Judgment Begun at the House of God, Sermon 1

Judgment Begun at the House of God · Sermon 1

Judgment Begun at the Houſe of GOD And the Righteous ſcarcely SAVED.

Bleſſed Peter's Prophecy of a dreadful Time of Viſitation, Conſidered; with his Alarm to the Godly; Advertizing them of their Danger, & Inciting their Precaution, and neceſſary Armament: And his Praemonition concerning the Enſuing Cataſtrophie of the Carnal and Ungodly.

Truths not Unſuitable for the Preſent Generations to Think on, Conſidering what Times are now in View.

By John Danforth, A. M. Paſtor of the Church at Dorchester.

Boſton, Printed by J. Allen, for N. Boone at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill. 1716.

p. 3Judgment Begun at the Houſe of GOD.

1 PETER IV. 17, 18, 19.

For the Time is come that Judgment must begin at the Houſe of GOD; and if it first Begin at us, what ſhall the End be of them that. Obey not the Goſpel of GOD! And if the Righteous be ſcarcely Saved, Where ſhall the Ʋngodly and Sinner appear? Wherefore let them that ſuffer according to the Will of GOD, Commit the keeping of their Souls to HIM, in Well-Doing, as unto a Faithful Creator.

THE Great Immanuel, GOD the Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is GOD and Man, is, by Delegation from p. 4GOD the Father, the Supream Magiſtrate, the Lord of Providence, and Abſolute Paramount, Sovereign of the Church and World, Viſible and Inviſible. In His Government, His Perfections of Sovereignty and Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs, Grace and Holineſs, Mercy and Faithfulneſs, Juſtice and Equity, are gloriouſly Reſplendent. To ſtrict Juſtice appertain His Commanding, Rewarding & Puniſhing, as a Judge Vindictive: To Grace and Mercy belong His Commanding, Rewarding, Puniſhing, Forbearing, and Pardoning as a Father; His Diſpenſations Refer either to the whole World, or to Particular Nations, Provinces, and Societies, and Families, or to Individual Perſons. And foraſmuch as the Infliction of Puniſhment upon Multitudes of Sinners of all ſorts, at one and the ſame time or ſeaſon; has a Tendency to ſtrike the greater Terrour, and to prevent the more Tranſgreſſion, & to demonſtrate the Lord's moſt impartial hatred of p. 5Sin; therefore, after ſeaſons of Long-ſuffering, and general Clemency and Beneficence, the LORD has His Remarkable Times of Judgment, or of Judicial Diſpenſation, wherein whole Nations, and all ſorts of Perſons in them, ſuffer Tribulation and Calamity; ſome for their Saving Amendment, and others for their Utter Deſtruction. 'Twas ſuch a Time with the Jewiſh Nation, and with many Gentiles alſo, in the Days of the Emperour Veſpaſian, when their Iniquity was full; whereof our Bleſſed SAVIOUR, and His Apoſtles premoniſhed Them; And in our Text, the Apoſtle Peter, gives 'em moſt ſolemn Advertiſement,

1. Of the near Approach of that Time of Judgment: [For the Time is Come:]

2. Of the Objects of its Influence, which are of two ſorts [called, ſome of them, The Houſe of GOD, or His Houſhold, and the Righteous, and Ʋs, that is Peter and his Fellow Chriſtians; p. 6and Others of them, The Ʋngodly and Sinners, and ſuch as Obey not the Goſpel of GOD: The Paenal Diſpenſations of thoſe Days, ſhould Affect both ſorts.

3. Of the Order of Diſpenſation; wherein the Priority is Aſſigned to the Godly; [Judgment must begin at the Houſe of God.]

4. Of the Meaſure and Degrees of the Diſpenſation of Judgment, and of its Iſſues and Events to the Godly, and to the Wicked; and he leaves it to their own Sanctified Reaſon, and inlightned Underſtandings to judge, how vaſtly different they would be: [If Judgment first begin at Ʋs, What ſhall the End be of them that Obey not the Goſpel of GOD? As if He ſhould have ſaid, your Reaſon will tell you it will be ſuperlatively miſerable and dreadful; The Wicked ſhall be in a much worſe Condition than the Godly, when the Great Judge takes them in Hand: If He is ſo impartially ſevere to His Children, in p. 7His Correcting of 'em as their Father; How terrible and ruinous unto 'em will the incurably Wicked find it to be, to be made to drink off the Dregs of the Lethal Cup of His fierce Wrath and Hatred, as their Almighty and Everlaſting Vindictive Judge and Enemy: [And Where ſhall the Ʋngodly and Sinner appear?] What will become of them? They ſhall be cut off from the Earth, and they ſhall have no Salvation, and Manſion in Heaven, (as the Learned Piſcator ſhews, and the courſe of the Apostles Argument ſtrongly imports it;] and therefore in Hell will they lift up their Eyes, being in Torments, as Dives, Luk. 16. They will appear there.

5 Of its being the Occaſion at leaſt, of extraordinary Temptations, and of extremity of Difficulty and Hazard to ſome of the Godly: So that they ſhall find it next to impoſſible, to avoid Everlaſting Deſtruction; and that they muſt ſtrain every Nerve to ſteer clear of Hell; and that they'l have a very p. 8narrow Eſcape to Heaven; and will be beholden to very Superiour Acts both of Grace and Omnipotency for that too. [Thus the Righteous are ſcarcely ſaved;] or (as the Original Word [Molis] may be alſo rendred) with huge Difficulty; Implying, that tho, the Elect's, paſſing thro' the ſtrait Gate, and their running in the narrow Way, and their daily Warfare with their Internal, External, and Infernal Enemies, and their Fitting for Heaven, and Getting to Heaven, are always, even in Times of moſt Gracious Diſpenſation, attended with no ſmall Danger and Difficulty; yet that in thoſe Times of Gracious Diſpenſation, its much EASIER in divers regards, to Proſecute an Eſcape from the Infernal Pit, & to Purſue the Race to Heaven, than in Times of Judicial Execution. However, tho' the Righteous, (that is, the Upright) be ſcarcely Saved; They ſhall be ſurely Saved notwithſtanding; & ſo ſhall not the wicked Reprobates be.

p. 96. Of the Duty and Relief of the Godly, when in extream difficulty and hazzard in ſuch Judicial and Calamitous Days, viz.

1. To Eye and Conſider the Will and Providence of GOD, that brings them into Sufferings, and to yield and ſubmit thereto. [To Conſider themſelves as ſuffering by the Will of GOD.]

2. To maintain a conſtant Practice, and a Good Conſcience of Well-Doing; in a Way of Obedience to the Goſpel of GOD.

3. Alſo their Souls being Created, (not Generated like their Bodies,) and the LORD having Promiſed to Receive them, & make them bleſſed, when they depart from their Bodies; And He being a moſt Faithful GOD to perform all that He has Promiſed; 'Twould be their Duty and Relief to Commit their Souls unto GOD, when their Bodies are to ſuffer Death, to repoſe & ſecure their Departing Spirits into the ſweet and unfailing Arms of their Reconciled Creator's Love and Faithfulneſs. p. 10[Wherefore let them that ſuffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their Souls unto HIM in Well-doing, as unto a Faithful Creator.]

The Firſt Doctrine from this Text that I propoſe to ſpeak to at this time as God ſhall help, is this, viz.

¶ 1. That at the Coming of Times of Deſtroying Judgment upon very wicked Nations, Judgment is wont firſt to Begin in a Corrective Way, at the Houſe of GOD; and then ſometimes, there are ſuch Hours of violent Temptation, and intolerable Oppreſſion and Diſtreſs permitted to paſs over the beſt Chriſtians in thoſe Nations, as wherein their Souls are indangered, and their Faith and Holineſs put into extream Hazzard, ſo as very narrowly to Eſcape an utter Overthrow; and the Difficulty of keeping in the Way to Heaven is made wonderfully great and extraordinary.

Prop. 1. Judgment uſually Firſt Begins in a Corrective Way at the Houſe p. 11of GOD. As good Figs are firſt plucked, and welted, and preſs'd down hard into a Cask, and then the refuſe and corrupt Figs are given over to be trampled, devoured, and utterly deſtroyed. So the Beſt in Judah were firſt carried Captive into Caldea for their Good, and then the incorrigibly Wicked were delivered to the Sword, Famine and Peſtilence, to be conſumed: Jer. 24.1,—10. The Cup of Fury is firſt given to Jeruſalem, and then to Egypt, and other wicked Nations: Jer. 25.15,—25. & 49.12. GOD's Sanctuary has the firſt handſel of Judgment: Ezek. 9.6. The Lord ſaith to the Land of Iſrael, I will cut off from thee, the Righteous & the VVicked, Ezek. 21, 3, 4. And firſt the Righteous are to be cut off, and ſent to Heaven, before the moſt Ruinous Evil is Inflicted on the Wicked: Iſai. 57.1. Our LORD Praedicted that the Days of Vengeance and Wrath ſhould come upon the Jewiſh Nation, to their dreadful and horrendous Overthrow; But p. 12that firſt His Diſciples muſt be hated of all men, and Perſecuted. Luke 21.10, 11, 12, 22, 23, 24.

