V. Against his offices. God hath exalted him ¢o be

a Prince and a Saviour. He would act against both, should he save men in their sins: it is the office of a king, to be a terror to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well. He is a Minister of God, an avenger, to execute wrath on him that doeth evil. Now should Christ favour the ungodly, (so continuing,) and take those to reign with him that would not that he should reign over them, Luke xix. 27. this would be quiic against his office: What king would take rebels in open hostility into his court? What were this but to betray life, kingdom, government and all together.
_ Again; as Christ would not be a Prince, so neither would he be a Saviour, if he should do this; for his salvation is spiritual: he is called Jesus, because he saves his people from their sins; so that should he pore them in their sins, he would be neither Lord nor
esus..
Application. Arise then; what meanest thou, O sleeper? Awake, O secure sinner! Lest thou be consumed in thine iniquities: say as the lepers, Jf we sit here we shall die. Verily, it is not more certain that thou art now out of hell, than that thou shalt speedily be in it, except thou repent and be convert- ed. There is this one door for thee to escape by. Arise
576. THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION.
then, O sluggard, and shake off thine excuses... How long wilt thou slumber, and fold thy hands to sleep? Wilt thou lie down in the midst of the sea, or sleep on _ the top of the mast? There is no remedy, but thou must either turn or burn. There is an unchangeable necessity of the change of thy condition, except thon art resolved to abide the worst of it, and to try it, out with the Almighty. If thou lovest thy life; QO man, arise and come away ! { ivitwagk oil . Oh, how wilful will thy destruction be,-if thou shouldst yet harden thyself in thy sinful state?) But none of you can say but you have had fait warning, Yet methinks I cannot tell how to leave you so. ‘It is not enough for me to have delivered my own) soul. What! shall I go away without my errand? Will none of you arise and follow me? Have I been all this while speaking to the wind? Have I been charm- ing the deaf adder? If you be men, and not sense-
less stocks, stand still and consider whither you are -
going: if you have the reason and understanding of men, dare not to run into the flames, and fall into hell with your eyes open, but bethink yourselves, and set to the work of repentance. What! men, and yet run into the pit, when the very beasts will not be for- ced in! What! endowed with reason, and yet dally with death and hell, and the vengeance of the Al- mighty! Will you not hasten your escape from eter- nal torments? O show yourselves men, and let rea- son prevail with you: is it a reasonable thing’ for you to contend against the Lord your Maker? — Or, to har- den yourselves against his word, as though the strength of Israel would die? Is it reasonable that an under- standing creature should lose, yea, live quite against the very end of his being, and be as a broken pitcher, only fit for the dunghill? Hear, O heavens, and give.ear, O earth, and let the creatures without sense be judges if this be reason, that man, whom God hath nourished and brought -up, should rebel against him! Judge im’ your own selves; is it a reasonable understanding for briars and thorns to set themselves in battle against
THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION. 577
the devouring fire? Isa. xxvii. 4; or for the potsherd of the earth to strive with its Maker? :
* What shall I say? Icould Spend myself i in this argument. O that you would but hearken to me! And that you would presently set upon a new course! Will you not be made clean? When shall it once be? Reader, shall I prevail with thee for one? Wilt thou sit down’ and consider, whether it be not best to turn. Come and let us reason together: is it good for thee to'be here? Wilt thou sit still till the time come upon thee? Is it good for thee to try whether God will be so good’as his word, and to harden thyself in a conceit that all is well’ with thee, while thou remainest. un- sanctified ? a
'O. distracted sites | What will their end be? What will they do in the day of visitation? Whither will they flee for help? Where will they leave their
glory? Isa.-x. 3. How powerfully hath sin bewiteh-
