The Efficacy of the Fear of Hell to Restrain Men from Sin, Sermon 7
The Seventh Sermon.
Luke 4.19.
To Preach the acceptable Year of the Lord.
HERE is another Expreſſion of the Service of Chriſt, viz. to give Notice of the acceptable Year of the Lord. This ſeems to be an Alluſion to the Proclaiming of the Year of Jubilee, ſpoken of, Lev. 25.9. Then thou ſhalt cauſe the Trumpet of the Jubilee to Sound on the tenth Day of the ſeventh Month.
Q. What is to be underſtood by a Year?
A. Sometimes a Year is taken properly for that time wherein the Sun is fullfilling its Courſe, 365 Days. But ſometimes it is taken for an indefinite Time, be it longer or ſhorter. Iſai. 34.8. For it is the Day of the Lords Vengeance, and the Year of Vengeance for the Controverſie of Zion. So a Day is ſometimes taken for an indifinite Time. Iſai. 2.12. For the Day of the Lord of Hoſts ſhall be upon every one that is Proud and Lofty.
Q. Why is it ſaid to be the acceptable Year of the Lord?
A. Epiphanius takes it to be a Year wherein the Lord was acceptable unto Men, and ſaith, That the firſt Year of Chriſts Miniſtry was pleaſing, but afterwards they took Offence. But this is a Miſtake; for they took Offence this very Day. Luk. 4.28, 29. All that were in the Synagogue when they heard theſe things, were filled with Wrath, and and roſe up and thruſt him out of the City, and led him unto the brow of the Hill whereon their City was Built, that they might caſt him down Headlong. But the Meaning is, The Year of God's good Pleaſure and Favour, with the reſpect to the Preaching the Goſpel to the Poor, the healing the Broken-hearted, &c. the clear Preaching of the Goſpel, and the ſaving Efficacy of it.
DOCTRINE. There are ſome ſpecial Seaſons wherein God doth in a remarkable Manner revive Religion among his People. God doth not always carry on his Work in the Church in the ſame Proportion. As it is in Nature, there be great Viciſſitudes; there is Day and Night, Summer and Winter; the Moon Waxes and Wanes, the Sea Flows and Ebbs, and as it is in the civil State, there is a time of War and a time of Peace, times of Plenty and times of Scarcity, times of Health and times of Sickneſs, ſo it is in the Church. There are ſometimes when the Hearts of Men are made hard. Iſai. 63.17. Why haſt thou hardned our Hearts from thy Fear, and made us to Err from thy ways? So there be times wherein there is a plentiful Effuſion of the Spirit of God, and Religion is in a more flouriſhing Condition. Math. 11.12. From the Days of John the Baptiſt, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth Violence, and the Violent take it by force. Iſai. 44.3. I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed, & my Bleſſing on thy Offſpring. Ezek. 11.19. And I will give them one Heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you, and will take the Heart of Stone out of your Fleſh, and will give you an Heart of Fleſh. The like we have, Ezek. 36.26.
Q. How is it with a People when Religion is revived?
A. 1. Saints are quickned. It contributes much to the flouriſhing of Religion, when Righteous Men flouriſh in Holineſs, as it is foretold, Pſal. 92.12. The Righteous ſhall flouriſh like a Palm-tree, they ſhall grow like the Cedar in Lebanon. There be times of Temptation, when godly Men are in a flouriſhing Condition. Math 25.5. While the Bridegroom tarried, they all ſlumbered and ſlept. They grow Worldly, and Proud, and Formal, and don't maintain much of the Life of Godlineſs. And there be times when their Hearts are lifted up in the ways of God, as is ſaid of Jehoſhaphat, 2 Chron. 17.6. When the Weak are as David. When their Souls are in a proſperous Condition, and they are in gracious Frames of Spirit, going on from Strength to Strength. Sometimes they run the ways of God's Commandments, becauſe God enlarges their Hearts. Pſal. 119.32. It is as with them, 2 Theſ. Your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth. This mightily increaſeth Holineſs among a People.