Queſt. Why is it meet that Judgment ſhould begin Correctively at the Houſe of GOD, and that Regenerate Righteous Men ſhould not be exempted from it?

Anſw. Tho' 'tis not for finite and clouded Underſtandings, (ſuch as ours are,) to preſume over-curiouſly to ſearch into Heavens Myſteries of Government, and Reaſons of State; and who can by ſearching find 'em out unto Perfection? Yet enough being Revealed, not only to ſilence Objectors, but to ſatisfy and raviſh the moſt inquiſitive Minds. We ſhall with Reverence and Humility ſuggeſt a few Particulars, by way of Anſwer to that Enquiry, as to what we ſcantly apprehend of that Myſtery, which in its full latitude, is to us Incomprehenſible. We acknowledge, that Mercy is GOD's Attribute and Delight, & that the Godly are His Favourites; and that He doth His Work, his ſtrange Work, and p. 13brings to paſs His Act, His Strange Act, when He Cruſhes them with the Wheel of Judgment; Iſai …. But as to the Sufferers of Judg…

1. They muſt blame themſelves for Provoking it, and that they need ſuch dreadful Severity: They firſt commit ſin before they ſmart for't; and were they not wofully prone to it, Providence would not plant the Thorn-Hedge, nor draw the Flaming Sword to prevent 'em: Vile Ruſt firſt defiles 'em, before GOD's ſharp File comes to take it off: The Gold ſullies, before 'tis ſcour'd: The poiſonous ſwelling of the dangerous Tumour, neceſſitates its painful and bloody Launcing: Bitter Potions muſt be given to prevent a dangerous Relapſe: The Perſons of the Godly are freed by JESUS CHRIST, from the Hoſtile Hatred of GOD; Their guilty Obligation unto Everlaſting Puniſhment and Vengeance, and to all that Evil Temporal and Spiritual that abſolutely aſſures it, is Cancell'd p. 14by their Great Pardon in their Juſtification upon their Firſt Union with CHRIST, by the Spirit and Faith; But by their ſubſequent ſinful Excurſions, they multiply their guilty Expoſedneſs to ſuffer Corrective Puniſhments that may be inflicted on 'em to their ſmart; not to make any ſatisfaction at all to the Abſolutely Vindictive Juſtice of GOD for their Sins, for that's already fully done by the Blood of their Redeemer; but to ſhew forth His Holineſs, and that His Impartial Hatred of Sin, whereever He ſees it, may ſhine forth, & that, to the Everlaſting Glory of His Grace, Wiſdom, and Power, He may wonderfully work, unto the utter quaſhing, and ſubduing of their remaining Corruptions, and may prevent their breaking forth, even by the Oppreſſions and Diſtreſſes, that naturally tend to inflame, irritate, and ſtrengthen 'em. Are there two Divine Courts, one of Eternally Vindictive Juſtice, another of Fatherly Diſcipline, p. 15and merciful Government? 'Tis to the latter of 'em that the Saints muſt Cry for new Pardons for their daily Tranſgreſſions, & which before thoſe Pardons are granted, inflicts the Puniſhments, when Judgment begins at the Houſe of GOD. As after they are obtained, Fatherly Sovereignty yet proves their Patience and other Graces, with Trials of the firſt magnitude, ſometimes not Paenal, but of Free Grace, to be Recompenſed with far more exceeding and eternal weights of Glory.

2. Yea even proper Corrective Puniſhments tho' not Joyous but Grievous, yet ſerve to prepare 'em for the more Joy. Often where the Lord intends the moſt Comfort, He uſhers it in with the more Sorrow, to prevent ſurfeiting, and to ſecure their greater Humility and Thankfulneſs. The Sorrows of the true Church, are but Travailing Pains to bring forth Triumphs. Joh. 16.20, 21. Black Roots bear beautiful Flowers; The prodigious Fiſh that ſwallow'd Jonah, brought p. 16him to the Shore: Dark Colours prepare for an Overlaying of Gold: Jacob was firſt Lamed unto Halting, and then Bleſſed by the ANGEL of the Covenant. The Croſs in the Covenant makes way for the Crown. The Pleaſures that attend and follow our Enduring of Affliction with the People of GOD, are far more Eligible, than the Pleaſures of Sin. The Phyſician's love to the Patient, gives the Griping Medicines that produce a long & joyful Health. Whom the LORD loveth, He Chasteneth for their profit, that they may be partakers of His Holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the LORD, Heb. 12.6, 9, 10, 14. Precious Spice is thorowly pounded, to yield forth its moſt refreſhing Fragrancy & Virtue. Painters Grind with vile Pebbleſtones their richeſt Colours for their moſt glorious Pictures. Which leads to a Third Conſideration.

3. Wicked men the viler they are, are the fitter Inſtruments, being ſharpened with Spite and Rage, to cut p. 17deep gaſhes in the Godly. The Aſſyrian, who was the Rod of GOD's Anger, muſt not be caſt into the Fire of deſtroying Judgment, till the LORD had perform'd his whole work of Corrective Judgment on Zion, firſt of all by his cruel Hand. Iſa. 10.5.12. Therefore Judgment firſt begins at the Houſe of GOD; and the Wicked that often Execute it, are reſerved to ſuffer laſt, and ripen themſelves for ſuffering by their doing it; their Outrages againſt the Godly, filling up the meaſure of their Iniquity, that ſo Judgment may come upon 'em to the uttermoſt; the Righteouſneſs whereof appears moſt unexceptionable in that being Warn'd and Advertiz'd of the Impartial Juſtice of GOD, and His terrible Hatred of Sin, by His Severity on His People, they yet Sin with the more deſperateneſs; ſo that to wait any longer for their hopeleſs Recovery were vain. Thus are the Wicked left without Excuſe in Sinning, and cut off from all Hope of Eſcaping; p. 18and when they are Deſtroyed, this clears up the Glory of GOD's Juſtice, that has put an End to His Patience; They hereby appearing to have been Incorrigible. And if the Exuberances of green Trees muſt feel the ſharp pruning Knife, What ſhall be done to the dry? The Lord does not ſpare His own dear Children when they ſin, much leſs will He ſpare His Enemies. Cannot all the Graces & Good Works of Saints exempt them from ſharp Strokes, How then can the Wicked eſcape? Prov. 11.31. Well, 'tis meet that the Wicked do their Work before they receive their Wages, & that they fulfil GOD's Deſigns, tho' beſides their own Intention. Iſai. 10.7. And that they have the Warning, tho' they will not take it, and that their mouths be ſtop'd, but not their Execution▪ therefore Judgment firſt begins at the Houſe of GOD, though it ends in their Ruine only.

Prop. 2. Such Hours of violent Temptation and Diſtreſs ſometimes p. 19come upon the Godly, in Judicial Times, as fence up their Way to Heaven, with terrible Difficulties & Dangers; ſo that they are ſcarcely ſaved. Verily, the way of Chriſtianity, which is the only way that leads to Eternal Life, even in the times that are not Judicial, is ſtrait and difficult, and lined with dangers. Mat. 7.13, 14. Luk. 13.24. and few there be that find it; and they who find it, find it very hard to keep it. It lyes in a Myſtery. 1 Tim. 3.16. The Right Eye muſt be Pluckt out, and Hand and Foot Cut off, if ever men enter into Life. Mat. 18.8, 9. It's an hard thing to be Saved; Yea, with man it is impoſſible, and only poſſible with God. Mat. 19.23.—26. Ye cannot ſerve the Lord, ſaith Joſhua. Joſh. 24.19. It is not of him that Willeth or Runneth. Ro. 9.16. The Way to Life is not unfitly compared to the Way of the Children of Iſrael from Egypt to Canaan, which was thro' the Sea, and thro' a vaſt and howling Wilderneſs, a Land of fiery flying Serpents, Rocks, Sands, p. 20Pits, Drought, and of the ſhadow of Death, a Land that no man paſſed through, and where no man dwelt; a moſt tedious, difficult and dangerous Way. The Journey to Heaven is likened to a Race; the Saint in Running it, will find himſelf put to it, to ſtrive hard, and to ſtretch and ſtrain every Limb and Nerve, to win the Prize. Heb. 12.1. 1 Cor. 9.24, 25. Yea, 'tis a Warfare, and continual Battel, in which there's difficulty, hardſhip and danger enough. Eph. 6.12. 2 Tim. 4.7. 1 Cor. 9.26, 27

