Invitations to the Gospel Feast, Sermons · Sermon 7
SERMON VII.
We now proceed to another Obſervation, viz.
DOCTRINE III. Perſons are apt to make excuſes for their Sins.
WE find here, that when thoſe bidden to the Feaſt refus'd coming; they did not directly ſay they would not, or ought not to come, but made Excuſes for their neglect, ſome pretending one thing and ſome another for their not coming. So thoſe that are Inſtructed in the Doctrines of the Goſpel, and urg'd to accept of Chriſt as Offer'd therein, and yet refuſe ſo to Receive Him; they're apt to have Excuſes in their own minds for not coming, or ſecretly (if not openly) to Object ſomething or other, againſt their preſent, hearty ſubmitting to Chriſt as they're in duty bound. It's Natural to the proud Hearts of Sinful Men, to make Objections againſt their Duty and Excuſes for their Sins. When God came to deal with Adam about his eating the forbidden Fruit, Adam did not take any direct blame to himſelf for his Grand Rebellion, but rather excus'd himſelf laying the blame on his Wife: yea he ſeems to have remotely reflected on God Himſelf, ſaying to Him, Gen. 3.12. The Woman whom THOU gavest to be with me, ſhe gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. The Woman alſo Excus'd her ſelf ſaying, v. 13. The Serpent beguiled me and I did eat. Tho' both confeſs'd the Fact, that they did Eat the forbidden Fruit; yet they ſeem both to throw off the Fault and blame from themſelves Perſonally, the Man blaming the Woman, and the Woman blaming the Serpent, as the Tempting Inſtrument. Thus they made Excuſes, inſtead of taking ſhame and blame to themſelves for their Offence. It's very Natural to the Proud Hearts of Sinners, thus to Excuſe themſelves (as Adam and Eve did) for their paſt Offences: ſo they're apt alſo, to Object againſt, and Excuſe themſelves from, preſent Duty. Such were the Excuſes in our Text, for not doing what they were bidden to do. They pretended neceſſity, I have bought Land (ſays one) and I muſt needs, … …e it, &c. They were Invited to a Supp… ▪ What, was the Evening, was Supper time, a proper Seaſon to view Land, and to prove Oxen? Theſe were vain, frivilous Excuſes indeed. Well, tis very Natural for the ſinful hearts of Men, thus to Object againſt and Excuſe themſelves from their Duty. If they're mov'd and urg'd to Duty, not utterly thoughtleſs of it; yet they're prone to make ſome Excuſes or other (at leaſt in their own minds) for the neglecting of it. Since it is thus, the things contrary hereto ſhould be Prayed for. Therefore we ſhould Pray,
1. That God would give us an Openneſs, Readineſs & Freeneſs of heart to confeſs our Sins. It's an ill thing to Deny the Sins we're guilty of, to pretend to hide them from God, to extenuate or leſſen them in his Sight. Iſai. 29.15. Wo unto them that ſeek deep to hide their counſel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they ſay, who ſeeth us, and who knoweth us? God pronounceth a Wo againſt thoſe, who pretend to hide their Sins from Him: and when they try to Excuſe them, this is a ſort of Eſſay to hide them. Men will gain nothing by ſuch Methods, Prov. 28.13. He that covereth his Sins ſhall not proſper. But the more free and open Men are in confeſſing their Sins to God, taking the blame and ſhame thereof to themſelves, and truſting in His Mercy in Chriſt for Pardon, ſo much the better twill be with them. The Pſalmiſt expreſs…d a laudable Temper when he ſaid, Pſal. 38.18. I will declare mine iniquities, I will be ſorry for my Sin. When a Perſon is free, hearty and open in confeſſing his Sin to God, and in relying on his Mercy; then he's in the way of … …leſſing. Pſal. …2.5. I acknowledged my Sin unto … and mine Iniquity have I not hid: I ſaid I will confeſs my Tranſgreſſions unto the Lord, and thou forgaveſt the Iniquity of my Sin. We ſhould Pray therefore, that God would Inlighten our Minds, Convince our Hearts and Conſciences of our Offences, make us free and ready to confeſs them, and that He would help us to hope in His Mercy for Pardon. We ſhould Pray like Him: Pſal. 51.10. Create in me, a clean heart, O God; and renew a right ſpirit within me. Job 34.32. That which I ſee not, teach thou me: If I have done Iniquity, I will do ſo no more. Pſal. 139.23, 24. Search me, O God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. And ſee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way Everlaſting. We ſhould Pray
2. That God would incline and ſtrengthen us to Duty. God is the Giver of every good Gift, Jam. 1.17. He's the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh, He has all hearts in His Hand, and can turn them which way he will; I ſay, ſince tis ſo, we ſhould Pray, that God would not leave us to our ſelves, to make vain frivolous Excuſes, or Objections againſt Duty, but that He would incline and enable us to do duty. We ſhould therefore Pray, Turn me and I ſhall be turned, draw me and we will run after thee. So Pſal. 25.4, 5. Shew me thy ways teach me thy paths: lead me in thy truth and teach me. Pſal. 86.11. Teach me thy way, O Lord, I will walk in thy truth, unite my heart to fear thy Name. Pſal. 119.133. Order my ſteps in thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Let us thus Pray to God that He would keep us from making vain Excuſes; that He would make us truly Penitent for paſt Sins; and ſtrengthen us to great Sincerity, Conſtancy and Diligence in Duty for time to come.
