Discourses on Various Important Subjects, Discourse 2

Discourses on Various Important Subjects · Discourse 2

p. 131Preſſing into the Kingdom of GOD.

DISCOURSE, II.

LUKE XVI. 16.

THE Law and the Prophets were until John: Since that Time the Kingdom of GOD is preached, and every Man preſſeth into it.

IN theſe Words two Things may be obſerved; Firſt, Wherein the Work and Office of John the Baptiſt conſiſted, viz. preaching the Kingdom of God, to prepare the Way for it's Introduction to ſucceed the Law and the Prophets. By the Law & the Prophets, in the Text, ſeems to be intended the ancient Diſpenſation under the Old Teſtament, which was received from Moſes and the Prophets. Theſe p. 132are ſaid to be until John; not that the Revelations given by them are out of Uſe ſince that Time, but that the State of the Church founded and regulated, under God, by them, the Diſpenſation of which they were the Miniſters …, and wherein the Church depended mainly on Light received from them, fully continued till John; who firſt began to introduce the New Teſtament Diſpenſation, or Goſpel-State of the Church; which with its glorious ſpiritual and eternal Privileges and Bleſſings, is often called the Kingdom of Heaven, or Kingdom of God John the Baptiſt preached that the Kingdom of God was at Hand. That is the Account that we have of his Preaching, by the Evangeliſts, Repent, ſays he, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand: Since that Time, ſays Chriſt, the Kingdom of God is preached. John the Baptiſt firſt began to preach it; and then after him, Chriſt, and his Diſciples, preached the ſame. Thus Chriſt preached, Matth. 4. 17. From that Time Jeſus began to preach, and to ſay, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand. So the Diſciples were directed to preach, Matth. 10. 7. And as ye go preach, ſaying, the Kingdom of Heaven is an Hand. It was not John the Baptiſt, but Chriſt that fully brought in, and actually eſtabliſhed this Kingdom of God; but he as Chriſt's Forerunner, to prepare his Way before him, did the firſt Thing that was done towards introducing it. The old Diſpenſation was aboliſhed, and the new brought in by Degrees; as the Night gradually ceaſes, and gives Place to the increaſing Day, which ſucceeds in it's Room: Firſt the Day Star riſes; next follows the Light of the Sun it ſelf, but dimly reflected, in the dawning of the Day; but this Light increaſes, and ſhines more and more, and the Stars that ſerved for Light during the foregoing Night, gradually go out, and their Light ceaſes, as being now needleſs, till at length the Sun riſes, and enlightens the World by his own direct light, which increaſes as …e aſcends higher above the Horizon, till the Day …ar it ſelf is gradually put out, and diſappears; agreeable to what John ſays of himſelf, John 3. … He muſt increaſe; but I muſt decreaſe. John was the Forerunner of Chriſt, and p. 133Harbinger of the Goſpel-Day; much as the Morning-Star is the Forerunner of the Sun. He had the moſt honourable Office of any of the Prophets; when as the other Prophets foretold Chriſt to come, he revealed him as already come, & had the Honour to be that Servant that ſhould come immediately before him & actually introduce him, & even to be the Inſtrument concern'd in his ſolemn Inauguration, as he was in Baptizing him. He was the greateſt of the Prophets that came before Chriſt, as the Morning-Star is the brighteſt of all the Stars, Matth. 11. 11. He came to prepare Men's Hearts to receive that Kingdom of God, that Chriſt was about more fully to reveal and erect. Luke 1. 17. To make ready a People prepared for the Lord.

Secondly, We may obſerve wherein his Succeſs appeared, viz. in that ſince he began his Miniſtry, every Man preſſed into that Kingdom of God that he preached. The Greatneſs of his Succeſs appeared in two Things;

1. In the Generalneſs of it, with Regard to the Subject, or the Perſons in whom the Succeſs appeared; every Man: Here is a Term of Univerſality; but 'tis not to be taken as univerſal with Regard to Individuals, but Kinds; as ſuch univerſal Terms are often uſed in Scripture. When John preached there was an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God, that attended his preaching; and an uncommon Awakening, and Concern for Salvation, appeared on the Minds of all ſorts of Perſons; and even in the moſt unlikely Perſons, and thoſe from whom ſuch a Thing might leaſt be expected; as the Phariſees, who were exceeding proud, and ſelfſufficient, and conceited of their own Wiſdom and Righteouſneſs, and looked on themſelves fit to be Teachers of others, and uſed to ſcorn to be taught; and the Sadducees, who were a kind of Infidels, that denied any Reſurrection, Angel, or Spirit, or any future State: So that John himſelf ſeems to be ſurprized to ſee them come to him, under ſuch Concern for their Salvation; as in Mat. 3. 7. But when he ſaw many of the Phariſees and Sadducees come to his Baptiſm, he ſaid unto them, O Generation of Vipers, Who hath warned you to flee from the p. 134Wrath to come? And beſides theſe, the Publicans who were ſome of the moſt infamous ſort of Men, came to him, inquiring what they ſhould do to be ſaved. And the Soldiers, that were doubtleſs a very profane, looſe, and profligate ſort of Perſons; they made the ſame Inquiry Luke 3 12▪ & 14. Then came alſo Publicans to be baptiſed, and ſaid unto him, Maſter, What ſhall we do? And the Soldiers likewiſe demanded of him, ſaying, And what ſhall we do?

2. His Succeſs appear'd in the Manner in which his Hearers ſought the Kingdom of God, they preſſed into it: It is elſewhere ſet forth by their being violent for the Kingdom of Heaven, and taking it by Force. Matth. 11. 12 From the Days of John the Baptiſt until now, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffers Violence, and the Violent take it by Force.

The DOCTRINE that I obſerve from the Words is this.

IT concerns every one that would obtain the Kingdom of God, to be preſſing into it.

In diſcourſing on this Subject, I would

Firſt, Shew what is that Way of ſeeking Salvation that ſeems to be pointed forth, in the Expreſſion of preſſing into the Kingdom of God.

Secondly, Give the Reaſons why it concerns every one that would obtain the Kingdom of God, to ſeek it in this Way.

And then make Application.

I. I would ſhew what Manner of ſeeking Salvation ſeems to be denoted by preſſing into the Kingdom of God.

1. This Expreſſion denotes Strength of Deſire. Men in general, that live under the Light of the Goſpel, and be not Atheiſts, do deſire the Kingdom of God; that is, they deſire to go to Heaven rather than to Hell; but moſt of them are not much concerned about it; but on p. 135the contrary live a ſecure and careleſs Life. And there are thoſe that are many Degrees above theſe, that are under ſome Degrees of the Awakenings of God's Spirit, that yet are not preſſing into the Kingdom of God. But they that may be ſaid to be truly ſo have ſtrong Deſires to get out of a natural Condition, and to get an Intereſt in Chriſt: They have ſuch a Conviction of the Miſery of their preſent State, and of the extreme Neceſſity of obtaining a better, that their Minds are as it were poſſeſſed with, and wrapt up in Concern about it: To obtain Salvation is deſired by them above all Things in the World: This Concern is ſo great that it very much ſhuts out other Concerns: They uſed before to have the Stream of their Deſires after other Things, or it may be had their Concern divided between this and them; but when they come to anſwer the Expreſſion in the Text, of preſſing into the Kingdom of God, this Concern prevails▪ above all others; it lays other Things low, and does in a Manner engroſs the Care of the Mind.—This ſeeking eternal Life ſhould not only be one Concern that our Souls are taken up about, with other Things; but Salvation ſhould be ſought as the one Thing needful, Luke 10. 42. And as the one Thing that is deſired, Pſalm 27.4.

2 Preſſing into the Kingdom of Heaven denotes Earneſtneſs and Firmneſs of Reſolution. There ſhould be Strength of Reſolution, accompanying Strength of Deſire, as it was in the Pſalmiſt in the Place juſt now refer'd to; One Thing have I deſired, and that will I ſeek after. In order to a thorough Engagedneſs of the Mind in this Affair, both theſe muſt meet together; beſides Deſires after Salvation, there ſhould be an earneſt Reſolution in Perſons to purſue this Good as much as lies in their Power; to do all that in the Uſe of their utmoſt Strength they are able to do, in an Attendance on every Duty, and reſiſting and militating againſt all Manner of Sin, and to continue in ſuch a Purſuit.

There are two Things needful in a Perſon in order to theſe ſtrong Reſolutions in him: there muſt be a Senſe of the great Importance & Neceſſity of the Mercy ſought, and their muſt alſo be a Senſe of Opportunity to obtain p. 136it, or the Encouragement there is to ſeek it. The Strength of Reſolution depends on the Senſe which God gives the Heart of theſe Things. Perſons without ſuch a Senſe may ſeem to themſelves to take up Reſolutions; they may as it were force a Promiſe to themſelves, and ſay with in themſelves, I will ſeek as long as I live, I will not give out till I obtain, when they do but deceive themſelves, their Hearts are not in it; neither do they indeed take up any ſuch Reſolution as they ſeem to themſelves to do; 'tis the Reſolution of the Mouth more than of the Heart; their Hearts ben'… ſtrongly bent to fulfil what their Mouth ſays,. The Firmneſs of Reſolution lies in the Fulneſs of the Diſpoſition of the Heart to do what is reſolved to be done. Thoſe that are preſſing into the Kingdom of God have a Diſpoſition of Heart to do every Thing that is required, and that lies in their Power to do, and to continue in it: They have not only Earneſtneſs, but Steadineſs of Reſolution: They don't ſeek with a wavering unſteady Heart, by Turns, or Fits, being off and on; but 'tis the conſtant Bent of the Soul, if poſſible, to obtain the Kingdom of God.