cd them! |‘ How effectually hath the god of this world blinded them! How strong is the délusion! how uncireumcised their ears! how obdurate their hearts! Satan/ hath them at his beck. But how long may 1 call;and: get -no'’answer? Though I tell them there is death in the cup, yet they will take it up ; though I tell them tis’ the broad way, and endeth in destruction, yet they will go on in it; I warn them, yet cannot win them. Sometimes I think the mercies of: God will melt them, and his’winning invitations will overcome them; but I find them as they were: sometimes that the terror of the Lord. will persuade them; yet neither will this doit. Iam to them as the lovely song of one'that hath a pleasant voice, yet I can- not get them to come under Christ’s yoke. “ ‘What shall I do for the daughter of my people? O Lord God, help! Alas, shail I leave them thus!» If they will not hear me, yet do thou hear me. O that they may yet live in thy sight!» Lord save them, or else they pe- rish. ‘My heart would melt to see their houses on fire about their: ears, when they were fast asleep in their beds ;.and ‘shall not my soul be moved within me, to see
19. 4D
578 MARKS OF, THE UNCONVERTED,
em falling into, endless. perdiupa: . Lord,, haye com- aes and save.them out of, mht = = a _ thy divine power, and, the work vill be, done ;, but for me, I ce weve vv san? a. A ar garyiyerry ae sage biceuecnheye Mielke Yad sano “ GHAR, on sib Be od tows woy Hid won} vyiq bitnds pobrolt iiss Showing the Manxs oe the, eesrmantedarol tre sot VO} [OBIT {bie set. ) “Here, QO. “searching, Light, and let ‘thy, discern ing eye discover. the ratte, foundation of, ge ped deceiver: and lead me, .O Lord God, as; thou, didst the prophet, , into, the chambers of Imagery, and dig through the wall of sinners’ hearts, and dpbauer ae hidden abominations that are lurking outjof,sight.. O send thy angel before me, as thou didst before Peter, and make even, the iron gates to fly open of their own accord. And as Jonathan no sooner tasted the honey but, his eyes were enlightened; so grant, O Lord, re when the poor deceived souls shall, cast theirjeyes upon these lines, their minds maybe illuminated, and their consciences awakened, that they may see .with,their eyes, and hear with their. ears, and be converted, and thou mayest heal them !. yb ei vance This must. be premised, that” tis certain men may have a confident persuasion that their hearts.and states are good, and yet be unsound. Yea, they may) be confident they are rich, and increased in grace. |. is,a@ generation that are pooy 1m thew own, eyes, and. yet are not washed from their, filthiness, , Proy. »XxxXy12. So; that they are miserably deceived that take a strong confidence, for a sufficient evidence... They thatthave - no better proof than a strong persuasion that|they ane converted, are certainly strangers to conversions! «|; | But some of the unconverted carry their marksian their forehead more openly ;.aud some in their hands more covertly. The apostle, reckons -up' some, upon whom he writes the sentence of death; as in these dreadful catalogues, which I beseech you to attend:to with all diligence, Eph. v. 5, 6. ‘* For this you know
MARKS OK) THE UNCONVERTED. ‘579
that no whoremonger, nor’unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, ‘Hath any inheritance’ in i kingdom of Christ and of God.’ ‘Let no man deceive ine with vain words, for because of these things cometh he wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ' Rev. xxi. 8. Buti the fearful and unbelieving, and abomina! ble, and murderers, and 'whoremongers, and: sorcerers; and idolaters,and ‘all liars, shall have their part in thé lake that burneth with fire and brimstone,’ which is' the second death. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. Know ye not'that' the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?’ Be not deceived: neither fornicators,. nor’ idolaters, ' ior adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselvés with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nordrunkards: nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit'the kingdom of God;” see Gal. v. 19, 20.' Woe to them that’ have their names written in these rolls; such'may know, as certainly as if God had ‘told them from heaven, ‘that they are under an up ge of being saved i in this condition.
» These (past all dispute) are ‘unconverted : ‘they carry thei marks in their foreheads. ao
1. The Unclean. These are ever recktited among the goats, and have their names in all the before-men- tioned catalogues.
2. The Covetous. These are ever branded for fe laters, and the doors of the kingdom are” —s against them by name. us
«8. Drunkards. Not only such as drink away theit reason, but such as are strong for strong drink. ‘The Lord fills his mouth with woes: against these, ‘and ‘de- clares' them to have no inheritance in the kingdom in God..
4, iRioreo: The Lord that cannot lie, has told chen! that there is no place for them in his kingdom. (0 |)
5. Swearers. The end of these, without deep and speedy repentance, is swift destruction.
6.' Railers and Backbiters; that take up a reproach against: wad spel geben, or —— him poet his back. yah ED AL Web.
