Part 88

§ 15. But to persuade thee, if possible, reader, to be serious in thy endeavors for heaven, let me add more considerations. As for instance, consider—God is in earnest with you; and why should not you be so with him? In his commands, his threatenings, his promises, he means as he speaks. In his judgments he is serious. Was he not so, when he drowned the _world_? When he _consumed Sodom and Gomorrah_? And when he _scattered the Jews_? Is it time then to trifle with God?—Jesus Christ was serious in purchasing our redemption. In teaching, he neglected his meat and drink. In prayer, _he continued all night_. In doing good, _his friends_ thought _him beside himself_. In suffering, _He fasted forty days, was tempted, betrayed, spit upon, buffeted, crowned with thorns, sweat drops of blood, was crucified, pierced, died_; there was no jesting in all this. And should not we be serious in seeking our own salvation! The Holy Spirit is serious in soliciting us to be happy. His motions are frequent, pressings and importunate. _He striveth with_ us. He is _grieved_, when we resist him. And should not we be serious then in obeying, and yielding to his motions?—God is serious in hearing our prayers, and bestowing his mercies. He is _afflicted with us_. He _regardeth every groan and sigh_, and _puts every tear into his bottle_. The next time thou art in trouble, thou wilt beg for a serious regard of thy prayers. And shall we expect real mercies, when we are slight and superficial in the work of God?—The ministers of Christ are serious in exhorting and instructing you. They beg of God, and of you, and long more for the salvation of your souls than for any worldly good. If they kill themselves with their labor, or suffer martyrdom for preaching the gospel; they think their lives are well bestowed, so that they prevail for the saving your souls. And shall other men be so painful and careful for your salvation, and you be so careless and negligent of your own?—How diligent and serious are all the creatures in serving you? What haste makes the sun to compass the world? The fountains are always flowing for thy use; the rivers still running; spring and harvest keep their times. How hard does thy ox labor for thee from day to day? How speedily does thy horse travel with thee? And shalt thou only be negligent? Shall all these be so serious in serving thee, and thou so careless in thy service to God?—The servants of the world and the Devil are serious and diligent. They work, as if they could never do enough. They make haste, as if afraid of coming to hell too late. They bear down ministers, sermons, and all before them. And shall they be more diligent for damnation, than thou for salvation? Hast thou not a better master, sweeter employment, greater encouragement, and a better reward?—Time was when thou wast serious thyself in serving Satan and the flesh, if it be not so yet. How eagerly didst thou follow thy sports, thy evil company, and sinful delights? And wilt thou not now be as earnest and violent for God?—You are to this day in earnest about the things of this life. If you are sick, or in pain, what serious complaints do you utter? If you are poor, how hard do you labor for a livelihood? And is not the business of your salvation of far greater moment?—There is no jesting in heaven or hell. The saints have a real happiness, and the damned a real misery. There are no remiss or sleepy praises in heaven, nor such lamentations in hell. All there are in earnest. When thou, reader, shalt come to death and judgment, O what deep, heart-piercing thoughts wilt thou have of eternity! Methinks I foresee thee already astonished, to think how thou couldst possibly make so light of these things. Methinks I even hear thee crying out of thy stupidity and madness.