A divine message to the elect soule delivered in eight sermons upon seven severall texts / by that laborious and faithfull messenger of Christ, Mr. William Fenner ...

THE DANGER of deferring REPENTANCE, DISCOƲERED In a Sermon preached at Maidstone in Kent, Septem. 25. 1629.

By that Reverend and faithfull Mi∣nister of the Word, WILLIAM FENNER, B.D. Sometime Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, and late Parson of Rochford in Essex.

London, Printed by T.R. and E.M. for J.S.

A SERMON OF M^r. WILLIAM FENNERS at Maidstone, Septem. 25. 1629.

PROV. 1.28.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.

THere is a good English Proverb amongst us, that he that neglects the occasion, the occasion will neg∣lect him. Solomon wisely begins his Proverbs with it: for he bringeth in the Wisdom of his Father in these five particulars: [ 1] first, making a generall Proclamation in the 20 verse, Wisdome crieth without, shee uttereth her vice in the streets. He compareth God unto a Crier that goeth up and down the City from street to street, and from doore to doore, crying his commodity, e∣ven the richest that ever was, which is a Christ,

a Christ for redemption, a Christ for sanctification, a Christ to enlighten those that walk in darknesse, and in the shadow of death. Ho, every one that thir∣steth, here is a Christ for you.

[ 2] Secondly, here is a mercifull reprehension, in the 22. verse, O yee foolish, how long will yee love foolishnesse, and yee scorners take pleasure in scorning? Foolish indeed to be without Christ: foolish to be without grace, foolish to chafer away our souls for sin. How long yee scorners will yee take plea∣sure in scorning? will you still persist in your wic∣kednesse, and never have done with your sins? will you never turn back again, but damne your souls for ever? O yee foolish, how long will you love foolishnesse?

[ 3] Thirdly, here is a gracious exhortation in the 23. verse: turn you at my correction: lo, I will poure out my mind unto you, and make you to understand my words. As if he should say, Do you not see how you are going apace to confusion; and that the way you take, leadeth unto destruction? turn ye therefore, turn ye back again, for there is a Christ behind you: O turn ye; for if ye go on in your sins, you perish for ever.

[ 4] Fourthly, here is a yearning promise made unto the world, in the end of the 23. verse; Lo, I will poure out my spirit upon you, and cause you to under∣stand my words. As if he should say, return back again with me, and you shall have better welcome then you can possibly have, if you go on in your sins: the Devill will never let you gain so much by your living in your lusts, as you shall do by

repentance for them, and forsaking of them. For behold, I will poure out my spirit upon you, whereby you shall be far greater gainers, then you shall be by your sins.

[ 5] Fifthly, here is a grievous threatning against the world, even all those that have loytered out the day of grace. As time and tyde stayes for no man, no more doth the day of grace: Because I have called, and you refused; I have exhorted, but you have not regarded; I have denounced judgements against you for your sins, but you have harned your hearts; now a day of woe and misery shall come upon you, a time of vengeance and deso∣lation shall over-take you; there will a day come wherein there will be weeping, and crying Mer∣cie (Lord) mercy; but I tell you beforehand what you shall trust to: let this be your lesson, now I call, and you will not hear; now I stretch out my hands, but you will not regard: you shall seek•• me early, but you shall not find me: and shall crie, but you shall not be heard.

The words are a thunderclap against all those that procrastinate their repentance, and returning home unto God, wherein note, [ 1] first, the parties themselves that do prolong this time of grace, they: that is, they who when God cals on them, will not hear; when God invites them by his mer∣cies, patience, and forbearance, by his Ministers and servants, by his corrections and judgements, by all fair means and foul means, yet withstand the means of grace: they are the men, they shall call, but God will not answer.

[ 2] Secondly, here is their seeking after God; they shall call upon me.

[ 3] Thirdly, here is their earnest and diligent see∣king unto God; they shall not onely call, but seek to, and not onely seek, but seek as to labour to find: nay they shall seek me early▪ even strive to goe about it with all haste, and flie to repen∣tance, but they shall not find me.

[ 4] Fourthly, here is the unseasonablenesse of the time of their seeking, then: that is a demonstra∣tive, then; even a time which the Lord points at: as if he should say, you shall see then these men will be of another mind, then they will be glad to be converted then they will be glad to come out of their sins, then they will be glad to get grace, and seek reconciliation with God: but alas! they saw not this then, but God foresaw it well enough; then shall they call, but I will not an∣swer, they shall seek me early, but they shall not finde me.

[ 5] Lastly, here is the frustration of their hope, which hath two things in it. First, in regard of their selves, in regard of the slaw of their seek∣ing, it being not aright. Secondly, in regard of the ••ustice of God, who rewards every man ac∣cording to his works. But I will not hear them. Whence observe this point of Doctrine.

[Dect. 1] Those that will not hear God when he calleth them; God will not hear them, when they call upon him. Those that will not hear the Lord when he calleth upon them by the ministery of his Word, and voice of his Spirit, the Lord will

not hear them, when in their misery they call upon him.

Thus the Lord dealt with the people in Eze∣kiels dayes; the Lord called them to repentance and obedience: but when they stood out, and neglected the opportunity of grace, and seasons of conversion, see how God deals with them: though they cry in mine eares with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them (saith the Lord.) When men have gone beyond the time of Gods mercie, and out-rowed the tide of Gods forbearance, and will not return, the Lord sets it down with him∣self, that his wrath shall return upon them, he will no longer forbear: they had a time where∣in the Lord did pitie them, and offered grace and mercie unto them, but they neglecting this season, and withstanding this proffer of grace, God resolves with himself they shall never have it again. There was a time wherein God did pitie them, but now he will not pitie them any more; twenty five yeers he called unto them▪ and sought to bring them home; but because they stood out and refused, the Lord saith, I will love Ephraim no more.