BUT when will the way of Life ceaſe to be Difficult and Dangerous? I anſwer, When 'twill be eaſy for an huge Camel to be ſpun into ſo fine a thread, as to paſs through the Eye of a Needle, (a thing as hard and painful, as dangerous!) Mat. 19.24. When there ſhall be no more fleſh or corruption in a Saint, to make its violent & virulent Oppoſitions and Oppreſſions; Rom. 8.7. When Worldly Luſts, Objects, Delights, and Inchantments have left off to war againſt the Soul; Mat. p. 2113. 1 Pet. 2.11. And when the bloody Dragons of Hell, and their inſtruments, ſhall never more Oppoſe this Way, nor obſtruct and depreſs thoſe that walk in it, with their utmoſt fraud and force, and ſpite and rage; then will this Way to Life Eternal, be free of difficulty and hazard. But Oh! how hard till then! Yet it leads to the beſt Eaſe and Reſt, Spiritual and Eternal; yet 'tis to the New Creature, a Way of Pleaſantneſs, and all its Paths are Peace. (Mat. 11.29. Prov. 3.17.) May we but keep therein, tho' with the greateſt Difficulty! But the Famous Mr. Shepard, in his Sincere Convert, has ſufficiently prov'd, that the Few that are Saved, are Saved with great Difficulty: And certainly they paſs through great Danger too, elſe why ſhould they be Commanded to Work out their Salvation with fear & trembling? Phil. 2.12.

Queſt. BUT, What are the Saints in ſuch extream danger of, in Judicial Times, and Hours of violent Temptation p. 22and Distreſs, they being in a State of Grace, and ſafe for Eternal Life? which is inſeparable from Regeneration and Justification.

Anſw. HAVING Provoked GOD by their former Sins in Times of Proſperity. By their Neglects of HIM, and of His Great Salvation; by their waxing lukewarm in Religion, and Practical Godlineſs, and loſing much of the POWER of it; by their Symbolizing with the Men of the World, and ſuffering themſelves to be Overcharged intemperately with Meats, Drinks, and Cares of this Life; by their Mutual Contentions, and want of Brotherly Kindneſs; by their Security, Laxneſs, Licentiouſneſs, and Proſtituting of GOD's Holy Table to the Profane, &c. They in Judicial Times, when the LORD lays Judgment to the Line, and Righteouſneſs to the Plummet, and is raiſed up in His Holy Habitation unto Wrath, becauſe of the Provokings of His Sons and of His Daughters, and is Reſolved p. 23to Plead out His Controverſy with them.

1. THEY'L be in danger of very Great and Awful Withdrawments of the Gracious Preſence and Influences of GOD: The LORD perhaps will never more in this World, be ſo Intimate with their Souls, as formerly He vouchſafed to be; They'll be forced to Cry out, as ſometimes David did, LORD! Take not Thy Holy Spirit from us! and to Complain, O LORD, when we Cry out, Thou heareſt not, but ſhutteſt out our Prayers: and that when they ſeek Him in His Houſe and Ordinances, they find Him not: & when they wait on Him, that there are no Anſwers from GOD, no Influences from GOD; & that the LORD has, tho' not totally and utterly, yet in a great degree Forſaken them.

2. THEY'll be in danger of Great and Diſmal Impairments of their Gifts and Graces: They'll find that their Light increaſes not, but decays; and that they grow Children in Underſtanding, p. 24wavering in the Truth, and toſſed to and fro with various winds of Doctrine, & are filled with Doubts and Darkneſs, and ſome of 'em near drown'd, ſometimes in the Flood of Error and Hereſy: They'll find alſo their Faith in GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, lamentably failing of its former Activity; and a doleful decay of their firſt Love and Zeal, and Heavenly-mindedneſs, and Patience, and Charity, and Purity growing upon them; ſo that they'll ſometimes ſigh, and ſay, O we can't Repent, we can't Believe, we can't Pray, we can't Love GOD; Alas! What ſhall we do?

3. THEY'll be in danger of being very much, for a time, given over to the Power of Satan; and to have Spiritual Plagues inflicted upon them; & then will they grow Uſeleſs, as broken Veſſels, as to all good Purpoſes; and do become for the time, the wretched tools and inſtruments of the Devil; and will find alſo, that becauſe by their Evil Deeds, they have made the p. 25Enemies of the LORD to Blaſpheme, therefore the Sword ſhall not depart from their Houſe, and that perhaps they themſelves may fall in the Common Calamity, and that Their GOD is a Conſuming Fire, ſo as that tho' He'l forgive 'em, and give 'em Repentance, yet He'l take Vengeance on their Inventions: So fearful is it to fall into the hands of the Living GOD. Ah Lord God! Who knoweth the Power of thine Anger? and all the Terrors of the LORD, & of His Fatherly Wrath, which ſometimes is like the Wrath or an Enemy, Who can bear them? This is GOD's Strange Act; & 'tis dreadful work indeed: And He doth it, that ſo His Children may be greatly Afraid of GOD, (as David, when Ʋzza was ſmitten,) and may Tremble at Sinning, with an holy Horror and Abhorrence of it. But let us Conſider theſe things more particularly.

1. They're in danger of being ſmitten by the Divine Judgment, with a Spiritual Lethargy and Stupidity; ununder p. 26which their Hearts will be Hardened from GOD's Fear, and they'll Err from His Ways; & they'll grow Cold, Dry, Inſipid, as to Spiritual Things; Negligent of Religion; Unſavoury, Atheiſtical, Proud, Vain, Earthly-minded; Having their Conſciences feared as with a red hot Iron; & tho' ready to be Preſs'd to Death with intolerable Loads of Guilt, they'll not feel it, but make it their daily work to lay on more Weight; But they'll have no Sacrifices of Broken and Contrite Spirits for GOD's Altar. Thus 'tis with many Thouſands in the Day of GOD's Anger (who as Job ſpeaks) have yet the Root of the Matter in them, and the Seed of GOD, altho' ſadly buried under the Clods: And many Wiſe Virgins (as in the Parable) are ſo overwhelm'd with their Sick Sleep, as to Lie for Dead, for a Seaſon, and but Few Waking Noahs and Daniels left in a Nation.

2. They are in danger of being Judicially Given over to make Affinity p. 27with Falſe Worſhippers, to Marry the Daughters of a Strange GOD, which will prove ſnares to their Souls, and they'll grow eaſy in the ſeeing and hearing of, and in tampering (againſt their Light and Conviction) with Superſtition, and Idolatry, and Abominable Worſhip, which GOD's Soul hates; and when GOD's Zealous Miniſters do lift up their Voice, like a Trumpet, they'll be very Angry, and fall out with 'em (as once King Aſa was wroth with the Seer,) and then the moſt of their faithful Prophets being taken to Heaven, or Baniſhed from 'em by Perſecution, they'll be fitted with a Sett of Men, in their ſtead, of a Vile Spirit; Like People, like Prieſts; Blind Leaders of the Blind; Teachers that will cauſe them to Err, and Daub with Ʋntempered Mortar, and Propheſy Peace to the Wicked, to prevent their turning from their Evil Ways.

3. THEY will moreover in ſuch a Dreadful Day of Viſitation, be (many of 'em) Judicially Left to fall into p. 28Groſs Scandals; ſuch as Drunkenneſs, Vain Company-keeping, Fornication, Unrighteous-Dealing, Profane Swearing and Curſing, Bitter Contention, Scoffing, Diſobedience to Superiours, Headineſs, Mutiny, and Murder, to the Diſgrace of their Holy Profeſſion, the Opening of the Mouths of Adverſaries, and the putting of a Sword into their hands, to Deſtroy themſelves & their Brethren with, and to the High Provocation of Heaven, & deep wounding of their own Souls, and the making of ſad work for a long and bitter Repentance.

4. THEY'll be in Danger, that then the LORD will ſend on them Vexation and Rebuke and Aſtoniſhment, making their Heavens to be Braſs, and their Earth Iron, and the Rain of their Land, Powder and Duſt; Delivering their Fruits and Increaſe to Devourers, Blaſting 'em in all their Labours and Intereſts, and Delivering them into the hands of their Oppreſſours, and cauſing Them that Hate 'em to Rule over Them, who will ſubtilly and cruelly p. 29Oppreſs 'em, and barbarouſly Exact upon 'em, Cruſh 'em, Impoveriſh 'em, and Pluck from 'em their Eſtates and Livelihoods, and their Children out of their Boſoms, to be made Sacrifices to Moloch, and Vaſſals of Idolatry; Hurry their Miniſters, if not out of the World, yet out of the Land; Forbid their Holy Worſhip, under ſevereſt Penalties; Demoliſh the Synagogues of GOD among 'em; Put a Yoke of Iron upon their Necks, and make 'em to know the Difference between the Service of the LORD, and the Service of Shiſhak.

