Mr. TODD'S SERMON TO The Young People OF His Charge.
THE Young PEOPLE Warned. OR, THE VOICE OF GOD TO The Young People IN The late terrible Judgment OF THE THROAT-DISTEMPER; Considered in a SERMON Preached to the YOUNG PEOPLE at East Guilford, August 5th, 1740.
By Jonathan Todd, M. A. Pastor of the Church of CHRIST there.
— I made their Streets wast,— I said, Surely thou wilt fear me: Thou wilt receive Instruction, so their Dwelling should not be [...]ut off, howsoever I punished them, —
N. LONDDON, Printed and Sold by T. GREEN, 1741
TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF my Charge.
I Do here present you with that Discourse which I delivered unto you, upon the Occasion of the Death of One of your Contemporaries by that fatal Sickness (as we supposed) of the Throat-Distemper; and which you so earnestly desired might be made Publick.
I must confess, that it was with some Difficulty, I brought my self to be willing to suffer this Discourse to appear in Print, as thinking, that it wanted many Ornaments, to render it acceptable, nor was well eno' Labour'd to be made publick; and there were already many [Page ii]Exhortations to early Piety published, done by able Hands, after whose, I might be asham'd, that mine should be read.
But then, when I considered the particular Occasion and Circumstances of this Discourse, I was fain to own it was yours; and dare not deny you the Use and Improvement of it. It was at your Motion & Desire, that at that Time, I made a Discourse to you: The Circumstances of the Time were such, that I could not but be pleased with the Motion; it seem'd as if there was the Hand of Heaven in it; I could not but think my self obliged from Duty to comply with the Motion. And as God was pleased to make the Discourse Acceptable to you, and you still asked my Consent for the Publication of it, for your further Use and Improvement, it seem'd as if Providence made it my Duty, still to comply: I could not consider my self as your Servant, in the Cause of Christ and your Souls, and not own my Obligation to gratify You.
Such therefore, as it is, a Serious, Plain Discourse, designed for the Benefit of Youthful Auditors, destitute of the Ornaments of a beautiful Stile or any well studied Method, it is offered unto you.
[Page iii] And, as you have desired the Publication of it for your Benefit, so I hope, you will consider, that I may, justly expect from you, a serious Improvement of it; and, if you make not a good Use of it, may charge you with Inconsistency, and re [...]kon my self abused by you, as well as be disappointed in all the Hope and Encouragement I had of seeing you excited to early Piety.
Nor may you think, that you make any good Use of such a serious Warning and Exhortation, as this is, if you indulge your selves in Youthful Vanities and Sins, put off the Work of Repentance till a Hereafter, and still live without God in the World, — Impenitent and Unconverted.
GOD forbid then, that any of You, who have Ʋrged the Publication of this for your Improvement, as tho' you were resolved to make a good Use of it, should still, after the Reading of it, be found walking in the Ways of a carnal Heart, pleasing your selves in the dangerous Paths of Sin, saying, You shall have Peace, though you walk in the Imagination of your Hearts, to add Sin to Sin.
I have one Thing to add by way of Caution, viz. That you take Heed of saying, that the [Page iv]Bitterness of Death is past, and the Danger over, because the seared Distemper, since the Death of the justly remembred Youth, who was taken from us, hath not prevailed among us. For if GOD is gracious and spares a little while, are You sure, he will spare for ever? Are you sure that, if GOD seeth you hardening your selves, the Distemper shall not be sent again? Is it not possible, that GOD be provoked to give a new Commission to the destroying Angel? Or, will not the affrighting Sickness attend GOD's sovereign Order, and go when and where he bids it? Or, if you shall not be visited with this Sickness, hath GOD no other Judgments, with which to plead against secure and provoking Sinners? Have you never known a Young Person hastened from among the Living, to the Number of the Dend by any other Sickness? Hath GOD but one way to punish the Inhabitants of the Earth? If GOD shall not make your outward Man a Theatre of any remarkable Plagues & wasting Sorrows, yet, are you sure, he will not inflict many spiritual Miseries upon your Souls? Or, are not spiritual Plagues as formidable, as those that are inflicted upon the Body? If an offended GOD gives you over for incorrigible, punishes you with Hardness of Heart, and saith, Why should you be stricken any more? Would not this be sad and amazing?
[Page v] Answer these Quaeries so as to discover any Knowlege or Reason, and you will see, that you are never out of Danger, till lodged under the Wings of the ALMIGHTY.
I add no more, but my sincere Wish, & Prayer unto Almighty GOD, that this weak Endeavour may be blessed to the saving Advantage of your Souls, and you by this and other Means under the Powerful Presence and Influence of the Holy Spirit, may be perswaded to an early Choice of, and stedfast adherence to the Ways of Religion; that so you may be a pious and a happy Generation; hoping for, and earnestly desiring your Remembrance of me always in your Prayers,
TO THE READER.
ISHALL not make any Apology here, for Appearing thus in Publick, nor any Excuse for my Method, Weakness, Deficiencies, &c. I only purpose to give a brief Account of the Occasion of it; which a Stranger will find alluded to in the Discourse, but not be thoroughly acquainted with.
He must be a Stranger indeed in these Parts of the World, who hath not heard of the Desolations made in sundry Parts of the Country, by that Distemper, that is usually called, The Throat-Distemper.
Near Five Years ago, we in this Parish were Visited with the same; and sundry very pleasant and hopeful Young Persons were taken away.
Since which Time, we have had an Account of more awful Desolations made by it, in many Other Places.
Near the Latter End of July last, a very hopeful, serious and likely Young Person, Named [Page] Prudence Bishop, the Eldest Daughter of Mr. John Bishop, was taken Sick amongst us; At first indeed, we hoped, that her Sickness might be only a hard Cold, a common sore Throat attended with a Feaver, Or the Effects of the Rash, as we called a Distemper, that was then among us.
But her Sickness presently increased, and she was brought into uncommon Difficulty and Distress. The justly Famous and well known Physician of these Parts was consulted; who judged her Sickness to be the Throat-Distemper. And to be short, the Distemper made Quick Work and carried her off, August 2d, and her Corps was interred on Lords-Day, August 3d.
This Young Person gave us Ground to hope, that the Lord had been merciful to her Soul; begun and carried on a good Work of Grace in her: so that we could hope, that for ther to die was Gain: But then, it seem'd a dark Omen to the Living, and a loud Warning to our Surviving Youth to be also ready.
Before this happened, our Young People had agreed among Themselves, to Meet together on Tuesday, the Fifth Day of August, for Youthful Diversion and Recreation; Or to use their own Terms, had agreed it should be a Day of Frolicking among Them.
[Page] But Struck with this Sudden Death of one of their Number, and Alarumed with the Thought of such a Sweeping Distemper's Entring the Place the Second Time, Many of them get together at the Funeral, and agree to desire me to give them an Exhortation, in the House of God, on said Tuesday, before intended for Mirth and Diversion.
Accordingly, On the Evening following the Sabbath, some appointed by the Rest came, and informed me of their Design of Turning their Meeting, before designed for Diversion, into a Religious Meeting; and desired my Assistance, and a Word of Exhortation:
I need not tell you, that I had not an Heart hard enough to deny such a Request.
In a little Time after said Meeting, the Young People appointed some, in the Name of the Rest to desire that the Discourse, which was at said Time, delivered to them, might be made Publick at their Charge and Expence: Which is now published for the same End, as it was then delivered: And if the rising Generation may hereby, as a Means, be any Thing Quickned to early Religion; the desired End is obtained.
THE YOUNG People Warned.
Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City, and the People not be afraid? Shall there be Evil in a City, and the LORD hath not done it?
SO great is the Corruption, and Depravedness of the Humane Nature, that a spirit of Vanity and Sin, and an Inclination to depart from the Living GOD, are become natural to Men.
Hence, perhaps there hath not been found any Nation or people, of any long Standing upon the Face of the Earth, who have not run such a length in Sin and Wickedness, and so increased their Iniquities, as to render it necessary, for the Vindication of the Divine Providence and Perfections, that awful Judgments be sent upon them, to be Testimonies from Heaven for GOD, and against impious blaspheming Mortals.
