20 Behold I [ſtand] at the door, and knock, &c
England's Duty.
Tanctify thee; in aword, he is that daymade ofGodtothee Wiſdom, righteouſneſs, ſanctification,and redemption," i Cor
"All is yours, for yeare Chrift's, and Chriſt isGod's,"
Cor.iii. ult. And thus I have ſhewed you ſome of thoſe greatthingsGoddoth for thoſe ſouls that will butdo this one
1. 30.
ا thing for him, viz. open their hearts to receive Chrift upon the tenders and terms of the goſpel.
に SERMON IV.
REV. iii. 20. Behold I [Stand ] at the door and knock, &c.
THEverb15 hererendered1stand, is of thepreter tenfe, and would strictly be rendered I have food ; but being joinedwith averb of the present tense, is here rendered I do
Aand, afrequentHebraiſm in ſcripture : And it notes the con-
tinued patience and long-fuffering of Chriſt ; I have stood and ſtill do ſtand, exerciſing wonderful patience towards obſtinate finners. Which gives us this fourth obſervation.
Doct. 4. That great and admirable is the patience of Christ, inwaiting upon trifling and obstinatefinners.
Thus wisdom, i. e. Chriſt expreſſes himself, Prov. i. 24. " I " have called and ye refused; I have ſtretched out myhand,
" and no man regarded."
Here you have not only Chriſt's earnest calls, but ſuitable geſtures alſo, to gain attention . The : ſtretching out of the hand was a ſignal given to procure attention, Acts xxi. 40.
Yet none regards; and this the Lord doth not onceor twice, but all theday long, Ifa. lxv. 2. ſhewing forth all long-fuffering, asthe apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Tim. i. 16.
Inthe opening of this point I will ſhew you, 1. What divine patience is.
2. Wherein it is evidenced.
3. Why it is exerciſed towards ſinners.
First, Of the nature of divine patience; it is an ability in God not onlyto delay the execution of hiswrath for a time towards ſome, but to delay it in order to the eternal falvation ofothers.
Letme ſpeak to the parts of this deſcription of divine patience.
1. It is an abilityof power inGod, notthe effect of impotence, or want of opportunity: All finners are continually withinthe reach of the arm of his justice, and he can ſtrike
Mmm 2
England'sDuty. when, andwherehewill. Eſau hadarevengefulmind against Jacob, but wanted opportunity, and therefore was forced to delay the execution of his conceived wrath, until the days for mourning for his fatherwere come; and then faith he, " I will ſlay my brother Jacob," Gen. xxvii. 41.
But inGod it is a glorious effect of power, Nah. i. 3. " The Lord is flow to anger, andgreat in power."
The greatness of his patience flows from the greatneſs of his power: So the apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. ix. 22. "What, if " Godwilling toſhew his wrath, andtomakehispower known,
" enduredwith muchlong-fuffering the veſſels ofwrath, fitted, " or made up to deſtruction ? " And therefore when Moſes prays for the exerciſe of divine patience towards the provoking Ifraelites, hedoth it in this form,Numb.xiv. 17, 18."And " now I beſeech thee, let the power ofmy Lord be great, according as thou hast ſpoken, ſaying, the Lord is long-fuffer- " ing," &c. He could exerciſe thisAlmighty powerupon thee, and cruſh thee by it as a moth is crushed; but behold he exerciſes it upon himself, inſtoppingthe propenfions of his own justice, which daily follicit him to cut thee off; it isthe power of God over his wrath, bridling andreſtraining it fromdayto day.
2. This patience is exerciſed toward ſuch as periſh, in a temporarydelay of their damnation; and though this be but amere ſuſpenſion of his wrath for a time, yet it is aglorious act of patience in him, as that forecited text, Rom. ix. 22. ſhews.
Is it nothing fora finnercondemnedas soon as born, tobe reprieved fo manyyears out of hell ? Thou hast been provoking him daily, and hourly, to cut thee off, and ſend thee tothyown place; and yet to be on this ſide the everlasting burnings, this is wholly owing to the riches of his forbearance.
Ah, how isGod to be admired inthis his glorious power over his own wrath! when we look abroad into the world, and fee everywhere ſinners ripe for deſtruction,daring theGod ofheaven to his face, yet forborn, how admirable is this power of God!
3. God doth not only exerciſe this power in a temporary fuſpenſion of his wrath againſt ſome, who, alas, muſt feel it at laſt ; but he delays the execution of his wrath in a defign ofmercy towards others, that they may never feel it, Iſa. xlviii . 8, 9.
Thus he bears with his own elect, all the years of their lives wherein they lay in the ſtate of nature, and went on ina courſe of rebellion againstGod; and this longſuffering ofGodtowards them proves theirſalvation, as you
England'sDuty.
have it in 2Pet. iii. 15. " And account that the long-fuffering " of our Lord is ſalvation."
What is the meaning of that ?
Ah, Chriſtian, thou mayeſt eaſily know the meaning of it, without turning over many Commentaries ; thou art now in Chriſt, ſafely escaped out of thedanger ofwrath to come ; but thou oweſt thisthy falvation to the patience and long-fuffering ofGod towards thee.
For what ifhe had cut thee off in the daysofthy ignoranceand rebellionagainst him (andthou knoweſt thou didst give him millions of provocations ſo todo) where hadſt thou now been ? Thou hadſt never feen Chriſt, nor the leaſt dawninghope ofſalvationbyhim. Remember how oftyou lay in thoſedays upon beds of fickness upon the brink of the grave; what was it that ſaved thee from eternal wrath, but
this admirable patience of Chriſt ? Well, therefore, may the apoſtle ſay," Accountthe long-fuffering ofGodtobeſalvation."
This patience of God ſeems tobe a branch ſpringing out of hismercyand goodness; only itdiffers from mercy in this, that man as miferable is the object of mercy, but man as criminal is the object of patience.
Thus briefly of the nature of divine patience, a power of God over his own wrath, not only to fufpend it for atime towards them that periſh, but to delay the execution of it inadeſign of ſalvation towards others.
Secondly, Next we come to ſhew the various evidences of this divine patience, orwherein itappears in its glorious manifeftations towards provoking ſinners; and there are ſeven full evidences anddiscoveries of it, which ſhould make the hearts of ſinners meltwithin them, whilst they are founding in their ears.
Ah, methinks, ſuch things as theſe ſhould meltdownyour hard hearts before the Lord!
1. And the firſt evidence of the riches of his patience ſhall be taken from the multitude of fins that men and women are guilty of before him, the leaſt of which is a burden too heavy for any creature to bear; the Pfalmiſt ſaith, Pfal. xl. 12. "In- " numerable evils have compaſſed me about."
It was true, as applied to the perſon ofDavid; and though it be there applied to the perſon ofChriſt, yet not oneofthem were his own fins, butours; called his, byGod's reckoning or imputing them to him. Men can number vaſt ſums, millions of millions, but no mancannumber his own fins, they paſs all account.
There is not amember of the body, though never ſo ſmall, but hath been the inſtrument of innumerable evils.
For instance, the tongue, the apoſtle tells us, is a world of iniquity, Jam. iii. 6.
And if there be a world of fin in one member, what then are the fins ofall? How many idle, frothy, vain words, hath thy
England'sDuty. tongueuttered? And yet for them, Chriſt ſaith, "Men ſhall "give anaccountin the day ofjudgment," Mat. xii. 36. And whathave the ſins of thy thoughts been ? " The thoughts of " foolishness is fin," (faith Solomon,) Prov.xxiv. 9. O, who canunderstandhis errors? Yetthe patienceofGodhath not failed under ſuch innumerable evils. O glorious patience ! well may it be uſhered inthe textwith a term ofadmiration, Behold,
Iftand!
2. The second evidence ofthedivinepatience ſhallbe taken fromtheheinous nature ofſome fins above others, whereby finners fly, as it were, inthe very face ofGod; andyet he bears with long-fuffering, lets not looſe his hands tocut them off.
Allfinsare notof one ſize; fome have a flighter tincture, and fome are deeper; calledupon that account ſcarletandcrimſon
Lins, Ifa. i. 18. double dyed abominations, fins in grain; ſuch are ſins againſt knowledge, ſins committedafterconvictions, and covenants, and rebukes ofprovidence.
