Fourthly. The reformation called for, as the condition of escaping of impendent judgments, must be universal, — at least general, — amongst all sorts and degrees, all orders and estates of men. All sorts have sinned, all sorts are threatened; and therefore repentance is required of all, if we would not perish. It is so of magistrates and ministers, of nobles and common people, in city and country; and that to be evidenced by its fruits, so as that it may be said of us, See you not how they humble themselves?
But if this be so, some may be apt to say, It seems, if all do not set their hearts and hands unto this work, if all sorts do not engage in it, there is no good effect to be hoped or looked for; but when shall we see any such thing? when shall we see the generality of all sorts of men in this nation cordially to go about this work of repent- ance and reformation? — as good, therefore, let it alone as go about to attempt it.
I answer, — 1. If you can be co?i^e»^ to perish with the impenitent and unreformed, you may choose to do as they do. If you would
THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. G39
avoid their pimisliment, you must avoid their sin, especially their re- fusal to turn on the call of God.
2. Some must begin this work, and be exemplary unto others ; — and blessed are they of the Lord who shall receive the grace and honour so to do. Let us not, then, sit looking on others, to see what they will do, but immediately engage unto our own duty.
3. The duty herein of no one 'private j^erson, much less of whole churches, shall be lost, though the nation should not be reformed in general. For, —
(1.) They shall deliver their oiun souls; and if they be not saved (as I believe they would be in an eminent manner) from somewhat of the outward part of a public calamity, yet they should be from all the wrath and displeasure of God in it.
(2.) A few—for aught I know, one man — may sometimes prevail with God for the suspending, at least, of judgments threatened unto a whole nation. And hereby, —
(3.) They shall give unto others a farther season of repentance, which God can bless and make effectual unto them. — There are, there- fore, blessed encouragements unto all churches, unto all individual persons, to endeavour a compliance with the present calls of God, though the body of the people should not be gathered.
VII. Our next inquiry is, " Whence or from what causes such a reformation may be expected as may be useful unto the turning away of impendent judgments?" And these causes are either supreme or subordinate.
The supreme cause hereof must be the sovereign grace of God, in fresh effusions of his Spirit on the souls of men, to turn them unto himself Without this, all other ways and means of attaining it will be in vain. This is everywhere in the Scripture attested unto as the only supreme, efficient cause of the conversion of men unto God. And unto that state are things come amongst us, that unless we are made partakers of it in a somewhat more than ordinary manner, our breaches ,c?anot be healed. Whether we have grounds or no to expect any s\kh thing, shall be afterward considered. At present there seems to be no other hopes of it, but only because it is a sovereign act of divine grace, which hath been exemplified in the church of old. There seems, indeed, rather, as yet, to be a withdrawing of the communica- tions of the Holy Spirit in effectually prevalent grace on the part of God, and a contempt of them on the part of men; but sovereignty can conquer all obstacles. This way did God heal and recover his church of old, when all other means, all mercies, afflictions, and judg- ments, failed, Ezek. xxxvi. 22-28. And it may at present be for a lamentation, that this work of grace is so disregarded by the most, so despised by many, and so little ciied for by the residue. But with-
G40 THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS.
out it, in vain shall we use any other remedies; we shall not be healed. It is not the best projections of men for reformation by this or that order or state of things in church or state, that, without this, will be of advantage unto us.
The subordinate causes hereof must be the diligent discharge of their duty by magistrates and ministers.
I shall but name these things, that I give no place to complaints or indignation, though just, and almost necessary. And, —
First. As unto the furtherance of it by magistrates, it must consist in three things:—
1. By evidencing that the promotion of it is their interest. Unless it be understood so to be, whatever else they do in the countenance of it will be of no use nor advantage. For this is that which the generality will conform unto or comply \vithal. And if it be once understood that reformation is what they desire, what they design, what they place their chief interest in, — as it was with David, Hezekiah, Josiah,and others, — it will have an influence on the people, not inferior unto what the design of Jeroboam, in pursuit of his corrupt interest, had on the people of Israel to sin. All other means are dead, unless they are enlivened by an evidence of reality in the minds of magi- strates, and a high concernment in the prosperity of their work. Let them make what laws and orders they please, appoint what outward means they can devise, — unless it be made uncontrollably evident that it is their cordial design, and what they place their chief interest in, they will not be available. Add hereunto, —