Section 8
The eighth subject of meditation is: meditate upon the paucity of them that shall be saved; but few are chosen, Matthew 20:16. Among the millions in Rome, but few Senators; and among the swarms of people in the world, but few believers. One said, all the names of the good Emperors might be engraven in a little Ring; there are not many names in the book of life. We read of four sorts of ground in the Parable, and but one good ground, Matthew 13. How few in the world know Christ? How few that believe in him? Quis credidit? Who has believed our report? How few that strike sail to Christ's Scepter, Luke 19:14? The Heathen Idolaters and Mahometans possess almost all Asia, Africa, America; in many parts of the world the devil is worshipped; as among the Parthians and Pilapians; Satan takes up most climates, and hearts. How many formalists are there in the world? 2 Timothy 3:5. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], having a form of godliness; like wool that receives a slight tincture, not a deep dye, whose Religion is a paint, (which a storm of persecution will wash off) not an engraving. These look like Christ's Doves, but are the Serpent's brood. They hate God's image, like the Panther, that hates the picture of a man.
Oh often meditate on the paucity of them that shall be saved. The meditation of this, would, 1. Keep us from marching along with the multitude. You shall not follow a multitude, Exodus 23:2. The multitude usually goes wrong; most men walk, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], after the course of the world, Ephesians 2:2. That is, the lusts of their hearts, and the fashions of the times. They march after the Prince of the air. The meditation of this would make us turn out of the common road.
2. The meditation of the fewness of them that shall be saved would make us walk tremblingly; few that find the way, and when they have found it, few that walk in the way. The thoughts of this would work holy fear, Hebrews 4:1. not a despairing fear, but a jealous and cautious fear. This fear the eminent Saints of God have had. Austin says of himself, he knocked at heaven-gate with a trembling hand. This fear is joined with hope, Psalm 147:11. The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy; A child of God fears, because the gate is strait, but hopes, because the gate is open.
3. The meditation of the paucity of them that shall be saved, would be a whetstone to industry. It would put us upon working out our salvation; If there are so few that shall be crowned, it would make us the swifter in the race. This meditation would be an alarm to sleepy Christians.