3. By preſſing into the Kingdom of God is ſignified Greatneſs of Endeavour. 'Tis expreſſed in Eccleſ. 9. 10. by doing what our Hand finds to do with our Might. And this is the natural and neceſſary Conſequence of the two foremention'd Things; where there is Strength of Deſire, and Firmneſs of Reſolution, there will be anſwerable Endeavours: Perſons thus engaged in their Hearts will ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, and will be violent for Heaven; their Practice will be agreable to the Counſel of the wiſe Man, in Prov. 2. at the beginning, My Son, if thou wil… receive my Words, and hide my Commandments with thee; ſo that thou inclin thine Ear unto Wiſdom, and apply thine Heart to Underſtanding: Yea, if thou crieſt after Knowlege, and lifteſt up thy Voice for Underſtanding; if thou ſeekeſt her as Silver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hid Treaſures; then ſhalt thou underſtand the Fear of the Lord, and find the Knowlege of God. Here the Earneſtneſs of Deſire and p. 137Strength of Reſolution is ſignified by inclining the Ea… to Wiſdom, and applying the Heart to Underſtanding; and the Greatneſs of Endeavour is denoted by crying after Knowlege, and lifting up the Voice for Underſtanding, ſeeking her as Silver, and ſearching for her as for hid Treaſures: Such Deſires and Reſolutions, and ſuch Endeavours go together.

4 Preſſing into the Kingdom of God denotes …n Engagedneſs and Earneſtneſs, that is directly about that Buſineſs of getting into the Kingdom of God Perſons may be in very great Exerciſe and Diſtreſs of Mind, and that about the Condition of their Souls; their Thoughts and Cares may be greatly engaged and taken up about Things of a ſpiritual Nature, and yet not be preſſing into the Kingdom of God, nor towards it; becauſe the Exerciſe of their Minds is not directly about the Work of ſeeking Salvation, in a diligent Attendance on the Means that God hath appointed in order to it; but ſomething elſe that is beſide their Buſineſs; it may be about God's Decrees, and ſecret Purpoſes, prying into them, ſearching for Signs whereby they may determine, or at leaſt conjecture, what they be, before God makes them known by the Accompliſhment of them; and diſtreſſing their Minds with …ears that they be not elected, or that they have committed the unpardonable Sin, or that their Day is paſt, and that God has given them up to judicial and final Hardneſs, and never intends to ſhew them Mercy, and therefore that 'tis in vain for them to ſeek Salvation; or intangling themſelves about the Doctrine of original Sin, and other myſterious Doctrines of Religion, that are above their Comprehenſion. Many Perſons that ſeem to be in great Diſtreſs about a future eternal State, get much into a Way of perplexing themſelves with ſuch Things as theſe. When it is ſo, let them be never ſo much concerned and engaged in their Minds they can't be ſaid to be preſſing towards the Kingdom of God; becauſe their Exerciſe is not in their Work, but rather in that which tends to hinder them in their Work: If they are violent, they are only working violently to intangle themſelves, and lay Blocks in their p. 138own Way: Their Preſſure is not forwards: Inſtead of getting along, they do but looſe their Time, and worſe than meerly looſe it; inſtead of fighting with the Giants that ſtand in the Way to keep them out of Canaan, they ſpend away their Time and Strength in conflicting with Shadows, that appear by the Way ſide.

Hence we are not to judge of the Hopefulneſs of the Way that Perſons are in, or of the Probability of their Succeſs in ſeeking Salvation, only by the Greatneſs of the Concern and Diſtreſs that they are in; for many Perſons have needleſs Diſtreſſes that they had much better be without. 'Tis thus very often with Perſons that are over run with the Diſtemper of Melancholly; whence the Adverſary of Souls is won't to take great Advantage. But then are Perſons in the moſt likely Way to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven, when the Intent of their Minds, and the Engagedneſs of their Spirits, is about their proper Wor… and Buſineſs, and all the Bent of their Souls is to attend on God's Means, and to do what he commands and directs them to. The Apoſtle tells us, 1 Cor. 9 26. that he did not fight as thoſe that beat the Air. Our Time is ſhort enough; we had not need to ſpend it in that which is nothing to the Purpoſe. There are real Difficulties and Enemies enough for Perſons to encounter▪ to employ all their Strength; they had not need to waſte it in fighting with any Phantoms.

5. By preſſing into the Kingdom of God is denoted a breaking through Oppoſition and Difficulties. There is in the Expreſſion a plain Intimation of Difficulty. If there were no Oppoſition, but the Way was all clear and open▪ there would be no Need of preſſing to get along. They therefore that are preſſing into the Kingdom of God, go on with ſuch Engagedneſs, that they break through the Difficulties that are in their Way: They are ſo ſet for Salvation that thoſe Things by which others are diſcouraged, and ſtop'd, and turn'd back, don't ſtop them, but they preſs through them. Perſons ought to be ſo reſolved for Heaven, that if by any Means they can uſe they can obtain, they will obtain. Whether thoſe Means be difficult or eaſy, croſs or p. 139agreable, if they are requiſite Means of Salvation, they ſhould be complied with. When any Thing is preſented to be done, the Queſtion ſhould not be, Is it eaſy, or hard? Is it agreable to my carnal Inclinations or Intereſt, or againſt them? But is it a required Means of my obtaining an Intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, and eternal Salvation? Thus the Apoſtle, Philip 3. 11. If by any Means I might obtain the Reſurrection of the Dead. He tells us there in the Context, what Difficulties he broke through, that he ſuffered the Loſs of all Things, and was willingly made conformable even to Chriſt's Death, tho' that was attended with ſuch extreme Torment and Ignominy.

He that is preſſing into the Kingdom of God, commonly finds many Things in the Way that are againſt the Grain; but he is not ſtop'd by the Croſs that lies before him, but takes it up and carries it: If there be ſomething that it is incumbent … him to do as he is one that ſeeks Salvation, that is croſs to his natural Temper, and is irkſome to him on that Account, or ſomething that he can't do without Suffering in his Eſtate, or that he apprehends will look odd and ſtrange in the Eyes of others, and expoſe him to Ridicule and Reproach, or any Thing that will offend a Neighbour, and get his ill Will, or ſomething that will be very croſs to his own carnal Appetite, he'll preſs through ſuch Difficulties: Every Thing that is found to be a Weight that hinders him in running this Race, he caſts from him, though it be a Weight of Gold or Pearls; yea, if it be a Right Hand or Foot that offends him, he'll cut them off; and won't ſtick at plucking out a Right Eye with his own Hands. Theſe Things are inſuperable Difficulties to thoſe that are not thoroughly engaged in ſeeking their Salvation; they boggle exceedingly at them; they are ſtumbling Blocks that they never get over. But it is not ſo … with him that preſſes into the Kingdom of God: thoſe Things that, before he was thoroughly rouſed from his Security, he uſed to ſtick at, and was wont to have long Parlyings and Diſputings with his own Conſcience about, and ſet carnal Reaſon p. 140to work to invent Arguments and Pleas to excuſe himſelf from, he now ſticks at no longer; he has done with this endleſs Diſputing and Reaſoning, and preſſes violently through all Difficulties; let what will be in the Way, Heaven is what he muſt, and will obtain, not if he can without Difficulty, but if it be poſſible. He meets with Temptation; the Devil is often whiſpering him in his Ear, ſetting Allurements before him, magnifying the Difficulties of the Work he is engaged in, telling him that they are inſuperable, and that he can never conquer them, and trying all Ways in the World to diſcourage him; but ſtill he preſſes forward: God has given and maintains ſuch an earneſt Spirit for Heaven, that the Devil can't ſtop him in his Courſe; he is not at Leiſure to lend an Ear to what he has to ſay.

I come now,

II. To ſhew way the Kingdom of Heaven ſhould be ſought in this Manner.

It ſhould be thus ſought

1. On Account of the extreme Neceſſity we are in of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven. We are in a Periſhing Neceſſity of it: Without it we are utterly and eternally loſt. Out of the Kingdom of God is no Safety; there is no other hiding Place; this is the only City of Refuge, in which we can be ſecure from the Avenger that purſues all the Ungodly. The Vengeance of God will purſue, overtake, and eternally deſtroy, them that are not in this Kingdom. All that are without this Incloſure will be ſwallowed up in an overflowing fiery Deluge of Wrath: They may ſtand at the Door and knock, and cry Lord, Lord, open to us, in vain; they will be thruſt back; and God will have no Mercy on them; they ſhall be eternally left of him; his fearful Vengeance will ſeize them; the Devils will lay hold on them; and all Evil will come upon them; and there will be none to pity or help; their Caſe will be utterly deſperate, and infinitely doleful: It will be a gone Caſe with them; all Offers of Mercy, and Expreſſions of divine Goodneſs will be finally withdrawn, p. 141and all Hope will be loſt: God will have no Kind of Regard to their Well-Being; will take no Care of them to ſave them from any Enemy, or any Evil; but himſelf will be their dreadful Enemy, and will execute Wrath with Fury, and will take Vengeance in an inexpreſſibly dreadful Manner. Such as ſhall be in this Caſe will be loſt and undone indeed! They will be funk down into Perdition, infinitely below all that we can think: For who knows the Power of God's Anger? And who knows the Miſery of that poor Worm, on whom that Anger is executed without Mercy?

2. On Account of the Shortneſs and Uncertainty of the Opportunity for getting into this Kingdom. When a few Days are paſt, all our Opportunity for it will be gone. Our Day is limited; God has ſet our Bounds, and we know not where. While Perſons are out of this Kingdom, they are in Danger every Hour of being overtaken with Wrath. We know not how ſoon we ſhall get paſt that Line, beyond which there is no Work, Device, Knowlege, nor Wiſdom; and therefore we ſhould do what we have to do with our Might. Eccleſ. 9 10.

3. On Account of the Difficulty of getting into the Kingdom of God. There are innumerable Difficulties in the Way; ſuch as few conquer; moſt of them that try have not Reſolution, Courage, Earneſtneſs, and Conſtancy enough; but they fail, give out, and periſh. The Difficulties are too many, and too great for them that don't violently preſs forward, to grapple with; they never get along, but ſtick by the Way, or are turn'd aſide, and turned back, and ruin'd. Matth. 7. 14. Strait is the Gate, and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it. Luke 13. 24 Strive to enter in at the ſtrait Gate; for many, I ſay unto you, will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able.