580 MARKS OF THE UNCONVERTED.
7. Thieves, Extortioners, Oppressors, that over-reach the brethren when they have them at an advantage: these must know that God zs the avenger of alton 1 Thess. iv. 6. Hear, O ye false, and purloining; and wasteful’ servants; hear, O ye deceitful tradesmen, hear your sentence: God will certainly hold his door against. you, and turn your treasuresiof unrighteous- ness into the treasures. of wrath, and make your ill- gotten, silver and gold to torment you like burning metal in your bowels. netehantiie: 8. All that tive in the neglect of God's worship, that hear not his word, that call not on his name, that ‘re- strain prayer, before God, that mind not: thein own or their families’ souls. liso bi Sinner, consider diligently whether . slic art not to be found i in one of these ranks: for if this be thy case, thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of ini- quity ; for all these carry their marks in their foreheads, and are undoubtedly the sons of death. 1) 5 yo) And if so, the Lord pity our poor congregations. QO. how small a number will be left, when these ‘are out! Alas, on how many doors, on how many faces; must: we write, Lord, have mercy uponus! \ Sirs, what shift do. you make to keep up your confidence of your good state, when God from heaven declares against you, and pronounces you in a state of damnation — Beloved, God hath written it as with a sun-beamiin the book by which you must be judged, that none such (except renewed by corey seam shall ies- cape the, damnation of hell. roel | eORBer "And now I imagine many will, begin to bless:them: selves, and think all is well, because they camnotibe spotted with gross evils: but I must tell you, that there, are another. sort of unsanctified persons that car- ry not their marks in their foreheads, but more secretly m their hands; these frequently deceive eee and others, and. pass for good Christians. Many pas undiscovered till death and judgment bring all to. light. Brethren, I beseech you deeply to lay to, heart, this awakening consideration, ‘ That multitudes miscarry
MARKS OF THE UNCONVERTED. 581
by the hand of some secret sin, that is not only hid- den from others, but, for want of observing their own hearts, even from themselves.” A man ;»may be free from:.open pollutions, and yet die at, last. by the fatal hand of some unobserved iniquity. And there. are these following hidden sins, through which souls go down \by numbers. into. the chambers of death. “As you love your lives, read carefully, with a holy jea- lousy. of yourselves, lest. you. should be the persons concerned.
1. Wilful ignorance. me) how many poor, souls doth this sin kill in 1 the dark! while they think verily they have good. hearts, and are in the ready way to heaven. This is the murderer that dispatcheth thousands. in a silent. manner, when they suspect nothing. .Ah! would it not have grieved a man’s heart to have seen the woeful spectacle, when the poor Protestants were shut up (a multitude together in a barn,) and a but- cher comes, and leads them one by one, blindfold, to a block, where he slew them one after anather?; But how much more should your hearts. bleed. to. think of the hundreds. in great. congregations, that wilful igno- rance doth butcher in secret, and lead blindfold. to the block! Beware this be not your case; make no plea for ignorance: if you sparé that sin, fuses that it will not spare you: And would. a man: ie a mur- derer in his, bosom ?
mE Secret TESEFVES LR closing wath Christ. To rate sake all for Christ,,to: hate father and mother, yea, a man’s own, life for him;, this, is a. hard saying. Some will do much,, but they will not be entirely devoted to Christ; they must; have the sweet, sin; they, haye se- eret, exceptions for life, liberty, or estate... Many, take, Christ thus, hand oyer head, and never cast, up the cost; and this error in the foundation mars. all, and seeretly ruins them for ever.
3. Formality, in religion. Many rest in the outside, of religion, in the eternal performances of holy du- ties. And this oft-times doth most effectually de- ceive. men, and more certainly undo them than open looseness, . They hear, they fast, they pray, they giye