2. Sinners are Converted. God makes the Goſpel at times to be very Powerful. So it was in the Primitive times, Rom. 15.29. I am ſure when I come unto you, I ſhall come in the fullneſs of the Bleſſing of the Goſpel of Chriſt. The Goſpel was written for the End that Men might believe and be ſaved. Joh. 20.21. And it is preached for that End; and ſometimes God gives great Succeſs to it. Act. 26.18. I ſend thee to open the blind Eyes, to turn them from Darkneſs to Light, and from the power of Satan unto God. So John's Preaching was very much bleſſed. Mal. 4.6. He ſhall turn the Heart of the Fathers to the Children, and the Heart of the Children to their Fathers. This is Old and Young. There is a mighty Change wrought in a little Time: They that were Dead, are made Alive, and they that were Loſt are Found. The Goſpel is made a ſavour of Life to many. Sometimes there is great Complaint for want of this. Pſal. 12.1. Help Lord, for the godly Man ceaſeth; the Righteous fail from among the Children of Men. So Iſai. 53.1. Lord, who hath believed our Report? and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? At other times the Number of Saints is greatly multiplyed. Act. 9.31. The Churches were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghoſt were multiplyed.
3. Many that are not Converted, do become more Religious. When Iſrael went out of Egypt, there was a mixt Multitude that went with them. So when God is pleaſed to Convert a Number, there be many others that have a common Work of the Spirit on their Hearts; they are affected with their Condition, Reform their evil Manners, and engage in Religious Duties, and attain to conſiderable Zeal, and are full of Religious Affections. So it was in Chriſt's time; there was great flocking about him. So by the Preaching of John many were affected. Luk. 3.10, 12, 14. The People ſaid, What ſhall we do? And the Publicans what ſhall we do? And the Soldiers what ſhall we do? When God works ſavingly upon ſome, it is frequent that others have common Illuminations, whereby great Reformation is wrought, and the Reputation of Religion advanced, and People are diſpoſed to keep the external Covenant; and ſo much Wrath is prevented.
Concerning this Work of God in reviving Religion, you may obſerve theſe Four Things.
1. Obſervation. This reviving is ſometimes more General and ſometimes more Particular. It is more General, when it is throughout a Country, when in all Parts of a Land there is a turning to God. That was propheſied of, Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. Then will I ſprinkle clean Water upon you, & ye ſhall be clean from all your Filthineſs, and from all your Idols will I cleanſe you, &c. So it was about Luther's time, when ſome Nations broke off from Popery, and imbraced the Goſpel. Sometimes the Country doth generally Decline. Gal. 3.1. O Fooliſh Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you ſhould not obey the Truth? But ſometimes this reviving is more Particular, when in ſome particular Towns Religion doth revive and flouriſh. So 2 Theſ. 1.3. Their Faith grew exceedingly. Rev. 3.8. Thou haſt a little Strength, and haſt kept my Word, and not denied my Name. At the ſame time Sardis and Laodicea were in a declining Way: As ſometimes it Rains upon one City, and doth not Rain upon another. Am. 4.7. So it is with God's Raining Righteouſneſs. There is many times a great difference in the ſame Country; There is a Blaſt upon Corn in one part of a Land, when it flouriſhes in another: So it is in this Caſe.
2. Obſervation. This reviving is ſometimes of longer, and ſometimes of ſhorter Continuance. Sometimes Religion flouriſhes in a Country for a great many Years together. So it did for twenty nine Years in the Days of Hezekiah. 2 Chron. 29.1. So when God pours out his Spirit, ſometimes the Work continues many Years. It began in John the Baptiſt's time, and continued ſeveral Years after the Death of Chriſt. Math. 11.12. From the Days of John the Baptiſt until now, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth Violence. Compare this with Joh. 5.25. The time is coming, and now is, when the Dead ſhall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live. But ſometimes it is for a leſs ſpace. We have reaſon to think that there was much of the converting Preſence of God in Corinth for the ſpace of a Year and half. Act. 18.9, 10. Sometimes it is not ſo long. There is a great ſtirring for a little time, and then it fails. Though the ſame outward Means continue, yet there is not that Bleſſing going along with them.