DOCTRINE IV. Perſons are apt to make VARIOUS Excuſes for their Sins, or for Neglecting the Duties they are Obliged to.
Our Text tells us concerning thoſe bidden to the Feaſt, they all began to make Excuſe. Though all in General agre'd in this, even in making Excuſes, yet every one did not make the ſame Objection: they did not all inſiſt on one and the ſame Thing to Excuſe their not coming. One made one Excuſe and another made another; One had Bought Land another Oxen, another had Married a Wife; and their Concerns about theſe things hindred their coming. So that there was a Variety of Impediments & Obſtructions, ſome hindring one Perſon and ſome another from their Duty. And thus it is, as to the Grand Affair of Coming to Chriſt. Many Neglect it, ſome on one Pretence and ſome on another. Yea poſſibly the ſame Particular Perſon, may have Various Pretences in his own Mind, to hinder him from Heartily Cloſing with Chriſt on Goſpel Terms. Indeed Man's Heart Naturally is Deceitful above all Things and Deſperately Wicked, who can know it? Jer. 17.9. There's no knowing all the Deceit and Wickedneſs that is Naturally there. Who can Number up the Various Objections and Pretences they ſecretly have or make againſt the moſt Neceſſary Important Duty that can be? Beſides the Natural Deceitfulneſs of their own Hearts, Satan makes uſe of Numberleſs Wiles, Methods, Stratagems to Blind their Minds, and Hinder them from Duty. It's doubtleſs impoſſible to reckon up, the many and various Excuſes and Pretences Sinners often have (partly from their own Hearts, partly from Satans Temptations) to hinder them from heartily receiving Chriſt as Offer'd in the Goſpel. However I'll mention ſome of them, and indeavour ſome Reply or Anſwer thereto. Poſſibly ſome will ſecretly think to Excuſe themſelves,
EXCUSE I. Becauſe of the Difficulties and Hardſhips they muſt expect, if they Heartily Submit to Chriſt as Offered in the Goſpel.
Strait is the Gate, Narrow is the Way that leads to Life. Thoſe who would be the Sincere Diſciples of Chriſt, and obtain Salvation thro' Him; They muſt Deny themſelves, take up their Croſs and follow him, Mat. 16.24. Our Lord ſaid, Luk. 14.26 If any Man come to me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife and Children, and Brethren and Siſters; yea, and his own Life alſo, he cannot be my Diſciple. This Hating of his neareſt Relatives and his own Life too, ſignifies his Loving of Chriſt more than them, as 'tis Explained, Mat. 10.37, 59. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, is not worthy of me. — He that findeth his Life ſhall loſe it. The plain meaning is, we muſt Love Chriſt above all Creature Enjoyments whatever; ſo as to part with Liberty, Eſtates, all our Outward Comforts, our Deareſt Relatives, and Life it ſelf too, rather than Deny Chriſt, Sin againſt or Diſpleaſe Him. It means that we muſt Deny our ſelves, our moſt Beloved Luſts, tho' they have been Dear to us as a Right Hand or Right Eye; we muſt Deny and Forego all manner of Self-Intereſt, that is Inconſiſtent with Obeying and Honouring of Chriſt. We muſt cleave Cloſe to Chriſt through Thick and Thin, through all Difficulties, Reproaches, Sufferings though of Death it ſelf, that lye in the way of Obeying and Honouring Him. Thus muſt we do, if we would Approve our ſelves the Sincere Diſciples of Chriſt. Now ſome are apt to Object againſt the Hardneſs and Difficulty of theſe Terms. They are ready to ſay with the Slothful Man, Prov. 22.13. There is a Lyon without, I ſhall be ſlain in the Streets. And as, Joh. 6.60. This is an Hard Saying, who can hear it? If none can be the True Diſciples of Chriſt and Obtain Salvation thro' Him, but on the Fore-mentioned Terms; they are then ready to ſay as the Diſciples (when our Lord told them, It's eaſier for a Camel to go thro' the Eye of a Needle, than for a Rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God) Who then can be Saved? Mat. 19.24, 25. Indeed it is in the Wicked Hearts of Men to ſay, God's Ways are not Equal, Ezek. 18.29. And to charge Him with being an Hard Maſter, Mat. 25.24. They Reckon it Hard, Difficult, Unreaſonable to comply with the Terms which God propoſeth. They would be Excuſed from being Heartily, Throughly, Practically Religious; becauſe of the Difficulties and Hardſhips which do or may attend ſuch a Courſe of Life. Now to theſe Things I would ſay Two Things by way of Conceſſion; and then more Directly Reply or Anſwer to the Objection.
