16 "-Redeeming the time (or opportunity) because
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places, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. where you will presenly findthemore obvious marks, and characters, God hath set upon the children of perdition; and if you find not yourself in that catalogue, among the unrighteous, fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, &c. then turn to John iii. 3. and solemnly ask thy own soul this question, Am I born again ? Am I a new creature, or still in the fame condition I was born in ? What solid evidence, of the new birth, have I to rely upon, IfI were now within a few gasps of death? Am not I the man, or woman, who lives in the very same sins which the word of God makes the symptoms and characters of damnation? And doth not my confciencewitness against me, that I am utterly void and destitute of all that saving grace, and a mere firanger to the regenerating work of the Spirit, without which there can be no well-bottom'dhope of salvation ? And if so, are not the tokens ofdeathupon me ? Am not I a person marked out for misery?
And shall I fit still in a state of fo much danger, and not once strive to make an escape from the wrath to come? Is thisvilebodyworth so much toil and labour to support and preserve it?
And is not my soul worth as much care and diligence to secure it from the everlasting wrath of the great, just, and terrible
God? O that the consideration of the wrath to come, the multitudes all the world over preparing as fuel for it, and the door of opportunity yet held open to fouls by the hand of grace to escape that wrath, might prevail with thy heart, reader, to strive, and that to the uttermost, to fecare thy precious soul from the impending ruin .
* ΕPH . V. 16.-Redeeming the time (or opportunity) because the days are evil.
TIME IME is deservedly reckoned among the most precious mer. cies of this life; and that which makes it so valuable aré the commodious seasons and opportunities for salvation which are vouchsafed to us therein: opportunity is the golden spot of time, the sweet and beautiful flower, growing upon the stalk of time *.
If time be a ring of gold, opportunity is the rich diamond that gives itbothits value and glory. The apostle well knew the value of time; and seeing how prodigally it was wastPpp.2
A Treatise of the Soul of Man. edbythe most, doth therefore in this place, earnestly press all men to redeem, save, and improve it with the utmost diligence.
In this, and the former verse, we have, 1A, The duty in joined, Walk circumspectly.
2dly, The injunction explained ; 1. More generally, Not as fools, but as wife.
2. More particularly, Redeeming the time.
3. Theexhortationstrongly in forced with a powerful motive, Because the days are evil.
Among thele particulars, my discourse is principally concerned about the redemption of time, or opportunities, which in this life, are graciously vouchsafed us, in order to that which is to come : And here it will be needful to inquire,
1. What the apostle means by time.
2. What by the redemption of time.
1.Time is taken more largely or strictly according to the double acceptation of the Hebrew word in which signifies sometimes time, and sometimes occasion, season, or opportunity, and accordingly is exprest by χρονος and καιρος, tempus and tempestivitas: the latter is the word here used, and denotes the commodiousness and fitness of some parts of time above others, for the successful and prosperous management and accomplishment of our main and great business here,which is to secure our interest in Christ, andglorifyGod in a course of fruitful obedience. For these great and weighty purposes our time is graci. oufly lengthened out, and many fit opportunities presented us in the revolutions thereof.
2. By the redemption of time †, we must understand the study, care, and diligence of Christians, at the rate of all possible pains, at the expence of all earthly pleasures, ease and gratifications of the flesh, to rescue their precious seasons, both of salvation and service, out of the hands of temptations, which so commonly rob unwary fouls of them. Satan trucks with us for our time, as we did at first with the filly Indians for their gold and diamonds, who were content to exchange them for glass-beads and tinsel-toys.
Many fair seasons are forced, or cheated out of our hands, by the importunity ofearthlycares, ordeceitfulness of sensual pleasures: at the expence and loss of these, we must redeem and rescue our time for higher and better uses andpurpoles. We must spend these hours in prayer, meditation, searching our hearts, mortifying our lusts ; which others do, and our flesh fainwould spend in sensual pleasures, and gratificationsof
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the fleshlyappetite. I fever we expect to win the port of glory, we must be as diligent and careful as seamen are, to take every gale, that blows directly or obliquely to set them forward in their voyage.