3. Obſervation. God is very Arbitrary in this Matter. The People of God are Praying and Waiting for this Mercy Hab. 3.2. O Lord, revive thy Work in the midſt of the Years, in the midſt of Years make known; in Wrath remember Mercy. Pſal. 85.6. Wilt not thou revive us again, that thy People may Rejoyce in thee? But God will take his own time for this Mercy. As the Angel ſtirred the Waters of Betheſda, at ſome certain Seaſons, and they waited for that time, Joh. 5.4. ſo it is in this Caſe. There is a ſtated time for the riſing of the Sun, and for the ſetting of the ſame, and ſo for the return of the Spring; but the returns of the Spirit are very Arbitrary. Sometimes God puts his People to wait longer for them; ſometimes not ſo long: It is in this Caſe, as it is with the inward Conſolations of godly Men. God takes his own time to Refreſh their Hearts, and Seal them up to the Day of Redemption. No Man can tell beforehand when the Work of God ſhall Proſper in this or that Place. Act. 1.6, 7. It is not for you to know the Times and the Seaſons that the Father has put in his own Power. When God hardens a People, none can tell how long that ſhall be. Iſai. 6.11. Then ſaid I, Lord, how long? And he anſwered, Until the Cities be waſted without Inhabitant, and the Houſes without Man, and the Land be utterly deſolate.
4. It is beyond us to determine what particular Deſign God hath in it at this or that time. When God Converts a conſiderable Number among a People, we know that the deſign is to prepare them for Salvation. Act. 3.19. Repent and be Converted, that your Sins may be blotted out, when the times of Refreſhing ſhall come from the Preſence of the Lord. But what his particular Deſign is in that Work we cannot tell. It may poſſibly be to prepare the Place for ſome great Temptation, that they may ſtand in a time of great Tryal that he may bring upon them; that they may be ſtrengthned and not deny his Name: Or it may be to prepare them for ſome Affliction that he intends to bring upon them, that they may carry the better under it: Or it may be to lay a Foundation for Mercy for the next Generation, that there may be a Number that may uphold the power of Godlineſs in time to come. Or it may be to gather in his Elect, before he removes the Means of Grace, and takes away his Ordinances.
1 USE. Learn from hence, that the Church of God is ſubject to great Changes. Sometimes Religion flouriſhes, and ſometimes it languiſhes. It is indeed ſo with particular Souls: Sometimes they go on from Strength to Strength, and their Hearts are lifted up in the ways of God. They are like Green Olive-Trees in the Houſe of the Lord, they flouriſh like the Palm-Tree, they grow like the Cedar in Lebanon. And at other times they are in a ſlumbering Condition; they are like ſick Men that are unfit for Service, like Trees in Winter. So it is with the Church of God; there is but little of the preſence of God among them; there is a great ſcarcity of Godly Men; Iniquity abounds, and the Love of many waxes Cold. At other Times Religion is the great thing that is minded; Men are taking the Kingdom of Heaven with Violence: They honour their Profeſſion, and their Light ſhines before Men, ſo that they Glorify their Father that is in Heaven. Religion is in great Reputation, and there goes a great Bleſſing with the Ordinances of God. It is as Cant. 2.11, 12, 13. The Winter is paſt, the Rain is over and gone, the Flowers appear on the Earth, the time of the ſinging of Birds is come, and the Voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land; the Fig-tree putteth forth her Green Figs, and the Vines with the tender Grape give a good Smell: Ariſe my Love, my fair one & come away.