582 MARKS OF THE UNCONVERTED.
alms, and’ therefore will not’ believe ‘but''theit® tase is good.! ‘Whereas resting’ in’ the’ work done}! a1 coming short ‘ofthe inward power ‘of religion, ‘th fall at'last into the burning lake, ‘from ‘the ‘confident persuasions of their being in’ the réddy' way "to hea- ven. O dreadful case; when ‘a man’s religion ‘shall sérve only to harden him, and effectually to ‘decéive his! sould ssliw, vilvior> chew: 2am evel iy 4. Trusting in their oton righteousness.’ When men trust in their own righteousness, they reject Ohrist’s! Beloved, you‘had need be watchful; for not only your sins, but your duties, may undo you. | A man may a certainly miscarry by his seeming ‘righteousness as by gross sins; when he ‘trusts to this as his righteousn before God, for the satisfying of his justice} dnd’ ob! taining of his own pardon ; for this’is"to’ ‘put! out of office, and make a ‘saviour of our’ own’ duties and graces. 0! it ire ‘st By opty Inte 5, The resting in a certain pitch of relizions” When they have so much as will save'them (as they Suppose) they look no farther, ‘and ‘so show theinsélves’ short 0 true grace, which will ever put men upon aspiring to further perfection. hea Ngo ny, Gee? 6. The love of the world. This is' the sure ‘evidente of an ‘unsanctified heart, '1 John 41.15. (80) oy But how close doth this sin lurk ‘oft-times under # fair covert of forward profession! Yea, ‘such wb te of deceit is there in ‘this sin, that many times when
firs
Did they but’ carefully search, they ‘would’ quickly find that their greatest content Js in the world, “Luke
(MARKS, OF THE UNCONVERTED. 583
xil. 19, and their greatest care and. main endeavour is to get and secure the world; whichis a certain dis- covery of an unconverted sinner. ...\; ;
«fe, Resentment against those, that disrespect. them,, or are injurious to them. , O, how, do, many, ,that seem to be religious, remember injuries, and. carry, grudges, and, will return men as good as they bring, rendering evil for eyil, directly against the rule of the gospel, the pattern of Christ, and,the nature of God. . Doubtless where this evil is kept in the heart, that person, is. in a state of death, " ) :
~ Reader, doth nothing of this touch thee? Art thou in one of the fore-mentioned ranks? , O search, and search again! take thy heart solemnly to, task; woe unto thee,,if after thy profession, thou shouldst be found. under the power of wilful ignorance, lost in for- -mality, drowned in earthly mindedness, envenomed with malice, or exalted in an opinion of thine own righteousness ; this would be a sad discovery, that all thy religion was in vain. . But I proceed. ;
8. Pride. When men love the praise of, men, more than the praise of God, ’tis certain they are yet in their sins. When men see not, nor groan under the pride of their own hearts, ‘tis. a sign they are stark dead in sin. O how secretly doth this sin live and reign in many hearts, and they know it not.
9. Carnal security, or a presuimptuovs confidence that their condition is already good. Many cry, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction is coming upon them. Men are willing to cherish in themselves, upon ever so light grounds, a hope that their condition is good, and so look not out after a change, and by this means perish in their sins. Are you at peace? Show me upon what grounds your peace is maintain- ed. , Is it Scripture peace?, Can you show the distin- euishing marks of a sound believer? If not, fear, this, peace more than any, trouble; and know, that a carnal peace doth commonly prove the most mortal enemy of the poor soul.
By this time I think I hear my readers crying out
~
584 Marks’ OF THE’ Ht cb van.
with’ the disciples, Who then shall “be sve?” Set from among’ our’ congregatioiis ‘all the ‘profane ¢ on the one hand, and then all these sorts ‘of ‘closé and self- deceiving hypocrites on the other, and tell me = whether it be not a remnant that shall be saved ?
And now, conscience, do thy office; ’'s ie hid speak home to him that readeth these Ine find any of these marks upon him,’ eb nounce him ‘utterly unclean.’ ‘Take not. ‘up a Te thy mouth, speak ‘not peace to him, to whom speaks no peace. I require thee in the’ name of. God to go with me to the search of ‘the suspected ‘house. Wilt thow hold thy peace at such a time as this? I ad- jure thee by the living God, that thou tell us the truth. Is the man. converted, or is he not? Doth he allow himeelf in any way of sin, or doth he not? “Doth, he truly love, and please,” and delight in ‘God, or not? Come, put it to an issue.