The note from hence is this ; Doct. That the wisdom of a Christian is eminently discovered in saving and improving all opportunities in this world, for that world which is to come.
God hangs the great things of eternity upon the small wires of times and seasons in this world: that may be done, or neglected in a day, which may be the ground-work of joy or sorrow to all eternity. There is a nick of opportunity which gives both success and facility to the great and weighty affairs of the soul as well as body; to come before it, is to seek the bird before it be hatched; and to come after it, is to seek it when it is fied.
There is a twofold season, or opportunity of salvation.
1. One was Christ's season for the purchase of it.
2. The other is ours for the application of it.
1. Christ had a season assigned him for the impetration and purchase of our salvation; so you hear his Father bespeaking him, Ifa. xlix. 8. " Thus faith the Lord, in an acceptable time
" have I heard thee, and in the day offalvation have I helped " thee,"
תעכיוצר ,intempore opportuno voluntatis, velplacito.
It was the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ to set in with the Father's time, to comply with his season: and it became a day of salvation, because it was the acceptable time which Christ took for it.
2. Men have their seasons and opportunities for the application of Christ, and his benefits, to their own souls : 2 Cor. vi.
1, 2. "We then as workers together with God, beseech you " also, that you receive not the grace of God in vain ; for he
" faith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of " salvation have I succouredthee.
Behold, now is the accepted " time, now is the day offalvation." He exhorts the Corinthi. ans not to dally or trifle any longer in the great concerns of their salvation; for now, faith he, is your day.
Christ had his day to purchase it, and he procured a day also for you to apply it, and this is that day: you enjoy it, you live under it : that golden day is now running : O ! see that you frustrate not the design thereof, by receiving the gospel-grace in vain .
Now two things concur to make a fit season offalvationto the souls of men.
1. The external means and instruments .
2. The agency of the Spirit internally by, or with those ex ternalmeans.
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1. Men have a season of salvation,whenGodsendsthe means and instruments offalvation among them. When the gospel is powerfully preached among a people,there is a door opened to them; 2 Cor. ii. 12. " When I came to Troas to preach the " gospel, a door was opened tome of the Lord." God as it were unlocks the door of heaven by the preachingofthegospel :
Souls have then an opportunity to step in and be saved.
2.But yet it is not a wide and effectual door(as the apostle phrases it, 1 Cor. xvi. 9.) till the SpiritofGodjoins with, and works upon the heart by those external means and instruments; as the waters of the pool ofBethesda had no inherent fanative virtue in themselves, until the angel of the Lorddescendedand troubled them: but both together make a blessed seat on for the souls of men.
Then he standsatthedoor, and knocks, by convictions and perfuafions,Rev. iii. 20. strives withmen, as he did with the old world by the ministry ofNoah,Gen. vi. 3. Now the door of opportunity is indeed opened; but this will not al. ways last; there is a time when the Spirit ceases to strive, and when the door isfout, Luke xiii. 25.
There is a season,when by the fresh impressionofsomeordinance orprovidenceofGod,mens hearts are awakened, and their affections stirred.
It is now with the souls of men as it is with fruit trees in the spring,when they put forth blossoms ; if they knit and set, fruit follows, if they be nipt and blasted, no fruit can be expected.
For all convictions and motions of the affections are to grace, much the fame thing as blossoms are ta fruit, which are but the rudiments thereof,fructus imperfect us et ordinabilis, somewhat in order to it; and look as that is a criticalandhazardous season to trees, so is this to fouls. I do not say itisinthe power of any foul to make the work of the Spirit effectual and abiding, by adding his endeavours to the Spirit'smotions ; for then conversion would not bethe free and arbitrary act of the Spirit, as in Job iii. 8.neither would fouls bebornofGod, but of the will of man, contrary to John i. 13.
