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God hangs the great things of Eternity upon the small wyers of times and seasons in this world: that may be done
or neglected in a day, which may be the ground-work of joy or sorrow to all Eternity. There is a nick of opportunity which gives both success and facility to the great and weigh∣ty affairs of the Soul, as well as body: to come before it, is to seek the bird before it be hatcht; and to come after it, is to seek it when it is fled. There is a twofold season or op∣portunity of Salvation:
1. Christ had a season assigned him for the impetration and purchace of our Salvation; so you hear his Father be∣speaking him, Isa. 49.8. Thus saith the Lord, In an accepta∣ble time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I help∣ed thee: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in tempore opportuno voluntatis, vel placito. It was the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ to set in with the Fathers time, to comply with his season; and it became a day of Salvation, because it was the acceptable time which Christ took for it.
2. Men have their seasons and opportunities for the appli∣cation of Christ, and his benefits to their own Souls: 2 Cor. 6.1, 2. We then as workers together with God beseech you also, that you receive not the grace of God in vain; for he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee. Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. He exhorts the Corinthians not to dally or trifle any longer in the great concerns of their Salvation; for now, saith he, is your day. Christ had his day to pur∣chase it, and he procured a day also for you to apply it, and this is that day; you enjoy it, you live under it: that golden day is now running, O see that you frustrate not the design thereof, by receiving the Gospel-grace in vain.
Now two things concur to make a fit season of Salvation to the Souls of men.
1. Men have then an opportunity for Salvation when God sends the means and instruments of Salvation among them. When the Gospel is powerfully preached among a people, then there is a door opened to them, 2 Cor. 2.12. When I came to Troas to preach the Gospel, a door was opened to me of the Lord. God doth as it were unlock the door of Heaven by the preaching of the Gospel; Souls have then an opportuni∣ty to step in and be saved.
2. But yet this is not a wide and effectual door, (••s the Apo∣stle phraseth it, 1 Cor. 16.9.) till the Spirit of God joyns with, and works upon the heart by those external means and instruments. As the waters of the Pool of Bethesda had no inherent fanative virtue in themselves, unti•• the Angel of the Lord descended, and troubled them: but both together make a blessed season for the Souls of men, then he stands at the door and knocks by convictions and perswasions, Rev. 3.20. strives with men, as he did with the old world by the Ministry of Noah, Gen. 6.3. Now the door of opportunity is indeed opened, but this will not always last, there is a time when the Spirit ceaseth to strive, and when the door is shut, Luke 13.25.
There is a season when by the fresh impression of some Or∣dinance or Providence of God, mens hearts are awakened, and their affections stirred! It is now with the Souls of men as it is with Fruit-trees in the Spring when they put forth blossoms, if they knit and set, f••uit follows; if they be nipt and blasted, no fruit can be expected. For all convictions and motions of the affections are to Grace, much the same thing as blossoms are to Fruit, which are but the rudiment thereof, fructus imperfectus & ordinabilis, somewhat in or∣der to it; and look as that is a critical and hazardous season to Trees, so is this to Souls. I do not say, it is in the power of any Soul to make the work of the Spirit effectual and abi∣ding, by adding his endeavours to the Spirits motions; for then conversion would not be the free and arbitrary act of the Spirit, as it is Ioh. 3.8. neither would Souls be born of God, but of the will of man, contrary to Ioh. 1.13. And yet it is not to be thought or said, that mens endeavours and strivings are altogether vain, needless, and insignificant; because, though they cannot make the grace of God effectual, his
Grace can make them effectual; they are our duty, and God can bless them to our great advantage. Now there are among others five remarkable essays, efforts, or strivings of a Soul under the impression and hand of the Spirit, which greatly tend to the fixing, settling, and securing of that great work upon the Soul: and it is seldom known that any Soul miscarries in whom these things are found.
(1.) Deep, serious, and fixed consideration, which lets conviction deep into the Soul, and settles it, and roots it fast in the heart: Psal. 119.59. I thought upon my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. There are close and an∣xious debates in those Souls in whom convictions prosper to full conversion: they sit alone, and think close to their great and eternal concerns: they carry their thoughts back to the evils of their life past, then smite on the thigh, and cry, What have I done? They run their thoughts forward into Eternity, and that to a great depth, and then cry, What shall I do to be saved? They deliberate and weigh in their most advised thoughts what is to be done, and that speedily for the escaping of the wrath to come: thus they fix those tender, weak, and hazardous motions, which dye away in multitudes of Souls; and in the loss of them their seasons of Salvation are also lost.