How long shall this soul live at Se 0 conscience ! bring in thy verdict.’ Is this man man, or is he not? t? How dost thou find it? ‘Hath there passed a thorough and mighty change upon, him, or not? When was the time ? where was the place 2 Tor what was the means by which this thorough chan e was wrought in his soul? Speak, conscience; of if thou canst not tell time and place, canst thou show scripture evidence that the work is done? Hath the man ever ‘been taken’off from his false bott m, from the’ false hopes and false peace wherein he once trust- ed? Hath he been convinced of sin, and of his lost and undone condition, and brought out of himself, and off from his ‘sins, to give edt up entirely t to Jesus Christ? “Or dost thou not find h im to this day under the power of ignorance, or in the mire of } “te neness ? Hast thou’ not taken upon him the gains ‘of unrighte- ousness? Dost thou not find him a stranger 1 to prayer, a negleécter of the word, a lover of this present world ? Dost thou not often catch him ina lie? Dost thou not find his heart fermented with malice, or burning with lust, or going after ‘his covetousness ? Speak plainly
MARKS OF THE UNCONVERTED. 585
to all the forementioned particulars : canst thou ac- quit this man, this woman, from being one of the cha- racters here described? If: he be found to be one of them, set him aside ; he must be converted, and made a new creature, ¢ or else write cannot enter into the king- - dom of God.
Beloved, be not your own Bebadyerd “Do not de- ceive your own hearts, nor set your hands to your own ruin, by a wilful blinding of yourselves. Set up a tri- bunal in your own breasts, bring the word and con- science together. _Oh follow the search till you have found how the case stands: mistake here, and perish. And such is the treachery of the heart, the subtlety of the tempter, and the deceitfulness of sin, and, withal, so common and easy.is it to be mistaken, that ‘tis a thousand ..to one but you will be deceived, unless you be very careful and impartial in the inquiry. Oh there- fore ply your, work, go to the bottom, search with can- dles, weigh yourself i in the balance, come to the stan- dard of the sanctuary, bring your coin to the touch- stone. Satan is master of deceit; he can draw to the life; there is nothing but he can imitate; you cannot wish for any grace, but he can fit you to a hair with a counterfeit.» Trade warily, look on every piece you take; be. jealous, trust not your own hearts. Run to God .to search you and try you; to examine you and prove your reins. If other helps suffice not to bring all to an issue, but you are still at a loss, open your cases faithfully to some godly and faithful minister. Mal. ii. 7... Rest not till you have put the business of your eternal welfare out of question. _O, Searcher of hearts, put thou this am upon, and help him in, his search !
\ “ : 4 * 586 misErres’ OF ‘THE ‘UNCONVERTED. “SE WORE: Ree luouisg bool nocisidl SHY Melee “89 99 jo SiO etied mom asmow) Bit aR eiclt ip ed) oF baa CHAP. Yhodriozeb stad aits¥oe1 ‘ eriovGaos od team ol: oliiee tad toa .mrails In 1) O1AY 199 Jowuso Sd) s2ld to VoTRSS wor RB Showing the Miseries of the Unconverted.\> ob ior oe” Saavetisd vo” itor? Jom Sd, DOVES
So 'nspeakably dreadful i&’the’ Cased! éf'every aneon2 verted ua that’ T fade goth és potent aE could but convince men that they were’ Yétin'a’ éréat ‘meas sure unregenerate, the work would’ be dénés®! oie , But I sadly experience, that’ suéh''a Spirit “of ‘sloth and slumber possesseth the, unsanétified, that thou they be convinced they aré uhcdhverted: " et they ca lessly sit still: and what, through pleasures Pa business, or noise and clamout of earthly cares and al fections, the voice of consciendé' is ‘drowned, and’ men go no farther than ‘some cold wishes, aiid ‘general part poses of amending. ©” 9 ‘ " re fon a1 OW pose earl We "Tis therefore ‘of high necessity ‘that Tnét only eon: vince men that they até’ uncohvertéd, but “endeavour to bring them ‘to ‘a sense of the ‘fearfal' miisery of ‘this state. shania ead Siders 1? > of Jud vane vs it tlapw But, what ‘tongie ‘cai tél “the heits of Hell'Suffie® ently of their misery? Wheré'is the ready Whiter, who: pen can decipher thir ‘misery that’ are’without ‘God inthe world? Who knoweth' (saith Moses) lid art thine anger? And how’ shall ‘T’tell’men! that’ which’ I do not know?’ Yet so much We kihow, as'one wor think would shake the heart of that man, that Ha least degree of sense. | iu re LO ‘ST SEO saTaY 109 But could‘I uncover the face ‘of the’ deep, aid the devouring gulph of Tophet, in all its terrors, ‘open the gates of the infernal furnace, alas! he hath no eyes to see it. He neither doth nor can know the things of God, because they are spiritually discerned. He is a child of darkness, and walks in darkness. Yea, the light in him is darkness. Shall I sound in his ear the terrible trump of God's judgments, that one would think should make both his ears to tingle, loose his joints, and make his knees