Ido not only ſpeakof outwardgroſs acts offin; for as the ſchool-men welldetermine, though outward fins are ſins ofgreater infamy, yet inward fins maybe ſins ofgreater guilt: even thoſe fins that nevertook air to defame thee in the world: but whatever they be (reader) whether outward, or inward, thy conſcience is privy to them, andthy foul may ſtand amazedat the patience ofGod, in forbearing thee all this while,under ſuch provocations, and horrid rebellions against him; eſpecially, confideringhow many there be thisday in hell that never provoked God by fioningwith fuchan high hand as thou hastdone.
3. It is yet a greater evidence of the patience of God, in bearing with, and forbearing us under the guilt of that ſpecial fin, viz. The flighting and neglecting of Jesus Chriſt : here isa fin thatgoes to the veryheart ofJesus Chriſt ; he can bear anyother fin rather than that; and yet this hath Chrift born from every foul of you. You are themen and women that have ſpurned at the yearning bowels ofhis mercies, flighted his grace, trampledhis precious blood underfoot, and yet he hath
+ forborn you unto this day; read Mat. xxii. 5. and let thy confcience anſwer, whether thou art not equally deep in the guilt ofmaking light ofChriſt with thoſe wretches uponwhom it is there charged.
Chriſt hath suffered the wrath of God in thy room, brought home ſalvation, in goſpel-offers, tothy door: and then tobe flighted! no patiencebuthisowncouldbear it.
Every fermonand prayer you have fatunder with adead heart ; everymotion of his Spirit which you have quenched, what is this butthe making light of Chriſt, and thegreat falvation !
England'sDuty.
here the deepest project of infinite wisdom, andthe richest gift of free-grace, wherein God commends his love to men, are vilelyundervalued as ſmall things: andthushave you donedays withoutnumber; and yet his hand is not ſtretched out, to cut thee off in thy rebellion : Who is a God like unto thee ! What patience like the patience of Chriſt !
4. The length of time the patience of Chriſt hath endured thee, ſpeaks the perfection and riches ofpatience towards thee.
Confider finner, what age thou art of, how many years thou canſt number, and that all this hath beenatime of patience, for thou waſt a tranfgreffor from the womb, Ifa. xlviii. 8, 9. yetforhis name fakehath he deferredhis anger, and hath not cut thee off. How ſoondid the wrath ofGod break forth upontheangelswhenthey finned inheaven! And how long hath itbornewith thee, whilst thou hast been provoking him on earth ? Was there ever patience like the patience ofGod! Ma bythousands have been ſent away to hell ſince thy day, but thou art yet fpared; O that the long-fuffering ofGod might be falvation to thee !
5. It isagreat evidenceofthe power ofdivine patience that may be drawn from the grievouſneſs ofour fins toGod, during thewholetimeofhis forbearance : itis true, there is no proper paſſioninthedivinenature, norealperturbation, his anger is a mildand holy flame; yet the contrariety of fin to theholineſs ofhis nature is what makes his patience miraculous in the eyes of men. The ſcripture ſpeaking ina condeſcending language tothe understanding ofthe creature, repreſentsGod as wounded totheheart by the fins of men; ſo in Ezek. vi. 9. " I am
" brokenwith their whoriſh heart, which hath departed from " me;" andAmos ii. 13. " Behold I am preſſed under you, as acart is prefſedthat is full of ſheaves," when the axle-tree is ready to crack under the load: and 2Chron. xxxvi. 16. it is faid, " The wrath of the Lord aroſe against his people till
" there was no remedy;" his patiencewould bear no longer, andtherefore when he executes hiswrath upon provoking finners, that execution is repreſentedin the nature of an eaſe or relief to his burdened patience and juſtice, Iſa. i.24. " Ah, faith
"he, I will eaſe me ofmy enemies, and avenge me ofmyad- " verſaries."
Yet, obſerve, itcomes inwith an (ab)with a kind of regret and reluctancy; ſo in Iſa. x. 25.
Yet a very " littlewhile and the indignation ſhall ceaſe, and my anger is " in their deſtruction." God could have given eaſeand reſt this way tohis anger long ago, but he chuſes rather ſtill to bearwith thee, thanontheſe terms to eaſe himselfofthee.
England'sDuty.
Evidence6. The vaſt expences ofhis richesandbountyupon us, during the whole time of his forbearance and patience towards us, ſpeak him unconceivable and infinite in his long-fufferingtowards us, Rom. ii. 4, 5. " Deſpiſeſt thou the riches of " his goodness, and forbearance, and long-fuffering, not know- " ing that the goodness ofGod leadeth thee to repentance ?" q. d. Vile finner, canſt thou compute the treaſures of bounty and goodness, thou hast been riotouſly ſpending andwaſting all this while ? Doſt thou know what vaſt ſums Chriſt hath ſpent upon thee to preſerve thee ſolong out of hell? There be two treaſures ſpending upon finners all the time ofGod's forbearance ofthem; there is the precious treaſure ofthy time waſted, and the invaluable ſtreams of goſpel-grace running all this while at thewaſte ſpout: thy time is precious ; the whole of thy time, which is betwixt thee and eternity, is but little, andthe moſt thereof has been waſted in fin, and caſt away upon vanity : but that is not all, the treaſures of goſpel-grace havebeen wafting all this while upon thee. In Zech. iv. 12. it is compared togolden oil, maintaining the lamps ofordinances ; ſo it is ſet forth to us in that ſtately emblem. Who would maintain a lamp with golden oil for wanton children to play by? Yet this hath God done while thy foul hath dallied and trifled with him.
The witneſſes and miniſters of Chriſt, in Rev. xi. 3, 4. are compared to thoſe olive-trees that drop their precious oil, their gifts, graces, yea, and their natural ſpirits with them, into this lamp, to keep it burning; all this while the blood of Chrift hath been running in vain, the miniſters of Chriſt preaching and beſeeching in vain, the Spirit of Chriſt ſtriving with you in vain.
You burn away golden oil, and yet your lamp is notgone out. O marvellous patience ! O the riches of God's forbearance !
7. Laſtly, The riches of divine patience towards you, are greatly heightened and aggravated by the quick diſpatch the Lordhathmadeofother finners, whilst hehath ſpared and paſt over you.
This comparative confideration calls upon you in the apoſtle's language, Rom. xi. 22." Behold the goodness and " ſeverity ofGod ; on them which fell, ſeverity; but towards
"thee, goodness, if thou continue inhis goodneſs, otherwiſe " thou shalt be cut off."
Some ſinners have been cut off in thebeginningof their days, many in the very acts of fin, and thoſe not greater than thy fins; they are gone to their own place, and thou still left for a monument of the patience and forbearance ofGod. The fin ofAchanwas not a greater fin thanthy covetouſneſs, and the earthlineſs of thy heart is; the
England's Duty.
fin of Nadab andAbihu, in offering up ſtrange fire, thanthy fuperftition, and offering up uncommanded ſervices to God : yetthehand of God fell upon them, and ſmote them dead in the place; in the day and place wherein they fianed, theyperiſhed; they were taken away in their iniquities, but thou reſerved. O that it might be for an inſtance and example of the riches ofdivine patience, which may at laſt lead thee to repentance!
Thus I havegivenyou ſeven evidences ofthe wonderful patience of Chriſt, who hath ſtood, and ſtilldoth ſtand at the door and knock.
Next we will enquire into the grounds and reaſons of this marvellous patience of Chriſt, this aftoniſhing long-fuffering ofGod towards fioners; and there are divers obvious reaſonsof thelong-fuffering ofGodtowards men.
Reafon, 1. The exerciſe of his patience is a ſtanding teſtimony of his reconcileable and merciful nature towards finful man .
This he ſhewed forth in his patience toward Paul, a great example of his merciful nature, for a pattern to them that ſhould hereafterbelieve on him, I Tim. i. 16. The long-fuffering of God is a ſpecial part of his manifeſtative glory; and therefore when Mofes deſired a fight of his glory, Exod. xxxiv. 6. he proclaims his name, " The Lord, the LordGod, merciful and " gracious, long-ſuffering,and abundant in goodness andtruth."
He would have poor finners look towards him as an atonable Deity, a Godwilling to be reconciled, aGodthat retaineth not his anger for ever; but if poor ſinners will take hold ofhis
ſtrength, and make peace with him, they mayhave peace, Iſa. xxvii. 4.
This long-fuffering is an attribute very expreſſive of the divine nature; he is willing finners ſhould know, whatevertheir provocations have been, there is room for pardon and peace, if they will yet come in to accept the terms.