4 The Poſſibility of obtaining. Tho' it be a Thing attended with ſo much Difficulty, yet 'tis not a Thing impoſſible. Acts 8 22. If perhaps the Thought of thine Heart may be forgiven thee. 2 Tim. 2. 25. If peradventure God will give them Repentance, to the acknowleging p. 142of the Truth. However ſinful a Perſon is, and whatever his Circumſtances are, there is notwithſtanding a Poſſibility of his Salvation; he himſelf is capable of it; and God is able to accompliſh it, and has Mercy ſufficient for it; and there is ſufficient Proviſion made through Chriſt, that God may do it conſiſtent with the Honour of his Majeſty, Juſtice, and Truth: So that there is no Want either of Sufficiency in God, or Capacity in the Sinner, in order to this: The greateſt and vileſt, moſt blind, dead, hard hearted Sinner living, is a Subject capable of ſaving Light and Grace. Seeing therefore there is ſuch Neceſſity of obtaining the Kingdom of God, and ſo ſhort a Time, and ſuch Difficulty, and yet ſuch a Poſſibility, it may well induce us to preſs into it. Jonah 3. 8, 9.

5. 'Tis meet that the Kingdom of Heaven ſhould be thus ſought▪ becauſe of the great Excellency of it. We are willing to ſeek earthly Things, of trifling Value, with great Diligence, and through much Difficulty; it therefore certainly becomes us to ſeek that with great Earneſtneſs. which is of infinitely greater Worth and Excellence: And how well may God expect and require it of us, that we ſhould ſeek it in ſuch a Manner, in order to our obtaining it!

6 Such a Manner of ſeeking is needful to prepare Perſons for the Kingdom of God. Such Earneſtneſs and Thoroughneſs of Endeavours, is the ordinary Means that God makes Uſe of, to bring Perſons to an Acquaintance with themſelves, to a Sight of their own Hearts, to a Senſe of their own Helpleſneſs, and to a Deſpair in their own Strength and Righteouſneſs. And ſuch Engagedneſs and Conſtancy in ſeeking the Kingdom of Heaven prepare the Soul to receive it the more joyfully and thankfully, and the more highly to prize and value it when obtained. So that 'tis in Mercy to us, as well as for the Glory of his own Name, that God has appointed ſuch earneſt Seeking, to be the Way in which he will beſtow the Kingdom of Heaven.

p. 143APPLICATION.

The USE I would make of this Doctrine, is of Exhortation to all Chriſtleſs Perſons to preſs into the Kingdom of God. Some of you are inquiring what you ſhall do. You ſeem to deſire to know what is the Way wherein Salvation is to be ſought, and how you may be likely to obtain it: You have now heard the Way that the holy Word of God directs to.—Some are ſeeking, but it can't be ſaid of them that they are preſſing into the Kingdom of Heaven. There are many that in Time paſt have ſought Salvation, but not in this Manner, and ſo they never obtain'd, but are now gone to Hell: Some of them ſought it Year after Year, but fail'd of it, and periſhed at laſt: They were overtaken with divine Wrath, and are now ſuffering the fearful Miſery of Damnation, and have no Reſt Day nor Night, having no more Opportunity to ſeek, but muſt ſuffer and be miſerable throughout the never ending Ages of Eternity. Be exhorted therefore not to ſeek Salvation as they did, but let the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffer Violence from you.

Here I would firſt anſwer an Objection or two, and then proceed to give ſome Directions how to preſs into the Kingdom of God.

Object. 1. Some may be ready to ſay, We can't do this of our ſelves, that Strength of Deſire, and Firmneſs of Reſolution, that have been ſpoken of, is out of our Reach: If I endeavour to reſolve and to ſeek with Engagedneſs of Spirit, I find I fail: my Thoughts are preſently off from the Buſineſs, and I feel my ſelf dull, and my Engagedneſs relax'd in Spite of all I can do.

Anſ. 1 Tho' Earneſtneſs of Mind be not immediately in your Power, yet the Conſideration of what has been now ſaid of the Need of it, may be a Means of ſtirring you up to it. 'Tis true, Perſons never will be thoroughly engaged in this Buſineſs unleſs it be by God's Influence; but God influences Perſons by Means: p. 144Perſons are not ſtirr'd up to a thorough Earneſtnes;s without ſome Conſiderations that move them to it: And if Perſons ca… but be made ſenſible of the Neceſſity of Salvation, and alſo do duly conſider the exceeding Difficulty of it, and the Greatneſs of the Oppoſition, and how ſhort and uncertain the Time is, but yet are ſenſible that they have an Opportunity, and that there is a Poſſibility of their obtaining, they will need no more in order to their being thoroughly engaged&reſolved in this Matter. If we ſee Perſons ſlack, and unreſolved, and … ſteady, it is becauſe they don't enough conſider theſe Things.

2. Though ſtrong Deſires and Reſolutions of Mind be not in your Power, yet Painfulneſs of Endeavours is in your Power. 'Tis in your Power to take Pains in the Uſe of Means, yea very great Pains. You can be very painful and diligent in watching your own Heart, and ſtriving againſt Sin; though there is all Manner of Corruption in the Heart, that is continually ready to work, yet you can very laboriouſly watch and ſtrive againſt theſe Corruptions; and 'tis in your Power, with great Diligence to attend the Matter of your Duty towards God, and towards your Neighbour 'Tis in your Power to attend all Ordinances, and all publick and private Duties of Religion, and to do it with your Might. It would be a Contradiction to ſuppoſe that a Man can't do theſe Things with all the Might he has, tho' he can't do them with more might than he ha…. The Dulneſs and Deadneſs of the Heart, and Slothfulneſs of Diſpoſition, don't hinder Men's being able to take Pains; tho' it hinders their being willing: That is one Thing wherein your Laboriouſneſs may appear, even ſtriving againſt your own Dulneſs. That Men have a dead and ſluggiſh Heart, don't argue that they be not able to take Pains; it is ſo far from that, that it gives Occaſion for Pains: It is one of the Difficulties in the Way of Duty, that Perſons have to ſtrive with, and that gives Occaſion for Struggling and Labour. If there were no Difficulties attended ſeeking Salvation there would be no Occaſion for Striving; a Man would have p. 145nothing to ſtrive about. There is indeed a great Deal of Difficulty attending all Duties required of thoſe that would obtain Heaven. 'Tis an exceeding difficult Thing for them to keep their Thoughts; 'tis a difficult Thing ſeriouſly, or to any good Purpoſe, to conſider of Matters of the greateſt Importance; 'tis a difficult Thing to hear, or read, or pray attentively: But it don't argue that a Man can't ſtrive in theſe Things becauſe they are difficult; nay, he could not ſtrive in them …f there were not Difficulty in them: For what is there excepting Difficulties that any can have to ſtrive or ſtruggle with, in any Affair or Buſineſs?—Earneſtneſs of Mind, and Diligence of Endeavour, tend to promote each other. He that has an Heart earneſtly engaged, will take Pains; and he that is diligent and painful in all Duty, probably won't be ſo long, before he finds the Senſibleneſs of his Heart, and Earneſtneſs of his Spirit greatly increaſed.

Object. 2. Some may object that if they are earneſt, and take a great Deal of Pains, they ſhall be in Danger of truſting to what they do; they are afraid of doing their Duty for Fear of making a Righteouſneſs of it.

Anſ There is ordinarily no Kind of Seekers that truſt ſo much to what they do, as ſlack and dull Seekers. Though all that are ſeeking Salvation, that have never been the Subjects of a thorough Humiliation, do truſt in their own Righteouſneſs; yet ſome do it much more fully than others. Some tho' they truſt in their own Righteouſneſs, yet be not quiet in it. And thoſe that are moſt diſturbed in their Self-Confidence, and are therefore in the likelieſt Way to be wholly brought off from it, are not thoſe that go on in a remiſs Way of Seeking, but thoſe that are moſt earneſt and thoroughly engaged; partly becauſe in ſuch a Way Conſcience i… kept more ſenſible. A more awaken'd Conſcience won't reſt ſo quietly in moral and religious Duties, … one that is leſs awaken'd. A dull Seeker's Conſcience will be in a great Meaſure ſatisfied and quieted with his own Works and Performances; but one that is thoroughly awaken'd can't be ſtill'd or pacified with ſuch Things as p. 146theſe. And, partly, becauſe in this Way Perſons gain much more Knowlege of themſelves, and Acquaintance with their own Hearts, than in a negligent ſlighty Way of Seeking; for they have a great Deal more Experience of themſelves. 'Tis Experience of our ſelves, and finding what we are, that God commonly makes Uſe of as the Means of bringing us off from all Dependence on our ſelves: But Men never get Acquaintance with themſelves ſo faſt, as in the moſt earneſt Way of Seeking. They that are in this Way, have more to engage them to think of their Sins, and ſtrictly to obſerve themſelves, and have much more to do with their own Hearts than others. Such an one has much more Experience of his own Weakneſs, than another that don't put forth, and try his Strength; and will therefore ſooner ſee himſelf dead in Sin: Such an one, though he hath a Diſpoſition continually to be flying to his own Righteouſneſs, yet finds Reſt in nothing; he wanders about from one Thing to another, ſeeking ſomething to eaſe his diſquieted Conſcience; he is driven from one Refuge to another, goes from Mountain to Hill, ſeeking Reſt and finding none; and therefore will the ſooner prove that there is no Reſt to be found, nor Truſt to be put, in any Creature Confidence whatſoever.