Beloved, there is a double day, a white day, and a black day; there is a day of salvation; Isa. 49.9 this is the day in the which the Lord said to the prisoners, Come forth: and to those that lie in their sins, repent and beleeve. Now if any man will come forth and humble his soul before the Lord, let him come and welcome, for it is a day of salvation. But there is another day of

damnation, which is a dark day, a black and a duskie day, wherein the Lord will visit the sins of the world, and revenge the quarrell of his Covenant. Hos. 9.7, The day of visitation is come, yea the day of recompence; the people shall know it; the Prophet is a foole, and the spirituall man is mad. Beloved, we are fools, and all the spirituall men under heaven are mad, that lay not this day to heart. For the day of the Lord is a day of visi∣tation, and all the world shall rue it, though now men sleepe in security. If once mercy be re∣jected, and God turn away his eare from a man, then grace shall be no more, the doore of life shall for ever be shut up against him: and when once this day comes, he hath lost his own peace, and deprived himself of eternall happinesse.

[Reas 1] Now there are three reasons of this point; the first is the law of retaliation, of rendring like for like, which is the justest law that can be made with man, for to give unto every man according to his works, to make him take such as he brings, (as the Heathen call it) to give a man quid for quo. Now if God call upon thee, and thou wilt not hear; it is righteousnesse with God, yea equity with God (that is more) that when thou callest on him, he should not heare thee. For thus runs the tenor of Gods Word, Prov. 28.9 He that turns away his eare from hear∣ing the Law▪ even his prayers shall be abominable. He that turns away his eare from Gods Law, God wi••l turn away his eare from his prayer. He that turns, it is spoken in the present tense, that

is, he that now turns away his eare, his prayer shall be abominable (in the future tense) that is, the Lord marks what master or servant, what fa∣ther or mother, what husband or wife, what man or woman it is, that turns away the eare of his head, or the eare of his heart, from hearing his will, and obeying of his Commandments, the Lord takes speciall notice of it, and sets it down in his Calender, and records it in his Memoriall; keeping a strict account thereof: as if God should say, Well, is it so? I now call, and will not this man or that woman answer? Do I now stretch out my hands, and will not they take care to o∣bey me? Well, let them alone (saith God) there is a day coming, that I shall be a hearing of them; times of sorrow and misery will take hold of them, and then they in their afflictions will cry unto me, but I will not hear; they will begge for mercy, but I will not regard: they will seek me early, but they shall not find me.

It was one of the Articles of high Treason brought in against Cardinall Woolsey, that he had the pox, and a stinking breath, and yet durst come into the Kings presence: So it will be an Article against thee of high treason before the King of heaven, if thou come into his presence with the stinking breath of thy sins, living in thy lusts, and wallowing in thy silthinesse, all thy prayers are but as so many stinking breaths in the nostrils of the Lord, and every duty that thou performest unto the Lord, shall be as so many Articles of high treason against thee, for to condemne thee,

because thou livest in rebellion, and a Traitour against God.

His prayer shall be abominable: he doth not say, I will turn away mine eare from hearing his prayer, which turns away his eare from hearing my Law, (that is the true exposition of the words) no, like for like is sometimes in justice: for if a man should strike a Magistrate a box on the eare, it were not justice for him to give him another: for it is a greater sin to strike a Magi∣strate, then any other common person; and ther∣fore a greater punishment the Law requireth: So God doth not say, he will turn away his eare from hearing his prayer, but will serve him in a worse kind, he will count it abominable, yea abomination, (in the abstract) it shall be loath∣some, yea loathsomnesse it self in the worst manner. Galat. 6. As a man soweth, so shall he reap: if thou sowe sparingly, thou shalt reap sparingly: if thou sowe a dull eare to Gods Word, thou shalt reap a dull eare from God to thy prayer: for God will reward every man according to his works.

[Reas 2] Secondly, because of the time of Gods attri∣butes: both mercy and justice have their season in this life; and when mercie hath acted her part, then commeth justice upon the stage, and acteth her part; so that God will have his attri∣butes manifested to all the sons of men, yea to the face of the whole world. There is no market, nor Fayre day that lasteth alwayes: if the coun∣trey will not come in, the Tradesmen will put

up their wares, and be gone: but if they come in time, they may have a peniworth: otherwise if they come too late, they will find none. For the Merchant will not alwayes dwell in tents, but away he goeth, and will not stay for them. Be∣loved, Gods standing is now open, and his shop set wide unto the sons of men; if men will not come in, cheapen and by without money, whiles God offers his wares, he will put them up and be gone. For the Merchant will not lose his wares, which he should do, if he should al∣wayes remain in the open ayre with them; if he alwayes continue in the fields expecting custo∣mers, his wares would spoyl and rot. So it is with God, how many sweet counsels doth he lose? how many sweet exhortations? how ma∣ny blessed Sermons, and holy Sacraments, and Sabbaths, doth he lose? how many checks of conscience? how many dayes of grace, and mo∣tions of his spirit have been squandred away in vain? do you think that God wil lose all these; and let them rot upon the stall, with staying for you? No, no: the day of grace and mercie will have an end, and grace and mercie will have an end; and then the day of wrath and vengeance will step up. To day if you will hear his voice, then barden not your hearts: then they hardened their hearts, and would not be led by Gods mercies to forsake their sins; Therefore he swa••e in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest. If it be so with you as it was with Israel in the wilder∣nesse, in the day of temptation, you do not

know but that your sinnes may now begin to pluck vengeance upon you. I tell you, if you harden your hearts this day, you do not know but this very day the Lord may clap an oath up∣on your heads, that you shall never enter into his rest. For one and the selfe-same occasion lasts not alwayes: as every day is not a Market day, nor every week in the yeare a Faire week, nor every season in the yeare a time of Spring or harvest; so every day of a mans life may not claime to be the day of grace. Therefore if a man fore-slow it, now he fore-sloweth his own happinesse, and putteth off his owne peace for ever.

