Now or never: work out your salvation with fear and trembling; or, A serious exhortation to all poor sinners to lay hold upon Christ Jesus who is the fountain of all happiness, and who is the onely rock from whence doth spring all their comforts. Herein is also laid down several motives declaring the necessity of this work, that it ought not to be put off for to morrow; bnt [sic] that every poor sinner should strive to enter in at the strait gate now, while he hath an opportunity in his hand, lest he be snatcht away by death, and then it will be too late. The third edition, with additions. By B.R.

NOW or NEVER.

Heb. 3. from the 7^th to the 16^th verse.

Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty yeers. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway erre in their hearts, and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath: They shal not enter into my rest.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called, To day, lest any of you be hardned through the de∣ceitfulness of sin. For we are made par∣takers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. Whilest it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

THese words of the Holy Apostle Paul, are a serious exhortation to all poor sinners

to lay hold on Christ Iesus; we are stirred up spéedily to believe in him; to day, while it is called to day, lest we by neglecting of this opportunity, and by our unbelief, do in∣cur a heavier and more sore judgement upon us, then hard-hearted Israel did, who grie∣ved Moses forty years together, and by rea∣son of their unbelief, ther did not enter into the rest that was promised them, but fell by the way of the wilderness.

Now then, poor sinners, I would in this small Treatise, endeavor to stir you up to lay held upon Christ Iesus, who is the Fountain of all our happiness, who is the Well-head from whence doth spring all our spiritual and temporal enjoyments: and the more earnestly to encourage you to lay hold on this your onely Supporter, I shall endeavor to lay down some Motives to stir you up to this work, and that it may be done spéedily, to day while it is called to day, I shall desire you to read the words of Solomon the wisest of men and best of Kings, as you will finde them written in the 9 of Ecclesiastes, 10 verse, the words are these, Whatsoever thy hand find∣eth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whether thou goest.

The principal aim of Solomon in these words, are to shew that men are mortal, and

that wisdom piety, and riches, and all the earthly enjoyments that a poor soul can have in this life, it will not exempt him from death, all our creature-comforts are but transitory; we are here to day, and in the grave to morrow, therefore we have little reason to set our affections on things that are parting from us, or otherwise we are par∣ting from them; but let us take the advice of the Apostle St. Paul, to set our affections on things above, and not on things that are beneath Before I come to lay down the M••∣tives to stir you to the work you are to do, I shall lay down this general observation, which is:

Doct. That the work of this life cannot be done after this life is ended; therefore while we have time in this life, we must use all diligence to make our calling and election sure: To day, while it is called to day, har∣den dot your hearts. This is the day, NOW or NEVER. There is no repentance in the grave, the grave hath no work, but heaven hath work, and hell hath suffering: Now then to incite you to this work, let me tell you

First, Know that time cannot be recalled, that which was once will be no more, yester∣day will never come again, and this day is passing away, therefore work while you have day, the night will come and then you cannot

work: 'Tis true, while the Candle burneth you may make use of its light, but when that is done, it is too late to use it. The time that is now idled and talkt away, the time that is now feasted and complemented away, the time that is unnecessarily sported and slept a∣way, the time that is wickedly and presum∣ptuously sin'd away, how precious will it one day seem to all! O how happy would it be to soor sinners, if at the ••earest rate they could redeem it! but this cannot be.

If cries, or tears, or price, or pains would bring back lost abused time, how happy were this dead-hearted world, if it would then serve their turn to say to the vigilant Belie∣ver, give us of your O••l for our Lamps are gone out: or to cry, Lord, Lord open unto us, when the door is shut, the foolish would be saved as well as the wise, but they shall not attain sal••ation who have nor strived in some measure to make use of their time to a better purpose than they have done, who have vain∣ly and foolishly lost their precious hours af∣ter their bain delights. Math. 25. This is the day of Salvation, this is the accepted time, while it is called to day hearken, and harden not your hearts.

