The
law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is
preached, and every man presseth into it.
In these words two things may be observed:
First, Wherein the work and office of John the Baptist consisted, viz. in
preaching the kingdom of God, to prepare the way for its introduction to
succeed the law and the prophets. By the law and the prophets, in the text,
seems to be intended the ancient dispensation under the Old Testament, which was
received from Moses and the prophets. These are said to be until John; not that
the revelations given by them are out of use since that time, but that the
state of the church, founded and regulated under God by them, the dispensation
of which they were the ministers, and wherein the church depended mainly on
light received from them, fully continued till John. He first began to
introduce the New Testament dispensation, or gospel-state of the church; which,
with its glorious, spiritual, and eternal privileges and blessings, is often
called the kingdom of heaven, or kingdom of God. John the Baptist preached,
that the kingdom of God was at hand. "Repent" says he, "for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand:"-"Since that time," says Christ,
"the kingdom of God is preached." John the Baptist first began to
preach it; and then, after him, Christ and his disciples preached the same.
Thus Christ preached, Matthew 4:17.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand." So the disciples were directed to preach, Matthew
10:7. "And, as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at
hand." It was not John the Baptist, but Christ, that fully brought in, and
actually established, this kingdom of God; but he, as Christ's forerunner to
prepare his way before him, did the first thing that was done towards
introducing it. The old dispensation was abolished, and the new brought in by
degrees; as the night gradually ceases, and gives place to the increasing day
which succeeds in its room.
First the day-star arises; next follows the
light of the sun itself, but dimly reflected, in the dawning of the day; but
this light increases, and shines more and more, and the stars that served for
light during the foregoing night, gradually go out, and their light ceases, as
being now needless, till at length the sun rises, and enlightens the world by
his own direct light, which increases as he ascends higher above the horizon,
till the day-star itself gradually disappears; agreeable to what John says of
himself, John 3:30. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John was
the forerunner of Christ, and harbinger of the gospel-day; much as the
morning-star is the forerunner of the sun. He had the most honorable office of
any of the prophets; the other prophets foretold Christ to come, he revealed
him as already come, and had the honour to be that servant who should come
immediately before him, and actually introduce him, and even to be the
instrument concerned in his solemn inauguration, as he was in baptizing him. He
was the greatest of the prophets that came before Christ, as the morning-star
is the brightest of all the stars, Matthew 11:11. He came to prepare men's
hearts to receive that kingdom of God which Christ was about more fully to
reveal and erect. Luke 1:17. "To make ready a people prepared for the
Lord."
Secondly, We may observe wherein his success
appeared, viz. in that since he began his ministry, every man pressed into that
kingdom of God which he preached. The greatness of his success appeared in two
things:
1. In the generalness of it, with regard to
the subject, or the persons in whom the success appeared; every man. Here is a
term of universality; but it is not to be taken as universal with regard to
individuals, but kinds; as such universal terms are often used in Scripture.
When John preached, there was an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God
that attended his preaching. An uncommon awakening, and concern for salvation,
appeared on the minds of all sorts of persons; and even in the most unlikely
persons, and those from whom such a thing might least be expected; as the
Pharisees, who were exceeding proud, and self-sufficient, and conceited of
their own wisdom and righteousness, and looked on themselves fit to be teachers
of others, and used to scorn to be taught; and the Sadducees, who were a kind
of infidels, that denied any resurrection, angel, spirit, or any future state.
So that John himself seems to be surprised to see them come to him, under such
concern for their salvation; as in Matthew 3:7. "But when he saw many of
the Pharisees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" And besides these, the
publicans, who were some of the most infamous sort of men, came to him,
inquiring what they should do to be saved. And the soldiers, who were doubtless
a very profane, loose, and prolifigate sort of persons, made the same inquiry,
Luke 3:12, and 14. "Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto
him, Master, what shall we do? And the soldiers likewise demanded of him,
saying, And what shall we do?
2. His success appeared in the manner in
which his hearers sought the kingdom of God; they pressed into it. It is elsewhere
set forth by their being violent for the kingdom of heaven, and taking it by
force. Matthew 11:12. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the
kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."
The Doctrine that I observe from the words
is this,- "It concerns every one that would obtain the kingdom of God, to
be pressing into it." -In discoursing of this subject, I would,
First, Show what is that way of seeking
salvation that seems to be pointed forth in the expression of pressing into the
kingdom of God.
Secondly, Give the reasons why it concerns
every one that would obtain the kingdom of God, to seek it in this way.- And
then make application.
I. I would show what manner of seeking
salvation seems to be denoted by "pressing into the kingdom of God."
1. This expression denotes strength of
desire. Men in general who live under the light of the gospel, and are not
atheists, desire the kingdom of God; that is, they desire to go to heaven
rather than to hell. Most of them indeed are not much concerned about it; but
on the contrary, live a secure and careless life. And some who are many degrees
above these, being under some degrees of the awakenings of God's Spirit, yet
are not pressing into the kingdom of God. But they that may be said to be truly
so, have strong desires to get out of a natural condition, and to get an
interest in Christ. They have such a conviction of the misery of their present
state, and of the extreme necessity of obtaining a better, that their minds are
as it were possessed with and wrapped up in concern about it.
To obtain salvation is desired by them above
all things in the world. This concern is so great that it very much shuts out
other concerns. They used before to have the stream of their desires after
other things, or, it may be, had their concern divided between this and them;
but when they come to answer the expression of the text, of pressing into the
kingdom of God, this concern prevails above all others; it lays other things
low, and does in a manner engross the care of the mind. This seeking eternal
life should not only be one concern that our souls are taken up about with
other things; but salvation should be sought as the one thing needful, Luke
10:42. And as the one thing that is desired, Psalm 27:4.
2. Pressing into the kingdom of heaven
denotes earnestness and firmness of resolution. There should be strength of
resolution, accompanying strength of desire, as it was in the psalmist, in the
place just now referred to: "one thing have I desired, and that will I
seek after." In order to a thorough engagedness of the mind in this
affair, both these must meet together. Besides desires after salvation, there
should be an earnest resolution in persons to pursue this good as much as lies
in their power; to do all that in the use of their utmost strength they are
able to do, in an attendance on every duty, and resisting and militating
against all manner of sin, and to continue in such a pursuit.
There are two things needful in a person, in
order to these strong resolutions; there must be a sense of the great
importance and necessity of the mercy sought, and there must also be a sense of
opportunity to obtain it, or the encouragement there is to seek it. The
strength of resolution depends on the sense which God gives to the heart of
these things. Persons without such a sense, may seem to themselves to take up
resolutions; they may, as it were, force a promise to themselves, and say
within themselves, "I will seek as long as I live, I will not give up till
I obtain," when they do but deceive themselves. Their hearts are not in
it; neither do they indeed take up any such resolution as they seem to
themselves to do. It is the resolution of the mouth more than of the heart;
their hearts are not strongly bent to fulfill what their mouth says. The
firmness of the resolution lies in the fulness of the disposition of the heart
to do what is resolved to be done. Those who are pressing into the kingdom of
God, have a disposition of heart to do everything that is required, and that
lies in their power to do, and to continue in it. They have not only
earnestness, but steadiness of resolution: they do not seek with a wavering
unsteady heart, by turns or fits, being off and on; but it is the constant bent
of the soul, if possible, to obtain the kingdom of God.
3. By pressing into the kingdom of God is
signified greatness of endeavor. It is expressed in Ecclesiastes 10:10. by
doing what our hand finds to do with our might. And this is the natural and
necessary consequence of the two forementioned things. Where there is strength
of desire, and firmness of resolution, there will be answerable endeavors.
Persons thus engaged in their hearts will "strive to enter in at the
strait gate," and will be violent for heaven; their practice will be
agreeable to the counsel of the wise man, in Proverbs 2 at the beginning,
"My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with
thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice
for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for
hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the
knowledge of God." Here the earnestness of desire and strength of
resolution is signified by inclining the ear to wisdom, and applying the heart
to understanding; and the greatness of endeavor is denoted by crying after
knowledge, and lifting up the voice for understanding; seeking her as silver,
and searching for her as for hid treasures: such desires and resolutions, and
such endeavors go together.