MISERDESOP ‘THE|UNCONVERTED. 587
smite, one; against | another! Yet,: iahapateee Lape mie not, hehathino earsito hears, 9!) o) 9
«| Which way. then shall:‘l come at. the: ideisilde ‘ob- jects that I: haveito) deal with?» Who shall:make the heart of stone to relent; or the lifeless carcase to feel and move? -That God that is: able) of stones: to raise up children unto Abraham, that loves to: work like him- self, beyond-the hopes: and belief of man, that peo- pleth his church with:dry bones. he is able! to do this. Therefore Lbbow my) knee to the most high:God ; and as our Saviour: prayed iat) the sepulchre? of Lazarus; so doth your mourning minister kneel about your graves, and carry you in the arms of prayer to that:God'i in whom your help: is found.
- O thou all-powerful: Jehovah, that workest, and none can let thee ; that hast the keys of death and hell; pity thou the dead souls that:lie here entombed, and’ roll
‘away the gravestone, andsay,:as to Lazarus, when already stinking, Come forth... Lighten thou this dark- ness; oh inaccessible) Light, and: let the day-spring from on high visit the dark regions’ of. the) dead, to whom I speak } for thou canst open the eyes that death itself hath closed, thou that’ formedst the ear, canst re- store the hearing ; ‘say thou'to these ears, Ephphatha, and they shall be opened. Give thou eyes to see thine excellencies; a taste that may relish thy sweetness; a scent that’ may savour thy ointments; a feeling that may discern the ‘privilege of thy favour, the burden of thy wrath, the intolerable weight of unpardoned sin; and give. thy servant order to prophesy to the dry — bones, and let’ the effects of this prophecy be as of thy prophet, when he prophesied ‘the valley of dry bones mto a living army exceeding great.—But I must pro- ceed, asf am able, to unfold that mystery, which no tongue can fully unfold, no heart’ can sufficiently com- prehend. Know, therefore, that: while thou art un- converted,
OL. The viefditl G od is engaged against thee.
Thou art not only without God, but God is against thee: Oh if God would but stand a neuter, though he did not own or help the poor sintier, his case were not
588 MISERPES’ OF THE (‘UNCONVERTED:
so deeply miserable, though God: should: give’ u poor creature to the will of his: enemiés; to do their worst with him; though he should: deliver ‘him over to the tormentors, ‘that devils might tearcand torture him: to their utmost power and ‘skill, :yet: this:was not half so fearful. But) God will) set himself agaihst:the sin= ner: and, believe it, ‘tis a: fearful thing» tox fall.into the hands of theliving Gol. There is no friend: like himy no: enemy like:him. As much as heaven:is above the earth, so much more horrible is.it to fall into the hands of the living God, than into:the paws of » bears. or lions, yea, furies or devils..:: Thy: destruction, shalh come from’ the :presence’ of the» Lord, :2Thess.»il 9: “« Tophet is deep and large, and the wrath ofithe Lord; — a river of brimstone, doth’ kindle it, Isa.\)xxx. _ If God be against. thee, who: shall ‘be: for thee? if ‘one.man sin against another, the judge: shall’ judge him; but. if.a man sin against the Lord, who ‘shal intrdat ‘for him? 1: Sam. ii. 25. » Thouy:' ‘even thou art to be feared ;\:and\ who shall stand. in si wip when thou art once angry ?” nd cot: Sinner! methinks, this sbeobl go, kel a inliees to thy heart, to know that God is thine enemy. O whi- ther wilt thou go? Where wilt, thow shelter thyself? There is-no hope for thee )unless thou lay’ dowm thy weapons, and sue! out thy pardon, and get Christ to stand thy friend, and make thy peace. If it) weresnot for this, thou mightest go into.'some howling-wilder- ness, and’ there pine*in sorrow, and,run mad. for an- guish of heart and horrible despair. But in Christ there 18a possibility of mercy for thee, yea, a proffer, of mer- cy. to thee, that\ thou mayest, have God to be more for thee than he is now against,thee;, but if thou »wilt not forsake thy sins, nor turn thoroughly, and to some pur- pose, to God by a sound conversion, the wrath of God abideth on. thee, and he proclaimeth himself to be against thee, as in the prophet Ezekiel v. 8. _There- fore thus saith the Lord God, Behold. I,,even I, am against thee. nod First, his Justice is like a flaming sword unsheathed against thee: ‘‘ If l whet my glittering sword, and my
MISERIES OF THE UNCONVERTED. 589
hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, and will reward them that hate ‘me! I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, ff Be. Deut. xxxil. 41, 42.
