Discourses on Various Important Subjects, Discourse 3
Ruth's Reſolution.
DISCOURSE, III.
RUTH 1. 16.
AND Ruth ſaid, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goeſt, I will go, and where thou lodgeſt, I will lodge; thy People ſhall be my People, and thy GOD, my GOD.
THE Things that we have the Hiſtory of in this Book of Ruth, ſeem to be inſ…rted into the Canon of the Scripture eſpecially on two Accounts.
Firſt, Becauſe Chriſt was of Ruth's Poſterity. The Holy Ghoſt thought fit to take particular Notice of that Marriage of Boaz with Ruth, whence ſprang the Saviour of the World.—We may often obſerve it, that the Holy Spirit that indited the Scriptures often takes Notice of little Things, minute Occurrences, that do but remotely relate to Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, Becauſe this Hiſtory ſeems to be typical of the Calling of the Gentile Church, and indeed of the Converſion of every Believer. Ruth was not originally of Iſrael, but was a Moabiteſs, an Alien from the Common-Wealth of Iſrael: But ſhe forſook her own People, and the Idols of the Gentiles, to worſhip the God of Iſrael, and to join her ſelf to that People: Herein ſhe ſeems to be a Type of the Gentile Church, and alſo of every ſincere Convert. Ruth was the Mother of Chriſt; He came of her Poſterity: ſo the Church is Chriſt's Mother, as ſhe is repreſented, Rev 12. at the Beginning. And ſo alſo is every true Chriſtian his Mother. M…tth 12. 50 Whoſoever ſhall do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, the ſame is my Brother, and Siſter, and Mother. Chriſt is what the Soul of every one of the Elect is in Travail with, in the New-Birth. Ruth forſook all her natural Relations, and her own Country, the Land of her Nativity, and all her former Poſſeſſions there, for the ſake of the God of Iſrael; as every true Chriſtian forſakes all for Chriſt. Pſalm 45. 10. Hearken O Daughter, and conſider, and incline thine Ear; forget alſo thine own People, and thy Father's Houſe.
Naomi was now returning out of the Land of Moab, into the Land of Iſrael, with her two Daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth; who well repreſent to us, two Sorts of Profeſſors of Religion; Orpah that Sort, that indeed make a fair Profeſſion, and ſeem to ſet out well, but dure but for a while, and then turn back; Ruth that Sort, that are ſound and ſincere, and therefore are ſtedfaſt and perſevering in the Way that they have ſet out in. Naomi, in the preceeding Verſes repreſents to theſe her Daughters the Difficulties of their leaving their own Country to go with her. And in this Verſe may be obſerved,
1. The remarkable Conduct and Behaviour of Ruth on this Occaſion; with what inflexible Reſolution ſhe cleaves to Naomi, and follows her. When Naomi firſt aroſe to return from the Country of Moab, into the Land of Iſrael, Orpah and Ruth both ſet out with her: And Naomi exhorts them both to return: And they both of them wept, and ſeem'd as if they could not bear the Thoughts of leaving her, and appeared as if they were reſolved to go with her. Verſe 10. And they ſaid unto her, Surely we will return with thee, unto thy People. Then Naomi ſays to them again, Turn again my Daughters▪ go your Way, &c. And then they were greatly affected again, and Orpah returned and went back. Now Ruth's Stedfaſtneſs in her Purpoſe had a greater Trial, but yet is not overcome: She clave unto her, Verſe 14. Then Naomi ſpeaks to her again, Verſe 15. Behold thy Siſter in law is gone back unto her People, and unto her gods; Return thou after thy Siſter in-law. And then ſhe ſhews her immoveable Reſolution in the Text and following Verſe.