4. Pressing into the kingdom of God denotes
an engagedness and earnestness, that is directly about that business of getting
into the kingdom of God. Persons may be in very great exercise and distress of
mind, and that about the condition of their souls; their thoughts and cares may
be greatly engaged and taken up about things of a spiritual nature, and yet not
be pressing into the kingdom of God, nor towards it. The exercise of their
minds is not directly about the work of seeking salvation, in a diligent
attendance on the means that God hath appointed in order to it, but something
else that is beside their business; it may be God's decrees and secret purposes,
prying into them, searching for signs whereby they may determine, or at least
conjecture, what they are before God makes them known by their accomplishment.
They distress their minds with fears that they be not elected, or that they
have committed the unpardonable sin, or that their day is past, and that God
has given them up to judicial and final hardness, and never intends to show
them mercy; and therefore, that it is in vain for them to seek salvation. Or
they entangle themselves about the doctrine of original sin, and other
mysterious doctrines of religion that are above their comprehension.
Many persons that seem to be in great
distress about a future eternal state, get much into a way of perplexing
themselves with such things as these. When it is so, let them be never so much
concerned and engaged in their minds, they cannot be said to be pressing
towards the kingdom of God: because their exercise is not in their work, but
rather that which tends to hinder them in their work. If they are violent, they
are only working violently to entangle themselves, and lay blocks in their own
way; their pressure is not forwards. Instead of getting along, they do but lose
their time, and worse than merely lose it; instead of fighting with the giants
that stand in the way to keep them out of Canaan, they spend away their time
and strength in conflicting with shadows that appear by the wayside.
Hence we are not to judge of the hopefulness
of the way that persons are in, or of the probability of their success in
seeking salvation, only by the greatness of the concern and distress that they
are in; for many persons have needless distresses that they had much better be
without. It is thus very often with persons overrun with the distemper of
melancholy: whence the adversary of souls is wont to take great advantage. But
then are persons in the most likely way to obtain the kingdom of heaven, when
the intent of their minds, and the engagedness of their spirits, be about their
proper work and business, and all the bent of their souls is to attend on God's
means, and to do what he commands and directs them to. The apostle tells us, I
Corinthians 9:26. "that he did not fight as those that beat the air."
Our time is short enough; we had not need to spend it in that which is nothing
to the purpose. There are real difficulties and enemies enough for persons to
encounter, to employ all their strength; they had not need to waste it in
fighting with phantoms.
5. By pressing into the kingdom of God is
denoted a breaking through opposition and difficulties. There is in the
expression a plain intimation of difficulty. If there were no opposition, but
the way was all clear and open, there would be no need of pressing to get
along. They therefore that are pressing into the kingdom of God, go on with
such engagedness, that they break through the difficulties that are in the way.
They are so set for salvation, that those things by which others are
discouraged, and stopped, and turned back, do not stop them, but they press
through them. Persons ought to be so resolved for heaven, that if by any means
they can obtain, they will obtain. Whether those means be difficult or easy,
cross or agreeable, if they are requisite means of salvation, they should be
complied with. When anything is presented to be done, the question should not
be, Is it easy or hard? is it agreeable to my carnal inclinations or interest,
or against them? But is it a required means of my obtaining an interest in
Jesus Christ, and eternal salvation? Thus the apostle, Philippians 3:11.
"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."
He tells us there in the context what difficulties he broke through, that he
suffered the loss of all things, and was willingly made conformable even to
Christ's death, though that was attended with such extreme torment and
ignominy.
He that is pressing into the kingdom of God,
commonly finds many things in the way that are against the grain; but he is not
stopped by the cross that lies before him, but takes it up, and carries it.
Suppose there be something incumbent on him to do, that is cross to his natural
temper, and irksome to him on that account; suppose something that he cannot do
without suffering in his estate, or that he apprehends will look odd and
strange in the eyes of others, and expose him to ridicule and reproach, or any
thing that will offend a neighbor, and get his ill-will, or something that will
be very cross to his own carnal appetite-he will press through such
difficulties. Everything that is found to be a weight that hinders him in
running this race he casts from him, though it be a weight of gold or pearls;
yea, if it be a right hand or foot that offends him, he will cut them off, and
will not stick at plucking out a right eye with his own hands. These things are
insuperable difficulties to those who are not thoroughly engaged in seeking
their salvation; they are stumbling-blocks that they never get over. But it is
not so with him that presses into the kingdom of God. Those things (before he
was thoroughly roused from his security) about which he was wont to have long
parleyings and disputings with his own conscience-employing carnal reason to
invent arguments and pleas of excuse-he now sticks at no longer; he has done
with this endless disputing and reasoning, and presses violently through all
difficulties.
Let what will be in the way, heaven is what
he must and will obtain, not if he can without difficulty, but if it be
possible. He meets with temptation: the devil is often whispering in his ear,
setting allurements before him, magnifying the difficulties of the work he is
engaged in, telling him that they are insuperable, and that he can never
conquer them, and trying all ways in the world to discourage him; but still he
presses forward. God has given and maintains such an earnest spirit for heaven,
that the devil cannot stop him in his course; he is not at leasure to lend an
ear to what he has to say.-I come now,
1. On account of the extreme necessity we
are in of getting into the kingdom of heaven. We are in a perishing necessity
of it; without it we are utterly and eternally lost. Out of the kingdom of God
is no safety; there is no other hiding-place; this is the only city of refuge,
in which we can be secure from the avenger that pursues all the ungodly. The
vengeance of God will pursue, overtake, and eternally destroy, them that are
not in this kingdom. All that are without this enclosure will be swallowed up
in an overflowing fiery deluge of wrath. They may stand at the door and knock,
and cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, in vain; they will be thrust back; and God
will have no mercy on them; they shall be eternally left of him. His fearful
vengence will seize them; the devils will lay hold of them; and all evil will
come upon them; and there will be none to pity or help; their case will be
utterly desperate, and infinitely doleful. It will be a gone case with them;
all offers of mercy and expressions of divine goodness will be finally
withdrawn, and all hope will be lost. God will have no kind of regard to their
well-being; will take no care of them to save them from any enemy, or any evil;
but himself will be their dreadful enemy, and will execute wrath with fury, and
will take vengeance in an inexpressibly dreadful manner. Such as shall be in
this case will be lost and undone indeed! They will be sunk down into
perdition, infinitely below all that we can think. For who knows the power of
God's anger? And who knows the misery of that poor worm, on whom that anger is
executed without mercy?
2. On account of the shortness and
uncertainty of the opportunity for getting into this kingdom. When a few days
are past, all our opportunity for it will be gone. Our day is limited. God has
set our bounds, and we know not where. While persons are out of this kingdom,
they are in danger every hour of being overtaken with wrath. We know not how
soon we shall get past that line, beyond which there is no work, device,
knowledge, nor wisdom; and therefore we should do what we have to do with our
might, Ecclesiastes 9:10.
3. On account of the difficulty of getting
into the kingdom of God. There are innumerable difficulties in the way; such as
few conquer: most of them that try have not resolution, courage, earnestness,
and constancy enough; but they fail, give up, and perish. The difficulties are
too many and too great for them that do not violently press forward. They never
get along, but stick by the way; are turned aside, or turned back, and ruined.
Matthew 7:14. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it." Luke 13:24. "Strive to
enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in,
and shall not be able."
4. The possibility of obtaining. Though it
be attended with so much difficulty, yet it is not a thing impossible. Acts
8:22. "If perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
II Timothy 2:25. "If peradventure God will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth." However sinful a person is, and whatever his
circumstances are, there is, notwithstanding, a possibility of his salvation.
