r Ver. 2 i, the i 7th Chapter of St. J 0 HN. 3 á ß they may help to defend thé Chriftian Doárine, as a living Tree may be fupported by a'dead Poft c and the Gifts of carnal Men are for the ufe óf the Body ; as the Gibe °- mites joined to Iliad, and were made hewers of Wood, and drawers of Water; or as the Carpenters, who helped to build Nosh's Ark,perifhed in the Flood ; ór, as Negroes; that dig in the Mines of Knowledg. God may imploy them to bring up that which may be of great ufe and profit to the World; they may help to build an Ark for others, tho they themfelvesperifh in the Water. We would not refufe Gold from a dirty Hand, neither are we to flight the benefit of carnal Men's parts : for the common Profeffion of Chriftianity that they are under, ( Cho they are Slaves to their Lulls, yet) it is a real benefit and help to the Saints. 4. They ferve for a Warning to the Saints. When this Convi &ion is ftrong upon them, and grows to an height, by the Stings of Confcience, and Horrors of them that die in defpair, God warneth his People ; tho we would bear off the Stroke, yet God knows how foon this Fire may be kindled in our own Breafts ; when Men fee what Convi &ions will do,' being ftifed and not complied with, and Men live not according to their Light, it is a warning to others. As a Slave is many times beaten to warn a Son of his Father's Difpleafure ; and Naturalilts tell us, u Lion will tremble to fee a Dog beaten before him : fo do the Children of God tremble at the Convictions of wicked Men. Oh, the Horrors of their Confcience declare what God hath wrought upon them, tho few take little notice of it, Thirdly; In refe& to the World it felt, this Convi &ion ferveth both to leffen and encreafe their Judgment. The Terms feem to be oppofite. r. Sometimes to leffen their Judgment. Certainly the degrees of eternal Punifh- ment are not equal, there is m .zso aw s aeltra, Mat. 23. 14. a greater judgment there is a hotter and a cooler Hell ; there are few Stripes, and many Stripes : In the World to come, it is more tolerable for flute than for others, Mat. t2.4i. The Con- dition of the Ninevites was made more tolerable by the Convi &ion wrought by Jo. nah's Preaching, becaufe there was a temporal Repentance; they humbled themfelves for a while, tho they were frighted to this Religioufnefs. 4i'i(tides, Cato, and other moral Heathens, their Condition will be more tolerable, than thofeMen that live in a way of brutifh and filthy Excels. So there are many convinced that have helped the Church, and been friendly to Religion ; when others have oppreffed and oppofed the Ways of God, they have been a Hiding - Place, a Shelter, a Countenance, a Prote&íon to the People of God; thefe (hall not lofe their Reward : they have many Bleffinis in this World,, tho they continue Carnal, and live and die in their Sins. I fuppofe, the more they comply with thefe Convi &ions, their Condemnation (hall be leffened, tho not taken away. This Advantage they have, ut mitiits ardeant, they (hall have a cooler Hell. 2. Sometimes to increafe their Judgment. Thofe that malicioufly oppofe this Con= vietion, they haften their own Condemnation, and heighten it. Then it will be a Sin to them with a Witnefs, when they knew their Matter's Will and did it not : James 4. 17. Therefore to him that Itnoweth to do Good, and doth it not, to him it is Sin. They carry this Conviction to Hell with them, and it is a part of their Torment ; this is the Worm that never dies. Oh, what a Terror will it be for them to think, I had a bet- ter Elate difcovered to me, I knew fomewhat of the Ways of God, and now I am Phut out for ever and ever ! There is a Worm that never dies, as well as a Fire that (hall never be quenched, Mark g. 44. There may be a Convi &ion, fo much as to enable a Man to fpeak to ethers, yet he may be a worker of Iniquity, and call out of Chrifes Pretence. How will this encreafe their Torment! their Knowledg ferveth but to damn them the more. The Chara?ers are indelible, and are not extinguifhed by Death. To all other Torments, there is added the gnawing of Confcience. Look as in the Ele &, there is fuch a Spark kindled, as (hall never be extinguifhed 5 their Knowledg they get here is not abolifhed, but perfe&ed ; and the Joys of the Spirit begin their Heaven ; a witnef ing excuftng Confcience to the Elea is the beginning of Heaven : So in Hell, Cònfcience will be always raging and expo(tulating with you. Oh Fool that I was, to neglect fo great Salvation which others enjoy ! if I had lived civilly at leaft, it had been better with me than now it is. As they know more of God than others do ; fo their Jndgment will accordingly be greater. And you know not how foon God may kindle this Fire in your Bofomt who for the prefent fleep on carelefly in your Sins. V/i
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