2. I would particularly obſerve that wherein the Virtuouſneſs of this her Reſolution conſiſts, viz. That it was for the Sake of the God of Iſrael, & that ſhe might be one of His People, that the was thus reſolved to cleave to Naomi: Thy People ſhall be my People, and thy God, my God. It was for God's Sake that ſhe did thus; and therefore her ſo doing is afterwards ſpoken of as a Virtuous Behaviour in her, Chap. 2. 11, 12 And Boaz anſwered and ſaid unto her, It hath fully been ſhewed me, all that thou haſt done unto thy Mother in law, ſince the Death of thine Husband, and …ow thou haſt left thy Father, and thy Mother, and the Land of thy Nativity, and art come unto a People which thou kneweſt not heretofore. The Lord recompence thy Work, and a full Reward be given thee of the Lord God of Iſrael, under whoſe Wings thou art come to truſt. She left her Father and Mother, and the Land of her Nativity, to come and truſt under the Shadow of God's Wings; and ſhe had indeed a full Reward given her as Boaz wiſh'd; for beſides immediate ſpiritual Bleſſings to her own Soul, and eternal Rewards in another World, ſhe was rewarded with plentiful, and proſperous outward Circumſtances, in the Family of Boaz; and God raiſed up David and Solomon of her Seed, and eſtabliſhed the Crown of Iſrael, (the People that ſhe choſe before her own People) in her Poſterity, and (which is much more) of her Seed he raiſed up Jeſus Chriſt, in whom all the Families of the Earth are bleſſed.
From the Words thus opened, I obſerve this for the Subject of my preſent Diſcourſe.
When thoſe that we have formerly been converſant with, are turning to God, and joining themſelves to his People, it ought to be our firm Reſolution, that we will not leave them; but that their People ſhall be our People, and their God, our God.
It is ſometimes ſo, that of thoſe that have been converſant one with another, that have dwelt together as Neighbours, and have been often together as Companions, or have been united in near Relation, and have been together in Darkneſs, Bondage, and Miſery, in the Service of Satan, ſome are inlighten'd and have their Minds changed, are made to ſee the great Evil of Sin, and have their Hearts turned to God, and are influenced by the Holy Spirit of God, to leave their Company that are on Satan's Side, to go and join themſelves with that bleſſed Company that are with Jeſus Chriſt; they are made willing to forſake the Tents of Wickedneſs, to dwell in the Land of Uprightneſs, with the People of God.
And ſometimes this proves a final Parting or Seperation between them, and thoſe that they have been formerly converſant with. Though it may be no Parting in outward Reſpects, they may ſtill dwell together, and may converſe one with another, yet in other Reſpects it ſets them at a great Diſtance one from another: one is a Child of God, and the other the Enemy of God; one is in a miſerable, and the other in a happy Condition; one is a Citizen of the heavenly Zion, the other is under Condemnation to He…l. They are no longer together in thoſe Reſpects, wherein they uſed to be together: They uſed to be of one Mind to ſerve Sin, and do Satan's Work; now they are of contrary Minds: They uſed to be together in Worldlineſs, and ſinful Vanity; now they are of exceeding different Diſpoſitions. They are ſeperated as they are in different Kingdoms; the one remains in the Kingdom of Darkneſs, the other is tranſlated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. And ſometimes they are finally ſeperated in theſe Reſpects: while one dwells in the Land of Iſrael, and in the Houſe of God; the other, like Orpah, lives and dies in the Land of Moab.
Now 'tis lamentable when it is thus: 'Tis awful being parted ſo: 'Tis doleful when of thoſe that have formerly been together in Sin, ſome turn to God, and join themſelves with his People, that it ſhould prove a Parting between them and their former Companions and Acquaintance.—It ſhould be our firm and inflexible Reſolution in ſuch a Caſe, that it ſhall be no Parting, but that we will follow them, that their People ſhall be our People, and their God our God; and that for the following Reaſons.
I. Becauſe their God is a glorious God. There is none like him, who is infinite in Glory and Excellency: He is the moſt high God, glorious in Holineſs, fearful in Praiſes, doing Wonders: His Name is excellent in all the Earth, and his Glory is above the Earth and the Heavens: Among the God's there is none like unto him; there is none in Heaven to be compared to him, nor are there any among the Sons of the Mighty, that can be liken'd unto him.—Their God is the Fountain of all Good, & an inexhauſtible Fountain; he is an alſufficient God; a God that is able to protect and defend them, and do all Things for them: He is the King of Glory, the Lord ſtrong and mighty, the Lord mighty in Battle: A ſtrong Rock, and an high Tower. There is none like the God of Jeſ…urun, who rideth on the Heaven in their Help, and in his Excellency on the Sky: The eternal God is their Refuge, and underneath are everlaſting Arms: He is a God that hath all Things in his Hand, and does whatſover he pleaſes: He killeth, and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the Grave, and bringeth up; he maketh poor, and maketh rich: The Pillars of the Earth are the Lord's.—Their God is an infinitely holy God: There is none holy as the Lord. And he is infinitely good and merciful. Many that others worſhip and ſerve as God's, are cruel Beings, Spirits that ſeek the Ruin of Souls; but this is a God that delighteth in Mercy; his Grace is infinite, and endures for ever: He is Love it ſelf, an infinite Fountain and Ocean of it.
