16 "-Redeeming the time (or opportunity) becauſe
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan.
places, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. where you will preſenly findthemore obvious marks, and characters, God hath fet 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 folemnly ask thy own foul this queſtion, Am I born again ? Am I a new creature, or ſtill in the fame condition I was born in ? What folid evidence, of the new birth, have I to rely upon, IfI were now within a few gafps of death? Am not I the man, or woman, who lives inthe very ſame ſins which the word of God makes the ſymptoms and characters of damnation? And doth notmy confciencewitneſs against me, that Iam utterly void anddeſtitute of all that ſaving grace, and a mere firanger to the regenerating work of the Spirit, without which there canbe no well-bottom'dhope ofsalvation ? And if ſo, are not the tokens ofdeathupon me ? Am not I a perſon marked out for mifery?
And shall I fit ſtill in a state of fo muchdanger, and not once ſtrive to make an eſcape from thewrath tocome? Is thisvilebodyworth ſo much toil and labour to fupport and preferve it?
And is not my foul worth as much care anddiligence to fecure it from the everlasting wrath of the great, juſt, and terrible
God? O that the confideration ofthe wrath to come, the multitudes all the world over preparing as fuel for it, and thedoor of opportunity yetheld open to fouls by the hand of graceto eſcape that wrath, might prevail with thy heart, reader, to ſtrive, and that tothe uttermoſt, to fecare thy precious foul from the impending ruin .
* ΕPH . V. 16.-Redeeming the time (or opportunity) because the daysare evil.
TIME IME is deſervedly reckoned among themoſt precious mer. cies ofthis life; and thatwhich makes it ſo valuable aré the commodious ſeaſons and opportunities for ſalvation which are vouchſafed toustherein: opportunity is the golden ſpot of time, the ſweet and beautiful flower, growing upon the stalk of time *.
Iftime be a ring ofgold, opportunity is the rich diamondthat gives itbothits value and glory. The apostlewell knew the valueof time; and feeing how prodigally itwas waſtPpp.2
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan. edbythe moſt, doth therefore in this place, earnestly prefs all mento redeem, ſave, and improve itwith the utmoſtdiligence.
In this, and the former verse, we have, 1A, The duty injoined, Walk circumspectly.
2dly, The injunction explained ; 1. More generally, Not asfools, but as wife.
2. More particularly, Redeeming the time.
3. Theexhortationſtrongly inforced withapowerful motive, Because thedays are evil.
Among thele particulars, mydiſcourſe is principally concernedabout the redemption of time, or opportunities, which in this life, aregraciouſly vouchſafed us, inorder to that which is tocome : And here it will be needful to inquire,
1. What the apoſtle meansby 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 fignifies ſometimes time, and ſometimes occafion, feafon, or opportunity, and accordingly is expreſt by χρονος and καιρος, tempus and tempestivitas: the latter is the word here ufed, and denotes the commodiouſneſs and fitneſs of fome parts oftime above others, for the fuccefsful and prosperous management and accomplishment of ourmain 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, andmany fit opportunities preſented us in the revolutions thereof.
2. By the redemption of time †, we must underſtand the ſtudy, care, anddiligence of Chriſtians, at the rate of all poſſible pains, at the expence ofall earthly pleaſures, eaſe and gratifications of the fleſh, to rescue their precious ſeaſons, both of ſalvation and ſervice, out ofthe 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 theirgold anddiamonds, who were content to exchange them for glaſs-beads and tinſel-toys.
Many fair ſeaſons are forced, or cheated out of ourhands, by the importunity ofearthlycares, ordeceitfulness ofſenſual pleaſures: at the expence and loss of thefe, we must redeem and reſcue our time forhigher andbetter uſes andpurpoles. We muſt ſpend theſe hours in prayer, meditation, ſearching our hearts, mortifying our lufts ; which others do, and our fleſh fainwould ſpendin ſenſual pleaſures, and gratificationsof
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the fleſhlyappetite. Ifever we expect to win the port of glory, wemust be as diligent and careful as feamen 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 inſaving and improving all opportunities in thisworld, for that world which is to come.