And yet it is not to be thought or said,that mens endeavours and strivings are altogether vain,needless,and insignificant; because, though theycannotmakeGod's grace effectual, his grace canmakethem effectual; they are our duty, andGodcanbless them to our great advantage. Now there are, among others, five remarkable essays, efforts, or Arivings ofa foul under the impression and hand of the Spirit, that greatly tend to the fixing, setthng, and securing of that great work on the soul; and it is seldom known any foul miscarries inwhomthesethings are found.
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1.Deep,serious, and fixed consideration,which lets conviction deepintothe foul, and settles it, and roots it fast in the heart,
Psal. cxix. 59. " I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies."
There are close and anxious debates in those souls in whom convictions prosper to full conversion : they fit alone, and think close to their great and eternal concerns : they carry their thoughts back to the evils of their life past, thensmite on the thigh, and cry, What have I done ? They run their thoughts forward into eternity, and that to a great depth, and then cry, "What shall I do to be saved ?" They deliberate and weigh, in their most advised thoughts, what is to be done,
and that speedily, for escaping wrath to come; thus they fix those tender, weak and hazardous motions, which die away in multitudes of fouls; and, in the loss of them, the seasons of : salvation are also loft.
2. The first stirrings and motions of the Spirit, upon mans hearts, do then become a season of salvation to them, when they are accompanied with spiritual, fervent, and frequent prayer : so it was with Paul, Acts ix. 11. " Behold he prayeth." It is a goodfignwhenfoulsget alone, and effect privacy and retirement, topourout their fears, sorrows, and requests unto God.
It is in the espousals of a foul to Christ, as it is in other marriages ; a thirdperfonmaymake the motion,andbringtheparties together, but they only betwixt themselves must conclude and agree the matter.
Prayer is the first breath which the newcreaturedraws in, and the last (ordinarily) it breaths out in this world.
This nourishes and maturates those weak, tender, and first motions after God, and brings them to some consistenceand fixedness in the soul.
3. Thendothose motions of the Spirit on mens hearts make a season of salvation to them, when they remain and settle in the heart, and are in them per modum quiet is, by way of reft and abode, following the man from place to place, from day to day ; fothat whatever unpleasing diversions the necessities and incumbrances of this world at anytime give, yet still they return again upon the heart, and will not vanich, or suffer any longer suspension: but in others, who lose their blessed advantage and season, it is quite contrary ; James i. 23, 24. " They are as one that " seeth his natural face in aglafs, andgoeth away and forgetteth
" what manner of man he was:" He fees some spot on his face, or disorder in his band, which he purposeth to correct ; but, by one occurrence or another, he forgets what he saw in the glass, and so goes all the day with his spot upon him.
This was an evanid light purpose, which came to nothing for want of a
ATeatise of the Soul of Man. present execution; just so it is with many inreferencetotheir great concerns : but if the impression abide in its strength, if it return, and follow the soul, and will not let it be quiet, it is like then to prosper, and prove the timeofmercy indeed to such fouls.
4. An anxious follicitude, and inquifitiveness, about the means and ways of salvation,speaks an effectual door of salvation to be set open to the souls of men, Acts ii. 37. and xvi. 30 .
" Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? Men and brethren, what " shall we do?" q. d. we are in a miserable condition ; oh you the ministers of Christ, instruct, counsel, and shewus what course to take : Is there no balm in Gilead ? no door of hope in this valley ofAchor? Alas ! we are not able to dwell with our own fears, terrors, and presages of wrath to come.
Oh for a messenger, one among a thousand, to teach us the way of salvation.
Thus the Lord rivets and fixes those motions in some touls, that vanish like a morning mist, or dew.