Such a God is their God! Such is the Excellency of Jacob! Such is the God of them, who have forſaken their Sins and are converted! They have made a wiſe Choice, who have choſen this God for their God. They have made an happy Exchange indeed, that have exchanged Sin, and the World, for ſuch a God!
They have an excellent and glorious Saviour, who is the only begotten Son of God; the Brightneſs of his Father's Glory; one in whom God from Eternity had infinite Delight; A Saviour of infinite Love; one that has ſhed his own Blood, and made his Soul an Offering for their Sins; and one that is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt.
II. Their People are an excellent and happy People. God has renewed them, and inſtamped his own Image upon them, and made them Partakers of his Holineſs. They are more excellent than their Neighbours, Prov. 12. 26 Yea, they are the excellent of the Earth, Pſalm 16. 3 They are lovely in the Sight of the Angels; and they have their Souls adorned with thoſe Graces, that in the Sight of God him ſelf are of great Price.
The People of God are the moſt excellent and happy Society in the World. That God whom they have choſen for their God, is their Father; he has pardoned all their Sins, and they are at Peace with him; and he has admitted them to all the Privileges of his Children. As they have devoted themſelves to God, ſo God has given himſelf to them: He is become their Salvation, and their Portion: His Power and Mercy, and all his Attributes are theirs. They are in a ſafe State, free from all Poſſibility of periſhing: Satan has no Power to deſtroy them. God carries them on Eagles Wings, far above Satan's Reach, and above the Reach of all the Enemies of their Souls. God is with them in this World; they have his gracious Preſence: God is for them; Who then can be againſt them? As the Mountains are round about Jeruſalem, ſo JEHOVAH is round about them. God is their Shield, and their exceeding great Reward; and their Fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt: And they have the divine Promiſe and Oath, that in the World to come, they ſhall dwell for ever in the glorious Preſence of God.
It may well be ſufficient to induce us to reſolve to cleave to thoſe that forſake their Sins and Idols, to join themſelves with this People, that God is with them. Zech. 8 23 Thus faith the Lord of Hoſts, In thoſe Days it ſhall come to paſs, that ten Men ſhall take hold, out of all Languages of the Nations; even ſhall take hold of the Skirt of him that is a Jew, ſaying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you. So ſhould Perſons, as it were take hold of the Skirt of their. Neighbours and Companions, that have turn'd to God, and reſolve that they will go with them, becauſe God is with them.
III. Happineſs is no where elſe to be had, but in their God, and with their People. There are that are called gods many, and lords many. Some make gods of their Pleaſures; ſome chooſe Mammon for their god; ſome make gods of their own ſuppoſed Excellencies, or the outward Advantages they have above their Neighbours; ſome chooſe one Thing for their god, and others another: But Men can be happy in no other God, but the God of Iſrael. He is the only Fountain of Happineſs. Other gods can't help in Calamity; nor can any of them afford what the poor empty Soul ſtands in need of. Let Men adore thoſe other gods never ſo much, and call upon them never ſo earneſtly, and ſerve them never ſo diligently, they will never the leſs remain poor, wretched, unſatisfied, undone Creatures. All other People are miſerable, but that People whoſe God is the Lord.—The World is divided into two Societies: There are the People of God, the little Flock of Jeſus Chriſt, that Company that we read of, Rev. 14. 4. Theſe are they, which were not defiled with Women; for they are Virgins: Theſe are they, which follow the Lamb whitherſoever he g…eth: Theſe were redeemed from among Men, being the firſt Fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And there are thoſe that belong to the Kingdom of Darkneſs; that are without Chriſt, being Aliens from the Common-Wealth of Iſrael, Strangers from the Covenants of Promiſe, having no Hope, and without God in the World. All that are of this latter Company, are wretched and undone; they are the Enemies of God, and under his Wrath and Condemnation: They are the Devil's Slaves, that ſerve him blindfold, and are beſool'd, and enſnared by him, and hurried along in the broad Way to eternal Perdition.