He himself is capable of it, and God is able to accomplish it, and has mercy
sufficient for it; and there is sufficient provision made through Christ, that
God may do it consistent with the honour of his majesty, justice, and truth. So
that there is no want either of sufficiency in God, or capacity in the sinner,
in order to this. The greatest and vilest most blind, dead, hard-hearted sinner
living, is a subject capable of saving light and grace. Seeing therefore there
is such a necessity of obtaining the kingdom of God, and so short a time, and
such difficulty, and yet such a possibility, it may well induce us to press
into it. Jonah 3:8, 9.
5. It is meet that the kingdom of heaven
should be thus sought, because of the great excellency of it. We are willing to
seek earthly things, of trifling value, with great diligence, and through much
difficulty; it therefore certainly becomes us to seek that with great
earnestness which is of infinitely greater worth and excellence. And how well
may God expect and require it of us, that we should seek it in such a manner,
in order to our obtaining it!
6. Such a manner of seeking is needful to
prepare persons for the kingdom of God. Such earnestness and thoroughness of
endeavors, is the ordinary means that God makes use of to bring persons to an
acquaintance with themselves, to a sight of their own hearts, to a sense of
their own helplessness, and to a despair in their own strength and
righteousness. And such engagedness and constancy in seeking the kingdom of
heaven, prepare the soul to receive it the more joyfully and thankfully, and
the more highly to prize and value it when obtained. So that it is in mercy to
us, as well as for the glory of his own name, that God has appointed such
earnest seeking, to be the way in which he will bestow the kingdom of heaven.
APPLICATION
The use I would make of this doctrine, is of
exhortation to all Christless persons to press into the kingdom of God. Some of
you are inquiring what you shall do? You seem to desire to know what is the way
wherein salvation is to be sought, and how you may be likely to obtain it. You
have now heard the way that the holy word of God directs to. Some are seeking,
but it cannot be said of them that they are pressing into the kingdom of
heaven. There are many that in time past have sought salvation, but not in this
manner, and so they never obtained, but are now gone to hell. Some of them
sought it year after year, but failed of it, and perished at last. They were
overtaken with divine wrath, and are now suffering the fearful misery of
damnation, and have no rest day nor night, having no more opportunity to seek,
but must suffer and be miserable throughout the never-ending ages of eternity.
Be exhorted, therefore, not to seek salvation as they did, but let the kingdom
of heaven suffer violence from you.
Here I would first answer an objection or
two, and then proceed to give some directions how to press into the kingdom of
God.
Objection. 1. Some may be ready to say, We
cannot do this of ourselves; that strength of desire, and firmness of
resolution, that have been spoken of, are out of our reach. If I endeavor to
resolve and to seek with engagedness of spirit, I find I fail; my thoughts are
presently off from the business, and I feel myself dull, and my engagedness
relaxed, in spite of all I can do.
Answer. 1. Though earnestness of mind be not
immediately in your power, yet the consideration of what has been now said of
the need of it, may be a means of stirring you up to it. It is true, persons
never will be thoroughly engaged in this business, unless it be by God's
influence; but God influences persons by means. Persons are not stirred up to a
thorough earnestness without some considerations that move them to it. And if
persons can but be made sensible of the necessity of salvation, and also duly
consider the exceeding difficuly of it, and the greatness of the opposition,
and how short and uncertain the time is, but yet are sensible that they have an
opportunity, and that there is a possibility of their obtaining, they will need
no more in order to their being thoroughly engaged and resolved in this matter.
If we see persons slack and unresolved, and unsteady, it is because they do not
enough consider these things.
2. Though strong desires and resolutions of
mind be not in your power, yet painfulness of endeavors is in your power. It is
in your power to take pains in the use of means, yea very great pains. You can
be very painful and diligent in watching your own heart, and striving against
sin. Though there is all manner of corruption in the heart continually ready to
work, yet you can very laboriously watch and strive against these corruptions;
and it is in your power, with great diligence to attend the matter of your duty
towards God and towards your neighbour. It is in your power to attend all
ordinances, and all public and private duties of religion, and to do it with
your might. It would be a contradiction to suppose that a man cannot do these
things with all the might he has, though he cannot do them with more might than
he has. The dullness and deadness of the heart, and slothfulness of
disposition, do not hinder men being able to take pains, though it hinders
their being willing. That is one thing wherein your laboriousness may appear,
even striving against your own dullness. That men have a dead and sluggish
heart, does not argue that they be not able to take pains; it is so far from
that, that it gives occasion for pains. It is one of the difficulties in the
way of duty, that persons have to strive with, and that gives occasion for
struggling and labour. If there were no difficulties attended seeking
salvation, there would be no occasion for striving; a man would have nothing to
strive about. There is indeed a great deal of difficulty attending all duties
required of those that would obtain heaven. It is an exceeding difficult thing
for them to keep their thoughts; it is a difficult thing seriously, or to any
good purpose, to consider matters of greatest importance; it is a difficult
thing to hear, or read, or pray attentively. But it does not argue that a man
cannot strive in these things because they are difficult; nay, he could not
strive therein if there were not difficulty in them. For what is there
excepting difficulties that any can have to strive or struggle with in any
affair or business? Earnestness of mind, and diligence of endeavor, tend to
promote each other. He that has a heart earnestly engaged, will take pains; and
he that is diligent and painful in all duty, probably will not be so long
before he finds the sensibleness of his heart and earnestness of his spirit
greatly increased.
Objection 2. Some may object, that if they
are earnest, and take a great deal of pains, they shall be in danger of
trusting to what they do; they are afraid of doing their duty for fear of
making a righteousness of it.
Answer. There is ordinarily no kind of
seekers that trust so much to what they do, as slack and dull seekers. Though
all seeking salvation, that have never been the subjects of a thorough
humiliation, do trust in their own righteousness; yet some do it much more
fully than others. Some though they trust in their own righteousness, yet are
not quiet in it. And those who are most disturbed in their self-confidence,
(and therefore in the likeliest way to be wholly brought off from it,) are not
such as go on in a remiss way of seeking, but such as are most earnest and
thoroughly engaged; partly because in such a way conscience is kept more
sensible. A more awakened conscience will not rest so quietly in moral and
religious duties, as one that is less awakened. A dull seeker's conscience will
be in a great measure satisfied and quieted with his own works and
performances; but one that is thoroughly awakened cannot be stilled or pacified
with such things as these. In this way persons gain much more knowledge of
themselves, and acquaintance with their own hearts, than in a negligent, slight
way of seeking; for they have a great deal more experience of themselves. It is
experience of ourselves, and finding what we are, that God commonly makes use
of as the means of bringing us off from all dependence on ourselves. But men
never get acquaintance with themselves so fast, as in the most earnest way of
seeking. They that are in this way have more to engage them to think of their
sins, and strictly to observe themselves, and have much more to do with their
own hearts, than others. Such a one has much more experience of his own
weakness, than another that does not put forth and try his strength; and will
therefore sooner see himself dead in sin. Such a one, though he hath a
disposition continually to be flying to his own righteousness, yet finds rest
in nothing; he wanders about from one thing to another, seeking something to
ease his disquieted conscience; he is driven from one refuge to another, goes
from mountain to hill, seeking rest and finding none; and therefore will the
sooner prove that there is no rest to be found, nor trust to be put, in any
creature whatsoever.
It is therefore quite a wrong notion that
some entertain, that the more they do, the more they shall depend on it.
Whereas the reverse is true; the more they do, or the more thorough they are in
seeking, the less will they be likely to rest in their doings, and the sooner
will they see the vanity of all that they do. So that persons will exceedingly
miss it, if ever they neglect to do any duty either to God or man, whether it
be any duty of religion, justice, or charity, under a notion of its exposing
them to trust in their own righteousness. It is very true, that it is a common
thing for persons, when they earnestly seek salvation, to trust in the pains
that they take: but yet commonly those that go on in a more slight way, trust a
great deal more securely to their dull services, than he that is pressing into
the kingdom of God does to his earnestness. Men's slackness in religion, and
their trust in their own righteousness, strengthen and establish one another.
