The Season Wherein the Lord Works Graciously upon His Elect

The time of grace and day of salvation is here discovered in the two periods of it, which make up the parts of the doctrine. First, grace is only to be gained in this life. Second, while the means of salvation are continued, that's the season which the Lord usually takes to work upon the souls of those [illegible] belong to him. We shall severally open and prove both [illegible], and after make joint application of them.

Preparation and conversion of the soul must be made in this life: Seek you the Lord while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). The time of our living is one of God's seasons — the time of finding grace and mercy, if ever we come to share therein. The [illegible] of Jacob's Ladder is here on earth, though the top of [illegible] to heaven. The Lord must dwell with [illegible] here in a humble and contrite heart (Isaiah 57:15). [illegible] else we shall never dwell with him in that high and holy place, where Christ is gone to prepare a mansion for us. Now is the time of [illegible] and gaining grace; in the other world we shall enjoy the fruit and sweetness of it. Here we must get the conquest if we think to wear the crown in another world. Reasons are two.

Because after the parting of the soul from the body, and the dissolution of the whole, God's peremptory sentence is passed, and the final doom of the soul is determined — a sentence never to be revoked, a judgment never to be repealed — and therefore the sinner becomes irrevocably either miserable or happy (Hebrews 9:27): It is appointed for all men once to die, and after death comes judgment. Death and judgment are coupled immediately one to another: the end of the one is the entrance of the other; as death leaves us, so judgment will find us. Though the full and complete execution of the sentence is deferred until the great day of accounts, yet condemnation seizes upon each part as soon as they be severed the one from the other, if they do deserve. The body is imprisoned in the dungeon of the grave, and the soul (of him [reconstructed: who] is wicked) is taken instantly and dragged by the devils into torment (Luke 12:20): This night shall they fetch away [illegible] soul.

With the saints contrariwise, their bodies are laid in the grave as in a bed of down, perfumed with the precious death and burial of the body of Christ, the ashes thereof carefully preserved — indeed, loved by the Lord. So the Apostle (Romans 8, last verses): I am persuaded that neither life nor death is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. So that the Lord loves the very dust of the bodies of his saints in the grave, and receives their souls to himself in glory as soon as body and soul are parted one from another (Luke 16:22: the soul of Lazarus was by the angels carried into Abraham's bosom). For at the great day of accounts we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether good or [illegible] (2 Corinthians 5:10). The sentence, we see, shall not [illegible] according to that men do in Purgatory, as the Papists dream, but according to that only which they did while they had being and breathing in this natural life.

The condition of a man after this life is [illegible]. For as the godly after this life ended receive perfect sanctification, and so become wholly [illegible] of the Spirit of God, and thereby fully and unchangeably confirmed in the state of glory, never more to be pestered or annoyed with the presence of sin or misery (Romans 8:23) — here in this world we [illegible] but the first fruits of the Spirit — but there [illegible] then the full harvest.

So contrarily, the wicked after death are [illegible] delivered up to the tyranny and authority of [illegible] corruptions, and there settled, and that [illegible], in a state of rebellion, and become utterly [illegible] of receiving any spiritual grace or [illegible] any spiritual good, but sink down in [illegible] without hope of either. For those [illegible] graces whereby the Lord in the time of life [illegible] their distempers, and those outward [illegible] — word and sacraments, wholesome laws and [illegible] counsels and examples which formerly [illegible] them from many notorious outrages — are now [illegible] away. Now the Lord plucks up the hedge, [illegible] pulls down the wall, takes away all the [illegible] gifts of his grace, vouchsafes not one [illegible] of his Spirit to strive with the sinner any more, [illegible] one check of conscience to awe him, not the least [illegible] of any good to affect him any more. [illegible] the reins in the neck of the rebel, and [illegible] loose upon him to execute the fullness of the fierceness of his malice to the uttermost. [illegible] his rage was confined before, he could do no [illegible] than his commission allowed him, he had the [illegible] of his temptations set; but now he takes full possession of the soul after death, and has free leave [illegible] exercise full dominion over it, as much as he will [illegible] can. Indeed, the Lord in his severe but [illegible] lets in the sea of all sinful [illegible] as with a mighty slow and full tide into the [illegible] heart, to carry him without all control or stay from ever enjoying either means or hopes of [illegible] least expression of God's presence, for any good [illegible] any kind. There is no heart to pity the [illegible] sinner, no friend to pray for him, no counsel [illegible] advise, reproof to stop, no exhortation to persuade any more, from the approving and [illegible] of whatever might dishonor God. In the days [illegible] his life and vanity, he was weary of all these, because they hindered him from having his full [illegible] in the ways of wickedness. Now all these [illegible] means, as so many banks which kept in the swelling and boisterous rage of his accursed lusts, are all [illegible] down; the bottomless depths of all abominations are opened; the power of all sinfulness, in all [illegible] thereof, seizes upon the soul, and [illegible] and prevails in it to all eternity, without lessening, restraint, or alteration. For to imagine that the fire of Purgatory should purify the sinner from any soul pollution, that a material thing should [illegible] upon a spiritual substance such as the soul is — indeed, a natural thing work a supernatural disposition — [illegible] a senseless and inconceivable absurdity, not worthy the consideration, much less any serious endeavor to confute.

The second part of the doctrine is this: while the Gospel is [illegible], that is the season of God's acceptation — he then puts forth the power of his grace to prepare the heart; so the word implies in the text, an opportunity of acceptation. It discovers [illegible] in three particulars.

There is fitness of opportunity in regard of the cause of the accomplishment of any thing; when there is a concurrence or meeting together of many helps, for the bringing about [illegible] that we desire and would have, for the effecting of any work we intend. Thus we use to say, when we have wind and tide, then is the fittest season to sail; while we have health and strength, is the [illegible] time to set about works of greatest importance, not that the bare continuance of so many hours, or days, or years, makes any difference, for they are always the same, in sickness and in health; in youth, and in crazy, and decrepit age, in a still calm, and in a fair gale; but the fitness lies in the causes and means which now are happily afforded to us, which hereafter we may be deprived of, or not able to improve though we do enjoy them.

Thus then there is a season of God's acceptation, when he affords means, sends his Messengers of glad [illegible] of Peace, when he sets open the stall of the Gospel before our eyes, cries his commodities in our [illegible], and proclaims the offer of his rich mercy to all comers, Ho every one that will, let him come and take freely of the waters of the well of life and live for ever. Now is the season of God's gracious working and our receiving, greatest success in his Ordinances; this is the exposition [illegible] the Apostle adds in the following verse, behold now is the acceptable time, while the light shines, while Wisdom cries, and Ministers call, if ever there was opportunity of Conversion and Preparation now is the fittest of all other, for God to work it, for us to endeavor it. When the fat things are killed, and finest wines drawn and broached, servants sent to invite, and all preparations made ready to the marriage feast (Luke 14:17), then is it time to come, to feed, to refresh ourselves; behold all is ready, only come, when the door is open, and warning given, behold the bridegroom comes, then is the nick of opportunity to follow hard after, if we would find entrance into the Bride chamber (Matthew 25:8-9). But when the Feast is over, and the door shut, we may have time to come and knock, but never shall we find entrance, or acceptance, or welcome, because the season is past.

There is a fitness in reference to the work, which the thing now made might have, which hereafter happily could not attain. Thus came Esther to be Queen in a fit time, for Mordecai's safety, the succor and deliverance of the Nation of the Jews; for though she might have possessed the same place, enjoyed the same Honor, and Royal Preeminence, afterwards; yet it had been too late to have defeated the Policies of Haman, or procured the Preservation of her People, from the Plots and pursuits of those who were armed for their utter ruin (Esther 4). Thus the Woman of Samaria was then called effectually by our Savior (John 4), when it was the pat opportunity to communicate the notice of a Messiah, and the work of his Grace to the Samaritans, who were as the regions of Corn, white to the harvest, and ready to be cut and carried; so were the People ready to hear, attend, and embrace the glad tidings of Redemption through the Lord Jesus.

There is a fitness in regard of the subject, which however it gives no cause nor help to the accomplishment of the work now in doing, yet it makes way for the further manifestation of the skill and goodness of the workman, and holds out the work done to greater admiration. Thus our Savior is said to come and reconcile all things in the fullness of opportunities (Ephesians 1:10), because the Lord Christ came then when things were at the lowest ebb, the state of the Church of the Jews in [illegible] extremity, when the root of David was dry, and the branches of the stock of David quite withered (Isaiah 11:1), that is, when the Scepter seemed to have departed from the Tribe of Judah, and a Lawgiver from between his legs (Genesis 49:10).

Now however the extremity of this distress was no cause of Deliverance, but rather a hindrance in itself; and though God the Father out of his own power and according to his own good pleasure might have sent his Son sooner, to have redeemed his people out of their distresses, yet now the greatness of misery made them such subjects, wherein the glory of his rich Grace, might appear in the perfect beauty thereof.

Hence it is many times in the Dispensation of the work of Grace, the Lord takes the Sinner in the lowest and basest estate, in the most desperate condition when the distress grows deadly, the case to the eye of man is beyond cure and recovery, that so the sovereign virtue of his saving Grace might be set forth to the wonder of the World, and to the encouragement of those who should come to the like straits. Upon this ground it is that the Lord Christ chose that time to convert Paul when he was in the heat of his rage, when his fury was at the height, when breathing out threats against the Church, he came armed with authority, and hellish resolution to carry all to Prison (Acts 9). In a word, while Paul proceeds furiously with a [illegible] intention, to oppose Christ, to persecute his Members, and in the issue to procure and hasten his own everlasting ruin, then our Savior prevents him and pities him, and does him most good, while he strives to do most harm, and to make havoc of the Church, the truth, and his soul also. Indeed, then works his conversion, when he most seriously endeavors to work his own confusion of himself, and such as professed the Faith in sincerity; the aim of God in all the Apostle directed by the Spirit expresses to be this (1 Timothy 1:16), I was a Persecutor, but I obtained Mercy, to the end that the Lord in me might show all long-suffering to the example of those that should believe on his Name. Such a forlorn Sinner at that time was the fittest subject to receive the full print of God's love and compassion in great Letters, as it were, that he might be a pattern to all [illegible], of the boundless compassions of the Lord. That as Seamen after a dangerous wreck and miraculous deliverance, set up a Monument of their Preservation to all that pass that way, to work fear in them to prevent shipwreck, and yet hope of Recovery if they do.

To the like purpose is the conversion of the Apostle in this heat of his rebellion set upon record in public view: As though the Lord should say, Look here you forlorn sinners, see a desperate rebel running post-haste to his everlasting ruin, and behold as well the hand of mercy then stopping of him in his way; Paul persecuting Christ in his members, Christ then pitying and preserving Paul, the one most kind, when the other is most vile and [illegible]: Oh the madness of a deluded soul [illegible] reason! But oh the compassions of a Savior beyond all compare! Be afraid you never proceed to such hellish folly, and yet bless God, that there is such a Savior if you do. These be the seasons of God's acceptance, the first here principally intended, the rest not excluded, and in these opportunities thus appointed by God in his wisdom, according to his good will, he does put forth the work of his grace, to bring home the souls of his to himself.

Hence we learn, that a long life is a great blessing in itself, a great temporal blessing as it comes from the Lord. Why? Because all that while a man is in the way: mercy may meet with him, and he may meet with it: while there is life, there is hope (unless a man have sinned against the Holy Ghost). Physicians observe all the while there is strength in nature, there is hope the physic may prove profitable; it is much more for the comfort of the soul, while there is life, there is yet a possibility: your heart is stubborn, and rebellious, and proud; but you yet live, and the Lord lives, and his mercy lives, therefore it may be he may show mercy to you. But when a man is dropped down into the grave, and the pit has shut its mouth upon him, then all his thoughts perish, then with a sad heart he may remember all the helps he had, the opportunities he had, but never had a heart to get any good by them: then he reads over all the sermons he heard, by the flames of Hell; and remembers all the kindnesses of the Lord, and then there is no hope.

You therefore that know your bosom abominations, you have your back doors, and your base haunts; you know your sins are not pardoned, you have not repented of them; when you are gone home, go your ways, and bless God that you live: for, let me tell you, this is all the hope in the world that yet you are alive, and therefore the Lord may show mercy to you; if your days were ended, and you gone down to Hell, then not all the world, no, not Christ, nor the mercy of God itself could not save you then. Therefore look as it was with a child which was followed by a bear into a pond, the child cried out to the people that were running and came to the pond's sides, Oh help, help; and still as the bear [illegible] him, first his arms, then his legs, and still he cried out, Oh help, help, yet I am alive, yet I am alive: this is your condition, believe it. Not bears, but sins and devils are upon you, they have you in their clutches, tearing and devouring your souls: oh look to Heaven, and cry out to the Lord, and say, Lord, a proud stubborn creature, but yet I am alive, the devil is devouring my soul, but Lord, help me and deliver me, yet I am alive; bless God you are so, and know it is all you have to show for your everlasting welfare. For while there is life, there is hope.

Matter of caution and advice, to fence our souls and fortify ourselves against that hellish distemper of self-murder, that our hearts may be carried with hatred of it, and our souls preserved from the commission of it: when partly from discontentments, and partly from terrors of conscience, men are not able to bear with themselves; but they will run to a halter or a knife, they will put an end to their lives that they may put an end to their sorrows; they will not live, that they may not live thus and thus. Why consider, are you sure of a better life? They will answer, No, that is my misery, I see all my sins before me, and Hell gaping for me, and the devils attending to seize upon my soul, and it makes me weary of my life. Weary of your life! Take heed of that, bless God for your life, and pray for life, and seek to preserve your life what you may, for while your life lasts, you are in the way to mercy. Dives had so much experience of the torments of Hell, that he sends to those that were alive (Luke 16:28), Oh take heed of coming here, you are in a better condition than I, whatever your case be. Learn therefore forever to fear and flee from temptations to self-murder, as that which would put an end to your life, and to put an end to all hopes and possibilities of mercy from the Lord.

But the main fruit of the point, which properly belongs to this place, is a use of instruction, which ought to be observed and settled upon the consciences of us all. Does the Lord then usually accept of the soul, and do good to it while he provides and continues the means of grace? What then remains but we should give all diligence to attend upon his times, take his means, and improve all to the [illegible] for our spiritual good. Suffer me here to stay a while, and urge the collection with an argument or two, and yet go no further than the words, nor take other reasons than the text will afford, for it issues amain and with a full source from all particulars mentioned before, the foregoing truths meeting together, like so many streams, to make this more forcible upon the conscience, and like a mighty current, to carry us along to everlasting happiness.

It is a season, and therefore to be observed; an opportunity, and therefore to be improved without delay: we should address ourselves presently to this so great a work, redeem the time (Colossians 4:5). Having opportunity, let us do good to all (Galatians 6:10). If to others, much more to ourselves: if to their bodies, especially to our own soul; if to them in temporal things, than most of all our best good in eternal blessings is to be attended.

But the season is not yet come, that opportunity is not yet offered. Answer: [illegible], the Apostle points at it as at hand, and in view: Behold now: while I am speaking, and you are hearing, while the doors of the Sanctuary are yet opened, while we are in the land of the living, behold now is the acceptable time. Oh let us not harden our hearts, nor shut our eyes, [illegible] stop our ears, to the voice of the Lord, but pursue opportunity present, strike while the iron is hot, [illegible] our harvest while the heat and sunshine is upon us, while wind and tide lasts, sail we cheerfully towards the Haven, the end of our hopes, the salvation of our souls. This is the argument which the Apostle presses with so much eagerness, as having such apparent evidence in it. That considering the season, it is high time we should awake from the sleep of security, our salvation is nearer than heretofore (Romans 3:11). The Lord now speaks to us as sometimes to the secure Church (Song of Solomon 2:10): Arise my love, my dove, and come away; for lo the winter is gone, the flowers appear, the voice of the turtle is heard in our land, etc. I may truly say, this Scripture is this day fulfilled in our ears, wherein the Lord Christ by the ministry of his Word calls, and that with all urgency, upon every corrupt [illegible]-hearted sinner to come to him, to receive the word of his grace, and the power and comfort thereof upon his soul. Behold the foggy mists of Popery and ignorance are over, the shadows of [illegible] are passed away, the flowers grow, and the [illegible] [illegible] apace, peace and prosperity, with abundance of outward blessings showered down upon us, the voice of the turtle is heard in our land, the sound of the Gospel, and the glad tidings of peace, have been, and yet [illegible] proclaimed in our streets.

Arise, arise, therefore [illegible] secure and dead-hearted sinners, and come away. Arise you drunkards, come [illegible] from your cups and companies; arise you adulterous wretches, come away from your [illegible] [illegible], and beds of dalliance; come to him who [illegible] kindly invites you, who promises to accept you, who is able and willing to save you. Oh! consider opportunities will not last always, we have no [illegible] of them, much less command of them; and who knows whether we shall ever enjoy that which we now neglect? Especially, considering the Lord at the present, vouchsafes all helps to further and persuade us to this preparation, dealing with us as [illegible] he did with the stubborn-hearted Jews by Ezekiel, who to strike their hearts with an open conviction that they must go into captivity, he is enjoined to carry out his stuff, in the most plain manner in their sight, from one place to another, and the end is added: If it be possible (as some translations read it) if perhaps (as the propriety of the Hebrew bears it, all to one sense) they may consider it (Ezekiel 12:3). As if he should say, there is some small hope that something may procure their welfare, and if it be possible, this plain dealing is likely to prevail: a lively picture and resemblance of God's special bounty to us, who enjoy the means of grace above many others. The Lord has seen other countries, but he has settled his abode among us; he has passed by many congregations, but he has lodged with those where he has set up the light of his truth; the Son of [illegible] has sent abroad his beams to many corners of the earth, a glimpse of his goodness has appeared to many places, but his saving health like the sun in his full strength, has stood over our heads as it did once in Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Ajalon. Some people have had many means, and many people have had some, but almost all have met together to procure our good, and to make up the fullness of opportunities, even the fullness of all fitness, that if it were possible we might consider it, and [illegible] at the last convert and turn to the Lord. The birds of the heaven, the sinners upon earth, and the devils in hell, know and pursue their [illegible] opportunities; the one for the comforts of nature, that they may enjoy them; the other for their [illegible], that they may enjoy their lusts, though they perish for it. Ask then (you sluggard) of the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you; demand of the beasts of the field, they will show you; indeed, [illegible] of the devils in hell, and they will testify how opportunities ought to be prized, and how [illegible] improve them. Will you be more unreasonable than the beasts? More careless of your own [illegible] comforts, than the devils be to procure your own confusion? Shall the Lord provide all [illegible] for our good, and shall we neglect both him, and them, and our own everlasting welfare? Woe to our sluggishness.

Objection: True, let this opportunity [illegible] great, so [illegible] the continuance of it long, and therefore we may take it hereafter.

Answer: No — it is a day, says the text, very short, and yet most uncertain. It is but for the day [illegible] this life, and who knows how soon it may end; there are skulls of all sorts in Golgotha, skins of all sorts in the market; young and old, aged and [illegible], hasten to the end. No man yet had a lease of [illegible] life, which is as grass, a flower, a bubble, and alas! how soon does this grass wither, this [illegible] fade, this bubble break?