5. Lastly, That which secures and completes this work, is the execution of those purposes and convictions, by falling, without delay, to the work of faith and repentance in good earnest, dallying no more with so great a concern, standing no longer at shall I? Shall 1? whenmeanwhiletime flies away, and opportunities may be lost: but bring their thoughts and debates to peremptory resolution, as the Lepers at Samaria did; and seeing themselves shut up to one only door of hope, there they resolve to take their station, lying at the feet of Jesus
Christ, and casting their poor burdened fouls upon him, whatever be the issue.
When the Spirit of God ripens the first motions to this, and carries them through that critical season thus far, there is an effectual door of opportunity opened indeed; this is an acceptable time, a day of salvation : but oh! how many thousands miscarry in this season, and like trees removed from one foil to another, die in the removal !
But certainly, it is the most solemn and important concern of every soul to watch upon all these seasons offalvation, when
God comes nigh to them by convictions and motions of his Spirit; and to put the fame value upon these things that they do upon their souls, and the salvation of them.
This is the door of hope set open, a fresh gale to carry you home to your port of glory.
Salvation is now come nigh to your souls ; there is but a little betwixt you and blessedness. Wife and happy is that foul which knows and improves its season. To perfuadeandpress men to discern and improve such seasons as these, is the principal work of the preachers of the gospel,
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and that special work to which I now address myself, in the following motives and arguments.
Arg. 1. And first, who, that hath the free exercise of reason, and the sense of a future eternal estate, would carelessly neglect any season of salvation, whilst he feeth all the rational world fo carefully attending, and watching all opportunities to promote, and secure their lower concerns, and designs for the present life?
Is not the saving am an's foul as weighty a concern, as the getting of an estate ? You cannot but observe how careful merchants are, to nick the opportunity which promiseth them a good turn ; how do poor seamen look out for a wind, towaft them to their port, and industriously shift their fails, to improve every flaw that may set them on their voyage ; how many miles tradesmen will travel to be in season at a fair, to put off, or purchase goods, to their advantage : No entertain ments, recreations, or importunities of friends, can prevail with any of these, to lose a day, on which their business depends ; all things mustgivewayto their business; they all understand their seasons, and will not be diverted.
But, alas ! what childish toys are all these, compared with their salvation ! what is the loss of a little money, to the loss of am an's foul ?
If a man's life depended upon his being at such a place, by such a precise hour, sure he would not over-leep his time that morning; and had he but the least fear of coming too late, every stroke of the clock would strike to his heart ; and yet remissaefs, and carelessness, in such a case as this, is infinitely more excusable, than in the matter of salvation.
Certainly the follicitude, and care of all the world for the interests thereof, yea, your own diligence, and circumspection in temporal things, will be anuncontroulable, and confounding felfconviction to you in the day of your account, and leave you without plea, or apology, for your supine neglects of the seasons of salvation.
Arg. 2. The consideration of the uncertainty, and slippery nature of these spiritual seasons, must awaken in us all care, and diligence to secure, and improve them: This nick of op. portunity is tempus labile, a lippery season; it is but short in itself, and very uncertain : " To day, whilst it is said to day
" (faith the apostle) ifye will hear his voice," Heb. iii. i5.q.d.
You have now a short, uncertain, but most precious, and valuable season for your souls, lay hold on it, whilst it is called to-day; for, if this season be let slip, the time to come is called
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Your time is the present time ; take heed of procrastinating and putting it off, till that which is called to-day (which is your only
Season) be past, and gone.
The precious inch of time, though it be more worth than all the other greater parts, and portions of your time, yet it is as much influxu, in hasty motion, and spending, as other parts of time are ; and being once lost, is never more to be recalled, or recovered.
Few men know, or understand it, whilst it is current ; other seasons for natural, or civil actions, are known, and stated, but the time of grace is not fo easily discerned, and therefore commonly mistaken, and loft : And this comes to pass, partly through,
1. Presumptuous hopes.
2.Discouraging fears.
1. Presumptuous hopes, which put it too far forth, and persuade us this season is yet to come ; that we have time before us, and that to-morrow shall be as to-day.