Their trust in what they have done, and what they now do, settles them in a
slothful rest and ease, and hinders their being sensible of their need of
rousing up themselves and pressing forward. And on the other hand, their
negligence tends so to benumb them in such ignorance of themselves, that the
most miserable refuges are stupidly rested in as sufficient. Therefore we see,
that when persons have been going on for a long time in such a way, and God
afterwards comes more thoroughly to awaken them, and to stir them up to be in
good earnest, he shakes all their old foundations, and rouses them out of their
old resting places; so that they cannot quiet themselves with those things that
formerly kept them secure. I would now proceed to give some directions how you
should press into the kingdom of God.
1. Be directed to sacrifice every thing to
your soul's eternal interest. Let seeking this be so much your bent, and what
you are so resolved in, that you will make every thing give place to it. Let
nothing stand before your resolution of seeking the kingdom of God. Whatever it
be that you used to look upon as a convenience, or comfort, or ease, or thing
desirable on any account, if it stands in the way of this great concern, let it
be dismissed without hesitation; and if it be of that nature that it is likely
always to be a hinderance, then wholly have done with it, and never entertain
any expectation from it more. If in time past you have, for the sake of worldly
gain, involved yourself in more care and business than you find to be
consistent with your being so thorough in the business of religion as you ought
to be, then get into some other way, though you suffer in your worldly interest
by it. Or if you have heretofore been conversant with company that you have
reason to think have been and will be a snare to you, and a hinderance to this
great design in any wise, break off from their society, however it may expose
you to reproach from your old companions, or let what will be the effect of it.
Whatever it be that stands in the way of your most advantageously seeking
salvation-whether it be some dear sinful pleasure, or strong carnal appetite,
or credit and honour, or the good-will of some persons whose friendship you
desire, and whose esteem and liking you have highly valued-and though there be
danger, if you do as you ought, that you shall looked upon by them as odd and
ridiculous, and become contemptible in their eyes-or if it be your ease and
indolence and aversion to continual labour; or your outward convenience in any
respect, whereby you might avoid difficulties of one kind or other-let all go;
offer up all such things together, as it were, in one sacrifice, to the
interest of your soul. Let nothing stand in competition with this, but make
every thing to fall before it. If the flesh must be crossed, then cross it,
spare it not, crucify it, and do not be afraid of being too cruel to it.
Galatians 5:24. "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the
affections and lusts." Have no dependence on any worldly enjoyment
whatsoever. Let salvation be the one thing with you. This is what is certainly
required of you: and this is what many stick at; this giving up other things
for salvation, is a stumbling-block that few get over. While others pressed
into the kingdom of God at the preaching of John the Baptist, Herod was pretty
much stirred up by his preaching. It is said, he heard him, and observed him,
and did many things; but when he came to tell him that he must part with his
beloved Herodias, here he stuck; this he never would yield to, Mark 7:18-20.
The rich young man was considerably concerned for salvation; and accordingly
was a very strict liver in many things: but when Christ came to direct him to
go and sell all that he had, and give to the poor, and come and follow him, he
could not find in his heart to comply with it, but went away sorrowful. He had
great possessions, and set his heart much on his estate, and could not bear to
part with it. It may be, if Christ had directed him only to give away a
considerable part of his estate, he would have done it; yea, perhaps, if he had
bid him part with half of it, he would have complied with it: but when he
directed him to throw up all, he could not grapple with such a proposal. Herein
the straitness of the gate very much consists; and it is on this account that
so many seek to enter in, and are not able. There are many that have a great
mind to salvation, and spend great part of their time in wishing they had it,
but they will not comply with the necessary means.
2. Be directed to forget the things that are
behind: that is, not to keep thinking and making much of what you have done,
but let your mind be wholly intent on what you have to do. In some sense you
ought to look back; you should look back to your sins. Jeremiah 2:23. "See
thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done." You should look back on
the wretchedness of your religious performances, and consider how you have
fallen short in them; how exceedingly polluted all your duties have been, and
how justly God might reject and loathe them, and you for them. But you ought
not to spend your time in looking back, as many persons do, thinking how much
they have done for their salvation; what great pains they have taken, how that
they have done what they can, and do not see how they can do more; how long a
time they have been seeking, and how much more they have done than others, and
even than such and such who have obtained mercy. They think with themselves how
hardly God deals with them, that he does not extend mercy to them, but turns a
deaf ear to their cries; and hence discourage themselves, and complain of God.
Do not thus spend your time in looking back on what is past, but look forward,
and consider what is before you; consider what it is that you can do, and what
it is necessary that you should do, and what God calls you still to do, in
order to your own salvation. The apostle, in the third chapter to the
Philippians, tells us what things he did while a Jew, how much he had to boast
of, if any could boast; but he tells us, that he forgot those things, and all
other things that were behind, and reached forth towards the things that were
before, pressing forwards towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
3. Labour to get your heart thoroughly
disposed to go on and hold out to the end. Many that seem to be earnest have
not a heart thus disposed. It is a common thing for persons to appear greatly
affected for a little while; but all is soon past away, and there is no more to
be seen of it. Labour therefore to obtain a thorough willingness and
preparation of spirit, to continue seeking, in the use of your utmost endeavours,
without limitation; and do not think your whole life too long. And in order to
this, be advised to two things,
(1.) Remember that if ever God bestows mercy
upon you, he will use his sovereign pleasure about the time when. He will
bestow it on some in a little time, and on others not till they have sought it
long. If other persons are soon enlightened and comforted, while you remain
long in darkness, there is no other way but for you to wait. God will act
arbitrarily in this matter, and you cannot help it. You must even be content to
wait, in a way of laborious and earnest striving, till his time comes. If you
refuse, you will but undo yourself; and when you shall hereafter find yourself
undone, and see that your case is past remedy, how will you condemn yourself
for foregoing a great probability of salvation, only because you had not the
patience to hold out, and was not willing to be at the trouble of a persevering
labour! And what will it avail before God or your own conscience to say, that
you could not bear to be obliged to seek salvation so long, when God bestowed
it on others that sought it but for a very short time? Though God may have
bestowed the testimonies of his favour on others in a few days or hours after
they have begun earnestly to seek it, how does that alter the case as to you,
if there proves to be a necessity of your laboriously seeking many years before
you obtain them? Is salvation less worth taking a great deal of pains for,
because, through the sovereign pleasure of God, others have obtained it with
comparatively little pains? If there are two persons, the one of which has
obtained converting grace with comparative ease, and another that has obtained
it after continuing for many years in the greatest and most earnest labours after
it, how little difference does it make at last, when once salvation is
obtained! Put all the labour and pains, the long-continued difficulties and
strugglings, of the one in the scale against salvation, and how little does it
subtract; and put the ease with which the other has obtained in the scale with
salvation, and how little does it add! What is either added or subtracted is
lighter than vanity, and a thing worthy of no consideration, when compared with
that infinite benefit that is obtained. Indeed if you were ten thousand years,
and all that time should strive and press forward with as great earnestness as
ever a person did for one day, all this would bear no proportion to the
importance of the benefit; and it will doubtless appear little to you, when
once you come to be in actual possession of eternal glory, and to see what that
eternal misery is which you have escaped. You must not think much of your
pains, and of the length of time; you must press towards the kingdom of God,
and do your utmost, and hold out to the end, and learn to make no account of it
when you have done. You must undertake the business of seeking salvation upon
these terms, and with no other expectations than this, that if ever God bestows
mercy it will be in his own time; and not only so, but also that when you have
done all, God will not hold himself obliged to show you mercy at last.