IV. When thoſe that we have formerly been converſant with, are turning to God, and to his People, their Example ought to influence us. Their Example ſhould be looked upon as the Call of God to us, to do as they have done. God, when he changes the Heart of one, calls upon another; eſpecially does he loudly call on thoſe that have been their Friends and Acquaintance.—We have been influenced by their Examples in Evil; and ſhall we ceaſe to follow them, when they make the wiſeſt Choice that ever they made, and do the beſt Thing that ever they did! If we have been Companions with them in Worldlineſs, in Vanity, in unproſitable and ſinful Converſation, it will be an hard Caſe, if there muſt be a Parting now, becauſe we be not willing to be Companions with them in Holineſs, and true Happineſs. Men are greatly influenced by ſeeing one another's Proſperity in other Things. If thoſe that they have been much converſant with, grow rich, and obtain any great earthly Advantages, it awakens their Ambition, and eager Deſire after the like Proſperity: How much more ſhould they be influenced, and ſtirred up to follow them, and be like them, when they obtain that ſpiritual and eternal Happineſs, that is infinitely more Worth than all the Proſperity and Glory of this World.
V. Our Reſolutions to cleave to and follow thoſe that are turning to God, and joining themſelves to his People, ought to be fix'd and ſtrong, becauſe of the great Difficulty of it. If we will cleave to them, and have their God for our God, and their People for our People, we muſt mortify and deny all our Luſts, and croſs every evil Appetite and Inclination, and forever part with all Sin. But our Luſts are many and violent. Sin is naturally exceeding dear to us; to part with it is compared to plucking out our right Eyes. Men may refrain from wanted Ways of Sin, for a little while, and may deny their Luſts in a partial Degree, with leſs Difficulty; but 'tis heart-rending Work, finally to part with all Sin, and to give our deareſt Luſts a Bill of Divorce, utterly to ſend them away. But this we muſt do, if we would follow thoſe that are truly turning to God: Yea, we muſt not only forſake Sin, but muſt, in a Senſe, forſake all the World, Luke 14. 33 Whoſoever he be of you, that forſaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my Diſciple. That is, he muſt forſake all in his Heart, and muſt come to a thorough Diſpoſition and Readineſs, actually to quit all for God, and the glorious ſpiritual Privileges of his People, whenever the Caſe may require it; and that without any Proſpect of any Thing of the like Nature, or any worldly Thing whatſoever, to make amends for it; and all to go into a ſtrange Country, a Land that has hitherto been unſeen; like Abraham, who being called of God, went out of his own Country, and from his Kindred, and from his Father's … uſe for a Land that God ſhould ſhew him, not knowing whither he went.
Thus▪ it was an hard Thing for Ruth to forſake her native Country, & her Father & Mother, her Kindred and Acquaintance, and all the pleaſant Things ſhe had in the Land of Moab, to dwell in the Land of Iſrael, where ſhe never had been. Naomi told her of the Difficulties once and again They were too hard for her Siſter O…p…h; the Conſideration of them turned her back after ſhe was ſet out. Her R…ſolution was not firm enough to overcome them. But ſo firmly reſolved was Ruth, that ſhe brake through all; ſhe was ſtedfaſt in it, that let the Difficulty be what it would, ſhe would not leave her Mother in law. So Perſons had need to be very firm in their Reſolution to conquer the Difficulties that are in the Way of cleaving to them, that are indeed turning from Sin to God.
VI. Our cleaving to them, and having their God for our God, and their People for our People, depends on our Reſolution and Choice: And that in two Reſpects.
1. The Firmneſs of Reſolution in uſing Means in order to it, is the Way to have Means effectual. There are Means appointed in order to our becoming ſome of the true Iſrael, and having their God for our God; and the thorough Uſe of theſe Means, is the Way to have Succeſs; but not a ſlack or ſlighty Uſe of them. And that we may be thorough, there is need of Strength of Reſolution, a firm and inflexible Diſpoſition, and bent of Mind to be univerſal in the Uſe of Means, and to do what we do with our Might, and to perſevere in it. Matth. 11. 12. The Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth Violence, and the violent take it by Force.
