The Serious Consideration that God will Visit and Judge Men for Sin, Sermon

The Serious Consideration that God will Visit and Judge Men for Sin · Sermon

Mr. Williams's SERMON Occaſion'd by the Execution of Philip Kenniſon, At Cambridge, September 15. 1738.

The ſerious Conſideration, That GOD will viſit and judge Men for Sin, would be a happy Means to keep them from it. A SERMON Preach'd at Cambridge, September 15th. 1738. On Occaſion of the Execution of Philip Kenniſon, For the Crime of Burglary.

By William Williams, M. A. Paſtor of the Church in Weſton.

Ezek. 18.20.

—The wickedneſs of the wicked ſhall be upon him. v.21. But if the wicked turn from all his Sins— he ſhall ſurely live.

Deut. 13.11.

And all Iſrael ſhall hear and fear, and do no more any ſuch Wickedneſs—.

With the Confeſſion of his Faith.

BOSTON: Printed and ſold by Thomas Fleet, at the Heart and Crown in Cornhill; where may be had the Narrative of Kenniſon's Life, written by himſelf. 1738.

p. 5Serious Tho'ts reſtraining from Sin.

Job XXXI.14.

What then ſhall I do when God riſeth up? and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him?

BEING aſſembled here on ſuch a ſolemn Occaſion, when we have before us a ſorrowful Spectacle, one of our Fellow-Creatures under a Sentence of Death, for his Crimes committed, to be ſpeedily executed; it is very fit it ſhould be accompanied with the Word of God and Prayer; that when ſuch a numerous Audience of Chriſtians are together, not out of Curioſity, we truſt, but in a ſerious Frame, with their Hearts affected, to conſider the ſorrowful Effects of Sin, and what Folly is in the Hearts of the Children of Men while they live, and how ſoon for it, they go down to the dead; that they, as well as the Perſon himſelf, may receive ſome ſeaſonable Divine Inſtruction.

And having bin deſir'd by the Reverend Paſtor of the Church in this Town, to ſtand in his Place on this Occaſion; I have turned my Tho'ts on this ſerious Subject,— the Words which I have now read unto you; which ſuggeſt unto us ſome of the moſt affecting Motives … engage Perſons againſt any manner of Irregularity, and that we ſhould always ſtand in awe, and not ſin againſt God. This is the Improvement we ſhould make of the Inſtances of Judgment executed upon Men for their Iniquities, and of the Admonitions and Warnings of the p. 6Word, in both which the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, againſt the Ungodlineſs and Unrighteouſneſs of Men.

In this Chapter, which is the Concluſion of Job's Diſcourſe with his Friends, he makes a very large and ſolemn Defence of his Innocence and Integrity, and that he was clear of the Crimes that his Friends either charg'd upon him, or might ſuppoſe him to be guilty of; which was not in way of Oſtentation, but juſt and neceſſary Vindication of himſelf. Happy the Man whoſe Heart was thus upright towards God! This was his Conſolation in the day of evil.—I ſhall not ſtay to conſider the Particulars in which this holy Man acquits himſelf.— The Words of the Text come in as the Reaſon why he avoided all harſh or ſevere Dealing towards his Servants, which were very numerous. He conſidered God as his Judge, as well as his and their Creator, (v. 15.) and therefore he would not do any unequal or unrighteous thing to them.— Upon this Suppoſal, or if I ſhould do ſo—what then ſhould I do when God riſeth up?—&c. God ſo ſuperiour to me and all Men, of infinite Power, and inflexible Juſtice!

In this and divers other Paſſages in the Chapter, he ſhews the Reaſon of his eſchewing Evil: It was becauſe he had a devout Regard to God, and feared him, and that his Piety was at the Bottom of his Juſtice and Charity, and this (as one **Mr. Henry.well obſerves) crowns the Proof of his Sincerity.

To give ſome Explication of the Words—

—When God riſeth up—Such Poſtures of ſitting and riſing—, are attributed to God, only figuratively, or after our manner of ſpeaking. God is ſaid to ſit on his Throne, in Alluſion to earthly Princes and Judges, who ſit and hear Cauſes, and give Sentence. "And he may be ſaid to riſe up, when he proceeds to execute Judgment. To riſe up, notes readineſs to Speech or Action"††C…ryl on Job.. God's riſing up means the manifeſtation of his Purpoſe, p. 7the actuating of his Power. Thus Moſes prays, Numb. 10.35. Riſe up, Lord, and let thine Enemies be ſcattered. And thus his Church are taught to pray, Pſal. 68.1. When any expoſe themſelves to God's Diſpleaſure by Sin, they have Reaſon to put this trembling Queſtion to themſelves, What ſhall I do, when God riſeth up? The Expreſſion imports, 1. Enquiry, as one asking Counſel and Advice, not knowing what to do. Or, 2. It ſignifies, or is the Language of Grief and Trouble, as one bemoaning his ſad Condition, perplexed with the Tho'ts of what he has done, or the Fears of what he ſhall ſuffer.