(2.) Endeavour now thoroughly to weigh in
your mind the difficulty, and to count the cost of perseverence in seeking
salvation. You that are now setting out in this business, (as there are many
here who have very lately set about it;-Praised be the name of God that he has
stirred you up to it!) be exhorted to attend this direction. Do not undertake
in this affair with any other thought but of giving yourself wholly to it for
the remaining part of your life, and going through many and great difficulties
in it. Take heed that you do not engage secretly upon this condition, that you
shall obtain in a little time, promising yourself that it shall be within this
present season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, or with any other limitation
of time whatsoever. Many, when they begin, (seeming to set out very earnestly,)
do not expect that they shall need to seek very long, and so do not prepare
themselves for it. And therefore, when they come to find it otherwise, and meet
with unexpected difficulty, they are found unguarded, and easily overthrown.
But let me advise you all who are now seeking salvation, not to entertain any
self-flattering thoughts; but weigh the utmost difficulties of perseverance,
and be provided for them, having your mind fixed in it to go through them, let
them be what they will. Consider now beforehand, how tedious it would be, with
utmost earnestness and labour, to strive after salvation for many years, in the
mean time receiving no joyful or comfortable evidence of your having obtained.
Consider what a great temptation to discouragement there probably would be in
it; how apt you would be to yield the case; how ready to think that it is in
vain for you to seek any longer, and that God never intends to show you mercy,
in that he has not yet done it; how apt you would be to think with yourself,
"What an uncomfortable life do I live! How much more unpleasantly do I
spend my time than others that do not perplex their minds about the things of
another world, but are at ease, and take the comfort of their worldly
enjoyments!" Consider what a temptation there would probably be in it, if
you saw others brought in that began to seek the kingdom of heaven long after
you, rejoicing in a hope and sense of God's favour, after but little pains and
a short time of awakening; while you, from day to day, and from year to year,
seemed to labour in vain. Prepare for such tempations now. Lay in beforehand for
such trials and difficulties, that you may not think any strange thing has
happened when they come.
I hope that those who have given attention
to what has been said, have by this time conceived, in some measure, what is
signified by the expression in the text, and after what manner they ought to
press into the kingdom of God. Here is this to induce you to a compliance with
what you have been directed to; if you sit still, you die; if you go backward,
behold you shall surely die; if you go forward, you may live. And though God
has not bound himself to any thing that a person does while destitute of faith,
and out of Christ, yet there is great probability, that in a way of hearkening
to this counsel you will live; and that by pressing onward, and persevering,
you will at last, as it were by violence, take the kingdom of heaven. Those of
you who have not only heard the directions given, but shall through God's
merciful assistance, practise according to them, are those that probably will
overcome. These we may well hope at last to see standing with the Lamb on mount
Sion, clothed in white robes, with palms in their hands; when all your labour
and toil will be abundantly compensated, and you will not repent that you have
taken so much pains, and denied yourself much, and waited so long. This
self-denial, this waiting, will then look little, and vanish into nothing in
your eyes, being all swallowed up in the first minute's enjoyment of that glory
that you will then possess, and will uninterruptedly possess and enjoy to all
eternity.
4th Direction. Improve the present season of
the pouring out of the Spirit of God on this town. Prudence is any affair
whatsoever consists very much in minding and improving our opportunities. If
you would have spiritual prosperity, you must exercise prudence in the concerns
of your souls, as well as in outward concerns when you seek outward prosperity.
The prudent husbandman will observe his opportunities; he will improve
seed-time and harvest; he will make his advantage of the showers and shines of
heaven. The prudent merchant will discern his opportunities; he will not be
idle on a market-day; he is careful not to let slip his seasons for enriching
himself: So will those who prudently seek the fruits of righteousness, and the
merchandise of wisdom, improve their opportunities for their eternal wealth and
happiness.
God is pleased at this time, in a very
remarkable manner, to pour out his Spirit amongst us; (glory be to his name!)
You that have a mind to obtain converting grace, and to go to heaven when you
die, now is your season! Now, if you have any sort of prudence for your own
salvation, and have not a mind to go to hell, improve this season! Now is the
accepted time! Now is the day of salvation! You that in time past have been called
upon, and have turned a deaf ear to God's voice, and long stood out and
resisted his commands and counsels, hear God's voice today, while it is called
today! Do not harden your hearts at such a day as this! Now you have a special
and remarkable price put into your hands to get wisdom, if you have but a heart
to improve it.
God hath his certain days or appointed
seasons of exercising both mercy and judgment. There are some remarkable times
of wrath, laid out by God for his awful visitation, and the executions of his
anger; which times are called days of vengeance, Proverbs 6:34. Wherein God
will visit sin, Exodus 32:34. And so, on the contrary, God has laid out in his
sovereign counsels seasons of remarkable mercy, wherein he will manifest
himself in the exercises of his grace and loving-kindness, more than at other
times. Such times in Scripture are called by way of eminency, accepted times,
and days of salvation, and also days of God's visitation; because they are days
wherein God will visit in a way of mercy; as in Luke 19:44. "And shall lay
thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not
leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy
visitation." It is such a time now in this town; it is with us a day of
God's gracious visitation. It is indeed a day of grace with us as long as we
live in this world, in the enjoyment of the means of grace; but such a time as
this is especially, and in a distinguishing manner, a day of grace. There is a
door of mercy always standing open for sinners; but such a day as this, God
opens an extraordinary door.
We are directed to seek the Lord while he
may be found, and to call upon him while he is near, Isaiah 55:6. If you that
are hitherto Christless, be not strangely besotted and infatuated, you will by
all means improve such an opportunity as this to get heaven, when heaven is
brought so near, when the fountain is opened in the midst of us in so
extraordinary a manner. Now is the time to obtain a supply of the necessities
of your poor perishing souls! This is the day for sinners that have a mind to
be converted before they die, when God is dealing forth so liberally and
bountifully amongst us; when conversion and salvation work is going on amongst
us from sabbath to sabbath, and many are pressing into the kingdom of God! Now
do not stay behind, but press in amongst the rest! Others have been stirred up
to be in good earnest, and have taken heaven by violence; be entreated to
follow their example, if you would have a part of the inheritance with them,
and would not be left at the great day, when they are taken!
How should it move you to consider that you
have this opportunity now in your hands! You are in the actual possession of
it! If it were past, it would not be in your power to recover it, or in the
power of any creature to bring it back for you; but it is not past; it is now,
at this day. Now is the accepted time, even while it is called today! Will you
sit still at such a time? Will you sleep in such a harvest? Will you deal with
a slack hand, and stay behind out of mere sloth, or love to some lust, or
lothness to grapple with some small difficulty, or to put yourself a little out
of your way, when so many are flowing to the goodness of the Lord? You are
behind still; and so you will be in danger of being left behind, when the whole
number is completed that are to enter in, if you do not earnestly bestir
yourself! To be left behind at the close of such a season as this, will be
awful-next to being left behind on that day when God's saints shall mount up as
with wings to meet the Lord in the air-and will be what will appear very
threatening of it.
God is now calling you in an extraordinary
manner: and it is agreeable to the will and word of Christ, that I should now,
in his name, call you, as one set over you, and sent to you to that end; so it
is his will that you should hearken to what I say, as his voice. I therefore
beseech you in Christ's stead now to press into the kingdom of God! Whoever you
are, whether young or old, small or great; if you are a great sinner, if you
have been a backslider, if you have quenched the Spirit, be who you will, do
not stand making objections, but arise, apply yourself to your work! Do what
you have to do with your might. Christ is calling you before, and holding forth
his grace, and everlasting benefits, and wrath is pursuing you behind;
wherefore fly for your life, and look not behind you! But here I would
particularly direct myself to several sorts of persons.
I. To those sinners who are in a measure
awakened, and are concerned for their salvation. You have reason to be glad
that you have such an opportunity, and to prize it above gold. To induce you to
prize and improve it, consider several things.