[Page 2] Indeed GOD is abundantly, yea infinitely good; he is kind to the rebellious Nations, and doth not at once stir up all his Wrath. But yet, if he spares for the Present, and being full of Compassion does not speedily raise up Himself to destroy them, he doth not forget their Wickedness and Sins, but writes them down in his Book; and when their Iniquities are ripe, he will visit their Sin upon Them. Exod. xxxii. 34.
So the Prophet Amos in the Name of the LORD, assures the great and populous Kingdoms, which then were famous in the World, that they had Iniquities remembred by GOD, that must, when they had filled up their Measure, be punished upon them. See Chap. i & ii.
Judah and Israel, tho' they were the peculiar People of God, the singularly favoured of Heaven, have their Sins remembred before GOD, as well as the Other Nations; and so might expect that a Woe-Day would sooner or later come upon them, Chap. ii. 4—8. Yea, the Sins of These especially needed to be punished upon Them: For GOD had done more for them than Others; laid them under stronger Obligations: So that their Sins were attended with very aggravating Circumstances; shewed more Ingratitude, Unkindness and Stubbornness; were greater Affronts to an indulgent Heaven, Chap. ii. 9—13.
[Page 3] The Prophet, in our Context, in the Name of the LORD, declares the Necessity and Certainty of GOD's Judgments against his own backslidden and greatly provoking People of Israel; tells them, that as GOD hath been especially good to them, so their Sins especially call for Punishment; as he had peculiarly undertook the Care & Government of them, and made them in a peculiar Manner his own Family, so it was but congruous and fitting, that he should see the Laws of his Family executed upon Them; correct them for their Offences, and punish them for their Iniquities, ver. 2. 'Tis indeed necessary, that they be forsaken and left of God, and given up to Misery and Evil, when their Ways are contrary and provoking to God; when they despise his Laws, and give him no becoming Reverence and Glory, ver. 3. Can Two walk together, except they be agreed? Can any Two walk together, and so have Communion and Fellowship one with the Other, when they are not enough of one mind to walk the same Way, or take the same Course? The Similitude is easily applied; when GOD and his People are contrary one to the other, there is no Communion between them: In this Case, as they walk contrary to GOD, so he to them; and that implies his Forsaking and Punishing them.
[Page 4] And as 'tis necessary that they be punished for their Iniquities, so 'tis certain, that the LORD is offended, and about to punish them; And therefore they may be sure, that there are Sins found with them, rendring this necessary. A Lion will not roar in the Forest, nor a young Lion cry out of his Den, for Nothing; a Bird is not caught without some Sanre or Gin; and no Man will think it worth his while to take up a Snare that has taken Nothing: In every one of these Instances, whither a Lion's Roaring, a Young Lion's Crying, a Bird's being caught, or a Snare taken from the Earth, there is some Reason and Occasion for the same, ver. 4, 5. In which the Prophet seems to lead us to consider, that there is Nothing done by the Design of any Agent, without some Reason or moving Occasion: And his Intention doubtless is, to convince us, that God does not threaten, nor send his Judgments for Nothing, or without any Cause: So that, if God utters his Voice, brings any Judgments upon a People, they may Konw, that there is some Reason therefore; God is offended, and is about to punish them for their Iniquities; and that therefore it becometh them to prepare to meet God.
This same Thing, the Prophet in a most convincing Way, further insists upon in our Text: Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City, and [Page 5] the People not be afraid? Shall there be Evil in City, and the Lord hath not done it?
Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City, and the People not be afraid? Shall there be an Alarum given, and the People take no Notice, nor be concerred? When a Trumpet is sounded for such an End, men conclude there is Danger; their Hearts are presently filled with Fear; they conclude there is not this Warning for Nothing The Design and Application of this is easily seen, viz. That if God has sounded his Trumpet, given an Alarum, there is good Reason to conclude it is not for Nothing; but he warns us that he is coming forth in the Way of his Judgments; and it concerns us to be ready to meet Him.
But perhaps this would not be convincing to some, except they better understood what Alarum was given by God, or what Trumpet of the Lord had been blown amongst them: They had heard, perhaps they would say, No Voice from Heaven; knew not of any Warning God had given them that might be compared to a Trumpet sounding an Alarm.
To inform the Minds of such, and fasten the Conviction, 'tis added, Shall there be Evil in a City, and the LORD hath not done it? Shall there be any Judgments in the City, any Calamities, and the LORD not have a Hand in [Page 6]the same? If there be Evils, any sore Afflictions, or any terrible Providences, are not these the Doings of the LORD? By these God utters his Voice, warns and threatens you.
From which Words thus opened, we may gather these Things as plainly implied and insinuated in them, viz.
- I. That GOD hath an holy Hand in all the Judgments, brought upon us or our Friends: Shall there be Evil in a City, and the LORD hath not done it?
- II. That one End of GOD's Judgments, is, to be the Warning of a People: They are compared to a Trumpet sounded for an Alarum.
- III. That it is the Duty of All, when GOD warns them in the Way of his Providence, to take the Warning, hear the Voice, fear the Danger, and endeavour to Escape it: The Simile made use of and improved upon this Occasion, plainly teacheth us, that as a People, who hear the Trumpet sounding an Alarm, fearing the Danger betake themselves to their Arms or Forts so should a People take Warning by the Trumpet of the LORD; be afraid of approaching Danger, and prepare to meet Him.
These Things, we purpose at this Time, to consider, as so many Doctrinal Propositions.
[Page 7] I. GOD hath an holy Hand in all the Judgments, brought upon us or our Friends. Nothing is more Evident, than that the same Almighty Being, who at first commanded the universal World to exist, exerciseth a Providence over the World he hath made This may be proved from the Perfections of the Deity, from the necessary Dependence of the Creature upon the Creator, from the continued Harmony and Order in the Visible World, and from Tokens of the Presence & over-ruling Power of GOD in Providences that happen:
But at this Time, it is not our Design to offer Proofs for a Divine Providence; but to consider the Extensiveness of GOD's Providence.
Many allow that GOD exerciseth a Providence in the World, who yet have but stingy Tho'ts of his Providence: They allow, that he beholds the Children of Men from the Habitation of his Throne; takes Notice how Things are managed in the World; doth Good to his Friends; yea, is kind to his Enemies, to the Evil and Vnthankful; sometimes also, he frowns upon the Workers of Iniquity: They look for a Time also, when he will gloriously reward his Friends with immortal Blessings, and spurn his Enemies from his Presence into outer Darkness and everlasting Horrors [Page 8]But yet, there are a Thousand Things happening in Providence, that they don't consider the Almighty as having any Thing to do with, only as a Spectator.
But, if we well consider Things, we shall find the Providence of GOD to be more extensive than such imagine; yea that it extends to all Things, and all the Accidents and Circumstances attending Them. What we call natural or second Causes, are conducted and influenced by GOD's Providence: 'Tis by his Providence, that the regular Returns of Day and Night, and the Successions of Summer and Winter are made. 'Tis by his Providence, that the Sun shines upon the Good and Bad, Mat. v. 45. 'Tis by his Providence, that the Heavens are covered with Clouds, and the Rain prepared for the Earth, Psal exlvii &. And even those Events, that to us may seem casual and fortuitous, are ordered and over-ruled by his Providence; So we are informed, Prov. xvi. 33 The Lot is cast into the lap; but the whole Disposing thereof is of the Lord. And altho' it be true, that there are some Events, which happen by the Design of rational created Agents, yet these also are over-ruled by Divine Providence: If any such Agents do us Good, we should consider them as Instruments, which God improves; and if we suffer Evil from them, they are the Rods, wherewith the Almighty pleaseth to correct [Page 9]us. Thus the Assyrian, that had it in his Heart to destroy, and grievously wounded Israel is called the Rod of God's Anger; and the Staff in their Hand is said to be his Indignation, Isa. x 5 The destroying Assyrian is again compared, to the Ax in the Hand of him that hewith therewith, and to a Saw shaken or listed up by him, that maketh use of the same, ver. 15. Again, he is compared to a Razor that is hired, in the Hand of him that shaveth, Isa. vii. 20.
Upon the Whole then, let us meet with what Things soever in the World, and from what Cause soever, the Hand of GOD is to be acknowleged in the same; whither good or evil Things b [...]f [...]l us, GOD's Providence is still concerned in the same: I form the Light, saith the LORD, and create Darkness: I make Peace, and create Evil: I the LORD do all these Things, Isa, xlv 7.
