1. By drawing their consciences under guilt, on purpose to de- stroy the liberty, freedom, and child-like confidence of their souls in their addresses to God. This, if any thing in the world, will do it. Job xi. 14, 15. What a loss will that poor soul be at, in times of trouble, whose grumbling and condemning conscience will not suffer him to look up cheerfully and believingly in the face of its God and father, having lost its ancient freedom at the throne of grace .^
2. By prevailing with them to neglect and intermit the course of their daily duties, and thereby to let down their communion with God, and, in a great measure, lose their acquaintance with him. This is a dangerous policy of the devil, and an unspeakable prejudice to the soul. Oh Christian ! take heed of a lazy, slothful spirit, or a vain and earthly heart, which will easily suffer the du- ties of religion to be jostled aside and put by for every trivial occa- sion ; especially beware of slight, formal, and dead-hearted per- formances of duty, which is little better than the intermission of them ; it may, indeed, prevent the scandal, but can never give thee the comfort of religion.
3. By beclouding their interest in God, and darkening their titles and evidences, by thick clouds of doubts and fears. This is the sad case of many a poor Christian in a day of trouble ; with- out are fightings, and within are fears. Brethren, I beseech you,
* — — Sic Medus adeniit
Assyrio, Si/roque tuiit moderannna Perscs. Assyria's empire thus the Mede did shako, The Persian next the pride of Medea brake.
406 THE RIGHTEOUS MAn's KEFUGE.
think often what those things are, which usually put men into such frights and straits, when imminent dangers stare them in the face ; what it is that daunts and damps the hearts of Christians at such times ; and as you value the peace and freedom of your souls with God, give not matter for your consciences to reproach you of mis-spent time, indulged sins, neglected duties, formality or hypo- crisy in duties, sinister and by-ends in your transactions witli God or man : preserve the purity and peace of your consciences, as you would preserve your two eyes ; if by such wiles the devil cannot bar you from your God, or shut up your refuge in him, your out-* ward troubles can do you no hurt.
The second use, of direction and advice.
Sect. II. The providences of God, in these days, giving us such loud warnings of approaching judgment ; how are all that are wise in heart, and understanding of the times, now more especially con- cerned to clear their interest in these blessed attributes of God, wliich have here been opened, as their only refuge in the evil day. Let me therefore persuade and press you to betake yourselves to God, vour refuge and strong-hold in trouble, and that more es- pecially in these two great duties, viz. l! Of fervent supplication. 2. Of universal resignation.
1. Betake yourselves to God by fervent prayer and supplication. Let me sav of these times, as holy Mr. Perkins did of his * ; " These " are no times for Christians to contend and strive one with " another, but wvXh their united cries to strive with God ;'' and among other requests, strongly to enforce and follow home that of David, Psal. Ixxi. 2, 3. " Deliver me in thy righteousness, and " cause me to escape ; inchne thine ear unto me, and save me ; " be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually re- " sort."" That is a true and weighty observation of Austin f, " A refuge is not to be found in trouble, except it be provided " before-hand in peace.*" " For this (saith the Psalmist) shall " every one that is godly pray unto thee, in a time w^hen thou " mayest be found ; surely in the floods of great waters they shall " not come nigh unto him,"' Psal. xxii. 6. Had not Noah pre- pared and secured himself in the ark, before the floods of great waters came, he had not sat, as he did, mediis tranquillus in undis ; sleeping quietly, when others were perishing in the waters. Gather yourselves therefore together, before the decree bring forth ; seek the Lord, all ye meek of the earth ; be more frequent and more
* Non sunt ista liligandi^ sed orandi tempora.
f Km facile inveniuntur preaidia in adversilutc, quee nonjucrint in pace qiuesita»
THE RIGHTEOUS MAN's REFUGE. 40'7
fervent in prayer, now than ever ; you have all the encourage- ments in the world to incite you to this duty: the nature of your God is exceeding pitiful, tender, and compassionate, James v. 11. The endeared relations betwixt God and you give singular en- couragement of success : shall not God hear his own elect, which cry unto him day and night ? Luke xviii. 7. The sweet returns and answers of former prayers are so many motives and encourage- ments to follow close that profitable duty, Psal. li. 1, 2, 3. And above all, your prevalent Advocate in the heavens should encourage you to come frequently and boldly to the throne of grace, " that " you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of " need," Heb. iv. 16. In two things I shall briefly offer a few directions here, viz.
1. As to the matter 1 „f
2. As to the manner j ^ •'
1. As to the matter of prayer, I mean such as the state and con- dition of the times, now more especially, suggest.
(1.) Unite your prayers, and cry mightily to the Lord, that if it be his good pleasure, this cup of wrath, which seems to be mingled and prepared, may pass from his people. Now cry to God, as they are directed to do, Joel ii. 17. '' Spare thy people, O " Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen " should rule over them, wherefore should they say among the " people, Where is their God, O pray, that England may not be delivered into the hands of blood-thirsty Papists, that the gol- den candlestick may not be removed, that idolatry may not return into those places where God hath been so sweetly worshipped ; that a land so peculiarly blessed with gospel-light, wherein so many thousand sons and daughters have been born to God, may not, at last, become an Aceldama, a great shambles, to quarter out the limbs of his dear saints: that the pleasant plant of reformation, planted with his own right-hand, and watered with so many tears, yea, with so much blood, may not, at last, be rooted up by the wild boar of the forest !