And our day being short, so is it almost [illegible], many of us have past our highest point, the best [illegible] [illegible] time, our evening draws on; and behold pale [illegible], and feeble hands, frail bodies, dangerous [illegible], which are as harbingers of our dissolution, [illegible] will soon bring us to the house of our age, to [illegible] dust of death. Thus is our breath but a shadow, [illegible] soon passes away and we are gone. Oh! that we [illegible] wise to consider these things, and because our [illegible] is short, and passes away, we would take hold [illegible] the opportunity present.

But the young man replies: it is a good thing [reconstructed: for] the eye to behold the sun (Ecclesiastes 11:7). To [reconstructed: enjoy] this light, to enjoy the present pleasures, to [reconstructed: gather] the rose while it is in the bud, to gather the [reconstructed: flower] while it is fresh, while time and strength [reconstructed: remain], take the pleasures of the world and enjoy the [reconstructed: desires] of my heart; not now to sit moping in a [reconstructed: corner], go drooping and sorrowing for my sins; when [reconstructed: my] hair grows gray, and decrepit age comes on, [reconstructed: some] years hence, when my sun grows near the setting, [reconstructed: my] life begins to decline, and my strength to decay, [reconstructed: I] shall then have leisure to talk of holiness, to turn [reconstructed: over] a new leaf, and betake myself to my beads, and [reconstructed: prayers] of grace; in the mean time these jolly [reconstructed: years], speak to Preparation and Humiliation, as [reconstructed: Felix] sometimes to Paul. Go your way for this [reconstructed: time], and when we have a convenient time we will [reconstructed: send] for you.

Answer: You fool, this night may your soul be [reconstructed: required] from you (Luke 12:20). How do you know but the Lord may pluck you out of the land of the living, and send you packing down to your own place, give you your portion with unbelievers and despisers of his grace? And then all your thoughts perish, your time is past, and repentance too late, when the pit has shut her mouth upon you — how foolish to think to have leisure to repent, when you will not have time to live?

2. Be it that the day of your life continues, yet the day of salvation may be ended; for this is but a minute or moment of that span of time, a point or [reconstructed: particle] of that opportunity. If the Lord remove his [reconstructed: presence], take away the light of his Word, dam up the fountain of grace, and stop the wellsprings of salvation, you may perish for thirst, and live to [reconstructed: bewail] the folly of the neglect of means, when perhaps you shall not know where they be, nor yet have liberty and ability to enjoy them if you knew. While therefore the day of our life, and the day [reconstructed: of] salvation (the mart of mercy) lasts, both which are but short and uncertain, let us be watchful to observe, and careful to take all advantages to buy the chiefest and best commodities, humiliation and faith. Especially considering it may be any [reconstructed: man's] particular day, as our Savior to Jerusalem, "Oh that you had known at least in this your day" (Luke 19:42). When the Word is mighty, and the Spirit speaks powerfully to your soul, when the undeniable evidence of the truth convicts your judgment, and the keen threatenings thereof cut and lance your corrupt conscience to the core, and the Lord raps at the door of your heart by the hammer of the law — oh now follow those motions, and cherish them, make much of a little, and allow the blessed ordinance of God to have its full blow upon your soul. Go aside and consider seriously with yourself: certainly the Lord came home this day to my heart, touched me to the quick, and met with my particular corruptions, withstood me to my face, and by the authority of his truth, like the naked sword in the hand of the angel, stopped me in my course, and bade me back again. Assuredly this is my part, a portion carved out in special [reconstructed: for] my soul — this [reconstructed: then] is my day of salvation, in which the [reconstructed: Lord purposes] to work the good work of his grace [reconstructed: in] me. True, it may be so, and for all that you [reconstructed: or] I, or any under heaven know, it is so. Remember [reconstructed: that] you had a fair offer, and take heed how [reconstructed: you] do refuse it, lest you never have the like [reconstructed: offer]. Break therefore through all oppositions, cast [reconstructed: away all delays], listen to no allurements to the [reconstructed: contrary], [reconstructed: therefore] while [reconstructed: it] is called today harden not your [reconstructed: heart]. And as Paul to his company (Acts [reconstructed: 20]), you never to see their faces more. I know (as one of the [reconstructed: Fathers] brings in his sins) our old [reconstructed: sins] like old [reconstructed: servants] will [reconstructed: claim] kindness from [reconstructed: us], plead prescription and continuance: we have [reconstructed: served] long, taken much sweet counsel together, [reconstructed: taken] much delight and content. Give us warning [reconstructed: first], before you give us a discharge; let us [reconstructed: enjoy our time of pleasure] for the while, and hereafter let [reconstructed: us] think of amendment. Thus the same Father, when [reconstructed: he] had often resolved to renounce his bosom [reconstructed: sin], and the beloved lusts of the flesh, still that sounded in his ears: "Tomorrow, tomorrow" — as the burden of Satan's song, "Tomorrow soon enough, hereafter time enough." Thus while he was startling and [reconstructed: awakened] by the terrors of his conscience, he lulled him, and rocked him asleep again by delays, until at last in a holy kind of violence and indignation of heart, he breaks through all, demurs no more, delays no longer, but cries out: "Why not today, why not today Lord?" And from that day following God gave him victory. Go your way and do likewise — stand not haggling and dallying with the Almighty; set down a resolution like the laws of the Medes and Persians, never to be revoked, that you will from this [reconstructed: day], and ever hereafter, wait upon the [reconstructed: means] of grace, and give way to the work thereof. Dispute no more, but determine thus with yourself: "Why yet am I here in the land of the living, yet [reconstructed: on] this side the bottomless pit — the Lord still tenders the offers of salvation, strives still with this sturdy heart of mine. I know not how soon I may be taken from the means, or the means from me, or the blessing of the Lord from us both; while therefore the Spirit speaks to my soul, 'Seek you my face,' give me a heart to echo back again, 'Your face, Lord, will I seek this day.'" Note: August. in his Confessions.

After all this, the heart still sings loath to depart, and the deluded sinner lingers after his lust, as Lot after Sodom, and therefore puts in a new plea on this manner: imagine the worst — should I put off this fair and kind call of the Lord? Yet since it is in my power to entertain it hereafter, there is not so much danger though I now refuse it.

Answer: Be it granted, your life might be prolonged, the words of the text do most apparently dash this presumptuous conceit — it is the season of God's acceptation; it is not in your power, but depends merely upon his good will: we are not the patrons of the means of grace, much less of their work, it is not in our gift; the sending and blessing of both issues only from the good pleasure of the Almighty: prolong not then, put not off the time, deny not God's gracious offer, lest you never have offer again; he that now holds out the golden scepter of mercy to receive you, has an iron rod with which he can [reconstructed: smite] you to nothing, and break you in pieces like a potter's vessel: he that has the keys of David, and now sets open the gate of salvation, he can shut it and no man shall open it any more; and when you have stayed too long, and come too late, you may knock hard with the foolish virgin, and cry aloud with Esau, and yet receive neither blessing, nor birthright, and it is just with God it should be [reconstructed: so], that the word which you have despised, should [reconstructed: become] a dead, or killing letter, and never work [reconstructed: effectually]; the motions of his Spirit which you have [reconstructed: quenched], should never stir more with you. Thus Wisdom threatens the scorners of her counsel (Proverbs 1:24): Because I have called and they refused, I [reconstructed: also] stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, [reconstructed: then] they shall call, but I will not answer; they [reconstructed: shall] seek me early, but they shall not find me.

