Pressing into the Kingdom of God

Luke 16:16: 'The Law and the Prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.'

In these words two things may be observed: first, wherein the work and office of John the Baptist consisted, namely, 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, fully continued till John; who 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. 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 you 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: first the day star rises; 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, till at length the sun rises, and enlightens the world by his own direct light. This is agreeable to what John says of himself in John 3: '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; when the other prophets foretold Christ to come, he revealed him as already come, and had the honor to be that servant that 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, that Christ was about more fully to reveal and erect (Luke 1:17): 'To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.'

Second, we may observe wherein his success appeared, namely, in that since he began his ministry, every man pressed into that kingdom of God that he preached. The greatness of his success appeared in two things:

First, in the generalness of it, with regard to 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; and 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, or 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 and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has 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, that were doubtless a very profane, loose, and profligate sort of persons; they made the same inquiry (Luke 3:12, 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?'

Second, 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 everyone that would obtain the kingdom of God, to be pressing into it.

In discoursing on 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.

second, give the reasons why it concerns everyone that would obtain the kingdom of God, to seek it in this way.

And then make application.

First, I would show what manner of seeking salvation seems to be denoted by pressing into the kingdom of God.

First, this expression denotes strength of desire. Men in general who live under the light of the gospel, and are not atheists, do desire the kingdom of God — that is, they desire to go to heaven rather than to hell. But most of them are not much concerned about it, but on the contrary live a secure and careless life. And there are those many degrees above these who are under some degree of the awakenings of God's Spirit, who yet are not pressing into the kingdom of God. But those who may be truly said to be pressing 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 perhaps had their concern divided between this and them; but when they come to answer the expression in 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 of eternal life should not only be one concern that our souls are taken up about alongside 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).

Second, 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 referred to: 'One thing have I desired, and that will I seek after.' In order to a thorough engagement 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 they are able to do in the use of their utmost strength, in an attendance on every duty and resisting and contending 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 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 until I obtain — when they only deceive themselves. Their hearts are not in it; neither do they in fact 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 mouths say. The firmness of resolution lies in the fullness 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, and to continue in it. They have not only earnestness but steadiness of resolution: they do not seek with a wavering and 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.

Third, by pressing into the kingdom of God is signified greatness of effort. It is expressed in Ecclesiastes 9:10 by doing what our hand finds to do with all our might. And this is the natural and necessary consequence of the two things before mentioned; 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 narrow gate, and will be urgent for heaven. Their practice will be agreeable to the counsel of the wise man in Proverbs 2 at the beginning: 'My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding — yes, if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures — then you will 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 out for knowledge and lifting up the voice for understanding, seeking her as silver and searching for her as for hidden treasures. Such desires and resolutions and such endeavors go together.

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 about spiritual Things, and yet not be pressing into the Kingdom of God, because their Exercise is not directly about the Work of seeking Salvation. 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 God's Decrees and secret Purposes, or distressing their Minds with Fears that they be not elected, or that they have committed the unpardonable Sin, or that their Day is past. When it is so, let them be never so much concerned and engaged in their Minds, they can't be said to be pressing towards the Kingdom of God; because their Exercise is not in their Work, but rather in that which tends to hinder them in their Work: 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.

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. Persons are in the most likely Way to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven, when the Intent of their Minds, and the Engagedness of their Spirits, is 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.

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. Persons ought to be so resolved for Heaven, that if by any Means they can use 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 any Thing is presented to be done, the Question should not be, Is it easy, or hard? But is it a required Means of my obtaining an Interest in Jesus Christ, and eternal Salvation? 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. 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'll cut them off.

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. If there be something that is incumbent on him to do, as one that seeks salvation, that is against his natural temper and irksome to him on that account, or 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 anything that will offend a neighbor and get his ill will, or something that will be very contrary to his own carnal appetite — he will press through such difficulties. Every thing 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; yes, if it be a right hand or foot that offends him, he will cut it off; and will not hesitate 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 stumble greatly at them; 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 that before he was thoroughly roused from his security he used to stumble at, and was accustomed to have long parleys and disputes with his own conscience about, and set carnal reason to work to invent arguments and pleas to excuse himself from — he now no longer stumbles at. 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 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 leisure to lend an ear to what he has to say.