And when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him?

To viſit is, in Scripture Senſe, 1. ſometimes to ſhew Favour and Kindneſs, as Luk. 1.68. God hath viſited and redeemed his People—, and v. 78. This was a moſt gracious Viſit indeed.

It is not meant in this Senſe.

2. To viſit is to manifeſt Diſpleaſure, and to execute Judgment. Exod. 32.34. Nevertheleſs, in the day when I viſit, I will viſit their Sin upon them. i. e. In way of Puniſhment; they ſhall ſuffer the ſorrowful Effects of their Sin. And Jer. 5.9. and

3. It ſignifies to call to an Account. This is the Office of a Superiour towards thoſe under his Charge and Inſpection. (Hoſ. 4.9.)

In this and the ſecond Senſe this Expreſſion may be underſtood. And the Queſtion imports, that he ſhould not be able to anſwer when God ſhould call him to an Account, for any contemptuous Treatment or Unrighteouſneſs: That he could not excuſe himſelf, nor expect to eſcape his righteous Judgment, nor could he deliver himſelf out of his righteous Hand.

I ſhall not conſider the Words with the reference they have to thoſe juſt preceeding, but as carrying in them a powerful Reſtraint from all manner of Sin.

Doctrine. They are very weighty Queſtions, which Perſons ſhould put cloſely to themſelves, as a good Means to prevent their ſinning, —What they ſhall do p. 8when God riſeth up? and when he viſiteth, what they ſhall anſwer him? Or,

That the ſerious Conſideration of God's viſiting and judging Perſons for their Sins, would be a happy Means to prevent their ſinning againſt him.

In the 23d. v. of this Chapter, Job, to the like Purpoſe, profeſſes, Deſtruction from God was a Terrour to me! Well may it be ſo: It is ſo to Nature, and it is ſo to a gracious Soul.

There is a ſervile Fear in ſome, avoiding Evil, or Sin, only for fear of Evil or Puniſhment. But there is alſo a filial Fear, which ſhould be laboured for and cheriſhed. This ſanctified Affection is attempered with Love to God, and does not afflict and diſquiet the Soul in its way, but keeps it from wandering out of the way of Underſtanding.

It is becauſe Men don't conſider, that they are not afraid of the Judgments of God. The want of Conſideration is the great Miſery of Men! They conſider not that they do evil. And they conſider not what will be the Conſequences of their doing evil: And ſo they dare to omit the Duties which God requires of them, and to Tranſgreſs his ſacred Laws. Divine Counſels and Perſwaſions prevail not, to any good Purpoſe, becauſe they do not ſet themſelves to ponder and conſider. This is God's complaint of his People, Iſa. 1.3. Iſrael doth not know, my People doth not conſider.

There are very weighty Conſiderations which God ſets before Men to keep them in awe, that they might not dare to ſin againſt him; ſufficient to over balance their corrupt Inclinations, and the ſtrongeſt Temptations which they are expoſed to; but this is their Unhappineſs, they will not apply their Hearts thereunto. It would ſurely be of very powerful Tendency to prevent Men's ſinning, if they would ſeriouſly conſider, What they ſhould do in the end thereof! as Jer. 5.31.

This may be evident, if we conſider the following Heads.

p. 91. That ſuch Tho'ts will lead them into the Conſideration that their Probation Time will come to an end. That there will certainly be an end of their Time, and Action, and manner of Life. God hath placed Men here on Earth in a ſtate of Trial for Eternity. They have a great Buſineſs to do, and but a ſhort Time to do it in. There is a Time and Seaſon for every lawful Buſineſs Men have to proſecute, but none for Sin. If Men would but conſider, ſurely they muſt conclude, that God in whoſe Hands their Breath is, and whoſe are all their Ways, will bring their Opportunities to a Period; and that they know not how ſoon: That he will not wait always, and it may be not long. A few Weeks or Days, or for ought they know, an Hour may bring them to an End. If they preſs'd home this Tho't; God ſhall not always be as one ſtill and ſilent; he will put a Period to their Days, and then as there ſhall be an End of all their worldly Enjoyments and Purſuits, of all their ſenſual Gratifications, of all their Sports and Pleaſures, ſo alſo of all their Advantages of ſeeking the Favour of God, and making Proviſion for their Souls.

2. As this leads them to conſider that a righteous God will call them to an Account for all that they do. This is the Purport of the Words—, When God riſeth up, and when he viſiteth—. And this may refer to three diſtinct Periods.