Godhangs thegreat things of eternityupon the ſmall wires oftimes and ſeaſons in this world: that may be done, or neglected in a day, which may be the ground-work ofjoy or forrow to all eternity. There is a nick of opportunity which gives both fucceſs and facility to the great and weighty affairs of the foul as well as body; to come before it, is to ſeek the bird before it be hatched; and tocome after it, is to ſeek it when it is fied.
There is a twofold ſeaſon, or opportunity of falvation.
1. One was Chriſt's ſeaſon for the purchase ofit.
2. The other is ours for the application ofit.
1. Chriſt had a ſeaſon aſſigned him for the impetration and purchase ofour ſalvation; ſo you hear hisFather beſpeaking him, Ifa. xlix. 8. " Thus faith the Lord, in an acceptable time
" have I heard thee, and inthe day offalvation have I helped " thee,"
תעכיוצר ,intempore opportuno voluntatis, velplacito.
It was the wisdom ofthe Lord Jesus Chriſt toſet inwith the Father's time, to comply with his ſeaſon: and it became a dayof ſalvation, becauſe itwas the acceptable timewhich Chriſt tookfor it.
2. Men have their ſeaſons and opportunities for the application of Chriſt, and his benefits, to their own fouls : 2 Cor. vi.
1, 2. "We then as workers together with God, beſeech you " alfo, that you receive not the grace of God in vain ; for he
" faith, I have heard thee in atime accepted, and in the dayof " ſalvationhave 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 oftheir falvation; 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 fouls ofmen.
1. The external means and inſtruments .
2. The agency of the Spirit internally by, or with thoſe ex ternalmeans.
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan.
1. Menhave a ſeaſon of falvation,whenGodſendsthe means and inſtruments offalvation among them. When the goſpel is powerfullypreached among a people,thereis adoor opened to them; 2 Cor. ii. 12. " When I came to Troas to preach the " goſpel, a doorwas opened tome ofthe Lord." God as it wereunlocks the door ofheaven bythe preachingofthegoſpel :
Souls have then an opportunity to ſtep in andbe saved.
2.Butyet it isnot a wide and effectual door(as the apoſtle phrafes it, 1 Cor. xvi. 9.) till the SpiritofGodjoins with, and works uponthe heartby thoſe external means andinſtruments; asthe waters ofthe pool ofBethesda had no inherent fanative virtue inthemſelves, until the angel of the Lorddeſcendedand troubledthem: but both together make ableſſed ſeaton for the fouls of men.
Then he ſtandsatthedoor, andknocks, by convictions and perfuafions,Rev. iii. 20. ſtrives withmen, as hedid with the old worldby the ministry ofNoah,Gen. vi. 3. Now thedoor of opportunityis indeed opened; butthis will not al. ways laſt; there is atime when the Spirit ceases tostrive, and when thedoor isfout, Luke xiii. 25.
There is a ſeaſon,whenby the freſh impreſſionofſomeordinance orprovidenceofGod,mens hearts are awakened, andtheir affections ſtirred.
It is now with the fouls ofmen as it is with fruittrees in the ſpring,whenthey putforth bloſſoms ; ifthey knit and fet, fruit follows, if theybe nipt and blaſted, no fruit canbe expected.
For all convictions and motions of the affections are to grace, much the fame thing as bloffoms are ta fruit, which arebut the rudiments thereof,fructus imperfectus et ordinabilis, fomewhat in order to it; and look as that is a criticalandhazardous ſeaſon to trees, ſo isthis to fouls. Idonot ſay itisinthe power of anyfoul tomake the work of the Spirit effectual and abiding, byadding his endeavours to the Spirit'smotions ; for then converfion would not bethe free and arbitrary act ofthe Spirit, as in Job iii. 8.neither would fouls bebornofGod, but ofthe will of man, contrary toJohn i. 13.
Andyet it is not to be thought or faid,that mens endeavours and ſtrivings are altogether vain,needleſs,and infignificant; 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, ſettling, and ſecuring ofthat greatwork on the foul; and it is ſeldomknown anyfoul miſcarries inwhomtheſethings are found.
A Treatise of the Soul of Man.
1.Deep,ferious, and fixed confideration,which letsconviction deepintothe foul, and ſettles it, and roots itfaſt intheheart,
Pfal. cxix. 59. " I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy teftimonies."