This patience is a diadem belonging to the imperial crown ofheaven ; the Lord glories in it, as what is peculiar to himself, Hof. xi.
9." I will not execute the fierceneſs of my anger; for I am "God and not man :" q. d.
Had I been as man, the holieſt, meekeſt, and mortifiedſt man upon earth, I had confumed them long ago ; but I amGod, and not man, my patience is above allcreated patience; nohuſbandcan bear with hiswife, no parent with his child, asGod hath borne with you. That is one reaſon ofChriſt's waiting upon triffing ſinners, togive proofof his gracious, merciful, and reconcileable nature towards the worſt of finners .
Reafon 2. The Lord exercises this admirable patience towards
VOL . IV.
Non
England'sDuty. finners, with deſign thereby to leadthemtorepentance; that is the direct aim and intention of it.
The Lord defires, and delights tofee, ingenuous relentings and brokenness of heart for fin; and there isnothinglikehis forbearance, and patience, for promoting fuch an evangelical repentance. Alltheterrorsofthe law willnotbreak the heart of a ſinner, as the patience and long-fuffering ofGod willdo; therefore itis ſaid, Rom. ii. 4.
" That the goodness, forbearance and long-fuffering ofGod " lead men to repentance:" theſe are fitted to work upon all thoſe principles ofhumanity, which inclinemento repentance; reaſon, confcience, gratitude, feel the influences of thegoodnefs ofGod herein, and melt under it ; Saul's heart relented in this cafe, I Sam. xxiv. 17. " Is this thy voice, my fon David ?
" and Saul lift up hisvoice, and wept: and he ſaid to David, " Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me
" good, whereas I have rewardedthee evil."
Thus the goodneſs and forbearance ofGoddoth, as itwere, take a ſinnerby thehand, leads him intoa corner, and faith, come, let thou and I talk together; thus and thus vilehaft thou been, and thus and thus long-fuffering and merciful have Ibeen tothee ; thy hearthathbeen full offin, the heart ofthy Godhath been full of pity andmercy: This puts the finner intotears, breaks his heart inpieces; ifanythingintheworld willmelt ahard heart, this willdo it. Ohow good hathGodbeento me ! How have
Itried his patience tothe uttermost, and ſtill he waiteth tobe gracious, and is exalted thathe mayhave compaſſion; the fobs and tears, the ingenuous thaws andrelentings ofa finner's heart, under the apprehenfions of the ſparing mercyand goodness of God, is the muſic of heaven.
Reason 3. The Lord exerciſes thislong-fuffering towards finners, to clear his juſtice in the damnation of all the obſtinate retuſers of Chrift and mercy.
Chriſt waits at our doors now, that he may be clear in his ſentence againſt us hereafter.- This patience of Chriſt takes away all apologies and pleas outofthe mouths of impenitent finners; the more Chriſt's patience hath been, the lefs defence or plea they willhave forthemſelves.
Think with thyself, ſinner, what wilt thou anſwer in the greatday, when Chriſt ſhall ſay, Did not I ſtand at thy door from day today, from Sabbath to Sabbath, from year to year, calling, wooing, perfuading thee to be reconciled, and accept pardon and mercy in the proper ſeaſon of them, and, thou wouldſt not ? Rev. ii. 21. " I gave her ſpaceto repent, and the " repented not."
Well, the Lord gives you time now, a ſpace of repentance, ſuch a ſpace as millions of fouls, gone out of
England'sDuty.
time intoamiferable eternity, never had.
With whomsoever Chriſt hath been quick and ſevere, tobe furehehathnotbeen ſo with you .
This time of Chriſt's patience will be evidence enough to clear Chriſt and condemnyou ; men and angels ſmall applaud the ſentence as dreadful as it is, and ſay, righteous art thou, O Lord, injudgingthus.
Reafon4. The Lorddraws forth and exerciſes his admirable patience towards ſinners forthecontinuation andpropagation of the church.
The church must be continued and propagated fromage to age; and ifGod ſhould be quick in cutting off finnersas foonas ever theyprovoke him, Whence ſhould the elect ofGod riſe in this world ! There are thousands of God's elect inthe loinsofGod's enemies. Many that will heartily embrace
Chriſt, muſtriſe from ſuch as reject him.
Now ifGodſhouldcutofftheſeinthebeginningoftheirprovocations, How ſhouldthe church be continued? Where had good Abijah and Hezekiah been, if wicked Jeroboam and Ahaz had beencutoffin their firſt tranſgreſſions ? The Lord fuffers manyawicked parent to ſtand for a timeunder his patience; becauſe childrenare to ſpring from themwhowill obeyand embracethatChriſt whom their wicked parents rejected: yea, the wickeddonot only propagate thechurch, but are useful topreſerve and defend it: as the uſeleſs chaff is a defence to the wheat.
Rev. xii. 16. " The earth ſhallhelp the woman."
Reason 5. To conclude,The Lord exerciſeth this long-fuffering towards ſinners, in agracious condeſcenſion to the prayers of his people. "Were it not that the Lord had left a ſmall
" remnant, we had been as Sodom, we had been like unto
" Gomorrah," Ifa. i. 9.
The prayers and interceffions of the faints are a fkreen betwixtwicked men and the wrath of God for a time, Job xxii.
30. The innocent preferve the island. The world ſtands by the prayers ofthe faints; what multitudesof rebellious, Chriftdeſpiſing ſinners ſwarm this day in everypart of this nation?
Such as declare, by their open practice, they will not have Chriſt to reign over them, who contemn his offers, deſpiſe his meſſengers ; but bleſſedbe God, yea, and let thembleſs him too, that there are others mourning tothe Lord for them, befeeching his forbearance towards them.
Littledo the wicked knowhow much they are beholden to the prayers of the faints .
Theſe and fuch like realons prevailwiththeLord Jeſus to ftand inawaiting, patientpoſture, at thedoors of ſinners. Ah, how
Non 2
England's Duty. loath is he togive themup! We now proceed to the uſes of this pointby way of, 1. Information.
2. Exhortation.
3. Confolation.
Ufe 1. And First, This point will be very fruitful for information ofour understandings indivers great anduseful points, both doctrinal and practical, wherein every foulamong you is deeply concerned ; and, therefore, I beſeech you, let them be heardand ponderedwith an anſwerable attention and feriouſneſs of ſpirit: And the firſt inference ſhallbe this.
Infer. 1. If the Lord Jesus do exerciſe ſuch admirable patiencetowards ſinners, Then how much better is itfor poorfinners to be in the hands ofChrist, than in thehands ofthe best andholiest man in theworld ? O finner, it is betterfor thee to fall intothe hands of the meek and merciful Jeſus, than into the hands of the dearest friend thou hast upon earth; no creature can bear what Chriſt bears ; no patience like the patience of Chrift : It
: is ſaid of Moſes, Numb xi. 12. "Now the man Moſes was " meek above all men upon the face of the earth."
There was never ſuchaman born into the world, for patience, meekneſs,andlong-fuffering, asMofeswas; andyet, for all that, this mirror of meekneis could not bear the provocations of, Ifrael :
You rebels, faith he, muſt I'draw water for you out ofthe rock ?
Thus was his ſpirit ruffled with the provocations ofIfrael, and this loft him the land of Canaan.
Jonah was a good man, a prophet of the Lord; yet becaufe the Lord would not be fo quick and fevere with Nineveh, as Jonah would have had him, inwhat uncomely language doth hisangry foul returnuponhis
God? Jonah iv. 2. " O Lord, (faith he) was not this my ſay- " ing when I was yet in my country ? Therefore I fled before unto Tarſhiſh, for I knew thou wert a graciousGod and merciful, flow to anger, and ofgreatkindness, and repenteſt thee of the evil ; therefore now, O Lord, take, I befeech thee, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to " live:" q. d.
Ah, Lord, I knew it would come to this, I knew thygracious nature, how inclinable thou art to mercy, andthat upon the firſt appearance of their repentance, thou wouldſt repent ofthe evil, andſo free-grace would make me as "
a liar amongthem.
Nay, give me leave to ſpeak a higher wordthan all this, and let it not feem ſtrange, that the patience of the glorified faints inheaven is nothing tothe patienceof Chriſt towards provoking finners upon earth . Thoſe glorified fouls that be above, though theyhave patience, among other graces, perfectedin its kind, yet till it is but created, finite patience, and it cannot bear
England'sDuty.
what Chriſt's patience bears : Take an inſtance of it outof Rev. vi. 9, 10, 11. " I faw under the altar the fouls of thoſe
* that were flain forthe word of God, and for the teſtimony " which they held ; and they cried with a loud voice, ſaying,
" How long, O Lord, holy and true, doſt not thou judge and " avenge our blood on them thatdwell on the earth : And it
" was ſaidunto them, That they ſhould reſt for a little ſeaſon."
