108 S E R 1V1 0 N S upon the Serm. XVIII is not meerly becaufe of the order of the narration did fo require it,the Wicked being fpoken oflaft,but there is a material truth in it,fentence beginneth with the godly,& execution with the wicked;fentence with the godly becaufe they are not only to be judged,but toYudge the Work /together with Chrifl, r Cor. 6. z.Now they mutt be fall acquitted arid abfolved them- fetvesbefore that honour can be put uponthem.But execution withthe wicked,Matth. 13. 3o. Both grow together until the harvefl. I will fay to the Reapers, gather ye together firft the Tares,and bind them in bundles, to burn them,but gather ye the Wheat into my baraFirft the wicked are caftinto Hell fire,Chrift and all thegodly with him looking on; which worketh more upon the envy and grief of the wicked, that they are thruft out, while the godly remain withChrift, feeing execution done upon them. And the godly have the deeper fenfe of their ownHappinefs by feeing from what wrath' they are deli- vered. As the Ifraelites when they taw theEgyptians dead upon tbejhoar, Exoá 14. 3o, 31. With 15. Thenfang Mofes and the Children ofIfrael this' Song unto the Lord. So when the wicked in the fight of the Godly are driven into their torments, they have a greater Apprehenfiòn oftheir Redeemers mercy. USE r. To preis us to believe theft things. Moft mens faith about the eternalrecoin- penfes is but pretended;at bell too cold, and a fpeculative, an opinion rather than a found belief, as appeareth by the little fruit and efeEt that it bath upon us, for if we had filch a fight of them as we have of other things,we Mould be other manner of perlons than we are, in all holy converJation and godlinefr. We fee how cautious man is in tafting meat in which he doth fufpedt harm, thatlt will breed in him the pain and torments of the ftone and Gout or Collick ; I fay, though it be but probable the things will do us any hurt. We know certainly that the wages On is death, yet we will be tailing forbidden fruit. If a man did but fufpeét an houle were falling, he would not flay in it an hour ; we know for certain, that continuance in a camalftate will be our eternalruine; yet who doth flee from wrath to come ? If we have but alittle hope of gain we will take pains to obtain it. We know that our labour is not in vain inthe Lord. Why do we not abound in his work ? t Cor. r 5. 58. Surely we would do more, to prevent this mifery, to obtain this happinefs, when we may do it upon fuch eafy term3\,.and have fo fairan opportunity in our hands, if we were not fo ftrangely ftupified, we world not go to Hell to fave our felves a labour. There are two things which are very wondrous ; that any manjhould rejeîf the Chriffian faith ; or, that having imbraced it, lhould live finfully and careleffiy. U S E z.Serioufly confider of thefe things. The Scripture every where calleth for con- ftderation. Think of this double motive,thatevery man mutt be judged toeverlajfing joy,or ever - lafliug Torment. There things are propounded aforehand for our benefit and inffru&ion, we are guarded on both fides, we have the bridle of fear and the fpur of hope ; if God had only terrifyed us from fin,by mentioning unexpreffible pains and horrours, wemight be flighted and fland at a diftance from it. But when we have fuch incouragements to good, and God propoundeth fuch unfpeakablejoys, this lhould quicken our diliggnce. If he had only promifed Heaven, and threatned no Hell, wicked men would count it no great matter to lofe Heaven, provided that they might be annihilated ; but when there is bot ,and both for ever,fhall we be cold and dead ? We are undone for ever ifwicked,blef- fed for ever if godly,let us hold the edge of this truth to our hearts;what lhouldwe not do that we may be everlaftingly blefed,and avoid everlaftingmifery?'Tis no matter what we fuller it .time, and endure in time. 15 S E 3. Improve it firft,tofeek a reconciliation with God in the way of Faith am/Repen- tance. A man that is under the fentence of death, and in danger to be executed every mo- ment,would not be quiet till he get a pardon. All men by nature are Children of wrath; as a Son of death, as one condemned to die ; fo 'tis an Hebraifm : Now run forrefuge, to take hold ofthe hope thatisfetbeforeyou, Heb. aS. makepeace upon earth, Luke z. r4. A- gree with thine Açlverfary quickly,while he is in the way, Luke 1.58,59. Now Godcalleth . to repentance, Al 17.3°,31. Oh Labour to be found 'of him in peace, z Pet. 3. 14. How can a man beat reft till his great work be over ? z. Improve it to bolinéfs and watchfulnefs, and to bridlelicentioufnefs and boldnefs in fin_ ring, Eccl. t 1.9.1tejoyce0 young man in thyyouth,and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,walk in the ways of thine heart, andin thefight of thine eyes,hut know thou, for all thefe things God will bring thee to judgment. As cold Water cart into a boiling pot flops its fury, t Pet. 1.17. And if ye call on the Father, who without refpelf of perfons yudgeth every man according. to every mans work,pafs the time ofyour fojourniug here infear. Say as the Town Clark of Ephefur,Alls 9,40. We are indanger to k called in Queffionfor this days uproar.
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