'Tis therefore quite a wrong Notion that ſome entertain, that the more they do, the more they ſhall depend on it: Whereas the Reverſe is true; the more they do, or the more thorough they are in ſeeking, the leſs will … they be likely to reſt in their Doings, and the ſooner … they ſee the Vanity of all that they do. So that … will exceedingly miſs it, if ever they neglect to … any Duty either to God or Man, whether it be any … of Religion, Juſtice, or Charity, under a Notion … its expoſing them to truſt in their own Righteouſſ…ns. 'Tis very true, that 'tis a common Thing for … when they earneſtly ſeek Salvation, to truſt in the … that they take: But yet commonly thoſe that go … a more ſlighty Way, truſt a great Deal more … to their dull Services, than he that is preſſing … Kingdom of God does to his Earneſtneſs. Men's p. 147Slackneſs in Religion, and their Truſt in their own Righteouſneſs, do ſtrengthen and eſtabliſh one another. Their Truſt in what they have done, and what they now do, ſettles them in a ſlothful Reſt and Eaſe, and hinders their being ſenſible of their Need of rouſing up themſelves and preſſing forward. And on the other Hand, their Negligence tends ſo to benumb them, and keep them in ſuch Ignorance of themſelves, that the moſt miſerable Refuges are ſtupidly reſted in as ſufficient. Therefore we ſee that when Perſons have been going on for a long Time in ſuch a Way, and God afterwards comes more thoroughly to awaken them, and to ſtir them up to be in good Earneſt, he ſhakes all their old Foundation, and rouſes them out of their old Reſting Places; ſo that they cannot quiet themſelves with thoſe Things that formerly kept them ſecure.

I would now proceed to give ſome Directions how you ſhould preſs into the Kingdom of God.

1. Be directed as it were to ſacrifice every Thing to your Souls eternal Intereſt. Let ſeeking this be ſo much your Bent, and what you are ſo reſolved in, that you will make every Thing give Place to it. Let nothing ſtand before your Reſolution of Seeking the Kingdom of God. Whatever it be that you uſed to look upon as a Convenience, or Comfort, or Eaſe, or Thing deſireable on any Account, if it ſtands in the Way of this great Concern, let it be diſmiſs'd without Heſitation; and if it be of that Nature that it is like always to be an Hindrance, then wholly have done with it, and never entertain any Expectation from it more. If in Time paſt, you have, for the ſake of worldly Gain, involved your ſelf in more Care and Buſineſs than you find to be conſiſtent with your being ſo thorough in the Buſineſs of Religion as you ought to be, then get into ſome other Way, tho' you ſuffer in your worldly Intereſt by it. Or if you have heretofore been converſant with Company that you have Reaſon to think have been, and will be a Snare to you, and a Hindrance to this great Deſign, in any wiſe break off from their Society, p. 148however it may expoſe you to Reproach from your old Companions, or let what will be the Effect of it. Or whatever it be that ſtands in the Way of your moſt advantagiouſly ſeeking Salvation, if it be ſome dear ſinful Pleaſure, or ſtrong carnal Appetite, or if it be Credit and Honour, or if it be the Good-Will of ſome Perſon whoſe Friendſhip you Deſire, or a being accounted of by thoſe whoſe Eſteem and Liking you have highly valued, and there be Danger if you do as you ought, you ſhall be looked upon by them as odd, and ridiculous, and become contemptible in their Eyes; or if it be your Eaſe and Indolence, and Averſion to continual Labour; or if it be your outward Convenience in any Reſpect, whereby you might avoid Difficulties of one Kind or … ther; LET ALL GO; offer up all ſuch Things together, as it were in one Sacrifice to the Intereſt of your Soul: Let nothing ſtand in Competition with this, but make every Thing to fall before it. If the Fleſh muſt be croſs'd, then croſs it, ſpare it not, crucify it, and don't be afraid of being too cruel to it. Gal. 5. 24 They that are Chriſt's, have crucified the Fleſh with the Affections and Luſts. Have no Dependence on any worldly Enjoyment whatſoever. Let Salvation be the one Thing with you. This is what is certainly required of you: and this is what many ſtick at; this giving up other Things for Salvation, is a ſtumbling Block that few get over. While others preſs'd into the Kingdom of God, at the preaching of John the Baptiſt, there was Herod, one of his Hearers, that was pretty much ſtirr'd up by his Preaching; it is ſaid, he heard him, and obſerved him, and did many Things; but when he came to tell him that … part with his beloved Herodias, here he ſtuck; this he never would yield to, Mark 7. 18, 19, 20. The rich young Man was conſiderably concern'd for Salvation; and accordingly was a very ſtrict Liver in many Things … when Chriſt came to direct him to go and ſell all tha… he had, and give to the Poor, and come and follow him, he could no… find in his Heart to comply with it, but went away ſorrowful; he had great Poſſeſſions, and ſet his Heart much on his Eſtate, & could not p. 149hear to part with it. It may be if Chriſt had directed him only to give away a conſiderable Part of his Eſtate, he would have done it; yea, perhaps, if he had bid him part with half of it, he would have complied with it; but when he directed him to throw up all, he could not grapple with ſuch a Propoſal. Herein the Straitneſs of the Gate very much conſiſts, and 'tis on this Account that ſo many ſeek to enter in, and are not able. There are many that have a great Mind to have Salvation, and ſpend great Part of their Time in wiſhing that they had it, but they will not comply with the neceſſary Means of it.

2. Be directed to forget the Things that are behind; that is, not to keep thinking and making much of what you have done, but let your Mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. In ſome Senſe you ought to look back; you ſhould look back on your Sins. Jer. 2. 23. See thy Way in the Valley, know what thou haſt done. You ſhould look back on the Wretchedneſs of your religious Performances, and conſider how you have fallen ſhort in them, and how exceedingly polluted all your Duties have been, and how juſtly God might reject and loath them, and you for them: But you ought not to ſpend your Time in looking back, as many Perſons do, thinking how much they have done for their Salvation, what great Pains they have taken and how that they have done what they can, and don't ſee how they can do more, how long a Time they have been ſeeking, and how much more they have done than others, and even than ſuch and ſuch who have obtained Mercy; and ſo think with themſelves how hardly God deals with them, that he don't extend Mercy to them▪ but turns a deaf Ear to their Cries; and hence diſcourage themſelves, and complain of God. Don't thus ſpend your Time in looking on what is … forward, and conſider what is before you, … is that you can do, and what 'tis neceſſary that you …hould do, and what God calls you ſtill to do, in order to your own Salvation. The Apoſtle in the third Chapter to the Philippians, tells us what Things he did while a Jew, p. 150how much he had to boaſt of, if any could have any Thing of their own to boaſt of; but he tells us that he forgot thoſe Things, and all others that were behind, and reached forth towards the Things that were before, preſſing forwards, towards the Mark, for the Prize of the high Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus.

3. Labour to get your Heart thoroughly diſpoſed to go on and hold out to the End. Many that ſeem to be earneſt have not a Heart thus diſpoſed. 'Tis a common Thing for Perſons to appear greatly affected for a little while; but all is ſoon paſt away, and there is no more to be ſeen of it. Labour therefore to obtain a thorough Willingneſs, and Preparation of Spirit, to continue Seeking, in the Uſe of your utmoſt Endeavours, without Limitation; and don't think your whole Life too long. And in order to this be adviſed to two Things.

1. Remember that if ever God beſtows Mercy upon you, he will uſe his ſovereign Pleaſure about the Time when. He will beſtow it on ſome in a little Time, and on others not till they have ſought it long. If other Perſons are ſoon enlighten'd and comforted, while you remain long in Darkneſs, there is no other Way but for you to wait. God will act arbitrarily in this Matter, and you can't help it. You muſt e'en be content to wait, in a Way of laborious and earneſt Striving, till his Time comes. If you refuſe, you will but undo your ſelf; and when you ſhall hereafter find your ſelf undone, and ſee that your Caſe is paſt Remedy, how will you condemn your ſelf for foregoing a great Probability of Salvation, only becauſe you had not Patience to hold out, and was not willing to be at the Trouble of a perſevering Labour? And what will it avail before God, or your own Conſcience, to ſay that you could not bear to be obliged to ſeek Salvation ſo long, when God beſtowed it on others that ſought it but for a very ſhort Time? Though God may have beſtowed the Teſtimonies of his Favour on others in a few Days, or Hours after they have begun earneſtly to ſeek it, how does that alter the Caſe as to you, if there proves to be a Neceſſity p. 151of your laboriouſly ſeeking many Years before you obtain them? Is Salvation the leſs Worth the taking a great Deal of Pains for, becauſe, through the ſovereign Pleaſure of God, others have obtained with comparatively but little Pains? If there are two Perſons, the one of which has obtain'd converting Grace with comparative Eaſe, and another that has obtained it after continuing for many Years in the greateſt and moſt earneſt Labours after it, how little Difference does it make at laſt, when once Salvation is obtain'd! Put all the Labour, and Pains, and long continued Difficulties and Strugglings of the one, in the Scale againſt Salvation, and how little does it ſubſtract; and put the Eaſe with which the other has obtain'd, in the Scale with Salvation, and how little does it add? What is either added or ſubſtracted, is lighter than Vanity, and a Thing worthy of no Conſideration, when compar'd with that infinite Benefit that is obtain'd. Indeed if you were to live ten thouſand Years, and all that Time ſhould ſtrive and preſs forward with as great Earneſtneſs as ever a Perſon did for one Day, all this would bear no Proportion to the Importance of the Benefit, and would doubtleſs appear little to you, when once you come to be in actual Poſſeſſion of eternal Glory, and to ſee what that eternal Miſery is that you have eſcaped.—You muſt not think much of your Pains, and of the length of Time; you muſt preſs towards the Kingdom of God, and do your utmoſt, and hold out to the End, and learn to make no Account of it when you have done. You muſt undertake the Buſineſs of ſeeking Salvation upon theſe Terms, and with no other Expectation than this, that if ever God beſtows Mercy it will be in his own Time, and not only ſo, but alſo that when you have done all, God will not hold himſelf obliged to ſhow you Mercy at laſt.