Secondly, As time can never he recalled, so life shall never here below be restored, Job 14.14 verse. If a man die, shall he live [here]

again? All the dayes of our appointed time we must therefore wait in faith and diligence, till our change shall come. We have but one life here upon earth, to dispatch the work that our everlasting life dependeth upon, and if we lose that, we are undone for ever. While you are on this side of the Grave you have time to read, to hear, to pray, but when this time is done, it shall be no more, you shall rise from death to Iudgement, according as you have lead your life here, you shall have your Reward hereafter: Now you may en∣quire of your friends and Teachers what you should do to be saved, and you may receive particular instructions and exhortations, and God may bless the endeavors of those who are assisting to you in the work so far, that your poor soul may be saved, but when life is past, it will be so no more. Had hell but such an offer as this, and if any cries would pro∣cure it from their righteous Iudge. O what a change would there be among them? how im∣portunately would they cry to God, O send us once again upon the earth, once more let us sée the face of Mercy, and hear the tenders of Christ and Salvation, once more let the Mi∣nisters of the Gospel of Iesus Christ afford us their help, and teach in season and out of season, once more let us have the help and company of thy Saints, and we will scorn

them, abuse them, and persecute them no more; that we might once more be admitted into the holy assemblies, and have the Lords days to spend in the business of cur Salva∣tion? It makes my heart even tremble to think how those poor damned souls would strive with God, to try them once again, if they had but the least encouragements of hope, but it cannot be, it will not be, they had their day, they cannot lose their time, and have it; they had faithful Guides, and would not follow them: long did Christ wait with the patient tenders of his blood and spirit, his grace was offered, but it would not be ac∣cepted. Such mouths must be stopt for ever with a [Remember thou in thy life time re∣ceivedst thy good things, Luke 16.25.

If ever you will repent and believe, it must be NOW or NEVER. If ever you will be unconverted and sanctified, it must be NOW or NEVER If ever you will be par∣doned and reconciled to God, it must be now. O that you were wise, and that you understood this, and that you would consider your latter end, Deut. 32.29.

O let me intreat you to let the words of our blessed Redéemer sink into your hearts, Luke 19.41, 42. If thou hadst known, even thou in this thy day, the things that do belong unto thy peace; But now they are hidden from thine eyes.

Thirdly, As there is no return after this life to live upon the earth, so there will be no doing this work hereafter; heaven is for a more glorious work, and hell will be for most horrible punishments; it is now that you must sow, and hereafter that you must reap; it is now that you must work, and then that you must receive your wages. O therefore poor soul where ever thou dost abide, let me perswade thée to be up and be doing, be not like the children of Israel, who mur∣mured and repined at the providences of God, because they did not inherit the Land of Promise presently, but do thou patiently wait Gods time, and be thou never idle, but still setting forward to the heavenly Ca∣naan, that so thou marst be ready when God shall please to call thée to the inheritance thereof.

Let me lay before you your duties by way of Motives, in some few particulars: To be∣gin with the lowest of all: Then

First, In the works of your bodily calling, you must use diligence, In the sweat of your brows you must eat your bread, Genesis 3.19. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do, Exodus 209.

Success is Gods ordinary reward of tem∣poral diligence; and diseases, poverty, and shame are the usual punishments of sloath.

Secondly, Are you parents or governors of families? you have work to do for God, and for the souls of them that God hath intrusted you with. Be diligent in Family-duties, re∣member that you and your familles are go∣ing to the grave, where you have heard there is no working, therefore what you do must be NOW or NEVER, to day while it is called to day, put not off any work which will for∣ward you to heaven.

Thirdly, Have you ignorant or ungodly neighbours, whose misery calls for your com∣passion, speak to them, and keep them with all diligence, lose not any opportunity of do∣ing good while you are alive, to do what thou canst to keep thy ignorant neighbor from eter∣nal death; for when thou art in the grave, thou canst do no good; up therefore, and be doing with all your might.

Fourthly, Hath the Lord lent you riches in this world, he doth expect then that thou shouldest relieve those that are in want, espe∣cially do good to those who are of the hous∣hold of faith. Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. Do good before thy heart be hardened, thy riches bla∣sted and consumed, thy opportunities taken away; part with it, before it part with thée.

Fifthly, Hath God intrusted you with pow∣er? O then séek to promote the Glory of God.

relieve the oppressed, right the widow and the fatherless, cherish them that do well, be a ter∣ror to them that do evil; Let those that work the work of the Lord, be with you without fear, 1 Cor. 16.10.