1. When the Church is in a flouriſhing Condition, we muſt not lot upon it that they will always be ſo. If it be a time of Plenty in a Land, yet the Caſe may be much altered after a while, as it was in Egypt, Gen. 41.53, 54. If it be a time of Health, there may be after a while a ſickly Time. So if Religion flouriſheth, it doth not follow that it will always do ſo. There may come a Time of Hardning: God may withdraw his Spirit: Many Temptations may ariſe: There may be a Change of the Generation, and Religion may be buried in the Graves of old Men. A Field that was wont to flouriſh with Corn, may come to be overgrown with Thorns. A fruitful Land may be turned into Barrenneſs. Pſal. 107.34. Religion flouriſhed in the time of Jehoſhaphat, but it withered in the time of Jehoram. It flouriſhed in the time of Hezechiah, but it withered in the time of Menaſſeh. Many times there riſes up another Generation that know not the Lord. Judg. 2.10. The People embrace corrupt Principles, & addict themſelves to bad Practices, and the Spirit of Religion is much loſt in a little Time.
2. When the Church is in a withering Condition, we muſt not conclude that it will be always ſo. If Iniquity prevails much among a People, and they don't regard the threatnings of God's Word, don't make Improvement of Judgments, but go on every one in his own way, as the Horſe ruſheth into the Battle, the Goſpel is made light of, and Prophaneſs and other Wickedneſs increaſe in the Land, and the whole Head is Sick, and the whole Heart Faint, yet it doth not follow that it will be always thus, and that Religion will be loſt, and the Kingdom of God be taken from them. Sometimes it is ſo, but it doth not from thence appear that it will be ſo: All that are Sick dont Die; Religion may recover; Holineſs may get up again; there may be a flouriſhing Summer after an hard Winter. Religion revived in the Time of Joſiah, and in the Time of John the Baptiſt. There may in a little time be another Face of Things; God may raiſe up Inſtruments, and bleſs their Endeavours for the recovery of Religion. Hoſ. 14.5, 6, 7. I will be as the Dew unto Iſrael; he ſhall grow as the Lilie, and caſt forth his Roots as Lebanon. His Branches ſhall ſpread, and his Beauty ſhall be as the Olive-Tree, and his Smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his Shadow ſhall return, they ſhall revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine; the Scent thereof ſhall be as the Wine of Lebanon.
2 USE. We ſhould beg of God, that Religion may revive in this Land. We have Occaſion to go before God for many Things: We have need to beg Peace, and Health, and Plenty; but eſpecially we have Reaſon to be earneſt with God for this Mercy. This is a Thing of greateſt Conſequence. When God pours out his Spirit on his People, they are Days of great Mercy. Iſai. 54.11, 12, 13. Oh thou aflicted and toſſed with Tempeſt, and not comforted, I will lay thy Stones with fair Colours, and lay thy Foundations with Sapphires. I will make, thy Windows of Agates, and thy Gates of Carbuncles, and all thy Borders of pleaſant Stones. And all thy Children ſhall be taught of the Lord, and great ſhall be the Peace of thy Children. Hereby the Land is ſecured from Degeneracy. Many are fitted hereby to keep God's Covenant: Hereby a Way is made for outward Bleſſings: Hereby a Foundation is laid for Salvation. Men ſhould not Pray for this in a formal Way, but with Groanings that cannot be uttered. Pſal. 90.16, 17. Let thy Work appear unto thy Servants, and thy Glory unto their Children. And let the Beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and eſtabliſh thou the Work of our Hands, yea, the Work of our Hands eſtabliſh thou it.
