166 PROVIDENTIAL CHANGES,
us by the virtue of the covenant, but that heightening and improve- ment of it which the season wherein we live, and the work that Christ hath to do, do require of us.
These things being premised, let us now proceed to the manage- ment of our exhortation ; and observe, —
(1.) That the apostle calls us to a consideration how this work may be effected: " What manner of persons ought ye to be?" Consider with yourselves the equity of the matter, the greatness of the motive, and the ways whereby it may be answered. The business is not now to be left at an ordinary rate, nor unto private meditations ; it is to be made a matter of solemn consideration and design; it is to be managed with advice and counsel : consider, I say, " what manner of persons." It is not about holiness in general that I speak ; but about that holiness which becomes us in such a season. This, then, is the first part of this exhortation, — that as to the improvement of holiness answerable to the season of this coming of Christ, we would carry it on by design, by counsel, by deliberate consideration; not only labour- ing to be holy ourselves, but to promote the work of holiness, the eminency, the activity, the usefulness of it, in one another, — in all believers, — so far as our prayers, exhortations, and examples, can reach. This the apostle pleads for on the same account, Heb. hi. 13; and chap. x. 23, 24, to the same purpose. And we have the practice of it, Mai. iii. 1 6. It was such a time and season as that we treat of, Christ was coming to his temple, verses 1—3. The earth was full of wickedness and contempt of him. What do the saints do? Do they content themselves with their ordinary measures? Do they keep all close to themselves? No; they confer, advise, consult, and that fre- quently, how, wherein, whereby, the expectation of their coming Lord may be answered. The reasons, arguments, way of carrying on such a counsel and design, the apostle declares, Rom. xiii. 11-14, "The time requires it, the duty is urgent, temptations are many, failings have been great, — the Lord is nigh at hand." Let, then, believers enter together into this plot, this design; draw as many as they can into it; promote it by all ways and means possible. Let them get to- gether ; make this their aim, their design, — engage in it as the duty of their day, of their time and season. This would be a plot that the men of the world would have more just cause to fear than ever they had of any, and yet dare not question, disturb, or interrupt ; — a de- sign that would blow up their contrivance, disappoint their counsel, ruin their interest, — shake heaven and earth. Let every one contri- bute the best of his counsel, the best of his grace, the best of his in- terest in heaven, the utmost of his self-denial, to the carrying of it on. Methinks we have dwelt long enough upon others' failings, — fruitless, selfish designs; the world is full of the noise, the steam, the filth of
AN ARGUMENT FOR UNIVERSAL HOLINESS. 167
thero. Oh, that the stream of our endeavours might now be another way ! Oh, that God would stir up some that might stand up and cry, " Who is for God? who is on our side for holiness now?" If ministers at their meetings, if Christians at theirs, would make this their business ; if all would agree to sacrifice their lusts, their self- love, their by-opinions to this work, — what glory would redound to Christ ! what salvation would be wrought in the earth ! Why do any of us lie complaining? Let us up and be doing; there is no doubt, no question to be made. This is that which Christ lengthens his con- troversy with us about, that he will bring us to, or ruin us and de- stroy us as to this world. Ministers meet. What do they ? Pray a while, and spend their time in and about differences, controversies, — how they may do this or that, which I shall not name. Christians meet, and pray, and go away as they came. Lusts are not sacrificed ; faults are not confessed to one another; exhortations mutual are not used; — no ground is got for holiness or godliness, but things remain as they did, or rather grow worse and worse every day : at best, profession rises, and the power of religion falls and decreases.
I heartily wish professors would be persuaded to come together to advise, to consult for God, — for the glory of Christ and the gospel, and for their own interest in this thing ; — to consider what are the pressing temptations of the days wherein we live ; what are the cor- ruptions and lusts that are apt to be provoked and excited by these temptations, or by the state of things amongst us ; what duties seem to be neglected; and what are the common, visible failings and scandal of professors, wherein themselves, through party, or neglect, or selfish- ness, have been wanting: and to advise and pray for the remedying of all these evils. I wish they would seriously stir up and exhort one another to contend mightily for the crucifying of all their secret lusts and bosom sins, — for heart-purity and likeness to Christ in all things; that they would incite others, and draw all they can into their society and combination in all parts of the nation. In parti- cular, let not us of this place stand still, expecting when others will begin the work. The meaner, poorer, worse we are, the more in- cumbent is it on us to rise and be doing. The water is moved, teach- ing [healing?] is in it, and we strive not who shall enter first, but rather stand striving, contesting with others, to put them before us !