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who are contentious and obey not the truth, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every foul of man that doth evil; to the few, firft, and also to the Gentile. Alas! we fee but the out-fide of men, and we do incompetently judge.

But whofoever doth allow himself, in ways of fin and wickedness; at times, he will have fears and jealoufies, doubts and fufpicions, however he may appear to others, to be jolly and merry; and to have but little trouble. For this I dare fay, of all men that continue in fin without repentance, unless in one cafe, and that is a worse; unless they be deserted of God, and given up to hardness of heart; faving in this cafe, men that do affect to tranfgrefs the fettled rule and law of righteoufnefs and honesty; that make no confcience to approve themselves to God, the laws of nature, or of revelation; the rules of fcripture, or of reason; these men undoubtedly have fuch times, wherein their hearts mifgive them; have much of heart-ach, much of fear and jealousy. And, if they have none of these, it is worse with them, for then they are lefs recoverable. Whereas in the ways of fobriety, reafon and virtue, religion, and true goodnefs, there is certainly hearts-eafe, and a compofure of mind: there is an inward calm and ferenity; there is fatisfaction for the prefent, and a wellgrounded expectation for the future: And this is to be expected, as that which is connatural; and it doth not fail. This mans affairs are here, folid, and fubftantial; and hereafter they will be further fettled and confirmed. And fo I have given you an account of the truth of that reafon, why

there

there is lefs of a man here and more hereafter. For he hath lefs of ftay and continuance in this world; lefs of true judgment, and lefs of weal or

woe.

DISCOURSE XVIII.

The true Valuation of MAN.

LUKE xvi. 25.

But Abraham faid, fon, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedft thy good things, and likewife Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

I

N the respects before-mentioned, and others that poffibly might be fuperadded, it appears that there is less of man in this world. But I may alfo adjoin by way of exception, fome particulars to the contrary; for I must acknowledge, that in fome refpects, our being in this world is very confiderable. I will inftance in three particulars,

1. In refpect of man's poffibility.

2. In respect of man's opportunity.

3. In refpect of man's well-grounded faith and expectation. In thefe refpects, a man's being in this world, is very confiderable and highly valuable.

1. In respect of man's poffibility; for here we may lay a good foundation, upon which the happy fuperftructure

fuperftructure of glory hereafter, may be erected. For though the worst that can be faid, prove true; that man is a bankrupt, and hath suffered shipwreck, is confounded in his principles, marred and fpoiled by his apoftacy, defection, degeneracy, and consenting to iniquity admitting that he is perfectly contrary to the true complexion he was in, in the ftate that God made him, yet all this malady may be cured, and his condition is recoverable. Though he hath committed fin, it may be pardoned; though he hath alienated himself from God, yet he may return, and God may receive him; though he hath given God offence, yet God is reconcileable. That is a great faying of our Saviour, Mark ix. 23. All things are poffible to him that believeth. This is true both in the active and paffive fenfe: that is, if a man apply himself to God, and his mind be changed, it is poffible that he may do all those acts that are neceffary for his fafety and recovery, through the affiftance of God's grace. That for the active fense. It is true alfo in the paffive fenfe. All things may be done for him, in him, or upon him he may be brought out of a condition of enmity, to a ftate of friendfhip with God: all things are poffible to be done for him, in him, or upon him. And it is enough to make this out, that God is placable, and reconcileable; and if this were not true, there could be no hope. If this were not known to men, there could be no place for repentance, nor could any man find any difpofition in his heart, Godward. But all men are bound to think that God is placable and reconcileable; he is not else the first

:

and

and chiefeft goodness. So that, in respect of man's poffibility, his being in this world is very confidera

bie, But,

2. In refpect of man's opportunity, his being is very confiderable; and this is much more than a bare poffibility. If this were all that I could fay to a man, that a thing is poffible, it would be no great encouragement. But I can tell finners, that they have opportunity, and an opportunity is the nick of time. Take things in their season, and they will be eafily done. Now we enjoy a day of grace, and a day of grace doth import opportunity. We are now under God's call and invitation. There is no man in the world, that hath the bible in his hand, or that hath heard any thing out of it, who hath any reafon to doubt but that he is called of God. What we read in the bible, we may build upon, and apply to ourselves, with as good affurance, as if God did difpatch an angel from heaven to us. We are in this day of grace, God's invited guefts; and we are all of us under the operation of the divine Spirit, and may depend upon the affistance of the divine grace. And for this, I offer to you that fignal place, though our translation abate a little of the emphafis of it. Phil. ii. 12, 13. Work out your own falvation with fear and trembling 3 for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleafure. But in the Greek it is the participle working. The verb is verified by one fingle act: but the participle imports a continuation of action. That is, apply yourselves to God, and fet yourselves about the business of your recovery, by acts of righ

teousness

teousness, goodness, and truth; and look not upon your own weaknefs, and indifpofition; for God is working in you, both to will, and to do, of his own good pleasure. Apply yourselves to God, and you will find him in motion; and where God is, there is strength, and sufficiency, and any thing may be done through the divine aid; and therefore we have encouragement, to be up and doing, according to the advice of the apoftle, Eph. v. 14. Awake thou that fleeepest, and arife from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. We are fure of God, by virtue of his promise and this we may depend upon, that wherefoever God begins, he gives in some aid, and affiftance; which aid, though it be less than we may receive afterwards, yet it will enable a man to do something: and that God, who of his own motion, grace, and good will, begins with less; yet he will go on with further affiftance, and with this a man may do more: for it is certain, the failure will not be on God's part: and therefore if we have fufficiency or the act that God calls us unto, at prefent, and affurance of further affiftance, as there shall be need; we have encouragement, not only to engage us to begin, but to continue in those ways that tend to our recovery. Seek the Lord therefore while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near, as the prophet adviseth, Isa. lv. 6. ` For there wants nothing but what lies on our part to perform, and that is our concurrence, our fubferviency and confent. For it is irrational for us to think, that God having made us intelligent and vo luntary agents, that he should force and conftrain

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