There are cloſe and anxious debates in thoſe ſouls in whom convictions profper to full converfion : they fitalone, andthink cloſe totheirgreat and eternal concerns : they carry their thoughts back to the evils of their life paſt, thenſmite on the thigh, and cry, What have Idone ? They run their thoughts forward into eternity, and that to a great depth, and thencry, "What ſhall I do tobe faved ?" They deliberate andweigh, in their most advisedthoughts, what is to bedone,
and that ſpeedily, for efcaping wrath to come; thus they fix thoſe tender, weak and hazardous motions, which die away in multitudes of fouls; and, in the lofs of them, the ſeaſons of : falvation are alfo loft.
2. The firſt ſtirrings and motions ofthe Spirit, upon mans hearts, do thenbecome a feaſon of falvation tothem, when they are accompanied with ſpiritual, fervent, and frequent prayer : ſo itwas with Paul, Acts ix. 11. " Behold he prayeth." It is a goodfignwhenfoulsget alone, and effect privacyand retirement, topourout their fears, forrows, and requests unto God.
Itis in the eſpouſals ofafoul to Chriſt, asit is inother marriages ; a thirdperfonmaymake the motion,andbringtheparties together, butthey only betwixt themselves must conclude and agree the matter.
Prayer is the firſt breath which the newcreaturedraws in, and the laſt (ordinarily) it breaths outin this world.
This nourishes and maturates thoſe weak, tender, and firſt motions afterGod, and brings them to fome conſiſtenceand fixedneſs in the foul.
3. Thendothoſe motions of theSpirit on mens hearts make a ſeaſonof falvation tothem, when theyremain and ſettlein the heart, and are in themper modum quietis, by way of reft and abode, following the man fromplace to place, from day to day ; fothat whatever unpleaſing diverſions the neceſſities and incumbrances ofthis world at anytime give, yet ſtillthey return again upon the heart, and willnot vanich, or ſuffer any longer fufpenfion: but in others, who loſe theirbleſſed advantage andſeaſon, it is quite contrary ; James i. 23, 24. " They are as one that " ſeeth his natural face in aglafs, andgoeth awayand forgetteth
" what manner of man he was:" Hefees ſome ſpot on his face, or diforder in hisband, which he purpoſeth to correct ; but, by one occurrence or another, he forgets what he saw in the glaſs, andſogoes allthe daywith 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 ifthe impreſſion abide in its ſtrength, ifit return, and follow the foul, and will not let it be quiet, it is like thento profper, 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 falvation tobe ſet open to the fouls of men, Acts ii. 37. and xvi. 30 .
" Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved ? Men and brethren, what " ſhallwe do?" q. d. we are in a miferable 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 todwellwith our own fears, terrors, and preſages ofwrath tocome.
Oh for a meffenger, one among a thousand, to teach us the way of falvation.
Thus the Lord rivets and fixes thoſe motions in fome touls, that vaniſh like a morning miſt, ordew.
5. Lastly, That which fecures 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 earneft, dallying no more with ſo great a concern, ſtanding no longer at ſhall I? Shall 1? whenmeanwhiletime flies away, andopportunities may be loſt: but bring their thoughts and debates to peremptory reſolution, as the Lepers at Samaria did; and feeing themselves ſhut up toone only door of hope, there they refolve to take their ſtation, lying at the feet of Jeſus
Chrift, and cafting their poor burdened fouls upon him, whateverbe the iſſue.
When the Spirit ofGod 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 folemn and important concern of every foul 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 theydo upon their fouls, and the ſalvation of them.
This is thedoor of hope ſet open, a freſh gale to carry you home to your port ofglory.
Salvation is now come nigh to your fouls ; there is but a little betwixt you and bleſſedneſs. Wife and happy is that foul which knows and improves its ſeaſon. To perfuadeandpreſs mento difcern and improve ſuch ſeaſons as theſe, is the principal work of the preachers of the gospel,
A Treatise of the Soul ofMan.
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 reafon, and the ſenſe of afuture eternal eſtate, would carelessly neglect any feafon of falvation, whilft he feeth all the rational world fo carefully attending, andwatching all opportunities to promote, and fecure their lower concerns, anddeſigns for the preſent life?
