Book IV. W I C K E D M E N S L U G G A R D S. 7frJ PARALLEL. SLUGGARDS. a Reafon, Prov. xxvi . r6. of himfclf, and cries out, when reproved, I know as much as you ; tnind your own Matters; every Tub Otall frand upon its -own Bottom; why do you troub!e yourfelf with me? 'J hus e.very Man is right in his own Eyes, but the Lord pondcretb the Heart, Pro·v. xxi. 2. IX. The Sluggard is a Man that IX. So the fpiri tual Sluggard feems alfo to defeem s to ddire but a little Time, lire but a little Time to gratify his Fle01, and and then he will awake : :Yet a pleafe his fmfual Appetite, to walk in Ways of Httle Sleep, yet a little Slumber, yet Vanity, and fin 2gainlt Go:J. I will, faith an un– a little folding of the Hands tojleep, godly Perfon, repent, or it is my purpofe to re– &c. As much as if he Owuld fay, form my Ways ; but let me alone a little longer, Let me alone yet a litcle, I will ir ic; Time enough yet. lr ic. a great whJe ro Day, fl~::ep but a li[tle longer ; let me faith the Sluggard, when one comes to awake him have a little more Sleep, &c. early in the Morning: So faith the Sinner, It is a great while before Chrifr will come, or before old Age and Death will come; in his Heart therefore he is refolved to continue in his ev~l and ungodly Courfes a little longer: Yet a little Sleep, yet a little Slumber, yet a /i/1/e foldillg of the Hands to jleep. Pray ob!ervc, how lwtet Sleep feems to be to a ~lu<><nrd ; fo the 'Nays of Sin and Vanity feem fweet to an unconverced Man : ';nd as \~a~d Labor is grievous to fuch a Perfon; fo is Godlinefs, I mean frriCt and real ,Godlincfs, Godlinefs in the Power of it, to an unfanEtified Heart. X. Lafl:ly; ASluggard cannot X. A Sinner or fpiritual Slllggard, cannot en- .abide eo be difrurbed : 0 kt me dure to be difrurbed; the T houghts of Deech are lie, let me fkep; what ado you to him likl·. the H and wri1ing on the VVall, Dan. make! is the Voice of a flothfu l v. He loves not th,lt Conlcioncc fhould call upon Man. hini to awake him, nor Minifters, nor any FrienJs he hath; nav, fuch as would, or do firive to roufe a Sinner, ·are the unwelcomeft J:'eople in the World to him. Repent! re– pent! what a~lo is here) fairh d1e graceltfs Soul, can you nut let me alone; pray do nor trouble me. You know who fe~r away Paul, being unwillin.5 to hear any more .at chat Time. N F E R E N C E S. J. THIS fhews wl:at a fad and dangerous Condition Sinners are in; they are not only aOe<p, bllt in a dead Sleep, and know not how near eternal Ruin they are. JL We fhall endeavor therefore to awaken the Sinner out of his deep Sleep. 1. Sinner, God calls aloud upon thee: Awa/:c thou that Jleepejl, and iJ-rift from the Dead. flow long wilt tbou Sleep, 0 Sluggard? z. God hath called not only loud, but long upon you. Confider what Danger you expofe your Souls unto ·; you put an Opportunity into the Uevil's Hands to defrroy you. How eafy is it for a weak Enemy to deftroy a mighty Champion, when he is afleep? ]ael, a Woman, foon dei\royeJ Siftra when he was alleep. 3· May I not fay, Sinner, the Philijlines are upon thee, anJ thy Soul is in danger of being made a Prey for ever. 4· Many Ways hath God ufed to awaken thee: He h2th employed his Minifrers, he hath fet Confcience on work, he hath brought forth many dreadful Judgments, and all eo awaken thee; and fhall all Means fail and be infuflicient? 5· Thou lofeft many choice Bleffing' by lying thu; al1eep 111 chy Sin. 6. There is Grace offered you, Pardon offered you, Peace oll'ered you ; and will not this llir you up? Nay, more than all, Chrifr is offered you, Heaven offered you, a Kingdom, and Crown of endlefs Glory is offered you : Soul, roufe up, and look about, confider che Opportunity that is now in your H •nds ; will not Life and Light, Par– don and Peace, G0d and Chrifr, Heaven and Happinefs, do you much Good? 7· Jt is Harvefr-time. Go to the Ant, thou Sluggard, conjider her Wa)'S, and be wife. She provideth her Meat in the Summer, and gathereth her Food in tbe llarvejl, Prov. vi. 8, 9· And fhall fuch a fmall and contemptible Animal be wifcr than you? 8. The Harveft will foon be gone, the Day of Grate be over, an:l then it will be too late. '[/;e Harvejl is paft, the Summer ended, aitd we are not fawd, ]er. viii. zo. 9· If you will not fow now becaufe it is cold, you are like to beg in Harvefr, and have nothing, viz. ~t the End of the World; and then you will fay, Lord, Lord, opm unto us ; and Ee will fay, Verily, verily, I know ;•ou not, depart from me )'e P/orkers of Iniquity. 9 K 10. Let
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