5. THEY'll be in Danger of Remaining Incorrigible under all theſe Things, and of ſtill Pining away in their Iniquities, and Waxing Worſe rather than Better. Until, that thro' the fierce Wrath of the LORD of Hoſts, their Land be Darkned, & ſuch a Time Come on them as may be Called, The Hour and Power of Darkneſs; and ſo violent the Perſecution be, that they'll be glad to Eſcape (with their p. 30Lives) into Foreign Lands, whoſe Languages they underſtand not, and to get their Bread by hard Labour, and the Benignity of Strangers: But vaſt Multitudes of 'em may be Debar'd the Priviledge of ſuch an Eſcape; and be Dragoon'd with utmoſt and moſt barbarous Cruelty, to the danger of an horrendous Abjuration, (againſt their Conſciences,) of the Holy and Saving Truths, Ways, and Religion of the Glorious LORD JESUS CHRIST; and far leſs Temptation and Torment having vanquiſh'd Holy Peter, and Cranmer, before them, 'tis the leſs wonder if they (being forſaken of GOD, and under a Judicial Diſpenſation) Sink under the Danger, and fall into that Enormous Tranſgreſſion. And what of this Kind has fallen out among ſome of the moſt Renowned Witneſſes of CHRIST, in the Illuſtrious Nation of France, is enough to ſtrike us all with Dread, and to awaken us to Walk Humbly and Watchfully, and p. 31Prayerfully before GOD, as long as we Live; May it be Sanctified to us.

6. THEY'll be in Danger not only of Deſerting their Brethren that have, by the Grace of GOD, remained ſtedfaſt in the Truth, but alſo of Turning againſt 'em; Sins very heinous in the ſight of GOD, and very perilous to the Souls of Men; which yet ſome Godly Perſons in the ſtreſs of Temptation have fallen into.

Yea, They'll be in danger of being ſo ſcandalized & offended at CHRIST Himſelf, becauſe He Delivers them not, when They Cry unto Him, as to be Ready to Blaſpheme HIM in their Hearts, and think Him, either Unable to Help 'em, or Unkind, Unjuſt, Unfaithful, and Falſe to His Promiſes (while He is True to His Threatnings;) and thereupon to fling away from Him, in a Rage, & to Conceive Malice in their Hearts againſt Him; And ſuch near Approaches will they make to the Unpardonable Sin, and will be under ſuch violent Temptations p. 32thereunto, as that nothing leſs than Infinite Almighty Power and Mercy will be Able to keep them from Committing it, to their Eternal Ruine. For as ſome of the Reprobates are almoſt Perſuaded to be Christians, and are near to the Kingdom of GOD; ſo ſome of the Elect are almost in all Tranſgreſſion, almoſt in the Unpardonable Sin againſt the HOLY SPIRIT, and near to the Internal Burning Lake.

7. WHEN at the Laſt, the Infinite Mercy of GOD ſhall Revive His Work in them, Awakening and Recovering 'em; They having Gone ſo Far from GOD, will find it exceſſively Hard, and an huge Work to Return again: and that the Work of Conviction, Humiliation, Compunction, Contrition, muſt be acted over again, (as Dr. Ames ſhews, as alſo the Engliſh Divines at the Synod of Dart;) and they muſt be (as it were) Converted again; and Oh how intolerably will their Conſciences Rage and p. 33Sting! How will GOD alſo ſmite 'em with the Terrors of His Wrath; and the Arrows of the Almighty that are ſhot within 'em, Drink up their Spirits! How will their Bones wax old thro' their Roaring all the Day! for a wounded Spirit who can bear? And Oh what Danger are They in, that GOD ſhould Deliver 'em to Satan to Buffet and Terrify 'em, that they may Learn not to Blaſpheme! And tho' GOD ſhall help 'em to Recant their Abjurations, and Renew their Profeſſions; Yet what an Almanack will they feel in their Bones? What Heart-Aches, and Darting Pains may they carry with 'em to their Graves? What Fears and Anguiſhes? Oh! how long at the very Brink of Deſpair, and in the very Suburbs of Hell! and perhaps Sav'd at laſt, by the Faith of Dependance, without the Faith of Aſſurance; Trembling to take the Sleep of Death, leſt they ſhould Awake in Hell Torments: This is their Danger; and Thus they are ſcarcely Saved.

p. 34AND thus deals the Prudent Maſter with His Immorigerous and Truantly Scholar; He Slaſhes him till the blood runs about his Heels; and then ſaith to him, How do you like this? This is for your Diſobedience to your Master, and your neglect of your Book: See what an Evil and Bitter Thing it is for you to provoke Me. Thus Earthly Judges count it fit to do unto Capital Malefactors, whom they are reſolved not to Deſtroy; but have Interceeded for them, and Procured 'em the Royal Pardon; Long muſt they Ly in the Dungeon, under the Sentence of Death, and at laſt be drag'd in Chains to the Place of Execution, faſtened to the Gallows, and call'd upon to make their Confeſſions, and to ſay their laſt Prayers, and the Cloth be Pulled over their Eyes, they having no Aſſurance of a Pardon, till after all this, 'tis to their Surprize, Produced and Read under the Gallows: Thus they are made to feel and know the Terrors of the Law, while (unknown to themſelves) they p. 35were really ſafe from the fatal Stroke, by the Grace of the Royal Prerogative. Yea, this Judicial Diſpenſation of Heaven to ſome True Believers that have Joined in Rebellion againſt the LORD, is like as if a Prince, the Heir Apparent of the Crown, ſhould be in Arms with a Company of Rebels againſt his Father; and thereupon his Father ſhould ſend his Army againſt him, and they having Vanquiſhed and Taken him, he ſhould put him into Chains, Torture his Deareſt Companions, and Fellow Conſpirators before his Eyes; ſtrip him of his Ornaments, Baniſh him his Preſence, Lock him up Priſoner in the Tower, ſet ſtrong Guards upon him, and keep him in ſuſpenſe of his Life, and of his Succeſſion to the Crown, for many years; that ſo he may Learn the Wiſdom, no more to preſume becauſe of his Title of Succeſſion to the Crown, his Relation to the King, and his Hopes of his Fathers Love and Pardon; to indulge his Folly in Committing ſuch p. 36Faults as in their own Nature are Capitally Heinous, but may Return to his Allegiance to his Father; and at laſt obtain the Inheritance of the Kingdom, notwithſtanding all his wicked Forfeitures thereof.