(1.) God does often in this Life reckon with Men, or manifeſt his Diſpleaſure for their Sins, in the Strokes of his Hand upon them. Thus the Lord is known by the Judgments which he executes. (Pſal. 9.16.) He ſaith concerning his People, Jer. 5.9. Shall I not viſit for theſe things—? And Ch. 14.10. I will remember their Iniquity, and viſit their Sin—. Hoſ. 9.9. Sometimes he viſits them in Wrath, and puniſhes them in his ſore Diſpleaſure; ſometimes in Mercy, and to reduce them from the Error of their Ways, Pſal. 89.32. He hath a great variety of Methods whereby he viſits and chaſtizes them for their Sins in this Life, as he threatned p. 10them Lev. 26.14—39. He brings Wars, Scarcity, Famine, and ſometimes ſore & mortal Sickneſs, ſore Sickneſs, and of long continuance, and all to vindicate his own Name and Honour, becauſe Men would not conſider their Ways, and turn from their Sins.

(2.) God viſits all Men at the Day of Death. And this ſometimes by the Hand of Humane Juſtice, or by his own immediate Hand—. It may be ſuitable on this Occaſion, to mention ſuch Crimes as the Laws of this Land have made Capital, or to be puniſhed with Death. Poſſibly it may prevent ſome Perſons ſinning in Ignorance of their Danger.— As, the murdering of any Perſon, which is to be puniſhed with Death, by the Laws of God, and the Laws of all civilized Nations. And a Woman being delivered when alone of a ſpurious Child, tho' the Child may happen to be ſtill born, or die, yet ſhe is liable to ſuffer as a Murderer, not calling for Help. So the burning of a dwelling Houſe, or other Houſe or Parcel thereof, or any Houſe built for publick Uſe, any Barn having Corn, Grain or Hay therein, any Mill, Malt-Houſe, Store-Houſe, Shop or Shops, when done wilfully by any Perſon above the Age of Sixteen Years, the ſame is adjudg'd a Felon, and to ſuffer the Pains of Death. And ſo the abominable Sin of Buggery, with Mankind or Beaſt, and the Sin of Rape or Raviſhment; as alſo Polygamy, or having more than one Wife at the ſame Time—. For Treaſon of any kind, and particularly counterfeiting the King's Great or Privy Seal: For counterfeiting the Seal of the Province: For counterfeiting the Bills of publick Credit.—Aſſault and Robbery upon a ſecond Conviction. And for Burglary, or a Perſon's breaking and entring a Dwelling Houſe in the Night, with a felonious Intent to rob or ſteal, or do any other Felony, being convicted thereof, ſhall ſuffer the Pains of Death. For which Crime the poor Priſoner here, has been adjudg'd to ſuffer Death.

But if it be by the Hand of Juſtice or the Providence of God, or in what Manner ſoever, it is an awful Viſit p. 11to every unrighteous Man, every impenitent Sinner; for then the Reward of his Hand ſhall be given him. Iſa. 3.11. We are aſſured concerning Men in common, (Heb. 9.27.) It is appointed unto Men once to die, and after that the Judgment. Tho' we know not what manner of Proceſs there ſhall be at Death, yet this we are ſufficiently aſſur'd of from many Paſſages of Scripture, that every particular Perſon's Judgment is paſs'd at Death, and their State irreverſibly determined by the glorious Judge. The Spirits of the juſt are made perfect, and the Souls of the wicked are preſently ſent into the Place of Torments. Prov. 14.32.

(3.) The great Judge will come to viſit and call all Men to an Account at the Reſurrection of the Dead. This we are plainly aſſured of in the ſacred Oracles, that God ſhall judge both the Righteous and the wicked. God hath appointed a Day in which he will judge the World in Righteouſneſs. Act. 17.31. No Man ſhall eſcape this Judgment of God. We muſt all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Chriſt. 2 Cor. 5.10. Then the Books ſhall be opened, and all that have liv'd and died from Adam to the end of Time, ſhall be judged out of them. Rev. 20.12. This was what the World was warned of ſo long ago as the Days of Enoch, Jude, v. 14,15. Thus there will be a ſtrict Account taken what Rules they have tranſgreſſed, what Bonds and Obligations they have violated, what Evils they have done, and what Duties they have left undone. Then Sinners muſt ſtand forth before the vaſt Multitude, however reluctant, miſerable and aſhamed they may be! Then they ſhall be call'd to an Account how they have improv'd the outward Enjoyments God gave them; whether they honoured the Lord with their Subſtance, and were juſt and honeſt in all their Dealings and Concerns with Men. Whether they were merciful, kind and charitable; — and how they govern'd their bodily Appetites and Inclinations; whether they were ſober, chaſt and temperate; and whether they were good and faithful and obliging in the ſeveral Relations p. 12they ſuſtained; and how they improved their Time, and eſpecially their Seaſons of Grace, their Sabbaths, and the Inſtructions they receiv'd; and whether they made Religion the main Buſineſs.— Nothing will be then forgotten, nothing can be hid from the Eyes of the omniſcient Judge! In Sum, we are taught Eccl. 12.14. God ſhall bring into Judgment every Work, with every ſecret Thing, whether it be good or evil. Then the Lord who is a God of Knowledge, and by whom Actions are weighed, (1 Sam. 2.3.) and who knows all Hearts, will not only diſcover "who and what was good, and what "was bad, but how good and how bad, every thing was, that was done by Men.