2. Endeavour now thoroughly to weigh in your Mind the Difficulty, and to count the Coſt of Perſeverance in ſeeking Salvation. You that are now ſetting out in this Buſineſs, (as there are many here that have very lately ſet about it;—Praiſed be the Name of p. 152God that he has ſtirr'd you up to it!) be exhorted to attend this Direction. Don't undertake in this Affair, with any other Thought, but of giving your ſelf wholly to it for the remaining Part of your Life, and going through many and great Difficulties in it. Take …eed that you don't engage ſecretly upon this Condition, that you ſhall obtain in a little Time, promiſing your ſelf that it ſhall be within this preſent Seaſon of the pouring out of God's Spirit, or with any other Limitation of Time whatſoever. Many when they begin, ſeeming to ſet out very earneſtly, don't expect that they ſhall need to ſeek very long; and ſo don't prepare themſelves for it: And therefore when they come to find it otherwiſe, and meet with unexpected Difficulty, they are found unguarded, and eaſily overthrown. But let me adviſe all that are now ſeeking their Salvation, not to entertain any ſelf flattering Thoughts; but weigh the utmoſt Difficulties of Perſeverance, and be provided for them, having your Mind fix'd in it to go through them, let them be what they will. Conſider now beforehand, how tedious it would be, with utmoſt Earneſtneſs and Labour, to ſtrive after Salvation, for many Years, in the mean time receiving no joyful o… comfortable Evidence of your having obtain'd. Conſider what a great Temptation to Diſcouragement there probably would be in it; how apt you would be to yield the Caſe; how ready to think that 'tis in vain for you to ſeek any longer, and that God never intends to ſhew you Mercy, in that he has not yet done it; how apt you would be to think with your ſelf, What an uncomfortable Life do I live! how much more unpleaſantly do I ſpend my Time than others, that don't perplex their Minds about the Things of another World, but are at Eaſe, and take the Comfort of their worldly Enjoyments! Conſider what a Temptation there would probably be in it, if you ſaw others brought in, that began to ſeek the Kingdom of Heaven long after you, rejoycing in a Hope and Senſe of God's Favour after but little Pains, and a ſhort Time of Awakening; while you from Day to Day, and from Year to Year, p. 153ſeem'd to labour in Vain. Prepare for ſuch Temptations now: Lay in beforehand for ſuch Trials and Difficulties, that you may not think any ſtrange Thing has happen'd when they come.

I hope that thoſe that have given Attention to what has been ſaid, have by this Time conceived in ſome Meaſure what is ſignified by the Expreſſion in the Text▪ and after what Manner they ought to preſs into the Kingdom of God. Here is this to induce you to a Compliance with what you have been directed to; if you ſit ſtill you die, if you go backward behold you ſhall ſurely die, if you go forward you may live. And though God has not bound himſelf to any Thing that a Perſon does, while deſtitute of Faith, & out of Chriſt, yet there is great Probability, that in a Way of hearkening to this Counſel you will live, & that by preſſing onward, & perſevering, you will at laſt as it were by Violence take the Kingdom of Heaven. Thoſe of you that have now heard me, that have not only heard the Directions that have been given, but ſhall, through God's merciful Aſſiſtance, practice according to them, are thoſe that probably will overcome, that we may well hope at laſt to ſee ſtanding with the Lamb on Mount Sion, chathed in white Robes, with Palms in their Hands; when all your Labour and Toil will be abundantly compenſated, and you will not repent that you have taken ſo much Pains, and denied your ſelf ſo much, and waited ſo long: This Pains, th…s SelfDenial, this Waiting, 'will then look little, and vaniſh into nothing in your Eyes, being all ſwallowed up in the firſt Mi…tes Enjoyment of that Glory, that you will then be in Poſſeſſion of, and will uninterruptedly poſſeſs and enjoy to all Eternity.

4th Direction. Improve the preſent Seaſon of the pouring out of the Spirit of God on this Town. Prudence in any Affair whatſoever conſiſts very much in …inding and improving our Opportunities. If you would have ſpiritual Proſperity, you muſt exerciſe Prudence …n the Concerns of your Souls, as well as in outward Concerns, when you ſeek outward Proſperity. The p. 154prudent H…sbandman will obſerve his Opportunities; he will improve Seed-time and Harveſt; he will make his Advantage of the Showers and Shines of Heaven. The prudent Merchant will diſcern his Opportunities; he won't be idle in a Market Day; he is careful not to let ſlip his Seaſons for inriching himſelf: So will thoſe that prudently ſeek the Fruits of Righteouſneſs, and the Merchandize of Wiſdom, improve their Opportunities for their eternal Wealth and Happineſs.

God is pleaſed at this Time, in a very remarkable Manner, to be pouring out his Spirit amongſt us; (Glory be to his Name therefor!) You that have a Mind to obtain converting Grace, and to go to Heaven when you die, now is your Seaſon! Now, if you have any Sort of Prudence for your own Salvation, and have not a Mind to go to Hell, improve this Time! Now is the accepted Time! Now is the Day of Salvation! You that in Time paſt have been called upon, and have turn'd a deaf Ear to God's Voice, and long ſtood out and reſiſted his Commands and Counſels, hear God's Voice to Day, while it is called to Day! Don't harden your Hearts at ſuch a Day as this is! Now you have a ſpecial and remarkable price put into your Hands to get Wiſdom, if you have but a Heart to improve it.

God hath his certain Days, or appointed Seaſons of the Exerciſe both of Mercy and Judgment. There are ſome Seaſons that are remarkable Times of Wrath, that are laid out by God for that Purpoſe, viz for his awful Viſitation, and the Executions of his Anger; which Times are called Days of Vengeance, Prov 6. 34 And Days wherein God will viſit for Sin, Exod. 32. 34 And ſo on the contrary, there are ſome other Times, that God has laid out in his ſovereign Counſels, for Seaſons of remarkable Mercy, wherein he will appear, and manifeſt himſelf, in the Exerciſes of his Grace and Lovingkindneſs, more than at other Times: Such Times, in Scripture are called by Way of Eminency, accepted Times, and Days of Salvation, and alſo Days of God's Viſitation; becauſe they are Days wherein God will viſit in a Way of Mercy; as Luke 19 44. And p. 155ſhall lay thee even with the Ground, and thy Children within thee, and they ſhall not leave in thee one Stone upon another▪ becauſe thou kneweſt not the Time of thy Viſitation. 'Tis ſuch a Time now in this Town; 'tis with us a Day of God's gracious Viſitation. It is indeed a Day of Grace with us as long as we live in this World, in the Enjoyment of the Means of Grace; but ſuch a Time as this, is eſpecially, and in a diſtinguiſhing Manner, a Day of Grace. There is a Door of Mercy always ſtanding open for Sinners; but at ſuch a Day as this God opens an extraordinary Door.

We are directed to ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near, Iſai. 55 6. If you that are hitherto Chriſtleſs, be not ſtrangely beſotted and infatuated, you will by all Means improve ſuch an Opportunity as this to get Heaven, when Heaven is brought ſo near, when the Fountain is open'd in the midſt of us in ſo extraordinary a Manner. Now is the Time to obtain a Supply of the Neceſſities of your poor periſhing Souls! This is the Day for Sinners that have a Mind to be converted before they die, when God is dealing forth ſo liberally and bountifully amongſt us, when Converſion and Salvation Work is going on amongſt us from Sabbath to Sabbath, and many are preſſing into the Kingdom of God! Now don't ſtay behind, but preſs in among the Reſt! Others have been ſtirred up to be in good Earneſt, and have taken Heaven by Violence; be intreated to follow their Example, if you would have a Part of the Inheritance with them, and would not be le…t at the great Day, when they are taken!

How ſhould it move you to conſider, that you have this Opportunity now in your Hands! You are in the actual Poſſeſſion of it! If it were paſt, it would not be in your Power to recover it, or in the Power of any Creature to bring it back for you; but 'tis not paſt; 'tis NOW, at this Day; NOW is the accepted Time, even while it is called to Day! Will you ſit ſtill at ſuch a Time? Will you ſleep in ſuch a Harveſt? Will you deal with a ſlack Hand, and ſtay behind out of p. 156meer Sloth, or Love to ſome Luſt, or Lothneſs to grapple with ſome ſmall Difficulty, or to put your ſelf a little out of your Way, when ſo many are …owing to the Goodneſs of the Lord? You are behind ſtill! and ſo you will be in Danger of being left behind, when the whole Number is compleated that are to enter in, if you don't earneſtly be ſtir your ſelf! To be left behind, at the cloſe of ſuch a Seaſon as this, will be awful, next to the being left behind on that Day when God's Saints ſhall mount up as with Wings to meet the Lord in the Air, and will be what will appear very threatning of it.

God is now calling you in an extraordinary Manner, and 'tis agreable to the Will and Word of Chriſt that I ſhould now, in his Name call you▪ as one ſet over you, and ſent to you to that End; ſo 'tis his Will that you ſhould hearken to what I ſay, as his Voice: I therefore beſeech you in Chriſt's Stead now to preſs into the Kingdom of God! Whoever you are, whether young or old, ſmall or great; whatever you be; if you are a great Sinner, if you have be…n a Backſlider, if you have quenched the Spirit, let you be who you will, and whatever you have done, don't ſtand making Objections, but ariſe, apply your ſelf to your Work! Do, what you have to do, with your Might. Chriſt is calling you before, and holding forth his Grace and everlaſting Benefits, and Wrath is purſuing you behind; wherefore fly for your Life, and look not behind you!

But here I would particularly direct my ſelf to ſeveral Sorts of Perſons.

I. To thoſe Sinners that are in a Meaſure awaken'd, and are concern'd for their Salvation. You have Reaſon to be glad that you have ſuch an Opportunity, and to prize it above Gold. To induce you to prize and improve it, conſider ſeveral Things.