« Divine: Justice is very. strict, it must have. natiathee iba to'the utmost farthing; it denounceth indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, to every soul that doeth evil. It curseth every one. that continueth not in every thing that is written in the law, to doit. The justice of God to the unpardoned ‘sinner, that hatha sense‘of his misery, is more terrible ‘than the sight of the judge and bench to the robber, or .of the irons and gibbet tothe guilty murderer. When justice sits upon life and, death, oh what dreadful .work doth it make with the wretched sinner! “Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness ; there shall be weep- ing and wailing, and gnashing of teeth,” Matt. xxi. 13. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, Matt. xxv. 41. This is the terrible sentence that jus- tice pronounceth.. Why sinner, by this severe justice must thou be tried! And, as God liveth, this killing sentence shalt thou bday unless thou Past and be converted. |
_ Secondly, D he’ power of God is $ against thee The - pe of God’s power is to be displayed in the wonder= ful destruction of them that obey not. the. gospel, 2 Thess. i. 8, 9. He will make his power known in them, Rom, ix, 22.,Oh man! art thou able to make thy par- ty good. with thy Maker? Nomore than a reed against the cedars of God, or a cock-boat against the tum- bling ocean.
Sinner, the ‘power of God's anger is: against thee,, and power and anger together make fearful work : *twere better thou hadst all the world in arms against thee, than to have the power of God against thee. There is no escaping his, hands, no breaking his pri-, son? ‘‘ The thunder of his power who can under- stand? Job xxvi. 14. Unhappy man that shall under- stand it by feeling it! If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of.a thousand. _ He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened
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himself against, him, and prospered ? ? who removeth;the mountains, and they know it not; -who,over-turneth . them in. his anger,;,, who. shaketh, the, earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble ; who command- eth the sun, and it,riseth not,,and sealeth up the stars. Behold, he taketh, away, who can hinder him:? who will say unto him, What doest,thou? If God -will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him,” Job ix. 3, 4,/5, 6, &e... And art thou ia fit match — for such an antagonist ? O. consider this, you that sfor- get God, lest he tear you in aoe ond there paws to deliver you, Psal. 1. 22.» )
Thirdly, Zhe truth of: God: is: agiinst ‘tens: a the be true and faithful, thou must perish if thou goest on. Unless he be false to his word, thou must die, except thou repent. If we believe not, yet he abideth faith- ful, he cannot deny himself. . That is, he is faithful to his threatenings, as well as promises ; and will show his faithfulness in our confusion, if we believe not. . God hath told thee, as plain as it can be spoken, that ev- cept thou be. converted, thou shalt an no wise enter into the kingdom of ‘heaven ; and he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself. Beloved, as the immutable faith- fulness of God in his promise affords believers strong consolation, so it is to unbelievers for strong conster- nation and confusion. O sinner, tell me, what shift dost thou make to think of all: the threatenings: of God’s word, that stand upon record against thee? Dost thou believe they are true or not? If not, thou art a wretched infidel; and therefore give over the name and hopes of a Christian. But if thou dost be- lieve them, O: heart of steel’ that thou hast, that canst walk up and down in quiet, when the truth’and faith- fulness of God is engaged to destroy thee! that ifthe Almighty can do it, thow’ shalt surely perish and be damned. Why, man! the whole book of God: doth testify against thee, while thou remainest unsanctified : it condemns thee in every leaf, and is to thee like Eze- kiel’s roll, written within and without, lamentation, and mourning, and woe.