Sixthly, To come a little nearer to you yet, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any of you yet in the state of nature, born onely of the flesh, and not of the spirit, make cut to Christ, cry mightily to him for his renewing and pardoning Grace, for there is no conversion or repentance unto life in the grave whither thou goest; if ever thou wilt be saved, thou must do it NOW or NEVER.

Seventhly, Hast thou any predominant sin that over-ruleth thee, or woundeth thee, or keepeth thee off from being acquainted with God? Strive to resist those things, abhor them in thy very thoughts, hate the doors of the Harlot, or the Ale-house, where thou formerly hast committed many griev us sins.

Eighthly, Art thou in a declining condi∣tion, hast thou lost thy first desires and love? O then up, and be doing thy first works, and remember from whence thou art fallen, cry cut with Job, Job 29.2, 3, 4, 5. O that I were as in moneths past, as in the days when God preserved me, when his Candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness. As I was in the days of my

youth, when the secret of God was on my tabernacle, when the Almighty was yet with me.

Ninethly, Art thou in ignorance concern∣ing thy converted estate, dost thou not know whether thou art in a state of life or death? Be thou careful then, and use the means that God hath appointed thée for assurance; search the Scriptures, for in them are the words of Eternal Life. Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith; prove your selves. Know ye not your own selves that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Cor. 13.5.

Lastly, In all the duties of thy Calling, whether Civil or Religious, séek to inflame thy Soul with the love of God, admire his Mercies. O taste and sée that the Lord is gracious, let his fear command thy soul, and trust in him alone, cast all thy care and thy self upon him. When thou art reading of the Word, have an obediential fear and love to it, and let it be swéeter to thée than the H••∣ney••com••; resolve to do what thou therein findest to be the will of God.

Thus have I shewed thée, O poor soul, in some measure what is thy duty to do; but these are but short hints of what might be laid down: but I must be but short, because there are some other things of great concern∣ment to thy poor soul to speak something to

before I come to a conclusion: And that I may not leave a poor soul in darkness, there are some few particulars that I would per∣swade a Christian to: The first is this.

First, Let me beg of thée to live as one that believeth there is a God, and that this God is the Creator, Lord, and Ruler of the whole world: Believe that this God is Al∣mighty, and that the greatest of men are less than worms in comparison of this great God: Believe that God is wise, powerful, and that he is able to save thée; and as he is able, so he is willing, if thou by a true and lively faith dost lay hold on him O live in the belief of this.

Secondly, Live as one that doth believe mankinde is fallen into sin and misery, and that all men are under the condemnation of the Law of God, till they are delivered; and live as men that consider that there must be a great change wrought in you before you come to die.

Thirdly, Live as men that verily and truly believe that you are redéemed by Iesus Christ who hath suffered for your sins, and brought the glad Lydings of Salvation to your poor Souls: O believe in this Christ, and lay hold on all the precious Promises that are in the Gospel: O cast your selves upon him, who is the Physician of your poor souls.

Fourthly, Believe that the Holy Ghost is given by Iesus Christ to convert, to quicken, to satisfie all that he will save; and that ex∣cept you be born of the Spirit, you shall never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his, Rom. 8.9.

Fifthly, Live in this belief that Sin is the greatest evil, and that which doth give the greatest offence to the Great and Holy God, and that is the evil which the Lord abhor∣reth.

Sixthly, Believe that this Sin will not be pardoned without repentance, and this must be true repentance also: which if it be so, it will not let thee live in any gross sin.

Seventhly, Live as members of the Church of Christ, having communion with his Saints, and live as those that believe there is a life everlasting, where the sanctified shall live in endless joy, and the wicked in everlast∣ing woe.

Lastly, Live as those that believe that this Life is given onely to make preparation for a better: All that ever shall be done for your Salvation, must be NOW or NEVER. Live and believe that the world and the flesh are the deadly enemies of your Salvation; If you live after the flesh, ye shall die after it, but if by the Spirit ye mortifie the deeds

of the body, ye shall live, Romans 8.13.

Christians, let me tell you, that in all un∣dertakings your onely aim should be the glory of God, and you ought to do every thing with an obediential fear, knowing that there is none in Heaven nor upon the earth can save your souls, but the great God of Heaven and earth. To this Obedience let me perswade you in a few particulars.