Excellent is that annotation of Gregory on Job 27.9. Will God heare his cry when trouble commeth upon him? Beloved, now Gods patience is troubled, wilt not thou repent? Now Gods Spirit is troubled, wilt not thou obey? Now Gods Justice is troubled, wilt thou not relent? Now Gods Word is troubled, wilt thou refuse to hearken? Will God heare his cry? He speaketh interrogatively, as if he should say, Art thou so mad, so vaine, so foolish, to promise to thy selfe being an hypocrite, that God will hear thy prayer? Oh no, then justice cometh to take place.

[Reas 3] Thirdly, it is Gods use to doe so in other things, even upon the contempt of temporall blessings; and therefore much more in matters of grace and salvation. Thus God promised to give Israel the Land of Canaan, Num. 12.22. but

the text saith, They tempted God ten times, that is, (as some Expositors expound it) many times; or (as others) ten severall times. But what ever the meaning of the text be, certainly it was very many times; so long, til at last he sware in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest. Beloved, though there be many a hot swearer that regards not an oath; yet certainly if the Lord sweare, we may beleeve him: the Word of God is as strong as oaths: if he say it upon his word, wee are bound to beleeve it: how much more then, when he confirmes it with an oath? Therefore if the Lord sweare thou shalt not, how darest thou, how canst thou hope or think ever to enter into his rest? This was almost fourty yeares before he died, that the Lord made this oath against them: and God knowes how many thousands of them fel short, not only of the land of Canaan, but also of the Kingdome of heaven.

So God took Ismael an hundred and seventeen yeares before he died: twenty yeares God offe∣red him grace and repentance, but he would not take warning; a mocker he was, and a mocker he would be: for he mocked Isaac when he was a child of six yeares old; and no meanes would reclaim him, before he heard the voice, Cast out the bond-woman and her sonne: Out with him, (saith God) for he shall never be heire with my sonne: this was an hundred and seventeen years before Ismaels death.

And so God took Saul, five and thirty, or six and thirty yeares before he died, according to

Josephus Chronology, (if it bee true); how∣soever, hee took him divers yeares before his death: for so the Scripture makes it plain, 1. Sam. 15.20. The strength of Israel will not lie, nor repent: for he is not a man that hee should repent. Therefore because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord also hath rejected thee from being a King. And do not think that thou by thy prayers, and crying God mercie, canst ever alter him: for his councell is immutable, and hee is strong in his decree, and cannot change. Hither∣to Grace and Mercie have been offered thee, which if thou hadst embraced, thou mightst have found mercy from the Lord, and the Kingdome should have been established and confirmed un∣to thee: but now it is too late: for the strength of Israel cannot lie.

God took Esau fiftie yeares before his death: for so long he lived, after he sought the blessing with teares: but he was a hunting when God was a calling: he was following his prophane∣nesse when God was wooing him to repentance. At last when he called for repentance, and sought it earnestly, yea his soule was carefull for to get it; yet he could never obtaine it, though hee sought it earnestly with teares fiftie yeares before he died.

Now if the Lord so severely punish contempt of temporall blessings, O how will he punish the contempt of proffers of grace and salvati∣on! I tell you God will be more strict in re∣venging of this sinne, then of any other sinne:

he will come with Martiall law against all those that contemne his Gospell, Joh. 3.18. He that be∣leeveth not, is condemned already. Doth Christ preach repentance and salvation, and the King∣dome of God; and wilt thou not repent and be∣leeve? Martiall Law (beloved) martiall Law, hang him up; for he is condemned already. Even like a souldier that rebels against his General, & forsakes his Colours, they doe not cast him into prison, and stay for the Assizes, or Sessions, but give him Martiall Law, even hang him up: So if the Lord sound his Gospell in thine eares, and of∣fers thee conditions of peace, knocking at the doore of thy heart by his Spirit, and thou refuse to open to him, thou art condemned already: for the Strength of Israel cannot lie, nor repent. Oh therefore take heed now whiles his word sounds in thine eares, while his Spirit secretly whis∣pers in thy heart to thee, open to him, for else thou art condemned for ever.

