BJ)k IV. T HE MEANS of GRACE COMPh.RED TO THE SUMMER. 913 feem to cover the glorious Heavens, even as at this Time. 0 what thi<:k and black Clouds feem to arife I VIll. Some D ays prove ftormy, and high Winds arife: So fometimes the Day of Gofpel Grace proves fl:ormy, and high Winds of Pcrfecution arife upon a People; nay, not only Winds of Perfecution, but alfo ftrange Whirlwinds of Delufions abound in it, which makeit very perilous. IX. ADay hath its Morning, its Noon, and its Evening: So hath the Day of Gof– pcl Grace 10 a Nanon, and to a pa;ncular Soul, who improves it not. God threatened his People of old, Thai the Sun jhould go down over the Prophets, a;1d the Day jhould be dark over them, Mich. iii. 6. X. The Day fuits not with fame Men, they are for the Night; they are faid to rebel againft the Light, they hate the Light, theN ight is for them; Ji.rch are the Thief and Adulterer: Tbe whorijh Woman waits for tbe Twilight, even for the black and dark N igbt, Prov. vii. 9· So many Sinners love nor the Day of Gofpel Light, they are for the Nrght of Ignorance and Error. They had rather have Popery come, or any Thing come, than to have the Gofpel, or the powerful Preachinu thereof; it fuits bell: with their carnal Hearts, they love that Religion that indulges ';;hem in their brutiOr Lull<. XI. There are many Ways to know when the Day draws towards an End, and Night approaches: As, (1.) When the Heat of the Sun abates. (2.) When the Shadows grow long, or are ftretrhed forth. (3.) When the Harveft-Men begin to go Home apace. (4.) When the Evenrng-vVolves begin to lurk out of their Hole<. Now when thefe Signs are upon a People in a fpirittr al Senfc, their State is bad, they may fear Night approaches upon them. r. vVhen the G.ofpelrn its powerful Preaching, abates in its Heat, and blelfed Influences upon Mens Hearts, fo that but a few are warmed, and effeCtually wrought upon by it. 2. When Religion is more in Shew than in Sub– ftance; when the Shadow is long, and the Subftance litrle; Men beina more zealous for the Form, than concerned for the Power of it. 3· ' Vhen many po~erful or pain– ft>l Minifters and Laborers are called Home. 4- When the Homi!h vVolves, who have lain long in their Holes, and dark Caverns, or lurking Places, begin to come boldly Abroad, and impudently !hew themfelves, it is a Sign of E¥ening-Tide, and that the Day is near expining. Is .not this thy State, 0 Englaitd l THE. MEANS OF GRACE COMPARED TO THE SUMMER. The Summer is endrd, &c. Jer. viii. 20. BY Summer is doubrlefs meant rhat Time that God allows Men to gather ·in, and lay up fpiritual Good for their precious Souls. The Time of Gofpel Light, or Means ·of.G.race, is compared to the Summer. P A R A L L E L & I. THE Summer is the ehief Time of the Year, that Sealon which generally all Men prize, long for, and rejoice in: So the Time of Gofpel Grace, and Gofpel Light, is the chiefell: and choiceft Seafon in the World. The Time of the Gofpel, the Dif~ penfation of the Gofpel, was the Time which the Prophets, and many good and righteous Men of old longed for, and which all fincere godly Perlons do prize, and rejoice in. I!. Summer is the Seafon that ripens the Fruits of the Earth; were it not for the H eat and Influence of Summer, what would becorr.e of the Hufbandman's Labor? So the Means of G'rare, or Miniftration of the Gofpel, ripens the good Seed which is fown in the godly Man's Heart, nay, it malzeth all fit and ready for the Harveft, and for cut– ting down. It ripens the godly Man for Heaven, and the ungodly Man for Hell: The Word is either a Savor of Life unto Life, or elfe the Savor of Death unto Death; it either foftens or hardens. It hath the fiune EffeCts upon Mens Hearts, that the Surl hath in the hotteft Time of Summer, upon that which it fends forth its Influence. · Ill. The Summer is the poor Man's working Time, it is the Seafon in which he is to provide himfelf for Winter with fuch Things he wants. The Day of Gofpel Grac~ is the Saints Summer, it is the Time in which he works hard, gathers in, and lays up for his immortal Soul: He learns of theAnt, who provides her Meat in Summer, &c. Prov. vi. 6. 10 Z . !V. In
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