ſoules. To day the Spirit calls, hear his voice; to day the Spirit woes and would make a contract with your ſoules, O now accept of him; to day the Spirit invites, lay aſide all excuſes and come. It's the Embaſſie that Gods Miniſters are ſent upon: Now then we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech 2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20you by us, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead be ye reconciled to God. O…r commiſſion may be out of date to morrow: Chriſt now waites till his locks be wet with dew, now he calls ſinners to repentance. He hath ſent me on an errand this day to invite thirſty ſoules to come unto him, and he will give them drink; to invite thoſe that are heavy laden, and he will give them reſt. It's my buſineſſe this day to tender Jeſus Chriſt, the Fountain opened; to preſſe home the Exhortation of the Holy Ghoſt, Let the wicked forſake his way, and Iſa. 55. 7.Isa 55:7the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. Now what anſwer ſhall I return unto him that ſent me? Suffer I beſeech you (Fathers and Brethren) the word of exhortation, not to ſuffer the holy Spirit to ſpend his ſacred breath in vain: You have many prizes put into your hands, improve them in your ſeveral capacities to the glory of God, and mutual edification one of another. Let Rulers rule with diligence, let Governours, Tutours, Maſters of Families, all unite their endeavours to promote the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, and put Joſhua's reſolution into practiſe, but as for me, I and my houſe we will ſerve the Lord. O that Joſh. 24. 15.Josh 24:15we could be ſpirituall Fathers to thoſe that are committed to our charge. Governours and Tutours ſhould look upon themſelves as Pro-parents, and upon the Scholars under them as children, and therefore ought to have ſpecial care over them, and principally to enquire how it fares with their ſoules, what knowledge they have of Jeſus Chriſt: What a comfort will it be another day when we can ſay, Behold, Lord, here we are, and the children which thou haſt given p. 55us. Thou …ord haſt made us ſpiritual Fathers unto theſe young Pupiſs. Now whilſt the Spirit ſtayes waiting upon us, whilſt we have time, talents, and opportunities vouchſafed unto us, whileſt we live under the ſound of the Goſpel, and hear admonitions, reproofs, and many Exhortations to repentance; let us not put off the Spirit with any more delatory anſwers, but reſolve with the full purpoſe of our hearts to cleave unto the Lord.

I have two or three plain moving conſiderations to adde, for the better ſetting home of my Exhortation.

Conſider the brevity of our lives: What's our life but a bubble, Conſid. 1. The brevity of our lives. John▪ 4.John 4a flower, a vapor, a ſhadow? By theſe reſemblances, the Holy Ghoſt ſets forth the ſhortneſs of our lives: We had need be a working while day laſteth: I muſt work the works of him that ſent me, while day laſteth; the night cometh, when no man can work: A night of death is coming, wherein no man can work, and we muſt always remember, that the Spirit ſtrives not always, not during the whole courſe of our lives: It moves when it pleaſeth, and on a ſuddain ceaſeth; yet at the moſt it moveth no longer, nor ſtriveth no longer, but this little moment of time, whilſt we are on this ſide the grave. After death there will be no more warnings, no more admonitions, no place left for repentance, no Purgatory, that's a Popiſh dream: He that dieth filthy, will ſo remain unto all Eternity. Now then, my Brethren, conſidering you have but a little time, and upon this moment depends Eternity, and after death there will be no further tenders of Grace and Mercy, let us husband this time to the beſt advantage: Let us prize Sermons, Sabbaths, and all thoſe Evangelical Diſpenſations vouchſafed to us, more then ever we did: Let us redeem the time, as we are exhorted, Eph. 5. 16. foreign.Eph 5:16Eph. 5. 16. buying out, or making a good market of the ſeaſon. Every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon; there's a ſeaſon acceptable, and there's a ſeaſon perilous: Let's come when God calls, that's the accepted time; let's not preſcribe a time of our own, that's the perillous ſeaſon; let's not account time a ſlight matter, for each minute ought to be valued.