USE I. Is the LORD ſo SEVERE in His Corrective Judgment, and do the Sins of His Saints then procure 'em ſuch Terrible Dangers and Diſtreſſes? Let us then Labour after a Due & Abiding Senſe of the Majeſty & Glory of that Glorious GOD and Sovereign, With whom we have to do; and an holy Abaſement in the ſenſe of our infinite Diſtance from Him, and Vileneſs before Him; together with a Religious awful Fear on our Souls in holy Duties, and in our whole Courſe, from the Conſideration of the Great Danger there is of Sinful Miſcarriages, & of His Severity againſt 'em. O may we ſo know the Terrors of the LORD, even of our Covenant-GOD, our FATHER, our REDEEMER, our COMFORTER, p. 37as may effectually move and excite our Souls unto Conſtant, Spiritual, Filial Care and Diligence, not to Provoke ſo Great, ſo Holy, ſo Jealous a GOD; And ſince of our ſelves, without Special Divine Aid and Aſſiſtance, notwithſtanding Grace Inherent, we cannot Keep to Walk in the Strait Path, or Preſerve our ſelves from Great Tranſgreſſions; Let us daily Cry to Heav'n for thoſe Gracious Influences, whereby impreſſed, We may ſerve GOD acceptably, with Reverence and Godly Fear; ſeeing that our GOD is a CONSƲMING FIRE, Hebr. 12.28, 29. Oh! How many Elect Believers in a Great Nation of late years, have been Saved, yet as thro' Fire, and have had their Works Burnt, & themſelves ſo Scalded and Burnt to the very Bone, as to make 'em Roar out, as if they had been in Hell, till the Divine Compaſſions vouchſafed at laſt, to Pluck em, as Brands near Conſumed, out of the Burnings, and apply p. 38Healing Ointments to them. Let us then Learn to Fear the Great and Dreadful Name of the Lord our God, and not Preſume, becauſe of our Intereſt in Him, to indulge our ſelves in any Negligences, Sloth, Security, Worldlineſs, Pride, Strife, Unrighteouſneſs, or Licenciouſneſs: Nor let us be Drunken or Unchaſt, or Vain Company-keepers, or leud Talkers, as others; but let us Watch and be Sober; The bleſſed Lord JESUS will not Save us in our Sins, but from our Sins. To turn the Grace of GOD into Wantonneſs, will greatly abuſe and affront the Mercy, and provoke the Diſpleaſure and Wrath of the Redeemer, who has his Eyes as a Flame of Fire, and his Feet as fine Braſs, and has a Rod of Iron to Puniſh with, as well as Golden Robes, and Crowns of Glory to Reward with; and as He has Pity and Patience, ſo He has Severity alſo: Who ſhall not Fear Thee, O Lord, Thou King of Saints? Thou only art Holy, & Thy Judgments are made manifest, p. 39Rev. 15, 3, 4. Then being moved with Fear, Let us Remove our Truſt, Hopes and Love from our Idols, and Flee to the Saving Ark, and keep cloſe in it by Faith, as Noah. Heb. 11. Being moved with Fear, let us Strive to Enter in at the strait Gate, and to Walk in the narrow Way, and to Run the Race that is ſet before us, and Carefully to avoid the Paths of the Destroyers. Let us Labour to be ſo happy, as to Fear always; To paſs the Time of our ſojourning here in fear, and to keep working out our Salvation with Fear and Trembling; the Lord Working in us both to will and to do of His own good Pleaſure. Let us be Giving of all Diligence to make our Calling and Election ſure: Faith in the LORD, and Fear of GOD, are bleſſed Companions and Guardians one to another; if we loſe them, we loſe all our Religion; In the Divine Precept and Promiſe GOD has join'd them together, and let no man put them aſunder.

p. 40USE II. SINCE Times of Judgment are ſo Diſmal to the Godly, Let us Humbly and Earneſtly Wait on GOD to be Preſerved from them, in the Uſe of Appointed Means. The Times Come not wherein Judgment begins at the Houſe of God to Puniſh the Saints, till the LORD is moved to Jealouſie, by the Provokings of His Sons and of His Daughters, and until the Sins of the Times have Generally Prevailed, and the Godly are Defiled: Moreover ſome Churches of Saints having kept the Word of Christ's Patience, ſhall be kept by Him from the Hour of Temptation, which ſhall Come upon all the World beſides: Rev. 3.10. And taking heed to themſelves, that at no time their hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenneſs, and Cares of this Life; and Watching and Praying always, they may be favoured and dignify'd ſo far, as to Eſcape the Terrible Things of the Evil Days that ſhall Come, &c. Luk. 21.34.—36. Furthermore, where, in the Divine Decree & Promiſe, p. 41the Means and End are inſeparable, and GOD enables us duly to Uſe the Appointed Means, we may moſt certainly Conclude, that He has infallibly Decreed the End. Dread we then all Gradual Departures from the LORD, all Fallings away, and Apoſtacy, all Provoking Evils: Be we the LORD's Witneſſes in the World; Keep up both the Form & the Power of Godlineſs; Do Juſtly, and Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with our GOD; Daily Lay the Sacrifices of Broken Hearts upon His Altar; Live, Holding to our Glorious Head, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and Deriving Favour, Righteouſneſs, Virtue and Strength, and Acceptance from Him; Enter we into His Chambers, & Hide we our ſelves with Him, until the Indignation be Over-paſt: Cry mightily to GOD (with greateſt ſenſe of our Unworthineſs of it) for His Sovereign Diſtinguiſhing Mercy; That we may be His Favourite-Noahs, and ſafe in the Ark, from the Overwhelming p. 42Deluge. The LORD ſaid unto Noah, Come thou and all thy Houſe into the Ark; For thee have I ſeen Righteous before Me in this Generation: Gen. 7.1. As He ſaid alſo to King Joſiah, Becauſe thine Heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thy ſelf before the LORD, &c. Thine Eyes ſhall not ſee all the Evil which I will bring upon this Place, 2 Kings 22.19, 20.

USE III. LET us be very Thankful to GOD, that we have not yet felt the Scorching Heat, & Terrible Dangers of the Fiery Times of Judgment, as Thouſands of others have done, even in our Days; ſome of whom have found Refuge among us. The ſame Years that have been Times of Judgment to ſome, have been Times of Grace, Mercy, and Long-ſuffering to us. Tho' the LORD has not Left us altogether Unpuniſhed, yet our Miniſters are not Baniſhed, nor our Children (excepting a few in Captivity) forced from us, and brought up in Soul-Destroying Popery; Nor our Holy Aſſemblies p. 43broken up, nor Dragoons let in upon us, to Torture us a thouſand ways, and Compel us to Blaſpheme & Abjure our Holy Religion, thereby to Oppreſs us with Guilt, to ſet our Conſciences on the Rack, and overwhelm us with the Divine Terrors. Are we better than others, and leſs Sinful and Vile? Do we Eſcape the Woful Day, becauſe of our Godlineſs and Righteouſneſs, that is greater than theirs? No verily. Why are they made our Examples and Warnings, and not we theirs? 'Tis from the LORD's Sovereign Grace and Good Pleaſure; which therefore we ſhould Adore and Celebrate with all Thankfulneſs; and often ſhould think with our ſelves, what grateful Returns of Fruitfulneſs we ſhould make & render to the LORD, for all His Benefits, diſpenſed unto Us. Pſal. 116.12.

USE IV. LET us Pray fervently to GOD for thoſe who now do, or ſhortly muſt feel the Tempeſt of the Times of Judgment. God hath ſaid, p. 44Becauſe I will do thus unto thee, Prepare to meet thy GOD, O Iſrael! Amos 4.12. Let us Pray then, that they and we may be prepared: and our Bleſſed Saviour hath ſaid, Except the Lord had ſhortned thoſe days, no fleſh ſhould be ſaved; But for the Elect's ſake whom He has Choſen, He hath ſhortned the Days; Mark. 13.19, 20. Wherefore with ſubmiſſion to, and in Proſecution of that Decree, Let us make our humble Addreſſes, that the LORD will not ſuffer the Rod of the Wicked to lie very long on the Lot of the Righteous, to compel them to put forth their Hands to Iniquity. Pſal. 125.3. Nor will Himſelf be ſorely Angry with 'em from Generation to Generation. Pſal. 85.4, 15. But that He'l vouchſafe to Deliver and Recover 'em ſpeedily. Pſal. 31.2. The Recovery of ſuch as fall (and many Fall fearfully in Judicial Times, Dan. 11.35.) is to be obtain'd by earneſt Prayer. Jam. 5.15. And the Vengeance that is to be Poured out on the Great Antichriſt; p. 45and on others, before or at the Time of the Calling of the Jews, and of loſt Iſrael, will make Judicial Times in theſe latter Days. Rev. 18.4. Dan. 12.1. Times, wherein, if the Juſt would Live, they muſt Live by Faith, in Prayer. Hab. 3. Wherein the Unbelieving and Prayerleſs will come to a Miſerable End; but they that Call on the Name of the LORD, ſhall be Saved.

So much for the Firſt Doctrine.

The Second Doctrine is this, Viz.

¶ 2. When Times of Deſtroying Judgment are Come upon very Wicked Nations, & the Beſt Chriſtians then in the Houſe of GOD among 'em, do meet with very terrible Corrective Diſpenſations: The Impenitently wicked Reprobates in thoſe Nations, living in Diſobedience to the Goſpel, will act very irrationally, if they promiſe themſelves an Eſcape from Deſtruction; they having no juſt pretences, p. 46whereon they may Ground their Hope thereof.

What elſe remains for them, but a fearful Expectation of Fiery Indignation to devour 'em. Heb. 10.27. If ſuch cannot Eſcape as neglect the Great Salvation, Heb. 2.3. How can ſuch hope to Eſcape as Reject it, with Defiance of the Glorious Saviour? That Sentence from the Mouth of the Great Judge is Unalterable, Luk. 13.3.5. Except ye Repent, ye ſhall Periſh. The Wicked ſhall be Turned into Hell, & the Nations that forget GOD. Pſal. 9.17. On the Wicked, GOD will Rain Fire, Brimſtone, and an horrible Tempeſt. They that finally will not be Saved from their Sins, ſhall be Damned. In the Day of ſore Viſitation, the LORD will hurl 'em from off the Earth by His Tempeſt, and in Hell ſhall they open their Eyes, being in Torments. Job 27.21. Luke 16.23. What Evangelical Preachers were the Holy Prophets, Iſaiah and Jeremiah? And what fearful Perdition was the p. 47Portion of Diſobedient Reprobates in their Days? Jer. 42.22. And how many Thouſands of the Goſpel-Deſpiſing Jews afterwards were diſpatch'd into an horrendous Eternity, in a Time of Judgment, in the Reign of the Emperour Veſpaſian? When GOD lays Judgment to the Line, and Righteouſneſs to the Plummet, and His own People Eſcape not fore Puniſhment; all the moſt flouriſhing Pretences of the Wicked to Hope of Eſcape, are Vain.

