Secondly, How far may this seize upon Christians ? The question may be stated negatively and affirmatively ; how far it may, and how far it may not.
1. Affirmatively.
[1.] It may seize upon them not only when they are young, but when they are of long standing. When they are young : Many a man newly converted, having had as yet no thorough experience of the strength of sin, the danger of temptations, and his own weakness, may bear a little too high upon the confidence of his own resolutions, which, because they are sincere, he thinketh they will easily obtain their effect. In this rank I put Peter, whilst as yet the Spirit was not poured out, and was only under his Master's wing : I count him but a novice then, in comparison of what he was afterwards. He was so confident of his affection to Christ and resolution, that he had not a due sense of his danger, Mat. xxvi. 33. But alas ! how soon were his unpractised wings clipped, and he taken in the snare of the fowler ! Honest Peter would not believe such weakness in himself ; and so inexperienced Christians can hardly believe themselves to be so weak as a temptation showeth them to be ; the more sincere their purpose is, the more confident they are in their own strength, even when near a fearful fall. So a man of long standing, being assured of salvation, may grow negligent ; and supposing he hath grace, and is possessed of the love of God, presumes that he needeth not such diligence as when he was doubtful of his state ; and if he go round in a course of duty, and avoid grosser sins, he may think it is enough, as if he were now past all danger, and so insensibly falleth asleep or into decay: Kev. iii. 18, ' Because thou sayest that 1 am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched,
352 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. IV.
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked : I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and eye-salve that thou mayest see.' It is not spoken to the gross carnal, or to beginners, or persons unacquainted with Christ, but to lukewarm professors, after the first labours of regenera- tion, and the difficulties of reconciliation with God are passed over, and the terrors of the law well vanquished, and some peace and confidence gotten ; then we are in danger of security, by which means all may run to waste in the soul, and sins break out and make our blindness and nakedness appear. The wise virgins slept not until their main work .was in some measure over : and therefore a strange security and sleepiness is incident to us, and may befall not only the wicked, who scarce ever think of the world to come, being blinded with present things, but those that are good have their drowsy fits, by which they remit of their zeal, and grow more dead, and are not so diligent in seeking occasions to do good.
[2.] When we are in greatest danger, and matters most concerning us are in hand, and God calleth most for our service, and so have most need to watch, then are we usually most secure ; witness the disciples upon Mount Olivet, after many warnings given them by Christ, Mat. xxvi. 41-45. Until Christ telleth them, 'Sleep on now;' that is, sleep if you can ; it will not be long ere you are thoroughly awakened ; so often are the saints slumbering and sleeping when most need to be awake, and misspend the time in sluggishness and carnal rest which is granted them to prepare themselves for trial. So Jonah i. 5, when a storm arises for his sake, though the winds blow, and the sea roar, and the mariners at their wits' end, yet Jonah was fast asleep. Those most guilty, and those whom the correction pointed at, are most secure under it. And Samson is asleep when the Philistines are ready to come upon him. Now, if ever, should men be awake. Now we are awakened by God's providence, and the estate of the Christian world round about us ; now we should exercise all the grace and skill we can.
[3.] They may show their sleepiness in their public relations ; as while the envious man sowed tares, the husbandmen were asleep, Mat. xiii. 25. Many times magistrates are asleep when abuses creep in and eat out the bowels of the commonwealth ; and ministers are asleep while the kingdom of Christ is undermined; masters of families asleep while disorders creep into their houses. Magistrates are watchers as well as private Christians, Rom. xiii. 6, who sleep, and neglect the care of souls. But especially ministers are to watch over their people's souls, and should put forth their utmost care and diligence, Heb. xiii. 17.
[4.] It may befall them after some solemn service, 2 Chron. xxxv. 20. After this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, then he falleth into that rash engagement against Pharaoh Necho, which cost him his life. Hezekiah after his reformation fell into pride and provocation of God, 2 Chron. xxxii. Many times when we have performed some good service to God, we take occasion to be more careless and secure. We think we are privileged by our former diligence: 'If the righteous