A ſecond conſideration ſhal be drawn from the uncertainty of the Conſid. 2. The uncertainty of the ſpirits ſtriving. Nil pretioſius tempore, & heu nil hodie vilius invenitur. Bern. Veniet tempus quo vel unam horam ad reſi…iſcendum redimere, mirum quantum optabimus. Otho Caſmannus.ſpirits ſtrivings: If the holy Spirit be rejected, its uncertain whether ever he will come again: The Spirit will not always bear reproaches & indignities: If we refuſe to give God the glory of his mercy, he p. 56will ſhew upon us the glory of his Juſtice and Power: If we will not open when God knocks at our doors, he will not open when we knock at his door: Unkindneſs will drive away a friend from our houſes: When the Spirit invites himſelf unto us, if we will open, he will come and dine, and ſup with us; if we refuſe this Heavenly gueſt, how ſhall we eſcape? our deſtruction will be inevitable. This Spirit is often compared to fire, nothing more comforting, nothing more conſuming than fire: If thou wilt not ſuffer the Spirit to purge and refine thee, it will conſume thee: Nothing more comfortable then light, warmth, and witneſs of the Spirit: Nothing more terrible then the bondage, conviction and condemnation of the Spirit: Therefore beware of reſiſting any good motions that the Spirit of God puts into thy heart this day, leſt if the ſpirit have a repulſe, he may go away and never return any more.

3. Thirdly, Conſider the certainty of the day of Judgement, 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we muſt all appear before the judgement ſeat of Conſid. 3. The day of Iudgement.Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad: Then there will be an account to be given for all the Sermons which we have heard, for all the Sabbaths we have enjoyed, for all the motions of the Spirit, for all the admonitions, reproofs, Goſpel opportunities and advantages that we have received; we ſhould therefore hear a Sermon now, as for ought we know, we may be preſently ſummon'd by death to appear before the Judgement-ſeat of Jeſus Chriſt: Let us imagine that now we hear this day, as if it might be our laſt day: We hear for Eternity: Preachers and Hearers ſhall be called to an account at the great Aſſiſe: The Lord grant that we may all give up our accounts with joy.

The third Uſe ſhall be for reprehenſion of thoſe who reſiſt or Uſe. 3. For reprehenſion.ſtifle the ſtrivings and the ſweet motions of the holy Spirit: To come to particulars.

1. How ſad is their condition, who are contemners of the ſweet motions of Gods Spirit: Let them read Rom. 8. 9. If any man hath not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his: Such as quench the Spirit, which is forbidden 1 Theſſ. 5. 19. ſuch as deride praying by the ſpirit, ſuch as ſlight and ſcorn men of the ſpirit; I mean ſuch as are of a pretious annointing, in whom the Spirit of Chriſt dwells: O how ſad will their Audit be!

p. 572. It reproves barren and unprofitable hearers, who notwithſtanding all the ſtrivings, wooings and waitings of Gods Spirit by the Miniſtry of the Word, yet remain barren and unfruitful: The Apoſtle tells their doom, The earth that drinketh in the rain, that Heb. 6. 7, 8.Heb 6:7Heb 6:8cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dreſſed, receiveth a bleſſing from God; but that which beareth thorns and bryars is rejected, and is nigh unto curſing, whoſe end is to be burned: When Chriſt found nothing on the Fig-tree but leaves, he ſaid unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever; and Matth. 21. 19 Luke 13. 7.Matt 21:19Luke 13:7preſently the Fig-tree withered away: And the Vine-dreſſer ſaid, Behold, theſe three years I come, ſeeking fruit on this fig-tree, and finde none, cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground?

3. It reproves ſecure perſons ſetled on their. Lees: Let Gods Spirit ſtrive never ſo often, it is all in vain: They think all is well with them, they conceive their Eſtates very good: Multitudes now adays are poſſeſt with a ſpirit of ſlumber and drouſineſs, and this is a dreadful ſin, and a judgement both, Rom. 11. 8. God hath given them a ſpirit of ſlumber, eyes that they ſhould not ſee, and ears that they ſhould not hear to this day: Is not he a deſperate fool that dares ſleep upon the top of a Maſt? Is not he much more, that notwithſtanding judgements threatned in Gods Word againſt rebellious ſinners, yet is ſecure, heedleſs, and ſatisfied in his preſent condition? This is that carnal ſecurity mentioned, which is under ſuch terrible woe, Deut. 29. 19, 20. It ſhall come to paſs, when he heareth the words of this curſe, that he bleſs himſelf in his heart, ſaying, I ſhall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkenneſs to thirſt, the Lord will not ſpare him; but then the anger of the Lord, and his jealouſie ſhall ſmoak againſt that man, and all the curſes that are written in this book ſhall lie upon him, and the Lord ſhall blot out his name from under heaven.