" Thus through presumption *, men hope, andbytheirpresumptuous hopes "
" they perish."
This is the ruin of most souls that perish.
2. Discouraging fears put it too far back, and represent it as long since past, and gone, whilst it is yet in being, and in our hands .
By such pan pangs of desperation, Satan cuts the nerves of industry, and diligence, and causes souls to yield themselves as by consent, for loft, and hopeless, even whilst the gospel is opening their eyes, to fee their fin and misery, which is a part of the work, in order to their recovery. Thus the eyes of thousands are dazzled, that they cannot discern the season of mercy, and so it slides from them, as if it had never been.
God came near them in the means of their conversion, yea, and nearer in the motions of his Spirit upon their consciences, and affections ; but they knew not the time of their visitation, and now the things of their peace are hid from their eyes. Had those convictions been obeyed, and those purposes that were begotten in their hearts, been followed by answerable executions of them, happy had they been to all eternity : But their careless neglects have quenched them, and the door is shut ; and who knows whether it may be opened any more ? O dally not with the Spirit of God, resist no this calls ! his motions on the soul are tender things ; theymaysoon be quenched, and never recovered.
Arg. 3. Neglect not the seasons of mercy, the day of grace, :
* Praefumendosperant, etsperandopereunt,
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because opportunity facilitates the great work of your salvation ; it is much easier to be done in such a season, than it can be afterwards: An impression is easily made on wax, when melted, but stay till it be hardened, and if you lay the greatest weight on the feal, it leaves no impression upon it.
Much so it is with the heart, there is a seasonwhenGod makes it soft, and yielding, when the affections are thawed, and melted under the word; conscience is full of sense, and activity, the will palpable :
Now is the time to set in with the motions of the spirit; there is now a gale from heaven, if you will take it, and if not, it tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men : Neglect of the season, is the loss of the soul.
The heart, like melted wax, will naturally harden again, and then to how little purpose are your own feeble essays ? Heb. iii. 15. 'Tis both easy and successful striving, when the Spirit of God strives in you, and with you ; you are now workers together with God, and such work goes on smoothly, and sweetly ; that which is in motion is easily moved; but if once the heart is set, you may labour to little purpose.
Arg. 4. The infinite importance, and weight of salvation, is alone, insteadofallmotives, and arguments, to make men prize, and improve every proper season for it.
It It is no ordinary concern, it is your life, yea, it is your eternal life; the solemnity, and awfulness of such a business as this, is enough to swallow up the spirit of man. O what an awful found have such words as these, ever with the Lord ! Suppose you saw the glory of heaven, the full reward of all the labours, and sufferings of the saints, the blessed harvest of all their prayers, tears, diligence, and self-denial in this world ; or suppose you had a true repre- "sentationofthe torments of hell, and couldbuthearthe wailings of the damned, for the neglect of the season of mercy, and their passionate,butvainwishes for one of those days which they have lost: Would you think any care, any pains, anyself-denial too much, to fave, andredeemone of these opportunities ? Surely had would have a far higher estimation of them, than ever you you in your lives.
Atrial for am an's whole estate, is accounted a folemnbusiness, among men; the caftofa dye for a man's life, is a weighty action, and seldom done without anxiety of the mind, and trembling of the hand: Yet both these are but children's play compared with favation-work.
Three thingsputan unspeakable folemnityupon this matter; it is the precious soul, which is above all valuation, that lies at
A Treatise of the Soul of Man. stake, and is to be saved, or loft. The saving or lofingof it, is not for a time, but for ever; and this is the only season in which it will be eternally saved or cast away: All hangs upon a little inch of time,which being over-flipt, and loft, isnevermore to be recalled, or recovered.
Lord! with what serious spirits, deep, and weighty consideration, fears, and tremblings of heart,
Should men and women, attend the seasons of theirJalvation!
