[3.] We have a ruler that will call us to an account if we neglect our duty to him, and that provision that we should make for eternity. Unless we be found of him in peace, and without spot and blameless, we cannot enter into his kingdom ; for ' without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' Every man's qualification must be judged, and a strict inquiry made into our ways, what we have done in the body, whether good or evil : 2 Cor. v, 10, ' For we must all appear before the judg- ment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.' Now seeing we know these things, or look for these things, what preparation
SERMON UPON PROVERBS VI. 6-8. . 9
should we make that we may be accepted in the judgment, when we are to give an account of ourselves to our supreme Lord ? Use 1. To press us to mind our work in this our day.
1. This life is our opportunity, and when that is over, there is no more working ; no praying, nor hearing, nor glorifying God upon earth : John ix. 4, ' Therefore we must double our diligence before all oppor- tunity be lost. It must go with you for ever as you behave yourselves now.
2. Consider how swiftly time passeth away, and we know not how soon it may have an end. The present life is always in fiuxu, in motion ; like a stream or current, that runneth as fast from us as it Cometh to us. That part which is past is, as it were, resigned up to death already ; that which is to come is not yet ours, nor can we make any sure reckoning of it ; that which we count present is usually divided between us and death. It wasteth as we are writing, thinking, speaking, or doing anything. So that we die as fast as we live : Job ix. 25, 26, ' Now are my days swifter than a post ; they flee away, they see no good : they are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.' He sets forth the passing of time by a post on land, who is to make quick despatch ; and by a ship under sail before the wind in the water, and by an eagle in the air. Thus is set forth the fugacity of man's life. Now should any of this time be lost?
3. We have lost much time already : 1 Peter iv. 3, ' For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles, when we lived in lasciviousness, lust, excess of wine, revellings, ban- quetings, and abominable idolatries.' We lost much time in childhood, when we were not in a capacity to express any act of" love and thank- fulness to God ; much in youth, when we followed after vain pleasures ; and in our riper age, we are too careless and mindless of eternity. Now as travellers that set forth later ride the faster, so should we double our diligence, and be more hard at work for God.
4. Consider how comfortable it will be when we die that we have made preparation, known our season, done the things which God hath given us in charge, thought of this hour, and made provision for it before it come upon us. This was our Lord's plea : John xvii. 4, ' I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work thou gavest me to do.' This was Hezekiah's prayer: Isa. xxxviii. 3, 'And he said, Eemember now, 0 Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.' This was Paul's confidence : 2 Tim. iv. 6-8, ' For I am ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day ; and not unto me only, but to all that love his appearing.' Now we should be able to comfort ourselves in like manner. The remembrance of a diligent, well-spent life will be a great cordial to us in such an hour.
5. After death we shall have the fruit and benefit of it : Eev. xiv. 13, Their works follow them ; ' that is the reward of their works. They
10 SERMON UPON PROVERBS VI, 6-8,
enjoy the comfort and benefit of whatever they have done and suflFered for Christ ; in another world, they are fully satisfied.
Use 2. Is by way of inquiry.
1. To inquire what should be the reason why men should be so silly and neglectful, when they have such great things in view and pursuit, and do no more in order to the obtaining of them, which concerneth not only the carnal world, who wholly neglect these things, but also the children of God, who are so cold in them. You see sense teacheth the ants, and reason should teach men, and grace inclines the saints, but yet they are slight and overly.