1. God has doubtless a design now to deal
forth saving blessings to a number. God has done it to some already, and it is
not probable that he has yet finished his work amongst us: we may well hope
still to see others brought out of darkness into marvellous light. And
therefore,
2. God comes this day, and knocks at many
persons' doors, and at your door among the rest. God seems to be come in a very
unusual manner amongst us, upon a gracious and merciful design; a design of
saving a number of poor miserable souls out of a lost and perishing condition,
and of bringing them into a happy state and eternal glory! This is offered to
you, not only as it has always been in the word and ordinances, but by the
particular influences of the Spirit of Christ awakening you! This special offer
is made to many amongst us; and you are not passed over. Christ has not forgot
you; but has come to your door; and there as it were stands waiting for you to
open to him. If you have wisdom and discretion to discern your own advantage,
you will know that now is your opportunity.
3. How much more easily converting grace is
obtained at such a time, than at other times! The work is equally easy with God
at all times; but there is far less difficulty in the way as to men at such a
time, than at other times. It is, as I said before, a day of God's gracious
visitation; a day that he has as it were set apart for the more liberally and
bountifully dispensing of his grace; a day wherein God's hand is opened wide.
Experience shows it. God seems to be more ready to help, to give proper
convictions, to help against temptations, and let in divine light. He seems to
carry on his work with a more glorious discovery of his power, and Satan is
more chained up than at other times. Those difficulties and temptations that
persons before struck at, from year to year, they are soon helped over. The
work of God is carried on with greater speed and swiftness, and there are often
instances of sudden conversion at such a time. So it was in the apostles' days,
when there was a time of the most extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit that
ever was. How quick and sudden were conversions in those days! Such instances
as that of the jailer abounded then, in fulfillment of that prophecy, Isaiah
66:7, 8. "Before she travailed, she brought forth: before her pain came
she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen
such things? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her
children." So it is in some degree, whenever there is an extraordinary
pouring out of the Spirit of God; more or less so, in proportion to the
greatness of that effusion. There is seldom such quick work made of it at other
times. Persons are not so soon delivered from their various temptations and
entanglements; but are much longer wandering in a wilderness, and groping in
darkness. And yet,
4. There are probably some here present that
are now concerned about their salvation, that will never obtain. It is not to
be supposed that all that are now moved and awakened, will ever be savingly
converted. Doubtless there are many now seeking that will not be able to enter.
When has it been so in times past, when there has been times of great
outpourings of God's Spirit, but that many who for a while have inquired with
others, what they should do to be saved, have failed, and afterwards grown hard
and secure? All of you that are now awakened, have a mind to obtain salvation,
and probably hope to get a title to heaven, in the time of this present moving
of God's Spirit: but yet, (though it be awful to be spoken, and awful to be
thought) we have no reason to think any other, than that some of you will burn
in hell to all eternity. You all are afraid of hell, and seem at present
disposed to take pains to be delivered from it; and yet it would be
unreasonable to think any other, than that some of you will have your portion
in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Though there are so many that
seem to obtain so easily, having been but a little while under convictions,
yet, for all that, some never will obtain. Some will soon lose the sense of
things they now have; though their awakenings seem to be very considerable for
the present, they will not hold; they have not hearts disposed to hold on
through very many difficulties. Some that have set out for heaven, and hope as
much as others to obtain, are indeed but slighty and slack, even now, in the
midst of such a time as this. And others, who for the present seem to be more
in earnest, will probably, before long, decline and fail, and gradually return
to be as they were before. The convictions of some seem to be great, while that
which is the occasion of their convictions is new; which, when that begins to
grow old, will gradually decay and wear off. Thus, it may be, the occasion of
your awakening has been the hearing of the conversion of some person, or seeing
so extraordinary a dispensation of Providence as this in which God now appears
amongst us; but by and by the newness and freshness of these things will be
gone, and so will not affect your mind as now they do; and it may be your
convictions will go away with it.
Though this be a time wherein God doth more
liberally bestow his grace, and so a time of greater advantage for obtaining
it; yet there seems to be, upon some accounts, greater danger of backsliding,
than when persons are awakened at other times. For commonly such extraordinary
times do not last long; and then when they cease, there are multitudes that
lose their convictions as it were together.
We speak of it as a happy thing, that God is pleased to cause such a time
amongst us, and so it is indeed: but there are some to whom it will be no
benefit; it will be an occasion of their greater misery; they will wish they
had never seen this time; it will be more tolerable for those that never saw
it, or any thing like it, in the day of judgment, than for them. It is an awful
consideration, that there are probably those here, whom the great Judge will
hereafter call to a strict account about this very thing, why they no better
improved this opportunity, when he set open the fountain of his grace, and so
loudly called upon them, and came and strove with them in particular, by the
awakening influences of his Spirit; and they will have no good account to give
to the Judge, but their mouths will be stopped, and they will stand speechless
before him.
You had need therefore to be earnest, and very resolved in this affair, that
you may not be one of those who shall thus fail, that you may so fight, as not
uncertainly, and so run, as that you may win the prize.
5. Consider in what sad circumstances times
of extraordinary effusion of God's Spirit commonly leave persons, when they
leave them unconverted. They find them in a doleful, because in a natural,
condition; but commonly leave them in a much more doleful condition. They are
left dreadfully hardened, and with a great increase of guilt, and their souls
under a more strong dominion and possession of Satan. And frequently seasons of
extraordinary advantage for salvation,when they pass over persons, and they do
not improve them, nor receive any good in them, seal their damnation. As such
seasons leave them, God for ever leaves them, and gives them up to judicial
hardness. Luke 19:41, 42. "And when he was come near, he beheld the city,
and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."
6. Consider, that it is very uncertain
whether you will ever see such another time as this. If there should be such
another time, it is very uncertain uncertain whether you will live to another
time, it is very uncertain whether you will eve whether you will live to see
it. Many that are now concerned for their salvation amongst us, will probably
be in their graves, and it may be in hell, before that time; and if you should
miss this opportunity, it may be so with you. And what good will that do you,
to have the Spirit of God poured out upon earth, in the place where you once
lived, while you are tormented in hell? What will it avail you, that others are
crying, What shall I do to be saved? while you are shut up for ever in the
bottomless pit, and are wailing and gnashing your teeth in everlasting
burnings?
Wherefore improve this opportunity, while
God is pouring out his Spirit, and you are on earth, and while you dwell in the
place where the Spirit of God is thus poured out, and you yourself have the
awakening influences of it, that you may never wail and gnash your teeth in
hell, but may sing in heaven for ever, with others that are redeemed from
amongst men, and redeemed amongst us.
7. If you should see another such time, it
will be under far greater disadvantages than now. You will probably then be
much older, and will have more hardened your heart; and so will be under less
probability of receiving good. Some persons are so hardened in sin, and so left
of God, that they can live through such a time as this, and not be much
awakened or affected by it; they can stand their ground, and be but little
moved. And so it may be with you, by another such time, if there should be
another amongst us, and you should live to see it. The case in all probability
will be greatly altered with you by that time.
If you should continue Christless and
graceless till then, you will be much further from the kingdom of God, and much
deeper involved in snares and misery; and the devil will probably have a vastly
greater advantage against you, to tempt and confound you.
8. We do not know but that God is now
gathering in his elect, before some great and sore judgment. It has been God's
manner before he casts off a visible people, or brings some great and
destroying judgments upon them, first to gather in his elect, that they may be
secure. So it was before the casting off the Jews from being God's people.
There was first a very remarkable pouring out of the Spirit, and gathering in
of the elect, by the preaching of the apostles and evangelists, as we read in
the beginning of the Acts: but after this the harvest and its gleanings were
over, the rest were blinded, and hardened; the gospel had little success
amongst them, and the nation was given up, and cast off from being God's
people, and their city and land was destroyed by the Romans in a terrible
manner; and they have been cast off by God now for a great many ages, and still
remain a hardened and rejected people. So we read in the beginning of the 7th
chapter of the Revelations, that God, when about to bring destroying judgments
on the earth, first sealed his servants in the forehead. He set his seal upon
the hearts of the elect, gave them the saving influences and indwelling of his
Spirit, by which they were sealed to the day of redemption. Revelation 7:1-3.
"And after these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of
the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow
on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the
sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
And this may be the case now, that God is
about, in a great measure, to forsake this land, and give up this people, and
to bring most awful and overwhelming judgments upon it, and that he is now
gathering in his elect, to secure them from the calamity. The state of the
nation, and of this land, never looked so threatening of such a thing as at
this day. The present aspect of things exceedingly threatens vital religion,
and even those truths that are especially the foundation of it, out of this
land. If it should be so, how awful will the case be with those that shall be
left, and not brought in, while God continues the influences of his Spirit, to
gather in those that are to be redeemed from amongst us!
9. If you neglect the present opportunity,
and be finally unbelieving, those that are converted in this time of the
pouring out of God's Spirit will rise up in judgment against you. Your
neighbors, your relations, acquaintance, or companions that are converted, will
that day appear against you. They will not only be taken while you are left,
mounting up with joy to meet the Lord in the air-at his right hand with
glorious saints and angels, while you are at the left with devils-but how they
will rise up in judgment against you.
However friendly you have been together, and
have taken pleasure in one another's company, and have often familiarly conversed
together, they will then surely appear against you. They will rise up as
witnesses, and will declare what a precious opportunity you had, and did not
improve; how you continued unbelieving, and rejected the offers of a Saviour,
when those offers were made in so extraordinary a manner, and when so many
others were prevailed upon to accept of Christ; how you was negligent and
slack, and did not know the things that belonged to your peace, in that your
day. And not only so, but they shall be your judges, as assessors with the
great Judge; and as such will appear against you; they will be with the Judge
in passing sentence upon you. I Corinthians 6:2. "Know ye not that the
saints shall judge the world?" Christ will admit them to the honour of judging
the world with him: "They shall sit with him in his throne,"
Revelation 3:21. "They shall sit with Christ in his throne of government,
and they shall sit with him in his throne of judgment, and shall be judges with
him when you are judged, and as such shall condemn you.
10. And lastly, You do not know that you
shall live through the present time of the pouring out of God's Spirit. You may
be taken away in the midst of it, or you may be taken away in the beginning of
it; as God in his providence is putting you in mind, by the late instance of
death in a young person in the town.* God has of late been very awful in his
dealings with us, in the repeated deaths of young persons amongst us. This
should stir every one up to be in the more haste to press into the kingdom of
God, that so you may be safe whenever death comes. This is a blessed season and
opportunity; but you do not know how little of it you may have. You may have
much less of it than others; may by death be suddenly snatched away from all
advantages that are here enjoyed for the good of souls. Therefore make haste,
and escape for thy life. One moment's delay is dangerous; for wrath is
pursuing, and divine vengeance hanging over every uncovered person.
Let these considerations move every one to be improving this opportunity, that
while others receive saving good, and are made heirs of eternal glory, you may
not be left behind, in the same miserable doleful circumstances in which you
came into the world, a poor captive to sin and Satan, a lost sheep, a perishing,
undone creature, sinking down into everlasting perdition; that you may not be
one of them spoken of, Jeremiah 17:6. "That shall be like the heath in the
desert, and shall not see when good comes." If you do not improve this
opportunity, remember I have told you, you will hereafter lament it; and if you
do not lament it in this world, then I will leave it with you to remember it
throughout a miserable eternity.
II. I would address myself to such as yet
remain unawakened. It is an awful thing that there should be any one person
remaining secure amongst us at such a time as this; but yet it is to be feared
that there are some of this sort. I would here a little expostulate with such
persons.
* Joseph Clark's wife, a young woman lately
married, that died suddenly the week before this was delivered.
1. When do you expect that it will be more
likely that you should be awakened and wrought upon than now? You are in a
Christless condition; and yet without doubt intend to go to heaven; and
therefore intend to be converted some time before you die; but this is not to
be expected till you are first awakened, and deeply concerned about the welfare
of your soul, and brought earnestly to seek God's converting grace. And when do
you intend that this shall be? How do you lay things out in your own mind, or
what projection have you about this matter? Is it ever so likely that a person
will be awakened, as at such a time as this? How do we see many, who before
were secure, now roused out of their sleep, and crying, What shall I do to be
saved? But you are yet secure! Do you flatter yourself that it will be more
likely you should be awakened when it is a dull and dead time? Do you lay
matters out thus in your own mind, that though you are senseless when others
are generally awakened, that yet you shall be awakened when others are
generally senseless? Or do you hope to see another such time of the pouring out
of God's Spirit hereafter? And do you think it will be more likely that you
should be wrought upon then, than now? And why do you think so? Is it because
then you shall be so much older than you are now, and so that your heart will
be grown softer and more tender with age? or because you will then have stood
out so much longer against the calls of the gospel, and all means of grace? Do
you think it more likely that God will give you the needed influences of his
Spirit then, than now, because then you will have provoked him so much more,
and your sin and guilt will be so much greater? And do you think it will be any
benefit to you, to stand it out through the present season of grace, as proof
against the extraordinary means of awakening there are? Do you think that this
will be a good preparation for a saving work of the Spirit hereafter?
2. What means do you expect to be awakened
by? As to the awakening awful things of the word of God, you have had those set
before you times without number, in the most moving manner that the dispensers
of the word have been capable of. As to particular solemn warnings, directed to
those that are in your circumstances, you have had them frequently, and have
them now from time to time. Do you expect to be awakened by awful providences?
Those also you have lately had, of the most awakening nature, one after
another. Do you expect to be moved by the deaths of others? We have lately had
repeated instances of these. There have been deaths of old and young: the year
has been remarkable for the deaths of young persons in the bloom of life; and
some of them very sudden deaths. Will the conversion of others move you? There
is indeed scarce any thing that is found to have so great a tendency to stir
persons up as this: and this you have been tried with of late in frequent
instances; but are hitherto proof against it. Will a general pouring out of the
Spirit, and seeing a conern about salvation amongst all sorts of people, do it?
This means you now have, but without effect. Yea, you have all these things
together; you have the solemn warnings of God's word, and awful instances of
death, and the conversion of others, and see a general concern about salvation:
but all together do not move you to any great concern about your own precious,
immortal, and miserable soul. Therefore consider by what means it is that you
expect ever to be awakened.
You have heard that it is probable some who
are now awakened, will never obtain salvation; how dark then does it look upon
you that remain stupidly unawakened! Those who are not moved at such a time as
this, come to adult age, have reason to fear whether they are not given up to
judicial hardness. I do not say they have reason to conclude it, but they have
reason to fear it. How dark doth it look upon you, that God comes and knocks at
so many persons' doors, and misses yours! that God is giving the strivings of
his Spirit so generally amongst us, while you ar left senseless!
3. Do you expect to obtain salvation without
ever seeking it? If you are sensible that there is a necessity of your seeking
in order to obtaining, and ever intend to seek, one would think you could not avoid
it at such a time as this. Inquire therefore, whether you intend to go to
heaven, living all your days a secure, negligent, careless life.-Or,
4. Do you think you can bear the damnation
of hell? Do you imagine that you can tolerably endure the devouring fire, and
everlasting burnings? Do you hope that you shall be able to grapple with the
vengeance of God Almighty, when he girds himself with strength, and clothes
himself with wrath? Do you think to strengthen yourself against God, and to be
able to make your part good with him? I Corinthians 10:22. "Do we provoke
the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" Do you flatter yourself
that you shall find out ways for your ease and support, and to make it out
tolerably well, to bear up your spirit in those everlasting burnings that are
prepared for the devil and his angels? Ezekiel 22:14. "Can thine heart
endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with
thee?"-It is a difficult thing to conceive what such Christless persons
think, that are unconcerned at such a time.
III. I would direct myself to them who are
grown considerably into years, and are yet in a natural condition. I would now
take occasion earnestly to exhort you to improve this extraordinary
opportunity, and press into the kingdom of God. You have lost many advantages
that once you had, and now have not the same advantages that others have. The
case is very different with you from what it is with many of your neighbours.