1. It is truly an Hard Difficult Thing, to be a Sincere Practical Christian. A Chriſtian Life is compar'd to Wreſtling, Running a Race, Fighting; which Imply Difficulty and Oppoſition, and a Perſon's Exerting his Skill and Strength to the Uttermoſt. It is no eaſy Thing for a Perſon to be ſincerely and ſteadily Watchful againſt his Spiritual Enemies, to with ſtand Satan's Temptations, to ſubdue and m…ify his own Corruptions. Thoſe moſt acquainted with Practical Chriſtianity, with the Power of Godlineſs; do know 'tis Difficult to Fight the good Fight of Faith. A Sleepy, Sluggiſh, Careleſs Frame of Spirit, is not fit for ſuch Work as this. No, Perſons muſt Watch and Pray, Watch and be Sober; Gird up the Loins of their Minds, put on and manage the whole Armour of God: They muſt ſteadily Reſiſt their Spiritual Enemies. And indeed it is no eaſy Thing, to be in ſuch a Temper as this, to Maintain it and Act accordingly. While we are here Cloathed with Fleſh, it is no eaſy Thing to have our Affections Mortified to, and W…ned from Outward Injoyments; and to get and keep our Hearts Cloſe with God, making His Word our Rule, and His Glory our End in all we do. This truly is Difficult Work, and requires Abundance of Care, Prayer, conſtant Watchfulneſs and Diligence.
2. Thoſe who will live as becomes True Diſciples of Chriſt, may expect to meet with more or leſs of Difficulties & Sufferings from without. 2. Tim. 3.12. All that will live Godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer Perſecution. Though no doubt many Saints live long in the World, and Quietly go out of it at laſt, without ſuffering Bonds, Impriſonments, Baniſhments, loſs of Goods, much leſs of Life for Chriſt's ſake; yet there are no True Saints but what ſuffer ſomething more or leſs, for the ſake of the True Religion. If they are not Perſecuted by the Hands, yet they are by the Tongues of ſome or other of the Wicked. It is common for the Wicked to Hate, Revile, Reproach Godly Perſons and Practices too. Our Lord ſaid to His Diſciples, Joh. 15.19. If ye were of the World, the World would love his own: but becauſe ye are not of the World, but I have choſen you out of the World, therefore the World hateth you. The Holy Prophets were Reviled, and had all manner of Evil ſpoken againſt them falſely for Chriſt's ſake, Mat. 5.10,—12. All therefore that will make Conſcience of their Ways, Walk Humbly and Cloſely with God, may expect to meet with Sufferings more or leſs for Religion's ſake: they may expect (to ſay the leaſt) to be Mock'd, Jear'd, Scoff'd at, if not grievouſly Slandered and Belyed by ſome or other of the Wicked. Having mention'd theſe two Conceſſions, we may now Anſwer directly to the Objection we are conſidering of, and ſay
1. Thoſe who do not become the ſincere Diſciples of Christ, are yet liable to meet with Difficulties and Sufferings even here in this preſent World. Piety is not the only Practice, that meets with Difficulties and Sufferings. Thoſe who are never Pious, often meet with great Difficulties and Diſtreſſes. Evil purſueth Sinners—the way of Tranſgreſſors is hard, Prov. 13.15, 21. Thoſe who think to eſcape Troubles, by being irreligious and regardleſs of God, are much miſtaken: they have no Promiſe of God to exempt them from Troubles, but are indeed under His terrible Threatenings. They're liable to and often meet with great Troubles, both Outward and Inward.
