2. The due execution of laws against flagitious immoralities. And, —
3. An encouraging exam2jle in their 02vn persons; without wdiich all things will grow worse and worse, whatever else be done. Men seem to be weary, in some measure, of the dismal effects of sin ; but they seem not to be weary of sin. Unto this weariness they yet want motives, encouragements, and examples. And it is strange unto me, that, in all our fears and dangeis, —in the divisions of our councils and confusions amongst all sorts of men, under a high profession of zeal for the Protestant religion in the nation, and the presei'vation of it, — that this only expedient for our relief and safety lies wholly ne- glected.
As unto ministers, the faithful discharge of their duty, in preaching, prayer, and example, is required hereunto. Should I stay to show the necessity hereof at this season ; as also what is required thereunto, — what care, what diligence, what watchfulness, what compassion, what zeal, what exercise of all gospel gi'ace, with the over-neglect of these things among many, — it would take up a volume, rather than become a place in this present inquiry.
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THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS. 641
But I proceed unto that which is more our immediate concernment. Wherefore, —
VIII. " What if all these means do fail? — what if all expectations from them be in vain? what is incumbent on them in particular who are really sensible of these things,— namely, of the abounding of pro- voking sins, and the near approach of deserved judgments?''
That which I design herein is, to give some directions as unto what frame of heart ought to be found in us, and the practice of what duties we ought to be found in at such a season as this is. It is no common, no easy thing, to wait for the Lord in the way of his judgments, Isa. xxvi. 8, 9. There is inward soul-work night and day, as well as outward duties, required unto it. That God may be glo- dfied in a due manner, — that we may be " found in peace," whatever be the event of things, — that we may be useful unto others, and in all serve the will of God in our generation,— are all expected fi-om us in a w^ay of duty.
Unto this end, the ensuing directions may be made use of: — First. Take heed of stout-heartedness, and a contempt or neglect thereby of divine warnings. There is a generation who, either really or in pretence, are bold, fearless, stout-hearted, regardless of these thmgs ; they seem to provoke and dare God to do his utmost,— all that he seems to threaten. So they speak, Isa. v. 19, " Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it." Here is much talk, indeed, of the judgments of God, and of their near approach: When shall we see them? why do not they come? when shall he bring forth his work?
This hath been the great controversy between the church and the wicked world from the beginning of it. Those that truly feared God were always testifying that God would come, and take vengeance on them for their impieties and impenitency; but because these judg- ments were not speedily executed, the sinful world did always despise their warnings, and scoff at their message. So Enoch, the seventh from Adam, he preached and prophesied of these things,— namely, of the coming of God to take vengeance on ungodly men, Jude 14, 15. And this message was scoffed at, as is evident, because no reforma- tion ensued thereon, until the flood took them all away. So was it with Noah and his preaching; and so it hath been with all that fear God, in their several generations. And this was one especial thing that' the pagans laughed and mocked at the primitive Christians about,— as is plam in Lucian's " Philopatris."' So the apostle Peter
1 The small piece entitled "Philoratris" has been ascribed to Lucian. It consists of a dialogue, in which Tiiepho and Chtias discuss the respective merits ox Pa-anisin and Christianity, with a scoffing and sarcastic tone, indicating be- VOL. VIII.
642 THE DESIGN OF IMPENDENT JUDGMENTS.
gives us an account botli of what was past, and wliat would afterward come to pass, 2 Pet. iii. 3 unto the end.
And such as these abound amongst us. All the warnings of God have been turned mto ridicule, previous judgments despised, and sin itself made a scoff of But, of all others, God most abhorreth this sort of men. They are said to be "far from righteousness," Isa. xlvi. 12. Unto such he speaks in his wrath, "Hear, ye despisers; wonder, and perish." Yea, the Scripture is full with the severest threateniugs against this sort of men; nor shall any, in the appointed season, drink deeper of the cup of God's indignation. See Isa. xx\dii. 14, 15; Deut. xxix. 1 9, 20. Such secure despisers, such scoffers at approach- ing judgments, such deriders of the signs and tokens of them, God will deal withal. And some there are who, — it may be, not from the same spirit of open profaneness, but out of prejudices, corrupt arguings, pretended observations of things past, disbelief of all they do not feel, and such like effects of long security, — do utterly scorn and scoff at all these things. They account it a matter of weakness, pusillanimity, or superstition, to concern themselves in these warnings of Providence, or the explication of them by the word. But their judgment sleepeth not. And it may be observed, and will be found true, that when judgments do really approach, of all sorts of men they are the most cowardly, distracted, fearful, and void of counsel. For when God begins to deal with them, their hearts cannot endure, nor their hands be strong. He smites through their loins, and filleth them with a spirit of hoiTor and fear, that they shall tremble like the leaves of the forest. In that day you may say unto them, as Zebul did to boasting Gaal, upon the approach of Abimelech, his enemy, " Where is now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst. Who is Abimelech?" Where is now your mouth and your vauntings with respect unto these judgmeuts of God? So Micaiah the prophet told Zedekiah the false prophet, in his boasting and confidence of success, 1 Kings xxii. 25, With all thy confidence and boasting, thou slialt be one of the first that shall endeavour to fly and hide thyself. Yea, this sort of persons are com- monly the most ridiculous and contemptible, when real danger over- takes them, of any sort of men in the world.