(2.) The first stirrings and motions of the Spirit upon mens hearts do then become a season of Salvation to them, when they are accompanied with spiritual, fervent, and fre∣quent prayer: so it was with Paul, Acts 9.11. Behold, he prayeth. It's a good sign when Souls get alone, and affect privacy and retirement to pour out their fears, sorrows, and requests to God. It is in the Espousals of a Soul to Christ, as it is in other Marriages; a third person may make the motion, and bring the Parties together, but they only, be∣twixt themselves, must conclude and agree the matter. Pray∣er is the first breath which the new Creature draws in, and the last (ordinarily) it breaths out in this world. This nou∣rishes and maturates those weak and tender first motions af∣ter God, and brings them to some consistence and fixedness in the Soul.
(3.) Then do those motions of the Spirit on mens hearts make a season of Salvation to them, when they remain and settle in the heart, and are in them per modum quietis, by way of rest and abode, following the man from place to place, from day to day; so that whatever unpleasing diver∣sions the necessities and incumbrances of this world at any time give, yet still they return again upon the heart, and will not vanish, or suffer any long suspension: but in others who lose their blessed advantage and season, it's quite con∣trary, Iam. 1.23, 24. They are as one that seeth his natural face in a glass, and goeth away, and forgetteth what man∣ner of man he was: he sees some spot on his face, or disor∣der in his band, which he purposeth to correct, but one oc∣currence or another chops in, and he forgets what he saw in the glass, and so goes all the day with his spot upon him. This was an evanid light purpose, which came to nothing for want of a present execution: just so it is with many in reference to their great concerns; but if the impression a∣bide in its strength, if it return, and follow the Soul, and will not let it be quiet, it's like then to prosper and prove the time of Mercy indeed to such Souls.
(4) An anxious solicitude and inquisitiveness about the means and ways of Salvation, speaks an effectual door of Sal∣vation to be set open to the Souls of men, Acts 2.37. & 16.30. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Men and brethren, what shall we do? q. d. we are in a miserable condition. O you the Ministers of Christ instruct, counsel, and shew us what course to take. Is there no Balm in Gilead? No door of hope in this Valley of Achor? Alas! we are not able to dwell with our own fears, terrors, and presages of wrath to come. O for a Messenger, one among a thousand, to teach us the way of Salvation. Thus the Lord rivets and fixes those mo∣tions in some Souls, which vanish like a morning mist or dew in others.
(5) Lastly, That which secures and compleats this work, is the execution of those purposes and convictions, by falling without delay to the work of Faith and Repentance in good earnest, dallying no more with so great a concernment, stand∣ing
no longer at shall I? shall I? when mean while time flies away, and opportunities are in hazard to be lost: but bring∣ing their thoughts and debates to a peremptory resolution, as the Lepers at Samaria did; and seeing themselves shut up to one only door of hope, there they resolve to take up their station, lying at the feet of Jesus Christ, and casting their poor burdened Souls upon him, whatever be the issue. When the Spirit of God ripens his first motions to this, and carries them through that critical season thus far, then there is an effectual door of opportunity opened indeed, this is an acce∣ptable time, a day of Salvation: but O how many thousands miscarry in this season, and like trees removed from one soil to another, dye in the removal.
But certainly, it is the most solemn and important con∣cern of every Soul to watch upon all these seasons of Salva∣tion, when God comes nigh to them by convictions and mo∣tions of his Spirit, and to put the same value upon these things which they do upon their Souls, and the Salvation of them. This is the door of Hope set open, a fresh gale to carry you home to your Port of Glory. Salvation is now come nigh to your Souls; there is but a little betwixt you and Blessedness. Wise and happy is that Soul which know∣eth and improveth its season. To perswade and press men to discern and improve such seasons as these, is the principal work of the Preachers of the Gospel, and that special work to which I now address my self in the following Motives and Arguments.
AND first, who that hath the free exercise of Reason, and the sense of a future eternal Estate, would care∣lesly neglect any season of Salvation, whilst he seeth all the rational world so carefully attending and watching all op∣portunities to promote and secure their lower concerns and designs for the present life?