Here you fee glorified ſouls leſs able tobear the flow pace of juſtice towards their enemies, than Chriſt was.
It is true, here was no finful impatience, butyet a patience ſhort of Chriſt's infinite patience. Ah, if you were to depend upon the patience of any creature in heaven or earth, you had worn it out long ago.
I will not execute the fierceneſs of myanger, for I amGod and not man. Ah, it is wellwe have to do with God ; if a man find his enemy, will he let him go away ? I Sam. xxiv. 19.
No, no, he will reckon before he part with him.
Sinner, the Lord finds thee daily in thy fins, and yet lets thee go; yetbeware thou try not hispatience toofar, leſt vengeance overtake thee at laſt, and pay the juſtice ofGod with all the arrears due to his patience.'
Infer. 2. Hence it follows, that convincedand broken-hearted finnersneednot be discouraged in going toJesus Christfor mercy,
Seeingheexercisesfuch wonderful patience towards obstinate and refufingfinners.
Thisinferencebreathes pure goſpel; itisa cordial tochear the heart that is moving towards Chriſt with fear and trembling. It is a great artifice of the deviltodaunt, anddifcourage poor convinced ſinners, by telling them there is no hope of mercy for them ; that they ſhall find the arms of mercy clofed, the bowels of compaſſion ſhut up; that the time of mercy is now paſt, they come too late. O how buſy is ſatan with ſuch ſuggeſtions as theſe in many of your fouls ?
But I am come to tellyou this day, that theſe are but the artifices of the enemy, you are going to the fountain of mercy, patience, goodness, and long-fuffering; go on, and you (hall find abundantly more thanyou expect. He will not caſt off afoul that comesmourning and panting towards him, and is willing toſub. ſcribe the goſpel-articles of reconciliation : No, he will not ſhut out such a foul, whatever its rebellions and provocations have been.
Sinner, thou art going to the meek and merciful Jeſus, Matth. xi. 28.
Comeuntome all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt; take my yoke " uponyou, and learn ofme, for I am meek and lowly. " You aregoing to meekness andmercy itſelf; he is the Lamb ofGod,
England'sDuty. that is his name: Go on then, poor trembling finner, don't ſtand any longer at, ſhall 1, ſhall 1? with Chriſt ; but make a boldbut neceffary adventure of faith; try him once, and then reportwhatyou find him to be: Certainly if he exercise fuch patience towards the veſſels of wrath, whilst they are fitting todeftruction, as he doth, Rom. ix. 22. hewill notwant patience foraveſſel of mercy, preparing by humiliation and faith for Chrift andglory. Doth he forbear thoſe that ſtand indefiance, andwill he fall upon thoſe that are mourning to him upon the kneeof fubmiffion ?
Shall a damnedwretch, that is preparingfor hell, findſomuchforbearance, andapoor brokenhearted finner none ? It cannot be.
If Jeſus Chrift forbear theewhen thy heart was hard as arock, andcould not yield onetear,one figh for fin, willhe execute hiswrathuponthee, will he ſhew thee no mercy, when thy heart is broken all to pieceswith forrow, and filledwith loathing anddeteſtation against fin, and thyself for fin ?
Didhe forbear theewhen fin was thy delight? And willhedestroythee now it is thy burden?
Itcannotbe.
Moreover, if the Lord Jesus had notamind to ſhew mercy to thy poor foul, now, now, that thine eyes are opened, and thineheart touched tothe quick, whyhath heforbornethe execution of his wrath ſo long ?
He might have taken his own time to cutyou offwhenhe would, he might have made any daythe execution-day: But fure, among all the days of thy life, the day of thy bumiliation, theday of thy faith, is not like to prove thatday.
Again, as great andvile ſinners as thyself have adventured upon the grace of Chriſt, andfound itinfinitely beyond their expectation.
Theſe the LordJesus hath set forth as encouraging examples to all the broken-hearted finners that are comingafter; that they feeing how it hath faredwith their forerunners to Chriſt, might be encouraged to come onwith the more confidence, 1 Tim. i. 16. " But I obtained mercy, that " in me firſt Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-fuffering, for a "pattern to them that ſhould hereafter believe on him to life
" everlasting."
Well then, ſhut your ears against all thewhifpers of fatan, entertain no evil reports of Chrift ; the devil loves to draw a falſe picture of Chriſt, and repreſent him in the moſt diſcouraging form to poor trembling ſinners ; but you will not find him fo.
What can Chriſt ſay more to convince and fatisfy fouls than he hathdone ? He hath left the boſom of the Father, he hath taken union with thy nature, he hath pouredout his foul untodeath; hehathtold us, " Those that
England's Duty.
**come untohim, he will in no wife caft out."
Thousands aregone before us in the paths of repentance and faith, and found it according to his word; you have been ſpared allyour life to this dayof mercy. Odo not stand offnow upon fuch weak objections.
Infer. 3. The long-suffering ofChrist towardsfinners, instruct. ethand teacheth his ministers to imitate their Lord ina Chriftlike patience and long-suffering.
Chriſt is our pattern of patience; if he wait, much more may we: We think it much to ſtandfrom fabbath to fabbath, wooing, pleading, and inviting, and are apt to bediſcouragedwhenwe fee no fruit follow.
The want of ſucceſs is apt to caſt us under Jeremiah's temptation, " To ſpeak no more in his name; " and to lament with Ifaiah, " That we have laboured in vain."
It is ahard cafe to Audy, pray and preach, and fee all our labours return invain.
Itis not so much the expending as the returning of our labours upon us in vain, that diſcourageth our hearts.
Minifters would notdie ſo fast, faith Mr. Lockier on Colof fians, nor begrayheaded ſoſoon, did they fee the fruits of their labours upon their people. But let us look toour pattern in thetext, " Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
If the mafterwait, letnotthe ſervant beweary: "The fervantofthe " Lord must not ſtrive, but be patienttoward all; waiting,
" if at anytimeGod will give them repentance," 2 Tim. iv.
24.
Though the beginnings be ſmall, our latter endmaygreatly increaſe: Thoughwe now fish with angles, and takeburnow one, and then another, the time maycome, and we hope it is atthedoor, when we ſhallſpread our nets, and incloſe multitudes. Aretius, apiousdivine, comforteth himſelf thus, under the unfuccefsfulness of his labours, Dabit posterior atas tractabiliores fortaffe animos, mitiora pectora quam noftra ha benttempora. •Future days will afford more tractable ſpirits,
*and easier tempers of mind, than our preſent times afford.'
Beſide, the fruit of our labours mayſpring up to a bleſſed harveſt whenwe are gone, John iv. 37. One man foweth, and another reapeth; but if not, our reward will notbe measured bythe fucceſs, but the fincerity of our deſigns and labours.
Our zeal for conversionof fouls to Chriſt willbe accepted, but our diſcouragement in his fervice will certainly diſpleaſe him.
IfIfrael be not gathered, yetſhallwebeglorious inthe eyes of theLord.
However, let this be a caution to you that hear us, that you caſt not our fouls under fuch difcouragements.
If I mayſpeak the fenfe ofothersfrom myownexperience, thenI
England's Duty. canaſſureyou, that the fixedneſs of yourhearts in the ways of fin, and your untractableneſs to the calls ofGod, are a greater burden anddifcouragement to us thanallthe ſufferingswe have metwithal from the world ; yet arewe contented to pray in hope, and preach in hope, encouraging ourſelves (the Lord grant itbe not without ground) that a crop ſhall yet ſpring up, which ſmall make the harvest-men laugh.
Infer. 4. From the patience and long-suffering of Christ, we may learn the invaluable preciousness ofsouls, and the bigh esteem
Christbathfor them.
Though your fouls be cheap in your own eyes, and you are contentedto fell them for a trifle, for a little ſenſual pleaſure and eaſe, ſome of you will hazard them for a shilling ; yet certainly Jeſus Chriſt hath an high eſteem of them, elſe he would never ſtand knocking with ſuch importunity, and waiting with ſuch wonderful patience for the ſalvation of them.
Chriſt knows their worth, though you do not; he accounts, and ſo ſhould you, one of your fouls more worth than the whole world, Matth. xvi. 26.