1. God has doubtleſs a Deſign now to deal forth ſaving Bleſſings to a Number. God has done it to ſome already, as we have Reaſon to think; and 'tis not probable that …e has yet finiſhed his Work, that he at this p. 157Time is come forth to do amongſt us: We may well hope ſtill to ſee others brought out of Darkneſs into marvellous Light. And therefore,

2. God comes this Day and knocks at many Perſons Doors, and at your Door among the Reſt. God ſeems to be come in a very unuſual Manner amongſt us, upon a gracious and merciful Deſign, a Deſign of ſaving a Number of poor miſerable Souls out of a loſt and periſhing Condition, and bringing them into a happy State, in Safety from Miſery, and a Title to eternal Glory! This is offered to you, not only as it has always been in the Word and Ordinances, but by the particular Influences of the Spirit of Chriſt awakening of you! This ſpecial Offer is made to many amongſt us; and you be not paſs'd over: Chriſt has not forgot or over looked you; but has come to your Door; and there as it were ſtands waiting for you to open to him. If you have Wiſdom & Diſcretion to diſcern your own Advantage, you will know that now is your Opportunity.

3. How much more eaſily converting Grace is obtained at ſuch a Time, than at other Times. The Work is equally eaſy with GOD at all Times; but there is far leſs Difficulty in the Way, as to Men, at ſuch a Time, than at other Times. It is, as I ſaid before, a Day of God's gracious Viſitation, a Day that he has as it were ſet apart for the more liberally and bountifully diſpenſing his Grace; a Day wherein God's Hand is opened wide: Experience ſhews it. God ſeems to be more ready to help, to give proper Convictions, to help againſt Temptations, and let in divine Light: He ſeems to carry on his Work, with a more glorious Diſcovery of his Power, and Satan is more chain'd up▪ than at other Times: Thoſe Difficulties & Temptations that Perſons before ſtuck at, from Year to Year, they are ſoon helped over: The Work of God is carried on with greater Speed and Swiftneſs, and there are often Inſtances of ſudden Converſion at ſuch a Time. So it was in the Apoſtle's Days, when there was a Time of the moſt extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit that ever was: How quick and ſudden were Converſion… in thoſe Days! Such p. 158Inſtances as that of the Jayler abounded then, in Fulfilment of that Prophecy, Iſai. 66 7, 8. Before ſhe travailed ſhe brought forth; before her Pain came ſhe was delivered of a Man child. Who hath heard ſuch a Thing? Who hath ſeen ſuch Things? For as ſoon as Zion travailed, ſhe brought forth her Children. So it is in ſome Degree, whenever there is an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God; more or leſs ſo, in Proportion to the Greatneſs of that Effuſion. There is ſeldom ſuch quick Work made of it at other Times: Perſons are not ſo ſoon delivered from their various Temptations, and Intanglements; but are much longer wandring in a Wilderneſs, and groping in Darkneſs, And yet,

4. There are probably ſome here preſent, that are now concerned about their Salvation, that never will obtain. 'Tis not to be ſuppoſed that all that are now moved and awaken'd, will ever be ſavingly converted: Doubtleſs there are many now ſeeking that will not be able to enter. When has it been ſo in Times paſt, when there have been Times of great Out pourings of God's Spirit, but that many that for a while, have inquired with others, what they ſhould do to be ſaved, have failed, and afterwards grown hard and ſecure? All of you that are now awaken'd, have a Mind to obtain Salvation, and probably hope to get a Title to Heaven, in the Time of this preſent moving of God's Spirit: But yet, (though it be awful to be ſpoken, and awful to be thought) we have no Reaſon to think any other, than than ſome of you will burn in Hell to all Eternity. You all are afraid of Hell, and ſeem at preſent diſpoſed to take Pains to be delivered from it; and yet it would be unreaſonable to think any other, than that ſome of you will have your Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone. Tho' there are ſo many that ſeem to obtain ſo eaſily, having been but a little while under Convictions, yet, for all that, ſome never will obtain. Some will ſoon looſe the Senſe of Things they now have; tho' their Awakenings ſeem to be very conſiderable for the preſent, they wont hold; they have not Hearts diſpoſed to hold on through very many Difficulties. p. 159Some that have ſet out for Heaven, and hope as much as others to obtain, are indeed but ſlighty and ſlack, even now, in the midſt of ſuch a Time as this: And others, that for the preſent ſeem to be more in Earneſt, will probably before long decline, and …ail, and gradually return to be as they were before. The Convictions of ſome ſeem to be great, while that which is the Occaſion of their Convictions is new▪ which when that begins to grow old, will gradually decay, and wear off. Thus, it may be, the Occaſion of your Awakening has been the Hearing of the Converſion of ſome Perſon, or your ſeeing ſo extraordinary a Diſpenſation of Providence as this is, in which God now appears amongſt us; but by and by the Newneſs and Freſhneſs of theſe Things will be gone, and ſo won't affect your Mind as now they do; and it may be your Convictions will go away with it.

Tho' ſuch a Time as this, be a Time wherein God doth more liberally beſtow his Grace than at other Times, and ſo a Time of greater Advantage for obtaining it, yet there ſeems to be, upon ſome Accounts, greater Danger of Backſliding, than when Perſons are awaken'd at other Times. For commonly ſuch extraordinary Times don't laſt long; and then when they ceaſe there are Multitudes that looſe their Convictions as it were together: As the Spirit of God departs, awakenings eaſe off from the Minds of Perſons all over a Town.

We ſpeak of it as an happy Thing, that God is pleaſed to be cauſing of it to be ſuch a Time amongſt us; and ſo it is indeed: but there are ſome that it will be no Benefit to; it will but be an Occaſion of their greater Miſery; they will wiſh they had never ſeen this Time; it will be more tolerable for thoſe that never ſaw it, or any Thing like it, in the Day of Judgment than for them. 'Tis an awful Conſideration, that there are probably thoſe here, that the great Judge will hereafter call to a ſtrict Account about this very Thing, why they no better improved this Opportunity, when he did ſo ſet open the Fountain of his Grace, and did ſo loudly p. 160call upon them, and came and ſtrove with them in particular, by the Awakening Influences of his Spirit; and they will have no good Account to give to the Judge, but their Mouths will be ſtop'd, and they will ſtand Speechleſs before him.

You had need therefore to be earneſt, and very thorough and reſolved in this Affair, that you may not be one of thoſe that ſhall thus fail, that you may ſo fight, as not uncertainly, and ſo run, as that you may win the Prize.

5. Conſider what ſad Circumſtances Times of extraordinary Effuſion of God's Spirit commonly leave Perſons in, when they leave them unconverted. They find them in a doleful Condition, becauſe in a natural Condition, but commonly leave them in a much more doleful Condition. They are left dreadfully harden'd, and with a great Increaſe of Guilt, and their Souls under a mo… ſtrong Dominion and Poſſeſſion of Satan. And frequently, Seaſons of extraordinary Advantage for Salvation, when they paſs over Perſons, and they don't improve them, nor receive any Good in them, ſeal their Damnation. As ſuch Seaſons leave them, God for ever leaves them, and gives them up to judicial Hardneſs. Luke 19. 41, 42. And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept over it, ſaying▪ If thou hadſt known, even thou, the Things which belong to thy Peace!—But now they are hid from thine Eyes.

6. Conſider, that 'tis very uncertain whether you will ever ſee ſuch another Time as this is. If there ſhould be ſuch another Time, 'tis very uncertain whether you will live to ſee it. Many that are now concerned for their Salvation amongſt us, will probably be in their Graves, and it may be in Hell before that Time; and if you ſhould miſs this Opportunity, it may be ſo with you. And what Good will that do you, to have the Spirit of God poured out upon Earth, in the Place where you once lived, while you are tormented in Hell? What will it avail you, that others are crying, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? while you are ſhut up for ever in the bottomleſs Pit, and are wailing and gnaſhing your Teeth in everlaſting Burnings?

p. 161Wherefore improve this Opportunity, while God is pouring out his Spirit on Earth, & you are on Earth, & while you dwell in that Place where the Spirit of God is thus poured out, & you your ſelf have the awakening Influences of it, that you may never wail and gnaſh your Teeth in Hell, but may ſing in Heaven for ever, with others that are redeemed from amongſt Men, and redeemed amongſt us.

7. If you ſhould ſee another ſuch Time, it will be under far greater Diſadvantages than you now ſee this Time. You will probably then be much older, and will have more harden'd your Heart; and ſo will be under leſs Probability of receiving Good. Some Perſons are ſo harden'd in Sin, and ſo left of God, that they can live through ſuch a Time as this, and not be much awaken'd or affected by it; they can ſtand their Ground, and be but Little moved. And ſo may it be with you, by another ſuch Time, if there ſhould be another amongſt us, and you ſhould live to ſee it. The Caſe in all Prohability will be greatly altered with you by that Time. If you ſhould continue Chriſtleſs and Graceleſs till then, you will be much further from the Kingdom of God, and much deeper involved in Snares and Miſery; and the Devil will probably have a vaſtly greater Advantage againſt you, to tempt and confound you.

8. We don't know but that God is now gathering in his Elect, before ſome great and ſore Judgment. It has been God's Manner before he caſts off a viſible People, or brings ſome great and deſtroying Judgments upon them, firſt to gather in his Elect, that they may be ſecure. So it was before the caſting off of the Jews from being God's People: There was firſt a very remarkable pouring out of the Spirit, and gathering in of the Elect, by the Preaching of the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts, as we read in the beginning of the Acts: But after this Harveſt, and it's Gleanings were over, the Reſt were blinded, and harden'd; the Goſpel had little Succeſs amongſt them, and the Nation was given up, and caſt off from being God's People, and their City and Land was deſtroyed by the Romans▪ in a terrible Manner; and p. 162they have been caſt off by God now for a great many Ages, and ſtill remain a harden'd and rejected People. So we read in the beginning of the 7th Chapter of the Revelations, that God, when about to bring deſtroying Judgments on the Earth, firſt ſealed his Servants in the Forehead: He ſet his Seal upon the Hearts of the Elect, gave them the ſaving Influences and Indwelling of his Spirit, by which they were ſealed to the Day of Redemption. Rev. 7. 1, 2, 3. And after theſe Things, I ſaw four Angels, ſtanding on the four Corners of the Earth, holding the four Winds of the Earth, that the Wind ſhould not blow on the Earth, nor on the Sea, nor on any Tree. And I ſaw another Angel aſcending from the Eaſt, having the Seal of the living God: And he cried with a loud Voice, to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the Earth, and the Sea, ſaying, Hurt not the Earth, neither the Sea, nor the Trees, till we have ſealed the Servants of our God in their Foreheads.