In fact, it may be you shall not only not find what [reconstructed: you sought], and that with some eagerness, which is [reconstructed: a] state miserable enough, but shall not have a heart [reconstructed: so] much as once to seek for mercy, as many [reconstructed: sinners] have, and hypocrites do; and this is a [reconstructed: state] next to the damned in hell, unconceivably [reconstructed: miserable]. This was Jerusalem's case just as the Lord [reconstructed: expressed] it, Oh that you had known at least in [reconstructed: this] your day, the things belonging to your peace, but [reconstructed: now] they are hid from your eyes (Luke 19:42). Christ [reconstructed: was] now weeping over the city, preaching his farewell [reconstructed: sermon] among them, yes, now come to die among them: the presence of the means makes the plague more remarkable, when through God's just judgment for their contempt of the truth, they have eyes but they are made dim and see not, they have ears but [reconstructed: are made] heavy and hear not, and hearts made hard even [reconstructed: under] the blessed ministry of the Gospel, and so they understand not; they have all before their eyes, and [reconstructed: yet] all hid from their eyes: the like curse the Lord usually pours out upon the hellish despisers of the doctrine of grace, delivering them up to blind minds, and seared consciences, reprobate senses, that they who shut their eyes against the power of God's ordinances, should never see nor be [reconstructed: sensible] of, either that or their own misery, which is the [reconstructed: greatest] misery of all.

Yet all this will not content, there is one cavil which the carnal heart objects, and it is most desperate; be it, God will [reconstructed: not] vouchsafe means nor work by them, nor will I receive any benefit therefrom, let me live as I wish now, let me shift as I can hereafter; if I lose all, the loss is not great. Answer: What! [reconstructed: not] great? God forbid that such a thought should be in any [reconstructed: man's] heart, such a word come out of any man's mouth. It is no less than salvation itself, it is [reconstructed: the] day of salvation says the text, [reconstructed: a] loss not to be valued, not to be recovered, will never, can [reconstructed: never] be repaired again; yes, I appeal to your own conscience, and [reconstructed: let] yourself in cold blood be your own judge: think but seriously [reconstructed: of] the rivers of pleasure which are at God's right hand (Psalm 16, last verse), of [reconstructed: that] kingdom [reconstructed: that is] undefiled, and that fades not away (1 Peter 1:4), and consider of that crown of glory, that exceeding [reconstructed: and eternal] weight of glory reserved in the heavens (2 Corinthians 4:17); and weigh but with [reconstructed: your] self, in your most retired thoughts, the [reconstructed: infinite] mercy of a God, the [reconstructed: precious] redemption of a Christ, the comforts of a Spirit [reconstructed: so] glorious; imagine you heard that sentence passed, Come you blessed, [reconstructed: inherit] the kingdom, possess the crown, enjoy [reconstructed: those] pleasures, and if you have but the heart of a man, let it answer: can you lose all these, and account the loss little? And yet if the day of grace be gone once, all these go too; neglect that now, and never think to enjoy these: an argument able to stay any in the most eager pursuit [reconstructed: of] these lying vanities, and to cause him to [reconstructed: turn], and steer his course another way.

As Elisha said, Is this a time to take [reconstructed: money]? So when [reconstructed: we] consider all opportunities, and means, and mercies, say, is this a time, to follow the world, and the profits thereof? To [reconstructed: defile] ourselves with sinful delights, and forsake Christ, and his Gospel, and salvation and all: I think nature would [reconstructed: cry out], reason would persuade, it is a day of salvation, our lives, [reconstructed: our] hopes, our comforts, our salvation, and all depend upon [reconstructed: it]. It is the time that God has bestowed for this end, therefore [reconstructed: be] sure to improve this time so, as we may attain this end. In [reconstructed: a] word, it is a day, therefore a season; and but a day, [reconstructed: very] short; a day of God's accepting; and a day of salvation; the season so fit, the time so short, and the purchase so great, what remains then, but we should improve this time to our utmost, that we may receive that spiritual good from the Lord in it, that he is willing to bestow, and we stand in [reconstructed: need] of, for our comfort here, and our everlasting welfare in another world.

FINIS.