Sinners Delay Concerns
Of The Soul
Acts
24:25
And
as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when
I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
I. The subject of the Apostle’s
preaching.
II. How Felix was affected by it.
III. How he conducted himself in these
circumstances.
Subject:
Sinners delaying in putting off the great concern of their souls till a
supposed more convenient season.
1. How
sinners oftentimes do delay.
2. The
reasons or causes why sinners do thus.
3. The end
of it.
I. I would
briefly observe how sinners do frequently delay and put off the great concern
of their souls till a supposed more convenient season.
(1.) They
sometimes put off to certain times they set, when they intend... Children
sometimes... Shall know more — Know better how to pray and perform other duties
of Religion that grown-up persons perform.
’Tis a common thing for young people. Till settled in the world.
“More
convenient season:” a better inclination... not so much inclined to mirth and
youthful vanities... fewer temptations... out of the way of young company...
more in the way of those who are solid and serious persons.
They esteem
the present season very inconvenient for religion... being so very convenient
for other purposes... Now a very convenient time to take
liberty in mirth and youthful delights.
Many that
are past their youth put off to a supposed more convenient season... when got
through such and such particular affairs wherein they are now involved... when
they hope they shall be more at liberty... or till in this and the other
respect they are got into more convenient circumstances.
(2.) There
are many that delay and put off without fixing any time in their mind... hoping
for a more convenient future time...
The present
time appears peculiarly inconvenient... feel a great opposition... have many
temptations... hope it will be better with them... not feel such an aversion...
fewer temptations...
Wait to have
the Spirit of God strive with them.
Now a time
of general deadness, and very inconvenient on that account... all the talk is
of other things... put off till a time of the outpouring of the Spirit of
God...
Or, perhaps,
they are hoping for some greater advantage in other respects, some better means
than now they enjoy, or a better concurrence of circumstances to favor a design
of seeking God and their salvation.
II. The cause of persons thus delaying.
1.
Stupidity... senselessness of their danger and necessity.
Insensible of
the reality... insensible of the greatness... senseless of the heinousness of
their sin... a brutish stupidity...
2. The
importunity of lust... Job
3. Aversion
to their duty.
4. Ignorance
of themselves and self-confidence.
Trust in
wisdom...strength...steadfastness...
5. A spirit
of self-blinding... The blinding influence of a sinful
self-love... promise themselves future opportunity... better
opportunity... that God will hear...
6. The
subtle temptations of the Devil...
III. The
evil of it.
1. ’Tis exceeding wicked.
Direct
disobedience...willful, resolved, wickedness....determine
to continue in sin, and an allowance of it...
’Tis not only designedly committing one act of wickedness,
but deliberately determining on a course of it... a course of manifested
wickedness... neglect of many commands... gratification of many lusts...
horrible ingratitude, abusing the past “long suffering”... horrible presumption
on future mercy... contempt of offered mercy...
2. ’Tis exceeding foolish... Hereby they reject and miss a good
deal of present good... willfully continue in a miserable state... bring a
great deal of certain future misery upon them...
They run a
dreadful risk...depend on innumerable uncertainties.. life continued... means of grace continued... use of
reason... disposed... “more convenient season”...given
one... if disposed whether succeed... whether God won’t give over to delusion
and to hard-heartedness...
Depend on
many things that are not only uncertain, but very improbable... disposition...
convenient season... thought when they were children... make their case more
and more dangerous...depending on greater conveniences they make inconveniences
for themselves... and by this means many thousands are actually undone...
APPLICATION: *1*
This may be
of warning to sinners not to delay and put off...
You have
heard how common this is... Men are exceeding prone to it... Does your own
experience confirm what has been said in this matter? And are there not some
here who are now doing as has been represented? Have we not reason to think
that there are many here present that say as Felix, “When...” etc.?
Undoubted,
by what is everywhere to be seen at such a time of general deadness and regardlessness of religion as this is: a good evidence of
the exceeding proneness to put off...
Let all take
warning...
You have
heard something in general of wickedness and folly; but here consider more
particularly —
1. What
guilt you contract: what a horrible thing it is to live in known and willful
disobedience to God;... what great light ye will sin
against if you...
2. What
would you think of your delays if God should say to you, “Thou fool, this
night...?”
3. If the
future time you are putting off to should never come, how far it will probably
be from being a “more convenient season.”...
In
many respects, far more inconvenient... God’s anger increased... your heart harder, more
stupid... every evil habit established... sloth... a carnal, worldly
disposition... an habitual making light of things
affecting such awakenings... Satan’s great opportunity to establish his
interest... commonly an increase of inconvenience of outward circumstances...
increase of temptations... commonly many inconveniences arise that never would
be thought of... less likely ever to set about the work... Satan hath greater
advantages if they do... more likely to be unsteady...more likely soon to be
discouraged... the work is greater and harder that they have to do... less time
to do it...
4. Others
have lamented their folly in delaying... many when under concern... I who have long been in the work of the ministry... many on a
death-bed.
5. How much
otherwise you deal with God, and desire that God should deal with you.
6. If you
continue still to delay after the warning you have this day, how aggravated
your wickedness will be!
How have you
been warned hereof before... and how have you gone from the meeting-house and
still...
How can you
excuse yourself to go home tonight and do nothing? or
to do a little this evening, and then to-morrow, or in a few days?...
Consider how
unreasonable this is...
And if now again, ... and there be a God,... how many you reasonably
suppose He will resent it?
7. If you
still... what danger that you will be utterly given up before the time comes...
Giving up a common thing...
8. Inquire
whether you yourself don’t believe [that] there are many now in Hell through
this very means?
Here some,
perhaps, may say, to excuse themselves, and quiet
their own consciences with respect to this, “I don’t delay and put off the
concern of my soul. I am in a way of seeking my salvation.”
Here I would
put two or three questions to such persons.
1. Whether
you are in a way of minding this affair more than all other? “Seeking FIRST the
2. Is your
reformation universal? Sins of omission... commission...
3. [Do you
feel] as much pains as ever you take will be needful? Forsaken all practices
you think you would need to forsake? Complied with all duties? As earnestly?... Do you intend to continue? How has secret, closet
religion been with you? How have you kept the Sabbath? Attended the sermons? If
not, ... you are guilty of the forementioned
wickedness,...willful disobedience — guilty of folly. Therefore, if you have
any regard to... think on your mercies, and “turn your feet,”... and whatever
“your hands find to do.”...