2. Their greatest concernments are forgotten by them, which is avoiding eternal death and obtaining eternal life : Prov. xv. 24, ' The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.' Our wisdom lieth in avoiding our greatest danger, and pursuing after our greatest happiness, and therefore to choose that sort of living which conduceth both to the one and the other. And by nature we are liable to eternal death, but the grace of the gospel pro- videth for us eternal happiness. The misery is beneath, the happiness is above ; and salvation and damnation are no trifles. Now he that only mindeth things below, and neglecteth things above, is plainly asleep, and doth not act as a reasonable creature.
3. The light and direction which God giveth is of no use to him. There is a twofold light that shineth — the light of reason, and the light of religion.
[1.] The light of reason is of no use to a man that sleepeth. Eeason will fear and hope, but it doth not stir them. Eeason discerneth a difference between good and evil, and our wills were given us to re- fuse the one, and choose the other ; and fears and hopes do awake us to this aversation or pursuit. But alas ! to one whose conscience is benumbed, all is lost. Seeing better, they pursue that which is worse ; they approve of things that are more excellent ; but this law knowledge or natural knowledge is but a form : Kom. ii. 18, 20, 'And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law. Which hath a form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law.' It is but /wop^wcrtc t?}? ryv(oaeco<i iv t(o vofxa ; it is little stirring to make us mindful of our duty, and less effectual to make us perform it. The greatest things do not affect us when we do not think of them.
[2.] The light of religion or Christianity, which is but a form too to them that are asleep : 2 Tim. iii. 5, ' Having a form of godliness, but
340 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XVII.
denying the power thereof.' To sleep under the threatenings of God nnd the dreadful curses of liis law, with so many wounds in our con- sciences and ulcers in our souls as the word of God discovereth in us, this is a deep sleep indeed. Our duty and danger is discovered to us at a higher rate in religion than was evident in the light of nature, and in a more powerful and affective way ; but these hear, and see, and know all things as men asleep, as if it concerned them not at all. Well, then, we should earnestly seek to rouse them up.
First, ' Awake thou that sleepest' Consider these motives —
1. Doth it become any to sleep in your case, while you know not God to be a friend or an enemy ? yea, when you have so much reason to think that he is an enemy to you, for you are enemies to him by your minds in evil works: Col. i. 21, 'And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works.' The proverb saith, ' A man that hath an enemy must not sleep ; ' we take it for a maxim. And have not you made God your enemy when you break ■his laws, and grieve his Spirit, and dishonour his name ? Go and be reconciled quickly. Is the guilt of sin a slight matter, or damnation a thing to be played with ?
2. You sleep in that ship that is swiftly carried to eternity, and are just upon the entrance into another world: Mark xiii. 36, 'Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.' Oh, if Christ should come when you least expect him, and find you in a posture incapable of mercy from him, unqualified to receive benefit by his coming, how great will your confusion be ! and you cannot present his time to him, and say, Stay till I am prepared ; that may be long ere you are so.
3. You have slept out too much precious time already : 1 Peter iv. 3, ' The time past of our life may suffice us.* Have we not kept God out of his right too long, and delayed our own happiness, and left an eternal interest upon too great uncertainties and hazards ? and will you do so still ?
4. Thou hast been long and often called upon. If God had not sought to awaken you, you had the better excuse : Prov. vi. 9, 10, ' How long wilt thou sleep, 0 sluggard ? when wilt thou arise out of sleep ? yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.' Sleepy sinners are not presently awakened ; we must con- tinue calling to them. God hath not taken the first repulse, but still continueth calling thee by his word and providence. Men should be ashamed to lie snoring upon their beds when their master or father or prince calleth them. God calleth you by his word ; conscience is a little stirred, but you fall asleep again. God seeketh to awaken you by smart providences ; then you rouse up yourselves a little, but ])re- sently the love of sin prevaileth, and you take your rest again. You would fain sleep a little longer in sin, are loath to renounce 3'our be- witching lusts and betake yourselves to a heavenly life.