Christian Reader,
IT is a vanity no less common than dangerous, for such as enjoy the Gospel, and have a relation to the Visible Church, to boast themselves because of God's Holy Mountain, as if they were therefore secure from all fear of evil: supposing that the Covenant will be their safety, and saying, though we walk in the imagination of our heart, no ill shall come upon us. The design of this discourse is to undeceive such enfatuated souls, by letting them see what ground they stand upon, and how dreadful the place is, in which they are. It is a singular favor of God to be taken within the pale, and enjoy the benefit of the means of grace; but, as it may be abused, so their condition will be tremendous who shall at last fall under this guilt. That which first gave occasion to the preaching of these sermons was the awful consideration of a duty ministerial, due to such as, being born of professing parents, having received the seal of God's Covenant, and upon their asserting of this Covenant, and putting of themselves under the discipline of Christ's appointment, have been acknowledged, and admitted under our watch; and must therefore be accounted for in the great day. The thought that these should perish at last must needs be solemn. The hazards which they lie exposed to of so doing are amazing. To deny them their title to, and interest in the Gospel privileges, seems to be to bid them go and serve other gods. The fear lest they should by the abuse of these aggravate their guilt and misery, cannot but fill serious souls with great solicitude. Their great addictedness to vanity, and the small discovery of their being in good earnest for religion, looks portentously. The awful hand of God which is out against them in several terrible judgments is deeply affecting; and who that fears God would not do their utmost to pluck them out of the fire, and save them from burning? These therefore are firstly concerned in this treatise; and it is for that reason commended to you in special, who are called upon to consider what terms they are upon with God, and invited with greatest solemnity to confer the rich opportunity they enjoy of obtaining salvation, with the danger of their incurring of double damnation upon their neglect; and together with thankfulness for the price that is in their hands, to fear and tremble lest they should lose it, for want of a heart to improve it. Nor yet are others excluded; the heart-searching God knows who they are, that have made the highest profession, and are for all that unsound: and such are here told what they are to expect at the hands of a jealous God. Let none be so uncharitable as to suppose, that while we allow men their claim to the outward advantages of the Covenant, we indulge them in sin; the design is to improve it to the more forcible persuading to diligence in securing their own salvation, and make them the more careful about it, because otherwise, the nearer to heaven they have been exalted, the deeper are they like to be detruded into hell. God is wont to confer the Gospel upon men, and endow them with the liberties of it, not merely because they are savingly converted, but that they may have the means so to be; and here they are upon terms with him, and stand probationers for eternal life, or everlasting destruction. If the following discourses may, by the blessing of God, be made serviceable to the making sinners in Zion afraid, and drive them from carnal confidence in that state which in itself can afford them no security, and so to give all diligence to get under the shadow of the Everlasting Covenant, and thereby the spiritual kingdom of Christ may be enlarged, and especially among the rising and risen generation; I shall with all thankfulness acknowledge my labor not to have been in vain in the Lord.
Who am less than the least of all saints; Samuel Willard.