Believe it, reader, since thy soul projected its first thought, there never was amoreweighty, and concerning subject than this presentedtothy thoughts. O! therefore, let not thy thoughts trifle about it, and slide from it, as they use to do in other things, of common concernment, Arg. 5. If we set any value on the true pleasure of life, or solid comfort of our souls at death, let us by no means neglect the special seasons, and opportunities of salvation we now enjoy.
These two things, the pleasure of life, and comforts in death, should be prized, by every man more than his two eyes ; cer tainly no being at all is more desirable, than a being without these : Take away the true, spiritual pleasure of life, and you level the life of man with the beast that perisheth; and take a way the hope, and comfort of the soul in death, and you fink him infinitely below the beasts, and make him a being only capable of misery for ever.
Now there can be no true, spiritual pleasure, found in that foul that has neglected, and lost his only season of salvation :
All the solid delight, and comfort of life, results from the settlement, and security of am an's great concern in the proper season thereof.
The true mirth of the converted Prodigal bears date from the time of his return, and reconciliation to his father,
Luke xv. 24. Two things are absolutely pre-requisite to the comfort of life, viz. a change of the state by justification, and a change of the frame and temper of the be art, by fanctification.
To be in a pardoned state, is a matter of all joy,Mat. ix. 2. and " to be spiritually minded, is life and peace,"Rom. viii. 6. No good news comestoany man,before this; and no bad news can fink a man's heart, after this .
And for hope, and comfort in death, let none be fond to expect it, till he has first complied with, and obeyed God's call in the time thereof: A careless life never did, nor never will produce a comfortable death. What is more common among all that die, not stupid, and senseless, as well as unregenerate, andChristless, than the bitter,dolorous complaints of their misspent time, and losing their seasons of mercy ? Reader, if thou wouldst not feel that anguifo thou hast seen, and heard, others to
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be in on this account, know the time of thy visitation, and finish thy great work, whilst it is day.
Arg. 6. Neglect no season of salvation which is graciously afforded you, because your time is short; death and eternity, areatthedoor.
" You know that you must shortly put off these " tabernacles," 2Pet. i. 13, 14. that when afewyears are come,
" you shall go the way whence you shall not return," Job xvi.
22. All the living are listed soldiers, and must conflict, hand to hand, with that dreadful enemy death, and there is no discharge in that war, Ecclef. viii. 8.
It will be in vain to say, You are not willing to die; for willing, or unwilling, away you must go, when death calls you.
It will be as vain to say, You are not rea dy; for, ready, or unready, youmustbe gone,whendeathcomes.
Your readiness to die, would, indeed, be a cordial to your hearts in death; but then, you must improve and ply the time of life, and husband your opportunities diligently; carelesness of and readiness for death are inconsistent, and exclusive of each other.
The bed is sweeter to none than the hard labourer, and the grave comfortable to none but thelaborious Christian.
You know nothing can be done by you after death ; the compofitum is then dissolved; you cease to be what you were, to enjoy the means you had, and to work as you did. O therefore flip not the only season you have, both of attaining the endoflife, and escaping the danger and hour of death.
The USE.
I shall close all with a word of exhortation, persuading (if possible) the careless and unthinking neglecters of their precious time and fouls, to awake out of that deep and dangerous security in which they lyfast asleep on the very brink of eternity, and " to-day, whilst it is yet called to-day," to hear God's voice calling them to repentance and faith, and thereby to Christ and everlasting blessedness.
" Behold, he yet stands at the " door, and knocks," Rev. iii. 20. The door of hope is not yet finally shut, there are yet some stirrings at certain times inmens consciences ; God comes near them in his word, and in some rouzing acts of providence, the death of a near relation, the seizure of a dangerous disease, the blasting and disappointment of a man's great design and project for this world, a fall into some notorious sin; these, and many such like methods of providence, as well as the convincing voice of the word, have the efficacy of an awakening voice to mens drowsy consciences; and if careless sinners would but attend to them, and follow home those motions they make upon their hearts, who knows to what these weak beginnings might arise and prosper ?