And in this great Audit, this Viſitation Day, who will be able to anſwer! We are aſſured that the ungodly ſhall not ſtand in the Judgment. The Lord acknowledgeth the way of the Righteous; only thoſe ſhall be in Safety, who have a Principle of Holineſs wrought in them, and the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt imputed to them.

Would not ſuch Tho'ts cloſely preſs'd upon the Mind, greatly reſtrain Perſons from all Ways of Sin, and promote their Repentance for Sin?

3. By ſuch Tho'ts they would be led to diſcern the Vanity and Inſufficiency of thoſe Pleas and Excuſes, whereby they endeavour to quiet themſelves in their ſinful Neglects and Tranſgreſſions. Sometimes Perſons excuſe themſelves that they were drawn and enticed into Sin by inſnaring Companions: And it is too true, that this has bin the Bane of many a one! But if they would conſider, that God takes Notice of their Sins, and will riſe up againſt them in his ſore Diſpleaſure, and not ſuffer their Iniquity to go unpuniſhed; would not this be more powerful to reſtrain them, than any Enticements can be to allure them? Surely they would rather hearken to Wiſdom, Prov. 1.10. My Son, if Sinners entice thee, conſent thou not.

What Temptations of airy Honour, of worldly Gains, of ſenſual Pleaſure, can be of equal Force with theſe p. 13Conſiderations? Which muſt convince Men, that to ſin againſt God, is to wrong their own Souls, and practically to chuſe Death! And what is the Honour that is gotten by Sin? Superficial and vaniſhing now, and which will end in Shame and everlaſting Contempt! What is that Pleaſure worth, or how dear bought, which is but ſhort liv'd, and will end in Bitterneſs and everlaſting Pain? And what are the Gains of Unrighteouſneſs and Fraud, Stealth and Robbery, which bring a Blaſt and Curſe from God, and for which the righteous Judge ſhall caſt them into the Priſon of Hell? Rom. 6.21. What Fruit had ye then of thoſe things whereof ye are now aſhamed? for the end of thoſe things is Death. Mat. 16.26. What is a Man profited, if he ſhall gain the whole World, and loſe his own Soul?

And as theſe Tho'ts would ſerve to arm Men againſt vicious and wicked Practices, ſo alſo to Silence their fooliſh Excuſes for Sloth and negligence in Religion.

Some are tempted or diſpoſed to put away ſerious Tho'ts as uncomfortable and melancholy; or if they have ſome concern about forſaking their Sins and turning to God, they ſtumble at the Difficulties of Repentance and Converſion.

But would not theſe Tho'ts convince Men, that it will be far more difficult and hard to bear the Diſpleaſure and Wrath of an angry God?

Would they quiet themſelves with the Excuſe that they are weak and impotent to Good, and ſo ſit ſtill? Would not the Tho'ts of God's Anger, and that they muſt ſtand before his dread Tribunal, make them uſe their utmoſt Endeavours, and cry to him for Pity and Help?

Would Men content themſelves in their Neglect with this Pretence, That it is uncertain whether they ſhall ſpeed, whether they ſhall obtain Grace if they ſeek it? If they had theſe ſerious Tho'ts, that they ſhall certainly be rejected and condemned if they do not, would they not ſet themſelves to improve a bare Probability, a Peradventure that God may grant them Repentance unto Life? p. 14And eſpecially be excited to take hold of the gracious Encouragements of the Goſpel.

Would they flatter themſelves with Purpoſes of Repentance hereafter, and live careleſs in their Delays? Surely theſe Tho'ts cloſely applied would rouze them. If they conſidered that God is angry with the wicked every Day, and his Judgments may ſpeedily break forth upon them, and Death overtake them; they would not dare to boaſt of to Morrow, when they knew not what a Day may bring forth; but to Day they would hear his Voice, and not harden their Hearts.

Theſe ſolemn Tho'ts would ſerve to bear down all vain Pleas and Excuſes, whereby Men too often quiet themſelves in their Negligence and Impenitency.

4. Laſtly. As theſe Tho'ts would naturally lead them to apprehend ſomething of the Greatneſs and Dreadfulneſs of the Puniſhment which God will inflict upon Sinners. Our Lord and Judge hath told us beforehand for our Warning, what will be the terrible Sentence pronounced upon Sinners in the great Day, Mat. 25.41. and after that the Puniſhment which will follow, ver. 46. This Puniſhment will fall upon both Body and Soul, Mat. 16.28. —Fear him who can deſtroy both Body and Soul in Hell. Mark 9.44. —where the Worm dieth not, and the Fire is not quenched.

