Fifthly, To conclude, if sentence be once given by Christ against thy soul, what in all the world canst thou imagine should hinder the execution? will he alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth ? No, Psal. lxxxix. 34. Dost thou hope he is more merci- ful and pitiful than so? Thou mistakest, if you expect mercy out of that way in which he dispenses it. There will be thousands, and ten thousands that will rejoice in, and magnify his mercy then ; but they are such as obey his call, repented, believed, and obtained union with his person here ; but for unbelievers, it is against the settled law of Christ, and constitution of the gospel, to shew mercy to the despisers of it. But it may be, you think your tears, your cries, your pleadings with him, may move him ; these indeed might have done somewhat in time, but they come out of season now. Alas, too late. What the success of such pleas and cries will be, you may see if you will but consult two scriptures, Job *xvii. 8, 9. " What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath " gained, when God taketh away his soul ? Will God hear his " cry when trouble cometh upon him ?" No : And Matt. vii. 22. '• Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not " prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, 4; and in thy name have done many wonderful works ? And then " * ill I profess unto them, I never knew you ; depart from me " ve that work iniquity. "
And must it come to this dismal issue with you indeed ? God for- bid it should. Oh then,
Inf. 3. If Christ be appointed of God to be the Judge of all, how are all concerned to secure their interest i?i him, and therein an eter- nity of happiness to their own souls, by the work of regeneration ? Of all the business that men and women have in this world, there is none
SEEM. XLII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 535
so solemn, so necessary, and important as this. O my brethren, this is a work, able to drink up your spirits, while you do but think of the consequence of it.
Summon in then thy self-reflecting and considering powers : get alone, reader, and, forgetting all other things, ponder with thy- self this deep, dear, eternal concernment of thine. Examine the state of thy own soul. Look into the scriptures, then into thine own heart, and then to heaven, saying, Lard, let me not be deceived in so great a concernment to me as this. O let not the trifles of time wipe off the impressions of death, judgment, and eternity from thy heart. O that long word [Eternity,] that it might be night and day with thee ; that the awe of it may be still upon thy spirit. A gentlewoman of this nation, having spent the whole afternoon, and a great part of the evening at cards, in mirth and jollity, came home late at night, and finding her waiting gentlewoman reading, she looked over her shoulder upon the book, and said, Poor me- lancholy soul, why dost thou sit here poring so long upon thy book ? That night she could not sleep, but lay sighing and weep- ing ; her servant asked her once and again what ailed her ; at last she burst out into tears, and said, Oh ! it was one word that I cast my eye upon in thy book, that troubles me ; there I saw that word Eternity. How happy were I, if I were provided for eternity ? Sure it concerns us, seeing we look for such things, to be diligent that we may be found of him in peace. O let not that day come by surprizal upon you. Remember, that as death leaves, so judg- ment will find you.
Inf. 4. Is Jesus Christ appointed Judge of quick and dead, then hole to it, all you that hope to be found of him in peace, that you avoid those sins, and live in the daily practice of those duties, which the consideration of that day powerfully persuades you to avoid or practise. For it not only presses to holiness in acta primo, in the be- ing of it ; but in actu secundo, in the daily exercise and practice of it. Do you indeed expect such a day ? Oh then,
first) See you be meek and patient under all injuries and abuses for Christ's sake. Avenge not yourselves, but leave it to the Lord, who will do it. Do not anticipate the work of God. " Be patient, my brethren, to the coming of the Lord," James v. 7, 8, 9.
Secondly, Be communicative, public-hearted Christians, studying and devising liberal things, for Christ's distressed members ; and you shall have both an honourable remembrance of it, and a full reward of it in that day, Mat. xxv. 34, 35.
Thirdly, Be watchful, and sober, keep the golden bridle of mode- ration upon all your affections; and see that you be not over- charged with the cares and love of this present life, Luke xxi. 34,
536 THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SERM. XLII.
35. Will you that your Lord come and find you in such a pos- ture ? " O let your moderation be known unto all, the Lord is at " hand," Phil. iv. 5.
Fourthly, Improve all your Master's talents diligently and care- fully. Take heed of the napkin, Matt. xxv. 14, 18. Then must you make up your account for them all.
Fifthly, But, above all, be sincere in your profession. Let your hearts be found in God's statutes, that you may never be ashamed ; for this day will be the day of manifestation of all hidden things. And nothing is so secret, but that day will reveal it, Luke xii. 1, % 3. " Beware of hypocrisy ; for there is noting covered, which " shall not be revealed ; neither hid, that shall not be made " known.11 — Thus I have finished, through divine aids, the whole doctrine of the impetration of redemption by Jesus Christ ; we shall wind up the whole in a general exhortation, and I have done.
The general use And now, to close up all, let me persuade all of the whole, pres- those for whom the dear Son of God came from sing to holiness, the blessed bosom of the Father; assumed flesh; which is the main brake, by the strength of his own love, through scope of the doc- all discouragements and impediments ; laid down trine of redemp- his own life a ransom for their souls ; for whom turn. he lived, died, rose, ascended, and lives for ever
in heaven to intercede ; to live wholly to Christ, as Christ lived and died wholly for them.