Take notice then, that God doth commonly give men a day, and no man or Angel doth know how long this day lasteth. To some it lasteth to their last gasp; to some, to their old age; and to some, it is cut off in their childhood. God gave the Angels a day, the which because they negle∣cted, they are reserved in chains of darknesse un∣till the great judgement day. God gave Cain a day, Genes. 4. During all the time of this day, though Cain sinned again and again, and went on in his sinnes a great while, yet he heard nothing but a still voice, If thou do well Cain, shalt thou not

be accepted? but if thou dost ill, sinne lieth at the doore. But when no meanes will prevaile, but Cain will go on adding sinne to sinne, and mur∣der unto all the rest of his sinnes, and so let go the season of mercy, the Lords tells him from heaven, that the day of grace is past, the gate of mercy is shut against thee: for thou art now accur∣sed from the earth. As if the Lord should say, Be∣fore I gave thee a day of salvation, and offered thee mercy, but thou wouldst not accept of it; but now I have clapt a curse upon thy soul, that thou shalt never claw off. So God gave Nine∣veh a day to repent, Jona. 3. Yet forty dayes and Nineveh shall be destroyed. God gave the Fig∣tree a day, even three yeares, before he would have it cut down. God gave the old World a day of an hundred and twenty yeares; during this time God sent unto them Noah, a Preacher of righteousnes, to call upon them to repent, and so set it down also, that his Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man, but his time shall be an hundred and twenty yeares: yet one writes, that the Lord cut off twenty of the hundred and twenty yeares, be∣cause of their iniquities, which were so grievous, and provoked him so much, that they hasted him to come before he would have done. In all this space if they had repented, they should have found mercy from the Lord: but when this time was gone, and the day of grace was out, the De∣luge came in upon them, and God by his judg∣ments overthrew the whole World.

[Object.] You my ask me when this day or season of grace doth end, or cease.

[Answ.] I answer, that neither men nor Angels can tell; but this I say, it may be yet this day of grace lasteth unto thee, now it may bee God speaketh whom to thy soul, now it may be God warms thy heart, and givs thee good purposes & resolutions: now it may be the Lord Jesus pas∣seth by thee in a good thought and desire; lay hold on it, for thy day may cease this very night, for ought thou knowest. Luke 17.22. The time shall come (saith Christ) when you shall desire to see one of the dayes of the Sonne of man, and shall not see it. Now is the day of Christ upon you, now is Christ offering and preaching himself to you: but if you let this day passe, thou mayst desire to have one of the drops of that bloud that hath been offered to thee, and yet never have it: thou mayst desire to feele one rap of that Spirit that hath knockt at thy heart, and yet goe with∣out it: thou maist intreat for one dram of that mercy that hath been offered, and thou hast re∣jected, but it shall never be granted to thee: God may clap that fearfull sentence upon thee, Now henceforth never grow fruit more on thee, never re∣pentance come into thy heart more. If now thou wilt not repent and be converted, the Lord may set it down in his decree from this day for∣ward, that thou mayst fumble about thy sinnes, but shalt never get victory over them: thou mayest ever bee mourning for thy corruptions, but never mourne aright for them: thou mayest blunder about repentance, but never doe the work.

Ezekiel 24.23. You shall not mourne nor weep, but you shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one towards another. There is many a soule for contemning of God, and not taking up repen∣tance while they may have it, this plague of God is come upon them, that they are ever repen∣ting, and are never able to repent, ever poring upon their sinnes, but never able to come out of them; they pray and pray against them, but their prayers moulder away under them: for they shall pine away for their iniquities. What is the reason? he showeth in the 13. verse: Because I would have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged any more. Because I gave thee line upon line, precept upon precept, motion up∣on motion, Sacrament upon Sacrament, Sabbath upon Sabbath, and Ordinance upon Ordinance, because I used all fair meanes and foul meanes, I awaked thy conscience, and stirred up the mo∣tions of grace in thee; but because I would have cleansed thee, and thou wast not cleansed, thou shalt never be cleansed. A fearfull sentence it is, if mens hearts were soundly opened to consider rightly of it.

And as there is a personall day, so there is a nationall day; if the Nation turne unto God du∣ring that time, then that nation shall find mercy; but if they neglect that day, then God will hide those things from their eyes that belong to their peace, as Christ saith of Jerusalem, Luke 19.42. O Jerusalem, if that thou hadst known in this thy day, those things that did belong to thy peace! but now

they are hid from thine eyes: in this thy day; if thou hadst known it during that day, it had been hap∣py for thee; but now the day of grace is gone, the Lord hath concealed it from thee, and thou shalt never perceive it any more.

Some mens day of grace God endeth even in their very childhood; therefore if there be any little ones, any children here in this congrega∣tion, that are of age to know what belongs unto an exhortation, to them I speak, that they take heed how they rebell against the commandment of a father or a mother, or master, against the teaching of Gods Word, for though you be chil∣dren, yet God may inflict judgements upon your heads; for not only the day of grace, but also the day of life may be cut off from children, as 2 Kings 2.24. Four and twenty children were torn in peeces for mocking the Lords Prophet. Some mens day of grace is not shut up untill their youth, some not untill their old age, some not untill they are a dying; and if they refuse then, they are alike, yea sure to perish for ever; I know the day of grace may have several returns, but at last Gods Exchequer will be finally shut up.

[Object.] May not a man be called at the eleventh or twelfth hour of the day? The day of grace lasteth alwayes; and doth not the Apostle call the day of life the day of grace? 2 Cor. 6.2.