Is not the saving of a mans Soul as weighty a concern as the getting of an Estate? You cannot but observe how care▪ Merchants are to nick the opportunity which promiseth
them a good turn. How yare poor Sea-men look out for a wind to wast them to their Port, and industriously shift their Sails to improve every slaw that may set them on in their Voyage. How many miles Tradesmen will travel to be in season at a Fayr, to put off or purchase Goods to their advantage. No entertainments, recreations, or importunities of friends can prevail with any of these to lose a day on which their business depends: all things must give way to their bu∣siness: they all understand their seasons, and will not be di∣verted. But alas, what childish toyes are all these, compa∣red with Salvation! What is the loss of a little Money, to the loss of a mans Soul? If a mans life depended upon his being at such a place, by such a precise hour, sure he would not over-sleep his time that morning; and had he but the least fear of coming too late, every stroke of the Clock would strike to his heart: and yet remisness and carelesness in such a case as this, is infinitely more excusable than in the matter of Salvation. Certainly the solicitude and care of all the world for the interests thereof, yea, your own diligence and circumspection in temporal things will be an uncontroul∣able and confounding self-conviction to you in the day of your account, and leave you without Plea or Apology for your supine neglects of the seasons of Salvation.
SEcondly, The consideration of the uncertainty and slippe∣ry nature of these spiritual seasons must awaken in us all care and diligence to secure and improve them. This nick of opportunity is tempus labile, a slippery season; it is but short in it self, and very uncertain. To day▪ whilst it is said to day (saith the Apostle) if ye will hear his voice, Heb. 3.15. q. d. you have now a short, uncertain, but most precious and valuable season for your Souls, lay hold on it, whilst it is called to day; for if this season be let slip, the time to come is called by another name; that is, not to day, but to morrow. Your time is the present time, take heed of procrastinating and putting it off till that which is called to day (which is your only season) be past and gone. This precious inch
of time, though it be more worth than all the other greater parts and portions of your time; yet it is as much in fluxu, in hasty motion and expence as other parts of time are: and being once lost, is never more to be recalled or recovered. Few men know or understand it whilst it is current: other seasons for natural or civil actions are known and stated, but the time of Grace is not so easily discerned, and therefore commonly mistaken and lost: and this comes to pass partly through
1. Presumptuous Hopes, which put it too far forth, and perswade us this season is yet to come; that we have before us,* 1.1 and that to morrow shall be as to day. Thus through presumption men hope, and by their presumptuous hopes they perish: this is the ruine of most Souls that perish.
2. Discouraging Fears put it too far back, and represent it as long since past and gone, whilst it is yet in being, and in our hands. By such pangs of desperation Satan cuts the very nerves of industry and diligence, and causes Souls to yield themselves as by consent for lost and hopeless, even whilst the Gospel is opening their eyes to see their sin and misery, which is a part of the work in order to their reco∣very. Thus the eyes of thousands are dazled, that they can∣not discern the season of Mercy, and so it slides from them, as if it had never been.
God came near them in the means of their Conversion, yea, and nearer than that, in the motions of his Spirit upon their Consciences and Affections; but they knew not the time of their visitation, and now the things of their peace are hidden from their eyes. Had those Convictions been obeyed, and those purposes that were begotten in their hearts been followed home by answerable executions of them, happy had they been to all Eternity: but their careless neg∣lects have quenched them, and the door is shut, and who knows whether it may be opened any more? O dally not with the Spirit of God, resist not his calls, his motions upon the Soul are tender things, they may soon be quenched, and never recovered.
NEglect not the seasons of Mercy, the day of Grace, be∣cause opportunity facilitates the great work of your Salvation: it is much easier to be done in such a season, than it can be afterwards: an impression is easily made upon wax when it is melted, but stay a while till it be hardned, and if you lay the greatest weight upon the seal, it leaves not its impress upon it. Much so it is with the heart, there is a season when God makes it soft and yielding, when the affe∣ctions are thawed and melted under the Word. Conscience is full of sense and activity, the will pliable: now is the time to set in with the motions of the Spirit: there is now a gale from Heaven, if you will take it; and if not, it tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. Neglect of the season is the loss of the Soul. The heart, like melted wax, will naturally harden again, and then to how little purpose are your own feeble essays? Heb. 3.15. 'tis both easie and successful striving, when the Spirit of God strives in you and with you; you are now workers together with God, and such work goes on smoothly and sweetly: that which is in motion is easily moved; but if once the heart be set, you may tug to little purpose.