The Miſery is ſet forth in Scripture, by the moſt awful diſtreſſing and afflicting Things in Nature, to ſignify the greatneſs of it, and that we might know that nothing can fully repreſent the Dreadfulneſs of the Wrath of God. Their Pains will far exceed all the Pains and Miſeries in this World! Such as to extort the moſt bitter Outcries and Lamentations, Mat. 16.42. —Shall caſt them into a Furnace of Fire, there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth!

They will not know how to bear the Torment, neither can they any way ſhun or eſcape it; and the Everlaſting Duration adds to the greatneſs of it. There will be no Intermiſſion of their Miſery, no Period, it will abide for ever!

p. 15If Sinners would ſeriouſly conſider theſe Things, would they not own, that it is a fearful Thing to fall into the Hands of the living God? Heb. 10.31. And would not ſuch Reflections make them afraid to offend him, and convince them that it is the Extremity of Folly and Madneſs, for the ſake of the mean and temporary Gains or Pleaſures of Sin, to expoſe themſelves to ſuch tremendous Evils!

Uſe 1. We learn, that they are very faulty and fooliſh, who do not take it into their ſerious Conſideration, That God will viſit them for their Sins, or bring them into Judgment; yet we have Reaſon to think that there are many ſuch: tho' they wear the Name of Chriſtians, and profeſs to own the Truths of the Goſpel, and often hear the Miniſters of it, reaſoning of Righteouſneſs, Temperance and a Judgment to come, yet they neglect the great Buſineſs of Life, and go on in their Sins. Tho' ſome may be ſtarted as Felix was; yet they get rid of the Tho'ts, and chuſe to give themſelves a Liberty to walk in the Ways of their Heart.

Some are purſuing Earthly Things, and their carnal Affections carry their Tho'ts and Affections after ſuch Objects. Some make Proviſion for the Fleſh, to fulfil the Luſts of it, and are indulging their ſenſual Inclinations.

Some have ſecret Hopes that there is no Occaſion for ſuch Tho'ts, and flatter themſelves that they ſhall have Peace, tho' they add Drunkenneſs to Thirſt, Deut. 29.19.

Some are afraid to entertain ſuch ſerious Tho'ts, and ſtrive to divert them; and would not ſuffer them to lodge within them; becauſe they bring a damp upon their Spirits, and render their Pleaſures inſipid, and make their Enjoyments look with a gloomy Aſpect.

But certainly all ſuch are greatly to blame, as they deſpiſe God's Authority and Government, ſo they exceedingly injure their own Souls.

2. I might have inferred, That the Miniſters of Chriſt had need, after his Example, to be frequently putting p. 16Sinners in mind of theſe Things, That God will viſit and judge them, as a great Means to reſtrain them from Sin, to promote Repentance, and to prepare them to receive the Offers of the Goſpel. But I ſhall only further apply what hath been offer'd, in a

Uſe of Exhortation, firſt to ſuch as are yet in their Sins, or who live in a way of Sin; and then to the Perſon who is the ſorrowful Occaſion of this Aſſembly.

To all ſuch who are yet Impenitent, who indulge themſelves in any ſinful Practices; Let me intreat and perſwade you to put theſe affecting Queſtions to your ſelves, now and often; What ſhall I do when God riſeth up? and when he viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer him? Think cloſely and thoroughly, anſwerable to the Importance thereof. Think till you form ſome Purpoſes and Reſolutions agreable; or conceive God himſelf putting this ſolemn Queſtion to you; Can thy Heart endure, or can thy Hands be ſtrong in the Days that I ſhall deal with thee? as Ezek. 22.14. What can be more affecting and moving? And here your Tho'ts may eaſily dilate, as they may be rang'd under theſe Three Heads.

1. What will you do if God ſhall deal with you in a judicial Way; and viſit you with ſome diſtreſſing temporal …dgment? This is not uncommon, that Divine Providence viſits Men with temporal Evils and Calamities. Thus he hath threatned many ſorts of Sins, and ſome have a natural Tendency to bring Evil upon Men; particularly, Pride, which is hateful to God; he tells us, Prov. 29.23. A Man's Pride ſhall bring him low; and Ch. 16.18. Pride goes before Deſtruction, and a haughty Spirit before a Fall. Uncleanneſs, as Heb. 13.4. Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge; and Eph. 5.6. And Intemperance, Prov. 23.21. The Drunkard and the Glutton ſhall come to Poverty, &c. Chap. 23.29, 30. Who hath wo? who hath ſorrow? Who hath Contentions? who hath bablings? who hath Wounds without Cauſe? who hath redneſs of Eyes? They that tarry long at the Wine, they that go to ſeek mixt Wine. And he often p. 17teſtifies againſt, and threatens Unrighteouſneſs and Oppreſſion. Ezek. 22.13. I have ſmitten my Hand at thy diſhoneſt Gain. Iſa. 30.12, 13. Zeph. 3.1. And alſo Theft and falſe-Swearing, in the Viſion of the Flying Roll, full of Curſes (Zech. 5.4.) which ſhall enter into the Houſe of the Thief, and of him that ſweareth falſly by my Name, and ſhall conſume it with the Timber thereof, and the Stones thereof. And Prov. 21.7. The Robbery of the wicked ſhall deſtroy them. It brings temporal Evils and Calamities as well as expoſes to future Deſtruction.— Think, what will you do when your Sins and Follies have brought ſuch Evils upon you? What will comfort you? Will the Gain counter-ballance the Loſs?