And we don't know but that this may be the Caſe now, that God is about, in a great Meaſure, to forſake this … and, and give up this People, and to bring moſt awful and overwhelming Judgments upon it, and that he is now gathering in his Elect, to ſecure them from the Calamity. The State of the Nation, and of this Land, never looked ſo threatning of ſuch a Thing as it does at this Day. The preſent Aſpect of Things exceedingly threatens the dying of vital Religion, and even of thoſe Truths that are eſpecially the Foundation of it, out of this Land, and ſo God's departing from us. If it ſhould be ſo, how awful will the Caſe be with thoſe that ſhall be left, a…d not brought in, while God continues the Influences of his Spirit, to gather in thoſe that are to be redeemed from amongſt us!

9. If you neglect the preſent Opportunity, and …e finally unbelieving, thoſe that are converted in this Time of the pouring out of God's Spirit, will riſe up in Judgment againſt you. Your Neighbours, your Relations, Acquaintance, or Companions that are converted, will that Day appear againſt you: They won't only be taken while you are left, mounting up with Joy to p. 163meet the Lord in the Air, while you are left below with thoſe that are to be deſtroyed, and will ſtand at the Right Hand with glorious Saints and Angels, while you are at the left with Devils, but they will riſe up in Judgment againſt you. However friendly you have been together, and have taken Pleaſure in one anothers Company, and have often familiarly converſed together, they will then ſurely appear againſt you. They will riſe up againſt you as Witneſſes, and will declare what a precious Opportunity you had, and did not improve; how you continued unbelieving, and rejecting the Offers of a Saviour, when thoſe Offers were made in ſo extraordinary a Manner, and when ſo many others were prevailed upon to accept of Chriſt; how you was negligent and ſlack, and did not know the Things that belonged to your Peace, in that your Day. And not only ſo, but they ſhall be your Judges, as Aſſeſſors with the great Judge; and as ſuch will appear againſt you; they will be with the Judge in paſſing Sentence upon you. 1 Cor. 6. 2 Know ye not that the Saints ſhall judge the World. Chriſt will admit them to the Honour of judging the World with him: They ſhall ſit with him in his Throne. Rev. 3. 21. They ſhall ſit with Chriſt in his Throne of Government, and they ſhall ſit with him in his Throne of Judgment, and ſhall be Judges with him when you are judged, and as ſuch ſhall condemn you.

10. and laſtly. You don't know that you ſhall live through the preſent Time of the pouring out of God's Spirit. You may be taken away in the midſt of it, or you may be taken away in the beginning of it; as God in his Providence is putting you in mind by the late Inſtance of Death, in a young Perſon in the Town.**Joſeph Clark's Wife, a young Woman that had been lately married, that died ſuddenly the Week before this was delivered. God has of late been very awful in his Dealings with us, in the repeated Deaths of young Perſons that have happen'd amongſt us. This ſhould ſtir every one up …o p. 164be in the more haſte to preſs into the Kingdom of God, that ſo you may be ſa…e whenever Death comes. This is a bleſſed Seaſon and Opportunity; but you don't know how little of it you may have: You may have much leſs of it than others: You may by Death be ſuddenly ſnatched away from all Advantages that are here enjoyed for the Good of Souls. Therefore make haſte and eſcape for thy Life: One Moment's Delay …s dangerous; for Wrath is purſuing, and divine Vengeance hanging over every unconverted Perſon.

Let theſe Conſiderations move every one to be improving this Opportunity, that while others receive ſaving Good, and are made Heirs of eternal Glory, you may not be left behind, in the ſame miſerable doleful Circumſtances in which you came into the World, a poor Captive to Sin and Satan, a loſt She…p a periſhing u…d…ne Creature, ſinking down into everlaſting Perdition; that you may not be one of them ſpoken of, Jer 17 6. that ſhall be like the Heath in the Deſert, and ſhall not ſee Good when Good comes.—If you don't improve this Opportunity, remember I have told you, you will hereafter lament it; and if you don't lament it in this World, then I will leave it wi…h you for you to remember throughout a miſerable Eternity.

II. I would addreſs my ſelf to ſuch as yet remain unawaken'd 'Tis an awful Thing that there ſhould be any one Perſon remaining ſecure amongſt us, at ſuch a Time a… this; but yet it is to be feared that there are ſome of this Sort▪ I would here a little expoſtulate with ſuch Perſons.

I would put it to you,

1. When you expect that it will be more likely that you ſhould be awaken'd, and wrought upon than now? You are in a Chriſtleſs Condition; but yet without Doubt intend to go to Heaven; and therefore intend to be convert…d ſome Time before you die; which is not to be expected till you are firſt awaken'd, and deeply concerned about the Welfare of your Soul, and brought earneſtly to ſeek God's converting Grace, And when p. 165do you intend that this ſhall be? How do you lay Things out in your own Mind, or what Projection have …u a…ou… th…s Ma…ter? Is it ever ſo likely that a Perſon will be awaken'd, as at ſuch a Time as this? How do we ſee that many that before were ſecure are now rouſed out of their Sleep, and are crying, What ſhall I do to be …v…d? But you are yet ſecure!—Do you flatt…r your ſelf that it will be more likely that you ſhould be awaken'd, when it is a dull and d…ad Time? Do you lay Matters out thus in your own Mind, that tho' you are Senſeleſs when others are generally awaken'd, that yet you ſhall be awaken'd when others are generally Senſeleſs? Or do you hope to ſee another ſuch Time of the pouring out of God's Spirit hereafter? And do you think that it will be more likely that you ſhould be wrought upon then, than now? And why do ye think ſo? Is it becauſe then you ſhall be ſo much older than you are now, and ſo that your Heart will be grown ſofter and mo… tender with Age? Or becauſe you will then have ſtood out ſo much longer againſt the Calls of the Goſp…l, and all Means of Grace? Do you think it more likely, that God will give you needed Influences of his Spirit then, than now, becauſe then you will have provoked him ſo much more, and your Sin and Guilt will be ſo much greater? And do you think it will be any Benefit to you, to ſ…and it out thro' the preſent Seaſon of Grace, as Proof againſt the extraordinary Means of Awakening that now there are? Do you think that this will be a good Preparation for a ſaving Work of the Spirit hereafter?

2. What Means do you expect to be awaken'd by? As to the awakening awful Things of the Word of God, thoſe you have had ſet before you Times without Number, in the moſt moving Manner that the Diſpenſers of the Word have been capable of. As to particular ſolemn Warnings, directed to thoſe that are in your Circumſtances, thoſe you have frequently had, and have them now from Time to Time. Do you expect to be awaken'd by awful Providences? Thoſe alſo you have lately had, of the moſt awakening Nature, …e after another. p. 166Do you expect to be moved by the Deaths of others? We have lately had repeated Inſtances of theſe: The…e have been Deaths of old and young: The Year has been remarkable for the Deaths of young Perſons, in the Bloom of Life, and ſome of them very ſudden Deaths. Will the Converſion of others move you?—There is indeed ſcarce any Thing that is found to have ſo great a Tendency to ſtir Perſons up as this: But this you have been tried with of late in frequent Inſtances; but are hitherto Proof againſt it. Will a general pouring out of the Spirit, and ſeeing a Concern about Salvation amongſt all Sorts of People do it? This Means you now have, but without Effect. Yea you have all theſe Things together; you have the ſolemn Warnings of God's Word, and awful Inſtances of Death, and the Converſion of others, and ſee a general Concern about Salvation: But all together don't move you to any great Concern, about your own precious, immortal, and miſerable Soul. Therefore conſider by what Means it is that you expect ever to be awakened.

You have heard that 'tis probable that ſome that are now awaken'd, will never obtain Salvation; how dark then does it look upon you that remain ſtupidly unawaken'd!—Thoſe that be not moved at ſuch a Time as this, that are come to adult Age, have Reaſon to fear whether or no they be not given up to judicial Hardneſs. I don't ſay they have Reaſon to conclude it, but they have Reaſon to fear it—How dark doth it look upon you, that God comes and knocks at ſo many perſons Doors, and miſſes yours! that God is giving the Strivings of his Spirit ſo generally amongſt us, while you are left Senſeleſs!

3. Do you expect to obtain Salvation without ever ſeeking of it? If you are ſenſible that there is a Neceſſity of your ſeeking in order to obtaining, and ever intend to ſeek, one would think you could not avoid it at ſuch a Time as this. Inquire therefore whether you intend to go to Heaven, living all your Days a ſecure, negligent, careleſs Life. Or, …

p. 1674. Do you think you can bear the Damnation of Hell? Do you imagine that you can tolerably endure the devouring Fire, and everlaſting Burnings? Do you hope that you ſhall be able to grapple with the Vengeance of God Almighty, when he girds himſelf with Strength, and cloaths himſelf with Wrath? Do you think to ſtrengthen your ſelf againſt God, and to be able to make your part good with him? 1 Cor. 10. 22. Do we provoke the Lord to Jealouſy? Are we ſtronger than he? Do you flatter your ſelf that you ſhall find out Ways for your Eaſe and Support, and to make it out tolerable well, to bear up your Spirit in thoſe everlaſting Burnings, that are prepared for the Devil and his Angels? Ezek. 22. 14. Can thine Heart endure, or can thine Hands be ſtrong, in the Days that I ſhall deal with thee?—'Tis a difficult Thing to conceive what ſuch Chriſtleſs Perſons think, that are unconcerned at ſuch a Time as this is.