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The souls of men are, as it were, imbarkedinthe calls of God, your life is bound up in them; if these are loft, your souls are loft; if these abide upon you, and grow up to found conversion, you are saved by them. More particularly confider,
1. What a mercy it is, to have your lot providentially cast under the gospel ; to be born under, and bred up with the means and instruments of conversion and salvation.
We have lived from our youth up, under the calls of God, and within the joyful found of the gospel: "God hath not dealt fo with other
" nations," Psal. cxlvii. 20.
Though others should seek the means of life, theycannotfindthem; andthoughyou seek them not, you can hardly miss them.
2. How great a mercy is it, to have your liveslengthened out hither to by God's patience, under the gospel! that neither that golden lamp, nor the lamp of your life, (both which are liable toDe extinguished every moment) are yet put out.
Thousands and ten thousands, your contemporaries, are gone out of the hearing of the voice of the gospel, they shall never hear another call; the treaty of God is ended with them; the master of the house is risen up, and the doors are shut.
Your neglects and provocations have not been inferior to theirs ; but the patience and goodness of God has exceeded and abounded to you beyond whatever it did to them.
3. Bethink yourselves what an aggravation of your misery it will be, to fink into hell with the calls of God founding in your ears! to sink into eternal misery, betwixt the tender, out-stretched arms of mercy ! this is the hell of hell, the emphasis of damnation, the racking engineonwhichthe consciences of the damned are tortured. "AndthouCapernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shall be brought down to hell," Matth. xi. 23. Such a fall, after so high an exaltation, is the very strappadowhich will torment your consciences. Hell will prove a cooler andmilder place to the Heathens that neverenjoyedyour light, means, and mercies in this world, than it will to you.
None sink fodeep into misery in the world to come, as they that fall from the fairest opportunities offalvation in this world.
4. Let noman expect that God will hear his cries and in treaties in time of misery,who neglects and flights the calls of God in time of mercy. God calls, but men will not hear; the day is coming, " when they shall cry, but God will not hear,"
Prov. i . 24, 25. "Will God hear his cry, when trouble cometh upon him?" Job xxvii. 9.
No,no; he will not : and this is but a just retribution from the righteous God, whose calls and counsels men have set at nought. Butwhatevermennowthink
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of it, it is certainly the greatest inisery incidenttomenin all the world: for as no words can make another fully sensible what a privilege it is to have the ear, favour, pity, and help of God in a day of straits ; so it is impossible for any words to express the doleful state and case of that foulwhomGodcafts off in trouble, and whose cries he shuts out.
5. Beware of neglecting any call of God, because that call youarenowtempted to neglect, may be the last call that God ever intends to give your soul. Sure I am, there is a call which will be the last callofGod to rebellious sinners, and after that no more calls, but an eternal deep silence ; his Spirit Shall not always strive with man ; and the more motions and calls you have already flighted, the more probable it is that this may be the last voice of God in a way of mercy to thy soul : and what if, after this, God should feal up thy heart, and judicially harden it; make thy will utterly inflexible, and thine ears deaf, as he threatens, Isa. vi. 10. What an undone miserable man or woman art thou then ! Oh ! beware of provoking the forest of all judgments, by persisting any longer in a course of rebellion against light and mercy.
6. Whilst your hearts put off and neglect the calls of God, you can by no means arrive to the evidence and assurance of your election ; for your election is only secured to you by your effectualcalling, 2 Pet. i. 10. There is no way for men todifcerntheirnames written in the book of life, but by reading the work of sanctification in their own hearts, Rom. x. 8.
I desire no miraculous voice from heaven, no extraordinary signs, or unscriptural notices and in formations in this matter : Lord, let me but find my heart complying with thy calls, my will obediently submitting to thy commands ; finmy burden, and Christ my desire : I never crave a fairer or surer evidence of thy electing love to my soul : and if I had an oracle from heaven, an extraordinary messenger from the other world, to tell me thou lovest me, I have no reason to credit such a voice, whilst I find my heart wholly sensual, averse to God, and indisposed to all that is spiritual.