4. And laſtly, This reproves all impenitent perſons, who notwithſtanding all the Sermons they hear, notwithſtanding all the reproofs, admonitions, wooings, knockings of Gods ſpirit, yet remain impenitent: Impenitency is that great ſoul-damning ſin. Chriſt tells us, Rev. 3. 20. Behold, I ſtand at the door and knock, Rev. 3. 20. Ezek. 18. 31.Rev 3:20Ezek 18:31if any man open to me, I will come in and ſup with him: And the exhortation of the Prophet runs, Caſt away from you all your tranſgreſsions, for I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dieth, wherefore turn your ſelves and live: So God expoſtulates the caſe with p. 58them: Though by our own ſtrength we cannot ſtand, not by our own powe… will any good thing; yet we may doe much more good then we do: Can not the ſame legs carry a man to the Church, which carry him to an Ale-houſe o… Tavern? Its want of a good heart and love to the Ordinances of God, that make men ſo negligent of the good of their ſouls: Who forceth thee to ſwear? thou ſaiſt thou can… not leave it, cuſtom is become another nature: Is it not thine own corrupt heart that cauſeth corrupt communications? The Devil cannot compel to ſin, he perſwades and enticeth, neither doth God tempt any man, Jam. 1. 13, 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luſt, and enticed, then Jam. 1. 13, 14, 15.Jas 1:13Jas 1:14Jas 1:15when luſt hath conceived it bringeth forth ſin, and ſin when it is finiſhed bringeth forth death: Tremble and ſtand amazed, thou impenitent perſon that reſiſte… ſo many ſtrivings of Gods Spirit, ſo many checks of conſcience, ſo many warnings from the word: O that thy heart might be touched with remorſe and repentance for thine impenitency! yet thou liveſt under the ſound of the Goſpel, who knoweth but the ſpirit may this day once more move, woe, and beſeech thee to be reconciled? O do not refuſe! O do not ſlight theſe invitations! A City beſieged (as we read) Deut. 20. 11, 12. If it make thee anſwer of peace, and open unto thee, thea the people that are found therein ſhall become tributary unto thee; but if it will make no peace with thee, then thou ſhalt beſiege it, and ſmlte every male with the edge of the ſword. Juſt ſo now the Lord beſiegeth thy heart, offers thee peace, intreats thee to repent of thy Oathes, Sabbath-breakings, contempt of the Goſpel, Drunkenneſs, Uncleanneſs: If thou wilt not receive ſuch a gracious offer of peace, to thy peril be it, thou art the murtherer of thine own ſoul.

4. I proceed to a fourth Uſe, which is for examination: Three Ʋſe 4. For Examination.Q. 1 Quaeries by way of tryal, I ſhall propoſe and anſwer.

Q. 1. How may we diſtinguiſh of the ſtrivings of Gods ſpirit from a ſpirit of error and deluſion?

I anſwer in this wiſe.

1. Gods Spirit ſtrives by the Miniſtry of the word, and directs A. 1 1. Gods ſpirit ſtrives by the Miniſtry of the word.us according to that rule, Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God: But a ſpirit of deluſion deviſeth ways of its own, and is wiſe above what is written, whereunto a curſe appertains, Gal. 1. 8. p. 59Though we, or an Angel from heaven, preach a…other Goſpel then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurſed.

2. Gods Spirit leads into all truth: It is a ſ…irit of truth: But 2. Gods ſpirit leads into all truth.the ſpirit of deluſion leads us into all errors: God will ſend ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhall believe a lie, 2 Theſſ. 2. 11.

