“But they damn all, you say, beside themselves.” _Damn_ all! What kind of word is this? They damn no man. None is able to damn any man, but the Lord and judge of all. What you probably mean by that strange expression is, they declare that God condemns all, beside those who believe in Jesus Christ, and love him and keep his commandments. And so must _you_ also, or you sin against God, and your neighbour, and your own soul. But is there any _uncharitableness_ in this? In warning sinners to flee from the wrath to come? On the contrary, not to warn a poor, blind, stupid wretch, that he is hanging over the mouth of hell, would be so inexcusable a want of charity, as would bring his blood upon our own head.
4. But there is no room for dispute, touching these _doctrines_ in general, seeing our Lord gives you so plain a rule, by which you may easily and infallibly know, whether they be of God. _The tree is known by its fruit, either therefore make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else, make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt._ (Matthew xii. 33.) Now what fruit does the tree before us bring forth? Look and see; believe your own eyes and ears. Sinners leave their sins. The servants of the devil become the servants of God. Is this good or evil fruit? That _vice_ loses ground, and _virtue_, practical _religion_, gains? O dispute no more. Know the tree by its fruit. Bow and own the finger of God.
But many, who own _these doctrines_ to be of God, yet cannot be reconciled to the _instruments_ he hath made use of. A very common exception taken against these is (and was from the beginning) “That they are so _young_.” Therefore (abundance of men have readily inferred) “This work cannot be of God.”
Perhaps they are not so young as you conceive. Mr. _Whitefield_ is now upwards of thirty; my brother is thirty-seven years of age. I have lived above forty-two years. And a gentleman in _Cornwall_, for whom I often preach, has the merit of having lived threescore and seventeen years.
But, supposing the antecedent true, what a consequence is this? What shadow of scripture have you to support it? Doth not God _send by whom he_ will _send_? And who shall say to him, _What dost thou_? “These are too young; send elder men.” What shadow of reason? Is it not possible, that a person of thirty or forty may have as true a judgment in the things of God, and as great a blessing attending his preaching, as one of fifty or fourscore?
I wish you would explain yourself a little on this head:
_Scire velim_, verbo, _pretium quotus arroget annus?_
How old do you require a man to be, before God should have leave to speak by his mouth?――――O my brethren, who could have believed any serious man would once have named such an argument as this? Seeing both scripture and reason teach, that God herein _giveth account to none of his ways_. But he worketh by whomsoever he _will_ work; he sheweth mercy by whom he _will_ shew mercy.
* 6. “But there are only _a few_ young heads,” I cannot but observe here, what great pains have been taken, what diligence shewn, to make and to keep them _few_. What arts have not been used, to keep back those of the clergy in particular, who have been clearly convinced from time to time, that they ought to join hearts and hands in the work? On this occasion, it has been accounted meritorious, to _say all manner of evil of us falsely_: to _promise_ them whatever their hearts desired, if they would refrain from these men: and, on the other hand, to _threaten_ them with heavy things, if ever they went among them more. So that how fully soever they were convinced, they could not act according to their conviction, unless they could give up at once all thought of _preferment_, either in church or state; nay, all hope of even a _fellowship_, or poor _scholarship_, in either university. Many also have been threatened, that if they went on in this way, what little they had should be taken from them. And many have, on this very account, been disowned by their dearest friends and nearest relations. So that there was no possibility the number of these labourers should ever be increased at all, unless by those who could break through all these ties, who desired nothing in the present world, who counted neither their fortunes, nor friends, nor lives, dear unto themselves, so they might only _keep a conscience void_ of offence toward God and toward men.