Isnot the ſavingaman's foul as weightya concern, as the gettingof an eftate ? 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 awind, towaft them to their port, and induſtriouſly ſhift their fails, to improve every flaw thatmay 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 aday, on which their buſineſs depends ; all things mustgivewayto their buſineſs; theyall underſtand their feafons, 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 lofs of aman's foul ?
If a man's life depended upon his being at ſuch a place, by ſuch a preciſe hour, fure 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, andcareleſſneſs, 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 intemporal things, willbe anuncontroulable, and confounding felfconviction to you in the day of your account, and leave you withoutplea, orapology, foryour ſupine neglects ofthe feaſons of falvation.
Arg. 2. The confideration of the uncertainty, and flippery natureof 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, andvery uncertain : " To day, whilst it is said to day
" (faith the apoſtle) ifye will hearhis voice," Heb. iii. i5.q.d.
Youhave now a ſhort, uncertain, but moſt precious, and valuable ſeaſon for your fouls, layhold on it, whilſt it is called to-day; for, ifthis ſeaſon be let ſlip, the time to come is called
VOL . III.
ATreatise of the Soul of Man. by another name, that is, not to-day, but to-morrow.
Your time is the present time ; take heed of procrastinating and putting it off, till thatwhich is called to-day (which is your only
Season) be paſt, and gone.
The precious inch oftime, though itbe moreworth than all the other greater parts, and portions ofyour 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, whilft it is current ; other ſeaſons for natural, or civil actions, are known, and ſtated, but the time of grace is not fo easily difcerned, and therefore commonly miſtaken, and loft : And this comes topaſs, partly through,
1. Preſumptuous hopes.
2.Diſcouraging fears.
1. Preſumptuous hopes, which put it too far forth, andperfuade us this ſeaſon is yet to come ; that we have time before us, and that to-morrow ſhall be as to-day.
" Thus through prefumption *, menhope, andbytheirpreſumptuous hopes "
" they periſh."
This is the ruinof 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 difcern 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 converfion, yea, andnearer inthe motions of his Spirit upon their confciences, and affections ; but they knew not the time of their viſitation, andnow the things of their peace are hid from their eyes. Had thoſe convictions been obeyed, and thoſe purpoſes that were begotten intheirhearts, been followed by anſwerable executions of them, happy had they been to all eternity : But their careleſs neglects have quenchedthem, and the door is ſhut ; andwho knows whether it may be opened any more ? O dally not with the Spirit ofGod, reſiſt nothis calls ! his motions on the foul are tender things ; theymayſoon be quenched, and never recovered.
Arg. 3. Neglect not the ſeaſons ofmercy, theday of grace, :
* Praefumendosperant, etsperandopereunt,
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan.
becauſeopportunity facilitates the great work ofyour ſalvation ; it ismuch easier to be done in ſuch aſeaſon, than it canbe afterwards: An impreſſion is easily made on wax, when melted, but ſtay till it be hardened, and ifyou 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; confcience is full ofſenſe, and activity, the will palpable :
Now is the time to ſet in with the motions ofthe ſpirit; there is now a gale from heaven, ifyou will take it, and ifnot, it tarries not for man, nor waits for the fons ofmen : Neglect of the ſeaſon, is the loss ofthe foul.
The heart, like melted wax, will naturallyharden again, and then tohow little purpoſe are your own feeble eſſays ? Heb. iii. 15. 'Tis both eaſy and fucceſsful ſtriving, when the Spirit ofGod ſtrives in you, and with you ; you are now workers together with God, and fuch work goes on ſmoothly, and ſweetly ; thatwhich is in motion is easily moved; but ifonce the heart is fet, you may labour to little purpoſe.
Arg. 4. The infinite importance, and weight of falvation, isalone, inſteadofallmotives, and arguments, tomake men prize, and improve every proper ſeaſon for it.
ItIt is noordinary concern, it is your life, yea, it is your eternal life; the folemnity, and awfulness ofſuch a buſineſs as this, is enough to ſwallow up the ſpirit of man. O what an awful found have fuch words as theſe, ever with the Lord ! Suppoſe you saw theglory of heaven, the full reward of all the labours, and ſufferings of the faints, the bleſſed harvest ofall 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 thedamned, for the neglect of the ſeaſon ofmercy, and their paſſionate,butvainwishes for one of thoſe days which theyhave loſt: Wouldyou think any care, any pains, anyſelf-denial too much, to fave, andredeemone oftheſe opportunities ? Surely had would have a far higher eſtimation ofthem, than ever you you inyour lives.
