A Call to Delaying Sinners, Frontispiece – Publishers advertisement
Aetatis suae 52
MR THOMAS DOELITTLE
A CALL TO Delaying Sinners; Or the DANGER of DELAYING In MATTERS concerning our SOULS.
Being the Substance o… several Sermons from Ps. 119. v. 6…
By THOMAS DOOLITTLE Minister of the Gospel.
Ezek. 33. 11.
Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O House of Israel?
The Sixth Edition
LONDON, Printed by H. Newman. and Sold By E. Tra… at the three Bibles, on London Bridge 1698
To the READER.
Christian Reader,
ALtho there be no Christian living, but is sufficiently satisfied, and does very well know, that Repentance and Reconciliation to God, is the One thing Necessary; and the Indispensible Duty of every Man and Woman that do desire to be Saved: Yet such has been, and more especially in this present Generation, is the miserable depravity of Human Nature, that we are too too apt to defer that till last, that ought to be our first and chiefest care and endeavour. To enforce and convince you of the necessity of this great Duty, is the design of this Treatise; of which never was there greater need than Now; when Men are so far from making this their greatest care and Concern, that they can hardly spare a thought upon their Eternal Salvation. For the enforcing this most necessary Duty upon the Hearts and Minds of Christians, the following Sermons are very useful and expedient. The Time and Opportunity of receiving Grace may easily be let slip; it is therefore the Duty of every Christian to lay hold upon the present Opportunity, and to accept of Grace; now, instantly, while Grace is to be had. The learned Pharisees could not discern their Opportunity by discerning the Signs of his Coming, as you have it in Mat. 19. at the beginning Neither could the Jews know their Opportunity, it was hidden from their Eyes, as you may read in Luke 19. 42. Opportunity is hardly embraced; therefore it becomes every wise Man to lay hold of her fore-top, and not let her pass, least he hereafter sorely repent it. But who is the Wise-man? says Solomon, Eccl. 8. That is, how rarely is the Wise-man to be found? For the Wise-man, saith he, discerneth Time and Judgment. That is to say, he is able to discern When things are to be done, and therefore its rare to find such a Wise Man; in the Voyage to Heaven it is hard to save our Tide: Not one of a thousand but lets it slip. The improving of this therefore, is a Man's greatest Wisdom, Deut. 32. 29. O that they were Wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter End. The Wise Man's heart is said to be in his right-hand, That is, the Wisdom of his Heart teacheth him to manage his Affairs judiciously, and in season. That Man, who tho' he be never so Wise and Prudent in the World and Worldly things, yet if he hath not Wisdom to know the Season of Grace, he may well be termed a Scripture-Fool, and will so appear to himself and others too, to all Eternity: And will it not (think you) cause the greatest Torment and Vexation imaginable to that Man, who when he comes to Die, shall be compell'd to say, O never was I wise, who was wise for every thing, but to save my Soul? laying hold of the present opportunity in that which facilitates every action and employment, making a work come off smoothly, and with facility. The gracious God, if we embrace an Opportunity, offereth to help us, and work with us. O the goodness of a merciful God, that tho he sets us so light and easie a task, yet offers to work with us too! That Burthen is more light and easie, when two persons assist in the carrying of it, than it would be upon the back of one. When the Boat has the advantage both of Wind and Tide, to carry it forward, it goes easily and pleasantly on. This is the case of that Christian, who seasonably embraces the Offers of Grace and Mercy: He has the Assistance of the Holy Spirit, for the obtaining his desired happiness. To lay hold of the present Opportunity, makes every action look beautiful: It makes all our Performances look with a lovely Aspect, and with a Grace, Eccl. 3. 11. He hath made every thing beautiful in its Time, &c. We all know, that Fruit gathered in season is the pleasantest Fruit, and that a word spoke in season, is a word upon Wheels. When the season of obtaining Grace is past, our endeavours are unpleasant to God, as well as unprofitable to us: Nor is that all, but we are accountable for every Opportunity we let slip and neglect; for we are not only Accountable for every Action we commit, but for the time we do it in, Eccl 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes, but know thou that for all these things, God will bring thee to Judgment: Where you see he shall be not only judged for his Actions, but for the Time he ha… mispent. O that every Christian would lay this seriously to heart, and contemplate thus with himself, … Wretch that I am! How many Holy Sabbaths have I prophaned! And how many Oaths have I Sworn! How many hundred timee have neglected Prayer, to call upon God! How many times have I deride Godliness! How many Lies have told! And if for every idle word you must give an Account, certainly for every Sermon, Sabbath and Ordinance, under which you have been idle you shall not escape wiehout a Reckoning.
Moreover, the neglecting of Opportunity, is the greatest Destroy in the World. 'Tis not so much being Bad, as the delaying to be Good that destroys the most. It is not fl… Denials, but foolish Delayings that ruins Christians, Eccles. 8. 6. Because to every purpose there is Time and Judgment; therefore the misery of Man is great upon him. Few deny, but most delay to be saved.
