Thirdly, What are the troubles of a moment to that wrath, which, after millions of years are gone, will still ^ . . be called wrath to come ? O what comparison be- twixt a point of hasty time, and the interminable duration of vas^ eternity !
Fourthly, What comparison is there betwixt the n t- u intermitting sorrows and sufferings of this life, l^%
472 THE FOUNT AIX OF LIFE. SEEM. XXXVIII.
and the continued uninterrupted wrath to come f Our troubles here are not constant, there are gracious relaxations, lucid intervals here ; but the wrath to come allows not a moment's ease or miti- gation.
Fifthly, What light and easy troubles are those, which, being
tj • put into the rank and order of adjuvant causes,
" ° . work under the influence and blessing of the first
cause, to the everlasting good of them that love God, compared
with that wrath to come, out of which no good effects or issues are
possible to proceed to the souls on which it lies ?
Sixthly, and lastly, How much more comfortable is it, to suffer j , in fellowship with Christ and his saints for righteous-
ness sake, than to suffer with devils and reprobates for " ' wickedness sake ? Grudge not then, O ye that are
delivered by Jesus from wrath to come, at any thing ye do suffer, or shall suffer from Christ, or for Christ in this world.
Carol. 2. If Jesus Christ hath delivered his people from the wrath to come, how little comfort can any man take in his present enjoy- ments and accommodations in the world, whilst it remains a question with him, whether he be delivered from the wrath to come ? It is well for the present, but will it be so still ? Man is a prospecting crea- ture, and it will not satisfy him that his present condition is com- fortable, except he have some hopes it shall be so hereafter. It can afford a man little content that all is easy and pleasant about him now, whilst such passages and terrible hints of wrath to come are given him by his own conscience daily. O, methinks such a thought as this, what if I am reservedfor the wrath to come ? should be to him, as the fingers appearing upon the plaster of the wall were to Belteshazzar in the height of a frolic *. It is a custom with some of the Indians, when they have taken a prisoner (whom they intend not presently to eat) to bring him with great triumph into the village, where he dwelleth that hath taken him ; and pla- cing him in the house of one that was slain in the wars, as it were to re-celebrate his funeral, they give him his wives or sisters to attend on him, and use at his pleasure : they apparel him gorgeously, and feed him with all the dainty meats that may be had ; affording him all the pleasure that can be devised ; when he hath passed cer- tain months in all these pleasures, and (like a capon) is made fat with delicate fare, they assemble themselves upon some festival day, and in great pomp bring him to the place of execution, where they kill and eat him.
Such are all the pleasures and enjoyments of the wicked, which feed them for the day of slaughter. How little stomach can a man
* Sir R. Barkley, on the felicity of Man, p. 12, 15.
SERM. XXXVIII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 473
have to those dainties that understands the end and meaning of them ! Give not sleep therefore to thine eyes, reader, till thou hast got good evidence, that thou art of that number whom Jesus hath delivered from the wrath to come. Till thou canst say, he is a Jesus to thee. This may be made out to thy satisfaction three ways.
First, If Jesus have delivered thee from sin, the cause of wrath, tJwu mayest conclude he hath delivered thee from wrath, the effect and fruit of sin. Upon this account the sweet name of Jesus, was imposed upon him, Mat. i. 21. " Thou shalt call his name Jesus, " for he shall save his people from their sins." Whilst a man lies under the dominion and guilt of sin, he lies exposed to wrath to come ; and when he is delivered from the guilt and power of sin, he is certainly delivered from the danger of this coming wrath. Where sin is not imputed, wrath is not threatened.
Secondly, If thy soul do set an inestimable value on Jesus Christ, and be endeared to him upon the account of that inexpressible grace manifested in this deliverance, it is a good sign thy soul hath a share in it. Mark what an epithet the saints give Christ upon this ac- count, Col. i. 12, 13. " Giving thanks to the Father, who hath de- " livered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the " kingdom of his [dear] Son." Christ is therefore dear, and dear beyond all compare to his saved ones. I remember it is storied of the poor enthralled Grecians, that when * Titus Flaminius had re- stored their ancient liberties, and proclamation was to be made in the market-place by an herald ; they so pressed to hear it, that the herald was in great danger of being stifled and pressed to death among the people ; but when the proclamation was ended, there were heard such shouts and joyful acclamations, that the very birds of the air fell down astonished with the noise, while they con- tinued to cry, 2wr»j£, 2wnj£, a Saviour, a Saviour; and all the following night they continued dancing and singing about his pavilion.
If such a deliverance so endeared them to Titus, how should the great deliverance from wrath to come, endear all the redeemed to love their dear Jesus ? This is the native effect of mercy upon the soul that hath felt it.
Thirdly, To conclude, A disposition and readiness of mind to do, or endure any thing for Christ s sake, upon the account of his deli- verance from the wrath to come ; is a good evidence you are so deli- vered, Col. i. 10, 11. " That we may walk worthy of the Lord to all " pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." There is readiness to do for Christ. " Strengthened with all might, according to his glori-
• Plutarch, in vita T. Flaminii,
474 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERAf. XXXVIII.
44 ous power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." There is a cheerful readiness to endure any thing for Christ. And how both these flow from the sense of this great deliverance from wrath, the 12th verse will inform you, which was but now cited. O then, be serious and assiduous in the resolution of this grand case. Till this be resolved, nothing can be pleasant to thy soul.
End 2. As the typical blood was shed and sprinkled to deliver from danger, so it was shed to make atonement, Lev. iv. 20. " He '• shall expiate (we translate atone) the sin." The word imports both. And the true meaning is, that by the blood of the bid- lock, all whose efficacy stood in its relation to the blood of Christ, signified and shadowed by it, the people, for whom it was shed, should be reconciled to God, by the expiation and remission of their sins. And what was shadowed in this typical blood, was really designed and accomplished by Jesus Christ, in the shedding of his blood.