Atrial for aman's whole eſtate, is accounted a folemnbuſineſs, among men; the caftofa dye for a man's life, is a weighty action, and ſeldomdone without anxiety ofthe mind, and trembling ofthe hand: Yet both theſe are but children's play comparedwith favation-work.
Three thingsputan unspeakable folemnityupon this matter; it is the precious ſoul, which is above all valuation, that lies at
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan. ſtake, and is tobe 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 ſavedor caft away: All hangs upon a little inch of time,whichbeing over-flipt, and loft, isnevermore tobe recalled, or recovered.
Lord! with what ferious spirits, deep, andweighty confideration, fears, and tremblings of heart,
Should men and women, attendthe seasons of theirJalvation!
Believe it, reader, ſince thy foul projected its first thought, there never was amoreweighty, and concerning ſubject than this preſentedtothy thoughts. O! therefore, letnot thy thoughts trifle about it, and ſlide from it, as they uſe to do inother things, of common concernment, Arg. 5. Ifwe fet any value on the true pleasure oflife, or folid comfort of our fouls atdeath, let usby no means neglect the ſpecial ſeaſons, andopportunities ofſalvation we now enjoy.
Theſe two things, the pleaſure oflife, and comforts indeath, ſhould be prized, by every man more than his two eyes ; cer tainly nobeing at all is more defirable, than a being without thefe : Take away the true, ſpiritual pleaſure of life, and you level the life of man with the beast that periſheth; and take a waythe hope, and comfort ofthe foul in death, and you fink him infinitely below the beasts, and make hima being onlycapable of mifery for ever.
Now there can be no true, ſpiritual pleaſure, found inthat foul that has neglected, and lost his only ſeaſon of falvation :
Allthe folid delight, and comfort of life, reſults from the fettlement, and ſecurity ofaman's great concern intheproper feafon thereof.
The true mirth ofthe converted Prodigalbears date fromthe time of his return, and reconciliation to hisfather,
Luke xv. 24. Two things are abſolutely pre-requifite to the comfort of life, viz. a change ofthe state byjustification, anda change of the frame andtemper of the beart, by fanctification.
To be in a pardoned ſtate, is a matter ofalljoy,Mat. ix. 2. and " to be ſpiritually minded, is life and peace,"Rom. viii. 6. No goodnews comestoany man,before this; andnobad 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 inthe time thereof: A careless life never did, nor never will produce acomfortable death. What is more common among allthat die, not ſtupid, and ſenſeleſs, as well as unregenerate, andChriſtless, than the bitter,dolorous complaints of their mifſpent time, and loſing their ſeaſons ofmercy ? Reader, if thou wouldst not feel that anguifo thou hastseen, and heard, others to
A Treatise of the Soul ofMan.
be in on this account, know the time ofthy visitation, andfinish thygreat work, whilst it isday.
Arg. 6. Neglect no ſeaſon of ſalvationwhich is graciously afforded you, becauſe your time is ſhort; death and eternity, areatthedoor.
" Youknow that you muſt ſhortly put offtheſe " tabernacles," 2Pet. i. 13, 14. thatwhen afewyears arecome,
" 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 inthatwar, Ecclef. viii. 8.
It will be in vain to ſay, You are notwilling todie; for willing, or unwilling, awayyou must go, whendeath calls you.
It will be as vain to ſay, You are not rea dy; for, ready, or unready, youmustbe gone,whendeathcomes.
Yourreadiness todie, would, indeed, be a cordial to your hearts indeath; but then, you must improve and ply the time oflife, 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 nonebut 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 eſcapingthe danger and hour ofdeath.
The USE.
