CHAP. VII.] Repentance not to be delayed. [DEATH. bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found. The design of Christ was to represent his heavenly Father in that parable; and to wounded spirits tha feel the intolerable weight of sin, the mercy and mildness of the gospel is to be exhibited. God is rich in mercy to all that call upon him in truth. But to tell sinners who securely proceed in their sinful ways, that they may be saved at last; and notwithstanding their presumptuous repulses of God's calls to his service, yet think they may come into the vineyard at the eleventh hour and be rewarded, is to give countenance and protection to sin, and to harden them to destruction. Poison is not cured by giving food, but antidotes, that put nature into a passion till it be expelled. The terrors of the Lord can only prove medicinal to such depraved souls. To conclude this argument, let us seriously consider the revelation God has afforded of himself in the gospel. He is a Father and a Judge; justice and holiness as well as mercy are essential to his nature, that our affections may be accordingly moved towards him. If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." Presumption and despair are very dishonourable to > God, and pernicious to the soul: one destroys the fear, the other the love of God. But hope tempered DEATH.] Repentance not to be delayed. [CHAP. VII with fear, has an excellent influence on the christian life. The ballast and the wind are both necessary, that the ship may sail safely; without the wind the ship can make no way; and without ballast it is in danger of oversetting by every gust. Thus hope and fear are necessary to bring us safely to heaven. Fear without hope chills, and stupifies the vigour and alacrity of the soul, that it cannot come to God: and hope without fear, makes it vain and careless of its duty, and liable to be overthrown by every pleasing temptation. Briefly, let us rightly understand the tenor of the evangelical promises of pardon and grace: they are conditional and applicable only to penitent believers. And unfeigned faith purifies the heart, works by love, and is the living principle of universal obedience. And repentance unto life is productive of all good fruits in their season. Without faith and repentance we can neither be justfied in this world, nor glorified in the next. 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked: as a man sows, so shall he reap. He that sows to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: he that sows to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.' CHAP. VIII. Death may be rendered comfortable, by preserving ourselves from presumptuous sins--by a zealous discharge of the duties of our callings, and endeavours to glorify God—by heavenly mindedness, frequent converse with God, and a stedfast belief of future happiness-Saints should die with courage and cheerfulness, and earnest desires to be with Christ. > CAREFULLY to preserve ourselves from wilful and presumptuous sins, is a happy means to render death comfortable. Sins of ignorance and infirmity, of sudden irruption and surprize, the best men are not freed from in the present state: and being the daily motive of our grief and serious circumspection to prevent them, are consistent with a regular peace of conscience, and the friendship and favour of God. But great sins being so contrary to natural conscience, and supernatural grace, and presumptuous sins proceeding from the choice of a perverse will against an enlightened mind, whatever the matter or kind of them be, are such a direct rebellion against God, and a despising of his command, that they must. make the aspect of death fearful. The Spirit seals our pardon and title to heaven as the Holy Spirit. His testimony, that we are the children of God, and DEATH.] Sin to be avoided. [CHAP. VIII. heirs of glory, is concurrent with the renewed conscience, and distinguished from the ignorant presumptions, blind conjectures, and carnal security of the unholy. As the sanctifying spirit he distinguishes true christians from the lost world, appropriates them to God, confirms their present interest in the promises of the gospel, and their future hopes. Briefly, grace is the most sensible effect and sign of God's special favour; the fruit of election, and the earnest of glory; and the truth of grace is most clearly and certainly made evident by its continual efficacy in the conversation. The observations of our hearts to suppress unholy affections, and of our senses to prevent them, a constant course of holiness in our lives, though many frailties will cleave to the best, is usually rewarded with great peace here.. 2. God has established a connection between our obedience and his comforts. Those that keep themselves pure from the defilements of the world, have the white stone' promised, the bright jewel of assurance of God's pardoning and rewarding mercy. We read of Enoch that he walked with God, was a star shining in a corrupt age; the tenor of his life was holy, and he was translated to heaven without seeing death. Though this was an extraordinary dispensation, yet there is a peculiar reward analogical to it; for those who walk circumspectly shall not see death with its terrors, but usually have a holy cheerfulness, a peaceful joy, in their passage through the dark valley to heaven. But presumptuous sins against external and internal CHAP. VIII.] Sin to be avoided. [DEATH. restraints, the convincing law of God, and the directions of conscience, (to which even the saints of God are liable here, as appears by David's earnest prayer to be preserved from them ;) such sins grieve the holy Spirit, and wound our spirits; and if continued, will deprive us of the comfortable privileges of the gospel, and render us unfit for the kingdom of heaven. And when they are retracted by repentance, yet there > often remains a bitter remembrance of them; as deep wounds, though cured are felt in a change of weather. And sometimes a spring-tide of doubts and fears breaks into humble penitent souls in the last hours; though death brings them safely, yet not comfortably to heaven. 3. A zealous discharge of the duties of our place and calling, the conjunction of our resolutions and endeavours to glorify God, and do good according to our abilities and opportunities, will sweeten the thoughts of death to us. The true end and perfection of life is the glory of God; and when with fidelity it is employed in order to it, death brings us to the blessed rest from our labours. When our Saviour was to > leave the world, he addressed himself to his Father: I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work thou gavest me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with thyself with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John xvii. A christian who imitates and honours Christ, and diligently perseveres in well-doing, may with humble confidence in the divine mercy expect the promised reward. The |