9. What reason have you why you should not presently embrace the callofGod, and thankfully lay hold only on the first opportunity and season of salvation ? Have you any greater matters inhandthan the salvation of your precious souls ? Is there any thing in this world that more concerns you ? If the affairs of this life be so indispensably necessary, and those of the world to come so indifferent; if you think that meat and drink, trade and business,wife and children are such great things, and Christ,
A Treatise of the Soul of Man. the soul, and eternity, such little things; or if you think falvationto be a work of the greatest necessity, and yet may safely enough beputofftoanuncertain time, I may assure you, you will not be long of this mind. How soon are all the mistakes of men in these matters rectified in a few moments after death !
Rectified, I say, but not remedied ; your opinionwillbechanged, but not your condition.
8. Do you not everyday easily and readily obey the calls of Sat an and your own lusts, whilst God and conscience are suffered to call and strive with you in vain ? If Sat an or your lusts call you to the tavern, to the world, and finfulpleasures, you speedily comply with their call, and yield a ready obedience; if pride or covetousness call, or passion and revenge call, they need not call twice; and shall God and conscience call only in vain ? Lord, what a creature is man become ! Ifa vain companion call, you have no power to deny him; if God call, you have no ear to hear him.
9.Youcannotbut observe the obedience and diligence of many others, how seriously, painfully, and affiduously they ply, and follow on the work of their own salvation, and yet are no more concerned in the events and consequences of these things than you are. Doth it not trouble you when you compare yourselves with them ? Do not such thoughts as these sometimes arise in your hearts uponfuchobfervations ?
Lord, what a difference •is there like to be betwixt their end and mine, when there is
• so apparent adifferenceinourcourse and conversation ? Doth •notGoddiftinguish persons in this world by the frames of their hearts, and tenor of their lives, in order to the great
• distinction he will make betwixtone and another in the day * of judgment ?
Have not I as precious a soul to save or lose as any of them ?
What is the matter that I fit with folded arms, whilst they are working out their salvation with fear and trembling ? Why should anyman or woman in the world be
• more careful for their souls, than I for mine ?
Surely its ca- ⚫pacityandexcellency is equal with theirs,though my care and diligence be so unequal.'
10.To conclude,Godwillshortlygive you an irresistible call to >the grave, and after that his voice shall call to you in your graves,
Arise,yedead, and come to judgment : Butwo be to you, wo and alas that ever you were born, if you should hear the call of God to die, before you have heard and obeyed his call to Christ !
Will your death-bed be easy to you ? Can you with any hope or comfort shoot the gulph of eternity, before you have done one act for the security of your souls from the wrath to come!
A Treatise of the Soul of Man.
It is a dreadful thing for a poor Chriftless soul to fit quivering upon the lips ofa dying sinner, not able to stay, nor yet endure apartingpull from the body, in such acafe as it is.
In a word; If that God that made, and will shortly judge you ; if the Redeemer that shed his invaluable blood, and now offers you the purchases and benefits of it; if you have any love to, or care of your own souls, which are more worth than the whole world; if you have any value for heaven, ordreadof hell, then, for God's fake,for Christ's fake, for your precious soul's fake, trifle withheavenandhellno longer, but be in earnest to workout your ownfalvation withfearandtrembling. Could I think ofanyother meansormotives to secure your souls from danger, I would furelyuse them : could I reach your hearts effectually, I would deeply impress this great concern upon them : But I can neither do God's part of the work, nor yours; it is some ease to me, I have in sincerity, (though with much imperfection and feeure ness) done part of my own: The Lord prosper it by the blessing of his Spirit in the hearts ofthemthatread it. Amen.
The End of the third Volume.
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