We see Opportunity is embraced by all persons in their meanest Concerns; and shall not a Christian much more lay hold of all Opportunities for the Salvation of his Soul? Doth not the Husbandman observe his Seasons? the Merchant his? the Seaman his, &c. Yea, the very workers of Iniquity observe Opportunities and Seasons, wherein they may best performe their Delights; and shall only the precious Opportunities for the good of our Souls be neglected? This Delaying in the pursuit of Salvation, is a Delaying to be freed from the greatest Evil, (viz.) the Wrath of God, Guilt, Damnation and Hell.
Wherefore, O Christians, let it be your great and immediate care, to make your Peace between God and your own Souls. Neglect not the least Time, but even to day, while it is called to Day, lay hold of, and embrace the Offers of Christ in the Gospel.
There are thousands that have beet the servants of sin all their days; and tho the pains and diseases of their old Age convince them, that the pleasure of sin are but for a season, yet they will remain constant and faithful of their Masters Service, and die the Devils Martyrs: They are so far from being weary of this worst … Slaveries, that their Lives then one begin to be irksom to them, when sickness or age makes them uncapable o… taking that pleasure in sin they desire to do And are Satan and Sin better Masters than God and Holiness? Th… latter I am sure, even at present, are more good and kind to their Servants. In the keeping of God's Commandments, there is great reward, saith the Psalmist. For God desires not so to be trusted at all, but thaet he will grant them so much in hand as may out-bid all that the Devil or Sin can bestow upon them.
But then if we look beyond this life, and compare the infinite difference of the one and others period, one would think it impossible that the Devil and the Flesh should so far prevail upon rational Beings, as to detain them any longer with them. It needs not much deliberation, whether Eternal Happiness or Eternal Misery be to be preferred; nothing but not believing of either can make one delay in his choice. Consider that little time that is to come, and how much of that little, Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, and the Necessaries of Business of Life, will take from thee; and then judge if tbou thinkest thou shalt have more Time allowed thee than enough, to do the Work allotted thee. But if thou either disbelievest what is spoken in the Scripture, of another Life; or fanciest a very long stay in this, saying in thy heart, with the evil Servant, My Lord delayeth his coming; no wonder then if thou begin to smite thy Fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken: But a Man must use great violence to his own Ʋnderstanding and Conscience, before he can arrive at such sottishness of mind, and must think it very much his Interest to die like a Beast, before he can believe that he shall do so: But all Men under Gospel-Revelation, are so far under the Power of this Truth, A Life to come, that he cannot deny it, but his own fearful Apprehensions will give him the lie. He looks out sometime maugre all his Ease and Security; and his is a fearful looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation, whilst the man tbat hath taken hold of this golden opportunity, looks out also; but his is a looking for that blessed Hope and the Glorious Appearance of the great God and his Saviour. And can the Sinner imagine his own day far off, when he beholds the most Youthful Age, or firmest state of Health cannot secure him from the danger of it? There are a Thousand Accidents which we cannot foresee, and so not prevent, which may violently hurry us out of the World; the swallowing a Grape-stone, or the Cutting of a Corn, have brought some persons to their Grave; we may stumble into it at a Stone in the Street, or a Tile from a House may knock us down into it: the strongest Man may be conquer'd by a Fever in three or four days, or an Apoplexy may dispatch him in so many Hours or Minutes: none can tell where, when, or by who, Instruments he shall pass out of the Life: which, if he consider, and also that as the Tree falls, so it lies, thou is no rectifying the Errours of our Life after our Death; but we shal for ever continue in the state we die in; we must needs be very careful the Death come not on us unprepared Solomon bids us, Whatsoever our hand findeth to do, to do it with our might; for there is no Work, nor Device, nor Knowledge, nor Wisdom in the grave whither we go. Now if this Argument be pressing, as it is, that we ought therefore to lay hold of all opportunities for our Souls which we live, because we can do nothing after we are dead; it may add to our Seriousness to think, that it is uncertain whether a few days may not put at end to our Life, and so to our working… 'Twill be sad for the expiring Soul to say, Had I thought Death had been … near, I would have given more …ed to God's Call to Delaying Sinners, that I might have been prepared for it. And yet 'tis the common use of the greatest part of Mankind to … their Last Day at too great a di…nce from them.
To what hath been said of the shortness of Life, I might add the suddenness of Christ's coming to Judgment; …et a little while, and he that shall …ome, will come, and will not tarry. …ow since the Apostles time 'tis above Sixteen hundred Years, and therefore, … this day, we may well reckon of a little while; indeed 'tis true, With God (as the Apostle expresses it) a Thousand years are but as one day; and therefore, tho' it be a little while with God till our Lord's Coming, yet according to Man's computation of time, … may be long, according to that of our …aviour, Shall not God avenge His …wn Elect? Tho he bear with them long, I tell you, that he will avenge the… speedily; but howsoever, the term … (little while) may be Interpreted, … have certain tokens that his com… cannot be far off: St. Paul would … have the Thessalonians be troubled, … if the Day of Christ were at hand; a… the reason why it cou'd not be so, he t… them, was, because that day should n… come, except there came a Falling … way first, and that Man of Sin w… revealed, the Son of Perdition, wh… Christ should destroy with the brightness of his coming. Now I think the… is no Christian doubts, but the Atheistical and Prophane Spirit that … now in the World, speaks him to … revealed, even that Spirit that rul… in the Children of Disobedience.
