peace in your own consciences, Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. The deliciousnes^ of peace you never yet tasted, who are strangers to Christ ; nor ever shal], till you consent to be his, Rev. ii. 17. This shall be your support, amidst all the confusions and distractions, hurries and tumults, of this restless and unquiet world, Mic. v. 5. " This man shall be the peace when the Assyrian cometh into our land, and w hen he shall tread in our palaces." Christ hath pitched his standard in the gospel ; repair unto it, come under his banner, and list your- selves among his faithful subjects, and the glory of the world to come is yours, if you overcome, and be faithful unto death, Rev. iii. 21. The subjects of Christ, in this kingdom of grace, ai'e shortly to be all translated into the kingdom of glory, Rom. viii. 80.
3. Consider the miserable bondage you are now in, over whom Satan rules, and how ^^our condition still grows worse and worse, till it shall not be capable of any further addition of misery, to make it more absolutely and completely miserable.
You are now without God, without a promise, without peace, with- out the pardon of one sin, Eph. ii. 12. You have no communion ^vith God, nor title to heaven ; slaves to your sordid lusts, Tit. iii. 3, you are under the curse, Gal. iii. 10. condemned already, John iii. 18. and whenever you die out of Christ, you shall die in your sins, John viii. 24. He that was your ruler in che world, is to be both your companion and tormentor in the world to come, Matth. xxv. 41.
Is this a condition to be satisfied in ? Can you sleep quietly in your chains ? O methinks the poor prisoners of Satan should sigh and cry, through the grates of the prison, especially when they are informed of deliverance at the door.
You have no reason to scare at the terms and conditions pro- pounded to you by Christ; they are equal, necessary, and easy, Matth. xi. 29- " Come unto me ; my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. His commands are not grievous,'" 1 John v. 3. " All his ways are pleasantness, and all his paths are peace," Pro v. iii. 17. " The joy of the Lord shall be your strength," Neh. viii. 10. If there be repenting work, believing work, sin-mortifying work, or suffering work for you ; there is also a suitable provision of divine assistance, to enable and carry you through it all. 2 Cor. xii. 9. " My grace is sufficient for thee." If men cast you out, God will receive you, 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. If any sharp trial befal you, there is a door of escape prepared for your outlet, 1 Cor. x. 13. If you meet with trouble in the world, you shall not fail of peace in Christ, John xvi. 33. If you lose any outward enjoyment for Christ's sake, it shall be recompensed an hundred-fold in this world, besides the reward of heaven hereafter, Matth. xix. 29. If you be cast into prison for Christ, the Comforter shall come from heaven, and rest upon you there, 1 Pet. iv. 13, 14. If you suffer with him, you shall reign with him, 2 Tim. ii. 12.
What think ye, brethren, of Christ's terms row ? What is there
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here, for men to scare and fright at ? Can you mend yourselves elsewhere ? O when shall the match be made ?* When will you come to Christ, and say, " Lord, I heartily consent to take thee for my King: I am pleased with the hardest condition required in thy word ?"
4. Lastly^ Be convinced of the unreasonableness of all that you can pretend against this great duty. If you say. The pains of mortifica- tion arc hard, you must in reason yield, that the pains of damnation are harder, and that it is better for you to " enter into life, halt and maimed, than having two eyes or hands, to be cast into hell ; where the worm dies not, and where the fire is not quenched," Matth. v. 29. If you say, you have no power to come to Christ, your consci- ences will presently tell you, that you never yet put forth the utter- most power that you have, in striving for your own salvation : It will also tell you, that you suppose you have such a power ; else why have you so long delayed repentance and conversion upon this pretence, that you will seriously perform them hereafter ? Besides, though your endeavours do not oblige God to do that for you, you cannot do of yourselves ; yet it is more probable he will do so, when you strive to your utmost, than when you carelessly neglect those duties, and give yourselves up to the contrary courses. If you say, you would strive, if you were assured of success, and that you should be received and accepted by Christ, if you came unto him, and did cast your poor souls upon him; you can answer yourselves, if you will, that you daily spend your time, pains, and studies, upon lesser things, having no assurance at all of success. The husbandman toils all day at plough, yet is not assured of a good harvest ; his corn may die in the seed, or be blasted in the ear. The mariner ventures his estate on the sea, yet hath no assurance of a good return ; the ship may miscarry. The miner will dig into the bowels of the earth, and try here and there ; yet hath no assurance he shall find that rich vein of ore, that shall recompence his cost and pains. Now if men will labour so hard, and adventure so much upon uncertainties, for a little of tlie world ; doth not your own reason conclude, you ought to do more, and adventure further than any of them, to obtain Christ, and eternal salvation ? O strive, strive to make your escape out of Satan's kingdom, to Christ : Sit not with folded hands on the seats of sloth, saying. It is to no purpose.
Suppose yourselves now upon your death-bed, all earthly comforts insipid things to you, conscience presaging the wrath to come, time and hope ending together ; would you not then wish, O that we had been ruled and governed by Christ's laws and Spirit, and not by Sa- tan, and our own lusts ! Had we been the servants of Christ, we had now been going to Christ ; had he governed, he would have saved us : but his servants we are to whom we obey : We have served our lusts, and the zvagcs of sin is death.
Or suppose you sav/ the glory of heaven, or the horrors o^hell;
5G2 A COROXATION-SEKMOX, PREACHED AT DARTMOUTIL