I ſhall cloſe all with a word of exhortation, perfuading (if poſſible) the careleſs and unthinking neglecters of their precious time and fouls, toawake out ofthat deep anddangerous ſecurity inwhich they lyfaſt aſleep on the very brink of eternity, and " to-day, whilſt itisyet called to-day," to hear God's voice calling them to repentance and faith, and thereby to Chrift 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 fome ſtirrings at certain times inmens confciences ; God comes near them in his word, and in ſome rouzing acts of providence, the death of a near relation, the feizure of adangerous diſeaſe, the blaſting and diſappointment of a man's great deſign and project for this world, a fall into ſome notorious ſin; theſe, andmany ſuch like methods ofprovidence, as well as the convincing voice of the word, have the efficacy ofan awakening voice to mens drowſy conſciences; and if careleſs ſinners would but attend to them, and followhome thoſe motions they make upon their hearts, who knows to what theſe weak beginnings might arife and profper ?
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan.
The ſouls of men are, as it were, imbarkedinthe calls ofGod, your life is boundup inthem; iftheſeare loft, your souls are loft; if theſe abideupon you, andgrowup to found converfion, you are ſavedby 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 ouryouth up, under the calls ofGod, andwithin the joyful found ofthe goſpel: "God hath not dealt fo with other
" nations," Pfal. cxlvii. 20.
Though others ſhould feek the means oflife, theycannotfindthem; andthoughyou ſeek them not, you can hardly miſs them.
2. Howgreat a mercy is it, to haveyour liveslengthened out hither to byGod's patience, under the goſpel! that neither that golden lamp, nor the lamp ofyour life, (both which are liable toDe extinguiſhedevery moment) are yet put out.
Thousands and ten thouſands, your contemporaries, are gone out of the hearing ofthevoice ofthe goſpel, they ſhall never hear another call; the treaty ofGod is ended with them; the master ofthe houſe is riſen up, and the doors are ſhut.
Your neglects and provocations have not been inferior to theirs ; but the patience andgoodness ofGod has exceeded and abounded to you beyond whatever it did to them.
3. Bethink yourſelves what an aggravation ofyour misery it will be, to fink into hell with the calls ofGod founding in your ears! to ſink intoeternal miſery, betwixt thetender, out-ſtretched arms of mercy ! this is the hell ofhell, the emphasis ofdamnation, the racking engineonwhichthe conſciences ofthedamned are tortured. "AndthouCapernaum, which art exalted toheaven, ſhall be brought down to hell," Matth. xi. 23. Such a fall, after ſo high an exaltation, is the very ſtrappadowhich will torment your confciences. Hell will prove a cooler andmilder place to theHeathens that neverenjoyedyour light, means, and mercies in this world, than it will to you.
None ſink fodeep intomiſery in the world to come, as they that fall from the faireſt opportunities offalvation in this world.
4. Let noman expect thatGod will hear his cries and intreaties intime ofmiſery,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, butGod will not hear,"
Prov. i . 24, 25. "WillGod hear his cry, whentrouble cometh upon him?" Job xxvii. 9.
No,no; he willnot : and this is but a juſt retribution from the righteous God, whoſe calls and counſels men have ſet at nought. Butwhatevermennowthink
ATreatise of the Soul of Man.
ofit, it is certainly the greatest iniſery incidenttomenin all the world: for as no words can make another fully ſenſible what a privilege it is tohave the ear, favour, pity, andhelp ofGod in aday of ſtraits ; ſoit is impoſſible for any words to expreſs the doleful ſtate and caſeof that foulwhomGodcafts offin trouble, and whoſe cries he ſhuts out.
5. Beware of neglecting any call ofGod, becauſe that call youarenowtempted to neglect, may be the last call thatGod ever intends to give your foul. Sure I am, there is a callwhich will be the last callofGod to rebellious ſinners, and after that no more calls, but an eternal deep filence ; 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 ofGod in a way of mercy to thy ſoul : andwhat if, after this, God ſhould feal up thy heart, and judicially hardenit; make thy will utterly inflexible, and thine earsdeaf, as he threatens, Iſa. vi. 10. What an undone miferable man orwoman art thou then ! Oh ! beware of provoking the foreft ofalljudgments, by perſiſting any longer in acourſe ofrebellion against light and mercy.
6. Whilst your hearts put offand neglect the calls ofGod, you can byno means arrive to the evidence and affurance of yourelection ; for your electionis only fecured to you by your effectualcalling, 2 Pet. i. 10. There is no way for men todifcerntheirnames written inthebook of life, butby reading the work of ſanctification intheir own hearts, Rom. x. 8.