The foul of the poorest child, or meaneſt ſervant, that hears me this day, isof greater value in Chriſt's eye than the whole world; and he hath given three great evidences of it, ( 1.) Thathe thought it worth his heartblood to redeem and ſave it :
1 Pet. i. 19." You were not re- " deemedwith ſilver and gold, butwith the preciousblood of " the Son ofGod."
Had they not been precious inhis eyes, hewould never have ſhed his moſt precious blood to ranſom them.
( 2.) Were they not highly valuable in his eyes, he would never wait with fuch unwearied patience toſave them as he doth.
He hath borne thousands of repulſes, and unreaſonable denials fromyou : Sinner, Chriſt hath knocked at thydoor inmanya fermon, in many a prayer, in many a ſickneſs, in all which thou haft put him off, denied him, or delayed him ; yet ſtill he continues knocking and waiting. Thou couldſt not have made the pooreſt beggar in the world wait at thy door ſo longas thy Redeemer hath been made to wait, and yet he is not gone ; at this day his voice ſounds in thine ears, " Behold,
" I ſtand at the door and knock."
Here's clear demonftration of thepreciouſneſs of thy foul in the Redeemer's eyes. And then, lattly, when Chriſt ends the treaty, and gives upthe fouls of menfor loft, and unperfuadable, with what regretand forrowdoth he part with them !
Never did one friend part from another with fuch demonſtrations of forrow as Chriſt parteth with the fouls of finners.
The bowels of his compaſſion roll together; forheknows whatis comingupon them, andwhat
L England's Duty:
that eternal miſery is into which their wilful rejection of him will caſt them : In Luke xix.42. you find the Redeemer's tears wept over obſtinate Jerufalem; " And when he came nigh to " the city, he wept over it, and faid, O Jerufalem, Jerufalem,
" if thou hadſt known, at least in this thy day, the things that " belong to thypeace ; but now they are hid fromthine eyes."
Like unto this is that expreſſion, Ifa. i. 24.
Ah, I will eaſe
" me of mine enemies," &c.
Though itbe an eaſe to hisjuftice, yethe cannotgive them up without anAh, an interjection offorrow; ſoin Hofea xi. 8. " How ſhall Igive thee up, Eph- " raim ? How ſhall I deliver thee, Judah ? "
I must do it, but how ſhall I go about it?
All theſe expreſſions ſhew the greatvalueGod hath for your fouls ; and didyou know it alſo, certainly you would not make Chriſt wait one hour longer.
Infer. 5. Hence it follows, Thatgreater is thefin, andfeverer will be the condemnation of them that perish under the gospel, than of all other people in the world.
Let me ſpeak freely tor you that hear me this day, Jeſus Chriſt hath ſpent more of the riches of his patience upon you in one year, yea, in this very day, than he hath ſpent upon the heathen world in all thedays of their lives ; they never heard of Chriſt, and the great falvation; they have had no calls to faith and repentance, as you have had ; don't think God hath dealt at this rate with other nations.
You have his fabbaths, miniſters, calls ; he hath not dealt ſo with other nations, and as for theſe things they have notknownthem, Pfal . cxlvii. 19. Godhath dealt in a peculiar way with us, and theſe ſpecial favours will make dreadful accounts.
He told the Jews, among whom he had preached and wrought his miracles, " It would be more tolerable for Sodom
" andGomorrah in the day of judgment, than for them ; " and in his name Iwill tell you this day, that barbarous Indians andAmericans will have a milder hell thanyou ; Mitius ardent :
And as the Lord told Ezekiel, chap. iii. 5, 6. " Thou art not " ſent to a people of a ſtrange ſpeech and of a hard language,
" whoſe words thou canst not underſtand; furely had I fent " thee to them, they wouldhave hearkened unto thee : But the " houſe of Ifrael would not hearken unto thee, for they will not " hearken unto me: For all the houſe of Ifrael are impudent
" and hard-hearted."
Ah, brethren, it is a fad truth, that the miniſters of Chriſt have found more fruit of their labours among the SavageAmericans, than in England, people born and bred up under the goſpel. Had aheatheniſh people your fabbaths, your miniſters
VOL, IV.
England's Duty. andbibles, theywouldnot deal by Chriſt as you have done.
Butlook you to it, for certainly the feverity of his juſtice will
at laſt recompence the expence of his patience : There are two glaſſes turned up this day, andboth almoſt run down ; the glaſs of the goſpel running down on earth, and the glass of Chrift's patience runningdown inheaven.
Be fure ofit, that for every fand of mercy, every drop of love that runs down in vain in this world, adrop of wrath runs intothe vial of wrath which is fitting inheaven.
Infer. 6.
If Christ hath exercisedſuch admirable patience and long-fuffering towards you, before he could gain entrance into yourheart; then you have all the reason in the world to exerciſe yourpatienceforChrist, and account all long-suffering to beyour unquestionable duty. Chriſt was notweary in waiting upon you, be not you weary inwaiting upon him, or for him. Now there are three things wherein the people ofGod will have much oecafion to exerciſe their patience with respect to Chriſt..
(1.) You will need agreat deal of patience to wait for the returns and anfwers of your prayers ; you knock and wait at thedoor of mercy, andno anſwercomes; hereupondiſcouragement andwearineſs ſeizeth your ſpirits.
Poſſibly fome of "ου have prayers many years gone upon the file in heaven, fome upon ſpiritual accounts, and ſome upon temporal ; and becauſe the answer is notdispatched, your eyes are ready to fail withwaiting : For the Lord maybear long with his own elect, Luke xviii. 7. The feed of prayer lies under the clods, and will at laſt ſpring up, " For he never faid tothe feed of Jacob, feek me in vain : " None ſeekGod invain, but thoſe that feek him vainly. Now, you should not be too quick and ſhort-breathed in waiting uponGod for the returns of prayer,
'confidering howlong you made Chriſt wait upon you .
(2.) You will have occafion to exerciſe your patience in bearing the burden of reproaches, and ſufferings for Chrift;
" For toyou it is givenin the behalfofChrift, not only tobe- " lieve, but alfo to fuffer for his fake," Phil. i. 29. Sufferings, you fee, are the gifts of Chrift, the comfort of fuffering is his gift, and ſo are the abilities to fuffer alſo; and thatwhich will increaſe your fuffering ability, will be the confideration of Chrift's long-fuffering towards you, and the hard things he endured for you andfrom you.
(3.) You will have occaſion to exerciſe your patience for theday of your complete redemption and falvation.
If you love Chrift fervently, the time of your feparation from him will peborne difficultly; vehement love needs the allay of pa-
England's Duty..
47.5 tience, 2 Theff. iii. 5. " The Lord direct your hearts in the " love ofGod, andintothepatientwaiting for Chriſt." Others need much patience to die, but fuch will need as much patience to live; but whatever the exerciſes of your patience fhall be,whether in waiting for the returns ofyour prayers, in bearing the croſs and ſufferings of Chriſt, or inwaiting for the day of your complete redemption and enjoyment of Chriſt : This ſingle confideration, that Chriſt ſtood and waited ſo long upon you, is enough to fortifyyour patience against all the difficulties itſhall encounter.
Infer. 7.
Lastly, If Christ thus patiently wait upon triffling and obstinatefinners ; then let no godly perfon be discouraged, because their unregenerate relations have not yet made their first
Step towards Christ, in the way of repentance andfaving faith.
Itmay be you have laid up a great ſtock of prayers for them, the believing husbandhath prayed forhis unbelievingwife, and the believingwife for her unbelieving husband; godly parents for their ungodly children, and the gracious child for his ungodly parents ; and yet no returns of prayer appear. Many cries aregone up to heaven like that ofAbraham, Gen. xvii. 18.
" O that Immael might live before thee."
Well, be not difcouraged, Chriſt is contented to wait, and therefore well may you.
Thoſe cries of parents, Lord, my poor child is inthe ſtate of nature, look inmercy upon him, open his eyes, break his heart for fin, draw his will to Chriſt; theſe cries may not be loft, though the fruit ofthem yet appear not : Confider how long Chrift waited upon you.
There be three things that encourage hope :
( 1.) That your hearts and theirs were of the ſame natural complexion and temper; and the ſame power which opened your hearts can open theirs ; thy underſtanding was once as dark, thy heart as hard, and thy will as inflexible as thy carnal relations now are.
