12.

VI.

And first, to those who were never yet SERMON pricked to the Heart, and thereby led to cry out, What must we do to be faved? · · And whereas the Word of God has been quick and Heb. iv. powerful, and sharper than any two edged Sword to others, it has not had one Edge: for them to whom the Scriptures are but as a fealed Book, or a Tale that is told; Preaching but as founding Brass; receiving the Sacrament nothing better than eating. Bread and drinking Wine; and the Whole of Religious Worship but a Set of dull dry Forms, without Spirit and without Life: Who are diligent Seekers after the Things of this Life, conftant Enquirers, What shall we do to be rich? What fhall we do to gain the Favour of Men, or to make Provifion for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lufts thereof? But, What fhall we do to ob tain the Pardon of our Sins? What fhall we do to gain an Interest in Chrift, and that. our Lot may be among the Saints? Thefe are Interrogatories, fo faintly, if at all, infifted on, as plainly fhews, that the Care of their Souls is the leaft of their Con

cern.

If

any

fuch be here, as I fear there are in fo great a Congregration, How shall I

M

addrefs

1

VI.

SERMON addrefs you? Shall I speak Smooth Things, and daub with untempered Mortar? Shall Ezek. xiii. I few Pillows to your Arms, that fo

10.

you may fleep on fecurely? God forbid that I fhould be thus unfaithful to my Truft, and fuch an Enemy to your Souls! Bear then with my Plainnefs, whilst I tell you what I think of you; for though my Heart is full of Tenderness and Pity for you, yet my Voice must be a Voice of Terror to you. I think then, be you never fo rich, or great, or jocund, that you are of all Men moft miferable; and I would not be in your Condition for Ten Thousand Worlds; for if you die in your unconverted State, there is not a fingle Text in Scripture that gives you Hopes of efcaping the Damnation of Hell. How can you How can you close your Eyes to Sleep, when you know not but you may open them in everlasting Burnings? How can you walk the Streets without Fear, when even a Tile falling from a House may for ever separate you from all Poffibility of working out your own Salvation? for all Nature, the Elements, and every Creature, is in a State of Hoftility with the Man that lives at Enmity with God. Flee then for your Lives, O Sinners, flee for your Souls.

But

VI.

-But whither fhall you flee? for the hor- SERMON rible Pit openeth wide her Mouth before you; the Avenger of Blood purfues you at your Heels, and the Terrors of the Lord are on your Right Hand and on your Left. But yet there is a Way to escape: Flee to the Lord Jefus Chrift, in the lively-Exercife of Repentance and Faith, and He will deliver you; for He hath the Keys of Hell Rev.i.1 8. and of Death, and shutteth and no Man openeth. He is the true City of Refuge from the Avenger of Blood; and in Him. God is no longer a confuming Fire, but difarmed of his Terrors; for in Chrift He is a reconciled God, full of Peace and Love.

iii. 7.

And now, may this Foolishness of Preaching be unto you a Means of Spiritual Wif dom! May the Lord give Power to the Word of his Grace, and fend it home with à Divine Efficacy to your Hearts, that you may be pricked to the Quick, and with a 'follicitous Earneftness about Soul-Concerns, cry out, What shall we do to be faved? May the frong Man of Sin now in Poffeffion of Luke ix. the House, and whofe Goods are in Peace, have his Foundations fhaken, and the Walls wherein he trusted be as a tottering Fence! M 2 May

21.

VI.

SERMON May the Devil be caft out, though it be with rending and tearing! And may that Eph. ii. Scripture be fulfilled in you: Ye were with12, 13. out Chrift, beings Aliens from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, and Strangers from the Covenant of Promife, having no Hope, and without God in the World: but now in Chrift Jefus, ye who fome time were far off, are made nigh by the Blood of Chrift.

vy

I fhall conclude with a Word to those, who have felt the Power of Gospel Ordinances, fent home to their Hearts by the Holy Spirit, to convince them of Sin; and who come to Chrift labouring and bealaden under the Remembrance and Burden of it, crying out, Lord, What shall we do to inherit Eternal Life? And now, my Brethren, to such as you are, I heartily bid God Speed, and wish you good Luck in the Name of the Lord. You have turned your Backs on Sin and the World, and fet your Faces Heavenward: Go on and prosper, for the promised Land is in fullView before you; and though the Entrance into it be somewhat difficult, yet be not dismayed, neither afraid of the Canaanite, nor yet of the Swellings of Jordan; for the Waters shall divide that you may pass over in Safety, and

under

your

VI.

under the Command and Conduct of SERMON fpiritual Joshua, even the Lord Jefus Chrift, you shall shortly fee the victorious Banner of the Cross displayed on the Battlements of Jericho. Convictions for Sin are indeed troublesome, but Infenfibility in Sin is infinitely dangerous. A wounded Confcience is painful, but a benumbed and hardened Confcience is deftructive. Bear then the Chastifement of the Lord, not only with Patience, but Thankfulness; for whom the Lord loveth Heb.xii.6. he fo cbafteneth, and Scourgeth every Son whom be receiveth: So fhall your Sickness be not John xi. 4. unto Death, but for the Glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.

And now, my dear Brethren, I have delivered to you a Meffage of Life and Death; and how am I pained for you, left you should chufe amifs? But God forbid that you should chufe Destruction, and refuse Converfion! May He direct you in your Choice, and supply the Defects of his Meffengers by the All-powerful Working of his Spirit, that you may be pricked in your Hearts, and cry, What shall we do to be faved?

And may the God of Heaven incline his Ear unto your Cry, and help you, when you call upon him! May the Lord

M 3

Jefus