Of the Day of Grace, Frontispiece – Author to the reader
Mr: John Shower
Of The Day of Grace: OR, A DISCOURSE Concerning The Poſſibility, and Fear of its being Paſt, before Death.
SHEWING The groundleſs Doubts, and miſtaken Apprehenſions of Some, as to their being finally Forſaken, and left of God. With the Dangerous Symptoms and Approaches of Others to ſuch a ſad State.
In Four SERMONS From Pſalm LXXXI. 11, 12.
By JOHN SHOWER.
London, Printed for Abraham Chandler, and to be Sold by John Butler in Worceſter. 1694.
TO THE READER.
THe following Sermons were preacht-at the Earneſt Deſire of an unknown Perſon ſent me in a Letter, expreſſing a more than ordinary Concern and Fear, lest the day of Grace ſhould be past, and the Holy Spirit finally departed, ſo as to Return and Strive no more. Many Upright Chriſtians after aggravated Backſlidings, or under Great Temptations, or in deep Melancholy are apt to conclude thus hardly of themſelves. Such as theſe I have endeavour'd to Convince, that this is not the state of their Caſe, or ever like to be.
I have alſo ſhown, who have reaſon to Apprehend themſelves in Danger of this Judgment in the Text. For 'tis poſſible, and more than poſſible, that after long Reſistance and Obſtinacy, God may Judicially let Men Alone, and give 'em over. Though their Lives be prolonged, they may be ſealed up to Wrath, and reſerved to Judgment. Four Generations filled the Meaſure of the Amorites Sin, though five paſt before they were deſtroyed. And though Pharoah's time expir'd, 'tis thought, at the Sixth Plague, God upheld and harden'd him, (principally by ſuffering him to harden himſelf) till the Tenth was paſt. The ſins of Jeruſalem and the Jewiſh Nation were full at the Murder of the Meſſiah, but they were not deſtroyed till forty years after.
I muſt Confeſs, that we cannot tell poſitively when this is true concerning any particular Perſon: Nor is any man bound to believe it concerning Himſelf; but is alway obliged to believe, that if he do truly Repent, he ſhall find Mercy. For though God may preſcribe Limits to his own Grace, we ought not to bound it. Shall any man ſay, Divine Patience hath waited on me, (or on ſuch a one ſo long,) it can wait no longer. Such Deſpair …f Grace, while in the uſe of God's Appointed Means, is very Inſolent Preſumption. You are obliged, (as a Thing highly grateful to him) to Hope in his Mercy.
In ſhort, whatever your Doubts and Fears are, if you firmly purpoſe to go on in the Way which leads to Life: if you will not turn a ſide from following the Lord; if you Reſolve, Come what will of it, I will never give over praying, ſeeking, ſtriving, wreſtling, &c. Let him do what he will with me, I'le not deſiſt; I'le run after him, I'le fly to him, I'le call upon him, as long as I live, &c. A Bleſſing from the Author and Purchaſer of all Grace may be undoubtedly expected by ſuch a one. Prov 8.34. Bleſſed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my Gates, waiting at the Poſts of my Doors. For whoſo findeth me, findeth Life.
If you hear him, and wait, *Dr. O. Meditations and Diſcourſes of the Glory of Chriſt, applyed to Ʋnconverted Sinners, 8o p. 18.(ſaith Dr. O) though you have not yet Admiſſion, but are kept at the Gates and Poſts of the Doors, yet in the Iſſue you ſhall be Bleſſed. The rule in this Caſe is, Hoſ. 6.3. Then ſhall we know, if we follow on to know. Are you in the way of knowing Chriſt in the uſe of means, hearing the Word, and Sincere Endeavors in Holy Duties; though you cannot yet attain unto any Evidence, that you have received him, have cloſed with him, (nay tho you queſtion whether ever he will Receive you,) Nothing can R…ine you but giving over the way wherein you are; for then ſhall you know, if you follow on to know the Lord.
Theſe Diſcourſes are printed almoſt verbatim as preacht; which I hope will rather promote, than leſſen their Ʋſefulneſs unto Such, who are moſt like to read 'em, and to whoſe Caſe they are moſt ſuited. The Day of Reckoning is near; Death and Judgment are at hand: May I then find mercy of the Lord! Give an Account of my Stewardſhip with Comfort! And be found in Chriſt to the Glory of God. Beg it for me; as I do and ſhall thy profiting by this, and all the many other Helps to further thy Salvation.
J. S.