The fame hand that opened thyheart, can open theirs.
Don't think Chriſt had an eafier talk to win thy heart, than he will have to win theirs .
Almighty power wrought upon you, and the fame power can work effectuallyupon them; the Lord's hand is not ſhortened.
(2.) You have reaſon towait, for as much as it is probable you 2. yourſelves have put ſtumbling-blocks in the way of their fouls to Chriſt , and hindered the returns ofyour own prayers for the converfion ofyourcarnal relatives. O Chriſtians, there is more due tothem than your prayers, prayers must be backed with examples; had theynot only heardyour cries toGod for them, bút ſeen your fuitable encouraging pattern fet before them alſo,
England'sDuty. youandyours mighthaverejoiced together longago. But (3.) conſider thatGodmanytimes makes the fruit of fuch prayers to ſpring up after thoſe that ſowed them are dead and gone.
The Lord may give life to your prayers when you are dead: certainly your prayers die not withyou.
It is the opinion of ſome, that Paul's converſion was the return of Stephen's prayer,
" Lord, lay not this fin to their charge."
Stephen died, but his prayers lived, and were anſwered uponone that ſtood by and conſented to his death.
But however it be, wait on; if your prayers come not into their boſoms, they will certainly return intoyourown. Here is dutydischarged, love to Chriſt and their fouls manifeſted ; which will be your comfort, however
God difpoſes the event.
II. Ufe.
Secondly, The doctrine of Chriſt's patience puts a great and ferious exhortation intomymouth this day, to preſs one ofthe greateſt duties uponyou that ever I preſſed in the whole courſe of my miniſtry among you : And could I deliver this exhortationtoyou upon my knees, with tears of blood mingled with my words, might that prevail, I would ſurely do it. Myexhortation is toall that are in an unregenerate ſtate, that they prefume not to try the patience of Chriſt anylonger.
If you have any regard to your eternal happineſs, exercite nothis patiencebeyond this hour.
O that this hour might put an end to Chriſt's waiting, and your danger ! hitherto you have wearied men, but will you wearyGod alſo ? Chriſt hath called, but you have refuſed; he hath ſtretched out his hands, butyou have not regarded.
Your thoughts have been wandering after vanity, whilſt the voice of thegoſpelhath been founding inyour ears; fome ofyouhavebeen ſottiſh, andincapable toapprehend ſpiritual truths, others ofyou ſenſual, given up to the pleaſures of the world, and abandoning all ſerious thoughts about the world to come.
Some of you have been buried alive in the cares of the world, and others ſettled uponadead formality in religion : And tothis day Chriſt hath called uponyou in vain.
Now that which I exhort you to, is, that you venture not to trythe patience of Chriſt one day longer ; if you have any regard to the everlastinghappiness ofyour fouls, come not under the guilt, and danger ofonedenial, or delay more.
Ifyou afk mewhy ? Why maywe notventurea little longer ? Chriſt hath borne all this while, and will he not bear a little longer ? May we not take a little more pleaſure in fin ? May we not hazard one fermon, or fabbath more, and yet not perich ?
I anſwer,
England's Duty.
no. "If your fouls be precious in your eyes, let there be no more denials, nor delays to Chriſt's fuit.
For , 1. How patient, and long-fuffering foever Chriſt hath been, yet there will be an endof the day of his patience ; a timewhen he will wait no longer, when his ſpirit ſhall ſtrive nomore with you.
There is a knock of Chriſt at the heart, which will be the laſt knock that ever he will give; and after that no more knocks : a time when the maſter of the houſe will riſe up, and the door be ſhut.
You havehad to do with a meek, and patient Chriſt hitherto ; but believe it, ſinners, there is a day called theday of the wrath of the Lamb, and that day is dreadful,
Rev. vi. 16. where you find ſinners crying to the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. O if this wrath be once kindled, though but a little ; bleffedare they that trust in him, that have finiſhed their agreement with him.
The day of Chriſt's patience towards Jeruſalem, was a long day, but ithadan end, Mat. xxiii. 37. and it ended in their defolation: therefore try the patience of Chriſt no further ; youknow not the limits of it, it may end with your next refuſal, and then where are you ? 2. The longer Chriſt hath exerciſed his patience already towards you, the more terriblywill he avengethe abuse of itinhell uponyou.
It is paſt doubtwith me, that there are different degrees of torment in hell; the ſcriptures are plainly, and clearly for it. Now among all the aggravations of the torments of hell, nonecan be greater thanthe reflections of damned fouls upon the abuſed patience, andgrace of Chriſt : thoſe thathad the beſt means, the loudeſt calls, andthe longeftday under the goſpel, will certainlyhave the hotteſt place in hell, if the goodness and long-fuffering of Chriſt, do not now lead them torepentance; the cries of ſuch fouls willbe heard above the cries of allother miferable wretches that are caſt away. " It will be more tolerable for Sodom
" and Gomorrah, than for Capernaum," Mat. xi. 23. O friends, you little know the ſmart reflections of confcience in hell, upon fuch hours, as you now enjoy; fuch wooing, charming voices, and allurements to Chriſt, as you now hear. There aremany thousands of fouls in hell, that came thither out ofthe dark, heatheniſh parts ofthe world, where they never heard of Chrift; but your misery will be far beyond theirs, your reflections inore ſharp, and bitter : therefore delay no longer, leſt you periſh with peculiar aggravation of misery.
3. Try the patience of Chriſt no further.
I beſeech you, foraſmuch as you fee everyday the patience ofChriſt ending towards others : patience comingdown, andjustice afcending the ſtage, to triumph
England's Duty. over the abuſers of mercy. You donotonlyreadin Scripture the finiſhing and ending of God's patience with men, butyou may fee it everyday with your own eyes.
If you look into Scripture, you may find the patience of God ended towards multitudes of finners, who poſſibly had the ſame preſump. tions, andvainhopes, for the continuance ofit, that you now have: if you look into 1Pet. iii. 19, 20. you ſhallthere find, that Chrift went and preached to the ſpirits in prison, whichjometimes were disobedient, whenonce thelong-suffering ofGodwaited inthedays ofNoah. The meaningofitis this, that in thedays before the flood, Chriſt by his Spirit ſtrove with the diſobedient andrebellious ſinners in the miniſtry of Noah, who then were livingmen and women, as now we are, but now are ſpirits in priſon, i. e. damned ſouls in hell, for their disobedience : and
truly, brethren, you may frequentlybehold theglaſs ofpatience rundown, the very laſt ſtand in it ſpent upon others.
Whenever you fee a wicked, Chriſtleſs man or woman die, you fee the endofGod's patience with that man or woman ; and all this for awarning toyou, thatyou adventure not to trifle, and dally with it as theydid.
4. Lastly, Do not try God's patience any longer (if you love your fouls) for this reaſon, becauſe when mengrow bold, and encourage themselves in fin, upon the account of God's forbearance, and long-ſuffering towards them, therecannotbea more certain fignthat his patience is very near its end towards that foul.
It is time for God to put an end to his patience, when it is made an encouragement to fin; God cannot fuffer ſo vile an abuſe of his glorious patience, nor endure to fee it turned into wantonneſs: this quickly brings up fin to its finiſhing act, and perfection, and then patience isjuſt upon finiſhing alſo. That patience is thusabuſed, appears from Ecclef. viii. 11. and when it is ſo abuſed, look for a fudden change. O therefore beware of provoking God, for now the day of patience is certainlynear its end with finners, Prov. i.
24, 25, 26. " Because I have called, and ye refuſed, I have " ſtretched out myhand, and no manregarded ; but ye have
" fet at nought all my counſel, andwould none of my reproof:
I alfo will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear " cometh ; when your fear cometh as defolation, and your de- " truction cometh as a whirlwind."
Ah, when finners ſcoff, andmock at the threatnings of God, and bear themselves up upon his patience, as that which will never crack under them; then look out for a whirlwind, a ſudden tempeft of wrath, which will hurry ſuch ſouls into hell.
Then miſery comes like a ſtormblowing furioufly from all quarters.
Well, the hea
England's Duty.
vensareyet clear overyou, but a ſtormis nigh, and may certainlybe preſaged from fuch vile abuſes of the glorious patience of Chriſt towards you.
That is the firſt exhortation, try not thepatience of Chrift, by any further delays.