[Answ.] Is it true, the Lord calleth men at the ele∣venth and twelfth hour; but yet, look and you shall see in the twentieth of Matthew, that they

were not called at the first houre, nor at the se∣cond nor third houre, nor at the sixth and ninth houre, i. he doth not say he found the same men that he found at the first, and third, sixth and ninth houres, but he saw others standing idle: No, those that were called at the first houre, came in at the first houre; and they that were called at the third houre, came in at the third houre; and they that were called at the sixth and ninth houre, came in at the sixth and ninth houre. Well, doth God call thee in thy childhood, in thy youth, or in thy middle age, now at the first or sixth, or ninth houre, now come in and labour in Gods Vineyard, and worke out your salvation with feare and trembling, and make use of the sea∣son of grace, now whiles it is upon you: for if thou be called the first houre, the sixth is for a∣nother, and not for thee; if thou be called the sixth houre, the ninth houre is for others and not for thee; if thou be called the ninth houre, the eleventh houre is for others and not for thee; The Text saith, He came and found others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them, Why stand yee here idle? And they say unto him, No man hath hired us; as if they should say, We never had any means of salvation, we have had no Ministers to preach unto us; but now God calls upon thee to come in, this is thy houre, look unto it. If God call thee, see thou come in, whether it be at the first or third houre, at the six or ninth houre, lest the Lord in his wrath clap bardnesse of heart up∣on thy soul.

[Object.] But you will say, that the day of life, and the day of grace are parallel'd and likened one to a∣nother; and therefore there is hope so long as a man remaines in the Congregation of the li∣ving.

[Answ.] I answer, it is true indeed, that the day of grace lasteth so long as the day of life: 1. In regard of others, for others are so to esteeme of it, the Minister is to look to his people, as to a people to be conver∣ted as long as they live.

2. In regard of a mans owne selfe, he is so bound to beleeve, for the commandment of faith standeth in force on a man, so long as he liveth, and there∣fore infidelity and despaire cease not to be sins, till a man is actually in hell; when he is in hell, then they are no sins, because then he is not com∣manded to beleeve, but are part of the punishment of the damned; but whilst a man lives it is a sinne, for men are now bound to lay hold upon Christ and to beleeve, at what houre of their life soever.

3. It may be said to last all a mans life long, be∣cause it is bounded within the compasse of life: for no man hath a day of grace after this life.

But what is the meaning of all those Scriptures which show how God doth deliver up men unto the Spirit of giddinesse, and unto the Spirit of slum∣ber? And what means the hardning of mens hearts, and searing of mens consciences, but only to show that the day of grace may end unto a particular man, ten, twenty, thirty, nay forty yeeres before his death.

1. Because God may harden a mans heart, Jerem. 13.10. and deale with them as with Is∣rael in the Rock, so shut up their hearts, that they shall never melt at any Sermon, never be wrought upon by any judgement, God having closed them up in a rocky heart, that he saith of them, Can the Blockmore change his skin, or the Leo∣pard his spots? then may they do good that are ac∣customed to do evill. The blacknesse of the Black∣more is only in the out-side of the skin, yet all the Art under the heavens cannot blot it out: So if once hardnesse possesse thy soule, all the prea∣ching of the Ministers, and all the means of grace in the world can never bring it unto that frame and temper, as to make it melt under the hand of God; I tell thee, thou that usest to come un∣to Sermons day after day, and refusest to re∣pent, living still in thy sinnes, there is no ham∣mer nor beetle in the world more hard then thy heart: as those men and women that sit under the preaching of the Word, and hear the do∣ctrine of life, like raine from above, beating and knocking on their consciences, and on their hearts, to awaken them out of their sinnes, and yet notwitstanding will not repent at last, they prove to be deafe Adders, that stop their eares a∣gainst the Word, charme the Charmer never so wisely.

2. God may seare mens consciences; Doth thy conscience tell thee that thou art a luke∣warmling, and wilt thou not be reformed? Doth thy conscience tell thee that thy prayers and all

thy religion is rotten and unsound, and that thy repentance is hypocriticall and naught; and that for all thy vaine hopes, thou art but a dissem∣bler, and yet remainest in thy sinnes, and wilt thou not be bettered hereby? Take heed; for that man that runns on in sinne against the voice of his own conscience, that man sinnes the sinne of Saul, 1 Sam. 13.8. God bid him stay se∣ven dayes untill Samuel came: Saul stayes full seven dayes within one houre; at last his lust be∣gan to bawl: What? shall I stay for a Prophet thus long? Stay, sayes his conscience; Why? (sayes Saul) I waited for him so long, even seven dayes lacking but one houre. Stay (saith God to his conscience) for the Word of God bids thee stay so long: he stayed one day, and two dayes, and six dayes, and seven dayes but one houre; Stay (saith his conscience:) no, hee would not; but I forced my selfe, (saith the Text) as if hee should say, I hardened my heart to do it, though the word of the Lord, & my own conscience bid me stay and not do it, yet I forced my selfe to do it: What was this mans sinne! Was it his of∣fering of Sacrifice, and calling upon God by prayer? No, the Lord commands us to call up∣on him in time of distresse; and being comman∣ded, it was lawfull. Was it his sinne to meddle with the Priests office? No: for he did but ap∣point the Sacrifice, the Priest offered it. What? was it the breaking of one houres time? No: for he had sinned more against God then so: but this was his sinne, that he went against his own con∣science,

when God stood in the way, when con∣science stood in the way; conscience said stay, but he would not stay: God bid him stay, but he would not stay. And this is the sinne of many thousands amongsts us; mens consciences tel them that they must not be drunkards, mens conscien∣ces tell them that they must not be worldlings, they must not be swearers, they must not be luke-warme professors, they must pray better then they do, and have other faith then yet they have, if e∣ver they meane to be saved; wilt thou yet against thy conscience force thy selfe to go on in thy sins from day to day, and never be reformed? take heed lest the Lord be provoked to set thy sun up∣on thy head, and shut up thy heart, and tonclude thy eternall destruction.

[Object.] Suppose I go on in my sinnes, and follow my wic∣ked courses now; what if I seek him hereafter, and humble my soule before him with fasting and prayer, and when I lie upon my death-bed, I send a ticket unto my Minister to pray for me, will all this do me no good?

[Answ.] Surely no, (saith God, Jerem. 15.1.) Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my affections could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight. Dost thou lie sick upon thy death-bed? were Samuel, Job, or Daniel the Minister of thy Parish, and thou shouldst send thy ticket un∣to them, desiring them to remember thee in their prayers; if Noah stood in the Pulpit, and Job and Daniel were here before the Lord for to plead for thee, yet he would not hear thee.

[Object.] But, suppose I humble my self by fasting and prayer, will not God hear that.

[Answ.] No if thou neglect the day of grace. Jer. 14.12. when they fast. I will not hear them: and when they offer oblations, I will not accept their cry: but I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pe∣stilence. You may set up your fastings, prayers, and humiliations, you may lament and mourne, and pine away your selves in your sins; but it is not all your prayers and fastings, it is not all your lamentation and mourning, that will do you good, so long as the counsell of the Lord is rejected. Because I called, and ye would not answer; therefore you shall call, but I will not hear: they thought that the Lords eares would alwayes be open, and that when they called the Lord would have answered▪ and that the day of grace would ever remain; but God saith, I will not hear them: they would never have sought if they thought the Lord would not hear them, but all their seek∣ing was in vain.

[Object.] You will say, at what time soever a sinner re∣penteth he shall have mercy.

[Answ.] It is true, if thou repent from the bottome of thy heart, but thou maiest come with many a degree of repentance, and yet never repent whilest thou livest: if thou repent from thy heart, and root out thy sins, then God will put away thy sins; but thou maiest go on in repentance and calling upon God, and performing many duties of Re∣ligion, and yet be hardned; look how much Re∣ligion will stand with self-love, so much thou

maiest have after the day of grace is gone. Selfe-love may make a man flie to prayer, and run after Sermons, and go on in many holy duties, and give over many sins; look how far self-love may drive thee unto holy duties, so far thou maist go, and yet notwithstanding remaine hardned. O therefore let us not delay, nor put off the time of grace, nor let go salvation while it may be had; then shall they call, but I will not answer: he doth not set down when this time is; it may be it is now, it may be not this seven yeers, it may be not till thy death.

[Doct. 2] Doctr. It may be, this very day, even this very Sermon, this very houre may be thy day that art now in thy sinnes, that if thou repent not at this very one Sermon▪ thou neglectest eternall life for ever; lose the benefit of this Sermon at this time, and thou maiest lose eternall salvation, and never have it more. The thiefe that robd this day, how doth he know but this one robbery may bring him to the gallows? So the man that sins this day, how doth he know but that this very dayes work may bring him to hell? Deut. 32.35. To God belongs vengeance: their feete shall slide in due time. Therefore if a man sin against him, he may stand to day, and to morrow, and many dayes; but when the due time comes, even the time which God hath set, then up goes his heels, he shall slide and break his neck: thy houre-glasse runs in heaven, and thou seest not when the sand comes to the bottome, but when tis out, then down thou goest to hell for ever.

There was one resolved to kill Julius Caesar such a day; the night before, a friend sent him a letter to acquaint him with it: but being at sup∣per, and busie, I will not look upon it now, (saith he) to morrow is a new day. The next day when he should have read his letter, he was stabd; Whence this Proverb came in Greece, To morrow is a new day. God sends thee a letter and a message from heaven to day; hear his voice to day, repent and come out of your sins, or for ever to hell; to day be converted and sanctified, or for ever be hardned. Dost thou refuse to bear∣ken to day, and puttest it off untill to morrow? it may be to morrow may be a day of Gods wrath, and then thou maiest be hardned, seared, and bound over unto the great day of Gods ven∣geance: to morrow God may set the decree up∣on thy soul, that thou shalt never repent. There∣fore if thou refuse this, thou refusest all; for what knowest thou, but this very day may be thy day?

[Reas 1] The reason is, because Gods patience is in his own brest; and who can tell how long it will last? Hast thou Momus his glasse-window, to look into Gods secret counsell? hast thou a key∣hole to look into Gods treasurie? canst thou stand on tiptoe, to look over Gods shoulder, to look into Gods decree, to see how long his patience will last? It may be God hath suffered thee till this day, thou art guilty of ten thousand sinnes, and yet he is patient towards thee; God hath stayed thus long for thee, that hast sworne

I know not how many oaths, God hath born thus long with thee that hast told I know not how many lies, prophaned I know not how many Sabbaths contemned I know not how ma∣ny ordinances, and sleighted I know not how many judgements, yet Gods patience is in his own brest, it is the long sufferance of God. Thou mayest say, I would fain have it to morrow, and this seven yeers, but alas, it is his long sufferance and not thine: and how dost thou know when he will conclude it? it may be this day as well as to morrow. Joel 2.13. Rent your hearts, and not your garments, (saith the Prophet) for the Lord he is gracious, and mercifull. This word [for] hath a great deal of force in it: First, It is a descriptivum [for:] for he is gracious and a mercifull God: therefore rent thy heart, and let thy soul burst within thee, that thou hast sinned against him: for he is a mercifull God, and it may be he will pardon all thy sins, and heal all thy rebellions committed against him.

