(3.) Seducers and blasphemers will not be wanting to sow their tares, which those fallowed fields will receive, if there be none to cast in the seed of the word. Some are come over thither already without call, without employ- ments, to no other end, but only to vaunt themselves to be God ; as they have done in the open streets with detestable pride, atheism, and folly. So that as Ireland was heretofore termed by some in civil things a frippery of bankrupts, for the great number of persons of broken estates that went thither; so doubtless in religion it will prove a frippery of monstrous, enormous, contradictious opinions, if the work of preaching the word of truth and soberness be not carried on. And if this be the issue of your present undertakings, will it be acceptable, think you, to the Lord Jesus, that you have used his power and might to make way for such things as his soul abhors?
[1.] Will it be for his honour, that the people whom he hath sought to himself with so high a hand, should, at the very entrance of his taking possession, be leavened with those high and heavenly notions, which have an open and experimented tendency to earthly, fleshly, dunghill prac- tices? Or,
[2.] Will it be for the credit and honour of your profes- sion of the gospel, that such a breach should be under your hand? that it should be as it were, by your means? Will it not be a sword, and an arrow, and a maul in the hands of your observers? Who can bear the just scandal that would accrue ? scandal to the magistrates, scandal to the ministers of this generation, in neglecting such an opportunity of ad- vancing the gospel ; sleeping all the day whilst others sow tares.
[3.] Where will be the hoped, the expected consolation of this great affair, when the testimony and pledge of the
AND SINFULNESS OF STAGGERING. 289
peculiar presence of Christ amongst us upon such an issue shall be wanting?
What J;hen shall we do? This thing is often spoken of, seldom driven to any close!
1st. Pray. ' Pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send out,' that he would thrust forth * labourers into his har- vest.' The labourers are ready to say. There is a lion in the way, difficulties to be contended withal. And to some men it is hard seeing a call of God through difficulties : when if it would but clothe itself with a few carnal advantages, how apparent is it to them? they can see it through a little cranny. Be earnest then with the Master of these labourers, in whose hand is their life and breath, and all their ways, that he would powerfully constrain them, to be willing to enter into the fields, that are white for the harvest.
2dly. Make such provision. That those who will go may be fenced from outward straits and fears, so far as the un- certainty of human affairs in general, and the present tu- multuating perturbations will admit. And let not, I be- seech you, this be the business of an unpursued order. But,
3dly. Let some be appointed (generals die and sink by themselves) to consider this thing, and to hear what sober proposals may be made by any, whose hearts God shall stir up to so good a work.
This, I say, is a work wherein God expecteth faithful- ness from you : stagger not at his promises, nor your own duty. However, by all means possible, in this business I have strived to deliver my own soul.
Once more, to this of faith, let me stir you up to another work of love, and that in the behalf of many poor perishing creatures, that want all things needful for the sustentation of life. Poor parentless children that lie begging, starving, rotting in the streets, and find no relief; yea, persons of quality, that have lost their dearest relations in your ser- vice, seeking for bread, and finding none. Oh, that some thoughts of this also might be seriously committed to them that shall take care for the gospel.
Use 3. I desire now to make more particular application of the doctrine, as to things purely spiritual. Until you know how to believe for your own souls, you will scarcely know how to believe for a nation. Let this then teach us
VOL. XV. IJ
290 THE STEADFASTNESS OF PROMISES,
to lay the burden and trouble of our lives upon the right shoulder. In our staggerings, our doubtings, our disputes, we are apt to assign this and that reason of them; when the sole reason indeed is our unbelief. Were it not for such a cause, or such a cause, I could believe ; that is, were there no need of faith. That is, faith must remove the mountains that lie in the way, and then all will be plain. It is not the greatness of sin, nor continuance in sin, nor backsliding into sin, that is the true cause of thy staggering, whatever thou pretendest (the removal of all these is from that pro- mise, whose stability and certainty I before laid forth), but solely from thy unbelief, that 'root of bitterness, which springs up and troubles thee.' It is not the distance of the earth from the sun, nor the sun's withdrawing itself, that makes a dark and gloomy day ; but the interposition of clouds, and vapourous exhalations. Neither is thy soul be- yond the reach of the promise, nor doth God withdraw him- self; but the vapours of thy carnal, unbelieving heart do cloud thee. It is said of one place, * Christ could do no great work there.' Why so ? for want of power in him? Not at all : but merely for want of faith in them, it was 'be- cause of their unbelief.' The promise can do no great work upon thy heart to humble thee, to pardon, to quiet thee. Is it for want of fulness and truth therein? Not at all: but merely for want of faith in thee, that keeps it off. Men complain, that were it not for such things, and such things, they could believe ; when it is their unbelief that casts those rubs in the way. As if a man should cast nails and sharp stones in his own way, and say. Verily I "could run, were it not for those nails and stones; when he continues him- self to cast them there. You could believe, were it mot for these doubts and difficulties, these staggering perplexities ; when, alas ! they are all from your unbelief.