1. Outward Troubles. The irreligious Neglectors of God, are as liable as other Perſons are, to be greatly Afflicted by Bodily Sickneſs and Pain, by the Death of Relatives, by Diſappointments in Buſineſs, by Outward Loſſes in their Eſtate, whether it be by Fire, Storms, Unſeaſonable Weather, Common Thieves, Robbers, Publick Enemies, &c. As to things of this Nature, Gods Providence often verifies that Word of His, Eccl. 9.1, 2. All things come alike to all, there is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked. And then further, an irreligious neglect of God, often pulls down heavy Outward Troubles on thoſe guilty of it. Rom. 1.18. The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, against all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of Men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs. When the Apoſtle had mentioned Fornication, Uncleanneſs, Covetouſneſs, &c. he adds, for which things ſake the wrath of God comes on the Children of Diſobedience, Col. 3.5, 6. Tho' God ſometimes ſuffers the Wicked to flouriſh a while in great Proſperity; yet on the other hand, He often witneſſeth againſt their Sins, by pouring down His Wrath, even heavy Judgments for them. Nay further ſtill, thoſe who irreligiouſly neglect God, often take thoſe Courſes which naturally tend to bring Outward Troubles and Miſchiefs on them. Thus when they give themſelves up to Idleneſs, Gaming, Intemperance, Uncleanneſs, &c. Such a courſe directly tends to Impoveriſh them; beſides the diſgrace and ſting of Conſcience which they have into the Bargain. The Glutton and the Drunkard ſhall come to Poverty, and Drowſineſs ſhall cloth a Man with rags, Prov. 23.21. Yea many Practices of the Wicked, tends not only to bring Poverty and Diſgrace among Men, but alſo Bodily Pains, Sickneſſes, and Immature Death. Prov. 5.11. And thou mourn at the laſt, when thy Fleſh and thy Body are conſumed. So that ſuch Sinners, are often Martyrs (as it were) for the Devil and for their own Luſts; their ſerving of Sin and Satan, does as it were in a natural way bring theſe Evils on them. Are they afraid, leſt Perſecutors ſhould ſpoil them of their Goods and impoveriſh them for their Piety? Why their ſinful Practices bring them to the ſame want and Poverty. Their Idling, Gaming, Drinking to exceſs and other vile Practices, waſt and conſume their Eſtates that they are not worth a Groat. Are they afraid, that if they ſhould be ſeriouſly and practically Godly, they ſhould be meanly eſteemed, nay revil'd for being ſo? Why their vile Practices render them mean and contemptible, in the eſteem of all who have any common Honeſty or Sobriety. Are they afraid leſt they ſhould ſuffer Bodily Puniſhments, Pains, Confinements for Religion ſake? Why their vicious Practices often bring thoſe Bodily Pains, thoſe Confinements by Sickneſs which are very heavy and grievous. Nay, for their vicious wicked Practices they're often juſtly Impriſon'd, Fin'd, Whip'd and otherwiſe corporally Puniſh'd, yea ſometimes put to Death. Thus many ſuffer Martyrdom (as it were) for their Luſts: their Indeavours to gratifie their Luſts, bring theſe Miſeries on them. For the ſake of gratifying their Luſts, they rob and ſpoil themſelves of their Health, Eaſe, Credit, Liberty, Eſtate, yea and often of their Lives too. Perſons often procure to themſelves by their wickedneſs, as grievous Sufferings (in themſelves conſider'd) as the Godly almoſt ever meet with from cruel Perſecutors. And as the Wicked are thus liable to (and do often meet with) great Outward Troubles; ſo they're liable to and often meet with,
2. Great Inward Troubles. Indeed ſome Sinners by long Practiſing of Wickedneſs, have in a Sort benum'd and ſtupifi'd their Conſciences. Their Conſciences are ſeared as with an hot Iron, 2 Tim. 4.2. Being paſt feeling, they give themſelves over to laſciviouſneſs, to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs, Eph. 4.19. But Sinners dont preſently arrive at ſuch a degree of Stupidity, and Inſenſibility of Conſcience as this is: they often meet with many a rub and ſting of Conſcience, as they go on in their evil courſes. The very Heathen ſometimes had their Thoughts accuſing of them, Rom. 2.15. Nor is it eaſy to expreſs the great Terrors of Soul, the amazing diſquietments and horrors of Conſcience, which the wicked often meet with for their Sins. Iſai. 57.20. The wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot reſt, whoſe waters cast up mire & dirt. Indeed the wicked often have a Sort of War between their own Luſts; tho' they have not grace & corruption oppoſing one another, (as the Saints have) yet their Luſts do ſometimes ſo ſtruggle with one another, as to occaſion great diſquietment to them. Griping Covetouſneſs, pleads for Holding faſt what they already have of the World; and love to vain Company, humane Applauſe, Uncleanneſs, Intemperance and other vicious Practices, pleads hard for diſburſing what they have, for it's gratification. So that there's often a diſquieting tumultuous War, even between their own Luſts. Again, they're often Diſcontent, Murmuring, Repining, Fretting at the diſpenſations of Divine Providence; Env…ng the Proſperity of others: now theſe things fill them with uneaſineſs and diſquietment. And the reflections of Conſcience they often have, the Self-condemnings for their ill-Practices: theſe are unutterably perplexing to them. They're often ſo diſreſted by their accuſing Conſciences, that they're afraid of themſelves (as it were) afraid to be alone, afraid to give way to any ſerious thinking. Nay they often get into vain Company, take to exceſſive Drinking, and to other ill Practices; on purpoſe to ſtiffle the noiſe, ſtill the din, and dull the anguiſh and pain of their own Conſciences. And yet all the Methods they uſe, ſometimes can't give them any reſt within; their amazing horrors are unutterable, and ſometimes wickedly put them upon laying violent hands on themſelves, as did the Curſed Traytor Judas. Now theſe things which I have mention'd plainly ſhow, that if any think to eſcape Difficulties and Troubles by neglecting to be ſeriouſly Religious, they greatly deceive themſelves: for thoſe who irreligiouſly neglect God, are liable to and often meet with great Troubles Outward and Inward, even in this preſent World, beſides what they juſtly may look for in the next. Wherefore another Anſwer to the Objection, about the Difficulties and Sufferings of a Religious Life may be,
2. We are not ſure, that we ſhall meet with great Outward Sufferings for the ſake of Religion. Tho' if we are Seriouſly and Practically Godly, we may expect Scoffs and Jears (at leaſt) from ſome of the Ungodly and Prophane; yet we dont know that ever we ſhall be Perſecuted in our Liberties, Perſons or Eſtates. God can grant to His Churches, ſuch Rest as ſhall be for their Edifying and Multiplying, Act. 9.31. God can reſtrain the Wrath of Men, and often does ſo. If a Perſon becomes Practically Godly, and leads a long Life of true Piety, yet poſſibly God may preſerve him from bitter and heavy Perſecutions all his days. Or poſſibly Death may ſometimes remove the indangered Saint, and ſo take him away from the evil to come: Death puts the Godly beyond the reach of all Perſecutors. So that although we ſhould Love Chriſt above all Outward Injoyments, and ſhould be willing and ready to part with all of them rather than diſpleaſe Him; yet we dont certainly know that God will ever call us to ſuch a Trial. The Holy Ghoſt does not teſtify to all the Saints, as it did to Paul; that Bonds and Afflictions abide them in every City, Act. 20.23.
3. If we ſhould ſuffer never ſo much for Religion ſake, yet thoſe Sufferings will be but very ſhort. In general, our whole Life on Earth is but very ſhort, tis a Span, an Hand's Breadth, our days paſs away like a ſwift Ship, like a Tale that's told, like a vapour that appears for a little while and then vaniſheth away, Jam. 4.14. If our whole Life ſhould be fill'd with grievous Perſecutions for Chriſt's ſake, yet they would be but very ſhort. They are called the Sufferings of this preſent time, (Rom. 8.18.) and ſaid to be but for a Moment, 2 Cor. 4.17. What if our Houſes, Lands, Eſtates ſhould be taken away by Perſecutors? Why if they were not thus taken away, yet Death would ſoon ſeparate us from them. If our Lives ſhould never be in Danger by Perſecutors; yet Death would ſoon end them. We muſt ſoon part with all our Outward Injoyments, and Life it ſelf too, whether Perſecutors ever moleſt us or not; ſo that if Perſecutors ſhould take theſe away, we're only depriv'd of them but a little ſooner than otherwiſe it might have been. However, all Perſecutions for Chriſt's ſake, will be but very ſhort; therefore we ſhould by no means be frighten'd from Duty thereby.