It were Presumption to limi… time, seeing of that day and ho… knows no Man, so as to determ… positively and precisely when it sh… be; but it were Fool-hardiness … … over-confident, that it may not be …en in our days; whensoever it is, it …ll certainly come unexpected of the …atest part of the World, even as a …ief in the night. Our Saviours Pa…le of the Ten Virgins, may well in…ruct us what influence this day should …ve upon us; for when at midnight …e Bridegroom came, the Wise slum…ed as well as the Foolish, but their …amps were burning, being furnished with Oyl, and therefore they went in with the Bridegroom to the Marriage; …hereas the Foolish, whose Lamps were …one out, and their Oyl spent, had the …oor shut upon them; from whence …e draws this Exhortation, Watch …herefore, for you know neither the …ay nor the hour wherein the Son …f Man cometh. They that shall be …hen alive, are like to have no notice of …, nor shall they have any time to do …ny thing towards their own Salvation, …or they shall be changed in a Moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, … the last Trump. Alas for the fruit… Wishes the Delaying Sinner shall t… make, that he had wrought while … was day; for now he sees an Everlasting Night approaching, whereing … cannot work, but is to receive the I… ward of his Sloath. Many times was … called upon by the Watchman to awa… out of sleep, but he was still for a little more slumber; and now t… the Last Trumpet gives the Ala… he is rouz'd indeed out of his slee… but before he can bethink himself wh… to do, being fill'd with horror and d… spair, he is call'd upon to give an Account what he hath done: the surpri… amazeth, and puts him even besi… himself, so that he calls …o the Mo… tains to hide him, as if they had E… to hear, or Hearts to pity him; a… the Stones less rocky than his o… Heart, that would never relent at … most earnest beseechings of God by … Ministers of his word, and their calls … Delaying Sinners, Alas! now the Sinner is so much diverted and taken … with other Lovers, that the Loves …f a Saviour are not constraining, nor as Mercies winning; but then his Greatness will affright, his Terrors …ake hold, and his Justice seize the Sinner.
To prevent this state of the ungodly and impenitent, is the end of the ensuing Sermons, which have the unhappiness to want the Authors own polishing; for which cause it is but Justice, …at what Mistakes are found in them, …ay not be laid at the Authors door, … being altogether ignorant of their …ublishing, yet were they taken (as I am …formed) by the Pen of a ready Writer, …d one much acquainted with the …uthors Preaching; and truly this …st Testimony cannot be denied them, … Spirit and Lineaments of that …rthy Person, whose Name they bear in the Title, is found upon them. A… son whose Name needs no Encomiu… having so many Immortable Tom… the Hearts of many of his Hearers … on whom his Ministry hath made … Impressions, as doubtless will … with them for ever, and carry the … Effects into the other World.
Reader, I shall not detain thee … er in the Porch, but only make … few Requests to thee; That thou wo… read this small Call over seriously, … with deliberation, and when thou … done, seriously examin thy own H… and see if these things concern not … And that if you have any in your … mily that need an awakening C… that you would read either this, or … other good Book to them; That … make a due Care and Conscienc… reading the holy Scriptures; of Pr… both Publick and Private; of hea… the Word, and all other Ordina… commanded by God in the Holy S… tures. But above all, neglect not to …et a saving Interest in Christ, concluding with this Scripture, Ezek. 33. …1. Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the Death of the Wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your …vil way; for why will ye die, O …ouse of Israel?
These Books following are Printed for, … Sold by Hugh Newman, at the G… hopper in the Poultry.
1. A Rebuke to Backsliders, … a Spur for Loyterers … several Sermons lately Preached … private Congregation, and publish'd … the awakening a sleepy Age. By … Richard Alleine.
2. The Father's Blessing, Penne… the Instruction of his Children: In V… with 24 Pictures new added; being … fittest Book yet publish'd to e… Children to Read.
3. A Looking-glass for Children … collected by Henry Jessey in his l… time; together with sundry seaso… Lessons and Instructions to Youth, … ling them early to remember their … ator: written by Abra. Chear, late… Plimouth: to which is added many … ther Poems very suitable; as also … Elegies on departed Friends, mad… the said Abraham Chear. All now … fully gather'd together for the b… of Young and Old, by E. P.
4. A Call to Delaying Sinners … the danger of delaying in matters … cerning our Souls; by Tho. Doolittle … nister of the Gospel.