saved in the great day of the Lord, as you would be happy here, and
Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire, the gold and crystal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold," Job 28:13, 16-17. O my friends, it is the greatest wisdom, policy, equity, and justice, to provide for your precious souls, to secure your precious souls; for they are jewels of more worth than ten thousand worlds. All the honors, riches, greatness, and glory of this world are but chips, toys, and pebbles, compared to these glorious pearls. But,
2. The second word of counsel is this, as you would be safe here, and saved in the great day of the Lord, as you would be happy here, and blessed hereafter, be taken up with nothing below a gracious acquaintance with Christ, a choice acceptance of Christ, a holy reliance upon Christ, a full resignation of yourselves to Christ, and a real and glorious union with Christ. Acts 2:20; Job 22:21; 1 Tim. 1:15;
Job 13:15; 2 Cor. 2:11. If you do, you are lost and undone in both worlds!
[1.] First, Some rely on a name to live, when they are dead, Rev. 3:1, dead in trespasses and sins, Eph. 2:1, dead God-wards, and dead
Christ-wards, and dead heaven-wards, and dead holiness-wards. The the worst men, often get the best names. The Alcoran of the Turks has its name from brightness; but it is full of darkness, and fraught with falsehoods. It will be but a poor comfort to any, for the world to commend them as gracious, if God condemns them as graceless; for the world to commend them as pious, if God condemns them as impious; for the world to commend them as sincere, if God condemns them as hypocrites. But,
[2.] Secondly, Some rely on a 'form of godliness' when they are strangers to the 'power of godliness'. 2 Tim. 3:5; when they deny, yes, when they oppose and persecute, the godly. Such monsters this age has abounded with; but their seeming goodness is but a religious cheat, Acts 13:45, 50.
[3.] Thirdly, There are some who rely on their religious duties and services; in their praying, fasting, prophesying, hearing, receiving.
They make a God, a Christ, a Savior of their own duties and services!
This was the undoing and damning sin of the Scribes and Pharisees, and is the undoing and damning sin of many thousands in our days,
Mat. 7:22; Luke 18:12, 13:26, and 16:15; Ezek. 33:31-32.
[4.] Fourthly, There are many who rely on their common gifts and abilities; in a gift of knowledge, and in a gift of teaching, and in a gift of utterance, and in a gift of memory, and in a gift of prayer; and this proves ruinous and destructive to them, Mat. 7:22; Romans 2:17-24;
1 Cor. 12.; Heb. 6:4-5.
[5.] Fifthly, There are many who rely on their riches, prosperity, and worldly grandeur and glory. Proverbs 18:11, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city." "Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird!" Proverbs 23:4-5. It is hard to have wealth, and not trust to it,
Mat. 19:24. Wealth was never true to those who have trusted it.
There is an utter uncertainty in riches, 1 Tim. 6:17; an impotency to help in an evil day, Zeph. 1:18; an impossibility to stretch to eternity, unless it be to destroy the owner forever, [Rich men's wealth proves an hindrance to their happiness, Eccles. 5:13; James 5:1-2.] Proverbs
10:15; Psalm 73:19; Mat. 20:26. There is nothing more clear in
Scripture and history, than that riches, prosperity, and worldly glory
—have been commonly their portion who never have had a God for their portion, Luke 16:25. It was an excellent saying of Lewis, emperor of Germany: "Such goods are worth getting and owning— which will not sink or wash away if a shipwreck happens." [Riches are called thick clay, Hab. 2:6, which will sooner break the back, than lighten the heart.] "Only the wise man is the rich man," says the philosopher. Augustine says, "that earthly riches are full of poverty, they cannot enrich the soul; for oftentimes under silken apparel there is a threadbare soul."
He who is rich in conscience, sleeps more soundly than he who is richly clothed in purple.
"No man is rich, who cannot carry into eternity, that which he has.
That which we must leave behind us, is not ours—but belongs to someone else." [Ambrose]
"The shortest way to true riches is by their contempt. It is great riches not to desire riches. He has most—who covets least." [Seneca.]
When one was commending the riches and wealth of merchants; the poor man replied, "I do not love that wealth which hangs upon ropes; for if they break, the ship miscarries, and then where is the merchant's riches?"
"If I had an enemy, whom it was lawful to wish evil unto, I would chiefly wish him great store of riches, for then he should never enjoy peace and quiet." [Latimer.]