Secondly, it is an upbraiding [for:] upbraid∣ing thee for thy sins: rent thy heart therefore, why? he is a patient God; wilt thou goe on in thy sins against such a patient God? and rebel against such a loving Father▪ that hath loved thee with so much compassion? Rent thy heart, for he is patient.

Thirdly, it is a comforting and incouraging [for:] rent thy heart for there is incourage∣ment for thee to repent, give over thy sins, and go to the throne of grace. For there is much

mercie to welcome thee, and great patience for to bid thee come home, and abundance of grace for to incourage thee: therefore rent thy heart and come home unto the Lord, for he is patient and long-suffering.

Fourthly, it is a forewarning [for:] rent your hearts, for the Lord is gracious and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse; yet his mercie lasteth, yet his patience endureth, yet hee hath all his attributes, and yet he is pleased to manifest the same, still tendring grace and mer∣cie unto thee. Oh turn unto him, while these en∣dure, or else thou shalt perish for ever.

Fifthly, it is a threatning [for;] now he is gracious, now he is mercifull, but his mercy will end, his patience will end, and then if thou hast not rent thy heart before, it will be too late then. Therefore as ever thou lovest thine own soule, now rent thy heart and turn unto God.

It is Gods own proclamation; The Lord the Lord, slow to anger, and of great mercie, forgiving iniquity and sin. Yea what man soever it be, that humbles his soule before him he shall find grace and mercie with him; yea abundance of mercie, pardoning iniquity, transgression and sinne; yea any thing: Let but a soul come prostrate before him, humbling his soule, he will pardon his sin. But as it followeth in the words; He will by no means clear the guiltie; if notwithstanding all Gods patience and mercie, thou go on in thy sins, the Lord will never forgive thee, but will visit thy sinnes upon thee unto the third and

fourth generations, because thou hast withstood the day of grace. Beloved, men run on in their sins, as if so be an Angel from heaven should cry unto them and tell them, yet God will be good unto them, yet God will show them mercie, and forbear them. Beloved, let your consciences an∣swer, if you ever heard the Lord God say to any of you, thus long I will forbear you. No, Gods patience is in his own breast, and therefore no man knows how long it will last.

[Reas 2] A second reason is, because Gods patience gi∣veth no marks or inklings of it, before it ends: commonly when God strikes a man with death, he giveth some signes of warnings of it before, as sicknesse, and pains, and gray hairs, and many sorrowes, &c. Now because thy life is in Gods hands, thou carest not for it, but venturest to go on in thy sinnes, hoping to have some warning, though thousands be cut off without it; but the day of grace may come to an end, and yet thou never have any inkling or warning of it before-hand: commonly when God strikes a man with death, he tells him of it before-hand by aches and pains, as if the Lord should say, Now thou shalt die, now will I take thee out of the world. But when the Lord taketh away the day of grace from a man, though the spirituall man may take some notice of it, yet there is no sensible appa∣rition of it, but after the day of grace is set upon a man, he may be as strong and lustie as before, he may come to Church as well after as before, performe religious duties, and do many good

things, as well after as before; as Saul went on in duties of Religion, as well after Samuel had pronounced the Lords doome upon him; how many times was he offering sacrifice unto the Lord after the Prophet told him, that he was a man rejected? how many good speeches came from him? as when Samuel met him, he salutes him with these words; Blessed be thou of the Lord, I pray thee turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. A man would have thought that Saul had been a good convert. No, no, before all this his judgement and doome was set upon him; God steals upon him and saies nothing; he claps his plague upon their souls, and holds his peace.

Isa. 42.14. I have a long time held my peace, I have been still, and refrained my selfe; now will I cry like a travelling woman, I will destroy, and devoure at once. The Lord shews here how he deals with men, they go on in their sins, but the Lord holds his peace; they provoke him every day, but the Lord refraines his anger: but now all at once his wrath breaketh forth upon them. Psal. 64.7. God will shoot an arrow at them suddenly, their stroke shall be at once. The Lord suddenly shoots a swift arrow at thee; no sooner it is shot, but it enters into thy bowels. When the Lord comes upon a man; he comes suddenly; when he ends the day of grace upon him, he doth it suddenly. He ended the day of grace on the Scribes and Pharisees even in the very Sermon time, while Christ was preaching unto them, they were de∣livered

up to hardnesse of heart: so many were delivered up to hardnesse of heart in the time of Hosea's prophecie, Hos. 4.17. Ephraim is joyned to idols; let him alone (saith God,) as if he should say, Sermon, let him alone; Preacher, let him a∣lone; Sirrit, let him alone; Christ, let him alone; Beloved, if we stand out against God, and reject the day of grace, the Lord may say. Word, let such a man alone, and never convert him; Christ, let such a man alone, and never redeem him; Spirit▪ let such a man alone, and never sanctifie him; Sacraments, let such a man alone, and never seal up any comforts unto him: a fearfull signe that men are come to this houre, do we not see that men come to the Word, and the Word lets them alone in their sins? do not men come to the Sacrament, and the Sacrament leaves them still in their filthinesse? men come unto good duties, but good duties let them alone, and do them no good: and this is the condition of many thou∣sands in the world. Therefore oh think upon this you that have made a league with your sins, and an agreement with hell: hear this delivered to you this day, that the day of grace may be ended, and God may come and clap his curse up∣on men, and never give them any inkling of it at all.