Not only then, are we to acknowlege the Hand of God in all our Blessings but, if there be any Evil in the City, we are to acknowlege, GOD hath done it; if there be any sore Affliction, heavy Calamity, any Sickness or Death amongst us, there is the Hand of the Lord in the same. So doubtless, Eliphaz understood the Matter, when he saith, Job v. 6. Affliction cometh not forth of the Dust; neither doth Trouble Bring out of the Ground: And therefore, as for himself, he says, if at any Time he should be [Page 10]brought into Affliction, he would seek unto GOD and unto GOD he would commit his Cause, ver 8.
But we proceed to consider,
II. That One End of GOD's Judgments, is, to be the Warning of a People.
The Judgments of GOD may be considered as his awakening Voice to a stupid World: They are Signs or Effects and Fruits of his Anger against Sin; Tokens from GOD that Sin shall not go unpunished.
The Apostle makes the Judgments of GOD brought upon any, even in distant Ages, that come to our Ears, to be our Examples, and desi [...]ned for our Admonition, 1 Cor. x. 6, 7, &c. So the Apostle Jude makes the Fall and Misery of the Angels to be Warnings to us, Jude, 5, 6, And tells us, That Sodom and Gomor [...]ha, and the Cities about them, are set forth for an Example, suffering the Vengeance of eternal Fire, ver. 7. So the Apostle Peter represents the Bringing in the Flood of old upon the World, to be a Warning to all that hear of the same, 2 Pet. ii. 5, 6.
And, if the Judgments of GOD, that we hear of in such distant Ages, have such a speaking Voice, how much more the Judgments of GOD that are just at Hand, and fall within our Sight? Moses seem'd to think, that the Judgments of GOD, that fall out within the Sight [Page 11]and Knowlege of Any, have a clearer Voice than those we hear to have been in distant Ages, Deut. ii. 2,—7 Know ye this Day: for I speak not with your Children which have not known and which have not seen the Chast [...]soment of the LORD your GOD, &c..... But your Eyes have seen all the great Acts of the LORD, which he did.
GOD's Judgments then, that overtake us, in our Persons, Families or Friends, are a loud Warning to us of the Danger of Abiding in Sin, and of the Necessity of hiding our selves under the Wings of the ALMIGHTY, before the Floods of Divine Indignation come upon us. Thus GOD's Judgments are called his Voice crying unto the City, Mic. vi. 9. Thus the Prophet represents the Most HIGH, as uttering a mighty Voice, and speaking very loud to Men in the Way of his Judgments; Jer. xxv. 29, 30, 31. Lo, I begin to bring Evil on the City which is called by my Name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished, &c. Therefore prophesie, and say unto them, The LORD shall rore from on High, and utter his Voice from his holy Habitation, &c.
We come now to consider,
III. That it is the Duty of All, when GOD warns them in the Way of his Providence, to take the Warning, hear the Voice, fear the Danger, and endeavour to escape it.
[Page 12] When GOD's Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World should see, and learn Righteousnes, Isa. xxvi. 9, 10, 11. When the LORD's Voice cryeth to the City, the Man of Wisdom will hear, Mic. vi 9. If GOD sends his Judgments, for this End, Namely, to be a Warning to a careless World, it is evident, that Sin will lie at the Door of those, that receive not Warning: For we then only comply with the Design of God in his Judgments, when we consider his Hand, hearken to his Voice, and do our best to be ready to meet him, that we may escape the severer Judgments of Heaven, and be hid in the Day of the LORD's Anger.
Indeed, this Proposition is so evident from what has been offered under the fore-going and from the End and Design of GOD's Judgments, that I need not detain you to offer any Thing more in Confirmation of it: For shall GOD himself give us Warning, and we not think outselves obliged to receive it? Shall GOD himself blow his Trumpet and we not be afraid When the Almighty gives Notice, that he reserveth Wrath for his Enemies, and the Day of the Lord hasteth, shall we not think it reasonable, that moved with Fear, if it b [...] possible, we prepart an Ark, and secure out selves under the Cover of the ALMIGHTY's Wings?
[Page 13] What is yet before us, is the Application of these Truths, which we have been considering.
USE, I. Of INFORMATION.
1. Is it as we have beard; that GOD hath an holy Hand in all the Judgments, brought upon us, or our Friends? Are all the Sorrows and Evils in the World directed and over-ruled by him? Then we may infer, that those who have GOD engaged for Them, and are secure of his Favour, are safe in the saddest Times; and therefore we may with Hope and Security, commend our selves and Circumstances to GOD in W [...]ll doing in the most difficult Times. The Face of Providence is some Times overspread with Clouds and Darkness; the Eyes of Many mourn by reason of Affliction: Terrors and pestilential Arrows flie by Night, and Destruction wasteth at No [...]nDay. There seemeth to be Distress on every Hand; there is Desolation within doors, and Fear without; Abroad one Calamity prevails, and another as dreadful at Home.
But in such dark Times, there is this for the People of GOD to live upon, and comfort their weeping Hearts in the Consideration of, even, that the LORD reigneth, who rideth upon the Heaven in the Help of his People, and in his Excellency on the Sky. He over-rules all, Justice and Judgment are the Habitation of whose Throne; [Page 14]who is good, a strong Hold in the Day of Trouble, and who knoweth them that trust in Him.
We may therefore in all such sad and doleful Days, when were it not for this, it would not be strange, if our Hearts should sink and fail, I say, in such sad Times we may put our Trust in GOD; make the Most HIGH our Refuge, and unto his Wings betake our selves for Shel [...]er: And we may be confident, that Nothing shall hurt us without his Leave; none of the destroying Arrows that flie about, shall light upon us wihout his Permission. So that, it we can but be sure of an Interest in his Favour, we need not fear, though an Host should ene [...]mp against us, Psal. xxvii. 3. Nor, though the Earth be removed, and though the Mountains be carried into the Midst of the Sea. Tho the Waters thereof rore, and be troubled, tho' the Mountains shake with the Swelling thereof, Psal xlvi. 2, 3. We need not be afraid of the Snare of the Fowler, nor the noisom Pestilence. We need not be afraid for the Terror by Night: not for the Arrow that Flie [...]h by Day: nor for the Pestilence that walketh in Darkness: nor for the Destruction that wasteth at Noon-Day. We need not be afraid of any Evil that shall befal us, nor of any Plague that can come nigh our Dwelling, Psal. xci per totum. Yea, though we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, we need not fear any Evil, Psal. xxiii 4 For, GOD will cover us with his Feathers; and his [Page 15]Truth shall be our Shield and Buckler. With Life will he satisfy us, and shew us his Salvation, Psal. xci. 4. & 16.
2 Is it as we have heard, that one End of GOD's Judgments is, to be the Warning of a People? If then there be Judgments amongst us, or round about us, we learn what Interpretation to make of the same. By Them GOD gives us Notice, What he will do unto us if we are found in the Ways of Sin, and return not to him: And because he will do this unto us, hereby designs to excite us to prepare to meet our GOD; to seek Righteousness and Meekness, before the Decree brong Forth, before the fierce Anger of the LORD come upon us.
GOD being infinitely good, and delighting in Mercy, most frequently sends his awakening Judgments, before he proceeds to the Utmost agaist Men; He warns them, and gives them a Space for Repentance. He somtimes visits with awful and distressing Sickness; so [...]s the destroying Angel, and takes away some as a Warning to the Rest. And, if some of the Best are taken away, the Warning is not less; only there is more of GODs Love to Souls discovered, whiles those that are ready, are taken away to Peace and the Enjoyment of Heavenly Love, and Others are warned to be ready.
[Page 16] If then any awful Sickness, any sore Judgement is sent amongst us, we may reasonably conclude that GOD is giving of us Warning to prepare for all Evens and be ready to meet Him, in what Way soever he shall be pleased to come unto us.
And particulary, We may so interpret the Disp [...]sation of Providence, whereby an awful Distemper hath been sent into a Family in this Place; and One of your Contemporaries by sudden Strike hath been removed. GOD hereby calls upon us to be also ready; that we bethink our selves, and put our selves into a ready Posture to stand before Him.
And it may be justly considered, as being more especially, a Warning to You that are in your Youth. To You, the LORD's Voice cries, Be ye also ready; make Haste, and get all Things in Readiness for a solemn Meeting with GOD: Your against the Young People especially, hath the affrighting and desolating Distemper been commissioned.