THE infinite importance and weight of Salvation is alone instead of all motives and arguments to make men prize and improve every proper season for it. It is no ordinary concern, it is your life, yea, it is your eternal life. The solemnity and awfulness of such a business as this, is enough to swallow up the spirit of a man. O what an awful found have such words as these, Ever with the Lord! Sup∣pose you saw the Glory of Heaven, the full reward of all the labours and sufferings of the Saints, the blessed harvest of all their prayers, tears, diligence, and self-denial in this world; or suppose you had a true representation of the Torments of
Hell, and could but hear the wailings of the damned for the neglect of the season of Mercy, and their passionate, but vain wishes for one of those days which they have lost; would you think any care, any pains, any self-denial too much to save and redeem one of these opportunities? Sure∣ly, you would have a far higher estimation of them than ever you had in your lives.
A Tryal for a mans whole Estate is accounted a solemn business among men, the Cast of a Dye for a mans life is a weighty action, and seldom done without anxiety of the mind, and trembling of the hand: yet both these are but Childrens Play compared with Salvation-work.
Three things put an unspeakable solemnity upon this matter: it is the precious Soul, which is above all valuation that lies at stake, and is to be saved or lost. The saving or losing of it is not for a time, but for ever, and this is the only season in which it will be eternally saved, or cast away: all hangs upon a little inch of time, which being over-slipt and lost, is never more to be recalled or recovered. Lord, with what serious spirits, deep and weighty consideration, fears and tremblings of heart should men and women attend the seasons of their Salvation!
Believe it, Reader, since thy Soul projected its first thought, there never was a more weighty and concerning subject than this presented to thy thoughts. O therefore let not thy thoughts trifle about it, and slide from it as they use to do in other things of common concernment.
IF we set any value upon the true pleasure of life, or solid comfor•• of our Souls at death, let us by no means neglect the special seasons and opportunities of Salvation we now enjoy.
These two things, the pleasure of life, and comfort in death should be prized by every man more than his two eyes: cer∣tainly no Being at all is more desirable than a Being without these: take away the true spiritual pleasure of life, and you level the life of man with the beast that perisheth: and take
away the hope and comfort of the Soul in death, and you sink him infinitely below the beast, and make him a Being only capable of misery for ever.
Now there can be no true spiritual pleasure found in that Soul that hath neglected and lost his only season of Salva∣tion: all the solid delight and comfort of life results from the settlement and security of a mans great concern in the proper season thereof. The true mirth of the converted Prodigal bears date from the time of his return and reconci∣liation to his Father, Luke 15.24. Two things are abso∣lutely prerequisite to the comfort of life, viz. a change of the state by Justification, and a change of the frame and temper of the heart by Sanctification. To be in a pardoned state is matter of all joy, Matt. 9.2. and to be spiritually minded is life and peace, Rom. 8.6. no good news comes to any man before this, and no bad news can sink a mans heart after this.
And for hope and comfort in death, let none be so fond to expect it, till his Soul have first complied with, and obey∣ed the Call of God in the time thereof; a careless life never did nor ever will produce a comfortable death. What is more common among all that dye not stupid and sensless, as well as unregenerate and Christless, than the bitter dolorous complaints of their mis-spent time, and losing their season of Mercy? Reader, if thou wouldst not feel that anguish thou hast seen and heard others to be in upon this account, know the time of thy visitation, and finish thy great work whilst it is day.
NEglect no season of Salvation which is graciously afford∣ed you, because your time is short, Death and Eter∣nity are at the door. You know that you must shortly put off these Tabernacles, 2 Pet. 1.13, 14. that when a few years are come, you shall go the way whence you shall not return, Iob 16.22. All the living are listed Souldiers, and must conflict hand to hand with that dreadful Enemy Death, and there is no discharge in that War, Eccles. 8.8. It will
be in vain to say you are not willing to dye, for willing or unwilling, away you must go when Death calls you. It will be as vain to say you are not ready, for ready or unrea∣dy, you must be gone when Death comes, your readiness to dye would indeed be a Cordial to your hearts in death; but then you must improve and ply the time of life, and husband your opportunities diligently: carelesness of life and readiness for death are inconsistent and exclusive of each other: the Bed is sweeter to none than to the hard Labourer, and the Grave comfortable to none but the laborious Chri∣stian: you know nothing can be done by you after death; the Compositum is then dissolved; you cease to be what you were, to enjoy the means you had, and to work as you did. O therefore slip not the only season you have both of attain∣ing the end of life, and escaping the danger and hour of death.
Praesumendo spe∣rant, & speran∣do per••unt.