2. A chooſing of their God, and their People, with a full Determination, and with the whole Soul, is the Condition of an Union with them. God gives every Man his Choice in this Matter; as Orpah and Ruth had their Choice, whether they would go with Naomi into the Land of Iſrael, or ſtay in the Land of Moab. A natural Man may chooſe Deliverance from Hell; but no Man doth ever heartily chooſe God, and Chriſt, and the ſpiritual Benefits that Chriſt has purchaſed, and the Happineſs of God's People, till he is converted. On the contrary, He is averſe to them; he has no Reliſh of them; and is wholly ignorant of the ineſtimable Worth and Value of them.
Many carnal Men do ſeem to chooſe theſe Things, but do it not really; as O pah ſeemed at firſt. to chooſe to forſake Moab to go into the Land of Iſrael: But when Naomi come to ſet before her the Difficulty of it, ſhe went back; and thereby ſhewed that ſhe was not fully determined in her Choice, and that her whole Soul was not in it, as Ruth's was.
APPLICATION.
The USE that I ſhall make of what has been ſaid, is to move Sinners to this Reſolution, with Reſpect to thoſe amongſt us, that have lately turned to God, and joined themſelves to the Flock of Chriſt. It is ſo, thro' the abundant Mercy and Grace of God to us in this Place, that it may be ſaid of many of you, that are in a Chriſtleſs Condition, that you have lately been left by thoſe that were formerly with you in ſuch a State. There are thoſe that you have formerly been converſant with, that have lately forſaken a Life of Sin and the Service of Satan, and have turned to God, and fled to Chriſt, and joined themſelves to that bleſſed Company that are with him. They formerly were with you in Sin and in Miſery, but now they are with you no more, in that State or Manner of Life: They are changed, and have fled from the Wrath to come: They have choſen a Life of Holineſs here, and the Enjoyment of God hereafter. They were formerly your Aſſociates in Bondage, and were with you in Satan's Buſineſs; but now you have their Company no longer, in theſe Things. Many of you have ſeen thoſe that you live with under the ſame Roof, turning from being any longer with you in Sin, to be with the People of Jeſus Chriſt. Some of you that are Husbands, have had your Wives; and ſome of you that are Wives, have had you Husbands; ſome of you that are Children, have had your Parents; and Parents have had your Children; many of you have had your Brothers and Siſters; and many your near Neighbours, and Acquaintance, and ſpecial Friends; many of you that are young have had your Companions: I ſay, many of you have had thoſe that you have been thus concerned with, leaving you, forſaking that doleful Life, and wretched State that you ſtill continue in. God of his good Pleaſure, and wonderful Grace, hath lately cauſed it to be ſo, in this Place, that Multitudes have been forſaking their old Abodes in the Land of Moab, and under the gods of Moab, and going into the Land of Iſrael, to put their Truſt under the Wings of the Lord God of Iſrael. Though you and they have been nearly related, and have dwelt together, or have been often together, and intimately acquainted one with another, they have been taken, and you hitherto left! O let it not be the Foundation of a final Parting! But earneſtly follow them; be firm in your Reſolution in this Matter. Don't do as Orpah did, who though at firſt ſhe made as though ſhe would follow Naomi, yet when ſhe had the Difficulty of it ſet before her, went back: But ſay as Ruth, I will not leave thee, but where thou go…ſt, I will go: Thy People ſhall be my People, and thy God my God. Say as ſhe ſaid, and do as ſhe did. Conſider the Excellency of their God, and their Saviour, and the Happineſs of their People, the bleſſed State that they are in, and the doleful State that you are in.
You that are old Sinners, that have lived long in the Service of Satan, have lately ſeen ſome that were with you, that have travell'd with you in the Paths of Sin, theſe many Years, that with you enjoyed great Means and Advantages, that have had Calls and Warnings with you, and have with you paſs'd through remarkable Times of the pouring out of God's Spirit in this Place, and have harden'd their Hearts, and ſtood it out with you, and with you have grown old in Sin; I ſay, you have ſeen ſome of them turning to God, i. e. you have ſeen thoſe Evidences of it in them, whence you may rationally judge that it is ſo. O! let it not be a final Parting! You have been thus long together in Sin, and under Condemnation; let it be your firm Reſolution, that, if poſſible, you will be with them ſtill, now they are in an holy and happy State, and that you will follow them into the holy and pleaſant Land.