We of this Place, may still have in Remembrance our Affliction and our Misery, the Wormwood and the Gall, when some Years ago, we felt some Strokes of the Distemper, and sundry of your Comtemporaries were removed: And yet, the heavy Stroke on us, was light, compared with what many other Places felf. Ah! [Page 17]What Desolations is hath made in some Places! How terrible hath GOD been in has [...]oings! Numerous Families have been empried! A great Number of the Children are cut off from without, and the Young Men from he Streets. Many once happy Parents, whose Hearts have rejoiced in the Blessings of Children, are bemoaning themselves as Jer x. 19, 20 Wo is me for my Hurt, my Wound is grievous: My Tabernacle is spoiled, and all my Cords are broken: my Children — are not. Where but a little While ago, Abundance of youthful Songs of Mirth might be heard, now, mournful Litties, elegi [...]ck Songs and Lamentations are chiefly in Use. And ah! how Few are left to join the mournful Song! Here and there, a Youth escaped, a Monument of sparing Mercy! wondring that he was not consumed with the sweeping Contagion!
And is the fatal Distemper sent amongst us again? How loud is the Voice to prepare to meet a Holy GOD, who threatens us of coming forth in his Indignation? For if is prevails, and we prevent it not by earnest Prayer, Humiliation and Amendment, how many of this pleasant Company will [...]k [...]ly, in a little While, be in the immoveable Stare? It affects my Heart, to behold such a Number of Youth tope her, and think of the sweeping Distemper's Coming amongst them! — To think [Page 18]what Desolations, if GOD should give Per [...]s;ion, it would make! O may a merciful GOD prevent so sad a Calamity; and spare us, and by gentler Methods of Grace bring us to Amendment!
3. Is it as we have heard? Then hence, All should be carefully considering God's Works, taking Notice of the Operation of his Hands: They should observe the Judgments and Doings of the LORD, and behold his Works. Sometimes, God speaks once, yea twice, and Men perceive it not; He speaks by his Word and in his Providence, and is not heard Men's Eves are blinded, and they see not; their Ears are dull of Hearing, nor do they give Attention to the Voice of GOD. Yea, 'tis to be feared, that many hear not his Voice, 'till the Decree bring forth, 'till the Day pass as the Chaff, and the fierce Anger of the LORD come upon them; 'till their Fear cometh as Desolation, and their destruction as a Whirlwind. Ah! Miserable Souls! Unhappy Men! They perceive not GOD speaking to them, till it be too late to cry for Mercy! or, to hope to avoid the Floods of divine Indignation! Poor Creatures! How they feel, when Death has Snatch'd them away, and all their Opportunities of Grace are over!
Don't it make all our Hearts to sigh — to think of that sad Eternity before them! Oh! [Page 19]how much more comfortable, will a due Confideration and improvement of GOD's Judgments make us at last; when the good design of a merciful GOD shall be happily ob [...]ained, by awakening us to Repentance, and driving as to the Feathers of the ALMIGHTY's Wings for Protection?
But how can we hope, that the instructive Voice of divine Providence in those terrible Things done in Righteousness, should have this happy Effect upon us it we take no Notice of the Works and Doings of the LORD? If we will not yield Attertion, what Means of Instruction are likely to availd? We know the unobserving Learner never makes Proficiency, but leses many Means of Instruction: And so whiles we observe not the Providence of GOD, we shall likely lose the Benefit, we might otherwise have, from many instructive dispensations of Providence: GOD may speak often, and we perceive it not: and so the gracious End of divine Warnings may be frustrated.
4. If is be as hath been shewed, Then we may infer, that great th [...]'tfulness and Serto [...]sness becometh us, when GOD's Judgments are amongst us. Shall a Trumpet be blown, an Alarum given, and the People not be afraid? Shall Warning be given us to prepare to meet our GOD, and [Page 20]we remain as senseless, tho'tless, inconsiderate as ever? — How unsuitable would this be? And shall the ALMIGHTY himself awfully speak, and utter his Voice in the Way of his Providence, and we yet indulge our selves in Levity and Mirth, and let our Heart cheer us, as tho' we had no Warning to look out for an Evil Day, and were nothing concerted in the Afflictions of our Friends, and Judgements of GOD? Can we but abhor such a spirit? Methinks, Nothing seems more indece [...]t, than a jolly carele [...]se, merry Homour indulged, when GOD in the way of his Judgments, is calling al [...]ud to prepare for a solemn Meeting with his Dreadful Majesty. GOD's Judgements are serious; and 'tis a serious Thing to meet him when he comes forth in the same.
And I can't but be pleased (and I hope it is and ken for Good) that the Young People of any Charge are inclined to be serious, and to consider the Voice of GOD in the Alarum, [...]a seemed to be given Them. O that your Coodn [...]ss may not prove as the Morning Cloud, and as the Early Dew go away.
USE, II. Of A WAKENING
Unto such, who tho' Unready to meed GOD in the Way of his Judgments, yet live at Ease, and are seemingh Securs.
[Page 21] Is it as we have beard, that GOD's Judgments are for the Warning of People to prepare to meet GOD? Then seeing Judgements from GOD have been sent among us, Awake, ye careless Souls, who lie open to the Judgments of GOD, and have nothing to defend you from the Arrows of his Vengeance, Shall a Trumpet be blown, and the people not be afraid? Shall the Omnipotent JEHOVAH utter his Voice, and his Creatures not tremble? Shall GOD by awful Judgemnts, warn us to be ready to meet him, and we not fear? And may we not to apply this, say, as in Context, ver. 8 The Lion hath rored, who will not fear? The LORD GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesie? Hath not the Lord warned the Youth of this Place; called to them to secure an Interest in his Favour, before the Flood of his Indignation overtake them? Hath he not uttered a loud Voice in this Part of his Zion, and called tho rising Generation to attend, and be ready for Sickness, Death, Judgment and Eternity? I hope, we have not as yet forgotten the Sound. Methinks, the Voice plainly cries, All Fleph is Grass, and all the Goodliness thereof is as the Flower of the Field. The Grass withereth, the Flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it. Methinks, it especially cryeth to us that are Young, Be ready to be next, be read quickly to depart.
[Page 22] And, alas! What shall the Unprepared Soul do, if it be quickly called away? If the fatal distemper seises, dispatches and maker short Work? Ah! my dear Friends, how shad, how dreadful it would be? How reluctant must that poor, unhappy Soul depart! And what becomes of that sad Soul in the eternal State! How fearful a Thing will it be, to go into his Hands with an unsanctified Heart, and unprepared Spirit? Als! what can such expect, but to be spurned from GOD's Presence, cast out of his Favour, and hurled down to Hell in his Wrath? What can they expect but everlasting destruction and the Horrors and deaths, the Enemies of GOD are destin'd to? And, Oh! wh [...] knows the Power of GOD's Anger, or can conceive the inexpressible dreadfulness o [...] being pursued with his Indignation? H [...] Power is infinite, and as his Power, so is his Wrath; how miserable then, is that Soul tha [...] must always endure the same? Would it not be dreadful, if it should be one of us? Could our poor Hearts endure, or Arms be strong? If either of us should this day, or the MOrrow, or the day following that, or at any Time be seised with the devouring Distemper, hastened away befor our Judge, doom'd a [...] his implacable Enemies, be bound in Fetter [Page 23]of Wrath and Chains of despair, would it not be unspeakably sad, beyond all the Notions of Horror, that we can now entertain in our Minds? Don't our very Souls tremble, and our Hearts almost move out of their Places at the Thought of this? Are we not afraid then, to remain in such a Condition, as that we cannot stand in the Judgment, nor safely meet the LORD, if he comes forth to punish the Inhabitants of our Land?
Awake then, awake; Ye stupid and careless Souls, who are now void of Grace, and have no Interest in the Favour of GOD; and so are unready for an evil day. Awake speedily, lest are you are aware you be called away. The Warning hath been given; Add not Incorrigiblness to your other Sins; for thereby your danger will be but the greater.