Conſider, 1. There is great need of this. For want of this, the Land is mightily Corrupted, and Sin prevails greatly in all Places, and the Profeſſion that Men make is diſhonoured. Strangers are ready to ſay, Is this the City that Men call the Perfection of Beauty, the Joy of the whole Earth? As Lam. 2.15. For the want of this, there is ſo much Injuſtice and Oppreſſion, many are like Birds and Beaſts of Prey. For the want of this, there is ſo much Luxury and Voluptuouſneſs. For want of this, there is ſo much breach of Promiſe, Sabbath-breaking and Prophaneſs. If Men fear God, it would not be ſo. Jer. 32.40. I will put my Fear in their Hearts, that they ſhall not depart away from me. For want of this, there are ſo many Judgments. Judg. 2.10. And there aroſe a Generation that knew not the Lord. And V. 14. And the Anger of the Lord was hot againſt Iſrael. And for want of this, many lie in a periſhing Condition. Joh. 3.3. Except a Man be Born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdom of God.
2. This is very acceptable to God. God delights to hear ſuch Prayers. When Men Pray for that that is more directly for his Glory, and for the good of Mens Souls, God is pleaſed with it. When Solomon prayed for himſelf, That he might have a Wiſe and Underſtanding Heart to Govern his People according to the Will of God, the Saying pleaſed the Lord. So when Men Pray that God's Will may be done in the Land, God is pleaſed therewith. This has been the Spirit of holy Men. Many times People are earneſtly crying for outward Mercies, and God diſpiſes their Prayers. Hoſ. 7.14. They have not cried unto me with their Hearts, when they howled upon their Beds: They aſſemble themſelves for Corn and Wine, and they Rebel againſt me. But 'tis very acceptable to God, when his People are ſeeking to him for this Mercy. This is the main Thing that he hath taught us to Pray for. Math. 6.9, 10. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven. Paul begs Prayers on this Account, 2 Theſ. 3.1. Brethren Pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free Courſe and be glorified, even as it is with you.
3. There is Encouragement to beg this. There be Encouragements in the Word of God. We have Promiſes, That Chriſt Jeſus ſhall ſave many. Iſai. 49.6. And Religion had need to be revived, elſe few will be ſaved: But the Children of the Kingdom will go into outer Darkneſs. Yea, there are Promiſes, That the Spirit ſhall go with the Word. Iſai. 59.1. And then the Word will Prevail. And though theſe Promiſes don't ſpeak particularly of this Land, and this Time, yet they are Ground of Encouragement. They ſhew that God will do ſuch Things many times for his Church, and that he would have them to plead for this Mercy. There is Encouragement alſo in the Providence of God. He hath many times revived his Work in Iſrael formerly, and we ſhould take Notice of God's Mercy to our ſelves, once and again, and now a third Time.
3 USE. It is very Doleful, when Perſons at ſuch Times are overlooked. There are ſpecial Times, when in particular Towns there is a Noiſe among the dry Bones, and many are made ſenſible of their natural Condition, and are labouring after a part in Chriſt; when one and another are enquiring what they muſt do to be ſaved, and ſome have obtained Mercy; and at ſuch times there be a Number of ſenſeleſs Sinners, that are not concerned about their Souls, that mind nothing elſe but the World and their carnal Delights, while ſome are crying out, What ſhall we do to be ſaved. They are enquiring what they ſhall Eat, and what they ſhall Drink, and wherewithal they ſhall be Cloathed. Such a Spirit is Doleful at any time, much more at ſuch a time when then there be a cloud of Witneſſes, a great many good Examples. They have as much need to ſeek as others; they have provoked God as much as others; they are as near the Grave as others. For Men to be regardleſs at ſuch a time, is a great Sin, and a black Sign. When Men are like the Barren Heath in the Wilderneſs, that ſeeth not Good when Good cometh, it is much to be feared they will ſleep the ſleep of Death.
Eſpecially 1. When they are of ſuitable Years. It is not ſo much wonder, if young Boys and Girls that are Giddy and Inconſiderate, don't mind the ſtate of their Souls; Such Perſons have little Knowledge and Experience; though they have need to remember their Creatour, yet Childhood & Youth are Vanity, and they are not come to the Maturity of their Judgment. But it looks more Darkly, when at ſuch a time, Perſons that are grown to Mens and Womens Eſtates, are not thoughtful of their eternal Condition, when many of their Standing are going towards Heaven. For them to be going towards Hell, it looks Awfully upon them, as if God did deſign to caſt them off. When God makes the Arrows of his Word pierce the Hearts of others, and ſuffers them to flie over their Heads, it has a look as if God had no deſign of Mercy to them. Math. 24.40. Then ſhall two be in the Field, one ſhall be taken and the other left.
