ala3 ! then he will throw their own words in their teeth, nad bid them depart from him, he desires not the knowledge of them. O sinners, you shall see, at last, God can better be without your company in heaven, than you could without his knowledge on earth : yet, yet it is day, draw your curtains, and behold Christ shining upon your face with gos^pel-light ; hear wisdom crying in the streets, and Christ piping under your window in the voice of his Spirit and messengers, ' How long will ye simple ones love simplicity, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, and make known my words unto you,' Prov. i. 21 — 23. Wliat can you say, sinners, for your sottish ignorance? Where is your cloak for this sin .' The time hath been when the word of the Lord was precious, and there was no open vision, not a Bible to be found in a town or country ; when the tree of knowledge was forbidden fruit, and none might taste thereof without license from the pope ! happy he that could get a leaf or two of the Testament into a corner, afi-aid to tell the wife of his bosom ! O how sweet were these waters, when you were forced to steal them ! But you have the word, or may, in your houses; you have those that open it every sabbath in their assemblies; many of you at least have the offers of your ministers to take any pains with you in private, passionately beseeching you to pity your souls, and receive in- struction : yea, it is the lamentation they generally take up, you will not come unto them that you may receive light. How long may a poor minister sit in his study, before any of the ignorant sort will come upon such an errand ! Lawyers have their clients, and physicians their patients : these are sought after, and called up at midnight for counsel : but, alas ! the soul, which is more worth than raiment and body too, that is neglected, and the minister seldom thought on, till both these be sent away. Perhaps when the physician gives them over for dead, then we must come and close up those eyes with comfort, which were never opened to see Christ in his truth, or be counted cruel, because we will not sprinkle them with his holy water, and anoint them for the king- dom of heaven, though they know not a step of the way that leads to it. Ah, poor wretches ! what comfort would you have us speak to those, to whom God himself speaks terror? Is heaven ours to give to whom we please? or is it in our power to alter the laws of the Most High, and save those whom he con- demns ? Do you not remember the curse that is to fall upon his head, * that maketh the blind to wander out of the way?' Deut. xxvii. 18. What curse then would be our portion, if we should confirm such blind souls, that are quite out of the way to heaven, encouraging you to go on and expect to reach heaven at last, when God knows your feet stand in those paths that lead to eternal death? No, it is written ; we cannot, and God will not reverse it ; you may read your very names among those damned souls which Christ comes in flaming fire to take vengeance on, who the apostle tells us are such, ' that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 2 Thess. i. 8. And therefore in the fear of God, let us provoke you, of what age or sex, rank or condition so- ever in the world, to labour for the saving knowledge of God in Christ, ' whom to know is life eternal.' Are ye young? Liquire after God betimes, while your parts are fresh, and memory strong, before the throng of worldly cares divert you, or lusts of youth debauch you. The feet of those lusts which have buined millions of others in perdition, stand ready to carry you the same way, if pre- venting grace come not and deliver you out of their hands, by seasoning your minds with the knowledge of God. This morning's draught may prevent thy being infected with the ill savours thou mayest receive from the corrupt exam- ples of others. Nay, how long thy stay may be in the world thou knowest not ; see whether thou canst not find graves of thy length in the bin-ial place ; and if thou shouklest die ignorant of God and his law, what would then become of thee ? The small brush, and the old logs, young sinners, and those that are withered with age, meet and burn together. Or if thou shouklest stay a while longer here, may be, because thou wilt not learn now, God will not teach thee then : or if thou shouklest in thy old age get acqiiaintance with (iod, yet it is sad to be sowing thy seed when thou shouldest be reaping thy sheaves, learn- ing to know God when thou mightest be comforting thyself from the old acquaintance thou hast enjoyed with him. Arc you old and ignorant ? Alas,
120 AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE