But certainly, it is the most solemn and important concern of every soul to watch upon all these seasons of salvation, when God comes nigh to them by convictions and motions of his Spirit ; and to put the same value upon these things that they do upon their souls, and the salvation of them. This is the door of hope set open, a fresh gale to carry you home to your port of glory. Salva- tion is now come nigh to your souls ; there is but a little betwixt you and blessedness. Wise and happy is that soul which knows and improves its season. To persuade and press men to discern and improve such seasons as these, is the principal work of the preachers of the gospel, and that special work to which I now ad- dress myself, in the following motives and arguments.
Ai'g. 1. And first, who, that haih the fi-ee exercise of reason, and the sense of a future eternal estate, would carelessly neglect any season of salvation, whilst he seeth all the rational world so care- fully attending, and watching all opportunities to promote and se- cure their lower concerns and designs for the present life ?
Is not the saving a man''s soul as weighty a concern as the getting of an estate ? You cannot but observe how careful merchants are, to nick the opportunity which promiseth them a good turn ; how do poor seamen look out for a wind to waft them to their port, and industriously shift their sails, to improve every flaw that may set them on their voyage ; how many miles tradesmen will travel to be in season at a fair, to put off, or purchase goods to their advan- tage : No entertainments, recreations, or importunities of friends can prevail with any of these, to lose a day on which their busi- ness depends ; all things must give way to their business ; they all understand their seasons, and will not be diverted. But, alas ! what childish toys are all these, compared with their salvation ! what is the loss of a little money to the loss of a man's soul ? If a man's life depended upon his being at such a place, by such a pre- cise hour, sure he would not oversleep his time that morning; and
A TREATISE OF THE SOUL OF MAK. 231
had he but the least fear of coming too late, every stroke of the clock would strike to his heart ; and yet remissness and carelessness, in such a case as this, is infinitely more excusable than in the mat- ter of salvation. Certainly the solicitude and care of all the world for the interests thereof, yea, your own diligence and circumspec- tion in temporal things, will be an uncontroulable and confounding self-conviction to you in the day of your account, and leave you without plea or apology for your supine neglects of the seasons of salvation.
Arg. % The consideration of the uncertainty and slippery nature of these spiritual seasons, must awaken in us all care and diligence to secure and improve them : This nick of opportunity is teinpus labile, a slippery season ; it is but short in itself, and very uncertain : '' To-day, whilst it is said to-day (saith the apostle) if ye will hear " his voice," Heb. iii. 15. q. d. You have now a short, uncertain, but most precious and valuable season for your souls, lay hold on it whilst it is called to-day ; for if this season be let slip, the time to come is called by another name, that is not to-day, but to-morroxv. Your time is the preserit time ; take heed of procrastinating and putting it off, till that which is called to-day, (which is your ojily season) be past and gone. The precious inch of time, though it be more worth than all the other greater parts and portions of your time, yet it is as much injluxu, m hasty motion, and spending as other parts of time are ; and being once lost, is never more to be recalled or recovered. Few men know, or understand it whilst it is current : other seasons for natural, or civil actions are known and stated, but the time of grace is not so easily discerned, and there- fore commonly mistaken, and lost : And this comes to pass partly through,
1. Presumptuous hopes.
2. Discouraging fears.
1. Presumptuous hopes, which put it too far forth, and persuade us this season is yet to come ; that we have time before us, and that to-morrow shall be as to-day. " Thus through presumption *, " men hope, and by their presumptuous hopes they perish." This is the ruin of most souls that perish.
S. Discouraging fears put it too far back, and represent it as long since past and gone, whilst it is yet in being, and in our hands. By such pangs of desperation, Satan cuts the nerves of industry and diligence, and causes souls to yield themselves as by consent for lost, and hopeless, even whilst the gospel is opening their eyes, to see their sin and misery, w hich is a part of the work in order to their recovery. Thus the eyes of thousands are dazzled that they
Prccsumendo speraTd, et sperando pereunt,
S32 A TREATISE Of THE SOUL OF MAI?.
cannot discern the season of mercy, and so it slides from them as if it had never been.
God came near to them in the means of their conversion, yea, and nearer in the motions of his Spirit upon their consciences and affections ; but they knew not the time of their visitation, and now the things of their peace are hid from their eyes. Had those con- victions been obeyed, and those purposes that were begotten in their hearts, been followed by answerable executions of them, happy had they been to all eternity : But their careless neglects have quench- ed them, and the door is shut; and who knows whether it may be opened any more ? O dally not with the Spirit of God, resist not his calls ! his motions on the soul ai'e tender things ; they may- soon be quenched, and never recovered.
A?'^. S. Neglect not the seasons of mercy, the day of grace, be- cause opportunity facilitates the great work of your salvation ; it is much easier to be done in such a season than it can be afterwards : An impression is easily made on wax, when melted, but stay till it be hardened, and if you lay the greatest weight on the seal, it leaves no impression upon it. Much so it is with the heart, there is a sea- son when God makes it soft and yielding, when the affections are thawed, and melted under the word ; conscience is full of sense and activity, the will pliable : Now is the time to set in with the mo- tions of the Spirit ; there is now a gale from heaven, if you will take it, and if not, it tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men: Neglect of the season is the loss of the soul. The heart, like melt- ed wax, will naturally harden again, and then to how little pur- pose are your own feeble essays? Heb. iii. 15. It is both easy and successful striving when the Spirit of God strives in you, and with you ; you are now workers together with God, and such work goes on smoothly and sweetly ; that which is in motion is easily mov- ed; but if once the heart is set, you may labour to little pur- pose.