2. When they have been overlooked formerly at ſuch a time. Some of theſe Men have ſeen ſuch Days formerly over and again. When others have been flowing to the goodneſs of God, God has made many to preſs into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they have not partook of that Mercy. The Prophet told him, 2 Kin. 7.2. Behold, thou ſhalt ſee it with thine Eyes, but thou ſhalt not Eat thereof. So it hath been with theſe Men; the Opportunities have paſſed over, others have ſtepped in and been healed when the Waters were troubled; but theſe have not been healed. If it ſhould be ſo again, there would appear very little hopes of them. If all the Arrows are ſuffered to flie over their Heads, their Condition is exceeding Dangerous. It is not very often that there is a great ſtirring of the Spirit in one particular Town, and if Men have been overlooked twice or thrice at ſuch times, it is much to be feared what will become of them. There is conſiderable Danger they will be Dead before there is ſuch another Opportunity. Or if not, yet paſt that Age wherein God uſually Works ſavingly on Men.
3. When Men are left to a contrary Spirit. It is bad, that when ſome are taking Pains for Salvation, that others are Idle. That when ſome are taking the Kingdom of Heaven by Force, others are not concerned about their Souls whether they Sink or Swim. But it may be, there be ſome that are like Iſmael, that are Scoffing at the Work of God; that make a Deriſion of the Convictions of the Spirit. Theſe Men are in the very high Way to Hell, and it would be no Wonder if God ſhould bring ſuch Judgments on them, that all Iſrael might Fear and Tremble. Such prophane People are far from the Kingdom of God. They Laugh now, but the time will come, that they ſhall Mourn for Sorrow of Heart, and Howl for Vexation of Spirit. They have Cauſe to fear that it will be with them as it was with Eſau, Heb. 12.17. Afterwards, when he would have inherited the Bleſſing, he found no Place for Repentance, though he ſought it carefully with Tears.
3 USE. Perſons ſhould be very careful at ſuch a time, that they do nothing to quench the Spirit. As we muſt be careful that we don't provoke God to take away his Spirit, ſo we muſt be careful that we don't quench the Spirit. 1 Theſ. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. As we may not quench it in our ſelves, ſo we may not quench it in others. It is a ſingular Mercy that the Spirit of God is ſtriving among us, and it is the fruit of Prayer. Many Souls may have occaſion for ever to bleſs God on that Account; and we ſhould make it our great Care that we do nothing to drive away the Spirit. Cant. 2.7. I charge you, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem, by the Roes and by the Hinds of the Field, that ye ſtir not up, nor awake my Love till he pleaſe. If we would quench the Spirit, it may be long before he will return.
1. By ſlighting this Work. Some Men out of an irreligious and prophane Spirit, are Deriding thoſe that are in trouble of Mind; as if the Perſons were over-run with Melancholy, and were more afraid than they have any reaſon to be, as if they were full of Fancies, and ſcared themſelves needleſſly: And ſome are apt to throw it upon them as if they counterfeited Trouble, and would have the World believe that they were more Religious than they are; as if they had a mind to get Reputation by having recourſe to Miniſters, and to be thought better than they were. This ſometimes has an ill Effect, and diſcourages Perſons. It was foretold of Chriſt, That he would Encourage and Nouriſh the leaſt Beginnings. Iſai. 42.3. A Bruiſed Reed ſhall he not break, and the ſmoaking Flax ſhall he not quench, till he bring forth Judgment unto Victory. But theſe Perſons that ſlight this Work, do quench the Spirit; they tempt others to ſmother Fears and Convictions that are in their Hearts; and they prejudice other Men that they don't conſider their dangerous Condition as otherwiſe they might. Such Troubles are looked on as Rediculous, and ſo are Oppoſite.
2. By making a worldly Cry. Ever and anon Men are making a great Cry; ſometimes about ſome new Place; ſometimes about ſome Commodities that are in Demand; and there is abundance of Diſcourſe about thoſe Things, and the Cry of the World drowns that Cry, What ſhall we do to be ſaved. When there is a great Cry about the World, and Men are Diſcourſing of that in all Companies, this ſtirs up Mens worldly Affections; they are taken with the World, and they forget the Things of the other World. Worldly Diſcourſes have a worldly Savour upon Mens Hearts; hereby their time is taken up, and the World drinks up their Spirits. Hence they grow Heartleſs in Duties of Religion. The World is a great Enemy to Religion: They can't ſerve God and Mammon. This is like caſting Water on the ſmoaking Flax. Jam. 4.4. The Friendſhip of this World is Enmity unto God: He that will be a Friend of the World, will be an Enemy to God.
3. By Contention. Sometimes Men raiſe ſome Strife about the World; ſometimes about Religion; and there is a great deal of ſiding; they heat one anothers Spirits, fret and anger one another, their Diſcourſes with thoſe that ſide with them, and their Diſcourſes with them that ſide againſt them take up a great deal of Time. They ſpend Hours together in ſuch talk, and their Spirits are raiſed, and they reflect one upon another, and Reproach one another. This eats out the power of Godlineſs. They will be ſo engaged in Contention, that Religion will be but a Thing by the by. When their Spirits are raiſed, Fear is driven away. Their Thoughts are ſo ſwallowed up, that there is little room for Religion. They will be likewiſe great Temptations one to another. They will be more inclined to do that which will be a Provocation to God, than to do that which will bring them into a ſtate of Reconciliation. Men that are at Strife with their Corruptions, had need have no other Strife. A Contentious Town is not like to thrive in their Religion. Jam. 3.16. Where Envying and Strife is, there is Confuſion, and every evil Work. Contention puts the Spirits of Men out of Frame. They that are engaged in Contention, have too much Work; they have not leaſure to follow Religion to Purpoſe.
5 USE. Such Sinners as live in ſuch a Time and Place where Religion is reviving, ſhould put in for a ſhare. It is a Matter of Joy, to hear that others are Convicted, but much more to be Convicted your ſelf. And it may well be expected, that you ſhould be crying out, Bleſs me alſo. You ſhould Pray David's Prayer, Pſal. 106.4, 5. Remember me, O Lord, with the Favour that thou beareſt to thy People: O viſit me with thy Salvation: That I may ſee the good of thy Choſen, that I may Rejoyce in the Gladneſs of thy Nation, that I may Glory with thine Inheritance.
Conſider, 1. There is more hopes of obtaining now. Now there is a great Opportunity: Now God is on the giving Hand. It is the acceptable Year of the Lord. Luk. 4.19. There is a great deal of Encouragement in the Providence of God. If God be about to Convert many, there is hope he may pity you among the reſt. And you are under ſpecial Advantage by the Example of others, that may provoke you to Emulation. There be not ſuch bad Examples to be a Snare to you. You ſhould be aſhamed to come behind others.
2. It is more Dangerous to neglect now. If Men will neglect when they have more Helps and Advantages, it is to be feared, they will neglect when they have fewer. If Men are Hard-hearted when others are terrified, what will they be when others are Hard-hearted? If Men will not be ſtirred up at ſuch a time when there is leſs Temptation, what will they do when there is more? Jer. 12.5. If thou haſt gone with the Footmen, and they ha… …earied thee, how wilt thou contend with Horſes? And if in the Land of Peace wherein thou truſtedſt, they wearied thee, how wilt thou do in the ſwelling of Jordan?
FINIS.
End of the text · Solomon Stoddard, The Efficacy of the Fear of Hell to Restrain Men from Sin (1713)