Exhort. 2. Admire Chriſt's patience and forbearance of you until now, that he hath not cutyou off inyour fin, but lengthenedout his patience unto this day, and brought about your falvationby his long-fuffering towards you. Here now I must change my voice, andturn itunto those whoſe hearts the Lord hath opened : Stand amazed at the riches of his grace towards you, and fee that you account this long-fuffering of God to be your ſalvation ; for in plain truth it is ſo: your ſalvationwas bound up in Chriſt's forbearance.
If Chriſt had not borne as hedid, you had not beenwhereyou are. I could heartily with, that all the time you can redeem from the neceffary employments you have in the world, maynowbe ſpent in anhumble, thankful admiration of this admirable grace, and patience of Chriſt, and anſwerableduties tothe intentions, and ends there of.
To this end, I ſhall fubjoin diversweighty confiderations, which, methinks, ſhould melt every heart wherein the leaft dram of ſaving grace is found.
Confid. 1. Bethink yourſelves ofthe great, and manifoldprovocations youhavegiven the Lord to put an end to all further patience towards you ; not only in the days ofyour vanity, and voregeneracy, buteven fince your reconciliation tohim. Do you not believe thousands of finners are now in the depths of hell, who never provoked the Lord at ahigher rate than you have done ? Wereyou not herded once amongthe vileſt of fin ners ?
Cor. vi. 1. "And fuch were some of you;" as vile as the vileſt among them: yet you are waſhed in the bloodof
Chrift, andyourcompanions roaring in the loweſt hell ; or if your lives were more clean, fure your hearts andnatures were as filthy as theirs. And certainly, your fins, fince thetimeof reconciliation, have had special aggravations inthem, enough toput an endto ali further mercies towards you.
Light and lovehave aggravated theſe ſins, and yet the Lord will not caſt you off.
Confid. 2. Howoften have you beenuponthe very brink of hell, in the days of your unregeneracy ? Every fickness, and everydanger of life which you have eſcaped in thoſe days, was amarvellous eſcape from the everlasting wrath of God. Had thydiſeaſe prevailed one degree further, thou hadſt beenpaft hope, andout of the reach of mercy's arm now.
Doubtless Tomeof you can rememberwhen, in fuch and fuchadiſeaſe,
England's Duty. you were like a ſhip riding inafurious ſtormbyone cable, and two or three of the ſtrands of that cable were ſnapt aſunder.
So it hath been with you, the thread of life howweak foever, hath held till the bonds of union betwixt Chriſt and your fouls are faſtened, and the eternal hazard over.
Thisis admirablegrace.
Confid. 3. How oftenhas death come up into your windows, entered into your houſes, fetched off your nearest relations ; buthad no commiſſion to carry you out with them, becauſe the Lordhad adeſignofmercy upon your ſouis ?
This cannot but affect a gracious heart, that God ſhould ſmiteſo near, and yet ſpare you.
Confid. 4. Lastly, This is affecting, yea, very tranſporting, thatGod hath not only given you time beyond others, but in that time the precious opportunities, andmeans of your falvation, both external, and internal; there is the very marrow, andkernel of the mercy. HadGod lengthened out his patience for awhile, but given you no means of ſalvation, orafforded you the means, but denied you the bleſſing, and efficacy of them; at the moſt it could have been but a reprieve fromhell : But for the Lord to give you the goſpel, and with the goſpel to ſend down his ſpirit, to perfuade and open thy heart to Chriſt; here is the riches of his goodneſs, as well as forbearance.
Exhort. 3. This doctrine of the patience ofChriſt exhorts all thathave felt it, to exerciſe a Chriſt-like patience towards others ; as you have found the benefit ofdivine patience yourſelves, ſee that you exerciſe the meekness , andlong-fuffering ofChriftians towards thoſe that have wronged, and injured you.
Who ſhould ſhew patience more than thoſe that have found it ? Do not be ſevere, ſhort, and quick with others, who have lived yourſelves fo manyyears upon the long-ſuffering ofGod. We are poor, ſhort-ſpirited creatures, quick to revenge injuries ; butOhadGod been ſo to us, miferable had our condition been :
Chriſt hath made this duty the very ſcope ofthat excellent parable, Mat. xviii. from ver. 25. onward, where the king takes an account of his ſervants, reckoning with them one by one, and amongst them finds one which owed him ten thousand talents, and having not to pay, commands him, his wife and children, and all he had tobe fold, and payment to be made ; but the ſervant falling down, andbegging patience, his Lord was movedwith compaſſion, and looſed him, andnot only forbore, but forgave the debt : One would think the heart ofthis man ſhould have been a foundation of compaffion towards
England's Duty.
others; but fee the deep corruption ofnature, theſame ſervant finding one of his fellow-fervants which owed him but ahundred pence, laid hands onhim, and took himby the throat.
Alas, the wrongsdone to us arebut trifles, compared with our injuries done toGod ; where others have wronged you once, you havewronged God a thousand times. Methinks the patience of Chrift towards you, ſhould melt your hearts into an ingenuous eaſineſs to forgive others ; eſpecially, confidering that an unforgiving ſpirit is adreadful ſign of an unforgiven perfon.
Exhort. 4. Burden not the patience of Chriſt after your admiſſion of him, and reconciliation to him ; let it fuffice that you tried his patience longenough before, givehim no new exerciſes now he is come to dwell in, and with you for ever.
There are two ways wherein God's own peopledo greatly provõke him after their reconciliation.
1. By fluggishneſs in duty.
2. By finning against light.
1. By fluggishness, and deadness of ſpirit, in theways of duty and obedience, turning a deaf ear to the calls and motions of Chriſt's ſpirit excitingthem to the ſweet andpleaſant duties of religion.
We have hadaſad inſtanceof this in the ſpouſe, Cant. v. 2, 3. " It is the voice of my beloved that " knocketh, ſaying, open tome, my fifter, my love, mydove,
डmy undefiled : for my head is filled with dew, and my locks *" with thedrops ofthe night."
One would think that Chrift might have opened the heart ofhis own ſpoufe with leſs ſollicitation, and importunate arguments, than he here uſeth ; what wife could ſhut the door uponher own dear husband, and bar him out of his own house ? And yet fee the lazy excuſe ſhe makes, ver. 3. " I have put offmy coat, how ſhall I put it on?
** I have waſted my feet, how ſhall I defile them ? "
Othe fluggishness ofthe flesh, even in regenerate perſons ! thoſe thathaveopened the door to Chriſt by regeneration, eventhey dooften ſhut the door against Chriſt in the hours and ſeaſons ofcommunion with him.
Strange, that ſuch a ſuitor as Chriſt ſhould be put by, moving, and calling tofuch heavenly, pleafant exerciſes, as communion with him is; but fleſh will be fleſh, even in the moſt ſpiritual Chriſtians: Little do we know what a grief this is to Chriſt, and loſs tous.
2. Many grieve Chriſt's ſpirit, and forely try his patience, evenafterreconciliation,by ſinning against light and love : That caution, Eph. iv. 30. is not without weighty cauſe. "And
VOL . IV.
PPP
England's Duty.
" grievenottheholy spirit ofGod, bywhich you are ſealed to " theday of redemption."
Do we thus requite the Lord? Is this the return we make him for all his admirable kindness, and unparalleledlove towards us ? Certainly Chriſt can put up a thousand injuries fromhis enemies, eafier,than ſuch affronts from his own people.
Did you not promife him better obedience ? Did you not engageto more holiness and watchfulness, in the day that you fued out your pardon, and made up your peace with him ? Are all thoſe vows and covenants forgotten ? If you have forgotten them,
God hath not.
Exhort. 5. Improve the timethat remains inthis worldwith double diligence, becauſe you made Chriſt wait ſo long, andcaft away ſo great a part ofyour life, beforeyou openedyour hearts to receive him. The morning ofyour life, which was certainly the freſheft and freeſt part of it, was no better than time loft with many of us; all the days ofyour unregeneracy Chriſt was ſhut out, and vanity ſhut intoyour hearts : you never began to live till Chriſt gave you life, and thatwas late in the day with many ofyou.
How ſhould this provoke to extraordinary diligence in thoſe few remains oftime we have yet to enjoy ? It wasAuſtin's lamentation, OLord, it repents me, faith he, that I loved thee ſo late.
This confideration excited Paul to extraordinary diligence for Chriſt.
Itmade him fly up and down the world, as a Seraphim, in a flame of holy zeal for Chrift.
Thoſe thathave much towrite, and are almoſt come to the end of their paper, had need write cloſe.