And ſuch as avoid theſe more enormous Crimes, yet are liable to ſuffer the Judgments of God. You know for what ſinful Diſorder and Irreverence, the Apoſtle told the Corinthians, many are weak and ſickly among you, and many fallen aſleep. (1 Cor. 11.30.)

For the Sins of the People of this Land, God hath been viſiting us with a ſtrange Puniſhment in many parts of it. I mean an uncommon and mortal Sickneſs. The Slain of the Lord have been many; and eſpecially the Young Men and Children have periſhed from the Streets, and many Families made deſolate! Parents weeping for their Children, becauſe they are not. God is yet threatning us, and ſhould we not take the Warning, and put that ſolemn Queſtion to ourſelves, What will ye do in the Day of Viſitation? to whom will ye flee for help? (Iſa. 10.3.) If the Viſitation ſhould reach us, as it hath many others; and why ſhould we expect Exemption? What will you do when you ſhall ſee Death ſuddenly ſeizing your tender Off-ſpring, your beloved Children, and threatning yourſelves? To whom will you flee for Help? You may flee to your Friends and Neighbours, or to the Phyſitian, but all Help will fail if God will not help you, as ver. 4. Without me, they ſhall bow down, — and ſhall fall under the Slain. Will you not then bewail your Sins, whereby you have diſpleaſed the Lord? And p. 18why not now, renounce them, and get into a State of Reconciliation with God? that you may not have the Terrors of an accuſing Conſcience to grapple with, beſides the afflicting Strokes of God's Hand!

2. What will you do in the Day of Death? when the Lord of Life ſhall ſend the King of Terrors to viſit you? And the Time will certainly and may ſpeedily come: It haſteneth greatly as the ſwift Moments flee away!

When your Opportunities are juſt at an end, what will you do? When you may ſay, I ſhall go to the Gates of the Grave, I am deprived of the reſidue of my Years, I ſhall behold Men no more! Will you not look back upon your paſt Seaſons with Grief and Bitterneſs? to think how God hath called and you refuſed, and that he may now juſtly refuſe to hear your Cry? You may wiſh earneſtly for more Time, but in vain. Now you put far away the Evil Day; and think yourſelves ſecure, and that you may live in Eaſe and Pleaſure, but what will you do, for your neglected Soul, when that awful Hour comes on, and your Strength and Spirits are failing, and you gaſping for Breath, expecting to receive your Doom? And when you know not but the Evil Spirits, your Tempters to Sin, may by the righteous Judgment of God, ſeize your departing Spirit, as their unhappy Prey, to ſuffer in the infernal Priſon, when a few Minutes more expire! O, how will your Heart fail you, what Diſtreſs and Anguiſh will ſeize you!

3. Laſtly. What will you do, in that great and terrible Day of the Lord? When he comes to Judgment, what will you anſwer him, if you die in your Sins?

When you ſhall ſee the Son of God coming in his Glory, and with the Glory of the Father, and all the holy Angels! (Mat, 25.31.) When he ſhall make his laſt Viſit to this Earth, to determine the State of every Man according to his Works.— Will not your Heart and Fleſh tremble to think, how you have ſlighted and deſpiſed him? —To think how ungratefully you refuſed his moſt gracious Offers, and would not obey his moſt reaſonable p. 19Commands! O how terrible to have your only Saviour your Enemy? To whom can you flee for Help? We are told, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye ſhall ſee him, and they alſo who pierced him, and all kindreds of the Earth ſhall wail becauſe of him! And how is their Diſtreſs repreſented, Rev. 6.16, 17?

And what will you do, how will you bear it, when you ſhall ſee the Saints at his right Hand in Robes of Glory? (Mat. 25.33.) and ſome perhaps, that have been of your Relatives or Acquaintance in this World, to think that you had the ſame Opportunities and Advantages and Offers of Life that they had, but indulg'd your Sin and Sloth, and loſt alas! your precious Seaſon, and your Souls! Luk. 13.28. There ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of Teeth! when ye ſhall ſee Abraham and Iſaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God, and you yourſelves thruſt out!