Their Uſual Pretences are,

1. The Infinite Mercy of GOD. But GOD may be (and is) of an Infinitely Merciful Nature, and yet not be Merciful to Wicked Tranſgreſſors: Pſal. 59.5. He that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them, will ſhew them no favour; Iſai. 27.11. Almighty GOD is as Infinite in Juſtice, as in Mercy: and Incorrigible Sinners are fit Objects for His Juſtice to be Glorify'd upon, and no longer for His Mercy & Patience to be abuſed p. 48by 'em: To what Purpoſe is it to waſte any more Time upon them, who are already as Stubble fully dry, fit fewel for Unquenchable Fire? They obſtinately perſevere in their Rejection of CHRIST, and of the Mercy of GOD in HIM, freely offered to 'em, ſo that they can lay no Claim to the Divine Mercy, on CHRIST's account; and it's impoſſible they ſhould have it otherwiſe: Now if thoſe who are in CHRIST JESUS, and lay Claim to the Mercy of GOD by Faith, & have a good Title to it, yet Eſcape not ſore Temporal Puniſhments for their Sins, much leſs can Chriſtleſs Sinners expect to Eſcape. Surely GOD will Reject their Plea for Mercy, who obſtinately & incorrigibly Reject CHRIST and Mercy. Prov. 1.24.31.

2. Another of their uſual Pretences is, that they will Repent of their Sins, and Believe in CHRIST JESUS afterwards: But,

1. That of their own Free-will they will ever Savingly Repent and Believe, p. 49it is utterly to be deſpaired of; the Malignity of their Wills appearing to be Inſuperable and Incurable by all Means: After ſo many years Withering and Hardning, it's impoſſible that of Themſelves they ſhould Recover to Life and Fruitfulneſs.

2. From the Lord they have no hope: For when the Time of Deſtroying Judgment is Come, it's too late for ſuch as have out-ſtood their whole Day of Grace, to expect His Salvation. GOD is weary of Waiting, and HIS SPIRIT will no longer strive with them. Gen. 6.3. Their Iniquity is full? The Set Time for Offers of Mercy is Ended: The LORD being Angry, is riſen up, and has ſhut the Door, they being without: Luk. 13.25. Mercy has had its long Days, and now Juſtice and Fury muſt have Theirs; The Days that are now Come upon 'em, are not Days of Patience, but Days of Vengeance; they have no Promiſe, no Ground to flatter themſelves with Expectation that GOD will give p. 50'em the Faith and Repentance which they hate, and are continually doing all they can to harden themſelves againſt. They therefore will act very Irrationally, if they Promiſe themſelves an Eſcape from Deſtruction.

USE. Have the Wicked no Juſt Pretences to Hope for Eſcape from Deſtruction, and horrendous Ruine, when the Day of God's Patience is Ended? And ſhall it be eaſier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Judgment, than for the Rejecters of the Goſpel, and for Rebels againſt the Light? And will it be e're long too late to ſeek for Peace with God? I ſay too late, when the Day of Grace is Ended! Let them then be Convinced, that 'tis moſt Reaſonable, and account it their wiſdom, duty, and intereſt, that they take the Preſent Time, to ſeek Recovery from their Wicked and Damnable Eſtate; Not Delaying a Day longer; Not daring to put off this moſt Important Work, till afterwards. GOD p. 51calls for it to Day, Pſal. 95.7. Heb. 4.7. And againſt GOD's Will, to Defer it, is highly Criminal: Sin Grows and Multiplies by Continuance, which augments the fierce Wrath of the Almighty; Pſal. 95.10, 11. By Continuance alſo the Mind is more Blinded, & the Heart more Hardned, and ſet the further off from Repentance; Eph. 4.18. Heb. 4.7. Sin Roots the Deeper, and is the harder to be Rooted out: Jer. 13.23. A Purpoſe of Deferring of Repentance, and a Sincere Purpoſe to Repent, Conſiſt not together. 1 Pet. 4.3. Sinners, They are uncertain of the Continuance of their Lives, Jam. 4.13, 14. and of having a further Day for to Repent in; and as uncertain that God will beſtow His Saving Influences on 'em, afterwards, (if they Reject His Preſent Calls,) without which they cannot Repent. The Man is a Fool or Mad, who when His Houſe is on fire, delays but one Hour, His Endeavours to Quench it; Or when He dangerouſly falls a bleeding, neglects to p. 52Stanch the Blood; Or when Timber is falling on His Head, will not in an Inſtant, ſpring away; or when Cannons are Levell'd, and firing at a Particular Place where He ſtands, will not forthwith make an Eſcape from it. In a State of Wickedneſs and Impenitence the Danger is far Greater, and to Linger (as Lot in Sodom) and to delay to Get out of that Eſtate, & Danger, is a greater Folly and Madneſs. Menace and Peril of Everlaſting Vengeance and Torments Weigh very Heavy, when put into the Scales of Thought and Conſultation; and they are far from Wiſe, that make light of them. Conſider then, that Mens State ſince the Fall of Adam, & of Mankind in Him, is either a State of Sin, or a State of Grace: Conſider alſo, that in a State of Sin, which is a Chriſtleſs, Graceleſs Eſtate, He that Lives and Dies in it, will be caſt into Hell Fire: For the Perſon that is not before he Dies, Saved by the LORD JESUS, from his Sins, ſhall be Damned p. 53for ever: Do Sins of Heart, Lip' and Life Reign over a Man all his Days, all his Pretences to hope of Eſcape are Vain; for he has not the Spirit of Chriſt; and if a Man has not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his; and if he be none of Chriſt's, then Chriſt has not ſatisfied Infinite Juſtice for his Sins, and then the Divine Juſtice will Seiz him, and Puniſh him in the Burning Lake to all Eternity: For the Criminalneſs and Heinouſneſs of Sin, is not to be Meaſured by the Time in which, ſo much as by the Object againſt whom it is Committed▪ Pſal. 51.4. Is the Object, the Infinite God? then is Sin Infinitely Heinous! and if Puniſhment muſt lie on the Sinner, till adequate Satisfaction is taken of the finite Creature, for his Infinite Guilt, then it muſt Continue on him for ever. Let Sinners then be Awakened to Conſider this; Let them Hear it and Know it for their Good: before it's too late for 'em poſſibly to Obtain an Eſcape: If the Pain of an p. 54aking Tooth for one day, is ſometimes intolerable; Think then, how intolerable will be the Pains and Torments of Soul and Body in Hell, Millions of Millions of Days, Years, Ages, for Ever! No Tongue indeed can ſufficiently Expreſs all the moſt dreadful Tortures of the Damned: And yet (believe it Sirs!) If unto the End of your Days, you remain groſly Ignorant of thoſe Fundamental Truths that pertain to Spiritual Life, you will be Damned. Eph. 4.18. Woe to them that Reject Knowledge; and Wo to them that are without Viſion: Without Knowledge the Heart is not Good, and without Viſion the People Periſh: And are you ſtupidly, willingly ignorant of Fundamentals Truths of Religion in a Land of Light? O how deep and dreadful will your Damnation be! Again, Are you Fundamentally Erroneous as long as you Live? Know of a Certainty, that you ſhall be Damned! Acts 15.24. Gal. 5.19,—21. 2 Pet. 2.1. & 3.16: Again, If you do not acknowledge p. 55your ſelves to be deſtitute of all Righteouſneſs in & of your ſelves; if you do not plainly go out of your ſelves, denying your own Righteouſneſs; If you do not ſee your ſelves utterly Undone, ſhould you not Preſent your ſelves before GOD, with a Perfect and Infinitely Valuable Sacrifice & Righteouſneſs? and if you do not Apprehend that the LORD JESUS CHRIST, His Sacrifice and Righteouſneſs are infinitely ſufficient in this Caſe, (which will be Imputed to you, and become Available for you, upon your being United to CHRIST, by the Spirit & Faith;) And if you don't Eſteem CHRIST JESUS, and prefer an Intereſt in Him, above all the World, its Riches, Honours, Pleaſures; If upon the Gracious Invitation, Call, & Command of GOD in the Goſpel, you do not heartily Come to CHRIST JESUS, Give up your ſelves to Him, intirely ſubject your Souls and Lives to HIM, as your Prophet, Prieſt & King; If you do not Truſt in Him, & Reſt p. 56on Him, for Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption, as the only and All-ſufficient Mediator and Redeemer: And if you Obtain not the Grace of Faith, thus to believe on the SON OF GOD, while you are in this World, You will certainly be Damned. John 3.18.

