Use 3. Is caution to carnal men. Let them forbear the censures of the godly, and study their own case. We charge them with madness and folly, not to upbraid them, but to convince them ; not out of malice, as they do, but compassion, that they may repent, and grow wise to salvation. Repentance is called fie-dvoia, a returning to our wits again. What is that ?
[1.] When you begin to be serious. When the conversion of the Gentiles to the christian faith is prophesied of, it is said. Ps. xxii. 27, ' All the ends of the earth shall remember, and turn to the Lord.' As long as men are thoughtless, and mindless of heavenly things, they know not what they do, but are as men sleeping and distracted, not making use of the common light of reason, or those principles which are ingrafted into the hearts of all men. What am I ? Who made
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me ? What do all these creatures proclaim, all that I can see and feel, but an eternal power r* Have I any interest in him ? Alas, they went on madly before, sleeping in the lap of carnal pleasures, when the Philistines were upon them ; or else plunging themselves in a gulf of business and worldly distractions, and there they lie in the deep waters, till they be ready to sink to the bottom. Oh, remember, and return; you are undone for ever, if you do not escape out of this estate.
[2.] When you make a business of it to seek God's favour by Christ. This must be to epyov, your main work : John vi. 29, * This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent ; ' not a matter by the by, but your chief work, your first care, Mat. vi. 33. When our chiefest care is about our souls, and settling our eternal interests, then we begin to act like men again. Otherwise, when we only cleave to earthly things, we live like beasts, and madmen ; all his care is to maintain his animal life, so do the beasts. But when we begin to seek after spiritual and eternal things, immortal food, garments that shall never wax old, laying up treasure in heaven, then we act as those that have an immortal soul. Solomon putteth the question, Eccles. iii. 21, ' Who knoweth the spirit of a man that goeth upward, or the spirit of a beast that goeth downward to the earth ? ' The words may bear a double sense : Who knoweth ? That is, who can collect and gather from the courses and practices of men, that they have a soul distinct from the beasts ? they are as greedy upon bodily things, and the sustentation of the present life only, as the beasts are. Now who knoweth it ? Who doth acknowledge it, and consider it, so as to look out for food for the immortal soul, to get it adorned with saving grace, sanctified by the Spiiit of God ? Who, till he be enlightened by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and is soundly convinced of heavenly things? Eph. i. 17, 18. But now when a man maketh it his first and main care, then he doth know, or practically acknowledge, he hath a soul which doth go upward, distinct from the beast's, which doth go downward. The man is come to him- self again, when he maketh it his business to obtain pardon and eternal life by Christ.
[3,] When they stand in awe of God, and are afraid to disobey his laws : Job xx. 28, ' Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding ; ' and Prov. ix. 10, * The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' It is the first point and the chiefest point, first both in time and dignity. Now what is the fear of God but to be sensible of God's majesty and presence, that we dare not sin against him and affront him to his face ? Wicked men, that can break through a commandment when it standeth full in their way, are simple and witless, for they enter into a plain contest with God, which none but a madman would do: Prov. xiii. 13, 'Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed ; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded;' and Ps. cxix. 161, 'My heart standeth in awe of thy word.' A choice frame of heart ! more than if a thousand dangers stood in the way. He dareth not, whatever profit or pleasure might ensue upon the breach, or danger for not breaking through.
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[4.] When they cleh'ght to do his will and promote his glory. For they have entirely devoted themselves to God : Kom. xiv. 7, 8, * For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself ; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's ; ' and 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20, ' What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God ? And ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' He owneth God's interests in him. Carnal policy and spiritual wisdom differ mainly in the end and scope ; the one hath a care to please and glorify God ; the other to advance himself and his own natural interests.