Nor is there any Safety or Reason in referring the Warning and danger to Another, as tho' God means only to warn Others, and They were likelier to be taken away than You. — O remember that for any Thing you know, You may be the next, that shall be Sun mon'd away. — That very Person, that hopes, and flatters himself, that wherever dies, he shall not, may perhaps be the next. — And what do you mean to do, if it should be so? Are you willing to run such a Hazard [Page 24]of being lost for ever, and having an Eternity to spend in extreme Anguish and Woe? Are you willing to run the Venture of meeting GOD clea [...]hed in Vengeance, and your destitute of every Thing to shelter you from his Wrath? Oh! do you remember, that the day of the LORD, when it comes, to such [...] d [...]kness, and not Light; even very dark, and no Brightness in it? Do you consider, how dreadful it will he, when the incensed Justice of the Powerful GOD shall make an utter Fine and Asstiction shall not rise up the second Time Have you thought how dreadful is the Presence of an angry GOD, how the very Mountains tramble at his Presence, and the Pillars of Heaven shake at his Rebuke; how much like Fire his Fury is poured our.— And are You willing to meet such a GOD in the Fierceness of his Wrath? Oh! for you Soul's sake consider; awake from carnal Security, lest terrible Storms of Vengeance awake you, when it will be too late to find any Advantage therein.
USE, III Of EXHORTATION
Vnto all, to take Notice of the Judgments of GOD, consider his Ways, hearken to his Providential Warnings, and prepare to meet GOD.
GOD hath warned us: His voice seems [...] an o [...]us, to seek the Lord and his Favous [Page 25]and be ready to meet him, before Wailing shall be in all Streets, and Men in all Houses and High-ways are saying, Alas, alas. GOD calls us to be afraid of a day of Trouble coming on; to be afraid, lest, if we presently turn not unto the LORD, we be emptied and utterly spoiled; our Joy be darkned, and our Gates be smitten with destruction.
The Voice has cried the trumpet hath sounded; Let us take the alarum, hasten our Escape, flie to the Mountain. Oh! who knows how soon a fatal day may come on, and a great part of You, who hope to Escape, be taken. Make Haste then, and be ready for all Events; flie to Christ the Saviour, delay not, look not back.
To inforce his Exhortation, consider,
1. That the Voice cries for early Repensance, and speedy Preparation to meet GOD. Sometimes, when GOD has been warning a People, they are ready to say, The Vison is for many days to come: Where is the Word of the LORD? say they, Let it come now, jer. xvii. 15. They say, Let him make speed, and hasten his Work, that we may see it: and let the Counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw night, that we may know it, Isa. v. 19.
But, Methinks, the Voice of GOD now, earneslly urgeth speedy Repentance; that we be prosently ready for the woful Day. It [Page 26]not only [...]ries, that all Flesh is Grass, and the Goodliness thereof as the Flower of the Field; but, that the Lord of the same is preparing and whetting his Scythe to cut it down. Methinks, it calls, to be teaching our Young Men Wailing, and the Daughters of God's People Lamentation, because the Pestilence is come amongst us.
Fly then, Ye Youths, unto the Wings of the almighty, before the Evil befal you: 'Tis dangerous delaying for a day: There is no staying sate in all the Palin. The best, if not the noly Opportunity for this, in a little Time may be over. Death may be doing its Work, And, Oh! what an unhappy Time will that be for the Work of Repentance! When the Soul, if sensible of its Condition, will be full of Anguish a [...]d Consternation, and almost die within him! When distracting Fears will likely fill the Soul, and disable from Consideration! In what disorder will the distracted Soul likely be! How unfitted for a due Preparation to come before GOD!
Besides, the Pains and Languishings of the Body render it an unhappy Time for so great a Work. Men generally find it enough then, to bear the Pains of the Body, and grapple under the Load of their Disease: Their [Page 27]girding Pains so possess the Mind, or fainting Turns interrupt the Thoughts, as to render a fixed Attontion to Soul work an impossible Thing; the Groans and Terrors of the sinking and expiting Nature must needs very often, call away the Mind from every Thing else. Alas! It this shall every be the unhappy Case of any One of us, to be brought on a dying Bed, and our Work not done, how better will our Complaint be! and our Stroke heavier than our Groaning! How will the unprepared Soul then wish, it had been earlier, and earnester in seeking God, and making it's Peare with Him? It is enough to startle one, only to offer to his Thoughts, the Miserable Case of such.
Theis Hear [...] sink, their Souls tremble; their Looks call for Pity from by-standers, and are affecting enough, to beget bender Motions of Pity, even in cruel hearted Men! Poor Creatures! how earnestly they look to their unable Friends, to do something for them! and yet know not to which of the Saints to turn for Help! How earnestly they beg the Physicans best Endeavours! and with flowing Tears and affecting Motions, beg the Minister to look to Heaven with earnest crier, —and use all his Interest there, that they may be spated! And when they endeavour to improve a remaining Moment, in doing somthing for their Souls, [Page 28]the distressed Body diverts the Tho'ts and forces away the Mind.
Moreover, the overwhelming Fear, that will likely attend Persons at such a Time, may deprive them of that Prudence, that at other Times they amy have; and lead them to take unlikely Courses to save their Souls.
At such a sad Time, poor Creatures, frightned and amazed, full of Perplexity, and their whole Souls in a Tumult, oftentimes lay Hold of what will never save; as a drowing Person will lay Hold of any Thing for Satety, tho' i [...] be at the Bottom, and a sure way to make him Ruin certain.
'Tis not to be doubted, but Many in their dying Anguish flie to Courses, that will prow altogether fruitless, nor help their Souls at all They lean upon that which will sink undo their Weight: They turn to the Saints, and hope for Mercy for their sakes: They depence on the Prayers of their Friends: They trust to a dying Prayer for Mercy. They trust it their forced Sorrow and concern; to their [...] forced Desires of Religion, and their lov [...] Esteem of the World, because they can [...] longer enjoy it. They comfort themselves is the Me [...]ies of GOD, when their Hearts a [...] as dead in Sin as ever.
[Page 29] So that there is the utmost Danger, lest the miserable Soul, at this unhappy Time lay Hold on some foolish ground of Hope; miscarry and perish for ever. Oh! then, Now wilst Health lasts, in the Calm of our Loves; even Now, while we have so good a Time, let us be prepating to meet GOD.
2. The LORD now waits to be gracious. In Wrath he remembers Mercy. Tho' he hath warned and threatned; and listed up his Hand, yet he seems to slop, and give us an Opportunity for Repentance; he hearkens and hears, if so be we will speak aright; repent us of our Wickedness, and say, What have we done, ad Jer. viii. 6.
As he hath warned us, so he invites us to seek the LORD, before the Decree bring forth — before the fierce arger of the LORD come upon us, as Zeph. ii. 2, 3. He le [...]s us Know, that he is not inexorable; that he retaineth not his Anger for ever, but delighteth in Mercy; is willing to turn again, and be reconciled to us, it we will turn to him, Mic. vii. 18, 19. A Scepter of Mercy is yet held forth, a Door of Mercy open: Oh! let us come in while we may [...]owrd [...] Let us take with us Words, and turn to the LORD, and sincerely say unto Him, Take away all Iniquity, and receive us grariously; so shall we live in his sight, Hos. xiv. 2, & Chap. vi. 2.
[Page 30] It would be sad, it after God had warned us of our Exposeness to his Judgments, and in his abundant Goodness allowed us an Opportunity to hide our selves from the approaching Evil, we yet shoud make light of his Warnings, despise his Goodness, abide in our Sins, and be overtaken with the heavy Storms of Wrath, we had Notice were a gathering.
3. Why should we delay? 'Twill never be a better Time for Repentance and Making our Peace with GOD than now. We must turn to the LORD by true repentance, or Iniquity will be our Ruine. Repentance is a Work that must be done, or we are undone for ever: Our Sins or our Souls must die. We cannot always abide in our Sins, estranged and alienated from GOD, at any cheaper Rate than the Blood of our precious, immortal Souls. Christ hath once, and again assured us, that except we repent, we shall all likewise perish. As sure then, as we are now here, we shall perish, if we be not converted: If we remain unsanctified, we shall be cast off with the unholy, that shall never enter into the Kingdon of GOD: So that, it concerns us, to repent and be converted unto GOD, as much as our Souls are Worth.
And what must be done, why shall we not endeavour to do it now? Especially, considering, [Page 31]that we sahll never have a better Time? For, supposing GOD in Mercy prevent the prevailing of Sickoness and Mortality amongst us, and our Space in the Word be lengthen'd out, Yet it will never be a better Time, for Repentance amd Seeking a Reconciliation with GOD than now: Yea, never will there be again, so good a Time for this Work as now.