You that tell of your having been ſeeking Salvation for many Years, though, without Doubt, in a poor, dull Way, in compariſon of what you ought to have done. You have ſeen ſome that have been with you in that Reſpect, that were old Sinners, and old Seekers, as you are, obtaining Mercy. God has lately rouſed them from their Dulneſs, and cauſed them to alter their Hand, and put them on more thorough Endeavours; and they have now, after ſo long a Time heard God's Voice, and have fled for Refuge to the Rock of Ages. Let this awaken Earneſtneſs, and Reſolution in you. Reſolve that you will not leave them.
You that are in your Youth, how many have you ſeen of your Age and Standing, that have of late, hopefully choſen God for their God, and Chriſt for their Saviour! You have follo… them in Sin, and have perhaps followed them into vain Company; and will you not now follow them to Chriſt?
And you that are Children, there have lately been ſome of your Sort, that have repented of their Sins, and have loved the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and truſted in him, and are become God's Children, as we have Reaſon to hope; Let it ſtir you up to reſolve to your utmoſt to ſeek and cry to God, that you may have the like Change made in your Hearts, that their People may be your People, and their God your God.
You that are great Sinners, that have made your ſelves diſtinguiſhingly guilty, by the wicked Practices you have lived in, there are ſome of your Sort, that have lately (as we have Reaſon to hope) had their Hearts broken for Sin, and have forſaken it, and have truſted in the Blood of Chriſt for the Pardon of it, and have choſen an holy Life, and have betaken themſelves to the Ways of Wiſdom: Let it ex… and encourage you, reſolutely to cleave to them, and earneſtly to follow, them.
Let the following Things be here conſidered.
1. That your Soul is as precious as theirs. It is immortal as theirs is; and ſtands in as much Need of Happineſs, and can as ill bear eternal Miſery. You was born in the ſame miſerable Condition that they were, having the ſame Wrath of God abiding on you. You muſt ſtand before the ſame Judge; who will be as ſtrict in Judgment with you, as with them; and your own Righteouſneſs will ſtand you in no more Stead before him, than theirs; and therefore you ſtand in as abſolute Neceſſity of a Saviour as they. Carnal Confidences can no more anſwer your End than theirs; nor can this World or it's Enjoyments, ſerve to make you happy, without God, and Chriſt, more than them. When the Bridegroom comes, the fooliſh Virgins ſtand in as much Need of Oil, as the Wiſe, Matth.25 at the Beginning.
2. Unleſs you follow them, in their turning to God, their Converſion will be a Foundation of an eternal Seperation between you and them. You will be in different Intereſts, and in exceeding different States, as long as you live; they the Children of God, and you the Children of Satan: and you will be parted in another World; when you come to die, there will be a vaſt Seperation made between you. Luke 16. 26. And beſides all this, between us and you, there is a great Gulf fixed; ſo that they that would paſs from hence to you, cannot; neither can they paſs to us, that would come from thence. And you will be parted at the Day of Judgment. You will be parted at Chriſt's firſt Appearance in the Clouds of Heaven: While they are caught up in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, to be ever with the Lord, you will remain below, confined to this curſed Ground, that is kept in Store, reſerved unto Fire, againſt the Day of Judgment, and Perdition of ungodly Men. You will appear ſeperated from them, while you ſtand before the great Judgment Seat, they being at the Right Hard, while you are ſet at the left. Matth. 25. 32, 33. And before him ſhall be gathered all Nations; and he ſhall ſeperate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats; and he ſhall ſet the Sheep on his Right Hand; but the Goats on the left. And you ſhall then appear in exceeding different Circumſtances: While you ſtand with Devils, in the Image and Deformity of Devils, and in ineffable Horror and Amamazement, they ſhall appear in Glory, ſitting on Thrones, as Aſſeſſors with Chriſt, and as ſuch paſſing Judgment upon you, I Cor 6. 