We of this nation have long enjoyed the light of the glorious gospel among us ; it hath shone in much clearness upon this sinful island, for more than a whole century of happy years : but the longest day hath an end, and we have cause to fear our bright sun is going down upon us ; for the shadows in England are grown greater than the substance, which is one sign of approaching night, Jer. vi. 4. " The beasts of prey creep out of their dens and coverts," which is another sign of night at hand, Psal. civ. 20. " And the " workmen come home apace from their labours, and go to rest," which is as sad a sign as any of the rest, Job vii. 1, 2. Isa. lvii. 1, 2. Happy were it, if, in such a juncture as this, every man would make it his work and business to secure himself in Christ from the storm of God's indignation, which is ready to fall upon these sinful nations. It is said of the Egyptians, when the storm of hail was coming upon the land, Exod. ix. 20. " He that feared the word
• Plin. 1. 18. c. 35. Virg. Georg. 1. 1,
THE EPTSLTE TO THE READER. 11
u of the Lord made his servants and cattle flee into the houses." It is but an odd sight to see the prudence of an Egyptian out-vying the wisdom and circumspection of a Christian.
God, who provides natural shelter and refuge for all creatures, hath not left his people unprovided with, and destitute of defence and security, in the most tempestuous times of national judgments. It is said, Mic. v. 5. " This man (meaning the man Christ Jesus) " shall be the peace when the Assyrian shall come into our land, " and when he shall tread in our palaces." And Isa. xxvi. 20. " Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy " doors about thee ; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, " until the indignation be overpast."
My friends, let me speak as freely, as I am sure I speak seasonably. A sound of judgment is in our ears ; " The Lord's voice crieth <f unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name : hear " ye the rod, and who hath appointed it," Mic. vi. 9. All things round about us seem to posture themselves for trouble and distress. Where is the man of wisdom that doth not foresee a shower of wrath and indignation coming ? " We have heard a voice of trcm- " bling, .of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether " a man doth travail with child ? Wherefore do I see every man " with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces " are turned into paleness ? Alas, for that day is great, so that " none is like it ; it is even the day of Jacob's trouble, but he shall " be delivered out of it," Jer. xxx. 5, 6, 7.
Many eyes are now opened to see the common danger, but some foresaw it long ago ; when they saw the general decay of godliness every where, the notorious profanity and atheism that overspread the nations ; the spirit of enmity and bitterness against the power of godliness wherever it appeared: and though there seemed to be a present calm, and general quietness, yet those that were wise in heart could not but discern the distress of nations, with great per- plexity, in these seeds of judgment and calamity : but as the ephah fills more and more, so the determined wrath grows more and more visible to every eye ; and it is a fond thing to dream of tranquillity in the midst of so much iniquity. Indeed, if these nations were once swept with the besom of reformation, we might hope God would not sweep them with the besom of destruction ; but what peace can be expected, whilst the highest provocations are continued?
It is therefore the great and present concernment of all to provide themselves of a refuge before the storm overtakes them ; for, as Augustin well observes, Non facile inven'utntur prcrjidia in adver- sitate, qua* nonfuerint in pace qmvsita. O take up your lodgings in the attributes and promises of God before the night overtake you ; view them often by faith, and clear up your interest in them, that
12 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
you may be able to go to them in the dark, when the ministers and ordinances of Christ have taken their leave of you, and bid you good night.
Whilst many are hastening on the wrath of God by prof wieness, and many by smiting their fellow-servants ; and multitudes resolve, if trouble come, to fish in the troubled waters for safety and pre- ferment, not doubting, (whensoever the overflowing flood comes) but they shall stand dry. O that you would be mourning for their sins, and providing better for your own safety.
Reader, it is thy one thing necessary to get a cleared interest in Jesus Christ ; which being once obtained, thou mayest face the storm with boldness, and say, come troubles and distresses, losses and trials, prisons and death, I am provided for you ; do your worst, you can do me no harm : let the winds roar, the lightnings flash, the rains and hail fall never so furiously, I have a good roof over my head, a comfortable lodging provided for me ; " My place " of defence is the munition of rocks, where bread shall be given " me, and my waters shall be sure," Isa. xxxiii. 16.
The design of the ensuing treatise is to assist thee in this great work ; and though it was promised t© the world many years past, yet providence hath reserved it for the fittest season, and brought it to thy hand in a time of need.
It contains the method of grace in the application of the great redemption to the souls of men, as the former part contains the method of grace in the interpretation thereof by Jesus Christ. The acceptation God hath given the former part, signified by the desires of many, for the publication of this, hath at last prevailed with me (notwithstanding the secret consciousness of my inequality to so great an undertaking) to adventure this second part also upon the ingenuity and candour of the reader.
And I consent the more willingly to the publication of this, be- cause the design I first aimed at, could not be entire and complete without it ; but especially, the quality of the subject matter, which (through the blessing and concurrence of the Spirit) may be useful both to rouse the drowsy consciences of this sleepy generation, and to assist the upright in clearing the work of the Spirit upon their own souls. These considerations have prevailed with me against all discouragements.
And now, reader, it is impossible for me to speak particularly and distinctly to the case of thy soul, which I am ignorant of, ex- cept the Lord shall direct my discourse to it in some of the following suppositions.
If thou be one that hast sincerely applied, and received Jesus Christ by faith, this discourse (through the blessing of the Spirit) may be useful to thee, to clear and confirm thy evidences, to melt
THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 13