The historian Tacitus observes, that the riches of Cyprus invited the
Romans to hazard many dangerous fights for the conquering of it.
"Earthly riches," says Augustine, "are an evil master, a treacherous servant, fathers of flattery, sons of grief, a cause of fear to those that have them, and a cause of sorrow to those who lack them."
I have read a famous story of Zelimus, emperor of Constantinople, who after he had captured Egypt, he found a great deal of treasure there; and the soldiers coming to him, and asked him what they should do with the rich citizens of Egypt. "Oh," says the emperor,
"hang them all—for they are too rich to be made slaves!" This was all the thanks they had for the riches they were robbed of. What more contemptible than a rich fool, a golden beast? Not but that some are great and gracious, rich and righteous, as Abraham, Lot, Job, David,
Hezekiah, etc.
By these short hints you may see the folly and vanity of those men who trust in their riches. But,
[6.] Sixthly, Many rely on their own righteousness, which at best is but as filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6. This was the damning sin of the Jews, and of the scribes and Pharisees; and is the undoing sin of many of the professors of this age, Romans 10:2-3; Mat. 5:20.
[7.] Seventhly, Many rely on their external church privileges, crying out, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!" Jer. 7:4, 8-11, when they have no union nor communion with the Lord of the temple. These forget that there will come a day, when the "children of the kingdom shall be cast out," Mat. 8:12. It would be very good for such people to make these five scriptures their daily companions,
Mat. 22:10, 12-14; Luke 13:25-28; Romans 2:28-29; Gal. 6:15; Jer.
9:2526. They should never dare to rely on their outward church privileges, which can neither secure them from hell, nor secure them of heaven. But,
[8.] Eighthly, Many who rely on common convictions.
Judas had mighty convictions of his sin, but they ended in desperation, Mat. 27:4-5.
Balaam was mightily enlightened and convinced, in as much that he desired to die the death of the righteous; but under all his convictions he died Christless and graceless, Num. 23 and 24.
Nebuchadnezzar had great convictions, Dan. 4:31-32, yet we do not read that ever he was converted before he was driven from the society of men, to be a companion with the beasts of the field, Dan.
4:31-32. He had strong convictions, (1.) by Daniel's interpreting of his dream, Dan. 2:47. (2.) He told Daniel, that "his God was the God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets;" and yet presently he fell into gross idolatry, Dan. 3, and strictly commanded to worship the golden image that he had set up; and as if he had lost all his former convictions. He was so swelled up with pride and impudence, as to say to the three Hebrew children, when they divinely scorned to worship the image he had set up, "What God is there that can deliver you out of my hand?" ver. 15.
Saul had great convictions, "I have sinned! Return, my son David, I will no more do you harm," etc. "And Saul lifted up his voice and wept; and he said unto David, You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil," 1 Sam.
26:21, 25, and 24:16-19. But these convictions issued in no saving change, for after these he lived and died in the height of his sins.
Pharaoh had great convictions: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for
Moses and Aaron, and said unto them—I have sinned this time: the
Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." And again,
"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said—I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you," Exod. 9:27, and 10:16. But these convictions issued in no reformation, in no sound conversion, and therefore drowning and damning followed.
Cain was under convictions, but went and built a city, and lost his convictions in a crowd of worldly business, Gen. 4.
Herod and Felix were under convictions, but they went off, and never issued in any saving work upon their souls, Mark 6:20; Acts 24:25.
Oh, how many men and women have fallen under such deep convictions, that they have day and night cried out of their sins, and of their lost and undone estates, and that they would certainly go to hell and be damned forever, so that many good people have hoped that these were the pangs of the new birth; and yet either merry company, or carnal pleasures and delights, or much worldly business, or else length of time—have wrought off all their convictions, and they have grown more profane and wicked than ever they were before. As water heated, if taken off the fire, will soon return to its natural coldness, yes, becomes colder after heating than before, (says Aristotle,) this has been the case of many under convictions. I shall forbear giving of particular instances. But,
[9.] Ninthly, Many rely on an outward change and reformation; they have left some old courses and sinful practices which formerly they walked in, etc., and therefore they conclude and hope that their condition is good, and that all is well, and shall be forever well with them. They were accustomed to swear, whore, be drunk, profane
Sabbaths, reproach saints, etc.; but now they have left all these practices, and therefore they assume that the main work is done, and they shall be saved forever.
I confess that sin is that abominable thing which God hates, Jer.
44:4, and therefore it is a very great mercy to turn from it. To leave