2. And what Shame and Confuſion will then cover you, when ſo many of your Contemporaries, your Equals, your Neighbours, Relations and Companions, ſhall be honoured, and openly acknowleged, and confeſ…ed by the glorious Judge of the Univerſe, and Redeemer of Saints, and ſhall be ſeen by you ſitting with him in ſuch Glory, and you ſhall appear to have neglected your Salvation, and not to have improved your Opportunities, and rejected the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the ſame Perſon that will then appear as your great Judge, and you ſhall be the Subjects of ſuch Wrath, and as it were trodden down in eternal Contempt and Diſgrace! Dan. 12. 2. Some ſhall riſe to everlaſting Life, and ſome to Shame and overlaſting Contempt. And what a wide Seperation will the Sentence that ſhall be then paſſed and executed, make between you and them? When you ſhall be ſent away out of the Preſence of the Judge, with Indignation and Abhorrence, as curſed and loathſome Creatures, and they ſhall be ſweetly accoſted, and invited into his Glory, as his dear Friends, and the bleſſed of his Father! When you, with all that vaſt Throng of wicked and accurſed Men and Devils, ſhall deſcend with loud Lamentings, and horrid Shri…ks, into that dreadful Gulf of Fire and B…i…nſtone, and ſhall be ſwallowed up in that great and everlaſting Furnace, while they ſhall joyfully and with ſweet Songs of Glory and Praiſe, aſcend with Chriſt, and all that beauteous and bleſſed Company of Saints and Angels, into eternal Felicity, in the glorious Preſence of God, and the ſweet Embraces of his Love; and you and they ſhall ſpend Eternity in ſuch a Seperation, and immenſely different Circumſtances! And that however you have been intimately acquainted and nearly related, cloſely united and mutually converſant here in this World; and how much ſoever you have taken Delight in each others Company! Shall it be ſo after you have been together a great while, each of you in undoing your ſelves, enhanſing your Guilt, and heaping up Wrath, that their ſo wiſely changing their Minds, and their Courſe, and chooſing ſuch Happineſs for themſelves, ſhould now at length, be the Beginning of ſuch an exceeding and everlaſting Seperation between you and them? How awful will it be to be parted ſo!
3. Conſider the great Encouragement that God gives you, earneſtly to ſtrive for the ſame Bleſſing that others have obtained. There is great Encouragement in the Word of God to Sinners, to ſeek Salvation; in the Revelation that we have of the abundant Proviſion made for the Salvation even of the chief of Sinners, and in the Appointment of ſo many Means to be uſed with, and by Sinners, in order to their Salvation; and by the Bleſſing which God in his Word connects with the Means of his Appointment. There is hence great Encouragement for all, at all Times, that will be thorough in uſing of theſe Means. But now God gives extraordinary Encouragement in his Providence, by pouring out his Spirit ſo remarkably amongſt us, and bringing ſavingly Home to himſelf, all S…r…s, young and old, rich and poor, wiſe and unwiſe, ſober and vicious, old ſelf righteous Seekers, and profligate Livers;—No Sort are exempt. There is now at this Day, amongſt us, the loudeſt Call, and the greateſt Encouragement, and the wideſt Door opened to Sinners, to eſcape out of a State of Sin & Condemnation, that perhaps God ever granted in New-England. Who is there that has an immortal Soul, that is ſo ſottiſh as not to improve ſuch an Opportunity, & that won't beſtir himſelf with all his Might …w? How unreaſonable is Negligence, and how exceeding unſeaſonable is Diſcouragement, at ſuch a Day as this! Will you be ſo ſtupid, as to neglect your Soul now? Will any Mortal amongſt us, be ſo unreaſonable, as to lagg behind, or look back in Diſcouragement, when God opens ſuch a Door? Let every ſingle Perſon, be thoroughly awake! Let every one encourage himſelf now to preſs forward, and fly for his Life!
4. Conſider how earneſtly deſirous they that have obtained are, that you ſhould follow them, and that their People ſhould be your People, and their God your God. They deſire that you ſhould partake of that great Good that God has given them, and that unſpeakable and eternal Bleſſedneſs that he has promiſed them: They wi…h and long for it. If you don't go with them, and are not ſtill of their Company, it won't be for Want of their Willingneſs, but your own. That of Moſes to Hobab, is the Language of every true Saint of your Acquaintance to you. Numb. 10 29. We are journeying unto the Place, of which the Lord ſaid, I will give it you: Come thou with us, and we will do thee Good; for the Lord hath ſpoken Good concerning Iſrael. As Moſes, when on his Journey through the Wilde…neſs, following the Pillar of Cloud and Fire, invited Hobab, that he had been acquainted with, and nearly allied to, out of the Land of Midian, where Moſes had formerly dwelt with him, to go with him and his People to Canaan, to partake with them in the Good that God had promiſed them; ſo do thoſe of your Friends and Acquaintance, invite you out of a Land of Darkneſs and Wickedneſs, where they have formerly been with you, to go with them to the heavenly Canaan. The Company of Saints, the true Church of Chriſt invite you. The lovely Bride calls you to the Marriage Supper. She hath Authority to invite Gueſts to her own Wedding; and you ought to look on her Invitation and Deſire, as the Call of Chriſt the Bridegroom; for it is the Voice of his Spirit in her, Rev. 22. 17. The Spirit, and the Bride ſay come. Where ſeems to be a Reference to what had been ſaid, Chap 19 7, 8, 9. The Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his Wife hath made her ſelf ready. And to her was granted that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine Linnen, clean and white; for the fine Linnen is the Righteouſneſs of Saints. And he …aith unto me, …; Bleſſed are they which are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 'Tis with Reſpect to this her Marriage Supper, that ſhe, from the Motion of the Spirit of the Lamb in her, ſays, Come So that you are invited on all Hands; all conſpire to call you. God the Father invites you: This is the King that has made a Marriage for his Son; and he ſends forth his Servants, the Miniſters of the Goſpel, to invite the Gueſts. And the Son himſelf invites you: 'Tis he that ſpeaks, Rev. 22. 17. And let him that heareth ſay come; and let him that is athirſt, Come; and whoſoever will let him come. He tells us who he is, in the foregoing Verſe, I Jeſus, the Root and Offſpring of David, the bright and morning Star. And God's Miniſters invite you, and all the Church invites you; and there will be Joy in the Preſence of the Angels of God, that Hour tha… you accept the Invitation.
5. Conſider what a doleful Company that will be, that be left after this extraordinary Time of Mercy is over. We have Reaſon to think that there will a Number left. We read that when Ezekiel's healing Waters increaſed ſo abundantly, and the healing Effect of them was ſo very general; yet there were certain Places, where the Waters came, that never were healed. Ezek. 47 9, 10, 11 And it ſhall come to paſs, that every Thing that liveth, which moveth, whither ſoever the Rivers come, ſhall live. And there be a very great Multitude of Fiſh, becauſe theſe Waters ſhall come thither: for they ſhall be healed, and every Thing ſhall live, whither the River cometh. And it ſhall come to paſs, that the Fiſhers ſhall ſtand upon it, from En…ged; even unto En-egl…im; they ſhall be a Place to ſpread forth Nets: There Fiſh ſhall be according to their Kinds, as the Fiſh of the great Sea, exceeding many. But the miry Places thereof, and the Mariſhes thereof, ſhall not be healed, they ſhall be given to Salt. And even in the Apoſtles Times, when there was ſuch wonderful Succeſs of the Goſpel, yet wherever they came there were ſome that did not believe. Acts 13. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal Life believed. And Chap 28 24. And ſome believed, and ſome believed not. So we have no Reaſon to expect, but there will be ſome left amongſt us. 'Tis to be hoped it will be but a ſmall Company: But what a doleful Company will it be! How darkly and awfully will it look upon them!—If you ſhall be of that Company, how well may your Friends and Relations lament over you, and bemoan your dark and dangerous Circumſtances!—If you would not be one of them, make haſte, delay not, and look not behind you.—Shall all Sorts obtain, ſhall every one preſs into the Kingdom of God, while you ſtay loitering behind, in a doleful undone Condition? Shall every one take Heaven, while you remain, with no other Portion but this World? Now take up that Reſolution, that if it be poſſible you will cleave to them that have fled for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope ſet before them. Count the Coſt of a thorough, violent, and perpetual Purſuit of Salvation, and forſake all, as Ruth forſook her own Country, and all her pleaſant Enjoyments in it. Don't do as Orpah did; who ſet out, and then was diſcouraged, and went back: but hold out with Ruth through all Diſcouragement and Oppoſition. When you conſider others, that have 'choſen the better Part, let that Reſolution be ever firm with you, Where thou goeſt I will go; where thou lodgeſt I will lodge; thy People ſhall be my People, and thy God my God.