I come now

to show why the kingdom of heaven should be sought in this manner.

It should be thus sought

first, 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 there 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 those who are not in this kingdom. All that are without this enclosure will be swallowed up in an overwhelming 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. God will have no mercy on them; they shall be eternally forsaken by him; his fearful vengeance will seize them; the devils will lay hold on 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 creature on whom that anger is executed without mercy?

Second, 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 pass that line beyond which there is no work, device, knowledge, or wisdom; and therefore we should do what we have to do with our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Third, 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 those who try have not resolution, courage, earnestness, and constancy enough, but they fail, give out, and perish. The difficulties are too many and too great for those who do not press violently forward to grapple with; they never get along, but stick by the way, or are turned aside and turned back and ruined. Matthew 7:14: 'Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.' Luke 13:24: 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'

Fourth, the possibility of obtaining. Though it is a thing attended with so much difficulty, yet it is not a thing impossible. Acts 8:22: 'If perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.' 2 Timothy 2:25: 'If perhaps God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.' However sinful a person is, and whatever his circumstances, there is nonetheless 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 honor of his majesty, justice, and truth. So 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 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).

Fifth, it is fitting 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!

Sixth, 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 can't 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 can't do this of ourselves, that strength of desire, and firmness of resolution, that have been spoken of, is 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 do duly consider the exceeding difficulty 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 don't enough consider these things.

Second, 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, yes 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, that is 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 neighbor. 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 can't do these things with all the might he has, though he can't do them with more might than he has. The dulness and deadness of the heart, and slothfulness of disposition, don't hinder men's 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 dulness. That men have a dead and sluggish heart, doesn't argue that they are 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 labor. 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 won't 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.

There is ordinarily no kind of seekers that trust so much to what they do, as slack and dull seekers. Though all that are seeking salvation who 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, are yet not quiet in it. And those that are most disturbed in their self-confidence, and are therefore in the likeliest way to be wholly brought off from it, are not those that go on in a remiss way of seeking, but those that are most earnest and thoroughly engaged. This is partly because in such a way conscience is kept more sensitive. 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 who is thoroughly awakened cannot be stilled or pacified with such things. And partly because in this way persons gain much more knowledge of themselves and acquaintance with their own hearts than in a negligent and 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. Those who 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 person has much more experience of his own weakness than another who does not put forth and try his strength, and will therefore sooner see himself dead in sin. Such a person, though he has 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 troubled 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 placed, in any creature confidence whatsoever.

It is therefore quite a wrong notion that some entertain, that the more they do, the more they will depend on it: whereas the reverse is true; the more they do, or the more thorough they are in seeking, the less likely they are to rest in their doings, and the sooner will they see the vanity of all that they do. So that they will exceedingly miss it, if ever they neglect any duty either to God or man, whether it be any duty of religion, justice, or charity, under the 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 they take. But yet commonly those who go on in a more slight way trust a great deal more to their dull services than he who 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 themselves up and pressing forward. And on the other hand, their negligence tends so to numb them and keep 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 afterward comes more thoroughly to awaken them and to stir them up to be in 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.

First, be directed as it were 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 like always to be a hindrance, 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 hindrance to this great design, in any wise break off from their society, however it may expose you to reproach from your old companions. Or whatever it be that stands in the way of your most advantageously seeking salvation, if it be some dear sinful pleasure, or strong carnal appetite, or if it be credit and honor, or if it be the good will of some person whose friendship you desire, or a being accounted of by those whose esteem and liking you have highly valued, and there be danger if you do as you ought, you shall be 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 labor; or if it be 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 don't 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, there was Herod, one of his hearers, that 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 6:18-20). The rich young man was considerably concerned for salvation; and accordingly was a very strict liver in many things; 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. 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 have salvation, and spend great part of their time in wishing that they had it, but they will not comply with the necessary means of it.

