You see now what are the signs of a full ripe sinner ; and when it comes to this, either with a nation, or with a single person, then ruin is near, Joel iii. 13. Gen. xv. 16. It is in the filling up of the measure of sin, as in the filling up of a vessel cast into the sea which rolls from side to side, taking in the water by little and little till it be full, and then down it sinks to the bottom. Mean while, admir- able is Divine patience, which beai's with these vessels of wrath, whilst fitting for destruction I
The renection of a ^' Cheer thyself, O my soul ! with the heart- ^.^ • "v-t? A' strengthening; bread of this Divine meditation. srowmff Christian, r^r-.i. j i^^i-^^u-^
** ^ Let faith turn every drop oi this truth into a
soul-reviving cordial God hath so>vn the precious seed of grac«
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EAETHLY THINGS. 115
upon rny soul ; and though my heart hath been an unkindly soil, which hath kept it back, and much hindered its growth, yet, blessed be the Lord, it still grows on, though by slow degrees ; and from the springing of the seed, and shooting forth of those gracious habits, I may conclude an approaching harvest : Now is my salvation nearer than when I believed ; every day I come nearer to my salvation, Rom. xiii. 11. O that every day I were more active for the God of my salvation ! Grow on, my soul, and add to thy faith virtue, to thy virtue knowledge, &c. Grow on from faith to faith ; keep thyself under the ripening influences of heavenly ordinances : The faster thou growest in grace, the sooner thou shalt be reaped down in mercy, and bound up in the bundle of life, 1 Sam. xv. 29. I have not yet attained the measure and proportion of grace assigned to me, neither am I already perfect, but am reaching forth to the things before me, and pressing towards the mark for the prize of my hea- Tenly calling, Phil. iii. 12, 13. O mercy to be admired ! that I who lately had one foot in hell, stand now with one foot in heaven !
2. But the case is far different with me; mi, ^„ a- ^ ^^±t^ , . . ^, . . /• L The rejiechon of me
whilst others are ripenmsc apace tor heaven, , - r^i - /- T •.!• ^ *^ii J 1 decaying C/mshan.
1 am withermg : many a soul plowed up by ^ o
conviction, and sown by sanctification long after me, hath quite over- topped and outgrown me ; my sweet and early blossoms are nipped and blown off, my bright morning overcast and clouded : had I kept on, according to the rate of my first growth, I had either now been in heaven, or at least in the suburbs of it on earth ; but my graces wither and languish, my heart contracts and cools to heavenly things; the sun and rain of ordinances and providences improve not my graces : how sad therefore is the state of my soul !
3. Thy case, O declining saint, is sad, but rpj n .- n not like mine : thine is but a temporary remission 77^ . ^ or the acts ot grace, which is recoverable ; but °
I am judicially hardening, and " treasuring up to myself wrath " against the day of wrath," Rom. ii. 5. Time was when I had some tender sense of sin, when I could mourn and grieve for it ; now
1 have none at all : my heart is grown stupid and sottish. Time was when I had some conscientious care of duty, when my heart would smite me for the neglect of it ; but now none at all. Wretched soul ! what wilt thou do ? Thou art gone far indeed, a few steps further will put thee beyond hope : hitherto I stand in the field ; the long-suffering God doth yet spare me ; yea, spare me while he hath cut down many of my companions in sin round about me. What doth this admirable patience, this long-suffering, drawn out to a wonder, speak concerning me ! doth it not tell me, that the Lord is not willing I should perish, but rather come to repentance ?
2 Pet. iii. 9. And what argument is like his pity and patience, to lead a soul to repentance ? Rom. ii. 4. O that I may not frustrate
116 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED; OK,
at last the end of a long-suffering God, lest he proportion the degree of his wrath, according to the length of his patience f
▼ ▼ HEN fields are white, to harvest forth you go With scythes and sickles to reap down and mow. Down go the laden ears flat to the ground, Which those that follow having stitch'd and bound, 'Tis carried home unto the barn, and so The fields are red where lately corn did grow. This world's the field, and they that dwell therein The corn and tares, which long have ripen'd been : Angels the reapers, and the judgment-day The time of harvest, when, like corn and hay, The fading flowVs of earthly glory must Be mowed down, and leveled with the dust : The barns are heav'n and hell, the time draws nigh. When through the darkened clouds and troubled sky, The Lord shall break ; a dreadful trumpet shall Sound to the dead ; the stars from heaven fall ; The rolling spheres with horrid flames shall burn : And then the tribes on earth shall wail and mourn. The judgment setf before Christ's awful throne AH flesh shall be convened, and ev'ry one Receive his doom ; which done, the just shall be Bound in life's bundle, even as you see The full ripe ears of wheat bound up and borne In sheaves with joy into the owner's barn. This done, the angels next in bundles bind The tares together ; as they had corabin'd
In acting sin, so now their lot must be
To burn together in one misery.
Drunkards with drunkards pinion'd, shall be sent
To hell together in one regiment.
Adulterers and swearers there shall lie
In flames among their old society.
O dreadful bowlings ! O the hideous moans
Of fetter'd sinners ! O the tears ! the groans !
The doleful lamentations as they go
Chain'd fast together to their place of woe I
The world thus clear'd, as fields when harvest's in,
Shall be no more a stage for acting sin.
With purifying flames it shall be burn'd,
Its stately fabrics into ashes turn'd.
Cease then, my soul to doat on, or admire
This splendid world, which is reserv'd for fire.
Decline the company of sinners here.
As thou would'st not be shackled with them there,
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 117
Upon the Care of Husbandmen to provide for Winter.
Your- winter store in summer you provide :
To Christian j^rudence this must be applied, »