Now whether it be so or no, I leave it to your particular consciences. We that are ministers toll you of your filthiness, of your profaning the name of God, and contempt of God's word. Whether have we gained upon you
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or no ? Who hath left an oath ? Who hath left his wicked courses and entered into a nearer communion with God for all our teaching ? Blessed is that man. It is a sign God will not destroy him. It is a sign that in the general visitation God will regard that man. But, alas ! we may almost complain with Jeremiah in his pi'ophecy, Jer. v. 1, where he runs up and down to seek a man. Alas ! they are very few. They are thick sown, but come thin up, that obey the ordinance of God. It is some comfort that men will submit to the ordinance, that they will come to hear. Some good may be learned. It is better than to keep out of the compass of God's law, as those men do that pretend they can read sermons at home, and so will teach God a course to bring men to heaven. There is hope of men when they submit to God's ordinance. But, I beseech you, how are you affected now for the present ? How do you come now into the presence of God, if you will not amend and resolve to enter into a new course ? He that is often reproved and will not come in, 'judgment will come suddenly on him without all remedy.' And it is good it should be without remedy ; because it is without excuse. You cannot plead, and say that there were not prophets among you. If the heathens were hardened and given up to destruction, — ' the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against them,' Horn i. 18, because they lived in a course of rebellion against the light of nature ; — shall you, that have the light of nature, and the word of God, and the motions of his Spirit too, think to live in rebellion and not be accountable for it ? It shall be easier for them that never heard of the word of God. Where God hath magnified his mercy, he will exalt judgment. Those that are lift up to heaven in privileges, shall be cast down to hell. ' Woe unto thee, Capernaum,' &c., Mat. xi. 21. The more in privileges, the more in judgment if they be abused.
(5.) Again, Another particular sin whereby we may discern a judgment coming is, unfruitfulness under the means ; as the fig-tree, when it was digged and dunged, and yet was unfruitful, then it was near a curse. In Heb. vi. 3, the ground that is tilled and manured, and hath the rain falling on it, it is then * near unto cursing' if it bring not forth. Perhaps a heathen, a pagan, if he were under the means, would be fruitful ; therefore there might be hope of him. But those that are under the means, imder the sunshine of the gospel, under the influence of it, the Spirit working on their hearts ; and yet they live in the sin of unfruitfulness, it makes way for judgment. ' The axe is laid to the root,' Mat. iii. 10. When men are taught, then the instrument of vengeance is laid to the root, and down they go if they bring not forth good fruit.
Sins of omission, when that all hath been taught, are sufficient to bring a man to judgment. At the last judgment, ' you have not visited me in prison, you have not relieved the poor,' &c., will be evidence enough to cast a man into hell. Mat. xxv. 43. And the like may be said of the omission of other duties. When a man is called to place, when he hath opportunity to do good, * he hath a price in his hand, and yet hath no heart to lay it out to his power.' God hath made him a steward, and yet he is unfruit- ful, and labours to undermine and ruin the state of others. What can such a man look for but the judgment of God to light on him first or last? If not present judgment on his body, yet to be given up to hardness of heart, and so to hell, which is worst of all.
(6.) Nay more, decaij in our first love is a forerunner of judgment, when we love not God as we were wont. In Rev. ii. 6, 'I will take away thy candlestick, because thou hast left thy first love.' Is there not such a
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plenty and depth in good things, especially of the gospel, whereby our sins are pardoned, and grace is given ? Is there not that sweetness in them whereby to gain our love more and more ? Is there not a necessity to renew our peace ? Why should we decay in our love ? The things of the gospel arc so excellent aud so necessary, that when God sees them under- valued, it is a forerunner of judgment. Let us take heed of decay in our affections. When there is no zeal for the truth, it is an ill sign.