[Reas 3] A third reason is, because God reckons upon every houre, if God kept not a strict account of time, how many Sermons▪ you have had, how many mercies you have injoyed, how many crosses he hath warned you by: if God kept not a

true tale and account of every houres time; you might rub on many dayes, and moneths, and yeers, and spend much time in fulfilling of your lusts; but God keepeth a reckoning of these things, yea of every houre, and of every minute. Acts 17.30. The times of ignorance God regarded not; but now he admonisheth all men to repent. Alas, when men live in their sins through blindnesse and ignorance, and know not God, the Lord takes no such strict notice of them, but lets them go on longer and longer; but when the Lord sends them his Word and Gospel, and affords them the means of grace, he doth the more strictly look unto them, and takes the more ex∣act account of them; before they had the means of grace, the Lord winked at them, and did not so narrowly watch them: but looked over mens igonrance, (as the originall hath it) but now God sends his Word and Gospel, he admonisheth all men to repent, he winks at never an houre, but sets down how oft thou hast had exhortation from thy Minister, how often thou hast had war∣ning by sicknesse and aflictions, how often thou hast had checks from thine owne conscience, how many admonitions thou hast had from thy friends, how many times thou hast had the sound of the Gospel to sound in thy eares to bring thee home unto God, John 2.7.11. This is the first beginning of miracles that Jesus did. John 4.58. This is the second miracle that Jesus did, saith the Text, God sets down this, is the first, this is the second time: This is the second Epistle I wrote to

you, saith Paul. Oh this is the third time I wrote unto you, 2 Cor. 13. that when I come I will not spare: so God sets it downe in his catalogue, this is the first time that I have warned this man, this is the second time, this is the third time, that when I come I will not spare; the Lord accounts how long he hath sought unto thee, and intreat∣ed thee by his mercies, how long he hath allured thee by his word, how long he hath warned thee by his judgements, how oft he hath smote thy heart with fears, and thy conscience with ter∣rors. Now if for all this thou wilt not return, just is it with God to cast thee down to hell for ever.

[Reas 4] The fourth Reason, and last: it is a wonder that the day of grace is not ended already, and that thou art not now in hell. When a thing in this kind is looked for to be done, it is a wonder that it is not done: It is a wonderfull mercie of God unto this Kingdome that yet the day of grace is continued amongst us, in regard of our long fear and expectation of the contrary. For from the highest to the lowest we have highly revolted more and more, & provoked God to his very face. What contempt of Gods word? what neglect of Gods Ordinances? what prophanation of Gods Sabbaths? what scoffing and deriding of Gods servants? how doth wickednesse and propha∣nesse stand up in the highest roome, climb up in∣to the highest chambers? But as a whore con∣demned to die being with child, is repreived for a time, untill her child be brought forth: so this

Land hath gone a whoring from God, yet so long as God hath some children to be brought forth, which are not yet come unto the birth, he lets his grace and Gospel continue untill these children be brought forth. Therefore now (be∣loved) if we stick at the birth and come not forth, a hundred to one but we shall miscarry.

When Christ comes first to thy soule, he wit∣nesseth grace and mercy to thee, if thou wilt re∣pent and amend; yea he witnesseth forgivenesse of sins, redemption and salvation, if thou wilt beleeve; but if not, he will be a swift witnesse a∣gainst thee, Malachi 3.5. if thou continue and goest on in thy sins: Agree with thine adversary, while thou art in the way quickly, Matth. 5.25. Now God is in the way with thee, Christ and his Spi∣rit are in the way with thee; thou needest not now say, who shall go up to heaven and bring downe the Spirit to thee; Christs Spirit is now knocking at thy heart, and now God offers his mercy to thee, now thou art in the way, now he calls unto thee to accept of his mercie, now hee commands thee to take Christ, now hear him cal∣ing to thy heart, now he tenders grace unto thee, imbrace it: now receive Christ and make up thy peace with him: remember the saying of the A∣postle, 2 Corinth. 13.5. Examine your selves whe∣ther you be in the faith; prove your selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates? As if the Astostle should say, I have been an Apostle to you this yeer and half, I have preached thus and thus long

unto you, I have wrote one Epistle to you to reforme those abuses that were among you, and now I write this second Epistle, to declare the whole will and counsell of God to you. Now cast up your reckoning, examine your selves, and make up your account: see if you have gain∣ed Christ. O, I have Christ, (saith one) I have Christ, (saith another.) I, but prove it, saith the Apostle, and try your selves: know ye not that by this time Christ is in you, or else you be repro∣bates? As if he should say, if yet Christ be not in you, and grace wrought in your hearts, if yet you lie festring in your sins, and go on in your wicked wayes, it is to be feared you are repro∣bates: either you or we are reprobates, you for not obeying, or wee for not delivering the truth of God unto you: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates: verse 6. God for∣bid that this word should be ever spoken unto any soule in this Congregation: but this let mee say, is there any man here that goes on in his lusts, and in his carnall course of life, in pride, security, hardnesse of heart, and impenitencie, that hath not the soundnesse of grace? he hath a fearfull signe and brand of a reprobate, whose conscience is stifled: it is a fearfull signe, if he be not a reprobate before God, yet he is one that is not approved, but for the present in a wretch∣ed and miserable condition. Now is the time of grace wherein God hath spoken to your souls, remember that vengeance that is coming to∣wards you if it be rejected; now the Lords fat∣lings

are ready; his Oxen, and Sheep are slain, and laid upon the board; Christ is sacrificed, and his blood is shed, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is tendered to you; you that have grace, get more grace; you that have no grace, get grace and Christ, and take heed of neglecting any oppor∣tunity of grace, for that may come unto thee in one hour, that will never come againe.

FINIS.