Friends, youhave fomething todo for God on earth, which you cannot do for him in heaven, Ifa. xxxviii. 18, 19. You that have carnal relations, have ſomething todo for them here, which you cannotdo in heaven.
You can now counſel, exhort and pray, in order to their converfionand falvation; but when you are gonedownto thegrave, theſe opportunities of ſervice are cut off.
Exhort. 6. Let us allbe ashamed and humbled for the baseneſs of our hearts and natures, which made Chriſt wait at the door ſo long, before we opened to him. O what wretched hearts havewe! that were no more affectedwith the groans of Chrift's heart, than with the groans of a beaft, nor fomuch neither, if that beaft were our own. Othe vileneſs of nature, tomake the prince of the kings ofthe earth, bringing pardon and falvation withhim, to ſtand ſo long unanswered ! Letwho will cry up thegoodneſs ofnature, I'am ſure we have reaſon to look uponthe vileneſs of it with amazement and horror.
You couldnothave found inyourhearts to make the pooreft beggar
• England's Duty.
wait ſo longat your door, as you have made Chriſt wait upon you.
Exhort. 7. Lastly, Let us allbleſs and admire the Lord Jeſus forthe continuation of his patience, not to ourſelves only, but tothatwhole finful nation in which we live. We thought the treaty ofpeace hadbeen ended withus; many good men look. ingupon the iniquities andabominations oftheſe times, confideringthevanities and backſliding ofprofeffors, the heaven-daring provocations ofthis atheiſtical age, concluded in their own hearts, thatGod would make England another Shiloh. Many faithful miniſters ofChriſt ſaid within themselves, Godhath no morework for us todo, andwe shall have no more opportunities to work for God: when lo, beyond the thoughts of all hearts, the mercifulandlong-suffering Redeemer makes one returnmore totheſe nations, renews the treaty, andwith com paffion rolled together, ſpeaks tous this day, as to Ephraim of old, how ſhall I deliver thee ? look upon this day, this unexpecteddayofmercy, as the fruit and acquiſition ofthe interceffion of your great advocate in heaven, anſwerable to that,
Luke xiii. 7, 8, 9.
Well, God hath put us upon one trial more : ifnow we bring forth fruit, well; ifnot, the ax lies at the root of the tree.
Once more Chriſt knocks at our doors , thevoice ofthebridegroom is heard; thoſe ſweetvoices, Come unto me, open to me : your opening to Chriſt now, willbe unto you as the valley ofAchor, for a door of hope.
Butwhat if all this ſhould be turned into wantonneſs and formality ?
What ifyour obſtinacy and infidelity ſhould wear out the remains ofthat little ſtrength andtime left you, andthat former laboursand forrows have leftyour miniſters ? Then actum eft de nobis, we aregone for ever; thenfarewel goſpel, miniſters, reformation, and all, becauſewe knew not the time of our viſitation.
What was the diſmal doom of God, upon the fruitleſs vineyard? Ifa. v. 5." I will take away the hedge thereof, and " it ſhall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and " it ſhall be troddeu down : I will alfo command the clouds,
" that theyrainnotupon it."
The hedgeand the wall are the fpiritual and providential prefence ofGod; theſe are the defence and fafety ofhis people; the clouds and the rain are the ſweet influences of goſpel-ordinances.
Ifthe hedge be broken down, God'spleaſant plants will foon be eaten up; and if the clouds rainnot upon them, their root will be rottenneſs, and their bloffom go up as duſt; our churches will foon become as the mountains ofGilboa: therefore ſee thatyou know and improve the time of your viſitation.
Ppp2
England'sDuty.
III. Use of confolation.
I shall wind up this fourth doctrine, intwoor three words of confolation, to thoſe that have anſwered, andare now preparing to answer the deſign and end ofJesus Chriſt inall his patience towards them, bytheir compliance with his great de. deſign and end therein. Obleſſed be God, and let his high praites be for ever in our mouths, that at laſt Chrift is like to obtain his endupon ſome ofus, and that alldonot receive the grace ofGod in vain. And there be three confiderations able to windup your hearts to the height of praise, if the Lord hath now made them indeed willing toopen to the Lord Jeſus.
Confideration 1. The faith and obedience ofyourheartsmakes it evident, that the Lord'swaitingupon you hithertohath been in pursuance of his deſign ofelecting love. What was the reafonGod would not take you away by death, though youpaffed ſo oftenupon the very brink of it, inthe daysofyour unregeneracy ? And what, think you, was the very reaſonof the revocationofyour goſpel-liberties when they were quite out of fight, and almoſt out of hope ? why ſurely this was the reaſon, that you, and fuch as you are, might be brought to Chriſt at last.
Therefore though the Lord let you run on ſo long in fin, yet ſtillhe continued your life, and the means of your ſalvation, becauſe he had adeſign of mercy and grace upon you. And now the time of mercy, even the ſet time is come, Praise ye the Lord.
Confid. 2. You may alſo ſee the ſovereignty and freeneſs of divine grace in your vocation: your hearts reſiſted all along the moſt powerful means, and importunate calls of Chriſt ; and wouldhave reſiſted ſtill, hadnot free and ſovereign grace overpowered them whenthe time of lovewas come. Ah, it was not the tractableness ofthineown will, the eaſy temper ofthy heart to bewrought upon ; the Lord letthee ſtand long enough inthe ſtate of nature todiſcover that; there was nothing in naturebut obſtinacy and enmity. Thou didst hear as many powerful fermons, melting prayers, anddidſt ſee as many awakening providences before thy heartwas opened to Chriſt, as thou haft fince: yet thyheart never openedtill now; and whydid it opennow ? Becauſe now the ſpirit ofGodjoined himselfto the word; victorious gracewent forth in theword to break the hardneſs, and conquer the rebellions ofthy heart.
The goſpel was now preached (as the apostle ſpeaks, 1 Pet. i. 12.) " with " the HolyGhoſt ſent down from heaven, which things, (faith
" he) the angelsdefire to look into." Ah friends, it is aglotious fight, worthy ofangelical obſervation and admiration, to
England's Duty.
behold the effects ofthe goſpel preached, with the HolyGhoſt fentdown from heaven; to fee, whenthe Spirit comes along with the word, the blind eyes of finners opened, and they brought into a newworld of raviſhing objects ; to behold fountains of tears flowing for fin, out of hearts lately as hard as the rocks ; to fee all the bars of ignorance, prejudice, cuſtom, and unbelief, Ay open at the voice of the goſpel; to fee rebels against Chriſt layingdown their arms at his feet, come upon theknee of fubmiffion, crying, " Lord, I will rebel no more ; to ſee the proud heart centered and wrapt up in its own righteouſneſs, now ſtripping itſelf naked, loading itſelf with all
" ſhameand reproach, and made willing that its own shame ſhould go to the Redeemer's glory. Theſe, I ſay, are fights which angels defire to look into.
Certainly your hearts were more tender, andyour wills more apt to yield andbend in thedays ofyouryouth, than theywere now, when fin had ſo hardenedthem, and long-continued cuftom riveted and fixed them, yet then they did not, and now theydo yield tothe calls and invitations of the goſpel. Afcribe all to fovereign grace, and ſay, " Not unto us, not unto us, but " to thy name give the glory."
The obſervation and experience of our own hearts will furnish us with arguments enough toreſiſt all temptations of ſelf-glorifying and conceit.
Certainly you were born not of flesh, nor of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Confid. 3. Lastly, This is acomfortable conſideration, that he that waiteduponyou ſolong, and wonyour hearts at laſt ; thathath gained you at the expence of ſomuch pains andpatience, will not now forſake you.
Poor fouls, I queſtion not but there are many fears and jealouſies within you, that all this will come tonothing, and you ſhall periſh at last.
Divers things foment theſejealoufies within your hearts : The weakneſs of your own graces, which alas, are but in their infancy; the ſenſe you have of your own corruptions, and the great ſtrength they ſtill retain: The fubtilty of Satan, who employs allhis policies to reduceyou ; ſometimes roaring after his eſcaped preywith hideous injections, which make your fouls to tremble; fometimes thediſcouraging apprehenfions of thedifficulties of religion,how far the fpirituality of active obedience, and the difficulty of paſſive obedience is above your ſtrength ; fometimes feeling within yourselves ſad alterations, by thehiding of God's face, and withdrawment of ſweet and ſenſible communionwith him.
Theſe, and ſuch like things as theſe, cauſe manyaqualm tocome overyour hearts ; but chear up,