[2.] Let us come to the terminus ad quern, from what we come to what ; they run to Christ as their city of refuge.
(1.) It implies earnestness, as in a case of life and death. A dila- tory trifling spirit shows we are not touched at heart. A man scorched with the wrath of God will not linger but fly ; delays are a sign of unwillingness. To say, Non vacat, I am not at leisure, rightly inter- preted, is non jjlacet, it doth not please me. When men are not at leisure for the things of their peace, it is a sign they have no mind to go to Christ, and are not earnest in this matter. Excuses are but a real denial, as they that have no mind to pay their debts, they put off their creditors and troublesome suitors until another time, only to be rid of them. When men have a true sense of their case, they can trifle no longer. In a matter of life and death delays are dangerous. God is for present obedience : Heb. iii. 7, ' To-day if ye will hear his voice.' And so a soul that is affected with its condition cannot dally with God any longer : Gal. i. 16, ' Immediately I consulted not with flesh and blood.' When Christ called Andrew and Peter, they ' straightway left their nets, and followed him,' Mat. iv, 20 ; and Zaccheus ' made haste and came down, and received him joyfully,' Luke xix. 6. When men have but a slight conviction, they think of a more convenient season,
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338 SERMONS UPON HEBKEWS VL 18.
when such a business or such a temptation is over ; but alas ! modo et modo non liahet modum, a sinner's morrow will never come.
(2.) Kunning to the city of refuge implieth avoiding all byways. A soul that is rightly affected cannot be satisfied with any other thing ; another place would not secure the man, nothing but the city of refuge. Worldly things to a wounded conscience are as unsavoury as the white of an egg. Surely the wound is not deep enough when it can be healed with other plasters, and that thirst is not urgent which we can quench at the next ditch ; I mean, when the comforts of the creature can satisfy the soul, our thirst was not very deep. Many have a trouble upon them, but they quench it in mirth and carnal company, and by little and little wear out all feelings of conscience. A man that ran to a city of refuge would not turn aside, but went a straight way thither ; another town could not secure him ; so all things else are but dung and dross in comparison of being found in Christ, Phil. iii. 8, 9. There are two things which are apt to keep us from Christ when we begin to be touched with any sight of sin or God's wrath pursuing us — either the delights of the world, or some formal duties. When a man begins to be in want with the prodigal, he first feeds upon husks with the swine, takes up with worldly delights, which serve to benumb and stupify the conscience. Or, if that will not do, then some outward formal duty. That trouble never went very deep that can be cured with anything on this side Christ.
(3.) This running implies an unwearied diligence. The man was running still till he was gotten into the city of refuge, for it was for his life ; so we are unwearied until we meet with Christ, Cant. iii. 2. The spouse sought her beloved throughout the whole city, from one ordinance to another, Where is Christ ? They run here and there to the word and to prayer, to see if God will let in any glimpse of love. They do not presently give out, though they find not what they look for, but are borne up by encouragements of the word. Many that have trouble upon them are anxious, and make a kind of essay whether God will give them Christ or no, and, if not presently answered, throw up all ; but they which run to Christ in good earnest wrestle with many a discouragement and delay ; it is for the lost sheep of the house of Israel ; it is children's bread, and not to be given to dogs, but they are resolved to hold fast and take no denial.
(4.) When they are got into their city of refuge, they stay there ; having once taken hold of Christ, they will not quit their holdfast for all the world. Many times the children of God have that which divines call a negative adherence, that is, they do not stick to other things ; though they dare not apply Christ to their souls, though they have but a twilight, and make but a blind adventure, they dare not say Christ is theirs, yet they will not let go that kind of loose hope for all the world. Much more when it comes to some positive adherence, though not a full assurance, that is, when they are resolved to cast their souls on Christ, to see what God will do with them ; as Joab when he took hold of the horns of the altar, he said, If I die, I '11 die here, 1 Kings ii. 30. So, whatever discouragements they meet with, their hearts hold Christ fast, and will not let him go.