Young People are strangely apt to imagine a more convenisent Season before them; but 'tis a Delusion, and ungrounded Imagination. The Time of Youth is really the best Time for this Work.
GOD directs his Offers of Mercy particularly to Young Persons: He calls to them in a partcular Manner to come and partake of his Love; Pasal. xxxiv. 11. Come, ye Children, hearken unto me, &c. See also Eccl.xii. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth, &c.
There is a special encouragement given to Yourth, that, if they apply themselves to seek the LORD, they shall speed; Prov. viii. 17,— Those that seek me early shall find me.
Moreover, GOD hath manifested how pleased he is, when Persons in Earnest seek him in their Youth. Remember the Instances of Samuel and Josiah, who sought the LORD when they were Young; what gracious Respects [Page 32]GOD shewed to them? He blessed them and make them b [...]essings in the World.
Besides, there is not so much contracted Obstinacy in the Hearts of Youth, as in those of more advanced Years. Not but that they have natural Corruption and Principles of Sin in them, as well as Others; and Hearts so hard, as to need an Omnipotent Power to soften the same. But yet there is an incereasing Obstinacy in the Hearts of Men; and Young Persons have not made such Advances in it, as by longer Continuance in Sin, they will arrive unto. But then by every Day's continuance in Sin, this will increase upon Them; the Heart will grow more harden'd against the Counsels of Grace, more set against Religion and averse to a Compliance with the Term of Peace; Repentance will become more difficult and Hazardous: Jer xiii 23. Can the Ethiopian change his Skin, or the Leopard his Spots? then may ye also do Good, that are accustomed to do Evil.
Again, the Encumbrances of Life increase upon Persons, as they increase in Years. You will likely have more worldly Cares and Concerns, to call off your Minds from the Care of your Souls afterwards, if your Day in the World be leng [...]h'ned out, than you have now. The Time of Youth is the freest from worldly [Page 33]Cares and Troubles of any: And therefore the wise Man calls upon Youth, to remember their Creator in the Days of their Youth, while the evil Days come not, Eccl. xii. I.
Nor may we expect to be freer from Temptation to delay, and put off this Work of Repentance, hereafter than now. There will be as many Temptations hereafter, still to put off, without any doubt, as now. Delaying will not make it better, but worses upon this Account. Say, have not some of you had Tho'ts of setting about the Work of Repentance Years ago; but thro' one Temptation or another, have neglected it till now? And is it any better upon that Account now, than before? Are there not as strong Temptations to defer as ever? And so you may expect there will be, if you delay longer. Delay no longer then, but seek the LORD while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. Improve a good Time, while you have it.
4 If you will not hearken to the Counsels of GOD, nor take Warning by his Judgmens, who know but GOD will say in righteous Judgment, Why should ye be stricken any more, an leave you in the Congregation of dead Souls? It would be but a righteous Retribution, if we resolve to delay the Work of Repentance any longer, and harden our Hearts against the Warnings of God, [Page 34]If GOD should leave us to a bard and impenitent Heart, to treasure up unto our selves Wrath against the Day of Wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Judgment of GOD.
And how sad a Judgment would this be? Then we might hear indeed, and understand not, see but perceive not: Then, if we remain'd longer in the World, we should be but like the barren Fig-tree, upon which no Fruit grew: Or like the dejected Earth, which beareth Thorns and Briars; whose End is to be burned.
Some have thus been left of God. — So when GOD had Counselled and warned Israel, and it proved to no Purpose; he righteously gave them up to their own Hearts Lusts, and said, Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more, Isa. i. 5. And so somtimes, he lets Persons alone to go on in their own Ways; takes away his holy Spirit, and strives no more with them.
And it hath been somtimes observed, that when GOD begins early to warn Persons, and to strive with them by his Spirit, if his Warnings be slighted, and the Strivings of his Spirit resisted, GOD early leaves them, and takes away his holy Spirit from them.
Thus Many, who have had awakening Means, and the Strivings of GOD's Spirit in their Youth, have been left when they advance [Page 35]in Years, and suffered to walk in their own Counsels all their days. O then whil'st GOD warns, whil'st his Spirit strives, whil'st we have a [...]pecial Season of Grace, let us hear his Voice.
5 If hereafter GOD shoud give you saving Repentance, the Delaying of it will be Matter of bitter Sorrow to Tou then If there be some Instances of such as have long delayed Repentance and found Mercy with the LORD at last, Yet they mourn at the Last, and bitterly bewail their former Times: They find, that they have been wornging their own Soule; and with Tears lament it before the LORD. It fills their Hearts with Sorrow, that they have lost such precious Opportunities; miserably wasted away their Days, and mispent a Season of Grace: It afflicts their very Souls, to remember how much they have dishonoured GOD, and liv'd in Vain; or what is worse, to the evil Purposes of Sin, big with Misery and Death. Now, the Sins of their Youth cause their Hearts to ake, and sill their Bones with Sorrow.
So that, if we find Mercy at last, it will cost us Abundance of Sorrow, if we delay the necessary Work of Repentance.
And that a Pity it is, to lay in for after Repentance and Sorrows? We have Sin enough already, to cause Abund [...] [...] of Sorrow, and [Page 36]make the very inmost Parts of our Hearts to ake when we shall be brought to a Sense of the same. What a Pity it is, that we should lay in any more fore repenting Tears and Hear depressing Sorrow?
In a Word, what a Pity it is, that we should indulge our Sel es any longer in That, of which, we many be fore, there will be no good Fruit, and of which, there is danger, the End will prove the Death of our Souls and of which, suppose the B [...]st, and we obtain Forgiveness from GOD, we shall be ashamed; mourn and be in Bitterness for; and our Souls be humbled within us.
6. If you remain unconverted and impenitent, you will be all your Life-Time thro' Fear of Death subject unto Bondage. Your Hearts will reproach and condemn you; an unpeaceful Witness reside in your Bre [...]sts: Which if it be stifled will some Time or orther awake, and give in Testimony for GOD against you.
There is a Principle of spiritual Horror in unco [...]ver [...]ed Souls, if they seem at any Time to be at Ease, and to live in Security. Conscience may sleep a little While, but Terrors stand ready to seise the Soul, as soon as it wakes
And in General, impenitent Souls are sain to take Pains to lull their Consciences asleep which will be often reminding them of a day [Page 37]of Reckoning: So that there is no Quiet in their Minds; but their Consciences cry out against them, or they are doing Violence to themselves, to suppress their uneasie and accusing Thoughts.
And for the most Part, after all their industrious and painful Labours, to drown the Noise and Clamour, their Consciences raise within them, They have many Terrors in the Night, and tedious Reflections by Day.
When ever God brings his Judgments upon them, and it looks as if God was coming forth in Earnest to purnish the Inhabitants of the Earth, (except some few harden'd Wretches, whom God hath given over to a reprobate Mind; who are become past Feeling, having their Consciences seared with a red hot Irou) their guilty Breasts tremble as the Leaves of the Forrest. If Sickness light upon Them, or Death present it self before them, They presently howl upon their Beds; their Hands become faint, and their Hearts fail them for Fear, and for Looking after those Things, which, they apprehend, are coming on them.
7. Nothing is more unkind and unreasonable, than to reserve for the Service of God only the worst Part of our Lives. Thus to requite the LORD argues a vile and wrethched Heart. What? [Page 38]can we think of devoting the best of our Time and Strenght to the Service of our own Lusts, to gratify the Flesh and serve the Devil; and of turning off GOD with the Leaving [...] of ou [...] Lusts? What! think of devoting [...]rime and Strength to the Service of Sin, and when the evil Days come, in which we cannot find Pleasure in gratifying our Lusts, devote that Time to God! How vile is the Thought! and worthy of Hell!
Surely, such cannot be thought less blame worthy than those, the Prophet complains of. Mal. Chap. i. who offered polluted Bread on Gods Altar; and the Blind, the Lame and the Sick f [...] Sacrifice. As that, so this is such an Offering as None would make to their Govermour; no [...] would they expect the Acceptance of it, i [...] they did.
Methinks our Language doth not furnish [...] with Words emphatical enô to represent the Baseness, execrable Ingratitude and horrible Wickedness of Purposing thus to treat the most High and Glorious GOD, to whom [...] are indebred for Being and every Mercy, — Or, the indignation and sacred Rage, with which our Minds should rise against the detetable Thought.