3. Gods Spirit makes us humble, meek, gentle: A ſpirit of deluſion 3. Gods ſpirit makes us… humble and meek.makes us to ſwell with pride and pride and paſſions: Gods Spirit meekens our ſpirit: An Antichriſtian deluded ſpirit makes us boyſtero…s, ino…dinate in our affections.

But ſecondly, The Quaery will be, How we may distinguiſh the Q. 2 ſtrivings of Gods Spirit, from the ſtrivings of our own ſpirits or natural conſcience?

I anſwer thus. 1. A natural conſcience acts from a principle of A. 1 A natural conſcience acts from a principle of fear.fear, of puniſhment, and upon legal convictions; hence come many torturings and ſtrivings in natural mens conſciences, as in Ahab, &c. Herod feared John Baptiſt: But Gods Spirit ſtrives and moves the ſoul to act from a principle of love to Jeſus Chriſt; when the love of Chriſt conſtrains to duty, that is genuine altogether.

2. The ſtriving of a m…ns own ſpirit, and a natural conſcience, 2. The ſtrivings of a mans own ſpirit, are pacified with natural means.are pacified with natural means, eating, drinking, ſleeping, idle company, vain pleaſures quiet meer natural convictions: But where Gods Spirit ſtrives, the ſoul cannot be quieted but by ſupernatural means; the in omes of God, the raviſhing conſolations of the holy Ghoſt, a white Stone, a pardon ſealed; no mirth, ſports, company, can ſatisfie a wounded conſcience, onelyonly one remedy is reſerved for a perfect cure, and that's the Medicine made up of the Blood of Chriſt.

3. The ſtrivings of a mans own ſpirit are flaſhy, ſuddain, and ſoon gone when the judgement ceaſeth: As ſoon as the judgement 3. The ſtrivi…gs of a mans own Spirit are flaſhy and ſuddain.is removed, the ſtrivings ceaſe; but when Gods Spirit ſtrives, it is ſolid and ſerious: If the Jvdgement be removed, and the ſ…n unpardoned, there can be no quiet: If the Judgement be over, Pharaoh is quiet; but no quiet in Davids ſpirit, till the ſin be removed.

Q. 3. A third Quaery is, How may we know whether Gods Spirit Q. 3 A. hath effectually ſtroven and prevailed with us.

1. When we hearken to the call of Gods Spirit, Pſal. 27. 8. Thou 1. Wh… we anſwe… the call of God… ſpirit.ſaidſt, ſeek my face, my heart ſaid unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I ſeek.

p. 602. When we have the teſtimonie of Gods Spirit, as Rom. 8. 16. The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our ſpirits that we are the 2. When we have the ſpirits teſtimony.children of God.

3, When we have the ſealing of the Spirit, Eph. 1. 13. In 3. When the ſpirit ſeals.whom, after ye believed, ye were ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe.

4. When we have the earneſt of the Spirit, Eph. 1. 14.4. When we have the earneſt of the Spirit. 5. When we have the ſpirits anointing. 6. When we have the fruits of the Spirit. Uſe 5. For direction. 1. Pray for the Spirit. 2. Set a high price on the Spirit. 3. Cheriſh the motions of the Spirit. 4. Obſerve the call and knocking of the Spirit.

5, When we have the anointings of the Spirit, 1 John 2. 20. Ye have an Unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

6. When we have the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22, 23, 24. Love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſs, goodneſs, faith, meekneſs, temperance.

The fifth Uſe is for direction.

1. Pray for the Spirit to ſanctifie and cleanſe thee: No work of ſanctification but by the ſpirit.

2. Set an high price of, and be a diligent attendant of Gods word: The Spirit uſually works by the Word: The Spirit and Word agree together.

3. Cheriſh the ſweet motions of Gods Spirit, make much of every holy motion and inſpiration: O do not grieve nor ſad! O do not quench the Spirit of God, but account Gods long-ſuffering your ſalvation! God waits, and is patient: O do not provoke, do not abuſe his patience!

4. Obſerve all the calls, knockings and invitations of Gods Spirit: The Lord calls by his word, by checks of conſcience, by mercies and by judgements, do not then bolt the doors of your hearts, nor ſtand out againſt all the warnings, threatnings and promiſes; all theſe are upon record, Heb. 2. 3. How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation.