4. When the Saints meet with great Sufferings for Religion, they commonly have great Inward Conſolations at the ſame time. The Soul is the chief part of Man. It's very certain, that Inward Diſtreſſes are more Grievous than Outward ones: and ſo, Inward Reſt, Eaſe, Quiet in the Mind is far preferable to any Outward Proſperity whatever. Now when the Saints meet with Outward Sufferings for Religion's ſake; they often have great Inward Eaſe, Quiet, Holy Joy and Satisfaction. The Apoſtles Rejoyced, that they were counted Worthy to Suffer Shame for the Name of Chriſt. Act. 5.41. As the Sufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our Conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.5. We Read of Perſecuted Saints, who took Joyfully the ſpoiling of their Goods, knowing in themſelves that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring Subſtance, Heb. 10.34. Though Paul and Silas were (for the ſake of Religion) in Priſon, with their Feet faſtened in the Stocks; yet ſuch Inward Joy they had, that even at Midnight they could Sing Praiſes to God, as well as Pray unto Him, Act. 16.24, 25. Perſecuted Saints, have Gloried in Tribulation, Rejoyced in their Grievous Sufferings. All the Scoffs, Jeers, Reproaches, Loſſes of Eſtate, Impriſonments, Baniſhments, Bodily Pains and Puniſhments they can poſſibly meet with for Piety's ſake, are not ſo Grievous and Afflictive to them, as 'tis Pleaſant and Joyful to their Souls, to have their Conſciences Teſtifying, that they have had their Converſation in the World in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity; and their knowing in themſelves, that they have in Heaven a better and an Enduring Subſtance. Hence they Chuſe the Ways of Piety, with all the Sufferings that can poſſibly attend them; rather than all the Profits and Pleaſures of an Irreligious Life. This was Moſes's Choice, Heb. 11.25, 26. Chuſing rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleaſures of Sin for a ſeaſon: eſteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treaſures of Aegypt; for he had reſpect to the Recompence of Reward. This was the Choice that Moſes made; he Prefer'd a Life of True Piety with all the Sufferings that could attend it, to a Life of Wickedneſs attended with the Pleaſures of Sin, the Honours of a Court, and the vaſt Treaſures of Aegypt.
5. It is Abſolutely Neceſſary to be Seriouſly and Practically Religious, in order to eſcape Future Endleſs Miſeries, and to obtain Future Endleſs Glories. There can be no reaſonable Doubt or Diſpute, about what's here Aſſerted. For He that Believes not ſhall be Damned, Mark. 16.16. Without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12.14. Why do any Object againſt being Religious, becauſe of the Difficulties that attend ſuch a Life? Alas, if they are not Sincerely Religious they muſt be Damned Eternally. Now all the Sufferings and Perſecutions Perſons can poſſibly meet with in this World, are meer Nothing compar'd to the Eternal Burnings of Hell, the Endleſs Torments of the Pit below, the Unquenchible Flames of the Wrath of God: Yet we muſt be Practically Godly, elſe we cannot poſſibly Eſcape Endleſs Inconceivable Miſeries in the Future World. We have ſhewed but now, that when the Saints ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake, they often have great Inward Joys at the ſame Time; but beſides all theſe preſent Joys, they ſhall have Rewards and Glories in the Future World too. Great ſhall be their Reward in Heaven, Mat 5.10,—12. If they ſuffer with Chriſt, they ſhall reign with Him, 2 Tim. 2.12. Now all the Perſecutions any can poſſibly ſuſtain in this World are Small, Light, Trivial, compared to the Happineſs they ſhall have hereafter. Rom. 8.18. For I reckon that the Sufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which ſhall be revealed in us. So 2. Cor. 4.17. For our Light Affliction which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more Exceeding and an Eternal Weight of Glory.
Theſe Things which I have mentioned ſhow, that the Objection, Excuſe or Pretence againſt being Practically Religious, becauſe of the Difficulties that do or may attend ſuch a Courſe, have no Weight in them: they are Empty and Vain. It is our Wiſdom and Intereſt to be Truly and Practically Godly, notwithſtanding all the Sufferings we can meet with for being ſo. Mat. 5.10,—12. Bleſſed are they which are Perſecuted for Righteouſneſs ſake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Bleſſed are ye when Men ſhall Revile you, and Perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of Evil againſt you falſely for my ſake. Rejoyce and be exceeding Glad; for great is your Reward in Heaven: for ſo Perſecuted they the Prophets that were before you.