GOD is full of Compassion, infinite in Goodness and Clemency, as well as in his other Perfections, [Page 39]or we might conclude, the Heavens would never bear such an Indignity as this, at the Hands of impious Mortals. It declares GOD to be unspeakably good, if the Heavens don't immediately gather Blackness; angry Storms arise, and devouring Lightning blast the impious Wretch, that thus presumes to treat his GOD
And, it God spares a While, the Wretch that lives in Sin, and presumer that God will accept the Lees of it's Life, may jostly fear, that er'e while provoked Wrath will break out upon it.
And, if now there be one Soul of us, that entertains the base Tho't and Purpose of thus requiting GOD, let him seriously consider the Curse denounced against the Deceiver, which hath in his Flack a Male, and voweth and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt Thing, Mal. i. 14.
8. Our whole life-Time is not too much to be devoted to the service of GOD.
Why should we not be willing to devote our best Time, yea our whole Time to the Service of GOD? We are his, and to him we owe our selves; and he may justly claim our [...]eft and constant Service; We have been born, and carried by him from the Womb: And even to the old alge of any GOD is he, Isa, [...]lvi. 3, 4. [Page 40]'Tis GOD that upholds and provides for us al our Life-time; and therefore justly claims the Whole.
Or, do we think our Life will be too long to be devoted to the Honour of the Infinite GOD? Why; can we ever utter the Memory o [...] all God's wonderful Works, shew forth all hi [...] Praise and declare all his Greatness, that we think his Service will be too Little for our whole Lives? Or, can we do too much for Him, who gave us our Beings and supports u [...] every Day: who is the Author of all our Mercies, and Foundation of all our reasonable Hopes of any future Good? Surely, an Eternity is not too long to serve and praise such a GOD in.
And can we then think the best Life, that such poor imperfect Creatures as we can attain unto, too good an Offering for God? Or, can we think so small a Space as that of the Life of Man in this World, too much for the Service of GOD? Surely, if we have any such Thot's, we have no becoming Apprehensions of the infinite Glories of GOD and our Obligations to Him.
And indeed, had we but any suitable Knowlege of GOD and our selves, we should see, that it must be Grace in GOD, that he will accept of our Service, when we have done our [Page 41]Best; that such Service as we can yield unto God, tho' it be of our whole Life-time, is but an imperfect offering.
9. Consider, How sollicitous and importunate your Friends are for your early Conversion.
O ye Children and Youth, did you know, how much your Souls Salvation lay upon the Hearts of your Parents and Friends; did you know their Concern for you; how they travail in Birth again, until Christ be formed in you; how often upon the bended Knees of their Souls, they are Wrestling with God for you; Methinks you could not, but be concerned for your selves.
How much have our Parents undergone, and done for us? And shall we not trie to let them have some Comfort and Rejoicing in us? Now, Nothing will more rejoice their Hearts, than to see us walking in the Truth; remembring our Creator in the Days of our Youth.
O Children, your Parents Hope and their Fear, what a Burthen you will ease their Souls of, if you would now turn to the LORD in Truth? If they could see you in earnest seeking the Kingdom of Heaven and its Righteousness, their Hearts would rejoice; they will efteem themselves blessed of the LORD: Their Souls will have Comfort, while they hope God means Good to their House for a great While to come.
[Page 42] 10. If we early turn to the LORD, and sincerely devote our selves to his Service; there will be ground to hope for the Continuance of GOD's Presence, when our Fathers are gone, and the rising Generation comes in their Place.
The Fathers don't live for ever: One Generation passeth away, and another Generation cometh.
Now in all Generations, 'tis the Blessing of the LORD, and his gracious Presence, that maketh a happy People.
Our Fathers have been bless'd with the Presence of GOD: He hath dwelt with and among Them: They have seen his Power, and rejoiced in his Grace. Ask them, and they will speak highly for GOD, and give in large Testimonies for him: They have found him a good GOD: By Him they have been often delivered in Dangers helped in Weakness, saved in Troubles: GOD has often supported them, when they have been ready to faint and to sink; done for them at such dark Times, when vain was the Help of Man. They have trusted in GOD, and he has delivered them. In a Word, GOD hath been their Patron, their Defence and Glory; and great is his Goodness, which he hath wrought for them.
And how much is it to be desired and wished, that those who are next coming upon the Stage, might also be accounted to the LORD [Page 43]for a Generation? That when the Fathers are gathered to their People, and fallen asleep you may still have GOD among You; a GOD near at Hand to do for You; and to whom you may repair at all Times.
Well, if you, that are in your Youth, may be awakened to Repentance, and be perswaded in good Earnest to set your selves to seek and to serve GOD; You may hope that your Father's GOD will be your GOD: So David encourages us in that well known Exhortation to his Son, 1 Chron [...] xxviii. 9. — My Son, know thou the GOD of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect Heart, and with a willing Mind: — If thou SEEK Him, he will be FOUND of thee.—
But if our Youth will not regard the Works of the LORD, nor be awakened to Repentance; if they will make light of their Fathers GOD; slight his Warnings, and reject his Counsels, what a Generation! and what a sad Time will it be, when the Fathers are gone! when the Glory shall be departed, and GOD have forsaken those that may be left!
We can scarce imagine the Wretchedness of such a Generation. Forsaken of GOD! 'tis a Kind of Damnation upon Earth! an Emblem of the Punishment of the Damned, who are punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the LORD!
[Page 44] If GOD shall withdraw his Holy Spirit and forsake us, we shall be left in the Hands and Power of Satan; shall be taken captive by him at his Will; and be drawn by him from Sin to Sin, from one degree of Wickedness to Another, 'till we have filled up the Measure of our Iniquities. The God of this World, the spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience, will rule in us & lord it over us, and drive us along the Road of Death & Misery: So that we shall Jay up amazing Treasures of Wrath against the day of Wrath. And in the mean Time we shall be wretched, while imployed in the sordid Service of Satan. Our Reason will be in slav'd to Passion and Lust: We shall eagerly pursue Vanities that will deceive and disappoint us: Our Minds will he disorder'd, restless and unquiet: Evil Passions will distract our Tho'ts, and prey upon our Hearts like Furies of Hell. And such will be the Pride of our abandon'd Hearts, that a spirit of discontent will fill our Souls with continual Vexation. A guilty Conscience also may likely often torture us with sad Reflections. Moreover, besides these inward Miseries that attend unhappy Souls forsaken of God, captiv'd by Satan and led along the Paths of Sin, we may expect if GOD withdraw his Holy Spirit, and leaves us to the Counsels of our corrupt Hearts, Abundance of outward Evils to attend us is [Page 45]the World. Sin and Wickedness will so prevail, that Men will likely be Plagues and Curses to each Other. Violence. Falsehood and Oppression will reign; mutual Confidence & Trust be banished from among Men; Confusion and every evil Work prevail. Then, if there shall be some Few not given up with the Reft to the Power of Satan, they may with good Reason turn themselves to GOD for Help, & complain as the Psalmist, Psal. xii 1, 2. Help, LORD, for the godly Man ceaseth; for the Faithful fial from among the Children of Men! They speak Vanity every One with his Neighbour: with flattering Lips, and with a double Heart do they speak. Yea doubtless, as the Psalmist, they would mourn in their Complaint, and say, O that I had Wings like a Dove! for then would I flie away, and be at Rest. Lo then would I wander far off: and remain in the Wilderness, Psal. lv. 6, 7.
Now, would it not be sad, if when our Fathers shall have left us, such Times should follow; GOD be withdrawn, Faithfulness departed from among Men, Religion and it's blessed Fruits retired and gone; and in the Room of these, Satan lording, Sin prevailing, Wickedness destroying, and all Evils abounding?
Let us then by early Repentance and Religion, secure an Interest in the Favour of our Father's GOD; that so we may hope, he will [Page 46]not forsake us, but dwell with us, and carry on his own Work in the Midst of us, when they are taken away.
If these Considerations be weighed and laid to Heart by us, I cannot but hope the Exhortation will come with Force upon us, that we early turn to the LORD by true Repentance, and seek his Favour by an early Choice of Religion. O that the Spirit of the LORD then, who can effectually open the Heart, and make Way for his Truths to enter into our Souls, would impress these Considerations upon your Minds, and cause them to sink deep into your Hearts; that so you may be effectually stirred up to seek the LORD and his Favour in this Your Day, before the evil Day comes.
