2. Firm assent : John xvii. 8, ' They have known surely,' aXrjdo)';, indeed or in truth ; and Acts ii. 36, dacfidkco'i, assuredly, safely, without danger of error. The certainty of faith mightily enlivens our apprehensions of any truth, and makes them more forcible and operative. But usually there is a defect in our assent ; hated truths are usually suspected ; ministers speak of it coldly, and in jest, as if not persuaded of what they say ; and we hearers learn it by rote. Yet this I must say, God hath not only warned the world of wrath in the Old Testament and the New ; but also natural light doth so far evidence this truth, that in their serious and sober moods, men cannot get rid
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of the apprehensions of immortality and punishment after death. Reason will tell us that God perfectly hateth sin, will terribly punish it ; we cannot easily lay aside these fears, nor stifle them in our bosoms, nor sport them away, nor jest them away ; when we are alone, or when we are serious, or when we come to die, they will revive and haunt us. But oh, that we were oftener alone, and would resuscitate and blow up these sentiments which lie hid in the heart, and revive our faith about them !
3. It implieth serious consideration ; knowing, that is, considering, acting our thoughts upon it ; for next to sound belief, to make truths active, there is required serious consideration. Thoughts of hell may keep many out of hell. It is a moral means, which God may bless : it will be no loss to christians to think of their danger before they incur it. They that cannot endure to think of it, or hear of it, dis- cover their guilt, and the security of their own hearts : presumption is a coward, and a run-away, but faith meeteth its enemy in open field : Ps. xxiii. 4, ' Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.' It supposeth the worst : suppose God should reject me ; consider with thyself aforehand, as the unjust steward, Luke xvi., what to do when turned out of doors ; how shall I make my defence ' when God shall rise up, what shall I answer him ? ' Job xxxi. 14 ; what shall I then do ?
Fourthly. Here is persuasion as to the effect i and fruit of all ; which implieth three things.
1. The thing to which they were persuaded. That is not mentioned, but the matter in hand showeth it to be such things as would bear weight in the judgment, and exempt them from wrath to come ; such as faith, repentance, and new obedience. Faith in the Redeemer, 2 Thes, i. 10, Heb. vi. 18 ; repentance. Mat. iii. 19, and Acts iii. 19 ; new obedience, Heb. v. 9, 2 Thes. i. 8 ; or a serious coming to Christ, and hearty subjection to him, is the only way to escape that wrath. To these we exhort and persuade you again and again ; without these you are obnoxious to the severity of his revenging justice.
2. Earnest zeal and endeavours on the part of Paul and his col- leagues, and all that are like-minded with them ; they must not only teach and instruct, but persuade : Col. i. 28, ' Warning every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.' He addeth, ver. 29, ' Whereunto I also laboui-, striving according to his working.' The understanding is dark and blind in the things of God, and needeth teaching. The will and affec- tions are perverse and backward, and they need warning. And there- fore we must warn, and teach ; warn, and that not in a cold or flaunting manner, as if we were in jest, and did not believe the things we speak of, but wnth such vigour, and labour, and striving, as becometh those who would present them to Christ, as the travail of our souls, at the last day, and as those who are sensible of the terror of the Lord our-
, selves.
3. It implieth a being persuaded on the people's part. For all that mind their own welfare will take this warning, and since we must shortly appear before the bar of the dreadful God to give an account
1 Qu. * as the effect ' ?— Ed,
TeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIA^'S V. Od
what use we have made of these persuasions. When God giveth warning, and God giveth time, our condemnation is the more aggra- vated : Rev. ii 21, ' I gave her space to repent, and she repented not.' "Warning and persuasion, as Reuben ; did not I warn you ? 2 Cor. vi. 1, 'We beseech you receive not this grace in vain.' God keepeth an aceoimt of these warnings, Luke xiii. 7. And the importunity of these pressing convictions which we have had ; every request and exhortation made for God will be as a fiery dart in your souls. How fi'esh will every sermon come into your minds ! the melting words of exhortation which you were wont to hear, will be as so many hot burning coals in your hearts, to torment you. It will be easier for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah than for you, Mat. x. 1.5.