And when the all-knowing Judge ſhall bring all your Sins to your Remembrance, and ſet them in order before your Eyes, what will you do? how will you anſwer him? when Conſcience will witneſs againſt you, thus and thus you have done, and theſe and thoſe Duties you have left undone! Whatever Pleas and Excuſes Sinners quiet themſelves with now, they will have no Cloak nor Excuſe for their Sin then. The Slothful will be adjudged a wicked Servant. And all ſuch as have enjoy'd the Goſpel, and are found without the Wedding Garment of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, will then be Speechleſs, Mat. 22.12.

And what will you do when you ſhall hear the dreadful Sentence pronounced, from the glorious Judge, as the laſt Word to the wicked.—The Voice of God on Mount Sinai made the People tremble; but how much more amazing will that be, (Mat. 25.41.) Depart ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels!—Every Word carries Terror in it, and given forth with Majeſty and Authority from the Lord God Omnipotent; it will be far more terrible than the loudeſt p. 20Thunder, or roaring Earthquake! O what unutterable Horror, Confuſion and Anguiſh will fill your Souls!

And when preſently the tremendus Doom is executed upon you, then with what amazing Diſpair will Sinners cry out, What ſhall we do? O how will you be able to bear the loſs of all Good? How will you be able to endure the ſuffering of all Evil? when you'l have no Friend to ſupport you, no Hope to relieve or comfort you for ever!

Such as will ſeriouſly conſider theſe Things now, and call their Souls to an Account, would ſurely Reſolve by the Strength of Chriſt, to forſake and ſtrive and watch againſt Sin, and attend their Duty, and earneſtly endeavour to get into good Terms with God, or elſe they muſt be ſtupid and hardened, and not afraid of the Wrath of the Almighty!

And may the Sight of this unhappy Criminal, here in Chains, and preſently to ſuffer the Pains of Death, and to appear before the glorious Judge of all the Earth,— give an Edge to theſe Meditations, and fix them with laſting Impreſſions on all our Hearts: If ſo, our Attendance here will not be Time ſpent in vain. Thus God can get to himſelf Glory, that the Death of this poor Man may prove an Occaſion of the Life, the Everlaſting Life of ſome Souls.

And now I apply my ſelf particularly to the poor Priſoner, the ſad Occaſion of our being here aſſembled at this Time; with a Heart full of Concern and Pity, let me adviſe you,

1. Now labour to be rightly affected with your ſorrowful Condition. Now God hath riſen up againſt you, in his holy Providence, and viſited your Sin upon you. Your Iniquity has found you out, and your Sins have taken hold of you as Waters! Now be willing to receive the deepeſt Convictions, and call your Sins to Remembrance. And mourn to think, that you ſhould ſo ſoon fill up the Meaſure of them **Not 30 Years old.. That for being fooliſh and wicked p. 21overmuch, you muſt die before your Time (Eccl. 7.17.) i. e. before the ordinary Time of Man's Age. May a merciful God give you a right Senſe of your Sinfulneſs and Folly!

Think how you have proceeded from Step to Step in Sin, until you provoked God to leave you to your own Hearts Luſts; to indulge your covetous Deſires, and repeat your Thefts and Unrighteouſneſs and Burglary, till now for this Crime, by a righteous Sentence, you are condemned to ſuffer a ſhameful Death. Thus you have wrought Falſhood againſt your own Life. Whatever ſecret hopes you may have had of eſcaping, yet now you ſee the fatal Day is come! the Hour haſtens when, for a Warning to others, you are to ſuffer an ignominious and curſed Death! and, which is more awful, your Soul muſt immediately appear before God! who perfectly knows all your Sins and Tranſgreſſions, and needs no Witneſſes▪ and he will judge you according to Truth, according to his holy Laws, his glorious Goſpel, which you have bin inſtructed in; and he will paſs a Sentence which can never be reverſed!

2. Now let your moſt earneſt Enquiry be, What ſhall I do, in this diſtreſſed Caſe? How ſhall I anſwer my Judge for my many and heinous Sins? And be heartily concerned to take the right Courſe. Here I would not burden you with many Words.

May you call to Mind the ſerious and pertinent Admonitions and Counſels which have been given you publickly and privately. Be very thankful for the kind Aſſiſtances you have had. You have profeſſedly renounced Sin, and given your ſelf to the Lord, (ſince your Confinement) and received the ſacred Ordinance of Baptiſm; in hopes (we conceive) that your Sins may be forgiven and waſhed away, and be no more remembred againſt you. But now, I earneſtly intreat you, look narrowly into your Heart, and beware that you don't deceive your ſelf. Pray unto God,— What I ſee not, teach thou me: Let me diſcern if there be any Wickedneſs lov'd and cheriſh'd in my Heart, and lead me in the Way everlaſting.