Before I conclude this Discourse, let me plead with all the Earnestness I possibly can; and Oh! that I could do it in a more moving Way, and in a deeper Sense of the Worth of your Souls! I say, let me plead with you, and intreat of you, consider what hath been offered, and to suffer your selves to be prevail'd with by such weighty Motives to receive the Exhortation, take the Warning given, and speedily prepare to meet GOD. My dear Brethren, Children in Charge, for your own Sake, for your Friend's Sake, for your poor Minister's Sake be intreated. Why will you [Page 47]not hearken, and consider? Why will you susse the God of this World to blind your Eves? Why will you so expose your precious, immortal Souls, and abide in the Way of GOD's Indignation? Why will you run so dreadful a Venture of Meeting the Almigh cloathed with Vengeance, and armed with the Instruments of his devouring Wrath? Oh! consider the awful and amazing Threatnings against the Sinner; open your Eyes, behold the preparing Storm of Wrath! see the gathering Clouds! and who shall be able to abide the Storm, or stand before the Indignation? Whose Heart can endure, or Hands be strong, when he comes forth in the Fierceness of his Anger, the Mountains shaking, the Hills moving, the Earth trembling at his Presence, Yea, the World, and all that dwell therein? I hope, that None of you, the Youth of my Charge & Love, will harden your selves against the threatned Vengeance, and the Terrors of GOD's Wrath: For, alas! how soon, when the threatned Storm shall come, will your Countenances change, your Courage fail, and you cry for Mercy, and wish you had hearkened and prepared your selves to meet the LORD? I hope you may never know by Experience the Dreadfulness of being pursued, overtaken & bor'n down by the Vengeance of an angry GOD, as his implacable & obstinate Enemies must. It raises Pity, and is [Page 48]affecting only to think of the Dreadfulness of the Day of the LORD to such poor Creatures! What will they do! What can they say! — How confounded & amazed will they stand before their Judge! Oh then, be intreated before the Day come, to reconcile your selves to GOD; and make Hast, lest it be too late.
Methinks I don't know how to conclude, or leave off Intreating, till I may hope some are perswaded in Earrest to seek the LORD
And yet, there is this melancholy Tho't in Labouring with you, Namely, That if you will not be perswaded, nor hearken, the Day of the LORD's Wrath will be so much the more dreadful to You. The Warning of GOD not considered, nor laid to Heart, will make the Day more dreadful; and this Discourse and Exhortation meant in Love to your Souls, will make it worse: For you will likely hear how you receive this very Exhortation. If you hearken, you will likely, many a Time bless GOD for it; and if you refuse, alas! it will be a Witness against you: Conscience will say, when your Calamity comes, Ah! You was warned, intreated, and you would not hear; and your Judge will say, I have called, and ye refused; you set at Nought all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof.
Le [...] me then, with all the Seriousness and Solemnity I can, Charge you, that you so improve [Page 49]this Exhortation, as that in the Day of the LORD, when You and I must stand before my LORD and Master, who hath sent me unto You, I need not be forced to give in Witness against You.
Would to GOD, that, when I must come before my Master at his Judgment-Seat, to give an Account of what I have done, with Respect to the Souls committed to my Charge, (tremble my Soul in holy Fear, remembring the Solemn Day) I say, would to GOD, that I need not have to bring in Testimony against them! And particularly, Dear Children of my Care, that I need not have to say against You, that on this Day! I warned You, intreated and pleaded with You, and you would not hear!
Be intreated then, to take this Warning, and comply with this Exhortation, and turn to the LORD: So shall my Soul rejoice, even mine; and You your selves will be so far from repenting of it, that it will make your Hearts glad for ever.
It seems to me, that Nothing would seem too much that was in my Power, if I could but gain you for Christ: How willingly would I spend all my S [...]rength in Intreating, if that would do? How willingly would I make my Self your Seryant, and intreat upon my Knees, [Page 50]if that would do? But, alas! what can a weak, insufficient Creature do? Oh that the Allpowerful GOD would undertake, and make you willing, by his powerful Grace!
I want, Methinks to know whither there are None perswaded, and fain would hope that there are some, whose Hearts are overcome. And for my Encouragement, there appear some Countenances, shewing as if they were effected, concerned and intended to hear. But then, I am afraid, lest in a little Time, they forget themselves; their Concern vanish, and their Goodness be at the Morning Cloud, and as the early Dew that passeth away; that in a little While they will forgot the Exhortation, slight the Warning, and return to carnal Ease and their former Carelessness, At this my Heart trembleth, and almost moves out of his Place: Even when I remember, I am afraid, and Trembling taketh Hold an my Flesh! O that it might not be so, but that the Impression may abide!
How ever fincerely, my Friends, I disire and long for your Soul's Salvation; how willingly so ever I would do, what I may to promote the same, yet I can do no more than I can. The Success of my poor weak Endeavour I must leave with GOD, in whose Hands are the Hearts of Men.
[Page 51] If GOD graciously inclines your Hearts, and you are brought to be willing to receive his Word, GOD shall have the Praise; the Glory will be His. If you will not hearken, and find not Mercy with GOD, my Soul shall weep for you; and by Reason of that Relation I stand in to You, that Charpe divine Providence has committed to me, and that Love which I think I have to your Souls, I must have continual G [...]ief and Sorrow for You.
But whether you will hear, or whether you w [...] [...]rbear, I will offer these Two Directions to you; with which I purpose to conclude.
(1) Endeavour to Know your selves It cannot be expected, that any Motives will prevail with us to turn to the LORD, and make it our Concern to secure his Favour, if we know not what we are, nor our Relation unto GOD.
Now, 'tis one Part of the Misery men are naturally fallen into, that they know not themselves; Know not that Manner of Persons they are, nor what is their State towards GOD. Destruction and Misery are in their Ways, and they know it no
Hence it is easily accounted for, wh [...] the most weighty Arguments, used to perswade them [...] reconciled unto GOD, come but with little Force, [...] they know not their natural Alienation from [...]. From the same Reason it is, that they are not filled with any great Concern, when the Terrors of the LORD are mentioned, and GOD's Judgments are abroad in the Earth: Not being acquainted with their own Guilt, and the Power of Sin and Death in their Souls, they apprehend not their Danger, and Exposedness unto the same. Nor is it much to be wondred at, if Men live in Vain, run into Misry & Ruin, so long as they know not what they are, what they were made or live for, nor what is the State of their Souls. Let every One then, be concerned & take Pains to know himself; what he is, what is his last End, what is the State of his Soul.
[Page 52] And seeing that all Men are fallen into a State [...] Death; become depraved and corrupted; Children o [...] Wrath, obnoxious to all Miseries, Temporal, Spirtu [...] and Eternal; Let every one endeavour to search o [...] the Plague of his own Heart; to become acquainte [...] with the Corruption of his Natute, and his Expo [...] sedness to the Judgments of GOD.
A true Accquaintance with our own natural Poverty Nakedness and Misery, would lead us in Earnest [...] tremble at GOD's Judgments, and enquire, What [...] must do to be Saved.
(2) Acquaint your selves with Christ, the Saviour, th [...] only Name given under Heaven among Men, whereby [...] must be saved. Endeavou [...] to know who Christ is, wh [...] was his Ensiness into the World what he has don [...] and offers to do for Sinners. And, O that you kne [...] him as he is represented in the Gospel! As our S [...] viour said to the Samaritan Woman, if you knew th [...] Gift of GOD, you would ask of him, and he would give you living Water. See Joh. 10. 10.
We must not how ever think, that every One that has learned to tell semething of the Scripture Account of Christ, so know him as will infallibly lead him to ask and receive the Grace of Christ. There is a sort of Knowlege that is fruitless and vain; it does not move the Heart, nor influence the Life But the [...] there is a Knowlege of Christ that is saving, was [...] the Hea [...] and draws the S [...]ul So to know Christ is Life Oh, let us then wait [...]o: the Fatherof of Lights; and beg that he would shine in cur Hearts; give unto us to know the Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven; make us to know the Voice of Chust; give us such a Discovery of him, as that we may b [...] Inamour'd with his Excellencies; esteem him as the ch [...]efest among ten Thousand; yield up our Hearts with Plealure to him; chuse him for our LORD and Righteousness, loving and resolving to Worship Him.