First, The work of God must be done with fear and reverence, God will be sanctified of all that draw near him, God will be served as God, and not as man, God will not be pray∣ed to with a regardless minde. It is a dread∣ful thing for poor dust and ashes to speak to such a great God, but it is a dangerous thing to speak slightly and irreverently of him: It concerns every believing Soul to have more of the fear of God upon his heart, than the common people of the world have; for they that have tasted that the Lord is gracious, have a great cause to have a reverential fear of his name.

Secondly, It is requisite that you be very serious and sober in all your services you per∣form to God: Be fervent and serious in séek∣ing of God, and your own salvation.

Thirdly, Let your service to the Lord be performed with an understanding heart: God delights not in the blinde devotion of

men that know not what they do. Prayers not understood, are not prayers; for no mans destres goeth beyond his knowledge, and he expresseth nor his destres, that knoweth not what he expresseth: If understanding be ne∣cessary in our common discourse, much more in our Addresses to the Most High. A man of understanding is of an excel ent spirit, but God hath no pleasure in fools, Prov. 37.27.

Fourthly, God is a Spirit, and he must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, Iohn 4.24. The Father seeketh such to worship him: God calleth for the heart, he looketh upon the in∣ward destres of the soul; if that be right, all will be well.

Fifthly, The body hath its part in the ser∣vice of God, as well as the soul: the body must express the inward reverence and devotion of the soul: there ought to be a very decent behavior in every childe of God at all times, but especially when he is about any work that concerns his souls health.

Sixthly, God will be served with purity and foliness: God a•••• rreth the sacrifices of the wicked and disobedient, those that serve him must have undefiled garments, they must put on the white Robe of Christs Righ∣teousness.

Seventhly, God will be served universally and entirely in all his commands, and with

all your faculties; your work of piety, justice and charity must never be separated: God will be served with love and delight. O dear Christians, consider what a glorious privi∣ledge the Saints have, who live always in the joys of the Lordland truly a Believer hath great cause of Ioy, and the chief cause of his Ioy is, that his sins are pardoned, that God is reconciled to him in Christ Iesus: he hath the promises of God, that all things shall work together for his good, even his grea∣test sufferings. He is always in the care of a tender Father, and he hath leave to draw néer unto him, and open his heart to him in prayer, even in the greatest straits and wants that can come to him.

Having thus in a brief and short discourse laid down in some particulars the duty of e∣very poor soul that would have an interest in Christ Iesus, I would it were the Lords good pleasure, that I could perswade any poor soul to be desirous and diligent in attaining to that happiness, which is, to lay hold upon Iesus Christ, and to relye onely upon him: Cast thy self, and all that is thine upon the shoulders of him, who is able to hear thee, and he is willing to bring thee through all difficulty, if so be thou art willing to leave thy sins, and repent thee of all thine ini∣quities.

If any man have an ear to hear, let him hear: O dear Christians, consider these words, now is the time that you are called upon; now, while you have opportunities; now, hear the Word preached by the faithful Ministers of the Gospel, lest by death you are snatcht away and then it is too late.

Now you have abundance of private helps, now you have the Lords-day to spend in holy exercises for the edification of your poor souls. Now you have choice and serious Books to meditate on, and blessed be the Lord, you have the protection of a Christian King, O these are great Mercies, and we do not know how long, or how little while we may enjoy them! O therefore make use of time, for this time will not last always: therefore NOW or NEVER work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Consider the words of the Apostle Peter, in the second Epistle, the first chapter, and the tenth verse, Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and ele∣ction sure, for if ye do these things ye shall never fall. In these words there is the Chri∣stians duty laid down in the former part of the verse, in these words, wherefore the ra∣ther brethren, give diligence: then in the suc∣ceeding words, are the reasons laid downe wherefore this diligence is required, and that

is, to make your calling and election sure: then in the last clause of the verse, there is a gracious promise to all that are diligent in this work; for if you do those things; you shall never fall. O what comfortable words are these to a poor soul, who strives to attain to this work, who is diligent in working out his salvation with fear and trembling! O let us labor earnestly for the true faith, that we may attain to some assurance of our-salvation: let us consider, and meditate upon those words of the holy Apostle Paul, Hebr. 10.21. to the 25 verse, the words are these, And ha∣ving an High preist over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession ••f our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promiseth; and let us consider one ano∣ther, to provoke unto love, and to good works.