Laſtly, Here's one word of comfort unto all thoſe who make Uſe. 6. For comfort.much of the ſtrivings of Gods Spirit: Theſe ſhall be filled with the conſolations of the Spirit: The Spirit will comfort, ſupport, help them: In Prayer, The Spirit helpeth their infirmities, Rom. 8. 26. The Spirit purgeth and puriſieth them: The Spirit of God is their Counſellor in doubts, their Comforter in all diſtreſſes; and the Spirit will guide them by his counſel till he bring them unto glory.Doct. 2. Its a… exceeding great mercy, &c.

I now proceed in a few words to the ſecond Doctrine: That it is an exceeding great mercy when the Lord vouchſafes unto any p. 61perſon time and ſpace for repentance: Here the Lord alloweth to the old World 120 years, ſo long it was that the Spirit of God ſtrove with the old World. We read in Gen. 18. 24, 25. the Lord ſtaid communing with Abraham; making abatements from 50 to 45, from 45 to 40, from 40 to 30, from 30 to 20, from 20 to 10: Was it not a great mercy for the Lord to bear ſo long with the Amorites? They had a long time of forbearance: Thus did the Lord deal with Niniveh, Jonah 3. 4. Yet forty days, and Niniveh ſhall be overthrown: So the Lord waited long on the Iſraelites, Pſal. 95. 8. Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderneſs: So Jeruſalem, Luke 19. 42, 44. If thou hadſt known, even thou at leaſt in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes: The five fooliſh Virgins had a time allowed; both wiſe and fooliſh ſlept and ſlumbred, but the fooliſh wanted oyl, and loſt the accepted ſeaſon: Jezabel had time alloted her, Rev. 2. 21. I gave her ſpace to repent of her fornication, but ſhe repented not.

The Reaſons are. 1. To glorifie the riches of Gods mercy: Mercy Reaſ. 1. To glorifie the riches of Gods mercy.waits upon us, wooing and alluring us to repentance: The Lord invites, Iſa. 55. 1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, let him come, &c. He calls ſinners to repentance: He entreateth by his Ambaſſadors, 2 Cor. 5. 20. He waits to be gracious, Rev. 3. 20.

2. To glorifie the Juſtice of God, and to leave a people without R. 2. To glorifie Gods juſtice,excuſe: When mercy, patience, goodneſs, graciouſneſs, long-ſuffering, are all abuſed, what remains but deſtruction, never fruit grow on thee more, Cut it down, I will take this kingdom from you, I will ſend you a famine of the word: Theſe are terrible threatnings.

3. The Lord oftentimes is pleaſed to ſpare a people longer at the R. 3. God ſpares a people at the requeſt of his ſervants.requeſt of his ſervants, Luke 13. 8. The Vine-dreſſer prayed, Let it alone yet longer, till I dig about it and dung it: Gods Miniſters pray hard, and tug hard at the oar, they cry night and day, Lord, ſpare, try this people a little longer, exerciſe a little more patience towards them; let thy Word work upon them, they live under the ſound of it, let it effectually prevail with them.

The Uſes are, 1. For admiration: O admire the infinite mercies of God, who doth thus bear with ſinners! notwithſtanding Uſe 1. For admiration.their provocations, yet he tryes, waits, and allows them a great p. 62deal of ſpace, when as in Juſtice he might cut ſinners aſſunder in the midſt of their ſins.

This breathes terrors unto all preſumptuous ſinners, who preſume Ʋſe 2. For terror.of ſpace and grace, neither of which is in their own power: To ſome God gives ſpace, others he deſtroys preſently, in the midſt of their rebellions: But admit he gives ſpace, though he is not bound unto that; yet he denys grace to many to whom he vouchſafes ſpace, as unto Jezabel; and we read of a peradventure 2 Timothy 2. 25. In meekneſſe inſtructing thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if peradventure God may give them repentance. This Doctrine ſpeaks terror unto all them that procraſtinate repentance: Ile lay down theſe convictions.