You, above all, had need to improve such an opportunity. Now is the time for
you to bestir yourself, and take the kingdom of heaven!-Consider,
1. Now there seems to be a door opened for
old sinners. Now God is dealing forth freely to all sorts: his hand is opened
wide, and he does not pass by old ones so much as he used to do. You are not
under such advantages as others who are younger; but yet, so wonderfully has
God ordered it, that now you are not destitute of great advantage. Though old
in sin, God has put a new and extraordinary advantage in your hands. O! improve
this price you have to get wisdom. You that have been long seeking to enter in
at the strait gate and yet remain without, now take your opportunity and press
in! You that have been long in the wilderness, fighting with various
temptations, labouring under discouragements, ready to give up the case, and
have been often tempted to despair, now, behold the door that God opens for
you! Do not give way to discouragements now; this is not a time for it. Do not
spend time in thinking, that you have done what you can already, and that you
are not elected, and in giving way to other perplexing, weakening,
disheartening temptations. Do not waste away this precious opportunity in such
a manner. You have no time to spare for such things as these; God calls you now
to something else. Improve this time in seeking and striving for salvation, and
not in that which tends to hinder it.-It is no time now for you to stand
talking with the devil; but hearken to God, and apply yourself to that which he
does now so loudly call you to.
Some of you have often lamented the loss of past opportunties, particularly,
the loss of the time of youth, and have been wishing that you had so good an
opportunity again; and have been ready to say, "O! if I was young again,
how would I improve such an advantage!" That opportunity which you have
had in time past is irrecoverable; you can never have it again; but God can
give you other advantages of another sort, that are very great, and he is so
doing at this day. He is now putting a new opportunity into your hands; though
not of the same kind with that which you once had, and have lost, yet in some
respects as great of another kind. If you lament your folly in neglecting and
losing past opportunties, then do not be guilty of the folly of neglecting the
opportunity which God now gives you. This opportunity you could not have
purchased, if you would have given all that you had in the world for it. But
God is putting it into your hands himself, of his own free and sovereign mercy,
without your purchasing it. Therefore when you have it, do not neglect it.
2. It is a great deal more likely with
respect to such persons than others, that this is their last time. There will
be a last time of special offer of salvation to impenitent sinners-"God's
Spirit shall not always strive with man," Genesis 6:3. God sometimes
continues long knocking at the doors of wicked men's hearts; but there are the
last knocks, and the last calls that ever they shall have. And sometimes God's
last calls are the loudest; and then if sinners do not hearken, he finally
leaves them. How long has God been knocking at many of your doors that are old
in sin! It is a great deal more likely that these are his last knocks. You have
resisted God's Spirit in times past, and have hardened your heart once and
again; but God will not be thus dealt with always. There is danger, that if
now, after so long a time, you will not hearken, he will utterly desert you,
and leave you to walk in your own counsels.
It seems by God's providence, as though God
had yet an elect number amongst old sinners in this place, that perhaps he is
now about to bring in. It looks as though there were some that long lived under
Mr. Stoddard's ministry, that God has not utterly cast off, though they stood
it out under such great means as they then enjoyed. It is to be hoped that God
will now bring in a remnant from among them. But it is more likely that God is
now about finishing with them, one way or other, for their having been so long
the subjects of such extraordinary means. You have seen former times of the
pouring out of God's Spirit upon the town, when others were taken and you left,
others were called out of darkness into marvelous light, and were brought into
a glorious and happy state, and you saw not good when good came. How dark will
your circumstances appear, if you shall also stand it out through this
opportunity, and still be left behind! Take heed that you be not of those
spoken of, Hebrews 6:7, 8. that are like the "earth that has rain coming oft
upon it, and only bears briers and thorns." As we see there are some
pieces of ground, the more showers of rain fall upon them, the more fruitful
seasons there are, the more do the briers, and other useless and hurtful
plants, that are rooted in them, grow and flourish. Of such ground the apostle
says, "It is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be
burned." The way that the husbandman takes with such ground, is, to set
fire to it, to burn up the growth of it.-If you miss this opportunity, there is
danger that you will be utterly rejected, and that your end will be to be
burned. And if this is to be, it is to be feared, that you are not far from,
but nigh unto, cursing.
Those of you that are already grown old in
sin, and are now under awakenings, when you feel your convictions begin to go
off, if ever that should be, then remember what you have now been told; it may
well then strike you to the heart!
IV. I would direct the advice to those that
are young, and now under their first special convictions. I would earnestly
urge such to improve this opportunity, and press into the kingdom of
God.-Consider two things,
1. You have all manner of advantages now
centering upon you. It is a time of great advantage for all; but your
advantages are above others. There is no other sort of persons that have now so
great and happy an opportunity as you have.-You have the great advantage that
is common to all who live in this place, viz. That now it is a time of the
extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God. And have you not that great
advantage, the awakening influences of the Spirit of God on you in particular?
and besides, you have this peculiar advantage, that you are now in your youth.
And added to this, you have another unspeakable advantage, that you now are
under your first convictions. Happy is he that never has hardened his heart,
and blocked up his own way to heaven by backsliding, and has now the awakening
influences of God's Spirit, if God does but enable him thoroughly to improve
them! Such above all in the world bid fair for the kingdom of God. God is wont
on such, above any kind of persons, as it were easily and readily to bestow the
saving grace and comforts of his Spirit. Instances of speedy and sudden
conversion are most commonly found among such. Happy are they that have the
Spirit of God with them, and never have quenched it, if they did but know the
price they have in their hands!
If you have a sense of your necessity of
salvation, and the great worth and value of it, you will be willing to take the
surest way to it, or that which has the greatest probability of success; and
that certainly is, thoroughly to improve your first convictions. If you so go,
it is not likely that you will fail; there is the greatest probability that you
will succeed.-What is it not worth, to have such an advantage in one's hands
for obtaining eternal life? The present season of the pouring out of God's
Spirit, is the first that many of you who are now under awakenings have ever
seen, since you came to years of understanding. On which account, it is the
greatest opportunity that ever you had, and probably by far the greatest that
ever you will have. There are many here present who wish they had such an
opportunity, but they never can obtain it; they cannot buy it for money; but
you have it in your possession, and can improve it if you will. But yet,
2. There is on some accounts greater danger that such as
are in your circumstances will fail of thoroughly improving their convictions,
with respect to stedfastness and perseverance, than others. Those that are
young are more unstable than elder persons. They who never had convictions
before, have less experience of the difficulty of the work they have engaged
in; they are more ready to think that they shall obtain salvation easily, and
are more easily discouraged by disappointments; and young persons have less
reason and consideration to fortify them against temptations to backsliding.
You should therefore labour now the more to guard against such temptations. By
all means make but one work of seeking salvation! Make thorough work of it the
first time! There are vast disadvantages that they bring themselves under, who
have several turns of seeking with great intermissions. By such a course,
persons exceedingly wound their own souls, and entangle themselves in many
snares. Who are those that commonly meet with so many difficulties, and are so
long labouring in darkness and perplexity, but those who have had several turns
at seeking salvation; who have one while had convictions, and then have
quenched them, and then have set about the work again, and have backslidden
again, and have gone on after that manner? The children of Israel would not
have been forty years in the wilderness, if they had held their courage, and
had gone on as they set out; but they were of an unstable mind, and were for
going back again into Egypt.-Otherwise, if they had gone right forward without
discouragement, as God would have led them, they would have soon entered and
taken possession of Canaan. They had got to the very borders of it when they
turned back, but were thirty-eight years after that, before they got through
the wilderness. Therefore, as you regard the interest of your soul, do not run
yourself into a like difficulty, by unsteadiness, intermission, and
backsliding; but press right forward, from henceforth, and make but one work of
seeking, converting, and pardoning grace, however great, and difficult, and
long a work that may be.