I defire no miraculous voice from heaven, no extraordinary figns, or unſcriptural notices and informations in this matter : Lord, letme but find my heart complying with thy calls, my will obediently fubmitting to thy commands ; finmy burden, and Chriſt my defire : I never crave a fairer or furer evidence of thy electing love to my foul : and if Ihad 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 myheart wholly ſenſual, averſe toGod, and indiſpoſed to all thatis ſpiritual.
9. What reaſon have you why you should not preſently embracethe callofGod, and thankfully layhold only on the firſt opportunityand ſeaſon of falvation ? Have you any greater matters inhandthan the ſalvation of your precious fouls ? Is there any thing in this world that more concerns you ? If the affairs ofthis lifebe ſo indiſpenſably neceſſary, andthoſeof theworld tocome ſo indifferent; if you think that meatand drink, trade andbuſineſs,wife and children are ſuch great things, andChriſt,
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan. the foul, andeternity, fuch little things; or ifyou think falvationto be a work of the greatest neceffity, and yet may ſafely enough beputofftoanuncertain time, I may affure you, you willnotbe long of thismind. How foon are allthe mistakes of menin theſe matters rectified in a few moments after death !
Rectified, I ſay, but not remedied ; your opinionwillbechanged, butnotyour condition.
8. Doyou not everyday eaſily and readily obey the calls of Satanand your own lufts, whilstGod and confcience are fuffered tocall and strive with you in vain ? IfSatan or your lufts call you tothe tavern, tothe 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 neednot call twice; and ſhallGod and conscience callonly in vain ? Lord, what a creature is manbecome ! Ifa vain companion call, you have nopower to deny him; if God call, you have no ear to hear him.
9.Youcannotbut obſerve theobedience anddiligence ofmany others, how feriously, painfully, and affiduously they ply, and follow on the work of their own falvation, and yet are no more concerned in the events andconſequences of theſe things than youare. Doth itnot troubleyou whenyou compare yourſelves with them ? Do not ſuch thoughts as theſe ſometimes ariſe in yourhearts uponfuchobfervations ?
Lord, what adifference •is there like tobe betwixttheir end and mine, when there is
• ſo apparent adifferenceinourcourſe andconverſation ? Doth •notGoddiftinguiſh perſons in this world bythe frames of their hearts, and tenor of their lives, in order to the great
• diſtinction he will make betwixtone and another in theday * of judgment ?
Have not I as precious a foul to ſave or loſe as any of them ?
What is the matter that I fit with folded arms, whilst theyare working out their falvation with fear and trembling ? Why should anyman orwoman in theworldbe
• more careful for their fouls, than I for mine ?
Surely its ca- ⚫pacityandexcellency is equalwith theirs,though mycare and diligence be ſo unequal.'
10.Toconclude,Godwillſhortlygive you an irreſiſtible callto >thegrave, andafter that his voice ſhall callto you inyour graves,
Arife,yedead, and come tojudgment : Butwo be toyou, wo and alas that ever you wereborn, ifyou should hear the call ofGod 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 orcomfort ſhoot the gulph of eternity, before youhave done oneact for the ſecurityof your fouls from thewrath to come!
ATreatise of the Soul ofMan.
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 thebody, in ſuch acafe as it is.
In aword; IfthatGod that made, and will ſhortly judgeyou ; if the Redeemer that ſhed his invaluable blood, and now offers you the purchaſes and benefits of it; ifyou have any love to, or care ofyour own fouls, which are more worth than the whole world; ifyou have any value for heaven, ordreadof hell, then, forGod's fake,forChriſt's fake, foryour preciousſoul's fake, trifle withheavenandhellno longer, butbe inearneſt to workoutyour ownfalvation withfearandtrembling. Could I think ofanyother meansormotives to ſecure your ſouls fromdanger, I would furelyuſe them : could I reach your hearts effectually, Iwould deeply impreſs this great concern upon them : But I can neither doGod's part ofthe work, nor yours; it is fome eaſe to me, I have in ſincerity, (though with much imperfection and feeure neſs) done part ofmy own: The Lord profper it by the bleffing ofhis Spirit inthe hearts ofthemthatread it. Amen.
The End of the third Volume.
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