Second, 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 on your sins (Jeremiah 2:23: 'See your way in the valley, know what you have done.'). You should look back on the wretchedness of your religious performances, and consider how you have fallen short in them, and how exceedingly polluted all your duties have been, and how justly God might reject and loath 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 and how that they have done what they can, and don't see how they can do more, how long a time they have been seeking, and how much more they have done than others; and so think with themselves how hardly God deals with them, that he doesn't extend mercy to them, but turns a deaf ear to their cries; and hence discourage themselves, and complain of God. Don't spend your time looking on what is past, but look forward, and consider what is before you, 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 have anything of their own to boast of; but he tells us that he forgot those things, and all others 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.

Third, labor 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. Labor therefore to obtain a thorough willingness, and preparation of spirit, to continue seeking, in the use of your utmost endeavors, without limitation; and don't think your whole life too long. And in order to this be advised to two things.

First, 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 can't help it. You must 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 patience to hold out, and was not willing to be at the trouble of a persevering labor? 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 favor 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 the less worth the taking a great deal of pains for, because, through the sovereign pleasure of God, others have obtained with comparatively but 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 labors after it, how little difference does it make at last, when once salvation is obtained! Put all the labor, and pains, and long continued difficulties and struggles 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 to live 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 would 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 that 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 expectation 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.

Second, endeavor now thoroughly to weigh in your mind the difficulty, and to count the cost of perseverance in seeking salvation. You that are now setting out in this business, be exhorted to attend this direction. Don't 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 don't 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, don't expect that they shall need to seek very long; and so don't 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 all that are now seeking their 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 labor, to strive after salvation, for many years, in the meantime 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 don't 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 favor after but little pains, and a short time of awakening; while you from day to day, and from year to year, seemed to labor in vain. Prepare for such temptations 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 that 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 anything 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 that have now heard me, that have not only heard the directions that have been given, but shall, through God's merciful assistance, practice according to them, are those that probably will overcome, that we may well hope at last to see standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, clothed in white robes, with palms in their hands; when all your labor and toil will be abundantly compensated, and you will not repent that you have taken so much pains, and denied yourself so much, and waited so long. This pains, this self-denial, this waiting, will then look little, and vanish into nothing in your eyes, being all swallowed up in the first minutes' enjoyment of that glory, that you will then be in possession of, and will uninterruptedly possess and enjoy to all eternity.

Fourth direction: improve the present season of the pouring out of the Spirit of God on this town. Prudence in any affair whatsoever consists very much in finding 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 won't be idle on a market day; he is careful not to let slip his seasons for enriching himself: so will those that 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 be pouring out his Spirit amongst us; glory be to his name therefor! 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 opportunity! 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! Don't harden your hearts at such a day as this is! 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 has his certain days, or appointed seasons of the exercise both of mercy and judgment. There are some seasons that are remarkable times of wrath, that are laid out by God for that purpose, for his awful visitation, and the executions of his anger; which times are called days of vengeance (Proverbs 6:34), and days wherein God will visit for sin (Exodus 32:34). And so on the contrary, there are some other times, that God has laid out in his sovereign counsels, for seasons of remarkable mercy, wherein he will appear, and manifest himself, in the exercises of his grace and lovingkindness, more than at other times: such times, in Scripture, are called by way of eminence, 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 (Luke 19:44: 'And shall lay you even with the ground, and your children within you, and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your 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 at 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, are 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 don't stay behind, but press in among 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 loathness to grapple with some small difficulty, or to put yourself a little out of your way, when so many are flocking 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 don't earnestly bestir yourself! To be left behind, at the close of such a season as this, will be awful, next to the being left behind on that day when God's saints shall mount up as with wings to meet the Lord in the air.

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, let you be who you will, and whatever you have done, don't 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; therefore fly for your life, and look not behind you!

But here I would particularly direct myself to several sorts of persons.

First, to those sinners that 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.

First, God has doubtless a design now to deal forth saving blessings to a number. God has done it to some already, as we have reason to think; and it is not probable that he has yet finished his work, that he at this time is come forth to do amongst us: we may well hope still to see others brought out of darkness into marvelous light. And therefore,

Second, 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 bringing them into a happy state, in safety from misery, and a title to 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 or overlooked 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.

Third, 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 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 display of his power, and Satan is more chained up than at other times. Those difficulties and temptations that persons before stuck 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 has heard such a thing? Who has 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,

Fourth, there are probably some here present, that are now concerned about their salvation, that never will 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 have been times of great outpourings of God's Spirit, but that many that 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 won't 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 slightly and slack, even now, in the midst of such a time as this: and others, that 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.

Though such a time as this be a time wherein God does more liberally bestow his grace than at other times, 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 don't last long; and then when they cease there are multitudes that lose their convictions as it were together: as the Spirit of God departs, awakenings ease off from the minds of persons all over a town.

We speak of it as a happy thing, that God is pleased to be causing of it to be such a time amongst us; and so it is indeed: but there are some that it will be no benefit to; it will but 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 anything like it, in the day of judgment than for them. It is an awful consideration, that there are probably those here, that the great Judge will hereafter call to a strict account about this very thing, why they no better improved this opportunity, when he did so set open the fountain of his grace, and did so loudly call 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 thorough and resolved in this affair, that you may not be one of those that shall thus fail, that you may so fight, as not uncertainly, and so run, as that you may win the prize.

Fifth, consider what sad circumstances times of extraordinary effusion of God's Spirit commonly leave persons in, when they leave them unconverted. They find them in a doleful condition, 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 don't improve them, nor receive any good in them, seal their damnation. As such seasons leave them, God forever 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 you had known, even you, the things which belong to your peace! But now they are hid from your eyes.').

Sixth, consider, that it is very uncertain whether you will ever see such another time as this is. If there should be such another time, it is very uncertain 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 forever in the bottomless pit, and are wailing and gnashing your teeth in everlasting burnings?

Therefore improve this opportunity, while God is pouring out his Spirit on earth, and you are on earth, and while you dwell in that 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 forever, with others that are redeemed from amongst men, and redeemed amongst us.

If you should see another such time as this, it will be under far greater disadvantages than you now experience. You will probably then be much older, and will have 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 may it be with you, by another such time, if there should be another among 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 until 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.

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 of 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 Acts. But after this harvest and its gleanings were over, the rest were blinded and hardened; the gospel had little success among 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 we read in the beginning of the 7th chapter of Revelation, 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 we do not know but that this may be the case now — that God is about to forsake this land in a great measure, 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 it does at this day. If it should be so, how awful will the case be with those who shall be left, and not brought in, while God continues the influences of his Spirit to gather in those who are to be redeemed from among us!

If you neglect the present opportunity, and are finally unbelieving, those who are converted in this time of the pouring out of God's Spirit will rise up in judgment against you. Your neighbors, your relations, acquaintances, or companions who 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, while you are left below with those who are to be destroyed, and will stand at the right hand with glorious saints and angels, while you are at the left with devils — but they will rise up in judgment 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 rejecting the offers of a Savior, when those offers were made in so extraordinary a manner, and when so many others were prevailed upon to accept Christ. And not only so, but they shall be your judges, as assessors with the great Judge; they will be with him in passing sentence upon you (1 Corinthians 6:2). They shall sit with Christ in his throne of judgment, and shall be judges with him when you are judged, and as such shall condemn you.

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 at the beginning of it. God has of late been very solemn in his dealings with us, in the repeated deaths of young persons that have happened among 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. Therefore make haste and escape for your life: one moment's delay is dangerous, for wrath is pursuing, and divine vengeance is hanging over every unconverted person.

Let these considerations move every one to improve 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 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. 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 throughout a miserable eternity.

I would address myself to such as yet remain unawakened. It is an awful thing that there should be any one person remaining secure among 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.

I would put it to you:

First, when do you expect that it will be more likely that you should be awakened and worked upon than now? You are in a Christless condition; but yet without doubt intend to go to heaven; and therefore intend to be converted some time before you die. And when do you intend that this shall be? Is it ever so likely that a person will be awakened, as at such a time as this? How we see that many who before were secure are now roused out of their sleep, and are crying, What shall I do to be saved? But you are yet secure! Do you flatter yourself that it will be more likely that you should be awakened when it is a dull and dead time? Do you hope to see another such time of the pouring out of God's Spirit hereafter? And do you think that it will be more likely that you should be worked 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 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 needed influences of his Spirit then, than now, because then you will have provoked him so much more?