Beloved, these things must be done now, or else when we have lost our season, it will be too late. Before I come to a full conclu∣sion, I would once again perswade thee to a holy life, for fear thou art overtaken with an untimely death: I call that untimely death, that is, if thou art not prepared for it: we have not so much cause to fear death, as we

ought to bewail our wicked life: It is too common a Reception amongst many, that Death puts a period to all our troubles, (a short life, and a sweet life, being the vulgar proverb) the sense of their pain, more than the desires of their being freed from their sins, inviting the hastiness of their lips. I confess it is a happiness to die indeed, if we are fitted for death, if we die with a con∣science void of offence towards all men: but alas if otherwise, our corporal death is but a separation of soul and body. Death is com∣mon to the good, as well as the bad; to the Prince as well as the Peasant, as the Wo∣man of ••ekoa told David, We must all die, and are as the water spilt upon the ground that cannot be gathered up again, 2 Samuel 14. verse 14.

But who is it that truely considers the fearful separation of soul and body from the gracious presence of a merciful God? who is it that would here live in a prison, a dungeon, a sink of sin, rather than in a Palace of royal freedom? Oh Lord, who is it that doth not tremble to think upon this fearful parting? whose heart doth not ake within him, to think after that woful Sentence of Condemnation, Mark 24.51. Depart ye cursed into everlast∣ing fire, this will be a sad parting to all those who have not tasted the Lord is gracious,

and who have not laboured with diligence to make their calling and election sure. Consider of it poor soul, who ever thou art that re∣mainest in an unregenerate estate, whether it be not thy chief concern, to be earnest with God in prayer, and in all other duties of a Christian now, while thou hast health in this life, left when thou come to die, death prove an eternal death to thy poor soul: I do not mean that the soul can die, but when the soul and body part, thy soul will be eternally burning in hell fire, and never die. O let the consideration of the shortness of this Life, stir thee up to preparation for death, that whensoever it comes upon thee, it may not come at unawares to thée, but be thou ready to imbrace death, and say, Come Lord Iesus, come quickly.

What are Hon••rs, Beauty, Riches, high p••a••es, wit, strength, friends, are they not em∣pty viols? are they not common to the wicked as well as the good? surely they cannot help, they cannot satisfie in the evil day, when death comes all will forsake thee, and prove but as miserable comforts, and deceitful friends; therefore NOW or NEVER is the time for thee to work in. O let the soul take héed in time, let not the love of the world be witch thee: die thou must, it cannot be avoided, but when thou knowest not, all the days of thy

appointed time thou shalt wait, till thy change come, job 14.14. Can that tennant be light at heart, that knows he shall quickly be turn'd out of doors, and hath no place provided where∣in he may put his head? or canst thou eat, or drink, or sléep quietly, and art no way assured ef a better dwelling, when this earthly house of thy tabernacle here shall be dissolved? Oh poor s••ul, be no longer deluded, be no longer so desperate as to hazard thy eternal happiness for the shadows of pleasure, for the shadows of profit, which are all but vanity and vexa∣tion of spirit.

To conclude then dear Christians, let me exhort you in the fear of the Lord, to a seri∣ous diligence in seeking those things which conduce to the happiness of your poor souls: what though persecutions arise, be not trou∣bled, persecution is the crown and rejoycing of a true Christian. Our Savior pronounceth them happy who forsake Father, and Mother, or Land, or any thing for his Names sake: As tribulations abound, so do our consolati∣ons, our enemies being instruments of com∣forting us by afflicting us: what creature then should be more joyful than a Christian? for God the Creator he is a comforting us, while the creature is afflicting us: Be not impatient then, O suffering soul, at the rage and malice of the greatest adversary thou

canst have, since by the enjoyment of our hea∣venly Father we are more than conqueror••••

Account it the greatest benefit to lye down patiently in the bed of affliction, where Christ rests himself with thy soul, and will shortly come and lodge with thee in some gracious visitation, yea, he will visit thee with abun∣dance of consolation, and then thou shalt count thy self a gainer if thy afflictions have been so great as to bring forth an eternal reward of joy and blessedness.

To bring all then to a conclusion, let the consideration of all the fore-going benefits which thou wilt attain unto by serious dili∣gence in the practise of holiness, incite thée NOW or NEVER to work out thy Salva∣tion with fear and trembling.