III. I would direct my ſelf to them that are grown conſiderably into Years, and are yet in a natural Condition. I would now take Occaſion earneſtly to exhort you, to improve this extraordinary Opportunity, and preſs into the Kingdom of God. You have loſt many Advantages that once you had, and now have not the ſame Advantages that others have: The Caſe is very different with you from what it is with many of your Neighbours. You above all had need to improve ſuch an Opportunity. Now is the Time for you to beſtir your ſelf, and take the Kingdom of Heaven!

Conſider,

1. Now there ſeems to be a Door opened for old Sinners. Now God is dealing forth freely to all Sorts: His Hand is opened wide, and he don't paſs by old ones ſo much as he uſed to do. You are not under ſuch Advantages as others are that are younger; but yet, ſo wonderfully has God ordered it, that now you are not deſtitute of great Advantage: Tho' old in Sin, God has put a new and extraordinary Advantage into your Hands. O, improve this Price that you have to get Wiſdom! p. 168You that have been long ſeeking to enter in at the ſtrait Gate, and yet remain without, now take your Opportunity and preſs in! You that have been long in the Wilderneſs, fighting with various Temptations, and have been labouring under Diſcouragements, and have been ready to give up the Caſe, have been often tempted to Deſpair, now, behold the Door that God opens for you! Don't give Way to Diſcouragements now; this is not a Time for it: Don't ſpend Time in thinking that you have done what you can already, and that you ſee Signs that you be not elected, and in giving Way to other perplexing, weakening, diſheartening Temptations: Don't waſte away this precious Opportunity in ſuch a Manner: You have no Time to ſpare for ſuch Things as theſe: God calls you now to ſomething elſe: Improve this Time in ſeeking and ſtriving for Salvation, and not in that which tends to hinder it. 'Tis no Time now for you to ſtand talking with the Devil; but hearken to God, and apply your ſelf to that, which he does now ſo loudly call you to.

Some of you have often lamented the Loſs of paſt Opportunities: As particularly the Loſs of the Time of Youth, and have been wiſhing that you had ſo good an Opportunity again; have been ready to ſay, O! if I was young again, how would I improve ſuch an Advantage! That Opportunity that you have had in Time paſt, is irrecoverable; you can never have it again: but God can give you other Advantages of another Sort, that are very great, and he is ſo doing at this Day. He is now putting a new Opportunity into your Hands; tho' not of the ſame Kind with that which you once had, and have loſt, yet in ſome Reſpects as great of another Kind. If you lament, and are ready to cry out of your Folly in neglecting and looſing paſt Opportunities, then don't be guilty of the Folly of neglecting the Opportunity which God now gives you. This Opportunity you could not have purchaſed, if you would have given all that you had in the World for it: But God is putting of it into your Hands, of himſelf, of his own free and ſovereign Mercy, without your purchaſing p. 169of it. Therefore when you have it, don't neglect it.

2. It is a great deal more likely with Reſpect to ſuch Perſons than others, that this is their laſt Time. There will be a laſt Time of any ſpecial Offer of Salvation to impenitent Sinners. God's Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with Man, Gen. 6 3. God ſometimes continues long knocking at the Doors of wicked Men's Hearts; but there are the laſt Knocks, and the laſt Calls, that ever they ſhall have. And ſometimes God's laſt Calls are the loudeſt, and then if Sinners don't hearken, God finally leaves them. How long has God been knocking at many of your Doors, that are old in Sin! 'Tis a great deal more likely that theſe are his laſt Knocks. You have reſiſted God's Spirit in Times paſt, and have harden'd your Heart once and again; but God will not be thus dealt with always: There is Danger, that if now, after ſo long a Time, you won't hearken, he will utterly deſert you, and leave you to walk in your own Counſels.

It ſeems, by God's Providence, as tho' God had yet an elect Number amongſt old Sinners in this Place, that perhaps he is now about to bring in. It looks as tho' there were ſome that long lived under Mr.Stoddard's Miniſtry, that God has not utterly caſt off, tho' they ſo ſtood it out under ſuch great Means as they then enjoyed. 'Tis to be hoped that God will now bring in a Remnant from among them. But 'tis the more likely that God is now about finiſhing with them, one Way or the other, for their having been ſo long the Subjects of ſuch extraordinary Means. You have ſeen former T…mes of the pouring out of God's Spirit upon the Town, when others were taken and you left, others were called out of Darkneſs into marvellous Light, and were brought into a glorious and happy State, and you was one that ſaw not Good when Good came. How dark will your Circumſtances appear, if you ſhall alſo ſtand it out through this Opportunity, and ſtill be left behind! Take heed that you be not one of thoſe ſpoken of, Heb 6. 7. 8. that are like the Earth that has Rain coming o…t upon it, p. 170and only bears Briars and Thorns. As we ſee there are ſome Pieces of Ground, the more Showers of Rain fall upon them, the more fruitful Seaſons there are, the more do the Briars, and other uſeleſs and hurtful Plants, that are rooted in them, grow and flouriſh. Of ſuch Ground the Apoſtle ſays, It is rejected, and is high unto curſing, whoſe End is to be burned. The Way that the Husbandman takes with ſuch Ground, is to ſet Fire to it, to burn up the Growth of it.—If you miſs this Opportunity, there is Danger that you will be utterly rejected, and that your End will be to be burned. And if this is to be, it is to be feared, that you are not far from, but nigh unto Curſing.

Thoſe of you that are already grown old in Sin, and are now under Awakenings, when you feel your Convictions begin to go off, if ever that ſhould be, then remember what you have now been told: It may well then ſtrike you to the Heart!

IV. I would direct the Advice to thoſe that are Young, and now under their firſt ſpecial Convictions. I would earneſtly urge ſuch to improve this Opportunity, and preſs into the Kingdom of God.

Conſider two Things,

1. You have all Manner of Advantages now centring upon you. It is a Time of great Advantage for all; but your Advantages are above others. There is no other Sort of Perſons, that have now ſo great and happy an Opportunity as you have. You have that great Advantage that is common to all that live in this Place, viz. That now it is a Time of the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God; and alſo have that great Advantage, that you have the awakening Influences of the Spirit of God on you in particular; and beſides that, you have this peculiar Advantage, that you are now in your Youth: And added to this, you have another unſpeakable Advantage, that you now are under your firſt Convictions. Happy is he that never has hardened his Heart, and blocked up his own Way to Heaven p. 171by backſliding, and has now the awakening Influences of God's Spirit, if God does but enable him thoroughly to improve them! Such above all in the World bid fair for the Kingdom of God. God is wont, on ſuch, above any Kind of Perſons, as it were eaſily and readily to beſtow the ſaving Grace and Comforts of his Spirit. Inſtances of ſpeedy and ſudden Converſion are moſt commonly found among ſuch—Happy are they that have the Spirit of God with them, and never have quenched it, if they did but know the Price they have in their Hands!

If you have a Senſe of your Neceſſity of Salvation, and the great Worth and Value of it, you will be willing to take the ſureſt Way to it, or that which has the greateſt Probability of Succeſs; and that certainly is, thoroughly to improve your firſt Convictions: If you do ſo, it is not likely that you will fail; there is the greateſt Probability that you will ſucceed What is it not worth to have ſuch an Advantage in ones Hands, for obtaining eternal Life?—The preſent Seaſon of the pouring out of God's Spirit, is the firſt ſuch Seaſon that many of you that are now under Awakenings have ever ſeen, ſince you came to Years of Underſtanding: On which Account, and becauſe it is the firſt Time that you have ever been ſtir…'d up by the Spirit of God your ſelf, 'tis the greateſt Opportunity that ever you have had, and probably by far the greateſt that ever you will have. There are many here preſent that wiſh they had ſuch an Opportunity, but they never can obtain it; they can't buy it for Money; but you have it in your Poſſeſſion, and can improve it if you will.

But yet,

2. There is on ſome Accounts greater Danger that ſuch as are in your Circumſtances will fail of thoroughly improving their Convictions, with Reſpect to Stedſaſtneſs and Perſeverance, than others. Thoſe that are young are more unſtable than elder Perſons: They that never had Convictions before, have leſs Experience of the Difficulty of the Work they have engaged in; they are more ready to think that they ſhall obtain Salvation p. 172eaſily, and are more eaſily diſcouraged by Diſappointments; and young Perſons have leſs Reaſon and Conſideration to fortify them againſt Temptations to Backſliding: You ſhould therefore labour now the more to guard againſt ſuch Temptations—By all Means be thorough now! Make but one Work of ſeeking Salvation! Make thorough Work of it the firſt Time!—There are vaſt Diſadvantages that they bring themſelves under, that have ſeveral Turns of Seeking with great Intermiſſions: By ſuch a Courſe Perſons exceedingly wound their own Souls, and intangle themſelves in many Snares.—Who are thoſe that commonly meet with ſo many Difficulties, and are ſo long labouring in Darkneſs and Perplexity, but thoſe that have had ſeveral Turns at ſeeking Salvation, who have one while had Convictions, and then have quenched them, and then have ſet about the Work again, and have backſliden again, and have gone on after that Manner? The Children of Iſrael would not have been forty Years in the Wilderneſs, if they had held their Courage, and had gone on as they ſet out; but they were of an unſtable Mind, and were for going back again into Egypt Otherwiſe if they had gone right forward, without Diſcouragement, as God would have led them, they would have ſoon entred, and taken Poſſeſſion of Canaan: They had got to the very Borders of it, when they turned back, but then were thirty-eight Years after that, before they got through the Wilderneſs. Therefore as you regard the Intereſt of your Soul, don't run your ſelf into a like Difficulty, by Unſteadineſs, Intermiſſion, and Backſliding; but preſs right forward, from henceforth, and make but one Work of ſeeking converting and pardoning Grace, however great, and difficult, and long a Work that may be.