p. 22Don't depend upon any External Priviledge or Ordinance as if Grace and Salvation were neceſſarily annexed thereto. Examine and ſee, whether you find your Heart turned fr… Sin to God. If you have had Sorrow and Heavineſs for your Sins, as no doubt you have, conſider whether you have had right apprehenſions of the Greatneſs and glorious Excellencies of God againſt whom you have ſinned. And do you mourn that you have deſpiſed the rightful Authority of your Creator and Lawgiver? and abuſed his Mercy and Goodneſs which ſhould have led you to Repentance! And eſpecially that you have undervalued and ſlighted ſo often the Grace of a moſt compaſſionate Redeemer, who came to bleſs us by turning us from all our Iniquities! Do theſe and ſuch Conſiderations melt your Heart, and make you ſenſible that it is an Evil Thing and bitter, that you have forſaken the Lord, and that his Fear hath not been in your Heart?

Have you been firſt, brought to ſee your ſelf, in a Spiritual Senſe, a poor helpleſs, wretched, undone Creature; and that you can make no amends, no Satisfaction to Divine Juſtice for your Offences, by your Prayers or Tears or Promiſes? But yet that you are a Priſoner of Hope: You have read and heard, This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the World to ſave Sinners, even the Chief. Hath this been joyful Tidings to you?

Do you indeed believe that Jeſus is the Chriſt, the Son of the Living God? and that as a glorious High Prieſt, he appears in the Heavens for us? And is able to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come unto God by him? Then let not the greatneſs of your Sins diſcourage your betaking your ſelf to him, nor prevent your pleading and truſting in the infinite Merits of the all ſufficient Saviour. God can pardon great Sins, and ſave the chief of Sinners, conſiſtent with the Honour of his Juſtice, Holineſs and Truth. When the Apoſtle mentions the black Catalogue of Sinners, among which are the unrighteous and Thieves, (1 Cor. 6.9.10.) he ſaith, Such were ſome of you, but ye are juſtified, &c.

Conſider, this is the Work moſt pleaſing to God, that you can perform▪ to believe in the Name of his Son Jeſus Chriſt, and put your truſt in his perfect Righteouſneſs, and that you commit your Soul into his Hands, that he would ſave it from Sin and from the Hands of your Spiritual Enemies, and from Eternal Death. You are juſt going to appear before the Judge of all the Earth! Does this fill you with dread, under a Senſe of your Guilt, and that you have nothing to anſwer? Let this Tho't be your ſupport, That CHRIST graciouſly offers to be your Saviour, and aſſures you, that whoſoever cometh unto him, he will in no wiſe caſt him out. If you can now underſtandly come unto him weary and heavy laden with your Sins, deſirous to be ſaved from all Sin, and to be made holy and fit for the Heavenly p. 23Inheritance, then your Eſtate will be ſafe. This miſerable Death will not ſeparate you from his Favour. Unbelief will damn you, but if you believe in Chriſt, your other Sins will not.

O may the wonderful Love of Chriſt, who was hanged on a Tree, to ſave us from Eternal Death, affect and draw your Heart unto him.

Now call to Mind that memorable Inſtance of one of the Thieves who were crucified with Chriſt, who, confeſſing that they juſtly ſuffered, as receiving the due Reward of their Deeds, ſaith unto Chriſt, Lord, remember me, when thou comeſt into thy Kingdom. (Luk. 23.41, 42.) So under a Senſe of your own rightful Suffering, humbly look unto Jeſus, with this dy… Wiſh, and fervent Prayer, Lord remember me now thou art …alted in thy Heavenly Kingdom.— Lord Jeſus receive my Spirit.

To conclude, Give Honour to God, as far as you can, by bearing Teſtimony to his righteous Laws,—by publick Confeſſion of your Sins, taking Shame to yourſelf. Juſtifying a righteous Providence, and your Judges, and be in Charity with all Men.

And give Warning unto others, that they may not ſin againſt God as you have done, nor run into any evil and wicked Ways which lead to Deſtruction and Perdition! And particularly the Young People, that they do not hearken to the Temptations of Satan and evil Men; but fear God in their Youth, and beware of all beginnings of Departing from God.— I am glad you have been diſpoſed to make Confeſſion of your Sins and give Warning to Sinners, may they hear and fear and turn from their Wickedneſs—.

If you are enabled by Divine Grace to comply with the Counſels given you, and are heartily deſirous thus to give Glory to God, you ſhall be among thoſe in whom free Grace ſhall be for ever admired, and exalted! Which may God grant, for his Mercies Sake in Jeſus Chriſt. To whom be Glory for ever. AMEN.

FINIS.

☞ The Word if, in the Third Line form the Bottom of the 8th Page, having been batter'd and ſpoil'd in working off, the Printer deſires the kind Reader to add it with his Pen.

End of the text · William Williams, The Serious Consideration that God will Visit and Judge Men for Sin (1738)