It argues exceeding great folly and madneſs: Do we not ſee how Convict. 1. Its great folly to put off repentance.many are cropt off in their buds? how many are cut off in their ſins? we are wiſer for the World: In gainful bargains we make haſte, ſaying, Do not delay for fear of danger; and yet we are ſtark fools for our ſouls.

2. It argues a great contempt, an high affront and indignity againſt Convict. 2. It argues great contempt.God, Mal. 1. 8. If ye offer the blinde for ſacrifice, is it not evil? &c. offer it unto your governor, will he be pleaſed with thee?

3. It argues high preſumption, to preſume of patience, mercy, Convict. 3. It argues high preſumption.and long-ſuffering, when as we abuſe them all, Rom. 2. 4, 5. Deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, forbearance, and long-ſ…ffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of the Lord leadeth thee to repentance: A ter…ible curſe will follow, if we neglect Gods time when he calls, when we call he will neglect our time, Prov. 1. 24, 25. Becauſe I have called, and ye have refuſed, &c. therefore ye ſhall call, but I will not anſwer.

The third uſe is for Exhortation, to lay hold upon the preſent Uſe 3. For Exhortati…n.tenders of Grace, and make the beſt of this opportunity: Defer not thy repentance a moment longer; lay aſide all excuſes: …ne pleads for his Oxen, another for his Form, another for his Merch…ndiſe: All theſe are unfit gueſts for Chriſt: Now therefore come into Chriſt. Is it not a great mercy that thou art yet alive, on this ſide Hell and the Grave? Now then cloſe with God, ſet an high price of Gods mercies, and let the riches of his mercy lead thee to repentance.

Conſider, 1. Now is the Spirits ſtriving time.

p. 632. Now is the limitted time, Heb. 4. 7. To day if you will hear 2his voice, &c.

3. Now is the accepted time, thy ſoul-ſaving time, 2 Cor. 6. 2.

4. Now once paſt cannot be recalled: I therefore now beſeech you by the mercies of God, by all the Sermons and Invitations of Chriſt, to make your peace with God, to embrace the mercies tendered, to break off your ſins by repentance, and to regard the ſtrivings and wooings of the Spirit of God.

The fourth uſe is fo… caution. 1. Beware of preſuming of future Uſe 4. For caution. 1. Beware of preſuming of Grace.offers of Grace, James 4. 13, 14. Go to now, ye that ſay, To day or to morrow we will go into ſuch a City, and continue there a year, and buy and ſell, whereas ye know not what ſhall be on the morow. The fool in the Goſpel was cut off in the midſt of his preſumption, Thou fool, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required of thee: Eſau miſt his Luke 12. 20Luke 12:20ſeaſon: The five fooliſh Virgins miſt their ſeaſons: The old world preſumed of life, never thinking of a Deluge; but when the Flood came, How did they wander? ſome got upon Houſe-tops, ſome upon high Mountains, ſome would, queſtionleſs, have been entertained in the Ark, but the day of Grace was expired, the commiſſion of Preaching of Repentance, was but for 120 years, that's paſt, and a Flood over-whelmed them all. O my dear Brethren! be perſwaded to lay hold on the preſent ſeaſon of Grace, leſt ruine overtake you whilſt you procraſtinate.

2. …eware of ſadding the Spirit of God, and reſiſting the ſweet motions thereof, Eph. 4. 30. The Spirit invites, calls, woos, intreats 2. Beware of ſadding the ſpirit of Godthee to be re…onciled and make thy peace with God: Thou heareſt a voice behinde thee, ſaying, This is the way, walk therein: Hearken to the voice of this ſpiritual Charmer, which charmeth ſo wiſely.

3. Beware of low and mean thoughts of the Ordinances of God, 3 Beware of low …houghts of Ordinances.Heb. 2. 3. The Iſraelites ſlighted Mannah, but they paid dear for it: Gods Spirit ſtrives by the Word, by Prayer, by the Sacraments: Take heed of undervaluing all theſe ways of ſtriving: Sometimes God ſtrives by an affliction, for that's Gods Ordinance likewiſe, and calls upon thee to learn inſtruction, to ſmite upon thy thigh.