Again, If before you leave this World, it be not your inward Diſpoſition, Frame and Courſe, ſeriouſly to Oppoſe and Reſiſt, and to Endeavour to Suppreſs and Mortifie your ſinful Thoughts, Inclinations and Luſts, but you do give up your ſelves unto 'em, then you are not Regenerated, you are not United to Chriſt, but you ſhall be Damned: Rom. 6.12, 13, 16. And if upon Deliberation, it be your fixed frame and diſpoſition to Chuſe & Prefer Profit, Honour & Pleaſure, before Piety and Honeſty; If you have commonly more Pleaſure in, than Grief for, & Loathing of your ſinful Words, Thoughts, and Deeds, and continue heartily to Love, & to Solace your p. 57ſelves in the Company and Fellowſhip of the Ungodly, then it's Evident, you are not in a State of Grace, and infallibly (ſo Dying,) You ſhall be Damned. Phil. 3.19. Prov. 2.14. Pſal. 50.18. 2 Cor. 6.14, &c. If you deſire not the Knowledge of GOD's Ways, Job 21.14. If you hate to be Reformed, Pſal. 59.17. and if you ſlight the Threatnings and Judgments of GOD, Deut. 29.19. the fixed Diſpoſition of your Wills being contrary to the Holy Will of GOD, Rom. 8.7. You ſo Dying, ſhall be Damned.

Again, If you Bridle not your Tongues, your Religion is vain, Jam. 1.16. By your Words in the Great Judgment, you ſhall be Condemned, and Doomed to Hell-Fire, upon their Evidence and Guilt, Mat. 12.37. If 'tis your Unrepented, Unreformed Practice to the End, to ſpeak Words Atheiſtical or Blaſphemous, Profane, or Sacriligious, Curſing, or Vain-Swearing, Lying, or Perjurious, Defamatory, or Injurious, Reviling, or Irreverend; Bloody or Quarrelſome, Proud or Envious, p. 58Unchaſt and Wanton, Heretical and Diabolical, or any other way Vicious, You will be Damned; Jude ver. 14, 15. Pſal. 50.19, 20. And in Hell, you ſhall not have a Drop of Water to cool your Tongues: Vain Words, and Baſe Language, in a Courſe, ſhew a vile heart, even the Heart of an Iſhmaelite: As light as you make of your ill Words, they will be like a Milſtone to ſink you down into Irrecoverable Deſtruction: Again, as to your Actions and Omiſſions, if until you lie down in your Graves, you do, in your Courſe, Neglect, Secret daily Prayer, You ſhall be Damned, Mat. 6.6. and if you profanely and wickedly Neglect Family Prayer, Col. 4.1, 2, 3. Jer. 10.25. And if you ſo Neglect Publick Prayers, and the Word and Ordinances of GOD, publickly Diſpenſed, You ſhall be Damned; Heb. 10.25. Rom. 10.14. Or if you wilfully and wickedly Live in the Omiſſion of other Commanded Duties towards GOD, or towards Men, You ſhall be Damned; Mat. p. 5925.26, 42. & 5.19. Joh. 5.29. Luk. 13.3, 5.

If you impenitently while you live, do carry it wickedly towards your Parents, Children, or other Relatives, or towards your Rulers, or Teachers, or Neighbours, or Strangers, or Enemies, You ſhall be Damned; whether you carry your ſelves Proudly, or Enviouſly, or Cruelly, or Unjuſtly, or Unchaſtly, or Intemperately, or Implacably, or Treacherouſly, or Partially, or Corruptingly, or otherwiſe Scandalouſly, contrary to the Commands of GOD; or if you live in Secret Wickedneſs, when the Ax of Vengeance cuts you down; you ſhall be caſt into Everlaſting Burnings, Rev. 21.8. But the Fearful and the Ʋnbelieving, and the Abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Liars, ſhall have their Part in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone; 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. The Ʋnrighteous ſhall not Inherit the Kingdom of God, nor Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, p. 60nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, &c. Mat. 3.10. The Ax is Laid to the Root of the Trees: Therefore every Tree which bringeth not forth Good Fruit, is hewn down and caſt into the Fire. Where ſhall the Ʋngodly and Sinners Appear? When the Beſome of Deſtruction has ſwept 'em out of this World, they ſhall appear in Chains, and be Diſpatch'd from the Divine Preſence, into Everlaſting Torments. All that are not Saved from their Sins, ſhall be Damned: The Holy LORD JESUS Saves His People from their Sins, (as we ſaid before) But He Saves none in their Sins. Carnality, Security, Profaneneſs, Pride, Drunkenneſs, Whoredom, Strife, and Groſs Worldlineſs, and a Rebellious Spirit, and a Spirit of Scoffing and Deriſion at the Godly, and Godlineſs, Do ſo Dreadfully and Eternally Indanger many that Come in among us, and many more who are Born in the Land, that I am Conſtrained, in Compaſſion unto Souls; Knowing the Terrors of the Lord, to p. 61Uſe great Plainneſs of Speech, and to make ſevere Inculcations of Eternal Damnation, and to Warn Men to Flee from the Wrath to Come: I Beſeech you to Bear with Me: I must Warn the Wicked, and Woe unto Me, as well as to them, if I Do it not; I have the Word of the LORD, and muſt ſpeak it faithfully; and it's no ſeaſon for Silence or Flattery, when near Judgment and Eternity; and Oh that theſe Words may ſink down into your Ears and Hearts! that you may Tremble to think of Continuing one Day longer in a Carnal, Ungodly, Chriſtleſs State, wherein if you die, all your moſt flouriſhing pretences unto Hope of Eſcape of Utter Deſtruction are Vain.

But the Third Doctrine is, That

¶ Doct. III. The Grand Remedies which Chriſtians ſhould uſe againſt the Pannick Fear and Dread of Bodily Miſeries, and Death, that p. 62GOD may ſuffer them to be Expoſed unto, and Afflicted with, are a ſtedfaſt Perſeverance in the Way of Well-doing, together with a ſtrong Faith in the Faithfulneſs of GOD, the Creator of their Souls; unto whom They being well Committed, and put in Safety, Afflictions and Bodily Death may be born, with the Greater Courage.

