fln fllarrnforfleepy Ghriftians. 311 Therebe fome main parts and branches ofour general Calling, towhich thisfleck; make us unable. The firft of them isthe exercife ofgodlinefs, the main thing in thepof effionof a. i. szereife, Chrillian to exercife himfelfin godlinefs : how unfit is a fleepy Chriftian for this ?' who fees a man that is afleep that works in his Calling that can do any good in it ?' So how can a Chrillianexercife himfelf in the ac4ions ofhis general Calling, when he fLeps? in his prayiflg,in his hcaring,in his reading ? ifthefeduties bedone coldly, what are they worth ? Aions thatars done in a mans íkep,they come to nothing t fo a man that fleeps in fin, let him do never fo manygood aftions, they arc of no value. A fecond main branch ofour ChriftianCalling, isthe fpiritual combate, to fight z. Combaie. againft our corruptions. Now alas how unfit is a ficepy man, either to expert, or to repel an enemy ? whenhe is afleep he lies opento all difadvantage. Srfera him- felf, a flrong and noble Captain, was fo weak, that a filly woman let film him when he was afleep : therefore we know this part of our Chriftiancalling cannot holdas long as we fleep in fin. Thirdly, another part, and main branch ofChriftianity is,to expert our Mailers 3, Towait rut return, to wait for the coming ofourLord, that wcmay enjoythat Tweet bleffed- ñuRcrs com- nefs that he bath.promifed, and made us cxpe& and wait for : now how unfit g is a fleepy man to wait for his Malters coming ? to fet things in order ? Thus we fee in there particular main duties of Chriftianity they cannot be performed by men that are afleep, therefore we had need to wake our felves : if we will either honour God, or praêit our felves, if we will be ficto do fervice to God,or to his Church, we mutt keepour felves awake, efpecially in themain duties ofChri- flianity. Thirdly, confider while we fleep, and are fecure, the enemy never sleeps, he , °u"nea'7 is then molt watchful againft us. We may sleep, and think we do well enough p to take our cafe , but Satan sleeps not ; we have a watchful enemy to deal with. And then he bath fottie advantage byour sleeping in Mat. 13. in that Parable, Mat. i3 The enemy lbws tares, while menfiept: he comes into the field of the heart, where the word ofGod,the good feed is fown,and what doth hedo there?he lows a crop ofthorns, and they make theheartofa Chriftian, like the field ofSolomon, sluggard, Troy. 24. I palled by the geldof the f[sggard, and it was all thorns, &c. Thus is Prov. z4. the heart that is neolefted of a man that is sleepy, andfecure in fin. When do rob- bers and thieves affault the houle ? In the dead time of the night, when they may take men at advantage, in theirfirlt sleep, then they comeand break into the houfe. Shall thieves and Burglaries watch at mid-night to break the boule, and cut mens throats, andwilt not thouwatch to fave thyPelf? Further confider, as theenemy never sleeps, fo Gods mercy never sleeps, Gods 4.Gods mercy mercy is ever watchingover us, todo us good ; and it watcheth to keep us watch- feeps not. full: for what should all the mercies OfGod do tous, but keep us watchful ? Our God that we ferve is not as Baal,the God of Idolaters, perhaps he is afleep,andmuff be awak d, or he is chafing lass adverfarits ; No, no, the flrength that keeps Ifrael, ftamberonot, nor fleeps. Therefore let not Ifrael slumber Orsleep : becaufe God watcheth over his children, let them watch with him, and keep themfclvcsneer to him. Fiftly,if this will not move thee,thcn confider asGods mercy sleeps not, fo Gods s. Gods iudg. judgements sleep noe.Thatman that sleepsin fin,lcthimknow that Godsitidgements meet, fleep sleepnot. As Salaam when he was out of the way, theAngel watcheth him, and not. catcheth him in this corncr,and in thattéörner ; he could go into no corner, butthe Angel with his drawn fword was ready to meet him,and to slay him. And the Apo- ale faith of thofe thatwere lead away by false teachers; Their damnationfleepethnot. Gods judgementsare alwaywaking: thou mai1t sleep on both fides in ftn,butGods juftice sleepethnot. And thou that art the Lords, if thou sleep, know that cor- reâiütt,nd chaflifetnent sleepethnot, and theywill awake thee,thou wert bettertd àwakë by slighter means. To
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