4. Beware of neglecting obſervations of particular experiences: 4. Beware of neglecting obſervations, &c.Sometimes God ſtrives with thee in a way of mercy by tenders of Chriſt, ſometimes by threatnings; neglect not theſe ſtrivings, p. 64but make a review of them, obſerve Gods dealings with thy ſoul, how the Lord woos, invites, and waits on thee, how ſometimes thy heart hath been opened, like Lydia's, to cloſe with God; ſometimes thou art quick, other times dull; ſometimes thou haſt hold of Chriſt, other times thou wanteſt his preſence: This is the lot of Gods people, ſometimes they are in an ebb, ſome…imes in a float; ſometimes their Faith is ſtrong, other times they know not whether they have any at all or no: This was David's caſe, and thou muſt apply Davids remedy: Why ar… thou caſt down, O my Pſal. 4. 2. v. ult.Ps 4:2ſoul, and why art thou diſquieted within me, ſtill truſt in God: Beware of truſting to thine own reſolutions: O ſay ſome, I reſolve hereafter to repent and cloſe with God. This is that which ruines multitudes, becauſe they preſume in their own ſtrength: What are our reſolutions, but as the early dew which ſoon paſſeth away? What are the beſt of men, if God leaves them unto themſelves? we muſt therefore take heed of ſacrificing to our own nets and drags, truſting to our own ſtrength; but come off from all thoſe, and act in the ſtrength of God: We can do nothing without him, but all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens us: Samſon ſaid, He would go out and ſhake himſelf, as at other times; And he wiſt not Judg. 16. 20.Judg 16:20that the Lord was departed from him.5. Beware of pride and ſtoutneſs of heart.

Laſtly, Beware of pride and ſtoutneſs of heart, trying concluſions with God, and reaſoning and counter-ſtriving againſt God: The proud men would not believe the Prophet, ſaying, Thou ſpeakeſt falſly, the Lord our God hath not ſent thee to ſay, Go not into Aegypt to ſojourn there, Jer. 43. 2.Uſe 5. For admonition.

The fifth Uſe ſhall be for admonition: O that we could account the long-ſuffering of God our ſalvation! And O that the goodneſs of God, and the riches of his mercy, might lead us to repentance! In few words be admoniſhed:

1. Take the benefit of the ſeaſon, To day: Repent ſpeedily, 1. Repent ſpeedily. 2. Repent ſeriouſly.Iſa. 55. 6. Heb. 4. 7.

2. Repent ſeriouſly and Evangelically, make not a ſlight matter of ſo great a work, neither reſt ſatisfied in a legal repentance, extorted from the fear of Hell, and the wrath of an angry God; but let it be done Evangelically, from the love of God, the conſideration of the diſpleaſure of ſo good a God, and the ſinfulneſs of ſin; let thoſe conſiderations melt thee into tears, and cauſe thee to mourn ingenuouſly.

p. 653. Be continually renewing thy repentance, and when thou haſt 3 Be renewing thy repentance frequently.felt a pardon, get it fairer tranſcribed and renewed through the Blood of Chriſt: His blood cleanſeth from all ſins: And there is redemption through his Blood, the forgiveneſs of ſins.

4. Be thankful for the ſpace that God gives thee, thou canſt never 4 Be thankfull for the ſpace given thee 5. Improve every mercy to more ſaith full performance of duty.acknowledge enough the patience and forbearance of God, who gives thee time, and allows thee ſpace, and whers his Sword, and bends his Bow to give thee warning to eſcape the blow: What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his mercies and loving kindneſſes? Will Eternity be enough to praiſe the Lord?

5. Improve every mercy to more faithful performance of duties.

The laſt Uſe is, for comfort unto thoſe who make much of the ſtrivings of Gods Spirit, and make the beſt improvement of the Uſe 6. For conſolation.time that God alots them for repentance: This will yield them comfort in their lives, & on their death-beds, 2 Kings 20. 3. Remember, O Lord, I beſeech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight. And to all Eternity, Happy are they that have hearkned to Gods call, and made a good uſe of all the means of Grace, and ſpent the allotted time to Gods glory. Here they ſhall reap the firſtfruits of Joy and Comfort, and hereafter the full Harveſt, unto all Eternity.