Second, what means do you expect to be awakened by? As to the awakening, awful things of the Word of God, those you have had set before you times without number, in the most moving manner. As to particular solemn warnings directed to those in your circumstances, those you have frequently had. 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: the deaths of old and young, and some of them very sudden deaths. Will the conversion of others move you? There is indeed scarcely anything found to have so great a tendency to stir persons up as this; but this you have been tried with of late in frequent instances, but are hitherto proof against it. Yea, you have all these things together — the solemn warnings of God's Word, and awful instances of death, and the conversion of others, and you 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 that some who are now awakened will never obtain salvation; how dark then does it look upon you who remain stupidly unawakened! Those who are not moved at such a time as this, that have come to adult age, have reason to fear whether they may not be given up to judicial hardness. I do not say they have reason to conclude it, but they have reason to fear it. How dark does 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 among us, while you are left senseless!

Third, 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.

Fourth, 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 be able to make your part good with him? Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he (1 Corinthians 10:22)? Do you flatter yourself that you shall find out ways for your ease and support, and make it out tolerably well, to bear up your spirit in those everlasting burnings prepared for the devil and his angels? Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you (Ezekiel 22:14)? It is a difficult thing to conceive what such Christless persons think, who are unconcerned at such a time as this.

I would direct myself to those who are grown considerably into years, and are yet in a natural condition. I would now earnestly 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 neighbors. You above all have need to improve such an opportunity. Now is the time for you to bestir yourself, and take the kingdom of heaven!

Consider:

First, 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 into your hands. O, improve this price that you have to get wisdom! You who have been long seeking to enter in at the strait gate, and yet remain without — now take your opportunity and press in! You who have been long in the wilderness, fighting with various temptations, and have been laboring under discouragements, and have been ready to give up the case, 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 thinking that you have done what you can already, and that you see signs that you are not elected, and 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.

Some of you have often lamented the loss of past opportunities, and have been wishing that you had so good an opportunity again, have been ready to say, O if I were young again, how would I improve such an advantage! That opportunity which you 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 as that which you once had and have lost, yet in some respects as great of another kind. If you lament, and are ready to cry out of your folly in neglecting and losing past opportunities, 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, of himself, of his own free and sovereign mercy. Therefore when you have it, do not neglect it.

Second, 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 any 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, God finally leaves them. How long has God been knocking at many of your doors, you who 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 among old sinners in this place, that he is now perhaps about to bring in. It looks as though there were some who long lived under Mr. Stoddard's ministry, whom God has not utterly cast off, though they so 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 the more likely that God is now about finishing with them, one way or the 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 were one who 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 are not one of those spoken of in Hebrews 6:7-8 — that are like the earth that has rain coming upon it, and only bears briars and thorns. Of such ground the apostle says, it is rejected, and is near to cursing, whose end is to be burned. If you miss this opportunity, there is danger that you will be utterly rejected, and that your end will be to be burned.

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!

I would direct my advice to those who 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.

First, 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 who 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, namely, that now it is a time of the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God; and you also have the great advantage that you have the awakening influences of the Spirit of God on you in particular; and besides that, you have this peculiar advantage, that you are now in your youth. And added to this, you have another unspeakable advantage, that you are now under your first convictions. Happy is he who has never 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 accustomed, 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 who have the Spirit of God with them, and have never 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 do so, 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 such season that many of you who are now under awakenings have ever seen, since you came to years of understanding. 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:

There is on some Accounts greater Danger that such as are in your Circumstances will fail of thoroughly improving their Convictions, with Respect to Steadfastness and Perseverance, than others. Those that are young are more unstable than elder Persons: They that 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. By all Means be thorough now! Make but one Work of seeking Salvation! Make thorough Work of it the first Time! There are vast Disadvantages that they bring themselves under, that have several Turns of Seeking with great Intermissions: By such a Course Persons exceedingly wound their own Souls, and entangle themselves in many Snares. Those that commonly meet with so many Difficulties, and are so long labouring in Darkness and Perplexity, are those that 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. 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. If they had gone right forward, without Discouragement, they would have soon entered, and taken Possession of Canaan; but when they turned back, they were thirty-eight Years after that before they got through the Wilderness. As you regard the Interest of your Soul, don't 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.