Now put ‘this together, and tell me if the’ case
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of the unconverted be ‘not ‘deplorably miserable;) as we. read of some persons that had ‘bound themselves in an oath, and in’ a curse, to kill Paul, ‘so thou’ must know, O'sinner, to’ thy terror; that. all::the attributes of the infinite’ God ‘are bound i in an oath to! destroy thee, Heb. iii. 18. °O'man! what ‘wilt thou do? «whit ther wilt thou flee? If God's omnisciency can‘ find thee, thou shalt not escape: if the true and faithful God will save his oath, perish thow must, except thow believe and repent’: if the Almighty hath power to, torment thee, thou shalt be perfectly miserable in soub and body to all eternity, unless it i (sdetricica “ speedy conversion.
If. The whole creation of | God as ‘against ree The whole creation (saith Paul) groaneth ‘and travaileth in pain, Rom. viii. 22.' But ‘what is it that the-crea- tion groaneth under? Why, the fearful abuse that it is subject to;'in serving unsanctified men. And-.what is it that the création groaneth for? Why, liberty from this abuse; for the creature is unvillingly subject to this bondage. If the unreasonable and’ inanimate creature had speech and reason, they would cry out underit as a bondage unsufferable, to be abused by the ungodly, contrary to their natures and the ends which the. great. Creator made them for. It is a passage of an eminent divine, “There is never a creatute, but, if it had ‘re+ son to know how it is abused till a man be converted; *twould groan against him: the land would groan to bear him, the air would groan to give him breathing; their houses would groan to lodge them, their beds would groan to ease them, their food to nourish them; their clothes to cover them, and the creature would groan to give them any help and comfort, so long as they live in sin against God.” ;
Methinks this should be a terror to an unconverted soul, to think he is a burden to the creation. Luke xi. 7. ‘Cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground? Tf the poor inanimate creatures could but speak, they would say to the ungodly, as Moses to Israel, ‘« Must we fetch you water out of the rock, ye rebels?” Thy food would say, “ Lord, must I nourish'such a whe
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as this, and yield forth my strength for him to disho- nour thee! withal? No, 1 will choke him rather, .if thou wilt give me permission.” The very air would say, ‘‘ Lord,;must I give this man breath to set his tongue against heayen, and scorn thy people, and vent his pride, and wrath, and’ filthy communication, and oaths and blasphemy against thee? No, if thou but say the word, he shall be breathless for me.” A wicked man, the earth groans under him; and hell groans for him, till. death satisfies both, and unbur- dens the earth, and. stops the mouth of hell with him... While the Lord of hosts is against thee, be sure the host of the Lord is against thee; and all the crea- tures are, as it were, up in arms, till upon a man’s conversion, the controversy being taken up between God and him, he makes a covenant of peace with the creature for him. . ¥ Ill. Zhe rearing lion hath his full power upon thee. Thou art fast in the paw of that lion that, is greedy to devour ; ‘In the snare of the devil led captive by him at his will.” You pity the poor Indians that worship the devil for their god; but little think it is your own case. Why, ’tis the common misery of all the unsanc- ~ tified, that the devil is their god. Not that they intend to do him homage, they will be ready to defy him, and him that should say so of them; but all this while they serve him, and come and go at his beck, and live un- der his government; his servants you are to whom ye yield yourselves to obey...Q how many then will c found the real servants of the devil, that take them- selves for children of God! Doubtless the liar intends not. a service to Satan, but his own advantage; yet ‘tis he that stands in the corner unobserved, and putteth the thing into his heart. co eet ra Dost thou live in the practice of any known sin? know that thou. art, of the devil. Dost thou live in strife, or envy, or malice? verily he is thy father. O dreadful case! However Satan may provide his slaves with divers pleasures, yet it) is but to roll them into endless perdition. The serpent comes with the apple in his mouth, but thou seest not the deadly sting in his
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tail. He that is now thy tempter, will one day be thy tormentor. O that I could but give thee to see, how merciless a tyrant thou gratifiest; all whose pleasure is, to set thee on work to make thy damnation sure, and to heat the furnace hotter and hotter, in which thou must burn for millions and millions of ages.