The Conſtituent Parts of Man, are Soul and Body; And our Text and Doctrine refer unto Both: And tho' the Soul is Created (as our Divines prove by Reaſon, and by Scriptures, ſuch as our Text, and Iſai. 42.5. and 57.16. Ezek. 37.5. Zech. 12.1. Heb. 12.9. Numb. 16.22. & 27.16. Eccleſ. 3.21. & 12.7.) yet being United with a Body of Humane Seed, it comes under Obligation to, and Danger of Puniſhment; as the Husband is by Law, Expoſed to Demands and Diſtraints for his Wifes Debts. GOD, as the p. 63GOD of Nature, Creates Souls. But as the GOD of Juſtice, He in Creating them, Creates them, without Impreſſing His Image on them. Adam blew out that Candle, and left his Poſterity (deſcended from him by Ordinary Generation) in Darkneſs. Rom. 5.14.19. And tho' the whole Perſon, conſiſting of Soul and Body United, is the Subject of Guilt and Puniſhment, if Chriſtleſs, & (if United to CHRIST) of Juſtification & Salvation; yet Principally is the Soul ſo; which is the Nobler and Guiltier Part; (without which the Body is but a dead, ſenſeleſs Lump; Jam. 2.26. 1 Pet. 1.9.) yet Bodily Death is Terrible; and our LORD JESUS CHRIST came to deliver them who thro' fear of Death, were all their life-time ſubject to Bondage; Heb. 2.14, 15. But the Death of the Body in this World, is not to be feared, in Compariſon of the Deſtruction of the Soul, together with the Raiſed Body in the Eternal World; Mat. 10.28. Therefore CHRIST p. 64ſaith, Fear not Them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the Soul; But rather Fear HIM, who is able to Destroy both Soul and Body in Hell. If then Men's Souls are in ſafety, the Afflictions and Death of their Bodies may be born with the greater Courage; The Body feels no Pain, while the Soul is in Paradiſe: And as there are no Miſeries to the Godly, after Death; So none in this Life, but what the LORD Permits, and Mitigates ſo far, & ſo wonderfully ſupports under them, that they may be able to Bear them; 1 Cor. 10.13. And He makes them alſo to work together for their Good. Rom. 8.28. Now ſuch Regenerate Perſons as do with a Good Confidence of Faith, Commit their Souls to the Faithful GOD▪ and Intruſt them in the ſafe Arms of His Goodneſs, and Love, They take the Right Courſe to obtain Deliverance from the moſt Oppreſſive and Diſtreſſing Fears of Bodily Miſeries and Death: A Strong and Lively Faith in GOD thro' CHRIST, doth p. 65wonderfully overcome Worldly Fear; (1 Job. 5.4.) and Prevent puſillanimous Fainting; 2 Cor. 4.14, 18. We believe, ſaith the Apoſtle, & for that Cauſe we faint not, while we look at the things which are Eternal; for our light Affliction which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory; 2 Tim. 1.12. I ſuffer, (ſaith he) Nevertheleſs I am not aſhamed, For I know whom I have Believed, and I am perſuaded that HE is able to Keep that which I have Committed unto Him, againſt that Day: Thus David's and Simeon's exalted Faith gave 'em Peace from the Fear of Death: Pſal. 23.1, 3, 4, 5. The LORD is my Shepherd; He Restores my Soul; Tho' I walk thro' the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I'll fear no Evil, &c. So Luk. 2.28, 29. Lord! Now lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart in Peace, &c. They that can with a full aſſurance of Faith, truſt GOD, with their Souls, and Eternity, may with a great deal of quietneſs, ſatisfaction & reſt, Truſt GOD with their p. 66Bodies, and the Importances of Time, and Acquieſce in the Love, Care and Sufficiency of the Divine Providence; for He that Deſerves the Greater Truſt, doth ſurely Deſerve the Leſs. By Faith alſo the Saints Obtain the moſt Strengthning & Comforting Preſence & Influences of the ETERNAL SPIRIT, to Enable 'em to Vanquiſh their inordinate and exceſſive Fears of Death. Now that the Saint who has the Faith of Dependance, may alſo have the Faith of Aſſurance, together with all Courage and Joyfulneſs in Sufferings; he muſt Pray to GOD for a Stedfaſt Perſeverance in the Way and Courſe of Well-doing, according to the Goſpel, & ſtrongly Endeavour it. The Apoſtle Paul, a Great Believer, and a Great Sufferer, proved this Experiment with great ſucceſs: Herein exerciſing himſelf to have always a Conſcience, void of Offence, toward GOD, & toward man: Acts 15.16. And he found that his Uprightneſs gave him Boldneſs; and that Retaining himſelf in the Way of Well-Doing, p. 67he Received no great Impreſſions of Perturbations from the Apprehenſion of Approaching Tribulations; and that he could Die upon the Croſs, with Aſſurance and Courage; ſee Acts 20.24. 2 Tim. 4.8. So then to Fortify the Faith and Courage of the Believer on the SON OF GOD, (the Lord, our Righteouſneſs and Strength,) Well-Doing is a Good Means, and what it wants of Merit, it makes up in Evidence: Whereas Ill-Doing has Merit and Evidence enough to knock down the ſtouteſt Courage. Jam. 2.17 18. 'Twas well for King Hezekiah, that (when he had received the Sentence of Death,) He was able to ſay, LORD, I have Walked before Thee in Truth, and with a Perfect Heart; Iſa. 38.3. and his Safety for Eternity prevented not his being a longer Tenant of Time; he was fit, & might dare to Die, tho' 'twas not fit, that at that Time he ſhould Die. He that ſaid, Be of good Courage, GOD ſhall strengthen your Heart, all ye that Hope in the LORD; He himſelf was of Good p. 68Courage in the Way of Believing and Well-Doing, when he ſaid, Into Thy Hand I Commit my Spirit; Thou hast Redeemed me, O LORD GOD of Truth. Pſ. 31.1, 5, 6, 24. So alſo was that Heroick Martyr, who Expiring, ſaid, LORD JESUS, Receive my Spirit Acts. 7.59.

USE 1. Of Reprehenſion to ſuch Chriſtians as Securely Neglect to be Provided of theſe two great Remedies againſt a Cowardly & Diſtracting Fear of Bodily Miſeries and Death, and Live without Strength of Faith, and Conſtancy of Well-Doing. How many are there, who if a Rich and Honeſt Neighbour ſhould Promiſe to give 'em, but a Shilling, for every Day that they abſtained from Taverns, and Vain Company, & as much for every Morning and Night that they Prayed to GOD with their Families, and Read the Word of God unto 'em, and as much for every Time they Partook of the LORD's Supper, and as much for every day that they abſtained from bad Language, they would readily give Credit to ſuch a p. 69Promiſe of a Mortal Man, and to gain the Reward Promiſed, would be very Mindful of thoſe things, & they would break thro' all Excuſes, Pretences, Difficulties and Oppoſing Temptations, & would not fail moſt Exactly & Punctually to Perform 'em: But tho' Almighty GOD doth ev'ry day give e'm their Lives and Senſes and Reaſon, (worth more than many hundred Shillings,) and Promiſes them the future Needful Good Things of this Life, and an Infinite Reward in the Other World, They dare not Truſt Him, as they will truſt a Neighbour; and they account all to be an Uncertainty, tho' it be the greateſt Certainty of all; & are not ſo powerfully moved to Care, Diligence, Heedfulneſs, and Exactneſs by GOD's Proffers and Promiſes as by Mans: for let the Infinite GOD promiſe never ſo much, & give his Oath for it alſo, they'l ſuſpect the matter, and doubt that they ſhall never have it, and you'l find 'em careleſs of attending the Worſhip of GOD in Publick, and in their Families, p. 70and Laviſh of their Tongues, and Intemperate in their Cups, and ſordidly Penurious to Works of Piety and Charity; as if GOD's Promiſes were not worth a Ruſh. O ye of little Faith, and of little Holineſs! If you don't mend your Hand in Believing & Well-Doing, I'll not be your Voucher that you ſhall not Faint nor be Terrifyed, when Afflictions & Death ſhall Arreſt you; Or that you ſhall have an Open Entrance into the Kingdom, and Boldneſs in your Appearance before the Majeſty of GOD: I'm ſure you take the Courſe to the contrary.

USE 2. Of Exhortation to a Stedfaſt Perſeverance in the Way of Well-Doing, and a ſtrong Faith in the Faithfulneſs of GOD, and to a Committing of our Souls unto His Love, & into the Bleſſed Arms of His All-ſufficient Goodneſs. Our Souls will Fly out of the Arms of our Bodies e're long; Provide we then, that with the Wings of Aſſurance, they may fly up, upon Jacob's Ladder, into the LORD's Everlaſting p. 71Arms. Death is not ſimply and abſolutely to be Contemned; foraſmuch as 'tis a grievous Puniſhment for the Firſt Sin, and GOD's Rectoral & Fatherly Anger is manifeſted therein, when it ſeizes upon the Children of His Love: Yet a Pannick Dread of Death is a Great Enemy to the Holineſs and Comfort of the Saints; it ſometimes hurries them on, unto the Denial of their SAVIOƲR, & into other Great Tranſgreſſions; & at other Times, Clips the Wings of their Liberty and Chearfulneſs, in the Service and Communion of GOD: It's our Intereſt therefore to have Deliverance from it, by the LORD JESUS CHRIST; and His Spirit, and Grace, and Blood are ſufficient in this Caſe: Heb. 2.15. 2 Cor. 12.9. Eph. 3.16, 20. His Spirit ſtrengthening our Faith, it will vanquiſh our inordinate Fear, & Purify our Lives; and our Well-doing, thro' His Grace & Blood, being Well-pleaſing to GOD, as well as Evidential & Quieting to our own Conſciences, will not a little Help to Advance our Hope p. 72unto Courage and Joy, (when we are about to receive the Stroke of Death,) in our Committing of our dear, departing Souls, unto our Supream and Reconciled Father, and moſt Faithful Confederate in Heaven.

Let us then Clear up our Union to CHRIST, and Intereſt in the Promiſes, and Give all Diligence to make our Calling, and thereby our Election ſure, and Labour to be Strong in Faith, Giving Glory to GOD, as Abraham, and to be Watchfully in the Fear of GOD, and in a Way of Well-doing, Perfecting of that Holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the LORD: So ſhall we Cry, and the LORD will Anſwer, and the Comforter that ſhould delight our Souls, will not be far from us, when Trouble is near us; Light alſo ſhall ariſe to us in Darkneſs; and we ſhall have Remedy not only againſt Evil, but alſo againſt the Fear of Evil.

THE END.